Original subtitles

Who's there?

The King has calmed the public with false facade of generosity

while approving the payment of tribute and deployment of military,

and now he seeks to send the Crown Prince to Ming as a pawn.

Is this not an outrage?

It's nothing. Don't worry about it.

May I have a look at that note?

It's nothing, I said.

I'm going to have to leave the Royal Shrine for a while.

Try to stop me and you will die.

Then I guess I'm going to be the one to die first.

What are you doing here?

I was worried about you,

so I begged for permission and came to keep you company.

But I guess I walked into my own death.

Step aside.

Put that sword down first.

I can't sit around and watch the King stir the state in the wrong direction!

Don't you think some of this is your fault?

Get out of my way!

Let go of me!

Forgive us, Your Highness.

Take him to the audience hall and lock the door from outside.

Do you wish to die?

Stop this unruly behavior.

Or I just might take the seat of the Crown Prince from you.

How dare you!

Take him away.

Let go! Let go of me!

How dare you!

You failed to get the Crown Prince out of the Royal Shrine?

We must move the Confucian scholars.

They are our only chance of reigniting public fury.

Send the troops to the Royal Confucian Academy immediately.

We have no proof they are behind this.

No one else could've sent this kind of note to provoke the Crown Prince!

We must get to the truth first.

- Minister of Defense. - Yes, Your Majesty.

Didn't you hear my order to deploy the troops?

You mustn't, Your Majesty!

Even if they are behind this,

taking military action to suppress them could throw them into a fit of rage.

Just kill them if they resist.

Then this country has no future.

We may not make it past today.

Without the present, there is no future to think about.

Royal Confucian Academy

How could the military seal off the academy?

They want to get this over with in one swift sweep.

My man...

Incapacitate the opposition and give Ming everything

the want including the Crown Prince.

That's what this is!

You sent the troops to the Royal Confucian Academy?

I'm certain I told you that state affairs are not for women.

What is your real motive?

Real motive? Those who interfere with state affairs are...

Don't tell me this is about the state!

You can fool everyone, but you can't fool me.

The scholars are not your target. Your target is the Crown Prince.

Queen!

You're jealous and angry because the Crown Prince has captured the

hearts of the scholars who never gave you their sincere support.

- Enough! - Am I wrong?

Stop the persecution of the scholars

at once if you don't want Joseon to crumble during your reign.

You cannot persecute Confucian scholars in a state founded on Confucianism!

Get back inside!

We've been given permission to kill if you defy us!

Suppress them!

Aye!

Stop!

I told you to trust us and wait. What is this childish behavior?

We will not be deceived again, sir.

We will keep our resolve even if it kills us.

Then what about the future of this country?

What matters when we're dead and gone? The future is not our problem.

Not your problem?

What is the meaning of this?

Get back inside and learn again.

Relearn the way of the scholar before you come back out and open your mouth.

Don't you see?

It's the two-faced King and the Royal court that forced us out here.

Then find the right way to break us down.

Sharpen your pen like sharpening a sword!

No, we won't.

You will have to.

What are you waiting for? Throw these men back inside!

It's a pity... What happened to the man who said we must preserve hope?

Dumundong Incident: The last 72 loyal members of Goryeo dynasty who resisted Joseon were burned

and killed in Dumundong where they were holding their protest by the order of Taejo Yi Sunggae.

You must leave Dumundong now, sir.

A scholar is nothing without his purpose.

You'd abandon the people to preserve your purpose?

Where would the people look to for hope?

How can you talk about hope when a butcher has taken over the country?

Then you have to stay alive to take the knife away from the butcher.

No!

Stop!

No, don't do this! Stop!

Stop!

Perhaps I should have died with you then...

You gave up your life trying to protect Goryeo

just like those scholars are trying to do now.

If still, to this day, we are suppressing the scholar's pen

with the sword, aren't we unfit to lead this country?

Call a Royal family meeting?

Does this mean you made up your mind?

I don't want this government descending into greater confusion.

I guess you're a man after all.

Sure...

You're not a man if you don't take the power and authority

that's landed right in front of you.

Send a secret memo to the Emperor?

The Emperor must be made aware

that Joseon could become a greater enemy to us than Japan.

But you told the King of Joseon that you would give him time...

That was to get them to slacken their guard.

What are you doing?

I'm sampling, Madam.

I have to sample the food.

How many times do I have to tell you?

Serving is not your job.

I'm making it my job.

Listen.

Reject, reject, he sends back almost everything we send in!

I'm going in there to ask him what the heck wants to shove down his throat.

Such vulgar tongue...

Out of my way!

Hall of Great Peace

Tell him to clear up the road.

How dare you do this to us Ming Chinese!

What is the meaning of this?

Hey, over here!

Release me at once!

Oh, shut up.

"Joseon is to be conquered first before Japan"?

Where are you holding the captured messengers?

The Royal Villa?

Of course not.

Why are you keeping yourself so busy?

I'm asking you why you're so absorbed in government affairs.

Have you found a taste for power as well?

