Post by ajk on Oct 17, 2014 23:58:18 GMT -5
Yep, they skewered him like a kabob. And then a second time for good measure. Won Hyeon, apparently having second thoughts, runs out of the hall in a panic and throws himself over SD to protect him from further damage. Gongmin follows and looks on, stunned that it actually happened. He waves the guards away, and they run from the plaza as SD slumps to the ground. Suddenly there's intense lightning and thunder everywhere--but there isn't a cloud in the sky.
Officials in and around the palace complex look around in confusion at the frightening noise and light. In a conference room, Lee Chun Bu scolds the other high officials for persecuting "an innocent man," claims this is heaven's wrath, and leaves them to go talk to the king.
Even the military is unsettled by the display. Subordinates report to Choi Young and Lee Seong Gye that their soldiers fear SD's witchcraft is behind it. Lee Chun Bu happens to be walking by and tells them they haven't seen anything yet. "After Shin Don meets his demise, a bulgasari shall appear and incinerate this whole world with flames." (see link in info thread) He heads on towards the palace...
...and the officials he left behind are still arguing. Lee In Bok is very worried about what the people's reaction is going to be if they find out that Gongmin had SD killed. "The grieving howls of our people shall swelter us all more than these powerful bolts ever could. I am horrified at the mere thought of dealing with the aftermath."
Oh good heavens, soldiers have followed Lee Chun Bu...and they execute him! In a flash Lee falls dead. SD's most faithful ally.
Gongmin is still standing in the plaza, mortified, looking at what most likely is his now-dead prime minister. Eunuchs now enter the plaza; Eunuch Choi asks the king about beheading SD's body "and gibbeting his head on a pole" but Gongmin wants no part of that and orders the eunuchs to stay away from the body. Won Hyeon picks up the body (strong guy) and walks out of the plaza with it. Choi insists that body needs to be beheaded and then torn to pieces as a message to the people...but Gongmin freaks out at him. "You scoundrel! Who told you to slay Shin Don?!" Well, you did, king. Gongmin grabs a sword and starts swinging it wildly in every direction, sending all of the eunuchs running for cover. He's lost all control of himself.
Won leaves the plaza and has to pass right through the crowd of soldiers standing over Lee Chun Bu's body. They nearly kill Won as well, but a last-second shout from Lee Seong Gye backs them off. "We did have orders to slay Lee Chun Bu," he says sternly, "but nothing in regards to His Eminence's life. That corpse has nothing to do with us." Admirable restraint. Won continues forward, carrying SD's body through the palace gate. Deokun and several other people come running forward--not sure what they were doing waiting there--and Won assures them that SD isn't dead! "Should I cleanse his body of all these wounds, he shall come back to life." Seriously?
Eunuch Choi reports to the officials on exactly what happened, including Gongmin's wild reaction. But all they care about is making sure that SD is really dead...which Choi can't entirely testify to because he never got close enough to the body. He assumes what we all assume: "How could anyone survive all that?! They pierced his body dozens of times." That's not good enough for the officials, though. But then Choi Young walks in. "He perished. Lee Seong Gye verified it, and sent his body outside the palace." Which should relieve them...but no, now they're worried about the people's reaction, and they're worried about Gongmin using this as some sort of subterfuge against them, somehow.
But Gongmin is in no state of mind for plotting a subterfuge of any kind. He's alone at home, groveling in the darkness before Noguk's portrait. "My dear...I am all alone now! Those scoundrels took Pyeonjo right off my hands." And he starts sobbing loudly.
Choseon's estate: Won is tending to SD's body now. Pulls back SD's shirt to expose the wounds. Oh good heavens that is NOT a pretty sight. Outside, Auntie arrives with buckets of soy oil she's rounded up at Won's request, I guess to help treat the body (?). But she and Deokun are left waiting outside while Won continues his work. As he cleans away the blood, he talks to his friend, calmly and quietly, and we realize what he said at the palace gate was just wishful thinking. "Did you really perish? You could have escaped any time you wanted, so why? If you had approved the shrine construction His Majesty would have found another pretext to slay you. As long as you were alive, our people would never have followed him, and that is why he killed you! But why...Why did you stand there, and let those blades violate you?" He starts to cry now. We haven't seen Won this calm and reflective since who can remember when. He reflects about the high officials and powerful clans bowing to the son of a slave, and accuses Gongmin of giving SD his power only to humiliate the clans for not supporting him enough. "His Majesty just used you." Not true...but in the state of grief we see him in, it's understandable. "But you still cherished him like the heavens." Talking through this, he's understanding it better. Everything Gongmin did for SD, that's why SD stayed loyal to him. "But now it is all over. How will this lifeless body of yours change this damned world now?"
