American Perspectives: Betrayal, Pandering, and Negotiation Pt.3 ("기황후" Ep. 6)

 

 

"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 tributary procession begins its long, uphill climb.  Fear is the dominant emotion running among the prisoners.  Glory is the dominant emotion running among the captors.  Wang Go is positive this will be his ticket to the Goryeo throne.

 

Wang Yoo looks back and sees Seung Nyang walking amongst the women with her wrists bound together.

 

"Hurry up! Move it along!"  Jo Cham yells.  He whips some of the women from his lofty position on his horse.

 

One woman falls to the ground.

 

"We don't have time!  Hurry up!"  Jo Cham yells.

 

"We'll kill anyone who lags behind," says Byeong Soo.  "Stand up!"  He whips a fallen woman.

 

Jo Cham is indiscriminately cracking his whip.  "Hurry!  Quick!  Move it along!"

 

"Please order them some rest time," says Wang Yoo.  The procession halts.  "There are so many who are injured.  If we keep going like this, at least half will die before we reach Daedo."

 

Tanqishi looks back at him with annoyance.  Who does this throwaway King think he is anyway?

 

"Shut up!"  Talahai snaps.  "How dare you?"

 

"Let's take a short break," says Tanqishi.

 

"Brother!"  Talahai says.

 

"The King of Goryeo is commanding that we rest.  Signal them!"

 

********

 

The gers are set up, and Wang Yoo is wandering through the tall grasses, looking for Seung Nyang.  He pulls back the doorflap of a red and white ger, and sees Seung Nyang tending to many injured women.  Realistically, because Seung Nyang is assumed to be male, and the women in question are supposed to be virgins, and are to only be touched by the Emperor.   She wouldn't be in there attending to them, unsupervised, on such a personal level.  She would be in a completely separate area.

 

Wang Yoo approaches her.  "Here's some water.  Give them water."

 

Seung Nyang grabs the canteen.

 

"This is left over food."  Wang Yoo hands a pouch of food to another woman.  "Share it amongst yourselves."  A woman grabs the pouch, and disdainfully throws it on the ground.

 

"Everyone, let's go out!"  She says.

 

"Why are you doing this?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

"Do you not know whose fault it is that we're being dragged away?"

 

"If you're incompetent, you shouldn't have started anything at all.  Why did you try to kill the Crown Prince of Yuan?"

 

"He brought food that he purposely didn't eat," Seung Nyang points out to the angry women.  "How can you be so cruel?"

 

"Everyone, let's leave!  Let's go!"

 

Several women exit the ger.  Wang Yoo expected as much, actually, he expected worse.

 

"Listen!" Seung Nyang yells after them.

 

"Let them be," says Wang Yoo.  "They aren't wrong."

 

"Your Majesty," Seung Nyang says tearfully.

 

Wang Yoo dejectedly exits the ger.  Seung Nyang follows behind, only for them to be met by Talahai, Jo Cham, Byeong Soo, and several soldiers.

 

"Bring out all the women from inside!"  Talahai commands.

 

"Yes," the soldiers bow.

 

"What's the matter?"  Wang Yoo inquires.

 

"My brother ordered that all the women who are disrupting the march are to be killed," says Talahai.  "What are you doing?  Bring them out here!"

 

"Yes!"  The soldiers bow.

 

Wang Yoo grabs a sword from the first soldier in line, and knocks him over.  The other soldiers move back.

 

"No one lays a finger on my people," says Wang Yoo.

 

"Do you want to die that badly?"  Tanqishi and Wang Go cut through the crowd.  "From here on out, this is Yuan's territory.  Whoever disobeys will die."

 

"Call back the soldiers," says Wang Yoo.

 

"I will forgo all courtesy toward you from now on," says Tanqishi.

 

Jo Cham and Byeong Soo smirk.

 

"Get rid of him!"  Tanqishi orders.

 

A soldier charges at Wang Yoo, but he spins away and kicks down another soldier.  He grabs a soldier, and they are pinned together, back to back.  Wang Yoo spins away, and stabs another soldier.

 

"Whoever enters this tent," says Wang Yoo, "I will kill."

 

Tanqishi walks forward, and he grabs a crossbow.  He doesn't give a shit about El Temur's demands.  He hates this guy with every fiber of his being.  "Do you think you're the only one who wants to kill?  I also feel sick whenever I see you."  His hands quiver on the crossbow.

