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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."
Beautiful dancers in yellow and green entertain the guests in the main hall.
"King Simyang," says El Temur.
"Yes," says Wang Go.
"Today, this will become your farewell party."
"What do you mean?" Wang Go asks.
"Just...leave Yeongyeong," El Temur replies.
Wang Go has a very ominous feeling paralyzing his entire body. "Are you throwing me away like this?"
"Well, it's not throwing you away, but letting you go. Stop your obsession with royal authority. I hope you have a pleasant life living out your years in Goryeo."
"Prime Minister!" Wang Go whispers anxiously.
El Temur and Wang Go stare across the room at Wang Yoo for different reasons.
"His Imperial Majesty!" Eunuch Dokman loudly announces.
Everyone in the room rises, as if they are in a Catholic Mass, and the priest has entered the building.
Empress Dowager and Emperor Toghon lead the procession. Seung Nyang is behind a senior court lady, and she walks with her head bowed.
The noise seems to disappear as she gets of glimpse of Wang Yoo who finally, noticeably, steals a peek at her. Her heart flutters, and she wants to giggle, but she must remain dignified.
"Welcome, Your Majesty," El Temur says in his distinctive bear growl voice.
"Have you been well, Empress Dowager?" Bayan asks.
"Well done, General Bayan," Empress Dowager says approvingly.
Bayan bows.
"I'm Wang Yoo," Wang Yoo says shyly. This woman in front of him has a very intimidating type of beauty that he doesn't feel worthy of being in the presence of.
"True to rumor," says Empress Dowager, "you exude an uncommon spirit." Perhaps I can take him as a lover...Her mind briefly wanders.
"Thank you for such a welcome, I'm truly grateful."
Emperor Toghon rolls his eyes. It's the equivalent of a teenage boy watching his mom flirt with a much younger man. He wants to crawl under the table and die.
Wang Yoo looks over at Seung Nyang, who is not bowing her head with the others. Emperor Toghon observes them with annoyance. What the hell does he have that I don't?
"I would like you to marry one of the princesses in the Imperial Family," says Empress Dowager. "What is your opinion, Your Majesty?" She asks Emperor Toghon.
"Empress Dowager," says Emperor Toghon.
"What do you mean 'marry?'" Wang Yoo asks. "I'm not interested in marrying--"
"Goryeo has been for generations a son-in-law nation of ours," Empress Dowager interjects. "We can't lose such a great man like you. Don't you think so, Prime Minister?"
"Time is delaying," says El Temur. "Let's start the banquet, Your Majesty."
"This is for all of you!" Emperor Toghon announces. "Please drink freely and enjoy yourselves!"
"Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty," the attendees chorus.
"Her Imperial Empress!" Court Lady Seo announces as the door swing open.
Empress Danashiri enters, looking radiant in blue and purple. Not only does she want to wow Wang Yoo, she wants to rub it in her sexually avoidant husband's face. She and her procession join the Empress Dowager at the front. Empress Danashiri respectfully bows.
"Sorry, I'm late," says Empress Danashiri. She makes it a point to look right at Wang Yoo.
Wang Yoo feels a bit awkward as he remembers the events of the prior night. He awkwardly clears his throat.
"It's nice to meet you," says Empress Danashiri. "You're Wang Yoo?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It's my honor to meet you."
A feeling of dread washes over Seung Nyang.
*******
A palace maid enters the dark and deserted library. She carefully studies the book in her hands. "Where am I supposed to put this? I can't understand a word--"
She pauses as she sees legs dangling from the ceiling in front of her. She looks up and screams. It's none other than the Captain of the Kheshigs hanging from the rafters.
*******
"I hear Wang Yoo has quite a talent for playing the geomungo," says Empress Dowager. "Could we hear a song tonight?"
"I've been wielding a sword in battle," says Wang Yoo. "If you suddenly ask me to play the geomungo..."
"That's right, Your Highness," Emperor Toghon agrees. "It doesn't suit the occasion."
"That makes me more curious," says Empress Danashiri. "Please show us your talent, Wang Yoo."
Wang Yoo looks over at Seung Nyang, who smiles her approval.
Wang Yoo sighs. "Then...although my skills are lacking, I will give it a try."
**********
Wang Yoo is sitting on a raised platform in the middle of the walkway, playing his geomungo.
Emperor Toghon wishes he would just stop already. In fact, he wishes he could personally go up to Wang Yoo, and break that geomungo in two.
The palace maids and court ladies are silently giggling. Seung Nyang watches him adoringly.
Emperor Toghon wants to barf.
Empress Danashiri is totally charmed by this exotic man.
Emperor Toghon isn't the only one noticing the silent flirting between Seung Nyang and Wang Yoo. Tanqishi observes the two with annoyance and disgust.