Do you think you can get away with this mistreatment?

Mistreatment? How have we mistreated you?

Your Majesty!

No one in Joseon would ever mistreat you.

Then what happened to my men?

The problem occurred because they were in Joseonese clothing.

Was there something you were trying to accomplish putting your men in disguise?

Of... course not.

Yes. Of course not.

You are not foolish enough to completely ignore our official diplomatic agreement.

Isn't that right?

Tell your men to practice restraint.

The city isn't very safe right now.

My men are too busy assembling pay adequate attention to public safety.

That smells really good.

Your mother really is the best cook in the country.

I told her it's because of morning sickness.

The recipe is inside.

Wait.

What has you so busy lately?

I thought I saw some armed men last night as well.

Are you employing a private army?

If the elders found out, you will be misunderstood.

Just watch.

I'm going to make something that will

knock the socks off of the envoy.

Really?

Yup.

Where's the meat I ordered?

I'm keeping it inside.

This might take a while, so you girls go ahead and browse.

Can we?

I'll find you later.

I'm impressed.

We got lucky this time, but something has to be done on the fundamental level.

Did you found out anything else?

I need to secure my cover first.

If this doesn't work, it's a matter of time before I'm kicked out of there.

You don't have to worry about that.

The recipe is right I side.

Why?

I don't smell alcohol on you anymore.

You're right! How long has it been since I had my last drink?

But when I don't drink, my hands... my hands shake and I can't do anything.

Your hands are fine.

They are!

The world is so strange...

I understand and appreciate why you're working so passionately.

Don't know why my intentions have to be questioned.

Everyone, even my own wife,

keeps asking me why I'm working so hard.

It's not just curiosity. They're trying to get something out of me...

Could we really be doing these crazy things out of selfish reasons?

Is power and authority really that spell-binding?

How could you lose the secret memo?

You are supposed to protect it with your life!

He said it was taken by common bandits.

They probably can't even read.

Sir!

How do you know if they aren't Joseonese soldiers in bandits' disguise?

The King of Joseon is not to be underestimated!

What ever happens...

Whatever it takes...

I will make Joseon a true subject

state of Great Ming.

Are you returning from the Hall of Great Peace?

Oh, dear... You look so pale and thin.

Don't be overly concerned, Your Eminence.

Why aren't you men doing your jobs?

Are you going to have the King tending to a petty envoy forever?

I have nothing to be proud of either.

You're working so hard to protect this state,

and all I did was add to your frustrations by asserting the authority of the Royal house.

No, Your Eminence.

I will do what I can to help from now on.

Why are you so late? You were summoned hours ago.

I was away, and did not get the message until later...

Away? You're a carefree young man.

The country is in crisis and a Royal Prince is out and about passing time?

Forgive me, Your Eminence...

Take your seat.

What's going on, Brother?

Everyone is here, so we will start the meeting.

As you all know, the national fate of Joseon is in a state of peril.

The public is up in arms and Ming is quite infuriated.

Anymore provocation and war will be unavoidable.

For that reason, I am compelled to make this unpleasant decision

as an elder of the Royal House.

I feel one man's sacrifice is required right now.

Your Eminence...

We should send the Crown Prince to Ming.

No, Your Eminence.

The heir to the throne cannot be sent away.

Stay out of this.

Let me go instead.

Brother...!

I will go.

You'll have to become the Crown Prince first if you wish to go.

What are you talking about?

Have you forgotten?

What the envoy wants is not just a prince, but the Crown Prince.

What do you mean by that?

Are you saying that the Crown Prince should be deposed?

I am simply reminding everyone of what Ming wants.

I said nothing about deposing the Crown Prince.

What's the difference?

What are you trying to get out of this?

Are you trying to get the Crown Prince deposed so you can take his place?

If they wanted any one of the princes,

I would've volunteered to go before Prince Hyoryeong did.

I don't want a legitimate prince to suffer this kind of humiliation either.

Then you can go, Prince Kyoungnyeong.

There wouldn't be a greater honor if I could.

I haven't heard a word from you, Choongnyeong.

Your Eminence...

Even an illegitimate prince is showing his concern trying to do his part.

Don't you think you should show some concern as well?

Ignoble... What an ignoble fellow you are...

Make the bold decision, King. It's the Crown Prince they want.

Deposing him and making another prince a Crown Prince would be a poor stunt

they will not fall for.

King?

Give me some time. I will talk it over with the ministers.

Did you suggest deposing the Crown Prince? You are out of your mind!

The Crown Prince will be sent away anyway without you getting involved.

Yes, but then I can't kill two birds with one stone.

Kyoungnyeong...

The Crown Prince has powerful men behind him.

My bet is that they will choose to depose him and keep him in

Joseon if the only other choice is sending him away to be held hostage.

But it's not easy to get back the lost right to the throne.

This is my chance to get rid of the first and the second prince

in the line of succession, Mother.

You mean you this was an intentional move?

All I will have left to contend with is

timid and ignoble Choongnyeong, so it will be worth a shot.

