Post by ajk on Sept 9, 2008 15:31:13 GMT -5
Jo Malseng and Hwang Hee are eating together in Hwang's cottage. They trade polite sympathies over each other's difficult lives. Then Jo tells Hwang about Sejong's desire for a national calendar science.
Sejong and his advisers continue to discuss bringing Hwang into the government. Jeong Inji and Choi Manli don't like it. Jeong argues that Sejong should "pick up his sword instead"; Choi tells him that "We don't need anyone to contend with Jo Malseng; just remove him." Sejong listens to them and in spite of it says he'll have a talk with Hwang.
"How has prince Yangnyeong fared lately?" Jo hits Hwang with a wild question. (Remember, Hwang had aggressively backed Yangnyeong for the throne when Yangnyeong was in the final stages of self-destructing.) "I'm a humble farmer," Hwang answers; "How could I know the welfare of royalty?" Then Hwang asks him, "Do you want a compliant king?" "I want a king who's good for the country," Jo answers. "Selecting a new king is the only way." Hwang chuckles, but Jo complains about Sejong's "childish pride ruin[ing] the country."
Outside of Hwang's cottage, we see prince Kyoungnyeong--he's listening!
"Selecting a new king?!" Kyoungnyeong has returned and reported his findings to Taejong. The former king is understandably angry that Jo wants "a new king to suit his taste."
Hwang ties hay into a bundle; inside it are some fresh eggs from his chickens for Jo. He gives Jo the eggs, but as for what Jo really wants, "it's not something an old farmer can help you with." Jo says he won't take no for an answer--"I'll see you again soon"--but when he walks away he mutters, "Hwang Hee...I'm wasting my time." And he throws the eggs away.
That evening: Taejong presents Park Sil with a written order. "Arrest Jo Malseng now," he tells Park. And I'll make you next minister of military. Park is shocked. "On what grounds?" "High treason. Get it done tonight."
Soldiers surround and detain Jo Malseng as he returns. Park Sil is there and tells him why they're there.
Still that evening: Jo is brought before Taejong. But he's not under arrest. Why not? Park tells Taejong that he could find no evidence to support the treason charge. Taejong is aghast: "Who told you to judge? I am the one who makes decisions!" But Park refuses to arrest Jo. So Taejong tells Yi Sunmong to arrest him, but Yi won't do it either. Jo tells the ex-king, "I'm still your faithful retainer and I offer my earnest counsel. You held on control of the military too long...and it is you who ordered us to keep the king in check...It is not I but the king who is putting the country in danger for challenging the Ming emperor...You are the king's father. Your sword should be aimed only at the enemies of this state." Who is the enemy right now?, Jo asks. "Now we shall retire and await your order." They all leave. Taejong staggers from weakness, and then starts laughing like he's cracking up --and then starts crying. And then he pulls himself back together.
Yun Hwe reports the events to Sejong. Then Yi Su comes in. ""it's trouble, your majesty."
We see ministers leaving the palace offices. They're carrying their things and walking right out the door. Sejong confronts Yu Jeonghyun and Huh Jo: "What is the meaning of this?" "As you can see," Yu tells the king, "we are vacating the conference hall." Even the threat of death doesn't deter them; they cynically say, "Of course he will go to his father about this." Yu tells Sejong, "No one will be loyal to a king who tries to wield his sword by hiding behind his father, no mater how angry he is about the disagreeing ministers."
At the Hall of Worthies, the scholars realize that Sejong can't just fire and replace the ministers because the regional government officials who are loyal to them would resign en masse. This could lead to governmental paralysis--with Malseng in control of the military. Yikes.
Sejong asks Choi Yundeok for his opinion of Jo. Surprisingly, Choi tells him that the military ministry has "never had a more competent leader in the last twenty years." Wise appointments, fairness in leadership, and he's shown the compassion to use his own money to help out families of soldiers stationed far away. Then Sejong asks, "What's the possibility that he is plotting high treason?" Choi doesn't know but tells him that Jo hasn't tried to rile up the soldiers.
