Post by ajk on Oct 4, 2013 20:52:47 GMT -5
Botap wants an explanation from Pyeonjo. Why did he say that the people may not accept Gangneung as their king? She's surprisingly interested in his opinion. "You're the only one that His Majesty had opened himself to." I guess that's why she's interested. "I want to believe you, and count on your help." Most of what she knows about Goryeo at this point, she says, is from looking at Gangneung's followers. And she doesn't have much regard for them. "They're merely lusting over riches. Not a single one of them would speak the truth." Pyeonjo advises her to learn the country's history and culture...which doesn't seem like the kind of comforting answer she's looking for. And then, a final question: "How can I earn His Majesty's affection?" Pyeonjo reminds her about Goryeo's vassal status in the empire, and the shame that Gangneung feels over that. And tells her, "The day Goryeo regains its independence and sovereignty, is the moment His Majesty will finally stand up as a real man in front of you, Your Majesty." With that he leaves her. Interesting answer.
Botap returns home...and at the front door, overhears something very unfortunate from her husband: "I married a woman I didn't even love and earned Goryeo's throne. She's a Mongol woman! What do you think people will say? 'He married her just because he was lusting after the throne.'" Sounds like he's got some buyer's remorse. With disgust he Recalls his father having to cast his mother out of the palace and marry a Mongol woman to protect his throne. "What the hell is different?!", he snaps at An Dochi, who's trying to talk him down. And the kicker: "Inside Botap Shili's heart, her love for Prince Qunluan is still intact." Standing there silently outside, Botap cries to herself. Maybe Gangneung is right.
Won is helping Pyeonjo treat the bruises he got from the prince's two officials. Pyeonjo doesn't want to talk about what happened, not at first, but finally admits he went to meet Gangneung "But not only was I refused admittance, I even got beat up for it." It frustrates Won to tears.
Next morning: The two monks leave Yanjing to begin their journey home.
Botap is pitching in with the kitchen work, how about that. An Dochi is teaching her what her husband likes.
Gangneung loves his lunch and is amazed that Botap has prepared such wonderful Goryean food. Actually An Dochi prepared it and let her take the credit for it...but whatever, she's learning.
Gi Cheol and Gi Won are headed to Yanjing. They're most of the way there, but oddly, Cheol sends Won back home. "When you reach Gaegyeong, do exactly as I told you." Oh dear, what are these weasels up to?
Gi Cheol reaches Yanjing. He's here, we learn, to escort the prince home. But Gangneung isn't in at the moment; he's out riding with his wife.
There they are, out in the countryside. She tells him very frankly about meeting Pyeonjo, and what he told her, and how she asked him how to win her husband's heart. She's sincerely concerned. She'll be in an unfamiliar country and will have has only him to lean on. So it's understandable for her to be concerned. "As we live together," he tells her, "our affection will naturally grow. You're worrying about nothing, Princess." And adds, "I can promise you this much. I'll never forget what you did for me, since I am able to sit on that throne, thanks to you." But she's frustrated because he resents the Mongols for attacking Goryeo. She thinks he should be blaming Goryeo for its weakness. What a weird thing for her to get worked up about. He doesn't like that and actually rides away from her, leaving her there crying. Sheesh.
Back in the city: Gi Cheol is visiting his sister; brought a gift from their mother. The empress isn't interested in seeing it, and is skeptical about its source: "Doesn't that come from your own pockets, my brother?" And tells him she won't accept any more gifts from him any more. Because his money is "borne out of larceny." Ouch! And cautions him to behave himself better from now on because his nephew is now the Yuan crown prince. "If I hear complaints about you just one more time, I'll cut every single tie I have with the Gi clan."
Gangneung wasn't really in any hurry to get home, we learn; he was perfectly content to let the winter pass! But his three supporters and Gi Cheol have talked him out of that...and we see his furniture being packed up. Gangneung says he's grateful to Gi for getting him put on the throne. Uh-oh, we don't want him feeling indebted to THAT guy, do we....
Princess Deoknyeong pays Botap one last visit. Botap is curious about having a mother-in-law; wants to know what she's like and how Goryeans treat mothers-in-law. Deoknyeong has a warning of sorts about a more serious matter: previous Mongol princesses who have married into Goryeo royalty have "had it easy in Goryeo," herself included. But with the Yuan influence gradually weakening, it may be tougher for Botap. Botap is confident this won't be a problem; she says she'll leave everything behind that isn't Goryean and fully commit to being a Goryean woman.
Evening: And now we see Botap tossing possessions of hers into a fire! Clothes, jewelry, even her bow and arrows. She's not even taking Honghwa with her, surprisingly. Tells Honghwa to tell her father that "his daughter Botap Shili died along with that fire, so she couldn't bid him farewell before leaving." Wow, way to commit. But poor Honghwa is devastated. Her husband is nearby and happens to see this, and is visibly moved by her commitment.
