Episode 16
[Usurpation of the Throne Notice: The current throne occupant, Yi Kang, had usurped the throne from the young king in exile in a treasonous manner. As his blood brother, I urge the people to help me rectify this situation.]
[Chanwi: Usurpation of the Throne Notice.]
[Usurpation of the Throne Notice: The current throne occupant, Yi Kang, had usurped the throne from the young king in exile in a treasonous manner. As his blood brother, I urge the people to help me rectify this situation.]
Are you done?
[Half of the first line of reading primer, Thousand Character Classic. This half of the full line means the sky is dark(profound mystery) and the earth is yellow(warm).]
"Chun Ji Hyeon Hwang." (The sky is dark and the earth is yellow).
The sky is dark but the earth is yellow.
Isn't the sky blue?
Its meaning is connected to "Woo Joo Hong Ang" that will come later.
Between the sky and the ground, the space is large and broad, so it is limitless.
So, it's shedding light on how large this world is.
This won't do. I'll start by teaching you easier things.
Let's see. This is, person "in."
A person cannot live alone.
It signifies the reasoning behind the word for person.
But, instead of this,
I want to learn Hwi's name.
I did see before
how to write Hwi's name, but...
Look closely.
[Hwi]
Why is it so complicated?
When you practice, it'll get easier.
Oh, but, what are they talking about in His Highness' room?
I don't know.
Do you want to know?
It's not enough to push the king out of the way, and
send him on an exile and now he's after his life.
He's feeling the burden of the former king.
As long as he's alive, he will be accused of stealing the throne.
Could it possibly be a trap?
To give you the order among so many others he could consider.
Even if it's a trap, we must go and save his majesty.
We can't go, but we can't not go.
Even if you declined, uncle would have sent other assassins.
Let's say we'll receive the order and bring the prince.
Pardon me?
What are you doing there?
The Moon is bright so I was learning martial arts from Roo Shi Gae.
- If you're curious, come in. - Your Highness.
What is there to hide between us, or keep secret?
Don't be anxious out here and just come in.
The more people, the better.
I will not be going by myself.
Grand Prince Yang An attached a securty on me.
We have to take his majesty away before the assassins arrive.
It won't be easy but can you delay their travel as much as possible?
We may be able to get rid of some of them by ensnaring them into a trap along the way.
If we go head to head with the guards posted at the king's exile,
we will suffer casualities.
If you consider all of that and care about it, we can't fight.
You just have to focus on saving the prince.
I have a thought.
Can you get us court laides' uniform?
(Chanwi: Stole the throne)
The King we have now,
is not the one you thought.
[Usurpation of the Throne Notice]
How big are the traitors
that they're disturbing the capital like this?
They're all the same people.
They took the Lady from the Seong family and tried to kill me.
And put up the posters accusing me of stealing the throne.
They are all a same group.
Let's lower the guards,
if they become complacent, they might slip.
Find out if the Chief's scholars go anywhere on a regular basis.
Check it again.
I said you can't. You need to protect the mountain temple here.
Then, how is this different from a Jeongubwon?
It's dangerous.
That applies to you, too, Your Highness.
- If I tell you to not go, will you listen to me? - Please.
You said that we'd do it together, but when we're actually doing it, you tell me to stay aside since it's dangerous.
When you said you respected me, was it just words?
I am not insisting for no reason.
There is a place for me in our efforts to save the former king.
I think we can eat this now.
Ho Chi!
Keep digging.
What is this?
You've got a rash.
Is it poison again?
There was no issue with the food tasting.
Hurry and take it away.
Don't touch.
Call the royal doctor. Get the royal guards to demolish the royal kitchen.
Arrest everyone who had anything to do with the meal preparation today.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Let go! Let me go!
Let go!
Let's go.
- Do well with your work. - Yes.
It is not some type of drug.
It appears to be an allergic reaction to a food you're not compatible with.
What food made His Majesty be like this?
When I looked at the foods, I noticed there was pickeled crab.
Raw crabs can affect some people and
cause the rash and itchiness.
What nonsense are you saying?
You think I've never had pickled crab before?
Raw or cooked, I've never had such reaction from eating crab before.
Are you on the same side as them? Do you wish for me to die, too?
Your Majesty, please calm yourself.
Your Majesty, reaction to food can come and go.
It may start to occur even after an absence of it.
After you rose to the throne,
since you couldn't get sleep and you lose your appetite,
the reaction can happen when we become weak.
What kind of remedy is there for reaction to crab?
