Post by ajk on Jun 17, 2008 15:10:44 GMT -5
"That is a royal prince?" Yi Chun has traveled to the north and has asked to see Choongnyeong. Um Jachi points him out among the local villagers boar-hunting in the woods. We see the group of the villagers examining their kill, Choongnyeong among them and fitting right in with the others. Yi is shocked. Just then, a hatchet comes whooshing through the air and thwacks a villager square in the chest. Then more hatchets, all from the west. And suddenly the woods are under attack from a horde of barbarians. Then, just as suddenly, arrows come flying from the east, and a different group rushes in brandishing swords to fight the barbarians. Instant chaos. The second group are apparently Joseonese soldiers, although not dressed as formally, and are led by a man identified to us as Choi Yundeok. "Run, you idiots!", he screams to the villagers. It's instant chaos; even Yi Chun jumps into it and pitches in. Choongnyeong just stands there watching it all. Eventually the barbarians lose ground and are driven off. But Choi does not order a pursuit. "Why aren't you going after them?", Yi angrily wants to know. Choi tells him, "That's enough for today." Yi persists. Choi wants to know who Yi is, this man who's trying to give him orders, and when Yi identifies himself, Choi tells him, "I don't give a hoot about your business, so stay out of my business." Then Choi starts roughing up the villagers who, we learn, started it all by crossing the state border (marked only by a small ribbon; who could tell?) and provoking the barbarians. Then he makes a comment about them needing to behave themselves because Gyeongsung is "my territory," while continuing to rough them up. He gets to Choongnyeong...and says, "Right, your highness?" And he walks away. So he knows who Choongnyeong is (which we were never sure of either way) and wasn't about to smack him.
We hear Yangnyeong's voice: "Gyeongsung is our outpost for the conquest." We see a flashback; the crown prince is watching military training and telling Yi Chun that he needs to visit the north and build "a strong encampment" for the advance guards.
"Take no pity! Seize everything!" Choi Yundeok and his troops are ransacking the village, taking possessions from the villagers--even livestock. Yi Chun sees this and is horrified that Choi has been "stuffing his belly in exchange for a bit of protection." And apparently this has been going on for two years. He asks Choongnyeong, Why didn't you alert the central government about this man's corruption? Amazingly, Choongnyeong says with an almost complete lack of concern, "Why should I do that?"
Flashback of the Mins telling Yi Chun to keep an eye on Choongnyeong while he's in the north, and "make sure he stays out of the public spotlight."
Choi Haesan, the weapons officer, has also come north and asks Yi Chun about Choongnyeong. Choi seems to be eager to see the prince again, but Yi dismisses that. "He doesn't deserve your time." And then to no one in particular: "Ministers are worried for nothing. Kingly material? He's not even princely material. Keep an eye on him for what?"
Gang Sangin, who's with Choongnyeong in the north, tells the prince not to go out hunting any more because of the danger. But the prince won't comply. "This is how people in Gyeongsung live to survive," he tells Gang. "And I'm one of them now."
We see Yangnyeong meeting with the secret group that we saw in the previous episode. Now it's time, he says, to secure funds for the Liaodong conquest. Everyone agrees that it's going to be a difficult job, especially since they need to keep it all a secret. Then Min Muhyul pipes up. "We can take the roundabout way, right? If there is a way to amass funds without mentioning the conquest, would you go that route?" (Of course he would.)
Yangnyeong makes an announcement to the ministers: "I am boldly abolishing the private land restriction policy." The ministers are shocked. (Presently, private ownership of land is restricted to Gyeonggi province, which is the province containing the capital city and its environs.) Huh Jo challenges him, boldly so for a newcomer. The prince fluffs him off and continues, explaining that land ownership will be eligible only those who "agree to pay taxes at a higher rate." And only to trusted people who "will not evade" the payment of taxes. Huh is suspicious of this and asks, "Who will determine who's worthy" to be eligible?" The prince tells him, just like a politician who won't give a straight answer to a question, that it won't be you "because your loyalty doesn't appear to be very deep." And he leaves.
