(This drama was remade based on historical facts.)
I must find out where this framed treason has begun.
This time, I won't let them get away.
Why does Yi Geum always have to get in my way?
It seems like you're the only one who doesn't know...
what kind of situation you're in right now.
Who decides that?
Why does Yi Geum get to get away with this?
Prince Mil Poong! Get to your senses!
And just find a way to survive...
if you feel so upset about this.
No one saw him leave the palace.
That means he's still inside.
May his soul rest in peace.
But I'm not going to care about that from now on.
Prince Mil Poong killed him.
I need to go to the King's palace right now.
- Prince Mil Poong. - Yi Tan!
What do you think you're doing?
How dare you?
I knew it. I knew you'd come for me.
Do you think I'm going to die all by myself?
I'm going to take you with me.
Prince Mil Poong Yi Tan who manipulated this case...
and caused disorder in the royal court...
will be locked up in a thorn hedge...
and given capital punishment.
You saw Prince Mil Poong that night?
Yoon Young,
I trust that you know what it is that you need to do.
This is not the end for us.
So you're saying there's a blood stain that wasn't there before?
Why is there such a thing at the Royal Infirmary?
Order the Department of Justice...
to gather every single information they can find.
He had enough time to run away.
But he still stayed in the palace.
Why did he do that? What was he trying to do?
Blood? You found a bloodstain here?
Yes.
It was right here.
The Royal Infirmary made a request to have it cleaned up,
so the Office of Maintenance came and cleaned it up a few days ago.
The Royal Infirmary?
(The Royal Infirmary)
No one saw him leave the palace.
That means he's still inside.
Why...
For what?
(The Crown Prince, Yi Geum)
It can't be.
My lady.
How are things at the palace? Did you do what you were asked to do?
Your Majesty. Your Majesty.
Are you okay?
Do you recognize me?
(King Gyeongjong)
Goodness.
Is anyone there?
Call the doctor right now.
Yes, sir.
Your Majesty, you have to drink this.
Come on.
No!
Stop that, Your Highness.
Crown Prince, what are you doing?
- Your Highness. - Get rid of the medicine.
Do not give him any medicine...
from the Royal Infirmary.
Your Majesty, please open your eyes.
I'm here, Your Majesty. It's me, the Crown Prince.
Your Highness, please step back.
You're not allowed to lay your hands on His Majesty like that.
I can't do that!
We don't have time for this!
What are you talking about?
His Majesty is in a very bad condition right now.
It was very inappropriate of you to throw his medicine like that.
Why did you do that? For what reason?
Did you follow Prince Mil Poong's orders and use the medicine?
Before I tell you anything, give me what I was promised first.
I also bet my life on this.
I should check my reward.
Leave me, Chief Justice.
There could be something wrong with His Majesty's medicine.
What do you mean that the medicine is wrong?
On what grounds are you saying that?
I'm not sure.
But on the night Prince Mil Poong was arrested,
he might have gone to the Royal Infirmary.
- Prince Mil Poong? - Do you understand?
That's why we shouldn't let in any medicine...
until everything becomes clear.
Your Majesty.
(Episode 17: A Sorrowful Duty)
(Park Mun Su)
I'm Park Mun Su, an inspector from Saheonbu.
I was called to Crown Prince Palace.
Please come in.
Your Highness.
His Majesty is unconscious?
Why did this suddenly happen?
- Chairman of Congress... - Call the royal physician.
We must find out what happened.
We must find out why the Crown Prince...
stopped His Majesty's medicine.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Are you sure it was human blood?
Yes. I wasn't sure during the night,
but it certainly wasn't animal blood when I checked the next morning.
We can't be sure about this just because of that.
However,
Prince Mil Poong was extremely cornered that night.
If he visited the Royal Infirmary...
Yi Tan purchased deadly poison from the Qing Dynasty.
It's possible that he gave that to the Royal Infirmary.
So you're saying that His Majesty's sudden illness...
could be related to Prince Mil Poong.
He was cornered.
