Post by ajk on Jul 15, 2009 12:57:47 GMT -5
"My lady, you don't mean..." "Yes, I will remove the king from power if it becomes necessary." Hunae tells Yi Jibaek and Yi Gyeomui that the Khitans are "a hundred times stronger than us" and that Goryeo is in great danger. We might expect them to react angrily and oppose, but they both tell Hunae that they'll stand behind her and support her.
The king is having a nightmare about King Gyeongjong confronting him about not keeping his word to care for Gyeongjong's family. (Fun to see Gyeongjong again.) And Gyeongjong blames Sungjong for his son's epilepsy--which is ridiculous, but this is all being driven by the guilt in Sungjong's mind. Gyeongjong glares angrily. "Keep your vow! Bequeath the throne of Goryeo to my son." Yes, Sungjong says in terror, I will. He awakens; Munhwa is attending to him. He tells her he wants to abdicate the throne to Prince Gaeryeong. Munhwa talks him down--The country still needs you, and besides, Gaeryeong has "a fatal flaw." And Hunae, she says, won't guide the prince in the way you desire. Utterly at a loss, Sungjong wonders if all of his suffering is punishment from God.
Munhwa discusses the abdication idea with the former Shillans. It must be prevented, they all agree. But Choe Sum says that rather than trying to prevent an abdication, they have to depose Gaeryeong and bring Prince Daeryang (Gyeongjuwon's very young son) forward. Not yet, the queen says; right now we have to attend to pressing state matters and avoid our getting criticized for negligence. First up is sending an envoy to Song, which they can do now that Seo Hui is no longer present to oppose.
Chiyang tells Hunae that the anniversary of King Gyeongjong's death is in two months--July 17--and Sungjong is expected to be well enough to travel north to the ancestral shrine for the memorial service. That will be the time to act; seize the palace and capture the king when he's outside of it. Then Chiyang has to add, If this all works, then what about me--what will I mean to you? Please stop it, she asks, and dismisses him. But she looks back at him longingly as he leaves.
Gang Jo has sprung for some drinks for Dae Dosu and their subordinates. More whining, groveling and misbehavior from Yi Hyunoon, who apparently was accepted by Gang Jo and is now Jo's subordinate...Flashback of Hyunoon before the queen; this continues the tattling scene we saw in the previous episode. Hyunoon is whining about his demotion and how he's getting picked on now. "I will make you an offer," Munhwa says. "If you do as I say, you will soon be a general again." Become Gang Jo's subordinate, Munhwa tells him, and monitor him for me. The fate of the country might depend on it, she says. (I didn't like this at all. Munhwa has repeatedly impressed us with her astuteness; there's just no way she would ever have anything to do with a person like Hyunoon. No way. Sloppy writing.)
Hunae is pacing around, thinking about Chiyang....Chiyang is pacing around, thinking about Hunae...(I'm pacing around, thinking about Pepto-Bismol)...Then Chiyang has a hallucinatory conversation with his evil twin. Yes, that's right. Bad Chiyang is angry with Chiyang for allowing Hunae to make him "become weak an irresolute." Ultimately, he says, "you must turn and pierce her heart with your dagger of revenge." That's your sacred duty: "you must take everything from her and kill her." Bad Chiyang disappears and Chiyang is left alone to ponder this.
The next day: At a state meeting, Seo Hui and Gang Gamchan are being sent on their way north. One thing that Seo asks be taken care of: a formal response to Liao about that Khitan consort. Don't worry, Munhwa says, the Minister of Revenue is heading to Liao soon and will take care of that. This is quite a piece of news. Northern ministers immediately object, because Wonsoong has no experience as an envoy. But Munhwa shushes them--My decision is final. (Once again, Munhwa is far too sensible to send her father on such an important mission. No way.) She next announces that no decision has been made about a Song envoy yet, which we think may be a lie. And she tells Gamchan, I intend to ask the king to lift your friend Prince Gyeongjuwon's exile. This makes Gamchan very happy.
Hunae has received Seo Hui and Gamchan for a farewell visit; Yi Jibaek and Yi Gyeomui are there too. They wonder if the queen is up to something. Trust her for now, Seo Hui says, but Jibaek says that since the king's illness, the queen is a different person, like she's been angling for power all these years. And he thinks she's lifting Prince Gyeongjuwon's exile in order to stop Gaeryeong from ascending to the throne.
