[Cha Joo Young / Lee Hyun Wook]
[The Queen Who Crowns]
[This drama is a fictional story based on historical figures and events and may differ from actual historical records.]
[Filming of animals or child actors followed production guidelines.]
[Previously...] I thought that Her Majesty would have done really well
even if she had become
the king of this nation, Joseon.
A woman cannot become a king in this nation.
What is your true motive for saying that?
At the appropriate time,
I will pardon Myeongseon Daebu.
If so,
from then on,
they will start attacking the Min family.
This is your reward for your dignified appearance during the Royal Sericulture Ceremony.
I must expedite the Crown Prince's marriage.
Help me.
You will make your daughter the Crown Princess,
so you want the royal relatives to support her?
Yes.
I do not believe I have seen you before.
Hear ye! What are you doing?
- I will not die alone! - Move!
I will not die alone!
This is the first time a crown princess is being selected after the founding of the dynasty.
What we do from now on will become precedent,
and that precedent will become history.
I ask that you approach this with solemn reverence and care.
[Daughter of Yi Suk Beon of the Anseong Yi family]
Is this all?
Yes.
Just three candidates, including Anseonggun Yi Suk Beon's daughter?
And the other two are clearly just listed for formality.
Bring me a new list of candidates.
Your Majesty.
I hear the royal relatives are supporting Anseonggun anyway.
I refuse to accept this.
However, if she is a candidate supported by the royal relatives,
His Majesty has no choice but to accept, too-
Bring me a new list of candidates.
I cannot select the crown princess like this.
So, you asked to see me privately?
Yes.
What is it?
I wish to offer my daughter as Your Majesty's daughter-in-law.
The Queen is responsible for selecting the Crown Princess.
Your Majesty, I am offering my daughter to you out of my loyalty to you.
How could you say it is the responsibility of the Queen?
Your Majesty,
please do not distance yourself from me.
Since the Year of the Yellow Tiger
when soldiers were mobilized in front of Gyeogbokgung until now,
Your Majesty is the only one I sought to be loyal to.
So why...
Why is Your Majesty treating me differently than before?
How could you say I am treating you differently?
My feelings for you have never changed.
So, how did you come to such a misunderstanding?
Your Majesty!
[Episode 9]
Tavern Lady, where are you?
I made a reservation.
Please, that way.
Your Majesty.
Aigoo, this is so precious.
Thank you.
She seems like a madam of a noble family.
What is the matter? Is her husband causing trouble?
Did he take a gisaeng mistress?
What in the world!
He is solely devoted to My Lady!
I have a request for you.
Just give the command.
It appears someone is gifting luxury bows to the Crown Prince.
But they are bribes and not gifts in reality.
Please find out who those people are.
When you find out who they are, tell the chief monk at Hoeamsa.
Yes.
Oh, also,
there was a major commotion at Anseonggun Yi Suk Beon's house recently.
What do you mean?
A maidservant who was like a sister to Anseonggun's daughter committed suicide.
What? Why?
Anseonggun said to return all the jewelry she received from Bamgol Kim,
but it seems the daughter did not return one of the rings.
After Anseonggun found out and scolded her,
I believe she told him that her maidservant stole it.
Are you saying Anseonggun's daughter secretly took the ring
and then framed her maidservant for it?
Yes.
Aigoo!
Goodness!
- Put the tofu down first! - Goodness, why would the young lady
of a noble family personally bring such heavy tofu?
I kept telling her I would carry it, but-
How will you carry this with your hand like that?
Sit here and eat something before you go.
I will prepare two rice soups quickly for you.
No, no.
I do not want to bother you while you are working.
Just do the math quickly for me.
Yes.
Are you referring to the daughter of Kim Han Ro?
That is correct.
I see he is the one who passed the state exam along with His Majesty.
However,
he is a subject of controversy.
During Taesangwang's reign,
he once took a horse from a station official under the pretext of attending a banquet.
That had stirred up quite a bit of trouble then.
That is not all.
When he went as a congratulatory envoy to Ming,
he secretly engaged in trade to earn profit
and was dismissed from his position.
