Post by ajk on Jun 25, 2008 15:00:04 GMT -5
Choi continues to berate the clobbered Choongnyeong: "Is that why you've been behaving like this for the past two years? You've been dwelling with rage because the world doesn't give you the recognition you deserve." The prince gets up and angrily responds, "You don't know anything about me." But Choi challenges him: "Punch me without giving it a second thought. Vent your rage like a real man." Choongnyeong doesn't punch him. Choi says, "Why are you so afraid of the thankless world? You should be more afraid of yourself than you are of the world." Just then a man stumbles forth, bleeding and near death. "The barbarians...the barbarians attacked the village!" And he dies.
We see the Jurchens attacking the village, killing indiscriminately, setting fires, taking prisoners. it's a horrible, horrible scene. Joseon troops arrive and chase them off, but terrible damage has been done.
"The Jurchens got away?" Yi Chun, in his headquarters, says he'll report the incident to the capital right away. Then he makes a comment to his aide about launching the northern conquest--at the very moment that Choi Yundeok walks through the door. "What did you just say? Northern conquest?" Choi is aghast. "Is that why you purposely provoked the Jurchens?" So you can justify a northern conquest? Yi just tells him to get out.
Choongnyeong is in the village, looking at the death spread around him. He looks almost shellshocked. "Who are all these people?", he says out loud. "Did these people live here?" His eunuchs don't understand: "What are you saying? These are people you see ten times a day." But the prince answers, "I don't recognize any of them. I don't know their names and I don't know their faces. I didn't know they lived among us." He goes over to a little girl who's crying beside her mother's body. He picks her up and hugs her. "I'm sorry," he tells her, "It's all my fault...It's all my fault...." (Long-dormant lights seem to be switching on in his mind.)
The prince is sitting by a lake, just staring into the distance. Choi Yundeok's words to him are ringing in his ears....
Taejong, with the ministers before him, reads Yi Chun's report. "What is the cause of their aggression after a long period of calm?", he wonders. He asks what the response should be. Yangnyeong, who's also present, says, "deploy the central army and launch a conquest. Offense is the best defense." Then Yi Sookbun speaks up to give Yangnyeong credit for advising him to firm up the border defense. (He's sucking up and it's almost embarrassing.) Yi Jongmu jumps in, too. Taejong accepts the suggestion: "Work out the details and submit a proposal." Sookbun is very pleased.
Later, ministers are in the conference hall. "I can't help but wonder," says Huh Jo. "Are we to believe that the crown prince deployed the artillery army for reason of border defense alone?" Meng Sasung observes that the Jurchen attack at the same time that the cannons were installed would be "a dramatic coincidence." Huh adds, "Everybody knows about the crown prince's ambition for a dramatic conquest." Then they all agree that Ming could misread Joseon's actions, which would be big trouble. (No, it isn't made clear why Huh is there after being dismissed by Yangnyeong in the previous episode. Apparently that didn't stick, for whatever reason.)
Liaoyang, in Liaodong territory: We see our old friend Huang Yan the Ming envoy. Haishou is there too; they're talking to one of the Jurchens who's come to report the border incident. They're told that Joseon is angry with the Jurchens for paying tribute to Ming. Huang senses an evil motive: "They dare declare war against Great Ming?"
The queen goes to see the king. She's concerned about her son in light of the violence in the north. "Call Choongnyeong back to the capital city. I've already sent my brothers to their death, and I will not watch my child die before I do."
Back in the north: Choongnyeong won't leave. "This is my home now,", he tells Yi Chun, "and I have nowhere else to go. You should worry about keeping Gyeongsung safe instead of worrying about me." Yi is frustrated and tells the prince that We don't have the time or resources to protect a royal prince. Choongnyeong answers, "I'm not entitled to special treatment" and leaves. Then Yi challenges Gang Sangin to do something as security officer. But Gang replies, "I have no desire to change his mind, general."
