The Moon That Embrace The Sun Ep 9

Starts from when Wol touched Hwon’s forehead and he woke up. After he flips her on her back, Hwon asks who are you. who are you to dare to be here. answer me - what is your identity. He orders for candles to be brought in and the room to be lit brightly. He stares at Wol’s face and asks why are you here?


S cant sleep and worries about Wol. S: nothing probably happened right? S asks Jansil if she senses anything. Jansil says something about getting rid of darkness. S asks what that means

Hwon is staring at Wol and asks on whose authority are you acting (moving). H holds her hand and starts accusing Wol:  starting from that night when we met at Onyang was that all planned? what was your order? were you ordered to bewitch me.  Or were your orders to strangle my neck with these hands. if that’s not it, while I am sleeping, were you ordered to stab me with a knife without a mouse or bird knowing. tell me – On whose orders are you acting on. Wol explains she is just a shaman - here to ward off bad spirits . the professor (from the astrology department) comes in and explains he put this girl in cuz she is a shaman from the seongsucheong. he says she is not a person she is just an amulet. H asks: then did someone who is not even a person dare to lay a hand on the body of royalty. tell me! who can know for sure if this hand wasnt meant to strangle me. professor can only say “your majesty.” Wol speaks up and asks for a chance to explain. H drops her hand and tells her to explain.

Wol talks about how something can be covered up by the ground and flowers can bloom. she says how could he bring up (voice) stuff that pains him.  all that she was trying to do was help him let go of the anguish he buried in his heart so that he can rest comfortably since he carries the burden of being king. H: did you just say the anguish I buried in my heart?  Wol: what? H: cuz you are a shaman can you read with your eyes what a person has in his heart? is that why you laid hands on me – to read my heart? ( like unburden it). Wol: I am sorry but the girl’s name you called out in your sleep – since I knew the anguish in your heart ( as in I felt connected to the pains you felt), I just wanted to comfort you so I dared to cause this trouble. While she talks, H thinks to himself: it’s not – this girl is not YW – if it was YW, if she heard her own name, she wouldn’t have acted like she didn’t know. this is a misunderstanding. it’s bewitchment. Wol: your majesty. H tells himself: I have to shake her off ( as in get her out of his mind).  H stands up and turns his back on her. H closes his eyes and orders her to be taken out of the palace right this minute. HS: your majesty. H yells: what are you doing? do you not hear a royal command?! Wol keeps calling out to him as she is dragged away. H keeps his eyes shut tightly like it pained him to do that.

The professor is upset at Wol for daring to lay hands on H. are you in your right mind. if you were found out, you should have been docile and just sit there so how dare you talk back?  N comes over and hears that with S and Jansil. He orders for Wol to be taken away right now. N tells him to stop cuz this girl belongs to cheongsuncheong’s shamans and they will punish her accordingly. He orders wol to be taken away and tells N that Wol will be branded on her forehead and without his orders N cant do anything about it.

Wol is placed in a small room and the confined space makes her panic. She begs them to open the door. She calls out to N.  she starts to cry and calls out for S.

H is sitting there looking sad. He remembers how Wol called out to him. He holds his head.

Wol cries and remembers how the professor said she was not a person and just an amulet. And H saying if she isnt a person how dare she lay hands on the king.

M remembers fighting off the bad guys who tried to take YW and how one of them said let’s go cuz it seems the professor caught the shaman

The professor tells the guards not to let this news out (about Wol) to the outside. He runs into M. M says it’s been a long time professor.

M meets with him. M says don’t be so scared – would I hurt you. professor asks if M doesnt know it’s dangerous to eat the king’s food.  M says he knows. man asks why M is walking around the palace. M shows his head scar and says look at this – how is it? doesn’t it look like it hurts alot. man mutters it does look like it hurts. M: Aren’t you going to ask me how I got hurt like this. professor asks how it happened. M says not too long ago -  he tried to help a shaman who ran away. in front of that shaman M acted all cool but some bad guys interfered and dragged her away. And he heard the men say the professor took that shaman away. M: so with my broken head, I gave it some thought. M makes guesses why the professor would take her. it makes the man scared. M says there was only one guess left. the professor from the department of astrology. M asks where that shaman is now. professor says: how would I know about that shaman. M asks where they put her and the man lies she was placed far away (like in exile). M asks for the name and the man says her name wasnt registered

