Wang Yoo practically snaps back that as King he bestows the honors for Koryeo. The clenching of his jaw says that he’s absolutely pissed about what’s happening. And Huizong’s face is less gloating as he replies that if it wasn’t for “Her Grace” Wang Yoo would already be dead, since she saved your worthless skin. More jaw clenching as Wang Yoo tell Huizong to convey his thanks. He bows and starts to walk away.
Calling after Wang Yoo, Huizong asks him, almost sad, if he still loves Sung Nyang. Seung Nyang, who’s Seung Nyang? Is Wang Yoo still carrying that torch? This makes Wang Yoo stop, but not turn around. There’s a pause, with some eye blinking and then Wang Yoo walks one without a reply. Huizong calls after Wang Yoo that he loves her and she’s everything to him. So they both love the same woman. That sucks. And explains the sad music that’s playing. Even though, I thought this was supposed to be a story about… wait. This is the end of the story. I sigh. As Wang Yoo walks away, Huizong continues, almost desperately, “She’s not for you, understand? Do you? Do you? Do you?!” Which says to me that she might not feel the same way about Huizong.
Switch to a room where Seung Nyang (Ha Ji Won) is getting ready for her coronation. This is one thing I love about period pieces, they are so lush and ornate looking. Although that headpiece that Huizong’s wearing, it’s just goofy. Why in the world did anyone every thing that was dignified? I’m not bashing the costume designer, because I’m confident that it’s historically accurate, I’m just saying. A maid is dressing Seung Nyang. Seung Nyang picks up a necklace of two rings and sadly looks at it. A maid comes in and tells her that King Wang Yoo has left for Koryeo. Seung Nyang’s reaction shows I was right and that she loves Wang Yoo and not Huizong.
The huge courtyard is crowded with people as Seung Nyang is brought out, riding a shoulder carriage. That’s a lot of people! I wonder if they have something like a SAG card in Korea... They all bow as she rides forward. Huizong stands, waiting for her, looking determined. She walks this huge flight of stairs to stand in front of him. And I give props to Ha Ji Won for not looking absolutely exhausted after having to heft that huge dress up all those stairs. Huizong smiles at her and holds out his hand. It’s obvious that he’s happy. She takes it and everyone drops to their knees in a bow. Huizong announces, “Congratulations, Your Imperial Majesty.” They drink from the cups that a servant has brought forward.
All the people begin crying, Hail Emperor Huizong! Hail Empress Ki! Huizong and Seung Nyang look around at the crowd. A man in the crowd, who is not cheering, thinks to himself, “Seung Nyang? Is it The Jackal?” The Jackal? Who’s the Jackal? Seung Nyang is smiling at her now subjects and Huizong has given them a grand wave. He takes her hand again and the smile she gives him has genuine affection. As they begin to walk, Seung Nyang spots Wang Yoo on the edge of the crowd. His face shows he’s devastated. Her face is pained to see him and a tear slides from her eye as she looks away. Wang Yoo sadly turns and walks away as Seung Nyang stares sadly after him.
Many years ago. Seung Nyang (as a girl) is sitting with her mother and a bunch of other women and children, tied together. Someone says “Chona (your Highness)” and offers a boy something to drink. The boy is identified as Crown Prince Wang Yoo. The slave drivers orders everyone to get up and move out! We’re informed that this is the Koryeo concubine tribute en route to Daidu. None of the women want to go and Seung Nyang’s mother ends up falling. One of the drivers comes over and starts whacking Seung Nyang’s oma with a whip. Seung Nyang begs him to stop and even takes a whack or two for her mom. Then mom takes some more to protect Seung Nyang.
Wang Yoo cries, “Enough!” and makes the driver stop. He demands to know why they’re tied up. It’s not like he shouldn’t have noticed this before. Exposition fairy. The driver replies that they’ll run off otherwise. Wang Yoo is upset because the women are being treated like animals and demands the ‘General’ release them. The General does not take kindly to this upstart and asks him if he’s giving orders. Which says a lot about the politics here – the crown prince of Koryeo has no power and Yuan has all of it. A man (later identified as Shin Woo) begs Wang Yoo to just leave it be. Another man, Dang Ki Se (Kim Jung Hyun), rides up and demands to know what the delay is. The driver replies that the Koryeo princeling – wow, that really says a lot about Koryeo’s political strength, if they can insult its crown prince – wants them to release the girls.
