Sejong's Attitude Toward the Kwon Family (1)
The restoration of the paper that Kwon-ga had torn into tiny pieces was, in fact, completed in just three days.
When Court Lady Cheon managed to piece together the contents of the three sheets Kwon-ga had scribbled on, King Sejong, after confirming what was written, immediately tried to summon Kwon-ga and resolve the confusion unfolding in the Eastern Palace and Myeongrye Palace.
However, something began to trouble Sejong—the unparalleled genius who had single-handedly created a new writing system and even devised musical theory.
Whenever something bothered him or remained unknown, Sejong could not rest until he dug to the very end and grasped the full truth. On the fourth day, carrying the note, he went to the Queen's chambers.
"Haah, Your Majesty! So this is what happened. And I, not knowing any of this…"
Unexpectedly, the Queen's eyes, filled with a sigh, were calmer, clearer, and more composed than ever before.
"Your Majesty…!"
Startled, Sejong studied the Queen carefully.
After ascending the throne and experiencing that unspeakable tragedy, the Queen's outward attitude toward him had not differed much from how she had treated him during his days as a Grand Prince.
If anything, she had generously overlooked his endless indulgence in women, and had been equally kind and fair to his concubines and their children, including Lady Shin.
She even summoned the concubines he favored, encouraging them to serve him with greater devotion, bestowing jewels upon them, and even preparing medicinal tonics—becoming the very image of a virtuous queen rarely found in the world.
But as a husband who had shared a life and body with her for so long, how could Sejong fail to notice that the vivid intimacy she once showed him as a Grand Prince had vanished?
That emotional distance—today, it was gone from her eyes.
"My Queen… has something happened?"
At Sejong's question, Queen Soheon blushed faintly, like the noble young lady she had once been when they first married, and gently took his hand.
"My lady."
It was something that had not happened since that day, and Sejong unconsciously called her "my lady."
The Queen calmly began to speak.
"On the day the daughter-in-law of Myeongrye Palace entered, I had another episode. At that time, our Kwon-ga held me tightly and tapped the back of my hand—tap, tap, tap. And then, before, on that day… my father had been so horribly—"
"My lady!"
Startled, Sejong tightened his grip on her hand.
It was the first time the Queen had brought up that day herself—especially without screaming like a madwoman.
Instead of showing explosive anger, she closed her eyes and slowly took deep breaths.
Even through her closed eyelids, the movement of her eyes shifting left and right was clearly visible.
After a long while of breathing and moving her eyes, she opened them again.
Her gaze still trembled with pain, but it was no longer the kind that would overwhelm her mind.
And even more astonishing—alongside that pain, there was a warmth and intimacy she had only shown in her youth, before the tragedy.
"When Kwon-ga tapped my hand and made my eyes move from side to side, for the first time, my body seemed to recognize that the tragedy of that day had already passed, Your Majesty. Before, whenever I recalled it, my whole body would stiffen, and the grief I felt then would return so vividly that I could barely breathe. But now, I can think that it happened long ago… and that if I remain trapped in that day, my late father would also be sorrowful. And…"
Queen Soheon placed her other hand gently over Sejong's.
"I realized, at last, that I was not the only one suffering… that Your Majesty must also have suffered during those times. Despite how fond you are of women, you did not take another into your arms until I could accept you again. And that was when you were at the height of your vigor."
"…My Queen."
At her gentle reproach, Sejong felt an indescribable emotion.
All his life, he had only felt guilt that her father and uncle had been cruelly killed by his father, King Taejong. Because of that guilt, he had never once considered that he himself had also suffered in between.
"Your Majesty has endured much as well."
The Queen, now even considering her husband's pain, had him bathe using something called "soap," which Kwon-ga had presented.
She did not apply it herself, but as she gently instructed the court maid attending the bath on how to use and rinse it properly, Sejong found himself falling into confusion—if this was not sorcery, then what could it possibly be?
No matter how many times he had prayed at countless temples before countless Buddhas, the Queen's coldness had never improved.
Yet with just a few touches from Kwon-ga and a ridiculous motion of moving the eyes back and forth, it had begun to change.
And not only that—there was now a clear path toward further improvement.
"Your Majesty, these days I find Hongwi unbearably adorable and lovable. I can hardly believe that such a precious being exists in this world. I never imagined I would feel such joy again."
As she smiled brightly, she even said that when Princess Pyeongchang came to the palace, she would personally care for her in the Queen's chambers and comfort the poor child, who had grown up outside the palace without a mother, as a grandmother would.
That was when Sejong became certain—Kwon-ga was not using evil sorcery, but something even more extraordinary than that.
Thus, he summoned his long-trusted Chief Court Lady and ordered her to gather information about Kwon-ga's behavior, and to investigate in detail what had changed in the Crown Prince's recent conduct.
"Kwon-ga is indeed devoted to the royal grandson, and it is true that she has very quickly gained the Crown Prince's absolute favor, Your Majesty. However, her behavior is unusually bold, unrestrained… and peculiar."
The Chief Court Lady reported in detail from Cheonchu Hall.
Sejong nodded.
"Yes, peculiar indeed. Trembling one moment, then suddenly embracing me and patting me, and afterward looking so confident—that was truly strange," he muttered to himself.
"Furthermore, whenever she encounters Lady Geuma, the child born to Hong Seunghwi, she kneels down to meet her eyes, speaks to her often, observes her closely, and even tries to teach her things. Even when Hong Seunghwi mocks her for acting as though she were the Crown Princess. And once, when the royal grandson pushed Lady Geuma away, telling her to stay away from Kwon-ga, Kwon-ga severely scolded him…"
"She dared to reprimand the royal grandson? Ha! She has quite the nerve."
