(Episode 12)
It is cold outside.
Let us go inside the cabin, Grand Prince Jeongan.
I am fine.
You may go inside, Lord.
I am fine as well.
How long will it take for us to come back?
I am not sure.
As you know,
the trip usually takes six months.
But for this time...
I cannot be sure of anything.
You should be prepared.
You need to overcome...
whatever you face along the way.
I will.
Let us go.
Everyone else has left.
I cannot seem to move.
(Lady Min, Lee Bang Won's wife)
If I leave now...
I am afraid I might forget Bang Won's face.
Why do you say that?
He will return safely.
Of course.
I think so too.
But...
What difference would it make even if he returns alive?
All I can say is that he did well.
(Min Mu Jil, Bang Won's brother-in-law)
And he will only return...
to being an abandoned son.
Thinking of that...
makes me so sad.
Such a thing would not happen.
As long as he comes back safely,
His Majesty will treat Bang Won differently.
He used to be the favorite son of His Majesty.
If it were you,
would you send your favorite son to his death?
He has already lost His Majesty's favor.
His Majesty would not care even if he died.
That is why Bang Won was chosen.
Give him great compensation when he comes back.
You should grant him land and slaves.
Then...
He will be very pleased.
(King Taejo, Lee Seong Gye)
Do not worry.
The deity will watch over you.
You must go to sleep.
Tomorrow, you must tend to national affairs.
You may sleep first.
I will go and get some fresh air.
Your Majesty.
You may already know that if we pay a tribute,
the Emperor bestows us with much more in return.
Most of them are things we cannot procure in our country.
If we can no longer offer tribute,
we will lose out on the opportunity to accept an advanced culture.
Then everything will be decided with that one single meeting.
Yes.
Depending on the answer you give to the Emperor,
everything will be decided.
The relationship between Joseon and Ming,
as well as the lives of us envoys.
Kicking him out is not the end.
The hardest thing to do in the world...
is to turn away from one's family.
On the outside, it looks like he abandoned him,
but Bang Won still resides in a corner of his heart.
He still considers him a son.
Then what must we do now?
Keep a close eye on the Min clan.
They are the only people Grand Prince Jeongan can rely on.
(Grand Prince Jeongan, royal name of Prince Lee Bang Won)
If we manage to tie that family down,
Grand Prince Jeongan cannot do anything even when he returns.
Yes, Your Highness.
Okay. You may...
Are you...
feeling unwell?
It is nothing.
Sometimes...
I have chest pain.
Call the royal physician immediately.
Do not worry. I can manage.
You are excused.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness, I bring bad news.
What is it?
I am sorry to inform you that the Crown Princess...
was found having an affair with a eunuch.
What?
Who else is aware of this?
I apologize, but the news has already spread far and wide.
The court maid who found them ran out screaming,
and all those within earshot came running to see why.
Is it true that you committed a crime?
Yes.
Are you prepared to die?
Yes.
Fine. I will have you killed immediately.
- Take him away! - Yes, Your Highness.
Come along.
(Crown Princess of the Ryu clan, Crown Prince Lee Bang Seok's wife)
Your Highness. Welcome...
Are you trying to get yourself killed?
You dare threaten my son's future?
Do you know how badly you tarnished the Crown Prince's reputation?
However foolish and vulgar you may be,
how could you do something this crazy within this small palace?
Did you think you would not get caught?
I never thought I would not get caught.
I did it knowing that one day, I would get caught.
What?
Do not put the blame entirely on me.
You do not treat me like a human being,
and your son cares not for his wife. That makes you two responsible!
Shut your mouth.
You can replace me, but things will be the same.
He is incapable of caring for a woman...
Go on, if you dare to.
For insulting the royal family,
I will have your parents beheaded as well.
Go on.
I dare you to go ahead. Go on!
Your Highness!
I am fine.
Drag her out of here immediately.
Yes, Your Highness. Take away the Crown Princess!
Your Highness. Are you all right?
Are you all right?
The people already think badly of me,
and this scandal just made things worse.
Do not be too concerned.
Consider it the will of the skies that you bring in...
a wiser Crown Princess.
How is the public sentiment in Gaegyeong?
If I may speak the truth,
it is still negative.
We announced the State Examinations,
but more scholars are leaving the Capital.
