"The Prime Minister has claimed that he 'could not confirm the efficacy' of the vaccination. He insists that 'establishing the law is of utmost priority.' Thus, he has prevented the nationwide implementation of the vaccination.
So, what has happened? A tragedy has unfolded in Geumcheon-gun with the outbreak of smallpox. Look at the tragedy that has occurred in Geumcheon-gun.
So far, twenty-five people have died, and more than sixty have become either imbeciles, blind, or otherwise disabled. And what is worse is that we do not know how many more will die or become disabled in the future. Ministers, think carefully.
If we had not missed the opportunity and had vaccinated the entire nation, the tragedy in Geumcheon-gun could have been avoided. The Prime Minister has caused unnecessary sacrifices under the pretense of 'upholding the law' to protect his own power!
Therefore!
I will hold Prime Minister Ryu Jeong-hyeon accountable for this crime!"
At the verdict of King Sejong, the Prime Minister bowed deeply and raised his voice.
"Your Majesty! I did not act merely to protect my own power! The efficacy of the vaccination has not been conclusively proven, and it would be unjust to wield authority without proper evidence!"
"Be quiet! Are you still trying to confuse the situation with your cunning words? Bring the officials of the Office of Special Investigations here at once!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty! Please reconsider!"
As soon as King Sejong's command was given, the ministers and the Chief State Councilor, along with the Chief Inspector, immediately bowed and tried to intervene.
However, Sejong did not back down.
"Reconsider? Do what is right!"
"Your Majesty! The Prime Minister's words may have been excessive, but they stem from a deep concern for the country, so please reconsider!"
"Has all concern for the country frozen to death?"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
As the ministers and the Chief Inspector pleaded, the Chief State Councilor spoke with a sorrowful voice.
"Your Majesty, while the Prime Minister's words may have been excessive, his concern for the country is as solid as gold and stone. Do not focus on his superficial words and actions, but consider his deeper intentions!"
"Shut your mouth! Words are vessels that carry thoughts; how can the superficial and the deep be different? If they are different, then that is true hypocrisy, and how can one be called a gentleman?"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
"Do not provoke my patience! If you continue to babble, I will consider you as one of those false gentlemen!"
Despite King Sejong's fierce warning, the ministers, the Chief State Councilor, and the Chief Inspector did not back down.
"Please reconsider! It is unjust to declare the innocent guilty!"
"Please reconsider!"
"When the lord seeks an unjust path, how can the servants remain silent? It is utterly unreasonable to hold the Prime Minister accountable! Please reconsider!"
In response to the ministers' resistance, Sejong slammed his armrest in frustration.
"Unjust? Unjust? What is unjust? The number of people who have lost their lives due to smallpox over the years is countless! Moreover, how many have survived only to become imbeciles or disabled, wandering and begging? We had a plan to prevent this; why should we delay? There were those who sacrificed their wealth to provide cattle for their neighbors, yet who was it that stopped them for the ridiculous reason of changing policies overnight? Who is truly unjust here?"
Despite Sejong's outburst, the ministers and the Chief Inspector did not relent.
"I must advise again that the Prime Minister's words were indeed excessive! However, the actions of the court must align with the will of the monarch and the ministers, and once a decision is made, it should not be changed lightly! The Prime Minister's opposition to your decision is because your decision violated the second principle! The agreement between ruler and ministers and the solemnity of court actions are the very foundation of the righteous governance spoken of by the sages!"
As the Chief Minister passionately defended, Sejong slammed his armrest again.
"Truly the height of sophistry and self-serving arguments! Do you think you have prevented my decision by following the will of the sages? You are merely acting for your own petty desires! You wish to suppress me, the ruler, for your own selfish ambitions! What you desire is not the agreement between ruler and ministers, but a court where the ruler is weak and the ministers are strong, turning me into a puppet! You are more wicked than Jeong Dojeon himself! You are utterly unforgivable!"
