Original subtitles

The King has ordered the Crown Prince to govern in his place,

so we must quickly restructure ourselves around the regency.

Phonetics books, laws translations, and now regency.

What could the King be up to?

I will embrace creation of a new writing system as my life's mission

as I want the people of this great country to be the political subject

of the government not just for now but for thousands of years to come.

Are you afraid of becoming a regent?

I will be deciding the fate of the people.

Fear is normal.

That fear will guide you into the right direction.

Depose me from the seat of the Crown Princess.

Depose you?

I have had an illicit affair with a palace maid.

What happened?

What do you mean?

You didn't even listen when I begged you for help.

What happened?

Do you want to know?

Yeah. So much so I've forgotten about wanting to have a drink.

Then would you quit drinking if I told you?

Huh? You're asking too much.

I'm leaving.

Grandson-in-law.

Make me a promise first.

It's a torture as it is drinking only three of these little cups a day.

Don't you think that's cruel?

I don't want to lose you, Grandfather.

You can't bring me here into the Hall of Worthies and leave me.

It's because of the pain.

Drinking will only make it worse.

Stupid pain is so hard to stand once it starts up.

You ease pain with medicine, not with alcohol.

Let's go. I'm taking you to see the physician.

You don't think I've seen the physician?

You don't think I want to live to great things with our great King and

my brilliant grandson-in-law?

There is no hope?

What's this in front of me?

You are my hope.

It was the girigocha.

Girigocha: Distance recording vehicle.

I came here on a girigocha.

Prime Minister, what brings you here?

Get it.

I saved you a seat in the back.

Did my grandfather-in-law send you?

Your departed father sent me.

The measurement of Hansung Prefecture happens to be Circumference-7.7 miles!

4.6 miles long between Bugaksa to the north and Mokyeoksa to the south!

From Heungin Gate to the east and Donui Gate to the west...

Donui gate, Donui gate...

How many miles was it? It must be writing down here somewhere.

3.5 miles, sir.

Huh?

The east-west diameter of the capital city is 3.5 miles.

The East District has 12 bangs, South District has 11 bangs,

West District has 10 and Central has 8,

so in all there're 59 villages within the city.

How do you know all that?

Be careful, sir. You're going to fall.

You must've had a lot of interest in your father's work.

His work was all he could talk about.

Then how can you say that illness was all he got in return for his work?

How about all those things he left at the Hall of Worthies?

So did you come here to the Hall of Worthies?

And what did you find here?

Hey, Inji, your new tax proposal, I don't understand your premises.

The lower three states just suffered a major flood.

Hey, Manli. Oh, here it is!

How can we raise taxes when there's been a flood?

Great desire. My father's great desire.

Aren't your desires and the desires of the scholars being added layer by layer

on top of that here at the Hall of Worthies?

Is it your turn now?

Bringing new great desires into this place.

I've been appointed apprentice scholar of the Hall of Worthies by the King.

It's good to know that you'll be here.

By the way, Your Highness.

There is a place I'd really like to see.

Does the Crown Prince know about this?

Quite a few others know as well.

I wish this were not true.

I'm... sorry. Father.

I'm in no position to speak,

but I hope my deposal does not hurt the Crown Prince in anyway.

Go back to your chambers.

Father...

Do as I say. Go.

Your Majesty...

Give me death, Your Majesty.

You must have known about it.

I wanted to take care of this without disturbing you, but...

Would you call the palace maids?

It's empty.

Why did you go to the King?

You should've come to me first.

This is the only way this will end.

How could you be so childish!

Child, are you... are you all right?

I don't know what to say to comfort you.

Don't worry. Mother.

I've gone too far.

Where is the Crown Prince? Does he know about what happened?

So that's the North Star.

What's the closest companion to the North Star?

The Four Protector Stars.

They are the premier stars that guide the North Star.

The Four Protector Stars...

You mustn't tell the Crown Prince why Sukju has been put to service.

Is there a reason?

We mustn't reveal the secret until

His Majesty tells him himself not even to the Crown Prince.

So why did you want to come to the observatory all of a sudden?

I wanted to get an idea of where I stand.

Where you stand?

I heard you are to become the Regent.

Yes.

Then are you becoming a North Star now?

"If you govern with the power of virtue, you will be like the North Star."

"You stay in place while the others position themselves around you."

Are you trying to say building virtue comes first?

Only then I will be the center of Joseon as the North Star is the center of universe.

Then I want to aspire to be the Four Protector Stars.

I may just be no more than an errand boy right now as an apprentice scholar,

but I will work hard to become a faithful servant who will be right

beside you like the Four Protectors Stars.

Shin Sukju?

Phonetics books, law codes translation and now Shin Sukju...

He's going to be working at the Hall of Worthies as an apprentice scholar.

Shin Sukju...

Shin Sukju...

He's a young man who grew up being called a child prodigy.

