Original subtitles

A healing trip, you say?

Yes, Your Majesty.

To where?

Well...

To Inwang Temple.

The Queen Mother's health my be important,

but how could a king violate his own state policy?

Despicable!

We're at a temple, Mother.

I'm sorry, Mother.

I am to blame for all this. Please get well and scold me like before.

What's the Royal Secretariats job for goodness sake!

How could you let this happen?

I'm sorry sir.

What's next?

Sir...

We just issued a nationwide order to close down the temples, and the King has

taken the Queen Mother to a temple himself.

What's next?

I'm surprised, Minister Jo.

The King has overtly violated a state policy.

Aren't you going to do anything about it?

He's doing his sonly duty.

Then you're going to overlook this?

I said duty as a son, not as a King.

Let's just see how far he goes first.

What is it?

I...

They've come to pray for the Queen Mother.

Allow us to hang a lantern if nothing else.

Please, for this young child...

She looks unwell. She shouldn't' be here.

She insisted on coming when she heard that the Queen Mother was ill.

We lost her mother to this treacherous disease as well.

When she died... and when this child was beyond comforting...

the Queen Mother was there.

But she is ill.

What is your name?

Keutsun...

How are you holding up?

I want to pray so the Queen Mother gets better.

Can I hang my lantern over there and pray?

Please let us hang our lanterns, Your Majesty.

The Queen Mother was with me at my mother's side when she died.

... And when my son died.

... And when my brother died.

But there's nothing we can do for her.

So please let us pray to Buddha for her recovery just once...

We wouldn't do this if it were for us.

We won't do anything that the government doesn't allow.

We won't even come near a temple again, so please...

Please let us pray to the Buddha just this once.

We'll never come here again once the Queen is well.

Please, Your Majesty just this one time!

Your Majesty...!

What did I try to do to my people to protect the national religion?

Are you awake?

Don't worry about Prince Hyoryeong.

He is fine.

Her pulse has stabilized as well.

Is this true?

She's making progress?

Your prayers have reached Buddha!

They are urgent matters that require your approval.

The Queen Mother?

Much to my relief, she appears to be improving.

Please return to the palace in no more than two days.

You must, Your Majesty.

This is a healing trip, Secretary Yi.

That's why I am asking you.

If you come to a temple on a healing trip, and if your absence is extended,

the ministers of the court will be up in arms saying that you violated

your own policy and paralyzed the government.

I will deal with their complaints the way I should have long time ago.

Your Majesty.

Order prayer service to all Buddhist temples across the country.

Prayer service?

A service to pray for the Queen Mother's recovery.

I know how you feel, but...

You don't need to know how I feel.

I gave you an order and you are to obey it.

You know as well as I do that I can't obey that order.

And you know just as well what happens to those who defy the King!

Your Majesty...

Master...

Can't you, if no one else, give me a little sympathy?

There's nothing I can do but hope for a miracle.

My mother lost her brothers because of me.

She begged me not to destroy my sibling relationship, but I defied her,

pushed my brother out and took his throne.

I gave the wife that same heartbreak by failing to protect her father,

and now made my brother Hyoryeong a criminal.

I can't even count.

Your Majesty...

I broke my mother's heart so many times that I can't even count.

That's why I can't let her go.

I want to give her more time more time to scold me as much as she wants.

And if Heaven would allow, I want to make her smile if only just once...

What are you doing?

A nationwide Buddhist service?

Are you out of your mind?

What's wrong with it?

This country rejects Buddhism! Must I explain again?

"There should be affection between father and son."

One might say that he is

following the teachings of Confucius by doing his filial duty.

Look!

Stop.

This is a waste of time.

His Majesty has given up his kingly duty to do his sonly duty,

so we must be prepared for the confusion that is to come.

Confusion?

- General Park. - Yes, sir.

Put the city on state of alert and double

the surveillance on foreign diplomats and spies from Ming, Japan and Jurchen.

Yes, sir.

Generals Choi and Yi.

Yes.

I need you two to go to the northern states immediately.

Why the northern states?

No one knows the northern states better than you do.

You must secure the borders tightly so the Jurchens do not

attempt to take advantage of our crisis

I don't understand.

Don't you know that internal chaos incites enemy aggression?

What's the ulterior motive?

The ulterior motive?

Choi Yundeok and Yi Chun are the King's trusted generals.

I heard you sent them away.

Yes.

And you ordered your men

Yi Sumnong and Park Sil to secure the city by declaring a state of alert.

That is quite right.

How can I not question your ulterior motive?

Answer my question.

What else but to choose a King?

Choose a King?

As you always say, we the high ministers are the ones that brought

the current King to the throne.