He might have actually used that poison.
That's why you should investigate Prince Mil Poong, Wi Byung Ju,
and Do Ji Gwang again.
There's one more person.
Prince Mil Poong's lover that escaped.
Are you talking about that woman, Cheon Yoon Young?
Yes, she knew everything about Prince Mil Poong.
I'm talking about...
that Cheon Yoon Young who's gone missing.
Where have you been?
Outside. I felt constipated, so I went for some fresh air.
The city is dangerous yet.
- Soldiers are looking for you. - You said you'll protect me.
You said you'll help me.
I'll be honest about that day.
I resented you...
because I thought you ruined everything.
But I realized that I thought only about myself.
"What would've happened if I was with Prince Mil Poong?"
It's good to be alive.
I feel hope.
I'm grateful...
to you.
The Crown Prince has arrived!
I'm sure that everyone heard...
about His Majesty's sudden illness.
Because of that, I have no choice...
but to lead the conference in the Hall of Convenience myself...
until His Majesty's illness gets better.
The most urgent matter now...
is to find the cause of the illness and curing it.
And since the palace is in chaos...
I'm sorry, Your Highness.
But may I say something before you finish?
I heard that His Majesty is in a grave state.
But why aren't the medicines of the Royal Infirmary being used?
I've heard strange rumors...
that say you stopped them...
You're right. I ordered that.
I did that...
because I suspect there could be poison in their medicine.
Poison?
Is he suddenly investigating the Royal Infirmary because of that?
Everyone related to them will be investigated again too.
Fine.
If that's the case, suspecting poison is understandable.
But do you know...
how much of a burden this could be to His Highness?
A burden?
Of course,
I also think that's possible.
However, what if there wasn't any poison?
What would happen after that, Your Highness?
What if there wasn't any poison in his medicine?
I'm saying that we might loose our chance...
to cure him with medicine.
I already called...
all of the doctors in our country.
They'll be able to look into His Majesty's illness.
But we already have the Royal Infirmary.
Why would you bring doctors from outside?
That makes no sense.
There are skilled doctors out there.
There have been many cases of such people helping the palace.
I'm very sorry, Your Highness.
But do you do intend to cure His Majesty's illness?
- What did he just say? - How dare he say that?
Did you just ask me if I intend to cure...
His Majesty's illness?
Is that what you just said?
Chief Justice.
I'm sorry, but that's what I said.
I'm thinking that you might have...
stopped those medicines on purpose.
My suspicions are going that far.
On purpose?
You're saying...
such demeaning words.
It wouldn't be odd if I punished you right here...
for saying such harsh words.
Don't you think so, Chief Justice?
However,
I'll let it slide for now.
I'm sure you said that out of your loyalty for His Majesty.
Just like you,
saving His Majesty is more important...
to me too.
Your Highness.
I think it would be better to listen to Chief Justice Jo Tae Koo.
I've met the royal physician at the Royal Infirmary.
He said that His Majesty...
didn't show any signs of illness lately.
Just like you said,
it looked suspicious as if a poison was used.
But you still insist...
that I should do what the Chief Justice said?
What if you can't prove that poison was used...
and can't reveal the truth about Prince Mil Poong?
And what if we're unable...
to treat His Majesty even through a private doctor...
from outside?
No.
I'm the one who will be blamed.
If that happens, many people will doubt me,
just as Jo Tae Koo does.
But,
I'm not doing this just to prove my good will.
Even if my intentions are distorted,
I couldn't ignore something that might harm the King.
No.
Sometimes, you have to ignore things.
Taking responsibility isn't everything.
You should be able to avoid responsibility too.
That's what a ruler should do, Your Highness.
If you want to be king someday,
you should avoid pitfalls.
Being able to turn a blind eye...
to an obvious fact.
Sometimes,
that can be true responsibility.
Chairman of Congress.
Your Majesty.
Please, you have to get back up.
I don't agree with the Crown Prince's decision.
How can he dismiss the Royal Infirmary right now?
