Original subtitles

Are you the one from Gyeongsung?

I am the one that will bring Prince Choongnyeong back from Gyeongsung.

Bring the Royal Prince back?

I want to give him the gift of the throne.

What do you mean by this?

He's turning in his uniform since he's been removed from duty.

This is not what we agreed on.

I said I would spare his life.

I did not say he would be absolved.

Former Deputy Chief Yi Chung of the Bureau of Weaponry will

be serving the military as a commoner from today forward.

Any problem with that?

Of course not, sir.

Good. You may go.

One very difficult problem remains...

My judgment isn't what it used to be when I was young.

May I seek your advice, Your Highness?

Yi Chun's biggest crime is obeying an unauthorized order very faithfully:

the order by the Crown Prince

to create a justifiable cause for a conquest by provoking the enemy.

If he was dismissed from his post and reduced serve without rank,

what are we to do with the man that gave him the order?

A deposed Crown Prince!

Do you wish to lose the seat of Heir Apparent?

This is too hard.

How am I supposed to understand

if you don't explain where this is coming from?

You can't cover up something this obvious.

You completely lost me here.

Go to the King at once and confess him the truth.

Conquest was my wish. And I needed a justifiable cause.

So against your order to stay away from military affairs,

I sent an artillery army to the north.

And I provoked the enemy so I'd have a reason to conquer them.

Stop.

Tell him everything and seek his forgiveness.

Who did you hear this from?

That's not important. What's important is the truth.

Do not punish him.

No one can punish the Crown Prince.

Your Highness!

They told me you have no selfish ambitions,

but I see now that you don't deserve to harbor ambitions.

A man who can't think beyond his desire to protect his own brother

is no kingly material.

Do you want me to cover this up?

How should I cover this up?

Should I make Yi Chun take the fall for everything?

Should I say that his excessive loyalty is to blame?

I never asked you to cover up the Crown Prince's wrongdoing.

What I was trying to say is that the only person

who can punish the Crown Prince is himself.

The Crown Prince is the future King.

Who among the Royal retainers can come forward and punish the King?

Give him a chance to reflect and admit his mistakes.

Only then he will pay heed to counsel of his loyal retainers

like you when he rises to the throne.

Are you sure that's all?

They'll deploy central army when you send the beacon signal.

That s it?

How many times do I have to tell you?

Why don't we make a bet?

I bet this brush that the Crown Prince will not...

... admit his mistake.

You know better than I do how valuable this brush is.

If the Crown Prince was the type that could ever repent, he would've already.

He would've come forward and admitted his wrongdoings instead

of sending men like them to interfere with the investigation.

What if it isn't true?

Your Highness...

No, let's just say that it's all true.

Do you really think the King would forgive me if I told him everything?

How could you of all people think something so naive?

Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect.

But the question is whether or not you admit your errors and atone for it.

Penitent man will get a second chance, but...

Atone for what? I have nothing to atone for.

This is your last chance, Your Highness.

When the investigator returns and reveals the truth, it will be too late.

I don't need any chances.

Because the information you have is false.

I want to believe you. I wish I could take your words at face value, but...

If you don't believe me, you only have one option.

Go to the King.

I dare you to tell him what you know and get me thrown out of the palace.

Who is it?

Which bastard opened his big mouth?

I am the Crown Prince's woman.

And I'm the former Deputy Security Councilor Cwok Sun's concubine as well.

What do you mean?

Are you naive or are you dense?

You mean the Crown Prince has once again...!

He wants me to leave the noble lord and become his only lover.

Why are you telling me all this?

I thought perhaps I could make a deal with you.

A deal?

I want you to expose the Crown Prince's illicit affair.

Our future King is having an affair with a high lord's concubine.

He is at it again after humiliating himself getting caught

with the former King's woman.

How can we put this inferior, reprobate on the throne?

Woman!

Make the whole world mock and criticize and turn their back on him.

What do you hope to gain from this?

The Crown Prince's deposal.

If the Crown Prince is, deposed, you'll go down with him.

That's why I want to make a deal.

Once the Crown Prince is deposed, Prince Choongnyeong will no doubt take his place.

