Empress Ki Episode 2 Recap

Our episode starts right after Wang Yoo has apprehended Seung Nyang as the salt trafficker. He yells at her, telling her how disappointed he is. He’s angry that she's cozied up to him, all the while working for Wang Ko! She can’t really look at him. He demands to know where she’s meeting the Yuan dealers. Her boy, whose name doesn’t appear on the cast list so I can’t call him anything but that, tells Wang Yoo to take the salt and go, calling him a thief. Jeom Bak is nice enough to tell everyone that Wang Yoo is an officer of the Censorate. Seung Nyang ‘reacts,’ although we all know she already knew that.

Wang Yoo draws his sword and holds it to Seung Nyang’s throat. He orders her to tell him or die right now. She tells him to kill her. Which stuns Wang Yoo and his men. Seung Nyang declares that she doesn’t believe Wang Yoo will let her live, so she tells him to kill her. She is gambling hard with her life, especially seeing how ticked Wang Yoo is. His face was pretty priceless when she told him to kill her, though. Wang Yoo practically spits out, “You think I won’t kill you?!” He moves to strike her with his sword but her boy begs Wang Yoo to spare her, since she’s only doing it all for them… they use the money from the salt to get their sisters out of Yuan. Her men beg Wang Yoo not to kill her. Wang Yoo is obviously bothered by this bit of information and Seung Nyang’s has closed her eyes, her face looking like she wished they hadn’t said anything. Even though it’s just what kept her alive. Like this is all that shameful, since she’s freeing women sold into slavery, the very thing that Wang Yoo himself hates. Wang Yoo orders her strung up and given no water.

Back at Wang Ko’s, he’s hearing the news about Seung Nyang’s capture. He’s not happy. The old dude declares that the Crown Prince discovered their plan and since only he and Seung Nyang knew where they’re meeting the dealers, she must be the traitor. And we all know he’s right. But Wang Ko declares that impossible, declaring (right in front of Cham) that Seung Nyang’s the finest man he has. Wang Ko’s confident that if he died Seung Nyang would go to the grave with him. And we all know that Seung Nyang hates him because of the hand he played in her mother’s death. But just to be sure, Wang Ko decides to test her to see whether she betrayed him or not.

Back to Wang Yoo’s camp. Seung Nyang is tied up and suffering from dehydration. And I love that Ha Ji Won is buff. One of the reasons why I love her – because she doesn’t just play tough, she *is* tough. The headband falls off, revealing Wang Yoo’s headband underneath. Jeom Bak arrives and picks it up and holds it in her face. She can’t believe *he’s* Wang Ko’s spy. I can’t either. But he isn’t; he’s simply there to try and persuade her to talk. He ties her headband back on – having been out of the room when Wang Yoo told his men about the headband signal, so he doesn’t realize what it means – and asks her why she wants to die like a dog? Relieved. Seung Nyang thinks ‘Not him.’

Before he leaves, Jeom Bak grabs Seung Nyang and rants at him for being stubborn. Then he stalks off, just in time to miss the mole. The mole tells Seung Nyang that Wang Ko is worried about him. The spy hands her a knife and tells her to off Wang Yoo; Wang Ko’s orders. Then he slips off into the darkness, without Seung Nyang (or us) seeing who he is. She hides the knife.

Later, she’s brought before a still mad, and a little depressed, Wang Yoo. Cause his little brother is a traitor who never really cared. He tells his men to leave them. Because that's really the best plan, spend time alone with someone who has lied to you tons of times. After they go, Wang Yoo offers her some tea, but she refuses to drink. He mentions her mission, but questions her method (helping Wang Ko?). She’s pulled out the knife now and is slowly sawing at the ropes around her wrists. Wang Yoo talks about himself in the third person as he tells her that the Crown Prince wants him to investigate Yuan collaborators. If she talks, her men will go free.

