Post by ajk on Aug 12, 2009 14:38:18 GMT -5
A panicked, screaming Munhwa tries to revive her unconscious husband. But he's not moving. Gang Jo just stands there; makes no move to help. Then Hunae and her son arrive at the temple and, hearing Munhwa's screams, rush inside. It's too late. The king is dead. Munhwa furiously accuses Gang Jo of killing him; Gang Jo denies it and shows Hunae the abdication scroll that Munhwa was trying to get her husband to sign. By now Munhwa is coming completely unglued; she accuses Hunae of ordering Gang Jo to attack and kill the king. The two start screaming accusations at each other, and it escalates to the point where Hunae actually slaps the queen. "I'm the one holding the sword," she says arrogantly. "And I certainly did not kill my brother, but I can kill you." She orders Gang Jo to place her under house arrest. Gaeryeong steps between them and tries to stop this, but Hunae orders him to go to his room (seriously!--"I said go to your room!"). Munhwa and Gaeryeong leave the temple, Munhwa looking understandably traumatized and Gaeryeong obviously wondering just what kind of nut job his mother might be turning into.
Back inside, Hunae weeps over her brother's body.
"How did you take care of Prince Daeryang?" Uh-oh--Sa Illa and Sa Gamun are standing with Chiyang outside somewhere. I threw him into the ocean, Sa Illa says, but Chiyang doesn't believe her. He strikes her and knocks her down, tosses a knife at her feet and orders her to kill herself. She fesses up: "I couldn't kill him because he's Lady Seol's son." Besides, it would have been monstrous to kill a young child, she says tearfully, and apologies. Then she takes the knife and aims it at her heart, but Sa Gamun grabs her arm and asks Chiyang to give her anther chance. Chiyang says he'll wait for now, to see if this leads to a change in the royal successor.
"You brought Prince Daeryang back into a complicated situation." Seo Hui, talking to Gamchan, laughs at his own understatement. But Gamchan is concerned. Gyeongjuwon's suicide note--I lost my son at sea and am killing myself out of grief--doesn't square with finding Daeryang at the porcelain village. "Perhaps it wasn't a suicide after all. Perhaps he was forced to kill himself under duress." And the village chief, we learn, told Gamchan that a strange woman was with Gyeongjuwon when the boy was brought there. Then Choe Hang runs in with the news about Sungjong.
Wary of his mother, Gaeryeong confronts Gang Jo: Did my mother tell you to kill the king? "Absolutely not," Jo answers. Then Hunae comes in and scolds Gaeryeong some more about his not wanting the throne. Gaeryeong protests that now Daeryang is here; the queen favors Daeryang; and he's more qualified to be the king. And Gaeryeong says he wants the bloodshed and the antagonism to stop. "So please just leave me alone! Please!" And then he lapses into a seizure.
All of the ministers are outside the dead king's quarters, kneeling and moaning loudly.
We watch Sungjong's funeral procession. As we do, narration mentions Sungjong's major administrative reforms and touches on some of his other accomplishments. There were a LOT of significant accomplishments. Clearly this was a highly successful king (which we certainly didn't see much evidence of in the storyline, that's for sure).
Afterwards: Munhwa is sitting in her chambers, exhausted mentally and physically. But she's found new resolve. "I will get through this," she tells Escort Jo, "if only to get revenge. I will stop at nothing...And I will avenge the king's death." (She's apparently so angry that she can't think clearly enough to realize that the pill she gave him might have had something to do with it all.)
Hunae is sitting with Seo Hui, Gamchan and Choe Hang. A strange situation has developed: Gaeryeong doesn't want to be the king, but he's accepted the royal seal and helped oversee the memorial service. They discuss what to do and when to do it. For now, Hunae says, the most important issue is finding the fugitive officials who orchestrated the attempt to kill Gaeryeong. This is a tricky problem. Not prosecuting them is not an option, but an overzealous prosecution could be seen as revenge--and Hunae promised her brother that there would be no revenge taken. Gamchan suggests prosecuting them but imposing light sentences; the idea is accepted.
