Post by ajk on May 23, 2014 23:58:11 GMT -5
The councilors have been summoned to the king's office. Rumor has it that Gongmin has named a new chancellor: Lord Goheung, a/k/a Gyeongsang Province Commander Yoo Tak. Kind of an odd choice. And another odd choice: Lee In Bok's brother Lee In Im is the new Commissioner of the Three Censorates. Lee In Bok, we learn, is the inspector general; that hadn't been made clear to us before. Another new face, Lee Chun Bu, is put in charge of the State Council (not sure what that means exactly). And Choi Young is the new head of the Royal Secretariat. A military officer leading the secretariat? And as the councilors stand around outside the building, the news that Gongmin is meeting with Shin Don at the moment sets Inspector Kim to screaming, to the point where everybody stares at him and he pipes back down.
Gongmin is sharing tea with the new chancellor and with Shin Don. Older man, seems like a good guy, humble, says he's not worthy of the job. Gongmin tells him that he's naming Shin Don his "guardian," meaning, "He shall act as my mentor, and guide me through my decisions." And tells Eunuch Choi it's time to find SD a home inside the palace complex.
The new chancellor leaves the king and heads outside, and Lee In Im is waiting there to be the first one to start sucking up to him. Ugh. Then Gongmin summons the two Supervisors of the Royal Secretariat--so Choi Young isn't the only one; Lee Saek also has that title--and tells everyone else to leave. Then why did he ask them all here in the first place? Weird.
Choi Young and Lee Saek go in to see Gongmin, who tells him that "From here on, Choi Young shall control the Board of Military Affairs, while Lee Saek will be in charge of court matters." Then tells him that everything that isn't urgent, they're to consult with SD about it first.
Some of the councilors have gathered and are grumbling about their being summoned to the palace for no reason. Inspector Kim is ranting about how it was to rub their noses in it about SD, blah blah blah. But Lee Chun Bu says it's "an important development for the country" and they all needed to know about it, and is tired of hearing about SD's upbringing. "It is one's disposition and workmanship that speak for him." And besides, he says, Gongmin has had so much trouble with government officials, "It is inevitable His Majesty would not trust us." And Lee In Bok backs him up.
Eunuch Choi takes SD to a humble building inside the palace complex. Nothing fancy, but it's nice enough, and at the right distance from the palace. Good enough, SD says. And it's rather secluded. Choi tells him the place has a history. "It was used by a former king, whenever he sought the company of a certain woman, and represented the perfect place to avoid any eyes." He leaves SD there to get settled...and now we see the rest of SD's confrontation with Master Bou, in flashback. "What were you doing, when our country faced such direful quandaries? You were diligently invoking Buddha's benevolence. We cannot save this country with Buddha's benevolence alone." Bou makes a demeaning remark about SD ending his hermitage in the shed early, and suggests he was tempted by riches. Which gets SD screaming mad. "Do you know what this lowly son of a slave's most ardent wish was?" Not riches, or spiritual awakening. "It was to, at least for one day, have a bountiful meal and sleep soundly." And then tells Bou that he (Bou) failed to use his authority to accomplish anything useful for the people or the country. "Despite having all that power, all you do is strike that woodblock. Having the power to change it all, and only waiting for an opulent afterlife, that is nothing but cupidity, sinful avarice." Bou has a different view of the world and tells him so...but the decision is made.
Well gee, guess what, Inspector Kim is complaining to the queen dowager. And she's complaining right back about how it's the queen's fault that she's facing having to give up her ill-gotten gains. And now they're scheming something. Ugh.
The two new faces, Lee In Im and Lee Chun Bu, are meeting with SD to have their assets audited; this is the work of the former Directorate, being resumed. "The entire court is in tumult!," Lee In Im laughs. "The son of a slave is His Majesty's guardian." SD doesn't laugh. Not very smooth by Lee In Im, is it. But then he puts some papers down in front of SD. "These are half my entire assets. His Majesty will use it to help our country." Wow, how about that...if it's legitimate. Then Lee Chun Bu starts shamelessly sucking up to SD, and then says he has no assets because his father left him none. The two leave, and Lee Chun Bu says he actually did bring some modest assets to offer but he felt ashamed after seeing In Im's. Whatever...but now look who's waiting for his turn: Inspector Kim! This will be good, no doubt.
