01x11 - Bukiyôna Ishi

[bunniefuu]

The House of Tolui has fallen apart.

It disappeared.

Boraqchin! There you are!

They've got all manner of gemstones
on sale over there.

Let's go take a look.

Gemstones?

Yep. I hear it's a caravan of traders
returned from the west.

Off we go.

I must decline. Gemstones
would not look flattering on me.

There.

It's plenty fun just looking around.

Hurry up!

Take a look.

Do you think these
would make good earrings?

They'd look splendid on you.

You should pick something out
as well, Boraqchin.

No, like I said, I'm not...

I wouldn't bother with that stone
if I were you.

That stone found its way
into the gemstones we procured.

It's a meddlesome stone
that crumbles when exposed to light.

It crumbles in light?

I was met with this shabby-looking stone
amid the dazzling gemstones

and took a strange fascination to it.

That was how it all began.

It's coated in powder.

After mere days of being exposed
to sunlight, this hard stone...

How strange.

After reading up on it,
I learned this stone was called sandarac

and was considered medicinal in the east.

Taken in its proper dosage, it could heal
abscesses and restore one's vigor.

However...

Heat it over a fire, and it turns
to a white substance known as arsenic.

A deadly poison that dissolves in water
and is devoid of taste or odor.

This brittle stone unfit
to become a gemstone...

How...

How fascinating.

The following year,
Genghis Khan met his demise.

Möge and I, who were his consorts,
were taken as wives by our stepson Ögedei.

And I became Ögedei's primary empress.

Why did he choose me?

I thought it was simply
because I was the eldest.

However...

Oh? A rock that crumbles in the light?

Please pay it no mind.

It is but a trifling hobby of mine.

Your hobby does appear
to be beyond my understanding.

That said, I was happy to learn
what it is you like.

Please tell me if there's ever
some other rock you want.

I'll have it find its way to you.

I will. But why do so much for me?

The desire to obtain something.

That urge is what sets
the world in motion.

I dream of this steppe becoming
a vast market that connects east and west.

People of eastern and western cultures
alike passing through to do trade.

That way, we won't need to venture off
to wage w*r and plunder.

People and goods
will gather here willingly.

I'd appreciate more stones,
but books are what I want now.

I'd like to learn more
about the nature of these stones.

Very well.

I'm truly glad you became my empress.

Tolui and the others would
surely fail to grasp what I mean.

That's why I want someone like you
who can understand by my side.

The House of Tolui's power will
deprive him of the ability to act freely.

Can nothing be done about that?

Empress Boraqchin,
your new physician is here to see you.

Lady Möge has also come.

Hey there.

My word.

I'm fond of rocks that change appearance
and behavior under heat or light.

Eastern physicians like yourself
are well-versed in these, yes?

Indeed.

There was a Daoist doctrine
known as waidan.

Waidan?

Using fire or water to refine stones
much like the ones you have here,

they tried to concoct immortality elixirs.

However, inaccurate methods can result
in a deadly poison instead.

It was at this moment that a plot
began to formulate in my mind.

That physician told me
if I heated this powder,

it would give me arsenic,
which is lethal in minute doses.

In its sandarac form,
this shouldn't be enough to k*ll.

Unlike arsenic, it doesn't
even dissolve in water.

An ungraceful stone in every way.

Why, you could say it's just like me.

Huh. So this is the amount
needed to cause this.

Now, what remains is...

How to cure the ailment.

Sandarac poison leaves the body
after three months of recuperation.

But was there no faster,
more dramatic remedy?

One that would seem like a miracle.

That was when I met that girl.

What do I do?

One false move, and this plan
will put the Great Kha'an's life in peril.

Why don't I entrust all of our fates
in the hands of Tengri?

I am to perform a divination.
One of you will accompany me.

Here will do.

Is everything ready?

Um...

Divinations need sheep bones,
and we don't have any.

This fire isn't to heat up bones.

Listen well.

Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth.

And don't stand downwind of the fire.

What are you doing?
Cover yourself at once.

Y-Yes, ma'am.

The red powder is turning white
in the fire?

A sign of good luck.

Sure enough, everything proceeded
according to plan.

Just as I planned.

Boraqchin.

The Great Kha'an is here.

Say, Boraqchin.

Remember what you said to me?

To ensure the Mongols are not divided,
and our hearts remain as one...

You said I should take action.

Have I failed in doing so?

Möge, you're fine just the way you are.

As honest and as kind as ever.

What's that mean?

Don't you worry about a thing.

If you say so, Boraqchin.

Möge.

You don't need to concern yourself
with any of this.

This is a wager I've thrown myself into
all on my lonesome.

I'm sorry I made you wait, Great Kha'an.

What did you want to talk about?

Yes, I have a proposal for you.

It's about Tolui's widow,
Sorghaghtani Beki.

Get out already.

I refuse.

Please just leave us.

I refuse! I'm sorry!

I know you want to help Lady Töregene,
but as you can see, today's not the day.

No...

H-Hey!

Prince Güyük!

Your mother also means
a great deal to me.

Please. If there's anything
you can tell me...

Hey.

Someone's coming.

Hey!

That woman serves
under Empress Boraqchin.

We can't let her find out we're here.

What do we do?

That's the question.

She's here! She's here!

