than way
Open your ears
to hear the people
Calm thy heart
first for the affairs of the nation
"THE CONCUBINE"
This's really
say nothing
Fool
He is such a reckless lad
Perhaps your son should join us
No, sir! He is not my son, sir
He once saved my life
at war
so I took him in like a son
How scary!
The prince is but a thief!
How dare you!
Fool!
you
Let him go at once!
What have I done wrong?
There is an order to catching deer, too?
How dare you!
- Lock him away at once! - Yes, sir!
Kwon-yoo?
I apologize
for the disturbance,
Your Highness
Please forgive me
Wait until the guest has left
Why?
What worries you so?
Don't worry
I do not hear you reading these days
Just rumors of you wandering...
...out in mad hunting
To not fall weak, men not only
study but hunt and...
That is not what I meant
Why do you frequent Deputy-Minister...
...Shin's house?
Because of his daughter?
A mere deputy-minister's girl?
I've never felt this way before
The court is always critical of the king's half brother
Stay away from her
It is only right that
I visit you often,
stepmother
You still call me stepmother, sire?
I fret you come
to keep watch on me
Of course not
With no son and
not even a concubine
They say I'm stopping you
with ulterior motives
It is only because
I feel sorry to my late queen
Though I am a stepmother,
I have my courtly duties
I shall see to it immediately
Then, please find a new queen for me
Since you went against the court,
you must run for life
I'm not going
anywhere alone
But there's nothing
I can do for you
Just stay with me
Kwon-yoo!
Escort her away!
Kwon-yoo!
No!
Let go!
Kwon-yoo!
Hwa-yeon!
- Kwon-yoo! - Hwa-yeon!
No!
Kwon-yoo!
No, Father!
I suggested we run away
Kwon-yoo is innocent!
If this gets known,
not only he
we'll all die
Please let him go
It's too late
Guards!
I'll go in the palace!
If Kwon-yoo dies, so will I!
Hwa-yeon!
What have you done to her!
Hwa-yeon!
I will do it
There are rules and steps to bathing, too
I have no right to my own body?
Your Majesty Prince Sung-won is here
It's been so long
How've you been, brother?
Just roaming here and there, sire
please take care
I'm ashamed to see you
so weak and pale, sire
I feel much better seeing you
How are things outside?
The grain and crops have
fully ripened, sire
Your people are making spirits
with chrysanthemums
Recently, he's been ill quite often
I'm afraid the court physician
does not know why
He'll regain his health soon
Don't fret, Your Majesty
You left so suddenly
I was worried
You worried about me?
How foolish of me to worry you both
I'm glad you've returned safely
I came upon hearing
His Majesty's ill
I shall leave when he recovers
It'd be a burden on you and
my nephew for me to stay
What burden?
His Majesty welcomes you so
I've taken up too much of your time,
Your Majesty
Let's listen to the court physician
He's grown weak from boils
and can't eat well
Perhaps it's the food!
If so,
we must interrogate
the royal kitchen matron!
That's preposterous
We can always do that after
His Majesty recovers
We must get to the truth
behind His Majesty's illness
Your Majesty!
His Majesty's state is critical
Please come another day
What do you mean?
I am His Majesty's mother!
Step aside
Your Majesty!
Why do you keep me...
...from meeting my ailing son!
I must see how he is at once!
His Majesty must rest now
Ask her to go for today
Is the queen implying that
I'd interfere in his health?
My acupuncture set! Hurry!
Yes, sir
He isn't breathing!
Don't just watch! Do something!
This is a vital spot
Please appoint your successor!
Please, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
Farewell, My King!
Well done, Minister Yoon
But the prince and queen are still alive
The queen's father also
has many followers
How hard can a woman and her child be?
Without the Left-State Minister and her father,
she won't last
Majesty!
We must push ahead
before the Queen Mother
She has the power to appoint the next king
They are not to be messed with
Majesty!
If you're ousted here,
you and the prince
will be in danger
By the way
This is the royal kitchen's log
There's nothing around
the day of the king's sudden illness
That means...
Yes. The matron who records
the log is also missing
She must be hidden away somewhere inside the palace
Inside here?
Yes
We must find her and prove
His Majesty was assassinated
With proof, I can gather up forces with some ministers
How dare you!
They're conspirators of
high...
...treason!
