[The following program recreated historical events by adding fictional characters and situations]
Episode 23
I will not come.
I can't become a burden to you.
I'll wait until you come back for me.
Don't forget me.
Will you...
become my wife?
Will you become my husband?
We are now man and woman.
Even when far apart, we will walk in each other's shadow.
We will be one for the rest of our days.
- Who is there? - It's Her Highness the Princess.
My Lady!
Your Highness. What brings you here...
Is Sung inside?
Sure... Come on in. Let us hasten.
Sister.
What happened to you?
You must regain your strength.
I'm all right.
How did you get here?
Did you part ways with Kim Seungyu?
Even when apart, he's always beside me.
So you came back alone.
You two made a difficult decision.
And I'm proud of you for that.
It won't be forever. We will one day reunite.
I'm sure.
Since you've made up your mind, let's hasten.
We can't consider this place safe.
Naeuri, Her Highness returned to her old residence.
Leave us alone.
Where is that traitor hiding?
He is my husband.
Don't speak of him in vain.
Your "husband?"
He's already far away from here.
No matter what you force me to confess, it will be fruitless.
So a paltry ring like this is all you needed to join in conjugal ties?
The only one who made a lifelong vow with Your Highness is me.
And as for this frivolous jade ring...
Getting rid of it will not change what I feel for him.
What happened between you two?
What did you do?
What happened between us should not concern you.
"Us"?
I will not bother trying to win your heart anymore.
But your body will be mine.
Stop importuning my sister.
Why did you come out?
I couldn't take it anymore.
Even if ailing, I'm still your brother, after all.
Should Prefect Shin importune you again, don't hesitate to tell me.
Get out of the way.
I said get out of my way!
I shall force her to tell me where Kim Seungyu is right away,
so don't try to stop me.
You still don't get it?
Even if she had to die for it, she would never reveal where he is.
Didn't you hear that the crown prince went out of his quarters?
That he smiled at her.
Sire.
Forget Kim Seungyu, and think of the crown prince.
If we could only save him, then Kim Seungyu would be the least of my concerns.
What kind of heinous palaver is that?
Only if we rid ourselves of Kim Seungyu will the crown prince be safe.
I must go, so don't get in the way.
Sire! Sire!!
Sire...
Just bring the essentials, will you?
Think Hamgil Province is right around the corner?
Orabeoni, think women can travel as light as you men do?
Uncle, bring me with you.
It's too far for you to join us.
So when will you be back?
When you're done learning the Thousand Character Classic, I'll be back.
Mother... Teach me a hundred characters per day.
All right.
We'll be waiting for you.
This place will be safe.
I need to go somewhere, so go ahead first.
All right.
Where is Her Highness?
S... She...
It's you.
Will coming here be all right?
You mean if a government slave like me can be here?
Your Highness.
They allowed me to come here only because I used to be a princess.
I'd like to take you with us to Hamgil Province.
It will be better than living here as a government slave.
I am grateful for your thoughts, but I will not come.
I must let this child visit his father.
For if I don't, wouldn't my husband feel even more lonesome?
Your Highness.
Fulfill your plans to the very end.
That is the only thing that can help me and the child.
But once you depart for Hamgil Province, what will happen to Seryeong?
I'm glad you're back.
- The crown prince? - Go inside.
So... How serious is it?
Were you so infatuated with that Kim Seungyu to abandon your own father and brother?
You were always so garrulous, what do I owe this sudden silence to?
Perhaps it's the fact the man you conspired to kill is right before you?
I told you I never conspired against you.
- Again... - All I wanted was for you...
to return to your old self, the father I learned to love.
The benevolent and kind father I always knew you as.
But the man you remember and I are one and the same.
Prince! Prince!!
Father...
Right... Speak to me.
I had a dream earlier on.
Was it a nightmare?
The Erstwhile King and Munjong the Great, with a smile on their face,
were waving at me, as if awaiting my arrival.
What a heinous dream...
There...
Don't you see them?
Get a hold of yourself.
There is no one there.
There... There...
Sung.
What's wrong with you?
Come on... Wake up.
Sung!
Sung...
Sung!
Sung... Sung!
My son... Sung!
Sung...
How dare you show yourself in here?
To pray for His Highness' peaceful rest.
While you were parading about with that Kim Seungyu,
your reckless behavior caused your own brother's death.
