Post by ajk on Apr 7, 2009 14:42:59 GMT -5
July 981: We see the funeral of King Gyeongjong. Narration tells us that he died at age 26, in the sixth year of his reign, and that he started out as a good king but became neglectful toward the end, drinking and keeping inferior men around him. The funeral is an impressive scene, with everyone in their white mourning garments.
A few weeks later: Hunae, still in her mourning garment, is before her brother, the new king Sungjong. He tells her that he's arranged for her to live at a villa outside of the palace. And then, awkwardly, drops the bomb on her that she's to leave her son behind. He'll raise the boy. She's furious, even more so because he won't come clean about why he's doing this. She knows the rumors about him and the Shillans; is this their doing? And she assures him she has no interest in the throne for the boy. She then angrily warns him not to separate her from her child. And with that, she storms out.
In a conference hall: Ministers are discussing Hunae's departure; this is customary for queens and escorts, but why separate her from her child? Nobody understands this and they have quite a discussion about it. But Jimong tells them that it's the king's decision and that's that.
Hunae tells her sister she's never leaving alone and will protect her son. They decide to leave the capital entirely and go back to Hwangju together.
Hwangju: Outside the grounds of Myeongbok Palace, Gang Jo’s sister Hyangbi brings a pipa (mandolin) that's been delivered for Gang Gamchan. With it is a letter from Prince Gyeongjuwon, apologizing to Gamchan for leaving him. But, he says, "we have different paths to follow." I'm a drifter and you "are a man with what it takes to deliver this country from distress." He asks Gamchan to deliver the instrument to "the lady at the palace," presumably meaning Hunjeong. Gamchan grumbles about the prince leaving him to "walk into the storm alone."
At Hunae's and Hunjeong's villa: The empress dowager has come to see her granddaughters. Hunae has had her son taken away from her, and her brother the king refuses to see her. Hunae is so distraught she can't even eat. The empress dowager tells her, I told you so, this is why your son needed to inherit the throne. (Way to be comforting, gramma.) Swearing she has no interest in the throne for the boy, Hunae begs her grandmother to speak to her brother on her behalf.
The empress dowager heads toward the palace, and on the way encounters Seo Hui and Yi Jibaek, who congratulate her on her grandson's ascension. Then they tell her that the Buddhist festival Palguanhwe has been abolished, which is unwelcome bad news for her.
The king and Lady Yunheung (Kim Wonsoong's daughter Buyoung) are in the empress hall, where Yunheung is apparently living now. The king tells her that Hunae's baby is here in the palace. "For this country, for my sister and the child, that was the only thing I could do." Nonsense, but she offers to take care of the baby, which makes the king happy. Then the empress dowager is announced and enters. She's disgusted that Yunheung is in the empress hall. King asks her to leave, which she does (and outside has a staredown with Queen Mundeok, the king's first wife (finally we have a name for her)). Then the empress dowager confronts him about Palguanhwe: it "was one of King Taejo's last wishes" and is useful for demonstrating Goryeo's prestige to foreign diplomats. He tries to argue that he wants a Confucian country for the sake of teaching good morals, but she fires back, "Was it by these teachings that you took the infant son away from a sister who once saved you life?" (Nice comeback; very sharp.) Did the Shillans put you up to this?, she wants to know. And she demands, Give me the boy and I'll take care of him. You can't talk to me like that any more, the king warns her, and I'm keeping the boy to prevent "the butchery and hatred your grudge could bring" if you raised him. She storms out.
The empress dowager returns to her granddaughters' villa with the bad news. Come back with me to Hwangju, she says; your brother is "hopeless" and we've lost him now; he's a puppet under Shillans' control. Hunae weeps bitterly at having to leave her son behind.
Narration tells us that in the second year of Sungjong's reign, he appointed Choe Seunglo to be Junior First Grade Chancellor. Choe drew up an extensive plan for the implementation of Confucianism nationwide, and for the organization of the country into twelve administrative divisions to stop the abuse of regional lords and to centralize government.
