Original subtitles

And also

ChiSung Hall's Huibin,

as the mother of the Crown Prince...

She knew of all this

and conspired with them.

This crime in unforgivable.

And so I,

I will count Huibin among the same.

In Year (Shinsa) and month 10,

I will remove Huibin Jang from her position

and sentence her to death by poison.

Punishment with drinking poison?

Yes, Your Highness.

Yes, we just received the message.

When is it?

When will the sentence be carried out?

It is today, Your Highness.

What?

His Majesty declared that the sentence be carried out this very day, Your Highness.

Your Majesty.

As the decree states, today at 1 pm, Huibin Jang's sentence will be carried out.

Get ready.

Yes, My Lady.

As the criminal

having to live with the disgrace and shame,

to Huibin, that would be much more worse than dying.

I wanted to spare her from that, even for a day.

Because that's the Huibin that I know.

Your Majesty.

But I did want to spare her life.

Even a little bit.

If there was even a tiny bit of regret.

I did not want to take her life.

Not by my own hand.

Get out of my way!!

I told you to move away!

- Your Royal Highness! - Your Royal Highness!

- Out of my way!! - Your Highness, you must not do this!

Please calm yourself!

Death? This can't be!! My mother is sentenced to death!!

Your Royal Highness!

Move away! I told you to move away!

Your Royal Highness!

I must see my mother!

Your Royal Highness!

My mother and older brother.

What has happened to them?

They received the decree right now, and will be executed there.

How fine they look!

Not fearing the heavens,

doing whatever they wished.

And now they have received retribution!

Seeing them get justice, my 100-year-long indigestion has just melted away!

Out of my way! Out of my way!!

There it comes, My Lord!

It is Madam Yoon and Jang Hee Jae.

Let go!

(Buddhist chanting)

What are you saying now?

What are you doing? Will you send them off so quietly?

It's not enough to pelt them with stones!

- You're right!! - You're right!!

Aim for them well!

Make sure not to waste one stone!

So that they hit them nice and square, aim well!

Put that down! How could you think of throwing rocks?!

That is right, Mother!

They have to die anyway.

Hey, you rascal!

Even after all you've suffered, you have no indignation?

They really have to be beaten to death!

That's retribution!

- Right, right! - Here!

Right, that's retribution!

- Hey, rascal! - Here!!

Don't miss them!

Ya! Yoon Shi!

Here, Yoon Shi!

Take that, Yoon Shi!

Take that!

Father!

Your Royal Highness!

- Father! - Your Royal Highness!

Your Royal Highness!

Father... I came to see my father!

I must see father right now!

Your Royal Highness!

It is a request, Eunuch Han!

Please! Please let me see father!

Your Royal Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness,

please save my mother!

Please persuade father!

If it is your petition, even Father would listen!

Your Highness Crown Prince...

No... no I will..

Your... Your... Your Royal Highness.

I will beg, so please let me see Father

Please! Please I ask you!

Crown Prince! Please do not be this way!

You cannot be like this Crown Prince!

Please! Please forgive my mother!!

Everything because of me...

She did it because of me!

All for me, because I was lacking!

Your Highness Crown Prince...

everything because of me...

Your Highness Crown Prince...

Is this the end?

Is this how everything...

falls apart...?

Your Royal Highness!

You will get ill this way.

So please get up, please!

Your Highness...

Your Highness Crown Prince...

Your Highness! Your Highness!

The medicinal hall is preparing the poison.

No! No!!

No!

Your Royal Highness! Your Royal Highness!

Mother!

- Your Royal Highness! - Your Royal Highness!

Following the decree, the sentence will be carried out at 1 pm.

Let's go.

Yes!

Move aside.

I have someone to meet right now! I have to meet someone!

Please go back! You cannot do this Your Highness!

Move aside!

Do you not hear me?! I have to go somewhere!

Hurry and move aside! Hurry and move aside!

Move aside! Now!

Mother!

Mother!

Crown Prince!

Mother!

Crown Prince!

Crown Prince! Crown Prince!

Move aside!

If you don't stop right now,

I will not let you live!

Mother! Mother!

Crown Prince! Crown Prince!

Mother!

Crown Prince!

Mother!

Move aside!

Let the Crown Prince have his last moment!

