American Perspectives: Born a Girl, Living as A Man Pt. 2 ("Empress Ki" Ep. 1)

 

 

 

"기황후" can be viewed on Viki or Youtube, as well as many other channels.  It is an amazing classic 사극, and this author is aware that it's not historically accurate.  The real life Empress Ki had a very contentious relationship with the Goryeo Dynasty.  And many liberties were most certainly taken with the fictionalized version of historical characters. Dialogue adapted from English Subtitle translations by the "Imperial Team at Viki.com"

 

 

 

 

Wang Yoo and a very rugged group of men are at a gambling house, acting like a bunch of perpetually 13 year old boys.

 

"Cooperative Owner, why are you acting this way again?"  Jeom Bak, the most rugged looking member of the group, asks Wang Yoo.

 

Wang Yoo warms up his wrists and grins.  "If it's a purpose, then I am confident I won't lose to anyone."

 

"I don't exempt anyone based on circumstance," says Jeom Bak.

 

The two men get into position, and begin to kick and block.  Both fall face down on the floor, and get up.  Jeom Bak charges, Wang Yoo blocks.  Wang Yoo gets Jeom Bak in a headlock, while Jeom Bak breaks away, and grabs his shoulders.  Wang Yoo pushes him forward, but Jeom Bak flips him over, sending him crashing into a table.  Wang Yoo is out cold.

 

Eunuch Bang frantically rushes over to wang Yoo.  "Your Royal Highness!"  Eunuch Bang immediately covers his mouth.  No one is supposed to hear that.  "Cooperative Owner!  Cooperative Owner!"

 

Wang Yoo's personal guard, Moo Song, grabs Jeom Bak by the collar.

 

"Elder!"  Jeom Bak exclaims.

 

"Do you have a death wish?"  Moo Song asks.

 

"Why are you doing this to me?"  Jeom Bak asks.  "I did just as the cooperative owner had wished."

 

Eunuch Bang anxiously slaps Moo Song's arm.  "A doctor--call a doctor!"

 

Moo Song pushes Jeom Bak away.  "Yes," he bows.

 

"A doctor?"  Jeom Bak asks.  What kind of wuss is this guy?

 

"Guide him inside, everyone!"  Eunuch Bang screeches.

 

A gisaeng dressed in a beautiful red hanbok takes notice, and immediately exits the room.

 

Jo Cham is just outside the main area, and she relays the incriminating information.

 

"Work hard," Jo Cham whispers, and he hands her some money for her troubles.  She bows and walks away.

 

"Truly incompetent," Jo Cham says with contempt.  "To have the so-called Crown Prince of Goryeo associate with thugs."

 

 

 

 

Wang Yoo is still unconscious in a back room.  "Wang Yoo!  Wang Yoo!"  Eunuch Bang wails.

 

"Your Royal Highness!"  Jeom Bak, now in the know about who this "wuss" is, wails.  "Come to your senses."

 

"That's right!"  Wang Yoo abruptly sits up.

 

Jeom Bak jumps back in fright, slamming his head against the wall.

 

Eunuch Bang looks at Wang Yoo incredulously.

 

"It's Inju!"  Wang Yoo snaps his fingers, as if he's had a profound realization.  He looks at the two men below him.  "I will go and play in Inju."

 

"Your Royal Highness!"  Eunuch Bang wails.

 

Wang Yoo stands up and smiles.

 

"Are you alright?"  Jeom Bak asks.  "My liver lobes almost fell in fright!"

 

They follow Wang Yoo back onto the main floor.

 

"Who is the most important thug in Inju?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

"Now is not the time for you to play while forming brotherhoods with thugs," admonishes Eunuch Bang.  "King Simyang is prowling constantly for your position, Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."

 

Wang Yoo rolls his eyes.  "Again.  Again with that.  Didn't I say that what King Simyang does, I have no interest?"

 

"Your Royal Highness!"  Eunuch Bang gasps.

 

"Tell me," Wang Yoo grins.  "Is there an entertaining lad in Inju?"

 

"Inju is where trade occurs with Yuan," says Jeom Bak.

 

Eunuch Bang motions for him to be quiet.

 

"So, the might of the gamblers is a force to be reckoned with among them," Jeom Bak continues.  "The main center is controlled by a guy named Seung Nyang."

 

Wang Yoo looks at him with intrigue.  "Seung Nyang faction?"

 

"As you can tell by the name," says Jeom Bak, "the faction is led by a guy named Seung Nyang.  If there is a bird flying within three footsteps, with an arrow, he catches them.  How can you believe those words?  In exchange for protecting the merchants, he collects protection money.  There's a rumor that if it's for money, he doesn't discriminate.  If you were to destroy those Seung Nyang faction thugs, then all the thugs in Inju would submit willingly."