In the royal palace: Gaeryeong is getting drunk. Princess Sun tries to stop him, gently telling him that the royal successor shouldn't be drinking so aggressively. He angrily overturns his table and has a screaming, crying tantrum about not wanting the throne.
Yi Hyunoon is quietly summoned to see Munhwa. She asks him to bring Gaeryeong to her! Hyunoon rightly says he has no authority to pull that off, but Munhwa threatens to expose him for his snitching if he doesn't do it. Wow, that's gratitude for you. And we learn that Munhwa expects to leave the palace soon, for good.
Hunae tells Chiyang that for her brother's sake, she has no intention of hurting the queen. But Chiyang is sure that she was involved in the Myeongbok attack (How is he so sure?).
Dokyun has come to see Xiao Zanli. She tells her, "It's likely you will be sent out of the palace to live in a private residence." (Wow, that would be a stupid decision.) Zanli is disappointed with herself. "I came to Goryeo to create internal division," she says; "I would be worthless if I'm sent out of the palace." Hyeolmae is there and reminds Zanli that she hastened the king's death, so she accomplished the mission. But Zanli is concerned about the consequences for Liao if Hunae attains power as she apparently will. "Then you must find another partner," Dokyun advises, "and see what damage you can do." She suggests "an alliance of woeful women who have been driven out of the palace." Hmmm.
Hyunoon actually did it. Gaeryeong is drunk as a skunk, but Hyunoon somehow has brought him to Munhwa. The queen's daughter Jeong is with her now; she wants Jeong to meet Gaeryeong again (they were raised together, remember). But he doesn't care about Jeong; he wants to know if Munhwa had anything to do with the Myeongbok attack. Of course not, she says; "How could I do that to you when I raised you myself? Your mother is setting me up." And she might even try to kill me. You saw what she thinks of me: "She slapped me, the queen of the state, over the king's body." And she tells Gaeryeong, I don't care about my own life, but please protect your sister for me. This only annoys him; Stop overreacting, he tells her--I'm not going to let anyone die. And he storms out. But outside, he reflects on his upbringing in the palace with Jeong, and it seems to him calm down a bit. He goes to see his mother...
...and instead finds Hyangbi, with Prince Daeryang. Gaeryeong is surprisingly touched by seeing the little boy; turns out, he used to give Daeryang piggyback rides as a baby. (We have to trust him on that one, because we never saw it.) "It's good to see you," Gaeryeong says, tenderly hugging the boy. "You should have stayed where you were. This is a scary place. But I'm still glad you're back. I missed you very much." And it's as though Gaeryeong is suddenly a different person, so moved is he by his little cousin.
Wonsoong is in hiding, with Jo Sun and Jo Du. They've gradually been getting in contact with the other attack plotters. Wonsoong's in a bad financial situation, we learn, because his counterfeiting operation is at a standstill. Jo Sun suggests finding Choe Sum and meeting with him, but Wonsoong is much more concerned about his daughter's safety.
Elsewhere, we see Choe Sum, Kim Shumun, Yi Yang and Seol Shinyu, the four Shillan ministers, also in hiding. They're not sure what to do now. Maybe flee to Song China? They can't afford such a trip, but maybe Wonsoong can if they can locate him. Choe doesn't like the idea. "I don't want to run," he says. "Perhaps dying with the king we brought to the throne is the most dignified thing to do." But the others want to survive "to avenge this humiliation." (Don't know why they're humiliated.)