Seize them!
Yes, sir!
High treason?
Why you!
Have you no fear of heaven!
There is a new heaven now!
The queen's father is charged with treason!
What?
The Queen Mother has ordered
his arrest for treason
Fools!
How dare you!
Go away at once!
Over there!
Fools!
This color was made
with red sage in lye
It must be soaked hundreds of times
to get this bright,
blood-like color
It absorbs all other colors to shine even brighter
It's the king's color
Your Majesty!
It hasn't been long since
His Majesty's been crowned
Thus, the court eunuchs will also stand guard for a while
Your Majesty
Lie to the left of the queen
Your Majesty
Lie over her with your heart to the left
Lick and suckle her lips
then swallow her saliva, sire
Then, caress down farther
Softly rub her lower stomach
Wait
until her breasts harden,
then grasp
them firmly,
sire
Your Majesty
Begin intercourse, sire
The queen must grab his waist
and accept
his royal penis
I am ready,
sire
Let it in
Go slowly, sire
Next is the anal position
Not yet, sire!
You must ejaculate later
to impregnate a son
sire
Please return to your chambers,
sire
If the Queen Mother knew...
What happened?
I couldn't say a word in the royal kitchen
The maids run away when they see me
We must find the royal kitchen matron
Your Highness?
You found something?
Tell me
Well,
if she is still alive...
I once heard the eunuchs whispering
Past the Queen Mother's court
and the laundry place
I heard there is a secret
pathway underground
No sunlight can get through,
But it snows all day there
And only
the Queen Mother's private soldiers
know of it
Your Highness!
Please get me out of here
I just did as I was told
Calm down
And take a look at this
Did you write this?
Yes, Your Highness
But
Do you remember what
His Majesty ate that day?
He had lunch at the Queen Mother's court
The Queen Mother?
She suddenly called His Majesty
and ordered us not to prepare lunch
Why?
Is it not to your liking?
It's because
I have indigestion
Afraid it's poisoned, sire?
Of course not
They say you are ill
because I'm poisoning you
Then, he had diarrhea
all night
You two dare defile the palace order?
Make sure they never forget
their sins!
Cut off the atrocious fool's penis!
Remove her womb and...
...sew her genitals!
Show them the strict order of the court!
Yes, ma'am!
What brings you to this humble sire?
I haven't visited since you moved to this place
Where did you go at night
with no guards?
My father is locked up
How could I just sit and wait?
I apologize
I've been too busy with things
You must be devastated
I shall see to your father's release
no, thank you
I cannot be a burden on you, sire
I am just grateful
to be alive
It must be uncomfortable in this old place
Chief Eunuch!
Furnish this place suited to Her Highness
That is under jurisdiction
of the Queen Mother, sire
What?
It's her jurisdiction?
So, you won't follow the king's order?
Your Highness! Look this!
His Majesty sent such nice things
Embankment work on Nakdong
River damaged tributary
The peasant shares in great harm
With the rainy season...
...320 homes were lost
And over 200 people went missing
Apart from what's required, reduce the taxes
Order all district magistrates
to send soldiers to help the people
Next is a list of pardoned sinners
in honor of the coronation
Excluding murders and high treason
280 sinners...
...in the capital
and 137 elsewhere were...
Do you people not see me?
Why don't you submit reports to me?
While His Majesty learns affairs,
the Queen Mother is...
Does it look like I'm learning by just sitting here?
From now on, prepare reports
for him to see...
...as well
Continue
Is the queen's father on the list?
Have you lost your mind?
Do you not know for whom
they are being purged?
The former queen's father has many followers
I fret it'll perturb the people
Did she beg you to release her father when you met?
You kept watch on me?
Though you act as regent, I am still the king
You're not ready
Mentioning personal feelings
at court is no king!
Forgotten how we made it here?
If we don't nip the bud, we could get hurt again
We almost died when your court was on fire
I've never once forgotten that
Please stop mentioning that
Every woman in the palace is yours, but one!
You can never touch that woman
Bring all the eunuchs at the former queen's court!
What have I done wrong?
I did all you wanted, Mother
I accepted her as sister-in-law
And became the king as you wished!
What more do you want from me?
If the bee will not shoo away
the flower will be cut off
Get me a drink
Hwa-yeon!
I took you in like my own son
How dare you covet my daughter!
