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***The intent of The Flower Realm by 사극 Paradise is to support women and men in rejecting the culture of pornography, and to live a life of integrity without manipulative intent.***
"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"
Emperor Toghon is pensively sitting at his table. He's beginning to make some of his own decisions, and it's terrifying.
"Your Majesty, Yang is here!" Eunuch Baek announces through the door.
He looks up and smiles, like someone with a junior high crush. "Come in." He thoughtfully grinds his inkstone as Seung Nyang enters the room.
"Come closer to me," says Emperor Toghon.
She reluctantly takes two steps forward.
"More."
She sighs and takes another two steps.
"More."
She rolls her eyes and quickly walks right up to the table.
"Stop." He folds his hands. "Now I'm going to draw you. While I'm drawing you, you can't blink or move your nose. You can't move your mouth, either."
"Your Majesty..." Seung Nyang interjects.
"I said, don't move."
Seung Nyang sighs. Why the fuck is he wasting my time? She hatefully watches him take a brush and begin to sketch her.
"After being brought here as a tribute girl, why didn't you come to see me?"
Seung Nyang doesn't answer.
"Why did you hide the fact that you were a woman? Did you hate me that much?"
Seung Nyang sighs. As a matter of fact, yes.
"Did you think I would take you in my arms if I knew you were a woman?"
Her facial expression softens, but she still hates him.
"Do you think you're a woman to me?"
"Please...let me out of the palace, Your Majesty."
"Be quiet!"
********
Just like old times, Seung Nyang is his glorified governess. "The moon over the waters, even with daylight coming," Seung Nyang reads Emperor Toghon a bedtime story, "in order to speed the wanderer on his way. The sails on the boat that is about to leave, are spread out by the wind. While looking at each other, they cannot bear to part. So, once again, a last glass of wine is offered by hand." Seung Nyang closes the book.
"What a sad poem," Emperor Toghon murmurs. "But then again, what parting isn't sad?"
"Please, let me leave the palace."
Emperor Toghon is now wide awake. He closes his eyes and sighs, but then sits straight up. "Again? This again?"
"I granted every one of your requests on Daecheong Island. You also should grant me my request."
"What's the reason you keep trying to leave here?"
"I'm going to find His Majesty," Seung Nyang admits.
Emperor Toghon feels like he's been punched in the gut. "Still...You still think of that deposed King as your master? Listen carefully. You're with me right now in my palace! Your Master isn't him, but me!"
"My body is here, but I only have one master."
"There's nothing in this world that doesn't change. It's the world's logic that if your status and circumstances change, your master also changes!"
"A chick that breaks out of the shell and is born considers the first thing it sees as its mother. To a chick, it's mother can't change. I also served the King of Goryeo as my master since the beginning, so--"
"Stop! Stop that! I don't want to listen to it anymore."
"Your Majesty!"
"You may return to your quarters."
Seung Nyang knows she has stepped way out of bounds. Her determination to leave prevents her from uttering an apology. She puts the book down and stands up. She bows politely and exits his bedroom.
After she leaves, he says out loud, "As long as Prime Minister El Temur is after you, leaving my side will only bring you death. Next to me is where you're the safest, idiot."
********
As Seung Nyang steps out into the hallway, she comes face to face with a very stern Eunuch Baek.
"Did you say that your master isn't His Majesty, but the King of Goryeo?" Eunuch Baek interrogates. "That man has already died."
Seung Nyang's heart sinks to her feet. That can't be! "What do you mean?"
"The deposed King, who you consider your master, has died."
"There's no way," Seung Nyang replies. "He's...not someone who would die like that."
"Inquire with the civil servants of Goryeo," Eunuch Baek challenges her. "He died during a battle after being taken to the border. If you disrespect His Majesty one more time, I will not forgive you." He walks past her, while she is petrified.
Seung Nyang's eyes redden, and tears begin to fall. "Your Majesty!" She whispers.
"What do you mean the deposed King has died?" Emperor Toghon asks.
"Not only him," Eunuch Baek answers, "but General Bayan and Toqto'a are also believed to have died during that battle."
"How did they die?" Though a part of him is secretly happy that Wang Yoo is out of the picture.
"It seems the civil servants don't know, either," Eunuch Baek admits.
Emperor Toghon pauses. "Does Seung Nyang know about this?"
"Yes," Eunuch Baek bows.
"She must be very upset..."
********
Seung Nyang is sitting on the edge of her bed. It feels like everything has shattered around her. She sighs just before the tears roll down her cheeks. He had promised to come back, and now...he didn't make it.
"Your Majesty," Seung Nyang sighs. "You were my only hope. How am I supposed to go on? For what am I supposed to live? Your Majesty..."
Emperor Toghon quietly and slowly opens the doors. He sees her sobbing alone. He wants to be there for her, but he resents the feelings she has for Wang Yoo.
He quietly shuts the doors.
******
Two court ladies are serving Emperor Toghon his morning meal, while Seung Nyang stands besides a senior court lady at the back.