Still the same night; Gongmin has made his way over to his office and Choi Young is kneeling before him. The king is shaking from the shock of what's happened and can barely even look at Choi. Choi tells him confidently that Lee Chun Bu and other officials who supported SD have been executed and that every other one of SD's supporters will be tracked down and executed too. They amount to fully half the court, Choi says, to Gongmin's shock (He didn't know?). Then he presents the king with a scroll that lists personnel moves he wants made--as in, replacing SD's allies among the high officials with new people. Wow, he's already got it all planned out. Choi proposes naming Secretary Gyeong as chancellor, which Gongmin doesn't agree with...and also giving a high position to Lee In Im! Who, as Gongmin points out, was with Lee Chun Bu in supporting SD. But Choi assures him that In Im "staunchly supported us in eradicating this treason," and of course is Lee In Bok's brother. Choi names himself "Manager of Affairs", a military command position, and there's a new position called "Commissioner of State Affairs" for Lee Seong Gye. Gongmin doesn't entirely like that one: "Lee Seong Gye only submitted to us after dealing with the Jurchen. Would it be wise to entrust such an important post to him?" Ooh, LSG is outside the room and heard that...and it makes Choi squirm too. "Are you arousing suspicion about Lee Seong Gye's fealty, Sire?" He complains about how the military "had to endure direful humiliation at the hands of that Pyeonjo" and it can't happen again. "Fine," Gongmin says, tossing the scroll down like it's toxic and still barely looking at Choi. "Do as you wish." Is Gongmin afraid of Choi all of a sudden? It's starting to seem that way. Oh, and Choi wants one more thing. "Give us Pyeonjo's body. After we behead him and hang his head on a gibbet, we shall tour the provinces with it and use the sight to warn anyone against plotting such deviltry again." Gongmin didn't want that and still doesn't, but Choi insists that the people need to see this "if you are to prove your authority." Gongmin squirms and then reluctantly answers "Do as you wish. You decided everything without my consent, so what else could I possibly tell you?" Choi thanks him--sincerely--and bows and leaves. Outside, LSG congratulates Choi on his promotion. "Our Goryeo troops have finally met their keeper." Back inside, wow, Gongmin is a shaking, freaked-out mess. Orders Lee In Bok to be summoned. "There is something I must convey to him."
Immediately the search for SD's body is ordered and begun.
What is Won Hyeon doing? He's taken that soy oil and is frantically splashing the stuff all over the place, as Deokun and Auntie look on in a near-panic.
"You must be my Chancellor, Lord Seongsan." Gongmin wants Lee In Bok to have the job. But surprisingly, Lee turns it down. Says he's not in good enough health for the rigors of the job. It greatly upsets the king. "You are the only one left I can trust. Choi Young looked at me straight in the eyes, ordering me around like a puppet." Lee encourages him to have faith in his subjects, but Gongmin thinks he's being punished now. "I abandoned Pyeonjo, the man who would walk into fire for my sake, and I forced myself to endure such humiliation at the hands of Choi Young." But Lee feels he has to correct the king about that. Tells him that the changes SD was fighting for, well, they weren't for the sake of the king's welfare. He had his own agenda, Lee tells him, and as much as he meant to you, "he was never going to walk your same path. Pyeonjo knew that himself, so he accepted his death with no hesitation." Noguk and SD are both gone now...so "It is you alone now, Sire. You, must now bring this country back to its glory." Gongmin has listened intently and it has affected him deeply, we can see by his reactions. In the end he chuckles a little. "I summoned you to give me solace...but only was reproached instead." But the misery and pain that was on his face minutes earlier has vanished, so obviously Lee's words hit home. Feeling better, Gongmin raises another issue: Monino. He tells Lee he wants to name Monino crown prince. Lee doesn't seem entirely thrilled with the choice, but he accepts it without resistance and advises Gongmin that if he's going to do so, to do it strongly. "Summon the entire court, and announce to all creation that Monino is your flesh and blood, then proclaim him Crown Prince. Who would ever contend with your decision?" Gongmin is worried about the mother's lowly status and about the skepticism of the officials (who he thinks all believe that Monino is SD's son), but Lee isn't concerned about either and his lack of concern lifts Gongmin's spirits immensely. "I can finally breathe in relief now!," he says while laughing heartily out of the sheer joy of the weighty question of an heir being lifted off his shoulders.