Lee In Im goes to his brother and brags about the good deed he just did and how he "astonished him with my benevolence!" Lee In Bok rolls his eyes. "You wasted your time." He knows SD better than that.
SD is just sitting there, silently staring at Inspector Kim, making him sweat bullets. Finally Kim produces stacks of papers. They're the QD's assets; remember she entrusted their management to him so now he's obviously here on her behalf. And as much as it drives him crazy, he has to ask SD a favor. "Her Highness beseeches your magnanimity. Consider her prestige and keep all this secret." Okay, SD says. Then a veiled threat of some sort from Kim, which SD couldn't care less about.
What's all the bustle? Princess Deoknyeong comes to visit the queen and finds a luncheon being set up for the wives of the highest-ranking officials. Inside, we see them eating. Six wives; not sure whose. Noguk tells them about the awful thing the royals went through, fleeing the capital and being stuck in Bokju. "If we had built proper defense lines able to contend with the invasion, would His Majesty have had to face such discomfiture?" She's really working them hard. "It is in frugality that a woman's greatest virtue lies. No matter how upright her demeanor might be, how could anyone coveting the pleasures of luxury consider herself pure?" Wow, look at 'em squirm! Hah! Now she just stares at them...politely...
...and now we see them leaving her palace, squirming as they scurry away.
Lee In Bok is telling Gongmin that officials are willingly lining up to turn over assets to SD. He loves it; laughing like crazy about it.
Wow, Noguk managed to get those women to give up all the expensive jewelry they were wearing and donate it to the government. A whole lot of jewelry--look at it all! Deoknyeong is inside now; takes a look at the haul and deadpans, "I see it was quite an expensive luncheon." Okay, that was absolutely hilarious. Noguk says the women still have to do more...but Deoknyeong warns her that resentment is spreading about the SD situation and that "you must be fair" in dealing with this. But Noguk is motivated by the just cause she sees in it. "During the Red Turbans' invasion, our people had no carriages, so they had to abandon the old and wounded to find refuge, as the powerful clans strolled about with their carriages full of jewels. Are those riches more precious than human lives?" Hard to argue with her.
Lee In Bok is visiting SD, and is amazed by the stack of deeds and papers he accumulated from officials in just one day. What does he plan to do with it? SD says it will pay for a military attack on and takeover of Liaodong! Seriously? Lee laughs at him. Silly idea, he says; the Yuan would send a huge army and punish us for that. But SD thinks the Yuan are teetering from internal strife and ethnic rebellion and that this is the time to strike. "We must increase the size of our army. This is the one and only chance to regain Liaodong, Goguryeo's former territory."
Now it's supervisor Gyeong's turn to see SD. He sits there and glares at SD, hostility all over his face. SD asks him, "So you still resent me?" Quite an answer: "Would dressing up a mongrel make a thoroughbred out of it?" Sheesh! I could have you killed, SD says with a smile...but adds "With that resolve of yours, you could gain the world. And all you do with it is showing envy for the lowly son of a slave? What a waste of good talent." But Gyeong is unmoved. So then SD drops a bomb on him: When the Yuan sends their military force to try to force Prince Deokheung onto the throne, well..."you will have to act as Commanding General of the Northwest Region." Seriously? Gyeong doesn't know the first thing about the military and readily admits it. But SD tells him that the king has decided that ultimate military authority will not be held by generals. Gyeong is shocked...and so are we, frankly.
Rumor spreads fast: Inspector Kim goes right to Gyeong and wonders whether or not Gyeong is "on his side now." "His" meaning SD's. Gyeong doesn't answer him!
