American Perspectives: The Empress' Seal Pt. 1 ("기황후" Ep. 29)

 

 

***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"

 

 

 

 

 

 

The palace maids enter the pavilion with their trays of contraceptive tonic.

 

"Drink it," Empress Danashiri orders.

 

All of the concubines, except Seung Nyang, immediately do as ordered.  Seung Nyang, on the other hand, takes her sweet time.  Empress Danashiri scrutinizes her.

 

Finally, Seung Nyang picks up the bowl, but she pointedly looks over at the Empress before deciding to consume the tonic.

 

Empress Danashiri grins triumphantly, thinking she has won.

 

Seung Nyang finally eats the date that serves as a garnish for the tonic, and she licks the juice off her fingers.  She looks over at Empress Danashiri and grins knowingly.

 

The Empress' smile fades.  She has a sneaking suspicion that she was never the one with the upper hand in this situation.

 

Seung Nyang makes it a point to look at Empress Danashiri as her throat begins to close.  Here goes nothing.  Damn, this is more painful than I thought.  Just a few more seconds to go before I have a nice, long, nap.

 

Oh, no.  Empress Danashiri's heart drops.

 

Seung Nyang gasps for breath.  She puts both hands on her neck as she tries to breathe.  Okay, this is terrifying.  Please don't let me die.  

 

Empress Danashiri is on the verge of shitting bricks.

 

Seung Nyang's eyes water and her face reddens.  Her knees buckle under her, and she falls on the floor chest down, at Empress Danashiri's feet.

 

The Empress shrieks in horror.

 

Seung Nyang gasps for breath.  Bul Hwa and Hong Dan rush to her aid.

 

"My Lady!  What's the matter?"  Bul Hwa asks.

 

Hong Dan sits her up.  "Please come to your senses, My Lady."

 

Empress Danashiri, Court Lady Seo, and Yeon Hwa observe in horror.  None of these three are going to come out clean.

 

Bul Hwa puts a silver chopstick in Seung Nyang's mouth.

 

"What's going on now?"  Empress Dowager furiously bursts into the pavilion.

 

Bul Hwa takes out the chopstick, and sees the silver has changed color.  "It's poison!  Lady Ki was poisoned!"

 

Empress Danashiri feels like she's going to throw up.

 

The other concubines attempt to induce vomiting on themselves, as they wonder if, they, too, had been poisoned.

 

"Hurry up and take her to the physician," says Empress Dowager.  "Hurry!"

 

"Yes, Your Highness," says Bul Hwa.

 

The lesser court ladies help him get an unconscious Seung Nyang on his back.

 

Empress Danashiri is on the verge of tears.  I am so fucked.  

 

Bul Hwa, Hong Dan, and Seung Nyang's entourage rush out of the room.

 

Empress Danashiri smirks.  "There's nothing wrong with the tonic."

 

Empress Dowager makes eye contact.  

 

"We already checked it before," says Empress Danashiri.

 

"The Imperial Concubines are falling one by one after drinking the tonic during the morning meeting," says Empress Dowager.  "Don't you feel someone is intentionally going after them?"

 

"By 'someone,' do you mean me?"

 

"You're not foolish enough to do something like this.  But that you are doing this out of jealousy towards them, then someone may have that misunderstanding."

 

"Don't worry about me," Empress Danashiri beams.  "I will be sure to find out myself who is doing such a thing to cause disorder in the Inner Court."

 

Empress Dowager nods.

 

"Court Lady Yeon," says Empress Danashiri, "bring the investigators and the Court Lady Inspectors."

 

"Yes, Your Majesty," Yeon Hwa bows.

 

"Put Lord Jang in charge of this case," says Empress Dowager.

 

Empress Danashiri rolls her eyes.

 

"That way, we'll be able to to quiet down any baseless rumors," says Empress Dowager.

 

"Then...Court Lady Yeon and Lord Jang should both be in charge."

 

Empress Dowager smiles.  "Bring the inspectors and investigators, and then find out how Lady Ki is doing," she says to Lord Jang.

 

"Yes, Your Highness," Lord Jang bows and exits.

