THIS DRAMA IS A FICTIONAL STORY BASED ON HISTORICAL FACTS
SOME ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARACTERS IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS
EPISODE 13
You...
will never be King.
Why can't the fifth son be the King
when the mere eighth son tries to become the crown prince?
Could you go as far as to killing His Majesty?
Listen to my words while you can still breathe.
I will get the Crown Prince under my thumb
and make sure to become the real power behind the throne.
That means Nam Jeon isn't his only target.
He wants to turn this country upside down.
Your Highness' country. The country of the abandoned.
I wished to see it with you.
You wish to see my kingdom?
A battlefield for Nam Jeon and Bang-won.
It's time we need it.
You just watch it
in your grave.
Watch who will be
the King.
Bang-won lives and dies for justification.
I desperately live
to live.
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.
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.
I should be by His Majesty's side.
No one would dare hurt him.
Your Royal Majesty, it is too dangerous to leave.
Your Royal Majesty.
You killed him.
It was not my doing.
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.
If you are human,
how could you kill your own brother?
You will die...
a lonely death...
amidst the hatred of everyone.
Look at you weeping so sadly here,
as if you want others to see it.
Even I was almost fooled.
I suppose the people will cry with you.
And as for me,
I will be criticized for my heinous act once again.
You sure never let me down.
What do you even know
about what it feels like for a father to lose his child?
Right, I know nothing.
However, I do know that your tears are insincere.
You speak about sincerity even when it comes to tears.
There is only one occasion
when you'd cry sincere tears.
I know
when that is.
When?
When you lose
your kingdom.
That day, I will be sure to witness it with my own two eyes.
You breaking down in tears and looking much more devastated
than a father who just lost his child.
Do not run away.
And do not say that you weren't expecting it.
I had to kill my brother
to take my father down.
I don't know what I've done.
Too many people have died
or gotten injured just for me to get my revenge.
It was no one's fault.
We did what we had to do.
You got your revenge,
and I started a revolution.
For what?
For whom?
I am standing
for I must endure
and get through this.
Hence,
you must rise again.
For yourself
as well as
for me.
I am exhausted.
I wish to rest now.
He's been taking medication more toxic than the poison itself
to stop it from spreading.
I have no idea how he endured the pain of his intestines rotting away.
I heard you blocked His Majesty's way.
Thanks to you, we could buy some time.
I will reward you separately for your contribution.
Please reward me now.
Please...
let Hwi go now.
Has he ever been mine?
Do not get attached.
Our emotions
can't be controlled.
The hunt has begun.
Don't even step out. The moment you step out,
you'll die.
Just leave me alone.
It's all over now.
So you should leave too.
Go back to where you came from.
A warrior may be abandoned by his master,
but he never deserts his master first.
So you'd better survive.
Stop whining.
Mother.
You will now be officially called the former Queen
instead of your posthumous title.
It's incredible news, isn't it?
But the thing is,
how much more blood must I douse myself with
in order to create the world I am dreaming of?
I...
can't even fathom.
Mother.
My son
killed another son of mine.
Then as a father,
must I get back at my own son
for killing my child?
Or...
do nothing but wail
like a beast that has lost its cub?
Where is Bang-beon?
He's been arrested.
It was a long night.
Now,
I shall tend to matters that need to be looked after during the daytime.
Now that Bang-seok is dead,
Bang-beon must be your next target.
I am sorry to admit it, but yes.
You must stop.
Then try and stop me.
Killing my own brother is considered a heinous act,
and killing a meritorious subject is also considered a grave crime.
So why hesitate?
Here.
Shoot.
I will die with a smile on my face.
What is making Your Majesty hesitate? Shoot me now!
You have turned
into a monster.
All I did
was trying to survive.
You wanted to make this throne yours.
Thus, you came up with excuses and ways to justify it
and finally caused a bloodbath.
Am I not allowed...
to covet the throne?
A king
must embrace and protect those who are weaker than him
and let go of those who are stronger than him.
However,
you desert those who are weaker than you
and destroy those who are stronger just to control them.
That is why you mustn't be King.
I cannot let you take the throne
for I do not see anything else but bloodlust in you.
The bloodshed
will begin at the palace and take the lives of disloyal subjects,
only to stop right before the people.
That blood will strengthen the King's power,
which, in turn, will help the people enjoy more comfortable lives.
That blood
should have been yours.
