American Perspectives: The Damsel Saves the Dude in Distress Pt. 1 ("기황후" Ep. 4)

 

 

 

"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"

 

 

 

 

Seung Nyang has just wrapped up her rare moment of privacy in the bathing room, and she walks through the courtyard on a calm, peaceful, night.  She isn't looking forward to taking care of Toghon, but she's looking forward to the merit she'll receive from Wang Yoo for doing so.  Besides, her involvement with him is only temporary.  Soon, she'll never see him again.

 

"And when you return," she hears Toghon saying from his room, "bring me some dried persimmons if there are any."

 

Seung Nyang immediately halts.  No one is supposed to be in his room.  She throws aside the clothes she was carrying, draws her sword, and makes a run for it.

 

 

*********

 

Toghon immediately sits up in his bed.  "Have his ears been plug---"

 

He jumps back when he sees a disguised Byeong Soo, with his sword aimed right at him.  Byeong Soo executes a dol strike, but Toghon ducks, and instead the ceramic pieces behind him are shattered. 

 

As Byeong Soo is about to strike again, Seung Nyang pushes through the doors, and aims her sword at his back.  "Who are you?" She asks authoritatively.

 

"Seung Nyang!"  Toghon gasps.  He never in a million years thought he would be so happy to see her.

 

Byeong Soo turns to face her.  He attempts to slice at her, but she deftly blocks every attempt.  Her skills are authoritative and deliberate.  Not messy.  She spins around, and their swords cross, blocking each other.  He tries to stab forward, and do a downward jab, but she holds her sword horizontally, and blocks him further.  Their eyes lock.

 

"Who sent you?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

He steps back, using his weight to throw her back, while attempting a dol strike, but she ducks, and he misses.  She slashes at him, misses, spins right past him, and slices him across the arm.  Byeong Soo tries to get in one more slice before running away.

 

Seung Nyang chases after him.

 

"Where are you going and not protecting me?"  Toghon asks desperately.

 

She briefly pauses in the doorway before continuing her chase.  While she's playing the role of Mama Bear in protecting Toghon, she doesn't have time to play Mother.  She gets outside and sees that Byeong Soo has vanished.  She runs to the alarm bell, sword still drawn, and rings it as hard as she can.

 

Several soldiers come runningout into the yard.  They gather in front of Seung Nyang, and Byeong Soo is the last to arrive.  He's in full armor, wounded arm concealed.  He rushes to the front.

 

"What happened?"  Byeong Soo asks.

 

"It's an assassin," says Seung Nyang.  "An assassin got in."

 

Byeong Soo quickly scans the soldiers in front of them.  "Search every corner!"  He commands.

 

"Yes," the soldiers bow before dispersing.

 

"How about his Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince?"  Byeong Soo asks.

 

"He's safe," says Seung Nyang.

 

"Tell the commander right away."

 

"No," says Seung Nyang.  "I'll stay here.  So, you tell him, Deputy Commander Yeom."

 

"All right," he looks very disappointed.  Tonight's window of opportunity has closed.  A small stream of blood runs down his hand.

 

 

*******

 

Morning has come, and the soldiers, Seung Nyang, and Ki Ja Oh are in the courtyard.

 

Ki Ja Oh looks over at his daughter sadly.  He wishes he had known about her sooner.

 

"Commander!"  Park Bul Hwa yells.  He and Byeong Soo run into the courtyard.

 

"Did you look into it?"  Ki Ja Oh asks.

 

"We carefully combed the entire island," says Bul Hwa, "but there are only elderly fishermen and women."

 

"I definitely slashed one of the assassin's arms," says Seung Nyang.

 

"I've checked all the soldiers," says Byeong Soo, "but none of them had a wound on his arm."

 

"There's no place for him to run on this small island," says Ki Ja Oh.  "I'm sure he is hiding somewhere."

 

Lord Jang eyes them judgmentally as he strolls across the covered walkway.

 

"How is his Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince?"  Ki Ja Oh asks.

 

"He fell asleep a moment ago," says Lord Jang.  "He is in great shock, so please prepare a tonic for him."

