Original subtitles

GRAND PRINCE

Rabbit!

It's a rabbit!

[Episode 1]

Father.

Not a word...

...should escape that the King has fallen ill.

We are...

...being extremely cautious, Your Highness.

If word gets out, all girls-in-waiting at the King’s Quarters will be executed.

Father.

But he been able to endure his sickness...

...for the past six years.

He'll recover.

The Crown Prince is still very young.

So, you need to recover.

Send it to Myeongnye Palace.

Open the gates.

Grand Prince Eunseong has returned from the northern region.

My goodness.

What’s this? Some lunatics running wild on this freezing day?

-Gosh! -How insolent!

You should bow down before His Highness!

If you’re going to lie, at least show us a tally or an identification.

It’s been long since he died on his military expedition.

So what are you rambling on about?

He has come back from the jaws of death! Go to the King’s Quarters and...

Your Highness!

We just need to send word to the Chief Eunuch or Chief Court Lady.

If they see you, they’ll...

I can't let you in but won't let you just leave, either.

How dare you seek to enter the palace when you have weapons in hand?

You beggarly idiots must be plotting a revolt.

We’ll twist your legs and see if it’s true.

Take them!

[Grand Prince Jinyang, Lee Kang]

[Yoon Nagyeom]

Good job.

Be careful on your return.

We now have an equal amount of influence.

The King and the Queen Dowager’s people on one side, and our people on the other.

What will you do?

The King is critically ill.

The Queen Dowager shuns you and the rest of the royal family.

Should you miss the chance...

Before the King dies...

...I must acquire his last words.

Since Grand Prince Eunsong is not around...

...if you were to receive the King's final words...

...the throne will be yours.

I need to enter the palace.

Jajun, send word to the Minister of Revenue and other ministers...

...to come to the palace.

Yes.

-I’ll bring your official robes. -Madam.

A guest has arrived.

[Seong Jahyeon]

Your cousin, Prince Wollyeong...

...has requested for my hand in marriage.

Please request that he take back his proposal.

I’m sure that you’re the one who planned everything.

Therefore...

...you should be the one to solve this issue.

Aren't you here because you want someone else as your husband?

What do you mean by that?

You refused to be my wife for three years.

I just wanted to give you another option for you to choose from.

Are you saying that...

...I'm turning into a beast?

Hui...

...is not coming back.

He is dead.

You need to accept that fact.

You were the one...

...who sent your young brother to his death.

He left at his own will.

He was performing his duty...

...as a prince of this nation.

Are you...

...planning to ruin my life?

Prince Wollyeong is my cousin.

You’re marrying into the King’s family. How is that destroying your life?

Your bold words will shock any maiden.

I do not wish to be married!

I don’t want to be...

...anyone’s wife!

Do you hate Prince Wollyeong that much?

If that’s the case...

...be mine.

There's still room for you.

I shouldn’t have come here.

I was a fool to think that you still have...

...a tiny bit of humanity in you.

Be careful on your way back.

Remember you’re soon to be a bride.

My Lady! What are you doing?

Isn’t it enough that you led one Grand Prince to his death?

Are you fearless, don't know the customs or just an ignorant girl?

What kind of a bride-to-be steps outside to seek out another man?

Are you that anxious?

Do you still feel insecure?

Is that why...

...you want to get rid of me using this method?

You should be grateful.

If it’s not for me and the Grand Prince…

…you would’ve died as an old maid.

Have you forgotten the days...

...when we were friends?

You’re the one who forsake our friendship.

From the time when you flirt with the Grand Princes...

...we are no longer friends and nothing more but strangers.

My life and fate...

...is for mine to decide and not the two of you.

You should just commit suicide if you detest getting married.

Let’s go, My Lady.

Stop talking to her and let’s just go.

You should've just died three years ago.

That amazing love of yours.

If you died then, you’d have been praised for your great unwavering love.

Let's go. Let's leave right now.

I hope that you’ll be happy.

Have children and live a good life after getting married.

Prove to all that you’re just a vain, common girl.

I'll definitely prove that fact to everybody.

My goodness.

It's cold!

Jeez. My goodness. Say, "ha". Blow it like this.

Don't you clean up?

Do you have a death wish?

Let's do it one more time.

-My face is freezing! -Blow your nose!

Blow your nose.

Just one more time.

Let's just do it another time.

Do you think she could do it?

She’s not fluent in our language.

