American Perspectives: Stirring the Pot Pt. 3 ("기황후" Ep. 16)

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by 사극 Paradise 2025. 6. 8. 21:15

***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"

Empress Danashiri enters Emperor Toghon's room and bows, her expression soft and demure, in spite of the overwhelming evidence that he had a rendezvous with another woman last night.

Emperor Toghon rolls his eyes. "Come in, Empress."

"Did you drink last night?" Empress Danashiri smiles serenely. She's trying her best to be the laid back, unjealous wife, but the evidence in her face burns as bright as the sun.

"I drank a little because I couldn't sleep," Emperor Toghon says defensively.

The two red cups are right on the table, clear as day, glaring at Empress Danashiri. "But why do you have...two glasses?" She asks calmly, in spite of her blood boiling.

Emperor Toghon says absolutely nothing.

"Who did you drink with?" Her voice hardens.

Emperor Toghon grunts. "Why are you asking me?"

Empress Danashiri smirks. "What do you mean, why am I asking? Is that something I can't ask?"

Emperor Toghon puts his hand on his forehead. "Ah, I am tired because I am still intoxicated."

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, Empress Danashiri thinks.

"Please leave now," Emperor Toghon lays back down on his bed.

Empress Danashiri is livid. Why even bother? She calmly leaves his chamber, and gets right in front of Seung Nyang among the line of court ladies just outside the door. She inhales the strong scent of alcohol on Seung Nyang's clothes. "So, it's the smell of alcohol."

Seung Nyang looks at her silently.

"What did you talk about all night?" Empress Danashiri asks. "Did you disparage me? Or did he offer to sleep with you?"

Seung Nyang looks over at her.

"You dare to look at me with that gaze?"

"I just drank the few that he offered," says Seung Nyang.

Empress Danashiri clenches her fist. She takes a deep breath, and walks away.

******

"Are you the ones who wanted to learn magic?" A magician asks a disguised a Bul Hwa and Jeom Bak.

The two men remove their hats.

"Are you the magician?" Jeom Bak asks.

"Wait a minute," says the magician. With a motion of his hands, he is able to get a table to roll into the room.

"Whoa! What is this?" Jeom Bak asks.

"Look carefully," says the magician. With his brush, he begins to write. He takes a drink of water, and spits it all over his writing. As soon as the water touches the paper, the writing vanishes.

Jeom Bak's jaw drops. "What is this?"

"What happened?" Bul Hwa asks.

"Nothing to be surprised at," says the magician. He picks up a red ceramic jar. "The secret is in this ink. This ink is mixed with a magical liquid that came from the west. The letters disappear with moisture."

"Whoa," says Jeom Bak. "Please sell this to us."

Bul Hwa hands the magician a bag of coins.

"Take it," the magician smiles.

"Any other inks?" Bul Hwa asks.

"What do you mean other inks?" The magician asks.

"The kind of ink that doesn't smear when wet," says Bul Hwa.

"Of course I do," the magician says enthusiastically. He starts to rummage through his cupboard.

"I have one more favor to ask," says Bul Hwa. "Can you leave Yeongyeong today?"

The magician looks at them quizzically.

"We'll give you plenty of money," Jeom Bak adds.

The magician beams and hands the ink to Jeom Bak. "I will."

"Whoa," says Jeom Bak, "this is..."

*********

Eunuch Bang pours the inks into two separate containers.

"What do you plan to do with this?" Jeom Bak asks.

"The people of Yuan," says Wang Yoo, "do you know what they fear the most? It's the heavens. The Curse of the Heavens. I will provide that curse. How is the weather?"

"The rain clouds are here," says Eunuch Bang.

"The heavens are helping us," says Wang Yoo.

"Will it be all right with your handwriting?" Moo Song asks.

"They will all disappear leaving but a few anyway," says Wang Yoo. He begins to write on the paper.

Incident Report. When the son went missing, the father trembled in fear, and cried while spewing blood.

"Why do you keep changing the brush?" Jeom Bak asks.

After seeing the letter from the culprit, the father never set foot outside his home. In the end, the son died, and the culprit was caught. During the transfer to Yuan, the father killed him by striking him on the head three times with an iron mace, and an unprecedented event happened. The victim's family had been ruined already. Since the father hasn't been punished, please judge the right from wrong.

