Post by ajk on Sept 23, 2008 14:51:46 GMT -5
As Jang Youngsil arrives at the rooftop observatory, Choi Haesan sees Haishou and his troops arrive at the building. He starts to head towards them but is immediately stopped by a hand on his shoulder. It's Huang Yan, accompanied by soldiers of his own. "Did you forget what the imperial concubine said?", he asks. "Let go of me," Choi demands, and puts up enough of a fight that the soldiers have to knock him unconscious. Huang instructs them, "Go to the rendezvous point immediately. If he's not there in fifteen minutes, he's on his own." The soldiers leave. But what is Huang Yan doing getting so involved in this?
As Jang watches the astronomers, we hear Daion's voice in a flashback. "Don't stand too close," she explains. "The stars are for the emperor alone to decipher." Designated astronomers act on the emperor's behalf in using the instruments; everyone else must stay three steps back.
At the building door, Haishou is forbidden entrance by the guards because observations are in progress. But he tells them that an intruder is in the building, and he and his soldiers are allowed to pass.
His curiosity getting the better of him, Jang starts inching forward, closer to the instruments.
Haishou and his men ascend the building steps.
"What are you doing?" Jang has stepped too close and caught the astronomers' attention. He realizes his mistake and hurriedly blurts out "I'm sorry, sir"--IN KOREAN! "What did you say? Who are you?" No answer. "After him!" Jang grabs a convenient rope and slides down from the rooftop, just as Haishou and the soldiers arrive. The intruder horn is sounded. Jang runs like crazy, soldiers chasing him from all directions. He runs into a building and hides inside a dark room...and then Yehjin walks into the room. "I've been waiting for you," Yehjin says.
Daion and Huang Yan are talking privately. "How did it go?", Daion wants to know. "It's up to the gods now," he tells her. "I have to save him," she says; "I can't let him die!" But Huang cautions her to control herself; Jang doesn't want her help. "If he is captured alone," Huang explains, "he will have acted alone. It will be dismissed as one slave boy's ignorance. But if you get involved, this could escalate into a diplomatic issue." Daion feels very bad, though. "I was so mean to him. He's doing great without me, so I got mad at him." (Why you prissy little twit--did you want him to throw himself off a cliff?) "I missed him so much," she tells Huang, "but I didn't tell him." Huang says, "People who have a special connection don't need words to know what the other is feeling." "Like you and your sister?", Daion asks. Huang smiles. "Yes, you can say that." (Is this why Huang is involved in all this, because of his sister in Korea?)
Back inside the dark room, Yehjin tells Youngsil, "I do indeed value your talent, but never has a man been allowed to go free after breaking into the observatory. I hope you're prepared." Soldiers enter the room and surround Jang.
Subtitles remind us that it's the fall of 1423, Sejong's fifth year. In the throne room: Sejong is meeting newly appointed government officials. He's been holding these meetings at a rapid pace, and ignores the advice of Huh Jo and Yi Su to take a break. Then Yun Hwe runs in, beaming and excited with great news.
The Ming expedition is back! The envoys, Choi, Youngsil and everybody else. Youngsil is carrying the two chests with the documents. Sejong comes to greet them and is especially excited to see Youngsil. "I've been waiting," Sejong tells them eagerly. But how is it possible that Youngsil is just standing there like he was out for a stroll? How did he get out of the terrible mess he was in? We're not told. Hmmm....
At the Hall of Worthies, Sejong and the scholars pore over the newly acquired materials. Youngsil is standing in front of a large and surprisingly detailed drawing of the large apparatus in the Ming observatory, called a Ganui. He explains how the different features of the Ganui work and what functions they perform. Everyone is impressed. "Good work," Sejong tells him; "I will never forget your hard work and neither will the people of Joseon. But the real work hasn't begun yet." "I am prepared," Youngsil says.
Meeting with his ministers, Sejong instructs that a new agency be formed to develop and use the astronomical instruments. He wants the various ministries and offices to lend people to the agency, and he asks Hwang Hee and Jo Malseng to work on confidentiality and security issues so that the agency and its work are kept secret.