At the astronomy bureau: Yi Chun and Choi Haesan are talking; Yi concludes that Sejong has to give up the calendar project. Then he tells Jang Youngsil not to encourage the king any further on it. Jang gets angry and walks out...He turns a corner...and runs into princes Hyang and Suyang. They want Jang to show them the constellations again.
Female attendants are running around the palace in a panic. The queen is there and walks up to escort Han, who tells her, "He said he would have the palace searched for you." But the queen is worried because they haven't been seen in two hours. ("They" presumably meaning her sons.)
Sejong is meeting with Yun Hwe and Yi Su in the throne room. The queen barges in unannounced. "Please clear the room for a moment." Sejong tells her that this isn't a good time, but the queen angrily says, "I sent you word that the boys are missing." Yun and Yi wisely leave. "Please go back to your chambers and wait," Sejong tells his wife; "They're kids; they couldn't have gone far." The queen is very worried because of what's been happening; what if the military hurts our children out of spite? Sejong accuses her of overreacting, but Soheon shoots back, "Do you blame me? This is the royal palace." Please go, Sejong tells her, but she presses him and wants him to act. He loses patience and tells her to do it: "What else do you have to do other than taking care of the children?" Her eyes widen. Then Jachi comes in and announces that the boys are back.
Sejong questions his sons about why they left the palace without permission. They need to be disciplined, he says. "This isn't fair," Suyang complains; they just wanted to see Jongdaebu (the constellation that we've learned can only be seen in Joseon). Then the two boys go back and forth, with Hyang finally telling his brother that their father "can't rule the sky even though he's the king. And it's my fault (because he spilled the beans about the calendar science to his grandfather). It's all my fault!" And he runs outside.
Sejong comes outside and sits with his son to try to comfort him. The boy is sorry for what happened, but Sejong tells him that "the sky wasn't mine to begin with. It doesn't belong to any one person. It belongs to anyone who lives under the sky." "So many owners," the boy says; "Then why do people say it belongs to one person?" "I don't know," Sejong answers. "I can't figure that out either."
Jeong Inji and Choi Manli have come to see Hwang Hee. They're trying to sell him on what Sejong is trying to accomplish. Joseon's sky belongs to Joseon's people, they argue, so Joseon's people should have their own method of deciphering it. Then Sejong shows up; they're surprised to see him, and not in a good way. "We were just passing by," they meekly claim, lying and doing a lousy job at it. Sejong and Hwang go into Hwang's cottage and sit. Sejong hands Hwang a book he's brought for him and asks him to read it. It's called "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage." "A busy farmer hardly finds time to read," Hwang tells him. Sejong says he understands and gets up to leave. But on the way out he turns back and says, "I like our farmers to be relaxed, not busy. I believe having our own calendar science can make our farmers less busy. What is your opinion? I hope you will share your valuable insight with me next time I'm here." "Next time?", Hwang asks. The king tells him, "The story tells you to try at least three times." Sejong leaves, and Hwang looks back at the book.
Sejong is walking back home with Choi Manli and Jeong Inji behind him. "What should I do with you?", he asks them; "Charge you with high treason? You had a secret meeting with my political enemy." After scaring the scholars, he turns and smiles. "Thank you. I'm sure it wasn't easy for you." They apologize to the king but explain, "We couldn't judge him based on his reputation alone. That would have made us no better than the ministers who oppose for opposition's sake." Sejong tells them, "I still feel like Hwang Hee might be my biggest political enemy yet."