Make it stop, Emperor Toghon thinks.
Eunuch Dokman man bursts through the doors. "Your Imperial Majesty!"
Emperor Toghon feels relieved. Finally, an end to this annoying flirtation!
"The Captain of the Imperial Guard," says Eunuch Dokman, "has been found dead!"
Everyone looks over at Eunuch Dokman in surprise.
Tanqishi and El Temur exchange glances.
Wang Go casually takes a sip of wine. He's the calmest one in the room.
"Uncle," Toqto'a whispers.
"I will look into it!" Bayan announces.
El Temur eyes Bayan and Toqto'a suspiciously.
"Where was the body found?" Bayan inquires.
**********
Byeong Soo is interviewing the palace maid who found the captain, as Bayan and Toqto'a enter the area.
"General, she's the one who found the body," says Byeong Soo. "He was found hanging. They should have preserved the scene, but these idiot Eunuchs..."
Bayan feels like he's going to shit himself. He abruptly pushes past Byeong Soo.
"Make sure no one enters," Toqto'a instructs Byeong Soo.
"Damnit," says Byeong Soo. "I've dealt with many murder cases before. I used to be in that division in the military defense."
Toqto'a and Bayan kneel in front of the Captain's corpse on the floor.
"How did this happen?" Bayan asks.
Toqto'a mentally retraces his steps to the Goryeo Village well, where he had dumped the body.
"I defintely threw the body into the well," says Toqto'a.
"Where's the well?" Bayan asks.
"Outside the capitol in Goryeo Village."
"Goryeo Village? Why did you get rid of it there?"
"There's a plague going around in that area. So, even if the dead body is discovered, no one would bat an eye."
"There's no way a dead man would have walked here himself," says Bayan. "It means someone saw us kill him."
"Shh," says Toqto'a.
They rise as Tanqishi smoothly walks in, followed by Talahai.
"Move aside," Tanqishi wedges himself between Bayan and Toqto'a. He kneels and examines the body. He notices something peculiar on the Captain's neck. "There are two rope marks on his neck. One is from the hanging, and the other is definitely from someone strangling him."
"If this news gets out," says Toqto'a, "there will be chaos within the palace."
Tanqishi looks at him suspiciously.
"We need to quiet the controversy and carry out a secret investigation," says Toqto'a.
*******
"The Captain of the Kheshigs," Emperor Toghon announces, "killed himself?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Bayan confirms. "He killed himself by hanging."
Talahai gives Bayan some side eye.
El Temur leans over to Tanqishi. "Is it true?"
"No, it's not," Tanqishi whispers. "It's murder."
Wang Go suppresses a grin. He had no intention of leaving this Great Empire without a fight.
"Why kill himself inside the palace?" Empress Dowager asks. "What disloyalty!"
Emperor Toghon slams his cup on the table. He knows his Auntie genuinely doesn't give a shit. At this moment, he feels that everyone in the room is full of shit, and he's ready to go to bed.
"That's enough!" Emperor Toghon slurs. "Today's banquet will end here. Everyone, go back! Everyone!"
"Your Majesty, how did you become so intoxicated?" Empress Dowager whispers.
Emperor Toghon sighs. "I was so happy that I drank a bit. Golta," he says to Eunuch Baek, "let's go."
"Yes, Your Majesty," says Eunuch Baek.
The royal family members and their entourages are the first to exit the main hall. Wang Yoo watches Seung Nyang as she walks past him. He knows she's off limits, but he must see her alone. She turns and looks back at him mournfully. This situation is complicated, and not worth the risk, but hormones always trump logic.
As Empress Danashiri walks by, she stops in front of him, and gives him a steely stare. He humbly bows, and she smiles.
Wang Go and Wang Yoo are among the last to leave.
"Do you know a place called Goryeo Village?" Wang Go asks. "It's where the migrants who were taken from Goryeo live. They're the most ragged and starved in Daedo. You used to be called a King. Wouldn't it be only right to go pay them a visit?"
"I've already sent my subordinates there," says Wang Yoo.
Wang Go laughs. "Is that so? Just as expected, you are always different."
"With that mouth," says Wang Yoo, "don't speak of Goryeo's people. It's contemptible."
"I'm going back to Goryeo tomorrow," says Wang Go. "But before I do, I would like to meet with you urgently. I have a present to give you."
"Just give my father my best."
"Do you believe that the Captain of the Kheshigs killed himself?"
Not my circus, not my monkeys...Wang Yoo gives him side eye, and Wang Go chuckles.
"Gyeonjimangwol," says Wang Go. "A foolish person will only see the finger, and not the moon it's pointing at." He walks away laughing, knowing this exiled pup is going to be experiencing a trial by fire. Politics is fast and furious, and it waits for no one. Backroom deals are prevalent, and moral convictions have to be sweeped to the side in order to gain momentum.
