Ta-hwan was again having one of his nightmares.This time, it was at the throne hall.Ta-hwan tried to protect himself and hid behind the throne as Sungnyang aimed an arrow at him. Sungnyang confided to Ta-hwan that she does not need him now that Ayu was made an heir.It was about time that she avenged the deaths of her father and Wang Yu.Ta-hwan cowered in fear but suddenly the Empress Dowager appeared She laughed sarcastically at him for not listening to her.The throne killed his brother and father.Now,it was his turn. He yelled at the Empress Dowager to shut-up but Lady Ki appeared again,ready to shoot him with an arrow. Ta-hwan begged her not to kill him and reached out his hands.....Ta-hwan continued to mumble in his sleep while Sungnyang tried to wake him up.He opened his eyes,clearly distraught, and strangled Sungnyang for attempting to kill him Sungnyang tried to bring him back to his senses and told him that it was just a dream.Ta-hwan soon woke-up from his nightmare with his hands on Sungnyang’s neck.He quickly apologized for what he did unsure of what just happened. Sungnyang asked if Ta-hwan started drinking again but he just told her to stop nagging since he did not drink a single drop of alcohol.Golta barged into the room and reported that the court had petitioned the removal of Chancellor Bayan.Ta-hwan staggered as he entered the throne hall where all the officials were waiting.The provincial governors wanted Chancellor Bayan to be removed from office since he was a relative of the deposed Empress who tried to kill a prince. But then,Chancellor Bayan was already kneeling in front of the hall,(making a show)as he pleaded for himself to be removed from office.Ta-hwan defended Chancellor Bayan and chastised the provincial governors instead.The Chancellor had nothing to do with the assassination attempt but he still chose to resign rather that to upset him,the Emperor.He dismissed the provincial governors' request and ordered them not to question his decision.Anyone who does otherwise would be charged of treason.Frustra
ted,Lady Ki can’t help but smirk as she watched Chancellor Bayan’s award-winning performance.Too bad,Ta-hwan could only see the chancellor’s loyalty and sincerity.Lady Ki and the Chancellor met at one of the pavilions while Taltal watched from afar.They mocked each other’s political move. Chancellor Bayan thought that Lady Ki was rather bold in getting the court to do her dirty work but she thought that he was better since he managed to gain the Emperor’s trust.The Chancellor believed that Lady Ki would destroy Yuan with him gone.He vowed to get rid of Lady Ki and all the Koryo people.On the other hand,Lady Ki just wanted peace which could only happen if one of them was dead.The Chancellor smiled at thought of that day to happen.There would surely be peace once Lady Ki was gone. Lady Ki agreed.The sooner she gets rid of the Chancellor,the better
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***********************At the temple,Court Lady Seo tried to persuade Maha to stop praying and to rest instead since he had not fully regained his health yet.However,Maha insisted on praying in front of the Buddha.Wang Yu made a trip to the temple when he learned that Maha would be there to offer some prayers. Eunuch Bang cautioned Wang Yu not to tell Maha that he was his father,for Lady Ki’s sake.Back in the temple,Maha coughed out some blood but hid it when someone entered the prayer room.He was surprised to see Wang Yu whom he thought was there to get his revenge.Wang Yu replied that he was there to see him.Wang Yu saw the sadness in Maha’s eyes and gave him some words of wisdom,"Even if he was no longer a prince there is still more inside him.Whether his father was the emperor or a beggar,he is who he is.A prince with nothing inside can ruin a nation.A beggar’s son with much to offer can build one.Act with dignity and no one would pity you."In Wang Yu’s mind,he wanted to apologize to his son since that was the only thing that he could do at the moment.Maha asked whether there would be another chance to meet him.Maha looked surprised when Wang Yu tenderly touched his cheek but seemed to like it.Wang Yu promised that he would visit him every now and then.On their way out,Wang Yu realized that Maha did have some resemblance with him.Eunuch Bang informed him about Lady Ki’s instruction to Eunuch Park.Maha was to be sent to Koryo as soon as he was fully recovered.Wang Yu decided to take the boy with him.He would not let his child spend his life alone.As soon as they are back in Koryo,he would tell Maha his real identity being Wang Yu and Lady Ki’s child.Eunuch Bang agreed since Koryo was their territory.Unknown to them,Court Lady Seo,who was standing nearby,heard that Maha was Lady Ki and Wang Yu’s child.
