Original subtitles

ALL CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVENTS IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS,

AND ARE UNRELATED TO HISTORICAL FACTS

I smelled it at that time too. It filled the room.

The scent also permeated the sleeves.

It was you.

You are the one…

My last resort is hidden in the left sleeve.

I say you are the one

I need right now.

This tea.

I am glad you like it.

He's been trying to stick close to me

to see if I remember that night.

Your Majesty, why is your face so pale?

You're sweating too.

It's okay.

I'm just tired from staying up last night.

This tea will be quite helpful in times like that.

Please have a cup before going to bed.

Taste it.

You can drink it now.

I will pour it. You may leave.

Go ahead. It is quite fragrant.

I have to act like I don't know.

That's how I can survive.

Why is he offering me tea like this? Is it poisoned?

What is wrong?

It tastes…

very good.

Thank goodness.

How long has it been since you had your dinner?

Poison is absorbed faster on an empty stomach.

That's what he's curious about.

You've been very interested in me lately.

I have just been busy until now.

I have always been highly interested in you and your family.

Then…

please have this.

To show your love.

If you insist.

It's not poisoned?

You bastard…

I was showing my love.

-What are you doing? -Let go! I have to throw up!

Are you saying I fed you poison?

Why? Is there a reason to do so?

Let us wait.

If you are fine even after time has passed,

it will prove my innocence.

What if I don't want to?

Paralysis of your tongue is the beginning of poisoning.

If your tongue feels numb,

do not hesitate to move your hand.

Do you think I can't do it?

I think you can.

Very well, I think.

You're right about me.

Even if I die, I will not die alone.

EPISODE 4: THE MAN WHO KNOWS TOO MUCH

Your Majesty?

I can't do this anymore.

Not even if I get a sword to my neck!

This is killing me too.

Be careful.

Are you going to harm me in your sleep?

It's weird.

What did you feed me? Damn it.

I have a question.

On the night when I went to the detached palace,

what were you doing at that time?

I'm going to leave.

I have to get out of here.

I can't die like this with the way out

right in front of me.

What happened to you that night?

I'm in danger.

I shouldn't say anything.

You…

What did you say?

That night,

you tried…

to kill me.

She knows.

You knew about that,

so why have you been hiding it all this time?

What are you plotting?

Because I didn't know.

I figured it out just now thanks to the smell of that tea.

Too bad.

If I had known earlier, I would've killed you already.

You bastard.

Even if you're crazy about another woman, how could you try to kill your wife?

How can you call yourself a human after doing that?

Jo Hwa-jin is your concubine already.

You weren't satisfied with legal adultery,

and you have to kill your wife with your own hands?

She does not know the reason.

My Queen.

You heard something that you must not hear on that day.

What did you hear?

Answer me!

What did you hear?

So there's another reason?

Are you saying you have a significant reason

to justify killing this woman?

Is that what you're saying?

Don't be ridiculous.

Whether it's because I heard something or you're crazy for a woman,

there's only one reason why you tried to kill me.

Because I'm weaker than you.

If I was stronger than you, you wouldn't have attacked me so easily.

It's because I'm someone you can kill easily!

It's because I'm weaker than you!

That's the real reason.

Here.

Try it again.

Prove that you're nothing but a murderer who kills the weak!

I can't stand this.

Your Majesty!

How dare a jerk like that look down on me?

If I was the real me, I could've knocked him out with a punch!

Damn it!

What happened?

I thought I was the weak one fighting against the powerful.

So I thought all of my actions…

were justified.

The Queen already knows

that I tried to kill her.

I thought the Queen had enough reasons to be killed.

Not just because she eavesdropped on us,

but because she cooperates with them and allows their tyranny to continue.

I thought it was just and reasonable to kill her.

But that is nothing but a cowardly excuse.

I am not confident enough to face the powerful,

so I tried to attack the Queen, who is the weakest.

-Your Majesty. -If I fight against the weak,

I would not be any different from them.

