Original subtitles

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

Father...

He should be punished by death.

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

and bringing shame on the Royal House.

Strike him.

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

Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?

Choongnyeong is not the one who shoulld be punished by death.

Right, Uncle?

Why are you doing this?

You know exactly why.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

What just happened?

Prince Choongnyeong's mentor

Yi Su came to me last night.

He informed me of the grim truth,

so I passed it on to the Crown Prince.

We must set this right, Father!

Calm down.

Don't do anything hasty.

Choongnyeong must be scared to death right now.

If he knew about this and didn't come

that fool is trying to protect the uncles.

To set this right,

your uncles will have to be killed.

You're holding three people's lives in your hands now.

Father...

What can you do get the most out of this situation?

Father...

Don't be swayed by your emotions and turn this into your advantage.

Get up-now.

Were you scared?

Doe, what is power and what is politics?

Are you glad you were born a prince?

I feel... disgusted.

I wish... at least for today...

that I had never been born a Crown Prince of Joseon.

Why didn't you come to me first?

If you knew the truth,

you should've come to me first,

not your father.

That would not have been wise, Mother.

Crown Prince...

That would've led to more contrivances and this time you could've been involved.

These are your uncles.

You grew up in their home under their care for many years.

They went too far this time.

Amazing...

You're becoming so repulsively like your father each day...

Why didn't you turn your uncles in?

I didn't want anyone else to die because of me.

But they are going to die because of you.

Don't do anything.

Keep no interest in state affairs and don't try to learn about the world.

These are things you are not allowed to do.

Remember.

He who brings confusion to the state is the King's enemy no matter who he is.

Mother...

You look like you're doing fine.

I'm sorry, Mother...

Go back home and rest.

I'm the cause of all this...

You don't have to feel responsible.

All is the cross you have to bear for being born a Royal Prince.

What have you done, Prime Minister?

I punished the offenders as you can see.

They can't take one day of torture,

but they're stubborn as goats.

Prime Minister...

They confessed to paying off Min Mugu and Min Mujil.

Any other names?

Who else is there?

I think I will answer that question to His Majesty.

By all means.

Burn it.

Your Majesty...

Let the matter rest.

But Prime Minister Ha Ryun is...

What is your objective here?

To clean up corruption and stabilize the court?

Or kill off all merit subjects?

Your Majesty...!

I'll put you in charge of prosecuting

Min Mugu and Min Mujil.

Prime Minister Ha Ryun said

you would do a good job.

Find a way to give them the harshest sentence possible.

The harsher the better.

I heard you've been assigned a very important task.

I'm going to need a few pointers from you.

We shall try.

I'm counting on you.

Why?

I told you I didn't want anyone getting hurt because of me.

Not my uncles, not Um Jachi not anyone.

Why?

Why did you tell them? Why?

If I didn't, you would have been hurt.

You made me a murderer.

I wanted you to fight against injustice.

I didn't make you a murder.

Master!

This is politics as well.

It's wrong to let injustice prevail because of our emotions.

Have you already forgotten your resolve?

You said you wanted to protect the people who lead bleak lives because

the King does not give them his attention.

It's an unattainable dream for a man who takes his own life this lightly.

Kill yourselves.

You abandoned your honor and disgraced the family as well.

End it.

That will be best for all of us.

What are you waiting for?

Kill yourselves. Now!

Very well.

We will do as you wish.

How could you of all people doubt our loyalty?

I told you to lay low and do nothing!

This is politics. How could we lay low and do nothing?

You dare talk about politics when you're gasping for air caught in the King's trap?

If we hadn't done anything. the Crown Prince

and Choongnyeong would've started a bloody war for the throne.

That's what the Princes have learned from previous generations.

Silence!

If you want us dead, we will die.

But eventually, history will recognize our true loyalty for the state and the King.

Your Highness.

I heard you went to the Royal Inspector's Office.

No.

I just took a long walk because

I have a lot on my mind.

But of course...

You relied so much on your brothers.

and they've become prisoners with uncertain future overnight.

Lady Hyobin, that's a rather harsh expression.

I'm just concerned, that's all.

You don't have to be concerned.

Things happen in politics.

How is the Queen?

She's as feisty as usual.

As far as her pride goes, she's still the Queen.

The poor woman is in denial.

Nothing can change the fact that she's a sister of treasonous criminals.

Sister of treasonous criminals is unfit to be the queen.

Are you going to attempt to take possession of the Central Halls?

I will need your help, of course.

If I become the Queen, eventually Kyoungnyeong will become the King.

And I don't have to tell you what kind of future you will enjoy.

Your Majesty, perhaps a visit to the Central Halls is in order.

Her Highness the Queen must be so very upset.

Any other women would have come begging in tears.

In a way, Her Highness is very much like you.

Both Highnesses are too proud and resolute to open your heart to anyone.

Your Highness?

It's from the East Palace.

I don't deserve this.

And I'm not much of an archer...

That's why the Prince is giving it to you.