 

Wang Yoo scowls, and holds up the curved sword he took from the soldier.

 

"This is the last time," says Tanqishi.  "Stand aside."

 

"Your Majesty," Seung Nyang whispers.

 

Tanqishi fires his arrow, and shoots Wang Yoo in the knee.

 

Byeong Soo watches in surprise.

 

Seung Nyang runs in front of Wang Yoo.  "Don't shoot!"  She yells.

 

"You must want to die along with him," says Tanqishi.  "Fine."  He loads another arrow.

 

"Move away," Wang Yoo says to Seung Nyang.

 

Seung Nyang shakes her head.  "I will not."

 

Without warning, Wang Yoo pushes her out of the way.

 

"Wang Yoo, I can't stand your arrogance!"  Tanqishi growls.

 

Wang Go places his hand on the crossbow.  "That's enough," he whispers.

 

"King Simyang," says Tanqishi.

 

"You'll receive the wrath of the Prime Minister if you kill him here," Wang Go points out.

 

"That's right," Talahai agrees.  "He's not worth getting punished over."

 

Tanqishi slowly lowers his bow, but he's still trembling with rage.  He just can't resist.  He raises his bow, and aims for Wang Yoo's chest.

 

Seung Nyang sees what he's doing, and before she can push Wang Yoo down, an arrow has already hit him in the shoulder.

 

"Y-Your Majesty," says Seung Nyang.  She kneels beside an unconscious Wang Yoo.

 

"He's still alive," says Byeong Soo.

 

Tanqishi hurls his crossbow on the ground.  "Let's speed up!"  He points at Wang Yoo, "including that bastard, if anyone disrupts this march, kill them!"

 

Seung Nyang runs up to Tanqishi.  "He's not dead yet!  I will take him!"

 

"You will?"  Tanqishi smirks.

 

"I will make sure that I do not fall behind the group."

 

"If you do fall behind, you must kill him yourself in order for you to live.  Will you still do it?"

 

"Just get me a stretcher," says Seung Nyang.

 

Byeong Soo smirks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the procession moves, Seung Nyang is at the end of the line, dragging Wang Yoo on a stretcher.  She has one rope on each shoulder, looped around like a backpack.  Wang Yoo is covered in a leopard skin to keep him warm.  Seung Nyang is pulling as hard as she can.  Tanqishi approaches her on horseback.

 

He observes her movements, noticing more similarities to the tributary women than the warriors.  He kicks his horse forward, and moves back to the front.

 

On a nearby hill, a man in a tattered purple jeogori and black hat watches from horseback.  All of the commotion makes his horse rear up.  The man pulls down the cloth wrapped around his face, and it's none other than Park Bul Hwa.  Brother, just watch me.  I, Park Bul Hwa, will save Seung Nyang.  He sees her at the back of the procession, and his blood boils.

 

********

 

"The Emperor is entering!"

 

Toghon and Lord Jang quickly run up the steps to the palace gate.  El Temur watchfully follows behind.

 

As Toghon gets to the top of the steps, he catches his breath and smiles.

 

"Your Majesty!"  Empress Dowager Budashiri shouts.  She is walking with a red umbrella held above her, and is surrounded by a doting entourage.

 

Emperor Toghon runs down the stairs and grabs her arms.

 

"Your Majesty, you're finally here," says Empress Dowager Budashiri.

 

"Empress Dowager," Emperor Toghon's lips tremble.

 

"You've been through a lot.  You've endured it well."

 

Emperor Toghon sadly nods.  Finally, his Auntie is here to cover for him.

 

"Please go to the Imperial Palace," Empress Dowager continues.  "Your people are waiting."

 

El Temur watches her closely.  Empress Dowager comes from a decent line of very strong Mongolian Empresses, and if anyone is to push back, it would be her.

 

******

 

Empress Dowager and El Temur lead the procession into the palace.  Emperor Toghon nervously walks behind them.  He has no clue what he's doing.  He looks like someone who got lost in the middle of a jungle safari.  Bayan and Toqto'a are behind them, and they ascend the steps to the throne.

 

Emperor Toghon pauses, and stares at the huge, golden, throne.

 

"Your Majesty," Empress Dowager says gently, "please take the throne."

