Original subtitles

It's been three days since Sulhee left.

He should be entering Chulwonn by now.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I am qite amazed that Lord Ahjagae is still alive.

Yes.

I've been rapt with state affairs and had forgotten all about him.

He is an eccentric character.

He abandoned his son the emperor of Bekjae and came to Koryo.

He is a strong individualist with quite a temper.

Will Sulhee succeed in persuading hil?

There are no guarantees.

What's more, King Kyun-hwon is a great conqueror who built Bekjae

from ground up. Can we really win over his heart?

It's next to impossible. But there was an overthrow

in Bekjae and King Kyun-hwon is now imprisoned in a temple.

All we can do is try our best.

We will try to comfort him and to persuade him to help Koryo.

And to do that, we require Lord Ahjagae's help.

Yes, but...

I still can't believe what happened in Bekjae.

Neither can I.

King Kyun-hwon created an empire long before we did.

And he had conquered over half of the peninsula.

Yes, it is a tragic end for a hero.

Yes. He was an admirable man full of courage and vigor.

I do feel for him. He was once a great man.

You are life long enemies. Do you truly feel sympathy?

I do indeed. We maybe rials but there is no personal grudge.

Even this simple woman can see your world approaching.

Shilla has surrendered their state, and infighting among

the royal family is fierce in Bekjae.

You will be the one to unify the Three Kingdoms.

That is our belief, Your Grace.

Yes. The energy of the land is drawing toward you, Your Majesty.

No. No one can guarantee our success.

We've been fighting for decades, but nothing has been decided yet.

We must proceed one step at a time with extreme caution.

That is why I sent Sulhee to Chulwon.

Lord Ahjagae...

My lord, we are approaching Lord Ahjagae's estate.

Yes. This city hasn't changed at all...

Ride ahead and announce my arrival.

Yes, my lord.

It has been so long yet this place still feels like home.

My best years were spent here. Now I am an old man...

General Park Sulhee is coming, my lord!

What? Who is coming?

What did you say? Who is coming?

General Park Sulhee, my lord!

Who?

Good heavens! I don't believe it!

My lord, it is Sulhee! Park Sulhee has come to visit!

Sulhee? Park Sulhee? Did you say Sulhee was here?

Yes.

It is true.I came a step ahead to announce him.

Yes, I knew he would be coming. I knew he didn't forget about us.

Foster Father, Madam, have you fared well?

Sulhee has come to inquire about tour health.Receive my obeisance.

It's Sulhee! It's Sulhee Indeed! Sulhee is here!

I thought I'd lever get to ses you again,Sulhee.

Receive my obeisance.

I can't Believe you are really here, Sulhee.

How long has it been?

You don't look a day older. It must be tour short hair.

I am always a child before you, my lord.

It pleases me to see you well.

Of all days to visit you had to pick today...

Is today a bad day?

Sister, Sister Mu-sang, we have a guest.

Lady Daeju!

Sister Daeju...

No, no, it's Sister Mu-sang. That is her Buddhist name.

I see...

She is the head of the local temple.

We adress her in honorifics, as she is now a disciple of Buddha.

I feel like I am dreaming.

Do you remember the grape wine you used to bring me?

I have been a wine drinker ever since.

Let us go inside and have some.

Yes, sire.

Please go inside, Benefactor.

...Yes, Sister.

Drink, my good man. Have you forgotten?

You saved my life with a thousand-yea-old wild ginseng.

Yes, sire.

How could he forget, my lord?

This may not ne a thousand- year-old, but His Majesty

sent another wild ginseng wishing you long life.

Pardon me?

The emperor has sent you another ginseng, my lord.

Another one? Do you wish for me to live another hundred years?

I am already ninety- nine years old.

Thank you. Drink, it is grape wine.

Yes, sire.

I knew you had entered the monastery, but I did not

know you were in Chulwon.

I may be a disciple of Buddha, but how could I neglect my

elderly parents? I stay close and visit them often.

I struggled for a long time after you left, my lady -

I mean - Sister. I am glad to find you well.

Thank you. Well then

Leaving already?

