Post by ajk on Apr 29, 2008 14:53:10 GMT -5
The king reacts to the envoy's comment: "Who would that be?" "I believe you already know," says the envoy. "How would I know?", Taejong answers. "I am a father before I am a king. In a father's eyes all of his children look equally wonderful." (Nice save.) Everyone at the event looks around, a mixture of puzzlement and concern on their faces.
Leaving the event, the envoy tells his aides that the king is "always a quick thinker." Then, however: "But he can't stop the dam that's already broken." Just watch, he tells them with a smile, "There will be a huge power shift in the court of Joseon. I'm already getting excited about our next trip here!" His face suggests that he's enjoyed stirring the pot.
The king is with Jo Malseng; he’s annoyed as all heck with the envoy. Do you disagree with him?, asks Jo. "A distant view is more accurate at times." Taejong says he'll ignore that comment because it could be treasonous. No, Jo argues gingerly, treason is against the head of state; considering the matter of succession is not an act against the head of state. The king coldly tells Jo to leave.
The crown prince is with his brothers; he is NOT happy. "One of you has caused the envoy to utter that brazen remark." Who is it, "and what could his intent be?" Nobody fesses up.
Ministers are meeting: Gim Hanlo is furious over the remark. Park Eun reminds him that the crown prince brought it all on himself, and says that "you can't blame the envoy for questioning the prince's competence." The ministers are trying to figure out which prince the envoy was referring to.
The crown prince is kneeling before the king. Taejong tells his son the good results of the negotiation, and says "You must learn from this experience...True strength does not come from muscle...If your pride is more important than the people, than you are not a man of strength." He warns him, "Do not jeopardize the state with your hot temper again" or you won't be the crown prince any more.
Choongnyeong is visiting Yangnyeong, who throws wine in his brother's face. Yangnyeong is drunk, and Choongnyeong has just told him about his actions. "Do you think you won?", Yangnyeong asks angrily. "You gave humiliation of defeat to the people of Joseon." If you hadn't stopped me, "we could have rewritten history" and laid the foundation to attack Ming! Choongnyeong tries to leave, not wanting to discuss all of this while his brother is drunk, but Yangnyeong challenges him. Don't you want to win?, he asks. Choongnyeong grabs his brother by the shoulders and vigorously argues that in its weakened state, Joseon cannot possibly attack Ming and that, moreover, first you need to study them and learn about them. "Cool off, clear your head, and find a way!" if you think it can be done. He storms out.
Outside, he finds the queen standing there. She's apparently heard enough of the conversation to know that Choongnyeong is the mystery prince. Hearing Yangnyeong's drunken flailing-about, she leaves.
Word has gotten out among the ministers. Some are asking prime minister Ha, How could you allow the king's favor to turn to Choongnyeong? I didn't know about it, Ha says. They conclude that there must be a minister who's gotten inside the king's head. Could it be Park?
Ministers Park and Shim are together. Park shows Shim a document; it's a proposal to create a Ministry of Slavery Reparations. Many aristocrats and others in the country are said to be keeping slaves illegally; the power to investigate them, Park says, is a weapon that can be used to protect Choongnyeong. Are you doing this for power, Shim asks? Park tells him, "The fight has already begun."
Min Muhyul and Min Muhwe tell PM Ha that Park is challenging him and will try to get a new crown prince installed.
Choongnyeong is with the queen. She's remorseful for saying the cruel things she said to him in E14. "Why didn't you tell me you weren't after the crown [and] were only trying to save your brother? You should have been more open with me." He explains that he had to act in secrecy. She expresses regret for not loving her children more and having to regard them with suspicion. "I'm sick of it," she says. "I'm sick of it."
Jeon Ilji and the other eunuchs who took part in Choongnyeong's action thank him for their raises and promotions; he thanks them back for their help in accomplishing what they accomplished. He leaves and they talk amongst themselves: "He handles state affairs like no other, and he has the heart of an angel." Hyobin's attendant is nearby and hears all this...
...and reports it back to Hyobin, who is with her son prince Kyoungnyeong. Hyobin is agitated by the report, but the prince agrees with the comments and says that Choongnyeong behaved "in a kingly manner." Hyobin excuses her attendant and chastises her son for making such a comment; this is how rumors get started, she warns. The prince is unconcerned, and says that he wants to be ready for "the next battle" and will use Choongnyeong to advance his goal of becoming crown prince gaining the throne. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend, mother."