"He accepted without hesitation." SD tells Gongmin. "See?," he tells Noguk with a hearty laugh, "They are all staggered." Not sure why this is such funny news, but they think this is all building towards a great victory.
Yanjing: "They still haven't crossed the Amnok?!" Whoa, Empress Gi looks really ticked off--which is rare, for her. The troops leading Prince Deokheung and Choi Yu into Goryeo are moving too slowly. Commissioner Park tells her to be patient because there are "a meager" 10,000 men...but she snaps back at him, "Didn't they say even 5,000 would suffice to subjugate Goryeo?!" He assures her that they'll be on the move shortly, as soon as the present cold spell passes.
Liaodong: We're at the army camp now. Soldiers are shivering, so much that at the sight of a small campfire all of the guards leave their posts to run over and catch a little warmth. Yoo In Woo barks at them and chases them away...and angrily confronts Choi Yu about when they're going to cross the Amnok. Choi is waiting for some sort of favorable signal from Gaegyeong...but with Kim Yong dead, who's going to give the signal? Yoo is getting impatient because desertions are growing. And because Jo So Saeng, over at Ssangseong territory, is supposed to be taking some action too and there's been no news.
Wow that was fast: Secretary Gyeong has already taken over at the northern army camp. Lee In Im is there with him, and starts offering traitorous ideas. "Our ruler belongs to the past," Lee says, "and Prince Deokheung is our new King. The credulous masses will laud anyone filling their bellies, so would they be bothered by just cause?" That's not me talking, he tells Gyeong, that's just what people are saying. Ugh. Then Choi Young and Lee Seong Gye enter the tent and join them. LSG reports that Jo So Saeng wasn't able to muster a credible threat with those Jurchen remnants and retreated. So no threat there, fortunately. Choi and LSG figure that now is the time to cross the Amnok and attack. And reminds Gyeong that it's the king's order. But Lee In Im shocks them: "We shan't follow his every word all the time." Gyeong orders no action until the Yuan force initiates it.
That evening: Choi and Lee, undoubtedly shaken by what just happened, wonder about what really happened to Jung Se Woon. "Do you believe Kim Yong slew Jung Se Woon, without conferring even once with His Majesty?" Choi seems to have his doubts. Neither of them seems sure about what to make of any of it.
Gaegyeong: Gongmin wonders why Gyeong's army hasn't taken any action. Complains about all the money he's sent north: "With all that money, he could surely buy Liaodong if he wished! The enemy doesn't even concern them, and all they do is sit and consume supplies."
Oh now THIS will be good--SD has come to see the QD! This is gonna be huge. She can't even look at him, she's so disgusted with him. But manages to spit out, "What brings you here?" He says he's here to thank her. "Volunteering your assets to fund our efforts at the border made everything much easier to deal with for us." And he brings her back some of the assets! Land deeds she gave up, as a gesture of gratitude. And "Because we needed your initiative for the other courtiers to join our cause." And he bows deeply and formally to her. Well that shuts her up...and is that a hint of a smile on her face?
SD leaves, and passes Inspector Kim in the front yard. "You must know your place," he tells Kim with a smile, recalling a similarly demeaning comment made by Kim to him long ago. He walks away with a bit of a chuckle, leaving Kim standing there bug-eyed (very funny).
"He definitely surprised me." The QD tells a horrified Inspector Kim that she's happy to have her land back and is willing to give SD a chance.
SD has invited Won Hyeon and Deokun and Park Seobang to visit him. They're excited to go inside the palace complex. Simultaneously, the queen has invited Choseon to visit. Inside SD's home, SD gives Won a good scolding for his out-of-control behavior in the recent past--wow is THAT long overdue--and also scolds Deokun a bit for some sort of misbehavior (I didn't understand that). Apparently Deokun is going to move to the royal temple, and SD warns him to "behave in a becoming manner." Then he gives Park a written list. "Summon all the merchants listed here, and get a written oath out of them. They must acknowledge that, should they trade ginseng and tea without my consent, death shall be waiting for them."
