Original subtitles

I do not care what the position is.

I just need to find a way to be at the palace.

Please help me.

What made you change your mind?

Why are you asking for my help?

I want to…

protect His Majesty.

Is it out of loyalty?

You do not

belong in the palace.

You should leave.

Why not? What do you mean

I do not belong in the palace?

That is because

you can tell what is right from wrong.

At the palace,

what is right is not always the right answer.

Knowing that, do you think you can survive in the palace

with a mere sense of loyalty?

I will adapt…

to that world.

I would like my son to be near His Majesty.

But your son

tried to take His Majesty and flee.

You should be grateful that I am not punishing him

for what he did.

But to place him by His Majesty's side?

You made a promise to me the first time I took someone's life for you.

You promised that

my family and I would not have to answer to anyone else

if I followed you.

Now, keep your promise to me.

As your goal has been achieved,

I believe it is my turn to be rewarded.

Two months will be enough.

I will not say anything or express any of my feelings.

I will stay by your side only until your wound has healed.

Please pretend that I am not here.

I will act accordingly as well.

EPISODE 14

-Your Highness. -Your Highness. Please stop.

-Your Highness. -Your Highness.

-Please stop running. -Your Highness.

Your Highness.

I came here because I was told His Majesty was here. Have you seen him?

His Majesty went back to his quarters after the royal lecture.

Thank you for telling me.

By the way,

does he have a lot of state affairs to attend to again?

Pardon?

Never mind.

Look who is here.

What brings you here, Your Highness?

-Father. -Please. You cannot address me

like that.

Please remember royal etiquette.

Hello, Left State Councilor.

By the way, what is that in your hands?

This?

It is my love letter to His Majesty.

A love letter?

So you have been writing love letters every day in your quarters?

Not every day. Only sometimes.

Maybe a bit more than sometimes?

But I am not sure if he is reading my letters.

He has not responded to them.

I am sure he is reading them.

He must be reading the letters over and over again.

Square your shoulders and look confident.

Do not forget that Lord Sangheon handpicked you.

You must always show confidence.

Like this?

You look much better now.

Then I shall go and see His Majesty, Father.

-Your Highness. -Your Highness. Please…

Please be careful. I beg of you.

SEUNGJEONGWON: ROYAL SECRETARIAT THAT HANDLED THE KING'S ORDERS

"A section chief at the Ministry of Personnel,

Kim Sa-heon, took bribes and sold positions…"

Kim Sa-heon?

Isn't he Lord Sangheon's second cousin once removed?

I shall decline this.

"Han Gi-jae, the Chief State Councilor, has taken over the royal court

using his position as His Majesty's grandfather…"

Decline.

DECLINED, ACCEPTED

"Oust him quietly…"

"Follow the public opinion by excluding him…"

Clear them away.

These are all the same appeals. Clear them away.

Gosh. What a traitor.

There is a flood of appeals requesting to impeach Lord Sangheon.

Yet, you turn a blind eye to them.

You have changed a lot, Royal Scholar Yang.

No, Chief Royal Secretary.

After all, you were His Majesty's tutor.

What are you doing here again?

Go back to the Ministry of Taxation. You are the section chief there now.

I always find you here. What business do you have here?

If you plan to handle everything in the Chief State Councilor's favor,

why do we need a Chief Royal Secretary?

Right, Scribe Jung?

It can't be helped.

Then…

I will take care of these.

Goodness.

I was wrong about him.

What happened to the man who made

the lotus analogy to teach Lord Sangheon a lesson?

His father, Commander Jung, got him the post.

That must be why he rarely goes to the palace.

The only thing he does is deliver these reports.

Writing the royal diary by His Majesty's side

must go against his conscience.

I told you to stop jumping to conclusions.

You think you will be any different? We do what we are told.

You know I have a point.

What is he doing here as a scribe

if he won't work on the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat?

Right.

You are distracting me. Leave now.

Get back to work.

Stop idling away.

I heard you moved back home.

Did you make up with your father?

Yes.

You said you would never forgive him. What happened?

I have to get going.

Hey…

What's gotten into him?

Your pulse was very unstable for a while after your ascension.

But it has gotten much better.

Thank you.

You may go now.

Your Majesty,

the reports from Seungjeongwon are here.

Let him enter.

You must finish in under 30 minutes.

Are you leaving after the routine examination of His Majesty's health?

Yes, Commander Jung.

How is His Majesty?

Has his wound healed?

Pardon? His wound?

Your wound has healed significantly.

We will need to observe it for another three to four days.

The royal physician said

my pulse has gotten very stable too.

I believe

I have gotten a lot better.

Please try to move your arm to see if there is any discomfort.

I am fine.

Thank you…

for always treating me, Scribe Jung.

