American Perspectives: Consequences of Wang Yoo's Actions Pt. 3 ("기황후" Ep. 17)
***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"
Toqto'a and Bayan deliberately make their way down the stone steps.
"The look in the Emperor's eyes has changed, and he seems to have matured, too," Bayan observes.
"People don't change that easily," Toqto'a points out.
"You saw him, too," says Bayan.
"Until just recently, he was someone who shook in fear whenever he was in front of El Temur. Something is off."
"Are you saying someone is controlling him?" Bayan asks.
Toqto'a nods.
"Anyway," says Bayan, "it's getting complicated since we are getting commands from Prime Minister and the Emperor at the same time."
"It won't be complicated if we get the bloodletter, Uncle."
"Bloodletter...we only need to find it."
********
"Court Lady Noh, please get a hold of yourself!" Eunuch Dokman shouts.
"Don't come close!" Court Lady Noh waves a sharp ceramic shard at the palace maids.
The maids hide behind Eunuch Dokman.
"This is my room!" Court Lady Noh insists.
"Please get a hold of yourself!" Eunuch Dokman yells.
"Don't come! Don't come!" Court Lady Noh screams as she brandishes the shard. "I told you not to come."
Seung Nyang enters her room to see the Eunuch, Palace Maids, and a very distraught Court Lady Noh.
"It's good you are here," says Hong Dan. "Please do something."
"She was just fine awhile ago," says Yeon Hwa, "but she turned on us so suddenly."
"I saw it," says Court Lady Noh. "I am the only one who saw the bloodletter."
"There you go again," says Eunuch Dokman impatiently. "I told you we'd all die if you utter anything about a bloodletter."
"I know where it is," Court Lady Noh insists. "I served the Emperor, so I know. Only me."
"Sir, is that true?" Yeon Hwa gasps.
"Do you believe an insane person's word?" Eunuch Dokman asks.
Seung Nyang carefully approaches an anxious Court Lady Noh.
"Don't come!" Court Lady Noh shrieks. "This is my room! No! I won't let you take it!" She brandishes her ceramic shard at Seung Nyang.
"Yes, Madam," Seung Nyang agrees. "This is your room. So, live together with me. Please trust me. This..." She gently takes the green shard. "Please give it to me." She places the shard on the table, and the palace maids sigh with relief.
"I won't leave here," says Court Lady Noh. "I want to live here."
Seung Nyang nods. "All right, Madam."
"She's like a child with Yang," Hong Dan whispers.
Seung Nyang holds Court Lady Noh's hand. "I'll take care of her, so you all can leave."
"Will you be alright?" Eunuch Dokman asks.
Taking care of Court Lady Noh is a full time job, and not for the faint of heart. But...it is a potential means to deter Emperor Toghon from barging into her room willy nilly.
"Yes, Sir," Seung Nyang nods.
"Ah, right," says Eunuch Dokman. "Don't listen to any talk about a bloodletter. It's all nonsense."
As Eunuch Dokman and the Palace Maids exit, Yeon Hwa pauses in the doorway. She observes the two women, wanting to say something, but deciding against it, and leaving.
Court Lady Noh takes a seat on the bed. Seung Nyang kneels at her feet. "Did you really see...that bloodletter?"
"Emperor Mingzong. I served him until the end."
"Where did you see it?" Seung Nyang asks. "What was written there?"
"On that bloodletter," says Court Lady Noh, "the Emperor wrote that he loved me."
Seung Nyang sighs. Dead end.
"It's true," Court Lady Noh adds. "He told me I was the prettiest, and that I was the only one for him."
Seung Nyang nods her head and smiles. She really hopes this lead isn't a dud, but it's not looking very promising. "Yes, Madam. It's late. You should get some sleep."
Like a young child, Court Lady Noh gets under the covers and lies down. Seung Nyang tucks her in. She takes a moment to process what Court Lady Noh said, hoping there's some sort of clue buried in all of this.
"Are you awake, Emperor?" Eunuch Baek asks.
"Is the puppet show ready?" Emperor Toghon inquires.
"Yes, Emperor," says Eunuch Baek. "They came in last night, and they are standing by right now."
Emperor Toghon smiles slyly.
"But, Emperor," says Eunuch Baek, "must you put on a shadow play to deceive the Prime Minister?"
"What do you mean? I have to make sure he believes that I'm not interested in the bloodletter, and only want to have fun. But don't breathe a word about the shadow play to Yang."
"Pardon?" Eunuch Baek asks. "Ah." The light in his head goes on. He grins. "Yes."
Emperor Toghon smiles coyly. I hope Yang likes it.
"Your Majesty, the water to wash your face is ready," Seung Nyang says from outside.
Emperor Toghon points at Eunuch Baek. "I told you not to breathe a word."
"Yes," Eunuch Baek whispers and bows.
Seung Nyang enters the bedroom, followed by two palace maids.
One palace maid gets ready to put the golden basin of water in front of Emperor Toghon.