Noguk has invited Choseon because she wants to ask her a favor. But she doesn't get around to it for the longest time...and then she won't even come right out and say what the favor is! She starts talking about the whole pregnancy situation and how the king doesn't even spend nights with her any more because he's so concerned about the danger of her getting pregnant and likely dying from it...
...but Choseon leaves the queen without understanding what it is she wants. Lady Kim, though, who was there in the room with them, explains it to her: She wants you to find another woman for Gongmin, someone who can bear his child. Choseon starts to leave...but then stops and turns back, an angry look suddenly on her face.
Pyeonjo's guests leave. Won is bitter about the scolding he got.
Choseon goes back inside and tells the queen that "Should His Majesty gain an heir, either from a consort or someone else, your situation will only worsen." We've been through this issue before, of course. And then she suggests, "Why don't you try once more? Just because you're pregnant, your life will not always be at risk. You could safely give birth to a child." Ohhh...really? That's not the understanding we had before. Noguk admits she'd do anything to make it happen...and while she won't admit it, she does seem dismayed by Gongmin's lack of affection, whatever the reason.
"What are you trying to do, uttering those words!?" Now Choseon is visiting SD and has told him about her discussion with the queen. "Didn't Her Majesty risk her life the last time she was pregnant?" But Choseon is adamant. "If Her Majesty can't give birth to an heir, she will find it hard to maintain any authority." And she reminds SD, "The reason you were able to enter the palace as His Majesty's guardian all comes down to Her Majesty's efforts. His Majesty is always hesitant, so he would have never found such resolve." Which may be true, but it's sort of beside the point and he's getting angrier and angrier at her as she goes on..."Her Majesty must give birth to an heir. Even if it brings her demise, she must give birth to a prince. Only then she will be able to truly support you." Wow is this a tense moment between them.
Evening: The king and queen are enjoying an evening meal. Seems like Gongmin is in a much better mood than Noguk. Then Noguk starts crying. What's wrong?, he asks her. He goes to dry her tears and she pushes him away. "Your Majesty treats me like a piece of wood." He laughs. "What is that supposed to mean?" She's in a snit now. "In whose embrace are you going to devour this night with?" He laughs harder at her, says she's jealous. Takes her hand. "May the heavens be my witness. I never had eyes for anyone but you." She's still bent out of shape. "How nice your lies sound." It only makes him laugh that much harder. He hugs her and finally she seems to calm down some.
From outside Gongmin's palace, we see the lights go out inside.
Gongmin is sharing tea with the new chancellor and with Shin Don. Older man, seems like a good guy, humble, says he's not worthy of the job. Gongmin tells him that he's naming Shin Don his "guardian," meaning, "He shall act as my mentor, and guide me through my decisions." And tells Eunuch Choi it's time to find SD a home inside the palace complex.
The new chancellor leaves the king and heads outside, and Lee In Im is waiting there to be the first one to start sucking up to him. Ugh. Then Gongmin summons the two Supervisors of the Royal Secretariat--so Choi Young isn't the only one; Lee Saek also has that title--and tells everyone else to leave. Then why did he ask them all here in the first place? Weird.
Choi Young and Lee Saek go in to see Gongmin, who tells him that "From here on, Choi Young shall control the Board of Military Affairs, while Lee Saek will be in charge of court matters." Then tells him that everything that isn't urgent, they're to consult with SD about it first.
Some of the councilors have gathered and are grumbling about their being summoned to the palace for no reason. Inspector Kim is ranting about how it was to rub their noses in it about SD, blah blah blah. But Lee Chun Bu says it's "an important development for the country" and they all needed to know about it, and is tired of hearing about SD's upbringing. "It is one's disposition and workmanship that speak for him." And besides, he says, Gongmin has had so much trouble with government officials, "It is inevitable His Majesty would not trust us." And Lee In Bok backs him up.