Choongnyeong, working in the village, looks up and sees Choi standing there. They go by the lake and talk. The prince asks, "Did you have some kind of expectations for me?" Then he sort of admits to his own expectations: "A banished prince is still a prince" and can find ways to help. Choi answers, "I'd be lying if I said no." The prince tells him that he is incapable of the bigger things, but that "I think I had given up on myself as well when I gave up hope on the world. And that wasn't right. I'm going to stay here and live as a man of Gyeongsung. I will share my heart with my neighbors, do whatever I can to help them, and live out the rest of my life as best I can. That's the only thing I can do." He leaves; Choi stands alone by the lake and is surprisingly quiet, as though he senses he's gotten through to the prince at least a little.
Yi Chun is at the weapons facility, grousing about Choongnyeong's refusal to leave the territory and complaining about his "cheap ideals." But Choi Haesan speaks glowingly of the prince and his ideals, and tells Yi that he won't change his mind about leaving, so if you want to get him out you'll have to get the capital to do it. Yi leaves, and Haesan tells Jang Youngsil, who's been there silently working, "I did the talking but I figured that's what you wanted to tell him." Jang agrees and comments about the prince having "changed a rascal like me into a halfway decent man."
Yi dispatches a message to the capital....
Yangnyeong is meeting with his minister supporters. He asks them to confirm that Choongnyeong has been moved out of harm's way. They hem and haw, and eventually tell him that the prince is refusing to leave and is opposing the conquest.
The king has been told that Choongnyeong is rallying the northern soldiers. He wonders, Is he rallying them to launch an invasion to seize the throne? Jo Malseng advises him not to jump to conclusions. "No one knows how the bitter time (in the north) might have changed the prince. If the report is true, this could pose a greater threat than the Jurchen attacks, sire."
Hyobin and prince Kyoungnyeong are eating; the king shows up unexpectedly. He asks the prince about his recent trip to see Choongnyeong. "He did not look too well, father." Taejong guesses that his attendants are not performing well, but the prince tells him that's not the case. What about Choi Yundeok? No, Choongnyeong "thinks most highly of" him. Then the king asks, Is Choi capable of helping Choongnyeong rise to power if he covets the throne? The prince's answer: "I can't speculate that far, but his loyalty to the prince was extraordinary." It's a strange answer; Kyoungnyeong knows that Choongnyeong harbors no such thoughts.
Back home, the king asks Jo about Choi. Jo says he's been told that Choi is "incompetent and corrupted." Taejong senses that something doesn't make sense: "An incompetent and corrupted man protected the border without incident for many years?" Jo suggests dispatching an investigator to find out the truth.
Jang Youngsil is making arrows. Yi Chun finds him and is angry because Jang is supposed to be testing cannons, not making arrows. Jang tells him that arrows are better than cannons for lose combat, and that Choi recommended having more arrows. Do what you're told, Yi tells him, to which Jang answers, "I'm sorry but I can't." Angry that a "slave" would show such obstinacy, Yi winds up to strike Jang--but his arm is grabbed by Choongnyeong, who's just entered. Jang, he reminds Yi, is "a craftsman before he is a slave, and you should value his talent." Yi responds by giving the prince a completely unexpected and well-thought-out analysis of the situation. "We need guns that can fire four to eight arrows consecutively" in order for arrows to be an effective weapon here, he explains. But Jang's arrows are far too heavy to make such a thing possible. And he tells Jang, "You are not valuable not because you are a slave, but because your talent is not valuable." And he leaves. Jang says, "He got me good this time."
Shim On and the junior officials go to see Kyoungnyeong. "What do you want with me?", he asks. They tell him, "We want to know your motive." Shim starts to ask, "Prince Choongnyeong is not one to..." "He is not one to plot treason," interrupts the prince. "I know that." "Then why," asks Choi Manli, "did you tell the king an untruth?" You're a scholar, right?, the prince asks. Choi nods and the prince says, "That's why you're politically naive." Yun Hwe puts the pieces together: "You mean you maligned the prince to send an investigator?" "I couldn't get an investigation stated without strong cause," explains the prince. Yun is very impressed with the prince's cleverness, and then says that now they have to make sure that the investigator is not one of the crown prince's men.