 

He continues to hesitate.  El Temur gives him a look, and motions with his head toward the throne.  Emperor Toghon ascends the final set of stairs, and he feels his heart pounding in his ears.  He can't nap his way out of this situation.  So, he acends, with the nervousness of a mouse in a room full of cats.  He awkwardly sits at the very edge.

 

"Please sit comfortably," says El Temur.  "You own that throne now."

 

Emperor Toghon reluctantly seats himself at the center of the throne.

 

"Everyone," says El Temur, "hark his words!  We have a new Emperor in this great empire!"

 

"Your Majesty!"  Bayan shouts.  "Please live a long and healthy life!"

 

"Please live a long and healthy life, Your Majesty!"  The ministers repeat.

 

"Please live a long and healthy life, Your Majesty!"

 

The ministers kneel.

 

Emperor Toghon smiles.  I can get used to this.  I've got El Temur and Auntie taking care of the hard stuff, and my involvement is strictly ceremonial.  Life is going to be easy...

 

"Long live the Emperor!"  Lord Jang declares.  "All hail!  Long live the Great Empire!  All hail!"

 

"Long live the Emperor!  All hail!"

 

"Long live the Emperor!  All hail!"

 

"Long live the Emperor!  All hail!"

 

"Long live the Emperor!  All hail!"

 

Emperor Toghon is beaming.  Maybe it was worth stabbing Seung Nyang in the back, after all.  He is loving this respect and admiration he has never gotten in his entire life.

 

Empress Dowager smiles at El Temur.  She proudly looks up at Emperor Toghon.  He hadn't mattered to her before, but he most certainly means everything to her now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Empress Dowager and Emperor Toghon lead the procession out of the palace, while Lord Jang and El Temur follow behind.

 

"The coronation will happen soon," says Empress Dowager.  "Please be ready for it without fail."

 

"Yes, Empress Dowager," says Lord Jang.

 

"Before that," El Temur interjects, "we must have a wedding."

 

"Wedding?" Empress Dowager asks warily.  Of course he would say that...

 

"His Majesty wants to have my daughter, Danashiri, as his Empress."

 

Empress Dowager can feel the hair on the back of her neck rising.  "Your Majesty, is this true?"

 

Emperor Toghon can already tell that he has displeased Auntie.  He stiffens.  "I heard she was very pretty.  And...I will become Prime Minister's son-in-law."

 

Empress Dowager wants to smack him in the back of the legs with a whip.  What the hell is this dumbass thinking?

 

"So, it's a way to have my cake, and eat it, too," says Emperor Toghon.

 

"That kind of matter falls under the Inner Court's jurisdiction," Empress Dowager says curtly.  "You've decided on an Empress without any discussion from me?"

 

"I just--"

 

"Your Majesty," says Empress Dowager, "I've never seen Danashiri's face.  You're disrespecting me with your decision."

 

"Are you rejecting my daughter?"  El Temur asks.  "That is a way of disrespecting me, too.  Are you?"

 

Empress Dowager takes a deep breath.  "There are customs the Imperial Family has to follow."

 

"Those customs, I will follow for you, one by one," says El Temur.  The tension between him and the Empress Dowager can be sliced with a sword.  "Let's go, Your Majesty."

 

"Prime Minister has finally shown his claws," Lord Jang says to Empress Dowager.

 

"Even if I die," says Empress Dowager, "I will never let it happen."

 

"But it's Prime Minister you're going up against who has the court and military in his hands."

 

"I also was the favorite of the late Emperor!"  Empress Dowager snaps.  "I will not stand by and watch."

 

*********

 

Emperor Toghon is sitting in his bed, yawning.  So much better than slumming it out in the woods.

 

Toqto'a and Bayan are standing in front of him, optimistic that he will come into his own, over time.

 

"Why didn't you tell us you were getting married to Prime Minister's daughter?"  Bayan asks.

 

"Why didn't you ask me?"  Emperor Toghon inquires.

 

"I'm the one who saved your life," says Bayan.  "You should have discussed it with me."

 

"Well, I will do that from now on," Emperor Toghon says non chalantly.  "Oh, right.  When are you bringing me your incomparably beautiful niece?"

 

"Never mind!"  Bayan snaps.

 

"What do you mean?  Royal concubines will be needed in the future, too."

 

"I can't let my niece die from Danashiri's meddling."

