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1506 (King Jung Jong's 1st year of reign)

She's so pitiful!

Still, at one point, she was Her Highness the Queen.

What Queen? She couldn't even endure for 10 days and got kicked out of the palace.

It's such a shame, really.

Father... Father, Father!

Mom! Mother! Mother, Mother...

Mother...

Chae Gyeong.

I should have killed you.

Proceed with the execution of the Deposed Queen Sin.

If I am born again, I will never meet you...Your Majesty.

Queen for Seven Days

In the fifth year of King Yeon San Gun's reign, 7 years ago

Lee Yoong led a grand-scale purge against the political factions that opposed him and secured his position on the throne.

However, soon after, a severe drought affected the nation and angered him

because it was said that a geographical calamity from the Heavens was due to a lacking ruler.

Lee Yoong (Yeon San Gun / Joseon's 10th King)

Episode 1

Lee Yeok (Grand Prince Jin Seong, future King Jun Jong)

They should be coming anytime now.

Your Highness the Grand Prince! Please come down. It's dangerous!

- Your Highness the Grand Prince, if you fall... - It's almost time.

They're here!

Is this what you needed?

Quick! Hurry!

You have to explain. We were scolded for bringing this.

How dare you call it "this thing"?

Stand up now! Quick! Be diligent!

Salamander, salamander. Bring forth the clouds.

Help the fog, and let rain pour down.

Then, I will let you go.

What? Aren't you going to do it?

Ag-again, again.

Salamander, salamander. Bring forth the clouds.

Help the fog, and let the rain pour down.

Salamander, salamander. Bring forth the clouds.

Help the fog, and let the rain pour down.

Then I will let you go. Salamander, salamander...

Brother—

Your Majesty the King, are you on your way to the council meeting?

Yes.

Have fun playing.

I wasn't playing—

His Majesty is entering!

We greet you, Your Majesty!

Bow to the King!

All the court officials, start your reporting.

Secretary of Agriculture(3rd rank official) Seong Hee Ahn reporting.

It's been 10 years since family registration, to relieve the people's inconvenience,

We have started reorganization of family registers,

Yoo Ja Kwang, a manager from the department of military reporting.

Report of sweep of Jurchens attacking the borders...

I am the Minister of Rites, Yoo Soon Jeong.

We gave vacation days to qualified civil officers amounting to 17 officers

allowed to visit their residences...

Exactly what do you ministers do?

When I requested holding the court session in this courtyard

when we have a perfectly fine hall inside!

Under this scorching sun, where your heads and backs are soaked with sweat,

you should have first thought of the crops and

the hungry citizens who are withering under this sun.

We're sorry, Your Majesty.

Even little kids are grouping together to hold a prayer ceremony for rain.

The only thing you ministers do is gather and chant "We're sorry!" together!

We apologize.

Since long ago, it has been said that a geographical calamity from the Heavens was because the King was lacking.

Even if everything else is good, if the drought is this severe, everyone will start to gossip about me!

Of course, the same goes for you all.

You're absolutely right.

Listen well!

I will not tolerate any nonsense regarding me or my nation of Joseon!

Therefore! Until this drought is resolved,

do not move an inch from your positions.

Aren't you the Head of Sogyeokseo (Department of Taoist rites)?

You should have observed the heaven's wishes well and took the proper measures so I would not have to concern myself with heaven's geographical calamity.

I apologize, Your Majesty. Im Sa Hong, Chief Royal Secretary

A drought occurs due to the lack of Yin energy,

so I closed the South Gate, which is filled with Yin energy, and opened the North Gate—

Forget Yin energy, Yang energy, and that battle of chi.

Isn't there a more realistic solution?

Your Majesty, I think it would be best if you could personally have a prayer ceremony for rain at Seonnongdan and at the altar to the State deities.

Are you suggesting that I, the King, should try to flatter the skies?

You'll be able to pacify the tired hearts of the subjects and show your sincerity to the Heavens. (Sin Soo Geun )

Anything else?

Yes.