Your Highness. Why did you…

Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

How could you open the door like that

without letting me announce your entrance first?

I am sorry.

I forgot again that I was not supposed to do that here.

What should I do?

Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Queen is here.

Let her enter.

Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

I am not used to royal etiquette.

I am sorry.

It is all right, Your Highness.

I will take my leave now, Your Majesty.

Please come and sit.

What brings you here?

Well…

I saw a pair of beautiful skylarks

perched on the tree at my quarters last night.

So I wrote a few words to express my affection for you.

Thank you.

I will make sure to read it.

Really?

Right. The Royal Astronomical Bureau will pick an auspicious day and tell us soon.

I was wondering if you had heard.

I see.

DAY 23 OF MONTH 12

Rumor has it you plan to pick a day based on Lord Sangheon's order

instead of choosing the best date for His Majesty

and the Queen's night together.

That is a misunderstanding.

Lord Sangheon has been on our backs and scolding us every day

since he thinks it is taking too long to schedule their night together.

What choice do I have?

We are also in a predicament.

Then how do you explain this?

How did you…

My goodness. How much is this?

So did you take the money to pay for your meals with your colleagues?

-Goodness. -Please spare me!

Please spare me.

Please spare me.

Oh, please. Stop this.

Why would we kill you?

His Majesty is busy with state affairs, so he will not have time for the Queen.

That's what I came here to tell you.

However, if I do not pick an auspicious day again,

there is no doubt that Lord Sangheon

will kill--

Actually, you might face death sooner if we take this matter into our own hands.

But he just said that there is no reason to kill me.

-I guess he has a different idea. -He has a different idea?

I do have a different idea.

Where is the stick?

Wait. You know what?

Let me take this back…

Please forgive me!

Hey!

Goodness. Lord Sangheon!

You handle the selection of auspicious days.

Tell me. Has a date been selected?

Well, about that…

As the energy of the heavens is bad this month,

yin and yang will not be compatible.

It will be difficult to pick…

That does not concern me.

Pick a date by the end of today and bring it to me.

Yes, my lord.

You. Come here.

Inspector General Cho Yeong-ho who led the scholars to protest

together with Great Lord Changcheon has been banished.

So a recommendation for the successor is only appropriate.

Banished?

The banishment was executed properly based on the royal edict

you had given me.

I see.

All right.

Your Majesty, due to this year's prolonged rainy season,

the ground around the placenta chamber has gotten unstable.

Many people have raised concerns.

I believe relocating it would be better.

I am not sure if there is anyone who can take on such a big responsibility.

I recommend Prince Wonsan,

superintendent of the Office of Royal Genealogy.

This matter will require a long-term plan.

A regional official should be in charge--

This is a royal matter.

Do you not agree that

a member of the royal family ought to handle it?

I shall do my best,

Your Majesty.

Did I upset you?

As it was an urgent matter,

I failed to inform you

before handling the matter myself.

I see.

I appreciate it.

Please continue to let me handle these burdensome matters

so that you can give your full attention to producing an heir.

No matter how big the tree is, the people at the palace

will want to chop it down and plant a new one

if it does not yield any fruit.

Please strengthen your political realm

for the sake of the late King.

I will keep that in mind.

Grandfather.

YOUR MAJESTY…

The date has been set?

Yes.

I was writing poems.

I heard His Majesty enjoys reading poetry.

Is that it? The letter with the date?

Yes.

The Royal Astronomical Bureau…

sent this over.

Today?

-This soon? -Yes.

Oh, my.

Goodness. I don't know what to do!

Gosh, Court Lady Kim.

GANGNYEONGJEON

Are you sure you want to proceed with this?

Why don't you say you do not feel well? It is not too late.

That was the excuse for the wedding night.

I can handle it this time.

I will set an empty storeroom on fire.

With the commotion, we can manage--

No.

I will go to the Queen's quarters.

Escort me.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

What are you going to do?

Is it because His Majesty and the Queen are spending the night? It's quiet here.

You are right. It is indeed quiet.

Are you going home now?

Yes, Your Majesty.

You must be heading to the Queen's quarters now.

Yes. Good night.

What is the matter, Your Majesty?

Please forgive me, Your Majesty.

I am just nervous.

It is all right.

Leave it be.

Have you been waiting long for tonight?

Pardon?

Right.

Even on our first night, I left after helping you put down your hair.

So this is the first time we are sitting down…

face to face like this.

The only desire I have is

to produce a son and make you happy.

Well, it is not because I have any hidden intentions or anything.

I am sorry.

Pardon?

Please believe me when I say I have no intention…

of disrespecting you.

Your Majesty.

I can leave this room right now.

But I will not do so.

Moreover…

I will not explain why I may be doing something

that may humiliate you.