If the reaction goes away after your treatment then we will know it's due to the crab.
Tree barks from five different trees,
will be boiled for the tonic,
and you will be given needles to regain strength.
Looks like the rash has gone down a bit.
If you drink the tonic and watch the progress,
it might prove that it's from the food and not poison.
There is not a hint of lie in what you're saying?
I will put my life on the line, your majesty.
Advise the royal kitchen to not serve the crabs again.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, why are you doing this?
After I wore these clothes, my body felt itchy.
They even put poison on my arrow. Wouldn't they do the same for my clothes?
Take this and inspect it. To see if the inner layer was
coated with something strange.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What he eats, wears, and where he sleeps,
he inspected every spec of dust,
and trust none of the guards or the court ladies.
According to the doctor, this has to do with his mental health.
Given what he'd gone through the other day.
His unease is understandable, but the severity of it is worrying.
Won't he get better with time?
The problem is that
every day for His Majesty has become hell.
He thought that if he came into the palace and rose to the throne, everything would be settled.
But, he gets worried about something new every day.
You must hurry and have a wonja (to-be crown prince).
If a son is born,
the king will feel better.
If you sit in a spot where you weren't supposed to,
your whole life will feel uneasy. There will never be a relaxing day.
At night, you won't be able to sleep.
You will be suspicious of every spoonful of ride and every drop of soy sauce.
Silk clothes will cut into you and the royal bedding will feel like a bed of nails.
Your Majesty, it is hard for you, too, right?
Are you missing the time when you went about with no title?
I do not like it either.
Rather than smiling in a poor thatched roof house,
I prefer to cry in a luxurious palace.
Even if I'm lonely or in pain,
I like this clothing and Geyotaejun (Queen's pavilion).
Mother.
Hey.
Hey!
Ho Chi!
Oh la la!
Are you okay?
Looks like we will have to stop and replace the horse.
What are you doing?
Find a horse, then hurry and follow me.
Let us go.
- This was never planned. - How can there be a person like that?
To dismount his subordinate and take the horse.
Captain, let's follow them.
In a situation like this we have to come up with a plan B.
It will be hard.
Let's hurry.
Who are you?
You are working hard.
Did you come from the palace?
We came from the queen's palace.
After the queen had sent her young son off, she was worried.
So she asked us bring something for you
to build up your strength.
Would it be alright to receive such a thing?
It's not a bribe, nor is it money.
It's just food you can eat.
Our Hanga (court lady to be), brought the drinks that the king drinks too.
Do you guys drink?
Alcohol that the king drinks?
Set up the table, quickly.
We really shouldn't do this.
Ah, really.
Honestly.
Your Highness.
Uncle.
I came to get you out of here.
Will you take me
to my mother?
We will take them on, please hurry.
We will take His Highness. Make way!
- No way. - What group do you belong to?
Let go of His Highness!
Grand Prince Eun Seong?
Shut up!
I will take the one running away.
You people!
You arrived here too quickly.
They didn't get snared in the trap.
They were pushing hard to get here.
Then, what do we do now?
We must return to the capital.
What are you going to do?
I will lure them to another direction.
Once we take care of them we will get the horses.
Stop!
I found it suspicious that you kept delaying our journey. You were a part of the traitors.
You must have taken them out of the Gyodong Island too.
You're the real traitors.
Today this will turn into your grave.
Go, grand prince!
Gi Teuk!
Get on and leave first.
Let's go.
From here on, you should take care of the prince and go by yourself.
No, what are you saying?
You must get out of this area, your highness.
So, hurry and get on.
Until now, I had my role to play.
But from here on, I will only be a hindrance.
What are you talking about?
Three people cannot be on one horse.
You will get caught by those riding the horses on their own.
I cannot leave her behind.
You're not leaving me behind; you are taking care of the prince.
We will find the others and follow you immediately.
Why are you being so difficult?
Go. I am not a weak woman you need to protect.
I am your companion who fights alongside with you.
Trust me please. We have the general with us.
Don't worry about me and please get out of here quickly.
Uncle.
We'll meet in the capital.
I'll trust you with the lady.
- Lady. - Do not follow me. I'm taking the woman.
Stay where you are! Don't get close!
If the enemy holds you like this, use the elbow.
Hey!
Bastard.
Hurry!
Honestly.
Thanks to you, we lived.
- Are you alright? - Yes, what about Hwi?
He took the prince and left.
We lost him.
I will take care of him. Please get to the capital now.
- I'll trust you with the lady. - Do not worry.
Let's go.
