"History hasn't changed."
Rubbing his still-tingling calves, Yi Hyang gazed out beyond the Eastern Palace. In his eyes, fixed on the outer scenery, lingered a regret far too deep for his age.
The battle over the position of Crown Prince—summed up as Yangnyeong's defense and Chungnyeong's siege—had unfolded just as history recorded: Chungnyeong emerged victorious.
Yangnyeong had not been incompetent. Though it was never written in the official records, as he had shown at the dol ceremony, he possessed ambition as well.
But just as the Annals described, rather than devoting himself to scholarship, he preferred roaming the mountains and fields hunting, indulging in wine and women—a "free spirit".
And because he was that kind of man, he could not withstand the immense stress that came with the competition.
In the end, he sought relief in hunting and indulgence, even committing the extreme taboo of an illicit affair.
Ultimately, Yangnyeong's defeat was not merely due to Grand Prince Chungnyeong's superior qualities. His greatest failing was that he could not overcome the pressure and effectively sank himself.
* * *
Though Grand Prince Chungnyeong won the struggle for the heirship, he too suffered a grave wound. His wife's family was destroyed.
With Chungnyeong's appointment as Crown Prince, Shim On rose to become the most powerful of the powerful. And King Taejong was not one to leave such a rise unchecked.
The day Yi Hyang entered the palace alongside Chungnyeong after the latter's investiture, he recalled memories from his previous life.
When Yi Hyang—whose past life had been Jinho—was in high school, his Korean history teacher, nicknamed "Samcheonpo" for constantly digressing during class, had evaluated King Taejong like this:
"If Catholic priests preaching the Divine Right of Kings had arrived in Joseon during Taejong's reign, he would probably have made Catholicism the state religion on the spot. Of course, after that, he'd have slit the throats of everyone except a small obedient few."
It was a hypothetical. But when Yi Hyang first saw King Taejong in person, he could not help but agree.
'That man was right!'
Though age had etched fatigue into Taejong's face, his eyes still bore a force that made others shrink.
"Come forward."
After receiving the bows of the newly appointed Crown Prince and his wife, Taejong spoke in a surprisingly gentle tone.
"Much has happened. But from this day forth, you are the Crown Prince. Prepare thoroughly to rule this country after me, and deepen the bonds with your brothers."
"I will engrave Your Majesty's words upon my bones and heart."
When Chungnyeong finished speaking, Queen Min seated beside Taejong opened her mouth.
"Crown Princess, you must now govern the inner court. See to it that there is not the slightest disturbance."
"I shall remember Your Majesty's words deeply."
After offering their well-wishes, Taejong and Queen Min turned their gazes toward Yi Hyang.
"The child looks exceedingly bright."
Chungnyeong smiled.
"He is already studying the Xiaoxue."
"Already? Is he not barely four?"
"He will turn four this October."
"Remarkably early!"
"He shows even greater promise than I did."
Taejong looked pleased.
"A blessing upon our Joseon and the royal house!"
As Yi Hyang sensed their eyes upon him, he straightened immediately. Seeing their satisfaction at Chungnyeong's praise, he grumbled inwardly.
'Do you know how much effort I've put in?'
While Yangnyeong and Chungnyeong's rivalry intensified, Yi Hyang had agonized over what would be best for himself.
"Why has the child suddenly stopped eating? Nurse, call a physician."
"Yes, my lady."
His mother, Lady Shim, had been worried enough to summon a doctor. After much anguish, Yi Hyang made his decision.
'I will hone myself! Even in the worst case, I must secure at least a minimal intellectual and physical foundation. Physical strength may be limited by time, but at the very least, I must secure intellectual capability!'
The moment he began speaking after turning two, he started learning the Thousand Character Classic.
"He seems like a prodigy!"
"Indeed!"
Though his tongue still stumbled like a toddler's, he recited the text flawlessly. Chungnyeong and his wife watched with pride as Yi Hyang diligently studied.
'Thankfully, the hardware is good. Is that because this body belonged to Munjong in real history?'
Perhaps because this was once the body of Munjong, his memory and comprehension were exceptional. He finished the Thousand Character Classic at an unusually young age, moved on to Tonggamjeolyo, and by the time Chungnyeong was confirmed as Crown Prince, he had advanced to Xiaoxue.
