Post by ajk on Oct 8, 2008 15:51:43 GMT -5
Spring 1424, At the Amnok (Yalu) River: Several rafts are on the river, filled with civilians. They appear to be refugees, trying to get away from somewhere. As they paddle, we see several men on horseback reach the shore, followed by a group of archers. They're not outfitted as a military unit; who are they? To our horror, the archers start shooting at the rafts. Over and over again. The don't seem to cause much harm, though, and the refugees manage to get out of range, to their joy. But then suddenly: BOOM!! Three huge explosions throw huge volumes of water into the air. BOOM!! A bunch more. What the heck is going on? "Fire!" We see Park Sil; he's commanding a Joseonese military cannon unit. They're set up on the shore, downriver from the archers, and unbelievably, they're firing at the civilian rafts. "Reload!", he orders. But then, "Cannons down, gunners!" Yi Su, who's now a general, orders the barrage stopped. But Park Sil countermands the order: "Resume!" And the barrage resumes. Yi orders Park to stop the attack immediately, but Park won't do it because the refugees are "barbarians," even if they're unarmed. But Yi is Park's superior officer and tells him bluntly, "Command and obedience is the essence of the military. You know that better than I do." Park does know, and reluctantly halts the attack. Yi orders the soldiers to help the civilians ashore. The rafts appear to be coming closer to shore, and just at that moment (as though this hasn't been insane enough), the archers find their range again and hit the rafts--this time with FLAMING arrows. Fires erupt and chaos ensues. Gim Jongsuh, who appears to be Yi Su's assistant now, takes a squad of soldiers and intercepts the archers. They're Joseonese civilians! A young woman appears to be their leader. "Don't you see that we're hunting?", she tells Gim; "Step aside. Barbarians are nothing more than animals to us." But the group is arrested and taken to the local protectorate headquarters.
At the Yeongbyun Protectorate headquarters: "Release these patriotic citizens at once!" It's Jo Malseng; he's come out to see the Joseonese who are bound and detained. Jo says he doesn't consider barbarians humans. "Behind those pitiable faces lies evil," he says to Yi Su; "You're so naive." Then he orders Park Sil to send the refugees back over the border and to kill them if they attempt to return. The refugees cry, "Please don't do this! We come seeking a new home! We want to live in Joseon!" But they're hauled away nonetheless.
Inside, Yi Su confronts Jo: "They risked their lives to come here. Death is waiting for them if they go back." Jo doesn't care; Worry about your own people, he tells him. "We cannot grant naturalization to them under any circumstance." But Yi points out that only the king make such a decision. "Very well," Jo says; "If you want a fight, it's on."
Evening, in a refugee camp: Yi tells Gim he's putting him in charge of the Left Army (which, presumably, is Yi's job now). He instructs Gim to protect the refugees until he gets back. (So apparently they haven't been deported just yet.) Back from where? Then the freed Joseonese civilians show up, ominously scouting the camp and staring daggers at Yi Su. A dicey situation.
Jianzhou Jurchen military camp: Nighttime training is in progress. It's very intense. We're introduced to some new faces: three Jurchen military leaders. Li Manzhu is the head man; the other two are identified as Shen Zhananu and Linhala. We also see Tongmingge and Tongfancha, whom we've seen before (in Ep30). Strange stuff happens. Manzhu fires an arrow at Tongmingge, allegedly for making a "grave error"; Tongmingge is on horseback and dives off just in time to avoid getting hit. He also laughs about the refugee situation; he knows who Yi Su is and says, "It looks like he is on our side." Then he tells them that the present danger posed by the Ming situation could well become a "golden opportunity." (The Jianzhou are the southernmost of the Jurchen tribes. Hopefully future developments will make this scene clearer to us.)