Let the Crown Prince meet with his mother.

I am sorry Your Highness, but it is not possible.

Look here!

What are you doing!? Escort the Crown Prince back to his quarters!

Yes.

Let me go! I'm going to meet my mother!

- I want to see my mother! - Crown Prince!

Leave me!

Mother! Mother!

- Crown Prince! - You can't do this!

You can't do this! Mother!

Crown Prince! Crown Prince!

Crown Prince!

Sukbin!

Sukbin!

Those words...

When you said that you wouldn't let the Crown Prince come to harm.

Was it really true?!

I wanted to see you, if for the last time...

You said that everything was not fate, but my choice.

Okay. Okay if it is like that...

Then I will accept this as the result of my choices.

But for the Crown Prince, at least for the Crown Prince, I cannot let him get hurt because of my choices.

Your Highness!

Tell me! Does the Crown Prince still have a chance?

If there was one way for me to...

If there was a way for the Crown Prince to keep his destiny?

Fine, I did try to kill you.

Many times, I tried.

But now, the only one that I can ask to protect the Crown Prince is you.

The person that I had blamed, I can ask this only of you.

I will bear everything in my death.

So please, please, at least the Crown Prince...

for that child...

please protect him.

Look here Sukbin!

Please I beg you to save that child, Sukbin!

It is my last request!

Please! Please my last request...

Please...the Crown Prince...

My child!!

Please, I am begging you!

Please, I am begging you, Sukbin!

Please hear my last request...

Sukbin! Sukbin! My last request!

Please save my child, Sukbin!

Everything is prepared.

I understand.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Yes.

It is time.

I have a last request.

To look upon her dying?

That was the last request made by Huibin?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Huibin, named Jang, come out and receive the decree!

Huibin named Jang, a Royal Consort in the inner court, a mother of this nation, committed an unforgivable crime.

A plot to frame the Queen, and causing chaos in the palace.

And in the end, trying for the life of Sukbin and Prince Yeon Ing, how can such awful crimes be forgiven?

It is all my fault...

So on this day, by dealing with Huibin, the nation's order will be restored.

Mother!

Have you let His Majesty know?

Are you, Your Majesty?

Are you watching me from somewhere?

That was a lie, Your Majesty...

That I regretted loving you.

It was a lie.

Your Majesty's heart...I knew that I should not be greedy for everything,

but I tried to have everything anyway.

It was I.

Caring for you that much,

the fool and the truly wicked one, I know that it was I.

Please forgive me, for even though I knew all this, I still ended up giving you such pain.

And my request for you to look upon my last moments like this,

even to the end, I was unable to let go of this foolish greed,

but I wanted you to remember

me... my last moment...

at the very least, Your Majesty.

So, Your Majesty, please remember

please remember me!

Such a bright and big flower.

Please, be at rest now, Your Highness

You've let down all the troubles of this world,

so please, now...

Hurry! Now!

Yes...

And His Highness?

He's still in the same condition.

Leave! Can't you hear me? I told you to leave at once!!

Out! Get out!

Your Highness, please calm yourself!

I don't want to look at any of you so just leave!

At once!

Your Highness! There is blood!

You must get it treated!

Shut up! What does it matter if I'm bleeding or not?!

I said that I will die!

Not a drop of water will pass my lips!

I will follow mother!

Out!

Get out!!

~ Recites Chinese Classics ~

~ Recites Chinese Classics ~

~ Recites Chinese Classics ~

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Yes, Teacher?

Should we stop for today?

Please forgive me, Teacher.

Were you unable to see His Royal Highness again today?

Yes...

I went to the East Palace, but he's given orders to not let anyone enter.

I know how you must feel, but you need to focus at times like this.

You must ease your mind with knowledge,

and seek for other things.

Yes, Teacher.

Is the Crown Prince still the same?

Yes, Your Majesty.

He is refusing to attend his lessons

and has been turning away food.

Hyungnim.

I was waiting for you, in case you decided to come here.

I've been so worried about you.

I heard you haven't eaten for the past few days.

Hyungnim, you mustn't do that. What if you get sick?

Hyungnim, are you hurt?

What happened?

That's enough!

Hyungnim.

Don't call me that!

What?

Hyungnim.

I said don't call me that!

I am not your brother.

