Born As The Daughter of a Lowly Concubine - Chapter 84

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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 84
Besides, it seemed wasteful to leave him there, and we had a physician we knew nearby anyway. We brought the collapsed drunkard to Seong Ji.
“Wait—Uncle?”
And there on the street, we were quick to confirm the identity of the fallen drunkard.
Seong Ji, startled, checked the man’s forehead and pulse, then exhaled in relief.
“This man is Uncle?”
The former physician from the Internal Medical Office?
Seong Ji’s face flushed with embarrassment as he nodded.
“I apologize for him showing himself in such a state…….”
Mm. I’m a bit worried about entrusting the children’s education to this man. I hope he doesn’t drink while teaching them.
“He collapsed the moment he saw me.”
“Ah—well, the truth is, Uncle has some difficulty with young children…….”
“But the streets of Hanyang are crawling with children.”
In this era, no one sends common children to kindergarten or academies—running about playing in the streets is their daily life. How does he even survive?
“It’s not that he dislikes them, but rather finds them difficult to manage. I’ve sometimes wondered if perhaps he once failed in treating a child…….”
“Ah…….”
Well, a physician might have such an experience.
‘If he was a court physician at the Internal Medical Office……’
Given how many children died before my time, it’s possible he treated one of them.
And a sick child carries such a tremendous emotional weight…….
Even from my previous life, when I was in the hospital, I’d see babies covered in IVs and countless incomprehensible tubes, and tears would come unbidden.
He might have sent many children from the Internal Medical Office, might have developed a trauma.
“Then wouldn’t teaching children be difficult for him?”
“Children learning medicine would be at least ten or so, perhaps thirteen or fourteen years old, so there should be no problem. And this fainting spell—even I have never seen such a thing…… it may be the drink’s fault. Still, I must get Uncle to stop drinking, or else I’ll lose the only uncle I have too soon.”
Watching Seong Ji’s bitter expression, I felt for him too.
Since I too have lost parents, I couldn’t bring myself to be cold about it.
To Seong Ji, who promised to deliver my thanks another time, I left word that we would return when Uncle was in clearer spirits, and we had to pass along the same street four times.
‘Well, at least I was right not to leave him there.’
I exhaled deeply.
***
In any case, I had something to confirm myself, so I returned to the palace and summoned a court physician from the Internal Medical Office with considerable experience.
Since I had to undergo regular pulse examinations after the poisoning incident, calling for a physician was easily arranged.
“Heo Yeon-tae, is that correct?”
“Yes. I hear you once worked at the Internal Medical Office—is that true?”
It felt strange to speak casually to this white-bearded old physician, but this was a status-bound society, and if I used formal speech, the physician would be more uncomfortable instead.
Of course, there might exist women like the late Queen Shin, consort of King Yeonsangun, who spoke respectfully to everyone with a gentle heart, but if I did so, my attendants Ga-i and Song Bi would be criticized for not properly raising a princess.
‘Besides, I grew accustomed to speaking casually after using childish speech in my early years.’
The physician paused to search his memory at my question, then nodded and gave his answer.
“Yes, I did serve at the Internal Medical Office long ago. I was a sincere and diligent physician who passed the medical examination at a young age, with great scholarly passion.”
That doesn’t match the real person at all…….
“Do you know why he quit?”
“I beg your pardon, but as he suddenly left saying he had family matters to attend to, I do not know the details well.”
“I see…….”
“But may I ask, Princess, how you have come to know of Heo Yeon-tae?”
“Mm. I am looking to teach the children at Si Yeong Won medicine, and he was recommended to me as someone who might educate them.”
“He was indeed excellent in medical knowledge. His flaw was being somewhat overly rigid in character…… so I am uncertain whether teaching children would be appropriate for him.”
“I see.”
Rigid? That kind of rigid? The rigid meaning of strong firmness and straightness……?
While I stood confused, the physician withdrew, and soon, as always, the court physicians brought the herbal decoction.
The court physicians might have felt it unfair, but the decoction itself was always brewed by the palace attendants of my residence who watched vigilantly, and they were the ones who carried it to me.
Of course, the physicians who brewed the medicine still had to enter my residence and observe me drinking it as those responsible.
“Your Highness. Here is your candy.”
“Yes.”
As always, after drinking the medicine and wrinkling my brow slightly, Song Bi placed candy in my mouth.
The court physicians always remained in my room for about half an hour to confirm there were no ill effects, massaging me before leaving.
Since they visited me often, they had grown accustomed enough to make light conversation, but recently they had taken to watching my expression quietly and frequently.
‘Is something the matter?’
Now that I thought about it, my talk of granting official rank to the court physicians had already spread throughout the marketplace, so of course the physicians would know.
“Do you perhaps have something to say to me?”
“No, Your Highness.”
Right. It’s the Korean way to drop honorifics out of politeness sometimes. But even that gets tedious.
“If you ask me now, I’ll answer you directly—so don’t hold back. Just ask.”
“……Actually, there is something I’ve wished to ask Your Highness.”
And sure enough, the answer came immediately.
“Is it true that Your Highness told the King that Court Physicians ought to receive Official Ranks?”
“That is indeed what I said to His Majesty.”
“……!”
It was strange how rumors spread through the palace without anyone knowing their source. The compound was vast, yet somehow impossibly small.
“Why? Does it displease you?”
“Oh, no, Your Highness.”
“Well, since we’re on the subject—what do the Court Physicians themselves think of it?”
“Among the Court Physicians at the Internal Medical Office, some are pleased, while others are reluctant, Your Highness.”
What could they possibly object to?
