American Perspectives: Avoiding Emperor Toghon Pt. 2 ("기황후" Ep. 9)

 

 

"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 want to work in the labor unit?"  Talahai asks.

 

"When I get a chance," says a bandaged up Byeong Soo, "I will surely kill that deposed King myself!"

 

"You could die instead," Talahai says apathetically.

 

"The weak Yeom Byeong Soo has already died!  This one right here is another Yeom Byeong Soo!"

 

Talahai smirks.  "Fine.  I'll back you."

 

Byeong Soo's lower lip trembles.  "Thank you, General."

 

**********

 

Wang Yoo's men enter his ger with a myriad of bows, arrows, shields, and swords.  They bow as they place the substandard weapons at his feet.

 

"These are all the weapons they've given us?"  Moo Song asks.

 

"Is this a joke?"  Eunuch Bang asks.  "We'd get more to go hunting for pheasants."

 

Jeom Bak picks up a sword.  "Damn it!  How are we going to fight a war with this?"  He aggressively throws the sword down.

 

Wang Yoo's men bow as the door opens, and Byeong Soo and Jo Cham enter.

 

"What's with all the complaints?"  Byeong Soo asks.

 

"How dare you show your face here?"  Bul Hwa asks.

 

"Watch your mouth!"  Jo Cham snaps.  "From now on, he's the Commanding Officer of this unit."

 

"What?"  Eunuch Bang asks.

 

"General Bayan has told our men to take the lead in every combat."

 

Wang Yoo is smart enough to pick his battles regarding the leadership position.  He already has a plan cooking.  Instead, he stays on topic about the weapons.  "With these weapons?  It'll be hard to barely survive.  Are you telling us to be the fodder for the arrows?"

 

"A commander shouldn't be lacking such discipline," Byeong Soo says pointedly.  "We live and die by the orders given.  If he says to take the lead, you take the lead."

 

A loud clatter of metal percussion instruments breaks the tension.

 

"The Turks!"  Someone outside yells.

 

"What's that?"  Jeom Bak asks.

 

Wang Yoo runs to the top of the watch area, joining Bayan, Toqto'a, and Talahai.

 

A Turk on the other side of the gate blows a huge, red, horn.

 

Bayan, Toqto'a, Wang Yoo, and Talahai observe the Turks.  They notice a warrior with a very distinctive mask.

 

"He's the leader of the Turks, Baghatur," says Toqto'a.

 

"Baghatur," says Bayan thoughtfully.

 

"Why is he wearing that atrocious mask?"  Talahai asks.

 

"According to the rumors, he has deep scars on his face," says Toqto'a.

 

"He must be brutal," says Talahai.

 

"To a warrior, battle scars are marks of honor," says Bayan.  "We shouldn't underestimate him."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Choi Eon Yeon," says Eunuch Dokman.

 

"Yes," Eon Yeon raises her hand.

 

"You clean the water area," says Eunuch Dokman.  "Make sure it's spotless."

 

"Yes, Sir," Eon Yeon bows.

 

"Lee Hong Dan."

 

"Yes."

 

"You go with Ha Ni and clean the Court Lady's room."

 

"Yes, Sir," says Hong Dan.

 

"Ki Yang," Dokman says to Seung Nyang.

 

"Yes, Sir."

 

"You wash the blankets."

 

"Yes, Sir," Seung Nyang bows.

 

*************

 

While she's on her cleaning duty, Seung Nyang stealthily sharpens her chopstick on the stone step.  She studies the point, and then sharpens it a little more.

 

Hong Dan and Yeon Hwa join her with large, red, buckets of water.  Hong Dan kneels down beside Seung Nyang.

 

"Yang, have you heard?"  Hong Dan asks.

 

Seung Nyang immediately puts the chopstick in her hair.

 

"Someone received the Emperor's favor," says Hong Dan.

 

"I'm not interested," says Seung Nyang.

 

"I heard she was a tribute girl," says Yeon Hwa.

 

"How lucky for her," says Hong Dan.

 

"Only time will tell if she's lucky or not," says Yeon Hwa.  She already knows how tricky this war among women can get.

 

"What are you saying?"  Hong Dan asks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tanqishi and Empress Danashiri stroll through the slightly overcast courtyard.

 

"The rumor about your wedding night has already spread outside the palace," says Tanqishi.

 

"Then there will also soon be a rumor that His Majesty is in the palm of my hand," Empress Danashiri grins like a sly cat.

 

"It's not time for you to be so confident," says Tanqishi.  "You need to have an heir soon."

 

"Don't worry, brother," says Empress Danashiri.  "If I wish, I could have him wrapped up in my skirt right now."

 

Tanqishi looks at her doubtfully.  He knows she's going to great lengths to keep it together.