Emperor Toghon is intensely eyeing Seung Nyang, while she keeps her gaze lowered. She's become gaunt in just a few days. Can she not even eat since his death?
"Please test His Majesty's food," says Eunuch Baek.
A senior court lady steps forward.
"Hold it," says Emperor Toghon. "From now on, you do it Yang."
Eunuch Baek approaches him. "Your Majesty, the Imperial Family's custom is that--"
"Custom or whatever," says Emperor Toghon. "Just do as I say, and everyone leave."
Eunuch Baek bows. He and the remaining court ladies exit, leaving Seung Nyang and the Emperor alone.
"Ahh," says Emperor Toghon. "I'm hungry..."
Seung Nyang looks straight ahead.
"Hurry up and test the food," says Emperor Toghon. "What are you doing? Hurry!"
Seung Nyang reluctantly walks over to the table. With the silver chopsticks, she takes a small bite of rice.
"Come on, try a bigger mouthful," says Emperor Toghon. "How can you tell if there's poison if you taste so little?"
Seung Nyang grabs a dumpling with her chopsticks, and takes a bite.
"Now, this one. Try these, too." He points to a plate full of cooked vegetables.
With her bowl and chopsticks,, she walks to the other side of the table. She takes a tiny bite out of a small vegetable strand.
"Zhhh," Emperor Toghon hisses. "I said, try more."
She eats the rest of the strand.
"How is it?"
"It's fine," Seung Nyang replies. "Please have your meal."
Emperor Toghon smiles and rips off a chicken leg. He holds it up to her face. "Here you go, this is what I like."
Seung Nyang looks at this huge piece of chicken hesitantly.
"Try this and let me know if it's alright. Hurry." Emperor Toghon insists.
She gingerly grabs the piece, though she isn't sure if her stomach can take it.
"I'm a very suspicious person," Emperor Toghon explains. "Tell me if there's poison or not after eating all of it."
She cautiously takes a bite, feeling a mix of hunger and nausea.
"Seriously, enjoy it more!" Emperor Toghon insists. "If you're trying to follow your master in death, then keep dreaming."
Seung Nyang abruptly puts the piece of chicken in her bowl. "Don't worry about me."
"You're a Court Lady. You need my permission, even to die."
********
Emperor Toghon is taking his nightly walk with only Seung Nyang accompanying him. As required, she keeps a distance of three steps.
"Don't stay more than three steps away," says Emperor Toghon. "Have you forgotten?"
Seung Nyang rolls her eyes and silently sighs. She had admittedly fallen a few steps behind as she was observing the sky. She picks up the pace as Emperor Toghon continues to walk. Without warning, he abruptly turns around, and they almost knock into each other.
Seung Nyang moves over to the side, and Emperor Toghon slyly walks forward. She reluctantly follows three steps behind. He turns around abruptly yet again, which startles Seung Nyang. Oh, how she wishes he would stop doing that. She steps aside once more.
He suppresses a giggle as he walks in front of her. She carefully observes his body language. As his legs shift, and he turns around, he is surprised to see she isn't there. He panics, and looks around at eye level, not daring to look down. "Se-Seung Nyang!" He anxiously calls out. "Y-Yang!" He turns around, and nearly jumps out of his skin as he comes face to face with a scowling Seung Nyang. "Oh...That scared me."
She quietly laughs.
"You're...smiling now."
Her smile fades. Seung Nyang feels she shouldn't be happy when her beloved is dead.
Seung Nyang doesn't see Emperor Toghon's grin. He regains his composure.
"The night air is cold," says Emperor Toghon. "Let's go in."
The mounted warriors thunder across the grassy plains, Wang Yoo and his entourage in the front, Bayan and his men in the back. The horsemen pause.
"Once we get over that mountain," says Eunuch Bang, " you'll see Daedo where the Imperial Palace is."
Wang Yoo smiles.
The day is nearly over," says Toqto'a, "so it might be good to camp for the night."
"That would be good," Talahai agrees. "The horses need rest, too."
Wang Yoo turns his horse around to face them. "You stay here and camp for the night. We'll keep going."
"We've been riding for two days," says Bayan. "We're not being chased by the Turks."
Wang Yoo and his men spur their horses forward, galloping far ahead.
"Does he have hidden treasure in Daedo?" Bayan asks. "Why is he in such a hurry?"
"It's because of Seung Nyang," Byeong Soo says snidely.
"Seung Nyang?" Bayan asks. "Was he brought to Yuan?"
"Not he, but she," Byeong Soo replies. "She's a girl."
Bayan looks at him in surprise. "What do you mean a girl?"
Byeong Soo chuckles.
**********
Wang Yoo and his warriors arrive in the down of Daedo in the middle of the night.
"It's late," says Eunuch Bang, "so I don't think we'll make it inside the palace until tomorrow."
"Please wait," Moo Song agrees. "Jeom Bak will find a place for us to stay the night."