But she’s cut through the ropes. Seung Nyang pulls out the knife and holds it to his defenseless throat. He’s really shocked and not just a little bit scared. She puts her hand over his mouth and motions for him to be quiet. Then she shows him his headband. And he’s wide-eyed surprised. She takes away her hand and the knife while Wang Yoo just stares at her. She tells him he has a spy but she doesn’t know who it is. She tells him to string her up again. So Wang Yoo tells her to hit him. Which she does. They pretend to fight over the knife while Wang Yoo calls his men. They come in to see it and Moo Song is nice enough to kick Seung Nyang in the head to get her off his prince. Wang Yoo orders her strung up again, with Jeom Bak taking her away. She’s going to die in the morning. Wang Yoo and Seung Nyang exchange a little nod before she’s dragged away. Not that anyone noticed, even though it was really obvious. Shin Woo asks Wang Yoo if he’s all right. Moo Song declares that a close one. Wang Yoo doesn’t tell either of them about the spy.

Cham gets news, via carrier pigeon, that Seung Nyang is set to be executed. Wang Ko won’t have it and tells Cham to get word to Seung Nyang to give up the location. Wang Ko plans to mobilize the military to divert suspicion. Old guy leaves to carry out the Wang Ko’s orders. Cham wants to know who the spy is, if it’s not Sungnyang. Wang Ko is confident it will come out, soon enough.

The spy arrives to pass on Wang Ko’s orders, and that the military will be at the rendezvous location. Seung Nyang asks where the Yuan merchants will be and the spy says hiding in Pyongnan. Then we see the spy’s face: not one of Wang Yoo’s main guys. Which is a relief, since I really like all three of them. Spy tells her that if she does this, they’ll both be rewarded. Then the spy runs off.

As he exits where Seung Nyang is strung up, he doesn’t notice that he’s being watched. Wang Yoo and his guys are sitting on a rooftop, watching the traitor walk away. Jeom Bak wants to go kill him now, but Wang Yoo tells him to wait.

The next morning, Wang Yoo demands Seung Nyang give up what she knows. She says she’ll do it on one condition: that her men go free. Wang Yoo agrees to her terms. After glancing at the spy, she gives up the ‘location’: an abandoned village in Pyongnan. The spy is smiling to himself about the coming trap, while Jeom Bak does everything to hold himself back from killing the guy. Shin Woo counsels Wang Yoo not to trust her, since she tried to kill him. Seung Nyang tells Wang Yoo to bring her along and then kill her if she’s lying.

Wang Yoo announces that they’re going to ride for Pyongnan and tells Jeom Bak to pick ten men for them to take. Shin Woo ‘wonders’ if that’s enough, but Wang Yoo just ‘thinks’ that the men they’re going to apprehend are a harmless group of traders. The spy is not a very good spy because he totally misses how all three of Wang Yoo’s men keep watching him. Another set of ‘unobvious’ nods between Wang Yoo and Seung Nyang.

Wang Yoo and his group leave with Seung Nyang to go get the traders. Shin Woo calls after them to watch themselves. The traitor sneaks off to send Wang Ko the news but the bird is shot out of the sky. By a freed Seung Nyang. The traitor calls her a traitor and Jeom Bak yells back that the guy is one to talk! While brandishing his really huge sword that I’m sure he would just love to use to cut off the traitor’s head. And I’m right, because he waves it pointedly at the traitor and tells him that he’s got his traitor right here! Battle cries as the traitor rushes at them – instead of running away, which would have been the smart thing, given the about 100 yards between him and Wang Yoo’s group. Moo Song makes short work of the guy, without even blinking, and looks at the guy with disgust as he dies. Not that I blame him at all.

Seung Nyang tells Wang Yoo that the merchants will be at an inn in Pyongnan. Wang Yoo asks her why she’s risking her life to tell them about the merchants and Wang Ko. She just says that she has her reasons. Wang Yoo wants her to work with him. She refuses, which doesn’t make Wang Yoo happy. Shin Woo approaches with the bird, which I guess was stunned, or maybe it’s another bird, but they replaced the message it was carrying. Which makes Seung Nyang some shot to be able to stun a bird with an arrow rather than killing it. Seung Nyang announces that if her fake message works, they’ll wipe the merchants out without lifting a finger.

