Post by ajk on Sept 20, 2013 21:55:06 GMT -5
The newlyweds are still riding through the countryside; seem to be getting along better and better. Looks like Botap is willing to give this a chance. Eventually they end up in the middle of a tribe of Mongol herdsmen, who welcome Botap with wild enthusiasm. Obviously they know who she is.
"Anywhere they go, a cloud of people flock together to meet them?!" Empress Gi has gotten wind of that, somewhow--and doesn't like the sound of it. Now look who's come to visit her: Princess Deoknyeong. The empress doesn't seem to care; she's preoccupied with the idea that Botap is out there firing up the northern tribes to help the crown prince's cause (instead of just going out on a trip for their honeymoon, which we learn is why they're out there). She's convinced of it, in fact. But she at least manages to offer a few kind words to her guest. "You're always welcome here. If anything troubles you, let me know."
Evening: The newlyweds got themselves a tent from someplace and have set it up near a pond. As they sit by the water, surprisingly Botap puts her head on the prince's shoulder. He takes her hand. Later, inside, we see they have separate beds...but Botap decides it's time. She even got some Goryean-style bedclothes for it. Yow-wee she looks fine. She pours the prince some wine; it's a Mongol tradition for a bride to do this. Gangneung sips, and offers her the cup right back--Goryeans are more equal about this sort of thing, he explains. She closes her eyes and they kiss for the first time. Gangneung confesses he was prepared to wait ten years for this. At that she just about jumps him. "I haven't erased that man from my heart yet," she confesses. "But I'll treat and serve you like heaven."
"Tibetan temple (Potala, Lhasa)": That's what the caption says. It's an impressive place, as our three monks can see as they walk around. Elaborate prayer rituals going on. Also some of the famous Tibetan sandpainting (see link) being done there; a mandala design (see link) that we see being completed, and then swept away by hand as sandpainters do.
Later, Pyeonjo asks one of the senior monks a question. "A Lama monk I met in Yanjing told me that if I came here, I'd be able to learn all sorts of witchcraft and incantations." He explains that his homeland of Goryeo is in difficult shape, and that he wants to acquire those powers "to change our world." The monk laughs. Our land is impoverished just like yours is, he says, and turns to leave. Pyeonjo appeals to him again. No answer.
Nighttime: The three monks have been given a simple room to stay in. Won and Jihyo are asleep; Pyeonjo is studying books. Looks like the senior monk helped him out after all.
Gaetae Temple: Master Bou has come to visit Wolseon. He's worried that Buddhism is fading in Goryeo and wants the old man's advice on how to reinvigorate it. He gets a strange, rambling answer mainly about how Bou needs to step down off his pedestal, which Wolseon then immediately takes back and says it's just levity from an old grump. (But you have to think he really means it.) Then, while we get a glimpse of Deokun tending to baby Ban Ya, Bou tells Wolseon about rumors of Pyeonjo having survived the ship disaster. Reliable rumors. Wolseon had resigned himself to Pyeonjo's death; he wonders why the monk didn't come back to him. (Uh, you're the one who sent him away, remember?) But suddenly there's a wet baby needing a change.
Later, Wolseon manages to climb to the top of a tall overlook, and shouts into the distance. "You cruel fool! If you're alive, contact me and let me know at least!"
Back in Lhasa: Those books Pyeonjo was reading, the senior monk did loan them to him. Fifteen of them at least, and Pyeonjo's finished them all. Fast reader. He returns them to the senior monk, and gets another armload of books about incantations. Not to be used on people, he's warned.
Now we see Pyeonjo and Won wearing red Lamaist monk robes instead of the brown we're used to seeing them in. Jihyo, nope. He's prepared to leave Lhasa and travel on. He wants to follow in the footsteps of Hyecho (see link), a famous monk from the days of the Shilla kingdom who made it all the way to India. "But will that be possible?" He's about to find out, because with a smile to his two companions he turns and leaves them--and leaves Potala Temple. Have a good trip, buddy.
