LEE JOON GI: The Hottest, Handsomest & Most Talented Global Actor, Action Star, Singer and Model: Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo Episode 18

GWANGJONG

THE MOST ROMANTIC HERO

Loving Gwangjong was far more difficult than what Hae Soo could imagine. She didn’t anticipate that she would be told in no uncertain terms that she was venturing into territory that was way out of her league.

HAE SOO

THE QUEEN

GWANGJONG’S HEART

When the newly minted king, Gwangjong took on the mantle of power, Goryeo was not at its most robust. Problems that lurked in the palace threatened to destabilise the Goryeo crown and wreak havoc in the romantic life of the loving couple, Gwangjong and Hae Soo. Picture Gwangjong reigning with Hae Soo by his side. Romantic but impossible.

Upon ascension to the throne, Gwangjong, to his consternation, discovered that it was not an easy position to hold onto. His position was hanging by the thread.

To begin with, a crisis had descended on Goryeo. There was a struggle by the powerful clans to bring the king to his knees with attempts to wrest control from him. It highlighted his travails of not having the strong political and military backing of the various clans.

It rapidly emerged that the underlying issue was, ‘Who would be Gwangjong’s queen?’ The clan leaders had taken it upon themselves to choose a queen consort for him. They tried to compel him to marry Princess Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa.

The vulnerable couple, Gwangjong and Hae Soo, were attacked from all sides. They faced the greatest challenge in their romantic relationship.

PRINCESS HWANGBO YEON-HWA

The princess, Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa, was the first to move to action to deal with her rival and mow down her defences and resistance. She was laying the groundwork to prevent Hae Soo from marrying Gwangjong. The rest of the opposition who came after her wear down Hae Soo’s resistance.

Putting the cart before the horse, she unceremoniously announced to Hae Soo that she would be marrying Gwangjong. Although Yeon-Hwa had personally proposed to Gwangjong, she had not obtained a positive response for her proposed union with him.

The triumphant tone of the announcement was a shock to Hae Soo because Gwangjong had not mentioned anything to her. They had promised to tell each other the truth. But strangely, Yeon-Hwa was unusually confidant of marrying him in the end.

The audience, having understood Gwangjong’s character, know that even if Yeon Hwa succeeded with her ruse, she would be singed in the process.

Hae Soo, not wanting to give Yeon-Hwa the satisfaction of her victorious speech, declared that she would only believe it from Gwangjong’s lips.

Yeon-Hwa alleged that there were some sensitive matters that the king could not bring himself to say to her.

Yeon-hwa announced that the various clans were up in arms against the Gwangjong and were deliberating on how they could overthrow him. The clans were unhappy that Gwangjong had put a stop to relocating the capital from Songak to Seokyeong. All work had been stopped.

According to the princess, the question of who got to wear and retain the crown depended on whether the contender for the throne could obtain the allegiance of the powerful clans like the Hwangbos of Hwangju and the Yoos of Chungju.

The Yoos of Chungju, Gwangjong’s mother’s clan, were in a state of anxiety because they, egged on by Queen Yoo, had mistreated him before he became king.

Other powerful families in Songak also oppose him. Behind his back, all were plotting for his downfall.

‘See?’ Yeo-Hwa stressed dramatically.

Yeon-Hwa could not emphasize enough how important she was to Gwangjong.

Therefore, Yeon-Hwa asked a petulant rhetorical question, ‘Would the king discuss such political sensitive issues with you?’

The political situation was made clear to Hae Soo. The mesh of Goryeo’s political alliances was complicated. The different clans were at variance with each other.

But when it came to the future queen consort, the different clans were one in agreement with each other. It later emerged that Gwangjong could either choose to marry Yeon-Hwa or choose death. He could not renounce the throne in favour of another prince.

The princess, in her less than cordial attempt to erode Hae Soo’s confidence, began by casually alluding to the naïve girl’s delusionary living arrangements.

But, Yeon-Hwa could not help herself but condescendingly sneered at Hae Soo’s romantic dreams. The mockery was thinly-veiled when Yeon-Hwa pointed out that she, Hae Soo, was only interested in being cocooned in her fantasy world, waiting for Gwangjong every day in the small but prettily decorated room. All her dreams were contained in that room. That was all Hae Soo was satisfied with and what she demanded of her existence.

Yeon-Hwa’s contempt was obvious. Hae Soo was ridiculed for wanting to live in her own little cloistered fantasy world, and to be oblivious of what was actually happening in the outside world. She wanted to distance herself from the vicious politicking, the bitchiness of the females in the palace and the cruelty of the real Goryeo world. All she wanted was a peaceful world without any stress or pressures where she was loved and protected by Gwangjong.

Her world and her whole life was centred on Gwangjong but Gwangjong was her life. But what she seemed unaware of was, her man, Gwangjong was meant for the bigger things in life. He was meant to be the emperor of the Goryeo Empire. If he was, she was just a miniscule part of his life.

Was it not a sly dig at Hae Soo’s idea of romantic love?

Yeon-Hwa inevitably raised the question of whether Hae Soo was fit to be Gwangjong’s queen. A woman who was easily satisfied with a small room for herself could not be the queen. Having said that, she argued that if Hae Soo were to become the queen, the kingdom would definitely be in huge trouble.

Did Princess Yeon-Hwa not think it was too premature to make such a prophesy?

No. Hae Soo would not be of any political help to him. She was someone without a powerful or wealthy family to back her and her king, Gwangjong. ‘Would it not be unfortunate if he gave up everything for her?’ It meant that he had fought his way up the throne for nothing!

Hae Soo, after so many humbling incidents in her life, may seem like a fragile flower but she was not stupid. It was made transparent what Gwangjong’s future would be like with her as his queen. Could she risk it? Hae Soo had to let go or both she and Gwangjong would be burnt.

‘Are you saying you can stop it?’ Is Yeon-Hwa able to stop him from giving up the throne?

The question of the viewers is, ‘Did Hae Soo want to stop the man she claimed to love from giving up the throne for her? Was she going to politically cripple her beloved when he should be up there in all his glory as the king?’ Through her grounding in history, Hae Soo knew that one day Gwangjong would be the emperor of an empire, the Goryeo Empire.

More mud-slinging was imminent. Yeon-Hwa drummed in the very important point. ‘A king cannot marry a woman with a scar on her body!’

Hae Soo remembered that she had slit her wrist to prevent marriage with King Taejo. Now the incident had come back to haunt her.

Yeon-Hwa, though not normally magnanimous and friendly, was suddenly given to such virtues when she offered a peace treaty that delineated how they could live peacefully together and how to share Gwangjong. They could co-exist and not infringe on each other’s rights.

Hae Soo was given a clear picture. Yeon-Hwa would be Gwangjong’s consort, and as the queen, she would rule the big, wide world together with her king while Hae Soo could be a self-indulgent companion, waiting in her little room for him every day to return after he had dealt with the important court matters.

Thought-provoking. One wonders if the princess’s peace plan stemmed from her insecurities about Gwangjong’s feelings about her.

Hae Soo understood that she would soon be set adrift from her beloved king in her own lovey-dovey world. Did that situation sit well with her?

The audience could understand what it means. In the modern world, Yeon-Hwa was the wife with status, money, glory and power while Hae Soo would be the mistress, the other woman, who was the comfort woman who waited for her lover to come to her after all his work (and family) obligations had been met. Even if Hae Soo had his love, she would not have all his attention. Did the idea of sharing a man with another woman appeal to the twenty-first century young woman? Was it going to be mental and emotional torture to her?

It was made clear that Hae Soo’s decision was important. She would be crucial in deciding Gwangjong’s future.

It may well be asked at this stage who would make a better queen for Gwangjong.

Yeon-Hwa had the answer. She stood up, and superciliously spelt out and brutally drove home the point that she was a Hwangbo of Hwangju, one of the most powerful clans of Goryeo.

And to push the stake deeper, she proclaimed that she was the daughter of the deceased founder of the Goryeo kingdom, King Taejo. She implied that she possessed the royal lineage and strong political connections to be Gwangjong’s consort.

Sensing victory, she rhetorically asked, ‘If I cannot do it, who can protect him?’

Yeon Hwa was able to boast of power as she had an influential family with a powerful army to support her man. They would swear immediate homage and allegiance to him if Yeon-Hwa was his queen.

So, who was she, Hae Soo, anyway? She was just a mere insignificant woman. Hae Soo got the full brunt of her derision. It was made crystal clear to her where her priorities lay. No happy endings for her.

With an arrogant look, Yeon-Hwa with her head held high, turned regally and confidently strutted off.

Was Hae Soo dumbfounded? She had never thought of such big issues. Her little mind did not focus on issues beyond romantic love. Perhaps she had been trying to sweep the threatening matters under the carpet.

She suddenly realised hat she was not a suitable mate for Gwangjong.

WANG WOOK

THE EIGHTH PRINCE

Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, another person was also trying to drive a wedge between Gwangjong and Hae Soo.

Wang Wook, once his stiffest competitor for the throne, was that person. He declared to Gwangjong, ‘That girl cannot become queen.’ But Gwangjong thought otherwise.

While it was hard to say whether Wang Wook was still furious with Hae Soo for having jumped ship so easily, his jealousy of the king was easy to detect. Gwangjong had grabbed everything – the throne and the girl he loved.

For the once-ambitious Wang Wook, his primary motivation was to prevent Gwangjong from making Hae Soo his queen. ‘Winners take it all’ should not apply to Gwangjong.

Gwangjong insisted that if he was determined to keep his word, nobody could stop him.

Wang Wook reminded him that Hae Soo had slit her wrist to avoid marrying their father, King Taejo. His contention was, a woman with a scar could not become the queen in Goryeo.

Wang Wook was engaged in the evil pursuit to prevent Gwangjong from winning at everything. Gwangjong glowered at him; his eyes hard and steely. His throat and facial muscles tightened.