The bird delivers its message, which of course, Wang Ko reacts to, ordering his own men to depart immediately. Cham gets there with his men, while old guy arrives with his. I guess Wang Ko forgot about communicating this change of plan to the old guy. The two groups begin battling each other, as Shin Woo and Seung Nyang watch. Shin Woo is impressed and giddy over how they’re killing each other. Seung Nyang turns to leave, but Shin Woo gives her one last request.

Shot of Seung Nyang fiercely riding a horse. More of my Ha Ji Won fan club cheering as we watch her ride. She’s just a stud. She arrives at Wang Ko’s and reports that all his men are dead because Makson betrayed him. I guess that’s the old dude’s name. She tells him that the Censorate is on the way and he needs to run. Wang Ko is livid at this traitor! But he rushes in his house to get his gold before he flees. Seung Nyang follows and watches Wang Ko open his safe.

As Wang Ko grabs his bundle out of the safe, he pauses for a moment and asks Seung Nyang how she survived. She immediately drops to her knees and tells him that her life is his and he should kill her. Wang Ko thinks for just a moment before dropping the bundle and telling her to burn it. I guess instead of money it’s his ledger of dirty deals. She leaves with them. Some men arrive and tell Wang Ko that they need to go because the Censorate has arrived. Wang Ko sneers that he’s the King of Shenyang and he doesn’t flee! All he needs is a cape to whip about him to be a moustache-twisting villain.

Wang Ko declares that he’ll be in the palace. He tells one of his men to convene the court. He tells another to muster the men so they can stop the Prince from going to the palace. I wonder what he’s up to now. Wang Ko laughs confidently and yells that he’s the King of Shenyang and he refuses to die! And he’s not a cartoon villain at all…

Ha Ji Won on a horse! Seung Nyang rides for where Wang Yoo is and delivers the ledgers that she has brought from Wang Ko’s house. Shin Woo is waiting for her and tells her that she’s done her country a great service. Shin Woo wants to reward her and she almost asks about finding her father, but then thinks better of it. Then she takes her horse and walks off, fingering her mother’s ring.

Back at the royal palace in Koryeo, Princess Kyung Hwa (the third wife) is feeding King Chung Suk. Because he’s *that* enfeebled. Wang Ko bursts in and announces that Wang Yoo is dead, killed by soldiers while trafficking in salt. Chung Suk is understandably upset. Wang Ko urges him to name an heir, so the royal house won’t be seen to falter! But Chung Suk is way too overcome with shock to do anything. In fact, he looks like he’s having a heart attack or stroke from the shock. Wifey urges the king to name Wang Ko heir and while the King weeps, she and Wang Ko exchange a conspiratorial look.

Outside the palace, Wang Yoo and his men are trying to reach the palace, but Wang Ko’s men have barricaded the way. Wang Yoo realizes that Wang Ko’s going to try to get the King to abdicate so he and his boys burst through the lines and begin to fight their way to the palace.

Inside, the King is getting pressure and decides to abdicate the throne. But before he can name his successor, Wang Yoo bursts through the doors. Wifey and Wang Ko can’t believe it. Wang Yoo apologizes for worrying his father and proceeds to level the allegations of truth: that Wang Ko was the one trafficking salt. Wang Ko asks where the proof is and he demands to be invested in. The crowd full of Wang Ko lackeys pressure the king to do so.

