(Episode 17)
Have you recovered your consciousness?
That is a relief.
Did you really...
kill Sambong?
Yes.
What was the reason?
Jeong Do Jeon disregarded the princes of your first wife...
and made Bang Seok, the son of a concubine, the Crown Prince.
What?
The son of a concubine?
Having that son in his back,
he conspired to kill many princes.
That is why I gathered soldiers...
and got rid of him urgently.
You killed Poeun,
and now Sambong.
I told you to treat Poeun as your teacher for the rest of your life,
but you killed him.
And now you killed the uncle who thinks of your father as a brother.
I...
I gave birth to a monster.
I should cut you now,
so I can stop you from killing more people.
Since I gave birth to you, I have to be the one to kill you!
Stop where you are.
Come any closer and you will regret it.
I am now a traitor.
I will do anything it takes to survive.
For the sake of the men who support me,
I will never back down!
Just as you did!
I will never stop!
Just like you,
I will do anything it takes!
Do not set foot outside the Palace.
If you dare to do so,
it will put you in danger.
(Ha Ryun, Chungcheong Province governor)
Did you meet with His Majesty?
Yes.
Did you have a conversation?
Yes.
I asked him to stay in the Palace.
Did he agree to that?
Yes.
How fortunate.
- Lord. - Yes.
Go to the Royal Parliament and meet the ministers.
Prepare a written appeal for the King.
Yes.
Mu Ku and Uncle Park Po.
Gather the ministers.
- We will. - We will.
Mu Jil, share the news with your father.
I will do that.
Park Eun, you guard the Palace.
Without my permission, no one is to enter or leave.
I will do so.
Father.
Are you all right?
Father.
Father...
Did something happen?
There is something odd in the air.
What? Is that Bang Gan's son?
Hey, you!
What could be so urgent?
Father!
Maeng Jong. Do you have any news?
Yes, Father.
They were Uncle Bang Won's men.
(Grand Prince Hoian, Lee Bang Gan, Lee Seong Gye's fourth son)
- Is that true? - Yes.
He killed Sambong...
and took over the Royal Parliament and Three Armies Command.
(Royal Parliament: National Affairs Office)
(Three Armies Command: Military Command Office.)
Bang Won actually committed treason.
Uncle Bang Won has many men.
They have surrounded the Palace.
The Palace?
He raised his men to kill Sambong,
so why would he surround the Palace?
Are you saying...
he is threatening the King?
I am not sure of that,
but I am sure that the Palace is surrounded.
Uncle.
What brings you here, Princess?
(Lady Min, Lee Bang Won's wife)
I have something to tell you.
What could it be...
that you are here waiting for me?
Speak up. Do not hesitate.
I am unwilling to speak because it is unfortunate news.
Come on now, Princess Jeongnyeong.
You know how I think of you.
Go on.
Say what you came here to say.
Very well. I will tell you then.
Last night, my husband and I raised an army.
You... You did what?
We raised an army and killed Sambong.
Our plan now is to gather the ministers...
and petition the King to select a new crown prince.
A new crown prince?
What do you mean?
Do you think His Majesty would allow that?
He will.
My husband has seen to that.
What?
Are you saying he held a sword to His Majesty's throat?
He entered the Palace with his men and subdued His Majesty?
Yes.
Princess!
Uncle. Help us.
Come forward and help us end this quickly.
Shut your mouth!
Where is Bang Won? Bring him to me now!
Uncle.
I will not forgive him.
Bang Won, that fool.
I will behead him myself!
You just wait.
I will go to Dongbukmyeon now and bring men of my own.
Do you think the people there will let this slide?
Wait and see.
I will also bring...
all the men of Seobukmyeon and even the Jurchen as well!
Do you think Bang Won can stop us all?
He cannot.
Even if he were to manage,
the whole nation would become a battlefield of ruins.
That is why I came to see you.
Uncle.
It has happened already.
Please...
let me stop it here.
Shut your filthy mouth.
You are worse than a brute.
How could you do that to His Majesty?
How could you!
Uncle.
Be prepared for your death...
when I return!
- Uncle. - Father.
What is up with your outfit?
Why are you wearing armor?
(Lee Hwa Sang, Lee Ji Ran's son)
I was there too.
- What? - I am also a traitor.
If Bang Won dies, I must too.
You little punk!
Father. Please keep your temper.
Please let me live.
I told you not to do it.