"Where do you make civil complaints?" Wang Yoo asks.

"At the central government office," says Moo Song.

"Eunuch Bang and Moo Song, get someone from the outside and make them submit this order under a made up name. You must never reveal our identity."

"I understand," Eunuch Bang and Moo Song bow.

"Jeom Bak and Bul Hwa, I'll write the same letter, so you two take it and post it in the market square. I intend to let the people of Daedo know this, as well."

An announcement is prominently glued to a bulletin board in the middle of the palace courtyard. Several Eunuchs, Palace Maids, and Court Ladies push each other aside to read it.

Bayan and Toqto'a observe the crowd. "What does it say?" Bayan asks.

"It's a petition for a wronged father who killed his son's murderer," says Toqto'a.

"Awful things are happening because the world is harsh," says Bayan.

Lightning and thunder crash across the sky. A hard rain begins to fall.

Toqto'a looks at the announcement curiously. "Uncle. Take a look."

All, but a few characters, begin the disappear. Twelve red characters remain on the page.

"What's happening?" Bayan asks. "All the letters disappeared, but those."

"Emperor Mingzong," Toqto'a reads. "Letter written in blood. Death to El Temur, three generations exterminated."

"What?" Bayan asks.

"If Emperor Mingzong's letter written in blood shows up," says Toqto'a, "three generations of El Temur's family will be exterminated."

*********

El Temur slaps the announcement on his desk. "Just who is spreading this rumor?"

"I was surprised at first," says Toqto'a, "but it is one of those magic tricks."

"A magic trick?" El Temur asks.

"It's a well known magic trick in the west," Toqto'a replies.

"Arrest all the magicians in Yuan!" El Temur barks.

"I understand, Prime Minister," says Bayan.

After Toqto'a and Bayan leave, El Temur confides to Talahai and Tanqishi. "It's the work of that man. The one that's trying to strangle me!"

**********

"I've been looking for the bloodletter all these years," Bayan says to Toqto'a as they walk down El Temur's hallway. "It's all useless now."

"They are much more determined and scary people than we thought," says Toqto'a.

"I don't know what they are after," says Bayan.

"If they were after the bloodletter, I don't think they'd make it so obvious."

"My head is cramping. Why are things getting so complicated?"

"For now, let's get and torture the magicians and stay on Prime Minister El Temur's good side," Toqto'a advises.

*******

Wang Yoo is calmly polishing his sword. "You had the magician move away, right?"

"Don't worry about it," says Jeom Bak. "He went to his hometown of Seo Yeok."

"I threw a bomb in the cave," says Wang Yoo, "so I am going to watch for now. If we relax, it might backfire on us. So, be extra careful of your words and actions."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Wang Yoo's men bow.

El Temur, I will exterminate your bloodline.

*********

Mak Saeng's men drag a very raggedy Byeong Soo into a wooden shack. He is pushed down to kneel at Mak Saeng's feet.

"Who is this rascal?" Mak Saeng inquires.

"He was watching the village, so I brought him in, thinking he might be a thief."

"Thieves come here to steal," says Mak Saeng, "but they end up giving the shirts off their backs. Take him out."

Mak Saeng's men bow and grab Byeong Soo by the sleeves.

"Elder, please let me live here," Byeong Soo begs.

"We are shy," says Mak Saeng, "so we don't take in just anybody."

"I am from Goryeo, too!" Byeong Soo insists.

"What?" Mak Saeng asks.

"I don't have anywhere else to go because the law is after me. I even got the plague and barely survived. Please have mercy on me and take me in," Byeong Soo sobs.

Mak Saeng looks at him curiously. "What did you do in Goryeo?"

"I was in a division in the military defense," says Byeong Soo.

"So, you were a bad man capturing girls to bring here as tributes."

"I ended up like this because I let them go. Please believe me, Chief." Byeong Soo really turns on the water works.

"Put him in the storage room," says Mak Saeng. "I'll decide tomorrow."

"Yes, Sir," says Mak Saeng's men.

"Thank you," Byeong Soo sobs. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

The men grab him and shove him into the storage room. They do not see his devious smile.

Seung Nyang is carefully buttoning up Emperor Toghon's royal deel.

"You are quite brazen," says Emperor Toghon. "After making such a mistake that night, being so drunk, yet you are saying nothing."

