Post by ajk on Nov 6, 2009 16:37:01 GMT -5
For just a moment, Chiyang actually smiles....We see a long series of flashbacks from many past episodes: Chiyang rescuing Cheonchu after their high dive into the river, taking an arrow in the back for her, taking a sword blow from her as they were forced to fight each other in Liao, her begging him not to die in Liao as he lays gravely ill....and as they run, we get a sickly schmaltzy modern ballad (yes, if there's anything that this scene needs, it's a bass line and a drum beat--AAUGH)...the birth of their son...their final argument, when Chiyang admitted his attempt on Daeryang's life...Flashbacks ending, Chiyang grabs Cheonchu's hand, still on the knife, and stuns us by violently jamming the knife deeper into his body. Now Cheonchu is starting to come apart. Tearfully she begs him to tell her: "You were lying to me to make me forget you!" But to the end he denies it: "I never loved you. So...just forget about me." Weakening, he implores her, "Continue to build Goryeo...Don't give up. You mustn't give up." Hugging him, she frantically begs him not to die. (Yes, you heard me, immediately after stabbing him to kill him, she begs him not to die. I don't even know what to say.) He fades..."I will seek forgiveness from Buddha...." and with that, falls to his knees, and dies leaning against her. The soldiers who were guarding him come running, and then Gang Jo comes running (so this is where he was headed), but she shouts them away through her tears: "Don't come closer! I want to be alone with him. Keep everyone back!" And she stands there, sobbing and hugging his lifeless body.
Yang Kyu and Kim Sukheung bring Gang Gamchan the news that Cheonchu killed Chiyang. Gamchan isn't happy about it: "There are laws and procedures to follow. Why did she do this?" Yang can sympathize with her; considering the depth of Chiyang's betrayal, he says, "I'd want to kill him myself as well if I were her." But that aside, there's a more practical problem now: what to do with his body? He's a traitor so he won't get a proper burial, but Cheonchu is still at the temple keeping vigil and refuses to release the body. Gamchan can only groan...
...but he does go and inform the emperor and empress. Sunjeong, ever empathetic, feels for Cheonchu, for what she must have been going through to have killed Chiyang herself. Mokjong adds that Guibup Temple was built by his grandmother and is a special place to his mother; how much must she be suffering to have chosen that place of all places to kill Chiyang. He also isn't sure that Cheonchu will ever even return to the palace after this. He wants to go see her, but Gamchan says he needs to stay in the palace at least until Daeryang arrives.
Back at Guibup Temple: Chiyang's body has been moved inside into a small room. Cheonchu is staring at it, wondering to herself, "What's so important about the country's name that you would choose such a wretched life?" Gang Jo enters, offering to escort her back to the palace and encouraging her to give up the body. But she says she won't be going back. Jo objects and insists that she reconsider: "You must continue to govern the state as the regent if you want to defeat the Khitan and build a strong nation. You must." But she can't even face the idea of it: "Please General Gang, leave me be. I've exhausted my strength. It's over." She looks forlorn and haggard, and just plain beaten. Jo won't accept that, and presses further, albeit respectfully: "Have you forgotten your vow to build a mighty empire like Goryeo and Balhae? Have you forgotten about all of those who died fighting for that dream? You may be able to give up, but I can't. My brother chose death for your cause. How can you give up so easily? You can't do this." She says she has to; she's lost any right to remain as regent: "I almost brought down the empire by putting a traitor in a position of power." Jo says again what he said earlier: You were a victim and are not to blame. But she won't have that. "I truly loved this man," she tells him, looking at Chiyang's body, "and his love for me was genuine as well." She looks at Jo: "I have taken his life...the traitor who almost destroyed this country. But I still love him. Do you still think I have the right to stay in the palace?" Jo is silent. (One HECK of a scene; definitely one of the best of the series.)
Yunheung's villa: Jo Sun enters with good news: Daeryang is arriving in the capital. Yunheung knows what they need to do. They'll head out into the streets to wait for him, so that hopefully he'll see them and she can reintroduce him to Princess Jeong. Yunheung tells her daughter to go gussy herself up.
