Cruel Palace
Episode 9
- Hooray! - Hooray!
Lock the palace doors!
Royal command!
Lock the palace doors! Royal command!
Lock all palace doors
and do not let anyone in! That is a royal command!
Hooray! Hail the Crown Princess! Hooray!
Thank you Your Highness!
Is the Crown Prince in good health?
How difficult it must have been for you!
Is the Crown Prince doing well?
The Crown Princess is coming through! Please move over!
Out the way! Out the way!
The Crown Princess is coming through!
Did you close and secure all the palace doors?
Do not let anyone in without my permission!
- Your Highness! - Everyone please leave now.
So it wasn't a false rumor that
the Crown Princess has been following barbarian traditions.
Her Highness riding in on a horse is not that shameful of an act.
I asked everyone to leave!
Get him out of here!
It is because I am embarrassed to face the people of the nation.
If my daughter-in-law follows the barbarians' traditions
what will the people say about the royal family?
They will think we're thoughtless!
How humiliating!
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
Let us hurry Your Highness.
Look at the people cheering.
Imagine how much the Crown Prince would have liked it if he was here.
Let's go to the king's palace first to see His Highness and then--
The people have not yet forgotten the Crown Prince.
It must be why they are cheering for me.
How can you just leave like that?
We must explain this misunderstanding!
It's the truth! What misunderstanding?
His Highness did not want to see his daughter-in-law
so ordered that all palace entrances be sealed off!
This is a family matter.
What do you mean family matter?
Let's go.
He is correct. Family matter indeed!
Now let's go!
You're going to have to make it clear.
His Highness should have died in that fortress.
How can you say that?
How can a king who surrendered to the barbarians on both knees
possibly be powerful enough to lead an entire nation?
How could this happen?
Open the palace doors!
Open the palace doors now!
Did you not receive news that the Crown Princess will be arriving?
Open the palace doors immediately!
What are you waiting for?
Please wait just a bit longer.
That wretched boy!
Open the palace doors this instant!
What a disgrace...
I was told that to walk to Shimyang from here
takes over a month.
The Crown Princess most likely wanted to see her son so much
she put aside her reputation to ride here on a horse.
So what?
Please don't be angry anymore.
This is no place for you to speak!
Why?
Do you think you're her mother-in-law or something?
His Highness locked the palace doors
and won't let his daughter-in-law in?
Yes!
What a spiteful man!
What upset him so much that he'd do that?
It's a good thing for us!
Fortunate! Fortunate indeed!
What does that matter?
When that old man is upset it's only harder for Kim Sook Won here.
The reason it is fortunate is...
this is not His Highness disliking his daughter-in-law
as much as a sign of him not approving the Crown Prince's actions in Shimyang.
Isn't that so Lady Sook Won?
Your Highness... why don't you come home for now?
It is getting dark.
Let's first go home and while you get some rest--
Suk Chul...
is my son regardless of what anyone says.
And while my child was a newborn
I, his mother, was dragged away to Manchu!
Your Highness.
You must restrain yourself.
Father... what have I done wrong?
What have I done so wrong
this His Highness is making me shed tears of blood?
Until I see my son
I will not take a single step from here!
Are you not Court Lady Kim?
Why is His Highness not allowing me to enter the palace?
Please come down from the horse and get into the palanquin.
Your Highness...
I will walk.
That is Her Majesty.
Suk Chul!
It's mom.
I am your mother.
It's for the best Your Highness.
Fortunately Her Majesty took control just in time.
That's why I'm so angry you fool!
Did we not receive reports
that Doh Reu Gohn was actively supporting the Crown Prince?
Do you think he has some kind of agenda behind it?
Why do you think they are treating him so well
when he was originally taken there as a hostage?
Your Highness... to think such things is only a waste of your time.
-Hyung Ik. - Yes Lady Sook Won.
The reason I asked you here today...
Go ahead! What is there that you can't say in front of your mother?
Mother please step outside for a bit.
Please don't mind your mother and--
I said step outside!
What can't she say in front of me, and to kick me out?
Why are you laughing?
Its so annoying!
What... do you mean?
Even if I do get lucky... and conceive a child again...
There is no guarantee that I will have a son.
Well that... is true...
So... find a couple living alone in an isolated area
and look after them.
You're so frustrating!
So...
what you're saying is...
all that?
Are you saying to do that?
If I cannot have a son I have no other choice.
But... how can you match the exact date?