You must focus on the justness of our cause.

If the result is just,

then the method is also just.

We cannot win against the Kim Family through just means.

You must not waver.

I am sure they are plotting something horrid.

Only the Queen knows for now.

She only just figured it out.

We must silence the Queen now.

It is only a matter of time until they all find out.

-I will not use cowardly methods anymore. -Your Majesty!

I judged the Queen easily since she is from the Kim Family,

but her actions were not what we expected.

Anyway, I'm not who you think I am.

What you see isn't everything!

The Queen said she is a different person.

Perhaps the Queen wanted to say that she has a different trait

and that she is someone who can make different choices.

What are you expecting from her?

The Queen is also

part of the Kim Family.

I may be a powerless puppet king,

but it will not be easy to do anything with only the Queen's words.

Because there is no conclusive evidence.

I will wait and see what the Queen does.

That would help me figure out what kind of a person she is.

I found the source of this fabric,

and it is from the palace.

One would easily get caught sneaking out a tribute like this.

It cannot be done by just any aristocrat with moderate power.

How much would you pay for my effort?

I have gone through a lot for this, sir.

Well done.

Please leave all hard, difficult, and dirty jobs to me.

The palace…

It is not enough

simply to make Lady Uibin's heart waver.

We need something else

to win her over completely.

Uibin's current weakness is the lake incident.

Then…

We will make a culprit for her.

Someone without power or anyone on their side.

Someone like a fawn…

that lost its mother.

Where is my gambling opponent?

Put out your card, will you?

You are so distracted you wouldn't know even if I cut your hair.

You see…

No, never mind.

Is something troubling you?

I think a brutal criminal is lurking in the streets these days.

I met a good new friend. His name is Lee Saeng-mang.

I think

he was also attacked by that scoundrel

lurking outside the palace.

"Also?" Who else was attacked?

-You know I have a good hunch. -Yes.

Byung-in, my older cousin,

seemed to be digging into someone

with a piece of fabric cut from a robe.

According to my sharp sense of intuition,

that brutal criminal, the owner of that robe,

not only…

harmed my friend,

but also caused Byung-in trouble.

What do you think?

I think it is a great loss for Joseon to have a man with such a great hunch

to be stuck in Sungkyunkwan.

You, too, have eyes as keen as mine.

Something horrendous must be happening.

Please do not kill me.

I will do anything, so please spare my life.

My lord. Sir.

Madam.

I do not know who you are, but I beg you.

Please.

I saw nothing.

Lift your head.

No, I do not want to die.

You cannot see my face, anyway.

There is someone powerful who wishes to hear something from you.

I know nothing.

How would someone like me know anything?

You do know.

About the culprit who pushed the Queen into the lake.

You will live when you say the culprit's name.

I am sorry, Your Royal Highness.

This tastes disgusting,

but it is effective.

The King's father-in-law brought something rare yesterday.

When I drink it on an empty stomach,

it refreshes my day.

The King's father-in-law always finds rare items.

As he is also the director of the Royal Cuisine Office

and manages tributes from each region, it is easier for him.

By the way, how are things going with the detached palace?

There is someone perfect for the job, so I made preparations.

I see.

When it gets wrapped up today, I will lose some wrinkles on my face.

Yes.

This time, they will never find a way out.

Kim Byung-in…

is searching with the piece of fabric from His Majesty's robe.

I disposed of the robe.

But since the Queen knows…

If Kim Byung-in finds out and makes an attack,

then my judgment of the Queen will be wrong.

-This is a dangerous gamble. -I know.

But if my judgment is right,

the innocent will not be harmed.

Today is my father-in-law's first day as the Commander of the Palace Guards.

Your Majesty.

I came to check, thinking that you were still at Daejojeon Hall.

I had some knowledge to share with Prince Yeongpyeong.

Are you that amazed?

How dare you, Chief Eunuch!

Your Majesty.

That psychopathic bastard.

I thought he was a naive idiot, but it was all an act.

