(This program is a work of imagination...)
(based on historical figures.)
(It may include fictitious details and psychological descriptions.)
(1785: King Jeongjo 10)
My son.
Your father is here.
Open your eyes.
Will you?
I used different medicine continuously.
But it has no effect.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
My son.
Court Lady Kwon. Please ask His Majesty...
if I can meet...
the Crown Prince even for a second.
I am sorry, Your Highness.
The Crown Prince is suffering from measles.
You have never suffered measles before.
But...
You are pregnant.
Please think of the noble birth in you first.
Your Highness.
Please return to your palace.
My lady. Please inform me...
if the Crown Prince gets any better.
- I promise. - Yes.
Your Highness.
Soon.
My Soon.
(Final Episode)
My lady. We will help her.
Your Highness. We have prepared the ritual.
You should pray for the Crown Prince.
We went to Mount Inwang in the morning to get water.
It will be effective.
The Crown Prince has passed away.
I hear something strange.
The Crown Prince has passed away.
I must be hearing things.
- The Crown Prince has passed away. - Am I?
I must be.
The Crown Prince has passed away.
(A word to announce royal family's death)
The Crown Prince has passed away.
- Your Highness! - Your Highness!
Your Highness.
As a father,
my son died first.
No word can describe my sorrow,
but the Crown Prince is not my only child.
All people in Joseon are my children.
Over 100 children died...
of plague in the capital city alone.
I am ordering you...
not to waste your time in sorrow.
Find a way to save more people.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Have some congee at least.
Forgive me.
You need to eat to recover.
Forgive me.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
When will you stop being in sorrow?
You even stopped eating!
I said how long will you be in sorrow?
- Please forgive me. - Are you trying to kill yourself?
Your Majesty. You must not be mad at her. She is pregnant.
Please leave, Mother.
You too, Court Lady Seo.
You are not the only one who lost your child.
Over 100 children died in the capital city alone.
We could not even count how many died in the whole country.
I am aware of that.
How could you behave like this if you are aware of that?
Everything you wear, eat, and stay.
It all comes from the tax they pay.
We live on their blood and sweat.
I understand what you mean.
You are the Crown Prince's mother...
and a pregnant senior first rank consort.
No matter how sad you are,
you must look firm in front of the people.
That is your duty to fulfill.
I...
never wanted it.
I have never wanted...
to become a senior first rank Royal Consort.
Do I have to endure everything...
just because I got something I have never wanted?
My own child I gave birth to died.
And I cannot even grieve as I want?
The Crown Prince...
is not our only child.
We still have a child.
The baby in your belly...
is solely relying on you.
Even I, their biological father, cannot take care of them.
You are the only one they have.
I could not protect...
the young Crown Prince.
You can resent me as much as you want.
But please carry out your responsibility...
as a mother.
Give me some privacy for a moment.
There you go.
You are sleeping well.
We really became a family.
No matter what happens,
I will protect you and my first born son.
I promise you as a king. You can trust me.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I think he looks a lot like you.
I am glad he takes after you.
I am glad your appetite is back.
I should take care of the baby in my belly.
I am the only one it has.
Has Young Hee returned from her family's house?
No.
Bok Yeon as well?
Yes.
Kyung Hee is busy at the Sewing Department.
It is strange.
It feels like...
Court Lady Seo.
Yes, Your Highness.
Are you hiding something from me?
I am asking you.
I am sorry. I do not know anything.
It must be the King's order.
Call my friends right now.
- Your Highness. - I said now.
Is everything okay?
Yes, Your Highness.
Everything is fine.
How about Young Hee?
Where is she?
Did something happen?
You...
What are you doing? Stop crying.
I am sorry, Kyung Hee.
But Her Highness should know.
About what?
Your Highness.
Young Hee...
will die soon.
What?
She...
had a miscarriage.
She was secretly pregnant.
The inspector court lady found out about it.
And she is in prison now.
The king ordered us to keep it from you...
as he did not want you to get surprised while pregnant.
Let us go to the prison...
she is in.
- Your Highness. - You cannot.
You are pregnant.
It is my fault. I should have not told you.
If you are not going,
I will go by myself.
Move aside.
- Your Highness. - Move over.
- But... - Who do you think I am?
This is an order of senior first rank Royal Noble Consort.
I am a mother of the Crown Prince.
Are you looking down on me because he passed away?
Please do not say that.
That is not true.
If not, move aside.
Then...
only you can go before anyone knows.
You should come out as soon as possible.
Thank you, Court Lady Kwon.
I will never forget what you did for me.
- Your Highness. - Young Hee.
