MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO
THE RAINMAKER
It was pointless to circumvent
the will of the heavens. What was bound to happen would happen.
Ever since the start of Goryeo’s
severe drought, the kingdom had plunged into chaos. The burning sun had
wrought destruction on the land and there had been unrest in the kingdom.
Thieves flourished. The Crown Prince had been sent
to quell the troubles created by them. Hae Soo brought some precious health
items to the prince and gave him some health advice. Wang So also arrived to send the
prince off. Hae Soo avoided talking to Wang So. He had been very cold to her
since Wang Eun’s birthday.
Queen Yoo suspected that Hae Soo was
helping the Crown Prince with some precious health items that she had taken
from the Damiwon Palace. She wanted to ferret out information about Wang Mu's illness from the Damiwon court lady but Concubine
Oh came in the nick of time to save her. Wang So had witnessed the
harassment. Flushed with irritation, the prince warned his mother not to
browbeat innocent victims.
Troubled by the worsening drought, King Taejo headed for the temple
and prayed to the heavens for help. A rain ritual had been arranged and since
Wang Mu was away, it was suggested that the king should choose one of the other princes to head the rain
ritual.
Wang So was born in 925, the year of the rooster. In Chinese
culture, the zodiac sign of the rooster, the epitome of fidelity and
punctuality, has the symbolic meaning of ‘exorcising evil spirits’.
What does Wang So mean? It is sometimes difficult to assign a
meaning to a family name. ‘Wang’ could mean ‘King’ and ‘So’ could be
translated as ‘son’. But, the name together could be loosely translated as The
King or The King’s son.
Being sceptical of the possibility of moving the
heavens through such a preposterous ceremony, the Fourth Prince questioned the
stuff-and-nonsense that surrounded the rain ritual. He opined that as long as
one conducted the rain rites, the rain would eventually fall, so, it was all just
mumbo-jumbo.
Call it luck or manipulation. To Wang So’s consternation, his
shamanistic divination stick was picked so it meant that he was the one
mandated by the heavens to be The Rainmaker.
Though he was not easily fooled, the Fourth Prince was left
with no choice but lead the important rites.
On the day of the rain ritual, Wang So appeared dignified and resplendent in his royal
beige robes. Unexpectedly, his role as the rainmaker did not gain the widespread acceptance of the hoi polloi.
The peasants, who were neither good-lookers nor had any
aura of royalty, denounced the masked prince as unfit to lead the rain ritual.
Probably, they thought a ‘perfect’ human specimen would be able to appease
the heavens. Being pelted with mud and stones by the jeering crowds, Wang So was literally driven out of
the solemn religious ceremony.
Imagine being publicly humiliated by the common peasants in the
presence of the assembled royalty and ministers, all in their splendid beige robes.
Wang So was in a sorry mess; he was bedraggled and looked pathetic. One could feel his pain and
suffering. Not too long ago, he had been privately shamed by his siblings and now,
he was being publicly shamed by the Goryeon people. His faith in himself was
faltering.
The royal family, except for Queen Yoo and her favourite son, Wang Yo, was shocked. The two royals gloated over the hatred poured on the Fourth
Prince. Did the wicked pair have a hand in instigating the crowds to humiliate the Fourth Prince?
The conniving Queen Yoo had wanted Wang Yo to lead the rites.
In fact, they had sent thieves to prevent the Crown Prince from returning for
the important rain ritual. The drought was the opportune time to usurp the Crown
Prince’s position. Both mother and son were constantly bent on wresting power
for themselves. Queen Yoo, in particular, was using her son to be the future Queen
Mother.
Wang So’s belly must have burned with resentment at the turn of
events. Wallowing in self-pity, he found solace in his sanctuary, his boat which
was moored by the river bank. The Fourth Prince, a prince on the run from the public eye, found
peace and relief in natural surroundings.
Another day had passed. It was time for the rain ritual again. Hae
Soo was worried about the Fourth Prince whom she suspected might have
withdrawn into his own world. When she found him lolling in his
boat, his face was defiant and cold.
While standing by the boat, she fell and he caught hold of her.
