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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"
El Temur chuckles as Heuk Soo kneels before him. "Is the chief well?"
Heuk Soo rises. "He was in Tibet for a moment, but now he's staying in Ilkhanate."
El Temur chuckles heartily. "Thanks to his price fluctuations with gold, it helped me greatly. Thank him for me."
"Yes, Prime Minister. But our chief has a request of you."
"Request?" El Temur asks. "Tell me."
"Because of the counterfeits in Goryeo, the value of the banknotes has gone down quite a lot. He wonders if you could raise the value of one banknote to three taels of silver."
"One banknote for three taels? It's usually two."
"What if you make a petition to the Emperor and have His Majesty send an Imperial Sanction to Goryeo?" Heuk Soo asks.
"I am the one who holds the seal," says El Temur. "It's a request from the Chief of Hawk House. How could I refuse?"
Heuk Soo grins and bows. "Thank you, Sir."
"I also have a request to make of you, too," says El Temur. "Soon, I'm going to marry off my niece. Do you have anything special?"
Heuk Soo laughs. "I have many rare and precious items, but who is she marrying?"
El Temur sits back. "A man named Wang Yoo from Goryeo's royal family."
*******
Court Lady Seo pours tea for the nuns who have attended to them throughout their stay. "Her Majesty has bestowed this tea in return for your gracious hospitality," says Court Lady Seo. "Please have a drink."
Three nuns are sitting with her at the table.
"Please have a drink," says Court Lady Seo.
A nun bows. "Thank you for the tea."
The two other nuns bow, as well.
Court Lady Seo patiently waits as they sip their tea.
*******
Court Lady Seo rushes down the stone steps to meet Yeon Hwa. "After we leave, set fire to this place."
"I understand," Yeon Hwa nervously bows. She may be a mean girl, but she's never committed arson before. And certainly not at a monastery.
Court Lady Seo rushes away, leaving an anxious Yeon Hwa to finish the job of a sexually rejected Empress pushed over the edge.
********
Court Lady Seo rushes to Empress Danashiri's palanquin. "I am a little late," she whispers through the door.
"It's fine," says Empress Danashiri. "Let's go."
Court Lady Seo nods.
"Be careful since she's due to give birth very soon!" Talahai orders. "Let's go!"
"Let's go!" Jo Cham echoes.
*******
Empress Danashiri grins as she holds Little Star in her arms, hidden by her red cloak. She marvels at how everything on him is so tiny.
**********
"If you hide the baby on your stomach, no one will know," says Court Lady Seo.
"He might cry during the trip," says Empress Danashiri.
"If you give him sleeping medicine, there shouldn't be any problems entering the palace," Court Lady Seo replies.
"How is the preparation going?" Empress Danashiri asks Yeon Hwa.
"The umbilical chord and placenta have already been placed inside the palace," Yeon Hwa answers.
Empress Danashiri smiles. "Once we get there safely, I will reward you greatly."
"Your grace overflows, Your Majesty," says Yeon Hwa.
Empress Danashiri looks at Court Lady Seo and nods.
***********
Empress Danashiri hides Star back in her dress. Once we get into the palace, you'll become my son. You're going to be Crown Prince of this country, my baby.
*******
As Empress Danashiri's procession heads down the road, it crosses paths with Heuk Soo's caravan of human cargo.
"Move aside, it's Her Majesty, the Empress!" Talahai calls out.
"Whoa," Heuk Soo says to his horse. The mounted men in his caravan dismount and kneel.
"There's a saying that you meet your enemy on a single log bridge," Mak Saeng says as the Empress' procession passes. "We meet that wicked woman here."
The window on Empress Danashiri's palanquin is cracked open, and she smirks at the slaves.
Mak Saeng and Seung Nyang quickly cover their faces with their straw mats. Seung Nyang looks at her with pure hatred.
Danashiri, you just wait. I'll rip your body to shreds to avenge the death of my baby and my friends.
******
Emperor Toghon is on his bed, curled up in a ball. The only reason he exists is because he's a game piece, and he sees no point in continuing on.
"Your Majesty!" El Temur, Tanqishi, and Talahai burst through his doors. "Her Majesty is about to give birth."
So fucking what? He knows once the son is born, they are going to devise an intricate plot to dispose of him anyway, so why bother?
El Temur rolls him over. "You need to go and at least have a look at your baby, Your Majesty."
Emperor Toghon stares off into space.
"Father," says Tanqishi, "he seems to be in a state of confusion still."
"You never were a proper husband," El Temur sneers. "Now the same goes for being a father."
Emperor Toghon rolls over.
