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[Episode 43]

There is a breeze, ma'am.

A warm breeze, even on this unfamiliar foreign land.

This breeze will also reach the land that I miss, right?

Sire! Crown Prince!

[Shenyang Hall, Qing]

Grand Prince.

Sire, finally we can return!

We just received a message.

You can return to Joseon.

Yes...

I wonder if the world you dreamed of will come to us, just like this breeze?

Look here! Look!

- Sir! - Is Lord Joo Won inside?

Yes, he's with Commissioner Hong in the office...

What's going on with Lord Jicheon?

He's usually a calm person, but he looks rushed now.

He isn't like that.

- Didn't you hear the news? - About what?

The Crown Prince will be returning soon from Qing!

What? Is it true?

Is he returning for good? He's released completely?

My goodness!

This hardship will be over now!

Spring will finally come to this country!

Joo Won!

Lord Joo Won. Commissioner Hong!

Yes, sir. We heard the news that the Princes will return.

Ma'am!

Did you say that the Princes are on their way back?

- Finally, to this land? - Yes, that's right.

The time you've been looking forward to is getting close, ma'am.

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Your Highness... can you see them?

Can you hear the voices of your people greeting you?

Your Highness!

Sire!

Sire! Sire!

Sire! Please open your eyes!

You cannot fall apart like this, sire!

Sire!

Lord Kim!

What should we do?

If His Majesty passes away like this...

If the Crown Prince on his return climbs to the throne, what about us?

Get yourself together.

For now...

Nothing has happened yet.

Your Highness!

Teacher.

Sire!

Sire!

Your Highness!

Have you been well?

All the officials...

And Vice Premier Kim Ja Jeom as well.

Crown Prince.

So remember, Jungmyung.

Even if we kneel before injustice today, don't be defeated by your own despair.

This is not the end. Do you understand?

Even if I leave

as long as you and your people are around

as long as you don't give up this fight...

then it's not the end.

Yes, you're right, Brother.

And just like you said...

we will definitely win now.

[Queen Jangryeol] Queen Majesty has arrived!

Crown Prince! Crown Princess!

- Queen Majesty. - Ma'am.

Welcome back.

I am beyond happy to see that both of you have returned.

Ma'am!

You've grown a lot, Grand Prince!

It must've been very tough to spend a long time in a faraway foreign land.

Not at all. Compared to what His Highness went through, I didn't do anything.

For such a long period of time

he went through a lot of hardships to send captives back to Joseon.

Yes, I know.

Who among the Joseon people doesn't know that?

And I know you helped him on that front from here.

I wanted to say thank you when I returned.

Grand Prince...

By the way, ma'am...

His Majesty's illness...

I heard it's very serious.

Is it true?

He's been waiting diligently for your return.

But his illness became serious right before your return.

But he would be really happy to see you back here.

Father.

Ma'am.

Crown Princess.

He has waited diligently for his son's return?

No, ma'am. I don't believe those words.

You must feel the same way.

Ma'am...

The illness...

Yes, I'm sure it would cause his illness to get worse.

Why wouldn't it?

Since the Crown Prince eyeing the throne was returning.

Sire.

I know, Teacher.

What kind of things have happened in the government.

What are... these scoundrels saying?

'Even if something were to happen to the king'

'don't worry, since there is the Crown Prince'?

If they want

they mean to take me down and put the Crown Prince on the throne!

Sire, do you know that His Highness in Shenyang

is keeping a close relationship with the royal court of Qing?

Because of His Highness' behavior

they're looking down on you more!

What? The Crown Prince?

It's unfortunate, but it's true.

I confirmed with my contact who travels between Joseon and Shenyang

that the Crown Prince is keeping contact with the royal family of Qing.

Because of that, Qing is prepared to switch the king of Joseon at any time.

Crown Prince...

Sire!

But you probably know...

the reason His Highness didn't let go of the ties to the royal family of Qing.

Why His Highness acted that way.

It was to send back the Joseon people who were dragged there as captives.

You and the Crown Prince focused on trades there.

Wasn't it for the chance to save even one more Joseon person?

But what power does the truth ever have?

Qing used the Crown Prince to pressure His Majesty.

The officials of this country used it again and confused His Majesty.

