(Missing Crown Prince)
(All characters, locations, organizations, and incidents...)
(in this drama are historically irrelevant and fictitious.)
(Production guidelines were strictly followed...)
(when filming with children and animals.)
Do you think...
you can deceive me?
You woke up too early.
Sleep some more,
Your Majesty.
He had no choice as I was to become a widow.
Please take pity on my father for his clouded judgment...
- because of me... - "Take pity?"
Will you be able to say that even if your father had murdered someone?
(Episode 11)
Was my father the person...
who poisoned His Majesty?
I did hear the Inspector General was in his bedchambers...
Stop hiding the truth from me. Please just tell me.
Was my father the one who...
Was it my father...
who made His Majesty like that?
Yes.
It was your father who concocted everything.
My lady, where have you been?
I thought something might have happened to you.
Do you know how worried I was?
My lady.
Are you all right?
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager is asking for you.
Please come with me.
I will escort you.
You have grown up to be a beautiful young lady.
We met once when you were little. Do you remember?
No, I am sorry.
Do not be sorry.
You were very young, and we only met briefly.
It is natural that you do not remember.
I will always be right by your side.
So, think of me as your mother.
When and if you face any difficulties,
come to me anytime.
I am much obliged, Your Majesty.
I will take care...
of all the preparations for your wedding ceremony,
so do not worry about anything. Now, go and get some rest.
Both the Queen and Prince Dosung...
are very kind.
So, do not be concerned.
Trust...
your father's choice.
Stop crying.
Why, when such an auspicious event is to be held...
Come closer.
You woke up too early.
Sleep some more,
Your Majesty.
Are you afraid of me?
I understand how you must be feeling,
but today is the last day I can treat you as my daughter,
so stop crying.
Would you please look at me?
There are...
many reasons I am forcing you...
to marry Prince Dosung against your will,
but I cannot explain everything at the moment.
However, if I had not trusted in Prince Dosung and his character,
I would have never forced you to marry him.
I am doing this because I truly cherish you.
Knowing the prince's character,
I am convinced that he will make you happy.
That is why this wedding must happen.
I will not ask you to understand me.
However,
no parent wants to see...
their children unhappy.
(Injeongmun)
(Gwanghwamun)
Kneel.
Bow four times.
Stand up.
Receive the royal order.
(Jeongyeo: A royal command)
Kneel.
How come he is not here yet?
He will come.
He will come. I am sure of it.
Her Majesty said,
"We must reinforce the throne..."
"to strengthen the nation,"
"and no one is more qualified than Prince Dosung to sit on the throne."
"Hence, I announce that he is now officially installed..."
"as the Crown Prince of Joseon."
"You, Prince Dosung, Lee Young,"
"possess many of the outstanding qualifies of the King."
"You were born blessed with many sacred abilities."
"You are good-natured and kind."
"You exhibited the depth of your filial piety..."
"and your love for your siblings from an early age."
"Hence, based on the rules..."
"concerning an investiture and accession,"
"you are now officially invested as the Crown Prince."
"Listen, the daughter of the Choi family."
"You grew up..."
"in a family of loyal vassals."
"You are a chaste lady and a woman of integrity."
You cannot enter.
Open the gate.
You cannot enter.
Let us all go inside!
- Yes! - Yes!
- Come on. - Let us go!
"Hence,"
"I abide by the formal procedures..."
"and officially invest you..."
"with the title of Crown Princess."
Once he accepts the order, it cannot be undone.
How come he is not here yet?
(Jukchaekmun: Order of investiture)
Stop!
- What? - What is that?
I, the Crown Prince of this country, is alive,
and this is His Majesty's seal.
Who dared to forge a royal order...
and organize an investiture ceremony for a new crown prince?
What is going on?
My goodness.
- Gosh. - Oh, dear.
You can be relieved now.
Gun is back.
Get up.
- My gosh. - Oh, boy.
- What is that? - What is he doing?
Goodness.
- What is happening? - What is going on?
This is...
all fake!
Is it not?
Why can you not answer my question?
Is it truly the real royal seal?
So, they have been using a fake one until now?
- Then... - My goodness.
Who forged the royal seal?
Come to your senses, all of you!
Whether or not the royal seal is real,
he is not the Crown Prince.
He is a traitor who tried to assassinate His Majesty.
- He is a traitor! - A traitor?
He is absolutely right.