Wang Wook stated that Gwangjong had to give up something, either the throne or Hae Soo. If he wanted to cement his ironclad hold on the throne, it would mean that Gwangjong had to cast Hae Soo aside.

Gwangjong was unimpressed and studied Wang Wook’s face for some time. He was the king; who was the prince to dictate to him?

At this juncture, he would brook no dissent nor interference. He would accomplish what he had set out to do. Then a smile wreathed his face. He had a sense of humour, of which Wang Wook proved to be painfully lacking.

His brow furrowed and, with a twinkle in his eyes, he brushed aside all arguments. His mocking smile widened and he boasted with easy confidence, ‘I’ll not lose either.’ Neither his throne nor his woman.

Wang Wook, staring disdainfully at him, was tempted to puncture Gwangjong’s self-delusion and call his bluff.

‘Others may give up something. But I ascended the throne to acquired everything,’ Gwangjong asserted imperiously, meaning, he wanted not just the throne but also Hae Soo.

Gwangjong was ostensibly in charge of the situation. With narrowed eyes, and in a tone filled with arrogance and incredulity, he questioned, ‘Do you really imagine I would cast Hae Soo aside just because of a scar on her body?’ He was convinced that it was a ridiculous idea.

Gwangjong’s words betrayed that he did not subscribe to the popular notion that a queen must be ‘perfect’ and should not have any scars. He had stated in no uncertain terms that he loved Hae Soo, with or without her scar and he would certainly not throw her aside.

With his brows knitted together, he raised his forefinger, pointed to his face where his scar was supposed to be and tapped on it dramatically for effect. ‘I became a king with a face like this.’

Was Wang Wook so naïve and foolish as to believe that he, a king with a scar on his face, would be so shallow as to shun a woman with a scar on her wrist. If he did that, he would be just slapping himself in the face. It was crystal clear that Gwangjong was not so easily intimidated.

His eyes pierced Wang Wook’s with such superciliousness that the viewers are forced to believe that he had the tenacity and strength to bring the promise of his words to fruition. Then, Gwangjong’s laughter suddenly rang out. The mirthful way Gwangjong laughed at Wang Wook indicated that there was no hollow ring to it.

But Wang Wook stood his ground and looked contemptuously at his half-brother.

To maintain the throne was no easy task. The way to settle a succession dispute was often by going to war. But using brute force at this early stage of his rule was not Gwangjong’s first choice. If things came to a head, the kingdom might move quickly to civil war. And, that was also not on Gwangjong’s agenda.

All throughout his audience with Gwangjong, Wang Wook wore an expression of contemptuous superiority. It further strained his ties with his half-brother. He would one day lose his political clout and regret ever trying to threaten the king.

That evening, when Hae Soo was having a late meal with Gwangjong, it was apparent that the king was troubled. Gwangjong’s head was bent in thought. His worries made him so hard-pressed that their meal was carried out in total silence. No explanation was forthcoming. Although Hae Soo perfectly understood the reason for his unusual quietness, she was discreet, and cautious not to intrude on his reflections.

Gwangjong knew that the clan leaders who did not see eye to eye with him had to be appeased but he was too stubborn and egoistical to back down. He was not going to rule under their thumb.

When Gwangjong looked up, his smile was a wee bit thin. Hae Soo knew that he was holding on and putting up a brave face. He did not realise that she had already understood his precarious situation. His heart was heavy, so was hers.

THE KANG CLAN OFFICIAL

The next day, the pressure exerted on Gwangjong increased with the arrival of the arrogant and insolent bearer of bad news – a representative of his former adoptive family, the Kang clan, who secretly reported on the Chungju Yoos and the Hwangju Hwangbos.

He claimed that the Yoo clan demanded for independence. The ministers were trying to wrest power from him by demanding for control over taxes and the military. It not not a delightful bit of news as it seemed their clan support would melt away if he did not comply with their demands.

Since halting the relocation of the capital to Seokyeong, the powerful clans had been protesting.

It must have sprung to Gwangjong’s mind that there was some conspiracy and close connection between Wang Wook of the Hwangbo Hwangju clan and other clans.

Gwangjong was shrewd and analytical enough to notice it. The similarity in their arguments fired Gwangjong’s suspicion. They were trying to lay hands on his power. He noticed that even his mother’s clan, the Yoos of Chungju were turning against him.

Wang Wook’s objection to Hae Soo being queen had fallen on deaf ears. But the issue was, by no means, closed. Adrenalin must have grasped him in the throat. Gwangjong knew that that plot against him had continued unabated. The clans were going to distance themselves from him, and then perhaps, get rid of him. Fury flooded him but he knew that if the clans did not give him their support, it would cripple his hold on the kingdom.

All this while, Gwangjong had been silent. Gwangjong was irritated by the man talking in a circular fashion and beating around the bush.

‘I think you’re trying to say something.’ When the man began to work his jaws again, Gwangjong told the loquacious man, who was speaking in a wordy, circumlocutory style, to get to the point.

The clansman was quick on the uptake and had no qualms about speaking his mind and arrogantly demanded that Gwangjong marries Princess Yeon-Hwa. That was the backbone of his mission – to convince Gwangjong to marry the princess of the Hwangbo clan of Hwangju. If Gwangjong agreed, all his problems would magically disappear.

Was the attempt to bring the king to his knees useless? The king was not that surprised. He did not care to fall in with what he considered to be a ridiculous plan that would impinge on his rights and rob him of his independence to make decisions.

He retorted fiercely that he would marry whoever he pleased. Who were they to order him around?

Shocked by the king’s irreverent answer, the clansman’s response was critical of the king. His steely and disrespectful reproach was that the king had not placed any importance on his position. It was preposterous that the king was dismissive of his very important opinion.

The clansman insinuated that there were disparaging rumours concerning Gwangjong’s inseparable relationship with Hae Soo, whom he dismissed as ‘the Damiwon girl’. He questioned the wisdom of his close relationship with her. His objection invited debate and comparison between Yeon-Hwa and Hae Soo but Gwangjong gave him no chance to proceed. Gwangjong refused to budge an inch.

Baek-ah rebuked the Kang clansman for his insolence. He was told to guard his mouth.

Yet, the case refused to die away, which itself, indicated that the opinions of the clans were worthy of immediate attention. The anger and outrage of the clans put pressure on him to make the right decision.

QUEEN HWANGBO

When a new visitor was announced, Gwangjong was probably not surprised. It was Queen Hwangbo, the mother of Wang Wook and Yeon-Hwa.

By then, the suspicion, that all his visitors were inextricably linked, was confirmed. First, Wang Wook. Then, the Kang clansman and now, Queen Hwangbo.

The queen, the fourth consort of the late King Taejo had also jumped on the bandwagon as she had a vested interest in making Gwangjong her son-in-law.

She warned him that all the powerful clans, whether the Chungjus or the Hwangbos, were planning to rip the kingdom apart. The mounting pressure heaped on Gwangjong was beginning to hit a raw nerve.

She did not hide her intentions but sly raised the question whether he was going to let Goryeo fall apart during his reign and, of course, be judged by history.

He suggested that she was overly concerned.

Besides reminding Gwangjong that King Taejo, his deceased father, had waged wars to found the Goryeo kingdom, she also praised her deceased consort’s personal sacrifice to protect and keep the kingdom intact and afloat. Her mounting worry was focussed on the shaky state of affairs of Goryeo in Gwangjong’s hands.

To his enormous surprise, she made her intentions transparent when she said she was discarding her son, Wang Wook, a potential king in the making. Wang Wook had shown early brilliance and promise and had also been groomed in every possible way to excel.

But, she now supported Yeon-Hwa to be queen rather than fight for Wang Wook to be the king, which of course, was for her own gain.

Gwangjong was not deluded that she had offered her daughter to him in marriage for nothing. Was it both a business and a political proposition? She was selling her daughter in exchange for even more power for the Hwangbo clan.

With his strong future connections with the Hwangbo clan, he would gain access to their military power. He would be able keep his throne. It was fair exchange. He would benefit from the match. And, there was no gulf between Princess Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa and him as they both shared many things in common, being the children of King Taejo. What was most important was the powerful Hwangbos would show their allegiance to him.

Queen Hwangbo pursued the matter tenaciously. To make her case more convincing, she presented a book purportedly written by Hae Soo in a language unknown to anyone. At that time, only the aristocracy, scholars and people of higher standing studied and understood the complicated Chinese characters, having been influenced by Chinese culture.

But how were they to know, living in the tenth century, that those characters written by Hae Soo were not Chinese but the unique characters of Hangeul, the Korean language of modern Korea, which would be created under King Sejong the Great (a Joseon king, 1418 – 1450) in the future.

Hae Soo’s life had been put under a microscope and Gwangjong feared that she would soon be put under greater public scrutiny.

It was a piece of evidence, according to the queen, that would point to her ‘strangeness’, an implication that would be stacked heavily against her. If he married her, his position of king would surely be compromised. It was an ominous threat that he could not ignore as worse was to come if he did not agree. She practically urged caution so that it would not fuel more gossip and scandals. Would it seem like Queen Hwangbo was out on a ‘witch hunt’ or to discredit Hae Soo a spy?

Did Gwangjong still labour under the delusion that Hae Soo should be his queen? Now, he, being intelligent, clearly understood that if Hae Soo, instead of Yeon-Hwa, became his queen, it would eventually lead to the former being maligned and hauled over the coals for her ‘strangeness’. Gwangjong did not require quicksilver intelligence to understand that if the intimidation was sustained, the situation could be exploited for the purposes of evil people and it was possible that further evidence could be fabricated against her and the claims could not be rubbished. The sour note that came at the end was that the smidgen piece of evidence was enough to ruin his beloved Hae Soo and destroy them both.

The Queen also threw in an interesting fact for good measure. She impressed upon him that Hae Soo was a liability; she could bring nothing to the throne – no military strength nor influential political alliances. The queen had effectively rubbed salt into the wound.