Taejong is in bed; Hyobin has just told him about the striking ministers...Flashback to Taejong's argument with Shim on in Ep40; Shim On telling Taejong that "You must allow the king to rule the country in his own way"...Flashback ending, Taejong reawakens and realizes, "The sword was my only source of power, but I cut off my own limbs with that sword. And now my own men have turned against me. Is this what you call falling into your own trap?" He sits up, even though Hyobin begs him not to, and tells the royal physician, who's been in the room with him, "Get me my medicine!" But not the usual stuff; he wants different medicine: "the real stuff that will extend my life." He has to clean up the mess: "I need to live another ten, no another five years will do." Then he lays down again and tells Hyobin, "Perhaps I should have retired when they said I should have." Then I wouldn't have turned the entire military into my son's enemy." He's making himself miserable with second-guessing. "I have to live. I can't die until Jo Malseng and his men, those bastards who are trying to control the royal house, are destroyed. My soul will not be able to rest in peace until then." Hyobin has heard enough and snaps at the physician, "What are you waiting for? You heard the order! He is not ready to die, so extend his life! Find the fountain of youth if you have to! If you fail, you will die." The physician grovels, then bows and leaves. Outside, princes Hyoryeong and Kyoungnyeong have been listening; this is the first they've heard of Taejong's illness. Kyoungnyeong walks out....
Yun Hwe is with Sejong in the throne room. "Can you give up on having your own calendar science?", Yun asks. "If you will not give up, first you must distinguish yourself. Go to the king father and ask him to let it be known that you had nothing to do with his attack on Jo Malseng." Then Kyoungnyeong barges in. "You call that earnest counsel?" To Sejong, "We need to talk privately."
"You must strike Jo Malseng at once," Kyoungnyeong tells Sejong in private. "Charge him with treason." Sejong has to explain to his half-brother that Jo controls the military and that even if a strike force could be assembled, "I cannot go to war against the soldiers who protect my people." That's not good enough for Kyoungnyeong, who challenges Sejong: "Are you sure you won't regret letting him die without retribution when his most trusted subject has stabbed him in the back?" Sejong says, What do you mean, let him die?
The next day: Taejong is at the archery ground, but he's just sitting, not shooting. Hyoryeong comes to pay him a visit and cheer him up; Why don't we shoot a round, he says. But Taejong isn't strong enough for any such thing. He covers it up by telling his son, "You're no match for me. Go see your mother if you have nothing to do." He stands up and leaves, slowly and shakily. From a distance, we see Sejong and Kyoungnyeong; the prince has brought the king to observe their father. Sejong realizes that his father isn't even strong enough to shoot an arrow any more.
Sejong goes back to his quarters and tries to absorb everything. He sits for hours...as day turns into night...then arises and goes to his father's home. "How is he?" he asks the physician. "I don't know about this," he tells the physician (as in, Don't tell anybody that I know). Then he goes in and sits next to his sleeping father for a bit. He leaves, and Taejong awakens--and clenches his fist just a bit. Did he know his son was there?
We see some of the Hall of Worthies scholars trying to take care of some routine government work for a diplomatic mission. "How does it look?", Yun Hwe asks. "Can we send the envoys on time?" But it's not looking promising, because the scholars aren't familiar with this kind of work.
The striking ministers are celebrating at a gisaeng house. "The king must give up this calendar science nonsense," Jo tells Yu. "And the king's father must relinquish his right to military control and retire completely. Until these two conditions are met, we will not be going back to work."
Yun Hwe is complaining to Sejong: "How much longer are they going to carry on with their audacious bullying of the king and now the king's father?" A frustrated Sejong walks out.
Evening: Hwang Hee is working outside his cottage. He looks up and is surprised to see Sejong standing before him. The king has been drinking--a lot. "I'm gong to have to kill you," he tells Hwang, "and next is Jo Malseng...If anyone dare hurts my father and patronizes him, I'll stop at nothing to destroy that person...I intend to kill everyone who dare challenges my royal authority...This country belongs not to the people but to the king and the royal house. So do not resist. Obey and agree unconditionally!" Bizarre talk--what's he getting at? He explains it to Hwang: "Could you accept a king who asserts this?" "It would be difficult," Hwang answers. The king says, "But you won't do anything about it either, will you, because you're sick of politics." "Probably not." "That's why you are Joseon's biggest enemy. Because inaction is worse than opposition!" It's an interesting point, all the more impressive given his wicked buzz. He turns to leave, and then staggers. "I guess I ruined everything," he says. "This is not how 'Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage' is done." He totters away with an attendant's help. Hwang watches him leave. Then he turns around, and there's Taejong standing there (surprising the heck out of us).
