Original subtitles

This is the king's daily activity copied in secret from the records department.

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

We've finally found him, Your Majesty.

The scribe who worked the night shift at the palace during the final moments of the late king.

T.N. Scribes followed the king 24/7 recording his every move.

Is it because you're scared or because of the smell?

Go inside quickly and deal with nature's call!

He has been living in Dongjeokjeon village, in the outskirts of Dongdaemun, hiding his identity.

The Queen Dowager's movements are quite strange.

Her Highness the Queen Dowager left the palace with His Highness the Grand Prince Jin Seong.

The more she reveals about herself, the more interesting she becomes.

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

What if, like us, she's attempting to find the scribe to secure the secret order?

So we must find it first!

We need to find it as quickly as possible and destroy it.

Oh, that is...

I've thought about this quite a bit.

No matter how much I think, I must marry you, Your Highness.

Rather than school principal's nephew twice removed whom I have never even met,

I have seen you and have become friends with you.

So it's better to marry you.

For you too, for many reasons, I think it would be better to marry me.

Young Lady, Grand Prince.

Here, we are here.

Why aren't you answering me?

Am... Am I crazy?

Become Chief Royal Secretary Sin Soo Geun's son-in-law.

Then, I will keep you alive.

Whatever! I don't want it either.

If he's a scumbag, it's better that he act like one so I will lose all interest in him,

or be an intelligent and dashing grand prince, so that I can only dream about him.

He's just a half and half young master who's arrogant too.

Queen for Seven Days

Episode 3

God of heaven and earth, god of the dragon.

Please listen to the prayer of the Joseon people.

Continued drought this year has dried up the crops,

it's difficult for people to keep their livelihood. Ditches are filled with corpses,

Since I am lacking, even though I have faults and committed sins,

No ruler has ever personally given a prayer ceremony for rain.

It's a noble intention, helping to achieve the people's wishes through rituals.

However, the rain ceremony for crops needs to go through a 12-step process,

in each of the renowned mountains, the large rivers, the royal ancestral shrine at Jongmyo,

as well as offering sacrifices to the dragon gods.

Ministers are supposed to be deployed as the sacrificial priests.

Are your trying to say it's against the code for His Majesty to personally carry out the ministers' duties?

I am saying His Majesty alone can not carry out everything.

He's not doing it alone. He's trying to personally do it out of earnest good intentions.

That's him being obsessive and compulsive.

He needs to get his own way even with natural phenomena in order to be satisfied.

Please give rain in abundance.

It's good if it works out.

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, please take care of your body.

Your Majesty!

My Royal Father, I don't know about the Great Jade Emperor (the god of heaven) or the Dragon King God (the sea god).

I have never acquainted myself with them,

nor have I relied on them.

However, Royal Father, are you watching?

My devotion and prayer are sincere.

Your son earnestly prays for rain.

They think salamanders bring forth wind and rain, so—

Oh yes. What did you do with my salamander water holder?

You said you meant to give it to the King anyway. It's better this way.

You were able to save money, and the water pot was given to your intended person.

Wow. I am so thankful.

Out of everything, why did you buy a salamander-shaped water holder?

- A salamander is a dragon that lives in a ditch— - A salamander is a dragon that lives in a ditch—

"A dragon emerging from a small stream" describes a great man with humble beginnings.

Anyway, they say it's a dragon.

A dragon is the symbol of the king, so of course I thought it matches the king best.

Ah, "the dragon that lives in a ditch."

How childish!

- What's childish? - What's childish?

Anyway, you put a salamander in a jar, cover it with a leaf,

wet the branch of a willow, tap the jar with it, and chant the spell.

Salamander, salamander...

"Bring forth the clouds, help the fog, and let the rain pour down."

"If you do, I will let you go."

This is a palace custom. How do you know this?

- Oh - Seo No.

Seo No! What are you doing there?

They are my friends, Father.

Grandma! Are you all right?

I don't think you belong in a place like this.

Please go back to your home.

Seo No's father seems very strict.

Keep the scribe's home in Dongjeokjeon under surveillance.

If anyone of royal lineage approaches the scribe,

regardless of his reason or position,

kill him by any means.

Never, ever meet them again.

They saved my life today.

They said they will be my friends.

What friends?

Why do you dislike me?

Why?

Hey, you rascals!

- Find them! - Yes, sir.

Why are we fleeing?

Someone was tailing us.

Why? What did we do wrong?

Even if we did nothing wrong, we could die.

Pardon? What?

Since I am the Grand Prince. That's how I was trained since birth.

If I detect danger, I need to avoid it before anything.

Why? What?

