Chapter 3…..
Winter had fully arrived. With the weather growing colder, the court ladies of Yeonggyeong Hall bundled up Honga so much that she was practically turned into a teddy bear before they allowed her outside.
I’m not going to freeze to death, I’m going to suffocate at this rate…
Honga’s protest, unfortunately, never reached their ears.
Yet, ironically, because it was winter, her range of activities had actually widened. She now had more time to spend with her young uncles.
This was entirely the King’s idea. Upon hearing that Honga was spending all her time in her quarters during winter, he ordered the palace children to be gathered to play with her.
Of course, it wasn’t purely enjoyable for Honga. Her uncles were far too noisy and rowdy. Still, it was better than being stuck in the Crown Prince’s palace all the time.
“Little Lady, we’ll be going to see your uncles now.”
“Kyah!”
Though the only sounds Honga could make were babbles, her nursemaid always spoke to her faithfully.
Having lived a past life, Honga knew such interactions helped with development, but in this era, the nursemaid was considered rather unusual.
They said the selection of her nursemaid had been handled with special care, since she was the first granddaughter. To Honga, she was a perfect fit.
“We are headed to Yanghuije. They say Lord Suwanjae’s little boy is already there.”
Although Honga’s residence, Yeonggyeong Hall, was larger and more refined than anyone else’s, she still had to go visit Yanghuije or Suwanjae if she wanted to meet with her uncles. Even though the whole purpose of these gatherings was to ease her boredom.
The King didn’t want illegitimate princes wandering in and out of the Crown Prince’s quarters too often. And as for the Crown Prince himself, he didn’t like the idea of other princes—no matter how young—freely entering the precious daughter’s residence.
Everyone was making such a fuss. And the one inconvenienced was always Honga.
Well, still… getting some fresh air is nice.
Perhaps in a few years she would ride in a palanquin, but since she hadn’t even reached her first birthday yet, she had to be carried around by her nursemaid.
Dealing with her bothersome uncles was tiring, but it was a small price to pay for going outside. Even the slightly chilly breeze felt precious to Honga.
“Young Lady, we’ve arrived.”
Yanghuije was an annex attached to Lady Yang’s quarters. Already, many court attendants stood before the small hall. Honga’s attendants remained outside while she went in with her nursemaid.
“Prince, the Crown Prince’s Little Lady has arrived.”
There was no reply. Naturally, the young master—who hadn’t even lived two years—couldn’t answer.
The resident of the hall was already playing excitedly with his half-brother. What on earth is so fun about doing nothing but running around? Honga looked at the two uncles with disapproval, though thankfully no one noticed.
“Young Lady, please don’t get too close, it’s dangerous.”
Lady Yang’s son, Hyun, and Lady Kim’s son, Gon, were tearing around the room. It wasn’t really “tag,” more like chaotic running.
So noisy.
Honga buried herself deeper into her nursemaid’s arms, refusing to spare her uncles even a glance.
The reason Honga didn’t mind attending these gatherings wasn’t the uncles themselves.
It was the attendants. Wherever the children gathered, their nursemaids inevitably gathered too—and from them, Honga could always glean useful information.
“Have you heard the latest?”
Only the nursemaids and a maidservant guarding the door were present in the hall. Whenever such a golden opportunity came, the women left the children to play while they whispered about palace gossip.
If anyone found out later, it could cause serious trouble—but for Honga, desperate for clues, it was a great advantage. They never imagined she was listening.
“I hear Her Majesty the Queen is troubled these days, all because of Grand Prince Jinpyeong’s household.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
Grand Prince Jinpyeong?
A chill ran down Honga’s spine. The name felt oddly familiar.
She struggled to scratch the back of her neck with her tiny hands. But with such a small, helpless body, nothing went the way she wanted.
Her nursemaid chuckled, mistaking it for some kind of baby play, then refocused on the conversation.
“It’s been four years since Grand Prince Jinpyeong married the Great Madam of Samhan, yet there are still no signs of pregnancy.”
“Oh, but wasn’t it five years before even His Highness the Crown Prince fathered a child with his first consort?”
“Shh! Don’t bring up the discarded Crown Princess here, that’s unlucky.”
Discarded Crown Princess?
So the current Crown Princess Consort wasn’t the first. A Crown Prince who replaced his consort early in Joseon’s dynasty… Honga wracked her brain, piecing scraps of memory together. The more she tried, the sleepier she felt.
