We did this together.
(Episode 21)
Naturally, we must lead together as well.
Dear...
I am the King.
And I am the one who made you one.
- Princess! - Do not forget.
I am the one who built you.
I made you.
So...
do not think you will do this alone.
Half of Joseon...
belongs to me.
I cannot believe this.
Am I dreaming now?
Is this the real you?
Tell me. Is this what you wanted all along?
The reason why you made me the King...
Was it so you could become Queen?
You did not help me to wash away my hurt and hatred,
but it was so you could gain power?
Do not put it like that.
We both know it was for you.
It just...
was not for you alone.
I did it for myself also.
As much as you wished to be king,
I wished to be queen.
- My dear. - Do not get me wrong.
I am not demanding you hand over half the land.
I do not ask you to hand over half the people.
I am saying...
I will take half the anguish...
that the King of Joseon must bear.
As we did so far,
I wish to do everything with you.
There were many difficulties,
and we held hands and got through them together.
Let us not let go now.
Let us move forward together.
Do you understand?
Your Highness.
Commander Jo Yeong Mu is here to see you.
I will come outside.
Your Highness. The abdicated king left the Capital.
What?
Were the guards not doing their jobs?
They did not dare stop him.
His Majesty the King led the abdicated king...
beyond the gates himself.
I sent men after him.
We will hear from them soon.
No, I want you to go in person.
He will have gone to Dongbukmyeon. Hurry.
Yes, Your Highness.
Why did you do such a thing?
I could not...
(King Jeongjong, Lee Bang Gwa)
be unfilial to him any longer.
Your Majesty!
Do not worry.
He did not go to gather men...
as you worry he might.
He said he wishes to...
stay at a temple and pray.
Do you believe that?
Yes.
I believe that.
Your Majesty.
Do not mention it again.
It is the first and final deed I did as a king.
Just do as I say.
Let our father be.
He is powerless now.
Rather than waste time watching him,
I would rather you work on running the nation.
Fine.
I will do that.
Now that Father has left the Palace,
I should do the same.
I will soon leave the throne to you.
Be prepared.
Your Majesty.
This nation was established on the blood of our family.
Rule it well. Do you understand?
Yes. I understand.
Your Highness.
Will you not return home?
I will stay here tonight.
I have much to think about.
I understand.
Did he not return because of what you said?
I believe so.
Oh, dear.
I would have done the same.
She dared to ask for half the nation.
Who could accept that?
I did not mean he should hand over half.
I just meant...
we should lead and rule together.
That is the same thing.
It was as good as announcing you would share the throne.
(Crown Princess of the Min clan, Lee Bang Won's wife)
Your Highness.
Why are you so naive?
Pardon?
Even without you announcing it,
half of the nation is as good as yours.
They say everything is in the Buddha's hand.
Your husband is within our family's control.
You just have to watch quietly,
and when there is something to gain,
you take it when you see fit.
Is that not what the late Queen did?
She did just that, and eventually, she got all she wanted.
Mother.
I do not wish to use coquetry...
and cunning to steal power.
I wish to become...
a proud leader from the start.
(Three Armies Command, Military Command Office)
What are you saying?
You will do away with all private armies?
Yes.
From now on, all Joseon soldiers...
will belong to the King and obey only his command.
Transfer your men to the Three Armies Command soon...
and return all weapons as well.
Until now, the commander of each region...
(Military commanders of each region)
treated soldiers under their command...
as personal property.
They were soldiers...
called upon by the nation to fight for the nation,
but commanders used them like slaves.
They had soldiers guard their properties,
and even used them as personal bodyguards.
That is why people call them "a private army"...
when they are Joseon soldiers!
Your Highness.
Commanders keep their men close for a reason.
When there is an emergency,
it makes it easier to react faster.
He is right.
We do what we do to protect you and the royal family.
Please go back on the idea of abolishing our armies.
- Please do. - Please do.
You could protect me but you could also attack me.
A commander can turn into a traitor at any time.
His army makes that possible.
Your Highness.
Are you saying you do not trust us?
Your Highness. If you do not trust us,
who on earth can you trust?
Please rethink this idea.
- Please do. - Please do.
It will not be easy.