Junior officials are discussing the announcement. Rich and powerful officials are going to fight for the acquisition rights to the best land, they believe, and isn't that part of what caused Goryeo to fall? Huh Jo is there and firmly says, "We have to step up and find away to stop this!" But Meng Sasung is completely passive and fatalistic about it: "There are things we can and cannot do." Apparently he's not much of a fighter.
Prime minister Yu goes to talk to minister Hwang: "Who do you think is controlling the crown prince from behind the curtains?" Hwang simply answers, "I'm sure your suspicions are similar to mine." Yu answers, "You went to great lengths to get the royal in-laws away from the crown prince. But I'm afraid it isn't working."
Park Eun and Jo Malseng are walking together. Park observes, "Things are getting very interesting." The king is trying centralize power, he observes, but the crown prince wants to release large amounts of land to retainers and pursue decentralization. "I'd say it's almost treasonous. Wouldn't you?" Jo sighs....
Evening at the archery grounds; Taejong is practicing. Jo is there and asks him to speak to his son about the policy change. "This isn't the crown prince's idea. He is being manipulated," argues Jo. But the king says "Let's leave it alone for now" since Yangnyeong been entrusted with making these kinds of state affairs decisions.
Min Muhyul and Min Muhwe are talking. They need to keep pushing and not relax now, they agree, because the new land policy "will buy us time to build our strength in the region and give us the power to keep him in check if he betrays his father after rising to the throne." So that's what they're up to.
Prince Kyoungnyeong and his mother Hyobin are before Yangnyeong, who puts an envelope in front of them. It's a deed to a house. Yangnyeong tells Kyoungnyeong that he wants him to leave the palace and move there. Hyobin objects, because it's against tradition for an unmarried prince. Yangnyeong's answer is that he knows of a prince who has it a lot worse (referring to Choongnyeong). "I'm being generous to you because you are my half-brother, so take it and go."
Yangnyeong is before the king, who tells him, "Rescind the order. It's wrong to cast off an unmarried younger brother." But the prince answers, "I'm just following your example" and am making an example of Kyoungnyeong since he sought my power. (How did he know that?) "It is the nature of men to seek power if you give them room," he continues. "I will nip it in the bud before it grows. Then at least I can avoid the tragedy of having to kill my own brother."
Hyobin is sobbing into the king's lap. "How can you be so cruel? Don't you feel sorry for Kyoungnyeong?" But the king only tells her, "Let [the crown prince] have his way this once." So he's going along with it.
Kyoungnyeong says goodbye to his mother; she can't even look at him. "Don't you resent me" for this agony, she asks. He isn't all that bothered, though. "It's not a great agony, mother." He promises to visit often, and then bows and leaves as tears stream down Hyobin's eyes.
Hyobin turns to go back home, rounds a corner and encounters the queen. "I will check on Kyoungnyeong in the next few days," the queen says. Hyobin answers, "Thank you for your concern. I will pay you back for your kindness one day, your grace." She bows and leaves, her temporarily suppressed anger again visible on her face. The queen, though, seemed sincere and genuinely concerned (although that's just my reading of her.)
Hwang goes to see Yangnyeong; he isn't happy. "I thought you didn't like the kings way," he tells the prince, "but you are acting just like him." Hwang is obviously ready to deliver quite a lecture to his pupil, and he starts in on it: "First, you cannot abolish the land restrictions...You must be aware of those who are trying to exploit them for political gain." But Yangnyeong is completely unconcerned, and almost brazen. They vowed their lives to me, he says, "And they don't have any ulterior motive. All they want is to serve me." Hwang tells him, "How I wish that was. But the world is not that kind." The prince then explains, "I don't trust anyone anymore, except those who swear absolute loyalty to me." Then he shows a lingering resentment by commenting about people "...saying that another prince is better suited forth the crown than I am." After venting some more, he simply gets up and walks out. No more lecture.
Hwang is summoned before the king. "Who is it?", Taejong wants to know. "Who is controlling the crown prince? The royal in-laws?" Hwang looks down and away, saying nothing.
