Original subtitles

Who is that supposed to be?

It looks like he's wearing a kings gown.

Isn't that the King over there crying?

Then who is next to him naked?

Who drew these obscene pictures?

What does that say over there? I'm illiterate...

Come on. Don't you know how to read?

It says the Crown Prince had an illicit affair with the former King's concubine.

What?

Oh my! That's unspeakable!

What's this world coming to?

The world is going to the dogs...

What are you waiting for?

Remove these posters and get these people out of here!

Yes, sir!

Even the Ming envoy is taking interest in the Crown Prince.

This is becoming very interesting...

Where is the Crown Prince?

Would you like to go to the Audience Hall?

No.

I will go to the Office of Endowment.

Your Highness...

The envoy should be coming soon.

No, Your Highness.

If you don't step in and the King does something drastic...

Lead the way.

I must first seal the envoy's mouth.

Your Highness...

Tell me it is not true!

Tell me that this is groundless slander.

No, Father.

It's all... true.

Have the Royal Inspector's Office conduct a thorough investigation

and arrest the perpetrators of this malicious slander!

Shouldn't we investigate the accusation first?

If this claim is true, it's not slander.

What are you saying?

This is a conspiracy designed to disgrace the Royal House and destroy the Crown Prince!

A conspiracy, I tell you. A conspiracy!

We all hope that is the case, but chimney doesn't smoke without a fire.

Right Minister Hwang?

How dared you! I will have you thrown on jail first!

Perhaps the Prime Minister can tell us.

What is the truth?

We are asking you if this accusation of an illicit affair is true.

It's completely groundless!

Then I guess next step is to confirm that.

A public inquiry?

We must clearly discern whether the accusation is true or false.

Do you know who would have to stand trial if we open a public inquiry?

The Crown Prince and Chogungjang,

and the abdicated King may have to be questioned as well.

The Crown Prince cannot be put on trial.

If he is innocent and this is groundless accusation,

I would think he'd be glad to stand trial since

this is the quickest way to prove his innocence.

Your Majesty, we implore you to order a public inquiry!

We implore you!

If this accusation of debauchery is true, it cannot be overlooked!

It cannot be overlooked!

We must inquire into the event and bring the truth to light!

Bring the truth to light!

I'm going to the Audience Hall.

No, Your Highness!

Out of my way!

Restrain yourself. Don't do anything in haste.

There's no need to drag the Royal family through the mud with a public inquiry.

Your Highness...

I'll come forward myself.

I'll go and tell them the truth.

Are you going to toss the crown away like an old shoe again?

It's all over anyway.

I made the bed and I'll have to lie in it.

Instead of squirming and struggling in vain, I'll give it up and walk away.

Isn't that what a real man would do?

A real man endures humiliation to fight for what he has to.

Do you think Han Xin crawled between his enemy's legs because it pleased him?

Why still me?

I'm just a fool wearing a fancy royal robe that I can take off any minute.

You're a smart man and you know that.

Why are you hounding at me to protect the crown?

Before I answer that, I have one question.

Why the abdicated King's woman?

You can have any woman you want in the royal palace. Why her?

I don't want to make excuses with petty details.

Did you love her enough to risk losing everything?

I wouldn't be such a bastard if I did.

I did it because I felt like I was suffocating.

"No", "You're wrong", "Don't do that", "That's improper"

"The future King can't have that way"...

Your Highness...

In here, in this godforsaken palace, I'm not a man.

Just a chess piece under constant watch of the King's men

being played according to the King's grand plan.

Nothing more and nothing less.

That's why I picked her.

Because I needed to breathe.

I wanted to pick one thing that I'm absolutely not supposed to do

and show myself that I can do it.

Now that makes me bad enough. Doesn't it?

Do you regret it?

What's the use?

Why are you pushing me to be like this?

You're depriving me of a chance to express my shame.

Your Highness...

I don't know about anyone else, but I do feel ashamed before you...

So I wanted to apologize from the bottom of my heart...

I'm sorry, Minister Hwang.

I really did want to give it one more shot with you as my mentor...

But it's a pity Heaven won't give me a chance.

Now would you let me go?

I cannot.

Now it's your turn to give me a chance.

A chance to protect you.

Minister Hwang...

My intent?

You already know the truth, Your Majesty.

Why aren't you coming forward to reveal it?

Is it your desire to protect the Crown Prince no matter what the circumstance?

Why were you hiding a fair maiden like this all this time?

I am glad you're pleased.

I hope the Crown Prince didn't get his hands on her first. Has he?

I do not know what you mean.

I am a woman and I'm afraid it's difficult for me to understand

why you are asking such a question.

It seems land is not the only thing that the Crown Prince wants to conquer.

If he's conquered the abdicated King's woman, I imagine Emperor's woman is next.