I mean, I didn't expect you to pay close attention to people.

But why do you usually pretend otherwise?

By any chance, are you preparing to get married?

- What? - I mean, look.

Pretending not to have seen, not being able to hear. You also keep your mouth closed.

I've heard that in order to survive, women have to live like that once they are married.

What you're doing is exactly like that.

You're right. They say that's how you survive. Me too.

I am afraid you will flee without me.

They couldn't have run far.

Find them.

God of heaven and earth, please make them unable to see my footprints. Please.

What do I do? They are coming this way.

Coming.

It's all right. Don't be afraid.

It's raining.

It's raining.

It's raining.

- Love live the King! - Long live the King!

Is it really raining?

Congratulations, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, hurray! Long live the King!

Congratulations!

Royal Father, do you see this? Am I still unfit to be the king of this country?

I won't doubt it.

I am the king of Joseon, both in name and deed.

Your Highness.

- Can you see the hut over there? - Yes.

Let's run over there.

Your Highness, it's raining. Congratulations!

Yes, His Majesty's earnest plea reached the heavens.

Your Highness the Queen Dowager.

Your Highness.

I am here to discuss the wedding of Grand Prince Jin Seong.

It's raining just in time; it must be an auspicious sign.

I proposed marriage to the Chief Royal Secretary in person.

There is still no response. Thus...

I have come with a written marriage proposal.

I need to ask you to intervene.

Most importantly, if Grand Prince Jin Seong becomes the son-in-law of His Highness' most trusted subject,

the brotherly love between His Highness and the Grand Prince will grow.

Even up until several years ago, the two brothers deeply loved each other.

I wish my sons could go back to those times.

I don't have any other wish.

So please help.

I find everyday clothes more comfortable than ritual gowns.

Ritual gowns are too heavy and cumbersome.

Request the royal tailors to make my everyday clothes with lighter material in the future,

and to tailor my sleeves to be narrower.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What do you think?

Yes, Your Majesty.

If you make your sleeves narrow, I think it's more comfortable to move in them—

No, I am talking about Grand Prince Jin Seong.

Grand Prince Jin Seong did?

Is it finished?

He's having a private meeting with the Chief Royal Secretary.

He gave royal orders not to be interrupted by anyone.

Am I anyone?

Yeok thought I was just saying it in the heat of the moment.

That's why he said he will never become your son-in-law.

Being intolerant, I was a bit harsh with my words.

However, my decision wasn't impulsive.

As you are well aware, Yeok is not only my younger brother.

He is also the legitimate heir to this country and a strong political rival.

But, Your Majesty...

It's not because he's my beloved younger brother.

I need to be on guard against him. That's why I am giving him to you.

I cannot trust anyone else other than you.

Your Majesty, there is trouble.

My prediction was right. It's about Dongjeokjeon village.

Enter!

Why is Yeok there?

Why is he there? Exactly why?!

It's just as we expected.

Her Highness the Queen Dowager is aware of that fact

because she is the late king's queen.

Capture him. We'll find out when we interrogate him.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Will you truly betray my trust?

If by any chance, you know, I will never forgive you.

I came here today to tell you that I will never marry you.

I'm not just anyone.

If I get married to my older brother's most-trusted subject's daughter,

then others will assume that I suspect and fear my brother.

It hurts my pride, and I hate it.

If we get married, won't both His Majesty the King, Your Highness the Grand Prince,

and our entire families be more harmonious?

We're becoming family.

You're so naïve.

Earlier, when we were being chased by those suspicious people, I recited a spell to myself.

If we don't get caught by those people and escape safely,

then that's a sign that the heavens are helping us.

It's the heavens encouraging us to not be afraid.

I guess you really are a girl after all.

A superstitious spell like that—

Even if it is superstitious!

Thanks to that spell, I was able to muster up my courage.

That's why we shouldn't already be afraid of this world the adults created for themselves.

You didn't do anything wrong, Your Highness.

It's the world that is wrong.

You... like me, don't you?

P-pardon?

Has the rain already stopped?

Now, even if we just throw a small pebble,

it will set off a significant wave,

because he's a sensitive ruler.

During the late King Seongjong's reign, he grew up with a wound buried deep within his heart.

I no longer wish to see him in pain over the same issues.

Giddy up! Giddy up!

Giddy up! Giddy up! Come on, giddy up!

Your Highness, are you having fun?

Yeah.

Giddy up!

Your Majesty, I, the Minister of Taxation, Sin Soo Geun, am here to see you.

Giddy up! Giddy up!

