American Perspectives: Empress Danashiri's Aftermath Pt. 2 ("기황후" Ep. 13)
***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"
Tanqishi approaches El Temur in his office, and bows.
"How is she?" El Temur asks.
"She fainted," Tanqishi replies.
El Temur's hand quivers with rage. "Lady Park...has become an Imperial Consort."
"I'm sorry, Father. This is all...my fault."
"You!" In a fit of rage, El Temur throws his ceramic cup at Tanqishi, hitting him in the head. The cut begins to bleed. "How dare you show weakness? Have you forgotten that you are the first born who will lead our family? Never show weakness, even if it's in front of me! Do you understand?"
"I understand," Tanqishi says.
Wang Go and Jo Cham walk right in the middle of the tension. They bow to El Temur.
Tanqishi looks at Jo Cham. "Why are you here?"
"General Talahai sent him," says Wang Go.
"Tell me what happened," says El Temur.
"That is..." Jo Cham says. "I beg your pardon, but..."
"It was an annihilation," says Wang Go.
Tanqishi looks at him in shock.
"What?" El Temur asks. "Annihilation?"
"General Talahai is the only one alive," says Wang Go. "General Bayan and the deposed King were killed in battle."
******
"Why is it so quiet?" Byeong Soo asks anxiously, as he waits in the outdoor prison. He desperately grabs the wooden bars. "I think the raiding plan failed. If not, why would General Talahai neglect us?"
"It's possible that the one who carried out the raid last night wasn't General Talahai," says Toqto'a.
"What do you mean?" Byeong Soo is about to shit bricks.
"Then, who raided this place?" Bayan asks.
Jeom Bak confidently struts up to the cell, axe in hand, looking as bright as a polished coin. "Lookie here. You sure are suffering a lot."
Eunuch Bang is close behind him. "Hey, Yeom Byeong...Soo. It's been awhile. How is it? Do you like my haircut?"
Toqto'a and Byeong Soo are astounded to see them. Bayan is just plain pissed.
"They're the deposed King's henchmen who were supposed to have died," Toqto'a says.
"What did I say?" Byeong Soo asks. "I told you not to trust them."
"Where's the deposed King?" Bayan inquires.
"Why?" Eunuch Bang asks. "Does our baby miss him now that he's sitting in there?" He bursts into laughter. The revenge is just too sweet.
"Open the prison door right now!" Bayan demands.
Eunuch Bang imitates his voice. "Open the prison door right now!"
"That little..." Byeong Soo says.
"Of course, I will open it for you!" Eunuch Bang says.
"Begin!" The Goryeo soldiers surround the prison, and the three Yuan supporters realize they're toast.
"It seems like," says Byeong Soo, "these bastards are going to kill us. General..."
Eunuch Bang and Jeom Bak smirk.
********
Jeom Bak and Eunuch Bang are leading away a bound Bayan, Toqto'a, and Byeong Soo.
"Where are you dragging us?" Byeong Soo asks hysterically. "I need to know where I'm going to die, so..."
Wang Yoo is standing in front of a tent, and a crowd of supporters form in front of him. The crowd dutifully parts to make room for the three Yuan supporters.
The three men are forced to kneel in front of Wang Yoo. Byeong Soo looks up at him, feeling petrified.
"What are you trying to do?" Bayan asks.
"My soldiers want your deaths," Wang Yoo replies.
Toqto'a looks at the soldiers surrounding them, and he feels sick to his stomach.
"It would mean that rather than the enemy they're fighting, those gathered under the same flag have caused them more suffering," Wang Yoo continues.
"What Baghatur was after wasn't the soldiers, but the horses," says Toqto'a. "You must have surely seen through their strategy. Is this what you were after all along?"
"You used us as bait in this battle," Wang Yoo responds. "I just changed our strategy and used you as bait."
"This is mutiny and treason," Bayan protests.
"Have you already forgotten who taught me the means?" Wang Yoo asks.