But he continues to push his limits and make mistakes.

Isn't it only natural that we would consider replacing him?

You're begging to be charged with high treason.

My unconditional loyalty is yours and you speak of high treason?

The test is over, Your Majesty.

The test?

Now you must take back all governing authority from the young King.

Why did you insist on abdication of the throne while you are alive?

Wasn't it to test if the heir to the throne has what it takes

to lead this country when you're gone?

A man who thinks he is above the laws does not have what it takes to be the King.

A man who abandons his duties and paralyzes the government to

deal with his personal issues is also not deserving of the throne.

You must take back the state, Your Eminence.

The former King is a difficult opponent.

Is this what you really have in mind?

Do you really want Taejong to rule this state again?

What makes you think I don't?

I thought your objective was to control the King.

It was.

Then I think the current King is easier to tame than the former King.

Why do you think I wanted to control the King?

My ultimate goal is in quickly creating stability to this country

and making this a small but imposing kingdom that rivals Ming.

And I will submit any time to a worthy king to achieve that.

Remember.

Country does not belong to the King alone.

How much longer do we have?

She is showing improvement, but unpredictable nature of the disease...

I'm talking about me, not the Queen.

Your Eminence...

I can assume sovereign duties again if you take good care of me?

Your Eminence...!

Give me a frank answer.

How much longer do I have?

Some physicians might say that Your Eminence's life is in greater

danger than the Queen Mother's life.

If you should be overcome by stress of running the state...

Are you saying I could die before the Queen does?

Forgive me, Your Majesty...

Your Eminence!

Your Eminence...

Were you listening?

You're so cruel. How could you keep this from me?

Don't tell anyone.

Eminence...

Don't let the Queen find out.

But...

Her whole life has been fueled by spite for me.

If she learns about my pitiable fate, she won't be able to hate me anymore.

It will only hasten her death.

I can't do that to the woman I caused so much grief to already.

Merciful Buddha...

Come on out!

I am shocked to say the least.

You hate the temples more than anything... and here you are.

I guess its' true that King's prayer has reached Buddha and

you're starting to come around.

I detect a tone of sarcasm.

I'm sorry, my Queen.

You always wanted to be my political partner more than to be my wife, but

all I ever did was to pull you down.

Don't change on me.

Sudden change in old age means you're near death.

My Queen...

I'm finally thinking about doing some politics with you as my partner.

How do you feel about it?

I need your wisdom.

I want to order national Buddhist services and pray for the Queen Mother's recovery.

I need to find a way to overcome the high ministers' opposition.

It's not possible, Your Majesty.

You were ready to give up your post to keep your Buddhist faith.

Yes.

I'm talking about giving you what you want.

If I can save my mother through prayers, I can abolish the anti-Buddhism policy.

Are you trying to be a tyrant?

I already am. I became a tyrant the day I ordered repressive measures

against the temples without the slightest qualm.

It was the easiest thing to do.

There was no way I could give up the Hall of Worthies,

and ordering my brother Hyoryeong's arrest was not easy.

But ordering the temples closed was the easiest thing to do

because it is the state's policy to reject Buddhism.

So ordering the temples closed and using that as leverage to negotiate

with the high ministers was not hard to do.

But that was my biggest mistake.

What I did was more than just shut down the temples.

I shut down hearts.

Like my mother said, I ordered my people to shut down their heart.

Permitting worship of Buddha and personally ordering

all temples in the country to hold a service is not the same.

There is a reason why

our founders repressed Buddhism and promoted Confucianism.

You cannot undo this by encouraging Buddhism.

Don't you think I know that?

Then it is best that you follow your good judgment.

Go back to the palace?

Have the ready the carriage.

You are very ill, Mother.

That's all the more reason I must go back.

Mother...

The mother of the state can't very well die in a temple house.

Is it because of me?

What do you mean?

Who told you?

Some one told you I'm in trouble for bringing you out here.

That's why you're insisting on going back.

I know you don't want to go back.

It's arrogance to assume what your parents are thinking.

Forget about the Buddhist service.

Mother...

I am not saying this to protect you. I am saying this because it's useless.

Did you forget?

I was once a political enemy of yours.

Do you think Buddha or Heaven will forgive a mother like me?

Heaven will understand.

If it does? If it does, what do you want?

For me to ruin

my son's political life so I can see if it's possible for me to extend my life?

If that happens, my King, I will not forgive myself.

You chose to take the throne despite my earnest plea not to.

So don't be shaken by trivial emotions, and accept the horrid, caged life of Kings.

You don't have the freedom to be rough to your body and take ill.

You don't have the freedom to waste time taking care of your sick mother.

