Original subtitles

How could this happen?

Your Highness.

LONGING

May I ask what you are doing here all alone?

Well…

I wanted to get some fresh air after my reading,

so I came out for a walk.

Does this belong to you?

What?

That…

NOT

Yes. That's mine.

Only commoners play with something like this.

How did you get this?

There you are, my lord.

So tell me.

Were you able to see her off?

Yes, my lord.

I suggest you go back to your quarters.

His Majesty made it clear that you were to stay in your quarters.

Yes, he did.

Wait.

Yes?

Why are you in such a hurry?

You should take what's yours.

Right.

Okay.

NOT

Hey, you're not supposed to be here.

We must go back, Your Highness.

I have been looking all over for you.

Escort him to his quarters now.

He is not to leave his room today.

-Do you understand? -Pardon?

Oh. Yes, my lord.

NOT

I'm sorry.

I was really going to come back right after I gave him these.

I'll tell on you once His Highness returns.

I'll tell him how you snuck out when you were supposed to stay inside.

Hey, Bok-dong.

Bok-dong.

Mother, I wasn't informed that you would be stopping by.

Who else knows about this?

Pardon? What do you mean?

That this child here

swapped clothes with my son.

Who else knows about this?

Please spare us.

The Prince, Dam-i, and I are the only ones who know.

Please forgive me. I was just following the Prince's order.

As of this moment, you are…

the Prince.

You…

cannot speak of this to anyone.

You have to take this secret to the grave.

Do you understand me?

EPISODE 2

My dear Prince…

Where are you going, Your Highness?

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Your Highness, what are you going to do?

I will go back to where I belong.

It's the Crown Princess.

It is my understanding that you have the girl's body.

I am a parent who lost her daughter.

Nothing can stop me now.

-I must see her body. -Why?

Do you not trust your man, Jung Seok-jo?

I was under the impression that

he wouldn't hesitate to kill even my child if you ordered him to do so.

You can take her with you if that will help you feel reassured.

I brought her into the world. So naturally,

she must carry some of your blood as well.

So you can send her off

yourself.

No parent

wants to hurt their child.

Everything I am doing is for you and our family's sake.

Find it in your heart to let this go.

PASSAGE GRANTED

Go ahead.

-I-wol, wait up. -Wait up.

What took you so long? I thought you left without me.

-Excuse me. -Goodness.

Are you I-wol?

Do you know me?

Of course. Don't you work with Dam-i?

Can you give this to Dam-i when you go back?

My name is Jung Ji-un. Wait, no. Tell her "Jwajeon." Then, she'll know.

I'm sorry I can't do that.

I need your help. I want to give it to her in person,

but I can't go inside.

Can you please give this letter to her?

It's not that. Dam-i isn't at the palace anymore.

She's not at the palace?

She disappeared.

And no one knows where she went either.

What do you mean?

She left to attend the banquet for the elderly,

but never came back.

No one including the court ladies and maids

has seen her.

It's not like she has a place to go outside the palace.

Father.

Were you at the palace?

Yes.

I wanted to see my friend.

Are you talking about the court maid?

Father, I have a favor to ask you.

The next time you are at the palace, could you ask around about my friend?

No one has seen her after the banquet for the elderly.

You might have better luck finding her as you are an inspector.

Do you think tracking down a mere maid is my job?

-That's not what I meant. -Never…

bring her up in front of me again. Do you understand?

Did you not eat anything all day?

Eat.

Eat even if rice tastes like sand in your mouth.

And drink water even if it tastes like

bitter medicine.

I don't want to.

I hate everything.

If you give up now,

it will mean death for everyone around you.

Including you and me.

Everyone.

Are you awake?

Let us bring in water for your face.

Starting now,

Court Lady Kim and Eunuch Hong will be taking care of you.

So do not worry.

-Maids will bring water and help you wash -Please stop.

in the morning.

You don't have to do a thing.

-Let the maids handle everything. -Your Highness.

Your schedule is fairly simple.

Every morning, you will go to the King's quarters

as well as the Queen's quarters to offer your greetings.

And then, you will come to our quarters to say hello to the Crown Prince and me.

-Oh, my back. -The Prince is here.

