Chapter 112
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Chapter 112
Similar timeline, the Forbidden City.
“That guy... he really is something, isn’t he?”
After finishing his political duties, Emperor Zhu Zhanji muttered under his breath as he returned to his chamber.
The person he was talking about was Hyang.
“From what I’ve heard, he’s definitely not your average guy.”
***
The phrase ‘The Crown Prince of Joseon is not ordinary’ was universally echoed by envoys who had visited Joseon.
“Not ordinary?”
To Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s question, the envoys uniformly responded.
“Indeed, Your Majesty. His scholarly aptitude is exceptional, despite his young age.”
“He humbly says he’s inadequate, but as you converse with him, it’s impossible to measure the depth of his knowledge!”
“Oh? What about his appearance?”
When asked about Hyang’s appearance, the envoys responded immediately.
“He’s incredibly handsome!”
“He may be young, but he can’t hide his handsomeness!”
“If the legendary Song Yu and Pan Yue were reincarnated, it would be this Crown Prince of Joseon. If he were to walk the streets of Beijing, we would witness ‘fruits filling the cart‘!”The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.
[TL/N: Fruits filling the cart simply means gifts, favors, praises are given in great abundance.]
[TL/N: In Chinese history, 宋玉 (Sòng Yù) and 潘岳 (Pān Yuè) are celebrated both for their literary talents and exceptional good looks. Sòng Yù, a poet from the Warring States period, was not only a master of words but also known for his physical beauty. Similarly, Pān Yuè, who lived during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was famous for his allure and poetic prowess. Their reputations as handsome men are well-documented in historical texts and have been immortalized in art and literature.]
“Oh? Is that so?”
When the term ‘fruits filling the cart’ was mentioned, Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s eyes sparkled.
‘Fruits filling the cart’ refers to a tale about Pan Yue, who would fill his cart with fruits thrown by admiring women—and even grandmothers—as he passed by, following an old custom of women offering fruits to men they fancied.
The envoys’ uniform praise piqued Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s curiosity.
“Should I invite him over?”
As Emperor Zhu Zhanji pondered, coincidentally, Hyang arrived in Beijing, leading his delegation.
“Ah, as expected!”
Internally impressed by Hyang’s courteous bow, Emperor Zhu Zhanji was filled with admiration.
“Despite being so young and yet to have his coming-of-age ceremony, he’s so respectful!”
Although he still looked like a young boy, his towering height and clean-cut face made it obvious that he was a very handsome man.
In the following banquet and literary discussion focused on calligraphy and painting, Emperor Zhu Zhanji grew increasingly fond of Hyang.
“Humble but not servile, polite but not excessive! Truly a talent!”
It wasn’t just Emperor Zhu Zhanji who was impressed.
“The Crown Prince from Joseon is a strikingly handsome!”
Through palace maids and eunuchs who attended to him, the rumor spread, reaching every corner of the Forbidden City and even the whole of Beijing.
When Hyang eventually left the Forbidden City to return to Joseon, the spectacle unfolded where residents of Beijing flocked to witness the Joseon delegation’s procession.
***
“Seems like he’s destined for greatness...”
If Hyang were to hear it, he might respond internally with ‘Look here! I’m the Crown Prince! Of course, I’m destined for greatness!’ Emperor Zhu Zhanji muttered, deep in thought.
“Marriage is the ultimate form of alliance, but...”
He had jokingly told Hyang, ‘We have suitable women here,’ startling him. But even if Hyang had accepted, there were complications.
His daughters, with the eldest now being 7 years old, were too young.
On the contrary, his sisters were too old to be sent.
“It’s a pity. In that case... Take a look!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Summon the Chief Secretary immediately!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Emperor Zhu Zhanji, having given the order to Hwanguan, hardened his resolve.
“If all else fails, adopting a daughter is an option. The priority is to first confirm whether what the Joseon crown prince has said is true or an excuse.”
Time passed, and the Chief Secretary who had hastily returned received another order from Emperor Zhu Zhanji.
“Send someone to Shandong and gather detailed information on the Joseon Crown Prince! Especially focus on his marital status!”
“Work hard.”
After seeing off Yu, Hyang spoke to his steward standing behind him.
“Hasn’t Yu grown a lot?”
“He will soon be 11 years old. He will also soon be appointed as a Grand Prince.”
“I see...”
Although he said so, Hyang was grumbling internally.
‘Why is an 11-year-old this tall! I’ve worked so hard to grow taller! He grows like a sprout with just water!’
