Cruel Palace - War of Flowers
[This is to clarify that the upbringing of Prince Jing and Princess Ho Myung were dramatized for this series.]
[We apologize to anyone who offended by their portrayal.]
Episode 48
Did you say poison?
I told Court Lady Park to put the powder in your food and poison it?
She definitely gave me poisonous powder wrapped up in paper to put in your food!
How dare you!
I gave you medicine to help with the Queen's indigestion.
Who said it was poison and told you to say such a thing?
Your Highness! This is unfair!
What are you guys doing? Take her away and lock her up!
So you guys must be on the same side as that old woman.
Why are you standing there staring at the Queen?
Take her away immediately!
Lady Gui In! I simply did as the Queen told me to!
What do you mean you did as the Queen told you to?
I gave the Queen the indigestion medicine that you gave me...
Tell me the truth immediately!
The Queen...
Said to say that you gave me poison.
How... how could such a thing happen?
Why are you being so fickle?
So... is that what happened?
Yes, Lady Gui In!
Why would the Queen have said such a thing?
Probably to get me taken in!
Take Court Lady Park away and lock her up.
I will question her and find out the truth myself.
Your Highness! Please save me! Your Highness!
The Queen never told me to say it is poison!
Do you hate me that much?
Regardless of how much you hate me
how can the Queen who runs the internal palace staff scheme such a thing?
- There must be a misunderstanding. - You stay out of this.
This isn't the only time the Queen has done something so crazy.
Last time she claimed Prince Jing is not the King's child and did a blood test!
Step down!
How can you call yourself a Queen after all that?
Is that why you fearlessly ate the medicine?
You knew I would do this
so you and Court Lady Park set me up...
You should be embarrassed!
I ate that medicine, prepared to die.
If you and Court Lady Park plotted together and switched the medicine
then I would have died right here immediately.
How dare you speak to the Queen like that!
True... the Queen is very defensive...
Hold on to your dignity.
For the Queen to be this way...
Let's go.
I will also charge you ladies with the crime!
Save us, Lady Gui In! Please save us!
If you want to live, beg the person you serve!
Unless the Queen leaves the palace on her own
I will kill you girls first!
Please save us, Lady Gui In!
You gathered us here for your birthday... Yet what is this dreadful situation?
Let's go!
At this rate I'm going to die early.
Wait for me!
Lady Gui In!
Do not worry too much.
What could possibly happen?
I was foolish.
I shouldn't have trusted Court Lady Park...
Your Highness! Please question Court Lady Park, who was taken away, yourself!
That way the Queen's innocence can be proven!
Who is in charge of Eui Geum Bu?
It is Lee Gui's son, Lee Shi Baek.
Lee Shi Baek is a man that believed Prince Suk Chul should have been crowned.
Why would such a person help me?
I am asking you to question her yourself.
Okay.
I will speak to Lee Shi Baek.
Do you not understand me?
I--
I am telling you to cut off Court Lady Park's tongue so she cannot say anything.
And then torture her.
Until she stops breathing.
What did the Prince say?
Did he seem reluctant?
He said he'd discuss it with the head of Eui Geum Bu--
This is a matter of life or death for me!
If Court Lady Park does not tell the truth I could be dethroned!
This is internal palace affairs, Your Highness.
You should not be getting involved in such matters--
I am very well aware.
When Eui Geum Bu submits a formal report, I will speak to you in further detail then.
What happened to Court Lady Park?
Everyone is hesitant to get involved because it is internal palace affairs.
Then I will go to the King and speak to him about how the Queen has been wronged.
I still haven't been able to find out where His Highness is.
For as long as Jo Gui In has control over him, there is nothing we can do.
Anything... Anything you ask, I will tell you.
Sir... I... just did as I was told...
Shut your mouth this instant!
I...
Cut off her tongue... so she can no longer speak such blasphemy.
Yes, sir!
Have a seat.
Where is the King?
His Highness is ill, so he is resting.
Then for what reason did you ask to see me?
You are quite impatient.
This will take a while so please have a seat.
I'd heard the new head of Do Sung Jae was a tough person.
They were not false rumors.
Please get to the point now.
It is a report from Eui Geum Bu.
What do you mean?
Court Lady Park who served the Queen said---
I heard in complete detail from the head of Eui Geum Bu about that on my way here.
- Is that so? - If that is what this is about
then you should have told the King and received his approval--
I already received the King's approval.
The King has ordered that the Queen be dethroned and sent to her home.
And that is why I asked that you come here immediately.
Please write down the King's orders.
Why aren't you responding?
Until I speak directly to the King I cannot write it!
You cannot write it?
It is a matter of dethroning the Queen!
I cannot just take a Gui In's word and write such a thing!
You must have about 10 lives or something.
Even if I only have one life!
I refuse to write such a notice!
Sit down!
It's fortunate that you are overseeing all matters on the King's behalf!
I knew this would happen and wrote my letter of resignation in advance!
You should leave your life here! Not a letter of resignation!
Fool! How dare a eunuch stand in my way!
Let's go to Kim Ja Jeom's home.