 

*********

 

"Hold on just a little longer," Bul Hwa says frantically as he carries Seung Nyang through the hallway.  "Step aside!"  He yells to a line of lesser court ladies who are lacksadaisically blocking the path.

 

Bayan and Toqto'a intercept Bul Hwa's path.  Bul Hwa nods at them before scurrying away.

 

**********

 

Empress Danashiri descends the stone staircase into the courtyard.  "Empress Dowager is trying to frame me for this matter.  Her tongue has thorns."

 

"But, Your Majesty, who could have poisoned her this time?"  Court Lady Seo asks.

 

"It must be one of the Imperial Concubine wenches.  Since the Emperor only asks for that Ki wench every night."

 

"Then Lady Oh being poisoned last time, too, that could have been meant for the Ki Wench," says Court Lady Seo.

 

"Who cares who the target was?"  Empress Danashiri grins.  "It's a good thing for me anyway.  I have a reason to get rid of all those concubine wenches now."

 

Court Lady Seo slowly begins to smile.  It is her job to be the Empress' yes woman.  "That's true, Your Majesty."  However, as the least favored woman in the Inner Palace, the concubines are far more likely to come out on top.

 

********

 

"Yang collapsed after being poisoned?"  Emperor Toghon asks hysterically.  "I told you to tell me everything happening around Yang!"

 

"It happened so suddenly," Eunuch Baek says lamely.  How the hell am I supposed to simultaneously babysit you, and keep an eye on the concubine who cares the least about you?  

 

"So, where is she right now?"

 

"She's with the physician."

 

Emperor Toghon rushes down the red wooden steps.

 

"Your Majesty, just wait a little longer."

 

"Wait?"  Emperor Toghon seethes.  "Yang could die from being poisoned."

 

"Your Majesty, Head Eunuch Dokman is here," a voice annouces from outside.

 

Eunuch Dokman enters the room and bows.  "Empress Dowager told me to tell you this."  He moves closer and whispers in Emperor Toghon's ear.

 

Eunuch Baek tries to listen in, but can't hear a single word.

 

******

 

"I gave it to her, that poison," says Seung Nyang.  "And the person who's going to take that poison next is me."

 

"You're saying you'll willingly take the poison?"  Empress Dowager asks incredulously.

 

"Yes, Your Highness.  If the Imperial Concubines collapse one by one after being poisoned, the palace will turn upside down in order to find the culprit.  The more we try to find the culprit, the more the Empress will be driven into a corner.  In the end, it will come to light that it was her doing."

 

Empress Dowager leans forward.  "Why are you gambling with your own life?  Are you daring to go after the Empress' seat?"

 

"When Lady Park was killed, I was also there."

 

Empress Dowager's heart races.

 

"Seeing the palace maids and Lady Park die in front of my eyes...Their screams, asking to be spared...I can still see them, and I hear them so clearly."

 

"That's enough, I don't want to hear any more."

 

"They're not human," Seung Nyang says passionately.  "I can't tolerate those who are less than even animals, rising to power within the palace."

 

"How do you intend on making the Empress the culprit?"

 

********

 

"If it goes according to what she says," Empress Dowager muses, "I will be in control of the Empress' future.  The Inner Court will become mine once more."

 

Her heart flutters in anticipation.  To be the Head Bitch In Charge again!!

 

********

 

The investigator puts a pair of metal tweezers in Seung Nyang's mouth.  He pulls out pieces of the date she had eaten.  Bayan and Toqto'a are at her bedside, observing closely.  Yeon Hwa and Lord Jang are also present, ready to take notes.

 

"What's that?"  Lord Jang asks.

 

"There's a piece of date under her tongue," says the investigator.

 

"Examine it further," says Lord Jang.

 

"Yes, My Lord," the investigator bows.

 

Everyone exits the room, except for Bayan, Toqto'a, and Bul Hwa.

 

"Lady Ki," says Bayan.  "I chose you, so you must not falter over that mere poison.  You must open your eyes and come back to us confidently."

 

"His Imperial Majesty!"  Eunuch Baek calls from the hallway.