We see Kim Woonsong being congratulated by Foreman Jo. He's just been named Minister of Revenue. Kim smiles broadly: "I deserve this considering the huge investment I made, right?" He says it's "the perfect job for a numbers expert like me." Then he tells Kim, I'll be too busy to attend fully to my business interests, so you'll have to fill in for me. My first job, Kim tells him, will be to "put us in charge of transporting taxes paid in grain." This is a lucrative government contract--so lucrative it could give him major power in the country. They're also hoping to control foreign trade.
Hunjeong is playing her mandolin; Gamchan approaches and compliments her skill. Have you heard from him?, she asks anxiously regarding Gyeongjuwon. No he says; "If I knew where he was, I would go after him and give him a huge noogie for making me study for the civil service exam at my age." (Yes, that's right, a huge noogie.) But I'm sure we'll see him again someday, he says. She's clearly still in love with the prince.
Hwangju: Outside the grounds of Myeongbok Palace, Hyangbi brings Hunae to Gang Jo; they're worried about the queen not getting any fresh air. They have her old bow and arrow there for her and encourage her to take some practice, but she's not up to it. How about a horse ride? She shakes her head. Just then Yi Jibaek and Yi Gyeoumi show up from the capital. Hunae suddenly livens with excitement; Is it time for me to see my son? She was supposed to get to see him every three months, we learn. But no, that's not why the Yis are there. They do tell her that the boy is healthy and well, which she's glad to hear, and that Lady Yunheung is taking care of him.
The king has declared himself to be a "servant of the emperor of Song." (Song as in Song China.) He's apparently demoted the entire country. He says it's because its name comes from the former vassal state and because he intends to seek Song approval of Goryeo royal investitures. And in fact, Song officials are on their way for the king's own investiture.
The empress dowager is told about this by the Yis; she's furious and wants to do something to oppose. The Yis tell her that Seo Hui is trying to change the king's mind, but the Shillans dominate the court and it's pretty much hopeless. But she's undeterred; she thinks Sungjong is ruining the country and wants to stop him.
The king is told by ministers that they're prepared for the Song officials' arrival tomorrow. Seo Hui tries again: "Must you reduce this empire of Goryeo to a feudal sate? There is no reason to lower yourself by proclaiming to be a vassalage to Song. I beg you to reconsider." Nope.
The next day: We see the boat with the Song envoys arriving. We also are surprised to see Gang Jo and Yi Sulhwa walking around the scene incognito. The envoys disembark and are received by Goryeo officials. Suddenly, an attack! Gang, Yi and other citizens quickly overpower the small security force present and converge on the envoys....
The king is told that the Song envoys have been kidnapped and that it was soldiers from Myeongbok palace did it. Choe Jimong tells him that there must be consequences for the empress dowager. Kim Wonsoong urges him to take military action.
Royal soldiers arrive in Hwangju. Gang Jo wants to fight them. Gamchan tells him it's a reckless idea, would be killing our countrymen, and most importantly, is high treason. Jo agrees, but the empress dowager doesn't want to back down, so he won't either. Ugh.
In the front grounds of the palace: The royal soldiers confront Gang Jo's troops. They fire warning arrows (although killing one or two men in the process) and demand surrender. But Gang's men unsheathe their swords and prepare to meet them head on. Just then: "Stop this at once!" The empress dowager, her granddaughters in tow, steps right out into the middle of the ground and demands an explanation for the presence of armed guards in the palace. The commanding officer politely tells her that it's the king's order that your men disarm and you turn over the kidnapped envoys. But she's in quite a state. You're desecrating this sacred place, she tells him angrily. And the king, I raised him; if he wants to command, me bring him here in person. "Bring that bastard Chi at once!" At that, she suddenly grasps her chest and falls, unconscious.