Yes, Lady Gui In.
The duties you've each been assigned--
Lord Kim! Jo Gui In is here!
- Lord Kim! - Wait!
Welcome, Lady Gui In.
What brings you here so late in the evening?
I'd heard you've been planning a revolt.
I came thinking maybe I'd reserve a spot.
Is that so?
Then you came to the right place.
The only reason why Jo Gui In is trying to dethrone the Queen is to become Queen herself.
It is evidence that His Highness is very ill and he may die any day now.
If Jo Gui In becomes Queen and His Highness dies
then Jo Gui In will become the Queen Mother.
If Jo Gui In becomes Queen Mother she will take the crown from you
and will try to make Prince Jing the King.
And at that point, we will not be able to defeat her.
So we must make sure she leaves the palace before then.
We do not have much time.
- Advisor Kim. - Yes, Your Highness.
Please find out where she has hidden the King tonight.
If you find out where the King is, I will go to get him myself.
Yes, Your Highness.
There is one thing that I am worried about.
Are you talking about Kim Ja Jeom?
Yes, Your Highness.
Kim Ja Jeom is the Prime Minister and oversees all matters.
If Kim Ja Jeom uses this to his advantage and starts a rebellion
- then there is no way to stop-- - Then...
We can kill Kim Ja Jeom first.
Tell him.
Recently, many suspicious men have been visiting Kim Ja Jeom's home
so I've been looking into it.
I knew this would happen.
Even if it wasn't for me, Kim Ja Jeom is a man that needs to die anyways.
Kim Ja Jeom's comrades all have close ties to China.
How can we defeat China with them still living here?
You are absolutely right.
Your Highness, you must succeed in avenging your father's humiliation
as well as the suffering of thousands of our nation!
How many eunuchs will support you?
There are not many but each are supported by large groups.
Can you trust them?
We will put our lives on the line to bring the King back
so please be sure to convict Kim Ja Jeom and Jo Gui In.
Do not worry.
Just like you and your men, we too will fight for our lives.
If you become Queen and then the Queen Mother
how will I benefit from it?
You will benefit from privileges comparable to the King's.
Even though I was extremely loyal to the King
he blamed his failures on me
and exiled me to a deserted island where no man has ever lived.
Power belongs to the wealthy.
I had forgotten it is not something that can be shared.
Yet you want me to trust you?
Do you think you will succeed just because you plan a rebellion?
This is my only chance so what can I do?
Once Prince Jing rises to the throne I will oversee matters on his behalf.
On his behalf?
I'm sure the nation will just thrive!
I don't know about internal palace affairs, but I will leave all external matters to you.
You want to split the winnings?
By the time Jing grows up and is able to run everything on his own
you and I will both be too old to do much else but to sit back.
Let's do this.
The King will die just in time for me to become Queen.
Just in time?
His boils have spread all over his body so now the old man can barely lie down.
What good would it do him to live any longer?
We're doing him a favor by not prolonging his life further.
We're doing a good deed.
Well if you say so...
His Highness will die when you and I are both present.
Then you will become a witness to his spoken will.
A witness?
If you say that according to the King's will
he said to replace Prince Bong Rim with Prince Jing, everything will go just as planned.
Who would believe such a thing?
What does it matter if anyone believes it or not?
Prince Bong Rim always spoke against Prince So Hyun's
ideas since they were in China.
The King fell for his words and ended up killing his son, daughter-in-law and grandson.
While he realized the truth right before he died
there was no turning back.
So Prince Bong Rim should be exiled to a far off land
and spend the rest of his life begging for forgiveness.
They say that you can have the best of both worlds.
The King will become a foolish King who killed his son, daughter-in-law and grandson
and Prince Bong Rim will become a zealous antagonist that killed his brother, sister-in-law and nephew.
So who would make a big deal that Prince Jing is the son of a concubine?
Isn't that so, father?
I'm sure rather than a Kim or Park becoming King... Prince Jing would be much better.
After all, he still is the King's son.
What are you going to do?
Will you gather your men to protect Prince Jing and me
- Or... - Let's do it.
I have nothing to lose.
Then I will put all my faith in you, father.
- Eunuch Yang - Yes, Lady Gui In.
Pick a few trustworthy men and tell them to watch Kim Ja Jeom's home closely.
I may have to kill Kim Ja Jeom...
Yes, Lady Gui In.
Let's go.
Did you hear everything?
Yes, Lord Kim.
Do you think we can trust Yam Jun?
Do you think she'll let you live?
Right?
There is no way she will let you and me live when we know the truth about Prince Jing.
True. Since that will be looming over her for the rest of her life.
Is His Highness still awake?
Yes, Lady Gui In.
Today he's sitting up as though nothing is wrong.
Really?
I think His Highness is cured of his illness now.
There is bound to be one last spark before the fire goes out.
If you're so good at telling stories
why have you remained silent like a mute all this time?
There you go again!
Nobody inside the palace likes me.
How could that be?
Lift your head.
Now.
Yes... you remind me most of myself when I was young.
Is that true, Your Highness?
