Post by ajk on Sept 10, 2008 15:07:56 GMT -5
The Hall of Worthies scholars welcome Hwang Hee.
"You must send them an unofficial letter firmly declaring your will." In the Hall, Hwang has rolled up his sleeves and is diving right in. The letter, already drafted, tells the ministers that Sejong will not compromise on either the calendar science or Taejong's control of the military. Yun Hwe questions the wisdom of leaving no room for compromise, but Hwang says that the king must seize the upper hand. Sejong signs the letter.
Ministers grumble about the letter. "We have work to do," Jo Malseng tells them. "Hwang Hee is not an easy opponent."
"Now," Hwang says, "we must focus on bringing the minor officials back to work." But how will you do that; we're in no position to make a powerful move. "Powerful move? Never."
We see Hwang talking to several mid-level palace officials with whom he's friendly from the old days. Two are identified as Pyeonon and Oonbo. They don't want to go back to work or bring their subordinates back because they're afraid of getting bad performance reviews from the senior officials. But Hwang talks them into doing what they can to help, assuring them that he'll deal with their reviews.
The palace is bustling again; more than half the staff have returned to work. Meng Sasung welcomes Hwang back; they're apparently good friends.
Shin Jang (the scatterbrained Hall of Worthies scholar) is speaking to Huh Jo. He tells Huh that he'll be leading the diplomatic mission to Ming. Huh is incredulous. Then Shin produces a letter giveing him authority to re-staff the Ministry of Rites, which we now learn that Huh heads. The letter has already been submitted for approval. Huh blows a gasket. He demands that Shin go and summon Hwang to come and see him. Which Shin does...
"Go back and tell him that state affairs are to be discussed here at the conference hall," Hwang tells Shin. "But he's mad as hell." "Mad? Then I guess you won't have to go back to get him. Five...four..." Shin is baffled: "Sire?" "Three...two...one..." Huh barges in. "I've been waiting for you, minister Huh." (Yeah, you could kind of see it coming, but it was funny as all heck.) Huh starts complaining loudly about the letter, but Hwang dismisses the letter and says its only purpose was "To bring you here, of course." Then he drops the hammer: "Choose, minister Huh. Will you return to work, or will you accept this ridiculous proposal?" Huh groans and stomps out of the room. Guess who's going back to work.
At the Three Armies Central Command: After Jo oversees a training exercise, Choi Yundeok asks him why he still cares about military affairs if he's opposing the king. "I'm resisting the king for a good reason," Jo answers, "but I haven't given up on Joseon's safety." Jo leaves, and Choi mutters that "He's a hard man to figure out." (Which he is; he's not being ruthless like he could be.)
Sejong asks Hwang if he's thinking about Yu Jeonghyun next. Hwang responds, "What would you do, your majesty?"
Jo and Hwang are having a drink together in a room at a gisaeng house. (No women around, though.) "Did you get tired of farming?", Jo asks. Hwang says with a grain of salt, "Production is low and it's not easy feeding my family." A government stipend must help with that, Jo says with a smile. "My stipend is not nearly enough to feed five million people. All of the countrymen are family to a government official." Jo's had enough of this. "What are you after?" "Joseon's own calendar science. I think it can have a great impact on our crop production." "He's turned you into a delusional fool, too." "You should refrain from such irreverent speech." Jo says, "Our king is unfit to lead this state." At that moment a man barges into the room. We see him only from behind, but then the camera circles around. It's YANGNYEONG!! "You are unfit to serve the king," he tells Jo ominously, while patting him on the shoulder. "Pour me a drink. I want to share a drink with my traveling companion to the afterlife." Huh? "We're going to die together, you wicked bastard. Hwang, I understand he wants to bring down the king and install me on the throne. Very well. Let's do it." Then a screen opens and we see Jeong Inji and Choi Manli, who have been sitting behind it and listening. "This establishes proof of high treason," Yangnyeong tells Hwang, "so all you have to do is report it." Which the two scholars will most certainly do. What a setup! Jo stays calm: "Your loyalty moves me to tears, but you don't seem to know the king very well. He doesn't purge his political enemies." He's going to have to this time, Yangnyeong says, or this whole thing will be exposed to the public. And "There's one thing the king fears more than political purgings: public sentiment." Jo's cojonés are in the proverbial vise, and he knows it. "Would you give me time to consider?", he asks. Yangnyeong tells him, "Don't take too long. As you already know, I'm not a patient man."