But they’re silenced when Shin Woo appears with the incriminating ledgers. Wang Ko thinks, “Seung Nyang, it was you?” The King is persuaded and demands that Wang Ko explain himself. Wang Ko owns up to it. Stare off between Wang Ko and Wang Yoo as dramatic music plays. Wang Ko declares that he used the Yuan to preserve this nation and the royal house, when the Crown Prince couldn’t. He tells the king to take his head. The king is so enfeeble that he doesn’t do anything, especially after man after man from court begs him to do the same. In response, the King abdicates and names Wang Yoo heir and for his last command, he offers Wang Ko a royal pardon. Even though Wang Yoo protests, the King is firm. And Wang Ko offers him false congratulations. Wang Yoo is ticked. As I would be. And why do these things always have corrupt officials? Why is it that power corrupts? 

Later, Wang Yoo and Shin Woo are leaving court. Wang Yoo asks after Seung Nyang and Shin Woo tells him she left for Inju. Wang Yoo wonders if she still thinks he just a guy rather than the, now, king. Shin Woo supposes so. He tells Shin Woo to go get her; he wants her with him. But they’re just friends.

Off at a fort somewhere, Seung Nyang’s father, Ki Ja Oh is getting news that she’s dead, dragged off with her Oma to be a Yuan concubine. Oppa is devastated. One of his men, Yeon Byung Soo, brings him a complaint from the merchants about thugs in the area, specifically the Jackal. How ironic. He orders her arrested.

Byung Soo brings her before Ja Oh. Staredown between father and daughter. He asks her if she knows what she did. She defiantly replies that he should tell her what exactly she did. Next thing we see is the lot of them being flogged with sticks. While the others might grunt, she holds it in. Ja Oh’s right hand, Park Bool Hwa is impressed, but Byung Soo isn’t.

Later, Ja Oh goes to visit her and asks her if she now knows what she did. She replies that she can guess. He tells her to say it and she replies that she’s guilty of being born to lowly parents. Of being born with nothing, of relying on each other to survive. Of meeting someone as vile as you. Ja Oh decides to release them.

As they’re leaving, Byung Soo arrives with some families who hid their daughters to escape the tribute. Bool Hwa asks him if the Commander ordered it, but Byung Soo replies that they have to keep order! During this exchange, Seung Nyang’s boy sneaks off and steals some stuff, and is later caught by Seung Nyang. She bawls him out, since they aren’t thieves. Not sure what to do, she orders them out and when she picks it up, her father’s half of the ring falls out. She realizes that the Commander Ki is her father. And she understandably gets emotional.

She decides to go work at the fort with her father, which means she has to pass a five-day tryout. Bool Hwa and the Commander recognize her and watch her with great appreciation – more on Bool Hwa’s part. When she passes, she gets a good position, which Byung Soo thinks is too much but Bool Hwa and the Commander really like her and Bool Hwa replies that it’s really too little for her abilities. And so the seeds for jealousy are sown.

Back at Kaegyong, the Capital of Koryeo, Wang Yoo is now king, but Wang Ko still has the court eating out of the palm of his hand. Wang Yoo arrives – looking ticked and disgusted at his courtiers – and Wang Ko asks him for a toast. Wang Yoo is all for that, *after* he delivers his eleven edicts. Wang Ko’s lackey can’t believe that there’s 11. Shin Woo starts to read. These eleven edicts are designed to strengthen the court and the nation. Corruption shall cease. Exorbitant and extorted funds shall be restored. Private soldiers shall be cut by half. Failure to do so will be counted as treason. Hereditary positions passed down to unworthy sons shall be eliminated.

We see Seung Nyang posting them in a village, proud at what they say. Not that a majority of villagers will be able to *read* what the sign says... Details...

Back at the Capital, Wang Ko jumps up and demands to know the meaning of all this! His lackey demands that Wang Yoo rescind these eleven edicts! The rest of the court clamors their agreement. Wang Yoo’s had enough and pounds the table as he yells, “That’s enough!” Everyone shuts up in shock at being spoken to that way. Soldiers appear and surround the court. Wang Yoo announces that his time with the brigands showed him what they’ve all been up to. Then Wang Yoo starts to recite their crimes (courtesy of Shin Woo’s scrolls):

Minister Choe. Profiting from the spoils system in his province.
Minister Kim. A respectable woman refused your advances. So you killed her husband.
Minister Pak, when your debtors were slightly late... you used soldiers to extract payment and then some…
The Six Boards, the Three Chancelleries, the Royal Secretariat. They’re all guilty of the worst corruption.

