Original subtitles

The Blade and Petal

The moment General Yeon goes to oversee the construction of the wall,

the general's life,

as well as all of ours, will be over.

Hence, I want to send the Crown Prince to Tang

to express our grief about this incident

and make clear that we don't want war.

I order General Yeon Gaesomun to hurry up and go to the wall

to oversee its construction!

Prime Minister!

Are you crazy? You traitor!

Have you lost your mind, Prime Minister?

~ Episode 3 ~

Actually...

I was just paying my respects

as a new palace guard.

That person is

none other than Yeon Gaesomun.

You know how it is between my father and him.

When in the palace,

you must be careful all the time.

Many are watching and many are talking.

You'd better avoid doing anything that can give them wrong ideas.

Now, all we've left to do

is to focus on the Crown Prince installation ceremony.

I know that you don't talk much,

but now that things have turned out the way we want,

can't you at least say congratulations?

Ah, soon,

starting with the Harvest Offering,

this year's

Dongmyeong Festival will begin.

On the last day of the festival,

the best performers of Goguryeo

are scheduled for a show!

The 27th generation

of Heaven, Geon Moo,

humbly pray.

Oh gods of heaven and water,

as thy blessings abound,

we offer thee good wine and food,

please descend upon us

and accept our offering.

May thee bless us in the coming year

with peace for the nation

and abundant harvest

as thou hast blessed us in the past.

Everybody,

thank you for coming to the Harvest Offering.

I heard that the Meeting of Ministers has decided

to schedule the Crown Prince installation ceremony

fifteen days after the Dongmyung Festival.

The ceremony

will be

hosted with utmost grandeur.

Moreover,

on the last day of the festival,

the Crown Prince

will showcase his martial arts skills before the generals.

By the way,

General Yeon...

when are you leaving

to oversee the construction of the wall?

As soon as the installation ceremony is over,

I'll be on my way.

Alright.

What a dishonest person

to betray the Yeon family and take the position of Prime Minister away!

General,

aren't you going to do something?

We can't just watch that dumb prince get installed as Crown Prince!

Yeon Jeong Ro,

we shall start by cutting off that traitor's head and wipe out everything!

Princess!

I hear that you're going downtown, as you have the day off.

That is correct.

Got any friends to go with?

I'll meet with a friend downtown.

Ah.

I see.

Then,

let me ask you a favor.

Get me this book called "Moon Sun (anthology)."

Hey!

Man, a palace guard!

Wow, you look like a different person now!

As your bosom buddy, I've prepared something to suit our palace guard!

Let's go!

Everything is ready.

Take a look at this chicken! It's so plump!

With your new career, a drink at a place like this is in order!

That is a must for fellow commoners!

What are you waiting for? Just come!

Besides, it's the Festival!

How can a member of the palace ignore the Festival?

Therefore, just one drink. Alright?

On the last day of the Festival,

when the performance reaches its climax,

a raven will soar,

and the descendants of the Sun and the River

will fall.

What now? Let's go!

Take some chicken!

Very plump and juicy chicken!

Very plump and tasty chicken!

On the first day of the Autumn Festival,

it is tradition for the princess and the prince to dress like commoners and watch the people downtown.

Of course,

they will do that this year, too.

While they're downtown,

eliminate them.

Take some chicken!

Chicken!

Huh? What's wrong with it?

Hey, what's wrong?

I already have a martial arts instructor.

Yes, but you're not putting in any effort.

I promised father that this guard will be different from other instructors

and help you with the martial arts demonstration.

Why did you say such an irresponsible thing?

I know that you have the potential to become a good king.

However, they underestimate you.

Let them think that.

Whatever they say, I don't care.

Crown Prince.

What are you doing?!

Forgive me, but His Majesty ordered me to use whatever means necessary to train you.

What?!

Let's go together.

Are you giving me an order?

If you don't go to the training field, His Majesty ordered to burn all these paintings.

How dare you?!

Nobody has ever been so insolent to me like you!

Martial arts is not about using force to oppress your opponent

or to harm someone.

It is something you need in order to protect

what you love and cherish.

I sincerely hope that you will protect

these paintings that you cherish.

I want to be alone.

You shouldn't have made a promise with His Majesty.

Is it your book?

Yes.

A warrior that reads. Interesting.

The Prince likes that book.

Do you know the writer of this book?

Just that he was Crown Prince Zhaoming of the Yang Dynasty.

He loved poems.

He was a tragic Crown Prince that died before succeeding the throne.

What a sad story.

You could probably say that

about all of us who are born to this world.

Forgive me, Your Highness.

But whether it's for life or politics, I don't think only books contain all the answers.