Hunae is still talking with Seo Hui, Gamchan and Choe Hang. She wants Goryeo declared an empire like it used to be. Seo and Choe urge caution, because of how the Khitans might react. She counters that it's a matter of national pride, and Gamchan supports her. But Gamchan also says, "What's most important is building substance befitting an empire." Hunae has some ideas about that. Strengthen the military, first off. Include military officials in state council meetings and include them in decision-making. And she asks the three for recommendations of "virtuous men" to fill leadership roles, regardless of their ancestry. During the discussion we learn that Park Yangyu, Yi Jibaek and Yi Gyeomui, who were exiled in Ep42 for involvement in or knowledge of the coup attempt, all died in exile. Hunae says she'll restore them to honor posthumously. Then Go Hyun enters, and tells Hunae that her son has asked to see her. (So I guess Go is working for Gaeryeong now.)
So she goes to him. "I'll abide by your wish," he tells her point-blank. "I'll take the throne." Doink! Wow, what a turnaround. "But there is one condition. Don't hurt the queen." She is the one who raised me. And let Prince Daeryang grow up here in the palace. (That's two conditions, genius.) That's all? Done, Hunae says. She asks to be his regent "until you are ready to take on state affairs yourself." Fine. And I don't want you to be a king, she tells him; I want you to be an emperor. "You must defeat Liao and rise above Song and make Goryeo a great empire. You must put your heart and soul into reclaiming the old Goguryeo territory." At that he turns cynical: "I'm sure you know exactly what to do, Mother." (It was very funny.) "I don't want such a loose answer," she tells him; eventually "you'll have to rule the country and fight the northern enemy yourself." She's clearly worried that he doesn't seem to care much for the idea.
We see the coronation ceremony. Banners, red carpet, fancy duds all around. The new king--uh, I mean new emperor--declares Goryeo an empire, and announces an amnesty for minor crimes and delinquent taxes. As the ceremony continues, narration tells us that the new King Mokjong gave his mother the title of Empress Ungcheon-gaesung-jeongdeok but that she eventually became known as Empress Cheonchu after the palace where she lived.
The Liao royal palace: Shengjong is shooting apples off of soldiers' shoulders again. He gets the news from Yelu Dilie about Goryeo's declaration of empire, and he doesn't like it one bit. "They lowered themselves to a kingdom when they were in alliance with Song, and they are refusing to do the same with us?" And when he hears it was Hunae's idea, well, that makes it all the worse. In a fit of pique, he shoots another arrow--right into the heart of one of his soldiers. What a sweetie. He orders Dilie to go back to Goryeo and "tell them that this is unacceptable. I am the only Emperor under this sky!" He's so mad, he looks like he's about to have a seizure himself.
We see the new king presiding over a state council meeting, most likely his first one. Hunae is next to him. He announces a bunch of new appointments, including the introduction of several new officials:
--Seo Hui, Chief of the Supreme Council
--Gang Gamchan, Minister of Rites
--Han Ingyeong, Minister of Finance
--Choe Hang, Royal Undersecretary
--Gang Jo, Minister of Military (concurrent with elevation to high general status)
--Dae Dosu, Minister of Punishment (ditto)
--Choe Suk (new), Vice Minister of Personnel
--Choe Wonshin (new), Vice Minister of Rites
--Hwangbo Yui (new), Vice Minister of Finance
--Chae Choongsun (new), Secretary of Home Affairs
Narration tells us a bit about the four new officials. Choe Suk: Son of Choe Seunglo, who was head of the Supreme Council early in Seongjong's reign. Choe Wonshin: son of Seongjong's master Choe Ryang, but "a rather imprudent character unlike his father." Chae Choongsun: "a high scholar with an incorruptible character." Hwangbo Yui: a relative of Hunae's (we're not given specifics).
Hunae tells Chiyang she has a position for him: First Secretary of the Office of National Ceremony. It's not all that high-ranking; she can't do more for him because he's a Jurchen "and I'm in the public eye." But Chiyang is grateful for the gesture and the position. And she assures him, "I will always be your woman no matter what. [And] I will tell the world someday that you are my partner and the man I love."