Emperor Shundi and Empress Gi are receiving Gangneung and Botap. Looks like the emperor has never met Gangneung before. "Are you the lucky man who married the lovely Botap Shili?" The prince bows and introduces himself. Then Botap asks the emperor for a wedding present! He had promised, a long time ago, and he remembers with a laugh. Apparently they go back a long way. "When she was this tall, Botap Shili sat on my lap and played tricks." Name it, he says happily. "Give me Goryeo, your majesty." Doink! The emperor has to be reminded of what and where Goryeo is. Uh-oh; looks like Empress Gi doesn't like it...
..."Perfidious wench!" Yeah, she didn't like it. Now she's back home, and angry enough to want to make trouble. "We need to capture the King of Wei," she tells attendant Park, "and send someone to kill Prince Qunluan." Calm down, Park tells her; Goryeo is insignificant to us so what does this matter? The empress doesn't buy that. "Do you think what she really wants is Goryeo? She's just trying to test His Majesty's intentions. If His Majesty grants Botap Shili's wish, that proves deep down he's feeling sorry for Prince Qunluan." (I don't know; seems like shaky logic there.)
Botap is with her father, who's been released from jail and is at home again. She's convinced that Empress Gi will soon try to have him killed, and Qunluan as well.
Well here's a curveball: Gangneung won't go back to Goryeo! "It's been just a year since my young nephew took the throne. Are you telling me to steal that all from him?" The wife doesn't like the sound of that at all, not one bit. But he won't stoop to that, even if it hurts her pride to lose the opportunity to be queen. (They should have discussed this sooner!) He storms out of the room, leaving her in tears.
Gaegyeong: "Get rid of the council?!" That's what the queen mother has just proposed: disbanding the Jeongbang administrative council. Yoon Shi Woo says it meddles in petty affairs too much and hampers the king's ability to rule properly. Lee Je Hyeon is aghast; points out that the council is overseen by the Yuan and this isn't Goryeo's decision. Shi Woo counters that in reality, it's Gi Cheol pulling the council strings. Lee pleads for restraint but their minds are made up.
Choi Man Saeng, the royal eunuch, dutifully brings the news straight to Gi Cheol, along with news that "Her Highness is sending ornaments to Yanjing at an alarming rate." Gi is furious--particularly at his sister. "If it weren't for me, that wench would still be cleaning floors. Thanks to me, she's become empress!" And now she's selling out the family for some precious stones. He charges out the front door and gets on a horse to head for Yanjing right then and there.
"He must have been in a hurry!" The QM and Shi Woo got word of this and are laughing like crazy about it.
Now word has gotten back to the council members about Gangneung's marriage to a Yuan princess. Yeom Je Shin is ticked off about it; thinks Gangneung is "a Yuan puppet" now. Lee Je Hyeon, he already knew, of course, because of his daughter, but still doesn't know what to do about it Now we meet another minister: Lee In Bok, who holds the title "Lord Seongsan," and this guy is really cynical. Doesn't think it matters who's on the throne; it's just one manipulative mother or another. And at least now Gi Cheol is floundering, so it's not all bad. Stop complaining about it, he tells the other two, and then tells Lee, "People with the same ideals need to get together and solve this country's problems. If you take a stance, several people will follow your lead." But as Lee points out, what can we do when the Yuan are still making all of our decisions for us? And Lee buys into the Yuan-puppet stuff himself; figures making Gangneung king will just give Gi Cheol his power back.
Now Lee In Bok is home, talking to a man identified as Choi Young. "We need him to take a stance," Choi says, speaking of Lee Je Hyeon; "otherwise all our plans will fail." Plans? What plans? What's going on deal here? "If the civil ministers gather, and gain the young military officials' approval, then there's nothing Gi Cheol or the Queen Mother can do." Yikes, this sounds like rebellion! Lee asks what to do if the Yuan send their army. ""They won't just send an army out for nothing," Choi says. (Not sure why he's so confident that this will be "nothing" to them.) Also, there are rumors of Han Chinese starting to rebel against the Yuan leaders, so the Yuan have their hands full with that. Let's resurrect our country without fear, Choi urges, and Lee is 100% with him.