The leader, Ki Se, huffs derisively and tells Wang Yoo that he needs to cut it out, since he’s not in charge. Ki Se also warns Wang Yoo to quit it, because Ki Se’s Blue Wolves aren’t known for their patience. And are we ever going to hear about the Blue Wolves again? Probably not. Exposition fairy. Wang Yoo glares at him but says nothing. They move out. Wang Yoo can do nothing but watch as the concubine train gets moving, with lots of wailing. He asks his man, Bang Shin Woo (Lee Moon Shik) what will happen to the women. When Wang Yoo hears that the women will either be sold into prostitution or slavery, he declares these Blue Wolves animals. And I don’t disagree with him.
Later, a ‘touching’ scene between Seung Nyang and her mother. Touching scene because it doesn't move me at all and feels like I am supposed to be moved by it. Mom is very upset that she couldn’t protect her daughter. Well, what can you do? See, not affected. Wang Yoo and Shin Woo arrive. Wang Yoo has the keys to the cages and tells Shin Woo to open the cages. Wang Yoo apologizes to Seung Nyang, saying this is all he can do and tells her to run. I don’t think he was planning on freeing all of them, but then he tells them all to run.
The women are running through the forest when Ki Se arrives with his men. He orders his men to kill all of the women. Which makes no sense to me, since they’re supposed to be the tribute and a source of income for Yuan. But I guess we have to make Seung Nyang’s life extra tragic by having her mother be murdered in front of her eyes. Arrows fly as sad music plays. And I wonder why some of the women didn’t play dead. Oma is hit and, instead of running, Seung Nyang plops down beside her and yells Oma! Which, of course, draws Ki Se’s attention. Ki Se rides up, laughing at Seung Nyang’s fear and grief. Which, of course, makes him evil if we weren't thinking it before. Then he pulls out his crossbow and shoots it at Seung Nyang. But Oma had just enough juice left to dive in front of Seung Nyang, taking that second arrow, and then she throws them down a hill, away from Ki Se.
Sad scene where Seung Nyang and her mother say good bye. Still not moved. The music says that it's supposed to be extra sad. It’s now raining. Seung Nyang begs her mother to live. Oma begs Seung Nyang to run. Seung Nyang doesn’t want to. Oma declares that this world is so cruel to women. Which is true, especially back them, when they were basically cattle. Oma gives Seung Nyang one of the rings that she picked up earlier in the show (while getting ready for the coronation) and tells her that it was a gift from Seung Nyang’s Appa, that he’s still alive and has the matching ring. Which means that Seung Nyang found her dad at some point after this, since she had both rings. Oma tells her to find the Ki, to find her father, and then dies and Seung Nyang screams for her not to and loudly cries. And I guess that the rain muffles the noise, since none of the Blue Wolves seem to hear her.
Back at the camp, Wang Yoo is sitting out in the rain, next to the covered bodies of the women that have been killed. He's devastated that his people have been killed. Shin Woo is with him. Wang Yoo declares that it’s his fault – And in a way it is, because *he’s* the one who let them out so that they would get shot – because he couldn’t protect his own people. And I feel bad for him because he feels this sense of responsibility and the weight of his crown, especially since it's such a powerless crown. Shin Woo mournfully says Chona, as it’s obvious he cares for the boy.
The guy from the coronation that wasn’t cheering, Wang Ko, comes out and sneers at Wang Yoo that an incompetent father kills is own son and an incompetent ruler kills his own people. Then he condescendingly tells Wang Yoo that he has no right to the throne. Wang Yoo starts to cry as the guy tells him that he’s young and incompetent. Then the guy leans in and tells Wang Yoo to do them all a favor and die in Yuan and not to come back to Koryeo. As Wang Yoo cries, Wang Ko laughs.
Back to Seung Nyang, who is looking for The Ki (her father). No one has any idea what that is but one lady thinks a Ki owns the soup shop.. Elsewhere, eating soup, a man holds the matching ring and is rubbing it with his thumb sadly. His companion tells him that he shouldn’t feel bad since his wife ran off with the kid, so it’s not his fault if something happens to his kid. Companion suggests they ask the local officials about it. What do you want to bet that this is the Ki she's looking for. Eating at a restaurant owned by another Ki. The men leave as Seung Nyang arrives. The soup lady doesn’t know anything.
