[The following program recreated historical events by adding fictional characters and situations]
Episode 15
Shoot. What is stopping you?
It must have been so hard to bear.
How did you manage to endure such harrowing pain?
If my death can quell your suffering in any way,
I shall happily die a hundred, a thousand times for your sake.
My Lady! My Lady!!
Seryeong.
Open your eyes...
Seryeong...
My daughter must be saved.
Get moving!
That way.
Here... This way.
We can't lose them!
Find them!!
My Lady... Please, open those eyes...
You only did that to save Seryeong, so don't blame yourself.
It looked as though she was trying to protect him.
How could that be possible?!
She must have frantically tried to move out of the way, frightened by the arrow.
I will personally find him whatever it takes.
And you should.
For he not only violated my residence and abducted her,
but he was daring enough to sacrifice Seryeong's life to bring harm upon me.
Both for my sake and hers, we must find who's responsible.
Your Highness.
Our men who were searching around Mapo Port found this.
I don't know what to say to you, after your nuptials ended so abruptly.
Don't mention it.
Tears... How shameless of me.
Seeing these garments, I couldn't help but break down.
Are these Her Ladyship's wedding garments?
You should have seen how wondrous she looked...
And yet you couldn't even witness that.
How are Her Ladyship's conditions?
She should soon regain her senses.
That is a relief.
We need her to be conscious, if we are to find anything about that man.
- Let's head to Mapo Port. - Yes.
You were here?
What's troubling you so much?
Is it because you couldn't fulfill those vengeful whims of yours?
Or maybe it's fear that the woman pierced by that arrow might die?
She made it.
I've heard it from one of their troops.
Dead or alive, it doesn't concern me.
Did you really capture her for the sake of revenge?
Or was it because you didn't want her to become another man's wife?
Wake up!
You don't even know what you really want and, what... revenge?!
Out of the way.
Was it here that you found Her Ladyship's wedding garments?
Yes.
Which gibang threw them away?
We could not ascertain that as of yet.
The gibang around Mapo Port alone number in the dozens.
Find out who controls all the bandits in this area.
If there is anyone who can help us find that man, it's him.
Yes, I will.
What's the matter?
His Highness Prince Suyang is urgently looking for you.
Prince Geumseong is behind this.
We'll only be sure once Her Ladyship regains her senses.
Finding the culprit is not the real issue.
If we can't find him, all the better.
And if we do find him, can't we just force him to confess Prince Geumseong is behind this?
A blessing in disguise if we ever saw one, don't you think?
But His Majesty is trying all in his power to protect Prince Geumseong.
Where is Geumseong at the moment?
We revoked the order to transfer him to the state tribunal,
so he's still at the bureau prisons.
Is that so?
No matter how frantically they try to wrest him away, there is nothing they can do.
But this won't stop at Prince Geumseong.
We must eliminate Royal Son-in-law Jeong Jong as well.
I would certainly concur!
But Jong...
- Not the Royal Son-in-law. - Myeon!
He conspired with Prince Geumseong in their vile complot to eliminate His Highness.
He is merely a dear friend of mine who was present as my best man.
I suggest you question him yourself.
You'll easily discover that the men by his side were Royal Garrison troops...
sent by Prince Geumseong.
There is no way...
You still think of him as a friend of yours?
Lady Seryeong has returned to her residence.
But...
But?
She was injured by an arrow.
An arrow?!
Criminal Jeong Jong, surrender at once!
We were ordered to apprehend the Royal Son-in-law for...
taking part in the conspiracy to murder Prince Suyang and abduct Lady Seryeong.
What? Abduct?!
How dare you try to falsely accuse him?
First you come here acting like a friend of his and now you want to imprison him?
I shall soon follow you, so give me some time.
That's out of the question!
Please respect my decision, Your Highness.
Remain here.
I won't.
I'll do everything I can to stop them.
Listen to me.
It will not take long.
And I don't want you to witness my arrest.
- Eungeum, are you out there? - Yes.
You'll have to stay by Her Highness' side tonight.
And don't let her out of your sight for a single moment.
All right.
Let go.
I did nothing serious enough to warrant being forcibly arrested,
so I shall pave the way to the capital bureau, where we will ascertain the truth.
Let him.
Did you only agree to be my best man to aid Prince Geumseong in his complot?
Let us hear the truth!
Are you telling me you weren't there to sincerely congratulate me,
just like I did for your nuptials?
Is the sense of betrayal you feel that deep?
But when compared to what Seungyu had to go through after losing his family,
it can only amount to extravagant vanity.