I was concerned when I heard you weren't feeling well for a while.

Are you feeling better now?

Yes. I am sorry to have caused you to worry.

Is it because you've been sick recently?

You don't sound as strong as before.

No, Your Majesty. I am perfectly fine.

This isn't good.

I will have one of my people to deliver some tonics to get your energy up.

Make sure to drink it every day.

Yes, Your Majesty.

It's time for the morning assembly.

This is enough for morning greetings. You may all leave now.

I keep stepping on my robe as it is too long.

And this is too big for my head.

I will get them altered today.

No, not there. It's that way.

The other way around.

Your Highness, I have the herbal tonics from the Queen.

It is hot. So please be careful.

Hot!

I'm sorry. It's my fault.

Oh, no.

I'm sorry, Your Highness. I'll go and bring another bowl.

Are you all right? Gosh, it's my fault.

No. I'm all right.

Don't worry about this.

Bok-dong.

Did you ask for me?

Get some ointment from the royal pharmacy.

-Pardon? -Hurry.

Your Highness.

Please forgive me. It was my mistake.

You may all leave.

The cut was deep. Please call a physician for her.

There's no need.

It is not your place to worry about her even if her finger is wounded or severed.

She was hurt because of me because I dropped the bowl.

No.

It was her fault.

So you are never to apologize.

You are not to worry about other people.

Think only about yourself.

You are not to care about what others think of you.

That's what it means…

to be the Prince.

There's no need to show respect to others

or feel bad for them.

The only people you will show respect to

are the King and the Crown Prince.

Do you understand that?

But…

Why must I do that?

That's not how I want to live.

It is only fair that

I apologize to whoever deserves my apology when I'm at fault.

No matter what my title may be.

They must know their place.

Make them fear you.

So don't let them get close to you.

Only then will you survive.

Even your shoulders.

And your stance must be wider.

Who are you?

It's me, Hyun.

Hyun?

Are you training together?

No. Does this look like training to you?

As the Prince's good cousin, Prince Jaeun, is here,

I will bring some refreshments right away.

No. That won't be necessary.

Sorry. I may have been out of line with my prank.

By the way, what brings you here?

Isn't it obvious why I'm here?

Your birthday is around the corner.

So I came to ask you what you would like

for your birthday.

My birthday?

He's the brother of the King and the son of Queen Consort An,

Lord Hyeonun.

Congratulations, Your Highness.

Lord Geumjeong of the Sinbin Kang clan.

Congratulations, Your Highness.

They are the sons of the late Prince Dohyeon.

They are Prince Wonsan and Prince Jaeun respectively.

You met him before.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

I hope you aren't confused today.

It's me, Hyun.

I was merely goofing around that day.

What were you confused about?

Hello.

Congratulations.

This fine weather today must be proof

that everything on Earth

is celebrating your birthday.

Thank you.

It is a true honor to witness

such magnificent growth in you.

It is my understanding that you have the girl's body.

Everything I am doing is for you and our family's sake.

Find it in your heart to let this go.

Please remember that

the fate of Joseon solely relies on you.

I will devote my life to serving you

just as I have been doing so far.

Anxiety is getting to you.

You received enough guests for today. It's best we stop here now.

I can handle it.

The son of Jung Seok-jo, an inspector at the Office of the Inspector General,

asks to have an audience with you.

Let him in.

My name is Jung Ji-un, the son of Inspector Jung Seok-jo

at the Office of the Inspector General.

Thank you for granting me a private audience with you.

I heard that your birthday is today.

This may sound impudent,

but after hearing about how excellent you are from a girl I knew,

I wanted to meet you in person and wish you a happy birthday.

From what she told me, you aren't authoritative

or arrogant,

but a generous prince with a loving heart for his subjects.

So ever since that day,

I have been hoping that one day, I would be able to serve you by your side.

I'll soon be going to Ming for my studies.

And I will do my best there

to keep this promise to you and return as a subject you will be proud of.

Please stay healthy until then.

Wait.

Is the girl you mentioned

a girl named Dam-i?

Do you know her?

LONGING, NOT

She told me to give these to you if I ever met you.

LONGING, NOT

She told me they would help you stay strong when things get hard…

just like…

they had been helpful for her.