You re already an extraordinary scholar and administrator,

but it concerns him that you're neglectful in taking care of your health.

Your Highness...

He said you suffered from chest pains not long ago.

How does His Highness know..?

How could the Crown Prince be

neglectful of his future Zhang Zi Fang?

Zhang Zi Fang: Advisor to Emperor Gao of Han Dynasty in China

I heard that it was a testimony of a lantern

lighter eunuch that led to the arrest.

Is this correct?

Yes.

A eunuch's word against the words of the Crown Prince's uncles...

It must not be easy for you weigh the truth, Commissioner.

The higher the mountain ne deeper the valley...

And the more you have, the more people try to take from you.

It's a lonely life. Isn't it, Commissioner?

Your Highness...

You must consider the possibility of a set up.

We have a witness.

And slander is not their only crime.

Are you talking about the money they accepted from the merchants?

If we begin prosecuting the Crown Prince's uncles for that,

you will have to prosecute half of the senior statesmen of the Royal Court.

Your Highness, that's...

Ah I'm not telling you to overlook

their misconduct.

These are men who are expected to stop others from this kind of behavior,

so indeed they should be punished.

Tell them to surrender half of their family fortune to the national vault.

That should teach them a lesson.

But Your Highness...

If you think that's too light of a punishment, advise the King to have

them pay for their crime by working harder to serve the country.

Twenty years have passed since this state was founded.

And the government is yet to reach

the three lower states because of our lack of competent men.

That's...

Now is not the time to discard merit

subjects who played vital roles in founding this state.

Give credence Placing greater importance on loyalty

and lighter importance on faults;

isn't that how you get through troublous times?

It is indeed true, but...

Good.

I knew you'd understand.

That's why the Crown Prince calls you our future Zhang Zi Fang.

Get out to target practice sometimes.

So that you say healthy serve

the Crown Prince for a long time.

You were right.

The Queen and I are indeed very much alike.

Not only is she proud and resolute like me,

but she also knows exactly how to wield her power.

Your Majesty...

Advise the King to charge them only with accepting bribery

and seize a portion of their family fortune.

It doesn't matter what you know when the timing isn't right.

It's good politics so see the situation for what it is and cover your back.

You're not giving in, Commissioner.

What brings you here, Commissioner?

I need the investigation file on the man that was found dead in the audience hall.

Why did you bring this to me?

I wanted to get your advice.

Are you trying to put this one on the Min clan as well?

Put it on them? That's a harsh expression.

I am inquiring into their additional crimes.

You don't have any evidence against them.

That's why I need your help.

I'm sure you know exactly how to get a confession out of an offender.

I will take that as an approval.

Did you conspire to plot treason?

Did you seek to turn Joseon into the country of the Mins?

No!

Witnesses have come forward and testified every detail.

I don't even know them!

You're a dead man anyway.

Why suffer this unnecessary torture?

Confess.

Make this easier on yourself.

You're trying to set us up.

Heaven knows the Min clan's loyalty to this country!

I guess they haven't had enough pain. What are you waiting for?

Continue the torture until they confess the truth!

Yes, sir!

He is accusing them of the murder in the audience hall as well?

What brings you here?

Tell them to stop the torture.

At once!

Step back.

If you must refuse, shoot me with that arrow first.

What are you after?

Why are you putting my brothers trough this brutal torture?

It's what we do to punish the offenders.

Are you sure it isn't to force them into a false confession?

My Queen!

You can't do this to them after twenty years of loyalty.

They tried to take Joseon and turn it into their own country.

Don't make false accusations.

They came after Choongnyeong.

They dare tried to hurt the Royal family. False accusations, you say?

Even if they did come after Choongnyeong,

it was out of loyalty to strengthen the Crown Prince's position.

How can you say that when you are Choongnyeong's mother?

They cannot be forgiven.

How dare they?

Those who attempt to harm the Royal family cannot be spared.

You mean your Royal throne.

You don't care about your children. You never did and you never will.

The only thing you earn about is your throne and preserving it.

Queen!

You're afraid.

You fear that the merit subjects who helped you to get the throne

will now turn their swords on you and take the throne away.

That's why you chose the Min clan as

your scapegoat to make an example out of them.

"Go ahead and try. Try to take my throne and I'll destroy you."

Enough!

Stop the torture. Now!

Keep your dignity, woman.

Release my brothers and end this now, or I will make you pay.

You wish to give up being a mother to your children,

the mother to this country all together?

If I have to destroy you, there is nothing that will stop me.

This just gets better and better.

No!

The offenders have confessed, Your Majesty.

Your response...

Treasonous retainers cannot be allowed to live.

But they may not be the real offenders.

I suppose that's possible.

If the real offender is out there...

That's why the Mins have to die.

Do you know what I learned ten years ago when I took possession of the throne?

It's not the foreign enemy that poses real threat to the state.

The real enemy is always inside.

I know that the slanderer is close by.