According to the professor at the astrology department, a royal marriage helps during a severe drought. [Park Won Jong: 2nd rank official]

What if we use this chance to wed Grand Prince Jin Seong?

Through the marriage, add Yin energy to the royal family,

and maintain the balance between Yin and Yang.

Is it already time for my younger brother to wed?

Will you become Grand Prince Jin Seong's father-in-law?

Your Majesty!

You have a daughter you've hidden in your quarters out in the countryside of Geochang.

Several marriage proposals from all the powerful families came in but they were all refused, weren't they?

By any chance, will you refuse my request as well?

Sin Chae Gyeong (Future Queen Dan Gyeong)

Just because she does that, will he poop now when he's had constipation for the past few days?

Just wait.

Lady Chae Gyeong's whistle makes even the passing mutts stop.

- He's pooping! He's pooping! - I told you she could do it!

- He pooped! He pooped! Our donkey pooped! - He pooped!

That's amazing, really.

- Just look at how well she cured him. - That was a first. It really pooped.

Wait, wait! Wait a minute!

Both cow droppings and horse droppings are particularly strong.

If it's immediately added to the crops, you know they'll die right away, right?

Yes, of course.

Don't be lazy and just leave after shoveling the poop out to the farmers.

On top of rich soil, lay out some dead leaves or saw dust. Start with some poop and make successive layers with saw dust.

Make sure you explain to them that they must layer like that and ferment for at least 3 months.

Alright, I understand.

Nanny will scold me again.

Young Lady! Young Lady, Young Lady!

Ga Hee, quickly! You need to thank the Young Lady!

Thanks to you, our donkey's constipation has been cured and we even earned some money!

Thank you so much, Young Lady.

We're friends, aren't we? Goodbye!

But, is that something that will be solved just by adding manure?

See? Young Lady helped because of me. We're friends.

How can you and the precious Young Lady become friends?

Even if she speaks like that, you'll be in trouble if you speak so carelessly. Show your respect, understand?

How is she precious? You said that

Young Lady Chae Gyeong is an ugly duckling,

that she's a child her own family abandoned, and that I should treat her well because she's so pitiful.

Be quiet!

Isn't that true?! Would her parents let their entire family live well in Hanyang

but force her to live with her nanny in this provincial countryside?

You said she was a complete nuisance, didn't you?

W-when did I say that? You're accusing an innocent person!

Mom! Are you always going to say two things with one mouth?!

I'm hungry! Give me some food!

Ugh! Just cook your own food!

You worked hard, didn't you?

- Please just wait a minute. - Goodness, it's hot.

That's from Hanyang, isn't it?!

Oh my, Young Lady! What are you up to now?

My young lady, that is...

You cannot come to Hanyang. Remain in our house in Geochang. We will come down soon.

Why does he always refuse?!

You should give up now. Did you store something precious away in Hanyang?

Nanny, why was I born?

I mean, why did they have me? If all they're going to do is abandon me in this countryside, why did they have me?!

Nonsense. How can you say something like that?

Then what?!

So, the thing is...

What are you doing?! Hurry up and eat!

- Are you being picky about your food?! - No, no.

Also...

Make sure you deliver this directly to His Lordship.

It's extremely important.

Okay.

Young Lady, what are you doing? Let's leave now, come on.

Come on, let's go. What is this smell? Did you step in poop?!

Chae Gyeong?

The fact that we hid her in the countryside is about to become useless.

At this period of time when we should be avoiding even an ordinary member of the Royal Family, Grand Prince Jin Seong?

Exactly why did you do such a useless thing?

How is that useless?

It's a place where people's eyes are watching you.

Don't do anything, see anything, or hear anything!

- Yes, I know it all. - Yeok!

Still, can a younger brother not even do that small act of loyalty to his older brother?

The rain ritual is a matter of the nation. It's the King's matter, not yours!

The rain ritual is also a matter of the people.

Are you an ordinary citizen?

If you truly want to do something for the King,

why don't you take up knitting like a girl and give it to him as a gift instead?

Yes. Then I will go and buy some yarn.

