Post by ajk on Jun 6, 2014 23:59:40 GMT -5
Lee In Bok is leading a delegation to Yanjing like Gongmin ordered. We see them traveling through the countryside...but wait, a military messenger catches up to them with news that the king has ordered them to return home. Guess what: Yuan envoys have arrived in Gaegyeong! Surprised they didn't cross paths; obviously they took another route.
And now look at this: Choi Yu is in prisoner's white, in a cage, being carted right into the palace plaza! The Yuan party brought him. In his office, Gongmin is laughing hysterically. It's not because of Choi, though. Chancellor Yoo has just informed him that Empress Gi was booted off her throne! Wow! There was some sort of revolt in Yanjing and its leader, a man named Boluo Temur, removed and imprisoned the empress.
Council hall: Excited buzzing among the councilors...which quickly turns to arguing about just what they should do now--as in, reconcile with the Yuan or be tough with them.
The Yuan envoys are waiting at the palace to see the king. Gongmin is still laughing. Let them wait, he says, and adds that he wants SD to show up so they can go there together. That draws some protests from officials, because SD shouldn't be allowed inside the palace. But Gongmin brushes that off.
Even the queen dowager is giggling about all this, as she entertains Princess Deoknyeong and the queen. Wow, and no digs at Noguk--she must really be happy!
Here comes the king...enters, climbs his steps to the throne, surveys the room and sits. Then demands a chair be placed next to his throne, on the platform. "Come up here and sit by my side," he tells SD, as everyone else's eyes just about bug out. SD begs out and looks almost terrified, but he has no choice, really, and Gongmin's smiling reassurance is enough to get him to do it. Of course, Inspector Kim just about blows a gasket...but the new guy Lee Chun Bu cuts him off and starts gushing about how moved he is by the grace and generosity Gongmin is showing his mentor. "A most ravishing and stirring sight!", he shouts, and now everybody else is forced to join in.
"Would the officials accept serving Pyeonjo in good conscience?" As they leave the QD's home, Deoknyeong wants to carefully reiterate to Noguk her concern about SD's role in the government. But Noguk answers, "That is why we must entrust him with even more authority." To put the scheming officials in their place. "If what he is doing is right, we must follow him."
The envoys have brought an imperial edict--or, I guess an edict from Boluo Temur, whatever his position is at the moment--and it's being read aloud:
Choi Yu partook in vile intents with eunuch Park Bulhwa and besmirched their ruler's name, with their repulsive plan to install Prince Deokheung as the King of Goryeo. Therefore, it is punishment they deserve. I shall once again proclaim Prince Gangneung as the King of Goryeo, relinquishing Prince Deokheung's every authority. As perpetrator of this ignominy, Park Bulhwa shall be exiled to Gansu Province, while Choi Yu will be returned to Goryeo. May the King of Goryeo abide by the heavenly principles guiding us, and once again distinguish himself for his meritorious deeds.
Of course everybody's thrilled with this and they all start praising it...but then: "Why wasn't Prince Deokheung part of his benevolent bequest?!" It's SD, and he's not happy...and he has a good point. We don't care about Choi and Park, he says; we want Deokheung brought here! The councilors are looking mighty angry at him. Gongmin says first things first: let's let the people get a look at Choi before we execute him, just so everyone is reminded of the price of disloyalty.
Yanjing: There's the emp... uh, former empress. She's still in her nice home but is under house arrest and isn't dressed fancily any more. And even her own son can't get in to see her.
Now we see Choi being executed. It's not a formal state execution. It's some sort of maniac in a red shirt, waving a huge scythe around wildly and taunting Choi as he kneels in a village street with a crowd gathered around. Finally he swings, and we see Choi's head bounce on the ground next to his body.
Choseon's yard: Won Hyeon is telling his colleagues (the tea-market overseers) how great it was to see SD sitting next to the king. Of course, he wasn't there...but it's a dramatic moment and they know how important it is, and they're ecstatic. Inside, Park Seobang tells a very happy Choseon that their profits doubled this month and their financial picture has improved greatly since all of the chaos of the insurrections. She wants to buy land now to grow their own tea, and is ready to play hardball with the powerful clans to get them to sell some to her. Which she can do much more easily now with SD overseeing the tea market.