I thought at least you would understand me.
But I was wrong.
For even you only think of me as nothing but a beast.
Is that not the path you decided to take?
I can no longer call you a friend.
And what should I call all this, then?
I'm sure you know better than anyone that I had nothing to do with that abduction.
And yet, despite knowing that it's only a subterfuge by Suyang to kill me and Prince Geumseong,
the man I once called a friend has come to arrest me.
How can two men scheming to kill each other...
still consider themselves friends?
Let's go!
Look!
Even you...
Seems like they're quite determined, indeed.
You should probably prepare for the worst, Your Highness.
How could they imprison you...
Her Highness must be so distressed...
The Royal Son-in-law is much more composed than I imagined.
Your Highness.
Why don't you get some sleep now?
I will remain by your side all night.
Would I be able to sleep, no matter how hard I tried?
My Lady...
Did you wake up?
Where... Where is he?
My Lady...
Let us set a date for the nuptials after Seryeong recovers.
We'll have to.
My Lady, it's Yeori.
Her Ladyship just regained her senses.
Really?
Is she all right?
Right as she woke up, she mumbled something...
But now she seems fine.
I'll have to go check on her.
I will go first.
Yes.
Don't get up.
If you move, the wound will open again.
I see you still fail to see your father's true colors.
This exile you speak of was only a vile excuse to eliminate every man who opposed him.
Doesn't that wound hurt?
Being held captive by that impudent knave must have overwhelmed you.
Have you seen his face?
Was it perchance someone you know?
Where were you held?
Don't you remember any detail?
I was blindfolded, so I couldn't see.
I'm needlessly obsessing over trivial details.
Let us discuss that again another time.
What became of that man?
Was he captured?
A few men appeared and helped him escape.
Prefect Shin shall soon capture them, so don't you worry.
I thought I would lose you.
And without my daughter by my side, what could all the world's riches matter?!
I shall take my leave now, so take good care of yourself.
Her Ladyship regained her senses.
- Did they say she is all right? - Yes.
However, she seemingly doesn't remember a thing.
Will you head to His Highness' residence?
No.
The most pressing issue is finding that man's traces.
Did you look into the leader of those local bandits?
It's a man by the name of Gong Chilgu.
He controls the majority of gibang in the Mapo area.
Hasten and set up a meeting.
I must talk to him at once.
Yes.
Orabeoni.
Can you show me how you write?
Show it to me, will you?
Take my life and escape from the harrowing nightmare that has been haunting you.
Now I'm all yours!
Hyungnim!
Seokju Hyungnim!
My, it's been a while!
Ahh... I spared no effort hoping you'd finally kick the bucket,
but seems like providence is obsessed with you?!
Come out, will you?
Let me pay you my respects.
I told you he left early in the morn.
And he would leave you here?
Aigoo... Don't tell me we've become such a cowardly little rat, Hyungnim?!
Maybe if Chohee starts screaming...
you will finally get it?
How shall we deal with this?
Take those dirty hands off her!
Hyungnim!
So you did come back alive, after all?!
So how is it, doing all right?
I see the rabid little mutt who dared to bite its keeper...
has finally returned home.
Mutt?
Chilgu.
Come and bite me again.
How about I start with that trap of yours?
Catch him!
That's him... That deranged fool I told you about!
How dare you think you can violate Bingok Mansion?
Hyungnim, are you all right?
If it weren't for me, think of what could have happened.
I expect you to compensate me for the repairs.
Or maybe you could just leave.
Not too warm, are we...
And with you in this state...
What's this... You again?
- Are you Gong Chilgu? - Gong Chi...
Really... Seems like everyone and his dog plans on ruining my day.
He's His Lordship Capital Bureau Prefect Shin Myeon!
So I hear this area is under your control?
I doubt this is under the bureau's jurisdiction...
I was told that you know every gibang around here like the palm of your hand.
So? Your point?
Individuals fomenting ill will against Prince Suyang are hiding in Mapo.
There's a good chance they might have taken part in treacherous acts,
or be related to people who have.
And?
If you manage to capture them or at least alert us to where they might be...
If I manage...
Then you'll go past Mapo Port and move on to the capital bureau itself.
Prince Suyang... Yeah, right.
Why would people who live day by day conspire against such esteemed folk?
But I will indeed look into it.
Still!
Stop beating around the bush about capital bureau this and that...
I'll have to specifically hear when, where and to what extent I can benefit from this.
Ehh... Those fools.
Acting as if they were anything special.
Girls... Have you seen how Gong Chilgu left with his tail between his legs?