So I cannot leave the royal court and the government like this, Teacher.

Unless Kang Joo Seon, Kim Ja Jeom, and Soyong Jo...

and the ones who enjoy power and wealth under their protection are punished

there is... no more future in this country.

Are you planning to start on that, sire?

Yes, I am.

The reason I endured the last eight years...

and I came back to this land...

That's exactly what I came for.

Crown Prince.

Ma'am.

[Jungmyung's Secret House] His Highness has made up his mind.

He believes that punishing them shouldn't be delayed any longer.

Why wouldn't he?

They weren't affected at all even after selling the country to the enemy.

They failed to complete their duty as government officials

but they still returned to their jobs, and they're enjoying power now.

Without punishing those people, how could we make things right in the country?

Just how, without cleaning up the faults in the past?

But the problem is the King.

He has no will to do so.

More than that, he embraced them as his own men.

That's why the Crown Prince would bear all of the risks

and go all out on this.

Also, for the Crown Prince's safety as well

it shouldn't be delayed anymore.

The Crown Prince is the one that they must be afraid of now.

Unless we take the lead...

the fear will definitely turn into a danger towards the Crown Prince.

You came, sir.

Tell him. I have no time to waste.

No, please go ahead. He's been waiting for you.

Let's go. I'll see him myself.

Ma'am, the mood is unsettled in the palace.

For you to step outside of the palace at a time like this...

Shut up!

Am I supposed to sit quietly and wait until something happens?

I have to find a way now, no matter what it is!

- Prince Seungseon. - Mother, I'm scared.

Maids are whispering strange words.

They say that you and I will die soon.

What are you saying, Prince Seungseon?

That won't happen.

You shouldn't say things like a weakling!

Mother...

Listen carefully.

You will be sitting on the throne in the future.

I will definitely make that happen.

Yes, that's what's going to happen.

Regardless of what I have to do

I won't let the Crown Prince have everything.

You mean the King's illness has gotten better?

According to the royal physician, it has.

Since he got through a critical moment, he should gain consciousness soon.

But the real crisis for us is...

starting right at this moment, Lord Kang.

Since the Crown Prince is back...

at a time when the King can't use his power

they will definitely aim for us using this window.

Yes, they will definitely aim for us.

But what can we do?

How do we know what they will do, to be prepared?

That's why we have to use all means to find out their plans.

Also, in preparation for the most dangerous moment

we will have to have the surest solution ready.

My lady...

Go inside and announce me.

I've been flushed out, and I will fight back.

Ma'am.

Yes, that's right, Dear.

One side will lose everything, and the other side will gain everything.

They won't back down...

and... we will also have to do our best with everything we have.

Really? His Highness asked for such documents?

Yes, I submitted them since it's an order from His Highness.

But I thought I should report it to you.

What's going on? Did something happen?

Brother, actually...

What?

The Crown Prince asked for documents related to Qing?

Even the foreign documents from the Royal Secretariat?

Yes, he said he needed to check a few things because of Ingguldai's request

who came with him this time.

What would he ask for those?

Vice Premier, what's going on here?

Do you have any guess?

Is he trying to make a good impression to Qing?

While he looks at the documents

he will look for ideas that Ingguldai or Qing will like...

Right right right... that's a possibility.

Isn't that right, Vice Premier?

The Crown Prince must be eager to make a good impression to Qing now.

The Crown Prince is about to give something to Qing...

Woudn't he do that?

It could also be a way to take the throne immediately.

And?

What were the contents of the documents that the Crown Prince took?

- Really? His Highness came? - Yes, General.

General Ingguldai.

Sire, you came without notice.

We still need to finish our conversation.

I came here for that before you left.

- You should leave us. - Pardon?

Yes, yes.

Please have a seat, sire.

I also wanted to hear a solution from Joseon regarding that issue.

General Ingguldai, I'd like us to change to a new location for a bit.

Pardon?

I need to meet someone with you.

Why don't you come with me?

- Ma'am. - Crown Prince.

Sir!

- Is everyone else here? - Yes, please go inside.

They are waiting for you.

That's right.

As expected, they started a meeting just now at Lord Kang Joo Seon's secret house.

Sir.

Even when the times are chaotic...

we should do our job.