Recalling Yu’s robust shoulders, which seemed uncharacteristic for an 11-year-old, Hyang corrected his words.
‘Revised! He grows like a bad sprout with fertilizer-infused water!’
A lot had changed since Hyang created the butterfly effect that led to Princess Jeongso surviving, including the titles given to Hyang’s younger siblings. The year Yu was supposed to be appointed as Grand Prince Jinpyeong was this year, Sejong 10th year (1428), but he had not yet been appointed.
The main reason was that due to Princess Jeongso’s survival, the sequence of titles starting from Hyang had all been pushed back.
***
Back in his daily life and busy with work, Hyang suddenly received a summons from Sejong.
“What could it be?”
Sejong, who rushed to meet Hyang, who had arrived in haste due to his lack of understanding of the whole situation, soon headed for the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion with Sejong in the lead.
“The candidates for the crown princess have been decided.”
“Is that so?”
At Sejong’s words, Hyang visibly tensed up.
It was because news had recently arrived from Shandong.
– Several officials are inquiring about the crown prince. They are particularly investigating whether he is already married.
Because the contents of the urgent report were grave, Hyang had been quite anxious.
“We can’t rush, can we Father? If we make a mistake, my married life could turn into a nightmare...”
Sejong, whether he understood Hyang’s concerns or not, continued walking and elaborated.
“Right now, the queen is sharing refreshments with the candidates at Gyeonghoeru. Let’s discuss who catches your eye.”
“Wouldn’t that be improper?”
‘If we make a mistake, we could ruin the lives of these poor young ladies! This isn’t some 21st-century matchmaking event!’
To Hyang’s question, Sejong fumbled in his sleeve and pulled out an object.
“You recently created a decent device, didn’t you?”
What Sejong produced was a telescope.
Standing some distance away from the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, Sejong and Hyang observed the site through the telescope.
“Wow...”
Upon seeing the ladies sitting at the tables in Gyeonghoeru, Hyang unconsciously let out a small exclamation of admiration.
‘My God! If this is the standard, they would qualify as members of a girl group in the 21st century! And from a major talent agency at that!’
“Which candidate do you like?”
“I need a little more time to observe.”
After examining them further with the telescope, Hyang sighed and lowered the telescope.
“So, have you decided?”
At Sejong’s question, Hyang replied with a troubled look.
“Please let my royal mother decide. I find it difficult to make a decision.”
‘The difficulty level of the multiple-choice is too high!’
That night, Sejong was lost in thought.
“This child... has really thrown me a nasty curveball.”
From Sejong’s perspective, the three candidates were neck-and-neck, creating a deadlock.
“Hold on! Do I really have to choose just one?”
After pondering for a while, Sejong looked at it from another angle.
“One of the duties of a king is to produce many heirs to ensure the stable continuation of the royal family. And it’s not enough just to have many heirs; they have to be intelligent. The crown prince is already academically gifted, and these candidates are also well-educated. So then...”
Sejong paused momentarily to gather his thoughts, and his expression darkened again.
“Oh no... there’s this issue as well.”
Another problem suddenly came to Sejong’s mind.
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Chapter 112
Similar timeline, the Forbidden City.
“That guy... he really is something, isn’t he?”
After finishing his political duties, Emperor Zhu Zhanji muttered under his breath as he returned to his chamber.
The person he was talking about was Hyang.
“From what I’ve heard, he’s definitely not your average guy.”
***
The phrase ‘The Crown Prince of Joseon is not ordinary’ was universally echoed by envoys who had visited Joseon.
“Not ordinary?”
To Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s question, the envoys uniformly responded.
“Indeed, Your Majesty. His scholarly aptitude is exceptional, despite his young age.”
“He humbly says he’s inadequate, but as you converse with him, it’s impossible to measure the depth of his knowledge!”
“Oh? What about his appearance?”
When asked about Hyang’s appearance, the envoys responded immediately.
“He’s incredibly handsome!”
“He may be young, but he can’t hide his handsomeness!”
“If the legendary Song Yu and Pan Yue were reincarnated, it would be this Crown Prince of Joseon. If he were to walk the streets of Beijing, we would witness ‘fruits filling the cart‘!”The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.
[TL/N: Fruits filling the cart simply means gifts, favors, praises are given in great abundance.]