That will make me his number one merit subject that put him on the throne.

Is it money you want?

I just want my life protected.

A small humble house would be a bonus if you can manage.

I will make it a home for the poor deposed Crown Prince and myself.

Home for the Crown Prince?

I want the Crown Prince for myself.

I'm tired of having only half of him.

Your Majesty, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?

I saw the light on and thought I'd come in.

Why are you still in the palace at this late hour?

Is something the matter?

Well, I...

Are you afraid as well?

Are you as afraid as I am about the investigator coming back?

Your Majesty...

I didn't send the investigator because of Choongnyeong.

Choongnyeong is incapable of treason against me.

Even if he's been grinding his teeth with vexation for the past few years,

to seize the throne for himself, he would not resort to violence.

Besides, Gang Sangin conspiring against me?

Your Majesty...

I sent the investigator because of the Crown Prince.

The fact that he is the one that deployed the artillery army,

that's what makes me suspicious.

And once I started to question him, suspicion snowballed.

If I'm feeling this way, I'm sure the ministers are too.

I wanted to be certain.

I needed to make sure that the Crown Prince has nothing to do with what is

happening in Hamgildo.

Your Majesty...

I don't need to be afraid. Do I?

The Crown Prince has nothing to do with this. Right?

I... am certain, Your Majesty.

Is it you, Father-in-law?

Or is it you, Minister of Military?

I don't understand.

I told you not to open your mouth!

Your Highness, if you could talk to us calmly...

I told you not to tell Minister Hwang anything!

Does he know about our plans?

Are you sure none of you said anything to him?

We don't have nine lives, Your Highness.

How could we?

Your Highness.

Do you think someone leaked the information.

Maybe he knows about the deployment of the advance guards as well.

Try not to be so anxious.

Those men should've reached Gyeonsung by now.

But there is no beacon fire.

It's a long way to Gyeongsung, Your Highness.

Variety of things could've happened on the way.

If they don't get there before the investigator does, it's over!

Have faith in your men and relax.

Father-in-law...

Why don't you come to my house tonight?

I'll inform the guest wing to be prepared for you.

I'll wait to hear good news from you.

Let's go.

You're pretty. You have nice features.

I can understand why

the Minister of Personnel wanted to have you as the mistress.

What did he offer you in return?

Did he offer to make you his concubine if you bring the Crown Prince down and

put Prince Choongnyeong on the throne?

Concubine of the Kings father-in-law...

It's indeed better than an sick and old retired minister.

You've got some imagination. I don't know the Minister of Personnel.

You dare deny it?

You just left the guild school with Minister of Personnel Shim On right now.

Oh, is that the Minister of Personnel?

What?

I thanked him when he complimented

on my beauty, but I didn't even know who he was.

Do you expect me to believe that?

Why don't you ask him if you don't believe me?

That would be very interesting since you'll be exposing the Crown Prince's

infidelity to the world yourself.

Leaving so soon?

Do you love him? Do you love the Crown Prince?

What if I do?

Then it's your duty to leave him.

You will only be in his way.

Don't you think the Crown Prince knows that?

Why do you think he keeps coming to me regardless?

He says he doesn't have an ounce of feelings for you.

How dare you!

You should have been a bit more warm and compassionate.

Then he wouldn't have a reason to come to me.

Would you come back with me?

Please come back with me to the palace, Your Highness.

Go ahead without him.

His Highness needs to rest.

He is exhausted attending to state affairs.

State affairs?

Do they call keeping

hidden woman in your wife's family home to toy with state affair now a days?

How many times do I have to tell you jealousy is unacceptable?

Do you know who that wench was with today?

If you saw what I've seen...

She's a dangerous woman, Father.

You are more dangerous if you ask me.

It's bad enough you're openly

jealous of your husband's mistress, now you're stalking her?

Do you think this is dignified behavior?

Escort the princess back to the palace at once!

Is anyone there?

Nobun!

I asked Nobun to leave us for a while.

I didn't want him to hear me if my tone became too loud...

Did you run into the Princess?

Then why are you just sitting there?

You should come in and let me have it.

I don't know.

