**Chapter 193: A Hobby. Part.2. (1)**
As mentioned earlier, with the arrival of the Gyeongsul year, Yong received the title of Grand Prince 'Anpyeong' along with his enfeoffment.
Having gained independence from the palace, he rejoiced greatly in his own residence.
"Now I can do what I've dreamed of to my heart's content!"
What he had dreamed of was gathering the entertainment troupes from all across Joseon's eight provinces to watch their performances.
When he was young, Anpyeong had seen a Sadangpae performance and become completely enamored, throwing a tantrum that he would become a Sadangpae himself.
To prevent this, Queen Soheon and even Sejong had taken up the discipline rod. However, Anpyeong's stubbornness could not be broken.
"They say you can't stop a thief of seed.... What shall we do about this?"
In the end, Hyang, who could no longer bear watching Queen Soheon and Sejong's distress, had to step forward and coax Anpyeong.
"If you follow the teachings of the prince-instructors well and achieve accomplishment in your studies, I will arrange for you to watch the Sadangpae performances!"
Hyang's coaxing worked perfectly, and Anpyeong diligently applied himself to his studies.
Of course, Hyang didn't end things with just coaxing. Each time Anpyeong finished one of the classics he had to study, as a kind of reward, he would summon Sadangpae troupes near Hanyang to put on performances at just the right timing.
Whenever such performances took place, the women of the palace including Queen Soheon would join in to watch the Sadangpae's talents.
In the stifling palace life with few entertainments, this served as one of the rare refreshing diversions.
* * *
In any case, having received his enfeoffment and independence, Anpyeong soon put into action what he had held in his heart all this time.
"I will see every single Sadangpae in all of Joseong!"
However, just because Anpyeong wanted it didn't mean he could summon all the Sadangpae from across Joseon.
Joseon's road conditions were still poor. Therefore, the Sadangpae were largely divided into Giho (Gyeonggi-do, Hoseo), Namdo (Yeonghonam), and Seodo (Hwanghae-do, Pyeongan-do), with large and small groups within them active in the regions. (Note 1)
As a result, Anpyeong still suffered from thirst. He had summoned and watched all the famous Sadangpae from the Giho region, but he hadn't been able to see those from other regions.
"If they cannot come, wouldn't it suffice for me to go! Have I not already gained independence?"
Having made his resolve, Anpyeong soon packed his belongings and began seeking out the Sadangpae.
As Anpyeong moved about like this, the one who suffered most was his wife, Lady Jeong of Yeongil.
Not long after their wedding, her husband began wandering outside, forcing her into an unexpected widow-like life.
* * *
News of Anpyeong's strange conduct soon reached Sejong's ears.
"That rascal!"
Upon receiving the report, Sejong immediately sent someone to summon Anpyeong. However, upon hearing the report that Anpyeong had gone to Namdo to watch Sadangpae performances, Sejong immediately dispatched a courier to Jeolla Provincial Military Headquarters.
-Send Anpyeong to Hanyang immediately upon finding him!
-To prevent any potential danger, send him with strict guards.
The true intent of the second command was well understood by both Sejong sending the dispatch and the Military Commander receiving it.
- That brat! He might go astray, so tie him up tight and send him!
The Jeolla Military Commander who received Sejong's dispatch sighed.
"Whew... They say raising children is the hardest farming in the world..."
In any case, a royal command was a royal command. The Military Commander gathered his subordinate officers and conveyed the order.
"Immediately deploy soldiers and find Grand Prince Anpyeong!"
"Yes, sir!"
It was only after ten days passed from receiving the order that Anpyeong's person was secured. The Military Commander who received the report looked at the jungun with a small smile.
"They say our Joseon land is narrow, but perhaps that's not so."
"Indeed it isn't."
"As soon as the Grand Prince arrives, let's attach guards and send him to the capital."
* * *
And so Anpyeong had to go up to Hanyang. Of course, under the pretext of 'guarding,' many cavalrymen surrounded Anpyeong and his servants.
"This is ridiculous..."
