Chapter – 13.
How Should I Know That
On the surface, this problem seemed unquestionable.
It even looked like a well-crafted problem.
Yeah. Probably so.
‘It’s a problem designed to be confusing from the start!’
Various psychological tests that once made the internet buzz.
They guide your choices to produce the desired type.
The person taking the test solves it without suspicion and is utterly amazed by the result.
Oh my, this is totally about me!
Of course it is.
‘Because you made the choices yourself.’
It’s a kind of trickery.
Naturally, you get a type that suits you based on the choices you made, but it’s designed to make you confused, as if your mind has been read.
This problem was similar.
‘Psychological test.’
When she introduced herself as a psychology major, people would abruptly ask.
‘Then you must know a lot about psychological tests?’
‘Yes, I know quite a bit.’
But.
‘Why should I?’
Why would she try to figure out the type of someone she just met.
But she couldn’t bring herself to ignore their eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Still, it was a hundred times better than someone asking her to read their mind!
Geum Taesa’s problem was the same.
‘If it were a problem with a correct answer, he would have provided more situations.’
There was no correct answer to this problem. The reasons were clear.
First, the words of the attendant and the wife couldn’t be trusted. Rumors were just rumors. The Minister, who was choosing a successor, couldn’t know if they were true or not. In other words, if everyone conspired to lie, the correct answer would become even more blurred.
Second, the relationship between the father and the three sons was impossible to guess. Didn’t Geum Jin say it too? The Minister had never lived closely with his sons his entire life. What if even one of the three sons held a grudge against his father?
Third, the Minister’s criteria for selecting a successor were unclear. The three sons each had different temperaments. Asking to choose one among them was almost cruel. Geum Jin also assumed the successor would take over the Minister’s position.
‘The problem is verbose, but lacks substance.’
By this point, she became curious.
About Geum Taesa’s true intention.
‘He wouldn’t expect a correct answer from a mere ten-year-old.’
He must know it himself.
How full of holes this problem was.
So she had to find it.
The intention hidden within it.
‘What could it be?’
What did Geum Taesa want to know?
Suddenly, one thing came to mind.
The temperaments of the three sons.
“How can you think that? That there’s no correct answer? That’s absurd. Grandfather is a sage, he knows everything.”
“Precisely because he’s a sage that he presented this problem.”
“What?”
How should she explain this?
It was a bit complicated to explain at a ten-year-old’s level.
A-mang scratched her head.
“If there’s no correct answer, wouldn’t it broaden the scope of thought?”
“I have no idea what you mean.”
“Well, you see…”
Let me give you an example.
She had something she always did for people who wanted a psychological test.
The so-called [What do you prioritize in life?] test.
Of course, she didn’t tell the person the theme.
She just presented a situation.
Just like the problem Geum Taesa presented.
[You are at home now. Everything happens at once. The baby is crying, and you suddenly need to use the bathroom. Oh no, the phone is ringing too! The doorbell rings as if someone has arrived. To make matters worse, you remember you left the bathwater running in the bathroom.
What would you resolve first?
Please set your priorities!]
This test seemed to be about setting priorities on the surface.
But in reality, it revealed what people valued.
Those who chose the crying baby valued affection for family.
Those who chose the bathroom were people true to their instincts.
Answering the phone was related to work, so it represented one’s job.
The doorbell outside represented others, so friends.
Finally, the bathtub represented money.
‘So this problem…’
Depending on who you choose, your personality is revealed.
“Did you receive this problem alone?”
“No. The older brothers studying with me received the same problem.”
“Did those brothers find an answer?”
“Grandfather told us to act discreetly regarding the answer.”
He’s quite clever, isn’t he?
She had a rough idea from the moment she heard the indirect wording.
He was no ordinary old man!
‘Impressive!’
A psychological test in this era? And with his disciples and grandson!
Now, let’s think.
‘Why did it have to be the Minister’s three sons?’
The setting of the situation was highly intentional.
The Minister is the highest-ranking official in the court.
The leader who gathers all opinions and has the strongest voice to the Emperor.
“The image we think of when we say ‘Minister’ might be a treacherous official, but actually, it’s not.”
“This subject did not think so.”
“Alright, you’re so smart. Anyway! The Minister in the problem is old and tired. He’s in a state of incompetence, unable to attend court anymore.”
Human nature tends to show when one is at their weakest.
When the body is worn out and tired?
No! When one becomes psychologically vulnerable.
“In other words, this problem isn’t about finding whom the Minister will choose as his successor among the three sons. It’s asking what you value most when you become psychologically vulnerable.”
“But there were three sons, right?”
“Think of it simply.”
It was easy if you recalled the characteristics of the three sons.
The first son, who never loses his sense of justice, represents courage.
