Original subtitles

CAPTIVATING THE KING

I swear on the heavens...

that I have never plotted treason.

Do not defile the heavens' name.

It is treason in itself

to audaciously point a sword at me!

What do I have to do

to make you believe me?

Confess your crimes as the spy...

and take your own life.

Why?

Can you not do it?

Do you remember

what you said to me before I was taken to Shenyang?

It has been years.

How am I to remember such a thing?

"Survive and return at all costs.

I will not forgive you

if you do not abide by this order.

I am your only elder brother,

and you are my only younger brother.

Your injuries are my injuries.

So please return home safely."

I must not have been myself back then,

seeing that I blabbered such lies.

There is no use trying to hurt me with your words.

You have adored me since I was young.

And I know that better than anyone.

Yes, I did adore you!

That was the only way to escape the persecution of the Queen Dowager

and keep myself safe

until I ascended the throne.

I...

have...

never loved you.

I...

have always loved you, Brother.

Have you decided to beg for your life with such a transparent lie?

I cannot take my own life.

Please end my life with your own hands.

Fine!

If that is your wish,

I shall do so

with my own hands.

Do not resent me.

You have brought this upon yourself.

Do not worry.

I will leave this world

with no resentment or grudge.

Please...

free yourself from captivation...

and become a virtuous king.

Brother!

Brother!

What is going on?

Did you drink the herbal medicine that was not tasted?

Is anyone there?

Is there no one outside?

Did you call...

Your Majesty.

Bring the royal physician immediately!

Pardon?

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Majesty...

If...

I die right now,

only one person...

stands to gain from it.

Earlier,

you told me...

that you have never plotted treason.

Can you swear...

that your words hold no shroud of deceit?

Yes.

I swear.

These are my last words.

Find...

the one who harmed me

and punish them.

And see to it

that the Prince Royal ascends to the throne.

Do not...

Do not trust anyone.

No one...

Please...

preserve your energy, Your Majesty.

In...

My brother,

In.

I...

have...

Brother.

Brother.

Your Highness!

The royal physicians are here!

My brother has temporarily lost consciousness.

Treat him immediately.

Why are you backing away?

Forgive me.

Please take my life instead!

Take your life?

What do you mean?

His Majesty...

has already passed.

Hongjang.

Please hang in there.

His Highness will save us no matter what.

Yes, my lord.

Your Highness.

I came running as soon as I heard the news of His Majesty's passing.

If I die right now,

only one person...

stands to gain from it.

These are my last words.

Find...

the one who harmed me

and punish them.

And see to it

that the Prince Royal ascends to the throne.

Your Highness.

I understand you are deeply distressed

about His Majesty's sudden passing.

But it was an inevitable event as his chronic illness had been worsening.

My brother

was poisoned to death.

Who would have dared to commit such an atrocious and treasonous act?

Tell me, who did it?

Now that the tiger is gone,

packs of hyenas will run wild.

They will reveal their indecent motives

and jump on you to rip your throat open.

Do you remember what you told me last time?

By last time, do you mean...

You told me that ascending to the throne,

having the world at my command, and governing this nation as its king

is my fate and to not deny it.

I will

accept that fate.

A wise choice, Your Highness.

Let us head to the Queen Dowager's quarters.

Your Highness.

Why are you hesitating?

Her Royal Highness's command

will not be enough to convince Kim Jong-bae.

However,

there is nothing else we can do for now.

I must wipe off the blood first.

Forgive me, Your Highness.

Did His Majesty

leave any last words?

Please forgive me,

but I was not able to stay by his side when he passed.

He passed unexpectedly.

No one could have kept his side to receive his last words.

You are all wrong.

His Majesty did leave his last words.

Who is the subject who received his last words?

It is me.

I received his last words.

His Majesty passed suddenly.

How could you have heard his last words?

It is thanks to you, Minister Kim.

I came to plead my innocence to him

and ended up receiving his last words.

So...

what were His Majesty's last words?

He entrusted me with the nation's future.

With the nation's future?

What...

could that possibly mean...

"Ascend to the throne."

"Protect and maintain peace for the nation and its people."

Nonsense!

His Majesty could not have left such lies as his last words!

How dare you?

How dare you suspect him?

His Majesty...

was wary of Grand Prince Jinhan ever since his return from Shenyang.

And yet,

his last words were for a mere grand prince

to ascend to the throne over the legitimate heir,

the Prince Royal?

The very Grand Prince who is being suspected of being

the man behind the spy?

I was just as shocked upon hearing his words.

However,

His Majesty

recognized my loyalty.

And his last thoughts were for the nation and its people facing perilous times.