And…

if you resent and hate me

for what I am about to do…

I will face it without any complaint.

Why all of a sudden…

Come in.

Tonight…

we have made love as a married couple.

And on the days we sleep together,

there shall be two sets of blankets, just like today.

Of course, this will remain a secret.

So I ask you…

to accept this.

Your Majesty.

Why are you doing this?

Can I come in?

You are still up.

I need to ask you something.

You must know that His Majesty was shot

with an arrow during the procession.

However, there was no record of His Majesty getting treated for the wound.

Have you been treating the wound, by any chance?

No.

He has a royal physician. Why would I treat his wound?

Perhaps the wound was not deep enough for him to need any treatment.

Is that so? That is a relief.

Get some rest then.

I found a bloodstain here!

GANGNYEONGJEON

May I ask

why you were honest with the Queen?

You could have made up an excuse.

Her affection for me

is sincere.

She is giving me her heart.

I could not just tell her lies

because I know that is not right.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, it is time to offer your greetings to the Grand Queen Dowager.

Where did Kim Ga-on go?

He was starting to grow on me.

Although he seemed a bit off,

Ga-on was better than him.

CLOSED

I heard that the eunuch hanged himself.

Don't even get me started. He poisoned the late King's herbal tonic.

He did?

I hear his house is haunted. Even his wife ran away.

-Let's hurry. -Goodness.

Did you have a good night's sleep, Grandmother?

I heard that you were together last night.

Did it go well?

You are quite blunt this morning.

You may think I am being a nosy old woman.

But I just want to see

my great-grandson as soon as possible before I pass.

I hope you can be understanding.

Right. I heard that you are sending

Prince Wonsan to relocate the placenta chamber.

Thinking about

Prince Jehyeon who has been banished after losing his parents

prevents me from sleeping at night.

Now that Prince Wonsan is also leaving for a place far away from the palace…

I do feel burdened by his departure.

I am sorry, Grandmother.

Why is the Chief State Councilor adamant about driving out my family?

Perhaps…

I have lived for too long.

Thank you.

Listen. We always send out the proper amount of rice for the armies.

Why does Hamgil Province always tell us they got less?

This definitely means someone secretly hoarded some of it.

Or someone was trying to secretly use the cargo ship for a private matter.

So they loaded less rice on purpose.

It must be the Minister of Taxation.

Not that many people have access to cargo ships.

Exactly!

Come here.

He has a stationery chest

he cherishes very much in his office.

It is an abode of demons.

The moment you open it…

Are you trying to ruin my life?

If you want to backbite, do it somewhere else. Leave me out of it.

Why are you talking about that here?

You really changed. You must want to live a long life.

You two. You'd better watch your mouths.

The Minister of Taxation is on Lord Sangheon's side.

Everyone in the royal court is on Lord Sangheon's side.

Pretend you are blind and deaf regarding state affairs.

Unless you have extra lives, you better watch your tongues.

You two are young. Don't you want to work here for long?

Scribe Jung. These are for the Royal History Archive.

Go and take them there.

I will be back.

-Wait here. -Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

How are things going in Yeoyeon?

As we expected, he has been transporting weapons using cargo ships.

My grandfather must have been using the Minister of Taxation.

I see. I will look into the Ministry of Taxation on my end.

You must be very careful.

If Lord Sangheon finds out, you will be in danger, Your Majesty.

Do not worry. He will not see this coming

as he thinks of me as nothing but his puppet.

My grandfather is probably still hiding the soldiers in Yeoyeon

so he can seize the palace whenever he wants.

So we must expose his private army.

With evidence of his army and the poison he used to kill my father,

I will be able to bring him down.

Did you find Eunuch Cho's missing wife?

I have been inquiring about her, so we will find her soon.

I'm sure she knows something about the poisoned herbal tonic.

That is why she ran away.

-Please make sure to find her. -Yes, Your Majesty.

You should wait a moment here before you go.

Eunuch Hong, may I ask what are you doing here at this hour?

I'm just taking a walk. This is the perfect weather for it.

This part of the palace has a nice walking trail.

Why don't you join me for a walk?

I'll show you something amazing.

-All right. Come here. -Wait.

-We can't. -We're on patrol.

Come on. Why can't you go for a walk?

Come with me. I'll show you something great.

You are all working very hard.

This part of the palace…

You must be doing something dangerous.

I heard that Lord Sangheon

banned Officer Yoon from entering the palace.

Please forget everything…

you heard here tonight.

And should I forget…

the look on your face too?

Let us go to your quarters.

I will…

check your wound one last time.

You should be in the countryside. Why are you here at this hour?

What about you?

I did not know you still came here.

From what I heard, Lord Sangheon has been stopping the reports

from every province.

And he's been dismissing anyone against him,

even putting away scholars.