Lee leaves Gongmin and walks outside into the evening. His brother Lee In Im is waiting, and apparently was able to hear the whole thing. Commends his brother and tells him that if he succeeds in getting Monino into the palace and proclaimed heir, "our clan will bask in fame and riches for another century." Hard to believe these two are brothers.
Back inside, Gongmin isn't so happy any more. He's taken offense at Lee In Bok's words. "There is no Princess Noguk or Pyeonjo?! Is he not trying to say it was they who protected my throne?!" Well not entirely, certainly not...but uh-oh is this the paranoia showing through? And did Lee hear that? Outside, suddenly Lee staggers a bit, but maybe it's from the sheer weight of the discussion (and maybe we're seeing the health issue that Lee raised). He turns to the front door of the building and bows deeply towards it. "Your Majesty--may you enjoy a long and prosperous life."
Soldiers have arrived at Choseon's estate. The doors are locked and no one will open them. So the soldiers start battering them down. Inside, Won is finishing his work on SD's body. "From this moment on," he says, "you shall become our Maitreya. You just wait! Our people will rise like wild flames!" Hmmm...back outside, the front door bursts open and soldiers flood the compound, and corner Deokun and Auntie...but then Won emerges from inside and sets fire to all of that soy oil he splattered around. It turns into a huge blaze, almost instantly...and it looks like it's going to engulf the residence itself. Which, we now realize, was the whole point of getting the oil. Won goes back inside and places SD's cassock on top of the body, and his bowl next to it (likely the ones that Wolseon gave him...this is a great symbolic gesture). As he does it, he reflects on his life with his friend, which we see in flashbacks...then he splatters some oil around the room and on the body itself. With tears in his eyes, he holds up a single lit candle. "Here is your fire, Monk Pyeonjo!" Another flashback, to Wolseon's cremation scene in Episode 37...and now the entire residence is in flames.
Next day: Choseon has fled and is outside the capital. Park Seobang and his wife came with her. They've made a brief stop at the home of a friend of Park's, but they're in a hurry to keep moving. It sounds like Choseon is wanted. Oh and she's very pregnant now--which is probably why she's wanted. Choseon tells the Parks they can return home if they like; she warns them that "They will not spare me. Because Pyeonjo's flesh and blood is breathing inside me." Yep, that's the reason. But they aren't about to abandon her and continue to walk with her.
Royal temple: Jihyo has news for Master Bou: "Looks like Won Hyeon set fire to Pyeonjo's body, and left with him." Doink! He stayed in there? "Goddess of Mercy," Bou mutters, and who can argue. Jihyo urges caution for now; "After gaining authority, the military officials' resolve knows no limit." But Bou is concerned about Choseon. And then he says something startling. "The world Pyeonjo wanted to make was no different than what Buddha wished for." Says he couldn't help realize that goal because "I am a much too feeble light to kindle this darkness." And sighs in resignation. A stunning admission...but no time to reflect on that because from outside there's a noise. "Mother! Mother!!" "Monino!" Eunuchs have arrived, have seized the boy and are hauling him away! His devastated mother watches, helpless to stop him. Bou hears this and glares at the Buddha statue he's praying to. "Will you rid this world of all of Pyeonjo's traces?!"
The QD gets news that Gongmin has seized the boy. You'd think she'd be happy about this, right? But noooo. "He shall not proclaim some rootless child as his heir." Huh? She had just recently said she wanted the boy here so she could raise him herself! And Princess Deoknyeong reminds her of that. The QD answers, "I am thinking of choosing an heir amongst the royals." What brought this on? Ugh.
Monino is kneeling before the king. He's not paying the king the proper respects like Eunuch Choi is encouraging him to do; all he can do is cry for his mother. Gongmin is disgusted. "Enough with this! How surprising," he says sarcastically, "Coming from that lowly slattern." Wow, that is awful. Shame on him.