Brother!

My little mutt!

Salamander, salamander. The clouds...

The clouds...

Raise the clouds.

Please raise the clouds, create thunder,

and allow rain to pour!

Our Yeok, you're so intelligent.

That young kid grew so much.

Marriage already?

Wait! I'm getting on too! Me too!

I'm going to see the end of this! I'm also someone who keeps her word.

It's not here.

What's disappeared?

- I'm sure I put it inside here. - Search carefully!

It's not here.

That's strange. I'm sure it was here.

Goodness, what to do? Young Lady! Young Lady!

Young Lady!

Let's just go by ourselves.

Are you really not going to go?

I'm not going.

You promised!

I said I'm not going!

Wow! Is he the soy sauce dish (narrow-minded) or what?

It's been so long since he got scolded by Her Highness the Queen Dowager, yet he's still not over it?

Soy sauce is sacred.

That's what being soy sauce like means to you?

and you, you, you! Why are you being sulky today? Why today out of all days?!

Hey! If you keep acting up, I won't give you this.

Oh! That's—

Grand Prince, I'm sure you know what this is.

Did you read it too?

You can't threaten me with those.

What is this?!

Are you ok?

My hands are all scraped.

I'll return it if you apologize.

What apology over a simple fall? You're not even a woman.

If you hurt someone, you should apologize!

Are all men in Hanyang like you, Young Master?

I just bumped into you while fooling around. Why are you acting so upright? You have no friends, right?

What did you say?!

Let's go for a nice view.

- Let's go. A nice view! Nice view! - Let's go. A nice view!

Wow, how can there be such gangster-like young masters?

Nice view! Nice view!

A nice view?

Hurry!

Immutability...love...

A nice view?

No wonder! I was wondering why such a gangster-like young master was obsessing so much over a book.

Wow, what a nice picture! It's killer!

Goodness, it seems your sightseeing has ended.

Hey! Hey, stop right there!

Hey, stop!

Hey! Stop right there!

Stop right there!

-Hey! Hey! They're throwing rocks! -Run!

Hey! If I catch you, you're dead!

Hey! Stop right there!

I'm dead! How can they do that?

Stop right there! Hey! Stop!

Yeok!

Yeok, where are you?! I feel like I'm about to die!

Where are you?

You just...

-Yeok! Yeok! -Yeok, Yeok, Yeok. Yeok!

Hey, hey!

-Yeok! -Catch that bird-poop! I said, catch that bird-poop!

Wait for us!

Run, Sin Chae Gyeong!

-Stop right there! If I catch you, you're dead! -Yeok!

Help me up!

We're definitely going to meet again!

It won't end like this!

Has he gone nuts? Do you think I'm going to meet you again?

Hey!

(Sogyeokseo) During the Joseon dynasty, the government office responsible for holding Taoist rituals for the earth, sky, and stars.

Do you truly plan on marrying the Chief Royal Secretary's daughter and Grand Prince Jin Seong?

Whether it's the authority of a ruler or the authority of a God, it's better for power to be centered in one place.

If I give Yeok to an unworthy family, how do you expect me to watch him walk around exclaiming that he's the Grand Prince's father-in-law

taking pride in the connection?

However, he is Her Highness the Queen's older brother, Your Majesty's brother-in-law, and

will become His Highness the Grand Prince's father-in-law.

If ambition is added to those titles, what will you do then?

Are you trying to come between the Chief Royal Secretary and me?

I'm speaking of Your Majesty and the Grand Prince Jin Seong.

If justification is added to ambition,

anyone, Sin Soo Geun included, could plot treason.

Justification? Treason?!

Your Majesty, you cannot forget the late Majesty's will.

What?!

This is a private historical record copied in secret from the Interrogation office.

Your Majesty the King, I'm sorry to tell you this

but the late King's will was left in a secret order.

Your Majesty the King, please leave a will! (5 years ago, King Seong Jong)

Please appoint Grand Prince Jin Seong as the Crown Prince!

Your Majesty the King!

