Post by ajk on Apr 1, 2008 14:55:23 GMT -5
As the king nears Yangnyeong's quarters, the prince is scrambling to find a way to hide his would-be lover Chogungjang. Hyobin's servants are in the rear preparing food, and the king is approaching from the front. Chogungjang, dressing frantically, begs the prince to help her, fearing for her life. Just then the crown princess walks in, and quickly sizes things up. Ignoring the consort's pleas to spare her, she tells her husband to kill the woman and hide her body behind a screen. "Or your future will be threatened as well."
The king approaches, and the princess comes out to meet him, saying she wanted to be part of the celebration. She invites the king in, and he passes her to go in. She leaves with her retinue...one of which is Chogungjang disguised in attendant's clothes. Safely away from the situation, the princess turns to the consort and says, "I will not waste my breath lecturing a tramp like you." And she slaps her. "Set foot into the east palace again, and I promise you, you will die." Just then, the queen walks by and asks what the problem is; uncomfortable silence all around.
The king is with the crown prince, unhappy about the disrespectful reception that his son gave to the new mentor. Yangnyeong replies that he's frustrated and feels like a prisoner, and asks the king to "Stop watching the east palace." Then be respectful to your mentor, says the king. But Yangnyeong fires back that He’s a royal subject so first I must teach him obedience; aren't you the one who taught me that? They look at each other, the king a bit irritated.
Choongnyeong and Um Jachi are sneaking towards the library in the darkness and attempt to unlock the door. Just then, minister Byun discovers them; he asks them what they're doing and castigates Choongnyeong for his behavior. And he says he must report this to the king. Choongnyeong begs forgiveness, saying that he promised that his reference work would be finished and he just wanted to check one book in the library because "I didn't want to turn in poor work." "You did this to keep a promise to me?" Byun relents and unlocks the door.
The queen visits consort Hyobin: "I came to share my frustrations with you." Feigning a lack of understanding about the night's events, she asks Hyobin, "Did you slip something foul into the refreshments?" They have another awkward, couched exchange, but then the queen gets to the point: "Do not force another get-together that isn't planned in advance." She leaves, and outside sees the crown princess. The queen says she'll overlook tonight's episode but that the princess must get the crown prince's heart back.
The princess goes inside her quarters and Yangnyeong is there waiting for her. "I thought I should say thanks, to be decent," he tells her. "How can I repay you for saving the woman I love?" She answers, "I didn't do this for you, I did it for me...I am the future queen of this state. I don't want you putting dents on my authority." From his expression he obviously thinks little of the idea of a queen's authority, and he says, "Princess, you are too much like my mother." But she says "I take that as a compliment."
Choongnyeong is showing his completed work to Byun. Byun complains that he sees nothing but numbers in front of him, so the prince considers, "How can I make this easy for you?" We see him draw what appears to be a bar chart, based on numbers of Japanese ships. He explains that Japanese incursions used to have only a dozen ships at most, but the number has gradually increased and now there are hundreds. "One can speculate that a strong leader has emerged in Japan" who is uniting the people, the prince explains. Byun replies, yes, that's the shogunate; the ministry of rites is at the moment trying to decide how to deal with them. So they already know what the prince discovered in his research. Choongnyeong is very disappointed, and sorry for failing to produce a useful product.
The royal proclamation is announced: as of October 1, 1413, the identity tag law will take effect for all males between 10 and 70.
We see identity tags being issued at a large outdoor table near the palace. Yun Hwe is there and starts making trouble, complaining about the fact that the tags are color-coded based on occupational status. All of the men in line agree, which sets off a commotion. Park Eun has been watching this and steps into the fray; he has Yun arrested. Off to the side, Ok Hwan and his aides see it all unfold. "I really like that man," Ok says about Yun. His aides ask, Should we approach him again? No, Ok answers, if the country keeps on going as it is, he'll come to us.