I am not speaking to you about Kim Han Ro,
but his daughter.
However, Your Majesty.
If we deny her even a chance just because of her faulty father,
would that not be injustice inflicted upon an individual by the state?
Thus, I will have Anseonggun's daughter and Kim Han Ro's daughter compete.
Your Majesty,
His Majesty already has Anseonggun's daughter in mind.
You need to know this-
I clearly told you the principles last time.
I will not let the selection of the Crown Princess be used to satisfy their own greed.
I heard that you have Anseonggun Yi Suk Beon's daughter in mind.
What are your thoughts on it, Queen?
I heard Anseonggun asked to meet you privately
and made a tearful plea.
Since he can pretend to be that loyal,
it is not that I believe in his act.
Then why...
I intend to establish the Gyeomsabok as a cavalry-focused royal guard.
However, upon reflection,
does Yi Suk Beon not hold sway over a considerable portion of this nation's military?
However, this is about finding a lifelong partner for the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince will one day become the monarch.
The Gyeomsabok is a royal guard that strengthens the monarchy.
While the Crown Prince's marriage has political implications,
we cannot focus solely on the political aspects.
I am saying I will strengthen the monarchy.
You should consider it positively.
[Yi Family of Anseong, Yi Suk Beon's Daughter]
[Kim Family of Gwangsan, Kim Han Ro's Daughter]
You will be meeting your lifelong partner. How do you feel?
I am not sure.
I hope she is someone like your mother.
My mother?
Why?
Is she not upright?
When she sets a goal, she stays true to the path.
That is a valuable trait.
But sometimes, I find it difficult and tiring.
Your Majesty, I will do it-
It is all right.
In the section of Mencius titled "The Heart," it says this.
- The people are the most valuable, - The people are the most valuable,
- the state and its affairs come second, - the state and its affairs come second,
- and the king is the least important. - and the king is the least important.
This is a quote from the chapter "The Heart" from Mencius.
If the king is so insignificant compared to the people,
how much less important is the crown princess.
During the Yin and Zhou dynasties, there were King Jie and King Zhou.
Both kings became a dokbu overnight.
Do you know what dokbu means?
Does it not mean a lonely man?
A dokbu is what you call a king who is overthrown due to poor governance.
That is correct.
Thus, there is a saying that someone who cares for me is a king,
and someone who abuses me is an enemy.
Do you know where this saying comes from?
It comes from Taegyegyeong in the Zhou section of the Book of Documents.
You are quite intelligent.
The afternoon selection process will take place during the Hour of Monkey. [Hour of Monkey: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.]
You may return to your quarters, eat, and rest for a bit
before coming back at the appointed time.
I will escort the former Queen Consort back.
If I was born as the daughter of a noble family like you, Princess,
would I have passed such a selection process?
What do you think?
Anseonggun's daughter seemed intelligent.
Is it not apparent that she only read books rather than do useless things?
Useless things?
I did not say that with any particular intent.
The Queen would not select the Crown Princess based on intelligence alone.
Then what?
She would look at the person's character.
Do you believe that Kim Han Ro's daughter will be selected?
Yi Suk Beon's daughter will probably be selected,
since the selection of the Crown Princess is not about choosing a good person,
but about choosing a political partner.
Recently, we held a Royal Sericulture Ceremony at the palace.
Do you know about the Royal Sericulture Ceremony?
It is an event where Her Majesty personally demonstrates
silkworm farming to the public in order to improve the livelihood of the people.
That is correct.
However, I believe there is a problem with the Royal Sericulture Ceremony.
What do you think that is?
The thread gathered from silkworms is a silk thread.
Among the people, how many could make silk clothing made with silk thread?
You are right.
The people do not wear silk clothing made with silk thread.
They wear clothing made of cotton or rough hemp fabric.
How can one understand the lives of the people
who wear cotton clothing while dressed in silk clothing?
Thus, I will hold a competition where you will personally weave cotton fabric.
I will select the winner of this competition as the Crown Princess.
Both of you will receive the same weaving education
before entering the competition.
You are to stay here and weave for the next three days.
Pardon?
For three days?
