Original subtitles

THIS SERIES IS A WORK OF FICTION. CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS,

NAMES OF PLACES AND INCIDENTS MAY NOT BE HISTORICALLY ACCURATE.

Your Majesty,

what is my name?

Your Majesty,

please say my name.

Who are you?

Just who are you?

How dare you!

Your Highness?

Did Her Highness find out?

I have never seen her eyes like that.

I only wanted to make her smile, but instead…

I ended up hurting her.

I shouldn't have approached her.

I shouldn't have dared to hold her in my heart.

Your Majesty…

Her gaze was more painful than this ginger tea, so painful…

that my heart is aching.

But it doesn't compare to the pain she will have to bear.

I have brought hell upon her.

This isn't only your burden to bear.

I will send word to the Chief Secretary.

Your Highness, are you all right?

Do you need the physician?

No.

You may leave.

Yes, Your Highness.

Where have you been all this time?

What's the matter?

Her Highness has found out about His Majesty's true identity.

What are we to do?

Once morning breaks, I will go visit her and explain.

Your Highness.

While I should first pay my respects,

I will forgo my greetings this time as I am here to confess my sin.

But before I do so, should you have any questions,

I will answer them honestly.

Who is the man in His Majesty's quarters?

He is a clown, who looks exactly like His Majesty.

I discovered him and brought him to the palace

after informing His Majesty.

Where is His Majesty?

I am sure you are aware that ever since he took the throne,

the health of his mind and body began to deteriorate.

Thus, he often turned to drugs

and ended up becoming completely dependent on them.

When we discovered someone to act on his behalf, His Majesty left the palace

to repair his damaged mind and body.

However, it was already too late,

and after seeing hallucinations and harming himself…

Something unexpected came his way.

Unexpected?

But from what I remember,

His Majesty had returned to the palace at least once.

Yes.

And that night, he collapsed

and never woke up.

Your Highness,

my incompetency is to blame for all this.

If you wish to see that man removed from the throne,

I will do so immediately,

and if you wish to punish me, I will gladly receive it.

However, then the world will learn of His Majesty's passing,

and there will be another bloody war for the throne.

Chief Secretary.

Yes, Your Highness.

His Majesty passed away without my knowing.

Do not try to threaten me and use me as your puppet,

with the excuse of what may unfold.

I am not threatening you but begging you.

I already know that whatever passes through my lips will only seem

like an excuse.

Therefore, I will abide by your decision whatever it may be,

but please, look much further than my sin

before you do come to a decision.

What did Her Highness say?

I have confessed my sin, so she should decide on my punishment.

I can't stand by any longer.

I will go to Her Highness myself and beg her to punish me.

Calm down.

But…

Whatever Her Highness' decision may be,

I will bear it alone.

As for you, Ha-sun, focus on guarding the throne.

Do you understand me?

Your Highness, the wind is chilly today.

You may catch a cold, so I suggest you go back inside.

Your Highness.

Just a little.

Let's just stay a little longer.

But Your Highness…

I'm wondering…

if this time out here in the cold

will freeze my heart.

Pardon? What do you mean?

Your Majesty, the Ming envoys have reached Gaegyeong.

In four days, they will be at Yeoungeun Gate.

On this visit, they will come

bearing the words of the Ming Emperor for the New Year,

so we must treat them with hospitality

to not make a diplomatic gaffe.

Your Majesty.

All preparations are in place to greet the envoys,

including tributes for the Ming Dynasty

but without extravagance. So please rest your concerns.

Your Majesty, I believe "without extravagance"

would be inappropriate.

How could a child make his calculations when it is for his father?

Isn't that the reason you offered 35,000 pieces of silver

and 12 other treasures to the Ming last year?

Your Majesty.

Take a look at this.

It's so white and transparent… Just like a star.

My lord, did something happen during the assembly?

Her Highness has learned of Ha-sun's identity.

What? But how…

Did you safely see off Ha-sun's sister?

Yes, he said she is in good hands,

and told me not to worry.

Can you help me with this?

Come on, here.

Put it here now.

Gosh.

Come on, sit.

This is something to welcome you to my house.

What is all this?

Don't make me shy. Go on.

Then… Thank you for the food.

Come on, let's eat. Hurry up now.

