Post by ajk on Aug 8, 2014 23:46:20 GMT -5
Well they're escorting Chancellor Yoo away and the officials are protesting loudly. Word quickly spreads through the palace complex. Lee Saek gets so angry about it that he wants all of the Sungkyunkwan scholars assembled so they can protest to the king. He doesn't care how angry Gongmin is.
And yeah Gongmin is really angry...look at that sneer on his face! SD is before him and trying to calm him down. But Gongmin insists that Yoo is going to be punished as an example to anyone else who opposes the shrine's construction.
Lee Saek manages to get a word with Yoo as they're escorting him away. Yoo tells him not to make any trouble over it. Lee says to him, and says loudly so that all of the officials standing nearby can hear it, that all of them should go to the king and demand that the shrine's construction be stopped. Immediately they all scurry away like rats. Ugh.
And now Gongmin is scolding SD: "Do not involve yourself in my affairs!" You worry about state matters, he says. But of course this is a state matter, what with the amount of money it's costing. Gongmin thinks that SD has enough authority to find whatever money is necessary to run the government. "Let me be, and do whatever you please!" Then Lee Chun Bu and Lee In Im come in, groveling before him and expressing sympathy for the chancellor's "laughing in the face of his ruler's sorrow and uttering such capricious balderdash!" Punish him severely, they beg. They're totally, shamelessly sucking up, but it puts a big smile on Gongmin's face. And boy does it work: on the spot, Gongmin proclaims Chun Bu "Director of the Right" and In Im "Director of the Left." They're stunned, of course, but thrilled. Then we get a fascinating insight from Gongmin. "The shrine is to honor Princess Noguk, but it is also a symbol of Goryeo's royal family. Treating royals with contempt has become commonplace amongst the officials, leading to several insurrections." The shrine, he says, will "restore our royal family's reputation." Opposing its construction only hurts the country, he insists, so the chancellor must be punished for it. All the while he's explaining this, he's staring daggers at SD...who can only stand there silently and shut his eyes in frustration. Then Gongmin tells his two new directors that Yoo will be sentenced to death!
The two Lees leave the building, carrying written edicts making their promotions official.
Back inside, SD is standing his ground. And tries to convince him not to execute the chancellor. Gongmin glares at him and laughs. "I shall behead him on your behalf."
Lee Saek has gathered the Confucian scholars...but they're not entirely sure what to do. Some of them think they should try to save the chancellor and that "His Majesty will start granting us scholars his confidence and trust" if they do so. Others think that they shouldn't even go near the shrine issue, fearing that it would definitely harm the scholars. But they all agree that the chancellor needs to be freed, so a determined Lee Saek leads them to the king's palace.
Kim Sok Myeong (the new inspector general) sees this and goes to Lee In Bok. Wants him to rally the court to join the scholars; says it has to be done "to confront Shin Don's might." But Lee knows better; says this is all Gongmin's doing, and even thinks it's an ambush waiting to happen, which it sort of is.
And now here are all of the scholars kneeling outside of the king's palace, shouting for mercy for the chancellor. Gongmin has no interest; decides to take a nap. Tells Eunuch Choi, "wake me when those ruffians get tired of twaddling."
Next the scholars bring writing desks into the plaza and are kneeling there writing appeals to be taken to the king. Then Lee Saek starts shouting again...and it wakes Gongmin up. He starts thinking that SD might have instigated all this, by supporting the academy's reestablishment. But Eunuch Choi actually talks him out of that. "Would those scholars approve of His Eminence the Prime Minister? Confucians and Buddhists cannot live together under the same sky." Gongmin nods in agreement. Wow, score one for Choi. And he even reminds Gongmin (gently) that opposition to the shrine is much more widespread. But Gongmin ignores that, and now decides that the capital will not be moved to Gaegyeong until the shrine is completed. Then back to his nap.
SD summoned Lee In Bok, and here Lee is now. SD wants to stop the shrine construction, as does Lee, so he's reaching out to Lee to work together. But Lee has little regard for SD any more, and the whole thing turns into an argument about the fate of the country's nobles and moving the capital. And about the Liaodong invasion. But ultimately SD has to tell Lee that he feels like he's lost the king's trust. It happened "the moment I remonstrated against the shrine's construction." I'm not afraid to die for this, he says, and he asks Lee to help him....
