Original subtitles

(Characters, places, and events associated in this series...)

(are not historical facts but fictional.)

(Episode 7)

Ha Seon.

Ha Seon.

Ha Seon.

Ha Seon!

Ha Seon!

Ha Seon...

Look behind the dresser.

Ha Seon...

Water.

Get me some water.

Ha Seon.

Dal Rae!

Dal Rae!

I'll head to the courtesan house to ask for help.

You should keep looking for her.

Yes, all right.

My goodness. Dal Rae!

Dal Rae!

Dal Rae?

Gab Soo.

Goodness. Oh, my!

Dal Rae, there you are.

Where on earth have you been?

You made my heart drop out of shock.

Hear me out.

With Ha Seon away,

how could you cause such trouble?

By the way, have you started talking again?

- My goodness. - Gab Soo.

My brother is here.

We need to find him.

What are you talking about?

I'm here with the monk,

- so let's go to Woon Shim... - No.

Do you even know who was locking Ha Seon up all along?

It's that monk.

That monk locked him up.

What nonsense are you saying?

I'm telling you the truth. I saw him.

Is this true?

Come take a look.

Make way.

Excuse me.

Are you okay?

Yes.

- It is good. - Here you go.

Enjoy.

Your Majesty.

Are you hungry?

Enjoy.

Thank you.

What is this?

It is pork heart.

- What about this? - That is part of its intestines.

You cannot eat it, can you? I am sorry for not being considerate.

Let us just go.

It is so chewy.

What?

I have never tasted such delicious food before in my entire life.

I am glad you like it.

Have you had this soup before?

A few times when I came outside the palace in disguise.

It is hard to act like...

I am enjoying something that does not suit my palate.

Being alone with you...

somehow makes me feel like...

I have become an ordinary woman who lives here.

If you were to live here, which house would you like?

That house would be nice.

That one seems the smallest in this alley.

Why that house?

That is why I chose it.

In such a small house,

we'd be much closer together.

Besides, it is at the end of the alleyway.

We'll have to take...

the longest walk to reach it.

I used to love looking around the market when I was little.

For a noble young lady like yourself?

I liked how the place was filled with all kinds of lively smells.

I used to breathe in deep the vibe I liked.

The smell of fish.

The smell of alcohol yeast.

The smell of people's sweat.

Do I reek of sweat too?

No.

You smell very warm.

Your Majesty, look.

Welcome.

- May we take a look? - Sure.

If you are looking for a compass...

to help you find a nice site for a house,

you have found the right place.

Are these all you have?

Should I show you expensive ones?

Please wait.

Why do you need a compass?

I would like to give you a gift.

What? Nonsense.

There is no need. I have not done anything to deserve it.

You have done a lot.

You were considerate of me...

and made me pleased in many ways.

Besides, I know you need it.

Last time in the palace...

I mean...

You got lost in the house.

I was about to go greet you, Your Majesty.

Were you on your way to see me?

I was on my way to the Hall of Convenience.

I got lost while walking in thought.

Gosh.

He gets lost even in his house?

He must be horrible at finding ways then.

All right, take a look.

I will offer you a cheap price, so choose one.

That one, you're holding, has the most delicate design.

Will you take that one?

How much is it?

Pay me three yang.

Look here.

You think we are a pushover?

- Make it two yang. - What?

It took me a lot of effort to make that compass.

- 2 yang and 7 jeon. - Make it 2 yang and 5 jeon.

- 6 jeon. - 4 jeon.

Or we will not buy.

Wait, wait.

Okay, take it for 2 yang and 4 jeon.

Pay and leave already.

I did not know you were so good at bargaining.

I tried to mimic what others do,

but I didn't know it would actually work.

You looked so experienced though.

That cannot be.

Thank you. I will keep it with me at all times.

I am giving you that so you do not get lost ever again.

It really was a mistake at that time.

I am usually good at finding ways.

The way to me, Your Majesty.

If you sometimes lose your way,

and sometimes take the long way round,

come to me.

I will always wait for you at the road's end.

Your Majesty.

I am glad you are safe.

Yes. It is such a relief.

Your Highness, where on earth were you?

Do you know how much I looked for you?

I am sorry.

Your Majesty. You should return to the palace.