So find many different families.
But My Lady... I...
told you I know the secrets to having a son.
If you just follow those instructions--
This is my last chance.
If Court Lady Lee becomes pregnant or
if Her Highness blooms into a woman in the new year...
Then will that old man even ask for me?
Then... I...
And one more!
Yes! Please just say the word!
Please pay a visit to Hyuk's mother.
What are you going to do to that old woman?
Do not even think of looking after that old hag!
There's an old saying that too much scratching will crumble--
I'm asking you to find her and get rid of her!
Excuse me?
If we're going to eliminate a problem, we have to be thorough.
Hyung Ik... what did you and Lady Sook Won talk about in secret?
I'm asking you what you guys talked about without me!
Oh my goodness!
How did I...
Has that man lost his mind?
What do you mean concubine?
If not!
Is a concubine's daughter saying she wants to become a wife?
What a conniving girl you are!
Who do you think we are?
I'm sorry...
- Mother. - How dare you call me that!
There is no difference between a concubine and a servant.
Go ask your mother...
How to live the life of a concubine!
Do you understand?
I'm sorry... My Lady...
Why bow?
The awful things I go through because this family has been shamed!
I'm sorry...
That this is all I can do for you...
One day when the world changes--
Is that all you can say to me?
Before the world changes... you have to change!
What I'm saying is--
It doesn't matter to me!
Whether I'm your wife or concubine!
As long as I can be with you none of that matters to me!
But you should be different.
Shouldn't you change before the world changes?
Let's die together...
Or just run away...
If you are determined to die...
What mountain could possibly be too high to climb?
Isn't that so, husband?
So you're saying that is Kim Sook Won's idea?
Yes, My Lord!
However, my opinion is that--
Do as Kim Sook Won says.
However--
Yes! My Lord!
Looks like it's going to be a long road ahead.
Going on a manhunt I wasn't meant for!
Hold on! When am I going to get hired as the royal medic?
Just remember!
If I say even the slightest thing--
Keep a close watch on him.
He seems to have loose lips... which means we'll have to kill him one day.
Yes My Lord.
And... watch the royal advisors closely too.
Kim Sang Hun is bound to do something in the near future.
Yes, My Lord.
We need a gift to bring to His Highness
so that I can ask him to give me back my position.
Why didn't you go in the palace?
Wouldn't it be best to visit His Highness and resolve any misunderstandings?
What misunderstanding?
You said His Highness was upset that the Crown Princess
followed the barbaric ways and rode in on a horse.
Has His Highness ever taken a liking to his daughter-in-law?
The Queen should not have died so soon...
She alone liked the Crown Princess dearly...
Now that she has passed and left this world...
Prince So Hyun's father-in-law Kang Suk Ki
was an influential figure who set up the embassy and political systems.
Injo was uncomfortable with Kang Suk Ki because he was direct with him
but Queen In Hyul trusted him because he was so honest.
That is how Kang Suk Ki's daughter became a part of the royal family.
Why isn't Kim Sook Won here for once?
She's always clinging on to the young Queen and acting friendly with her.
It's all up to you.
You have to be really good to His Highness
so he doesn't go back to Kim Sook Won.
Speaking of,
even if she is a young Queen
is it right for the mother-in-law, the Queen, to go to her
daughter-in-law to pay respects?
She's such a young Queen.
His Highness has ordered that no one take a step outside the palace.
Oh no!
Take a look at that girl!
That conniving whore!
Your Highness, please watch your steps.
Thank you.
What are you doing? Hurry and get the palanquin.
Let's walk.
Since we're all together for once.
Would you like to do that?
Light the way. Her Highness would like to walk there.
I heard you had terrible indigestion.
Are you okay?
Yes Your Highness.
That's a relief.
And you still haven't been officially made a royal concubine?
Yes, Your Highness.
It's not just once or twice but His Highness practically lives
with Court Lady Lee so for her to yet to be made a royal concubine--
I'm well aware.
Let's go.
Your Highness
the reason Court Lady Lee has not been made a royal concubine yet
is because she does not come from an aristocratic family.
Imagine how bad it must be for his Highness who
treasures her so much to not be able to do anything.
You must be clear on the details before making any promises
or you will be greatly disappointed.
Okay.
Let's hurry Your Highness.
How lonely and sad the Crown Princess must be all alone!
What are you all doing? Brighten the lights!
So it was Kim Sook Won's idea to go visit her daughter-in-law.