I believe his has extraordinary talent is in foreign languages.

They say he's mastered the art of language, written, spoken, fundamentals and all.

I wonder what His Majesty has in mind.

Why would he employ a boy who hasn't even passed the civil service exams?

The boys extraordinary linguistic talent is that what he thinks highly of?

I would think so.

No, he couldn't be.

He couldn't be entertaining such an absurd idea!

What idea?

Does this mean that wasn't a joke?

Sir.

No way. This is insane!

What are you talking about?

What do you suspect the King is up to?

The King... The King is...

The King is trying to create a new writing system.

I want the code of laws translated.

In Idu for now.

Idu is for clerks and petty officials. We can't use it at the Hall of Worthies.

Then perhaps you can develop an easier writing system.

What do you mean?

Idu may be easier than Chinese, but it's just as daunting to learn

from the commoner's perspective.

I don't think we should be exchanging jokes right now.

What makes you think I am joking?

He wasn't joking.

You might be jumping to conclusions.

I think he would've discussed it with the Hall of Worthies first if he wanted to do this.

No, the chances are my guess is right.

He knew we couldn't deal with something as big as this.

He must be stopped!

We must stop the creation of a new writing system!

We should confirm whether this true or not first.

This regency is the proof that it's true!

Why else would the King suddenly turn over the government to his son?

How did it go?

We searched the whole palace and the vicinity, but...

You couldn't find them?

Crown Prince should be informed.

But sir!

Anything can happen now.

He has to brace himself.

Your Highness! Your Highness!

What is it?

There is a problem.

Maids of the Crown Prince's palace?

Yes, my lord.

What brings you to my house at this late hour?

This is hard for you.

It's my fault.

Your shoulders are heavy as it is with state affairs

and I've added to your burden...

I don't know how I could ever make up for this...

You are a cruel woman.

And you're foolish woman as well.

How could you hold yourself responsible for someone else's failure

and so thoroughly blame yourself?

Your Majesty...

Scold me instead.

I claim to be the father of all people, but I don't even know what is going

on with my own son let alone take notice of his pain.

You should blame me and scold me instead.

I know too much of your own pain and struggles to do that to you.

I hope I am not too late.

I want to share my son's pain.

No, I want to surfer his pain for him if it's possible.

Eunuch Guard Chief Gang Hui apparently searched the city for them in secrecy.

So this is true?

Will you help us now?

Sure, why not?

Guard!

- What are you doing? - Let go of us!

Let go of us!

What are you doing?

Quiet down and behave yourselves if you don't want to die this instant.

Are you going to have the girls killed?

They threatened the Crown Princess and patronized the Crown Prince.

That's more than enough to die.

But if you're right about the King's plan, you should stop the regency.

I supposed this could stop him.

Then this is your weapon.

It could be.

Why do you look so nervous entering your own room?

Don't just stand there. Come and sit down.

Take it.

I guess we've never had a casual drink together like this before.

What am I doing that's so important

that I can't even make time for a drink with my own son?

Let's drink.

Drink up.

I know you want to talk.

Let's drink.

The official warrants and reports I got for general affairs

settlement are at the Royal Lessons Hall.

I organized it by category and labeled them, so they should be easy to find.

Don't.

Send your men to Jinyang's villa in the morning.

He's intelligent and prudent, so he will do a good job if you command him.

Don't even think it.

The current Crown Prince of Joseon Yi Hyang is physically feeble and

unfit to do all of his duties as an Heir Apparent.

I will take my wife and leave the city tomorrow.

Look at me.

Then the world will see my wife as a good woman who gave up

the glory of the crown to take care of her feeble husband.

Look at me!

This is the only way to preserve the honor of the Royal House at this point.

You are more important to me than the honor of the Royal House, son!

I'm sorry. I'm sorry for making you suffer alone.

I'm sorry for being such a distant father that you couldn't approach

to share your pain with, my son!

Father...

This must be so hard for you.

I'm sorry, Father.

I didn't want to disappoint you,

but I just couldn't get myself to embrace the woman.

It's not your fault.

You didn't do anything wrong.

Whatever happens now, you are not at fault.

Were you visiting the Hall of Worthies?

Yes.

You look busy.

Of course he is.

There's only a month left before he takes over as the Regent.

He is personally checking out the duties of each department.

Is that so?

I hope I have the support of the Hall of Worthies as well, master.

I'm proud of how the Crown Prince is holding up.

We should have deposed the Crown Princess.

But the Crown Prince is willing to bear it.

How is the Crown Princess?

The palace is like hell to her now.

Let us just find the palace maids that ran away and take care of this matter.

Crown Prince does not want a scandal.

He will get through this.

I wish you wouldn't think that.

We shouldn't force him to endure and suffer all the pain.

What can we do when he's just like you?

The first thing Hyang learned from you is bearing pain and enduring hardship.

Forget about the Crown Princess for now.

Forget about it?