Outside, Hwang tells Yangnyeong simply, "I'm sorry", apparently for the prince's removal quite a while back. "Shouldn't you be feeling sorrier for my father? If you had been there, he wouldn't have been stabbed in the back by that...." Hwang suggests that Yangnyeong visit his father, but the prince doesn't want to. Instead, he summons the house mistress and tells her, "Call your best girls. We're going to get drunk tonight!" Par-tay.
Evening. Jo is alone, thinking...thinking...thinking.
Yun Hwe is talking to Sejong. "He's not one to yield to threats. Not only that, he always wins his battles. He'll try to make a deal." Sejong says, "So let's get ready to negotiate." The calendar science is non-negotiable; maybe you can give in on the military authority demand? No, Sejong says adamantly, I will not fight my father. We need something else. "Is there something I don't know about?", Yun asks. Sejong leaves without answering him.
Yangnyeong is at the gisaeng house, drinking himself tipsy while three babes dance in front of him....Flashback to Ep37: Taejong telling his son, "I was hoping you'd be the wise one. Prove to the world for me that you are both the eldest and the wisest. I can't give you up no matter what anyone says."...Flashback ending, he suddenly stops drinking and gets up.
Taejong is resting in his chambers; Hyobin is with him. Yangnyeong barges in. His father is unfazed: "Didn't anyone teach you manners? You're a royal prince, for heaven's sakes." Visibly wobbly, his son tells him, "I'm relieved that you still have the strength for scolding." Hyobin leaves and Yangnyeong sits down. "You're drunk. Come back in the morning." But the prince isn't going anywhere. "Father, are you in pain? How much pain? Where does it hurt and how much?" "Don't mind me, and..." "Stop. Stop it, father. You've pretended to be strong long enough. We may be high and mighty royals, but we're human. Let me stay with you, father. I may not be good for much, but I can at least keep the fire going when they brew your herbal potion." This is terribly difficult for the prince to say and for his father to listen to; Taejong has to look away. Struggling with his emotions, Yangnyeong continues: "You have to give me a chance to make it up to you. I've caused you so much grief and misery...Don't insist on suffering alone. Please! I won't insist that you forgive me. So please let me stay. Let me stay here by your side and get the scolding I deserve at least. Please father." They're both in tears; Taejong mutters "Fool" but can say no more. Yangnyeong just keeps repeating, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, father. I'm so sorry...." Over and over. A terribly sad scene; years of pent-up anguish spilling out.
Outside, Sejong is listening. (What is it with all of the eavesdropping in this kingdom? Forget the calendar science--somebody invent some solid walls!) The king was going to go in and see his father but he changes his mind. He tells his eunuchs, "Sometimes I really envy my brother's childlike candor."
Hyobin is before the queen. She tells her that her husband has been going to visit his father every evening. "Aren't you curious as to why?" Not waiting for an answer, "I've come to make a difficult request. Go to the king father if only just once. I fear he won't be with us for much longer." The queen's eyes widen: "Whatever do you mean?" "If the queen mother were alive, I'm sure she would have done something, anything to make the last days of the king father easier. But there's nothing I can do...Please show him your compassion if only just once. I know it's a difficult request, but he is seized with remorse for his past transgressions. So please..." She can't finish the sentence. This is an awfully tough one for the queen to swallow, and she shows it; remember that Taejong was responsible for her parents' deaths.
Evening; Sejong goes to visit his father. From a distance the queen watches him, commenting to escort Han on his weighted-down appearance: "It's heavy enough to carry the country on his shoulders, but how he's forced to tiptoe around his wife dealing with his father's impending death all alone." She asks Han, "Do you agree with Hyobin? Am I to forgive the king father now? After what he did to my father?" Han tells her, "You don't have to do this if your heart won't allow it. I'm sure the king father is thankful enough to you for enduring everything the way you did." It's wise advice, but it only makes the queen cry into Han's shoulder. Han consoles her as she sobs and whines from revisiting her grief. (She doesn't go in, or at least we don't see her go in.)