You cannot come to a place like this while pregnant.
Hurry up and go back.
I am sorry.
I am sorry, Young Hee.
What are you sorry about?
I only thought about me.
Caring about my child and myself only,
I forgot about you.
I am sorry.
Who made you like this?
Who on earth is it?
Your Highness.
I am not a young maid who knows nothing.
No one forced me.
Everything was my choice.
Why?
Because I wanted to become a woman of the one I love.
Even though you knew you would end up like this?
I am sorry to you.
I am sorry to Kyung Hee...
and Bok Yeon as well.
But even though I knew I would make everyone sad,
I just wanted to live as I wanted.
I experienced happiness that I could not dare...
to dream of as a court lady.
Even if the price is death,
I do not mind.
Young Hee. No.
I can not lose you like this.
No.
No way.
Please leave.
Leave, Duk Im.
- Your Highness! - Your Highness!
- Your Highness. - Your Highness.
Your Highness.
You are awake.
- How is my baby? - The baby is fine.
The doctor said the baby would be fine if you rest well.
Did you try to hide...
my friend's death from me?
You can not hide it forever.
Well...
I thought that was for the best.
As I know how much you care...
about your friends.
Your friend...
had an affair and even had a miscarriage.
(To have an affair.)
All the people of the palace know.
In a country,
there are laws to follow.
Laws should...
apply equally to everyone.
Even though she is your friend...
I can not make an exception.
That is...
one of the King's jobs.
I know.
You will not make any exceptions.
So I never asked to spare her life.
I did not beg you either.
I just want...
to be alone.
Young Hee.
Will Young Hee blame me in the afterlife?
She is not that kind of person.
You know that.
Your Highness.
Young Hee actually...
might be alive somewhere.
You know...
there is a novel...
about a lady who took a pill and pretended to be dead.
Then she came back alive and ran away with her lover.
It is a story that you told me a long time ago.
Do you remember?
I know it is nonsense.
But...
Bok Yeon is right.
Young Hee will be waiting for us somewhere.
What do you mean?
We all promised when we were young.
Later, when we become grandmothers and be released from the palace,
we will build a house near a book store.
We promised to grill roasted chestnuts all night...
and read a lot of novels.
Young Hee is waiting for us at that house.
Then we can meet her again.
Of course.
Young Hee had a lover.
What if she wants to live with him...
instead of us?
There is no betrayal.
If I need to drag her by her hair, I will.
Young Hee has gone first...
and now it is three of us.
No more cutting lines now.
No one can leave first.
What happens if you break the promise?
I do not know, but that is not allowed.
Never.
You are...
having check-ups every day, right?
Yes.
Are you...
taking your medicine well?
Yes.
I am fine.
That is why I am here to say hello.
Your Majesty.
I was wrong.
For what?
I am not the only one who lost our child.
Actually,
I knew you were heartbroken too.
I knew very well than others.
Nevertheless, I was mean to you.
I thought you would be fine since you are the King.
You must have been heartbroken...
even though you are the King.
It must have been tougher because you are the King.
I am...
fine.
I can endure.
And I must endure it.
Are you truly all right?
The moment you lost the young Crown Prince,
you even lost your closest friend.
Do you not resent me?
I had the power to save her...
but chose not to.
Do you not resent me for that?
I knew...
Your Majesty was that kind of a person from the start.
I knew you had no choice...
but to be like that.
Your Majesty.
The flowers will bloom again once spring comes, will they not?
Do you mean the flower tree at the detached house?
- That tree... - It will bloom again.
It will one day.
I am sure of it.
And when that time comes, everything will be fine again.
I want to watch those flowers with you, Your Majesty.
Just like when you were still a Crown Prince,
and I was a court lady.
Just like...
that summer day...
when everything was fine.
Your Majesty.
I heard you spent the three nights at the free clinic.
I had a lot to check in person.
But you caught an eye infection, and that worries me.
The well-being of Your Majesty is also this country's well-being.
Please do not forget that.
I will keep that in mind.
I am here with news, Your Majesty.
Kim Gui Joo who was exiled to Naju...
has passed away.
Does the Queen Dowager know?
The report from the Jeolla Province governor just arrived,
(Janggye: A provincial governor's report to the king)
so she does not.
I will tell her myself.
Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
Your Highness, Lady Hyegyeong is here.
Your Highness, I have heard of the news.
I cannot imagine the pain.
And His Majesty?
His Majesty's eye infection got worse,
so a doctor is currently examining him.
Then you should have gone to him...
and not to me.
Is there anything I can do for you?
What can you possibly do?
Not even I, his younger sister,
can not do anything for my brother.
