Original subtitles

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

NAMES OF PLACES AND INCIDENTS MAY NOT BE HISTORICALLY ACCURATE.

Eunuch Jo.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I'd like to do something for the Queen before her father arrives.

If you have something in mind, please tell me.

You look nice.

Your Majesty, where do you wish to take me?

Why? Can't you trust me?

I trust you.

Let's go, then.

I've never seen such a beautiful sight.

I'm glad to hear that.

I wanted to cheer you up somehow.

I was extremely distressed after hearing the physician's diagnosis.

I felt as if I had lost all my rights and ways to protect you,

and that made me sad and lonely.

The pain was so great that I'd momentarily forgotten

that I have someone besides me who understands my own heart

better than I do.

I will engrave this scenery on my heart.

So that I may come back to it, even after we return to the palace.

When spring comes, let's go see the flowers.

In summer, we will stand in the rain together.

And in the fall, how about we go gathering hazelnuts?

Then does that mean we will come back here next winter?

Next winter, I promise to build you the finest snowman.

It's a promise.

Of course.

Isn't this a locust tree?

It is.

I remembered passing by it on my way to the city, and…

I wanted to show it to you too.

How did these two trees, springing from two different roots,

come to intertwine with each other?

Perhaps they were destined to be together.

There is an old legend surrounding this tree.

If two lovers pass under this tree,

they will live happily ever after.

Will you do that with me?

I promise you.

That I will be a King you won't be ashamed of.

So promise me.

That you won't ever cry alone.

That you'll share all your joy and sadness with me.

I promise.

My lord!

My lord!

My lord!

Chief Secretary, you're back already?

Where is Lord Yoo?

Your Majesty…

Your Highness…

Lord Yoo has…

passed away.

But it can't be.

He was healthy and fit when I saw him last.

There must be a misunderstanding.

I'm sure you have it wrong!

My apologies, Your Highness.

Has he really passed away?

What was the reason?

It seems

he was murdered.

My Queen…

Father!

Father!

I was livid when I heard that Lord Yoo would be reinstated.

Well done.

Finally, you've done something to prove yourself.

I'm glad to see you so overjoyed.

I must go see the looks on the King and the Queen's faces.

Your Highness, restrain yourself.

It's best to hide your joy, lest the King finds out.

Yoo Ho-jun's fate was sealed the moment the King killed

my innocent father and my son, Prince Gyeongin.

You reap what you sow.

This is clearly the Queen Dowager's doing.

Once Lord Yoo returned,

your influence in court obviously would have grown.

I won't spare them!

Not the Queen Dowager, nor those who killed him under her orders!

Your Majesty, pardon me for interrupting, but his request is not acceptable.

Exonerate Yoo Ho-jun of his sin, when there is compelling evidence?

You must not allow it, Your Majesty.

Prince Jinpyeong.

Prince Jinpyeong was the most strongly opposed to Lord Yoo's exoneration.

I'm sure he's the one!

I agree with you.

However, we must be careful as an attempt to catch him

with merely our assumptions alone may backfire on us.

Your Majesty, it is I, Eunuch Jo.

How are the Queen Dowager's quarters?

Prince Jinpyeong has been there since a while ago.

Officer Jang, where are the arrowheads left behind

by the men who attacked me and the Queen?

I have them with me.

They are different from those used to harm you during the hunt,

and I have been attempting to track their source

by asking around the blacksmiths.

Search Prince Jinpyeong's residence right now!

Pardon?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Stop.

Why did you stop him?

What if the search produces no evidence?

We will fail to catch Prince Jinpyeong.

Not only that, we will be telling him that we are suspecting him.

Moreover, you may face criticism that you were trying to frame

an innocent official.

You can't succeed if you are afraid of failure. You must get your hands dirty.

If we hesitate, we may lose our chance to obtain evidence,

and only help the Queen Dowager and Prince Jinpyeong gain more power.

Then I will abide by the royal command.

Mu-young, wait.

If you discover nothing from Prince Jinpyeong's residence,

use the arrowheads you have.

Are you telling me to produce false evidence?

Yes.

By royal command, open this door!

-Search every corner. -Yes, sir!

Officer Jang.

See whether there are any more arrows.

Yes, sir!

What brings you here at this hour?

His Majesty summoned us.

Did you not receive his call?

My lord, you must come with us.

Stand back.

Spare… Spare me.

Prince Jinpyeong, what are you doing?

I said, stand back.

Stand back!

Prince Jinpyeong!

Prince Jinpyeong…

My lord!

What's going on?

The King's guards barged into the residence

and found the arrow that was used to attack him.

Arrow?

