Chapter 89: Autumn (2)
When the Mid-Autumn Festival had passed, Princess Jeonghye finally held her wedding.
The one who became Princess Jeonghye's consort was the second son of a man who had served as a Junior Third Rank Vice Minister of War.
After the wedding ended, Hyang met separately with the Consort.
"Please take good care of my sister."
"Yes, I will do my best."
"She was beloved by Father and Mother. Though she may have many rough edges, she is a wise person, so she will soon become a good wife."
"Yes, Crown Prince Your Highness."
Amidst an atmosphere that was gentle throughout, Hyang offered kind words while looking around, then drew close to the Consort and muttered quietly.
"If tears appear in my sister's eyes, you die by my hand."
"Gulp!"
The Consort, two years older than Hyang, nodded with a face turned pale white at Hyang's quiet warning.
* * *
Though Princess Jeonghye's wedding had ended, preparations for another wedding were underway.
"Issue the marriage ban decree."
At Sejong's command, Hwang Hui stepped forward.
"What age should be set?"
At Hwang Hui's question, Sejong calculated for a moment.
"The Crown Prince will soon turn twelve, so how about fourteen?"
"How about up to fifteen?"
"Fifteen..."
Sejong, who had been contemplating for a moment, nodded.
"Do so."
"I shall obey the command!"
Thus, the marriage ban decree was issued throughout all of Joseon.
"As expected, but it's not exactly welcome."
"Hey, why create this innocent selection system!"
When the marriage ban was issued, the elders of noble families throughout the country grumbled with faces full of dissatisfaction.
* * *
The selection system was created by Taejong.
Before that, there was no selection system itself. The weddings of princes or princesses were generally arranged through quiet personal connections.
However, the selection system was created because of words spoken by a man named Yi Sok during the process of marrying off Taejong's illegitimate daughter, Princess Jeongsin.
"Straw is fitting for weaving straw sandals."
Interpreted as meaning his son was not of matching status and read as a polite refusal, the situation seemed to end there.
However, after the true intention of Yi Sok's words was revealed, chaos erupted.
"Though she is a royal daughter, I cannot take a servant's daughter as my daughter-in-law!"
Because of this statement, Yi Sok received 100 lashes of the paddle, was demoted to commoner status, the son in question received a lifetime marriage ban, and all relatives received paddle punishment—an incident that showed Taejong's splendid vengeance.
With this incident as a catalyst, Taejong created the selection system. Ironically, before the selection system was created, the three legitimate brothers—Yangnyeong, Hyoryeong, and Chungnyong—had already married.
* * *
Anyway, with the marriage ban in effect, not only noble families but even common people were forbidden from marrying.
"What! Why are they blocking the marriages of people like us just because a prince is getting married!"
Common people—especially men and women on the verge of marriage—who suddenly could not hold their weddings grumbled with protruding lips.
And ordinary local nobles were the same.
"Really! Even with selection, it's the same old thing anyway, why are they blocking marriage paths!"
"Even if it happens, I'm worried! What kind of family is that! After making their daughter queen, will they ruin the family!"
The reactions of nobles who had seen in-laws destroyed over two generations—Taejong and Sejong—were largely similar.
* * *
Hearing the news that a marriage ban had been issued to find his consort, Hyang smacked his lips.
"Tsk. I prefer younger women... Ah! At my current age, younger would be a crime? No, even if older, as long as the first digit doesn't change, it's still a crime."
Hyang, who had made a joke to himself, trailed off with a complicated expression.
"Marriage..."
Even in the 21st century, Hyang was a 'self-acknowledged eccentric otaku' with no connections to women.
"Hmm..."
While daydreaming with an expression mixed with anticipation and worry, the words of Samcheonpo Teacher came to mind after a long time.
The greatest culprit of the tragedy Danjong had to face was Munjong!
The year Danjong was born was 1441, when Munjong was 27 years old!
Considering that Sejong was 17 when he fathered Munjong, that's a whopping 10 years wasted!
If Danjong had been born 10 years, no, even 5 years earlier, Suyang Daegun wouldn't have dared to start anything!
Because in Joseon, at 15 one was treated as an adult!
Remembering Samcheonpo Teacher's words, Hyang thought for a moment then sprang up from his seat.
"I must move for the sake of the future! And it's a good opportunity for what I've been thinking about! Is 1+1 anything special! Attendant!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Ask Father if I may see him now!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
* * *
After some time passed and permission was granted, Hyang entered Gangnyeongjeon.
"Come in quickly."
Sejong, who had just finished a meeting and was having refreshments with the ministers, welcomed Hyang gladly.
"I see. What is the reason you sought your father at this time rather than during an assembly?"