Is that okay?

I am writing to you...

not to ask for forgiveness.

It is to plead that you do not miss out on an opportunity...

to actualize Lord Gil's wish.

Haksan, are you in?

What great timing.

I was writing a letter to Lord Gil's followers.

He has disappeared.

Are you...

going to see him, the King?

How long have you known?

I suspected as much for a long time.

I feigned ignorance...

in case you would stop me from treating him if I said I knew.

If I do not return after daybreak,

take Woon Shim and Ho Geol and leave.

Do not go to the palace.

The King will not let you be.

Do you want me to run away again?

You did what you had to last time because Lord Gil...

ordered you to save the other members.

A man trusted me and put his life in my hands.

If I do not go to the palace, the King will kill him.

I cannot let that happen.

My gosh.

Why the stern face?

Are you angry because I am late?

I am sorry.

(Royal Secretariat's Journal: Covers documents and cases)

Are you well,

you lowly clown?

Have you forgotten your manners already?

Your Majesty.

Look up.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Step aside!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty...

Your Majesty, what is wrong?

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

Has the lowly clown become your king already?

Clown?

Your Majesty. Officer Jang knows nothing.

Do you still not get who is the real king?

Fine.

I will kill you so you realize once and for all.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Officer Jang is not guilty.

If anyone is, it would be me for deceiving him.

Please spare him his life.

Your Majesty.

For failing to recognize you, I deserve to pay with my life.

Kill me.

Arrest the Chief Royal Secretary.

Yes, Your Majesty.

The journal says the Queen went on holiday to recover.

Was that too your idea?

Yes.

The royal physician said it would be good for her.

If she returned, she should come by to report to me.

Since a lowly clown took over the throne,

even the honest Queen has lost sense of morals.

Summon the Queen to see me!

Yes, yes, I will, Your Majesty.

Your Highness, it is Ae Yeong.

Okay. Come in.

Your Highness.

The King summoned you to his office.

I guess he misses you already.

Prepare for the visit.

Escort the Chief Royal Secretary.

What are you doing?

It is the King's order.

The real King's order.

Take him.

Your Majesty.

I came to report my safe return to the palace.

How do you feel?

Do not worry.

Thanks to your grace,

all my symptoms have gone as if they were washed away.

Have you been well, Your Majesty?

I have...

been well.

Your Majesty.

You spent many hours in the cold in the marketplace.

I hope you did not catch a cold.

Your Majesty.

I feel fine.

You were on your way back from a holiday to recover.

Are you okay?

I feel so much lighter in body and mind as if...

all my weariness has been lifted.

The time I spent with you...

was a medicine much better than the holiday and rest.

What did I do to bring you such joy?

Walking side by side with you,

engaging in small talk,

and gazing in the same direction, Your Majesty.

Ever since I came to live at the palace,

I've never been at such ease.

Your Majesty, what's wrong?

Come to think of it,

I am quite exhausted.

Should I call the royal physician just in case?

No.

You're dismissed.

Then I'll now return to my chambers.

Is there something wrong, Your Highness?

It's nothing.

If anything happens to His Majesty,

please let me know immediately.

Yes, Your Highness.

Chief Royal Secretary Lee?

The Queen has changed a lot during my absence.

What kind of magic did you use?

Your Majesty, it's not what you think.

And what exactly do you think I mean?

What on earth did you two do?

Nothing happened, Your Majesty.

Please believe me.

She said she walked the streets with you.

She said being with you was better than any medicine.

She said she had a great time.

The Queen went home to treat her illness,

but you two planned to meet up at the marketplace.

- Aren't I right? - That's not true.

It's not what happened.

Shall I ask the Queen myself?

Let's see who's telling the truth.

With what punishment...

should I hold you responsible for this heinous act?

Just killing you won't be enough.

Of course.

I'll kill your family...

and everyone who knows about you...

and make them pay for your crime.

Your Majesty,

it is Chief Royal Secretary Lee.

Let him in.

It's as if you saw a ghost.

Did you think I wouldn't return?

Your Majesty, welcome home.

I enjoyed reading the Royal Secretariat's Journal.

You had me tied up like a criminal...

while having fun here with him.

I, in no means, treated you as a criminal.

You weren't in your right mind.