My brother died,
but I can not change into mourning clothes.
Nor can I go to his funeral.
Stuck in this unpleasant palace,
I am unable...
to step a single foot outside.
Who confined us here?
Surrounded by nine fences...
Who is keeping us from stepping a foot outside?
The palace...
is such a dazzling...
prison.
When did you get here?
I came not too long ago.
I am glad it is not a serious illness.
Yes.
It is a simple cold,
so do not worry.
Please get some more sleep.
Are you leaving already?
You should rest.
Stay with me a little longer.
Never mind. You are carrying a child,
so even a simple cold might be very dangerous.
Hurry up and leave.
I will stay a little bit longer.
You leave when I tell you to stay...
and stay when I tell you to leave.
I must have been a mischief-maker in my past life.
It suits you perfectly.
I will leave once you fall asleep.
You will?
Then...
Read this to me...
until I fall asleep.
I want to hear you read.
("Classic of Poetry")
"The north wind blows cold,"
"and the snow falls heavily."
"Together with my dear beloved,"
"we shall leave while holding hands."
"Why are you hesitating?"
"We are already pressing on time."
"The north wind blows violently,"
"and the rain and snow fall furiously."
"Together with my dear beloved,"
"we shall return while holding hands."
"It is still a fox even if not red,"
"and a crow even if not black."
"Together..."
"with my dear beloved,"
"we shall get on the carriage..."
"while holding hands."
The people we hold dear...
keep leaving us.
But we have each other, so we can get through it.
Right?
How hot.
You are, not me.
Since when did you have a fever?
Since when...
I am okay, Your Majesty.
You are a strong man.
So...
you will be okay.
Duk Im.
Call the doctor.
Duk Im.
Where is the doctor?
Duk Im.
Yes.
My goodness.
Yes.
- Make sure to put everything. - Court Lady Seo!
Is it true Consort Sung has fainted?
Yes, sir.
Her due date is near.
But she is ill? That is bad.
Do not be worried, Court Lady Seo.
I am sure she will recover.
Yes, she must.
I will do it.
(To be continued)
Go away.
My gosh.
Court Lady Seo.
Hello.
Is His Majesty inside?
Yes.
He is waiting for Consort Sung to wake up.
Actually, Chief State Councilor sent me.
Events that cannot be delayed anymore have occurred.
He said I must bring him.
However, if...
anything happens to Consort Sung...
My apologies, Court Lady Seo.
We are public servants paid by the nation.
We must fulfill our duty as public servants.
Please inform His Majesty.
Yes.
I will head to the Royal Office.
Yes, Your Majesty.
When Consort Sung wakes up,
inform me immediately.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Highness. You are finally awake.
You were unconscious for three days.
Please wait here.
I will tell the doctor to bring medicine.
My lady.
Your Highness.
You should not call me that.
I just wanted to.
I wanted to call you like the old days.
You have a strong heart, my lady.
I have always...
liked that about you.
Your Highness.
My mother...
was kind and sweet,
but she had a weak heart.
It would have been nice if she was strong like you.
So...
you will be okay.
Your Highness. Please wait.
I will go bring His Majesty.
No.
Not His Majesty.
Please call Kyung Hee and Bok Yeon.
- But... - Please call my friends.
Please.
You are awake.
Court Lady Seo.
I ordered you to bring Kyung Hee and Bok Yeon.
Please forgive me, Your Highness. However...
Hurry up and bring them.
There is not much time left. Hurry up.
Yes, Your Highness.
I must see them...
before I go.
Did you...
Did you not miss me?
You will be okay, Your Majesty.
You have a lot to protect.
The things you have to protect...
will protect you instead.
But I am all my friends have.
I feel bad to leave them behind.
Do not do this.
I am sorry.
If...
you were still a court lady...
If I did not force you to be my concubine,
this would not have happened.
Your Majesty.
Did you really cherish me?
Yes.
Then...
if you see me in the next life,
please just pass by...
as if you do not know me.
I do not blame you.
I do not hate you.
I just want to...
live the way I want...
in my next life.
Have you...
ever loved me...
even a little?
Have you ever had...
any feelings for me?
Do you still not see it?
If I did not like you,
I would have done anything...
to run away.
I decided to stay with you...
in the end.
It was my choice.
Do you not see that?
Duk Im.
Open your eyes.
Duk Im.
I did wrong.
I did wrong, Duk Im.
Please.
Please do not go.
Do not leave me.
Duk Im.
Consort Sung passed?
Yes, Your Highness.
I see.
(Tale of Kwak and Jang)
Court Lady Seo.