Jo Malseng and Yi Su are before Sejong, arguing their positions. Sejong agrees that Joseon, as a superior state, should protect the refugees and welcome them. But Choi Yundeok is present, and Jo presses him to confirm a couple of things about Jurchens: that by the age of ten they're all fighting warriors, women included; and that they conduct their spying operations by planting spies around their borders, disguised as civilians. So, Jo asks Choi, couldn't this be an attempt by the Jurchen military to infiltrate Joseon? "The possibility is very high." The words come not from Choi's mouth but from Sejong's. "That's general Choi's answer. Right, general?" Choi, who we can see is not happy about any of this, grudgingly agrees with his king. But despite Jo's arguments, Sejong will not turn the refugees away. He instructs Yi Su to ferret out the spies and to educate and civilize the refugees and turn them into "true Joseonese." Jo strenuously objects--"This is excessive idealism!"--but to no avail. Sejong instructs Choi to win Jo over so that he'll be more welcoming to the refugees. Choi exhales; a tough job, no doubt.
Outside: "Don't bother trying to win me over," Jo tells Choi abruptly. We barely have enough food to feed our own people, he says; how are we going to feed others? From the side we hear: "By emptying out your pockets, perhaps." The Hall of Worthies scholars are all glaring at Jo. Choi Manli says to him, "They say you have a knack for making money. That you'll resort to dirty tricks and schemes to get what you want." "Cocky bastard," Jo snarls. Maybe I'm a cocky bastard, Choi says, but "what should I call you for fighting the king on every one of his endeavors?" Jo is getting annoyed and dismisses the scholars as "children," but then Gim Mun pipes up: "It's easy to oppose, but difficult to make it work." FACIAL! We heard Jo himself say this before, in Ep15. What a brilliant zinger. Gim asks him, "It's your favorite quote, isn't it sir?" At that point Jo has little more to say and walks away.
Jo is before prince Kyoungnyeong, who's concerned about the acceptance of the refugees and all of the problems it might bring. "For some reason our king does not seem to care," Jo complains, and says that this goes against history and will bring shame to our ancestors.
Later, Kyoungnyeong is alone, thinking, when his mother approaches him. "The king seems to have gone too far this time," Hyobin says. "In my opinion, my son...the time is finally ripe."
In a small meeting, Sejong orders resettlement funds distributed to the refugees. "Encourage interracial marriage as well." But Hwang Hee is concerned: "It is indeed noble to embrace them, but I worry about Ming's reaction." Yun Hwe agrees that Ming might think it's all a scheme to bring the Jurchens under Joseon's umbrella. Sejong isn't worried; our diplomats, he says, are more than competent enough to smooth everything out. For now let's wait until the current delegation returns from Ming and we'll develop a strategy then.
Ming: We see an unfamiliar building. It's identified as the headquarters of Dongchang, the emperor's secret intelligence agency. Haishou is leading Li Manzhu in. Li must surrender his sword, which he does; then the two walk down a hallway and multiple doors rapidly open for them (exactly like the beginning of "Get Smart!"; made me laugh.) At the end of the hall, we see a mysterious room. Inside the room a man sits, partially obscured by a fine netting that hangs from the ceiling. Haishou introduces Manzhu. The cold response: "I have no time for outsiders." Not sure how to react, Manzhu blurts out, "Joseon is after Liaodong, sir." The man has time for this. He stands and walks out to where we can see him; he's identified as Wang Zhen, leader of the agency. He has an ominous, sinister quality about him. He asks Haishou, "Is this true?" Haishou answers, "There is no other explanation for the king's involvement in naturalizing the Jurchens." "Leave!", Wang abruptly orders. But Manzhu expected more than that and says, "Something must be done, sir!" Bad move. Wang spins around and throws a knife that whizzes within an inch of Manzhu's head and thwacks into the far wall. "When I said leave, I meant I understood you." (Yikes.)
Outside in the hallway--they left--Manzhu asks what this all meant; Are we getting military aid? No, Haishou says; not for now. "The great Ming soldiers must send off the emperor." What?!
We see and hear trumpets being blown. They produce a mournful sound. In a busy Ming marketplace, the sellers scramble to close their booths. Huh Jo, Yi Chun, Choi Haesan and Jang Youngsil are in Ming on the diplomatic mission and are in the marketplace as this happens. The citizens all kneel and drop to the ground. The emperor is dead.