"Choose an heir amongst the royals?!" Now it's Inspector Kim visiting the QD. He shakes his head and advises her to do no such thing. "Monino must inherit the throne from His Majesty if you are to fulfill your wishes." And besides, "If His Majesty suffers an untimely death, wouldn't Monino inherit the throne?" And wouldn't you be named his regent? Ohhhh...that hits home; suddenly the QD sees things differently. She nods. "So my grandson is better?! Seems like an option." Yes it does. Sheesh.
Princess Deoknyeong visits the king and urges him to name Monino crown prince ASAP. "Remember why Princess Noguk risked her life to grant you an heir? It was because only an heir could bolster your authority, so she endured all that torment." But Gongmin is back to not being so comfortable with the idea. "It is clear he is my son," he says.... Okay, so? "The mother's identity is not a certainty." Deoknyeong almost bursts out laughing, but keeps it to a broad smile. "I have heard of doubts over a father's identity, but never did I hear such doubts over the mother." But Gongmin is serious! "Monino is not Ban Ya's child!" Who is he kidding? "Ban Ya was Pyeonjo's consort--would I ever violate that woman?!" Ohhh, now we get it; he thinks this will make him look bad. And Eunuch Choi already has a story cooked up about how a recently deceased court lady named Han was actually the mother. But Deoknyeong brushes that off and bravely tells Gongmin to bring the child's mother from the royal temple "and allow them to live together." Gongmin glares angrily...but doesn't disagree.
Now it's Ban Ya inside the royal temple, praying to Buddha with tears streaming down her face. "Allow me to live in the palace, together with my son!"
Evening meal time and Gongmin is eating his dinner (or more accurately, drinking the alcohol that accompanies it) while consorts and junior guards kneel in front of him. Eunuch Choi asks him about his sudden reluctance to name Monino crown prince. Gongmin admits he's worried that "If after I proclaim Monino as Prince, that wench starts talking, then what do you plan to do?" Talking about what? Well he thinks she might start running her mouth about Monino being SD's son! But then consort Ikbi, the one who tends to be the troublemaker, offers a suggestion: "You could just rid yourself of that Ban Ya." Well he likes the sound of that idea very much. "Rid myself of her..." He thinks...and starts laughing hysterically, and not in a good way. "Rid myself of her!"
Officials in and around the palace complex look around in confusion at the frightening noise and light. In a conference room, Lee Chun Bu scolds the other high officials for persecuting "an innocent man," claims this is heaven's wrath, and leaves them to go talk to the king.
Even the military is unsettled by the display. Subordinates report to Choi Young and Lee Seong Gye that their soldiers fear SD's witchcraft is behind it. Lee Chun Bu happens to be walking by and tells them they haven't seen anything yet. "After Shin Don meets his demise, a bulgasari shall appear and incinerate this whole world with flames." (see link in info thread) He heads on towards the palace...
...and the officials he left behind are still arguing. Lee In Bok is very worried about what the people's reaction is going to be if they find out that Gongmin had SD killed. "The grieving howls of our people shall swelter us all more than these powerful bolts ever could. I am horrified at the mere thought of dealing with the aftermath."
Oh good heavens, soldiers have followed Lee Chun Bu...and they execute him! In a flash Lee falls dead. SD's most faithful ally.
Gongmin is still standing in the plaza, mortified, looking at what most likely is his now-dead prime minister. Eunuchs now enter the plaza; Eunuch Choi asks the king about beheading SD's body "and gibbeting his head on a pole" but Gongmin wants no part of that and orders the eunuchs to stay away from the body. Won Hyeon picks up the body (strong guy) and walks out of the plaza with it. Choi insists that body needs to be beheaded and then torn to pieces as a message to the people...but Gongmin freaks out at him. "You scoundrel! Who told you to slay Shin Don?!" Well, you did, king. Gongmin grabs a sword and starts swinging it wildly in every direction, sending all of the eunuchs running for cover. He's lost all control of himself.