[TL/N: In Chinese history, 宋玉 (Sòng Yù) and 潘岳 (Pān Yuè) are celebrated both for their literary talents and exceptional good looks. Sòng Yù, a poet from the Warring States period, was not only a master of words but also known for his physical beauty. Similarly, Pān Yuè, who lived during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was famous for his allure and poetic prowess. Their reputations as handsome men are well-documented in historical texts and have been immortalized in art and literature.]
“Oh? Is that so?”
When the term ‘fruits filling the cart’ was mentioned, Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s eyes sparkled.
‘Fruits filling the cart’ refers to a tale about Pan Yue, who would fill his cart with fruits thrown by admiring women—and even grandmothers—as he passed by, following an old custom of women offering fruits to men they fancied.
The envoys’ uniform praise piqued Emperor Zhu Zhanji’s curiosity.
“Should I invite him over?”
As Emperor Zhu Zhanji pondered, coincidentally, Hyang arrived in Beijing, leading his delegation.
“Ah, as expected!”
Internally impressed by Hyang’s courteous bow, Emperor Zhu Zhanji was filled with admiration.
“Despite being so young and yet to have his coming-of-age ceremony, he’s so respectful!”
Although he still looked like a young boy, his towering height and clean-cut face made it obvious that he was a very handsome man.
In the following banquet and literary discussion focused on calligraphy and painting, Emperor Zhu Zhanji grew increasingly fond of Hyang.
“Humble but not servile, polite but not excessive! Truly a talent!”
It wasn’t just Emperor Zhu Zhanji who was impressed.
“The Crown Prince from Joseon is a strikingly handsome!”
Through palace maids and eunuchs who attended to him, the rumor spread, reaching every corner of the Forbidden City and even the whole of Beijing.
When Hyang eventually left the Forbidden City to return to Joseon, the spectacle unfolded where residents of Beijing flocked to witness the Joseon delegation’s procession.
***
“Seems like he’s destined for greatness...”
If Hyang were to hear it, he might respond internally with ‘Look here! I’m the Crown Prince! Of course, I’m destined for greatness!’ Emperor Zhu Zhanji muttered, deep in thought.
“Marriage is the ultimate form of alliance, but...”
He had jokingly told Hyang, ‘We have suitable women here,’ startling him. But even if Hyang had accepted, there were complications.
His daughters, with the eldest now being 7 years old, were too young.
On the contrary, his sisters were too old to be sent.
“It’s a pity. In that case... Take a look!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Summon the Chief Secretary immediately!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Emperor Zhu Zhanji, having given the order to Hwanguan, hardened his resolve.
“If all else fails, adopting a daughter is an option. The priority is to first confirm whether what the Joseon crown prince has said is true or an excuse.”
Time passed, and the Chief Secretary who had hastily returned received another order from Emperor Zhu Zhanji.
“Send someone to Shandong and gather detailed information on the Joseon Crown Prince! Especially focus on his marital status!”
“Work hard.”
After seeing off Yu, Hyang spoke to his steward standing behind him.
“Hasn’t Yu grown a lot?”
“He will soon be 11 years old. He will also soon be appointed as a Grand Prince.”
“I see...”
Although he said so, Hyang was grumbling internally.
‘Why is an 11-year-old this tall! I’ve worked so hard to grow taller! He grows like a sprout with just water!’
Recalling Yu’s robust shoulders, which seemed uncharacteristic for an 11-year-old, Hyang corrected his words.
‘Revised! He grows like a bad sprout with fertilizer-infused water!’
A lot had changed since Hyang created the butterfly effect that led to Princess Jeongso surviving, including the titles given to Hyang’s younger siblings. The year Yu was supposed to be appointed as Grand Prince Jinpyeong was this year, Sejong 10th year (1428), but he had not yet been appointed.
The main reason was that due to Princess Jeongso’s survival, the sequence of titles starting from Hyang had all been pushed back.
***
Back in his daily life and busy with work, Hyang suddenly received a summons from Sejong.
“What could it be?”
Sejong, who rushed to meet Hyang, who had arrived in haste due to his lack of understanding of the whole situation, soon headed for the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion with Sejong in the lead.
“The candidates for the crown princess have been decided.”
“Is that so?”
At Sejong’s words, Hyang visibly tensed up.
It was because news had recently arrived from Shandong.
– Several officials are inquiring about the crown prince. They are particularly investigating whether he is already married.
Because the contents of the urgent report were grave, Hyang had been quite anxious.
“We can’t rush, can we Father? If we make a mistake, my married life could turn into a nightmare...”