Queen Dowager.

I just need to seek for the Queen Dowager.

No, “Her Highness the Queen Dowager!”

Oh yeah...

Her Highness.

Her Highness the Queen Dowager.

Go in.

Just keep going forward.

Just keep going.

Queen Dowager?

Her Highness.

Just keep going.

[Queen Dowager Shim]

Oh, Your Highness!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Please, Your Highness.

Please retire to your quarters for tonight.

No.

I will change my clothes...

...and attend to the King again.

But Your Highness, you might collapse from fatigue.

The Queen will struggle if she’s alone.

Such impertinence!

How dare you stand in our way?

Queen Dowager?

Ah!

Her Highness...

Her Highness...

...the Queen Dowager?

What are you doing? Get her out of here right now!

What are you doing?

Summon the palace guards! Guards!

The guards...

Your Highness...

Hui...

This is...

...Hui's blood.

My son, Hui!

[Grand Prince Eunseong, Lee Hui]

Your unworthy son...

...has returned...

...to greet you, mother.

You're alive.

Your face used to be so fair.

You must have...

You must have endured so much suffering...

The King...

Your brother is ill.

The heavens...

... must have taken a pity on me.

They have sent you back to me.

Not today, Your Highness.

I brought some medication since the King is sick.

Please announce my arrival.

It is the Queen Dowager’s orders not to let anyone in.

This is the Grand Prince Jinyang, His Majesty’s brother. How dare you?

I beg you to come back during the day.

I said I’m giving him some medication!

If the king’s illness worsens tonight…

…are you prepared to handle the consequences in the future?

Open the door!

Your Highness!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Mother!

What happened?

What of His Majesty?

What happened to the King?

The king has passed away.

Chief Eunuch...

How could you do this?

How can you let him go alone when you should've called me, his brother.

Who was there to hear his last will?

I asked you, who heard his last will?

Don't worry.

Grand Prince Eunseong...

I heard his final words.

The Queen Dowager will rule as the Regent...

...until the Crown Prince comes to age.

And all the Grand Princess...

...will pledge loyalty to the Crown Prince.

That is...

...the late king's last will.

You're the one...

...who heard the late king's final will?

I have returned, my brother.

Not dead.

I'm alive.

The King has passed on!

The King has passed on!

The King has passed on!

You have a lot of wounds.

I was at the battlefield.

I'm glad that you're back...

...alive.

I couldn't die.

Someone is waiting for me.

You return on the day of the funeral procession for the late king.

With the loss of our King...

...I find it hard to express how happy I am for your return.

You must be distressed...

...since you can’t rush outside to greet the one you missed.

But she is to be...

...the bride of another.

It’s best that you don’t meet her.

I’m talking about Lady Jahyeon.

Since the two of you had feelings for one another…

…she must be happy to know that you’re alive.

Jahyeon...

... is getting married?

She is Prince Wollyeong’s future wife.

Your Highness.

Who are you?

Hey, you! Wait!

Where did you come from?

Is His Excellency in?

Where is Lady Jahyeon?

Why are you making ruckus here?

What is all this chaos about?

Why are you causing a ruckus at my house since morning?

Your Excellency.

It's me.

It's me, Eunseong.

You're alive?

Are you a ghost?

His Majesty the King...

...is dead.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

I need to meet your daughter.

I need to tell her I'm back.

Please tell her that I'm back and alive.

I cannot.

What?

What have you done?

I'll be leaving for the mountains.

I'll become a nun.

My daughter

The Grand Prince is here.

He's alive.

He's here to meet you.

My daughter...

...is betrothed to Prince Wollyeong.

No, Grand Prince!

Jahyeon!

-Lady Jahyeon! -Grand Prince!

Grand Prince.

Please return to the palace.

You must hold vigil by His Majesty.

Jahyeon!

Your Highness.

[Grand Prince Eunseong, Lee Hui]

It's done.

I've never seen anything as rude before! How do you!

Go on.

She’s refused to let me in again?

Did she say I can't go again?

There are trouble in the palace.

She said she'll send for you on another day.

I'm sick of hearing that I'll see her on another day.

Just when will that be?

Forgive me, Your Highness.

[Grand Prince Jinyang, Lee Kang]

I must go today.

Your Highness!

I don’t remember my father’s face...

...nor my mother’s touch!

I...

...barely remember them.

I...

...refuse to live here alone anymore!

Her Highness didn’t forbid you to come not because she hates you.