Wang Yoo is really angry as he spits out those last words.

Minister Choe pipes up that he’s innocent. He tells Wang Yoo to kill him first! And I’m laughing because I know what’s coming next. Idiot. Give him permission, already. Wang Yoo stands up and replies, “All right. Fair enough.” Moo Song and the other soldiers draw their swords. The nobles are shocked because he actually looks like he’s going to do it. Wang Yoo tells them that if they use the ‘kill me’ routine again, he’ll kill them himself. Then he tells them he will punish any corruption to the full extent of the law. Personally. Glares from Wang Ko.

Later, Wang Ko meets up with Wifey, who has a message from the Yuan Commandery: Ta Hwan (the real heir to the Yuan throne and brother of the current Emperor) has been exiled to Koryeo. Wang Ko is very pleased, because they can use it to crush Wang Yoo, that little upstart. And the moustache twirling laughing begins.

Commander Ki (and Seung Nyang, Bool Hwa and Byung Soo) have been called to the palace. There, only Ki meets with Wang Yoo, who tells him that the Yuan Emperor’s brother will be arriving soon. Ki is to escort him there to Kaegyong. Both understands the consequences if something happens to Ta Hwan. As Ki leaves the king, he looks very burdened and Seung Nyang misses seeing her Prince dressed in kingly garb. (He doesn’t see her either.)

Back in Daidu, Regent El Temur is meeting with his sons, Ki Se (the guy who killed Seung Nyang’s mother) and Ja Hae. They’re plotting to assassinate Ta Hwan once he is on Koryeo land; his death on Koryeo soil will be their excuse to wipe them out, removing Ta Hwan and Koryeo in one stroke. So we see where Ki Se gets his winning personality. Ki Se is thoroughly impressed with his father’s plans, calling them ones with no rival. El Temur responds that they’ve spent 30 years trying to subdue the people of Koryeo; they’ll always be a threat until we wipe them out completely. And at least Ta Hwan can be useful in death. And the three of them laugh, as evil people always do when they think of carrying out their evil plans…

Back in Koryeo, Ki and his men have mounted up and are riding forth to meet Ta Hwan and his entourage. Bool Hwa grumbles about having to ride out to meet the guy, no less. Byung Soo agrees, grumbling why it had to be *their* port of entry.

Switch to Ta Hwan’s Entourage in Exile. They’re moving slowly. Ta Hwan (Ta Hwan) pokes his head out of his carriage, striking a very timid figure as he does. Baek Ahn asks him if he’s uncomfortable. Ta Hwan shakes his head and quickly closes the window. They meet up with Commander Ki. Baek Ahn is irritate that a mere Commander rode out to meet them. But before they can go any farther, Ta Hwan orders the entourage to stop and break camp.

Baek Ahn is not happy. He grumbles to his nephew, Tal Tal, about the weakling they’ve been saddled with. Tal Tal replies that something isn’t right. Today Ta Hwan’s fatigued. Yesterday he refused to disembark. His Worship knows something isn’t right. Baek Ahn scoffs, replying that he doubts it; if the kid were so observant, would he have allowed himself to be exiled in the first place? 

Commander Ki rides up and ‘encourages’ Baek Ahn to ride just a little further to their fort. When Baek Ahn is unmoved, Ki replies that since they’re in Koryeo, they’re *his* responsibility. Baek Ahn’s ego is bigger and he replies that it’s Ki’s responsibility, but their decision. So they camp for the night. Ki thinks camping there is very odd and warns his men to be vigilant, since their lives are forfeit if anything happens to Prince Ta Hwan.

