(Missing Crown Prince)
(SUHO)
(Hong Ye Ji)
(Myung Se Bin)
(Kim Ju Hun)
(Kim Min Kyu)
(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.)
Are you hurt?
No.
I am all right.
(Episode 15)
- Dosung. - I protect my people.
- Why are you being like this? - To keep my people safe,
I must become Crown Prince.
- Let go. - Come with me.
Let go of her hand.
Did you not hear me? I protect my people.
Do you not see this blood?
We should examine her wound first.
Step away.
I cannot do that.
Oh Wol.
My lady.
- Are you all right? - My lady.
- My lady. - Come here.
Lie down.
My lady, this blood...
Oh, no.
Is it a serious injury?
No, it is nothing serious.
Hurry up and lie down.
Whose fault is it that she got hurt?
Lower your voice.
As you know, Lady Myung Yoon...
will be put in a more precarious situation if someone hears you.
Her wound might be pretty deep.
Let us get her treated first.
I will get her treated.
You need to stop your maternal grandfather.
What do you mean?
Your maternal grandfather...
sent the assassins to kill Lady Myung Yoon.
The Commander of the Royal Guards confessed everything already.
You may check and confirm it yourself.
The method you chose...
was wrong.
You could not protect anyone in the end.
Not Father, Mother, or Lady Myung Yoon.
However,
I will become Crown Prince and protect everyone whom I cherish.
You said yourself...
that you were not attached to the Crown Prince title, did you not?
If you truly meant it,
step down now.
In life,
there are moments when you ought to do things you do not want to do.
Are you saying you need the Crown Prince title...
even if it will hurt everyone around you?
Just be honest with me.
Are you doing this to punish Choi Sang Rok?
Or is it because...
you cannot give up on Lady Myung Yoon?
Are you all right?
Yes, it is just a graze.
Come with me.
I will get you treated in my chamber...
- and take you home. - I...
will not go anywhere.
I came here to treat His Majesty,
so until His Majesty regains his health,
I will not leave the palace.
No, it is too dangerous.
If you get caught,
even your father or the Queen Dowager cannot protect you.
Do you truly not know that?
None of it matters at all if His Majesty...
can regain his consciousness.
Why are you so reckless?
Gun, you are just as reckless.
Why would you let her risk her life for something that will not happen?
How could you be sure that it would not happen without even trying?
Even the royal physicians could not do it.
Anyone would agree that it is impossible,
so I cannot let her sacrifice herself for it too.
Do you think I care for Lady Myung Yoon...
less than you do?
As long as I am alive,
she will never be sacrificed.
Keep that in mind and return to your chambers.
I refuse.
Please give me some time.
I will do everything in my power to treat His Majesty.
If I fail to treat him, I will give up and leave.
Leave the palace before sunrise.
If you do not leave the palace until the morning comes,
I will...
let your father know myself.
Thank goodness you only suffered a minor injury.
I apologize for causing you concern.
I am sorry you had to experience such a terrible incident.
No, do not be sorry.
I must have become slow...
for I have been neglecting my training.
Did my grandfather send them...
Yes, that is correct.
Your grandfather...
probably could not accept the fact that Choi Sang Rok's daughter...
was by Your Royal Highness' side.
I completely understand, so let us stop talking about it.
Dosung said...
he would forgive your father once he became Crown Prince.
Were you not hurt when I said I was against it?
Yes.
I was hurt.
I suppose you have your reason,
but you will not tell me, and it hurts my feelings.
If Dosung becomes Crown Prince,
the Left State Councilor...
will assassinate my father.
Only then can he put Dosung on the throne.
Is that so?
He can join forces with the Queen Dowager...
and give Dosung the Crown Prince title,
Dosung cannot ascend the throne...
until my father passes away.
You said...
you told my father and the Queen Dowager as well.
How come you have not told Prince Dosung yet?
I could not tell him.
"Your maternal grandfather..."
"will kill my father to make you King."
How could I say that to him?
Right, I understand.
