Post by ajk on Jul 1, 2009 12:12:02 GMT -5
Empress Dowager Xiao and Prime Minister Han are dining together. Han tells Xiao she should let Hunae and Chiyang live; the possibility of Hunae's return fracturing the Goryeo royal court is worth sending her back. Xiao reveals that she doesn't plan to kill Hunae; she just wants to create the public perception that she does, mainly to capture Gang Shin. That's what's really bugging her right now; she needs to capture Gang Shin to show the world the price of betraying her. And she also wants to "soften the woman up a little...She's much too rigid and hard right now." It's as though Hunae is sort of a plaything to her.
Xiao goes to the ailing Chiyang and tells him, If you want to live, "seduce Lady Sungdeok and put her under your control." Chiyang can't even get out of bed! But this is the best time for it, Xiao tells him: "When you're on the verge of death, this is the best time to win a woman's heart." (Okay, lady, whatever turns you on.) Win her heart and give her a reason to choose submission over death, she says; that's the only way for you to save your life.
Hunae is taken from her cell and brought to Chiyang's bedside. He starts to sweet-talk her. He plays up his illness, and then stops her from calling the physician, saying that "all I need are words of affirmation from you." She's burdened with her position as the king's widow and she resists him out of loyalty, but Chiyang makes a very good point: "If I were him, I wouldn't want you to live and die alone." He holds her hand, touches her face, and eventually they smooch.
Park Yangyu and Gamchan appear before the Khitan emperor, empress dowager and prime minister to be formally welcomed as envoys. They present a letter from King Sungjong, formalizing the alliance. A very funny exchange between ED Xiao and Gamchan as she speaks of her army and he needles her about the war's outcome (won't try to summarize it; you had to see it). But Park moves the conversation along and friendly words are traded.
Gang Jo, Hyangbi, Sa Gamun and Sa Illa are given the latest information by Chae Gil: Gang Shin escaped but Hunae was recaptured and is being held in one of the many facilities in the city. He doesn't know exactly which one; there are a lot of them.
Gang Jo tells Gamchan. And he says, We need to break her out! Gamchan scoffs at that idea, and besides...."No, we have to be rational about this. You'll never get her out if you act hastily, and you'll jeopardize Goryeo's relationship with Liao as well." We'll do this diplomatically, he insists.
Hunae is at Chiyang's bedside. "I had forgotten that I'm a woman," she tells Chiyang. They hold hands. Chiyang tells her, We need to find a way to buy time so that the Goryean envoys can find out about us being here--even if that means you pretending to submit to the empress dowager. Then Dilie and his guard enter to take Hunae to what they tell Chiyang is her execution.
Hunae is taken outside and towards a building...right past a soldier...Wait a minute, that's Gang Shin in disguise! Apparently he came back. Turns out, Hunae is taken to a jail while the Goryean envoys are here; Dilie tells her she'll be executed as soon as the envoys leave.
A banquet and entertainments are presented for the Goryean diplomats. Xiao Sunning is cordial and receptive to Gamchan, even pouring him a drink. We're comrades of war, he says. (I don't like him like this; he was so entertaining when he was messing with people as a commander.) Gamchan gently responds, If we're comrades of war, then why did you lie to me? I heard Hunae is alive, he says. Suddenly flustered, Xiao assures him that Hunae died and was cremated. But he doesn't sound entirely convincing. Pretty much everybody else there overhears this exchange and it brings things to a momentary standstill.
Park Yangyu and Han Derang are dining privately, and having a cordial discussion. Then Han says, I need to apologize for the death of Sungjong's sister on our soil. Park responds, It happened in wartime; no one can be blamed. Han wonders about something, now that Hunae she's dead: "I heard she didn't have a very good relationship with the king. Is that true?" We know he's fishing for valuable details. Park hesitates and doesn't answer him.
King Sungjong and Queen Munhwa are dining with their daughter Jeong. But the king isn't hungry. He's in a poor state of mind lately.
Gamchan and Gang Jo tell Park Yangyu about Hunae. Park rejects the idea of it; PM Han had told him personally that Hunae is dead. It's "ridiculous hearsay" that could endanger the diplomatic mission. He angrily orders the two to do nothing further to pursue it.
