The King's Dream Episode 9

It has been a stressful day at work. I need... no, I demand to be entertained! Don't drop the ball on me, King's Dream.

 

Chunchu warns Kim Yushin of the Tang empire and how they threaten to settle their sights on the Three Kingdoms. Yushin swears this ain't gonna happen.

 

The Great Omniscient Voiceover updates us not only on the Tang Dynasty, but also what's been happening here in Silla. King Jinpyeong's first queen, Queen Maya, has died. This allows Mini-me/Seungman to assume the crown and to age up and be played by Lee Young Ah (who may or may not have just been killed off the Vampire Prosecutor series. C'mon, what kind of ending was that?! But I digress...) Nutty Buddy has died and I take it that old hag Queen Sado has bit the dust as well. Princess Deokman is played (for the moment) by Park Joo Mi.

 

Geez Louise, Yushin has previously unmentioned siblings just coming out of the woodwork here lately. Just last episode we learn he has a brother, now he's got a couple of sisters. Bohui and Munhui are watching the procession of Princess Deokman. Chunchu is riding beside (and looking just as old as) his father, Kim Yongchun, and catches Munhui's fancy. Suddenly a woman with a sick baby breaks ranks and pleads with the princess to heal her infant. Deokman impresses everyone by getting the squalling baby to stop squalling.

 

Seungman schemes. She hasn't had any children by the king and is anxious to deliver an heir since Nutty Buddy is dead. Jinpyeong appoints Chunchu to an official post. This causes Seungman to recall one of the dying wishes of Queen Sado to never allow Chunchu to have any power at court.

 

Well, turns out Chunchu's been busy. He's got a wife, Bora, and she's got a big bun in the oven. They're so in love, which means they're doomed.

 

There's a long sequence as Chunchu witnesses all the injustice and corruption throughout the land.

 

Seungman (whose wig must weigh twenty pounds at least) and the concubines are having a lively drinking game. Seungman isn't too happy with the arrival of Boryang, a concubine who has done what Seungman has not - given the king a son. Seungman has a bit of cruel fun with Boryang. Deokman shows up to throw a wet blanket on the proceedings, reminding the queen there are children starving in China, er, Silla, and this is no time to party.

 

Holy crap, somebody's having an acid trip! I think it's that sister of Yushin's - Munhui. She must have eaten some major mushrooms. Manmyeong instructs her daughter to tell no one of her dream as it would endanger the family. More of that Foreboding motif the show does love to shove down our throats.

 

Yushin hangs out with his old allies, the Gwimun. Bihyeong (looking no different except for some silly facial hair) is also worried about the Tang. Yushin tells how Chunchu is out investigating the salt farms for corruption. Bihyeong fears Chunchu is in danger and Yushin races to save his old friend.

 

Chunchu and his guard watch as salt is pilfered and sold off the books. In disguise, Chunchu blends in with the other stevedores loading a boat with the stolen salt. He's recognized by the head crook and now must fight for his life. Chunchu appears to be saved by the local police force (or whatever they are), but then the head security guy tries to bribe Chunchu into keeping quiet about this whole thing. When Chunchu refuses to be bribed, the corrupt police take him prisoner and ties him up on the boat.

 

While Chunchu is tied to the mast, Kim Yushin and the Gwimun storm the boat. There's massive fighting from stem to stern. Yushin saves Chunchu, who tells Yushin he believes these small fish are working for a big fish, and that might be Yushin's grandfather, the Prime Minister.

 

Prime Minister Sukheuljong goes to inform Queen Seungman about what happened with the salt. Seems the queen is in on this as well.

 

As Chunchu is in his office working late at night, a fire bug sets the main house ablaze. Chunchu's pregnant wife is inside the inferno. See, told ya. Doomed. Against his servants' pleadings, Chunchu runs into the burning building to find Bora. She either unconscious or already dead. As Chunchu holds her in his arms, burning timbers start to fall down on him.