"Lead the way," Yangnyeong tells his eunuch. "We're going to Jang-Dong." It's nighttime; they walk to a building somewhere and he goes inside. Auri is there. He's clearly been here before, and not just once. Sensing that something's wrong, he asks her what it is....
Gim Hanlo is alone outside, pacing. Then who should walk up to him but his daughter the crown princess, with her retinue. Gim tells her to go back to the palace. The princess is angry and hurt. "How could you, father? What father in the world would be so cruel to his own daughter." But Gim tells her that he'll have many consorts later when he becomes king, so you must "learn to control your jealousy." (Not sure where this takes place, but wherever it is, Gim is apparently complicit in Yangnyeong's encounter with Auri.)
Back inside: Auri wants to end their relationship. But the prince tells her, "Whatever you think this is, I will decide to end it. Anyone who turns his or her back on me will not be forgotten." It may sound like a threat, but it's not delivered with much force and it doesn't faze her. "My mind is made up," she says. Yangnyeong rolls his eyes. "I hate it when women complain. What do you want?" But she doesn't want anything for herself. She says she's concerned now that he's handling so many state affairs and so much more scrutiny will be upon him. "They'll say that you are an ignoble man who coveted a servant's wench. I don't want that infamy on you." And she picks up her things and starts towards the door. He gets up and gently grabs her shoulders from behind. "I don't make requests. I issue orders. You're going to be here for me." Again, sounds tough but not delivered with any force. I can't treat you as "my woman" for now, he says (I guess meaning as a consort.) But it's comfortable here, so stay here for now (apparently he's providing her with this place to live). "Just suck it up and I will do the same." He hugs her, and we can see that he shows genuine tenderness and concern for her. "Won't you do that for me?" They embrace. But as we see Auri's face, she shows no emotion and in fact has a calculating, manipulative look in her eye. She's playing him, and doing it expertly.
A little boy is throwing toy arrows at a big pot. It's Choongnyeong's and princess Shim's son Hyang (the future king Munjong). He and his older sister are playing with Yi Sun, who's come to visit. She tells their mother that she enjoys coming to pitch in and try to help fill the void of their father's absence a bit. "The kids clamor for you when it starts to get dark," the princess tells her, "and I'm grateful that you are trying to fill their father's place." Then Sun tells her, "You're strange. Both you and prince Choongnyeong don't act like lords and ladies. The other lords and ladies don't say things like 'It's okay' or 'I'm sorry' to their servants." But you do. I'm sure that Choongnyeong is doing fine, she tells the princess, "by spreading such kindness to the people around him." The princess is deeply touched by the kind words. And we can see that Sun is good with the kids.
Back in the north: Jang Youngsil has also come north with the weapons officers. He encounters Choongnyeong, who barely acknowledges him as he rides off on a horse. Um Jachi is there and tells Jang that he's not going anywhere in particular, probably just trying to "shake off rage and attachment." The prince rides off...flashback to Ep27; Jang Youngsil cynically telling him, "Don't pretend like you care so much about the people. Kill or be killed; that's life. Struggling isn't going to change that."
Jang is talking to Choi Haesan. "I overstepped my bounds a while back and gave him a lecture...And he is doing just what I told him to do. No struggling, no trying to change the world. Just subsisting, going with the flow." Choi listens, and then tells Yang that The two of you have a "special connection. You come from completely different worlds and act so very different, but I feel you're so much alike."
Nighttime: Choongnyeong is next to his horse, sitting alone in the dark woods. He notices a group approaching. It's soldiers led by Choi Yundeok. They're approaching the border area, where we see a group of barbarians awaiting. They're led by a man identified as Tongfancha. We see the items seized from the villagers passed through the border fence and apparently given to the barbarians. Yi Chun is secretly watching this unfold; he also spots Choongnyeong watching.