That evening: Hyoryeong comes to visit Choongnyeong that evening; they drink tea together. Hyoryeong asks him, Why don't you just raise orchids like I do? You're gong to get deeper into one mess after another if you keep it up. "Aren't you afraid?" Yes, I'm afraid, Choongnyeong says; "I'm afraid of rationalizing away my fears" which would keep me from acting when I should. His face shows determination (he ain't gonna raise orchids, that's obvious).
Even some of the officials at deputy director Byun Gaeryang's public office are discussing Choongnyeong's accomplishments favorably. Byun tells them to shut up. He and Yun Hwe, who happens to be there, get into it a bit; Byun accuses Yun of using the prince to get reinstated; Yun comments on the crown prince's incompetence.
That night: The Mins have returned home and find Chogungjang, the ex-king's consort, waiting there. Why? Just as they ask her what she's doing there, a drunken Yangnyeong shows up too (by himself; no retinue). He's called her there. "I came here to escape the hounding, uncle." They try to stop him but he goes inside with her. Muhwe is extremely concerned about this development; if it's discovered, Yangnyeong will be deposed. But that's precisely why they should ignore it, Muhyul says. Besides, "he is only twenty years old. Let's give him some slack."
Inside: Yangnyeong and Chogungjang are together. He asks her rhetorically why she's here, risking her life; is it because I'm the crown prince? She defers. Then they start to get down to business, but he gets up and says, "I lost my interest. It's no fun taking a wench who's a slave to power." And he walks away.
Min Muhwe has immediately gone to the queen without his brother, to report what's happening. She wants to charge over there and break it up, but Muhwe advises restraint. The king is angry with Yangnyeong, and the ex-king doesn't like him; expose the affair and he could be deposed. (So why did he tell her?) Instead he advises her to go visit the king. (Why? Strange scene.)
The queen goes to visit her husband. Together they reminisce about Yangnyeong's birth; "we lost numerous children before him and went though quite an ordeal before he came to us." They remember his happiness over the birth, and his certainty that the baby would grow up and rise to greatness. And he expresses regret for not remembering more of his other sons' childhoods and not being able to give more attention to them. And now they've grown up in an instant "and one of them is being called fit to be king." This statement concerns the queen: "What are you thinking right now? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" (What is she thinking?)
Chogungjang is before ex-king Jeongjong. "You've been out," he observes. He tells her that she doesn't look well, and follows that up with, "It's hard to look comfortable when you're guilty." Then he accuses her of being Min Muhyul's contact and spying on him for the Mins. She vigorously denies this, and feeds him a story about going to visit a school friend. What would I be doing with the Mins, she asks, and besides, you're the source of everything I have; why would I risk that?
Outside Jeongjang's palace, in the darkness, we see the ex-king meeting with Ok Hwan (!!!) and several of his men. He tells Ok to keep watching her and to find out what the Min clan is up to with her. Later, Foreman Jeon asks Ok why he didn't spill the beans about the crown prince. Ok says, not just yet; "Let us watch him gather strength" for the fight he thinks he's going to have. "And when he is good and ready, we'll put the sword in his hands."
In the darkness, the crown prince jumps over a wall and returns home...and runs smack dab into the queen, who's waiting for him.
Inside, Wongyeong is taking a switch to the back of her son's calves. The crown prince looks like a little kid wearing knickers, legs exposed and being disciplined by his mommy. "Feel the humiliation and remember it and never repeat your despicable acts again [or] you will live a lifetime of irrepressible shame." And she walks out. Outside, she nearly staggers to the ground; this has been terribly trying on her.
Back inside, the crown princess says she'll summon the royal physician. No, Yangnyeong says; have him make an herbal potion for the queen instead. "Her whippings don't hurt like they used to."
The next day: Choongnyeong, Shim On, Yun Hwe and Yi Su are outside playing gyeokbang, which is kind of a cross between croquet and golf. They make small talk as they play, but then Choongnyeong wonders aloud why Shim asked him to play. Eventually Shim asks the prince, "If you want to change the world, there will be many treacherous hills and valleys to conquer. Are you prepared to stick it out?" At first Choongnyeong seems to duck the question. "Gyeokbang is a fun game. Let's play again sometime." I'm not the best at it, he says, but "I think I can improve with your and my two masters' help." They read between the lines and are very happy with his seemingly innocuous answer. (Does this mean that Choongnyeong is thinking about the throne now?)