 

"You have come, Your Majesty," Bayan bows.

 

Emperor Toghon stands in front of Seung Nyang's bed.  He looks over at Eunuch Baek, who bows.

 

Eunuch Baek turns to Bayan.  "His Majesty would like all of you to leave the room."

 

Bul Hwa, Bayan, and Toqto'a bow and exit.  Eunuch Baek and his guards bow, leaving the Emperor alone with Seung Nyang.

 

Emperor Toghon sits down on her bed.  Was your fight so desperate and heartbreaking that you'd take poison willingly?  I'm sorry, Yang.  Tears well up.  I wasn't able to understand all of your feelings.  Please forgive this foolish Emperor, Yang.

 

******

This time, the investigative meeting is in a much smaller room.  The investigator dumps a bag of silver pellets into the tonic.  As he swishes the pellets around in the bowl, and examines them once again with his magnifying glass.  They are yet again showing as untarnished.

 

The investigator shakes his head.

 

Empress Danashiri grins triumphantly.  She looks over at Yeon Hwa, and they nod at each other.  The Empress looks over at Empress Dowager and smiles.

 

The investigator picks up a piece of the date, and rubs it against the silver tray.  The Empress Dowager leans forward in anxious anticipation.  Empress Danashiri is confident that there is nothing wrong with the date.

 

As he rubs the date against the tray, the silver begins to tarnish.  His jaw drops.

 

Empress Danashiri frowns.

 

"What's the matter?"  Empress Dowager asks.

 

"It's in the date," the investigator gasps.  "The poison is in the date!"

 

Empress Danashiri wants to vomit.  Will this nightmare ever end?  There's no way she can prove a concubine did it now.

 

"Who put the date in the tonic?"  Empress Dowager asks.

 

"The date was given by the herbalist," Yeon Hwa says quickly.

 

"Someone must have gotten to it  before then," says Empress Danashiri.  "This matter, I will finish off," she looks at Empress Dowager.

 

"Please do that," says Empress Dowager.  "Now that we've found where the poison came from, we must find the culprit."

 

"Court Lady Inspectors, hear me," says Empress Danashiri.  "I'm sure the culprit has more hidden away.  Not only the Imperial Concubines' quarters, but we're going to search the quarters of the eunuchs and the court ladies, so be aware."

 

"Yes, Your Majesty," the Court Lady Inspectors bow.

 

Empress Dowager looks over at Empress Danashiri and smiles knowingly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wang Yoo, if this is an ill fated relationship, it's only right that it should end here.  Yeon Bisoo nervously unsheathes her dagger as she stands over Wang Yoo's bed.  Don't resent me.  

 

She moves in to plunge the dagger into a sleeping Wang Yoo, when he grabs her wrist with cat like reflexes.

 

Yeon Bisoo's eyes widen, and her heart races.  Wang Yoo looks up at her, and pins her to the bed.  He takes her knife and pulls down her mask.  Yeon Bisoo gasps.

 

"Yeon Bisoo," Wang Yoo whispers.  "What's the reason you're trying to kill me?"

 

"You shouldn't have come here," says Yeon Bisoo.

 

He pulls her up, and holds the dagger to her throat.  "Are you working for Hawk House?  I was wrong about you.  Have you thrown away your dream to resurrect the Turks?"

 

"Stop if you're going to speak nonsense."

 

"Your Majesty, is something the matter?"  Eunuch Bang asks from the other side of the door.

 

"Come in," says Wang Yoo.

 

Eunuch Bang opens the door and gasps.  "Your Majesty."

 

"Were there any other assassins outside?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

"There wasn't anyone else," says Eunuch Bang.

 

"Who's in charge of the province right now?" Wang Yoo asks.

 

"The Vice Premier is in charge while Bayan is away, says Eunuch Bang.

 

Wang Yoo stands up and shoves Yeon Bisoo toward Eunuch Bang.  "There's no safer place.  Wake up Moo Song and Jeom Bak.  We're leaving here right now."

 

"Yes, Your Majesty."

