Post by ajk on Aug 11, 2009 13:20:27 GMT -5
The king is helped back to his feet. He wants to take a walk with Hunae--alone, despite his fragile condition. So the two of them go off by the seaside. He tells her about his addiction to the medicine he's been taking, and asks her to help him stop. (Dude, you gotta taper it.) I wasn't ill from physical pain, he says; "I couldn't bear that I had been abandoned by you." And he finally tells her that it was Choe Jimong's astrological prophecy that drove him to take her son from her.
Gang Gamchan is in Sasu County, in the north. He's in the village where Prince Gyeongjuwon lived. He visits the wife of the village chief who was killed by Sa Illa (although I don't think she knows how he really died). She tells Gamchan that they did eventually recover her husband's body from the sea. But Prince Daeryang? His body was never found.
"Attacked? By unknown assailants?" Seo Hui is being filled in by Hyangbi about the assassination attempt on Hunae last month. And she gives full credit to Kim Sukheung, the guard who saved their lives. Why wasn't the incident reported?, Seo asks the soldiers there. Oh, we did report it, they tell him.
"That's the reason why you kept me and my son apart? Unbelievable! Don't you know how much pain you've caused me?" And she reads him the riot act for it. "You are a Confucian scholar. How could you so viciously destroy my life over some soothsayer's prediction?" (Bravo.) He tries to argue that they did indeed become enemies, but she makes the very same point that Choe Ryang had made, that if Sungjong hadn't listened to the prophecy and taken her son from her, things never would have gotten so bad. He begs her forgiveness, but this is a wound that's just been ripped open and she can't forgive him. So he actually gets down on his knees. "Please put the past behind. I didn't come here to fight. I came here to make amends with you for the sake of the country's future. So please forgive me." It's my last request, he tells her tearfully. She falls to her knees herself and weakly tries to hit him, but she's crying too hard from all of this--and from seeing his weakened physical condition. They end up hugging each other, though, so maybe all of this weeping and moaning was cathartic.
Gamchan is meeting with some of the Sasu County villagers. They tell him of a strange request that was in Gyeongjuwon's suicide note: he asked to be buried face down, with no shroud. Now why would he ask for that? They tell him of a local legend that if a man is buried face down, his son will become king. Which puzzles Gamchan to the point where he goes to Gyeongjuwon's burial mound and exhumes his body!
Narration tells us according to historical record, Wang Uk died in Sasu County in 1996 and did request that he be buried face down.
The casket is unearthed and Gamchan examines the remains. Yes, he was face down, and unshrouded. And his left hand, which by now is little more than bones, is holding something. It appears to be a shard of pottery. Porcelain pottery.
Choe Sum and Wonsoong break the news to Queen Munhwa: her husband is bringing Hunae back. This is huge trouble for us, they all agree. Wonsoong says that now they have no choice but to kill Gaeryeong immediately to prevent his succession. But Munhwa won't do it. "I raised Prince Gaeryeong myself," she says; "I can't have him killed." Not yet, anyway.
Myeongbok Palace: Merchant Yi tells Gang Jo, Princess Sun and Prince Gaeryeong that Hunae is returning. Gaeryeong wants to go south to the capital to see his mother, but Gang Jo recommends he hold off for his own safety until the succession issue is resolved--even though Gaeryeong says he has no interest in the throne.
Yep, it was celadon porcelain. Gamchan has taken the shard to the porcelain-making village where Gyeongjuwon used to live, and the village chief identifies it as coming from his village. Did you know Gyeongjuwon?, he asks the chief. Yes, very well. Did he happen to bring a little boy here once? Yes, he did. Where is he now? The elder takes him into a workyard where pottery is being tended to. A boy of nine or ten is there. It's Prince Daeryang. The boy says his name is "Turtle," but Gamchan tells him the truth and hugs him, clearly moved at finding his dead friend's son. (What a great piece of detective work. Give THIS guy a series, how about?)
The king returns to the capital, his sister at his side. The queen and the ladies of the court receive him. Xiao Zanli tells him he's overdue for a pill, but he says he doesn't need it! (So he kicked a severe opioid addiction cold turkey. Yeah, right. This one belongs right up there with Sa Illa running vertically up that tree.)