- Let's go. - Let's go.
Thank you for making the difficult decision.
It's a long and arduous trip to Ming China.
If I go there safely,
there is a request I must ask of you, Your Majesty.
Tell me.
I would like my daughter, who is at the Jeongubwon (a temple for female monks).
to be returned.
If you do the country an honour,
You can take whatever reward you want.
When I get an opportunity, I will make the request to the queen.
Thank you for your grace.
You could have bigger fortune visiting upon your household.
- Chief Scholar because the King's envoy? - Yes, your highness.
Is there no one else?
He was a traitor and father of Ja Hyeon, who caused a turmoil in king's life.
There is no one as qualified as him to take care of the important work.
No one who's willing to take on the hard work either.
If his power becomes stronger,
would he leave him daughter at Jeongubwon?
He should have had her commit suicide for the sake of the family.
Go there.
See if she's quietly praying to the Buddha with her shaved,
or what nonsense she's thinking of in her head.
I think it's time I heard about it.
Understood, Your Majesty.
It's tasty!
How do you know about this fruit, Uncle?
There was a time when I had to live off of these.
Why'd you eat these?
You should eat rice and meat as well.
When you get older, you must remember, Your Highness.
In this world,
there are people who must eat fruits in the mountains because they have no rice or meat.
A king must take care of those people first.
I was expecting to see you here.
- You traitor. - You people are the real traitors.
Rebels who betrayed the king and his people.
The former king was not at the place of his exile.
Isn't this the security I attached to you?
He was a spy for the enemy.
When I was chasing after the people who took the former king,
He blocked my way.
He died so I brought him here.
It looks like you will have to drag out
anyone else among your servants who are communicating with the enemy.
Your Highness!
-Your Highness!
Are you okay?
Are you hurt? Did you get stabbed?
It's not my blood.
Did you go close enough to get their blood on you?!
I'm safe. I'm not hurt anywhere, so don't worry.
We're the ones who fought and we're the ones who got hurt.
They slashed my arm.
My arm also hurts so bad.
I can't see. I can't see!
Why you! I ought to just...
Oh I can see!
I can see. I can see.
I can see.
I think I can understand how Roo Si Gae feels.
Roo Si Gae?
It can't be compared to being together for three years but,
now that I've gone through life and death, joy and sorrow with you,
I feel closer to you.
And it feels as if we are inside each other's hearts.
No thanks.
I don't want to go through this suffering again.
Next time, stay behind like a good girl.
If you follow me one more time, my heart will be as good as gone.
Will we able to protect him well?
Protect them.
You have to protect our family.
Don't let anyone die.
You have to save our bloodline.
He asked me not to let anyone die.
I...
In order to carry out my brother's will,
I have made myself into someone who is
gone from this world.
Everyone thinks I'm dead, don't they?
The day you go into the world again
will become a day of victory that shows
that Truth and Justice always win.
But... even if that day comes, I'll be in pain.
Because the one who has to be punished
is none other than... my brother.
Because we are now destined to fight inside the family
and point swards at our own blood relations.
That has now become our destiny.
Ow it hurts!
Such a crying baby for a big guy.
We found the wrong hiding place, I'm telling you.
If you want to recover your strength after a fight, you have to eat some meat.
We have to recover our health.
But we settled down in a temple where we have to eat greens day and night.
How can our body recover at this rate?
Shall we go hunting outside?
We can eat the game outside the temple.
Don't you know that Prince Jin Yang did the same thing and got blasted by the chief priest?
That's why I said let's eat the game outside the temple.
Didn't you say it hurt?
♫ If I just keep walking ♫
♫ like this endlessly ♫
♫ It feels like I'll be able to see you ♫
♫ So I keep walking ♫
♫ shadows disappear, one, two, three, ♫
♫ As I keep walking, I meet the moon ♫
♫ The weaning and filling up, ♫
♫ how much more do I have to watch it to know? ♫
♫ I don’t think I can do it anymore ♫
♫ no matter what I blame ♫
♫ But wherever I look, it’s only painful roads for me ♫
♫ I just wanna follow this path ♫
♫ to a place no one knows ♫
♫ When I get there, will I call out only then? ♫
You couldn't capture that young child?
That is right, Your Highness.
Rebels enter the place of exile and
fought of the guards and took the former king away.
What did I tell you?
Didn't I say they're the same people?
I am issuing an order to Dongjisa.
Investigate everyone in the court no matter whom,
Find out who's leading the rebels.
And make sure you find the child you lost.
I will obey, Your Highness.