And look at this, she's wasted no time doing it. A big shipment of tea has arrived at their warehouse from the fields of the Vice Minister of Taxation. Park says the stuff is of insufficient quality and rejects it!
And back in the capital, SD tells Choseon he's going to raise taxes on the tea fields enough to force the clans to sell.
"Whatever it takes, we must capture Prince Deokheung." Lee In Bok is before Gongmin, who tells him he must go to Yanjing after all. Lee protests, pointing out that Deokheung has no influence with anyone in Yanjing any more...but then SD walks in reminds Lee that Kim Yong used Deokheung as an excuse for his insurrection, so Deokheung must be captured to prevent any such thing from happening again. Lee disagrees, to the point where he loses his temper. "When it comes to biggety grandeur and imperious greed, how could any official ever compare with you? How dare you sit by His Majesty's sacred throne?!" SD fires back that is all about the king and not about who sits next to him. Lee walks out in a fury, just about biting Lee In Im's head off when In Im tries to talk to him.
Gongmin tells SD he doesn't want him using the fawning words that everyone else uses to address the king. And that he should sit next to him here in his office from now on. But SD knows these are extreme steps and looks very uncomfortable with them.
Of course, Inspector Kim goes straight to the queen dowager and whines about the powerful clans losing their tea revenues. Begs her for help. And complains about SD, of course. "There is but one person left to control him," he tells her, "and that is you. You must make sure Pyeonjo and His Majesty go their separate ways."
The future home of the Confucian academy is being renovated. SD wants it to hold at least 100 scholars. Tells Lee Saek that the trading revenues from the tea market will cover the entire cost. Lee is grateful. Just then a group of the scholars shows up and Lee introduces SD to them. "The future of Goryeo is in your hands," he tells them respectfully before leaving them. They're a little skeptical that a Buddhist monk is really going to follow through on all this, and one of them (Im Bak) protests that "Confucians shall not join hands with Buddhists!" But another (Jung Mong Ju) says he thinks SD is genuinely "trying to nurture loyal talent to serve His Majesty." And Lee Saek is more worried about the scholars getting interference from the powerful clans than from Buddhists.
SD heads for Gongmin's office...and finds Jihyo standing outside. What's going on? Oh, Master Bou is inside, returning the Royal Preceptor's seal to the king. Says he'll retire to the mountains to further pursue enlightenment. But he's compelled to tell Gongmin, "The world can only change by itself. Thinking a single man can do anything to change it is nothing but a cantankerous vagary." Gongmin gives him a surly glare as he leaves...really it's no surprise he should say such a thing, but he still mutters about it after Bou leaves. Afterwards, though, SD warns Gongmin that change is very difficult and Bou isn't entirely wrong. But at least he presents it better. Gongmin replies that he thinks he can achieve a century of prosperity for the country "if I resolve all our difficulties and rule with magnanimity." SD doesn't dispute him.
Bou leaves the capital and tells Jihyo to look after the royal temple. Jihyo wonders why Bou doesn't just condemn SD, which he thinks would ruin him. But Bou tells him, "What Pyeonjo is doing is not all wrong." And with that, walks away maybe for the last time.
Jihyo returns to the royal temple and finds Deokun and the other monks there re-doing Bou's quarters...so that Choseon has a place to stay when she visits! Which is often, apparently. Jihyo explodes in anger and orders everything put back the way it was.
Eunuch Choi is being questioned by Gongmin. "He will not go as far as asking me to abandon this throne? What did you hear?" Choi says he couldn't hear entirely clearly. What the heck is this about?
And now the queen is hosting SD and is upset with him because he hasn't reinstated the Directorate yet. He explains that they need to proceed carefully and only after he can identify "our real allies and foes." But Noguk basically tells him not to trust anybody! Some may show support, she says, but at the slightest sign of trouble or discord they'll all bail. "Do what you wish for, now that the king has the authority. Now is the time. What is the reason you hesitate?" He has no good answer.
After he leaves, Lady Kim ventures to tell the queen that SD is gaining more support from the officials every day. Nice of her to put in a good word, I guess. But okay, NOW we realize what's gotten her so upset, because the queen tells Lady Kim, "I could not bless him with an heir, so they will use that as their new bait." Aaahh-ha. The frustration of all this is wearing heavily on her. She thinks it will lead to power struggles among prospective successors that will wreck Gongmin's kingship. "I am a sinner," she says; "someone hampering His Majesty's resolve."