Yes, General. I have a house of Buddha to look after.

Have a pleasant visit, General.

My lady! Sister!

Lady Daeju! My lady!

You are still hung up on her.

Sit back down. Daeju is a monk now.

Yes...

She left the secular life because of her brother.

She loved you very much, but she had no choice

being the sister of the enemy king.

It is a tragic fate. Drink now.

Yes...

Nothing has changed... Merciful Buddha...

What stubborn connection...

Feelings have not faded after all these years.

I guess time does not cure all things...

So what brings you here?

I've come to inquire about your health and ask you for a favor.

A favor?

He has a favor to ask, a favor.

A favor?

Sure, I've never turned down a request from Sulhee.

What can this old man do for you?

Perhaps you've heard the news about King Kyun-hwon.

Who?

Kyun-hwon, my lord.

What about him? Speak up.

There was a coup in Bekjae. Your grandson Shin-guhm took

up arms against King Kyun-hwon killing his half brother

Geum-kang and incarcerating his father in a temple.

What? My grandson?

Yes, sire.

Goodness! Is this true?

It was caused by contest the throne.

King Kyun-hwon has been deposed by his own son.

Our government wishes to establish contact with him.

Kyun-hwon? That foll was licked out by his own son?

Idiot! He had it coming to him.

That arrogant fool had it coming.

What is wrong, sire?

That idiot...I may be in Koryo, but a part of me

was proud of what he had accomplished...

Foll...How could he let his own son do this to him?

He rejected me and changed his name, but still a part

of me was proud...

My lord...

Such is life, sire. The bigger they are the harder they fall.

He was taken by surprise.

What is the favor you wish to ask of me?

King Kyun-hwon is probably most frustated and aggrieved.

There is o place for him in Bekjae.

Unification of the peninsula belongs to Koryo now.

Persuade him to come to Koryo and assist our emperor.

We are trying different approaches to make contact

with him. We'd like you to write a letter of condoleance urging

him to make peace with us.

But will Kyun-hwon be convinced?

It's worth a try. It is for peace in the Three Kingdoms, sire.

That idiot... My heart is aching for him...

Such a fool...

Geum-san Temple is just up ahead, Master.

We've been walking for two days without rest. Aren't you tired?

My mentore Master Dosum traveled 700 miles across the peninsula

again and again, and knew the land like the back of his hands.

Tired? We've only walked thirty miles.

Will they let us see King Kyun-hwon?

We'll find a way somehow. Let us hurry.

He has never set foot outside his quarters.

No, General. His screaming hasn't stopped.

They say His Majesty was raised on tiger's milk.

His bravery and mettle was extraordinary.

But now he is a fangless tiger.

Give it time. He will give up like every man does.

Drain the puss! Squeeze it out as hard as you can!

These are hellish days... He must be in so much pain...

He continues to drik while in his treatment.

He has bought death to his son and his most devoted

servant of a lifetime.

The foot of the uinfection has reached his spine.

Imagine his torture to be locked up in this temple in his state...

Bring him more wine. Don't let it run out.

Yes, Your Grace.

What good would it do to abstain from drinking now?

Perhaps it would be better to let him die in numbness

of wine than prolong this misery and pain.

Yes, give it all you've got.

The wound is painful, but my heart feels relief.

I will drink and you will squeeze out the puss.

Let's see which is stronger, the darn carbuncle or this wine.

Your Majesty, you are hastenig your own death.

You must abstain from drinking. I beg you.

Your job is to drain the puss and my job is to drink!

We will both be faithful to our jobs. Squeeze!

Yes, Your Majesty. Please forgive me.

Those bastards!

You've done a difficult task, Uncle.

I was prepared. But we mustn't give up, Your Highness.

His resentment and anger will subside with each visit.

I beg to differ. You may be His Majesty's brother,

but I, too, have served him all of my life.

He will not turn around. Your efforts will be in vain.

I agree. I don't think he will ever be assuaged.

You want to walk the path of righteousness and reason,

but the one who holds the power makes his own law.

I think you are being overcautious, Brother.