Hwa-yeon!
Remember why I let you live
And never come to us again
Guards!
Castrate him at once!
Yes, sir!
Kwon-yoo?
How did you come here?
I thought you were dead
No.
I prayed every moment for you to be alive
Kwon-yoo
I'm so glad to see you
alive and well
Kwon-yoo died back then,
madam
What do you mean?
Please help me
I have no clue what is happening
I found evidence the king's been murdered
Please, go back
Do you not know I'm Minister Yoon's man?
What do you mean?
You're the only one
I have in the palace
Kwon-yoo
How could you?
How could I be
of any help now?
What more do you want
in life?
If you want to live,
run away alone
Alone again
Like before
Run by yourself
No visitors are allowed
Still, Her Highness is here
Just for a moment?
I could lose my head I'm sorry
Could you at least give this
to my elderly father?
It's rice gruel
Your daughter sent this
You?
How did you come here?
Such a dangerous act
I heard what happened from the royal kitchen matron
Who should I tell this to?
Look.
I'll die for my sin But not her!
You should've killed me back then
Stop!
Come back!
How is the former queen?
She is well, Your Majesty
Visit her day and night
to make sure she's well
Yes, sire
How dare you?
Persimmon is harmful to His Majesty's boils
What is your name?
Choong-young, sire
How'd you know I have boils?
I knew from how you hesitated
leaning against your back
Tell me,
how can boils be subdued?
Sweat and chills can cause
boils to form easily, sire
It is best to avoid
raw or cold foods
You seem familiar
Have we met before?
No, sire.
How can a lowly man meet His Majesty?
I like this lad
Promote him as senior eunuch
Your Majesty To become a senior,
one must work over 16 years
It took him over 20 years to reach that post to be here
This man came in recently
What?
Can't I do as I wish even with a eunuch?
Why?
Do you only follow the Queen Mother, too?
As you wish, sire
What brings Your Highness here this late?
Is it this?
Kwon-yoo
They will be beheaded at dawn
Why make the effort?
The poor kitchen matron died because of you
Madam? What is it?
I must watch my father die
for we couldn't die with the king
Please kill us first, sire
Beheading the former queen's father
is too harsh
Please take back the order
The court has already decided
Please save her father!
I will do whatever you want
I will no longer seek her!
Loyal ministers wish this to stabilize your reign!
No further discussion
Who do you speak of?
The relatives on your side who all hold posts?
She must suffer so because
the late king didn't kill us?
Watch what you say!
Am I this nation's king at all?
Not this time
It won't be as you wish
Sire!
Chief Eunuch?
Yes, sire
Run and stop the execution
Sire!
Changing the Queen Mother's order will...
Then, you go!
No judgments
That is not up to us
All hear His Majesty's command!
Shin Ik-chul and his men
have plotted high treason
And endangered the court
By law,
their entire family
must die and...
Wretched fool!
You poisoned the late king to death!
Off with his head!
Step aside!
I must speak with her!
Your Majesty
Sire!
Please calm down
Why you!
Perhaps it's best to go, sire
It is obvious for whom they plotted treason
Depose the former queen
and banish her and her son
Your Majesty
Please punish the former queen to avoid any future harm
Our king isn't coming again?
Your Majesty
Please give the order
Please give the order!
Find reason against her to persuade the king first!
Dismissed
Your Majesty
Please depose and banish them
His Majesty has arrived
Stay here
Please return
during the day, sire
I heard you are ill
With my father's head up on the street, how can I be well?
Is that why you avoid me so?
Do you know
what is happening in the court?
I know very well,
Sire!
Those dying to banish me
will be avid to find you here
So please
Do not come for me again
How can you be so cruel?
Why do you think I endure being on the throne?
For what?
Why put me in such misery?
Yell at me instead
For stealing my nephew's seat
and letting your father die!
Say you are angry!
What is your name?
It's Geum-ok, Your Majesty
Why? Will you take her to your chambers?
Why not, madam
Does she resent me greatly?
She is torn by the loss
She cannot eat
She is devastated
Go on
How does she look before sleeping?
Pardon?
Well,
she changes her clothes
She unties her hair
And sleeps in a white dress
Who undresses her?
I do, sire
How do you undress her?
Well,
I untie the breast-tie
Do you bathe her, too?
