Why do you keep telling me to become more like Grand Prince Chungnyeong?
I have my own path.
Crown Prince.
Are you disobeying your father?
I am asking you to acknowledge me.
Crown Prince!
To study,
reading and memorizing are not the only way.
I am studying in my own way.
So, please do not be concerned about it.
Okay.
Let me check how well they are engraved in your heart.
Follow me.
Follow me as well, Grand Prince Chungnyeong.
(Kangnyeongjeon)
Since you read the Analects of Confucius, I will ask.
What is the meaning of the first sentence in the Analects?
It means, "Is it not pleasant to learn..."
"with a constant perseverance and application?"
How did you engrave the sentence to your heart?
For now, studying is hard.
But when I reach a certain level,
I would be able to realize how pleasant it is.
I told myself to endure the difficulty until then.
Grand Prince Chungnyeong.
How did you take it in?
Tell me now.
Yes, I think...
it is not just about the joy of learning.
I think it talks about the path the King should go on.
In this context, "learning" means...
the way of the King leading the country as he should.
The King needs to be willing to learn from his subjects.
Then, it will not be hard for his subjects to approach him.
It will definitely be a pleasant thing...
for the King and his subjects.
How come you understood the sentence from the King's perspective?
In my humble opinion,
Confucius's lessons are from the thought to lead a country...
using the human nature he understood.
That is why I took it in this way.
Did you listen to him carefully?
Telling you to recite and memorize it...
is not to make you struggle.
By reciting it several times,
you will start to wonder...
the actual meaning of the sentences,
or the hidden message behind it.
Yes,
I understand.
Let me ask you one more thing.
What is the meaning...
of the 23rd sentence...
in Zi Lu?
(The superior man is affable, but not adulatory.)
(The lesser man is adulatory, but not affable.)
Why are you not answering me?
Could you not understand this at all?
I understood it.
But I think I understood it wrong.
How did you understand the meaning?
Tell me.
I realize I have been doing it wrong. So, please stop!
Stop?
Stop what?
Like your lecturers who just try to please you,
are you asking your father not to criticize you at all?
Are you asking me to leave you as you are...
when you do not improve even after I had scolded you many times?
You are worse than when Prince Chungnyeong was seven years old.
Do you want me to leave you like that?
Chief Royal Secretary!
Yes, Your Majesty.
The lecturers and officers of the Crown Prince...
who did not lead him well,
dismiss all of them from the office.
(Hwang Hee, Chief Royal Secretary)
Also, beat all the eunuchs of the Crown Prince with a cudgel 20 times...
and kick all of them out of the palace.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You should not leave here.
His Majesty told you to watch it until it is over.
When I am on the throne,
you will be the first one to be kicked out.
Your Highness.
(Min Mu Hyul, Lee Bang Won's brother-in-law)
We will protect the clan.
Yes, we will have to stay with Mother.
Yes.
(Min Je, Lee Bang Won's father-in-law)
Stay with Mother.
But,
do not do anything else.
Do not even think of going to the Royal Court.
Do not think...
of interacting with others.
Father.
Still,
the tip of His Majesty's sword...
is aiming for our clan.
As if you are dead...
As if you do not exist...
That is how you must live.
What will happen to my brothers?
I doubt they will...
get out of this alive.
Father.
Exiling Min Mu Ku and Min Mu Jil...
was too generous a punishment.
It was not enough to establish your authority.
I plead that you sentence...
both Min Mu Ku and Min Mu Jil to death.
- Please execute them. - Please execute them.
They have been in exile for a long time now.
And yet you never stop petitioning.
Your Majesty. A wrong decision...
must be corrected even if it was made 10 or 20 years ago.
Please accept our plea.
- Accept our plea! - Accept our plea!
I cannot do as you ask.
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
I am well aware that their crimes are grave.
But they served me loyally, and they are my brothers-in-law.
My mother-in-law is bedridden...
because her two sons were exiled,
and her elderly husband...
spends each day worrying about them.
So how could I do something so heartless?
Do not bring this up again.
If you ever feel lonely or bored,
please call on me.
Lords Yeogang and Yeoseong, your exiled uncles, asked me to...
take good care of you.
Okay. Thank you.
I was sad that I had no one to drink with.
If one of my uncle's friends will accompany me,
that is welcome news.
I will serve you as best I can.
Let us drink, Your Highness.
Yes, we shall.
What did you sneak out of the Palace to do?
I had a few drinks.
Why did you go alone? That is dangerous.
You have nothing to worry.
Who would dare harm the Crown Prince?
How will you study today after drinking all night?
Tell me.
How will you manage today's lessons?
I will rest today.
Tomorrow, I will get myself together and study hard.
Do you expect me to believe that?