I am an enemy that you must defeat. And you too are my enemy that I must crush.

Hyungnim.

What do you mean?

Why are you calling me your enemy?

Don't pretend to be ignorant!

My mother tried to kill you.

You know that, don't you?

But Your Highness, that was...

So don't call me Hyungnim. Don't smile at me.

And don't look at me with worry!

Think of me as your enemy! You and I can never be brothers.

We are enemies that must fight over the throne.

That is the palace that we live in.

So never seek me out like this again.

Do you understand me?

Hyungnim.

Hyungnim.

Your Highness!

Ae Jong.

What happened, Your Highness?

Nothing. It's nothing.

Wow!

Wow!

Wow!

Mother...

We need to bring in a new Queen, Your Excellency.

What is going on in government?

The Noron faction wants to make Sukbin the new Queen.

No!

But that's preposterous!

She's of lowborn origin.

That cannot happen!

That's not all.

If Prince Yeon Ing becomes King, our King will be of lowborn blood.

We have to stop that no matter what it takes.

A King with lowborn blood?

How can we bow our heads before a lowborn?

That's right, Your Excellency!

Your Excellency!

Go on in.

The Noron members are waiting inside.

Let's go.

The Noron faction made an unanimous decision, Your Highness.

They will put their their lives to make you Queen,

and crown Prince Yeon Ing as Crown Prince.

Lord Shim,

I told you that topic is finished.

Your Highness!

you may deny it, but even the commoners know that

Prince Yeon Ing is the Crown Prince's rival.

Are you going to deny it?

Many people have started seeing

Prince Yeon Ing as the future King of our nation.

Noron has decided to support Prince Yeon Ing and Soron has decided to work against him.

This is the path that the Prince was tread on.

If he doesn't become King, his life will be at risk.

We need a new Queen.

How can you say that when Sook Bin Mama is here?

But Sook Bin Mama is of lowborn origin.

That's uncalled for!

Your Majesty... How can SookBin Mama become Queen when she has lowborn blood?

That's preposterous!

Finance Minister,

SookBin Mama is a Royal Noble Consort.

She has the right to be considered for Queen.

Your Majesty, The Queen must be respected by all the citizens in the nation.

So how can a lowborn be in that role?

That would ruin the prestige of the throne!

Don't use citizens as an excuse, Minister!

The only people who don't want to serve Sook Bin Mama as Queen are you and the nobles.

You are the ones that are ruining the prestige of the throne.

How dare you call a Royal Noble Consort lowborn?!

How dare you speak that way to...

How dare you speak that way to...

Enough! That's enough!

Your Majesty, that is not the only thing we are opposed to.

Rumors are rife in the capital of the Crown Prince's safety...

...after Hee Bin Mama was executed.

If you appoint SookBin Mama as Queenin a time like this,

Wouldn't that be announcing that

the Crown Prince's position is in jeopardy?

For the sake of the Crown Prince, you must appoint a new Queen.

Please hear our plea!

Your Majesty, that is preposterous!

A Royal Noble Consort already exists in the Inner Court.

Why do we need a new Queen?

You...

You're Highness!

The Soron members are right.

If I become Queen,

No matter how much I resist it,

The Noron faction will try and unseat the Crown Prince.

But what about you and the Prince's well-being?

And in order to protect the Crown Prince, you must not give up!

Inspector Cha is right, Your Highness.

Just as the Crown Prince is safe only when he becomes King,

Prince Yeon Ing will only be safe when he becomes King.

Then

everyone must become King.

You're Highness!

Why do you think that

only one of them can become King?

There must be a way that both of them can live.

Your Highness...!

you mean...?

You're Highness. I am...

I won't give up anything.

I don't care if I lose everything.

I don't need titles.

I will risk everything in my power, including my life,

...to protect both the Crown Prince and Prince Yeon Ing.

Geum...

Mother!

So

Did you go the East Palace again today?

Yes. I asked about His Highness' health from outside.

He told me not to seek him out anymore,

But I am still his brother.

He may hate me now,

but I... I...

Geum,

he doesn't hate you.

He is suffering

because of himself.

Mother...

That's why

he's suffering so much.

He doesn't hate you at all.

Really, Mother?

You really don't think Older Brother hates me?

Do you think he'll teach me how to play Tuho

and how to study the Classics again?

