The Nature of Possession

408 – EP.15 A Son Who Falls Below Expectations

***

My father, former Namwon magistrate Lee Do-won.

My name is Kang In-ho, but no one seems to care that my father’s name is Lee Do-won. I feel this every time, but possession is really amazing.

Anyway, to borrow Bangja’s words, this person named Lee Do-won can be described as ‘a man who is a nobleman to the core.’

A nobleman to the core….

Although it may not seem like a very good meaning, the explanation that follows tells us that it is being used as a compliment.

To the people of Namwon, Lee Do-won was a fair and upright person who helped people.

Help those who are having a hard time, and lend wisdom to those who need to learn.

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

Now, let’s say there’s a family that’s on the verge of starvation after starving for three days.

The father was bitten by a tiger while chopping wood, the wife is sick with tuberculosis, and a child who has not been properly washed and whose stomach skin is stuck to the ground and whose bones are visible is begging on the street.

And this story goes to the owner of the body and Idowon.

The owner of the body and the Idowon. Both will help them.

The owner of the body feels compassion for them,

Lee Do-won said that it was the duty of the nobles to help those in need.

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

The results of the actions are the same, but the principles are different. This is the difference between the master of the body and the master of the mind.

“What’s all this fuss about?”

The people who had gathered in the yard were divided like the miracle of Moses.

I absentmindedly turned my gaze towards where the voice had come from.

A bold personality, stubbornness that does not go against the rules, and being as strict with oneself as with others.

The man in front of me, Lee Do-won, was the one who created these keywords into a person.

“When you ran away from the tiger, did you lose your mind? Why are you acting like this?”

As if he had seen the reader at a late age, Lee Do-won’s face had deep wrinkles and graying pigments that were like frost on his beard.

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

“Isn’t that natural, since I’ve heard such a mind-boggling story?”

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

“…come inside.”

Lee Do-won, who had been looking at me with a displeased expression, turned around first and went into the room.

I also followed him, and since there was nothing to be afraid of, I walked briskly.

“Your Majesty, I hope you are safe.”

Bangja expressed her concern for me in a voice as small as a mosquito, and I expressed my gratitude with a bright smile.

***

Lee Do-won’s room was neat and tidy. In modern terms, it was extreme minimalism.

There are no common decorations or folding screens. It is a room with only an inkstone, a brush, and an old desk.

From the appearance of the room, I could indirectly feel the person named Lee Do-won once again.

“You didn’t even say hello to your father.”

“We greeted each other in the yard earlier.”

As soon as he sat down, a short exchange of words broke out. Lee Do-won’s wrinkles deepened even more as he spoke without hesitation.

“Looking at your face, it seems like I’ve already met that woman.”

“I met him at dawn and came back. I went to see him as soon as I arrived in Namwon.”

“At night? Visitation would be impossible at that time.”

Lee Do-won’s eyes narrowed as he stroked his beard. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders, and Lee Do-won let out a deep sigh.

“Didn’t I say that people should follow the law?”

“I didn’t break any laws. I just showed my face to the gatekeeper and got permission to go in.”

“Can you claim in front of this father that it was a fair process?”

Lee Do-won’s eyebrows went up.

“Laws exist to utilize areas that are not designated by law.”

“You speak easily as a businessman. I don’t know about anything else, but I know that I raised you poorly. I was foolish to think that a guy like this would run the country.”

“Then, is it true that a person who goes to a young woman and threatens her by revealing his status is doing a good job in running the country?”

“I never said it was wrong for you to be pitiful and friendly to everyone. However, let me make one thing clear. That woman is a commoner. You are a nobleman. You must know what that means in Joseon. You are the only child of our Lee family. And yet you are trying to cut off the family line due to your former passion.”

Lee Do-won snorted. His face gradually turned into a ripe jujube.

Although he had never shown his emotions since the yard, he could not help but raise his voice as his anger grew stronger.

“How dare you… ask me to marry a person whose origins you don’t even know!!!!”

Idowon’s thunderous shout made my ears ring. At the same time, the people eavesdropping outside the door could be heard falling over in surprise.

“Is origin really that important?”

“Remember your position! Discipline! Order! Must be maintained. What is lacking in you that you marry that woman? Do you not know what marriage means? If you had taken that child as a concubine, I would not have had a problem with it.”

With bloodshot eyes, Lee Do-won tried to persuade me as if threatening me.

“I tolerated your caring for the people because it was one of the nobleman’s manners. Leading the uneducated and helping the needy was the nobleman’s duty. However, that does not mean that you should treat them as equal beings!”

“That is the law that my father speaks of.”

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

And, of course, the conversation went on parallel lines.

When Lee Do-won spoke, I let it go in one ear and out the other.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness!”

The awkward standoff between the rich and the poor that seemed like it would never end ended with a sudden intrusion.

At the moment when Lee Do-won was about to yell at Bang-ja who had kicked the door open and barged in, I opened my mouth first.

“What’s going on?”

“I just heard from Hyangdan, Miss Chunhyang…”

“Chunhyang?”

“They say the government office is starting the interrogation of Chunhyang, Lady Chunhyang.”

[So, Master, I beg you to leave now. This lowly woman. I will treasure this meeting with you even after I die.]

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

I jumped up from my seat. I was overcome with anxiety that this late-night conversation might be our last.

“Where are you going! The story isn’t over yet.”

Lee Do-won’s scolding caught my ankle.

“I must go see the woman who protected me with her mouth and asked me to be with her.”

“Have you not listened to your father until now? What are you going to do when you go see a woman who has spoken insultingly to a government official? Will you defend her? Or will you beg for leniency?”

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

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

“Wolmae is a retiree. And Chunhyang is not even on the miracle list.”

As he stepped over the threshold, Lee Do-won’s voice suddenly dropped.

“You always disappoint me.”

I turned around. I could read a familiar emotion on Idowon’s face as I looked down.

Frustration, confusion, anger, regret, worry.

“That’s fortunate. If he had been a good son, he wouldn’t have acted like this.”

I left the house and ran to the government office.

***

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

I ran while smelling the scent of flowers. It was only when I arrived at the gate of the government office that I felt the subtle scent of blood mixed with the scent of flowers that made my nose tingle and my mind dizzy.

“Are you really not going to listen to my request?”

Chunhyang, soaked in sweat and blood, was sitting on the floor of the government office. A copper-colored stick was stuck between her legs.

“Even a lowly woman knows how to remain faithful to her husband.”

“Goyan! Quick, turn that b*tch’s butt on.”

The two soldiers carrying out the execution held the pole with reluctant faces.

Crossed bars, red, swollen legs, torn skin.

Eww-

An animalistic scream burst from Chunhyang’s mouth. Chunhyang’s head fell backwards, unable to bear the pain.

And then our eyes met.

“…….”

“…….”

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

Chunhyang opened her swollen lips and smiled.

Capture the movement of the lips with your eyes.

The meaningless mutterings came to me as a single sentence.

‘it’s okay.’

Chunhyang said to me.

***

“The Dan-i tribe are savages.”

“Their cruel side.”

“What should we do?”

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

“Okay, but… is it okay if I don’t intervene there?”

“Let it be so. It is the will of the Highest and the Deepest.”