Eunuch Choi takes SD to a humble building inside the palace complex. Nothing fancy, but it's nice enough, and at the right distance from the palace. Good enough, SD says. And it's rather secluded. Choi tells him the place has a history. "It was used by a former king, whenever he sought the company of a certain woman, and represented the perfect place to avoid any eyes." He leaves SD there to get settled...and now we see the rest of SD's confrontation with Master Bou, in flashback. "What were you doing, when our country faced such direful quandaries? You were diligently invoking Buddha's benevolence. We cannot save this country with Buddha's benevolence alone." Bou makes a demeaning remark about SD ending his hermitage in the shed early, and suggests he was tempted by riches. Which gets SD screaming mad. "Do you know what this lowly son of a slave's most ardent wish was?" Not riches, or spiritual awakening. "It was to, at least for one day, have a bountiful meal and sleep soundly." And then tells Bou that he (Bou) failed to use his authority to accomplish anything useful for the people or the country. "Despite having all that power, all you do is strike that woodblock. Having the power to change it all, and only waiting for an opulent afterlife, that is nothing but cupidity, sinful avarice." Bou has a different view of the world and tells him so...but the decision is made.
Well gee, guess what, Inspector Kim is complaining to the queen dowager. And she's complaining right back about how it's the queen's fault that she's facing having to give up her ill-gotten gains. And now they're scheming something. Ugh.
The two new faces, Lee In Im and Lee Chun Bu, are meeting with SD to have their assets audited; this is the work of the former Directorate, being resumed. "The entire court is in tumult!," Lee In Im laughs. "The son of a slave is His Majesty's guardian." SD doesn't laugh. Not very smooth by Lee In Im, is it. But then he puts some papers down in front of SD. "These are half my entire assets. His Majesty will use it to help our country." Wow, how about that...if it's legitimate. Then Lee Chun Bu starts shamelessly sucking up to SD, and then says he has no assets because his father left him none. The two leave, and Lee Chun Bu says he actually did bring some modest assets to offer but he felt ashamed after seeing In Im's. Whatever...but now look who's waiting for his turn: Inspector Kim! This will be good, no doubt.
Lee In Im goes to his brother and brags about the good deed he just did and how he "astonished him with my benevolence!" Lee In Bok rolls his eyes. "You wasted your time." He knows SD better than that.
SD is just sitting there, silently staring at Inspector Kim, making him sweat bullets. Finally Kim produces stacks of papers. They're the QD's assets; remember she entrusted their management to him so now he's obviously here on her behalf. And as much as it drives him crazy, he has to ask SD a favor. "Her Highness beseeches your magnanimity. Consider her prestige and keep all this secret." Okay, SD says. Then a veiled threat of some sort from Kim, which SD couldn't care less about.
What's all the bustle? Princess Deoknyeong comes to visit the queen and finds a luncheon being set up for the wives of the highest-ranking officials. Inside, we see them eating. Six wives; not sure whose. Noguk tells them about the awful thing the royals went through, fleeing the capital and being stuck in Bokju. "If we had built proper defense lines able to contend with the invasion, would His Majesty have had to face such discomfiture?" She's really working them hard. "It is in frugality that a woman's greatest virtue lies. No matter how upright her demeanor might be, how could anyone coveting the pleasures of luxury consider herself pure?" Wow, look at 'em squirm! Hah! Now she just stares at them...politely...
...and now we see them leaving her palace, squirming as they scurry away.
Lee In Bok is telling Gongmin that officials are willingly lining up to turn over assets to SD. He loves it; laughing like crazy about it.
Wow, Noguk managed to get those women to give up all the expensive jewelry they were wearing and donate it to the government. A whole lot of jewelry--look at it all! Deoknyeong is inside now; takes a look at the haul and deadpans, "I see it was quite an expensive luncheon." Okay, that was absolutely hilarious. Noguk says the women still have to do more...but Deoknyeong warns her that resentment is spreading about the SD situation and that "you must be fair" in dealing with this. But Noguk is motivated by the just cause she sees in it. "During the Red Turbans' invasion, our people had no carriages, so they had to abandon the old and wounded to find refuge, as the powerful clans strolled about with their carriages full of jewels. Are those riches more precious than human lives?" Hard to argue with her.