We see Daion; she hears the trumpets and starts to leave her chambers. But Haishou barges in and asks where she's going. "I must bid the emperor my last farewell," she says. "Don't bother," he tells her. "You'll be leaving with him." That does NOT sound good. They wouldn't possibly, would they?
Huang Yan grimly tells the delegation: sacrificial burial. Daion is to be put to death so that she can be buried with the emperor and accompany him to the afterlife. "This must be a mistake. How could they? Tell us that isn't not true," Choi demands. Youngsil is speechless and trembling. "I'm sorry," Huang says. "I wish I could stop this, but it's beyond my power." Choi grabs Huang by the shoulders and tells him that Youngsil was so excited about showing his official's uniform to her that he couldn't sleep at night. (Can't the guy speak for himself? Sheesh.) Youngsil drops to his knees and looks like he's having a panic attack of some sort.
Huh Jo and Yi Chun are in a room working quietly. Choi comes in and, seeing them, gets frustrated that they're doing nothing for Daion as she faces having to "accompany the emperor to hell." (Dude, keep your voice down or you'll accompany both of them.) But he's wrong. They're preparing a petition to protest the sacrificial burial. Daion is, after all, Joseonese.
"You're not thinking about doing something stupid, are you?" Choi is back with Youngsil. "I have to go somewhere." "You'll be back, right?" No answer. "I'll be waiting. I'm waiting for you here, and his majesty is waiting for you in Joseon." It's a clever, subtle reminder for Youngsil to remember the big picture. Youngsil leaves.
Yehjin and Huh Jo are speaking. "Give us Jang Youngsil," Yehjin says. "Then I'll see what I can do about stopping the sacrificial burial." Huh angrily tells him, "I'm not here to negotiate...I'm not simply trying to protect a Joseonese woman. Sacrificial burial is a barbaric custom. Chinese or Joseonese, taking a life to be buried with the dead is a ridiculous thing to do. So you must abolish this tradition if you are a civilized empire." Not unless we make a deal, Yehjin says adamantly. Then Youngsil comes in. Yehjin expected him to show up: "I knew you'd come to me on your own. You have a soft heart." But Youngsil tells him he won't make a deal either. That's not what Yehjin expected, but he tells Youngsil, "Just don't forget the previous deal you made with me." Huh's eyebrows fly up. "The previous deal?", he says as they leave; "What's that about?" (Yeah, please tell us. It's about time.)
Back in their quarters, Huh wants to know what this other deal was. "Are you being a spy for Ming? Then I should turn you over to Ming and save the concubine. A human life is more important than technology." Finally Youngsil comes clean, and it's not as bad as we feared. "I agreed to share my future discoveries with Ming in return for their astronomical knowledge. Just as the benefits of astronomical knowledge do not belong to the Chinese alone, I believe my future discoveries and inventions and their benefits are to be shared with all people." Why did he want to hide such a thing? "I didn't want to stir up needless suspicions." It would put Yehjin in a bad situation for having shared Ming's technology. "You're smarter than I thought," Huh tells him. "I'm beginning to see why the king went through so much to protect you." Then Youngsil asks about Daion. "I'll try my best to save her," Huh says, "but it doesn't look good." Youngsil is downcast but suddenly brightens with an idea. "I couldn't have acquired the astronomical technology without her," he says. "If we can't save her by official means, then we'll have to use unofficial means. I think it's a life worth saving. How about you, sir?" (I didn't understand that last line of reasoning at all.)
The next day: Huang Yan leads several men into Daion's quarters. They're carrying a large wooden box that looks like a casket. Huang tells Daion, "You only have a few minutes." They put down the casket and--surprise!--Youngsil climbs out of it like some kind of Jang-in-the-box. Huang and the men leave. Daion looks at him in his official's robe and tells him, "I'm glad that this last image of you is so splendid and that I can take this last moment with me." She smiles. "You don't have to go," Youngsil tells her; "I'm not letting you go anywhere." "That's absurd," she replies. "Don't do anything for me. If you put yourself in danger for me, I'll never forgive you." He kneels and pleads with her; she starts to cry and admits, "I'm scared." He hugs her. "Trust me. I'm not letting you go anywhere. I'm not going to lose you again."