Daeryang's escort party arrives in the capital. Military in front, ministers walking in the rear, and in the middle a covered horse-drawn carriage. Daeryang is inside the carriage and his two friends Bakdol and Myeongil are walking beside it. It passes through the outlying streets; villagers line the way to pay their respects. Yunheung and her group are out there, and Yunheung manages to get Daeryang's attention. He stops the procession and gets out to greet them. He's amazed to see Yunheung again after so many years; he doesn't really remember her but was told that she took care of him as a small child. He receives her with great courtesy. Then Jeong steps forward. He doesn't remember her either but is happy to meet her too. He invites them to visit him in the palace soon. Score.
Daeryang walks into the palace complex, now at the head of the escort procession. Gamchan and Dae Dosu are there to greet him, with many of the ministers. Gamchan escorts him in to see the emperor.
State council meeting: Mokjong is presiding; Daeryang is beside him. Mokjong again announces his intention to abdicate the throne in Daeryang's favor. Daeryang, if only as a formal gesture of courtesy, tells him, "I am ill-equipped to lead the empire, so please withdraw your command." But Mokjong answers him, "You possess qualities that make a good ruler. So fear not and be confident." And Mokjong tells the ministers he wants to installation ceremony held ASAP so he can leave once and for all.
Gang Jo returns to the capital and is told that Daeryang has arrived and will soon be enthroned. He is NOT happy; he storms off...
...and barges into the council meeting. He glares at Mokjong. "Your majesty, I request that you delay Prince Daeryang's installation"; give the empress dowager time to grieve and return to the palace. But that doesn't fly with the ministers, and an tense argument flares up between Jo and the ministers over Cheonchu staying on as regent. Jo has no other support from anyone in the room, but angrily refuses to tolerate any criticism of Cheonchu. Mokjong calmly asks Jo to let her go peacefully, and Gamchan adds that Cheonchu herself has made her decision. But Jo is absolutely unwavering, and frankly he's getting a little scary: "No one will drive the empress dowager out of the palace as long as I am alive."
"Cheonchu killed Kim Chyiang herself?!" Kim Shimun has told Yunheung. "It's karma," Yunheung says. "She paid for her sins." Kim tells her it looks like Cheonchu won't be returning to the court, but that Gang Jo is making a ruckus about bringing her back. "He is in control of the military. And he is irrational right now, so there's no telling what he might do if provoked." But Yunheung thinks that might be a good thing; Daeryang will see his rash behavior and Jo will fall out of favor with him. And Mun Inui adds that while Jo is dangerous, "he is actually an easy man to bring down because he is ignorant and simple-minded." (He knows; he watched Chiyang bait him into a self-defeating rage once before, after Hyangbi died.)
Gamchan and Choe Hang ask Prince Daeryang to be understanding towards Gang Jo. Daeryang tells them not to worry about it; "In fact, I was moved by his loyalty" to Cheonchu. Daeryang is actually more concerned that Mokjong is leaving before the coronation. Can't we convince him to stay for it?, he asks the ministers. No, Choe says, he won't change his mind and we should let him do as he wishes. Daeryang then says he'll plan to visit Guibup Temple after the ceremony and seek guidance from Cheonchu on how to rule the state. Gamchan says Cheonchu has a lot to offer him, and Choe agrees. They're pleased that he wants to listen to the advice of others. Finally, Daeryang has a request: he wants his friends Bakdol and Myeongil to be given jobs that will keep them by his side. No problem, Choe says.
Guibup Temple: Chiyang's funeral pyre is burning. A few monks are offering ritual prayers (Good luck, guys, you're going to need a LOT of prayers). The only other person there is Cheonchu. It's a sad sight (traitor or not, a man dies and no one is there to see him off, it's sad). We see afternoon turn into evening; the fire is dying down and Cheonchu is still standing there, now completely alone.
