He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 84

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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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King Sejong’s Trap (5)

All my married friends unanimously said the same thing.

‘When your wedding is a month away, there are so many things to do compared to the absolutely insufficient time that 30 days feel like 30 seconds.’

Now that I’m properly preparing for this wedding myself, I could painfully understand why those guys said that.

A day really felt like a second – I had no peace of mind at all and time flew by quickly.

When I took Gyeoul-i as my concubine, my parents just called all the village people together, slaughtered a cow, and ended it with one boisterous feast.

But since this became a formal wedding, following the six rites, I received Gyeoul-i’s birth chart and confirmed our compatibility, then sent the Royal Gifts that Lee Bang-won had very generously prepared to Kim Man-deok’s house…

After sending the Royal Gifts, I carefully wrote and sent a reply letter to both His Majesties with the content ‘I will now voluntarily enlist to serve the Joseon Royal Court forever.’

To think I’d voluntarily enlist with my own hands – I’m not some trainee being dragged to Nonsan, so what the hell is this?

“Son-in-law.”

“Father-in-law.”

Kim Man-deok examined my complexion and asked.

“Are you perhaps feeling unwell on this joyous day? That wouldn’t do…”

“How could that be? I’m just lost in thought about how to repay His Majesty’s grace, how I can reciprocate as a subject.”

My beautiful plan to resign at an appropriate time and return to live comfortably with Gyeoul-i in my hometown Yanggu had turned to bubbles.

I never thought that wicked King Sejong would cunningly take Gyeoul-i hostage.

Just elevating Gyeoul-i from concubine to proper wife already made it difficult for me to dare escape, but on top of that, the Royal Palace even sent down Royal Gifts for the wedding.

If I submit a resignation memorial, King Sejong will obviously reject the resignation while milking this matter over and over like extracting marrow from bones.

“Our son-in-law is truly a loyal subject. Even at the Ministry of Taxation, many people speak well of you, calling you the Kongming of Haedong. From what I see, those words don’t seem wrong at all. Hehehe.”

“You praise me too highly.”

“You’ve done incomparably well until now. If you continue as you have, you’ll be able to sufficiently repay the grace you received from His Majesty. So… hurry and submit a petition to go with me to the Ministry of Taxation, no…”

“I’m not going.”

After this wedding ends, Kim Man-deok will be dragged to Jeongui County on Jeju Island.

From what I heard, that position is also properly recognized as local government experience, and since His Majesty is paying special attention to that project, it’s supposedly a very good posting for advancement…

I’ve already gone through almost all the positions I need to pass through for promotion to high-ranking official, and since I have no intention of rushing my advancement, why would I go there?

I should live happily with Gyeoul-i in Hanyang, going to work on time and leaving work on time.

“How am I supposed to deal with those Japanese bastards all by myself without you…”

“Since the Lord of Tsushima deeply admires me in his heart, the Japanese on Tsushima Island won’t be able to treat Father-in-law poorly either.”

The Lord of Tsushima is terribly afraid of me.

Because I told him that ‘Joseon can replace the Lord of Tsushima at any time.’

So just letting those bastards know that he’s my father-in-law will prevent the Japanese on Tsushima Island from treating Kim Man-deok carelessly.

If someone crosses the line? I’ll just visit Jeongui County once.

“Father-in-law, then I’ll go exchange greetings with those who came to my wedding.”

In Korea, it’s common for the groom to visit the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony to take photos, but in Joseon weddings, it’s proper etiquette for the groom not to see the bride before the ceremony officially begins.

So rather than going to see the bride now, it would be proper for me to visit the elders who came here and pay my respects.

I escaped from Father-in-law who was plotting an evil scheme to take the groom to Jeongui County.

When I went outside, I saw the ministers of the Six Ministries, including Hwang Hee, lined up and surrounding Father who had come up from Yanggu County, offering congratulations.

Thanks to King Sejong bestowing Royal Gifts so generously that rumors spread throughout Hanyang…

Both parents came to Hanyang personally with joyful hearts, deeply grateful for the great royal favor.

Well, it’s only a day’s journey by boat, so it wouldn’t have been too difficult or inconvenient.

“Kim Jeongnang is truly a filial son. It was already admirable that he passed the state examination as the top candidate at such a young age, but how well he handles every task assigned to him… On behalf of all the Ministers here, I would like to express our gratitude to Father for raising such an excellent son and sending him to the Royal Court. Thank you, Father. And we envy you.”

“I was curious about where Kim Jeongnang got the courage to submit a written memorial to block the currency, and indeed, like father, like son…”

Father sent me a signal with his eyes, asking me to save him.

They say Mother had already escaped before I arrived, using the excuse of helping prepare the bride.

