Original subtitles

The Blade and Petal

Now that the assassin of the attacker has been revealed, we can't let him live.

The criminal shall be executed

at the Pyeongyang Seong Square.

How can His Majesty do this to the general's son?

What would you like to do to the one

who disdained the Yeon family twice?

You are the one and only royalty in Goguryeo that possesses

the balance of the pen and sword.

Only the qualified should occupy the throne.

I have not heard a thing today.

Must we stop here,

when we can't guarantee the precise time when the prince will recover?

I will cut off Yeon Gaesomun's head today.

Due to an unexpected court circumstance,

the installation ceremony has been delayed.

Instead, a meeting of the ministers will convene tomorrow.

Does this mean he's alive?

He is alive!

For certain, he is alive.

The Princess treated me, a low life, without any prejudice.

even though she knew that she was betraying the King,

she put her own life on the line to save me.

I will not forgive anyone who

will try to harm the Princess.

Then,

are you even willing to cut off my head?

I can live in hiding all my life.

I can live imprisoned.

I will live as if I'm dead.

However, no one shall harm the Princess!

~ Episode 7 ~ Princess.

You haven't yet found the whereabouts of the one who impersonated a royal guard, you say?

He must have escaped out of the palace before the security was intensified.

Did you search every nook and cranny in the palace?

Except for the Princess' quarters, our inspection was thorough.

Where is the Princess?

She is in her quarters.

That person knew Yeon Gaesomun's plan of rebellion

and purposefully interrupted it.

Rebellion?

Then that means he belongs to the Yeon family.

Why would he interfere with the rebellion?

Chances are, he knew what happened in the palace.

Hence he may have been yet another spy of Yeon Gaesomun planted inside the palace.

The Princess is in danger.

Is it truly you?

Just... what happened?

How..

How could you live again?

I truly wished

that you would not die.

I know.

I understand fully.

Hence, as soon as I regained my consciousness, I wanted to come and see you,

but since I knew how dangerous that would be,

I could not dare come see you.

Maybe my life was spared

because I'm destined to change the relationship between His Majesty and my father.

Thus I infiltrated the palace and tried to stop my father's wrong intentions.

If I may ask, Princess,

what has become of the Crown Prince's crowning ceremony?

The Prince..

The Prince was..

The Prince was thrown from the horse.

He may never walk again.

The installation ceremony has been cancelled.

The Yeon family and the Royal family

can no longer be together.

Is the Princess within?

Yes.

His Majesty has come.

Make sure you thoroughly safeguard the Princess' residence.

Yes, Your Majesty.

We weren't able to find the one who appeared at the East gate.

The Prince has fallen, and you too could be in danger.

Why do you tremble so?

Pardon?

I guess you're still in shock.

Did something happen?

No, nothing.

Father.

What brings you...?

I've had enough with Yeon Gaesomun.

I will take

his head off first.

Don't be afraid and

trust your father.

Since you know what my father's thinking,

I can't let you go.

Princess.

Be on my side.

Or else,

I have to kill you now.

That is my destiny

and my choice.

Tell me that you're on my side!

Please kill me.

What?

I can't choose either side.

Please kill me now, as my destiny has deserted me.

Ever since I met you, Your Highness,

you became the whole world to me.

We shouldn't have met.

I shouldn't have made you stay.

I shouldn't have let you into the palace.

I shouldn't have.

Consider this the end of our relationship.

The Prince may never get up again.

Your Majesty,

we don't know that for sure yet.

True, but

for the sake of Goguryeo,

we must decide on a new heir to the throne.

In your opinion,

who do you think is worthy to become the heir to the throne?

But, Your Majesty,

we must never give up hope on the Prince.

If His Majesty finds out that Yeon Gaesomun's son is still alive,

everything is over.

I can't spare your life again.

Was it you, cousin?

Why did you spare his life the first time?

He saved the lives of the Princess and the Prince,

but was sentenced to death because he's Yeon Gaesomun's son.

As the chief of the palace guards,

I felt bad for him.

Is that all?

As a member of the royal family,

I wanted to prevent a civil war between His Majesty and Yeon Gaesomun. Also!

