“You should not be here alone, samchonim,” I said. “I saw a tiger the other day.”
“The one at the stream?”
“Yes, it was by the stream.”
“I know that tiger,” Woo-jin said. “We talk sometimes. What did he say to you?”
“He said nothing,” I answered. “He just growled at me.”
“Begging your pardon, Majesty, but he always says something. What did his spirit say?”
I nodded. “I told him we are all part of one spirit and he agreed.”
The blind man smiled his smile. “Yes, that is what we talk about, too.”
We were quiet for a moment. Then I said, “I want to ask you about the pot, samchonim. The one you gave me. How did you know about the two-headed dragon?”
“Ah, the two-headed dragon. What do you know about it?”
I told him what Minister Kim had said about the two-headed dragon on my tapestry, how it was made by order of King Taejo, how the tapestry appeared to a leader in times of crisis, and how it had come with the message, “One Korea.” I told him how Minister Kim had said that I was the one it had come for.
“Yes,” Woo-jin said, “that is all correct. Minister Kim got that information from me.”
“From you, samchonim?” I said.
“Majesty, my people and I are the ones who sent the tapestry to you.”
“I see,” I said. “Tell me more.”
Woo-jin tapped the bowl of his pipe against his hand to clear the ash and put it in the pocket of his robe. He raised his face to the sky. “The two-headed dragon,” he said. “One head looks east and one head looks west. One protects us from Japan and the other from China. That is why King Taejo had it made. He wanted Korea to be independent and free. However, we face challenges not just from China and Japan. Our greatest challenge has always been coming together as one nation.”
“One nation, samchonim?”
“Yes!” he said, turning his face in my direction. “You see, the dragon’s heads not only face east and west, they look in opposite directions. That is because King Taejo wanted our nation to be for all Korean people. Not just for the people of the south, but for the people of the north as well. And not just for the yangban, but for the commoners—the chungin, sangmin, and even the nobi. It also looks forward and back. Back to the Three Kingdoms and forward to the generations to come. The dragon has two heads but only one body. It begs us all to be one people, one nation, one Korea. When Minister Kim said you were the one the dragon came for, Majesty, he meant that you are the spirit of One Korea.”
“Why me, samchonim?
“Because the spirit is in you,” he answered, simply.
“Yes, I feel it,” I said. “Are there others who know about the two-headed dragon?”
“We are a secret society, but yes, there are many. Your lady’s maid, Han-sook, is one.”
“Han-sook?” I exclaimed. I shook my head. It was almost too much to take in. “I never imagined it.”
“As I said, Majesty, it is a secret society.”
I was quiet for a while as Woo-jin’s information sank in. Then I asked, “How can I do it, samchonim? How can I be the spirit of One Korea?”
“Listen to the people, Majesty. Speak for everyone.”
“Yes, the people,” I said. “But what about the tiger?”
“Do not fear the tiger. He can only kill your body. But he knows he cannot take your spirit, which is what he wants most. That is why he growls.”
I sat for a while longer and said nothing. Then I said, “I will do my best, samchonim. I will do my best to speak for the people. I will be the dragon queen.”
He smiled a little. He took out his pipe and pushed tobacco into the bowl. He struck a sulfur match and lit it. The smoke curled up and caught the sunlight. I stood and walked down the path back to the house.
TWENTY-NINE
It was still dark outside when I awoke the next morning. It was much earlier than when I usually got up, and the house was quiet. I wrapped a robe around myself and went to the courtyard. I sat on the bench and watched the sky beyond the hills turn from black to red and then orange. A new day was coming, and I felt more ready for it than any other day I could remember. I sat for a while enjoying the sunrise. Then, as the light came up in the courtyard, I kicked over a pot so that it clattered on the stones. Seconds later, Ki-soo was at the door wrapping a robe around herself. “Majesty,” she said, “you are awake so early!” I grinned at her.