The three other Joseonese are talking privately. There's some kind of a plan afoot to slip another body into the casket in place of Daion. Huang Yan is trying to make it happen. Huh Jo says he's surprised at Huang; he figured Huang would be just another irritating bureaucrat but Huang is "actively trying to help us." Choi immediately pipes in with, "Oh, that's because he's Joseonese too!" He shouldn't have said that--and immediately realizes it. This is supposed to be a closely guarded secret. Huh and Yi Chun didn't know it and are both very surprised to hear it. And they're not the only ones. Outside, Haishou and his men have been eavesdropping. Oh crap.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Youngsil tells Daion. "Will I ever get to go back to Donglae?", she wonders. Then she reminisces about the fireworks that Youngsil made and set off for her in Ep8. "Just get through tonight," he says. "And I'll show you so many fireworks you'll get sick of them." She smiles, her spirits lifted.
Spy chief Wang tells Haishou, "It will be a tragic loss."
The next morning: Haishou barges in on Daion. "Disappointed that it's not Huang Yan?" Uh-oh.
A tortured, beaten body is dragged through the spy agency building. It's Huang Yan. He's brought before chief Wang and dumped on the floor. "I held you in high regard," Wang says. "I would have spared you if you hadn't betrayed us even if you are Joseonese." "I have a request," Huang says. "Let me choose the place I die." "Do you think I'd grant you that request?" "It's a small request considering I gave my life in service of Ming." Wang instantly whips out a knife, throws it, and it buries itself in Huang's chest. "I didn't aim for your heart. That's the limit of my mercy." But if the knife isn't in his heart, it sure is awfully close.
"Do you wish to live?" Haishou is badgering Daion again. "What classified information did Jang Youngsil take from Ming? I can spare you if you tell me what it is."
The four Joseonese are in their quarters, silent and at a loss to know what to do. Then Huang Yan comes through the door and literally falls into the room, bleeding severely. "I'm sorry," he tells them, gasping. Youngsil makes a move to leave, but Huang manages to grab and hold his arm. "If you go to the palace, you'll die," he says; "Do you think that's what the imperial concubine wants?"
"I will not die," Daion tells Haishou. He's glad to hear it, but he doesn't understand. "If my love is alive, I'll live although my body is dead." She glares at him. She won't talk, even to save her own life.
"She didn't plan to go with you even if she had survived this," Huang tells Youngsil. "She didn't want to be a burden." He can't believe it: "She was going to leave me hanging again?" "Live for us," Huang tells him, his breathing increasingly labored. "Live for the imperial concubine and for me as well. That's all she asks of you." Those are his last words. He loses consciousness and dies.
Evening: A noose is prepared for Daion in her chambers. Just as she turns to face it, we hear loud noises. Fireworks! Lots of them. On a hill a ways away, we see Youngsil shooting them off. Daion immediately knows, and is both exalted and moved to tears by the beautiful gesture. At this point it's all he can do for her, to remind her of their night in Ep8. We continue to hear the fireworks going of as she steps up on a stepstool, takes the noose in her hands, and puts it over her neck. She has a happy face; the fireworks have freed her of all fear.
Alone in the dark, Youngsil weeps bitterly.
We see the footstool fall away. (This is a really weird sequence, mostly because of the hopeful, upbeat music that plays while this barbaric practice is taking place and while fireworks are going off.)
Flash-forward two years: It's now 1526. Evening in the capital city: We see a large group of northern civilians come walking into the city. The same young woman from before is in the front of the group. They're scattering leaflets that say, "We want a king for Joseon, not a king for the barbarians." As civilians read the leaflets, we suddenly hear a huge explosion. A massive fireball shoots up into the night sky. Then more and more. Dozens of buildings throughout the city are going up in flames. It's a widespread, terrifying attack. Queen Soheon emerges from her quarters and asks Yun Hwe what's happening. Yun tells her; she orders a messenger sent to Hwengsung immediately.
