Born As The Daughter of a Lowly Concubine - Chapter 123

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Born the daughter of a concubine of the lowest rank.
Chapter 123
The theatrical performances offer free showings for the opening act, but the latter half is always paid admission.
During busy times at the Playground, they’ve arranged it so that people waiting for rides naturally catch a preview of the opening act, but it stops at the crucial moment.
And then the second half requires payment—or rather, an admission fee—and once people get curious about how the story continues, they either pay to see the full performance or buy the book.
Of course, for those who prefer to watch leisurely from the beginning, there are also separate time slots designated for full paid performances.
‘They’ve set up vendor stalls beside the theaters to encourage impulse purchases, stacking and selling the original books right there.’
The limited first-edition signed copies are no longer obtainable, but there’s still considerable demand for illustrated editions, so they stock and sell three varieties: the Classical Chinese Text Edition, the Korean Translation Edition, and the Korean Translation Illustrated Edition.
Naturally, the illustrated edition is the most expensive.
According to Jang, they’ve even been getting requests for a Classical Chinese Text with illustrations, but since Korean script has broader appeal than Chinese characters, it’s difficult to expect much profit from that version, so he’s still deliberating about it.
I haven’t been particularly encouraging about it either.
Still, with more people buying books because of the recent theatrical success, I’ve been feeling the satisfaction of letterpress printing.
Though I’ve heard that some of those who’ve seen it occasionally curse about how money-grubbing we are.
When I heard that complaint, I had a notice board installed beside the stalls stating that a portion of the profits goes toward operating the Siyeongwon, and I set up a small donation box asking for contributions for the children there—and after that, the criticism apparently stopped.
The books sold at the Playground are naturally handled by the Siyeongwon staff, so a share of the profits goes back to the Siyeongwon. And since the publishing house (!) happens to be mine, some of the money I earn goes there as well.
“Oh, have you arrived, Miss? There is a performance underway at the moment, but it only just started. Please come this way.”
Normally one would purchase a ticket and pay before entering, but since Seong Ji and I were staff, everyone recognized our faces and we had a Free Pass.
So-i’s expression was bright and eager, while Seong Gyeom-sabok and Cheon Ho looked bewildered.
This was actually my first time seeing a theatrical performance in person, though I’d heard reports about it. Seeing the tent packed full of people made it clear the venture was genuinely successful.
I leaned over and whispered to Seong Ji.
“Strange—I recognize some of the performers.”
“Ah, some of the children from the Siyeongwon wanted to try their hand at it, so they’re doing small roles.”
Well, the main roles are handled by professionals anyway, so it shouldn’t matter.
For reference, as it had been discussed before, the main cast members were indeed wearing masks that covered their eyes.
Partly because fans’ insistence that “my protagonist isn’t like this!” seemed like it would burden the actors, and partly for the personal safety concerns that had been mentioned before.
And the masks themselves had the added advantage of being sellable as merchandise.
We deliberately incorporated the floral patterns that had appeared on the covers of the limited-edition books into the protagonists’ masks, and it seems the fans really liked them.
We hadn’t originally planned to sell them, but when some enthusiastic fans came with money saying “How much is it! Just tell me the price!”, it was suggested that we place a modest order and sell them. I approved it.
Since they could be sold alongside the books, there were no major complications aside from production speed.
I heard they’ve been selling unexpectedly well and placing additional orders, but by the time I arrived just now, they were already out of stock.
Well, I’m certainly pleased that business is good, but presumably everyone can afford to buy them, right? It’s somewhat troublesome to hear accusations that I’m promoting luxury and excess.
I watched the performance with the eyes of both an investor and a reader of the source material.
It would be a lie to say there were no disappointing aspects from the perspective of an original fan, but even so, it was quite respectable.
When the performance ended and crowds of people poured out, I and my companions hurried out of the tent with them.
I moved a bit quickly—if word spread that I was here, people would likely come seeking to pay their respects.
“You read the source material too, didn’t you? What did you think of how it turned out?”
“It was entertaining. The adaptation was handled reasonably well.”
“Then I’m relieved.”
“It’s a shame that you only get to see it now, when you conceived the idea yourself, Miss.”
“It can’t be helped. I couldn’t postpone everything that was already prepared just for my sake.”
Still, I’m grateful it turned out so well.
They spent quite a bit of money to raise the quality of the production, or so I heard. They’ve already recouped the investment and then some.
‘Well, since the author herself lent a hand to some degree, it’s hardly surprising.’
Se Hwa has been working hard. Between the demands of the Clinic and her duties at Hye Minser, she’s also been reviewing the script, and on top of it all, I asked her to write a new novel.
Seong Ji seemed to share similar thoughts, because he broached the subject of Se Hwa’s—or rather, Ji Cheon’s—new work before I did.
“Speaking of which, regarding that novel you mentioned before, Miss—apparently the plot has progressed far enough that Ji Cheon would be grateful if you could read it.”
“Really?”
The new work I’d commissioned—where the Crown Prince was to be the protagonist, modeled after recent events—already had substantial content written?
Has Se Hwa even been sleeping?
“Well, on the day you were kidnapped, Se Hwa met the Crown Prince directly and settled firmly on the male protagonist’s impression. Thanks to that, the writing came together quickly, or so I heard.”
“I see.”
Wait—was that the look in Se Hwa’s eyes when she saw the Crown Prince back then?
‘Tch.’
Having harbored somewhat different expectations, I felt a twinge of disappointment.
But in any case, since the novel was complete, it was good news, so I decided I would go seek out Se Hwa.
“Have you read it?”