M walks out and it’s snowing a lot behind him (that’s how much it snowed on Tuesday (feb 1st) in Seoul too) M runs into H’s mother and the dowager. H’s mom calls out to M. M asks if anything happened to H since the queen and dowager are walking together. dowager asks why M is asking that. if M wants something to happen to H. H’s mom saying mother (cuz what the dowager said was harsh) dowager asks why M is here since his parent isnt here. she asks if M forgot how Minister Yoon told M not to come to the palace. H’s mom asks how the dowager could say that. dowager mentions how M’s supporters are gathered around him ( implying M is like a threat to the throne and those “flies” or supporters hover around him). M: that has nothing to do with me. dowager asks: would flies gather for nothing. they gather cuz someone is giving off a strong scent, but you must be warned, as long as I am alive that will never happen. do you get that? it will never happen. she says let’s go to H’s mom but M calls out grandmother.

M says those flies that are gathered in front of my house, it’s not cuz of the strong scent. isnt it cuz they dont have anyone to (not sure of this word – maybe it’s lead them) M says something about how H doesn’t have an heir and the dowager will have to wait a long time to see the heir succeed H and it’s worrisome cuz she can’t live forever. M says he will outlive her so it makes the dowager speechless.

H’s mom asks if H is really ok. he says he is healthy as you can see. she says she worried that H was not feeling well again cuz of the fuss during the night, but H says dont worry cuz nothing happened. Dowager warns H to be more strong and brings up M and the throne so H wont be able to sleep comfortably anymore. his mom asks why the dowager is like this. and that M wont be greedy for the throne cuz he is brothers with H. dowager yells back that M is a danger- that his existence alone is a threat. what the dowager said makes H stop smiling. dowager tells him to be more strong. you must hurry and have an heir. more than that you have to forbid M from coming to the palace. you have to do that to keep your position. do you get that?

M’s mom is at the temple.  M goes to see her and calls out “mother”.

M asks what she was praying for so much. she says for H’s health as always and that M helps H by being a good brother. M stares at her so she asks why. M says how pretty her hair is even without those fancy hair pins. she says even though she is here at the temple, she couldnt stop wearing her hair in a bun and hasnt shaved her head yet so he tells her to leave it alone. you never know. if H gets dethroned, you might go up to the mother queen’s position. that alarms his mom so she asks how he could say such a terrible/traitorous thing. she asks dont you know other than you there is no one else who could do that (that’s why she doesnt even want M to mention such a thing). M reassures her: how could I not know? from the moment I was born till now-that’s what I always heard from you. she says: even if the tree just stands still, if the wind blows, in the end, it will break and waver -but no matter what the wind, do not break- dont let it waver you. that’s how you can keep the king comfortable and it’s the best path for you. M asks: do you believe in another life mother?  my heart is empty.  for power or the throne, I have no ambition/greed - except for one person. if there is such a thing as another life, there is someone I want to meet again. (I am afraid) that person wont recognize me. this time too, that she will choose someone else again other than me. Even if I already met her -that I might lose her again. That’s the only thing that concerns me.

M walks along and asks: where do I need to go to find you?

H is with woon. (this conversation is about M) H asks woon: do you think hyung is someone who would do that? you know hyungnim well so talk. Woon: do you not trust him? H: would there be a time when I mistrust hyungnim? because people around him keep shaking him so before he breaks I am afraid he will be cut down (as in killed). isnt this king’s position funny that blood brothers have to be enemies. H says today he feels like this position tiresome.

H remembers how wol said she was only trying to unburden the pain in his heart while he slept so that he can rest comfortably. H asks woon to investigate Wol (as in check the seongsucheong shaman registry and find out if she is on minister yoon’s side – as his spy. )

YW’s mom has a nightmare about YW and wakes up. She imagines young YW holding her hand. YW’s mom hugs her: YW – my baby. You were alive. you were alive. the weather is cold so why are you dressed so lightly. what are you going to do if you catch cold? are you with your father. Wasnt death traumatic for you? Young YW shakes her head no. her mom asks: you werent cold? you werent cold? young YW cries and touches her mom’s face. her mom asks: say something. young YW: mother – be well (healthy) every day. The mom wakes up from her dream

Wol is still in the room and crying in her sleep

S asks N: are you going to leave miss like that? you said you were a palace shaman. they said they would brand her face. I will knock down the door and go in right now and ….but N tells her to be quiet. N: I am gathering my thoughts. S: if you think will it solve anything? my miss, thanks to someone (meaning N), she cant breathe well in small dark confined space. S suggests it’s better to go to the king and tell the whole truth that Wol the shaman he wants to kill is Heo YW. N tells S: are you not going to shut that mouth of yours-if you say that one more time, I will tear your lips out. I am looking for a solution so dont interrupt my concentration and go outside.

