Original subtitles

I see you've decided to be our savior after all.

Whether I am your savior or your angels of death remains to be seen.

Well now, shall we begin?

Former Minister of Works Hwang Hee has returned to the Royal court?

This is getting very interesting.

You must send them an unofficial letter firmly declaring your will.

"I will not give up on the calendar science project

or move control of the military from the King Father"?

But wouldn't that break off the talks?

You have to compromise a little...

Seize the upper hand.

You give them one thing and you'll end up losing everything.

Politics is a lot like gambling.

When you're against a master player that dominates the game,

you have to do one of two things.

Fold your cards and go home or take it all the way with what you've got?

Which do you choose, Your Majesty?

He won't accommodate any of our requests!

Minister Hwang is straining himself from the very first move.

Where are you going, Minister Jo?

We have work to do. Hwang Hee is an easy opponent.

We've refused to negotiate with the senior officials,

so now we must focus on bringing the minor officials back to work.

What kind of powerful move do you plan to hit them with?

Powerful move? Never.

I finally got myself reinstated after years of trying.

I have to prove myself worthy by doing something substantial.

I understand your position, but...

Come on, Pyeonon, help me out here.

We've got our boss breathing down our necks.

He'll kill us on our review if we go back to work against his will.

Oh dear, I'm feeling pretty embarrassed here.

These young lads probably thinks I lived my life in vain.

This is quite pathetic. Indeed it is...

It's bad timing. Why now?

Put yourself in the King's shoes. When would you call me back if not now?

Twelve.

Huh?

I can get at least twelve men back to work.

Twelve?

But you have to take care of my review.

It might take a while. Would that be okay?

Oh dear... The things I do for my old friends!

How about you, Oonbo?

Oh, I don't know. Just make sure I don't get fired.

Thank you, fellows. I knew I could count on you!

Oh, look who's here!

Welcome back Minister Hwang.

No, I heard you've been reinstated as Councilor of the Supreme Council.

I'm rusty from being away for many years, sir.

I hope you will share your wisdom and insight with me.

Such modesty!

Well then.

More than half the staff have returned, so will state affairs go back to normal?

I hope so.

We don't need the sly old ministers anymore.

Are you stupid?

Pardon, sir?

Envoy?

You are going to lead the mission and go to Ming to represent Joseon?

I will do my best, sir.

And I won't forget to get the imperial seal this time either,

so don't worry about a thing.

This is absurd!

That's just a tidbit, sir.

What's this?

Who said you could re-staff the Ministry or Rites?

This is nugatory, you got that? Nugatory!

It's already been submitted for approval.

What?

Get back to the Conference Hall and bring Hwang Hee here now!

Do you hear me?

Sir, he's demanding to see you.

Go back and tell him that state affairs are to be discussed here at the Conference Hall.

But he's mad as hell.

Mad?

Then I guess you won't have to go back to get him.

Huh?

Five... four...

Sir.

Three... two... one...

I've been waiting for you, Minister Huh.

Who gave you permission to adjust my staff?

Are you angry?

Is there a problem with my staff selection?

Of course not.

I don't know anyone who is more talented in managing human affairs.

Then why did you send this ridiculous proposal?

To bring you out here, of course.

Choose, Minister Huh.

Will you return to work, or will you accept this ridiculous proposal?

Huh Jo has gone back to work.

Three Armies Central Command

I told you. Hwang Hee is not an easy opponent.

Sir.

Good work.

Thank you, sir.

I'll send over some food and drinks after the training.

I'm surprised.

If you've walked out of the Royal court,

military affairs shouldn't interest you either.

Military discipline must be kept tighter when there is political confusion.

Yes, but...

I'm resisting the King for a good reason, but I have not given up on Joseon's safety.

Minister of Military Jo Malseng...

He's a hard man to figure out.

Are you thinking about Yu Jeonghyun next?

What would you do, Your Majesty?

I hear you've been very active.

Did you get tired of farming?

Production is low and it's not easy feeding my family.

I suppose government stipend is a bit better.

My stipend is not nearly enough to feed five million people.

All of the countrymen is family to a government official.

What are you after?

Joseon's own calendar science.

I think that can have a great impact on our crop production.

I have to hand it to him. The King has talent.

He's turned you into a delusional fool, too.

You should refrain from such irreverent speech.

Our King is unfit to lead this state.

You are unfit to serve the King.

Pour me a drink.

I want to share a drink with my traveling companion to afterlife.

Afterlife?

We're going to die together, you wicked bastard!

Councilor Hwang.

I understand this man wants to bring down the King and put me on the throne.

It is true, Your Highness.

Very well. Let's do it.

Are you listening, lads?

That establishes witnesses to high treason, so all you have to do is to report the crime.

The scholars will do that.