When Grand Prince Jin Seong reaches adulthood, abdicate and leave the throne to him.

That child must become King...

Yoong, you... you will ruin all of Joseon.

But a secret order? Exactly why can't you trust me?

Why? Because I'm the son of a deposed Queen?

Then what about him? Aside from being born, what has he done?

Why must I be afraid of that young one now?!

My Yeok, you're so intelligent.

How can you care only for that child until the very end?

Where is Yeok? Where is Grand Prince Jin Seong right now?!

Where did those rascals run off to?

Damn this.

I want to buy a present for my family.

What would be a good present for someone in a particularly high position?

Can't you understand dialect?!

As long as you have money, I can understand everything from dialect to Chinese.

But...

I have money!

We meet again, Bird-poop.

Did you really chase me here? To catch me?

How much is this salamander paperweight?

1 nyang.

Are you acting out your revenge on me right now?!

You're not even a woman. What petty revenge?

Let's make it 2 nyang. That's the last of that product.

- Alright, here's 2 nyang. - 3 nyang!

3 nyang and a half!

What are you trying to do? Are you cutting in?

I was moved by your righteousness earlier.

You could call this a small repayment from a wealthy subject.

Hah! You are getting revenge!

- Hurry and give it to me. - No! I'm going to buy it.

What did I tell you earlier? I said I would be giving it to someone in a very high position, did I not?

I'm going to gift this to someone who is at least 10 ranks higher than the person she'll gift it to.

Hah! I'm going to give this to His Majesty the King.

- How? - I'm His Majesty the King's nephew!

I'm His Majesty the King's younger brother!

Goodness! If you're the King's younger brother, I...

I'm Joseon's Queen! I'm the Queen!

Now, now, now! I'll give this to whoever gives me 3 nyang first.

I have money too!

Goodness, thank you.

Quickly, give it to me.

Stop right there!

"I'm Joseon's Queen!"

Damn that. What a waste of a man.

If you truly want to do something for His Majesty the King,

take up knitting like a girl and give it to him as a gift instead.

It's perfect. I got my revenge and bought a present.

You must deliver this directly to His Lordship.

It is extremely important.

What do I do?

What are you looking for?

Were you pickpocketed or something?

Wow, look at those Hanyang jerks using their heads.

What happened earlier was just a ruse. His real revenge was pickpocketing me!

Once I catch you, you're dead! I'm going to break your wrists!

Where did those rascals run off to?

Where are you, Yeok?! Exactly where are you?

I found you!

Exactly where did you go? We searched everywhere for you.

What about you two? Where were you?

-My leg... -What? What's wrong?

What? Did you sprain your leg?

Ugh, I knew this would happen when you started running off earlier.

Did I run because I wanted to? It's all because that bird-poop bastard—

Still, I got my revenge.

Now, put your foot in.

Left foot.

Right foot. Alright. Now, with all your strength.

With all your strength!

Friends are nice after all.

If we were true friends, you wouldn't make your friends suffer needlessly—

Speed up! Why are you tottering so much?

Attack!

Your Majesty, what brings you all the way—

It seems as if you are the King in this area.

What King? I'm the leader of the kids in the neighborhood.

I heard that these two were your close friends. So, did you officially enter the palace?

The chance to enter will be given to me next year, Your Majesty the King.

I too will challenge myself in the martial arts entrance exam, Your Majesty.

Since you two have not passed the entrance exam to enter the palace, it seems I cannot expect loyalty from you yet.

Needless to say, all the people of Joseon will be loyal to you, Your Majesty the King.

We're probably much better than most public government officials—

We will be.

Really? Then, can you die for me?

-It'd be an honor, Your Majesty the King. -It'd be an honor, Your Majesty the King.

Then, let's assume that a house both Yeok and I are in caught on fire.

-Who would you save first? -I—

I would save Your Majesty the King first.

Then, I would enter the house again to save the Grand Prince, Your Majesty the King.

Yes, I too...Even if I cannot escape in time, I would rather die with my friend.

So while you will save me, you'll offer your life up for the Grand Prince?