(Queen Inwon, Queen Dowager)
The private doctors are here. Let's trust them and wait.
Trust them? How could I do that?
If His Majesty passes away,
who will be king? It's the Crown Prince.
Queen Seonui.
Do you mean the Crown Prince is doing this intentionally?
Yes. I'd do the same thing.
If I were the Crown Prince.
I said that's enough.
People are hearing us.
Queen Seonui.
Crown Prince.
Don't mind the words of Queen Seonui.
She's shocked and she doesn't know what she's saying.
That's okay.
You don't have to worry about me.
What's important right now...
is the King's health.
If the suspicions about the Royal Infirmary are true,
that won't be all.
Anyone can become your enemy in here.
Go to the Crown Prince Palace and find someone for me.
Find the most trustworthy person who is close to the Crown Prince.
Yes, Your Highness.
I'll meet Dal Moon at Jamojeonga...
and leave for Prince Mil Poong's place of exile.
Master Yoon Hyuk will be going to Wi Byung Ju.
Jang Dal and I will do anything it takes...
to make Do Ji Gwang talk.
You're trustworthy indeed.
I'll be back.
- Yes, sir. - Sure.
- Let's go. - Okay.
Did you say...
Cheon Yoon Young?
Yes. Saheonbu, Hanseongbu, and the police are after her...
but she's nowhere to be found.
I need you to search the back alleys.
They're looking for her...
because of what's going on inside the palace, right?
If the suspicions are justified,
the one who knows the truth of the matter...
will be Cheon Yoon Young.
I trust you. Do me a favor, Dal Moon.
What should we do?
The Crown Prince and Master Mun Su...
don't know how you and Yoon Young are related.
It's good to be alive.
I feel hope.
I'm grateful...
to you.
Get the Royal Infirmary's medical records...
and medicine ingredients.
Yes, sir.
I'm Yoon Deok.
These are the ingredients that were used for the medicine.
Collect all of them.
I will investigate all the nurses too.
Yes, I'll get them ready.
Are these the private doctors you gathered?
Yes.
I chose the best ones.
Since you're the most knowledgeable in this matter,
I asked for such favor.
I'll have a look and recommend...
- the best one to the King. - Yes.
Is it him?
He's the good doctor who treated the late King's smallpox...
and measles.
I'm Dr. Choi Seong Jo.
I heard how famous you are.
Hurry and start the examination.
Yes, Your Highness.
I think it would be better to listen to Chief Justice Jo Tae Koo.
What if you can't prove that poison was used...
and can't reveal the truth about Prince Mil Poong?
And what if we're unable...
to treat His Majesty even through a private doctor from outside?
What's wrong?
Pardon me.
I'll try one more time.
Taking responsibility isn't everything.
You should be able to avoid responsibility too.
That's what a ruler should do, Your Highness.
No. If one has to avoid responsibility,
if that's what the king does,
I'd rather not go that path.
Excuse me, is this Gungmal, the village where...
former court ladies live together?
Yes, it is.
(Gungmal: A village where former court ladies live)
Court Lady Han?
Who is it?
Isn't Cheon Yeo Ji getting trained here to become a court lady?
Can I see her for a moment?
(Private Instructions)
Female Inspector Cheon.
Court Lady Heo.
Enter the palace as court lady?
This soon? How about the procedures?
I'll explain to you when we go in.
We don't have time to lose.
You secretly prepared to become a court lady.
You learned embroidery, the Private Instructions,
and the palace rules so this is more than enough.
That's true but...
If you haven't made the decision yet...
No.
It's not that.
I made up my mind a long time ago.
I'll go and get changed. Give me a moment.
(Queen Palace)
Female Inspector Cheon worked at Saheonbu for a long time...
so she will be of much more help to you and His Majesty...
since I'm just a court lady.
Was it Cheon Yeo Ji?
Yes, it is, Your Highness.
You have noble eyes.
Your eyes are deep and pure.
Living in the palace...
enables you to become a great judge of character.
I can judge by both Court Lady Heo and you...
that the Crown Prince has kept a lot of good people by his side.