At Sejong's words, Hyang got to the main point.
"Please give me some personal funds."
"Personal funds rather than budget?"
When Sejong expressed curiosity, Hyang answered immediately.
"Insunbu, which was destroyed in the past fire, has not yet been restored."
Insunbu, one of the major royal storehouses, which managed the wealth the Crown Prince could use once invested, had been destroyed in the past fire.
At Hyang's words, Sejong nodded.
"I see. You prioritized restoration so Insunbu was pushed back. But why do you need personal funds?"
"It is because of a problem related to my wedding."
"Wedding? While going between District 51 and the palace, or during restoration work, did a young lady catch your eye? Is her family perhaps humble? If so, you would need wealth greater than personal funds?"
Sejong joked with a mischievous smile.
Though Joseon hadn't been established long, Hyang was certain to be recorded as the Crown Prince with the most external activities in Joseon history.
Sejong, assuming there was a young lady who caught his eye while going about outside, had made a joke.
Of course, half of it was not a joke but the truth, but the real problem was that whether in the 21st century or now, Hyang was an otaku devoted solely to his hobbies.
"That is not the case."
"Then why do you need personal funds?"
"I intend to visit a gisaeng house."
"Pfft!"
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Scratch!
At Hyang's words, Sejong spat out the tea he was drinking, and the ministers coughed from choking.
The historians and recorders dropped their writing brushes, making holes in the paper and ruining the brushes while making tearful faces.
"Cough! Cough! You insolent brat!"
After sneezing several times, Sejong shouted at Hyang. However, Hyang looked at Sejong with a calm face.
At Hyang's calm expression, Sejong forcibly suppressed his anger.
"Crown Prince, you are only twelve years old. What is the reason for visiting a gisaeng house at that age? If you are already seeking carnal pleasures, I will not forgive you."
"It is because of the wedding matter, Your Majesty."
"What does a wedding have to do with a gisaeng house... If it concerns matters between husband and wife, you will naturally learn about it."
'No wonder 21st century school sex education is in that state!'
Grumbling inwardly, Hyang explained in more detail.
"Though it is presumptuous, I have devoted myself only to academics since opening my eyes to letters at a young age."
"That is true."
"Therefore, I do not know about the beauty of women."
"A wedding is a matter where a man and woman meet to spend a hundred years together. To spend these years together, both the man and woman must have no dissatisfaction with their partner.
Generally, the first thing a man evaluates about a woman is her appearance.
However, because I have only looked at books, I do not know what female beauty is.
Of course, words like 'beauty that topples kingdoms,' 'fish-sinking, goose-falling beauty,' 'moon-hiding, flower-shaming beauty' appear in history, but have I not seen these with my own eyes?
Therefore, I cannot even distinguish whether the standard of beauty I think of is correct or not.
However, with gisaeng in gisaeng houses, the first thing mentioned is their beauty, so I intend to visit a gisaeng house to see for myself."
"Well..."
At Hyang's words, Sejong's expression became complicated. At a twelve-year-old openly saying he would visit gisaeng houses, he wanted to grab a rod and strike his calves immediately, but Hyang's words also sounded somewhat plausible.
"Good heavens... really..."
When even Sejong, famous for his intelligence, couldn't find words and was stammering, Hwang Hui stepped forward.
"Crown Prince Your Highness. From ancient times, inner beauty has been said to be more important than outer beauty. Whether male or female, outer beauty is fleeting. What matters afterward is inner beauty. Having lived to this age, I have come to know this clearly."
"However, isn't inner beauty something that cannot be recognized the moment you see it? Of course, even the people in the marketplace say things like 'What good is a pretty face, will you eat that face to live?' But other words also circulate. 'If given a choice, a red silk skirt,' 'A good-looking rice cake is also good to eat.' And if inner beauty is so important, why are the gisaeng houses so busy? And why do men take concubines?"
"Hem! Hem!"
At Hyang's counter-question, the ministers could only cough awkwardly. Sejong turned his head to observe the others.
The attendants were looking at distant mountains, and the historians and recorders had buried their heads and were only moving their writing brushes.
Hyang continued speaking.
"After my wedding, I have no intention of taking any woman other than the Crown Princess."
"Crown Prince, increasing the royal family is one of the important duties."
"Father, I already have seven full brothers. If following your example, wouldn't the Crown Princess alone be sufficient?
While going to District 51 and working at restoration sites, I often see men getting caught cheating and being beaten by their wives.
From ancient times it was said 'a harmonious family brings success to all things,' and words circulating in the marketplace say 'even Buddha turns his back when seeing a concubine.'