But the more you try to hide it,
the deeper the misunderstandings will become.
What can I do?
Rather than leaving Dosung forever scarred,
I would prefer...
to be remembered as a bad brother for my peace of mind.
You must...
truly cherish Prince Dosung.
He is my one and only brother.
I envy him for having a brother like you.
I did not ask you to kill her.
All you had to do was carry her out of the palace.
Why did you have to bring your sword and cause all this?
You fools.
I apologize, my lord.
My lord. It is I, Gap Seok.
You may go now.
You may come in.
His Royal Highness is asking for you.
No, Your Royal Highness.
I swear, I had no intention of killing her.
It is simply unacceptable that Choi Sang Rok's daughter...
is allowed to stay by Your Royal Highness' side,
so I was trying to make her leave the palace...
Whether you tried to kill her or kick her out,
you broke your promise when you gave me your word...
that you would never go against my wishes again...
behind my back.
I apologize, Your Royal Highness.
However,
please understand that I cannot neglect my duty...
as your loyal vassal.
How is it your duty...
to kill an innocent woman?
Your Royal Highness.
Choi Sang Rok's daughter is not innocent.
Did you not hear why Lady Myung Yoon decided to come to the palace?
To treat His Majesty? Do you truly believe that?
Do you really think Choi Sang Rok's daughter...
would do something that goes against her father's wishes?
Yes.
I trust her.
She is the daughter of your sworn enemy...
who tried to assassinate His Majesty and got you deposed...
by framing you for the assassination attempt.
Do not let them deceive you.
Letting yourself develop feelings for such a woman...
is an unfilial and disloyal act. Never forget that.
Stop.
That is enough.
Your Royal Highness,
you will go on to become the King of Joseon.
Do not let a mere woman...
That woman will bring Father back to consciousness.
I understand you wish to believe that.
However, that will not happen.
I will not look idly on this issue involving the traitor's daughter...
who is trying to deceive Your Royal Highness.
What will you do if I insist on keeping her by my side?
- Your Royal Highness. - Answer my question.
I asked you what you would do.
To protect Your Royal Highness,
I will kick her out ten thousand times if I must.
And you would take her life if you must?
If I must get blood on my hands...
to guide you to the right path...
Yes.
I will gladly do so.
Grandfather.
I did not know that you were just like the Left State Councilor.
Your Royal Highness.
You are saying you would kill Lady Myung Yoon to protect me,
and the Left State Councilor would assassinate my father for Dosung.
How are you any different from him?
Your Royal Highness.
How could you make such a preposterous remark?
- I was simply... - Please return to Mungyeong.
- Your Royal Highness. - I will figure out what to do,
so do not do anything for me.
Please do nothing.
Do not tell me again to forgive my father.
No one...
can forgive their father when he is the one...
who killed their mother.
When did you get here?
I heard Myung Yoon was here.
It is all my fault.
I should have held back...
no matter how much I missed you.
Because we met again here,
all of this happened.
Do not beat yourself up.
Even if it had not happened that day,
it would have happened eventually.
You know that I came here running...
for I missed you so much too.
Sang Rok.
I understand you must feel tormented now,
but we are almost there.
Stay strong and hang in there just a little longer.
- Let go. - Come with me.
Let go of her hand.
I ask you to please...
call off the wedding.
Once he clears his name and is officially reinstated,
you...
will not have to marry me.
Do you think I care for Lady Myung Yoon less...
than you do?
As long as I am alive, she will never be sacrificed.
Keep that in mind and return to your chambers.
I made copies...
of my father's most recent journals and ledger.
I went through everything...
but could not find anything about the antidote.
It must be in the book I saw...
in the Queen Dowager's Palace.
Where is Myung Yoon? Is everything okay?
She is visiting the temple.
She said to give you this letter when you got home.
I suppose she has managed to appease her anger toward me,
seeing how she left me this letter.
It seems like she will stay there for a few days.
You should go and stay with Myung Yoon.
Would you not feel uneasy if I were not here?
