Post by ajk on Mar 25, 2008 14:28:40 GMT -5
"Curfew! Return to your homes!" It's nighttime: Choi Haesan, the gunpowder expert from the cannon testing ground, is stumbling around drunk, complaining to his colleague Jang Chilsang about the crown prince (who is serving punishment by working at the testing ground). He goes off to the side of a building to answer the call of nature, and in mid-pee looks up and sees Pyeong Dojeon, the Japanese spy from the restaurant and the Gangryeongpo episode, in front of him. Several more men surround him....
Morning, inside, just before training is to begin at the cannon testing ground: Choongnyeong is showing the crown prince sketches and tells him that spies were involved in the Gangryeongpo incident, and they need to be hunted down. He tells his brother that he sent out a team to investigate but that the crown prince needs to take action. But Yangnyeong resists. "What are you trying to accomplish?" "I just want to help you." "Do I look that incompetent?"
Out at the training ground, training is held up because Choi is missing. It turns out that he's the only one who knows the special gunpowder formula, so no Choi, no cannon firing. Min Muhyul, who is with the princes, says he was probably arrested by the Capital Magistracy.
We see Choi tied up and being talked to by Pyeong. The goons with him are menacing, but Pyeong tries to cajole Choi, telling him that he isn't appreciated in Joseon and offering him the chance to go where he'd be appreciated.
The ministers are meeting, talking about installing a system to control the traffic of foreigners. Prime minister Ha argues that with forty major ports in Joseon, it's just too big a task. But Park Eun explains that it's doable with a reallocation of manpower. Ministers argue back and forth, but Gim Hanlo pretty much ends the debate by pointing out that because of inadequate manpower the government is currently relying on regional lords in the outer provinces. So the idea is tabled. Outside, Park Eun tells Hwang Hee that he will support the idea and if it means bypassing the chain of command and going straight to the king, do it. But Hwang doesn't want to antagonize the other ministries, so he'll work to persuade them instead. Park replies, "It's foolish to take the long way when there's a short way."
The crown prince, Choongnyeong and Min Muhyul are meeting, trying to figure out what happened to Choi. After the meeting, Choongnyeong trades clothes with his attendant Um Jachi and runs off to the restaurant. Yun Hwe is there; he's drinking. The waitress finds out that Yun can't pay and starts to raise a ruckus, but Choongnyeong shows up and flashes money at her and she goes away. The money is for Yun, for the composite sketch of the spy that Yun was able to produce. He pries Yun for a bit more information, and once he realizes that Choi was kidnapped he runs off.
Back at the cannon ground building, Choongnyeong tells his brother that he believes Choi was kidnapped. He and Min pooh-pooh it, but Choongnyeong shows them an attendance log showing that Choi hasn't missed a day of work in four years. But they still won't act. Choongnyeong pleads urgency: "Once they get out of the city and on a boat, it's over." But they tell him they need evidence before they can take drastic action. So he leaves--to find it. Min asks the crown prince why he's putting Choongnyeong to work; Yangnyeong replies that it's to find out if his brother is a subject or an enemy.
We se Ok Hwan addressing a group of dark-clad men. He notes Choi's importance to the state and observes that the royal court is dong nothing to find him. So he and his agents will find him themselves, to demonstrate their loyalty. The meeting ends and the men, Ok's agents, disperse to start searching. Eventually they find the building where Choi was being held, but they just missed him.
Nighttime: Choongnyeong returns home to a worried wife, trying to figure out what a spy would do. "Are they working with someone on the inside?" It must be; that's how they would get the official uniform that Pyeong wore, right? But his attendant says why go through all that; you can just have one made; there are dozens of tailors in the city who make official uniforms. Not having known this, the prince's eyes grow wide and he rushes off, right past the princess. You'd think she'd be concerned or exasperated, but instead she actually smiles and says, "It's been a long time since I've seen him like this."
