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[This is to clarify that the upbringing of the characters, "Prince Jing" and "Princess Ho Myung" were dramatized for this series.]

[We apologize to anyone who was offended by their portrayal.]

Final Episode

It has been a day since His Highness passed away.

Yet the throne is still vacant.

This is such a humiliating situation.

What do you mean humiliating?

The King's seat is one that should not be left vacant.

There is Prince Bong Rim.

The Prince can follow in the King's footsteps.

After you move to the Queen Mother quarters

you must show an interest in giving the King title to the Prince

and only then, may Prince Bong Rim become King.

That is the law.

Your Highness, please put aside your anger now--

Prince Bong Rim does not treat me like his mother

so how can I move to the Queen Mother quarters?

I have not seen even a shadow of the Prince since the King passed away.

Please leave now.

I am going to spend the rest of my days quietly at Kyung Duk Palace.

Mother.

Your efforts are futile.

Please do not say a word and leave.

Since you are still residing here

I am unable to proceed with memorial rites for the King.

Please do not make me a bad son anymore!

Your Highness, please let go of your anger now--

I will not ask you to kill Jo Gui In right away.

I know the King asked you to keep Jo Gui In alive

and it's not that I don't understand that you don't want to go against your father's final words.

However, one day, you will have to make things right.

Do you think it's right to let the woman who killed

Prince So Hyun, Princess Min Hwe and Prince Suk Chul live?

I am aware it is distasteful for a woman to meddle in such matters

so I will return to the main palace.

That is a great idea!

As Queen Mother you should be more kind and understanding.

Once Kim Sang Hun was promoted to lead the council

Prince Bong Rim rose to the throne.

He became Joseon's 17th King.

Hold on!

What? Do you have an order from the new King to save me or something?

We have an order to halt Kim Ja Jeom's beheading

and instead sentence him to death by quartering.

Quartering?

Have you forgotten? That is how you had Shim Ki Won killed.

Did you not have Shim Ki Won's arms and legs dismembered

and his head cut off his body?

As he died, Shim Ki Won cursed you and said you'd die the same way.

His Highness asks that Shim Ki Won's wish be granted.

Father... father...

How dare you! You too were involved in the revolt!

Dismember Kim Ja Jeom's limbs and then behead him.

Please each body part in a separate vase

and send one to each of the 8 provinces of Joseon!

Yes, sir!

Let go! Let go of me!

So Kim Ja Jeom is dead?

Yes, my lady.

He was dismembered and died a shameful death.

Oh my...

Lord Kim's head fell to the ground when he was beheaded

and he supposedly was still yelling profanities in that moment.

He thought he could become King...

How do I look?

Do I look a bit more weak?

Excuse me?

The Queen is now the Queen Mother so I must go to pay respects.

I have to look pathetic for her to hate me less.

You are so calm about all this.

Do you think she'll see you just because you go there?

Of course she will.

It would be so satisfying for her to see me groveling.

I'll be back.

That's right.

Did you get the things I asked you for?

What are you talking about?

What a dumb girl you are!

I told you to bring me a piece of cloth from an old grave

and a kitten and white hen that was left to dry in the sun!

Do you really want me to bring you those?

How much longer do you think they'll let me live?

Right now they're just playing nice for the sake of the King.

Do not follow me. I will go alone.

Congratulations, Queen Mother.

Looks as though peace will be restored inside the palace from now on.

I'm sure you mean all of that.

What are you talking about...

You took Jo Gui In's side so many times...

When did I take Jo Gui In's side?

I was so upset when I saw the King save Jo Gui In and lost sleep over it!

Oh, is that so?

What's wrong with you?

That is enough.

Don't you think so, Queen Mother?

How could he want to save Jo Gui In?

What can we do? He's just such a loyal son.

But still!

Jo Gui In has plotted against you so many times!

Congratulations... Queen Mother.

I wanted to come sooner

but I was ashamed to see you...

You were slapped across the face twice

but you appear perfectly fine right now.

What do you mean she was slapped twice?

Once by the Queen Mother and the second time by an unknown eunuch.

Wow... That's news to me.

I will get going now that I've paid my respects, Queen Mother.

Come closer.

Come closer.

How could I possibly get any closer, Queen Mother?