The Khitan court is discussing what the Goryeans have heard about Hunae. ED Xiao isn't all that concerned about it; the Goryeans can't do anything about it anyway. She's much more concerned about catching Gang Shin. She's convinced that he'll come back to save Hunae (which baffles me; don't know why she'd expect that) and intends to use Hunae as bait to catch Gang.
Gang Jo tells Hyangbi, Sa Gamun and Sa Illa, We're going to have to kidnap Xiao and trade her for Hunae. "You three cause a distraction. I'll go after the empress dowager." He must be nuts; are they seriously considering this?
Nighttime: Gang Shin and his men (I guess he brought his men back with him? And somehow he's found where she's being held? Sloppy writing) ambush the jail guards and free Hunae. They flee the building...but they don't get far. Yelu Pennu and his squad surround them and converge on Shin, who's to be taken alive....
Hyangbi, Sa Gamun and Sa Illa are setting fires in the palace complex. Guards discover them, the bladed boomerang comes out and kills three guards at once (groaner), and the three run to draw the guards away. Gang Jo scales the now-unguarded palace wall, climbs into the attic (pretty darned clever) and quietly cuts himself a peephole in the ceiling. He's found himself above Chiyang's room. Not exactly where he needs to be. But wouldn't you know it, at that moment the empress dowager comes to see Chiyang! She asks Chiyang about his progress in persuading Hunae; Chiyang says he needs more time. We expect Gang Jo to crash through the ceiling and snatch Xiao in one quick action, but as he watches and listens, Xiao is told by an aide that Gang Shin has been apprehended.
Outside, the other three are getting outnumbered. Nearby, Hunae, Gang Shin and his men are fighting for their lives; it's all getting complicated. Suddenly Gang Jo is there to join in the fighting and sees Hunae and his brother. The fighting repeatedly stops so that lines can be conveniently recited (UGH). Eventually, Hunae is subdued and the rest of the Goryeans are ordered on her life to stop fighting.
Goryeo state meeting: A proposal to send an envoy to Song China has been introduced by the former Shillans. Seo Hui and Yi Jibaek strongly oppose; the former Shillans advocate it. It's a contentious issue and the king seems to have a hard time with it--so hard that he's clutching his chest. He doesn't look good at all.
In Wonsoong's compound: Wonsoong didn't go to work today; too depressed about his job and his finances. And on top of it, he learns from Jo Du that he has a rat problem and it's cutting into his rice stocks. Jo Sun points out that Song China doesn't use grains as a medium of exchange like Goryeo does, so these types of losses aren't so costly. They use metal coins. This gives Wonsoong an idea. A big idea.
Yi Hyunoon is alone drinking and lamenting his fall from prominence. Dae Dosu's three subordinates find him drinking and confront him for drinking alcohol on palace grounds. Then Dae Dosu arrives, and orders Hyunoon flogged.
Queen Munhwa is concerned over her husband's state of mind. And she learns that Prince Gaeryeong is at the archery grounds; he's been there a lot since his mother's death, even to the point where it's cutting into his study time.
We see the boy shooting arrows, thinking back on the lessons his mother gave him at Myeongbok Palace. He's learned well; he's a wicked good shot.
The next morning: Park Yangyu is summoned before the Khitan emperor and told that his soldiers broke into the palace last night and killed Khitan soldiers. Park can hardly believe it. Gamchan is there and astutely asks, Why were they trying to break in? "There must be a reason." PM Han tells him, surprisingly matter-of-factly, "They were trying to break Lady Sungdeok out of the detention facility." Doink! "You mean Lady Sungdeok is alive?" No answer. "Please answer the question! If she's alive, that means you've been lying to us." Han still doesn't entirely admit it: "Whether she is or not, your men committed an unpardonable crime. And they'll be duly executed." Park and Gamchan are horrified, but they're told to accept this if they don't want another war.
Gang Shin and Gang Jo are in a cell together, reminiscing after fifteen years apart. Some of it funny, some quite painful.
In another jail, Hunae tells her guards that she wants to talk to the empress dowager.