Subordinate officers offer congratulations to Gang Jo and Dae Dosu on their elevation. And the military men are understandably pleased that military officials will now be included in state council meetings. And Dae Dosu has some good news for them: promotions! Yu Bang, is now a general; Choe Jil and Kim Hoon are now colonels. No promotion for Yi Hyunoon; he's still a captain, and predictably whines about it. But there's no time to celebrate, Dae tells them; there's work to do tonight.
Evening: Yu Bang and subordinate soldiers barge into Queen Munhwa's chambers to tell her she's to pack and leave the palace immediately. She's to move to a villa that's been arranged for her outside of the palace.
Elsewhere, Choe Jil and Kim Hoon do the same to Xiao Zanli. A villa has been prepared for her too, and Hunae has ordered her "to live quietly as a common citizen of Goryeo." (Yes, former queens typically move out, but this was a bad move by Hunae. Typically rash and vindictive.)
We see Munhwa and her daughter leaving the palace. She laments her husband's death. It's terribly sad that it came to this. Mokjong is outside by himself and happens to see it all.
"Was this really necessary?" Mokjong confronts his mother about Munhwa being rushed out of the palace in the middle of the night. It's best that it be done quietly, Hunae tells him, and besides, "Do you know how I left the palace? I was carried out by the eunuch after passing out from wailing and screaming for the King to give me back my infant son." So that makes this okay, apparently.
Sa Illa is leaving Myeongbok; she's going to be a personal bodyguard of Hunae's and live in the palace. Merchant Yi asks her to put in a good word for him; he wants to live in the palace too. Then we're very surprised to see Steward Mun show up and ask to see Chiyang. This is a risky move; if anybody sees him there it could blow his cover. But no damage done. Inside, he finds Chiyang and tells him, "They're planning to flee to Song China. I thought you'd want to apprehend them before they do." And yes, Chiyang does. But do they do it themselves or do they alert the authorities? "We can turn everyone else over to the palace," Chiyang says, "but I must confront Choe Sum myself. This is what I've been waiting for."
"What? They've been located?" Sa illa has told Hunae that an anonymous note was received that pinpointed the location of the fugitives.
Soldiers enter a compound and apprehend Wonsoong, Kim Shimun, Yi Yang and Seol Shinyu. But no Choe Sum. Where is Choe? With a sword to his throat, Wonsoong tells the soldiers that Choe left early in the morning "to take care of something with his steward." But he doesn't know what, or where.
"Who do you want me to meet? Who is going to throw me a lifeline?" A puzzled Choe Sum is standing with Steward Mun outside somewhere, apparently in the middle of nowhere. Then Chiyang arrives. Choe stares quizzically at him. "Who might you be?"
Back inside, Hunae weeps over her brother's body.
"How did you take care of Prince Daeryang?" Uh-oh--Sa Illa and Sa Gamun are standing with Chiyang outside somewhere. I threw him into the ocean, Sa Illa says, but Chiyang doesn't believe her. He strikes her and knocks her down, tosses a knife at her feet and orders her to kill herself. She fesses up: "I couldn't kill him because he's Lady Seol's son." Besides, it would have been monstrous to kill a young child, she says tearfully, and apologies. Then she takes the knife and aims it at her heart, but Sa Gamun grabs her arm and asks Chiyang to give her anther chance. Chiyang says he'll wait for now, to see if this leads to a change in the royal successor.
"You brought Prince Daeryang back into a complicated situation." Seo Hui, talking to Gamchan, laughs at his own understatement. But Gamchan is concerned. Gyeongjuwon's suicide note--I lost my son at sea and am killing myself out of grief--doesn't square with finding Daeryang at the porcelain village. "Perhaps it wasn't a suicide after all. Perhaps he was forced to kill himself under duress." And the village chief, we learn, told Gamchan that a strange woman was with Gyeongjuwon when the boy was brought there. Then Choe Hang runs in with the news about Sungjong.