For these three days, you are forbidden from meeting outsiders, including your family.
Yes.
I understand.
How could she select the Crown Princess by weaving cotton fabric
that the lowly people wear!
In any case, it is a competition.
All she needs to do is win.
Well, I do have someone who is good at weaving at my house.
However, outsiders are forbidden from entering.
Give it to me.
If you would do so.
This is from your family.
They said you can submit this tomorrow.
Thanks.
You did a good job.
I am honored.
It is natural that it would look this way since it is your first time.
However, Anseonggun's daughter demonstrated great skill with much effort
although it was her first time.
Will you learn from her what you did wrong to end up like this?
Yes, Your Majesty.
The mother of the nation should be able to teach such things to the people.
Show her how it is done.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Did you really weave this yourself?
I asked if you wove it yourself.
From the outside,
one of the maids at home...
You cheated,
so you are disqualified.
I am thinking of punishing your family's maid for helping you cheat.
What are your thoughts?
I do not know.
You do not know?
She will be punished because of you, but you do not know?
Did you receive that from Bamgol Kim?
I heard the maidservant who was like a sister to you stole it.
So why do you have it?
You do not take any responsibility for your actions.
Instead, you are passing blame to others.
You memorized the Book of Documents, which teaches us to fear the people,
but you have no fear or compassion toward the people.
So, how could you dream of...
becoming the Crown Princess, who will become the mother of a nation?
I have selected...
Kim Han Ro's daughter as the Crown Princess.
However, the royal relatives and His Majesty believe that
Anseonggun's daughter will be selected.
You saw for yourselves, and yet, you say that?
She lacks the qualities necessary.
Kim Han Ro's daughter
was selected as the Crown Princess.
- Your Majesty... - I understand.
Shall I deliver your intention to Her Majesty again?
It is all right.
You may leave now.
During the Year of the Yellow Tiger, I sent my own troops to Gyeongbokgung,
and during Park Po's Rebellion,
I was the one who led the charge in defeating the traitors!
So how could he!
It is already decided.
The positions of Right Army Commander and the
Crown Princess are not the only ways to gain the King's trust.
What do you mean?
During the Royal Sericulture Ceremony,
an outsider secretly entered the palace.
However, that outsider is...
someone His Majesty desires.
Can you capture him?
Is it them?
The ones who have long colluded with Bamgol Kim,
taking bribes and reaping benefits.
Yes.
How dare you!
Your Excellency!
Whose orders are these!
Let go! Let go of me!
I will walk of my own accord.
Aigoo, Your Excellency!
- I am innocent! - Your Excellency!
Let go of me!
Gosh, what do we do!
Aigoo, Madam!
What is going on!
Why are you...
I sent someone to reach you but did not hear back.
I see.
But...
where did you go this late at night?
The S-Sungeumsa.
[Sungeumsa: Agency in charge of maintaining law and order in the capital city]
Did you buy and sell houses in Jungchon?
There is no reason for you to
frequently visit the Sungeumsa unless you have ties to Bamgol Kim.
No, it was not that serious.
Just hold your breath for a moment and wait.
- Pardon? -The King achieved his goal,
so this will be over soon.
How do you know this?
I have served the King for the past eight years already.
I-It is j-jangmija.
Jangmija?
It is for sanitizing my nose when I get sores sometimes.
If you misuse it, it can damage someone's liver,
and in severe cases,
it can even be fatal.
R-R-Royal Consort.
Who were you trying to silence?
That is not it!
That is definitely not true!
Throw it away.
This is not a good method.
Yes.
I came by today
since I am also a mother-in-law to the Crown Princess.
I do not want her to treat me lightly for being a concubine who was a former main chambermaid.
I came to ask you to make sure that would not happen.
Of course.
With the upcoming Crown Prince's marriage, I will hand out pardons.
Along with Myeongseon Daebu, [Myeongseon Daebu: A 3rd senior rank given to a royal relative]
I will pardon every meritorious subject of the First Prince's Rebellion
of the first degree who were punished for
colluding with Bamgol Kim.
Your grace knows no bounds.