Gang Shin is taken from his cell; he's to be executed. Shin tells his brother, I can face this bravely and happily because I've been reunited with you. And I did swear loyalty to Xiao and betrayed her, so now I must pay the price. He's taken away.
Hunae is brought before Xiao. And slowly, but of her own free will, she kneels! "I will do as you ask. I will be a servant of Khitan if that is what you want. But spare my subordinates in return. I beg you."
Xiao goes to the ailing Chiyang and tells him, If you want to live, "seduce Lady Sungdeok and put her under your control." Chiyang can't even get out of bed! But this is the best time for it, Xiao tells him: "When you're on the verge of death, this is the best time to win a woman's heart." (Okay, lady, whatever turns you on.) Win her heart and give her a reason to choose submission over death, she says; that's the only way for you to save your life.
Hunae is taken from her cell and brought to Chiyang's bedside. He starts to sweet-talk her. He plays up his illness, and then stops her from calling the physician, saying that "all I need are words of affirmation from you." She's burdened with her position as the king's widow and she resists him out of loyalty, but Chiyang makes a very good point: "If I were him, I wouldn't want you to live and die alone." He holds her hand, touches her face, and eventually they smooch.
Park Yangyu and Gamchan appear before the Khitan emperor, empress dowager and prime minister to be formally welcomed as envoys. They present a letter from King Sungjong, formalizing the alliance. A very funny exchange between ED Xiao and Gamchan as she speaks of her army and he needles her about the war's outcome (won't try to summarize it; you had to see it). But Park moves the conversation along and friendly words are traded.
Gang Jo, Hyangbi, Sa Gamun and Sa Illa are given the latest information by Chae Gil: Gang Shin escaped but Hunae was recaptured and is being held in one of the many facilities in the city. He doesn't know exactly which one; there are a lot of them.
Gang Jo tells Gamchan. And he says, We need to break her out! Gamchan scoffs at that idea, and besides...."No, we have to be rational about this. You'll never get her out if you act hastily, and you'll jeopardize Goryeo's relationship with Liao as well." We'll do this diplomatically, he insists.
Hunae is at Chiyang's bedside. "I had forgotten that I'm a woman," she tells Chiyang. They hold hands. Chiyang tells her, We need to find a way to buy time so that the Goryean envoys can find out about us being here--even if that means you pretending to submit to the empress dowager. Then Dilie and his guard enter to take Hunae to what they tell Chiyang is her execution.
Hunae is taken outside and towards a building...right past a soldier...Wait a minute, that's Gang Shin in disguise! Apparently he came back. Turns out, Hunae is taken to a jail while the Goryean envoys are here; Dilie tells her she'll be executed as soon as the envoys leave.
A banquet and entertainments are presented for the Goryean diplomats. Xiao Sunning is cordial and receptive to Gamchan, even pouring him a drink. We're comrades of war, he says. (I don't like him like this; he was so entertaining when he was messing with people as a commander.) Gamchan gently responds, If we're comrades of war, then why did you lie to me? I heard Hunae is alive, he says. Suddenly flustered, Xiao assures him that Hunae died and was cremated. But he doesn't sound entirely convincing. Pretty much everybody else there overhears this exchange and it brings things to a momentary standstill.
Park Yangyu and Han Derang are dining privately, and having a cordial discussion. Then Han says, I need to apologize for the death of Sungjong's sister on our soil. Park responds, It happened in wartime; no one can be blamed. Han wonders about something, now that Hunae she's dead: "I heard she didn't have a very good relationship with the king. Is that true?" We know he's fishing for valuable details. Park hesitates and doesn't answer him.
King Sungjong and Queen Munhwa are dining with their daughter Jeong. But the king isn't hungry. He's in a poor state of mind lately.
Gamchan and Gang Jo tell Park Yangyu about Hunae. Park rejects the idea of it; PM Han had told him personally that Hunae is dead. It's "ridiculous hearsay" that could endanger the diplomatic mission. He angrily orders the two to do nothing further to pursue it.
The Khitan court is discussing what the Goryeans have heard about Hunae. ED Xiao isn't all that concerned about it; the Goryeans can't do anything about it anyway. She's much more concerned about catching Gang Shin. She's convinced that he'll come back to save Hunae (which baffles me; don't know why she'd expect that) and intends to use Hunae as bait to catch Gang.
