Chapter 72: Change

Not long after that.

"Eh?"

In the late hours, a voice filled with bewilderment echoed throughout the Forbidden City.

This was Yukyeonggung (毓慶宮).

But within this palace, which was originally used as the Crown Prince’s residence and Eastern Palace, there was a person staying who, by rank alone, seemed completely out of place.

"What is this sound, Heshen?"

Aisin Gioro Yongyan’s hand trembled as he held up the letter from Joseon.

The Emperor, who had only recently changed the era name from Qianlong to Jiaqing, was now expressing suspicion toward his own powerful minister.

To begin with, the current Emperor Jiaqing hadn’t even completed proper imperial training or political experience before hurriedly inheriting the throne.

Therefore, even though the retired Emperor Qianlong was away on a distant journey, actual state affairs of the Qing dynasty still revolved around the powerful minister Heshen.

Well, that was because Qianlong had merely gone through the motions of appointing the Crown Prince and abdication, like roasting beans on a lightning flame.

He had no intention of relinquishing real power from his position as the retired Emperor.

Thus, even though Qianlong was on a long inspection tour, Jiaqing couldn’t stay at the center of the Daicing Gurun state—the Jianqing Palace or the Yangxin Hall (養心殿).

Even though the northeastern Ning Shou Palace (寧壽宮) of the Forbidden City was being massively renovated as a residence for the retired Emperor, Jiaqing still had no choice but to remain in the Eastern Palace from his days as Crown Prince.

Nevertheless, even as he continued this hollow life as Emperor, Jiaqing didn’t feel too much dissatisfaction yet.

In fact, since the time of the founding Emperor Nurhaci, the process of enthroning Qing Emperors had always been dangerously precarious.

Emperor Chongde and Shunzhi were openly designated at the Banner Council and ascended the throne that way.

And even the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong Emperors could never be fully assured of succession until the previous Emperor’s death.

So, even though he had no real power, Jiaqing’s position—having been confirmed as Emperor during Qianlong’s lifetime—was a heavenly blessing compared to his predecessors.

However, the powerful minister who wielded all real authority in Qing in his father’s stead—

It was only natural that Jiaqing would frown behind the scenes at Niohuru Heshen.

It wasn’t just rebellion against Qianlong—rather, as Emperor, it was a natural urge to purge the previous reign’s powerful officials.

Jiaqing instinctively and from experience knew: unless he brought Heshen down, the beginning of his own reign would inevitably be unstable.

For example, even now, the very fact that he had to receive a letter sent by the retired Emperor to the current Emperor via Heshen, bruised Jiaqing’s pride.

Well, as always,

The root of the issue was Qianlong’s habitual laziness, dumping even letters for his son onto his favorite servant, Heshen, who cleaned up after him.

But—

Jiaqing was still waiting for his chance, not daring to go against his father’s proxy just yet.

The fact that the Emperor was now showing such intense emotion in front of Heshen had an entirely different cause.

"That… Even this humble servant does not know the details of what the retired Emperor is doing in Joseon."

But at this totally unexpected response, Jiaqing’s eyes widened.

For someone who was supposed to know Qianlong’s affairs better than anyone else in the world to look troubled—

"Heshen, there are things even you do not know?"

"Yes. The heart of Heaven is ever difficult to predict; we foolish subjects dare not presume to fathom His Majesty’s profound intent."

‘You know very well, Your Majesty, that the retired Emperor is as capricious as a dog, right?’

…Heshen conveyed, tactfully and with perfect decorum.

Of course, Jiaqing agreed one hundred percent.

After all, wasn’t he, who should have still been in the middle of his studies as Crown Prince, suddenly pushed onto the throne—because of whom?

Had his father not abruptly completed the investiture and abdication process, which he had meant to mark the sixtieth year of his reign…

Had he not acted out that wretched fickleness, Jiaqing wouldn’t be suffering like this as Emperor.

Yet, despite understanding Heshen’s excuse, the Emperor could not accept the contents of his father’s letter.

It was too out of the blue, too unexpected for Qianlong to order him to inspect something in advance, for it to be dismissed as mere whim.

"Fine. Go back for now."

"I apologize for disturbing Your Majesty’s peace of mind."

But this time, even Heshen—Qianlong’s most powerful minister and number one servant—truly seemed ignorant of what was happening.

So Jiaqing sent the busy Heshen away and was left to his own thoughts.

How was he supposed to handle the aftermath when original plans were suddenly changed like this?

And what about relations with the Mongol Golden Clan, the Borjigit? How was he supposed to manage that?

To Jiaqing, Qianlong’s orders from Joseon were nothing but a cause for sighs.

