Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo Episode 13

MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO If there is an essential image of King Taejo in one's mind, it is the picture of a strong and determined king who never thought his confidence might be misplaced. Isn’t he the great Taejo who had founded and laid the foundations of Goryeo?  When King Taejo fainted in the peace meeting, the palace was abuzz with news that he was at death’s door.  Indeed, he was. King Taejo, on his deathbed, felt all his false confidence had drained away. Like all dying people, he wondered about life. Declaring that life was short and fleeting, he asked Choi Ji Mong a series of profound questions. ‘What have I been living for all this time?’ He was asking about the purpose of his life. What is the meaning of life? Choi Ji Mong praised him for having founded the Goryeo Dynasty. ‘Would Goryeo last forever?’ Goryeo, not his family, was and had been his top priority in life. He, Taejo Wang Geon, had built and strengthened it. Could his descendants be depended on to preserve it for eternity? He shouldn’t have worried because his son, Wang So, the Fourth Prince, would soon establish the Goryeo Empire, and as Emperor Gwangjong, would put Goryeo on the world map. ‘Did I make the right decision in choosing Wang Mu to be the Crown Prince? Perhaps, on his deathbed, he had to face reality. Had he not harboured doubts about the important decisions he had made, he would not have questioned himself. His uncompromising insistence on Wang Mu to be his successor could be an error of judgement. His inherent bias towards his first son who was weak might have clouded his thinking. Perhaps, Wang So, a strong, passionate, intelligent and determined prince would have made a better king. Did approaching death give him a flash of insight? Perhaps, Taejo wanted to elicit a promise from Park Soo-kyung to execute his mandate. The Grand General reassured him that they would see to the crowning of  Wang Mu. Taejo instructed them not only to watch over the Crown Prince but also to take the Fourth Prince under their wing. Wang So, whose name had previously excited derision, had leapt from obscurity to take his rightful place in the palace. And, there he should stay. Meanwhile, Queen Yoo and Queen Hwangbo insisted on direct contact with the king. They were indignant that the astronomer was not forthright about the king’s condition. It finally dawned on Queen Yoo that Choi Ji Mong was buying time until the Crown Prince returned to take his rightful place. Since the palace had been sealed off, none was allowed to enter or leave the palace. Wang Yo and Wang Wook suspected that their royal father might have passed away. The crucial news about his condition had been blocked from public scrutiny. The clock was ticking. King Taejo knew that he was at death’s door and instructed Hae Soo to recall the Crown Prince who was in Hubaekje before it was too late. The dying king cautioned the naïve Hae Soo about ambitious princes who aspired to be king. He knew that once she left the room, they would approach and inquire her if he was dead. She must tell them that she wanted to get more tea from the Damiwon Palace. The fate of the Goryeo Dynasty rested on her shoulders. Taking advantage of the absence of the Crown Prince, Wang Yo, the overly ambitious prince, with the help of his conspirator, Wang Wook, had already sprung into action to seize the throne. True enough, Wang Wook waylaid Hae Soo to extract information about the king’s condition. He was exactly what the dying Taejo had predicted. He asked, ‘Has the king died already?’ Wang Wook claimed that wanted to become king to protect those he loved. Hae Soo was surprised that he was doing it for her sake. But by this time, not only had Hae Soo opened her eyes to Wang Wook’s ambition but had also fully understood the gravity of her task, so she gave him a vague answer about getting tea for the king. The conspirators had closed off the roads leading in or out of Songak to prevent news of the king being leaked to Wang Mu. Wang So’s path was blocked by Yeon Hwa and he suspected that she was doing it on Wang Wook’s orders. Surprisingly, Yeon Hwa offered him the opportunity to ascend the throne with the assistance of the Hwangbo clan. If they support him, would he consider to be king? The Fourth Prince knew that this offer was not in Wang Wook or Wang Yo’s agenda but, being politically judicious, he played along and agreed to be king. Brothers In Contrast. This was a portrait of two princes, Wang So and Wang Wook who, it seemed, had decided to be king on the spur of the moment. This excludes Wang Yo, who had always nursed the ambition to be king. Fear had taken root in the palace grounds. In such turbulent times, the beleaguered Hae Soo had to tread cautiously as she made her way around the palace. As luck would have it, Wang So found her. Hae Soo deserved an examination of her complex feelings; she suddenly found herself trusting Wang So and told him about the king’s instructions to secretly recall the Crown Prince from Hubaekje.  