Lee In Bok is visiting SD, and is amazed by the stack of deeds and papers he accumulated from officials in just one day. What does he plan to do with it? SD says it will pay for a military attack on and takeover of Liaodong! Seriously? Lee laughs at him. Silly idea, he says; the Yuan would send a huge army and punish us for that. But SD thinks the Yuan are teetering from internal strife and ethnic rebellion and that this is the time to strike. "We must increase the size of our army. This is the one and only chance to regain Liaodong, Goguryeo's former territory."
Now it's supervisor Gyeong's turn to see SD. He sits there and glares at SD, hostility all over his face. SD asks him, "So you still resent me?" Quite an answer: "Would dressing up a mongrel make a thoroughbred out of it?" Sheesh! I could have you killed, SD says with a smile...but adds "With that resolve of yours, you could gain the world. And all you do with it is showing envy for the lowly son of a slave? What a waste of good talent." But Gyeong is unmoved. So then SD drops a bomb on him: When the Yuan sends their military force to try to force Prince Deokheung onto the throne, well..."you will have to act as Commanding General of the Northwest Region." Seriously? Gyeong doesn't know the first thing about the military and readily admits it. But SD tells him that the king has decided that ultimate military authority will not be held by generals. Gyeong is shocked...and so are we, frankly.
Rumor spreads fast: Inspector Kim goes right to Gyeong and wonders whether or not Gyeong is "on his side now." "His" meaning SD's. Gyeong doesn't answer him!
"He accepted without hesitation." SD tells Gongmin. "See?," he tells Noguk with a hearty laugh, "They are all staggered." Not sure why this is such funny news, but they think this is all building towards a great victory.
Yanjing: "They still haven't crossed the Amnok?!" Whoa, Empress Gi looks really ticked off--which is rare, for her. The troops leading Prince Deokheung and Choi Yu into Goryeo are moving too slowly. Commissioner Park tells her to be patient because there are "a meager" 10,000 men...but she snaps back at him, "Didn't they say even 5,000 would suffice to subjugate Goryeo?!" He assures her that they'll be on the move shortly, as soon as the present cold spell passes.
Liaodong: We're at the army camp now. Soldiers are shivering, so much that at the sight of a small campfire all of the guards leave their posts to run over and catch a little warmth. Yoo In Woo barks at them and chases them away...and angrily confronts Choi Yu about when they're going to cross the Amnok. Choi is waiting for some sort of favorable signal from Gaegyeong...but with Kim Yong dead, who's going to give the signal? Yoo is getting impatient because desertions are growing. And because Jo So Saeng, over at Ssangseong territory, is supposed to be taking some action too and there's been no news.
Wow that was fast: Secretary Gyeong has already taken over at the northern army camp. Lee In Im is there with him, and starts offering traitorous ideas. "Our ruler belongs to the past," Lee says, "and Prince Deokheung is our new King. The credulous masses will laud anyone filling their bellies, so would they be bothered by just cause?" That's not me talking, he tells Gyeong, that's just what people are saying. Ugh. Then Choi Young and Lee Seong Gye enter the tent and join them. LSG reports that Jo So Saeng wasn't able to muster a credible threat with those Jurchen remnants and retreated. So no threat there, fortunately. Choi and LSG figure that now is the time to cross the Amnok and attack. And reminds Gyeong that it's the king's order. But Lee In Im shocks them: "We shan't follow his every word all the time." Gyeong orders no action until the Yuan force initiates it.
That evening: Choi and Lee, undoubtedly shaken by what just happened, wonder about what really happened to Jung Se Woon. "Do you believe Kim Yong slew Jung Se Woon, without conferring even once with His Majesty?" Choi seems to have his doubts. Neither of them seems sure about what to make of any of it.
Gaegyeong: Gongmin wonders why Gyeong's army hasn't taken any action. Complains about all the money he's sent north: "With all that money, he could surely buy Liaodong if he wished! The enemy doesn't even concern them, and all they do is sit and consume supplies."