The crown prince is being dressed for bed; he's very distracted but his attendants remind him that this is an auspicious day according to the royal astronomers. Yangnyeong irritatedly remarks, "I feel like everything is decided by the court, even when I sleep with my wife." He enters his bedroom where his wife awaits. They have an awkward conversation; he grumbles some more; she reminds him that "This a very important state affair." (Producing an heir, that is.) But neither one of them seems all that up for it.
Nighttime: Daion is staring at her mother's burial mound. Jang Youngsil sees her. He goes into a shack and mixes ingredients. A bit later, Daion looks up and sees fireworks. She goes to see and finds Youngsil lighting them. He's trying to do something for Daion's mother to replace the sutra chanting that couldn't be done for her when she died. Daion hugs him and cries on his shoulder...and they end up kissing, as sparklers and fireworks go off around them (oh brother).
Choongnyeong, wearing commoners' clothes, and two attendants are covering the countryside, showing people the composite sketch and asking if they've seen the man. Having no luck, Choongnyeong realizes he needs another approach. He goes to see Baron Ok Hwan...Meeting with Ok, Choongnyeong tells him that he needs Ok's help and that one of the foreign merchants he deals with might be a spy. He also points out (in a non-threatening manner) that Ok could be charged with treason if the spy is known to him. And he points out that helping find the spy will benefit Ok irregardless. Ok agrees to help (like he hasn't been looking for the spy already) and his men redouble their efforts.
Later, outside, we see Ok talking to Jang Chilsang, the colleague of Choi's who was with Choi when he was kidnapped. Jang tells Ok that he's surprised Ok is helping the prince, but Ok points out that it will help them gain the prince's trust and that saving Choi will also give Jang more time to acquire all of Choi's knowledge(!).
Choongnyeong finally finds a woman tailor who saw the spy. (I believe this was from his attendants continuing to show the sketch around; it wasn't due to Ok's efforts.) The woman tells Choongnyeong that the man paid her double because he was in a hurry.
We see Choi being threatened at knifepoint. Choi doesn't want to go to Japan but relents to save his life. He says he'll go, but he needs his father's journal (Choi’s father was Choi Muson, the first Korean to produce gunpowder in quantity) to make the explosives and he can't make them without it.
Choongnyeong finally convinces Yangnyeong of the kidnapping and the spy's involvement. They try to figure out where the men might try to escape with their captive Choi. Yangnyeong concludes that the spy would most likely be leaving disguised as a merchant through Gaesan port, where a lot of foreigners pass through.
Foreman Jeon, Muby and other of Ok's men find the spy's latest hideout and discover that the straw is still warm; they conclude that the spy and his goons are not headed out to sea but instead will go south and take Choi over land. Rushing into the woods, they encounter a group of men carrying a large sack. They fight off the men, open the sack and find...only grain.
The spy Pyeong and his goons are hauling an enclosed carriage. They're neither in the woods nor at the port; they're approaching Choi's house (to get the journal). Dressed incognito, Yangnyeong and Choongnyeong stop them in front of the house and ask them what they're doing and who is in the carriage. Pyeong hesitates, and then says that it's Choi's mother coming to visit. The crown prince answers, "She must have come back from her grave." Oops. Suddenly government troops appear everywhere; their cover blown, the men are captured.
Back at his home, Ok is reflecting on Choongnyeong's talent and his success in effecting Choi's rescue. He's happy that Choi was saved, but he shows great concern about the prince's abilities....
The next day: The crown prince asks his brother, How did you know that they would show up there? Choongnyeong explains that he was just trying to figure out what Choi would do. He reasoned that Choi would look for an excuse to keep himself in Joseon as long as possible because he would know that the state would be looking for him. The story about needing the journal was just a ruse to that end. Happy to have helped the state and his brother, Choongnyeong asks his brother for the chance to do more. "You said you wanted to make Joseon a strong state...Let me be your hands and feet." Yangnyeong is very pleased, and gives Choongnyeong a strong pat on the shoulder; it's just the kind of brotherly moment that Choongnyeong has wished for.
