Chapters
-
Chapter 1 My corpse had been casually discarded halfway up the mountain. Like food for wild beasts. I realized that at dawn that day. “Cough, cough-cough—, kheuk—!” The moment I felt a burning sensation as though the root of my tongue were being scorched, a lump of blood surged up from my throat. The ground beneath me was cold and damp. Without even thinking to wipe the blood from my lips, I stared blankly at the clump of blood that had spilled onto the ground. Ssssss—. The…-
262.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter 012 “I’ll hear you out.” “Leave Joseon. Leave Joseon right now. I will create a route for you.” Father Dubois’s eyes changed. He slowly opened his mouth. “I will not leave Joseon.” His voice was firm. “I must remain with the people of this land. I did not come to Joseon to run away. I came intending to bury my bones in this land.” I looked at the priest. It was the answer I had expected. “Father, do you know how the people of Joseon are living right…-
303.9 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter 11 Spring 1861, Tavern Near Maponaru, Hanseong Gak-sim had changed my appearance. I was dressed like an ordinary child from a middle-class household, wearing cotton clothes instead of silk and a simple tanggeon instead of a manggeon. Mak-soe followed behind me. The tavern was chaotic. Porters and boatmen were drinking, while a group of bobusang occupied one corner, eating with their bundles of goods set beside them. I sat down nearby and gave Mak-soe a signal. Mak-soe ordered liquor…
-
303.9 K • Ongoing
-
-
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
-
-
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…
-
303.9 K • Ongoing
-
-
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…
-
303.9 K • Ongoing
-
-
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…
-
303.9 K • Ongoing
-
-
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…
-
303.9 K • Ongoing
-
-
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…
-
303.9 K • Ongoing
-
-
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…
-
303.9 K • Ongoing
-
- Previous 1 … 55 56 57 … 353 Next