Hwengsung military base, in Gangwon Province: Sejong and various ministers and officials are at the facility; they've been there for two days. Prince Kyoungnyeong has come, too. A hunting tournament for the soldiers is scheduled for the next day, but Sejong feels ill at ease for some reason and wants to return home. Hwang Hee assures him that Yun Hwe will keep things under control until his return.
The queen is being briefed by ministers. Huh Jo explains that the bombs were planted by northerners who oppose the royal house. (This is just a brief scene, but it was very cool to see the queen standing at the head of the table and the ministers briefing her like she's the acting head of state. And she looked comfortable being there.)
Prince Kyoungnyeong and Jo Malseng, at the military facility, are standing together and stare off into the night. "They should be in action by now," Jo says with satisfaction. "Now the enraged public will bring a new king to the throne of Joseon." We realize that Jo has actually orchestrated a terror strike on his own people to try to bring down Sejong. And Kyoungnyeong is in on it too, no doubt seeking the throne for himself.
At the Yeongbyun Protectorate headquarters: "Release these patriotic citizens at once!" It's Jo Malseng; he's come out to see the Joseonese who are bound and detained. Jo says he doesn't consider barbarians humans. "Behind those pitiable faces lies evil," he says to Yi Su; "You're so naive." Then he orders Park Sil to send the refugees back over the border and to kill them if they attempt to return. The refugees cry, "Please don't do this! We come seeking a new home! We want to live in Joseon!" But they're hauled away nonetheless.
Inside, Yi Su confronts Jo: "They risked their lives to come here. Death is waiting for them if they go back." Jo doesn't care; Worry about your own people, he tells him. "We cannot grant naturalization to them under any circumstance." But Yi points out that only the king make such a decision. "Very well," Jo says; "If you want a fight, it's on."
Evening, in a refugee camp: Yi tells Gim he's putting him in charge of the Left Army (which, presumably, is Yi's job now). He instructs Gim to protect the refugees until he gets back. (So apparently they haven't been deported just yet.) Back from where? Then the freed Joseonese civilians show up, ominously scouting the camp and staring daggers at Yi Su. A dicey situation.
Jianzhou Jurchen military camp: Nighttime training is in progress. It's very intense. We're introduced to some new faces: three Jurchen military leaders. Li Manzhu is the head man; the other two are identified as Shen Zhananu and Linhala. We also see Tongmingge and Tongfancha, whom we've seen before (in Ep30). Strange stuff happens. Manzhu fires an arrow at Tongmingge, allegedly for making a "grave error"; Tongmingge is on horseback and dives off just in time to avoid getting hit. He also laughs about the refugee situation; he knows who Yi Su is and says, "It looks like he is on our side." Then he tells them that the present danger posed by the Ming situation could well become a "golden opportunity." (The Jianzhou are the southernmost of the Jurchen tribes. Hopefully future developments will make this scene clearer to us.)
Jo Malseng and Yi Su are before Sejong, arguing their positions. Sejong agrees that Joseon, as a superior state, should protect the refugees and welcome them. But Choi Yundeok is present, and Jo presses him to confirm a couple of things about Jurchens: that by the age of ten they're all fighting warriors, women included; and that they conduct their spying operations by planting spies around their borders, disguised as civilians. So, Jo asks Choi, couldn't this be an attempt by the Jurchen military to infiltrate Joseon? "The possibility is very high." The words come not from Choi's mouth but from Sejong's. "That's general Choi's answer. Right, general?" Choi, who we can see is not happy about any of this, grudgingly agrees with his king. But despite Jo's arguments, Sejong will not turn the refugees away. He instructs Yi Su to ferret out the spies and to educate and civilize the refugees and turn them into "true Joseonese." Jo strenuously objects--"This is excessive idealism!"--but to no avail. Sejong instructs Choi to win Jo over so that he'll be more welcoming to the refugees. Choi exhales; a tough job, no doubt.