[Yeoseonggun Min Mu Jil, Younger brother of Queen Won Gyeong]
Your grace knows no bounds.
Were you planning to do this from the start?
What do you mean?
I am talking about your pardon of Myeongseon Daebu.
What is wrong with that?
Myeongseon Daebu will only be an obstacle in Your Majesty's path.
Sometimes, an obstacle that is removed well becomes a stepping stone.
You know that he can never become a stepping stone!
You made Yeoseonggun wield the sword and then hid behind him.
Let us say I put him in the forefront.
Will they do nothing?
They will now attack Yeoseonggun.
So, if you made him wield his sword,
you should take responsibility for it!
Responsibility?
Responsibility is an elegant way of saying shouldering flaws.
However, under no circumstances should I have any flaws.
You often forget this,
- but I am Joseon now. - Your Majesty!
I clearly made my intent to select Suk Beon's daughter as Crown Princess.
However, my intent was lighter than paper to you.
She lacked the qualities-
Did you not publicly shame Suk Beon's daughter to undermine me?
"Look, she is so inadequate."
Was that not outright insulting the monarch?
It was to find a lifelong partner for the Crown Prince.
It was the same during the Royal Sericulture Ceremony.
Did you have to go that far with Myeongseon Daebu?
Queen,
you are not the monarch.
You are cowardly.
You cannot do as I did with Myeongseong Daebu.
Is that not why you hid behind the sword of Yeoseonggun?
- Knowing this, I- -Queen.
How can you say that such cowardly behavior is Joseon?
Enough!
Your Majesty.
Go back.
- Arrest him. - Yes, sir.
Who are you?
Why are you doing this?
Let go of me!
Why are you doing this?
Your Excellency.
Are you all right?
Do you know how much I suffered on the cold prison floor?
His Majesty used the sword of his in-laws to strike the royal relatives and the meritorious subjects.
I did not realize His Majesty would do this.
Do you really not know His Majesty?
Although they were half-brothers, he killed his younger brother and overthrew his older brother
to ascend to the throne.
Despite that, he set you free like this.
What do you think that means?
It means that you can strike back now.
The King is not one to lend support to only one side fully.
But with what can I strike back?
Your Majesty!
Back when Your Majesty said you would pass the throne,
Yeoganggun and Yeoseonggun seemed eager to carry it through.
Also, when Your Majesty withdrew your intent and returned to your position,
they appeared sad, unlike the rest of the people who rejoiced.
How could they be like this if they did not have a heart of treason
to take power by using the young Crown Prince?
Not only that but on the day you said you would pass the throne,
they tried to use the Crown Prince to create the Naejaechu.
It is clear that they have a heart of treason,
so revoke their official positions and status
as meritorious subjects and depose them.
I am sorry to meet Your Majesty in such a state.
If you had let me know, I would have sent the Royal Physician.
Why did you not say anything?
With all due respect,
the reason my father suddenly ended up like this
is because Your Majesty is trying to abandon us.
Yeoganggun.
I was waiting for you.
I had a request to make of Your Majesty,
I waited here, unable to die.
Even if, by chance,
something were to take place,
please...
spare them.
Father!
Though they may be lacking in many ways,
I can guarantee their loyalty to Your Majesty.
So...
please...
spare them...
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty...
Aigoo, aigoo.
Aigoo. Aigoo. Aigoo. Aigoo, aigoo...
Aigoo, aigoo. Aigoo, aigoo. Aigoo...
Aigoo. Aigoo, aigoo. Aigoo. Aigoo.
Aigoo, aigoo. Aigoo. Aigoo.
Aigoo, aigoo. Aigoo, aigoo. Aigoo.
His Majesty is here.
Go back!
I cannot allow you to be here.
Your Majesty does not deserve to pay condolences
to my father.
Yeogganggun.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Yeseonggun appears to have lost his discernment due to his deep sorrow,
so take him inside.
Yes.
Let us go.
I do not want to!
I will not go!
Let go of me!
Please, let go of me...
Let go of me...
Bow.
Yeoheung Buwongun's funeral is over.