Liao Palace, Shangjin: "Are you certain? She won't make it through the year?" Shengzong has just been told that the doctors have done all they can, but his mother doesn't have much longer to live. Some of his generals are there, and Yelu Wuji actually congratulates him. "No one can stop you now," he says. That was an awful thing to say, and Shengzong isn't THAT big of a jerk. He practically bites Wuji's head off and then asks him, "Don't you have a mother of your own?" Wuji ends up groveling for forgiveness. "We may have had our differences," Shengzong says of Chengtian, "but she gave birth to me, raised me, and made this empire to what it is today. Call upon all priests and citizens of Liao to pray for my mother's recovery." Good for him.
Prime Minister Han and Yelu Dilie are talking. Dilie tells him of Shengzong's prayer order; Han is glad to hear it but says "I'm sure it is only for public image, not out of sincere love for his mother." Ouch. "If it were, he would have killed Yelu Wuji on the spot." (I don't know; that guy is such a pain, you wonder why he wasn't killed a long time ago!) Then Han advises Dilie, You'll need to distance himself from me after Chengtian dies. Dilie is disturbed at the idea and wants an explanation. "I won't live for very long once she is gone. The empress dowager and I are bound by fate. Without her, I will die, too. And you must sever relations with me in order to survive. Don't annoy the Emperor. You're too young to die." Wow.
Guibup Temple: The emperor and empress have come to see Cheonchu. Mother and son run to each other and hug. Mokjong is sorry he couldn't come earlier, and very sorry to see what his mother is going through. Quite an evolution in their relationship, to see them sincerely comforting each other like this.
Inside, Mokjong tells his mother he thought it would be better for Daeryang if he stayed away from the coronation. She agrees. Mokjong wants her to go back home to Hwangju in the north with him, but she feels too ashamed to face her ancestors after putting the country in peril. For now she's just going to stay here at the temple. Then she asks him if he's really happy to be leaving the throne. "Yes, mother. I feel like I can finally breathe. I finally have the desire to live. Let everything go now, mother. Prince Daeryang, I mean the new Emperor, will become a benevolent ruler. I know you're hurting, but be strong.
I will be a good son from now on and make up for all the pain I've caused you." Sunjeong, sitting there through all this, is visibly moved by her husband's compassion.
Gang Jo drops a monster bomb on his subordinates: he's going to mobilize the army to quiet the ministers and pressure Daeryang into accepting Cheonchu as regent! This isn't a rebellion, he says; it's for the good of the empire. And he wants his subordinates' support. They give it to him. Yi Hyunoon is among the subordinates; we can't help but notice his silence during all this, and the look of distress on his face.
Dae Dosu gives Yang Kyu and Kim Sukheung orders to take their troops north and defend the Liao border. Gang Jo was up there but "has refused to go back." He also wants them to send a detachment to strike at the Jurchen village where the rebels who escaped are said to have headed. The tip came from Mun Inui, we learn.
Evening, Jurchen village: Dokyun is with the young Hwangju, who's playing with a stick. She asks him if he misses his mother. The boy shakes his head no. How about your father? Another shake no. But Dokyun is crying; all she can see as she looks at him is her own son. Hwangju sees her crying and tries to dry her tears. All right, she says, "You're my son from now on." He nods yes and she hugs him. "My son...." Well, they do need each other. He needs a parent and she needs to heal.
Kim Shimun is with generals Choi Sawui and Tak Sajeong. He wants them to ready their troops, to move against the government to prevent Cheonchu from returning. They still doubt that they can stand up to Gang Jo and his troops, who will stay loyal to him. But Kim has it figured out: "Gang Jo, that mad man, has denounced the emperor and Prince Daeryang in the council hall. To put it simply, he's out of his mind. I'm sure his men don't know about this. So I want the two of you to start spreading rumors about him in the military base. Say that he might remove the emperor from power and take the throne himself if he isn't stopped.
Then we will sit back and wait for our chance. Do you understand?"
Nighttime, probably still at the Guibup Temple complex: Mokjong and Sunjeong are about to go to sleep together. They both seem a heck of a lot happier already. Sunjeong is still concerned for Cheonchu, but Mokjong says they'll help her recover. Then he tells his wife he wants to be a farmer. "Our hands will get dirty working the land. Are you up for it?" No, she says; you do the farming and I'll do the cooking. That would be fair, right? She smiles. Sure, he says and they laugh. How weird to see them each happy, both happy, and happy together. He reaches out for her and they kiss....(So much for power being an aphrodisiac, I guess.)