Hwang bows humbly. Taejong looks happy to see Hwang. They sit and talk. Taejong observes, "I made him king but didn't give him control of the military because I didn't trust him completely, but I see now that he's got what it takes...I need you to help my son now. Actually you might work better with him than you ever did with me." Hwang tries to interrupt but Taejong shushes him and continues. "Don't pay attention to what he said tonight. He didn't mean it. He's just feeling sorry for his dying father, that is all." Hwang is stunned by that last sentence: "Your eminence, what do you mean?" "It happens," he answers dryly. Hwang kneels and tells him "You will be just fine," but Taejong wants none of it: "Stop that. Stop putting your hopes on the hopeless. I'll send you a courtiers' robe tomorrow." But Hwang tells him he won't comply: "I don't deserve to return to service." Is it because you regret supporting Yangnyeong?, Taejong asks. No, I have no regrets, even though Yangnyeong was like a son to me. "But I am contrite. Politicians are not to let their feelings distort their judgment on anything, much less selecting the next king. I deeply thank you for thinking of me, your eminence. But I am not worthy." "I guess I have no choice. You're so stubborn." "Forgive me." Taejong rises to leave, "But I will say this. I know you protected Yangnyeong and backed him up, but you were always correcting him and challenging him in his decisions. He was young and you loved him, but Yangnyeong was not your son. He was your master. So he is responsible for what happened to him, not you." It seems to register with Hwang just a bit. Taejong continues, "I am asking you in earnest to give Doe a chance. I know the king better than anyone. After all, I am his father. He's not like me or like Yangnyeong. He knows how to appreciate people, and most importantly he's wonderfully open-minded. Don't let the king be alone for too long," he says, and then walks away, leaving Hwang alone.
The next day: Look who's walking into the palace, wearing a blue robe: It's Hwang Hee. Sejong is standing at the palace steps to greet him. They smile at each other. "A busy farmer's life became too much for me," Hwang says. "Did you say you wanted to make the farmers less busy? Then you must rule the skies of Joseon." "You are right," Sejong answers, "but I know that the king's master is the people of the land." "That is correct too, your majesty." Hwang chuckles and they ascend the palace steps together like good buddies.
Sejong and his advisers continue to discuss bringing Hwang into the government. Jeong Inji and Choi Manli don't like it. Jeong argues that Sejong should "pick up his sword instead"; Choi tells him that "We don't need anyone to contend with Jo Malseng; just remove him." Sejong listens to them and in spite of it says he'll have a talk with Hwang.
"How has prince Yangnyeong fared lately?" Jo hits Hwang with a wild question. (Remember, Hwang had aggressively backed Yangnyeong for the throne when Yangnyeong was in the final stages of self-destructing.) "I'm a humble farmer," Hwang answers; "How could I know the welfare of royalty?" Then Hwang asks him, "Do you want a compliant king?" "I want a king who's good for the country," Jo answers. "Selecting a new king is the only way." Hwang chuckles, but Jo complains about Sejong's "childish pride ruin[ing] the country."
Outside of Hwang's cottage, we see prince Kyoungnyeong--he's listening!
"Selecting a new king?!" Kyoungnyeong has returned and reported his findings to Taejong. The former king is understandably angry that Jo wants "a new king to suit his taste."
Hwang ties hay into a bundle; inside it are some fresh eggs from his chickens for Jo. He gives Jo the eggs, but as for what Jo really wants, "it's not something an old farmer can help you with." Jo says he won't take no for an answer--"I'll see you again soon"--but when he walks away he mutters, "Hwang Hee...I'm wasting my time." And he throws the eggs away.
That evening: Taejong presents Park Sil with a written order. "Arrest Jo Malseng now," he tells Park. And I'll make you next minister of military. Park is shocked. "On what grounds?" "High treason. Get it done tonight."
Soldiers surround and detain Jo Malseng as he returns. Park Sil is there and tells him why they're there.