So go back to the Royal Court at once and attend to state affairs.

This is not naggings of a mother

but a final advice of the former King's life-long political partner.

Hey, aren't you done yet?

I have to check every little detail thoroughly to find the difference.

They both look the same to me.

They're different. They have to be.

And I'm going to find that difference if it kills me.

Fine, fine, but let's get some sleep now and take it up again tomorrow.

All the scholars are already gone.

Just a little longer.

You're so stubborn!

I thought you were away, You Majesty.

Could this be because I provoked Heaven?

Your Majesty...

Heaven didn't strike my mother instead of me because of

my arrogant announcement to challenge him. Did he?

Your Highness...

I'm back.

How do you feel?

It's good to be home.

You have work cut out for you.

Your Highness...

He must be getting old as well. Each day he grows softer.

But he has you, so I don't have to worry. Do I?

Are you sure you're all right with that, Your Highness?

Why, it would be like a tiger leaving a fox behind to run her palace.

How could you accept that and rest in peace?

You're a getting good. Who know you'd ever jest with me?

Perhaps that's what kept me going all these years

enduring your scolding and fighting you...

My dear...

Please get well.

You can yell at me all you want from now on, so please just get better.

I will not proceed with the Buddhist service to pray for Queen Mother's recovery.

You made a wise decision.

Are you satisfied?

I don't know what you mean.

I know that you urged my father to take back the sovereign right to rule.

Now that I've given up on the Buddhist service and returned to my duties,

I guess you've won.

I heard people call you a born winner.

So what do you think? Are you happy with this win?

Politics is not about winning and losing, Your Majesty.

Then what is politics about, Minister Jo?

I believe politics is enlightening the unenlightened citizenry.

It is also creating balance and harmony by controlling various demands of the society.

Harmony...

I think you taught me a great lesson today.

Minister Jo, I guess your job now will be in creating harmony. Right?

Send him in.

Send him in!

Do stop those who take arbitrary action, but do not destroy tradition.

This is the answer I've come up with pondering the reality of Joseon

where Confucianism is the national faith but many still rely on Buddha.

- Councilor Byun. - Yes, Your Majesty.

Buddhist temples will continue to be monitored.

If there are corrupt forces that exploit worshippers of Buddha to gain power

and influence, it will be your job to find them and bring them to justice.

I will carry out your command to the fullest.

And Minister Jo.

Yes, Your Majesty...

It is your job to make sure there is no government persecution

against Buddhist worshippers.

But Confucianism is indeed this country's national faith,

so work with the Supreme Council and the Six Ministries and devise policies

to promote and encourage Confucianism among the people.

Is this good enough?

I trust this is the kind of balance and harmony you are talking about.

Stop arbitrary action, but don't destroy tradition?

And it's up to us to keep this country a Confucian country?

If propagation of Buddhism is not stopped,

it will be the failure of the Supreme Council and the Six Ministries.

Do we have to accept this?

You're afraid to take on

this simple challenge and you want to be a part of this government?

Minister Jo!

The King is making politics very interesting.

I think I'm going to enjoy being a politician.

This was an excellent move.

You made a wise decision.

- Secretary Yun. - Yes, Your Majesty.

I still believe a miracle could've happened if we had prayed to Buddha.

Your Majesty...

I don't want you here anymore.

Mother...

I'll tell her to leave today. No, should I make it tomorrow?

No, I'll send her back to her palace later when

I can muster up enough strength to give her a word of comfort.

Too many days went by trying to figure out my fickle mind.

Mother...

My child...

My poor child...

Just follow your heart. Do what your heart tells you.

Don't hold back your anger.

If you want to hate your husband, the husband who was so cruel to your parents,

let your heart be free to hate him.

Mother...

And when you should get tired, would you consider this one thing?

That you are not a wife of an ordinary man.

That although you don't want to and you're sick of it,

It is your inescapable fate to live as a mother of the state.

It's quite possible that the citizen the Queen must take most pity on is the King.

Fresh air feels nice for a change...

We're going back in soon.

It's a nice day, but the breeze is not good for you.

I guess life treats you well when you're at the end of it.

Are you...

... genuinely worried about me?

What is this?

Your Highness the Queen Mother is the inspiration behind this new policy,

so the King wanted your approval before it is decreed.

I guess this means he will preserve the national faith but without breaking

the people's hearts.

It may not please you completely, but show your son your support

and give him your approval.

Our son...

We raised him well.

He will be a great King even greater than you.

Don't try so hard now.

It was a rough road for you as well...

Neither I nor this country ever deserved you. Wife...

You were my wise wife, the King's gentle mother, and my lifelong partner...