Born As The Daughter of a Lowly Concubine - Chapter 95

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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 concubine of the lowest rank.
Episode 95
As I stepped into Hyeminser, a handful of physicians and medical attendants I’d grown familiar with greeted me warmly. The medical attendants they spoke of now were not those who had passed examinations to become official female physicians—rather, they remained, as before, without official posts, something like nurses.
Hyeminser didn’t station many formal physicians there, after all.
Still, as some of the medical attendants became official physicians, the number of formal practitioners had grown.
“Nothing out of the ordinary?”
“No.”
Having visited several times already, most of the people at Hyeminser recognized me as someone who belonged, not a newcomer. But those seeing me for the first time, like now, tended to falter.
“Who… who are you, ma’am…?”
“Welcome, miss. These are newly arrived medical attendants. They’re preparing to take the regular examination next time—Young-a, Jin-hee, Se-hwa, Su-ha. Come now, all of you, pay your respects.”
So if someone didn’t recognize me, they were newly hired. Of course, among them were familiar faces as well.
“Miss! It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”
“Jin-hee. I heard you passed, but seeing you actually working here as a medical attendant feels strange somehow.”
“It’s all thanks to you, miss.”
Among the exceptional children from Siyeongwon, some had already passed the medical attendant examination and entered the Clinic. Once they learned the story of this particular medical attendant, even those who hadn’t recognized me seemed to suddenly understand who I was.
And she was precisely why I’d come to Hyeminser first today.
“I brought something delicious as a small celebration, so share it as a snack when you have a break.”
“Thank you so much, miss!”
Since I’d brought snacks a few times before, those already acquainted with me let out soft cheers as So-i distributed the bundles to them.
They probably didn’t want to make a fuss and have others try to steal their share.
Whether for that reason or not, somehow I’d come to be known here too as the young lady from Siyeongwon.
I couldn’t quite recall when it happened, but I once found a sick person on the way to Siyeongwon and brought them here, only to be turned away. So I got angry and made a scene—and when they claimed it was because they lacked medicinal supplies, I immediately went to an apothecary, bought a large quantity of herbs, and dumped them in the courtyard.
Only then did the flustered Superintendent, flustered and bewildered, come out and ask who I was.
‘So I just told him I was the young lady from Siyeongwon…’
It was awkward to make a scene and then reveal I was a princess.
After that, through the Clinic, I discussed Hyeminser’s financial circumstances and issues with medicinal supply, and in the process discovered and caught one person who’d been embezzling—sent him away immediately.
That doesn’t mean I killed him.
Perhaps because the culprit was exposed not long after I caused my scene, when I later came by to check on the patient I’d brought in and to apologize for my outburst, I brought some medicinal herbs and food and distributed them—after which everyone became extraordinarily respectful.
Though I suspect even then, most of them didn’t know I was a princess.
But since I continued to visit Hyeminser afterward to check on matters…
For several years, a young girl who occasionally brought medicinal herbs or food, spoke with the Superintendent, and left hadn’t aged a day—if they hadn’t noticed, that would’ve been remarkable indeed.
As a result, the physicians who’d initially regarded me as some well-off yangban’s daughter and looked at me with a cute child’s gaze had, over several years, begun treating me with the utmost formality.
‘By now I even review the financial records here in writing.’
Among the medicinal herbs were rare and dangerous ones, so I kept strict inventory checks. Once I became meticulous about it, the accounts no longer fell into deficit.
Though they did look at me with worn-out faces now.
But whenever I noticed patient numbers were rising faster than medicinal supplies could sustain, I’d spend my own money to purchase more herbs—at which point genuine respect began to appear in some of the physicians’ eyes.
Perhaps because it was a public institution that only consumed funds, the procedures for procuring medicinal supplies were complicated.
“We’re not running short on soap?”
“Many people come asking to purchase it…”
The Superintendent trailed off. Despite my instructions that it was only for use within Hyeminser, someone was always sneaking it out, so we’d begun selling it at high prices to those who came asking—yet it was still in short supply.