A hastily called state meeting: Sungjong announces that he's physically too weak to continue to administer the state and that he'll be abdicating in favor of Gaeryeong. The Shillans strenuously object, on the grounds that Gaeryeong has epilepsy and that his mother was a criminal. After a spirited argument with the other ministers, they even offer their lives in opposition, kneeling before him. And he calls their bluff! "If death is your wish, then I grant it." And gives them a good scolding for being two-faced. At the end of which he's coughing up blood, but not before he threatens death to anyone who opposes his decision.
Munhwa and Hunae are alone together. The queen clearly isn't happy to see Hunae and makes no secret of it. But Hunae is exuding a smug, ugly snottiness. "It's easier to talk to you now that you have your mask off," she tells Munhwa. You wanted power for yourself but "you've failed" and soon I'll be the queen dowager, not you. And you'd better behave yourself, she warns, because "I will show you no mercy if you try to contend with me." Then Escort Jo runs in with news of the king's announcement, and a shocked Munhwa rushes out to go talk to her husband.
Sungjong is in bed and being attended to by the royal physician. She begs him to reconsider the abdication; she fears that with Hunae as dowager, "There will surely be carnage." But Hunae promised him that there would be no revenge, and that's good enough for him. And in any event, his mind is made up. He weakly asks Munhwa to "let go of your ambition now and go back to the way you were before" for your own safety after I'm gone.
Hunae and Hyangbi are reunited with Gang Jo. Hunae wants to go home to Myeongbok to see her son. And once again, Yi Hyunoon is eavesdropping.
Hunae returns to Myeongbok and sees her son for the first time in years. He's visibly uncomfortable at meeting her again. Later, in private, she tells him that he's going to be the king. He tells her he doesn't want it! "I am not cut out to be a king and have no reason to want to be one." And the throne is a curse that only brings blood. And he's adamant. This should come as no surprise to Hunae--he refused it once before, remember--but it does. And she gets angry: "If I say you're going to be the king, you're going to be the king!" She lays a big guilt trip on him about how hard she's worked for this and how so many people died for this. But he fires back, "You're pressuring me to satisfy your own greed for power!" Then he mentions her affair with a Jurchen (obviously that's been bugging him), and she slaps him. "You're going to be the king. That's your destiny."
Choe Sum's manor: Steward Mun enters to tell Choe Sum and Wonsoong that "the troops" have left for Hwangju. Uh-oh, they've plotted something. And apparently there are a whole lot of troops, because Choe tells Wonsoong that their numbers will overwhelm Myeongbok Palace's defenses. Everyone will be wiped out, he says. But off to the side, Mun looks at them icily--like he won't be silent about this.
Nighttime: Dozens of soldiers fire arrows into Myeongbok Palace. It's a big army unit, and they promptly attack. We see Jo Sun and Jo Du with them. Immediately it's a full-blown battle, as Gang Jo and Myeongbok's defenders rush to meet them. Hunae, Gaeryeong and Princess Sun run outside and see the commotion; Hunae promptly grabs her bow and kills several of the attackers. The defenders are putting up a brave fight, but they're being overwhelmed by numbers and Hunae is told to flee from the palace. She manages to grab a sword and kill a bunch of soldiers (still in her bedclothes!) while trying to lead Gaeryeong and Sun to safety. Unfortunately, a dying soldier collapses into her and knocks her down, and two other soldiers run up and raise their swords to kill Gaeryeong and Sun. There's no escape and it's curtains for sure...but then we hear a whoosh and both soldiers fall dead. Oh goody, it's the bladed boomerang. And suddenly we see reinforcements running onto the scene. Lots of them. Sa Illa and Sa Gamun run in with them. The attackers are forced to retreat and the threat is over. But Hunae doesn't seem to care any more; all she can think about is that Chiyang might be there. And yes, in the aftermath we see him, and she sees him and runs into his arms. And a schmaltzy ballad wells up, and everyone gathers around them. (It was so bad, it was laugh-out-loud silly.) Lots of smiles all around, but not Gang Jo; he seethes and walks away. (Maybe he went and hurled his dinner like I nearly did.)
The next morning, or more likely a morning or two later: Hunae returns to the capital, her sullen-looking son in tow.
Escort Jo tells Munhwa that the raid failed and the attackers fled. And the king is issuing the order of abdication as they speak. Maybe you should flee too, Ju suggests, but Munhwa says she wants to be alone.
As we see Gaeryeong kneeling before the king, narration tells us that Sungjong abdicated in October of 997, and declined to issue a final decree of amnesty, in part to leave something for the new king to grant the people if he so chooses.