Still that evening: Jo is brought before Taejong. But he's not under arrest. Why not? Park tells Taejong that he could find no evidence to support the treason charge. Taejong is aghast: "Who told you to judge? I am the one who makes decisions!" But Park refuses to arrest Jo. So Taejong tells Yi Sunmong to arrest him, but Yi won't do it either. Jo tells the ex-king, "I'm still your faithful retainer and I offer my earnest counsel. You held on control of the military too long...and it is you who ordered us to keep the king in check...It is not I but the king who is putting the country in danger for challenging the Ming emperor...You are the king's father. Your sword should be aimed only at the enemies of this state." Who is the enemy right now?, Jo asks. "Now we shall retire and await your order." They all leave. Taejong staggers from weakness, and then starts laughing like he's cracking up --and then starts crying. And then he pulls himself back together.
Yun Hwe reports the events to Sejong. Then Yi Su comes in. ""it's trouble, your majesty."
We see ministers leaving the palace offices. They're carrying their things and walking right out the door. Sejong confronts Yu Jeonghyun and Huh Jo: "What is the meaning of this?" "As you can see," Yu tells the king, "we are vacating the conference hall." Even the threat of death doesn't deter them; they cynically say, "Of course he will go to his father about this." Yu tells Sejong, "No one will be loyal to a king who tries to wield his sword by hiding behind his father, no mater how angry he is about the disagreeing ministers."
At the Hall of Worthies, the scholars realize that Sejong can't just fire and replace the ministers because the regional government officials who are loyal to them would resign en masse. This could lead to governmental paralysis--with Malseng in control of the military. Yikes.
Sejong asks Choi Yundeok for his opinion of Jo. Surprisingly, Choi tells him that the military ministry has "never had a more competent leader in the last twenty years." Wise appointments, fairness in leadership, and he's shown the compassion to use his own money to help out families of soldiers stationed far away. Then Sejong asks, "What's the possibility that he is plotting high treason?" Choi doesn't know but tells him that Jo hasn't tried to rile up the soldiers.
At the astronomy bureau: Yi Chun and Choi Haesan are talking; Yi concludes that Sejong has to give up the calendar project. Then he tells Jang Youngsil not to encourage the king any further on it. Jang gets angry and walks out...He turns a corner...and runs into princes Hyang and Suyang. They want Jang to show them the constellations again.
Female attendants are running around the palace in a panic. The queen is there and walks up to escort Han, who tells her, "He said he would have the palace searched for you." But the queen is worried because they haven't been seen in two hours. ("They" presumably meaning her sons.)
Sejong is meeting with Yun Hwe and Yi Su in the throne room. The queen barges in unannounced. "Please clear the room for a moment." Sejong tells her that this isn't a good time, but the queen angrily says, "I sent you word that the boys are missing." Yun and Yi wisely leave. "Please go back to your chambers and wait," Sejong tells his wife; "They're kids; they couldn't have gone far." The queen is very worried because of what's been happening; what if the military hurts our children out of spite? Sejong accuses her of overreacting, but Soheon shoots back, "Do you blame me? This is the royal palace." Please go, Sejong tells her, but she presses him and wants him to act. He loses patience and tells her to do it: "What else do you have to do other than taking care of the children?" Her eyes widen. Then Jachi comes in and announces that the boys are back.
Sejong questions his sons about why they left the palace without permission. They need to be disciplined, he says. "This isn't fair," Suyang complains; they just wanted to see Jongdaebu (the constellation that we've learned can only be seen in Joseon). Then the two boys go back and forth, with Hyang finally telling his brother that their father "can't rule the sky even though he's the king. And it's my fault (because he spilled the beans about the calendar science to his grandfather). It's all my fault!" And he runs outside.
Sejong comes outside and sits with his son to try to comfort him. The boy is sorry for what happened, but Sejong tells him that "the sky wasn't mine to begin with. It doesn't belong to any one person. It belongs to anyone who lives under the sky." "So many owners," the boy says; "Then why do people say it belongs to one person?" "I don't know," Sejong answers. "I can't figure that out either."