We could catch internal staff who were selling it on the side, but it was difficult to monitor patients and their families who quietly smuggled it away.
What was even more troubling was that some people thought soap was medicine.
It would be fine if they washed wounds with it, but instead they’d rub soap without water, or try to eat it.
‘Basic education is needed…’
Seeing me lost in thought, the Superintendent of Hyeminser chuckled and reassured me.
“Please don’t worry too much. It simply takes time for people to become accustomed to soap.”
“If I spread the method of making it, people will use dangerous substances without care.”
Many knew well enough how to make lye water for laundry, but once aware how toxic boiling it down became, I was hesitant to let the knowledge spread indiscriminately.
In the soap-making process itself, I’d repeatedly instructed all the workers to cover their noses and mouths with cloth and stand upwind.
“I hear the Clinic has completed compiling data on patient occurrence rates and treatment speeds before and after soap usage.”
“Yes. Everyone can feel it firsthand already, but having actual statistical records makes it undeniable.”
Lately, all the reports are submitted with graphs attached—made using the method I taught them. Occasionally someone gets caught falsifying the graphs, and those caught intentionally altering them are stripped of office.
“I’m grateful for your continued efforts.”
“Work harder still.”
Those most delighted to learn that soap could lower disease occurrence rates were surely the physicians of Hyeminser itself.
After discussing serious matters with the Superintendent, I was leaving when several physicians came rushing toward me with soft, eager faces.
“Ah, miss, what exactly is this food you gave us?”
“It’s delicious!”
“It’s Castella.”
“Hm?”
Those who had heard tales of Castella knew what it was, and they cradled the bread in their hands as reverently as if holding a sacred idol.
You’re supposed to wash your hands before eating it, aren’t you?
“So this is, well, the bread made with expensive flour that only nobles can eat……”
“We’ve been importing flour and expanding wheat cultivation quite a bit lately, so it’s not quite at that level anymore.”
I tried to correct them, but no one seemed to be listening. True enough, bread-making was still a skill few possessed, so without my gifts, it could only be eaten within the palace walls.
But where exactly did that word spread from? Palace attendants, perhaps?
‘Castella is expensive more because of the sugar than the flour.’
I ate flour so readily that the king had seeds imported from abroad. Since I’d received lands in various places from the king, I’d experimented planting them little by little, and now I was cultivating them in the regions where they grew best.
‘Now that I think about it, I wonder how those children I’m teaching to read are faring with the tenant farmers. Ji-a was definitely assigned to Jeolla Province—I hope she’s doing well away from home.’
Several years had passed since I founded the Siyeongwon.
Many children had learned to read, though some still struggled to find proper work that made use of their skills.
I sent those children to the regions where I’d received land, to teach the tenant farmers reading and writing.
Of course, I paid all the expenses.
Since the roads could be treacherous and there were concerns about wild beasts and bandits, I sent groups of martial arts-trained children together in teams. I also made inquiries about whether there were talented physicians along the way, and took the opportunity to collect interesting legends and rumors—all while indulging my own curiosities.
They taught reading, instruction from the Agricultural Text, and I offered rewards for any good farming methods they could report—everyone was busy living purposeful lives.
‘Thanks to that, the number of familiar faces at the Siyeongwon has dwindled.’
I was still just sixteen, and many of the children were older than me, so it was the right age for them to find their own livelihoods.
Some of the bolder ones came asking for capital to start businesses, so I told them to bring me a business proposal. Out of ten, only about three actually did. I invested in those three, but I have no idea how they’re doing now.
‘Just like in old stories, there ought to be at least one who strikes it rich.’
And these days, Ga-i is fully committed to the ginseng business.
‘Princess, are you familiar with ginseng?’
‘You mean wild ginseng cultivated artificially?’
