American Perspectives: Gendered and Cultural Adjustments Pt. 2("기황후" Ep. 10)

 

 

"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"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Your Majesty, are you awake?"  Eunuch Baek asks as the sun rises.

 

Seung Nyang is carrying a wash basin while ascending the staircase to the Emperor's palace entrance.  She sighs.

 

Emperor Toghon rolls over in his bed, in his luxuriant white sleepwear.

 

Eunuch Baek opens the doors, and the palace maids enter.

 

Emperor Toghon halts the first two palace maids as they prepare the wash basin.  "Wait.  Everyone out."  He points straight at Seung Nyang.  "You.  You do it."

 

Yipee.  Seung Nyang is absolutely repulsed at the idea of cleaning this man child of an Emperor.  Wang Yoo would never be so high maintenance.  She reluctantly walks up to the basin, while he behaves like a happy five year old.  That is so not sexy.  Seung Nyang is feeling completely creeped out, but she conceals her emotions well.  She picks up a satin bib, and ties it around his neck.

 

He looks up at her adoringly.  She is wanting this to be over soon.  If only he would have an active sex life with Empress Danashiri, and leave the rest of us alone!  He's really giving Seung Nyang the creeps.

 

She picks up the wash cloth, and roughly scrubs his neck.  Since he's acting like a child, he's going to get treated like a child.  She slaps the cloth against this double crossing asshole's neck.

 

"Ouch!  Be gentle."

 

She reluctantly washes his neck gently.  She feels so dehumanized and used.  And, as she thinks about her feelings, she aggressively presses the cloth against his face, causing him to slightly fall back.  She unfolds the wash cloth and throws it over his startled face.  She smacks his face through the washcloth, while Eunuch Baek watches in horror.  She really wants to strangle this disloyal asshole.

 

Emperor Toghon has finally had enough, and he removes the cloth.

 

Seung Nyang bows.  "I will apply the oil now."  She pours the oil into her hand, and slaps her hands together.  She applies her hands to his face, each touch getting increasingly aggressive.  She pinches his cheeks as hard as she can get away with, while Eunuch Baek is completely appalled.

 

"Hey!"  Eunuch Baek whispers.

 

"Ouch!  Ouch!"  Emperor Toghon protests.

 

"This wench!"  Eunuch Baek whispers sharply.

 

Next, she has to wash this idiot's feet.  Village idiot.  He raises his wet foot.  "Here, massage it."

 

Ick!!  She grabs his foot, and is as aggressive as she can get away with.

 

Emperor Toghon chuckles.  She looks exactly like the male Seung Nyang.  "How could you look so much alike?"

 

Ugh, stop talking...She awkwardly clears her throat.

 

"Why don't you like working here?"  Emperor Toghon asks.  "I heard it pays better, and it's easier work.  For what reason do you want to keep going back to--"

 

Seung Nyang aggressively spreads his toes.

 

"Ou-ouch!  That hurts!"

 

"Your Majesty," Eunuch Baek bows.

 

"I apologize, Your Majesty," says Seung Nyang.

 

"What kind of girl is so rough?"  Emperor Toghon asks.

 

"I will punish this wench right away," says Eunuch Baek.

 

"Ah," Emperor Toghon gestures at Eunuch Baek.  "No.  You may leave."  He says to Seung Nyang.

 

Yes!!  She bows and exits with the tray and wash basin.  Hopefully, he'll send me back to the concubines' quarters...

 

He watches her leave with admiration and curiosity.

 

"I think she needs to be returned to the concubines' quarters," says Eunuch Baek.

 

Emperor Toghon chuckles.  "She even behaves just like Seung Nyang.  There's a way...to deal with someone like her."

 

*********

 

Emperor Toghon is sitting at his table outside, while Seung Nyang is fanning him with a huge yellow fan.  She did not learn martial arts just so she'd end up waving a fan!

 

"It's hot!"  Emperor Toghon pouts.

 

She waves the fan harder, really wanting to knock the tea cup out of his hand.

 

"Now I'm less hot," Emperor Toghon smiles.

 

She grits her teeth and waves the fan slowly.

 

"Oh, it's hot," Emperor Toghon whines.

 

She waves the fan faster.

 

"It's cold."

 

You cannot be serious...She slowly waves the fan.

 

"I think it's getting hot again."

 

Seung Nyang is on the verge of losing it.  She aggressively waves the fan, in hopes that she will "accidentally" hit him in the face.

 

"Cold, cold, cold,cold," Emperor Toghon cries.

 

The thought of knocking him into next week sounds so glorious right now.

 

"Cold, cold, cold!"  Emperor Toghon shrieks.

 

Her arms ache, and she slams the fan down on his table in frustration.

