Post by ajk on May 15, 2009 12:18:58 GMT -5
"They have joined forces? No, that's impossible," the king says; it's too farfetched. But Wonsoong proceeds to spin a wild tale: the Shillans, who couldn't persuade Prince Gyeongjuwon to seek the throne, are trying again. And this time they've teamed up with Hunae to do it. The prince is now at Myeongbok Palace and "in secret contact with Choe Sum." And Seol being pregnant with the prince's child is a "symbol of the union" between Hwangju and the Shillans. The Shillans are annoyed with you, he tells the king, because you're not in the palm of their hands any more. They want control of the throne again, and Hunae wants her son back. So they've joined forces against you. It's a carefully constructed lie and he sells it well enough for the king to take it seriously. If you don't believe me, he says, "have them watched." And he says, The only people you can trust right now are me and the queen.
Myeongbok Palace: Princess Sun is shooting arrows under Hunae's guidance, looking much stronger and seemingly getting past her mother's death.
The king orders Myeongbok Palace and Choe Sum's manor placed under surveillance. And decides to have Gamchan tailed too, because he's a friend of Gyeongjuwon.
Back at Myeongbok: Gyeongjuwon tells Gamchan that once the baby is born, he and the family will be leaving the palace for a secret location.
Sulhwa tells Hunae about the violence between Gang Jo and the two Jurchens. Hunae wonders what could be provoking it, since it's not like Gang to pick a fight.
Chiyang tries to confront Gang Jo. He gets right to the point; "Do you believe Sa Illa killed your friend?" She wasn't there, Chiyang says, she was at a Jurchen market that day and you can verify that. Gang doesn't buy it, of course, but Chiyang tells him not to accuse her of the murder based only on the bladed boomerang. And stop distrusting us, he says; we have no reason to want to harm Hunae. Tired of hearing this, Gang Jo drives a sword into the ground and they glare at each other...and then Hunae shows up demanding an explanation. Silence. She takes Chiyang inside and wants his side of it. It's just trivia, he says, and not worth concerning you. She accepts that, but warns him to show respect to Gang Jo.
Gang Jo and Hyangbi are talking. He's sending her to Hangae Temple, which is where Mr. Chu found his lead. He knows that something about Chiyang is being hidden and wants to ferret it out.
Chiyang sends Sa Gamun and Sa Illa to check on the welfare of their Jurchen tribe. He also criticizes Sa Illa for using her boomerang to kill Chu instead of a more common weapon, because it put her under suspicion.
Gang Jo has gone to Choe Sum's manor. Steward Mun receives him. Gang wants to ask Choe some questions about Chu's death. As he enters, someone is watching....
Inside, Gang Jo asks Choe if he's ever heard the name Kim Chiyang. No, he says. Do you know of Hangae Temple? "I detest temples," he says, which doesn't answer the question. (I guess this is a Buddhist/Confucianist thing; we do know that the Shillans in the government are Confucianists.) Gang tells him that sixteen years ago, a group of armed men attacked the temple, killed monks and seemed to be searching for Kim Chiyang. They were your father's men. Choe reacts angrily: "What is this preposterous accusation?" But Jo assures him that he's only seeking facts for an investigation. It's apparent to Gang Jo that Choe really doesn't know anything about any of this. An irritated Choe tells Gang to leave.
The king is informed of Gang Jo's visit. This convinces him that Wonsoong is telling him the truth and that there's a treasonous plot against him.
Choe Sum is talking to Steward Mun about the temple incident Gang asked him about. "I didn't think anyone knew," he says--so he does know about it. But he genuinely doesn't seem familiar with Kim Chiyang's name. The incident must remain covered up, Choe says; it would disgrace his dead father and Choe could never return to his home town.
Wonsoong is giving Jo Du an assignment, something that must be done secretly. No details, but there's an ominous feel to it....
The king is wrestling with conflicting thoughts; he's still not convinced that his sister would be involved in such a plot.
Hunae and Princess Sun are talking. Hunae misses her son. Sun enjoyed her time with him in the royal palace and says she misses him too. How far apart are you in age?, Hunae asks. Three years. We can practically see the gears turning in Hunae's head as she smiles to herself.