Next day: Lee In Bok is treating Choi Young to lunch at an outdoor cafe. to congratulate him for being named "Manager of Affairs" (not positive but I believe it's the equivalent of Mayor of Gaegyeong). He's invited Inspector Kim and Secretary Gyeong too. Choi has mixed feelings about leaving the battlefield but seems happy overall. Then Inspector Kim starts talking angrily...it's not entirely clear but it sounds like Choi ended up with the job he used to have. And now he's furious and starts drinking heavily. "I want to devour this whole damned world."
Lee Chun Bu takes Lee In Im to be formally introduced to SD. Chun Bu introduces him as In Bok's younger brother. They don't really look alike, SD observes (correctly!). Chun Bu adds, "Both their viewpoints and outlook on the current situation wildly differ." He adds, "This man and I pledge to stake our lives and forever serve you." Lee is fawning and servile and asks SD "to forgive my several demerits," whatever that might mean.
The two leave, and In Im worries that it didn't go well. Relax, Chun Bu advises; he needs support and you came here on your own and offered it.
Back inside: "He looked like a lowly shell of his brother, both in character and principle." Won Hyeon was in the room when Lee In Im was introduced, and obviously doesn't have a very high opinion of him. And he adds that "Lee Chun Bu was no different." SD isn't surprised. "A flock of flies will swarm rotten food. And the same flies will cleanse dishes of all those tainted goods." SD's calm assessment isn't what Won wants to hear; he wants SD to get angry and really clean house.
Back at the cafe: "All the reforms His Majesty is pushing for are right. Unless we solve our internal problems, there will be no hope for this country." No argument from the other three. But then: "Pyeonjo, that is another story. It might appear as if His Majesty and Pyeonjo are walking the same path, but they in fact lead in opposite directions. His Majesty wants to strengthen his authority and protect Goryeo's future, but Pyeonjo...He has no interest whatsoever in our country's future." Oh no, not you too, Lee? We have to separate them, they all agree. They decide it's time to push the successor issue. Kim even suggests that maybe Gongmin is impotent! Then speaks disparagingly about the queen--calls her "a wench who can't bear a child" and says she needs to be pressured because she supports SD so strongly. And of course more of his anti-"Pyeonjo" ranting, about how the country's future is in danger over him.
The king and queen are paying evening respects to his mother. She just happens to have two attractive young women there waiting for her son. Gee what a coincidence. Ugh. Lord Deokpung's daughter is one; the QD strikes up a conversation with her and tries embarrassingly hard to sell Gongmin on her. It couldn't be more uncomfortable for everyone...except Deokpung's daughter, who as we saw in the previous episode, wants badly to be a consort. Afterwards, Gongmin is muttering about his mother as he and Noguk leave.
Now Lee In Bok is pushing the whole proclaim-an-heir issue to Chancellor Woo. But Woo refuses to involve himself in those matters, or even to raise the subject with the king. Not his place, he feels.
Inspector Kim goes to the QD and very gingerly tries to sell the issue on her. No dice. Whoever will be heir to the throne, she insists, "His Majesty's blood must flow in his veins." What was Kim thinking even trying this?
Choseon visits Noguk and brings a gift. Medicinal ingredients for a potion to aide in getting pregnant. She arranged to get the stuff all the way from China. It's cooked right up for Noguk in the royal kitchen and brought to her...and she's a good sport, she drinks it right down. Or at least she starts to...because suddenly she's nauseous! Seriously nauseous, as in, sweating profusely and retching like crazy. Attendants run to summon a physician.
A panicked Choseon goes to SD to tell him what's happened. He runs to the palace...
Now the physician is here...but so are Gongmin, the QD and Deoknyeong. Too many people in the room, frankly...The physician has been checking Noguk thoroughly. Guess what: she's pregnant! Everyone is overcome with joy. They have short memories, don't they....
Word quickly spreads throughout the palace, and reaches a VERY relieved Choseon and a somber-looking SD. The QD is ecstatic--this is what she wants--"Her Majesty is pregnant," she tells Deoknyeong, "so our bloodline is safe"--and Gongmin is the happiest of all. And Gongmin adds, "You bestowed even more power upon Shin Don and I." He embraces her and they both look like the weight of the world has been lifted from them. A beautiful moment.