Inside the temple: Cheonchu is praying; she's asking her grandmother for forgiveness and for advice about what to do now.
The next day: Yang's and Kim's troops are headed north. Yang orders Ha Gongjin is ordered to lead the detachment to the Jurchen village. The detachment veers away.
Jurchen village: "It's the emperor's army! We're under attack!" The cry goes out, just seconds before arrows start to fly in. Ha Gaongjin and Ji Chaemun lead the attack. "Kill those who resist and capture the rest alive!"
Inside a home, Dokyun is asking Prince Hwangju's caretaker about Chief Mobula; he's the eastern Jurchen tribal leader who Sa Gamun mentioned in his final letter to her as the person to seek out if she should ever need assistance. Suddenly a man runs in with news of the attack. You take the prince and escape, the caretaker tells her.
Back outside, the battle is on. This looks like a farily densely populated village, and resistance is fierce, so it won't be an easy fight for the Goryeans. As it goes on, we see Dokyun, carrying Hwangju, trying to sneak out of the village and make her escape. The caretaker is with them. They're spotted! Ji Chaemun fires an arrow at Dokyun, but the caretaker steps in front of her and takes the arrow, sacrificing himself to save the young prince. Dokyun turns and fires a knife from that spring-loaded gadget in her wrist. It flies through the air and hits one of the soldiers. Chaemun recognizes it as the same gadget-knife that hit Myeongil up at Shinhyeol Temple (in Ep65). He immediately realizes that this is something big: "Go after the woman! We need her alive!" But by now Dokyun has grabbed a horse and is galloping away.
We see troops on horseback pursing Dokyun through the woods...on and on...and then in the blink of an eye, IE sets a new standard for physical absurdity. Dokyun suddenly jumps right up off her horse, from a sitting position, a good fifteen feet straight up (STRAIGHT up——no forward momentum) and onto an overhanging tree branch. All while still holding the boy! Instant levitation. The horse gallops on, and the soldiers follow in its path directly below Dokyun and into the distance as she watches them pass. (This even topped the Sa-Illa-running-up-a-tree scene. No contest. Good grief!)
Back at the village: It's over. The villagers who survived are gathered together and on their knees in front of the Goryean troops. Ji Chaemun returns——he was one of the men chasing Dokyun——and tells Ha Gongjin what happened. If that was Dokyun, they realize, then she's the highest-ranking rebel still at large. They ask their captives whether or not that was in fact Dokyun. Silence, until an officer kills one of the captives on the spot, and that breaks another captive, who says he's Goryean, not Jurchen, and pleads for his life. He confirms that the woman was Dokyun and then reveals that the boy was Prince Hwangju. Doink! "They switched him with Dokyun's son."
We see Dokyun running through the woods, still carrying the boy.
Gang Jo and his troops march aggressively into the palace complex.
Some of the ministers are meeting. They end up discussing the need to find Daeryang a wife to serve as empress. Kim Shimun casually mentions Princess Jeong. Dae Dosu is also there and he rejects the idea, because of her mother's involvement in the Milhwa plot and her grandfather's execution. But most of the ministers feel that she shouldn't be held responsible for that, since she wasn't a part of any of it, and besides, she has an ideal bloodline to become empress. Choe Hang agrees with Dae, and an argument starts to flare up. But at that moment Gang Jo and his subordinates barge into the room and order all of the ministers to leave the palace until further notice. Dae angrily objects to this, but in an instant, swords are surrounding his throat.
Gamchan is at Guibup Temple to say goodbye to Cheonchu. She tells him she's decided to go to Choongju, and not home to Hwangju. "I heard my grandmother was very close to Taejo's third consort, Empress Shinmyeong, when they were alive. I may not be the most welcomed guest there, but they won't turn me away." And she has a request: she asks him to make sure her tax reform plan is enacted. It will be difficult, he replies, but he says he'll try his best.
