I wondered whether King Heonjong would truly allow such a topic from Heungseon Daewongun, but his reaction was unexpectedly favorable.
"Wouldn't it make for an interesting debate? It seems it will be quite intense."
From that response alone, his stance toward Qing became clear.
This was not merely about ending the tributary relationship.
He intended to establish a relationship so firm that no matter how Qing reacted, it would not waver.
It might seem excessive, but the reasoning was understandable.
Joseon was trying to completely break away from a tributary relationship that had lasted two hundred years.
Ten or twenty years might be one thing, but two centuries was long enough for customs to become law.
Even if Joseon had not been as devoted to Qing as it had once been to Ming, the accumulated weight of those two hundred years could not be easily cast aside.
To break free from that, an intentionally strong stance was necessary.
If Heungseon Daewongun had grasped this and deliberately proposed such a topic, it would speak highly of his skill, but that seemed unlikely.
"Your Highness, I have gathered all the materials you requested on the candidates."
"Good work. I will review them over the next day, and after observing the debate, I should have a clearer picture."
"You mentioned you met His Highness. Have you seen the debate topics?"
"I have. They are quite interesting. But I was told not to reveal them."
"I do not favor any candidate in particular. Could you at least say whether they are ordinary topics or not?"
Kim Hak-seo's curiosity was obvious.
Even someone of his experience could not hide it.
"Well, one is a fairly standard topic, another is somewhat sensitive, and the last… is a topic that makes you wonder if it is even appropriate."
"…Interesting."
He immediately began to speculate.
"The most inappropriate topic must have been chosen by Deokwan-gun. Lacking deep grounding in court etiquette and Neo-Confucian learning, he would not have a clear standard for selecting a topic."
"The ordinary one would be Gyeongwon-gun. Being young, he would avoid risks and choose something safe."
"And the sensitive one must be Heungseon Daewongun, given his experience and ability to walk the line."
He was completely wrong.
"Your reasoning is impressive."
"Of course."
"You will be quite surprised when they are revealed."
Even seasoned officials could misjudge completely.
"By the way, the candidates have all requested to meet you. What shall I tell them?"
"I would rather refuse."
"They anticipated that. They insist on paying respects to you as a senior member of the royal family. Since it is unrelated to the competition on the surface, it would be best to meet them."
He was right.
Refusing could be seen as improper.
"Very well. Tell them to come to dinner together. Meeting them separately would create unnecessary speculation."
"As expected, that is the best approach."
I had not yet made a decision.
None of them were entirely satisfactory.
Still, one of them would become king.
It was time to see who was truly prepared.
That evening, the three candidates sat before me.
"I had intended to meet each of you separately, but circumstances made that difficult. Let us speak freely, as members of the royal family."
"T-thank you, Your Highness."
The young man bowing repeatedly was clearly Cheoljong of Joseon, still unaccustomed to court etiquette.
Beside him sat Gyeongwon-gun Yi Ha-jeon, his eyes sharp and observant despite his youth.
And then there was Heungseon Daewongun, already familiar to me.
"Since the evaluation is approaching, we will avoid sensitive matters. Feel free to ask what you wish."
Then Heungseon Daewongun spoke first.
"How long do you intend to remain in Joseon?"
"Until the succession is decided."
"I see. If there is anything you require during your stay, I will do what I can to assist."
"I will help as well."
"Me too…"
They competed even in courtesy.
The tension was obvious.
So I decided to push the conversation.
"Are you all preparing well for the evaluation?"
"…We are doing our best."
"Then let me ask something else. Are any of you arranging marriages?"
"I am already married."
The others shook their heads, but before they could speak further, Heungseon Daewongun interjected.
"I have heard that Deokwan-gun is being pushed toward a marriage by the Andong Kim clan. And Gyeongwon-gun is being considered by the Pungyang Jo clan."
"Is that so?"
It was expected.
If a candidate became king, placing a queen from their faction would secure power.
But from my perspective, that was undesirable.
External relatives were always a risk to royal authority.
"Deokwan-gun, are you close with Kim Eung-geun?"
"He brought me from Ganghwa. I am grateful."
But his expression revealed more.
Gratitude, mixed with discomfort.
Gyeongwon-gun required no questioning.
If he became king, he would likely move against such factions immediately.
As for Heungseon Daewongun, he seemed confident.
But he overlooked something important.
"How many children do you have?"
"I have three sons."
That was the issue.
His own ability was sufficient, but his successors were questionable.
In contrast, Deokwan-gun's lack of an heir could even be advantageous.
Another selection could be held later if needed.
The situation grew increasingly complex.
Then, unexpectedly, Gyeongwon-gun spoke.
"Your Highness, I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"I heard you bear the Tokugawa name. If the shogunate were to lose its direct line, could someone of Joseon royal blood, descended from you, become its ruler?"
The room fell silent.
Even Heungseon Daewongun was visibly startled.
Only a child could ask such a question so freely.
Or perhaps he understood exactly what he was doing.
Either way, it was interesting.
Very interesting.
This one might become an unexpected contender.