Post by ajk on Apr 7, 2014 15:54:12 GMT -5
"I'd like to become in-laws with you." WOW--It's a proposal! Seonggye has a daughter of marrying age and is suggesting she marry one of Lee In Im's nephews. "You are concerned that I have a traitorous mind," he explains; “you won’t have to worry about that if we become family." And I’d become a member of your political faction. In Im shakes off his surprise and takes the offer one step further: "Will you give me a son too?" He suggests marrying one of Seonggye’s sons to a girl in the royal family, because it would more fully prove his loyalty. Seonggye agrees. So it’s a deal—and it gets Seonggye out of all of that trouble he was facing. Just like JD said it would, how about that. “Now go home,” In Im says with a wry smile. “You’ve suffered enough."
Of course Seonggye’s family isn’t too happy about this, and most of the scholars are appalled (Mongju defends him, outwardly at least). And frankly Seonggye doesn’t look all that happy about it either. But the big question is how Choi Yeong feels about it. So Seonggye visits him to find out. Choi isn’t worried about it at all. "A political party is no big deal. We fought in battle together. There couldn’t be a tie that is stronger." He laughs, and says he doesn’t expect to live much longer. "You’re the general who will be responsible for Goryeo after I die.” And tells Seonggye he’s happy he made the deal because it will lift the cloud of suspicion off of him. He actually takes Seonggye's hands and tells him what a good job he did. It brings tears to Seonggye’s eyes.
Bangwon goes to JD and tells him the outcome. And he’s brought a gift: a small chest full of gold. Cha-ching. He still doesn’t know why JD is helping his father, but he doesn’t push it. He does ask what his father should do now. JD’s answer: “Get out of town as soon as possible.” Stay away from the politics and go back to Dongbukmyeon where he was before.
We get a glimpse of a wedding; narration tells us the bride is Seonggye’s and Lady Kang’s daughter, the future princess Gyeongsun, and the groom is Lee In Im’s nephew Lee Je. We’re also told that one of Seonggye’s sons married a sibling of a royal family member, and that the two marriages did help him gain political power.
Now we see In Im meeting with his flunkies...but wait, there four instead of the usual three. Seonggye is there now. Ha Ryun welcomes him graciously; Im Gyeongmi and Yeom Heungbang are totally giving him the skunk-eye. Later, he asks In Im to be allowed to go back to Dongbukmyeon, but In Im tells him to send Jiran instead. In Im doesn't want Seonggye out of his sight. But he does offer a gift instead: I'll appoint some people you like to government posts, if you give me a list of names.
JD has brought the chest of gold back to Seonggye. “It's a bribe for a high position." Seonggye is suprised by this, because he knows that In Im doesn’t like JD so it’s not likely to happen. But JD talks him into trying. Later, Lee In Im gets the list and sees JD’s name on it. He calls Seonggye in for an explanation because he’s a little suspicious. Seonggye says very simply, “I recommended a person with talent.” Which still doesn’t entirely satisfy In Im, but Seonggye is so insistent about it that In Im says he’ll consider it. Then an aide enters and tells In Im he'd better get over to the palace right away...
...because the drunken king wants to go hunting and two of his eunuchs won't let him. Not just because he’s drunk but also because it’s well into the nighttime! He angrily tells them "I’m just going to the residential area and kill a few dogs." You can't kill animals that people are raising, the eunuchs argue as they kneel before him...which makes the king so angry, he loads his bow and points the arrow right at them. In Im shows up just in time to prevent a murder...but now the king is pointing the drawn arrow at In Im! Yikes...In Im stays calm, walks up to the king and gently takes the bow. The king falls to the ground sobbing about how “I want to kill everything I see. There is nobody on my side." So In Im tells him, as he told him when the king was a boy, “I’ll protect you. Just trust me." At that, the king tells his eunuchs to summon the senior officials for a council meeting. At this hour? Why?
They all hastily gather and the king tells them he’s decided to name In Im his father! “He is the national father of Goryeo. So please treat him as such." Everyone is flabbergasted; this is totally without precedent and, frankly, not at all appropriate. But In Im’s supporters love it and praise the idea. Then attention turns to Seonggye, who’s been sitting there in silence. Everyone wants his opinion. He takes a deep breath, steels himself, and calls it "appropriate and reasonable." Beneath his robe he’s clutching his fists in anger as he says it, but he says it. It not only stuns the scholars and generals on the council, it stuns In Im’s flunkies too. He’s following JD’s advice to him: “If you want to deceive someone, you have to deceive yourself."
Next day: Citizens are reading a posted proclamation about the king’s decision. They had heard Seonggye agreed with it and are bitterly disappointed in him.
JD’s wife is furious with her husband for giving away that gold--"We could have lived ten years with that!"--but he hasn’t told her of his grand plans. But then, guess what, here comes Mongju with good news. JD was appointed Vice Supervisor of Rites. And he can join the state council again. Later we see the council meeting at which he’s formally appointed, which we’re told by narration took place in 1384. "Work hard for Goryeo," Lee In Im tells him with a smile (so apparently In Im has moved on from their past).