Gaegyeong royal temple: The empress dowager is saying prayers. Not happy ones. "Is this the death you envisioned for me? Let this angst pierce my soul, and submit to death." She despairs over her outcast status and her son's absence. "Hit me with lightning and burn my body to ashes!" Her attendant is outside waiting for her, and so is Lee Hyebi--so obviously ED took her on. As she exits the temple, she wobbles and drops to the ground; her attendant and Hyebi run to help her. She pushes Hyebi aside; not nice! But now look who's here: Master Bou. Suddenly the ED is all smiles and tells him she's nothing but happy. Why isn't she honest with him?
Gi Cheol made it to Yanjing and is berating his sister and lamenting the family's supposed struggles. She finds his performance amusing, but tells him, "I can't send Prince Gangneung to Goryeo and make him a king." Then Gi argues that the poor Goryean people are suffering from all of the mismanagement under the queen mother. She knows him too well to buy that. "Why are you so concerned?" You're so wealthy now, she says; you should be happy with that, so go home and forget this. Dumbfounded and frustrated, Gi asks her to at least tell him why she won't elevate Gangneung. "My son comes first. If my son becomes Crown Prince, that's when we can think about this." At that he leaves, and outside starts ranting out loud to himself, literally too angry to grunt.
Still Yanjing, now evening: Seems that Gi Cheol has put together a dinner reception for Gangneung's three associates: Kim Yong, Jo Il Shin and Jung Se Woon. The three are going to attend; not because they like the guy--they make clear that they don't--but because it can only help Gangneung. So they go into the reception hall.
Lots of people inside; a big dinner. Gi Cheol is at the head of the main table, talking up a storm. Tells them all about demanding his sister get Goryeo "a proper king!" Cheers and laughs, but it looks like there's plenty of wine and it's starting to kick in so it's hard to take this all too seriously. By the way, where's Gangneung? Home sick with a cold, the three inform him. Yeah, right. Gi doesn't like that. But Jung Se Woon gives him a good scolding: he's the prince--YOU should be going to visit HIM! Oh boy, does that shut him up. Stops him cold--for the moment. Okay, he says, after recovering his composure; "Let's go!"
So he does; he goes straight to the prince's home and is meeting with the prince. Who does seem to be under the weather, so my apologies, it's true. Gi says he's here to pay respects...but he's acting awfully casually in front of royalty, isn't he. Says he's here to make Gangneung king. But Gangneung shoots that right down. "I'm not ruthless enough to lust after my nephew's throne." And tells Gi to leave. NOW a disgusted grunt, like we expect. Gangneung tells him, "You need a just cause." As in, something more valid than just seeking power. With that, Gi leaves in a huff...and leaves a visibly irritated prince behind.
"How about this? Why don't you ennoble him King of Shen?" What's this? Attendant Park has just proposed an idea to Empress Gi. "At times," he explains, "it's a title the Imperial family invests Goryeo royals with, to grant them rule of the Goryeo people living in Shenyang and Liaoyang provinces. Most of the time, the Goryeo king would assume both positions. But when King Chungseong and King Chungsuk were crowned, the title of King of Shen went to their nephew." Give Gangneung that title, he says, and "you'll satisfy Botap Shili's wish, leaving the current king on the throne." (No I don't think it will satisfy Botap at all.) The empress likes the idea. A lot.
Next day: No sale. The emperor has pitched the idea to Botap and she's rejected it outright. "I want to leave Yanjing and live far away, for a while," she explains. "Prince Qunluan's memories keep tormenting me." Uh-oh, had to wonder about that. "They must be," Shundi answers, pain suddenly appearing in his face, "They do the same to me." Wow! There's a piece of news. "Goryeo is my husband's country," she tells him. "Please, allow us a fresh new start there, Your Majesty!"