Gwangjong was seething and livid with rage. He declared that such things were of no importance to him.

Angered by her wiles and shenanigans, he glared menacingly at the queen. How dare she dictate to him? His eyes narrowed into slits.

He burst out, ‘What’s so great about this throne anyway?’ The words seemed to have glided from his tongue so easily. What he meant was, the Goryeo throne, without Hae Soo, meant nothing to him. He could easily give up the throne any time for her.

Shocked, the empress urged caution and explained seriously that he could not escape from his position as it was tied to him unto death. It was a life and death matter. It was impossible for him to abdicate in favour of another person. Only death could release him from the throne.

The arguments of those who were opposed to Hae Soo being installed as the queen consort could not be so easily dismissed. The thought that he should relegate Hae Soo to the background and marry his half-sister sickened him, but if he did not comply, it would do irreparable damage to the kingdom. However much the situation galled him, the king was forced to accept the reality of the situation. The queen had driven home the point that everything would go wrong for him and Hae Soo if he did not marry her daughter, Princess Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa. This reflected the current political disarray in Goreyo. Gwangjong had to resolve the conflict and his decision should be tempered by concern for the kingdom, not his personal needs.

The king must have been badly shaken by Queen Hwangbo’s sharp reminder. Far too many negative things had been hurled at Hae Soo. He stalled over giving the queen an answer but he knew he was neatly cornered. Suddenly, he felt trapped like a bird in a gilded cage.

But, neither of them has the slightest doubt he would in the end bend to the will of the conspirators. History would soon repeat itself.

CHOI JI MONG

THE ROYAL ASTRONOMER

Meanwhile, even Choi Ji Mong, the peculiar and unfathomable astronomer, had also began applying pressure on Hae Soo. Normally staid and non-interfering, it was strange that the right-hand man of the 4 different Goryeo kings, a self-professed bystander and observer, had decided to put in a word or two to help Hae Soo to come to her senses.

The astronomer had on only a few occasions shown his real deep-seated emotions. The most memorable one was when he burst out into raucous laughter when the rain fell during the rain ceremony. It was obvious that he felt that the heavens had sided with Prince Wang So who had helmed the rain rites. And as a result, Wang So was able to win the favour of some of the court officials and the people.

But perhaps, the matter he was pursuing now was of upmost importance to the survival of the Goryeo kingdom. With the rise of so many rebellious factions around the king, if Choi Ji Mong did not step in, Gwangjong would not emerge as a winner in the test of the survival of the fittest. The opposition could soon mount an intensified or coordinated attack against him which would predictably be difficult to contain.

The problem of Hae Soo was a major issue, not a slight hiccup, in Gwangjong’s shaky reign. It had to be dealt with quickly before the political situation exploded into something bigger.

Hae Soo lived in her own romantic fantasy world and is oblivious of what was going on around her, and Gwangjong was stubborn and inflexible in his ways. That was a recipe for disaster.

Choi Ji Mong invited Hae Soo to his work place to exact pressure on her. He recalled the times when the princes visited his place. They used to bring life to the place. Wang Eun, the Tenth Prince, loved the ‘flying wing’ which looked like the futuristic hang-glider. Wang Yo, the Third Prince, and Wang Wook, the Eighth Prince, enjoyed reading the various books in the shelves. Wang Jung, the Fourteenth Prince liked the picture of the stars. He, like Choi Ji Mong, probably liked astronomy and the mysteries of the celestial objects.

What was interesting and significant was Wang Won, the inquisitive Ninth Prince was curious about alchemy. Aha. That was probably how he learnt how to poison Wang Mu, the Crown Prince with mercury.

Baek-Ah, the Thirteenth Prince, was artistic and always busy drawing things. He drew inspiration from his surroundings, people and nature.

But, Choi Ji Mong exclaimed that everything went by in the blink of an eye. Life, fragile and unpredictable, passed by so quickly. Looking dejected, the astronomer must have remembered the sad end of the members of the Goryeo royalty. Taejo, Wang Mu, Wang Eun and Wang Yo had already made their journey over to the other side. Hae Soo immediately understood his pain as he loved them very much and cared about them.

And because he loved the princes, he pleaded with her to give up the desire of marrying the king. It was a challenge for him to try to convince her. She was headstrong and strong-willed; perhaps, might we not say, mulish? And, the future of the kingdom lay in her hands.

Similarly, Gwangjong was obstinate and intransigent, and was uncompromising when it came to Hae Soo. He was singled-minded about making Hae Soo his queen.

Choi Ji Mong urged her to let go first but she was adamant about marrying him. She explained that she had gone through thick and thin with him and had waited for an inordinate stretch of time for him. There is no reason for her to give up her dream ‘of getting married and living happily after with Gwangjong’.

If she had to give up now, she might as well have given up ages ago.

If the king remained true to his promise and was loyal to her - indicators of the depth of his love, why should she even give up?

Tenacity was Choi Ji Mong’s most significant trait. He persisted and stunned Hae Soo with one question. ‘What happened to the princes who had once been in this work place?’

It was an eye opener and gave her valuable insight into what might happen in the future. King Hyejong (Crown Prince Wang Mu), in his very brief reign, had been slowly poisoned by mercury inserted stealthily into his bath. Then, he was ruthlessly slaughtered by his ambitious half-brother, the Third Prince, Wang Yo.

Due to Wang Yo’s callous policy, the mild and harmless Tenth Prince, Wang Eun, was shot by his lethal arrows. Wang So, the Fourth Prince, was compelled to carry out mercy killing or else Wang Eun would have suffered unbearable pain and worse still, suffer a fate worse than death – to die shamefully at the hands of a traitor and enemy, Wang Yo.

Then, finally, poetic justice. Wang Yo ended his miserable, demented life not many years after ascending the throne. Did he not hear unbearable voices in his head? Anyway, he was certainly mad – angry as well as insane, at the point of death.

The normally sedate and dignified Choi Ji Mong warned her that no one knew when and where something might happen to Gwangjong. If something terrible were to happen to Gwangjong, who was to be blamed? Would she be able to absolve herself of any blame if she persisted in being so stubborn and indulging in self-deception?

The astronomer had seen many people fall due to the internecine conflicts of the clans. To prevent another tragedy, the king had to strengthen the fragile throne. Choi Ji Mong was convinced that the downfall of many kings was mostly due to their political and military weakness.

King Hyejong (Wang Mu), a mentally weak and physically sick king, could not hold onto the throne as he had no political backing, lacking a powerful or influential family background. Although he had fought many wars alongside his father Taejo, his military strength was inadequate to combat palace conspiracies.

Wang Yo, although having powerful allies and military backing from his mother’s Chungju Yoos, was considered a traitor because he killed his half-brother, King Hyejong.

The astronomer was strongly persuaded that the throne had to be strengthened to stop another tragedy from happening. Hae Soo was told the brutal truth was, ‘You may be a source of comfort but will not be a source of strength to the king.’ How could she not understand when he spelt it out so clearly that she was not a perfect match for Gwangjong?

Choi Ji Mong, drove home the point that she was at a political disadvantage because she could not bring strong political allies to her marriage to Gwangjong.

On the other hand, Princess Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa had the competitive edge as her mother’s Hwangbo clan from Hwangju had strong military support and political influence. This would enable Gwangjong to stablilise his reign over the Goryeo kingdom.

Any fool would be able to see that there was no level playing field and Hae Soo was not on a par with Yeon-Hwa. If she loved Gwangjong, she must focus on what matters most; she would have to give up being his queen

There was no question in her mind that he was speaking anything but the truth. It was only a matter of time before Gwangjong was forced to marry Yeon-Hwa. Hae Soo perhaps knew that marriages were made in Heaven and she was not fated to marry Gwangjong. They were not evenly-matched and she should have known better. It should have sunk in earlier that she had no place in Goryeo History and she was in no position to change History.

Hae Soo had to confront reality. She had to let go first, before Gwangjong agreed to let go. Delaying was not the solution. Disaster was staring Gwangjong in the face and he would suffer. Hae Soo would be doing him and the Goryeo kingdom a grave injustice if she clung to the idea of being his queen. Choi Ji Mong’s message left Hae Soo with a sense of urgency to stop Gwangjong from destroying himself. Hae Soo’s defences were totally worn down. Her heart hurt.

Although Hae Soo had to concede defeat, there should be a win-win solution. Everyone should win.

Yeon-Hwa should be married to Gwangjong, the prince she had been besotted with all this while and become the politically powerful Goryeon queen that she wished to be. It was power that she truly wanted.

Gwangjong’s position as the king of Goryeo, upon his union with Yeon-Hwa, would stabilise and strengthen with the enthusiastic support of the Hwangbos and the Yoos but he would still enjoy having Hae Soo by his side to comfort and encourage him.

Hae Soo would remain by Gwangjong’s side and be the only woman loved by him. She would monopolise his heart and be his only queen.

Was that not the best solution?

THE MOST ROMANTIC SCENE

GWANGJONG AND HAE SOO

THE KING AND I

(GWANGJONG AND I)

That evening, Gwangjong was alone; he was troubled and deep in thought. Earthly miseries, which included the possibility of Hae Soo being torn apart from him preyed on his mind. He pondered on the problems of maintaining his control over the Goryeo but his priority was Hae Soo.

The future of the Goryeon kingdom hung in the balance. The powerful clans were using arm-twisting techniques to control him and he lacked the political clout to oppose them. He was his father’s son after all. It proved to the hilt that ruling over Goryeo was not a one-man show. Powerful and influential relatives decided the king’s fate.

Gwangjong was not spoilt for choice. His marriage to Yeon-Hwa was a foregone conclusion. He was not in a terrible dilemma as marrying Yeon-Hwa was his only option. And, the matter could not be trivialised as she was a formidable woman; ambitious, provocative, and a frightening schemer. That she might use her connections to control, tame and subjugate him after marriage was the least of his worries.

