Chapter 14

## Chapter 14 — Yulli Selection Exam (4)

Kim Jiseok secretly smiled at their different reactions.

Then he personally unrolled the scroll containing the question.

"This is difficult enough that it could occupy an entire day, so I will give you sufficient time. Read the question carefully. As long as you do not leave the government office, you may think about your answer wherever you wish."

"...Understood!"

Doyul watched him and thought.

He changed the question on the very day of the examination.

Judging by everyone's reactions, the magistrate must have noticed something strange too.

The Ibang had tried to hide his shock, but Doyul caught the brief expression.

And Isu had clearly been surprised as well.

It seemed the change had been made without either of them knowing.

As expected of the protagonist, I suppose.

"...Ugh. Th-This is difficult..."

"...H-Hahaha..."

The reactions of Hajeong and Isu after reading the question were immediately concerning.

"What in the world is this complicated problem...?"

...Oh?

Ever since Isu mocked him for wondering whether he could pass the state examination, Doyul had become curious about what those questions were actually like.

So he set aside his other complicated concerns for the moment.

He opened the problem eagerly and focused.

[Long ago, there lived a slave named Jagni. One night, Jagni fled to the capital and began doing business. Before long, he became extremely wealthy.]

[After becoming rich, Jagni purchased the surname Kim and passed himself off as a commoner of free status. Later, Jagni had a grandson named Kim Dorim. Kim Dorim was intelligent, passed the main state examination, achieved numerous accomplishments, and ultimately became Chief State Councillor.]

...The grandson of a runaway slave became Chief State Councillor?

[Kim Dorim had many children and became famous as a distinguished statesman before retiring from office. However, after his retirement, it was discovered that his grandfather had been a runaway slave. The ministers are divided in opinion. How should this matter be judged?]

[Assume that Kim Dorim took the state examination without knowing that his grandfather had been a slave.]

Hajeong and Lee Isu were both visibly confused by the difficult question.

"A-Ahem..."

"..."

And the moment Doyul finished reading it...

Huh.

Scratch. Scratch.

So this was impossible for me anyway.

He gave up immediately.

***

Doyul settled onto a wooden platform in one corner of the government office and read the question again.

[The following are the opinions of ministers. Consider each opinion and discuss.]

[Lee Monggyu: Kim Dorim's grandfather was a slave. Therefore, Kim Dorim should be treated as someone who was never qualified to take the state examination in the first place. His official position and property would never have been acquired had his status been known. Therefore, all his wealth and offices should be confiscated and he should be treated as a slave.]

[Han Jaesuk: Although Kim Dorim is of low birth, he accumulated great merit and has already retired in old age. He built a reputation as a virtuous and distinguished statesman. Such harsh treatment would be excessive, so it would be better to quietly ignore the matter.]

"...Hmm. As expected."

The question required them to consider the opinions of Lee Monggyu and Han Jaesuk, then present their own judgment.

No matter how he looked at it, Doyul couldn't answer.

The reason was simple.

What the hell?

You can't solve this without knowing Joseon's actual statutes.

Doyul knew modern law.

Naturally, he did not know the specific provisions of Joseon's legal codes.

Until now, that hadn't been a problem.

The setoff dispute and the case involving Ppaengi could both be solved through general legal reasoning.

But this was different.

There were surely specific laws concerning runaway slaves.

And since Joseon was a status-based society and the dispute directly concerned status, interpreting those provisions would be essential.

Law wasn't a subject where you merely memorized statutes.

It was a discipline about understanding legal principles.

Even the modern bar examination naturally provided candidates with statute books.

But apparently, in Joseon, where memorizing books was considered a virtue, there was no such kindness.

Good grief.

I was worried that stealing Lee Isu's position might mess up the story, but apparently I was worrying for nothing.

After thinking it over, Doyul cleanly gave up on solving the question.

Then he looked around, considering his next-best option.

...Hm?

Ahead of him, Hajeong was walking toward Isu with an angry expression.

"Ugh! Isn't this too much?! Lee Isu!"

"W-Why are you doing this?"

Hajeong confronted him furiously.

Isu, feeling guilty about something, couldn't answer properly.

"Did you want the yulli position that badly?!"

"Th-That is..."

Isu fell silent.

What am I supposed to say...?

Born and raised comfortably in Yeongsan, he had rarely experienced situations like this.

For Lee Isu, being honorable mattered more than anything.

Being admirable mattered more than anything.

That was why he'd ultimately rejected his father's attempt to help and tried to compete fairly.

I truly did what I thought was best.

But...

He couldn't bring himself to claim that he was completely innocent.

No matter how much he'd shared the hint for the oral examination out of conscience, he couldn't deny that he'd received an advantage on the first sikri question.

"Answer me!"

Since it was clear he had received favoritism, even without knowing it at the time, Isu felt ashamed.

"Th-That is..."

"I will not let this matter pass! If you are selected as yulli, I will absolutely inform the secret royal inspector!"

Sometimes a person had to apologize even for things they hadn't intentionally done.

And sometimes people grew up through moments like that.

"S-Sorry..."

Just as Lee Isu was about to apologize...

"That is enough. I believe you are going too far."

"...What did you say?"

Doyul stepped in.

Since things have already reached this point...

"Hah! Scholar, why are you interfering?"

"Wouldn't it be better to make a proper judgment after the examination is over? The test is still underway. Accusing someone based only on suspicion is not appropriate."

"...Ugh!"

I might as well earn some goodwill from Lee Isu.

***

Tears streamed down Isu's face as he looked at Doyul.