Next morning: The royal party heads for Goryeo. Gangneung is on a horse; Botap is in a covered horse-drawn wagon. "From now on," she thinks to herself, "I'm a Goryeo woman."
Gaetae Temple: Pyeonjo and Won are back home at last. Won still wonders how safe they are--Are they still sought by the troops?--but Pyeonjo is unconcerned. Deokun and Auntie are very happy to see them again. Wolseon? He's up on a mountaintop; he goes there every day, Deokun says. So Pyeonjo climbs up there and the two monks have a happy reunion. Wolseon takes him to where Heo Eun Young is buried; a very pretty place in the woods. Well chosen. Then Pyeonjo tries to tell Wolseon some tall tales about Western monks that he encountered, but Wolseon doesn't buy them and now they're bickering like children. Pyeonjo is very attached to the old man, as we can see time and again, and even enjoys the bickering. As night falls, and he watches the old man sleep, he wonders to himself if he can live up to the example that Wolseon has set. "The more I practice, the stronger the fire fueling my anger burns." Then he leaves his cassock and bowl next to Wolseon's sleeping form. This presumably is the same cassock and bowl that Wolseon gave him when he left for Yanjing. Wolseon isn't really sleeping and asks him why he's doing this. Tearfully, Pyeonjo answers, "If this hopeless fool can only see just half the world, I'll come running to you, and get the bowl and cassock." Whatever that means....
He leaves the old man and goes outside into the evening--and finds a little girl standing there looking at him. Ban Ya. She walks past him and goes inside to see Wolseon. Pyeonjo is oddly emotional about it.
Turns out, Pyeonjo's decided to leave the temple! Where's he going? We're not sure, but Won has suspected as much and is waiting for him at the front steps. He's not leaving his friend alone, whatever may happen.
Now they're in Gaegyeong. Pyeonjo's happy to see the city again. Won warns him to stay out of trouble; fat lot of good that will do. But good heavens, what's this? Soldiers are running into the market street and busting up the stalls! The poor vendors and customers are scrambling for their safety. In the middle of it all is Yoon Shi Woo on a horse, screaming at everyone. "I said, close the market! Close up shop right now! Until further notice, stay in your houses!" What is his problem?
The king- and queen-to-be and their party are stuck waiting outside the city. They're not being allowed in until nighttime! Seriously? Gi Cheol apparently has decided it. Thinks it's best for the new king's safety, because the public is so emotional about Chungjeong getting hauled off to exile. "I'll go in first to taste the waters," Gi says as he mounts a horse. "So wait for me until then!" Wonder if he's up to something. Kim Yong, Jo Il Shin and Jung Se Woon are left standing there fuming. Inside a tent, we see that Gangneung isn't too happy with this either. Makes a cynical, self-loathing comment about a "thieving cat" waiting until night to steal some "rotten fish" rather than doing in the daytime. (What does this show have against cats? This had better stop!)
Evening: Everything seems in readiness for the new king's arrival. All of the ministers are waiting in the throne room. Gi enters and starts bragging about his nephew being the Yuan crown prince now and how "the Yuan and Goryeo have become sister nations!" (Hardly.) And how his sister will be calling Goryeo's shots from now on--"to ensure the Crown Prince's future doesn't find obstacles in the way." The ministers don't like it, that Goryeo will continue to have no control over its affairs. Gi reminds them that he's the one who brought them this king and that they'd better remember that because he can go and get another one if they don't like it. Yeom Je Shin is just about to walk up to Gi and slug him, but Lee Je Hyeon calms him down. (Too bad!)
And now here comes the royal procession, headed to the palace. (Uh, if there's a security risk, do you really want the new king riding high on horseback wearing brightly colored robes? Duh!)
"Those brazen imbeciles!" The empress dowager is just about crawling the walls, and is angry that they didn't bring her son to her first, or else escort her to the palace. (Geez, lady, you got him home and on the throne; be patient! Boy, this woman's a real piece of work, isn't she.)
And look at this--Lady Yoon the ex-queen mother, she's still sitting there clutching the royal seal like her life depends on it. Psychotic look in her eyes. Choi Man Saeng brings several other eunuchs into the room; they pick her up and carry her away, wrestling the seal away from her in the process.
