Post by ajk on Oct 23, 2009 12:06:03 GMT -5
(This summary made possible by a grant from the mikey foundation.)
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Cheonchu is speechless. She's found her son sleeping in bed with Hangan, both apparently naked. She goes outside and orders Mokjong's retinue to keep its distance from the building (apparently they didn't know just what was going on in there). She staggers away to a secluded spot, falls to her knees and begins sobbing uncontrollably. Sa Illa has accompanied her through all this and wants to say something, anything, to comfort her, but there's nothing she can say.
Back inside: Mokjong was obviously awake when Cheonchu entered and only feigned sleeping. Talking out loud to himself, he apologizes: "I'm sorry, mother. But this is the only way I can get out of the palace. Forgive me."
Boju (today's Uiju), up north: Gang Jo's sword is still pointed at Chiyang. Jo demands to know what Chiyang was doing talking to the Khitan prime minister. We were discussing trading issues, Chiyang says angrily. Jo doesn't buy that for a moment, but then PM Han shows up and backs Chiyang up 100 percent. Jo doesn't believe Han either, but at this point all he can do is back off and let Chiyang go. (He made a big mistake confronting Chiyang right away; he should simply have gone back to Gamchan with the information. This is exactly why Gamchan should have sent somebody else (and I think this was sloppy writing because Gamchan is more than intelligent enough to know to send a specialized scout instead of Gang Jo).)
Chiyang and Sa Gamun are concerned about why Gang Jo showed up in Boju. Gamchan must have sent him, Chiyang concludes. Then Sa Gamun asks Chiyang if it's really a good idea to making any kind of alliance with Liao, but Chiyang isn't worried: "I can deal with the Khitan once Goryeo is ours."
PM Han has summoned Dokyun; he has a question. He wants to know the reason for the apparent tension between Gang Jo and Chiyang. Dokyun is fed up with his imposing on her and wants no more of it, but he leans on her--What if I tell Cheonchu that you were the poisoner?--and since it's just a simple question anyway, she answers it, telling him she believes Chiyang killed Jo's wife (correct) because she found out about the attempt on Prince Daeryang's life (incorrect).
Gang Jo tells Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae that he's suspicious: "The two highest officials of the state running into each other here at the border market by coincidence? Not a chance; they're up to something."
Cheonchu returns home. She's still visibly shaken and is pacing around. Empress Sunjeong visits her to ask about Mokjong, and she notices Cheonchu not looking well. But Cheonchu tells her everything is fine on both counts.
Three days later: Mokjong is still at the temple, and the morning state council meetings keep getting cancelled. Ministers speculate that Mokjong and his mother had an argument over the tax-rate adjustment, and that he's not at the temple as much to pray as he is to protest. And some of them whine about losing money if their take from their private lands is lowered. Choe Hang calls them on it: We're already paid a stipend, he reminds them, and the commoners have nothing else, plus they're the ones bearing the conscription burden. "We can afford to share a little." But some of them are just acting like babies about the whole thing.
Mokjong returns home; Hangan is walking by his side. Soldiers show up and arrest Hangan! Right there in front of the emperor. Cheonchu's orders.
Cheonchu has summoned her son, and he goes to see her. And he knows why: "Isn't it because of my relationship with Yu Hangan? Yes, mother. It's true. I slept with him." She's shocked at his casual attitude, but he goads her on, telling her he's not in his right mind, "it was better than sleeping with women," and he's given up on himself. And what's the difference anyway, if I can't father any children. It works: "If you didn't want the throne, you could've just stepped down." (But lady, you wouldn't let him do it; that was the whole problem.) By now she's crying and even pounding on his chest with her hand: "I suffered so much heartache and angst because of you. How could you do this to me? Kill me instead. Kill me, Emperor. Kill me!" (Ugh--resorting to the old maternal guilt. Sorry, lady, you've got nobody to blame but yourself. You knew he never wanted the job.)
Gamchan has returned to the capital from his trip north. Mokjong's attendant Yu Chungjeong informs him of Yu Hangan's arrest. Then he's summoned to see Cheonchu.