After the meeting: "That boy is a mystery," Huh Jo says. How did Jang Youngsil acquire so much classified information? "This is not something to be happy about," prime minister Yu says, but Hwang is almost giddy and tells him that "We are reviving the Yao Shun era in Joseon." (The reference is to the legendary Chinese "Yellow Emperor," said to have ruled around 2400BC, who among many other accomplishments is said to have created an accurate calendar that aided agricultural production.) Dismissing concerns about Ming possibly finding out, Hwang says that Jo is a capable man and will protect the secret. Jo, of course, is there; he says nothing.
"Investigate Jang Youngsil?" Jo has told Gim Mun that even Ming officials are executed for offenses involving classified information; how did a lowly Joseon servant boy get so much of it? (Good question.) But Gim isn't comfortable with what Jo wants. "Are you looking for a reason to oppose?," he asks. "It wouldn't hurt to trust and support the king's passionate endeavors." Wrong thing to say. "Don't get presumptuous and just do what you're told." I can have you dismissed on a whim, he reminds Gim. "Don't do anything to disappoint your mother." And gives Gim one of those patronizing pats on the shoulder as he leaves.
Back inside the Hall of Worthies, Gim comes in and is tossed one of the new books to begin studying. Then Jeong Inji asks Youngsil and Choi Haesan how they got such a detailed drawing of the Ganui. Youngsil starts hemming and hawing; Choi starts to answer but then Youngsil cuts him off and says that he just basically asked around for information. Strangely evasive.
Later, outside, Choi asks Youngsil, "Why do we have to hide anything?" Youngsil replies, "It wouldn't help for anyone to know what kind of dealings we had with the Ming Chinese. It would be hard for them to understand." "Well, I suppose," Choi says. Off to the side, Gim Mun is listening.
"Dealings?" Gim has reported back to Jo. "Jang Youngsil may be more dangerous than I thought."
Sejong tells Yun Saoong and Choi Chungu of the astronomy bureau that he wants to appoint Youngsil to supervise the new agency, and wants them to support him as senior agents. The two don't object, but we can see they don't like the arrangement at all.
Sejong's children, all except princess Jeongso, have come to see the astronomical instruments, not realizing that they haven't been built yet. Sejong tells Youngsil, "You're going to have to work hard, if only for the children." And he says, "You have my confidence." The astronomers hear that, and they get visibly mad. They go back inside: "A servant boy a supervisor? That's absurd!" They're seething with anger.
We see the queen doing needlepoint; princess Jeongso is with her. Why didn't you go with your brothers and sisters to see Youngsil?, Soheon asks. Jeongso replies, "My interest is with another servant, mother."
Several young women of rank (concubines, maybe?) are talking down to a washerwoman, telling her the clothes aren't clean enough, bringing more clothes that they want finished immediately, and just generally copping attitude. The washerwoman? It's LADY AHN, the queen's mother and the executed Shim On's wife. (We never found out what happened to her when she was hauled away from her home in Ep44; I thought she might have been executed, but nope, here she is.) The women leave and Ahn goes to work, and it's hard work. Then she turns and sees her daughter and granddaughter there watching her.
Inside, they talk. Soheon is filled with anguish: "It's my fault that you're hear, mother." "It's not that bad," Ahn says. "Why would you come here?" Jeongso takes her grandmother's hands and tells her, "Mother missed you very much." Then she asks her mother, "How could father be so cold?", treating a servant boy so well but leaving his mother-in-law here. But Ahn cautions her not to say such things and then admonishes her daughter: "What are you teaching your children?" Don't come here any more, she says; "You don't want your children inheriting this cruel resentment."
As they leave, the princess remarks, "Grandmother is so stern." "It's dignity," the queen says. "And that dignity breaks my heart even more."
Sejong is alone in the Hall of Worthies. A knit object is put on his desk by a darting hand. Then a small pot appears. Sejong turns around: "Boo!" Jeongso has come to see her father and is playing with him. He's happy to see her but tells her it's past her bedtime. Then she quotes a Chinese proverb and interprets it correctly, which impresses her father. She's a smart kid. "I'm a daughter of a man nicknamed 'Bookworm,'" she tells him with a smile. She shows him what she brought: a yarn bookmark that she made herself, and in the pot are small confections of some kind; they look like small cake squares. "You're a good cook as well," he tells her as he tries one. "Well now, I must give you a reward for so much love." "Would you really?", she asks excitedly. "Would you travel in disguise with me one day? There is a place I really want to visit." "Very well," he tells her, "it's a date." She's thrilled. Then she sits down and they share the confections she brought. It's a sweet scene.
