Post by TheBo on Jul 31, 2011 13:43:53 GMT -5
Ep.20:
San makes his entrance and takes his “regent” seat a little lower than, and to stage front left of, Yeong-jo’s seat. Y-J tells them all to talk to the hand. Er, the prince. San starts the meeting.
The ladies of the palace receive the report that San started the meeting, and Princess and the Queen are sure San will now go after them. At the meeting, they discuss the black market in the capital. The legal merchants have rights of seizure and arrest over the black market merchants (the peddlers), and the court wants to strengthen those rights. San appears to ask stupid questions about the arrests and seizures, then points out that no merchants are supposed to have those rights. They were transferred to court departments so the legal merchants would not abuse the peddlers, who are mostly poor and scrabbling to make a living. He asks why the ministers want to strengthen rights that the merchants are illegally wielding. Are the ministers taking bribes from them?
Sir Choi says it’s the custom, and new laws take time to be accepted. Jeong points out that Y-J even allowed this. Y-J says, San’s in charge now, don’t talk about me, and tells San to continue. San says the reason the ship of state is a mess is that the ministers lack the will to change wrong customs and practices. San demands proposals from all the court departments for reform, and personally will visit each department to check on this. Sour looks all around.
In Yeong-jo’s office, the king cackles over San’s superior ability to mock the ministers. Sir Chae seems uncomfortable. San asks if he did okay, and Y-J again abjures him to worry about the people’s, not anyone else’s, opinion of his rulings. San leaves. Sir Chae asks permission to speak freely, then asks Y-J why he isn’t telling San the very important thing Chae is certain Y-J wants to tell him. Y-J says you have to have patience, no one can do everything they want to do at once.
At a Noron meeting, the ministers are all angry at San’s wanting to talk to their underlings, as if they’d have anything useful to say, and at his trying to stop them from promoting their own sons. Jeong points out that these things are not important; what’s important is first he’s going after the Norons’ money; then who knows what he’ll do to them.
San and Hong confer. Hong will be promoted as a junior minister of inspections. San wants him to root out the relationships between the merchants and the Norons they are bribing, so that the poor do not suffer any more under this system. Hong advises it’ll be tough; “If you take food from a dog, it might even bite its master.” Yep, says San, but I’m a fast runner. Ha ha.
Sir Choi and Off Jeong strategize. They send scribe (now Inspector) Hong’s distant relative, who is also San’s traitor uncle, to befriend and spy on Hong (these two hate each other). They secretly meet with officers of the court to stymie San’s investigations. The Norons believe they are better rulers of the court than the king or San.
Minister Hong tries to reconcile with Inspector Hong with a gift of tiger fur. Inspector is suspicious and laughs at his relative, but the minister says he is unable to help San directly so he wants to help Inspector to help San. He tells the younger man to come to him for advice any time.
Jeong hears from his pet painter (Mr. Kang) that head painter Park let Song paint the screens. They are both disturbed. Jeong asks Kang to tell everyone about it so Park gets into trouble and so will Song.
In the meantime, Song is having trouble with her assignment because Buddha’s hand (“fingered”) citron is rare and expensive, so she doesn’t have any reference except a painting in a book. For this painting, she receives reluctant praise from Mr. Tak but a scolding from Officer Park, who is very disappointed. Park gives her one more day to come up with something that has some joy in it.
Kang stirs up Dowahseo and they all come to demand from Park why a mere damo is painting the screen. Kang is on the side of status (his) and the status quo; Park just wants results. Park calls Kang a loser and sends everyone home. The artists sign a petition; it looks like Sponsor Lee will cave in to pressure and sign, but he pretends to have a stomachache/sudden diarrhea and smears the ink of the petition instead. He also accidentally soils himself.
Song apologizes to officer Park and offers to stop drawing for his sake. Park says things is rotten at Dowahseo, this had to happen sooner or later, he has his own plans so don’t worry about it.
San meets with his first group of lower-ranking officials and believes they’ll talk all night. Hyeoui comes to see him at his quarters and learns he won’t be home until very late. San and the officers seem to have a fruitful conversation, and then San goes to Hong’s office, where he sees they have a lot of petitions from one government division saying San has his head up his butt. He learns all the other divisions will also mount protests. Hong doesn’t know what the problem is because they expected kickback; Sir Chae thinks the reformation effort is too hasty. San thinks it’s just because of money and vested interests. He gets another group of petitions, including one from Dowahseo.