The King tried to kill the Queen himself.

Spreading this dynamite-level scandal will put me in bigger danger.

Until the lake is filled,

I will withhold quietly and then go back.

Aren't your arms sore? You've been doing that for a long time.

This helps me relax.

My tongue was blabbering like it had its own mind.

Just what did he put in that tea?

I really shouldn't lower my guard.

But if he wanted to kill me, he should've fed me actual poison.

Why…

Whatever, why should I even care about that psychopath's situation?

Let me check how much water is in the lake.

Do we have any whips here? It's really urgent for me.

Your Majesty.

The Grand Queen Dowager wants to see you.

Come on!

I'm done with my business with her!

Damn it.

Why does she keep wanting to see me? Good grief, it's bothersome.

Come on, hurry up.

Put your back into it.

What are you doing? Hurry up and move, move!

Hurry up! Hurry, will you?

We have to hurry!

Put your back into it, will you?

Careful, all right? Hurry up!

I can't hold it anymore.

I'm going to the restroom. I'll be back soon.

Hurry up and come back. Scoot over.

I was waiting for you, as I heard that you were coming.

Why did you want to see me…

Her Royal Highness the Queen Dowager deeply cares for you.

What an honor.

I heard you have a younger sister who became a slave due to debt.

Yes, she is my only family.

I heard you are deeply troubled.

And I heard that you are working hard to restore your sister's status.

I am making and saving money by doing everything I can,

but it is a rather large amount.

Her Royal Highness the Queen Dowager made a proposition, as she cares for you.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for you.

How long will it take?

She will not hold out much longer.

Make her confess about this too.

The one who sent this letter

is the Queen Dowager.

Yes, sir.

If I am framed for such a crime,

it will endanger not only me but also my sister.

Do not worry about your sister.

Your sacrifice will give your sister a new life.

But…

How long will your young sister

be able to endure that hard life as a slave?

No one can guarantee

that something bad will not happen to her tomorrow!

Something bad?

Did you ask for me, Your Royal Highness?

I summoned you

because I want you to do something very important, My Queen.

What does she want this time?

I am still lacking,

so it is too early for me to do something important, Your Royal Highness.

Is that so?

I suppose it cannot be helped.

I am thinking of appointing some maidens as concubines,

so beautiful and talented that the King will be enamored with them.

It looks like I need to do it myself.

Mencius said,

"Be kind to others, and many will help you."

Deuk-do-da-jo.

I am lacking,

but I have been kind to others and have many helping me,

so I will try my best.

By the way,

what's the maximum number of concubines?

"Maximum"?

I mean, what is the highest number

of concubines I can appoint?

I do not know. According to the Book of Rites,

an empress must manage six palaces occupied by three consorts,

with 9 royal concubines, 27 hereditary concubines,

and 81 secondary concubines to help rule the nation.

Six plus three,

nine, twenty-seven, and eighty-one…

Let us make it simple and stop with three palaces.

Come on!

I mean, yes, you are right!

Since there's one concubine, I need to appoint two more, right?

No, appoint three.

There is a court lady named Oh-wol whom Lady Uibin brought with her.

That girl who was following her around.

She said something mistakenly.

She may have said it out of loyalty

but she blabbered that you jumped into the lake

in front of Jo Hwa-jin to frame her.

The King lied to protect her, but she shattered it herself.

The King?

We have to take the King's favorite toy, so we are trying to give him new toys.

Right,

I would like you to cook my lunch for today as well.

I cannot eat royal meals cooked by others anymore.

That may be a bit difficult.

If you eat the healthy food I cook every day

and become younger than I am,

that would be a big problem.

I'm going to flatter her until the lake is completely filled.

Things are going the way Kim So-yong wants them to go.

She pushed Jo Hwa-jin into a big trap.

Lady, you're going to be punished by the heavens at this rate.

Jo Hwa-jin is the only one in trouble.

Who cares? I'll say bye-bye once I go back.

I'm too busy fixing my fate to worry about someone else's fate.