Hwang Hee informs Yangnyeong about the investigation. The prince is impatient: "Why do we have to go through this?" Hwang senses his impatience and wonders what the reason is. He asks the prince, "Was the artillery army deployed for the purpose of border defense and that purpose alone?" "Yes," he's told. "Then I will not question you any further. But the investigation is still necessary in order to prove that to the others." (So we realize here that Hwang doesn't know anything about the prince's Liaodong plans; the prince has never told him.)
Prime minister Yu is visited by Shim On. Shim asks him who will be chosen to be investigator, and says that "It cannot be someone close to the crown prince." Well it won't be you, Yu tells him, and then gives a seemingly dumb, naive response: We're all the crown prince's servants, and "How are we to distinguish who is close to him and who isn't?"
Yangnyeong and his supporters are at the "vanguard headquarters" discussing the investigation. The investigator, they all agree, "must be someone from our side. The whole enterprise could be shattered otherwise." Yangnyeong tells Gim Hanlo that he'll try to get him appointed to the job. Then they discuss telling Hwang the truth, but Yangnyeong explains, "I can't tell the truth to minister Hwang. He'll never support the conquest. When the conquest succeeds, I'll tell him then. He'll understand."
We see Hwang sitting outside, standing alone, his eyes looking like his head is buzzing inside. He goes inside, clearly burdened. Does he suspect Yangnyeong of planning something? He sits alone for a long time...through the evening, through the night, and into the next morning. Then, slowly, he nods. And gets up...
...and goes to see prime minister Yu. "I heard you're sending an investigator to Gyeongsung. Would you recommend me for the job?" So Hwang wants to go see for himself. Yu tells him, "I'll do what I can." Yu nods approval and pats Hwang on the shoulder.
The king, crown prince and ministers are meeting. "Who should we sent to Gyeongsung?", Taejong asks. Yangnyeong wants a military minister sent; Taejong nods approval. Then he asks PM Yu what he thinks. Yu disagrees. Then Yu says, "I thought I would go to Gyeongsung myself." (BOOM!) The king is surprised at Yu's request to go to such a dangerous area. But Yu points out that a prince has lived there safely for several years, so he isn't concerned about any danger. Taejong nods and says, "Then it is decided. The prime minister will go."
Later, the king is eating with Yu. He tells him, "I'm putting you through much trouble for my son." But Yu thinks it's a good opportunity to inspect the border region. Then the king goes so far as to present his own sword to a startled Yu, and tells him, "If a royal prince is indeed exploiting the threat of Jurchen aggression...you may take his life."
An upset Hwang walks into Yu's office. "Why did you deny my request?" Yu tells him, "You are the crown prince's most loyal and dedicated servant. So stay behind and take care of him. That's your duty."
"We haven't lost yet," Yangnyeong tells his supporters. "If Gyeongsung is already at war when minister Yu gets there, it won't matter what the investigation reveals." He gives a written order to Gu, who will take it to the north immediately. "This will give us indisputable cause to deploy the central army."
Gu and his escorts arrive in the north...and are intercepted by Gang Sangin and his troops. Yun Hwe is with them. "What did he order," Yun wants to know. "Did he order you to turn Gyeongsung into a sea of flames again?" The men turn back to flee but are surrounded from the other side. Choi Haesan and Jang Youngsil are also there, holding bags of explosive powder to throw, just in case. "What are you waiting for?," Gang says. "Search them." His soldiers find the order.
We see Choongnyeong reading a story to the local orphans. PM Yu, who's arrived, watches from a distance with Yi Chun. Realizing the absurdity, Yu says, "I've never seen such an idle rebel. Have you?"
Yun Hwe is sneaking around the village to get a look at Choongnyeong. But the prince and the kids spot him. Choongnyeong is pleased to see him, but tells Yun he doesn't look so good and asks him if he's drinking again. Yun tells him, "It's because of you, you know." (I think Yun is 100 percent serious, but Choongnyeong doesn't believe him.) Inside, Choongnyeong brings him a bit of food. There isn't much, and the eunuchs aren't there to get the food because they're helping take care of the orphans. Yun jokes, "So I guess those children are your rebel followers!" "Rebel followers?" The prince doesn't get the joke.