I told you to never get involved!
I told you never to go against what I said.
I said I can never take that, did I not?
I am sorry. I was wrong to do that.
Then die.
Die with Bang Won!
Did you not do the same?
What did you say?
You also accomplished a great cause with Seong Gye.
I also participated in a cause with Bang Won.
I bet my life on it because I believe it was the right thing to do.
I am just living my own life!
It just turned out to be this way.
I would not have done that to break your heart.
Still, I love you more than anyone.
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
All the ministers have gathered in the Royal Parliament.
What about Lord Jo?
He is the head of the Royal Court.
He must be in the lead.
I also brought him here.
Lord Ha. Please make a rough draft of the written appeal.
Yes, as you said,
I will ask to install Grand Prince Youngan as the Crown Prince.
(Grand Prince Youngan, royal name of Prince Lee Bang Gwa)
Bang Gwa.
Grand Prince Jeongan.
Stop it, Grand Prince Youngan.
Put your sword down.
Now!
Leave us alone.
- Grand Prince Jeongan. - Now.
You...
Hello, Bang Gwa.
What have you done to Father?
How could you call yourself his son?
If you want to start treason, do it alone.
If you want to be a reprobate son, be it alone.
Why are you dragging me into it? Why?
I am sorry, Bang Gwa.
Do you desire the throne that badly?
Is it that hard to give up?
Then you can be the Crown Prince.
Do not think about using me as a shield.
Take that place yourself. Understood?
Then I never know what I would do.
What did you say?
Do not put me next to Father.
I can never guarantee you what might happen.
Are you threatening me?
I am only telling you the truth.
That is how I am now.
You have seen it.
How dare you!
Act as a mediator between Father and me.
Take the Crown Prince position for now.
Then you can give it to me later.
Are you...
Yes, I know it sounds brazen.
However, without this,
I cannot protect Father.
From the bottom of my heart,
I do not want to commit any bigger sin.
You...
What happened to you?
Have you changed?
Or have you always been like this?
I do not know.
I do not know...
what is wrong with me either.
I beg you, Bang Gwa.
Please be the Crown Prince for me.
No, be the Crown Prince for Father.
Bang Gwa.
I beg you.
How is...
His Majesty?
He is safe.
I will go visit him.
Not now.
When everything is over,
you will get to meet him.
Bang Won.
I am sorry.
Goodbye.
Go guard the palace gate.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Brothers. What are you doing?
Can you not see? We are joining the great cause.
You are disposing of Sambong...
and placing Bang Gwa as the Crown Prince.
We would never miss that.
So we retrieved our private soldiers...
that we lost to the Three Armies Command.
What is wrong?
Does it have to be done by you from the start to the end?
Are we not supposed to meddle in?
That is not it. Welcome.
Please join me.
What matters more than us brothers speaking with one voice?
How could you not inform us...
when you were plotting such a plan?
I am sorry, but I did not have any choice.
I hope you understand.
Please guard the palace.
Do not let anyone in without my permission.
I will get going then.
He is treating us like his subordinates.
(Royal Parliament: National Affairs Office)
You must take the lead.
Then the Royal Court will soon find peace.
(Nam Jae, Junior Second Rank, Jo Jun, Left State Councilor)
Yes.
I will do that.
You should cooperate more actively, Lord Nam.
How can you repay...
what your brother has done to Grand Prince Jeongan?
I am not related to what my brother has done.
My brother and I were on different paths from the start.
You two are still siblings.
You should be thankful that Grand Prince Jeongan is generous.
Otherwise, you would be accused of the crime with him.
Do you not agree?
(Lee Hwa, Lee Seong Gye's stepbrother)
Ji Ran!
You are here.
Thank you for coming.
Please take a seat here.
How is His Majesty doing?
I heard he had passed out.
He is fine now.
He recovered and had some porridge.
Fortunately, he was convinced and went to the Royal Parliament.
You have done well, my dear.
Do not mention it.
I am just helping out.
You must be feeling tormented inside.
They can easily say you committed treason and an immoral crime.
It would not be easy for you to bear those.
Please hang in there.
It is for our children.
You must not be soft.
Living as a traitor...
is like driving a wagon with one wheel.
If you stop, you will fall down.
Until you reach the end,
you have to keep going forward.
Here.
What a good boy.
Grandmother.
Yes?
Where are my uncles?
Why?