Then a scene of a secret negotiation, with Choi on one side of the table and a barbarian named Tongmingge on the other. We're thrown into the middle of something here and it isn't entirely clear what's going on, but the barbarians are apparently angry because Choi closed an "exchange" of some sort (a trading post?), and Choi is angry because the barbarians have allied themselves with Ming (which they claim they had little choice in) and are paying tribute to Ming. The seized items are indeed gifts of some sort (bribes?). Then Choi says "I'll talk to the court again, so be patient." (Choi talking to the court? Is it a con, or can he really talk to the court? Obviously we have a lot to learn about this situation.)
Yi Chun is waiting for Choi as he returns. "Where did you go at this late hour?", he wants to know. "I know you're secretly communicating with the barbarians!" Choi nearly laughs him off, telling him, You have no proof. "How do you know I wasn't there to sabotage them? Stop wasting my time and take all your goons back to the capital city." Sorry, Yi tells him, but "You're the one gong back to the capital city." And orders soldiers to arrest him.
The next morning, Yi and his soldiers leave a building, escorting a tied-up Choi Yundeok. A prisoner wagon awaits out front...but it's surrounded by angry villagers brandishing spears. They're actually trying to keep Choi from being taken! Yi is aghast. "How can you defend him after all his plundering?" But the villagers act like no such thing ever happened. "What do you think he took from us?", one woman tells him. This makes absolutely no sense.
"I need your testimony. The people are perjuring themselves." Yi Chun is trying to get Choongnyeong to help take action against Choi. Amazingly, Choongnyeong asks with cynicism in his voice, "Why should I do this?" Yi has to remind him that Choi is a general who is conspiring with an enemy. "It is a matter of national defense. You must report his." Then he goes further, and probably not wisely so: "It's in your best interest as well" because it could "open up a chance for you to return to the capital city." The prince repeats that last part, and then abruptly says, "Please leave. I know nothing about this." And even tells Gang Sangin, who's with him, to escort Yi out.
Outside, Yi tells Gang that he must help persuade the prince. "I don't think I will," Gang answers. You must, Yi tells him; it's your duty. "You're a soldier, yet you have no concern for the safety of our borders." But Gang's surprising answer is that "It was my judgment as a soldier. Gyeongsung province needs Choi Yundeok. You'll learn why soon enough." (Wow--what is that about?)
Choi is inspecting border barricades, quite diligently, being firm with his men about maintaining solid barricades. He sees Choongnyeong, who's come there for some unspecified reason. "Thank you," he tells the prince. "I owe you big, your highness." For what, asks the prince, for not getting you fired? "Well, I guess you can say that, too." The prince asks him, "Why do you do this? You do all this work and now one appreciates you. You're always misunderstood, and problems are endless." But Choi answers, "The people appreciate me. Misunderstandings will clear up eventually, and problems just have to be solved." And he goes back to his inspection. (This is all very strange.)
Yangnyeong is with the Mins, reading a letter from Yi Chun. He's requesting additional cannons to strengthen the northern border. "I guess you were right," he says to them, "when you said the budget was our biggest problem." Then Muhwe produces a small chest and opens it; it's full of silver pieces. "It's a token of loyalty. Please do not refuse."
Yi Sun is outside and sees Granny Cowsears walking purposefully. She calls out to the old woman but apparently isn't heard, and the woman disappears around a corner.
"Yeoju? The vanished nursemaid is living in Yeoju?" Granny Cowsears has accomplished the task that Hyobin asked her for in Ep21; to find the nursemaid who was present years ago when Hyobin's house was set on fire and she and her baby prince Kyoungnyeong were targeted for assassination. "Who were those trying to kill me and my baby?", Hyobin is desperate to learn, "The Min clan?" The old woman hands her a paper and tells her, "The details are in this report." "At last," Hyobin says, "the queen will cry blood tears." Standing around the corner, Yi Sun has been listening...
...and she goes to the queen and tells her about it. Sun couldn't hear every word of it, but tells her what she did hear. And she asks, "Why does this put you in danger?" The queen leaves quickly without giving an answer. Outside she meets Min Muhwe, whom she had summoned, and tells him, "There's no time for details. Send your men to Yeoju at once."
