Post by ajk on Jul 7, 2009 12:37:31 GMT -5
Empress Dowager Xiao smiles. "You've finally learned to bend." But are you sincere? I'll do my best to be sincere, Hunae says, if you spare my subordinates. Xiao isn't convinced, though: "Your eyes, they haven't changed at all." Xiao is going to have to think about how Hunae can show her sincerity.
Hunae is sent to visit Chiyang in his sickbed. I'll probably never be able to leave here, Hunae believes, but Chiyang says that Han Derang, the prime minister, can change Xiao's mind--and he'll convince Han to do so.
The young emperor Shengzong is speaking with his mother and PM Han. What to do about the captured Goryeans? Shengzong has little tolerance and wants to execute them, but Han says that in questioning the prisoners, it's been confirmed that Hunae is indeed capable of causing huge disruption in the royal court if she's sent back to Goryeo with them. Would it be to great a risk to send her back, though? She might turn into a dangerous force. Xiao doesn't like either option: "She's too good to kill and too dangerous to send back to Goryeo. I want to have her for myself [and] make her my subordinate."
Yelu Pennu goes into Gang Jo's cell, carrying Gang Shin's shirt. It has writing on it. "I'm delivering it to you because I admire your and your brother's spearsmanship. It's too bad it will die with you." The letter pretty much says what the two told each other previously.
Park Yangyu and Gang Gamchan enter Chiyang's room and are reunited with Hunae. She learns of Gang Jo's intense efforts to search for her, and the trouble he's now caused as a result.
ED Xiao is drinking too much and looks upset. PM Han has been trying to convince her to let Hunae go, and she doesn't want to do it. But he reminds her that it could possibly bring down Goryeo without bloodshed. Xiao is worried that "we could be letting loose a tiger," but Han seriously doubts that: "She can't even control her own emotions." He has an idea, though: If you're worried about her, send a spy with her to send back reports.
Seo Hui is before King Sungjong. He advises the king against the idea of sending an envoy to Song. The king wants no part of Liao, "a barbarian state," but Seo says that We have to bide our time in order to organize our military and gain strength again. The king doesn't like it, but he understands. And again, he's not physically well--headache, tightness in his chest. He ends the meeting...
...and, retiring to his quarters, finds the queen waiting with a special meal for him. And she does a dance for him, with a white cloth--nothing extravagant, just something to lift his spirits. He's very moved by it, but he still looks tired and worn down.
Park Yangyu and Gang Gamchan are before Xiao, Shengzong and Han. Xiao tells them she's prepared to overlook the Goryean violence in the palace. And "for the sake of national friendship," she tells them, I'm sending Hunae back with you. Park and Gamchan are beside themselves with gratitude. But, PM Han says, there's one request in return. Xiao Sunning enters, along with his daughter, Xiao Zanli. She's to accompany the Goryeans home--and become the king's consort! Royal marriage is the best way to proclaim the new national friendship, the empress dowager says. Park is aghast--he can't make this call for the king, after all--but the Khitans press hard and all but insist.
Narration tells us that king Sungjong did indeed marry a Liao princess, according to historical record. It's just not clear exactly what her family ties were. But he did marry one.
Yelu Dilie and guards enter Gang Jo's cell and release him. What about Shin? Dilie doesn't know. Gang Jo runs outside and is reunited with Hunae. Hunae is moved with gratitude for his efforts. And he warns Hunae that Chiyang is a traitor and not to be trusted.
Sa Gamun and Sa Illa are reunited with Chiyang (with absurdly little emotion). It's time to move forward with our plan, Chiyang says; "I have got lady Sungdeok's heart in the palm of my hand." And if she should prove to be an obstacle, I've now gained another option: I can even call on Khitan for help. It's all starting to sound rather dark all of a sudden.
Back outside, Gang Jo tells Hunae of his watching from the attic as Chiyang pledged to obey ED Xiao and to make Hunae yield to her. But Hunae isn't concerned about it, thinking it was only what Chiyang had to say under duress, like she did. Then Hyangbi shows up with bad news: Shin is about to be executed. They run to the scene...
...and there's not a darned thing they can do about it. ED Xiao arrives and a firing squad of archers carries out the execution. Shin shouts his loyalty to Balhae as he dies.
King Sungjong is gardening! Well don't that beat all. He and Prince Gaeryeong are planting lettuce seeds. It's a good lesson for the boy: the king should know how his people make their living.
