To realize the supremacy of the divine authority, Ryu Jeong-hyeon and the old officials who resisted were purged, and Sejong declared the execution of the reform.
As the stubborn old officials were swept away, the balance of power clearly tilted towards Sejong, allowing him to govern the state according to his will.
As time passed and summer approached, Sejong summoned the ministers.
"The age of Princess Jeong-hye is upon us, so how about we start looking for a consort?"
"I believe it is indeed a good time."
"Then let us begin the search."
"Understood."
The ministers responded cheerfully to Sejong's command.
They too felt the need for a joyous occasion to cover up the recent misfortunes.
Moreover, the main character, Princess Jeong-hye, was the darling of the royal family.
When the rumor of "Searching for a consort for Princess Jeong-hye!" spread, Hyang smiled.
"Is Sister going to get married? Many elders will surely be disappointed."
Hyang's evaluation of her sister, Princess Jeong-hye, was simple.
"Social skills max level. The ultimate socialite."
Just how charming was Princess Jeong-hye? When Hyang, wrapped in swaddling clothes, first met her, she was so bewildered by the princess's cuteness that she was left in a daze. 'Could this lady also be from the 21st century?'
As the news spread that the officials of the Royal Secretariat had begun searching for consort candidates, Princess Jeong-hye pouted at Sejong.
"Father! I want to continue living with you and Mother!"
Sejong smiled at her antics and gently patted her head.
"Would I not want that? But, it is only natural to find a partner and start a family when the time comes."
Tears began to well up in Princess Jeong-hye's eyes at Sejong's words.
"All I wish is to spend a little more time with Mother and Father."
"Oh dear!" Sejong feigned a stern expression, but Princess Jeong-hye protested with tearful eyes.
"I don't want to! I will stay with Father and Mother!"
"Oh dear! Why are you throwing a tantrum like this?"
"Father, I hate you!" With that, Princess Jeong-hye stormed out of the room.
"Jeong-hye!" Sejong called after her, but she did not look back.
Seeing this, Sejong turned to Queen Sohyeon with a helpless expression.
"Goodness..."
Queen Sohyeon smiled warmly at Sejong and defended the princess.
"She is still a child, after all. Moreover, she has spent more than half a year living in the house of Lord Han Jae-gyeom, so she must want to be with her parents."
At that time, it was customary for the royal family to entrust young princes and princesses to the homes of ministers for upbringing.
Following this custom, Princess Jeong-hye was also living in the house of Lee Maeng-kyun.
When Sejong could not hide his disappointment, Queen Sohyeon comforted him.
"Do not worry too much. I will soothe Jeong-hye's heart."
"Please do. Sigh... They say children do not go as we wish, and in the end, even Queen Sohyeon had to step in, but Princess Jeong-hye remained resolute in her refusal."
"The princess has stopped eating!"
"What?!"
Sejong was greatly surprised to hear that Princess Jeong-hye had begun a hunger strike.
"What did the queen say?"
"She is currently trying to persuade the princess, but she is quite stubborn..."
"Oh dear... Sigh..."
After receiving the report from the royal secretary, Sejong let out a long sigh.
"One has quieted down, and now another one..."
The next day, within the residence of Princess Jeong-hye in Gyeongbokgung Palace.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived."
When the court lady announced Hyang's arrival, Princess Jeong-hye replied in a dying voice from within.
"Let her in."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Once granted permission, the court ladies opened the door and bowed deeply to Hyang.
"You have worked hard."
"Thank you."
As Hyang entered, the door closed behind her, and she strode over to the bed where Princess Jeong-hye lay, plopping down beside her.
"Goodness! Sister, you are really suffering."
At Hyang's words, Princess Jeong-hye threw off the blanket and sat up abruptly.
"Enough! Give it to me!"
"Goodness... Tsk!"
Hyang clicked her tongue lightly and pulled out a paper bag filled with taffy and another bag containing rice cakes.
Both treats were things Hyang had bought from the market while dressed in her casual clothes.