Later, in her bed, she revives and asks Hunae what happened. We had no choice but to surrender, Hunae tells her. Then, a sort of confession to Hunae: "The late emperor had every right to hate me. It is true that I harbored treasonous intent against Gwangjong to protect this clan. That's why his mother--my daughter--was killed. But I have no regrets. Our clan does not submit to anyone who tries to ruin the country that his majesty Taejo founded, even if that person occupies the throne." She's speaking haltingly and with difficulty, but continues despite Hunae's pleas that she be silent and rest. "Your brother is ruining this country. Shillan-descent officials are using your brother to ruin...to ruin this...You are the mistress of Myeongbok Palace now. Bring your son forward and restore this country Goryeo. Do you understand?" A tearful Hunae nods. "I'm sorry. I've put such a heavy burden on you...my poor child." And with that, she dies.
In the throne room: Gang Gamchan has come to inform the king of his grandmother's passing. And he tells the king that the citizen soldiers have been disbanded, "So regard Hwangju as an enemy no more, and grant forgiveness to those involved in this incident." The king tells Gamchan he'll go to Hwangju to pay his respects personally, but Gamchan gingerly tells him that Hunae doesn't want him there. "She asked me to tell you that you no longer have any ties to Hwangju." Ouch. It hits the king like a ton of bricks (but what did you expect, dude? You took her baby and you spurned the woman who raised you).
Later, walking outside, the king turns to his retinue and demands to be left alone. (In acknowledging the command, Go Hyun (who apparently is still the king’s head attendant now under Sungjong) starts to call him “your majesty” and then corrects himself to say “your highness.” An interesting moment—-it emphasizes the shift to a vassal state.) He goes off by himself into a secluded corner and weeps bitterly.
In the Hwangju clan shrine, we see that the empress dowager's portrait has been added. Hunae is before it, asking her grandmother for strength and protection.
Gamchan reports back to Hunae that the king will overlook the kidnapping but that the clan is restricted to employing no more than 100 private soldiers. Then she asks him to enter the royal court for her, to be there for her son.
Hunae goes to Gang Jo. She's feeling more like herself again, and they go for a horse ride. As they ride, the passing of years is suggested and by the end of the ride we see the adult Hunae...Similarly, we see Hunjeong playing her musical instrument, and as she plays we see her turn into a grown woman. And then we see Hunae shooting arrows on horseback (with preposterous accuracy, I have to say). She's smiling for the first time in a long, long while.
A few weeks later: Hunae, still in her mourning garment, is before her brother, the new king Sungjong. He tells her that he's arranged for her to live at a villa outside of the palace. And then, awkwardly, drops the bomb on her that she's to leave her son behind. He'll raise the boy. She's furious, even more so because he won't come clean about why he's doing this. She knows the rumors about him and the Shillans; is this their doing? And she assures him she has no interest in the throne for the boy. She then angrily warns him not to separate her from her child. And with that, she storms out.
In a conference hall: Ministers are discussing Hunae's departure; this is customary for queens and escorts, but why separate her from her child? Nobody understands this and they have quite a discussion about it. But Jimong tells them that it's the king's decision and that's that.
Hunae tells her sister she's never leaving alone and will protect her son. They decide to leave the capital entirely and go back to Hwangju together.
Hwangju: Outside the grounds of Myeongbok Palace, Gang Jo’s sister Hyangbi brings a pipa (mandolin) that's been delivered for Gang Gamchan. With it is a letter from Prince Gyeongjuwon, apologizing to Gamchan for leaving him. But, he says, "we have different paths to follow." I'm a drifter and you "are a man with what it takes to deliver this country from distress." He asks Gamchan to deliver the instrument to "the lady at the palace," presumably meaning Hunjeong. Gamchan grumbles about the prince leaving him to "walk into the storm alone."
At Hunae's and Hunjeong's villa: The empress dowager has come to see her granddaughters. Hunae has had her son taken away from her, and her brother the king refuses to see her. Hunae is so distraught she can't even eat. The empress dowager tells her, I told you so, this is why your son needed to inherit the throne. (Way to be comforting, gramma.) Swearing she has no interest in the throne for the boy, Hunae begs her grandmother to speak to her brother on her behalf.