 

"If you're thinking about keeping me as a hostage, forget it," says Yeon Bisoo.  "We'll both die.  You can't avoid death once you've been marked by Hawk House."

 

*******

 

Heuk Soo, followed by his entourage, quickly limps his way over to the gisaeng house.  Suri stops them before they can get any further.

 

Heuk Soo lifts the veil from his hat.  "What happened?"

 

"Boss and Wang Yoo disappeared without a trace," says Suri.

 

Heuk Soo sighs in frustration.  "Captain Yeon could have been taken as hostage.  They couldn't have left Liaoyang Province yet, so go after them!  Hurry up!"

 

"Yes, Sir!"  The men bow.

 

*******

 

Wang Yoo is casually reading a book, while Yeon Bisoo is tied to a chair.

 

"How long will you keep me like this?"  Yeon Bisoo asks.

 

He casually sips his tea.

 

"Do you think I would care that you're doing this?"  Yeon Bisoo asks.  "Just kill me instead.  Hurry up and do it!"

 

Wang Yoo closes his book and opens up a small, red, wooden box.  He pulls out a white satin strip of cloth.

 

"Hurry up and kill me!"  Yeon Bisoo thrashes in her chair.

 

He puts the cloth in her mouth, and ties it at the back.  "When it's time, I'll kill you."

 

********

 

Hidden behind a peacock feather fan is none other than the master of disguise himself, Eunuch Bang.

 

"How much did you pay for him?"  He asks the well dressed lady escorting Mak Saeng down the stone steps.

 

She runs to Eunuch Bang excitedly.  "Thirty nyangs of gold."

 

Eunuch Bang lowers his fan.  "Thirty for the likes of him?"

 

She grins.  I hope you'll let me keep him...

 

"You have too much money!  Since you have ten nyang left from what I gave you, you can keep it," says Eunuch Bang.

 

"Ten nyang?  Oh, thank you."  She bows graciously.

 

Eunuch Bang holds out his hand.

 

"Oh, here," says the lady.  She hands him the key to Mak Saeng's shackles.

 

"You can go now," says Eunuch Bang.  "See you again."

 

"Who am I?"  Eunuch Bang asks Mak Saeng, who is watching the lady walk away.

 

"Pardon?"  Mak Saeng asks.

 

Eunuch Bang lowers his round sunglasses.

 

Mak Saeng gasps.  "Oh!  What are you doing here?  You bought me?"

 

"When you see His Majesty," Eunuch Bang whispers, "he will ask a lot about Seung Nyang.  About the baby, you must never tell him.  Got it?"

 

"Baby?  The baby was His Ma--"

 

Eunuch Bang slaps his hand over Mak Saeng's mouth.  "He doesn't even know she was pregnant.  If anyone told him, it would be best for her to do so."

 

"Don't worry," says Mak Saeng.  "I have enough sense about these things."

 

********

 

Eunuch Bang is grinning from ear to ear as he and Mak Saeng exit the Hawk House grounds.  "Your Majesty," the two men jog over to Wang Yoo, Jeom Bak, and Moo Song.

 

"I heard that you saved Seung Nyang," says Wang Yoo.  "Is she okay?"

 

"After seeing her friends die," says Moo Song, "she was in great shock."

 

"I shouldn't have left her behind," says Wang Yoo.  "It's all my fault."

 

"When Bayan comes back, you should be able to see her, Your Majesty," says Eunuch Bang.

 

"But she's healthy, so you needn't worry," says Mak Saeng.

 

"Thank you for taking care of her," Wang Yoo says graciously.

 

"Then, come this way," says Eunuch Bang.  He leads Mak Saeng away.

 

"Your Majesty," says Jeom Bak.  "But what are you going to do about that girl, Yeon Bisoo?"

 

"She tried to kill you," says Moo Song.  "You should get rid of her."

 

"If I use her well," says Wang Yoo, "there should be a lot of information I can get on Hawk House."

 

"She's very malicious, it won't be easy," says Moo Song.

 

"Lock her up in jail, and don't feed her.  If my method works, she will definitely help us."

 

"Yes, Your Majesty," Moo Song bows.

 

...To be continued...