 

Wang Yoo happily slaps the table.  He's like a puppy looking for a new friend to play with.  "Then, I have decided that this hunt's target will be a wolf."

 

 

 

 

 

Seung Nyang dumps a midsized pouch full of silver onto the table.  She and her men are upstairs in a gambling house in Inju.  They're sitting near an open window, overlooking the port.

 

"Whose turn is it this time?"  Seung Nyang inquires.

 

"It's me, leader," a man volunteers.

 

"Where did your sister get dragged to?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

"A courtesan house near Yeongyeong."

 

"This money is a bit lacking to redeem your sister," Seung Nyang honestly admits.  "When the payment is fulfilled next month, go and head to Yuan."

 

The man bows.  "Thank you so much, leader."

 

"Do not forget why we gathered as thugs," Seung Nyang addresses the group.  "Until we find all our blood relations seized by Yuan, we must trust and rely on each other.  Understood?"

 

"Yes, Leader," the group bows.

 

"Leader," Seung Nyang's young assistant runs up the stairs, out of breath, "please come down.  Hurry."  

 

Down below, Jeom Bak is kicking through the men, flipping over tables, and causing chaos.  With his huge sword, he knocks food off one of the tables.

 

Seung Nyang and her group of men appear on the balcony, looking down on them.

 

Jeom Bak immediately pauses.  Seung Nyang looks down on him like he's a cockroach who needs to be squashed and flushed down the toilet.  Jeom Bak loudly places his sword on the table, and takes a seat.  He rests his dirty feet on the countertop.

 

"Is the son of a bitch named Seung Nyang you?"  He asks.

 

Seung Nyang smacks the railing with her hand.  "What's the pup barking in front of someone else's house?"

 

The men accompanying Jeom Bak draw their swords.

 

"I am Jeom Bak from Gaegyeong."

 

Seung Nyang looks down on him.  "Your point?"

 

"If you heard my name," says Jeom Bak, "then you should come and kowtow to the ground."

 

Seung Nyang picks up her bow and arrows.  "You want...us to crawl underneath your crotch?"  She casually loads the arrow.

 

"I don't have much patience," says Jeom Bak.

 

She loads the much faster baby arrow into its tube.

 

"If you don't come down before I grab my sword, your dinner tonight shall be served on the path to the netherworld."

 

"Go back," says Seung Nyang.

 

"What?"  Jeom Bak asks.

 

"The moment you unsheath a sword in my territory," she stomps her foot on the lower railing, "you're going to be slammed dead."

 

Jeom Bak's men move forward.

 

"What?"  Jeom Bak asks.  He points up at her.  "You wait there, son of a bitch!"

 

Before he can move further, she sharply turns around, and shoots her arrow into his hand.

 

The pain causes him to shriek and see stars.  His men draw their weapons.  Seung Nyang nocks another arrow.

 

"Anyone who moves shall have a hole through their head," says Seung Nyang.

 

Jeom Bak glowers at her, and she aims her arrow at him.

 

"This time, it's the back of your hand," says Seung Nyang, "but if you utter nonsense one more time, this arrow will pierce through the middle of the mole on your face."

 

 

 

 

 

Wang Yoo is admiring Seung Nyang's arrow that pierced through Jeom Bak's hand. 

 

"The speed at which the arrow was shot was so fast, and also accurate!"  Jeom Bak rubs his injured hand.  "I have no words to present before you, Your Royal Highness."

 

"Interesting," Wang Yoo carefully eyes the small arrow.  "Have you seen these types of arrows?"

 

"It's a baby arrow," says Moo Song.

 

"Baby arrow?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

"It's also called pyeonjeon.  It's short and hard to handle, yet powerful," says Moo Song.  "That is what I heard."

 

"He's called Seung Nyang, right?"  Wang Yoo asks.  "Go and request a show down.  I will take him on directly."

 

"Your Royal Highness!"  Eunuch Bang gasps.

 

"Why are you so surprised?"  Wang Yoo asks.  "Do you distrust my skill?"

 

"You should have me entertain him," says Moo Song.

 

"When it comes to shooting arrows, I have never lost to anyone," says Wang Yoo.  "With these two eyes, I will confirm that guy Seung Nyang's skills in person."

 

 

 

 

 

Seung Nyang and her men are walking through the busy market, while Wang Yoo and his men are coming from the opposite direction.

 

"Over there!"  Jeom Bak points with his huge sword.  "That guy with a bow is called Seung Nyang."