It looks like I will have to stay in the Royal Infirmary for a while.
So do not worry about me. Go and stay with her.
What brings you by at this hour?
I am here to offer my morning greetings.
"Morning greetings?"
What has gotten into you?
A few days ago,
I saw Prince Gwangchang in my dream.
It kept bothering me, so I looked into it and learned...
that you never got to hold a proper memorial ceremony for him.
I know it is late,
but I believe it is only right that we hold a memorial ceremony for him,
so I have told those at Jeongeopwon to prepare for it.
(Jeongeopwon: A Buddhist nunnery)
Would you please attend the ceremony?
This is too sudden.
Right, I understand.
However,
what happened to Prince Gwangchang...
has nothing to do with the other things going on now.
It is about the Royal House.
I should have taken care of it sooner.
I am sorry that it took me this long.
Please think about it...
and let me know whether or not you would be there.
Well...
I will be off, then.
Get ready to go to Jeongeopwon.
I suggest you consult Inspector General Choi first.
Have you forgotten what happened at Botaam Hermitage?
It is Gwangchang's memorial ceremony.
Do not stop me.
What are you doing?
Where is Lady Myung Yoon?
No.
Where are you hiding her?
She is in a safe place, so do not worry.
They are determined to have her killed.
If she stays in the palace, they will find her and kill her.
They were not trying to kill her.
To make her leave the palace...
Why pull a sword on a woman if they had no intention of killing her?
It makes no sense!
If you are truly concerned about Lady Myung Yoon,
tell me where you are hiding her.
Tell me at once.
Forget it.
I will find her.
I will search every corner of the palace and find her at all costs.
Just wait and see.
Dosung.
I searched everywhere but could not find her.
Search every corner of the palace to find her!
Find her at all costs!
Yes, Your Highness.
Prince Dosung has ordered Cheol Du to find Lady Myung Yoon.
What should we do now?
Your Royal Highness.
Bring Cheol Du to me.
Goodness.
What is this?
Why did you call me here?
It is about Lady Myung Yoon.
Shall I tell you where she is?
- You truly know where she is? - Yes.
Where is she?
My gosh. Gap Seok, you really are...
Goodness. Oh, boy.
We did not know where to keep him, so we brought him here.
I will take good care of him.
He may act up when he wakes up,
so I should stay here too.
Oh, my.
You must have been very surprised.
Lady Myung Yoon can be a little aggressive at times,
but she does not do that to everyone,
so do not worry too much.
- Yes, ma'am. - Please speak casually to me.
We will see each other often from now on.
Why would you see him?
Lady Myung Yoon and the Crown Prince...
love each other. So of course, I will see him often.
This place will be Lady Myung Yoon's home in the future.
That will not happen, so do not even dream of it.
Why not?
You do not need to know.
Anyway, I heard this was where the Queen lived.
May we stay here?
The Queen's court maids are also confined at the moment.
No one will come here, so it is safe for the time being.
Just be careful when the royal guards are patrolling the area.
I see. Will do.
My gosh. You explained everything in such a kind manner,
while someone is busy picking on me.
Gosh, I cannot help but compare you two.
You are comparing me to him?
The Queen Dowager notified me that she would be attending...
the memorial ceremony.
That is good news.
I will sneak out the book at all costs.
Must you do it yourself?
How about we send Gap Seok?
He is a man,
so he cannot enter the Queen Dowager's Palace.
More importantly, I know where the book is,
so I can find it right away.
Thank you for your concern,
but please trust me, Your Royal Highness.
You must be careful.
All right?
Yes, I will be careful.
Cheol Du!
Cheol Du is with me.
I found a letter in this book.
A letter between my father and his spy.
Do you know who the spy is?
I do not know the details...
for I only read the first bit as my father suddenly entered,
but I believe it is one of Prince Dosung's closest aides.
Are you saying Cheol Du is working for Choi Sang Rok?
Just be honest and say that you wish...
to cut off my limbs!