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**********************Back at the palace,Ta-hwan started drinking again and played tag with his concubines with his eyes blindfolded. Lady Ki rushed to where Ta-hwan was and ended up in his arms.He told her not to nag since he was feeling good.She asked half-heartedly about what made him so happy.Ta-hwan replied drunkenly that it was because the sky was clear,the flowers are in bloom,and he just caught Lady Ki. Lady Ki was not impressed.She reminded Ta-hwan about the doctor’s warning.If he continued drinking,he would soon collapse.Ta-hwan explained that drinking helps him escape his nightmares,the one where Lady Ki was trying to kill him. Ta-hwan asked for her to leave him alone and let him be.
Chancellor Bayan arrived to meet with the Emperor.Ta-hwan hugged him,glad to see a potential drinking buddy but the Chancellor had other things to do.He asked Ta-hwan to join him in reviewing the petitions sent by the officials.Ta-hw
an couldn’t care less about it.Instead,he ordered Golta to give the Imperial seal to the Chancellor.Lady Ki insisted that Ta-hwan should take a look at the petitions himself.However,Ta-hwan was set on entrusting Chancellor Bayan with his seal and ignored Lady Ki’s protest.The Chancellor looked smugly at Lady Ki on his way out.Clearly,he won this round. Chancellor Bayan used the Imperial seal and stamped the petitions that would remove high-ranking officials from their positions.Taltal protested that the Chancellor’s decision to remove men with unquestionable ability and integrity from their jobs–finance,personnel,and affairs of the state. Chancellor Bayan couldn’t care less since they were all Lady Ki’s people.Taltal tried to persuade him but Chancellor Bayan believed that what he was doing was for the good of his country.With the Imperial Seal on his hands,he is the Emperor.He ordered Taltal not to concern himself with the matter and instead find a way to fill the Imperial Treasury which was almost empty.Lady Ki went to the interrogation room to speak with Chancellor Bayan who was in the midst of torturing the captured officials.When Lady Ki demanded to see the evidence,Chance
llor Bayan showed her the petitions with the Imperial Seal which proved that the officials misused the government funds.It was enough evidence.Lady Ki defended the officials who were wrongfully accused and dared the Chancellor to attack her directly if he wanted her gone.Lady Ki accused the Chancellor that his tyranny was ruining their country.The Chancellor corrected Lady Ki,it was not her country but his and the Mongols.Lady Ki reminded him that the so-called ‘bad blood’ was running through the nation’s next emperor,and she happened to be his mother. She accepted his challenge and asked him to see whose blood spills first.Ta-hwan was telling Ayu to be a strong and brave emperor.Someone who’s a warrior,a rider,and a conqueror.Ayu replied that his mother told him to protect the weak.Ta-hwan countered that what he needed was power and strength so that Koryo and other countries won’t be able to attack them.Ayu was curious since he learned from the servants that his mother was from Koryo.He told the Emperor what he intends to do to Koryo once he becomes an emperor,but Ta-hwan cut him short.He ordered Ayu never to mention Koryo in his presence again.This frightened the little prince who immediately ran towards his mother when he saw her.Lady Ki was there to ask for Ta-hwan’s help regarding the captured officials.However,Ta-hwan believed that the Chancellor was only doing it for the good of Yuan.He wondered if Lady Ki was upset because she was losing her people.He told her to focus on her role as a mother instead and not to be involved in politics,for Ayu’s sake.Ta-hwan still held a grudge against her for saving the traitor Wang Yu right before his eyes.Lady Ki just looked at him and walked away frustrated.Ta-h
wan yelled at her to mind her place and not to meddle in the affairs of the state.Golta stared at Lady Ki as she walked out,clearly glad that she was losing the Emperor’s favour.