Aww... I felt so vindicated.
You were so fast, I couldn't even see your hands.
Where did you learn that?
You looked quite good in there.
Just be honest and tell us. Were you a soldier?
My father always told me not to wield my sword in vain...
He'd say that only those who know when to draw it are real men's men.
And who is this father of yours you talk about?
This must remain secret.
My father...
was Daeho, General Kim Jongseo.
- Who is this Kim Jongseo? - His father.
Then, what... You're not a Wang, but a Kim?
That's my real name.
Orabeoni, where are you going?
Right... Have you heard?
- About that royal maiden being abducted. - Abducted?
Listen to that! What a heinous scoundrel.
- Who's the culprit? - Don't let this shock you,
but it turns out it was the Royal Son-in-law.
- The princess' husband. - What?!
And why would a princess' husband do that?
Where are you going now?
What do you think you're doing?
Let me go, you knaves. Let go of me!
You knaves!!
You... You bastards...
How can the capital bureau question a prince?
His Excellency the Chief State Councilor expressly gave us the authority to question you.
Since when do Prince Suyang's orders matter more than His Majesty's?
Prince Suyang was adamant that we should treat you with the utmost respect.
You slander us on one hand, and flatter us on the other?
We brought a witness who will ascertain your crimes without fail.
I'm sure that after seeing him you will no longer refute our accusations.
You knave!!
They're elite royal garrison troops who will be disguised as my porters.
You knave!!
How dare... How dare you!! You knave!!
How are they? Are the Royal Son-in-law and Uncle Geumseong doing all right?
Why aren't you answering me?
They are being officially questioned.
What?!
Questioned?!
Your Highness... Are you all right?
Let's go.
Questioned?
Are you telling me the capital bureau is questioning Uncle Geumseong and my brother-in-law?
Geumseong and Royal Son-in-law Jeong Jong deserve to be poisoned.
Did I not order you to transfer Uncle Geumseong to the state tribunal?
I revoked the order, believing it wise to ferret out all the culprits behind this complot.
- Councilor! - Yes, Sire.
Your insinuations painting them as criminals guilty of treason are not believable in the slightest.
So Your Majesty wasn't aware of the fact that they plotted to slay me?
Hearing that you're incognizant of something Geumseong, Jeong Jong and even...
Princess Gyeonghye were involved in is quite befuddling, indeed.
Does that mean you cannot release them?
For Your Majesty's sake, I spared the princess from facing the same fate.
But if you continue to ignore the gravity of the situation,
I will be forced to proceed by the book.
Kim Jongseo, Uncle Anpyeong, Uncle Geumseong,
and now even the Royal Son-in-law.
When they are all dealt with, who will be next on your list?
Won't that be me, after all?
It mortifies me to hear that, Sire.
Why can't you watch over me and help me become a just ruler?
I might lack experience, but I am fully confident I can uphold...
the great legacy my father and grandfather bestowed upon the throne.
Why are you not even giving me a chance?
I am sure you would be more than capable of that.
But isn't it a much too exacting position for boundless potential alone to suffice?
Your Highness.
Her Highness the Princess is here.
I see you still fail to see your father's true colors.
This exile you speak of was only a vile excuse to eliminate every man who opposed him.
My Lady!
- My father? - In your conditions, why...
If you need to tell him something, you can always do that later.
I'm asking you whether he's back.
He did come back,
but looks like he came with the princess.
The princess?
The night is ripe.
Hasten back to your residence.
What is...
May you spare Uncle Geumseong and the Royal Son-in-law.
They have nothing to do with Seryeong's abduction.
Don't tell me our ever so imperious princess is degrading herself in this manner?!
May you forgive your niece's wanton impudence.
If you could only grant them your benevolence,
I shall live a quiet life away from you for the rest of my days.
Your earnest devotion in trying to save your husband is commendable,
but there are laws we must abide by.
I must ask you to take your leave.
Your Highness. What are you doing here?
Seryeong...
Come to my quarters.
Are you still trying to use me to bring harm to Uncle Geumseong and the Royal Son-in-law?
They have nothing to do with my abduction.
I thought you had no recollection of the event, so how would you know?
I think I can say I know them quite well.
And I am sure that they're not involved.
It could certainly be the case.
However, if they instigated someone else to do it on their behalf...
Then, what?
It was someone bearing resentment against you.
What?
And he said that to avenge what you did to him,
not only you, but your entire family would bear the consequences.
So you know who this man is?
Have you ever contemplated how many people hold a grudge against you?
For being unfairly accused, and having been wronged by you...