Still—

As a powerless, puppet Emperor, he couldn’t refuse orders handed down by the head of the Aisin Gioro clan, who was Emperor before him.

And the previous plan had, in fact, been put in motion by Qianlong’s prior command anyway.

"Eunuch!!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

So Jiaqing could do nothing but follow his distant father’s orders in the end.

"What is Ilha (ᡳᠯᡥᠠ) doing now?"

The eunuch, who hurried to another pavilion in Yukyeonggung at the Emperor’s command, soon returned with an answer.

"Reading, Your Majesty."

"Reading? A book?"

"Yes, Your Majesty…"

Normally, he should have praised the child for being so precocious as to already be reading difficult Classical Chinese books.

But maybe it was the way the eunuch trailed off—

Jiaqing’s brow creased faintly.

The book being read by the person he’d checked on, prompted by Qianlong’s letter—

Though it wasn’t as extreme as the neighboring country’s Confucian elders, it was still a book of questionable morals that made Jiaqing, who valued Confucian virtue and principle, frown.

"Is it another frivolous novel?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. It’s… something the retired Emperor gave this Gurun Princess (ᡤᡠᡵᡠᠨ ᡳ ᡤᡠᠩᠵᡠ) this time…"

Normally, he would have scolded even a child, urging them to use that time to cultivate virtue by reading the classics.

But this time, Qianlong’s powerful shield was up, completely blocking Jiaqing’s nagging.

"Haa…"

Once again, interrupted by his father, Jiaqing raised his hand to his forehead.

As it was, Qianlong, for the sole reason that this was his only legitimate grandson, had shown great interest and made connections there, even before designating his heir.

But at some point, his father’s refined tastes had started to warp, and now even this Yukyeonggung was affected.

Though it was milder than the neighboring country’s elders, it was only natural that Jiaqing, seeing what Qianlong had brought about, didn’t see it as a good thing.

"In any case, how long is Father going to keep…"

Forgetting his age past eighty, his father remained capricious and immature as ever.

The new Emperor’s deep sigh echoed through the Forbidden City for a long time.

---

But while a strange wind was beginning to blow in the Forbidden City,

Joseon, which had just been struck by the Qianlong storm, was now calming down.

[A strange custom of the Joseon court, you say?]

Especially at Gyeonghuigung, the eye of the typhoon where Qianlong was staying, things were completely peaceful—only light laughter could be heard.

[Yes. It’s the custom of shouting, ‘Your Majesty, please heed my plea!!’ while stubbornly insisting, ‘Your Majesty is wrong and I am right!!’ to the very end.]

"Uh, uhahahahaha…!!"

[Similarly, ‘I am honored to report…’ is used but actually means, ‘Your Majesty, this isn’t quite right, is it?’]

Was it because the Emperor had achieved enlightenment after reading  and fulfilling his wishes?

Or was it because Yuanja, having become secret friends with Qianlong and released his limits, was responsible?

Whatever the case, laughter was constantly pouring out from the pavilion where Qianlong was staying.

[To already see through the nature of ministers! As expected of my clever grandchild!]

[You flatter me, Your Majesty.]

[No, seeing how you can spin such clever tales with such ease, I finally understand why those frivolous novels of yours are so entertaining!]

Having been so well entertained, Qianlong finally announced that he would take Yuanja along for the long-planned tour of Geumgangsan.

He lavishly showered gifts upon Joseon to show the world just how satisfied he was.

"Oh my, has there ever been a time when Hanyang was so full of goods?"

"They say goods from all over the country are gathering in the Western Palace to serve the Qing Emperor."

"And the prices are generous, and apparently, goods needed by commoners like us are being shipped in together?"

Qianlong, as Emperor of the Goryeo Dynasty, showered silver upon Joseon more than once.

He claimed to be looking for the author of , and since he had come so far, he couldn’t just leave quickly—so he stayed in Hanyang for quite a while.

During this stay, as in the Pyongan region before, the Emperor’s grace was poured out on Joseon once again.

But—

"Haa… I feel like I’m dying…"

All the officials responsible for these affairs wore haggard faces as they were ground down by Jeongjo’s relentless pressure.

This included the Sangpyeongcheong, which had grown in size and power to a modern bank due to the last  incident.

And the Pyeongsiseo, the Trade Surveillance Committee filled with the most commercially savvy officials in Joseon—Taphol’s poverty-stricken scholars.

"Again, work. More and more work…"

"Leaving the office on time is impossible again today…"

"His Majesty demands the next budget proposal as soon as possible! There’s no time to rest!!"