Gamchan brings Hunae's latest letter to her son. He slips it to the boy's attendant. From a distance, a man is watching....
The king is told of this. He leaves the throne room and heads straight for the prince's quarters...and catches the boy red-handed reading the letter. He reads the letter himself, shaking with anger, and demands to know if there were others. Search the room, he orders, and a pile of other letters is found.
Queen Munhwa is told about the commotion.
The king orders the boy's attendant whipped until someone tells him how long this has been going on. Just then the queen arrives and tries to calm things down, but then learns about the letters. The king orders the attendant imprisoned and the general of the guards called. He's furious at the boy and even asks him if he covets the throne. Which is going too far.
Gamchan is sitting in a room talking with Seo Hui and Yi Jibaek, when palace guards suddenly barge in and arrest him.
Myeongbok Palace: Yi Jujeong and Escort Yun tell Hunae that there's still tension between Gang Jo and the three Jurchens.
At the Myeongbok archery ground; Sulhwa is by herself looking at the perfume case that Sa Gamun gave her. Then Gamun shows up and starts to try to make nice with her. But then Hunae shows up looking for Gang Jo. Sulhwa tells him he left yesterday for Gaegyeong; nobody knows why. Sa Gamun hears this...
...and tells Chiyang. So that's why we haven't seen him. And we haven't seen Hyangbi either. Something's up, they fear. "If Gang Jo finds out about our identity," Sa Gamun says, "all of our efforts will be in vain." (What identity? Still not a clue about any of this.) We have to be patient, Chiyang says; if we kill him there will be a huge ruckus, so it can only be a last resort.
Hunae asks Chiyang again if there's trouble between him and Gang Jo. He tells her, There's one other thing I didn't mention before; Gang may suspect me of ordering Chu's death. He tells her about the bladed boomerang thing, and says that Sa Illa wouldn't be foolish enough to use such a distinctive weapon to do such a thing. And Hunae buys that. Is that all of it?, she asks. Yes, I think he's just upset over the death, Chiyang says, and I think time will heal him. He's managed to snow her over, apparently.
Wonsoong and Jo Sun are laughing hysterically because of Gamchan's imprisonment for passing notes. They can't believe how well this is working out. "All we need now," Jo Sun says, "is for Jo Du to do his job and everything will be perfect."
Seol had an upsetting dream that she had her baby and then hubby had to leave her. Hunae pooh-poohs it; You two might as well be tied at the ankles, she says.
Evening: Gyeongjuwon is alone, headed for the palace library. Suddenly Jo Du grabs him and holds a knife to his throat. Choe Sum sent me, he says; he wants to speak to you, and you better go or else your pregnancy will be exposed. You must leave now; all you have to do is see Choe. And the man runs off.
An angry king is reading all of Hunae's letters to her son. Choe Ryang, the minister of personnel, wants to see him, but the king turns him away, muttering "I can't trust anyone!"
Choe Ryang tells the non-Shillan ministers why Gamchan has been locked up. We have to do something about this, they realize, or the Shillans will use this to further malign Myeongbok Palace. But the king is too angry to see anyone right now.
The king goes to see Gamchan in his cell. Gamchan admits to delivering the letters. Your order forbidding their contact was too cruel, he says, but I'll accept my punishment for disobedience. Then the king accuses him of arranging Seol's and Gyeongjuwon's union and demands the truth about the rumored pregnancy. Yes, she's pregnant, he admits, and then tries to explain the whole story, but the king won't hear it and accuses him of treason against the throne.
A distressed Seol tells her sister that Gyeongjuwon has disappeared. He left a letter saying that something urgent came up and he had to go to Gaegyeong.
Gang Jo returns to Myeongbok. Hunae is waiting for him and wants an explanation. Is this all because you suspect Foreman Kim? Even after Seo Hui confirmed his identity, and after he saved my life once and works hard for the palace? Stop bickering with him, she says.
Choe Sum is surprised to hear that Gyeongjuwon has come to see him. Choe receives him and asks him why he's here. Which the prince is surprised to hear.
The king is told that Gyeongjuwon is at Choe Sum's manor. He orders the royal guards assembled and his own armor brought to him. He's going to lead the troops there himself.