Gang Shin's body is upon a burning funeral pyre. He died a warrior's death, Gang Jo says, and that's what he always wanted. "But I'll never forget this. And I'm going to avenge his death with their blood someday."
Hunae is brought to ED Xiao. Hunae is angry about Gang Shin's execution, thinking that Xiao broke her word, but as Xiao quite correctly points out, "He was my subordinate, not yours." I didn't want to kill him either, she explains, "But if one traitor is allowed to live, a thousand more will betray me." Hunae glares, but she has no basis for being angry at her. In any event, that's not why Hunae was brought here. Xiao brought her here to offer her a bath. Huh?
We see Hunae and Xiao sitting side by side in two bathtubs. Flowers are all around them and two virgins are dropping flower petals into the tubs. Virgin BOYS! Xiao says they give off good energy (!?!), but it makes Hunae uncomfortable and they're sent away. Why is Xiao doing this? "I invited you because I honestly like you...You remind me of myself at your age. I was a lot like you--stubborn, fiery, with tunnel vision." And she tells Hunae that she's sending her back. No ulterior motive, she says; "I just feel like you're a sister or a daughter" and we have a lot in common. Hunae categorically rejects that notion, but Xiao talks about her late husband emperor Jinzong: "He grew up watching bloody family feuds, so he didn't make a very good king. He was morbidly suspicious of everyone around him and died an untimely death. Deep down he had a kind and gentle soul, but he died a tyrant. Wasn't your husband the same way?" Wow, he sure was. She's well-informed, gotta give her that.
PM Han is checking on his patient Chiyang. Chiyang is grateful for Han's expertise. And Han says he'll help Chiyang, "if you can put Goryeo in the palm of your hand." But don't turn your back on me, he warns, or "the consequences will be deadly at best." I won't let you down, Chiyang says. Getting awfully dark.
Back at the baths: Xiao continues talking. (Note: Here is all of what she said. It has the feel of foreshadowing so I felt it important to include unedited. Plus, well, if you know Machiavelli, then yikes.)
"You and I are very much alike, but you still have a lot to learn. You need to be able to hide your feelings to achieve your objective and bend according to need, but you're too rigid and easy to read. And you're too pigheaded for your own good, like a child. In order to conquer what you want, you need to become thoroughly unfeeling. I killed two of my sisters to get where I am today. And I poisoned the Prime Minister's wife in order to have him for myself. When you kill, you've to become an arch demon, so no one can dare look at you with disdain. But when you give to the people, give them the shirt off your back. If you win the heart of the people, you can't fall."
Gang Jo is still standing by the remains of the funeral pyre, seething and vowing revenge.
Park and Gamchan are trying to figure out what to do about the consort offer. Gamchan, as usual, sees the reality: We have to convince the king to accept this so we can have time to build up our military. And it's not like the Khitans want a prince of ours as a hostage; this could be much worse. But Park is worried because the king and queen are so close to each other.
Wonsoong has been writing something; actually, he didn't write it, he paid a scholar to write it for him. It's a formal proposal for the government to mint metal coins. He tells his subordinates, "This is going to be our bread and butter in the future." Obviously he has an angle on how to profit from this.
Hunae is dining with ED Xiao and PM Han. The lovers are comfortable and affectionate with each other, which makes Hunae uncomfortable. Cultural difference. Hunae explains that it Goryeo, a widowed royal woman remains faithful to her dead husband; Han and Xiao find that "absurd. It's God's providence that a man and woman be together." Anyway, Xiao wants to give Hunae a gift to take back with her; all of the Goryean POWs. The one problem is that her son the emperor opposes it. "I may be the regent, but I can't make him look bad." So how about a contest for it? Hmm, what's this all about.
Khitans and Goryeans face each other across a large plaza; Shengzong, Xiao and Han oversee. This will be a friendly martial arts competition: no killing. And if Goryeo wins, the POWs get to go home. It's to be a series of duels; the competitors wear medallions tied around their midsections and the goal is to knock the opponent's medallion loose. The first competitors are Hyangbi and Dokyun, with swords. This goes on longer than it realistically should, but Dokyan gets in a skillful slash, the medallion falls to the ground and it's 1-0 Khitan. Next, Sa Illa vs. Hyeolmae and her whip. Sa Illa has to use a sword--no bladed boomerang here. The whip manages to pick off Sa Illa's medallion and it's 2-0. Next it's Yelu Wuji and Sa Gamun, with swords. Wuji is a lot bigger than Sa Gamun and pushes him around physically, but Sa Gamun gets a favorable turn and yanks Wuji's medallion off with his hand. 2-1. Next it's Yelu Pennu, who's supposedly the best Khitan warrior. Gang Jo steps up. Pennu has that long axelike weapon and it makes an intimidating whooshing noise with every swing. Seems like a much more formidable weapon than a spear, but Gang Jo manages to trip Pennu up and with a perfect surgical strike cuts Pennu's medallion cord. A good battle and it's 2-2. Now it's the deciding round: who's going to step up for Goryeo? They're out of martial arts talent, but Hunae speaks up and suggests an archery match, which she'll compete in. She asks for an opponent, and who steps up but the Khitan emperor! He even wants to raise the stakes--use a Goryean and a Khitan as human targets.