Thus,

he chose me

over the young Prince Royal.

Do provide evidence

that your words are true.

There is someone else who heard the King's last words.

And who might that be?

Come in and tell them.

This is a sacred meeting.

Hence, you must not commit perjury.

Is it true that His Majesty left

his last words to the Grand Prince?

Yes, it is true.

I will ask again.

Think carefully before you answer.

Did you clearly hear...

His Majesty

command Grand Prince Jinhan

to be his successor

and ascend to the throne?

Yes.

I clearly heard His Majesty

give those very commands.

I swear to the heavens and the earth

that I received His Majesty's last words.

However,

I do not wish to ascend to the throne against the court officials' will.

If even one person from the Royal Family

or any of the civil and military officials oppose it,

I will not ascend to the throne.

You should not have said that.

Whether they are against you or not,

your reign was as good as secured if Her Highness appointed you a successor.

You have fallen into Kim Jong-bae's trap.

I spoke the truth

when I said I would not ascend the throne should anyone oppose me.

If my sincerity fails to move them,

it will be pointless to claim the throne even with my mother's help.

How did you win Court Lady Dong over?

Court Lady Dong.

Court Lady Dong.

Help me.

What...

can I do for you?

If it had not been for you,

this nation would have fallen into crisis.

You praise me greatly,

but I have done nothing.

Is that so?

As the Grand Prince has not ascended to the throne yet,

your apprehension is understandable.

Your Royal Highness, this is...

That norigae is awarded to concubines only.

It is a token of appreciation that I will not forget your contribution.

I am very grateful, Your Royal Highness.

I have looked into the herbal medicine

and the medicine pots of the Royal Clinic,

but I found no poison.

You better speak the truth.

Are you certain?

This concerns His Majesty!

How could I lie?

That is enough. You may leave.

It is clear that His Majesty passed from his illness.

How naive.

Do you really believe him?

He is either bought off by the Grand Prince

or siding with him merely based on his words

that he received the King's last words and voluntarily offering lies.

Do you also believe the Grand Prince murdered the late king, Father?

The late king passed as soon as I tried to uncover

the Grand Prince's crimes.

Do you not find that odd?

We cannot accuse the Grand Prince of crimes solely based on assumptions.

Why do you look so concerned?

He proclaimed himself

that he would not ascend the throne should anyone oppose him.

We can simply oppose,

and that will prevent the Grand Prince from taking the throne.

How foolish.

The Grand Prince is more treacherous than a snake.

He would not have made such a promise without a plan.

Shall I travel to Uiju and meet with Jung Je-pyo?

To do what, exactly?

I would report to him

that Grand Prince Jinhan is the one behind the King's death.

Do not tell me

you want to publicize the murder of the King.

What if the Qing's court uses it as a pretext

to deny the Prince Royal's ascension to the throne?

In that case,

even if the Grand Prince keeps his word

and the Prince Royal ascends to the throne,

chaos will follow

for quite some time.

Forgive me for saying this,

but we may end up losing everything trying to protect what is not yet ours.

That is simply what I was concerned about.

Leave such concerns to me.

As for you,

just carry out the tasks I give you.

Of course, my lord.

I shall do that.

I do not understand why you continue

to work with an untrustworthy and despicable man like Yoo Hyun-bo.

Yoo Hyun-bo is a hound.

A hound that can bite off a tiger's neck.

When it has served its purpose after the tiger hunt,

I could just boil it and be done with it.

Minister Kim.

What is with these soldiers?

Per the mourning protocol,

these men will guard the Royal Coffin Hall.

It is to prevent any uprising or revolt

that may happen.

It seems like you do not believe my words

that the King left his last words to me.

What kind of fool

would believe in such rubbish?

I need a subject with clear insight, determination,

and...

a spirit of justice.

Could you not confer your trust in me

for this nation and its people?

I would rather hang myself

than serve a wicked traitor.

You have willfully blinded and deafened yourself

that you can neither see nor hear anything.

That may be true.

However,

I have clearly seen and heard

your promise to the court officials.

You said even a single dissent

would be enough to renounce your ascension to the throne.

I hope

you have not forgotten already.

I have not.

I will keep my word.

You will have no choice but to do so.

Mobilize troops immediately

to oppose Kim Jong-bae!

The soldiers that guard the palace and the capital

only take orders from the Minister of War and the Border Defense Council.

To oppose Kim Jong-bae,

we must bring troops from the borders.

Why is that a problem?

I will send my command to the commanders at the borders.

That will not do.

Why do you say so?

The security of the borders

maintains the safety of this nation and the people.

We should not mobilize them without a good reason.