Worried that you'd hurt yourself,

I took desperate measures.

So you did it for me?

Is implementing the rice payment law for my sake too?

The rice payment law...

is something you always thought to implement someday.

For you, this country, and its people,

I thought that the law deserved another consideration.

You have an excuse for everything.

You say it was for my sake.

So why put it in motion while I'm away?

The paramount decision...

was made during my absence...

while you had this fraud on the throne.

Anyone would agree that your actions are traitorous.

Say that it wasn't.

Go ahead.

Doubts and suspicions towards me are already brewing inside you.

Even if I try to explain myself,

it won't matter at this point.

If you have lost trust in me,

just kill me right now.

Just say anything.

Keep babbling.

Try and persuade me. Now!

So you weren't rebelling?

No, Your Majesty.

All right.

Right, you wouldn't.

You'd give your life for me,

not betray me.

I blame him for everything.

Wearing my robes and sitting on the throne...

made him think that he's really me and start a rebellion.

Isn't that so?

Kill him.

Kill him.

Then, I'll believe you.

He's nothing but a puppet we put in your place.

There are still people out there trying to kill you.

Without him,

you'll never catch those trying to hurt you.

Then why haven't you been able to catch anyone yet?

We don't have any definitive proof yet.

Until we catch your adversaries,

it is in your best interest to keep him alive.

That's funny.

You didn't make any excuses when I was aiming at your neck.

You've gotten talkative now that his life is at stake.

What's that gaze?

Do you suddenly have the urge to kill me instead?

Your guards surround all four walls of the chambers.

I wouldn't dare...

to have such thoughts.

Go ahead.

Lord Lee.

If you can't, then I will!

Enough.

That's enough.

I won't have his lowly blood all over my floors.

Officer Jang, are you there?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Take this clown out of here.

To where should I take him?

Do not lessen his pain by killing him at once.

Take him to the woods and feed him to tigers.

Make him repent for his sin,

shivering in fear and cold until his last moment.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Shall I catch up with you now?

Summon Left State Councilor Shin Chi Soo.

Whose house do you think this is? Who are you people?

We are here with the royal command.

- Goodness. - Gosh.

Father.

(Royal Secretariat)

Father, His Majesty is summoning you.

Put it away.

Are you not going to go to the palace?

I am a servant who caused trouble to His Majesty.

How can I respond to his summons right away?

What?

But Father...

Please forgive me for not being able to obey your command...

as I am ill, Your Majesty.

I shall go meet you...

as soon as my condition gets better.

Please forgive me and my faults.

How dare he try to test me?

It must not be because of what happened to his son.

Is it because of the rice payment law?

Should I summon him again?

Leave him be.

I am tired.

Bring Court Lady Kim in.

Your Majesty, what is...

How dare you?

I apologize.

When is the scheduled date for my night with the Queen?

The ninth of next month is the earliest, Your Majesty.

Tell the Office of Astrology to make it tomorrow.

Yes, Your Majesty.

He was dragged to the woods in this cold weather?

His Majesty must not be able to survive through the night.

"His Majesty"?

The real king returned to the palace,

so why do you still call Ha Seon His Majesty?

Be careful.

You will not be an exception to be in trouble...

if you make a slip of the tongue in front of His Majesty.

Okay, I will be careful.

Well...

Officer Jang.

I am sorry.

I did not mean to fool you intentionally.

It was the royal command,

so I could not reveal who I was.

It does not matter.

I am only following the royal command too anyway.

Where is Ha Seon?

Ha Seon? That clown's name is Ha Seon?

- Moo Yeong. - Call me Officer Jang.

I understand how you feel.

I could not tell you about it...

because His Majesty ordered me not to.

Ha Seon only played a substitute under his royal command.

The only thing he did...

was to obey the King.

Is that right?

I wonder if His Majesty is aware of what you think.

According to Eunuch Cho,

Ha Seon saved your life.

Make it straight.

I almost lost my life because of him.

That is how you want to think.

But both you and I know...

what kind of person Ha Seon is.

Just how he was throughout his stay in the palace.

Do you really think he deserves to die?

Where is he?

Why do you ask?

Are traitorous thoughts truly running through your head?

Moo Yeong.

It is too late.

What do you mean?