As Sejong mentioned Jeong Dojeon again, the ministers all denied it in unison.
"Your Majesty! We absolutely do not harbor such thoughts!"
"Your Majesty! Please recognize our loyalty!"
The court was frozen in tension as King Sejong and the ministers exchanged heated words.
The officials, bowing low, felt a thick stench of blood in the air.
"Your Majesty, the officials of the Office of Special Investigations have arrived."
At the words of the attendant, Sejong could not hide his anger and immediately issued a command.
"Officials of the Office of Special Investigations, listen! Immediately imprison those false gentlemen, the Prime Minister, the Left Prime Minister, the Right Prime Minister, and the Chief Inspector and Chief State Councilor! Prepare the generals and the officials outside the capital so that they may carry out my orders as soon as I give them!"
"Understood!"
As soon as Sejong's command was given, the officials of the Office of Special Investigations summoned the royal guards and took the Prime Minister and his associates away.
"Your Majesty! Please reconsider!"
"Your Majesty! This is an act that goes against the will of the sages!"
"Your Majesty!"
Even as they were being dragged away, the Prime Minister and his associates tried to change Sejong's mind.
However, Sejong remained resolute.
"Ministers, listen."
"We will listen attentively!"
As soon as Sejong spoke, the ministers straightened up and replied in unison.
"Let today’s events serve as a lesson for us to refrain from rash actions."
"We will remember and act accordingly!"
"With the positions of the three Prime Ministers and the Chief State Councilor now vacant, select suitable individuals and report to me. I will give you five days."
"We will comply!"
Sejong, glaring at the frozen ministers, turned his gaze to the Chief State Councilor.
"Tell the Office of Special Investigations to imprison all the families of these criminals and seal all their properties."
"Understood!"
"Let us end today’s matters here. Go and attend to your duties."
With Sejong's dismissal, all the ministers bowed and exited the main hall.
Left alone in the hall, Sejong placed his hand on his forehead and let out a long sigh.
"Ha~."
Returning to Donggung Palace, Hyang organized the situation with a serious expression.
"If this were a TV drama, the ratings would have skyrocketed. The actors would have been struggling to memorize their lines... Is that why traditional historical dramas are being pushed aside for fusion historical dramas?"
Muttering to himself without realizing it, Hyang shook his head.
"Damn! Am I following the path of Teacher Samcheongpo? Why am I going off track?"
After finishing his self-reflection, Hyang organized the situation again.
"With today's events, there shouldn't be anyone making a fuss for a while. The problem is filling the vacancies... Is it finally time for Hwang Hee and Maeng Sa-seong to step up? The Avengers of Sejong are being formed?"
"Your Majesty has arrived!"
At the announcement from the attendant outside, Hyang rose from his chair.
Straightening his clothes, he bowed as Sejong entered.
"Father, you have come?"
"Yes, what were you doing?"
"I was reflecting on today’s events."
"Is that so? I see. First, let us sit."
"Yes."
The father and son sat across from each other at the table.
"Shall I serve tea?"
"Yes. Let us have a drink. But you are not serving willow bark tea here, are you?"
"No, I am not."
At Sejong's words, Hyang shook his head with a bitter smile.
The willow bark tea mentioned by Sejong was made from well-dried willow bark.
"As for our King Sejong's longevity, the most concerning issues are diabetes and vascular diseases..."
While searching for various methods for Sejong's longevity, Hyang recalled the ramblings of Teacher Samcheongpo.
While explaining the early stages of the Imjin War, Teacher Samcheongpo suddenly went off on a tangent about Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
"When Admiral Yi Sun-sin broke his leg during the military examination, he wrapped it with willow bark, right? Why did Admiral Yi use willow bark? Was it just a splint? Or perhaps a painkiller?"
As Teacher Samcheongpo's ramblings drifted, they eventually led to aspirin.