They immediately requested Woo Hee and Baek Ah to help. Woo Hee knew of a secret road to Hubaekje. When Wang Wook disclosed his ambition to be king to his sister earlier, Yeon Hwa was pleasantly surprised and pleased with her brother’s drastic change in attitude. On the surface, he supported Wang Yo but he was cautious and did not want to be a party to the killing of the Crown Prince. He did not want to make the mistake of being seen as a traitor and screw things up on his way to the throne.  So, why had she changed strategy and was now in favour of Wang So to be king? The fight for the throne, having gathered steam, had brought Wang So and Hae Soo together. They had bonded in a time of adversity. Passing by the throne room of the Cheondeokjeon Palace, they stared at the throne where Taejo used to sit when he was in his audience with his subjects. While commenting on Wang So’s fight for the throne, Hae Soo tried to elicit a promise from him not to kill his brothers, particularly the Eighth Prince, if he got the upper hand. Wang So teasingly asked whether she was just as worried about him. Wang So paid his last respects to his father in the presence of Queen Yoo, Queen Hwangbo and the astronomer. The Fourth Prince ignored his biased mother who was unerringly contemptuous of him. His tears threatened to fall as he looked at his now deceased father. He took a trip down memory lane. His father’s acts of love had already impressed themselves on his mind.  Every year, his father showed his affection for him by personally sending him a new mask while he was still in Shinju. It was time to say goodbye; he picked up the royal ceremonial cover with the royal golden dragon insignia and placed it over his father. It was at this moment that revealed why Wang So was poised to be the future king. He took charge of the situation and questioned Choi Ji Mong about the number of men and weapons in the palace. The Fourth Prince warned the astronomer about the impending dawn attack on the Cheondeokjeon palace by Wang Yo and Wang Wook. The sons of Queen Yoo and Queen Hwangbo were committing treason against Wang Mu, Taejo’s chosen successor. When Queen Yoo threatened him against killing Wang Yo, Wang So harshly admonished her and cut her down to size.

PRINCES AT WAR Accompanied by their rebel army, the two rebel princes arrived at the huge palace door. Wang Yo was surprised by the strange quietness of the palace premises. They seemed to be empty of life. The palace revolt: The face-off between the loyalists and the rebels. Unbeknownst to them, Wang Yo and Wang Wook’s revolt was not unexpected; it was already common knowledge among the Wang So faction. The loyalists were quietly waiting for them. The rebels were confident of themselves as only a miniscule part of the loyal army was on hand to defend the palace grounds from the intruders. Wang Mu had taken most of the army to Hubaekje so the palace was practically defenceless. Wang Yo was confident that even if Wang Mu was informed of the revolt, it would take him at least one whole day of swift horse-riding to arrive back to take charge, and by that time, everything would be over. Before the showdown between them and the Wang So faction, Wang Wook requested that Wang Yo kill Wang So, if he so much as resist and block them from achieving their goal. But, Wang Yo did not need much persuasion. The vicious prince already had it in mind to kill his own blood brother. This was a revolt; they risked being labelled as treacherous princes. But, they had not anticipated the presence of Park Soo Kyung, the Grand General. Had they known in advance that the loyalist faction would be fully armed and ready, they would have had second thoughts about their plan. The Grand General, who was fiercely loyal to Taejo, had fought side by side together with him (Taejo Wang Geon) in their wars to establish the Goryeo kingdom. Park Soo Kyung rebuked them for having the audacity to bring an army to the palace. He read them the riot act. To him, it was pure treason on their part but the two would not back down. The face-off between the Wang brothers had already begun. It was going to be a long, drawn-out fight between Wang So and Wang Wook. Wang So had the winning edge of having Park Soo Kyung, the Grand General, as his mentor. The young prince had been trained in martial and military arts by him. Park’s reputation would be at stake if Wang So did not win this fight. But, then, it is never a foregone conclusion. Locking horns with Park Soo Kyung, the Grand General, Wang Yo claimed that his royal mother had been inside the palace for over a day. She had been held incommunicado for no good reason. He saw scant reason for the sealing off of the Cheondeokjeon palace. No one had been allowed to enter or leave the palace premises. The Grand General retorted that the king needed to rest and was not to be disturbed. ‘Do you think I would believe such a blatant lie?’ Wang Yo sneered. Wang Yo ordered them to free his mother immediately. He accused them of trying to overthrow the Crown Prince, Wang Mu. It was ironic that he should accuse them of treachery - of trying to topple the Crown Prince and take over the throne. However, Wang Yo showed no indication of advancing towards the defenders of the palace. It was crystal clear that the loyalists were not going to give way without fierce resistance. The two opposing factions were in their aggressive stance and were ready to duel to death. In the lead up to the fight, it was shocking that it was not Wang Yo who stepped out to face Wang So. It was Wang Wook who proved more aggressive and more driven to fight it out with the Fourth Prince. It was as if he had a personal score to settle with Wang So. If looks could kill, his menacing look was deadly enough to strike a faint-hearted opponent dead. The wolfdog prince was not easily intimidated. Wang So’s attitude was one of tense expectancy and his death stare was fixed on Wang Wook. His rival felt the burning glare of his eyes. Both were gripping tightly to their swords and Wang So was ready with his sword held high. Wang So and Wang Wook went head to head. How would they fare in this fight of the princes? Was it going to be a death struggle and if so, who would be alive to tell the tale? The sudden onslaught by Wang Wook was the biggest shock. He exploded in a burst of murderous frenzy. With what sounded like a strangled cry, the Eighth Prince made the first move of a forward plunge. Electrified, Wang So also sprang at him with his sword firmly gripped in his hand. He knew that Wang Wook meant business. He was face to face with the prince who was intent on killing him but, he had not understood the reason yet. Wang Wook had the advantage of knowing what his fighting goal was. He wanted and was driven to kill the Fourth Prince whom he considered to be his rival in love and the struggle for the throne. Wang So knew not why and was unprepared for the ferocity of his opponent. At first, he was on the defensive. With the sweep of his arm, Wang Wook’s sword hacked at Wang So but the Fourth Prince was quicker than light and reeled away in time. As Wang Wook swept at him with his sword, Wang So struck back furiously and was quick enough to spring back. His instinctive sidelong leap saved him from the vicious blows. A fleeting glimpse from above showed the two princes engaged in a lethal combat. In one swift movement, Wang Wook had slashed at Wang So who was compelled to back off. The two Goryeo princes parried back and forth. Wang Wook viciously aimed his sword at Wang So again and again. Although the latter wheeled back, he was not going to be that easily vanquished. Wang Wook was a formidable and ruthless opponent. He looked like a very determined and persistent killer. His mouth opened in a snarl showing the fangs of a serpent. But Wang So, now fully awakened to Wang Wook’s intentions, was not going to be so easily dispatched. Wang So’s sword caught the bright shine of the morning light as he swung it at Wang Wook. With great ease, he deflected the blows that were aimed at him. Wang Yo smirked in satisfaction. Did it really matter if one of them died, whoever it was? It was merely a game of death. Wang So skilfully ducked Wang Wook’s blade. Being a skilful swordsman, he was able to predict where the blows would land and adroitly rose to the challenge of deflecting them. In one deft move, he expertly evaded Wang Wook’s blade and passed beneath it with a flexible bend of the body. Wang Wook was no match for the agility and wits of his older brother who was trained in martial arts and mentored by Grand General Park Soo Kyung. Springing back, Wang So slashed with appalling speed at Wang Wook’s sword which was swung at him. He slid back to circumvent it. The Fourth Prince’s suppleness was amazing. He was the master of crafty fight. The quickness of his eye and muscle, and his calmness proved to be his advantage. If looks could kill, Wang So would have skewered Wang