We see her leaving, smiling now and talking to her attendant. Doesn't sound like she got a firm answer either way, but she's happy about the concern for Qunluan's fate that she just heard from the emperor.
Now she's alone with her husband and they share some tea. He apologizes to her for their fight, but from the request she's made to the emperor, she has reason to feel better. "If you can become King, you'll be a great ruler." "How come you are opening yourself to me?" She mentions him saving that deer from her arrow. "Use that generosity to become a great ruler of Goryeo." (What about the cat?! @#$@ #@$!) He's grateful for her understanding...but he doesn't know what she knows--that she'd be perfectly okay with his nephew getting booted from the throne.
Nighttime: They're in bed together talking. He tells her about Goryeo; its mountains, and valleys, and rivers. He reminisces about his childhood, with his mother and brother...but look at this, he's literally bored her to sleep. (Yeah, no doubt about it, this guy's executive material.)
Back at Lhasa: Pyeonjo's leaving? The senior monk asks him if he's learned everything he came here to learn. Pyeonjo looks at him but doesn't answer. Rude!
And just like that, he and Won are already back in Yanjing! Geez, that was fast. Unfortunately Pyeonjo's favorite restaurant has closed...and now look at this, Prince Gangneung's house has a big crowd outside the front door. Why? Ahhh, they heard the prince might become king and they're all office-seekers. Hoping to ride his coattails. An Dochi opens the front door and tries to shoo them away. He's not happy with them: "Where were you all when His Highness was all alone?" Good point. But then he gets a look at Pyeonjo and excitedly runs down the steps to greet him, all smiles.
"So, have you found that camel you were looking for?" The prince is glad to see his monk friend too. Pyeonjo doesn't say anything about the camel but, apparently learning of the prince's marriage, tells him, "Your Highness, you finally achieved what you wished for!" Gangneung takes that the wrong way and snarls at him. "You insolent fool! A lowly son of a slave, making fun of me?"
"Anywhere they go, a cloud of people flock together to meet them?!" Empress Gi has gotten wind of that, somewhow--and doesn't like the sound of it. Now look who's come to visit her: Princess Deoknyeong. The empress doesn't seem to care; she's preoccupied with the idea that Botap is out there firing up the northern tribes to help the crown prince's cause (instead of just going out on a trip for their honeymoon, which we learn is why they're out there). She's convinced of it, in fact. But she at least manages to offer a few kind words to her guest. "You're always welcome here. If anything troubles you, let me know."
Evening: The newlyweds got themselves a tent from someplace and have set it up near a pond. As they sit by the water, surprisingly Botap puts her head on the prince's shoulder. He takes her hand. Later, inside, we see they have separate beds...but Botap decides it's time. She even got some Goryean-style bedclothes for it. Yow-wee she looks fine. She pours the prince some wine; it's a Mongol tradition for a bride to do this. Gangneung sips, and offers her the cup right back--Goryeans are more equal about this sort of thing, he explains. She closes her eyes and they kiss for the first time. Gangneung confesses he was prepared to wait ten years for this. At that she just about jumps him. "I haven't erased that man from my heart yet," she confesses. "But I'll treat and serve you like heaven."
"Tibetan temple (Potala, Lhasa)": That's what the caption says. It's an impressive place, as our three monks can see as they walk around. Elaborate prayer rituals going on. Also some of the famous Tibetan sandpainting (see link) being done there; a mandala design (see link) that we see being completed, and then swept away by hand as sandpainters do.
Later, Pyeonjo asks one of the senior monks a question. "A Lama monk I met in Yanjing told me that if I came here, I'd be able to learn all sorts of witchcraft and incantations." He explains that his homeland of Goryeo is in difficult shape, and that he wants to acquire those powers "to change our world." The monk laughs. Our land is impoverished just like yours is, he says, and turns to leave. Pyeonjo appeals to him again. No answer.