 

"Do you know anything about Danashiri?"  Toqto'a pipes up.

 

Emperor Toghon nervously leans forward.  "What is she like, since you're saying that?"

 

"Her personality is totally vicious," says Bayan.

 

"Vicious?"  Emperor Toghon asks fearfully.

 

"She is known for her extreme jealousy, too," says Bayan.

 

"On top of that," Toqto'a interjects, "because she has her father's power behind her, she's like a bull in a china shop."

 

Emperor Toghon's heart sinks.  "Vicious as a bull in a china shop..."

 

"During the day, you'll have Prime Minister to tend with, at night, it's Danashiri," says Bayan.  "I don't know how you will manage."

 

Emperor Toghon sighs.  "It's my ill luck.  Who can I blame?"

 

"Your Highness," says Bayan, "please be strong.  You're the Emperor of the Great Empire now!"

 

"My time spent on Daecheong Island with Seung Nyang was better."

 

********

 

"I was trying to become in-laws with the Imperial Family, and it became pointless," Bayan says as he strolls through the hallway with Toqto'a.

 

"You've barely made your first step," says Toqto'a.  "Don't feel hurried."

 

"What a fool!  What a fool!  Who knew he would be such a fool?"

 

Emerging from the corner like a silent shark, El Temur glares at them.

 

Bayan quickly bows.

 

"Follow me," says El Temur.  He looks at the two men coldly.

 

*******

 

Bayan and Toqto'a stand behind El Temur in his office, as he takes a sip of hot tea.

 

"Bayan," says El Temur, "the Turks are causing trouble on the Western Border.  Why don't you go and help get rid of them?"

 

Bayan looks up in surprise.  Fuck.  El Temur had heard them in the hallway after all.  "The border area all of a sudden?  Is it because you don't trust me?"

 

El Temur faces them.  "To me, half of politics is suspicion.  The rest is getting rid of that suspicion."

 

Bayan and Toqto'a kneel.

 

"We promise to the heavens that we never betrayed you!"  Bayan declares.

 

"Please believe us, Prime Minister," Toqto'a adds.

 

"Until you destroy the Turks and their entire clan, you must never return."

 

Toqto'a and Bayan look at each other fearfully.

 

El Temur calmly sips his tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seung Nyang is exhausted, but she keeps pulling the stretcher.  She cannot let Tanqishi win.

 

Talahai, Byeong Soo, and Tanqishi are following her on horseback.

 

"It's strange, very strange," says Tanqishi.

 

"What do you mean?"  Talahai asks.

 

"That Seung Nyang.  He has the scent of a woman."

 

"Brother, how can you say that?  Is it because you haven't been with a woman in a long time?"  Talahai inquires.

 

"But look at him," Tanqishi insists.  "He looks prettier than most women.  Let's take a break!"  Tanqishi yells.

 

"We are taking a break!"  Byeong Soo yells.

 

Seung Nyang feels like she is going to collapse.

 

On a hill above, Park Bul Hwa watches Seung Nyang.  

 

Seung Nyang takes the straps to Wang Yoo's stretcher off her back.  He remains unconscious.

 

A guard walks by.

 

"I have a request," says Seung Nyang.  "His Majesty is having a hard time due to the heat.  Please give me some water."

 

The soldier hands her his canteen.  As she is about to give Wang Yoo a drink, Byeong Soo jerks it from her.  The guard elects to walk away, as he does not want to intervene.

 

"Are you thirsty?"  Byeong Soo asks.

 

Seung Nyang stands.  "I'm taking it to His Majesty.  Give it to me."  She reaches for the canteen, but he rapidly pulls it away.

 

"I'll give it to you, sure."  He begins to pour it out.  "Here, try lapping it up like a dog."

 

She puts her hands underneath the canteen, but he keeps moving it away.  She catches as much water droplets as she can in her cupped hands.  He is profoundly amused by her desperation.

 

Park Bul Hwa is livid as he observes from above.  "Yeom Byeong Soo, I will rip you to shreds.  I will chew on your bones!"

 

Byeong Soo throws the empty canteen in the tall grass.

 

Seung Nyang sits besides Wang Yoo, and drips droplets of water into his mouth from her cupped hands.  You must not die.  Just a little longer...please hold on.

 

Park Bul Hwa feels a rope drop over his head, and tighten around his neck.  Before he can react, he's dragged off his horse.