Back home, we see Prince Gaeryeong shooting arrows masterfully as soldiers watch. Yi Hyunoon is assisting him and fawning all over him (how did that happen?).
A good fifty feet away from Hunae and Shengzong, a Goryean and a Khitan are standing against one of the plaza walls. Each has an apple sitting on his head, and an apple on each shoulder. (Poor bastards.) Hunae takes the first shot and bullseyes the apple on her man's head. Shengzong matches her. Her second shot bullseyes the man's left-shoulder apple. Again, Shengzong matches her. Her third shot bullseye's the right-shoulder apple. Shengzong fires...and hits his man in the shoulder. He loses (although I wouldn't exactly call the target guy a winner either). Xiao stands up, acknowledges the victory, and to the cheers of the POWs announces their freedom. Shengzong is standing there in shock; he drops his bow and walks away, almost in a trance. He goes inside...
...and throws a temper tantrum, furious and embarrassed. Pennu tries to calm him, but he rants about sending a massive army and squashing Goryeo right now, and about his hatred for Hunae's arrogance. (You have to think his mother knew this might happen; is she trying to teach him a lesson?)
Xiao and Hunae are out riding on horses together (why, I don't know). They look out over a broad plain that stretches towards China. Xiao asks Hunae if she knows of empress Wu Zeitan. (Note to Dae Jo Young viewers: Yes, THAT Wu Zeitan!) I had wanted to be like her and become emperor, Xiao says, but I realize I don't need that; I have all of the power anyway. All I want to do now "is to conquer China and expand my empire. Women have always been in the shadow, in the history written by men. It's my dream to be the phoenix in that history that rises to build the largest empire that no man has ever built."
Hunae is sent to visit Chiyang in his sickbed. I'll probably never be able to leave here, Hunae believes, but Chiyang says that Han Derang, the prime minister, can change Xiao's mind--and he'll convince Han to do so.
The young emperor Shengzong is speaking with his mother and PM Han. What to do about the captured Goryeans? Shengzong has little tolerance and wants to execute them, but Han says that in questioning the prisoners, it's been confirmed that Hunae is indeed capable of causing huge disruption in the royal court if she's sent back to Goryeo with them. Would it be to great a risk to send her back, though? She might turn into a dangerous force. Xiao doesn't like either option: "She's too good to kill and too dangerous to send back to Goryeo. I want to have her for myself [and] make her my subordinate."
Yelu Pennu goes into Gang Jo's cell, carrying Gang Shin's shirt. It has writing on it. "I'm delivering it to you because I admire your and your brother's spearsmanship. It's too bad it will die with you." The letter pretty much says what the two told each other previously.
Park Yangyu and Gang Gamchan enter Chiyang's room and are reunited with Hunae. She learns of Gang Jo's intense efforts to search for her, and the trouble he's now caused as a result.
ED Xiao is drinking too much and looks upset. PM Han has been trying to convince her to let Hunae go, and she doesn't want to do it. But he reminds her that it could possibly bring down Goryeo without bloodshed. Xiao is worried that "we could be letting loose a tiger," but Han seriously doubts that: "She can't even control her own emotions." He has an idea, though: If you're worried about her, send a spy with her to send back reports.
Seo Hui is before King Sungjong. He advises the king against the idea of sending an envoy to Song. The king wants no part of Liao, "a barbarian state," but Seo says that We have to bide our time in order to organize our military and gain strength again. The king doesn't like it, but he understands. And again, he's not physically well--headache, tightness in his chest. He ends the meeting...
...and, retiring to his quarters, finds the queen waiting with a special meal for him. And she does a dance for him, with a white cloth--nothing extravagant, just something to lift his spirits. He's very moved by it, but he still looks tired and worn down.