Are you satisfied, now?
Secretary, come in!
Did you call, Sire?
Eliminate every trace of Seryeong from our historical records.
What?!
Even the fact that she was ever a princess!
Sire!
Sire... Please, don't act like this.
Are you willing to lose your daughter as well?
I only have one daughter.
So never...
ever appear before me again.
- A Few Months Later -
Your Highness.
Are you all right?
It's a boy.
[Boy]
Jeong Misu.
It's the name your father gave you.
Think of how he felt while giving you a name while in prison.
So grow into a strong and handsome boy just as your father wished.
Misu.
And Seryeong?
How is she doing?
Is it a boy or a girl?
She gave birth to a healthy boy.
That's great to hear.
What a relief...
Her Highness is really worried about you.
My concerns about the fact that she's raising a child are even greater.
Go back to the palace.
No way.
Her Majesty told me to stay by your side.
How is my father faring?
Because of the late crown prince, he's still...
The prefect is back. Come before he arrives.
Did she go anywhere?
No... She stayed home all day.
All your men are gone.
Come out, and meet a dignified demise.
- Lee Shiae -
We are proud of you.
Hamgil Province is now free of Suyang's influence, thanks to your efforts.
We must move south now.
Let us do that.
At this rate, we will soon reach the capital.
But we first must conquer Hamheung to gain control of the region.
They're going to appoint a new Hamheung governor soon.
Let's devise a plan to attack him.
Here they come.
Shouldn't we learn whether you made it or not, if you want us to feed you?
I missed you so much...
Who?
Orabeoni, I made some meat soup.
Hyungnim, have a good night.
Take it, before they see us.
What is it?
Morning dew I gathered in the early morn.
Why bother...
Think the weather here is good for your skin?
Use that and become as pretty as Princess Seryeong.
What, Princess Seryeong?
We will be one for the rest of our days.
We are now man and woman.
Even when far apart, we will walk in each other's shadow.
It's an uprising, Sire!
The governor of Hamgil Province has been murdered.
What are you talking about?
Are you telling me that Hamgil Province is now in rebel hands?
You will pardon my saying this, but seems like Hamheung suffered the same fate.
Who else is conspiring against me?
A former Hamgil Province official named Lee Shiae, and...
What is all this hesitation? Speak at once!
And Kim Seungyu, Sire.
Kim Seungyu?!
How much longer will my ears have to be tormented by that name?
What is it that you people can do right?
Will you continue staring at this Kim Seungyu while he keeps conspiring against me?
Our apologies.
- Prefect Shin. - Yes, Sire.
Didn't all this happen because you couldn't deal with him?
- I apologize. - I've had it with your apologies.
I shall give you one last chance.
I will appoint you as the new governor of Hamgil Province,
so behead Kim Seungyu and bring an end to this disgrace.
Yes.
You better not disappoint me again.
Everyone but the secretary, take your leave.
His Majesty seems really agitated.
He must be fatigued by all this.
But why did he ask everyone to leave except the secretary?
Take the Board of Military Affairs' troops and follow Prefect Shin closely.
What are you trying to suggest, Sire?
I can no longer trust him.
He could very well hesitate once again, moved by his friendship with Kim Seungyu.
No... I'm sure he will.
After all that happened, how could he?
At the crucial moment, you take care of beheading Kim Seungyu.
And should the need arise, you may sacrifice Prefect Shin as well.
For a hound who can no longer hunt is useless.
Is that for Princess Gyeonghye's baby?
Your Highness. It is time.
He's really something... Why ask you to do that?!
I'll be right back.
Just spit on it, will you?
You're back?
Yes.
His Majesty told the secretary to follow you with Board of Military Affairs troops.
Seems like he doesn't fully trust you.
I was guessing so myself.
Once you lose his favors, you'll never be able to regain them.
And if you fail to behead Kim Seungyu, you'll be the one risking his life.
So bring him Kim Seungyu's head at all costs.
Where are you going?
To prepare your berth.
What are you trying to accomplish?
She is my slave, so I'll do as I want.
Are you going to bring her along to Hamgil Province?
And if you fail to behead Kim Seungyu, you'll be the one risking his life.
So bring him Kim Seungyu's head at all cost.
You want to come to Hamgil Province?
Why aren't you answering me?
Isn't it the perfect chance to reunite with your beloved?