To save Father, I went to where the Ministers were gathered, and Hwang Hee offered congratulations on behalf of everyone.

“Our Kim Jeongnang has now become an adult in the true sense.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

“There are two kinds of filial piety that a child should show to their parents. Rising to Fame and Honor, and having grandchildren to continue the family line. Having grandchildren is something you’ll handle yourself, and I’ll help you with rising to fame… Come to the State Council.”

At those words, the Minister of Finance stepped forward angrily.

“An ordinary official might be one thing, but someone like Kim Jeongnang is a talent that stands out wherever he goes, so his abilities are valued highly anywhere. Therefore, the most important issue in the current situation – the problem of distributing markets nationwide – should be discussed in the Ministry of Taxation…”

“What are you talking about? Don’t you know that creating new weapons in the Ministry of War is a more urgent and crucial matter? Not all words are the same. You should choose your words carefully.”

“Kim Jeongnang has excellent talent in governing Japan, so he should come to the Ministry of Rites rather than other departments. Minister Jo, why are you trying to use Kim Jeongnang’s talents only in the Ministry of War?”

As the ministers began fighting in earnest, Father whispered in my ear.

“It’s truly not an empty boast that you’re making a name for yourself. Seeing how these high-ranking people recognize and care for you, this father is truly delighted.”

“… Father, I’d rather be obsessed over by women and cause romantic troubles.”

Beautiful women having a catfight over me would at least be cute if it’s not too intense, but elderly men near or past sixty having a ‘catfight’ over me is absolutely horrifying just to watch.

What good would a situation like ‘ministers being obsessed with me’ do for me? Being in such a position would only increase my workload.

While I was going around greeting the guests who had come, someone completely unexpected appeared.

“Prince Hyoryeong has arrived.”

Kings like King Sejong or Lee Bang-won cannot come to a subject’s wedding.

So they must have sharpened their sword very well, intending to put a leash on me properly.

As evidence of this, none other than Prince Hyoryeong, who ranks among the highest in the current Joseon royal hierarchy (Prince Yangnyeong is an exception since he’s a scoundrel), appeared here in person.

Prince Hyoryeong’s atmosphere is always… how should I put it.

Both his facial features and the aura emanating from his body make me think he’s somehow like Buddha.

In a way, it’s like looking at a living, moving Buddha statue.

If Queen Wongyeong hadn’t made a fuss saying she couldn’t give her son to Buddha, he really would have left home to become a monk…

I think that indeed would have happened.

“Where is Kim Jeongnang?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I am here.”

“The Retired King and His Majesty sent me here to convey their congratulations on your wedding. I sincerely congratulate you.”

“Thank you.”

“Buddha said that it takes eight thousand eons for a married couple’s bond to form. Meeting as husband and wife is that difficult. But since Kim Jeongnang and the lady are said to love each other deeply, wouldn’t that bond be even more special?”

Among Joseon yangban, there are those who read Buddhist sutras as a hobby.

In actual history, there were cases where the older brother was a monk and the younger brother passed the civil service examination.

However, Prince Hyoryeong’s extensive Buddhist knowledge had definitely crossed the line.

This is why Prince Suyang never even bothered to invite Prince Hyoryeong to participate in the Gyeyu Coup. He probably never even considered purging him either.

Who in Joseon would serve someone who was practically a monk as their king?

“The most important thing in relationships is trust. So you too must maintain trust with your virtuous wife and build a beautiful family.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

While the workers Prince Hyoryeong brought were unloading considerable wealth in the courtyard of the Bride’s Family Home, he handed me a talisman.

“This is a talisman written personally by the Head Monk of Bongeunsa Temple. It’s said to be effective in receiving the blessing of a son. I heard that Kim Jeongnang doesn’t particularly dislike superstitions, and wives of Scholarly Noble Families often receive talismans from monks… please accept it.”

“I gratefully accept it.”

Not long after finishing my greetings with Prince Hyoryeong, the wedding ceremony began.

Seeing Gyeoul-i dressed in the Red Wedding Dress, she was so beautiful I was left speechless.

Usually with Hanbok, especially as the formality of the clothing increases, you layer more garments and they become looser, so the figure doesn’t show well…

But just as putting an awl in a pocket naturally creates a hole, Gyeoul-i’s beautiful chest could not be hidden by mere Hanbok fabric.

And when our eyes met, the way she smiled while shyly averting her gaze slightly.

Everything about Gyeoul-i was beautiful to me.

I even had the wicked thought that I could serve as Chief State Councilor for 30 years just to see this sight.

Not long after finishing the wedding ceremony, a storm struck the Royal Court.

The Ming Emperor had died.

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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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