We see troops arrive in Yeoju, led by Min Muhyul, and in the middle of the night they grab the nursemaid from her home. But then a second group of troops shows up! What's going on? Muhyul demands an explanation, and suddenly we see prince Kyoungnyeong. Gim Jongsuh is there too, and they tell Muhyul that it’s the king’s order for them to bring the nursemaid to him, and that they’re authorized to kill anyone who interferes. (What’s not clear from all this, but what must be implied, is that Hyobin went to the king and got him to take action, and his action was just in time to stop the nursemaid from being seized and killed, which the Min troops would certainly have done.)
The nursemaid is brought before the king. She's trembling visibly. The king asks her, "Is it true that the Min clan paid you to kill Kyoungnyeong?" "No, your majesty. The person that gave me the order was...it was...the queen." The king is dumbfounded.
We hear Yangnyeong's voice: "Gyeongsung is our outpost for the conquest." We see a flashback; the crown prince is watching military training and telling Yi Chun that he needs to visit the north and build "a strong encampment" for the advance guards.
"Take no pity! Seize everything!" Choi Yundeok and his troops are ransacking the village, taking possessions from the villagers--even livestock. Yi Chun sees this and is horrified that Choi has been "stuffing his belly in exchange for a bit of protection." And apparently this has been going on for two years. He asks Choongnyeong, Why didn't you alert the central government about this man's corruption? Amazingly, Choongnyeong says with an almost complete lack of concern, "Why should I do that?"
Flashback of the Mins telling Yi Chun to keep an eye on Choongnyeong while he's in the north, and "make sure he stays out of the public spotlight."
Choi Haesan, the weapons officer, has also come north and asks Yi Chun about Choongnyeong. Choi seems to be eager to see the prince again, but Yi dismisses that. "He doesn't deserve your time." And then to no one in particular: "Ministers are worried for nothing. Kingly material? He's not even princely material. Keep an eye on him for what?"
Gang Sangin, who's with Choongnyeong in the north, tells the prince not to go out hunting any more because of the danger. But the prince won't comply. "This is how people in Gyeongsung live to survive," he tells Gang. "And I'm one of them now."
We see Yangnyeong meeting with the secret group that we saw in the previous episode. Now it's time, he says, to secure funds for the Liaodong conquest. Everyone agrees that it's going to be a difficult job, especially since they need to keep it all a secret. Then Min Muhyul pipes up. "We can take the roundabout way, right? If there is a way to amass funds without mentioning the conquest, would you go that route?" (Of course he would.)
Yangnyeong makes an announcement to the ministers: "I am boldly abolishing the private land restriction policy." The ministers are shocked. (Presently, private ownership of land is restricted to Gyeonggi province, which is the province containing the capital city and its environs.) Huh Jo challenges him, boldly so for a newcomer. The prince fluffs him off and continues, explaining that land ownership will be eligible only those who "agree to pay taxes at a higher rate." And only to trusted people who "will not evade" the payment of taxes. Huh is suspicious of this and asks, "Who will determine who's worthy" to be eligible?" The prince tells him, just like a politician who won't give a straight answer to a question, that it won't be you "because your loyalty doesn't appear to be very deep." And he leaves.
Junior officials are discussing the announcement. Rich and powerful officials are going to fight for the acquisition rights to the best land, they believe, and isn't that part of what caused Goryeo to fall? Huh Jo is there and firmly says, "We have to step up and find away to stop this!" But Meng Sasung is completely passive and fatalistic about it: "There are things we can and cannot do." Apparently he's not much of a fighter.
Prime minister Yu goes to talk to minister Hwang: "Who do you think is controlling the crown prince from behind the curtains?" Hwang simply answers, "I'm sure your suspicions are similar to mine." Yu answers, "You went to great lengths to get the royal in-laws away from the crown prince. But I'm afraid it isn't working."
Park Eun and Jo Malseng are walking together. Park observes, "Things are getting very interesting." The king is trying centralize power, he observes, but the crown prince wants to release large amounts of land to retainers and pursue decentralization. "I'd say it's almost treasonous. Wouldn't you?" Jo sighs....
