American Perspectives: Switching Teams Pt.3 ("기황후" Ep.2)

 

 

 

"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"

 

 

 

 

 

Toqto'a takes a seat in Bayan's ger, and opens up a map.  "This is Myobang Mountain.  If we leave tomorrow morning, we will arrive before sundown."

 

"What about the band of robbers?"  Bayan asks.

 

"They're already waiting there."

 

"I should not have accepted this assignment," says Bayan.

 

"How can anyone disobey the order of Prime Minister El Temur?"  Toqto'a asks.

 

"Our late Emperor was so good to me.  Imagine that I have to kill one of his children with my own hands."

 

"Even if it's not here," says Toqto'a, "as long as he has won disfavor with Prime Minster El Temur, the prince will not live out his full lifespan."

 

"General Bayan, are you inside?"  Lord Jang asks.

 

Bayan sighs.  Toqto'a discreetly puts away the map.  Lord Jang enters the ger.

 

"What are you doing here?"  Bayan asks.

 

"I think it will be difficult for us to begin traveling tomorrow morning," says Lord Jang.

 

Bayan rises, the irritability evident.  "Now, what?  What do you mean?"

 

"His Highness' illness is worrisome."

 

"Look here, Lord Jang..." Bayan yells.

 

"I will go and check his pulse myself," Toqto'a interjects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toghon is laying on his bed in a cold sweat while Toqto'a checks his pulse.  "Will it be difficult for you to move?"  Toqto'a asks.

 

"My insides are rumbling, and my head is spinning," says Toghon.  "I just cannot ride in that carriage."

 

Toqto'a looks at Bayan and nods.

 

Bayan grimaces.  "Are you kidding me?"

 

"General Bayan, I have one request," says Toghon.

 

"Of me?"  Bayan asks.

 

Toghon nods.

 

"Go ahead and tell me."

 

"My imperial father came in my dreams last night."

 

"His Majesty did?"

 

"He told me to ask you, General Bayan, for help whenever I had any difficulties."

 

Bayan guiltily looks away.  Is Toghon smart enough to work the angles, or is he being sincere?

 

Toghon carefully sits up.  "So, will you heed my request?"

 

Bayan looks over at Toqto'a, his super intelligent nephew.  "Please tell us," says Toqto'a.

 

"Aigoo," says Toghon, really working those puppy dog eyes.  "I want to eat dried persimmons like crazy."  He puts on his most pathetic face.

 

"What?"  Bayan asks incredulously.  For the love of the Blue Wolves, we're men!  Toghon could not be more different from his great, great grandfather, Chinggis Khan.

 

Lord Jang looks at Toghon in astonishment.

 

"Dried persimmons?"  Bayan asks.

 

Toghon nods anxiously.  "I cannot forget the taste of the dried persimmons from Goryeo that I ate at the Imperial Palace.  So, could you go find me some dried persimmons somewhere?"

 

"Your Highness!"  Bayan barks impatiently.  "We are not here to sightsee."

 

"Please find some for me," Toghon insists.  "If I eat dried persimmons, I will get up and begin traveling again."

 

"I will go find some," Lord Jang bows.

 

"Will you do that?"  Toghon asks.  He grins.  "Thank you so much.  Make sure they are dried well, so they are really chewy, please."

 

 

********

 

Bayan and Toqto'a take a walk outside by the river.  "Seeing as how his pulse was weak and slow," says Toqto'a, "I don't think he was faking his illness."

 

"With a brain that seeks dried persimmons at a time like this, how could he figure out what is really going on?"  Bayan asks.

 

"Uncle," says Toqto'a, "I don't think we'll reach Myobang Mountain by tomorrow night."

 

Bayan sighs.  "Tell the band of robbers that we will arrive a day late."

 

"I understand," Toqto'a bows.

 

"Dried persimmons?  He asks for dried persimmons at a time like this?"

 

Seung Nyang happens to catch what they are saying.

 

Bayan and Toqto'a walk away, none the wiser.

 

Seung Nyang has some questions...

 

 

********

 

One of Toghon's Goryeo eunuchs is in his ger, testing the food for poison.  He hands a roast chicken to Toghon.  "It's safe to eat.  Please eat."

 

Toghon pushes the plate away.  "You eat it all."  He climbs back into bed.

 

"You haven't let good food touch your lips for several days already," says the Goryeo Eunuch.  "What if you really get sick---"

 

Toghon sits straight up.  "Whatever food is left over, please put it in the chamber pot, and throw it away."

 

 

********

 

The Goryeo Eunuch sneaks out of Toghon's ger, chamber pot tightly held in his arms.  He runs past the guards, but runs right into the highly investigative Seung Nyang.  He tries to move past her, but she's not letting him proceed.