Wary of his mother, Gaeryeong confronts Gang Jo: Did my mother tell you to kill the king? "Absolutely not," Jo answers. Then Hunae comes in and scolds Gaeryeong some more about his not wanting the throne. Gaeryeong protests that now Daeryang is here; the queen favors Daeryang; and he's more qualified to be the king. And Gaeryeong says he wants the bloodshed and the antagonism to stop. "So please just leave me alone! Please!" And then he lapses into a seizure.
All of the ministers are outside the dead king's quarters, kneeling and moaning loudly.
We watch Sungjong's funeral procession. As we do, narration mentions Sungjong's major administrative reforms and touches on some of his other accomplishments. There were a LOT of significant accomplishments. Clearly this was a highly successful king (which we certainly didn't see much evidence of in the storyline, that's for sure).
Afterwards: Munhwa is sitting in her chambers, exhausted mentally and physically. But she's found new resolve. "I will get through this," she tells Escort Jo, "if only to get revenge. I will stop at nothing...And I will avenge the king's death." (She's apparently so angry that she can't think clearly enough to realize that the pill she gave him might have had something to do with it all.)
Hunae is sitting with Seo Hui, Gamchan and Choe Hang. A strange situation has developed: Gaeryeong doesn't want to be the king, but he's accepted the royal seal and helped oversee the memorial service. They discuss what to do and when to do it. For now, Hunae says, the most important issue is finding the fugitive officials who orchestrated the attempt to kill Gaeryeong. This is a tricky problem. Not prosecuting them is not an option, but an overzealous prosecution could be seen as revenge--and Hunae promised her brother that there would be no revenge taken. Gamchan suggests prosecuting them but imposing light sentences; the idea is accepted.
In the royal palace: Gaeryeong is getting drunk. Princess Sun tries to stop him, gently telling him that the royal successor shouldn't be drinking so aggressively. He angrily overturns his table and has a screaming, crying tantrum about not wanting the throne.
Yi Hyunoon is quietly summoned to see Munhwa. She asks him to bring Gaeryeong to her! Hyunoon rightly says he has no authority to pull that off, but Munhwa threatens to expose him for his snitching if he doesn't do it. Wow, that's gratitude for you. And we learn that Munhwa expects to leave the palace soon, for good.
Hunae tells Chiyang that for her brother's sake, she has no intention of hurting the queen. But Chiyang is sure that she was involved in the Myeongbok attack (How is he so sure?).
Dokyun has come to see Xiao Zanli. She tells her, "It's likely you will be sent out of the palace to live in a private residence." (Wow, that would be a stupid decision.) Zanli is disappointed with herself. "I came to Goryeo to create internal division," she says; "I would be worthless if I'm sent out of the palace." Hyeolmae is there and reminds Zanli that she hastened the king's death, so she accomplished the mission. But Zanli is concerned about the consequences for Liao if Hunae attains power as she apparently will. "Then you must find another partner," Dokyun advises, "and see what damage you can do." She suggests "an alliance of woeful women who have been driven out of the palace." Hmmm.
Hyunoon actually did it. Gaeryeong is drunk as a skunk, but Hyunoon somehow has brought him to Munhwa. The queen's daughter Jeong is with her now; she wants Jeong to meet Gaeryeong again (they were raised together, remember). But he doesn't care about Jeong; he wants to know if Munhwa had anything to do with the Myeongbok attack. Of course not, she says; "How could I do that to you when I raised you myself? Your mother is setting me up." And she might even try to kill me. You saw what she thinks of me: "She slapped me, the queen of the state, over the king's body." And she tells Gaeryeong, I don't care about my own life, but please protect your sister for me. This only annoys him; Stop overreacting, he tells her--I'm not going to let anyone die. And he storms out. But outside, he reflects on his upbringing in the palace with Jeong, and it seems to him calm down a bit. He goes to see his mother...
...and instead finds Hyangbi, with Prince Daeryang. Gaeryeong is surprisingly touched by seeing the little boy; turns out, he used to give Daeryang piggyback rides as a baby. (We have to trust him on that one, because we never saw it.) "It's good to see you," Gaeryeong says, tenderly hugging the boy. "You should have stayed where you were. This is a scary place. But I'm still glad you're back. I missed you very much." And it's as though Gaeryeong is suddenly a different person, so moved is he by his little cousin.