- Giddy up! Giddy up! - It's an honor, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty the late King Seong Jong,

you appointed me as a dog;

therefore, what other choice do I have than to become a real dog?

Now, with the teeth of a beast,

I'll kill Grand Prince Jin Seong, whom you loved so much.

Grand Prince Jin Seong must die so that His Majesty the King and I can rule Joseon.

I told you to get on. Where will you go with that foot?

I can't.

Why? By any chance, are you being like this because of our genders?

Something about the relationship between a man and a woman? That?

There are "countless" (dialect) reasons.

Countless?

It means that there are many reasons, Your Highness.

Then will you get on if I ask you to marry me?

I guess you came to like me too!

I'll be leaving first, Bird Poop.

What was that? Seriously!

"What was that? Seriously!"

Your Highness!

See? You were going to have to get on anyway.

Come on now.

I'm only getting on because it's rude to continuously decline.

I'm not getting on because I want to, absolutely not.

Please keep that in mind.

Alright!

Why are you so heavy?

What to do?! Hurry and put me down! Quickly, now!

♫ You don't have to speak ♫

♫ You were here when I opened my eyes ♫

What was that?! Did you joke around again?! ♫ The sight of you smiling so brightly ♫

♫ Was blinding ♫

♫ I'm staring at you whom I've imagined in my dreams ♫

If we get married, let's live like friends and have fun, like this, forever. ♫ A flower blooms in my heart ♫

♫ Unconsciously, I keep smiling ♫

That's the end? ♫ Love calls so ♫

I won't be fooled again. You'll tease me again. ♫ ride the clouds ♫

I'm serious this time.

We can get married.

But it won't be a political marriage.

I'm doing this marriage because I like you.

♫ It's just growing slowly ♫

♫ Don't you know how I feel? ♫

Let's go! ♫ Your breath which comes whispering to me, we kiss ♫

♫ I'm staring at you whom I've imagined in my dreams ♫

♫ A flower blooms in my heart ♫

♫ Unconsciously, I keep smiling ♫

♫ Love calls ♫

Why are you going so slowly? ♫ So we ride ♫

It... it's just because you're too heavy. ♫ the clouds ♫

I said I'm not heavy!

Are you just going to continue to sit there?

I've never thought you were wrong in my whole life.

Until today.

Why did you do that?

If you become friends with people out of your league, you'll pay the price.

People need to live according to their lot.

Father...

We're here.

Do you have something to say or do you need to go to the bathroom?

If one made a vow, one should perform a ceremony.

If one made a promise, one should leave a token...

Isn't it human nature?

Here.

Ah, stick your finger straight out.

This one.

It fits perfectly. A perfect fit.

My token is—

Grand Prince!

Grand Prince!

Wh-what's the matter? What's wrong?

Please save my father, Grand Prince.

Grand Prince, my father might get killed.

I am the one who stole the rice. Instead, they arrested my father.

What are you saying? We took care of everything. What happened?

It can't be from that incident.

He's being held at the Uigeumbu (Royal Investigation Bureau for treason and other serious crimes) for such a matter?

I am the one who should be arrested, flogged, or otherwise punished.

Your Highness.

Seo No, listen carefully.

As soon as the day breaks, I will go to the Uigeumbu right away to find out what's going on.

No, I'll go and say that your father did no wrong, and I'll tell them to release him immediately.

So for now, just go home.

There definitely won't be any problems.

Then what about me?

Just practice speaking with a Hanyang accent.

What?

Your Highness!

Look after Seo No and his grandmother.

More things can go awry if you make any rash movements.

Your Highness!

By any chance, if this happened because of the rice,

I will take the punishment, so be sure to tell me.

It's not your fault. No way.

Have mercy on me.

What is your name?

Mak Gae.

Tell me your real name.

What do you mean my real name?

But what is your occupation?

There is no such thing as occupation.

I farm the land and live from it.

Shut up!

If you tell another lie,

I won't ask you with words then. Name?

Mak... Mak Gae. It's Mak Gae.

Are you the scribe who recorded the late king's daily activities?

I don't know what you're talking about...

How do you know the Grand Prince Jin Seong?

If you mean Grand Prince Jin Seong...

Why did Grand Prince Jin Seong go to your house?

Why was he at your house together with your son?!

That's a misunderstanding. The Grand Prince doesn't know anything.

What?

What doesn't the Grand Prince know?

It's a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding.

The Grand Prince doesn't know anything.

A family lives together and even dies together.

You were wrong. We can't be like that.

Throw it out. Throw everything out.

Your Highness, about the issue of the wedding...

It doesn't seem to be the right time now.

Father, it's Chae Gyeong.

Come in.