The next morning: Jo is before Sejong in the throne room. They stare at each other....
In the Hall of Worthies: Everyone is waiting for word. "His majesty has no ammunition," Yun Hwe fears, "and Jo Malseng is not susceptible to threats." Hwang calmly tells him, "Have faith. Political power is not force but persuasion. And the king you chose knows how to wield his power."
Sejong breaks the silence: "Would you convince me? Convince me as to why the Ming emperor has to rule Joseon's sky instead of me the king of Joseon." Ming is a superior state, Jo explains, and making it angry could lead to Joseon's destruction. Sejong answers that this isn't something he wants Ming to know about, but rather "to acquire the technology we need without causing a stir." That's why I tried do it unofficially, he says. Jo says that "process is important" and objects to the fact that Sejong tried to bypass normal government process. But he does acknowledge that "there are policies that do require secrecy at times." Sejong asks, So what will it take for you to go back to work? Oddly, Jo asks for a mandate to scrutinize (and possibly oppose) Hwang Hee's appointment. Sejong agrees. So it's all settled. Jo bows (but is that a hint of a smile we see as he bows? Does he think he's snookered the king? Maybe I just imagined it, but hmmm.)
Sejong has filled Hwang in and is very pleased with the outcome. "Other than the fact that you're my political rival," he says with a smile, "is there anything you're hiding from me?" "I'm hiding a lot of things." They both laugh. "I am hoping you will serve me for a very long time." Hwang is humbled.
Young prince Hyang is with his grandfather; he's unusually quiet. "Is there something wrong? Why are you so quiet? Are you afraid I'm going to expose more of your secrets?" "No, it's not that. I never thought you'd call me over again." "Nonsense," prince Hyoryeong tells him--Hyoryeong and Kyoungnyeong are there--"grandfather loves amusing conversations with you." The boy asks, "Are you sick because I haven't been able to have conversations with you? We can't have that. Let's see. Oh, this might not make an amusing conversation, but..." (Oh geez, the kid's gonna blow again! Somebody cork him before more state secrets come out!) "...Jang Youngsil might be going to Ming China. This is a secret," the boy continues, "but when Jang comes back and builds an astronomical instrument he promised to show me every last star in Joseon's sky." We hold our breath, but Taejong isn't surprised so no trouble. Then Hyang's brothers and sisters come running in...and the queen enters behind them. The kids have little gifts for their grandpa. And the queen brought a medicinal potion that she prepared herself. Taejong drinks it and thanks her. "You will get better, father," she answers. (This was kind of glossed over, but what a class act by the queen. After what he did to her family, how many people could suck it up like that and be so gracious, even with him dying? Quite a gesture.)
The queen leaves for home, and finds her husband waiting for her. "I wanted to say thank you for tending to my father so kindly." "I was merely doing my duty as a daughter-in-law." "That's why I'm thanking you. I know how difficult it is for a person to do all of his or her duty." So he gets it.
Sejong goes to see his father, who's outside in a leafy yard getting some fresh air. "This is a good spot," Taejong says. "This is a good spot to build an observatory." Then, "Why didn't you come in and spill your guts? I know you've been coming to my door every night. I know it. Do you resent me?" No, father. "Doe. I never had the time. I was so afraid that this country might be shaken, I just kept swinging my sword. Just founding this state was more than I can handle, and there was no room for much else." I know, father. "I'm not telling you to live like me...Step up and rise above me. Dream a dream bigger and more ambitious than mine. Returning the skies of Joseon to its people is a good start. Take care of this country. And never forget that this country isn't mine or yours but that it belongs to the people." He rises weakly and takes Sejong's hands in his. In the background we hear cicadas calling (which adds a neat touch of atmosphere). "It's not going to be easy. But you'll do just fine. You know what? I'm proud of you, my son." He nods and smiles, that calm smile we've only seen from him a few times. We see Yangnyeong watching them from a distance. (He's wearing one of those plain maroon prince's robes; we've never seen him in one of those before and the image is a bit startling.)