"What?" Bayan asks defensively.
"You want to leave?" He remembers telling Wang Yoo. "You're dreaming. Even if only in your dreams, kill all the Turks and get rid of them. The only way for us to leave here is to bring victory."
"Our enemy wasn't Baghatur, but him," says Toqto'a.
"Stop looking down on me, and just kill me!" Bayan demands.
"General!" Byeong Soo begs desperately.
Wang Yoo unsheathes his sword, and points it at Bayan.
Bayan closes his eyes. Wang Yoo executes a dol strike, and the rope bindings fall off.
Bayan looks down.
"Give them horses," says Wang Yoo. "We're going to Yeongyeong."
Byeong Soo breathes a sigh of relief.
"There's no reason to keep us alive!" Bayan shouts. "Why are you letting me live?"
"If our position was switched," says Wang Yoo, "you would have killed us. But just like Yuan and Goryeo are different, I'm not you. Does that answer satisfy you?"
Bayan glowers.
"What happened to Baghatur?" Toqto'a asks.
"Bring his body," says Wang Yoo.
A cart is pushed forward, showing a masked corpse. Toqto'a stands up, and pulls away the mask, revealing Yeon Bisoo's advisor.
Meanwhile, Yeon Bisoo is galloping away, along the edge of the river. She sadly looks at the carnage she is running away from in her encampment.
"What's your reason for letting me live?" She had asked Wang Yoo.
"The reason we fought is because of Yuan," Wang Yoo explains. "You know the saying. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
"Did you just...call me your friend?" Yeon Bisoo asks.
"Yes, friend," says Wang Yoo. "What's important isn't the present, but the future ahead of us."
"To us, there's no such thing as a future," says Yeon Bisoo.
"It's the same for Goryeo. Since we have no future, shouldn't we make it together? Yuan already dominates the sea route. The only thing they can't control is this Silk Road. I assure you that this Silk Road will allow either Goryeo or Turks, who are in the same position, to breathe. I'm only relaying to you how I feel. I'm not trying to get an answer from you."
"I'm Yeon Bisoo."
"I'm Wang Yoo."
Wang Yoo, we'll meet again, Yeon Bisoo thinks as she gallops away.
********
"Choon Sim and Eon Nyeon. The royal kitchen has not been cleaned well at all!" Eunuch Dokman reprimands at the morning meeting. "If I have to point it out one more time, you will receive a cut in your pay."
The two women sheepishly bow.
"Hong Dan, you're doing well these days," says Eunuch Dokman.
Hong Dan smiles and chuckles.
He stops in front of Yeon Hwa. "Is your monthly all year long now?"
"Pardon?" Yeon Hwa asks.
"Why do you go around with a frown all the time?"
Yeon Hwa sighs.
"It's also an important decorum to give a good impression to your superiors," sayas Eunuch Dokman.
Yeon Hwa bows.
Eunuch Dokman stops in front of Seung Nyang. "Yang, get out of that servant attire," He reaches behind him and grabs a purple outfit from the Court Lady holding a tray. "Change into these." He places the clothes in her hands.
"These are..." says Seung Nyang.
"From today on, you're a Court Lady," Eunuch Dokman responds.
Seung Nyang's eyes widen in shock. She was really hoping to go home.
The rest of the palace maids cheer. "Yang! Congratulations!"
"That's so good! I'm so jealous!"
Yeon Hwa gives her side eye.
"How nice!"
"Congratulations!"
**********
Eunuch Dokman leads Seung Nyang to her new room. Her new room that she doesn't have to share.
"This is where you'll live from now on," says Eunuch Dokman. "Since you're a Court Lady now, you need to carefully conduct your words and actions even more."
*******
"What should we do with Seung Nyang?" The captain of the Kheshigs asks Tanqishi. "General, please command me."
Tanqishi pauses, remembering his father's recent lecture regarding weakness. "Kill her," he finally replies.
"Yes, Sir," says the Captain before he bows and exits.