Your Highness the Queen.

It's Chae Gyeong. You were a little child, but now you're a young woman.

Why aren't you sleeping?

By any chance, did you read the letter inside?

No. I really didn't see it.

It's fine then.

I already heard about its contents from the nanny.

Go and sleep now.

We have important things to discuss with the Queen.

Your Highness, by any chance, today at the Uigeumbu...

It's nothing.

Please look after Seo No and his grandmother.

More things can go awry if you make any rash movements.

If Chae Gyeong meets a royal, please don't forget my prophecy of a bloodbath

raining upon the royal court and royal family.

Buddhist monk!

Don't trust the late king.

If Chae Gyeong marries into the royal family, the royal court and the royal family

will be soaked in a bloodbath.

Brother.

That's impossible. Please do whatever it takes to prevent it.

Your Highness, Chae Gyeong cannot marry Grand Prince Jin Seong.

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Let go of me! Yesterday—

Your Highness.

Your Highness, what brings you all the way here?

I'm sure you know. What is the reason?

The village of Dongjeokjeon is land that is cared for by the royal family.

All crops harvested from that designated land are to be offered to His Majesty the King.

It's a crime to steal that rice, a crime of embezzlement.

That's impossible. I made up for the missing amount of rice offering.

Because of that, the crime of contempt against His Majesty the King has been added.

It wasn't enough that they stole the rice meant to be offered to His Majesty the King for their personal use, yet,

even when such a crime was committed,

they did not notify their superiors of the fact.

That's a crime of contempt against His Majesty the King.

Your Highness, you know just as well

that these days, the crime of contempt against His Majesty the King is just as severe as the crime of treason.

His Majesty will not forgive the sin of humiliating and looking down on the king and the royal family.

It's just one mal (18 liters) of rice.

from the crops that those people have planted and harvested all through spring and summer.

A portion of their own shares were included in that harvest; it's just one mal.

Whether it's one mal or one grain,

it doesn't change the fact that all belong to His Majesty the King.

So, you're planning to punish him?

The punishment for contempt against His Majesty the King is execution, Your Highness.

Your Majesty! Please listen to me!

Please save him! He's innocent!

Leave.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Hyungnim!

His Majesty the King is entering!

We greet you, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty! I'll wait here until you finish your council meeting!

The moment he sees the entrance pass granted by His Majesty the King, he'll wish to save the man trapped in the cell, even if he has to defy the royal command,

without knowing that it'll lead to his own death.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

I told you to leave. Are you planning to defy my wishes until the end?

But execution? How is that a crime worthy of death?

No, he's innocent.

The crime of looking down on me!

What greater crime could there be?

Although there is no greater crime than that, there is something above that:

someone's life.

Then, are you telling me that I've arrested

an innocent person and now fabricating the crime log?

That's not what I meant—

Then, are you planning to defy a royal command and interfere with this nation's politics?

- N-no. - Then?

I'm just offering the suggestion that there could have been a misunderstanding.

I'm objecting to the punishment as it might be too severe for the crime.

You could open a council meeting with all of the ministers present or conduct a trial through the Investigation Bureau.

I'm requesting a chance for him to be judged without discrimination.

You're still the same. You still believe your judgment is above my decision.

Listen up, younger brother.

What you need right now is not that trial

but my forgiveness, understanding, and generosity.

After you've fixed your habit of going against my decisions, come back again.

Hyungnim!

How dare you?!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty...

Your Majesty!

- Call the royal physician! Now! - Yes, sir!

Your Majesty, let's go.

Seo No!

Seo No—

S-Seo No?

Seo No!

I...

It's all because of me. It's all because of me!

It's all my fault. If I hadn't gotten involved...

Please help me. Father, Mother, Your Majesty the King, Your Highness the Grand Prince...

There has to be a limit to your immaturity. Exactly what were you thinking?

How is the atmosphere among the ministers?

It was quite refreshing.

"You can call all of the ministers and have a meeting. Please conduct a trial."

Those were words we hadn't heard in a while.

There were also those who questioned who else aside from you, Your Highness, could suggest a proposal that went against His Majesty's decision.

Did they take interest?

Not in me, but in the Dongjeokjeon village case.

They'd have to risk the lives of their whole family.

Who would dare to stand against His Majesty the King over such a trivial case?

You had a problem with my decision. However! I will forgive you.

You dared to talk back to me in the presence of court officials. However...

I will forgive you.

I'll even forgive your insolent words of "no one innocent should die."

However, if the reason you're monitoring and protecting the scribe is because of the secret order,

if you're waiting until you're an adult so you can mock and humiliate me...

