American Perspectives: Consequences of Wang Yoo's Actions Pt. 2 ("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"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I told you not to set a foot in the guest quarters," Wang Yoo says rather sternly.

 

"You got hurt because of me," says Seung Nyang.  "So, I'll leave after I treat your wound."  She sighs and picks up the jar of green ointment.  She carefully applies it to his hideous wound.

 

He gives her a pained look.  He's happy she's here, but he knows he royally fucked up by showing his romantic interest for her while in the palace way too quickly.  The thing is, as a court lady of the Emperor, she's off limits.  He can't just recklessly chase after her without consequence.  He has to have a fool proof plan in place.

 

She doesn't make eye contact, as she wraps a bandage around his bare muscular chest and shoulder.

 

"You got hurt in place of a lowly person like me," says Seung Nyang.

 

He looks over at her.  "Who said you were lowly?"  His blood boils.  "Did the Emperor say that?"

 

"No."

 

He puts his jeogori back on.  "Don't ever call yourself lowly in front of me."

 

Moo Song awkwardly opens the door.  "Seung Nyang, Eunuch Baek came to get you."

 

"You should go," says Wang Yoo.

 

"I'll come back tonight," says Seung Nyang.

 

"Don't bother," says a slightly flustered Wang Yoo.

 

"Burns hurt more at night," Seung Nyang insists.  

 

Wang Yoo says nothing.

 

Seung Nyang bows, and Moo Song holds the door for her as she exits.

 

***********

 

Seung Nyang reluctantly walks into Emperor Toghon's meeting room.

 

"So, how was Wang Yoo?"  Emperor Toghon pretends to be indifferent.  "Why do you look at me like that.  Right.  You must have thought I'd scold you.  You still don't know me?  I am a generous man."

 

"His wound is serious," Seung Nyang says earnestly.  "He might be...feverish tonight."

 

Emperor Toghon's annoyance is bubbling just below the surface.  "You must be worried about him."

 

"So, I am asking, please permit me to nurse him tonight."

 

Not on your life.  Emperor Toghon pauses.  "Then, what about me?  What will become of me?  I couldn't sleep for the past few days because you didn't read to me.  Tonight, stay with me until I fall asleep."

 

"Then, I can leave...after you fall asleep?"

 

Emperor Toghon remains silent.  See if I'll fall asleep.

 

********

 

"Cheong Cheon Yoo Wol Rae Gi Si.  Since when has that moon hung in the night sky?"  Seung Nyang reads.  "Now I stop my drink to ask."

 

Seung Nyang looks over, and Emperor Toghon appears to be sound asleep.

 

With a little jolt, he wakes himself up.  "Hurry up and recite the poem.:

 

"In Ban Myeong Wol Bul Da Geuk.  Wol Heng Gak Yeo In Sang Su.  People can't catch that bright moon.  Rather, the moon follows.  Gyo Yeo Bi Kyeong Im Dan Yeol."

 

Emperor Toghon is trying his best to stay awake.  I can never...

 

"Nok Yeon..."

 

...Send you to Wang Yoo.

 

"Pushing aside the blue fog, that sparkling light."

 

Emperor Toghon shakes himself awake, but his eyes once again grow heavy.

 

**********

 

Wang Yoo tosses and turns.  He sits straight up and smiles when he hears footsteps in the hall.  His smile fades when Eunuch Bang enters the room.

 

"You're not sleeping yet, Sire?"  Eunuch Bang asks.

 

"I was going to," says Wang Yoo.

 

"This tonic is good for burns," Eunuch Bang places a tray on the table.  "You can drink it in the morning."  He bows and exits.

 

Wang Yoo touches his shoulder and sighs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Bayan!  What have you been doing?"  El Temur growls.  "You still haven't caught any clues as to who sent that slanderous document?"

 

"I apologize, Prime Minister!"  Bayan bows.

 

"What about the bloodletter?"

 

"Sorry, Father!"  Tanqishi apologizes.

 

El Temur furiously slaps the table.  "You bastards must not want to live."

 

Toqto'a, Bayan, Tanqishi, and Talahai drop to their knees.  "Sorry, Sir!"  They chorus.

 

"Bayan!"  El Temur shouts.  "Kill all the magicians who were brought in, and throw their bodies outside the palace!  I've been too nice.  The enemy is trying to fight me.  Now...I will do things my way."

 

********

 

Several magicians dressed in white are brought out into the middle of the town, and are forced to kneel.  All are blindfolded, and it is apparent from the bloodstains that their eyes have been gouged out.

 

"Kill them!"  Bayan orders.

 

A drum beats, and the soldiers draw their swords.  The small crowd of spectators gasp.

 

Swords slash, and heads roll.  Many within the crowd cover their eyes.