An irritated-looking Lee walks briskly away from SD's home. We don't know what his answer was. Then Won Hyeon goes inside...and dares to say what we've all been thinking: that joining forces with officials won't solve this mess, and what's needed is to get Gongmin off the throne! "You must abandon His Majesty. Moving the capital with the same ruler on top, what would be the use?!" SD is horrified and denies ever having thought about any such thing. "Leave it all to me," Won tells him with malice in his eyes and menace in his voice. "If you slay a deranged king who could not forget his dead consort, who would ever oppose it?" SD glares at him and seethes to the point of physically shaking...but he doesn't argue, or even answer.
The scholars are still there. All of their written appeals have been taken inside by Lee Saek...who kneels before the king inside. Gongmin is throwing the papers around like they're garbage, his face showing utter contempt. But then he surprises us. You're only asking for clemency for Yoo? Maybe I'll release him, he says..."but if you ever mention the shrine again, I shall wipe out your entire clan!" Saek is surprised, to say the least; immediately accepts and bows in gratitude. And scrams right out of there. Gongmin goes back to his nap, but before falling asleep tells himself, "Looks like I will have to deprive Pyeonjo of all his posts." Wow.
Outside, the scholars shout their gratitude to the king inside.
Evening, Unam Temple: SD has come, expecting to find the king here. But Gongmin hasn't arrived yet. Still at the palace. Surprising.
"It was a wise decision, Brother. Joining forces with Shin Don will bring us no harm." So Lee In Bok did agree to work with SD after all, as Lee In Im's comment reveals to us. In Bok does NOT look happy about it, but says it needs to be done for the king's sake. In Im is scheming about what happens if there's a rift between the king and SD, but that's of no concern to his brother, at least not now.
SD goes inside the temple and offers a prayer to Noguk's portrait...and then suddenly falls to his knees, crying and devastated! Why? We hear his thoughts: "How could I ever think of abandoning His Majesty? And yet I could offer no answer to what Won Hyeon said to me. Should I need to found a new nation, what would you do? And should I need to abandon His Majesty? Would you forgive me that?" So he was thinking about those things after all.
Kim Sok Myeong goes to the QD with some information so sensitive that she shoos her attendants out of the room. Wow, what is it? He tells her specifically that it's a woman in Choseon's household who Gongmin has been visiting, and that she's pregnant with his child. But wait a minute..."Rumor suggests she might be Pyeonjo's consort." DOINK! Wow!! "Are you telling me he bestowed his wife to His Majesty?!" This is incredible!! Yes, Kim tells her...and she realizes that "there is no telling whether or not that child might be His Majesty's." Oh good heavens...now we know why SD was so defensive before in the previous episode about Gongmin being the father of the child Ban Ya was carrying. Oh this is unreal.
And here's Ban Ya, sitting with Choseon. Looking very pregnant, but still so sad she can't even talk. We see a flashback...of her alone with Gongmin. "Is it you, my dear? It must be you for sure. My Queen has resurrected." Oh good heavens...She tries to protest: "Your Majesty. I am nothing but a lowly..." But he cuts her off. The resemblance is just too uncanny for him to believe otherwise. "Without a shadow of a doubt, it is my Queen." She begs forgiveness for the deceit she was involved in and again insists she's not the queen...but he becomes frantic and refuses to believe her. "Didn't I just say the Queen used your body to resurrect?! Never again shall you utter such words! My dear Queen is inside you." Ban Ya, all she wants is for him not to abandon her, as any pregnant woman would...and from the way he's desperately hugging her, not much chance of that...Flashback ending, a tearful Ban Ya's tells Choseon she doesn't want to be the queen; she only wishes "I could just stay by His Majesty's side." It's very sad. She walks outside and stares at the moon, and offers a prayer to the heavens that she'll bear the king a son.
Uh-oh...Park Seobang and his wife have gone to Choseon and told her that Ban Ya left home in the middle of the night. Park managed to find her near the palace, wandering around aimlessly. The concern vanishes from Choseon's face and she smiles. "So it is lovelorn despair." Tells the two of them to reassure Ban Ya that she need worry only about bearing a son. "Should her child become the next King, she would spend the rest of her days in luxury." And adds, "She must not covet more than that." Meaning, she won't get to be at Gongmin's side like she wants.