Let's double the speed.

You two ladies take your time.

You might trip if you hurry.

Faster.

Hurry up!

Hurry! That's it.

Hurry!

Hurry up!

That's it!

It's a smooth ride.

Something only the upper class can enjoy.

PALACE GUARDS

Yes!

This is great!

Welcome, King's father-in-law.

It is the last day of work for you, Prince Yeongpyeong.

You must be sad.

It is fine. I am sure you will do a better job than I did.

What a handsome horse.

This military horse is only for the Commander of the Palace Guards,

gifted by His Majesty himself.

Go ahead.

No,

it has been so long since I rode a horse.

My duties officially begin after His Majesty appoints me

at the royal court assembly today.

I will ride the horse in due time.

King's father-in-law, can you ride a horse too?

Who are you?

I am His Majesty's best friend,

and one of the top five most attractive men

picked by the court maids…

He is someone you do not need to know.

Prince Yeongpyeong's rank has changed, so…

But your physique isn't good for riding horses.

This horse, in particular, is too tall.

How can you sit on the saddle with your legs?

What does that mean?

When I was young,

I was a skilled horseback rider, who could ride without holding the bridle.

It was so comfortable riding a horse,

that one day, I even fell asleep and dreamed while riding.

It is true, I say.

I will prove it. Hold this.

You don't have to. Don't strain yourself.

I am telling you, I am not overstraining myself.

You are right.

Hey, over here.

Please.

Well? That was easy, was it not?

Goodness.

Oh, no!

I got it.

Oh, no!

-Sir! -Sir!

My leg!

Potatoes, salt, and milk.

Milk?

I am not sure what that is.

Well, I was talking about cow's milk.

I see, yes.

And she will use that rare cow's milk like water.

I'm sure there's no butter.

-Do we have black pepper? -Yes, Your Majesty.

And she will pour black pepper, which is rarer than gold, like sand.

What is the point of saying anything? I will just keep quiet.

I can hear you.

Your Majesty!

Oh, dear.

I told you to take your time. Why did you come running?

What?

Lady-in-waiting Choi was coming too.

But she's old. What if she collapsed while running?

Lady-in-waiting Choi is here!

I may be old but I will never collapse!

She is persistent.

Now, pour it.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What?

-Are you kidding me? -Well, you see…

Your Majesty, do you know how rare cow's milk is?

I'm using it because it's rare.

Ingredients take up about 80% of cooking.

If cows are milked completely, the calves will starve.

She is sensible too.

How sad.

Skipping a meal sometimes is healthy.

It's called intermittent fasting.

Okay, fill the cow's milk up to here.

If it's not enough, even by a single drop…

You know what'll happen, right?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Oh, dear…

How dare you!

How dare a girl come into the royal kitchen…

Cough…

Come here.

What's your name?

My name is Dahm-hyang.

You can have dogs in the palace?

That Lord Dog is of a higher rank than I am.

The dog came with the ambassador of Ming.

It's from a noble bloodline, or so they say.

The Ming Dynasty was more than 200 years ago.

If they've been mating with other dogs all those years,

this is a total mutt!

What's the mutt's name?

It has no name.

Really? Then…

Let's name it Daengdaengi.

-Daengdaengi? -Look.

Here.

If we look at the word meongmeongyi, meaning "doggie," in a different way…

Daengdaengi.

It looks like Daengdaengi, doesn't it?

So it's Daengdaengi.

Daengdaengi.

You keep coming here because you're hungry, right?

Wait.

Here.

Ta-da!

Go ahead.

Go on.

-Why aren't you eating it? -It is too precious to eat, Your Majesty.

Don't worry. It's not free.

Eat that and help me cut the potatoes.

That must not be done!

You may be an exception as you are royalty,

but traditionally, royal dishes must not be touched by women.

Except for setting the table or serving the table,

that lowly girl without a position…

I mean, that child, must not dare to participate in cooking.

That kkondae.

