Byung-Yeon.
Arrest them now!
No-one, no-one move!
Jeoha's safety takes priority.
Hurry, make way!
No.
It may be a struggle,
but I want to figure out White Cloud, and what wall
keeps me from the people.
It may be on the wall's other side.
Mm?
The nation you wish to create.
Is that it?
I hope I can see it, Jeoha.
Then I'll need your help.
Please...
forgive me.
Byung-Yeon.
White Cloud's hopes
aren't different from your dream.
Your nation over that wall...
I really want to see it.
Don't withdraw your sword!
The moment you do... I'll lose you.
Jeoha.
Don't withdraw it.
It's an Order.
I cannot...
obey your Order.
Sorry, Jeoha.
No...
No! No...
Stop!
Byung-Yeon!
Move aside.
J-Jeonha.
Take Jeonha inside!
I said, step aside!
Byung-Yeon.
Don't forget.
If I could
trust only one person in this world,
it would still...
be you.
For...
trusting me...
thank you. (INFORMAL)
Byung-Yeon...
Byung-Yeon.
(In the last moment, may I be only a friend)
May we be nothing but friends in my final moment.
Halt.
Why are you exiting the Palace so late?
Open the gate.
It's a Royal Order to move the criminal.
Uh, Chief Han.
Alright.
Open the gate.
They're rebels! Close the gate!
Get them!
Hurry, go!
Hurry.
What are you doing? Come!
I'll buy you time.
Master Han.
Hurry. Get him away.
- Sorry. - Wait...
We must go now.
Wait. A moment, that's all.
A moment.
See here. I'm his old friend.
Let me take his body?
- No. - Wait.
Come on.
Kim Byung-Yeon.
[ Chapter 17: An End for a Beginning ]
( 1 MONTH LATER )
Jeoha, did you cough?
Jeoha.
Did you cough?
Jeoha, have you woken?
Jeo-
Jeoha.
You couldn't have coughed
since you're not here,
let alone the library.
It's fine.
I'll take the scolding
so don't worry.
Time to get scolded.
Isn't it your first time here?
Is it?
I get drunk
so I can't remember.
Visit more often.
I'll consider it.
Did Seja skip Court again?
He last disobeyed your Order to execute the criminal.
Now he's taking his Regency lightly.
Jeonha, those Appeals
are from Confucian Scholars
to dethrone him.
I said I won't address that.
You must.
Seja poses a danger to the state, Jeonha.
Seja isn't the one who endangered the state.
You linked him with White Cloud
without proof.
When you dislike his plans, you incite the Scholars
to derogate him.
That's why I'm saying this.
Jeonha.
Seja lost all credibility.
He visits gibangs more often than the Court.
Don't complicate politics.
Dethrone Seja.
Appointing a new Seja is only right.
- Please reconsider. - Please reconsider.
Please reconsider.
Please return, Naeuri.
He's so cold.
See here.
Look at me.
Is the Prince growing well?
Yes, of course.
He's healthier by the day.
Yes, he should be.
To become Seja, he must be healthy.
That's a great virtue.
What?
Father, what did you say?
Why are you shocked?
Dongungjeon will soon need a new master
so be ready.
Really?
Yes.
It will be done soon.
Yes.
Yes, Father.
It regards
a new baby sneaked out.
What if the baby is alive?
Will the story change?
Mama, it's I, Eunuch Sung.
Enter.
Byung-Yeon.
I'm here.
When will you
reply to me?
Is Byung-Yeon okay?
His injuries are healing.
He must need rest.
He lived a tiring life.
He's preparing to face you.
Ra-On sent no word?
No.
You're disappointed?
No.
Thanks to you,
I'm busy playing... "catch the tail".
I'm monitoring Kim activities,
land documents, money deals, people.
I see.
However,
the hunt isn't over if you catch the tail.
They may lop the tail to flee,
so be careful.
Yes, I'll heed that.
I'm ready.
Prepare to fill
a big hole coming to the Court.
You investigated?
Well, it's...
Oh my.
Tell me the truth.
Mama.
Master Kim Yoon-Sung was likely truthful.
What?
That child
is really alive?