I knew how dear he was to you, Your Highness.

If it is revealed that he is still alive,

you will die for sure!

Which is why

I can't let him live.

I will take care of him.

Cousin,

he will never betray me.

I will make sure

that no harm comes to you.

Which is why

you and I

must get him out of the palace.

Trust me.

The Royal Doctor is still not talking,

but killing Yeon Gaesomun is only a matter of time.

Come out.

They are the top elite secret agents

working for the royal family and the people. Geumhwadan.

Yeon Gaesomun had plotted an uprising for the day of the ceremony,

but due to unexpected turn of events, his plan went astray.

Make the Prince walk again, no matter what!

Or else, your own life will be over!

Do whatever is necessary to get the Prince up!

He was poisoned.

Due to circumstances in the palace,

the ceremony has been delayed.

Now that Yeon Gaesomun and his treacherous band have revealed their intentions,

we will have to strike them first on the day of the military parade.

Your Majesty,

why wait until the parade when we have a witness?

We must strike Yeon Gaesomun right now!

We must strike them all at once while they're gathered in one place to minimize their counterattack.

Otherwise, Yeon Gaesomun will keep repeating his treacherous attempts.

There's no other place better than the palace to get them all in one swoop.

In other words, they'll be trapped inside,

with nowhere to go?

Call for the ministers' meeting tomorrow.

With the Prince's current condition,

we cannot install him as heir to the throne.

At the meeting,

a new heir will be announced.

Your Majesty,

you must also take into consideration the possibility of Yeon Gaesomun taking action tomorrow.

Which is why

the palace will be in a state of emergency from now on until the day of the parade.

Geumhwadan,

watch Yeon Gaesoumun's residence carefully

and report their activities immediately.

Also, Jang,

call in the army stationed outside of Pyongyang city

and fortify the security inside the city walls.

As you wish, Your Majesty.

Your personal army will also enter the palace in secret tonight.

This time,

there must be absolutely no mistakes.

As for me,

I will see Yeon Gaesomun.

Soldiers are out looking for your son near the palace and various locations inside the city.

I also thought that he might not have gotten out of the palace,

but the security was too tight, with little traffic going in and out.

You must bring him before me no matter what!

By the way,

there's a rumor in the palace that the Prince is seriously injured after falling from a horse.

I think that was why they inspected

the banner poles.

The royal doctor?

I couldn't reach him because the palace security is too tight.

General,

seeing that the royal family inspected even the banner poles,

our plan may have been leaked.

In that case, before the King strikes us,

we will have to attack the palace first!

That's right.

We don't have time.

Give us your order.

The Prince fell from his horse.

If he can't get up,

the royal family will have to select a new heir.

A new heir to succeed the throne...

who else but Chief of palace guards, Jang?

You have mercy, but are not weak. You know pleasure, but are not given to it.

You're the one and only royalty in Goguryeo

that has both scholarly and military skills! The throne

is a seat for the one who qualifies!

I did not hear anything today.

Destiny is something you choose.

General, do you consider

the Chief of palace guards as the heir?

We should support him, win him over to our side,

and then get rid of the King!

Even if he becomes the new heir, he's the King's nephew.

You can't trust him so easily.

Let's wait and see first

what the King decides.

His Majesty is here.

Excuse me for visiting so late at night.

The throne is not a position to make excuses.

Thanks for understanding.

The Prince fell from his horse and is in serious condition.

It was an accident due to his inexperience with horses.

You must be very worried.

Which is why

I have come to ask for your help, General.

For the stability of the nation,

we must establish a new heir to the throne.

I would like your support on that.

Then, who is...

I will do what must be done.

I will follow your suit.

Also, I'm looking forward to

the display of your loyalty

in front of all the nobility.

As you probably already heard from His Majesty, there is a meeting of ministers tomorrow.

Are you asking me for help since this seems to be the chance to change your destiny?

Your son is in the palace right now.

His Majesty does not know that yet.

Your son is in my custody.

But

if His Majesty finds out that my son is in the palace,

your chance for the heirship will be nil.