Brother Yang-guhm is right.

Stop this useless effort and ascend to the throne, Brother.

As I have said before, you will gain nothing if you

give up because you can't tolerate the process.

I choose to be patient.

Soon I will pay father a personal visit.

And I will have him next to me on my enthronement

for entire kingdom to see.

How frustrating.

He has overthrown his father and seized the sovereign power,

but refuses to rise to the throne.What is he so afraid of?

And why are the subjects sitting on their thumbs?

The high officials are discussing that very matter as we speak.

There have been a lot of talks since General Neungyae's return

from Geum-san Temple.

Yes, I heard that His Majesty is drinking his days away with

wicked Kobe by his side. What a life that must be.

Blood doesn't lie, they say.

He has ended up exactly like his father in his last years.

If had my wish, he would die where he is.

Your Highness...!

What? Have I said something I shouldn't say?

It would be for the est for everyone involved.

His Majesty would no longer suffer indignity, and Prince

Shin-guhm would naturally rise to the throne.

These are unexpected complications.

Yes. The country has been stabilized quicker than we

thought, but Prince Shin-guhm is resisting...

I am all for principles and reason, but we already crossed

the line when we took up arms. We are beyond that right now.

But it doesn't hurt to win public support and acceptance.

No, but it's too late.

We cannot be held back by struggle for acceptance.

We are facing a final battle that will decide Bekjae's fate;

the final fight for mastery between Koryo and Bekjae.

We can't waste our time waiting for His Majesty's approval or

acceptance of the public.

Prime Minister has a point.

But Prince Shin-guhm is in a different position.

We can't help but seek public validation.

Perhaps we should push him harder and force this through.

How can we force him to the throne? It require his consent.

But we don't have much time. The final battle with Koryo

is inevitable and we cannot have a war without a king.

He must rise to the throne and lead the fight against Koryo.

King Kyun-hwonhas founded this kingdom, but it is our job to

unify the Three Kingdoms.

King Kyun-hwon has passed into history. The rest is up to us.

Let us take aggressive action if nothing changes soon.

We do not have time to lose.

We must fight with Koryo, but we are running out of time.

Everyone is hastening me to rise to the throne.

But my future will be short if I continue to be indiscreet.

I must turn father around no matter what it takes.

The throne can wait. I've already seized the sovereign power.

The kingdom is mine.

I will win father's consent no matter what it takes.

Monks from Oakryong Temple in Mt. Bekgae?

Yes. This is Great Master Kyungbo.

Master Kyungbo?

He is the priest of the king of Bekjae. Don't you know him?

I know of him, but we have never met. What brings you here?

I've come to see a disciple of mine.

Your disciple?

His Majesty has asked me to be his mentor and I have accepted.

Doesn't that make him my disciple?

But you cannot see the king.

No one is allowed to see him without authorization

of Prince Shin-guhm, the new master of the kingdom.

The new master of the kingdom?

Well then, I shall go to the worship hall and visit

the brothers.

Superior Master!

Superior Master, what brings you here?

I have come to comfort the king. I have going to call o you later.

General, this is the royal priest.

Haven't you heard of Master Kyungbo?

Yes, but we have never met.

He is His Majesty's priest. You must let him see the king.

I am responsible for security here.

The royal priest... Oh dear...

Then you must send a man to the palace for permission at once.

You cannot treat the royal priest this way.

Oh dear...

- Commander, - Yes, General.

dispatch a messenger.

Report the circumstances and ask for instructions.

Yes, General.

Master, please come to my quarters for now.

It will be a while before the messenger brings back an answer.

Fine. Then may we share a cup of tea?

Of course. This way.

The royal priest? He does carry an air of dignity.

What? The royal priest is here?

Are you talking about Master Kyungbo?

Yes, Your Grace. He went to the head priest's quarters

after being turned away by general Padal.

What? Master Kyungbo is here?

Yes, Your Majesty.

And they turned him away, you say?

Yes, Your Grace.They send a messenger to the palace for

authorization of his visit.

Bastards! A man who was in hermitage all his life has

travel all this way to visit me. How could they turn him away?