The king and ministers are meeting. Shim presents the proposal for the Ministry of Slavery Reparations; he explains that it's to get tax revenue for strengthening the national defense. Other ministers murmur, and PM Ha argues that there will be opposition from aristocrats who will supported Joseon's founding and will be angry.
Taejong and PM Ha are on the long bridge. I think it's a good idea, the king says. Ha says, "It's a fine idea, but their motive is elsewhere." Ha sees behind it a "seditious movement" in the court. Then what is your reason for opposing, the policy, the king asks. "Same as yours, your majesty"--to avoid any possibility of division among the ministers that could lead to the kind of bloodshed that occurred among past princes. "If you implement the policy," Ha counsels, "you must choose an impartial official to implement it."
Minister Hwang brings the proposal document to Shim and says the policy is good to go. But he advises Shim not to get drawn into "a futile fight." It's much more important to make sure that there's no more trouble with Ming, he says. "We don't have any time to waste fighting over the successor issue."
Ministers Shim and Park are talking; Shim asks Park if he can be appointed head of the new ministry. He also tells him not to bring the prince into this. "My only interest is in making the country a better place...and I'm certain my son-in-law Prince Choongnyeong shares that sentiment."
The king is sitting on his throne, alone except for his attendant. Hours go by and darkness comes; he sits thinking. The ministers aren't interested in good policy; they're angling for position. "After all, they better get on the right boat if they don't want to sink." Then he stands up and says with a determined glare, "I have no choice but to make a bold decision." He gets up and goes to the ancestral shrine.
The queen is told by her attendant where the king has gone at such a late hour, and that he went "to make a decision about his successor." Her eyes widen.
Taejong is bowing before the shrine...flashback to Yangnyeong talking back to the Ming envoy...flashback to Choongnyeong advising the king to show the people his support for them...flashback to Yangnyeong exhorting the people while leading the protest of scholars...flashback to Choongnyeong explaining to the Ming envoy the difficulty of meeting his requests....Taejong rises. "Who is the heir fit for the throne. Who must I choose to lead this country's future."
The queen wonders aloud, "Must he provoke this fight? Must he put swords in his sons' hands and watch them destroy each other?"
Taejong orders that the royal family be assembled the next morning. "I will rename the heir apparent of Joseon."
Leaving the event, the envoy tells his aides that the king is "always a quick thinker." Then, however: "But he can't stop the dam that's already broken." Just watch, he tells them with a smile, "There will be a huge power shift in the court of Joseon. I'm already getting excited about our next trip here!" His face suggests that he's enjoyed stirring the pot.
The king is with Jo Malseng; he’s annoyed as all heck with the envoy. Do you disagree with him?, asks Jo. "A distant view is more accurate at times." Taejong says he'll ignore that comment because it could be treasonous. No, Jo argues gingerly, treason is against the head of state; considering the matter of succession is not an act against the head of state. The king coldly tells Jo to leave.
The crown prince is with his brothers; he is NOT happy. "One of you has caused the envoy to utter that brazen remark." Who is it, "and what could his intent be?" Nobody fesses up.
Ministers are meeting: Gim Hanlo is furious over the remark. Park Eun reminds him that the crown prince brought it all on himself, and says that "you can't blame the envoy for questioning the prince's competence." The ministers are trying to figure out which prince the envoy was referring to.
The crown prince is kneeling before the king. Taejong tells his son the good results of the negotiation, and says "You must learn from this experience...True strength does not come from muscle...If your pride is more important than the people, than you are not a man of strength." He warns him, "Do not jeopardize the state with your hot temper again" or you won't be the crown prince any more.
Choongnyeong is visiting Yangnyeong, who throws wine in his brother's face. Yangnyeong is drunk, and Choongnyeong has just told him about his actions. "Do you think you won?", Yangnyeong asks angrily. "You gave humiliation of defeat to the people of Joseon." If you hadn't stopped me, "we could have rewritten history" and laid the foundation to attack Ming! Choongnyeong tries to leave, not wanting to discuss all of this while his brother is drunk, but Yangnyeong challenges him. Don't you want to win?, he asks. Choongnyeong grabs his brother by the shoulders and vigorously argues that in its weakened state, Joseon cannot possibly attack Ming and that, moreover, first you need to study them and learn about them. "Cool off, clear your head, and find a way!" if you think it can be done. He storms out.