Jang Youngsil returns home, carrying his identity tag; it's a slave tag and he's ashamed to have it. Daion sees him and offers to get him a different one...Inside, she finds Youngsil's slave contract and shows it to her father Han Younglo. She wants him to confirm that Jang will be a free man if the contract is destroyed. She wants to destroy it, she tells her father, because she's in love with Jang. He laughs and says cynically, "He seduced a nobleman's daughter to make himself a free man." But she says it's not true; "He gives and gives, but he won't accept anything from me. Please let him live the way a man should. Not as a slave but a free man. You're the only one who can do it, father." He asks, "Is there any way to change your mind?" "No, not unless I'm dead." "Then I guess I have no choice." Which makes Daion very happy.
Nighttime in a courtyard: Jang is being flogged as Han watches. Daion shows up and begs that it be stopped, but they proceed to brand him like a steer. The mark burned into his chest reads "enemy." Daion crumbles to the ground, whimpering "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...."
The king and ministers are meeting. Prime minister Ha reports that "We are getting a volley of protests every day" about the identity tag law. Hwang Hee states that "There are poisonous clauses in the identity tag law." Poisonous clauses?, the king asks. Color-coding people by status is dangerous, Hwang explains. "People are to be protected and cared for, not watched and controlled." Just then an attendant brings a scroll informing the king that a Ming envoy has crossed the border and is on his way. The king remarks that an envoy has never arrived unannounced before; what is going on? Scolding Hwang (who heads the ministry of rites; this is his area) for criticizing other policies yet not being on top of his own area, he instructs that a reception be prepared and leaves to begin preparations.
At the National Confucian Academy: Outside of the building, Yi Su is speaking with fellow scholar Jeong Inji. Jeong tells Yi, "Every time I see you, I question the king's judgment." Then he says, "You purposely put wrong answers on the government service exam because government service doesn't interest you." Then Jeong asks Yi whether or not it's true that Yi studied the books of Master Sambong. Yi only reminds Jeong that those books were banned. Jeong answers, "There is no future for a government that allows its scholars to think only one way." From his body language, it's clear that Yi can't help but agree. Jeong informs Yi that there's a group that meets in secret to study Sambong's books, and gives him the details...A man named Gang Yu (I didn't clearly catch who he was; either a minister or a head guard of some kind) watches the conversation from a distance, suspiciously.
Two Mongolian (Oirat) envoys are meeting with Ok Hwan and a group of other men. They’re asking that Ok help in opposing any request for Joseon's assistance, assistance apparently for Ming to conquer the Mongolian tribes. Ok Hwan says, Better to let the support be requested; if the king should propose such an expenditure, the people will rise up. The envoys present a chest containing "war funds as requested." Ok and the men, seated, bow deeply to the ground, pleasing the envoys. (Not entirely clear what all this is about.)
Outside, after the meeting, Jeon Ilji (apparently the same guy who was the eunuch and Um Jachi's friend from the first few episodes) asks Foreman Jeon, who's his uncle, why they're making an alliance with the Mongolians. He doesn't like it. His uncle answers bitterly, "First we must capsize Joseon. And we will join hands with the devil if that's what it takes."
Ilji is standing on the shore, throwing flowers out to sea...Flashback to a young boy playing with his mother on board a boat; it's once again the scene of the royal descendants of Goryeo on a boat, being ambushed and murdered. The little boy is Ilji; he's separated from his mother and is grabbed and thrown overboard, as the boat is invaded, the descendants slaughtered and the boat set on fire....Flashback ending, Ilji is holding one of his mother's hairpins. Ok Hwan approaches him; they talk, and Ok says with pain in his heart, "We don't have the time or the luxury to be sentimental. Our pain is too deep for that. And the fate of this country is too bleak."
Minister Hwang is before the king, presenting plans for the reception for the envoy. The king is troubled with the plans, saying that it would be "the grandest reception yet." Even the crown prince is supposed to accompany the envoy? But Hwang explains, "We need to win their hearts first to confirm their true intent. Only then can we learn their next move."