 

A roar of feminine laughter erupts behind them.  The two turn around and see some court ladies and palace maids laughing uproariously.  The women immediately silence themselves when they see Tanqishi and Empress Danashiri watching them.

 

Empress Danashiri and Tanqishi hear more peals of laughter from the stairwell.  They look over and see more palace maids.  Yeon Hwa anxiously gestures for them to silence themselves.  She catches a glimpse of Tanqishi and Empress Danashiri, and she knows she's toast.  The palace maids reverently bow from the stairwell.

 

"This atmosphere is strange," says Tanqishi.

 

"What do you mean?"  Empress Danashiri asks.

 

"I think they're talking about you," says Tanqishi.

 

The palace maids scurry down the stairs.  Hopefully Tanqishi and/or Empress Danashiri won't question them.

 

"Bring those girls," Tanqishi commands.

 

***********

 

The palace maids kneel as Tanqishi and Empress Danashiri stand in front of them.

 

"You were definitely talking about the Empress.  Am I wrong?"  Tanqishi asks.

 

The palace maids anxiously exchange glances.

 

"Tell me the truth," Empress Danashiri asserts.  "What were you talking about?"

 

"That's--" Yeon Hwa hesitates, as Empress Danashiri is beautiful in person, but terrifying as all hell.

 

"Tell me now!"  Empress Danashiri snaps.  She can hear all of her damage control rumors regarding her sexually avoidant husband making their way down the drain.

 

"Your Majesty, spare me!" Yeon Hwa pleads.

 

"If you tell us, we'll let you live," says Tanqishi.

 

Yeon Hwa lifts her head.  "Someone...received...His Majesty's favor."

 

Empress Danashiri can feel her knees buckle, and her stomach twist.  Keep it together...

 

"Favor?" Tanqishi asks angrily.

 

"Did you...just say 'favor?'"  Empress Danashiri asks.  Her heart pounds.  She has just become another member of the big ass group of women whose husbands won't give them a chance, but without hesitation, go on and get their pussy elsewhere.

 

"Yes, Your Majesty," Yeon Hwa says fearfully.

 

Empress Danashiri feels something pressing on her lungs, and she struggles to breathe.  She begins to stumble to the side.

 

"Your Majesty," Tanqishi steadies her.  "Who is it?" He gives Yeon Hwa the death stare.

 

"All I know is," Yeon Hwa says, "she's from Goryeo."

 

Empress Danashiri steadies herself.  These lowborns absolutely cannot see her cry.  "Bring me all the wenches from Goryeo!"  Empress Danashiri demands.

 

The Court Ladies bow.

 

It's bad enough that her wedding wasn't consummated.  It's even worse that the whole entire palace knows not only that, but about this other woman who fucked the Emperor.  She has no women mentors she can turn to because everyone is working for someone in the palace.  She feels very, very trapped and isolated.

 

*********

 

"She found out already?"  Empress Dowager inquires.  (Though she is secretly delighted at her daughter in law's humiliation).

 

"Every girl from Goryeo, even the servants, have been taken to the hall, Empress Dowager," says Court Lady Yeom.

 

"I told you to be careful," Empress Dowager admonishes.

 

"I think it's best to tell His Majesty," says Court Lady Yeom.

 

"There won't be a way to resolve this by him knowing," says Empress Dowager.  "It's a failure..."

 

************

 

Empress Danashiri eyes the Goryeo Palace Maids and Court Ladies with an extreme, but understandable, degree of hatred.  With her crown, and style of dress, she looks like a young version of Empress Dowager Budashiri.  She walks down the aisle, eyeing them very carefully, looking for any signs that might betray them.

 

She balefully turns to the other side of the aisle.  What Eunuch Dokman had predicted is on the verge of coming true: a fight between Empress and Empress Dowager will lead to massive casualties in the Inner Palace.

 

She passes Court Lady Park, but something really subtle about her gives her pause.  She turns around and takes a good look.  A round red mark is present on Court Lady Park's neck.  Empress Danashiri looks down at her hands, and notices they are shaking, which makes the neck mark suspicious.  It would be completely against the rules for Lady Park to get that from a eunuch, or any male who isn't the emperor.  Empress Danashiri makes eye contact.  The rage is boiling inside her like volcanic lava.

 

"It was you," Empress Danashiri says hatefully.  "Remove her from the palace right--" She smirks.  "No.  Drag her away and kill her."  For those of us who have been cheated on this feeling is very understandable and very real.

 

Seung Nyang looks over at a very terrified Court Lady Park.

 

"Your Majesty, for what reason?"  Eunuch Dokman asks.

 

"Shut up!"  Empress Danashiri snaps.  "How dare you, a mere Eunuch, speak to me!"

 

Her anger is understandable to every woman, whether we want to admit it or not.  She's a newlywed with a dead bedroom, and the entire palace knows about it.  She is trying as hard as she can to get her husband to so much as glance at her.  Instead, he goes to another woman, and the entire palace is giggling like school girls about it.