 

"Can't you even use a fan properly?"  Emperor Toghon asks.

 

That I can't kill you right now is my eternal regret.

 

Emperor Toghon hisses at her.  "The way you're looking at me is very unpleasant."

 

"This is how I always look."

 

"Oh, I see.  Then why don't you try smiling?"

 

She cannot believe what he is asking.

 

"Don't you know how to?"  Emperor Toghon asks.  "I said, try smiling."

 

She takes a deep breath.  "Ha, ha, ha," she says flatly.

 

Emperor Toghon tries not to laugh.  "Who told you to make a sound and laugh?  I just meant smile prettily."

 

She really wants to knock him out.  She closes her eyes, and clears her throat.  She grits her teeth, and forces a smile.

 

Emperor Toghon can't help himself.  He laughs uproariously.

 

"Your Majesty," Eunuch Baek interrupts.  "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is looking for you."

 

His smile fades.

 

 

 

 

 

Emperor Toghon is awkwardly holding his imperial seal as El Temur is reading over the memorials.

 

El Temur has an open scroll out in front of him.  He impatiently points to a spot on the paper, and Emperor Toghon dutifully applies the seal.

 

El Temur rolls out another memorial, but grits his teeth in frustration, crumples it, and throws it in the trash.  He unfurls another document.

 

"What is it about?"  Emperor Toghon asks curiously.

 

El Temur gives him the side eye.  "Do you want to run the country?"

 

"Oh, no," Emperor Toghon stammers.  "Running the country is your job.  Wh-Where else do you need the seal?"

 

"You can never give her rank as an Imperial Concubine.  Tonight, sleep at the Empress' palace.  Even the kitchen servants are talking about how you keep your distance from the Empress."  Good for El Temur for calling him out.  Just because Emperor Toghon doesn't want his wife having power, doesn't make it okay to treat her like dog shit.  "That humiliation affects me is what I'm saying."

 

"Yes, I should go," Emperor Toghon says quickly.  "I will go."

 

El Temur growls at him.  He places a memorial in front of him.  El Temur stops him before he stamps it.

 

"It's not over there," says El Temur.  He taps the correct spot.  "It's here."

 

Emperor Toghon stamps the memorial.

 

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

 

Empress Danashiri is in her chamber with four palace maids getting her ready for her night with Emperor Toghon.  Finally!  They're going to consummate the marriage.  She's so excited, as she doesn't want to be doomed a virgin forever.  And she wants a good marriage, not an obligatory puppet marriage.

 

"Your Majesty," says a Court Lady, "His Majesty is here."

 

Empress Danashiri's heart flutters.  Hopefully, he'll experience how good she is at sex, and forget all about Court Lady Park.  Maybe, he'll even fall in love with her, but the important part is to give him an unforgettable orgasm.

 

"Please show him in," Empress Danashiri smiles.  Her four servants leave as she rises from her seat.

 

Emperor Toghon approaches her, and she bows.

 

"I will take care of him," says Empress Danashiri, "So everyone, stay out."

 

"Yes, Your Majesty," the Court Lady bows.

 

The two are alone at last.  Empress Danashiri smiles at him softly, while he looks away and rolls his eyes.

 

She chooses to ignore it.  She has done her homework, and she is sure her sexual abilities will effectively persuade him.

 

He refuses to make eye contact.

 

The hard reality strikes Empress Danashiri in the face.  "Why aren't you looking at me?"

 

He reluctantly looks at her.  She ignores his reluctance, and chooses to feel relieved.

 

"I would like you...to disrobe me," says Empress Danashiri.  "Please."

 

He reluctantly undresses her.

 

Their consummation is short and to the point.  He skipped the foreplay, barely maintained an erection, and while he orgasmed, she felt a ton of physical pain and discomfort.

 

They lie side by side, completely disengaged from each other.  She is trying her hardest not to cry.  She reaches over to touch him.

 

"Extinquish the candles," he says apathetically.

 

Danashiri freezes.  Wow, he really doesn't care.  Why the hell am I even here?

 

He impatiently gets up and blows out the candles himself.  Danashiri looks at him tearfully while he lies down and ignores her.

 

***********

 

The next morning, after a sleepless night with her rat bastard husband, who is snoring beside her, Empress Danashiri vigorously wipes her unsmudged lip rouge from her lips.  The body contains the heart they say, but the one who embraced me in the night was not the Emperor, but his empty shell.

 

The sobs take control of her entire body.  She struggles to breathe.  Fuck this!  She throws the items off her table, watching them shatter on the floor.

 

***********

 

Empress Dowager approaches Emperor Toghon outside.  "Your Majesty, I heard you slept in the Empress' quarters."