PM Yu is holding a hearing; Yi Chun is kneeling before him. "Why did you falsely accuse Choongnyeong of treason?" Yi answers, To get him out of there; we didn't have time to worry about him. Next Yu asks, Didn't you deliberately provoke the Jurchens? Yi shows no remorse, and tries to take full responsibility for it. "His highness sent us here, but I chose the time, so don't blame him. It was my decision." And I will surrender my head for it. Yu responds, "Your loyalty to your master is noble, but this is not a light crime." Our present borders are inadequate to keep the people safe, Yi says. But Yu says "You sound like you're proud of your crime," and tells Yi that he'll grant him his wish: "Execute Yi Chun without delay and send his head to the capital city!" A guardsman steps forward and raises his sword. "Wait!" Choongnyeong arrives. "Please stop the execution. We cannot kill this man." Yu scowls.
Inside, Choongnyeong is discussing the matter with Yu. "His (Yi's) and the crown prince's views on the conquest are not wrong. Right commander?" Choi Yundeok is there too; he has a map laid out and explains to Yu that the nation's borders would be significantly easier to protect if it held the land up to the Tuman river. But the better course of action is to reopen the exchange (this was mentioned in Ep30; probably a border trading post of some sort) rather than by attempting military action. Then Choongnyeong reminds Yu that Yi is an extremely knowledgeable weapons expert, "a valuable resource we cannot afford to lose." Yu is listening carefully.
Yi is standing outside alone; Choongnyeong approaches him and asks, "Do you so desperately wish to expand our territory?" Citing a previous historical instance in which it took over 300 years to expand the territory, he tells Yi, "Would you speak to the crown prince when you return to the capital? Tell him that territorial expansion cannot be achieved overnight and that he must be patient." Since I'm alive to do it, Yi says, I guess I should. Then Yi asks, "I'd like to know why you're not punishing me." The prince answers, "I never said I wasn't punishing you. I'm just not punishing you by death. You will have to pay dearly by dedicating the rest of your life to service of this country."
Shim On is told that a woman from Gyeongsung is here to see him. He goes to see her. Her back turned to him, she announces, "I am the one who will bring prince Choongnyeong back from Gyeongsung." She turns around; it's Auri! She smiles her manipulative grin.
We see the Jurchens attacking the village, killing indiscriminately, setting fires, taking prisoners. it's a horrible, horrible scene. Joseon troops arrive and chase them off, but terrible damage has been done.
"The Jurchens got away?" Yi Chun, in his headquarters, says he'll report the incident to the capital right away. Then he makes a comment to his aide about launching the northern conquest--at the very moment that Choi Yundeok walks through the door. "What did you just say? Northern conquest?" Choi is aghast. "Is that why you purposely provoked the Jurchens?" So you can justify a northern conquest? Yi just tells him to get out.
Choongnyeong is in the village, looking at the death spread around him. He looks almost shellshocked. "Who are all these people?", he says out loud. "Did these people live here?" His eunuchs don't understand: "What are you saying? These are people you see ten times a day." But the prince answers, "I don't recognize any of them. I don't know their names and I don't know their faces. I didn't know they lived among us." He goes over to a little girl who's crying beside her mother's body. He picks her up and hugs her. "I'm sorry," he tells her, "It's all my fault...It's all my fault...." (Long-dormant lights seem to be switching on in his mind.)
The prince is sitting by a lake, just staring into the distance. Choi Yundeok's words to him are ringing in his ears....
Taejong, with the ministers before him, reads Yi Chun's report. "What is the cause of their aggression after a long period of calm?", he wonders. He asks what the response should be. Yangnyeong, who's also present, says, "deploy the central army and launch a conquest. Offense is the best defense." Then Yi Sookbun speaks up to give Yangnyeong credit for advising him to firm up the border defense. (He's sucking up and it's almost embarrassing.) Yi Jongmu jumps in, too. Taejong accepts the suggestion: "Work out the details and submit a proposal." Sookbun is very pleased.