 

"What are you doing?"  Empress Danashiri asks.  "Get rid of her this instant!"

 

Court Lady Park is in tears.

 

"Yes, Your Majesty," two Eunuch guards in green get ready to drag her away.

 

The wooden doors burst open, and Empress Dowager regally glides through, her entourage behind her.  "What's going on?  What's making you this upset?"

 

"What the reason is," says Empress Danashiri, "I believe you, who is on her side, would know better."

 

"Let her go," says Empress Dowager.

 

"Drag her away," says Empress Danashiri.

 

"Let her go," says Empress Dowager.

 

"I said, drag her away."  Even if it's unpleasant, Empress Danashiri isn't in the wrong for feeling this way, though Emperor Toghon should be the one getting the brunt of her wrath.

 

"Empress!"  Empress Dowager yells.

 

With all due respect, good for Empress Danashiri for standing up to her Mother in Law.  "My father...once he finds out, what then?  Getting rid of every tribute girl won't be the end of it."

 

Empress Dowager looks at her incredulously.  How dare this bitch not know her place?

 

"Drag her away from my sight, now!"  Empress Danashiri commands.

 

"But..." Court Lady Park sobs as the Eunuch guards drag her out.  She begins to feel nauseous, and she covers her mouth.

 

Empress Danashiri's eyes widen.

 

Empress Dowager stands in front of Court Lady Park.  "Is there a sign of pregnancy?"

 

Court Lady Park nervously looks over at an even angrier Empress Danashiri.  "I think so," she whispers.  Whatever it takes to end a brutal execution...

 

Empress Danashiri wants to explode.  Even though she's aware that what she is going through is not an isolated incident, it does not lessen the humiliation.

 

"Let go of her," Empress Dowager orders.

 

The Eunuch guards back away.

 

Empress Dowager looks at Empress Danashiri.  "She is carrying the heir of the Emperor.  It's high treason to lay a hand on her, even if you are the Empress."

 

Empress Danashiri is shaking with rage.  It's one humiliation after another in a game she didn't ask to play.

 

"Bring her to my room," says Empress Dowager.

 

Court Lady Yeom gently leads Court Lady Park away.

 

Empress Danashiri is trying her best not to erupt, but it feels like her heart has been torn out, and everyone thinks it's the most fucking hilarious thing they have ever seen.

 

**********

 

El Temur barges into Emperor Toghon's meeting room, ready to let it rip.

 

"Welcome, Prime Minister," says Emperor Toghon.  "Please sit--"

 

El Temur takes a seat, letting out a highly displeased sigh.

 

Emperor Toghon awkwardly sits across from him.  "Is there something that's worrying you?"

 

"I heard you tried to have an heir through a tribute girl.  Your Majesty, you haven't forgotten the promise you made in Goryeo, have you?"

 

Emperor Toghon breaks out in a cold sweat.  "How could I have forgotten?"

 

"If you haven't, you're acting with contempt for me."

 

Emperor Toghon grips the table.  "C-Contempt!  That's not true!"

 

El Temur slaps the table, and rises.  "The throne is harder to keep than obtain.  When you rise to it, you wear the golden crown, but when you come down, you'll have to give up your head.  Got it?"

 

"O-of course, I know."

 

"I'm old.  Death doesn't scare me since I don't have many years left to live.  So, what do you think I have to fear?  Whoever bothers me, I will will them all.  People call it senility.  Do you want to see me senile?"

 

"I...I-I'm sorry, Prime Minister.  E-Everything is due to my carelessness.  I-I'm sorry."

 

"The moment Danashiri sheds a tear, blood will flow through this palace.  Don't ever forget it, Your Majesty."  Good for El Temur for sticking up for his daughter, but the person he really needs to explode on is Empress Dowager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In his attempt to be alone, Emperor Toghon hurriedly walks out of the palace.  Because he is never really alone, Eunuch Baek frantically tries to catch up.

 

"Your Majesty, you can't do this," says Eunuch Baek.  "Your Majesty!"

 

Emperor Toghon frantically runs out the gate.

 

"Your Majesty!  Where are you going?"  Eunuch Baek asks.

 

"I don't know."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"I can't breathe!  I can't bear it!"  Emperor Toghon screams.

 

"Your Majesty."

 

"I feel suffocated.  I want to go anywhere where I can breathe comfortably."  He begins to run again.

 

"Your Majesty!"  Eunuch Baek yells.

 

Emperor Toghon manages to hide behind the door while his entourage continues to run ahead.  He stands in the doorway and sees Seung Nyang carrying a bucket of laundry.  The girl who looks like Seung Nyang.

 

He darts ahead, and goes to the clotheslines.  He pushes through the hanging white sheets, desperate to find her.  He sees her in front of him, smoothing out a suspended sheet.

