Original subtitles

Was it wise to grant Yi Su permission

to teach Exposition of the Great Learning

to Prince Choongnyeong?

It will exasperate the high ministers who called for the Prince's banishment.

I cannot banish Choongnyeong.

Heaven cannot be so cruel as to tell me to kill my own son.

What if Prince Choongnyeong becomes a threat to the Crown Prince in the future?

A greater atrocity may occur.

That is the ministers' main concern.

Isn't that Your Majesty's concern as well

and the reason why you're still awake at this hour drinking alone?

It's out of my control.

If he can't even break his younger brother, the Crown Prince does not

deserve to hold the throne in the future.

His Majesty's heart is beginning to lean toward Choongnyeong...

I guess it's time to unsheathe the sword.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Crown Prince!

Great Prince Hyoryeong!

Great Prince Choongnyeong!

Great Prince Seongnyeong!

Great Prince Seongnyeong!

Your Highness, we have to hurry.

Your Highness...

Announce us.

His Majesty has ordered to cancel the greetings today.

Is he unwell?

No, but...

His Majesty has ordered today's academic discussion canceled.

Bring the King.

I can't do that.

He cannot miss the Royal lecture session unless he is willing to give up his throne.

His Majesty is well aware of that.

Then?

His Majesty wishes to renounce the throne.

What?

Royal Ancestral Shrine

On this first day of the ninth month of the year of the cow,

I declare my will to abdicate the throne.

Your Majesty...!

Leave Prince Choongnyeong alone.

His Majesty is making this drastic move because you're trying to hurt his son.

It would be wrong to fall by the wayside just because

the King is making a drastic move.

So you would accept the abdication?

If that is truly the King's wish.

Do you think running a government is a child's play?

Commissioner Park!

We can't leave the country that is still

trying to lay its foundation in the hands of a young prince.

Does this country belong to the King alone?

We've been seeing a lot of you lately in the state office.

I'm compelled to come by the recent disturbances.

About that foundation you are trying to lay,

some might say that we need a change in the Royal court to give it a boost.

I don't think that is a concern of a Royal

in-law who no longer holds a government post.

I am the Crown Prince's uncle and his mentor.

Do you think you can get away with mocking my loyalty

and concern for the welfare of this state?

Why?

Are you going to have me killed once you place the Crown Prince on the throne?

You don't think I can?

You won't be able to.

I'm going to stop this abdication.

Are you with Park Eun on this?

What else am I to do?

Get up and cheer the King's decision to renounce the throne?

It's unlike you to play into the King's manipulative moves.

I heard that the Royal Seal has already been delivered to the East Palace.

So?

This country has nothing to fear may a new world presents itself before us.

After all, we have a wise man like you with us.

A new world?

What should I order first?

Should I order all of the princes to move back into the palace?

Why? Wouldn't you like that?

Do what pleases you.

You never ask for anyone's permission before.

When are you going to stop grumbling?

Choongnyeong, you're happy about this, aren't you?

Why? You're not either?

Give that seal back to Father.

And defy the King's order?

Consider what led him to this.

I'm the cause of all this...

If it weren't for my misconduct, Father wouldn't have been pressured

by the ministers, and he would never have made such an imprudent decision.

Did you say imprudent decision?

Tell me how it's imprudent.

For you to inherit the throne now... That's...

Go on. Why is that imprudent?

You're young... and... you still have a lot to learn... and...

How much longer should I learn?

Until I can compete with you?

Your Highness...

I heard you're learning the Exposition of the Great Learning.

Do you know that's a text book for Kings?

You're being completely ridiculous...

Be honest. Do you want to be the King?

You do want to take the throne from me, don't you?

Or did someone offer to take the throne from me and give it to you?

- Your Highness. - And of course you said yes?

Answer me!

If you want the throne that badly, I can give it to you right now.

Answer me. Answer me right now!

You little wimp... Stop crying!