Try these.

It seems like you live on your own,

so who cooked all this?

Come on, who else?

You made this yourself?

My mother used to work in the kitchen.

I learned by secretly watching her work,

but still, I guarantee it won't taste that bad.

Goodness!

Go ahead and try some.

What's the matter?

Is it not good?

It's damn delicious!

You mean it?

Well, my lord…

The gentleman with the sword who brought us here,

and you, too… You all seem to be in public office.

Am I right?

That's right.

Why do you ask?

You can't believe it?

No, it's not that.

It's just that Ha-sun must have sent you,

but you say you don't know Ha-sun.

So, I'm just confused

about what on earth is going on.

Ha-sun…

I don't know the full story,

but seeing as how Haksan asked me

to take good care of you,

this "Ha-sun" also seems to be in good hands.

That guy may be a prick, but he's actually not that bad.

Since you say so, we'll have to believe you, right?

Yes, of course!

So don't you worry about a thing, and dig in.

The soup I made for you is getting cold!

-Dig in. -Then I won't hold back.

Sure. Here. I learned this from the legendary cook, Master Baek.

Braised beef!

-Here, you have some too. -Who knew I'd be fed so well?

We sure are dining like the King today.

We searched everywhere, but they disappeared without a trace.

From how nobody within the city walls has seen them,

it seems they no longer entertain as clowns.

Then the Chief Secretary must've hidden him away.

Keep a close watch on the Chief Secretary.

Yes, my lord.

This is an opportunity for us

that the King is neglecting to entertain the Ming envoys.

Send this letter to your men

and make preparations to raise this issue publicly.

I will start with the scholars who gathered at the temple

and proclaimed their support for you, Your Highness.

Did you find out why the King broke out into tears today?

My apologies, but that I do not yet know.

However, I will have something soon.

All right.

You may leave.

Then I will leave you to rest.

There definitely is something.

Your Highness, what's the matter?

I will wear that today.

Your Majesty!

How dare you! Who do you think this is?

Your Majesty, I have something I must urgently inform you of.

Has something happened to the Queen?

Please stop Her Highness.

Her Highness wants to leave the palace.

Go and clear the quarters.

No one must be nearby.

Yes, Your Highness.

What are you doing?

Please forgive me.

But I had to come.

How dare you!

Step back.

Please do not leave the palace.

I just came to tell you that.

Please order me to be gone instead!

And I will leave.

Since when was it?

Was it you… who saved my father?

Was it you who got bitten by that hunting dog, protecting me?

I see it was also you at the marketplace.

Please kill me.

I deserve to die for my sin.

-This is all my-- -I don't wish to know about your sin.

Being fully aware of his suffering,

I failed to support my husband.

And I wasn't there at his deathbed, so my sin is graver.

What do you mean?

You mean, His Majesty has passed away?

You didn't know?

It doesn't matter now.

Please leave.

But Your Highness…

My sin cannot be forgiven, and I can't reside in my quarters.

That is the reason I'm leaving, so do not stop me.

I wish

to never see you again.

So don't look for me.

Officer Jang.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Go to the Chief Secretary right now

and tell him that the Queen is about to leave the palace.

Ask him to find a way to stop her.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Highness, why do you wish to leave the palace?

You asked me for my decision.

This is the conclusion I have come to.

Your Highness, if you leave now, you may be dethroned.

That may put your life at risk.

I am prepared for that.

Please, reconsider.

If I stay, I can't guarantee what may happen.

Is that what you wish?

So-woon.

You cannot do this.

When I suggested we make you Crown Princess,

your father was against it.

He said that you were too upright and would not be able to bear

all the turmoil in the palace.

But that was why it had to be you.

I thought if it were you, you would be able

to guard your position as the Queen of this nation.

So please, I beg you.

Please do not leave.

Your Majesty, this is Eunuch Jo.

Is this about Her Highness?

I'm afraid not.

The Queen Dowager urgently wishes to see you.

How could the Queen, as the head of the Internal Court, be so rash?

I simply couldn't overlook it, thus I called you here today.

I gave her permission to.

How could you allow the Queen to leave the palace?

Even with your permission,

her responsibilities as the Queen can't be taken lightly.

Therefore, she must be dethroned and punished to death.

I cannot give such an order.