But if you fail again, be ready to leave your public post.
I will definitely catch the rebels and find your peace of mind.
It's a letter from the Governor of Hamgyeong province.
Jurgchens want to send an entourage to congratulate you on your ascension to the throne.
They want to meet me?
Send the (Hayangtongsa) regional representative.
They want to congratulate me, so I should accept it.
Queen mother, let me leave the palace.
I don't know where in the country my Myeong is wandering now.
I don't know if he is alive and safe.
I have to find him myself.
This might be the beginning of hope.
But Myeong has disappeared!
Who would know which bastards took him away?
If they intended to harm him,
they would've done it then and there.
The reason why they took him away from the house of exile
is probably because they wanted to save him.
I will find out who's behind this
by talking to the head of investigation agency.
How did you managed to live, Queen mother?
My blood is running dry like this because I don't know if my son is dead or alive.
You lost His Highness, and you had to send away Prince Eun Seong.
How did you bear it?
I'm already dead
as a mother.
My only remaining son, Kang...
does not bother the former king.
That's my remaining duty to the royal household.
Because of that, I can't die.
And I live.
But, who would've tried to kill my brother?
Every servant who could go against Grand Prince Jin Yang have been killed.
People think you've died, as well, Your Highness.
We never made a move.
But there was another group who is trying to kill Grand Prince JIn Yang,
That can only mean an opposition is brewing in the royal court.
We can think of it backwards.
To make you, Your Highness, a traitor,
he turned our wedding into a blood bath including harming himself.
Then, this time, too...
They were close enough to get their hands on Grand Prince Jin Yang's bow and arrow.
Why wouldn't they have poisoned his food right away?
Only his skin was affected but his life was not in danger.
Who would have benefitted from that situation?
As a result former King was dethroned.
He was sent away on exile.
After that, Grand Prince Yang An ordered the assassination as though he was expecting it.
Right. Grand Prince Yang Ahn.
He was the one who dragged you to the North and entrapped you.
Did hyungnim order it or was he acting independently?
What makes me believe he was not ordered to do it.
The horror that Grand Prince Jin Yang senses is true.
All the people around Grand Prince Jin Yang are not safe.
They are all paranoid thinking someone's after their lives.
Then... let's attack my uncle.
I heard this from my mother once
that it was someone was scheming so that my brother wouldn't have a son for a long time.
My father's queen and concubines endured problems each time any of them were pregnant.
The queen was sent to her home during her pregnancy.
How should we attack Grand Prince Yang Ahn?
We have to let hyungnim know that Grand Prince Yang An is the culprit.
Court lady Hong who's been a spy from the time he was at the private house.
The royal doctor and the nurses who were able to be near him.
And every officer and ministers who are close to Uncle.
We can find evidence by looking into them.
If Grand Prince Yang An is the culprit,
What will Grand Prince Jin Yang be seen as?
He won't stay still about it.
This time, the line was crossed.
Buy sweet toffey.
Buy some rice cakes.
Buy sweet toffey.
I'm from the Royal Investigation Agency.
What's the matter?
I need to ask some questions.
Please come. Escort her.
What are you doing?
Let go!
What is the matter?
Criminals look at the face of the crime.
Here is the witness right here.
Hurry and speak!
If this continues, there won't be anyone left in this palace.
People working at the royal kitchen feel like they are putting their lives on the line with every meal.
And now he's going after the infirmary.
King at least listens to what you have to say.
Please, stop him!
Why is it that if I wear your clothes, my body itches and hurts?
Your majesty, I used exactly same material as what I used
for previous kings to make the clothes.
Then, is it you people? Did you put something on the clothes that were brought over?
No, Your Majesty. This is an unjust accusation.
- This is an unjust accusation, Your Majesty. - We do not know about it.
Your majesty. The reason why you had hives,
was because you've not been eating properly from stress,
and your were malnourished. That is why.
If you eat properly and take tonic reguarly,
you will be able to recover from it naturally.
Try it on.
Prove that my clothes are safe, just as my doctor said!
Y-Your Majesty.
Wearing your clothes is a great crime!
So? You can't wear it?
Your Majesty, Grand Prince Yang An and Chief Royal Secretary is here.
Bring him in.
Let them hear the confessions of the traitors.
Your Majesty.
Please welcome uncle. We had another attempt at my life today.
Now, they have put poison on my clothes and they're trying to kill me!
Everyone, leave.
Uncle, we have to get their confession.
- Leave, I said. - Everyone, leave.
Hurry!