Are you bored because you do not have anyone to play with?
- Yes. - They are busy today.
Why?
They have something to do for the big boy here.
For me?
Yes.
They are trying to make you a very precious person.
A precious person?
What kind of person is that?
You will find out later.
And when you do, you must never forget these days...
after you become a precious person.
The days when you ate good food with me like this,
and the days when you had sword fights with your uncles.
Also, the days when you learned to read from your grandfather.
Do you understand?
Yes.
You are such a good boy.
Please dethrone the Crown Prince, Bang Seok.
Appoint Grand Prince Youngan,
alive and qualified, as the new Crown Prince.
Please make right all the wrongs, Your Majesty.
Please understand us.
Then,
what will happen to the Crown Prince?
He will be downgraded to a commoner.
Then we have decided to send him into exile.
We also decided to send Grand Prince Muan into exile too.
Please send them out of the palace.
You can take Grand Prince Muan.
I know you will not harm Grand Prince Muan.
However,
I cannot let you have the Crown Prince.
Your Majesty.
- Please go. - Your Majesty.
I said to leave.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
You should stay with me.
You cannot leave my side.
Your Majesty.
Please let my hand go.
What are you saying?
I will leave. I must leave.
Do not be absurd.
Otherwise,
you will be harmed even worse.
The soldiers will invade even into your bedroom.
They will push you away and take me.
If you keep stopping them,
they might harm you, Your Majesty.
Dear son.
Your Majesty.
Please be safe.
- Crown Prince. - Father!
Please stay alive.
Father.
- Your Highness! - Your Highness!
Do not touch me.
I will go on my own.
Bang Won.
Yes, are you leaving now?
Yes.
Please be safe on your way there.
Yes.
Bang Won.
I have something to ask.
Yes.
Go ahead.
Why are you doing this?
I can do good. I can be a good king, too.
I can take care of people with generosity,
lead subjects with righteousness,
and lead soldiers with vigor.
Possibly, I might do it better than you.
But why are you doing this?
Why do you have to take my place away?
All the things you said.
I want to do it myself.
Bang Won!
It is because I want to be the King!
Be safe on your travel.
Then was it because of your greed?
You will be a tyrant.
You will be a lunatic king who ends up killing the people.
You will be a traitor who ruins Joseon.
Bang Won.
What are you doing here?
I came over out of concern.
I heard something huge had happened overnight.
Count Heungan is not back yet.
(Count Heungan, royal name of Lee Je)
But...
the soldiers will not let me into the Palace.
That is right. No one can go in or out right now.
So return home.
You will hear about your husband soon.
Bang Won.
What is it?
The Crown Prince.
What happened to him?
Is he...
dead now?
What happens to the rest of us?
Grand Prince Muan and Count Heungan.
Will they all follow his fate?
Is that what you wish for?
Tell me.
Do you want me to do that?
Do you want me to kill you all?
No. I do not.
Who would want that?
Then why would you say such a thing?
I apologize, Bang Won.
I was afraid.
I felt so scared and lost...
that I just blurted it out.
Please forgive me.
Give your husband a message.
That he must come to me and confess his crimes.
In everyone's presence,
he must announce the crimes he did for Jeong Do Jeon...
and bow deeply for forgiveness.
Then he will live.
Is that true?
Yes. Tell him that is what he must do.
Only then can I let him live.
I need a reason to allow him to live.
Do you understand what I mean?
I do. I will tell him what you said.
Thank you, Bang Won.
(Gwanghwamun Gate)
Be careful, Prince Muan.
I hope you stay safe as well.
What are you doing?
Welcome, Grand Prince Hoian.
What is going on?
Why did you let them live?
It was the Royal Parliament's decision.
Grand Prince Muan is to be exiled,
and Count Heungan is sent home for now.
What were...
the old fools in Parliament thinking?
At least the offsprings...
of the late Queen must all be killed!
Go after them.
Tell them to kill Bang Beon.
- Pardon? - Excuse me?
What are you saying?
Grand Prince Jeongan will not allow it.
Why do I need his permission?
I gave an order.
Are you...
incapable of seeing who the older brother is?
That is not what I mean.
Then keep still.
We brothers rose together to make this happen.
I am doing this because we have discussed it beforehand.
Do you understand?
Yes, I do.
You heard me. Go now!
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Grand Prince Jeongan!
- Grand Prince Jeongan. - What is it?