When Baek Ahn and Tal Tal are alone, they go over the plans: brigands are set to attack the camp. Baek Ahn doesn’t like it, but Tal Tal says they dare not defy El Temur. Baek Ahn remembers the old Khan and hates the disrespect El Temur is showing Ta Hwan. But of course, he’s going to go along with it… Tal Tal replies that here or there, El Temur has his eye on Ta Hwan, so he’s as good as dead.

Soon Yong arrives and tells them that they can’t leave in the morning because Ta Hwan is too ill. Baek Ahn is understandably irritated, but Tal Tal tells him that he’ll check on Ta Hwan personally. So into the tent they go, and Ta Hwan is lying on his bed, groaning pitifully. Ta Hwan weakly tells them he’s too sick, he can’t ride. Baek Ahn mutters, “Always something.” And then Ta Hwan piles it on. He tells Baek Ahn that the night before, he dreamed of his father, who told him to turn to Baek Ahn in times of trouble. Suddenly Baek Ahn’s interested, until Ta Hwan pathetically requests dried persimmons. And I giggle. This kid is killing me right now. He looks so pathetic and desolate.

Ta Hwan begs Baek Ahn to bring him some Koryeo persimmons, since he can’t forget the taste. When Baek Ahn replies that they’re not there on vacation! Ta Hwan adds that he’s sure he’ll feel better if he eats some. Soon Yong tells Ta Hwan that he’ll bring him some.

As Baek Ahn and Tal Tal leave Ta Hwan’s tent, Tal Tal tells the General that Ta Hwan’s not faking; his pulse is slow and weak. Baek Ahn tells Tal Tal to send the brigands word of their delay, an order that is overheard by Seung Nyang, who thinks it’s fishy.

Later, it’s revealed that Ta Hwan’s been starving himself so that he’ll appear sick, as he tells his eunuch to get rid of the food. The eunuch, Ggoi Bo, however, is discovered by Seung Nyang sneaking out food. Seung Nyang tries befriend the guy, but he’s cagey and skitters off after she asks him to alert her to Ta Hwan’s health.

Back in the tent, Soon Yong is filling in Ta Hwan on the plan: Ta Hwan is to meet him tomorrow night east of the camp, where he’ll be waiting to get him to safety. Ta Hwan looks terrible, which makes sense if he’s been starving himself to appear weak. Ta Hwan tells Soon Yong that’s he’s so scared he can barely breathe. And the pathetic tone in his voice makes me feel sorry for him. Soon Yong plaintively says that this is the only way he can save Ta Hwan. Ta Hwan cries because he’s so afraid. And I feel bad for the kid.

Back at the Capital, Minister Choe is encouraging Wang Yoo to go and meet Ta Hwan. Wang Yoo thinks it’s a stupid idea, although he doesn’t say that outright. It’s all in the tone. Choe argues that Ta Hwan is the Emperor’s brother and might be emperor someday. And then they step in it, when he tell Wang Yoo that he must meet Ta Hwan *for Yuan.* Wang Yoo asks them whether this the Koryeo court (or not). Wang Yoo asks Wang Ko if his King should ride out to meet a barbarian prince. Wang Ko replies that there’s no need, which surprises Wang Yoo. And Wang Ko is icily calm.

Wang Ko replies that the Emperor’s kin or not, he is a fool, a waffler, and hardly worth His Majesty’s time. Wang Yoo laughs and replies that there’s no one in court quite like him; he can always count on Wang Ko to draw your knife. Wang Yoo announces that he *won’t* be going.

Wang Ko and Cham leave the royal court, with Wang Ko grumbling about Wang Yoo being king. Wang Ko mutters that they’ll drag him off the Dragon Throne soon enough... Cham mentions the plan to assassinate Ta Hwan and is quickly silenced by Wang Ko. Wang Ko declares that it won’t be long now before that disrespectful little pup will get his.