Nighttime: The king faces the captured spies in a courtyard, orders that they be executed and their bodies sent back to Japan. He scolds his ministers on the way out for allowing spies to roam the streets. "If something like this ever happens again, your heads will come off." Outside the courtyard, the queen and her entourage encounter Hyobin and her son, prince Kyoungnyeong; they have another one of their awkward conversations. The king comes out of the courtyard and asks them why are they there, and remarks to the queen that she must be proud of the crown prince's accomplishments.
Yangnyeong is with Choongnyeong and Hyoryeong. He says that Choi's gunpowder formula must be confiscated. But Choongnyeong says, don't take it forcefully from him; his family has a legacy of loyalty. Earn his trust instead. Besides, the formula needs to be refined and perfected, so confiscating it now wouldn’t be the best approach. Later, outside, Hyoryeong is walking with Choongnyeong and asks his brother if he's going to run to Choi's house now, and Why do you do these things, your brother just gets all the credit anyway. Choongnyeong tries to convince his brother to get more active himself, says Let's do it together. But Hyoryeong wants no part of it. "Burning hell where you either kill or get killed: that's politics."
Later, Hyoryeong by himself, tending to his plants...Brief flashback to the Ep1 scene from the Second Princes’ Rebellion, with the young boys cowering from the battle and little Hyoryeong getting blood splattered on him...Flashback ending, a disturbed Hyoryeong mutters, "Politics is slaughter; what good is having hope. It's useless, all useless."
Choongnyeong visits Choi, who is recovering from his ordeal. He brings a gift from the crown prince. Choi is overcome; he's very surprised because Yangnyeong is always yelling at him. But don't you yell at your subordinates, Choongnyeong asks. That's just the crown prince's way, he tries to explain, clearly trying to encourage Choi and win his loyalty for the crown prince.
Standing with Yi Su, Choongnyeong reflects on all of these events and says that what he did didn't really help the people, which is what he wants to do. He says again that he wants to keep the people in his heart. Yi Su smiles and says, "It's a start." But the prince continues, "I just hope I can be a decent father. I just want to be able to give some small comfort to the child who is destined to live a life like mine. To look at him when he's sad and disheartened that the world won't give him a chance to pursue his dream [and tell him] that one must never give up on what's in one's heart. That virtue, that's what I want my child to know, master."
Morning, inside, just before training is to begin at the cannon testing ground: Choongnyeong is showing the crown prince sketches and tells him that spies were involved in the Gangryeongpo incident, and they need to be hunted down. He tells his brother that he sent out a team to investigate but that the crown prince needs to take action. But Yangnyeong resists. "What are you trying to accomplish?" "I just want to help you." "Do I look that incompetent?"
Out at the training ground, training is held up because Choi is missing. It turns out that he's the only one who knows the special gunpowder formula, so no Choi, no cannon firing. Min Muhyul, who is with the princes, says he was probably arrested by the Capital Magistracy.
We see Choi tied up and being talked to by Pyeong. The goons with him are menacing, but Pyeong tries to cajole Choi, telling him that he isn't appreciated in Joseon and offering him the chance to go where he'd be appreciated.
The ministers are meeting, talking about installing a system to control the traffic of foreigners. Prime minister Ha argues that with forty major ports in Joseon, it's just too big a task. But Park Eun explains that it's doable with a reallocation of manpower. Ministers argue back and forth, but Gim Hanlo pretty much ends the debate by pointing out that because of inadequate manpower the government is currently relying on regional lords in the outer provinces. So the idea is tabled. Outside, Park Eun tells Hwang Hee that he will support the idea and if it means bypassing the chain of command and going straight to the king, do it. But Hwang doesn't want to antagonize the other ministries, so he'll work to persuade them instead. Park replies, "It's foolish to take the long way when there's a short way."