"He's coming," says Bul Hwa as Jeom Bak gallops through the street.
"Your Majesty," Jeom Bak bows.
"Have you found anything?" Eunuch Bang asks.
"There's a good courtesan house," says Jeom Bak, "but--"
"But, is there a problem?" Eunuch Bang probes.
"King Simyang is there right now," says Jeom Bak.
"King Simyang?" Wang Yoo asks.
********
The Courtesan House is lit up and bustling. A sudden roar is heard from the 2nd floor. Wang Go furiously flips over a table, and several gisaengs scream.
"How dare you look down on me!" Wang Go roars. He charges at a gisaeng, but she immediately dodges him, and he almost falls flat on his face.
Jo Cham catches him just in time. "Your Highness, please compose yourself."
"These wenches refused to bed me!" Wang Go shouts. "Even gisaengs look down on me!"
"You drank a lot, Your Highness," Jo Cham points out.
"Silence!" Wang Go jams his finger in Jo Cham's face. "I don't need anyone! All of you get out of my way!" He pushes Jo Cham to the floor.
"Your Highness," Jo Cham rises, while Wang Go is slumped in a chair.
The Captain of the Kheshigs is having a drink down below. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." He and his men decide to leave.
Wang Go watches them, embarrassed by his volatile display. "They are even keeping an eye on me now."
"Follow them," Jo Cham whispers to Wang Go's two plain clothes guards.
Wang Yoo and his men have finally decided to go to the Courtesan House in spite of Wang Go's presence.
"Your Highness," Eunuch Bang whispers.
They look up and see Jo Cham on the second floor. Jo Cham recoils when he sees them. "Y-Your Highness," Jo Cham stutters.
Wang Go opens his eyes.
"It's the deposed King. He's alive."
Wang Go looks down at them and chuckles. "If you're a ghost, go away. If you are the person I know, come and have a drink."
"If you're a drunkard," Wang Yoo replies, "go away. If you're the King Simyang I know, come and have a drink."
Wang Go laughs uproariously. "What did I tell you?" He says to Jo Cham. "I told you he wouldn't die so easily, didn't I?" He chuckles and slaps the balcony railing.
Wang Go staggers down the stairs with Jo Cham behind him.
"While even stealing salt," says Wang Yoo, "you gave your loyalty to Prime Minister El Temur. This is all you've become?"
"Listen, nephew," says Wang Go. "Are you in any position to be making fun of me? The Imperial Palace is scarier than war. It's easy to lose your head. Don't be careless just because you came back alive."
"If I was going to live being servile like you, I wouldn't have come back," says Wang Yoo.
Wang Go laughs knowingly. This kid has a lot to learn..."I am sure."
"Yang!" Emperor Toghon calls out. He's sitting on top of his bed, in his pajamas.
Eunuch Baek approaches him with a tray of tea.
"Where is Yang?" Emperor Toghon asks.
"Yang is very sick," says Eunuch Baek.
*************
Emperor Toghon frantically barges into Seung Nyang's room. "Yang!" He sees her sleeping in her bed. "Yang! Yang!" He put his hand on her forehead. "She's burning up. Call the physician right now."
"Your Majesty," Eunuch Baek admonishes. "You can't call the physician for a court lady."
"Hurry up and call him!" Emperor Toghon yells.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Eunuch Baek bows.
"Yang!"
Seung Nyang is having an awful nightmare. Wang Yoo is walking toward her in the palace. He stops and smiles.
"Seung Nyang..."
Seung Nyang smiles.
Wang Yoo moves closer.
Out of the shadows, Tanqishi stealthily follows him with his sword drawn.
As Wang Yoo and Seung Nyang are gazing into each other's eyes, Seung Nyang sees him first. Tanqishi growls and slices Wang Yoo in the back. Seung Nyang gasps.
Wang Yoo falls flat on his face. Tanqishi grins, and lightning strikes behind him.
Seung Nyang sees the blood dripping from his sword. She kneels next to Wang Yoo and gasps. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" She hugs him tightly. "Your Majesty!"
Tanqishi laughs gleefully.
"Your Majesty!" Seung Nyang sobs.
*************
Seung Nyang is tossing and turning in her sleep.
"S-Seung Nyang," says Emperor Toghon. He grabs her hand. "Seung Nyang! That's right, it's me. Seung Nyang!"
"Your Majesty!" Lord Jang bursts in.
Emperor Toghon lets go of her hand.
"I didn't realize you were here, and I looked for you everywhere!" Lord Jang exclaims.
"What is it about that you're making so much fuss?"
"General Bayan came back alive," says Lord Jang.
"What do you mean? I heard he died in battle."
"No, Your Majesty. He arrived in Yeongyeong with news of victory."
"Then...what about the deposed King? What happened to him?"
"He also came back."
Emperor Toghon's heart drops. "He...came back alive?"
"Your Majesty!" Seung Nyang whispers in her sleep. "Your Majesty!"
Emperor Toghon looks at her with disappointment.
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