Part 24
EUNPO BORDER NAKRANG TERRlTORY
LAHEE / Princess of Nakrang Send a message to the palace.
lnform the king that Goguryeo has invaded us
and request an army.
Yes Your Highness.
EUNPO BORDER GOGURYEO TERRlTORY
What's that?
CHA CHASUNG They're sending smoke signals to warn war.
JAMYUNG But this is Nakrang territory.
Goguryeo is far away. Their army will come.
TAECHU lt'll be difficult to capture Princess Nakrang alive.
She's shielded.
PRlNCE HODONG
l have to capture Princess Nakrang alive
and take herto Guknae palace.
lt is the king's order
as well as the purpose of this battle.
Your Majesty.
WANG JA-SlL We'll discard the carriage.
l can't let myself be a burden on Nakrang.
Look overthere Your Highness!
BUDAL / Second general Your Highness you leave the border.
Do you regard me as just a girl or as your crown princess?
HA HOGAE / Soldier The queen is waiting foryou!
Do any of you know Sun Tzu's ''The Art of War''
and learned sword fighting from the king himself?
Your Highness!
l'll not abandon Eunpo.
SUAK 6 miles from Eunpo Gate
Watch that area.
DO SUGl Do not let down your guard for a minute.
CHlSO Only l prepare the queen's food.
MO YANGHAE Bring more rice.
At least two rice balls for each soldier.
l'll wait forthe crown princess here.
WANG HOL l'll leave Do Sugi and the troops behind.
l'll send a messenger if danger is on the way.
lf that happens don't look back. Return to the palace immediately.
Great General!
Go ahead without me.
Yes sir.
Find a chance to get rid of Jamyung.
How can you say such a thing? We're at war now.
She went running to Hodong's side the minute
she heard the war broke out.
She'll side with Goguryeo if we let her live.
Hol!
Bring Puku.
Time is of the essence. How can you.
Bring me Jamyung.
You.
knew?
Just because l've grown attached to you
as my husband and brother-in-law
doesn't mean l've forgotten my vendetta against Jasil.
Sister-in-law.
You want to do your filial duty to me?
lf you don't want to see me dead
you must bring Jamyung back alive.
NAKRANG WAGNGEOM LOOKOUT
RYU Jl Minister DOCHAL Minister The smoke signals came up
simultaneously from Mukbang Minbong Algi and Eunpo.
CHOl Ll Who's the enemy leader?
How many Goguryeo troops were mobilized?
We'll learn the details when a messenger arrives.
There was no news from our spy that
SPY the five tribes agreed to the war.
And there was no news of any movement of theirtroops.
Then why would Muhyul invade us?
lt's probably revenge for breaking the talk of marriage.
We must send an army to bring the princess back.
The Crown Princess is not a fragile flower.
lf she can't lead her army on battlefields
she can't become the Queen of Nakrang.
MOBYUNGHACHlK King's order to mobilize troop l'll summon the army.
Summon 700 troops each from Algi Minbong Mukbang and Eunpo.
l'll obey your command Your Majesty.
GOGURYEO GUKNAE PALACE
What's holding the four battlefields?
EUL DUJl / Officer of Right lt wouldn't be easy for General Wu to defeat General Majo
who's defending Mukbang.
And since capturing a hostage alive
is much harderthan killing one
the prince will be having a hard time in Eunpo.
KlNG DAEMUSHlN l know that.
We've been eating and sleeping on horseback.
Ourtroops are different from Choi Li's lazy bums.
Why can't they sneak up and
bring them down in one fell sweep?
Your Majesty
we have a message from our spy in Jinyang Palace.
Speak.
CHU BALSO / Envoy for southern district Choi Li summoned the armies from the four prefectures
and sent them to the four borders.
Why that treacherous man.
Liu Xian / Former King of Nakrang Commandery He's become a cunning strategist after
Liu Xian / Former King of Nakrang Commandery for a decade.
l didn't expect him to retaliate so quickly.
We must send reinforcements to the prince.
No.