But it’s because there are trouble in the palace...

Didn’t I say I was going?

Don't you think it's even more important for me to know of troubles in the palace?

I can’t wait any longer.

I am...

...the Prince of Joseon.

[Grand Prince will be back after a short break]

I am...

...the Prince of Joseon.

The Grand Prince has come to the Eastern Gate...

...seeking entrance.

Send him away.

Your Highness, you've postponed this day countless times.

If you accept him into the palace...

...and make him reside in the Grand Prince Hall...

How can you say that when the Crown Prince has fallen ill?

Now...

...is just not the right time yet.

Get out of my way!

Get out of my way!

I...

...am the second prince, Lee Kang!

I was not informed that Your Highness will be visiting the palace today.

Your Highness, let us go back.

I shall pay a visit the Queen to set up a date for you.

I told you I’m not going to wait any longer.

Right now! Today!

I will definitely enter the palace today!

Your Highness, it’s me, Giteuk.

Come in.

Is my brother here?

Well…

I...

Even if...

...I will starve to death in front of the palace…

…I will not return to the private residence.

I will go in and meet my parents!

Your Highness, not today.

If you go back and wait, I’ll acquire an approval for your admission right away.

Kang!

Good to see you here.

I’ve been waiting for you.

Let's go in.

Mother is waiting for you.

Your Highness, the Prince is not to be admitted into the Palace.

We shall come back another time.

How insolent!

He’s my older brother!

The prince wishes to enter the palace.

What reasons do you have...

...to stand in his way?

Your Highness! We didn't mean to stop him.

We have received orders...

I’ll bear the responsibility.

Move!

Let's go.

Didn’t you receive my order that you’re not allowed to come today?

Yes, I did.

I told you to wait since the palace is in chaos.

To think that one so young could be so stubborn...

Mother.

It was I who accompanied him in.

He has done nothing wrong.

So, you ascribe your disobedience to your younger brother’s childish antics?

This is the first time in years...

...since your eyes last looked into mine.

My young heart...

...has missed you too much to obey you.

Can't you overlook this matter just this one time?

Have you seen to the arrangement of your brother’s quarters?

I had wallpaper put up, new doors fit in...

...and furnished it with prized furniture.

But, Mother…

Do the rules of the palace favor the younger son over the older?

Sorry?

How can the younger brother sit at the head of the table…

…and be the one receiving the older brother’s bow?

Forgive me, Kang.

Quell your anger.

Hui just wants to look at your face.

No.

I was being thoughtless.

I know you’re not angry at him...

...but at me.

You’re my son but what's more important is that...

...you're the nation's prince.

The reason that I can’t raise you by my side...

…is for the sake of the country.

Please cease your anger...

...and take pride in yourself.

I wrote this...

...while I was awaiting your return.

“The moon..."

"...lights up two places at once.”

“But the distance..."

"...between us two...”

"...are great."

"I yearn..."

"...to be where..."

"...the moonlight goes."

"To shine brightly..."

"...by your side..."

"...every night."

Are the two people in this poem...

...referring to you and Kang?

Yes.

Parents love brighten up...

...every inch of this earth...

...like the moonlight.

But Kang and I...

...are separated miles apart.

So, I was expressing how much...

...I want to be by his side like the moonlight.

It’s easy to see how you missed him.

Your brother is talented in writing poems.

Even the Ming envoys...

...desire to obtain his work.

Hui’s words...

...also express what I feel in my heart.

I have waited long...

...and I’ve missed you.

Kang…

Any other day...

...I’d have thrown a feast on your arrival into the palace.

But after the Crown Prince fell ill, the atmosphere...

My return to the palace.

It’s not my arrival but my return.

This is where I rightfully belong.

I just came back to where I belong.

You have no idea...

-...how long I’ve been waiting for you. -You sure are clingy.

Yeoni.

What are you doing?

I wanted to polish your shoes, Your Highness.

Didn’t I tell you to look after yourself?

Your arm won't heal if you keep on doing work with it.

My other arm is perfectly fine.

This is...

...not a form of loyalty or friendship.

If you want to please me...

...don’t get hurt or get sick.

I told you to put yourself first.

Don’t overexert yourself...

...and go rest.

When you’re fully healed...

...let's play your favorite game, hide-and-seek.

We’ll play with Kang, too.

Really?

Forgive me, Your Highness.

I was not able to dissuade the Grand Prince.

