Born As The Daughter of a Lowly Concubine - Chapter 39

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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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I was born the daughter of a low-ranking concubine.
39
“Why are you trying to follow me out?”
“Well then, should I tell Father right now?”
“Ugh. Come along, then.”
The Crown Prince was plainly reluctant to take a child with him, but I was desperate enough that there was no help for it.
‘He won’t like it because there’s no telling what might happen outside the palace.’
But if I go, there’s a chance I might save one more person.
Besides, the Crown Prince’s preparations for his Disguised Secret Outing were sloppy at best.
It seemed his usual escort had coached him on it, at least……
“Your Young Lordship’s preparations appear to be far more thorough.”
“I’ve made some preparations.”
Song Bi, the Crown Prince’s inner attendant, praised me with a peculiar expression as he watched me set out in a scholar’s robe alongside Gai.
But Gai’s face, who attended to me, was not as bright.
“Your Young Lordship, the Lantern Festival draws great crowds and brings danger. Might it not be too early for one so young?”
“It’s not as though I’m going alone.”
I deliberately pressed myself against the Crown Prince.
“I’m going with my brother.”
“Mm.”
Though I had expected him to object, the Crown Prince unexpectedly took my hand as if he had no choice.
A boy taking his younger sister on a date—not that I have any right to comment since I’m the one who insisted on tagging along, but if this were the modern age, you’d never get married, friend.
“Well, if the child insists on going with her brother, what’s to be done? She’s never been outside the palace walls either……”
“Exactly!”
“Isn’t the Lantern View from Jaha Valley and Changui Gate one of the Eight Scenic Spots of the Capital—those celebrated places of seasonal beauty throughout Hanyang that the King once immortalized in verse? Who knows when I’ll have another chance to see the sights with Father and her?”
Changui Gate lies on the opposite side of Cheonggyecheon, further back, so his words don’t really concern us who are heading out to see the Cheonggyecheon lanterns.
“Watching from a distance alone would be dull. But you must not leave my side. Do you understand?”
“Yes!”
Once the Crown Prince gave his permission, Gai let out a quiet, deep sigh.
“I am merely…… relieved as long as Your Young Lordship does not disappear on me. I have no other concerns.”
“Song Bi and Gai know far too much about me.”
“Is it not natural?”
Song Bi and Gai wouldn’t normally work together, but Gai had left her day off just to follow me out.
I felt sorry that they both had to give up the chance to enjoy the Lantern Festival with friends or acquaintances.
‘Palace women can take leave, but it’s hard to get out and enjoy the festival.’
Given that I’d even brought up the subject of how quickly I might tire, it seemed they’d made thorough preparations.
“Did you pack the sweets?”
“Yes, as you instructed, Your Young Lordship.”
They were things I’d packed to give to Jihwa and Sucheon later.
‘If something happens, they serve as emergency rations; if nothing does, I can just think of them as gifts.’
From what I’d gathered here and there, nothing seemed likely to happen until yesterday.
Though I couldn’t be certain without going all the way to the Great Hall to check.
I stroked the familiar mane of my horse and let out an anxious sigh.
‘I hope nothing happens today.’
Song Bi, unaware of my thoughts, asked Gai—who held the reins—with unease.
“Should Your Young Lordship wear Malgun as well?”
“She’s still young. It should be fine.”
“It’s annoying. I won’t wear it.”
Malgun is a sort of riding breeches worn when mounting horses, and everyone manages just fine without wearing them.
The noble ladies of the inner quarters insist you must wear them when riding in skirts so your underclothes don’t show…… but honestly, they’re annoying, inconvenient, and not particularly flattering.
“You’ll have to wear them later. Young Lordship.”
“Not Young Lordship—call me Miss.”
“Oh my. Yes, Miss.”
“Will you manage riding alone, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“Yes.”
I’m a girl who knows how to ride.
Besides, my horse had been carefully selected from the Royal Horse Stables—a docile, intelligent creature such that it was less a matter of me riding the horse than the horse carrying me.
It was said to be a horse the late Crown Prince had ordered given to me as a gift.
“With so many people around, won’t he be startled?”
“An intelligent creature like him should be fine.”
At Gai’s words—she had more experience with Horsemanship than I did as a palace attendant—Song Bi’s hand fell away from his chest in relief.
In the Joseon era, horses were like personal carriages for the upper classes, so noblewomen rode them frequently, and court ladies did the same. After all, palanquins were reserved for the highborn—not everyone could ride in one.
Of course, most people who rode horses were yangban or, as rare exceptions, gisaeng. Court ladies, though not yangban by birth, were those who had received official rank and served the royal family, so many of them were permitted to ride horses.
There were even cases of men who mistook a woman riding without a Malgun for a gisaeng and assaulted her, ending up exiled for it.
‘As time went on, they kept women so restrained that they simply vanished from sight.’
But that was a distant concern for now.
We slipped quietly out of the palace, and unlike the others, only the Crown Prince and I gawked at everything, turning our heads this way and that in wonder.
‘It feels like a folk village.’
With so many people already about, having nearly ten of us moving together made things a bit crowded, but safety demanded we couldn’t travel in smaller numbers. Above all, the Crown Prince and I were far too young.
I’d worried the daylight might make things dull, but the Lantern Festival was grander than I’d expected—even in the courtyards of ordinary houses, people had set up long poles and hung lanterns, draping them with pheasant feathers and colorful silks that looked quite elaborate even in daylight.
“What is that?”
“A Ship Lantern, my lady. As you can see, lanterns come in many different shapes.”