We must drag him out of here at once.
Guards!
Drag the traitor out at once...
Shut it!
- Your Highness. - Be quiet...
and wait to listen to His Royal Highness' words.
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Highness.
Bring in the criminal!
Is she not the royal taster who was said to be dead?
- What? - I heard she died.
The fact that the royal taster is not dead...
in and of itself is proof...
that His Royal Highness was framed.
Who lied that the royal taster was dead...
and sneaked her out of the palace?
Also, who was the traitor that attempted...
to poison His Majesty? And for what reason?
Why was His Royal Highness framed for the assassination attempt?
We must establish a temporary interrogation office...
and find out everything.
He is absolutely right.
The fact that she is still alive...
serves as evidence that His Royal Highness...
had nothing to do with the attempt to poison His Majesty.
That is correct!
His Royal Highness was framed.
We ought to discuss His Royal Highness' reinstatement right away.
Your Majesty.
We do not know anything for certain yet.
It is too soon to discuss his reinstatement, is it not?
First, we should interrogate her...
and find out exactly what happened.
Yes, I agree.
The Queen Dowager...
seems deeply shocked by this unexpected situation.
Let us all go to the assembly hall and discuss this matter.
Let us go to the assembly hall.
- Come along. - Let us go.
- Let us go. - I cannot believe this.
Gun.
I am truly relieved that you have returned safe and sound.
It must have been difficult...
to protect Father and Mother all by yourself.
Yes. What took you so long?
I...
desperately waited for your return.
I am sorry.
I should let Mother know...
that you are back.
Let me go and get her. Wait just a moment.
It has been a while.
Have you been keeping well?
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Please come with us.
Your Royal Highness, did you see?
Baek Gu... No, I mean,
- the physician was not a servant. - I know.
Pardon me?
When did you find out?
Crown Prince!
Crown Prince.
Mother.
Thank you, all great spirits. Thank you so much.
Thank you for helping the Crown Prince return safely.
Mother.
Are you all right?
Yes, thanks to your concern.
You must have...
suffered a lot because of me.
No, do not worry about me.
I am truly grateful that you have returned safely.
Mother.
Why are you both crying on this happy day?
We should laugh together instead.
How did the Left State Councillor end up siding with the Crown Prince?
There is no way he does not know that the Queen will also...
be put in a pickle if the royal taster spills the truth.
I bet the Crown Prince has the slave register...
of Yoon Yi Kyum's grandmother.
Other than that,
I cannot think of a reason he would side with them.
How much does the royal taster know?
She knows everything.
Your Royal Highness.
Commander of the Royal Guards.
I heard you saved my father's life.
Thank you.
I am much obliged, Your Royal Highness.
Let us go inside.
What is that thing covering Father's face?
The Inspector General made it to treat His Majesty.
- Choi Sang Rok? - Yes, Your Royal Highness.
He started using it when His Majesty was in critical condition.
That was when His Majesty's condition began to improve,
so we could not remove it.
Remove it for a moment.
I must see Father's face.
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Father.
Your foolish son,
Gun, is here.
You can...
hear my voice, right?
Then you ought to scold me.
"What took you so long?"
"Why could you not return sooner?"
You must scold me, Father.
It is almost over.
Please...
hang in there just a little longer, Father.
Reinstate the deposed Crown Prince?
The Queen Dowager has invested Prince Dosung...
with the Crown Prince title.
As you know, the investiture ceremony was never completed.
The Crown Prince whom His Majesty invested with the title himself...
is alive.
He was deposed as Crown Prince for he was convicted of high treason...
for attempting to poison His Majesty,
so why does that even matter?
It has already been revealed that he was framed for it.
We have not even launched an investigation yet.
What has been revealed?
You cannot cover the sky with the palm of your hand.
What did you say?
My lord.
That is enough.
All the talking we do here is useless.
We should inform the Queen Dowager...
that we will start...
interrogating the royal taster at sunrise tomorrow.
Yes, we should do that.
Let us leave now.
Come to your senses.
We have deposed the Crown Prince...
with our own hands.
If the deposed Crown Prince becomes the King,
do you think we will survive? Do you?
The only way we can live...
is to make Prince Dosung the Crown Prince...
one way or another.
Do you understand?
If you want to discuss about Court Lady Yoon,
I have heard enough.
Do not bring it up.
Do you trust the Crown Prince that much?