The crown prince, Choongnyeong and Min Muhyul are meeting, trying to figure out what happened to Choi. After the meeting, Choongnyeong trades clothes with his attendant Um Jachi and runs off to the restaurant. Yun Hwe is there; he's drinking. The waitress finds out that Yun can't pay and starts to raise a ruckus, but Choongnyeong shows up and flashes money at her and she goes away. The money is for Yun, for the composite sketch of the spy that Yun was able to produce. He pries Yun for a bit more information, and once he realizes that Choi was kidnapped he runs off.
Back at the cannon ground building, Choongnyeong tells his brother that he believes Choi was kidnapped. He and Min pooh-pooh it, but Choongnyeong shows them an attendance log showing that Choi hasn't missed a day of work in four years. But they still won't act. Choongnyeong pleads urgency: "Once they get out of the city and on a boat, it's over." But they tell him they need evidence before they can take drastic action. So he leaves--to find it. Min asks the crown prince why he's putting Choongnyeong to work; Yangnyeong replies that it's to find out if his brother is a subject or an enemy.
We se Ok Hwan addressing a group of dark-clad men. He notes Choi's importance to the state and observes that the royal court is dong nothing to find him. So he and his agents will find him themselves, to demonstrate their loyalty. The meeting ends and the men, Ok's agents, disperse to start searching. Eventually they find the building where Choi was being held, but they just missed him.
Nighttime: Choongnyeong returns home to a worried wife, trying to figure out what a spy would do. "Are they working with someone on the inside?" It must be; that's how they would get the official uniform that Pyeong wore, right? But his attendant says why go through all that; you can just have one made; there are dozens of tailors in the city who make official uniforms. Not having known this, the prince's eyes grow wide and he rushes off, right past the princess. You'd think she'd be concerned or exasperated, but instead she actually smiles and says, "It's been a long time since I've seen him like this."
The crown prince is being dressed for bed; he's very distracted but his attendants remind him that this is an auspicious day according to the royal astronomers. Yangnyeong irritatedly remarks, "I feel like everything is decided by the court, even when I sleep with my wife." He enters his bedroom where his wife awaits. They have an awkward conversation; he grumbles some more; she reminds him that "This a very important state affair." (Producing an heir, that is.) But neither one of them seems all that up for it.
Nighttime: Daion is staring at her mother's burial mound. Jang Youngsil sees her. He goes into a shack and mixes ingredients. A bit later, Daion looks up and sees fireworks. She goes to see and finds Youngsil lighting them. He's trying to do something for Daion's mother to replace the sutra chanting that couldn't be done for her when she died. Daion hugs him and cries on his shoulder...and they end up kissing, as sparklers and fireworks go off around them (oh brother).
Choongnyeong, wearing commoners' clothes, and two attendants are covering the countryside, showing people the composite sketch and asking if they've seen the man. Having no luck, Choongnyeong realizes he needs another approach. He goes to see Baron Ok Hwan...Meeting with Ok, Choongnyeong tells him that he needs Ok's help and that one of the foreign merchants he deals with might be a spy. He also points out (in a non-threatening manner) that Ok could be charged with treason if the spy is known to him. And he points out that helping find the spy will benefit Ok irregardless. Ok agrees to help (like he hasn't been looking for the spy already) and his men redouble their efforts.
Later, outside, we see Ok talking to Jang Chilsang, the colleague of Choi's who was with Choi when he was kidnapped. Jang tells Ok that he's surprised Ok is helping the prince, but Ok points out that it will help them gain the prince's trust and that saving Choi will also give Jang more time to acquire all of Choi's knowledge(!).
Choongnyeong finally finds a woman tailor who saw the spy. (I believe this was from his attendants continuing to show the sketch around; it wasn't due to Ok's efforts.) The woman tells Choongnyeong that the man paid her double because he was in a hurry.
We see Choi being threatened at knifepoint. Choi doesn't want to go to Japan but relents to save his life. He says he'll go, but he needs his father's journal (Choi’s father was Choi Muson, the first Korean to produce gunpowder in quantity) to make the explosives and he can't make them without it.
Choongnyeong finally convinces Yangnyeong of the kidnapping and the spy's involvement. They try to figure out where the men might try to escape with their captive Choi. Yangnyeong concludes that the spy would most likely be leaving disguised as a merchant through Gaesan port, where a lot of foreigners pass through.