Sejong muttered in disbelief, then suddenly clicked his tongue.
"Well, considering she speaks her mind even before me without hesitation, it's no surprise she would do the same with young Hongwi."
The more he investigated, the more everything pointed to Kwon-ga's unusual nature.
Even Princess Jeongui had remarked,
"Kwon-ga seems humble, but it feels like she's hiding something. I wonder what would happen if she truly decided to reveal what she knows, Father."
Sejong wanted to summon Crown Prince Yi Hyang and ask,
"Was that strange new firearm you were told to create also something Kwon-ga hinted at?"
But he held himself back.
If the prince answered yes, he would have to question how Kwon-ga knew such things—and how much the prince himself knew about her.
And if Yi Hyang simply trusted Kwon-ga without question…
"Kwon-ga is Hyang's woman, Your Majesty. Have you not seen how much brighter Hyang has become since meeting her? And how cheerful our Hongwi is now? Even if Kwon-ga does not please you, keep your lips sealed."
If the Queen had not warned him, things might have turned out differently.
Sejong weighed many thoughts—whether to summon Kwon-ga immediately and confront her with the restored papers, whether to demand the source of her mysterious knowledge like what she had shown the Queen—
But on the sixth day, unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, he finally ordered his newly appointed palace eunuch to summon Kwon-ga to Cheonchu Hall.
When Yoonseo was preparing to go to Cheonchu Hall, Chief Court Lady Choi—one of the Queen's closest attendants—arrived to take Hongwi to the Queen's chambers and quietly delivered the Queen's message in a hushed voice.
"If His Majesty questions you about anything, you must simply bow your head and apologize unconditionally. Her Majesty believes that His Majesty harbors some suspicion toward you… and she is worried."
Hongwi, whose emotions had now stabilized greatly, could go to the Queen's chambers on his own even without Yoonseo.
That day as well, he buried himself in Yoonseo's arms and whispered, "Kwaga, I go play with Grandmother," before bravely taking Court Lady Choi's hand and toddling off toward the Queen's chambers.
Yoonseo smiled brightly as she watched him go, but soon her gaze turned cold.
If things unfolded as she expected, a storm of blood might sweep through the royal court—and the backlash might reach her as well.
But the arrow had already left the bow.
If King Sejong personally saw the contents of the note, there might be parts that angered him—but surely he would not go so far as to kill his son's woman.
With that thought, she headed toward Cheonchu Hall with Court Lady Eom and Maegeum.
"Kwon-ga, is it true that you wrote this?"
When Yoonseo entered Cheonchu Hall, bowed, and prostrated herself, three sheets of paper restored by Court Lady Cheon, along with three neatly rewritten copies in elegant calligraphy, were placed before her.
After setting down all six sheets, Court Lady Cheon quietly withdrew behind the piles of books and documents stacked behind the king, as if disappearing into the background.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I am deeply sorry. With no one to whom I could confide my troubled heart, I scribbled alone… and it has caused this situation. I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty."
"Very well. One may confide. As Hongwi's nursemaid, unable to voice the injustices he suffers, you might write alone in frustration. What great crime is that? It is those who dug it up and accused you of placing a curse who are at fault. Is that not so?"
"…Yes, Your Majesty. However, I should have been more cautious. I acted in a way that could arouse suspicion. I am deeply sorry."
That was true.
After deciding to firmly take root in Joseon, Yoonseo had resolved to survive no matter what. Using the knowledge she possessed, she intended always to stay one step ahead.
Originally, she had written her true thoughts and then torn and hidden them. But once she realized that hiding place had become dangerous, she decided instead to set a trap there.
She removed all her genuine writings, and instead wrote in detail about the injustices Hongwi suffered at the hands of Lady Yun and Hong Seunghwi. After tearing the pages, she placed them in a pouch and deliberately twisted its opening slightly so it would attract attention.
She had not expected that pouch to reach King Sejong himself—but no matter whose hands it fell into and was restored, she made sure it would not raise suspicion. She even added, here and there, traces of her fluttering feelings while looking at Yi Hyang.
"Everything written here… is true?"
"Y-yes, it is, Your Majesty."
"You dare say that everything written here about how the royal grandson was treated… is true?"
"I am deeply sorry."
Yoonseo bowed her head low.
Beneath that lowered head, she allowed herself the faintest smile.
Yes. This was the very trap she had set.
If His Majesty learned how the royal grandson had been treated—and not through an accusation, but through words written in frustration and then torn apart—if he saw the desperate sincerity of those words, written and torn again and again… how could he not be enraged?
You're all finished now.
But then—
"Kwon-ga, you clever girl… If you were in my position, what do you think you would conclude upon reading what is written here?"
"…Pardon?"
"You are a clever child. And yet, if someone like you did not completely destroy such writings, but instead hid them only to have them discovered… would it be normal for those who found them to fail to realize they were exposing their own disgrace and instead use them as an accusation? Would you not think differently from ordinary people? What if… this was all intended from the beginning?"
"!"
A chill ran down Yoonseo's spine.
Her hair stood on end, and cold sweat poured down her back.
"Kwon-ga, if you were me… what would you think?"
"..."
Yoonseo could not bring herself to speak.
She had overlooked the possibility that her opponent could be Sejong.
Even if everyone else in the world were deceived, Sejong might not be.
A genius who had single-handedly created an entirely new writing system—could he possibly believe that something as carefully structured as this, like a deliberate accusation, was merely a personal diary written without ulterior motives?
Damn it… damn it!
She could not open her mouth. Her mind felt as if it were going blank.
But it did not end there.
Yoonseo…
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