-Your Majesty! -Your Majesty!

That's a speculation! That's not what they meant—

A speculation?! Are you telling me my judgment was wrong?

-Your Majesty... -In front of me,

you just stated that you would offer up your life for my younger brother from a different mother and this nation's legitimate heir to the throne.

What are their crimes?

They could be punished under the charge of treason.

Your Majesty!

If you want to save your friends, beat me.

I'll give you a horse.

If you arrive at the palace before me, I'll save both the lives of you and your friends.

However,

if you're even a step late, I will behead you first.

Your Highness!

Your Highness the Grand Prince, pull yourself together!

Yeok!

The late King's will was left in a secret order.

When Grand Prince Jin Seong reaches adulthood, abdicate and leave the throne to him.

I can't give it to him! I would rather die.

This is the only thing that's truly mine in this world. How can you try to steal this away too?

Move! Move!

Brother, why are you doing this all of a sudden?

What has made you so enraged?

Please just tell me instead.

You have to pass the market and go east on the alleyway. At the end is an empty house under construction.

Once you jump over that house's walls, you'll be right in front of the palace.

Where is the government office? This place is so confusing.

You gangster-like young master!

- Who are you? - Then?

What is it? What's the matter?

Move!

Get lost!

Give me back what you stole from me first!

- Let go of me! - Give it back!

Let go!

Where do you think you're going?! Stop right there, you thief!

Stop! Stop!

That gangster-like young master! If I catch you, you're dead...

You lost.

How... what made you so enraged?

- If there is a misunderstanding— -Misunderstanding? A misunderstanding?

Is this hellish situation a misunderstanding to you?!

Hell?

As promised, I will behead you.

Even if I die, I must know why.

If it is an understandable reason, I will gladly die!

So you're saying that your judgment is above my wishes.

That's not it—

Then! What is the reason I cannot kill you?

You love reasons so much. Why don't you tell me?!

I'm your, His Majesty the King's, younger brother.

We were born from the same father...

That's the first reason as to why you must die.

and I am this nation's, Joseon's, Grand Prince.

And you're a prince with clipped wings who can't do anything for the Royal Court and the people.

I'm a subject of this nation!

You're a subject with an extremely noble status!

While receiving an enormous allowance, you are one of the subjects who uses the nation's funds the most!

I didn't want any of it!

Then what do you want? Do you want my position on the throne?

Your Majesty!

What are you so confident about?!

- Your Majesty the King! - Your Highness the Grand Prince!

Your Majesty the King!

I was wrong!

Please, please spare my friends.

Fine. I'll just end it with you.

Brother!

Your Majesty!

Yes, Her Highness the Queen Dowager is the root of your confidence

and His Majesty the late King, who continues to remain your reliable backing,

even after death.

That's not true.

My strongest backing is you, Hyungnim.

Since you, the King of this nation, loves and adores me,

I can continue to be this confident.

Your Majesty! Exactly what is the meaning of all this?

Your Highness the Grand Prince! Your Highness!

My strongest backing is you, Hyungnim.

I'm about to go nuts. How can I go home now?

Quickly!

He's mixed then. He's half nice, half gangster.

He has finally started to show his true colors.

Because you're growing up, even your wedding is making him anxious.

Wedding? Do you mean my marriage?

Now, do you understand my thoughts? Do you understand why I warned you to be careful?

The fact that I am becoming an adult and getting married is becoming dangerous to my brother?

Is that the reason for what happened today?

Because if this nation's prince, who is directly descended from the throne, marries into a wealthy and powerful family,

he can use that power and take over the throne.

That's nonsense.

What can't ever be explained in words is power and being the prince.

Didn't I tell you countless times before?

Even if you come to trust and rely on everyone in this world,

if there is one person you must be on your guard against, it is the King.

Mother!

Look at Joseon's history.

The older brother kills his younger brother, the young brother kills his older brother, the uncle kills his nephew.

Do you think your older brother is any different?

You two aren't even full-blooded siblings.

Since it's come to this, there is no other solution aside from marriage.

