THIS DRAMA IS A FICTIONAL STORY BASED ON HISTORICAL FACTS
SOME ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARACTERS IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS
You crush and trample on what you can't have.
Won't you do the same for the Crown Prince title?
You don't know me at all!
I will not back down until I have what I want.
I will not give up either. That is why
I will not even take a step.
You want me to step down?
A loyal subject would never suggest such a thing.
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
A battlefield for Nam Jeon and Bang-won.
It's time we need it.
Prince Jeongan wishes to see you, Your Majesty.
He came all the way here?
EPISODE 12
Right now,
who am I to you?
Am I still just a subject of yours?
Do you want me to answer that as a father
or a king?
Both.
To a king, you were a sharp knife and a thick shield.
But to a father...
you were just
the fifth born son out of eight.
But do not despair.
There is nothing in the world that does not change.
I loathed you after what happened with Poeun,
but I will be proud of what you will do to Nam Jeon.
Who knows? Maybe your contribution
will make you into a Crown Prince.
It was the same with Poeun.
Poeun must die in Goryeo. "Everyone knows that
but no one is willing to do so."
So it has to be you.
It must be...
you."
I never gave you an order.
It was your choice.
I regret
and resent that decision.
Over and over.
Desperately.
All the blood and tears that will be shed from here on out
will start from you.
So...
Do not regret
or resent it.
You did well.
Cut off the bridge.
Cut off the bridge!
The only path that could lead me to the King is now cut off.
It will never be reconnected.
Now, what will happen to you and me?
My only goal is destroying Nam Jeon.
Apart from reaching that goal,
I have
no other objective.
Listen to my words!
We were all
born separately
and have been living separate lives.
We all come from different social ranks,
and all of us are here for different reasons.
However,
we were all abandoned.
Regardless of how it began and how it will end,
you must survive.
All of you must survive!
That is
my order.
You must survive too.
We'll go to the citadel!
Your Majesty, this is the chief guard.
You may enter.
I had someone tailing Prince Jeongan.
He demolished the bridge after crossing it.
He demolished the bridge?
I heard he had hundreds of private soldiers across the bridge.
That means Nam Jeon isn't his only target.
He wants to turn this country upside down.
I will return to the palace immediately.
Yes, Your Majesty.
The sound of the pipe must travel faster than horses do.
Look at me crawling like this.
Pick up the pace!
We must arrive at the palace before the day breaks.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Pick up the pace!
Halt.
They broke the bridge to lock in His Majesty.
He's not just after your father.
It's a revolt.
What will you do now?
Both of them must die while fighting.
If one side overpowers the other completely,
we won't be able to handle it.
Everything from the checkpoint to the beacon mound is blocked.
All routes from the palace to the outside world have been cut off.
Is that so?
Then watch carefully from now on.
See how I crush you to pieces.
When a war begins, you first disturb your enemy's messenger system.
Those scoundrels
want to start a war.
I must go and tell Sambong.
Sambong?
Is he the King?
I devised the plan, so I will execute it myself.
Issue a royal order
for the princes.
Tell them to come to the palace now as His Majesty is critically ill.
Are you going to fake a royal order?
Are you sure you can handle the consequences?
The Crown Prince is supposed to act as regent during the King's absence.
And it is the Fifth Royal Secretary's job to deliver the Crown Prince's orders,
so how could you call it fake?
Mobilize your elite unit.
I will greet the princes myself.
Father is sick...
To me, it feels like walking into a tiger's den.
What about you?
Tonight, I will slay
Sambong and Nam Jeon.
Well, this is exciting.
So, who else is going to die tonight?
- The Crown Prince? - It could be you.
So tonight,
make sure not to show your back to me,
or try to stab me in mine.
I will kill you.
You and me.
We were born from the same mother. We're brothers.
Trust me.
I trust you,
so you trust me.
Are you coming?
We're looking for justification that
Nam Jeon tried to Kill Prince Jeongan first.
If we gather our men and attack them, we will be giving them one instead.
Gosh, you and your justification.
The basics of fighting is to attack first
and the basics of war is a sneak attack.
I will guard the Sajeong gate and meet you at Sunhwabang later.
Give me your flag.
I will fight with you.
I accept.
Did you issue a royal order to summon the princes?
I will kill them the moment they enter the palace.