 

The corpses are covered by a straw mat, and a soldier posts a bulletin.

 

"These magicians were charged with creating the slanderous document, and were killed," the bulletin reads.  "Also, whoever reports those who talk about the bloodletter will be given 100 pieces of gold.  Anyone saying negative things will have three generations ruined."

 

Wang Yoo, Eunuch Bang, and Moo Song observe the drama from a safe distance.

 

"El Temur's response got rougher as you predicted," Eunuch Bang whispers.

 

"Time has come for the next phase," says Wang Yoo.

 

"What are you thinking about?"  Moo Song asks.

 

********

 

Wang Yoo and his men are back in the guest quarters.  Wang Yoo is seated at his desk with the containers of regular ink and invisible ink open.  He begins to write: A believer of religion vows allegiance and worships the leader.  The leader declares himself Lord of All.  He blesses the believers and curses the non believers.  He brings chaos to the world and deceives the people.  Please grant permission to start regulating them.

 

"What does it say?"  Jeom Bak asks.

 

"It's criticizing the religion that's popular these days," says Bul Hwa.

 

"So, these letters will change in the rain like last time?"  Jeom Bak asks.

 

Moo Song nods.

 

"Did you say it will rain tomorrow?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

"Yes," says Eunuch Bang.  "Seeing that my joints are aching, I am sure it will rain."

 

"The sky is very cloudy," Bul Hwa agrees, "so I think he is right."

 

"Tonight, we'll get ready," says Wang Yoo.

 

*********

 

Under the cover of night, Bul Hwa stealthily pastes Wang Yoo's bulletin on the city wall.  Jeom Bak joins him, and they find various walls and doors to paste on.

 

"Post them where people can see them," Wang Yoo had said.  "Moo Song and Eunuch Bang, put them by the gate where El Temur enters the palace."

 

*********

 

Tanqishi and Talahai ride through the town on horseback, while members of their entourage carry El Temur on his sedan chair.

 

"Seeing how things are quiet these days," says Tanqishi, "they must've been scared by your tactics."

 

"They must've accepted my warning," El Temur agrees.  "Still, you can't relax."

 

The bright and sunny morning is disrupted by a sudden cloudburst.

 

"I think it's a passing shower," says Tanqishi.  "Let's take shelter."

 

*********

 

The men and their entourages take shelter from the rain under a random structure.

 

El Temur sees a bulletin across the street, and immediately takes notice.  The black words disappear, and red words appear on the paper.  El Temur's blood boils as he scans the area, and sees the same bulletin on multiple walls.  Not again...

 

"Emperor Mingzong's," El Temur reads, "curse...begins!"

 

"It's him!"  Tanqishi exclaims with dread.

 

"They made a move again," says Talahai.  Just when they thought it was finally over.

 

*******

 

"I saw it!"  A palace maid whispers to Yeon Hwa and Hong Dan.  They immediately bow to Emperor Toghon and his entourage, who are furiously passing through the covered walkway.

 

********

 

The doors open, and Emperor Toghon bursts into Empress Dowager's quarters.

 

"What's happening?"  Emperor Toghon asks.  "My Imperial Father's curse?"

 

Lord Jang holds the bulletin.  "The palace and every street has this so-called 'Emperor Mingzong curse' posted."

 

Emperor Toghon grabs the document.

 

"It's the same people as before," says Empress Dowager.  "They've started to shake El Temur again."

 

Emperor Toghon hands the document back to Lord Jang.  "What about the people?"

 

"The past four years of bad harvests and natural disasters have them believing it's a curse by the late Emperor Mingzong."

 

"Perhaps it really is my father's curse," says Emperor Toghon.

 

"But the posting is a magician's trick," says Lord Jang.

 

"That is how I will believe it," Emperor Toghon insists.

 

"Your Majesty," says Empress Dowager.

 

"That's how I must believe," says Emperor Toghon.  "My father is deeply sorrowed by his untimely death.  He has mercy on me, so he is cursing El Temur.  I have to believe this way to help me gain strength.  Don't you think?"

 

"Yes, you are right," Empress Dowager agrees.  "I will believe Emperor Mingzong is looking after us.  The time we've been waiting so long for will come soon.  Until then, you must not irritate El Temur.  Rather, you must thoroughly play at being his puppet.  Do you understand?"

 

No, Emperor Toghon thinks.  I am going to change now.  I won't be El Temur's puppet ever again.

 

******

 

"Just how are you taking care of business?!"  El Temur rages as he tears up the bulletin, and throws it at Tanqishi, Talahai, Bayan, and Toqto'a.

 

"Since they said the curse will begin again," says Toqto'a, "I am sure they will make a move again."

 

"That's right, Prime Minister," Bayan agrees.  "They got us this time, but the next time, we'll catch their tails."

