Post by ajk on Dec 6, 2013 23:21:31 GMT -5
Gi Cheol is back with his sister the Yuan Empress, who isn't letting him go back home just yet. (What the heck is she wearing on her head? Is that a crown of some sort? She looks like a Cyberman.) He's picked out a scapegoat for the whole thing: "That damned Kim Yong deceived me, and after I crossed the river, he put all the blame on me." Hmmm....She tells him with surprising delicacy that he's been totally humiliated and maybe should just back off for a while. Which triggers one heck of a disgusted grunt. She reminds him about their brother's death and their mother's humiliating imprisonment. "Who is responsible for all that?" And she faults him for not dethroning Gongmin when Noguk put a sword to Cheol's throat. Which sort of is Monday morning quarterbacking, isn't it...but she thinks it was really a message to her, not to Cheol. And now they're almost bickering like the siblings they are. Kind of charming in a sleazy-politician sort of way....
Gaegyeong: The Yuan delegation is still in the capital. Commissioner Park walks by Lee In Bok and Jung Se Woon, who bow in acknowledgment and are snubbed. Jung gets angry over "a scummy eunuch treating us like that," but Lee reminds him that even the king is tolerating that kind of behavior because of the delicate situation. "Our army isn't even able to repulse Japanese pirates harassing the South. How are we going to fight with the Yuan's immense armies?" In other words, Cool it.
Park goes back to visit Gongmin one last time. Gongmin is already disgusted with him for the demand he's brought to execute all of those Jo Il Shin associates. But now Park wants one more thing. It's about Gi Cheol's mother having been thrown in jail. "I shall tell the Empress you had nothing to do with Jo Il Shin's rebellion." In return, he says, well..."You'll have to go out of your way and excise Lady Lee's burning anger." Gongmin doesn't really resist this. "Understood. I shall send eunuchs to console her." But Park says he needs to go himself and apologize to her. That went too far. Gongmin goes ballistic, and in the next moment has his sword at Park's throat.
"Find Gi Cheol's mother and apologize to her?!" Wow, Noguk just got word of it and she's nearly as angry as he was.
And now the high officials have heard about it, and they're outside Gongmin's office (not blood-spattered; he let Park go) imploring him to behead Park and throw mother Gi back in prison. This is all getting to be too much for Gongmin, all the whining and crying they're doing (seriously, they're whining like babies) and he shouts at them to go away.
Now Park has gone to visit mother Gi--who isn't very receptive to him and who has no desire to get a royal apology. "Will that bring back Gi Won from the dead?" But Park urges her to get it, because it will secure Gi Cheol's safe return to Goryeo, free from the queen killing him. Which provokes a disgusted grunt from her (So THAT'S where he gets it). "Let her do as she pleases," she says, apparently not realizing that Noguk is the kind of person who probably would go through with it. Gi Ryun is there with them, and backs up Park. "The Queen is not the most tamed of specimens," he warns her.
Lee Je Yeon, Yeom Je Shim, Jung Se Woon and Lee In Bok are concerned about this possible apology business and decide they have to try to stop it, because "Gi Cheol will come back in roaring spirits and raise hell." But maybe it's better he does come back and then they can try to kill him. Otherwise he'll stay up there in Yanjing for a while and just keep scheming. No easy solution here.
Wow, Park is sure getting around. Now it's Queen Dowager Battleaxe he's visiting. Telling her that Empress Gi might be replacing her son. Gets her all riled up, no surprise. "It requires your utmost attention," he tells her, with a weasely smile.