Repeat after me. Kkondae! It means "geezer."

Kkondae!

-What… -Oh, my. You're so good!

You can say kkonmeo, as the letters look similar.

Go ahead and eat it.

It is like eating a cloud, Your Majesty.

You express flavors really well!

You would be really good at mukbang.

Good grief.

But isn't she too young to be in the palace?

Her parents could not avoid taxation and tried to run away but got caught,

so her entire family became government slaves.

And that wretched father of hers ran away alone.

How can he call himself a father?

Royal cook!

How can you say that in front of a kid?

Dahm-hyang, you must always see and hear good things only, okay?

Call him, "daengcheongyi."

Daengcheongyi.

Daeng…

Meongcheongyi, meaning "idiot?"

Why are those potato balls so big?

Why isn't the cow's milk here yet?

Your Majesty!

We squeezed all the milk from all the cows in the palace.

Well done.

Thank you, Your Majesty!

Cow's milk porridge.

You are adding potato balls to the rare cow's milk porridge?

Good grief. You're not my mother-in-law!

Even mother-in-laws these days don't nag!

What…

Mother-in-laws these days don't nag at daughter-in-laws?

That is unthinkable!

Okay.

I'm serving it myself.

It is delicious.

But…

it grew cold and hardened a bit.

And it is a waste that the rare cow's milk porridge

overflowed from the dish.

Well,

it cannot be perfect every time.

What's the point of cooking well when I can't serve it properly?

I need to find a way to deliver food quickly

without spilling it or letting it grow cold.

Master of Living!

It is a jang.

I said to glue this a long time ago.

-You still haven't done this? -I…

What are you doing?

-Your Majesty! -Your Majesty!

A palanquin.

I need a food palanquin.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

A food palanquin?

-A food palanquin? -What's that?

-A food palanquin? -A food palanquin?

A food palanquin?

A food palanquin?

-A food palanquin? -What are they saying?

-A food palanquin? -A food palanquin?

Careful.

Yes.

Her Majesty is coming!

-Now, one, two! -One, two!

One, two! One, two!

CHUNDANGJI LAKE

What? Is this all you did so far?

-One, two! One, two! -One, two! One, two!

-And you did this all night long? -Yes, we even switched shifts

to fetch and pour the water,

but it is a large lake…

How come it takes forever to fill when it was drained out in one day?

The lake is located high,

so draining is done by simply digging a furrow.

I'm sure they slacked off because nobody was overseeing them.

How about some makgeolli

this evening after the shift?

I said, how about it?

I asked you a question, you jerks.

Why are you here alone, Lady-in-waiting Choi?

Her Majesty wants a nice, cool beverage.

Her Majesty does?

Oh, really?

Then how about I make a simple azalea punch?

The punch is made from boiling schisandra berries,

well-ripened after being in the first frost of winter,

adding honey for sweetness,

and adding pears and tangerines for a refreshing flavor.

This makes the drink feel cool without even using ice, which is scarce.

Since we have no azaleas,

I will remove the stamens from evening primroses,

cover them in starch, blanch them in boiling water,

and rinse them in cold water.

Add everything to the punch.

Add three pine nuts to finish.

Well, I can make a beverage like this with my eyes closed.

Like this.

I saw you make it with your eyes wide open.

I wonder why she was staring at me?

How embarrassing.

You can do it.

Your Majesty, here is the beverage you ordered.

Let me see.

I'm not in a situation to be doing this,

but if you can't avoid it, just enjoy it.

That's good!

Hey!

-How long will this take? -At this speed, it can be done by tonight…

By sunset.

That's not possible!

Fine, then finish it by today.

If you don't, you'll be all beheaded!

Yes, Your Majesty.

-One, two! -One, two!

Go tell the royal cook

to make this so that everyone here can have a bowl each.

For all these people?

Seeing how she is coming again, it looks like she loved it.

It must be an order about making one more bowl.

Yes, what did she say?

She wants more of the beverage.

I knew she would say that.