Yangnyeong is steamed. "They want a royal prince to be a eunuch's retinue?" Choongnyeong and Yangnyeong are with him and are trying to comfort him, but we can see that they're not too sold on the idea either.
Evening: Choongnyeong is outside staring into the distance; princess Shim comes out to see what's on his mind. It's the crown prince's difficulty with the reception plan; isn't there another solution, he wonders. He hears, "Of course there's a solution." He looks up and Yangnyeong is standing there; Yangnyeong invites Choongnyeong to come with him....
Choongnyeong enters a room in a gisaeng house, where roughly a dozen men (including prominent officials) are gathered at a table headed by Yangnyeong. This is the secret group that studies the forbidden Samborg books! Jeong Inji (the scholar from the academy) is there and introduces himself to Choongnyeong. "You two will get along well," Yangnyeong says with a smile. Others introduce themselves to the new visitor. The discussion around the table quickly turns to criticism of the king, specifically his being too timid in not taking military action to get Liaodong territory back. Sambong's works justify an effort to get the land back (this shot past me too quickly and I didn't pick up the entire explanation).
Police are alerted that a subversive meeting is underway; a party is sent on horseback to expose it and arrest the participants.
Choongnyeong starts asking questions about Liaodong: what are the land and the people like; what kind of weapons do they have. Fidgeting and uncomfortable silence. "Did I ask a silly question?", the prince asks with concern. No, you didn't; we just don't know the answers; no one has done enough research.
The armed party on horseback arrives at the gisaeng house, in the darkness. One of the gisaeng girls sees them arrive and runs inside....
Choongnyeong observes, "Sun Tzu said you need ten times the military power to attack the enemy on the ground. I think that means it's essential to know your enemy first. To risk the lives of the people for a fight that there is little chance of winning is a dangerous notion."
Gang Yu (the eavesdropper from the academy; he must be a security official of some sort) and his men storm into the building and burst into the room...and find the men enjoying a banquet, surrounded by gisaeng. Yangnyeong stands up indignantly. Gang stammers.
Later, outside, after the meeting: The two princes are together, Yangnyeong on horseback. "I feel like I gained a brilliant tactician tonight," Yangnyeong tells his brother. "But next time...come up with more helpful advice next time. One who opposes for opposition's sake is no tactician." He heads away on his horse, and starts to think...Flashback to the scene in Episode 5 of Min Mugu and Min Mugil being taken away in the prisoner's cart, and Mugu warning Yangnyeong, "Remember, your highness, when another prince takes an interest in politics, he becomes a threat, a political enemy."
The next day: It's the grand reception for the Ming envoy, Huang Yan. All of the princes and ministers are in attendance; a female dance performance is presented. At the head table, minister Hwang leans over to the king and says, "No matter what the envoy asks, you must not give him an answer until you know what cards they are holding." The performance ends; the envoy says he liked it. "Although your tradition of putting women in royal banquets is rather barbaric." Then the envoy starts to belittle the event's extravagance, telling the king that the Ming emperor is denying himself luxuries and living humbly so that Ming can conquer the northern lands. Yangnyeong, sitting at the head of the side table, is becoming visibly and audibly rankled by the envoy, which makes everyone else tense. The prince pours himself drink after drink, slamming down his cup to punctuate his irritation. The envoy ignores him and continues. "The Emperor wants Japan conquered. This not only benefits Ming, but is also in the best interests of Joseon." He informs the king that Joseon is expected to contribute ten thousand war horses to the effort, which of course they can afford to do because they can afford to hold such a fancy banquet. This last dig is more than the crown prince can handle. His restraint numbed by alcohol, he stands up, climbs the stairs to the head table, and tells the envoy to his face, "You're not getting one single horse from us." Huang answers ominously, "You don't care about the safety of your country." The prince responds, "What do you take Joseon for? Do you think we're so helpless that we can't even defend ourselves?" This gives the envoy an opening; he ups his demand. Ten thousand horses and one hundred thousand soldiers, he says; anything less and Joseon will be considered an enemy and "a war will be inevitable." This only gets Yangnyeong angrier. "First we will cut off your head and send it back to Ming!" He sweeps all of the dishes off the table. "I will not forgive anyone who patronizes Joseon, even the emperor himself!" He glares at Huang, as the king watches, stunned....