"Did I...make a mistake?" Seung Nyang asks.

Emperor Toghon gasps.

She looks him dead in the eye.

"You don't remember?" Emperor Toghon asks. "Like this..." He puts his hand on his chest and shoulder.

Seung Nyang sharply clears her throat, because Seung Nyang don't play that.

"Your Majesty," Empress Dowager smoothly enters the room, an elegant vision in copper and navy.

Seung Nyang immediately moves aside.

"Empress Dowager," says Emperor Toghon.

Lord Jang silently enters behind the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, please take a look at this," says Empress Dowager. She hands him a scroll.

"What is this?" Emperor Toghon asks.

"Lord Jang brought this back, it was posted in the market square," Empress Dowager replies.

"I'll read it to you," Lord Jang volunteers.

Emperor Toghon hands the paper to Lord Jang.

"If Emperor Mingzong's letter is found, three generations of El Temur's family will be exterminated."

Seung Nyang's ears perk up. This sounds like Wang Yoo's handiwork...

Emperor Toghon's eyes widen, and Empress Dowager validates him with a nod of her head.

Seung Nyang's heart is racing. She wants to find Wang Yoo, now. She makes sure to keep her breathing steady so the sharply intuitive Empress Dowager doesn't catch on.

Seung Nyang is climing up the red steps outside, and thoughtfully walks through the covered walkway. This is too bold. His Majesty made his move to win. But the opponent is El Temur. The smallest mistake will...

Her mental speculation is sharply disrupted when she sees Wang Yoo across the walkway, and their eyes meet. She awkwardly bows. Their last encounter had been rather heated.

He gives her the side eye, and walks toward her with Moo Song and Eunuch Bang behind him.

"Your Majesty," says Seung Nyang, "I have something to tell you urgently."

"I told you not to say anything to me," Wang Yoo says sharply.

Eunuch Bang's jaw drops.

"Your Majesty!" Seung Nyang says.

"Are you ignoring that order, too?" Wang Yoo asks. He looks at Eunuch Bang. "Let's go."

After they are out of earshot, Wang Yoo pauses in the walkway. "Eunuch Bang."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Even if I can't, you find out what's happening with Seung Nyang."

"I understand," says Eunuch Bang.

*********

The illiterate Emperor Toghon carefully looks over Wang Yoo's rabble rousing document. "I will call a meeting and discuss this with all the vassals officially," he says to Empress Dowager and Lord Jang.

"You must not," Empress Dowager insists.

"What do you mean I can't? This bloodletter is no longer a secret. It has been revealed to the world that El Temur is the culprit."

"Unless we find the bloodletter," Empress Dowager counters, "this will be buried as a rumor, as well."

"That's correct, Your Majesty," Lord Jang agrees. "No one can fight El Temur on a hunch alone in the Imperial Court."

Emperor Toghon slaps the table in frustration. "I can't do this. I can't do that. Then my father's wrongful death, I should just bury it in my heart?"

"The fight has begun," says Empress Dowager. "This strange document has given us the upper hand. So, please be patient."

Emperor Toghon closes his eyes and sighs. "Just who is this person...helping us?"

Empress Dowager sighs. "I can't even imagine. It's so ghostly, sometimes it gives me the chills."

**********

El Temur ominously polishes his sword.

"The content of the strange document is circulating in the palace," Talahai warns.

"Not only the palace," Tanqishi adds, "but all the people are talking about the bloodletter--"

"What about Empress Dowager?!" El Temur shouts.

"She is making more frequent visits to the Emperor's quarters," Tanqishi replies. "If the vassals in the court begin to speak about it--"

"I've had countless critical times," El Temur interrupts. "But each time, I used a certain method." He points his sword at his younger son. "Talahai, tell the Emperor to meet me in the Imperial Hall." He looks at Tanqishi. "You bring the private soldiers."

"Yes, Father!" Tanqishi and Talahai bow.

The Prime Minister stabs his sword into the incriminating document.

El Temur is waiting like a hungry tiger on Emperor Toghon's throne. Emperor Toghon enters the hall, followed by his impressive entourage. Seung Nyang and Eunuch Baek stand directly behind him.

Emperor Toghon is completely aghast at seeing El Temur sitting on his chair.

"Come closer," says El Temur.