As you know, Lord Kang's merchant group

has had a monopoly on trade with powerful countries.

When Ming was strong, it was with Ming.

And since Qing occupied the central region

he has carried out trades with Qing, along with tributes and black market deals

and earned enormous profits.

Yes, that has been the source of his family power for a long time.

And a lot of illegal activities were carried out in the process.

That's right.

And the illegal activities got worse in the trades with Qing.

Silver. It's because of silver, General.

Did you say silver?

As you know, Qing doesn't have enough silver mines.

So it receives silver from Joseon every year as a tributary payment.

But at the same time...

it's also used as currency in the black market trades between Qing and Joseon.

You're right.

That's how Qing receives its supply of silver from Joseon.

But because of it, Joseon doesn't have enough silver for itself.

Then... Kang Joo Seon's merchant group with monopoly on the trades with Qing

committed illegal activities in carrying out trades with Qing.

Illegal activities?

They produced low quality silver with lowered purity like this.

This is how Kang Joo Seon has gained enormous profits, General.

But why?

How could this not have been caught yet?

This is damaging to both Qing and Joseon.

What have the officials in charge of trades from both countries done?

They can be easily swayed with bribery.

Bribery? Did you say bribery?

In order to hide his misdealings

Kang Joo Seon has been bribing the envoys and the Joseon officials for a long time.

Although it's small, it's their show of gratitude.

They handed this to us.

Like last time...

please take care of us.

And all of this must be also conducted with the envoys from Qing.

Yes, if we can expose this illegal activity with Qing's cooperation

we'll finally be able to punish Lord Kang and put an end to his family's wrongdoing.

- Anyone outside? - Yes, Lord Grand Prince.

I will go to the palace. I need to see His Highness.

I'll see you there tomorrow.

Yes, Lord Hong.

Let's... talk for a bit, In Woo.

Sire.

Grand Prince... what brought you here?

Did you come here to see me?

Joo Won, what did you mean by that?

I shouldn't get involved in this anymore?

In Woo.

Is it because of my father?

Because this is aiming for him?

No, I can't do that, Joo Won.

Unless you and Her Highness can't trust me...

I have to complete this.

But he is your father, In Woo.

Our enemy... The one we're taking down...

is your father, not anyone else.

Yes, we're going to catch Lord Kang Joo Seon now

and take down Kim Ja Jeom and Soyong Jo one by one.

But to make you do that with your own hands...

I can't let you have that last scar.

So don't get involved tomorrow, In Woo.

Please, I beg you.

No.

I'll see you tomorrow.

I will also be there.

For a very long time...

I've also been looking forward to this day.

In Woo.

Sir.

You must have heard everything, ma'am.

All of the uncomfortable words.

Sir, I ask you to reconsider.

I don't want you to carry a pain that will never be erased in your lifetime.

"A pain that will never be erased in my lifetime"?

You're right...

Just one such memory would be enough for a lifetime.

Someone I couldn't reach a long time ago still inflicts so much pain.

That's why, ma'am...

I believe I have to carry this out to the end.

Sir.

He is...

Because he is also my beloved father.

So before he goes far away somewhere I can't reach anymore...

Before the time when I can't protect him at all no matter what I do...

Ma'am...

I have to do this... so that my father can stop now.

Please tell me, sire.

What are you doing now?

Don't try to find out, Grand Prince.

Did you forget?

But, sire... how could I possibly do that?

If you were me, would you be able to do that to your younger brother?

You're definitely planning something risky.

What is the reason you're hiding it from me?

Is my guess correct?

Just in case, if something happens...

are you trying to protect me?

Grand Prince.

Please give me an answer, sire!

You're doing something against Father's will, right?

That's why you told me to step back, right?

Sire, please don't!

Don't you know about Father?

It will become his fury, and come back to you!

First, you have to wake His Majesty up.

Do you understand what you have to do first?

[Lee Hyung Ik] Yes, ma'am.

Your Majesty!

Do you know that His Highness in Shenyang

is keeping a close relationship with the royal court of Qing?

I confirmed with my contact who travels between Qing and Joseon.

Since His Highness is keeping a close contact with the royal court of Qing...

Qing is ready to switch the king of Joseon at any time.

But...

even then, I will walk this path, Grand Prince.

