278 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
them so generously even under the circumstances in which we already owe
you a great many favors, we cannot help being overwhelmed by your grace
and kindness.
“Though I lack talent and ability, I am always anxious to repay my grati-
tude to you as much as I can because I feel fortunate to live in peace thanks
to you. Though I sent you the horses last time to follow your orders, their
quality was inferior because they were raised in a remote place. I was afraid
that they would not be fit for your imperial stable. Then how could I dare
expect to get paid for them? Since I did not expect any payment from you, I
am more grateful and at the same time ashamed.
“Your Majesty is so generous that you make it a rule to pay more while
taking less, which is beneficial to your tributary states. Your generosity
makes me more determined to serve you with loyalty and more sincere in
wishing you good health and long life.”19th Day (Kyesa)
The king had eunuch Yi Man beheaded and Lady Yu, Consort Hyŏn, (con-
sort of the crown prince), driven out.^8721st Day (Ŭlmi)
The Censorate and the Board of Punishments presented a memorial:
“Though eunuch Yi Man was beheaded and Lady Yu, Consort Hyŏn
expelled to her private home, the people of the country do not know the
reason and therefore continue to feel suspicious and worried. We request
that Your Majesty order those who attend you closely on left and right to be
taken to the authorities so that they can be interrogated, and the suspicions
of the people removed.”
The king became indignant and gave orders to send Hong Po, right cava-
lier attendant- in- ordinary, Yi Cho, left reminder, Yi Su, second inspector,
Yi Wŏn, third inspector (sisa), and No Sang, section chief of the Board of
Punishments, to the Capital Constabulary Prison.- It is a mystery why eunuch Yi Man was suddenly beheaded and Consort Hyŏn expelled
to her private home without any explanation. It is generally presumed that they were discov-
ered to have had some sort of improper relationship. It is not clear what that was exactly
because T’aejo refused to reveal it despite the subsequent requests by Censorate officials.
Strangely enough, he reacted by ordering them imprisoned for making such requests. Crown
Prince Ŭian (Pangsŏk) married Consort Hyŏn (Lady Yu) at the age of eleven, and therefore one
can imagine that he was too young to consummate his marriage with her.