I heard that you are kind and considerate to even the servants working in the palace.

Your Highness, you must protect them.

What a smooth way of blackmailing.

He's become the martial arts instructor to the Prince.

Hand him the letter.

You must do it in person.

What are you doing?

It pleases me to see the people enjoying the Festival.

Father is right, there must be no war in Goguryeo.

If Yeon Gaesomun saw how happy the people are,

he might not oppose my father, right?

Oh my, what a handsome man!

Hey..

You mistook me for someone else. Please let go of me.

What's wrong?

I like younger men.

Just one drink, alright?

Sis,

I think I'll go back now.

Why?

I've seen enough.

I think I'd better prepare for my martial arts demonstration for tomorrow.

Then,

let's go back together.

Ah, no.

You can stay and watch more.

I think that would be better.

Are you sure?

Of course!

Ah, where could my love be?

When could I get married?

Ah, couples unsure about their future

gather here!

Compatibility check?

Yes?

No, not like that.

How is it not?

I can see it in your faces. Compatibility check.

Give me your hands.

Aiee, here, here..

Let's see what the future holds for the two of you!

Hold this together.

Hold it together, then throw it!

Here we go!

The dies of destiny have been cast!

Now, what is in store for their future?

Will the two of them

fulfill their love?

Now, the dies are cast!

What will become of the future for this couple?

Full-moon nuptial!

If you are joined on a night with a full moon,

you will bear a handsome boy!

Forgive me.

I had to get the sword back,

and I needed to guard you, too.

It wasn't intentional.

At any rate,

what about the lost sword?

It is here.

What a relief to get it back.

At any rate,

is something wrong?

No.

So this is the place

where you stayed.

When else could I ever

freely tour an inn downtown like this?

I suppose you could

leave freely whenever

staying at a place like this.

Though you are always smiling,

I know that you are heavily burdened in the palace.

If that burden is my share...

Since you don't have any family,

I guess you were able to freely wander around.

However,

you must have also been lonely.

You must have had family at one point.

I have a mother.

I bet that your mother

is beautiful.

Looks like people were playing character parsing games.

What is the character of

a bird sitting on a burning tree?

Don't you know?

Choo for autumn.

Then,

what about the character of a cow on a single log?

Seng for birth.

It's easy for you.

Then...

maybe

I'll give you a harder one.

What about the character

where the words inside one's heart

are confined in threads? (Ryun for love 戀)

I guess it's difficult.

Let's

go back to the palace.

Aren't you one of General Yeon Gaesomun's warriors?

I guess you're out to enjoy the Dongmyung Festival, too?

Or

are you on an errand?

Choose whatever path you want,

but not one with its end in sight.

I won't allow you to bring disgrace to the family.

In this house,

there is no place for you.

I thought

you had nothing to do with me.

What did you burn?

What is it?

Did you hear some bad news?

I was just organizing my thoughts.

At any rate...

I bought it downtown,

but I forgot to give it to you.

The Crown Prince is thoughtful,

but he never does anything he doesn't want to.

At any rate,

thanks to you, he will do a demonstration.

I thank you.

I feel so much better

about you being in the palace.

Keep on with your attacks.

At first you were just blocking my attacks.

What happened?

Defense requires knowing your opponent.

At first, I was just blocking your attacks

to figure out your stances when you are attacking.

Once I figured out your tendencies,

I could not only avoid your attacks,

but also take your sword away.

Who wouldn't turn their eyes to my sister?

When we were little,

father often joked about how my sister should have been

born as the crown prince of Goguryeo.

Of course, it's not a joke.

My sister has always been superior in all aspects.

However, there's more than what meets the eye.

Sister! What happened to you?

That sparring with the foreign prince

was supposed to be my job.

Some may think that it was because I was afraid.

But it's not that I was afraid,

but that I did not want to fight.

Up until now, I have not done anything I didn't want to.

However, my sister has been doing things

for me and my father even though they weren't her job.

I think this is the first time

for me to talk so much.

May I take a break?

Sis, you're training hard!

Princess, you're not alone.

I will be by your side.

His Majesty is here!

The prince demonstrates his martial arts skills!

The masque performance of the traveling troupe!

Once upon a time,

in the peaceful household of Hyehwagang,

there was a kind husband

and two beautiful wives.

First, the official wife, Lady Go!

Second, the second wife, Lady Yeon!

There was a robber that was after this house!

His name was Robber Tang!

From now on,

you're all

my women!

Hurry up and prepare the bed!

If we join our efforts,

we should be able to take that robber out!

With our efforts alone, we can't defeat Robber Tang!

Why are you so afraid?

I can't stand the tyranny

of that robber any longer!