Sire!

To me, this is also my filial duty and loyalty towards Father.

Those cunning people shouldn't confuse Father anymore!

Father should be able to rule this country wisely again.

Grand Prince, I will never give up this path.

Crown Prince...

Crown Prince...

Your Majesty, are you awake?

Your Majesty! Can you hear my voice?

Hurry up, now!

Yes, ma'am.

Lord Kim.

How is it going?

Did you find anything?

Sire...

Don't worry, Crown Princess.

Everything will work out.

Yes, it should.

You've been looking forward to this moment, this day.

It's 11 nyang, right?

Ma from Jangjik, it's 12 nyang for you, right?

Yes, that's right!

There is no interest.

Pay back the amount when you can, in portions.

Thank you. Thank you!

You don't need to thank me.

Her Highness is the one doing this.

Next.

Hurry up now!

Coming.

- Ma'am. - Sir.

How is it going? How are the preparations?

Before we hit Kang Joo Seon's merchant group today

we're giving silver to people who want to trade with Qing.

Even if they step down, our trade has to continue.

To the people in the city who have been pushed aside and didn't get a chance

this will become a great hope.

Yes of course, ma'am.

The rights that only they had will be spread to everyone now.

What exactly do you do around here?

So many of you stayed up for days, but can't even guess what it could be?

I'm sorry. I have nothing to say, sir.

But the amount of documents is too much.

So we can't give you a sure answer on what the Crown Prince plans to give to Qing.

So, you can't do it?

The Crown Prince is strangling us, but you want to offer him our neck?

- Sir, that's not what I mean... - Enough.

You should leave now. You are completely useless.

- Sir. - What are you doing?

You should get out of here and bring all those documents to me!

Here they are, sir.

But... this is not an excuse.

This job is tough, to be honest.

I also looked through these documents.

When I see this one, it sounds like he will give away land in the border area.

But when I look at that one, it sounds like he'll send maids to the royal court.

Then, with the Crown Prince's character

he wouldn't give away all of these.

- Then... - What?

It's nothing. It's not that I'm taking the Crown Prince's side...

It's just so much that I feel like looking for a needle in sand.

Wait.

"Looking for a needle in sand"?

Yes! It's really not an excuse.

I thought maybe the Crown Prince was making fun of us this morning

and got upset for no reason!

Right... the Crown Prince wouldn't give away anything to Qing too easily.

Pardon? What did you say?

Then why...

Why did he ask for documents related to Qing?

And these meaningless ones?

The Crown Prince went to Mohwa Hall and met with Ingguldai?

Yes, sir.

Yes, it was to meet with Ingguldai.

Pardon?

Can't you see?

The reason that the Crown Prince started this...

was to have an excuse to go to Mohwa Hall and meet with Ingguldai.

At the same time, he prompted us to make wrong guesses with this pile of garbage!

Sir...

It's a trap. We were fooled.

The Crown Prince wouldn't have looked for anything we could've suspected.

Look for documents related to Qing from the ones remaining here.

The ones that the Crown Prince didn't look at.

That's where the Crown Prince's real intention must be hidden!

Yes, sir.

- Did you prepare it as I asked? - Yes, my lord.

I prepared silver and silk for Qing's interpreter Jung Myung Soo.

But his greed seems to be getting worse.

Even the goods prohibited by the government...

He's asking for them with no shame!

You're right.

But because of those people

I am able to achieve the goals of myself and my family.

- How did it go? What about Father? - He just headed out.

To meet with the Qing's interpreter Jung Myung Soo.

Then let's move. We have to catch them in the act.

Yes, sir.

Sir!

You should look at this.

- Where did you take it from? - This is from the Ministry of Taxation.

There isn't much. It's about taxes and tributary payments.

Tax and tributary payments?

- Related to Qing? - Yes.

But there isn't anything specific...

Sir, what's wrong? Is this what you were looking for?

Tributary deals...

And smuggling?

With Qing?

I'll leave everything to you for now.

As you know, Ingguldai came with the envoys...

I should do my work for us.

Is it...

By any chance, is this it?

Kang Joo Seon...

He'll hit Kang in the back while he is in the middle of a deal with Qing?

Move them to the boxes now!