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*********************Eagle group’s leader ordered Yom Byongsu and Jo-cham to meet with Chancellor Bayan.Their immediate reaction was to complain that the chancellor would definitely kill them on sight.The leader gave them a letter which they should give to the chancellor in order for them to earn his trust.After the meeting,Eagle House' leader took off his mask and revealed his identity…He turned out to be Golta while his assistant was Namu,one of Ta-hwan’s bodyguards.(dun-dun-dun!)Golta knew that Lady Ki and the Emperor were no longer in good terms.With that in mind,Bayan might just end up as the big winner.He told Namu that they would support the winner and use him to increase their profits.Coming from a merchant’s point of view,Golta knew that the time would come when money would rule the world…. and he has tons of it…
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**********************Yom Byongsu and Jo-cham met with the Chancellor who was suspicious at first.However,his suspicion turned into curiosity when they showed him the letter which contained information about the foreign traders.Yom Byongsu explained that the Chancellor should confiscate the traders assets and use it to fill the Imperial treasury.Eagle House wanted the foreign traders,especially the ones from Koryo,out of the picture since they were a nuisance to their business.The chancellor agreed since he was promised Eagle House’ support.Taltal looked displeased as he arrested the Koryo merchants while Wang Yu stood nearby and watched the whole incident.He thought that the vendors ruined by Bayan would be taken by the Eagle House.Wang Yu was worried that the incident would affect Koryo the most and decided to fix it right away.He told his men to get in touch with Suri (Onbisu’s assistant)and find out what Eagle House was up to.Taltal checked-in on Yom Byongsu and Jo-cham who were going through the confiscated assets of the traders.He wanted to kill them for clouding his uncle’s judgement but the Chancellor arrived and stopped him.He explained that they have to get rid of the immigrants who had been sucking their country dry.Taltal reminded him that the immigrants were the ones who built their nation.Destroying the commercial sector would lead to their country’s economic collapse.For the first time,Chancellor Bayan slapped Taltal for opposing his wishes.Taltal continued to reason with his uncle.Ignorance must be corrected.Courage without wisdom would ruin them all.The Chancellor refused to listen Taltal’s lecture and drew his sword.He felt disappointed.Anyone but Taltal,not him.The merchants were dragged into the palace ground.Taltal explained that they would not be killed but just branded so that they could no longer do business in Yuan. Taltal turned around and closed his eyes,unable to bear the anguish of the merchants who were wrongfully persecuted.
Lady Ki arrived and immediately ordered them to stop.Taltal grabbed her wrist and reminded her that she should not be seen there.Away from the crowd,Lady Ki accused Taltal of being a coward.Taltal admitted that he couldn’t do what Lady Ki wanted him to do.The Chancellor had the Emperor’s favor and can’t be touched.He was not giving up though,just declining.Lady Ki was firm on her decision.She would fight till the end since she was not a coward.
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*********************Wang Yu was again with Maha at the temple and prayed with him.When Wang Yu asked Maha what he had prayed for, Maha replied that his prayers were for his parents.If his parents were dead,he hoped that their passing was easy.If they’re alive,he wished to see them again.When asked about his own prayer,Wang Yu said that his prayer was for Maha’s prayers to come true.It brought a smile on Maha’s face.Wang Yu was worried that Maha did not look well but Maha assured him that he was fine.As expected,Court Lady Seo was eaves dropping in order to get more information about Wang Yu and Maha’s real relationship.