Finally, a quiet moment, with the king and queen alone together. Gongmin looks unhappy; apparently he's decided to concede to the Yuan and give mother Gi the apology. "I've thought about it countless times," he begins to explain to her. "About slaying Park Bulhwa and all those Yuan envoys, and fighting the Yuan." It would be so popular, "people would be so happy they'd dance on the streets." And the people would fight valiantly, win or lose. But all those government officials...that's another story. "With their pungent tongues they keep saying we needed to escape Mongol domination. But the moment Jo Il Shin rose in revolt, they were nowhere to be seen, too busy hiding. Their king's safety, their country's fate--those things never concerned them." They'd never risk their lives or wealth to fight the Yuan; they'd just push for compromise and submission. "Before I begin the fight," he tells her, "I shall deal with them. Until they get down on their knees, pledging their allegiance to me, I won't be able to fight the Yuan." She's listened to this silently, but more and more she's absolutely beaming at him her eyes are welling up with tears. She's so happy and impressed that he's thought this through so carefully and wisely. "I can't start a war without a sound strategy," he concludes, "and let my people spill blood in vain." Be patient with me, he tells her, "I'll be able to endure every humiliation from now on." She takes his hand and tells him she'll support him and wait for however long it takes him to make that happen. Gongmin, he's never really felt worthy of her, has he...but her reaction and her faith in him, it fills him with joyful surprise and seems to give him confidence. He hugs her, and they both look happier than they've looked the entire series so far. How about this--Gongmin is starting to turn into a real king. And his wife can see the resolve and decisiveness she's always hoped to see in him, finally taking root. (What a great, great scene. Beautifully done.)
Gaegyeong, evening: Pyeonjo and Won stop at a cafe for dinner. Won sits down, pounds some money on the table and asks the waitress for some rice soup--along with wine. And some meat too! What's up with the alcohol and meat? "Now I've officially renounced the cloth, why would I worry about that?" HUH? News to us. Big news. Wolseon let Pyeonjo leave Gaetae Temple and apparently resign from being a monk, and apparently Won followed suit. They enjoy their meal and laugh about not having to address each other as "monk" any more. Won is full of energy, and thinks it's their time to turn the world upside down. Especially now that Pyeonjo is in that Tea Party group, and has all of those whatever-they-are powers that he acquired while in Tibet. But Pyeonjo is irritated; thinks Won is expecting too much of him and walks away from him.
Next morning: Mother Gi is home, awaiting the king's arrival and basking in triumph along with Gi Ryun and one of the family's associates. Ryun says it's time to replace Gongmin now--maybe with Prince Deokheung, the third son of King Chungseon. But the other man says, no, we should put a Gi on the throne! All three of them like the sound of that.
Princess Deoknyeong is visiting the queen again--this time commending her on her patience for not starting more trouble over Gi Cheol. "It was a wise choice." And it kept her father out of danger as well. For now. Deoknyeong leaves, and outside finds Commissioner Park waiting for her, wanting to know what Noguk said. Instead he gets an angry glare. "You took this too far," she says to him. "Empress Gi isn't the type, so it must be you who schemed all this." And she suggests to him that he not come back here, in case the queen should decide to have him killed instead of Gi Cheol! Park is taken aback a little, but then chuckles that he's safe as long as her father is still alive in Yanjing. (Don't be so sure, pal.)
Well look who's a stool pigeon. The queen dowager's lead attendant--we've seen a lot of her but don't know her name--has come to Choseon to tell her what's going on in the palace. Interesting; she must be a sympathizer. Pyeonjo is there too. "His Majesty," she tells them both, "will visit the Great Royal Consort Yeongang's residence." That's mother Gi. Choseon is surprised. Why her? "She's just a lowly old fart." Hey, that's no kind of talk from a lady....but obviously she's not happy about it; sees it as further capitulation from the royal family. Pyeonjo agrees and wants to do something about it. "Gather up some people for me," he tells Choseon. "We need to show His Majesty what the people want." Whatever that means. Choseon pooh-poohs it, believing that Gongmin won't care what the people want any more than his predecessors did. But Pyeonjo disagrees. "His Majesty endured humiliation all the way to that throne. He suffered as much agony as the lowest of commoners. He's different from our former rulers." At least, enough to give him a chance. Choseon trusts him greatly, and agrees.
The palace complex gates open. Gongmin emerges, on a horse, headed for the Gi estate. It's not a full royal procession at all; he's guarded by soldiers, some on horseback, but he's not in a gama and he's not dressed as lavishly as we'd expect for a public appearance. No crown either.
