American Perspectives: Betrayal, Pandering, and Negotiation Pt. 2 ("기황후" Ep. 6)

 

 

 

"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"

 

 

 

 

 

"You bastard!"  Wang Go yells.    He pushes Byeong Soo into the table, and then proceeds to stomp on him.  "Die!  Die!  How could you bring the Crown Prince back?  You dare spit in my rice bowl and ruined a perfect plan!"

 

Byeong Soo grabs Wang Go's leg before he can be stomped on once more.  "Please save me, I did something worthy of dying!"

 

"Shut up!"  Wang Go kicks him.  "This stupid, worthless..."  He picks up a vase.

 

"Sire!"  Jo Cham walks in.  "Crown Prince has woken up."

 

"What?"  Wang Go snarls.  He really wanted to clobber Byeong Soo with that big ass celadon vase.  He looks at Byeong Soo with intense hatred.

 

Byeong Soo, who is very battered, cowers in fear.  Wang Go bares his teeth.  He throws the vase down with a huge crash on the floor.  He walks out like a spoiled football player who just got rejected by the head cheerleader.

 

Jo Cham kneels next to Byeong Soo and smirks.  "Does it hurt?  If you speak informally to me one more time...I'll kill you."  He slaps Byeong Soo on the chin, and then slaps him across the cheek.

 

Byeong Soo winces.  As Jo Cham leaves, Byeong Soo uses a chair to pull himself up.  "Seung Nyang, you punk...I will kill you myself.  This Yeom Byeong Soo will kill you!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toghon is tensely sitting in his room.  He feels so dirty with what he intends to do next.  He wonders if maybe he would have been better off assassinated.  This was not what he had in mind when it came to being Emperor.  He thought he'd commit honorable acts, not sleazy back room deals.

 

Lord Jang approaches him.  "Your Highness..."

 

Toghon looks up at him sadly.

 

"Let's go now," says Lord Jang.

 

********

 

The Pro Yuan representatives and Pro Goryeo representatives cross paths in the court yard.  The tension is thick, and Wang Yoo does not intend to bow to El Temur.

 

The tension is eased when Toghon and Lord Jang exit his room.  Toghon is looking radiant in his blue satin deel.  His heart skips a beat when Seung Nyang looks over at him expectantly.  He can't bear to face her.

 

"I'm glad you're fine, Your Highness," says El Temur.

 

Toghon looks at him fearfully.

 

"Do you know who tried to kill you on Daecheong Island?"  Wang Yoo inquires.

 

Toghon wants to throw up.  He looks over at Seung Nyang, who has so much hope in him.  "I...I do know," Toghon stutters.

 

"Who was it?"  El Temur snarls.

 

Seung Nyang nods at Toghon.

 

"Who tried to kill you?"  El Temur persists.

 

Toghon's eyes begin to tear up.  Why can't my Auntie Budashiri do this for me?  "G-Goryeo soldiers," Toghon stammers.

 

Wang Yoo looks at him in shock, embedded prejudices further reinforced.

 

Seung Nyang's heart drops.  She steps forward.  "Your Highness."

 

"The soldiers under the orders of the King of Goryeo, revolted and tried to kill me," Toghon's voice breaks.

 

"That's a lie!"  Seung Nyang asserts.  "How could you lie?"

 

"I saw it with my own eyes," Toghon averts her gaze.

 

Seung Nyang's jaw drops.

 

"Ki Ja Oh..." Toghon begins.

 

A huge tear streams down Seung Nyang's cheek.

 

"Ki Ja Oh wielded his sword at me, and---"

 

"Shut that mouth!"  Seung Nyang screams.  She is ready to do to him what was done to Ki Ja Oh.   That double crossing bastard.  She steps forward, and Tanqishi blocks her by aiming his sword at her throat.

 

Seung Nyang's blood is boiling.

 

"Lock him up," El Temur orders.

 

Wang Yoo protectively steps in front of her.  "He didn't do anything wrong.  Kill me instead!"

 

"Your life is already mine," El Temur says ominously.  "You will need my permission to die."

 

"Please take him inside," says Bayan.

 

"Please go inside," El Temur says to a very devastated and fearful Toghon.