Gang Jo tells Hyangbi, Sa Gamun and Sa Illa, We're going to have to kidnap Xiao and trade her for Hunae. "You three cause a distraction. I'll go after the empress dowager." He must be nuts; are they seriously considering this?
Nighttime: Gang Shin and his men (I guess he brought his men back with him? And somehow he's found where she's being held? Sloppy writing) ambush the jail guards and free Hunae. They flee the building...but they don't get far. Yelu Pennu and his squad surround them and converge on Shin, who's to be taken alive....
Hyangbi, Sa Gamun and Sa Illa are setting fires in the palace complex. Guards discover them, the bladed boomerang comes out and kills three guards at once (groaner), and the three run to draw the guards away. Gang Jo scales the now-unguarded palace wall, climbs into the attic (pretty darned clever) and quietly cuts himself a peephole in the ceiling. He's found himself above Chiyang's room. Not exactly where he needs to be. But wouldn't you know it, at that moment the empress dowager comes to see Chiyang! She asks Chiyang about his progress in persuading Hunae; Chiyang says he needs more time. We expect Gang Jo to crash through the ceiling and snatch Xiao in one quick action, but as he watches and listens, Xiao is told by an aide that Gang Shin has been apprehended.
Outside, the other three are getting outnumbered. Nearby, Hunae, Gang Shin and his men are fighting for their lives; it's all getting complicated. Suddenly Gang Jo is there to join in the fighting and sees Hunae and his brother. The fighting repeatedly stops so that lines can be conveniently recited (UGH). Eventually, Hunae is subdued and the rest of the Goryeans are ordered on her life to stop fighting.
Goryeo state meeting: A proposal to send an envoy to Song China has been introduced by the former Shillans. Seo Hui and Yi Jibaek strongly oppose; the former Shillans advocate it. It's a contentious issue and the king seems to have a hard time with it--so hard that he's clutching his chest. He doesn't look good at all.
In Wonsoong's compound: Wonsoong didn't go to work today; too depressed about his job and his finances. And on top of it, he learns from Jo Du that he has a rat problem and it's cutting into his rice stocks. Jo Sun points out that Song China doesn't use grains as a medium of exchange like Goryeo does, so these types of losses aren't so costly. They use metal coins. This gives Wonsoong an idea. A big idea.
Yi Hyunoon is alone drinking and lamenting his fall from prominence. Dae Dosu's three subordinates find him drinking and confront him for drinking alcohol on palace grounds. Then Dae Dosu arrives, and orders Hyunoon flogged.
Queen Munhwa is concerned over her husband's state of mind. And she learns that Prince Gaeryeong is at the archery grounds; he's been there a lot since his mother's death, even to the point where it's cutting into his study time.
We see the boy shooting arrows, thinking back on the lessons his mother gave him at Myeongbok Palace. He's learned well; he's a wicked good shot.
The next morning: Park Yangyu is summoned before the Khitan emperor and told that his soldiers broke into the palace last night and killed Khitan soldiers. Park can hardly believe it. Gamchan is there and astutely asks, Why were they trying to break in? "There must be a reason." PM Han tells him, surprisingly matter-of-factly, "They were trying to break Lady Sungdeok out of the detention facility." Doink! "You mean Lady Sungdeok is alive?" No answer. "Please answer the question! If she's alive, that means you've been lying to us." Han still doesn't entirely admit it: "Whether she is or not, your men committed an unpardonable crime. And they'll be duly executed." Park and Gamchan are horrified, but they're told to accept this if they don't want another war.
Gang Shin and Gang Jo are in a cell together, reminiscing after fifteen years apart. Some of it funny, some quite painful.
In another jail, Hunae tells her guards that she wants to talk to the empress dowager.
Gang Shin is taken from his cell; he's to be executed. Shin tells his brother, I can face this bravely and happily because I've been reunited with you. And I did swear loyalty to Xiao and betrayed her, so now I must pay the price. He's taken away.
Hunae is brought before Xiao. And slowly, but of her own free will, she kneels! "I will do as you ask. I will be a servant of Khitan if that is what you want. But spare my subordinates in return. I beg you."