I am your accomplice, Your Highness.

I will be your traveling companion as well.

Your loyalty moves me to tears, but you don't seem to know the King very well.

He does not purge his political enemies.

That's his first rule.

He'll have to make an exception.

If you don't yield, those scholars right over there will

expose our plot to the Board of Inspectors and the Board of Censors

as well as every city and state government in the country.

Minister Jo, there's one thing the King fears more than political purgings.

Public sentiment.

Would you give me time to consider?

Don't take too long.

As you already know, I'm not a patient man.

You found your rightful place at last.

You look well.

I'm sorry.

Shouldn't you be feeling sorrier for my father?

If you had been there, he wouldn't have been stabbed in the back by that...

Your Highness...

Foolish old man...

Would you like to go to his chambers?

No, I don't.

I don't want to.

Mistress! Where's the Mistress?

Yes, Your Highness.

Call your best girls. Were going to get drunk tonight!

Jo Malseng... What do you think he'll do?

He's not one to yield to threats.

Not only that, he always wins his battles. He will try to make a deal.

Then I guess it's time to negotiate.

The calendar science project is not negotiable, so we might have give into

their demand to take the command of the military from the King Father.

I have no decision power over military matters.

Perhaps you should persuade the King Father before the negotiation...

Get me something else.

But...

Why do I have to fight the King Father all the time?

He is my father.

He is my father before he is a political rival.

Your Majesty...

I never even had a chance to be a son to him...

Is there something I don't know about?

There is something I don't know about.

I am hoping you would be that wise one.

Jae, prove to the world for me that you are both the eldest and the wisest.

I... I've tried very hard, but I cant give you up no matter what anyone says.

It's too hard to give you up.

You're really something.

Didn't anyone teach you manners? You're a Royal Prince for heaven sakes.

I'm relieved.

I'm relieved that you still have the strength for scolding.

Did you drink?

I had to.

I'm a human being after all.

You're drunk. Come back in the morning.

Father.

Are you in pain?

How much pain?

Where does it hurt and how much?

Don't mind me, and...

Stop.

Stop it, Father.

You've pretended to be strong long enough.

You know what we are, Father?

We may be high and mighty Royals, but we're human.

Jae.

Let me stay with you, Father.

I may not be good for much, but I can at least keep the fire going

when they brew your herbal potion.

You have to give me a chance to make it up to you.

I've caused you so much grief and misery,

but if you keep pretending like you're strong...

Give me a chance.

Don't insist on suffering alone. Please.

I won't insist that you forgive me.

So please let me stay.

Let me stay here by your side and get the scolding I deserve at least. Please, Father.

Fool...

Father...

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Father.

I'm sorry, Father.

I'm so sorry...

I'm sorry, Father.

I'm sorry, Father...

I'm sorry, Father.

Your Majesty, are you going back without seeing him again?

Sometimes...

Sometimes I really envy my brother's childlike candor...

Your Majesty...

To what do I owe the honor or your visit, Consort Hyobin?

Are you aware that the King has

been going to the King Father's chambers every night?

Aren't you curious as to why?

I've come to make a difficult request.

Go to the King Father if only just once...

Your Grace.

I fear he won't be with us for much longer.

Your Grace.

Whatever do you mean?

If the Queen Mother were alive, I'm sure she would have done

something, anything, to make the last days of the King Father easier.

But there's nothing I can do.

Is he that ill?

He's issued a gag order so not to worry his children, but...

Please show him your compassion if only just once.

I know it's a difficult request,

but he is seized with remorse for his past transgressions.

So please...

He was always such a proud man...

You don't know how broad and strong his shoulders were.

Your Highness...

But look how lifeless they are now.

It's heavy enough to carry the country on his shoulders,

but now he's forced to tip toe around his wife dealing with his

father's impending death all alone.

Do you agree with Hyobin?

Am I to forgive the King Father now?

For what he did to my father...

You don't have to do this if your heart won't allow it.

I'm sure the King Father is thankful enough to you for enduring

everything the way you did.

Let it out. Let it all out, Your Highness.

His Majesty has no ammunition.

And Jo Malseng is not susceptible to threats.

No, he isn't.

But were...

Have faith.

Did you meet with His Majesty last night?

Did you give him something he can use that we don't know about?

No.

Then...

Political power is not force but persuasion.

And the King you chose knows how to wield his power. Doesn't he?

Would you convince me?

Convince me as to why the Ming Emperor has to rule Joseon's sky

instead of me, the King of Joseon.

Ming is a superior state.

If you exasperate the superior state, Joseon could enter the road of self destruction.

Then your sole concern is Ming Emperor's perception of us.

Stronger man's perception is a weapon.

The Emperor will threaten us, and we will not be able to win him over.