The problem is that the Wang clan still exists.
With them still alive,
there are those with the hope that the previous dynasty will recover.
Gaegyeong truly belongs to Goryeo.
Yes. I believe that is a fact we cannot deny.
Then we shall leave.
I would like the court office to discuss moving the Capital.
Find a new location where the new dynasty can call home.
There will be great opposition.
Most officials are based in Gaegyeong.
They will be against leaving their roots.
Then keep that in mind when you discuss it.
And also,
kill all the Wang clan members we exiled in the outlying islands.
For the Crown Prince's sake,
I must get rid of all future threats in advance.
Do as I say.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
(Ganghwa Island, where Goryeo royals are exiled)
After them!
I would rather be fighting against foreign enemies.
I really hate...
(Jo Yeong Gyu, Lee Seong Gye's loyal subject)
doing this.
It is a Royal Decree. We have no choice but to follow.
I am thinking about laying my sword to rest.
What do you mean?
I want to rest.
Listen here.
To be honest,
Jeong Mong Ju keeps appearing in my dreams.
He stands still, covered in blood after getting beaten by an iron mace.
He just stares at me.
It seems...
he is waiting to take me with him.
Your Majesty.
What are you doing?
(Gaegyeong, current Gaesong)
Look here.
Where are you going?
- Are you talking to me? - Yes.
You look like a Confucian scholar.
Why are you going into the Capital?
What do you mean?
The State Examinations are being held soon.
Are you unaware?
So? Are you saying you will be participating in the examinations?
Then are you suggesting I miss...
an opportunity that has returned after three years?
Whether it has been 3 years or 30 years,
you should be refusing it at this time!
Look at us.
We are leaving the Capital because of that.
To prevent getting weak...
and participating in the State Examinations.
- What? - Do not do something shameful...
and let us leave far from Gaegyeong.
Join us to live secluded lives...
until these traitors leave.
Goodness, you are a funny lot.
If you are going to lock yourself up in the mountains,
why did you study literature?
You should have just learned how to hunt.
What?
If you are going to leave, go by yourselves.
I am not interested.
It is not like there is a government position or a way to succeed there.
There are no such things, so why would I?
Then are you saying you want to become a traitor's subject?
Please come to your senses!
How dare you grab me?
Why you little...
You are the ones who should come to your senses.
People like you, who only know one thing,
are the most dangerous scholars.
Who cares if their last names are Wang or Lee?
If the nation runs well and I live in comfort, none of that matters!
This is all because you are afraid you might not pass.
How pathetic.
What a refreshing scholar.
- Who are you? - I am Ha Ryun.
What is your name?
I am Lee Sook Beon.
Here, come inside.
You can stay here comfortably until the State Examinations.
Why are you being kind to me?
You seem like a useful person,
so I want to befriend you in advance.
After you befriend me,
where do you plan on using me?
I will tell you that later.
Go on and get some rest.
Excuse me, sir.
What is it?
I am a bit hungry.
Can you send in some food and drinks?
Okay, then.
Goodness. This is not so bad.
Then does this mean I will never see Crown Princess Hyun again?
What is the point of seeing such a filthy girl?
Forget her.
We will choose a new crown princess...
(Crown Prince Lee Bang Seok, Lee Bang Won's half brother)
from a family with a pedigree. Do you understand?
Yes.
You must be mature.
As if nothing happened.
That way...
Others will not look down on you.
Yes, Your Highness.
What is wrong?
It is nothing.
I am fine.
Your Highness.
What on earth is wrong?
You have felt my pulse.
You should tell me what kind of disease I have.
Right.
It seems you should...
bring someone who is more skilled than me.
Royal Physician!
Everyone may leave.
Yes, Your Highness.
All right. Tell me now.
Do not say a single lie and tell me what is wrong.
If you do not,
I will not leave you be.
Yes, Your Highness.
Hurry!
Yes...
What did you just say?
I apologize, Your Highness.
Based on my experience,
patients with these symptoms...
were unable to live for more than half a year.
Your rage has built up,
and all the fluids in your body have dried up.
Since there is no circulation,
the cold parts of your body are getting colder,
and the warm parts of your body are getting warmer.
Your organs have already suffered a lot of damage.