- What's going on? - We've found the culprit that caused his majesty's illness.
Who is it?
Why are you doing this, Uncle?
Your Majesty.
Right now, you are suspicious of a traitor that does not exist.
A traitor that does not exist?
You saw it, too!
You saw those countless attempts on my life.
You are suffering from a
mental illness.
I am responsible for having caused it.
What are you saying?
Get yourself out of here, minister.
Your Majesty, Grand Prince Yang Ahn is the traitor.
A royal guard and the doctor have confessed.
The guard contaminated the arrow and the doctor
falsely claimed that it was poisonous.
Then, that wasn't poison?
Your face was affected because of poison,
but it was not put on to harm you.
- If not, - I needed an excuse to
dethrone the king.
To bring down the innocent former king,
you risked a harm to king's body?
Misguided loyalty can be a treason, your majesty.
I will take him to the investigation agency.
Why did you do it?
It was for you, Your Majesty.
Do I still look like a child who shakes in fear,
and cries over the death of a young maid?
The reason why I got rid of the former king
is to cement your position on the throne,
and to secure your position among the royal line.
I could've done it!
To have wise servants and to bestow grace upon the people,
so as to bring long prosperous future to this country. I could have done that.
Uncle,
do you not believe me, as well?
Just like my mother who doubted me endlessly.
What is the difference?
I wanted to make your path easier.
Uncle,
you have made me into a puppet.
♫ Believing and believing ♫
♫ In a life together ♫
What happened today did not happen.
Your Majesty, even though it is not poison,
to do something like this is a treason.
If the news of this event goes out in anyway,
I will behead those people who were here.
But, Uncle,
you will be relieved of your position as prime minister,
and go back to being a grand prince.
- Your Majesty. - Do you understand?
You are now
unable to leave outside.
Until the day you die, inside your room, your house,
Live as you
long for the monster you made.
♫ Believing and believing ♫
Chief of Royal Guards will take him.
Be careful of Do Jungkook.
I sent him to take care of things and he had our guys killed.
And put a wedge between me and the king.
- Are you sure? - I have no proof but doesn't the result speak for itself?
Is anything suspicious going on at the Chief Scholar's house?
There is a temple her maid goes often.
She doesn't escort a superior or anything, but
suspiciously carry bags of things back and forth.
Where is that temple?
This way.
Thank you all for coming such a long way to see me.
Our chief wanted to congratulate you quickly.
We hurried our way here.
Along with the famous horses and leather we've brought from our land,
along with the special gifts of silk, we give you our greeting.
You are good at speaking our language.
I will not need a translator.
We have to live together,
There are many people on our land who speak Joseon's language.
We will prepare you gifts as well. Please take them to your leader and make him happy.
There is something our leader is waiting for.
We would like you to fulfill the promise you made before you ascended to the throne.
And fulfill the protocol as a sister state to our tribe.
That will ensure our long lasting friendship between us.
We are looking forward to it.
Keep your promise?
Did you come to threaten the king of Joseon?
What do you mean threat?
We are merely asking you to keep your promise.
One can have a different feeling going than coming back but,
When was it when you rose to the throne with our help?
Are you pretending to not remember now?
What in the world are you doing?
What is this?
Deliver this message to your tribal leader.
Since he dared keeping one of our princes a hostage for three years,
it makes sense to punish them but,
we've not taken revenge because
a child king was at the helm.
Now that I'm on the throne,
I am prepared to show our strength,
so if he doesn't keep to etiquett, I along with a large army will pay him a visit.
You cannot, Madame. The lady is hiding right now.
If the whole family like this visits her she will be found out.
Nothing's happened even though you've been coming and going all this time.
I will pretend to be praying to the mother earth and see my daughter's face.
She's fine. She must feel very compatible with the place.
Her face has gotten round and plump.
Let's go.
Young master.
Don't worry. I will be escorting you so nothing will happen.
It's been some amount of time since the person keeping an eye on our household disappeared.
If something happens on my way there, I'll take care of it.
But... Ow!
Madame! Oh, gosh!
Madame, Madame!
Wait a minute, Madame!
Please wait here for now.
To make sure the lady doesn't get shocked, I'll go in and tell her.
You're sure she's in there, right?
She will be at her living quarters.
Madame! Madame!
Wait here.
Hold on. You're caught.
Hey, hey!
Be careful with her. She could get hurt practicing with you.
Have you seen an attacker acting like a practice?
That's that, but...
I'm fine, Your Highness.
Ja Hyeon.
Mother.