This story, characters, events, customs, and places are purely fictional and in no way accurately represent the history and customs of any country past or present.
In another world, very much like our own, during a period where nations were named differently. During earlier times, the country of Chiongsun was on the eastern-most side of the Asian continent. situated between the countries of Aranes in the west and Guiong in the east. A country brimming with natural beauty and wealth, a country of fragile peace where its people are ready to tear each other apart.
Pyongchaek, the country's capital, housing the royal palace home to King Seo-Jung and his family, is under threat of civil unrest, its people are crying, for the head of the King and the royal family
Atop the palace bridge, spanning the entirety of the palace lake, seven-year-old Prince Kim Young-sik (Kim Yong-sik) sits with his older half-brother, eleven-year-old Prince Lee Man-Ju (Li Ma-ju), waiting for the fish to bite their lines.
"Hey brother…We've been sitting here forever, a fish has yet to take a bite from our lines, and my bottom hurts from sitting on this bridge," Prince Young-Sik said to Man-Ju, complaining about how long they should stay to catch fish.
"Aish… you're complaining, scared that big fish away" Man-Ju complained with a hint of frustration in his voice, seeing how the fish was not enticed by his lure.
Rubbing his belly, Young-Sik couldn't help but remind his brother of the time and the fact that he had not eaten yet. "But brother, it's already past midday and I'm hungry, do we have to wait here and catch something before we can eat lunch? I bet there is much food in the palace"
Man-Ju sighed and hung his head down, before looking at his younger brother to tease him "It's no wonder, your belly is big…all you ever think about is food. This thing we are doing is called fishing and it is a valuable survival skill"
The two were startled when they heard a voice from behind them. "Aren't the two of you supposed to be in the villa studying and not slacking around?"
The two princes' eyes immediately widened, when they recognized the voice behind them. Young-Sik tugged on Man-Ju's sleeves "Can you look who that is? I'm too afraid to look" he said to his older brother
"I'm older than you…I'm ordering you to take a look" Man-Ju replied, refusing to look back, Young-Sik strongly shook his head, refusing to follow his older brother.
"And I am older than the two of you. If you can't give me respect as your brother, then respect me as your crowned prince" The Voice behind them said with a stern yet gentle voice
The two immediately dropped their fishing lines to stand up and bowed to their eldest brother. The crowned prince Kim Seo-joon, is nineteen years old. He stood elegantly wearing his blue outer robes. A four-toed dragon symbol, embellished on the chest, back, and shoulders, of his royal garments.
"Your Highness" the two princes said in unison, greeting their brother.
Seo-Joon shook his head, he couldn't believe his two younger brothers were so irresponsible. He then pulled the two of them by their ears and led them to their respective eunuchs.
"Take these two back to Master Im and make sure they finish their studies. After their lessons have concluded, bring them to my palace," Seo-Joon said, instructing the eunuchs to keep an eye on the two royal troublemakers
The eunuchs bowed to the crowned prince "Yes! Your Highness" they all said and the eunuchs gently led the two brothers back to the villa, where their teacher waited. Crowned Prince Kim Seo-Joon disappointedly shook his head, and he continued on his way.
When the two young princes arrived at the villa, Consort Eri was waiting for them. "Where have the two of you been? Master Im has been waiting for a long time!" She shouted at the two boys
"Forgive us, mother, we were just having fun fishing and lost track of time," Man-Ju explained to his mother, Consort Eri
"Go inside and begin your lesson," She instructed her son
The two boys immediately bowed and followed what she said, however, she stopped Young-Sik by grabbing onto his arm, "Where do you think you're going?"
"Inside with Man-Ju?" the young boy innocently explained
"We are not yet finished here…you keep putting my son in trouble. You are a bad influence on him!" she shouted at the teary-eyed boy
Consort Eri scoffed "Look at this boy, are you trying to secure sympathy by crying?" She continued to shout at the crying boy, "Let me tell you that will not work with me, and you need to be punished." She raised her hand to hit the prince.
Young-Sik reeled, preparing himself to be hit, but at the last moment, Queen Min-Ah stepped in, "But it works with me," The Queen said
Consort Eri and her entire entourage bowed to the Queen, which they never saw coming. Queen Min-Ah stood elegantly in her black and gold robes, in contrast to Consort Eri's green and white robes. The Queen glared at the Consort while saying "While I appreciate you disciplining the children, I do not condone you punishing my child!"
Consort Eri still in a bow explained herself "It's not like that, Your Majesty…I had no intention of hurting the prince" her voice as soft as a cloud
"Is that why you raised your hand against the prince?" The Queen spoke with a tone filled with accusation. She walked around the consort and sternly warned her "The next time I catch you, mistreating my child…you will be sorry that I ever chose you as a concubine!"
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, it will never happen again," Consort Eri humbly said.
The Queen was about to walk away, but she turned around and gave one more stern warning "The next time you want to punish or remove one of my court ladies…run it by me first. I am the Queen here…and it is my job not yours to discipline the palace court maidens!" After the Queen and her entourage left, Consort Eri glared and scoffed at the queen, before going on to her destination.