Yes.
I saw a baby in gisaengs' care.
Dethronement isn't unhappy.
Many dethroned princes lived enjoyably.
It may be a better life than kingship.
It sounds enticing
but one thing stops me.
That's you, Premier Kim.
With you in government, I can't leave.
Grandpa.
Were you followed?
No. I checked;
no-one did.
Good.
You endured a lot.
Mother gave me news.
Is Kim hyung truly here?
He's really alive?
He's still unconscious, but is recovering.
What a relief.
Such a relief.
Follow me.
Kim hyung.
It's me, Sam-Nom.
You won't wake for me?
After years undercover,
you'd be tired.
So you're resting?
Autumn will pass by!
Wake before all the leaves fall.
Kim hyung.
At first snowfall, how's the Palace look?
Snow in Jahyeondang's courtyard
and on its low roof
must be beautiful.
It's pretty.
Very.
Kim hyung.
You're awake?
Annoying punk.
You still yabber.
Kim hyung.
That hurt...
Kim hyung.
~ will moonlight through clouds reflect my heart? ~
~ I hide at the foot of a faded wall ~
~ nameless wild flowers are beside me ~
Okay!
The richest in heart is me.
I, Hong Sam-Nom, give you
this bit of affection.
Do you know Seja's nickname?
Oh heck.
What? Flower Prince?
Prince Poop.
See? Everyone knows.
Heck!
You just laughed?
I thought he lacked facial expressions.
You're disappointed
it's me?
No.
I was slightly surprised.
In truth, I nursed hurt feelings lately.
Over the wedding?
I found out who it is
you love.
I'm Sejabin in a deal.
Now if I want more,
it'd be absurd.
So, I'll play my role.
I can't console you as she did,
but I will assist you
to protect your position.
I'm the one who'll be with you
till the end.
Why'd you call me?
You don't know?
Seja will be dethroned.
Will you stop interfering with me and my son?
Mama.
No, Aunt.
I kept the truth quiet
because we're kin,
though I hate to admit it.
Don't you want to see her once.
Jeonha's child
you abandoned for power.
Shut up.
Confess on your own.
That's my last courtesy to you.
Jeoha, don't delay longer.
Hurry to the Royal Office.
Wait a while.
Jeoha.
Master Jung Deok-Ho came to see you.
So, how'd it go?
He was caught leaving the city.
We confirmed he had gathered the assassins.
It's enough.
Let's go.
He hasn't repented his misbehaviour
but visits gibangs
and even gambles.
He's failing his duties
and dishonouring royalty.
It must be stopped.
Jeonha, Jeoha is here.
Let him in.
Seja.
You left the Palace again?
Yes, Jeonha.
Where'd you go?
As reported,
gibangs and gambling dens.
A good ruler listens to the people.
I can hear nothing from inside the Palace.
So, I spent nights with the people
and heard worries and advice.
Are those people gisaengs and gamblers?
Correct.
Why? Is that wrong?
Jeonha.
This can't be allowed.
Ministers and state Officials
request Seja's dethroning.
Jeonha, dethrone Seja and exile him.
Please consider it.
I see your concerns.
But, before I go,
I'll share stories I heard at gibangs and gambling dens.
Will you listen?
- Good food. - Come again.
Are you so thin since Mother couldn't help...
Mother? Watch your mouth.
Forgive me, Mama.
Where's the baby?
What baby?
The baby the gisaengs took in.
Why do you seek her?
Could it be...
No...
It isn't true?
Where is she?
Earlier,
someone from the Palace took her away.
From the Palace?
Seja, what are you doing?
Jeonha, grant me time.
Go ahead.
See if any faces are familiar.
But...
why are their eyes closed?
Well...
why do you think?
Because they're all dead.
They were killed to silence them.
Though the dead don't speak,
I was surprised how much evidence they left.
I traced the Dongungjeon assailants,
and found who gathered them,
paid them and gave them orders.
It was White Cloud.
Let's see.
Enter.
Did anyone here hire you to gather assassins?
Yes, Jeoha.
Point him out.
It's them.
Who sent money and farm deeds to those men?