 

Emperor Toghon sighs.

 

"I understand how you feel," says Empress Dowager.  "Don't worry.  The Empress will never get pregnant.  I made it so.  So you just--"

 

"Who am I really?"  Emperor Toghon asks.  "What do I do in this palace?  For what do I eat, sleep, and breathe?"

 

"Your Majesty."

 

"I'm asking, why do I live?  Exactly, why?"

 

"You're just waiting for the right moment.  You can wait for the right moment, but you need to make your own opportunities.  To do that, you need courage."  But, as we learn in later episodes, there is a ceiling to the courage that Empress Dowager wants him to have.  It must, always and forever, benefit her, and only her.  "Please be strong.  That's all I can tell you."

 

Emperor Toghon sighs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The doors open, and Seung Nyang enters Emperor Toghon's study.  She places the tray of tea on his desk.

 

"There was a kid who looked very similar to you," says Emperor Toghon.

 

Seung Nyang cautiously listens.

 

"That kid probably hates me, but he was my only friend."  Emperor Toghon sighs.  "One time, that kid and I were being pursued by people who wanted to kill me.  I thought we were going to die when we reached the edge of a cliff.  But that kid shouted at me."

 

"In order to become the Emperor, what have you done until now?"  They both remember.

 

"I-I-I--"

 

"You just wanted your brother to die.  That's why...you're in this situation right now.  If you want to live, if you want to become the Emperor, you must jump."

 

"So, do you know what happened?"  Emperor Toghon asks.

 

They remember jumping off one cliff in order to reach the other.  They both grab the side of the rock wall, and cling for dear life.

 

"I did it, Seung Nyang!"

 

"That was the first time I protected my own life," says the Emperor.  "That was the only time I'd ever done something for myself.  Please become that kid, and give me courage.  Please become Seung Nyang and help me."

 

"That's not something I can do," says Seung Nyang.

 

Emperor Toghon's face drops.

 

Seung Nyang politely bows.  "I apologize."  She feels angry at herself for having empathy for this man who caused her father to die.

 

"Fine," Emperor Toghon whispers.  "You're right.  You're not Seung Nyang after all.  I was mistaken.  Very much so.  Is Golta out there?"

 

"Yes, Your Majesty," Eunuch Baek says from the other side of the door.

 

Two court ladies pull the doors open.  Eunuch Baek walks in and bows.

 

"Send this girl back to the concubines' quarters," says Emperor Toghon.

 

"Follow me," says Eunuch Baek.

 

Seung Nyang tearfully turns away as she follows Eunuch Baek.  She's feeling a mix of empathy and anger.  She looks back, only to see Emperor Toghon drinking his tea, and avoiding eye contact.

 

***********

 

"You brought us our first victory," says Bayan.  He pours Wang Yoo a cup of wine.

 

As usual, Bayan's nephew, Toqto'a is sitting beside him.

 

"It's not a war I won on my own," says Wang Yoo.  "If you want to give credit, give it to my soldiers."

 

"Toqto'a," says Bayan, "give the soldiers drinks and meat."

 

"Yes, Uncle," Toqto'a bows.

 

There's a slight pause before Bayan breaks the silence.  "You prevented our soldiers from having a significant loss.  And the Turks will no longer come every night and make noise."  Bayan raises his green cup.  "Let's have a drink."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"There's an outstanding plotter in their midst," says Baghatur/Yeon Bisoo.  "Bayan of the Merkid is a courageous fighter, but not one who uses his head."

 

"By the side of that bastard, Bayan, is his nephew, Toqto'a," says her advisor.

 

"Toqto'a," Yeon Bisoo says thoughtfully.

 

"There's secret intel that his intellect is outstanding."

 

Yeon Bisoo contemplates if her attacker could possibly be Toqto'a.  "The one who caused us to fail was someone who was leading the foreign legions.  If it was Toqto'a's idea, Bayan would have taken the lead himself."

 

"Then, who was it?"  Her advisor asks.

 

"Whoever he is, he won't be able to figure out our plans."

 

*********

 

Wang Yoo gallops across the grassy plains, momentarily feeling the tension leaving his body, momentarily feeling like a King again.

 

"Baghatur's horse, it's a rare specimen, as we've heard," says Moo Song.

 

"That may be a great horse," says Bul Hwa, "but His Majesty's riding skills are also outstanding!"

 

Just as Wang Yoo slows to a stop in front of his friends, Talahai approaches them on horseback.

 

"How about we compete since we're both on horseback?"  Talahai suggests.

 

Wang Yoo eyes him warily.

 

"Get your sword," says Talahai.  "I'd like a duel."

 

"Show your swordsmanship to the enemy," says Wang Yoo.

