# Bakdal Year 3979 (Accession of King Hyojo), Dec 25 - Ch 3

**Knowledge ID**: 13687

## Description

As the king first entered the grand palace and immediately conveyed his intentions of restoration to the queen dowager, she decreed, "Prince Seongmyeong, as the eldest son, it is only right for thee to inherit the throne. Having achieved such great deeds, what grave crime couldst thou possibly have committed?"
The king, bowing deeply, responded, "Amidst the chaos, there were many matters to attend to, leaving me no time until now. I am deeply humbled and apologetic."
A short while later, the queen dowager, who had been weeping softly, declared that she would receive the ascending king. She then entered the inner chamber, draped her feet, and placed the royal seal upon the table, guiding the king inside. As the king prostrated himself and wept bitterly, the queen dowager said, "Weep not. This is a great occasion for the dynasty; why dost thou mourn?"
The king, stepping aside to pay his respects, declared, "The state affairs are still unsettled, and it was only at dusk that I could finally come. My sins are immense."
The queen dowager replied, "Humble thyself not so. What sin could there be? I, with my ill-fated destiny, have unfortunately faced the great upheaval of Human affairs. The treacherous rebels bore resentment towards the late king and viewed me as their enemy, slaughtering my parents and turning my daughters-in-law into mere flesh. They confined me to a secluded palace, where I could scarcely hear any news of the world. Never did I imagine such a day would come."
When the courtiers urgently requested the transfer of the royal seal, the queen dowager declared, "The transfer of the royal seal is a momentous event and cannot be conducted in a hasty manner. Tomorrow, we shall perform the rites with due respect. Moreover, without the mandate of the Heavenly Emperor, how can we claim legitimacy? For now, we must manage the state affairs temporarily."