I do. No matter what,
Gun will protect me and Mother.
Then what about me?
When you joined the palace with Gun,
was there not a promise you made with him?
Do you know why I joined the palace with the Crown Prince?
Last night, the Crown Prince...
came and blackmailed me with your great-great grandmother's...
slave register...
to find Court Lady Yoon.
How did he know about that matter?
The slave register nobody knew about...
could not have appeared out of anywhere.
The one who had the slave register...
and the report made to the Slave Administration Office...
must have been Jang Hyun Mok.
Do you get what I mean?
The Crown Prince you trust so much knew you and Her Highness...
would be put on the spot...
if he exposed our family had a son born...
from a nobleman and a servant.
And yet, he pulled a trick.
It must not have been Gun's intention.
He knew the matter would be buried deep quietly.
- Prince Dosung... - I trust Gun.
Do not try to come in between...
me and Gun anymore.
I am not telling you this to make you stop trusting the Crown Prince.
Do you think I do not know what the Crown Prince's nature is like?
Like I am trying to get rid of the Crown Prince for your sake,
Jang Hyun Mok will try to do anything,
more than the slave register,
to get rid of you for his grandson's sake.
No matter what you say, I trust Gun.
Excuse me first.
Did you catch up with Father?
Yes.
Then we should drink.
Let us stop by one more place.
There are more we must greet, no?
What are you waiting for?
Inform the Crown Prince has come.
I was planning to visit you both.
Coincidentally, you two are together.
Are you refusing to show your manners now?
Neither did you two...
show your manners to Her Majesty.
- What was that? - Let us sit.
Tomorrow morning,
a temporary interrogation office will be established...
to question the criminal.
I believe you will permit it.
After the interrogation, a morning assembly will be held...
to clearly disclose...
those who tried to poison Father...
before the civil and military officials.
If you sincerely atone for your sin...
and return Father to his original healthy state,
I will not hurt your dignity or honour...
as the Queen Dowager.
Refuse to do so,
and your private feelings and adultery...
with this man will be exposed.
You will be...
written in history as the most shameful...
and wicked woman.
Do not dare judge what is right and wrong...
about us and our long years...
with your standard.
Even if you condemn us for our private feelings and adultery,
the fact that our love is sincere...
does not change.
Have you no shame until the end?
Let us see if you can say that,
even when your head is hanging on the street.
It is not over yet.
Despite arresting Court Lady Yoon,
your false charge as the deposed Crown Prince...
will not be cleared.
Can you guarantee Court Lady Yoon will open her mouth?
Say that she does.
Are you confident...
she will not make an issue out of you, Prince Dosung,
or Her Highness?
It seems this is your last desperate move.
But how this fight will end has already been set.
Go ahead and try to do as you please.
I will fight...
with everything I have.
I fully understand your will.
- Gun? - In return,
I promise you this.
Nothing more and nothing less...
than what you have done to us.
As much as you hurt me,
as much as Dosung struggled,
and as much time Father and Mother were in misery,
I will make you pay for them.
Master Moonhyung, Censor,
and the Deputy Education Director are waiting inside.
The Commander came with them.
Understood.
- Let us go inside. - No.
They must be waiting to speak with you.
Go ahead.
There is nothing we cannot talk about before you.
Join me.
You know how much I hate...
having to sit down for long hours.
I will stay the night at the palace and leave tomorrow.
How about we drink later tonight?
All right. I will see you later.
Yes, Gun.
Oh, right.
It is about Lady Myung Yoon.
I was too busy to take care of her.
Say no more.
We are thinking of the same.
Is that so? I see.
I do not know how you think, but...
Do not worry. Head inside.
I will look into Lady Myung Yoon and take care of her.
Right. I leave her to you.
Cheol Du.
Yes?
Search where Lady Myung Yoon is.
It is such a great relief.
As the wedding did not go through,
the marriage is called off. No?
My lady?
What?
Right.
You were thinking of Sir...
No. I mean, His Royal Highness, right?
It is only natural. I cannot believe it myself.
You must have it worse.
Good grief.
To think he was the Crown Prince.
How could this have happened?
I heard a messenger with words of his arrest...
and transfer to prison.
It was a fake messenger.
He was safe.
By the way,
what will happen to Lord Choi?
It has been uncovered that...
he had His Royal Highness kidnapped.
It is all my fault.
