He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 134

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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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Gwon Ram and Han Myeong-hoe (5)

“Your Majesty was worried that if he allowed Kwon Je to divorce his innocent wife, this incident might lead other yangban to abandon their blameless wives, so he did not permit the divorce.”

According to records from the Joseon Period, commoners divorced relatively easily.

There are even frequent records of women who married several times.

However, yangban divorce required the king’s permission, and when it happened, it resulted in social burial.

Among yangban, divorce was so rare that it could be considered virtually non-existent.

But in this world, there were surprisingly those like Kwon Je who, despite being yangban, lived without caring about social reputation.

In fact, Joseon is full of yangban who would abandon their families but desperately struggle to maintain their social status.

Because it’s necessary for survival.

But that scoundrel Kwon Je has given up even that important reputation, so is there really any hope he’ll cherish his family in the future?

‘There’s no way.’

If Kwon Je sets a precedent, there’s a high probability that bastards who kept their wives around like norigae when they were young and pretty, but want to abandon them when they age and wrinkle and their bodies deteriorate, will spout all kinds of nonsense requesting divorce.

The women and children divorced in such ways would have to live with stigma in yangban society.

“However, in this case, wasn’t it Kwon Je who did wrong? His wife has no fault whatsoever, and what crime could those young children have? But under Joseon law, we couldn’t hold Kwon Je accountable… After reading the petition you submitted, it seems we can hold Kwon Je accountable. Also, we can divide his property and give it to the divorcing wife, so her livelihood can be fully preserved, and since it becomes crystal clear that his wife and children have done nothing wrong… there will be no social stigma.”

“Don’t we punish children who beat or kill their parents as crimes against moral order? In the same context, I believe parents who kill their children or abuse them to near death are also clearly committing crimes as they violate human duty.”

“Even mere beasts readily risk their lives to protect their young, yet the head of a household abuses his wife and children so. Is this not worse than a beast? It troubled my heart that we couldn’t punish such a household head, but following your words, we gain justification to punish that bastard who’s worse than a pig or dog, which greatly satisfies my heart.”

Lee Bang-won lost three children in succession before Prince Yangnyeong was born.

I can’t even imagine how great that sorrow must have been.

I once attended a funeral where a child died before their parents, and there I experienced how horrific a funeral could be.

The father and mother wailed without sleeping for three straight days, and their cries were so loud and sorrowful that from my perspective as a listener, I even felt frightened.

I heard they would faint intermittently while wailing.

After fainting and regaining consciousness, they would get up and wail again, continuously repeating this cycle.

But Lee Bang-won had also lost three children in succession, so how must his heart have felt…

Perhaps for this reason, Lee Bang-won was exceptionally lenient toward children.

Even the problematic ball kicking incident, where the Royal Court ministers made a fuss claiming it was a curse against the king and the prince, he ruled innocent, saying what would children know about such things.

This was despite the fact that according to Joseon law, it could be tied to treason that would warrant exterminating three generations of a family.

Being such a person, how would he view a ‘bastard who gets drunk and beats his child nearly to death’?

He would see it as a Goryeo ghost.

“However, there is one thing that concerns me. Is it true that Gwon Ram was the one who reported Kwon Je’s crimes to you?”

Even when the Gyeongguk Daejeon was created, children were not allowed to dare sue their parents.

If they reported other crimes of their parents excluding treason, the punishment the parents would receive was entirely transferred to the children.

This was because they viewed it unfavorably, asking how a child could report their parent’s crimes.

Although Confucianism hasn’t become so severely entrenched in this early Joseon period, the fact that he reported his father would still stick to Gwon Ram forever like a criminal record.

So I, who appointed myself as his teacher, should take care of this too.

“I saw Gwon Ram fleeing and took him to my house to protect him and treat his wounds. According to the physician, the children’s bodies were covered with bruises and injuries.”

“That beast of a man must have beaten his own children almost daily.”

“After hearing that story, I thought the problem was serious, so I had my house servant investigate. Upon investigation, I learned that Kwon Je got drunk almost daily and abused his wife and children, while only cherishing and loving his concubine who was a gisaeng. How can a head of household so despise and abuse his legitimate wife and children?”

Lee Bang-won has quite a colorful history with women.

King Sejong was also bad, but Lee Bang-won was no less so.

So his jealous legitimate wife Queen Wongyeong was severely jealous and poured out all kinds of nagging bombardments (which was problematic according to Confucian ethics).

But that aside, those two loved each other until death.