 

"Fine," says El Temur.  "I'll wait and see the curse they speak of.  Emperor Mingzong's curse?"  He snorts derisively.  "I am not afraid of a dead person's curse.  I will show them what my curse as a living man is."

 

********

 

"We have to show them," Wang Yoo casually plucks the strings on his geomungo.  "How can we not show them when the curse has now started?"

 

"How are we going to show them?"  Moo Song asks.

 

"Do you know what animal senses first when heaven and earth will change?"  Wang Yoo asks.

 

The men look amongst each other before Wang Yoo answers.  "The rat."

 

"Do you mean those noisy ones?"  Eunuch Bang asks.

 

"From now on, Bul Hwa and Jeom Bak, go outside the palace and catch mice.  It must be at least a few hundred live ones."

 

"But mice are so shrewd," says Bul Hwa.  "It'll be hard to catch them alive..."

 

"I'll tell you a method," says Wang Yoo.  "You just need to follow it."

 

********

 

"Thank you," Jeom Bak bows as he exits the herbalist's shop.

 

"Did you get it?"  Bul Hwa asks.

 

Jeom Bak shows him the black package.  "This is dried toad's skin.  He said this will become a strong anasthetic if I boil this down."

 

"We can boil this on grain and catch the mice," Bul Hwa adds.

 

"He said the mice will be asleep for about two days, so we just have to gather them up."

 

"Let's hurry."

 

********

 

Mak Saeng slowly descends the wooden steps in the biting winter cold.  He sees Byeong Soo walking on the path in front of his home, carrying a large bundle of wood on his back.

 

"What's up?"  Mak Saeng asks.  "You must be feeling better."

 

"I feel so much better after I had some Goryeo Bean Stew," says Byeong Soo.

 

"Why bring firewood?"

 

"I should earn my keep," Byeong Soo insists.  "I know enough to pay back favors."

 

"There are households with only kids after the adults died," says Mak Saeng.  "Take this firewood to them."

 

"I'll gather up more," says Byeong Soo.  "I'll unload this over there, and gather some more."  He happily walks away, ready to distribute the wood.

 

"He's not so bad," Mak Saeng remarks.  "Unlike his looks."

 

"Chief!"  Jeom Bak yells as he and Bul Hwa enter the snowy village.  "Have you been well?"

 

"Why are they here again?"  Mak Saeng asks.

 

The two men bow as Mak Saeng approaches them.

 

"What is it?"  Mak Saeng asks.

 

"We came to discuss something with you, Chief," says Bul Hwa.

 

"Discuss?"  Mak Saeng asks.  "I don't like that sort of thing."

 

"Please give us a little time," says Jeom Bak.

 

Mak Saeng sighs.  "Come on in for now."  He's tired of these associates with Goryeo royalty parading through his camp.

 

Byeong Soo wanders out from behind a home and sees the two men.  He quickly hides behind a wall, while Bul Hwa and Jeom Bak follow Mak Saeng inside.  Byeong Soo stealthily sneaks behind them.  "Right," says Byeong Soo.  "My senses were correct.  That chief is suspicious and there must be something in this Goryeo Village."  He sneaks up the wooden stairs, and puts his ear next to the paper covered window.

 

"Please promise first that you'll keep the secret," he hears Jeom Bak saying.

 

"A secret and promise?"  Mak Saeng asks.  "Forget it.  If it's problematic, don't even open your mouth, and just leave!"

 

"It's not problematic," Jeom Bak insists.  "You only need to ignore what we are doing."

 

Mak Saeng looks over at the window.  "Hold on for a second."  He walks over to the window, and presses his ear against the paper.

 

Byeong Soo wonder why it has suddenly gotten so quiet.

 

Mak Saeng pokes his index finger through the paper, and gets Byeong Soo right in the ear.

 

Byeong Soo quietly winces.  He stealthily runs right back down the stairs.  Mak Saeng chuckles.

 

"All right," Mak Saeng sits back down.  "He wouldn't come back now."

 

"Someone was out there?"  Jeom Bak asks.

 

"Don't worry about it," says Mak Saeng.  "What is it?  What do I need to ignore?"

 

*******

 

Byeong Soo moans in pain.  "Ah, I should've heard what they were talking about.  For now, I've caught their tail, so I'll get their body slowly.  Oh...That old gizzard is something."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You are going to catch the mice?"  Mak Saeng asks in disbelief.  "What will you do with all the mice?"

 

"We have a plan for their use," says Jeom Bak.

 

"No matter how hungry we are," says Mak Saeng, "we don't eat mice."

 

"We aren't cats!"  Jeom Bak retorts.  "We don't eat them, either.  We'll catch and take all the mice from here, so just don't tell anyone about it."

 

"Your master ordered this?"  Mak Saeng asks skeptically.