"Really!" El Temur says in disgust.
The three men exit, leaving Emperor Toghon to mope, and milk his weaponized incompetence.
He pulls Seung Nyang's handkerchief out of his jeogori, and holds it up to his face. He still doesn't fully comprehend that just as he is not in love with Empress Danashiri, Seung Nyang was never in love with him. Maybe, just maybe, he should take this as an opportunity to make things right with his wife.
Instead, he crumples the handkerchief in his hand, and groans as pathetically as possible. Perhaps Auntie will hear him and take pity.
*********
Empress Danashiri has a gag in her mouth, and each hand has a suspended piece of cloth wrapped around it. She cues Court Lady Seo and Yeon Hwa, and then she begins to imitate the screams of labor.
In frustration, she throws aside the fabric, and spits out the gag. She begins to groan and scream as believably as she can.
"Just a little bit more, Your Majesty!" Court Lady Seo yells. "A little...A little more, Your Majesty."
Empress Danashiri loudly screams.
"Push a little more, Your Majesty."
Yeon Hwa busily rubs blood all over Star's body.
While screaming, Empress Danashiri gestures the two women to move it along.
"Little more!" Court Lady Seo yells.
"The baby is coming, Your Majesty!" Yeon Hwa yells.
"A little more, Your Majesty!" Court Lady Seo shouts.
Yeon Hwa hands the baby over, and Court Lady Seo slaps him on the bottom.
"Your Majesty, it's a son!" Court Lady Seo yells. "It's a son, Your Majesty!"
Yeon Hwa smears blood all over the white bedding.
"Congratulations!" Court Lady Seo yells.
Star finally begins to cry.
Empress Danashiri smiles. "Yes."
"Your Majesty!" Court Lady Seo says.
Yeon Hwa soaks several pieces of white cloth in blood. Everything must look believable before they allow the Empress' father and brothers to enter.
Tanqishi and Talahai grin.
Eunuch Dokman has some suspicions due to inconsistencies he's seen around the palace.
********
Court Lady Seo hands Star over to El Temur. He smiles as he holds his grandson who is wrapped in a gold blanket. "Good job, Your Majesty."
Empress Danashiri laughs pleasantly. "But...has there been any change in His Majesty's condition?" Perhaps seeing this new baby will finally get him to open up to her.
"It doesn't affect his life," says El Temur, "so no need to worry."
"It's a great occasion for the country," says Empress Danashiri. "How about a banquet?"
"I have invited all the magistrates of province to be here, Your Majesty," says Tanqishi.
"Well done," Empress Danashiri smiles.
"But," says Talahai, "we need to give the Crown Prince a name."
"Father, please give him one," says Empress Danashiri. "Is there a name you've had in mind?"
"Hmm," El Temur says thoughtfully. "How is Maha?"
"Maha?" Empress Danashiri asks.
"It means big and great in Buddhism," says El Temur.
"I like it, Father," Empress Danashiri laughs.
"Maha," El Temur crows. "Grow healthy and become a great Emperor like your name. Understand?"
Eunuch Dokman looks at them warily. With all the experience he has assisting in labor and delivery, something isn't adding up.
"My goodness," says El Temur to the baby.
"You mustn't issue a Royal Edict, Father," says Wang Yoo. "The merchants...are barely maintaining the economy by selling off the banknotes for cheap. If the rate of one banknote is equal to three taels of silver, they will all be unable to recover, and will be ruined."
"Yuan sent an order for us to do so," says the King.
"Many years ago," says Wang Yoo, "we had a counterfeit issue which caused the depreciation of the banknote. Yuan raised the banknote's value then, too, and it was detrimental to our state treasury."
"Then, are you saying they're controlling this?"
"I'm tailing those who bought the banknotes. So, please delay issuing the Royal Edict."
"I can't wait for too long," says the King.
"I understand, Father."
*******
"No need to worry," says Yeon Bisoo. She meticulously counts on her abacus. "The Imperial Decree from Yuan has arrived, so it'll be announced soon." She still has a curtain up between her and Suri.
"The rate of banknotes we've bought has gone up three fold!" Suri exclaims.
Yeon Bisoo grins. "As soon as the notice is given, use the banknotes and buy up all the ginseng in Goryeo."
"Yes, Chief," Suri replies.
"Wang Yoo..." Yeon Bisoo says after Suri has left. "Last time at the border, I was defeated, but this time, it'll be different."
*********
Wang Yoo strolls down the hall to his bedroom, only to find Moo Song, Eunuch Bang, and Jeom Bak at his doorway. His heart sinks, as Eunuch Bang looks extremely upset.