If you truly want to accomplish something,

you should reveal what's in your heart first before proposing a deal.

I will get your son out.

Don't forget that I have saved him

twice now.

Tonight, you must get out.

As soon as my cousin comes, we leave.

Stop!

Princess, forgive me, but it is His Majesty's orders to not let anyone in or out of the palace.

What is it?

It is the Princess.

How dare you...?

I'll take full responsibility.

But, it was His Majesty's order.

I'll take the responsibility.

I understand.

Open the gate!

I wanted to blame you

and I wanted to hate you.

I suppose there is nothing we can do any more.

I have a favor to ask.

After we part, leave Pyongyang immediately.

General Yeon Gaesomun won't forgive you.

Therefore,

don't return home, but just leave.

Promise me.

Go stay in Jolbon. I promise you that I'll come and look for you later.

Please stay alive.

♪ To love on my own ♪

♪ To leave on my own ♪

♪ Waiting for you ♪

♪ there's no place for me to stay ♪

♪ Some day, when I miss you ♪

♪ when I miss you so much ♪

♪ will you come then? ♪

♪ To the time when we didn't have any sad memories? ♪

♪ My love, obstinate love ♪

♪ Love, leave me behind ♪

♪ Piercing my heart, like a stake ♪

I have been newly appointed to be your guard, Your Highness.

I bought it downtown, but then forgot to give it to you.

Princess.

♪ Even the faint moonlight ♪

♪ leaves a sorrowful shadow ♪

♪ Amid this endless time ♪

♪ I bury what's left of this life ♪

♪ My love, obstinate love ♪

♪ My love, leave me behind ♪

♪ Piercing my heart like a stake ♪

♪ is our irreversible love ♪

♪ Love, my love ♪

♪ Piercing my heart like a stake ♪

♪ is our irreversible love ♪

♪ Our irreversible ♪

♪ love ♪

Don't worry about the security outside of the city.

Maybe the Prince

was not destined to be in charge of Goguryeo from the beginning.

I know very well how you've been faithful, serving in the palace since you were little.

No matter what kind of hardships may come, you will have to continue to protect the palace.

Although nobody can be perfect,

I'm sure you'll do fine in your position.

The Prince's condition

isn't getting better.

Given the current tricky situation with Tang,

although I wish I didn't have to,

I believe I'll have to appoint a new heir.

Goguryeo's new successor is...

The new successor is...

It will be the Princess.

Your Majesty! -Your Majesty! -Your Majesty! -Your Majesty!

Your Majesty! -Your Majesty

This is not a matter that can be decided by Your Majesty alone!

The assembly of the nobility has to approve!

A Queen in Goguryeo?

Silla had queens, why not for Goguryeo?

The Princess does not lack in any way to become the heir.

I'll leave you in charge of this, Prime Minister.

Also,

General Yeon Gaesomun should

leave to oversee the construction of the wall

after the military parade tomorrow, as scheduled.

It's a shame,

General Yeon won't be able to attend the installation ceremony of the new heir.

His Majesty has lost his mind completely!

The Princess as heir? That's mad!

If only we hadn't missed our golden opportunity!

General!

We must mobilize the military and attack the palace at once!

This, in fact, may be

a good thing.

A great ally will join us because of this.

Your path to the throne will be

long and arduous.

However, I'm sure

that you'll be able to overcome all hardships.

If I may say so, Father,

I cannot give up on the Prince.

The Prince will rise again.

You and I must never give up hope on him

even when all others will.

We just can't afford to wait for him. Time is of the essence.

We must also send a delegation to Tang.

The fate of the country comes first

before brotherly love.

Father.

Following my decision is

the best choice for the Prince and for Goguryeo.

Is it that shocking to hear that the Princess will be the heir?

Now is not the time to stay in shock.

The clothes of the man who pretended to be a royal guard have been found outside of the palace.

I believe he escaped the palace.

I'm glad.

Because as long as he is within the walls, our plan can be leaked again.

Tomorrow is the military parade.

Are the preparations going well?

The soldiers that had been stationed outside of the city are approaching the outer wall of Pyongyang.