Choi Li's army will get there first even if we send them now.
Hodong will win somehow.
He'll be victorious in Eunpo and bring Choi Li's daughter back.
EUNPO GATE GOGURYEO TERRlTORY
We must buy time until the reinforcements arrive.
There's only one strategy Goguryeo will employ
when they're outnumbered.
An all-out attack.
How can we buy time when they swarm over us like bees?
What happened?
BUDAL / Second General in command BU TUNG / Lieutenant The corpses of ourtroops
and those of Goguryeo have piled up like a mountain.
Ourtroops can't march forward
with the corpses in the way.
Food supply is a bigger problem.
Our men need to be fed.
Captain take Butung and go to the Goguryeo camp.
Yes Your Highness.
EUNPO GATE GOGURYEO TERRlTORY
We have a message from the Crown Princess of Nakrang.
Speak.
Son you read it.
Mountains of dead troops of both Goguryeo and
Nakrang have rendered us immobile.
l propose two-hour of truce.
l wish we both have time to clear away the corpses
move the wounded and feed the soldiers.
You just want to buy time until your reinforcements arrive.
Walk overthe corpses if that's what you want.
Your men trip over dead bodies but you won't even help
the wounded and pick up the dead?
You vulgar jerks.
Like father like son.
They sent a couple of ignoramuses as messengers.
l'm old enough to be yourfatheryou punk.
We'll accept the crown princess's proposal.
No Your Highness.
We'll resume fighting in two hours.
Feed the troops collect the dead and bring back the wounded.
Why did you agree to it.
You know she's just trying to buy time.
l also need time.
Here take these.
MlCHU Make sure you eat some too.
SOSO
Eat up.
This way.
Can you do it?
Yes Your Highness.
We're trained in acrobatics.
Casting a net is a piece of cake.
l'm ready to give up my life foryou for saving Puku's life.
Thank you.
Cha Chasung but you're not from Goguryeo.
And Hangkai you're from Nakrang.
l must give you a great burden.
You'll be seated among my counsel the day l become king.
You're most gracious Your Highness.
Your Highness arrows from the Yeonna tribe have arrived.
All right.
Select the best and the strongest archers we have.
Yes Your Highness.
Prince.
Do as exactly as you are told.
Yes Your Highness.
You may leave.
No more tighter.
Do we have to go to battle too?
Boss.
lLPUM You can leave with Michu.
l'll pay him back for saving Puku.
l'm not staying here just for Puku.
We're in a horrific blood-drenched battle
but l feel as if l've finally become a man.
Cha Chasung.
l thought my life was about
doing circus acts and selling laughter.
Michu l want to live like a real man too.
Can't we just live a quiet long life?
But that's how we've lived until now quiet like a mouse.
l may not become the great general
but l want to be called ''general'' at least once.
Please let me make something of myself before l die.
Honey.
People are looking.
l may never be able to go to Nakrang.
Yes.
Since you killed a Nakrang warrior
you may never be allowed on their land.
l'm sorry Puku.
Because of me.
You'll regret it for the rest of your life.
Let me help you capture Princess Nakrang alive.
No.
More Nakrang troops are coming.
lf you don't capture Princess Nakrang
you'll never leave this place.
What man would let his woman hold a sword and smell blood?
What kind of woman do you want me to be?
l haven't thought about it.
You want me sitting pretty in a garden
wearing silk robes and draped in jewelry waiting foryou?
That sounds good too.
lt would be nice to see you in that.
You told me this in Simbeon.
lt's important to know who you are
but it's also important to know your purpose in life.
Yes.
Maybe meeting you.
sharing your pain
is my purpose in life.
l came back because my present with you is more
important than finding out who l am.
Puku.
l'm not a woman who can benefit Goguryeo.
l'm not a woman who satisfies a man's lust.
l want to be someone.
who shares everything with you
even death
The two hours are up.
Drink this.
The feathers were cut in half.
lt'll add to theirflight but the arrows
could lose balance and miss yourtargets.
Wait for a north wind and aim a few inches above target.