And now look at this: Choi Yu is in prisoner's white, in a cage, being carted right into the palace plaza! The Yuan party brought him. In his office, Gongmin is laughing hysterically. It's not because of Choi, though. Chancellor Yoo has just informed him that Empress Gi was booted off her throne! Wow! There was some sort of revolt in Yanjing and its leader, a man named Boluo Temur, removed and imprisoned the empress.
Council hall: Excited buzzing among the councilors...which quickly turns to arguing about just what they should do now--as in, reconcile with the Yuan or be tough with them.
The Yuan envoys are waiting at the palace to see the king. Gongmin is still laughing. Let them wait, he says, and adds that he wants SD to show up so they can go there together. That draws some protests from officials, because SD shouldn't be allowed inside the palace. But Gongmin brushes that off.
Even the queen dowager is giggling about all this, as she entertains Princess Deoknyeong and the queen. Wow, and no digs at Noguk--she must really be happy!
Here comes the king...enters, climbs his steps to the throne, surveys the room and sits. Then demands a chair be placed next to his throne, on the platform. "Come up here and sit by my side," he tells SD, as everyone else's eyes just about bug out. SD begs out and looks almost terrified, but he has no choice, really, and Gongmin's smiling reassurance is enough to get him to do it. Of course, Inspector Kim just about blows a gasket...but the new guy Lee Chun Bu cuts him off and starts gushing about how moved he is by the grace and generosity Gongmin is showing his mentor. "A most ravishing and stirring sight!", he shouts, and now everybody else is forced to join in.
"Would the officials accept serving Pyeonjo in good conscience?" As they leave the QD's home, Deoknyeong wants to carefully reiterate to Noguk her concern about SD's role in the government. But Noguk answers, "That is why we must entrust him with even more authority." To put the scheming officials in their place. "If what he is doing is right, we must follow him."
The envoys have brought an imperial edict--or, I guess an edict from Boluo Temur, whatever his position is at the moment--and it's being read aloud:
Choi Yu partook in vile intents with eunuch Park Bulhwa and besmirched their ruler's name, with their repulsive plan to install Prince Deokheung as the King of Goryeo. Therefore, it is punishment they deserve. I shall once again proclaim Prince Gangneung as the King of Goryeo, relinquishing Prince Deokheung's every authority. As perpetrator of this ignominy, Park Bulhwa shall be exiled to Gansu Province, while Choi Yu will be returned to Goryeo. May the King of Goryeo abide by the heavenly principles guiding us, and once again distinguish himself for his meritorious deeds.
Of course everybody's thrilled with this and they all start praising it...but then: "Why wasn't Prince Deokheung part of his benevolent bequest?!" It's SD, and he's not happy...and he has a good point. We don't care about Choi and Park, he says; we want Deokheung brought here! The councilors are looking mighty angry at him. Gongmin says first things first: let's let the people get a look at Choi before we execute him, just so everyone is reminded of the price of disloyalty.
Yanjing: There's the emp... uh, former empress. She's still in her nice home but is under house arrest and isn't dressed fancily any more. And even her own son can't get in to see her.
Now we see Choi being executed. It's not a formal state execution. It's some sort of maniac in a red shirt, waving a huge scythe around wildly and taunting Choi as he kneels in a village street with a crowd gathered around. Finally he swings, and we see Choi's head bounce on the ground next to his body.
Choseon's yard: Won Hyeon is telling his colleagues (the tea-market overseers) how great it was to see SD sitting next to the king. Of course, he wasn't there...but it's a dramatic moment and they know how important it is, and they're ecstatic. Inside, Park Seobang tells a very happy Choseon that their profits doubled this month and their financial picture has improved greatly since all of the chaos of the insurrections. She wants to buy land now to grow their own tea, and is ready to play hardball with the powerful clans to get them to sell some to her. Which she can do much more easily now with SD overseeing the tea market.
And look at this, she's wasted no time doing it. A big shipment of tea has arrived at their warehouse from the fields of the Vice Minister of Taxation. Park says the stuff is of insufficient quality and rejects it!