To be frank, Jeong Do Jeon died...
trying to abolish everyone's private armies.
All the more reason to do it now.
Because they could be used against us.
I wish to break the vicious cycle.
(Ha Ryun, State Chancellery Officer)
Then bring your father-in-law on board first.
If the Min Clan agrees, the others will follow.
If you and your in-laws work together,
there is nothing you cannot achieve.
What is the matter?
Is there an issue with the Min Clan?
Your Highness.
The Crown Princess is here.
My dear.
What brings you here?
You did not come, so I came because I was worried.
You came because you were worried?
Is that true?
Are you sure it is not to check on me?
To see how I cannot do anything...
without the help of the Min Clan.
Your Highness.
I was foolish.
I had no idea what kind of intentions you were hiding from me.
I was just grateful to you.
When I saw you risk your life and devote yourself to a person like me,
I always felt bad.
But in fact, that was not true.
You were just...
using me.
You were not dedicated to me.
You just needed me.
In order to rise to a position a woman cannot attain,
you just needed a man to be your puppet.
Do you really...
believe that?
Do you really wish to condemn me like that?
Are you saying it is not true?
Am I mistaken?
Yes,
you are right.
I am the sinner.
A woman who should spend her days...
doing embroidery and living as an ornament to a man...
dared to act up in order to gain power.
Her heart, which should have been filled with love for her husband,
was filled with the delusion of getting into politics.
But despite it all, she played innocent...
and lived her life pretending it was for her husband.
I am a horrifying woman.
Are you satisfied now?
Dear.
Your Highness.
You are not the only person...
who feels betrayed.
You used to look at me with such caring eyes,
but when I suggested we share the power,
you turned cold towards me.
I, too,
feel a deep sense of loss.
Seeing a man say that...
he is willing to share his anguish but not his power...
makes me...
feel doubts about life too.
You should get some rest.
I will get going.
Do as you wish...
in regards to abolishing private armies.
I will do as you wish.
My family will do as you wish as well.
I have convinced them to do so.
Why are you doing this all of a sudden?
What do you mean?
My wish...
is to rise up with you.
It is not to tie down your wings.
I know you may not believe it,
but you were always my first priority.
My ambitions always came second.
Please keep that in mind.
Do not doubt the fact that I love you.
If you do,
the time we spent wiping away each other's tears...
will just end up becoming traces of an arranged marriage.
Rest comfortably.
You want to give up our private army? What do you mean?
The Crown Prince...
is blatantly ignoring the demands of our family,
so why do you want to cooperate with him?
This treatment is a clear disregard to the dedication our family has shown him.
We must not overlook this.
We are the reason why the Crown Prince is where he is.
Calm down and listen to me.
We want to give him something small for now...
to gain something bigger in the future.
Father, that is not right.
The beginnings are important for things like this.
If we do what he wants from the beginning, in the future...
our entire family could be excluded.
This is what the Crown Princess wants.
Just do it.
What? Her Highness wants this?
Yes.
It is to give Her Highness our support.
Just know that and do it.
What is wrong?
Seeing the fire...
reminds me of the past.
What do you mean?
It was before the abdicated king founded Joseon.
He had given up on the great work...
and was on his way back to Dongbukmyeon.
We had a fire going like this as we sat across from each other...
throughout the night.
I spent the night convincing him...
to become king once we returned to Gaegyeong.
I was the one who said that,
but I ended up betraying him.
General.
I wonder what the people from my hometown...
would say about me.
Quietly win over the county heads of Dongbukmyeon and Seobukmyeon...
as well as generals protecting our borders.
(Abdicated King, Lee Seong Gye)
If they ask whose wish it is,
tell them that it is mine.
Yes, Your Highness.
Gather up the soldiers...
and secure military provisions and weapons.
When it is all set, I will come back...
and lead the soldiers myself.
Yes, Your Highness.
You must not fail.
This is for...
the Queen, who is shedding tears of blood in her grave,
and the Crown Prince, who died a wrongful death.
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Highness.
I will keep it in mind.
I will head to Hoeamsa in Yangju.
Send word to me there.
Yes, Your Highness.
Lord Yangchon, you should take charge...
and write an appeal to abolish private armies.