Won leaves the plaza and has to pass right through the crowd of soldiers standing over Lee Chun Bu's body. They nearly kill Won as well, but a last-second shout from Lee Seong Gye backs them off. "We did have orders to slay Lee Chun Bu," he says sternly, "but nothing in regards to His Eminence's life. That corpse has nothing to do with us." Admirable restraint. Won continues forward, carrying SD's body through the palace gate. Deokun and several other people come running forward--not sure what they were doing waiting there--and Won assures them that SD isn't dead! "Should I cleanse his body of all these wounds, he shall come back to life." Seriously?
Eunuch Choi reports to the officials on exactly what happened, including Gongmin's wild reaction. But all they care about is making sure that SD is really dead...which Choi can't entirely testify to because he never got close enough to the body. He assumes what we all assume: "How could anyone survive all that?! They pierced his body dozens of times." That's not good enough for the officials, though. But then Choi Young walks in. "He perished. Lee Seong Gye verified it, and sent his body outside the palace." Which should relieve them...but no, now they're worried about the people's reaction, and they're worried about Gongmin using this as some sort of subterfuge against them, somehow.
But Gongmin is in no state of mind for plotting a subterfuge of any kind. He's alone at home, groveling in the darkness before Noguk's portrait. "My dear...I am all alone now! Those scoundrels took Pyeonjo right off my hands." And he starts sobbing loudly.
Choseon's estate: Won is tending to SD's body now. Pulls back SD's shirt to expose the wounds. Oh good heavens that is NOT a pretty sight. Outside, Auntie arrives with buckets of soy oil she's rounded up at Won's request, I guess to help treat the body (?). But she and Deokun are left waiting outside while Won continues his work. As he cleans away the blood, he talks to his friend, calmly and quietly, and we realize what he said at the palace gate was just wishful thinking. "Did you really perish? You could have escaped any time you wanted, so why? If you had approved the shrine construction His Majesty would have found another pretext to slay you. As long as you were alive, our people would never have followed him, and that is why he killed you! But why...Why did you stand there, and let those blades violate you?" He starts to cry now. We haven't seen Won this calm and reflective since who can remember when. He reflects about the high officials and powerful clans bowing to the son of a slave, and accuses Gongmin of giving SD his power only to humiliate the clans for not supporting him enough. "His Majesty just used you." Not true...but in the state of grief we see him in, it's understandable. "But you still cherished him like the heavens." Talking through this, he's understanding it better. Everything Gongmin did for SD, that's why SD stayed loyal to him. "But now it is all over. How will this lifeless body of yours change this damned world now?"
Still the same night; Gongmin has made his way over to his office and Choi Young is kneeling before him. The king is shaking from the shock of what's happened and can barely even look at Choi. Choi tells him confidently that Lee Chun Bu and other officials who supported SD have been executed and that every other one of SD's supporters will be tracked down and executed too. They amount to fully half the court, Choi says, to Gongmin's shock (He didn't know?). Then he presents the king with a scroll that lists personnel moves he wants made--as in, replacing SD's allies among the high officials with new people. Wow, he's already got it all planned out. Choi proposes naming Secretary Gyeong as chancellor, which Gongmin doesn't agree with...and also giving a high position to Lee In Im! Who, as Gongmin points out, was with Lee Chun Bu in supporting SD. But Choi assures him that In Im "staunchly supported us in eradicating this treason," and of course is Lee In Bok's brother. Choi names himself "Manager of Affairs", a military command position, and there's a new position called "Commissioner of State Affairs" for Lee Seong Gye. Gongmin doesn't entirely like that one: "Lee Seong Gye only submitted to us after dealing with the Jurchen. Would it be wise to entrust such an important post to him?" Ooh, LSG is outside the room and heard that...and it makes Choi squirm too. "Are you arousing suspicion about Lee Seong Gye's fealty, Sire?" He complains about how the military "had to endure direful humiliation at the hands of that Pyeonjo" and it can't happen again. "Fine," Gongmin says, tossing the scroll down like it's toxic and still barely looking at Choi. "Do as you wish." Is Gongmin afraid of Choi all of a sudden? It's starting to seem that way. Oh, and Choi wants one more thing. "Give us Pyeonjo's body. After we behead him and hang his head on a gibbet, we shall tour the provinces with it and use the sight to warn anyone against plotting such deviltry again." Gongmin didn't want that and still doesn't, but Choi insists that the people need to see this "if you are to prove your authority." Gongmin squirms and then reluctantly answers "Do as you wish. You decided everything without my consent, so what else could I possibly tell you?" Choi thanks him--sincerely--and bows and leaves. Outside, LSG congratulates Choi on his promotion. "Our Goryeo troops have finally met their keeper." Back inside, wow, Gongmin is a shaking, freaked-out mess. Orders Lee In Bok to be summoned. "There is something I must convey to him."