Outside: "Don't bother trying to win me over," Jo tells Choi abruptly. We barely have enough food to feed our own people, he says; how are we going to feed others? From the side we hear: "By emptying out your pockets, perhaps." The Hall of Worthies scholars are all glaring at Jo. Choi Manli says to him, "They say you have a knack for making money. That you'll resort to dirty tricks and schemes to get what you want." "Cocky bastard," Jo snarls. Maybe I'm a cocky bastard, Choi says, but "what should I call you for fighting the king on every one of his endeavors?" Jo is getting annoyed and dismisses the scholars as "children," but then Gim Mun pipes up: "It's easy to oppose, but difficult to make it work." FACIAL! We heard Jo himself say this before, in Ep15. What a brilliant zinger. Gim asks him, "It's your favorite quote, isn't it sir?" At that point Jo has little more to say and walks away.
Jo is before prince Kyoungnyeong, who's concerned about the acceptance of the refugees and all of the problems it might bring. "For some reason our king does not seem to care," Jo complains, and says that this goes against history and will bring shame to our ancestors.
Later, Kyoungnyeong is alone, thinking, when his mother approaches him. "The king seems to have gone too far this time," Hyobin says. "In my opinion, my son...the time is finally ripe."
In a small meeting, Sejong orders resettlement funds distributed to the refugees. "Encourage interracial marriage as well." But Hwang Hee is concerned: "It is indeed noble to embrace them, but I worry about Ming's reaction." Yun Hwe agrees that Ming might think it's all a scheme to bring the Jurchens under Joseon's umbrella. Sejong isn't worried; our diplomats, he says, are more than competent enough to smooth everything out. For now let's wait until the current delegation returns from Ming and we'll develop a strategy then.
Ming: We see an unfamiliar building. It's identified as the headquarters of Dongchang, the emperor's secret intelligence agency. Haishou is leading Li Manzhu in. Li must surrender his sword, which he does; then the two walk down a hallway and multiple doors rapidly open for them (exactly like the beginning of "Get Smart!"; made me laugh.) At the end of the hall, we see a mysterious room. Inside the room a man sits, partially obscured by a fine netting that hangs from the ceiling. Haishou introduces Manzhu. The cold response: "I have no time for outsiders." Not sure how to react, Manzhu blurts out, "Joseon is after Liaodong, sir." The man has time for this. He stands and walks out to where we can see him; he's identified as Wang Zhen, leader of the agency. He has an ominous, sinister quality about him. He asks Haishou, "Is this true?" Haishou answers, "There is no other explanation for the king's involvement in naturalizing the Jurchens." "Leave!", Wang abruptly orders. But Manzhu expected more than that and says, "Something must be done, sir!" Bad move. Wang spins around and throws a knife that whizzes within an inch of Manzhu's head and thwacks into the far wall. "When I said leave, I meant I understood you." (Yikes.)
Outside in the hallway--they left--Manzhu asks what this all meant; Are we getting military aid? No, Haishou says; not for now. "The great Ming soldiers must send off the emperor." What?!
We see and hear trumpets being blown. They produce a mournful sound. In a busy Ming marketplace, the sellers scramble to close their booths. Huh Jo, Yi Chun, Choi Haesan and Jang Youngsil are in Ming on the diplomatic mission and are in the marketplace as this happens. The citizens all kneel and drop to the ground. The emperor is dead.
We see Daion; she hears the trumpets and starts to leave her chambers. But Haishou barges in and asks where she's going. "I must bid the emperor my last farewell," she says. "Don't bother," he tells her. "You'll be leaving with him." That does NOT sound good. They wouldn't possibly, would they?
Huang Yan grimly tells the delegation: sacrificial burial. Daion is to be put to death so that she can be buried with the emperor and accompany him to the afterlife. "This must be a mistake. How could they? Tell us that isn't not true," Choi demands. Youngsil is speechless and trembling. "I'm sorry," Huang says. "I wish I could stop this, but it's beyond my power." Choi grabs Huang by the shoulders and tells him that Youngsil was so excited about showing his official's uniform to her that he couldn't sleep at night. (Can't the guy speak for himself? Sheesh.) Youngsil drops to his knees and looks like he's having a panic attack of some sort.