Watching Princess Jeong-hye munch on the taffy, Hyang shook her head.
"Tsk! With so much food in the palace, is this really the royal treatment?"
"Be quiet! If I don't do this, do you think Father will change his mind?"
"Why not just find a decent young man and get married? If you’re not careful, you’ll be called an old maid."
"Shut up! I’m doing all this for you!"
"Excuse me?"
Hyang tilted her head in surprise at the unexpected remark.
Having eaten enough taffy and rice cakes, Princess Jeong-hye burped.
"Ugh! Now I can breathe a little."
"Goodness! A princess should have some decorum..."
"Enough already?"
"Yes, yes. But why am I suddenly being dragged into this?"
"Even if I leave, I will make sure that Yu (Lee Su-yang) that good-for-nothing is turned into a proper human being."
"Oh dear..."
Hyang could only smile bitterly at Princess Jeong-hye's words.
Princess Jeong-hye, who was originally recorded in history as Princess Jeong-so, was Sejong's first child.
Although she was originally given the title of Princess Jeong-hye in history, it was later changed to Princess Jeong-so because it was said to be similar to her aunt.
She should have died last winter, but thanks to Hyang's intervention, Princess Jeong-hye was brought back to life.
Among the variables created by Hyang's interference, she was one of them.
Princess Jeong-hye held a significant position in the royal family, as she was the only legitimate daughter.
Among the legitimate and illegitimate children that Sejong had—none of whom had been born yet—Princess Jeong-hye was the eldest.
Because of this, Sejong and his wife held a special affection for her.
Moreover, Princess Jeong-hye's personality played a part.
As Hyang described her, "the ultimate socialite," Princess Jeong-hye was very friendly.
Even before their deaths, King Taejong and his wife cherished her, and even Yangnyeong, who had a strained relationship with Sejong, adored her.
Thus, while Princess Jeong-hye was the darling of the royal elders, she held a slightly different position among her younger siblings.
Hyang evaluated Princess Jeong-hye as a "drill sergeant."
Perhaps due to Sejong's bloodline, Princess Jeong-hye was quite intelligent.
Coupled with the lineage of Yi Seong-gye, she was also very lively.
However, even from a young age, Jeong-hye realized her position and responsibilities, and when her younger siblings acted out of line, she would scold them sternly.
The most unfortunate thing for her younger siblings was that Jeong-hye's standard was Hyang.
"I know Hyang is not a bad person, but even considering that, you all are too unruly!"
Whenever Jeong-hye saw her younger siblings behaving even slightly out of line, she would scold them harshly.
She was so strict that even Queen Sohyeon would scold Jeong-hye for reprimanding her siblings.
"I won't say anything about you disciplining your siblings. But aren't you being too harsh?"
When Queen Sohyeon remarked that it was excessive, Jeong-hye replied firmly.
"Mother, those children are precious children of you and Father, and they are my dear younger siblings, but at the same time, they are noble princes and princesses. How can I just let those princes and princesses cause trouble instead of setting an example? As the eldest daughter of the royal family, I cannot overlook this!"
At Jeong-hye's resolute response, Queen Sohyeon could only sigh.
"Sigh..."
The sight of the eldest daughter reminded her of the eldest son who had defied Sejong even while being scolded.
Queen Sohyeon placed her hand on her forehead and lamented.
"Sigh... Jeong-hye and the Crown Prince..."
Among those who were most often scolded by Princess Jeong-hye were Yu (Lee Su-yang) and then Yong (Lee An-pyeong).
In Yu's case, it was hard to deny the significant environmental influence.
Until Princess Jeong-hye, who was just above him, entered the palace with Sejong and his wife, Yong was born in the palace.
However, at that time, Yu was too young to travel far, so he had to live in the family home until he turned five and entered the palace.
Moreover, due to his status as a prince, few dared to reprimand him.
As a result, he displayed a rather free-spirited and arrogant temperament.
With such a personality, Yu continued to cause trouble even after entering the palace.
As time passed, Yong also began to join in on the mischief.