The empress dowager heads toward the palace, and on the way encounters Seo Hui and Yi Jibaek, who congratulate her on her grandson's ascension. Then they tell her that the Buddhist festival Palguanhwe has been abolished, which is unwelcome bad news for her.
The king and Lady Yunheung (Kim Wonsoong's daughter Buyoung) are in the empress hall, where Yunheung is apparently living now. The king tells her that Hunae's baby is here in the palace. "For this country, for my sister and the child, that was the only thing I could do." Nonsense, but she offers to take care of the baby, which makes the king happy. Then the empress dowager is announced and enters. She's disgusted that Yunheung is in the empress hall. King asks her to leave, which she does (and outside has a staredown with Queen Mundeok, the king's first wife (finally we have a name for her)). Then the empress dowager confronts him about Palguanhwe: it "was one of King Taejo's last wishes" and is useful for demonstrating Goryeo's prestige to foreign diplomats. He tries to argue that he wants a Confucian country for the sake of teaching good morals, but she fires back, "Was it by these teachings that you took the infant son away from a sister who once saved you life?" (Nice comeback; very sharp.) Did the Shillans put you up to this?, she wants to know. And she demands, Give me the boy and I'll take care of him. You can't talk to me like that any more, the king warns her, and I'm keeping the boy to prevent "the butchery and hatred your grudge could bring" if you raised him. She storms out.
The empress dowager returns to her granddaughters' villa with the bad news. Come back with me to Hwangju, she says; your brother is "hopeless" and we've lost him now; he's a puppet under Shillans' control. Hunae weeps bitterly at having to leave her son behind.
Narration tells us that in the second year of Sungjong's reign, he appointed Choe Seunglo to be Junior First Grade Chancellor. Choe drew up an extensive plan for the implementation of Confucianism nationwide, and for the organization of the country into twelve administrative divisions to stop the abuse of regional lords and to centralize government.
We see Kim Woonsong being congratulated by Foreman Jo. He's just been named Minister of Revenue. Kim smiles broadly: "I deserve this considering the huge investment I made, right?" He says it's "the perfect job for a numbers expert like me." Then he tells Kim, I'll be too busy to attend fully to my business interests, so you'll have to fill in for me. My first job, Kim tells him, will be to "put us in charge of transporting taxes paid in grain." This is a lucrative government contract--so lucrative it could give him major power in the country. They're also hoping to control foreign trade.
Hunjeong is playing her mandolin; Gamchan approaches and compliments her skill. Have you heard from him?, she asks anxiously regarding Gyeongjuwon. No he says; "If I knew where he was, I would go after him and give him a huge noogie for making me study for the civil service exam at my age." (Yes, that's right, a huge noogie.) But I'm sure we'll see him again someday, he says. She's clearly still in love with the prince.
Hwangju: Outside the grounds of Myeongbok Palace, Hyangbi brings Hunae to Gang Jo; they're worried about the queen not getting any fresh air. They have her old bow and arrow there for her and encourage her to take some practice, but she's not up to it. How about a horse ride? She shakes her head. Just then Yi Jibaek and Yi Gyeoumi show up from the capital. Hunae suddenly livens with excitement; Is it time for me to see my son? She was supposed to get to see him every three months, we learn. But no, that's not why the Yis are there. They do tell her that the boy is healthy and well, which she's glad to hear, and that Lady Yunheung is taking care of him.
The king has declared himself to be a "servant of the emperor of Song." (Song as in Song China.) He's apparently demoted the entire country. He says it's because its name comes from the former vassal state and because he intends to seek Song approval of Goryeo royal investitures. And in fact, Song officials are on their way for the king's own investiture.
The empress dowager is told about this by the Yis; she's furious and wants to do something to oppose. The Yis tell her that Seo Hui is trying to change the king's mind, but the Shillans dominate the court and it's pretty much hopeless. But she's undeterred; she thinks Sungjong is ruining the country and wants to stop him.
The king is told by ministers that they're prepared for the Song officials' arrival tomorrow. Seo Hui tries again: "Must you reduce this empire of Goryeo to a feudal sate? There is no reason to lower yourself by proclaiming to be a vassalage to Song. I beg you to reconsider." Nope.