The previous night, they had brought my dark-blue traveling robe. Ki-soo helped me put it on and closed it with a gold queen’s medallion. She put my hair up in the queen’s style and pinned it with an ivory binyeo. She applied powder to my face and red paste to my lips as Han-sook did when I went outside the palace. When we were done, she studied me. “You look like a queen again, Majesty,” she said with a pleased look.
“Thank you, Ki-soo,” I replied. “Thank you for everything.”
Ki-soo bowed low and said simply, “Your Majesty.”
The sun was still below the horizon when I stepped out of the house. Though I had told Kyung-jik I didn’t want it, they had brought my palanquin along with eight eunuch porters. They were waiting for me at the front of the house along with ten guards—four on horseback and six on foot. They all bowed to me when they saw me.
“Kyung-jik,” I said, “I told you I did not want my palanquin.”
“Many apologies, Majesty,” Kyung-jik said. “They did not get my message in time. But it is a fortunate mistake. The guards tell me there are still those in Seoul who wish to kill you. It would be safest if you returned to the palace inside your palanquin.”
“I do not care,” I said. “I will ride instead. Use the palanquin to carry my pot with the two-headed dragon. When we go, put guards around me, but only a few. And do not announce me to the people on the streets as we ride. I don’t want my return to be a spectacle.”
“As you wish, Majesty,” Kyung-jik said.
“However,” I said, “have a guard carry the queen’s banner.”
I was anxious to see my son, and, to my surprise, I was anxious to see my husband, too. I told Kyung-jik that we should set out right away. He mounted his horse and led four guards and me on horseback. Kyung-jik insisted on carrying my banner as he rode tall in the saddle. The road was dry and the day was pleasant, so we made good time. After a short distance, the palanquin, porters, and guards on foot fell out of sight behind us. I, like the king, was not a good rider, and I was sore and tired when we arrived at the outskirts of the city. Even so, I rode with my back straight and my eyes on my people. When the people of Seoul saw the procession, they paused from what they were doing and lowered their heads. I could see several of them steal a look at me. They looked surprised to see me outside my palanquin. A few seemed angry. I tried to reach out to their spirits, to hear my people. Their spirits were confused, as if they didn’t know which way to turn. “They need a leader,” I said to myself. “They need a dragon queen.”
We went on into the heart of Seoul to where more people were on the street. Kyung-jik looked from side to side, carefully watching as we rode. Where the crowd was thickest, a mother pulled her young daughter aside and made her bow. The girl was the same age as I was when I saw Lady Min with my mother. She wore rags and, in spite of the cold, she had no shoes. I watched her as we went by. Before we could pass, she looked up, and for an instant our eyes met.
“Halt!” I said. The procession stopped and Kyung-jik rode up to me.
“What is it, Majesty?” he asked.
“Help me down,” I said. He dismounted and helped me down from my horse.
With Kyung-jik at my side, I approached the girl. She had her head down, and when she saw I was coming to her, she began to shake. Her mother pulled her close to her side.
“Do not be afraid,” I said. “I am not a snake. I will not bite you.”
The girl continued to shake and now the mother did, too. “How old are you, young one?”
I asked.
“She is six years, Majesty,” the mother said unsteadily.
“What is her name?”
“Her name is Soo-hee, Majesty.”
“I have a son who is about your age,” I said. “I am going to see him now. His name is Sun-jong. He likes to fly kites during festivals. Do you like to fly kites, too?”
In a voice I could barely hear, the girl said, “I have never had a kite.”
“Well, you shall have one. I will see to it.”
“Thank you, Majesty,” the mother said. The girl still shook.
I sighed. I took the queen’s medallion from my robe. I crouched and held the gold medallion out to the girl. She lifted her head and looked at it with frightened eyes.
“I want you to have this, Soo-hee,” I said. “It is the queen’s medallion. Having it means that you are special.” The girl did not reach for it, so I took her hand and pressed the medallion into it.