Bang-gwa should be
installed as the new Crown Prince.
You must step down as soon as he is installed as the Crown Prince
and just be...
the former king.
In your royal order,
you must admit your fault for violating the rules of primogeniture
and choosing your young son of a concubine
and state that Sambong and Nam Jeon instigated you to make such a decision.
Your Majesty's kingdom
no longer...
exists.
You are wrong.
This kingdom...
is still mine.
TRAITOR NAM JEON
He'll cause trouble if we spare his life.
From now on, we must be selective about whom we will kill.
So let's wait and see.
Do you remember?
"Do not let anyone oppress you.
That's the only way you won't collapse."
"Don't let anyone intimidate you even if they're stronger than you.
Only then can you hold out."
I remember, of course.
Your father told me that.
He saved me from Ganggae.
Thanks to him, I could survive.
And I've been able to hold out all these years thanks to his words.
Why are you telling me this just now?
I didn't want you to think
that I like you because I feel indebted to your father.
It's all you.
I mean it.
From now on,
don't get hurt or sick.
Let's live like that.
It's where
Seon-ho is.
I figured you'd be worried.
You lived like you were on top of the world.
Now you're dead, you own one mere span of ground.
It serves you right.
It...
serves you right.
You did well.
You did...
more than enough.
I did well?
I did more than enough?
Are you sure?
Let go.
What do you want from me?
This is what you wanted.
Do you want to see me wrecked? Will that make you feel better?
Why...
Why can't I even freely kill myself?
Why?
Now, I'm sick and tired of seeing you and thinking about you.
So go away.
Please.
Live.
That's one last favor I ask you.
To me, every day was like a battle and the pit of hell.
All the mockery and contempt.
I barely managed to make it here after enduring all that.
My country is already dead!
So who cares about immorality and conspiracy?
Did you have a lucky dream last night?
I think you'll live.
Mun-bok.
Hold on.
Hey.
What's going on?
You should take a look at him.
Oh, my. There's a hole.
You fool.
You're the one who should be lying down.
It's fine.
Take care of that guy first.
Stay still. Let me look.
I'm sorry, Jeong Beom.
I'm sorry, everyone.
This is all my fault.
Hey.
Once I acquired my position,
I realized why you risked your life to fight
after becoming a lieutenant.
You were trying to save every possible life.
You didn't want to see us dead,
so you tried so hard.
You're that kind of man.
You don't need to apologize.
Stay still.
It hurts, doesn't it?
It pains me too.
We should send them off.
May your soul rest in peace.
Gosh, I thought we might have to spend the whole night burning those.
There are so many.
Of course there are many. Hundreds of people died.
May all your souls rest in peace.
I'm so sick and tired of this.
Until when do I have to see this?
I can't believe this. Did you get only one bottle of this?
Live up to your big belly, punk.
If you're so bold, let me see what you took.
You want a piece of me?
Calm down.
You guys are funny.
When you quit being a soldier, will you teach children?
Yes, I will.
I wonder what you will teach to children.
How to live as a virgin?
No.
He will teach them how to fly over the clouds.
I will teach them how to survive.
I have only been teaching how to kill.
Because I thought
killing others was the only way to survive.
But now I know.
Killing...
kills me too.
What is he saying?
I don't know. It sounds difficult.
I can hear you.
Chi-do, here's what I'm going to do.
I'm going to make a medicine that makes your hair grow.
I'm going to make that.
And I'm going to sell that to the Japanese and the Chinese.
I don't know what I should do with all the money I will earn.
Who would pay you for that?
You're losing hair too. Here.
Come on.
What about you, Hwi?
I don't want to see anyone getting hurt or sick anymore.
I want to see smiles.
I want to see you smile
and Hui-jae too.
And...
I envy Bang-won.
The world is afraid of him even when he just raises his eyebrow.
No one can stop him when he enters the palace with his sword.
That's the life.
I'm jealous.
Sir.
Can you do something about your hair?
You're not a shaggy dog.
I was born an outcast,
so I can't put my hair up in a topknot before having a child.
Until when do I have to be a spy?
As much as possible.
I'll end up dead.
I'll let you have a topknot before you die.
So, why are you here?
I found
Nam Seon-ho.
Now, it's my time to start moving.
If Bang-won can stir up this world, so can I.
Let's go grab a weapon.
Hey, Inspector Nam.
Goodness.
Your handsome face has become so thin now.