Seung Nyang takes some scraps from the trash, even though the lady offers to get her a bowl, since Seung Nyang doesn’t take charity. As she’s walking away from the soup shop, Ki Se arrives with his men. Seung Nyang starts running away – even though Ki Se is not chasing her – and almost gets trampled over by the Wang Ko and his man. Wang Ko asks if she’s dead and his right hand, Jo Cham (Kim Hyung Bum) calls him Chona – so he must be related to Wang Yoo, which makes sense since they share the same last name. Seung Nyang stirs, so they take her with them.
Later a servant is going to wash Seung Nyang's clothes since they stink, but Seung Nyang wakes and doesn’t let her. The servant remarks to the companion, Cham, that the kid is mighty shy for a boy. So they think she’s a boy. She gives Seung Nyang some clothes. Cham asks where Seung Nyang lives. She says that she’s homeless and an orphan. The servant sighs.
Switch to Wang Ko and Ki Se who are drinking. Ki Se might also be a little drunk. Ki Se’s concerned over what the fall out will be because of Wang Yoo. Wang Ko suggests that something happen to Wang Yoo; then he can be king of Koryeo and Shenyang both. Explains the Chona. Ki Se’s actually considering it, but something holds him back: the Imperial Majesty’s court will expect compensation. Wang Ko just laughs over that being a problem. He’s already “taken steps” and sent vast tributes ahead to the Yuan court. Ki Se likes the sound of that. Definitely two people I want in power.
The meeting is over and Wang Ko has gone outside, but his shoes are gone. And it’s raining. Seung Nyang appears with the shoes; she’d taken them so they would stay dry. Although why she couldn’t have just moved them out of the rain… Seung Nyang begs for Wang Ko to take her in. Cham explains that she’s the horse boy (that they almost killed). Seung Nyang wants to repay him. It amuses Wang Ko, so he lets Seung Nyang be a servant.
Seung Nyang is learning to shoot, thinking of the man who killed her mother. Cut to 13 years later and the adult Seung Nyang (Ha Ji Won), who wears her mother’s ring around her neck. A boy runs up and announces that it’s time for the salt delivery. Cut to Inju, Salt Storehouse. The delivery actually means that Seung Nyang and her men are smuggling the salt and it’s under Wang Ko’s orders. While he’s paying her, she asks for more money, since their “family” has grown larger. Right-hand man, Cham, is angered by her ‘arrogance’ and lack of gratitude but Wang Ko just laughs and says she should get paid. Then he says that they’re moving more salt next month. Seung Nyang’s reply: At your service. She takes the money and runs.
Wang Ko’s people are worried about all this salt smuggling – never thought I’d write that. But Wang Ko’s not. The Koryeo king is naming his heir and if Wang Ko’s named, the Yuan will expect even more tribute. He’s not really worried because he’s the favorite; the Crown Prince is worthless.
Swap to adult Wang Yoo. He’s practicing fighting and says that he needs to be able to take care of myself. Of course, the guy he’s fighting ends up knocking him out. Shin Woo almost slips and calls Wang Yoo “Chona” and his other man asks if the guy who knocked Wang Yoo out wanted to die! Wang Yoo’s people are freaking out because he’s unconscious when he suddenly bolts up and announces that he’ll go the Inju since they have good street fighting there. Shin Woo clucks that this is no time to pick fights, since Wang Yoo’s father is picking the heir and Wang Ko is vying for the Koryeo crown. Wang Yoo’s not worried and asks Jeom Bak about the fighting in Inju. Jeom Bak is up for it, because they have a lot of dealings with Yuan, which means different fighting styles but Shin Woo gets Jeom Bak’s attention, so he stresses that the fighters are “plenty tough, especially one they call The Jackal.” There’s that name again, the Jackal.