"Since humans began recording history, one of the most important topics has been creating a 'cure-all.' And the closest thing to a cure-all is aspirin. It not only serves its original purpose of reducing fever and relieving pain but also treats vascular diseases and is even used as an anti-cancer drug."
For reference, one of the people Hyang's parents disliked the most in his past life as Jin-ho was Teacher Samcheongpo.
"He doesn't teach the lessons but just rambles on about nonsense, leaving the children behind!"
Anyway, recalling Teacher Samcheongpo, Hyang immediately ordered the Royal Medical Office to prepare tea made from willow bark to present to Sejong.
"This will relieve headaches, thin the blood, and prevent chest tightness and strokes."
"... The taste is not very good."
"It is medicine. Is there any medicine that tastes good?"
Thus, after presenting the willow bark tea, Hyang firmly warned the royal physicians.
"It is necessary to take it continuously, but it should not be taken excessively. Thinning the blood means it will be difficult to stop bleeding. So, let there be appropriate breaks before presenting it to His Majesty."
"Yes, Your Highness."
With the tea cups between them, the father and son continued their conversation.
"Seja, I am thinking of killing the Prime Minister. I will also purge those who conspired with him. Do you think that is excessive?"
"If it is frequent, it may become a problem, but if not, I think it is sufficient as a warning to others."
At Hyang's words, Sejong showed a relieved expression.
"Is that so? I am reassured to hear you say that. I thought it would be truly lonely if you opposed me too."
"The root of this incident lies with those cunning ministers."
"Indeed. But what do you think about the Prime Minister's memorial regarding the relationship between ruler and ministers?"
"There are indeed some valid points. The king's wielding of authority has become commonplace, and if a future successor were to emerge like Jie of the Xia or Zhou, it would lead to the downfall of the nation. No one knows what the future holds."
'The representative figures causing such controversy are Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun.
While the controversy surrounding Gwanghaegun has somewhat settled, Yeonsangun is a clear case! Ah... or is it not?'
- The evaluation of Yeonsangun as a tyrant is mainstream, but there are counterarguments.
Since Sejo, the central politics of Joseon have continued with the principle of a weak ruler and strong ministers.
Although Seongjong strengthened the royal authority, it was not enough to completely overturn it.
However, the one who completely overturned it was Yeonsangun, using the excuse of his mother being a deposed concubine and executing her.
But in order to flaunt the strengthened royal authority, he committed absurd acts, losing both justification and the support of the people, which was his downfall.
As a result, the restoration of Jungjong occurred, leading to a return to the weak ruler and strong ministers.
Well, Jungjong was not someone to be taken lightly either.
Nodding at Hyang's response, Sejong said, "That is indeed true. I did not expect a child like you to be born... Ah! That is a good thing!"
Seeing Hyang's sullen expression, Sejong quickly added more words.
Hyang, who had been grumbling inwardly, continued, "If a tyrant were to appear and commit tyranny, it would naturally lead to the downfall of the nation. Therefore, it is essential to guarantee and maintain the power of the ministers. However, looking at the current situation in Joseon, the power of the ministers still threatens the royal authority. To be precise, compared to the power of the court officials and the yangban, the royal authority is very weak."
Hyang pulled over a piece of paper he had set aside.
Drawing a square on it, he divided it into four sections and shaded three of them.
"This represents the current state of Joseon. The shaded parts represent the power held by the yangban, while the remaining section represents the royal authority."
"Even so, isn't it still more than one section?"
At Sejong's rebuttal, Hyang shook his head.
"This is merely how it appears because the yangban cooperate with the royal authority for their own power struggles. If the royal authority threatens their interests, they will immediately unite against it."
"That may be true."
Nodding at Hyang's explanation, Sejong sighed.
"Haah~. It won't be easy to get them to give up what they have."
"We will need to find another way. Instead of directly taking what they have, we should expand the board entirely."
At Hyang's words, Sejong's eyes began to sparkle.