"What nonsense is he spewing?" Eunuch Bang asks.
"I know," Moo Song agrees.
"Any word from Jeom Bak and Bul Hwa from Goryeo village?" Wang Yoo asks.
"I'll go and see," Moo Song replies.
"No, I'll go instead," says Wang Yoo.
********
Byeong Soo pulls back the white blanket covering the Captain's corpse. As he's about to do an examination, he hears someone at the door. He immediately fixes the blanket, and hides behind a shelf.
El Temur, Tanqishi, Talahai, Bayan, and Toqto'a enter the room. El Temur pulls back the blanket.
"Are you saying he was hanged after being killed?" El Temur asks.
"Looking at the state of the body," says Tanqishi, "I'm certain it was murder."
Toqto'a and Bayan keep their faces neutral.
"The killer is somewhere very close," says El Temur.
Bayan and Toqto'a look up. Byeong Soo listens carefully from his hiding spot.
"He wanted this man's death to be known to the world," El Temur continues. "Bayan."
"Yes, Sir," Bayan bows.
"Find the killer. You must move quietly and covertly."
"Yes, Sir," Bayan bows.
"You may leave," says El Temur.
Bayan and Toqto'a bow and exit.
"It's the work of those who are also after the bloodletter. It's not enough to leave it to Bayan," Tanqishi insists.
"I need you to do something else," says El Temur. "Find the bloodletter. I'm certain it's inside the palace somewhere. Before the others find it, we need to find it first."
"Yes, Father," says Tanqishi.
"We understand," Talahai agrees.
The room is finally clear, and Byeong Soo gets out from behind the shelf. "Bloodletter? The rope that will let me ascend to the sky is the bloodletter?"
************
Wang Yoo, Eunuch Bang, and Moo Song make their way into the rag-tag Goryeo Village. Bul Hwa and Jeom Bak run out from the entry gate to greet them.
"Your Majesty!" The two men bow.
Jeom Bak pulls down his mask. "What brings you here?"
"I came to see the village myself," says Wang Yoo.
"Whoa!" Jeom Bak gestures frantically. "Please don't! You cannot go in!"
"What do you mean?" Wang Yoo asks.
"There's a plague going around," Bul Hwa explains.
"Your Majesty," says Eunuch Bang, "I think it'll be best to come back another time."
Wang Yoo ignores their suggestions and presses forward.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
"It's the plague!" Eunuch Bang yells. "I'm weak bodied, so I get sick easily!" He puts his arm over his mouth and nose, and darts forward.
"Eunuch Bang!" Jeom Bak grabs him.
Eunuch Bang runs through the entryway anyway.
"Do we have to go in, too?" Jeom Bak asks Bul Hwa.
Bul Hwa doesn't answer, and follows Eunuch Bang.
"You can't go, Your Majesty!" Jeom Bak yells. He puts his mask back on and runs through the entry.
********
The five men cross the old wooden bridge. The ground is littered with corpses.
"What wretchedness," says Wang Yoo.
"It's a living hell," says Eunuch Bang.
"Have you met with the head of this village?" Wang Yoo asks Bul Hwa.
"I tried to speak to him, but he had such a bad temper."
"Over there," Jeom Bak points. "The person holding the stick is the head."
Wang Yoo looks over at a raggedy man poking at the fire in front of him. "Are you the head of this village?"
Mak Saeng, the village head, doesn't answer.
"I would like to ask you something about Goryeo Village," Wang Yoo continues.
"Don't get taken out of here on a stretcher for no reason," says Mak Saeng, "and just leave."
"This is the King of Goryeo," says Moo Song.
Mak Saeng looks up at Wang Yoo.
"I am just a deposed King," says Wang Yoo, "but I wanted to find out how the people of Goryeo were living."
"Is that so? The King has arrived!" Mak Saeng declares sarcastically. He picks up a bucket, and throws the cold, dirty water in Wang Yoo's face.
"This crazy old man!" Moo Song yells. As he draws his sword, the Goryeo Villagers pick up whatever makeshift weapon they can find.
"Any time, we see a member of the Royal Family of Goryeo," says Mak Saeng, "it makes us grind our teeth with rage, you disposed of us, so why come here? To see us in this state? Why? Does it make you feel happy when you see us in this state? Men, these people are worse than the plague, so get rid of them!"
"Let's go, Your Majesty," Eunuch Bang begs.
"Not bad enough that a crazy bastard took a body from the well last night," says Mak Saeng.
Wang Yoo stops in his tracks.
**********
Wang Go is kicking back in his private room at the Gisaeng House, enjoying good wine, and a table full of food. As Wang Yoo enters the room, Wang Go chuckles. Right on cue. "I knew you'd come. Since you're...someone who never misses an opportunity." He gestures for Wang Yoo to take a seat.