Wang Yoo’s never heard of the Jackal. Jeom Bak declares him a nasty piece of work. Voice over now as he tells Wang Yoo that the Jackal can shoot a bird at 300 yards. Jeom Bak finds that part unbelievable. We see Seung Nyang with her men, as she shoots a bird for them to eat. Later they walk through town, getting bows of respect as they pass, as we hear that the word is he’s protecting the local merchants. Jeom Bak tells Wang Yoo that he takes sons of slaves, calling them cubs. Wang Yoo declares they’re cub hunting. Wow that sounded cheesy.
Switch to Seung Nyang with her cubs. She dumps out the silver and asks whose turn it is. Ah, Seung Nyang and her men work for Wang Ko to earn money so they can free their family member who have been sold as slaves. You go, girl! That’s character. She reminds them to remember *why* they’re doing this: They fight until all the Yuan concubines have been returned. They only have each other. A man barges in and tells the Captain she needs to come quickly.
Wang Yoo and his men have shown up – dang! That guy he was fighting is carrying a huge scimitar! – and are terrorizing everyone in the place downstairs from where the Jackal and her cubs are meeting. Jeom Bak is just about the trash some more stuff when Seung Nyang confidently emerges and asks who he is. Jeom Bak cockily sits and props up his feet as he says, “So you’re The Jackal, huhn?” Clever banter: Seung Nyang asks who let the outhouse dog in? He announces that he’s Jeom Bak, The Joker. Her men have heard of him. Seung Nyang’s not impressed. He demands she come down before he grabs his sword and puts cubs on the menu. She tells him to get out. Jeom Bak’s men are surprised. She tells him that the moment he grabs his sword in her place, he’s dead. Jeom Bak’s men are insulted for him. Jeom Bak goes for his sword to teach her a lesson and gets an arrow through his hand. As Jeom Bak’s men react, Seung Nyang announces that the next one goes in someone’s head. She tells Jeom Bak that the next one’s going in his head.
Later, Jeom Bak’s reporting to Wang Yoo. Wang Yoo’s impressed. He asks Moo Song about the arrow: A baby arrow that’s shot through a pipe. The two combine to be a lethal combination. Wang Yoo tells Jeom Bak to set up a match between them. Shin Woo protests in a way that makes me roll. I love how he freaks out so. Moo Song asks to go in Wang Yoo’s place. Wang Yoo declares that he’s never lost an archery match. And by their reactions, I think our prince is over-confident.
So they meet for a match. And I have no idea *why*Seung Nyang would agree to it. She doesn’t need anything from them, why risk a match? But they have to meet, so here’s a nice plot contrivance… Wang Yoo calls her a little wisp of a thing. She replies that he’s not much to look at either. Moo Song, the one who it seems will always get insulted for his king, clamors, “How dare you!” Wang Yoo waves him off. Wang Yoo proposes a match: win and they will leave quietly. Lose and they have to serve him. Well, that's at least one way to curb the ruffian population, make them serve you.
Seung Nyang sighs and says that she doesn’t have time for this; they need to leave or die. Everyone (except Seung Nyang and Wang Yoo) draw their swords. Wang Yoo tells her that she should accept his terms or there will be bloodshed. And what does she get? Oh, right, just you agreeing to leave. While you get something even more: her service. Seems fair. I roll my eyes at the plot device. Seung Nyang agrees. Although I still don’t see why.
Wang Yoo throws in a twist: they have to drink before each shot. Shin Woo giggles over it, because it’s obvious stacked against Seung Nyang. Because this guy probably has about 70 pounds on her, at least, and it will affect *him* less. Wang Yoo calls it a battle of wills. And I find myself irritated at the guy and hoping that he loses, since he’s cheating. Seung Nyang’s boy mutters to her that she can’t hold her liquor so Wang Yoo goads her a bit.
Seung Nyang declares she also has a condition: the lids are the targets. No problem for Wang Yoo, until she proposes that one of his men will be holding it over his head. Seung Nyang’s men are quick to volunteer. Because they *really* follow her. Her boy gets the honor. She turns back to Wang Yoo and tells him that it’s his turn. He clears his throat uncomfortably. When he looks for a volunteer, no one wants to meet his eye. Seung Nyang goads that they must not trust him. Shin Woo slaps Moo Song a few times meaningfully, who reluctantly volunteers.