Revoke the official positions and status of his sons Yeoganggun Min Mu Gu and Yeoseonggun Min Mu Jil
and send them into exile to Jeju.
They will spend a thousand years there.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What did you say!
Your Majesty!
Just a bit...
Please calm down for just a bit before-
Move aside!
- Your Majesty! -It is me, Court Lady Seo. I will enter.
Your Majesty!
We have a major problem!
Check if this man is the right one.
Yes, he is.
You caused the Queen to disobey the King's command.
When I was the Crown Prince,
I declared that no one should use private informants.
I believed that reporting to Her Majesty
was the same as reporting to Your Majesty.
How dare you!
How are they the same?
The Queen is His Majesty's subject!
Please kill me.
Ask me to spare you.
Please,
kill me.
You will not...
cause harm to the Queen even if you end up dying?
What is your reason for being so loyal to her?
Her Majesty...
has a calling.
Only His Majesty can have a calling.
I wish to...
uphold that calling for her at all costs.
Your Majesty, if you kill him...
That desire of yours
is what is killing the Queen instead.
Blame me for this.
Your Majesty.
Have you lost your mind?
- What did you say? - How could you do this
to an innocent man without having lost your mind?
This man broke the King's command.
I clearly said
there must not be any private informants.
It was not enough for you to exile my younger brothers.
You even killed a man I trusted!
Why are you doing this to me!
I have no hard feelings toward you.
Your Majesty.
If you wish to blame me for this, do so.
I will bear it.
Your Majesty, this is black rain!
It is bad for you.
What brings you here...
The Royal Consort said she suddenly had the chills...
Tell her to come out.
Your Majesty.
Should I drag her out?
Kneel.
She is a concubine of His Majesty. How could she be disgraced-
Make her kneel.
Move aside.
You are the one who caused this situation, right?
Yes.
What did you seek to gain from this?
I wanted to be affirmed as someone useful to the king.
That is a lame excuse.
You are already drunk with the taste of power
and caused the death of innocent people to have more.
That is not true!
Though I have not abandoned you up to now,
I will now...
abandon you.
Royal Consort.
The people are getting anxious due to the continuing black rain.
The number of starving people is growing.
Thus, I will release some charity rice quickly.
- Minister of Finance. - Yes.
Investigate which households are starving
and distribute ten bags of rice and one seok of beans to each household.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Also, I granted to Hoeamsa Temple 100 gyeol of land confiscated from Bamgol Kim.
I granted this land so the nearby people could farm together to make a living.
Investigate whether that land is also being properly managed and report back.
Why are you not responding, Minister of Finance?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I will do as you have commanded.
Minister of Justice.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Investigate whether the land I granted to the Buddhist temple is also being managed properly.
However, Your Majesty,
that should be left to the Buddhist temple to manage-
This is the King's command!
The land that the King granted to Hoeamsa...
Have you still not obtained approval for it?
I gave that land to you, trusting what you said, Myeongseon Daebu.
I was supposed to
receive that land from Bamgol! It is my land!
Regardless of whose land it is, I will die if this fact is revealed.
You think you will die alone? I will also lose my head!
This will not do. I should go to Hoeamsa and-
Wait, wait!
We just have to make sure the King does not find out. Is it not so?
How will you do that?
I will be leaving first.
I am saying this because the Minister of Justice is on my side.
Your Majesty, the eunuchs and the local officials
of Gyeonggi-do will secretly handle the burying of Pan Su.
Please let them handle it!
Pan Su came to help me yet died unjustly at the hands of my husband.
How could you say to leave it to someone else?
But, Your Majesty, the timing is not good.
His Majesty gave such a horrible sentence to Yeoganggun and Yeoseonggun.
In any case, it is better that you do not go out right now.
They are innocent.
His Majesty knows that fact as well.
Mother.
It has not been long since you entered the palace.
I am sorry to show such behavior to you.
No, Mother.
It is okay.
Though you may live in the palace,
you must direct your sights to the outside of the palace.
Yes, Mother.
The people are outside of the palace.
Yes.
Your Majesty.
Yes, what is it?
Her Majesty has left the palace.
She left the palace?
To take care of the corpse of Pan Su.