Yes, I will.
Park Eun, you mobilize the officers of the Inspection Department...
and the Ministry of Punishment...
and prepare an appeal to punish those who are against the abolishment.
Yes, Right Councillor.
Sook Beon, you take the soldiers...
and transfer them to Three Armies Command and return the weapons.
You want me to set the mood in front of the other commanders.
Is this what you are saying?
Yes, it is.
You two go with him and hand over the soldiers.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Now. Let us get going.
So, please abolish private armies...
and ensure the safety of the nation.
- Please do. - Please do.
Your Highness,
this is not a matter on which you should take advice from your subjects.
His Highness has already decided.
Why do you keep questioning him?
What? This is not your place to get involved.
Keep quiet.
As you have noticed, I have been keeping quiet.
But you keep obstructing his plan,
so I had no choice but to get involved.
When His Highness gives you an order, you should take it.
That is the subject's duty.
How dare you grumble in dissent?
How dare you? Keep your mouth shut!
You must not know any fear.
You are the one who knows no fear.
You are shouting without a care...
in the presence of the Crown Prince.
What? Why, you insolent...
Your Highness, we will comply with your plan.
Yes. We will transfer our men to Three Armies Command right away...
and return the weapons.
Then, what will the other commanders do?
I, too, will comply.
I will comply as well.
Darn it!
What will you do, Uncle?
(Lee Hwa, Lee Seong Gye's stepbrother)
I will also comply.
Lord Ikan, if you take the lead as the Crown Prince's brother,
it will be a big support for His Highness.
Yes, I understand.
I will transfer my soldiers and weapons...
to Three Armies Command right away.
Thank you, sir.
No, someone like me would not be able to do anything...
(Lord Ikan, Lee Bang Ui. Lee Seong Gye's third son)
even if I held onto all those soldiers.
I will take care of it by the end of the day.
Yes, sir.
By the way, when will His Highness...
take the throne?
When this matter is resolved, he will soon take the throne.
Right.
It is finally over.
We will not have to see any more bloodshed.
No, we will not.
That is a relief.
That is such a relief.
Are you really going to leave?
Yes.
His Highness, the abdicated king, has left.
I have no more business being here alone.
You can be with me.
We can go hunting and do things together.
You go and hang out with the traitors.
I am going to rest from now on.
Father.
You should live here.
I am going back to my hometown.
I will build a small house there...
and serve Buddha.
What?
I have killed so many men.
I have lived my life on the battlefield, so it is to be expected.
Now, I am going to repent for my sins before I die.
Father.
I am leaving. Do not come after me.
- Father. - Do not come after me!
Punk.
Father...
Father!
Keep in touch!
Will you? Please!
Write to me!
Promise me!
You promised!
Please be healthy.
(Hoeamsa in Yangju)
What made you come all the way here?
Where is His Highness?
He is inside.
So, you should ease your worries and go back.
I will check.
Did Bang Won tell you to bring me back?
No, he did not.
He heard you left the Capital...
without any soldiers guarding you.
He told me to follow you quickly and guard you.
I do not need you to guard me. So, leave now.
Just in case,
I will leave some soldiers and officers here.
Please take care and rest well, sir.
I will not forgive you.
You...
pleaded that I should be the King.
And then you dethroned me.
You will pay for your treachery.
Great work. You may go and rest.
Yes, General.
Move.
Stop.
What do you think you are doing?
We are collecting weapons.
What?
From today, private armies are abolished.
Your soldiers have been transferred to Three Armies Command, General.
Now, we are going to take the weapons here.
Who gave you the order?
It was from His Highness, the Crown Prince.
Load them!
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Step aside.
General.
Step aside.
Get him.
The abolishment of private armies is nearly finished.
It took less time than we thought.
I owe it to you.
You made the decision and the first move.
I only had my clan assist you.
Lord Lee Geo Eui seems to have no intention of obeying you.
He was the most discontented of them all.
He seems to trust in the fact that he is married to a royal.
He is related by marriage to your father...
and also to us through another relative.
Still, you must separate personal ties from politics.
The decision is yours to make.
I will leave you.
Will you not return home again tonight?
