Original subtitles

We destroyed the files on the new weapons technology for nothing.

Tine envoy didn't even mention the new weapons.

Dongchang of Ming don't take them lightly.

You must first get the new weapons technology from Joseon.

Did you just say new weapons technology?

He who ignores a threat to our national security is treasonous.

And he does not deserve to be the Emperor's mentor.

I want to make a deal with your King.

Once I've confirmed the facts, I intend to quietly make him stop the development.

Then peace will continue between Ming and Joseon.

And I will find a way for you to study at Hanlin Academy.

Wouldn't you like to discuss Ming and Joseon's peace at Hanlin with me?

Good work. Have a good evening.

Have a good evening.

Kidnap?

Kidnap one of the specialists to extract their weapons technology?

Do you have Jang Youngsil in mind?

How about choosing someone easier to break?

Undercover guards?

You put undercover guards on Choi Haesan, Jang Youngsil and Yi Chun?

You're the one who told me not to underestimate Dongchang.

Your effort is commendable,

but I'm afraid you picked the wrong men.

What do you mean?

Going after one of the specialists would be too direct.

And if that was the way Dongchang worked,

handling them would be easy.

They're more likely to go after someone less directly associated.

Less directly associated?

Men who have something to gain by turning over the weapons technology.

Who would that be?

Do you think Councilor Choi will turn over the secret to Ming?

We're talking about admission to Hanlin Academy.

It'll be hard to resist.

I knew you'd come through.

Did you bring me what I asked for?

Of course.

I, too, want peace between Ming and Joseon.

Why is this still in your possession?

I want us to destroy it together...

to signify the cessation of the weapons development.

I have no intention to do that.

Wouldn't you prefer to stop on our own than be stopped by the superior state?

What do you mean by that?

I'm not the only one with a copy of this manual.

The new weapons of Joseon...

Go back to your palace.

Is it bad to turn over the new weapons technology and forge peace?

There are things we can and cannot give away.

Autonomy within an alliance is the wisest choice for us right now.

Are you still stuck on that?

Autonomy is unattainable without constant effort to keep ourselves strong.

You need to practice prudence and restraint instead of giving me advice.

And if at all possible,

I reflect on your behavior and think about what you've done wrong.

Thank you for your work, sir.

What is the meaning of this?

Have you forgotten?

Intelligence gathering is Dongchang's job.

Hall of Worthies Scholar Choi Manli, was it?

Your loyalty to Ming will not be forgotten.

Have you located Choi Manli?

He is indeed with Huang Chan.

You look good in Joseonese clothes.

What is the meaning of this?

I guess you can say we're arresting a lawbreaker.

A lawbreaker?

You're being arrested for breaking our immigration law

and entering the country illegally.

What?

- Take him. - Yes, sir!

You think you'll get away with treating me this way?

We'll let you go back to Ming quietly for old-time sake.

That is if our investigation doesn't turn up anything serious.

What's this?

What do you think it is?

Joseon is provoking Ming by developing a powerful weapon such as this!

What the heck!

A blank book...

He's an intriguing fellow that Choi Manli.

Why is the Records of Gunpowder Weaponry blank?

Black? Whatever do you mean?

You should be ashamed.

A top Hanlin scholar Emperor's mentor being played for a fool by a nobody!

Why did you make a fool of me like this?

I did not make a fool of you. I displayed my respect for you.

Respect?

I deeply admire Ming's superior literary culture and level of intelligence.

So if you need new weapons technology, you will be able to fill those pages yourself.

You said you wanted peace between Ming and Joseon,

and that's why you wanted to investigate our weaponry.

But weaponry is not my area, so how could I have that information?

I suggest you find official means.

Request an official talk with our Ministry of Rites and find a resolution.

I believe that is how you're supposed to resolve diplomatic issues.

Admission to Hanlin Academy...

Wasn't it too good to pass up?

I'm unlike someone else I know.

I don't sell off top government secrets for personal gain.

I wouldn't have the dignity to stand up and oppose the issues I oppose if I did.

Does this mean you oppose the new weapons development?

I also oppose the costly military expedition that's going on under

the alleged reason of territory expansion.

Territory and population is power. Don't you want a stronger country?