- Inscrutable are... - Inscrutable are...
- the Queen Dowager's favors. - the Queen Dowager's favors.
I'd like you to work for me as my court maid.
I can help you...
start working here without having to go through any procedures.
The palace...
is a cold-hearted place that's full of enemies...
who are trying to bring you down at any moment, at anywhere.
I hope you will you do your best to fulfill your desire...
and make sure the Crown Prince stays safe and protected.
I will also do my best to help you in every way I can.
I will do that, Queen Dowager.
I will...
never forget your kind gesture.
Shouldn't we tell the Crown Prince?
No.
Now is not the right time.
Please keep it a secret for now.
You're here.
Your Highness.
We brought all the best doctors from each and every region.
The King is in a critical condition, so please do your best.
Yes, Your Highness.
I want to become a court lady.
That way, I'll be able to enter the palace.
A court lady?
Do you know what that means?
I do.
I...
want...
to protect you.
You still can't become a court lady.
It's a man's job to protect a woman.
I'm sorry...
for disobeying you, Your Highness.
But I'm a female inspector before I'm a woman.
What if I'm a man...
before I'm a Crown Prince?
What?
Fine.
I think this is good too.
I like facing the same wind with you.
This is also...
good enough for me.
The fact that there's something...
I can do for you is more than enough.
No.
Who... Who's there?
Goodness, no!
No!
I can't go! I can't die!
I will not die. I can't die right now.
I can't die. I refuse to die.
No... No.
I can't... No...
I'm sorry.
I can't die. Go away.
How pathetic.
A petty man with no passion.
Who... Who are you?
(Yi In Jwa, Namin)
What should I do?
Should I take this man with me or not?
Wi Byung Ju.
Yoon Hyuk?
Inspector Yoon.
Is it true that His Majesty is in a critical condition?
Is that why you're here?
How do you know that?
I already told you everything.
How many times do I need to repeat myself?
What do you mean there's no antidote?
Do you seriously expect me to believe that?
Tell me the truth!
Forget it if you don't want to believe me.
Prince Mil Poong asked me for poison,
so I gave him the strongest poison I could find...
that has no antidote.
I think...
he's telling the truth.
Then are you saying Prince Mil Poong...
mixed that poison into the King's medicine?
How would I know? All I did was give it to him.
But wait a minute.
If the King is actually about to die,
Prince Mil Poong is probably the one who did it.
What?
Come on, you guys. You can't change anything by doing this.
It's over now.
Jang Dal.
Tell me.
Even if you die here, no one will care.
So just tell me.
You poisoned the medicine, didn't you?
Whom did you ask for help? And what did you mix it with?
Whether dying by poison...
or by the sword...
Do you think I'm afraid?
What?
Hey.
Listen carefully.
(Prince Mil Poong Yi Tan)
It's not because I'm afraid of your sword.
I'm telling you because I'm so excited.
What?
It's a deadly poison that doesn't have an antidote?
Yes, Your Highness.
Do Ji Gwang says we won't be able to do anything...
if Prince Mil Poong used the poison.
The Crown Prince...
knew that I went to the Royal Infirmary, right?
Yi Tan.
Right?
That's why...
he stopped the medicine, right?
How did you know that?
I told him to do that.
I told the Crown Prince to do that.
What?
I couldn't let the Crown Prince take my throne.
I wanted to punish the King for messing me up too.
"What should I do?"
"I can't go down alone like this."
"What should I do?"
At that moment...
"I should use the poison."
That's why I left a trail at the Royal Infirmary.
I made it clear so that everyone knew I was there.
Why?
It was obvious that the Crown Prince would lose his mind.
His suspicions against me would make him...
stop the Royal Infirmary and the medicine.
That would make the Crown Prince kill His Majesty!
I knew all of this.
Stop spewing nonsense.
You're the one who used poison.
You can't frame His Highness with that.
Do you have any evidence?
Do you?
Do you want me to tell you what you once told me?
You love evidence so much.
