Chapters
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Chapter 10 Winter 1860, Foothills of Inwangsan, Hanseong It was around sunset when Kang-soe, the servant of the residence, entered the hunters’ village at the foot of Inwangsan. Mak-soe, the household servant, was carrying a jug of liquor. Three or four hunters were sitting beneath the eaves of a low stone wall. When they saw Kang-soe, their eyes filled with suspicion. “What do you want?” Kang-soe stopped and said, “I heard there was someone who buys tiger skins. I’m from a cloth…-
303.9 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 09 Autumn 1860, Unsan County, North Pyongan Province It was the eighth day after leaving Hanyang when Kang-soe, the servant of the residence, arrived in Unsan County. Accompanying him was Mak-soe, a household servant. Unsan County was a mountainous region deep upstream along the Chongchon River. The roads were poor, the market was small, and there were few people. Kang-soe first sought out the county’s property brokerage office. It was a place where land transactions were brokered, and…
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303.9 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 08 Autumn, 1860 — Huijeongdang Hall, Changdeokgung Palace I followed Queen Dowager Sinjeong Jo into Huijeongdang. Two senior court ladies from Daejojeon walked ahead of us, and inside the hall sat King Cheoljong, the twenty-fifth king of Joseon. My first impression of him was that he did not look like a king. He was a man who had grown up in Ganghwa Island, cutting wood and farming. Although he had been king for more than ten years, his eyes belonged to a man who had been prevented…
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303.9 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 07 Summer, 1860 — Servants’ Quarters, Heungseon-gun Yi Ha-eung’s Residence, Hanseong It was on the morning of the third day that I called Gwi-dong over and had him sit down. No one at the residence had collapsed, and Gwi-dong already seemed to have guessed why I had called him. “Go to the market and see what is happening. Find out whether people are boiling their water before drinking it, how many people have died, and if you hear anyone talking about this residence, keep your ears…
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303.9 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 06 Winter, 1859 — Heungseon-gun Yi Ha-eung’s Residence, Hanseong I brought over a plate, filled it with saltwater, and placed it by the window. After three days, half the water had evaporated. After five days, almost all of it was gone. And after seven days, nothing remained but a layer of white powder at the bottom of the plate. I wrapped the plate in a cloth. My personal servant, Gak-sim, had been watching from the side. She asked, “Young Master, what is that?” “The…
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303.9 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 05 That evening, I listened toward the reception hall. The sounds leaking from the servants’ quarters would have carried all the way there, and if it was Heungseon-gun Yi Ha-eung, he would certainly have heard them. Sure enough, my personal servant, Gaksim, quietly approached. “Young Master, earlier His Excellency started walking toward the servants’ quarters, but then stopped. He stood there for a while before returning to the reception hall.” I nodded. Heungseon-gun Yi…
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303.9 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 04 Autumn 1856, On the Way Home from Changdeok Palace Throughout the entire journey out of Changdeok Palace, Heungseon-gun Yi Ha-eung said nothing. He remained silent even inside the palanquin, and he still hadn't spoken by the time we passed through the gate of our residence. I quietly endured the silence. There was no need to rush him. Heungseon-gun Yi Ha-eung was undoubtedly replaying everything that had happened today in his mind. He was probably trying to determine whether the…
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303.9 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 03 Autumn 1856, Hanseong — Heungseon-gun Yi Ha-eung's Residence, Reception Hall Heungseon-gun Yi Ha-eung opened the first chapter of the Analects. “Learn and practice what you have learned from time to time—isn't that a joy? How far have you read?” Without looking at the book, I recited the passage from the very beginning. “Isn't it a joy to learn and practice what you have learned from time to time? Isn't it a pleasure when a friend comes from afar? And isn't one a gentleman…
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303.9 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 02 Autumn 1856, Hanseong — Residence of Heungseon-gun Yi Ha-eung It was deep into the night, but I did not lower my gaze. With the Analects spread across my lap, I continued reading through it for the third time. Moving my lips silently, I engraved each passage into my mind one by one. The Analects consisted of twenty books and contained conversations between Confucius and his disciples. Rather than simply memorizing the words, it was important to understand the flow of the conversations…
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303.9 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 01 When I opened my eyes, the ceiling was far too low. A young maid was kneeling beside me, staring straight at me. Her eyes were so round and black that she looked as though she had just witnessed something startling. Where am I? I stared blankly at the ceiling. My last memory was of opening a can of beer in front of a convenience store after working overtime. I could still vividly remember the sharp hiss as the carbonation rose, but when I opened my eyes, I found myself in this room. Is…
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303.9 K • Ongoing
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