Immediately the search for SD's body is ordered and begun.
What is Won Hyeon doing? He's taken that soy oil and is frantically splashing the stuff all over the place, as Deokun and Auntie look on in a near-panic.
"You must be my Chancellor, Lord Seongsan." Gongmin wants Lee In Bok to have the job. But surprisingly, Lee turns it down. Says he's not in good enough health for the rigors of the job. It greatly upsets the king. "You are the only one left I can trust. Choi Young looked at me straight in the eyes, ordering me around like a puppet." Lee encourages him to have faith in his subjects, but Gongmin thinks he's being punished now. "I abandoned Pyeonjo, the man who would walk into fire for my sake, and I forced myself to endure such humiliation at the hands of Choi Young." But Lee feels he has to correct the king about that. Tells him that the changes SD was fighting for, well, they weren't for the sake of the king's welfare. He had his own agenda, Lee tells him, and as much as he meant to you, "he was never going to walk your same path. Pyeonjo knew that himself, so he accepted his death with no hesitation." Noguk and SD are both gone now...so "It is you alone now, Sire. You, must now bring this country back to its glory." Gongmin has listened intently and it has affected him deeply, we can see by his reactions. In the end he chuckles a little. "I summoned you to give me solace...but only was reproached instead." But the misery and pain that was on his face minutes earlier has vanished, so obviously Lee's words hit home. Feeling better, Gongmin raises another issue: Monino. He tells Lee he wants to name Monino crown prince. Lee doesn't seem entirely thrilled with the choice, but he accepts it without resistance and advises Gongmin that if he's going to do so, to do it strongly. "Summon the entire court, and announce to all creation that Monino is your flesh and blood, then proclaim him Crown Prince. Who would ever contend with your decision?" Gongmin is worried about the mother's lowly status and about the skepticism of the officials (who he thinks all believe that Monino is SD's son), but Lee isn't concerned about either and his lack of concern lifts Gongmin's spirits immensely. "I can finally breathe in relief now!," he says while laughing heartily out of the sheer joy of the weighty question of an heir being lifted off his shoulders.
Lee leaves Gongmin and walks outside into the evening. His brother Lee In Im is waiting, and apparently was able to hear the whole thing. Commends his brother and tells him that if he succeeds in getting Monino into the palace and proclaimed heir, "our clan will bask in fame and riches for another century." Hard to believe these two are brothers.
Back inside, Gongmin isn't so happy any more. He's taken offense at Lee In Bok's words. "There is no Princess Noguk or Pyeonjo?! Is he not trying to say it was they who protected my throne?!" Well not entirely, certainly not...but uh-oh is this the paranoia showing through? And did Lee hear that? Outside, suddenly Lee staggers a bit, but maybe it's from the sheer weight of the discussion (and maybe we're seeing the health issue that Lee raised). He turns to the front door of the building and bows deeply towards it. "Your Majesty--may you enjoy a long and prosperous life."
Soldiers have arrived at Choseon's estate. The doors are locked and no one will open them. So the soldiers start battering them down. Inside, Won is finishing his work on SD's body. "From this moment on," he says, "you shall become our Maitreya. You just wait! Our people will rise like wild flames!" Hmmm...back outside, the front door bursts open and soldiers flood the compound, and corner Deokun and Auntie...but then Won emerges from inside and sets fire to all of that soy oil he splattered around. It turns into a huge blaze, almost instantly...and it looks like it's going to engulf the residence itself. Which, we now realize, was the whole point of getting the oil. Won goes back inside and places SD's cassock on top of the body, and his bowl next to it (likely the ones that Wolseon gave him...this is a great symbolic gesture). As he does it, he reflects on his life with his friend, which we see in flashbacks...then he splatters some oil around the room and on the body itself. With tears in his eyes, he holds up a single lit candle. "Here is your fire, Monk Pyeonjo!" Another flashback, to Wolseon's cremation scene in Episode 37...and now the entire residence is in flames.