"What? You mean you're doing this to bring the empress dowager back?" Back in the meeting room, Gang Jo is explaining his actions to Dae Dosu. Dae doesn't like it; it could be seen as a rebellion. But Jo doesn't care. "Just give me your answer. Are you in or are you out?"
Kim Shimun tells generals Choi and Tak that Gang Jo has started a rebellion. "We must quickly suppress him and rescue Prince Daeryang."
Gang Jo and his subordinates head straight for Daeryang's quarters. Bakdol and Myeongil, now dressed as attendants, run in front of their path and intercept them, telling them that they can't enter building armed.
Fat lot of good that does. The soldiers barge inside, tossing Bakdol and Myeongil out of the way. Daeryang demands an explanation. Jo takes his spear and drives it menacingly into the floor. "I've come to discuss an important matter with you, at the expense of being insolent. Please do not make me do anything worse."
Yang Kyu and Kim Sukheung bring Gang Gamchan the news that Cheonchu killed Chiyang. Gamchan isn't happy about it: "There are laws and procedures to follow. Why did she do this?" Yang can sympathize with her; considering the depth of Chiyang's betrayal, he says, "I'd want to kill him myself as well if I were her." But that aside, there's a more practical problem now: what to do with his body? He's a traitor so he won't get a proper burial, but Cheonchu is still at the temple keeping vigil and refuses to release the body. Gamchan can only groan...
...but he does go and inform the emperor and empress. Sunjeong, ever empathetic, feels for Cheonchu, for what she must have been going through to have killed Chiyang herself. Mokjong adds that Guibup Temple was built by his grandmother and is a special place to his mother; how much must she be suffering to have chosen that place of all places to kill Chiyang. He also isn't sure that Cheonchu will ever even return to the palace after this. He wants to go see her, but Gamchan says he needs to stay in the palace at least until Daeryang arrives.
Back at Guibup Temple: Chiyang's body has been moved inside into a small room. Cheonchu is staring at it, wondering to herself, "What's so important about the country's name that you would choose such a wretched life?" Gang Jo enters, offering to escort her back to the palace and encouraging her to give up the body. But she says she won't be going back. Jo objects and insists that she reconsider: "You must continue to govern the state as the regent if you want to defeat the Khitan and build a strong nation. You must." But she can't even face the idea of it: "Please General Gang, leave me be. I've exhausted my strength. It's over." She looks forlorn and haggard, and just plain beaten. Jo won't accept that, and presses further, albeit respectfully: "Have you forgotten your vow to build a mighty empire like Goryeo and Balhae? Have you forgotten about all of those who died fighting for that dream? You may be able to give up, but I can't. My brother chose death for your cause. How can you give up so easily? You can't do this." She says she has to; she's lost any right to remain as regent: "I almost brought down the empire by putting a traitor in a position of power." Jo says again what he said earlier: You were a victim and are not to blame. But she won't have that. "I truly loved this man," she tells him, looking at Chiyang's body, "and his love for me was genuine as well." She looks at Jo: "I have taken his life...the traitor who almost destroyed this country. But I still love him. Do you still think I have the right to stay in the palace?" Jo is silent. (One HECK of a scene; definitely one of the best of the series.)
Yunheung's villa: Jo Sun enters with good news: Daeryang is arriving in the capital. Yunheung knows what they need to do. They'll head out into the streets to wait for him, so that hopefully he'll see them and she can reintroduce him to Princess Jeong. Yunheung tells her daughter to go gussy herself up.
Daeryang's escort party arrives in the capital. Military in front, ministers walking in the rear, and in the middle a covered horse-drawn carriage. Daeryang is inside the carriage and his two friends Bakdol and Myeongil are walking beside it. It passes through the outlying streets; villagers line the way to pay their respects. Yunheung and her group are out there, and Yunheung manages to get Daeryang's attention. He stops the procession and gets out to greet them. He's amazed to see Yunheung again after so many years; he doesn't really remember her but was told that she took care of him as a small child. He receives her with great courtesy. Then Jeong steps forward. He doesn't remember her either but is happy to meet her too. He invites them to visit him in the palace soon. Score.
Daeryang walks into the palace complex, now at the head of the escort procession. Gamchan and Dae Dosu are there to greet him, with many of the ministers. Gamchan escorts him in to see the emperor.