Chiyang tells Sa Gamun, Sa Illa, Hyangbi and Yi Sulhwa that the date is set: July 17th. Plans are underway.....
Sa Gamun's merchant friend has arrived at Myeongbok Palace; he'll be working there for Chiyang from now on. And he's finally identified by name: Yi Jujeong. The same name as the Myeongbok steward. Escort Yun brings him some tea and he flatters her shamelessly. But then the other Yi Jujeong arrives and tells him to knock it off, because this is Hunae's own attendant. They realize they both have the same name. They don't seem to like each other.
Hunae tells Gang Jo of the July 17th date. It's too soon, Gang Jo says; the public won't be convinced yet of "your unselfish intent." And he even suggests that she talk to the king again, because this is such a dangerous risk and maybe she can convince him to cede the throne to Gaeryeong without violence.
Munhwa is studying her father's proposal to establish metal currency. He gives her the hard-sell in person, too. "I'll discuss it with the ministers, she says." But then Escort Jo runs in and says that Hunae is on her way to the king's quarters.
She's right; Hunae and Gang Jo are there already. Go Hyun refuses Hunae admission without the queen's permission. But Hunae cynically asks him, When I was the queen and King Gyeongjong was ill, and Choe Jimong (the astrologer) was tormenting the king, why didn't you stop him then? Well THAT certainly came out of nowhere, and while Go Hyun stands there trying to think it through, Hunae blows right by him and goes inside.
Sungjong is awake as Hunae comes in, and is looking a little better. Hunae is pleasant and nice to him...and then asks him why he sent an elderly minister like Seo Hui away on such a difficult job. Sungjong knew nothing about it, of course, and is shocked to hear of it. And demands to hear what else has been going on. She tells him about all of the personnel changes. He becomes furious that the queen has done all of this on her own.
Munhwa arrives at the king's quarters--and Gang Jo refuses her admittance! Not while Hunae and the king are talking, he says. (You expect her to order him jailed on the spot. But maybe she's just too soft-hearted to punish people. Dae Dosu, after all, is apparently unscathed after blatantly defying her order in the previous episode. Which is surprising.) Hunae emerges and asks her in. The two go in and Sungjong gives his wife the third degree while Hunae stands there smiling. Munhwa tries to explain the decisions, unconvincingly so. Then she and Hunae argue back and forth as Sungjong suffers listening to it all. It's too much for him and he has another attack.
"You acted hastily." Chiyang scolds Hunae: "Do you think they'll just sit back and let the throne be handed to the prince?" It was naive to think so, he says. But Gang Jo accuses him of being bloodthirsty and reckless in seeking an overthrow. They argue. Hunae realizes, Maybe I didn't think clearly enough on this one, but it's done and over now so all we can do is go forward.
"Why? Why did you do this?" Sungjong has stabilized and is asking his wife. She apologizes; I was so concerned for your health that I wasn't thinking, she says. "I guess I overestimated you, You're a wonderful person, but not fit to rule the state." I'll discuss everything with you from now on, she says, but he says it was a mistake to give her the throne and orders her to call Choe Ryang. She leaves, looking understandably discouraged.
Prince Gaeryeong is shooting arrows again. Munhwa sees it and doesn't look happy about it, but she has other things to worry about right now.
Balhaean village: Soldiers are training, as Hyangbi watches.
Jurchen village: Soldiers are training, as Sa Illa watches. (Weird training; it's a big mud wrestling battle royal!)
We see the trader Yi Jujeong in a busy public place, spreading unrest and arguing that Sungjong is unfit to protect the country.
Munhwa has come to visit Choe Ryang, who we see is not in the best of health due to old age. She tells him, I need your help in persuading the king not to abdicate the throne to Gaeryeong. (Which, of course, is not why the king told her to summon him.) Choe is reluctant--There's no other heir, he says, and maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a regency and give the boy the throne. But Munhwa argues that it's a bad idea, because of Hunae and because of the boy's epilepsy. Daeryang is the better choice, she says, because Gaeryeong is unfit.
Sasu County: We see Prince Gyeongjuwon playing with his now-toddler son Daeryang. Soldiers arrive bearing a scroll; he learns his exile has been lifted, and the queen has ordered that he be brought back to the capital. He's happy and grateful for the reprieve, but as far as going back south, No thanks, he says. Thank the queen for me but I'm a fisherman now and am staying here.