 

"What's wrong?"  The Goryeo Eunuch asks.

 

"Are you...from Goryeo?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

"Yes, I am."

 

"My name is Seung Nyang.  How about you?"

 

He squirms.  "I am Kkweo Bo."

 

"Kkweo Bo?  What a funny name."

 

"Seung Nyang is quite a funny name, too."

 

Point taken.  Seung Nyang clears her throat and steps forward.  Kkweo Bo backs away.

 

"I have something to ask you," says Seung Nyang.  She looks around to make sure no one is listening.  "Is the prince seriously ill?"

 

Kkweo Bo squeezes the chamber pot, and checks for eavesdroppers.

 

"Tell me what is going on in the temporary palace," Seung Nyang presses.

 

"I'd rather not be punished for speaking out of turn," says Kkweo Bo.  He hurriedly walks away.

 

 

*******

 

"Please exit to the east tomorrow night," Lord Jang instructs Toghon.  "I will prepare a safe place for you and wait. Then."  He bows.

 

"Wait a minute," says Toghon.

 

Lord Jang turns to look at him.

 

"I am afraid," says the lonely Toghon.  "I am so scared...that I cannot even breathe."

 

"In order to preserve your life, this is the only way."

 

Toghon looks up at him desperately.  He feels as vulnerable as a mouse in a trap, and on the verge of a mental breakdown.  In real life, he was thirteen when he became Emperor, which not only explains his choices, but explains the man-child nature of this character.

 

 

 

 

 

"Go to greet him?"  Wang Yoo asks impatiently.  "He was exiled from Yuan."  He has no time for this overly privileged punk kid.  Wang Yoo is a king, not a babysitter.  He is regally perched on his throne.  "And you're telling me that I need to greet him?"

 

The ministers filling the room are carefully watching his reaction.  This king is new, and doesn't yet understand the importance of building relationships with Yuan political figures.  Even if Toghon is young, exiled, and known for being a super dumb ass; everyone from that empire counts.

 

"But he is the older brother of the Emperor of Yuan," Kim Yeong explains.  Wang Yoo's arrogance is really making this all too easy.

 

Wang Go smiles.  Wang Yoo has a lot to learn.

 

"And he is next in line to succeed the throne," Kim Yeong continues.

 

"You must go to greet him," Park Hak Ki agrees.  "You must observe manners when dealing with a great nation."

 

Wang Yoo slaps the table in front of him.  "Before talking about manners to a great nation, first observe your manners to Goryeo.  They are not the vassals of Goryeo."

 

"However, Your Majesty--" says another minister.

 

"Let's hear from you, King Simyang," says Wang Yoo.  "Must the King of Goryeo go greet an exiled barbarian?"

 

Oh, you have so much to learn, Wang Go thinks.  This exiled barbarian has significantly more political clout than you do..."There is no need for you to do that."

 

Wang Yoo immediately knows that he must do the opposite of what Wang Go just said.

 

The other ministers eye Wang Go with surprise.

 

"He may be a brother of the Emperor of Yuan," Wang Go continues, "but he is foolish and weak willed beyond compare.  You must not carelessly waste your time with him, Your Majesty."

 

Wang Yoo laughs.  "Only King Simyang has the capacity to think on the scale that matches mine.  If there was a need to behead him, I would take my sword to go see him."

 

He is walking right into his own grave, this is too easy, Wang Go thinks.

 

"But I will not be going to greet him.  Everyone, be so informed," Wang Yoo says.

 

 

********

 

Jo Cham and Wang Go exit the palace.  Wang Go cautiously observes his surroundings before saying a word.  "What?  He dares to compare himself to me?  He may soon roll off his royal throne and break his neck.  How dare he?"

 

"So, you will assassinate the brother of the Yuan Emperor as planned--" says Jo Cham.

 

"Watch your mouth!"  Wang Go snaps.  "It won't be long now," he whispers.  "That young boy's arrogance and impudence will soon be finished, too."

 

 

********

 

Wang Yoo strolls into his meeting room with his men.  "I will go to greet the brother of the Emperor.  Hurry and prepare the men, and my armor."

 

"Your Majesty," says Moo Song.

 

"Your Majesty, what are you saying so suddenly?"  Eunuch Bang asks.

 

"King Simyang opposed my going to greet him.  What do you think that means?"

 

"So, the spy report that was sent from China is true after all?"  Eunuch Bang asks.

 

"I am certain," says Wang Yoo.  "They exiled the brother of the Emperor and will now kill him.  And they will accuse Goryeo and make us pay for that crime."

 

"Make us pay for that crime?"  Eunuch Bang asks.

 

"They will try to dethrone me since I'm a thorn in their eye.  What are you doing?  We have no time."