Back then,
when you said we had to get rid of Court Lady Yoon as well,
I should not have stopped you.
Do not say such a thing.
I was the one who decided...
to let the royal taster live.
No.
I kept begging,
and you made the decision to ease my mind. That, I know.
- Because of me, you... - Your Majesty.
You must stay strong.
Nothing has happened just yet.
She is right.
Please hang in there a while longer.
I will find a way to stop us from going down.
Even now,
taking out the royal taster seems like our only option.
I doubt that will be as easy anymore.
They would also know that it is our only move.
Firm measures will be taken to prevent her death.
Commander, you are the only person I can trust.
There is no way of knowing what the Queen Dowager will do,
so keep the royal taster safe.
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Master, I must ask. Should the royal taster talk,
His Royal Highness will clear his name.
However, the Queen's Palace...
I mean...
Left State Councillor Yoon is also responsible.
Of course Left State Councillor Yoon should be eliminated.
He framed His Royal Highness.
That leaves us with the Queen.
Showing her mercy will cause an issue.
There should never be an exception...
to those who receive punishment.
Whether it is the Queen or not,
anyone should be held accountable for their actions.
That is not acceptable.
- Your Royal Highness. - That can never happen,
so do not mention it ever again.
Mother had no idea what was going on.
She was tricked and threatened by the Queen Dowager.
However, the Queen's Palace...
is somewhat responsible for framing you.
No, Left State Councillor Yoon was acting on his own.
However, Your Royal Highness...
I clearly said it was out of the question.
Our targets are the Queen Dowager and Choi Sang Rok,
not the Queen.
All indiscretions will be punished by relieving Yoon Yi Kyum...
of his position.
Do you hear me?
- Yes, Your Royal Highness. - Yes, Your Royal Highness.
My lord.
Go on without me.
I have not been able to ask...
since His Royal Highness ordered me to keep quiet.
But...
revealing the Queen Dowager's involvement with Choi Sang Rok...
will save us all this trouble and scheming.
The Queen Dowager...
helped His Majesty take the throne...
by upturning the previous government.
So what do you think will happen...
if she is painted as a wicked witch?
That will hurt the current regime.
Exactly.
His Majesty's legitimacy will come into question.
Rebellious forces are still hunting...
for opportunities to take over the throne.
That is why this regime...
must stay strong.
Of course.
Father.
Gun has safely returned.
You must be thrilled.
Now,
everything will go back to how things were.
Now that Gun is back,
I will go back...
to being the carefree Dosung...
and live my life freely.
I have also had it rough during this ordeal,
so you can cut me some slack.
Whether it is the Queen or not,
anyone should be held accountable for their actions.
- Is the meeting over? - Yes.
Why? Is there something you wish to tell me?
No.
I will head out...
for I must stand guard by the prison cell.
It has been a while.
Never did I expect to see you under these circumstances.
I will cut to the chase...
and get to the point.
If you wish for His Majesty to get well,
turn a blind eye...
to the incident with the royal taster.
Do you even hear yourself?
How dare you bargain with His Majesty's life?
You of all people will know...
what I have opted to do for the sake of the Queen Dowager.
Please consider the matter.
If any harm is inflicted on the Queen Dowager's life,
His Majesty...
will not survive.
Then,
I will excuse myself.
Look here.
My offer will stand the same no matter what you say to me,
so do not bother to persuade me.
I have no intention of doing that.
However, you seem to be confused about something...
which is why I am hoping to correct you.
Do as you wish.
His Majesty that I know of...
will gladly give up his life for the sake of the Crown Prince,
not miserably prolong his life...
as your prisoner and bargaining chip.
However,
should His Majesty lose his life,
you will surely be held accountable for it.
Not just you and the Queen Dowager,
but your daughter will also pay the price.
Do you understand?
If you wish for the Queen Dowager to live,
you will give up the antidote...
this second.
I am afraid...
we are out of options.
But you have the antidote.
With that, you can bargain her life...
They will kill us all even if I hand it over.
I was clearly told that we would not be forgiven...
even if His Majesty dies due to not having the antidote.
Is that truly what the Crown Prince said?
Those are the words of Master Moonhyung.
You know very well of his character.
Even in a new world,
he would never bend.
That leaves me with only one choice.
I must escape the palace with Soo Ryeon.
Can I count on your help?
Is there a way for you to safely leave the palace?
I never made a move for I could not guarantee its success,
but I have thought about this for many years.
