Finally, Jeong Mong-ju began to recite the poem he had swiftly composed.
"Wielding a three-foot sword, he soared like a dragon to conquer the world,
And heroes of the era all came forth to aid.
Seo Seung-sang, who pledged with Taishan and the Yellow River,
And Lee Tae-sa, who ruled heaven and earth.
In the garden pond of the prince's mansion, spring radiance abounded,
And moonlight shone over the royal pavilion.
Indeed, descendants of the heroes of that era,
Let us all enjoy peace and wish one another long life."
The poem, recited in a slightly hoarse voice, was masculine and powerful.
It was a performance that emphasized the indomitable spirit of Emperor Hongwu, who subdued the Yuan dynasty and founded a new nation.
The verses also highlighted the loyalty and competence of Zhu Yuanzhang's close aides, Seo Seung-sang and Lee Tae-sa.
The strength in his voice carried the unwavering spirit of a scholar standing at the brink of life and death, silencing the grand hall. The poem's boldness and beauty praised Zhu Yuanzhang's achievements, leaving the man himself unable to hide his pride.
"Indeed, such spirit and talent are rare to find in this vast Ming Empire."
Zhu Yuanzhang praised him with delight.
"I truly covet your talent. But since you have gifted me such a splendid poem, I must honor my promise. You refused a title in Ming, so tell me your wish instead."
Zhu Yuanzhang's face, usually skeptical and guarded around his subordinates, was now visibly relaxed.
Jeong Mong-ju straightened his back and spoke.
"Your Majesty, I am profoundly grateful for your kindness and generosity. The honor of composing a poem for Your Majesty is a lifelong glory, and I require no further reward."
"But?"
Jeong Mong-ju carefully chose his words, and Zhu Yuanzhang urged him on with interest.
"Our nation suffers invasions from both north and south, and the cries of our people echo throughout the land. I humbly request the consideration of the great Ming Empire."
Zhu Yuanzhang was deeply moved by the young envoy's integrity and loyalty, seeing that he sought nothing for himself.
"Return the tribute presented by the Goryeo envoy."
Thus, the tribute was returned, and better treatment for Goryeo followed.
Jeong Mong-ju boldly faced the emperor of the vast continent, a ruler renowned for his cruelty.
Hansung embodied Jeong Mong-ju's will and talent as though they were his own, leaving Yoomyeong and everyone present in awe.
Cut.
Clap clap clap clap.
As the director called cut, the actors and staff burst into applause.
Luo Derong extended his hand toward Hansung.
"I'm impressed!"
"Thank you."
Though he could not understand the words, Hansung recognized the praise from Luo Derong's expression and tone. Having admired Luo Derong's acting himself, he eagerly shook his hand.
"I apologize for yesterday. As the actor pointed out, my perspective was narrow. If I respected the director, I should have trusted his choice of actors as well. I'm ashamed of my impatience and shallow judgment."
Hansung, unable to understand Luo Derong's rapid and expressive Chinese, became flustered.
"Uh... I don't speak Chinese."
"That boldness when you recited the poem, and above all, that overwhelming gaze when you first locked eyes with the Hongwu Emperor!"
"What's he saying?"
"There are so many talented actors in Korea. It's amazing how such a small country has so much talent. Your films and dramas as well."
"Uhh..."
"What was your major work called again? A colleague mentioned it yesterday. Please tell me. I'll definitely check it out. I hope we can work together again someday."
"Let's just leave it."
Chinese people might not readily open their hearts to others, but they were known for being deeply affectionate toward those they accepted as their own. Luo Derong's praise continued endlessly while the director remained busy monitoring the footage.
Yoomyeong, hearing Luo Derong's compliments through Miho from afar, smiled wryly.
Tomorrow would be his turn.
They were filming the scene in which Lee Saek and Lee Bang-won visited the Ming dynasty.
The shooting location was the audience hall where the emperor received envoys.
The Emperor sat high upon the dais while Lee Saek, Lee Bang-won, and the other envoys bowed with their heads touching the floor.
As Lee Saek presented the tributes one by one, he sought Zhu Yuanzhang's formal acknowledgment of King Chang.
However, the Emperor of Ming was as cunning as a snake and not easy to deal with. As Zhu Yuanzhang leisurely examined the tributes, he looked down at Lee Saek and asked,
"You once held a position in Yuan {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} as an imperial scholar, so you must be fluent in Chinese."
Lee Saek, the renowned scholar who had placed first in the Yuan dynasty's examinations, seized the opportunity as the emperor's attention turned to him.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The King of Goryeo wishes to request a personal audience."
"I didn't understand. What did you say?"
The Emperor failed to understand his words. After an official from the Ministry of Rites explained, he laughed and said,
"Your Chinese sounds just like Naghachu's."
After this subtle mockery, Zhu Yuanzhang's attention shifted to the man beside Lee Saek. It was the twenty-two-year-old Lee Bang-won.
"Are you the son of Lee Seong Gye?"
When the emperor ignored his request and changed the subject, Lee Saek's face stiffened. Then Lee Bang-won calmly replied in Korean.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
That marked the end of the audience for the day.
Luo Derong observed the actor playing Lee Bang-won and thought,
This rookie actor seems too reserved to portray Lee Bang-won as written in the script, but there must be something the director sees in him.
Yoomyeong's acting puzzled Luo Derong, but the next scene revealed that it had all been deliberate.
Loud, refreshing laughter filled the room.
Brimming with presence, the laughter of the confident young hero swept away the modesty he had displayed during the audience with the emperor.
"What are you laughing about, my lord?"
Si-heon asked cautiously.
"Didn't the emperor say his Chinese sounded like Naghachu's? That old man must have been seething inside."