State council meeting: Mokjong is presiding; Daeryang is beside him. Mokjong again announces his intention to abdicate the throne in Daeryang's favor. Daeryang, if only as a formal gesture of courtesy, tells him, "I am ill-equipped to lead the empire, so please withdraw your command." But Mokjong answers him, "You possess qualities that make a good ruler. So fear not and be confident." And Mokjong tells the ministers he wants to installation ceremony held ASAP so he can leave once and for all.
Gang Jo returns to the capital and is told that Daeryang has arrived and will soon be enthroned. He is NOT happy; he storms off...
...and barges into the council meeting. He glares at Mokjong. "Your majesty, I request that you delay Prince Daeryang's installation"; give the empress dowager time to grieve and return to the palace. But that doesn't fly with the ministers, and an tense argument flares up between Jo and the ministers over Cheonchu staying on as regent. Jo has no other support from anyone in the room, but angrily refuses to tolerate any criticism of Cheonchu. Mokjong calmly asks Jo to let her go peacefully, and Gamchan adds that Cheonchu herself has made her decision. But Jo is absolutely unwavering, and frankly he's getting a little scary: "No one will drive the empress dowager out of the palace as long as I am alive."
"Cheonchu killed Kim Chyiang herself?!" Kim Shimun has told Yunheung. "It's karma," Yunheung says. "She paid for her sins." Kim tells her it looks like Cheonchu won't be returning to the court, but that Gang Jo is making a ruckus about bringing her back. "He is in control of the military. And he is irrational right now, so there's no telling what he might do if provoked." But Yunheung thinks that might be a good thing; Daeryang will see his rash behavior and Jo will fall out of favor with him. And Mun Inui adds that while Jo is dangerous, "he is actually an easy man to bring down because he is ignorant and simple-minded." (He knows; he watched Chiyang bait him into a self-defeating rage once before, after Hyangbi died.)
Gamchan and Choe Hang ask Prince Daeryang to be understanding towards Gang Jo. Daeryang tells them not to worry about it; "In fact, I was moved by his loyalty" to Cheonchu. Daeryang is actually more concerned that Mokjong is leaving before the coronation. Can't we convince him to stay for it?, he asks the ministers. No, Choe says, he won't change his mind and we should let him do as he wishes. Daeryang then says he'll plan to visit Guibup Temple after the ceremony and seek guidance from Cheonchu on how to rule the state. Gamchan says Cheonchu has a lot to offer him, and Choe agrees. They're pleased that he wants to listen to the advice of others. Finally, Daeryang has a request: he wants his friends Bakdol and Myeongil to be given jobs that will keep them by his side. No problem, Choe says.
Guibup Temple: Chiyang's funeral pyre is burning. A few monks are offering ritual prayers (Good luck, guys, you're going to need a LOT of prayers). The only other person there is Cheonchu. It's a sad sight (traitor or not, a man dies and no one is there to see him off, it's sad). We see afternoon turn into evening; the fire is dying down and Cheonchu is still standing there, now completely alone.
Liao Palace, Shangjin: "Are you certain? She won't make it through the year?" Shengzong has just been told that the doctors have done all they can, but his mother doesn't have much longer to live. Some of his generals are there, and Yelu Wuji actually congratulates him. "No one can stop you now," he says. That was an awful thing to say, and Shengzong isn't THAT big of a jerk. He practically bites Wuji's head off and then asks him, "Don't you have a mother of your own?" Wuji ends up groveling for forgiveness. "We may have had our differences," Shengzong says of Chengtian, "but she gave birth to me, raised me, and made this empire to what it is today. Call upon all priests and citizens of Liao to pray for my mother's recovery." Good for him.
Prime Minister Han and Yelu Dilie are talking. Dilie tells him of Shengzong's prayer order; Han is glad to hear it but says "I'm sure it is only for public image, not out of sincere love for his mother." Ouch. "If it were, he would have killed Yelu Wuji on the spot." (I don't know; that guy is such a pain, you wonder why he wasn't killed a long time ago!) Then Han advises Dilie, You'll need to distance himself from me after Chengtian dies. Dilie is disturbed at the idea and wants an explanation. "I won't live for very long once she is gone. The empress dowager and I are bound by fate. Without her, I will die, too. And you must sever relations with me in order to survive. Don't annoy the Emperor. You're too young to die." Wow.
