He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 106

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Great Fire of Hanyang (5)

When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

It might be a line that protagonists in web novels or comics would say. But when I really opened my eyes, what I saw was indeed an unfamiliar ceiling I didn’t recognize.

My entire body ached terribly, hurt, and even felt burning hot.

“I did push myself a bit too hard.”

I’m actually someone who doesn’t even exercise for 30 minutes a day.

It’s quite unbefitting behavior for the very person who made King Sejong do 2 hours of Mountain Climbing on Bukaksan Mountain daily, plus Horsemanship and archery…

But this isn’t shameful at all as a subject.

Originally, we subjects are supposed to offer loyal advice saying that since the king is special, what’s fine for me is not acceptable for you, so you must strictly observe it.

And even if I examine it thoroughly, I’m much more genteel compared to other fellows.

Other bastards eat Beef and work hard to increase their wealth even during droughts, but it’s commonplace for them to submit petitions saying His Majesty shouldn’t do such things.

Compared to that, what’s the big deal about not exercising a little?

“My whole body aches so much it’s too painful. And why is it so burning hot? It’s also stinging, I might really die at this rate.”

When fighting the fire, I ran around everywhere without caring whether sparks flew or things came flying at me.

In the process, I seem to have gotten burned in many places by the fire.

So it wouldn’t be strange if my whole body was covered with burn marks.

But what exactly is this thing covering my body right now?

In Joseon, people aren’t covered with Red Silk blankets.

‘This couldn’t possibly be what I think it is, could it?’

Shin Suk-ju, who loved reading books like King Sejong and even asked other Jiphyeonjeon scholars to cover his night duties so he could enjoy reading.

The Gonryongpo made of Red Silk that King Sejong personally covered him with when he fell asleep while on night duty.

Finally, I realized the identity of the garment covering my body and couldn’t help but scream.

“Aaah!”

Crimson red silk with golden thread embroidered round dragon patterns on the shoulders and back.

There is only one such garment in all of Joseon.

That Gonryongpo which only His Majesty may wear.

Before my mind could give any commands, my body moved on its own.

I very carefully spread the Gonryongpo over the blanket I had been lying on, then bowed toward the Gonryongpo.

Modern people might not understand this sentiment, but it is what any person of Joseon should rightfully do.

“Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty!”

I must now quickly change into my official robes and return the Gonryongpo to His Majesty.

However, I am not a minister, and a mere 4th rank junior official like myself cannot request an audience with His Majesty.

Should I return it through a palace eunuch from Daejeon…

No, there’s something I must do first – I need to understand my current situation.

The fact is that I fell asleep and woke up in an unfamiliar place covered with the ‘Gonryongpo’.

Putting this situation together, I reached one conclusion.

I was focused on extinguishing the fire, and immediately collapsed upon hearing that the fire was out.

And someone brought me to the Royal Palace.

When I realized this fact, someone entered the room.

It was an elderly man wearing Red Official Robes who examined me carefully before speaking.

“Well, are you coming to your senses now?”

“Yes, I am. But is this place the Royal Palace?”

“Indeed, orders came to bring you to the Royal Palace for treatment after you collapsed from exhaustion while fighting the fire in Anguk District. So I have been caring for you until now.”

“Thank you, Royal Physician.”

The Royal Physician examined various parts of my body before speaking.

“The wounds from the burns have healed to some extent. The treatment is progressing faster than I expected. It seems that your practice of keeping your body clean to prevent illness, as you’ve been advised, has been of great help.”

“Is that so?”

“His Majesty has specifically commanded me to examine your physical condition very thoroughly. Given such great grace he has bestowed… when news that you have awakened is delivered, it seems he will come to see your face before long. Prepare your mind. Ah, for Kim Je-geom who wrote the memorial, such a trivial matter would be nothing… I suppose I spoke unnecessarily. Now rest well.”

When I opened my eyes and got up, a gonryongpo was covering my body, and they say the king will come to see me soon – could you rest comfortably in such a situation?

No, such things don’t really matter.

Due to the great fire that occurred in Hanyang, I can’t even guess how many people died.

How much property damage resulted from it, and how many people were driven to the streets after their homes burned down.

Moreover, there must be plenty of thugs and ruffians trying to cause trouble taking advantage of the chaos…

Thinking about such things, not only does my body hurt, but my heart becomes very troubled as well.

I sent Gyeoul-i toward the Han River, so naturally she should be safe… but you never know.

Something bad might have happened.

I don’t know how much property damage our house suffered or how much property damage my father-in-law’s house suffered.

The more I think about it, the more serious and gloomy matters follow one after another, when the door opened and King Sejong appeared directly before me.