I heard you went to the selection place to recruit royal concubines.
Yes.
I am sorry about what happened to Consort Sung.
But His Majesty must have not had any other choice...
as the King.
I know.
Did the selection end without a problem?
His Majesty cherished Consort Sung very much.
The only person he chose of his own will...
was her.
Yes, she was.
What is funny...
is that the world found out about it.
About the person...
His Majesty loved the most.
Everyone looked like Consort Sung...
in a way.
One of them had her intelligent eyes.
One of them had her bright smile.
Or her humble personality.
Everyone had something...
that resembles what the deceased had.
So,
did His Majesty choose one of them?
Someone who resembles Consort Sung the most?
No.
I have never seen him so angry.
In the end, we had to start over the selection process.
Finally,
a new royal concubine was selected.
Consort Su, the new Royal Consort,
is nothing like Consort Sung.
For some reason,
I...
was glad.
Are you okay?
Is there anything I can do for you?
Just tell me.
- Master Kang. - Yes.
Please protect His Majesty.
So that he does not feel too sad...
in loneliness.
Please...
protect him.
Yes, I will do so.
Oh, my.
Your Majesty, Consort Su prepared the food herself.
You should taste a little at least.
Your Majesty.
I tried my best to make it pretty.
Please give it a taste.
All right.
Let me see.
Food is more about taste than appearance.
Food is more about devotion than taste.
If you do not know how to cook,
you could ask the court ladies of Royal Kitchen to cook.
Today is your birthday.
I wanted to cook for you.
Oh, my.
Is it bad?
Do not force yourself to eat.
No.
I mean...
even though it looks bad,
it tastes quite good.
I will finish it.
It is my first time to see a dumpling soup like this.
This is really...
weird looking.
Okay.
I am glad I prepared enough food.
Have one more bowl.
You said it is delicious.
How shall I eat this?
Put the whole thing in your mouth.
Oh, my.
Would you like to try first?
No.
I am full just watching you eat.
No.
You made this with your heart.
I can not be the only one eating.
- How could I? - Open your mouth.
- No. - Open your mouth.
Yes.
Good. You eat well.
How is your own food?
It is delicious, right?
- It is very nice. - Then have some more.
Your Majesty, let me feed you.
I am very full.
- I already finished one bowl. - Open your mouth.
It is good to see.
What is?
It is good to see you eat well.
Tell Consort Su...
that I am sorry.
Duk Im.
I will...
stop thinking about you.
Even though I might be just pretending to forget you.
It does not matter.
I will forget you.
I am the King.
I will do my job.
I will play my part.
I lived like this until now.
So I will be living like this.
I will...
forget you.
Sir, rest for a while.
You said you are not yet 50, right?
Yes.
I am nearly 90.
I experienced four different Kings.
I can assure you...
that this is the first reign of peace in my life.
I am old, sick, and can not see well,
but I'm still living like a human being.
My country is taking care of me.
This was unimaginable before.
Senior Sir,
the way down is rough, so I will help you again this time.
I am fine. It is the road I have been on all my life.
- Then take care. - Yes.
Raise!
Fire!
- Raise! - Are the people shooting arrows...
from Jang's army?
- Fire! - Yes.
They are better than the soldiers of Guard Bureau.
Jang's army was selected by you.
- So they are obviously better. - Raise!
The next shift is Geum's army.
Shoot!
They are very good.
I did not know Geum had such soldiers.
Geum's army was selected by me.
So they are obviously good.
I want to see him.
We have an open position at Guard Bureau.
I think he would be suitable.
I am Sung Gung Min.
I am here by your word.
- Show me your face. - Yes, Your Majesty.
You...
look familiar.
What is your father's name?
My father's name is Sung Sik.
You are the cousin of Consort Sung.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Appoint the soldier as your assistant leader.
Yes, Your Majesty.
After five days...
is the anniversary of Consort Sung's death.
It has been a long time...
since you have talked about Consort Sung.
For a long time...
I have forgotten about her.
It has been a while.
This place...
has not changed at all.
As you have ordered a long ago,
we left it...
unchanged.
I want to be alone.
(The house of a righteous dog)
Your Majesty.
I heard you are looking for people who remember Consort Sung.
She will...
soon visit you.
I hope...
that comforts you.
Did you want to see me, Your Majesty?
You are a head court lady.
I do not remember calling you.
I heard you are looking for Consort Sung's keepsake.
Yes.
You were her friend.
For a very long time,
I have forgotten about it.
Head court lady.
What is your name?
My name is Bae Kyung Hee.
Aside from you,
she had two more friends.
One died at a young age.
What about the other?