"For the sake of my father and family," Tanqishi says out loud, "I will never regret killing you."
*********
Seung Nyang anxiously looks over her permit to leave the palace. Tonight would be an ideal time to get the hell out of this awful palace.
Your Majesty, I can leave the palace now. Wherever you are, I'll come and find you.
"Yang!"
Seung Nyang quickly hides her permit in her jeogori.
Yeon Hwa closes the door behind her while she enters Seung Nyang's room. "You're still not asleep?"
"What brings you here so late?" Seung Nyang asks.
"Head Eunuch wants to see you," says Yeon Hwa.
"What does he want?" Seung Nyang inquires with a hint of annoyance.
"How would I know? He wants you to come quickly, so hurry up."
Seung Nyang rolls her eyes and walks outside, leaving Yeon Hwa in her room.
As she's walking toward Eunuch Dokman's quarters, an assassin lurks in the shadows. She pushes open a red gate, and the assassin stealthily trails her. He takes out some rope, and snaps it taut between his hands. He gets close behind her, and she rounds the corner, he prepares to strike. Instead, someone pulls him back.
The scuffle startles Seung Nyang, and she turns around. Just around the corner, two eunuchs dressed in green knock the assassin out.
Seung Nyang sees none of this, she doesn't dare investigate further.
Eunuch Baek approaches the Eunuchs and the assassin.
Seung Nyang keeps walking. It's best to not investigate and get caught up in any further palace drama.
"Yang!"
Seung Nyang turns around to see Eunuch Baek behind her. "Chief Eunuch Baek."
"Follow me."
"Head Eunuch Dokman is asking for me," says Seung Nyang.
Eunuch Baek looks at her coldly. "The Emperor is looking for you."
As she follows him, the Captain emerges from behind a wall.
Eunuch Baek, Seung Nyang, and two eunuchs enter Emperor Toghon's room. All bow to the Emperor.
"Did you find the promise letter that the Empress wrote to her?" Emperor Toghon asks.
Seung Nyang looks up at him in shock. The walls do indeed have ears.
"It wasn't in her room," says Eunuch Baek.
Emperor Toghon looks over at her coldly. "Search her, then."
Two lower ranked Court Ladies approach her, while two eunuchs grab onto her shoulders. She tries to block them from touching her clothes, but a court lady reaches into her jeogori, and pulls out the permit.
Eunuch Baek takes the permit and bows to Emperor Toghon.
Emperor Toghon opens it up.
"Please give it back!" Seung Nyang begs. "You cannot take it!"
He makes eye contact with her and folds the paper. He holds it over a lit candle. The eunuchs hold Seung Nyang back as her jaw drops and she tries to break away.
"Your Majesty! You cannot!" Seung Nyang cries. "Your Majesty! You can't!" Her stomach churns, and she feels like she's going to fall onto the floor any moment now. Her last chance to see Wang Yoo is going up in smoke right in front of her. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
He's mesmerized by the flames, eating away at this disruptive document. This is one of the few things right now that he has any control over, and he's embracing it wholeheartedly.
Seung Nyang's hatred for him escalates. She wishes he was the one going up in flames. Tears of anger stream down her face as she watches her freedom, and her chance to reunite with Wang Yoo, turn to ash.
*******
Tanqishi abruptly rises. "What? The Emperor took Seung Nyang?"
"I apologize, General," the captain kneels.
"Then, what happened to the man who was going to kill her?" Tanqishi asks.
"About that..." The captain says. "You needn't worry."
*********
Emperor Toghon, Eunuch Baek, and their entourage descend the stairs into the torture chamber. Emperor Toghon looks over at the unconscious and battered assassin with disdain.
"Wake him up," Emperor Toghon commands.
Eunuch Baek dumps a bucket of cold water onto the assassin's face. The assassin remains unresponsive. Eunuch Baek jerks his head up. The assassin does nothing. Eunuch Baek pulls the man's lip down, and blood leaks out of his mouth. "You!" Eunuch Baek yells. "Your Majesty, he killed himself by biting off his tongue."
