Post by ajk on Dec 1, 2012 0:22:40 GMT -5
Come on, Yushin, say something. "The refugees are farming my family's lands. Is helping the starving ad destitute a crime?" Not bad at all; that's the right start, at least....He glares at Seolwon. "I disapprove of your tactics."
Now the two of them are meeting privately. "You use rumor and suspicion to make unfounded accusations," Yushin boldly tells Seolwon. Seolwon says he knows the refugees are there--he saw them himself--and if they're supporting Bokya rebel activity, well, "You know as well as I what will happen if all is not as it should be." So what does Seolwon suggest? "Only that we work together." Hmm..."To appoint you grand marshal...and to clear up any unfounded accusations." Okay, so what does he mean by "work together"?
"Is this another trick?" Now it's Deokman and Mishil; Deokman speaks just as disapprovingly of what's just been pulled on Yushin. Mishil challenges her; Can you prove his innocence? Well, no, she didn't even know about this before. "Like it or not," Mishil says, "his life is intertwined with the Gayans. He cannot abandon them, nor can he ever truly lead them."
"Bring me the head of the Bokya leader." That's what Seolwon wants. Yushin says he doesn't know where that person is (lie). "Of course you wouldn't," Seolwon says, and it sounds a little patronizing, "But still, his head is the best way to clear up this matter." (Well if it's so important, why don't YOU do it, minister of military?) "Do that before your inauguration and your reputation is assured."
Yushin, of course, is withholding a boatload of information on all this. He's with Deokman and Alcheon; Alcheon is upset that anybody would delay Yushin's installment and has to be told the details about why. Yushin thinks that Mishil really doesn't care about the Bokya; it's just an issue she can use for political gain. (Which may or may not be true; we're not seeing how this issue is affecting whatever policy decisions are being made.)
"His hands are tied," Seolwon tells Mishil with satisfaction. Capture the Bokya leader and the Gayans will turn against Yushin; on the other hand, "failure to prove he's not connected with the Bokya and he'll never be grand marshal." (I don't see the latter part at all; how is he supposed to prove a negative?) "The problem has always dogged Yushin," Mishil adds, and Seolwon says that his best bet "is bowing before you." He won't do that, Mishil says; he's too principled. "So we need some damning evidence against him." Seolwon is already working on that; he's using the agent we saw before in Iseo Province (the guy who was with Seohyeon's men and who used the pigeons to send messages). Turns out the guy is still in Seohyeon's employ; guess his cover was never blown.
Hey, there he is. His name is Bangso and he's with Seohyeon's head man. They bring Seohyeon news of the delayed inauguration and the Bokya accusation. Seohyeon realizes he needs to head to the palace. "You look over that document," he tells Manmyeong. "Be extremely careful." What document? Seohyeon leaves for the palace, and Manmyeong also steps outside, but just to head over to a different part of their home, maybe an office. She's carrying a small chest. Whatever the document is, it must be in there. Bangso sees her, and sees the chest. Uh-oh.
The DFers are all standing at attention for some reason. Wolya and Seolji are there, too, in their DFer uniforms. Now this again--Seolji can't help but stare at Jukbang; he still can't put his finger on just where he saw him before. In any event, Seolji tells the DFers that Seohyeon "adopted" Wolya and orders them to bow, which they do. Wolya tells them, "I'll be in charge of the Dragon Guard after Yushin is appointed Grand Marshal." (Oh, really? Isn't this just the kind of thing that Deokman was talking about, that should be awarded based on merit? Who decided this? Ugh.) But then two other DFers come running in, with the news of the delayed installation and the accusation that Yushin is in cahoots with the Bokya.
And now the king is told. Seohyeon has come to tell him. "And is he guilty?" Seohyeon is silent. The king immediately realizes, though, that it really doesn't matter either way; what matters is that Mishil is using it for her own purposes. If I had known she'd pull this, Jinpyeong says, "I'd have made Bojong the grand marshal and been done." (I don't think so.)
Deokman goes to visit her mother, who's upset because Chunchu hasn't been very friendly to her. As in, not visiting her once since that initial courtesy call. Give him time, Deokman says.
Boy, I don't know about that...At the moment, Chunchu is doing a wine-tasting with Misaeng. And impressing Misaeng with his discerning palate for such a young person. Misaeng is sucking up to him big-time. Yecch. Daenambo has to stand there and listen to this; he looks nauseous. Now they get up and Misaeng leads him somewhere...