Wonsoong is in hiding, with Jo Sun and Jo Du. They've gradually been getting in contact with the other attack plotters. Wonsoong's in a bad financial situation, we learn, because his counterfeiting operation is at a standstill. Jo Sun suggests finding Choe Sum and meeting with him, but Wonsoong is much more concerned about his daughter's safety.
Elsewhere, we see Choe Sum, Kim Shumun, Yi Yang and Seol Shinyu, the four Shillan ministers, also in hiding. They're not sure what to do now. Maybe flee to Song China? They can't afford such a trip, but maybe Wonsoong can if they can locate him. Choe doesn't like the idea. "I don't want to run," he says. "Perhaps dying with the king we brought to the throne is the most dignified thing to do." But the others want to survive "to avenge this humiliation." (Don't know why they're humiliated.)
Hunae is still talking with Seo Hui, Gamchan and Choe Hang. She wants Goryeo declared an empire like it used to be. Seo and Choe urge caution, because of how the Khitans might react. She counters that it's a matter of national pride, and Gamchan supports her. But Gamchan also says, "What's most important is building substance befitting an empire." Hunae has some ideas about that. Strengthen the military, first off. Include military officials in state council meetings and include them in decision-making. And she asks the three for recommendations of "virtuous men" to fill leadership roles, regardless of their ancestry. During the discussion we learn that Park Yangyu, Yi Jibaek and Yi Gyeomui, who were exiled in Ep42 for involvement in or knowledge of the coup attempt, all died in exile. Hunae says she'll restore them to honor posthumously. Then Go Hyun enters, and tells Hunae that her son has asked to see her. (So I guess Go is working for Gaeryeong now.)
So she goes to him. "I'll abide by your wish," he tells her point-blank. "I'll take the throne." Doink! Wow, what a turnaround. "But there is one condition. Don't hurt the queen." She is the one who raised me. And let Prince Daeryang grow up here in the palace. (That's two conditions, genius.) That's all? Done, Hunae says. She asks to be his regent "until you are ready to take on state affairs yourself." Fine. And I don't want you to be a king, she tells him; I want you to be an emperor. "You must defeat Liao and rise above Song and make Goryeo a great empire. You must put your heart and soul into reclaiming the old Goguryeo territory." At that he turns cynical: "I'm sure you know exactly what to do, Mother." (It was very funny.) "I don't want such a loose answer," she tells him; eventually "you'll have to rule the country and fight the northern enemy yourself." She's clearly worried that he doesn't seem to care much for the idea.
We see the coronation ceremony. Banners, red carpet, fancy duds all around. The new king--uh, I mean new emperor--declares Goryeo an empire, and announces an amnesty for minor crimes and delinquent taxes. As the ceremony continues, narration tells us that the new King Mokjong gave his mother the title of Empress Ungcheon-gaesung-jeongdeok but that she eventually became known as Empress Cheonchu after the palace where she lived.
The Liao royal palace: Shengjong is shooting apples off of soldiers' shoulders again. He gets the news from Yelu Dilie about Goryeo's declaration of empire, and he doesn't like it one bit. "They lowered themselves to a kingdom when they were in alliance with Song, and they are refusing to do the same with us?" And when he hears it was Hunae's idea, well, that makes it all the worse. In a fit of pique, he shoots another arrow--right into the heart of one of his soldiers. What a sweetie. He orders Dilie to go back to Goryeo and "tell them that this is unacceptable. I am the only Emperor under this sky!" He's so mad, he looks like he's about to have a seizure himself.