The king approaches, and the princess comes out to meet him, saying she wanted to be part of the celebration. She invites the king in, and he passes her to go in. She leaves with her retinue...one of which is Chogungjang disguised in attendant's clothes. Safely away from the situation, the princess turns to the consort and says, "I will not waste my breath lecturing a tramp like you." And she slaps her. "Set foot into the east palace again, and I promise you, you will die." Just then, the queen walks by and asks what the problem is; uncomfortable silence all around.
The king is with the crown prince, unhappy about the disrespectful reception that his son gave to the new mentor. Yangnyeong replies that he's frustrated and feels like a prisoner, and asks the king to "Stop watching the east palace." Then be respectful to your mentor, says the king. But Yangnyeong fires back that He’s a royal subject so first I must teach him obedience; aren't you the one who taught me that? They look at each other, the king a bit irritated.
Choongnyeong and Um Jachi are sneaking towards the library in the darkness and attempt to unlock the door. Just then, minister Byun discovers them; he asks them what they're doing and castigates Choongnyeong for his behavior. And he says he must report this to the king. Choongnyeong begs forgiveness, saying that he promised that his reference work would be finished and he just wanted to check one book in the library because "I didn't want to turn in poor work." "You did this to keep a promise to me?" Byun relents and unlocks the door.
The queen visits consort Hyobin: "I came to share my frustrations with you." Feigning a lack of understanding about the night's events, she asks Hyobin, "Did you slip something foul into the refreshments?" They have another awkward, couched exchange, but then the queen gets to the point: "Do not force another get-together that isn't planned in advance." She leaves, and outside sees the crown princess. The queen says she'll overlook tonight's episode but that the princess must get the crown prince's heart back.
The princess goes inside her quarters and Yangnyeong is there waiting for her. "I thought I should say thanks, to be decent," he tells her. "How can I repay you for saving the woman I love?" She answers, "I didn't do this for you, I did it for me...I am the future queen of this state. I don't want you putting dents on my authority." From his expression he obviously thinks little of the idea of a queen's authority, and he says, "Princess, you are too much like my mother." But she says "I take that as a compliment."
Choongnyeong is showing his completed work to Byun. Byun complains that he sees nothing but numbers in front of him, so the prince considers, "How can I make this easy for you?" We see him draw what appears to be a bar chart, based on numbers of Japanese ships. He explains that Japanese incursions used to have only a dozen ships at most, but the number has gradually increased and now there are hundreds. "One can speculate that a strong leader has emerged in Japan" who is uniting the people, the prince explains. Byun replies, yes, that's the shogunate; the ministry of rites is at the moment trying to decide how to deal with them. So they already know what the prince discovered in his research. Choongnyeong is very disappointed, and sorry for failing to produce a useful product.
The royal proclamation is announced: as of October 1, 1413, the identity tag law will take effect for all males between 10 and 70.
We see identity tags being issued at a large outdoor table near the palace. Yun Hwe is there and starts making trouble, complaining about the fact that the tags are color-coded based on occupational status. All of the men in line agree, which sets off a commotion. Park Eun has been watching this and steps into the fray; he has Yun arrested. Off to the side, Ok Hwan and his aides see it all unfold. "I really like that man," Ok says about Yun. His aides ask, Should we approach him again? No, Ok answers, if the country keeps on going as it is, he'll come to us.
Jang Youngsil returns home, carrying his identity tag; it's a slave tag and he's ashamed to have it. Daion sees him and offers to get him a different one...Inside, she finds Youngsil's slave contract and shows it to her father Han Younglo. She wants him to confirm that Jang will be a free man if the contract is destroyed. She wants to destroy it, she tells her father, because she's in love with Jang. He laughs and says cynically, "He seduced a nobleman's daughter to make himself a free man." But she says it's not true; "He gives and gives, but he won't accept anything from me. Please let him live the way a man should. Not as a slave but a free man. You're the only one who can do it, father." He asks, "Is there any way to change your mind?" "No, not unless I'm dead." "Then I guess I have no choice." Which makes Daion very happy.