Oh, it's a gisaeng house. The two go in and sit down. Some food, some liquor, and now a shade is raised and an attractive young woman is presented to them. Chunchu doesn't care for her--"her proportions are off," he says. Another shade is raised; another woman is behind it. "Allegorical," Chunchu says. Seriously; that's what he says. Oh, and her ears are too big. Next. Shade #3 goes up. Hmmm..."Show us your hands," Chunchu requests, and she does. "Now turn around and lift up your hair." He looks at the back of her neck, and apparently likes what he sees. Misaeng smiles to himself, apparently pleased that he's honing in on whatever odd tastes Chunchu has in women.
Munno has summoned Yushin. "Is it true, what they said?" He thinks Yushin will just tell him? "Tell me. It won't leave this room." I want you to be grand marshal, Munno says--"It will be good for the Hwarang"--but this problem won't go away. Yushin explains that his family granted the refugees tax-free land rights. "If that came out," Munno says, "it would be held against you." We did it to ensure their loyalty to Shilla, Yushin says. "Gaya will never be a nation again...Gaya's future is Shilla's future." And I'll support the Gayans even if it means not becoming grand marshal. It's that important to him.
There's Bidam. He's walking along, haunted by the lousy things that Munno said to him in the previous episode. And he looks resolved to not accept them.
Yushin has left Munno. "He's a fine man," Munno thinks to himself, "but his rigidity may break him in the end." And then a strange insight: "If I'd known how to give up, I wouldn't have wondered so aimlessly for years." Wonder what that's about? Untold story there.
Where's Bidam going? We see him headed back to Dukil Temple, where we saw him go in Episode 33 and look at the old books and papers. This time he sneaks in--naughty, naughty. And goes to the same chest where the books and papers are stored...It's empty! He realizes that Munno must have moved the stuff after he found out about Bidam's first visit.
Wolya and Seolji visit Yushin. Seolji steps up with quite an offer: "Say I'M the leader of the Bokya. Take me instead. It's the only way." Wolya adds that becoming grand marshal is too important to all of us to lose the opportunity. But Yushin angrily rejects it all. It's the kind of thing Mishil would do, he says.
"I'm abdicating the grand marshal position." It's the next morning and Yushin is standing before Deokman, Mishil and Seolwon. "Isn't that what you wanted?," he adds, glaring at Mishil. Then he tells her, "You can't wait to name Bojong as grand marshal." And her smile confirms it. "But," he adds..."how many will support him?" Hmmm, now there's an interesting angle. "All the Hwarang watched the competition. Is it likely they'll acknowledge anyone but me as grand marshal? Suppose you get Bojong the position. What then? I'll gladly step down if you can pull that off. I earned the right to be grand marshal. Your accusations may force me to resign, but can you deal with the consequences?" Well! It's a good pitch...but Mishil's ahead of him, unfortunately for him. Seolwon promptly presents a scroll to Deokman. She opens it and reads it, and reacts with shock. Mishil says, "I think that should handle any 'consequences,' don't you?" What is it?
"It's gone." Manmyeong tells Seohyeon that the tax document she was keeping, she moved it to "Munhui's room" for safekeeping and now it's missing. (It hasn't come up in this series, but Munhui is the name of one of Yushin's sisters.) Now the head man enters and says Bangso is missing, and his family has vanished too.
And that's the document in front of Deokman now. Obviously the official guarantee to the Gayans of tax-free land rights. Mishil and Seolwon tell Deokman that the document, whatever its intentions, will make it look like Yushin was supporting the Bokya. And that will be enough to wreck his chances.
Alcheon asks Deokman and Yushin how Mishil got the document...then asks, "Why haven't they reported it?" She never planned to report it, they realize. Because she's not trying to destroy Yushin, at least not yet; what she really wants is an intact Yushin--on her side!
Later, Deokman goes to Yushin and tells him to turn Seolji in as the leader of the Bokya. It was his idea, after all. But Yushin refuses. "If we give them Seolji now, they'll just want someone else later." Which is an astute observation; he's probably right. And besides, it will implicate all of the refugees as conspirators. And Mishil will just pick them all off one by one, accusing them of treason. Then Yushin then gives Deokman a bit of a lecture about how, as a queen, she'll need to go to difficult lengths herself to keep her people safe. Deokman is crestfallen and tearful at the prospect of losing her ally as grand marshal, especially with his triumph so close. But he tells her, "You'll have to go it alone." The place they're talking at, it's some sort of outdoor covered porch, and it so happens that Munno was walking by and has picked up most of the conversation. And Bidam was headed to see Munno and we notice him further away; not sure what he can hear but he's discreetly watching everything.