Cheonchu wants to know where Prince Daeryang is. Gamchan won't tell her! And is curious about why she's even asking. So Cheonchu drops a bomb: "I'm afraid the emperor is hopeless. He's trying to undo everything I've done. I can't let that happen." Her son has finally broken her, and she seems ready to put Daeryang on the throne. At that, Gamchan tells her that the boy is "in Yangju," but just as he's about to tell her exactly where in Yangju, he catches Sa Illa eavesdropping from outside the room. (You know this guy is special if he actually catches an eavesdropper. How often does that happen!) Fortunately for her, Go Hyun has just shown up, so she says she wasn't eavesdropping, she was on her way in to announce Go's arrival. Go tells Gamchan that the emperor wants to talk to him.
So he goes to see Mokjong. Mokjong tells him he knows his mother is planning to depose him. "And when she does," he tells Gamchan, "put Prince Daeryang on the throne. It can't be anyone else."
Sa Illa tells the whole story to Chiyang. So the whole Hangan-seduction plan worked, but not like Chiyang wanted it to because it will be Daeryang ascending to the throne and not Chiyang's son Hwangju. So now they have to try to find and kill Daeryang again, and do it ASAP. Where is he? Yangju is a big place. But Sa Gamun has an idea, because he says "I've been quietly keeping an eye on Gang Gamchan on my own." (How is that possible? We know nothing about this. Just throwing that in all of a sudden, that just seems like sloppy writing.) Turns out, whenever Gamchan goes to his hometown of Geumju, he takes a bit of an odd route so that he can rest in a place called Gumamchan. Why always there? Chiyang orders every temple in that area searched. Sloppy premise but some good deduction.
Sa Gamun very reluctantly asks Dokyun to "Make me the same poison that you tried to kill the empress dowager with." She won't do it until he tells her who it's for, so he tells her it's for Prince Daeryang. "Fine," she says, "but I'm coming with you. I'm not letting you go alone."
Gamchan warns Yang Kyu that Chiyang will be calling on him soon. Why? "It's not definite, but he might attempt an overthrow." Go along with him, Gamchan says, until he tips his hand. Then Ha Gongjin and Ji Chaemun arrive; Gamchan summoned them and wants them to go somewhere with him tomorrow. (Remember, when we first met these two they were protecting Daeryang at Sung-gyo Temple.)
Her exile lifted, Lady Yunheung returns to her villa in the capital. (I'm surprised it was still available for her; you'd have thought that it would have been seized upon her conviction.) Jo Sun tells her that Jeong "worked hard to take care of it for you." (But we were told that Jeong was living incognito in the outskirts of the city! Ugh.) She's happy to be back, but it's bittersweet because being here reminds her of her executed father. Jo Sun tells her, "Don't forget his last words, my lady. He said to bide your time and never give up. Someday... you will relive your glory again someday." Her spirits lift visibly at that idea. (I don't know, she was such a good character for so long, but this may be dragging it out too much. We'll see.)
Nighttime, Yangju Province: Sa Gamun and Dokyun are leading a group of men, presumably a hit squad. They stop two teenage boys and ask directions to Samcheon Temple and Shinhyeol Temple. The boys give directions and the group moves on. They boys are identified as Yi Bakdol and Jang Myeongil; they're waiting for someone. They see him and call out to him: "Sunjae!" Wait a minute, we know that name...it's Prince Daeryang! He's now a teenager, but Sunjae is the assumed name he took to cover his identity when he went north to study the priesthood in secret. Still within earshot, Sa Gamun hears them and stops to turn around, and he gets a good look at the new arrival before moving on. A very close call, but he doesn't recognize the prince so nothing happened.
"There is darkness among the stars." An older monk named Jin Gwan is looking up at the sky. This is probably at a temple. He's with another monk and asks him, "Where is Sunjae?" So it must be Shiyulsa Temple, where we saw Daeryang living in Ep58.
Why are the three boys outside so late at night? They're sneaking around like they're up to something, and indeed they are. We watch them sneak into someone's yard and steal chickens! The homeowner catches them and screams for help, sending the boys fleeing. Suddenly a small group of villagers with torches is chasing them (Seriously? Just like that!?). And they catch them.