"Hold on," Emperor Toghon gestures anxiously. He looks over at Seung Nyang. "You do it, Yang."
Seung Nyang side eyes him. I'm helping you with political shit, and you still expect me to wash your face. "Washing your face is not the job of Court Ladies, but of maids."
"Ah, I don't care," says Emperor Toghon. "I don't know anything about that. You all leave, and Yang, you come and wash me."
Seung Nyang glares at him. She suppresses the urge to shudder. Really? I wouldn't even wash Wang Yoo. This is nasty!
"Softly," Eunuch Baek whispers. "Do your utmost."
Seung Nyang nods and smiles wickedly.
******
An annoyed Seung Nyang wraps a yellow satin bib around the Emperor's neck. She would honestly prefer to choke him with it, then again, that might totally turn him on. Next option.
He watches her and smiles adoringly as she puts a yellow wash cloth in the wash basin. She reluctantly dabs his face with it.
"Ah, right, right," says Emperor Toghon. "Your touch has become much softer."
...And there's her cue. She begins to push on his face with the wash cloth.
"Ah. Ah! Ah! Do it gently!" Emperor Toghon protests. "Before I punish you..."
"Punish me instead," says Seung Nyang. She grabs his shoulders and starts slapping his face with the wet wash cloth.
"Ah, gently. Ah, ah...it hurts!"
"I can't control myself," says Seung Nyang. "What am I supposed to do?"
Emperor Toghon scowls at her and sighs.
"Find a maid to do it, unless you want this to happen every morning."
"Um, no," says Emperor Toghon.
"Why not?"
Other than you, I don't like another woman touching me, he thinks.
As she dries his face, without warning, she smacks him in the face with the towel. He falls back in surprise.
Empress Danashiri applies her lip rouge and inhales the wonderfully scented incense from Empress Dowager. She carefully adjusts her earrings.
"Your Majesty," Court Lady Seo opens the doors and enters. "Your Majesty, have you heard the news?"
"What's with all the fuss so early in the morning?" Empress Danashiri asks in irritation.
"The Emperor is putting on a shadow play," says Court Lady Seo.
"A shadow play?" Empress Danashiri asks curiously. She stiffens. "By chance, is it because of that wench, Park?"
"That Park wench is...She's pregnant, she can't go around as she pleases."
"Right. Then who is it for?"
"Of course, it must be for you," says Court Lady Seo.
Empress Danashiri beams. "Me?" She blushes. Finally, he's noticing me. "I never thought such a day would come."
"I think...he is trying to make up with you."
"Make up? Call Wang Yoo over, too."
"Why him so suddenly?"
"I don't want to watch it alone with His Majesty. I think...he is jealous of Wang Yoo. Wang Yoo seems to have feelings for me, so I can make him anxious if I use the opportunity well, don't you think?"
"I understand what you mean," says Court Lady Seo.
Empress Danashiri grins.
"But what do you mean Wang Yoo has feelings for you?"
Empress Danashiri sighs. "How can I describe all the expressions in his eyes towards me? Anyway, men are such..." She giggles.
Court Lady Seo tilts her head.
"It would be odd to invite him for no reason," says Empress Danashiri, "so have him come to a dinner feast."
"Pardon?"
"If you tell him it's to discuss his future marriage, we should be able to invite both him and the Emperor." Two can play at this game.
"I understand," says Court Lady Seo.
"I'm pretty," Empress Danashiri confidently says to her reflection ash she applies her blush.
With a sexually/intimacy avoidant husband, the slightest hint of male attention is like the joy of finding even the tiniest puddle in the desert.
*********
"Your Majesty," Jeom Bak whispers. "There are easily a few hundred."
"Have you taken good care of them?" Eunuch Bang whispers.
"I tied them up well in the rice sack brought into the guesthouse," says Bul Hwa.
"Disperse them tonight," says Wang Yoo. "You will need to be very careful."
"We're already done getting prepared," says Eunuch Bang.
"When the palace is swarming with mice," Bul Hwa adds, "there will be a huge commotion."
"The curse will finally begin," says Wang Yoo. "Emperor Mingzong's curse."
"Your Majesty, someone is here on Empress' orders," says Moo Song.
Wang Yoo sighs. "Show them in."
Wang Yoo, Emperor Toghon, and Empress Danashiri are awkwardly sitting at her dinner table. Seung Nyang is testing the Emperor's food for poison.
Empress Danashiri bristles.
Seung Nyang is awkwardly standing between Emperor Toghon and Wang Yoo. She doesn't dare stand anywhere near Empress Danashiri.
"Why are you tasting the food for the Emperor?" Empress Danashiri snaps. The mere presence of this woman next to her husband makes her want to barf.
"I told her to," Emperor Toghon says flatly.
"Wang Yoo, you need to discuss your marriage with me from now on," says Empress Danashiri.
Wang Yoo looks at her uncomfortably. "I would like to stop discussing that matter from now on."