Nighttime in a courtyard: Jang is being flogged as Han watches. Daion shows up and begs that it be stopped, but they proceed to brand him like a steer. The mark burned into his chest reads "enemy." Daion crumbles to the ground, whimpering "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...."
The king and ministers are meeting. Prime minister Ha reports that "We are getting a volley of protests every day" about the identity tag law. Hwang Hee states that "There are poisonous clauses in the identity tag law." Poisonous clauses?, the king asks. Color-coding people by status is dangerous, Hwang explains. "People are to be protected and cared for, not watched and controlled." Just then an attendant brings a scroll informing the king that a Ming envoy has crossed the border and is on his way. The king remarks that an envoy has never arrived unannounced before; what is going on? Scolding Hwang (who heads the ministry of rites; this is his area) for criticizing other policies yet not being on top of his own area, he instructs that a reception be prepared and leaves to begin preparations.
At the National Confucian Academy: Outside of the building, Yi Su is speaking with fellow scholar Jeong Inji. Jeong tells Yi, "Every time I see you, I question the king's judgment." Then he says, "You purposely put wrong answers on the government service exam because government service doesn't interest you." Then Jeong asks Yi whether or not it's true that Yi studied the books of Master Sambong. Yi only reminds Jeong that those books were banned. Jeong answers, "There is no future for a government that allows its scholars to think only one way." From his body language, it's clear that Yi can't help but agree. Jeong informs Yi that there's a group that meets in secret to study Sambong's books, and gives him the details...A man named Gang Yu (I didn't clearly catch who he was; either a minister or a head guard of some kind) watches the conversation from a distance, suspiciously.
Two Mongolian (Oirat) envoys are meeting with Ok Hwan and a group of other men. They’re asking that Ok help in opposing any request for Joseon's assistance, assistance apparently for Ming to conquer the Mongolian tribes. Ok Hwan says, Better to let the support be requested; if the king should propose such an expenditure, the people will rise up. The envoys present a chest containing "war funds as requested." Ok and the men, seated, bow deeply to the ground, pleasing the envoys. (Not entirely clear what all this is about.)
Outside, after the meeting, Jeon Ilji (apparently the same guy who was the eunuch and Um Jachi's friend from the first few episodes) asks Foreman Jeon, who's his uncle, why they're making an alliance with the Mongolians. He doesn't like it. His uncle answers bitterly, "First we must capsize Joseon. And we will join hands with the devil if that's what it takes."
Ilji is standing on the shore, throwing flowers out to sea...Flashback to a young boy playing with his mother on board a boat; it's once again the scene of the royal descendants of Goryeo on a boat, being ambushed and murdered. The little boy is Ilji; he's separated from his mother and is grabbed and thrown overboard, as the boat is invaded, the descendants slaughtered and the boat set on fire....Flashback ending, Ilji is holding one of his mother's hairpins. Ok Hwan approaches him; they talk, and Ok says with pain in his heart, "We don't have the time or the luxury to be sentimental. Our pain is too deep for that. And the fate of this country is too bleak."
Minister Hwang is before the king, presenting plans for the reception for the envoy. The king is troubled with the plans, saying that it would be "the grandest reception yet." Even the crown prince is supposed to accompany the envoy? But Hwang explains, "We need to win their hearts first to confirm their true intent. Only then can we learn their next move."
Yangnyeong is steamed. "They want a royal prince to be a eunuch's retinue?" Choongnyeong and Yangnyeong are with him and are trying to comfort him, but we can see that they're not too sold on the idea either.