Seung Nyang looks over at Emperor Toghon.

Emperor Toghon anxiously walks forward as his entourage follows. He has an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach. It feels like the throne is a million miles away.

Seung Nyang is the only woman in the entire hall.

"Your father left a bloodletter, Your Majesty," says El Temur. He chuckles. "Using that, someone is trying to strangle me."

Emperor Toghon's teary eyes dart anxiously. "P-Prime Minister."

Without warning, from every possible door, members of El Temur's private army come flooding in.

Emperor Toghon and his entourage are surrounded. HIs Eunuch guards draw their swords, and so does El Temur's private army.

"Hold up," Eunuch Baek whispers to the Eunuch Guards. "If you make a move, the Emperor will be in danger."

Several Court Ladies and Eunuchs are standing outside the open door, pointedly bearing witness to Emperor Toghon's humiliation.

"Please tell me," says El Temur. "Unless you're deaf, you must have heard something."

"I...don't know anything about it," Emperor Toghon lies. "Please believe me. I really...don't know anything."

"Whether you know or not about the bloodletter," says El Temur, "it doesn't matter. What's important is that, in the end, those people are trying to use you."

"P-P-Prime Minister..."

El Temur smiles. "People say that I've replaced the Emperor twice. Then...couldn't I do it three times?"

"What...What would you like me to do?" Emperor Toghon is on the verge of a panic attack. "Please tell me, Prime Minister." A tear rolls down on his cheek. "I've...done everything, everything you've told me to do. Please, just tell me what to do! So, please...please just tell me, Prime Minister."

"Just stay quiet as if you are dead. No matter what anyone says, just like a living corpse. Understand?"

"I understand." Emperor Toghon feels like he's going to throw up. "I'll do that." His breathing is shallow and rapid.

El Temur looks over at Tanqishi.

"Stand down," says Tanqishi.

The private army withdraws their weapons, and get back into their lines.

Emperor Toghon feels like he is going to fall on his face. Eunuch Baek catches him in the knick of time.

"Your Majesty," says Eunuch Baek.

El Temur pointedly clears his throat. "What are you doing, Eunuch Baek? Take the Emperor back to his room!"

Eunuch Baek helps a hunched over, very panicked Emperor, walk his way out of the hall.

Emperor Toghon's mind is going blank, and his mouth is going dry.

Seung Nyang looks at Tanqishi hatefully as the puzzle pieces fall into place. Tanqishi smirks. Seung Nyang is the last one to follow the Emperor out.

Talahai and Tanqishi face the Prime Minister.

"The eunuchs and the palace maids saw it all," says Talahai, "so the rumors will spread soon."

"Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth," says El Temur. "Since the enemy has warned me with a slanderous comment, I also will warn the enemy."

"The throne suits you very well, Father," Tanqishi observes.

*********

Emperor Toghon's entourage stands back in the shadows while he walks over the curved red bridge. He feel like he has failed his father and his auntie. Tears stream down his face as that dreadful moment of humiliation replays over and over. He sits down on the arched point and cries.

"Yang," Eunuch Baek whispers.

She moves from the back of the group to Eunuch Baek at the front.

"You go and tend to him," says Eunuch Baek. "The only one in the palace who can comfort him is you."

She approaches the hunched over Emperor on the bridge. She turns her back to him.

"Father..." Emperor Toghon says.

She turns to face him.

"Father," he sighs, and Seung Nyang walks up to the arch. She sits behind him, her back touching his.

"I said I wanted to be alone," says Emperor Toghon. "Why did you come here?"

Seung Nyang takes a deep breath.

"No more..." Emperor Toghon says. "I don't want you to see me look pathetic anymore."

"My eyes are shut," says Seung Nyang as she closes her eyes. She covers her ears, "and my ears are closed. I can't see anything, and I can't...hear anything. Please...Please lean on me comfortably."

Emperor Toghon sobs. He leans back into Seung Nyang. He begins to breathe deeply and close his eyes.

Eunuch Bang, Wang Yoo, and Moo Song walk by.

"Your Majesty," says Moo Song.

They stop and stare at the action on the bridge.

"Isn't that Seung Nyang?" Moo Song asks.

Wang Yoo's jaw drops in horror as he sees them sitting so closely, conveniently forgetting that Seung Nyang is simply doing her job.