"Do you dislike the idea that much?" Empress Danashiri asks. "Since you're not comfortable, I won't bring it up anymore." Her heart races. Is he waiting for me?
Emperor Toghon clears his throat. "Let's all have some," he reaches for the food.
"But," says Empress Danashiri, "I heard you've prepared a shadow play tonight."
Emperor Toghon chokes on his soup. Shit. How the hell did she find out? Welcome to marriage, sweetheart. The wife always knows more than you think she does. "That's right," Emperor Toghon manages to say.
"Since you're putting it on for me so thoughtfully, I should be there," says Empress Danashiri.
Eunuch Baek wrinkles his nose.
Emperor Toghon closes his eyes and sighs. Damn it, it's all ruined.
"Wang Yoo, you should watch it, too," says Empress Danashiri. She has quickly figured out the play wasn't intended for her, but she intends to really make her husband squirm by any means necessary. That's what he gets for treating his wife like dog shit. He could have leaned on his auntie to get out of this marriage, but he didn't, so now he has to deal with the consequences.
Is she nuts? Emperor Toghon thinks. Why him, too?
"I'm fine," says Wang Yoo.
"It's not good manners for a man to turn down an offer from a lady," says Empress Danashiri. "Eunuch Baek, please make a place for Wang Yoo, too."
"Yes, Your Majesty," says Eunuch Baek.
Emperor Toghon glares at him. Let's reiterate. Emperor Toghon made this bed, now he's got to lie in it. It is not up to Eunuch Baek to roll him out of it. He's got to deal with it his damn self.
"What?" Eunuch Baek whispers.
Emperor Toghon sighs.
********
Eunuch Bang and Moo Song disguise themselves in Yuan Eunuch clothing while Bul Hwa and Jeom Bak disguise themselves in Yuan armor.
Bul Hwa and Jeom Bak put black cloth covered packages on the ground and open them. Several mice crawl out. Eunuch Bang and Moo Song do the same on the other side of the palace.
*******
A nice table of refreshments is set in the shadow puppet theater for Wang Yoo, Emperor Toghon, and Empress Danashiri.
Empress Danashiri leans next to Emperor Toghon, while he resists the urge to recoil. "But...how did you know I like this?"
Had I known, would I have prepared this? Emperor Toghon thinks. "You may begin," he says to the puppet masters.
Empress Danashiri smiles. She strongly suspects the play isn't for her, but she's going to take what she can get.
The candles dim, and the theater goes dark. An elaborate sequence of shadow puppets fill the screen.
Emperor Toghon looks back at Seung Nyang, who is among the attending servants, and not watching the show.
***********
Hong Dan places a basket on top of the rice chest as she begins to scoop the rice into a basket. She leans in for a second scoop, and shrieks. In the rice scooper is a huge white mouse.
Yeon Hwa screams. "What's wrong?"
"Th-There's a mouse!" Hong Dan quivers.
Yeon Hwa rolls her eyes. "It's not uncommon to see one in the storage room." She pushes Hong Dan aside, "Move away!" She shoves the mouse of the way, and scoops more rice. She impatiently shoves the basket into Hong Dan's arms.
They do not see the group of mice hanging out in the corner.
*********
As the shadow play continues, Wang Yoo is engrossed, Emperor Toghon is pouty, and Empress Danashiri is thrilled. She's going to do her best to play these two men off of each other.
Emperor Toghon sighs. Damn it. Who do they think I put this on for?
Seung Nyang is finally watching the play.
Emperor Toghon gestures for her to come over. She looks at him, and he nods. With reluctance, and Eunuch Baek's affirmation, she stands behind, but in between Wang Yoo and Emperor Toghon.
Wang Yoo scoots his chair away. Seung Nyang stands closer to the table, and Emperor Toghon grins. He's feeling the cheap thrill of carrying out an affair right in front of his wife.
Seung Nyang watches the screen and smiles. Emperor Toghon feels very, very satisfied.
Wang Yoo looks over at her and smiles to himself.
Emperor Toghon grabs Seung Nyang's hand, and she gasps. She is disgusted that he has absolutely no shame in doing this right in front of Empress Danashiri. He pulls on her hand, and she feels uncomfortable.
Wang Yoo sees her discomfort, and he immediately understands.
Seung Nyang is able to move her hand away, and she puts it behind her back. Emperor Toghon reaches for her hand again, and she tries to move away.
Wang Yoo grabs her other hand, and pulls her closer. Seung Nyang is surprised, but not horrified.
Emperor Toghon wants to throw up. He rolls his eyes and grabs Seung Nyang's hand again. He glares at her.
Wang Yoo pulls on her hand. Emperor Toghon pulls back. Seung Nyang feels like they would rip her in two if they could.
Meanwhile, Empress Danashiri is making herself completely oblivious to the potential threesome for as long as she can stand it. She disengages by telling herself that she has successfully triangulated Wang Yoo and her husband. She's not wrong. Unfortunately, the triangle has Seung Nyang at the center instead of her.