In fact, deluged by a wave of conscience, he could not face hurting the woman whom he claimed to love. It was, indeed, a defining moment for him and the turning point of his life.

But, the unexpectedly wonderful Hae Soo appeared like a ray of sunshine in his dark moments to alleviate his anxieties. She was a breath of fresh air as she playfully peered from behind the tall pillars to tease him.

Intent on brightening Gwangjong’s life, she showered on him her megawatt sweet smiles which immediately lit up his eyes. His mood seemed to lighten.

Though he had been weighted down by his burdens moments ago, a smile of delight lit up his face. His spirits seemed to be lifted as well.

The king could not help but flirt with her as she was acting cute and giving him saccharine-sweet smiles. ‘Who said you could come in here without permission?’

‘It’s just that everyone already knows how much you favour me, Your Majesty,’ she toyed with her words.

‘Because of you, people will say that I only look scary on the outside,’ Gwangjong complained in a teasing tone. He implied that people would be misled to assume that he was a nice and amiable king not an intimidating nor dangerous one. They would perceive him to be a wolfdog who could only howl, but not bite.

It seemed that the serious and aggressive king had an unpredictable and contradictory personality. He was a different person when he was with Hae Soo. His happy manner and demeanour made those around them suspect he had dual personalities.

‘Then do you want to go outside and have fun with me?’ she cajoled.

Hae Soo wondered whether he had forgotten that it was the Narye, the night of the exorcism rite, whose aim was to ward off evil spirits. She happily waved two colourful narye masks at him and, he playfully admonished her for using the exorcism rite as an excuse to have fun. She coaxed him go to the market. He was surprised for it was not the norm to leave the palace without the proper preparations and the necessary precautions.

Despite his protests, she urged him to dispense with the soldiers and the court ladies. The dangers of mingling with strangers outside the palace weighed on his mind. Placing a mask over her face, she confidently urged him to have fun in the market as no one would recognise them. If he wore common robes, he would not be mistaken for anyone but a common man. Hae Soo then offered him a mask to go with his ordinary robes.

To Hae Soo’s delight, Gwangjong seemed highly amused and entertained by the idea of playing hooky from his kingly duties. Swayed by her persuasive powers, he tried on the mask and it immediately made him feel like a kid again.

Like two free birds flying from one lantern to another, they wandered about admiring everything in sight. Joy was in the air. She pointed out various interesting objects to him. She reminisced about the incident in the forest on that fateful Narye night when the Third Prince, Wang Yo and Queen Yoo had plotted but failed to kill Wang Mu, the Crown Prince.

Wearing their masks, they teased each other, generating playful banter. It was a comedic and fun experience for them. They were smiling and making each other laugh.

Then, they stood next to each other; he, towering over her. They closed their eyes and raised their hands in prayers. Probably, their prayers were for each other. The couple were a picture of bliss as they stood in prayer with the beautiful lanterns lighting the foreground and background.

Upon opening his eyes, Gwangjong drew her close and gave her a back hug. He also feathered her a loving kiss as she prayed for their happiness.

With his face close to hers, he whispered sweet nothings into her ears and soon she was smiling sweetly. Gazing at her with love in his eyes, he drank in her loveliness. His smile never left his face as he held her in his arms. Both were deliriously happy in each other’s presence.

They look picture-perfect as a couple who were madly in love with each other. They were exact opposites and they completed each other. He, the masculine, strong, aggressive, courageous and determined king was her exact opposite. She, formerly aggressive and assertive, now embodied every desirable feminine quality that he wanted in his queen – loving, empathetic, tender, patient and warm. However, they shared one thing in common, a stubborn trait.

She was irresistible. Holding her close, they looked at each other lovingly, oblivious of the world around them.

Then, Hae Soo purposefully guided Gwangjong to her favourite place. Darkness had flooded the place except where the moon was shining brightly.

He was surprised to see a doltap or stack of stones set up by the wayside in the palace grounds.

Every time a visit was made to the doltap, a stone or two would be added on top by Hae Soo. Each one represented a prayer. The doltap was part of Buddhist culture. People built doltaps to pray for their loved ones or things in general.

Hae Soo compared the small doltap with the original one that Gwangjong had partially destroyed in his rage. It must have reminded him of the night after his disastrous conversation with his mother in her bed chamber. He had expected his cold and unemotional mother, Queen Yoo, to be grateful to him after he had killed all the mute monks and burnt their temple to remove all evidence of her plot to assassinate the Crown Prince, Wang Mu. Instead, she had disparaged and demeaned him. He let out his anger by destroying one of the doltaps and Hae Soo was there and she tried to salve his pain.

Hae Soo persuaded him to make a wish as the doltap was the place where his wishes might come true. Gwangjong teased her about her intention of building the doltap as a ruse to invite a marriage proposal from him. She was blatant about it and confessed immediately. She even playfully reminded him that he had promised to propose to her there.

‘When I first met you, you should have run away’, he flirted mischievously. She responded cheekily that she tried to run away but he caught her.

Flirting easily with Gwangjong, Hae Soo deftly led him to the topic of marriage. It was a clever way to make it easy for him open up his feelings. Gwangjong finally raised the marriage issue. He confessed that he could not remember what first drew her to him. ‘There are so many reasons now. I’ve to live with you. Let’s live together. Marry me.’

The words almost took her breath away. Nothing made Hae Soo’s heart flutter quite like Qwangjong. His sweet-nothings were sufficient to make her smitten and feel moony, so full of romantic feelings.

She, effortlessly sweet and beautiful, gazed at him lovingly but she did not give him a nod. She knew he was willing to fight for her. Proposing to her, despite his precarious circumstances, was proof that he really love her. She was humbled.

Gwangjong smiled at her, conscious that she was happy with the fact that he has fulfilled his promise of proposing to her. She, on the other hand, understood that it took a lot of courage and determination on his part to propose to her.

His throne was a herculean task to shoulder but he was going to fight the whole lot of bigots for her. Hae Soo understood the enormity of the challenges that lay before him if he married her. He was sacrificing everything for her. How could she allow him to do that?

She did not want to weigh him down. She did not want him to risk the wrath of the various clans. Tears flooded her eyes as she smiled happily at him, comforted and satisfied by the fact that he had the courage of his own convictions.

Hae Soo knew as much that according to history, he, Gwangjong, would consolidate the power of the throne and would become a powerful Emperor who would rule over the Goryeo Empire for 26 years.

She had previously witnessed the instability of the reigns of his brothers and predecessors, King Hyejong (Wang Mu) and King Jeongjong (Wang Yo) due to the power struggles among the numerous in-laws.

Gwangjong now had the opportunity to pacify the various factions, stabilise his royal power and consolidate the throne. Would she, out of her selfish interest, deprive him of that opportunity that would have far reaching consequences on the Goryeo Empire?

Hae Soo now had a clear head on her shoulders after having been enlightened and advised by Choi Ji Mong, the astronomer. Hae Soo was forced to reject his marriage proposal. ‘I can’t.’ She had borne the brunt of all criticisms against her. She would not be able to meet all his needs. She explained that she could not do anything for him except to provide comfort for him.

Gwangjong was appalled, shaken and puzzled. He suspected that some people had already launched a war of attrition against Hae Soo to prevent her from marrying him.

Gwangjong was still in a state of denial. His stubborn ego prevented him from facing the reality of his situation. He wanted to reassure Hae Soo that he could fulfil his promise to marry her.

He insisted that he would not give her up over her scar but that was beyond the point. It was not just the scar issue, it was way more than that and he knew it.

The question was not giving up each other but letting go of the things that were not meant to be. They were not destined to be united in marriage. They just had to let go.

She resolutely pressed on and reassured him she would not give him up. It was impossible for them to imagine life without each other.

Struggling to placate him, she whispered soothingly that she would continue to stay by his side. She rationalised in a tone as nonchalantly as she could muster, ‘If I become a queen or your wife, I’ll be tied down by palace rules. I won’t be able to see you when I want and I’ll have to follow palace etiquette.’ Noting the doubt in his troubled eyes, she gave him a warm, reassuring smile.

Gwangjong, though grief-stricken, was acutely conscious of her independence and determination. He understood immediately that the restricted life of the palace was inherently obnoxious to her.

GWANGJONG AND YEON-HWA

THE KING AND THE QUEEN

THE ROYAL WEDDING

Gwangjong had been issued with an ultimatum by the various clans demanding his marriage with Princess Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa. Forced not to overlook the big picture, he subsequently bowed to court pressure. It was, alas, a loveless union.

Reality bites. Being forced to marry his half-sister, Princess Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa, who had powerful connections, made him burn with anger and humiliation. Although he had cause for celebration since she would bring with her powerful allies, Gwangjong felt that he was being manipulated like a puppet on a string. There was no escape from the inevitable. Yeon Hwa served his ambition. He could not afford to make dangerous enemies when he was so powerless.

Gwangjong could finally comprehend what his deceased father must have felt when he was compelled to marry the multitude of women he did not love. History was repeating itself. The common denominator was ‘like father like son’. He was his father’s son, after all. But, while his father had plenty of political marriages, he restricted himself to only a few.

However, Gwangjong promised himself that before long, he would not pretend to submit to them and instead, the clans, would be compelled to dance to his tune.

The royal wedding day, celebrated without pomp and ceremony, soon arrived. The ceremony, though low-keyed, was performed, in the presence of some important palace officials, to the satisfaction of Empress Hwangbo, the mother of Wang Wook, the Eighth Prince, and Princess Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa.

King Gwangjong, magnificent and majestic in his dark royal robes and splendid headdress, and Princess Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa, resplendent in her elegant wedding robes, elaborate headdress and finery, made a regal entrance.

Needless to say, Gwangjong appeared gloomy and utterly miserable, with his kingly headdress veiling his unhappiness and his dark, brooding eyes. The king of Goryeo could not beat fate so he had to endure and play along with the wedding game, a charade he did not enjoy.