 

Jeom Bak approaches him first.  He holds him down with his foot.  "Stay down!"

 

Moo Song is standing over him with his sword drawn.

 

"Hold it..." says Eunuch Bang.  He pulls down Bul Hwa's mask.  "Huh?  You're..."

 

"You know this bastard?"  Jeom Bak asks.

 

"What are you doing here?"  Bul Hwa asks.

 

"Actually," says Moo Song, "what are you doing here?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toghon is being carried on his very fancy, golden, sedan chair.  He is slouched to the side like a sullen teenager.  "Is Danashiri that horrible?" He asks Eunuch Baek, who is also known as Golta.

 

"There's a state of emergency in the palace with the news that she's coming," says Eunuch Baek.

 

"Exactly how bad is her behavior that the rumors are so negative?"

 

"Does he even have the basic features?"  Danashiri asks her father from her covered sedan chair.

 

"Would I send you off to marry just anybody?"  El Temur asks from his sedan chair.

 

"I heard he is the King of Idiots."

 

El Temur growls at her.  "Watch your mouth."

 

"In good light, in truth, this position is only 'Empress' in name only.  What's the difference from being sold off?"

 

"Keep your composure.  This is the Imperial Palace."

 

"Even if she's beautiful," Emperor Toghon says to Eunuch Baek, "I hate women who are ill behaved and mean!"

 

"A man should be manly in order to be considered one," Danashiri says to her father.  "If I have to marry someone who is foolish, and scared of everything, I'd rather--"

 

"Stop this already," says El Temur.

 

Toghon meets El Temur and Danashiri.

 

"Stop!"  Eunuch Baek commands.

 

The sedan chairs are lowered.

 

Danashiri pulls back the beaded curtain on her sedan, and is struck by Emperor Toghon's handsome appearance.

 

"Your Imperial Majesty," says El Temur, "you came."  He bows.

 

"Welcome, Prime Minister," says Emperor Toghon.

 

El Temur turns to Danashiri's sedan.  "His Imperial Majesty is here.  Come out and say your greetings."

 

Danashiri gracefully steps out of her sedan with her hands in front of her face.  "This girl requests to greet you, Your Imperial Majesty."  She bows and lowers her hands, while taking a look at the Emperor.  Both are astounded by each other's appearance.

 

Danashiri smiles while El Temur nods in satisfaction.  Emperor Toghon awkwardly looks away.

 

"I heard that your vigor is extraordinary," says Danashiri.

 

Emperor Toghon clears his throat.  "As I've heard, your eyes are full of grace and virtue."

 

"Is that what you heard?"  Danashiri bursts into giggles.

 

Emperor Toghon looks away in embarassment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a very long day of pulling Wang Yoo on the stretcher, Seung Nyang joins the other captives at the river.  She splashes cool water on her body, and has a drink.  She is so very hot and thirsty.

 

"Get up!"  A guard commands.

 

Seung Nyang grabs one last bit of water.  The women leave first.  Tanqishi approaches her, and she realizes she's alone, except for the soldiers stationed nearby, who will easily look the other way.  He blocks her path.  She's feeling extremely annoyed with this creep who not only killed her mother, but he keeps looking at her like he's undressing her.

 

As she tries to walk past him, he blocks her with his arm.  She takes a step back, and shoots him a steely stare.

 

He pulls her in by the back of her neck, and he decides to smell her.  She unintentionally gets goosebumps.  If it were Wang Yoo, she wouldn't mind, but this guy has crossed the line.  She roughly pushes him away.

 

"What are you doing?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

Tanqishi is beginning to feel turned on.  Perhaps something will be happening for him tonight...He smiles.  He's getting very excited.  "I was right.  The scent of a woman.  You are...a woman."

 

"Don't be ridiculous," Seung Nyang replies calmly.

 

His smile fades, and he rips open her jeogori.  Clear as day, her white chest band shines like a beacon.  She tries to break away from him, as he stares at her chest lustfully, making her feel like a piece of meat.  He lets her go, and she immediately covers up.

 

Her face reddens with anger and embarrassment.  She's fearful of what he would do, given the opportunity, as she's now in a position where she can't refuse him.  She can defend herself, but now she has something they can easily use to profoundly hurt her.  The old game is over.  The new game is off to a frightening beginning.