Good day to you, Prince Güyük.

And to you, Sir Qadaq.

I trust Lady Töregene
is safe and sound?

Why, of course.

In fact, I've come to inform you
they're ready to release her.

Pardon me. Continue.

Right.

However, there are a number of conditions.

Conditions?

First, Lady Töregene appears
to be quite weary.

She will spend her time quietly
in Prince Güyük's territory from now on.

So they don't want her back
in the emperor's court?

And one more thing.

Prince Güyük is to marry Prince Tolui's
first wife, Princess Sorghaghtani.

We understand your conditions.

Give us time to think it all over.

Think carefully about what
will be best for the Mongols.

And with that, I bid you a good day.

Good job holding out.

Excuse me.

About what she just said...

In other words, this is all part
of the Great Khatun's plot.

Her aim is to diminish the power
of the House of Tolui,

and vest the Great Kha'an
with greater authority.

To accomplish this, she needed
Prince Tolui to not simply perish,

but to look like he sacrificed himself
for the Great Kha'an.

Does that mean
the Great Kha'an's ailment...

Yeah.

She used Lady Töregene in her scheme
to give him poison.

One that wouldn't k*ll him.

Rahj al-gar.

So she was testing the poison
on herself for her plan.

Using alchemy to orchestrate
the lives and deaths of humans...

As if she were a witch.

And she's even gotten
Prince Güyük involved,

making him marry
Princess Sorghaghtani.

There's nothing to object to, right?

Doing so will bring back
Lady Töregene as well.

Well, it does serve our interests.

S-Still...

Prince Güyük!

Please save Lady Töregene.

I beg you!

I'll do it.

So long. I'm going to return
to Princess Sorghaghtani.

Wait.

Keep everything
you've heard here a secret.

I understand.

I sure hope you do.

You must be relieved, Fatima.

Seems you'll be able to save
the one you wanted to.

Yeah.

Thanks, Shira.

It was reassuring having you with me.

Y-Yeah, glad to hear it.

May Allah preserve you.

Make sure you keep it a secret.

Yeah, yeah.

What?!

M-Mother? Marry Güyük?

I won't hear of it!

Yes. That's what I heard
from the Great Khatun's messenger.

I see the House of Ögedei
has dropped all pretense.

Not to mention, the lowly son of the sixth
empress is completely unfit to marry her.

Still, it's what the Great Khatun wishes.

I see.

Mother! Don't tell me
you plan to accept this.

I refuse to call Güyük "Father."

Mother? Mother!

M-M-Mother!

She seems pretty spiritless.

Maybe I should've mentioned
who k*lled Prince Tolui.

I never thought Princess Sorghaghtani
would remarry.

The Great Kha'an and the House of Tolui
will further join hands in the future.

I was just about to send
a messenger to Sorghaghtani.

Then, please let me have the honor.

You?

Yes.

You gave me the book I've wanted
all this time as one born to scholars.

I want to repay you for your kindness.

Oh?

I'm well-acquainted with the princess.

I will manage to persuade her
without fail.

I see. How intriguing.

It's been three years
since I last talked to her.

That is my role as the one
who will one day be empress.

The same Princess Sorghaghtani,
reduced to this.

How will she react when she sees me?

Will she be justifiably angry?
Will she berate me?

That's fine by me.

The anger I feel towards her
burns far more intense.

Pardon me.

Fatima? How long has it been?

Indeed, Princess Sorghaghtani.

I apologize for my long absence—

Shira did tell me that
she was terribly despondent.

I'm here today as a messenger
to the Great Khatun.

I apologize for being unable
to do anything for Prince Tolui.

Pay it no mind.

Please take a look at this.

A gift from the Great Khatun.

What's more, I come today to discuss
a matter of great consequence.

This matter I speak of...

Please don't be alarmed.

The Great Khatun asks
that you marry Prince Güyük—

I'll do as she says.

If it will serve the Mongol people,

do with me as you wish.

You can't be serious.

You...

You, who robbed me of everything...

You, in all your arrogance...

You've given up all hope
after losing your loved one?

What's wrong?

I admire your mind.

No. I need to look up at her.

All I need to do is smile like always.

Like I always do.

There's no one left to protect you.

I-If you want to abandon all thought
and yield to her, then suit yourself.

But even though I've lost
the ones I love...

I will never give up hope.

Stop your sulking.

I'll keep thinking for myself.

Now for today's matter at hand:

the remarriage of Princess Sorghaghtani
to Prince Güyük.

Sorghaghtani Beki has already consented.

Prince Güyük, any objections from you?

I hope this marriage forges a new bond
between the Houses of Ögedei and Tolui.

Heartwarming, indeed.

It was unwise to behave as I did
to Princess Sorghaghtani.

Well, I'm sure we won't ever meet again.

Finally, the date
of the wedding ceremony will be—

Please wait.

Those preparations won't be necessary.

P-Princess Sorghaghtani!

Won't be necessary?

What does she mean by that?

Oh, Tolui.

I learned what it's like to lose someone
for the first time.

And to give up all hope.

Oh, Tolui.

Do you think this is how she felt?

My apologies, Great Kha'an.
And to you, Great Khatun.

I'm afraid I'll be declining
this offer of marriage after all.

Next time: "The Steppe, Ever Unchanging."