Grand Prince Hoian sent men...
to kill Grand Prince Muan on his way to exile.
- What? - I said he needed your permission,
but he did not listen.
He said you had discussed it.
- When was this? - Just now.
Get out of the way. Make way.
Bang Beon.
No!
What?
Did you not consult Bang Won?
What is there to consult about?
I did what must be done.
Still, such a thing...
What have you done?
Why did you have Bang Beon killed?
Do you really not know?
If you let any of the late Queen's sons live,
they will become trouble down the line.
What trouble could powerless Bang Beon be?
Why did you kill a boy who is no threat at all?
You never know what will happen.
Bang Gwa!
What is the matter that you are yelling about?
Killing all the future threats...
is what you always did.
You beheaded Shin Wa and Shin Chang.
It was also you who heartlessly killed a ten-year-old boy!
Yes, that is true.
And you saw how that changed the public sentiment.
Did you not learn anything from that?
Is that why you did something so foolish?
What?
Why did you kill your little brother?
Why did you turn me into a murderer?
Why did you make me look like a lunatic?
You fool.
I am not taking lives for personal gain.
I am organizing a coup...
with a great cause and meaning.
Every life we spare or take...
can be twisted politically!
Do you understand?
You are merely a traitor.
What?
You can embellish it as much as you want,
but you are still a traitor.
You are a beast that is crazy for power.
Why would you care what the public thinks?
Why are you such a hypocrite?
Bang Gwa.
You are incredibly greedy.
If you have become a beast, act like one!
Do you truly...
wish for me to remain a beast?
Do you wish me not to hesitate one bit...
and take every life that I come across?
Do you want me to kill...
anyone who does not follow my command?
Even if that is you, Brother?
What?
Tell me now.
Do you truly want me to become a beast?
Do you think you can handle that?
You fool.
Let go of each other.
Do it now.
If you do not,
one of you will definitely kill the other.
If either of you says one more word...
and go one step further...
That is what will happen, so...
please.
Let go of each other.
Now!
Bang Won.
Yes, Bang Ui.
When is this going to end?
Are there still a lot more...
to kill?
Grand Prince Jeongan. Lord Nam Eun is here.
Where did you find him?
We did not.
He came on his own.
Tell everyone to gather at the Royal Parliament.
Yes, sir.
I will end it now.
I devoted my life to your family.
I devoted my life to His Majesty's great work...
and for his Royal Court.
Please take that into consideration.
Yes.
I give credit to your contribution.
How would I not know that?
However, your sin is also indisputable.
You have always worked as one with Jeong Do Jeon.
Every time Jeong Do Jeon committed a sin,
you were by his side.
Grand Prince Jeongan.
Your contribution will never be forgotten.
What I am going to get rid of today is...
the sin you have committed.
I shall cut off your head to make up for your sins...
and leave only your contribution.
Then...
Goodbye now.
Grand Prince Jeongan!
Park Po. Head to Count Heungan's house...
and cut off his head.
Pardon?
He served Jeong Do Jeon and committed evil acts.
Yet, he does not repent his sin.
Now, go and behead him.
Yes, sir.
It is now over.
We got rid of all wicked bandits...
who installed Bang Seok as Crown Prince and made a fool of the Royal Court.
Tonight, you may all return home and sleep in peace.
And Lord Nam Jae.
Yes.
Take the body and hold a funeral.
Thank you, Grand Prince Jeongan. Thank you very much.
Get home safely.
My dear husband. Please go see Bang Won now.
And beg him for forgiveness.
He said then he will spare your life.
He gave me the promise.
All your brothers are dead.
Yet...
Does it still matter so much to save me?
What is the point of dying with them?
Someone has to survive.
Will you please...
save yourself for my sake?
Please give us more time.
We were about to leave.
Get out of the way!
Tell Grand Prince Jeongan...
that the skies shall punish him!
Shut your mouth!
My dear!
My dear husband...
My dear...
They are...
all dead?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Now, the only remaining child of the late Queen is...
just Princess Kyungsoon herself.
Dear skies...
(The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won)
Grand Prince Jeongan said I can cut off anyone who dares...
to enter the palace without his permission.
Even if Grand Prince Jeongan takes the throne now,
no one can stop him.
I should have cut off your head back then.
In the end, it will come back at you.
You have to harvest...
what you sow.
Father.
Take revenge for me.
Punish Bang Won.