Deokman has left, and now Munno steps into the porch. "I was looking for you." They go back to Munno's. "Heroes do not exist alone," Munno advises Yushin. "They exist because people believe in them. It was hard on the princess, but you were right. Her course is hard, but it is the right path." But then he asks, Isn't there an alternative? "What else can be done?" Yushin doesn't answer immediately....
Bidam goes to see Deokman, and finds her alone and in tears. "I'm not Mishil," she tells him cryptically; "I won't be like her." I won't let Yushin go, she says. "I care for him. I love him. And I couldn't say it. I couldn't..." This might be hard for Bidam to listen to (we're not entirely sure, are we), but he tries to comfort her, carefully reaching out and putting his hand on her shoulder as she cries.
"You're definitely going to do it?" Yushin tells Munno that he is.
Bidam leaves Deokman. Is he a little heartbroken himself?
Munno wonders whether or not the heavens have "chosen Deokman." Maybe I was wrong about her, he thinks. "And Yushin? Is he the one?" Now Bidam finds him; he wants to know why Munno moved the book. "You went back?" Bidam simply asks him, "Is the book mine or isn't it?" Munno looks at him almost pathetically. "Poor young fool. What's happened to you?" And walks away.
Mishil's cabal is back, all except for Misaeng, who's out with Chunchu again. Misaeng has passed along a message. "That Chunchu's taste in women matches Bolyang perfectly," as Sejong relates it. And that Bojong and Seolwon should "make all the preparations." For what? Bolyang is somebody's daughter, apparently. Not Hajong's....
Where is Misaeng taking Chunchu now? He has some sort of surprise lined up....
Munno is headed somewhere, and Bidam is tailing him. He's walking through town...goes through a busy metal workshop area, and when Bidam gets through it and looks down the street, he's lost sight of Munno. But he does see some sort of busy establishment with guards at the door, where men are lining up to get in. Did Munno go in there? Before he can look anywhere else, to his surprise he sees Misaeng shows up, with Chunchu. Daenambo is with them--out of uniform. "It's just that kind of place," Misaeng says nebulously. What kind? Misaeng is known to the guards, but they don't want to let his companions in without either a tablet or tokens (translation varies on this; most likely a bribe or entrance fee; or could be a pass of some sort). But Misaeng throws his weight around and they back down.
Inside, wow, it's a hopping place! Sort of a casino/speakeasy. Gambling, women, more gambling, more women....
Back outside, Bidam grabs onto a large waterwheel on the side of a neighboring building and rides it up to the top, and now is on a nearby roof....
Hey look--juryeonggu! Those 14-sided, hexagonal-faced dice like the one we saw King Jinpyeong using to play his drinking game in Episode 6. But these juryeonggu aren't for a drinking game; they're numbered and this looks like a game of craps. Misaeng explains that the numbers 1 to 7 are written twice on each of the two dice, so you bet on the numbers 2 through 14 (compared to our familiar 2 through 12). It's simple enough and Chunchu understands what's going on. With Misaeng's encouragement, he puts down a bet, on number 5. How about this--it comes up 5. Winner! Next he bets on 9. Misaeng bets on 8, and then gives a sly look to the dealer. Nine! Misaeng is fawning over him the whole time. Daenambo is watching and clearly thinks something's up, but stays silent. Another bet down; another sly look from Misaeng...and a flashback from just a few minutes earlier; he's cornered the dealer and is slipping him a bag of something, presumably money. "See that kid with the thick eyebrows? He wins, understand?" The dealer is only too happy to understand...The dice comes up 12. That's three in a row! The kid beams, seemingly oblivious to the fact that something might be fishy here. "Amazing!," Misaeng gushes. "Surely you can't do it again." Another bet....
Bidam has found an open window, and climbs through it into an empty back hallway. Goes into the main room and looks at all of the activity. He's assumed that Munno did go in here, and wonders why.
The kid has bet on seven, and it hits again. He's really excited. He bets on ten--and hits. He bets on eleven--and hits! Meanwhile Bidam has come upon all this, spotted Misaeng, and now is frantically gesturing to Chunchu for some reason, while making sure Misaeng doesn't see him. Bidam rolls his eyes, and eventually he gets Chunchu's attention and manages to mouth two words: "It's fixed." Bidam must have seen something like this before, because something tipped him off immediately. And without missing a beat, the kid looks at Munno with a sly smile and whispers back, "I know." Doink! HA HA! Bidam nods at him, like, Heyyyy, good for you. They smile at each other and Bidam walks away, as Chunchu's 12 bet is another hit. (This was a great scene. And at least Chunchu isn't dumb enough to be duped by this after all--which is good because he'd have to believe he won on a sequence with a probability of 1 in 26,166,014.)
