Original subtitles

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

NAMES OF PLACES AND INCIDENTS MAY NOT BE HISTORICALLY ACCURATE.

Stop!

No, Your Majesty!

Let go of me. Let me go!

Protect His Majesty!

Haksan!

Make way.

I said, make way!

My lord.

Close the gates!

Protect Her Highness!

Your Highness, we must go!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty…

Haksan…

Why… Why do something so foolish?

Forgive me.

I failed to keep my promise.

Then engrave this moment on your heart.

And I promise you that from now on,

come what may, I will remain by your side.

I need to protect you by your side, but…

Please don't talk.

Once I die, display my corpse for all to see.

Proclaim that you've punished the criminal

with your right sense of judgment,

and quell the people's fury.

No.

I cannot do that.

To me, you're not a criminal but my loyal subject…

so how could I…

Am I?

I'm glad to hear that.

-Haksan… -Your Majesty.

Haksan!

Out of the way!

Open the gates now!

We cannot, unless by His Majesty's orders.

Clear the path!

Do not retreat!

Haksan…

Haksan…

Haksan…

Haksan…

Haksan…

Your Majesty,

please open the gates so Haksan's loved ones

may see him off.

Your Majesty, it's too dangerous to open the gates now.

It may give the rebels an opportunity to attack.

If you'll allow it, I'll carry his body and run.

Prince Jinpyeong and Shin Chi-soo are currently having a standoff

by the gates with the royal guards?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Why do you ask?

I want to see Haksan off

with due respect.

I ask you to stop the attack for half a day

so the Chief Secretary's coffin may be borne out.

If you won't, I will hang his corpse for all to see to prove

I have punished him according to the law.

Then our people will know you started this rebellion

without a just cause,

and will not challenge the executions of Prince Jinpyeong and Shin Chi-soo

for their disrespectful behavior.

So, what will your decision be?

Etiquette?

What etiquette, to a criminal!

Your Highness, His Majesty said if he does not receive a reply in an hour,

he will behead Prince Jinpyeong first.

Please save our master.

I can't let him hang his corpse and stir things up unnecessarily.

Tell him I will do as he requested.

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.

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

would you come with me?

Just when I thought I could finally be with you…

How could you leave me, after asking me to come with you?

I will go avenge his death.

I will join you.

There's no use.

Even before you do,

you'll die a pathetic death.

Ho-geol is right.

Do you think what Haksan would want is your sacrifice?

Your Highness…

Prince Yeonghwa.

Prince Jinpyeong, how are you?

This is…

This is nothing.

Rest your concerns, I will be fine by tomorrow morning.

What a pity.

If only you hadn't coveted the throne,

you would've had a long life.

It really is a pity.

The army of 3,000 soldiers you raised…

I will make sure the rebellion succeeds with them.

I will nominate Prince Yeonghwa to the throne and look after the state,

so don't worry about the future.

All right?

You told me with such confidence

that you would have that clown surrender at the assembly.

If the Chief Secretary hadn't died,

I wouldn't have forgiven your mistake.

If misfortune befalls Prince Jinpyeong,

our soldiers will be dispirited.

Do you have any countermeasures?

Yes.

I have already used my fortune to boost their morale,

so do not worry about that.

Before that, however… Do you still believe

you need a just cause for this rebellion, Your Highness?

What is it you want to say?

If your search for justification drags on past tonight,

this rebellion will fail.

Since your dethronement has yet to be made official,

you are still above the King in terms of hierarchy.

So use your authority to order for the corrupt King's deposition,

and I will lead the movement to restore order in our state.

You have my permission to attack.

Drag that clown down tonight.

Your Majesty.

General Kang In-bok has sent an urgent letter.

Your Majesty, what's the matter?

The circumstances at the border have become unstable,

and the Later Jin may attack us at any minute.

They just arrived in Yangju, and are waiting for my order

on whether to ride into the city or return to the border

to reinforce our defense against a possible attack.

This is all because Shin Chi-soo intercepted your letter!

Your safety is our priority, so you must order them to come at once.

It is right for you call in General Kang to protect the throne.

But if we fail to protect the border,

our people will be trodden on and killed by the Later Jin.

What use would guarding the throne be, then?

What's the size of their army?

Including both the private and provincial troops,

well over 3,000.