The wedding couple glided up the carpeted floor to the wedding dais.

The dreaded moment arrived. If Gangjong’s head was pounding like a sledgehammer, he did not show it. To him, the freeze had swept across the ceremonial hall. The atmosphere was as cold as the coldest winter in Goryeo.

The royal groom and his bride took their places and faced the audience. At that moment, standing in the presence of the powerful clansmen, Gwangjong must have felt like a naïve, defenceless young Goryeo prince who had been thrown into a den of ferocious wolves yet again.

A complacent smile rested on Empress Hwangbo’s face. As soon as they were seated, Princess Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa of Hwangju was declared the new queen by Choi Ji Mong, the king’s right-hand man and astronomer.

With unseeing eyes and a heavy heart, the queen’s once overly ambitious blood brother, Wang Wook, led the others in a grand gesture of congratulating and blessing the new queen. ‘Long live the queen! May she have many blessings!’

The wedding, to Gwangjong, was a farce and it had frozen his heart. No matter what happened, Hae Soo would be his only queen. There was no room for the triumphant Yeon-Hwa in his heart.

Yeon-Hwa had been smiling from ear to ear. Who wouldn’t, if one had got the man one wanted? Although Gwangjong looked poised and composed, he could not contain the fury in his eyes.

GWANGJONG AND YEON-HWA

IF EYES COULD SPEAK

That night, the newly wedded king and queen ended up in the bridal chamber. They stood facing each other as king and queen consort.

Although he was attired in his voluminous black and red silk wedding robes, Gwangjong projected an image of a king who was tall and lean, and his physique, masculine. Yeon-Hwa, his new consort, appeared to be slender and beautiful despite her equally voluminous wedding gown.

Gwangjong followed the required customary practice of the wedding night. He flicked a glance at his consort’s red wedding veil. What he was required to do was to unveil his bride, which he did deliberately.

If eyes could speak, what would they say? In that bedroom scene, Gwangjong’s eyes would say everything that he wanted to say to his beautiful, new bride.

The viewers watch with excitement as Gwangjong carefully lifted the veil from the face of his unusually demure and normally, coquettish queen.

Gwangjong meticulously removed the veil from the top of her head. He pushed her veil backwards to gain an unobstructed view of her whole face.

Although Gwangjong wore a pained expression, what he did next was sensual. Being much taller than her, he dipped his chin and shot a look at her eyes which were cast downwards. For a moment, he gazed at her beautiful face as if mesmerised. The demure bride, on the other hand remained still. Even if excited by his close proximity and the warmth of his being, she did not meet the groom’s eyes immediately but allow his gaze to roam all over her face. At this stage, it would be immodest and inappropriate behaviour to look him in the eye. Her heart must have pounded like the beating of drums.

For what seemed like an eternity, he studied her face as her eyes remained shyly lowered. It was an intimate gaze, but was he having intimate thoughts about her? Was his adrenalin pumping more than usual? Something in her stirred his curiosity. His searching stare was just as intense as a wolfdog’s as he explored her every feature. He gazed fixedly at her, now that he had seen her up close and personal. His eyes were glued to her.

He brought his gaze to rest on her face as if his eyes were caressing her. He seemed to be studying her thoughts. She must be breathless for having her every facial muscle being watched intimately. Was he anxiously mulling over whether he should bed her since it was their wedding night?

By this stage, the audience have become wildly excited, they are mesmerised by the play of Gwangjong’s mysterious and gorgeous eyes. What Gwangjong was doing showcased the sheer sensuality of him just drinking Yeon-Hwa in visually. Was he bewitched by her? They do not need a bed scene. They audience could feel them heating up the screen or at least Gwangjong was heating it up.

Yeon-Hwa waited patiently for him to speak but he said nothing. The conflicted man was good at being silent. It made the atmosphere even more intense and filled with tension. Gwangjong seemed to be hesitating and then he cast his glance downwards as if to steel himself not express his emotions, whatever they were. It took a great man to hold his emotions in place.

Was he teasing her with his silence? That downward glance probably had the effect of removing the spell she had cast on him. Was he confused about his feelings for her? Did his heart throb with resentment? Did he feel degraded as she had used her formidable connections to twist his arm into marrying her? But since they were wedded, was he still insistent that he would have nothing to do with her? Could he resist her charms?

After some moments, he looked at her again. His expression was unreadable. Inscrutable. He did not talk to her although they were in close proximity.

What is conjured up in the audience’s imagination is the scene begins to give the impression that a sensual animal mating ritual is taking place. The teasing image of Gwangjong as a wild beast, a tiger, in a courting process of sniffing and smelling the scent of the tigress, rattles the audience. The whole visual process of Gwangjong trying to hold the queen in his hypnotic power and fascination stirs the imagination of the viewers.

Although there was just an infinitesimal distance between their faces, Gwangjong did not make further advances. He let his magnetic eyes talk.

The king seemed to be studying her like he was studying a potential mate. He, the tiger, seemed to be trying to figure her out and deciding whether he wanted to mate with her, the tigress, who was in heat. Yeon-Hwa waited docilely and submissively as he mentally traced every part of her face.

He had stood there for a long, drawn out moment. He watched her every expression. Silence prevailed as he held her glance for several long moments but to her, it seemed like an eternity. There was a long, tensed silence. Her face glowed. He seemed to move closer to her face. He bent his head as if he wanted to kiss her. He was so close that she could taste his breath on her face.

She was in a state expectancy and shivered beneath his calm but infuriating gaze, trying to sort out whether he wanted her. Yet, he said nothing. She waited but he did not move except for his eyes. Then, he put his face nearer to her face as if to sniff her – to drink in her natural fragrance.

Courage compelled Yeon-Hwa to raise her eyes to return his gaze. She was trying to discern his feelings. When Gwangjong looked into Yeon-Hwa’s eyes, the audience thought that he was ready to eat Yeon-Hwa up. He seemed to have perfected the art of power gazing and eye play. His eyes burned and bored into hers.

With his hair swept back into a topnot, Gwangjong looked extremely handsome and regal although his demeanour was serious. His eyes were hauntingly calm.

Yeon-Hwa’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at Gwangjong. A tiny smile curved her mouth but her smile felt tremulous on her lips. Her entire attention was focussed on her mate. The queen’s heart must have made a few flips – she must have been breathless and a lump must have lodged tightly in her throat. A frisson of fresh hope shimmied through her veins. Exhilarating anticipation rose in her chest. Her feelings were written all over her face as she waited submissively for him to make the first move. She would have been only one step removed from reaching out and hugging him had she not restrained herself with great difficulty. For once, Yeon-Hwa looked sweet and submissive.

Was she was breathing raggedly? Yeon-Hwa was unable to contain her multihued emotions. The blood in her heart must have pounded furiously. She had fancied him from the very beginning but, at that very moment, he looked even more achingly desirable to her. Swallowing in expectancy, she stood ready for him to hold her and kiss her.

But he continued to stare strangely at her and the silence was deafening. Gwangjong’s hand was still holding her, gripping her. He had brought his face close to hers. His eyes gleamed in the candle light. He was excitingly good at being silent, in giving her the silent treatment. Was she shaken when he eyed her so intensely? If she was, then, the tremors should have started in her toes and risen up, turning her legs into jelly.

She could not figure out what his feelings were. His gaze seemed sensual and yet, there was this unease that she felt when he stared unblinkingly at her. She blushed.

But, the longer he stared at her, the more she realised that it seemed like an intimidating stare, rife with resentment. Earlier, she had thought that he relished the pleasure of looking at her beauty but my, was she wrong!

The audience wait, dizzy with anticipation. Did Gwangjong fight the urge to mate with her? Did it seem like he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her? Yes or no? The viewers nearly fall off their seats and perhaps, their legs have also turned to jelly.

Suddenly, he must have felt the hair on his neck stand up. Then, his posture straightened. His poised hand on her arm fell to his side. He did not and would not succumb to her charms.

Gwangjong’s taut facial muscles twitched with tension. Easing himself away from her, Gwangjong did not so much as blink nor smile at her.

The queen was suddenly aware of the dangerous gleam in the king’s eyes. If Yeon-Hwa had interpreted his furious gaze and his sudden movement correctly, it was crystal clear that he was not even a teeny bit interested in her. He was, in actual fact, trying to contain his fury. She was stunned. Dumbfounded. Her face crumbled and she swallowed hard.

Gwangjong knew that she wanted him but he was an unwilling partner. He was determined to drive home the point that although he was trapped, he would not succumb to her and was immune to her wiles and her charms.

Being the master strategist, he had just tested her on their wedding night, and he knew that she would be forever in his grip. He would have phenomenal power over her. He would make sure that she would suffer for forcing his hand. He would never be under her control but she, instead, would have to submit to him. Gwangjong was not called ‘The Wolfdog’ for nothing. He was a beast who had effectively sniffed her out and staked his territory! The smart thing that he did was he avoided sleeping with her on their wedding night.

The longer Yeon-Hwa looked at Gwangjong, the angrier he seemed to look. His gaze turned decidedly odd. It was as if he was reading her thoughts. Strangely, she felt as if he was dissecting her and analysing her. She was mystified. She was now trembling nervously under his intimate gaze. His gaze raked her and his eyes bored into her.

His steely eyes hardened and although his mouth was grim, it did not twist into a cruel smile. Instead, the glint in his eyes and the lifted corners of his mouth sent a message that he pitied her.

Perhaps, on deciding enough was enough, he cast his glance away.

Gwangjong’s sideway glance implied that he was very suspicious and also critical of Yeon-Hwa. Whatever he had wanted to say to her had already been conveyed through his expressive eyes and his body language. He had already lost interest in her.

By then, she had already realised that something was amiss. Gwangjong’s attitude and behaviour had addled her brain. She floundered a little. She was confused and very much befuddled. She suddenly realised that he, like the wolfdog, had been drinking up her scent. The wolfdog did not like her fragrance after all.