I don't even know where you live, Choe tells the prince; how could I have invited you here? At that the prince gets nervous and starts to bolt, but Choe and the other Shillans there invite him to stay for a visit. Okay, the prince says, but only if you don't mention the throne. Everyone laughs. Then outside, soldiers arrive and shout out an order to Gyeongjuwon to face arrest. Everyone comes outside, and they're ALL arrested as criminals of high treason, including Choe Sum.
Myeongbok Palace: Princess Sun is shooting arrows under Hunae's guidance, looking much stronger and seemingly getting past her mother's death.
The king orders Myeongbok Palace and Choe Sum's manor placed under surveillance. And decides to have Gamchan tailed too, because he's a friend of Gyeongjuwon.
Back at Myeongbok: Gyeongjuwon tells Gamchan that once the baby is born, he and the family will be leaving the palace for a secret location.
Sulhwa tells Hunae about the violence between Gang Jo and the two Jurchens. Hunae wonders what could be provoking it, since it's not like Gang to pick a fight.
Chiyang tries to confront Gang Jo. He gets right to the point; "Do you believe Sa Illa killed your friend?" She wasn't there, Chiyang says, she was at a Jurchen market that day and you can verify that. Gang doesn't buy it, of course, but Chiyang tells him not to accuse her of the murder based only on the bladed boomerang. And stop distrusting us, he says; we have no reason to want to harm Hunae. Tired of hearing this, Gang Jo drives a sword into the ground and they glare at each other...and then Hunae shows up demanding an explanation. Silence. She takes Chiyang inside and wants his side of it. It's just trivia, he says, and not worth concerning you. She accepts that, but warns him to show respect to Gang Jo.
Gang Jo and Hyangbi are talking. He's sending her to Hangae Temple, which is where Mr. Chu found his lead. He knows that something about Chiyang is being hidden and wants to ferret it out.
Chiyang sends Sa Gamun and Sa Illa to check on the welfare of their Jurchen tribe. He also criticizes Sa Illa for using her boomerang to kill Chu instead of a more common weapon, because it put her under suspicion.
Gang Jo has gone to Choe Sum's manor. Steward Mun receives him. Gang wants to ask Choe some questions about Chu's death. As he enters, someone is watching....
Inside, Gang Jo asks Choe if he's ever heard the name Kim Chiyang. No, he says. Do you know of Hangae Temple? "I detest temples," he says, which doesn't answer the question. (I guess this is a Buddhist/Confucianist thing; we do know that the Shillans in the government are Confucianists.) Gang tells him that sixteen years ago, a group of armed men attacked the temple, killed monks and seemed to be searching for Kim Chiyang. They were your father's men. Choe reacts angrily: "What is this preposterous accusation?" But Jo assures him that he's only seeking facts for an investigation. It's apparent to Gang Jo that Choe really doesn't know anything about any of this. An irritated Choe tells Gang to leave.
The king is informed of Gang Jo's visit. This convinces him that Wonsoong is telling him the truth and that there's a treasonous plot against him.
Choe Sum is talking to Steward Mun about the temple incident Gang asked him about. "I didn't think anyone knew," he says--so he does know about it. But he genuinely doesn't seem familiar with Kim Chiyang's name. The incident must remain covered up, Choe says; it would disgrace his dead father and Choe could never return to his home town.
Wonsoong is giving Jo Du an assignment, something that must be done secretly. No details, but there's an ominous feel to it....
The king is wrestling with conflicting thoughts; he's still not convinced that his sister would be involved in such a plot.
Hunae and Princess Sun are talking. Hunae misses her son. Sun enjoyed her time with him in the royal palace and says she misses him too. How far apart are you in age?, Hunae asks. Three years. We can practically see the gears turning in Hunae's head as she smiles to herself.
Gamchan brings Hunae's latest letter to her son. He slips it to the boy's attendant. From a distance, a man is watching....
The king is told of this. He leaves the throne room and heads straight for the prince's quarters...and catches the boy red-handed reading the letter. He reads the letter himself, shaking with anger, and demands to know if there were others. Search the room, he orders, and a pile of other letters is found.
Queen Munhwa is told about the commotion.