Yes, sire
How do you bathe her?
She goes into
a scented hot tub
Where do you wash her first?
With a fine cloth
I wash her breasts and shoulders
Is she soft?
Yes, she is so soft and white
Go on
When she gets up,
I wash between her legs
Your Majesty
This is your new room, madam
You've gained His Majesty's favor,
but have yet to be a concubine
Please mind your conduct
and do not wander from this room
Yes, ma'am
I see
She will be your maid
bringing harm upon yourself
How I upset you not knowing
the great pains I've caused
No, madam
I, too, have been upset over
what happened to your father
What harm does the Queen Mother
think my son and I could be?
Madam
Forgive me about your father
How could I blame you, sire?
I must not be fit to be king
What do you mean, sire?
The late king always said
you had the wisdom and morals
Why the Queen Mother's regency?
What a shame and a pity
It's time you gave orders to depose them, Your Majesty
He visited the former queen?
Do you know anything about poison?
I once saw poisonous aconite while with ginseng diggers
Having this inside the palace Means trouble
But to those who don't know, it's just a rock
Know how to make poison with that?
By burning it, sir
Then, make it
If the mother and son won't leave,
there's only one way out of here
You deal with where His Majesty sleeps?
Me?
I wouldn't dare
Could you lead him to me
on the 3rd?
Please, madam
Who knows?
If I give birth to a prince, you'll be the chief eunuch
People are so cunning
When you go up, you don't want to get down
Right, Your Highness?
With His Majesty's favor,
who says I can't become a queen?
How dare you!
Watch your words, madam
You dare tell me what to do?
With the king's favor who would I help?
Would I do anything to harm you?
Of course
How can I help?
I should adorn myself to catch his eye
I need jewelry
Take whatever you think you'll need
What are you doing!
I am not only your son, but the king
What king? When you don't come to the assemblies!
You don't give me a chance to do anything
You make all the decisions
Now, you want me to be a puppet?
When things settle and you have an heir,
I will...
...step down
When will that be?
What?
Why don't you just sit on the throne, Mother?
I am sick of sleeping with the queen before you!
I just have to sow the seeds?
It doesn't have to be the queen
An auspicious day?
I'll give the concubines a chance!
Who is it?
It's Lady Geum-ok, sire
bitch
Let's go
Why you!
Your Majesty
Why do you have this?
Your Majesty, please...
Sire! I can explain...
Your Majesty!
I have something to say, sire
Tell me why you have this!
There's something you must know. Why was this in someone else's hand?
Please calm your anger and have a seat, sire
Don't you know how I feel?
Do you detest me that much?
Am I...
no better than that eunuch?
Drag him in
He seemed familiar
He was the fool who lived in your house!
You disguised him...
...as a eunuch?
That's preposterous
Explain yourself!
Why is that fool here!
I didn't know he was here
until recently, Your Majesty
You expect me to believe that?
I remember how he used to look at you!
You and that fool!
Who's the father of your prematurely born son?
Is he my brother's son or not?
Undress him
I must see if he is a eunuch or not!
Must you humiliate me like this?
Strip him!
Sire. Why would you see something so hideous?
Please leave, sire
Don't you know how I feel?
Do you really think I don't know?
When the Queen Mother watches so viciously...
Queen Mother or not, I don't know care!
Look at me. I'm a wreck
I want you so!
Sire
When you become a true king,
please return then
I shall become a king
I shall become a true king
He broke family morals and...
No one must know of this
Yes, Your Majesty
You know very well, sir
What I had to do to seat him on the throne
Get rid of her
You shot 40 times
Think of...
You called, Your Majesty?
Let's see how good you are
I dare not hold
Give him a bow
Kwon-yoo
Why'd you come into the palace?
Becoming a court eunuch was the only way I had,
sire
A eunuch dare loved the queen?
Of course not, sire
I must see the former queen
I acted disrespectfully last night,
so I must see her
The Queen Mother...
...is sick in bed
I'm not drinking that decoction again
But, Your Majesty
The Queen Mother makes sure you drink this every day
Then, you drink it
Pardon?
But we don't even eat garlic
to curb our libido, sire
If I drink that decoction, I am afraid...
Oh.
Eunuchs have sexual drive?
We can't have erections
but still feel sexual desires, sire
Choong-young
You drink it
Why? You can't?