The Queen went to take care of the corpse
of a man whom the King has slain?
That is unheard of throughout history.
- Chief Eunuch. - Yes.
Tell the Royal Guard and the gatekeepers guarding this palace
not to allow
anyone from entering this palace without my permission.
Yes.
More, more, more, more. More.
Pat this part down smoothly.
It appears someone is gifting luxury bows to the Crown Prince.
But they are bribes and not gifts in reality.
Please find out who those people are.
When you find out who they are, tell the chief monk at Hoeamsa.
Yes. I will do so.
I must go to Hoeamsa.
Not to the palace?
Aigoo, we are done.
Oh, yes.
I added a half nyang of silver.
Aigoo, thank you.
Still, he is a blessed man.
What do you mean?
I am just saying there are those who are tossed away after starving to death.
How is it that they starve to death?
There should be charity rice granted by the state.
You must be a madam from a noble family,
but you are speaking so naively.
How dare you! Do you know who she is-
That darned charity rice...
It is skimmed off from above and from the middle.
We are lucky if we receive any at all.
There are many who do not even receive any. Geez.
Is that true?
I wish to meet them.
Pardon?
How did your condition worsen all of a sudden?
A boil...
is caused by pressure on the heart.
You have to relax your heart and mind.
That is impossible for a monarch.
How could I relax in peace?
Your Majesty, if this is not treated in time, this may result in palsy.
You must be careful.
What brings you here?
I heard His Majesty is not feeling well.
You should return.
I can go.
- Royal Consort! - I will check
and take care of him.
As Hyeoneui, I am of First Senior Rank.
But you are only a Second Junior rank as Sukeui.
It is right that I take care of him.
While I gave birth to four princes and princesses,
you only gave birth to a single princess.
Who do you think the King is waiting to care for him?
Please go back in peace.
Your Majesty,
the Royal Consort is here.
Have her enter.
Your Majesty...
- How did you know to come here? - Your Majesty.
I will take care of you.
There is no need. I have the Royal Physician.
How could I eat and sleep when Your Majesty is like this?
I will stay by your side all night to wipe away the pus
and apply medicine.
Royal Physician, you may go now.
I now understand how the world works after all this.
There is no need to blame the world.
We can just use
our grievance as motivation.
How many people would follow us
if we were to stage a rebellion?
I wrote down what that man Pan Su said in case I forgot.
Musician Yi Oh Bang from the Royal Music Bureau and Gu Jong Su
from the Sungeumsa are surrounding the Crown Prince.
It appears the Crown Prince often leaves the palace to hang out with them.
What they seek is to each attain a major position
after His Highness inherits the throne.
Also, there are rumors that Yi Suk Beon is trying to
stay close to Gu Jong Su's brothers.
But I was not able to confirm this.
Yi Suk Beon...
By the way,
I heard many people were unable to receive the charity rice granted by His Majesty.
How did this happen?
It seems some of the lower-ranked officials
with the support of powerful ministers
are taking the charity rice for themselves.
Did you just say, powerful ministers?
Yes. I hear that there are many who do so
with the support of Myeongseon Daebu recently.
Myeongseon Daebu...
The King granted land to Hoeamsa recently.
Did you receive it?
This is news to me.
Your Majesty!
I did not recognize you earlier.
I committed a sin worthy of death!
It is all right. Please get up.
Please get up. You all should get up.
Are these the men?
The men who did not receive the charity rice they deserved?
Yes.
That is so.
[The Queen Who Crowns]
♫ Only the moonlight lights up the entire mountain ♫
♫ Oh, heavens, holding your breath from being shy ♫
♫ Until the day breaks ♫
♫ We are separated, and I sing alone ♫
What is it that you want to say?
Your Majesty, use the Crown Prince to...
Do you wish to die by my sword here right now?
They met with the Queen to plot treason?
Do you have proof?
Execute him!
The Queen must die at the hands of lawless bandits
while she is detained at Hoeamsa.
Yeoganggun and Yeoseonggun, exiled in Jeju-do, clearly plotted treason.
Deliver the royal command for them to commit suicide.