You must aim and kill the crown princess's guards.
Yes Your Highness.
Your Highness.
Our prince challenges the Crown Princess of Nakrang.
Has Prince Hodong gone crazy?
Will the Crown Princess of Nakrang
who'll succeed the throne cower before a challenge?
Are you Princess Nakrang
only capable of adorning yourself and playing a lute?
How do Nakrang army serve such princess?
l'll cut off his head!
Stay calm!
He means to aggravate you with insults.
Don't fall for it.
l know.
l won't fall for such a childish trick.
With no future for Nakrang
you should admit defeat and save your own lives.
There will be ten rounds
but our prince will concede three of them leaving seven.
lf you even so much as slash his robe during the seven rounds
he'll apologize and withdraw from the battle.
Challenge!
Your Highness
we the troops of Nakrang wish to see your skills.
Shut up.
You dare doubt our princess's skill?
We have nothing to lose
since Goguryeo will concede three rounds.
Give my message to your prince.
Prince Hodong had a match with our Great General once
but it was a draw.
lf he can defeat the Great General
l'll accept his challenge.
She fell for it.
We'll signal you when we succeed.
North wind.
Budal, Butung!
Wipe out their archers!
Yes Your Highness.
Protect the crown princess!
Those rats.
Your Highness.
l'm sorry l couldn't protect you
Just what are you?
l'm the bodyguard of Goguryeo who was abandoned by Nakrang.
What? You're from Nakrang?
How can a girl become a bodyguard?
Maybe Prince Hodong has feelings for her.
Are you Hodong's woman?
Ask the prince yourself.
Awoman of Nakrang will abandon her country for a man
and kill her own countrymen?
l'll neverforgive you.
The prince's army has retreated safely.
Really?
Then we'll go to Bukyang as promised.
JlNYANG PALACE NAKRANG Please kill us forfailing
to protect the crown princess and our border!
Your Majesty please kill us.
l, Wang Hol, seek punishment. Please cut off my head
and set it as an example
so that Nakrang will never suffer such an insult again!
Your Majesty please give us death!
Please give us death!
MO HASO What have you done?
l didn't know this would happen.
Who gave you permission to break the talk of marriage
without the king's permission?
Do you not know that only l have the right
to decide the crown princess's future?
Then you should've gone to Goguryeo.
What?
Neitherthe King nor the Queen of Goguryeo
were in their right minds.
l put a stop to this marriage because
l was afraid Lahee would end up dead or crazy
if she enters such marriage.
Jasil.
lt doesn't matter if you hold the title.
lt doesn't change the fact that you're not her birthmother.
700 Nakrang troops were killed in this war
and more than 400 were seriously wounded.
What about our casualties?
A little more than 300 troops were killed and.
Less than 200 were injured.
We have captured 2500 of Nakrang people
building the fortress.
1300 were taken by the Hwanna and Gwanna tribes as spoils of war.
Your Majesty.
What is it?
General Wu is returning to the palace with 1200 prisoners.
l have to hand it to Wu Naru.
l heard he was injured fighting Majo.
l assume he's fine.
Your Majesty ljust received a message that
the prince will arrive at Bukyang shortly
with the Princess of Nakrang in captive.
l told you Hodong could do it!
He's not only the best swordsman in Goguryeo
he's now the best strategist as well.
How shall we receive Choi Li's daughter?
She's a hostage but she'll marry our prince.
We should receive her accordingly.
l agree.
She'll be Hodong's wife and my daughter-in-law.
Give Choi Li's daughter a grand welcome.
BUKYANG OUTSKlRTS OF GUKNAE PALACE
Congratulations Prince.
You have done well.
Now you're a step closer to becoming crown prince.
Aunt why did you trouble yourself?
YEORANG l had to greet your wife.
There she is.
Prin...
What's the meaning of.
Hodong doesn't know anything about women.
l apologize Princess.
l'm grateful l wasn't dragged by a horse
with a chain around my neck.
How can you say such.