Back in the throne room, Sejong and Yangnyeong are together. "I've done nothing for him," Sejong says, staring at his empty throne. "I have to do something for him, anything, in the short time he has left, but I don't know what." His brother tells him, "You have plenty of time, my king. All you have to do is to fulfill your role as the owner of that throne and the father of the people. That, my king, is the greatest gift you can give to your father." It's so strange to hear this coming from the former crown prince, but it's wise advice and moves Sejong to tears.
The next day, back outside at the yard: Officials and scholars are gathered. Sejong presents a shovel to Jang Youngsil. "Break the ground. This is where I intend to build our observatory. You're the one who will bring us our astronomical instrument, so you should break the ground." He's sending Jang to Ming; he tells him that it won't be an easy task but that "I am behind you and the four million people of Joseon are behind you. Don't forget that." "I won't let you down, your majesty."
At the archery grounds, prince Hyang is shooting and Taejong is sitting and watching him. The boy mentions that Jang is leaving for Ming and that father is sending him off. Then, already thinking about his future in the palace, he asks his grandfather, "What should I do if this happens to me? What do I do if father and I disagree on something like you and father did?" "You have to assert yourself," Taejong counsels, but don't worry; "Your father will love you just the same." "Really?" They boy breaks into a big smile as Taejong nods. Hyang aims another arrow, carefully adjusts his feet, and shoots a bullseye--but as he does, we see Taejong nod off and lose consciousness. The boy cheers his bullseye but then turns around: "Grandfather, are you sleeping?" He shakes Taejong's wrist. "Grandfather? Grandfather!" Just then Sejong appears; he sees his father and he knows. "Father, grandfather won't wake up. I told him I hit the bullseye, but he won't say anything." Sejong calmly tells him, "He's too tired, that's all. He wants to rest now." But then we hear his thoughts. "You've had an exhausting life. Rest now. Rest in peace." He falls to his knees and cries, and so do all of the attendants.
"You must send them an unofficial letter firmly declaring your will." In the Hall, Hwang has rolled up his sleeves and is diving right in. The letter, already drafted, tells the ministers that Sejong will not compromise on either the calendar science or Taejong's control of the military. Yun Hwe questions the wisdom of leaving no room for compromise, but Hwang says that the king must seize the upper hand. Sejong signs the letter.
Ministers grumble about the letter. "We have work to do," Jo Malseng tells them. "Hwang Hee is not an easy opponent."
"Now," Hwang says, "we must focus on bringing the minor officials back to work." But how will you do that; we're in no position to make a powerful move. "Powerful move? Never."
We see Hwang talking to several mid-level palace officials with whom he's friendly from the old days. Two are identified as Pyeonon and Oonbo. They don't want to go back to work or bring their subordinates back because they're afraid of getting bad performance reviews from the senior officials. But Hwang talks them into doing what they can to help, assuring them that he'll deal with their reviews.
The palace is bustling again; more than half the staff have returned to work. Meng Sasung welcomes Hwang back; they're apparently good friends.
Shin Jang (the scatterbrained Hall of Worthies scholar) is speaking to Huh Jo. He tells Huh that he'll be leading the diplomatic mission to Ming. Huh is incredulous. Then Shin produces a letter giveing him authority to re-staff the Ministry of Rites, which we now learn that Huh heads. The letter has already been submitted for approval. Huh blows a gasket. He demands that Shin go and summon Hwang to come and see him. Which Shin does...
"Go back and tell him that state affairs are to be discussed here at the conference hall," Hwang tells Shin. "But he's mad as hell." "Mad? Then I guess you won't have to go back to get him. Five...four..." Shin is baffled: "Sire?" "Three...two...one..." Huh barges in. "I've been waiting for you, minister Huh." (Yeah, you could kind of see it coming, but it was funny as all heck.) Huh starts complaining loudly about the letter, but Hwang dismisses the letter and says its only purpose was "To bring you here, of course." Then he drops the hammer: "Choose, minister Huh. Will you return to work, or will you accept this ridiculous proposal?" Huh groans and stomps out of the room. Guess who's going back to work.