I was ready to pounce on you...

But I didn't want to go in.

From some reason, I don't want to see you today.

- Auri. - Just for today...

Let me do what I want just for today.

Let go.

I'm tired.

Please let go.

I don't have the strength to argue with you.

I'm emotionally maxed out, darn it!

Not even for one day?

You can't leave me alone for one lousy day?

I'm a lowborn tramp so I have to take orders from you every...

That was quite an introduction we made, my unborn child and I.

I'm sorry...

Escort Choi.

Yes, Your Highness.

Get me some arsenic.

Your Highness!

Fletch some arsenic from the Royal Physician at once!

Didn't you hear my? It's an order!

Are you trying to defy me as well?

Fetch some arsenic now!

Arsenic?

The Crown Princess...

wants to swallow arsenic?

Your Highness, your potion...

You are not well. You must finish your potion.

The Royal house Is a hideous place...

Mother-in-law takes bitter medicine struggling to stay alive

and the daughter-in-law wants arsenic to end her life.

This Royal house is a disaster to say the least...

What is the reason?

How could a mother conceive of such a horrible idea?

It's because I am too ashamed to see my son, Mother.

If we don't get the signal by today, chances are the mission failed.

How did this happen?

First find out where the information leaked.

And figure out another way to deploy the central army.

Another way?

We can't move a massive army without justifiable cause.

We don't have time to waste on finding justifiable cause.

Gyeongsung must be at war before the investigator returns.

Or it's over for all of us.

Mother, what brings you here?

Clear the room.

I'm busy right now.

If this isn't urgent, can we do this another day?

I asked you to clear the room.

I wonder why the Queen is so unset.

Has the Crown Prince done something else to cause trouble besides

disturbing the border by sending the artillery army?

Please watch your tongue!

Are you calling our grand enterprise trouble?

I'm not talking about our grand enterprise.

It's just that when the Queen gets that way, it's usually about another woman.

Would you please be quiet?

I beg your pardon?

I said I'm bringing her into the palace.

- Your Highness! - Stop.

Stay out of this.

I'll end her life with my own...

If you lay a hand on her,

I could renounce the Crown Princess and put her in that place.

The Crown Princess is the mother of your son.

She is with my child as well.

How could you have a royal grandchild with such an unchaste woman?

What are you going to do?

Tell the Crown Princess to send an assassin to kill her and the child?

Crown Prince!

You know something?

The Princess is becoming more and more like you.

In fact, I can't tell the two of you apart anymore.

She's smart, cold, loves power, gives lectures to her husband...

She's become just like you!

To be the mother of the country...

So tell her to be the mother of the country and nothing more!

Tell her to stop trying to act like my woman and just enjoy the power.

Oh...

I can assure you of one thing.

I'm a forbearing man unlike the King, so I will not hurt my brothers-in-law.

Mother... Mother...!

Your Highness!

Mother!

Your Highness!

The Queen's illness has taken a turn for the worse?

What happened?

I'm surprise the shock didn't kill her.

The shock?

Is this about the Crown Prince?

How did you know?

The Crown Prince? What about him?

It's nothing. I don't know anything.

Are you all right?

Send everyone back.

My being ill is no cause for this commotion.

What happened?

It's...

Crown Princess...

You are the mistress of the Royal house now.

Mother, please don't say such things...

There's nothing keeping me in this disgusting world anymore.

My Queen...

My wish now is to die here in this bed.

Mother...

You must serve your husband and your son well, my dear.

You know what I mean by that.

Don't worry so much.

She's regained consciousness, so she will recover gradually.

I don't know what to say to you either, Father-in-law.

There's no need to feel badly.

You have enough on your plate right now,

and I feel badly that my childish daughter is behaving the way she is.

The Crown Prince is at it again?

She's one of the high lord's concubine this time.

Is this the cause of the Queen's illness?

Then...

I suppose he has no intention to stop.

Too far. He's gone way too far!

Ruining state affair is one thing, but his mother is on the verge of death.

And he has no intention to stop?

What are you waiting for?

Find the woman and put her on on the stands at the city square.

Expose the Crown Prince's depravity in front of the people.