Huh Jo and Yi Chun are in a room working quietly. Choi comes in and, seeing them, gets frustrated that they're doing nothing for Daion as she faces having to "accompany the emperor to hell." (Dude, keep your voice down or you'll accompany both of them.) But he's wrong. They're preparing a petition to protest the sacrificial burial. Daion is, after all, Joseonese.
"You're not thinking about doing something stupid, are you?" Choi is back with Youngsil. "I have to go somewhere." "You'll be back, right?" No answer. "I'll be waiting. I'm waiting for you here, and his majesty is waiting for you in Joseon." It's a clever, subtle reminder for Youngsil to remember the big picture. Youngsil leaves.
Yehjin and Huh Jo are speaking. "Give us Jang Youngsil," Yehjin says. "Then I'll see what I can do about stopping the sacrificial burial." Huh angrily tells him, "I'm not here to negotiate...I'm not simply trying to protect a Joseonese woman. Sacrificial burial is a barbaric custom. Chinese or Joseonese, taking a life to be buried with the dead is a ridiculous thing to do. So you must abolish this tradition if you are a civilized empire." Not unless we make a deal, Yehjin says adamantly. Then Youngsil comes in. Yehjin expected him to show up: "I knew you'd come to me on your own. You have a soft heart." But Youngsil tells him he won't make a deal either. That's not what Yehjin expected, but he tells Youngsil, "Just don't forget the previous deal you made with me." Huh's eyebrows fly up. "The previous deal?", he says as they leave; "What's that about?" (Yeah, please tell us. It's about time.)
Back in their quarters, Huh wants to know what this other deal was. "Are you being a spy for Ming? Then I should turn you over to Ming and save the concubine. A human life is more important than technology." Finally Youngsil comes clean, and it's not as bad as we feared. "I agreed to share my future discoveries with Ming in return for their astronomical knowledge. Just as the benefits of astronomical knowledge do not belong to the Chinese alone, I believe my future discoveries and inventions and their benefits are to be shared with all people." Why did he want to hide such a thing? "I didn't want to stir up needless suspicions." It would put Yehjin in a bad situation for having shared Ming's technology. "You're smarter than I thought," Huh tells him. "I'm beginning to see why the king went through so much to protect you." Then Youngsil asks about Daion. "I'll try my best to save her," Huh says, "but it doesn't look good." Youngsil is downcast but suddenly brightens with an idea. "I couldn't have acquired the astronomical technology without her," he says. "If we can't save her by official means, then we'll have to use unofficial means. I think it's a life worth saving. How about you, sir?" (I didn't understand that last line of reasoning at all.)
The next day: Huang Yan leads several men into Daion's quarters. They're carrying a large wooden box that looks like a casket. Huang tells Daion, "You only have a few minutes." They put down the casket and--surprise!--Youngsil climbs out of it like some kind of Jang-in-the-box. Huang and the men leave. Daion looks at him in his official's robe and tells him, "I'm glad that this last image of you is so splendid and that I can take this last moment with me." She smiles. "You don't have to go," Youngsil tells her; "I'm not letting you go anywhere." "That's absurd," she replies. "Don't do anything for me. If you put yourself in danger for me, I'll never forgive you." He kneels and pleads with her; she starts to cry and admits, "I'm scared." He hugs her. "Trust me. I'm not letting you go anywhere. I'm not going to lose you again."
The three other Joseonese are talking privately. There's some kind of a plan afoot to slip another body into the casket in place of Daion. Huang Yan is trying to make it happen. Huh Jo says he's surprised at Huang; he figured Huang would be just another irritating bureaucrat but Huang is "actively trying to help us." Choi immediately pipes in with, "Oh, that's because he's Joseonese too!" He shouldn't have said that--and immediately realizes it. This is supposed to be a closely guarded secret. Huh and Yi Chun didn't know it and are both very surprised to hear it. And they're not the only ones. Outside, Haishou and his men have been eavesdropping. Oh crap.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Youngsil tells Daion. "Will I ever get to go back to Donglae?", she wonders. Then she reminisces about the fireworks that Youngsil made and set off for her in Ep8. "Just get through tonight," he says. "And I'll show you so many fireworks you'll get sick of them." She smiles, her spirits lifted.