Wook with the deadly intensity of his eyes. Wang Wook’s frenzied and frantic attacks did nothing to make his older brother stumble. Wang So was too hot to handle and was able to hold up. Wang So, by now, fully realised that Wang Wook was going for the jugular. It was not a David and Goliath fight. They were both evenly matched at this point. Wang So locked in on his foe and Wang Wook recoiled from Wang So’s swift attack. They traded blows and the sparring made the fight even more exciting. They grappled with each other with their bare hand, pushing and pulling, the other hand still wielding their sword. Wang Wook clung tenaciously at Wang So. Suddenly, with a deft hand, Wang So was able to fend off the attack and dislodge himself from Wang Wook’s iron grip. In one powerful movement, he seemed to have pirouetted and had thrown Wang Wook off-balanced. Wang So’s agility was impressive, considering the bulk of the military armour. He was light, lithe and agile on his feet. From afar, it seemed that Wang So had glided and turned around to brandish his sword at Wang Wook. He nimbly avoided Wang Wook’s sword. Their swords crossed and Wang So fended off Wang Wook’s sword. As Wang Wook charged forward, Wang So glided under the sword and he turned swiftly around to swipe at the rebel prince. Their blades met at knee level. Wang So seemed to have the sixth sense for the unexpected swings of Wang Wook’s sword. As the battle continued, the two princes seemed locked in playing slice and dice with their swords. Wang So’s keen eyes glinted in the sunlight. His sword sliced through the air. Wang Wook staggered. Wang Wook gritted his teeth. His opponent was not going to be that easily outmanoeuvred.   The fight rose to an exciting crescendo. The spectators could see that Wang So had the winning edge. With the leap of a powerful panther, Wang So flew up in the air and thrust his sword down for the fatal death stroke. No fighter could have moved so swiftly as Wang So moved. His sword flashed with every ounce of his strength thrown in. The one caught in the blade of his sword would fall into the jaws of death. Wang So’s leap was so high and the thrust of his sword was so lightning fast that it was impossible to avoid it. But, Wang Wook managed to jump aside just in time as Wang So’s sword came crashing down. When Wang So landed, his sword had seared the ground. Did the Fourth Prince deliberately miss? It would have been the death knell for Wang Wook. He could have pinned Wang Wook down with his sword. It was a close call for the Eighth Prince. Shocked, Wang Wook stumbled backwards. He swayed and backed off.  It suddenly dawned on him that Wang So was a formidable opponent. He had the leap of a powerful, wild and ferocious beast that could pummel him to dust. He was badly shaken. Wang So had the winning edge. Wang Wook had to weigh the option of continuing the fight. If he stopped, it would be pure humiliation for him and a sign of failure in his bid for the crown. Wang So leapt up from the ground and rushed forwards in a beastly fury at Wang Wook. He was going to trammel Wang Wook like a rat in a trap. The Fourth Prince was ready to rip the Eighth Prince apart. Wang So could not throw Wang Wook to the ground. With his feet wide apart, the Fourth Prince was ready to take another swipe at his enemy. With one hand to fend off Wang Wook’s attack, Wang So’s leg went up to swing at his opponent; his kick was high. One is stunned and bewildered by the swiftness of Wang So’s tornado kick. His flexibility was amazing. Suddenly, they were locked in a fighter’s tight embrace. Unable to dislodge Wang Wook’s arm that held him tight, Wang So made most of it by sweeping him round and round in dizzying circles like a mesmerising dance. They raced in circular a motion with arms tossing in the air, and with their sword in hand. It was a grim tug of war. When the grips were loosened, they were thrown apart but the fight continued to be fast and furious. Wang Wook charged again but Wang So was able to fight back blow for blow. With swords crossed, the princes snarled ay each other; one a wolfdog, the other, a hyena. The two princes stared at each other. It was a epic staredown. Their eyes locked and their bodies stiffened. The Fourth Prince stared at Wang Wook with such a piercing intensity that the stare could have burnt him. Wang Wook’s eyes were deadly. His were the eyes of a maniacal killer. He seemed ready to rip Wang So to shreds. Was it a duel of death? Wang Wook was not ready to throw in the towel.  