We confirmed it was Minister Kim Eui Gyo.
These are his secret ledgers.
Goodness.
This is absurd.
Tell us.
Who told you to blame White Cloud?
Ministers Kim Eui Gyo, Kim Geun Gyo.
I sinned, Jeoha!
Ministers!
Did Seja speak truth?!
Jeonha.
How can you trust gisaengs and gamblers' stories?
It's a set-up.
You still deny it?
- Uigeumbu Chief. - Yea.
Imprison those two in Uigeumbu
and interrogate them.
Yes, Jeoha.
Jeonha, I'm wronged!
Let go! Not letting go?
I've been framed.
Jeonha, I'm innocent.
Jeonha!
Let go! Let go!
Unjust!
The hunt doesn't end if I catch the tail?
How do I stop him escaping by cutting off the tail?
It's hard to catch a big tiger.
Cut off its right arm, then its left.
Until you cut off its head,
never drop your guard.
I've another thing to show you, Premier Kim.
It's a Court lady secretly killed recently.
She gave birth just before she died.
But the baby is missing.
What's the hidden story?
Aren't you curious about this woman?
So pretty!
Peek-a-boo!
Oh there, there.
Oh my...
There, there.
Peek-a-boo!
Earlier,
someone from the Palace took the child away.
- Seja brought a child? - Yes.
He said he's obliged to care for her.
A maid minds her.
She's so cute, I asked to borrow her.
I see.
Look.
Isn't she pretty?
It still hurts?
Yes, Jeoha.
You slept so long.
I couldn't face you.
You protected me and my beloved.
Above all...
thank you for coming back.
She...
comes here sometimes
to visit me.
When I prepare everything,
I'll bring her to my side.
She can laugh and chat with me and be happy as before.
I'm nearly there.
Then, shall us three
go to Jahyeondang
and have a drink?
Pardon?
Why's that baby King's heir?
He has no Yi blood.
What nonsense.
Don't insult the Royals.
The big insult is fouling the Royal bloodline.
The baby I birthed is the King's son.
Sure. All the Palace believes it.
So nobody suspects,
put in more effort.
Father.
If you fail, it's death.
Premier Kim.
Please sit.
Would you survive?
Are you threatening me?
I have no choice, given your character.
My life is in your hands.
You made a lowly girl like me be Queen.
Don't you know your life
is mine for that reason?
How'd you make me Queen, gisaeng raised,
never knowing your face?
Is there any bigger insult to Joseon's Royal bloodline?!
Shut...
your mouth.
Next time you threaten me,
you better brace yourself.
As a child, I envied you.
However talented I was,
I'd only be your vassal.
I know.
Thus,
I was longing for a friend.
However close we all seemed to be...
We'd always bow to you.
Is that why
we ended up this way?
You,
Byung-Yeon
and me.
Why must we fight each other?
My grandfather and my being Kim heir
made me want to run away.
You mightn't believe me.
I do.
Many times, I wanted to leave my position.
I will do what I must.
Do what is right.
However,
I am worried
I might hurt you.
I too worry-
I may want to save my family.
So,
whatever happens,
we needn't be sorry-
not you, or me.
We knew our roles.
( 8 YEARS AGO )
You saw him?
Yes, I scrutinised Seja.
And so?
His face has Royal charisma.
But still,
there's one thing...
What?
Don't hesitate; tell me.
Well,
he's fated to die young.
And one of his friends
has a special energy.
Yoon-Sung.
Grandfather.
Good natured and strong spirited,
he has a good king's true face.
His headgear has cranes....
If we're to end the Yi Dynasty,
we need a proper ruler.
Did you call me?
Jeoha, Bingung-Mama is here.
Let her in.
Why you here late?
Jeoha.
The Royal Physician made you a tonic,
but you refused it.
Please drink it.
- Bingung. - Please...
help me fulfil my duties.
Jeoha, wait, don't drink!
Jeoha.
- Jeoha! - Jeoha.
Jeoha! Jeoha!
Goodness, Jeoha.
Jeoha!
~ I miss you, miss you so much, the one I can never forget ~
~ my tears, my heart, call for you ~
~ I love you, love you so much...~