Please forgive me for overstepping my bounds,
but it is because you have lived a life full of anxiety.
You should start now at least...
to let things go and relax.
All we can hope for is a miracle...
Speak only of my disease!
What right do you have...
to dare criticize the life that I have led?
Please have me killed.
Please forgive me.
Do not tell anyone about my disease.
If you speak a word of this,
you will not be able to avoid death.
Yes, Your Highness.
Do everything you can to make the best medicine.
If anyone asks, just say that it is a herbal tonic.
Yes, Your Highness.
Leave.
Yes.
It has been a long time.
Yes.
(Sambong Jeong Do Jeon)
Did you leave the Palace for such a long time...
only to bring people like this?
You are being too harsh.
I received a Royal Decree and went through a lot to bring them here.
We are here to serve His Majesty.
We are not here to be your subjects, so it does not concern you.
It is good to see you.
You still have a harsh tongue.
You have not changed either.
You are like a rat hiding in a shed.
You keep showing up just when I am about to forget you.
Yes, you sent me into exile whenever I showed up.
Thanks to you, I got to relax fully.
The Royal Court will become interesting.
I agree.
I am also looking forward to it very much.
Thank you for coming back...
and filling the empty spots of the Royal Court.
Please cooperate with each other...
and make the people live in comfort.
- Thank you for your boundless generosity. - Thank you for your boundless generosity.
Then, could it be today or tomorrow?
Yes.
He will have an audience with the Emperor in a few days.
Do not worry. He will be safe.
My dear.
Please...
Do it well.
(Jingshi, Ming, current Nanjing, China)
Grand Prince Jeongan and his men from Joseon Dynasty...
are here to have an audience with you, Your Majesty.
Are you the prince of Joseon?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I have some questions.
Yes, I will do my best to answer them.
Please ask me anything.
Why does your country keep disturbing the border?
Why did you spy on the coastline of Liaodong,
and conciliate the Jurchen to bring them into your land?
Was all of this to invade our country's border in the future?
Your Majesty, that is not true.
The people coasting on Liaodong...
They are pirates, unrelated to the Joseon Royal Court.
As for the Jurchen...
They chose to come to our land.
Prove it.
I did not bring anything to prove it.
What?
If you look with doubts,
no evidence will be enough to convince you.
The trust between our countries is the same.
Trust is not built when all doubts are resolved.
Looking at us with trust is when all doubts will be gone.
(Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of Ming)
The King of our country did not found Joseon...
to violate the borders of other countries.
It was to make the lives of its people more comfortable.
Please believe this.
Then all your doubts will be resolved.
You dare try to lecture me?
Do you not fear me?
Your Majesty.
I realize I am risking my own life right now.
So considering that I may die here,
I will only say what I will not regret.
As a prince of Joseon,
it is a path I must take.
It is not over yet.
He asked you to come in again tomorrow morning.
He will ask you another question.
How long do you think he will continue in this manner?
It depends on the Emperor.
Anyway, you did well today.
You behaved like a prince.
Lord Jeong Do Jeon is here.
Are you coming from the palace just now?
Yes, has everything been okay?
Well...
Her Highness the Queen sent you something.
Did she?
And this.
You are the teacher of the Crown Prince.
I sent you that so you can teach him well.
Your Highness.
Do not take it the wrong way.
It is not to make you take my side.
I do not need to try.
You will have to take my side.
Do you know why?
You may not see it,
but you have a big reputation.
You are seen as the one who abandoned the other princes...
and made Bang Seok the Crown Prince.
If there is nothing else, I will get going.
Please take good care...
of the Crown Prince.
Without me, the only one who can take care of the Crown Prince...
is you, Lord Jeong.
You are already taking excellent care of him, Your Highness.
He does not need me as well.
We never know.
Anyway...
I beg of you.
He was greatly hurt because of the Crown Princess.
If you can...
Please...
comfort his wounded heart.
Well then. Take care of yourself.
My love.
My dear.
How come you are here?
How did you know when I will arrive?
Do not start with that, Bang Won.
She has been coming here every day for a fortnight.
Have you?
Yes.
If you did not come today,
I was going to go to Ming myself.
Did anything happen?
A lot happened.
You were away for six months.
It will take you six months to catch up.
How does it feel to be back?