 

 

********

 

Wang Go and the Queen Dowager are sitting together in a meeting room.  Wang Go takes a sip of tea.

 

"Congratulations," says the Queen Dowager.  "You are finally achieving your goals."

 

"The Royal Throne must be sat on by a dragon to be worthy," says Wang Go.  "But a common snake is occupying it.  Does that make sense?"

 

The Queen Dowager smirks.  "Your words are wise."

 

"Your Highness!"  Jo Cham bursts through the doors.  He stands beside Wang Go and bows.  "His Majesty just left leading a cavalry."

 

"What are you saying?"  Wang Go asks.

 

"I don't know, but he was wearing his battle armor."

 

"Battle armor?"  Wang Go asks.  "So, he left wearing his sword?"

 

"Yes, Your Highness."

 

"He's not on his way to behead the brother of the Yuan Emperor, of course," says the Queen Dowager.  Her eyes widen.  "Perhaps that snake figured out our plan?"

 

Wang Go laughs.  Perhaps this kid does know what he's doing..."But he is already too late.  Unless his horse sprouts wings on his back, he will not arrive by tonight, no matter what."

 

The Queen Dowager smiles with relief.  "Is tonight when it will happen?"

 

"He may have shown how clever he is, but the heavens have chosen this Wang Go.  Pitiful boy."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toghon is sleeping in his bed, while Kkweo Bo is sleeping in the chair beside him.  The sun outside is shining brightly.

 

Bayan and Toqto'a enter the ger.  "You must get up now," says Bayan.

 

Kkweo Bo quickly stands, and Toghon opens his eyes.

 

"It's already been two days," says Bayan.

 

Toghon closes his eyes.

 

"How long will you stay in bed like this?"  Bayan asks in frustration.

 

"The dried persimmons have not yet arrived," says Toghon.

 

"How far did Lord Jang go to get some persimmons?"

 

"Until I eat dried persimmons, I will not step one foot out of here."

 

"Your Highness," says Toqto'a, "this is not the time to throw a childish fit."

 

Toghon looks over at him.  "Then bring me some dried persimmons.  I want to eat tender and chewy dried persimmons from Goryeo."  He sighs and rolls over.

 

"Oh, seriously?" Bayan growls.  He and Toqto'a exit the ger.

 

Toghon sits up.  "Kkweo Bo, you go and bring me my battle armor right now."

 

"What?"  Kkweo Bo asks.

 

"You must bring it without anyone knowing.  Hurry."

 

"Yes, Your Highness," Kkweo Bo bows.

 

 

*******

 

Bayan and Toqto'a are wandering the encampment late at night.

 

"I think we have to change our plans," says Bayan.  "Bring the band of robbers here."

 

"Then, the big event..." says Toqto'a.

 

"Tonight.  Let's finish this tonight."

 

"I understand, Uncle," says Toqto'a.

 

 

**********

 

Kkweo Bo is sitting on the edge of Toghon's bed, wearing Toghon's royal clothes.

 

Toghon is in his armor.  "That suits you well," he tells Kkweo Bo.  "So, get into my bed."

 

"Your Highness."

 

"Hurry, we have no time."

 

"Yes, Your Highness."  Kkweo Bo reluctantly lays down.

 

Toghon motions for him to roll to his side so his back faces the door.  He undoes the curtain hanging over the bed.  "Don't move, and stay like this until morning.  When the sun rises, change your clothes and run away."

 

"Your Highness."

 

 

******

 

Toghon is awkwardly walking through the encampment, trying to be inconspicuous.  He walks straight ahead and sees Bayan and Toqto'a.  He quickly looks away, and turns around.

 

The two men walk behind him, and Toghon keeps going, hoping they won't suspect anything.  His heart races.  He runs ahead, and enters the nearest ger.

 

Seung Nyang is walking to the same ger with a basin of water.

 

Toghon takes off his helmet, and gets ready to relax when he hears footsteps outside.  He scrambles, and hides behind a curtain.

 

An unsuspecting Seung Nyang walks in, and she ties the cloth door flap shut.  She removes some of her layers, even her chest band.  She is still covered with her white jeogori.  She wrings out the rag, and washes over her shoulders.

 

Toghon is trying to think of a way out.  He peers from behind the curtain, and sees her sponging off her shoulders.  He sneezes, and Seung Nyang sharply turns around.

 

Toghon quickly hides behind the curtain.

 

Seung Nyang puts her black jeogori back on, and she walks over to the curtain.  She unsheathes her sword, and puts it behind her back.  She pulls the curtain back, and she points her sword at the armored man.  She looks him dead in the eye.  "Who are you?"

 

"I...I am..."

 

 

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