Nighttime: The three monks have been given a simple room to stay in. Won and Jihyo are asleep; Pyeonjo is studying books. Looks like the senior monk helped him out after all.
Gaetae Temple: Master Bou has come to visit Wolseon. He's worried that Buddhism is fading in Goryeo and wants the old man's advice on how to reinvigorate it. He gets a strange, rambling answer mainly about how Bou needs to step down off his pedestal, which Wolseon then immediately takes back and says it's just levity from an old grump. (But you have to think he really means it.) Then, while we get a glimpse of Deokun tending to baby Ban Ya, Bou tells Wolseon about rumors of Pyeonjo having survived the ship disaster. Reliable rumors. Wolseon had resigned himself to Pyeonjo's death; he wonders why the monk didn't come back to him. (Uh, you're the one who sent him away, remember?) But suddenly there's a wet baby needing a change.
Later, Wolseon manages to climb to the top of a tall overlook, and shouts into the distance. "You cruel fool! If you're alive, contact me and let me know at least!"
Back in Lhasa: Those books Pyeonjo was reading, the senior monk did loan them to him. Fifteen of them at least, and Pyeonjo's finished them all. Fast reader. He returns them to the senior monk, and gets another armload of books about incantations. Not to be used on people, he's warned.
Now we see Pyeonjo and Won wearing red Lamaist monk robes instead of the brown we're used to seeing them in. Jihyo, nope. He's prepared to leave Lhasa and travel on. He wants to follow in the footsteps of Hyecho (see link), a famous monk from the days of the Shilla kingdom who made it all the way to India. "But will that be possible?" He's about to find out, because with a smile to his two companions he turns and leaves them--and leaves Potala Temple. Have a good trip, buddy.
Emperor Shundi and Empress Gi are receiving Gangneung and Botap. Looks like the emperor has never met Gangneung before. "Are you the lucky man who married the lovely Botap Shili?" The prince bows and introduces himself. Then Botap asks the emperor for a wedding present! He had promised, a long time ago, and he remembers with a laugh. Apparently they go back a long way. "When she was this tall, Botap Shili sat on my lap and played tricks." Name it, he says happily. "Give me Goryeo, your majesty." Doink! The emperor has to be reminded of what and where Goryeo is. Uh-oh; looks like Empress Gi doesn't like it...
..."Perfidious wench!" Yeah, she didn't like it. Now she's back home, and angry enough to want to make trouble. "We need to capture the King of Wei," she tells attendant Park, "and send someone to kill Prince Qunluan." Calm down, Park tells her; Goryeo is insignificant to us so what does this matter? The empress doesn't buy that. "Do you think what she really wants is Goryeo? She's just trying to test His Majesty's intentions. If His Majesty grants Botap Shili's wish, that proves deep down he's feeling sorry for Prince Qunluan." (I don't know; seems like shaky logic there.)
Botap is with her father, who's been released from jail and is at home again. She's convinced that Empress Gi will soon try to have him killed, and Qunluan as well.
Well here's a curveball: Gangneung won't go back to Goryeo! "It's been just a year since my young nephew took the throne. Are you telling me to steal that all from him?" The wife doesn't like the sound of that at all, not one bit. But he won't stoop to that, even if it hurts her pride to lose the opportunity to be queen. (They should have discussed this sooner!) He storms out of the room, leaving her in tears.
Gaegyeong: "Get rid of the council?!" That's what the queen mother has just proposed: disbanding the Jeongbang administrative council. Yoon Shi Woo says it meddles in petty affairs too much and hampers the king's ability to rule properly. Lee Je Hyeon is aghast; points out that the council is overseen by the Yuan and this isn't Goryeo's decision. Shi Woo counters that in reality, it's Gi Cheol pulling the council strings. Lee pleads for restraint but their minds are made up.