I am completely unworthy and should not even be here

but I couldn't ignore your generosity in saving Jing and me...

So I came here, despite all that.

I'm glad you're aware.

Faking your tears...

Who will ever understand what goes on in that mind of hers...

Don't be so hard on me.

You may not know much because you do not have a child

but it is different for a mother.

Have you ever seen the child of a concubine live a proper life?

Queen Mother

a spider raises her children by feeding herself to them.

The reason I acted inappropriately towards you--

Who asked you to come here and tell me your sob story?

I'm sorry, Queen Mother!

Remember.

I never forgave you.

Of course not.

How could I possibly expect you to forgive me?

I'm just so grateful that you did not kill me I am blinded by my tears.

Old habits die hard!

I will watch you with my very own eyes!

Whatever evil scheming you do!

Do you think I don't know what you're up to?

We'll see.

What can I do?

I've made my mistakes so I must live with it in silence...

Just bear through it.

And I'm sure the Queen Mother will forgive you eventually.

I can endure everything else

but not being able to see my children...

It's fine.

What use would it do to cry over my fate?

I deserve whatever happens to me.

But if I'm not able to see my children I might as well be dead.

What use would it be to continue living?

Wait a bit.

I will see if I can put in a word to the Queen Mother.

Please don't do that.

You can also get yourself in trouble by doing that.

I can just live like this to the day I die

but you cannot afford to have the Queen Mother hate you.

The woman may be young in age

but she is a very thoughtful person.

She does not forget easily.

Even when she first came to the palace, I took care of her

so that the King would like her and...

Oh my... look at me...

This is why... This is why people said that I was hard on the young Queen.

What does it matter if I never see my children again?

Now that they're old, they'll probably distance themselves

from their powerless mother and tiptoe around the Queen Mother.

I will get going now.

Please forget everything I just said.

Why are you laughing?

Nothing...

You are such a cold person.

My lady!

My lady! Come outside!

All the guards that were standing outside are gone now.

- Really? - Yes! Take a look outside!

The Queen must have said something.

The Queen Mother will be angry when she finds out!

Not all Queen Mothers are the same.

Her own son has to be King for her to have any power.

Yes... you're right.

Did you get everything I asked you to get?

Are you talking about the kitten and white hen?

Yes! Bring them to me!

I was able to get everything else

but the cloth from the grave...

How many times must I tell you for you to understand?

I told you that I need all the items in order for Prince Bong Rim to die!

Queen Mother.

Queen Mother!

Did you do it?

I'm asking if you disbanded the guards that were standing watch outside Jo Gui In's room.

What are you talking about?

I'm asking because I was told Jo Gui In was freed to roam around as she pleases.

I'm sorry, Your Highness

but right now, His Highness is...

- I will come back. - Please remain seated.

How can I sit here and watch you get scolded by the Queen Mother?

Please continue your conversation.

Who did it?

Did you do it? Or--

Pardon, but if it has to do with Jo Gui In, it was probably carried out by the Queen's council.

Is that something the Queen can do without my permission?

It is a matter related to internal palace affairs.

So of course the Queen--

Got it. So I should stay out of it?

Your words!

Yes! I understand!

The younger stepmother is out of line and ordering you around.

What did I tell you?

I told you to let me stay at Kyung Duk Palace!

- Your Highness! Queen Mother! - Ask the Prime Minister to come in!

I have an immense amount of work to get done.

I said to bring me the Prime Minister this instant!

So you don't consider me your mother?

Your Highness, the Queen Mother--

You also heard it!

My father made it very clear that I am to keep Jo Gui In alive!

What power does Jo Gui In have left to hate her so much?

Your Highness, please forget about it.

Jo Gui In is no different than a dead person--

You only say that because you don't know how she is.

She will not be grateful just because her life is spared.

But what power does she have to plot anything?

Just wait and see.

She is probably thinking of a way to poison the King's food right about now.

This is the dried kitten

and this is the young white hen

and these are the baby clothes and the piece from the coffin.

Okay. Good work!

What are you going to do with all these?

If we bury this along a path that Prince Bong Rim takes frequently

less than a month later he will be poisoned, and he will die from severe blood loss.

Excuse me?

Follow me.

What are you doing?

Hurry and come with me.

If you bury that and get caught

you really will not live through it this time.

What use is it for me to live like this the rest of my life?