And now we know what Pyeonjo wants to do. He and those men of Choseon's are going to put together a group of citizens to block the king's path and keep him from reaching the Gi estate. No violence, he insists. "Let's just show him where our wishes lie. That, and nothing more." Oh, and Won? You stay here. "Just the smallest occasion and you explode like a madman." He's right, isn't he.
And now here are around a hundred people in the street, blocking Gongmin's path. Just standing, in a humble bow, but not moving. Some of his guards want to call for soldiers to clear the way, but Gongmin tells them they'll just take another road.
Mother Gi is all dressed up now, and a whole bunch of Gis and supporters have arrived to witness the king's appearance. Commissioner Park is there too--he's starting to become a real pain in the butt, isn't he.
Different road, but the people have scurried through the side streets and beat Gongmin to it. They block his path again. And now a third road. Same deal. They're on the ground now, completely prostrated, not looking up, not moving. Now the horn signal goes out for soldiers to come and intervene. But Gongmin strides forward on his horse, looks at the people and seems to appreciate what they're trying to do. "I know your intentions," he tells them kindly, "so free the way now." But they don't. "Your Majesty!" One man rises up to his knees and stares straight ahead. "You can't go to Gi Cheol's residence! If you plan to head there, you'll have to go over our dead bodies!" Gongmin looks at him...and then looks again, totally stunned. "Aren't you Pyeonjo?" "Your Majesty! Punish Gi Cheol and the pro-Yuan collaborators, and restore public order in this country!" At that moment the soldiers sweep in and the place goes up for grabs. But as the royal party heads away and Pyeonjo and the rest are dragged aside by the soldiers, Gongmin keeps looking back at Pyeonjo, dumbfounded to encounter his former friend and here of all places.
At the Gi estate, most of the people waiting have gone outside...and suddenly they're getting hit by flying rocks! And outside the gates, a different group of citizens are throwing them, and carrying burning torches. And they're being incited by...Won Hyeon. He just couldn't sit there and behave himself, could he. "Let's burn the Yuan puppets to ashes! We need to kill all the collaborators! Only then will the Yuan stop holding us in contempt!! Set Gi Cheol's residence on fire!" Now it's absolute chaos, because a large group of soldiers sweeps in--most likely these are the Gis' private guards--and starts busting up the trouble and driving everybody away before the house gets torched.
Word of the blockade gets back to the palace. Deoknyeong tells Noguk not to worry; "the foolish masses couldn't control their anger" and that's all it was. But Noguk disagrees. "The thought of their king bowing down to Gi Cheol's mother must have been so embarrassing and pitiful it moved them to that."
Back at the Gi estate, things have calmed down again. Gongmin is inside, in front of mother Gi. Commissioner Park is also in the room, and Eunuch Choi. And long story short, well..."My apologies, Your Grace. I shall offer you solace." He's remarkably calm and even good-natured about it, or at least he's making quite an effort to come across that way. She wants to know that everyone who was involved in killing her son and imprisoning her has been punished, and they have. But then she goes too far: "Did they act alone?! I know all too well who started the rebellion from behind the scenes. So, no need to waste time with false apologies." Is that a shot at Noguk? Uh-oh, Gongmin's not looking so pleasant now....Outside, everyone is laughing ecstatically over what must be happening inside now. "She's scolding the king mighty well! Her Grace is a heroine without peers!" And more such taunting...which is loud enough to be heard clearly inside and to heighten the tension. But Gongmin digs deep, wipes away his anger and restores the pleasant smile to his face. "So, should I get up and bow properly?" She grunts at him; nothing more. So he does it, over Choi's protests and to Park's surprise. And sits back down. "Eunuch Park. Whenever you reach Yanjing, let Her Majesty know I learned a very precious lesson today, And that I shall never make the same mistake twice." And he laughs pleasantly. Park can't believe what he's hearing. It's a phenomenal display of diplomacy and tact, considering how Gongmin must be feeling inside. He sure earned his paycheck today.