Now is not the time.

Are you getting soft on us?

I know how much the Crown Prince means to you.

A beloved disciple he's like a son to you.

It is not good politics to let personal feelings interfere with greater cause.

I think I know politics a little more than you do.

What's the reason Joseon still has not responded to Mongolia's request?

I have been sending requests to the Royal Court, so be patient.

Do you think the court will let the Mongols have the new technology?

Mongols are making repeated requests for an emissary?

What they want is our new technology.

It could become a sensitive issue between the two states.

This should be taken care of before the regency takes effect.

I will give my directions to Director Yun soon.

Are you in pain again?

Have a drink if it's that bad.

Drink just enough to make you forget the pain.

I've already had my three glasses for the day, kid.

Who cares about a promise when you're in this much pain?

Grandfather, what are you doing?

Be quite and say nothing.

What is going on here?

I think it's pretty obvious...

Did you drink again?

Your Majesty, the truth is...

Kid, telling him that you drank with me won't change anything.

I don't understand you.

Don't you know the difficult situation I am in right now?

From the Royal House to domestic and foreign affairs,

there is not one thing that is going smoothly right now.

At this rate, we may never even get started with the new writing system.

I know.

No, you don't know. You couldn't do this if you did.

Tell His Majesty the truth and resign from your post.

Don't be silly.

He has enough to deal with as it is. You want me to add to that?

What are you doing?

Are you suggesting we have a drink together?

I will accept any punishment you choose.

Punishment?

Yes, of course. I broke my promise.

Very well.

Now you can't have any wine at all not even a drop.

Is that disapproval?

No, I wouldn't call it that...

You have not been looking well lately.

I'm not exactly a young man anymore, Your Majesty.

I asked you to curtail your drinking because I'm concerned for your health.

I guess you still have some room left on your plate for you to be worried about nothing.

Director Yun.

But it doesn't feel half bad to know that you still love me.

In return for your love, I will go and take care of the Mongolian situation.

Oirat Mongolian Tribes

This is the design your government requested.

Toghon - Leader of the Oirats

What is the meaning of this?

We have reasons to believe Joseon

is exchanging very dangerous information with Great Ming's enemy Mongolia.

Dongchang Agency, Liaodong

What is the design you turned over to the Mongols?

What did you find out?

Joseon turned over something very interesting to the Mongols.

The waterwheel?

And you got in return is Menggu Ziyun?

Menggu Ziyun: Rhyming dictionary of Chinese phonetic syllables written in Phags pa script.

What Joseon and Mongolia want is cultural exchange.

Now shall we talk about Ming's baseless suspicion and contemptuous military

action toward a sister country?

If you don't mind, I'd like to deal with our intelligence chief who

extracted false information and incited trouble in Ming-Joseon relationship.

Menggu Ziyun?

Chief Director Yun Hwe brought in Mongolian literature?

That's not all.

Shin Sukju has been traveling to Japan bringing back references

on the Japanese script.

He's going to be sent over to India next.

Mongolia, Japan and now India...

They all have their own writing.

They are all crude, inferior script.

What are we waiting for?

How?

How did these get into your hands?

Validity of what this suggests is what's important.

Do you want this concealed?

What do you want, master?

For you to become a good King.

And for that, I'm willing to cover this up.

I suppose I must thank you now.

It's too soon for that. We haven't finished our deal.

His Majesty the King is on a very dangerous path right now.

He could very well lead this country to doom on this path.

What are you referring to?

Creation of a writing system.

I beg your pardon?

The King wants our own written language

that only barbarians resort to creating for themselves.

He knows exactly just how risky this is.

That's why he is doing this on his own without even consulting the scholars.

And to do this, what he needs most is time.

Are you saying that is why he has ordered me to be the Regent?

It just so happens tomorrow is your first day.

But you must decline.

That's the only way to stop the King from pursuing this dangerous endeavor.

And if I don't decline?

We will become political enemies.

I'm a politician who knows how to exploit my opposition's weakness

if it is for the good of the country.

It's all true.

The officials oppose fiercely.

That is why I kept it a secret.

I knew that I couldn't even get

the project off the ground facing fierce opposition from the get go.

What can I do to make you call it off?

The people are the subject of politics. That is the reason why we need this.

It is the King's men that deliver the King's reign.

And that is why you need good men.

I am unwilling to stop working on the creation of a writing system,

and it seems you are unwilling to lose a good man.

If l accept this regency,

the world will find out about the scandal in the Royal House.

You have a very tough first decision to make.

I've turned over the state affairs to you as of today.

So it's your call.

The Hall of Worthies' first assignment is editing the

Classification of Pathologies.

What does this mean?

Why else would I be giving you an assignment?

I'm accepting the regency.

Then the world will take the future throne from you.

I've warned you. I'm a politician before I am your mentor.

Walk the path you have chosen for yourself, master.

I will do the same.