If I do a good job and the King dies than my son can become King

and if I run out of luck and get caught... then I will just die.

Even if the King dies, he has a brother.

We can kill him too.

Hurry and follow me.

What are you doing?

Okay...

I'm coming...

My lady, His Highness takes this path frequently.

Really? Then dig.

Give me the baby clothes.

Where are you going to bury this piece from the coffin?

We have to bury that right under the King's quarters.

Excuse me?

That way he can sit on top of the coffin and die himself.

- Dig deeply so no one can find it. - Yes, my lady.

What do you mean let you live outside the palace?

I cannot do all this without you.

- Your Highness-- - Just as you served my father...

Please help me.

Once all this is over

I'd like to live as a commoner.

Please grant me permission, Your Highness.

Please let me live the rest of my life guarding your father's grave...

That's good, that's good.

I pray... I pray...

Please help the man die from a sudden illness.

I pray... I pray...

That's it.

You are volunteering to guard my father.

I cannot stop you anymore.

Thank you, Your Highness!

Someone will hear you!

Now that we've buried a piece of a coffin under the main palace

the King will not live much longer.

That's not all!

We buried a kitten and white hen on a path he frequently takes

so it's no different than him walking in the midst of a ghost all day.

I am really nervous.

Who would know we buried the bad luck charm?

The Queen Mother has been adamant about you dying by poison

yet the King has been ignoring her the entire time.

But--

I will have to repay them for that.

How?

When Prince Jing becomes King

I won't kill the King's oldest son

and take good care of him.

Uhn Yuhn...

Yes, my lady.

I was born to a concubine, but I had the King's children and lived a fortunate life...

My life hasn't been that bad...

Of course not.

I never once loved the King.

I always loved another man deep in my heart.

Are you talking about Princess Hyo Myung's biological father?

Don't wake me up.

I'm having a good dream...

So don't wake me up.

Yes... My lady.

What are you doing? Let go of me!

Why are you doing this?

Let go! Let go!

Let go of me! Let go of me!

Fools! Do you know who I am? How dare you touch me!

I am the very Jo Gui In that looked after the King!

Let go of me! Let go!

Let go of me!

For what reason have you guys brought me here?

You brought the wrong person!

Go ask the King! If he meant for Jo Gui In to be locked up!

Jo Gui In buried these in the ground.

What did I tell you?

I told you she is not one to be grateful to you for sparing her life.

I understand.

Once they are done investigating in Eui Geum Bu we will decide on an appropriate punishment.

Jo Gui In was not targeting these at me.

These were directed at you.

She buried a dried animal and leather on a path you frequently use

and under your living quarters she buried a rotten coffin piece.

Do you get it?

Jo Gui In was cursing you!

Open your eyes!

I know you are pretending to have fainted!

I will tell you the truth!

Please... Please just don't torture me.

Listen... How could I dare curse the King?

His Highness saved me so how could I even think to do such a thing?

Then... who did you put a hex on?

I... I...

I was trying to chase away the spirits from the King

so I buried a dried kitten and white hen because ghosts hate them.

And the coffin piece under his living quarters--

Cover this woman's mouth again

and burn her with the iron.

I will tell you the truth!

Did you hex the King?

Tell me the truth now!

How could you say such a thing?

If something happens to the King, the Queen Mother would come after me first!

Cover her mouth.

How many times must I tell you for you to understand?

I told you I hexed that wicked bitch, the Queen Mother!

- Tighten the ropes first! - Yes, sir!

Fools!

I am an invaluable person who gave birth to two of King Injo's children!

When I die and see King Injo

what will he say when he sees the scars on my body?

Please... Please... Look here.

I am going to serve King Injo once again in the afterlife

but if you scar my body how will I be able to do so?

Fine! If I'm going to die anyways

bring me a bowl of poison!

I will accept it without a fight and die!

Did she confess to her crime?

She continues to deny cursing the King and that it was directed at the Queen Mother.

Is it any better that she cursed the Queen Mother?

Your Highness...

While Jo Gui In's crime is extreme

she is a royal concubine of King Injo.

So to inflict scars on such a body--

We cannot.

Other than to have her drink poison.

Why don't you do that, Your Highness?

I don't understand why Jo Gui In continues to bring death upon herself.

I really wanted to save her...