I never kept that arrow at my residence, so how…

This must be the King's trap to frame me as a traitor.

Round up the soldiers.

Yes, my lord.

Minister of Justice.

I heard you were attacked by Prince Jinpyeong.

Are you all right?

Yes, I am honored that you are concerned about me.

Your Majesty. While the traitors were rampaging through the palace,

threatening your safety,

we failed to take any action, which is a grave sin.

Please punish us for our sin.

Please punish us, Your Majesty.

-Please punish us! -Please punish us!

-Please punish us! -Please punish us!

-Please punish us! -Please punish us!

If you truly are my loyal vassals,

discuss dethroning the Queen Dowager.

My apologies, Your Majesty, but we cannot abide by that order.

Minister of Defense, you almost lost your life because of Prince Jinpyeong.

So why do you say no?

Prince Jinpyeong's crime

does not attest to the Queen Dowager plotting treason.

Even after Lord Yoo's murder and Prince Jinpyeong's flight,

they hesitate to dethrone her.

That leaves me with no choice.

Tomorrow, I will arbitrarily order her dethronement.

You must not!

If you do so with no justifiable reason, the scholars will strongly oppose it.

But…

After arresting Prince Jinpyeong,

I will force out a confession and lead the dethronement talks.

Your Majesty, Officer Jang is here to see you.

Did you catch Prince Jinpyeong?

My apologies.

Your Majesty, a messenger from the Office of the Inspector is here.

He says Shin Chi-soo wishes to see you regarding Prince Jinpyeong.

Who is this memorial tablet for?

For a friend, who remained briefly,

like the wind and the clouds.

That…

Your Majesty, you are here.

Please pardon me for being unable to pay my respects to you in this state.

You wished to see me regarding Prince Jinpyeong.

I hear the Chief Secretary is arguing for the Queen Dowager's dethronement

after Lord Yoo, who was his support, was murdered.

But if I were you, I wouldn't listen to him.

Because you'd only be doing Prince Jinpyeong a favor.

You called me here for this?

I see you're having fun playing King.

Maybe you think you're the real King now, on that throne.

However, you're nothing but Haksan's mere puppet.

Because it is he who wields all the power. Am I not right?

You're wrong.

He is not someone like that.

How naive you are.

I see why he murdered the King and chose you to replace him.

What did you just say?

Didn't you know?

That Haksan killed the real King.

Nonsense!

Even if his health was fragile,

don't you find it strange for him to pass away suddenly like so?

Moreover, I'm sure no one else

but Haksan saw His Majesty's last.

Since you're so obedient and look just like His Majesty,

Haksan will be good to you, but it will only last for a while.

The moment he finds you to be a hindrance,

he will kill you too.

He's more than capable of doing so.

What is it that you truly want to say?

If you must be a puppet,

why just take Haksan's hand?

How about it? Why not take mine too?

You will have all the wealth and honor in this world.

And the taste of power that Haksan will never allow you.

The joy of being King.

Shut up!

Do you know why you're in the state you are?

It's because you underestimated me,

and because you presumed Haksan to be a traitor like yourself.

Are you, a lowly clown, trying to lecture me?

If anyone's lowly, it's you!

How could you still be up to your sly tricks in the face of death?

You truly are pathetic.

Your Majesty.

I must speak with you urgently.

I'd like an audience with the Queen Dowager.

I didn't expect you to come see me, Chief Secretary.

There was something I wished to ask you about Prince Jinpyeong.

I heard the news about him.

So, he was plotting treason?

I'm aware he has been visiting you frequently.

Even if small, if there is anything that bothers you,

please tell me so now.

Anything that bothers me?

Well, Prince Jinpyeong only came to update me on current affairs,

and I never heard anything suspicious.

Was that truly all?

What do you mean?

As far as I know, Prince Jinpyeong does not have the guts

to conspire anything without strong, steady support.

But, not only did he attempt to harm His Majesty several times,

he murdered Lord Yoo as well.

He's not someone to do so

without sure conviction he will be the next King.

After the King framed his father and brother, and killed them,

I presume he wanted revenge.

How do you understand him so well?

Anyone with a heart would.

Now that you mention it,

the anniversary of Prince Gyeongin's death is coming.

I didn't think you'd remember.

How could I forget?

I still vividly remember his last moments.

I must say he quite enjoyed his last supper.

What do you mean?

Barley rice and overcooked vegetables…

I thought it was a meal too plain for a prince,

but he worked his chopsticks so busily with his small hands.

Not knowing that it would be his last supper in this world.

So it was you, not Shin Chi-soo,

who killed my son.

Yes, I took his life with my own hands for His Majesty.

After spewing blood,

he called for his mother with his last breath.