I was told you were not a foolish man that would believe groundless rumors.

Groundless rumors...

Then I am disappointed by the King of Joseon.

He can't even stop his people from spreading groundless rumors.

I would say he is a benevolent King.

People are his children, and children do not always behave.

A king who embraces them with love and maintains a peaceful reign

is a benevolent king indeed.

I want that envoy out of capital the city now!

To ensure that he doesn't talk...

Send along enough gifts to make him shut up.

They said he has a weakness for money.

East Palace

His Highness is deeply ill and requires absolute rest,

so visitors must not be allowed unless absolutely necessary.

Am I making myself clear?

Yes, of course.

Perhaps guards should be sent to the abdicated King's chambers as well.

I think it is just as vital that he remains silent as it is that the

Crown Prince remains silent.

Sending the guards will end up provoking the abdicated King.

And more importantly, the public is watching.

Any attempt to restrain the abdicated King will be seen

as admission that the accusation is true.

I want you to locate Chogungjang.

I doubt she is still with the abdicated King.

What are you waiting for? Get moving.

We already know where she is, Your Majesty.

Public inquiry?

Is His Majesty going to concede to this?

He may not have a choice with the pressure from the ministers.

You must stop this somehow.

I don't know what will happen

to my brother and Chogungjang if this isn't stopped.

Aren't public rights as important as Crown Prince's

honor and a woman's welfare?

Master...

We agree with Master Yi.

People have the right to know the truth.

More importantly, there must be consequence for a crime such as this

even if you are a member of the Royal house.

Law and order of the state must be preserved.

I know nothing about what Choongnyeong's been doing.

Don't let anyone know that I know for now.

If he protected the Crown Prince without succumbing to outside pressures,

that proves that he has no personal interest.

Your Majesty...

Let us first see if we can stop the public inquiry somehow.

This public inquiry must be stopped.

Find and arrest every artist in the city.

They have to have paid someone to draw those paintings.

If we get the artist, we can get to the perpetrators.

Will that stop the inquiry?

That will depend on our move.

Bluntly speaking, a depraved Crown Prince can simply be deposed, but a man accused

of slander with intent to destroy the Royal house could be put to death.

If we can prove that Park Eun is behind this, there won't be a public inquiry.

A criminal of treason won't make a credible witness.

Park Eun?

Minister of Personnel involved with those trying to resurrect Goryeo?

You found the artist that drew the posters?

Yes, Prime Minister.

Who commissioned the artist?

I'm afraid we don't know yet.

Why not? Didn't you interrogate the artist?

The artist is a deaf-mute.

A deaf-mute?

Then you can communicate by writing.

We would have if he were literate.

How much more unlucky can we be?

It doesn't matter if he can't talk or write.

All we need is the face of the person that paid him.

The person was wearing a mask?

And it was a woman?

Draw and color all the details on this woman that might help us identify her.

There're only two groups of women that could wear fancy dresses like this.

Ladies of the Royal house or gisaengs...

And Chogungjang is both.

She couldn't have done it alone when she is in hiding.

For her to do something as bold as this, someone has to be protecting her.

Are you talking about Prince Choongnyeong?

Then I guess we're going to have a public inquiry after all.

The boy is cunning as well on top of everything else!

What are we waiting for? We must have him arrested.

We don't have enough evidence.

We can't arrest a Royal Prince on conjecture alone.

Darn!

What brings you here, Minister Hwang?

I believe Minister Park employed a group of merchants to locate Chogungjang.

What brings you here at this hour, sire?

Insolent bastard! Search the premises!

Wait!

What is the meaning of this?

We may be lowly merchants, but we need to know why we are being searched.

If you don't want us to conduct a search, you can confess.

I don't understand.

I was told you're

the one that informed Minister Park about Chogungjang's whereabouts.

And now he's got you looking for her again.

What else did he put you up to?

Did he tell you to put up dirty pictures of the Crown Prince all over the city?

You're not going to weasel out of this so step aside!

Very well. I'll have my men help you as well.

What are you waiting for?

Open up the storerooms and let the guests in.

Yes, sir!

- Begin the search! - Yes, sir!

I'm afraid the information you got is incomplete.

What do you mean?

Do you know that the abdicated King ordered us to murder Chogungjang?

What?

Who knows what the abdicated King will do to us if this gets out.

Why would we dig our own graves?

Perhaps you should look closer into the matter before you take action next time.

Is there something else that's bothering you?

Where do I know him from?

Minister Hwang...

I've never met that man before, but his voice sounds very familiar.

Perhaps at the palace.

He is a major supplier for the Royal palace, so he is likely to frequent the palace.

At any rate, this investigation isn't going anywhere.

I'm afraid the Crown Prince will end up having to stand trial after all.

Thank goodness for Ilji.

If he hadn't informed us that Choongnyeong was having us watched,

we would have gotten ourselves involved with the artist.