It is possible that it is not Cheol Du.
However, if what Lady Myung Yoon read is true,
and if the spy is one of your closest aides, Cheol Du may be...
I know Cheol Du very well.
He may be ignorant, but he would never betray me.
I, too, never even imagined that Sang Soo...
could stab me.
And I never imagined that you would do this.
I...
When my grandfather was attacked...
and even when they locked up my mother,
I still trusted you.
I must not become Crown Prince by getting you ousted,
so I did everything in my power...
to avoid becoming Crown Prince, but you...
were opposed to me becoming Crown Prince even when I said...
I would protect Mother and save Lady Myung Yoon.
Just admit it.
Admit that you wish to keep the Crown Prince title.
Just admit that you want her all to yourself...
even if she was mine!
Shut your mouth!
How dare you run your mouth like that when you know nothing?
What is it that I do not know?
If there is something I do not know, you can tell me now!
Forget it. I do not even wish to know.
Hand over Cheol Du at once.
Once Father regains his consciousness,
and we punish the Queen Dowager and Choi Sang Rok,
I will voluntarily ask Father...
to relieve me from my post.
Do you truly think...
that Father will accept that request?
For now, you can criticize me all you want. I will put up with it.
However,
I will make sure...
Father regains his consciousness with Lady Myung Yoon's help.
I will not forgive...
anyone who gets in my way,
even if it is you.
I will release Cheol Du as soon as this situation is sorted out.
This time, I will not let you have your way.
Do you think I will give up?
Wait and see. I will be sure...
to marry Lady Myung Yoon and make her my Crown Princess.
(Prince Gwangchang)
Someone is in the Queen Dowager's chamber.
His Royal Highness sent these plants for the Queen Dowager.
Wipe them thoroughly.
(Five)
Oh, no.
(Five)
You did it.
Well done.
Do not get me started.
I was so scared when Court Lady Kim showed up suddenly.
It nearly made me jump out of my skin.
You must have been so anxious, Oh Wol.
I have had to lie from time to time because of Lady Myung Yoon,
but I have never stolen anything before,
so I got scared to death,
- but then I came back to life. - Watch your mouth!
You are before His Royal Highness.
Gap Seok. Check if that man...
is alive and well.
Understood.
We must hurry before they realize the book has been swapped.
Is what we need truly in this book?
Yes.
It has the medicines needed for the antidote...
and how to make poison from the poison-feather bird.
However,
the amount of each medicine needed to be used is not written on it.
Hence, the mixing ratio for the antidote is unknown.
As you make them with all possible ratios you can think of...
What is it?
Is it too reckless?
No, that is not the case.
To confirm if the ratio is correct...
and if the antidote is effective,
it must be tested.
We cannot possibly test it on His Majesty, can we?
Gap Seok.
Go and bring Court Lady Oh.
Head inside.
We need to borrow your rat.
I was informed of the situation on my way here.
I can get as many rats as needed.
Do not worry.
Thank you.
(Two)
(One)
(Two)
(One, Two)
(Three)
(Four)
All the rats that were brought are dead.
I will go and catch more rats.
That is not necessary.
You are to catch them.
Pardon?
Am I to do it alone?
I am going to travel in disguise.
What?
I have already talked with the Royal Guard Commander.
For Lady Myung Yoon to enter and leave the King's Palace,
the Head Eunuch must also be brought to our side. No?
Should you not have gone with him?
What if something happens to him while he is alone?
If I do not guard the Crown Prince's Palace,
people will easily find out...
His Royal Highness is not here.
I have no other choice.
Putting the others aside,
what if Prince Dosung comes by?
That is why you must impersonate His Royal Highness well.
Goodness.
Copy me.
I want to be alone. Please leave.
"I want to be alone. Please leave."
Really?
- I want to be alone. - "I want to be alone."
- Please leave. - "Please leave."
"I want to be alone. Please leave."
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Have everyone leave except for you.
I will become the Crown Prince.
And...
I will marry Lady Myung Yoon.