Where's the evidence that I used...
the poison?
Shut it.
The King will die soon.
That poison...
might have killed him already.
Then the Crown Prince will be known...
as a villain who killed His Majesty.
Could someone like that be able to become a king?
Never.
If I can't have the throne,
Yi Geum can't have it either.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty!
No.
You're just like the Crown Prince.
I knew...
you couldn't be able to do it either.
How is the prescription?
Do you have the prescription for His Majesty?
I'm sorry, Your Highness.
We can't do anything now with the power of mere mortals.
We can't do anything?
The doctors of the Royal Infirmary say the same.
They say there's nothing they can do now.
Are you saying...
that all of these medical textbooks are useless?
There are so many doctors and medical ingredients here.
How can we still not save His Majesty?
Your Highness.
We're not completely hopeless yet.
I know of one last resort that is dangerous...
but worth a try.
"Dangerous but worth a try"?
What is that?
Chief Inspector.
Tell me immediately.
What? You'll use what?
Wolfsbane?
Wolfsbane? Wolfsbane and ginseng?
(Wolfsbane: An extremely toxic plant also used for executions)
Yes, Your Highness.
But isn't wolfsbane...
an extremely toxic plant used for executions?
You're right.
But that strong toxicity...
gets rid of the toxins in the body.
There are confirmed cases of using wolfsbane as a last resort...
on terminal patients...
and saving them.
And you're using ginseng with that wolfsbane...
to lower the toxicity?
Yes, Your Highness.
But wolfsbane...
is too toxic by itself already.
And the medicine for His Majesty contained hellebores.
It could go against ginseng.
Then are you saying that we should do nothing?
Can anyone here...
give another prescription...
besides ginseng and wolfsbane?
Do as we just discussed.
Send His Majesty the medicine.
Your Highness.
If anything goes wrong after using wolfsbane,
it could cause serious trouble...
Can't you hear me?
We have no time to lose. Immediately send the prescription!
Brew the medicine by the prescription.
What?
Ginseng and wolfsbane?
Yes.
They say it's the Crown Prince's last prescription.
- What? - This is ridiculous.
Isn't that an ingredient many doctors have avoided?
If things go wrong...
even by the slightest chance...
This is all my responsibility, Your Highness.
If anything goes wrong,
I'll take responsibility for that.
No.
You're wrong, Teacher.
"Responsibility..."
"is only for those fit for it."
That...
is what His Majesty told me.
I chose to do this.
Just like His Majesty did,
I won't avoid my responsibilities.
I heard that His Majesty is ill.
What should we do if His Majesty ends up being dead?
That's just fate.
We never know what will happen next.
Did you find out? How is the Royal Palace?
Is it good or bad?
I'm an inspector from Saheonbu. I must hurry inside.
Okay, go in.
Inspector Park.
Sir.
Are you returning after seeing Prince Mil Poong's exile?
There's something urgent.
I must inform the Crown Prince about the truth behind this.
What are you talking about?
Wi Byung Ju didn't seem to know about anything.
This is a trap.
Prince Mil Poong...
set it up to get His Majesty and the Crown Prince at once.
It's a trap.
You didn't have anyone follow you, right?
Isn't it obvious?
This is half the amount of what I promised.
It's half of Prince Mil Poong's entire fortune.
Compared to what I've done for you,
you know this means nothing, right?
Everything is being proceeded without any problems, right?
The Crown Prince is doing his best to save the King's life.
But it'll all be useless.
Because there is no antidote for that poison.
Now, I'm finally relieved.
I'd like to have some tea. Do you have a teacup?
Tea?
I brought some chrysanthemum tea.
What do you say? Would you like some as well?
Mun Su.
Your Highness.
What did you just say?
He schemed this to get rid of both me and the King?
He knew what you would do...
once you found out about the poison.
This is exactly what Prince Mil Poong wanted.
- What? - Your Highness.
You must stop everything right now.
I'm sorry to say this,
but there's no way to save the King.
You must at least get yourself out of this mess.