Later, ministers are in the conference hall. "I can't help but wonder," says Huh Jo. "Are we to believe that the crown prince deployed the artillery army for reason of border defense alone?" Meng Sasung observes that the Jurchen attack at the same time that the cannons were installed would be "a dramatic coincidence." Huh adds, "Everybody knows about the crown prince's ambition for a dramatic conquest." Then they all agree that Ming could misread Joseon's actions, which would be big trouble. (No, it isn't made clear why Huh is there after being dismissed by Yangnyeong in the previous episode. Apparently that didn't stick, for whatever reason.)
Liaoyang, in Liaodong territory: We see our old friend Huang Yan the Ming envoy. Haishou is there too; they're talking to one of the Jurchens who's come to report the border incident. They're told that Joseon is angry with the Jurchens for paying tribute to Ming. Huang senses an evil motive: "They dare declare war against Great Ming?"
The queen goes to see the king. She's concerned about her son in light of the violence in the north. "Call Choongnyeong back to the capital city. I've already sent my brothers to their death, and I will not watch my child die before I do."
Back in the north: Choongnyeong won't leave. "This is my home now,", he tells Yi Chun, "and I have nowhere else to go. You should worry about keeping Gyeongsung safe instead of worrying about me." Yi is frustrated and tells the prince that We don't have the time or resources to protect a royal prince. Choongnyeong answers, "I'm not entitled to special treatment" and leaves. Then Yi challenges Gang Sangin to do something as security officer. But Gang replies, "I have no desire to change his mind, general."
Choongnyeong, working in the village, looks up and sees Choi standing there. They go by the lake and talk. The prince asks, "Did you have some kind of expectations for me?" Then he sort of admits to his own expectations: "A banished prince is still a prince" and can find ways to help. Choi answers, "I'd be lying if I said no." The prince tells him that he is incapable of the bigger things, but that "I think I had given up on myself as well when I gave up hope on the world. And that wasn't right. I'm going to stay here and live as a man of Gyeongsung. I will share my heart with my neighbors, do whatever I can to help them, and live out the rest of my life as best I can. That's the only thing I can do." He leaves; Choi stands alone by the lake and is surprisingly quiet, as though he senses he's gotten through to the prince at least a little.
Yi Chun is at the weapons facility, grousing about Choongnyeong's refusal to leave the territory and complaining about his "cheap ideals." But Choi Haesan speaks glowingly of the prince and his ideals, and tells Yi that he won't change his mind about leaving, so if you want to get him out you'll have to get the capital to do it. Yi leaves, and Haesan tells Jang Youngsil, who's been there silently working, "I did the talking but I figured that's what you wanted to tell him." Jang agrees and comments about the prince having "changed a rascal like me into a halfway decent man."
Yi dispatches a message to the capital....
Yangnyeong is meeting with his minister supporters. He asks them to confirm that Choongnyeong has been moved out of harm's way. They hem and haw, and eventually tell him that the prince is refusing to leave and is opposing the conquest.
The king has been told that Choongnyeong is rallying the northern soldiers. He wonders, Is he rallying them to launch an invasion to seize the throne? Jo Malseng advises him not to jump to conclusions. "No one knows how the bitter time (in the north) might have changed the prince. If the report is true, this could pose a greater threat than the Jurchen attacks, sire."
Hyobin and prince Kyoungnyeong are eating; the king shows up unexpectedly. He asks the prince about his recent trip to see Choongnyeong. "He did not look too well, father." Taejong guesses that his attendants are not performing well, but the prince tells him that's not the case. What about Choi Yundeok? No, Choongnyeong "thinks most highly of" him. Then the king asks, Is Choi capable of helping Choongnyeong rise to power if he covets the throne? The prince's answer: "I can't speculate that far, but his loyalty to the prince was extraordinary." It's a strange answer; Kyoungnyeong knows that Choongnyeong harbors no such thoughts.
Back home, the king asks Jo about Choi. Jo says he's been told that Choi is "incompetent and corrupted." Taejong senses that something doesn't make sense: "An incompetent and corrupted man protected the border without incident for many years?" Jo suggests dispatching an investigator to find out the truth.