Why did you suddenly have a change of heart?
Is that important right now?
The fact that...
I have made up my mind is important, no?
But that mind of yours changes ever so often,
which is why I am asking.
Does that mean you cannot trust me?
Correct.
I cannot trust you.
Before you prove that you will not betray us again,
I, too, cannot trust you.
Prince Susung has already made...
preparations to mobilize the military to be on the safe side.
The moment he sends notice,
the Head of the Guards and Training General...
will order their men.
Is that not enough?
Your quarters' Court Maid Sun Ok.
She is...
Prince Susung's spy.
(Ganja: A person investigating in secret...)
(and providing it to the competition)
Have I proven myself now?
If so,
release Mother...
from confinement first.
- Your Highness! - Oh, dear.
Please return.
You do know Her Highness cannot meet anyone...
during confinement.
Move at once.
- Prince Dosung! - Mother.
Please go back inside, Your Highness.
I am scared someone might witness this scene.
Wait a little longer.
You will soon be released.
Despite knowing you are simply comforting me,
I feel grateful and reassured...
by those words.
The words I said were not to comfort you.
- I was promised... - "Promised?"
Prince Dosung.
Do not tell me you made a deal with them.
I...
will become the Crown Prince.
No! You must not become one at any cost!
Mother.
Why are you against it?
What is the reason I must not become the Crown Prince?
I hate the idea.
I do not want you to become the Crown Prince for my sake.
Nor do I want to see you brothers fight over the position.
I hate it all.
It is not for you.
I want to become the Crown Prince out of my own will.
You know His Majesty wishes...
your brother to become the King.
That does not matter.
To rescue and protect you, Mother,
I will become the Crown Prince.
Prince Dosung...
If you can make Dosung ascend the throne...
No. If you can become the King's grandfather...
and take power over the sovereign,
you will not care even if your daughter becomes a widow,
and you will hurt my father without feeling an ounce of guilt.
No.
Do not do it, Young.
Your Highness.
Please calm down, Your Highness.
I must stop him.
Prince Dosung must not become the Crown Prince.
You cannot.
Please calm down, Your Highness.
Where is Father?
You made the right decision.
But is something bothering you?
Actually, Mother...
was adamantly against me becoming the Crown Prince.
Is there a reason I am not aware of?
Just thinking about the Queen Dowager...
and Choi Sang Rok must make her blood boil,
so why would she...
be thrilled...
about you joining their side and becoming the Crown Prince?
She has suffered at their hands,
so her opposition is understandable.
Also, she could be concerned...
about Prince Susung's safety.
I am also concerned for my brother's safety.
That is why...
I need you to promise that you will not harm him...
after I become Crown Prince.
I will promise it and then some.
I promise...
to leave him unharmed.
That is right.
Will you truly...
let Prince Susung live?
Do not be ridiculous.
Of course he will be killed.
Are you sure the Head Eunuch's family is here?
Yes.
In exchange...
for the rights to the freighter, Lord Choi had the ringleader...
keep them confined.
(Jowoonseon: A boat used to carry shipment)
Anyway, why are you here in person?
If your identity is revealed,
that will put Lady Myung Yoon in danger.
If your master gets wind of what we are doing,
you will need me to salvage the situation.
Anyway, I appreciate you telling me.
Just be good to Lady Myung Yoon.
If you...
betray or abandon her,
- I will... - You will what?
Come for my neck?
I should be good to her since I do not want that.
Greetings, my lord.
There he is.
I think I found it.
Legitimate transactions are recorded in these ledgers.
What is that?
It is a gakpil.
(Gakpil: A sharp writing supply made from bamboo, horn, or ivory)
Identify yourselves.
Get them.
Who are you people?
Knowing who I am will shock you.
Your Royal Highness.
I hear you have taken the Head Eunuch's family.
Answer me.
The transaction of smuggled goods...
were written with a gakpil.
Should it be the Police Bureau or the Department of Justice?
Since you deal in smuggling,
the Department of Justice it is.