 

Toghon turns around and slowly walks to his room.  Welcome to politics...

 

 

*********

 

Two guards shove Seung Nyang into the same cell as her father.

 

"Father...Father!"

 

Ki Ja Oh is struggling to breathe.

 

"A...a man is dying!"  Seung Nyang yells.  "Someone, please help!  A man is dying!  Please, someone, help!  Please help!"  She rushes back over to her father, and grabs his hand.  "Father..."

 

He uses his finger to write on her palm.  "I'm sorry, daughter.  My daughter, Seung Nyang...For not protecting your mother, your father who wasn't good enough..."  He stops breathing, and his head rests against the wall.

 

Seung Nyang's jaw drops.  "Father!"  She screams.  "No, Father," she sobs.  "You can't die like this.  Father!  Father!  You can't..."  She buries her head in his chest, feeling completely abandoned and broken.  "You can't.  Father.  Father!  You can't die!  Father...Look at me, Father!  Let's live together.  Father!  Father!  Please...Father. Father!  Please look at me!"

 

*********

 

Toghon is in his room, staring off into space.  He betrayed his only friend, and the people who genuinely protected him.  His door opens with a clatter, and he looks up to see El Temur.  Goody, goody gumdrops...  

 

"You were looking for me?"  El Temur inquires.

 

Toghon rises.  In spite of towering over El Temur, this little man in front of him is absolutely terrifying.  And El Temur knows it.

 

"Why did you want to see me alone?"  El Temur asks.

 

Toghon drops to his knees.  "P-please let me live, Prime Minister."

 

El Temur looks down on him with contempt.

 

"If you want me to be stupid, I will be.  If you want me to be a coward, I will be one.  If you want me to be a stone, I will be.  If you want me to be a puppet, I will...be a puppet.  So please...don't throw this poor person away."

 

What little respect El Temur did have for Toghon is now gone.  Who is he really?  If he's not some rare idiot, he should be a poisonous snake hiding his fangs.

 

"P-prime Minister," Toghon sobs.

 

"Please get up now."

 

Toghon slowly rises.

 

"The Emperor has left this world," says El Temur.

 

"Is...is that true?"  Toghon pretends to be surprised.

 

"Never show your tears or kneel in front of anyone ever again.  Since you are the ruler of the world now..."

 

"There can only be one ruler," Toghon remembers Bayan saying.  "No one can be the ruler in front of Prime Minister El Temur.  If you want to please him, make him believe it's so.  Do you understand?"

 

"Ruler?"  Toghon asks.  "Don't speak nonsense!  The throne doesn't belong to me, Prime Minister."

 

You're so lacking, El Temur thinks.

 

"Give him everything," Bayan had advised.

 

"Why don't you..." says Toghon, "take the throne instead?  I'll give you everything I can.  Only you should be the ruler."

 

Maybe he's the Emperor I've been looking for.  I've taken such a long way around when he was right here in front of me.

 

"And ask him to save you, no matter what," Bayan had advised.

 

"Please, don't throw me away," says Toghon.  "Please let me at least live.  I just want to live a comfortable life, that's all."

 

"Now you will be...under my protection."

 

"Prime Minister."

 

"But in turn, you must make a promise."

 

"Tell me.  I'll do anything you say."

 

"You must take my daughter, Danashiri, as your Empress."

 

Toghon's heart races.  "Then...you will become my father-in-law?"

 

"Do you not want to?"

 

"Of course not!  Of course not!  It would be a blessing I don't deserve!"

 

"The Emperor is chosen by the heavens," says El Temur.

 

Toghon grabs his hand.  "The heavens...also need your permission."

 

El Temur laughs and strokes his beard.  "I gave my permission to the heavens just now.  So ascend to the throne comfortably."

 

Toghon's eyes tear up.  "Th-thank you, Prime Minister.  Thank you.  Thank you Prime Minister."  He gets on his knees.  "Thank you, Prime Minister."

 

El Temur looks down on him and smirks.

 

Seung Nyang, I can't die here.  I will live no matter what, and get my revenge.  The promise I couldn't keep, I will be sure to make it up to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seung Nyang is holding her father's corpse in her lap as a tear rolls down her cheek.  Crown Prince...I will kill you.  I will kill you myself for being the enemy of Goryeo, and for my father's death.