You…

I should've killed you first, and not the King.

Is that why you ordered Prince Jinpyeong to kill

His and Her Majesties, as well as Lord Yoo?

That's right, I ordered Prince Jinpyeong to kill

both the King and Queen.

And Lord Yoo as well.

So what?

I was simply punishing the criminals

who murdered my dear son.

What did I do so wrong?

Your confession was well heard.

Since you admitted to your crime,

I will now order for your dethronement.

How dare you!

You insolent…

You!

Just you wait.

I swear on my son's grave

that I will shred you to pieces and scatter your remains

all over Joseon!

The crows will feed on them until no trace is left.

I will see your souls fall to hell,

and see you suffer for all eternity!

You bastards…

You bastards…

You bastards…

You bastards…

I was worried you wouldn't make it in time.

I will go see the Queen Dowager and force out a confession.

When the time is right, I will send Mu-young for you.

Now that you heard my conversation with the Queen Dowager,

I'm sure you have questions to ask me.

Let's go back to the office.

If you poisoned Prince Gyeongin for His Majesty,

who did you kill for me?

His Majesty?

Who said that to you?

Shin Chi-soo. That's what he told me.

That you killed His Majesty,

and you will also kill me when I'm no longer useful.

Are his words true?

Yes.

I killed His Majesty.

When Officer Jang came to relay your message,

he also confessed that the arrowheads found at Prince Jinpyeong's

were fabricated evidence.

He asked to be punished, for failing to catch him

despite going to that extent.

Mu-young is not at fault.

It was I who ordered him.

I thought we needed at least one piece of solid evidence

to begin dethronement discussions.

Here, take it.

What is it?

My request to resign.

I will resign from my post as Chief Secretary.

Now that the Queen Dowager and Shin Chi-soo

have learned about Prince Gyeongin and His Majesty's death,

my existence will only become a hindrance to you.

I will bear my own sin, so…

How is that wholly your own sin?

It is not yours…

but mine.

It is my sin, as King.

So please, stop trying to bear all that weight by yourself.

You said the throne is a cruel destiny,

that whoever sits on it must feast on flesh and blood.

I want to be the real King.

The throne he sits on is for an immoral beast,

one that feasts on flesh and blood.

To protect that seat and the nation,

he must sacrifice all he has,

even his own heart. That is his cruel destiny.

Because you bore all that by yourself,

Shin Chi-soo was mistaken into thinking you were trying to play King.

But that's not what I think.

Though I can't fathom the depth of your suffering,

I know how you must've felt when you made those decisions.

I can't even begin to imagine how lonely you must've been.

Do you not fear me, even after knowing everything?

Can you still trust me?

How could I fear or doubt you?

I trust you.

Even with the arrowhead incident,

I know it was all to save me

after I ruined things by acting too rashly.

I won't allow your resignation.

If you truly think of me as your King,

please stay by my side and protect this nation and our people.

The truth is, I'd been unsure.

I knew all too well that any man who sat on the throne

and had a taste of that power

would slowly become corrupt until his heart became sick.

I was afraid…

that you'd end up the same.

That I'd fail again.

But I know for sure now

that you are different from him.

I chose you because you were different,

yet I did not fully trust you.

But now I realize through you

just how important trust is.

Your Majesty,

your subject will no longer be seized by fear.

I swear to be your loyal subject

and trust you, and serve you, with all my heart.

So please forgive my past rudeness.

Your Majesty,

I will show you my full respect from now on.

Thank you for putting your trust in me.

Your Majesty, I hereby request the Queen Dowager's dethronement.

Your Majesty, should you dethrone the Queen Dowager,

your unfilial decision will go down in history

and taint your legacy.

Therefore, please have mercy.

The Minister of Defense is right.

In order to uphold the three basic principles,

you must not dethrone her.

Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager has already confessed

to plotting treason and using Prince Jinpyeong to harm you.

She may try joining hands with other traitors

and start a rebellion, so it is best you root out chaos

before it devours our nation.

Chief Secretary, watch your words.

Chaos?

You should not deride the bond

between the Queen Dowager and His Majesty.

Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager herself has abandoned her moral obligations

as your mother and your vassal by leading this attack,

so it is right you dethrone her.

Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager has clearly sinned

by joining hands with Prince Jinpyeong and attacking you.

Therefore, I urge you to dethrone her. Please hear our plea, Your Majesty.

Hear our plea, Your Majesty.

-Hear our plea, Your Majesty. -Hear our plea, Your Majesty.

Your request has been received.

Chief Secretary.

Welcome.

I ran here upon hearing the news that the dethronement is now underway.