 

The two groups come face to face.  Wang Yoo and Seung Nyang step forward.

 

Seung Nyang is struck by his handsome appearance, but put off by his preppy clothes.  Little rich kid trying to be rebellious...She manages to keep her bearings.

 

"Compared to your reputation," says Wang Yoo, "you look quite effeminate."

 

"I didn't come to get my face graded by a thing like you," says Seung Nyang.

 

"You dare in whose presence--"  Moo Song roars.

 

Wang Yoo halts him from saying more.  Seung Nyang rolls her eyes at this hypermasculine display of bravado.

 

"Your shooting skills are quite something, they say," Wang Yoo remarks.  "If you compete with me and win, I will leave here with no complaints.  In exchange, if I win, you will become my subordinate."  He smiles at her somewhat flirtatiously, as he finds himself drawn to her "effeminate" appearance.  "How about it?"

 

"I don't have time to play with you, punk," Seung Nyang claps back.  "If you don't want to die, leave immediately."

 

"You bastard!"  Moo Song and the rest of Wang Yoo's entourage draw their swords.

 

Seung Nyang's men return the favor.

 

"Son of a bitch," says Jeom Bak.

 

The two groups crowd into each other.

 

"If you don't want to spill the blood of your subordinates," says Wang Yoo, "it would be best to willingly accept my proposal."

 

"Let's confirm that you agreed to back off if I win."

 

"How can a real man go back on his word?"

 

 

 

Two large jugs of wine are set out on a table in front of the targets.

 

"If we are only to shoot arrows," says Wang Yoo, "it wouldn't be fun.  We will drink this soju every time we shoot."

 

Wang Yoo's men laugh.

 

"How about it?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

"Are you saying, let's drink, then shoot?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

Wang Yoo points to his head.  "It will end up being a fight of mental strength."

 

"Leader, you're weak on alcohol," says her assistant.

 

She signals for him to stop talking.

 

"Why?"  Wang Yoo smirks.  "Are you hesitant?  You're not going to give up now, before even grabbing your bow?"

 

"Let me make a proposal," says Seung Nyang.  "The bullseye will be the lid of this alcohol vat."

 

Wang Yoo laughs.  "The bullseye will be the lid of this alcohol vat."

 

"And the lids will be on the heads of one of our subordinates," says Seung Nyang.

 

"What?"  Jeom Bak asks.

 

"Amongst us, who shall become the target?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

Many men on Seung Nyang's willingly raise their hands.  No one on Wang Yoo's side raises their's.

 

"I shall!  I will!"

 

"I will do it," Seung Nyang's assistant picks up a lid.  "Let me."

 

Seung Nyang nods.  She looks at Wang Yoo.  "Have someone there also volunteer."

 

Wang Yoo looks behind him.  His men awkwardly avoid eye contact.

 

"It seems they are all distrustful of your shooting skills," Seung Nyang says pointedly.

 

Eunuch Bang slaps Moo Song across the chest.  He motions his head toward Wang Yoo.

 

"I..." says Moo Song.  "I will volunteer."

 

"You..." says Wang Yoo.  He takes off his outer robe, "know how to play well."  He throws his robe at Eunuch Bang.

 

Seung Nyang is the first to take a drink.

 

Seung Nyang's assistant and Moo Song are holding the lids over their heads.  Seung Nyang's assistant smiles confidently, while Moo Song is shit your pants nervous.

 

Seung Nyang loads her baby arrow, and pulls back the sinew.  It effortlessly hits the middle of the lid.  Seung Nyang's men roar.

 

Seung Nyang looks over at Wang Yoo and smirks.

 

Wang Yoo takes a drink and loads his arrow.  Moo Song is breathing rapidly, and closes his eyes.  Wang Yoo fires the arrow, and it hits the lid.  Moo Song breathes a huge sigh of relief.  Wang Yoo's men roar.  Moo Song looks up at the lid and laughs nervously.

 

The two keep drinking and shooting.  Each hitting their targets.

 

Seung Nyang takes another drink, and begins to stumble.  Her execution is shaky, yet she still hits the target.

 

Wang Yoo is also beginning to stumble.  He barely hits his target.

 

"You're very drunk," Wang Yoo slurs as Seung Nyang takes another drink.  "If you were to give up now..."

 

Seung Nyang finishes her drink.  She's stumbling much more, but she still hits the target.  Her men roar.

 

"Oh my!"  Jeom Bak exclaims.

 

"In terms of being drunk," says Seung Nyang, "the same goes for you.  Go down it!"  She hands him a ladle full of soju.