Still nighttime: Sa Gamun and Dokyun, clad in black, are at Shinhyeol Temple. Sa Gamun is positive that Daeryang is either here or at Samcheon Temple. He's not as sure that he'll be able to recognize Daeryang, since Daeryang was a little boy when Sa Gamun last saw him.
Mokjong goes to see Hangan in jail. "I came to say I'm sorry. I used you. I let you near me to get away from this dreadful palace." And it worked, he says, even tearing up a bit as he talks, so I'll ask my mother to spare your life. But Hangan has a confession of his own: "Your Majesty...I have deceived you as well. The truth is, Kim Chiyang instructed me to seduce you." Doink! Mokjong has to digest that one for a moment. Hangan continues, "But my love for you is real." He goes on a bit about his feelings and even offers his own life to for Mokjong's reputation. "Renounce me and protect yourself." You wouldn't expect it, but in an odd way the total honesty here makes for a touching scene.
Cheonchu thinks back...Flashback to Ep6, after her son's birth, how moved King Gyeongjong (the father) was by the baby and how he promised to protect him, and her...Flashback ending, Cheonchu despairs over her not being able to protect Mokjong any more.
Liao: Yelu Dilu (the newly arrived general) is practice-fighting; he defeats Yelu Wuji and Su No simultaneously (but they really stink) and then impressively defeats Yelu Pennu (who looks like he's had some eyebrow work done to make himself look Vulcan. No kidding. Live long and prosper, pal).
Prime Minister Han goes to see his emperor, concerned about the apparent plans for war. "Must you defy the empress dowager's wish?" Xiao Baiya is there and backs up Shengzong like a good stooge, whereupon Han reminds him that his brother Xiao Sunning "was defeated in Goryeo because of his arrogance. But you're driven by that same arrogance in your desire to attack Goryeo." (Potential whopper of a continuity error here: We were told in the previous episode that Baiya had a brother who was defeated and died in Goryeo. If Sunning is that brother, and presumably he is, then not only did he not die in Goryeo, but we repeatedly saw him in Liao after the war! Among other things, he presented Xiao Zanli, the princess introduced as his daughter, to the royal court. Good heavens, what a monster-sized blunder this may be.) Baiya gives him the brush-off; Leave war to us professionals, basically. Shengzong is even less kind: You've always been like my father, he says; "I don't want to have to kill my own father." Yikes. Han asks Shengzong to at least give him time to see if his plan to incite division in Goryeo is successful.
Attendant Yu Chungjeong goes to Gang Jo and tells him that Mokjong will be deposed and an overthrow attempt by Chiyang might be imminent. And that Gamchan wants him to prepare the troops in case anything happens. A light goes on in Jo's head: "Then that meeting with Prime Minister Han...."
Shinhyeol Temple, the next morning: Sunjae is summoned to see Jin Gwan, who knows all about the chicken-stealing. (Okay, what's going on here? We were specifically given the name of Daeryang's temple in Ep58 as Shiyulsa Temple. Now we see this taking place at Shinhyeol Temple? AAAAAUGH!) Jin is apparently the head monk, and he's understandably angry at Daeryang for his shenanigans. "A disciple of Buddha stealing and killing a life to feed on meat?" (No, they need the eggs!) But there was a reason for it, Daeryang explains; Bakdol's mother is dying and her one wish is to eat a plate of meat. If that was a crime, he says, "I'll accept any punishment." Jin is still angry: "Your intentions were noble, but your method was wrong." And you're to be punished for it. He takes the boy outside and they walk outside and head over to the temple building, where Daeryang expects he'll receive some sort of punishment...
....as Sa Gamun and his group, all dressed in black, watch them. (It's daytime, people; all that black just makes you more conspicuous. Geez.) "It's him." Sa Gamun is sure that was Daeryang. The easiest thing now would be to just raid the building and slash him up, but Chiyang ordered no violence because it would trigger an investigation. No, they have to poison him. (So why bring a whole squad of people with you? Boy, there's a big stinker.) Dokyun says she can administer poison in an unsuspicious way that will make it look like he simply ate poisoned mushrooms. Hmmm....