Spy chief Wang tells Haishou, "It will be a tragic loss."
The next morning: Haishou barges in on Daion. "Disappointed that it's not Huang Yan?" Uh-oh.
A tortured, beaten body is dragged through the spy agency building. It's Huang Yan. He's brought before chief Wang and dumped on the floor. "I held you in high regard," Wang says. "I would have spared you if you hadn't betrayed us even if you are Joseonese." "I have a request," Huang says. "Let me choose the place I die." "Do you think I'd grant you that request?" "It's a small request considering I gave my life in service of Ming." Wang instantly whips out a knife, throws it, and it buries itself in Huang's chest. "I didn't aim for your heart. That's the limit of my mercy." But if the knife isn't in his heart, it sure is awfully close.
"Do you wish to live?" Haishou is badgering Daion again. "What classified information did Jang Youngsil take from Ming? I can spare you if you tell me what it is."
The four Joseonese are in their quarters, silent and at a loss to know what to do. Then Huang Yan comes through the door and literally falls into the room, bleeding severely. "I'm sorry," he tells them, gasping. Youngsil makes a move to leave, but Huang manages to grab and hold his arm. "If you go to the palace, you'll die," he says; "Do you think that's what the imperial concubine wants?"
"I will not die," Daion tells Haishou. He's glad to hear it, but he doesn't understand. "If my love is alive, I'll live although my body is dead." She glares at him. She won't talk, even to save her own life.
"She didn't plan to go with you even if she had survived this," Huang tells Youngsil. "She didn't want to be a burden." He can't believe it: "She was going to leave me hanging again?" "Live for us," Huang tells him, his breathing increasingly labored. "Live for the imperial concubine and for me as well. That's all she asks of you." Those are his last words. He loses consciousness and dies.
Evening: A noose is prepared for Daion in her chambers. Just as she turns to face it, we hear loud noises. Fireworks! Lots of them. On a hill a ways away, we see Youngsil shooting them off. Daion immediately knows, and is both exalted and moved to tears by the beautiful gesture. At this point it's all he can do for her, to remind her of their night in Ep8. We continue to hear the fireworks going of as she steps up on a stepstool, takes the noose in her hands, and puts it over her neck. She has a happy face; the fireworks have freed her of all fear.
Alone in the dark, Youngsil weeps bitterly.
We see the footstool fall away. (This is a really weird sequence, mostly because of the hopeful, upbeat music that plays while this barbaric practice is taking place and while fireworks are going off.)
Flash-forward two years: It's now 1526. Evening in the capital city: We see a large group of northern civilians come walking into the city. The same young woman from before is in the front of the group. They're scattering leaflets that say, "We want a king for Joseon, not a king for the barbarians." As civilians read the leaflets, we suddenly hear a huge explosion. A massive fireball shoots up into the night sky. Then more and more. Dozens of buildings throughout the city are going up in flames. It's a widespread, terrifying attack. Queen Soheon emerges from her quarters and asks Yun Hwe what's happening. Yun tells her; she orders a messenger sent to Hwengsung immediately.
Hwengsung military base, in Gangwon Province: Sejong and various ministers and officials are at the facility; they've been there for two days. Prince Kyoungnyeong has come, too. A hunting tournament for the soldiers is scheduled for the next day, but Sejong feels ill at ease for some reason and wants to return home. Hwang Hee assures him that Yun Hwe will keep things under control until his return.
The queen is being briefed by ministers. Huh Jo explains that the bombs were planted by northerners who oppose the royal house. (This is just a brief scene, but it was very cool to see the queen standing at the head of the table and the ministers briefing her like she's the acting head of state. And she looked comfortable being there.)
Prince Kyoungnyeong and Jo Malseng, at the military facility, are standing together and stare off into the night. "They should be in action by now," Jo says with satisfaction. "Now the enraged public will bring a new king to the throne of Joseon." We realize that Jo has actually orchestrated a terror strike on his own people to try to bring down Sejong. And Kyoungnyeong is in on it too, no doubt seeking the throne for himself.