 

He takes the drink, and stumbles more than Seung Nyang.  He keeps moving side to side before finally firing his arrow.  Much to Moo Song's relief, he hits the target.  Wang Yoo's men cheer, while Moo Song is trying not to melt down.

 

Wang Yoo hands Seung Nyang a ladle a soju.  "You also down it!"

 

She takes a deep breath, as she's feeling nauseous.  She takes a drink, and throws the ladle behind her.  She draws her arrow, and she's having a hard time keeping her balance.  She briefly lowers her bow. 

 

"I'm okay!"  Her assistant yells.  "Shoot, Leader!"

 

"No, don't!"  Moo Song whispers.

 

Seung Nyang draws her arrow, but her vision is blurred.  She turns around and points her arrow at Wang Yoo.

 

Wang Yoo's men scream.  She walks up to Wang Yoo with her bow drawn.

 

"The target is over there!"  Wang Yoo says frantically.

 

"I would rather kill you, bastard," says Seung Nyang.

 

"Then, will you give up?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

Seung Nyang feels nauseous.

 

"With your own mouth, admit that you lost.  Hurry!"

 

Seung Nyang gags and buries her face in Wang Yoo's shoulder.

 

He takes it as an admission of defeat, and gloats.  "Did you see that?  I won!  I have won!"

 

Wang Yoo's men cheer.

 

Seung Nyang throws up on his shoulder.

 

Wang Yoo pauses as he feels something hot.  "Why is my chest warm?"

 

Jeom Bak sniffs the air.  "This son of a bitch has puked!"

 

"Vomit?" Wang Yoo asks.  He immediately pushes a passed out Seung Nyang away.

 

 

 

 

"Because our cooperative leader is buying," says Jeom Bak, "be sure to eat and drink a lot!  Let's drink!"  It's nighttime, and both sides from the competition earlier that day, are drinking outside and having fun at the courtyard of an inn.

 

Seung Nyang is in a room, passed out.  She's sleeping on a beautiful pink and purple blanket.

 

Wang Yoo is on the other side of the curtained partition, playing his geomungo.  Seung Nyang rolls to her side, and opens her eyes.  She sees him through the gap in the partition.  He looks over, and she quickly closes her eyes.  He gets back to playing, and she observes him some more.

 

"What are you peeping at?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

Seung Nyang does an exaggerated stretch and rolls off the bed.  She sits up and hides behind the curtain.

 

"Have a drink here if you've awakened," says Wang Yoo.

 

Seung Nyang pulls back the curtain, and takes a seat on the floor across from Wang Yoo.  "Looking at you, it doesn't seem like it's your fate to roll around in the streets like dog poop," says Seung Nyang.

 

Wang Yoo chuckles.  "Then, what does my fate look like?"

 

"You're probably a wasteful good for nothing spilling money thanks to meeting good parents."

 

"Well, I'm not sure if I did meet good parents, but I am a good for nothing," Wang Yoo grins.

 

Seung Nyag looks over at his geomungo.

 

"Do you know how to play geomungo?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

Seung Nyang clears her throat and takes a drink.

 

"Shall I teach you geomungo?"

 

Seung Nyang gives him side eye.  "It's fine.  What is the use in learning such a thing?"

 

Wang Yoo chuckles.  Something about this man feels magnetic.  "There's nothing like winning the favors of girls!"

 

Seung Nyang looks at him quizzically.  She has to exercise extreme caution around him.  He cannot know her gender.

 

"Well," says Wang Yoo, "I will teach you geomungo, and you should teach me how to shoot baby arrows.  How about it?"

 

Seung Nyang looks at him anxiously.  He lays the instrument across her lap.

 

"Now, try to tug on a string," says Wang Yoo.  He grabs her wrist, and puts the bamboo stick in her hand.  "It isn't as hard as it looks."  He takes a seat right behind her.

 

Seung Nyang's heart begins to pound, and she can feel herself blushing.  He puts his hands over her hands, and she feels a jolt from his touch.  She sharply turns around to face him.  No how, no way, can he find out the truth, ever.

 

"What are you doing?"  Seung Nyang asks bluntly.  She clears her throat and faces forward.

 

"What do you mean?"  Wang Yoo asks.  "Be still."  He moves closer to her, and with his hands over hers, they pluck the strings.

 

Seung Nyang is feeling flustered, excited, and unable to concentrate.  She has to fight off these feelings.  She wants to kiss him, she wants to do so much more, but if she does, she's a dead woman walking.

 

"For a hand that shoots," says Wang Yoo, "your hands are smooth."

 

Seung Nyang clears her throat.

 

"Let's play a fast piece," says Wang Yoo.