A woman ought to take her own life

for roaming around recklessly without her husband.

Yet how could you defend her crime?

The Queen is my wife before she is the head of the Internal Court.

Let me deal with matters concerning her,

and do not ever bring this up again.

What is this?

An order to dethrone the Queen.

Stamp the royal seal.

What? But…

What do you mean?

The Queen Dowager just said the same thing.

Is this an order from her?

It's about the Queen Dowager.

Soon the protests will flood in demanding that the Queen

be dethroned and punished to death.

If you wish to save her life at least,

dethronement is the only option.

No, not dethronement.

-Ha-sun… -I can't let this happen!

If this is about Her Highness leaving the palace,

I will go and bring her back, right this minute.

Do not act rashly.

Please move.

Did I not tell you?

Wearing the crown means you must give up your everything.

Including your heart.

If you knew all that, why did you not make the King wearing the crown yourself?

One cannot be king simply by wishing for it.

It is something that cannot be desired and should not be desired.

Have you not realized why I made you the King?

To make me your puppet, no doubt.

Isn't that why you hid His Majesty's death from me?

I swore to make you King, and I swore to protect you.

I thought you would be able to protect the throne

without being embroiled by political strife

and build a nation where everyone may live in harmony.

Had it been my illusion?

In that nation you speak of…

Her Highness, too, must be in that picture.

My lord, I promise to bring back Her Highness.

Please let me go.

The Ming envoys will arrive in three days' time.

I will keep your absence from everyone until then,

so you must return in three days, no matter what.

Can you promise me?

Yes, I promise.

Your Majesty, do you have a clue

as to where Her Highness went?

To her father, I presume.

Take the bodyguards and leave discreetly so as not to catch the eyes

of the court ladies.

Yes, my lord.

Then go.

Now Ha-sun is having another fit of madness

after being terribly upset over the Queen's departure.

For the time being, turn away all officials and court ladies.

All right.

But how should we prove he's having another fit of madness?

How about this?

How do I look?

Would His Majesty look favorably upon me?

Of course, Your Highness. Rest your concerns.

Now that the Queen has left the palace, this is my chance.

Your Majesty!

-What’s going on? -No, Your Majesty…

Well… It seems His Majesty is having a fit of madness.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty…

I said you may drink your fill,

so why are you refusing?

Come on, drink!

Drink more!

Should I announce your arrival?

Forget it.

-No, Your Majesty! -Let's go back.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

No, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

How long do I have to keep this up for?

If it's too tiring, take a break.

I guess we can't help it if they learn of Ha-sun's absence.

No…

I will do it.

Hang in there.

Your Majesty!

No, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

What…

What's the matter?

Is something wrong?

It's a report from our borders that the Later Jin have been

pillaging our villages.

What…

What will you do, with His Majesty gone?

My lord, the peddler has sent word that he has arrived.

Should I tell him to come here, as always?

No. Shin Chi-soo is probably watching you, Woon-sim.

This place is no longer safe to gather in secret.

Then what do you plan to do?

I will let you know where we can meet,

so inform the others.

Yes, my lord.

You promised you would not trespass the borders.

Why did you go against your word?

Nurhaci says it is Joseon who broke their promise first.

This can't be about the Ming envoys…

Then I presume he has decided to go to war against the Ming.

Go tell Nurhaci.

Even if the Ming and the Later Jin go to war,

Joseon will not attack the Later Jin,

nor take anyone's side. We will remain neutral,

so tell him not to attack us anymore.

How are we to believe that?

What if you send aid to the Ming after telling us otherwise?

What?

Joseon has signed a blood pact with the Ming,

but not even a pact of brotherhood with the Later Jin.

Wouldn't it be foolish to trust you, then?

A peaceful relation can only be formed through mutual respect.

If you try to force it with provocations,

I cannot advise the King to improve our relations with the Later Jin.

No use trying to convince me.

Joseon is my mother's country, and the country I was born in.

I wouldn't want to see this land stained with blood myself.

How will you trust us, then?

If it's from the King himself, we will trust his words.

The King has holed himself up in another fit of madness…

It seems the heavens are determined

to stand with you, Prince Jinpyeong.

I thought the same.

But do you have a plan?