Kim Josun, who was serving double duty here, was of course being ground just as thoroughly.

Far from enjoying Yuanja’s new novel, he was working to manage the torrent of silver flowing into the bank and control prices, his dark circles deepening by the day.

As it was, these people were already suffering headaches from the mountain of work Jeongjo had dumped on them.

Because of the previous inflation incident, huge amounts of silver had been brought into the national treasury as deposit, further strengthening royal authority.

Yet, as Jeongjo’s power grew thicker and thicker, multiple economic crises suddenly erupted—throwing even more work onto their shoulders.

"Wait, Kim Jeongnang! It hasn’t even been that long since the last report was sent…"

Senior official Lee Deokmu tried to protest, but it was no use.

With Park Ji-won kidnapped and then released from Qianlong’s jewel box and still recovering, there was a shortage of manpower.

But even though the entire group of Northern Learning Party scholars had been worn down for weeks, the matter at hand was simply that important.

"Chief Clerk."

Instead of calling him by his pen name as usual, Kim Josun used Lee Deokmu’s official rank.

A chill ran down Lee Deokmu’s spine.

"Right now, we are fundamentally reforming the very structure of this nation, Joseon. You know that, don’t you?"

Indeed.

As Kim Josun said, with Qianlong now in Joseon and continually bestowing gifts, there had been a sudden surge in both logistics and currency in circulation.

With a massive influx of goods from Qing, prices for essentials like food and daily necessities were stable—but now the well-fed people were turning their attention elsewhere.

Demand and prices for non-essentials and luxury items were rising, and the long-parched Joseon economy—centered on Hanyang—was undergoing a major transformation.

"Well, I…"

"If you know that, then get to work. His Majesty broke with precedent to elevate you all to these important posts. Repay that grace."

Whipping them on with words reminiscent of his lord’s, Kim Josun thus nipped any complaints from Lee Deokmu and the rest of the scholars in the bud.

Still, there was a definite reason Kim Josun was acting this way.

In fact, the recent publication of  alone, and the unprecedented crowds it drew to the bookstores, was proof enough.

Demand for novels had exploded in Hanyang and its surroundings, and along the Gwanseo Great Road, which proved that people now had surplus products.

That is, thanks to the commercial reforms sparked by , the spread of new crops like potatoes and peanuts, and Qianlong’s grace, the Joseon economy was entering the next stage.

On top of that, the previous inflation incident had caused massive capital movement, and those who seized the opportunity had formed capital on a scale incomparable to the past.

"My lord, we’ve detected a movement to build hemp fields and paper mills in Hamgyeong Province to meet the rising demand for paper…"

"The Daebang Kyedeok merchant was caught in Jeonju, rewriting the ending of  as a tragedy and selling it in bulk through a pirated press. The woodblocks were burned…"

"With demand for colorful ceramics rising, the kilns of Icheon are undergoing major expansion. The headman there is lobbying the court to relax decorative regulations…"

"Rumor has it that ginseng is now so profitable that everyone is trying to plant it, but only Song merchants connected to us know the hot steaming method…"

"People are buying up land in Jinan and Jangsu of Jeolla Province to grow Nanryeongcho (southern spiritual herb, tobacco) on a large scale… The Pyongyang merchant groups working with Uiju traders are making similar moves…"

Activities clearly different from original history were being observed all across Joseon.

This was a mighty wave of change that would later surely be called a new sprout, a budding era.

---

Meanwhile, at that very hour.

The Jakyungjeon in Changgyeonggung, where the King’s birth mother resided.

An unexpected gathering was taking place.

Of course, Lady Hyegyeong of the Hong clan, the owner of this hall, was present.

"Mother, you too then…"

"Yes. If it were the Queen as usual, she’d have finished reading it to the end. That famous one lately…"

Having summoned her daughter-in-law Queen Hyoui, Lady Hyegyeong’s eyes sparkled.

But within her gaze was a peculiar hint of unease.

"…."

"I, that is…"

Because Queen Hyoui, having been suspected as the author of the now-famous novel that had enlightened Qianlong, could not hide her confusion at the sudden summons from her mother-in-law.

And then—

"It is now clear to me why Lady Hyegyeong summoned this humble subject here, despite being busy with state affairs."

There was one more person present in Jakyungjeon besides the mother- and daughter-in-law.

In a place almost off-limits to men, he had entered with his white beard flowing.

"As your humble servant Chae Jegong sees it…"

Chae Jegong, who had only recently found relief from Jeongjo’s endless slave work with the appointment of another minister, raised his eyebrows and continued.

"…This tale must never reach His Majesty, I believe."