What are we going to do with you?

I wish our uncles could've seen this.

I can bully him into tears in a snap, and he will do what, they say?

Steal my right of succession?

Uncles said that?

Choongnyeong, you have to watch your tongue.

It's not your place to say what you said,

and you will be misunderstood if you don't restrain yourself.

Whether I accept the Royal seal of reject it is my business.

The Royal seal has been delivered to the East Palace.

His Majesty said he's going to abdicate the throne.

It's not my nature to play games. I think I'm just going to confront him.

General?

Oh, boy... Maybe the Feng shui master picked the wrong spot for the palace.

Everyone that moves into this palace becomes so wishful...

General!

It'll be wise if you could restrain yourself, Your Grace.

You will be misunderstood coming to the conference hall like this.

Don't waste your time.

No matter how hard you try, Prince Kyoungnyeong will never rise to...

This is pathetic.

I'm not talking about Kyoungnyeong's future.

The world will belong to the Mins once the Crown Prince rises to the throne.

What do you think they will come after first?

Control of the military, your most prized possession!

Perhaps...

Choongnyeong has got to go, but we can't allow this abdication either.

If you allow this to, happen, your future is over.

Do you understand?

We cannot accept your abdication, Your Majesty!

No, Your Majesty!

It is utterly unreasonable, and we beg you to withdraw your order!

Withdraw your order!

We cannot accept your abdication, Your Majesty!

No, Your Majesty!

Attend to the safety and welfare this state.

Abdication is unwise and ill-timed, Your Majesty!

It is utterly unreasonable,

and we beg you to withdraw your order!

Withdraw your order!

Attend to the safety and welfare of this state.

Abdication is unwise and ill-timed, Your Majesty!

Order the Royal astrologers to select an auspicious date?

We need to make a list of agents to place in the Supervisory Council, too.

Are we to proceed with the abdication?

Is this really what His Majesty wants?

You need to spread the net wide to yield results.

Let go of me! What is the meaning of this?

We have connections in high places! You'll pay for treating us like this!

Commissioner Park Eun has arrested Baron Kim and Baron Gang...

We've got to find a way to speed up the abdication.

Or everything could be ruined.

What is the meaning of this?

If I accept the Royal Seal, would the throne be mine?

I seriously doubt that.

I know what you went through to seize this seat of power.

You wouldn't give it up in less than ten years of having it in your possession.

Are you trying to test your father?

You're the one trying to test me.

It's not a test. It's a decision.

There is no other way to save Choongnyeong's life.

That's what that naive boy Choongnyeong believes well, but I do not...

Because you are the one who said that a king must protect his state at

all cost, even at the cost of his child's life.

Strike with your sword instead.

If someone is getting

in the way of carrying out your resolve to strengthen this government,

does he not deserve such punishment?

This is untimely.

Whether it is to save Choongnyeong

or because you're angry with the selfish ministers,

I will not accept the throne that is being trust upon me like this.

Why didn't you stop him?

Why should I stop a son who is doing the right thing?

Your Highness...

Now is not the time.

The Crown Prince does not have the power to lead a state.

He has us, Your Highness.

He can ascend to the throne now, and...

Stop.

Your Highness...

Don't do anything hasty and wait for the right time.

Wait until when?

They took the command of the military from us and drove us out of the court.

They can't do this to us the Min clan.

If I tell you to wait, just wait.

You're no match for His Majesty.

That's exactly why now is the right time.

The Crown Prince is still young, so he will listen to you and to us.

But when he gets older, he will not be so easily controlled.

Remember how our father died.

If we fail to bring the clan back to the top, he will never rest in peace.

Your Highness.

Leave me alone.

Your Highness.

Is it Royal in-law Min Mugu?

Or is it Prime Minister Ha Ryun?

You said you had connections in high places.

Who are they?

Who accepted your briery and sold you the concessions?

Accepted bribery from merchants?