"S-Scholar... I'm... sorry.... I didn't even know what kind of person you were, and I treated you so... rudely.... Yet you still defended me...!"

The kid was practically crying like a child.

Good grief. What kind of fate is this?

Doyul suppressed the intense desire to abandon the examination and simply go home.

Instead, he comforted Isu.

"A grown man shouldn't shed tears over something like this."

"Sob.... S-Scholar.... I-I really was trying to do the right thing...!"

Doyul fell into thought while looking at him.

...He probably was.

There was a very high chance Isu was innocent.

At worst, his crime was being naive and oblivious.

He didn't seem to have deliberately deceived anyone out of malice.

And since my own chances of passing are extremely low anyway, protecting Isu benefits me too.

Doyul's reasons were not entirely selfless.

If becoming yulli was an example of initial impossibility for him, then creating a good impression on Lee Isu, who was very likely a supporting character, was the next-best strategy.

After calming down, Isu spoke in a defeated voice.

"I cannot explain exactly how all of this happened... but I cannot call myself completely innocent either. So... I think I should apologize and leave the examination."

Doyul believed he had helped Isu based on rational self-interest.

And that was true.

But...

"..."

There was undeniably another feeling in his heart.

He simply disliked seeing someone innocent placed in an unfair situation.

Doyul hesitated.

If Lee Isu voluntarily withdraws, maybe I get another chance.

Then logically, I should encourage him to quit...

But despite that reasoning, entirely different words came out of Doyul's mouth.

"Won't you regret it if you give up now?"

"...What?"

"I cannot judge what happened before today. But I do know that you've studied day and night for this examination."

"..."

"You wanted the magistrate to recognize you, didn't you?"

Isu lowered his head.

"Y-Yes..."

"Then even if there is something you must regret and take responsibility for... why not first show him what you've achieved?"

"...!"

Lee Isu was exhausting, troublesome, and noisy.

But he wasn't a bad person.

Doyul didn't want to simply leave him like this.

"Think carefully and face the problem honestly. After you've given everything you have and cleared your heart, you can decide what comes next."

Isu drew strength from Doyul's words.

"You're right! Something about this felt wrong and it tormented me, but I wanted to give the magistrate an answer proudly and earn his recognition! I will take responsibility for anything wrong... after the examination is over! S-Scholar Kang Doyul!"

"Yes?"

"Will you truly... allow me to seek an answer?"

Doyul smiled.

"I believe there is someone else you should ask permission from before me."

"...!"

The moment Isu heard that, he walked toward Hajeong, who was still angrily wrestling with the problem.

"What is it?"

"Sir Ha, I came to ask for your understanding."

Hajeong frowned.

"...I only stepped back because the famous Young Master Kang persuaded me. Why are you talking to me again?"

"I will take responsibility for what was wrong. But please... would you allow me to finish the examination and present my answer to the magistrate?"

Isu bowed his head.

Hajeong was inwardly surprised, though he didn't show it.

That arrogant Lee Isu actually bowed to me and asked for my understanding...?

Hajeong snorted and looked away.

"...Do as you wish."

"...Brother Ha! Truly, thank you!"

"Hmph."

Lee Isu's fighting spirit reignited.

There's... not much time!

He focused and quickly reread the problem.

He thought desperately about what judgment he should reach.

Perhaps all his previous studying had not been wasted.

Or perhaps his heart had simply become clearer.

For the first time, Isu felt as though he could see something that had been invisible before.

...I see it.

I can definitely see it!

He seized the inspiration flashing through his mind and slowly refined the logic.

This is... my answer!

Then he strode confidently toward the magistrate.

This is the best answer... that the current me can give!

Isu stood before Kim Jiseok.

"...I, Lee Isu, son of the Ibang, have come to present my answer!"

"I see."

Kim Jiseok answered slowly, his expression unreadable.

"...Speak."

"I will! Regarding Kim Dorim...!"

From a short distance away, Doyul watched and scratched his head.

...I did the right thing, didn't I?

He didn't know what consequences his intervention might create.

But even if he went back, he suspected he'd make the same choice.

And he had some reasoning to support it.

First, his own chance of passing was already extremely low.

And...

"An old saying states that virtue comes before talent. Lead with virtue and act with diligence."

The psychopomp had emphasized something about virtue before sending him to Joseon.

So Doyul assumed doing a good deed probably wouldn't derail the story too badly.

Besides, Lee Isu had been mentioned by his classmates.

That meant there was a high chance he was a supporting character.

...I'll just think of the position as something that was never mine.

Lee Isu's eyes shone as he spoke.

"...Kim Dorim must be considered a slave! According to the Gyeongguk Daejeon, the child of a slave must also be treated as a slave. Therefore, there is no room for doubt that Kim Dorim is a slave!"

Then, as Lee Isu's confident voice rang out...

Something changed inside Doyul.

...H-Huh?

[The child of a slave shall be considered a slave. If it is discovered that a person is the descendant of a runaway slave, that person shall also be treated as a slave.]

Starting with the provision from the Gyeongguk Daejeon that Isu cited...

Then even the Great Ming Code, which could be used as a supplementary source when the Gyeongguk Daejeon alone was insufficient...

The instant Doyul heard Lee Isu's words, the laws appeared vividly in his mind.

It was almost as if the legal codes themselves had been implanted directly into his memory.

Then Joseon's laws and modern legal concepts began linking together organically inside Doyul's mind.

Flash.

An answer formed at incredible speed.

If that's the case...

This changes things.