So, did your father's funeral go well?
You leaving after I have just sat down will only embarrass me.
What do you want?
What's life anyway?
Isn't it about those lonely keeping each other company?
That's why I wanted to offer you my help.
In what way?
Your revenge.
Bang-won slayed your father which makes him your enemy.
A man should not be in one's debt.
You should pay him back for what you got.
If I get back out there this time,
no one will be able to handle me,
so fight to the death yourselves for all I care.
How formidable.
You just charmed my socks off.
The son of a traitor
dares to live.
Come on. Let's go and cash him in.
Former associate commander, Cho Sa-ui.
Senior second rank of the Department of State Affairs, Lee Yeom.
Lord Wanseong, Lee Baek-yu.
Senior fourth rank of the Ministry of Personnel, Lee Jo.
Lock them up in the military prison.
Nam Seon-ho.
Let him go.
You slayed two of Sambong's children
and sent his eldest son to war after beating him,
so why are you letting me go?
Thanks to you provoking the King,
my revolution became a success,
so call it a reward.
A revolution?
Killing your own brothers to be King
is a sin, not a revolution.
Discriminating against illegitimate children
is a deep-rooted evil, not a revolution.
The fact that I discriminate against them is what saved your life.
You are not Nam Jeon's son, just an illegitimate offspring.
It's why you're not even worth killing.
Bang-won!
Live.
Live...
and watch with your two eyes how I build my own nation.
That's all you can possibly do now
in my world.
You're right.
My world is over,
but...
whatever it takes I will take everything from you.
I will make sure you regret not killing me.
Regret?
Regret...
is...
just an excuse for the weak.
I will come back...
for your neck.
He even owns the palace guards?
All that's left are the 50 men under my command.
I need a weapon.
Shall I summon Nam Seon-ho?
No, his sword is already broken.
I'm done with him.
If you're willing to start over,
I have a plan.
At the Northeastern Township,
Jurchen members of Gabyeolcho still remain.
They have disbanded,
but they're still as brutal and sharp.
How do I get them on my side?
Jurchens follow the command
of their deputy chief once the chief dies.
And if they both die?
They will surrender.
You slay the chief,
I'll kill its deputy.
Bang-won slayed your father which makes him your enemy.
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.
To the Northeastern Township we go.
Prince Muan, Bang-beon,
was slayed while in exile.
Should we take care of the rest too?
Before this night is over,
kill them.
Transportation, beacon fires, and messengers were all cut off?
"Orders couldn't travel from the palace
which is why troops couldn't be called in.
At the market outside Sajeong Gate,
all the palace guards were slayed?"
Build a marketplace outside Sajeong Gate?
Having the Six Ministries
and the Office of the Inspector General outside Gwanghwamun
is helping the whole area thrive.
If we can do that with the area outside Sajeong Gate,
the entire city of Hanyang will prosper.
He didn't know it was a trap.
It was a sword that would aim at his neck!
He who laid the trap at Sajeong Gate
and those who had the nerve to block my path... No.
I will punish all members of private armies
that were involved in the uprising.
You'll end up drunk this way.
Isn't that why one drinks?
What?
Are you about to condemn me too?
Go ahead.
I'm worried.
Is this path I'm taking
truly the right one?
Not knowing the answer scares me.
I'm also afraid of those aiming for my neck.
How history
will remember me
is also something I fear.
That fear will keep you going.
Never
let go of it.
Are you leaving?
We're supposed to dig the soil to plow, sow,
and harvest crops in order to feed our families.
However, all I've done is bury bodies.
I don't want to live that way anymore.
A nation raised by those abandoned.
I hope your dream comes true.
You wanted me, Your Highness?
I hear that
you killed your master and his son.
What now?
Are you done with me
now that you know
I killed my master and lived as a robber?
Here is your slave ownership paper.
Your Highness.
He deserved to die.
The bonfire seems to have dwindled if you ask me.
It needs something to burn.
I was born an animal,
but I can die as a human thanks to you.
You may leave me
whenever you want to.
Wanting to keep people by my side...
is me being greedy.
You blocked the King's way.
His Majesty will dig up on this.
Everything will be revealed.
You should hide.
It was my doing, and I shall endure it.
I'm not going anywhere.
Madame Han.
If I run away, Ihwaru will be harmed.
However,
if only I take the blame, Ihwaru will be fine.