Anpyeong clicked his tongue full of regret, but there was no other way. Beside him, the servant who had been traveling with him grew pale and trembled violently as they neared Hanyang.
"Have you caught malaria? Why are you shaking so?"
"My Lord! My Lord, are you not afraid?"
"Why would I be afraid... wait..."
Anpyeong's face, which had been making an expression that it was nothing at the servant's words, turned serious.
'Wait... did he say it was a royal command?'
Anpyeong, hearing that the Military Commander had called it a royal command, realized this was a crisis situation.
'Even I think I wandered around a bit too much.'
Sensing that he would be severely reprimanded by Sejong upon returning to Hanyang, Anpyeong looked at his servant.
"Looking at you trembling like that, it seems you've caught malaria."
"What? I'm perfectly fine, my Lord."
"Shh!"
Urgently telling the servant to be quiet, Anpyeong whispered softly.
"You have caught malaria. Do you understand? You have definitely caught malaria."
"What? Yes..."
At Anpyeong's words, the servant had no choice but to nod his head unconditionally.
As soon as they entered Hanyang, Anpyeong selected one of the cavalrymen guarding him and sent him to Gyeongbok Palace.
-The servant traveling with me has caught malaria. There is a risk of contagion, so I will enter the palace after observing the situation for a few days.
Having sent the above message through the cavalryman, Anpyeong turned his horse toward his residence.
"You've worked hard to come this far, so I'll treat you to a meal. Come to my house with me."
"Yes? If you insist..."
The commander of the cavalry unit nodded with a brightly lit face.
Due to the royal command to reach the capital as quickly as possible, they had camped out and eaten dry rations on the way.
But this was a Grand Prince treating them. Even if not a lavish feast, they would be treated to quite a decent meal.
As Anpyeong and the cavalry unit headed toward Grand Prince Anpyeong's residence, the messenger horse sent to Gyeongbok Palace returned.
"This is a letter directly commanded by His Majesty!"
Receiving the sealed letter that the cavalryman respectfully presented, Anpyeong broke the seal and took out the letter inside.
Reading the contents of the letter, Anpyeong let out a long sigh.
"Whew... I suppose I have no choice but to go to Gyeongbok Palace."
The content of the letter could be summarized simply:
-Stop with the nonsense and get here immediately!
"Tsk. Didn't work..."
Clicking his tongue and grumbling, Anpyeong ordered his servant.
"Lead these men back and treat them to a meal."
"What about you, my Lord?"
"I must enter the palace."
"Yes."
Having given orders to his servant, Anpyeong lightly bowed his head to the cavalry commander in farewell.
"Go with my servant and have a meal first before moving. Thank you for your service."
"Not at all. Thank you."
* * *
"You rascal!"
Seeing Anpyeong, Sejong immediately shouted in anger.
"You've established your own household after gaining independence, yet you're wandering around doing what?!"
"I am remorseful."
"To waste time and wealth chasing after Sadangpae when you should be contemplating how to help the country as a Grand Prince of Joseon! You ungrateful wretch!"
"I am remorseful!"
At Sejong's rebuke, Anpyeong had to bow his head and beg for forgiveness.
After scolding Anpyeong for quite a while, Sejong reached a conclusion.
"If you hadn't yet received your enfeoffment, I would have taken up the discipline rod, but it is regrettable that I cannot do so since you have already been enfeoffed and gained independence! I command Sangseon! Immediately order the Naesu Byeoljwa and Gungbang to reduce the wealth provided to Anpyeong Gungbang by half!"
"Father!"
As the funds he would use for his hobby disappeared, Anpyeong called out to Sejong with a pleading voice. However, Sejong was resolute.
"All that wealth you've been squandering is tax money full of the blood and sweat of the people! To waste such precious things so recklessly! I cannot forgive this! Go back and reflect, and reflect again!"
"Yes..."
At Sejong's command, Anpyeong had to withdraw with a sorrowful expression.
A few months later,Geomgye reported new news about Anpyeong. Sejong grabbed the back of his neck upon receiving the report.
