Chapter 32 ….
“That’s not it. Even if another daughter is born, your mother will be fine.”
If another daughter were born, she would surely become an unwanted child. Hong-ah knew well that the child’s gender was not something the mother could decide, but the world didn’t see it that way. Yet her mother seemed completely unconcerned.
“All I hope for is that the precious baby is born safely.”
“I’m not sure if that’s worth risking Your Highness’s life for,” Hong-ah admitted honestly. Her mother didn’t show a single sign of offense at her words.
“Do you know the thing in my life I think I’ve done best?”
“Entering the palace?”
“No. Of course, entering the palace and becoming the Crown Princess were good things, too. But the things I consider my greatest achievements are giving birth to you and Hong-yeon. Perhaps I will also feel that giving birth to the baby in my womb is something I did well.”
“Even if something happens to Your Highness?”
“Even if I am the one who suffers.”
Her gaze was resolute.
Hong-ah suddenly recalled the first time she truly recognized her mother, when she was still a little child.
A teenage girl who hadn’t even lost her baby fat yet. Trembling in fear of displeasing Sunbin, blushing while offering her loyalty to the Crown Prince.
Through every moment, her mother had grown strong. Now, as the Crown Princess and a mother of two, she no longer hid in fear.
“Hong-ah,” her mother said, smiling as she gently stroked Hong-ah’s head with warm hands. Hong-ah couldn’t put into words why that smile made her chest ache.
“You are my joy. I feel that simply bringing you into this world fulfilled my purpose.”
“Your Highness…”
“But don’t worry too much. How can there be so many worries in that little head of yours?”
Her mother’s gentle laughter tickled Hong-ah’s ears—a laugh filled with happiness.
How could she remain so calm? She had given birth to two children, lost one, and was carrying another, yet she seemed fearless.
“Aren’t you scared?”
“It is when you are in pain that I feel the most fear. But seeing you grow up so bravely makes me so grateful.”
Her mother’s warm gaze fell upon Hong-yeon, who was sleeping peacefully under the blanket.
Her mother was only twenty-three. Hong-ah, in her previous life, had lived until twenty-five, experiencing even more hardships, yet strangely, her mother felt more mature.
“I want to live with Your Highness for a long, long time,” Hong-ah said, gathering courage. This was the only honesty she could express now.
“I feel the same,” her mother replied.
Still, Hong-ah could not understand her mother.
These days, Hong-ah spent more time in the library than in Yeonggyeongdang. She had asked Grand Prince Anpyeong to extend her lessons and reduced Yi-san’s visits to the palace.
Being in the library didn’t change much, but the slightly musty yet fresh smell of ink and paper cleared her mind.
“Hong-wi will be born in summer,” she thought.
Though her free time was short, she had enough to organize her thoughts.
“It won’t even be five years after Mother passes before Grandmother will, and then Grandfather after that.”
She had accepted that adults die once their time comes. One cannot change the finiteness of life.
But there was a problem—the three-year mourning period.
Starting from her mother’s death, there would be few periods not occupied by mourning, as adults in the palace passed one after another.
And there were many in the royal family approaching marriage. Prince Ik-hyeon and Prince Su-chun, for example, would be eleven next year.
Marriage typically began around age eleven in the royal family, and if the three-year mourning started, their weddings would be delayed endlessly.
“In the worst-case scenario, the ones who can support us are adults with clear standing in the palace.”
Whether it involved raising a concubine or arranging a new marriage, the relevant adult—be it the King or Crown Prince—needed to approve.
Providing a proper palace elder was the most reliable way for Hong-ah to ensure the safety and longevity of her loved ones.
But since another mourning period would follow a few years later, there wasn’t much leeway.
Looking at the royal children’s marriages and the King or Crown Prince taking new wives, the princes’ weddings naturally took priority. Neither the King nor the Crown Prince would be eager to marry again soon.
“Ah, really!” Hong-ah slammed her desk in frustration. The sharp pain spread through her hand from the impact. Her mind swirled with information.
