89
When the Mid-Autumn Festival had passed, Princess Jeong-hye finally held her wedding.
The man who became her husband was the second son of a former third-rank military officer.
After the ceremony, Hyang met separately with the groom.
"I ask you to take good care of my sister."
"Yes. I will do my best."
"She is the favored daughter of our father and mother. She may be a bit clumsy, but she is wise and will soon become a good wife."
"Yes, Your Highness."
In a consistently gentle atmosphere, Hyang exchanged kind words, then glanced around before leaning closer to the groom and whispering,
"If my sister sheds a tear, you will pay for it."
"Yikes!"
The groom, two years older than Hyang, nodded with a pale face at her quiet warning.
Although Princess Jeong-hye's wedding had concluded, preparations for another wedding were underway.
"Proclaim the marriage ban."
At King Sejong's command, Hwang Hee stepped forward.
"What age should we set for the marriage?"
After pondering for a moment, Sejong replied,
"The Crown Prince will soon be twelve, so how about fourteen?"
"How about up to fifteen?"
"Fifteen..."
After a moment of contemplation, Sejong nodded.
"Let it be so."
"I will carry out your command!"
Thus, a marriage ban was declared throughout Joseon.
"I expected it, but it's not a welcome surprise."
"Why create such a troublesome selection system!"
Once the marriage ban was issued, the elders of noble families across the nation grumbled with discontent.
The selection system had been established by King Taejong.
Until then, there had been no such system.
Marriages of princes or princesses were typically arranged through personal connections.
However, the creation of the selection system stemmed from a remark made by Lee Sok during the marriage process of Princess Jeong-sin, the daughter of Taejong.
"Straw sandals are best made with straw."
This was interpreted as a polite refusal, suggesting that his child was not of suitable rank, and it seemed the matter would end there.
However, as the true meaning of Lee Sok's words was revealed later, chaos ensued.
"Even if she is a princess, I cannot take the daughter of a servant as my daughter-in-law!"
This statement led to Lee Sok receiving a hundred lashes, demotion to a commoner, and the son in question being subjected to a lifetime marriage ban, with all his relatives receiving the same punishment, showcasing Taejong's fierce retribution.
Following this incident, Taejong established the selection system.
Ironically, before the system was created, the legitimate sons—Yangnyeong, Hyoryeong, and Chungnyeong—had already married.
In any case, with the marriage ban in effect, not only the noble families but also commoners found themselves unable to marry.
"No! Why are our marriages being blocked just because the prince is getting married!"
Commoners, especially those on the verge of marriage, were left dumbfounded and grumbled.
Local noble families felt the same way.
"Really! Even if it's a selection, it's all the same, so why block our paths to marriage!"
"It's a worry even if it happens! What kind of family is that! Would they ruin their family after making their daughter a queen!"
The reactions of the nobles, witnessing their in-laws being ruined across two generations of Taejong and Sejong, were similar.
Hyang, hearing that the marriage ban had been issued to save his own bride, smacked his lips.
"Tsk. I prefer younger ones... Ah! At my age, would that be a crime? No, even if they are older, as long as the first digit doesn't change, it's a crime."
As he joked to himself, Hyang's expression grew complicated.
"Marriage..."
Even in the 21st century, he was known as a 'self-proclaimed weirdo otaku' with no romantic connections.
"Hmm..."
As he mixed expectations and worries in his mind, the words of Teacher Samcheongpo suddenly came to mind.
"The biggest culprit of the tragedy that King Danjong had to endure is King Munjong! King Danjong was born in 1441, and King Munjong was 27 years old! Considering that Sejong was only 17 when he had Munjong, he wasted a whole ten years! If only he had given birth to Danjong five years earlier, the Grand Prince Suyang wouldn't have dared to act!"
Remembering Teacher Samcheongpo's words, Hyang thought for a moment before standing up abruptly.
"I must act for the future! And I have been thinking about something, so this is a good opportunity! One plus one is nothing special! Eunuch!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Go ask my father if I can see him now!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
After a short while, having received permission, Hyang entered the Hall of Eternal Peace.
"Come in."
Just finishing a meeting and sharing refreshments with the ministers, Sejong welcomed Hyang warmly.
"Is that so? What brings you to seek your father at this hour, which is not the usual time for an audience?"