Do not tell me he is dead.

Are you sure about it?

Yes, I am sure.

Find a way.

A way to take them down and protect me.

Hurry.

Before I completely lose myself.

His Majesty's madness seems to be appearing again.

I feel my enemies pointing daggers at me everywhere.

I'm worried I might get blood on my hands again.

Yul keeps whispering into my ear.

The lowly fool has only one duty.

To get stabbed for me or eat poison for me.

It was only surprised.

If you kill it over one mistake,

how many of us would be alive?

Is the Left State Councilor not doing what the king must?

Is he the king?

Sometimes, for one thing,

you must give up 10 or 100 things.

What's the point in wielding power in silk clothes?

If one's head is full of ideas that make him worse than a beast?

They cannot think like a human being!

I returned willing to risk my life,

but I never said I'd die in vain.

What?

Dal Rae disappeared?

How did that happen?

I'm not sure.

I agreed to meet Gab Soo here once he found her.

He's not yet here which means he hasn't found her yet.

Why would you boss this busy man about?

Jeong Saeng.

Why did you ask to see me?

What?

We must leave if Haksan doesn't return?

What do you mean?

Did someone slander the Daedong Group?

Is that it?

Let's leave this instant.

Why wait until daybreak?

We can wait for him at the hideout.

Let's go.

If that's the case,

I will not leave either.

Woon Shim.

You go ahead.

I will follow you with Chief Royal Secretary Lee.

Ha Seon the clown is dead.

Now you are...

the king of this nation.

When I was on duty last night,

he asked for the Royal Secretariat's Journal.

So I went in.

Okay.

How was the King?

The thing is, it was very odd.

How so?

He did not seem upset,

but he kept asking about things he already knew,

and checked again.

Did you notice anything else?

Actually,

Chief Royal Secretary Lee was dragged to the King's office.

He walked into the palace?

Are you sure?

Yes. I saw it clearly with my own eyes.

Very well. You may leave.

Call me whenever you need me, my lord.

Shouldn't you go to the palace?

It is best that I do not see the King...

for as long as possible.

If you sometimes lose your way,

and sometimes take the long way round,

come to me.

I will always wait for you at the road's end.

Your Highness.

I seem to have lost my way again.

Your Highness, I have returned.

What did Court Lady Kim want to see you about?

This...

It is the date for your night with the King.

A night with the King?

However,

the date has been set for tonight.

Tonight?

That soon?

Who is behind...

the assassination attempts and the poison put in my snack?

Like I told you last night,

I believe it to be the Queen Dowager and Lord Jinpyeong,

but there is no definitive proof of it.

That is all I need.

Your Majesty.

Welcome, Your Majesty.

Being greeted by you and members of the royal family...

tells me that this family has a bright future.

It pleases my heart.

For someone who wants our family to prosper,

you took on quite an audacious act.

An audacious act? What do you mean by that?

If you wish to live out your life being respected,

you'll have to act with more caution.

If you keep throwing knives my way,

without proper procedure,

I will have you stay at the royal villa instead.

Are you threatening your mother?

In what world would you be my mother?

My birth mother passed away many years ago.

We've held countless memorial services for her already.

Your Majesty!

Why are you playing dumb with me?

What I mean is...

What I'm saying...

is that disloyalty and being unfilial...

means absolutely nothing to me.

Do you understand?

Your Majesty.

That is no way to address the Queen Dowager.

I am fully aware of the reason why you step in and out...

of her chambers every day.

There must be some sort of misunderstanding,

but all I am is a loyal servant to you and this country.

Yes, and that's why I'm warning you.

Must you be named a traitor and lose your head...

like your father and brother?

Judging by his violent actions,

I'm guessing he must have heard something.

Did you forget that a tiger can always eat flesh?

He only focused on state affairs recently...

to make us lower our guards.

What will you do now then?

His Majesty seems to be in a foul mood.

I guess I should pray for his sake.

Your Majesty,

threatening the Queen Dowager and Lord Jinpyeong for no reason...

may bring bad luck.

That's better.

I can dethrone the Queen Dowager...

and behead Lord Jinpyeong and the members of the royal family.

Is Left State Councilor Shin still not at the palace today?