Yes. Please believe me.
I am not like I was before.
It may not be visible to your eyes,
but I have been working hard lately.
If you truly did your best, there will be results.
But you have not shown any at all.
And you still say you worked hard?
You lie more than you speak the truth.
Now, I do not believe anything you say.
How do you manage to rule our nation...
when you find it so hard to believe others?
What?
You not trusting anyone is why you always watch your subjects...
and frame the innocent...
to have them exiled.
Whom are you talking about?
I am talking about my uncles.
Am I wrong?
You charged them with ludicrous crimes...
and sent them far away!
Crown Prince!
You dare defend the guilty?
You dare mock your King's ruling?
Tell me.
Do you want to become a traitor yourself?
Tell me.
Do you wish to be with your uncles?
If you mention them once again,
I will not forgive you.
Do not insult me again.
You are still my subject. Do you understand?
Yes. Your Majesty.
Eunuch Park.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Send word to the Palace Guard.
They are to surround the Crown Prince's chambers...
and not allow him to step a foot outside.
If they fail to do so,
I will have them all beheaded.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
What is it?
The Former King Taejo is gravely ill.
- What? - His breathing is laborious,
and his mind is clouded, so I called the royal physician.
Please hurry.
How is he now?
Fortunately, his breathing and pulse returned to normal.
And his mind is clear.
He just fell asleep.
I think it is best not to wake him.
What caused the sudden lapse?
Was he taken ill?
He does not have any sort of illness.
However...
However what?
- Speak up. - I will, then.
I am sad to inform you but...
I believe His Highness is nearing the end of his life.
Why do you keep messing up?
I apologize.
Everyone must go through a time of trials and training.
For you, now is that time.
Yes, Mother.
Okay, then.
Sleep well tonight. Tomorrow, focus on your studies.
Please send the Palace Guard away.
I feel like I am in jail. I cannot stand it.
Then you should send them away yourself.
- Excuse me? - From now on, if you want something,
fight for it yourself and obtain it.
What do you mean?
Who are you telling me to fight?
His Majesty.
Mother.
Do not be afraid.
His Majesty cannot do anything to you.
That is the limit of a father fighting against his son.
That is how...
he managed to beat the Former King Taejo.
Get some rest.
He has stopped eating?
It has already been over four days.
Are you trying to threaten me?
Are you trying to harm yourself...
in order to beat me?
I just do not have an appetite.
Crown Prince!
I am studying hard,
so do not worry.
Be quiet!
Hurry up and pick up your spoon! Hurry and eat!
Right now!
I would rather you punish me.
Since all of the eunuchs who could get punished in my place are gone,
you should punish me directly!
Chief Royal Secretary.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Remove the Palace Guard from the Crown Prince's quarters.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Send all the eunuchs we kicked out...
back to the Crown Prince as well.
Yes, Your Majesty.
How funny.
I cannot beat him.
Your Majesty. Why did you stop?
You should go to your quarters.
Bring me my palanquin.
Pardon? Where do you want to go at this hour?
Now, you are coming to see me...
in the middle of the night as you please?
While reeking of alcohol like that?
I apologize.
(Abdicated King Taejo, Lee Seong Gye)
Why did you drink so much?
Did you drink without reason?
To be honest, the Crown Prince...
keeps rebelling.
I was having a drink because of my son who will not do as I say.
Then it reminded me of you.
I thought about you...
who collapsed at the blade that I held against you.
I thought about you...
who shed tears of sorrow because of me.
Father.
I am sorry!
Please...
Please punish me!
Please kill me!
What would change...
if I were to do that?
I do not...
have the energy to punish you...
nor do I have the energy to forgive you.
Father.
Your Highness. Your meal is here.
All right. I should eat.
I finally got my appetite back.
Congratulations.
I hope you live a long, healthy life and lead this nation for a long time.
- Congratulations. - Congratulations.
Thank you.
I am able to stand here today because of you.
Please remain unchanging and continue to stay by my side.
Here. Let us drink.
Your Majesty. His Highness the Former King Taejo is here.
Let him in.
Your Highness.
I came because it is your birthday.
May I have a seat?
Of course.
Please sit here.
I came...
to pour you a drink.
Please accept my drink.
Please...
As the King, please complete...
the costly sacrifice.
The only person that the people can rely on...
is a healthy king.
Please keep this in mind.
Yes, Your Highness.
I will remember this.
Drink up.
Yes.
Father.
Enjoy the meal.
I will leave now.
You should stay, sir.
I am tired as I am old.
Make a go of it. That should do it.
Father.
Do not see me off.
Father!
In 1408, the 8th year of King Taejong's reign,
the founding king of Joseon, King Taejo, Lee Seong Gye passed away.
