"History won't change… right?"
Hyang stood by the window of the East Palace, gazing outside while rubbing his numb legs. Sitting properly for long periods still exhausted him, no matter how much his mind resisted the fact. Beyond the wooden lattice, the palace roofs stretched endlessly beneath a pale sky.
His eyes, however, were not focused on the scenery.
They were filled with remorse—and faint lamentation.
The struggle for the position of Crown Prince between the defender, Yangnyeong, and the challenger, Choongnyeong, was unfolding exactly as history had recorded it. No matter how turbulent the present felt, the outcome seemed inevitable.
Choongnyeong would win.
Yangnyeong would fall.
Yangnyeong was not an incompetent man. That much was clear even from Hyang's limited encounters. Though the records would never say it outright, Yangnyeong possessed ambition—the same ambition Hyang had sensed during his first birthday banquet.
But ambition alone was not enough.
As the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty recorded, Yangnyeong preferred hunting in the mountains and fields over scholarly learning. He loved wine, women, and freedom. He was, at heart, a man who despised restraint.
A free soul.
Unfortunately, Joseon had no place for such a soul on the throne.
The pressure of competition crushed him slowly. Unable to endure the stress, Yangnyeong sought escape in excess—deeper indulgence in hunting, heavier drinking, reckless affairs.
And eventually, he crossed a line.
A taboo so severe it could never be forgiven.
Adultery.
That single act sealed his fate.
In the end, Yangnyeong's defeat was not merely because Choongnyeong was more talented. It was because Yangnyeong failed to overcome himself—and sank his own ship.
Though Grand Prince Choongnyeong emerged victorious in the struggle, the cost was devastating.
His wife's entire family was wiped out.
Shim On, once the most powerful figure behind Choongnyeong, briefly stood at the pinnacle of influence when Choongnyeong was installed as Crown Prince. But King Taejong was not a man who allowed such power to remain unchecked.
The day Hyang first entered the palace after Choongnyeong's installation and saw King Taejong in person, a memory from his previous life surfaced vividly.
Back in high school, Hyang's Korean history teacher—nicknamed Samcheonpo for his endless digressions—had once evaluated King Taejong like this:
"If Catholic priests preaching the divine right of kings had appeared during Taejong's reign, he would have made Catholicism the state religion. Then—except for the obedient few—he would have beheaded the rest."
At the time, it had sounded like an exaggeration.
Now, standing before King Taejong, Hyang knew his teacher had been right.
Despite the wrinkles of age and exhaustion lining his face, King Taejong's eyes were sharp—cold, calculating, and utterly merciless. Just one glance made people lower their heads instinctively.
"Welcome."
His voice, however, was unexpectedly gentle.
After receiving the formal greetings from Choongnyeong and his wife, King Taejong spoke calmly.
"Much has happened. From now on, you are the Crown Prince. Prepare yourself to rule this nation after me—and strengthen your bonds with your brothers."
"I will engrave Father's precious words in my heart," Choongnyeong replied solemnly.
Queen Min, seated beside King Taejong, then addressed the Crown Princess.
"From now on, the inner palace is yours to manage. Be diligent, and ensure no disorder arises."
"I will engrave Mother's words in my heart," she answered.
At last, their gazes settled on Hyang.
"He looks bright," King Taejong remarked.
Choongnyeong smiled faintly.
"He has already begun elementary learning."
"He has?" King Taejong raised an eyebrow. "Is he not only four?"
"He will turn four this October."
"How quickly time passes."
"I believe he is more talented than I was."
King Taejong nodded in satisfaction.
"This is a blessing for Joseon—and for the royal family."
Hyang immediately straightened his posture when their eyes focused on him. Outwardly obedient, inwardly exhausted, he complained silently.
Do you have any idea how much effort I've put in?
As the struggle between Yangnyeong and Choongnyeong intensified, Hyang spent his days worrying about his own survival.
"Why won't he eat? Nanny, summon the physician!"
"Yes, Milady!"
It was only after alarming his mother to that extent that Hyang finally made a firm decision.
I need to level up.
At the very least, I need a solid intellectual foundation.
Physical strength was impossible for now—but knowledge was not.
From the moment he could clearly speak after turning two, Hyang began memorizing the Thousand-Character Classic.
"I think this child is a prodigy."
"I agree."
His parents were delighted, watching him recite characters in a baby's voice. Hyang, indifferent to their pride, continued relentlessly.
The hardware is excellent… Is this because this body is truly Munjong?
Thanks to his exceptional memory and comprehension, he advanced rapidly—far ahead of his peers—moving on to Tonggam Jeolyo and eventually Elementary Learning even before Choongnyeong officially became Crown Prince.
King Taejong praised him openly.
"It's pleasing to see his eyes shine so brightly."
While bowing politely, Hyang carefully observed the atmosphere between King Taejong and Queen Min.
As expected… it's strange.
A love-hate couple.
He barely finished recalling his teacher's words when King Taejong spoke to Hyang's mother.
"I heard your father has been quite busy lately."
"I know little of such matters, as I remain mostly within my quarters."
"Is that so?"
The smile vanished from King Taejong's face.
"Tell your father to value his health. No matter how prosperous one becomes, it all turns to dust if the body fails."
Cold sweat trickled down the Crown Princess's back.
"Yes… I will tell him."
It was not advice.
It was a warning.
History continued as recorded.
On September 9th, four months after Choongnyeong's installation as Crown Prince, King Taejong handed over the throne.
Yet he did not relinquish power.
In his proclamation, he declared that until the king was fully prepared, he would retain military authority and continue judging critical matters of state.
It was both protection—and control.
Despite this, rumors erupted.
The spark was Minister of War Kang Sangin, who bypassed King Taejong and reported directly to King Sejong. Worse still, he illegally promoted his brother.
King Taejong interrogated him.
Though spared execution, Kang Sangin was stripped of his titles.
Then came the fatal moment.
Shim On, sent as an envoy to Ming, drew attention when countless officials gathered to see him off.
Father-in-law of the Crown Prince. Chief State Councilor. Brother commanding key military posts.
Suspicion hardened into certainty.
On November 26th, Ahn Heonoh reported:
"They said orders now come from two places."
King Taejong smashed the armrest.
"What?!"
The Prisoner Kang Sangin Incident erupted anew—larger and bloodier.
Hyang's maternal family was annihilated.
Executions.
Forced suicide.
Enslavement.
The palace trembled.
Queen Wongyeong cried out in fury, but King Taejong remained unmoved.
Amid the chaos, Hyang suffered in silence.
I hate being a child.
He considered intervening—using his favored status—but ultimately decided against it.
Father and grandfather are in tacit agreement.
If I move, everything could worsen.
So he watched his mother weep herself sick.
The storm finally subsided when King Taejong declared:
"There is no reason to depose a woman who has borne three sons to the king."
Queen Soheon remained.
Hyang exhaled.
"I'm glad I didn't interfere."
Looking toward the halls of governance, he muttered quietly.
"Blood really doesn't lie…"
Strengthening the throne—that's the only truth.
Hyang shook his head slowly.
"It's not easy… being a king."