As Chung sits in his jail cell and Moo Young stands in her palace, both think back to all the scenes from this drama where no one had any lines. (And that's quite a lot!) Moo Young wanders over to the prison - which seems to be oddly absent of any guards - to see him. Chung and Moo Young simply stare at each other for five minutes. If you were playing the drinking game you would be unconscious by now.
Behold, the princess finally speaks. She lays it down to Chung that she'll never forgive him and won't help him. He'll have his head cut off and he'll die. Gee, maybe it was better when you weren't saying anything, Moo Young.
Effeminate Man and his gang are discussing the Chung situation. So Sa Bun suspects Yeon Gasosmun's camp will try something tomorrow at the public execution, so the Misfits will be keeping a watch from the secret passage to the palace.
General On, the crony who caused the mess at the festival last episode, is on his knees trying to explain his actions and apologize for his failure. Gaesomun, a man of few to no words, at least moves (proving he's still alive) and pulls out his sword. A couple of other cronies beg for On's life. Gaesomun seems to cave easily and forgive On. Or perhaps the general is just too tired to lift his arm and kill the crony.
Cousin Jang stops by to visit and Gaesomun sees him alone. They sit in chairs about twenty feet apart. I'm surprised they're not having to yell across the room to each other. Gaesomun plants the seed that Jang would make a perfect king of Goguryeo.
Despite what she said at the prison, Moo Young goes about trying to convince her father to pardon Chung. The king decides the situation is too politically volatile to call off the execution. Moo Young returns to the prison so she and Chung can stare at each other for another five minutes.
Later, Moo Young remembers a conversation with her young brother where he told her about a secret passage in and out of the palace. A secret passage that everyone seems to know about.
Speaking of this well known secret passage, we see two men walking through the tunnel and talking about fashion. One man bribes the other man, a palace guard. While the guard is busy counting his money, the other man secretly releases a butterfly. The camera follows the bouncy flight of the bug until it emerges up in the room where Effeminate Man and his gang were talking earlier in the show.
The room is temporarily empty until the princess steps in. She spots the butterfly and so knows to start looking there for the secret entrance to the secret passage. The guy from earlier had been hired by Moo Young to go down there and release the butterfly. It all makes sense if you thi-- no it doesn't.
Later that night the princess goes into action mode as she enters the passage and heads for the prison. Because what palace doesn't want an unguarded tunnel that goes directly to where dangerous criminals are located?
What incredible luck! The exit of the secret passage just happens to come out right beside Chung's cell. Oh, but the one lone prison guard has finally decided to show up for work. She must wait for the man to pass by before she can throw a small knife into Chung's cell. I thought the knife was for him to use to cut the ropes around him but... he just kind of sits there.
Moo Young risks running out to try and pick the lock on Chung's cell door. She's not doing a very good job of it and from the sound of it someone is coming this way. Chung just kind of sits there. With someone coming closer, Moo Young has no choice but to run back to her hiding place.
The someone coming is Cousin Jang. He gives the order for Chung to be moved to a different cell. As he's lead away, Chung keeps looking back. Hon, stop looking back. You'll give away where she's hiding!
Moo Young returns to the palace to once again beg her father to spare Chung's life. (I think the king knew what his daughter was up to and he's the one who sent Jang to check on the prisoner.) The king still refuses to back down.
Gaesomun comes to the palace only to have Cousin Jang tell him the king doesn't want to see him. Ten minutes of silence. Gaesomun requests Chung's body be released to him for a proper funeral. Ten minutes of silence. Gaesomun wants to see his son. Ten minutes of silence. Jang takes the general to the prison. Without looking at him, Gaesomun simply instructs Chung to die with dignity and then he leaves. I sat through twenty minutes of awkward silence for that?
(Uhm Tae Woong has had it pretty easy this episode. All he's had to do is sit.)
Chung enjoys a last meal. The prince tries to read a book. Moo Young paces and frets.
The prisoners sentenced to death are marched out. While Tae Woong's wig is still terrible, I have to say it's a great deal better than the wigs the other prisoners are wearing. The condemned men kneel and have pillow cases shoved over their heads. The executioner gets to do a little dance.
Outside on the streets, Moo Young dangerously races her carriage to the killing field.
The pillow case is removed from Chung's head. Cousin Jang is there to announce the king has ordered for the prisoner to be hanged instead. Moo Young comes running in just as they're putting the noose around Chung's neck. Ooh, is this going to be like Sommersby? Now that was a good movie. A dejected Chung looks up to see his princess in the crowd. Their eyes lock. Maybe it is going to be like Sommersby!
Gaesomun goes down to the basement to stare at a picture. Ah, it's an optical illusion. If you look at it from one angle it appears to be a picture of a nobleman. But at another angle you can see the image of Chung's mother.
Now back to the Slowest Execution Ever. Jang finally gets things going and gives the signal to hoist Chung up in the air.
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