[Suk Chul]
We will never be separated again.
No matter what.
[- Na Up- Eunuch - Jung Ryul- Court Lady]
Right before I left for the long journey
I breastfed you for the first and last time.
I have not forgotten that day.
Any obstacles I faced... I overcame thinking of that day.
One day we will build our nation to be strong enough to defeat China
and will never have to endure such humiliation ever again.
Waiting solely for that day to come
I have not shed a single tear.
Following in your grandfather's steps... your father will rise to the throne...
and following in your father's steps you will rise to the throne.
And until then I will
turn this nation into a strong and firm nation.
Let her know.
Yes.
Crown Princess, Her Highness has arrived.
Please stay where you are.
You were spending time with your son for the first time in a long time.
I was not able to come say hello to you because of the order.
Please have a seat.
We do not need to be picky about our seats.
Let's sit however is most comfortable.
Your Highness. It will only make the Crown Princess more uncomfortable.
Please have a seat over there.
Please allow me to pay respects first, Your Highness.
Close the doors.
The two probably have a lot to talk about.
Is the palace not always full of rumors?
There are even rumors about things that don't happen at all.
How can the two women speak comfortably if we're all standing there?
Isn't that so?
I was curious as to what kind of person you are
so I feel much better now that I've met you.
Were you disappointed?
The reason His Highness put out such an order is because--
What surprises me more
is your similarity to Queen In Hyul
and what also surprises me
is that unlike Queen In Hyul
you seem to be so much more relaxed and graceful.
It's hard to believe that you are 15 years old.
I will take that as a compliment.
Your Highness.
You must be strict with those around you.
If you treat them with kindness above anything else
the columns within the palace will crumble
and if the columns crumble
a battle will break out among His Highness's concubines
which in turn will blur His Highness's clarity and outlook.
His Highness has found a great person to re-marry.
The Crown Prince will be much happier than I, when I tell him.
Thank you. For your kind words.
Please speak comfortably to me.
I am your daughter-in-law.
What brings you here so late at night?
Please tell me what it is.
As you may have noticed today
it seems that His Highness greatly misunderstands
the Crown Prince and it has only gotten worse.
Foolish man...
His Highness is not to blame for this.
It is also true they have given special
treatment to the Crown Prince with ulterior motives.
What do you mean special treatment?
Did you not see those barbarians treat His Highness
as they treat their servants when you were there?
We must resolve the misunderstandings.
If the Crown Princess returns without addressing these issues--
How many times must I tell you for you to understand?
Up in the fortress, His Highness should have--
Please stop talking about that.
How can you call him a King?
He should have spoken to the Crown Prince a long time ago
and stepped down from the throne.
Had he done that!
The Crown Prince would not have been dragged away as a hostage--
Please be careful what you say!
He should know when to back down...
When the horse becomes exhausted
you must switch to a different one, My Lord.
If you just make the decision
I will gather the people.
Let's wait a bit more.
We do not have time!
If we continue to dilly-dally
and then China tries to bring the Crown Prince to the throne then--
Ki Won!
That is conspiracy.
I cannot conspire...
to switch horses...
Then... do we have any other choice?
We'll have to look for one.
As we wait...
You must not Your Highness.
How can you take the Prince there?
It does not matter if I return like this without seeing His Highness.
However... I cannot leave my son behind.
I must raise him myself.
I will take good care of him so do not worry--
How can I leave him here when I know very well
that His Highness still does not approve of me?
If by chance Her Highness has a son
then who will guarantee my son's future?
And will you be guaranteed anything by taking him to Shimyang?
The young prince will only suffer.
China is the future of Joseon!
Your Highness.
The person responsible for that is my father-in-law.
How could you say--
Even if I give my entire life and soul
I will move China's royal family
and make sure that my husband's son controls the future of our nation.
Your Highness!
Please say no more!
I will protect my son.
Are you out of your mind?
Suk Chul is my grandson!
He will be following in his father's footsteps
in paving the future of our nation!
And you want to take such a person to Manchu?
Please go back.
I told you to go back!
How dare you enter without permission!
Get out of here immediately!
Your Highness
pardon me but we have orders to bring the prince to His Highness.
How dare you! Just what do you think you are doing!
Let go of me! Let go!
Let go!
You must think of the Prince's future Your Highness.
If you act so, you will--
be disregarded by His Highness.
Let me see His Highness.
