Crown Prince!
- Do you know what you are doing now? - Oh, my goodness.
Do you know who you are killing?
Crown Prince!
How dare you!
Let go of me!
- Crown Prince! - Your Highness.
Crown Prince!
Your Highness.
Crown Prince.
Is what you just said truly what you want?
Yes, it is.
They are your maternal uncles.
They are the ones who raised you.
Do you still think they should be sentenced to death?
(Crown Prince Lee Je, Lee Bang Won's eldest son)
Treason cannot be overlooked...
because of personal feelings.
Tell the criminals in the place of exile...
what I say.
I command the two criminals to kill themselves.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
(Lady Min, Queen Wongyeong)
(Hwang Hee, Chief Royal Secretary)
He commanded them to kill themselves.
I am sorry.
Your Highness.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Crown Prince.
Yes.
If you meant what you said,
you have to overcome that scream.
Father.
If you are going to be the King,
you have to overcome that scream.
You will be able to handle the throne only if you do that.
Crown Prince. Where are you?
Come out now!
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, you are not human!
My brothers did not do anything wrong.
What did my brothers do?
Is it a crime...
to fight for you, with their lives at stake?
Also,
Walking on eggshells around you,
they laid low. Is that a crime?
Tell me.
Tell me now.
How can you...
punish them for the crimes they did not commit...
and take...
their lives away?
In the eyes of a traitor,
does everyone seem like a traitor?
Tell me, Your Majesty!
Let go of the detestable hypocrisy,
and tell me the truth!
Was this your plan...
all along?
From when you used the power of my clan,
did you plan to do this?
If it is not, dispute.
I dare you to say that I am wrong!
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty...
(Grand Prince Hyoryeong, Lee Bang Won's second son)
Your Majesty!
(Grand Prince Chungnyeong, Lee Bang Won's third son)
Your Majesty...
Mother.
Your Majesty.
Please...
rescind your command.
Your Majesty.
Please rescind your command.
I would rather...
you kill me.
Please spare my brothers' lives!
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Please!
Mother!
Mother.
Mother...
Mother.
Mother...
Wake up.
Mother...
(Jeju Island, place of exile)
(Min Mu Ku, Lee Bang Won's brother-in-law)
Drink.
(Min Mu Jil, Lee Bang Won's brother-in-law)
I do not want to.
Why must I drink this?
Why must I die?
Drink it.
Only then...
can the rest of our clan live.
Mu Ku!
Drink up. I will send you off,
then follow soon after.
- Mu Ku... - Drink!
There. Are you happy now?
Come here.
Your Highness, my Queen.
Please be strong and well.
- Mu Ku! - Mu Jil!
- Mu Ku! - Mu Jil...
(Lady Song, Lee Bang Won's mother-in-law)
I had no choice.
Even if I had objected,
they would have died anyway.
I must show him that I obey...
if I am to take the throne sooner.
When I do, I will get rid of all the subjects...
who framed my uncles.
Are you saying you did it to bide your time?
For the sake of your future,
you sacrificed the lives...
of your dear uncles?
Why do you keep saying that?
It was already beyond my control.
I felt tortured as well.
Leave.
Mother.
Leave.
I am still all you have.
I am your only hope.
- Your Highness. - Your Highness.
Yes.
Take that to her.
Where are you going?
Mother is sick.
You should stay with her as well.
You stay with her.
My presence will only upset her further.
You must still stay.
What?
You are the one who should comfort her.
What is it you wish to say?
It was something you were more than capable of stopping.
How dare you speak as if you know anything?
How well do you know our father?
You did not eat or drink for just three days...
and Father...
canceled your punishment and reinstated your eunuchs.
If you had put your life on the line,
he would not have ordered their death.
Do not be so foolish.
Father had already decided to kill our uncles.
If you had convinced him that you could be trusted,
he would have changed his mind.
Because you cannot stand on your own feet, Father concluded that...
when you become king, our uncles would manipulate you.
Are you saying it is all my fault?
Then whose fault is it?
If you had shown you have the qualities to be king,
why would His Majesty be so wary of his in-laws?
Darn you!
Why do you talk as if you knew our uncles that well?
You were not that close to them!
I was not as close as you were with them, but they were my uncles as well.
They were our mother's brothers.
If you had done better,
Mother would not have had to cry so much.
Do you get that?
It is late.
You should go.
I will leave after I see you fall asleep.
You were such a small little boy,
but now you are so big.
I cried a lot after I had you.
It felt like I regained all the sons I had lost.
I cried endlessly.
Looking back,
that was the happiest moment of my life.
Mother.
Did you have to do this?
How could you be so cruel to Mother?
You say you are well-versed in literature,
and yet you do not understand.
They say there is a beginning and an end to all things.
The king just needs to stand upright.
Then there will be no problems.
Regardless of how powerful his wife's family and his vassals are,
as long as the king walks down the right path,
nobody would find an excuse to hinder him.
Power is ambition.