It was already dark when Young-Sik and Man-Ju were brought before the crowned prince. They sit in front of the Crowned Prince and his wife.
"Do you know why I scolded the two of you?" Seo-Joon asked the two boys with a stern expression and an even sterner voice.
Nodding, the two quickly answered "Yes! You Highness" their voice filled with shame
"What did Confucius say, about the qualities of a ruler?" Seo-Joon asked his brothers
The two looked at each other and at the same time, they recited the passage "The ruler must first himself be possessed of the qualities which he requires of the people, and must be free from the qualities which he requires the people to abjure."
"How do you expect the people to follow you if you have no worthy traits to follow?" Seo-Joon asked his brothers, making them ponder the meaning behind the passage.
The silence in the room was broken when Prince Young-Sik spoke his mind, "But you're going to be king after Father not us. So, there is no need for us to have those virtues," he said absentmindedly
Man-Ju embarrassed by what the youngest prince said, quickly covered his brother's mouth and gave a nervous grin to the surprised couple "Forgive him Your Highness…he's just delirious from being hungry and has no idea what he's talking about"
Princess Yoo-Na, the crowned prince's wife, let out a peal of light laughter at Young-Sik's naivete and innocence. The crowned prince looked at his wife with a frown. "You find that funny, my lady? These two brats will never learn if we coddle them," he said to his wife
The Princess held her laughter and said "Mianhae, my dear prince. I was just surprised at the prince's honesty," she stated, trying to hide her laughter
She then faced the two princes to address them "With all seriousness, boys, the Crowned Prince is right. As Chiongsun Princes, you carry significant responsibilities—not only to your King but also to the people you serve. Embrace this role with the seriousness it demands. We all have responsibilities, to our country and our people, not just your father, not just your brother…all of us. He wants to prepare the two of you when that time comes."
The crowned prince stood up and walked towards the door, "Walk with me both of you. I'll be back in a while, my princess. Then he walked out of the room and out of the palace into the courtyard.
Young-Sik and Man-Ju quickly stood up, bowed to their sister-in-law, and followed their brother. They found him standing at the same spot where they were fishing earlier that day.
Prince Seo-Joon was looking up at the night sky, his two brothers stood beside him and looked up at the night sky as well. "What are we looking at?" Young-Sik curiously asked
With an index finger on his lips, Man-Ju hushed the youngest prince "SHHH! Shut up, can't you see our eldest brother contemplating?"
Seo-Joon first addresses the youngest "I was just about your age when the responsibilities of a crowned prince were thrust upon my shoulder"
The Crowned Prince then looked to Man-Ju and placed his hand on his brother's shoulder, "I was older than you when I finally came to grips with my role as crowned prince"
"Why do we have to learn how to be King, you're going to be the next King, not us," Young-sik again asked, still confused as to why they needed to possess the attributes of a good leader.
"When the supreme god Ha'nung, asked his son Daigo to create Chiongsun, why did you think Daigo followed the command?" He asked his brothers.
Man-Ju quickly answered "Because he is Daigo's father and King, that is why he obeyed," he explained with confidence
Seo-Joon nodded, then faced Young-Sik and waited for his response. The young Prince scratched his head and replied "Man-Ju already said the best answer, is there any other answer?"
Seo-Joon placed an arm on his brother's shoulders and spoke, "Daigo obeyed Ha'nung, not because he is his father or King. He obeyed because he knew what Ha'nung had tasked him to do, was right. Daigo knew that obeying his father's command would benefit his people."
The crowned prince then faced the two and knelt in front of his brothers "It doesn't matter if you are a God, a King, or an ordinary person, people will only follow what you say, if they know, what you are saying is good and that you know what you're doing." He took both of their hands and held them firmly
"Yet if they knew that you are giving them a selfish command or they realize that you don't know what you are doing, they will not follow you," he said smiling at his brothers.
The two looked at each other, Man-Ju stepped up and took the Crowned Prince's hand, "Sorry Your Highness, both of us promise, we will take our duties seriously from now on"
Crossing his arms over his chest, the youngest brother said "Not me…I only want to play all day and eat good tasty food," Young-Sik declared, with a frown on his face.
The two older brothers gave out a laugh as they ruffled Young-Sik's hair, "You are still young so I'll give you this. Just promise me, when it's time to be serious, you will try to be a good prince and give it all you got okay?" Seo-Joon requested from the young prince
"Okay, I promise, as long as you will give me lots of toys and delicious food, and you grant me a wish like the Emperor of Guiong," Young-Sik said, adding his conditions to the promise. "
Seo-Joon scoffed, "You have to win at combat for honor to be given a wish," he walked to the end of the bridge, took something from behind a tree, and headed to where his brothers were. He gave the two a fishing pole each and he sat at the edge of the bridge with a fishing pole of his own, "Now this is how you fish" he said Young-Sik and Man-Ju looked at each other with smiles and quickly took a spot beside Seo-Joon, eagerly waiting for his lesson on fishing.