No, I can't do that.
Even if Prince Mil Poong really did that,
I still need to do what I can.
But what if that ends up getting you in trouble as well?
Your Highness.
I also don't want to say this to you.
I don't want to tell you to become a coward.
But I also need to do everything I can...
to protect you.
Mun Su.
Your Highness! Your Highness!
You must get going right now.
Queen Dowager! Queen Dowager!
How's the King doing?
Your Majesty, are you awake?
Can you see me?
Can you hear me?
Crown Prince...
Dal... Dal Moon.
I'm guessing this is the chief nurse's house.
(The chief nurse: The person in charge of all the other nurses)
Yes.
You haven't...
given up on anything.
It was all just pretend.
No, stop. You're already too late.
You can't stop me.
Is this what Prince Mil Poong told you to do?
Did he ask you to poison the King?
What's the use?
Prince Mil Poong is already done for!
Says who?
I haven't ended anything yet.
Bok Dan!
Is anyone outside?
Tell the doctor and Yi Gwang Jwa to come here...
and examine His Majesty's condition. Hurry!
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Majesty.
Please hang in there.
You must stay strong no matter what.
I will save you, Your Majesty.
The King and the Crown Prince are the ones who are done for.
The King will die,
and the Crown Prince will get charged for that.
And I made sure that no one...
will be able to discover the truth.
What?
What are you talking about?
No way...
Bok Dan.
How could you...
My goodness. Ma'am, wake up.
Ma'am!
Crown Prince.
You can...
stop trying so hard.
I don't think...
I'll be able to live.
No.
That's not true.
You opened your eyes.
That means you can live.
Please...
forgive me, Crown Prince.
Forgive me...
for taking your place.
This throne...
was supposed to be yours.
But I ended up taking your place.
Your Majesty, please.
Please don't say that. Don't say anything...
- right now. - And...
I hope...
you will become...
a great king...
who rules the country for all his people.
The king that I failed to become...
and the king that you always dreamed...
of becoming...
No.
Your Majesty.
Brother.
No. No, Your Majesty.
Please open your eyes.
Please.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
Your Highness! Your Highness!
Your Highness! You cannot give him your blood.
It will put your life in danger as well!
Do not stop me. Let me go!
Your Highness. Your Highness...
Please, Your Majesty.
You cannot die like this.
Please stop, Your Highness.
Brother.
- Queen Dowager. - How's the King...
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, no!
No, this can't happen.
Queen Dowager.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
- The King, Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
- The King, Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
The King, Your Majesty.
Crown Prince, Your Highness.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
The King, Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
The King, Your Majesty!
Bow down and mourn.
Prostrate!
Arise.
Brother.
Has everyone agreed?
- Yes. - Yes.
Do you mean the officials of Soron?
Yes.
I think they'll soon be at the Queen Palace.
Sir, have you heard?
The Chief Justice and other Soron officials...
are headed to the Queen Palace right now.
The Queen Palace?
Why is that?
What do you mean, Chief Justice?
I cannot accept this.
The late King passed away because of the Crown Prince's...
stubbornness and greed.
What do you mean stubbornness and greed?
He even fed blood to the King...
and tried to save him until the very last moment.
That's not true.
If only we gave him proper medicine and prescription,
today's tragedy would not have happened.
Queen Dowager.
Queen Dowager, it's the Crown Prince.
It's the Crown Prince.
His Majesty...
passed away...
all because of...
you, Your Highness.
For that reason,
you don't deserve...
to be the king...
of this kingdom.
(Haechi)
Until the new king is enthroned,
we have six days left.
The throne will be empty until then.
You'll no longer be called "Your Highness."
Be a good king, Your Highness.
I don't want to accept your proposal.
Sacrificing the innocent if necessary.
That is also what takes to be the king.
Let us hurry and hold the enthronement ceremony.
How many soldiers can we use...
if we were to cause a commotion in the palace...
to stop the enthronement?
Should I avoid this pain as a human being?
Or should I become the king...
and fight against all this shame?