 

******

 

"Lords of Goryeo, listen to my words!"  Toghon crows from Wang Yoo's throne.

 

"Yes, Your Majesty!"  The ministers bow.

 

"The King of Goryeo tried to assassinate me, and schemed in order to hide this fact."  Toghon looks to El Temur for guidance.

 

El Temur nods.

 

"So, I will...pass judgment on his crime.  Dethrone him, and have him transferred to Daedo.  And those who took part in the rebellion, they will be sent to Daedo, and become slaves of the Great Yuan Empire.  Also, in honor of my coronation, Goryeo will provide 200 virgins, and 100 boys as concubines and eunuchs."

 

The ministers murmur amongst themselves.

 

"Also," Toghon continues, "every year, 120 pounds of gold, 7500 pounds of silver, and 100 stallions, and...and..."

 

Lord Jang whispers in his ear, "3,000 bolts of silk."

 

"Oh, yes!  3,000 bolts of silk, and 100,000 sheets of parchment...1,000 inkstones, and...o-o-otter...otter skins..."

 

"10,000," says Lord Jang.

 

"Right.  10,000...10,000?  Are there that many otters in Goryeo?"

 

"Sire," Lord Jang whispers.

 

"I mean, it will be hard to catch them."

 

Tanqishi rolls his eyes and sighs.  What the hell did my father just do?

 

"And, even if you do," Toghon continues, "then you have to skin that many otters, and how hard--"

 

"Sire!"  El Temur says sharply.  "You can just make your decree.  Goryeo must provide it."

 

"I mean, can I really do that?  You should have told me sooner.  My head nearly split trying to memorize all this!"  He chuckles while everyone else gives him side eye.

 

Wang Go turns to Bayan.  "Why didn't you write it down for him at least?"

 

"He's illiterate," Bayan says matter of factly.

 

"Illiterate?"  Wang Go asks incredulously.  "He can't read?"

 

*********

 

The Yuan representatives exit the palace.

 

"Prime Minister!"  Wang Go says.  "Why didn't you speak about the next King of Goryeo?"

 

"Once in Daedo, the Emperor will make his decree," says El Temur.

 

El Temur, Tanqishi, and Talahai move on while Wang Go is left hanging.

 

Toghon descends the concrete stairs, followed by Lord Jang, Bayan, and Toqto'a.

 

Wang Go and Jo Cham immediately bow.

 

"I will await your orders," says Wang Go.  "Please don't forget me, Your Majesty."

 

"Come closer," says Toghon.

 

Wang Go stands next to Toghon, still in a bowing position.  He suppresses a grin.  He's sure he has pulled a fast one.

 

Toghon moves closer to him.  "I remember very clearly your face that told me you would kill me."

 

Wang Go's heart drops.

 

"I have etched it into my bones, so how could I forget you?"  Toghon walks away with his entourage following behind.  Wang Go is left aside, with Jo Cham standing behind him.

 

"What's the matter, Sire?"  Jo Cham asks.

 

"I will transfer the concubines myself, this time," says Wang Go.

 

"You're going to Yuan?"

 

"By decree, or whatever, I will go and be chosen as the King of Goryeo.  If not, I will become no better than a dog chasing a chicken."

 

********

 

Wang Go's soldiers are chasing women through the streets, making sure to meet the quota for the concubine tributes.  Many are pushed, grabbed, and beaten into compliance.

 

"Don't leave any one of them behind!"  Byeong Soo barks.  "This is all because you have a fool for a King."  Byeong Soo tells the women.  "All this happened because he tried to kill the Crown Prince!   Now, innocent people are being taken as slaves of the Great Empire!  If you want to blame someone, blame your foolish King!"

 

*********

 

A guard undoes the lock on Seung Nyang's cell as she apathetically stares straight ahead.  Byeong Soo walks in, and grabs her by the arm.  He pushes her right in front of Wang Go and Jo Cham.

 

She braces herself for the expected consequences.

 

Wang Go looks at her angrily.  "Put him on the list of eunuchs to be transferred."

 

"Yes, Sire," says Jo Cham.