She closed her eyes, exhaling deeply to calm the chaos.
“One step at a time. One step at a time.”
The uncles’ marriages needed to be arranged first. Only after they were married would it be Hong-ah’s turn the following year. A blocked path due to the mourning period would cause her to miss valuable opportunities.
She unrolled a scroll she had carefully kept, listing potential matches using information Prince Ik-hyeon and Prince Su-chun had gathered and any available family records.
Many families were entangled during the Gyeyujeongnan. Some supported Suyang while their sons-in-law supported King Danjong; even among sons, opinions often conflicted.
Family ties were both deep and shallow. Not everything could be resolved with bloodlines or marriage. Hong-ah did her best to find the most practical solutions.
“What should I do for Prince Su-chun’s match?”
Hong-ah’s confidence had dropped sharply. Her plan to pair Yi-san with Prince Su-chun had failed, and the fact that she had fallen for Prince Ik-hyeon herself was despairing.
This could not be dismissed as childish affection. By modern standards, they were merely children, but in Joseon, they were old enough to start families.
She wanted Prince Su-chun to secure a capable wife.
It wasn’t that the woman was unsuitable; rather, if circumstances worsened, all sons of Lady Hyebin would be endangered. She wanted at least one helpful match.
She had a backup family in mind—the daughter of a future Left-Wing Merit official named Kang. She was still in government, making her a suitable candidate. Luckily, she was friendly with Yi-san’s sister, providing a potential connection.
But the real issue was Prince Su-chun himself.
“No, I’m not interested, you see,” he said, alarmed, during a gathering at Yang Hee-jae’s place.
“Why?” Hong-ah asked in disbelief.
Royal marriages were determined by elders. It wasn’t a love match; it was a matter of fate. She could not understand why he disliked a match she recommended.
“No matter how clever you are, Hong-ah, can a marriage arranged by elders and one you suggest carry the same weight?” he said bluntly.
Hong-ah had to restrain herself with great effort.
“The marriage will be chosen by the elders anyway, so I don’t want to worry about it,” Prince Su-chun said firmly.
Even if Prince Ik-hyeon had been nearby and spoken maturely, Hong-ah sighed.
“What can I do if the uncle refuses?”
Indeed, nothing could be forced. Otherwise, she would be no different from Grand Prince Suyang.
“So, will Uncle Ik-hyeon marry Yi-san?”
“What…what?”
Suddenly, all eyes turned to Prince Ik-hyeon. His face flushed bright red as if scorched by fire. Hong-ah couldn’t help but laugh.
“Is… that even possible?”
“Brother Gyeyang married Sojeo’s sister. Could I marry Sojeo?” Prince Ik-hyeon asked, crestfallen. Seeing him like this, Hong-ah felt pity.
Damn sympathy. They say pity ruins women. Seeing her uncle, raised like her own sibling, upset, weighed on her heart.
“Just announce it publicly,” Hong-ah said, half out of annoyance, half out of pity.
“Next summer, Your Highness will give birth, making marriage difficult for a while. During that time, Yi-san might also find a match.”
She left out the main reason why marriage would be difficult. Young Prince Ik-hyeon couldn’t understand such subtleties yet, only nodding absentmindedly.
“Early next year, the uncles’ marriages will be discussed. If you bring up Yi-san then, it will only complicate matters, especially since Uncle Gyeyang is already involved.”
Even with intermarriage between families, marrying several sons of the same mother into one household was rare.
Han-hwak had married into powerful families, but never placed siblings from the same mother in the same household. It was a subtle but important difference.
“So, if you’re going to act, act quickly. Missing the timing could delay the uncles’ marriages, and Yi-san doesn’t have to wait for an uncle forever.”
Prince Ik-hyeon had the drive.
Before the year ended, he approached the King. This was the first time he had visited the court on his own initiative, addressing the King formally as “Your Majesty” rather than “Abba Mama.”
“Your Majesty, Sojeo and Han-hwak’s daughter have feelings for each other. I request your permission for their marriage.”