I think you should.

What to do...

You mustn't expose it.

I'm surprised.

I thought you considered moral uprightness the most important

virtue politicians must have.

Now is not the time.

The Queen is ill from devastation as it is.

If this got out, she could give up completely.

It'll be a matter of time before we're making funeral arrangements.

What are you worried about?

That the Queen's death will shroud the Crown Prince's wrongdoings?

You see everything if you live long enough.

I can't believe you of all people think we should wait for the right time

to pull out the hidden card.

I guess you're getting good at political games.

That's not where he is coming from.

He's worried about what this will do to Prince Choongnyeong.

Being away, he couldn't even send comforting words to his mother about

what happened to her brothers.

How could we make him bear this kind of awful burden?

Let's wait and see what develops. Now is not the time.

Gim Hyun was walking around the pagoda prying for blessings one day

when he came upon a beautiful woman.

So he followed her quietly on his tippy toes when...

Ra-a-argh!

You little rascals!

You're going to miss those kids when you leave...

It'll be hard for a while.

You're coming back with me to the capital city.

You developed a bad habit of taking orders lightly.

"Bring him back if he didn't conspire against me.

There could be a war so bring him back."

The King is asking the son who has given up on himself to come back.

Bring me some more books when you come next time.

You're really not coming?

Where would I go when this is my home?

Don't you know who made a mess of Gyeongsung?

All this is the Crown Prince's doing. The Crown Prince!

Things are a hundred times worse than it is here in the capital city.

The Crown Prince is running the whole show alone,

dispirited officials don't want to work,

it's a matter of time before the whole country is in shambles.

I'm sorry.

Is it because of me?

Yes, it's because of me.

You can't trust me anymore because I ran away like a coward when you were pushed

against a corner after stirring you up and encouraging you.

That's why you can't get up the courage to start again.

It's not like that.

I just like it here. That's all.

Um, Your Highness.

This may not be the most appropriate thing to say right now...

But the Queen being ill may not be entirely bad for us.

What do you mean?

A trip to the hot springs?

That's absurd. Leave.

Your Highness is malady stems from years of accumulated stress

causing blockage in blood and chi circulation.

Bathing in the hot springs will help relieve that stress.

Good work.

Go.

She's stubbornly refusing to go to the hot springs...

What are we suppose to do

if she gets worse?

How about talking to Father about this?

He's the only one she'll listen to.

Fifteen days. Won't you give me fifteen days of your time?

Would fifteen days be enough?

Is that enough time for the central army to reach Gyeongsung?

Must you go this far?

If the King should find out...

What's our option? Wait for the investigator to return?

Do you think you'd get out of this alive if the investigator

comes back and exposes our entire conquest plans?

The investigator could leave Cyeongsung before we get there.

That's why we have to act now.

If we can deploy the troops tomorrow, we can get there before it's too late.

His Majesty must go on that trip if this discussion is going to mean anything.

He will not be inclined to leave the capital city...

... in this state of confusion especially

when he is eager to get the investigator's report.

Won't you take mother on a trip to the hot springs?

Sungnyeong...

I was a fragile and...

sickly child ever since the day I was born.

Mother spent countless sleepless nights taking care of me, Father.

But have done nothing for her in return.

Please buy time for me, Father.

I want you to be healthy and strong for a long, long time, Mother.

So I'll have the chance to pay you back for your love.

Let us go on that trip, my Queen.

The central army will leave the capital tomorrow and march to Gyeongsung.

Your Highness.

Perhaps the two of us should stay behind.

Many things could go wrong if four military leaders leave the city at once.

Very well.

Stay behind and handle the confusion that may arise.

Of course.

Your Highness.

Would you stay behind as well?

I can't do that. I can't send you into danger alone.

Yi Jongmu and Yi Sookbun... I can't trust those men.

Your Highness...

Please stay behind and keep a close eye on them.

I'm not worried because I have you.

Don't work too hard.

Have a safe trip, Father.

I'm counting on you men.

Assist the Crown Prince well.

Rest assured, Your Majesty.

Let's go.

Your Highness...

May the gods be with you.