I do not know.
It feels strange.
There, every plant is different from ours.
So are the trees in the mountains.
The color of the water is different too.
The breeze feels different as well.
That must be why the language and people are different.
Yes. That is why this is Joseon...
and they are Ming.
Yes.
Even in Ming, I was a Joseon man.
The prince of a small nation called Joseon...
kneeling before the Emperor.
But that Emperor...
was wary that Joseon would invade his border.
That moment, I realized...
Joseon's destiny.
We cannot help that we are a small nation,
but we can never become weak.
We must always be strong enough...
so even large nations are wary of us.
That is Joseon's destiny.
You learned something of great value.
Yes, I did.
It was a worthy trip.
It was worth risking my life.
We managed to smooth out all the misunderstandings.
Now, three times a year,
envoys and tributes...
will go between the two nations.
Well done.
You did a very great deed.
It was not me.
We owe all these results to Grand Prince Jeongan.
I see. You did well.
Thank you for your boundless generosity.
I will leave you, then.
Yes. You may rest.
Bang Won.
Your Highness.
It has been a long while.
Bang Won. Have you returned safely?
Yes, Your Highness.
I am so relieved.
I was afraid you would get into trouble.
Thank you for your concern.
Are you off to study?
Yes. It is time for my daytime studies.
I am running a bit late.
Your Highness. I must hurry.
Yes. Go ahead.
Yes, Your Highness.
I will see you again, Bang Won.
Yes, Your Highness.
Did you manage to deal with the reason...
you were sent to Ming?
- Yes. - That is good to hear.
It was the right thing to send you.
Yes. Thank you for sending me.
You seem to mean differently from what you say.
Not at all. Why would you think so?
Go and rest, then.
Yes, Your Highness. Goodbye.
He just had to come back alive.
He just had to.
(Gaegyeong Gate, current Gaesong)
(Hanyang)
Your Highness. We have arrived.
Your Highness. Are you asleep?
We have reached Hanyang.
Your Highness!
Her pulse is very weak.
Do something about it.
There is nothing I can do.
What do you mean?
I apologize, Your Majesty.
Her fate is in the hands of the skies now.
- Mother. - Mother.
Your Majesty. Please save our mother.
Your Majesty.
(Lee Bang Won's residence in Hanyang)
Is that true?
Yes. She is gravely ill.
Are you sure?
Yes. I checked many times.
A large group of monks gathered.
They are praying near Her Highness' chambers.
Dear deity of mercy
My Queen.
Are you awake?
Your Majesty.
My Queen.
Your Majesty.
It looks like...
I must leave you first.
My Queen...
Your Majesty.
Do forgive me.
Do not...
berate me for leaving your side.
Even in death,
I do not wish to anger you.
My Queen...
Meeting you...
gave me great happiness.
I achieved everything I wanted...
and was loved...
more than I deserve.
How will I...
ever repay this favor?
My Queen.
Do not say that.
I have not done anything for you yet.
So please get up.
Please get better.
This is a Royal Decree.
My Queen.
Your Majesty.
Please call the Crown Prince here.
I would like to...
say my goodbyes to the Crown Prince.
I will do that.
Please wait for a moment.
I will bring him here.
What are you doing here?
I heard you are unwell.
I am fine.
Leave now.
Yes.
No, actually...
Sit.
If I die...
What will you do...
to the Crown Prince?
Tell me.
What will you do to him?
Will you hurt him?
Then, I will not let you be.
If you touch a single strand of his hair,
I will not forgive you even in my death.
Do you understand?
Your Highness. Do not worry.
I will not harm the Crown Prince.
You may rest in peace.
I will protect the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince is my little brother.
He and I are of the same blood.
I will not harm him.
So please...
Rest in peace.
I will not die alone.
I will take you with me.
We will go to the fiery pit together.
Within the eternal flames of the fiery pit,
while enduring the agony of our flesh burning,
we will shed tears of blood together.
We will shed tears of blood...
My Queen!
(The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won)
One day, you must lead Joseon.
It is time for you to step up.
Please find courage.
Then many people will die.
Just wait and see.
Soon enough, he will call in his army.
You are dangerous.
You will hurt the Crown Prince.
If you are so sure, just kill me now.
Make the Queen happy!