“Mother,” I said, standing straight again, “use the medallion to buy shoes and clothes for your daughter and for you, too. Show it to the merchant and have him send the charge to the palace. Let your daughter keep the medallion if she wants.”
“Thank you, Majesty,” the mother said.
The girl looked at the medallion in her hand. She no longer shook.
I stepped back and looked at the crowd that was watching my interaction with the girl. Everyone bowed to me again. “My people hear this,” I shouted at them all. “Spread the word. Your queen returns. I return for the people. Not for the yangban, not for the rich merchant or the scholars or for the royal family or for the Mins. I am here this time for everyone. For one people, one nation. For One Korea.” Several in the crowd lifted their heads and looked at me surprised. “Spread the word,” I said again.
I went back to my horse, and Kyung-jik helped me mount it. “See that the girl gets a grand kite before the new-year’s celebration,” I said to my guard. “It should be a dragon kite.”
“Yes, Majesty,” he said.
We arrived at Gyeongbok late in the day. The first thing I did after we dismounted and walked inside the palace was look for my son. As I walked across the courtyard, I asked Kyung-jik, “Where is Sun-jong?”
“The prince is with your lady’s maid, Majesty. He waits for you in your private courtyard.”
I quickened my steps as I went to my quarters. I went through the entry and out to the courtyard. There, sitting on the cobblestones with Han-sook was Sun-jong, playing with toy soldiers carved from ebony. When he saw me, he shouted, “Ummah!” and ran to me. He threw his arms around my waist and hugged me.
“My son,” I said, returning his hug, “I am pleased to see you. How have you been?”
“Han-sook and I had adventures!” he said, pushing away. “We hid in the forest and then went to some people’s house. Then we came here and I was with Appa. Where did you go?”
“I was in the country learning how to make pots.”
“You can make pots? I want you to teach me.”
“It is very difficult to make pots,” I said. “But if you want, someday I will show you how it is done.”
“Good,” he said.
“I want to hear about your adventures,” I said. “But first I must talk to Han-sook. Will you tell me later?”
“Yes, Ummah,” he said, and went back to his toy soldiers.
I looked at Han-sook. She had a gentle smile on her face and lowered her head in a bow. “Majesty,” she said, “it is good that you are back.”
“You have done your duty well,” I said to her. “I shall not forget.”
“Majesty, as I have said before, I live to serve you.”
“And I am fortunate for that,” I replied. “Come to my study with me. I have some things to tell you.”
Han-sook ordered a maid to watch over Sun-jong and together we went to my study. There, behind my desk, was the tapestry with the two-headed dragon. I was pleased to see it. As I looked into the dragon’s eyes, I vowed to not be afraid of it when it spoke to me and to listen to it more carefully. I sat behind my desk. It was good to be back, although it was different. Now I felt my responsibility to my people stronger than I ever had before. I had not known them until now. I vowed I would never forget them.
“Han-sook,” I said. “I wish to see my uncle. Arrange an audience for him.”
Han-sook lowered her eyes. “Majesty,” she said softly, “I am sorry to tell you that your uncle was killed.”
With this news, sadness replaced the joy of seeing my son and being back in the palace. In my mind, I pictured my uncle with his handsome face and onyx-black eyes. I couldn’t believe that I would never see him again or have the advantage of his advice. I felt guilty for putting him in a position close to me. I thought of my poor aunt and how much she loved her husband. I vowed that I would help her. After a minute I asked, “Who killed him?”
“The official statement is that he was killed by the rioters, Majesty.”
Then my sadness turned to anger. “The rioters incited by the Taewŏn-gun,” I said.
“It could have been the Japanese,” Han-sook said quickly. “Or one of the clans that hates the Mins.”
No, it was the Taewŏn-gun and I knew it. I wanted to break my promise to spare my father-in-law’s life. I knew that if I sent a message to Empress Cixi, she would gladly comply and chop off his head.