How far will he go?

I do not know. Why are you asking me that?

Do you remember what you told me here a long time ago?

You said we should not live a life

we would regret in our old age.

So tell me.

Have you ever regretted your decision?

Your decision to stand by Lord Sangheon.

I never had…

a chance to make a decision.

Unlike you who did.

Only people like you

who were born into noble families had the chance to make decisions.

This was the only path I was given.

So I merely walked my path.

Even if I were to go back,

if this is the only path that remains,

I would be here again.

I will let you go tonight as a friend.

But I will not turn a blind eye next time.

Fortunately, it will not leave a scar.

But please continue to apply ointment until it is fully healed, Your Majesty.

I will.

Please do not get hurt.

Not anymore.

Thank you for everything.

Please don't mention it.

But please check the wound every three to four days just in case.

-Ji-un. -Hyun.

I need to speak with you.

It's been a while since we had drinks together like this.

Right.

I know that you asked your father to get you a position

because of His Majesty.

I was relieved that you treated His Majesty's wound.

Because you are the only person I can trust.

Did you know about His Majesty all along?

That one-sided love I once mentioned.

You asked me who it was

and why I never pursued her.

It's His Majesty.

I realized what it meant to like someone that I shouldn't like.

I couldn't show my affection and had to suppress my feelings

without letting anyone see them.

I couldn't approach her even if I wanted to.

If I had,

I would have put her in danger.

What I had were just feelings.

But…

she could get hurt because of them.

That is why I have only been watching her for all these years

without telling my family

or you, my friend.

I kept it all to myself.

-Hyun. -That's the consequence of loving someone

that you shouldn't.

So…

if you have the same feelings as me,

I hope

you will end it before it gets more painful.

You are the only person I can fully trust in this world,

and His Majesty is the only person I will sacrifice my life for.

Should anything happen to His Majesty,

I will lose my mind.

It is the same for me, Hyun.

His Majesty has become my whole world now.

Did the cargo ship leave for Hamgil Province?

Yes.

I loaded everything you asked for and shipped them as instructed.

As we expected, he has been transporting weapons using cargo ships.

DAILY LOG OF CARGO SHIPS

What is this?

Well, that is…

DAILY LOG OF CARGO SHIPS

This is…

It's the daily log of the ship that transports rice for the armies.

Why do you have this?

The schedule of the cargo ship going in and out of Hamgil Province

is inconsistent.

I saw a big discrepancy between the amount of rice

listed in the ledger and the recorded document.

As your former royal tutor,

I thought I ought to tell you about this.

Then I will take my leave now, Your Majesty.

Did you give it to him?

Goodness.

Can you hear it? I thought my heart was going to explode.

I was always afraid of His Majesty even when I was his tutor.

How could you ask me to do this?

Do you have extra lives or something?

I thought your sense of virtue was gone.

That's why I confided in you about the Minister's corruption.

Why did you steal the ledger so foolishly like this? Gosh.

You are certain nothing will happen to me, right?

Do not worry.

His Majesty will take care of it.

If this was important to His Majesty,

why didn't you give it to him? Why did you ask me?

Well, I made a promise to him.

Please keep this a secret to the end.

DAILY LOG OF CARGO SHIPS

Commander Jung. Why have you come to see me at this hour?

A long time ago,

I heard that there was a way to stop someone from breathing

for a moment through acupuncture.

Is that really possible?

Pardon?

I was able to discreetly hand over the ledger to Officer Yoon.

Well done.

But may I ask why you seem so down?

Did something happen in the afternoon?

No.

I have a lot on my mind. I just want to go for a walk in peace.

Should I escort you to your usual path?

No one was there, so I felt peaceful there.

It's dangerous there when it gets dark.

Goodness.

What? Who on earth put these lanterns here?

My goodness.

Oh, my. Who would…

Goodness.

All these lanterns…

Your Majesty.

Why did you light the lanterns?

If you trip and fall, you would get hurt.

You always choose

a path that is not safe.

I wanted to light your path in some way.

My wound…

has fully healed.

I see.

It has fully healed.

I cannot be certain, but some say that one could stop someone's pulse

by blocking an acupuncture point on the back of the neck.

If you want…

you may stay at the palace a bit longer.

If it is all right with you…

I…

would like to be with you a bit longer.

I've been waiting

for you to say that.

Had you taken any longer…

Even if you did,

I would have waited.

No matter how long.

His Majesty is so good-looking.

You must have been very tired.

Are you jealous right now?

You promised to never get angry.

Was Dam-i her name?

Were you able to meet her when you returned?

I am the assassin who attacked you at the royal hunting.

What is it that you saw?

Is it absolutely necessary to take it that far?

I cannot condone even a single mistake.

Subtitle translation by: Won-hyang Son