“My point is, His Highness fathered a child only after five years, so the Grand Prince’s household is not without hope.”
Jinpyeong… I definitely know that name… Honga’s eyes flickered as realization hovered.
“Oh my, look at the Crown Prince’s little lady! Her eyes sparkle so beautifully.”
With just one remark from Hyun’s nursemaid, the topic shifted in an instant.
Pleased, Honga’s nursemaid puffed up with pride and began boasting.
“Doesn’t our young lady seem clever? She truly is. Recently, while with Lady Seunghwi, His Highness the Crown Prince himself came to see her.”
“Heavens! And then?”
The reactions were more enthusiastic than even the best live audience.
“Though Lady Seunghwi said nothing, imagine how uneasy she must have been about her position. But our young lady—!”
The nursemaid’s voice brimmed with pride.
“She played so sweetly in His Highness’s arms that he was overjoyed. I suggested that he must enjoy being with the two of them together, and he promised to arrange more such occasions in the future.”
“How kind the Crown Prince is.”
“And since then, His Highness has been visiting Lady Kwon Seunghwi’s quarters quite often.”
The last bit was whispered, but her triumphant smile said it all.
Well, I guess she thinks if the mother prospers, the daughter will too.
“I do hope the Crown Prince’s heir is born of Lady Kwon Seunghwi’s womb.” Gon’s nursemaid sighed.
“They say signs of her first pregnancy have appeared already. And a marriage prospers when the couple’s harmony is good, does it not?”
“Indeed, if Lady Seunghwi gives birth to the heir, our Little Lady Honga’s future will be secure.”
It was the shared hope of all the nursemaids, each imagining a bright future for their charges.
But Honga herself wanted to live well regardless of whether Lady Seunghwi bore a son or not. As the daughter of a concubine she might not have the strongest standing, but she was still royalty—she wouldn’t be treated too poorly. And having a younger brother might not even turn out to be an advantage.
No matter what, I’ll survive for a long time.
She kept repeating the vow to herself, carefully storing away every clue the nursemaids dropped.
The long winter passed, spring gave way, and early summer arrived. Honga celebrated her second birthday in good health, never having once fallen ill. To mark the occasion, a modest birthday feast was held in the Crown Prince’s palace.
By rank, the Crown Prince and his consort, Lady Sunbin, sat at the highest seats, their children below them, and the concubines still further down.
What? This is my and Mother’s celebration—why does the Crown Princess get the seat of honor?
Held in her nursemaid’s arms, Honga sat at a place lower than the Crown Prince, facing her mother far across the hall. In her childish body, what might have been shrugged off by an adult now made her sulky.
“Ba! Ah!”
“Oh my, why is our little lady fussing?”
Normally quiet, she wouldn’t stop whining, and the feast ground to a halt.
Finally, her mother came over to soothe her. Honga calmed at once—but she wasn’t done yet.
“Ah, ba… ba!”
Though her baby’s voice was clumsy and strained, she put her whole effort into clearly calling out, fixing her gaze firmly on the Crown Prince at the seat of honor.
“Hahaha!”
His hearty laughter filled the room. The pronunciation didn’t matter. What mattered was that his daughter had called for him.
“It seems the child wants to be with both her mother and father. Prepare another seat here. Seunghwi, come sit beside me.”
The Crown Prince had understood her intention exactly.
“Your Highness! What are you saying? Tradition forbids a concubine from sitting at your side. Please withdraw your command!”
Oh, honestly…
Honga spotted the interrupter. Lady Sunbin, her face flushed scarlet, was protesting heatedly.
“Her Highness is correct. How could this humble concubine dare sit beside the Crown Prince? Such an honor is far too great, please reconsider.”
Even her too-kind, too-modest mother added to the resistance.
No! When they offer, you should just take it!
But Honga had no intention of giving up.
“Aba! Oma!”
“That’s enough. Sit here.”
Ignoring the Crown Princess’s cries, the Crown Prince was firm.
“Isn’t today’s celebration for Honga and Seunghwi? Surely we can bend a little for them.”
“But Your Highness, how can the principal wife and a concubine sit side by side?”
“Though Seunghwi is but a concubine, she was the one who first brought the sound of a baby’s cry into the Crown Prince’s palace. Is that not worthy of honor?”
The Crown Prince’s words struck the heart of the matter. Lady Sunbin’s face turned even redder, if that were possible, yet she could not stop arguing—