The competition begins. Seung Nyang’s boy stands there smiling, confident in his leader. Moo Song is sweating a bit. And the shooting begins with Moo Song closing his eyes each time. They progressively get drunker to where either can barely stand. Finally, Seung Nyang can hardly stand but her boy cheers her on. Instead she aims the arrow at Wang Yoo. She ends up passing out on him, but not before she vomits all over his chest. Wang Yoo declares himself the winner. And later buys everyone drinks in celebration.
Seung Nyang wakes in Wang Yoo’s room. He’s playing the geomungo. He knows she’s awake and she watches him for a moment before he asks her, without looking at her, what she’s looking at. Then he invites her to have a drink. Trying to hold onto her face, she declares he doesn’t seem to be destined to roll in the muck. He wants to know what she thinks he’s destined for. She rattles off what she sees: good family, lots of money, a player. He snarks that he’s not sure about his family, but he is a player. She looks at the geomungo and he asks her if she wants to learn. She doesn’t see the point. He tells her that chicks go nuts for this stuff. Which makes me laugh because I think Seung Nyang was going a little nuts for it… Wang Yoo proposes a swap: he’ll teach the geomungo, if she teaches him the split arrow.
Before Seung Nyang can answer, Wang Yoo already placed the geomungo on her lap and shoved the pick in her hand. He wraps his arms around her so he can guide her hands. She, of course, freaks out a bit, since she’s a woman and he’s a man, but he’s clueless. She enjoys herself a bit, but also finds herself attracted. When he leans in so they can play faster, she really gets uncomfortable. She throws off the geomungo, spins around and holds the pick as a weapon, ready to stab him. Wang Yoo is really shocked by this turn of events. And she could have killed him and he would have been too stunned to fight back. She gets a hold of herself, drops the pick, clears her throat and declares that she’s leaving. Wang Yoo protests about the split arrow and she tells him to enjoy his harp and ‘chicks’. They suit him better.
Wang Yoo jumps to his feet and reminds Seung Nyang (which seems like MBC is translating the name as the Jackal) that she lost and he owns her now, since she’s his servant. She only turns around and tells him good luck with that, since she’s a mutt/jackal. When she again goes to leave, Wang Yoo proposes that she becomes his younger brother. This makes her stop. Wang Yoo then brags that his best friend is none other than the Crown Prince. And he’s pretty sure *that’s* going to impress her. He says that having him as a hyung is the same as having the crown prince as her hyung. Which is both funny – because we know it’s true – and sad – because he’s really cocky about how impressive he is.
Seung Nyang looks at Wang Yoo and replies that Crown Prince, Crown Putz… either way, she’d rather eat horse dung than trade her own people as concubines. Wang Yoo’s hurt by that one – because we know he hates it just as much as she does – but he covers it and tells her that she’s got a lot of bitterness towards the world. She snaps back that it’s because the world is rotten to the core, with royal parasites that sell themselves like courtesans being the worst kind. She steps forward and tells him that if he says any more, it won’t be a lid next time, it will be his head. Then she stalks out. As Wang Yoo watches her leave, he mutters that she’s being wasted out there. And he likes her conviction. If only he’d tell her who he really is, and that they believe the same things…
As Seung Nyang leaves the inn, Cham grabs her. He asks what she’s doing with those guys. She answers archery match, but then asks who they are. Cham doesn’t answer, just asks if they asked about the salt. Cham is evasive about answering who they are, but tells her that Wang Ko won’t like it. And, of course, that's very important that their boss like it.
Next day, Wang Yoo is at breakfast. The headband he was wearing yesterday he’s now holding. Shin Woo asks him if he’s going to meet the owner of the headband. As he replies “Any minute now,” there’s a flashback. He's in his office. Someone has just dropped off the headband and a message: “Come to Inju, wearing this, to learn about King Wang Ko’s Shenyang salt deals.” Wang Yoo declares he’ll go in person, because it’s easier for him to fool Wang Ko than the Censorate. Whoever they are. The servant declares that it’s dangerous, but Wang Yoo hands back his own headband, instructing that it be sent back by carrier pigeon, so Wang Yoo can identify him. Back to the present. The aforementioned servant arrives to tell Wang Yoo that the informant couldn’t make it, but he sent the information. Before the servant can tell Wang Yoo the place and time, someone shoots the guy with an arrow, so he dies without delivering the information.