By any chance,

do you know where she went?

I do not know.

Please let me escort you out.

LONGING, WAIT

LONGING, WAIT

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Aren't you the inspector who was looking for Dam-i that day?

Please excuse me.

Dam-i hasn't come back to the palace after the party for the elderly.

I was wondering if you met her that day.

I'm not sure where she is. I hadn't seen her either.

I see.

Thank you for your time.

Wait.

Do you think you can help me?

Pardon?

I was actually looking for someone to help me.

That girl…

Where are we going?

The court maid will be looking for me.

I should be going back to my post.

We're here.

Why are you doing this? Please spare me.

I'm sorry. I'll make it quick.

No!

No, Father. Please.

What are you doing here?

Why are you trying to kill her?

What did she do?

This has nothing to do with you. Move.

Father!

Stop it, Father. Please!

Move!

Father!

Father!

No!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

Your Highness.

Where is the Prince?

No news yet. We searched the Prince's quarters,

but to no avail.

We must find the child before anyone finds out.

If something happens to that child too,

I will never forgive myself.

Please do not worry. Everything will be all right.

No!

No, Father. Please.

Why are you trying to kill her? What did she do?

This has nothing to do with you. Move.

Father!

Stop it, Father. Please!

Move!

No!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

Eunuch Hong, why don't you go there and check?

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Where are you? -Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Where are you?

Your Highness!

Where are you, Your Highness?

-Where are you? -Your Highness!

Your Highness! Where are you?

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

What are you doing here? Go and find the Prince now.

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

My heart breaks for the Prince.

She must have been so scared.

I wouldn't have lasted a day if I were in her shoes.

The Prince's own grandfather had him killed.

Being forced to live around those people

must have taken a toll on her.

But I couldn't do anything to lessen her burden.

All I did was cry in front of her out of fear.

You must be brave for the Prince.

The day the King finds out the truth,

it will be the death of everyone.

I'm here.

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

What on earth happened?

Everything is my fault.

Everything.

The Prince and I-wol died

because of me.

Please stop crying.

This isn't your fault.

Everything that's happened

is not your fault, Your Highness.

The moon tonight is bright indeed.

When I was pregnant with you, I had a dream.

A very big moon slid under my dress.

And the moon split into two beautiful pearls.

One of the pearls was your brother.

And the other pearl

was probably you.

I was happy…

when I had you and your brother.

I was

truly happy.

How come…

you are not scolding me?

I ran away.

Why are you not scolding me?

Because you came back.

You came back to your mother.

I-wol…

is dead.

I cannot

forgive the man

who killed I-wol.

And now, that boy…

I will not be able to forgive anyone now.

Then don't.

Be it hatred or resentment. I do not care what it is.

Learn to live with it.

As long as it gives you the will to live,

it is enough.

I will

be responsible for everything.

I will only ask you

to live.

Live…

even if your heart is burdened.

Mother.

Thank you…

for calling me Mother after everything.

I am…

truly grateful.

Never forget…

that you are the Prince.

You are special.

Your life is the most precious.

You are the chosen one.

Mother.

I'm sorry.

I promised to always protect you.

But I won't be able to keep that promise.

I failed you as your mother and made your life

harder than it had to be.

And…

thinking about how you are forced

to live in this endless pain…

I'm filled with regret.

But I believe in you.

And that…

if there's anyone who can do this, it's you.

Remember what I told you?

You are…

very special.

Don't forget that.

My beautiful…

daughter.

Mother.

Mother.

The Crown Prince shall now enter.

Your Royal Highness.

Leave us.

I want to be alone with the Crown Princess.

Mother. Please, Mother…

Mother.

I have one wish, Your Royal Highness.

Please protect

the Prince…

our child.

-Your Highness. -Mother…

Mother…

Mother.

Mother.

-Your Highness! -Mother…

All who are present!

Bow down four times!

10 YEARS LATER

Move!

Get out of my way!

Clear the way!

Open the door! This is urgent.

JASEONDANG

Your Royal Highness, this is Bok-dong.

Did you get it?

Yes. Right here.

That's silk.

Yes, Your Royal Highness. I wasn't able to find the one made with cotton.

Please accept it for now.