I wish to wrap this up first.
I understand.
I brought the children home.
- The children? - Yes.
I brought the eldest from my parents'...
and the middle child from my aunt's.
We must live together now.
I wished to tell you that.
Goodnight.
Your Highness.
Jo Yeong Mu assaulted men from the Three Armies Command.
Is that true?
Yes. He went directly against your command.
His Highness the Crown Prince is here.
Why did you do this?
I could not accept it.
What do you mean?
The men under my command are unlike any other army.
They are the House Guard.
I fought with them my whole life.
Never for one moment...
was I apart from them.
So what?
Your Highness.
General. I will not repeat myself.
You have one more chance.
I always give someone another chance.
Take these weapons and return them to the Three Armies Command.
Do not accept help from anyone. Do it yourself.
Then I will spare you your life.
Your Highness.
I await to hear what choice you made.
Strip Lee Geo Eui of his commander title...
and demote him to County Head of Gyerim.
Tell him to leave immediately.
Yes, Your Highness.
Jo Yeong Mu will be stripped of all government posts...
and exiled to Hwangju.
(Hwangju, Current Hwanghae Province)
Is that truly your command?
Do it.
Yes, Your Highness.
Please stay strong.
This is just the beginning.
You cannot struggle under them already.
What are you saying?
The emotions you feel, Your Highness.
The weight of your choices that you alone must carry.
I am sorry to say that...
unfortunate as it may be, it cannot be shared with anyone.
Can I not share it with someone if that person is capable of bearing it?
You cannot share the throne with anyone.
That is as dangerous as having...
two coachmen steer one carriage.
The carriage will never be able to go straight.
You must bear everything on your own.
That is the fate of a king.
That is why...
I have yet to meet one who is not lonely.
I apologize.
I spoke out of line.
Forgive me.
Yes.
You truly did speak out of line.
You are excused.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Your Highness, the Crown Prince is here.
He is back?
Welcome home.
I thought you would remain in your office.
I am done for the night.
Where are the children?
They are fast asleep.
They ran about and played together once they were reunited.
I am sure they did.
Now we must give them proper names.
I will be crowned soon.
Is that true?
The day has finally come.
Yes. It was a long road.
Thank you. I owe you everything.
Not at all.
You did it on your own.
You were the one who made the decisions...
and led the men.
Thank you for saying that.
My dear.
I really want to do well.
I want to be a good king.
That seems to be the only way to make up for...
all the wrong I did.
Your Highness. Why do you say that?
You are not a sinner.
No. I am a sinner.
I killed my brother...
and held a sword to my father's neck.
Your Highness.
My dear,
I have a favor to ask.
Go ahead.
Help me so that I can do well.
Of course I will.
I have always done so.
I always matched your steps and walked beside you.
I will continue doing that.
No.
We cannot walk side by side in the future.
Pardon?
In order for me to become a true king,
you must stand one step behind me from now on.
What are you saying right now?
That is what a liege should do.
Become my liege.
Please.
Do not think about leading me from the front.
Get rid of the idea that we will stand side by side as well.
Do not make me a puppet like this time...
under the pretense that you are helping me.
Just like the other lieges, only step up...
when I want you to.
My dear, please.
Do that for me.
What will happen...
if I refuse?
Then you cannot come into the palace.
Please.
Become my liege,
so I can continue loving you.
Become my liege,
so I do not grow to hate you.
Dear.
Your Highness.
Yes, dear.
I would rather become a traitor.
My dear.
Rest comfortably.
All rise for His Majesty the King!
On November 13, 1400 A.D.,
Lee Bang Won finally ascended to the throne.
He is the third king of Joseon, King Taejong.
And as of that day, Lady Min...
became Lee Bang Won's political enemy.
His Majesty the King! Hooray!
- Hooray! - Hooray!
(The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won)
I do not wish to fail as Father did.
That is what is best for the people...
and the way for me to gain forgiveness.
You should get ready to enter the palace.
I did not receive permission yet.
What are you doing?
I intend to become an ivy...
willing to crawl on the ground to grow.
Leaf by leaf, I will wrap myself around the foundations of the palace...
and eventually cover the roof of Jeongjeon.