And back in the capital, SD tells Choseon he's going to raise taxes on the tea fields enough to force the clans to sell.
"Whatever it takes, we must capture Prince Deokheung." Lee In Bok is before Gongmin, who tells him he must go to Yanjing after all. Lee protests, pointing out that Deokheung has no influence with anyone in Yanjing any more...but then SD walks in reminds Lee that Kim Yong used Deokheung as an excuse for his insurrection, so Deokheung must be captured to prevent any such thing from happening again. Lee disagrees, to the point where he loses his temper. "When it comes to biggety grandeur and imperious greed, how could any official ever compare with you? How dare you sit by His Majesty's sacred throne?!" SD fires back that is all about the king and not about who sits next to him. Lee walks out in a fury, just about biting Lee In Im's head off when In Im tries to talk to him.
Gongmin tells SD he doesn't want him using the fawning words that everyone else uses to address the king. And that he should sit next to him here in his office from now on. But SD knows these are extreme steps and looks very uncomfortable with them.
Of course, Inspector Kim goes straight to the queen dowager and whines about the powerful clans losing their tea revenues. Begs her for help. And complains about SD, of course. "There is but one person left to control him," he tells her, "and that is you. You must make sure Pyeonjo and His Majesty go their separate ways."
The future home of the Confucian academy is being renovated. SD wants it to hold at least 100 scholars. Tells Lee Saek that the trading revenues from the tea market will cover the entire cost. Lee is grateful. Just then a group of the scholars shows up and Lee introduces SD to them. "The future of Goryeo is in your hands," he tells them respectfully before leaving them. They're a little skeptical that a Buddhist monk is really going to follow through on all this, and one of them (Im Bak) protests that "Confucians shall not join hands with Buddhists!" But another (Jung Mong Ju) says he thinks SD is genuinely "trying to nurture loyal talent to serve His Majesty." And Lee Saek is more worried about the scholars getting interference from the powerful clans than from Buddhists.
SD heads for Gongmin's office...and finds Jihyo standing outside. What's going on? Oh, Master Bou is inside, returning the Royal Preceptor's seal to the king. Says he'll retire to the mountains to further pursue enlightenment. But he's compelled to tell Gongmin, "The world can only change by itself. Thinking a single man can do anything to change it is nothing but a cantankerous vagary." Gongmin gives him a surly glare as he leaves...really it's no surprise he should say such a thing, but he still mutters about it after Bou leaves. Afterwards, though, SD warns Gongmin that change is very difficult and Bou isn't entirely wrong. But at least he presents it better. Gongmin replies that he thinks he can achieve a century of prosperity for the country "if I resolve all our difficulties and rule with magnanimity." SD doesn't dispute him.
Bou leaves the capital and tells Jihyo to look after the royal temple. Jihyo wonders why Bou doesn't just condemn SD, which he thinks would ruin him. But Bou tells him, "What Pyeonjo is doing is not all wrong." And with that, walks away maybe for the last time.
Jihyo returns to the royal temple and finds Deokun and the other monks there re-doing Bou's quarters...so that Choseon has a place to stay when she visits! Which is often, apparently. Jihyo explodes in anger and orders everything put back the way it was.
Eunuch Choi is being questioned by Gongmin. "He will not go as far as asking me to abandon this throne? What did you hear?" Choi says he couldn't hear entirely clearly. What the heck is this about?
And now the queen is hosting SD and is upset with him because he hasn't reinstated the Directorate yet. He explains that they need to proceed carefully and only after he can identify "our real allies and foes." But Noguk basically tells him not to trust anybody! Some may show support, she says, but at the slightest sign of trouble or discord they'll all bail. "Do what you wish for, now that the king has the authority. Now is the time. What is the reason you hesitate?" He has no good answer.
After he leaves, Lady Kim ventures to tell the queen that SD is gaining more support from the officials every day. Nice of her to put in a good word, I guess. But okay, NOW we realize what's gotten her so upset, because the queen tells Lady Kim, "I could not bless him with an heir, so they will use that as their new bait." Aaahh-ha. The frustration of all this is wearing heavily on her. She thinks it will lead to power struggles among prospective successors that will wreck Gongmin's kingship. "I am a sinner," she says; "someone hampering His Majesty's resolve."