Youngsil and a dozen or so other men are at the site where the new instruments are being made. But Youngsil is only one doing any work. No one else will pitch in because they all resent a servant being their boss. Suddenly, "His majesty is coming!" and everyone scurries around to try to look busy. Sejong arrives. "I see you're hard at work," he tells them all as they bow. "Are you making progress?" "We are trying," Youngsil tells him (and to his credit, doesn't squeal on anybody). "I appreciate everyone's hard work," the king tells them. Keep up the good work." He leaves, escorted out by Choi Chungu and Yun Saoong, the two astronomers/astrologers. As he walks away, the two see Jo Malseng looking at them.
Jo has invited the two to a restaurant for a fancy meal. Jo expresses sympathy for their "being at a servant boy's beck and call." Then he presses him about Youngsil's "dealings," but they don't know anything about that. "How could you not know," he tells them. "It's no wonder you're in this pathetic position. Pathetic!" He's messing with their heads.
Jo and Gim Mun are talking; Jo says that he figured the astrologers wouldn't know but that he met with them "to create an internal conflict and buy time" so that he can stop the production of the astronomical instruments. Then he asks Gim "What do you think your job is now?" "I will do whatever you ask, sir," replies Gim subserviently. Right answer. "It looks like I have you back where you should be. I want you to find out Jang Youngsil's secret," he tells Gim. Gim bows, but we can see that he's not comfortable with where this is going.
At the Ministry of Works: Yu Chun is dealing with stubborn subordinates who refuse to go work at the new agency.
At the Hall of Worthies: Even scholars won't go to the agency. One by one, they make excuses to Byun Gaeryang and slither away. Even the most loyal among them--Jeong Inji, Choi Manli, Gim Jongsuh, Shin Hang, all of them.
Byun and Yi Chun are before Sejong to tell him that Youngsil's appointment has met with big-time resistance. Sejong hasn't expected this. (Duh--what did he think would happen?) He angrily gets up and leaves the throne room without another word.
At the new agency: It's evening, time to stop work, and Youngsil is taking lots of flak from the workers, because Youngsil wants a few more minutes from them. They throw down their tools and walk off the job. Sejong sees them leaving as he approaches the building. Then he sees Youngsil working by himself. He tells Yun Hwe, "Summon every single civil and military official first thing in the morning!"
The next morning, in the throne room. "I am appointing Jang Youngsil assistant proctor for the Bureau of Royal Attire!" It sounds like a pretty insignificant position, but it would make Youngsil an official. Ministers are aghast, even Hwang Hee. "Nothing will make me change my mind, so do not defy my order." But the ministers shout in unison, "We beg you to rescind, your majesty!" "Ignoring the caste system is a path to destruction," Huh Jo says. But the king fires back, "I believe ignoring talent for reason of low birth is a path to destruction." Jang is indispensable, he argues, but Huh argues that "A slave is an object to be bought and sold. To call this object a talent is more than inappropriate" Sejong declaims the officials' "narrow-minded bigotry," but Huh tells him that "we will risk our lives to protect the principle that slaves do not belong in the high council." "You leave me no choice," Sejong says. He orders Yun Hwe, "Collect resignations from all those who stand against me on this!" And he storms out. As the ministers leave the room, Huh tells Hwang, "I fear this country is headed for doom."
The kids run up to the throne room building for morning greetings, but Jachi tells them it's not a good day to see their father. Jeongso says there's something she must talk to him about, but Jachi won't let her in.
Hwang and Jo sit and talk. "Are you going to stage another walkout if I can't dissuade the king?", Hwang asks. Jo answers, "Go to him and stop him from granting a government post to a slave boy. That is, if you are a royal retainer, not a royal nanny." (Ouch! Throws down the gauntlet.)