‘Indeed, you are as sharp as always. Wild ginseng from Joseon is so popular in China, but since herb gatherers must find it, the supply is quite limited, is it not? So demand far exceeds supply. But if we could cultivate and grow this ourselves, we could make considerable profit.’
I already knew that Joseon ginseng sold well in China, but since I didn’t know how to grow it, I hadn’t said anything. Then Ga-i suddenly began persuading me that a ginseng business could work, and honestly, there was nothing to say but that she was a genius. Her talent was simply too valuable to waste as a palace attendant.
‘Is my proposal too fanciful?’
‘No, Ga-i, you’re doing wonderfully. Just don’t overextend yourself.’
‘Please have no concerns. I shall certainly earn enough wealth for you to live in comfort.’
Even for royalty there were limits to wealth, and she had grand plans to ensure I could live without worry.
Though she never said it outright, Ga-i cared more than anyone about my lack of growth, and I suspected she’d discovered ginseng while searching for medicinal herbs.
Thanks to Ga-i’s efforts, my wealth was growing steadily.
The tavern franchises were thriving, soap was selling well, the restaurants were doing excellently.
On top of that, the Siyeongwon ran smoothly, the school was operating well, and the children were finding employment readily.
“Mm.”
“What troubles you?”
“Oh, just thinking—perhaps it’s time I took life a bit easier.”
“Yes, please do, I beg you.”
As I was speaking with So-i and leaving the Hyeminser, I spotted the children I’d brought in earlier.
“Little one. Is your brother all right now?”
“Ah, yes. Thank you, sister.”
Fortunately, the child didn’t seem to have anything serious—he was already asleep, perched on his older brother’s back. The older boy looked barely seventeen or eighteen, yet he’d carried his sick brother all this way. He was a remarkable child.
“Where’s your home? Not too far from here?”
“It’s fine.”
“Fine, indeed. You can’t carry your brother all the way like that.”
“Once he wakes up, we can walk together.”
“All right. But if he gets ill again, you must come straight back to the Hyeminser, do you understand?”
“Yes.”
I reached out and gently stroked the hair of the boy, who nodded obediently.
The child’s clothes were clean and he didn’t have an unpleasant smell—clearly he was cared for by his parents.
I already had more than enough children to look after, so I didn’t need to take on more responsibility.
“Your brother is still asleep?”
“Yes.”
“Then eat this.”
“What?”
In the paper I held out lay something yellow and glistening, soft and fluffy—Castella I’d brought to give to the Siyeongwon children.
“Your brother can’t eat just anything yet. You eat it alone.”
“What? Ah, but, um…… Really, is it all right?”
“Yes. It’s a reward for being such a good older brother to your sister.”
“I, I’m so grateful……!”
The child flushed with pleasure at the praise and reward, breaking into a wide smile.
***
“The young lady is giving bread to the children.”
“Look at that little one going at it. Eating something so precious like that.”
The medical attendants watched as Si-a distributed bread to the older brother of the child who’d been brought in earlier with a complaint, their eyes gleaming with undisguised envy.
“She really does seem fond of children.”
“Perhaps younger ones just feel more approachable to her?”
“Pardon? Surely younger children naturally feel more approachable, do they not?”
The senior attendants exchanged suppressed smiles at the newcomer’s innocent remark.
“Don’t speak thoughtlessly in front of the young lady. The truth is, that young lady is actually…….”
At the seniors’ words, the newer medical attendants’ eyes widened in shock. They’d caught whispers of rumors, but never imagined them to be true.
“So mind your tongues when she’s around.”
“Yes, understood.”
Those who’d taken her for nothing more than a kindhearted daughter of a wealthy household nodded earnestly at the unexpected revelation and dispersed.
“Hm?”
“Su-ha, what is it?”
“There’s a man sitting beside those boys from earlier. Did a guardian arrive?”
“Where?”
As the attendants craned their necks, the figure of a boy and a man crouched beside him came into view among the patients.
“A guardian must have shown up. Come on, we have work to do.”
“Right.”

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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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