Make good use of this opportunity,

and we may be able to see His Majesty

make a grave mistake in front of the Ming envoys.

But in order to do that, we need to make sure

the King has retreated to his quarters, due to a fit of madness.

That you don't need to worry about.

I know someone who can confirm that for us.

Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager is here to see you.

Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager is here to see--

Oh, dear…

Your Highness…

What are you doing?

Your Highness, what brings you here at this hour?

I heard His Majesty was not well and came to see him.

Where is he?

Well… You see, well…

Tell me the truth!

I was told this was urgent.

What is the matter?

Well, the thing is…

If the Chief Secretary is here, let him in.

Welcome, Chief Secretary.

Your Highness.

Bring me the royal seal and the military amulet.

May I ask your reason?

Must you really ask?

They say crows cry before a pandemic.

Since both the King and Queen have deserted the palace,

it's left to me to tend to the matters of the state.

I only wish to prepare for unprecedented disasters,

so bring those to me at once.

I am afraid I cannot abide by your order.

What did you say?

You dare challenge me?

This is for your sake, Your Highness.

What if His Majesty learns

that you sought after the royal seal and military amulet in his absence?

It's dreadful to even think about what may happen.

So how can I follow you, when it's obvious what will happen?

You will never understand

how painful it was for me seeing the King get played by his treacherous subjects

and fail his duties as King.

How could anyone fathom this poor mother's concerns?

With Shin Chi-soo gone,

here seems to be another treacherous subject

trying to blind and deafen His Majesty.

My heart is wrought with worry, and I am unable to sleep.

Your Highness, I did not know

you were so concerned about His Majesty.

Everyone thinks I hold a grudge against him

because of what happened to Prince Gyeongin.

However, those are malicious rumors designed to drive us apart.

My apologies.

I failed to recognize that there is none other in this country

more loyal to His Majesty.

Chief Secretary, your words may sound sweet as honey,

but I sense a thorn in them.

Are you, perhaps, doubting me?

How would I dare doubt your loyalty, Your Highness?

However, I also wish to advise you as your loyal subject.

And what may that be?

Do not be so foolish to intrude into His Majesty's quarters

and order for the royal seal and the military amulet

in his absence.

Even if you did so with good intentions,

such rude, disrespectable behavior

will not be overlooked by me, as His Majesty's dutiful subject.

How dare the likes of you

blackmail me, the Queen Dowager?

Blackmail?

I am only offering you my loyal advice.

Where's Her Highness' lady-in-waiting?

Escort her out.

Your Highness…

Chief Secretary.

I will not forget what happened today.

It would be my honor,

Your Highness.

Prince Jinpyeong ordered me to relay this to you.

"He wasn't there."

"He wasn't there."

I see.

Tell him I understood and will proceed as discussed.

Yes, my lord.

Is anyone out there?

Yes, my lord. Did you call for me?

Make preparations, I must go out.

Where would it be, my lord?

I will go to Gaegyeong, where the Ming envoys currently are.

Yes, my lord.

"He wasn't there."

Father!

Am I finally seeing things?

Father…

It's me, So-woon.

So-woon.

So-woon, you're here.

But how did you…

Look. I won't ask for long.

Can't I at least invite her in, to have a sit?

No, I will be punished if the Magistrate finds out.

Escort her in.

I am His Majesty's bodyguard, under royal command.

Do as he asked and give them privacy for just a day.

-Pardon? -Don’t report this to the Magistrate.

Yes, sir.

Why did you come all this way?

To see you, of course.

Did His Majesty send you?

Seeing as how Officer Jang escorted you,

he must have been concerned for your safety.

His Majesty's grace is immeasurable.

The days are still cold. Let's go inside.

Was Her Majesty reunited with her father?

Yes. I will go back in two hours to escort her back.

No. It has been a while since they last saw each other,

so let them be for tonight.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Why are you out here in the cold?

Yes, Father. I will go back in soon.

Were you crying?

I see something's up.

No, nothing's up.

So-woon, you've always been a bad liar ever since you were a child.

So-woon, with your father in exile as a sinner,

I know just all too well how lonely and hard it must be for you

in the palace.

Father,

that's not the reason I'm crying.

Then what is it?

I couldn't help my tears upon seeing you.

Why don't I just remain here with you?