Foreman Jeon, Muby and other of Ok's men find the spy's latest hideout and discover that the straw is still warm; they conclude that the spy and his goons are not headed out to sea but instead will go south and take Choi over land. Rushing into the woods, they encounter a group of men carrying a large sack. They fight off the men, open the sack and find...only grain.
The spy Pyeong and his goons are hauling an enclosed carriage. They're neither in the woods nor at the port; they're approaching Choi's house (to get the journal). Dressed incognito, Yangnyeong and Choongnyeong stop them in front of the house and ask them what they're doing and who is in the carriage. Pyeong hesitates, and then says that it's Choi's mother coming to visit. The crown prince answers, "She must have come back from her grave." Oops. Suddenly government troops appear everywhere; their cover blown, the men are captured.
Back at his home, Ok is reflecting on Choongnyeong's talent and his success in effecting Choi's rescue. He's happy that Choi was saved, but he shows great concern about the prince's abilities....
The next day: The crown prince asks his brother, How did you know that they would show up there? Choongnyeong explains that he was just trying to figure out what Choi would do. He reasoned that Choi would look for an excuse to keep himself in Joseon as long as possible because he would know that the state would be looking for him. The story about needing the journal was just a ruse to that end. Happy to have helped the state and his brother, Choongnyeong asks his brother for the chance to do more. "You said you wanted to make Joseon a strong state...Let me be your hands and feet." Yangnyeong is very pleased, and gives Choongnyeong a strong pat on the shoulder; it's just the kind of brotherly moment that Choongnyeong has wished for.
Nighttime: The king faces the captured spies in a courtyard, orders that they be executed and their bodies sent back to Japan. He scolds his ministers on the way out for allowing spies to roam the streets. "If something like this ever happens again, your heads will come off." Outside the courtyard, the queen and her entourage encounter Hyobin and her son, prince Kyoungnyeong; they have another one of their awkward conversations. The king comes out of the courtyard and asks them why are they there, and remarks to the queen that she must be proud of the crown prince's accomplishments.
Yangnyeong is with Choongnyeong and Hyoryeong. He says that Choi's gunpowder formula must be confiscated. But Choongnyeong says, don't take it forcefully from him; his family has a legacy of loyalty. Earn his trust instead. Besides, the formula needs to be refined and perfected, so confiscating it now wouldn’t be the best approach. Later, outside, Hyoryeong is walking with Choongnyeong and asks his brother if he's going to run to Choi's house now, and Why do you do these things, your brother just gets all the credit anyway. Choongnyeong tries to convince his brother to get more active himself, says Let's do it together. But Hyoryeong wants no part of it. "Burning hell where you either kill or get killed: that's politics."
Later, Hyoryeong by himself, tending to his plants...Brief flashback to the Ep1 scene from the Second Princes’ Rebellion, with the young boys cowering from the battle and little Hyoryeong getting blood splattered on him...Flashback ending, a disturbed Hyoryeong mutters, "Politics is slaughter; what good is having hope. It's useless, all useless."
Choongnyeong visits Choi, who is recovering from his ordeal. He brings a gift from the crown prince. Choi is overcome; he's very surprised because Yangnyeong is always yelling at him. But don't you yell at your subordinates, Choongnyeong asks. That's just the crown prince's way, he tries to explain, clearly trying to encourage Choi and win his loyalty for the crown prince.
Standing with Yi Su, Choongnyeong reflects on all of these events and says that what he did didn't really help the people, which is what he wants to do. He says again that he wants to keep the people in his heart. Yi Su smiles and says, "It's a start." But the prince continues, "I just hope I can be a decent father. I just want to be able to give some small comfort to the child who is destined to live a life like mine. To look at him when he's sad and disheartened that the world won't give him a chance to pursue his dream [and tell him] that one must never give up on what's in one's heart. That virtue, that's what I want my child to know, master."