To protect you—

Your Majesty...

Were you talking about the Royal Chief Secretary Sin's daughter

as the shield to protect him?

Your Majesty, what I meant was—

The Chief Royal Secretary is the Queen's older brother and my most loyal subject.

Even if a sword was held to his throat, he wouldn't challenge me over the throne.

There's no need for him to.

Since he already has power surpassing that of Royal Father-in-Law.

Your Majesty.

Become the Royal Chief Secretary Sin Soo Geun's son-in-law. Enter their household.

Live quietly in Geochang's countryside.

Don't ever have children either.

Ensure that the sound of your breath does not make it past that household's walls.

Then, I will spare your life.

Why must I do that? I trust you, Hyungnim.

I...do not trust you

nor everything surrounding you.

If you want to prove your loyalty to me, die and be reborn

as a ordinary peasant, not my younger brother.

Yes, it'll be even better if you were reborn as a woman.

Your Majesty! Your Maj—

Did you see?

Those are his true colors.

Therefore, Yeok—

Then, why am I still alive?

I fell off my horse today.

Most people would have been severely injured but I ended up with just a few scrapes on my knees

Thanks to having learned how to fall.

The person who taught me how to fall, is my brother.

That's when you two were both young!

Exactly, Mother!

If I were him, if I were the type of person you think he is,

I would have killed me earlier on. Before I had grown up this much,

and before I could have learned how to fall.

Because that's easier.

I must leave this place immediately! I feel as if I'll be suffocated to death.

How is it that this spacious palace is filled only with those who suspect me?

You have me.

Soon it will be time for the Royal Guard to change shifts.

If you leave the palace during this time, no one will be suspicious.

You should visit the hot springs. It will make you feel much better.

Undress me.

Stop! Stop him!

It's the gangster-like Young Master!

We'll stand guard here.

Your Highness the Grand Prince! Your Highness the Grand Prince, please wait a minute.

Your Highness the Grand Prince!

I wish to meet my older brother.

I want to resolve our misunderstandings. Hurry and announce me.

Now!

Your Highness the Grand Prince, His Majesty the King wishes to rest.

Please return tomorrow—

If that is the case, then I shall at least play the lute before I leave this place.

I'll deliver your wishes.

I'm sure His Majesty the King will be able to drift off to a deep slumber after hearing Your Highness' performance.

Brother, regardless of what anyone says,

the fact that I'm alive like this is evidence that you love me.

Trying to change his mind with a mere lute performance?

How should I respond to his inferior idea of romance?

Where is this place?

I'm sure I came this way.

Where did your owner go?

Young Master! Young Master!

Young Master!

Subtitles brought to you by The History Tellers @ Viki

♫ You don't have to say a thing ♫

Who are you?

♫ When I opened my eyes, you had come to me. ♫

Could I know the meaning of that gaze? ♫ The sight of you ♫

♫ smiling so brightly is blinding ♫

♫ Because you took a step closer to me, ♫

♫ my heart is pounding ♫

♫ You, who are so bright. Who could you be?♫ ♫You take my breath away ♫

♫ I am staring at you, who I've imagined in my dreams ♫

♫ Flowers are blossoming in my heart ♫

♫ I keep on finding myself smiling ♫

Queen for Seven Days

Why were you stark naked in the middle of the night?

You have no fear.

My daughter is not suitable to become His Highness the Grand Prince's partner.

She's always been physically weak so we raised her in the countryside

and with the excuse that she's sick, she was lazy in her studies and we never taught her anything else.

Frankly speaking, I'm a waste for His Highness the Grand Prince, not the other way around.

I'm going to seduce him.

Being with you is the end of me, the end!

Let me down! Ahjussi!

♫ Your breath which comes whispering to me ♫

I want to properly use my charms.

As femininely as possible.

What if Her Highness the Queen Dowager is also aware of the secret order?

In the end, he'll want to kill him.

Catch him. Exactly why is he there?! Why?!

If you're born into this world, shouldn't you do your part?

Stop right now.

Your fates should never have intertwined in the first place.