The next day: We see the boat with the Song envoys arriving. We also are surprised to see Gang Jo and Yi Sulhwa walking around the scene incognito. The envoys disembark and are received by Goryeo officials. Suddenly, an attack! Gang, Yi and other citizens quickly overpower the small security force present and converge on the envoys....
The king is told that the Song envoys have been kidnapped and that it was soldiers from Myeongbok palace did it. Choe Jimong tells him that there must be consequences for the empress dowager. Kim Wonsoong urges him to take military action.
Royal soldiers arrive in Hwangju. Gang Jo wants to fight them. Gamchan tells him it's a reckless idea, would be killing our countrymen, and most importantly, is high treason. Jo agrees, but the empress dowager doesn't want to back down, so he won't either. Ugh.
In the front grounds of the palace: The royal soldiers confront Gang Jo's troops. They fire warning arrows (although killing one or two men in the process) and demand surrender. But Gang's men unsheathe their swords and prepare to meet them head on. Just then: "Stop this at once!" The empress dowager, her granddaughters in tow, steps right out into the middle of the ground and demands an explanation for the presence of armed guards in the palace. The commanding officer politely tells her that it's the king's order that your men disarm and you turn over the kidnapped envoys. But she's in quite a state. You're desecrating this sacred place, she tells him angrily. And the king, I raised him; if he wants to command, me bring him here in person. "Bring that bastard Chi at once!" At that, she suddenly grasps her chest and falls, unconscious.
Later, in her bed, she revives and asks Hunae what happened. We had no choice but to surrender, Hunae tells her. Then, a sort of confession to Hunae: "The late emperor had every right to hate me. It is true that I harbored treasonous intent against Gwangjong to protect this clan. That's why his mother--my daughter--was killed. But I have no regrets. Our clan does not submit to anyone who tries to ruin the country that his majesty Taejo founded, even if that person occupies the throne." She's speaking haltingly and with difficulty, but continues despite Hunae's pleas that she be silent and rest. "Your brother is ruining this country. Shillan-descent officials are using your brother to ruin...to ruin this...You are the mistress of Myeongbok Palace now. Bring your son forward and restore this country Goryeo. Do you understand?" A tearful Hunae nods. "I'm sorry. I've put such a heavy burden on you...my poor child." And with that, she dies.
In the throne room: Gang Gamchan has come to inform the king of his grandmother's passing. And he tells the king that the citizen soldiers have been disbanded, "So regard Hwangju as an enemy no more, and grant forgiveness to those involved in this incident." The king tells Gamchan he'll go to Hwangju to pay his respects personally, but Gamchan gingerly tells him that Hunae doesn't want him there. "She asked me to tell you that you no longer have any ties to Hwangju." Ouch. It hits the king like a ton of bricks (but what did you expect, dude? You took her baby and you spurned the woman who raised you).
Later, walking outside, the king turns to his retinue and demands to be left alone. (In acknowledging the command, Go Hyun (who apparently is still the king’s head attendant now under Sungjong) starts to call him “your majesty” and then corrects himself to say “your highness.” An interesting moment—-it emphasizes the shift to a vassal state.) He goes off by himself into a secluded corner and weeps bitterly.
In the Hwangju clan shrine, we see that the empress dowager's portrait has been added. Hunae is before it, asking her grandmother for strength and protection.
Gamchan reports back to Hunae that the king will overlook the kidnapping but that the clan is restricted to employing no more than 100 private soldiers. Then she asks him to enter the royal court for her, to be there for her son.
Hunae goes to Gang Jo. She's feeling more like herself again, and they go for a horse ride. As they ride, the passing of years is suggested and by the end of the ride we see the adult Hunae...Similarly, we see Hunjeong playing her musical instrument, and as she plays we see her turn into a grown woman. And then we see Hunae shooting arrows on horseback (with preposterous accuracy, I have to say). She's smiling for the first time in a long, long while.