Bathed in the light of the sun, they glared at each other until a commotion distracted them. An archer, who had climbed the roof of the palace, shot at the soldiers below. The lone archer was joined by rows of archers who had magically appeared on the rooftops. A volley of arrows threaten to fly in the direction of the rebel forces if they did not heed the orders to stop the fight. Wang Wook ignored the disruption and took advantage of the distraction to attack Wang So once again. It seemed he already had a plan mapped out in his mind. Wang So rushed towards a bellowing Wang Wook. He was ready to swing his sword but was stopped by the timely appearance of the Crown Prince, Wang Mu. Both half-brothers were unhurt, perhaps due to the solid military armour. Had the fight continued, Wang Wook would have been outmatched. There would be a grim finish if the wolfdog instincts of the Fourth Prince were allowed to rise to the surface. The Crown Prince’s unexpected appearance shocked everyone. He had arrived just in time to see for himself the revolt against the palace and the attempt to usurp the throne. THE TWIST IN THE TALE. The game was up. Wang Wook turned 180° against Wang Yo with the most shocking speed. Wang Yo was almost immobilised when Wang Wook pointed his sword at him. The treacherous Wang Wook had turned traitor. Wang Yo suddenly woke up from his dream. He could not believe his half-brother had betrayed him! The Eighth Prince told Wang Yo without mincing his words that he was never on his side, so it was not betrayal. A surprising turn of events. The Crown Prince asserted that he had heard about Wang Yo’s evil plan from Wang Wook. He received a letter from Wang Wook and was on his way back. It was evidence that Wang Wook was an intelligent strategic thinker who had pre-empted Wang Yo’s plan for his own ends. Hae Soo was surprised at the turn of events. Palace intrigues had surprising endings. Wang So was unimpressed by Wang Wook’s seeming loyalty. Wang Yo, the prince who had been duped, was the one who was most shocked by the betrayal. Having been too engrossed in his future glory, he had not foreseen Wang Wook’s betrayal. But, Wang Wook’s disloyalty would prove to be his own downfall in the not-so-distant future. Wang Yo was humiliated; he had been pushed to a kneeling position. Choi Jin Mong magically appeared at that very crucial moment just in time to announce the death of King Taejo. He proclaimed that the mantle of kingship was passed on to the Crown Prince, Wang Mu. And the queens had already acknowledged the decree. Who would dare object when Choi Ji Mong was the deceased king’s right-hand man and astronomer? Wang Mu rushed forward to pay his last respects but the acknowledgement of his position by Wang Wook stopped him in his tracks. ‘Greetings to the new king! Long live the king! Long live the king!’ This was followed by Wang So’s greetings to the new king. It had been a shock to all those present. General Park had to order them to kneel and greet the new king. Queen Yo’s hair had gown white overnight with shock and worry. Her favourite son had fallen from grace and charged with treason.

WANG SO AND WANG YO THE FIGHT AT THE CLIFF Hae Soo and Wang Wook met again. She was pissed off with him for telling her a lie. He was on the Crown Prince’s side but had hidden it from her to test her. He grudgingly accused her of trusting Wang So rather than him. He now knew where her loyalties lay. She asked him directly whether he was planning to kill the Fourth Prince. He admitted that he was planning on becoming the king but he had no qualms of ridding himself of those who would be an obstruction to his ambition. What was telling was he was using her as a weapon to kill the Fourth Prince. He had stung her heart. It had dawned on her that he had changed irrevocably. Wang Wook was not the prince she once knew; he was now a stranger, someone who frightened her. In turn, he admonished her for hiding the truth from him. He had wanted to know if the king had died but she kept the truth from him. She revealed that King Taejo had requested her help to ensure Prince Wang Mu ascended the throne. It was a logical choice as it was the king’s mandate. She did not let on that she had not revealed the truth about the king’s death on the sage advice of the perceptive Taejo. Finally, she drove home the point that Wang So, the Fourth Prince had promised that he would not kill him. He was surprised that she had pleaded for his life. The truth of the matter was, unlike Wang So, Wang Wook had no decency.  To test him, she declared that she was ready to leave Songak with him and live in peace elsewhere. If he were to request permission from the new king, he would be allowed to do so since he had proven his loyalty. It hit her like a thunderbolt that the ambitious and morally-flawed prince did not want to leave. He retracted his promise to bring her away. And, his excuse was other problems might crop up. His answer finally choked her love off.  