Oh, no...The royal priest is here. This is most humiliating...

Must he see me in this pathetic state?

That is a shame...

His disease is unrecoverable and he continues to drink?

Yes, Master.

I could not blame him...

This temple has a longstanding reputation as a good seminary.

I am afraid we will be remembered as a place where the king died.

My fellow, you need not worry. Such matters are unimportant.

The king is just a man like the rest of us in the eyes of Buddha.

I might stay for a few days. Would it be too much trouble?

Of course not. Stay as long as you wish, Master.

- But Master, - What is it?

You've been in hermitage all of your life. Many of us are

wondering what brought you out of hermitage and all this way.

You don't need to wonder. I came out because I felt confined.

Would you please prepare my place to sleep?

Yes, Master. Make yourself at home and rest comfortably.

Thank you.

Oh my, Lord Ahjagae shed tears for his son?

It was much to my surprise. I thought he hated King Kyun-hwon.

Love and hate are blood relations.

While you scorn, you can't wish harm, and

while you curse, you are still concerned. That's parental love.

It is true. But he still wrote a letter for us?

Yes, Your Majesty. He urged King Kyun-hwon to come to

Koryo and help you achieve the grand enterprise.

That's wonderful. But I feel somewhat remorseful.

A man nearing one hundred years of age has shed tears

for his son's pain...Blood is thicker than water, as they say.

How was your visit, Imperial guardian?

Master Kyungbo said there would still be more bloodshed.

More bloodshed? Does he mean that the war will continue?

That would be my guess.

Final battle between Koryo and Bekjae is unavoidable.

Naturally. I'm sure that is what he was reffering to.

Did he speak of anything else?

He said he would make a trip to Geum-san Temple.

To Geum-san Temple? Personally?

Yes. The master appeared to have a firm resolution.

Resolution? What do you mean?

He had told us previously that there would be work for him

in due time and urged us patience.

Perhaps his visit to Geum-san Temple means he has

finally begun his work.

I believe the royal advisor is right.

Master Kyungbo is going to Geum-san Temple...

Then why not deliver this letter from Lord Ahjagae now as well?

It is an excellent idea. The letter would be more

effective in conjunction with Master Kyungbo's visit.

Yes, it would be more effective indeed.

Let us send a messenger. And we will convene an assembly

at once to discuss the matter in detail.

Yes, Your Majesty.

The air is cold, Your Majesty. Please come back inside.

No! The royal priest is here!

But General Padal is keeping him away. I beg you for patience.

How dare they turn the royal priest away! Bastards!

Let the royal priest in at once, you bastards!

I want see Padal! Call that miscreant Padal!

His Majesty is calling me about the royal priest?

Yes, General. He will not stop screaming.

Oh dear...What's holding up the messenger that left yesterday?

Master Kyungbo is at Geum-san temple, you say?

Yes,Your Highness. General Padal's messenger is outside

waiting for your command.

Puzzling...What could be his sudden interest after decades in

hermitage? Stop him. Nothing good could come from their meeting.

You are wrong. Prince Shin-guhm is trying to appease His Majesty.

This could be a useful opportunity.

Opportunity?

We could appeal to the royal priest to help mend the

relationship between His majesty and Prince Shin-guhm.

It is an idea,Brother.

Yes, I think you are right.

No, Shin-guhm. Father is not one to be convinced by such

persuasion. Turn the royal priest away.

But he is the royal priest. What would the public say if

I deprived my father of his visit? Rumor spreads quickly.

Heed my advice, Your Highness. Appeal for his help.

There is nothing to lose and much to gain.

It is a bad idea.

No, I agree with my uncle. It could not hurt to try.

And if it works, this could put an end to my dilemma.

General Shin, Yes, Your Highness.

I will write a personal letter addressed to the royal priest.

Appeal to him for help. Ask him to help us turn father around.

Yes, Your Highness.

This could be a lucky break.

The royal priest has come out of hermitage.

If anyone can convince my father, he can.

Let us appeal to him for help. Let us send an earnest appeal.

A desperate plea for help...