Y imagines young YW coming into his room and Y saying “it’s already time for us to read a book together. what did we say we would read today” and how she said his face doesnt look well. Y hears crying so he goes to his mom. She is holding something that belonged to YW and crying. He asks why she is doing this again when she had been doing well for a while. she says how YW came to her. she looked like she had something to say. for sure it seemed like she had something to say to me. That kind girl -afraid that her mom’s heart might ache -she just cried- that poor thing –my baby

MW is embroidering and pricks her finger. Her aide asks what’s wrong. did your prick your finger with the needle again? MW says it doesnt feel right. aide says MW didnt prick her finger just once or twice so what’s the matter. MW is upset cuz now she got blood on the embroidery and it was for her husband. aide says I told you to just sleep today and stitch during the day tm. MW gets up so aide asks what she is doing. MW says she is going to go and ask her mother in law how to do this.

MW goes to ask Y’s mom but the aide sees Y and his mom coming towards them. MW asks what’s going on. Y says he brought his mom back from their old home. MW wonders why the mom went there again when she hadnt gone there for a long time. Y asks them to take care of his mom. Y calls out for the keys to lock up his old home.

B is having and dream about young YW being queen and young B bowing to her. B wakes up and says why that child- that dead child – why in my dream?

H wakes up from sleeping and remembers Wol and how she wanted to ease his pain

H walks outside next day and passes by those girls. he asks if they are the cooking maids. they say they are. he says they served him that same dish again for breakfast. They say they did. H: so do you want me to eat that all the time and die. if you give me that one more time again, just know I will dismiss you (except I think he said he was going to kick them out).

The maids wonder why he went back to being cold and that they cant give him that dish anymore. They said he was way more handsome when he smiled. one mimics H’s voice when he said that it was delicious and ate it well. They wish they could see that again. they see B and apologize saying please kill us. B’s aide yells at the girls. But B tells her aid to stop. B: how can there be something better than to hear the King was bright/cheerful. B acts nice and tells the maids not to worry cuz I wont take it to heart (that those girls talked about H like that)

B goes to see H’s mom. H’s mom the queen says: what did you just say? B says she feels bad to tell this to H’s mom. B tells her about the rumors about H and woon and another rumor. B said the reason why H stayed away from B was cuz H kept a woman by his side. the queen sort of smiles in amusement. queen repeats “the king is close to a woman.” she tells B: you should know better than anyone that he (H) isnt that kind of person. B insists if the rumors go outside of the court -what will the citizens think of this country’s king.B asks to be by H’s side to quell the rumors. queen says it would be better to keep B and H apart in the palace till the night of consummation.  B cries and says – so are you asking me to stand by and keep watching when it’s like hell for me. The queen tells B to wait a little while longer for the night of consummation cuz the rumors will be taken care of. B says there is no way to know if the king will push it back again. queen says dont worry about that. to tell you the truth, the dowager placed an amulet with the king to ward off evil spirits. B repeats that: did you say an amulet to take away bad spirits. queen says yes, also the king becoming more comfortable is thanks to that child’s skills so just have faith and wait a little longer.

H is meeting with his ministers. H read the scroll and asks if it’s true that workers are freezing up in the northern provinces. minister says it’s normally cold up north.  H: then the person I spoke about last time “P hwan”….minister is alarmed to heart that name but H finishes by saying “…he left safely I assume. are you saying since it’s normally cold up north just let the citizens freeze to death? H orders quickly send relief so the citizens wont be cold. ministers say they will. H: oh I left something out. H slowly says “P” so the minister wonders if H is talking about P hwan but H finishes his sentence saying “avoid” (cuz that word in korean starts with the P sound. H brings up the stuff they received from the people so a minister says there wasnt much so do they need to bother with it. H points out those things were taken from the people – the people didnt give them. H asks what Yoon thinks. Yoon says it’s not much stuff.  H uses a lot of words that start with the P sound in korean like blood sweat and P porridge and orders them to gather together the belongings of those people. H said let’s end the meeting with this. H kept saying “P” and scared the ministers making them nervous wondering if H is talking about that P guy.  H says he has one thing he is curious about. H asks about the professor. Minister Yoon says if H is worried he should go look for himself. H replies: that’s a good idea, but it makes me think I might be too late.