And now they are on to you?

Which is it?

Accepting bribery is nothing new,

so it must be the fact that they are on to us that's upsetting you.

You shouldn't have started this if you can't cover up your tracks.

You'll cover up the tracks for us.

Never.

Oh, you will.

Lord Yeogang.

Where do you think the Gahwe-bang mansion

that we gave you last month came from?

What?

Stop the investigation.

That's the only way for you to preserve you wealth and power.

Commissioner, take a look at this.

Gahwe-bang, Pine Forest Mansion.

It's Prime Minister Ha Ryun's concubine's house.

Baron Gang was the registered owner only a month ago.

They made it look like a sales transaction, but...

I doubt that.

Prime Minister Ha Ryun...

I guess his days are over.

We can't trust Prime Minister Ha Ryun alone.

Capital Bureaus Commissioner

Park Eun spent years as an inspector.

He will find evidence somehow.

You have to do something, Mugu.

Mugu!

I already have.

What do you think?

It's a rare talent.

Even the man who wrote it won't be able to tell which one is his writing.

No one comes close to this boy when it comes to forging handwritings.

He can even copy the King's handwriting.

How would you like to be the next Royal Attendant?

Just keep your mouth sealed, and you will be set for life.

But if you tell this to anyone, you will be the first one to die.

Granny.

Granny...!

You wouldn't have come with you if I knew you'd put me up to this.

Idiot.

I'm so scared my whatchamacallum are all shrivel up.

You don't even have whatchamacallum.

Granny...!

You just seized a once in a life time opportunity.

What are you going to live for when you can't even have women?

Power is the next best thing.

You want to make a jail cell your living room?

I won't budge even if you threaten to behead me.

Leave me alone.

All I want is a drink and you're so inhospitable.

Is that how you talk to your King?

Am I among the ranks of loyal subjects?

Sit closer.

It would not be proper, Your Majesty.

We used to call each other brothers before I became the King.

But...

There is no master

and servant or high and low when you're drinking.

There are only friends.

Right, Your Majesty?

Make yourself comfortable, Captain.

It's His Majesty's desire.

Let us drink.

Your Majesty.

Just send Prince Choongnyeong away.

And call off the abdication.

Sookbun!

That's the only way to calm this confusion.

If you're so worried, send Sangin with him.

He will protect the Prince.

Abdication is absurd at this point in time.

A young King can't handle the ministers.

Frankly, you have a hard time handling them yourself sometimes.

Stop now.

Shouldn't you be happy about His Majesty's abdication?

Happy? What do you mean?

You're his best friend before his Royal subject.

If he abdicates his throne,

he will have all the time in the world to spend with his best friend.

What more could you want?

Right, Your Majesty?

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

How did it go? Did you find out?

Is this that important to you, Your Highness? You're making such a fuss.

Of course it's important. It's an urgent matter.

Finding out Jangwon's family's home is no urgent matter.

You're so peculiar.

I know.

And is the one that always puts up with my peculiarities.

That's why finding out where his family lives is a very important matter to me.

He hasn't seen his family in years.

He's going to be so happy.

Your Highness! My Prince!

Yes, I'm here!

Keep this between you and me.

Why?

I want to surprise him.

Your Highness.

- Your Highness. - Listen to you!

Why are you tickling me?

Because you're adorable.

Let's go.

Jangwon... Jangwon...

Open your eyes. It's an order.

You're not going to get away with defying your master's order.

Get up.

Get up and take me home now.

What are you doing?

I'm going to the palace.

But it's your night off.

I have to stop this somehow. This is wrong!

Did you wish to see me?

You didn't call me at this hour to

begin lecturing the Exposition of the Great Learning, did you?

I think I will send... the Exposition back to my father.

I'm going to send it back...

and leave the city.

Your Highness...

I should've listened when you called me a thief stealing

other people's words and ideas.

Then Jangwon would still be alive...