What I want is not to win him over but to acquire the technology we

need without causing a stir.

I had planned to send an expert to Ming unofficially and explore the possibility

of acquiring the technology required to build an astrological instrument.

I felt it would be a waste of time to play tug of war with an agenda

without exploring the possibility first.

Process is just as important as the result.

What you call "a waste of time" is a part of political process.

But I do understand your position.

There are policies that do require secrecy at times.

Does this mean you will be returning to service?

You must first earn our trust that

you will include the high ministers in running this state.

What is it that you want?

A mandate to scrutinize Hwang Hee's appointment.

A mandate to scrutinize Hwang Hee?

You must allow the ministers to evaluate

Hwang Hee and oppose his appointment if they deem necessary.

If you refuse to allow a procedure to review qualifications of an official...

You won't have an excuse to turn to service.

Minister Jo, you will have your reason.

And you will have my trust.

Mandate to scrutinize my appointment?

Did you think I'd accept you who opposed my ascension to the throne

without a review?

Other than the fact that you're my political rival, is there anything

you're hiding from me?

I'm hiding a lot of things.

I don't know about the others, but I have faith in you, Minister Hwang.

I am hoping that you will serve me for a very long time.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

What's the matter?

Is there something wrong?

No, Grandfather.

Then why are you so quiet?

Why?

Are you afraid I'm going to expose more of your secrets?

No, it's not that.

I'm sorry... and thank you, Grandfather.

I never thought you'd call me over again.

Nonsense.

Grandfather loves amusing conversations with you.

Really?

Of course.

Are you sick because I haven't been by to have conversations with you?

Perhaps that is the reason.

We can't have that. Let's see...

Oh, this might not make an amusing conversation, but...

That's all right.

Youngsil might be going to Ming China.

It was decided today.

This is a secret but when Youngsil comes back and builds an astrological

instrument, he promised to show me every last star in Joseon's sky.

You must be very happy about that.

There's one other secret.

Yu!

- Grandfather! - Grandfather!

I told you boys to behave yourselves!

It's all right.

Grandfather.

I've been saving it for you for three days resisting my urge to eat it.

Eat it, Grandfather.

This will make you feel better.

Grandfather.

This is the only thing I have to give you...

You tie if around your head when you get a headache like this...

The Queen has been preparing your potion personally.

I have nothing to do these days, Your Majesty.

Thank you, my Queen.

You will get better, Father.

I wanted to say thank you. For tending to my father so kindly...

I don't deserve your gratitude, Your Majesty.

I am merely doing my duty as a daughter-in-law.

That's why I'm thanking you.

I know how difficult it is for a person to do all of his or her duty.

Go on. His Eminence awaits you.

This is a good spot.

This is a good spot to build an observatory.

Why didn't you come in and spill your guts?

Father...

I know you've been coming to my door every night.

I knew it.

Do you resent me?

No, Father.

Doe.

I never had the time.

I was so afraid that this country might be shaken,

I just kept swinging my sword.

Just founding this state was more than I can handle,

and there was no room for much else.

I know, Father.

I'm not telling you to live like me.

Doe.

Yes, Father.

You are right. No, I hope you're right.

Now step up and rise above me.

Dream a dream bigger and more ambitious than mine.

Returning the skies of Joseon to it's people is a good start.

Take care of this country.

And never forget that this country isn't mine or yours

but that it belongs to the people.

It's not going to be easy.

Father...

But you'll do just fine.

You know what?

I'm proud of you, my son.

I've done nothing for him.

I have to do something for him, anything, in the short time he has left,

but I don't know what.

You have plenty of time, my King.

All you have to do is to fulfill your role

as the owner of that throne and the father of the people.

That, my King, is the greatest gift you can give to our father.

Break the ground.

This is where I intend to build our observatory.

You're the one who will bring us our astrological instrument, so

you should break the ground.

Are we going to Ming at last?

It's not going to be an easy mission.

I am prepared.

But you won't be alone.

I am behind you and the five million people of Joseon are behind you.

Don't forget that.

I won't let you down, Your Majesty.

Youngsil is leaving for Ming today.

That's good.

Father's going to meet us here after he sends him off.

By the way, Grandfather, what do I do if this happens to me?

What do I do if Father and I disagree on something like you and father did?

You have to assert yourself.

But if I do...

Your father will love you just the same.

Really?

Bulls-eye!

Did you see that, Grandfather?

It's bulls-eye! I hit the bulls-eye.

Grandfather, are you sleeping?

Grandfather, are you sleeping?

Grandfather? Grandfather...!

Father, Grandfather won't wake up.

I told him I hit the bulls-eye, but he won't say anything.

He's too tired, that's all.

He wants to rest now.

You've had an exhausting life, Father.

Rest now. Rest in peace.