“Something feels ominous…”
Hyang’s brothers, both legitimate and illegitimate, all shuddered with a sense of foreboding.
This wasn’t just a simple feeling.
For some time now, whenever they felt such ominousness, the gates of suffering would open wide not long after.
“When did this start? Right! It was after I came of age!”
Terrified, Hyang’s brothers frantically wracked their brains.
“What should we do? A good method…”
No matter how much they pondered, the answer that emerged was simple yet desperate.
—No escape route.
After reviewing it several times and getting the same answer, Hyang’s brothers looked up at the night sky and screamed.
“Of all things, to be born into the royal family! This cursed fate!”
The cause that made Hyang’s brothers cry out to the night sky was Sejong and Hyang.
***
Generally, a king’s greatest enemy was his successor. And that successor’s greatest enemy was his brothers. Next came the ministers.
The two ‘Princes’ Rebellions’ where Taejong slaughtered his brothers and Jeong Do-jeon happened for this reason, as did the purge of Shim On, and finally the case where Sejong purged Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s faction—all ultimately for the same reason.
However, with Taejong having laid the groundwork first, and Sejong having solidified royal authority through the Ryu Jeong-hyeon case, Hyang became not an enemy but Sejong’s greatest political ally.
While showing absolute loyalty to Sejong, Hyang never forgot healthy criticism, enriched the people’s lives while strengthening national defense through creating all manner of inventions.
With the successful suppression of the Giyu Rebellion—the final resistance of the established yangban class—and Prince Yangnyeong who threatened Sejong’s royal authority, Sejong had nothing to fear.
As the situation developed this way, the gates of suffering opened for Hyang’s brothers.
Those who found their calling early and escaped—like Jinpyeong and Anpyeong, Grand Princes Geumseong and Pyeongwon, Princesses Jeongso and Jeongui (perhaps due to Hyang’s intervention, Sejong’s concubines were greatly reduced, and no princesses were born)—were the lucky ones.
At least.
The grand princes and princes who hadn’t yet found their calling and were living leisurely were all summoned by Sejong, assigned positions, and subjected to overtime hell.
Of course, the grand princes and princes didn’t accept immediately.
“Father, my lifelong wish is simply to live contentedly in poverty and enjoy nature and literature…”
“Really? Then I’ll recall all the stipends given to you and grant you an appropriate amount of land.”
“By ‘appropriate amount of land,’ how much do you mean…”
“Let me see…”
Sejong opened one of the books from the Ministry of Revenue nearby, flipped through it, and answered.
“Among Joseon’s people, those who farm for a living have an average of 4 gyeol of rice paddies and fields. So I’ll give you 4 gyeol. I’ll also recall all slaves and mansions.”
“Father! As a member of the royal family, how can I possibly live on merely 4 gyeol?”
“Didn’t you say your wish was to live contentedly in poverty and enjoy nature? If you’re going to live contentedly in poverty, what need do you have for large mansions with slaves or extensive farmland?”
“…”
“Why no answer?”
“I will work in the position Your Majesty assigns me.”
“Good thinking. You will…”
Having received workplace, official position, and duties to perform, the grand princes and princes returned with drooping shoulders.
Watching his children’s retreating figures, Sejong clicked his tongue.
“Tsk! Their big brother may be slippery but he earns more than his keep! Without cunning, the body must suffer! Tsk tsk tsk!”
Whether it was praise or criticism, scolding or lament, Sejong’s ambiguous words were unclear as he turned his arrows toward Hyang.
“Speaking of which, this brat does earn his keep, but he’s far too slippery. Hmm… what to do…”
At the same time, Hyang suddenly shuddered and looked around.
“What’s this sudden chill…”
The grand princes and princes’ struggles to escape Sejong’s clutches continued.
“I’m unwell…”
“I’ve caught a cold…”
To those who applied for sick leave citing illness, the response was copious medicinal herbs and royal physicians.
“His Majesty says, ‘What parent could be at ease seeing their child bedridden with weakness? Therefore, I send medicine and physicians, hoping you will immediately get up and return to work.'”
At the accompanying eunuch’s words, the grand princes and princes gritted their teeth, rose from their beds, and bowed deeply toward the palace.
“Your grace is infinite!”
Then, eunuchs sent by Hyang came looking for the grand princes and princes.
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince bids me convey: ‘Give up—it’s easier.'”
“Please convey that I’ll engrave this teaching, precious as gold and jade, in my bones and mind.”
“Yes.”
After sending back the eunuchs Hyang had sent, the grand princes and princes cursed.
“Damn it!”
“Bloody hell!”
***
Sejong’s reach extended beyond just his children.
Starting with the children of his brother Grand Prince Hyoryeong, Sejong dragged in every capable royal relative and assigned them work.
Sejong acted this way for several reasons.
First was the shortage of talent.
Before Sejong began the Great Reformation reforms, Joseon had advocated a ‘small government.’
Therefore, as the court grew through Great Reformation, vacant positions began appearing like mushrooms after rain.
Though they were filling these positions by reforming the examination system, expanding education, and even opening doors to women, the immediate present was the problem.
Moreover, the departments created through Great Reformation were subtly avoided by officials due to their lowly status.