Anyway...

...we shouldn't have let Kang stay in the palace just yet.

Didn’t the Crown Prince’s fever worsen?

Perhaps, what we're going through now is enough to avoid the misfortune.

He has been raised alone for too long already.

It's important that all my princes will grow up well but...

...above all, the Crown Prince need to be strong...

...for the state's sake.

Joseon has never seen the eldest son succeed the throne.

You seem to have lots on your mind.

Uncle!

Hello.

My goodness. I guess the palace food is doing you good.

You seem to be much heavier than before.

Yes.

So, have you already met with the family members yet?

Yes.

Everybody has been kind to me.

That’s how it should be.

They abandoned you...

...out of their own greed...

...so they owe you that much.

Do you know why you were sent away?

I heard I was a frail baby...

... and they had to send me away to recuperate.

Across generations,...

...the throne has been passed to second and third sons...

...and not the eldest.

It was said that...

...your presence would endanger...

... the succession of the eldest.

The Crown Prince’s health...

...is in poor condition.

Apparently you were the cause...

...so...

...they sent you out of the Palace.

Isn't it amusing?

My young brother...

...who succeeded the throne in my stead...

...should mistreat his younger son to protect the first son?

What about Hui?

He's the Crown Prince's younger brother, too.

So why is it only me who’s casted away...

...and he gets to stay in the palace?

It’s because you pose the biggest threat.

They praise Hui because he’s fair...

...and a prodigy in both poetry and art.

But if you received proper education...

...like all the other princes...

...in the palace...

...he wouldn’t come close.

The biggest threat to the Crown Prince...

...is you, right here.

Don’t worry.

You have me by your side.

I may have...

...yielded the throne to my brother...

…but I still the eldest in the royal family.

You should practice more.

I’d love to take my nephew out...

...for a hunt soon.

I’ll count until 10.

One.

Two.

-There! Let's go there! -Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Kang!

-Seven... -Come here!

Eight.

Nine.

Ten!

I found you!

You’re it now, Your Highness!

Forgive me.

I didn't know it was you, Your Highness.

Please hide again, Your Highness!

I’ll search for the others.

Do you think I can’t be the seeker?

No, Your Highness.

Since you don’t know the rules yet…

…I thought I should take it easy on you first game.

You just want to catch Hui...

...and not me, don't you?

But he’s very good at hiding!

It’s so difficult to find him.

That brat is even apt at hide-and-seek, isn't he?

You’re Yeoni, aren’t you?

You should come to serve at my place from today onwards.

Well, actually…

What's wrong?

You don’t want to?

Actually...

...I am already serving someone else…

Don’t you know I have seniority over Hui?

I can take...

...whatever he owns!

I’m not an item which can be passed around.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a person or an item!

Whatever I want will be mine!

I’ll inform the Courty Lady...

...and send you smart trainee servants.

Do you hate me?

Your Highness, that is not true.

But I’ve served Grand Prince Hui since I was still a child.

And according to the rules of the palace...

...I can only serve one master throughout my lifetime...

Do you like Hui that much?

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Where are you? Please come out!

Are you crazy?

Must you make it obvious...

...that I’m hiding here?

Are you dying to see me be the seeker?

Our game is not the issue right now.

Yeoni is in trouble.

What?

You should obey my orders since you’re just a servant.

How dare you be stubborn and refuse to do as I say?

Your Highness.

Please calm down, Your Highness. I cannot leave my only master.

Are you looking down on me because I wasn’t raised here?

I stand next to the Crown Prince. I outrank Hui!

Your Highness.

-Why are you doing this? -Don't disobey me!

-You should come serve me! -No!

You’re not the master whom I need to obey!

I won’t be another’s servant! I can’t!

What did you say?

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Save me!

-You hate me, don’t you? -Save me!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Then...

...just die!

Kang! Where’s Yeoni? Have you seen her?

Your Highness!

Yeoni!

I want you to go to the infirmary and bring a doctor over!

Yes, Your Highness!

Yeoni.

Yeoni!

How did this happen?

Why did she fall?

Why didn't you save her, Kang? What were you doing?

I don’t know how to swim.

You should’ve called for someone, then.

You should've asked for help!

How can you just...

...look at her drowning?

She was pleased to find me and started jumping around.

She couldn’t contain herself and just fell right in. So?

Giteuk saw what happened.

And that wasn't what I heard.

What did Giteuk say?