Outside, he finds the queen standing there. She's apparently heard enough of the conversation to know that Choongnyeong is the mystery prince. Hearing Yangnyeong's drunken flailing-about, she leaves.
Word has gotten out among the ministers. Some are asking prime minister Ha, How could you allow the king's favor to turn to Choongnyeong? I didn't know about it, Ha says. They conclude that there must be a minister who's gotten inside the king's head. Could it be Park?
Ministers Park and Shim are together. Park shows Shim a document; it's a proposal to create a Ministry of Slavery Reparations. Many aristocrats and others in the country are said to be keeping slaves illegally; the power to investigate them, Park says, is a weapon that can be used to protect Choongnyeong. Are you doing this for power, Shim asks? Park tells him, "The fight has already begun."
Min Muhyul and Min Muhwe tell PM Ha that Park is challenging him and will try to get a new crown prince installed.
Choongnyeong is with the queen. She's remorseful for saying the cruel things she said to him in E14. "Why didn't you tell me you weren't after the crown [and] were only trying to save your brother? You should have been more open with me." He explains that he had to act in secrecy. She expresses regret for not loving her children more and having to regard them with suspicion. "I'm sick of it," she says. "I'm sick of it."
Jeon Ilji and the other eunuchs who took part in Choongnyeong's action thank him for their raises and promotions; he thanks them back for their help in accomplishing what they accomplished. He leaves and they talk amongst themselves: "He handles state affairs like no other, and he has the heart of an angel." Hyobin's attendant is nearby and hears all this...
...and reports it back to Hyobin, who is with her son prince Kyoungnyeong. Hyobin is agitated by the report, but the prince agrees with the comments and says that Choongnyeong behaved "in a kingly manner." Hyobin excuses her attendant and chastises her son for making such a comment; this is how rumors get started, she warns. The prince is unconcerned, and says that he wants to be ready for "the next battle" and will use Choongnyeong to advance his goal of becoming crown prince gaining the throne. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend, mother."
That evening: Hyoryeong comes to visit Choongnyeong that evening; they drink tea together. Hyoryeong asks him, Why don't you just raise orchids like I do? You're gong to get deeper into one mess after another if you keep it up. "Aren't you afraid?" Yes, I'm afraid, Choongnyeong says; "I'm afraid of rationalizing away my fears" which would keep me from acting when I should. His face shows determination (he ain't gonna raise orchids, that's obvious).
Even some of the officials at deputy director Byun Gaeryang's public office are discussing Choongnyeong's accomplishments favorably. Byun tells them to shut up. He and Yun Hwe, who happens to be there, get into it a bit; Byun accuses Yun of using the prince to get reinstated; Yun comments on the crown prince's incompetence.
That night: The Mins have returned home and find Chogungjang, the ex-king's consort, waiting there. Why? Just as they ask her what she's doing there, a drunken Yangnyeong shows up too (by himself; no retinue). He's called her there. "I came here to escape the hounding, uncle." They try to stop him but he goes inside with her. Muhwe is extremely concerned about this development; if it's discovered, Yangnyeong will be deposed. But that's precisely why they should ignore it, Muhyul says. Besides, "he is only twenty years old. Let's give him some slack."
Inside: Yangnyeong and Chogungjang are together. He asks her rhetorically why she's here, risking her life; is it because I'm the crown prince? She defers. Then they start to get down to business, but he gets up and says, "I lost my interest. It's no fun taking a wench who's a slave to power." And he walks away.
Min Muhwe has immediately gone to the queen without his brother, to report what's happening. She wants to charge over there and break it up, but Muhwe advises restraint. The king is angry with Yangnyeong, and the ex-king doesn't like him; expose the affair and he could be deposed. (So why did he tell her?) Instead he advises her to go visit the king. (Why? Strange scene.)
The queen goes to visit her husband. Together they reminisce about Yangnyeong's birth; "we lost numerous children before him and went though quite an ordeal before he came to us." They remember his happiness over the birth, and his certainty that the baby would grow up and rise to greatness. And he expresses regret for not remembering more of his other sons' childhoods and not being able to give more attention to them. And now they've grown up in an instant "and one of them is being called fit to be king." This statement concerns the queen: "What are you thinking right now? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" (What is she thinking?)