Sejong visits Youngsil's hut personally, to bring him an official's robe. Youngsil is reluctant to accept it. Sejong tells him, "It's not a reward, but a yoke. I'm putting a yoke of responsibility on you" to build the astronomical instruments. It also conveys authority, authority that you need to have. "I'm going to fight to the end and win. So I don't want you to give up either. Don't give in to the prejudice and bigotry in the world, or to the heavens that won't be easily conquered." Jang bows.
As Jang watches the astronomers, we hear Daion's voice in a flashback. "Don't stand too close," she explains. "The stars are for the emperor alone to decipher." Designated astronomers act on the emperor's behalf in using the instruments; everyone else must stay three steps back.
At the building door, Haishou is forbidden entrance by the guards because observations are in progress. But he tells them that an intruder is in the building, and he and his soldiers are allowed to pass.
His curiosity getting the better of him, Jang starts inching forward, closer to the instruments.
Haishou and his men ascend the building steps.
"What are you doing?" Jang has stepped too close and caught the astronomers' attention. He realizes his mistake and hurriedly blurts out "I'm sorry, sir"--IN KOREAN! "What did you say? Who are you?" No answer. "After him!" Jang grabs a convenient rope and slides down from the rooftop, just as Haishou and the soldiers arrive. The intruder horn is sounded. Jang runs like crazy, soldiers chasing him from all directions. He runs into a building and hides inside a dark room...and then Yehjin walks into the room. "I've been waiting for you," Yehjin says.
Daion and Huang Yan are talking privately. "How did it go?", Daion wants to know. "It's up to the gods now," he tells her. "I have to save him," she says; "I can't let him die!" But Huang cautions her to control herself; Jang doesn't want her help. "If he is captured alone," Huang explains, "he will have acted alone. It will be dismissed as one slave boy's ignorance. But if you get involved, this could escalate into a diplomatic issue." Daion feels very bad, though. "I was so mean to him. He's doing great without me, so I got mad at him." (Why you prissy little twit--did you want him to throw himself off a cliff?) "I missed him so much," she tells Huang, "but I didn't tell him." Huang says, "People who have a special connection don't need words to know what the other is feeling." "Like you and your sister?", Daion asks. Huang smiles. "Yes, you can say that." (Is this why Huang is involved in all this, because of his sister in Korea?)
Back inside the dark room, Yehjin tells Youngsil, "I do indeed value your talent, but never has a man been allowed to go free after breaking into the observatory. I hope you're prepared." Soldiers enter the room and surround Jang.
Subtitles remind us that it's the fall of 1423, Sejong's fifth year. In the throne room: Sejong is meeting newly appointed government officials. He's been holding these meetings at a rapid pace, and ignores the advice of Huh Jo and Yi Su to take a break. Then Yun Hwe runs in, beaming and excited with great news.
The Ming expedition is back! The envoys, Choi, Youngsil and everybody else. Youngsil is carrying the two chests with the documents. Sejong comes to greet them and is especially excited to see Youngsil. "I've been waiting," Sejong tells them eagerly. But how is it possible that Youngsil is just standing there like he was out for a stroll? How did he get out of the terrible mess he was in? We're not told. Hmmm....
At the Hall of Worthies, Sejong and the scholars pore over the newly acquired materials. Youngsil is standing in front of a large and surprisingly detailed drawing of the large apparatus in the Ming observatory, called a Ganui. He explains how the different features of the Ganui work and what functions they perform. Everyone is impressed. "Good work," Sejong tells him; "I will never forget your hard work and neither will the people of Joseon. But the real work hasn't begun yet." "I am prepared," Youngsil says.
Meeting with his ministers, Sejong instructs that a new agency be formed to develop and use the astronomical instruments. He wants the various ministries and offices to lend people to the agency, and he asks Hwang Hee and Jo Malseng to work on confidentiality and security issues so that the agency and its work are kept secret.
After the meeting: "That boy is a mystery," Huh Jo says. How did Jang Youngsil acquire so much classified information? "This is not something to be happy about," prime minister Yu says, but Hwang is almost giddy and tells him that "We are reviving the Yao Shun era in Joseon." (The reference is to the legendary Chinese "Yellow Emperor," said to have ruled around 2400BC, who among many other accomplishments is said to have created an accurate calendar that aided agricultural production.) Dismissing concerns about Ming possibly finding out, Hwang says that Jo is a capable man and will protect the secret. Jo, of course, is there; he says nothing.