Evening at the archery grounds; Taejong is practicing. Jo is there and asks him to speak to his son about the policy change. "This isn't the crown prince's idea. He is being manipulated," argues Jo. But the king says "Let's leave it alone for now" since Yangnyeong been entrusted with making these kinds of state affairs decisions.
Min Muhyul and Min Muhwe are talking. They need to keep pushing and not relax now, they agree, because the new land policy "will buy us time to build our strength in the region and give us the power to keep him in check if he betrays his father after rising to the throne." So that's what they're up to.
Prince Kyoungnyeong and his mother Hyobin are before Yangnyeong, who puts an envelope in front of them. It's a deed to a house. Yangnyeong tells Kyoungnyeong that he wants him to leave the palace and move there. Hyobin objects, because it's against tradition for an unmarried prince. Yangnyeong's answer is that he knows of a prince who has it a lot worse (referring to Choongnyeong). "I'm being generous to you because you are my half-brother, so take it and go."
Yangnyeong is before the king, who tells him, "Rescind the order. It's wrong to cast off an unmarried younger brother." But the prince answers, "I'm just following your example" and am making an example of Kyoungnyeong since he sought my power. (How did he know that?) "It is the nature of men to seek power if you give them room," he continues. "I will nip it in the bud before it grows. Then at least I can avoid the tragedy of having to kill my own brother."
Hyobin is sobbing into the king's lap. "How can you be so cruel? Don't you feel sorry for Kyoungnyeong?" But the king only tells her, "Let [the crown prince] have his way this once." So he's going along with it.
Kyoungnyeong says goodbye to his mother; she can't even look at him. "Don't you resent me" for this agony, she asks. He isn't all that bothered, though. "It's not a great agony, mother." He promises to visit often, and then bows and leaves as tears stream down Hyobin's eyes.
Hyobin turns to go back home, rounds a corner and encounters the queen. "I will check on Kyoungnyeong in the next few days," the queen says. Hyobin answers, "Thank you for your concern. I will pay you back for your kindness one day, your grace." She bows and leaves, her temporarily suppressed anger again visible on her face. The queen, though, seemed sincere and genuinely concerned (although that's just my reading of her.)
Hwang goes to see Yangnyeong; he isn't happy. "I thought you didn't like the kings way," he tells the prince, "but you are acting just like him." Hwang is obviously ready to deliver quite a lecture to his pupil, and he starts in on it: "First, you cannot abolish the land restrictions...You must be aware of those who are trying to exploit them for political gain." But Yangnyeong is completely unconcerned, and almost brazen. They vowed their lives to me, he says, "And they don't have any ulterior motive. All they want is to serve me." Hwang tells him, "How I wish that was. But the world is not that kind." The prince then explains, "I don't trust anyone anymore, except those who swear absolute loyalty to me." Then he shows a lingering resentment by commenting about people "...saying that another prince is better suited forth the crown than I am." After venting some more, he simply gets up and walks out. No more lecture.
Hwang is summoned before the king. "Who is it?", Taejong wants to know. "Who is controlling the crown prince? The royal in-laws?" Hwang looks down and away, saying nothing.
"Lead the way," Yangnyeong tells his eunuch. "We're going to Jang-Dong." It's nighttime; they walk to a building somewhere and he goes inside. Auri is there. He's clearly been here before, and not just once. Sensing that something's wrong, he asks her what it is....
Gim Hanlo is alone outside, pacing. Then who should walk up to him but his daughter the crown princess, with her retinue. Gim tells her to go back to the palace. The princess is angry and hurt. "How could you, father? What father in the world would be so cruel to his own daughter." But Gim tells her that he'll have many consorts later when he becomes king, so you must "learn to control your jealousy." (Not sure where this takes place, but wherever it is, Gim is apparently complicit in Yangnyeong's encounter with Auri.)