Hyang got straight to the point.
"Please give me some funds."
"Funds, not the budget?"
Curious, Sejong asked, and Hyang immediately replied,
"The Inseonbu was damaged in the recent fire and has not yet been restored."
Inseonbu was one of the royal treasury's main stores, managing the wealth that would be used by the Crown Prince once he was appointed.
It had been lost in the recent fire.
Sejong nodded at Hyang's words.
"I see. You postponed Inseonbu for restoration first. By the way, why do you need funds?"
"It is related to my wedding."
"Wedding? Have you seen a woman while going back and forth between District 51 and the palace, or while supervising the restoration work? Is her family of humble means? If that's the case, you would need more than just funds."
Sejong teased with a mischievous smile.
Although Joseon had only recently been established, Hyang would surely be recorded as the Crown Prince with the most external activities in Joseon history.
Sejong assumed that Hyang must have seen a woman while out and about.
Of course, half of it was a joke, but the real issue was that Hyang was solely devoted to his hobbies, both in the 21st century and now.
"That's not it."
"Then why do you need funds?"
"I plan to visit a gisaeng house."
"Pfft!"
"Cough! Cough!"
At Hyang's words, Sejong spat out the tea he was drinking, and the ministers sneezed from the surprise.
The court historians and scribes dropped their writing tools, creating holes in the paper and ruining their brushes.
"Cough! Cough! You rascal!"
After sneezing several times, Sejong shouted at Hyang.
However, Hyang looked at Sejong with a calm expression.
Sejong, seeing Hyang's composed face, forced himself to calm down.
"Crown Prince, you are only twelve years old. What reason do you have to visit a gisaeng house at that age? If you are already seeking pleasures, I will not forgive you."
"Your Highness, it is because of the wedding issue."
"What does a wedding have to do with a gisaeng house... If it is related to the relationship between husband and wife, you will naturally learn about it."
‘No wonder the sex education in 21st-century schools is like that!’ Hyang grumbled inwardly and explained in more detail.
"Your Highness, it is presumptuous, but since I opened my eyes to literature at a young age, I have been solely focused on my studies."
"That is true."
"Thus, Your Highness, I do not know about the beauty of women. A wedding means that a man and a woman meet and live together for a hundred years. For this to happen, both the man and the woman must have no complaints about each other.
Generally, a man evaluates a woman based on her appearance first. However, since I have only been reading books, I do not know what beauty is. Of course, there are terms like 'the beauty that makes fish sink and geese fall,' but I have not seen them myself.
Therefore, I cannot even discern whether my standards of beauty are correct. However, when it comes to gisaengs, the first thing mentioned is their beauty, so I wish to visit a gisaeng house to see for myself."
"Ah..."
Sejong's expression grew complicated at Hyang's words.
He wanted to scold the twelve-year-old for openly seeking to visit a gisaeng house, but Hyang's reasoning was somewhat convincing.
"Well... this is quite something..."
Even Sejong, known for his intelligence, found himself at a loss for words.
At that moment, Hwang Hee stepped forward.
"Crown Prince, it has been said since ancient times that inner beauty is more important than outer beauty. For both men and women, outer beauty is fleeting. I have learned this clearly through my years of living."
"However, inner beauty is not something that can be recognized at first glance, is it? Of course, the common people say, 'What good is a pretty face if you can't eat it?' But other sayings also circulate, such as 'A pretty dress is more enjoyable to wear' and 'Good-looking rice cakes are tastier.' And if inner beauty is so important, why are gisaeng houses so lively? And why do people engage in polygamy?"
"Cough! Cough!"
The ministers could only clear their throats at Hyang's counter-question.
Sejong turned to look at the others.
The eunuchs were staring off into the distance, and the historians and scribes had buried their heads in their papers, fiddling with their brushes.
Hyang continued.
"Your Highness, after the 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 half-brothers. Following your example, wouldn't having just the Crown Princess be enough? If I go back and forth between District 51 and the restoration site, I might get caught cheating and beaten by my wife.
It has been said since ancient times, 'A harmonious family leads to success in all things,' and there is a saying among the common people, 'Even a Buddha turns away when he sees a seed.' It has been said in ancient times, 'Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, and govern the country to bring peace to the world.'
Yet, if I cannot control my desires and take a concubine, causing turmoil in my family, how can I cultivate myself and govern the country?"