Back inside the temple, we see Jin Gwan praying--alone. A subordinate arrives to tell him lunch is ready, and also asks where Sunjae is. No answer to #2, and as for #1, "I'm not hungry. Give it to the birds." The subordinate is puzzled; this isn't like Jin, to waste food. But he insists: "Just do as you're told. And tell everyone not to eat their rice."
Cheonchu breaks the news to the empress: Her husband will be deposed. She doesn't give Sunjeong the details, and tells her not to ask for them.
Back at the temple: There are dead birds all over the place. One of Sa Gamun's men is scouting the place and sees them.
Somewhere in the nearby woods: The squad concludes that ALL of the rice was fed to the birds. (How could they be sure of that?) They wonder if their plan had been tipped off, or just how somebody would have known to throw the rice away. We wonder that too, of course. But now they only have one option left: "Let's just kill the boy and deal with the consequences later." Dokyun is reluctant and advises backing off for the time being, but Sa Gamun says they have to get it done now. So they draw their swords and charge onto the temple grounds...
...and raid the temple building, where Jin Gwan is back praying. Sa Gamun demands to see Daeryang. Jin denies that anyone besides monks is in the building, and Sa Gamun seems to believe him...but only for a moment, because a quick search of the room turns up a secret passage behind the woodwork. Jin blocks the passage and tries to stop them, but Dokyun knocks him unconscious with a preposterously soft Miss Piggy karate chop. The squad charges into the passage and down some dark stairs....
The subordinate enters the temple and finds Jin out cold on the floor. Jin revives and weakly orders, "The village...Go to Bakdol's house. Sunjae is in danger. Hurry!"
The passage went underground and leads to an exit a good distance away from the building, apparently out in the village. The squad emerges and raids the homes nearby in a frantic search for the prince. Sa Gamun is about to kill a village woman to force information out of her husband, but just then Daeryang walks right onto the scene: "Why are you trying to hurt these innocent people? If you want to kill someone, kill me."
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Cheonchu is speechless. She's found her son sleeping in bed with Hangan, both apparently naked. She goes outside and orders Mokjong's retinue to keep its distance from the building (apparently they didn't know just what was going on in there). She staggers away to a secluded spot, falls to her knees and begins sobbing uncontrollably. Sa Illa has accompanied her through all this and wants to say something, anything, to comfort her, but there's nothing she can say.
Back inside: Mokjong was obviously awake when Cheonchu entered and only feigned sleeping. Talking out loud to himself, he apologizes: "I'm sorry, mother. But this is the only way I can get out of the palace. Forgive me."
Boju (today's Uiju), up north: Gang Jo's sword is still pointed at Chiyang. Jo demands to know what Chiyang was doing talking to the Khitan prime minister. We were discussing trading issues, Chiyang says angrily. Jo doesn't buy that for a moment, but then PM Han shows up and backs Chiyang up 100 percent. Jo doesn't believe Han either, but at this point all he can do is back off and let Chiyang go. (He made a big mistake confronting Chiyang right away; he should simply have gone back to Gamchan with the information. This is exactly why Gamchan should have sent somebody else (and I think this was sloppy writing because Gamchan is more than intelligent enough to know to send a specialized scout instead of Gang Jo).)
Chiyang and Sa Gamun are concerned about why Gang Jo showed up in Boju. Gamchan must have sent him, Chiyang concludes. Then Sa Gamun asks Chiyang if it's really a good idea to making any kind of alliance with Liao, but Chiyang isn't worried: "I can deal with the Khitan once Goryeo is ours."
PM Han has summoned Dokyun; he has a question. He wants to know the reason for the apparent tension between Gang Jo and Chiyang. Dokyun is fed up with his imposing on her and wants no more of it, but he leans on her--What if I tell Cheonchu that you were the poisoner?--and since it's just a simple question anyway, she answers it, telling him she believes Chiyang killed Jo's wife (correct) because she found out about the attempt on Prince Daeryang's life (incorrect).