Afraid to be sexually aroused?
Drink it
I won't endanger my son
I'll protect him no matter what
No worries
Yours is completely gone
It can't be!
Who is it?
Who ordered this? Please calm down, sire
I do not know anything, sire
I just got the medicine and decocted it as usual
Your Majesty...
Anyone who speaks of this
shall be beheaded!
Call the physician in secret
Save him I have something to hear from him
Forgive me, sire!
I do not know anything
Show the evidence
Do you recognize it?
It was found in your room
I really don't know, sire
Did the Queen Mother say to kill me?
Then, who is in charge of
the medicinal herbs?
It's Minister Yoon, sire
No one is allowed in, sir
I promise
I'll bring the prince back safely
We'll soon meet again
Don't fret, Your Highness
Mother! I don't want to go!
Mother!
That is nothing but the truth?
I wouldn't dare lie to you, Your Majesty
She deceived a eunuch's child
for the king's son?
And became a queen?
Wretched whore!
Come in!
Yes, Your Majesty
Send her to the dungeon
Me?
Your Majesty! I'll go back to being a maid!
Please, not the dungeon!
I'd rather die than go there!
Kill her
But, Your Majesty! No!
Let me go!
Why're you doing this to me?
Please save me, Your Majesty!
Let go! No!
I don't want to die!
You sent away the soldiers I sent?
How can you send soldiers to your mother?
I must really be a puppet king
Right
You liked that seat so much,
you cut me up...
...into a puppet
Now, you'll get rid of me?
What do you mean?
Did you give the order to poison me?
What?
The physician confessed
You plotted with Yoon to kill me?
What?
- That's preposterous! - Isn't it?
I thought it was strange
Your man, Yoon, couldn't have
plotted this alone!
This is a trap!
The former queen is up to this
That wretch!
Right. Now, I see
Poison the decoction
than frame her?
Kill me,
her, and my nephew?
Then, who did you plan to seat here?
What do you mean?
Minister Yoon and...
...I lived to put you on that throne!
You lasted quite long
- Kill her! - Yes, sir!
Who are you!
Seize everyone one of the traitors!
Traitors!
Do you know what she did?
The late king couldn't have children
Be honest for once!
Have you forgotten?
The late queen died while giving birth!
I poisoned him since
The prince's birth is dubious
What?
You poisoned my brother?
Who asked you to do that?
For whom!
For whom did you do that!
When did I ever say I wanted to be king!
My child... Look at me
It was all to protect you
in this cruel palace
I'm your mother
Why'd you force me on the throne
and turn me into someone who can't trust his mother?
You can't trust me?
You dare defy your mother!
If you all meet,
the truth will come out
Guards!
Bring Minister Yoon and Kwon-yoo at once!
That won't happen!
Yes, it will!
Minister Yoon!
I brought the criminals as ordered, Your Majesty
The physician confessed
Evidence was found in his room
Who do you think he said
was behind this?
How would I know, sire?
Why can't you say it!
I do not know anything
I drank the decoction, did I not?
Then, why'd you hesitate
when I told you to drink it!
You knew it was poisoned, didn't you!
Enough! Stop it!
I'm asking this fool a question!
You knew!
How'd you know it was poisoned?
Sire!
Do you know what she did?
She defiled the royal court
with that fool!
Drag her here to confess!
Yes!
I'm guilty
Guilty for bearing the late king's son
And guilty for being alive
You're guilty for this uproar due to your son
And guilty for distracting the king!
But, Your Majesty
Who is that man?
He's Minister Yoon's man
who killed my father
What daughter would secretly
plot with the enemy?
You wretch!
How dare you show fake tears here!
What would my young child know or do
that I'd covet your throne?
If I thought that in the slightest
I'd bite my tongue and die right here
But I cannot die falsely accused
as someone so shameless
Confess the truth!
Who ordered you to poison the decoction?
The Queen Mother
She ordered me to make
the poison
And Minister Yoon
gave it to...
This is a trap!
It's a trap, sire!
What are you doing?
Why did you do it!
Was the throne that dear
to kill your own son?
Tell me!
Calm down, sire!
She can't breathe!
Sire!
Lock them up
and execute them all!
When you become a true king,
please return then
Is it all done?
Will you accept me now?
Farewell, My King!