 

"I understand," says Ki Ja Oh.  "Deputy Commander Yeom, you stay here and stay on guard."  He's about to walk away, and then pauses.  "Seung Nyang...you follow me for now."

 

She's feeling anxious.  Did I do something wrong?  I hope I don't lose my job.  She nervously follows her father.

 

After they leave, Byeong Soo touches his wound and winces.

 

 

********

 

Seung Nyang, Ki Ja Oh, and Bul Hwa get into the meeting room.  Ki Ja Oh sits down first, and Seung Nyang follows.  Bul Hwa remains standing.

 

Ki Ja Oh looks at her sadly.  She looks at him with confusion.

 

"What's...wrong?"  Seung Nyang inquires.

 

"Your mother...you resemble her a lot."

 

Seung Nyang's heart just about stops.  Did I hear him correctly?  She feels awkward, and doesn't quite know what to do.

 

Ki Ja Oh starts to cry as he puts her necklace with the two silver rings in front of her.  Seung Nyang trembles.

 

"The fact that I'm your father," says Ki Ja Oh.  "Why do you feign ignorance about it?"

 

Seung Nyang tries to keep her composure. 

 

"Nyang," he reaches for her.

 

She feels super uncomfortable with all these unexpected emotions.  She has essentially had to put a wall of ice around herself in order to get past her mother's death, and work for the very people who had caused the problem in the first place.  She quickly stands up.

 

He looks up at her tearfully.

 

"Commander," says Seung Nyang.

 

"What do you mean, 'Commander?'"  Bul Hwa asks.  "Address him as your father."

 

"Nyang," Ki Ja Oh rises.  "You also have older brothers in Haeju.  I will have you meet them soon."

 

"There's no need," Seung Nyang says quickly.  Tears begin to roll down her face, as her wall of ice comes crashing down.  "I...am happy with the way things are right now."

 

"Seung Nyang!"  Bul Hwa yells.

 

"His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince will be asking for me, so I'll take my leave," says Seung Nyang.  She can't handle all of this right now.  She picks up her necklace and exits.

 

"That girl," says Bul Hwa.

 

"Let her be," says Ki Ja Oh.  He takes a seat, as he's also feeling overwhelmed, and inadequate.  "It's not unusual for her to resent me.  After losing her mother.  Considering all those years of hardship she endured..."

 

Bul Hwa can't believe this.  He bolts out the door.  "Seung Nyang!"  He grabs her arm.  "Seung Nyang!  Do you know how much your father longingly searched for you all this time?  After hearing your mother died--"

 

"It's me!  I can't...allow myself to cause him pain.  I was already selected as a tributary girl.  If it's revealed that I'm hiding as a man, don't you know what kind of punishment my family will suffer?"

 

Bul Hwa sighs.

 

"I will just...stay next to the commander as Seung Nyang.  So...act as though you know nothing about this," she says tearfully.  "Please help me out, Deputy Commander Park."  She can't take any of this anymore, and walks away.

 

Bul Hwa sighs.  What did I just step in?

 

 

*******

 

Toghon is breaking out in a cold sweat in his sleep.  "No!  Imperial Father!  No!  No!  That can't be!"

 

Seung Nyang sets a tray down on his table.

 

He continues to scream in his sleep.

 

"Your Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

Toghon sits straight up, eyes wide open, shivering intensely.  PTSD is a bitch.

 

"Are you alright?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

He looks at her and can't speak.

 

She hands him a bowl.  "Please drink some."

 

"Take it away," Toghon lightly pushes the bowl away.  He takes a few deep breaths before becoming lucid.  "Teach me sword fighting.  I'm not kidding.  If you teach me the sword, I won't bully you anymore."

 

"Other than guarding you, Your Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, I can't do anything."

 

"Are you insisting on fighting me on this?"  Toghon asks.  "Fine, then.  Let's see who wins."  He kneels in front of the table and slams his head down as hard as he can.  Which is exactly how Seung Nyang feels when she has to guard him.  He slams his head down twice more before Seung Nyang grabs his arm.