Mishil and Seolwon discuss whether or not they should report the tax document once and for all, and completely prevent Yushin from becoming grand marshal. Mishil has concluded that it's necessary, but Seolwon warns that "it will end any chance of winning his loyalty." Which, clearly, is something Mishil dearly wants...She thinks back to Episode 16; Yushin telling her that the only way he'll serve her is to "kill me and enslave my corpse."
"She wants your loyalty." Yushin's parents are telling him what he already has figured out about Mishil. We trust you, they tell him, and will leave it to you to handle as you see best.
Sohwa goes to comfort Deokman, who seems to have faced up to the difficult reality of it all. "I chose to be a princess," she says, and "I can't abandon my people just to have him." And besides, he's leave me if I did something that selfish. But Sohwa tells her, "You can only follow your heart." Which only seems to make things tougher for Deokman.
Yushin is standing outside of Deokman's quarters. Chosun goes out to him and asks him if he wants to be announced. "You've been here a while," she says. He's obviously paralyzed by indecision...but eventually he turns and walks away...
...and goes into a field nearby and sits alone. He's angry and frustrated, to the point where he starts pulling up grass and throwing it (which looks very silly, but remember this is the rock-smacker). Sits there for a long time, and then finally gets up...
...and heads to Mishil's. Seolwon sees him outside. "You've made your decision, then?"
Chosun tells Deokman, "He just stood there...then left." Wouldn't let me say anything. Deokman gets up and heads somewhere...
Evening: Bidam is back outside, watching, still expecting Munno to walk out the front door of the establishment. No Munno, but now some other guy has come to the front door. An important-looking guy; he's known to the guards. One guard tells him, "Munno's here." So he IS here. The guy and the two guards go inside together. Behind the guy is a two-wheeled cart that two other men have pulled up to the front door. Whatever's in the cart--and it's large--is covered.
The guy goes into a room where Munno has been waiting all this time. Bidam has snuck back into the building and sneaks up to the closed door to listen in. "You went to Geun Harbor?", Munno asks. The guy did indeed go. "Pilsun is back from Goguryeo," he says. "He has new information. Shall I tell you now?" Later, Munno says; for now "we need to finish the Geographical Survey of the Three Kingdoms." Bidam is shocked to hear this, and so is the guy. Munno says the last volume still has to be written. The guy wonders, why now? "The book's owner has shown up," Munno says, which only confuses the guy because, as we're surprised to learn, "you wrote the survey." He asks, "Can you trust him? You put a lot of work into this book." "He has no tact and he's honest to a fault" Munno replies, and Bidam wonders what's happening here because the book was supposed to be his! "I could never inspire people" like this person, Munno continues. "And I left the world behind out of pride, mostly. He's never do that. He'll wade through anything to protect his people and his family." Bidam realizes that Munno must be talking about Yushin. And now he's shaking with anger...Munno thinks back to earlier, his talk with Yushin. "What else can be done?" Now we hear Yushin's reluctant answer. "Kneel and scrape." Huh? "Crawl if they say crawl. Lick their feet if they ask. Whatever it takes, I'll do it." Wow, this sounds ugly.
Mishil goes outside to receive Yushin, who bows respectfully just as Deokman walks up. And then, Yushin kneels! Deokman gasps, as a resigned-looking Yushin stares ahead blankly.
"I know valor when I see it," Munno tells the guy, and adds, "I'd never have thought of such a plan." So there's a plan? What plan? And now Bidam is starting to twitch, he's so angry. Munno is just pushing him farther and farther aside.
Deokman's presence is an added bonus as Mishil looks down at Yushin and asks him what he wants. "I'm begging for my life," he answers. She reminds him of what he told her about serving her only as a corpse. "That hasn't changed," he replies...but now you might actually go after the refugees and have them all killed for treason. "Yes, I might at that," Mishil says, as casually as she might choose her breakfast menu. Yushin tells her he'll accept his own death but won't be responsible for innocent people dying at his hands. "Now I see my own limitations, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to overcome them. So," he says, ask Deokman stands there looking horrified, "I ask that you take me to your bosom." Mishil looks at him--and cracks up! "My bosom! My bosom? It's a shame I'm not a little younger. I'd take you to my bosom alright. But in light of our new understanding," she says, looking straight at Deokman and just as much interested in hurting Deokman as in controlling Yushin, "you won't mind marrying into our family." And she stands quietly, waiting for the collective reaction. Deokman's eyes widen, and surprisingly quickly, Yushin responds. "Of course. Whatever you say."