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*********************Ta-hwan was strolling around the palace when he saw the laundry section.He looked between the linen as if searching for someone and was surprised to see Sungnyang appear in front of him.It was just like before.He was mesmerized and readily agreed to go with Sungnyang when she invited him for a short trip outside the palace;to see something interesting.The trip was actually to show him the reality of his people living in poverty and death.Ta-hwan felt tricked into going since he did not find the scene interesting enough and decided to turn back.Lady Ki tried to persuade him to think of his citizen for a change but Ta-hwan reminded her to just mind her place.Lady Ki told Ta-hwan that while he and the Chancellor vainly pursued Yuan’s past glory,she fed his people with funds that came from Wang Yu.She feared that the people would rise up against the Emperor and tried to convince him to save them from Bayan’s tyranny.Ta-hwan refused to hear more about the matter.He believed that the Chancellor’s loyalty,passion,and strength would save their country.They traveled back to the palace with the citizen silently muttering curses towards the Emperor.Ta-hwan suddenly felt a sharp pain on his chest and stopped his horse.He looked around and saw a familiar face.It was Wang Yu.He pointed towards his direction and told Lady Ki that he just saw Wang Yu.Lady Ki thought that the Emperor was seeing things again since Wang Yu was dead already.The shocked Ta-hwan passed out and fell out of his horse.Lady Ki immediately instructed the eunuchs to escort the Emperor back to the palace.Her concerned voice made Wang Yu turn around.He looked sad to see Sungnyang’s worried expression.
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*********************Back at the palace,the doctor informed Lady Ki that too much wine had weakened the Emperor’s heart.He was safe for the time being although they don’t know when he would wake up.The Empress Dowager and the Chancellor rushed into the room and pleaded the unconscious Emperor not to die.
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*********************Meanwhile,Maha’s health was on the downturn.Eunuch Park tried to give Maha his medicine but the little boy could not even swallow.Court Lady Seo,who quietly stood beside Eunuch Park,received a pouch of gold coins as payment for her services.He told her leave and make a new life for herself.Eunuch Park continued to feed Maha but the medicine just dripped at the side of his mouth.He realized that Maha had stopped moving.He was dead.Wang Yu anxiously waited outside since he would be the one who would bring Maha to Koryo.He made sure that everything was prepared for Maha’s trip.His men teased him that he looked happy."Of course,”Wang Yu replied.He was happy at the thought that he could finally call him his son in Koryo. They saw Court Lady Seo leave the place which made Eunuch Bang suggest that he would go and get Maha. Eunuch Bang entered Maha’s room to inform Eunuch Park that they were ready to leave … but he was welcomed with the sight of a lifeless Maha.Eunuch Bang slumped on the floor,bitter at the sad fate of Maha and his king.His legs weak,Eunuch Bang couldn’t bring himself to inform Wang Yu about what just happened.Wang Yu immediately ran towards Maha’s room…but Maha had already passed away.Wang Yu refused to accept that his son was dead.He told Maha to wake-up since his father was there… Wang Yu cried as he embraced Maha and told him that he was his father over and over again…but it was too late.
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*********************Sungnyang too cried,but for a different reason.Ta-hwan still had not regained consciousness.S
he told him that he would someday know how she truly feels;what she had done for him.She pleaded for him to wake up and not to be sick or lonely again.Eunuch Park met with Lady Ki who immediately asked about her son,Star.As per Wang Yu’s instruction, Eunuch Park told her not to worry since Star was getting better every day.Wang Yu didn’t want to give Sungnyang more heartache since she had already been through a lot.