Next day: Gongmin is visiting his mother. Princess Deoknyeong is there too. Mom wants to talk to him about, well, you know, but it's difficult. So finally she eases into it. "I hear you often visit Choseon's home." Gongmin puts down his tea. "Looks like it is time for new conjugal ties, Mother. Don't you agree?" With Ban Ya? I don't think that's what he's talking about; in fact, he's trying to change the subject entirely. But now she presses him: "How did a man who had no interest in the other sex whatsoever" end up in a relationship (or whatever it is) with such a lowly woman? But actually she doesn't care about that so much, because the bigger picture is that an heir might be on the way. Surprisingly, Gongmin denies it! "Why would I even bother with such a person!" He laughs hysterically, and gets right up to leave. Tells his mother to name whichever consorts she likes. Uncomfortably, Deoknyeong tells him "You must first proclaim a queen." But he dodges the issue and leaves them. On the way out...Hyebi is outside and Gongmin spots her. "You still live here at the palace?!" He doesn't even know? He turns to his eunuchs. "I shall spend the night at Hyebi's abode." Then walks right up to her, right in her face...and looking very, very creepy, says to her, "So let me see a smile grace your face!" And laughs a male-piggish laugh that makes us hate him. Hyebi is mortified.
Back inside, the QD shakes her head. She agrees with Deoknyeong that this isn't an ideal situation...but the heir she's been trying to get for years and years, well, "will that child fall from the heavens?!" At least they may finally get one now.
Lady Kim goes to Choseon and tells her that the QD knows. And that rumors are spreading throughout the palace. Uh-oh. She's terribly concerned. They can't figure out how Kim Sok Myeong would have found out about it...but they agree that this could spell huge trouble for Ban Ya if it isn't brought under control somehow.
Hey, Jihyo! What's he doing standing right there in the plaza in front of Gongmin's palace? Oh...SD walks in and hears Gongmin talking to Master Bou inside. "Imagine more than 3,000 monks honoring her soul! Wouldn't it be a thrilling sight?" Gongmin doesn't get the answer he wants from Bou. "Would an opulent and grandiose shrine allow Her Majesty access to greater heavens?! We are facing consecutive years of poor harvest. The spring famine is still spreading all over the country." But Gongmin doesn't even hear it. "Three thousand of our finest monks beating their woodblocks in unison, reciting their mantras. Wouldn't that sound even startle the Keeper of the Hades?" He laughs with deranged glee.
Bou leaves him, and in passing tells SD that more and more workers are dying from construction accidents at the shrine site...and "Unless he interrupts that construction immediately, Buddha shall swelter him with vengeful thunderbolts!"
And now we're at the construction site. Frankly it looks like a mess. The foundation looks shoddy, the pace is frantic, and the workers are overwhelmed.
"And I thought you were the only charlatan wearing a kasaya. It seems Bou is no different." Gongmin finds that ironically funny. SD is in there now, again appealing for the construction's postponement. But Gongmin fires back, "If Buddha has no concerns over a shrine's opulence, how does he explain his grandiose royal temple?!" Well now THAT'S quite a comeback, isn't it. Another big argument between them about the same things--"Princess Noguk is wailing in despair in the netherworld! She is embracing her dead child, and weeping in despair!" And now they're screaming at each other. Wow.
Evening: Gongmin returns to Unam Temple. Tells the portrait that "I will summon your spirit, and spend the rest of my days with you." He's laughing wildly, and the lighting and thunder outside only add to the wildness that emanates from him. He runs outside into the rain, romping around with delight and shouting to the heavens that "I shall build you a shrine larger than all creation! Indeed I shall!" SD is with him and stands there, helpless to say or do anything.
Somewhere up north: Oh dear, and if that wasn't bad enough...Lee Seong Gye and his subordinates are looking over war maps, planning to invade Liaodong on their own! And doing it when Choi Young gives the order! Regardless of whether SD or anybody else has the final military authority. And this one is clearly personal to Lee: "Should Liaodong fall under my control, who would ever show contempt for me? We shall quench all of us Goryeo refugees' angst!"
Hey it's Secretary Gyeong! Dressed incognito and sneaking into the capital. He's here to see Lee In Bok. And Choi Young is here too! Apparently rumors are spreading wildly about the king going mad. Lee, who's seen it up close, isn't sure if Gongmin is full-blown insane or not: "His ardent affection for Her Majesty could have brought him to this, but his despair surpasses any reasonable limit." Gyeong says it's time to remove Gongmin from the throne. Choi nods in agreement. Turns out, Lee had asked the two of them here "to postpone our plans, and observe how the situation unfolds." Plans to get rid of SD, that is. He's not happy about it, but he knows SD is right about the shrine and that takes precedence right now.