 

Jeom Bak nods.

 

"Please help us, Chief," says Bul Hwa.

 

"If you want to keep it quiet, you need to spray at night, and collect them early in the morning," says Mak Saeng.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tanqishi is eyeing the palace maids and Court Ladies, pointedly positioning himself in front of Seung Nyang.  "You may all leave," he says to the other women.

 

Seung Nyang looks at him with annoyance.  He moves closer to her.  "By chance, have you heard the Emperor talking about a bloodletter?"

 

Seung Nyang doesn't respond.

 

"Tell me if you hear the Emperor talking about a bloodletter.  Then, I'll not only spare your life, but give you everything you want."

 

Seung Nyang laughs.  As if!

 

"You dare sneer at me?"  A horrified Tanqishi asks.

 

"I heard the Prime Minister will be charged with treason if a bloodletter is found.  Perhaps I'll get a chance to get my revenge.  I'll pay attention from now on," Seung Nyang claps back.

 

Now it's Tanqishi's turn to laugh.  "You are brazen with the Emperor's support."  He moves in closer still.  "Do you know what happens to a rabbit in the field when caught by a hawk's eye?  No matter how fast it runs, it'll get it's flesh ripped to shreds by the hawk in the end."

 

Seung Nyang is in awe of this man's ego.

 

"Now that you are on the wrong side of me, your fate is like that rabbit."

 

As he walks away, Seung Nyang struggles to suppress her laughter.  What a moron!  Does he honestly think he has a chance with me?  Ew!!

 

*********

 

Seung Nyang makes her way into the Emperor's quarters as Eunuch Baek is meticulously tying the Emperor's belt.

 

"What took you so long?"  Emperor Toghon asks.  He would have much rather had Seung Nyang dressing him.

 

"Why did you get up so early today?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

"I am going to get up before sunrise every day, so be here early."  He turns around to face her.  "Tell me my schedule today."

 

"Ten o'clock hour, exercise," says Eunuch Baek.  "Two o'clock hour, reading and calligraphy."

 

"I am going to study letters," says Emperor Toghon.

 

"Your Majesty," says Eunuch Baek, "if El Temur finds out about this..."

 

"He'll try to kill me.  So, you must help me in secret, Yang."  He turns to Eunuch Baek, "And also, call in General Bayan tonight.  Be sure no one sees him."

 

"Yes, Your Majesty," Eunuch Baek bows.

 

*********

 

Emperor Toghon is perched on his throne as Bayan and Toqto'a come walking in.  The two men bow.

 

"You've called for me, Your Majesty?"  Bayan asks.

 

Emperor Toghon leans forward.  "I have never personally ordered anything from this seat until now.  But, I am going to give you an Imperial Command tonight."

 

The two men kneel.

 

"Command us anything," says Bayan.

 

"Please command us, Your Majesty," Toqto'a agrees.

 

"Find the bloodletter," says Emperor Toghon.

 

Bayan raises an eyebrow.  "Your Majesty, the bloodletter is just a rumor.  How can we when it doesn't exist--"

 

"Then, why is El Temur looking for a non-existant bloodletter?"  Emperor Toghon snaps.

 

"If the Prime Minister finds out you are looking for the bloodletter, then no one in this palace will protect you," says Toqto'a.

 

"Are you threatening me, too?"  Emperor Toghon asks.

 

"Not a threat, but advice," Toqto'a passionately replies.

 

"Then you two can protect me.  Why?  Can't do it?"

 

"How can you trust us?"  Bayan asks.  "We've been following the Prime Minister's orders up to now.  So, how will you trust us?"

 

"You two saved my life on Daecheong Island already.  If El Temur finds out about that, you two won't be safe, either."

 

Bayan and Toqto'a exchange glances, silently acknowledging that the Emperor has a point.

 

"There are no excuses against an Imperial Command!"  Emperor Toghon yells.  "Find my father's bloodletter, and bring it to me."

 

"As you command, Your Majesty," says Bayan.

 

The two men rise and bow before exiting.

 

"Come out," says Emperor Toghon.

 

Seung Nyang emerges from behind a wall.

 

"How was I?"

 

"Pardon?"  Seung Nyang asks.

 

"I am asking if I looked like a strong Emperor."

 

"Are you thinking about...standing up to the Prime Minister?"

 

"I am going to give it a try, even if my body is ripped to shreds."

 

Whether for the Emperor or for His Majesty, there is only one enemy, Seung Nyang thinks.  The quickest and surest way to bring down El Temur is...is finding the bloodletter.  "I'll help you, too, Your Majesty."

 

"You said you'll do nothing for me."

 

"I also have a debt to demand from El Temur."

 

"If you'll help me, I'll be even more courageous."

 

...To be continued...