And Father would not be in this dilemma.

Your Highness...

I'm the cause of all this.

The thought of leaving scares me, but I can accept it.

But...

But it is a pity.

I had told myself that I would be a good student from now on

and treasure your valuable teachings.

But now I won't ever have the opportunity again...

Where are you going in such a hurry?

Who are you?

An angel of death here to take you to the world beyond.

Slanderous bills about Crown Prince Yangnyeong?

Perhaps we went too far posting slanderous bills.

We need a big distraction to stop the investigation.

The Royal court will be turned upside down and abdication will be history.

What if they don't buy it?

The writing may look like Choongnyeong's,

but who would think the young child would dare do this?

He's an audacious child that sounded the Petitioner's Drums

and defended a criminal of treason.

Choongnyeong will deny it to the end.

It'll be useless before an undeniable physical proof.

All we have to do is silence the boy that forged his writing.

And everything will take care of itself.

There is not a peaceful day in the palace...

This handwriting...

It looks very familiar.

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Prince Choongnyeong did this?

Your Majesty...

Heaven is cruel to this man...

Perhaps I should've listened when you urged me to banish Choongnyeong...

You must go to the palace at once.

The physician... What's keeping the physician?

He would not let us call a physician.

But he'll die without treatment.

It could be worse for him if his

whereabouts is revealed by bringing in an outsider.

But...

Don't worry about me. You must go to the palace.

This is most urgent, Your Highness.

If you don't go now and reveal the truth, your life may be...

Permit me to introduce myself. I am Baron Ok Hwan.

How did the walls of the merit subject's home become so low?

Who allowed a lowly merchant to enter?

I was told you were always kind to Baron Kim and Baron Gang.

Such audacity!

But they have no way of paying back your kindness now since they

will have to be careful of their actions even if they are released.

Permit me the pleasure of filling your vault from now on.

Are you seeking concessions?

I'm looking for a way to serve the country.

Serve the country?

Everyone knows that you are the next King's most trusted adviser.

I fill up your vault, you will put the contents into valuable use for the country.

How else could I better serve the country?

You are a perceptive fellow.

He doesn't seem to know that his men have failed.

No, I don't think so.

Choongnyeong will try to destroy his uncles if he isn't a fool.

And the Crown Prince will see that as a struggle in an attempt

to steal the right of concession.

Is there a violent storm approaching over the Royal House of Joseon?

The night feels so long...

How is Eunuch Um Jachi?

We patched him up for now.

Will he live?

All we can do is to leave that up to fate.

Your Highness...

Why would my uncles do this?

Sadly, this is another side of politics that you are so eager to learn.

What happens to my uncles if I reveal the truth?

What you think will happen is most likely to happen.

Must I reveal the truth nonetheless?

You have no other option.

Your Highness...

Kill the hostages and deliver their heads to Yi Bangwon!

That's the only way to break them!

The Second Princes' Rebellion - 1400:

Conflict over the throne between Taejo's two sons

Bangwon and Banggan which ended in Bang-won's victory

and rise to power as the third King of Joseon.

Your Highness...

You've been summoned by the King, Your Highness.

Your Highness...

Chief Gang.

I will not defy the order so would you let me walk unbound?

My wife and my servants are watching.

I may never see them again...

so please let me walk out of here with dignity.

Your Highness... Prince Choongnyeong...

Your Highness...

Did you malign the Crown Prince in an attempt to steal his seat of power?

Answer the question.

This is your writing. Is it not?

Father...

Do you have excuses?

How should we settle this matter?

It is up to you.

I will abide by the Crown Prince's decision.

I will seek punishment by death.

It is the only fitting punishment for mocking the seat of power

and bringing shame on the Royal House.

Attendant Noh.

Father!

Strike him.

Kill him with your hands and restore the command of the Royal House.

Your Highness.

Should I have him strike you first?

What are you waiting for, Crown Prince?