Now the two of them are meeting privately. "You use rumor and suspicion to make unfounded accusations," Yushin boldly tells Seolwon. Seolwon says he knows the refugees are there--he saw them himself--and if they're supporting Bokya rebel activity, well, "You know as well as I what will happen if all is not as it should be." So what does Seolwon suggest? "Only that we work together." Hmm..."To appoint you grand marshal...and to clear up any unfounded accusations." Okay, so what does he mean by "work together"?
"Is this another trick?" Now it's Deokman and Mishil; Deokman speaks just as disapprovingly of what's just been pulled on Yushin. Mishil challenges her; Can you prove his innocence? Well, no, she didn't even know about this before. "Like it or not," Mishil says, "his life is intertwined with the Gayans. He cannot abandon them, nor can he ever truly lead them."
"Bring me the head of the Bokya leader." That's what Seolwon wants. Yushin says he doesn't know where that person is (lie). "Of course you wouldn't," Seolwon says, and it sounds a little patronizing, "But still, his head is the best way to clear up this matter." (Well if it's so important, why don't YOU do it, minister of military?) "Do that before your inauguration and your reputation is assured."
Yushin, of course, is withholding a boatload of information on all this. He's with Deokman and Alcheon; Alcheon is upset that anybody would delay Yushin's installment and has to be told the details about why. Yushin thinks that Mishil really doesn't care about the Bokya; it's just an issue she can use for political gain. (Which may or may not be true; we're not seeing how this issue is affecting whatever policy decisions are being made.)
"His hands are tied," Seolwon tells Mishil with satisfaction. Capture the Bokya leader and the Gayans will turn against Yushin; on the other hand, "failure to prove he's not connected with the Bokya and he'll never be grand marshal." (I don't see the latter part at all; how is he supposed to prove a negative?) "The problem has always dogged Yushin," Mishil adds, and Seolwon says that his best bet "is bowing before you." He won't do that, Mishil says; he's too principled. "So we need some damning evidence against him." Seolwon is already working on that; he's using the agent we saw before in Iseo Province (the guy who was with Seohyeon's men and who used the pigeons to send messages). Turns out the guy is still in Seohyeon's employ; guess his cover was never blown.
Hey, there he is. His name is Bangso and he's with Seohyeon's head man. They bring Seohyeon news of the delayed inauguration and the Bokya accusation. Seohyeon realizes he needs to head to the palace. "You look over that document," he tells Manmyeong. "Be extremely careful." What document? Seohyeon leaves for the palace, and Manmyeong also steps outside, but just to head over to a different part of their home, maybe an office. She's carrying a small chest. Whatever the document is, it must be in there. Bangso sees her, and sees the chest. Uh-oh.
The DFers are all standing at attention for some reason. Wolya and Seolji are there, too, in their DFer uniforms. Now this again--Seolji can't help but stare at Jukbang; he still can't put his finger on just where he saw him before. In any event, Seolji tells the DFers that Seohyeon "adopted" Wolya and orders them to bow, which they do. Wolya tells them, "I'll be in charge of the Dragon Guard after Yushin is appointed Grand Marshal." (Oh, really? Isn't this just the kind of thing that Deokman was talking about, that should be awarded based on merit? Who decided this? Ugh.) But then two other DFers come running in, with the news of the delayed installation and the accusation that Yushin is in cahoots with the Bokya.
And now the king is told. Seohyeon has come to tell him. "And is he guilty?" Seohyeon is silent. The king immediately realizes, though, that it really doesn't matter either way; what matters is that Mishil is using it for her own purposes. If I had known she'd pull this, Jinpyeong says, "I'd have made Bojong the grand marshal and been done." (I don't think so.)
Deokman goes to visit her mother, who's upset because Chunchu hasn't been very friendly to her. As in, not visiting her once since that initial courtesy call. Give him time, Deokman says.
Boy, I don't know about that...At the moment, Chunchu is doing a wine-tasting with Misaeng. And impressing Misaeng with his discerning palate for such a young person. Misaeng is sucking up to him big-time. Yecch. Daenambo has to stand there and listen to this; he looks nauseous. Now they get up and Misaeng leads him somewhere...