I'm afraid so. From what I believe,

even if you summon him,

he will refuse saying that he's sick.

Is that so? He won't answer my summons?

Then so be it.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

What brings you by my humble home?

What else can I do when you wouldn't come yourself?

Why are refusing my summons?

Your Majesty.

I lied about being sick to not enter the palace.

It's because I was too ashamed to face you.

But here you are in person at my humble home.

His Majesty's blessing is too generous.

If you truly believe that I have blessed you,

then you'll come back to court.

Your Majesty, are you saying you'll put your trust in me again...

and have me by your side in court?

That's right.

Once I'm back in court,

I will go ahead with the appointments...

regarding governors and county magistrates...

which was postponed due to the Ministry of Taxation.

Will you allow me to do so?

Your Majesty, you can't allow this.

The court made this decision,

so you should discuss this through proper channels.

Do as you wish.

Then may I also order the suspension of...

the rice payment law considered by the ministry too?

Isn't that your job?

Whatever falls into your purview in court...

is at your discretion.

- Your Majesty, you can't... - Shut it!

Never again tell me what I can or cannot do.

Disapprove of anything I do again,

and I will punish you regardless of your status.

Keep that in mind.

What I want comes before the decision of the court.

I have never lost my trust in you,

so return to the palace and be at my side.

Your Majesty,

I thank you profusely.

Your Majesty.

You can't go against what the court collectively decided...

and undo all that was agreed on.

You will only be giving ammunition...

for those aiming at your throne.

Don't you worry.

I'm bringing Left State Councilor Shin back...

to take care of people like that.

Then only bring Left State Councilor Shin back,

but don't allow the appointments...

of the county magistrates that were found guilty.

They embezzled to fill their own pockets.

If you bring them back without punishing them,

people will lose faith in you and the court.

The people will only grow more angry with you.

Yes,

you're right.

All that was decided was correct and appropriate.

However, that's not what I wanted.

It was the idea of that puppet of mine.

I cannot let them be just because they are right.

If that is your will,

I cannot help it any longer.

I wish to resign.

Please give me your permission.

I will not permit it.

Do as you please.

You will end up returning anyway.

- Why are you doing this? - Goodness.

Why are you arresting us?

For disobeying a royal command.

A royal command?

There is no way His Majesty would charge us for such a crime.

Let me go.

Is Chief Royal Secretary Lee aware of this?

You cannot arrest the innocent like this.

Know your shame.

- Proceed with the orders. - Take them.

Goodness.

Chief Royal Secretary Lee.

You have a message from the Department of Justice.

My lord.

Kyu, do something.

They said we will be killed for disobeying the King tomorrow.

Are you sure it is the King's orders?

Are we really going to die?

My lord.

Don't worry about me.

I will not keep you there for long, so hang in here a little.

Kyu. Kyu!

Kyu!

Chief Royal Secretary Lee wishes to see you, Your Majesty.

Let him in.

Do not turn your back on me ever again.

If you do,

I will take every single life...

of those people whom you cherish.

Every attempt you make with your life on the line...

will go to waste.

Do you understand?

I will keep it in mind,

Your Majesty.

Proceed as is.

Officer Jang.

- I need you to do something. - At your service.

Go check if that clown is dead.

Get me his head as evidence.

His Majesty has arrived.

Your Majesty.

Let me.

Your Majesty.

Did something happen in the Hall of Convenience earlier today?

And let me ask, what happened to you?

What do you mean?

Where is my frozen Queen?

Instead, I am sitting with a woman who tries to embrace me.

Should I be pleased or sad?

I am confused.

I am well aware...

I have not been enough of a wife so far.

But now,

I wish to support you with all my heart.

If you could please accept my heart,

it will make me happier than ever.

With all your heart? Happy?

Your Majesty.

I have not...

given you anything yet.

The happiness or joy that I have not given.

You should forget it all.

- Your Majesty. - I will make it clear...

whose woman you are.

(The Crowned Clown)

Do it in secret so as not to cause a ruckus.

I am so relieved.

I don't know why I'm like this.

One of the clowns looks exactly like the King.

What do you plan to do?

What are you looking at? Shall I kill him?

I want to be the real king.

If you want me to beg, I will beg for forgiveness.

If you want an offer, I will make one.

Tell me.