Post by ajk on Feb 11, 2014 13:46:58 GMT -5
While Jeong Dojeon sits tied to a chair in prison, awaiting interrogation, Lee Im In's nephew Ha Ryun realizes that Lee is sacrificing JD to the cause of defeating his political enemies. And when he confronts his uncle, Lee readily admits it!
Lee tells King Gongmin it's all in order; JD will be tortured and "will give up Gyeong Bokheung." But Gongmin is thinking back to the incident with the envoys; JD may have been overstepping his bounds but he was doing it out of loyalty to his king. Is Gongmin having second thoughts about this?
The queen dowager and PM Gyeong know that interrogating JD is overkill and that it all goes back to the Monino/crown prince issue. If only there were another prince, they lament. But wait, here's a thought...
Babes! The QD is hosting Gongmin's four consorts. Gongmin never had much interest in them and hasn't gone anywhere near them since Noguk's death. But the QD tells them the kingdom needs a prince so let's try again. None of them likes the idea. Particularly not Jeongbi, the consort chosen by the QD to sleep with the king first...
...and Gongmin doesn't like it either. "I will not hold any other woman." He hates it so much that he actually sends his jajewi bodyguard Hong Ryun to Jeongbi's bedroom to take his place. But he doesn't tell Jeongbi ahead of time--oops--and she gets so freaked out she fights Hong off and runs away. And then later tries to hang herself. (But is discovered in time and survives.) Gongmin gets a scolding from his mother about it, but his attitude is so cynical that he doesn’t care about anything any more. She tries to tell him he still has loyal subjects he can trust....
Nighttime: With the interrogation set for the following morning, Lee Im In goes to the prison and confronts JD, who's still tied to that chair. Gives JD a chance to lie and implicate PM Gyeong to save his own life. But JD won't do it.
Then a little later, in the middle of the night, JD has another visitor. Gongmin! Alone, carrying a sword. An intense confrontation: rapid-fire questions from the king and rapid-fire answers from JD. And then, Who made you write that appeal? "The people made me write it." I always had such hope for you and Goryeo, JD says: "Is that king dead?" At that, Gongmin raises his sword and strikes...and the ropes fall from JD's chair. "Your life is mine now."
As dawn breaks, Gongmin pays Lee In Im a visit. To ask him to retire! Gives him a few days to think about it.
Park Sangchung has tried to assemble scholars to stage a group protest of JD's interrogation...but they won't do it. This just isn't something Confucian scholars do, they tell him. Wimps. Ha Ryun is the only one willing to help, and only because he has his uncle's clout protecting him.
News arrives of a great victory by Choi Yeong and his men against the Yuan on Jeju Island. A big lift for everybody’s spirits.
Gongmin bids goodbye to the Ming envoys. Apparently Goryeo has promised them 2,000 horses (most likely horses that the Yuan were raising on Jeju); Gongmin assures them they'll be delivered on time.
JD has new life in him. He optimistically tells Jeong Mongju that he thinks this is the chance they've been hoping for, to help set Goryeo on a new, better course.
Well now how about this: consort Ikbi is pregnant. Gongmin is shocked, so he’s not the daddy. Eunuch Choi says he’s sure it's Hong Ryun's! Gongmin says he'll give the jajewi a banquet tomorrow and tells Choi to kill Hong when Hong is sufficiently drunk. But now Choi starts to fear for his own life because he knows about all this. So he spills the whole story to Lee In Im! Ugh. Immediately Lee starts scheming....
"I will do as you requested in your appeal. I will issue an order tomorrow and reform this country." Gongmin shocks JD (and us). And he offers JD a government post! He asks just one thing in return. "Protect my son." Deal. He’s being very cordial and friendly to JD; obviously has a lot of faith in him.
That evening: A big banquet for all the ministers, and nearby one for the jajewi. Gongmin pours Lee In Im what he quietly tells him will be "our final drink together."
Later: Where did Lee In Im get all those soldiers? Wow...he and Eunuch Choi and the soldiers are going to go wipe out the jajewi so they can kill Gongmin! But somebody tipped off the jajewi about it--and also about Gongmin wanting Hong Ryun killed--and they're ready for them.
Late at night: Gongmin is alone, writing the appointment order for JD. Suddenly a huge commotion inside the palace. Choi Mansaeng is killed right in front of Gongmin by jajewi. Hong Ryun, his sword drawn, glares at Gongmin. "You worked me like a dog. How could you betray me?" He charges forward and skewers the king right through the abdomen. Gongmin falls, dead.