And not just the slanderer but everyone that wastes time

with strife for power is my enemy.

I started this to give them a warning,

and punishing my own relative by death will teach them a sure lesson.

What's a bookworm doing out here with a sword?

I saw you out here...

So I thought perhaps I should try, too, to find some peace...

Then let's not just stand here.

Your Highness...

Brother.

Just call me Brother when we're alone.

It feels distance when you call me Your Highness.

I don't think I should.

There's something I want to know.

If...

If no one had come forward about the slanderous bills,

what would have happened?

Would you have struck me?

What do you think?

I don't know.

And I don't want to know.

I would not have struck you.

Because I know you.

Then why did you test me like that?

If you know me, you shouldn't have put me there in the first place.

I needed to make sure.

I needed to make sure that you are

a helpless dope that can't hurt a fly to safe your own life.

That's why I can't call you Brother.

If I didn't prove your innocuousness to everyone, you'd be dead.

You could've trusted me and protected me.

Even if you've committed a terrible crime, aren't brothers supposed to

protect each other and find a way to forgive?

Isn't that what family is about?

Would it hurt to be different?

Couldn't you become a king who isn't so much like Father?

Not someone who is always so cold and stern,

but a king who's more like a brother, a friend, a father.

Then...

Then I could call you Brother...

... and really mean it.

Yi Bangwon, that cad... I'm quite impressed.

You're praising the enemy, sir.

A couple of Royal in-laws were not what we were after.

We will infiltrate the palace wall take Yi Bangwon's head.

It's a pity, but we lost this fight.

Yi Bangwon...

Joseon and his regime is stronger than I anticipated.

Remember. We are not after Yi Bangwon alone.

We must seize Joseon whole.

And to do that, we need to be stronger.

That's the lesson this fight has taught us.

We must strengthen our force of arms,

and acquire unfailing public support with a clearer cause.

Most importantly, we must secure

organizing ability to seize complete control of the Royal Palace.

If we fail to accomplish any one of these missions, our dream of bringing down

the regime of Joseon and restoring the Royal house of

Goryeo will never be realized.

Talk about falling from grace overnight...

How did the King's brothers- in-law end up like that?

You can imagine what the Queen must be going through right now.

Who is in charge here?

Your Highness, what may we do for you?

I'm sure you can allow these prisoners

time to quench their thirst before they begin their long journey.

But His Majesty the King has said...

Are you defying my order?

We must be on our way shortly, Your Highness.

Be safe on the long trip, Uncle.

You will regret it.

I promise you, you will regret it.

Choosing Choongnyeong over us...

protecting the boy out of petty sentiment...

I promise you, you will regret it.

Remember, Your Highness...

When another prince begins taking interest in politics,

he becomes your threat, your political enemy.

Stop!

Stop, you thief!

You're the thief! You're squeezing the people dry!

The King, the government officials, you're all thieves!

You're supposed to protect us, but you're killing us instead!

Clear the road! Clear the road for the Prime Minister!

Clear the road! Clear the road for the Prime Minister!

Saloon near the Hall of Great Peace

It s good to see you again.

You're here.

It's a rather noisy place to call it a place of learning.

I may not be a very good teacher, but I do get paid.

You have to let me do my job.

You're the one who didn't want me to be a bookworm, master.

I couldn't think of the last time

we had a drink together in a comfortable setting like this.

Your Highness.

It's not going to hurt anyone to keep the books closed for a day, master.

Do I have to stare at my drink forever?

Sorry about that.

Hey!

Watch where you're going!

Oh, Lord Jang, What are you selling today, might I ask?

Long time no see.

Don't you need an interpreter?

You have to watch out for this guy. He's a swindler.

What?

One drink. All I want is one drink.

For one drink of wine you can hire Joseon's most competent interpreter.

Look who's here!

It's Foreman Gim!

What do you think you're doing? Get your hands off of my drink!

Get out of here!

All right. I heard you.

There's not a single generous soul in this joint...

You don't look familiar.

Are you from out of town?

Wait.

These calluses on your hands tell me you're a swords man.

Are you a samurai?

Oh, I'm sorry.

No, that s all right.

I knew it.

You can fool a ghost but you can't fool me.

Come sit back down.

I just want to talk to you. Sit down.

Where are you from?

Tsushima?

The mainland?

You're making a mistake.

You should relearn our language first

if you're going to play spy here.

I have some information you might be interested in.

Just give me ten nyangs for it.

No, since this is our first deal, I'll cut the price in half. Five nyangs.

I may not look it,

but I used to work for the Ministry of Rites.

Only five nyangs. What is there to think about?

You'll get valuable information dirt cheap.

What do you want?

I'll buy that information.

How does thirty nyangs sound?

Did you say thirty?

You used to work in the Ministry of Rites?

Yeah.

Why should I believe you?

Listen to this cad.

I'm the former fourth state councilor Yun Hwe.

Go out to the Six Ministries Plaza and ask anyone on the street.

There's not a soul who doesn't know me there.