Jang Youngsil is making arrows. Yi Chun finds him and is angry because Jang is supposed to be testing cannons, not making arrows. Jang tells him that arrows are better than cannons for lose combat, and that Choi recommended having more arrows. Do what you're told, Yi tells him, to which Jang answers, "I'm sorry but I can't." Angry that a "slave" would show such obstinacy, Yi winds up to strike Jang--but his arm is grabbed by Choongnyeong, who's just entered. Jang, he reminds Yi, is "a craftsman before he is a slave, and you should value his talent." Yi responds by giving the prince a completely unexpected and well-thought-out analysis of the situation. "We need guns that can fire four to eight arrows consecutively" in order for arrows to be an effective weapon here, he explains. But Jang's arrows are far too heavy to make such a thing possible. And he tells Jang, "You are not valuable not because you are a slave, but because your talent is not valuable." And he leaves. Jang says, "He got me good this time."
Shim On and the junior officials go to see Kyoungnyeong. "What do you want with me?", he asks. They tell him, "We want to know your motive." Shim starts to ask, "Prince Choongnyeong is not one to..." "He is not one to plot treason," interrupts the prince. "I know that." "Then why," asks Choi Manli, "did you tell the king an untruth?" You're a scholar, right?, the prince asks. Choi nods and the prince says, "That's why you're politically naive." Yun Hwe puts the pieces together: "You mean you maligned the prince to send an investigator?" "I couldn't get an investigation stated without strong cause," explains the prince. Yun is very impressed with the prince's cleverness, and then says that now they have to make sure that the investigator is not one of the crown prince's men.
Hwang Hee informs Yangnyeong about the investigation. The prince is impatient: "Why do we have to go through this?" Hwang senses his impatience and wonders what the reason is. He asks the prince, "Was the artillery army deployed for the purpose of border defense and that purpose alone?" "Yes," he's told. "Then I will not question you any further. But the investigation is still necessary in order to prove that to the others." (So we realize here that Hwang doesn't know anything about the prince's Liaodong plans; the prince has never told him.)
Prime minister Yu is visited by Shim On. Shim asks him who will be chosen to be investigator, and says that "It cannot be someone close to the crown prince." Well it won't be you, Yu tells him, and then gives a seemingly dumb, naive response: We're all the crown prince's servants, and "How are we to distinguish who is close to him and who isn't?"
Yangnyeong and his supporters are at the "vanguard headquarters" discussing the investigation. The investigator, they all agree, "must be someone from our side. The whole enterprise could be shattered otherwise." Yangnyeong tells Gim Hanlo that he'll try to get him appointed to the job. Then they discuss telling Hwang the truth, but Yangnyeong explains, "I can't tell the truth to minister Hwang. He'll never support the conquest. When the conquest succeeds, I'll tell him then. He'll understand."
We see Hwang sitting outside, standing alone, his eyes looking like his head is buzzing inside. He goes inside, clearly burdened. Does he suspect Yangnyeong of planning something? He sits alone for a long time...through the evening, through the night, and into the next morning. Then, slowly, he nods. And gets up...
...and goes to see prime minister Yu. "I heard you're sending an investigator to Gyeongsung. Would you recommend me for the job?" So Hwang wants to go see for himself. Yu tells him, "I'll do what I can." Yu nods approval and pats Hwang on the shoulder.
The king, crown prince and ministers are meeting. "Who should we sent to Gyeongsung?", Taejong asks. Yangnyeong wants a military minister sent; Taejong nods approval. Then he asks PM Yu what he thinks. Yu disagrees. Then Yu says, "I thought I would go to Gyeongsung myself." (BOOM!) The king is surprised at Yu's request to go to such a dangerous area. But Yu points out that a prince has lived there safely for several years, so he isn't concerned about any danger. Taejong nods and says, "Then it is decided. The prime minister will go."