 

"Just because you won once, somehow your arrogance has gone through the roof."

 

Wang Yoo doesn't engage.  He steers his horse, and they walk away.

 

Feeling completely emasculated Talahai unsheathes his sword.  With the flat side of the blade, he slaps his horse on the butt.  Instead of going forward, his horse rears up, further emasculating Talahai, and dumping him in the dirt.

 

"General!"  Jo Cham yells.

 

Wang Yoo turns around to see the spectacle.  Bul Hwa chuckles.  Serves this little rich boy right...  

 

Jo Cham rushes through the grasses, ready to wipe Talahai's butt if needed.  He helps a glowering Talahai stand up.  "Are you hurt?"

 

Talahai irately pushes Jo Cham away.  "Is that damn horse crazy?"  He massages his injured wrist.

 

Jo Cham runs up to the horse.  The horse resists Jo Cham's guidance.

 

Wang Yoo observes, and contemplates the possibilities.

 

"What's going on?"  Jo Cham asks.  "Calm down," he says as he leads the horse to his stall.

 

Talahai follows behind, his ego extremely bruised.  He can't believe he, a Mongol horseman, got thrown in front of a deposed Goryeo King.  The indignity!

 

**********

 

"I heard that they eat and sleep on running horses," says Moo Song, "but they keep falling off these days, one by one."

 

"Did someone else fall off?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

"Earlier, a Yuan soldier fell off and broke his leg," Bul Hwa answers.

 

As they look toward the gate, they see Byeong Soo strutting in with two men behind him.

 

"Aren't those Turks over there?"  Bul Hwa asks.

 

"They don't look like prisoners of war," says Moo Song.

 

***********

 

"It was drawn up by our spies," says Byeong Soo.  He proudly displays a leather map.  He points to a large blue mark.  "This is the bastards' main encampment.  Three sides are surrounded by mountains and rugged terrain."

 

Wang Yoo closely observes.

 

"In the front, there's a narrow canyon," Byeong Soo continues.

 

"It is worthy of being called a natural fortress," Bayan observes.

 

"Around how many soldiers did he say there were?"  Toqto'a asks.  

 

"Easily surpasses five thousand," says Byeong Soo.

 

"Five thousand," says Bayan.  "The opponent's man power is more than we had thought."

 

"Even if we attack the base camp directly," says Toqto'a, "it will be hard to guarantee a win."

 

"In order to catch a raccoon in a cave," says Bayan, "we need to stoke a fire."  He looks over at Wang Yoo.  "Why don't you lure them?"

 

Wang Yoo gives him side eye.  Really?

 

"Baghatur knows your face," Bayan insists.  "When he sees you, he will grit his teeth to pursue you.  When they empty their encampment, we will invade it."

 

Wang Yoo gives him a blank stare.  Trying to use us as bait, and then steal all the achievements.

 

The loud clanging of Turkic percussives breaks the awkwardness as Jo Cham bursts through the door.  "General!"  He bows.  "The Turks have come again!"

 

Everyone, except Wang Yoo, immediately rises.

 

**********

 

The Turkic warriors are waiting just outside the gate, brandishing their weapons.

 

"We put some men in the hills," says Yeon Bisoo's advisor, "so there won't be a repeat of what happened."

 

Wang Yoo, Moo Song, and Bul Hwa observe from the gate.

 

"Such dogged bastards," says Bul Hwa.  "Have they been possessed by a ghost who died while playing a gong?"

 

"Isn't it strange?"  Wang Yoo asks.  "Coming back after all that damage.  I'm sure there's another goal in mind besides keeping us from sleeping."

 

"Then, why are they..."  Moo Song trails off.

 

Baghatur, what is it that you are after?   Wang Yoo thinks.

 

Yeon Bisoo looks straight at him, disguised by her mask.  Don't get too full of yourself over your first victory.  Soon, there will be bloody revenge.  

 

As the Turks roar, the Yuan horses flip out.  Wang Yoo begins to make the connection.  "You need to come with me," he says to Moo Song and Bul Hwa.

 

*********

 

Moo Song and Wang Yoo observe the agitated horses in their stalls.

 

"There's nothing wrong with the horses," says Moo Song.

 

"It's not just the soldiers who are lacking sleep," says Wang Yoo.

 

"Then..." says Moo Song, "the reason for all that noise day and night is to prevent the horses from sleeping?"

 

"The enemy will attack first with their cavalry men.  If the horses can't go into battle, it's no different than us fighting while sitting.  Don't tell anyone about this."

 

"Yes, Your Majesty," says Moo Song.

 

"Baghatur is more persistent than imagined.  Going after the horses..."

 

 

...To be continued...