What did he see?

There's nothing we can do.

Yeoni...

Yeoni...

Yeoni...

Oh...

Come over here.

The best craftsman in Joseon made this.

I had it made especially for you.

Uncle…

What happened? Who’s responsible for your distress?

I...

What should I do?

Will I be sent out of the palace again?

Or...

...am I going to end up in prison?

Who dare to say those things...

...to the prince of this nation?

Don't worry.

Tell me what you saw.

The last person to see Yeoni...

...is you and Kang.

I didn’t hear what they were talking about since I was far away.

But I think His Highness ordered Yeoni to come serve in his quarters.

However, she didn’t want to...

...so His Highness got angry and forced her closer to the pond.

I thought His Highness went too far, so I went rushing for you.

He was angry...

She was pleased to find me and started jumping around.

She couldn’t contain herself and just fell right in. So?

Go to the Laundry Department...

...and get me dry clothes.

I need to…

…talk with my brother.

Yes.

Giteuk.

Did you get my clothes?

Uncle.

Are you on your way to meet Kang?

Yes.

I have something to ask him.

Go back.

Keep it quiet.

And...

...forget about it.

Someone is dead.

Do you think...

...Kang will be punished?

Between a dead trainee servant...

...and a live prince.

You know which one the royal family...

...will rush to protect.

The Queen...

...will get rid of witnesses.

As her flesh and blood, you’ll be fine.

But the other one will be taken care of.

Do you wish to lose another one of your servants?

We can’t have another death...

...to appease the dead.

We can avoid more sacrifices and avoid anyone else to get caught...

...if you were to remain quiet.

Where is Giteuk?

He has done nothing wrong.

Do you wish...

...for him to live, Your Highness?

Don’t threaten me.

Threaten you?

I gave up the throne for the sake of this country.

I just wish...

...for the safety of the royal family.

Save me.

Please save me!

Your Highness.

Please save me!

Please save me.

Who are you?

I asked, who are you?

The Queen...

...will get rid of witnesses.

Do you wish to lose another one of your servants?

You said you miss me...

...every day and night?

My brother.

I feel the same way, too.

My pillow gets soaked in tears every night...

...as I miss the palace...

...which I can't even remember.

How is it?

Does it fit?

It’s better than my old one.

It’s lighter...

...but lets the arrow fly further.

It’s not a practice bow. It’s made for the battlefield.

This is what you use during a war.

If my parents...

...find out about that girl...

...what will happen to me?

They don’t have to know.

Hui...

...will never mention it to them.

He doesn’t have...

...an edge over you.

Rather...

...you have an edge over him.

Isn't it amusing...

...that your secret...

...could chain him in place?

Don’t be disheartened.

Do not give in to others.

Carry yourself with confidence and might.

Power...

...can negate all error and faults.

You must have power...

...if you don’t want...

...anyone to fault you.

Do you remember the time...

...when Yeoni hurt her arm?

Of course.

She was climbing a tree...

...to pick red dates...

...for you and...

She doesn't own a thing but...

...always wanted...

...to give me things...

...and look after me.

She always have...

...her eyes on me.

I can feel her presence wherever I go.

She only had her eyes on you.

Sometimes I tried to be aloof out of fear that...

...she might come to rely on me too much.

But I shouldn’t have.

Do you regret it?

I should've smiled warmly...

...and treat her with kind words.

I wouldn’t have held anything back...

...had I known she was to die so young.

Your Highness, I have inconvenienced you.

Listen carefully.

Never ever...

...leave my side from now on.

I won't.

And forget about...

...what happened to Yeoni.

And you should never speak...

...about my brother.

I can’t lose...

...another one of my own.

Your Highness.

I'm still young and without power.

I couldnt even expose the truth behind Yeoni's death.

The most I could do right now is to protect you.

You...

...and I...

We need to be stronger.

Only then we can protect each other.

Your Highness.

Yeoni.

How are you?

It’d be nice to know...

...if you were still a small child...

...or all grown up now.

These days...

... it's even hard for me to remember your face.

[Grand Prince]

There's been talk about...

...crowning you as Crown Prince in the palace.

We should go forward with crowning a King...

He’s a greedy child.

He’s not like Eunseong.

I heard you skipped bridal lessons...

...and got kicked out.

You're grounded for that.

You're not only rude, but also shameless!

And why are you speaking impolitely to me?

Don’t forget me.

My name...