You gave them the cause to revolt.
I cannot revoke an order that has already been issued.
My lord.
You haven't even begun, but you already lost.
Were you going to fight me with such a weak mind?
Don't tell me to revoke the order. Go and fight.
Slay them all,
and then slay me as well.
After all, wasn't that what you wanted?
From now on,
don't do anything.
All orders will come from me.
If you disobey my orders,
I will slay you.
Are you all right, my lord?
Assemble as many palace guards as possible.
Half of them will escort Sambong and the Chief Scholar
all the way to Chwiwoldang.
That will be our last retreat.
The other half
shall assemble in front of Sajeong Gate.
Will you dispatch them out of the palace?
If Bang-won won't enter the palace,
we will leave the palace to kill him.
You are the most capable palace guards.
If I order you to slay someone, just do it.
Tonight,
you may slay anyone regardless of their ranks.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
All gates at the palace
are guarded by palace guards with torches at all times.
But today, there is no one here.
I'm not sure what to do.
If we don't enter, we'll be accused of being disobedient sons
and get framed for treason,
but I have a bad feeling about going in.
As they say, elders first.
In times of turbulence,
the strongest one rules regardless of age.
I'll call you my big brother.
We must ask Your Highness to disarm yourself prior to entering.
I can't keep my sword when you all have yours?
That is the law.
What if I refuse?
We will slay Your Highness.
Who will slay whom?
You will
slay me?
Yes, we will slay Your Highness.
You wish.
Now, they can obviously tell that I was here.
Well, I'll be in Sunhwabang.
Are you here to stop me?
No, I am here to greet you.
Please enter.
Are you afraid?
Who isn't afraid of swords?
We're all just pretending not to be afraid.
Both you
and I.
Hey, Park Chi-do.
You said that the Black Snake Unit has never lost.
That is correct.
You also said
that some members of the elite unit belong to Black Snake.
Unsheathe your swords.
You should not ascend the throne.
You will kill and abandon countless people.
If a king is afraid of sacrificing his subjects,
the people
will suffer instead.
You will desert Hwi in the end.
How are you different from my father?
I never
desert my people.
Close the gate!
Relay this to your father.
Nam Jeon,
Sambong, and the meritorious subjects
issued a fake royal order
and summoned the princes to the palace to assassinate them.
Hence, I, Prince Jeongan,
will kill all you wicked traitors
to punish you for what you did!
Since Bang-won obeyed the royal order,
we can't refute that he did his duty as a loyal subject.
And because he came to see his ill father despite the risk of being assassinated,
we also can't refute that he did his filial duty.
Now, we've become traitors,
and he's been given ammunition to seize the throne.
Sir, this is all we can do.
I'll go and take care of the guards around Sunhwabang
and join Hwi.
All right.
The palace guards are assembling at Sajeong Gate.
He decided to dispatch the troops after all.
Bang-won is on his way to Sunhwabang.
Before they mobilize more of their soldiers,
we must kill them all!
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
THE KING IS RETURNING TO THE PALACE
His Majesty is returning to the palace?
They are taking a detour as the bridge is demolished.
They will take about four hours.
Keep spying on them.
We should tell Hwi.
I'll do it.
Ihwaru will no longer be involved.
From now on, I'll consider it a personal matter.
So I'll tell him.
The gate is still shut.
Will it ever open?
It will. I promise.
Why? Will something bad happen if it doesn't?
Come on. Nothing will happen.
We'll just call it a day and go have some rice wine.
With my dear Hwa-wol.
"One glass of wine for you and one for me."
Who says you can do that?
His Majesty is returning to the palace.
Only His Majesty can mobilize the Consolidated Army Command.
If you fail to get it done before he returns,
you will be the one who suffers.
From now on, don't deliver letters like this
yourself.
Still,
I'm happy I got to see you.
Goodbye.
I promise you
I will return.
I'll wait for you.
I feel so much better now.
Why the heck did you come here? What were you thinking?
It's a key for my safe.
If I die, go ahead and open it.
I left you a note inside, so just follow the instructions.
What an ominous remark.
Why would you die?
I figured now is my only chance to tell you.
You're crazy about money. What's gotten into you?
What are you talking about?
I'm crazy about you.
I'll see you in the morning.
I'll make doenjangguk with napa cabbage.