It is a long, interminable list.
I shall hear no more of that!
Then explain why you purposely sank that ship headed to Ganghwa.
What on earth are you saying...
I lament the fact I once again let you deceive me.
And lament my foolish belief that your promises would be kept.
Purposely sank that ship?! Where did you hear such preposterous insinuations?
You are the one who killed him.
You are responsible for his death.
So I can no longer believe you. And never again will I do so!
Seryeong!
And just so you know, I will no longer accept any nuptial agreement with Prefect Shin.
Try to force it on me, and prepare to witness your daughter's demise.
Step aside.
Who is this man who abducted you?
If you spent so much time talking to him, you should know that much.
All I have learned of him is that he's driven by relentless resentment.
And what is the reason you keep so earnestly defending him?
I shall find who he is whatever it takes.
Nothing you try will convince me to join you in conjugal ties.
How did it go?
Never mind.
How could you contend with your father...
Your Highness.
I cannot even begin to apologize...
Your father shall pay a hefty price for his devious schemes.
I only hope you will not have to bear the consequences.
Whatever I can do to help you and His Majesty, I won't hesitate.
Even if it means going against your own father?
I am grateful for the mere thought.
Don't follow me. I want to walk alone.
Sire... The breeze is much too cold.
For Your Majesty's sake, I spared the princess from facing the same fate.
But if you continue to ignore the gravity of the situation,
I will be forced to proceed by the book.
- Chief Eunuch. - Yes, Sire.
Summon the Chief State Councilor in the morn.
So I shall, Sire.
It's at times like these that I long for my dear father.
Uncle Suyang.
Yes, Sire.
I shall abdicate the throne to you.
May you halt all this needless bloodshed.
Sire...
What kind of preposterous statement is that?
I believe in you.
Uphold our great tradition and bring stability to our nation.
Sire.
May you renounce that order.
Naeuri.
His Majesty just announced his wish to abdicate the throne to Prince Suyang.
What are you talking about?
Abdicate the throne?!!
Sire!
Sire...
You cannot do so, Sire...
Sire...
Sire!!
No way... No.
Father... Father!
How can His Majesty... No... No way...
Your Highness, please calm down. Your Highness.
I won't let this stand if it's the last thing I ever... ever...
Your Highness! Your Highness.
Your Highness!
- Sire... - Your Highness!
May you renounce such preposterous wishes, Sire.
For the time being, the best course of action is a stern refusal,
for you could easily be accused of having forced an abdication out of our young ruler.
But if what if His Majesty ends up renouncing?
As long as the survival of the Royal Son-in-law and Prince Geumseong depends on us,
I don't see any reason to hasten.
Which is why we must await until it will seem as though...
His Highness is being forced to accept due to His Majesty's insistence.
At last... At long last!
May you renounce your order, Sire!
Father...
Forgive me.
Father.
Forgive me...
Father...
Why are you in this state?
It does not suit you.
I know.
I needn't hear you say it, for your voice echoes in my heart.
What can we do... What can be done to stop this...
Your Highness.
I beg you, His Majesty must be...
Forgive me for being of no help to you.
Who is there?
Stop hiding like a coward,
and show yourself at once.
Jong.
Who is that?
It's me.
Me?!
Show yourself.
Jong...
It's me. Seungyu.
Is... it... really you?
Am I dead, or are you the one who's alive?
I...
am back.
It's really you...
Is it really you?
You're really Seungyu...
I thought I'd have to bury you deep down in my soul.
But...
I'm sorry.
For all you had to go through in my stead.
No... Even if you had revealed you abducted her, it would have made no difference.
They just would have implicated us in what you did.
Suyang... That heinous beast is more than capable of that.
All the better, though.
All those who think you dead will be frantically trying to find out who you are.
What can be more daunting than a foe you cannot see?
And they must feel the same horror which haunted all those who faced such unfair demise.
Here... Here!
If you don't drink on such an occasion, when will you ever?
I wouldn't chant victory quite yet.
Was it not for all intents and purposes a virtual surrender?
Here... Here... Forget all that and empty your cup,
after which Your Majesty can bestow a drink upon me!
Your Majesty?!
And what else would you call him?
I could not agree more!
All those who think you dead will be frantically trying to find out who you are.
What can be more daunting than a foe you cannot see?
Do not grovel at anyone's feet. My kneeling before Suyang more than suffices.
You must brace yourself to contend with Suyang and his malevolent ruffians.
That will be all.
Who's that?
I am here to take your life.
And who... who on earth are you?
Ki... Kim Seungyu!