There will be much opposition from the scholars. Will you be all right?

The Queen Dowager's crime is clear,

and His Majesty is determined.

So, there is nothing to worry about. Just follow His Majesty.

All right.

That reminds me.

This is a letter from Hamgyeong Province.

You may leave.

Thank you for updating me on border affairs.

I will soon retire from my post and be there,

so until then, report to General Kang In-bok.

You'd put so much effort tailoring these clothes for Lord Yoo,

but he never got to wear them…

Please ask my relatives

to place them in his coffin.

Yes, Your Highness.

Pardon me for interrupting, Your Highness.

Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered

the Queen Dowager's dethronement.

His Majesty has avenged your father, Your Highness!

I must go see the Queen Dowager right now.

But Lord Yoo's funeral isn't even over, Your Highness.

I must stop her from leaving the palace.

Pardon? Why?

If she is dethroned, this may cripple his regime.

Prince Gyeongin.

I wanted to avenge your death by killing them all, but…

My angst and sadness have only doubled,

after falling into my enemies' traps.

But don't worry,

because your mother will never give up.

Your Highness,

Her Majesty the Queen wishes to see you.

Let her in.

Please pardon me, but I am still in mourning.

Upon hearing the news of my dethronement,

did you come here to mock me?

I won't bring up the witchcraft you conjured against me,

nor the tea in question.

However, I absolutely cannot forgive you for murdering my father

before his honor was restored.

Therefore, while I desperately wished to see you dethroned,

I gritted my teeth and held back, for His Majesty's sake.

Now you're finally being honest.

I'd rather see you like this

because it was such a pain listening to you buttering me up.

Before you are dethroned,

resign from your position and retreat to the temple.

What?

Are you telling me to become a monk?

This is all for His Majesty, the court, and this country.

I wish to prevent further chaos.

If you will pray for Prince Gyeongin and Prince of Neungchang's easy passage

into eternity until your own death,

I will pray to Lord Buddha to forgive your sin

that you committed in this lifetime.

My Queen.

This is absolutely despicable.

I can't believe I'm hearing this from someone

who deserves to be stoned to death.

How do you plan to repent for your own disgrace?

I don't plan on covering up my sin.

If you admit your wrongdoings and accept your punishment,

I will do the same.

How can you be so confident?

Because I have every reason to.

So, what will be your decision?

I refuse.

Instead of begging that lowly clown for my honor,

I'd rather be dethroned.

You've become quite the cunning fox, haven't you?

Your Highness, please give this another thought.

I've no more to say to you, so begone!

Your Majesty, how could you confine the Queen Dowager?

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-You cannot do this. -You cannot do this.

-You cannot do this. -You cannot do this.

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Your Highness!

-You cannot do this. -You cannot do this.

Your Majesty,

now that talks of dethronement are underway, I have a request.

What is it?

War between the Ming and the Later Jin is imminent,

and our borders are troubled more than ever.

Therefore, I wish to resign from my post and go to the border.

I will gladly accept any title, so please give me your permission.

I still need your guidance. Must you do this?

I am also aware of the heavy responsibilities

of the Chief Secretary.

However, stabilizing the borders is our utmost priority,

so please accept my request.

My lord, what happened?

Why are you suddenly using honorifics with His Majesty,

and why are you suddenly requesting to go to the border?

I simply cannot understand.

What's wrong is how I haven't been using honorifics,

not that I've started to use honorifics.

Moreover, I am resigning because it is time to,

so there is nothing to be surprised about.

However…

How is the Queen Dowager?

We haven't noticed anything yet.

Prince Jinpyeong may try to get in contact at any time,

so strengthen your guard.

Yes, my lord.

And from now on, don't report to me

but to His Majesty directly.

Yes, my lord.

Haksan!

I was just about to head home. Why did you call for me?

How are preparations for the land surveys

and the Uniform Land Tax Law going?

Well… Everyone seems to be slightly out of it after the news

of the Queen Dowager's dethronement,

but don’t worry, I will make sure everything is on schedule.

I'll be counting on you.

That's it?

What's wrong with him?

It's like he's preparing for death.

Don't tell me… He's come down with an illness?

Just kidding.

You're quite gullible, aren't you?

It looks like something good happened.

Yes.

I feel happy, like I've been reunited with an old lover.

When I just told you I met with an old lover,

why aren't you even jealous?

I have long wished to share the burden

on your shoulders, my lord.

Even if it wasn't me who made you feel at ease,

I'm not offended.

That was a lie. However, I am disappointed.

So why did you tell such a lie?

All my life, I tried my best not to look back.

I've had too many regrets,

so I vowed not to look back.