Evening: Back at the palace, a late meeting with Lee Je Hyeon, Yeom Je Shin, Lee In Bok and Jung Se Woon. The four all express their shame that they couldn't do more to prevent what happened today. "No need to feel sorry," Gongmin tells them. "I didn't bow down to Gi Cheol's mother. That bow was directed at my people." Then he asks them, "How long will it take, to be strong enough to face the Yuan?" We're ready right now, they tell him, but he knows that's baloney. "There's no need for unavailing and blind boldness." The Yuan are still strong, even if they're not as strong as they used to be. "It's not the kind of fight that will end in a few days. We shall be fully prepared." Remember the humiliation that Goryeo suffered today, he tells them..."but just being dominated by anger, without seeking a way to expunge it, how foolish is that?" Let's start planning properly and do this right, he tells them. How about that, now he's even advising his advisors. Growing into the job right before our eyes.
Noguk came to visit her husband and was waiting outside while this was going on, and heard all of it. She greets the four ministers gratefully as they leave. "Your hard work is appreciated. Hearing you discuss the future of this country with His Majesty was a most bountiful sound." They're visibly uncomfortable, knowing they were just discussing how to fight Noguk's own people, but she senses this and assures them simply, "I'm fine." And heads on inside. The four walk away, all talking about how Noguk is impressing them more and more all the time. "His Majesty is very lucky." "No, we're all lucky." "A most precious gift from the Yuan." Won them over, she has.
"How did I do today?" Noguk smiles at her husband. "You acted smartly," she tells him. Okay, he says--so "I need a reward." Why you dog, you. He opens his arms to her. "Come closer." She blushes. "So now you're acting shy?" He laughs at the very notion of that. And then from outside the palace, we see the inside lights all go out.
Next day: All of the citizens dragged away yesterday are in jail cells. Pyeonjo is just sitting quietly. Choseon's subordinate and her other men are all grumbling about Gongmin. "He's never going to listen to us. Do you expect us to trust him?" But then what's this--the palace sends over a generous lunch for everybody! Look at that: meat, nice fruit, is that wine too? Wow, what a kind gesture. Without a word, Pyeonjo and the subordinate look at each other, and the subordinate nods, as though Pyeonjo is right, maybe this Gongmin guy is different after all.
Evening: Won Hyeon is actually burning his monk robe. Gong Cheol is watching and trying to change his mind, to no avail. "What Pyeonjo said was right. If Buddha had the power to save us, he would have done that already." We have to act on our own. "For you, Pyeonjo, I'll turn this world upside down!"
An angry Master Bou has come to see Wolseon. He's angry because he heard about Pyeonjo leading the group that blocked the king. "Pyeonjo instilled hatred in the people's hearts." Hatred? Certainly not. Bou has this wrong. Not my problem, Wolseon says, because Pyeonjo isn't a monk any more. Bou doesn't like that. "You need to take Pyeonjo back into your care!" Outside, Deokun has heard all this and can stay quiet no longer. "If Pyeonjo ran away with his own feet," he shouts at Bou, "what can you do about it?!" Bou loses his temper. "How can a monk who knows nothing but eating and pooping dare to speak in my presence?!" That is NOT cool...or very religious, is it. But Wolseon has no intention of being baited into an argument. "Pyeonjo will cause great trouble," Bou insists. Wolseon challenges him, "Would Buddha want this kind of world? When are you going to see a decent world to live in?" And adds, cryptically, "If Pyeonjo is a wicked monk, this whole world is hell!"
Evening: Now the prisoners are all being released. It was the king's personal order, how about that. Pyeonjo thinks back...to, of all things, his encounter with Botap Shili in Yanjing (that bridged Episodes 10 and 11). "You're the only one His Majesty opened himself to. I want to trust and lean on you as well." Asking him point-blank, "How can His Majesty become a strong ruler? And gain the people's faith and trust?"...flashback ending, maybe Pyeonjo realizes he has another potential friend in the palace.