Well, did she drop the bowl because it was so delicious?

Or did she shed tears?

Lady-in-waiting Choi, you see,

this is who I am.

-Royal cook! -Royal cook!

Hey, stop that! You brats.

-Royal cook, you see… -Oh, yes.

I will make a bowl for you too, Lady-in-waiting Choi.

You must really love

my beverage "vera" much.

Beverage! "Vera" much!

"Vera" much!

"Vera" much!

I will make you a bowl. Please wait here.

Why not make more since you are making a bowl?

Sure. How many more?

-Here's the beverage! -Please enjoy.

-Thank you. -Thank you!

Thank you, Your Majesty!

What a valuable treat! Thank you, Your Majesty!

I am glad you know that.

Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!

-Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! -Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!

Sure. This is nothing.

Hey, drink up!

This is delicious!

It's easy to work them to the bones.

My camouflage is so perfect it can even trick birds.

I have been doing this for so long,

and I was just getting thirsty.

You've been working very hard since yesterday.

Even though I don't know what you are really doing.

Can you see me?

Of course. You are so easy to spot.

Easy to spot…

That is what I am saying.

A moment ago, two court maids were saying all kinds of things,

without realizing that I am here…

I must go serve Her Majesty, so…

-What? -The bowl.

Right.

I got caught,

so this is it for today.

When she noticed my presence,

I went to her and blossomed into a man.

Oh, no!

You might get hurt.

Do not use your bare hands.

A heart willing to be hurt and ache voluntarily.

Love.

We are looking for her.

I am sure it is nothing serious, so please do not worry.

Oh-wol is not someone to disappear without a word.

Something must have happened to her.

Her Royal Highness the Queen Dowager is here!

Your Royal Highness!

Begone, all of you.

Listen carefully and do not forget what I tell you.

The only one you can trust in this palace is me,

who is in the same boat as you.

You must tell me everything, without hiding anything.

That is the only way she can survive, and we can survive too.

Is this not wonderful?

Me, Prince Yeongpyeong, and Chief Eunuch.

Chief Eunuch.

Have you prepared a new book for the Queen,

as she coveted my copy of the Book of Changes?

Pardon?

You never gave me such an order.

Goodness, Chief Eunuch!

Are you forgetful due to your old age?

I ordered you to do so!

Go to the Royal Library now and deliver my order.

Do you mean, now?

Then are you going to forget again?

I will do so after taking you to Daejojeon Hall.

I am not even going alone.

Prince Yeongpyeong is guarding me. Why are you worried?

Go, now!

Yes, as you ordered.

Oh, my. There's a rock…

Chief Eunuch! Are you hurt?

I am fine.

It looks like your nose is squished.

Goodness, that is how it naturally looks!

That can’t be. No human nose can look like this.

You must go to the royal clinic now.

Good grief! I said I am fine!

Oh-wol, the missing court lady, entered the palace with Uibin

on the day the Queen fell into the lake.

They will force her to make false testimony.

This occurred not long after the Queen found out

you aimed a sword at her.

So she is going after Uibin, not me.

Vengeance.

Is that the choice the Queen has made?

Your Majesty.

Hwa-jin.

I am sorry.

It is not something you should be sorry about.

It happened because of me.

What does that mean…

I tried to kill the Queen recently.

In revenge, she is trying to frame you for the lake incident.

That is the method they always use.

Framing the innocent with false evidence.

I will reveal that I tried to kill the Queen.

Your Majesty!

You and I both know what vengeance is like.

The desire to get even with someone. That is vengeance.

Like I did to the Queen, she is trying to aim a sword at Uibin.

The only other way to quiet that vengeance

is for me to kneel

and surrender.

Her Majesty has planned this incident to frame me from the start.

It will be over if I take action.

You have a great cause to achieve. Remember what you have been preparing

by enduring insults in this palace for the past two years.

You must get away from this incident for the greater cause.

I have never wanted to be King.

And certainly not a puppet king.

But,

there is only one reason why I came to the palace.