At the Three Armies Central Command: After Jo oversees a training exercise, Choi Yundeok asks him why he still cares about military affairs if he's opposing the king. "I'm resisting the king for a good reason," Jo answers, "but I haven't given up on Joseon's safety." Jo leaves, and Choi mutters that "He's a hard man to figure out." (Which he is; he's not being ruthless like he could be.)
Sejong asks Hwang if he's thinking about Yu Jeonghyun next. Hwang responds, "What would you do, your majesty?"
Jo and Hwang are having a drink together in a room at a gisaeng house. (No women around, though.) "Did you get tired of farming?", Jo asks. Hwang says with a grain of salt, "Production is low and it's not easy feeding my family." A government stipend must help with that, Jo says with a smile. "My stipend is not nearly enough to feed five million people. All of the countrymen are family to a government official." Jo's had enough of this. "What are you after?" "Joseon's own calendar science. I think it can have a great impact on our crop production." "He's turned you into a delusional fool, too." "You should refrain from such irreverent speech." Jo says, "Our king is unfit to lead this state." At that moment a man barges into the room. We see him only from behind, but then the camera circles around. It's YANGNYEONG!! "You are unfit to serve the king," he tells Jo ominously, while patting him on the shoulder. "Pour me a drink. I want to share a drink with my traveling companion to the afterlife." Huh? "We're going to die together, you wicked bastard. Hwang, I understand he wants to bring down the king and install me on the throne. Very well. Let's do it." Then a screen opens and we see Jeong Inji and Choi Manli, who have been sitting behind it and listening. "This establishes proof of high treason," Yangnyeong tells Hwang, "so all you have to do is report it." Which the two scholars will most certainly do. What a setup! Jo stays calm: "Your loyalty moves me to tears, but you don't seem to know the king very well. He doesn't purge his political enemies." He's going to have to this time, Yangnyeong says, or this whole thing will be exposed to the public. And "There's one thing the king fears more than political purgings: public sentiment." Jo's cojonés are in the proverbial vise, and he knows it. "Would you give me time to consider?", he asks. Yangnyeong tells him, "Don't take too long. As you already know, I'm not a patient man."
Outside, Hwang tells Yangnyeong simply, "I'm sorry", apparently for the prince's removal quite a while back. "Shouldn't you be feeling sorrier for my father? If you had been there, he wouldn't have been stabbed in the back by that...." Hwang suggests that Yangnyeong visit his father, but the prince doesn't want to. Instead, he summons the house mistress and tells her, "Call your best girls. We're going to get drunk tonight!" Par-tay.
Evening. Jo is alone, thinking...thinking...thinking.
Yun Hwe is talking to Sejong. "He's not one to yield to threats. Not only that, he always wins his battles. He'll try to make a deal." Sejong says, "So let's get ready to negotiate." The calendar science is non-negotiable; maybe you can give in on the military authority demand? No, Sejong says adamantly, I will not fight my father. We need something else. "Is there something I don't know about?", Yun asks. Sejong leaves without answering him.
Yangnyeong is at the gisaeng house, drinking himself tipsy while three babes dance in front of him....Flashback to Ep37: Taejong telling his son, "I was hoping you'd be the wise one. Prove to the world for me that you are both the eldest and the wisest. I can't give you up no matter what anyone says."...Flashback ending, he suddenly stops drinking and gets up.