I will bring the family to you.
Do not just sit there and bring them here.
- Yes, master. - Yes, master.
All you have to do is keep quiet.
Then,
I will turn a blind eye...
to the smuggling and tax evasion.
I am honored by your generosity, Your Royal Highness.
If you are that grateful, grant me a favor.
Do you also...
handle medicinal herbs?
Apart from Sun Ok, you are all dismissed.
No one is to approach this room.
Yes, Court Lady Kim.
It seems as though His Majesty will soon be back on his feet.
But that is not what we want.
You could poison him some more.
If I administer more poison,
he might never regain consciousness.
Are you saying he will never regain consciousness...
or that he will pass away?
He will pass away.
Let us poison him again.
Have you lost your mind?
In broad daylight? Someone could see you!
I must talk to His Royal Highness this instant.
Did something happen?
Go back to the Queen Dowager's palace.
When will His Royal Highness be back?
He said he would make haste,
but I cannot guarantee when he will return.
Maybe we should wait for him...
No, if we sit on this information...
and something happens to His Majesty,
we will regret it for the rest of our lives.
I, at least, should make a move.
Let us join you.
You should not vacate the palace as well.
Until His Royal Highness returns,
keep a close eye...
on their movements.
The soldiers are on standby.
Once the Training General takes charge...
of the Royal Commandery Division and the Border Defense Council,
I will seize control of the Three Internal Offices...
and open the palace gate.
We must...
quickly make our move...
before they are able to defend themselves.
Do not worry, my lord.
Do not forget...
that His Majesty's life...
and the fate of the royal family depend on your actions.
- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.
Goodness me.
I see it was all an elaborate scheme.
They are traitors who have been plotting treason.
(Tachogyeongsa: A way to make enemies reveal themselves)
Arrest them all!
- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.
Get searching.
- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.
I have found the list of names...
that proves their act of treason.
(Sabaltongmun: A list of names written in the shape of a bowl...)
(that conceals the name of the mastermind)
Take these traitors and lock them up...
at the Department of Justice.
- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.
What will happen...
to Master Moonhyung?
As if I would know.
Could he...
Could he be told to drink poison?
As if I would know!
Your Royal Highness.
What is with the ruckus at this hour?
Your Royal Highness, we are in big trouble.
Now that we have the sabaltongmun,
not even the great Jang Hyun Mok...
will be able to weasel his way out of it.
Of course.
However,
I doubt Prince Susung will sit idly by...
when his grandfather could lose his life.
What can he do about it?
Sun Ok...
They must know about her.
Sorry? I do not follow.
They used Sun Ok...
to bait us.
Are we making progress on the antidote?
Why will it not move?
My lady, this one must have also died.
Are you making progress?
I see that you are back.
The right blend seems to be crucial.
May I see the book?
Give me light.
What is that?
It is a gakpil.
(Copper, pine nuts...)
One thousand pil of silk from Ming...
among other things.
Come over here.
Do you see it?
Pardon?
Look closely.
(3 hob of arrowroot flour and 3 cups of water)
Your Royal Highness, I see it!
My lady!
It is a letter from your father. Go ahead and read it.
(Have you been well?)
Your family has been relocated to a safe place.
Your Royal Highness...
Prince Susung...
is currently with His Majesty.
Should I announce you?
Prince Dosung is here.
Let him enter.
Please enter.
Let him enter.
He just left.
Your Royal Highness.
His Majesty...
Father.
Can you see me?
Father.
It is your son, Gun.
Do you...
recognize me?
Father?
(Missing Crown Prince)
Inspector General Choi is almost at the King's quarters.
Just by checking his pulse,
my father will know that His Majesty is in recovery.
Please spare my grandfather's life.
You of all people know that he is innocent.
Rather than Prince Susung who is affiliated with a scandal,
Prince Dosung is more suitable as Crown Prince.
Therefore, Prince Dosung will be installed as such.
For that reason, Prince Susung will be dismissed from the palace.
They did not commit treason, but...