Now alone, Munhwa is about to plunge a knife into her throat! Wow. But Escort Jo runs in with the news that Prince Daeryang is alive and in the palace. Jo urges her to take Daeryang to the king and rewrite the decree of abdication.
Munhwa goes to meet the boy, who's with Gamchan. She takes him right to the king. Gamchan, although visibly displeased with what's going on here, gives the king the backstory and assures him that this is Daeryang. Meeting his sister's son moves the king deeply. Now that Daeryang is alive and right there with them, Munhwa again tries to get Sungjong to rescind the abdication order. But Sungjong says it's too late now. He's had enough of it all, and only wants to go to Naecheonwang, a local temple, to spend his final hours.
Chiyang congratulates Hunae on her impending victory. And there isn't even any sign of opposition, we learn; they all seem to have gone into hiding. We need to be careful nonetheless, Chiyang advises; they must be found and killed once Gaeryeong is installed, for making an attempt on his life. (Which undoubtedly is secondary to why Chiyang really wants them out of the way.) Then Yu Bang enters with the news about Daeryang. Uh-oh; this is a major complication. (And you can see the gears turning in Chiyang's head. Sa Illa's gonna get it.)
"Answer me! Where is the royal seal?" Munhwa demands it from Go Hyun, but it's already been delivered to Gaeryeong. So she and Escort Jo head for Naecheonwang Temple. Escort Jo is carrying a covered box. We see Gang Jo following them.
They go into the temple and Munhwa begs the king to take some medicine--a special prescription from the royal physician. Hmmm. She feeds him a pill. Escort Jo leaves by herself, and outside Gang Jo confronts her. "What are they talking about in there?" Averting his glare, Jo denies knowing anything.
Back inside: "Your highness, can you hear me?" Oh geez, she's fed him some kind of a mind-altering drug. "Now you must abdicate the throne in favor of Prince Daeryang." I've already given the throne to Gaeryeong, he answers groggily. No, she says, you must have been dreaming; you did no such thing. She produces a scroll and a pen. "Now place your signature right here, and everything will be as it should." It's a new abdication decree, this one for Daeryang. In his delirium he trustingly reaches for the pen and touches the paper--just as Gang Jo barges into the room. He looks at the scroll and then tears it up. Munhwa tries to stop him; he pushes her aside and she falls to the floor. At that an enraged Sungjong rises out of bed: "How dare you strike the queen!" Sungjong starts to flail at him; Gang Jo pushes him away; Sungjong falls to the floor, coughs up blood and passes out.
Gang Gamchan is in Sasu County, in the north. He's in the village where Prince Gyeongjuwon lived. He visits the wife of the village chief who was killed by Sa Illa (although I don't think she knows how he really died). She tells Gamchan that they did eventually recover her husband's body from the sea. But Prince Daeryang? His body was never found.
"Attacked? By unknown assailants?" Seo Hui is being filled in by Hyangbi about the assassination attempt on Hunae last month. And she gives full credit to Kim Sukheung, the guard who saved their lives. Why wasn't the incident reported?, Seo asks the soldiers there. Oh, we did report it, they tell him.
"That's the reason why you kept me and my son apart? Unbelievable! Don't you know how much pain you've caused me?" And she reads him the riot act for it. "You are a Confucian scholar. How could you so viciously destroy my life over some soothsayer's prediction?" (Bravo.) He tries to argue that they did indeed become enemies, but she makes the very same point that Choe Ryang had made, that if Sungjong hadn't listened to the prophecy and taken her son from her, things never would have gotten so bad. He begs her forgiveness, but this is a wound that's just been ripped open and she can't forgive him. So he actually gets down on his knees. "Please put the past behind. I didn't come here to fight. I came here to make amends with you for the sake of the country's future. So please forgive me." It's my last request, he tells her tearfully. She falls to her knees herself and weakly tries to hit him, but she's crying too hard from all of this--and from seeing his weakened physical condition. They end up hugging each other, though, so maybe all of this weeping and moaning was cathartic.
Gamchan is meeting with some of the Sasu County villagers. They tell him of a strange request that was in Gyeongjuwon's suicide note: he asked to be buried face down, with no shroud. Now why would he ask for that? They tell him of a local legend that if a man is buried face down, his son will become king. Which puzzles Gamchan to the point where he goes to Gyeongjuwon's burial mound and exhumes his body!
Narration tells us according to historical record, Wang Uk died in Sasu County in 1996 and did request that he be buried face down.