Don't say such a thing!

His Majesty couldn't have been more generous, sending you here.

Don't worry about me.

As soon as morning breaks, return to the palace.

It's cold.

Let's go in.

Yes, Father.

I could not have you watching that any longer.

I had to bring you to where no one else was around.

I'm sorry.

Your Majesty, I am fine.

Rather, it feels like a dream

that I am here, with you.

If this is a dream… If this is truly a dream…

then my actions will be excused.

Am I not right?

I won't deny it any longer.

I won't run, either.

I'll only look at you, and only think of you.

I love you, My Queen.

As if my heart is about to burst.

And I don't even care if it does.

I love you.

Your Majesty, the night is cold.

I will find a place for you to rest, so let us go.

You go.

I will stay here.

From here onward, I wish to go alone.

No, Your Majesty.

At least keep me by your side for your safety.

Please.

I must speak to Her Highness in private.

All right.

Your Highness!

Your Highness, where are you?

So-woon!

-Your Highness! -So-woon!

-The Queen… -Where did she go?

-Your Highness! -So-woon!

Still no news from Officer Jang?

I don't know why I feel so uneasy about this.

Ha-sun will keep his promise. Let's trust him.

Chief Secretary, what do we do?

What is it, my lord?

The Ming envoy has arrived a day early

and is requesting His Majesty's presence.

It is their discourtesy to arrive a day early. Is it not?

In terms of etiquette, yes.

However, an envoy bearing the words of the Emperor

is no different from the Emperor himself.

Eunuch Jo, inform His Majesty at once.

Well… You see…

His Majesty is not here.

What?

If His Majesty does not go, the Emperor's wrath will be upon him!

What are we to do?

I will go in his stead.

Who are you? Who are you to come in here without my permission?

I am the Chief Secretary to the King. I am here to see the Minister of Defense.

How dare you, a mere Chief Secretary,

request an audience with the Minister of Defense?

Go away this instant.

I am here, bearing the King of Joseon's words.

I will not turn back until I relay them to His Excellency.

How dare you…

What are you doing? Drag him out at once.

Everyone, stop!

I don't wish to see any blood spilled here,

because while this is a place for the Ming envoys,

this is also Joseon's territory.

Stand back.

I thought I clearly asked for the King of Joseon

to come and receive the Emperor's words.

Who are you?

Lee Gyu, the Chief Secretary of Joseon.

His Majesty has sent me to inform you

that he will receive them tomorrow, since the promised date

for your arrival is tomorrow and not today.

How dare he send a mere Chief Secretary to mock the Emperor?

I will cut off your head so that the King of Joseon

understands the weight of his own sin.

How did you…

Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?

Let me go.

I thought I said I didn't want to see you again.

How dare you follow me here to humiliate me?

Were you trying to take your own life?

That is not your concern.

How is it not my concern?

Punish me instead.

I will gladly accept it.

Stop!

The more I talk to you, the heavier my sin becomes.

No.

This isn't your sin.

It's all mine.

I will pay for my sin, so please don't blame yourself.

But how can I not?

It is my sin.

It is clearly mine.

I asked myself, a hundred, a thousand times over.

About who it was that I held in my heart.

Was it you, or was it His Majesty?

I wanted to deny it and didn't want to believe it.

But that was what my heart had told me.

Even if I deceived the world, I couldn't deceive myself,

so I have no other option.

Can't you live for me?

Ever since I entered the palace,

I had several brushes with death.

And whenever I thought, "I might die for real this time,"

I desperately hoped that I would live.

I didn't mind becoming the biggest sinner ever.

As long as I can spend another day with you,

hearing your laughter by your side…

Just like that,

together forever and always.

I love and respect you from the bottom of my heart.

From now on,

I wish to spend my days with you.

By your side, giving birth to your children,

hearing them laugh…

Just like that,

together forever and always.

Please live.

For me.

Please.

Your Majesty…

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

That clown's sister, Dal-lae, had this on her?

If I can take the throne, what couldn't I promise?

You said your King would be here if I came today.

This is not what you promised me.

Chaos may befall this land once again.

In order to bear my responsibilities as King,

I have come to realize that it is finally time

to sever the relationships I have treasured until now.

Subtitle translation by: Jeong-yon Kim