At Wang Ko’s, he’s seething over learning there’s traitor among his people. Because you’re a guy who is so loyal to your people… Seung Nyang and another guy, along with Cham, are there. Cham declares that it must be the salt vendor, since it couldn’t possibly be one of them. Wang Ko asks the other guy – maybe the salt vendor, he's never given a name – out of his men who knows. The guy answers three. Wang Ko says that the number’s now six. And why do I think it will soon be down to two? Cham asks Seung Nyang whether her guys know; she replies only enough to make deliveries. And they wouldn’t jeopardize freeing their family by losing their source of income. Wang Ko leaves dealing with Wang Yoo to the third guy, so they all leave his office.
As they’re leaving, Wang Ko asks a hidden someone whether he’s sure the Prince knows nothing? Assassin – because he’s dressed all in black with his face hidden behind a mask and a hat with a veil, which he still needs to be wearing, even though he’s inside and hidden… – asks whether Wang Ko is certain about the traitor. Wang Ko declares that the only one he can trust is Sungnyang. Dang, what about Cham, who’s been with you since you picked up Seung Nyang. That’s cold. Wang Ko tells Assassin not to let Wang Yoo out of his sight.
Back at Wang Yoo’s he declares they must have a traitor. Moo Song thinks it’s one of Jeom Bak’s men. Shin Woo, ever brave, wants the prince to retreat, but Wang Yoo declares he can’t, because Wang Ko knows he’s sharpening his blade. Great image! And cheesy. He declares that retreating now would back him into a corner, so he decides to shake things up. Wang Yoo declares that Wang Ko doesn’t fear anything in Koryeo, but Yuan’s another story.
Voice over as Wang Yoo narrates about them buying up all the Inju salt, so that when the Yuan traders come, they’ll complain that there isn’t enough. Then, Wang Yoo can blame Wang Ko’s contraband deals. Seung Nyang watches in the distance. Switch to Wang Ko, who’s laughing as he declares that Wang Yoo is using his head. His men are freaking (Seung Nyang is not there), with Cham worrying about them being caught by Yuan for dealing in contraband. Wang Ko is nice and draws his sword on the guy and declares that they won’t be caught for dealing in contraband; the Prince will be. Ominous music as he sheaths his sword.
Seung Nyang arrives. Wang Ko sends the other guys out and, when they’re alone, tells her that she’s the only one he trusts. She looks up at him, understanding the weight and meaning of those words. Wang Ko gives her his instructions.
Wang Yoo is playing the geomungo as he thinks, “They will make the first move. Wang Ko will try to send me false information. I need only wait to see whom he sends.” And he’s wearing the red signal headband. Shin Woo interrupts his thoughts and playing to announce that Wang Yoo has a guest: Seung Nyang. Wang Yoo is surprised. She reminds him that he asked to learn the split arrow. Wang Yoo thinks, “Did Wang Ko send The Jackal?” He’s obviously disappointed. Seung Nyang plucks at Wang Yoo’s pride by telling him it’s fine, he can play his harp then. Wang Yoo, of course, stops just sitting there.
Outside, Seung Nyang gives her shooting lesson: ‘Great Mountain.’ ‘Tiger’s Tail.’ Pull as easy as if it’s a tiger’s tail. Wang Yoo tries and hurts himself with the shaft. As Seung Nyang bandages his finger, she tells him that he shouldn’t feel bad, since it usually takes 3 years to master. He asks her how someone would make money in Inju, trying to feel out whether she was sent by Wang Ko. She replies that if she knew that, she wouldn’t be wasting her time there. Wang Yoo tells her he’s heard there’s money in salt. She’s heard that too, which is why the royals run it. She mentions how he knows the Crown Prince and asks if the guy is opening a salt shop. With that, Wang Yoo decides that she’s not the spy. Because that’s what he wants to believe. Even though we all know she is. It sure is taking a long time to bandage that finger.
Wang Yoo asks if she’s staying until he masters the split arrow. For the next three years? What are you thinking, dude? That she’s there because you’re rich and it’s her way out of the sticks? Voice over of Wang Ko telling Seung Nyang that first, she needs to earn his trust. Completely. She replies that she’s not cheap and Wang Yoo isn’t daunted. She tells him that they’ll discuss it over drinks, since the lantern festival starts that night.