The casket is unearthed and Gamchan examines the remains. Yes, he was face down, and unshrouded. And his left hand, which by now is little more than bones, is holding something. It appears to be a shard of pottery. Porcelain pottery.
Choe Sum and Wonsoong break the news to Queen Munhwa: her husband is bringing Hunae back. This is huge trouble for us, they all agree. Wonsoong says that now they have no choice but to kill Gaeryeong immediately to prevent his succession. But Munhwa won't do it. "I raised Prince Gaeryeong myself," she says; "I can't have him killed." Not yet, anyway.
Myeongbok Palace: Merchant Yi tells Gang Jo, Princess Sun and Prince Gaeryeong that Hunae is returning. Gaeryeong wants to go south to the capital to see his mother, but Gang Jo recommends he hold off for his own safety until the succession issue is resolved--even though Gaeryeong says he has no interest in the throne.
Yep, it was celadon porcelain. Gamchan has taken the shard to the porcelain-making village where Gyeongjuwon used to live, and the village chief identifies it as coming from his village. Did you know Gyeongjuwon?, he asks the chief. Yes, very well. Did he happen to bring a little boy here once? Yes, he did. Where is he now? The elder takes him into a workyard where pottery is being tended to. A boy of nine or ten is there. It's Prince Daeryang. The boy says his name is "Turtle," but Gamchan tells him the truth and hugs him, clearly moved at finding his dead friend's son. (What a great piece of detective work. Give THIS guy a series, how about?)
The king returns to the capital, his sister at his side. The queen and the ladies of the court receive him. Xiao Zanli tells him he's overdue for a pill, but he says he doesn't need it! (So he kicked a severe opioid addiction cold turkey. Yeah, right. This one belongs right up there with Sa Illa running vertically up that tree.)
A hastily called state meeting: Sungjong announces that he's physically too weak to continue to administer the state and that he'll be abdicating in favor of Gaeryeong. The Shillans strenuously object, on the grounds that Gaeryeong has epilepsy and that his mother was a criminal. After a spirited argument with the other ministers, they even offer their lives in opposition, kneeling before him. And he calls their bluff! "If death is your wish, then I grant it." And gives them a good scolding for being two-faced. At the end of which he's coughing up blood, but not before he threatens death to anyone who opposes his decision.
Munhwa and Hunae are alone together. The queen clearly isn't happy to see Hunae and makes no secret of it. But Hunae is exuding a smug, ugly snottiness. "It's easier to talk to you now that you have your mask off," she tells Munhwa. You wanted power for yourself but "you've failed" and soon I'll be the queen dowager, not you. And you'd better behave yourself, she warns, because "I will show you no mercy if you try to contend with me." Then Escort Jo runs in with news of the king's announcement, and a shocked Munhwa rushes out to go talk to her husband.
Sungjong is in bed and being attended to by the royal physician. She begs him to reconsider the abdication; she fears that with Hunae as dowager, "There will surely be carnage." But Hunae promised him that there would be no revenge, and that's good enough for him. And in any event, his mind is made up. He weakly asks Munhwa to "let go of your ambition now and go back to the way you were before" for your own safety after I'm gone.
Hunae and Hyangbi are reunited with Gang Jo. Hunae wants to go home to Myeongbok to see her son. And once again, Yi Hyunoon is eavesdropping.
Hunae returns to Myeongbok and sees her son for the first time in years. He's visibly uncomfortable at meeting her again. Later, in private, she tells him that he's going to be the king. He tells her he doesn't want it! "I am not cut out to be a king and have no reason to want to be one." And the throne is a curse that only brings blood. And he's adamant. This should come as no surprise to Hunae--he refused it once before, remember--but it does. And she gets angry: "If I say you're going to be the king, you're going to be the king!" She lays a big guilt trip on him about how hard she's worked for this and how so many people died for this. But he fires back, "You're pressuring me to satisfy your own greed for power!" Then he mentions her affair with a Jurchen (obviously that's been bugging him), and she slaps him. "You're going to be the king. That's your destiny."
Choe Sum's manor: Steward Mun enters to tell Choe Sum and Wonsoong that "the troops" have left for Hwangju. Uh-oh, they've plotted something. And apparently there are a whole lot of troops, because Choe tells Wonsoong that their numbers will overwhelm Myeongbok Palace's defenses. Everyone will be wiped out, he says. But off to the side, Mun looks at them icily--like he won't be silent about this.