The Liao throne room: Wonsoong is before Emperor Shengzong, ED Xiao and PM Han. They know he's the queen's father, and that seems to please them as a gesture of respect by Goryeo. Wonsoong has to tell them that the king is too ill at the moment to marry their consort. This infuriates the Khitans; Xiao accuses Goryeo of a plot to ally with Song and destroy Khitan. Where the heck did this come from? It turns out, they know something we didn't: Goryeo dispatched a man named Won Uk to Song as an envoy! How dare you try to deceive me, Xiao says to Wonsoong, glaring: "Do you think Goryeo will survive after this?" Wonsoong grovels and swears he knew nothing about this.
Jo Sun and Jo Du have presented Yelu Dilie with a gift of some kind. They explain that Wonsoong wants trading privileges and they heard that You're the man who can get that done. And there's more plenty in it for you, they say. It's tempting, Dilie says, but tells them that the prime minister has already chosen a trading liaison.
Sa Gamun has brought an envelope to PM Han; it's from Chiyang.
Walking outside, Jo Sun and Jo Do can't understand why the Khitans would give trading monopoly to Myeongbok Palace after Hunae fought them so aggressively. Then they encounter Yelu Pennu and Yelu Wuji. And they think they recognize Wuji, asking him, Did you by any chance work for a Song merchant named Wang?
The would-be-consort Zanli is brought to the throne room to meet Wosoong. If you don't want another war, Xiao says, take her with you and get her married to the king. Wonsoong grovels some more: "My wish is your command. Let your wrath be lifted." Get this done, she says, and I'll trust and reward you. "But if you defy me, your head might come off before I send my army to Goryeo."
"Song China refused?" Choe Sum has brought Munhwa some bad news; the envoy returned and it didn't go well.
Narration tells us that in June 994, Won Uk was sent to Song China as an envoy. But Song was content with the status quo. "And this, in effect, cut off diplomatic ties with Song."
Chiyang is speaking with the new guy, Mun Inwui. Mun has been busy gathering information; he warns Chiyang of the effort to bring Prince Daeryang forward as the successor to the throne.
More arrow-shooting; Hunae and her son are trading shots. Both dead sharp, both hitting one bullseye after another. But then the boy's vision starts to blur, and suddenly he falls to the ground, having a seizure in front of his shocked mother.
The king is having a nightmare about King Gyeongjong confronting him about not keeping his word to care for Gyeongjong's family. (Fun to see Gyeongjong again.) And Gyeongjong blames Sungjong for his son's epilepsy--which is ridiculous, but this is all being driven by the guilt in Sungjong's mind. Gyeongjong glares angrily. "Keep your vow! Bequeath the throne of Goryeo to my son." Yes, Sungjong says in terror, I will. He awakens; Munhwa is attending to him. He tells her he wants to abdicate the throne to Prince Gaeryeong. Munhwa talks him down--The country still needs you, and besides, Gaeryeong has "a fatal flaw." And Hunae, she says, won't guide the prince in the way you desire. Utterly at a loss, Sungjong wonders if all of his suffering is punishment from God.
Munhwa discusses the abdication idea with the former Shillans. It must be prevented, they all agree. But Choe Sum says that rather than trying to prevent an abdication, they have to depose Gaeryeong and bring Prince Daeryang (Gyeongjuwon's very young son) forward. Not yet, the queen says; right now we have to attend to pressing state matters and avoid our getting criticized for negligence. First up is sending an envoy to Song, which they can do now that Seo Hui is no longer present to oppose.
Chiyang tells Hunae that the anniversary of King Gyeongjong's death is in two months--July 17--and Sungjong is expected to be well enough to travel north to the ancestral shrine for the memorial service. That will be the time to act; seize the palace and capture the king when he's outside of it. Then Chiyang has to add, If this all works, then what about me--what will I mean to you? Please stop it, she asks, and dismisses him. But she looks back at him longingly as he leaves.
