Stop this and leave the palace at once.
No matter what happens, I will sit on that throne.
If anyone tries to stop me,
I will get rid of them, no matter who they are.
Fine. Go ahead and try.
If you are willing to give up being Father's son,
I can no longer be your brother.
Do you understand?
If you are no longer my brother,
I have no reason to hesitate...
from killing you.
Yes. I am glad to hear that.
I feel relieved...
to cast off the yoke of family.
Remember.
We are no longer family.
We are not brothers by blood,
but enemies going after each others' heads.
You must keep that in mind.
Yes.
I will remember that.
Are you okay?
What happened?
What did your brother say?
He insists on taking the throne.
He will never step down without a fight!
Is that why you are in agony?
Because your brother has become your enemy?
Because you have to draw your sword against your own brother?
Dear, please steel yourself.
You have already done worse than that.
Why do you hesitate?
You should go now.
People are waiting for you back home.
You must lead them and come up with a plan.
Now.
That is why I hesitated.
Because I have already committed a major sin.
I aimed spears and knives at my father's neck...
and beheaded my half-brothers.
Even if I say it was for my own survival,
it can never be forgiven.
Dear husband.
Now, I have to draw my sword against my own brothers.
It is a punishment too great for me.
- Let us go. - Yes.
Go.
Move aside.
I have already told Maeng Jong.
I have made up my mind.
What are you going to do?
Will you help me?
Bang Gwa is going to take the throne soon.
Do we still have to fight Bang Won?
That is why we must do this.
Bang Gwa cannot keep the throne anyway.
Bang Won has seized full control of the palace.
Bang Gwa has nothing to protect the throne.
In the end,
Bang Won will devour the throne.
You must choose.
Who do you think should be the king?
Is it me...
or that ungrateful Bang Won?
Bang Ui.
Yes.
I understand.
Bang Ui.
The message from His Majesty reached the Royal Parliament.
We cannot stop the abdication.
We cannot mobilize soldiers and turn the table either.
We raised the army to enthrone the rightful heir.
We have no reason to stop Grand Prince Youngan...
from taking the throne.
Then do we just sit back and let it happen?
Then what we did becomes a waste.
- You! - Watch your mouth.
There is no need to be impatient.
There is nothing a powerless king can do.
That is what we need to teach him.
- Lord Ha Ryun. - Yes, Grand Prince Jeongan.
Please get an edict from His Majesty...
for us to take all the key posts in the Royal Court.
Yes, Your Highness.
- General Jo. - Yes, Your Highness.
Dispatch the House Guards at Dongbukmyeon to the rampart.
Replace the Palace Guards only with soldiers from other districts.
Are you planning to place House Guards outside the palace?
(Jo Yeong Mu, Commander of Chungcheong Province)
We should protect the palace with the most elite soldiers.
What we need are soldiers to keep eyes on the King,
not to protect the palace.
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Highness.
Father. Will you make the initial draft of the book of contributors?
We must be known as contributors...
to make our positions solid in the Royal Court.
Yes, I will.
Brothers. You shall get ready to work in public office.
- Yes, Bang Won. - Yes, Bang Won.
Please be prepared for a change.
This will be the last crisis to overcome.
- Yes, Your Highness. - Yes, Your Highness.
Did the discussion go well?
Yes. It went well.
I apologize for earlier today.
I failed to acknowledge your torment.
No.
You were right.
I was not composed enough.
No. I was foolish.
I ignored your pain...
and only urged you on.
When you were in pain,
I hurt you by saying the pain is nothing at all.
I apologize.
Never before have I been in such distress...
because of something I said.
I beg that you forgive me.
No, you did the right thing.
I got this far because every now and then, you set me right.
Do not apologize.
I am the one to apologize.
Do you mean that?
Yes.
What you said made me more resolute.
I will end the fight with my brother as soon as possible.
Before I truly come to resent him,
I will make him give up the throne.
