Chapter 87: The First Confrontation Between Archnemeses

Chapter 87: The First Confrontation Between Archnemeses

The First Confrontation Between Archnemeses

Yoomyeong~

As Yoomyeong entered the makeup room, Lee Seon-has slender hand shot up in greeting.

Although Lady Kang was a very important character in <The Late Goryeo Dynasty & the Early Joseon Dynasty>, the actual scenes she appeared in were limited. Since she was always active behind the scenes, the only scenes she had were those with Lee Seong-Gye and Lee Bang-won.

So, she had been participating in Comets regular performance rehearsals alongside the movies shooting. Director Son, who preferred to shoot in chronological order, had been batching Lee Seon-has scenes while considering her rehearsal schedule for Comet.

Today, Lee Seon-ha was filming scene #41, which was a two-shot with Lee Seong-Gye, and scene #58, a two-shot with Lee Bang-won.

It would be the first time Yoomyeong would be acting together with Lee Seon-ha since the [Contradiction] workshop. He had been curious and excited about the acting of this actress, whom colleagues preferred to have as their counterpart.

Youll be filming a little before me, right?

Yes~ Ill shoot scene 41 first, and then Ill finally get to work with Yoomyeong!

Is it your first time doing a frontal scene today?

Yes. Is my makeup okay?

Lee Bang-won was 22 years old in scene 58, while Lady Kang was 33 years old.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

That scene marked the first time when Lady Kangs appearance was shown.

Previously, Lady Kang, or Lee Bang-wons stepmother, was only shown from the back. Her conversations with Lee Seong-Gye were also only shown in vague side profiles.

It was meant as a metaphor for a character who tightly concealed her inner thoughts.

Hansung joked that Seon-ha wouldnt be able to realistically portray Lady Kang in her twenties since she was already in her forties, hence the lack of frontal shots. However, the actual reason was this.

Scene 58 was the first time she revealed her true intentions.

Or rather, it was more accurate to say that Lee Bang-won forcibly exposed them.

Did you already practice scene 41 with Senior Bae?

Yes. While practicing, I asked a friend who married at 21 for insight into the psychology of a sons successful exam, like when his son got into Seoul National University last year.

Wow, they must have been so happy.

Yes. He said he was as happy as when his child was born, but I honestly still dont quite get that analogy

Seon-ha, who was still single, chuckled.

But then I thought that for Lady Kang, Lee Bang-wons success isnt so much like hearing about a sons achievement but more like leveling up a useful tool for her ambitions, right?

Yes, thats true.

So I also called a friend whos really into gaming.

Gaming?

Yes. I asked how it felt when they got a Great Success on weapon enhancement.

Hahaha

Yoomyeong couldnt help but burst into laughter.

So, is Lee Bang-won his mothers weapon?

Thats right. If that weapon hadnt developed its own will and turned the blade, Lady Kang could have conquered the world.

Thats an innovative interpretation. I really like it.

Yoomyeong laughed for a while, then sat next to Seon-ha.

You still need to do your hair, right? Should we go over scene 58 while I get my base makeup done?

Sounds good~

Their practice continued until Seon-ha had to leave the makeup room to shoot scene 41.

*

By the time Yoomyeong was finished with his makeup and costume, the rehearsal for scene 41 was just wrapping up.

It was the first time he saw Lee Seon-has acting up close.

Yoomyeong vaguely remembered seeing Seon-ha act when he went to see Comets performances during his past life, but he couldnt recall the details.

She was dressed as a noblewoman of the Goryeo era. The light makeup and the cool, breathable mosi fabric, though seemingly simple at first glance, highlighted the elegance of a fashionable noblewoman of the capital, Kaesong, with details like the delicate embroidery at the sleeves and the elaborate accessories dangling from her waistband.

Lets go~~ Standby!

Scene 41.

News of Lee Bang-wons successful civil service exam arrived.

At 16, he passed the Jinsa exam (literary licentiate). And just a year later, he impressively passed the civil exam as the 7th in the military section (10th overall). He was even the youngest to pass that year.

Lee Bang-wons success in the state examination must have overjoyed Lee Seong-Gye, who had always been burdened by a complex about his provincial origins.

However, loyalists of the Goryeo dynasty remained. Jo Min-soo, the former Left Army Commander of the Liaodong Expedition, and the respected official Lee Saek joined forces to crown Chang, King Woos son, as the new monarch.

Righteousness.

Lee Seong-Gye had always been obsessed with righteousness. He harbored a desire to gracefully rise to the throne through abdication rather than seizing the throne through force, so he postponed his grand ambition.

At that time, his mind must have been boiling with impatience.

And Lee Saek, to solidify Changs enthronement, departed for the Ming Dynasty to gain the Emperors recognition of the kings legitimacy. He requested Lee Seong-Gye to accompany him to prevent any ulterior motives, but Lee Seong-Gye sent his son, Lee Bang-won, as his envoy instead.

In this mission, Lee Bang-won was essentially a hostage.

Scene 58 unfolded as Lee Bang-won visited Lady Kang to bid her farewell before leaving for the Ming Dynasty envoy trip.

Im ready.

Mr. Shin Yoomyeong, please come here.

Yes, Director!

Once Lee Seon-ha finished preparing, the director began directing the next scene.

Both of you seem to know the characters better than I do, so I wont ask for much. Just show me what youve prepared. Seon-ha, pay attention to the timing when you turn around. Show your side profile first, but dramatically turn to show your face frontally once your identity is revealed, showing how Lady Kangs mask broke.

Yes, Director.

Lee Seon-ha nodded, slightly tense.

Yoomyeong, you should give a feeling of cornering Lady Kang. Rather than an equal confrontation, create tension as if laying a trap for a beast and tightening it step by step.

Yes, Director.

Yoomyeong nodded in agreement.

As the scene progresses, your lines should almost overlap with each other. It should be so intense that the audience holds their breath and then exhales deeply at the end of the scene.

Yes.

Understood.

The two actors swallowed their nervousness and faced each other.

This was the first face-off between the two characters who would become arch-enemies after the founding of Joseon.

The shooting of scene 58 began.

*

ReadyAction!

The camera started rolling.

The setting was the inner chamber of Lady Kang.

At 22 years old, Lee Bang-won was now a handsome young man. While he visited his stepmothers quarters under the pretext of greeting her, he went with a clear purpose in mind.

Mother.

Bang-won.

Looking out the sunlit window, she turned her head slightly and smiled at him. Although she was once considered the greatest beauty of Goryeo, Lee Bang-won only tilted his head slightly and smiled, knowing her true nature.

I am departing for the Ming Dynasty today.

Traveling around must be tough, my son.

There will be many people on the route, but its not something I would call a hardship.

The Ming Dynasty is a vast nation, and Im sure youll be able to learn a lot with your intelligence. Your traveling companion is also a great man. I hope you grow further and return.

It felt warm.

Despite knowing better, it seemed as if he could easily be deceived if he let his guard down.

It wasnt just because of the acting; he felt tense.

It felt so comfortable that he naturally immersed himself in Lee Bang-wons emotion of relax and youll be caught off guard.

Yoomyeong felt shivers go down his spine.

This was the power of actress Lee Seon-ha.

Her acting made the situation feel real. It was no wonder that she had been regarded as an actor thats easy to work with.

Yoomyeong gathered both the immersion he created and the one given by Lee Seon-ha, channeling it into his next line.

Ah, so thats the educational reason why you made me the envoy.

The tone, laced with sarcasm, made Lady Kangs eyes widen.

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