A Disappointing Son

My father, the former Magistrate Yi Do-won of Namwon.

My name is Kang In-ho, but no one seems to care that my father’s name is Yi Do-won. I feel it every time, but possession is truly a mysterious thing.

Anyway, to borrow Bangja’s words to describe this Yi Do-won, he is a ‘man who is a nobleman to the bone.’

A nobleman to the bone…

It doesn’t sound like a good thing, but when you hear the explanation that follows, you realize that it is being used as a compliment.

To the people of Namwon, Yi Do-won was fair and just, and helped people.

He helped those in need and lent wisdom to those who needed to learn.

In some ways, he seems no different from the owner of this body, but there is a big difference between ‘me’ and Yi Do-won.

Now, let’s assume there is a family on the verge of starvation after going without food for three days.

The head of the family was bitten by a tiger while gathering wood, and his wife is bedridden with a contagious disease. A child, unable to wash properly, with a belly stuck to his back and bones showing, is begging in the street.

And this story reaches the owner of this body and Yi Do-won.

The owner of this body and Yi Do-won. Both will help them.

The owner of this body feels compassion for them,

Yi Do-won believes it is a nobleman’s duty to help those in need,

A son who treats people with compassion in his heart, and a father who treats people with the duty of a nobleman.

The result of the action is the same, but the principle is different. This is the difference between the owner of this body and Yi Do-won.

“What is all this commotion?”

The people gathered in the yard parted like the miracle of Moses.

I indifferently shifted my gaze towards the source of the voice.

An unyielding personality, an insistence on not violating the law, strictness towards others as well as himself.

The man in front of me, Yi Do-won, was the embodiment of these keywords.

“Did you leave your mind behind when you ran away from the tiger? How can you cause such a disturbance?”

Like the saying that he had a son late in life, Yi Do-won’s face was covered with deep wrinkles, and his beard was frosted with white.

My first impression of Yi Do-won was that of an old tiger.

“Isn’t it natural to be agitated when you hear such shocking news?”

As I bowed and spoke politely, Yi Do-won’s eyebrows twitched. Behind Yi Do-won, a woman who appeared to be my mother looked back and forth between Yi Do-won and me.

“…Go inside.”

Yi Do-won, with a displeased look on his face, scanned me and turned away, entering the room first.

I followed behind him without hesitation, striding forward.

“Young master, you must be safe.”

Bangja worried about me in a voice as small as a mosquito, and I replaced my thanks with a gentle smile.

Yi Do-won’s room was neat. In today’s terms, it was the epitome of minimalism.

There were no decorations or scrolls. Only a room with an inkstone, a brush, and an old desk.

From the appearance of the room, I could once again indirectly feel the person that was Yi Do-won.

“To see your father and not even greet him.”

“I already greeted you in the yard.”

As soon as I sat down, a short exchange took place. Yi Do-won’s wrinkles deepened even further at my blunt words.

“Seeing your face, it seems you have already met that girl.”

“I’m on my way back from meeting her at dawn. I went to see her as soon as I arrived in Namwon.”

“In the middle of the night? Visitation is impossible at that hour.”

Yi Do-won’s eyes narrowed as he stroked his beard. I shrugged with a smile, and Yi Do-won let out a deep sigh.

“I have told you that laws are something that people should abide by.”

“I didn’t exactly break the law. I showed my face to the gatekeeper and entered with their permission.”

“Can you claim before this father that that was a legitimate process?”

Yi Do-won’s eyebrows shot up.

“Laws exist to exploit areas that laws do not specify.”

“You speak so easily like a merchant. I know I raised you wrong, if nothing else. I was foolish to think that someone like you would work for the country.”

“Then, is someone who goes to a young woman and threatens her by flaunting his status doing a great job for the country?”

“I have never said that it is wrong for you to pity and be friendly to everyone. However, what must be clear must be clear. That girl is a commoner. You are a nobleman. You must know what this means in Joseon. You are the only son of our Yi family. But you are trying to cut off the family line with a moment’s recklessness.”