You're not a prisoner. You're here as our guest.
As Hodong's princess. Please appease your anger.
Your Highness.
Come in.
A man from your house brought these.
He got here quickly.
Put them on the table.
Yes.
Please wearthese until we can make you new clothes.
They're mine.
And wearthese for now.
My brother will spare no jewelry for his eldest daughter-in-law.
lt's all right.
lt is all right.
l had promised Hodong jewelry and makeup as wedding gifts.
My people were brought here as prisoners.
l'm not so clueless that l'd adorn myself with
Goguryeo clothes and jewelry in such situation.
Well if you'd rather stay in your bloodstained clothes.
lf you'll bring me some water
l'll wash my bloodstains off my hands.
All right. Bring her some water.
Yes Your Highness.
When he was young Hodong came back from his trip to
Nakrang as an envoy and told me you had a foul temper.
He was right.
Your Highness.
Who are you to sit at the prince's table and
share his precious tea?
l'm Puku.
the prince's bodyguard.
You're that Puku?
The girl Hodong brought back to the palace from Simbeon?
The prince took care of me when l was ill.
l heard that Queen Maeseolsu gave you
to the Great General of Nakrang as a gift.
That's correct.
And how are you so well informed?
There are no secrets in the palace.
Then you must know.
Puku is my friend and my woman.
What do you see in this skinny girl?
Leave us.
Yes Your Highness.
You're to take the Princess of Nakrang as your bride soon.
You can have many girls like her after
you become crown prince.
l'll marry Princess Nakrang forthe sake of Goguryeo
but it's none of your concern what l do with Puku.
Hodong.
l'm exhausted.
At least once a day l want to smile like the others.
At least once a day.
l want to feel how happy to be alive and breathing.
And only she can do that foryou?
Yes.
Where is Puku from?
She grew up in Dongmohyun but she's originally from Nakrang.
Nakrang?
Haven't you learned your lesson?
You've suffered more than enough
because your birthmother was from Buyeo.
l'm happy enough that she's not from the Biryuna tribe.
They say that a hero is rendered powerless by beauty.
l'm afraid a girl will ruin you.
GUKNAE PALACE GOGURYEO
Please don't frown. Smile forthem.
They're your people.
Why are they my people?
Just as the people of Nakrang are my people
the people of Goguryeo are your people.
Treat them with kindness.
ls that why you killed troops of Nakrang and
brought me here?
Your mother was the one who started this.
Nonsense.
lf l hadn't gone through trouble to bring you here
your mother would have taken you away from me and
given you to Wang Hol.
Prince Hodong.
Let's not argue. Our people are watching.
Why aren't you with the prince?
Palace life seems so complicated.
l think l'll only be a burden to the prince.
They must be Nakrang people.
They are with General Wu Naru.
They must be prisoners captured at Mukbang.
Nakrang has done nothing for us.
We can't even call it our motherland.
We've come this far.
Let's forget we're from Nakrang.
Puku.
Your Majesty! Please punish us with death!
Save your heads hands and feet
and use them to conquer Goguryeo someday!
Your Majesty!
Come to my chamber.
Send an envoy to Muhyul and find out what his terms are
forthe release of the crown princess.
Also forthe release of our people.
They took the crown princess to Guknae Palace.
lt seems they'll force her to marry Prince Hodong.
That can't happen!
Our people will not acknowledge her as queen
if she is forced to marry the enemy prince.
lt's their ploy to snatch up Nakrang with princess
on their back.
l'll meet with Muhyul myself.
Your Majesty.
l'll meet him at the border of Eunpo.
Do whatever is necessary to bring Muhyul to Eunpo.
YOUNGANJUN JlNYANG PALACE NAKRANG l'll send Donggobi along
YOUNGANJUN JlNYANG PALACE NAKRANG with the messenger.
We need to send her some clothes and a maid.
She can't lose her dignity in the Goguryeo palace.
All right.
What will you do
if the King of Goguryeo won't release the princess?
l'm afraid our people will turn away from her
if she's forced to marry.