The king orders the boy's attendant whipped until someone tells him how long this has been going on. Just then the queen arrives and tries to calm things down, but then learns about the letters. The king orders the attendant imprisoned and the general of the guards called. He's furious at the boy and even asks him if he covets the throne. Which is going too far.
Gamchan is sitting in a room talking with Seo Hui and Yi Jibaek, when palace guards suddenly barge in and arrest him.
Myeongbok Palace: Yi Jujeong and Escort Yun tell Hunae that there's still tension between Gang Jo and the three Jurchens.
At the Myeongbok archery ground; Sulhwa is by herself looking at the perfume case that Sa Gamun gave her. Then Gamun shows up and starts to try to make nice with her. But then Hunae shows up looking for Gang Jo. Sulhwa tells him he left yesterday for Gaegyeong; nobody knows why. Sa Gamun hears this...
...and tells Chiyang. So that's why we haven't seen him. And we haven't seen Hyangbi either. Something's up, they fear. "If Gang Jo finds out about our identity," Sa Gamun says, "all of our efforts will be in vain." (What identity? Still not a clue about any of this.) We have to be patient, Chiyang says; if we kill him there will be a huge ruckus, so it can only be a last resort.
Hunae asks Chiyang again if there's trouble between him and Gang Jo. He tells her, There's one other thing I didn't mention before; Gang may suspect me of ordering Chu's death. He tells her about the bladed boomerang thing, and says that Sa Illa wouldn't be foolish enough to use such a distinctive weapon to do such a thing. And Hunae buys that. Is that all of it?, she asks. Yes, I think he's just upset over the death, Chiyang says, and I think time will heal him. He's managed to snow her over, apparently.
Wonsoong and Jo Sun are laughing hysterically because of Gamchan's imprisonment for passing notes. They can't believe how well this is working out. "All we need now," Jo Sun says, "is for Jo Du to do his job and everything will be perfect."
Seol had an upsetting dream that she had her baby and then hubby had to leave her. Hunae pooh-poohs it; You two might as well be tied at the ankles, she says.
Evening: Gyeongjuwon is alone, headed for the palace library. Suddenly Jo Du grabs him and holds a knife to his throat. Choe Sum sent me, he says; he wants to speak to you, and you better go or else your pregnancy will be exposed. You must leave now; all you have to do is see Choe. And the man runs off.
An angry king is reading all of Hunae's letters to her son. Choe Ryang, the minister of personnel, wants to see him, but the king turns him away, muttering "I can't trust anyone!"
Choe Ryang tells the non-Shillan ministers why Gamchan has been locked up. We have to do something about this, they realize, or the Shillans will use this to further malign Myeongbok Palace. But the king is too angry to see anyone right now.
The king goes to see Gamchan in his cell. Gamchan admits to delivering the letters. Your order forbidding their contact was too cruel, he says, but I'll accept my punishment for disobedience. Then the king accuses him of arranging Seol's and Gyeongjuwon's union and demands the truth about the rumored pregnancy. Yes, she's pregnant, he admits, and then tries to explain the whole story, but the king won't hear it and accuses him of treason against the throne.
A distressed Seol tells her sister that Gyeongjuwon has disappeared. He left a letter saying that something urgent came up and he had to go to Gaegyeong.
Gang Jo returns to Myeongbok. Hunae is waiting for him and wants an explanation. Is this all because you suspect Foreman Kim? Even after Seo Hui confirmed his identity, and after he saved my life once and works hard for the palace? Stop bickering with him, she says.
Choe Sum is surprised to hear that Gyeongjuwon has come to see him. Choe receives him and asks him why he's here. Which the prince is surprised to hear.
The king is told that Gyeongjuwon is at Choe Sum's manor. He orders the royal guards assembled and his own armor brought to him. He's going to lead the troops there himself.
I don't even know where you live, Choe tells the prince; how could I have invited you here? At that the prince gets nervous and starts to bolt, but Choe and the other Shillans there invite him to stay for a visit. Okay, the prince says, but only if you don't mention the throne. Everyone laughs. Then outside, soldiers arrive and shout out an order to Gyeongjuwon to face arrest. Everyone comes outside, and they're ALL arrested as criminals of high treason, including Choe Sum.