Good. I hope you do that.
Bang Seok said something to me as he lay there dying.
He said eventually, I would become a tyrant.
He said eventually, I would go mad.
That stayed with me.
To avoid such a fate,
I will end this soon.
You said we would stay just for a while,
and yet you got caught up in a huge storm.
Give up while you still can.
Tonight is your last chance.
Tomorrow, you will be crowned King.
That means you are embarking on a journey with no return.
I have already...
gone too far to turn back.
My dear.
Do not worry.
(Crown Prince Lee Bang Gwa, Lee Seong Gye's second son)
What you fear will not happen.
How can you be so sure of it?
Is there anyone that Grand Prince Jeongan cannot harm?
(Crown Princess Kim, Lee Bang Gwa's wife)
A dreadful moment will come upon us.
Then I will unsheathe my sword first.
I will stay on the throne for my younger brother's sake.
I promised my father, so whatever happens,
I will protect the throne.
My dear.
In 1398 A.D., the ninth lunar month in the seventh year of King Taejo's reign,
Lee Seong Gye's second son Lee Bang Gwa...
was crowned the second king of Joseon.
(King Jeongjong, Lee Bang Gwa)
Lee Seong Gye abdicated...
and gave all his authorities to the new King.
(Lee Seong Gye, abdicated king)
However, all the power in Joseon...
was already in Lee Bang Won's hands.
Decorum will be revised,
and royals will be given a new title.
Lord Uian Lee Hwa...
is now Supreme General and Head of Three Armies Command.
Lord Jeongan Lee Bang Won is now Supreme General of Three Offices.
Min Je as Left Secretary of Three Offices.
Ha Ryun as political scholar.
Jo Yeong Mu as State Chancellery Officer.
Park Po as Secondary Officer of Military Administration.
Lee Sook Beon as Right Secretary.
Min Mu Ku as Grand General.
Min Mu Jil as Taxation Officer.
Park Eun as Inspection Officer.
- Thank you for your boundless generosity. - Thank you for your boundless generosity.
Where is Lord Jeongan?
Why is he not present?
Why were you late?
I apologize.
I was caught up in my own thoughts.
Punish me for my tardiness.
What were you so deep in thought about?
Tell me. Your punishment depends on the thought.
I suddenly thought of...
something we did together long ago.
We took the House Guard...
and threatened the last King of Goryeo.
Just how useless the determination of a powerless monarch is.
I got to see it with my own eyes.
If he had given up hope the day he came to power,
then he could have saved himself the dreadful insult.
I found that such a pity.
Lord Jeongan.
Yes, Your Majesty.
If you have time to think of a king of a ruined country,
I would rather...
you learn again what it means to be filial.
You ignore the great pain of a father who is close by...
and think back on a small misfortune from a distant memory.
That is not humanly right.
Do not be late for a meeting again.
I acknowledge the risk you took to make me King.
So today, I will not punish you.
You are all dismissed.
That is all for today.
You did well, Your Majesty.
That is the attitude you must keep.
However many men Bang Won may have,
he cannot harm you.
That is because the word "King..."
holds the power of 100,000 men.
Do not forget that.
Yes, Your Highness.
From now on, do as I say.
I will. What is your command?
I will name the subjects who will support you.
Meet with them...
and work hard to run the nation.
I will.
Running the nation well...
is the best way to gain authority.
I will speak honestly.
I fought with a sword my whole life.
(Lee Sook Beon, Right Secretary)
Could you come closer and help me?
I am asking for a favor.
Please come and help me.
This is an appeal to have an archivist in Gyeongyeonjang.
If this happens, everything will be recorded...
including the king's lack of studies.
Goodness, that means I will be in trouble.
- Pardon? - Pardon?
I was kidding.
Okay, then. What is next?
You should leave the palace from time to time.
You should go hunting and practice archery.
By doing so,
you will engrave your image in the minds of our people.
Here.
This is my bow.