Gang Jo tells Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae that he's suspicious: "The two highest officials of the state running into each other here at the border market by coincidence? Not a chance; they're up to something."
Cheonchu returns home. She's still visibly shaken and is pacing around. Empress Sunjeong visits her to ask about Mokjong, and she notices Cheonchu not looking well. But Cheonchu tells her everything is fine on both counts.
Three days later: Mokjong is still at the temple, and the morning state council meetings keep getting cancelled. Ministers speculate that Mokjong and his mother had an argument over the tax-rate adjustment, and that he's not at the temple as much to pray as he is to protest. And some of them whine about losing money if their take from their private lands is lowered. Choe Hang calls them on it: We're already paid a stipend, he reminds them, and the commoners have nothing else, plus they're the ones bearing the conscription burden. "We can afford to share a little." But some of them are just acting like babies about the whole thing.
Mokjong returns home; Hangan is walking by his side. Soldiers show up and arrest Hangan! Right there in front of the emperor. Cheonchu's orders.
Cheonchu has summoned her son, and he goes to see her. And he knows why: "Isn't it because of my relationship with Yu Hangan? Yes, mother. It's true. I slept with him." She's shocked at his casual attitude, but he goads her on, telling her he's not in his right mind, "it was better than sleeping with women," and he's given up on himself. And what's the difference anyway, if I can't father any children. It works: "If you didn't want the throne, you could've just stepped down." (But lady, you wouldn't let him do it; that was the whole problem.) By now she's crying and even pounding on his chest with her hand: "I suffered so much heartache and angst because of you. How could you do this to me? Kill me instead. Kill me, Emperor. Kill me!" (Ugh--resorting to the old maternal guilt. Sorry, lady, you've got nobody to blame but yourself. You knew he never wanted the job.)
Gamchan has returned to the capital from his trip north. Mokjong's attendant Yu Chungjeong informs him of Yu Hangan's arrest. Then he's summoned to see Cheonchu.
Cheonchu wants to know where Prince Daeryang is. Gamchan won't tell her! And is curious about why she's even asking. So Cheonchu drops a bomb: "I'm afraid the emperor is hopeless. He's trying to undo everything I've done. I can't let that happen." Her son has finally broken her, and she seems ready to put Daeryang on the throne. At that, Gamchan tells her that the boy is "in Yangju," but just as he's about to tell her exactly where in Yangju, he catches Sa Illa eavesdropping from outside the room. (You know this guy is special if he actually catches an eavesdropper. How often does that happen!) Fortunately for her, Go Hyun has just shown up, so she says she wasn't eavesdropping, she was on her way in to announce Go's arrival. Go tells Gamchan that the emperor wants to talk to him.
So he goes to see Mokjong. Mokjong tells him he knows his mother is planning to depose him. "And when she does," he tells Gamchan, "put Prince Daeryang on the throne. It can't be anyone else."
Sa Illa tells the whole story to Chiyang. So the whole Hangan-seduction plan worked, but not like Chiyang wanted it to because it will be Daeryang ascending to the throne and not Chiyang's son Hwangju. So now they have to try to find and kill Daeryang again, and do it ASAP. Where is he? Yangju is a big place. But Sa Gamun has an idea, because he says "I've been quietly keeping an eye on Gang Gamchan on my own." (How is that possible? We know nothing about this. Just throwing that in all of a sudden, that just seems like sloppy writing.) Turns out, whenever Gamchan goes to his hometown of Geumju, he takes a bit of an odd route so that he can rest in a place called Gumamchan. Why always there? Chiyang orders every temple in that area searched. Sloppy premise but some good deduction.
Sa Gamun very reluctantly asks Dokyun to "Make me the same poison that you tried to kill the empress dowager with." She won't do it until he tells her who it's for, so he tells her it's for Prince Daeryang. "Fine," she says, "but I'm coming with you. I'm not letting you go alone."