Next thing we see, as dramatic music plays, is Wang Yoo bursting into one of his planning rooms with Shin Woo and Moo Song. He declares that he’ll be meeting Ta Hwan. Because that old snake is against the meeting, he definitely needs to do it. Although, you would think that Wang Ko would figure out that he could play Wang Yoo like this… I saw it coming a mile away. Apparently, Wang Yoo got a letter informing him that Ta Hwan’s been sent to Koryeo to be assassinated, which will give Wang Ko the excuse to dethrone him.

Cham delivers the news that Wang Yoo has ridden out in full armor! But Wang Ko just laughs, because Wang Yoo just laughs and declares that though Wang Yoo is bright enough, the heavens smile are smiling on HIM! Evil moustache twirl with maniacal laughter.

The next morning, Baek Ahn comes in to yell at Ta Hwan about still being camped there two days later. Ta Hwan weakly says that his persimmons aren’t there yet. Baek Ahn wants to know where Soon Yong went. Ta Hwan declares that he won’t do anywhere until he has his persimmons. Persimmo-yummies. Soft, chewy Koryeo dried persimmons. Baek Ahn stalks out, frustrated, with Tal Tal behind him. As soon as they’re gone, Ta Hwan sits up and tells Ggoi Bo to bring him his uniform.

Outside, Baek Ahn tells Tal Tal to change the plan and send for the brigands. Ominously he declares, “Tonight. Tonight it ends.”

Inside the tent, Ta Hwan dresses Ggoi Bo in his clothing and has him pretend to be him, lyingin bed. Dressed as a soldier, he sneaks out of the tent. He ends up in Seung Nyang’s tent. She’s brought some water to bathe with. As she enters, Ta Hwan hides. But there’s a peacock feather which causes him to sneeze and so he’s caught. Seung Nyang holds a sword to his throat and demands who he is. He sputters and the episode ends.

Thoughts

So, we’ve met the future emperor of Yuan and unlike Wang Yoo, he is not impressive. Where Wang Yoo is confident and steadfast, Ta Hwan quivers and would run. Where Wang Yoo boldly goes into battle, Ta Hwan cowers and fakes being ill. Both men have people gunning for them, seeking their throne, but Wang Yoo is strong and Ta Hwan is weak. But unlike Wang Yoo, who has men that he treats as peers, Ta Hwan has no one that he can count, except for an old man who serves as his teacher. And unlike Wang Yoo, the guy who wants him dead has the power to do it. El Temur was able to get his half-brother crowned Emperor, even though Ta Hwan should be king, and he was able to get the kid exiled to another country. We haven’t really seen much of El Temur’s character, but just from the few things that people said about him, he’s a nasty guy that’s not to be messed with.

This episode also brings some more life developments for Seung Nyang. She defeats the guy she’s been plotting against for years – even if King Chung Suk did give him a pardon, the guy lost a lot of his power base. She also finds her father and earns his approval. She moves on from being a bandit to being a soldier in the Koryeo army, and one that is valued at that – considering how when Commander Ki went to see the king, he brought Bool Hwa, Byung Soo and Seung Nyang. She still hasn’t discovered that her buddy Wang Yoo is the Crown Prince, so it will be interesting to see the fall out of that.

One thing that felt a little strange was how quickly and easily Seung Nyang abandoned her men. She seemed to really care about all of them, but the moment she realizes that Ki’s her father, it’s like they don’t exist. For being such a great leader and someone that they’re so loyal to, how did she just leave them without even so much as a goodbye. I know it might have taken a few minutes, but it would have rung more true to what their relationship seemed than to not even show that she regrets having to leave them at least a little. After this point, it’s like they don’t even exist anymore.

And we’re left with the knowledge that everyone’s potential demise is nigh, with the brigands being summoned to attack the camp shortly. And how is Seung Nyang going to deal with this intruder in her tent?

I do have to say that I was slightly disappointed that Wang Yoo didn’t kill Minister Choe. I would have loved that. “Kill me first!” “Okay. Who’s next?” Also, Wang Yoo fighting hard when he burst through the barricade (along with the other guys) was awesome. And Moo Song is the man. One thrust during a jump-by and the traitor went down!