Yes, I'm sure he will.

I'm sure he'll return to being your older brother.

You trust me, don't you?

I promise you this.

I promise that

I will protect both

you and the Crown Prince.

Mother...

Your Highness,

You mustn't do this!

Please calm down

Let go! Let go of me!

I'm going to burn everything!

No, Your Highness!

These books are used for your royal lectures.

That's why I'm going to burn them.

They are of no use to me now.

What is going on!!

Crown Prince!!

I no longer have any use for them, so I was going to burn them.

What? Burn them?

Yes, that's right.

Sook Bin Mama is going to become Queen,

I am going to be cast away.

These are useless to me now.

Stop this immediately!

How can you say such things!

That is what everyone is saying.

And that is what you want to do, isn't it?

You want to replace me

with Prince Yeon Ing, don't you?

Crown Prince!

Your Majesty...

You must understand how he must feel.

You must do this.

He has been hurt the most.

Dong Yi...

I will not

become Queen Your Majesty

But, Dong Yi

That is the only way

we can end this tragedy.

Hee Bin Mama lived her entire life gripped by ambition...

Because it was possible for a consort to become Queen.

That is the reason why everyone is suffering now.

So if I, a consort,

become Queen...

...this tragic cycle will continue.

So

So you mean to end it?

You're going to throw away everything that is within your reach?

Because there is something much more valuable, Your Majesty.

Something infinitely more precious

than gaining things and attaining positions.

Please don't let me lose that.

Please let me protect that precious thing...

That is worth more than

meaningless ranks and goods.

meaningless ranks and goods.

And you must prevent this tragic cycle for happening again.

Please, Your Majesty.

Dong Yi Ah!

You're Majesty.

What? His Majesty is going to appoint a new Queen?

Yes, My Lord

His Majesty has decided on a bringing in a new Queen.

Therefore, according to the royal decree, The Ministry of Personnel will carry out the orders.

A new Queen shall be appointed.

Furthermore, in order to restore stability to the throne,

No consort shall become Queen from this moment onwards.

This law is unbreakable.

Your Highness...

Are you responsible for what happened?

I'm asking if it was you

declined to become Queen.

Yes, that's right.

You'll regret it.

You'll regret turning away from me,

and letting go of the power within your reach.

Do you think so?

You may consider me foolish and silly.

But that is how I consider you.

You chase ambition, betray people, and shed blood.

Then blood is shed again for revenge. But that is not everything.

Please don't think that everyone thinks like you, Governor.

There are more people in the world who don't step on others.

They share with others what they have

and embrace strangers.

There are many more people who consider that the path to happiness.

You talk of politics?

This is the Palace and that is how it works?

No,

that is not so.

I will show everyone.

That it is possible to accomplish things in the Palace using politics,

...but not the way you do things.

My Lord!

I knew she was a fool, but I didn't expect her to be that naive.

Right...

Let's see if she will sing the same tune, once the new Queen comes in.

Let's wait and see.

The Crown Prince must become King, no matter what.

That is my will, Lord Shim.

- But Your Highness...

And Prince Yeon Ing will become King too.

If that is the only way he can live on.

- What do you mean...?

She's referring to Heir Successor.

Her Highness is saying that...

She will prepare Prince Yeon Ing to become the Crown Prince's heir.

- What?

She's right.

If Prince Yeon Ing is named Heir Successor,

Both Princes' lives will be protected.

That is what I want.

This is how

I will protect both Princes.

Your Highness...

According to the custom of the Royal Court, This appointment has been decreed.

Lady Kim of the Gyeongju Kim clan shall be appointed Queen.

Therefore, the King and Queen of this nation shall bestow their virtue and wise rule.</

The people shall respect the Queen so that peace rules over the nation.

Your Majesty, a thousand year reign, a thousand blessings and a thousand virtues to you!

Your Majesty, a thousand year reign, a thousand blessings and a thousand virtues to you!

Queen Inwon King Sukjong's second Queen Consort

Her Majesty the Queen!

You must be SookBin.

Yes, that is so, Your Majesty.

I humbly give you my greetings.

You all saw it, right?

"You must be SookBin."

You saw her glare at her, right? Goodness, I almost peed on myself.

She's so young, but how can she be so frightening?