If we do,

it will allow for an opening for the Qing to strike us.

If our troops collide in the capital,

only innocent people will shed blood.

We cannot let that happen.

How can you be so frustrating?

Would you rather let them stampede over you?

I have a plan,

so please wait.

But before that,

I have

a favor to ask of you.

Of course.

You may ask me anything.

It is your eldest son

and the king of this nation who has passed away.

Even if you do not mourn his loss,

please at least pretend

to express your sorrow.

All right.

I shall express my sorrow.

In turn,

please respect my wishes.

Greetings, Your Royal Highness.

The Prince Royal seems gaunt.

He is a precious asset to this royal family.

Though he may be the chief mourner,

take care of him so he does not fall ill.

I will keep that in mind,

Your Royal Highness.

I kept my promise.

It is your turn now.

I heard you have a task for me.

What might this be?

It is a letter the Grand Prince is sending to the troops at the border.

You must return before seongbok.

SEONGBOK: WEARING A MOURNING DRESS. ASCENSION FOLLOWS AFTER SEONGBOK.

Can you manage it?

Do not worry.

I will return with the troops

even if it costs me my life.

Min Ji-hwan is trying to mobilize the troops

from the northwestern border under the Grand Prince's order?

Are you certain of it?

Yes, my lord.

I saw Min Ji-hwan riding north on a horse with my own two eyes.

After all that song and dance about his love for the people,

he wants to shed blood in the capital?

Before the Grand Prince takes action,

we should tighten the screw on that baduk gambler

to force a confession out of him.

Do you think you can get him to confess?

Of course, consider it done.

We must strike the Grand Prince before Min Ji-hwan returns with troops,

so get his confession promptly.

Yes, my lord.

Father.

Did you not hear what that baduk gambler said?

It is evident Yoo Hyun-bo lied out of sheer spite

to frame the Grand Prince as the man behind Chu Dal-ha.

It does not matter.

We just need Grand Prince Jinhan's name mentioned in the confession.

That baduk gambler

will not give you the confession you want.

When all his limbs are broken,

and blood rises like bile,

he will sing like a canary.

Father.

Then please

let me handle his interrogation.

How odd of you.

Why do you care so much

about a mere baduk gambler?

I cannot trust Yoo Hyun-bo.

I will do it instead.

I will get his confession no matter what.

So please leave this to me.

That is enough. You may leave.

Are you breaking your promise to Grand Prince Jinhan?

That promise is meaningless now.

His Majesty has passed away.

When the warden returns,

the interrogation will begin.

Before that happens,

I will give you the chance to attest.

If you do,

you and Hongjang will both leave this place alive.

And what am I supposed to attest to?

Name Grand Prince Jinhan, Yi In,

as the real man behind the spy, Chu Dal-ha.

Say so when the warden is present.

- Then... - I must have a discerning eye for people.

I have disliked you from the moment you started frequenting my house.

You started placing stones on the baduk table

without ever fathoming your opponent's feelings.

That is when I first knew that you would not be reliable.

I do not want to take it this far.

But it is not the time to pick apart right and wrong.

I am not upset because this is wrong.

You prey on my desperation and force me to perjure myself for personal gain.

That is what disgusts me.

Do you not want to save Hongjang?

Do you want to die in humiliation

after they find out that you are a woman?

I am afraid and scared of dying.

However, committing a crime that would never wash away to save myself

frightens me a thousandfold and more.

Hongjang would say the same.

My lord, shall I start the interrogation?

Lay a finger on him,

and I will have you dead.

Do you understand me?

Yes, my lord.

Just as expected.

It would be better for me to step in.

Do you think I do not see through your scheme for your grudge

to have him killed under the pretense of interrogation?

Do you realize he could hold out and refuse to attest?

Let me worry about that.

Do not meddle.

It does not matter.

We just need Grand Prince Jinhan's name mentioned in the confession.

Father. It is Min Ji-hwan of the Ministry of War.

What could have happened?

He could not be back from the borders already.

Something is not right, Father.

No need to be scared.

We have the confession.

Grand Prince Jinhan will be dragged out as a criminal

charged with high treason

with all the officials watching.

Soldiers!

Arrest Yi In for treason against the crown!

- Yes, my lord! - Yes, my lord!

Do you have evidence that I have committed treason?

This is a confession

that names Grand Prince Jinhan, Yi In,

as the man behind Chu Dal-ha!

Let me see that.

"The baduk gambler attested

that the spy, Chu Dal-ha,

received an order from Grand Prince Jinhan to travel to the Ming."

"He also attested that it was to inform the Ming

that the Qing would strike them soon."