At Uncle’s shop, the tavern lady insists on helping him out. She gives him a little invite; he tries to let her know he’s a eunuch but fails. She thinks he’s just not in the mood, then asks if he really doesn’t want her. Uncle finally confesses his condition, but she doesn’t understand what he’s saying.
At home, Dae-su sees Song is still up very late. She’s trying to paint the citrons, but is having trouble getting started because of the protest. Next day, Officer Park learns from Lady Hye that word is getting around about troubles at Dowahseo. Lady Hye is insulted a damo is doing the painting, and insists he let the artists do it even after he explains Song is more talented than them. Lady Hyeoui, who is present, looks thoughtful.
At Dowahseo, Song and Officer Park are arrested for their daring activities by the third minister of rites. Painter Kang smirks. As they are about to be dragged away, San walks into the yard and demands to know what’s up. He knows all about the situation. In Park’s office, San tells Park, the minister, the head artists and the painter representing the Dowahseo petitioners (Kang) that he got a petition from Dowahseo (probably Park) saying talented non-nobles and women should be given a chance to be trained. The minister thinks it’s unreasonable, because if you’re of lowly status, you can’t possibly have finer feelings. He thinks San’s being sentimental and doesn’t know how things work. San proposes Song be allowed to compete against the other artists.
There is such a competition, and the artists agree if she makes the top 5, they won’t complain about her. Cho-bi thinks she hasn’t a chance, and Mr. Lee says the other artists think so, too, so they think this is an easy way to go against the prince but not lose their heads.
Naturally, Song runs to Park and tries to worm her way out of the competition. He scolds her for throwing away her one chance to be a painter. She confesses she wants to do it, but that she’s lost all faith in her own abilities since being assigned the citron painting.
Lady Kim, livid on Hyeoui’s behalf, tells H all about the ruckus at Dowahseo. She thinks San must have feelings for Song. Again, H looks thoughtful.
Princess is delighted to learn San is involved with a damo. Jeong thinks San will be humiliated when this contest blows up in his face.
Park shows Song’s bad citron painting to San. She’s not fulfilling her promise. If Song paints like this in the contest, she’ll only be frowned upon.
Uncle buys some expensive paper from another peddler; it turns out Uncle’s shop is not licensed, so he has to avoid the licensed merchants. As he comes up to his shop, he sees the supplies being emptied from it. Another merchant, who is licensed and has a monopoly, has come to shut him down and confiscate his goods. Uncle begs for mercy and gets a club in the side for his trouble.
Inspector Hong happens upon this scene, takes Uncle home and summons Dae-su. D-S promises to steal back the supplies and beat up the merchant. Hong has a better way; he asks Uncle to gather up the peddlers for a meeting.
Hong reports to San. The peddlers should be willing to pay taxes for the right to operate without interference; Hong has three days to organize things. Hong asks about Dowahseo. He cautions San that if the damo doesn’t do well, San’s walked into a trap. San discusses that he wants Song to open up Dowahseo to other artists, but it may be too large a burden on her.
Dae-su goes home and finds San is visiting Song. San tells her to stop worrying about pleasing anyone, that she can do it later if she fails this time. She should think about happy times when she paints. He jokingly offers to put a magic spell on the brush he had given to her. She seems happy.
Painter Kang “checks on” the competition paints. He later advises Off. Jeong’s man that he tampered with Song’s paint and she’ll be in big trouble the next day.
Next day, the damo discuss Song’s chances. They hope she’ll succeed so they’ll have a chance to paint, too, but Cho-bi is negative.
At the artists’ pavilion, Song is met with angry snubs, except sponsor Lee wishes her good luck under his breath. The competition begins; the subject is “Autumn Scenery.” Song notices her paints have been spoiled. She reports it to painter Kang, who, of course, sees nothing wrong with them and accuses her of trying to find an excuse for her bad painting. Song backs off, then remembers San’s encouragement and starts to paint. She hands in her painting without color on it.
During the judging, one judge is angry she didn’t use color and tosses it away. Another, however, takes the painting and studies it closely. The results are in. Song gets fifth place; San arrives to hear the result.