Gamchan warns Yang Kyu that Chiyang will be calling on him soon. Why? "It's not definite, but he might attempt an overthrow." Go along with him, Gamchan says, until he tips his hand. Then Ha Gongjin and Ji Chaemun arrive; Gamchan summoned them and wants them to go somewhere with him tomorrow. (Remember, when we first met these two they were protecting Daeryang at Sung-gyo Temple.)
Her exile lifted, Lady Yunheung returns to her villa in the capital. (I'm surprised it was still available for her; you'd have thought that it would have been seized upon her conviction.) Jo Sun tells her that Jeong "worked hard to take care of it for you." (But we were told that Jeong was living incognito in the outskirts of the city! Ugh.) She's happy to be back, but it's bittersweet because being here reminds her of her executed father. Jo Sun tells her, "Don't forget his last words, my lady. He said to bide your time and never give up. Someday... you will relive your glory again someday." Her spirits lift visibly at that idea. (I don't know, she was such a good character for so long, but this may be dragging it out too much. We'll see.)
Nighttime, Yangju Province: Sa Gamun and Dokyun are leading a group of men, presumably a hit squad. They stop two teenage boys and ask directions to Samcheon Temple and Shinhyeol Temple. The boys give directions and the group moves on. They boys are identified as Yi Bakdol and Jang Myeongil; they're waiting for someone. They see him and call out to him: "Sunjae!" Wait a minute, we know that name...it's Prince Daeryang! He's now a teenager, but Sunjae is the assumed name he took to cover his identity when he went north to study the priesthood in secret. Still within earshot, Sa Gamun hears them and stops to turn around, and he gets a good look at the new arrival before moving on. A very close call, but he doesn't recognize the prince so nothing happened.
"There is darkness among the stars." An older monk named Jin Gwan is looking up at the sky. This is probably at a temple. He's with another monk and asks him, "Where is Sunjae?" So it must be Shiyulsa Temple, where we saw Daeryang living in Ep58.
Why are the three boys outside so late at night? They're sneaking around like they're up to something, and indeed they are. We watch them sneak into someone's yard and steal chickens! The homeowner catches them and screams for help, sending the boys fleeing. Suddenly a small group of villagers with torches is chasing them (Seriously? Just like that!?). And they catch them.
Still nighttime: Sa Gamun and Dokyun, clad in black, are at Shinhyeol Temple. Sa Gamun is positive that Daeryang is either here or at Samcheon Temple. He's not as sure that he'll be able to recognize Daeryang, since Daeryang was a little boy when Sa Gamun last saw him.
Mokjong goes to see Hangan in jail. "I came to say I'm sorry. I used you. I let you near me to get away from this dreadful palace." And it worked, he says, even tearing up a bit as he talks, so I'll ask my mother to spare your life. But Hangan has a confession of his own: "Your Majesty...I have deceived you as well. The truth is, Kim Chiyang instructed me to seduce you." Doink! Mokjong has to digest that one for a moment. Hangan continues, "But my love for you is real." He goes on a bit about his feelings and even offers his own life to for Mokjong's reputation. "Renounce me and protect yourself." You wouldn't expect it, but in an odd way the total honesty here makes for a touching scene.
Cheonchu thinks back...Flashback to Ep6, after her son's birth, how moved King Gyeongjong (the father) was by the baby and how he promised to protect him, and her...Flashback ending, Cheonchu despairs over her not being able to protect Mokjong any more.
Liao: Yelu Dilu (the newly arrived general) is practice-fighting; he defeats Yelu Wuji and Su No simultaneously (but they really stink) and then impressively defeats Yelu Pennu (who looks like he's had some eyebrow work done to make himself look Vulcan. No kidding. Live long and prosper, pal).
Prime Minister Han goes to see his emperor, concerned about the apparent plans for war. "Must you defy the empress dowager's wish?" Xiao Baiya is there and backs up Shengzong like a good stooge, whereupon Han reminds him that his brother Xiao Sunning "was defeated in Goryeo because of his arrogance. But you're driven by that same arrogance in your desire to attack Goryeo." (Potential whopper of a continuity error here: We were told in the previous episode that Baiya had a brother who was defeated and died in Goryeo. If Sunning is that brother, and presumably he is, then not only did he not die in Goryeo, but we repeatedly saw him in Liao after the war! Among other things, he presented Xiao Zanli, the princess introduced as his daughter, to the royal court. Good heavens, what a monster-sized blunder this may be.) Baiya gives him the brush-off; Leave war to us professionals, basically. Shengzong is even less kind: You've always been like my father, he says; "I don't want to have to kill my own father." Yikes. Han asks Shengzong to at least give him time to see if his plan to incite division in Goryeo is successful.