Oh, it's a gisaeng house. The two go in and sit down. Some food, some liquor, and now a shade is raised and an attractive young woman is presented to them. Chunchu doesn't care for her--"her proportions are off," he says. Another shade is raised; another woman is behind it. "Allegorical," Chunchu says. Seriously; that's what he says. Oh, and her ears are too big. Next. Shade #3 goes up. Hmmm..."Show us your hands," Chunchu requests, and she does. "Now turn around and lift up your hair." He looks at the back of her neck, and apparently likes what he sees. Misaeng smiles to himself, apparently pleased that he's honing in on whatever odd tastes Chunchu has in women.
Munno has summoned Yushin. "Is it true, what they said?" He thinks Yushin will just tell him? "Tell me. It won't leave this room." I want you to be grand marshal, Munno says--"It will be good for the Hwarang"--but this problem won't go away. Yushin explains that his family granted the refugees tax-free land rights. "If that came out," Munno says, "it would be held against you." We did it to ensure their loyalty to Shilla, Yushin says. "Gaya will never be a nation again...Gaya's future is Shilla's future." And I'll support the Gayans even if it means not becoming grand marshal. It's that important to him.
There's Bidam. He's walking along, haunted by the lousy things that Munno said to him in the previous episode. And he looks resolved to not accept them.
Yushin has left Munno. "He's a fine man," Munno thinks to himself, "but his rigidity may break him in the end." And then a strange insight: "If I'd known how to give up, I wouldn't have wondered so aimlessly for years." Wonder what that's about? Untold story there.
Where's Bidam going? We see him headed back to Dukil Temple, where we saw him go in Episode 33 and look at the old books and papers. This time he sneaks in--naughty, naughty. And goes to the same chest where the books and papers are stored...It's empty! He realizes that Munno must have moved the stuff after he found out about Bidam's first visit.
Wolya and Seolji visit Yushin. Seolji steps up with quite an offer: "Say I'M the leader of the Bokya. Take me instead. It's the only way." Wolya adds that becoming grand marshal is too important to all of us to lose the opportunity. But Yushin angrily rejects it all. It's the kind of thing Mishil would do, he says.
"I'm abdicating the grand marshal position." It's the next morning and Yushin is standing before Deokman, Mishil and Seolwon. "Isn't that what you wanted?," he adds, glaring at Mishil. Then he tells her, "You can't wait to name Bojong as grand marshal." And her smile confirms it. "But," he adds..."how many will support him?" Hmmm, now there's an interesting angle. "All the Hwarang watched the competition. Is it likely they'll acknowledge anyone but me as grand marshal? Suppose you get Bojong the position. What then? I'll gladly step down if you can pull that off. I earned the right to be grand marshal. Your accusations may force me to resign, but can you deal with the consequences?" Well! It's a good pitch...but Mishil's ahead of him, unfortunately for him. Seolwon promptly presents a scroll to Deokman. She opens it and reads it, and reacts with shock. Mishil says, "I think that should handle any 'consequences,' don't you?" What is it?
"It's gone." Manmyeong tells Seohyeon that the tax document she was keeping, she moved it to "Munhui's room" for safekeeping and now it's missing. (It hasn't come up in this series, but Munhui is the name of one of Yushin's sisters.) Now the head man enters and says Bangso is missing, and his family has vanished too.
And that's the document in front of Deokman now. Obviously the official guarantee to the Gayans of tax-free land rights. Mishil and Seolwon tell Deokman that the document, whatever its intentions, will make it look like Yushin was supporting the Bokya. And that will be enough to wreck his chances.
Alcheon asks Deokman and Yushin how Mishil got the document...then asks, "Why haven't they reported it?" She never planned to report it, they realize. Because she's not trying to destroy Yushin, at least not yet; what she really wants is an intact Yushin--on her side!
Later, Deokman goes to Yushin and tells him to turn Seolji in as the leader of the Bokya. It was his idea, after all. But Yushin refuses. "If we give them Seolji now, they'll just want someone else later." Which is an astute observation; he's probably right. And besides, it will implicate all of the refugees as conspirators. And Mishil will just pick them all off one by one, accusing them of treason. Then Yushin then gives Deokman a bit of a lecture about how, as a queen, she'll need to go to difficult lengths herself to keep her people safe. Deokman is crestfallen and tearful at the prospect of losing her ally as grand marshal, especially with his triumph so close. But he tells her, "You'll have to go it alone." The place they're talking at, it's some sort of outdoor covered porch, and it so happens that Munno was walking by and has picked up most of the conversation. And Bidam was headed to see Munno and we notice him further away; not sure what he can hear but he's discreetly watching everything.