It should be a festive, joyous moment: a new royal couple approaching the steps of the palace. Lots of officials and palace workers are there to receive them and lots of torches illuminate the scene. But it's eerily silent. Eventually the crowd musters up some cheers for the new king, but they seem a little feeble for some reason. Still, better than nothing. Than Gi Cheol steps forward to present the royal seal to the new king. Suddenly, from off to the side: "You insolent fool--get out of my face!" What the...it's Botap! She's been standing there silently next to her husband, but suddenly she grabs the sword out of a nearby guard's scabbard and points it straight at Gi! Totally stunned, he staggers backwards and falls to the ground, the seal falling out of its box and clinking on the stone pavement. Botap's eyes blaze with anger. "I shall slay you first and reclaim His Majesty's authority!"
Botap returns home...and at the front door, overhears something very unfortunate from her husband: "I married a woman I didn't even love and earned Goryeo's throne. She's a Mongol woman! What do you think people will say? 'He married her just because he was lusting after the throne.'" Sounds like he's got some buyer's remorse. With disgust he Recalls his father having to cast his mother out of the palace and marry a Mongol woman to protect his throne. "What the hell is different?!", he snaps at An Dochi, who's trying to talk him down. And the kicker: "Inside Botap Shili's heart, her love for Prince Qunluan is still intact." Standing there silently outside, Botap cries to herself. Maybe Gangneung is right.
Won is helping Pyeonjo treat the bruises he got from the prince's two officials. Pyeonjo doesn't want to talk about what happened, not at first, but finally admits he went to meet Gangneung "But not only was I refused admittance, I even got beat up for it." It frustrates Won to tears.
Next morning: The two monks leave Yanjing to begin their journey home.
Botap is pitching in with the kitchen work, how about that. An Dochi is teaching her what her husband likes.
Gangneung loves his lunch and is amazed that Botap has prepared such wonderful Goryean food. Actually An Dochi prepared it and let her take the credit for it...but whatever, she's learning.
Gi Cheol and Gi Won are headed to Yanjing. They're most of the way there, but oddly, Cheol sends Won back home. "When you reach Gaegyeong, do exactly as I told you." Oh dear, what are these weasels up to?
Gi Cheol reaches Yanjing. He's here, we learn, to escort the prince home. But Gangneung isn't in at the moment; he's out riding with his wife.
There they are, out in the countryside. She tells him very frankly about meeting Pyeonjo, and what he told her, and how she asked him how to win her husband's heart. She's sincerely concerned. She'll be in an unfamiliar country and will have has only him to lean on. So it's understandable for her to be concerned. "As we live together," he tells her, "our affection will naturally grow. You're worrying about nothing, Princess." And adds, "I can promise you this much. I'll never forget what you did for me, since I am able to sit on that throne, thanks to you." But she's frustrated because he resents the Mongols for attacking Goryeo. She thinks he should be blaming Goryeo for its weakness. What a weird thing for her to get worked up about. He doesn't like that and actually rides away from her, leaving her there crying. Sheesh.
Back in the city: Gi Cheol is visiting his sister; brought a gift from their mother. The empress isn't interested in seeing it, and is skeptical about its source: "Doesn't that come from your own pockets, my brother?" And tells him she won't accept any more gifts from him any more. Because his money is "borne out of larceny." Ouch! And cautions him to behave himself better from now on because his nephew is now the Yuan crown prince. "If I hear complaints about you just one more time, I'll cut every single tie I have with the Gi clan."
Gangneung wasn't really in any hurry to get home, we learn; he was perfectly content to let the winter pass! But his three supporters and Gi Cheol have talked him out of that...and we see his furniture being packed up. Gangneung says he's grateful to Gi for getting him put on the throne. Uh-oh, we don't want him feeling indebted to THAT guy, do we....
Princess Deoknyeong pays Botap one last visit. Botap is curious about having a mother-in-law; wants to know what she's like and how Goryeans treat mothers-in-law. Deoknyeong has a warning of sorts about a more serious matter: previous Mongol princesses who have married into Goryeo royalty have "had it easy in Goryeo," herself included. But with the Yuan influence gradually weakening, it may be tougher for Botap. Botap is confident this won't be a problem; she says she'll leave everything behind that isn't Goryean and fully commit to being a Goryean woman.
Evening: And now we see Botap tossing possessions of hers into a fire! Clothes, jewelry, even her bow and arrows. She's not even taking Honghwa with her, surprisingly. Tells Honghwa to tell her father that "his daughter Botap Shili died along with that fire, so she couldn't bid him farewell before leaving." Wow, way to commit. But poor Honghwa is devastated. Her husband is nearby and happens to see this, and is visibly moved by her commitment.
Next morning: The royal party heads for Goryeo. Gangneung is on a horse; Botap is in a covered horse-drawn wagon. "From now on," she thinks to herself, "I'm a Goryeo woman."