Nighttime: Dozens of soldiers fire arrows into Myeongbok Palace. It's a big army unit, and they promptly attack. We see Jo Sun and Jo Du with them. Immediately it's a full-blown battle, as Gang Jo and Myeongbok's defenders rush to meet them. Hunae, Gaeryeong and Princess Sun run outside and see the commotion; Hunae promptly grabs her bow and kills several of the attackers. The defenders are putting up a brave fight, but they're being overwhelmed by numbers and Hunae is told to flee from the palace. She manages to grab a sword and kill a bunch of soldiers (still in her bedclothes!) while trying to lead Gaeryeong and Sun to safety. Unfortunately, a dying soldier collapses into her and knocks her down, and two other soldiers run up and raise their swords to kill Gaeryeong and Sun. There's no escape and it's curtains for sure...but then we hear a whoosh and both soldiers fall dead. Oh goody, it's the bladed boomerang. And suddenly we see reinforcements running onto the scene. Lots of them. Sa Illa and Sa Gamun run in with them. The attackers are forced to retreat and the threat is over. But Hunae doesn't seem to care any more; all she can think about is that Chiyang might be there. And yes, in the aftermath we see him, and she sees him and runs into his arms. And a schmaltzy ballad wells up, and everyone gathers around them. (It was so bad, it was laugh-out-loud silly.) Lots of smiles all around, but not Gang Jo; he seethes and walks away. (Maybe he went and hurled his dinner like I nearly did.)
The next morning, or more likely a morning or two later: Hunae returns to the capital, her sullen-looking son in tow.
Escort Jo tells Munhwa that the raid failed and the attackers fled. And the king is issuing the order of abdication as they speak. Maybe you should flee too, Ju suggests, but Munhwa says she wants to be alone.
As we see Gaeryeong kneeling before the king, narration tells us that Sungjong abdicated in October of 997, and declined to issue a final decree of amnesty, in part to leave something for the new king to grant the people if he so chooses.
Now alone, Munhwa is about to plunge a knife into her throat! Wow. But Escort Jo runs in with the news that Prince Daeryang is alive and in the palace. Jo urges her to take Daeryang to the king and rewrite the decree of abdication.
Munhwa goes to meet the boy, who's with Gamchan. She takes him right to the king. Gamchan, although visibly displeased with what's going on here, gives the king the backstory and assures him that this is Daeryang. Meeting his sister's son moves the king deeply. Now that Daeryang is alive and right there with them, Munhwa again tries to get Sungjong to rescind the abdication order. But Sungjong says it's too late now. He's had enough of it all, and only wants to go to Naecheonwang, a local temple, to spend his final hours.
Chiyang congratulates Hunae on her impending victory. And there isn't even any sign of opposition, we learn; they all seem to have gone into hiding. We need to be careful nonetheless, Chiyang advises; they must be found and killed once Gaeryeong is installed, for making an attempt on his life. (Which undoubtedly is secondary to why Chiyang really wants them out of the way.) Then Yu Bang enters with the news about Daeryang. Uh-oh; this is a major complication. (And you can see the gears turning in Chiyang's head. Sa Illa's gonna get it.)
"Answer me! Where is the royal seal?" Munhwa demands it from Go Hyun, but it's already been delivered to Gaeryeong. So she and Escort Jo head for Naecheonwang Temple. Escort Jo is carrying a covered box. We see Gang Jo following them.
They go into the temple and Munhwa begs the king to take some medicine--a special prescription from the royal physician. Hmmm. She feeds him a pill. Escort Jo leaves by herself, and outside Gang Jo confronts her. "What are they talking about in there?" Averting his glare, Jo denies knowing anything.
Back inside: "Your highness, can you hear me?" Oh geez, she's fed him some kind of a mind-altering drug. "Now you must abdicate the throne in favor of Prince Daeryang." I've already given the throne to Gaeryeong, he answers groggily. No, she says, you must have been dreaming; you did no such thing. She produces a scroll and a pen. "Now place your signature right here, and everything will be as it should." It's a new abdication decree, this one for Daeryang. In his delirium he trustingly reaches for the pen and touches the paper--just as Gang Jo barges into the room. He looks at the scroll and then tears it up. Munhwa tries to stop him; he pushes her aside and she falls to the floor. At that an enraged Sungjong rises out of bed: "How dare you strike the queen!" Sungjong starts to flail at him; Gang Jo pushes him away; Sungjong falls to the floor, coughs up blood and passes out.