Yi Do-won huffed. His face gradually turned as red as a ripe jujube.

He had not shown his emotions since the yard, but he could not control the rising anger, and he raised his voice.

“To dare… to talk about marriage with a lowly thing whose origins are unknown!!!!”

My ears were ringing from Yi Do-won’s thunderous shout. At the same time, I could hear the sound of those who had been eavesdropping outside the door falling over in surprise.

“Are origins that important?”

“Remember your status! Rules! Order! Must be kept. What do you lack that you would marry that girl? You know what marriage means! If you were to take that child as a concubine, I would not have made an issue of it.”

With bloodshot eyes, Yi Do-won persuaded me as if threatening me.

“I tolerated you cherishing the people because it is one of the virtues of a nobleman. Leading the uneducated and helping those in need is a duty given to noblemen. But that doesn’t mean treating them as the same beings, as equals!”

“That is what you call law, Father.”

Yi Do-won talked to me for a long time about law and order.

And, of course, the conversation went in parallel.

When Yi Do-won spoke, I let it go in one ear.

“Young master!”

The standoff between the estranged father and son, which seemed like it would never end, was brought to an end by Bangja’s sudden arrival.

Just as Yi Do-won was about to scold Bangja, who had burst into the room, I spoke first.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just heard from Hyangdan that Chunhyang…”

“Chunhyang?”

“The government office is starting the interrogation of Chunhyang, Chunhyang.”

[So, Young master, I beg you to leave now. This lowly woman will cherish this meeting with you even in death.]

At that moment, I remembered what Chunhyang had said to me as she sent me away.

I jumped up from my seat. I was overcome with the anxiety that our conversation that night would be our last.

“Where are you going! The story is not over yet.”

Yi Do-won’s stern voice grabbed my ankle.

“I must go see the woman I promised to protect and be with.”

“Have you not listened to this father at all? What are you going to do to see a girl who has made insulting remarks to someone working for the country? Are you going to defend her? Or are you going to plead for leniency?”

“Father, how can you defend someone who uses his power for personal gain?”

“She is the daughter of a courtesan. There is nothing against the law.”

“Wolmae is a retired courtesan. And Chunhyang is not registered as a courtesan.”

As I moved my foot over the threshold, Yi Do-won’s voice dropped.

“You always disappoint me.”

I turned around. I could read a familiar emotion on Yi Do-won’s face as I looked down at him.

Frustration, dismay, anger, pity, concern.

“That’s fortunate. If I were a son who listened well, I wouldn’t be acting like this now.”

I left the house and ran to the government office.

The road to the government office was like retracing the road home.

I ran, smelling the fragrance of flowers. It was only when I arrived at the gate of the government office that I realized that the fragrance of flowers, which made my nose tingle and my mind dizzy, was subtly mixed with the smell of blood.

“Are you really not going to serve me?”

Chunhyang, soaked in sweat and blood, was sitting on the floor of the government office. A brown stick was wedged between her legs.

“Even a lowly woman knows how to keep her fidelity to her husband.”

“Insolent! Start twisting that wench’s legs!”

Two soldiers executing the punishment reluctantly grabbed the torture sticks.

Intersecting sticks, red and swollen legs, torn skin.

Aaaagh-

A beastly scream erupted from Chunhyang’s mouth. Chunhyang’s head fell back, unable to bear the pain.

And she made eye contact with me.

“…….”

“…….”

As if time had stopped, Chunhyang and I looked at each other.

Chunhyang opened her chapped lips and mouthed something.

I captured the movement of her lips in my eyes.

The meaningless mouthing became a sentence to me.

‘I’m okay.’

Chunhyang was telling me.

“The Dani tribe is barbaric.”

“That’s their cruel side.”

“What should we do?”

“Just block those who try to enter or leave Namwon. It won’t be difficult.”

“I understand. But… is it okay not to intervene there?”

“Leave it be. It is the will of the highest and deepest.”