Of course.
I hear you.
Soo Ryeon might be against making a move...
due to her concern about my life.
I will try to persuade her in any way I can.
You can also count on me...
to buy time for your escape.
Do not be absurd.
If you stay back, you...
This is not the time to be concerned about my life.
Not when the Queen Dowager's life is currently at risk.
Then, I will put my trust in you and plan the escape.
Of course. I will have her ready and await instructions.
Please send word.
Are you telling me to make a run for it?
Inspector General Choi says...
that this is your only option.
Your Majesty,
it was your lifelong dream...
to reside outside these palace walls.
Inspector General Choi says...
that he is putting into action...
what he has dreamed of for 30 years.
However,
if they catch us escaping...
Your Majesty,
please put your faith in him.
A man who always puts your safety first...
would not have made a reckless decision.
- What about you? - I will soon follow suit.
Who else but I...
could escort and serve you?
You must hurry.
Where is Sang Rok at the moment?
Change into these.
You will be able to blend in with those at the palace.
This is an identity tablet with an access pass to the palace.
Use when necessary.
(Tongbu: A palace access pass, Bushin: Identity tablet)
Listen to everything I say...
and carry out my instructions to the letter.
I am prepared to accept any kind of punishment.
If you allow my daughter...
to safely make it out of the palace...
In exchange,
will you give me the antidote?
Once Myung Yoon is safely on the other side of these walls,
then yes. I will hand it over.
Do you expect me to believe that?
The wedding was interrupted,
but she is already as good as your wife.
Please take pity...
on the poor girl who might suffer in spades...
for the crimes of her father,
and help me this once.
Let me know if anyone wishes to enter.
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
I know it was not an easy day for you,
but it was a long day for me as well.
When I opened my eyes today,
I was determined to return to the palace on this very day.
I do not know if it was the installation ceremony...
or the wedding...
that I wanted to stop.
However, after I set my eyes on you,
I had my answer.
Forgive me.
I should not have said that.
Did you see His Majesty?
I did.
Is he doing better?
Were you aware...
of my father's illness?
I also know that it was my father...
who caused it.
Did Dosung tell you?
I found out...
when I sneaked into his chambers last night.
You entered his chambers?
Why would you do something so reckless?
You would have had to suffer the consequences...
had you been caught.
Considering what my father did,
I should already be punished by the skies.
Why would I care about anything happening to me?
Did it never occur to you...
that I would care?
Let us put out the urgent fire first.
You may have already assumed this,
but once the royal taster talks tomorrow,
another tornado will rip through the entire palace.
That is why you must escape the palace.
I will find a chance to help you escape, so...
Forgive me for saying this,
but I do not intend to leave the palace.
I cannot do that.
What are you talking about?
- If you stay, you will... - I know.
And that is why I cannot leave.
- Lady Myung Yoon... - He is my father...
even if he committed a mortal sin.
How could his daughter leave him behind...
just to save her own life?
Are you telling me to do nothing and watch...
while knowing the hardship you will face?
If I run,
you will have to deal with the repercussions.
How could I run while knowing that?
Repercussions or not, that is for me to bear.
Have you lost your mind? You cannot be here.
But this is an urgent matter.
Your Royal Highness.
I said not to disturb me.
Your Royal Highness,
it seems as though the Inspector General...
has escaped the palace with the Queen Dowager.
It is the second watch of the night.
We must leave.
(Yigyung: Between 9pm and 11pm)
On my own? I cannot do that.
I will wait for the Inspector General.
I received specific instructions to escort you out of the palace...
once the designated time passes.
I said I was not going anywhere.
He chose another rendezvous point in case of an emergency.
Lord Choi will meet us there with Lady Myung Yoon.
What if he cannot make it out?
What then?
That will never happen.
However,
if you do not leave,
Lord Choi will risk his life...
and return to the palace for you.
That is why you must go.
Such insolence!
I am still the Queen Dowager of this country.
Show your respect.
(Missing Crown Prince)
Is this why you tried to kill the Crown Prince?
Should we not discuss who is the legitimate Crown Prince?
I meant what I said...
when I wished you to be unscathed.
You promised me we would grow old...
- in our next life. - Your Majesty!
Jang Hyun Mok will eliminate Prince Dosung.
Court Lady Kim was murdered.
I heard the deposed Crown Prince was behind it.
That is true. I was behind it.