“Yes, she said it’s still being polished, but I found it quite entertaining.”
“Hmm.”
I was glad to hear it was entertaining.
“Would you think about turning it into a play as well?”
“Hmm. Though it’s uncertain whether it’ll still have an audience?”
“A hit author’s next work deserves aggressive promotion.”
“Is… that so?”
It did seem excessive to push so hard for an author whose only success was a single bestseller, but this new manuscript had purpose behind it—I needed to promote it deliberately.
“True, it should have good marketing effect. Since I don’t read novels often, I’m not sure my judgment is reliable, but…”
“A work has to be entertaining even to casual readers if it’s going to reach a wide audience.”
Too niche a piece only attracts its own kind, which actually limits popularity.
“Actually, from what I can see, there don’t appear to be any problematic elements, but it seemed the young lady would prefer to review it herself.”
“That’s something I need to check.”
One might think a monarchy would have strict censorship, but it varies by ruler.
The current Joseon isn’t particularly rigid about most things.
Satirical plays exist for a reason, and suppressing them only breeds whispers of tyranny.
From the king’s perspective, it’s far more advantageous to display magnanimity toward the people’s entertainments and have the records note that the ruler was generous to his subjects and did not restrict speech.
Unless, of course, the content deliberately insulted the royal house.
The main plot is a love story, and the Crown Prince will be handsome and capable as planned.
‘If the story unfolds as I outlined it, it’s about the Crown Prince seeing through a minister’s treacherous plot to dishonor the throne and avoiding that trap to protect his position.’
Of course, I’ll note at the beginning that this depicts an imaginary Joseon, bears no relation to actual persons or events, and any similarities are purely coincidental.
But isn’t it true that the more people harbor suspicions about themselves, the harsher they become toward others? Those with confidence and composure tend toward generosity instead.
This version of Joseon has achieved stable legitimate succession, so royal authority is fairly secure, and there are no particular moral failings.
The Joseon I knew was cursed after Seongjong’s uncle seized the throne from his nephew Dangjong, the legitimate heir—disaster followed disaster until Seongjong’s sons died young in succession, things seemed to stabilize briefly under Seongjong, and then came the tyrant Yeonsangun.
Yeonsangun’s brother Jungjong took the throne afterward, but his sons Injong and Myeongjong both died young, so the direct line from that usurper ultimately failed.
‘Seongjong suffered from carbuncles during his lifetime.’
At the time, with himself in pain and his descendants dying one after another, people said he was cursed for his sins.
So he worked to rehabilitate his image by creating legends—that a cat had warned him of assassins, or that Manjushri Bodhisattva had healed his illness.
Of course, none of that changed the fact that Seongjong was a regicide who killed his own nephew.
I did wonder sometimes if I should fabricate and spread some legend of my own.
But unlike Seongjong, who had countless people who wanted him dead, the Crown Prince is innocent of any crime—it would only seem stranger if he’d narrowly escaped assassination.
So I decided to leave things as they were.
‘After all, the story isn’t about the Crown Prince being lustful and harassing palace women.’
The author was commissioned based on her previous work, so I wasn’t particularly concerned.
That story also had romantic elements in its plot, but overall it was wholesome.
“Then shall we go to Hye Minser to meet Se Hwa?”
“Since you’re already out, it might be good to go.”
The day was still bright enough, so why not?
***
Hye Minser was as it always was.
Fortunately there weren’t many patients, so Se Hwa came to find me as soon as she heard I’d arrived.
“Se Hwa.”
“You’ve come, young lady.”
“Yes. I stopped by Siyeongwon and heard about the novel from Heo Seong Ji here. Can I see it now, by any chance?”
“Of course, young lady.”
Se Hwa must have anticipated my visit—she brought out the manuscript from inside.
“If you’d finished the draft, you should have said so.”
I even taught you the ways to contact me. It’s inconvenient having to go through Siyeongwon or my residence, I suppose.
“It’s not quite at the point I’d call a finished draft yet. And no matter what, sending this to the palace feels a bit…”
Right. Wariness of the royal house is a universal sentiment.
‘Some of it is deliberately cultivated for authority’s sake.’
Se Hwa handed me the manuscript and returned to her work, with Seong Ji alongside her.
So-i looked at me with such earnest eyes that I had no choice but to sit beside her and read the book together.
Reading alone would be faster, but having another person to share impressions with didn’t seem bad.
Seong Gyeom-sabok and Cheon Ho apparently decided they had nothing to do here and went outside.
‘No matter how I look at it, that seems like a waste of manpower.’
Perhaps they’re going to do some physical training.
So-i and I focused on the manuscript. This time the author had written it in Korean from the draft stage.
Because of that, it didn’t take long to read, and I was satisfied with the content.
It was entertaining, and it portrayed the Crown Prince favorably in a natural, measured way.
‘Hmm. She’s included a bit of what happened that day…’
She’s even incorporated the exact words the Crown Prince said that day.
This is… a signal for those in the know, isn’t it?
Reflecting current trends, the manuscript even includes a section where the Crown Prince opposes the nobi system and the ministers resist and try to torment him for it. Goodness.
It was beautiful writing that perfectly satisfied my needs.
This would provoke resistance not from the royal court itself, but from other quarters.
“What do you think?”
“It’s wonderful!”
So-i clenched both fists and cried out softly.
I carefully put away the manuscript and called for Se Hwa. She asked with a slightly nervous expression.
“Does it please you, my lord?”
“I love it!”
This is exactly the work I was looking for!
Se Hwa turned out to be a talent with a gift for creating works for image promotion!
“However, there is one thing that troubles me.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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