San makes his entrance and takes his “regent” seat a little lower than, and to stage front left of, Yeong-jo’s seat. Y-J tells them all to talk to the hand. Er, the prince. San starts the meeting.
The ladies of the palace receive the report that San started the meeting, and Princess and the Queen are sure San will now go after them. At the meeting, they discuss the black market in the capital. The legal merchants have rights of seizure and arrest over the black market merchants (the peddlers), and the court wants to strengthen those rights. San appears to ask stupid questions about the arrests and seizures, then points out that no merchants are supposed to have those rights. They were transferred to court departments so the legal merchants would not abuse the peddlers, who are mostly poor and scrabbling to make a living. He asks why the ministers want to strengthen rights that the merchants are illegally wielding. Are the ministers taking bribes from them?
Sir Choi says it’s the custom, and new laws take time to be accepted. Jeong points out that Y-J even allowed this. Y-J says, San’s in charge now, don’t talk about me, and tells San to continue. San says the reason the ship of state is a mess is that the ministers lack the will to change wrong customs and practices. San demands proposals from all the court departments for reform, and personally will visit each department to check on this. Sour looks all around.
In Yeong-jo’s office, the king cackles over San’s superior ability to mock the ministers. Sir Chae seems uncomfortable. San asks if he did okay, and Y-J again abjures him to worry about the people’s, not anyone else’s, opinion of his rulings. San leaves. Sir Chae asks permission to speak freely, then asks Y-J why he isn’t telling San the very important thing Chae is certain Y-J wants to tell him. Y-J says you have to have patience, no one can do everything they want to do at once.
At a Noron meeting, the ministers are all angry at San’s wanting to talk to their underlings, as if they’d have anything useful to say, and at his trying to stop them from promoting their own sons. Jeong points out that these things are not important; what’s important is first he’s going after the Norons’ money; then who knows what he’ll do to them.
San and Hong confer. Hong will be promoted as a junior minister of inspections. San wants him to root out the relationships between the merchants and the Norons they are bribing, so that the poor do not suffer any more under this system. Hong advises it’ll be tough; “If you take food from a dog, it might even bite its master.” Yep, says San, but I’m a fast runner. Ha ha.
Sir Choi and Off Jeong strategize. They send scribe (now Inspector) Hong’s distant relative, who is also San’s traitor uncle, to befriend and spy on Hong (these two hate each other). They secretly meet with officers of the court to stymie San’s investigations. The Norons believe they are better rulers of the court than the king or San.
Minister Hong tries to reconcile with Inspector Hong with a gift of tiger fur. Inspector is suspicious and laughs at his relative, but the minister says he is unable to help San directly so he wants to help Inspector to help San. He tells the younger man to come to him for advice any time.
Jeong hears from his pet painter (Mr. Kang) that head painter Park let Song paint the screens. They are both disturbed. Jeong asks Kang to tell everyone about it so Park gets into trouble and so will Song.
In the meantime, Song is having trouble with her assignment because Buddha’s hand (“fingered”) citron is rare and expensive, so she doesn’t have any reference except a painting in a book. For this painting, she receives reluctant praise from Mr. Tak but a scolding from Officer Park, who is very disappointed. Park gives her one more day to come up with something that has some joy in it.
Kang stirs up Dowahseo and they all come to demand from Park why a mere damo is painting the screen. Kang is on the side of status (his) and the status quo; Park just wants results. Park calls Kang a loser and sends everyone home. The artists sign a petition; it looks like Sponsor Lee will cave in to pressure and sign, but he pretends to have a stomachache/sudden diarrhea and smears the ink of the petition instead. He also accidentally soils himself.
Song apologizes to officer Park and offers to stop drawing for his sake. Park says things is rotten at Dowahseo, this had to happen sooner or later, he has his own plans so don’t worry about it.
San meets with his first group of lower-ranking officials and believes they’ll talk all night. Hyeoui comes to see him at his quarters and learns he won’t be home until very late. San and the officers seem to have a fruitful conversation, and then San goes to Hong’s office, where he sees they have a lot of petitions from one government division saying San has his head up his butt. He learns all the other divisions will also mount protests. Hong doesn’t know what the problem is because they expected kickback; Sir Chae thinks the reformation effort is too hasty. San thinks it’s just because of money and vested interests. He gets another group of petitions, including one from Dowahseo.