The eldest brother, Hyang, was already involved in significant matters with Sejong and the ministers, and Yong, at an age where he enjoyed causing trouble, began to get along well with Yu.
And Princess Jeong-hye was not one to simply overlook such behavior.
"These two!"
As soon as she heard that Yu and Yong were causing trouble, Jeong-hye called them out.
The two, well aware that being summoned by Jeong-hye meant they would be scolded severely, immediately tried to escape, but each time, Jeong-hye would chase after them, clutching her skirt.
"Stop right there!"
And when they were caught, it was only natural that they would be scolded multiple times over.
As this happened repeatedly, Princess Jeong-hye became like a tiger to her younger siblings, making them freeze in place whenever she stood before them.
Upon hearing the rumor that a consort was being sought, Jeong-hye set a single goal.
"I will correct Yu's behavior before I get married!"
However, due to Princess Jeong-hye's hunger strike, the decision regarding the consort was postponed.
Although there was the hunger strike, Sejong also felt reluctant to marry Jeong-hye off early.
"We still have time until Jeong-hye's coming-of-age ceremony, so let’s postpone it a bit."
"Understood."
With Sejong's decision to delay the search for a consort, the ministers gathered in small groups to discuss.
"His Majesty is indeed quite lenient with his children."
"Isn't she a princess he dotes on?"
Since Princess Jeong-hye had a good reputation among the ministers, no one dared to speak against her.
The only concern was...
"If we’re not careful, the royal wedding preparations could become overwhelming."
"Indeed. Once the selection of the consort is complete, the Crown Prince's wedding will be approaching as well."
Meanwhile, upon hearing the news that "The search for Princess Jeong-hye's consort has been postponed!" Yu's face turned pale.
He was the one who had cheered the loudest at the news of "Searching for a consort for Princess Jeong-hye!"
"Before long, it will be my world!"
Hearing that the person who had been the strictest with him would soon leave the palace made Yu feel as if he had the world in his hands.
However, when he heard the news that "The search for the consort has been postponed," Yu felt darkness closing in and his body began to tremble.
"I'm doomed... What should I do?"
Yu's nightmare was far from over.
Hyang could tell that Yu was in a panic.
Because, as the rumors of the "search for a consort" spread, Yu, who had been showing signs of rebellion, suddenly returned to being a model student.
"It seems there really is a natural enemy."
Watching Yu and Yong sitting quietly and studying, Hyang couldn't help but chuckle.
Hyang had no complaints.
Although things had changed from the original history, it was a very good thing for him that there was definitely someone Yu was afraid of.
"By the way... If my sister gets married, will I be next?"
Hyang put down his pen and leaned back in his chair.
"As for the conclusion... this is quite a dilemma. How do I bring in the options? I can't just marry three times like the original..."
As the massive event of the conclusion approached, Hyang fell into deep thought.
While pondering various things, he suddenly became curious.
"By the way, did the original person have a chaotic marriage because of his fandom? Or was it a chaotic marriage because he was a fan?"
Recalling the stories he had heard during Korean history class, Hyang felt intrigued.
However, there was something Hyang was unaware of, or rather, something he refused to acknowledge.
That was that even in the 21st century, Hyang had no connection with the opposite sex and was a "fan with terminal symptoms" who had given up on relationships.
During his school years—especially in college—he had become a legend for his fandom, and female classmates had avoided him altogether.
Later, he suffered from what was called "sour grapes syndrome"—to put it bluntly, "mental victory"—and built walls between himself and women.
"Sour grapes syndrome" was a common symptom among fans with terminal symptoms.
It was likened to the fox in Aesop's fable "The Fox and the Grapes."
"The reason I have no luck with women is that my standards are too high. I need to lower my standards, but it's not easy, is it? Hahaha!"
This was true for Hyang in the 21st century as well.
And even now, having been reincarnated in the Joseon era, it was the same.
Just before he had been worrying about his marriage, he had thrown those thoughts far away into Andromeda as he started to create a research institute and fully dive into his fandom.