Jamyung.
Only if Jamyung is alive.
What are you saying?
Will you forsake Lahee?
l'll save her. l'll bring her back to you.
l'll stop Muhyul from marrying her off to Hodong.
But why are you bringing up Jamyung?
A king must prepare forthe worst.
l have to have an alternate plan.
Your Majesty.
The best thing is to bring Lahee back but if we can't.
lf Jamyung is alive
l'll find her and make her crown princess.
And if Jamyung is not alive
the Great General will succeed me.
QUEEN JASlL'S CHAMBER
What?
He'll do what if Jamyung is alive?
He'll make her crown princess?
CHlSO Things have gotten out of hand
since you broke the talk of marriage.
lt's a bridge we must cross sooner or later.
But l had no idea Lahee would be captured.
lf she's forced to marry
Princess Jamyung will become crown princess.
Never.
Jamyung is Hodong's woman.
And she killed General Ha Hogae and Captain Takchi in Eunpo.
l've heard as well.
Who is Ha Hogae?
He's the king's most loyal retainer and a meritorious subject.
How can the princess who turned against her country
become crown princess and queen?
You're right.
How can anyone accept her?
Lahee may be captured but Heaven is on my side.
Jamyung put a noose around her own neck.
l Do Chal write this letter to Queen Jasil for
DOCHAL / Minister the sake of the future of
the crown princess and Nakrang.
Lady Mo is already aware that Princess Jamyung
Queen Mo Haso's daughter is alive.
What brings you here?
Lady Mo is looking foryou. But why were you so startled?
lt's nothing. Let's go.
BUDAL / Second general Are you having an affair?
Are you writing a love letterto some wench?
Give that to me.
Princess Jamyung Lady Mo
Queen Jasil.
l may not know how to read well
but l have an idea what this letter says.
Sugi!
Ready the horses!
Yes!
Father!
Father.
l'm all right.
l'll alert the great general.
Master will help you.
Father what has he done wrong?
A slave who betrays his master must die!
Let's go.
Bring him in!
l didn't miss your heart because l'm too old to shoot.
l know that My Lady.
lt is so that l could ask you if you betrayed me
the late general and Younghojangwon
for a taste of power.
Speak.
Princess Jamyung killed General Ha Hogae and Takchi.
How can we make such a person crown princess?
That is none of your concern!
A king's life can't be compared to a thousand of
his subjects' lives or even tens of thousands.
Killing them is no matter.
Nakrang must unite against Goguryeo.
Nakrang will collapse if the two princesses fight
overthe throne.
You arrogant.
My Lady.
Where is Sister-in-law?
She's inside but she said to let no one in.
Sister-in-law!
lt is Hol! Open the door!
Since you seem to have a reason foryour betrayal
l won't stain my hands with your blood.
Kill yourself!
Sister-in-law l'll knock this door down
if you don't open it!
What's keeping you?
Are you trying to beg your masterforyour life?
My Lady l'm off to see the general.
Please live a long life.
Do Chal!
Father!
Master.
Please protect our lady and Nakrang.
Father.
l deserve to die. Don't be sad.
Serve our lady and Master.
Father!
Yourfather was a great retainer of Younghojangwon.
Give him a funeral befitting his status as a minister.
Yes My Lady.
Sister-in-law!
lt doesn't matter who becomes king.
Forthe sake of Nakrang?
Don't give me that nonsense.
You haven't changed a bit
since you shot that fire arrow at Sister.
Whether it's Jamyung Lahee oryou that becomes king
do you think people will care?
lt would have been the same
if our general had become king instead of Choi Li.
Sister-in-law!
ls anyone born to become king?
No you brat.
The powerful man becomes king
and the weak one gets trampled.
Unless he were crazy
any king would want to provide for his people.
A king can't exist when his kingdom is in distress!
He'll die with his people! Why don't you know that?
Hol.
Since you're the great general
you live forthe Kingdom of Nakrang.
l'll live for our general's revenge.
GUEST CHAMBER GUKNAE PALACE GOGURYEO The queen has invited you to tea.