Jeong Inji and Choi Manli have come to see Hwang Hee. They're trying to sell him on what Sejong is trying to accomplish. Joseon's sky belongs to Joseon's people, they argue, so Joseon's people should have their own method of deciphering it. Then Sejong shows up; they're surprised to see him, and not in a good way. "We were just passing by," they meekly claim, lying and doing a lousy job at it. Sejong and Hwang go into Hwang's cottage and sit. Sejong hands Hwang a book he's brought for him and asks him to read it. It's called "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage." "A busy farmer hardly finds time to read," Hwang tells him. Sejong says he understands and gets up to leave. But on the way out he turns back and says, "I like our farmers to be relaxed, not busy. I believe having our own calendar science can make our farmers less busy. What is your opinion? I hope you will share your valuable insight with me next time I'm here." "Next time?", Hwang asks. The king tells him, "The story tells you to try at least three times." Sejong leaves, and Hwang looks back at the book.
Sejong is walking back home with Choi Manli and Jeong Inji behind him. "What should I do with you?", he asks them; "Charge you with high treason? You had a secret meeting with my political enemy." After scaring the scholars, he turns and smiles. "Thank you. I'm sure it wasn't easy for you." They apologize to the king but explain, "We couldn't judge him based on his reputation alone. That would have made us no better than the ministers who oppose for opposition's sake." Sejong tells them, "I still feel like Hwang Hee might be my biggest political enemy yet."
Taejong is in bed; Hyobin has just told him about the striking ministers...Flashback to Taejong's argument with Shim on in Ep40; Shim On telling Taejong that "You must allow the king to rule the country in his own way"...Flashback ending, Taejong reawakens and realizes, "The sword was my only source of power, but I cut off my own limbs with that sword. And now my own men have turned against me. Is this what you call falling into your own trap?" He sits up, even though Hyobin begs him not to, and tells the royal physician, who's been in the room with him, "Get me my medicine!" But not the usual stuff; he wants different medicine: "the real stuff that will extend my life." He has to clean up the mess: "I need to live another ten, no another five years will do." Then he lays down again and tells Hyobin, "Perhaps I should have retired when they said I should have." Then I wouldn't have turned the entire military into my son's enemy." He's making himself miserable with second-guessing. "I have to live. I can't die until Jo Malseng and his men, those bastards who are trying to control the royal house, are destroyed. My soul will not be able to rest in peace until then." Hyobin has heard enough and snaps at the physician, "What are you waiting for? You heard the order! He is not ready to die, so extend his life! Find the fountain of youth if you have to! If you fail, you will die." The physician grovels, then bows and leaves. Outside, princes Hyoryeong and Kyoungnyeong have been listening; this is the first they've heard of Taejong's illness. Kyoungnyeong walks out....
Yun Hwe is with Sejong in the throne room. "Can you give up on having your own calendar science?", Yun asks. "If you will not give up, first you must distinguish yourself. Go to the king father and ask him to let it be known that you had nothing to do with his attack on Jo Malseng." Then Kyoungnyeong barges in. "You call that earnest counsel?" To Sejong, "We need to talk privately."
"You must strike Jo Malseng at once," Kyoungnyeong tells Sejong in private. "Charge him with treason." Sejong has to explain to his half-brother that Jo controls the military and that even if a strike force could be assembled, "I cannot go to war against the soldiers who protect my people." That's not good enough for Kyoungnyeong, who challenges Sejong: "Are you sure you won't regret letting him die without retribution when his most trusted subject has stabbed him in the back?" Sejong says, What do you mean, let him die?
The next day: Taejong is at the archery ground, but he's just sitting, not shooting. Hyoryeong comes to pay him a visit and cheer him up; Why don't we shoot a round, he says. But Taejong isn't strong enough for any such thing. He covers it up by telling his son, "You're no match for me. Go see your mother if you have nothing to do." He stands up and leaves, slowly and shakily. From a distance, we see Sejong and Kyoungnyeong; the prince has brought the king to observe their father. Sejong realizes that his father isn't even strong enough to shoot an arrow any more.