Wait.
Tell everyone to vacate Ihwaru at once.
Only you and I will stay.
Yes, Madame Han.
You guys should go to Sunhwabang.
What about here?
I will stop them.
What the heck are you talking about?
How will you fight the palace guards without us?
I'm the head of the support squad.
Why are you ordering us to leave?
Hwi.
Do you look down on me?
Do you think I'm a joke because I goof around all the time?
Do you think I'm here because of Bang-won?
I'm here because of you.
Because of you, moron!
Since losing Yeon like that...
I want to make sure you're okay.
I want to make sure you can live.
Go and protect the prince. That is what you should do.
Whatever. You keep talking bullshit.
Hey!
Let's go together.
To Sunhwabang.
The palace guards aren't coming,
and that palace gate is completely sealed off.
It won't even budge.
At this rate, we'll all be executed for treason when the day breaks.
Shut your mouth, you stupid mantis.
Some are lounging around in Sunhwabang
when all of us here will probably die at this rate.
Don't you think it's so unfair?
The guards and the head of the support squad must protect the prince.
That's why
we want to protect the prince too.
Let's go to Sunhwabang!
These punks...
It's an order. Do you understand?
My order
is the prince's order.
If you disobey me, I will slay you first.
Back to your ambush positions.
Damn it.
Identify yourself.
Come closer.
Closer.
We'll just run over him.
Send the archers.
Why bring in the archers when we can't even tell who's who?
Hurry!
Hey!
Do you know why I've been helping Bang-won?
To shred you to pieces!
Watch out!
Hey, Beom!
- Mun-bok! - Mun-bok!
Gosh...
Mun-bok!
Mun-bok, are you all right? Why did you do that?
Take Mun-bok to Sunhwabang.
What about you?
I'll stay here to help the injured. Hurry!
Take care.
Mun-bok, let's go.
Mun-bok. Mun-bok! It will be all right.
Mun-bok.
What do we do now?
We're going to Chwiwoldang.
Halt!
Mun-bok.
Hang in there.
There are physicians
in Sunhwabang.
Pull yourself together.
Why do you keep lying down?
Mun-bok!
You can't die.
How many layers does this breastplate have?
Three.
You rascal...
Are you crying?
You silly punk.
You...
Hey, Jeong Beom. Stop it.
My gosh. Hey.
Jeong Beom! Hey!
Madame Han.
His Majesty is nearing Gaegyeong.
I thought he was going to take four more hours. How...
He took the shortcut across Mount Bukak.
You should go to the Consolidated Army Command as soon as we get there.
Tell them to assemble all the troops in and around Gaegyeong
and capture Bang-won.
Those who disobey the royal command
shall be beheaded.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Once His Majesty moves the Consolidated Army Command, all will come to nothing.
- We have to stop it. - It's dangerous.
If we don't make it through tonight,
Ihwaru will be wiped out anyway.
I'm not going to just sit back and wait to die.
Madame Han.
Is there
any other choice?
I don't see any.
His Majesty is returning to the palace.
We have to hang in there until then.
We're in Gaegyeong, Your Majesty.
Hurry.
Back away.
Your Majesty, shall we make a detour?
It will take a long way.
We should rather wait until it's burnt out.
Who dares to block my way?
Make sure to find out who it is.
Yes, Your Majesty.
That fire
will save Prince Jeongan.
- Where's Lord Nam? - He's with Lord Sambong and Lord Sim.
How many soldiers do we have?
About 20.
What about the archers?
We have eight.
Have them on the roofs of the main building and the servant's rooms.
Don't leave any guards outside and vacate the front yard.
The spearmen should hide behind trees
and the swordsmen behind the building.
Paint and darken the blades to conceal them.
We have four hours left before dawn.
If we make it through until His Majesty returns,
it will show us the way to live.
Your Highness.
In Nam Jeon's villa, Chwiwoldang,
Nam Jeon, Jeong Do-jeon, and Sim Hyo-saeng are gathered.
Is it the palace or Chwiwoldang?
Do we kill the Crown Prince first?
- or... - We shall wait.
His Majesty is on his way back to the palace.
We are all doomed when the sun comes up.
You have to make a choice.
Hwi is guarding against the main force.
If he breaks down,
it will attack our tail.