At Uncle’s shop, the tavern lady insists on helping him out. She gives him a little invite; he tries to let her know he’s a eunuch but fails. She thinks he’s just not in the mood, then asks if he really doesn’t want her. Uncle finally confesses his condition, but she doesn’t understand what he’s saying.
At home, Dae-su sees Song is still up very late. She’s trying to paint the citrons, but is having trouble getting started because of the protest. Next day, Officer Park learns from Lady Hye that word is getting around about troubles at Dowahseo. Lady Hye is insulted a damo is doing the painting, and insists he let the artists do it even after he explains Song is more talented than them. Lady Hyeoui, who is present, looks thoughtful.
At Dowahseo, Song and Officer Park are arrested for their daring activities by the third minister of rites. Painter Kang smirks. As they are about to be dragged away, San walks into the yard and demands to know what’s up. He knows all about the situation. In Park’s office, San tells Park, the minister, the head artists and the painter representing the Dowahseo petitioners (Kang) that he got a petition from Dowahseo (probably Park) saying talented non-nobles and women should be given a chance to be trained. The minister thinks it’s unreasonable, because if you’re of lowly status, you can’t possibly have finer feelings. He thinks San’s being sentimental and doesn’t know how things work. San proposes Song be allowed to compete against the other artists.
There is such a competition, and the artists agree if she makes the top 5, they won’t complain about her. Cho-bi thinks she hasn’t a chance, and Mr. Lee says the other artists think so, too, so they think this is an easy way to go against the prince but not lose their heads.
Naturally, Song runs to Park and tries to worm her way out of the competition. He scolds her for throwing away her one chance to be a painter. She confesses she wants to do it, but that she’s lost all faith in her own abilities since being assigned the citron painting.
Lady Kim, livid on Hyeoui’s behalf, tells H all about the ruckus at Dowahseo. She thinks San must have feelings for Song. Again, H looks thoughtful.
Princess is delighted to learn San is involved with a damo. Jeong thinks San will be humiliated when this contest blows up in his face.
Park shows Song’s bad citron painting to San. She’s not fulfilling her promise. If Song paints like this in the contest, she’ll only be frowned upon.
Uncle buys some expensive paper from another peddler; it turns out Uncle’s shop is not licensed, so he has to avoid the licensed merchants. As he comes up to his shop, he sees the supplies being emptied from it. Another merchant, who is licensed and has a monopoly, has come to shut him down and confiscate his goods. Uncle begs for mercy and gets a club in the side for his trouble.
Inspector Hong happens upon this scene, takes Uncle home and summons Dae-su. D-S promises to steal back the supplies and beat up the merchant. Hong has a better way; he asks Uncle to gather up the peddlers for a meeting.
Hong reports to San. The peddlers should be willing to pay taxes for the right to operate without interference; Hong has three days to organize things. Hong asks about Dowahseo. He cautions San that if the damo doesn’t do well, San’s walked into a trap. San discusses that he wants Song to open up Dowahseo to other artists, but it may be too large a burden on her.
Dae-su goes home and finds San is visiting Song. San tells her to stop worrying about pleasing anyone, that she can do it later if she fails this time. She should think about happy times when she paints. He jokingly offers to put a magic spell on the brush he had given to her. She seems happy.
Painter Kang “checks on” the competition paints. He later advises Off. Jeong’s man that he tampered with Song’s paint and she’ll be in big trouble the next day.
Next day, the damo discuss Song’s chances. They hope she’ll succeed so they’ll have a chance to paint, too, but Cho-bi is negative.
At the artists’ pavilion, Song is met with angry snubs, except sponsor Lee wishes her good luck under his breath. The competition begins; the subject is “Autumn Scenery.” Song notices her paints have been spoiled. She reports it to painter Kang, who, of course, sees nothing wrong with them and accuses her of trying to find an excuse for her bad painting. Song backs off, then remembers San’s encouragement and starts to paint. She hands in her painting without color on it.
During the judging, one judge is angry she didn’t use color and tosses it away. Another, however, takes the painting and studies it closely. The results are in. Song gets fifth place; San arrives to hear the result.