I’d thought ornate lanterns were something you’d find at any temple, but here everyone competed to display varied designs, their flags equally resplendent. Moreover, each household hung as many lanterns as they had family members, and thinking of the era of large extended families, the brightness was inevitable.
Over the past few days, even from the pavilions within the palace walls at night, I could see the lanterns glowing brilliantly.
“They say there’s fireworks at night?”
“Perhaps we should return before then…….”
“Let’s stay and watch.”
Bad things always happen at night, after all. I can’t leave early.
Of course, the best outcome is to watch the fireworks without incident and then return.
When I insisted, Gai looked troubled and glanced toward the Crown Prince, but his mind was clearly elsewhere.
‘He’s never been outside either, so I can’t blame him.’
When we reached the meeting place, the siblings were already waiting.
It seemed they also couldn’t bring just the young brother and sister alone—a woman who appeared to be a nursemaid and a servant trailed behind them. Given that the Lantern Festival continued into the night, there was nothing unusual about it.
‘This isn’t a date……, come to think of it.’
Weren’t we both here with our respective charges? This was a joint childcare outing, not a romantic one.
“Have we kept you waiting long?”
“Not at all. I felt ashamed bringing my brother out, but when I saw that you…… young lady came as well, I felt a bit relieved.”
Jihwa, who had been uncomfortable about Sucheon accompanying her, brightened at the sight of me.
‘I thought she would have mentioned it to her sister, but maybe she didn’t.’
The little one I hadn’t seen in a while waved happily when he spotted me.
Following Jihwa’s lead, we toured the streets.
With so many people already gathered to buy or admire lanterns, the Crown Prince wore an expression of mild astonishment.
“You seem fascinated.”
“I have never witnessed crowds quite so dense. Shia, were you not startled?”
“Not really. More or less.”
Having seen far denser population centers without batting an eye, I still nodded politely for courtesy’s sake.
“Your Highness…… young lady, you are quite composed. I wish my sister’s brother would be a bit more composed too—it is embarrassing.”
“Wait, sister, what about me standing still…….”
“Come, let’s go.”
Without giving Sucheon a chance to protest, Jihwa took her brother’s hand and pulled him forward.
With so many people around, the distance naturally narrowed as we walked.
The Crown Prince and Jihwa fell into step together somewhat deliberately, while those accompanying us followed behind, so I naturally ended up walking alongside Sucheon.
“There.”
“Hm?”
“You really came today?”
“I said I would.”
“Yes. But my sister said the Crown Prince…… he might not have been able to come.”
“Ah.”
Well, he might not have been able to, but I’d scattered quite a few bribes—mostly food—beforehand, so it actually went rather smoothly.
Besides, since the Crown Prince said he’d sneak me out because I was the one whining about wanting to go, everyone kindly turned a blind eye with pitying looks.
“Hehe. I’m glad to see you again.”
The boy said this and quietly took hold of my hand.
Well, well—this child had better manners than the Crown Prince?
‘He should be learning from this……!’
Watching the Crown Prince discuss Medical Arts earnestly with Jihwa up ahead, I found myself sighing without meaning to.
“Say, do you like Dried Persimmons? They say the ones at that shop are really delicious.”
Even this little one was making an effort to win a lady’s favor.
Perhaps because he was born a prince, he lacked the necessary effort.
‘Well, he’s the male lead anyway, so he’ll figure out romance on his own eventually.’
After all, kings and crown princes had no need for romance. They were forced into marriage, and if children didn’t come, concubines were brought in anyway.
“I don’t like Dried Persimmons.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I see.”
Ever since I coughed up blood after eating Dried Persimmons, they’ve been forbidden in the palace.
But there was no reason the child would know such a thing, and watching the disappointment settle over his face, I felt a tangle of conflicting emotions.
‘I want to pat his head.’
The way he’d slumped reminded me so much of a Siberian Husky I’d raised as a child—that puppy felt endearing to me now.
Though I suppose a dead younger brother should have come to mind instead.
“I like Yakgwa. Let’s eat some together from that stall over there.”
“Really?!”
The child’s face brightened in an instant.
Well, he certainly liked that idea.
After Gai paid, we each put a piece of Yakgwa in our mouths and fell into step behind the two older siblings.
The area around the illuminated lanterns was crowded with vendor stalls of every kind—food and sights everywhere, all of it loud and bustling.
“I want to buy that.”
“What brings you to choose such things?”
As I selected a Norigae, Gai voiced her suspicion. I felt a twinge of guilt, but decided to brazen it out.
“Why?”
“Because you’re so particular about quality—the royal household, well, ahem, anyway, you usually show no interest unless something’s quite rare. You’d sooner look at paintings or porcelain.”
“Really? You think so?”
Sucheon beside me asked as if surprised.
“Not exactly. Since we’re out, I should at least take back some kind of memento.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
That’s what I said, but the truth was somewhat different.
‘Something that can be turned into money—something small that could serve as travel funds in an emergency.’
If something happened today, these two would need escape money.
The cakes I’d brought earlier had already been entrusted to the servants following the siblings.
‘If a master has any semblance of decency, house slaves rarely betray him—they’d flee with him.’
In the original story, Jihwa’s nursemaid risked her life to help her escape and raised her as if she were her own daughter.
I can’t be sure about the servant following Sucheon, but he’s the precious eldest grandson—surely someone reliable was brought along for this outing. I can only trust that.
‘And if nothing happens at all…….’
Then we simply leave behind one happy childhood memory, nothing more.
I bit my lip, praying that this anxiety was mine alone.

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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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