It is yours now.
- Father. - Please take it.
This bow will become the symbol...
that states that you are my true successor.
Carry that bow...
and invite everyone to come.
Bull's eye!
Soldiers who admire you and young members of the royal family.
Surround yourself with them.
Make sure each of them becomes one of your people.
The number of people that spend time with His Majesty is growing.
If the royal family and soldiers...
continue to be with His Majesty like this, it will be dangerous.
What do you want to do?
Do you want to wait a little bit longer?
Lord Jeongan.
What is it?
I came because I have to report something.
Park Po caused a scene inside the Three Armies Command.
A scene?
What is the reason?
He did it because he was discontent with the fact that...
he was not named the leading contributor of the rebellion...
during the installments.
What?
What on earth are you doing?
It is because I felt I was wronged.
Those who did not do much were named leading contributors.
But why was I named a secondary contributor?
They may not have done something big,
but if they hold a high position in the Royal Court,
it is courtesy to name them leading contributors.
Then what am I?
I, Park Po, risked my life to take arms.
How can I get compensated for that?
If you had faith in me and waited, you would have been compensated.
I would have engraved it in my heart...
and repaid you for the rest of my life.
I never forget neither kindness nor grudges...
that I have toward others.
Remove him from his post and collect his position certificate.
(Certificate received when being installed to a position)
Take back everything that was given to this man.
Yes, Lord Jeongan.
It is like killing the dog after the hunt.
Why did you want to see me?
What do you think about joining us this time?
You will be able to become a leading contributor this time.
What on earth are you saying?
We intend to fight Lord Jeongan.
(Lord Jeongan, Prince Lee Bang Won's title)
That is why I would like you to help me.
Do not bother.
Your army is no match for him.
I did not come all this way to hear that.
I want you to give me some information that will help me.
You were his vassal up until a few days ago.
Hurry up and tell us.
Do you want to continue suffering in his hands?
Do you not feel mistreated?
Where is everyone?
They have been escorted to the Inspection Department.
(Government office that inspects officials for corruption)
What?
An anonymous letter was received that says they were accepting bribes.
Where is Lord Jeongan?
This has nothing to do with Lord Jeongan.
Where is Lord Jeongan?
Welcome, Your Majesty.
There is nobody here either.
All of your lieges who would protect you...
have disappeared.
Are you...
trying to cut off all of my limbs?
Yes.
That is the only way you would face reality.
Bang Won, you little...
Your Majesty.
Father is not knowledgeable in politics.
You cannot beat me with his advice.
Your Majesty.
Please give up right now. I am begging you.
I do not have a choice.
I really do not wish to hurt you.
- Your Majesty... - Then...
Kill me.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Are you sure?
Yes.
You asked me to keep an eye on them, so I have been doing so.
It seems Lord Hoian...
is planning something with Lord Ikan.
I even saw him looking for Park Po, who had been kicked out.
What? Then...
Yes.
I believe they will go after Bang Won.
They are doing such foolish things.
Your brother-in-law is already tormented by the thought...
of fighting against his brothers.
In any case, prepare yourself.
I will tell our people as well.
Okay, then.
Welcome home, Your Highness.
Is that true?
Bang Gan is going to attack me...
with Bang Ui?
Yes.
The hunting season for the leading banner ritual starts tomorrow.
If they plan to attack us, it will probably be during that time.
Why are they all doing this?
Why do you have to get involved...
in this bloody fight?
Dear husband.
In the end, this is what is meant to happen.
It seems I have to kill every single one.
That must be the only way to take the throne!
In the end, it will go as Bang Seok said.
I will become a lunatic tyrant.
Dear husband.
Father. May I ask a question?
Yes.
(Lee Maeng Jong, Lee Bang Gan's son)
Why do you want to become king?
Why?
I am not sure.
I want to because I can.
Pardon?
If I was...
a farmer who lived afar from the palace,
I would have never thought of becoming king.