At the lantern festival – which is really cool and a parade that I would go to – Wang Yoo watches Seung Nyang as she prays over her wish, smiling slightly at her. He asks what she wished for. She asks why he cares. He teases her, asking if she was praying for a pretty little wifey. Seung Nyang pshaws that idea. Wang Yoo asks why not, since men like women. It’s only natural. And we all know that she’s a woman, so we understand why she’s awkward. Wang Yoo asks her is she sees anything she likes, because he’ll set Seung Nyang up… She interrupts him to say that she wished for money. He gives her a hard time for being so fixated on money – not understanding what it is to go without food, clothing, shelter, to want for anything. She replies that it’s the only thing you can trust. I wonder if she really thinks that or if it's the part she's playing.
In the distance, someone aims an arrow at Wang Yoo. Seung Nyang sees Assassin and pushes Wang Yoo out of the way, taking the arrow instead. Assassin lets off another arrow before running off. Wang Yoo wants to help Seung Nyang but she shoves him off, telling him she’ll live. She even breaks off most of the arrow before trying to hobble away. Wang Yoo won’t hear of it and wants to carry her on his back, but she refuses. As he watches her hobble, he walks over and picks her up, which really freaks her out – partially because I think she’s attracted to him and that proximity is unsettling for her. He ignores her protests and walks off with her. Off to the side, Cham and Assassin are watching. And Seung Nyang took that arrow *on purpose.* Clever. She does know how to play people.
Wang Yoo reaches his men, who are freaking because of the blood. Seung Nyang demands to be put down, but Wang Yoo tells her she’s lost too much blood. His men want to take over carrying her, but Wang Yoo demands they step aside. Does she know the guy, or what? He’s got honor, for all of his playboy machinations.
In Wang Yoo’s room, Shin Woo removes the arrow and declares that it wasn’t too deep. He leaves to get some medicine. Why he didn’t have it *before* they took the arrow out… Wang Yoo wants to look at the wound, but Seung Nyang, uncomfortable as a woman, shoves him away. He ignores her and rips open her pant leg and is horrified at her wound. She hauls off and slaps him and then grabs the fabric to cover up her leg. Wang Yoo is dumbfounded that he’s just been slapped. Although if he knew, he wouldn’t be so shocked. It was rather forward of him. There’s a moment where they stare at each other, both shocked. Quick-thinking, Seung Nyang declares that the pants were her only pair and he needs to pay up. He can’t believe what she did.
Later she’s bathing. Wang Yoo arrives with the pants. He tries to enter and then yells in, asking why the door’s locked. She freaks because *she’s naked.* He reminds her that she said to pay up. She yells back that she doesn’t need them, while covering her chest. He tells her that she’s awfully shy for a guy. He finally leaves, but not before rolling his eyes and muttering about how she’s mad.
Later, Seung Nyang’s back at Wang Ko’s. He’s amused, but asks if she’s okay. She replies that her life is his. And I’m hating that she’s giving him her allegiance, since he’s working with the people that *killed her Oma.* Wang Ko tells her to go to the storehouse and wait for the salt, on the day they’re going to set Wang Yoo up. He’s not saying more, not because he doesn’t trust her, but because he doesn’t want there to be any reason to suspect her.
Seung Nyang’s back with Wang Yoo, eating. He tells her that he owes her one. Assassin’s shadow passes by, which Seung Nyang notices and realizes that she’s being watched. She asks Wang Yoo why someone wanted him dead, He plays dumb. She asks if he’s investigating Wang Ko’s illegal salt traffic. His face falls because of what this probably means. She declares that she can help because she knows one of the salt vendors. It confirms it: she’s Wang Ko’s man. Jaw clench and Wang Yoo discretely reaches for his sword. She tells him that a deal’s going down in four days in Haewol. She gest up and leaves and Wang Yoo is obviously bothered. He remarks that he should have killed Seung Nyang, but then wonders if he’s grown fond of the kid. And the answer is ‘yes.’