Even if we include the royal guards and the eunuchs,

we barely have 400.

Your Majesty, with the number we currently have,

I fear we will barely last two days even if we fight with full force.

Our enemies are probably also aware of this,

so I expect they'll start the attack soon.

Your Majesty, I will search for a way to escort

you and Her Highness out of the palace,

so leave all else after that.

I cannot do that.

The palace servants here are also my people.

I simply can't abandon them to save myself.

Halt!

Down with the corrupt King!

Over there!

Protect His Majesty!

I will punish you with death for intercepting that letter

to satiate your own greed and for plunging our nation into chaos.

Spare me, and I will bring you the Queen Dowager's head.

The head of the Queen Dowager?

Yes, Your Majesty. The head of the Queen Dowager.

Not only the Queen Dowager's head, but also the heads of all those

involved in this rebellion, so please forgive…

There will be no mercy.

The only punishment for murdering Haksan is death.

You lowly clown…

Your Majesty.

Forgive me.

I was late suppressing the rebel forces that were blocking my way into the city.

No.

You're just in time.

Your Majesty!

The General from Hwanghae Province is on his way into the city.

He said he should be here by this evening.

The General from Hwanghae Province?

I have an idea on how to suppress the rebel forces.

Your Majesty, tell the rebels to surrender

and show them your authority.

Wait just a bit.

There is one last thing I must do before then.

Water…

Give me water…

Why is it so dead quiet?

Go out and see how things are going.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness, I bring you victory.

We've successfully penetrated through the gates and seized the King!

Where is Shin Chi-soo? Why did he send you instead?

Lord Shin died a brave death in battle.

We have incarcerated the King in the palace. Here's a letter from him.

If you promise not to punish my people,

I will admit to my crime and hand over the royal seal.

Come to the palace by eight o'clock.

Summon Prince Yeonghwa.

It's my first time seeing the throne with my own eyes.

Your father tried so hard to turn the throne

over to his son born through me.

Though Prince Gyeongin is long dead and gone,

now I can finally avenge his death.

Admit to your crime, then.

Do you admit to trampling on morale and discipline

by joining hands with the Later Jin and ridiculing the Ming?

I have no crime to admit.

What?

Do you deny sending that confidential letter, then?

That letter was my way and choice to protect my country.

To protect my people, I won't hesitate to join hands with whomever it may be,

since that is my duty as King.

How dare you!

You said you would admit to your crime, but this was all a trap, then!

I called you here today to take that final step in dethroning you.

You have no authority to dethrone me!

Has everyone arrived?

You may all enter!

Prince Yeonghwa.

Your Majesty.

You deceived me?

I didn't deceive you,

I was simply abiding by His Majesty's orders.

For abiding by my orders, your sin will be excused.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty.

And here I was, considering crowning you the next King!

You weak coward!

Eunuch Jo.

By my authority as King, I command as follows.

The spouse of the former King as recognized by the Ming Emperor,

I have tried to fulfill my filial duties to the fullest.

However, you cursed the Queen using black magic,

ordered the murder of her father,

and now led a rebellion against me.

Therefore, I order your dethronement

and punishment of death.

How can you all just stand there when he dares to do something

so unspeakable to me?

Are you simply going to watch?

If only Prince Gyeongin was still here,

I wouldn't have to go through such shame.

First, you murder your innocent brother and steal his crown,

and now, you pierce my throat and try to kill me too.

Drag her out.

All right!

Go on, dethrone me, and punish me to death!

Though I will die a bloody death,

it won't mean my defeat!

If I do die, your regime will also start to crumble.

You will go down in history

as the atrocious King who killed his own mother!

Even if you kill me, I won't die,

and even if you survive, it won't mean you live!

I will bear the weight of my sin,

so you bear yours, Your Highness.

I got blood on my hands for the first time.

But I don't regret it.

If it's for the sake of my country and my people,

I am willing to risk far more than this.

I won't abuse the power of the crown

and become a beast that lusts after blood.

Neither will I hesitate nor cower in fear

in the face of what must be done.

Now that you know the cruel fate that befalls the crown,

you will be able to take another step forward.

Though I will always be beside you,

in the end, it is your journey alone.

But when you do feel exhausted and need a break,

come to me.

I will always be here for you.