"..."
"..."
At Hyang's words, both Sejong and the ministers were left speechless.
After a moment, Sejong finally spoke.
"I understand your intentions well. Knowing your temperament, even if I were to stop you, you would find a way to proceed. Hoo~."
Letting out a long sigh, Sejong ultimately waved the white flag.
"Very well. I will inform the Minister of Internal Affairs."
"I am eternally grateful!"
"However, overnight stays are not permitted!"
"I will obey your command!"
Having received permission from Sejong, Hyang left the Hall of Eternal Peace in high spirits.
After Hyang exited, Sejong complained to the ministers.
"Having a child who is too smart is also a problem."
"..."
"I wish to be alone for a while. I will see you later in the main hall."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Meanwhile, after receiving permission from Sejong, Hyang was beaming with joy.
"I had a suspicion, but now is the moment of confirmation!"
Among the women he had glimpsed while observing the palace maids, going back and forth to District 51, and supervising the restoration site, many possessed considerable beauty by 21st-century standards.
In the 21st century, Hyang's middle school art teacher had said,
"Do not confuse aesthetic perspectives with the actual standards of beauty. Simply put, do not trust evaluations like 'Eastern beauty' or 'Western beauty' or 'traditional Eastern beauty.' Many of the gisaeng photos taken by Westerners who visited Joseon during the Gojong era would still be considered beautiful today. Of course, except for the shortness."
The same went for the West! In classic Western nude paintings, everyone had a certain physique, right? If that physique was the standard of beauty, then why was the corset, a torture device, invented? The art teacher's words later echoed in the words of a famous Australian comedian.
Tired of being asked about the differences between Eastern and Western beauties every time he appeared on TV, he concluded,
"Whether they are Westerners or Koreans, men's eyes are all the same!"
A few days after Hyang received permission from Sejong, a strange rumor began to circulate among the gisaeng houses of Hanyang.
"There is a young nobleman who doesn't drink but only looks at the faces of gisaengs!"
As the rumor spread, the gisaengs became curious about the identity of the protagonist.
"I found out!"
"Who is it? Which faraway village is this country bumpkin from?"
"Close enough to be considered close, but far enough to be distant."
"Stop with the riddles; whose son is it? Is it a family with some money? It would be nice if it were a family that wouldn't mind being taken advantage of."
At the words of a fellow gisaeng, one who had gathered information clicked her tongue.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Be careful; if you're not, your neck might end up on the line."
"Whose child is it, then?"
"It's the eldest son of the owner of Gyeongbokgung! The master of Donggung Palace!"
"Oh my!"
Upon learning that the protagonist was Hyang, the gisaengs split into two groups.
One group was extremely cautious, while the other group put on more makeup and wore lighter clothing than usual.
"You'll freeze to death like that!"
"What if? Maybe I'll get a chance to become a concubine!"
"You're being ridiculous."
Contrary to the hopes of the gisaengs who were aiming for a 'life-changing opportunity,' Hyang, who had visited all the gisaeng houses in Hanyang, disappeared from the gisaeng alley.
"Well... did you look around well?"
"Yes, Father."
"What a boring child."
At Hyang's answer, Sejong muttered under his breath.
Although he had granted permission to Hyang, he was still uneasy.
He ordered the guards and eunuchs to report on Hyang's every move.
After receiving reports from the guards and eunuchs, Sejong placed his hand on his forehead.
"What should I do with this child..."
Hyang had literally just observed the gisaengs' appearances.
Of course, he had talked with them and watched their performances, but that was where it ended.
"Is this child a eunuch?"
Sejong worried absurdly.
At Hyang's answer, Sejong's genuine curiosity arose, prompting him to ask,
"Which gisaeng did you find beautiful?"
"Each had their own charm."
‘Even by 21st-century standards, they could be picked up by an agency, right? The height is a problem, though...’
"That is true. So, which woman would be the best match for you?"
At Sejong's question, Hyang pondered for a long time.
"A suitable sentence... In the end, this is the only one?"
Searching for an answer, Hyang borrowed the evaluation of a popular female duo from the 21st-century Korean music scene.
"Father, among women with kind hearts, the one with the most beautiful appearance, or among those with beautiful appearances, the one with the kindest heart..."
"You rascal, get out!"