Goguryeo must prepare for the

Tang invasion.

It's not that the strong survive,

but that those that survive are strong.

If you'd set my husband free, I'll

sleep with you! - You bastard!

I'd rather kill myself!

Huh?

I'm afraid that our love

might burn out too soon.

Give me some time.

(cheers)

Unexpectedly, my period has started...

Maybe we should try three days later.

Eh,

Robber Tang!

How dare these wenches

make a fool of me!

I had a dream where I was riding a flock of ravens and rescued our husband!

I will play the flute to direct the flock of ravens,

And I will stab that bastard's heart!

However, Your Majesty and I

disagree on how to face off Tang.

Just because we disagree,

we can't be divided at this point.

If we're divided, Goguryeo will fall.

Ravens, ravens!

Spread out your black wings

and come fly to me!

When the raven soars, the descendants of the Sun and the River

will fall.

The Sun and the River refer to Haemosu and Habaek (the father and maternal grandfather of Goguryeo's founder)!

They are the ancestors of Goguryeo, their descendants would be the princess and the prince!

Are you okay?

What happened?

What is going on?

Why did you interfere in the performance?

Your Majesty, forgive me.

It was my misunderstanding that brought this about.

Misunderstanding?

When the ravens were flying, approaching the princess and the prince,

I thought they were coming to harm the princess and the prince.

It was a misunderstanding.

Father.

He was only recently hired in the palace,

and as it was his first time to watch the performance. I think he made a mistake.

Therefore, consider it part of his loyalty to me and my brother, and forgive him.

Father, it is the last day of the festival.

Please..

As sister said, it seems like an honest mistake out of his loyal heart.

Please forgive him.

Okay.

Thinking of the prince and princess,

I'll forgive your mistake today.

You must not, Your Majesty.

Brother.

Your Majesty.

This wound was caused by my sword on the man who killed the last survivor of the attackers

of the prince and the princess.

My sword was a gift from a Göktürks general who was a sworn brother to my father.

There is only one in the entire Goguryeo.

Have you infiltrated the palace as a spy?

Say that it's not true.

There's no way you did that!

Who sent you to the palace?

Did General Yeon Gaesomun send you?

I asked if General Yeon Gaesomun sent you!

I came to the palace of my own accord

to become a palace guard.

I'm not a spy.

Then, what is that wound from my cousin brother's sword?

There was a reason for why I had done that back then.

Reason?

What reason?

Who are you?

Speak.

Speak, now!

Then, you knew who I was,

and pretended not to know?

Were you really an assassin sent by Yeon Gaesomun

and killed a man in bright daylight?

Do you know what kind of a man he is?

Do you think it is for Goguryeo

to work for a man like that?

General Yeon Gaesomun

has never asked me to become a spy.

And I have never

acted as a spy for him, either.

You made contact with a warrior of General Yeon Gaesomun's downtown,

and when you returned to the palace, you burned the letter.

Are you still denying that you are a spy of General Yeon Gaesomun?

Answer.

I'm not General Yeon Gaesomun's spy.

General Yeon Gaesomun is

my father.

I believe he is a criminal who assassinated the attacker of the Crown Prince and the princess,

and has infiltrated the palace to act as a spy.

The law of Goguryeo states that those that betray the king and the royal family

will be executed.

I mean to behead him in the town square of Pyongyang.

General Yeon,

what do you think of my decision?

A spy's head must be cut off.

Is there any evidence that he infiltrated the palace and acted as a spy?

Evidence?

Isn't he your son?

Is he not?

He is.

What does it mean for a member of the prestigious family Yeon to join the palace staff?

A Yeon would be able to do anything he wishes to do

and acquire anything he wishes to possess.

Yet, he volunteered to become a palace guard?

He either has a very quirky personality or some very specific purpose.

Wouldn't you think?

I have nothing to do with him.

He is of my blood,

but he's never been part of the Yeon family,

and is an illegitimate child without a name.

He assassinated the man that attacked the Crown Prince and the princess.

I believe that case has been closed already.

If he acted as a spy, he should be punished for it.

However, I have never asked him to be a spy, and there's no evidence that he did.

What?

He cut off his relationship with me and went on his path.

If you must, kill him,

just because he's my son.

Now that the assassin of the attacker has been revealed, he can't be left to live.

That alone

is enough to behead him.

The criminal shall be executed

in the town square of Pyongyang.

The Blade and Petal ~ Preview ~

Tomorrow at noon, he will be hung in the town square of Pyongyang.

I heard that there is a secret passage in the jail.

Where did you go?

I want to see my son.

What do you want from me?

The throne is for

someone with the qualifications to sit!