Freed from jail, he walks away down a street by himself. Except now a man steps out into the street after he passes, and watches him. And then another man. And in moments there are eight of them, all with swords. They run him down and surround him in the darkness...and one throws a dagger! Not at him, but very close by. Pyeonjo instinctively catches it by the handle, just like we saw him do when the then-prince threw a dagger at him in Yanjing. Now who would be throwing a dagger at him here in Gaegyeong? The thrower steps out of the shadows. King Gongmin. He looks at Pyeonjo and smiles. "I see you haven't changed a bit."
Gaegyeong: The Yuan delegation is still in the capital. Commissioner Park walks by Lee In Bok and Jung Se Woon, who bow in acknowledgment and are snubbed. Jung gets angry over "a scummy eunuch treating us like that," but Lee reminds him that even the king is tolerating that kind of behavior because of the delicate situation. "Our army isn't even able to repulse Japanese pirates harassing the South. How are we going to fight with the Yuan's immense armies?" In other words, Cool it.
Park goes back to visit Gongmin one last time. Gongmin is already disgusted with him for the demand he's brought to execute all of those Jo Il Shin associates. But now Park wants one more thing. It's about Gi Cheol's mother having been thrown in jail. "I shall tell the Empress you had nothing to do with Jo Il Shin's rebellion." In return, he says, well..."You'll have to go out of your way and excise Lady Lee's burning anger." Gongmin doesn't really resist this. "Understood. I shall send eunuchs to console her." But Park says he needs to go himself and apologize to her. That went too far. Gongmin goes ballistic, and in the next moment has his sword at Park's throat.
"Find Gi Cheol's mother and apologize to her?!" Wow, Noguk just got word of it and she's nearly as angry as he was.
And now the high officials have heard about it, and they're outside Gongmin's office (not blood-spattered; he let Park go) imploring him to behead Park and throw mother Gi back in prison. This is all getting to be too much for Gongmin, all the whining and crying they're doing (seriously, they're whining like babies) and he shouts at them to go away.
Now Park has gone to visit mother Gi--who isn't very receptive to him and who has no desire to get a royal apology. "Will that bring back Gi Won from the dead?" But Park urges her to get it, because it will secure Gi Cheol's safe return to Goryeo, free from the queen killing him. Which provokes a disgusted grunt from her (So THAT'S where he gets it). "Let her do as she pleases," she says, apparently not realizing that Noguk is the kind of person who probably would go through with it. Gi Ryun is there with them, and backs up Park. "The Queen is not the most tamed of specimens," he warns her.
Lee Je Yeon, Yeom Je Shim, Jung Se Woon and Lee In Bok are concerned about this possible apology business and decide they have to try to stop it, because "Gi Cheol will come back in roaring spirits and raise hell." But maybe it's better he does come back and then they can try to kill him. Otherwise he'll stay up there in Yanjing for a while and just keep scheming. No easy solution here.
Wow, Park is sure getting around. Now it's Queen Dowager Battleaxe he's visiting. Telling her that Empress Gi might be replacing her son. Gets her all riled up, no surprise. "It requires your utmost attention," he tells her, with a weasely smile.
Finally, a quiet moment, with the king and queen alone together. Gongmin looks unhappy; apparently he's decided to concede to the Yuan and give mother Gi the apology. "I've thought about it countless times," he begins to explain to her. "About slaying Park Bulhwa and all those Yuan envoys, and fighting the Yuan." It would be so popular, "people would be so happy they'd dance on the streets." And the people would fight valiantly, win or lose. But all those government officials...that's another story. "With their pungent tongues they keep saying we needed to escape Mongol domination. But the moment Jo Il Shin rose in revolt, they were nowhere to be seen, too busy hiding. Their king's safety, their country's fate--those things never concerned them." They'd never risk their lives or wealth to fight the Yuan; they'd just push for compromise and submission. "Before I begin the fight," he tells her, "I shall deal with them. Until they get down on their knees, pledging their allegiance to me, I won't be able to fight the Yuan." She's listened to this silently, but more and more she's absolutely beaming at him her eyes are welling up with tears. She's so happy and impressed that he's thought this through so carefully and wisely. "I can't start a war without a sound strategy," he concludes, "and let my people spill blood in vain." Be patient with me, he tells her, "I'll be able to endure every humiliation from now on." She takes his hand and tells him she'll support him and wait for however long it takes him to make that happen. Gongmin, he's never really felt worthy of her, has he...but her reaction and her faith in him, it fills him with joyful surprise and seems to give him confidence. He hugs her, and they both look happier than they've looked the entire series so far. How about this--Gongmin is starting to turn into a real king. And his wife can see the resolve and decisiveness she's always hoped to see in him, finally taking root. (What a great, great scene. Beautifully done.)