I will meet with His Highness
and explain everything that's happened to him.
Your Highness!
I will go to the King's palace.
I will go to His Highness
and beg for forgiveness!
Is there any way to help the Princess?
It's not like she has committed an unforgivable crime.
I am sorry but
you should not get involved in this.
Regardless of the situation, she is my daughter-in-law.
I cannot just sit back and watch.
Your Highness
if you keep getting involved with the affairs of the King's palace
it will be difficult for you to survive in this palace.
I apologize Your Highness.
Is that what I have gotten myself into?
I thought my daughter-in-law's business was my business.
That just gave me the chills.
She is not to be taken lightly.
That does not change the fact that she's just a 15-year-old girl.
She can't possibly even compare to the Princess.
What exactly do you mean?
The Princess is a strong woman.
I thought she would make a huge mess one day
but that day seems to have come sooner than I thought.
It's a good thing.
His Highness will only grow more dubious through all this.
China is trying to bring the Crown Prince to the throne.
Will His Highness doubt the Prince?
You ask because you have yet to know the kind of person His Highness is.
His Highness...
is just as cruel a man as I am.
Do you know what the bigger problem is?
I... I, Kim Ja Jeom...
know very well what kind of person I am
but that man does not have a clue what kind of person he is.
That is why when he gets himself into trouble and
he doesn't know how to get himself out of it.
Rather than trying to make things right
he's probably thinking of ways to justify his outburst
and actions against his daughter-in-law.
That's why he blamed his surrendering on me
and is able to avoid taking responsibility for it.
And why are you upset, now?
That's because you are making things so complicated!
You do what you are supposed to do
and I just do what I need to do. What's so complicated about that?
Well first, you need to get pregnant for
our work to even begin.
Just because you water a seedless plant
doesn't mean a child will start to just miraculously grow.
I told you I would take care of that.
I will do whatever it takes to get him to impregnate me.
You said His Highness has stopped coming here all together
so it will not be easy to achieve.
If you're so worried
then you should give His Highness a shot.
A shot that makes him think
"I cannot live without Kim Sook Won."
Why of course! There is such a thing!
So just get me a job as the royal medic.
That way I can either give him a shot or herbal medicine.
So what? You're saying you can't do it?
My Lady, that is not something you can achieve just because you want it.
Not only is it difficult to get the dates just right--
Then we have no other choice.
I'll just have to tell my father you cannot do it.
No... never mind...
There is a better way...
Then tell me what it is.
There's a method in the medical books.
So the first three months of a pregnancy is called the first trimester
and during this time, there are many changes and minimal blood flow
so the gender of the child is not yet determined.
So what you do is get your husband's first urine of the day in an urn
and ferment an egg in it for two months and then eat it hard boiled.
Once you do even a girl will turn into a boy so that you have a son!
You might as well tell me to eat hard boiled dog poop!
My Lady, please believe me and--
Leave right away tonight.
Once the Princess leaves for China
I will do whatever it takes to become pregnant again.
She came back to Joseon on horseback...
and the people of our nation cheered for her?
Of course they did...
To them I'm but a worthless King
she is their Princess that was ripped from her nation
and endured a rough life in China after being taken hostage.
That is why she came!
She used introducing herself to the new Queen as an excuse
and really she wanted to make herself look sad in front of the nation!
In... am I wrong?
Or... do you think... this could all be the Prince's idea?
No, it couldn't be...
The Prince wouldn't conspire against me.
My devoted son wouldn't dare think to take my place on the throne!
If the Prince did do such a thing
then he would have done what it took to come here himself.
Isn't that so?
That's evidence that he still has not fallen for their tricks!
That's it!
That is why they are holding onto him
and sent the Princess instead!
No, no, no!
The Princess probably proposed the idea first.
In order to convince the Prince
they must first turn him against his father.
That is why she was being so stubborn with me!
To do whatever it took to pick a fight
and to show the entire world when I became upset and angry!
I...
Should not have rose to the throne in place of Gwang Hae.
I...
was never fit to become king...
I rushed to have an outfit made for you.
When you return to Shimyang
please wear it on a regular basis.
It is because you do not know what kind of country Manchu is.
The summers are short
and the wind is always blowing dust around.
Please still wear it.
This is something I wear.
It is a piece that has only ever been worn within our palace walls
and has never been seen in China.
Mother...
Once you leave
His Highness will also regret it.
He is a kind-hearted man so there is no way he won't.