"Investigate Jang Youngsil?" Jo has told Gim Mun that even Ming officials are executed for offenses involving classified information; how did a lowly Joseon servant boy get so much of it? (Good question.) But Gim isn't comfortable with what Jo wants. "Are you looking for a reason to oppose?," he asks. "It wouldn't hurt to trust and support the king's passionate endeavors." Wrong thing to say. "Don't get presumptuous and just do what you're told." I can have you dismissed on a whim, he reminds Gim. "Don't do anything to disappoint your mother." And gives Gim one of those patronizing pats on the shoulder as he leaves.
Back inside the Hall of Worthies, Gim comes in and is tossed one of the new books to begin studying. Then Jeong Inji asks Youngsil and Choi Haesan how they got such a detailed drawing of the Ganui. Youngsil starts hemming and hawing; Choi starts to answer but then Youngsil cuts him off and says that he just basically asked around for information. Strangely evasive.
Later, outside, Choi asks Youngsil, "Why do we have to hide anything?" Youngsil replies, "It wouldn't help for anyone to know what kind of dealings we had with the Ming Chinese. It would be hard for them to understand." "Well, I suppose," Choi says. Off to the side, Gim Mun is listening.
"Dealings?" Gim has reported back to Jo. "Jang Youngsil may be more dangerous than I thought."
Sejong tells Yun Saoong and Choi Chungu of the astronomy bureau that he wants to appoint Youngsil to supervise the new agency, and wants them to support him as senior agents. The two don't object, but we can see they don't like the arrangement at all.
Sejong's children, all except princess Jeongso, have come to see the astronomical instruments, not realizing that they haven't been built yet. Sejong tells Youngsil, "You're going to have to work hard, if only for the children." And he says, "You have my confidence." The astronomers hear that, and they get visibly mad. They go back inside: "A servant boy a supervisor? That's absurd!" They're seething with anger.
We see the queen doing needlepoint; princess Jeongso is with her. Why didn't you go with your brothers and sisters to see Youngsil?, Soheon asks. Jeongso replies, "My interest is with another servant, mother."
Several young women of rank (concubines, maybe?) are talking down to a washerwoman, telling her the clothes aren't clean enough, bringing more clothes that they want finished immediately, and just generally copping attitude. The washerwoman? It's LADY AHN, the queen's mother and the executed Shim On's wife. (We never found out what happened to her when she was hauled away from her home in Ep44; I thought she might have been executed, but nope, here she is.) The women leave and Ahn goes to work, and it's hard work. Then she turns and sees her daughter and granddaughter there watching her.
Inside, they talk. Soheon is filled with anguish: "It's my fault that you're hear, mother." "It's not that bad," Ahn says. "Why would you come here?" Jeongso takes her grandmother's hands and tells her, "Mother missed you very much." Then she asks her mother, "How could father be so cold?", treating a servant boy so well but leaving his mother-in-law here. But Ahn cautions her not to say such things and then admonishes her daughter: "What are you teaching your children?" Don't come here any more, she says; "You don't want your children inheriting this cruel resentment."
As they leave, the princess remarks, "Grandmother is so stern." "It's dignity," the queen says. "And that dignity breaks my heart even more."
Sejong is alone in the Hall of Worthies. A knit object is put on his desk by a darting hand. Then a small pot appears. Sejong turns around: "Boo!" Jeongso has come to see her father and is playing with him. He's happy to see her but tells her it's past her bedtime. Then she quotes a Chinese proverb and interprets it correctly, which impresses her father. She's a smart kid. "I'm a daughter of a man nicknamed 'Bookworm,'" she tells him with a smile. She shows him what she brought: a yarn bookmark that she made herself, and in the pot are small confections of some kind; they look like small cake squares. "You're a good cook as well," he tells her as he tries one. "Well now, I must give you a reward for so much love." "Would you really?", she asks excitedly. "Would you travel in disguise with me one day? There is a place I really want to visit." "Very well," he tells her, "it's a date." She's thrilled. Then she sits down and they share the confections she brought. It's a sweet scene.
