Remember. I have...
another son who is capable...
of becoming King this instant.
Father.
Father!
Prince Chungnyeong.
How dare you!
As we are out,
I feel sorry that I disturbed your studying.
Do not be.
The weather is nice. Let us enjoy it and go back.
I am sorry for focusing myself only on studying.
Since Crown Prince is not interested in studying at all,
I feel that I need to focus myself on studying even more.
What do you mean by that?
All the subjects of Joseon are Confucian scholars.
They passed the State Examination,
which means they reached the high level of study.
If the King lacks knowledge in study,
he will not be able to lead his subjects.
Still, you cannot lead the subjects...
instead of the King.
The virtue of brothers of the King...
is not to be involved in governing the country.
Even if that is the case,
I cannot let the country be chaotic.
My dear.
It only has been about 20 years since Joseon was founded.
As a person,
it is like a newly born baby who has just started walking.
At this time, if the King is unwise,
we cannot promise the bright future of the country.
I can understand why you are worried.
But the Crown Prince has to deal with it.
You should not worry that far.
- My dear. - Then what should I do?
Even when the country goes down the wrong path,
should I just play a mandolin and write poems?
The Crown Prince will do his job.
Trust him.
My dear.
(Crown Prince Lee Je, Lee Bang Won's oldest son)
Your Highness, why do we not finish here?
It is already late.
Right. Let us do that.
You have studied very hard today.
Let us stop for now, Your Highness.
I will do it a little more.
You may leave.
If I have questions at night, I will ask you in the morning.
- Yes, Your Highness. - Yes, Your Highness.
He has changed completely.
His passion for studying...
is like the one of Prince Chungnyeong.
What book is he studying now?
He was studying the family part of "Extended Meaning of Great Learning."
It is the last book of the series.
Soon, he will have finished the series of "Extended Meaning of Great Learning."
It took him six years to finish the whole series.
Your Majesty, it is the attitude that matters.
From now on, it will not take long...
for him to finish reading any books he reads.
I understand.
I want you two masters to keep teaching him well.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Please put more eunuch and court ladies...
working at my place.
I only have a few, which does not help my reputation.
(Queen Wongyeong, Lady Min)
Find another one to make this request.
I am the Queen with no power.
You still have the power to do this, Your Highness.
Do that for me.
Only then will I be able to keep...
the secret between us.
What?
Your clan is already in trouble.
If this secret were to get out, would that not be a disaster?
Are you...
threatening me?
Your Highness.
You dare...
try to bargain with my family in front of me?
You dare mention the tragedies we have suffered through...
to try to control me?
If I set my mind to it,
I can find a male servant who will say...
he slept with you.
It will take nothing.
Do you want me to do that?
I do not.
I apologize. Do forgive me.
Do not forget your place.
I took you in out of pity for you.
I did not let you live because I do not know how to be sly.
I let you live so I could remain human.
Yes, Your Highness.
I will remember that.
Get out this instant.
And do not visit me again.
Yes, Your Highness.
That was made to celebrate the Crown Prince completing...
his studies of "Extended Meanings of the Great Learning."
Thank you.
It will make a fine gift.
I will accept it to mean I must study even harder.
His Highness has become a greater man and scholar.
I see true king material now.
Your Majesty, Grand Princes Hyoryeong and Chungnyeong are here.
I invited them to congratulate you.
Oh, I see.
Let them in!
- Father. - Father.
Congratulations on finishing "Extended Meanings of the Great Learning."
Congratulations.
It must have been a great endeavor.
Thank you.
I am your older brother...
and Crown Prince.
And I am ashamed that I failed to be a good example.
Do not say that. I am not great either.
If you continue to study hard,
you will overtake us soon enough.
Your Majesty. All the princes are here. Why not have a drink?
Yes, we shall.
Let us drink.
You should too.
- Yes, Father. - Yes, Father.
So,
since the Crown Prince has studied hard,
I would like you to translate what is on the folding screen.
What does it say about the three brothers?