 

Seung Nyang turns around and finds herself face to face with Emperor Toghon.  She gasps and jumps back.  He only comes at her when she's unprepared.  Emperor Toghon studies her face intently.  If she could, she would totally slap him across the face.  She slowly reaches for her chopstick.

 

"Your Majesty," Eunuch Baek disrupts the opportunity.  "Your Majesty," Eunuch Baek bows.

 

Seung Nyang lowers her hand.  Can't do it now.

 

"Your Majesty," says Eunuch Baek, "you can't go out alone."

 

Emperor Toghon continues to stare at Seung Nyang.  "Tell this girl to bring out some tea."

 

*******

 

Seung Nyang avoids any type of eye contact as she pours Emperor Toghon's tea.  He's comfortably seated at a table on the outdoor porch.

 

"Look at me," says Emperor Toghon.  "Left."

 

She reluctantly looks to the left.

 

"Right."

 

She reluctantly looks to the right.

 

Emperor Toghon leans forward.  "By any chance, do you have a brother named Seung Nyang in Goryeo?"

 

Seung Nyang takes her time to respond.  She lowers her head.  "No."

 

Emperor Toghon sighs.  "That boy was even prettier than you.  Unlike his delicate looks, he was very strong and brave.  He was a skilled archer and rider.  We got along very well."

 

Seung Nyang says nothing.  She hands him his tea.  As he takes a sip, Seung Nyang scans the area.  Everyone has their heads down.  Eunuch Baek is preoccupied with another Eunuch.

 

This is a chance from the heavens.  She reaches for her chopstick.  She stares intently at his neck.  As she grabs the chopstick, Emperor Toghon suddenly takes notice.

 

"Stay like that," says Emperor Toghon.

 

Seung Nyang keeps her hand in her hair as Emperor Toghon walks toward her.  When he moves closer, she backs away.

 

"I told you not to move," says Emperor Toghon.

 

Seung Nyang leans back as far as she can.  Emperor Toghon snatches the chopstick from her hair.

 

"This is what you're using as a hairpin?"  Emperor Toghon asks.  He throws it across the ground.  "Get rid of it.  Even if you're a servant, you can't wear such a thing in your hair."  He hands her the Chinese version of a red norigae.  "Have this."

 

Seung Nyang looks at him with thinly veiled annoyance.

 

"You look like that boy, so I'm giving it to you."

 

Seung Nyang looks away.

 

"Why aren't you accepting it?"  Emperor Toghon feels a slap on his hand as the norigae is snatched away.

 

Seung Nyang looks over to see a very livid Empress Danashiri.

 

"Empress," says Emperor Toghon.

 

She angrily squeezes the trinket.  She already had to deal with the Court Lady Park humiliation, and now this.  Plus, another Goryeo woman?  Does he have some sort of creepy Goryeo fetish?

 

Seung Nyang humbly bows.  She's not keen on being trapped in this situation, either, but when you're dealing with a married woman who has a sexually avoidant husband, all bets are off.

 

"What are you doing here?"  Emperor Toghon asks.

 

Zing!  Seung Nyang unexpectedly feels the shock of Empress Danashiri slapping her across the face.

 

"How dare you, a mere servant, face the Emperor?"  Deep down, Empress Danashiri knows it isn't Seung Nyang's fault.  Every woman does.  She wishes Seung Nyang would be on her side and outright refuse him, even though she knows the consequences Seung Nyang has to face for doing so are very great.  Right now, Empress Danashiri is mortified beyond belief, and she's taking down the easiest target.

 

"What are you doing right now?"  Emperor Toghon asks, adding insult to injury.

 

Empress Danashiri is shaking with anger.  "I will take this wench, and---" She raises her hand to slap Seung Nyang again.  She wants to slap the Emperor, but then her family's positions would be in jeopardy.

 

Emperor Toghon grabs her wrist.  "Stop it, I said!"

 

And the humiliation keeps piling up.  "A tribute girl wasn't enough that now you're even extending your hand to the lowliest servant?  Why?  Why don't you have all the girls in the entire palace?"  Every woman who has experienced betrayal trauma from her significant other knows this feeling very well.

 

"You're out of line," says Emperor Toghon.  Typical deflection of a betraying spouse.

 

"How could you humiliate me like this?"  Empress Danashiri asks.  "I will tell my father everything!"  (Good for her.  Emperor Toghon is being a dick).  She slams the norigae down on the table.

 

"Empress!  Empress!"  Emperor Toghon calls after her as she walks away.   He feels absolutely no remorse for hurting her.  He feels profound fear for offending his father in law.  He looks at Seung Nyang before deciding to follow the Empress.

 

Seung Nyang grabs the norigae and squeezes it tightly.  She throws it into the pond.  No love triangles for her.  Court Lady Park empathetically observes her from down below.

 

 

...To be continued...