Youngsil and a dozen or so other men are at the site where the new instruments are being made. But Youngsil is only one doing any work. No one else will pitch in because they all resent a servant being their boss. Suddenly, "His majesty is coming!" and everyone scurries around to try to look busy. Sejong arrives. "I see you're hard at work," he tells them all as they bow. "Are you making progress?" "We are trying," Youngsil tells him (and to his credit, doesn't squeal on anybody). "I appreciate everyone's hard work," the king tells them. Keep up the good work." He leaves, escorted out by Choi Chungu and Yun Saoong, the two astronomers/astrologers. As he walks away, the two see Jo Malseng looking at them.
Jo has invited the two to a restaurant for a fancy meal. Jo expresses sympathy for their "being at a servant boy's beck and call." Then he presses him about Youngsil's "dealings," but they don't know anything about that. "How could you not know," he tells them. "It's no wonder you're in this pathetic position. Pathetic!" He's messing with their heads.
Jo and Gim Mun are talking; Jo says that he figured the astrologers wouldn't know but that he met with them "to create an internal conflict and buy time" so that he can stop the production of the astronomical instruments. Then he asks Gim "What do you think your job is now?" "I will do whatever you ask, sir," replies Gim subserviently. Right answer. "It looks like I have you back where you should be. I want you to find out Jang Youngsil's secret," he tells Gim. Gim bows, but we can see that he's not comfortable with where this is going.
At the Ministry of Works: Yu Chun is dealing with stubborn subordinates who refuse to go work at the new agency.
At the Hall of Worthies: Even scholars won't go to the agency. One by one, they make excuses to Byun Gaeryang and slither away. Even the most loyal among them--Jeong Inji, Choi Manli, Gim Jongsuh, Shin Hang, all of them.
Byun and Yi Chun are before Sejong to tell him that Youngsil's appointment has met with big-time resistance. Sejong hasn't expected this. (Duh--what did he think would happen?) He angrily gets up and leaves the throne room without another word.
At the new agency: It's evening, time to stop work, and Youngsil is taking lots of flak from the workers, because Youngsil wants a few more minutes from them. They throw down their tools and walk off the job. Sejong sees them leaving as he approaches the building. Then he sees Youngsil working by himself. He tells Yun Hwe, "Summon every single civil and military official first thing in the morning!"
The next morning, in the throne room. "I am appointing Jang Youngsil assistant proctor for the Bureau of Royal Attire!" It sounds like a pretty insignificant position, but it would make Youngsil an official. Ministers are aghast, even Hwang Hee. "Nothing will make me change my mind, so do not defy my order." But the ministers shout in unison, "We beg you to rescind, your majesty!" "Ignoring the caste system is a path to destruction," Huh Jo says. But the king fires back, "I believe ignoring talent for reason of low birth is a path to destruction." Jang is indispensable, he argues, but Huh argues that "A slave is an object to be bought and sold. To call this object a talent is more than inappropriate" Sejong declaims the officials' "narrow-minded bigotry," but Huh tells him that "we will risk our lives to protect the principle that slaves do not belong in the high council." "You leave me no choice," Sejong says. He orders Yun Hwe, "Collect resignations from all those who stand against me on this!" And he storms out. As the ministers leave the room, Huh tells Hwang, "I fear this country is headed for doom."
The kids run up to the throne room building for morning greetings, but Jachi tells them it's not a good day to see their father. Jeongso says there's something she must talk to him about, but Jachi won't let her in.
Hwang and Jo sit and talk. "Are you going to stage another walkout if I can't dissuade the king?", Hwang asks. Jo answers, "Go to him and stop him from granting a government post to a slave boy. That is, if you are a royal retainer, not a royal nanny." (Ouch! Throws down the gauntlet.)
Sejong visits Youngsil's hut personally, to bring him an official's robe. Youngsil is reluctant to accept it. Sejong tells him, "It's not a reward, but a yoke. I'm putting a yoke of responsibility on you" to build the astronomical instruments. It also conveys authority, authority that you need to have. "I'm going to fight to the end and win. So I don't want you to give up either. Don't give in to the prejudice and bigotry in the world, or to the heavens that won't be easily conquered." Jang bows.