We see the new king presiding over a state council meeting, most likely his first one. Hunae is next to him. He announces a bunch of new appointments, including the introduction of several new officials:
--Seo Hui, Chief of the Supreme Council
--Gang Gamchan, Minister of Rites
--Han Ingyeong, Minister of Finance
--Choe Hang, Royal Undersecretary
--Gang Jo, Minister of Military (concurrent with elevation to high general status)
--Dae Dosu, Minister of Punishment (ditto)
--Choe Suk (new), Vice Minister of Personnel
--Choe Wonshin (new), Vice Minister of Rites
--Hwangbo Yui (new), Vice Minister of Finance
--Chae Choongsun (new), Secretary of Home Affairs
Narration tells us a bit about the four new officials. Choe Suk: Son of Choe Seunglo, who was head of the Supreme Council early in Seongjong's reign. Choe Wonshin: son of Seongjong's master Choe Ryang, but "a rather imprudent character unlike his father." Chae Choongsun: "a high scholar with an incorruptible character." Hwangbo Yui: a relative of Hunae's (we're not given specifics).
Hunae tells Chiyang she has a position for him: First Secretary of the Office of National Ceremony. It's not all that high-ranking; she can't do more for him because he's a Jurchen "and I'm in the public eye." But Chiyang is grateful for the gesture and the position. And she assures him, "I will always be your woman no matter what. [And] I will tell the world someday that you are my partner and the man I love."
Subordinate officers offer congratulations to Gang Jo and Dae Dosu on their elevation. And the military men are understandably pleased that military officials will now be included in state council meetings. And Dae Dosu has some good news for them: promotions! Yu Bang, is now a general; Choe Jil and Kim Hoon are now colonels. No promotion for Yi Hyunoon; he's still a captain, and predictably whines about it. But there's no time to celebrate, Dae tells them; there's work to do tonight.
Evening: Yu Bang and subordinate soldiers barge into Queen Munhwa's chambers to tell her she's to pack and leave the palace immediately. She's to move to a villa that's been arranged for her outside of the palace.
Elsewhere, Choe Jil and Kim Hoon do the same to Xiao Zanli. A villa has been prepared for her too, and Hunae has ordered her "to live quietly as a common citizen of Goryeo." (Yes, former queens typically move out, but this was a bad move by Hunae. Typically rash and vindictive.)
We see Munhwa and her daughter leaving the palace. She laments her husband's death. It's terribly sad that it came to this. Mokjong is outside by himself and happens to see it all.
"Was this really necessary?" Mokjong confronts his mother about Munhwa being rushed out of the palace in the middle of the night. It's best that it be done quietly, Hunae tells him, and besides, "Do you know how I left the palace? I was carried out by the eunuch after passing out from wailing and screaming for the King to give me back my infant son." So that makes this okay, apparently.
Sa Illa is leaving Myeongbok; she's going to be a personal bodyguard of Hunae's and live in the palace. Merchant Yi asks her to put in a good word for him; he wants to live in the palace too. Then we're very surprised to see Steward Mun show up and ask to see Chiyang. This is a risky move; if anybody sees him there it could blow his cover. But no damage done. Inside, he finds Chiyang and tells him, "They're planning to flee to Song China. I thought you'd want to apprehend them before they do." And yes, Chiyang does. But do they do it themselves or do they alert the authorities? "We can turn everyone else over to the palace," Chiyang says, "but I must confront Choe Sum myself. This is what I've been waiting for."
"What? They've been located?" Sa illa has told Hunae that an anonymous note was received that pinpointed the location of the fugitives.
Soldiers enter a compound and apprehend Wonsoong, Kim Shimun, Yi Yang and Seol Shinyu. But no Choe Sum. Where is Choe? With a sword to his throat, Wonsoong tells the soldiers that Choe left early in the morning "to take care of something with his steward." But he doesn't know what, or where.
"Who do you want me to meet? Who is going to throw me a lifeline?" A puzzled Choe Sum is standing with Steward Mun outside somewhere, apparently in the middle of nowhere. Then Chiyang arrives. Choe stares quizzically at him. "Who might you be?"