Gaegyeong, evening: Pyeonjo and Won stop at a cafe for dinner. Won sits down, pounds some money on the table and asks the waitress for some rice soup--along with wine. And some meat too! What's up with the alcohol and meat? "Now I've officially renounced the cloth, why would I worry about that?" HUH? News to us. Big news. Wolseon let Pyeonjo leave Gaetae Temple and apparently resign from being a monk, and apparently Won followed suit. They enjoy their meal and laugh about not having to address each other as "monk" any more. Won is full of energy, and thinks it's their time to turn the world upside down. Especially now that Pyeonjo is in that Tea Party group, and has all of those whatever-they-are powers that he acquired while in Tibet. But Pyeonjo is irritated; thinks Won is expecting too much of him and walks away from him.
Next morning: Mother Gi is home, awaiting the king's arrival and basking in triumph along with Gi Ryun and one of the family's associates. Ryun says it's time to replace Gongmin now--maybe with Prince Deokheung, the third son of King Chungseon. But the other man says, no, we should put a Gi on the throne! All three of them like the sound of that.
Princess Deoknyeong is visiting the queen again--this time commending her on her patience for not starting more trouble over Gi Cheol. "It was a wise choice." And it kept her father out of danger as well. For now. Deoknyeong leaves, and outside finds Commissioner Park waiting for her, wanting to know what Noguk said. Instead he gets an angry glare. "You took this too far," she says to him. "Empress Gi isn't the type, so it must be you who schemed all this." And she suggests to him that he not come back here, in case the queen should decide to have him killed instead of Gi Cheol! Park is taken aback a little, but then chuckles that he's safe as long as her father is still alive in Yanjing. (Don't be so sure, pal.)
Well look who's a stool pigeon. The queen dowager's lead attendant--we've seen a lot of her but don't know her name--has come to Choseon to tell her what's going on in the palace. Interesting; she must be a sympathizer. Pyeonjo is there too. "His Majesty," she tells them both, "will visit the Great Royal Consort Yeongang's residence." That's mother Gi. Choseon is surprised. Why her? "She's just a lowly old fart." Hey, that's no kind of talk from a lady....but obviously she's not happy about it; sees it as further capitulation from the royal family. Pyeonjo agrees and wants to do something about it. "Gather up some people for me," he tells Choseon. "We need to show His Majesty what the people want." Whatever that means. Choseon pooh-poohs it, believing that Gongmin won't care what the people want any more than his predecessors did. But Pyeonjo disagrees. "His Majesty endured humiliation all the way to that throne. He suffered as much agony as the lowest of commoners. He's different from our former rulers." At least, enough to give him a chance. Choseon trusts him greatly, and agrees.
The palace complex gates open. Gongmin emerges, on a horse, headed for the Gi estate. It's not a full royal procession at all; he's guarded by soldiers, some on horseback, but he's not in a gama and he's not dressed as lavishly as we'd expect for a public appearance. No crown either.
And now we know what Pyeonjo wants to do. He and those men of Choseon's are going to put together a group of citizens to block the king's path and keep him from reaching the Gi estate. No violence, he insists. "Let's just show him where our wishes lie. That, and nothing more." Oh, and Won? You stay here. "Just the smallest occasion and you explode like a madman." He's right, isn't he.