If you hesitate like that, we will be destroyed.
We can only win this fight with Hwi.
He's not that important.
Why must you be so stubborn?
Besides, who knows?
He may have run away.
No, let it go.
He will come. I'm sure of it.
Hwi...
I am sorry I am late, Your Highness.
Take charge of the Consolidated Army Command and Deliberative Council.
Go to Chwiwoldang with your soldiers and hit them.
Nam Jeon is there.
What will our watchword be?
Our watchword shall be...
sanseong.
Who's there?
Those who are armed,
will be slayed
regardless of their ranks.
From this moment on,
the Consolidated Army Command is under my command.
All soldiers will lay down their weapons.
Your weapons will be confiscated.
If you disobey my order,
you will be punished by death.
- Tae-ryeong. - Yes, Your Highness.
Relay my order to the Ministry of Rites immediately.
All the officials of this nation will be summoned before me.
Those who do not attend
will be slaughtered without any exceptions.
All the blood shed under my orders
will be on my hands and my hands only.
So answer me.
Who dares to
stand against me?
Surround the building.
Enter.
Sambong,
how about a drink?
Sure.
Bring us our drinks.
Make way.
This is the end of your path.
You mustn't even take a step forward.
You cannot be the end of my path.
I will go through you.
My father
must not die by your sword.
Not as a loyal servant who was sacrificed in a revolt.
He must die while being resented and cursed upon.
My curse upon him is more than enough.
I will kill your father and take my life here,
so continue along on the path carved by my blood.
Your blood on top of all the sins I already have to pay for?
Must you be so cruel?
I think we are
finished.
I know you. Park Chi-do, leader of the Black Snake Unit.
I know that you will die soon.
It must be my time to die.
Maybe I should greet death myself.
My lord!
Well,
take care.
Your sword
still feels affectionate.
Fine.
I admit it.
My world?
Yes, you crushed it.
However,
I am the beginning and the end of my world.
So finish me.
It won't end until you do.
It's true that I never expected any form of apology.
Still, how can you be so proud of your actions?
How?
I dreamed of a nation ruled by the subjects. That's all.
And that dream
wasn't one that needed anyone's permission.
It was solely mine to fantasize.
That is why
I am proud of it.
What are you waiting for?
Did you expect me to beg for mercy?
Maybe...
I should lie and ask for forgiveness that I don't need.
Do it.
It's best not to torture yourself forever
for killing a friend's father.
It's how I lived
after killing Poeun.
The guilt is unbearable.
Where are Sambong and Sim Hyo-saeng?
You did well.
You did...
more than enough.
Stay by his side.
- And the King? - He has returned to Gaegyeong.
We will ride to the palace.
It's over now.
Let's go, Hwi.
Hwi,
we should go.
He won't die. He'll survive that wound.
Hwi.
Let's go.
Your Royal Majesty, His Majesty is on his way to Sajeong Gate.
We're saved then. We should go to him.
Your Royal Majesty, there was a fire in Songhyeon
and blood was shed everywhere tonight.
It is too dangerous to leave.
I should be by His Majesty's side. No one would dare hurt him.
Your Royal Majesty, please.
I'm leaving, and no one shall stop me.
Your Royal Majesty!
Your Royal Majesty,
it's too dangerous outside.
Why are you so slow? Let's get going!
Pick up the pace. Run!
Crown Prince...
Open your eyes.
Why are you
lying down on this cold ground?
Why are you so cold?
Crown Prince...
Was it your doing?
You killed him.
Me?
I killed him?
Because of your greed,
because you tried to protect your throne so badly,
you made your children fight each other
and you enjoyed watching it.
And this is the result.
You...
killed...
Bang-seok.
You are not a human.
If you are,
how could you kill your own brother?
You will die...
a lonely death...
amidst the hatred of everyone.
We did what we had to do.
You got your revenge
and I started a revolution.
I want to see smiles.
I want to see you smile and Hui-jae too.
And...
Whatever it takes I will take everything from you.
I will make sure you regret not killing me.
Regret is just an excuse
for the weak.
A man should not be in one's debt.
You should pay him back for what you got.
Use Bang-gan to take down Bang-won.
His Majesty has moved his army.
The chief guard left the palace
when the king is still inside?
It's the king's revenge.
He must have sent them to others as well.