“Kim Je-geom, how is your body feeling?”

“Thanks to the royal physician taking good care of me, I am fine. More than that, I would like to know what happened to my family members.”

When King Sejong heard my words, he laughed heartily.

“Haha, yes. People say Kim Je-geom is someone who knows only the Royal Ancestral Shrine and State and the common people whether sleeping or awake, and that even if stabbed with a sword, not a drop of blood would come out. But you too are human.”

Fifty percent of the reason I devote myself to Joseon is to become a husband who won’t be shameful in Winter’s eyes.

When a child is born, 50% will be because of Winter, and about 20% of the remainder will be to become a father who won’t be shameful in my child’s eyes.

Also, I’m human too, so I can’t live with unconditionally Joseon over family!

“Your wife Kim Gyeoul is safe. And I heard the other family members are safe too. Furthermore, your father-in-law Kim Man-deok is also safe. Your house fortunately did not suffer damage from the fire demon. However, I hear fire spread to Kim Man-deok’s house.”

Both Kim Man-deok and I actually keep most of our wealth stored in warehouses built in places far from Hanyang.

That’s because Hanyang land prices are too expensive to build warehouses to store all that rice and various treasures.

So even if my father-in-law’s house burned down, there wouldn’t be very significant financial losses.

“… I am sorry, Your Majesty.”

I tilted my head, not understanding why King Sejong was suddenly saying he was sorry after hearing my words.

“I knew that as Hanyang gradually grew larger, the number of unruly groups would increase. Therefore, I had previously informed not only the Ministry of Public Works but also Hanseongbu about this problem. However, because I failed to push more decisively, more forcefully…”

Until I collapsed, I had devoted my life solely to extinguishing the fire.

And I had deliberately turned away from the wailing and cries of those who lost their children, heads of household, parents, and siblings to the fire.

I did not listen with my ears or take into my eyes the groans and sight of those burning to death.

It was an unavoidable choice I made to save even one more person.

Nevertheless, those tragedies do not leave my mind.

As I told King Sejong, if I had pushed just a little more decisively and forcefully, even if a great fire had broken out in Hanyang, I could have certainly reduced the property damage and casualties more than now.

“I still do not know how many people died, how many were injured, and how much in houses and property was lost. However, I do know that truly many people suffered greatly. Though I did not set the fire, this happened because I was negligent in doing what I should have done.”

“No. It is not your fault. All of this happened because I lack virtue.”

Tears welled up in King Sejong’s eyes.

“I saw it. Someone dying in agony with their entire body engulfed in flames. I also saw those who were dazed after losing their homes and property. I saw those wailing after losing family to the fire demon. Among them was a woman vendor who had escaped from her house with her body on fire.”

“…”

“That woman vendor had rushed out holding her child in her arms, trying to save the child somehow… but the child I saw had already stopped breathing, suffocated by the smoke. I could not bring myself to tell that woman vendor that her child was dead.”

Earthquakes, floods, fires – all are disasters too horrific for humans to endure.

What I keenly felt as I directly experienced this fire and faced its victims.

Was that such great disasters must never be allowed to happen again.

“So I took the child from the woman vendor and promised to save the child. Then the woman vendor immediately passed away.”

“How can such a tragic thing exist in this world?”

If there’s one thing I dislike most about 21st century modern law, it’s that arsonists cannot automatically receive the death penalty.

That bastard set fire intending to kill several people, but if no one died, he might even get out on probation. Does this make any sense?

“Your Majesty, I consider this fire no different from treason.”

“Treason…”

“Though we cannot know what intentions they had in setting fire to Hanyang, this could have burned the Royal Ancestral Shrine and State and completely destroyed the foundation of the nation. If this is not treason, then what is?”

King Sejong listened to my words and nodded his head.

“I have failed to fulfill my duties, and so many people of Hanyang have died. I am truly a criminal who has committed a great sin against the Royal Ancestral Shrine and State.”

I am neither the Governor of Hanseong who is responsible for Hanyang, nor a Hanseongbu official.

In other words, I have no need to bear responsibility for the disaster caused by negligent safety management in Hanyang.

“Please allow me to wash away even a little of this sin I have committed.”

At my words, King Sejong shook his head vigorously in denial.

And he declared.

“You have committed no sin. Those who have sinned are the rebels who started the fire, and only I, who as the king of Joseon failed to listen to your words.”

“Your Majesty.”

“I command Kim Dae-bung, Inspector of the Warship Construction Office.”

“I shall receive Your Majesty’s command.”

King Sejong commanded me.

“Suppress the rebellion.”

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