We could have suffered a huge setback.

Issue an alert to the agents. We must tighten our security.

Yes, sir.

By the way, what happened to Choungjang?

Haven't we found her yet?

I'm afraid not, sir.

Does this mean Choongnyeong is holding the key once again?

You saved that audacious wench's life?

Why are you confessing this now?

What are you after?

He just didn't want you to breed bad karma, that is all.

Stay out of this.

You're a fool that doesn't even know what your brother is after.

Your Eminence...

He was biding his time.

You held me back saying you'd take the fall for your brother,

and you were waiting for the right moment.

When the world begins to sing your prize and the time is ripe

that's when you planned to expose your brothers malfeasance.

Would you believe me if I said no?

Make me believe you. Show me you're being truthful.

Then would you go to the public inquiry and help me?

Audacious bastard!

Never. I will never be called to the public inquiry

There will be pressure from the King and his ministers.

Can you resist?

How dare you treat me like a paper tiger!

If your father wants to put me through interrogation at the public inquiry,

he will have to be prepared to bury me first.

I don't understand what's in your head.

How can you smile at a time like this?

His Eminence will not go to the public inquiry.

Not only that, he will deny everything.

That means all we need is for the Crown Prince to stay silent,

and there won't be a public inquiry.

That's easier said than done. This has become much too big.

Nonetheless, I have to try everything I can.

I wonder if the Crown Prince knows how devoted you are to him...

Take these and go.

Why? Is there something wrong?

There's no time to talk.

You have to go to Donglae ferry dock right now.

Mother...

Lady Daion will be waiting for you there.

Go before Lord Han finds out about this. Go!

Don't you hear me? Go!

Youngsil...

Be safe.

That's the boy that made the explosive weapons when we

attacked the Hall of Great Peace.

Do whatever it takes to recruit him.

I take it they're competent men?

Of course, sir.

I hope we have not been remiss in our treatment of the envoy.

I received a rather exorbitant gift.

Does it please you?

Enough to cover the Crown Prince's flaw.

It pains me greatly to have to send you young ladies away to a distant foreign land.

Be safe in your journey...

Where are they going anyway?

They're going to Ming to be Emperor's concubine.

Lucky for them. They are set for life!

Lucky? They're leaving home never to return, for heave sakes.

Don't resent me for this.

Life of the Emperor's woman is a hundred times better than life of a slave's wife.

Thank you for saving my life. How could I repay you?

There's no time for thanks.

Han Younglo...

Do you know what Han Younglo did to you?

Let go of me!

Do you want to get yourself killed?

What about the woman who is going to Ming to save your life?

Let go! Let go of me!

Your hunch was right about Prime Minister Ha Ryun, Your Majesty.

Was it?

I should've expected nothing less from a man that holds the blueprint of Joseon.

At your service, Your Majesty.

I called you to discuss the matter of the Crown Prince.

Is there no possible way to avoid a public inquiry?

Of course there is.

You must find a way to quietly get rid of Chogungjang.

Then neither the Crown Prince nor the former King will have to expose the truth.

People will talk for a while, but commotion will eventually subside.

But too many people know about this.

There will be fierce public opposition.

I believe you can find a stronger hand to suppress public opposition.

A stronger hand?

You are truly a wise minister.

It looks like you will be the hero that saves the Crown Prince.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

No proof, no crime...

He will try to find Chogungjang and kill her off.

He's been disappointed over and over,

but I guess the eldest son is still the eldest son...

I'm sure he doesn't want to disgrace the Royal house.

But we can't let this happen...

We can't let this golden opportunity

to get rid of the Crown Prince slip through our fingers...

Chogungjang...

Bulls-eye!

Isn't that Prince Choongnyeong's attendant?

Yes, Your Grace.

Yes! Choongnyeong's attendant and his visiting sister...

How did I miss this?

Move Chogungjang to another location?

Not only is Granny on my back about her, but couple of guys have recognized her.

I can't keep telling everyone that she's my sister.

More importantly,

His Majesty might hurt her...

... to avoid a public inquiry.

You're all working so hard for nothing...

Your Highness...

Brotherly Love!

That means brotherly love in Chinese, Your Highness.

Brotherly love...

Are you very concerned about the Crown Prince?

I was about to summon you.

Turn over Chogungjang to me.

I didn't know you knew.

Oh dear...

How could I expect my ministers to respect me

when my own son thinks I'm incompetent?

I've come to take the lady.

But Your Highness...

It's broad daylight and there are eyes everywhere.

What will happen if I say no?

Your men will get hurt.

I can expose the disgraceful depravity of the Royal house to every detail.

You would dare challenge your father?

Every life is equally valuable, Father.

The fate of the Crown Prince and the future of Joseon is at stake.

Then would you make a deal with me?