Sejong goes back to his quarters and tries to absorb everything. He sits for hours...as day turns into night...then arises and goes to his father's home. "How is he?" he asks the physician. "I don't know about this," he tells the physician (as in, Don't tell anybody that I know). Then he goes in and sits next to his sleeping father for a bit. He leaves, and Taejong awakens--and clenches his fist just a bit. Did he know his son was there?
We see some of the Hall of Worthies scholars trying to take care of some routine government work for a diplomatic mission. "How does it look?", Yun Hwe asks. "Can we send the envoys on time?" But it's not looking promising, because the scholars aren't familiar with this kind of work.
The striking ministers are celebrating at a gisaeng house. "The king must give up this calendar science nonsense," Jo tells Yu. "And the king's father must relinquish his right to military control and retire completely. Until these two conditions are met, we will not be going back to work."
Yun Hwe is complaining to Sejong: "How much longer are they going to carry on with their audacious bullying of the king and now the king's father?" A frustrated Sejong walks out.
Evening: Hwang Hee is working outside his cottage. He looks up and is surprised to see Sejong standing before him. The king has been drinking--a lot. "I'm gong to have to kill you," he tells Hwang, "and next is Jo Malseng...If anyone dare hurts my father and patronizes him, I'll stop at nothing to destroy that person...I intend to kill everyone who dare challenges my royal authority...This country belongs not to the people but to the king and the royal house. So do not resist. Obey and agree unconditionally!" Bizarre talk--what's he getting at? He explains it to Hwang: "Could you accept a king who asserts this?" "It would be difficult," Hwang answers. The king says, "But you won't do anything about it either, will you, because you're sick of politics." "Probably not." "That's why you are Joseon's biggest enemy. Because inaction is worse than opposition!" It's an interesting point, all the more impressive given his wicked buzz. He turns to leave, and then staggers. "I guess I ruined everything," he says. "This is not how 'Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage' is done." He totters away with an attendant's help. Hwang watches him leave. Then he turns around, and there's Taejong standing there (surprising the heck out of us).
Hwang bows humbly. Taejong looks happy to see Hwang. They sit and talk. Taejong observes, "I made him king but didn't give him control of the military because I didn't trust him completely, but I see now that he's got what it takes...I need you to help my son now. Actually you might work better with him than you ever did with me." Hwang tries to interrupt but Taejong shushes him and continues. "Don't pay attention to what he said tonight. He didn't mean it. He's just feeling sorry for his dying father, that is all." Hwang is stunned by that last sentence: "Your eminence, what do you mean?" "It happens," he answers dryly. Hwang kneels and tells him "You will be just fine," but Taejong wants none of it: "Stop that. Stop putting your hopes on the hopeless. I'll send you a courtiers' robe tomorrow." But Hwang tells him he won't comply: "I don't deserve to return to service." Is it because you regret supporting Yangnyeong?, Taejong asks. No, I have no regrets, even though Yangnyeong was like a son to me. "But I am contrite. Politicians are not to let their feelings distort their judgment on anything, much less selecting the next king. I deeply thank you for thinking of me, your eminence. But I am not worthy." "I guess I have no choice. You're so stubborn." "Forgive me." Taejong rises to leave, "But I will say this. I know you protected Yangnyeong and backed him up, but you were always correcting him and challenging him in his decisions. He was young and you loved him, but Yangnyeong was not your son. He was your master. So he is responsible for what happened to him, not you." It seems to register with Hwang just a bit. Taejong continues, "I am asking you in earnest to give Doe a chance. I know the king better than anyone. After all, I am his father. He's not like me or like Yangnyeong. He knows how to appreciate people, and most importantly he's wonderfully open-minded. Don't let the king be alone for too long," he says, and then walks away, leaving Hwang alone.
The next day: Look who's walking into the palace, wearing a blue robe: It's Hwang Hee. Sejong is standing at the palace steps to greet him. They smile at each other. "A busy farmer's life became too much for me," Hwang says. "Did you say you wanted to make the farmers less busy? Then you must rule the skies of Joseon." "You are right," Sejong answers, "but I know that the king's master is the people of the land." "That is correct too, your majesty." Hwang chuckles and they ascend the palace steps together like good buddies.