I don't believe size equals strength.

There are barbarians with vast lands and inferior culture.

This conquest is what the majority wants.

Do you think a greenhorn like you can change that?

Don't treat me like a child!

I know how to move people as well as you do.

Move people?

Only difference is you move them with money and

I move them with principles and reasoning.

Did we fail?

It appears that way for now.

I failed to persuade Huang Zan and you failed to persuade the King.

I don't believe weapons development is the way to secure peace.

Domestic issues will be neglected and the country will weaken

if we preoccupy ourselves with military campaigns.

So do we continue to fight this?

You are the future King of this kingdom.

Fighting for safety and welfare of the people is your duty.

I'm losing confidence, Master.

Confidence is something you build by fighting for what's right.

It doesn't come overnight.

You're doing just fine.

Choi Manli must be dismissed from office at once!

Don't be naive.

Gim Mun, and Jeong Changson doesn't

deserve to be a member of the Royal court either.

You must renounce them and expel them immediately, Your Majesty!

I will not do that.

Just because they didn't divulge the information

does not mean they are not guilty.

Calm down and sit down.

They violated the regulation on handling of top secret information.

Sit down, I said.

Sir!

Prosecuting these men would be tantamount to making an official

announcement to Ming that we do have a new weapons technology.

Nothing happened tonight.

Your Majesty, officially speaking,

nothing happened between the Ming envoy and Joseon government tonight.

Make an official request for an investigation to the Joseonese.

You should go home.

They have a dangerous new weapon in their hands, sire!

What's the basis for the investigation?

A Dongchang agent snuck into Joseon and got caught, and the

Imperial envoy couldn't even convince a petty Hall of Worthies scholar and

failed trying to steal their weapons technology.

So now you want me to demand an investigation?

I shall speak in Joseonese in return for your arrogance the other day.

There are ears everywhere.

The least I can do is spare you

the humiliation of the whole world knowing about your failure.

Stop while you're ahead, Haishou.

If you want to fight them, go home and come back when you're ready to fight!

I understand you're leaving today.

This has been a very productive trip.

We will put the technology you've shared with us to valuable service for our people.

And I will never forget your kindness.

Let us drink our tea. It's quite fragrant.

I hope you're not too tired from last night.

I'd like to hear what you thought after the tour of the Hall of Worthies.

What could be tiring about touring a small library of a small country?

Hopefully the Hall of Worthies will develop more substance and character

by keeping frequent exchange with a high scholar like you.

That will depend on the talent and ability of your scholars.

Were you displeased with the scholar you met last night?

Are you referring to Choi Manli?

He is one of my most cherished scholar and retainer.

I received quite a grand welcoming from him.

Would you give him a message for me?

That I will never forget his hospitality from last night.

Certainly. I will deliver the message.

Perhaps Dongchang Chief Wang Zhen was right about Joseon!

Sire!

Joseon might even be bolder and more brazen thin he Wang Zhen's assessment.

You're playing a fun game.

I'm bored because my master isn't back yet from Joseon.

Wang Zhen, tell me about Joseon.

It's like that marble in your hand.

Just think of it like a toy you can do whatever you want with.

Director Yun.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Carry out the personnel changes in the Hall of Worthies.

Sir, that uniform!

Does this mean you've been promoted?

His Majesty has appointed Scholar

Jeong Inji Assistant Director of the Hall of Worthies.

Assistant Director?

I, the Director, have double duty, so in effect he will be your actual leader.

Congratulations, sir!

Congratulations.

Congratulations!

Congratulations.

I don't know if I deserve this,

but I'm accepting as a call of duty to work even harder.

You should've turned over the information.

You should cut them off as well.

I don't know who your contact is at Hanlin Academy, but stop exchanging information.

I don't think I will.

I told you I don't like backtalk.

The King is punishing you right now.

I'm done talking. Just do as I say.

I agree completely.

You were the most influential of all of the scholars in the Hall of Worthies.

But he gave the Assistant Director position to Jeong Inji.

This is punishment anyway you look at it.

You've been thoroughly defeated in the fight against the King.

Do you think I'm done?

I'm just getting started, Scholar Gim.

The Hall of Worthies?

The Assistant Director will give you your assignments.