Now that the Princess has been identified as the new heir,

it is possible that Yeon Gaesomun and the nobles may attack the palace again,

so we are under a full lock-down to block any unauthorized entry to the palace.

Nobody that enters the palace tomorrow

will be armed.

The royal doctor?

Still not talking.

We don't have time.

We must have him confess with his own mouth at the site,

that he is Yeon Gaesomun's spy.

Yes.

When tomorrow comes,

it will be the last day for the traitors in this life.

Make certain there's no mistake whatsoever this time.

Rest at ease.

It is most unfortunate about the heir situation.

No.

It is a natural choice from His Majesty's perspective.

A man must always answer to his own desire first,

his majesty,

Yeon Gaesomun, you,

and even me.

Didn't I tell you that I was never destined to become the Crown Prince?

I'm very sorry to you, cousin.

You must be quite upset at His Majesty's decision.

I think His Majesty was able to make this bold decision

trusting that you'd protect us well as you always have.

A bold decision

could lead to danger.

Yes, but

I have you, cousin.

The best of the best soldiers from each noble family are on standby.

We also devised a new way

to pass the inspection.

On the day of the parade, the palace will be ours.

The King must fall

at your own hands, General.

Aren't you afraid?

How could I not be afraid?

If the Prince hadn't fallen off his horse and your son hadn't infiltrated the palace,

you wouldn't have been alive, either, General.

Which is why

there's no point in rejoicing or grieving over everything that happens.

Do you know what you did?

What did I do?

What did you say?

I ran to the palace

to protect the Princess

and to protect your life, Father.

Is your philosophy of life about keeping the people you hold dear

in your heart and making completely different choices?

What?

I can't

work with the royal family.

Tomorrow, at the parade,

I will cut off the King's head.

Father.

[The day of the military parade]

Don't give up

and please recover.

Today, Yeon Gaesomun will be punished

for doing this to you!

This is all I can do for you.

Father, I'm glad that you decided to make

sister the heir to the throne.

What are you saying? You have to get better soon!

I'll just wait until you are fully recovered.

No.

I'm actually relieved that it is you, sister.

Still you must not give up hope about walking again.

It's a shame that you won't get to see

the traitors' last moments.

I should be up and protecting the palace,

but I'm stuck in bed,

I am deeply embarrassed.

Tell the kitchen staff to prepare the Prince's favorite food for dinner.

Yes, Father.

Jang and Tae Gyung, join us for dinner, too.

It will be a delightful dinner for once.

Sister.

Your attire

looks really good on you.

But I think

you'd be even prettier in a wedding outfit.

I want to see that.

I promise you.

You have to recover first to see me in a wedding outfit.

So take heart and focus on getting better.

Yes.

Your Majesty, you seem to be in a very good mood,

since General Yeon Gaesomun will be leaving to oversee the construction of the wall today.

Do I really?

Father

You seem to have a lot on your mind.

What kind of a king is a good king?

Why are you asking...?

Not Tang, not Silla, but the loyal General Yeon Gaesomun

has betrayed Goguryeo.

Father.

I'm sure they were afraid,

angry, and at times,

they probably hated my guts.

Even so,

I have to kill them.

What a pathetic king.

The princess or filial piety?

Father.

You can't have both.

Did you say you'll live for the royal family?

Our family will be the master of the royal family.

I'm going to the palace now.

Will you come with me or die here?

Answer me.

You must have left Pyongyang by now.

Please, you must have left.

I will come with you.

I'm really sorry.

I'll

go to the palace with you, father.

Bring the head of the princess to me.

If I bring her to you,

will everything be resolved?

It's not that I'll be killing your father.

I'll be killing a traitor of Goguryeo!

Yeon Gaesomun has garnered all his soldiers

for a military parade, and invited many of the court officials.

As the officials got there, they were all killed.

Over 100 of them.

Then, they rushed to the palace and killed the king,

and made his nephew the new king.

Strike those traitors!

Are you interested in finding out what kind of a Goguryeo I will build?

After just staring blankly

then turn your back on me quietly

No matter how much I blame you

there's no place for me to lean on.

Even the faint...