However, I am a prince.
There are less than five of us, and one of us will be king.
How can I not crave that?
If I just close my eyes shut...
and behead one man, I can be king.
How could I possibly refuse that?
This is fortunate.
It is a blessing.
Others can never take the throne even after killing 10,000 men.
But I can take it by killing just one.
Just one!
Maeng Jong.
Yes, Father.
I need you to do me a favor.
Yes, go ahead.
Did you stay up all night?
You have a guest.
It is Count Euiryeong.
(Count Euiryeong, royal name of Lee Maeng Jong, Lee Bang Gan's son)
You may come in.
Uncle Bang Won.
Yes. What brings you here?
Father told me to ask where you will go...
on your hunt today.
He said if you go in the same direction, there might not be enough prey.
I see.
I am not sure.
I have not decided where to go yet.
I see. I will tell him so.
Now then...
Maeng Jong.
Yes.
Tell your father...
he must stop.
I beg him.
Please tell him.
Please.
Yes.
He was here to spy on us.
You should get prepared.
Just because they got caught, they would not give up.
My dear.
It seems he already knows.
Then we shall attack him as soon as possible.
If we do not do anything, we will die.
Put your armor on.
Yes.
Go tell Bang Ui about this.
Yes.
Now, let us go.
Lord Hoian will start the battle soon.
You are to attack Lord Jeongan from behind.
Yes. Tell him I will do so.
Yes, sir.
Dear husband.
Prepare for an ambush here.
Bang Ui will probably attack us from behind.
Yes. I will do that.
Be careful, Lord Jeongan.
Yes, you should be careful too.
Yes.
Spread out.
- Spread out! - Spread out!
Move!
Bang Gan.
Where are you?
I am here!
Bang Gan, I beg you. Please return.
Please stop!
Are you all right?
It is too late for persuasion. I will begin the battle.
Advance!
What is this noise?
What is happening?
I will go and find out.
It is dangerous. Please stay indoors.
Is that true?
Brothers are waging war in the middle of the Capital?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Blood is being shed for no reason.
Please issue an edict commanding them to cease battle.
Father!
Why is Bang Ui not here?
I will go again to check.
Tell him to hurry or we will be massacred!
Yes, sir!
No, Joo Ah.
Joo Ah!
Mom!
Royal command! Stop this!
Stop this instant!
Royal command! Stop!
Why are you not even in your armor?
You said you would fight with us!
If you do not come now, Lord Hoian will die!
Lord Ikan!
Father!
You little...
Come along.
No! Son!
No!
Die!
Stop!
Father!
We lost.
Bang Ui did not come.
Did I not ask you not to do this?
Look at what you did.
See whom you killed!
Why did you do this?
Tell me!
Do you not know?
It was because I wanted to be king too.
I wanted to kill you...
and sit on the throne!
I wanted to take the highest seat...
and look down on everyone!
Why? Can I not dream of that?
Is that only for you?
Kill me.
You won.
So you will become king.
The son who held a sword to his father's throat...
wins in the end.
The cruel one is victorious!
What are you doing?
Kill me already.
Do not be a hypocrite and do it.
Quit trying to show off...
and kill me now!
Yes. I will kill you.
I killed a younger brother. Do you think I cannot kill an older one?
You caused a bloodbath in the Capital.
I can kill one man for it.
I will no longer fight to avoid it.
If I am destined to become a beast, so be it.
I will become a lunatic...
and kill everyone.
I will kill His Majesty, I will kill our father,
and I will take the throne.
(Main Gate)
Step aside!
(Main Gate)
(The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won)
What did you do with Bang Gan?
Did you kill your brother?
I will kill him.
But before I do that, I will get rid of you first.
Why did you not come? Why?
I was afraid of Bang Won.
Please forgive your foolish brother.
That throne is a monster.
- That monster tore apart our family. - Hurray!
Hurray!
You should take over.
You can do it.