The prince wants to have lunch with you.
LAHEE / Princess of Nakrang Who'd have known
the Princess of Nakrang would
be so popular in the Goguryeo palace?
Princess of Nakrang l come from the king's chamber.
May l come in?
Sir.
What is it?
The king wishes to see you.
All right.
What's wrong with her now?
Puku.
She still has poison left in her body.
ls it because she overexerted herself at Eunpo?
ls she worried about Princess Nakrang?
l don't think so.
We saw Nakrang prisoners on our way back.
And?
She's been upset ever since.
Puku.
What?
You saw that woman who stabbed you with the coral hairpin again?
No.
lt is l Puku.
Come in.
l was about to go see you.
Prince do you believe in dreams?
Like seeing your future in dreams.
You saw the future?
l think so.
lt was no ordinary dream.
l could sense that the images in my dream
were things l'll face in the future.
l don't know but coming from you
l'll believe it.
You've opened your energy channels.
Don't tease me.
Were you happy with me in your dream?
Were our children playing?
Don't tease me.
What was it?
On a vast field l was standing alone with a sword.
l saw hundreds of troops running toward me from a distance.
What was l trying to protect?
lt's so frustrating.
Why are you frustrated? lt's easy.
The enemies were my enemies
maybe the Biryuna tribe, Liaodong or Xuantu.
And just as you protected me in Simbeon and Eunpo
will you protect me for the rest of your life?
So you'll depend on me for the rest of your life?
Why? Do you not like it?
You don't like a weak man?
Well if that's my fate.
lt'd be nice
if my fate were to protect you and Goguryeo but.
l have to go see Father.
QUEEN MAESEOLSU'S CHAMBER
The king summoned the Princess of Nakrang.
l know.
SONG MAESEOULSU l'm on my way as well.
YANGDEOK Your Majesty did you know that Puku
the girl you had given to the Great General of Nakrang
came back?
Did she?
l saw her with my own eyes at the prince's chamber.
She is Hodong's woman.
lt seems that way.
The Queen of Nakrang wanted her as well.
She seems to be very useful.
Keep an eye on her at all times.
The Crown Princess of Nakrang is here.
Greetings Your Majesties.
Welcome.
Welcome Princess.
General Wu Naru couldn't stop praising your beauty.
And he was right.
Your attire.
l've sent you some clothes a few times.
l was taken from the battlefield.
lt is only natural that a prisoner is still in her armor.
Did you call for me?
Be seated both of you.
Let me offeryou my congratulations before l sit down.
l had once asked the prince to relay my message
to the queen wishing her safe birth of a healthy prince.
Did you give herthe message?
l couldn't.
l knew you'd be delivering the message in person.
You must be happy to have given birth to Prince Haeaewu.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
We should set the wedding date.
The soonerthe better.
As you wish.
Be it tomorrow orthe day aftertomorrow
the date is of no significance.
The King of Nakrang cherishes his people.
He wouldn't forsake his people for his child.
So?
lf l'm forced to marry
he'll take the title of crown princess away from me.
Do you really think so?
When he has no other child but you?
Although he's not his child he has General Wang Hol.
Princess our wedding was already under discussion.
He has no reason to take your title of crown princess away
even if you marry me.
CHOl Ll'S OFFlCE JlNYANG PALACE NAKRANG l'm done packing for the princess in Goguryeo.
Very well.
lf l weren't crown princess l'd have no reason to live.
Pack this among herthings.
What is the meaning of this?
The princess our Lahee wouldn't go on living
if she weren't crown princess.
No. That can't happen.
l decide herfuture.
Muhyul will demand things l cannot accept.
l can't have Lahee insulted and living in Goguryeo
or have her become a burden to Nakrang.
Lahee will understand the meaning of this dagger.
Your Majesty even if l were to marry Prince Hodong
l'd have nothing to offer Goguryeo.
lf you can't bring anything
l'll take what l need from Choi Li, yourfather!
lt is of no concern to you.