Park Yangyu and Gang Gamchan are before Xiao, Shengzong and Han. Xiao tells them she's prepared to overlook the Goryean violence in the palace. And "for the sake of national friendship," she tells them, I'm sending Hunae back with you. Park and Gamchan are beside themselves with gratitude. But, PM Han says, there's one request in return. Xiao Sunning enters, along with his daughter, Xiao Zanli. She's to accompany the Goryeans home--and become the king's consort! Royal marriage is the best way to proclaim the new national friendship, the empress dowager says. Park is aghast--he can't make this call for the king, after all--but the Khitans press hard and all but insist.
Narration tells us that king Sungjong did indeed marry a Liao princess, according to historical record. It's just not clear exactly what her family ties were. But he did marry one.
Yelu Dilie and guards enter Gang Jo's cell and release him. What about Shin? Dilie doesn't know. Gang Jo runs outside and is reunited with Hunae. Hunae is moved with gratitude for his efforts. And he warns Hunae that Chiyang is a traitor and not to be trusted.
Sa Gamun and Sa Illa are reunited with Chiyang (with absurdly little emotion). It's time to move forward with our plan, Chiyang says; "I have got lady Sungdeok's heart in the palm of my hand." And if she should prove to be an obstacle, I've now gained another option: I can even call on Khitan for help. It's all starting to sound rather dark all of a sudden.
Back outside, Gang Jo tells Hunae of his watching from the attic as Chiyang pledged to obey ED Xiao and to make Hunae yield to her. But Hunae isn't concerned about it, thinking it was only what Chiyang had to say under duress, like she did. Then Hyangbi shows up with bad news: Shin is about to be executed. They run to the scene...
...and there's not a darned thing they can do about it. ED Xiao arrives and a firing squad of archers carries out the execution. Shin shouts his loyalty to Balhae as he dies.
King Sungjong is gardening! Well don't that beat all. He and Prince Gaeryeong are planting lettuce seeds. It's a good lesson for the boy: the king should know how his people make their living.
Gang Shin's body is upon a burning funeral pyre. He died a warrior's death, Gang Jo says, and that's what he always wanted. "But I'll never forget this. And I'm going to avenge his death with their blood someday."
Hunae is brought to ED Xiao. Hunae is angry about Gang Shin's execution, thinking that Xiao broke her word, but as Xiao quite correctly points out, "He was my subordinate, not yours." I didn't want to kill him either, she explains, "But if one traitor is allowed to live, a thousand more will betray me." Hunae glares, but she has no basis for being angry at her. In any event, that's not why Hunae was brought here. Xiao brought her here to offer her a bath. Huh?
We see Hunae and Xiao sitting side by side in two bathtubs. Flowers are all around them and two virgins are dropping flower petals into the tubs. Virgin BOYS! Xiao says they give off good energy (!?!), but it makes Hunae uncomfortable and they're sent away. Why is Xiao doing this? "I invited you because I honestly like you...You remind me of myself at your age. I was a lot like you--stubborn, fiery, with tunnel vision." And she tells Hunae that she's sending her back. No ulterior motive, she says; "I just feel like you're a sister or a daughter" and we have a lot in common. Hunae categorically rejects that notion, but Xiao talks about her late husband emperor Jinzong: "He grew up watching bloody family feuds, so he didn't make a very good king. He was morbidly suspicious of everyone around him and died an untimely death. Deep down he had a kind and gentle soul, but he died a tyrant. Wasn't your husband the same way?" Wow, he sure was. She's well-informed, gotta give her that.
PM Han is checking on his patient Chiyang. Chiyang is grateful for Han's expertise. And Han says he'll help Chiyang, "if you can put Goryeo in the palm of your hand." But don't turn your back on me, he warns, or "the consequences will be deadly at best." I won't let you down, Chiyang says. Getting awfully dark.
Back at the baths: Xiao continues talking. (Note: Here is all of what she said. It has the feel of foreshadowing so I felt it important to include unedited. Plus, well, if you know Machiavelli, then yikes.)
"You and I are very much alike, but you still have a lot to learn. You need to be able to hide your feelings to achieve your objective and bend according to need, but you're too rigid and easy to read. And you're too pigheaded for your own good, like a child. In order to conquer what you want, you need to become thoroughly unfeeling. I killed two of my sisters to get where I am today. And I poisoned the Prime Minister's wife in order to have him for myself. When you kill, you've to become an arch demon, so no one can dare look at you with disdain. But when you give to the people, give them the shirt off your back. If you win the heart of the people, you can't fall."