Are you confident you can win?

I, too, am a son of a King who captured his throne with his sword and artifice.

Let us send Hyoryeong instead.

We cannot depose the Crown Prince!

We will restore him to his position.

Are you afraid that

the Prime Minister and we don't have the power?

I assure you they're not sending you in the Crown Prince's place.

Your Eminence...

Your actions today reconfirmed my decision.

This country needs a benevolent man like you on the throne.

But you must first learn to be wary of your surroundings.

Be wary of Kyoungnyeong.

Don't give him any room under any circumstances.

He is not as innocuous as he appears to be.

Kyoungnyeong, that child, is quite clever...

Clever? You mean we should depose the Crown Prince?

Depose him? That's unthinkable.

Then?

I will send Kyoungnyeong as a hostage.

That's wishful thinking.

What they want is the Crown Prince.

They will never settle for an illegitimate prince.

We must make them settle.

Your Highness.

We will make it so that they never wanted the Crown Prince from the beginning.

Envoy Huang Yan was infuriated by the Crown Prince's insults.

Nothing will appease him.

I don't intend to appease him.

I intend to shut him up.

I intend to shut him up forever.

Just watch. Once he puts my beef patty into his mouth...

Would you please tell him to tell me what he wants?

What do I have to make to satisfy him?

Take it away!

I'm the best chef in Joseon.

Just tell me anything you want and I will make it for you.

Anything?

Yes.

You understand Chinese?

Huh? Um, no, but I can read his expression.

Can you make buckwheat crepes?

Buckwheat... what?

Is that Chinese food?

He had it on his last trip here in a village called Yongwanggol.

You don't even know what it is and you're the best chef in Joseon?

Yongwanggol?

Did you say Yongwanggol?

Never mind if you don't know what it is. You're dismissed.

But of course I know what it is!

Yongwanggol is famous for having the best cooks in the country.

Where is Yongwanggol?

I would know about it if it's known for having best cooks.

Yes, you would.

You didn't just make that up when you don't know anything. Did you?

Yes, I did.

What?

I'll find it.

I'll find Yongwanggol and make that buckwheat crepe or whatever it is.

You should close your mouth, Madam. Dust is getting in.

Look!

I better go and find those buckwheat crepes.

I am honored that you called for me.

How long has it been?

I think the last time we met was at Lord Min Mugu's place of exile.

How is your business?

It's struggling without your backing.

You're a big businessman with trade rights to Ming and Japan.

And you're complaining?

He just means that he is not the biggest merchant in the state.

If you help us out, I could make arrangements for you to be

the exclusive supplier for the Royal Kitchen and the Special Events Office.

Then it will be

a matter of time before you are the biggest merchant in Joseon.

This job you have for me must be a difficult one.

You would be risking your life.

You think you might have useful information?

We just might be able to find Envoy Huang Yang's weakness.

Information number one: Envoy Huang Yan likes Yongwanggol.

Yongwanggol? Where is that?

There is no such a place in Joseon.

Pardon?

It's a geographical name dubbed by the Royal house of Goryeo.

Then I guess it would've been renamed when Joseon was founded.

But how does Huang Yan know this place?

Information number two: Huang Yan likes buckwheat crepes.

Buckwheat crepes?

You probably never had them being a prince.

It's stuff you eat when you don't have

anything else to eat made of hardy dryland crops.

Then I guess we have to find the place

that harvests buckwheat that used to be called Yongwanggol.

We just might be able to find Huang Yan's weakness.

And when we cover up his weakness for him, we will become his friend!

Bow. This is Prince Choongnyeong.

I heard you are an amazing artiest.

He sure is.

He's so good that they say he can draw what's in your heart.

Then I guess it won't be difficult for you draw

what a man would've looked like as a child.

It's no problem, Your Highness.

Fellow, you'll get sick sleeping out here in the cold.

Would you like a drink of wine?

It's poison taken from puffer fish.

It starts to takes effect in 30 minutes...

causing fatal results within two hours.

What's remarkable is that it does not leave any trace of poison.

It will look like natural death no matter what test is administered.

Remember.

The fate of the Crown Prince is in your hands.

The Queen is after the Envoy's life?

If all goes well, the Queen of Joseon could become our biggest

ally in restoring the Royal house of Goryeo.

Now we have to switch the poison.

So that they would know he was poisoned immediately upon his death.

Then the Royal House of Joseon will be charged

with murdering a diplomatic envoy.

Then...

There will be war.

You could be put under suspicious for having been called into the palace,

so I had rare food items prepared for you to take back.

Be gentle putting them down.

Thank you.

Well then?

Oh dear, please forgive me.

No, it was my fault.

Remember.

The fate of the Crown Prince is in our hands.

In plain sight along with her skin lotion...

Who said it's dark at the foot of the candlestick?

Where are the pine nuts?

Madam...!

Where are they? Fetch them right now!

There were men that recognized Huang Yan?

Yes, Your Highness!

Have we found a way to become friends with Envoy Huang Yan?

Dead men don't talk...