Chapter 63
It is the way of the world that good work is rewarded.
Thus, I received a huge reward from Yi Bang-won for my great contribution to the implementation of the Bangwon Law.
"Getting a house is nice, but I don't know why it had to be this one. If they were going to give me one, they could have given me a different place."
My complaining was basically the same as getting something as valuable as a Gangnam apartment—no, a huge mansion in Seongbuk-dong—and still grumbling for something else.
I wouldn't have a leg to stand on even if I were subjected to mat-beating...
But once you learn the name of this house's former owner, everyone will understand my complaint.
Because the former owner was none other than the usurer Ryu Jeong-hyeon, who was possessed by the ghost of Goryeo.
Getting the house really is great... so why does it feel so unsettling?
If Ryu Jeong-hyeon's ghost actually shows up, should I, like Jeong Chang-son, pretend to be insane and submit a memorial asking for cannons to be fired for an exorcism?
As I was looking around the house, Kim Man-deok came up close to me.
"My, what a splendid, spacious house. It suits a lord who will one day become Prime Minister. Winter will be delighted as well."
"If I'm to become Prime Minister, it'll still be decades from now. Come to think of it, there's no guarantee I'll even become a high-ranking court official."
Kim Man-deok blinked at me.
His eyes were probably protesting, asking what on earth I meant.
Still, you don't become Prime Minister or a senior court official just by being capable.
Besides, he had noticed that my manner of speech was different from usual, so he kept tilting his head in confusion.
"As long as I can serve the royal shrines and the state, and help Your Majesty care for the poor, hungry commoners, that is enough for me."
"I suppose you would."
Kim Man-deok said that and gave a little laugh.
"But why did you call this lowly one to a house that doesn't even have anything in it yet? And why are you suddenly speaking like that? It's far too awkward, my lord."
Yi Bang-won had bestowed a massive reward on me.
Officially, he granted me the whole house where Ryu Jeong-hyeon lived, and through the Naesusa he also showered me with land, silk, rice, and the like.
While I was resting, the court was apparently in an uproar over the matter of granting Ryu Jeong-hyeon's house to me.
In particular, the principled Heo Jo protested that even if Kim Daebung's merit was great, the reward was excessive... and ended up locked in the Uigeumbu prison.
He was released the very next morning, and apparently wasn't tortured or anything, but it was still a hilarious episode.
Still, the greatest reward Yi Bang-won gave me this time wasn't the Hanyang mansion where Ryu Jeong-hyeon had lived, nor material things like land or silk.
"Father-in-law."
Kim Man-deok's face suddenly stiffened at being called "Father-in-law."
My not-yet-used honorifics were awkward enough; seeing me add even more respectful language, he must have thought something was up.
Well, something had indeed happened.
Not something bad, but a hundred-percent joyous occasion, so he should just be purely happy.
"Congratulations."
"Could Winter possibly be with child, my lord?"
"We've been working hard lately, but she's not pregnant yet. Please don't get ahead of yourself."
"Yes, I understand. But why are you suddenly using honorifics and polite speech with me? It's extremely uncomfortable. Please stop."
In fact, ever since I took Winter in as a concubine, I had wanted to call Kim Man-deok Father-in-law and speak respectfully to him in private.
But that's common sense in the 21st century, and in Joseon, where the class system is clear-cut, me calling him that would be extremely awkward from Kim Man-deok's perspective.
It would be like an army division commander taking a private by the hand and saying, 'Private 00, how have you been?' so I held back.
"I asked you to wear your best robe and gat today, so I'm very glad you did."
"No, my lord, why on earth are you doing this to me?"
Kim Man-deok was so uncomfortable that he genuinely looked tormented.
Right, that was why I'd never spoken to Kim Man-deok with honorifics until now.
Though from here on out, the situation would change completely.
"Hanyang Sijeon Sipjwa Kim Man-deok, receive the royal command."
At the words "royal command," Kim Man-deok looked bewildered, then froze on the spot.
A king's command to a mere merchant of Hanyang.
If he weren't flustered after hearing that, that would be stranger.
In front of the dazed Kim Man-deok, I unfurled the royal edict scroll wrapped in silk.
Come to think of it now, Yi Bang-won and His Majesty King Sejong were both remarkably considerate.
Normally, an edict like this should be delivered through a court herald.
Since, while they were at it, they wanted to add one more military-official posting to my record despite my having no official post, they temporarily named me a court herald so I could deliver this royal command to Kim Man-deok.
The moment he saw me unfold the edict, Kim Man-deok immediately dropped to the floor and bowed.