Gaetae Temple: Pyeonjo and Won are back home at last. Won still wonders how safe they are--Are they still sought by the troops?--but Pyeonjo is unconcerned. Deokun and Auntie are very happy to see them again. Wolseon? He's up on a mountaintop; he goes there every day, Deokun says. So Pyeonjo climbs up there and the two monks have a happy reunion. Wolseon takes him to where Heo Eun Young is buried; a very pretty place in the woods. Well chosen. Then Pyeonjo tries to tell Wolseon some tall tales about Western monks that he encountered, but Wolseon doesn't buy them and now they're bickering like children. Pyeonjo is very attached to the old man, as we can see time and again, and even enjoys the bickering. As night falls, and he watches the old man sleep, he wonders to himself if he can live up to the example that Wolseon has set. "The more I practice, the stronger the fire fueling my anger burns." Then he leaves his cassock and bowl next to Wolseon's sleeping form. This presumably is the same cassock and bowl that Wolseon gave him when he left for Yanjing. Wolseon isn't really sleeping and asks him why he's doing this. Tearfully, Pyeonjo answers, "If this hopeless fool can only see just half the world, I'll come running to you, and get the bowl and cassock." Whatever that means....
He leaves the old man and goes outside into the evening--and finds a little girl standing there looking at him. Ban Ya. She walks past him and goes inside to see Wolseon. Pyeonjo is oddly emotional about it.
Turns out, Pyeonjo's decided to leave the temple! Where's he going? We're not sure, but Won has suspected as much and is waiting for him at the front steps. He's not leaving his friend alone, whatever may happen.
Now they're in Gaegyeong. Pyeonjo's happy to see the city again. Won warns him to stay out of trouble; fat lot of good that will do. But good heavens, what's this? Soldiers are running into the market street and busting up the stalls! The poor vendors and customers are scrambling for their safety. In the middle of it all is Yoon Shi Woo on a horse, screaming at everyone. "I said, close the market! Close up shop right now! Until further notice, stay in your houses!" What is his problem?
The king- and queen-to-be and their party are stuck waiting outside the city. They're not being allowed in until nighttime! Seriously? Gi Cheol apparently has decided it. Thinks it's best for the new king's safety, because the public is so emotional about Chungjeong getting hauled off to exile. "I'll go in first to taste the waters," Gi says as he mounts a horse. "So wait for me until then!" Wonder if he's up to something. Kim Yong, Jo Il Shin and Jung Se Woon are left standing there fuming. Inside a tent, we see that Gangneung isn't too happy with this either. Makes a cynical, self-loathing comment about a "thieving cat" waiting until night to steal some "rotten fish" rather than doing in the daytime. (What does this show have against cats? This had better stop!)
Evening: Everything seems in readiness for the new king's arrival. All of the ministers are waiting in the throne room. Gi enters and starts bragging about his nephew being the Yuan crown prince now and how "the Yuan and Goryeo have become sister nations!" (Hardly.) And how his sister will be calling Goryeo's shots from now on--"to ensure the Crown Prince's future doesn't find obstacles in the way." The ministers don't like it, that Goryeo will continue to have no control over its affairs. Gi reminds them that he's the one who brought them this king and that they'd better remember that because he can go and get another one if they don't like it. Yeom Je Shin is just about to walk up to Gi and slug him, but Lee Je Hyeon calms him down. (Too bad!)
And now here comes the royal procession, headed to the palace. (Uh, if there's a security risk, do you really want the new king riding high on horseback wearing brightly colored robes? Duh!)
"Those brazen imbeciles!" The empress dowager is just about crawling the walls, and is angry that they didn't bring her son to her first, or else escort her to the palace. (Geez, lady, you got him home and on the throne; be patient! Boy, this woman's a real piece of work, isn't she.)
And look at this--Lady Yoon the ex-queen mother, she's still sitting there clutching the royal seal like her life depends on it. Psychotic look in her eyes. Choi Man Saeng brings several other eunuchs into the room; they pick her up and carry her away, wrestling the seal away from her in the process.
It should be a festive, joyous moment: a new royal couple approaching the steps of the palace. Lots of officials and palace workers are there to receive them and lots of torches illuminate the scene. But it's eerily silent. Eventually the crowd musters up some cheers for the new king, but they seem a little feeble for some reason. Still, better than nothing. Than Gi Cheol steps forward to present the royal seal to the new king. Suddenly, from off to the side: "You insolent fool--get out of my face!" What the...it's Botap! She's been standing there silently next to her husband, but suddenly she grabs the sword out of a nearby guard's scabbard and points it straight at Gi! Totally stunned, he staggers backwards and falls to the ground, the seal falling out of its box and clinking on the stone pavement. Botap's eyes blaze with anger. "I shall slay you first and reclaim His Majesty's authority!"