Back inside: Auri wants to end their relationship. But the prince tells her, "Whatever you think this is, I will decide to end it. Anyone who turns his or her back on me will not be forgotten." It may sound like a threat, but it's not delivered with much force and it doesn't faze her. "My mind is made up," she says. Yangnyeong rolls his eyes. "I hate it when women complain. What do you want?" But she doesn't want anything for herself. She says she's concerned now that he's handling so many state affairs and so much more scrutiny will be upon him. "They'll say that you are an ignoble man who coveted a servant's wench. I don't want that infamy on you." And she picks up her things and starts towards the door. He gets up and gently grabs her shoulders from behind. "I don't make requests. I issue orders. You're going to be here for me." Again, sounds tough but not delivered with any force. I can't treat you as "my woman" for now, he says (I guess meaning as a consort.) But it's comfortable here, so stay here for now (apparently he's providing her with this place to live). "Just suck it up and I will do the same." He hugs her, and we can see that he shows genuine tenderness and concern for her. "Won't you do that for me?" They embrace. But as we see Auri's face, she shows no emotion and in fact has a calculating, manipulative look in her eye. She's playing him, and doing it expertly.
A little boy is throwing toy arrows at a big pot. It's Choongnyeong's and princess Shim's son Hyang (the future king Munjong). He and his older sister are playing with Yi Sun, who's come to visit. She tells their mother that she enjoys coming to pitch in and try to help fill the void of their father's absence a bit. "The kids clamor for you when it starts to get dark," the princess tells her, "and I'm grateful that you are trying to fill their father's place." Then Sun tells her, "You're strange. Both you and prince Choongnyeong don't act like lords and ladies. The other lords and ladies don't say things like 'It's okay' or 'I'm sorry' to their servants." But you do. I'm sure that Choongnyeong is doing fine, she tells the princess, "by spreading such kindness to the people around him." The princess is deeply touched by the kind words. And we can see that Sun is good with the kids.
Back in the north: Jang Youngsil has also come north with the weapons officers. He encounters Choongnyeong, who barely acknowledges him as he rides off on a horse. Um Jachi is there and tells Jang that he's not going anywhere in particular, probably just trying to "shake off rage and attachment." The prince rides off...flashback to Ep27; Jang Youngsil cynically telling him, "Don't pretend like you care so much about the people. Kill or be killed; that's life. Struggling isn't going to change that."
Jang is talking to Choi Haesan. "I overstepped my bounds a while back and gave him a lecture...And he is doing just what I told him to do. No struggling, no trying to change the world. Just subsisting, going with the flow." Choi listens, and then tells Yang that The two of you have a "special connection. You come from completely different worlds and act so very different, but I feel you're so much alike."
Nighttime: Choongnyeong is next to his horse, sitting alone in the dark woods. He notices a group approaching. It's soldiers led by Choi Yundeok. They're approaching the border area, where we see a group of barbarians awaiting. They're led by a man identified as Tongfancha. We see the items seized from the villagers passed through the border fence and apparently given to the barbarians. Yi Chun is secretly watching this unfold; he also spots Choongnyeong watching.
Then a scene of a secret negotiation, with Choi on one side of the table and a barbarian named Tongmingge on the other. We're thrown into the middle of something here and it isn't entirely clear what's going on, but the barbarians are apparently angry because Choi closed an "exchange" of some sort (a trading post?), and Choi is angry because the barbarians have allied themselves with Ming (which they claim they had little choice in) and are paying tribute to Ming. The seized items are indeed gifts of some sort (bribes?). Then Choi says "I'll talk to the court again, so be patient." (Choi talking to the court? Is it a con, or can he really talk to the court? Obviously we have a lot to learn about this situation.)
Yi Chun is waiting for Choi as he returns. "Where did you go at this late hour?", he wants to know. "I know you're secretly communicating with the barbarians!" Choi nearly laughs him off, telling him, You have no proof. "How do you know I wasn't there to sabotage them? Stop wasting my time and take all your goons back to the capital city." Sorry, Yi tells him, but "You're the one gong back to the capital city." And orders soldiers to arrest him.