Did his heart hammer hard? She tried to persuade him to lead the ceremony
again but he didn’t even pretend an interest in the role of a rainmaker. However,
her wise words drew his attention to his own self-absorption. Would her cheerful
advice, ‘Whatever you have experienced previously shall pass’ help him brush past his
previous dreadful encounter with the peasants?
Choi Ji Mong was worried about the absence of the Crown Prince.
Wang So was furious with the astronomer for manipulating him. It made no sense
to Wang So to continue with the rain rites.
Did the astronomer think that he, Wang So, would become
stronger if he was thrown into the very worst situation? The astronomer
wanted him to face up to his weakness. He understood Wang So’s agony of being
publicly shamed but self-confidence was of utmost importance. If he did not
confront his scar problem head-on, the road ahead would be harder and life would be tougher. The Fourth Prince had to understand the principle of 'The Survival of the Fittest'.
The bitter Wang So did not realise the full implications of the rain ceremony. It was the acid test of a future
king. What Wang So failed to understand was he was being groomed for his
future role of the Goryeon king. Choi Ji Mong equably emphasized that in the
event that it rained when Wang So was leading the rites, he would be treated like
a king. His life would change drastically.
Hae Soo offered to take off Wang So's mask. Having inborn makeup and artistic talent, she declared that she was going to do a cosmetic
makeover for him. Wang So was ignorant of the fact that Hae Soo was a certified cosmetologist and esthetician in the 21st century. Hae Soo would be able to cover his scar with the cosmetics that she had
specially formulated for him.
Wang So, a prince made of heroic stuff, decided to courageously face the public. This was what separated the wheat from the chaff, the hero
from the common man. And, because of his decision, he would change the future of Goryeo forever.
When Wang So appeared for the rites, the ambitious Wang Yo, who was hovering near the royal palanquin, was mentally
and psychologically ready to take over his place. The Fourth Prince deftly censured his older brother, who angrily punched his
face so hard that his mask fell off. Wang Yo was shocked; Wang So’s
scar had seemingly disappeared.
The reversal of fortunes. This time, the simple-minded people of
Songak did not stone Wang So. The make-up had worked like a charm. The Fourth
Prince’s scar had magically vanished.
Someone shouted that he was the vision of the 'Son of the Dragon'.
Everyone, who now acknowledged his divinity, fell to their knees and prostrated
before him. He had won the hearts and minds of the citizens of Songak.
The next scene spectacularly opens to show the splendidly
arranged ceremony with the king ensconced in his seat, flanked by his two queens. The
royal court were dressed in the royal beige colour of Goryeo’s religious
ceremony. Jaws must have dropped at the breathtaking beauty of the scene.
With the avalanche of support of the people, the Fourth Prince was
allowed to complete the elaborate rites. He walked the whole length of the
street to the elevated altar which was specially built for religious ceremonies.
Walking at a sedate pace and blessing everyone and everything with the flick of the stalk of fern leaves in his hand, Wang So now took centre stage in the rain rites with absolute
self-confidence.
The tension mounted. The Fourth
Prince, with the aura of majesty, ascended the flight of wide steps to the
round altar.
One is in awe of the astounding scene. It is like a beautiful painting. 
Standing majestically at the top of the altar, Wang So turned
back to smile at the crowds.
His searching eyes finally landed on Hae Soo and he regarded
her with a smiling gaze. Visions of Gwangjong flashed in
her mind. Hae Soo felt terror clutch at her heart as Gwangjong in his black robes,
gazed back at her. The intensity of the malice in his eyes was shocking. In
that split second, she realised that Wang So was the future Gwangjong. Wang
So, the Fourth Prince and the murderous Gwangjong swathed in red were one and the same. Then, she was
brought back to reality. The kind and gentle Wang So, in his cream coloured royal
robes, looked in silent appeal for her approval.
Were the visions that flashed in her mind a premonition of future disaster?
The heavens had answered their prayers; the rain drizzled down. Wang So's lips curved into a smile. It was the triumphant smile of the victorious prince. Then, there was a shower followed by a torrent of rain.
Who ever said that the heavens never answered prayers?
|