"I'm not sure, but it sounded fluent to me."
"Indeed, it was fluent. Fluent enough that anyone would have believed he was a native of Ming."
"Then why did the emperor...?"
"Hahaha. Since he rose from the bottom, he truly is a cunning man. To reject a request in such a roundabout way."
Bang-won's eyes sparkled as he lowered his voice, and Si-heon leaned closer.
"What did he mean by that?"
"'I have no intention of interfering in Goryeo's internal affairs.' That's what he meant."
"What?!"
Si-heon jumped at Bang-won's bold explanation.
"Do you understand the meaning of Mogeun's request for a direct audience?"
"Well, literally..."
Bang-won explained with a smile to his straightforward subordinate.
"King Chang is too young to travel all the way to Ming. But by making such a request, if the emperor had replied, 'Choose a time for an audience later,' or 'I acknowledge your sincerity; consider the request received,' it would have meant Ming's acknowledgment of King Chang's legitimacy."
"I see."
Si-heon nodded after a moment's thought.
"But he pretended not to understand and turned his attention to me. What does that mean?"
"Could it be that Ming supports your father's great cause?!"
"More that they won't interfere."
"But why?!"
"Ming is an empire that was only recently unified. They're already overwhelmed with internal affairs. All that talk from before was merely a pretext to extract more tribute."
"Then..."
"Given that my father, a famous general on this continent, was about to conquer Liaodong, the Ming emperor must have been worried. He had no intention of letting matters escalate that far. Imagine his relief when he learned that my father had turned his army back at Wihwado."
Si-heon's mouth hung open at Bang-won's eloquent and audacious analysis of the international situation.
"So your use of Korean was also..."
"There's no need to give the impression of being an ambitious son under Lee Seong Gye. It was necessary to appear as mild as possible. That way, that suspicious emperor would feel at ease."
The wisdom beyond his years,
The spark in his eyes,
And the burning ambition emanating from him.
Bang-won's presence seemed to engulf the entire imperial palace despite the fact that he was merely conversing quietly with his subordinate. Luo Derong found himself speechless at the young actor's performance.
What on earth was I saying on the first day?
He found it difficult to imagine how the two actors who had already surprised him would clash fiercely in a later scene. In every respect, it seemed destined to be overwhelmingly powerful.
Although he had appeared in countless films and worked with many actors throughout his life, Luo Derong was once again having an eye-opening experience.
And he was sincerely glad to be part of this film.
After five days of filming in China, the crew returned to Korea, exchanging farewells with the Chinese actors they had worked with.
On the last day, even Min Gyeong Guk warmed to Luo Derong's endless praise and shook hands with him.
Then, for another two weeks, they moved between various locations across Korea to film interspersed scenes.
Finally, the tea conversation scene at the Yongin set was scheduled for the following day.
"The filming of next month's climax will be quite intense. Take a good day's rest."
Despite the introduction of the five-day workweek in 2004, filming schedules remained demanding, often extending to six or seven days a week.
Yoomyeong considered how to spend this rare day off and decided to visit his school.
The film shoot that had begun in mid-April had progressed through a month of initial filming with extras, two months of intensive shooting in Mungyeong, a week in China, and two weeks at various domestic locations.
Now only the final month of filming at the Yongin set remained.
This period coincided with the busiest time of the Oedipus workshop. Though his close seniors and classmates might not be around, Yoomyeong expected to see some familiar juniors who would welcome him. He planned to treat them to a meal.
Instead, he encountered a pleasantly unexpected face.
"Jun-ho!"
"Whoa, Yoomyeong! What brings our big star here?!"
As Yoomyeong arrived near the end of the workshop, screams erupted. He was a beloved Oedipus senior and a celebrity seen only on television. The juniors from the Classes of '04 and '05 were especially stunned.
"I didn't expect to see you here."
"Well, I'm still a novice writer, but they asked me to teach a playwriting class. Hehe."
Jun-ho had completed his internship and become a junior writer at Comet.
"Oh, that's impressive."
"You're even more impressive! How's filming going?"
"I got a day off."
"Wow. Want to join us for a get-together?"
"Sure. That's why I came."
The juniors cheered, and they all headed to Oedipus's favorite restaurant.
Fortunately, the pub was empty because of the vacation season, allowing Yoomyeong to avoid public attention. Though, of course, he still received plenty of attention from his juniors.
"Senior, what should I do to become a good actor?"
"Senior, when did you become so good at acting?"
"Is Cha Harin really that pretty in person?"
Questions poured in endlessly.
To the twenty-five-year-old Yoomyeong, even twenty- and twenty-one-year-olds seemed like children, especially considering that he carried nearly forty years of life experience.
He answered many of their questions with a gentle smile, finding his juniors endearing.
After enduring a barrage of questions, he finally sat down with Jun-ho.
"Have you been well?"
"Yeah. I often hear about you from Senior Seon-ha. They say you're doing great."
"Haha. I'm working hard."
Jun-ho, who belonged to the same theater group as Seon-ha, always listened with sparkling eyes whenever Seon-ha brought news from the The Late Goryeo Dynasty & the Early Joseon Dynasty set. He treasured hearing about his friends' achievements.
"How are the others doing?"
"They're doing well. You probably heard about Yu-ri from the news."
Yu-ri had gained considerable popularity for her role as a princess in the forty-episode historical drama that had been airing since April. She had also appeared in several commercials recently.
"Senior Suho got into the Film Academy, and Hye Seon landed a minor role in the autumn regular performance and is practicing hard."
Hye Seon, like Jun-ho, belonged to Comet, so he was well aware of her recent activities.
Then Yoomyeong brought up the person he was most curious about.
"How about Senior Ryu Shin?"