Gang Jo has sprung for some drinks for Dae Dosu and their subordinates. More whining, groveling and misbehavior from Yi Hyunoon, who apparently was accepted by Gang Jo and is now Jo's subordinate...Flashback of Hyunoon before the queen; this continues the tattling scene we saw in the previous episode. Hyunoon is whining about his demotion and how he's getting picked on now. "I will make you an offer," Munhwa says. "If you do as I say, you will soon be a general again." Become Gang Jo's subordinate, Munhwa tells him, and monitor him for me. The fate of the country might depend on it, she says. (I didn't like this at all. Munhwa has repeatedly impressed us with her astuteness; there's just no way she would ever have anything to do with a person like Hyunoon. No way. Sloppy writing.)
Hunae is pacing around, thinking about Chiyang....Chiyang is pacing around, thinking about Hunae...(I'm pacing around, thinking about Pepto-Bismol)...Then Chiyang has a hallucinatory conversation with his evil twin. Yes, that's right. Bad Chiyang is angry with Chiyang for allowing Hunae to make him "become weak an irresolute." Ultimately, he says, "you must turn and pierce her heart with your dagger of revenge." That's your sacred duty: "you must take everything from her and kill her." Bad Chiyang disappears and Chiyang is left alone to ponder this.
The next day: At a state meeting, Seo Hui and Gang Gamchan are being sent on their way north. One thing that Seo asks be taken care of: a formal response to Liao about that Khitan consort. Don't worry, Munhwa says, the Minister of Revenue is heading to Liao soon and will take care of that. This is quite a piece of news. Northern ministers immediately object, because Wonsoong has no experience as an envoy. But Munhwa shushes them--My decision is final. (Once again, Munhwa is far too sensible to send her father on such an important mission. No way.) She next announces that no decision has been made about a Song envoy yet, which we think may be a lie. And she tells Gamchan, I intend to ask the king to lift your friend Prince Gyeongjuwon's exile. This makes Gamchan very happy.
Hunae has received Seo Hui and Gamchan for a farewell visit; Yi Jibaek and Yi Gyeomui are there too. They wonder if the queen is up to something. Trust her for now, Seo Hui says, but Jibaek says that since the king's illness, the queen is a different person, like she's been angling for power all these years. And he thinks she's lifting Prince Gyeongjuwon's exile in order to stop Gaeryeong from ascending to the throne.
Chiyang tells Sa Gamun, Sa Illa, Hyangbi and Yi Sulhwa that the date is set: July 17th. Plans are underway.....
Sa Gamun's merchant friend has arrived at Myeongbok Palace; he'll be working there for Chiyang from now on. And he's finally identified by name: Yi Jujeong. The same name as the Myeongbok steward. Escort Yun brings him some tea and he flatters her shamelessly. But then the other Yi Jujeong arrives and tells him to knock it off, because this is Hunae's own attendant. They realize they both have the same name. They don't seem to like each other.
Hunae tells Gang Jo of the July 17th date. It's too soon, Gang Jo says; the public won't be convinced yet of "your unselfish intent." And he even suggests that she talk to the king again, because this is such a dangerous risk and maybe she can convince him to cede the throne to Gaeryeong without violence.
Munhwa is studying her father's proposal to establish metal currency. He gives her the hard-sell in person, too. "I'll discuss it with the ministers, she says." But then Escort Jo runs in and says that Hunae is on her way to the king's quarters.
She's right; Hunae and Gang Jo are there already. Go Hyun refuses Hunae admission without the queen's permission. But Hunae cynically asks him, When I was the queen and King Gyeongjong was ill, and Choe Jimong (the astrologer) was tormenting the king, why didn't you stop him then? Well THAT certainly came out of nowhere, and while Go Hyun stands there trying to think it through, Hunae blows right by him and goes inside.
Sungjong is awake as Hunae comes in, and is looking a little better. Hunae is pleasant and nice to him...and then asks him why he sent an elderly minister like Seo Hui away on such a difficult job. Sungjong knew nothing about it, of course, and is shocked to hear of it. And demands to hear what else has been going on. She tells him about all of the personnel changes. He becomes furious that the queen has done all of this on her own.
Munhwa arrives at the king's quarters--and Gang Jo refuses her admittance! Not while Hunae and the king are talking, he says. (You expect her to order him jailed on the spot. But maybe she's just too soft-hearted to punish people. Dae Dosu, after all, is apparently unscathed after blatantly defying her order in the previous episode. Which is surprising.) Hunae emerges and asks her in. The two go in and Sungjong gives his wife the third degree while Hunae stands there smiling. Munhwa tries to explain the decisions, unconvincingly so. Then she and Hunae argue back and forth as Sungjong suffers listening to it all. It's too much for him and he has another attack.