Sejong, whether he understood Hyang’s concerns or not, continued walking and elaborated.
“Right now, the queen is sharing refreshments with the candidates at Gyeonghoeru. Let’s discuss who catches your eye.”
“Wouldn’t that be improper?”
‘If we make a mistake, we could ruin the lives of these poor young ladies! This isn’t some 21st-century matchmaking event!’
To Hyang’s question, Sejong fumbled in his sleeve and pulled out an object.
“You recently created a decent device, didn’t you?”
What Sejong produced was a telescope.
Standing some distance away from the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, Sejong and Hyang observed the site through the telescope.
“Wow...”
Upon seeing the ladies sitting at the tables in Gyeonghoeru, Hyang unconsciously let out a small exclamation of admiration.
‘My God! If this is the standard, they would qualify as members of a girl group in the 21st century! And from a major talent agency at that!’
“Which candidate do you like?”
“I need a little more time to observe.”
After examining them further with the telescope, Hyang sighed and lowered the telescope.
“So, have you decided?”
At Sejong’s question, Hyang replied with a troubled look.
“Please let my royal mother decide. I find it difficult to make a decision.”
‘The difficulty level of the multiple-choice is too high!’
That night, Sejong was lost in thought.
“This child... has really thrown me a nasty curveball.”
From Sejong’s perspective, the three candidates were neck-and-neck, creating a deadlock.
“Hold on! Do I really have to choose just one?”
After pondering for a while, Sejong looked at it from another angle.
“One of the duties of a king is to produce many heirs to ensure the stable continuation of the royal family. And it’s not enough just to have many heirs; they have to be intelligent. The crown prince is already academically gifted, and these candidates are also well-educated. So then...”
Sejong paused momentarily to gather his thoughts, and his expression darkened again.
“Oh no... there’s this issue as well.”
Another problem suddenly came to Sejong’s mind.
Chapter 112Similar timeline, the Forbidden City.That guy... he really is something, isn't he?After finishing his political duties, Emperor Zhu Zhanji muttered under his breath as he returned to his chamber.The person he was talking about was Hyang.From what I've heard, he's definitely not your average guy.***The phrase The Crown Prince of Joseon is not ordinary' was universally echoed by envoys who had visited Joseon.Not ordinary?To Emperor Zhu Zhanji's question, the envoys uniformly responded.Indeed, Your Majesty. His scholarly aptitude is exceptional, despite his young age.He humbly says he's inadequate, but as you converse with him, it's impossible to measure the depth of his knowledge!Oh? What about his appearance?When asked about Hyang's appearance, the envoys responded immediately.He's incredibly handsome!He may be young, but he can't hide his handsomeness!If the legendary Song Yu and Pan Yue were reincarnated, it would be this Crown Prince of Joseon. If he were to walk the streets of Beijing, we would witness fruits filling the cart!The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Nvl1n.TL/N: Fruits filling the cart simply means gifts, favors, praises are given in great abundance.TL/N: In Chinese history, Song Yu and Pan Yue are celebrated both for their literary talents and exceptional good looks. Song Yu, a poet from the Warring States period, was not only a master of words but also known for his physical beauty. Similarly, Pan Yue, who lived during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was famous for his allure and poetic prowess. Their reputations as handsome men are well-documented in historical texts and have been immortalized in art and literature.Oh? Is that so?When the term fruits filling the cart' was mentioned, Emperor Zhu Zhanji's eyes sparkled.Fruits filling the cart' refers to a tale about Pan Yue, who would fill his cart with fruits thrown by admiring womenand even grandmothersas he passed by, following an old custom of women offering fruits to men they fancied.The envoys' uniform praise piqued Emperor Zhu Zhanji's curiosity.Should I invite him over?As Emperor Zhu Zhanji pondered, coincidentally, Hyang arrived in Beijing, leading his delegation.Ah, as expected!Internally impressed by Hyang's courteous bow, Emperor Zhu Zhanji was filled with admiration.Despite being so young and yet to have his coming-of-age ceremony, he's so respectful!Although he still looked like a young boy, his towering height and clean-cut face made it obvious that he was a very handsome man.In the following banquet and literary discussion focused on calligraphy and painting, Emperor Zhu Zhanji grew increasingly fond of Hyang.Humble but not servile, polite but not excessive! Truly a talent!It wasn't just Emperor Zhu Zhanji who was impressed.The Crown Prince from Joseon is a strikingly handsome!Through palace maids and eunuchs who attended to him, the rumor spread, reaching every corner of the Forbidden City and even the whole of Beijing.When Hyang eventually left the Forbidden City to return to Joseon, the spectacle unfolded where residents of Beijing flocked to witness the Joseon delegation's procession.