 

A plan to skirt the surprise that the people who intend to "castrate" her will inevitably face, is already cooking up in her mind.

 

"See how harsh the price is for betraying me?"  Wang Go asks smugly.  "Feel in your bones what it's like to become a slave that's no better than a dog or pig."  What Wang Go has forgotten is that some eunuchs can become profoundly powerful, and even insidiously take over the throne.

 

Seung Nyang looks at him neutrally.  She has nothing to be cut off, so the fear of emasculation he's attempting to impose on her just isn't working.

 

As Wang Go and Jo Cham leave, Byeong Soo grabs her by the collar.  "This trip to Yuan will become the road to hell for you," he smirks.

 

Seung Nyang's expression remains apathetic.

 

 

 

 

 

"Your Majesty!"  Jeom Bak exclaims.

 

"Your Majesty, we'll come with you!"  Eunuch Bang insists.

 

"I said you cannot!"  Wang Yoo says emphatically.

 

"How can you tell us to send you away alone?"  Eunuch Bang sobs.

 

"This is my last command as your King.  I don't want you to suffer on my account."

 

"Your Majesty!"  Eunuch Bang wails.  He, Moo Song, and Jeom Bak kneel.

 

"By taking care of this fool," says Wang Yoo, "you suffered so much all these years."

 

**********

 

Several women are rounded up and pushed into a large common area.  Most appear to be from the lower classes.  In real life, the women who were sent away as tributes were actually from the upper classes.  The standards for Yuan Dynasty tributary women were very high, and there was no way a large number of women from the peasant classes could meet those.

 

Seung Nyang watches with horror as they are all dragged in like animals.  It's actually quite triggering, but she's doing her best to remain rock solid.

 

Wang Yoo is the last to arrive, surrounded by his entourage.  Seung Nyang is surprised to see him, but at least she will have a friend on this frightening journey.  Some of the women look at Wang Yoo disdainfully, and point.

 

"Whoever runs away will be punished!"  Tanqishi shouts.  "Be sure to remember!"

 

Wang Yoo approaches Tanqishi.  "Please exempt Seung Nyang from this journey.  He's the one who saved the Crown Prince.  There is no reason for him to be taken."

 

Tanqishi is about to smack him in the face with his sword handle.

 

"Your Majesty!" Eunuch Bang yells.

 

"Brother!"  Talahai interjects.  "Did you forget what Father said?"

 

"Remember,  you must bring him here, all the while showing courtesy toward a King,"  Tanqishi recalls El Temur saying just hours before.

 

"Father, he deserves to die!"

 

"Since when do you go against me?"

 

"Sorry."

 

"But why are you lenient with him?"  Talahai inquires.

 

"I've met many brave men during many wars, but I've never seen anyone with more passion.  In front of death, how could he be so dignified?  He's too good to keep as just an enemy."

 

Tanqishi lowers his sword, and his lip trembles with pure hatred.  He looks Wang Yoo right in the eye.  "I'm not so merciful.  Shut up and follow."

 

"Your Majesty, I'm fine," Seung Yang reassures Wang Yoo.

 

Wang Yoo looks over at her uncertainly, and she nods her reassurance.

 

********

 

Toghon sits up in the middle of the night as his ship sails across the ocean.  As if on cue, Bayan and Toqto'a enter his room to keep him company.

 

"What's the matter?"  Bayan asks.  "Why the big sigh?"

 

"He's probably blaming me to death," says Toghon.

 

"Are you thinking about that Seung Nyang again?"  Toqto'a asks.

 

"It's because he saved my life that I've become the Emperor.  It wouldn't have been good enough had I paid him back generously..."

 

"You have already commanded that he be spared," says Toqto'a.  "He's probably living well in his homeland by now."

 

Toghon lays down and closes his eyes.  He avoids reality by going to sleep.

 

"By the way, Your Majesty," says Bayan, "I have a niece.  You will probably like her very much."

 

"I'm very picky when it comes to women," Toghon replies.

 

"Well," says Bayan, "it's strange for me to say this, but she can make any man smile with her incomparable beauty."

 

Toghon sits up and faces Bayan.  "Is that right?  Then bring her to the Imperial Palace some time."  He lays back down and closes his eyes.

 

 

...To be continued...