Your Majesty, the Uniform Land Tax Law has now been implemented

in the three southern provinces.

You've done much for me in the past year.

Then… forgive me for asking,

but may I have some time off?

Time off?

Then why not take time off in Jeju?

Pardon?

Shouldn't the residents of Jeju Island also benefit from the law?

Well…

Yes.

I will find the quickest boat for you, then.

Your grace is…

Jeju… is it?

Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine was nicely revised.

Hence I'd like to have it transcribed in the commoner's alphabet

for our people to read.

Your Majesty, that is more than what they could ever ask for.

Besides, even if you do shower them with grace,

they won't even understand the meaning of it.

Why should that matter?

It is simply to prevent our people

from confusing rhododendron with azaleas…

Have you ever had rhododendron, by any chance?

It's a near-death experience.

Prince Kiseong is right.

I will also have Straight Talk on Farming translated

so that none of our people go starving.

Your Majesty, you don't look too good.

You barely got any sleep last night as well,

so why not go to bed early tonight?

No. I still have mountains of reading to get through.

Let me go through them a bit more, but you get some rest.

Look at those honest and diligent farmers.

If one of them should replace me right this minute

and our nation could function without any issues,

then we know this is a fine country to live in.

I agree with you, Your Majesty.

The King should only approve and take responsibility

for decisions reached through court,

so he should never abuse their authority

nor fall victim to the sweet talk of treacherous subjects.

That way, our people won't have to suffer,

but rather, live harmoniously together.

Your Majesty, your reign has brought great prosperity

to our nation,

but we are worried you have no son to succeed you.

I apologize for causing you concern.

Your Majesty, you are still in the prime of your youth,

so why not take in a new concubine to produce an heir?

Surely, Her Majesty the Queen wouldn't object either.

Your Majesty.

Please don't mind me and take in a concubine.

How could you say so, knowing very well that I won't?

I'm asking you since I can't give you a son.

Your duties won't be complete without an heir.

My Queen, if that's what this is about, you needn't worry.

I've already decided who will succeed the throne.

Pardon?

And who may this be?

Prince Kiseong.

I intend on abdicating the throne to him.

I never intended on turning over the throne to my bloodline.

Therefore, I have been closely watching the royals.

To determine who I can entrust our nation to.

And I'm sure Prince Kiseong will do a fine job.

How long have you had this in mind?

Ever since the last rebellion,

I've felt indebted to all those who lost their lives,

so I've been working hard.

And all this time, my heart was heavy.

Is that the only reason you wish to step down?

This seat isn't mine.

I'm simply borrowing it.

No one should covet the throne for his own personal greed.

Therefore, I wish to step down

when this burden is the heaviest.

I may be a King, but I am also a citizen of this nation.

And now, I wish to return to being a citizen.

May I do that?

You've already done more than enough, Your Majesty.

I will also follow after you.

My Queen…

Then, please dethrone me first.

Once you step down, I will become the Queen Dowager

and be unable to leave the palace.

Therefore, I will leave the palace first and wait for you.

SUCCESSION ORDER

I HEREBY NOMINATE PRINCE KISEONG TO SUCCEED THE THRONE

Go on and wait for me there.

I will join you as soon as I finish up what needs to be done.

Then I will be waiting for you at Zelkova Valley.

I got something for you.

Do you remember what you promised me?

Yes, you told me never to try to harm myself again.

Yes. I'm now returning this to you

so you may protect yourself, and for no other reason.

Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will keep that promise.

Your Majesty,

can't I follow after you as well?

No, you can't.

You see… I nominated you as senior eunuch.

Just as you warmly looked after me when I first arrived,

please serve the new King well.

Your Majesty…

However, you will always be a junior eunuch to me.

Please accept this, Your Majesty.

What is this?

Do you remember how you drew a picture

to make me laugh?

THANKS, EUNUCH JO

So I did the same, with your name.

I never wrote my name in Chinese characters before…

"Summer" and "Taoist Hermit"?

I am undeserving of this name.

Undeserving?

You are already what this name represents.

You are like summer, Your Majesty.

You shone down on all our people equally

and brought prosperity throughout.

It has been my greatest honor

to serve you as my King.

Your Majesty,

I will never forget you.

Same here.

Your Majesty…

Thanks for everything, Eunuch Jo.

