Like the First Snow

Park Yul Mu is new in town and therefore it is his very first time visiting the kisaeng¹Kisaengs were women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men of upper class. house known as Oktajeong²Oktajeong is a kisaeng house.. The province he had previously lived in had a kisaeng house as well, but it was smaller, with less women to choose from. Oktajeong boggles the mind with its huge estate filled with gardens and ponds and numerous stunning women. The alcohol and laughs spill freely here. Yul Mu likes Hanyang more and more with each passing day.

If it wasn’t for the Andong Kim clan, he would have grown up in this big city and been promoted to the King’s court much earlier. But that insatiable clan couldn’t allow any competition in their quest for political power. And unlike the Pungyang Jo clan, which was supported by the Queen Dowager, Yul Mu’s own clan held much less power.

When the Kim and Jo clans were exiled from court, Yul Mu took the opportunity to showcase his talents to the King. He brought new ideas and the King liked his initiative enough to invite Yul Mu to become a minister in his court. Finally, justice prevailed, and his family, or what is left of it, came back to their old estate. There are still many things left to fix, but Yul Mu is well-practiced in the art of patience after his time in exile.

“Gentlemen,” Yul Mu greets everyone once they all settle in one of the largest rooms Oktajeong has to offer. They sit at a table overflowing with delicious food and drinks, but there are no kisaengs in their company yet. They need to discuss important matters first. They raise their cups of wine and share a toast for the special evening.

“Now that we have had a drink, let’s discuss our plans, shall we?” Yul Mu looks around the room expectantly.

To be honest, he had not expected to plan a revolution. The King isn’t his rival – he even likes him to a certain degree. Yul Mu’s enemies were always the other clans that had threatened his family. He waited for years, amassing wealth and training so that one day he could take down the rotten Kim clan. His revenge for his family’s shame, for the death of his parents, and for his sister’s humiliation was supposed to satisfy his bloodlust. But the King outstripped him, winning against the two most powerful clans in Joseon. He is impressive indeed…and it makes Yul Mu angry at the same time. He was robbed of his revenge!

Yul Mu understands the need for reforms in the country, but he couldn’t support the mad King. The border between the commoners and the aristocrats could not be blurred as the King wishes. But what else could be expected from a former woodcutter? The King has a dream that the people of this country could choose their own ruler. How absurd! Some people are born to serve and work, like sheep in a pasture. Others are born to rule and guide the sheep in the right direction. It is the natural order of things that hasn’t changed in centuries.

And the Queen supports those bizarre ideas. The strange woman opened a school for the commoners’ children in Hanyang³Hanyang was the capital and largest city in Joseon. It was the center of the country’s government and home to the royal family and high ministers. As a result, the city hosted a constant undercurrent of political intrigue between various factions vying for control of the government. Now it’s Seoul – the capital of the Republic of Korea (South Korea).. Why do they need to learn to read and write? Hard work is the only thing that should occupy their minds! The Queen even plans to open more schools across the country, starting with the home provinces of the King’s concubines.

“Minister Park Yul Mu, we need to start now while the King is most vulnerable.”

Yul Mu has noticed it too, of course. The King is visibly concerned for his wife’s health, appearing as if he hasn’t slept in ages. But he is still hopeful for his wife’s recovery. Yul Mu sees it in the eyes of the young King, that resolute stubbornness.

If the Queen is so ill, maybe they should help end her misery? That could completely break the King. Or it could backfire and draw more fury from him than they could handle with their forces. Yul Mu doesn’t know the King well enough to foresee his reaction. But his new friends are too impatient.

“Any news from the royal villa?” Yul Mu asks, but the others only shake their heads in response.

“No one leaves the villa. Food is delivered to the gates and left there. I even heard the royal chef snuck inside and is now stuck there too. His young subordinate is going crazy trying to cook for everyone in the palace.”

“We need to find out what is happening inside,” Yul Mu reasons. “Did you try to bribe the Head Eunuch?” More shaking heads. What could these imbeciles even do without him? “He looks like someone who’s afraid of his own shadow! Threaten him and he will tell you everything!”

“The Head Eunuch says that the King and Queen frighten him more,” one of the aristocrats says, chuckling. “In fury, the Queen reminds him of the Grand Queen Dowager.” At those words, a noise can be heard from the next room over. Everyone goes quiet, but soon a man’s laugh can be heard, followed by two kisaengs cheerfully giggling as well. The tension goes away immediately.

Yul Mu pours more wine in his cup and drinks. Maybe the situation is in his favor. He will let the King continue to worry over his wife’s health. The Queen’s condition could even become worse.

“We won’t do anything for now,” Yul Mu orders.

For now, they need to observe and guess the perfect timing for when the King is vulnerable enough. His main concern is his wife and he is likely too distracted to notice any signs about a conspiracy. But the timing for the first attack must be chosen perfectly.

“If we act recklessly we will lose. There is no rush. We need an ideal moment for our strike.” Yul Mu pours wine into his cup and raises it. “And then we will free this great country from the incompetent King!”

They all cheer in agreement and drink to a safe future for the aristocracy.

• 1
  Kisaengs were women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men of upper class.
• 2
  Oktajeong is a kisaeng house.
• 3
  Hanyang was the capital and largest city in Joseon. It was the center of the country’s government and home to the royal family and high ministers. As a result, the city hosted a constant undercurrent of political intrigue between various factions vying for control of the government. Now it’s Seoul – the capital of the Republic of Korea (South Korea).