Discussion between guadi and Hanjae Pt. 2

by Hanjae

@guadi, I agree on your analysis of Eun Soo's thoughts and motivations in that scene. Her written messages to him conveyed her thoughts about remaining with him in Goryeo quite plainly, although she knows that there are too many problems preventing her from making that decision so easily - she says as much in the later back hug scene.

Regarding Choi Young, his intention was not to cite the date of the portal's opening right when she was testing the waters, of course. Although he might have understood that there was something more subtle lying behind her seemingly simple words of comfort, I doubt he recognized their true meaning. His mind at that point thought only to keep her safe where he failed to keep his Wudalchi safe, and his words expressed his decision. I also don't think he was in a hurry to push her through the door, per say. Rather, "as soon as possible" referred to his wish to get her out of immediate danger within the palace to the vicinity of the portal, where she can return home when it opens. He's mentioned many times throughout the course of the drama that he had thought about either installing her near the portal or taking her there and staying with her until it opens; he seems to connect the portal to safety for Eun Soo, so it makes sense that his struggles over his ability to protect everyone adequately would lead him to choose what he believes to be the safest option for her. I think, however, this decision in Episode 18 carries far more urgency than it did in Episode 17. The order of events may not have strictly changed, true - he is still planning to spend time with her before the portal opens and he fulfills his promise to send her home. However, asking her to stay by his side in Episode 17 conveyed the idea of being with him while he conducts the duties of a general, whether within the palace or outside of it. In Episode 18, it is rephrased to him "leaving" with her, rather than her "staying" with him. There is a subtle difference that shows his change of perspective.

As for Young's selfishness - well, yes. Human beings are selfish. Young's life of selflessness may have been commendable, but it essentially robbed him of any free agency, and while it is a pretty idea, it would be unreasonable to demand a man to spend his entire life in dedication to honor and duty without a single thought for his own well-being. It is true that life in that period was different and that his duty and honor demanded that he obey the king's every command and dedicate his life to the king's service, but Young had truly gone above and beyond the call of duty. With every king, new demands were placed upon him to the point where he had not done anything but follow royal commands for the last seven years. Even when his master and Mae Hee were killed due to Chunghye's foolishness, he continued to serve dutifully. One has to remember that he nearly gave his life many times while following Gongmin's commands - Gongmin acknowledges this later himself. Because Gongmin wanted to win the army, the scholars and reduce the bloodshed, the entirety of the burden fell to Young. It was his hands that became stained with blood and it was his life that was constantly at stake. As much as Gongmin has offered Young, Young has offered more. He's saved the king and queen's lives countless times, protected the palace with his life and obeyed Gongmin's wishes no matter how unreasonable they had seemed, including allowing Ki Chul and Deok Heung to essentially go scott-free for the sake of political diplomacy. Young had also entreated Gongmin many times to keep Eun Soo safe, to allow him to balance both duty to nation and to heart, but Gongmin's actions had often deliberately or inadvertently placed Eun Soo in danger. In reality, what Gongmin had done is one of the main reasons why Young was forced to make such a difficult choice. I honestly believe that Young owed Gongmin nothing, and Gongmin's own words to Noguk suggests that he realizes this as well. Gongmin may have had a positive effect on Young by giving him a goal, but you could apply the exact same logic to Eun Soo - she had just as much of an effect, if not more, on his reawakening.