Guibup Temple: The emperor and empress have come to see Cheonchu. Mother and son run to each other and hug. Mokjong is sorry he couldn't come earlier, and very sorry to see what his mother is going through. Quite an evolution in their relationship, to see them sincerely comforting each other like this.
Inside, Mokjong tells his mother he thought it would be better for Daeryang if he stayed away from the coronation. She agrees. Mokjong wants her to go back home to Hwangju in the north with him, but she feels too ashamed to face her ancestors after putting the country in peril. For now she's just going to stay here at the temple. Then she asks him if he's really happy to be leaving the throne. "Yes, mother. I feel like I can finally breathe. I finally have the desire to live. Let everything go now, mother. Prince Daeryang, I mean the new Emperor, will become a benevolent ruler. I know you're hurting, but be strong.
I will be a good son from now on and make up for all the pain I've caused you." Sunjeong, sitting there through all this, is visibly moved by her husband's compassion.
Gang Jo drops a monster bomb on his subordinates: he's going to mobilize the army to quiet the ministers and pressure Daeryang into accepting Cheonchu as regent! This isn't a rebellion, he says; it's for the good of the empire. And he wants his subordinates' support. They give it to him. Yi Hyunoon is among the subordinates; we can't help but notice his silence during all this, and the look of distress on his face.
Dae Dosu gives Yang Kyu and Kim Sukheung orders to take their troops north and defend the Liao border. Gang Jo was up there but "has refused to go back." He also wants them to send a detachment to strike at the Jurchen village where the rebels who escaped are said to have headed. The tip came from Mun Inui, we learn.
Evening, Jurchen village: Dokyun is with the young Hwangju, who's playing with a stick. She asks him if he misses his mother. The boy shakes his head no. How about your father? Another shake no. But Dokyun is crying; all she can see as she looks at him is her own son. Hwangju sees her crying and tries to dry her tears. All right, she says, "You're my son from now on." He nods yes and she hugs him. "My son...." Well, they do need each other. He needs a parent and she needs to heal.
Kim Shimun is with generals Choi Sawui and Tak Sajeong. He wants them to ready their troops, to move against the government to prevent Cheonchu from returning. They still doubt that they can stand up to Gang Jo and his troops, who will stay loyal to him. But Kim has it figured out: "Gang Jo, that mad man, has denounced the emperor and Prince Daeryang in the council hall. To put it simply, he's out of his mind. I'm sure his men don't know about this. So I want the two of you to start spreading rumors about him in the military base. Say that he might remove the emperor from power and take the throne himself if he isn't stopped.
Then we will sit back and wait for our chance. Do you understand?"
Nighttime, probably still at the Guibup Temple complex: Mokjong and Sunjeong are about to go to sleep together. They both seem a heck of a lot happier already. Sunjeong is still concerned for Cheonchu, but Mokjong says they'll help her recover. Then he tells his wife he wants to be a farmer. "Our hands will get dirty working the land. Are you up for it?" No, she says; you do the farming and I'll do the cooking. That would be fair, right? She smiles. Sure, he says and they laugh. How weird to see them each happy, both happy, and happy together. He reaches out for her and they kiss....(So much for power being an aphrodisiac, I guess.)
Inside the temple: Cheonchu is praying; she's asking her grandmother for forgiveness and for advice about what to do now.
The next day: Yang's and Kim's troops are headed north. Yang orders Ha Gongjin is ordered to lead the detachment to the Jurchen village. The detachment veers away.
Jurchen village: "It's the emperor's army! We're under attack!" The cry goes out, just seconds before arrows start to fly in. Ha Gaongjin and Ji Chaemun lead the attack. "Kill those who resist and capture the rest alive!"