Send Jo Gui In back to her quarters

and sentence her to death by poison.

Yes, Your Highness.

Once she dies, please bury her not as a criminal but as a Gui In.

That way Prince Jing and Princess Hyo Myung are unaffected by this.

Why are you hesitating?

You deserve to be stoned!

You should be thankful the King wanted to leave your body unharmed!

Dying is not that simple...

Now that I'm actually sitting here with this in front of me

a thousand different thoughts are running through my mind.

Why are you talking so much?

Please wait just a bit.

I'm trying to figure if there is any way I can live through this...

Do you still wish to live?

I'm still not satisfied with my life here.

I can leave everyone else behind...

But I'm worried about my children...

Congratulations, Queen Mother!

This is quite an accomplishment!

How can he leave her body unharmed? Even quartering her is not enough!

Is anyone outside?

Yes, Your Highness.

Prepare my palanquin! I am going to see Jo Gui In right now!

Are you going to see Jo Gui In drink the poison?

Oh my... so crude.

What fun is there in watching a person drink poison and die as they spit up blood?

Most likely because she has so much built up towards Jo Gui In.

Have you let go of all emotional connections?

If you take any longer, I will pour that down your throat!

Okay.

I just don't see a way to get out of this...

Drink it this instant!

What a great life I've lived in this world!

Stop.

Take the bowl of poison away.

I said to take the poison away!

Are you saving me?

Queen Mother...

That poison is not enough...

Then... are you going to choke me to death?

I tried to be nice and drink that without putting up a fight...

But that's not enough?

Then how do you want me to die?

Do you want to cut off my limbs and behead me like Kim Ja Jeom?

Or do you want to put me in boiling hot water and kill me?

Tell me!

Hand over Jo Gui In to me.

I cannot do that.

I cannot kill my father's concubine in such a way.

If you are kind to Jo Gui In, do you not understand it is a slap to your father's face?

Think about it.

The late King killed his son, grandson, and daughter-in-law.

Be careful what you say!

You must place that blame on Jo Gui In in order to prove your father's innocence.

We must give Jo Gui In to the people.

Give Jo Gui In to our people who worshiped the Prince

adored the Princess

and think fondly of Prince Suk Chul.

I am telling you to let the people release their anger on Jo Gui In.

Otherwise, the people of our nation will resent the King forever

and think of him as a foolish King who killed his son, grandson, and daughter-in-law.

Will you be satisfied if you do so?

Do as you wish.

If that is what you want!

Thank you, Your Highness!

Cruel people...

Must my children see me like this?

Let's hurry.

Mother!

Mother!

Let go of me.

Mother...

Your mother... is the Queen Mother.

I may have given birth to you

but I never once considered you my child.

Mother...

What are you staring at? Take this child away right now.

Mother! Mother!

You are so strong, my son.

Yes, what good would it do for a strong man to cry?

I'm proud of you, my son!

Thank you.

You wicked woman!

Damn you to hell!

That's enough!

You insensitive bitches and assholes...

Untie her rope.

Now!

Only one person owns the palace.

Everyone else is nothing but a mere shadow.

Do not resent anyone...

And go in peace.

That... That... That's why you will never be anything more than a eunuch.

Not everyone was born royalty!

In another country, a woman killed her husband and became the leader of the country.

Who is to say I can't do that?

So... is everyone satisfied now?

If you are still unsatisfied...

Okay... Fine... Attack me again!

This time... I will pull out your eyeballs!

My... You foolish people.

Let's go.

What are you doing? Hurry and tie me up!

Mother!

Take a good look at me!

That way you can avenge my death later!

Do you understand? Take a very good look at me right now!

Mother!

Mother!

Untie her.

There is an order for you to leave the palace grounds.

Hurry!

The order is for you to leave the palace grounds before sunset!

My lady! My lady!

My lady...

I've done so much wrong, my lady...

You did it in order to live. Where's the fault in that?

My lady...

You do not need to apologize to me.

Hurry and leave!

Such a tragic death...

Why did you so brutally kill all those people?

Yam Jun...

Yam Jun...

Mother!

Yam Jun!

Subtitles by DramaFever

Thank you deeply to all the viewers of Cruel Palace.

When I die, my body may rot but my spirit will be free

so I will soar high up in the sky.