Deokman has left, and now Munno steps into the porch. "I was looking for you." They go back to Munno's. "Heroes do not exist alone," Munno advises Yushin. "They exist because people believe in them. It was hard on the princess, but you were right. Her course is hard, but it is the right path." But then he asks, Isn't there an alternative? "What else can be done?" Yushin doesn't answer immediately....
Bidam goes to see Deokman, and finds her alone and in tears. "I'm not Mishil," she tells him cryptically; "I won't be like her." I won't let Yushin go, she says. "I care for him. I love him. And I couldn't say it. I couldn't..." This might be hard for Bidam to listen to (we're not entirely sure, are we), but he tries to comfort her, carefully reaching out and putting his hand on her shoulder as she cries.
"You're definitely going to do it?" Yushin tells Munno that he is.
Bidam leaves Deokman. Is he a little heartbroken himself?
Munno wonders whether or not the heavens have "chosen Deokman." Maybe I was wrong about her, he thinks. "And Yushin? Is he the one?" Now Bidam finds him; he wants to know why Munno moved the book. "You went back?" Bidam simply asks him, "Is the book mine or isn't it?" Munno looks at him almost pathetically. "Poor young fool. What's happened to you?" And walks away.
Mishil's cabal is back, all except for Misaeng, who's out with Chunchu again. Misaeng has passed along a message. "That Chunchu's taste in women matches Bolyang perfectly," as Sejong relates it. And that Bojong and Seolwon should "make all the preparations." For what? Bolyang is somebody's daughter, apparently. Not Hajong's....
Where is Misaeng taking Chunchu now? He has some sort of surprise lined up....
Munno is headed somewhere, and Bidam is tailing him. He's walking through town...goes through a busy metal workshop area, and when Bidam gets through it and looks down the street, he's lost sight of Munno. But he does see some sort of busy establishment with guards at the door, where men are lining up to get in. Did Munno go in there? Before he can look anywhere else, to his surprise he sees Misaeng shows up, with Chunchu. Daenambo is with them--out of uniform. "It's just that kind of place," Misaeng says nebulously. What kind? Misaeng is known to the guards, but they don't want to let his companions in without either a tablet or tokens (translation varies on this; most likely a bribe or entrance fee; or could be a pass of some sort). But Misaeng throws his weight around and they back down.
Inside, wow, it's a hopping place! Sort of a casino/speakeasy. Gambling, women, more gambling, more women....
Back outside, Bidam grabs onto a large waterwheel on the side of a neighboring building and rides it up to the top, and now is on a nearby roof....
Hey look--juryeonggu! Those 14-sided, hexagonal-faced dice like the one we saw King Jinpyeong using to play his drinking game in Episode 6. But these juryeonggu aren't for a drinking game; they're numbered and this looks like a game of craps. Misaeng explains that the numbers 1 to 7 are written twice on each of the two dice, so you bet on the numbers 2 through 14 (compared to our familiar 2 through 12). It's simple enough and Chunchu understands what's going on. With Misaeng's encouragement, he puts down a bet, on number 5. How about this--it comes up 5. Winner! Next he bets on 9. Misaeng bets on 8, and then gives a sly look to the dealer. Nine! Misaeng is fawning over him the whole time. Daenambo is watching and clearly thinks something's up, but stays silent. Another bet down; another sly look from Misaeng...and a flashback from just a few minutes earlier; he's cornered the dealer and is slipping him a bag of something, presumably money. "See that kid with the thick eyebrows? He wins, understand?" The dealer is only too happy to understand...The dice comes up 12. That's three in a row! The kid beams, seemingly oblivious to the fact that something might be fishy here. "Amazing!," Misaeng gushes. "Surely you can't do it again." Another bet....
Bidam has found an open window, and climbs through it into an empty back hallway. Goes into the main room and looks at all of the activity. He's assumed that Munno did go in here, and wonders why.
The kid has bet on seven, and it hits again. He's really excited. He bets on ten--and hits. He bets on eleven--and hits! Meanwhile Bidam has come upon all this, spotted Misaeng, and now is frantically gesturing to Chunchu for some reason, while making sure Misaeng doesn't see him. Bidam rolls his eyes, and eventually he gets Chunchu's attention and manages to mouth two words: "It's fixed." Bidam must have seen something like this before, because something tipped him off immediately. And without missing a beat, the kid looks at Munno with a sly smile and whispers back, "I know." Doink! HA HA! Bidam nods at him, like, Heyyyy, good for you. They smile at each other and Bidam walks away, as Chunchu's 12 bet is another hit. (This was a great scene. And at least Chunchu isn't dumb enough to be duped by this after all--which is good because he'd have to believe he won on a sequence with a probability of 1 in 26,166,014.)