So I would not run away anymore.

So please do not tell me to run away.

I will not run away, ever again.

I will search the entire palace

and find this court lady named Oh-wol.

They must be torturing her in the palace.

So they can punish Lady Uibin right away as soon as she makes a false testimony.

Please wait

until I find her.

All right.

But I will take action at the very last moment.

When that moment comes, no one else should take action.

This is my order as a King.

I lost too many people already.

I do not wish

to lose anyone today.

You must not

ever be hurt.

I will not be hurt.

Whether I act more submissive as they want,

or get away by saying it is a misunderstanding,

I will do my best not to get hurt.

Your Majesty.

All of you, get dressed.

We are looking for a court lady.

The location is the palace.

Be extra careful not

to get caught this time.

I'm dying of boredom.

Is there anything to entertain myself with?

Your Majesty, these are silk threads from Qing

I brought in a few days ago.

You carry these every day?

I thought you might start up your hobby again.

I'm sorry but no, thank you.

I'm not sure if I'm sewing or acupuncturing my fingers.

That is the reason

I prepared this.

Are you cursing at me?

Why do you call a thimble a curse?

Did you mean, "course," Your Majesty?

Lady-in-waiting Choi.

You really don't know the meaning?

You too, Hong-yeon?

Is there another meaning to a thimble?

I just prepared it so you would not prick your fingers.

I still find it suspicious.

DAEJOJEON HALL

Your Majesty! I was worried.

You arrived first, Chief Eunuch.

I was late from walking with a King's dignity.

Is the Queen inside?

I heard she is by the lake.

Why did she go to the lake?

What Uibin said is not that different from what the King said.

She said she did not even see the Queen that night,

and she only ran away because she was startled by a loud noise.

I am not sure if she's being honest though.

It seems the maiden spotted by Head Eunuch of the Palace Kitchen

and the workers sneaking away tributes,

really was Lady Uibin.

Did she fall into a trap set by the Queen?

Without even having a chance to spread her wings?

Your Royal Highness.

Lady Uibin has gone to Tongmyeongjeon Hall.

TONGMYEONGJEON HALL

I will protect you, Your Majesty.

She came on her own.

She must be much closer to that court lady Oh-wol than I thought.

It is good. Things are running smoothly.

Since she came on her own, we can make her confess on her own.

Nothing is more urgent than health,

so let me finish my food first.

You are absolutely right.

She is innocent.

Lady Hwa-jin would never do such a thing.

Even if you kill me, it will never change the truth.

You poor thing.

You are like a dog licking your owner's hand

when that owner is holding a knife to butcher you.

It is too late even if you confess.

Your lady already framed you as the culprit.

That is impossible.

Here.

You're good!

Okay!

That precious thread…

This is the problem with rare things. They're too weak.

Let's see.

Do we have any tough and strong threads?

Bang-gi-heo-ga-jeo-ka.

"Throwing away my false self?"

This…

That was what you used to embroider until not long ago.

I cannot read, so I don't know what it means,

but it must be from a beautiful poem.

I have never seen this before.

She always embroidered something else whenever you came.

It's a poem about love, right?

This…

is a will.

So I embroidered this before I fell into the lake?

Yes.

Before I fell into the lake,

I couldn't sleep well and I lost my appetite, right?

You did. You only sighed.

And my face looked gloomy all the time?

Sometimes you cried for no reason…

Your Majesty.

-Your memories are finally back! -No.

Did I give out things I treasured to those around me?

You gave this to me, though you really treasured it.

And you gave a ring to Lady-in-waiting Choi.

Jo Hwa-jin is wrong.

Kim So-yong wasn't trying to make Jo Hwa-jin fall into a trap.

She committed suicide.

Isn't that Cheoljong?

His Majesty the King is here!

And he said a King never runs.

Seeing his face makes my blood boil again.

What the heck?

You want to fight?

Do you want to fight?

Is this it?

Is this your choice?

What's this about?