Ministers suspect H knows something cuz he kept saying “P.” he was playing with us. one thinks H knows something for sure. another one says H should know it’s too late to stop their plan. so the other one asks if that means H gave up. other guy says : instead of giving up he is waiting for a chance. another one asks: a chance? what chance? the other ones yells at the guy: instead of posing and acting like you always know something-cant you just tell us all at once? what chance are you talking about? Yoon says H is waiting to do a clean sweep as in catch everyone in the act. B sent someone to ask to meet with her father.

Yoon:what did you just say? did you say shaman jang (N) was placed in charge of seongsucheong? B: yes her spiritual daughter was placed as an amulet to ward off evil spirits. there was certainly an order placed by the dowager so father in my place please order a request. he asks what. B: even if she is an amulet in the end she is still a girl so I cant leave her to keep watching over the king’s side. Yoon asks if she is asking him to request that they take back that order. B just wants to get Wol away from H so B says to her father: cuz of my dreams for the past few nights and also how the king suddenly changed-I dont know why but it makes me feel uneasy. Yoon asks if B -as the queen- feels uneasy (jealous) over someone like a shaman. do you really think the king is keeping you at bay over someone like a shaman (meaning would the king even have feelings towards a lowly shaman)

Yoon walks out and mutters about shaman jang (N) and remembers Ari

Yoon goes to see the dowager. she asks what brings him here cuz it’s so hard to see him these days cuz he has been busy with his construction. Yoon says sorry cuz his position keeps him busy with no spare time. dowager: I know that well. that position isnt something you got on your own. Dowager says in her head about Yoon: this guy -  doesnt he realize who he needs to thank for giving him this position. Yoon also says in his mind: this old tiger that has lost her fur -she must still think she is my master.  (as in how dare she think she can push me around) Dowager asks what Yoon needs to discuss with an old woman. he says he heard the dowager wanted to put N back in place at seungsucheong as the cheif court shaman. dowager: so what if I do? he says there is already a head shaman at seungsucheong. dowager sticks up for N and says the other one cant even compare with N when it comes to supernatural skills . Yoon points out how N is deeply involved in what happened 8 yrs ago-what if she happens to talk, but the Dowager says the other shaman (kwon) is also deeply involved too so as far as danger, the two of them are the same. he says that happened a long time ago but she says 8 yrs is a short time. dowager says she needs N’s skills -in all of choseon there is no other shaman with all her talent so how could she throw her away. Yoon argues you cant know what N is really thinking inside so she is dangerous. Dowager: if she is dangerous then I need to keep her even closer to me. she asks what he is so afraid of. it’s all in the past -more than that, the dead do not talk.

Wol is sleeping but wakes up when guards arrive. She is taken away and faces the professor. He lists all the things she did wrong as a shaman and tells them to start the branding.

S and Jansil are there too. A brand is held near Wol’s face and Jansil and S scream.

During H’s archery practice, Woon reports about Wol not being in the shaman registry. H asks: are you sure her name isnt registered in seungsucheong. Woon says yes and that another place doesnt know her too. woon says that girl is not a spy and asks H to take back his order to have her branded. H: it’s not like you Woon to take the girl’s side. I already know. The dangerous thing isnt that girl – it’s me.

N watches as Wol is about to be branded and says to herself to Ari: what do I do Ari? if I reveal the truth she will live and will die soon -if I leave it as is, even if she lives, it wont be a life that’s like living. what do I do. please answer me Ari. Just as wol is about to be branded HS comes in and says “stop it’s an order. it’s a royal order that Shaman Wol be pardoned and reinstated to take care of his majesty.” Jansil and S run over to her side. S: are you ok miss?

H: did you say I was bewitched –  that I must shake her off. I am bewitched, but I cant shake her off

Wol is sitting in a room. N comes in. Wol hasn’t eaten anything. Wol: godmother. I want to go out for a little while. N: where are you going when you aren’t well. Wol: just for a little while cuz I have something I must do. N: are you in your right mind? after going through all that..wol cries and interrupts: I know. (I know) that a shaman who is taking care of the king cant go around anywhere she wants -also that I am the king’s shaman cant dare to cross the line -after what happened this time, I know that for sure. even though there is nothing I can do about being a shaman and having to endure the hardships but the misunderstanding I received, I want to be sure to clear it up. Please allow it – it’s my first and last request.

Y’s mom and Mw are walking around outside. MW says she brought the mother outside but the mom didnt want to do this and that so MW asks if the mom really doesnt want anything. Y’s mom: yes I dont have anything (she needs). dont worry about me. if there is anything you need please tell me. MW: if you dont have anything I dont. MW suddenly thinks of one and says how Y is running low on something and wants to get him the best one while they are outside. so his mom says cuz MW takes such good care of her son, as a mother, she is thankful to have a daughter like the princess. MW: you just smiled just now didnt you? now you wont be sad anymore? Y’s mom: yes. I should at least for your sake since you are trying so hard to cheer me up. MW: they say if you smile, luck will come to your home so you must smile often. Y’s mom: yes I will do that.