By regrets… Do you mean Lord Gil Sam-bong?

There's that too.

But there's something else that I regret.

Back when you had just completed your training

and asked me to be your first man…

You refused me on the spot.

I've always…

regretted that I didn't take you away back then.

And at times,

I think to myself…

if it's still not too late.

If I asked you to come with me to the remote border,

would you come with me?

You'll never know just how much I wanted

to hear those words.

Even if you call it a lingering attachment,

I'm only glad I finally got to hear them.

Have all the forces at the four gates sent word?

The generals of the five military camps

have sent word that they will stand with you.

In total, they amount to more than 3,000 men.

They are ready to strike at your command.

There is still one more card I must obtain.

And that is still within the city walls.

You will need to eat that.

JAILBREAK

Did you see off your father?

Yes, all thanks to your kindness, Your Majesty.

I'm sorry.

I failed to keep my promise.

I said I would be there to share your sadness.

No, I know that there were urgent matters at court.

I should apologize for not being there to share your suffering.

I have to admit, it has been tough.

I thought I knew already,

but I'm still coming to understand that every day as the King

is a different and lonely one that entails

heavy responsibilities.

Are you afraid?

I am.

Do you wish to return to where you were?

To be honest,

I've had those thoughts at times.

If you wish to flee, I will flee with you,

and if you wish to endure it, I will endure it with you.

I appreciate your words.

I won't flee or avoid it

but hold out with all my might.

So, watch me.

I will always be there beside you to support you.

Then, will you help me?

Whatever it is, please tell me.

Over there.

Aren't they the reports from the eight provinces?

You're right.

Eunuch Jo had been translating them for me with his poor eyesight,

but I'd like you to do them for me from now on.

All right.

I see this is a report from Gyeongsang Province.

Try reading it. Take your time.

All right.

It seems those who returned after being taken as prisoners

in the previous war are being harassed.

Did I read it right?

Yes, you read every word perfectly.

Continue, then.

"Therefore, I request you come up with a solution."

My lord, the peddler is here for you.

Where is he?

What happened?

Tell me what just happened.

I was attacked after parting ways with you, my lord.

Then what about the letter?

What happened to it?

The men who attacked me took it.

Forgive me for coming to you now, but I'd been unconscious.

That letter bears the royal seal.

Just who were these men who took that letter from you?

I did not see their faces as I was attacked from behind,

but I heard them speak right before I passed out.

The Left State Councilor will be pleased.

They said, "The Left State Councilor will be pleased."

The Left State Councilor?

Shin Chi-soo…

What brings the Chief Secretary to such a shabby place?

How long do you plan on holding His Majesty back?

I don't know what you mean,

so put it into words I can understand.

Where did you sneak the King's letter off to?

I see.

You mean that treacherous letter?

That is His Majesty's decision, for this country and his people.

How is that treacherous and immoral?

I really don't understand you.

You were born into the most prestigious family,

yet you chose to go against the rules of this world

and mingle with such lowly men.

On the other hand, I was born into a humble family

and made it to where I am now on my own.

If I were you,

I would have indulged in what had been given,

and after building on it, pass it down to my descendants.

Under the excuse that it is for your family and your descendants,

you just satiate your own greed.

Is that truly your grand vision?

Aren't you satiating your own greed

by using a lowly clown as your puppet?

I told you, didn't I? You and I are alike.

Don't deny it.

I won't deny it.

However, our paths are different.

What do you mean, they're different?

I was fortunate enough to serve two Kings who understood me.

One lost his way, but the other…

He will not stray from his path.

Because I will resign before he does.

Resign? You?

Do you think you can deceive me with such words?

It doesn't matter if you don't believe me.

Now, where is that letter?

I can't tell you.

Just kill me.

Must you do this, until the very end?

If I must die, I'll find it amusing to die by your hands.

Why are you hesitating?

Why? Because you don't have a sword?

I asked for a sword, and now I have one.

It seems the heavens are on my side.

Then the heavens must be damn corrupt.

What if they are? As long as they stand with me.

What… What is that?

My lord, what do we do?

It seems war has broken out.

What? I will go and see what's going on, so you…

-Open the gate! -Yes, my lord!

It's a revolt!

The rebellion forces are surging in!

Bring me that fake's head along with the royal seal.

How is he lowly, and how is he fake?

Everything he has done is for his country and his people,

so you cannot call him lowly, and most definitely not fake.

When I think about how you must face them alone at the assembly…

I, too, am uneasy.

But we found nothing.

His Majesty is someone who only grows stronger in the face of a threat.

Your Majesty, you must not go.

Don't worry, I will return safely.

Subtitle translation by: Jeong-yon Kim