- Goodness. - A spy?

- Did he truly commit such an act? - Is this true?

So he was the real spy?

We cannot have a traitor

ascend to the throne!

Do you not agree?

You have created a crime that I have not committed

solely to prevent my ascension.

It is truly...

impressive.

So you will play innocent, I see.

There is someone who can attest that the confession was forged.

Tell me.

Who might that be?

It is me,

my lord.

I was ordered by Kim Jong-bae, the Minister of War,

to falsify a confession about Grand Prince Jinhan.

He said that would allow him to eliminate the Grand Prince

by framing him as a spy.

When I refused to do so,

his son, Kim Myung-ha, conspired with the baduk gambler

and got a fake confession out of him!

Father.

That man is lying.

Yoo Hyun-bo's words are all lies!

Shall we go to the baduk gambler

and check if I am speaking the truth?

That is...

How dare you try to defame His Highness

with a forged attestation?

This is treason!

Immediately arrest Kim Jong-bae for treason!

You bastard!

Since when were you

in league with the Grand Prince?

I warned you, did I not?

I told you that you may end up losing everything

trying to protect what is yet to be yours.

Drag the traitor out!

Father.

I am fine.

If you admit to treason

and beg for forgiveness,

I will not execute you.

You said you would not take the throne if even one person from the Royal Family

or any of the civil and military officials opposed it.

No wonder.

I knew you had something up your sleeve.

You made such a promise knowing this would happen.

You are truly a wicked and treacherous...

Father.

Father.

- Father... - Drag the traitor out.

- Yes, my lord! - Father.

Father!

Father!

Father!

Father!

Is there anyone else who opposes my ascension...

to the throne?

I, Oh Wook-hwan, Third Minister of Taxation...

dare plead with you, Your Highness!

Please ascend to the throne,

preserve the Royal Family and the nation,

and protect the land and its people!

I, Min Ji-hwan, Assistant Section Chief of the Ministry of War,

also beg that you uphold the last words of the late king!

Please uphold the last words of the late king!

- Please uphold his last words! - Please uphold his last words!

Hail the King!

- Long live the King! - Long live the King!

Hail the King!

- Long live the King! - Long live the King!

All hail our King!

- Long live the King! - Long live the King!

As His Majesty inherits the throne,

the Royal Family and the nation are at peace!

May you be blessed with great happiness

of the nation prospering under your reign!

- May you be blessed with great happiness! - May you be blessed with great happiness!

His Majesty declined our offer back then

not out of fear but to test us.

Have you realized that just now?

Mock me all you want.

However, even you could not have foreseen that His Majesty would win over

Yoo Hyun-bo who was Minister Kim's underling.

Am I wrong?

Make your request to His Highness.

I only have one wish.

It pertains to the baduk gambler and his gang in league with the traitor.

Please punish them severely.

Mother!

- Mother! - Mother!

- Mother! - Jangryeong!

- Mother! - You must stay at Prince Royal's side!

Jangryeong!

Jangryeong...

You killed my brother

and brought ruin to my family.

Do you intend to kill the Prince Royal as well?

No one

will dispose of or seek to punish the Prince Royal without my permission.

What do you want?

Leave to Jeongeopsa Temple.

Are you telling me to join the Buddhist order?

Pray for my brother's eternal life

and your children's wellness for the rest of your life.

That is the way

to ensure that both you

and the Prince Royal survive.

What will you do?

I have a condition.

It is about my nephew, Kim Myung-ha.

Spare him.

"Kim Myung-ha shall serve as an Executive Assistant in Uiju."

The situation in Uiju seems very dire.

Make your journey without any delays.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Why are you here?

To see you off.

I guess you were going to leave without seeing me.

Why?

Did your brother tell you to find out the real intent behind my meek acceptance?

How could you be so...

Gosh, it makes me sad.

Do not scorn our long friendship...

A traitor's son cannot befriend a meritorious subject's son.

You do not sound like yourself.

You are right.

I am a changed man.

I hear the executive assistant of Uiju

is an extremely demanding position.

Please stay safe.

Do not worry.

I will survive and return.

It felt like the Grand Prince was here.

Was it a dream?

Here comes His Majesty!

Here comes His Majesty!

Here comes His Majesty!

Here comes His Majesty!

Pay your respects to His Majesty!

You may raise your heads.

Your Majesty.

Please issue your verdict on these criminals

who colluded with vile traitors

and attempted to harm you with false attestations.

A false attestation?

That is not true, Your Majesty.

I have not given any attestations, be it true or false.

Shut your mouth.

Why are you standing about?

Have the criminal on his knees!

Criminals shall listen.