Second, finances were also an issue.
As Great Reformation properly took effect, Joseon’s economy grew dramatically, and through this, finances also greatly improved. However, in the early stages, there were still financial problems.
The best answer to solving these accumulated problems was the royal relatives.
Being members of the royal family, they had received a considerable level of education. Also, having royal relatives take positions could reduce officials’ avoidance phenomenon.
Moreover, since they already received fiefs or stipends, there was no need for additional salaries—a major reason. It would reduce the financial burden.
As the situation flowed this way, through Sejong and Hyang’s collaboration, the royal relatives were subjected to overwork. It was Hyang who came up with the idea of utilizing royal relatives.
“It’s a hereditary kingdom anyway, right? Think of it as a rather large-scale family business… ‘A court where family works together, like family’—how wonderful is that? And rather than anxiously wondering what they’re plotting elsewhere, it’s more reassuring to have them sitting right in front of you, working!”
And Sejong promptly accepted this proposal.
“Indeed, befitting the Crown Prince! Indeed, befitting the Crown Prince!”
Along with such praise.
As time passed, these words began circulating among the grand princes, princes, and royal relatives.
“Not a family-like court but a family…
“Shh!”
At least the more distant relatives could eventually take early retirement as time passed, but there was no such thing for Sejong’s grand princes and princes.
This time, Hyang stepped forward to bind them.
“Isn’t it natural filial piety for children to help their parents! Am I the only child?”
“…That’s true…”
***
Three days after that inexplicable ominous feeling, the foreboding became reality.
“His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus summons you to court.”
“…I understand.”
At the message from the eunuch Hyang sent, the grand princes and princes dressed in court robes and left their homes.
Their expressions heading to Changdeok Palace where Hyang was staying were like cattle being led to slaughter.
After receiving greetings from the arriving grand princes and princes, Hyang immediately got to the point.
“…Therefore, we must complete the work that the Venerable Emperor couldn’t finish. That’s why I called you.”
At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong stepped forward.
“How much work is there?”
At Jinpyeong’s question, Hyang gestured to a eunuch. Seeing Hyang’s gesture, the eunuch silently went outside. Shortly after, about ten eunuchs entered carrying large trays filled with thick books and scrolls.
The eunuchs brought books and scrolls in two trips.
Seeing the books and scrolls piled like mountains before them, the grand princes and princes turned pale and unconsciously blurted out their thoughts.
“What the hell…”
“What on earth was Father…”
“Quiet!”
Though Hyang stopped the grand princes and princes’ murmuring, Anpyeong stepped forward to protest.
“Perhaps because I’m getting older, my body feels different every day. But to process such a large amount of work—it’s unreasonable.”
At Anpyeong’s protest, Hyang briefly asked back.
“Anyone here older than me, raise your hand.”
“Still, Your Majesty is Your Majesty…”
“You all are dukes and marquises too.”
“…”
Having silenced Anpyeong, Hyang looked at the grand princes and princes and continued.
“These are plans imperial father devised for the empire’s future and the people’s peace. But since imperial father’s strength has waned and he couldn’t properly finish them, isn’t it the duty of us, his children, to inherit and complete them? If this isn’t filial piety, what is?”
“…That’s true. We understand.”
“What should we start with?”
As the grand princes and princes accepted reality, Hyang began dividing the work in earnest.
“First, let’s form groups centered on Anpyeong and Jinpyeong. I’ve done an initial classification and prepared necessary materials, but we’ll need to reclassify or gather additional materials. Let’s figure that out.”
At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong immediately demanded.
“What will Your Majesty be doing in the meantime?”
“Me? I need to first check on the Venerable Emperor ‘s well-being and classify these things.”
At Hyang’s answer, the grand princes and princes looked at the books stacked beside Hyang. Seeing the books—thick but fewer than ten—they unconsciously muttered.
“Huh?”
At the grand princes and princes’ reaction, Hyang chuckled and spoke.
“Doesn’t seem like much?”
At Hyang’s question, Jinpyeong answered honestly.
“Yes.”
“Really? Then, Jinpyeong, would you like to step up, read all of this, grade it, and then register it in the Challenge’s Record?”
“C-Challenge’s Record?”
“Challenge’s Record.”
At Hyang’s answer, Jinpyeong looked at Anpyeong.
“How should we divide the brothers?”
“Hey, gather around!”
At Jinpyeong’s words, Anpyeong immediately called the grand princes and princes together. At Anpyeong’s call, they hurriedly gathered and put their heads together.
Seeing his brothers’ behavior, Hyang placed his hand on his forehead.
“To think these are my brothers…”
Though they heard Hyang’s grumbling, the grand princes and princes pretended not to hear.
‘Challenge’s Record? Challenge’s Record?’
‘I’d rather lay railroad tracks than classify Challenge Records!’
‘Better to be buried in the Archives!’
For those who weren’t specialists in Challenge’s Record-related agencies, the very sight of Challenge Records was repugnant.
This was the typical reaction of non-specialists to Challenge Records.
“White things are paper, black things are ink.”
That’s why they all backed away at the mention of grading before Challenge’s Record registration.