Just because I'm not by his side, it doesn't mean we're not together.
I will bring you whatever it takes.
And I will dismember him right under your watch, so that you'll never forget it.
You will not capture my husband so easily.
Sure... Let's go.
Let's go together, and find out who is right.
Where have you been? Everything went right, I hope?
- Yeori. - What?
He must still be alive.
He's out there, making sure their efforts are rendered futile.
Sire... Her Majesty seeks audience.
What are you doing here at the East Palace?
You drink in a dead child's quarters?
Aren't empty quarters like these sad?
I've heard that Prefect Shin will be sent to Hamgil Province as governor.
What will you do, if he says he will bring Seryeong to such a perilous place?
She belongs to him now, so it's up to him to decide.
I cannot let another child of mine die.
As if losing Sung wasn't enough, now Seryeong?!
Not to mention, isn't she with Kim Seungyu, after all?
Just leave me alone.
Should anything happen to Seryeong,
I shall never forgive you.
I will do everything in my power to make you pay for what happens to her.
The Erstwhile King and Munjong the Great, with a smile on their face,
were waving at me, as if awaiting my arrival.
There... Don't you see them?
There... There...
Baby... I'm sorry for subjecting you to this.
This cannot go on... Don't cry.
I won't make you cry again, uh? Misu.
So we forced you to give birth in a such a place.
Forgive me.
What brings you here?
Let's go back to the palace.
If only for this child's sake, how can you live as a government slave?
I'll ask His Majesty to restore your title and free you from slavery.
That cannot be possible.
Right... All that resentment wouldn't so easily vanish.
But now that you've become a mother,
you cannot go on living only for your own sake.
If you don't like the palace, at least let us move you to a temple.
Why act like this, after all that happened?
Seryeong will soon leave for Hamgil Province.
I certainly have no excuse after all the suffering I caused,
but if only for Seryeong's sake, I came to at least try to mend fences.
Merely as a fellow mother, acting for her children's sake.
Did you come here for Lady Seryeong?
Is that Jong's son?
What's his name?
I cannot allow you to disgrace him by calling his name.
Go in, then.
Look at these. When did you make them?
I'll be happy to use them.
It is only a small token of my sincerity, but please do so.
You look just like your mother, when she was holding him.
She recently paid a visit.
Looks like I'll be freed from slavery.
He conceded that because of Misu.
I will soon move to Seungbeop Temple.
I'm glad.
I've heard you'll be moving to Hamgil Province.
Yes.
Will you meet Kim Seungyu there?
Have you already forgotten him?
How could I ever?
Even when far apart, he's always by my side.
His loving gazes, the warmth of his touch...
Even the sound of his voice still echoes in my mind.
The same goes for me.
Every time I visit his grave, I feel like I'm being greeted by him.
The new governor will soon arrive.
I sent some of our men, so they'll soon report back.
We are about to reach the rebels' stronghold.
How many troops are we dealing with?
We cannot be sure, but most of the inhabitants here support them.
He's Shin Sukju's son, Myeon.
Are you sure Shin Myeon was appointed as the new governor?
Yes, that's what I've heard.
Do you know him?
He's one of Suyang's closest confidants.
Looks like it was quite the urgent matter for him.
How many troops did they mobilize?
Not many, but they looked like elite troops.
It would be wise to avoid them until the rest of our troops join us.
We've lost many men all this time.
Keep an eye on their movements, for starters.
Shin Myeon will make the first move for sure.
We must turn this from the late Kim Jongseo's land to His Majesty's.
Yes.
Send a few capable men on recon around the forest.
Finding the rebels' hideout is paramount.
Yes.
If we get rid of Lee Shiae and Kim Seungyu,
the rest will be easy to deal with.
- Hasten! - Yes!
What were you trying to eavesdrop on?
Were you going to convey all this to your husband?
Go tell him.
That he and his father shall soon meet in the netherworld.
So that Shin Myeon has come all the way here to get you.
You two have got quite the story.
All the way to this place, with nowhere else to run away to.
Don't you regret following me here?
Regret?!
I'm back to my hometown.
Hometown?!
It's your hometown?
Feels like something from a long time ago.
It was back when Kim Jongseo first set up his border defense line,
and freed my parents from slavery, according them a dignified life.
My father always had the greatest esteem for what your father did,
owing him a debt of gratitude for his entire life.