That's what I learned from Madame Seo.
And I shall live that way.
The reason I don't tell you to run
is I know that you'll never run away.
So,
don't ever tell me to run away.
The soup's been boiled down to a paste, you know.
Don't you even care about those waiting for you?
You're going to the safe first?
You greedy pig!
Just
wait right there.
Let's go.
What?
I'm sorry, Madame Han. This is out of the blue.
What is going on?
For the past 20 years,
this is all money I tenaciously earned
while people calling me greedy.
Are you asking her to look after because you can't trust me?
Please terminate
Hwa-wol's contract.
I don't want to see her smiling and dancing in front of other men.
I don't want to see her suffering from neck pain
because of this heavy hairpiece.
If this isn't enough,
I'll do anything to compensate.
Please terminate the contract. Please.
I beg you, Madame.
We don't have such a thing in Ihwaru.
What?
After living such a hard life,
now you're leaving since you've met someone special.
The contract can't hold you down.
So,
I got rid of it.
If you add this money, it'll be enough to get a house.
Thank you, Madame Han.
Didn't it hurt to give away your money?
Money means nothing to me.
I had a sister
just as beautiful as you.
A cold took her life.
I couldn't even buy her the most common medicine
which is why I saved up my whole life.
One shouldn't have to die because of a cold.
Going through all that
made me want to give you a life of luxury.
Will you take it off me then?
My goodness.
What a beauty you are.
Even an angel can't hold a candle to you.
What are you trying to say?
I'm saying
that we should live together.
You should rest.
The Jurchens only know two things.
Stabbing and slashing.
They do not play defense.
If you bring your guard up,
that's all you'll be doing.
So stab and slash as well?
In order to slit his throat,
you'll have to sacrifice an arm.
An arm? Gladly.
Executing my order means
that...
you'll die by Prince Jeongan's hands.
Serving you was an honor, Your Majesty.
Then hear my order.
Kill them all.
I shall oblige, Your Majesty.
Move out!
-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.
Who knew that you could cook, Hwi?
I know how to make vegetable side dishes and pickles.
I've been cooking since I was eight.
That's amazing.
You're still recovering, so sit down.
I'll soon bring your meal.
I'm fine, but...
Hold on. What's gotten into you?
You're making me nervous.
I just wanted to treat you to a home-cooked meal.
That's all.
And why are you being so weird?
Notice anything different?
People are trying to eat here.
You're not a mole, so stop digging.
You'll only end up poking yourself.
Seriously? Have you gone blind?
Is food all you care about?
What's gotten into you?
Even I'm satisfied with the news.
Congratulations.
See?
It's only one meal.
One hearty meal used to make my whole day,
but I had forgotten about that.
I don't care about anything as grand as a nation built by the abandoned.
All I want is a home and a table to eat on.
Living in a place that I can call home
and sharing meals with those I love.
Yes, you're right.
I had forgotten about that too.
Run!
It smells delicious.
I should get it to him before it gets cold.
What are you doing here?
I ordered you to go your own ways,
so why are you back here?
Ihwaru's not just yours, you know.
It's ours too.
How could we sleep properly when you're here alone?
It's dangerous here, so leave immediately.
You don't own us which means you can't give orders.
You burned all our contracts, remember?
This was my choice.
The consequences are mine to bear.
And this is our choice too.
So--
Run!
It was me.
It's me you want.
Slay me instead!
Kill them all!
They are the palace guards.
It's the King's revenge.
He must have sent them to others as well.
It's bad!
Ihwaru...
Hui-jae blocked the King's path. That must be why.
Madame Han.
Hui-jae, stay with me.
Hui-jae!
Identify yourself.
I am Eohachu of Eastern Jurchen, here to see your chief.
For what reason?
Hey.
The one with the tiger skin is the chief.
The one with the leopard skin is his deputy.
Slay them.
Next.
The King will buy us the time,
and we will use Bang-gan to corner Bang-won.
Then I shall kill him.
According to Jeongan who claimed the rules of primogeniture,
the next Crown Prince
is you, Jeongan's older brother.
Money makes one seek booze
and being intoxicated by power makes one dance.
I see that you're both.
My sword.
Bang-gan has stopped suspecting me now.
Is this an opportunity or a trap?
Paths that can't be united must be severed.
The beginning is His Majesty.
The end is Bang-gan.
Then I shall call this
the rebellion of Bang-gan.