Lee Chun Bu and Lee In Im are before SD. Chun Bu is yammering on and on about how "His majesty has lost it for sure!" to the point where SD has to shut him up. Lee In Im disagrees and says "I cannot believe His Majesty fell into derangement. Think of how sagacious His Majesty is" for having lasted on the throne when nobody thought he would ever make it. Suck-up, suck-up, whatever...SD tells them they need to help do anything they can to stop the shrine's construction. They assure him they'll sway the court into action. Yeah, we'll see.
Now SD mounts his horse to head for the palace---hey look at that, there's a proper security escort there!--but he doesn't get one step forward before Deokun and Gong Cheol come running up to him to tell him that Master Bou and Jihyo are making trouble at the royal temple. "They said they came with royal orders, and ousted everyone!" Oh boy does that make SD mad. He heads right over there...
Gongmin is in his office, meeting Lord Deokpung's daughter, who we've seen before as a potential consort. He laughs. "Seeing your ample buttocks, you must be perfect for bearing children." Well that's not in very good taste is it, especially not for a king. "Whatever it takes, just give me a boy." She smiles with excitement. "Whoever the father is, it does not concern me." The smile vanishes. "Whoever you do it with, just bring me a boy, and I shall proclaim you Queen!" Oh that isn't what she was expecting, was it...she's stunned and speechless as Gongmin laughs hysterically. He points at Eunuch Choi: "Just like this scalawag over here, I am nothing but an infertile weakling!" She rushes from the palace in horror, just as SD shows up...and at the same time that a military officer is dragged forcibly into the plaza by eunuchs. What's this about? The eunuchs shout to the king inside that they've brought Noh Suk. Okay, that's his name, but why did they bring him? Gongmin comes rushing outside. "You knave! So you are Commander-in-Chief Noh Suk?!" Noh begs for death! "I never imagined that wench was Eunuch Choi's consort, Sire!" Okay what the heck is going on here? "Didn't you commit adultery out of contempt for that eunuch?" And look at Choi standing there, beaming and practically jumping up and down with pure delight! Gongmin screams at him and starts beating him with one of the metal ornaments that stands by the palace door! SD watches in absolute horror as Gongmin beats Noh in the head until he falls to the ground bleeding and unconscious. "I shall beat this reprehensible vermin to a pulp! Die! Die!!"
And yeah Gongmin is really angry...look at that sneer on his face! SD is before him and trying to calm him down. But Gongmin insists that Yoo is going to be punished as an example to anyone else who opposes the shrine's construction.
Lee Saek manages to get a word with Yoo as they're escorting him away. Yoo tells him not to make any trouble over it. Lee says to him, and says loudly so that all of the officials standing nearby can hear it, that all of them should go to the king and demand that the shrine's construction be stopped. Immediately they all scurry away like rats. Ugh.
And now Gongmin is scolding SD: "Do not involve yourself in my affairs!" You worry about state matters, he says. But of course this is a state matter, what with the amount of money it's costing. Gongmin thinks that SD has enough authority to find whatever money is necessary to run the government. "Let me be, and do whatever you please!" Then Lee Chun Bu and Lee In Im come in, groveling before him and expressing sympathy for the chancellor's "laughing in the face of his ruler's sorrow and uttering such capricious balderdash!" Punish him severely, they beg. They're totally, shamelessly sucking up, but it puts a big smile on Gongmin's face. And boy does it work: on the spot, Gongmin proclaims Chun Bu "Director of the Right" and In Im "Director of the Left." They're stunned, of course, but thrilled. Then we get a fascinating insight from Gongmin. "The shrine is to honor Princess Noguk, but it is also a symbol of Goryeo's royal family. Treating royals with contempt has become commonplace amongst the officials, leading to several insurrections." The shrine, he says, will "restore our royal family's reputation." Opposing its construction only hurts the country, he insists, so the chancellor must be punished for it. All the while he's explaining this, he's staring daggers at SD...who can only stand there silently and shut his eyes in frustration. Then Gongmin tells his two new directors that Yoo will be sentenced to death!
The two Lees leave the building, carrying written edicts making their promotions official.
Back inside, SD is standing his ground. And tries to convince him not to execute the chancellor. Gongmin glares at him and laughs. "I shall behead him on your behalf."