You colluded with a band of traitors

and threatened the nation and its people by falsifying attestation.

Such crimes are serious and grievous.

Thus,

though we are still in mourning for the late king's passing,

I order the judges

to discuss this matter, agree on a punishment,

and have it carried out without any delays.

A moment, please.

Your Majesty.

Please spare me a second.

Your Majesty!

Stand back.

Your Majesty.

Please spare Hongjang's life.

Hongjang did not say a word.

So please,

spare her life.

This is the final request of your manghyeongjiu.

I am no longer an ordinary man.

I am the king of this nation.

A king

only has his subjects and political enemies.

He keeps no such thing as friends.

Father.

What kind of a person is Grand Prince Jinhan?

He was born with the talent and authority

to rule and command the world.

And that makes him...

a target and a threat.

Not only that, his life is sad and pitiful.

He was fated to ascend to the throne despite not being able to do so.

Despite his loyal heart,

treacherous men will flock to him like moths to a flame.

Do not worry, Father.

His Highness

is not someone who will be swayed by such people.

Move!

- Hurry! - Move!

- Walk faster! - Move it!

- Walk faster! - Hurry!

The criminals who colluded with treacherous Kim Jong-bae

to give a false attestation

shall be flogged 100 times and be sentenced to 3 years of hard labor.

The criminals must walk to the border,

so the flogging shall be carried out later.

Hongjang.

Are you okay?

I am sorry.

This is my fault.

Why would you

say such a thing?

Because it is.

This is all my fault.

I would rather...

you spoke your usual.

What?

Say...

bollocks.

Come on.

Bollocks.

Bollocks, indeed.

Damn it, bollocks.

Bollocks.

It will only take a day and a half more

to get to our destination.

I will make sure to get you a physician.

So hang in there until then.

Okay?

- All right. Wake up already! - Hey!

- We have a long way to go! - Wake up!

Wake up!

- Get up! - Wake up!

- Wake up! - I told you to get up!

Wake up!

Hongjang.

- We still have a long way to go! - Wake up!

- Get up now. - Wake up!

Hongjang.

Wake up, Hongjang.

No, this cannot be.

You cannot pass away like this.

No...

Please...

Damn it.

Why are you being such a nuisance?

Get him!

Stop right there!

Stop!

Stop!

Is he dead?

Even if he is not, he will not last long.

Let the tigers finish him off.

The scent of blood, sweat, and tears of the innocent people of Joseon...

pervades the wind there.

I vowed to myself on the day I smelled that wind for the first time.

That I would survive and return to Joseon

and serve the people and the nation until the day I die.

That I will not...

let such tragic events happen ever again.

I swear on my father and Hongjang.

I will survive and return

and make him feel

the pain of being betrayed by the person he trusted.

He will be made

to suffer this indignity.

I will make sure that he never forgets...

the scent of the blood of the innocent.

3 YEARS LATER

What does it say?

Hold on.

They are looking for a gidaeryeong

who will join His Majesty at Yeongchwijeong for baduk.

GIDAERYEONG: THE KING'S BADUK INSTRUCTOR

Anyone may apply regardless of their class.

Look at that.

Or their age, for that matter.

Regardless of class?

The world has gone crazy!

- Keep reading. - All right.

"Anyone who knows how to play baduk may apply to an examination."

"However, public officials are not qualified to do so."

I did not expect the King to be such a fair man.

Fair, my foot.

He did not mention female applicants.

He spent three years indulging in drinks and women day and night.

Maybe he has gotten tired of them.

By the way, Yeongchwijeong?

What is that place for?

Any applicants for my gidaeryeong?

Everyone is surprised at the high number of applicants.

Have them hurry.

I am sick and tired...

of playing alone.

State your name.

It is An Gong-hyeop.

- Your name. - Seo Hyeok-pil.

Name.

Lee Jeong-hyeon.

What is your name?

- Kim Nam-su. - Kim Nam-su. There we go.

State your name.

Mong-woo.

My name is Kang Mong-woo.

"Mong-woo"?

What characters do you use?

Mong, meaning "drizzle"

and woo, meaning "rain."

KANG MONG-WOO

CAPTIVATING THE KING

What will you do now?

Are you ready to risk your life?

I have been ready ever since I etched my vow to my heart three years ago.

Revive the peach tree in the Royal Garden.

If you fail to do so,

you shall be punished severely.

It appears that many people have long waited for my death.

I would like to appoint a gidaeryeong.

What do you think?

What do you mean by going against the King?

I have returned to bring down the King who tricked his way onto the throne

by fooling the world with his wicked wiles.

Subtitle translation by: Jea-heon Chung