Later, the king is eating with Yu. He tells him, "I'm putting you through much trouble for my son." But Yu thinks it's a good opportunity to inspect the border region. Then the king goes so far as to present his own sword to a startled Yu, and tells him, "If a royal prince is indeed exploiting the threat of Jurchen aggression...you may take his life."
An upset Hwang walks into Yu's office. "Why did you deny my request?" Yu tells him, "You are the crown prince's most loyal and dedicated servant. So stay behind and take care of him. That's your duty."
"We haven't lost yet," Yangnyeong tells his supporters. "If Gyeongsung is already at war when minister Yu gets there, it won't matter what the investigation reveals." He gives a written order to Gu, who will take it to the north immediately. "This will give us indisputable cause to deploy the central army."
Gu and his escorts arrive in the north...and are intercepted by Gang Sangin and his troops. Yun Hwe is with them. "What did he order," Yun wants to know. "Did he order you to turn Gyeongsung into a sea of flames again?" The men turn back to flee but are surrounded from the other side. Choi Haesan and Jang Youngsil are also there, holding bags of explosive powder to throw, just in case. "What are you waiting for?," Gang says. "Search them." His soldiers find the order.
We see Choongnyeong reading a story to the local orphans. PM Yu, who's arrived, watches from a distance with Yi Chun. Realizing the absurdity, Yu says, "I've never seen such an idle rebel. Have you?"
Yun Hwe is sneaking around the village to get a look at Choongnyeong. But the prince and the kids spot him. Choongnyeong is pleased to see him, but tells Yun he doesn't look so good and asks him if he's drinking again. Yun tells him, "It's because of you, you know." (I think Yun is 100 percent serious, but Choongnyeong doesn't believe him.) Inside, Choongnyeong brings him a bit of food. There isn't much, and the eunuchs aren't there to get the food because they're helping take care of the orphans. Yun jokes, "So I guess those children are your rebel followers!" "Rebel followers?" The prince doesn't get the joke.
PM Yu is holding a hearing; Yi Chun is kneeling before him. "Why did you falsely accuse Choongnyeong of treason?" Yi answers, To get him out of there; we didn't have time to worry about him. Next Yu asks, Didn't you deliberately provoke the Jurchens? Yi shows no remorse, and tries to take full responsibility for it. "His highness sent us here, but I chose the time, so don't blame him. It was my decision." And I will surrender my head for it. Yu responds, "Your loyalty to your master is noble, but this is not a light crime." Our present borders are inadequate to keep the people safe, Yi says. But Yu says "You sound like you're proud of your crime," and tells Yi that he'll grant him his wish: "Execute Yi Chun without delay and send his head to the capital city!" A guardsman steps forward and raises his sword. "Wait!" Choongnyeong arrives. "Please stop the execution. We cannot kill this man." Yu scowls.
Inside, Choongnyeong is discussing the matter with Yu. "His (Yi's) and the crown prince's views on the conquest are not wrong. Right commander?" Choi Yundeok is there too; he has a map laid out and explains to Yu that the nation's borders would be significantly easier to protect if it held the land up to the Tuman river. But the better course of action is to reopen the exchange (this was mentioned in Ep30; probably a border trading post of some sort) rather than by attempting military action. Then Choongnyeong reminds Yu that Yi is an extremely knowledgeable weapons expert, "a valuable resource we cannot afford to lose." Yu is listening carefully.
Yi is standing outside alone; Choongnyeong approaches him and asks, "Do you so desperately wish to expand our territory?" Citing a previous historical instance in which it took over 300 years to expand the territory, he tells Yi, "Would you speak to the crown prince when you return to the capital? Tell him that territorial expansion cannot be achieved overnight and that he must be patient." Since I'm alive to do it, Yi says, I guess I should. Then Yi asks, "I'd like to know why you're not punishing me." The prince answers, "I never said I wasn't punishing you. I'm just not punishing you by death. You will have to pay dearly by dedicating the rest of your life to service of this country."
Shim On is told that a woman from Gyeongsung is here to see him. He goes to see her. Her back turned to him, she announces, "I am the one who will bring prince Choongnyeong back from Gyeongsung." She turns around; it's Auri! She smiles her manipulative grin.