Days later: JD his headed to Ming, to accompany a delegation acknowledging the emperor's birthday. "I will broaden my experience and see what the grumpy emperor looks like." And Seonggye, he’s been allowed to go back to Dongbukmyeon. JD bids him farewell before they both depart. Reminds him again about “the great cause,” but Seonggye doesn’t want to hear about that any more. "Many people would have to die for that. I'm tired of seeing blood." But he invites JD to visit him in Dongbukmyeon when he returns from Ming. "I’m not saying I'll join the cause. I just think you’ll make a nice friend.” And adds, “Mongju is too elegant." They laugh...but then Seonggye sincerely thanks JD for his help. With good reason, as we’ve seen.
Of course Seonggye’s family isn’t too happy about this, and most of the scholars are appalled (Mongju defends him, outwardly at least). And frankly Seonggye doesn’t look all that happy about it either. But the big question is how Choi Yeong feels about it. So Seonggye visits him to find out. Choi isn’t worried about it at all. "A political party is no big deal. We fought in battle together. There couldn’t be a tie that is stronger." He laughs, and says he doesn’t expect to live much longer. "You’re the general who will be responsible for Goryeo after I die.” And tells Seonggye he’s happy he made the deal because it will lift the cloud of suspicion off of him. He actually takes Seonggye's hands and tells him what a good job he did. It brings tears to Seonggye’s eyes.
Bangwon goes to JD and tells him the outcome. And he’s brought a gift: a small chest full of gold. Cha-ching. He still doesn’t know why JD is helping his father, but he doesn’t push it. He does ask what his father should do now. JD’s answer: “Get out of town as soon as possible.” Stay away from the politics and go back to Dongbukmyeon where he was before.
We get a glimpse of a wedding; narration tells us the bride is Seonggye’s and Lady Kang’s daughter, the future princess Gyeongsun, and the groom is Lee In Im’s nephew Lee Je. We’re also told that one of Seonggye’s sons married a sibling of a royal family member, and that the two marriages did help him gain political power.
Now we see In Im meeting with his flunkies...but wait, there four instead of the usual three. Seonggye is there now. Ha Ryun welcomes him graciously; Im Gyeongmi and Yeom Heungbang are totally giving him the skunk-eye. Later, he asks In Im to be allowed to go back to Dongbukmyeon, but In Im tells him to send Jiran instead. In Im doesn't want Seonggye out of his sight. But he does offer a gift instead: I'll appoint some people you like to government posts, if you give me a list of names.
JD has brought the chest of gold back to Seonggye. “It's a bribe for a high position." Seonggye is suprised by this, because he knows that In Im doesn’t like JD so it’s not likely to happen. But JD talks him into trying. Later, Lee In Im gets the list and sees JD’s name on it. He calls Seonggye in for an explanation because he’s a little suspicious. Seonggye says very simply, “I recommended a person with talent.” Which still doesn’t entirely satisfy In Im, but Seonggye is so insistent about it that In Im says he’ll consider it. Then an aide enters and tells In Im he'd better get over to the palace right away...
...because the drunken king wants to go hunting and two of his eunuchs won't let him. Not just because he’s drunk but also because it’s well into the nighttime! He angrily tells them "I’m just going to the residential area and kill a few dogs." You can't kill animals that people are raising, the eunuchs argue as they kneel before him...which makes the king so angry, he loads his bow and points the arrow right at them. In Im shows up just in time to prevent a murder...but now the king is pointing the drawn arrow at In Im! Yikes...In Im stays calm, walks up to the king and gently takes the bow. The king falls to the ground sobbing about how “I want to kill everything I see. There is nobody on my side." So In Im tells him, as he told him when the king was a boy, “I’ll protect you. Just trust me." At that, the king tells his eunuchs to summon the senior officials for a council meeting. At this hour? Why?
They all hastily gather and the king tells them he’s decided to name In Im his father! “He is the national father of Goryeo. So please treat him as such." Everyone is flabbergasted; this is totally without precedent and, frankly, not at all appropriate. But In Im’s supporters love it and praise the idea. Then attention turns to Seonggye, who’s been sitting there in silence. Everyone wants his opinion. He takes a deep breath, steels himself, and calls it "appropriate and reasonable." Beneath his robe he’s clutching his fists in anger as he says it, but he says it. It not only stuns the scholars and generals on the council, it stuns In Im’s flunkies too. He’s following JD’s advice to him: “If you want to deceive someone, you have to deceive yourself."
Next day: Citizens are reading a posted proclamation about the king’s decision. They had heard Seonggye agreed with it and are bitterly disappointed in him.
JD’s wife is furious with her husband for giving away that gold--"We could have lived ten years with that!"--but he hasn’t told her of his grand plans. But then, guess what, here comes Mongju with good news. JD was appointed Vice Supervisor of Rites. And he can join the state council again. Later we see the council meeting at which he’s formally appointed, which we’re told by narration took place in 1384. "Work hard for Goryeo," Lee In Im tells him with a smile (so apparently In Im has moved on from their past).
Days later: JD his headed to Ming, to accompany a delegation acknowledging the emperor's birthday. "I will broaden my experience and see what the grumpy emperor looks like." And Seonggye, he’s been allowed to go back to Dongbukmyeon. JD bids him farewell before they both depart. Reminds him again about “the great cause,” but Seonggye doesn’t want to hear about that any more. "Many people would have to die for that. I'm tired of seeing blood." But he invites JD to visit him in Dongbukmyeon when he returns from Ming. "I’m not saying I'll join the cause. I just think you’ll make a nice friend.” And adds, “Mongju is too elegant." They laugh...but then Seonggye sincerely thanks JD for his help. With good reason, as we’ve seen.