I was taught that a prince who is not the heir to the throne must not involve

himself in politics.

That is going to change from now on.

He who depends on someone else for survival must

share the concern of that someone else.

And if you are a Royal Prince, that concern should be even greater.

Learned man has plenty of reasons

to devote to public service even if he is not Royal Prince, Father.

Striving for knowledge so you can give to the others

isn't that what education is for?

I've been waiting, Your Highnesses.

I didn't think I would get my opportunity so soon.

Opportunity?

An opportunity to learn about politics from scholars of the Hall of Worthies.

You'll be learning how to devote our service to the people.

That is indeed politics.

Isn't that right, Scholar Choi?

Assistant Director.

Yes, Your Highness.

Did you tell me the other day that we are all on the same side whether

we agree or disagree?

It looks like you might be the one to teach me that valuable lesson

by example, Scholar Choi.

I'm counting on you, Scholar Choi.

I will try.

I'll look forward to it.

Is it a good thing that the two Royal Princes are at the Hall of Worthies?

Your Highness?

What is your concern?

I wish you wouldn't defy the King so boldly.

Are you afraid I might lose my future throne?

Please don't send Jinyang and Anpyeong to the Hall of Worthies.

They are smart boys, so they will help with state affairs.

Royal lessons are enough.

If you don't want trouble.

It is to prevent trouble.

People like to talk especially in the palace.

They might think you are weighing your sons.

Then it's up to the Crown Prince to quiet such talks.

Your Majesty...

Not just the eldest prince but the one who is worthy of the throne

deserves to be the true Crown Prince.

Did you wish to see me, sir?

Don't call me sir.

Don't you know me?

Distinction of hierarchy is critical in preserving order in an organization.

I'd like to separate personal and professional affairs.

Please sit down.

May I come back later?

It's time for the Crown Prince's Royal lesson.

There is no need for that anymore.

What... do you mean?

Royal lessons are not our duty anymore.

What the heck you talking about?

Royal lessons and Confucian lectures are Hall of Worthies' exclusive duty.

This is where the Crown Prince is shaped to be the future King.

Have you forgotten?

Who do you think got the job taken away from us?

I will not accept this.

Please sit down. We must proceed with the lesson.

I have no doubt you are competent teachers,

but have no desire to change mentors.

His Majesty has his reasons for making this decision.

Accept it.

Scholar Choi Manli of the Hall of Worthies is an excellent teacher.

An excellent teacher who toys with top government secret information.

Was I mistaken?

I thought you, too, were against excessive military spending.

Opposing something and taking dangerous risks by toying with

a national secret are two very different things.

I can see that I need to take this up with the King myself.

You must restrain yourself, Your Highness.

If you defy the King any further,

the world will question your suitability as the future King.

Excuse me for my insolence.

The Crown Prince is sounding the Petitioner's Drum?

I will send the attendants to bring him back here.

What's his reason for this behavior? Is it Choi Manli?

I'm told there was a heated exchange over the matter at the Lecture Hall.

Choi Manli needed a much stronger punishment.

This would never be happening if he had been dismissed from

office with corporal punishment.

The Crown Prince is going a bit too far.

Like father like son.

Jinyang and Anpyeong are attending the Hall of Worthies and

the Crown Prince is going out on a limb...

A change in the succession plan might indeed be a possibility at this rate.

This guy needs to be sent away to an outpost.

Sir.

I agree.

A soldier forgets his duty to and starts getting funny ideas in his head

when he's stuck in the central government for too long.

Did you like what I did, Father?

It did indeed strike me.

I'm sure it made you a bit nostalgic as well.

After all, I'm following your footsteps.

It was childish.

I thought responding it your way was the best way to resolve the problem.

What you did to Choi Manli is wrong.

If I didn't value his talent, he would've received a much heavier punishment.

Mishandling of top-secret information is a serious crime.

You're the one who drove him to commit this crime.

Ming is wary of us enough to approach the Hall of Worthies

scholars to get to our secret.

The more fixated you become with weapons development,

the more Joseong-Ming relation will deteriorate.

If we give them our new weapon they could turn it on us.

This new weapon is already aimed at the heart of our people.

While you've been preoccupied with weapons development,

domestic policies have been crumbling.