"What?" Emperor Toghon asks. "Killed him--" He turns away and sighs. "Get rid of him."
Two lower level eunuchs remove the assassin from his seat.
"This won't do," says Emperor Toghon. "It's making me uneasy. From tomorrow on, make Seung Nyang work at the Imperial Court."
"I understand, Your Majesty," says Eunuch Baek.
"I can no longer ignore the Empress' bad conduct. I'm going to the Empress' quarters!"
*******
Empress Danashiri is sadly laying on her bed. At this point, she would have rather been deposed or executed. Emperor Toghon, family politics, are becoming less and less worth it.
"Your Majesty," Court Lady Seo enters her bedroom with a tray of soup. "Your Majesty, the Emperor is on his way."
Empress Danashiri slowly sits up.
"Please lie down," Court Lady Seo insists. "You still have a temperature."
"Bring me the mirror," Empress Danashiri insists.
"Mirror?" Court Lady Seo asks. "According to the physician, you need to rest until you're better."
"I can't face the Emperor looking like this. Bring me the blush and clothes to change into." She's secretly hoping that maybe they'll make genuine love, as opposed to the glorified hook up sex they have once a week. "Hurry."
******
Court Lady Seo waits outside the Empress' doors as Emperor Toghon speeds through the hallway.
"Your Majesty," Court Lady Seo bows.
"Where is the Empress?" Emperor Toghon asks. "How is she?"
"She's waiting for you."
Empress Danashiri is in full hanfu, complete with the crown as she's applying the finishing touches of makeup.
The doors open, and Emperor Toghon furiously walks through.
Empress Danashiri rises from her seat to greet him. She smiles and bows. "Welcome, Your Majesty."
He looks at her coldly.
"Please sit," says Empress Danashiri.
"Why did you come up with such a scheme?"
Empress Danashiri's face drops.
"You did something that an Empress should never do! Why did you do that?"
Empress Danashiri looks at him in shock. "Are you...really asking because you don't know?"
"I'm asking you right now!"
"No...I'll ask you first. Why do you neglect me so much?"
"What do you mean 'neglect?'"
"I am always alone. After coming here, I've never once not been lonely. The one who made me this pitiful is you. Do you know that?"
Emperor Toghon looks down at her hatefully. "You still...don't repent for what you've done wrong."
Empress Danashiri laughs. "Repent? Look. You came to see me in such a hurry. You came and...you're speaking to me while looking into my eyes. You don't know how long I've waited for this day. Why would I repent?"
Emperor Toghon grabs her shoulders. "Look here, Empress!"
"But...what I want isn't this expression on your face," Empress Danashiri sobs. "If I can't have you look at me with affection, at least once with warmth...I just want to hear you say something kind. I resent...my father who sent me here. I resent...you so much."
Emperor Toghon releases his grip on her arms and sighs. He turns from her and leaves.
Empress Danashiri's knees buckle, and her heart breaks. This, right here, is classic dead bedroom dynamics. And when it's the husband withholding, the damage to a woman's self esteem is profound. He's insensitive, lacks empathy, and is completely self centered. No effort is made on his part to try and make this better for her. Instead, he leaves her humiliated and powerless. This isn't exactly something she can discuss in great detail with her father.
*******
Emperor Toghon and his entourage are making their way back. It's been a very long and dramatic night. He's bracing himself for more drama from El Temur in the morning. He wistfully looks up at the sky and sighs.
********
"Your job now is to serve the Emperor in close proximity," Eunuch Baek instructs Seung Nyang.
Are you sure that's what you want me to do?
"You must heed his command," Eunuch Baek continues, "and never stay more than three steps away from His Majesty. Understand?"
Seung Nyang says nothing.
"Why aren't you answering me?"
"I understand," Seung Nyang says out of obligation.
...To be continued...