"Hanyang Sijeon Sipjwa Kim Man-deok has assisted Secret Royal Inspector Kim Daebung in uncovering that the criminal Lee Seok-do, who had committed the offense of deceiving the king and sowing confusion, had colluded with a monastery, and in helping the magistrate's office buy tribute goods at fair prices. Thus, the taxes of the 11 counties inspected by Secret Royal Inspector Kim Daebung were collected and used properly, and his merit is exceedingly great."
Even if I'd gone alone, I would have quickly figured out that in Anseong County, the monastery's thieving monks, the magistrate, and the clerks were all in cahoots and running a scam.
But it would have been hard to uncover exactly how much they had siphoned off on my own.
Because I'm not a merchant, I don't know their tricks very well.
And I never would have been able to add to the memorial which methods they used and what the remedy was.
So, you could say about 10 percent—no, generously 15 percent—of my accomplishments were thanks to Kim Man-deok.
So I made sure to write down every bit of his merit in the memorial and submit it as is.
Tears dripped from Kim Man-deok's eyes.
I could even see him clenching his teeth to hold back his emotions.
He must feel as if all the resentment he'd carried from being looked down on all his life as nothing more than a merchant was finally being washed away.
"The state now seeks to establish markets in every county nationwide and greatly promote commerce to benefit all people. But the court officials regard commerce as a lowly trade and look down on it, so none of them know anything about it. Since the founding of Joseon, whenever there was someone talented, even if their status was lowly, we gladly employed them for the benefit of the state and the people. Therefore, although he is a merchant, we wish to appoint Kim Man-deok, who has loyally helped state affairs, so that Joseon may be broadly benefited."
Kim Man-deok, stunned and moved by the word "appointed," began to sob aloud.
That's the encouragement letter written by Yi Bang-won and King Sejong, and this is the real point.
"Edict: Kim Man-deok is appointed Deputy Overseer of the Ministry of Taxation's Pyeongsi Office. Honghee Year 1, November 4."
By the time I finished reading the edict, Kim Man-deok was bowing and bawling as if he were in outright mourning.
"Your Majesty, I am overwhelmed by your grace."
His eyes were still flowing with tears, and his nose was running like water.
I figured he'd be like this, so I delivered the edict in a place where only Kim Man-deok and I were present.
Even if this was a huge blessing for his family and for him personally, wouldn't it linger uncomfortably in his mind forever if he were seen sobbing before his own daughter?
So my thought was simple: let him spill all his emotions here, wash his face clean, then put on his official robes and proudly show himself off before his daughter and everyone else.
"A rank for a lowly wretch like me? Me becoming a yangban... Is this really a dream? Am I awake?"
"Congratulations, Father-in-law."
"I thought I would spend my whole life doing nothing but trade. So I worked hard, chasing only the goal of becoming the best merchant I could be. And now I have been granted the grace to serve the royal shrines and the state, and to raise my family's name..."
Before I could even catch my breath, Kim Man-deok suddenly pulled me into a tight hug and started wailing again.
"How can I ever repay this grace? How can I ever repay your kindness, my lord? I couldn't repay it even in death."
"Please speak comfortably, Father-in-law. And it was His Majesty's grace that was great. I merely helped so you could show your abilities."
"...... Son-in-law."
Just because Kim Man-deok had become a bona fide yangban didn't mean Winter would become the legal wife.
So, if you want to be strict, me calling Kim Man-deok Father-in-law does go against etiquette.
But in a world where people live together, you can't get by if you only cling to the rules so rigidly. A person has to be flexible.
"Please wait here for a moment. I've prepared a gift."
I went to my room and brought out the box I had prepared earlier.
A black lacquered box that looked expensive at a glance.
Kim Man-deok, after taking it from me, carefully opened the lid.
"......A-a danryeong... Isn't this a green danryeong, son-in-law...?"
His way of speaking was still terribly awkward. Well, he'd get used to it little by little.
Still, at least now he's calling me son-in-law.
"It's a gift from me, Father-in-law. Wash your face first, and hurry up and try it on."
Kim Man-deok quickly dressed himself in the green danryeong and even put on the samo hat.
Dressed like that, anyone would see him as a proper official and a yangban.
"It suits you well. How does it feel?"
"...I can't believe it. I really can't. Am I dreaming?"
"A dream? Aren't you the Deputy Overseer who has to report to the Ministry of Taxation starting tomorrow?"
"Heh, heh-heh. Report for duty, huh? Report for duty."
"I'll come in a little later, so please go ahead first and brag to Winter. I've prepared a mule and an attendant outside."
That night, the sound of Father-in-law and Winter crying together leaked out of Winter's room and rose over the wall.
And after spending a month on sweet vacation, more or less wrapping up the move and other household chores, I returned to duty... the court was in an uproar.
Because the Wokou had appeared in the dead of night.