Lee Saek has gathered the Confucian scholars...but they're not entirely sure what to do. Some of them think they should try to save the chancellor and that "His Majesty will start granting us scholars his confidence and trust" if they do so. Others think that they shouldn't even go near the shrine issue, fearing that it would definitely harm the scholars. But they all agree that the chancellor needs to be freed, so a determined Lee Saek leads them to the king's palace.
Kim Sok Myeong (the new inspector general) sees this and goes to Lee In Bok. Wants him to rally the court to join the scholars; says it has to be done "to confront Shin Don's might." But Lee knows better; says this is all Gongmin's doing, and even thinks it's an ambush waiting to happen, which it sort of is.
And now here are all of the scholars kneeling outside of the king's palace, shouting for mercy for the chancellor. Gongmin has no interest; decides to take a nap. Tells Eunuch Choi, "wake me when those ruffians get tired of twaddling."
Next the scholars bring writing desks into the plaza and are kneeling there writing appeals to be taken to the king. Then Lee Saek starts shouting again...and it wakes Gongmin up. He starts thinking that SD might have instigated all this, by supporting the academy's reestablishment. But Eunuch Choi actually talks him out of that. "Would those scholars approve of His Eminence the Prime Minister? Confucians and Buddhists cannot live together under the same sky." Gongmin nods in agreement. Wow, score one for Choi. And he even reminds Gongmin (gently) that opposition to the shrine is much more widespread. But Gongmin ignores that, and now decides that the capital will not be moved to Gaegyeong until the shrine is completed. Then back to his nap.
SD summoned Lee In Bok, and here Lee is now. SD wants to stop the shrine construction, as does Lee, so he's reaching out to Lee to work together. But Lee has little regard for SD any more, and the whole thing turns into an argument about the fate of the country's nobles and moving the capital. And about the Liaodong invasion. But ultimately SD has to tell Lee that he feels like he's lost the king's trust. It happened "the moment I remonstrated against the shrine's construction." I'm not afraid to die for this, he says, and he asks Lee to help him....
An irritated-looking Lee walks briskly away from SD's home. We don't know what his answer was. Then Won Hyeon goes inside...and dares to say what we've all been thinking: that joining forces with officials won't solve this mess, and what's needed is to get Gongmin off the throne! "You must abandon His Majesty. Moving the capital with the same ruler on top, what would be the use?!" SD is horrified and denies ever having thought about any such thing. "Leave it all to me," Won tells him with malice in his eyes and menace in his voice. "If you slay a deranged king who could not forget his dead consort, who would ever oppose it?" SD glares at him and seethes to the point of physically shaking...but he doesn't argue, or even answer.
The scholars are still there. All of their written appeals have been taken inside by Lee Saek...who kneels before the king inside. Gongmin is throwing the papers around like they're garbage, his face showing utter contempt. But then he surprises us. You're only asking for clemency for Yoo? Maybe I'll release him, he says..."but if you ever mention the shrine again, I shall wipe out your entire clan!" Saek is surprised, to say the least; immediately accepts and bows in gratitude. And scrams right out of there. Gongmin goes back to his nap, but before falling asleep tells himself, "Looks like I will have to deprive Pyeonjo of all his posts." Wow.
Outside, the scholars shout their gratitude to the king inside.
Evening, Unam Temple: SD has come, expecting to find the king here. But Gongmin hasn't arrived yet. Still at the palace. Surprising.
"It was a wise decision, Brother. Joining forces with Shin Don will bring us no harm." So Lee In Bok did agree to work with SD after all, as Lee In Im's comment reveals to us. In Bok does NOT look happy about it, but says it needs to be done for the king's sake. In Im is scheming about what happens if there's a rift between the king and SD, but that's of no concern to his brother, at least not now.
SD goes inside the temple and offers a prayer to Noguk's portrait...and then suddenly falls to his knees, crying and devastated! Why? We hear his thoughts: "How could I ever think of abandoning His Majesty? And yet I could offer no answer to what Won Hyeon said to me. Should I need to found a new nation, what would you do? And should I need to abandon His Majesty? Would you forgive me that?" So he was thinking about those things after all.
Kim Sok Myeong goes to the QD with some information so sensitive that she shoos her attendants out of the room. Wow, what is it? He tells her specifically that it's a woman in Choseon's household who Gongmin has been visiting, and that she's pregnant with his child. But wait a minute..."Rumor suggests she might be Pyeonjo's consort." DOINK! Wow!! "Are you telling me he bestowed his wife to His Majesty?!" This is incredible!! Yes, Kim tells her...and she realizes that "there is no telling whether or not that child might be His Majesty's." Oh good heavens...now we know why SD was so defensive before in the previous episode about Gongmin being the father of the child Ban Ya was carrying. Oh this is unreal.