An excuse...
is just a shell that is put forward when one has enough power...
to put those ambitions into action.
I saw that ambition in the Queen's family.
That is simply human nature.
The King should just avoid showing any flaws.
Will you get rid of all your subjects...
just because there could be a treacherous one?
Prince Chungnyeong.
Yes, Father.
Leave this to me.
Just because you are smart,
do not think you see more than I do.
The problems within the Royal Court are the Crown Prince's concern.
Do not concern yourself with the matters of the state...
and go take care of your mother.
That is what you are to do.
Yes, Father.
Tell me right now.
(Yu Jeong Hyeon: Minister of Punishments, Hwang Hee: Inspector General)
Did he really say that?
Yes.
I am certain he said that as he returned from being an envoy.
He said...
that Min Mu Ku and Min Mu Jil are being punished for no reason.
We have a clear testimony.
Do not undergo any more torture and just confess.
Yes.
I will confess.
I said that.
We have finished questioning the criminals,
but amongst them is the nephew of the Chief State Councilor's wife.
(Chief State Councilor: Ha Ryun's government post)
What does that matter?
Even if they are Ha Ryun's in-laws,
we cannot make an exception.
His Majesty would never allow it either.
Yes, my lord.
I heard...
that an anonymous letter about Lord Ha Ryun's corruption...
was received by the Inspection Department.
Yes, that is correct.
He was told to reduce the forests near Jeongneung...
so that private homes could be built.
But Lord Ha Ryun...
took up all the best land by getting his sons-in-law involved as well.
Gather all that information...
and report it to His Majesty tomorrow.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
How are you feeling?
Do not worry about me.
How is mother?
She just spends her days sighing.
But...
why are you in official uniform?
(Min Mu Hyul, Lee Bang Won's brother-in-law)
His Majesty has appointed me...
as Second Commander General of the Right Army.
(Military position that commands the Right Army)
He has left me in charge of Hanseong Magistracy.
(A second-rank position in charge of governing the capital, Hanseongbu)
What?
He made your brothers kill themselves,
and he is mercilessly beating...
anyone who is amicable with our family.
(Min Mu Hoe, Lee Bang Won's brother-in-law)
So why would someone like him give you both a government position?
Refuse it.
You will end up in trouble as well.
He abetted the ministers and set a trap...
just to kill your brothers.
He will do whatever it takes...
to harm you.
Do you think we are unaware of that?
As a result, we have already refused multiple times...
under the excuse that we are still in mourning.
Yet he continued to send his royal order.
If we continue to refuse, it will be deemed as being disloyal.
He could charge us for defying his royal command.
I heard His Majesty gave you government positions. Congratulations.
Please commit yourselves to the Royal Court...
in place of my late uncles.
Yes, Your Highness.
Why are you not saying anything, Uncle?
How could you say something like that so calmly?
- What? - Brother!
Are you unaware that my brothers died unfairly?
That is enough out of you!
My brother made an improper remark.
Please do not take it to heart.
Do you want to blame me too?
Do you think it is my fault?
Of course not. We do not.
I will let this go considering all the things I received from your family.
Do not say anything like that ever again.
Then, goodbye.
Your Highness.
All the people revealed to be on the Min brothers' side...
will all be exiled...
regardless of their ranks.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Yes, Your Majesty.
As for the anonymous letter regarding the chief state councilor...
Do not bring it up ever again.
Your Majesty.
You must not keep someone who was blinded...
by their selfish desires in the Royal Court.
Please impose a severe punishment.
There is a poster on the wall in the city...
that says this drought is all Ha Ryun's fault.
This just goes to prove...
that the chief state councilor's wrongdoings...
are already known amongst the people.
I am not saying he is not at fault.
I am just saying that this small flaw...
is nothing compared to the contributions that the chief state councilor has made.
I just want to take this into consideration.
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Everyone but the chief state councilor may leave.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Are you not being too harsh for someone who was once in the same boat as him?
What do you mean?
If he worked with us to ensure that His Majesty ascended to the throne,
he should not do anything to disgrace His Majesty's reputation.
(Lee Sook Beon, State Chancellery Officer and State Council)
Is there anyone who does not have a few skeletons in their closet?
If I decided to look into you,
do you think you would be safe?
What?
Watch what you are saying.
Who are you criticizing right now?
If you defend a subject who committed a heinous crime,
how are you any different from those who stand by traitors?
What?
Hey, are you trying to lecture me...
now that you are a minister?
What do you mean "Hey?"
You should show me a bit of courtesy.
How dare you!
You should be careful.
I have been hearing a lot...
that you disturb the Royal Court with your audacious behaviors.
What?
If you do not want to be taken by the Inspection Department,
behave yourself.
How dare them.
Chief state councilor Ha Ryun.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Keep a low profile.
I still have a lot to put you in charge.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I am sorry for making you worry.
People are saying...
the King has abandoned his brothers-in-law.
In addition, due to drought,
there are plenty of complaints from the people.
I think the skies...
are punishing me for committing a lot of crimes.