“What about my aunt, my uncle’s butler, Mr. Yang, and the head housekeeper, Eun-ji?”
“They are still at the House of Gamgodang.”
“Tell the palace secretary to give them good positions here at the palace,” I said. “I want them paid well. As for my uncle . . . ,” I stopped for a moment and remembered my gentle uncle with his soft eyes. I had grown to love him like a father. But I was the queen and, no matter how much I ached for revenge, I had to think of my country first. And so I sighed and said, “I will issue an order that there will be no retaliation for his murder. It is time we stopped fighting each other.”
“Yes, Majesty,” Han-sook said.
“One last thing, Han-sook. It’s the two-headed dragon. I know about the secret fellowship, and I know that you are a member.” My lady’s maid lowered her head. “I think it is good that you are. It appears that I am part of it, too.”
“I am glad you are, Majesty.”
“So this is what I want you to do,” I said. “I want you to arrange for artisans to make talismans for those in the fellowship. Let them choose what they want to have to remind them of their commitment to the fellowship. For me, I want to have something that I will use every day. It should not be a weapon or armament. It should not be something only a queen would have.
“How about a comb, Majesty?” Han-sook said.
“Yes,” I replied, “a comb. But though a comb is a common thing, it should be fit for a queen so that all who see it know that the queen supported the society of the two-headed dragon.”
“Yes, Majesty. A queen’s comb.”
“You must do it in secret because if the Chinese or Japanese discover us, they will be angry and try to end our movement. Go, do this at once.”
“That is a good idea, Majesty,” Han-sook said. She bowed out of my study, and I began planning the future of my country.
In the first day after I returned, I issued a decree that there would be no retribution for crimes committed during the uprisings and had it delivered to all corners of the country. I hoped that it would quell the hostilities between the clans and classes. In spite of my decree, there was still fighting throughout the country—clan against clan, traditionalists against progressives, pro-Japanese against pro-Chinese, poor against rich. I had to do something to get my people focused on something bigger than their centuries-old feuds.
So in the weeks and months that followed, I set about building a nation for my people. I could tell Gojong was nervous about my actions, but he was true to his promise and supported me. Even with the king behind me, the ministers protested, reminding me that my earlie
r efforts to modernize the country had led to the uprisings. And because my reforms cost money, there were complaints among the yangban and merchants about their high taxes. I remembered the poor people I had seen on the street. I remembered how Ki-soo had said the high taxes had hurt their business. I wanted to lower the taxes; I truly did. But I had come to believe, like the Taewŏn-gun, that it was time to end China’s authority over our country and stand as an independent and free nation. I believed it was only a matter of time before Emperor Meiji would have a fully modern army and China and Japan would go to war for control of my country. If we were ever going to stand on our own, we had to modernize and we had to do it quickly. For that to happen, we had to stop fighting among ourselves. We had to stop pretending that we would be fine with our heads in the sand, content to be the Hermit Kingdom. We had to invest in modernizing our country, which meant we had to keep the taxes high. It was a painful decision, but I was convinced that it was the right thing to do.
In the years that followed, I pushed through my reforms. We laid telegraph lines and built roads and bridges. We built sewer and water systems and started an electric grid. We imported farm implements, seeds, and livestock, and built dams for irrigation. Merchants opened new business and traded with foreign countries. We opened public schools, and soon, literacy in Korea increased dramatically. Several newspapers started publication.
We began to modernize our military, too. We imported weapons from Japan and America. We brought in instructors from America to train our troops in modern warfare. We created a military school and an officer’s training program.
But the most important change I made was for equal rights for my people. I oversaw the end to slavery. The yangban objected to this and fought it. So I removed their legal privileges, stripping them of their power and effectively ending the caste system.
And I granted equal rights to women. I ended restrictions on when women could leave their homes, where they could go, and who they could see. I endorsed Asia’s first all-girl academy in Seoul. It was the first time in history that a Korean girl, commoner or aristocrat, had the right to an education.
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