Your Majesty, you'll hurt yourself.

I'll never forgive you!

I'll kill you with my own hands.

The gates closed a moment ago, Your Highness.

- Open the gates! - Yes, sir!

Why are you acting up too?

Why did you come here?

How did it go?

Don't concern yourself with it.

How can I do that? Seo No's grandmother passed away.

Seo No's father has to come for them to proceed with the funeral!

When? Why?

After she discovered her son was arrested, she ran after him but collapsed.

She was already seriously sick, but received a great shock.

Tell me the truth.

A royal command has been given to behead him.

Geum Oh Moon: Main gate of Uigeumbu

I'm going to bring him out.

If you do that, all of the blame will be put on you...

Let's not do that. Instead, let's ask my father—

Who are you trusting?!

The Chief Royal Secretary is someone who would willingly die at His Majesty the King's command.

Don't look at me like that. You're not the only one who is hurt.

I'm about to go crazy too.

How is no one stopping this?!

I'll ask them one more time.

Father, Mother, Uncle, Her Highness the Queen, I'll meet them all.

If that still doesn't work, I'll ask His Majesty the King—

Are you bragging about your backing?

Because you're the precious only child of his most trusted subject, the king who would make even the birds flying in the sky drop from fear,

do you think he will listen to you?

Your Highness...

While you're confirming how strong your backing is,

what are you going to do if Seo No's father dies? Will you take responsibility then?

Why would you say that?!

I asked you to just forget about it, but you're the one who interfered in this matter blabbering about saving lives!

Does it look like I don't know that? I'm regretting it so much right now because of that!

Then stay out of this!

You said you regret it.

So you, the scared daughter of the Chief Royal Secretary, can stay out of this.

If you try to stop me one more time, I won't ever see you again.

Look here! Come to your senses!

Hurry!

His Majesty the King has taken into account a special situation, the drought,

and said he would not punish you for your crimes this time.

Hurry!

You can't, Your Highness!

You... you cannot get involved in this matter.

Please... please just ignore me.

Hurry and release him! Hurry!

Please... please just leave me alone.

I did this. I can't leave you to die because of me.

Your Highness, that's only an excuse...

You!

Your Highness! Father!

Did you think I would've been just whistling around out here?

So you released the criminal?

- His Highness the Grand Prince requested... - Chase them, hurry!

Yes!

Stop.

They went that way. Chase them!

Father.

From here on, go by yourselves.

Pardon?

I have to end this matter and buy time for him to escape.

H-how?

By my method.

But—

Please! Can't you just listen to me, just this once?

Move quickly! Hurry!

Seo No!

They must be near here! Search the area!

Yes!

Seo No, Seo No, let's take a quick break.

Father. Father, please come to your senses.

Seo No, move quickly.

My relative is leaving for Namdo for his governor post.

Quickly!

Two, three!

Let's go, hurry! We must leave before the sun rises.

Yes, sir!

Here, here, here.

Now, be careful. Place it here.

Hurry! Hurry!

I am rushing him on his way since his lung disease can only be treated in Namdo's warm weather.

So please take good care of him.

Yes, understood. The Elder has granted his permission, so I'm just following his orders.

He's my friend so please treat him well, alright?

Don't worry too much.

It seems he'll work for his share.

Hurry, hurry!

Eat this on the way there.

- Hurry, hurry! - Come on, quickly!

This side.

What about His Highness the Grand Prince and you, Young Lady?

Who do you think we are? I doubt they'll actually kill us.

I'll repay this debt one day.

Is there a debt between friends?

Thank you...

Stop right there!

Royal Father.

Did you have another nightmare?

What time is it?

It's been about an hour since paru* rang. (bell to announce beginning and end of the curfew)

Your Majesty!

Was it really your doing?

Yes.

Why?

Why did you do that? Huh?

Exactly why?!

Because... of the throne.

What?

Did you just say it was because of the throne?

Subtitles brought to you by The History Tellers @ Viki

Queen for Seven Days

These were all petition scrolls requesting Yeok's forgiveness?!

Tell him it was all that child's doing.

That's how you can live.

Grand Prince Jin Seong said all of this happened because of you.

I...

I told you to never appear in front of me again!

Your Highness, please don't do this!

I'll survive and become king.

Have you ever considered that for his benefit, even if you met the real Grand Prince Jin Seong, you should pretend otherwise?

It is you. Why are you lying? I know it's you.

♫ I'm staring at you whom I've imagined in my dreams ♫

♫ A flower blooms in my heart ♫

♫ Unconsciously, I keep smiling ♫

♫ Love calls so we ride the clouds ♫