***Seems like he's destined for greatness...If Hyang were to hear it, he might respond internally with Look here! I'm the Crown Prince! Of course, I'm destined for greatness!' Emperor Zhu Zhanji muttered, deep in thought.Marriage is the ultimate form of alliance, but...He had jokingly told Hyang, We have suitable women here,' startling him. But even if Hyang had accepted, there were complications.His daughters, with the eldest now being 7 years old, were too young.On the contrary, his sisters were too old to be sent.It's a pity. In that case... Take a look!Yes, Your Majesty!Summon the Chief Secretary immediately!Yes, Your Majesty!Emperor Zhu Zhanji, having given the order to Hwanguan, hardened his resolve.If all else fails, adopting a daughter is an option. The priority is to first confirm whether what the Joseon crown prince has said is true or an excuse.Time passed, and the Chief Secretary who had hastily returned received another order from Emperor Zhu Zhanji.Send someone to Shandong and gather detailed information on the Joseon Crown Prince! Especially focus on his marital status!Work hard.After seeing off Yu, Hyang spoke to his steward standing behind him.Hasn't Yu grown a lot?He will soon be 11 years old. He will also soon be appointed as a Grand Prince.I see...Although he said so, Hyang was grumbling internally.Why is an 11-year-old this tall! I've worked so hard to grow taller! He grows like a sprout with just water!'Recalling Yu's robust shoulders, which seemed uncharacteristic for an 11-year-old, Hyang corrected his words.Revised! He grows like a bad sprout with fertilizer-infused water!'A lot had changed since Hyang created the butterfly effect that led to Princess Jeongso surviving, including the titles given to Hyang's younger siblings. The year Yu was supposed to be appointed as Grand Prince Jinpyeong was this year, Sejong 10th year 1428, but he had not yet been appointed.The main reason was that due to Princess Jeongso's survival, the sequence of titles starting from Hyang had all been pushed back.***Back in his daily life and busy with work, Hyang suddenly received a summons from Sejong.What could it be?Sejong, who rushed to meet Hyang, who had arrived in haste due to his lack of understanding of the whole situation, soon headed for the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion with Sejong in the lead.The candidates for the crown princess have been decided.Is that so?At Sejong's words, Hyang visibly tensed up. It was because news had recently arrived from Shandong. Several officials are inquiring about the crown prince. They are particularly investigating whether he is already married.Because the contents of the urgent report were grave, Hyang had been quite anxious.We can't rush, can we Father? If we make a mistake, my married life could turn into a nightmare...Sejong, whether he understood Hyang's concerns or not, continued walking and elaborated.Right now, the queen is sharing refreshments with the candidates at Gyeonghoeru. Let's discuss who catches your eye.Wouldn't that be improper?If we make a mistake, we could ruin the lives of these poor young ladies! This isn't some 21st-century matchmaking event!'To Hyang's question, Sejong fumbled in his sleeve and pulled out an object.You recently created a decent device, didn't you?What Sejong produced was a telescope.Standing some distance away from the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, Sejong and Hyang observed the site through the telescope.Wow...Upon seeing the ladies sitting at the tables in Gyeonghoeru, Hyang unconsciously let out a small exclamation of admiration.My God! If this is the standard, they would qualify as members of a girl group in the 21st century! And from a major talent agency at that!'Which candidate do you like?I need a little more time to observe.After examining them further with the telescope, Hyang sighed and lowered the telescope.So, have you decided?At Sejong's question, Hyang replied with a troubled look.Please let my royal mother decide. I find it difficult to make a decision.The difficulty level of the multiple-choice is too high!'That night, Sejong was lost in thought.This child... has really thrown me a nasty curveball.From Sejong's perspective, the three candidates were neck-and-neck, creating a deadlock.Hold on! Do I really have to choose just one?After pondering for a while, Sejong looked at it from another angle.One of the duties of a king is to produce many heirs to ensure the stable continuation of the royal family. And it's not enough just to have many heirs; they have to be intelligent. The crown prince is already academically gifted, and these candidates are also well-educated. So then...Sejong paused momentarily to gather his thoughts, and his expression darkened again.Oh no... there's this issue as well.Another problem suddenly came to Sejong's mind.