Lee tells King Gongmin it's all in order; JD will be tortured and "will give up Gyeong Bokheung." But Gongmin is thinking back to the incident with the envoys; JD may have been overstepping his bounds but he was doing it out of loyalty to his king. Is Gongmin having second thoughts about this?
The queen dowager and PM Gyeong know that interrogating JD is overkill and that it all goes back to the Monino/crown prince issue. If only there were another prince, they lament. But wait, here's a thought...
Babes! The QD is hosting Gongmin's four consorts. Gongmin never had much interest in them and hasn't gone anywhere near them since Noguk's death. But the QD tells them the kingdom needs a prince so let's try again. None of them likes the idea. Particularly not Jeongbi, the consort chosen by the QD to sleep with the king first...
...and Gongmin doesn't like it either. "I will not hold any other woman." He hates it so much that he actually sends his jajewi bodyguard Hong Ryun to Jeongbi's bedroom to take his place. But he doesn't tell Jeongbi ahead of time--oops--and she gets so freaked out she fights Hong off and runs away. And then later tries to hang herself. (But is discovered in time and survives.) Gongmin gets a scolding from his mother about it, but his attitude is so cynical that he doesn’t care about anything any more. She tries to tell him he still has loyal subjects he can trust....
Nighttime: With the interrogation set for the following morning, Lee Im In goes to the prison and confronts JD, who's still tied to that chair. Gives JD a chance to lie and implicate PM Gyeong to save his own life. But JD won't do it.
Then a little later, in the middle of the night, JD has another visitor. Gongmin! Alone, carrying a sword. An intense confrontation: rapid-fire questions from the king and rapid-fire answers from JD. And then, Who made you write that appeal? "The people made me write it." I always had such hope for you and Goryeo, JD says: "Is that king dead?" At that, Gongmin raises his sword and strikes...and the ropes fall from JD's chair. "Your life is mine now."
As dawn breaks, Gongmin pays Lee In Im a visit. To ask him to retire! Gives him a few days to think about it.
Park Sangchung has tried to assemble scholars to stage a group protest of JD's interrogation...but they won't do it. This just isn't something Confucian scholars do, they tell him. Wimps. Ha Ryun is the only one willing to help, and only because he has his uncle's clout protecting him.
News arrives of a great victory by Choi Yeong and his men against the Yuan on Jeju Island. A big lift for everybody’s spirits.
Gongmin bids goodbye to the Ming envoys. Apparently Goryeo has promised them 2,000 horses (most likely horses that the Yuan were raising on Jeju); Gongmin assures them they'll be delivered on time.
JD has new life in him. He optimistically tells Jeong Mongju that he thinks this is the chance they've been hoping for, to help set Goryeo on a new, better course.
Well now how about this: consort Ikbi is pregnant. Gongmin is shocked, so he’s not the daddy. Eunuch Choi says he’s sure it's Hong Ryun's! Gongmin says he'll give the jajewi a banquet tomorrow and tells Choi to kill Hong when Hong is sufficiently drunk. But now Choi starts to fear for his own life because he knows about all this. So he spills the whole story to Lee In Im! Ugh. Immediately Lee starts scheming....
"I will do as you requested in your appeal. I will issue an order tomorrow and reform this country." Gongmin shocks JD (and us). And he offers JD a government post! He asks just one thing in return. "Protect my son." Deal. He’s being very cordial and friendly to JD; obviously has a lot of faith in him.
That evening: A big banquet for all the ministers, and nearby one for the jajewi. Gongmin pours Lee In Im what he quietly tells him will be "our final drink together."
Later: Where did Lee In Im get all those soldiers? Wow...he and Eunuch Choi and the soldiers are going to go wipe out the jajewi so they can kill Gongmin! But somebody tipped off the jajewi about it--and also about Gongmin wanting Hong Ryun killed--and they're ready for them.
Late at night: Gongmin is alone, writing the appointment order for JD. Suddenly a huge commotion inside the palace. Choi Mansaeng is killed right in front of Gongmin by jajewi. Hong Ryun, his sword drawn, glares at Gongmin. "You worked me like a dog. How could you betray me?" He charges forward and skewers the king right through the abdomen. Gongmin falls, dead.