Court Lady Kim Bok Yeon...
died of illness the year before.
Are you left alone as well?
I am not alone.
I made a promise with my friends.
That we will meet again one day.
So my friends will wait for me.
And...
so will Consort Sung.
Why would Consort Sung wait for you?
She is my concubine.
She is my person.
No matter how long it has been, she belongs to me.
I would never give her to anyone else.
I thought you have forgotten about Consort Sung.
However, you have not.
Consort Sung's keepsakes are in the East Palace...
where Crown Prince Moon Hyo stayed.
If you order me, I will bring them immediately.
Yes.
I have kept Consort Sung's keepsakes in here.
Well done.
I will give you a reward.
I do not want any reward.
I only did...
what I wanted to do.
You sound like Consort Sung.
Is it because you are friends?
Before she died,
she looked for you.
She was disappointed to see me instead.
She told me...
to pretend...
I do not know her in the next life.
She told me...
to just pass her by.
Your Majesty.
Consort Sung just bluffed a little.
Bluffed?
If she did not bluff even a little like that, she could not stand it.
That is what she said.
Do you know that?
She must have had the same feeling...
Shut your mouth.
Why do I have to hear...
about her true feelings from you?
I do not need to hear from others.
Do not cross the line.
My apologies.
I need some privacy. Leave.
(Extended Meaning of the Greater Learning)
Transcription?
It is what the court ladies do for extra money on their day off.
"Extended Meaning of the Greater Learning" of all?
Did you really transcribe this?
How could a young maid write like this?
You keep thinking lowly of a young maid.
Who do you think you are?
(Tale of Kwak and Jang)
(Please forgive me for my foolish behavior...)
(of pushing you into the pond.)
(My reckless behavior at the palace where rules should be strictly...)
(observed upset you.)
(How would I not regret my mistake? You could have cut my pay...)
It is too small.
I did not know you were this small.
And I loved you...
who was this small.
Duk Im.
That is impossible.
It is too early.
Come on.
You never get tired, do you?
It must not be that easy...
to object to what the King wants to do every time.
I am not against releasing official slaves.
I am just saying...
it is untimely.
Before releasing official slaves,
we need to have budget...
to pay the workers who will work in replacement of them.
And the government offices that had official slaves work for them...
must find other resources.
I got it.
Do it as you want.
- Excuse me? - What you said is right.
Find a solution as soon as possible.
You may leave now.
Yes, Your Majesty.
He is so...
He makes me dizzy.
In the past,
I never knew I would ever say this to you.
However, I must say this today.
There would be no other king...
who cherishes his people like you.
I, Sim Hee Won,
am happy...
that you are my king.
That old man.
He never says such things.
Your Majesty.
I am so relieved...
that you woke up.
I guess the Yeonhunbang worked.
Let me give you another treatment.
No.
Leave me alone for a moment.
I need privacy.
Why is it me?
What do you mean?
There are countless ladies in the world.
And many are from great families who are well educated...
and have good character. They have everything.
So why me?
Because none of those ladies...
can become you.
Duk Im...
I even went against my nature...
and lost my heart to you.
So I do not need anyone else.
It has to be you.
Were you having a nightmare?
You...
You are here.
I was since earlier.
You were sleeping on my lap the whole day, were you not?
It is time for you to leave. You were here for too long.
Yes.
You are right.
- Duk Im. - Yes, Your Majesty?
I will never...
love like my grandfather.
Excuse me?
Until the very end, I will protect...
the one I love.
What are you saying all of a sudden?
I got it, so hurry up and leave.
You really are late.
Why are we suddenly viewing the flowers?
The flowers have bloomed again.
I did not think we would be able to see them again.
Look at the flowers later.
You have to be on your way.
Everyone...
is waiting for you, Your Majesty.
Duk Im.
Yes?
Years have passed,
and at times,
I was not sure myself.
Do I really miss you...
or...
has the past been fondly glorified?
Now I know.
I missed you...
and the days I spent with you.
I will never let go of your hand ever again.
Please do let go.
You can still go back.
Go back to the place you belong.
You have to become a great king,
just as you have until now.
This is where I should be.
It turns out...
we do not have much time.
And we can not afford to wait.
So...
love me.
Please.
Love me.
If this...
is a past memory, it is fine.
If it is a dream, it is fine.
It does not matter if I am dead.
I will...
always choose this moment with you...
and hope...
this moment to not change.
For this moment...
to be forever.
So the moment...
became forever.
(Thank you for watching.)
(We hope The Red Sleeve can be with you forever.)
(Special thanks to Lee Soon Jae who participated as a cameo.)