 

"What are you doing?"  She yells.  Though she wouldn't mind if he knocked himself out, she would mind the disciplinary action taken against her.

 

"If I die," says the man child, I mean, Toghon, "then you won't be safe, either."

 

She really wants to slap him across the face for being such a super dumb ass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instead, she acquiesces, and they meet outside in the courtyard with their wooden practice swords.

 

Toghon gets into what he presumes to be the correct position.

 

"Are you going to stand there like that until the assassin slashes your throat?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

"Then...I'm going...to really attack," Toghon says uncertainly.

 

"You're really kind to an assassin," says Seung Nyang, sounding exactly like this author's kendo sensei.

 

"Augh!" Toghon screams and charges with his sword held over his shoulder like a baseball bat.  She promptly deflects him before he can even strike her.  He lunges for her again, arms raised over his head.

 

Seung Nyang takes advatage of the opening and punches him in the gut.  He doubles over in pain, and looks at her in shock.

 

"If it had been a sword, and not a fist, you would have died at that moment."

 

They get back into position, and they fight again.  He lunges for her, ready to jab, but she grabs his arm and trips him.  He lands on his back.

 

"Your leg has been cut off this time," says Seung Nyang.

 

He aims for her head and misses.  She turns to strike him, but he blocks her.  She grabs his arm, and elbows him in the throat, sending him flying backwards.  He manages to keep his footing.

 

"Now your neck has been cut," says Seung Nyang.  "I'm saying you have already died."

 

"I won't die!  I will stay alive, no matter what!"  Toghon screams. 

 

He charges for her, but she continues to deflect.  Their swords cross, and he pushes her away.  He violently strikes her sword, while she turns her back and hits him over the head.  He crumples to his knees.  She looks back and sees blood dripping from his forehead.

 

Fuck...commander is going to shit bricks when he sees this...

 

She kneels in front of him.  "Your Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince!"

 

"What?"

 

"Th-there's blood flowing!"

 

"Blood?"  His eyes widen.  He touches his head, and sees the blood on his hand.  "Augh!  Blood!  Blood!"

 

*****

 

Seung Nyang is attending to a very mortified Toghon in his quarters.  His gash has been bandaged, but his back is turned to Seung Nyang.

 

Lord Jang busts through the door, ready to break international law to take Toghon back home.  Ki Ja Oh is right behind him.

 

Seung Nyang bows.

 

"Your Imperial Highness," says Lord Jang.  "What happened?"

 

"I told you to never leave him for a single moment!"  Ki Ja Oh yells.

 

"I can't just overlook this matter," says Lord Jang.  "Tell me in detail what happened."

 

Seung Nyang stutters.  "E-everything is due to my careless--"

 

"I hit my head on a stepping stone," Toghon interjects.  "This kid did nothing wrong.  If you must have someone to account for a crime, dig that stepping stone up, and break it into teeny, tiny pieces.  Whenever I see that stepping stone," he scowls at Seung Nyang, "it makes me gnash my teeth in anger."

 

Seung Nyang laughs.  She immediately stops as her father is watching her.  She looks over at Toghon, and smiles.  Toghon glares at her.  She smiles again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wang Go approaches Wang Yoo in the darkened throne room.  "For what matter did you call me?"  Wang Go bows.

 

"There's an assassin on Daecheong Island," says Wang Yoo.  "Did you know?"

 

"That's news to me," Wang Go lies.

 

Wang Yoo shoots him a look.  "I'm this country's king, and you are a vassal of Goryeo."

 

"Your Majesty sits over there like so, and I am here like this," Wang Go says innocently.

 

"I cannot stand by and watch a vassal sell off his country."

 

"Your words are harsh, Your Majesty."

 

Wang Yoo shifts his weight.  "Trying to get Goryeo incorporated into Yuan is directly selling the country.  What else is it?"

 

"Your Majesty, Goryeo doesn't exist as a shield to protect your royal authority."

 

"What?"  Wang Yoo explodes.

 

"How long do you think Goryeo can stand against the great Yuan Empire?  Ten years?  Twenty years?  But, Your Majesty, what will you do about all the suffering that your people must endure during that time?"