He was an Alpha Male – ambitious, persistent and ruthless; she, an Alpha Female – ambitious, determined and scheming. They both had the brains and the gumption to reach the top. Despite the similarities, they were incompatible as they did not complete each other. There is no room for her in his heart.

Yeon-Hwa appeared uneasy. It was as if Gwangjong had just given her a stinging slap. She was shaken. Miffed. Tears were dammed up in her eyes and threatened to stream down her face. She must have winced when he turned and pulled away to extricate himself from the tense situation. He made a beeline for the door.

Being quick-witted, scheming and resilient, Yeon-Hwa quickly sobered up. If she couldn’t have him, no one else could. With a voice that reeked of jealousy, she instigated Gwangjong to discard Hae Soo, a political risk. She rationalised that in the future, others might take advantage of her to inflict harm on him.

It was an insult to his intelligence and a mistake of gargantuan proportions. He took exception to it, his objection instant. His murderous fury was clear not just in his eyes but on his face. His voice shook as he not only admonished her but also put her squarely in her place. He brutally hammered home the point that she was never to cross the line, not to act with impropriety. He steered her to concentrate on her role – that of being the queen. He, Gwangjong was in the driver’s seat, not her! Properly chastised, the new bride was mortified and struck speechless. Yeon-Hwa knew she had put her foot in her mouth!

To her great disappointment, Yeon-Hwa finally realised that Gwangjong found her, not in the least desirable. She could not compete with Hae Soo for his affections. Disheartened, she must have felt rats gnawing at her heart. All her smiles were wiped off from her face.

No one could buy Gwangjong’s affections. Having raised Yeon-Hwa to the status of a queen, he now considered his duty to her to be over. With that, he purposefully strode off without a backward glance.

EMPEROR GWANGJONG

AND

THE EXILE OF WANG JUNG

PUNITIVE ACTION

AGAINST

WANG JUNG -THE FOURTEENTH PRINCE

Emperor Gwangjong was delighted that all the palace officials, supporters and the whole paltry lot of clansmen had assembled in the palace to show their allegiance to him. He had also commanded the allegiance of the powerful Hwangbo clan after marrying Princess Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa but he was uncertain of their eventual loyalty.

In their midst were the Wang Wook, the Eighth Prince and Baek Ah, the Thirteenth Prince. Gwangjong declared that for his coronation, it demanded of him to proclaim an era name that is grand enough for his reign.

Choi Ji Mong proclaimed that the emperor had decided on the era name of ‘Gwangdeok’, meaning ‘Brilliant Power’.

According to history, Gwangjong ended Goryeo’s tributary relationship with China and he named Goryeo an empire and himself Emperor. He was instilling in everyone that he had absolute power.

Gwangjong couldn’t help himself but laughed gleefully that he himself could come up with such a grand but ‘appropriate’ name to describe his reign.

The emperor seemed tickled when he complimented himself for coming up with such a brilliant name, ‘It’s a good name, isn’t it?’

The top man in Goryeo really had a sense of humour but nobody dared to laugh. Suddenly, the Goryeo court brightened a little. His wicked sense of humour would have evoked gales of laughter in the twentieth century but in those tense and solemn times of the tenth century, heads would roll if one were to utter one wrong word or have laughed inappropriately.

Wang Wook solemnly agreed with his choice of era name but Gwangjong was wary of people like him. If truth be told, he was like a snake who might suddenly rear his head and bite him.

The Eighth Prince let it be known to Emperor Gwangjong and all in the audience that the projects which the emperor ordered to be done had been faithfully carried out.

Emperor Gwangjong had started off his reign with his best foot forward. He had commanded his officials to seek ways to distribute rice to those who were forced into labour, namely, the slaves.

Then the crunch. Wang Wook spoke his mind and demanded that the management of the finances be left in the hands of the palace officials. Emperor Gwangjong did not bat an eye lid and he fought to still his rage.

The Eight Prince was cunning and was trying to wrest power from him, the emperor. The control of the kingdom’s finances meant the control of the throne. Wang Wook might be scholarly but he was politically still a novice. He failed to understand that he was walking on thin ice. One false step and he would plunge into icy cold waters.

The man at the top had a mind to finish him off. But, Gwangjong was intelligent enough to let Wang Wook win in this match of political skills.

Wang Wook did not understand what he was letting himself in for. He was not as politically savvy or smart as the wolfdog emperor who had a long history rising to challenges and difficult experiences. The Eighth Prince would inevitably fall prey to a beast who was many times fiercer and smarter than him.

The emperor gave Wang Wook a measured look and met his half-brother’s gaze coldly; his smile brittle. If eyes could express what was in Gwangjong’s mind, Wang Wook would have already been impaled there and then.

The emperor kept his cool. In this chess game of politics, he had to restrain himself, retreat and plot his next strategy. Then, a feral light gleamed in the emperor’s eyes. He had the smile of a Cheshire cat plastered on his face. Nobody knew what he was thinking.

There was a dangerous ring in his voice when he responded to Wang Wook’s demand, ‘Let’s do that.’

Wang Wook should never challenge Gwangjong. He had no inkling of the danger that lay ahead.

The emperor might step backwards to allow him a little control but before the Eighth Prince knew it, the emperor would have sprung back and gone for the kill. That would put an end to his folly and lead him to his conclusion.

Gwangjong was not surprised at Wang Wook’s machinations. He stared at the palace officials and answered imperturbably with a voice dripping with caustic sarcasm.

He let his gaze sweep over the assembled officials, saying, ‘With ministers as trustworthy as you all, I can go and enjoy my hunting.’

His whole attitude suggested arrogance, derision and scorn. He was mocking them.

He also talked about catching up on his reading and announced to all and sundry, that the astronomer Choi Ji Mong had counselled him to read ‘Essentials of Government in the Zhenguan reign’ (Zhenguan Zhenyao), a book of virtues or a compendium of statecraft on the reign Emperor Taizong of China’s previous dynasty, the Tang Dynasty. The Tang emperor’s reign was considered the golden age of Chinese history.

Then, with his cold, black eyes and a sardonic smile on his hard lips, he decreed that the Fourteenth Prince, Wang Jung, his younger blood brother should be punished on the pain of treason and would be exiled to his hometown, Chungju. Chungju was actually their mother, Queen Sinmyeongsunseong’s hometown, the place of the Yoo clan which wielded considerable political influence.

Although Baek Ah, the Thirteenth Prince, was Emperor Gwangjong’s trusted aide, he could not hold his tongue. He must have been uncomfortable when he requested for a valid reason for exiling their younger brother.

Gwangjong replied in a tone that brooked no argument. The reason given was Wang Jung had created suspicion about his enthronement by questioning the late king’s (King Jeongjong’s) mandate. This injustice could not be tolerated.

Prince Wang Jung had probably thought, by rights, the throne should have passed to him instead of his second brother. It was a grievance deeply felt by Gwangjong.

King Jeongjong, was the blood brother of Wang So and Wang Jung. Wang Jung had been persuaded by their mother to question Wang So’s ascension to the throne as she had wanted her youngest son to succeed his oldest brother.

Gwangjong’s smile did not alter when he declared that since they were blood brothers, he was not executing Wang Jung but only sending him back to Chungju, his mother’s hometown. When he had set his mind, he would not change it.

With devilish lights dancing in his eyes, he declared that if Wang Jung ever stepped into Songak after that day, he would be executed. His voice rang loud and clear throughout the assembly hall.

It was a clear warning that Gwangjong took a dim view of those who intended to question his legitimacy to the throne or who wanted to oppose him.

Gwangjong certainly had the demeanour and bearing of royalty, that of an emperor who meant business. He had been groomed for the throne, having been tempered by experience, and rendered strong and aggressive by adversity.

When the decree of Emperor Gwangjong was reported to the Queen Mother, she was shocked and distraught. Imagine being separated from her favourite son. There was a tense moment before she fell unconscious to the ground.

It was clear that the days of Queen Mother Yoo were numbered.

She was physically weak and had lost her power of speech, and with great difficulty, she had requested Queen Hwangbo Yeon-Hwa to bring Prince Wang Jung, the Fourteenth Prince, back to her. It is natural that those in their dying throes want to be together with their loved ones.

Emperor Gwangjong strode in at that moment. He told all and sundry, including his consort, that he himself and no one else, would take care of his mother. And no one would be allowed to enter the room without his permission, meaning Wang Jung would be excluded from her presence. The dismissal was clear and curt.

With the Queen Mother being rendered helpless, he was able to lord it over her. He wanted her to himself. The Queen Mother’s face was resentful as he wiped her brows with a piece of damp cloth. Knowing that she would meet her end soon, he persisted in encouraging her to recover. But the Queen Mother was unconvinced of his sincerity.

And he calmly and sweetly called her, ‘Mother’. Was there mockery in his eyes?

Wang Jung had transgressed his laws. He had been exiled and was not allowed to step foot in Songak again. But, he had boldly contravened the rules of his exile; he had returned from his mother’s hometown, Chungju, to see his mother for the last time. A group of palace militia forbade him to enter. He stood there squarely with his sword in hand. It was unfortunate that he was compelled to stand there until after his mother, Empress Dowager Yoo, passed away.

Dying matters. Hae Soo tried to persuade the emperor to allow Wang Jung to see his mother. Gwangjong’s face was clouded; he looked down to contain his anger. She continued, ‘If something happens to the Queen Mother, it’ll haunt you forever.’

Looking up, he scowled at her. His cold and defiant death stare was fixed on her. If anyone, especially Hae So, had to take sides, they could only take his side.

He accused her of notifying Wang Jung about their mother’s impending death. When she confessed to it, he berated her; she had undermined his powers and authority. Gwangjong had forbidden everyone from contacting Wang Jung and he had expected her to obey him unquestioningly. She would suffer for it.