"What is it...that you want to say to me?" Wang Yoo asks.
Wang Go pours him a cup of wine. "Don't you want to get rid of Prime Minister El Temur? You and I have differing motives, but the end goal is the same. If only El Temur dies, you being restored to the throne isn't impossible."
"For the past ten or so years, you were his hunting dog."
"I was," Wang Go admits. "I barked if told to bark. I bit if told to bite. If he told me to wag my tail, I did all kinds of tricks while crawling on the ground. But...in the end, once the hunt was over, he slaughtered me and ate me up. He ended up throwing me away...so pitifully and pathetically. I wasn't able to become the King of Goryeo, nor his loyal subject. I have lost my country and honor, everything!"
"What's the reason you killed the Captain of the Kheshigs?"
"I didn't kill him. I only moved the body to the Imperial Palace."
"Then...who did it, and why was he killed?"
Wang Go leans forward and points at Wang Yoo. "That person was looking for the bloodletter."
"Bloodletter?"
"It's a will that was written in blood by the Late Emperor Mingzong. The Emperor was a fool, and that was the end of his obedience to El Temur. The one who finds the bloodletter will push El Temur out of the way, and take his place. I'm saying that he will ride along with the dragon on his throne." He downs his wine in one gulp.
******
Seung Nyang places a walnut on a book while Emperor Toghon crushes it with his Imperial Seal. They are hanging out in his bedchamber, passing the time.
Emperor Toghon snacks on some of the walnuts.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say," says Seung Nyang.
"I don't want to hear it."
"Your Majesty."
"I don't want to hear it."
Seung Nyang rolls her eyes and sighs.
I already know what you're going to say. You'll ask me to send you to Wang Yoo. Do you think I want to hear that? He thinks. "You can't say anything else besides reading a book when you're with me." He drops a thick red book in front of her. "Even if I fall asleep, you must read the rest of this book." He rolls over to his side, his back facing her. "What are you doing, and not reading it out loud?"
Seung Nyang sighs. She was hoping to make out with Wang Yoo tonight, even though she is very off limits. She reluctantly picks up the book. "Jang An Seong Du Du Baek Oh. A white crow over the head of Jangan Palace. Ya Bi Yeon Choo Moon Sang Ho. It flies in during the night and cries over the Yeonchu Gate. Oo Hyang In Ga Tak Dae Ok. It again flies to a dwelling and pecks at a big house. Ok Jeo Dal Gwan Ju Pi Ho. The high ranking officials flee from the barbaric outlanders." She looks over and sighs.
***********
Wang Yoo recalls the rest of his conversation with Wang Go. "Now that the body of the Captain of the Kheshigs has been discovered, El Temur will start to become suspicious of his close associates first. Even though a fine crack, the rain seeps in. You should burrow your way through that crack. How can you put back a wall once it's been cracked open? It's only a matter of time before it falls. This is my last present to you."
I need the help of someone who knows the ins and outs of the palace. Someone who can help me. "Is anyone there?" Wang Yoo asks.
"Yes, Your Majesty," says Eunuch Bang as he opens the door. "You called?" He bows.
"Did you say that Seung Nyang serves the Emperor?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. She's a Court Lady in the Imperial Court."
"I need to meet Seung Nyang right now."
"Your Majesty, it's too late to enter the palace."
"Just tell me how to get to the Inner Court."
Emperor Toghon sits up in his bed, and sees Seung Nyang is missing. "The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I treated her so well, but in the end, she wants to go back to Wang Yoo. Are you outside, Golta?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch Baek promptly enters.
"Has Seung Nyang left?"
"Just a moment ago. She thought you were sleeping and--"
"Bring her here immediately!"
Eunuch Baek bows.
"No. I'll go to Seung Nyang myself."
*********
Wang Yoo jumps off the Inner Palace rooftop and into the courtyard. At this point, he's being a super dumb ass.
"Once you're inside the Inner Court," says Eunuch Bang, "just follow the wall straight. You'll soon see the court ladies' residence."
******
"Your Majesty," Eunuch Baek begs, "please walk slowly. Your Majesty!"
Emperor Toghon begins to run.
"Your Majesty, are you running again?"
*********
Wang Yoo hides behind a post. He sees Seung Nyang cross the nearby bridge, and Emperor Toghon is not far behind.
"Seung Nyang!" Emperor Toghon yells.
As Seung Nyang is about to respond, from the doorway of an empty building, Wang Yoo grabs her arm and pulls her in.
"Seung Nyang, it's me."
"Y-Your Majesty."
"Yang!" Emperor Toghon yells from outside. "Seung Nyang! She was definitely here. Seung Nyang!"
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