And here's Ban Ya, sitting with Choseon. Looking very pregnant, but still so sad she can't even talk. We see a flashback...of her alone with Gongmin. "Is it you, my dear? It must be you for sure. My Queen has resurrected." Oh good heavens...She tries to protest: "Your Majesty. I am nothing but a lowly..." But he cuts her off. The resemblance is just too uncanny for him to believe otherwise. "Without a shadow of a doubt, it is my Queen." She begs forgiveness for the deceit she was involved in and again insists she's not the queen...but he becomes frantic and refuses to believe her. "Didn't I just say the Queen used your body to resurrect?! Never again shall you utter such words! My dear Queen is inside you." Ban Ya, all she wants is for him not to abandon her, as any pregnant woman would...and from the way he's desperately hugging her, not much chance of that...Flashback ending, a tearful Ban Ya's tells Choseon she doesn't want to be the queen; she only wishes "I could just stay by His Majesty's side." It's very sad. She walks outside and stares at the moon, and offers a prayer to the heavens that she'll bear the king a son.
Uh-oh...Park Seobang and his wife have gone to Choseon and told her that Ban Ya left home in the middle of the night. Park managed to find her near the palace, wandering around aimlessly. The concern vanishes from Choseon's face and she smiles. "So it is lovelorn despair." Tells the two of them to reassure Ban Ya that she need worry only about bearing a son. "Should her child become the next King, she would spend the rest of her days in luxury." And adds, "She must not covet more than that." Meaning, she won't get to be at Gongmin's side like she wants.
Next day: Gongmin is visiting his mother. Princess Deoknyeong is there too. Mom wants to talk to him about, well, you know, but it's difficult. So finally she eases into it. "I hear you often visit Choseon's home." Gongmin puts down his tea. "Looks like it is time for new conjugal ties, Mother. Don't you agree?" With Ban Ya? I don't think that's what he's talking about; in fact, he's trying to change the subject entirely. But now she presses him: "How did a man who had no interest in the other sex whatsoever" end up in a relationship (or whatever it is) with such a lowly woman? But actually she doesn't care about that so much, because the bigger picture is that an heir might be on the way. Surprisingly, Gongmin denies it! "Why would I even bother with such a person!" He laughs hysterically, and gets right up to leave. Tells his mother to name whichever consorts she likes. Uncomfortably, Deoknyeong tells him "You must first proclaim a queen." But he dodges the issue and leaves them. On the way out...Hyebi is outside and Gongmin spots her. "You still live here at the palace?!" He doesn't even know? He turns to his eunuchs. "I shall spend the night at Hyebi's abode." Then walks right up to her, right in her face...and looking very, very creepy, says to her, "So let me see a smile grace your face!" And laughs a male-piggish laugh that makes us hate him. Hyebi is mortified.
Back inside, the QD shakes her head. She agrees with Deoknyeong that this isn't an ideal situation...but the heir she's been trying to get for years and years, well, "will that child fall from the heavens?!" At least they may finally get one now.
Lady Kim goes to Choseon and tells her that the QD knows. And that rumors are spreading throughout the palace. Uh-oh. She's terribly concerned. They can't figure out how Kim Sok Myeong would have found out about it...but they agree that this could spell huge trouble for Ban Ya if it isn't brought under control somehow.
Hey, Jihyo! What's he doing standing right there in the plaza in front of Gongmin's palace? Oh...SD walks in and hears Gongmin talking to Master Bou inside. "Imagine more than 3,000 monks honoring her soul! Wouldn't it be a thrilling sight?" Gongmin doesn't get the answer he wants from Bou. "Would an opulent and grandiose shrine allow Her Majesty access to greater heavens?! We are facing consecutive years of poor harvest. The spring famine is still spreading all over the country." But Gongmin doesn't even hear it. "Three thousand of our finest monks beating their woodblocks in unison, reciting their mantras. Wouldn't that sound even startle the Keeper of the Hades?" He laughs with deranged glee.
Bou leaves him, and in passing tells SD that more and more workers are dying from construction accidents at the shrine site...and "Unless he interrupts that construction immediately, Buddha shall swelter him with vengeful thunderbolts!"