The second son, who gets what he wants, represents profit.
The third son, with his delicate talent, represents romance.
‘Courage, Profit, Romance.’
They were also the virtues of a sage.
Geum Jin, who knew nothing, just blinked his eyes.
‘Should I tell him this?’
Probably, Geum Taesa would want Geum Jin to find out for himself.
But wasn’t that what Geum Taesa did?
He had subtly encouraged A-mang and Geum Jin to become close.
A princess who grew up without a birth mother, the Taesa’s only grandson.
‘Not exactly a matching combination, though.’
On one hand, it was also a good opportunity to form a marital alliance with the imperial family.
The Taesa’s honor could continue that way too.
Wait a minute.
‘Marital alliance?’
A-mang glanced at Geum Jin.
That utterly innocent face, knowing nothing.
She shook her head hurriedly.
‘I must have finally gone mad.’
Did her head get affected just because her body turned ten?
What was she thinking, looking at that kid!
A-mang clenched her small fist tightly.
‘Let’s just go for it.’
She decided to leave dealing with the consequences to her future self in a few minutes.
“The three sons represent beliefs. Courage, profit, romance.”
Geum Jin’s face, who had been listening quietly, brightened.
That face of having gained enlightenment.
‘He’s kind of cute in a way.’
He was unmistakably a ten-year-old child.
No matter how much favor the Martial Emperor showed him, or how smart he was for his age, ten was ten.
Experience couldn’t be faked.
“So it’s a problem that lets you glimpse the beliefs of the person answering.”
So smart and commendable.
A-mang wanted to pat herself on the back five hundred times.
“There. It’s settled now, right? Neat and tidy, neat and tidy!”
The problem that had tormented Geum Jin for so long was finally solved.
Thanks to A-mang!
Geum Jin gazed intently at A-mang.
He didn’t say anything.
“Shall we go play? Geum Jin, what do you like?”
For now, A-mang had a grand goal.
It was:
‘Become friends with Geum Jin!’
Since Geum Taesa seemed to want that so much.
Out of respect for the elderly, and to plan for the future.
‘I need to make at least one peer my ally.’
At least for now, under the Martial Emperor’s interference, peers were the safest.
If he’s Geum Taesa’s grandson, no one would dare touch him!
A-mang jumped up and started bouncing.
“What are you doing? Get up already!”
Her hair, loosely braided on both sides, swayed up and down.
Bounce, bounce.
It even kept rhythm with A-mang’s movements.
‘Why is he like this again.’
Somehow, Geum Jin’s expression grew even more rigid.
What, is he nervous?
No.
‘That face full of complicated thoughts.’
He slightly furrowed his brows and bit his lip.
His clenched fist rested on the desk.
He even looked somewhat uneasy.
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
A-mang, who had been bouncing around, sat down quietly next to Geum Jin.
Geum Jin slowly turned his head and met A-mang’s eyes.
Beyond his golden, gleaming pupils, A-mang’s figure was reflected.
Her white hair swayed in a breeze from somewhere.
“I… I don’t know.”
“What is it? I’ll help you!”
“Well……”
Geum Jin couldn’t easily continue.
He just trailed off and bit his lip.
A-mang grew impatient watching his lips part and close repeatedly.
She wanted to get close and hear even his smallest whisper.
But that only seemed to startle Geum Jin.
“P-please step back a little.”
“No, just say it!”
Unable to bear it, A-mang shouted abruptly.
You fool who can’t even speak properly!
How were you so eloquent during the lecture?
‘Especially since the Martial Emperor was swinging his sword at the time!’
Was it the effect of fear, or something like that?
Anyway, right now, A-mang was so frustrated she felt like dying.
Geum Jin, who had been fidgeting with his fingers, hung his head low.
He muttered something in a very small voice.
“……what should I do?”
“Huh?”
“……what should I do.”
“What?”
“……then what should I do.”
“Again! Say it a little louder.”
“What if! Grandfather! Dislikes! My answer! What should I do!”
Geum Jin shouted loud enough to make the Yeonyeong Palace tremble.
It was far too vigorous.
A-mang almost had her eardrums burst.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Th-there must be an answer that Grandfather would like. How do I find it?”
Why are you asking me that.
I even interpreted the problem for you, you should solve it yourself.
I barely helped you, and now you want me to read minds too?
‘How should I know what your grandfather is thinking.’
A-mang had only faced Geum Taesa for about 5 minutes total.
Interpreting it to this extent was already quite commendable.
But isn’t Geum Jin different?
He’s family living together, how can he not know?
“I want to please Grandfather!”
No. Cancel that.
She accurately assessed Geum Jin’s condition.
‘Approval addiction!’
It was an illness caused by being excessively mature for one’s age.