Taejong is resting in his chambers; Hyobin is with him. Yangnyeong barges in. His father is unfazed: "Didn't anyone teach you manners? You're a royal prince, for heaven's sakes." Visibly wobbly, his son tells him, "I'm relieved that you still have the strength for scolding." Hyobin leaves and Yangnyeong sits down. "You're drunk. Come back in the morning." But the prince isn't going anywhere. "Father, are you in pain? How much pain? Where does it hurt and how much?" "Don't mind me, and..." "Stop. Stop it, father. You've pretended to be strong long enough. We may be high and mighty royals, but we're human. Let me stay with you, father. I may not be good for much, but I can at least keep the fire going when they brew your herbal potion." This is terribly difficult for the prince to say and for his father to listen to; Taejong has to look away. Struggling with his emotions, Yangnyeong continues: "You have to give me a chance to make it up to you. I've caused you so much grief and misery...Don't insist on suffering alone. Please! I won't insist that you forgive me. So please let me stay. Let me stay here by your side and get the scolding I deserve at least. Please father." They're both in tears; Taejong mutters "Fool" but can say no more. Yangnyeong just keeps repeating, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, father. I'm so sorry...." Over and over. A terribly sad scene; years of pent-up anguish spilling out.
Outside, Sejong is listening. (What is it with all of the eavesdropping in this kingdom? Forget the calendar science--somebody invent some solid walls!) The king was going to go in and see his father but he changes his mind. He tells his eunuchs, "Sometimes I really envy my brother's childlike candor."
Hyobin is before the queen. She tells her that her husband has been going to visit his father every evening. "Aren't you curious as to why?" Not waiting for an answer, "I've come to make a difficult request. Go to the king father if only just once. I fear he won't be with us for much longer." The queen's eyes widen: "Whatever do you mean?" "If the queen mother were alive, I'm sure she would have done something, anything to make the last days of the king father easier. But there's nothing I can do...Please show him your compassion if only just once. I know it's a difficult request, but he is seized with remorse for his past transgressions. So please..." She can't finish the sentence. This is an awfully tough one for the queen to swallow, and she shows it; remember that Taejong was responsible for her parents' deaths.
Evening; Sejong goes to visit his father. From a distance the queen watches him, commenting to escort Han on his weighted-down appearance: "It's heavy enough to carry the country on his shoulders, but how he's forced to tiptoe around his wife dealing with his father's impending death all alone." She asks Han, "Do you agree with Hyobin? Am I to forgive the king father now? After what he did to my father?" Han tells her, "You don't have to do this if your heart won't allow it. I'm sure the king father is thankful enough to you for enduring everything the way you did." It's wise advice, but it only makes the queen cry into Han's shoulder. Han consoles her as she sobs and whines from revisiting her grief. (She doesn't go in, or at least we don't see her go in.)
The next morning: Jo is before Sejong in the throne room. They stare at each other....
In the Hall of Worthies: Everyone is waiting for word. "His majesty has no ammunition," Yun Hwe fears, "and Jo Malseng is not susceptible to threats." Hwang calmly tells him, "Have faith. Political power is not force but persuasion. And the king you chose knows how to wield his power."
Sejong breaks the silence: "Would you convince me? Convince me as to why the Ming emperor has to rule Joseon's sky instead of me the king of Joseon." Ming is a superior state, Jo explains, and making it angry could lead to Joseon's destruction. Sejong answers that this isn't something he wants Ming to know about, but rather "to acquire the technology we need without causing a stir." That's why I tried do it unofficially, he says. Jo says that "process is important" and objects to the fact that Sejong tried to bypass normal government process. But he does acknowledge that "there are policies that do require secrecy at times." Sejong asks, So what will it take for you to go back to work? Oddly, Jo asks for a mandate to scrutinize (and possibly oppose) Hwang Hee's appointment. Sejong agrees. So it's all settled. Jo bows (but is that a hint of a smile we see as he bows? Does he think he's snookered the king? Maybe I just imagined it, but hmmm.)
Sejong has filled Hwang in and is very pleased with the outcome. "Other than the fact that you're my political rival," he says with a smile, "is there anything you're hiding from me?" "I'm hiding a lot of things." They both laugh. "I am hoping you will serve me for a very long time." Hwang is humbled.