She looked she wantedto devour SookBin Mama.

Why wouldn't she? Everyone knows SookBin Mama declined to be Queen.

Now what? We just got rid of HeeBin Mama, But are we going to have to deal with an evil Queen now?

What is all this gossip about!

My Lady

Our apologies, My Lady

but we were worried...Foolish girls!

How can you not know that the more you speak this way, the worse SookBin's situation will be?

go back to your post now

Yes My Lady

The girls have a point. As we all saw today,

It's obvious that the new Queen considers Sook Bin Mama her biggest rival.

She planned to humiliate you.

She was telling you that she's the Queen.

Yes, she may be young, but she's said to be very picky and fastidious.

Even when she was just a candidate, they said she was strutting about.

Watch your tongue!

How dare you speak such a way about the Queen?

But Your Highness, if that fox decides to..

Lady Bong!

Extravagant pieces of furniture should have been returned to the Bureau before I arrived.

Your Majesty...

Same with the attendants.

I will not allow any adornment that is against the rules, so you must warn them.

Yes, My Queen

Your Highness...

Father...

Please sit down, Your Highness

I am Jang Mu-Ryeol, the Third War Minister.

Many years ago, when I was a Secret Inspector in Jeolla Province, I made your father's acquaintance.

There will be no one more dependable than the Third War Minister, Your Majesty.

When he was a Secret Inspector, I was filled with admiration for him.

That is excessive praise, Excellency.

We'll soon know if it was excessive.

Your Majesty, I will serve you with my utmost effort.

Actually, there was something I wanted to know even before I entered the Palace.

What is it, Your Majesty?

I want to know if the rumors about SookBin and Prince Yeon Ing are true.

Welcome Lady Yu

Your Highness...

The first thing I plan to do as Queen is to set the Inner Court straight. More importantly, I want to stabilize the Crown Prince's position.

I believe that is my duty as Queen.

But I heard rumors that SookBin was using her favor with His Majesty to make Prince Yeon Ing the Crown Prince.

Is that true?

My Lord.

This is the list of palace girls that will be made palace attendants.

There are more than last time.

Yes, we selected the girls who scored high and placed them in each area.

We felt that with the new Queen, we might need more attendants.

I understand..

When is the ceremony?

Will the new Queen attend the ceremony today?

Come to think of it, she may.

The late Queen gave SookBin Mama complete control over all matters.

But according to custom, the Queen is the head.

It would have been great if SookBin Mama was Queen.

Right, sir?

Yes. But that's like breaking a dead man's leg.

What use is saying that now? Breaking a dead man's leg? That's horrible!

What?

Breaking a dead man's leg?

Did I say that?

Mama, You've come.

Yes, I see you're working hard.

Your Highness!

Now you're officially going to be Palace Attendants. You've all worked very hard.

Please have a seat. We will begin the ceremony shortly.

How can we begin? Her Majesty has yet to arrive.

Your Highness?

What is this? Didn't you inform the Queen's Palace?

Well, the late Queen always let you preside over all of these events... We didn't...

Lady Yu!

How peculiar.

Your Majesty!

An appointment ceremony without the Head of the Inner Court?

They must consider you as the Head of the Inner Court.

I can already know your character by today's events.

Your Majesty, this was purely the mistake of the Office of Investigations.

Her Highness had no idea...

This is not your place to speak.

You will certainly pay for your mistake too. You may leave us.

Your Majesty...

I said leave us! now

Sanghee!

My Lady, why do you come out alone?

Where is Her Highness?

It looks like this is going to become big.

Please forgive me, Your Majesty. This is all my fault.

Please do not hold them responsible.

Yes, I've only been here a few days,

but it appears that you are the cause of many problems. I will fix those problems one by one.

And since you're here, there is something I want to say to you.

It is regarding Prince Yeon Ing's marriage.

Your Majesty, did you just say marriage?

Yes, that's exactly what I said.

But Your Majesty, Prince Yeon Ing is still much too young...

No, he is old enough to marry.

No, he is old enough to marry. Once any Prince other than theCrown Prince marries, He must leave the Palace.

Your Majesty,

you mean... you're saying...

Yes, I'm telling you that Prince Yeon Ing is old enough to marry and leave the Palace.

Your Majesty...