Are you acting like you know nothing again?

Did you fool me with your deceitful eyes and words?

You're the one who's been tricking me all this time!

I slept in the same room with you without knowing that you tried to kill me.

I'm the one who should be angry, not you!

You told me

how terribly cowardly it is to attack the weak.

If this is vengeance,

and if you are doing the same thing for that purpose,

I, too, shall not just sit by and watch.

What is he on about?

What?

What should I do

with that weak and foolish girl?

TONGMYEONGJEON HALL

Your Royal Highness.

If you are going to punish someone, please punish me only.

Who am I trying to punish for you to say such a thing?

Oh-wol, the court lady I brought, has disappeared.

Are you saying I did it?

How so?

Because there is something you wish to hear.

I will tell you

what it is you want to hear.

I am listening.

When the Queen fell into the lake,

I was with her.

You will also lose

someone precious to you.

I was swept up in the moment

and pushed the Queen into the lake.

So please just punish me,

and make sure no innocent ones suffer instead.

I will be punished for all the crimes I have committed.

Is that so?

I am sure you know about the content of this letter.

Because this letter was sent to you by Queen Dowager Jo.

That court lady named Oh-wol submitted this.

The date and time written in this letter.

It is identical to the date and time of the Queen's accident.

What do you think that means?

I…

have never received such a letter.

Did you think you could cover up everything on your own?

Do you think you are high and mighty?

You are nothing but a tail.

Your Royal Highness.

That letter is absolutely false.

Why would it be false?

Is it not obvious for the Queen Dowager and Uibin,

members of the Jo Family, to seek the same goal?

Her Royal Highness the Queen Dowager would not join such a horrendous plan

just because she is in the same family!

Then who in the world

could have made this false letter?

You needed someone to back you up.

To add more power to your plan.

His Majesty the King is here!

Your Majesty.

Your Royal Highness.

You are here just in time.

Uibin just confessed

that she pushed the Queen into the lake to harm her.

That is a false confession.

My King! Please be calm!

Even if you are madly in love with a woman,

How can I leave the government to you when your judgment is questionable?

Are you defending that despicable criminal?

She harmed the Queen, who is your wife.

Tell him yourself, nice and clear!

Who was the one who tried to harm the Queen?

It was me.

Uibin.

Did you hear that?

Uibin, if you insist that it was your independent action,

I will give you a chance to prove it.

You there!

We have the confession like we wanted. What should we do now?

Treat her, for she has to be a witness when we have the order.

What is wrong?

After him!

If you admit your crime now and be beheaded,

I will not suspect your sincerity.

Cheoljong has a nightmare about getting beheaded every night.

He's totally frozen.

It's a disaster.

I will tell you the truth!

I will follow your order, Your Royal Highness!

Uibin is not the one to confess!

Your Majesty.

Please…

Are you going to defy the order of the King?

That jerk Cheoljong

is pretty cool.

Why is he trying to be cool?

Hang on.

The lake will be filled tonight

and I'll be able to go back.

The power that tried to harm the Queen is…

Wait!

Oh, no…

What is wrong?

There is no more water.

What?

Fetching too much water from it

must have dried the well out.

Oh, dear.

I am doomed now.

I, who's at the center of the incident,

will tell you the truth.

I…

tried to commit suicide.

As if I'd let you be the only cool guy around here.

I'm the hero of this place.

It won't matter to me since I'll be going back.

So I do not want those who are innocent

to bleed and suffer.

That was awesome!

ALL CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVENTS IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS,

AND ARE UNRELATED TO HISTORICAL FACTS

Prince Yeongpyeong attacked with warriors.

They were specially trained.

If there is a problem, we can simply cut it out.

The well has dried out.

I believed that giving up on you would make you happy.

Those rude eyes.

How could he be so impudent to me?

The Queen's mental disorder is getting worse.

Would it not be right to suggest the Queen's deposition?

Now, everything goes back to where it should've been.

Subtitle translation by: Hae-lim Lee