Chogungjang is before ex-king Jeongjong. "You've been out," he observes. He tells her that she doesn't look well, and follows that up with, "It's hard to look comfortable when you're guilty." Then he accuses her of being Min Muhyul's contact and spying on him for the Mins. She vigorously denies this, and feeds him a story about going to visit a school friend. What would I be doing with the Mins, she asks, and besides, you're the source of everything I have; why would I risk that?
Outside Jeongjang's palace, in the darkness, we see the ex-king meeting with Ok Hwan (!!!) and several of his men. He tells Ok to keep watching her and to find out what the Min clan is up to with her. Later, Foreman Jeon asks Ok why he didn't spill the beans about the crown prince. Ok says, not just yet; "Let us watch him gather strength" for the fight he thinks he's going to have. "And when he is good and ready, we'll put the sword in his hands."
In the darkness, the crown prince jumps over a wall and returns home...and runs smack dab into the queen, who's waiting for him.
Inside, Wongyeong is taking a switch to the back of her son's calves. The crown prince looks like a little kid wearing knickers, legs exposed and being disciplined by his mommy. "Feel the humiliation and remember it and never repeat your despicable acts again [or] you will live a lifetime of irrepressible shame." And she walks out. Outside, she nearly staggers to the ground; this has been terribly trying on her.
Back inside, the crown princess says she'll summon the royal physician. No, Yangnyeong says; have him make an herbal potion for the queen instead. "Her whippings don't hurt like they used to."
The next day: Choongnyeong, Shim On, Yun Hwe and Yi Su are outside playing gyeokbang, which is kind of a cross between croquet and golf. They make small talk as they play, but then Choongnyeong wonders aloud why Shim asked him to play. Eventually Shim asks the prince, "If you want to change the world, there will be many treacherous hills and valleys to conquer. Are you prepared to stick it out?" At first Choongnyeong seems to duck the question. "Gyeokbang is a fun game. Let's play again sometime." I'm not the best at it, he says, but "I think I can improve with your and my two masters' help." They read between the lines and are very happy with his seemingly innocuous answer. (Does this mean that Choongnyeong is thinking about the throne now?)
The king and ministers are meeting. Shim presents the proposal for the Ministry of Slavery Reparations; he explains that it's to get tax revenue for strengthening the national defense. Other ministers murmur, and PM Ha argues that there will be opposition from aristocrats who will supported Joseon's founding and will be angry.
Taejong and PM Ha are on the long bridge. I think it's a good idea, the king says. Ha says, "It's a fine idea, but their motive is elsewhere." Ha sees behind it a "seditious movement" in the court. Then what is your reason for opposing, the policy, the king asks. "Same as yours, your majesty"--to avoid any possibility of division among the ministers that could lead to the kind of bloodshed that occurred among past princes. "If you implement the policy," Ha counsels, "you must choose an impartial official to implement it."
Minister Hwang brings the proposal document to Shim and says the policy is good to go. But he advises Shim not to get drawn into "a futile fight." It's much more important to make sure that there's no more trouble with Ming, he says. "We don't have any time to waste fighting over the successor issue."
Ministers Shim and Park are talking; Shim asks Park if he can be appointed head of the new ministry. He also tells him not to bring the prince into this. "My only interest is in making the country a better place...and I'm certain my son-in-law Prince Choongnyeong shares that sentiment."
The king is sitting on his throne, alone except for his attendant. Hours go by and darkness comes; he sits thinking. The ministers aren't interested in good policy; they're angling for position. "After all, they better get on the right boat if they don't want to sink." Then he stands up and says with a determined glare, "I have no choice but to make a bold decision." He gets up and goes to the ancestral shrine.
The queen is told by her attendant where the king has gone at such a late hour, and that he went "to make a decision about his successor." Her eyes widen.
Taejong is bowing before the shrine...flashback to Yangnyeong talking back to the Ming envoy...flashback to Choongnyeong advising the king to show the people his support for them...flashback to Yangnyeong exhorting the people while leading the protest of scholars...flashback to Choongnyeong explaining to the Ming envoy the difficulty of meeting his requests....Taejong rises. "Who is the heir fit for the throne. Who must I choose to lead this country's future."
The queen wonders aloud, "Must he provoke this fight? Must he put swords in his sons' hands and watch them destroy each other?"
Taejong orders that the royal family be assembled the next morning. "I will rename the heir apparent of Joseon."