Lee Bang-won even mobilized monks from Hoeamsa Temple to pray in order to save Queen Wongyeong.

“Taking concubines is natural for a scholar-official, but despising one’s legitimate wife is something no human should do.”

“Therefore, I only made the report to save the children of that household. Gwon Ram is currently at the Ministry of Justice pleading not to punish his father. How could such a child have committed the act of reporting his own father?”

I had told Gwon Ram that I would make sure his father rotted in an exile location for life.

At the same time, I also told him that because of the report against his father, criticism from society could pour down on his mother and siblings, so to prevent that, he needed to act well as a filial son.

I gave him a hint to pretend to earnestly defend his father Gwon Ram.

“You speak correctly. Yes, it’s only those shaggy-haired scholars who don’t know how the world works that raise their voices in criticism, saying Gwon Ram reported him. It’s all nonsense.”

Lee Bang-won looked at me and sent a signal with his eyes.

‘Actually, I know that Gwon Ram reported his own father through you, but that child is innocent, so let’s just let it pass.’

As expected of King Sejong’s father.

He knows too much.

“Fortunately, no one died, so I cannot sentence Kwon Je, a descendant of a meritorious subject, to death. Therefore, considering his crime of beating and abusing his wives and children like it was a daily meal, and all other crimes he has committed, I shall order house arrest.”

House arrest.

It means confining him alone in his house to live for the rest of his life.

Simply put, it means living trapped in solitary confinement for life.

According to prisoners, just three days in solitary confinement feels like you’ll really die, but to impose house arrest for life…

‘Kwon Je will throw a complete fit, saying it would be better to kill him.’

If I tell this story to Gwon Ram, he’ll probably be very pleased.

“And while it’s true that children suing their parents should not happen, we will make an exception in cases where children are severely abused. This is because children have no choice but to sue to prevent parents from committing the atrocity of killing their children. It’s like when Emperor Shun avoided the scene when his father tried to kill him, preventing him from committing murder.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

After saying this, Lee Bang-won left the State Council and spoke as if talking to himself.

“In this world, there are those who pray to heaven wanting to have children, seek out shamans, and even give vast treasures to Buddhist temples to pray to the fire starter. Why on earth does heaven not grant children to such people, but gives children to those wicked ones who are worse than beasts, only to make them suffer so…”

**

After Gwon Ram’s matter was concluded, before telling the boy the results, I first visited Han Myeong-hoe’s house.

Right now, the boy has to continue his ‘acting’ until punishment is officially handed down to Kwon Je.

Since he’s just a child, if he hears that his father, who is worse than a beast, will receive lifelong house arrest which is more painful than death…

I thought he might not be able to continue acting.

“For the renowned upright Scholar My Lord to personally visit my humble home, I don’t know where to put myself.”

Han Gi, Han Myeong-hoe’s father, according to history, is a person who will die next year.

Perhaps because of this, he resigned from his position two months ago citing illness and is now resting at home, but judging by his appearance, his physical condition looks quite poor and it doesn’t seem like he’ll live much longer.

“Since your body is in such poor condition, didn’t I send word ahead that you needn’t bother wearing your official robes?”

“Ever since I was at the Office of Inspector General, the person I respected most was you, My Lord. So, if the opportunity ever arose, I wanted to meet you privately and receive your teachings… For you to visit me like this is truly a great honor.”

The way young officials look at me is divided into two types.

One type consists of those who gradually avoid me or run away when they see me, feeling anxious.

The other type consists of those like Han Gi who hold me in the utmost respect.

I can understand the respect to some degree, but what about those who try to avoid and run away when they see me?

I don’t really understand the reason for that.

I only eliminated those who deserved to die, and I have the merit of saving all the ministers from King Sejong’s overtime hell.

Why do they dislike me when I guaranteed them a life with evenings?

“I came to visit this time because there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

“I am poor with no wealth to speak of, and my health is poor as well, so I’m someone who can’t be of help. In my heart, I’d like to help you in every way possible, but…”

“Ah, I’m not seeking that kind of help, so don’t worry.”

With that, I handed Han Gi a box containing traditional medicine including ginseng.

His eyes lit up when he confirmed the contents.

“Ram-i, whom I’ve taken as my disciple, told me that the eldest son of a certain inspector is quite exceptional, so I have a mind to take him as my disciple.”

Han Gi’s eldest son is none other than Han Myeong-hoe.

If I could properly correct this fellow’s character and put him to good use, how wonderful would that be?

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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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