Gang Jo is still standing by the remains of the funeral pyre, seething and vowing revenge.
Park and Gamchan are trying to figure out what to do about the consort offer. Gamchan, as usual, sees the reality: We have to convince the king to accept this so we can have time to build up our military. And it's not like the Khitans want a prince of ours as a hostage; this could be much worse. But Park is worried because the king and queen are so close to each other.
Wonsoong has been writing something; actually, he didn't write it, he paid a scholar to write it for him. It's a formal proposal for the government to mint metal coins. He tells his subordinates, "This is going to be our bread and butter in the future." Obviously he has an angle on how to profit from this.
Hunae is dining with ED Xiao and PM Han. The lovers are comfortable and affectionate with each other, which makes Hunae uncomfortable. Cultural difference. Hunae explains that it Goryeo, a widowed royal woman remains faithful to her dead husband; Han and Xiao find that "absurd. It's God's providence that a man and woman be together." Anyway, Xiao wants to give Hunae a gift to take back with her; all of the Goryean POWs. The one problem is that her son the emperor opposes it. "I may be the regent, but I can't make him look bad." So how about a contest for it? Hmm, what's this all about.
Khitans and Goryeans face each other across a large plaza; Shengzong, Xiao and Han oversee. This will be a friendly martial arts competition: no killing. And if Goryeo wins, the POWs get to go home. It's to be a series of duels; the competitors wear medallions tied around their midsections and the goal is to knock the opponent's medallion loose. The first competitors are Hyangbi and Dokyun, with swords. This goes on longer than it realistically should, but Dokyan gets in a skillful slash, the medallion falls to the ground and it's 1-0 Khitan. Next, Sa Illa vs. Hyeolmae and her whip. Sa Illa has to use a sword--no bladed boomerang here. The whip manages to pick off Sa Illa's medallion and it's 2-0. Next it's Yelu Wuji and Sa Gamun, with swords. Wuji is a lot bigger than Sa Gamun and pushes him around physically, but Sa Gamun gets a favorable turn and yanks Wuji's medallion off with his hand. 2-1. Next it's Yelu Pennu, who's supposedly the best Khitan warrior. Gang Jo steps up. Pennu has that long axelike weapon and it makes an intimidating whooshing noise with every swing. Seems like a much more formidable weapon than a spear, but Gang Jo manages to trip Pennu up and with a perfect surgical strike cuts Pennu's medallion cord. A good battle and it's 2-2. Now it's the deciding round: who's going to step up for Goryeo? They're out of martial arts talent, but Hunae speaks up and suggests an archery match, which she'll compete in. She asks for an opponent, and who steps up but the Khitan emperor! He even wants to raise the stakes--use a Goryean and a Khitan as human targets.
Back home, we see Prince Gaeryeong shooting arrows masterfully as soldiers watch. Yi Hyunoon is assisting him and fawning all over him (how did that happen?).
A good fifty feet away from Hunae and Shengzong, a Goryean and a Khitan are standing against one of the plaza walls. Each has an apple sitting on his head, and an apple on each shoulder. (Poor bastards.) Hunae takes the first shot and bullseyes the apple on her man's head. Shengzong matches her. Her second shot bullseyes the man's left-shoulder apple. Again, Shengzong matches her. Her third shot bullseye's the right-shoulder apple. Shengzong fires...and hits his man in the shoulder. He loses (although I wouldn't exactly call the target guy a winner either). Xiao stands up, acknowledges the victory, and to the cheers of the POWs announces their freedom. Shengzong is standing there in shock; he drops his bow and walks away, almost in a trance. He goes inside...
...and throws a temper tantrum, furious and embarrassed. Pennu tries to calm him, but he rants about sending a massive army and squashing Goryeo right now, and about his hatred for Hunae's arrogance. (You have to think his mother knew this might happen; is she trying to teach him a lesson?)
Xiao and Hunae are out riding on horses together (why, I don't know). They look out over a broad plain that stretches towards China. Xiao asks Hunae if she knows of empress Wu Zeitan. (Note to Dae Jo Young viewers: Yes, THAT Wu Zeitan!) I had wanted to be like her and become emperor, Xiao says, but I realize I don't need that; I have all of the power anyway. All I want to do now "is to conquer China and expand my empire. Women have always been in the shadow, in the history written by men. It's my dream to be the phoenix in that history that rises to build the largest empire that no man has ever built."