It says...
there were three brothers, Jeon Jin, Jeon Gyeong, Jeon Gwang.
Their parents died leaving an inheritance,
and the brothers ended up fighting over it.
They realized there was a tree in the garden,
and decided to divide that into three.
But the tree ended up dying.
Jeon Jin shed tears when he saw that.
What did those tears mean?
Like branches that stem from one tree,
brothers are from one set of parents.
Jeon Jin saw that and cried with regret.
Grand Prince Chungnyeong, what do you think?
I think the same.
His Highness the Crown Prince understood it perfectly.
What book does this story come from?
It comes from a compilation of stories put together by Oh Gyun...
from Yang in the Kingdom of Nanzhao.
(Oh Gyun compiled stories that had been handed down.)
I knew that Grand Prince Chungnyeong would know that as well.
I heard that Grand Prince Chungnyeong has also studied military books.
(Book on military training)
I only read what I can.
I heard you are well-learned in many military strategies as well.
(Strategies of war)
Do not flatter me.
There is much I do not yet know.
Reading many military books...
does not make you a good commander.
Grand Prince Chungnyeong knows a lot but he lacks courage.
That is his problem.
Courage comes from knowledge,
and fear comes from ignorance.
The more I learn,
the more courage I will gain.
You must feel so reassured, Your Highness.
Your brother...
will be a great help when you govern later on.
Is that not true, Your Majesty?
It is.
Chungnyeong, assist your brother well.
I will, Father.
Let us all drink.
The three little boys...
are now old enough to drink with us.
That shows how much I have aged.
You should tell them to stop aging.
Would they dare disobey their King?
You taught me a great deal today.
I should return the favor.
Take this.
You should exercise every now and then.
If you just sit and read,
later on, you will turn into a fat fool.
As your brother, I cannot allow that.
Here I come!
Now do you get it?
There are things you are good at and things I am good at.
You are not better than me.
We are just different!
If I were you, I would have kept quiet today.
But that is not what you are like.
You are the type who cannot go one moment without showing off your knowledge.
What is the point...
of knowing which page of which book "Hyohaengnok" is located?
Especially when you are the first to do things...
that hurts the relationship between us brothers.
Father and the ministers...
must know this.
Then you should do it as well.
- What? - If that displeases you,
you should focus on your studies and catch up to me.
Then you will receive 10, no 20 times...
more praise than I have ever received.
Prince Chungnyeong.
Nobody is interfering with your studies.
You are the one who is wasting time and missing your chance.
Shut your mouth.
I would never do that.
If I were the one who was next in line to be king.
I would not have wasted time with wine, women, and gambling!
Prince Chungnyeong!
You are the one who got yourself in this situation.
Stop blaming others and reflect on yourself.
You had plenty of chances.
(Jo Yeong Mu, Right State Councilor)
I will leave now.
Thank you for spending such a long time with me.
General Jo.
Stay and have some more drinks.
I do not wish to let you go.
Your Majesty.
Have you yet to change your mind about quitting?
I am getting old now.
Seeing as how it is hard for me to get up in the morning,
it seems...
my days are limited.
It was an honor to have served you,
Your Majesty.
I never regretted...
choosing you.
Uncle Yeong Mu.
I will get going now.
Please stay healthy.
Uncle Yeong Mu.
Her name is Eo Ri.
She lives in the home of the Fifth Privy Councilor, Kwak Seon.
They say she is so beautiful...
that once you have seen her, you can never forget her.
Really?
I must go find out just how beautiful she really is.
Yes. It is that house over there. Let us go.
She is my father's mistress.
How could you ask to see a woman who is already betrothed?
Listen here.
Are you refusing to listen to His Highness the Crown Prince's orders?
Even if he is the Crown Prince, I cannot obey this command.
My goodness, you...
Goodness. That is enough.
My goodness. That is enough.
All right. Then...
are you saying that you do not care...
what will happen to your family once I ascend to the throne?
Your Highness.
If you understand what I am saying,
bring her out right now.
This is the Crown Prince.
We will take her with us.
Pardon?