Choi Man Saeng, the royal eunuch, dutifully brings the news straight to Gi Cheol, along with news that "Her Highness is sending ornaments to Yanjing at an alarming rate." Gi is furious--particularly at his sister. "If it weren't for me, that wench would still be cleaning floors. Thanks to me, she's become empress!" And now she's selling out the family for some precious stones. He charges out the front door and gets on a horse to head for Yanjing right then and there.
"He must have been in a hurry!" The QM and Shi Woo got word of this and are laughing like crazy about it.
Now word has gotten back to the council members about Gangneung's marriage to a Yuan princess. Yeom Je Shin is ticked off about it; thinks Gangneung is "a Yuan puppet" now. Lee Je Hyeon, he already knew, of course, because of his daughter, but still doesn't know what to do about it Now we meet another minister: Lee In Bok, who holds the title "Lord Seongsan," and this guy is really cynical. Doesn't think it matters who's on the throne; it's just one manipulative mother or another. And at least now Gi Cheol is floundering, so it's not all bad. Stop complaining about it, he tells the other two, and then tells Lee, "People with the same ideals need to get together and solve this country's problems. If you take a stance, several people will follow your lead." But as Lee points out, what can we do when the Yuan are still making all of our decisions for us? And Lee buys into the Yuan-puppet stuff himself; figures making Gangneung king will just give Gi Cheol his power back.
Now Lee In Bok is home, talking to a man identified as Choi Young. "We need him to take a stance," Choi says, speaking of Lee Je Hyeon; "otherwise all our plans will fail." Plans? What plans? What's going on deal here? "If the civil ministers gather, and gain the young military officials' approval, then there's nothing Gi Cheol or the Queen Mother can do." Yikes, this sounds like rebellion! Lee asks what to do if the Yuan send their army. ""They won't just send an army out for nothing," Choi says. (Not sure why he's so confident that this will be "nothing" to them.) Also, there are rumors of Han Chinese starting to rebel against the Yuan leaders, so the Yuan have their hands full with that. Let's resurrect our country without fear, Choi urges, and Lee is 100% with him.
Gaegyeong royal temple: The empress dowager is saying prayers. Not happy ones. "Is this the death you envisioned for me? Let this angst pierce my soul, and submit to death." She despairs over her outcast status and her son's absence. "Hit me with lightning and burn my body to ashes!" Her attendant is outside waiting for her, and so is Lee Hyebi--so obviously ED took her on. As she exits the temple, she wobbles and drops to the ground; her attendant and Hyebi run to help her. She pushes Hyebi aside; not nice! But now look who's here: Master Bou. Suddenly the ED is all smiles and tells him she's nothing but happy. Why isn't she honest with him?
Gi Cheol made it to Yanjing and is berating his sister and lamenting the family's supposed struggles. She finds his performance amusing, but tells him, "I can't send Prince Gangneung to Goryeo and make him a king." Then Gi argues that the poor Goryean people are suffering from all of the mismanagement under the queen mother. She knows him too well to buy that. "Why are you so concerned?" You're so wealthy now, she says; you should be happy with that, so go home and forget this. Dumbfounded and frustrated, Gi asks her to at least tell him why she won't elevate Gangneung. "My son comes first. If my son becomes Crown Prince, that's when we can think about this." At that he leaves, and outside starts ranting out loud to himself, literally too angry to grunt.
Still Yanjing, now evening: Seems that Gi Cheol has put together a dinner reception for Gangneung's three associates: Kim Yong, Jo Il Shin and Jung Se Woon. The three are going to attend; not because they like the guy--they make clear that they don't--but because it can only help Gangneung. So they go into the reception hall.