Attendant Yu Chungjeong goes to Gang Jo and tells him that Mokjong will be deposed and an overthrow attempt by Chiyang might be imminent. And that Gamchan wants him to prepare the troops in case anything happens. A light goes on in Jo's head: "Then that meeting with Prime Minister Han...."
Shinhyeol Temple, the next morning: Sunjae is summoned to see Jin Gwan, who knows all about the chicken-stealing. (Okay, what's going on here? We were specifically given the name of Daeryang's temple in Ep58 as Shiyulsa Temple. Now we see this taking place at Shinhyeol Temple? AAAAAUGH!) Jin is apparently the head monk, and he's understandably angry at Daeryang for his shenanigans. "A disciple of Buddha stealing and killing a life to feed on meat?" (No, they need the eggs!) But there was a reason for it, Daeryang explains; Bakdol's mother is dying and her one wish is to eat a plate of meat. If that was a crime, he says, "I'll accept any punishment." Jin is still angry: "Your intentions were noble, but your method was wrong." And you're to be punished for it. He takes the boy outside and they walk outside and head over to the temple building, where Daeryang expects he'll receive some sort of punishment...
....as Sa Gamun and his group, all dressed in black, watch them. (It's daytime, people; all that black just makes you more conspicuous. Geez.) "It's him." Sa Gamun is sure that was Daeryang. The easiest thing now would be to just raid the building and slash him up, but Chiyang ordered no violence because it would trigger an investigation. No, they have to poison him. (So why bring a whole squad of people with you? Boy, there's a big stinker.) Dokyun says she can administer poison in an unsuspicious way that will make it look like he simply ate poisoned mushrooms. Hmmm....
Back inside the temple, we see Jin Gwan praying--alone. A subordinate arrives to tell him lunch is ready, and also asks where Sunjae is. No answer to #2, and as for #1, "I'm not hungry. Give it to the birds." The subordinate is puzzled; this isn't like Jin, to waste food. But he insists: "Just do as you're told. And tell everyone not to eat their rice."
Cheonchu breaks the news to the empress: Her husband will be deposed. She doesn't give Sunjeong the details, and tells her not to ask for them.
Back at the temple: There are dead birds all over the place. One of Sa Gamun's men is scouting the place and sees them.
Somewhere in the nearby woods: The squad concludes that ALL of the rice was fed to the birds. (How could they be sure of that?) They wonder if their plan had been tipped off, or just how somebody would have known to throw the rice away. We wonder that too, of course. But now they only have one option left: "Let's just kill the boy and deal with the consequences later." Dokyun is reluctant and advises backing off for the time being, but Sa Gamun says they have to get it done now. So they draw their swords and charge onto the temple grounds...
...and raid the temple building, where Jin Gwan is back praying. Sa Gamun demands to see Daeryang. Jin denies that anyone besides monks is in the building, and Sa Gamun seems to believe him...but only for a moment, because a quick search of the room turns up a secret passage behind the woodwork. Jin blocks the passage and tries to stop them, but Dokyun knocks him unconscious with a preposterously soft Miss Piggy karate chop. The squad charges into the passage and down some dark stairs....
The subordinate enters the temple and finds Jin out cold on the floor. Jin revives and weakly orders, "The village...Go to Bakdol's house. Sunjae is in danger. Hurry!"
The passage went underground and leads to an exit a good distance away from the building, apparently out in the village. The squad emerges and raids the homes nearby in a frantic search for the prince. Sa Gamun is about to kill a village woman to force information out of her husband, but just then Daeryang walks right onto the scene: "Why are you trying to hurt these innocent people? If you want to kill someone, kill me."