- Wait... - Why are you doing this? Let go of me!
Let go of me!
Your Highness!
Is that true?
Yes.
The Min Clan...
tried to kill me and Prince Gyeongnyeong.
Why are you telling me this now?
- That... - Did you lie to me all this time?
I did not lie to you.
I did not have a chance to tell you...
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Go arrest Min Mu Hyul and Min Mu Hoe and interrogate them at once!
Find out who was behind this,
and how involved they were in this.
Be sure to find out everything.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Place it on them.
Tell us everything.
How could you not know what happened in your home?
We do not know anything.
We really do not know anything.
Step on them!
Stop right now!
Your Highness. You should not be here.
Remove those at once.
Right now!
Your Highness.
Will you...
kill the rest of my brothers?
I am just trying to disclose their crime.
I cannot let go of it.
Then, kill me.
My brothers did nothing wrong.
I told them to do it.
I was blinded by jealousy and did wrong.
So,
punish me.
Your Majesty.
Please dethrone me...
and order poison on me.
As long as I am not Queen, everything will be fine, will it not?
If so, you do not need to crush the Min clan...
any more.
Your Majesty.
It is all my fault.
I dared to be on the throne with you, Your Majesty.
I dared to take half of the Joseon Dynasty.
So, punish me.
I am the reason for all the wrong things.
So, please get rid of me.
You did nothing wrong.
Your words were right.
We have to enjoy what we accomplished together.
But that is not the country I want to build.
What I want...
is a country beyond clans.
A king that can stand on his own.
Please leave now.
The ones that I am punishing for the crime...
are not your brothers.
They are the relatives you do not know of their names and faces.
They are poor creatures...
who cannot live in the country that I want to build.
Your Majesty.
Please.
Please punish me.
Please save my brothers.
Please...
reflect on the days you had with me.
Please accept my last request.
Queen.
I am not a human anymore.
Your Majesty.
I am only King.
I have forgotten blood and tears.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Father.
What brought you here?
I have something to tell you.
If you came for your maternal uncles, it is better for you to leave now.
- Father. - I told you to leave!
Father, this is not how a king rules.
It is not right to accomplish...
using every possible way and means.
I am only disclosing their crimes.
Then you have to find the evidence...
that they instigated.
How can you only rely on torture?
Who will be able to go through the harsh torture?
Please stop the torture now.
Please stop harming the innocent people.
They are your people as well, Your Majesty.
Prince Chungnyeong does not know what he is talking about.
They are criminals who deserve to be tortured.
They came to me earlier and spoke to me disloyally.
Your Highness.
Speaking to you disloyally?
They told me the two maternal uncles you commanded to commit suicide...
were innocent and were killed wrongly.
And they seemed to blame you, Your Majesty.
Your Highness!
Is that true?
Yes. You can have them confront me.
Prince Chungnyeong is too busy reading to know the reality.
He does not know politics.
He does not know how big the burden...
the King has to take.
I am the only one...
who understands you, Father.
Your Highness.
Exile the two criminals.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
If the criminals...
want to wash away their sins by committing suicide,
tell them to do so.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Mu Hyul.
Your Highness.
(Lady Song, Lee Bang Won's mother-in-law)
Please have me killed instead.
I was behind it all.
Who was behind it...
does not matter.
Those who were meant to die...
were chosen from the start.
Your Highness.
Your Highness...
What are you doing?
You had two more of our uncles killed.
Yet again,
you made our mother wail in pain!
What is this about?
Why are you doing this?
It is because of you.
It is because you dare covet my place.
Brother.
I know of your ambitions.
I saw it in you even as a little boy.
But you will not get what you want.
The throne is mine.
I am our father's eldest son,
and I am the one who does what he wishes. Do you understand?
Let me return home.
Not even an alleyway thug would do this.
How can you rape a married woman...
and lock her in the Palace?
How can the future king do such a thing?
A king has no shame.
(To know no shame)
He can have whatever he wants.
That is how he is able to focus on caring for his people.