Wol is looking through papers. shopkeeper says cuz she is taking so much care to select the paper she must want to write a love letter. She tells the shopkeeper she is going to write an apology (to admit she did something wrong). she suddenly remembers M asking “will you wait for me?” Wol suddenly leaves so shopkeeper asks where she is going in the middle of selecting. She tells the shopkeeper she will come back in a short time.
(*I think it’s  interesting that YW remembers about M while looking at paper. As a kid, wasn’t the paper shop where they first met after he was away for a long time? -Fand)

Wol goes back to where the hanbok fabrics are drying. She thinks he wont be here cuz days have passed. And that she didn’t get to thank him. M shows up so she smiles at him

M goes with her as she pays for her paper. She says sorry for making M wait. I came out cuz I had something to do and I dropped by there thinking perhaps you might be there. I didnt know you would really be there.  it’s good that I get to thank you for that day even if it’s late. thank you for that day. Sorry for not being able to keep my promise. M: there is no need to be thankful since I didnt get to save you anyway. he rubs his injured spot. she asks if he got hurt a lot. M says he can endure pain well so this is nothing.  She asks how he isnt wearing his monk outfit today. M: you must have misunderstood. I am not a  monk. that time I had a situation so I had to change my appearance. She asks if he really isnt a monk. He says he isnt. He sees her cheek and the cut. He asks how she got that cut. She doesn’t answer. M says you must have a lot of troubles.  if you want to run away, tell me I will help you. she says thank you for offering, but I am in a safe place now so you dont have to worry. She remembers how young M offered to help her run away by giving up his name and title. She asks if he is related to the king. he asks how she knows that. She says she is psychic. M: psychic? Wol: yes.  just now I saw your past for a second.  M is disappointed and says oh so that’s all it was – your psychic ability. (cuz he thought she had recognized him)

Wol asks if she can say something as a shaman to him. he gives her permission. she advises him: let go of that person buried in your heart now. empty the place in your heart for the sake of someone new. Don’t try so hard to hide your real feelings with smiles. deceiving your heart and living like that - isnt it something that hurts a lot? M cries and asks : can I ask your name. Wol starts to say: I don’t have a name. but remembers how H named her. she says “it’s wol”  M repeats her name. she says she has to go now and thanks him again for that day and that she will pray that he meets someone good

Wol walks out and knocks down her mom. Mw asks if the mother is ok. Wol has her head and face covered and apologizes saying it happened cuz she was in a hurry. Her mom says: I am ok so you can go. Wol: thank you.  M comes out. M asks what the two of them are doing here.Y’s mom asks M: how are you feeling? cuz you suddenly disappeared everyone worried. M says he will meet her later cuz he is in a hurry.

MW stops him and asks if he has a girl he likes. he says he does. MW points to the direction the girl went and tells him to hurry after her. M runs off.  MW laughs and says to Y’s mom: it must be real mother. Y’s mom says I should have seen what she looked like – maybe she is the same age as my YW. MW doesn’t say anything and looks uncomfortable
M runs but cant find her

Wol is writing a letter.

At night, wol is taken again to H’s room. H isnt sleeping and is standing and waiting for her

B is biting her nails and remembers H’s mom’s words about how an amulet was placed with H. the aide tries to stop B but B threatens to fire the aide and kill her if she stops her this time

H: Are you surprised? I didn’t drink the tea that was ordered. from here on I wont be drinking it again. But you have to take responsibility for the words you spoke. at least for the time while I was asleep – didnt you say that you would help me forget what troubled me. Wol: yes I did. H: didnt you tell me to let go of the anguish in my heart? Wol: yes I did. H: more than anything right now -the anguish I dont want in my heart, I want to get rid of it.  but you have to help me forget it. this pain in my heart, you have to put it to sleep. can you do that? answer me. can you do that? Wol: If you let me, I will try. she goes on and says how she will block the things that torment him – the trauma that bothers him, she will comfort/ease it. she says how she is a shaman/amulet that it’s her duty/obligation and will protect him. I will do everything.

HS is outside pacing when B comes. HS blocks the door. He says for her to wait but she says open the door.

H tells Wol to lift her face. It’s an order.

B opens the door and goes to the second door. She opens it to see H standing with wol.
End