"Your Majesty," says Moo Song.
"Eunuch Bang, what are you doing here?" Wang Yoo asks.
"We met...while on my way to Yuan," says Jeom Bak.
"What about Seung Nyang?" Wang Yoo asks.
Eunuch Bang's lip trembles. "Your Majesty..."
"Didn't Seung Nyang come with you?" He has a feeling he doesn't want to know the answer.
"Please..." Eunuch Bang says. He drops down to his knees and sobs. "Please kill me, Your Majesty..."
"Where is Seung Nyang?" Wang Yoo asks. "Why did you come alone?"
Eunuch Bang loudly sobs.
"She has..." Moo Song says. "...died."
Wang Yoo feels suffocated.
"Your Majesty," Moo Song and Jeom Bak kneel.
"Your Majesty," Eunuch Bang sobs.
"That's impossible," says Wang Yoo. "Seung Nyang died? You are wrong."
"She was shot with an arrow," Eunuch Bang cries, "and fell off a cliff."
Wang Yoo feels like someone punched him in the gut. "Who did that to her?"
"The Empress..." Eunuch Bang replies tearfully. "...made her brothers...carry it out. The Empress!"
"Your Majesty," says Moo Song.
Wang Yoo is in complete shock. He numbly walks into his room by himself.
"Please kill me, Your Majesty!" Eunuch Bang yells. "Please kill me."
*******
Wang Yoo stumbles to a chair, and holds on to the back. His legs tremble, and a storm of tears rain down his cheeks. I should have had her come home with me...We promised to be together forever.
Wang Yoo sits down at his desk and screams. This was not how it was supposed to go! His heart feels like it's being torn from his body, piece by agonizing piece.
*********
Mak Saeng is being meticulously examined by Heuk Soo for blemishes and imperfections. Heuk Soo even goes as far as holding a magnifying glass up to his face.
"I caught a very strange fellow," says Heuk Soo. "Then does that mean you used to be..." Without warning, he grabs Mak Saeng's crotch.
Mak Saeng recoils. Evidently, if you literally do not have a penis, you are treated like an object.
"A eunuch?" Heuk Soo continues. "If not, were you injured?"
"Since I was born, I was crippled," says Mak Saeng. "Like you."
Heuk Soo chuckles. I like this guy's sense of humor. "I'm certain you know martial arts. You're 20 nyang."
As Mak Saeng is being dragged out, Seung Nyang is being dragged in. Their eyes meet before Seung Nyang is pushed forward, and Mak Saeng is pushed out.
Heuk Soo holds a magnifying glass up to Seung Nyang's face. "You are quite beautiful. Your features are very rare. Turn once for me."
"I'm from Goryeo," says Seung Nyang. "You have no right to capture and sell just anyone."
"Not just anyone," says Heuk Soo. "We only sell those who have committed a crime and are on the run."
"Stop treating me like a criminal!" Seung Nyang snaps. "Most of those who were captured and brought here along with me are innocent."
"The fact that no one is looking for you is your sin." He rises from his chair, and walks past her. "Aside from that, meeting the wrong people, and having been born in such a country that casts you aside, is the scariest sin of all. " Heuk Soo laughs and goes back to his seat. "You're from Goryeo? If you weren't so useless, why else would your country throw you away like a husk of grain?"
"If you want money in exchange for me," says Seung Nyang, "I'll give it to you. I'll send a word to my house."
"Give it to me right now."
Seung Nyang frowns at him.
"Why?" Heuk Soo asks. "You don't have it? I don't trust anything other than the money I see in front of me. Take her away."
"I'll never forget that dirty face of yours," says Seung Nyang, a hot tear rolling down her cheek, as a handler drags her out.
"How should we price her?"
"Leave it blank," says Heuk Soo.
"Pardon?"
"If she meets the rightful owner, there's no limit to how much she'll be sold for."
**********
Seung Nyang is sitting in a cell full of sleeping men. Oh, this brings back memories. Mak Saeng is sleeping near her feet.
Seung Nyang finally lays down, using the pouch that's holding Court Lady Noh's mirror as a pillow. She just can't get comfortable. She undoes the pouch, and takes out the mirror. She notices the piece of cloth poking out of the crack. Could it be?
She sits up and pulls out a tray from the mirror. The whole piece of cloth comes out with it. She checks behind her before opening it up. WIthin the cloth is a meticulously folded piece of paper. She is quick to notice the glossy red writing as she opens it up. She gasps when she sees the butterfly drawn in the margin.
Bloodletter...It's the bloodletter.
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