And now here are around a hundred people in the street, blocking Gongmin's path. Just standing, in a humble bow, but not moving. Some of his guards want to call for soldiers to clear the way, but Gongmin tells them they'll just take another road.
Mother Gi is all dressed up now, and a whole bunch of Gis and supporters have arrived to witness the king's appearance. Commissioner Park is there too--he's starting to become a real pain in the butt, isn't he.
Different road, but the people have scurried through the side streets and beat Gongmin to it. They block his path again. And now a third road. Same deal. They're on the ground now, completely prostrated, not looking up, not moving. Now the horn signal goes out for soldiers to come and intervene. But Gongmin strides forward on his horse, looks at the people and seems to appreciate what they're trying to do. "I know your intentions," he tells them kindly, "so free the way now." But they don't. "Your Majesty!" One man rises up to his knees and stares straight ahead. "You can't go to Gi Cheol's residence! If you plan to head there, you'll have to go over our dead bodies!" Gongmin looks at him...and then looks again, totally stunned. "Aren't you Pyeonjo?" "Your Majesty! Punish Gi Cheol and the pro-Yuan collaborators, and restore public order in this country!" At that moment the soldiers sweep in and the place goes up for grabs. But as the royal party heads away and Pyeonjo and the rest are dragged aside by the soldiers, Gongmin keeps looking back at Pyeonjo, dumbfounded to encounter his former friend and here of all places.
At the Gi estate, most of the people waiting have gone outside...and suddenly they're getting hit by flying rocks! And outside the gates, a different group of citizens are throwing them, and carrying burning torches. And they're being incited by...Won Hyeon. He just couldn't sit there and behave himself, could he. "Let's burn the Yuan puppets to ashes! We need to kill all the collaborators! Only then will the Yuan stop holding us in contempt!! Set Gi Cheol's residence on fire!" Now it's absolute chaos, because a large group of soldiers sweeps in--most likely these are the Gis' private guards--and starts busting up the trouble and driving everybody away before the house gets torched.
Word of the blockade gets back to the palace. Deoknyeong tells Noguk not to worry; "the foolish masses couldn't control their anger" and that's all it was. But Noguk disagrees. "The thought of their king bowing down to Gi Cheol's mother must have been so embarrassing and pitiful it moved them to that."
Back at the Gi estate, things have calmed down again. Gongmin is inside, in front of mother Gi. Commissioner Park is also in the room, and Eunuch Choi. And long story short, well..."My apologies, Your Grace. I shall offer you solace." He's remarkably calm and even good-natured about it, or at least he's making quite an effort to come across that way. She wants to know that everyone who was involved in killing her son and imprisoning her has been punished, and they have. But then she goes too far: "Did they act alone?! I know all too well who started the rebellion from behind the scenes. So, no need to waste time with false apologies." Is that a shot at Noguk? Uh-oh, Gongmin's not looking so pleasant now....Outside, everyone is laughing ecstatically over what must be happening inside now. "She's scolding the king mighty well! Her Grace is a heroine without peers!" And more such taunting...which is loud enough to be heard clearly inside and to heighten the tension. But Gongmin digs deep, wipes away his anger and restores the pleasant smile to his face. "So, should I get up and bow properly?" She grunts at him; nothing more. So he does it, over Choi's protests and to Park's surprise. And sits back down. "Eunuch Park. Whenever you reach Yanjing, let Her Majesty know I learned a very precious lesson today, And that I shall never make the same mistake twice." And he laughs pleasantly. Park can't believe what he's hearing. It's a phenomenal display of diplomacy and tact, considering how Gongmin must be feeling inside. He sure earned his paycheck today.
Evening: Back at the palace, a late meeting with Lee Je Hyeon, Yeom Je Shin, Lee In Bok and Jung Se Woon. The four all express their shame that they couldn't do more to prevent what happened today. "No need to feel sorry," Gongmin tells them. "I didn't bow down to Gi Cheol's mother. That bow was directed at my people." Then he asks them, "How long will it take, to be strong enough to face the Yuan?" We're ready right now, they tell him, but he knows that's baloney. "There's no need for unavailing and blind boldness." The Yuan are still strong, even if they're not as strong as they used to be. "It's not the kind of fight that will end in a few days. We shall be fully prepared." Remember the humiliation that Goryeo suffered today, he tells them..."but just being dominated by anger, without seeking a way to expunge it, how foolish is that?" Let's start planning properly and do this right, he tells them. How about that, now he's even advising his advisors. Growing into the job right before our eyes.