Evening: Choongnyeong is outside staring into the distance; princess Shim comes out to see what's on his mind. It's the crown prince's difficulty with the reception plan; isn't there another solution, he wonders. He hears, "Of course there's a solution." He looks up and Yangnyeong is standing there; Yangnyeong invites Choongnyeong to come with him....
Choongnyeong enters a room in a gisaeng house, where roughly a dozen men (including prominent officials) are gathered at a table headed by Yangnyeong. This is the secret group that studies the forbidden Samborg books! Jeong Inji (the scholar from the academy) is there and introduces himself to Choongnyeong. "You two will get along well," Yangnyeong says with a smile. Others introduce themselves to the new visitor. The discussion around the table quickly turns to criticism of the king, specifically his being too timid in not taking military action to get Liaodong territory back. Sambong's works justify an effort to get the land back (this shot past me too quickly and I didn't pick up the entire explanation).
Police are alerted that a subversive meeting is underway; a party is sent on horseback to expose it and arrest the participants.
Choongnyeong starts asking questions about Liaodong: what are the land and the people like; what kind of weapons do they have. Fidgeting and uncomfortable silence. "Did I ask a silly question?", the prince asks with concern. No, you didn't; we just don't know the answers; no one has done enough research.
The armed party on horseback arrives at the gisaeng house, in the darkness. One of the gisaeng girls sees them arrive and runs inside....
Choongnyeong observes, "Sun Tzu said you need ten times the military power to attack the enemy on the ground. I think that means it's essential to know your enemy first. To risk the lives of the people for a fight that there is little chance of winning is a dangerous notion."
Gang Yu (the eavesdropper from the academy; he must be a security official of some sort) and his men storm into the building and burst into the room...and find the men enjoying a banquet, surrounded by gisaeng. Yangnyeong stands up indignantly. Gang stammers.
Later, outside, after the meeting: The two princes are together, Yangnyeong on horseback. "I feel like I gained a brilliant tactician tonight," Yangnyeong tells his brother. "But next time...come up with more helpful advice next time. One who opposes for opposition's sake is no tactician." He heads away on his horse, and starts to think...Flashback to the scene in Episode 5 of Min Mugu and Min Mugil being taken away in the prisoner's cart, and Mugu warning Yangnyeong, "Remember, your highness, when another prince takes an interest in politics, he becomes a threat, a political enemy."
The next day: It's the grand reception for the Ming envoy, Huang Yan. All of the princes and ministers are in attendance; a female dance performance is presented. At the head table, minister Hwang leans over to the king and says, "No matter what the envoy asks, you must not give him an answer until you know what cards they are holding." The performance ends; the envoy says he liked it. "Although your tradition of putting women in royal banquets is rather barbaric." Then the envoy starts to belittle the event's extravagance, telling the king that the Ming emperor is denying himself luxuries and living humbly so that Ming can conquer the northern lands. Yangnyeong, sitting at the head of the side table, is becoming visibly and audibly rankled by the envoy, which makes everyone else tense. The prince pours himself drink after drink, slamming down his cup to punctuate his irritation. The envoy ignores him and continues. "The Emperor wants Japan conquered. This not only benefits Ming, but is also in the best interests of Joseon." He informs the king that Joseon is expected to contribute ten thousand war horses to the effort, which of course they can afford to do because they can afford to hold such a fancy banquet. This last dig is more than the crown prince can handle. His restraint numbed by alcohol, he stands up, climbs the stairs to the head table, and tells the envoy to his face, "You're not getting one single horse from us." Huang answers ominously, "You don't care about the safety of your country." The prince responds, "What do you take Joseon for? Do you think we're so helpless that we can't even defend ourselves?" This gives the envoy an opening; he ups his demand. Ten thousand horses and one hundred thousand soldiers, he says; anything less and Joseon will be considered an enemy and "a war will be inevitable." This only gets Yangnyeong angrier. "First we will cut off your head and send it back to Ming!" He sweeps all of the dishes off the table. "I will not forgive anyone who patronizes Joseon, even the emperor himself!" He glares at Huang, as the king watches, stunned....