Your Majesty, what are you saying?
I believe it is time...
for me to really step down from the throne.
Your Majesty.
Please withdraw the abdication.
Please withdraw.
Your Majesty. Please accept our plea.
- Accept our plea! - Accept our plea!
Your Majesty.
Lee Bang Won declared the abdication again.
With that, he subdued the people's complaints...
about the drought...
and tightened the subjects' discipline.
- Accept our plea! - Accept our plea!
And on that basis,
he strengthened the royal authority.
- Please withdraw. - Please withdraw.
If there are ten subjects,
one of them is bound to be a loyal subject...
and another one is bound to be a traitor.
The rest of them can be loyal subjects...
or traitors.
Then, what should I do?
You always have to be righteous and bright as the king.
Under a strong king, they will be loyal subjects.
Under a weak king, they will be traitors.
That is what subjects are.
How is it?
The view is great, is it not?
Yes, it is very beautiful.
It puts my mind at peace.
(Abdicated King, Lee Bang Gwa)
There are other places with great views.
Let us take time and enjoy them all.
Yes, I will.
Are you going to carry me on your back every time we are out?
What else can I do?
All the places with great views are hard to get to.
Is the ride uncomfortable?
No, it is not.
Nothing is more comfortable than this.
I think I am falling asleep.
Then you should sleep for a while.
When we reach the palanquin, I will wake you up.
Yes, Your Highness.
My dear.
Do you know...
I abolished private soldiers when I was Crown Prince?
Yes, I do.
Do you know what that means?
I do not know it.
It means this country finally has its own army.
Before that, did the country not have soldiers?
No.
After Goryeo's military officials had broken out in revolt...
and invaded the Royal Court,
Goryeo never had...
soldiers that belonged to the country.
When generals got the right of requisition,
they collected the people on their own,
and they lead the armies under their commands.
That is why they were called private soldiers.
The private soldiers overwhelmed the king's guards.
So, the king could never stand upright.
They are...
the army of the country that we have not had for the last 230 years.
They are the soldiers for the people.
From now on, you will lead them.
Never let them be weak.
Yes, Father.
Your Majesty.
Queen Dowager has passed away.
What?
(May she rest in peace.)
As we go through mourning the death of Queen Dowager, you should not drink.
And always live with condolences to her.
- Yes, Father. - Yes, Father.
How is your mother these days?
She regains her health for a while,
but falls back sick again.
Please visit her, Father.
Father.
You should come to the Palace often and take care of her.
You may leave now.
- Yes, Father. - Yes, Father.
What can Father say even if he visits her?
He will just be hurt.
Still, Father has to visit her.
Father is the only person who can bury Mother's hatchet.
You may go home first.
I am going to visit the Crown Prince.
Father will listen to his request.
Have a drink.
That tastes great.
It has been a long time since we met.
I feel so relieved and proud to see you...
enjoy yourself.
Do you?
The truth is,
I have been very busy following the King around.
I heard about that.
His Majesty keeps you close...
and discusses all matters of politics with you.
I see he truly trusts you now.
He does. Very soon, I will take the throne.
When I do, I will keep you close by my side.
I do not entertain you because I wish for such favors.
I only do this because I enjoy...
being in your presence.
You know how to please someone.
You are the best kind of drinking buddy to have.
Am I?
- Drink. - Let us drink.
Yes.
How lovely.
This is so very nice.
When would you ever get to come here?
Are you really taking me to the Palace?
Are you allowed to?
Of course I am. Who can stop me from doing what I want?
Come along.
What are you doing there in the middle of the night?
I heard you left through the North Gate.
So I waited for you here.
We are mourning the Queen Dowager,
and you went out to drink?
And as if that is not enough,
you brought a girl to the Palace?
What?
Why do you care what I do?
Tell me.
Why are you always criticizing me?
It is because...
I feel sorry for you.
You are to be our future King.
But look at you.
You ignored Mother's sorrow...
and betrayed Father's trust!
What are you doing?
Do not mind me and go home.
Play your lute and write poems.
I will take care of my business.
You go back to being a boring prince!
How would you know the anguish of a monarch?
Go home and go to bed.
As soon as day breaks, go to the Royal Office.
His Majesty knows.
What?
How does he know?
I told him.
For the people's sake,
I said he should make you a changed man.
How dare you?
This will not do.
You cannot take the throne with a temper like this.
What?
You must never...
become King.
Prince Chungnyeong!
I wish you a safe return to your chambers.
Prince Chungnyeong!
You deceived me.
I believed you had truly repented.
I thought you were truly prepared to be King.
But you were not.
Why are you so light-hearted?
Do you think that whatever you do,
you will become King?
Do you think however flawed you are,
you are the only option?
Father.
Crown Prince.
Yes, Father.
I will say just one thing.
Yes. I am listening.
I may choose another.
Father.
Remember. I have...
another son who is capable...
of becoming King this instant.
Father.
Father!
Prince Chungnyeong.
How dare you!