Next day: Lee In Bok is treating Choi Young to lunch at an outdoor cafe. to congratulate him for being named "Manager of Affairs" (not positive but I believe it's the equivalent of Mayor of Gaegyeong). He's invited Inspector Kim and Secretary Gyeong too. Choi has mixed feelings about leaving the battlefield but seems happy overall. Then Inspector Kim starts talking angrily...it's not entirely clear but it sounds like Choi ended up with the job he used to have. And now he's furious and starts drinking heavily. "I want to devour this whole damned world."
Lee Chun Bu takes Lee In Im to be formally introduced to SD. Chun Bu introduces him as In Bok's younger brother. They don't really look alike, SD observes (correctly!). Chun Bu adds, "Both their viewpoints and outlook on the current situation wildly differ." He adds, "This man and I pledge to stake our lives and forever serve you." Lee is fawning and servile and asks SD "to forgive my several demerits," whatever that might mean.
The two leave, and In Im worries that it didn't go well. Relax, Chun Bu advises; he needs support and you came here on your own and offered it.
Back inside: "He looked like a lowly shell of his brother, both in character and principle." Won Hyeon was in the room when Lee In Im was introduced, and obviously doesn't have a very high opinion of him. And he adds that "Lee Chun Bu was no different." SD isn't surprised. "A flock of flies will swarm rotten food. And the same flies will cleanse dishes of all those tainted goods." SD's calm assessment isn't what Won wants to hear; he wants SD to get angry and really clean house.
Back at the cafe: "All the reforms His Majesty is pushing for are right. Unless we solve our internal problems, there will be no hope for this country." No argument from the other three. But then: "Pyeonjo, that is another story. It might appear as if His Majesty and Pyeonjo are walking the same path, but they in fact lead in opposite directions. His Majesty wants to strengthen his authority and protect Goryeo's future, but Pyeonjo...He has no interest whatsoever in our country's future." Oh no, not you too, Lee? We have to separate them, they all agree. They decide it's time to push the successor issue. Kim even suggests that maybe Gongmin is impotent! Then speaks disparagingly about the queen--calls her "a wench who can't bear a child" and says she needs to be pressured because she supports SD so strongly. And of course more of his anti-"Pyeonjo" ranting, about how the country's future is in danger over him.
The king and queen are paying evening respects to his mother. She just happens to have two attractive young women there waiting for her son. Gee what a coincidence. Ugh. Lord Deokpung's daughter is one; the QD strikes up a conversation with her and tries embarrassingly hard to sell Gongmin on her. It couldn't be more uncomfortable for everyone...except Deokpung's daughter, who as we saw in the previous episode, wants badly to be a consort. Afterwards, Gongmin is muttering about his mother as he and Noguk leave.
Now Lee In Bok is pushing the whole proclaim-an-heir issue to Chancellor Woo. But Woo refuses to involve himself in those matters, or even to raise the subject with the king. Not his place, he feels.
Inspector Kim goes to the QD and very gingerly tries to sell the issue on her. No dice. Whoever will be heir to the throne, she insists, "His Majesty's blood must flow in his veins." What was Kim thinking even trying this?
Choseon visits Noguk and brings a gift. Medicinal ingredients for a potion to aide in getting pregnant. She arranged to get the stuff all the way from China. It's cooked right up for Noguk in the royal kitchen and brought to her...and she's a good sport, she drinks it right down. Or at least she starts to...because suddenly she's nauseous! Seriously nauseous, as in, sweating profusely and retching like crazy. Attendants run to summon a physician.
A panicked Choseon goes to SD to tell him what's happened. He runs to the palace...
Now the physician is here...but so are Gongmin, the QD and Deoknyeong. Too many people in the room, frankly...The physician has been checking Noguk thoroughly. Guess what: she's pregnant! Everyone is overcome with joy. They have short memories, don't they....
Word quickly spreads throughout the palace, and reaches a VERY relieved Choseon and a somber-looking SD. The QD is ecstatic--this is what she wants--"Her Majesty is pregnant," she tells Deoknyeong, "so our bloodline is safe"--and Gongmin is the happiest of all. And Gongmin adds, "You bestowed even more power upon Shin Don and I." He embraces her and they both look like the weight of the world has been lifted from them. A beautiful moment.