Young prince Hyang is with his grandfather; he's unusually quiet. "Is there something wrong? Why are you so quiet? Are you afraid I'm going to expose more of your secrets?" "No, it's not that. I never thought you'd call me over again." "Nonsense," prince Hyoryeong tells him--Hyoryeong and Kyoungnyeong are there--"grandfather loves amusing conversations with you." The boy asks, "Are you sick because I haven't been able to have conversations with you? We can't have that. Let's see. Oh, this might not make an amusing conversation, but..." (Oh geez, the kid's gonna blow again! Somebody cork him before more state secrets come out!) "...Jang Youngsil might be going to Ming China. This is a secret," the boy continues, "but when Jang comes back and builds an astronomical instrument he promised to show me every last star in Joseon's sky." We hold our breath, but Taejong isn't surprised so no trouble. Then Hyang's brothers and sisters come running in...and the queen enters behind them. The kids have little gifts for their grandpa. And the queen brought a medicinal potion that she prepared herself. Taejong drinks it and thanks her. "You will get better, father," she answers. (This was kind of glossed over, but what a class act by the queen. After what he did to her family, how many people could suck it up like that and be so gracious, even with him dying? Quite a gesture.)
The queen leaves for home, and finds her husband waiting for her. "I wanted to say thank you for tending to my father so kindly." "I was merely doing my duty as a daughter-in-law." "That's why I'm thanking you. I know how difficult it is for a person to do all of his or her duty." So he gets it.
Sejong goes to see his father, who's outside in a leafy yard getting some fresh air. "This is a good spot," Taejong says. "This is a good spot to build an observatory." Then, "Why didn't you come in and spill your guts? I know you've been coming to my door every night. I know it. Do you resent me?" No, father. "Doe. I never had the time. I was so afraid that this country might be shaken, I just kept swinging my sword. Just founding this state was more than I can handle, and there was no room for much else." I know, father. "I'm not telling you to live like me...Step up and rise above me. Dream a dream bigger and more ambitious than mine. Returning the skies of Joseon to its people is a good start. Take care of this country. And never forget that this country isn't mine or yours but that it belongs to the people." He rises weakly and takes Sejong's hands in his. In the background we hear cicadas calling (which adds a neat touch of atmosphere). "It's not going to be easy. But you'll do just fine. You know what? I'm proud of you, my son." He nods and smiles, that calm smile we've only seen from him a few times. We see Yangnyeong watching them from a distance. (He's wearing one of those plain maroon prince's robes; we've never seen him in one of those before and the image is a bit startling.)
Back in the throne room, Sejong and Yangnyeong are together. "I've done nothing for him," Sejong says, staring at his empty throne. "I have to do something for him, anything, in the short time he has left, but I don't know what." His brother tells him, "You have plenty of time, my king. All you have to do is to fulfill your role as the owner of that throne and the father of the people. That, my king, is the greatest gift you can give to your father." It's so strange to hear this coming from the former crown prince, but it's wise advice and moves Sejong to tears.
The next day, back outside at the yard: Officials and scholars are gathered. Sejong presents a shovel to Jang Youngsil. "Break the ground. This is where I intend to build our observatory. You're the one who will bring us our astronomical instrument, so you should break the ground." He's sending Jang to Ming; he tells him that it won't be an easy task but that "I am behind you and the four million people of Joseon are behind you. Don't forget that." "I won't let you down, your majesty."
At the archery grounds, prince Hyang is shooting and Taejong is sitting and watching him. The boy mentions that Jang is leaving for Ming and that father is sending him off. Then, already thinking about his future in the palace, he asks his grandfather, "What should I do if this happens to me? What do I do if father and I disagree on something like you and father did?" "You have to assert yourself," Taejong counsels, but don't worry; "Your father will love you just the same." "Really?" They boy breaks into a big smile as Taejong nods. Hyang aims another arrow, carefully adjusts his feet, and shoots a bullseye--but as he does, we see Taejong nod off and lose consciousness. The boy cheers his bullseye but then turns around: "Grandfather, are you sleeping?" He shakes Taejong's wrist. "Grandfather? Grandfather!" Just then Sejong appears; he sees his father and he knows. "Father, grandfather won't wake up. I told him I hit the bullseye, but he won't say anything." Sejong calmly tells him, "He's too tired, that's all. He wants to rest now." But then we hear his thoughts. "You've had an exhausting life. Rest now. Rest in peace." He falls to his knees and cries, and so do all of the attendants.