Noguk came to visit her husband and was waiting outside while this was going on, and heard all of it. She greets the four ministers gratefully as they leave. "Your hard work is appreciated. Hearing you discuss the future of this country with His Majesty was a most bountiful sound." They're visibly uncomfortable, knowing they were just discussing how to fight Noguk's own people, but she senses this and assures them simply, "I'm fine." And heads on inside. The four walk away, all talking about how Noguk is impressing them more and more all the time. "His Majesty is very lucky." "No, we're all lucky." "A most precious gift from the Yuan." Won them over, she has.
"How did I do today?" Noguk smiles at her husband. "You acted smartly," she tells him. Okay, he says--so "I need a reward." Why you dog, you. He opens his arms to her. "Come closer." She blushes. "So now you're acting shy?" He laughs at the very notion of that. And then from outside the palace, we see the inside lights all go out.
Next day: All of the citizens dragged away yesterday are in jail cells. Pyeonjo is just sitting quietly. Choseon's subordinate and her other men are all grumbling about Gongmin. "He's never going to listen to us. Do you expect us to trust him?" But then what's this--the palace sends over a generous lunch for everybody! Look at that: meat, nice fruit, is that wine too? Wow, what a kind gesture. Without a word, Pyeonjo and the subordinate look at each other, and the subordinate nods, as though Pyeonjo is right, maybe this Gongmin guy is different after all.
Evening: Won Hyeon is actually burning his monk robe. Gong Cheol is watching and trying to change his mind, to no avail. "What Pyeonjo said was right. If Buddha had the power to save us, he would have done that already." We have to act on our own. "For you, Pyeonjo, I'll turn this world upside down!"
An angry Master Bou has come to see Wolseon. He's angry because he heard about Pyeonjo leading the group that blocked the king. "Pyeonjo instilled hatred in the people's hearts." Hatred? Certainly not. Bou has this wrong. Not my problem, Wolseon says, because Pyeonjo isn't a monk any more. Bou doesn't like that. "You need to take Pyeonjo back into your care!" Outside, Deokun has heard all this and can stay quiet no longer. "If Pyeonjo ran away with his own feet," he shouts at Bou, "what can you do about it?!" Bou loses his temper. "How can a monk who knows nothing but eating and pooping dare to speak in my presence?!" That is NOT cool...or very religious, is it. But Wolseon has no intention of being baited into an argument. "Pyeonjo will cause great trouble," Bou insists. Wolseon challenges him, "Would Buddha want this kind of world? When are you going to see a decent world to live in?" And adds, cryptically, "If Pyeonjo is a wicked monk, this whole world is hell!"
Evening: Now the prisoners are all being released. It was the king's personal order, how about that. Pyeonjo thinks back...to, of all things, his encounter with Botap Shili in Yanjing (that bridged Episodes 10 and 11). "You're the only one His Majesty opened himself to. I want to trust and lean on you as well." Asking him point-blank, "How can His Majesty become a strong ruler? And gain the people's faith and trust?"...flashback ending, maybe Pyeonjo realizes he has another potential friend in the palace.
Freed from jail, he walks away down a street by himself. Except now a man steps out into the street after he passes, and watches him. And then another man. And in moments there are eight of them, all with swords. They run him down and surround him in the darkness...and one throws a dagger! Not at him, but very close by. Pyeonjo instinctively catches it by the handle, just like we saw him do when the then-prince threw a dagger at him in Yanjing. Now who would be throwing a dagger at him here in Gaegyeong? The thrower steps out of the shadows. King Gongmin. He looks at Pyeonjo and smiles. "I see you haven't changed a bit."