I'm sorry, Your Royal Highness.

When a new maid was cleaning my room,

she threw out all the cotton covers.

Only do the tasks given to you.

Don't do anything that you aren't sure of.

That's the rule here

in my quarters.

SAMGAEBANG

Do you know how Samgaebang came about?

-What? -What? How?

You see, we have a very important man here.

This distinguished man passed

the state exam at the age of 15!

He is the legendary man who saved the Vice Minister of Rites of the Ming

with his miraculous touch.

He saved the Vice Minister's life? How?

-How did he do that? -Tell us.

Let me.

This incident took place in the most famous inn

in Yanjing.

The Vice Minister played a major role in the Emperor's succession to the throne.

And food got stuck in his throat…

-My goodness. -Oh, no!

…when he was having a meal.

Goodness.

Sir, what's wrong?

-Are you okay? -Sir, what's wrong?

-Sir! -I think something's stuck in his throat!

-Oh, no! What do we do? -Innkeeper!

What are you doing? Come over here!

Someone help!

Hurry! We need some help!

What is stuck in his throat?

-Are you okay? -What are you doing? Do something!

Sir!

Who was that?

Get him!

Knock him down!

Who sent you?

He survived.

Wait.

Are you from Joseon?

Yes.

I'm also from Joseon.

I don't know how to thank you for this.

Don't thank me. I just did what anyone would do.

The man you just saved is the Vice Minister of Rites.

You saved an important man's life.

I'm sure the Emperor will give you a grand reward.

Everyone's life is important.

I would have done the same thing even if he turned out

to be a beggar on the street, not the Vice Minister of Rites.

Bye.

"I would have done the same thing."

-He sounds so cool. -How impressive.

All right. Let me tell you who this man is now.

-Who is it? -Who?

-It's… -Who is it?

Physician Jung!

Physician Jung!

Where is Physician Jung?

Come out now!

What's wrong?

Remember? We went to the Minister of Personnel's house.

His daughter's face is totally ruined. It's a disaster.

Physician Jung!

Move!

-Move out of the way. -Step back!

-Be quiet. -Gosh.

Where is the physician?

What's going on out here?

What?

-Ji-un. -Ji-un.

One out of a hundred faces side effects. It's rare, but it happens.

And I'm the unlucky one?

Don't worry. It will go away in half a day once you take the medicine I give you.

Okay. Let me see.

Where is the herb for a rash?

-Jil-geum. -Yes.

What is it?

Go to the herb storage and bring me dried blackish yellow flowers.

Those flowers?

We don't have any.

Of course, we do. Check the third shelf on the right.

We don't.

We don't?

Give me five days.

Once I get the herbs, I'll give you the medicine right away.

-Yeong-ji. -Yeong-ji.

You have until the end of today.

If you fail, I can't promise

your shop or that girl will be safe.

Is that clear?

Damn it!

Bullseye!

He sure makes one arrogant Crown Prince.

Something must be wrong with my arrows.

He has his maternal grandfather to thank. Without his grandfather,

he wouldn't have been the Crown Prince.

The Queen has the King wrapped around her little fingers.

So he only adores Prince Jehyeon.

That explains his need to compensate.

Please watch your tongue, Uncle.

This isn't a private gathering.

What? So what if people hear us?

I wasn't making stuff up anyway.

You know what? I should catch one of those deers,

so I can get on the good side of Lord Sangheon.

Who knows? He might prefer

a man of vigor like me

to someone who looks like a delicate flower.

That hurts!

Who did that?

What crazy bastard…

You said you wanted to catch something for my grandfather.

The next time you are rash with your words,

I will not let it slide

even if you are my uncle.

So you want to play this game?

What?

What on earth?

He looks like a girl.

What?

The Crown Prince has vanished?

We must find the Crown Prince before anyone else does.

-Jump. -What?

A court maid at the royal hunting?

She had fair skin, a delicate face, and dark brown hair.

An assassin?

An assassin attacked the Crown Prince?

-Hyun? -Why did you spare the man

who saw you at the royal hunting?

I must kill him. I will.

What is your name?

-My name is Jung Ji-un. -My name is Jung Ji-un.

Subtitle translation by: Won-hyang Son