"His eyes are so clear and bright. A delightful sight."
While bowing at Taejong's praise, Yi Hyang carefully read the atmosphere.
'The mood is subtle, as expected.'
He remembered his teacher's words.
"Have you heard the saying that enemies in a previous life become husband and wife in this one? Taejong and his queen fit that perfectly. A couple bound by love and resentment."
As he drifted in thought, Taejong addressed Hyang's mother.
"I hear that the Crown Prince's father-in-law is quite busy."
"I remain confined indoors and know little, Your Majesty."
"Is that so?"
Taejong's faint smile disappeared.
"He is not young. It would be well for him to live with some moderation. What use is prosperity if one loses health?"
The implication was sharp. The Crown Princess bowed, cold sweat forming.
"I shall convey Your Majesty's words."
It was a warning.
* * *
History flowed as it had before.
Four months after Chungnyeong became Crown Prince, on September 9, Taejong transferred the throne. In his proclamation, he declared:
"Until the sovereign comes of age, I shall personally oversee military affairs. Matters difficult to decide shall be deliberated by the State Council and Six Ministries, and I shall participate in such discussions."
It was not merely a statement of intent. He established the system and retained military authority directly.
Yet even so, trouble arose.
The incident began with Kang Sangin, Minister of War. Though Taejong held military authority, Kang reported directly only to Sejong and illegally appointed his brother Kang Sang-rye to a fifth-rank military post.
Taejong ordered Kang Sangin interrogated. Despite petitions demanding severe punishment, Taejong exiled him to his hometown and stripped him of titles and honors. This was the first resolution of the "Kang Sangin Case".
But the affair escalated when Shim On, now Chief State Councillor and father-in-law to the Crown Prince, departed as an envoy to Ming seeking recognition of the throne transfer.
Reports reached Taejong that crowds of high officials and commoners gathered to see him off. Taejong felt threatened.
–The Crown Prince's father-in-law. The highest minister. His brother Shim Jeong held a key military post.
Then suspicion turned to certainty.
November 26. Assistant Section Chief of the Ministry of War, An Heono reported to King Taejong.
"Kang Sangin, Shim Jeong, and Park Seup met privately."
"And?"
"They said, 'Orders are now issued from two places. It is not as it should be.'"
Taejong slammed his armrest.
"What?!"
The Kang Sangin Case reignited—this time with devastating force.
* * *
Shim On's family was struck like lightning.
Kang Sangin was executed by dismemberment. Park Seup and Shim Jeong were beheaded. Shim On, upon returning from Ming, was tortured and forced to commit suicide. His clan was enslaved.
Inside the palace, turmoil raged.
"Was it not enough what you did to me? Must you ruin our daughter-in-law's family as well?"
Queen Wongyeong, voice raised, confronted Taejong—but he pressed on with the purge.
Yi Hyang, trapped in the body of a four-year-old yet bearing the mind of a man in his mid-thirties, endured unbearable torment.
'If I weren't stuck in a child's body…!'
He considered intervening to protect his maternal relatives.
'A moderately strong in-law clan can be a shield. If I reduce even a fraction of the disaster, it may benefit me later.'
Taejong adored him. The future weighed on his mind. But in the end, he refrained.
'No. Staying still is best. History flowed this way. I might succeed with tears and theatrics—but it could also backfire. And most importantly… my father.'
Though his wife's family was destroyed, Sejong showed little outward reaction.
Yi Hyang made his choice.
'Taejong and Sejong reached an unspoken agreement. Then the best move is not to move.'
He could only watch as his mother wept blood for days.
Even after the purge, the aftershocks did not subside.
"A traitor's daughter cannot remain queen! Depose her!"
Officials of the Censorate demanded the queen's removal. Sejong staked his throne opposing it.
Finally, Taejong ended the debate:
"She is not jealous, and she has already borne three legitimate sons. It is not proper to depose her."
Thus, Queen Soheon, Lady Shim, kept her position.
Watching the resolution, Yi Hyang nodded.
'Good thing I didn't step in.'
Gazing toward the main hall, he muttered:
"Blood will tell."
Descended from a military house, Taejong—and Sejong as well—were cold when decisions had to be made.
"In the end, it was all about strengthening royal authority."
Seeing events unfold in real time, Yi Hyang shook his head.
"Being king is no easy matter…"