Oh now THIS will be good--SD has come to see the QD! This is gonna be huge. She can't even look at him, she's so disgusted with him. But manages to spit out, "What brings you here?" He says he's here to thank her. "Volunteering your assets to fund our efforts at the border made everything much easier to deal with for us." And he brings her back some of the assets! Land deeds she gave up, as a gesture of gratitude. And "Because we needed your initiative for the other courtiers to join our cause." And he bows deeply and formally to her. Well that shuts her up...and is that a hint of a smile on her face?
SD leaves, and passes Inspector Kim in the front yard. "You must know your place," he tells Kim with a smile, recalling a similarly demeaning comment made by Kim to him long ago. He walks away with a bit of a chuckle, leaving Kim standing there bug-eyed (very funny).
"He definitely surprised me." The QD tells a horrified Inspector Kim that she's happy to have her land back and is willing to give SD a chance.
SD has invited Won Hyeon and Deokun and Park Seobang to visit him. They're excited to go inside the palace complex. Simultaneously, the queen has invited Choseon to visit. Inside SD's home, SD gives Won a good scolding for his out-of-control behavior in the recent past--wow is THAT long overdue--and also scolds Deokun a bit for some sort of misbehavior (I didn't understand that). Apparently Deokun is going to move to the royal temple, and SD warns him to "behave in a becoming manner." Then he gives Park a written list. "Summon all the merchants listed here, and get a written oath out of them. They must acknowledge that, should they trade ginseng and tea without my consent, death shall be waiting for them."
Noguk has invited Choseon because she wants to ask her a favor. But she doesn't get around to it for the longest time...and then she won't even come right out and say what the favor is! She starts talking about the whole pregnancy situation and how the king doesn't even spend nights with her any more because he's so concerned about the danger of her getting pregnant and likely dying from it...
...but Choseon leaves the queen without understanding what it is she wants. Lady Kim, though, who was there in the room with them, explains it to her: She wants you to find another woman for Gongmin, someone who can bear his child. Choseon starts to leave...but then stops and turns back, an angry look suddenly on her face.
Pyeonjo's guests leave. Won is bitter about the scolding he got.
Choseon goes back inside and tells the queen that "Should His Majesty gain an heir, either from a consort or someone else, your situation will only worsen." We've been through this issue before, of course. And then she suggests, "Why don't you try once more? Just because you're pregnant, your life will not always be at risk. You could safely give birth to a child." Ohhh...really? That's not the understanding we had before. Noguk admits she'd do anything to make it happen...and while she won't admit it, she does seem dismayed by Gongmin's lack of affection, whatever the reason.
"What are you trying to do, uttering those words!?" Now Choseon is visiting SD and has told him about her discussion with the queen. "Didn't Her Majesty risk her life the last time she was pregnant?" But Choseon is adamant. "If Her Majesty can't give birth to an heir, she will find it hard to maintain any authority." And she reminds SD, "The reason you were able to enter the palace as His Majesty's guardian all comes down to Her Majesty's efforts. His Majesty is always hesitant, so he would have never found such resolve." Which may be true, but it's sort of beside the point and he's getting angrier and angrier at her as she goes on..."Her Majesty must give birth to an heir. Even if it brings her demise, she must give birth to a prince. Only then she will be able to truly support you." Wow is this a tense moment between them.
Evening: The king and queen are enjoying an evening meal. Seems like Gongmin is in a much better mood than Noguk. Then Noguk starts crying. What's wrong?, he asks her. He goes to dry her tears and she pushes him away. "Your Majesty treats me like a piece of wood." He laughs. "What is that supposed to mean?" She's in a snit now. "In whose embrace are you going to devour this night with?" He laughs harder at her, says she's jealous. Takes her hand. "May the heavens be my witness. I never had eyes for anyone but you." She's still bent out of shape. "How nice your lies sound." It only makes him laugh that much harder. He hugs her and finally she seems to calm down some.
From outside Gongmin's palace, we see the lights go out inside.