Your Majesty…

Officer Jang.

You scared me.

Were you planning to leave me behind?

You…

You really have fallen for me, haven't you?

Even if Eunuch Jo remains in the palace, I will accompany you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty…

We are here to avenge the Queen Dowager's death!

Go on, you can tell me.

What is your wish?

It's not much of a wish, but…

There is something I've set my heart on.

And what is it?

My wish is to serve you with all my life

and die a glorious death while defending you.

2 YEARS LATER

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago,

there was a wise King.

And this King was as handsome as me.

And he was talented in everything, be it dancing or singing.

But most of all, his greatest talent was

looking after his people.

He saved those without property by taxing only the landowners.

Finally, the Uniform Land Tax Law has been

implemented in Jeju as well.

I had to suffer terrible seasickness.

Well done.

Then, please excuse me…

Sky, Earth…

-Sky, Earth… -Sky, Earth…

Black, Brown…

-Black, Brown… -Black, Brown…

House, Universe…

-House, Universe… -House, Universe…

What does it matter if we're noblemen or lowborn?

As long as we build a world we can all live harmoniously in!

Your Highness, it looks like the clowns are here.

Clowns?

And so many of us want to see our King again!

I mean, just as spring comes after winter goes,

and flowers bloom only after receiving fertilizer,

this age of peace is all thanks to our King!

Exactly!

What is this commotion?

Who's talking about me?

Gosh, no need to give us something so precious.

One brass coin or some barley would do.

Take it.

Hearing your story about my dear one after such a long time

has cheered me up.

Thank you so much.

So… Where do you plan to go alone?

Don’t worry about me.

I plan to travel the eight provinces and enjoy what this world has to offer.

All right. It has been three years, so now it's time to fly away.

I'm sure Haksan would understand.

It's not like that.

All right. If you say so.

Keep in touch, wherever you are.

Okay. I will.

Where is His Majesty?

Your Highness, it seems His Majesty…

passed away.

Please punish us with death!

It can't be…

He promised to meet me here,

so I'm sure he's on his way.

Does this belong to His Majesty, by any chance?

Your Majesty…

While we discovered Officer Jang's body,

we were unable to find His Majesty. Forgive us, Your Highness.

Your Highness!

No… It can't be!

If you didn't find his body, I'm sure he's still alive.

I'm sure he'll come to me!

Your Highness.

I'm sorry, I slept in.

Please wait, I will go and prepare your breakfast.

It's all right. I wanted to go for a walk, so take your time.

Then don't go too far, just one lap around the village.

All right.

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.

As long as I could spend another day with you,

hearing your laughter by your side…

Just like that,

together forever and always.

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?

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

It's a promise.

Of course.

Guardian of the house,

let spring come quickly.

So we can eat azalea pancakes

and make straw dolls.

Dear child, who taught you that?

That prayer.

Someone who was passing by earlier told me.

Where did this person go?

That way.

I've had this dream countless times.

This cruel and tragic dream where you vanish without a trace

when I try to grab you.

If this is a dream, I won't come any closer,

so please… just stand there.

Please, just let me look at you.

This isn't a dream.

I, too, have been walking all this time

in my dreams, to come to you.

To see you.

Those dreams I wished I'd rather not

have woken up from.

What took you so long?

I'm sorry.

When I woke up, all this time had passed.

I wanted to come running like the wind,

but my feet were too slow.

You should've called me.

Then, I would've run to you.

I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long.

Even if you get lost

or take the long way around,

I knew you would come to me someday.

Let's bid goodbye to days of missing each other.

For nothing will drive us apart from now on.

IN JANUARY OF THE YEAR OF GYEHAE, THE KING SUPPRESSED THE REBELS.

FROM THEN ON, HIS BENIGN RULE WAS PRAISED BY ALL THROUGHOUT THE LAND.

AFTER DETHRONING THE QUEEN AND ABDICATING, HE MET A SUDDEN DEATH.

WHILE THERE WERE RUMORS THAT HE WAS STILL ALIVE BECAUSE OF A CLOWN

WHO SUPPOSEDLY LOOKED LIKE HIM, THOSE RUMORS WERE NEVER CONFIRMED.

SPECIAL THANKS TO YOON BAK

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE CROWNED CLOWN

Subtitle translation by: Jeong-yon Kim