But, she, with her conscience, could not stand aside and let him have the upper hand in death matters. To the 21^st century lady, saying the final goodbyes was important between the living and the dying. Hae Soo had failed him and he would not forgive her; she did not understand his stance. She thought it was only humane to allow the Fourteenth Prince to see his mother before she passed on.

He glared at her, irritated by her lack of respect for his orders and his authority. His eyes burned like those of a wolfdog’s. He asked, ‘Do you want him to die too? But you should be relieved that I’ve not executed him.’

He paused. ‘If you allow Jung into the palace, I will not let it go even if it were you.’ Without another word, he stalked out of the room.

Wang Jung stayed outside the palace and stubbornly refused food and water. When Baek-Ah brought some water for him, he did not drink it but poured it over his head to cool himself.

EMPEROR GWANGJONG’S MONOLOGUE

ON
THE DEATHBED

QUEEN MOTHER YOO

Queen Mother Yoo was dying. Gwangjong sat vigil at her deathbed. He spoke to her but she had lost the power of speech.

Gwangjong’s monologue was delivered with a venom that send chills down one’s back.

A litany of vengeful words was heaped on his mother. His intention was clear – to make his mother regret the mental, emotional and physical torture he had gone through because of her. His royal father, King Taejo had redeemed himself but she had not.

The queen had been mentally and emotionally disturbed all her married life. She had not been able to think properly, having been sucked into the maelstrom of scheming and manipulation to fight off her 28 rivals, the king’s harem of queens and concubines, and their offsprings.

When Wang So returned to Songak from Shinju, the queen had refused to accept him back into her life and instead continued to make his life a misery. He craved her love.

His mother remained recalcitrant till the end. He wanted time alone with her which she had denied him all this while.

Now was the only time that he could have some private moments with her was when she lay helpless on her deathbed.

He tended to his royal mother alone. They were alone and there were no people to witness his interaction with his mother who had been rendered speechless from her shock. The fact that Wang Jung, the apple of her eye, had been banished to her hometown was sheer humiliation to him, a terrible fate second only to death.

Gwangjong spooned his mother some water but she defiantly refused to open her mouth. It had been five days already and Gwangjong was getting impatient. It meant that she had refused to forgive him.

He asked her whether she was planning on dying in this way. There was not even an iota of affection in his tone and there was only stony silence on her part.

She asked for her youngest son, Wang Jung and Gwangjong was exasperated.

‘Look, which son is by your side now?’ he tormented her.

He did not mince his words. ‘The perfect Wang Yo is now in the afterlife.’

‘And Wang Jung, who is the apple of your eye, can’t be with you now. All you have is me. I’ve become the king and I’m protecting you.’

Time seemed to have stood still. Both remembered the night when he returned bloodied all over from the temple where he had taken the lives of all the mute monks to save her from being associated with the plot to kill the Crown Prince, Wang Mu. He did it all for her but she had rejected him. But, what was most shocking was that she was not, in the least, thankful. And that was probably because whenever she saw him, his scar was a painful reminder of her guilt.

In his fury, he had unleashed a venomous oath at her that she would remember that very day as he would haunt her from then onwards. And his face would be the only one that she would see. This oath was still vividly alive.

Egged on by her resentful look, he smiled maliciously at her. It afforded him great pleasure to look at her lying helplessly, staring at his face.

His voice was not a vibrant whisper but one that was loud and clear. It was harsh with venom which was thunderously roared out.

He confided that his wish was to build a temple in her honour. He had hissed that he would weave an elaborate web of lies about how they loved each other and that would change how history viewed mother and son.

‘It would be largest and grandest temple in all of Goryeo. Also, I’ll create stories about our relationship and spread them everywhere. I’ll tell them how much you cared for me. And how much I loved you, Mother. We’ll be a mother and a son pair who had loved each other dearly.’

His voice rang with exultation as his eyes bore into hers. The cruelty in his eyes and the harshness of his words must have knifed her heart.

One cannot underestimate the significance of the impact of Queen Yoo and Wang Yo’s mental, emotional and psychological cruelty towards Wang So. It was a horrendous stroke of intimidation and devastating blow to Wang So’s whole being.

The consequence was Gwangjong’s twisted, warped mind and his unforgiving nature have risen to the surface. He did not mince his words to make her understand that he would never forgive her because she had never loved him nor accepted him. To him, the maternal love which he had been deprived off, is of utmost importance to him. He would not let her forget that even on her deathbed. That meant, she would leave this world with no peace of mind.

The Queen Mother had wanted her youngest son, Wang Jung, to be with her. Probably, his presence and his sincere love for her would give her the peace to go to the next world. She was being deprived of that.

What could she do? She could only listen helplessly to his babble. Gwangjong’s dark character, having long been buried, had surfaced.

His mother could only stare at his burning black eyes and feel the outpouring of his scarred soul. The good that was in him seemed to have vanished and a devilish look was left in its wake.

With a heart which was full of hurt and wrath, he gazed unflinchingly at her, tears welling up in his eyes.

The tears threatened to roll down his cheeks.

She gazed wide-eyed at him, her face devoid of deadly human emotions, anger or bitterness. Perhaps enlightenment had settled in her being in her dying throes. Wisdom had come too late.

What were her thoughts? She was a failure as a parent and she had succeeded in growing a vengeful beast.

But, was she entirely to be blamed? Perhaps, she had been moulded by the toxic political events of tenth century Goryeo and her husband’s relentless drive to strengthen himself through political alliances.

Like a maniac, Gwangjong raged on and on. ‘I’ll become your one and only precious son.’

At that point of death, it was pointless for Queen Yoo to hold unto grudges. All her anger and resentment towards her second son had left her. There was no trace of ill-feelings but she must have flinched from seeing him so hurt. She had raised her head and opened her mouth but her words caught in her throat.

Gwangjong was not aware that she was trying to tell him something because he was ranting and raving like a raging bull.

‘This,’ he pronounced with deadly venom, ‘is my revenge!’

There were no illusions about the poison in his words. His toxic rage was a fearsome thing to watch.

Tentacles of chilling terror creep down one’s spine. The creepy crawlies have come out of the woodwork.

She was gasping for her last breath. She seemed to be trying to ask for forgiveness but he was oblivious of nothing. And, nothing could unseat the vengefulness in his heart. It was as if he was beheading her with his cruel words. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

She had been cruel to him and now in her final moments, he gave her as good as she had given him. Revenge for the terrible things she did to him. This was his ultimate revenge – a revenge that she had no power to stop and these words sliced through the air like the swing of Gwangjong’s sword.

Normally, a normal human being would, at least, want to appear to be forgiving and let the dying go in peace. But his vengeful nature would not let his mother have that peace.

He had harboured and nurtured his hatred and resentment for so long that it seemed that that was the only time that he could give vent to his feelings. This was the rising up of the horrendous beast in him. For a moment, he had lost his head, his humanity. Being human means to be able to forgive, at least a little, but he had none for his dying mother.

He stormed at her for discarding him like rubbish. It was as if he was giving her savage blows with each word. His lacerated feelings were now exposed. The darkest parts of his sensibilities that had lain embedded deep in him were now surfacing.

His voice, bestial-like, was trembling with unrestrained fury. His voice bobbed up and down as he shook with the memory of his mother’s coldness, mental and emotional cruelty. His eyes held his mother’s gaze with a maniacal intensity and she gazed at him in helpless fascination.

Perhaps, at that very moment, she was able to understand his feelings, feelings that her cold-heartedness refused to allow her to see. She saw the light and writhed in agony at his hurt but she could not voice her feelings.

She arched her head towards him. Perhaps, she wanted to ask for forgiveness but he was giving her no chance as he wallowed in bitterness and revenge.

After having excavated his deepest hurt, his bitter tears flowed down his cheeks.

All her queenly life, she was too self-centred and absorbed in maintaining power and prestige. She was also too busy stepping all over the consorts of King Taejo. She was trapped in her mind-set of favouring only her eldest and youngest sons and was irrationally determined to keep her middle son out of her sight and out of her life.

She wielded enormous power while alive and could do as she wished but what she did not know was, in her death throes, she would be helpless and powerless. That was what she had feared – to be alone with the son she had ignored, Gwangjong. But, Wang Jung would be loving to her till the end but he was not there with her.

Since he was in power, Gwangjong took the opportunity to do what he wanted and to say what he wanted to her. It was a chilling scene that makes one cringe.

The king, who had been wronged all his life, had not thought of refraining from making the most of his power.

It is here that we watch in horror as his hate and bitterness poured out. He was oblivious of his mother who had, with great difficulty and effort, been opening her mouth to talk to him. Not that it mattered anyway. He owned the show and he flaunted his power over her.

The queen mother’s breath came in panting gasps as she lay there unable to speak.

Perhaps, in her final hours, it had finally dawned on her that the hurt she had inflicted on him had swallowed him whole. That insight, when she finally saw light, was given too late.

As if in response to his words, she reached her hand out to touch his scar that was the cause of the severing of the mother-son relationship.

Perhaps, she had wanted to beg him to forgive her but could not give voice to her feelings. It was just too late.

She cried out, incoherent cries, to him but all he heard were guttural noises that were indiscernible.

Her fingers seemed to grind into Emperor Gwangjong’s flesh.

Then, her face turned to the colour of ashes.

When he realised that the life had gone out of her and her spirit had left her body, he was speechless. But, he still held on to her hands. She must have been broken in mind and body, suffering at the hands of her second son in her last moments.

Great wrongs had been done to him. He had been deprived of a loving childhood just because of a scar. His teenage years were no different but when he was back at the palace, the queen did not try to redeem herself nor make amends. She continued to torment him.

His face was contorted in silent pain. He was smitten like a thunderbolt by her sudden passing away.

With a bitter laugh, he swayed where he sat.

He sobbed because his mother had not loved him. His heart was broken; he was shaken in his cries of deepest agony. He clenched her hands and cried in desperation.