(May he rest in peace.)
(Abdicated King, Lee Bang Gwa)
Father!
Grandfather.
Your Highness.
- Your Highness. - Your Highness.
Your Highness.
- Your Highness. - Your Highness.
Lee Seong Gye, the undefeated commander...
lost to his son, Lee Bang Won, twice.
He spent his later years in tragedy.
- But in the end, - Father.
he acknowledged Lee Bang Won as the King.
Now, his turbulent life came to an end.
You should visit him, Your Highness.
I am worried about Father.
It will not make any difference even if I do.
Still, you should go and see him.
His Majesty cares about you the most.
Father.
Why are you here?
Tell me.
What is the reason for you to come here?
You disobeyed and disdained your father.
You crushed your father!
Father.
You are the thankless son who used your father's love...
to make him fall down.
A traitor who destroyed the heart of the King!
Father.
Father!
Your Highness.
Are you ready to go?
Where are we going all of a sudden?
Let us get some fresh air.
I thought...
you needed that. So, I came here to see you.
I called the Crown Prince as well.
Let us go together.
I wish to go with you.
Please let me do so.
Since we are out of the Palace, we should race.
- Crown Prince. - Yes, Your Highness.
Try to catch up with me.
How do you feel?
Do you feel better?
Yes.
Father must be feeling free now.
From the burden as a king,
and the burden as a leader of a clan.
He must have let all of them go.
So, you should let go of your burden.
Please listen to His Highness.
I do not want you to suffer any longer.
Okay. I will.
Now, you know how to comfort your father.
Look around.
It is the country you will govern soon.
There are people living over the mountain far away.
There are also people living even further from there.
You will have to comfort...
and take care of all those people.
That is why I am so hard on you.
Yes, Father.
Can you do better?
Yes, I will do better.
I will do well...
to meet your expectations.
Good.
I believe in you.
Yes, Father.
Are you studying as soon as you arrive?
Did His Majesty scold you again?
Do not worry. It is not like that.
Then why are you...
Eunuch Song.
Do you know what I saw today?
I saw the land and the people...
that I must rule over one day.
Do you know what else I saw?
What did you see?
I saw who the King of Joseon is.
And even saw who will make me king.
Your Highness. I am Court Lady Jung who serves Her Highness the Queen.
What is it? You may enter.
Your Highness. The Queen needs you to come to her family's home.
Her father is gravely ill.
What?
Father.
You cannot die now.
Not before you see your grandson...
take the throne.
Please get better.
Please.
Your Highness.
Please...
stay safe and well.
Please...
survive the strife.
Father.
Father!
My lord!
- Father! - Father!
Father, please wake up.
- Father. - Your Highness.
- Father! - Father...
Mother.
Crown Prince...
Grandfather.
Father...
(In mourning)
You should have arrived sooner.
Your grandfather wished so much to see you.
I am sorry.
I am so sorry.
Do not cry.
We have...
no time to be sad.
Crown Prince.
Yes, Mother?
I must ask you a favor.
Yes. Please speak.
After the funeral,
the ministers will rise up.
They will petition for your exiled uncles' execution.
They will plead with the King.
What?
That is what the King wants.
His Majesty...
has already made up his mind.
When that happens, enter the Royal Office.
Stand before the ministers...
and voice your opinion.
That you do not wish for any more punishments.
That there has been enough.
Then most of the ministers will back down.
For fear of you who will soon become king.
They will not dare to speak up anymore.
Please do that.
I no longer have any authority.
Your uncles' lives...
depend on you now.
Mother.
Yes. Let us hurry.
Your Majesty. Min Mu Ku and Min Mu Jil's crimes...
are worthy of the death penalty.
Please accept our plea.
- Accept our plea. - Accept our plea.
Your Majesty. The Crown Prince is here.
Let him in.
What brings you here?
I heard there was a discussion about my uncles in the Royal Office,
so I came.
And?
What did you want to say?
I came because I wanted to express my opinion.
Tell me.
Speak up.
What is your opinion...
that you would come to the Royal Office?
Yes,
I will tell you.
The criminals committed a grave crime,
so take the advice of your subjects...
and sentence them to the death penalty.
Crown Prince!
What are you saying right now?
Crown Prince!
What is this commotion?
Escort the Queen out of the Royal Office!
Crown Prince! How could you do this?
Crown Prince!
Let go of me!
Crown Prince!
(The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won)
If you are being serious about what you said,
you must overcome those cries.
Put aside your despicable hypocrisy...
and tell me the truth!
I believe it is time for me to really step down from the throne.
Then are you saying it is all my fault?
Then whose fault is it?
Just because you are smart,
do not think you see more than I do.
You must never become King, Your Highness.
Prince Chungnyeong!