 

His cheek touches her cheek, and she can't take it anymore.  She pushes the geomungo away, grabs his collar, and points the bamboo stick at his neck.

 

Wang Yoo's eyes widen in surprise.

 

Seung Nyang awkwardly lets go of his collar, and the stick drops to the ground.  "I must go," she says awkwardly.

 

"What do you mean go?"  Wang Yoo asks.  "It's time for you to teach me the baby arrows."

 

"Live plucking the geomungo and chasing women, rather than the bow.  That's more suitable."

 

"Have you forgotten the shooting match?"  Wang Yoo asks.  "You are my subordinate from this moment.  Go when I say go, come when I say come.  I am your owner."

 

Seung Nyang has her back to him, so he doesn't see her rolling her eyes.  She sharply turns around.  "You should go and raise a passing dog.  I am a dhole."  She turns around again, and heads to the door.

 

"If you don't want to be my subordinate, what about my younger brother?"

 

Seung Nyang pauses.

 

Wang Yoo smiles.  "Let it only be known to you that a best friend of mine, we consider each other as brothers, is the Crown Prince of this land."

 

Seung Nyang is immediately turned off by his self importance.  She turns around and gives him the side eye.

 

"So, if you become my younger brother, you also get to have this nation's crown prince as your older brother!  Are you still going to reject me?"

 

"Go tell that three-heir or the four-heir that rather than becoming king by selling young subjects to become eunuchs or concubines, it is better to eat horseshit."

 

Wang Yoo sighs.  This scrapper of a young man in front of him will not be easy to impress.  "You have much disgruntlement with the world, I see."

 

"Beacause it's as rotten as they come.  Royal Family, the court, and even the officials who parasite off them, all of them are rotten and bent."  She moves closer to Wang Yoo, and looks him dead in the eye.  "Next time, if you are to prank in this manner, then instead of the alcohol vat lid, the arrow will pierce your face."

 

She picks up her bow and arrows, and walks out the door.

 

Wang Yoo chuckles.  "You are too much of a waste to rot as a thug."

 

 

 

 

 

Seung Nyang walks across the street, and is immediately pulled away by Jo Cham.

 

"What brings you here?" Seung Nyang asks.

 

"What have you said to those people?"  Jo Cham inquires.

 

"They picked a fight," Seung Nyang says dismissively.  But who are they?"

 

"Didn't they ask about the salt smuggling?" Jo Cham asks.

 

"There was no such conversation.  Are they here to investigate the salt smuggling?"

 

"If Your Royal Highness were to find out you were associated with them, he would be angry.  Do not meet them again."

 

"Yes," Seung Nyang bows.  Though that pesky rich boy is now embedded in her head.

 

 

 

 

 

Wang Yoo, Moo Song, and Eunuch Bang are on the balcony at the inn.

 

"Is it today that you find the owner of that hair band?"  Eunuch Bang asks.

 

Wang Yoo unfolds the embroidered red hair band, and looks at it carefully.  "There's no doubt this person will appear soon."  He wraps the hairband around his forehead.

 

He remembers a moment in the palace when an auditor placed a dove in a cage on his table.

 

"This kid flew into the office of the Auditor," says the Auditor.  He bows and hands Wang Yoo the message that was attached to the dove.  "It's something you need to know."

 

He unfurls the tiny piece of paper.  "If you want to find out King Simyang's salt smuggling, wear the hair band, and go to the Tea House in Inju."

 

"This was sent by a messenger."  The auditor hands him the red hair band.

 

Wang Yoo enthusiastically stands up.  "I will go by myself.  To fool the eyes of King Simyang will be easier for me than you, Auditor."

 

"It is dangerous, Your Royal Highness."

 

Wang Yoo takes off his blue hair band, and hands it to the auditor.  "Send this to the messenger inside by putting it in the cloth, since I also need to recognize him.  In case things go awry, state that I am an auditor."

 

"Understood," Auditor bows.  "Your Royal Highness, The Crown Prince."

 

 

 

 

 

The auditor approaches Wang Yoo, Eunuch Bang, and Moo Song at the inn, just as Wang Yoo puts on the hair band.

 

The auditor bows.

 

"Why is it that he hasn't appeared, but you have?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

"Since that person's circumstances are not opportune, he sent just the information concerning the salt smuggling."

 

"What about the time and location of the clandestine exchange?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

"According to the person who sent the message," says the auditor.

 

An assassin in the building across from them fires an arrow, shooting the auditor right in the chest.  The auditor gasps, and falls to his knees.

 

Moo Song draws his sword.

 

"It's an assassin!"  Eunuch Bang gasps.

 

"You must flee immediately," says Moo Song.

 

 

...To be continued...