Accepting you as Queen
was not fortunate for the royal family
but fortunate for this nation.
Your Highness!
Please allow me to see my son one more time!
Once I return to Shimyang
I do not know when I will see him again.
Your Highness!
I know very well what I have done wrong.
I will accept any punishment you give me
so please just let me see him one more time Your Highness!
Look at that! Look what I mean!
She said herself she knows very well what she's done wrong!
Your Highness! The young Prince is coming out!
Suk Chul!
Suk Chul...
Your Highness!
Thank you Your Highness!
Now that I have seen my son
I will leave with a joyful heart!
Thank you Your Highness!
That wretched girl!
You know that girl in our village--
Why even mention her?
Her slim frail body and her tight butt--
How dare you!
You'll be struck with lightning for checking out another man's wife!
I'm fine if I'm struck with lightning.
Just the thought of her--
Is she really that slim and fragile?
She really is!
My, she's quite a beauty!
Wife!
So he can't come tonight either?
Yes, My Lady.
He isn't going to that whore's place is he?
They say he will be sleeping in the King's palace.
My dear, I think my talismans have lost their effectiveness.
We must find some other method or something...
Who are you?
Oh my!
Why you--
You have quite the temper and energy there!
Do I look like I could even put up a fight?
Why are you eavesdropping on us?
Such an affectionate young couple!
How dare you invade our private lives--
Please accept this for now.
I watched quite an enjoyable show so I should pay accordingly.
My...
Careful. Careful.
What is this mother?
It is a talisman. The belly button of a roe deer!
It is very valuable!
What am I supposed to use this for?
If you carry it with you and let its scent embrace you
it will drive men insane.
Or you can put some of it on your norigae
I don't need it!
Spiteful girl!
How do you think that Court Lady Lee girl
is getting the King to sleep with her every night?
Unless she is using some secret to lure him man in at night
it is absolutely impossible to do so.
Just do as she says!
That way His Highness will come looking for you once more!
If His Highness does not come to me
then I will just go to him.
What does all that mean?
How many times must I tell you for you to understand?
So if you have a son, they will raise him well, that's what I'm saying.
Listen here man!
What foolish man would sell off his child!
And say that you do raise your son.
Isn't his future obvious?
He will spend his entire life in this mountain
working odd jobs, get old and die.
But, if you give your son to this family
he will immediately be registered as the son of an aristocrat.
Let's give him our son.
No way!
He's saying our child will become an aristocrat!
My! Great thinking!
The family will give you enough money for
you to be well off the rest of your lives.
So starting today
whether it's night or day, start trying to harvest babies!
That will be a much more profitable business than hunting in the woods!
So when do we need to make a baby?
As soon as possible.
Here... with this
buy some fresh meat and medicine to strengthen your bodies.
You got it?
Work hard to harvest at night, okay?
Okay.
Just my luck!
[Court Lady Kim- Head Royal Court Lady]
Who are you?
Is anyone outside?
You can call out all you want but it's just me.
Aren't you Kim Sook Won?
What are you doing here?
I came because I missed you Your Highness.
Oh my...
Did you not miss me?
Fine then.
What if someone sees you?
Why did you come all the way here?
So what if someone sees me?
I missed you so much I thought I'd lose my mind!
If you're never going to see me again
then kill me here, right now.
I would rather die in your hands
than to go on living like this!
My dear...
I beg you Your Highness.
Please... kill me.
Why are you doing this?
My! I can't breathe!
It is harder for me to breathe Your Highness!
- Oh my! - Please stay still!
Subtitles by DramaFever
Kim Sook Won's impudent actions--
It is nothing to just let slide!
Lee Sook Won is pregnant!
And what is wrong with you?
It's because my stomach hurts!
Court Lady Lee is pregnant! How can I be okay?
You must be careful! What if you miscarry being so careless?
That conniving wench!
I felt bad for her so I even gave her a palanquin to ride back in!
It is not your father's fault.
Someone probably conspired all this.
Acting so kind and wise!
Now she's acting like she owns the palace!
What a deceitful girl!
Even Her Highness does not sleep with His Highness in his quarters!
What can I do if that's what pleasures His Highness?
Good job! You will definitely give birth to a son!
Please kill the child Court Lady Lee is carrying.
I can kill thousands or millions for my daughter.
How will you kill it?
You should try one as well.
What if it was poisoned?
I just have to eat enough to stay alive.