The next morning, Yi and his soldiers leave a building, escorting a tied-up Choi Yundeok. A prisoner wagon awaits out front...but it's surrounded by angry villagers brandishing spears. They're actually trying to keep Choi from being taken! Yi is aghast. "How can you defend him after all his plundering?" But the villagers act like no such thing ever happened. "What do you think he took from us?", one woman tells him. This makes absolutely no sense.
"I need your testimony. The people are perjuring themselves." Yi Chun is trying to get Choongnyeong to help take action against Choi. Amazingly, Choongnyeong asks with cynicism in his voice, "Why should I do this?" Yi has to remind him that Choi is a general who is conspiring with an enemy. "It is a matter of national defense. You must report his." Then he goes further, and probably not wisely so: "It's in your best interest as well" because it could "open up a chance for you to return to the capital city." The prince repeats that last part, and then abruptly says, "Please leave. I know nothing about this." And even tells Gang Sangin, who's with him, to escort Yi out.
Outside, Yi tells Gang that he must help persuade the prince. "I don't think I will," Gang answers. You must, Yi tells him; it's your duty. "You're a soldier, yet you have no concern for the safety of our borders." But Gang's surprising answer is that "It was my judgment as a soldier. Gyeongsung province needs Choi Yundeok. You'll learn why soon enough." (Wow--what is that about?)
Choi is inspecting border barricades, quite diligently, being firm with his men about maintaining solid barricades. He sees Choongnyeong, who's come there for some unspecified reason. "Thank you," he tells the prince. "I owe you big, your highness." For what, asks the prince, for not getting you fired? "Well, I guess you can say that, too." The prince asks him, "Why do you do this? You do all this work and now one appreciates you. You're always misunderstood, and problems are endless." But Choi answers, "The people appreciate me. Misunderstandings will clear up eventually, and problems just have to be solved." And he goes back to his inspection. (This is all very strange.)
Yangnyeong is with the Mins, reading a letter from Yi Chun. He's requesting additional cannons to strengthen the northern border. "I guess you were right," he says to them, "when you said the budget was our biggest problem." Then Muhwe produces a small chest and opens it; it's full of silver pieces. "It's a token of loyalty. Please do not refuse."
Yi Sun is outside and sees Granny Cowsears walking purposefully. She calls out to the old woman but apparently isn't heard, and the woman disappears around a corner.
"Yeoju? The vanished nursemaid is living in Yeoju?" Granny Cowsears has accomplished the task that Hyobin asked her for in Ep21; to find the nursemaid who was present years ago when Hyobin's house was set on fire and she and her baby prince Kyoungnyeong were targeted for assassination. "Who were those trying to kill me and my baby?", Hyobin is desperate to learn, "The Min clan?" The old woman hands her a paper and tells her, "The details are in this report." "At last," Hyobin says, "the queen will cry blood tears." Standing around the corner, Yi Sun has been listening...
...and she goes to the queen and tells her about it. Sun couldn't hear every word of it, but tells her what she did hear. And she asks, "Why does this put you in danger?" The queen leaves quickly without giving an answer. Outside she meets Min Muhwe, whom she had summoned, and tells him, "There's no time for details. Send your men to Yeoju at once."
We see troops arrive in Yeoju, led by Min Muhyul, and in the middle of the night they grab the nursemaid from her home. But then a second group of troops shows up! What's going on? Muhyul demands an explanation, and suddenly we see prince Kyoungnyeong. Gim Jongsuh is there too, and they tell Muhyul that it’s the king’s order for them to bring the nursemaid to him, and that they’re authorized to kill anyone who interferes. (What’s not clear from all this, but what must be implied, is that Hyobin went to the king and got him to take action, and his action was just in time to stop the nursemaid from being seized and killed, which the Min troops would certainly have done.)
The nursemaid is brought before the king. She's trembling visibly. The king asks her, "Is it true that the Min clan paid you to kill Kyoungnyeong?" "No, your majesty. The person that gave me the order was...it was...the queen." The king is dumbfounded.