Mishil and Seolwon discuss whether or not they should report the tax document once and for all, and completely prevent Yushin from becoming grand marshal. Mishil has concluded that it's necessary, but Seolwon warns that "it will end any chance of winning his loyalty." Which, clearly, is something Mishil dearly wants...She thinks back to Episode 16; Yushin telling her that the only way he'll serve her is to "kill me and enslave my corpse."
"She wants your loyalty." Yushin's parents are telling him what he already has figured out about Mishil. We trust you, they tell him, and will leave it to you to handle as you see best.
Sohwa goes to comfort Deokman, who seems to have faced up to the difficult reality of it all. "I chose to be a princess," she says, and "I can't abandon my people just to have him." And besides, he's leave me if I did something that selfish. But Sohwa tells her, "You can only follow your heart." Which only seems to make things tougher for Deokman.
Yushin is standing outside of Deokman's quarters. Chosun goes out to him and asks him if he wants to be announced. "You've been here a while," she says. He's obviously paralyzed by indecision...but eventually he turns and walks away...
...and goes into a field nearby and sits alone. He's angry and frustrated, to the point where he starts pulling up grass and throwing it (which looks very silly, but remember this is the rock-smacker). Sits there for a long time, and then finally gets up...
...and heads to Mishil's. Seolwon sees him outside. "You've made your decision, then?"
Chosun tells Deokman, "He just stood there...then left." Wouldn't let me say anything. Deokman gets up and heads somewhere...
Evening: Bidam is back outside, watching, still expecting Munno to walk out the front door of the establishment. No Munno, but now some other guy has come to the front door. An important-looking guy; he's known to the guards. One guard tells him, "Munno's here." So he IS here. The guy and the two guards go inside together. Behind the guy is a two-wheeled cart that two other men have pulled up to the front door. Whatever's in the cart--and it's large--is covered.
The guy goes into a room where Munno has been waiting all this time. Bidam has snuck back into the building and sneaks up to the closed door to listen in. "You went to Geun Harbor?", Munno asks. The guy did indeed go. "Pilsun is back from Goguryeo," he says. "He has new information. Shall I tell you now?" Later, Munno says; for now "we need to finish the Geographical Survey of the Three Kingdoms." Bidam is shocked to hear this, and so is the guy. Munno says the last volume still has to be written. The guy wonders, why now? "The book's owner has shown up," Munno says, which only confuses the guy because, as we're surprised to learn, "you wrote the survey." He asks, "Can you trust him? You put a lot of work into this book." "He has no tact and he's honest to a fault" Munno replies, and Bidam wonders what's happening here because the book was supposed to be his! "I could never inspire people" like this person, Munno continues. "And I left the world behind out of pride, mostly. He's never do that. He'll wade through anything to protect his people and his family." Bidam realizes that Munno must be talking about Yushin. And now he's shaking with anger...Munno thinks back to earlier, his talk with Yushin. "What else can be done?" Now we hear Yushin's reluctant answer. "Kneel and scrape." Huh? "Crawl if they say crawl. Lick their feet if they ask. Whatever it takes, I'll do it." Wow, this sounds ugly.
Mishil goes outside to receive Yushin, who bows respectfully just as Deokman walks up. And then, Yushin kneels! Deokman gasps, as a resigned-looking Yushin stares ahead blankly.
"I know valor when I see it," Munno tells the guy, and adds, "I'd never have thought of such a plan." So there's a plan? What plan? And now Bidam is starting to twitch, he's so angry. Munno is just pushing him farther and farther aside.
Deokman's presence is an added bonus as Mishil looks down at Yushin and asks him what he wants. "I'm begging for my life," he answers. She reminds him of what he told her about serving her only as a corpse. "That hasn't changed," he replies...but now you might actually go after the refugees and have them all killed for treason. "Yes, I might at that," Mishil says, as casually as she might choose her breakfast menu. Yushin tells her he'll accept his own death but won't be responsible for innocent people dying at his hands. "Now I see my own limitations, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to overcome them. So," he says, ask Deokman stands there looking horrified, "I ask that you take me to your bosom." Mishil looks at him--and cracks up! "My bosom! My bosom? It's a shame I'm not a little younger. I'd take you to my bosom alright. But in light of our new understanding," she says, looking straight at Deokman and just as much interested in hurting Deokman as in controlling Yushin, "you won't mind marrying into our family." And she stands quietly, waiting for the collective reaction. Deokman's eyes widen, and surprisingly quickly, Yushin responds. "Of course. Whatever you say."