 

"Don't use people as a front to hide your dirty ambitions."

 

"Goryeo's people are withering away more and more," Wang Go points out.  "It's been a long time since they have been nothing but bones.  Now, even those bones will bear holes.  And then, they will all collapse at once, like rotten corpses!"

 

Wang Yoo abruptly rises.  "Do you really not know what caused that to happen?"

 

"Don't think that you're the only one who loves your people!  What keeps the people fat isn't the facade of justification, but substance!  Your method isn't the only one that's right."

 

"I will forgive you for following Yuan, but I will not forgive your disdain for Goryeo."

 

Wang Go bows and walks away.

 

"Impress upon yourself that you're Goryeo's vassal!"  Wang Yoo shouts.

 

Wang Go pauses.

 

"There is no mercy for a disloyal vassal," Wang Yoo continues.  "Understood, King Simyang?"

 

Wang Go says nothing as he exits the palace.

 

 

 

 

 

Toghon is confidently holding his bow and arrow, aiming for the target.  He fires and hits the target, but not the bullseye.

 

Seung Nyang chuckles.

 

"How is my archery skill?"  Toghon grins.

 

"You barely hit the target," Seung Nyang observes.

 

"Hey, do you think that's easy?"  Toghon asks.  "Don't just run your mouth, and try shooting yourself."

 

Seung Nyang smirks.  She picks up her bow and arrow.  She loads her baby arrow into the tube.

 

"What's that?"  Toghon scoffs.  He chuckles.  "Wow, you're so tacky.  If you want that baby arrow to hit the target, you at least need to---"

 

BAM!  Right on the bullseye.

 

Toghon looks at it in disbelief, desperately searching for something to criticize.

 

She looks at him and smirks.  "Next time, don't say this and that about archery skills in front of me."

 

He throws his bow down on the table and storms away.

 

******

 

Toghon is lounging in a hot bath, pissed off that Seung Nyang is better than him at everything.  "Really, whether by arrow or sword, I can never win against him."  He kicks his feet in the tub.

 

"It's Seung Nyang," she says from outside the door.  She pushes the doors open, and looks over to the side.  "Excuse me for a moment."  She covers her eyes when she sees him fully nude in the bathtub.  It's an image she does not want in her head.  Wang Yoo: yes.  Toghon: Hell, no!  She places his clothes on the nearby table.  "Please change into these clothes and come out."  She gets ready to leave.

 

"Where are you trying to go?"  Toghon asks.

 

She freezes.  Please don't make me clean you.  Please don't make me dry you off...

 

He shifts to the other side of the bathtub, and props his feet on the edge.  He wiggles his toes.  "Here, massage them."

 

Seung Nyang irritably turns around to face him.  She is relieved that it's not something else, but disgusted that she has to massage his feet.  She gasps, and turns her back.

 

"These," Toghon wiggles his toes.

 

He doesn't see Seung Nyang rolling her eyes.  She backs herself over to the tub, and sits on the table.  She sits sideways while giving him a foot rub.

 

"That's right, harder," says Toghon as she aggressively massages his feet.  "That's good.  A bit more.  That's it."  He watches her massage his feet, and he gets an idea.  "If it's a horse riding contest, I can win over you."

 

Seung Nyang snorts derisively.

 

He scowls at her and abruptly sits up.  "What?  You're laughing?  Did you just smirk at me?"

 

"My bones have solidified on the back of a horse," says Seung Nyang.

 

"Watch your mouth!"  Toghon shouts.  "There are no people who ride better than us Mongolians."

 

"People from Goryeo have also inherited the blood of Goguryeo."  She puts her elbow on the edge of the tub.  "When it comes to horse riding, we don't lose against anyone."

 

"Oh..." He moves closer to her.  "Then will you compete against me?"

 

She looks over at him, and gets a full view of his "package."  She gasps and looks away.  She really didn't want that image burned in her head.

 

Toghon looks behind him, wondering what caused her reaction.  "Get two horses ready in secret."

 

"Do you want to see someone beat to death?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

"Do you not have confidence?"