Lots of people inside; a big dinner. Gi Cheol is at the head of the main table, talking up a storm. Tells them all about demanding his sister get Goryeo "a proper king!" Cheers and laughs, but it looks like there's plenty of wine and it's starting to kick in so it's hard to take this all too seriously. By the way, where's Gangneung? Home sick with a cold, the three inform him. Yeah, right. Gi doesn't like that. But Jung Se Woon gives him a good scolding: he's the prince--YOU should be going to visit HIM! Oh boy, does that shut him up. Stops him cold--for the moment. Okay, he says, after recovering his composure; "Let's go!"
So he does; he goes straight to the prince's home and is meeting with the prince. Who does seem to be under the weather, so my apologies, it's true. Gi says he's here to pay respects...but he's acting awfully casually in front of royalty, isn't he. Says he's here to make Gangneung king. But Gangneung shoots that right down. "I'm not ruthless enough to lust after my nephew's throne." And tells Gi to leave. NOW a disgusted grunt, like we expect. Gangneung tells him, "You need a just cause." As in, something more valid than just seeking power. With that, Gi leaves in a huff...and leaves a visibly irritated prince behind.
"How about this? Why don't you ennoble him King of Shen?" What's this? Attendant Park has just proposed an idea to Empress Gi. "At times," he explains, "it's a title the Imperial family invests Goryeo royals with, to grant them rule of the Goryeo people living in Shenyang and Liaoyang provinces. Most of the time, the Goryeo king would assume both positions. But when King Chungseong and King Chungsuk were crowned, the title of King of Shen went to their nephew." Give Gangneung that title, he says, and "you'll satisfy Botap Shili's wish, leaving the current king on the throne." (No I don't think it will satisfy Botap at all.) The empress likes the idea. A lot.
Next day: No sale. The emperor has pitched the idea to Botap and she's rejected it outright. "I want to leave Yanjing and live far away, for a while," she explains. "Prince Qunluan's memories keep tormenting me." Uh-oh, had to wonder about that. "They must be," Shundi answers, pain suddenly appearing in his face, "They do the same to me." Wow! There's a piece of news. "Goryeo is my husband's country," she tells him. "Please, allow us a fresh new start there, Your Majesty!"
We see her leaving, smiling now and talking to her attendant. Doesn't sound like she got a firm answer either way, but she's happy about the concern for Qunluan's fate that she just heard from the emperor.
Now she's alone with her husband and they share some tea. He apologizes to her for their fight, but from the request she's made to the emperor, she has reason to feel better. "If you can become King, you'll be a great ruler." "How come you are opening yourself to me?" She mentions him saving that deer from her arrow. "Use that generosity to become a great ruler of Goryeo." (What about the cat?! @#$@ #@$!) He's grateful for her understanding...but he doesn't know what she knows--that she'd be perfectly okay with his nephew getting booted from the throne.
Nighttime: They're in bed together talking. He tells her about Goryeo; its mountains, and valleys, and rivers. He reminisces about his childhood, with his mother and brother...but look at this, he's literally bored her to sleep. (Yeah, no doubt about it, this guy's executive material.)
Back at Lhasa: Pyeonjo's leaving? The senior monk asks him if he's learned everything he came here to learn. Pyeonjo looks at him but doesn't answer. Rude!
And just like that, he and Won are already back in Yanjing! Geez, that was fast. Unfortunately Pyeonjo's favorite restaurant has closed...and now look at this, Prince Gangneung's house has a big crowd outside the front door. Why? Ahhh, they heard the prince might become king and they're all office-seekers. Hoping to ride his coattails. An Dochi opens the front door and tries to shoo them away. He's not happy with them: "Where were you all when His Highness was all alone?" Good point. But then he gets a look at Pyeonjo and excitedly runs down the steps to greet him, all smiles.
"So, have you found that camel you were looking for?" The prince is glad to see his monk friend too. Pyeonjo doesn't say anything about the camel but, apparently learning of the prince's marriage, tells him, "Your Highness, you finally achieved what you wished for!" Gangneung takes that the wrong way and snarls at him. "You insolent fool! A lowly son of a slave, making fun of me?"