Wang Ko’s. He declares to Cham and the other dude that his men are waiting in ambush at Haewol, so if the Crown Prince shows, he’s as good as dead. Other lackey worries, because Wang Yoo is a royal. Wang Ko isn’t worried. Killing a royal without cause is bad, but because he’s involved in treasonous salt trafficking, that makes the perfect excuse.
Wang Yoo declares that they are to move out to Haewol. For show, I guess, because Jeom Bak stops him and tells him that the way they are going isn’t the way to Haewol. Wang Yoo confidently declares that they’re after salt traffickers and for everyone not to attack first. Seung Nyang’s waiting with the salt traffickers. Wang Yoo and his men arrive and spot them. Wang Yoo stresses that they are to wait until the deal goes down.
Someone, the traitor in Wang Yoo’s ranks, shoots an arrow, warning the traffickers of the ambush. Moo Song orders Wang Yoo’s men to attack. Dramatic fighting but in the end, Seung Nyang’s men lose and Seung Nyang is revealed. Wang Yoo is pissed.
As they secure the traffickers, Shin Woo tells Wang Yoo that only the Jackal knows where the salt was going. He asks how Wang Yoo knew that Haewol was a ruse. Wang Yoo shows them the note from Wang Ko’s traitor that warned that Haewol was a ruse and that The Jackal was making the delivery. Shin Woo wants to know why Wang Yoo didn’t say anything. Wang Yoo tells them that they have a spy. They ask if it’s the informant and Wang Yoo says that it is. They want to know who it is, and Wang Yoo does too: Who has the headband he sent back?
Seung Nyang is tied up. Her headband drops off… to reveal Wang Yoo’s headband. Of course, it does. Flashback to that meeting so long ago between Wang Ko and Ki Se. Seung Nyang saw them together and heard Wang Ko tell Ki Se that he can take a hundred, a thousand, as many more women as he needs. She sees Ki Se and burns with anger as she is betrayed and is staring at the man who killed her mother. In present, a tear drops from her eye. And I'm thankful that she's known all along and has been working to take Wang Ko down!
Someone approaches and picks up her fallen headband. She thinks to herself: He’s Wang Ko’s spy? And the episode ends without us seeing who. Arg!
Thoughts
Well, it started a little slow and I, personally, have gotten tired of stories starting at a point and then telling the rest of the episode in flashback, but it lays out: Huizong becomes Emperor and falls in love with Seung Nyang, who becomes Empress Ki. But even though she cares for him, she’s really in love with King Wang Yoo, who is also in love with her. So we already know that Seung Nyang’s love story will be tragic, because she doesn’t end up with the man she loves. Which makes me wonder *why* she agreed to become Empress.
Then we flash back to the beginning of the story, where she first met Wang Yoo while being shipped off to Yuan to be sold as a concubine. If her story isn’t tragic enough, where she *was* a concubine against her will, her mother is murdered right in front of her by some corrupt creep, who’s working with the guy that she eventually becomes a servant of. Throughout the whole episode, I kept thinking, how can she work for this guy? Is she that blinded by loyalty to a man who rescued her? Did life make her not care? But with the reveal at the end, that she’s the traitor helping Wang Yoo take him down, it makes sense. But it also makes me wonder: she was that calculating back then? That she knew just what to do to ingratiate herself?
When she first met the adult Wang Yoo, he was wearing her headband. There’s this point where she surveys him and I was wondering why she was doing that, but then it’s clear once you know that she’s trying not to react to the fact that he’s the crown prince and the one wearing her headband, how she’s going to use this to take down Wang Ko.
I think this episode did a good job of setting up the seeds for the romantic relationship between them, even though he completely thinks she’s a boy. And I like his men and how loyal they are. The episode gives hints to his true character, that he’s the same kid who feels the burden of his post and a responsibility to his people, but understands that he has no power to protect them. He’s done a good job of looking like a worthless buffoon, and we get hints that this playboy image he’s projecting is just an act to throw off Wang Ko so that he can take the guy down.
I’m wondering how things are going to evolve, how Wang Yoo’s going to realize she’s a girl and that he has feelings for her and who the traitor is. And it looks like we’re going to meet Huizong, aka Ta Hwan, next episode, where he has as little power as Wang Yoo does.
I like your little tidbit in the review. They were very funny but true.
ReplyDeleteThanks! And thanks for being the very first commenter on my blog!
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