Hong Dan arrived to inform Lady Ki that according to Dok-man,the Empress Dowager and Chancellor Bayan were up to something. Lady Ki ordered Eunuch Park to gather all the officials at the throne hall.Meanwhile,the Empress Dowager was convinced that this was their chance to oust Lady Ki.Too bad,they were one step behind.Lord Zhang informed them that Lady Ki had just gathered all the officials in the throne hall.The Empress Dowager and Chancellor Bayan rushed into the throne hall to question Lady Ki’s actions.However,Lady Ki merely stated the fact.Since the Emperor was currently indisposed,it was but natural that his heir would rule in his place.Lady Ki was just following the law and protocol.If the crown prince was too young to decide,she would become the Empress Regent.Lady Ki had the full support of the provincial governors.However,Chancellor Bayan was furious that the officials just made a Koryo woman become the Empress Regent and rule Yuan.They should ignore this so-called protocol if their country’s survival was at stake.Lady Ki asked if that was why protocol had no meaning under Chancellor Bayan’s tyranny.She vowed to rebuild their nation which the Chancellor destroyed.Lady Ki took the chance to disclose that the Empress Dowager had neglected her duty to take care of the Imperial Treasury which was now almost empty.She ordered her to step down and gave full control of the treasury to Dok-man.Lady Ki was not finished.She announced that the imperial and city guards would now be under Eunuch Park’s command.The Empress Dowager felt like she was just slapped on the face.She can’t accept the fact that the most powerful positions in the land would be in Koryo’s hands.That was not all,Lady Ki ordered Chancellor Bayan to hand over the imperial and regency seals in his possession."Abs
olute power corrupts absolutely,”was Lady Ki’s final statement.Taltal can’t help but look with awe at his pupil.The Empress Dowager fumed in anger as she quietly surrendered the treasury’s seal to Dok-man. Meanwhile,Eunuch Park met with the imperial and city guards to remind them of their duty to protect the Emperor and Lady Ki with their lives.He then went to the Chancellor’s office to get the Imperial seals.Chancellor Bayan could only shake his head in frustration.Taltal went to see Sungnyang and cautioned her about what she had just started.A power struggle was like chasing rabbits,success goes to the quickest and surest.He informed her that she had just started a dangerous hunt.Sungnyang bravely replied that it was a hunt that had to be finished before the Emperor woke up.Lady Ki wondered if Taltal had finally decided to help her. He told her that she would find his reply in one of his book of tactics.Lady Ki went to the library to look for Sun Tzu’s Art of War.Taltal had written in between the pages the names of corrupt officials under Chancellor Bayan.There was a problem though, they have no proof.She planned to deal with them on Ayu’s birthday celebration.Eunuch Park was worried since they would invite Chancellor Bayan’s men to a feast.Lady Ki just said the this men were worthy of a special treatment.She then ordered Eunuch Park to transfer Ta-hwan into her pavilion.
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***********************Ayu’s birthday celebration soon arrived.Lady Ki thanked the officials for coming and ordered the feast to be served.
To everyone’s surprise,they were served with a mere bowl of water.The Chancellor thought that Lady Ki was pulling a prank on them.Lady Ki replied that the crown prince can’t have a feast since the citizen were starving.The Chancellor was about to walk-out of the throne hall but Lady Ki stopped him.Lady Ki enumerated some of the officials’ corruption cases,which includes receiving gifts,forgery,f
orfeiture,and racketeering.She announced that she had proof of the spoils system that rewards corruption and showed them the record. Even water was too good for the officials.Since it’s the Crown Prince’s birthday,she added arsenic/poison in the water that was served to them.Lady Ki challenged them.If they insist that they had no fault,then they would drink it up.She would then step down as murderer of innocent people.However,if they don’t drink,it would be mean that they admit their crimes as listed in the book (which actually did not contain any evidence).Only Chancellor Bayan drank the water since he knew that he didn’t commit any crime and also because Lady Ki promised that she would step down.Lady Ki admitted that there was no arsenic in the water;she was just testing them.But then,the officials had just admitted that they were guilty.That left her with no choice but to have the officials arrested excluding Chancellor Bayan and Taltal."Nice move,” Taltal thought.Court Lady Seo had found her way into the palace and went straight to the Emperor’s quarters.Golta told her that Ta-hwan won’t be able to receive anyone at the moment.Suddenly,Golta heard Ta-hwan call his name.The Emperor had just regained consciousness!Court Lady Seo went into the room together with Golta and took the chance to say something important to the Emperor.Still drowsy,Ta-hwan gave her permission to speak."Your Majesty, Maha is actually…”
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