We'll be following the envoys soon!

Yes, sir!

Lord Kang! You came!

- I ran a bit late. - Not at all.

I came a little early.

Sire.

Your Highness.

- Did you find Kang Joo Seon's location? - Yes we did.

It's a courtesan's house near Gwangtong Bridge.

Yes, let's go.

It's also important to Qing!

Vice Premier, what does this mean?

The Crown Prince will hit Kang Joo Seon?

Yes. This was it, Yeo Jung.

While the King was asleep

this is what the Crown Prince and the Princess were planning to do.

They'll hit Kang Joo Seon first

and take you and me down after that.

They'll cut off the limbs first

and aim for us next.

What do you think? Are you satisfied?

Of course.

And don't worry about the aftermath, just like before.

Then I'll get up now.

Nothing good will come if we stay together for too long.

Sir! Sir!

Sir, we're in big trouble!

You should get out of here quickly!

What is it? Why?

What happened?

Arrest every one of them! Don't leave a single person behind!

What? What did you say?

What was attacked?

The storage where the silver is produced, sir.

It's seized by the soldiers now!

Lord Kang! That means we're also in danger.

It means what you did was uncovered!

How could this happen?

They also received my money.

How?

Sir, we have no time for this.

Before the soldiers barge in here, we should get out of here!

Please, sir. Are you leaving from the back door?

No, I can't leave like this.

We need to erase the trace.

Take care of him.

Lord Kang!

What are you doing? Kill him now, and shut him up!

Yes, sir.

Lord Kang!

What are you doing?

Sir... please spare me.

Let's go.

Sir! Sir!

Stop, Father!

In Woo!

It's over, Father.

So don't make it any worse for yourself.

What are you doing?

Did you plan all of this...

No!

That's not the case, Lord Kang.

The Joseon and Qing governments did all of this together!

Crown Prince.

- General Ingguldai. - That's right, Lord Kang Joo Seon.

Our Qing won't forgive you for fooling our country!

Sir!

What are you doing?

Tie up this criminal, and take him to the State Tribunal!

Yes, sire!

How dare you!

It was you, after all?

You put a knife... in my back in the end?

Your Majesty!

His Majesty is awake!

His Majesty gained consciousness!

Sire!

Sire...

Is that true? All of them got taken away?

That's what I said!

It wasn't enough that he sold the country?

He produced counterfeit silver bullion?

Why did Kang Joo Seon do such a thing and ask for punishment from Heaven?

Mom, punishment from Heaven is no big deal.

The Crown Prince and our Princess will punish him much worse.

- That's the punishment from Heaven. - You're right, Eun Seol!

They know better than anyone about what he did.

Of course they won't let it slide.

Of course! This is the beginning.

Starting from Kang Joo Seon...

to Kim Ja Jeom and Soyong Jo. They'll be cleaned out! That's all there is left!

Of course! Of course!

- All of their heads should be cut off! - Yes, cut them off!

- Should we have a drink? - Should we?

Thank you, General.

For helping our Crown Prince on this.

No, not at all.

This was also necessary for our Qing.

I'm the one who should thank you.

And I wasn't wrong about the Crown Prince of Joseon.

When I saw him for the first time in Joseon

and when he was in Shenyang...

I was impressed by his character.

Yes, Joseon will gain power now.

Since he will be the next king of this country.

This is the real silver bullion with its purity qualification.

The ones that Kang Joo Seon was using to bribe them.

That's how things were, sire.

The real ones didn't return to the people.

They were only grabbed by the rotten and evil ones.

But, Teacher...

This can be a new beginning, right?

Yes, this wrongful bribery will disappear...

and the ones who commit unjust acts and steal from people will disappear!

Teacher...

Some day, a righteous Joseon will rise again.

Ma'am!

- Ma'am! - Grand Prince.

What's wrong? What happened?

Father woke up.

But... but...

Bring the Crown Prince, Vice Premier.

Do you understand?

Bring the Crown Prince in front of my eyes now!

He is looking for the Crown Prince, ma'am!

Father is furious, more than I've ever seen him!

Crown Prince...

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[Hwajung]

Please trust me, Father!

This is too harsh!

How can this possibly happen?

How did the royal command come about?

Your Highness! Where are you?