So I guess his son now can finally pay back that debt?!
Go tell him.
That he and his father shall soon meet in the netherworld.
What's the matter, Your Highness?
Can you really avoid the blade of someone hell bent on killing you?
He said he would come back to you, and you know he keeps his promises.
You feel like that even though you haven't eaten a thing all day?
It'll get better.
This is nothing.
This won't do it. I'll have to go out and find you some medicine.
Are you telling me they sent them back dead?
My apologies.
It's right as you expected.
Seems like their stronghold is in the forest.
If they all hid there, our lack of familiarity with the area would be fatal.
In that case, can't you just lure them outside?
You've arrived.
If you lure Kim Seungyu out of the forest, wouldn't that be the end of it?
Do you have any idea in mind?
Don't you have the best possible bait?
What are you...
If there's anything that can lure a man out, that's a woman.
That's right... Lady Seryeong!
If he thinks she might be in peril, how do you think he'd react?
Because once we catch him, this fight's outcome will only be a foregone conclusion.
Send a letter to their hideout in the morrow.
Tell them that you have Lady Seryeong, so Kim Seungyu can come and get her.
Disarmed, and without troops by his side, that is.
Must we really do it this way?
I'm sure you know why His Majesty sent me here.
Are you going to lose Kim Seungyu and once again enrage him?
A letter?!
Are you telling me they'll use me as bait to lure him here?
Yes. They said they'll send a letter to their hideout in the forest.
One suggesting that only if he comes unarmed and alone he can save you.
This can't be... No way.
Hide yourself. If they can't find you, nothing will happen.
It's not going to be that simple.
Even without me, they'd be more than capable of sending that letter.
Would they go that far...
I'll have to go there firsthand. Go and alert them.
What?
We don't even know where in the forest they are...
Where is the horse?
I asked you a question!
- Go after her! - Yes.
Her Highness disappeared?
She took a horse and left.
I tried to stop her, but she was going so fast...
Maybe she heard us talk?
I did see her varlet nearby, earlier on.
If that's the case, then she went looking for Kim Seungyu.
She sure is brave and daring!
Where did your keeper go?
Did she go to Kim Seungyu?
I don't know, either.
When I came in, she'd disappeared already.
Speak the truth.
Weren't you outside his quarters?
I was just looking for something to treat Her Highness with.
Take a look here.
It's the truth.
When I came back, the room was already empty.
I know that you're lying, but I'll deal with you once we catch her.
- Jabeon. - Yes, Naeuri.
Deploy our troops and ransack the entire forest.
Wait.
I will go myself.
Who are you?
What brings you here?
Where are you from?
Are you rebel troops?
There is something I must tell you.
Allow me to meet Kim Seungyu.
I remember where I saw her.
Who is she?
She's one of the new governor's slaves.
I'm sure I saw her yesterday while on recon.
Men don't work anymore, so now he sends women as spies?
After seeing their reconnaissance troops get killed, they won't make any more heedless moves.
We can't afford to let our guard down.
I told you that Han Myeonghwe was coming with troops of his own, didn't I?
We must attack them before they find our hideout.
All right.
Let's devise more concrete plans in the morrow.
We captured a woman who entered the forest on horseback,
and she seems like a spy.
A spy?
There is no doubt that she's one of the new governor's slaves,
but she keeps asking to meet Kim Seungyu.
What? A slave?
How shall we proceed? Shall we kill her and send her back?
Do that.
The night breeze is nice.
My men captured one of the new governor's female slaves.
Female?
We suspect she might be a spy, so I told them to kill her and send her back.
She was quite daring for a woman.
She came here riding a horse, and asked for you, saying she had something to tell you.
So one of Shin Myeon's female slaves came here riding a horse?
That's right.
- What is he... - It's nothing.
Let's go in.
Please, listen to me!
Allow me to meet him just once.
If you give him this ring, he will know who I am.
Or at least convey him something for me.
Tell him not to let the letter the governor sent deceive him.
All right.
It's you.
Please, I'm begging you.
Allow me to meet that man.
Be quiet and accept your demise.
And consider yourself lucky we are allowing you to die this way.
Naeuri! What is the matter?
Let's go.
Who are you?
Thank you for saving my life.
I have a request to make.
Please bring me to Kim Seungyu.
There is something I must tell him.
His life is at risk, so please allow me to meet him.
Are you...