Truly, the ancients said 'cultivate the self, regulate the family, then govern the state and bring peace to the world.' Yet, unable to overcome lust and taking concubines while creating turmoil in the household—how can one achieve governing the state and bringing peace to the world when one cannot even cultivate the self or regulate the family?"
"..."
"..."
At Hyang's words, both Sejong and the ministers fell silent. After some time passed, Sejong opened his mouth.
"I understand your intention well. Given your temperament, even if your father forbade it, you would find a way to proceed. Sigh~."
Letting out a long sigh, Sejong finally raised the white flag.
"Very well. I will inform the Internal Revenue Department."
"Your benevolence is boundless!"
"However, staying overnight is not permitted!"
"I shall obey the command!"
Having obtained permission from Sejong, Hyang left Gangnyeongjeon in high spirits.
After Hyang left, Sejong complained to the ministers.
"It's a problem when a child is too clever."
"..."
"I wish to be alone for a moment. Let us meet at Pyeonjeon later."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
* * *
Meanwhile, Hyang, who had received permission from Sejong, was beaming with joy.
"I only had suspicions until now, but this is the moment to confirm!"
Among the palace court ladies, women seen while going to District 51, and women glimpsed while supervising at restoration sites, there were many women with considerable beauty even by 21st century standards.
In the 21st century, Hyang's middle school art teacher had said the following:
Don't confuse aesthetic perspective with actual beauty standards.
Simply put, don't trust evaluations like "Eastern beauty," "Western beauty," "traditional Eastern beauty," and so on.
If you look at the gisaeng photographs taken by Westerners who visited Joseon during the reign of King Gojong, quite a few would be called beauties even now.
Of course, except for the problem of being short.
The West is the same! If you look at Western classical nude paintings, they're all quite large, right? If that build were the standard of beauty, why would the torture device called the corset have been created!
The art teacher's words later connected to what a famous Australian comedian said.
Sick of being asked about the difference between Eastern and Western beauties every time he appeared on TV, he concluded as follows:
"Whether white guys or Korean guys, men's eyes are all the same!"
* * *
A few days after Hyang received permission from Sejong, a strange rumor was circulating among the gisaeng houses of Hanseong.
"There's a young nobleman who doesn't drink alcohol and only looks at the gisaengs' faces before leaving!"
As the rumor spread, the gisaengs' interest turned to the main character's identity.
"I found out!"
"Who is he? A country nobleman from some distant rural area?"
"Close if close, far if far."
"Stop with the riddles, whose son is he? Is he from a family with money? It would be nice if it's a family we could strip some money from without getting into trouble."
At her colleague's words, the gisaeng who had brought the information clicked her tongue.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Stop it, stop. If you make one wrong move, your neck will fly off."
"Whose son is he anyway!"
"They say he's the eldest son of the master of Gyeongbokgung! The master of the Eastern Palace!"
"Oh my goodness!"
The gisaengs who received the information that the main character was Hyang were divided into two groups. Those who were extremely careful, and others who put on prettier makeup than usual and wore thinner clothes.
"You girl, you'll freeze to death like that!"
"Who knows? What if I catch even a concubine position?"
"She's delusional."
Unlike the hopes of gisaengs aiming for 'life reversal in one shot,' Hyang, who had visited every gisaeng house in Hanseong once, disappeared from the gisaeng house alleys.
* * *
"So... did you look around well?"
"Yes, Father."
"You uninteresting fellow."
At Hyang's answer, Sejong shot a small remark.
Though he had permitted Hyang, Sejong hadn't been at ease, so he had ordered the military officers and attendants assigned to guard Hyang to report on his every move.
Having received reports from the guards and attendants, Sejong placed his hand on his forehead.
"What to do with this child..."
Hyang, having called the gisaengs together, ended with literally 'only observing the gisaengs' appearance.'
Of course, he conversed with the gisaengs and watched their arts, but it ended there.
"Is this kid not functional?"
Sejong was worrying about something ridiculous.
At Hyang's answer, Sejong's genuine curiosity was piqued, so he asked a question.
"So. Which gisaeng appeared beautiful to you?"
"They all had at least one charm each."
'They were at a level that even by 21st century standards, agency pickup would be possible? Though height is a problem...'
"That is so. Then, what kind of woman would be the best as your partner?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang pondered for a long time.
'A suitable phrase... in the end, there's only this one?'
Hyeong, who had been pondering to find an answer, borrowed the evaluation of a female duo that had been popular in the 21st century Korean music industry.
"Father. Either the woman with the most beautiful appearance among women with beautiful hearts, or the woman with the most beautiful heart among women with beautiful appearance..."
"You brat, get out!"