And now we're at the construction site. Frankly it looks like a mess. The foundation looks shoddy, the pace is frantic, and the workers are overwhelmed.
"And I thought you were the only charlatan wearing a kasaya. It seems Bou is no different." Gongmin finds that ironically funny. SD is in there now, again appealing for the construction's postponement. But Gongmin fires back, "If Buddha has no concerns over a shrine's opulence, how does he explain his grandiose royal temple?!" Well now THAT'S quite a comeback, isn't it. Another big argument between them about the same things--"Princess Noguk is wailing in despair in the netherworld! She is embracing her dead child, and weeping in despair!" And now they're screaming at each other. Wow.
Evening: Gongmin returns to Unam Temple. Tells the portrait that "I will summon your spirit, and spend the rest of my days with you." He's laughing wildly, and the lighting and thunder outside only add to the wildness that emanates from him. He runs outside into the rain, romping around with delight and shouting to the heavens that "I shall build you a shrine larger than all creation! Indeed I shall!" SD is with him and stands there, helpless to say or do anything.
Somewhere up north: Oh dear, and if that wasn't bad enough...Lee Seong Gye and his subordinates are looking over war maps, planning to invade Liaodong on their own! And doing it when Choi Young gives the order! Regardless of whether SD or anybody else has the final military authority. And this one is clearly personal to Lee: "Should Liaodong fall under my control, who would ever show contempt for me? We shall quench all of us Goryeo refugees' angst!"
Hey it's Secretary Gyeong! Dressed incognito and sneaking into the capital. He's here to see Lee In Bok. And Choi Young is here too! Apparently rumors are spreading wildly about the king going mad. Lee, who's seen it up close, isn't sure if Gongmin is full-blown insane or not: "His ardent affection for Her Majesty could have brought him to this, but his despair surpasses any reasonable limit." Gyeong says it's time to remove Gongmin from the throne. Choi nods in agreement. Turns out, Lee had asked the two of them here "to postpone our plans, and observe how the situation unfolds." Plans to get rid of SD, that is. He's not happy about it, but he knows SD is right about the shrine and that takes precedence right now.
Lee Chun Bu and Lee In Im are before SD. Chun Bu is yammering on and on about how "His majesty has lost it for sure!" to the point where SD has to shut him up. Lee In Im disagrees and says "I cannot believe His Majesty fell into derangement. Think of how sagacious His Majesty is" for having lasted on the throne when nobody thought he would ever make it. Suck-up, suck-up, whatever...SD tells them they need to help do anything they can to stop the shrine's construction. They assure him they'll sway the court into action. Yeah, we'll see.
Now SD mounts his horse to head for the palace---hey look at that, there's a proper security escort there!--but he doesn't get one step forward before Deokun and Gong Cheol come running up to him to tell him that Master Bou and Jihyo are making trouble at the royal temple. "They said they came with royal orders, and ousted everyone!" Oh boy does that make SD mad. He heads right over there...
Gongmin is in his office, meeting Lord Deokpung's daughter, who we've seen before as a potential consort. He laughs. "Seeing your ample buttocks, you must be perfect for bearing children." Well that's not in very good taste is it, especially not for a king. "Whatever it takes, just give me a boy." She smiles with excitement. "Whoever the father is, it does not concern me." The smile vanishes. "Whoever you do it with, just bring me a boy, and I shall proclaim you Queen!" Oh that isn't what she was expecting, was it...she's stunned and speechless as Gongmin laughs hysterically. He points at Eunuch Choi: "Just like this scalawag over here, I am nothing but an infertile weakling!" She rushes from the palace in horror, just as SD shows up...and at the same time that a military officer is dragged forcibly into the plaza by eunuchs. What's this about? The eunuchs shout to the king inside that they've brought Noh Suk. Okay, that's his name, but why did they bring him? Gongmin comes rushing outside. "You knave! So you are Commander-in-Chief Noh Suk?!" Noh begs for death! "I never imagined that wench was Eunuch Choi's consort, Sire!" Okay what the heck is going on here? "Didn't you commit adultery out of contempt for that eunuch?" And look at Choi standing there, beaming and practically jumping up and down with pure delight! Gongmin screams at him and starts beating him with one of the metal ornaments that stands by the palace door! SD watches in absolute horror as Gongmin beats Noh in the head until he falls to the ground bleeding and unconscious. "I shall beat this reprehensible vermin to a pulp! Die! Die!!"