Clinging tightly to her hands, he mourned over her. Pain raked through him and saliva dripped from his mouth. His brain reeled and he cried in despair.

His pent-up fury had been unleashed. He, indeed, was the savage wolfdog after all. Suddenly, he whimpered like a little kitten. His eyes were glassy with pain and agony. He was lost in a daze. It was as if his heart had been ripped apart.

Revenge seemed meaningless as the true meaning of her death sank into him. In his head was the battle between love and hatred. His act had been incited by hatred.

He realised, to his great chagrin, that the past is ash and dust. He seemed to be blinded by his mission to avenge himself of all his hurts and emotional injuries because of his love-hate relationship with his mother. He loved his mother, yet, hated her. Love and hate are not mutually exclusive. It was a poignant moment.

Had his heart really been unburdened? Had his pain been eased by the pouring forth of the brutal words, even if they were the truth?

It was the anti-climax. He brooded in silence as he studied his dead mother. Every moment he had spent looking backwards had kept him from moving forwards. He had not forgiven his mother on her deathbed. He had not risen above his circumstances.

But, perhaps, everything now was over. His words were gone like the wind. His pain and mental torture seemed a memory from another age. It was the final closure for him.

It is questionable that Gwangjong’s emotional wounds seemed to have been healed by the presence of Hae Soo.

When it came to his mother, there seemed to be no reconciliation. All came to pass. Fate had afforded him the opportunity to revenge on his mother. It would have taken a better man to rise above his circumstances and not let his baser instincts control him. But Gwangjong was not such a man. Few men are what they appeared to be.

Gwangjong, was, but an animal. He lacked the love and compassion of a human being. When he realised what he had done to a dying person who was his own mother, he realised that he did not have real happiness at revenge. It was just an illusion. His mother slumbered on. But he was left to face his own demons. It was not a victory for him after all. Forgiveness was in order.

It is a chilling scene to remind one to make peace with others before it is too late. There are lessons to be learnt, fictitious history or not.

YEON HWA

GWANGJONG’S

‘ONLY’ GORYEON QUEEN

The thought of never having her other sons to bid their final farewell at her deathbed had never cross Queen Yoo’s mind. It must have been a horrible realisation she was trapped with the son she resented and hated almost all of her life on her deathbed. Finally, with him, she could feel his resentment. She too, could feel his longing for her love which she had denied him. At the point of her death, she had to deal with her illusion of having a perfect life and perfect sons. Is life just an illusion?

With tears welling up in his eyes, Gwangjong castigated Hae Soo. It was always him who had been cast aside. Right before she died, she finally touched his face. In all his 25 years of his life he never had her to himself. He wanted his mother all to himself. He wanted the intimacy which he had been denied. And, he wanted to send her to the next world without the presence of others.

Hae Soo felt sorry for not having understood his emotions and tried to touch his face but he swept her hand away.

With power invested in his hands, Gwangjong decided to conduct a thorough investigation about the mercury poisoning of King Hyejong and other plots in the palace. He interrogated Wang Won, the Ninth Prince to drag the truth out of him.

The king sprang a surprise on him about his spy. Wang Won couldn’t hide the fact that Chae Ryung, the maid in Wang Wook’s household, had originally worked with him. He had recruited and groomed her since young to be spy in the palace. Both princes had schemed to place her in the Damiwon Palace to spy on Gwangjong.

Gwangjong also knew that Wang Wook was the brains behind many vicious plots. The King’s task at hand was to prosecute the Eighth Prince’s crimes to its conclusion.

1. The lethal mercury poisoning of Wang Mu.

2. The first revolt against the dying King Taejo and second revolt against King Hyejong.

3. The dishonourable tactic of falsely accusing the ambitious Wang Gyu of a revolt against King Jeongjong. The revolt was a manufactured lie. It was a smear campaign, a character assassination plot and a thinly veiled campaign to get rid of Wang Eun’s maternal grandfather who was such a powerful figure in Taejo’s and Hyejong’s rule and later, posed a threat to King Jeongjong.

4. The manipulation of Wang So by using his beloved Hae Soo

5. The killing of the amiable and unambitious Wang Eun, the Tenth Prince.

Wang Won, an ambitious and corrupt prince, had been selling silver to merchants and short-changing them over the weight of the metal. The Royal Astronomer warned him that the punishment for such greed was death in a boiling cauldron.

One has visions of savages throwing European adventurers into huge cauldrons of boiling water. Horrors.

Cornered like a rat, Wang Won was compelled to admit that Wang Wook was the mastermind of all the crimes. The truth was out. Wang Wook had planned all of it with the deceased king, Jeongjong.

It was chillingly clear that four persons were responsible for the poisoning of King Hyejong: Wang Wook, Wang Yo, Wang Won and Chae Ryung.

But, the question is, ‘How far back did the murderous poisoning plot begin?’ It must have been well before the palace revolt at the point of Taejo’s death, when Wang Yo supposedly fell to his death at the cliff. It is a mystery as Wang Mu already had signs of poisoning much earlier on.

Gwangjong was raging mad. The grim reality was Wang Wook presented a real threat to the throne. If the king did not topple the Eighth Prince, evil will continue to triumph.

Gwangjong rounded off the investigation by asking one more question. And the audience knew it concerned Chae Ryung for the very next moment they had to deal with the sight of Chae Ryung had been singled out to be punished.

She was being beaten to death with thick poles. That was the punishment for Damiwon court ladies for serious crimes. Hae Soo, who came upon the scene fainted at the sight of Chae Ryung’s corpse.

Upon waking up, she screamed at Gwangjong for treating her former maid like a dog.

In self-defence, Gwangjong revealed a flurry of blistering reports against Chae Ryung, decrying her spy activities. Hae Soo’s former maid had committed a multitude of sins. She was not as simple as Hae Soo was made to believe.

1. Chae Ryung, a spy for Wang Won, had been reporting on them all this while. Imagine reporting about the activities and secrets of the king!

2. Chae Ryung was involved in muck-raking. She had stolen Hae Soo’s journal, which was written in a strange language, and handed it to Queen Hwangbo. At Queen Hwangbo’s instigation, Hae Soo was accused of being a foreign spy. Chae Ryung was responsible, in part, to the false character attack. Unknown to them, the said language is the Korean language of the modern times.

Hae Soo was reminded of the time that the former maid had lied that she couldn’t read and write. Chae Ryung had looked over her shoulder to peep at her journal writing and then had implied that she was too old to learn the Chinese language.

3. The suspicions that had been cast on her prevented them from getting married and Chae Ryung had to take some responsibility for it.

4. It was Chae Ryung who had personally inserted mercury into King Hyejong’s bath water. Hae Soo remembered talking about the mercury poisoning to Chae Ryung but she had denied doing it despite the fact that only the two of them were involved in the preparation of King Hyejong’s bath.

6. The exit out of the secret cave near the Damiwon Palace was blocked because of Chae Ryung and because of that, Wang Eun could not escape with his consort. So, Chae Ryung was partly to be blamed for their deaths. Hae Soo remembered that Wang Wook also knew about the cave.

Gwangjong stated categorically that he had no reason to forgive the maid.

Hae Soo, being soft-hearted, argued that Chae Ryung’s only crime was that she was born a lowly creature forced to do the bidding of powerful figures. But, Hae Soo would soon prove to be wrong. Chae Ryung would tell her in her final message that she had never regretted anything that she had ever done!

Caught in a maniac rage, Gwangjong admitted to Baek Ah that he had become a monster to Hae Soo due to the machinations of the Eighth Prince. His hysteria reached such a fever pitch that it was inevitable that retaliation against Wang Wook and Wang Won was imminent; the two Wang princes would get their just deserts.

Hae Soo spied a folded piece of white cloth containing a message written in blood from Chae Ryung. Written in the Chinese language, the deceased maid had pleaded with her to take care of her family. It was another shocking revelation that Chae Ryung had lied to her. The maid had denied knowing the language when Hae Soo first showed her Wang Wook’s love letter (Chinese poem).

Chae Ryung admitted that she couldn’t control her romantic feelings for Wang Won. It was obvious since he was her saviour, benefactor and mentor. He had taken her under his wing and taught her to read and write. It was a calculated move on his part to train her to be his spy in his subversive activities and she was his instrument to kill. He had charmed her and held her in his thrall.

The shocking fact was she did not even regret any part of it! The mind of the maid was twisted because of her obsessive love for the Ninth Prince.

That night when Gwangjong returned to his bedchamber, a lady guest with a mask was waiting for him.

He thought it was Hae Soo but was outraged when he realised that she was none other than Yeon Hwa. He slammed her for having too many ideas about her position as the queen.

Yeon Hwa was not satisfied being just a queen. She was forthright about their future. He, Gwangjong wanted to protect the throne but she needed an heir, to succeed him. Trying to seduce him, she placed her head on his shoulders.

A thought struck Gwangjong. Yeon Hwa had played right into his hands. ‘If she became his only queen, could she completely turn against Wang Wook and her own family?’

If she fully supported him, only then would he make their son the Crown Prince. She would not only be the queen but also the Queen Mother.

After Chae Ryung’s death, a vacuum was left in Hae Soo’s life. Gwangjong had hoped to allay her anger and reverse the tide against him with his detailed explanations about the conspiracies. Many conspirators were plotting to undermine his rule and he was clearly being tested and pushed to the extremes.

One imagines that Hae Soo would forgive Gwangjong. But, Hae Soo couldn’t live with Gwangjong’s cruelty. He had changed terribly; she could not accept the fact that circumstances could change a person. In order to escape from her gilded cage, she requested Baek Ah to pass her hair brooch to Wang Jung with the message, ‘I want it.’

This episode shows the different facets of Lee Joon Gi’s powerful acting from his bedroom eyes to his monologue.

Thursday 8 August 2019

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo Episode 18