Next day: Choseon has fled and is outside the capital. Park Seobang and his wife came with her. They've made a brief stop at the home of a friend of Park's, but they're in a hurry to keep moving. It sounds like Choseon is wanted. Oh and she's very pregnant now--which is probably why she's wanted. Choseon tells the Parks they can return home if they like; she warns them that "They will not spare me. Because Pyeonjo's flesh and blood is breathing inside me." Yep, that's the reason. But they aren't about to abandon her and continue to walk with her.
Royal temple: Jihyo has news for Master Bou: "Looks like Won Hyeon set fire to Pyeonjo's body, and left with him." Doink! He stayed in there? "Goddess of Mercy," Bou mutters, and who can argue. Jihyo urges caution for now; "After gaining authority, the military officials' resolve knows no limit." But Bou is concerned about Choseon. And then he says something startling. "The world Pyeonjo wanted to make was no different than what Buddha wished for." Says he couldn't help realize that goal because "I am a much too feeble light to kindle this darkness." And sighs in resignation. A stunning admission...but no time to reflect on that because from outside there's a noise. "Mother! Mother!!" "Monino!" Eunuchs have arrived, have seized the boy and are hauling him away! His devastated mother watches, helpless to stop him. Bou hears this and glares at the Buddha statue he's praying to. "Will you rid this world of all of Pyeonjo's traces?!"
The QD gets news that Gongmin has seized the boy. You'd think she'd be happy about this, right? But noooo. "He shall not proclaim some rootless child as his heir." Huh? She had just recently said she wanted the boy here so she could raise him herself! And Princess Deoknyeong reminds her of that. The QD answers, "I am thinking of choosing an heir amongst the royals." What brought this on? Ugh.
Monino is kneeling before the king. He's not paying the king the proper respects like Eunuch Choi is encouraging him to do; all he can do is cry for his mother. Gongmin is disgusted. "Enough with this! How surprising," he says sarcastically, "Coming from that lowly slattern." Wow, that is awful. Shame on him.
"Choose an heir amongst the royals?!" Now it's Inspector Kim visiting the QD. He shakes his head and advises her to do no such thing. "Monino must inherit the throne from His Majesty if you are to fulfill your wishes." And besides, "If His Majesty suffers an untimely death, wouldn't Monino inherit the throne?" And wouldn't you be named his regent? Ohhhh...that hits home; suddenly the QD sees things differently. She nods. "So my grandson is better?! Seems like an option." Yes it does. Sheesh.
Princess Deoknyeong visits the king and urges him to name Monino crown prince ASAP. "Remember why Princess Noguk risked her life to grant you an heir? It was because only an heir could bolster your authority, so she endured all that torment." But Gongmin is back to not being so comfortable with the idea. "It is clear he is my son," he says.... Okay, so? "The mother's identity is not a certainty." Deoknyeong almost bursts out laughing, but keeps it to a broad smile. "I have heard of doubts over a father's identity, but never did I hear such doubts over the mother." But Gongmin is serious! "Monino is not Ban Ya's child!" Who is he kidding? "Ban Ya was Pyeonjo's consort--would I ever violate that woman?!" Ohhh, now we get it; he thinks this will make him look bad. And Eunuch Choi already has a story cooked up about how a recently deceased court lady named Han was actually the mother. But Deoknyeong brushes that off and bravely tells Gongmin to bring the child's mother from the royal temple "and allow them to live together." Gongmin glares angrily...but doesn't disagree.
Now it's Ban Ya inside the royal temple, praying to Buddha with tears streaming down her face. "Allow me to live in the palace, together with my son!"
Evening meal time and Gongmin is eating his dinner (or more accurately, drinking the alcohol that accompanies it) while consorts and junior guards kneel in front of him. Eunuch Choi asks him about his sudden reluctance to name Monino crown prince. Gongmin admits he's worried that "If after I proclaim Monino as Prince, that wench starts talking, then what do you plan to do?" Talking about what? Well he thinks she might start running her mouth about Monino being SD's son! But then consort Ikbi, the one who tends to be the troublemaker, offers a suggestion: "You could just rid yourself of that Ban Ya." Well he likes the sound of that idea very much. "Rid myself of her..." He thinks...and starts laughing hysterically, and not in a good way. "Rid myself of her!"