 

"Fine, I lost," says Seung Nyang.  She heads for the door.

 

"Wait!  This isn't an order," he insists.

 

Seung Nyang pauses.

 

"But a request.  Please get the horses ready," says Toghon.  

 

She turns around and gets a full view of his torso.  She sharply turns her back.

 

"No, I feel so suffocated!"  Toghon whines.  "I feel like my heart is going to burst, that I can't live anymore!  I want to race while having the wind blowing at me.  So, please, even for one day, couldn't you let me out of this suffocating local office?"

 

"We haven't yet...caught the assassin," Seung Nyang says awkwardly.

 

He pulls on her arm.  "Please.  Just once, huh?"

 

She tries to jerk herself away.

 

He won't let go of her arm.  "Please!  Please let me breathe!"

 

She covers her face.  "Even if you hold a knife up to my throat, what can't be done, can't be done."  She breaks away from him.

 

He splashes around like an angry toddler.  "Why is it no, no, no!  Exactly what I can I do, then?"

 

"Everything else besides things you aren't allowed to do."

 

He stands straight up.  She turns around, and gasps at the full frontal nudity that she did not want to see.  She immediately turns her back.

 

"Fine!  I'll just go die, then!"  He sits back down, and goes fully underwater.  Except that he doesn't last long, and he immediately pops back up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toghon has gotten his way.  The two are cantering through the forest on their horses.

 

"Whoa," Seung Nyang tells her horse.

 

Toghon stops beside her.  "Are you sure you can do it?"

 

She points to a boat.  "Whoever embarks on that empty boat over there wins."

 

Toghon grins.  "Fine, but you don't even know how to ride a horse.  You have to secure the saddle first."

 

As she looks down to check her girth, Toghon grins and spurs his horse forward.

 

"Aish," says Seung Nyang.  It doesn't take long for her to catch up to Toghon, and they're matching horses are neck and neck.

 

Toghon turns his head, and sees how focused Seung Nyang is, while he's just playing around like a little boy.

 

They gallop through the water, and on to the sand.  When she least expects it, Toghon jumps from his horse, right over to hers, sitting right behind her.  He wraps his arms around her shoulders, and her skin crawls.  She tries to shake him off, but he holds on for dear life.  She finally leans to the side, causing both of them to be thrown into the ocean.  As he stands up, she grabs his ankle, and he face plants into the water.  He back kicks her in the chest, but she keeps her footing, and she climbs onto his shoulders.  She leans forward, and they both fall into the water.

 

Toghon lays down in the sand, and Seung Nyang is on top of him.  Toghon starts to laugh.  Seung Nyang breaks away from him, and stands up.

 

"Since you can't win with your ability, you're cheating?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

Toghon sits up.  "Since there's no way to win against you, so what can I do?"

 

"I will never take part in a race like this again."  She trudges away.

 

"Imperial Father," says Toghon.

 

Seung Nyang turns to look at him.

 

"I don't want to die," Toghon continues.  "I want to return alive, no matter what.  When I go back, those people who killed you, Imperial Father, and made me suffer like this, I'll be sure to get revenge.  Why did you pass away so quickly?  Why did you have to leave so heartlessly?  Imperial Father...I miss you, Imperial Father.  Imperial Father..." He runs into the ocean.  "Imperial Father!  Imperial Father!"  He screams.

 

Seung Nyang empathetically touches the rings on her necklace.

 

"Imperial Father!"

 

 

******

 

Eunuch Bang, Wang Yoo, and Moo Song enter the Daecheong Island local office courtyard.  They are promptly greeted by Ki Ja Oh and his entourage.

 

Ki Ja Oh, Bul Hwa, and Byeong Soo bow.  "Welcome, Your Majesty."

 

"Welcome, Your Majesty," the guards behind Ki Ja Oh bow.

 

"All of you have been working hard," says Wang Yoo.  "Where is Crown Prince and Seung Nyang?"  He can't wait to see his man crush.

 

"That is..." Bul Hwa says awkwardly.

 

"Has something happened?"  Wang Yoo asks anxiously.

 

 

...To be continued...