You cannot be happy living with an old husband...
who no longer is in office.
Keep quiet and stay with me.
Then later on,
you will enjoy a life that equals the queen's.
Your Highness, Her Highness the Queen is coming.
Hide in the other room.
Mother.
Do you call yourself human?
Are you truly the child whom I carried for ten months...
and gave birth to with much pain?
I did what I did to survive.
What?
I am aware what I did makes me less than a beast.
But I had no choice.
I cannot lose my place.
What despicable excuse will you come up with now?
It is not an excuse.
At this rate, I will lose my Crown Prince title.
Chungnyeong expressed his ambition,
and Father is aware but does nothing.
You must know better than anyone what it means...
when brothers fight for the throne.
The loser dies.
No ousted Crown Prince has ever lived.
Think of how Prince Uian died.
(Prince Uian, Lee Bang Seok's previous title)
I am fighting to stay alive.
Shut your mouth!
Mother.
As if sending your uncles to their deaths was not enough,
are you even framing your brother?
You killed two uncles...
to hide your incompetence.
Now are you involving your brother too?
Mother.
You are the truly evil one.
You will drag down anyone...
within your reach right to their deaths.
I never thought...
I would regret giving birth to you.
I did not know the tears of joy I shed...
would become tears of pain.
Mother.
You may leave.
Mother.
Do not try to fish for words to comfort me.
I do not wish to...
plunge you into sadness as well.
You should leave.
Yes, Mother.
Is that true?
Yes.
I think my husband seems to want to sit on the throne.
(Sim On, Grand Prince Chungnyeong's father-in-law)
What should I do?
I am so afraid something dreadful will happen.
Do not worry too much. It will be a passing fancy.
And even if he wishes to take the throne,
he will not be able to.
His Majesty is firm in his decision that he will leave the throne...
to his eldest son.
He became his own brother's son...
to conform to that rule.
Then can I stop worrying?
Yes. Do not get ahead of yourself.
Your husband is a docile man.
He will not speak out of line and put himself in trouble.
Yes, Father.
He is late to return tonight.
The Queen's other two brothers...
were severely punished today.
He will have stayed back to comfort the Queen.
That great family turned to ruin overnight.
What a great pity.
I do not believe it.
Is that true?
Yes.
Kwak Seon's son reported it to the Inspection Department.
Kwak Seon has a mistress called Eo Ri,
and the Crown Prince took her away.
Where is that woman now?
She was found hiding in the Crown Prince's residence...
and was taken to the Inspection Department.
Previously,
he was found in close proximity with a girl called Cheogongjang.
His tutors talked him out of it.
(The Crown Prince's private tutors)
Who on earth is that?
I am sorry to say...
she was a woman the abdicated king was once fond of.
I sent Eo Ri back to where she came from.
And His Majesty...
ordered that you leave the palace at once.
Thank you for telling me this.
I will never forget your hard work.
Escort him.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Your Highness.
Did you do this?
Was it you again?
I will never let this go.
Once I ascend to the throne, I will get rid of you first.
Do you understand? Prince Chungnyeong!
Were you looking for me?
Let me ask you something.
Please, go ahead.
Do you wish to become King?
Tell me.
Do you wish to become the King of this nation?
Yes, I do.
Can you do it?
Are you sure you could be a better king than your brother?
Yes, I am.
Then become the Crown Prince on your own.
You must not shed blood.
You must not cause trouble in the Royal Court either.
Use your knowledge and political power...
to overtake your brother.
Then I...
will make you Crown Prince.
Father.
Will you try it?
Yes, Father. I will do it.
I will be sure to succeed.
(The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won)
Prince Chungnyeong is after the throne.
He has traitorous thoughts.
My intention was not to divide you.
I just wished to be in the company of those who are dignified.
I believe keeping people like that in the Royal Court...
is an insult to the government officials who are loyal.
I will show you that I am qualified to become King.
Give me a chance to discuss political affairs with the ministers.
If I ascend the throne,
you will live without worries.
If I ascend the throne, it will be hard for you to stay alive.