Knowing how he would eventually end up in Goryeo’s history, her rejoinder was he was only fooling himself with his delusions of grandeur. The scales had fallen from her eyes. For the matter, if she was to compare the two half-brothers who were vying for her heart, she knew instinctively that Wang So was the prince who was truly after her heart. She was the love of his life and he would do anything for her. More to the point, Wang So, unlike Wang Wook, would leave Songak for her. Wang So had shown her what love meant. When did her heart change? It was certainly not that instant. Perhaps Taejo had shown her that the Fourth Prince was the right one. She did not mince her words when she told Wang Wook that she did not have the same feelings for him as before. He had shattered her most cherished notions of love; she would not root for him any longer. It was best that she distanced herself from him and keep him at arm’s length. She had to be perfectly clear – their romantic relationship had ended. Wang Yo had managed to flee from the prison. How he escaped was a mystery. The squad of soldiers was hot on his heels. Wang So and the other princes were chasing him on horseback. They arrived at a vertiginous cliff, which plunged down sharply. It was the end of the road for him. Wang Yo was at the edge of the cliff surrounded on three sides by the soldiers. His only escape route was to plunge down the cliff. Wang Yo fought with the soldiers who were not his match.     Interestingly enough, Wang Wook, now Wang Yo’s arch enemy, wanted a faster way to end his life. He was the one who would benefit the most from Wang Yo’s death. Taking a bow from one of the soldiers, he aimed his arrow at his half-brother. Wang So put a restraining hand on him as he did not want Wang Yo to be hunted like a wild animal. Wang Jung volunteered to convince his older brother to surrender.   But, Wang So had decided to tackle him. None could imagine what Wang So felt; he did not have bloodlust in him. Wang Yo, after all, was his blood brother. Although Wang So had been shunned by his family, he still had a soft spot for them. Would he give his older brother a second chance? With a growl, Wang So rushed towards Wang Yo with his sword. They both fought ferociously. It was an exciting fight, made even more exciting as they moved around the vertiginous cliff. None for a moment questioned the Fourth Prince’s fighting skills. Wang So had the upper hand as he was nimble on his foot. Leaping at his brother, he delivered some impressive flying kicks. The fight was fast and furious. One of Wang So’s kick caught the chest of Wang Yo, whose pain was immediately visible. Wang So told him to give up but he refused. Wang Yo asked, ‘If it were you, would you give up? If the Third Prince was to die, he would do it on his own terms. Realising that his brother would never compromise, Wang So knew what he had to do. He lifted his sword and plunged it in his brother’s direction. In a series of moves, Wang So was able to push Wang Yo to the edge of the precipitous cliff. He lurched forward. In one lightning swirling motion, he had sent a flying kick towards Wang Yo’s hand and his sword was swept off. Wang So then jabbed his brother’s chest with his sword. The Fourth Prince could have killed his brother in the span of a heartbeat. Wang Yo was at his mercy. Time stood still for a moment. A shadow of sadness crossed Wang So’s eyes. The entire scene unfolded rapidly. Wang Yo jumped off the cliff and disappeared. His move was so sudden and unexpected that the Fourth Prince instinctively stretched out his hand to grab his brother as he fell to his death. Wang So did not want to kill his brother; he was not a beast but a humane prince. He stood rooted to the spot, unable to control his grief. His younger brother, Wang Jung was saddened that Wang Yo had to go in such a way. The edge of the cliff was precarious; Wang Jung had to crawl over to the edge to peer down. It was truly over. Wang So grimly strode past Wang Wook. The death of Wang Yo should please the other, the real villain in the piece. When Queen Yoo learnt of her precious son’s death, she thought it was impossible. It was surreal to her. She was out of her mind. When it came to Wang So, she was irrational. She raged against him. Now, she had no one but Wang Jung.   Depressed over the killing of his brother, Wang So found comfort in the arms of his beloved. He tearfully confessed to Hae Soo that he had stabbed his brother. He cried piteously. She understood his agony and commiserated with him.