Inside a home, Dokyun is asking Prince Hwangju's caretaker about Chief Mobula; he's the eastern Jurchen tribal leader who Sa Gamun mentioned in his final letter to her as the person to seek out if she should ever need assistance. Suddenly a man runs in with news of the attack. You take the prince and escape, the caretaker tells her.
Back outside, the battle is on. This looks like a farily densely populated village, and resistance is fierce, so it won't be an easy fight for the Goryeans. As it goes on, we see Dokyun, carrying Hwangju, trying to sneak out of the village and make her escape. The caretaker is with them. They're spotted! Ji Chaemun fires an arrow at Dokyun, but the caretaker steps in front of her and takes the arrow, sacrificing himself to save the young prince. Dokyun turns and fires a knife from that spring-loaded gadget in her wrist. It flies through the air and hits one of the soldiers. Chaemun recognizes it as the same gadget-knife that hit Myeongil up at Shinhyeol Temple (in Ep65). He immediately realizes that this is something big: "Go after the woman! We need her alive!" But by now Dokyun has grabbed a horse and is galloping away.
We see troops on horseback pursing Dokyun through the woods...on and on...and then in the blink of an eye, IE sets a new standard for physical absurdity. Dokyun suddenly jumps right up off her horse, from a sitting position, a good fifteen feet straight up (STRAIGHT up——no forward momentum) and onto an overhanging tree branch. All while still holding the boy! Instant levitation. The horse gallops on, and the soldiers follow in its path directly below Dokyun and into the distance as she watches them pass. (This even topped the Sa-Illa-running-up-a-tree scene. No contest. Good grief!)
Back at the village: It's over. The villagers who survived are gathered together and on their knees in front of the Goryean troops. Ji Chaemun returns——he was one of the men chasing Dokyun——and tells Ha Gongjin what happened. If that was Dokyun, they realize, then she's the highest-ranking rebel still at large. They ask their captives whether or not that was in fact Dokyun. Silence, until an officer kills one of the captives on the spot, and that breaks another captive, who says he's Goryean, not Jurchen, and pleads for his life. He confirms that the woman was Dokyun and then reveals that the boy was Prince Hwangju. Doink! "They switched him with Dokyun's son."
We see Dokyun running through the woods, still carrying the boy.
Gang Jo and his troops march aggressively into the palace complex.
Some of the ministers are meeting. They end up discussing the need to find Daeryang a wife to serve as empress. Kim Shimun casually mentions Princess Jeong. Dae Dosu is also there and he rejects the idea, because of her mother's involvement in the Milhwa plot and her grandfather's execution. But most of the ministers feel that she shouldn't be held responsible for that, since she wasn't a part of any of it, and besides, she has an ideal bloodline to become empress. Choe Hang agrees with Dae, and an argument starts to flare up. But at that moment Gang Jo and his subordinates barge into the room and order all of the ministers to leave the palace until further notice. Dae angrily objects to this, but in an instant, swords are surrounding his throat.
Gamchan is at Guibup Temple to say goodbye to Cheonchu. She tells him she's decided to go to Choongju, and not home to Hwangju. "I heard my grandmother was very close to Taejo's third consort, Empress Shinmyeong, when they were alive. I may not be the most welcomed guest there, but they won't turn me away." And she has a request: she asks him to make sure her tax reform plan is enacted. It will be difficult, he replies, but he says he'll try his best.
"What? You mean you're doing this to bring the empress dowager back?" Back in the meeting room, Gang Jo is explaining his actions to Dae Dosu. Dae doesn't like it; it could be seen as a rebellion. But Jo doesn't care. "Just give me your answer. Are you in or are you out?"
Kim Shimun tells generals Choi and Tak that Gang Jo has started a rebellion. "We must quickly suppress him and rescue Prince Daeryang."
Gang Jo and his subordinates head straight for Daeryang's quarters. Bakdol and Myeongil, now dressed as attendants, run in front of their path and intercept them, telling them that they can't enter building armed.
Fat lot of good that does. The soldiers barge inside, tossing Bakdol and Myeongil out of the way. Daeryang demands an explanation. Jo takes his spear and drives it menacingly into the floor. "I've come to discuss an important matter with you, at the expense of being insolent. Please do not make me do anything worse."