"You acted hastily." Chiyang scolds Hunae: "Do you think they'll just sit back and let the throne be handed to the prince?" It was naive to think so, he says. But Gang Jo accuses him of being bloodthirsty and reckless in seeking an overthrow. They argue. Hunae realizes, Maybe I didn't think clearly enough on this one, but it's done and over now so all we can do is go forward.
"Why? Why did you do this?" Sungjong has stabilized and is asking his wife. She apologizes; I was so concerned for your health that I wasn't thinking, she says. "I guess I overestimated you, You're a wonderful person, but not fit to rule the state." I'll discuss everything with you from now on, she says, but he says it was a mistake to give her the throne and orders her to call Choe Ryang. She leaves, looking understandably discouraged.
Prince Gaeryeong is shooting arrows again. Munhwa sees it and doesn't look happy about it, but she has other things to worry about right now.
Balhaean village: Soldiers are training, as Hyangbi watches.
Jurchen village: Soldiers are training, as Sa Illa watches. (Weird training; it's a big mud wrestling battle royal!)
We see the trader Yi Jujeong in a busy public place, spreading unrest and arguing that Sungjong is unfit to protect the country.
Munhwa has come to visit Choe Ryang, who we see is not in the best of health due to old age. She tells him, I need your help in persuading the king not to abdicate the throne to Gaeryeong. (Which, of course, is not why the king told her to summon him.) Choe is reluctant--There's no other heir, he says, and maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a regency and give the boy the throne. But Munhwa argues that it's a bad idea, because of Hunae and because of the boy's epilepsy. Daeryang is the better choice, she says, because Gaeryeong is unfit.
Sasu County: We see Prince Gyeongjuwon playing with his now-toddler son Daeryang. Soldiers arrive bearing a scroll; he learns his exile has been lifted, and the queen has ordered that he be brought back to the capital. He's happy and grateful for the reprieve, but as far as going back south, No thanks, he says. Thank the queen for me but I'm a fisherman now and am staying here.
The Liao throne room: Wonsoong is before Emperor Shengzong, ED Xiao and PM Han. They know he's the queen's father, and that seems to please them as a gesture of respect by Goryeo. Wonsoong has to tell them that the king is too ill at the moment to marry their consort. This infuriates the Khitans; Xiao accuses Goryeo of a plot to ally with Song and destroy Khitan. Where the heck did this come from? It turns out, they know something we didn't: Goryeo dispatched a man named Won Uk to Song as an envoy! How dare you try to deceive me, Xiao says to Wonsoong, glaring: "Do you think Goryeo will survive after this?" Wonsoong grovels and swears he knew nothing about this.
Jo Sun and Jo Du have presented Yelu Dilie with a gift of some kind. They explain that Wonsoong wants trading privileges and they heard that You're the man who can get that done. And there's more plenty in it for you, they say. It's tempting, Dilie says, but tells them that the prime minister has already chosen a trading liaison.
Sa Gamun has brought an envelope to PM Han; it's from Chiyang.
Walking outside, Jo Sun and Jo Do can't understand why the Khitans would give trading monopoly to Myeongbok Palace after Hunae fought them so aggressively. Then they encounter Yelu Pennu and Yelu Wuji. And they think they recognize Wuji, asking him, Did you by any chance work for a Song merchant named Wang?
The would-be-consort Zanli is brought to the throne room to meet Wosoong. If you don't want another war, Xiao says, take her with you and get her married to the king. Wonsoong grovels some more: "My wish is your command. Let your wrath be lifted." Get this done, she says, and I'll trust and reward you. "But if you defy me, your head might come off before I send my army to Goryeo."
"Song China refused?" Choe Sum has brought Munhwa some bad news; the envoy returned and it didn't go well.
Narration tells us that in June 994, Won Uk was sent to Song China as an envoy. But Song was content with the status quo. "And this, in effect, cut off diplomatic ties with Song."
Chiyang is speaking with the new guy, Mun Inwui. Mun has been busy gathering information; he warns Chiyang of the effort to bring Prince Daeryang forward as the successor to the throne.
More arrow-shooting; Hunae and her son are trading shots. Both dead sharp, both hitting one bullseye after another. But then the boy's vision starts to blur, and suddenly he falls to the ground, having a seizure in front of his shocked mother.