“Even if they receive an Official Rank, if they don’t wish it, they can remain as Court Physicians without rank. They would simply have to take direction from those physicians who do hold rank.”
“…….”
The physicians looked startled at my words.
“So—what about the two of you?”
Truth be told, I didn’t know much about the medical skills of these two who served me.
All I knew was their names—Jung Geum and Yeon Chang—and from occasional gossip, I’d picked up fragments about their upbringing and where they worked.
Since they only ever brought Herbal Decoctions and performed massage, how could I judge their medical ability?
But looking at their gleaming eyes and flushed cheeks now, both seemed brimming with enthusiasm.
“Nothing is decided yet. I’ve petitioned the Queen, and the Crown Prince has expressed his support—that much is true. But I cannot say what the ministers and other physicians will think.”
In other words, if opposition was strong, it would be difficult.
“And understand this: if a female physician receives rank and takes pulses from the Queen and myself, she bears responsibility if anything goes wrong with our health. Are you prepared for that?”
“We are already Court Physicians, Your Highness. How could we not understand that we bear responsibility for pulse diagnosis?”
“The other physicians might give you a hard time, though?”
“We heard that if we receive rank, we might be registered as Outer Court Officials. In that case, even working at the Internal Medical Office, our direct superior would be the Queen.”
“And as it is now, there are not many who show us respect.”
Their fervor was impressive.
I’d already half-convinced myself this was out of my hands, but watching their eyes shine like that, I realized it must have been more pressing a matter than I’d thought.
It was Jung Geum who’d asked the first question, and now it was Yeon Chang who spoke.
“Is it true that Your Highness intends to train female physicians from among the common people?”
“Yes. From running Si Yeong Won, I’ve heard that there aren’t enough Court Physicians, and women suffer greatly from this shortage.”
“…….”
“But it would be foolish to simply hope the number of Court Physicians grows naturally. Since there are many literate children at Si Yeong Won, I hope to find among them those who might have the aptitude to study medicine.”
“That would be wonderful.”
Unlike before, the physicians nodded with voices drained of spirit.
This had just been idle curiosity, then.
Better that than needless wariness about competing with private physicians.
But just to be sure,
“Moreover, when you physicians from the Internal Medical Office eventually leave, you’ll have the option of running a clinic—but you’ll also have the path of teaching the next generation.”
“……!”
Their faces brightened with understanding, and they began to praise me.
“Your Highness is truly wise.”
“Shouldn’t the capable receive proper recognition? Becoming a Court Physician at the Internal Medical Office wasn’t easy, and it would be good if you could receive the respect you deserve.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The physicians left brimming with such zeal they looked ready to sprint off and unfold medical texts that very moment. I offered them one final caution—not that I knew if it would matter.
“And remember this: if problems arise among the physicians during the promotion of this measure, or before it’s fully established, the entire effort could come to nothing unfairly.”
“We shall keep it in mind.”
The physicians departed in high spirits.
And the palace attendants watching them didn’t look pleased.
“It seems they’re upset that only the physicians get the good fortune.”
“It’s no benefit to us, Your Highness.”
“Aren’t the physicians trying to place themselves on equal footing with us?”
Hmm. Most people started from similar places, yet how treacherous the human heart could be.
“Even if the physicians receive Official Rank, how could it compare to the status of palace attendants who serve the royal family in the Inner Court? Even now, no one dares treat the attendants carelessly.”
“That is true, but……”
“Besides, many of the palace attendants come from Slave Official backgrounds, so they too will have a higher chance of receiving Emancipation.”
“Your Highness?”
“I told His Majesty that official slaves who have served as court physicians or physicians for ten years should be granted emancipation. But palace attendants—don’t they serve the royal household across decades of their lives?”
“……!”
“For those of you who weren’t born into servitude, this may not concern you, but surely everyone wishes to cast off the shackle of being deemed base-born.”
At my words, the palace attendants fell silent.
The reason was simple: among those gathered here were not a few attendants who hadn’t originally come from the Inner Court, Song Bi foremost among them. It wasn’t intentional, but as I’d cycled through a few of the Inner Court attendants who’d mistreated me in childhood, it had naturally come to pass.
As a result, even those who’d started in the Inner Court were all those with gentle temperaments, and since we’d all struggled together from my early years, our sense of camaraderie ran deep—even when something didn’t concern them personally, they seemed moved by it.
“If we open the path to emancipation for court physicians, it will be all the easier for you palace attendants.”
“Your Highness!”
“How could I possibly prioritize the physicians over you all.”
The palace attendants, moved by my words, dropped to their knees en masse.
Don’t do this. It’s too much.
“Besides, my mother’s origins weren’t particularly distinguished either. Or so I believe?”
“How, how could you say such a thing, Your Highness!”
“Those who lived through Young Consort Hong—or rather, Consort Hong—would understand what I mean. Wouldn’t they?”
Now everyone prostrates themselves before me, but there was a time when people gossiped about my mother’s status. The palace attendants who’d served me since childhood had experienced no small amount of disrespect because of it.
In truth, my mother never even knew whether she herself was base-born or commoner-born. People simply assumed she was an official slave because she’d entered as a palace attendant in place of some other slave—that was all.
“We beg your pardon, Your Highness.”
“Now then, go back to your duties. I need to rest for a while.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Ah, and you all understand—this mustn’t leak beyond the palace attendants. If word spreads that the scope of emancipation has widened, the opposition could grow fierce.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I lay down and slowly went over my words again, wondering if I’d said anything amiss.
‘The more I think about it, the more uneasy I feel.’
An illegitimate birth scandal—surely nothing fitting for this particular moment would arise.
And yet, as always, it was desperation that got people killed.

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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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