And the common people are still getting stamp on and abused

by the rich and powerful.

That is the reason why Choi Manli and I want autonomy within an alliance.

Resolving national defense issues through friendly relations,

and strengthening the foundation for a virtuous government.

I believe that is what the time calls for.

King who puts domestic issues before territory expansion

that's the kind of King I want to be.

Get out into the world like you did when you were thirteen years old

not in the King's robe but in commoner's clothes.

Then you'll be able to meet again the people you so direly wanted to

protect 25 years ago.

Father is doing the right thing.

He gave clocks to the people to make their lives easier and

distributed farmer's handbooks.

You should travel with the King as well if you can.

Don't you know how often Father goes out into the city?

That's an inspection. What he needs to do is to travel incognito.

It's hard to see what's real when they know you are the King.

Because they only show you what they want you to see.

This will help you in your travel.

What is this?

It looks like my son has been investigating my misrule.

Does it make you angry?

How are the Three Censor Offices reacting to this?

How do you think they would react?

I'm confident you can quite them down.

Is there a reason to do so?

Call it a humble father's pride.

And I think I will take my son's advice and travel incognito.

Chances are you will encounter the problems pointed out in this report

since there is no such thing as a perfect government.

I know.

Then let us handle this.

A King does not directly rule his people. Through his men, he...

I know that, too.

Then...

What was your inspiration?

Why did you enter politics

and why did you come back to after you had renounced everything?

For me it was that day.

That day that I went out to the city square and met the real people

that were so different from the people I had read about.

The selfish mean and shameless people. That's the day I started to care.

The city square was my inspiration point,

so I don't think it would be a bad idea to go back there and humbly reflect.

I will escort you.

The city square was my inspiration point as well.

You're working hard.

Are you still investigating your father's misrule?

... Forgive me.

You were so much like your father as a child.

That's why raising you was so difficult.

But now you're trying to go a different way.

I should be happy, but why do I have so many conflicting emotions?

You look a bit tired.

What are you doing here?

I wanted to join you when you left, but I got there too late.

Do you want to confirm my misrule for yourself as well?

I want to confirm progress and accomplishments.

if I can find a cause I can contribute to, that'd be even better.

Would you believe me if I said I wasn't doing this to oppose Father

but to become a good King?

Hyang, it pains me to see you.

I can see your struggles and it pains me to see that.

Mother...

I believe in you.

Of course I do.

I know that both you and your father are struggling to become a better King.

That's why you, my most gentle and understanding child,

are so strongly standing up against your father.

And that in the long run you are both after the same thing.

I know.

I wish the Crown Princess knew that as well.

Share what you are going through with her.

I'm not saying this for her but for you.

Life as a Crown Prince and later as a King is going to be long, hard and lonely.

You will need someone to lean on.

Mother...

Most precious joy for us women of the palace is sharing our loneliness.

Allow your princess that happiness.

It will help both you and your princess.

11:00 PM

Attendant.

Yes, Your Highness.

How is the Crown Princess doing lately?

Announce me.

Come here!

Oh, Your Grace!

Stop teasing!

What is it?

Your Highness...!

When did this start?

Shouldn't you ask me why first?

Three days.

You have three days to clean this up.

Does this mean you forgive me?

It means I don't want a scandal.

I'm your wife. Your woman!

That won't change.

Why don't you look at me when you talk to me?

I'm doing more than anyone can under these circumstances.

If you're human get angry!

You're supposed to yell and scream under these circumstances!

If you had been more human, if you had shown your emotions,

I wouldn't have been driven to this...

This is my limit.

This is my mercy's limit.

Clean this up within three days.

And if you can't be a proper Crown Princess, at least try to

pretend like a proper Crown Princess.

I want to be your wife not a Crown Princess.

I want to live like a human being!

Why didn't you practice patience and wait for me?

It might have been possible if you just had a little patience.

Not getting you deposed-that's all I can do for you at this point.

I'm sorry.

I make a mistake. Can't you give me one more chance?

What happened to you, fellow?

Can you read?

Aren't you hurt?

You must know how to read if you're wearing that fancy robe.

Yes, I do.

Then you're going to have to help me.

If you refuse, I'll kill you!