"Oh my! This brat!"
According to the report Geomgye submitted, Anpyeong was still wandering around seeking Sadangpae. With the provided wealth reduced, it was natural that his household finances had become strained. In the end, Anpyeong's wife, Lady Jeong of Yeongil, had contacted her maiden family to borrow grain and wealth to maintain the household.
"That brat! Bring him here immediately!"
Hyang, who had been working in Area 51 when he heard the rumor, shook his head back and forth.
"This is serious..."
Hyang, who had been shaking his head, had to rise from his seat.
"I suppose I must step forward after a long time. Even looking at history before my return, this child of mine would become a reliable shield, so I should raise him properly..."
"I will try to resolve Anpyeong's problem."
At Hyang's words, Sejong brightened.
"That's right! The Crown Prince was there! The Crown Prince resolved it back then, so I will trust him this time too!"
"I will do my utmost."
* * *
Having obtained permission from Sejong, Hyang intercepted Anpyeong as soon as he was dragged in, taking him directly to Donggung Hall.
"Serves you right~."
At Hyang's short but powerful words, Anpyeong immediately lowered his head.
"Your Highness..."
"I see you know you did wrong."
"I am remorseful."
"Why would you be remorseful to me? You should be sorry to your wife. Thanks to you ruining the household finances, she had to borrow from her maiden family. What kind of shame is this for a Grand Prince of Joseon?"
At Hyang's rebuke, Anpyeong's head drooped further toward the ground.
"Tsk!"
Clicking his tongue softly at Anpyeong's appearance, Hyang continued speaking.
"I know well that you've liked Sadangpae entertainment since you were young. But let me ask you this. After watching that Sadangpae entertainment, what remains?"
"What? What do you mean, what remains?"
"I mean what remains besides what stays in your memory."
"Well..."
Anpyeong, about to answer, found himself at a loss for words. While the Sadangpae put on a performance and he laughed and enjoyed watching it, all his worries disappeared. But after the performance ended, he was filled with emptiness. Of course, his head was full of all the talents and sounds the Sadangpae had shown, but that was the end of it.
"You're aware that various rumors are circulating about your conduct, aren't you?"
"Yes, that I will shave my head and enter the mountains..."
"You do know."
At Hyang's reproach, Anpyeong could only lower his head.
* * *
Until the early Joseon period, Sadangpae had strong Buddhist overtones.
The very term 'Sadang' originally referred to shamanic rituals performed for the nation since the Goryeo period. Such Sadang acquired Buddhist coloring after Goryeo.
Therefore, watching a Sadangpae performance, a Geosa or Sajang would take the center, reciting Buddhist prayers and conducting water-land rites. However, over time, talents and sounds were added to this, transforming its character into traveling theatrical performances.
Consequently, the situation was such that rumors circulated not only among ordinary people but also among the ministers that Anpyeong, who was deeply immersed in Sadangpae entertainment still strongly colored with Buddhism, might convert to Buddhism.
The ministers' worries were not groundless, as there was the example of Grand Prince Hyoryeong, Sejong the Great's older brother.
Although Grand Prince Hyoryeong had not completely taken monastic vows, for a member of the royal family, the nation's core leadership, to become deeply immersed in Buddhism was something serious in the eyes of the ministers who were Confucian scholars.
* * *
"I have absolutely no intention of becoming a monk!"
At Anpyeong's protest, Hyang nodded lightly and continued.
"I would think so. It's not as if I don't know your personality. I don't worry about that point. So then..."
Pausing briefly, Hyang looked straight at Anpyeong. When Hyang stopped speaking, Anpyeong looked at his brother.
'His Highness will give me some kind of answer!'
Recalling not only his own experience but also the work Hyang had done all this time, Anpyeong looked at Hyang with expectant eyes.
Looking at such Anpyeong, Hyang brought up the main point.
"Would you like to take on the task of recording and organizing the entertainment and sounds of the Sadangpae?"
"What?"
* * *
Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Folklore, Sadangpae entry.