I told you to call me father when you and I are alone.
Yes... father...
When I was young...
I didn't say a single word until I was two years old.
Everyone thought I was a mute.
On top of that, I stuttered and did not smile.
People teased me and said that I was retarded.
Your grandmother was actually relieved.
Because no one would want a retard to become King...
Which meant I wouldn't have to worry about anyone plotting to kill me.
- Jing. - Yes, father.
Come closer.
Jing...
Always remember.
Your mother is a greedy person.
And that is why I worry about her.
When I die...
Who will take care of you?
I've always worried about that.
If you're so worried, then you can make me the Queen Mother.
I'm glad you brought it up.
This morning, the Queen called me to Kyung Duk Palace saying it's her birthday
and tried to send me away to Eui Geum Bu by accusing me of trying to kill her.
When I die...
I'm going to take you with me.
What do you mean you'll take me with you?
I cannot leave you here by yourself.
I heard that when the Chinese King died, all his concubines were also killed...
You're not kidding...
Okay okay okay...
Sit up.
What do you mean?
What do you mean you'll take me with you?
Get up! Get up!
Let go of me.
I told you to let go of me!
I was proud of you for finally speaking up...
Yet you look right at your mother and attack her?
How dare you!
You evil girl!
My child... my child...
Do you know who you owe it to for still being the King?
If not for me, your children would have pushed you out of the throne
and sent you away as a prisoner to China!
Do you think I do not know that you are responsible for making me like this?
What are you saying you know?
You made me out to be a father who killed his own son!
You are the one who had Prince So Hyun killed!
If not for the poisoned needle, Prince So Hyun would have died from all the stress you gave him!
Yes... yes...
I killed them all.
I...
was possessed by a ghost and killed my son, Princess Min Hwe and my grandson.
And that... that is why I'm saying I will take you with me.
I cannot leave a cursed soul behind...
Father!
Shall I tell you one more thing, Your Highness?
Once Prince Jing inherits the throne...
This nation no longer belongs to your family.
What?
Uhn Yuhn!
Come inside and take Prince Jing away.
Father!
Listen to me!
That way I can make you a King!
Hurry and take him away.
- Yes, Lady Gui In. - Father!
Father!
Water... give me water... water...
Are you thirsty?
Water... Water...
Give me water! Water...
Uhn Yuhn.
Bring a bowl of water.
Water... water... water...
Leave now.
If my mother finds out you heard the whole thing she will not let you live.
Please come with me Prince Jing.
Your Highness.
Where are you going?
I told you, you cannot leave here without my permission.
He is running an errand for me.
- Hurry on. - Yes, Prince Jing.
You must live at least one more day.
That way...
I can become Queen.
So... live one more day. No more, no less.
Do you understand?
Your Highness...
Advisor Kim! Advisor Kim!
- There you are! - His Highness's life is in danger!
Where is it? Where is His Highness?
It is a detached quarter inside Chung Kyung Palace.
- Will you be able to find it if you go back? - Yes, Advisor Kim.
Let's go.
Things are starting to move quickly.
That is why I have asked you gentlemen to come back.
At most the King will live three to four more days.
And within that time Jo Gui In will push the Queen out of the palace
and try to take her place.
And if that happens Jo Gui In will become the Queen Mother
and a war will break out with Prince Bong Rim on who will become King.
When Jo Gui In calls for me
I will go to the palace in time to witness the King's death and hear his last words.
I, Kim Ja Jeom, will be a witness to his final wishes.
And after that, we will use the army to take out Prince Bong Rim
and make Prince Jing the King, just as Jo Gui In wishes.
Do you understand me?
I am saying that I have the winning hand.
So father, are you saying
we should use the opportunity to take out Prince Bong Rim and Jo Gui In at the same time?
Then who do you propose becomes the next King?
We'll have to kill both Prince Bong Rim and Prince Jing so...
What about Prince In Pyung?
But Prince In Pyung and Prince Bong Rim are brothers
so there will be a conflict.
We can take our time thinking of who will become King.
What does it matter?
In China, a thief once became Emperor.
I don't understand who he wants the King to be...
Did you not catch on?
Is there someone you have in mind?
I don't think it's anyone in the royal family...
Do you think so as well?
Exactly who is he talking about?
Then... this becomes a revolt!
What do you mean a revolt? Why does it matter to us who becomes King?
I suppose... if Lord Kim becomes the new King
we won't be just aristocrats but the highest of all aristocrats.
Thanks to him our lives will be greatly improved!
Isn't that so, my man?
I... I know...
Let's go. We will need to get the army together.
Father, wouldn't it have been better if you told them the day of the attack?
Do not worry.
They can all be trusted.
If you'd just been a little more obscure with who will become King...
I am going to make them the highest of all aristocrats.
Who would deny such an opportunity?
Do not worry.
I am just barely hanging on to my life anyways.
You are worth far less than the barbarians!
Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!
I am the King! I will become the King!
I am the King, I say!
I would rather be Jo Gui In's pet dog
than to keep the throne in his family.
No matter what, you must make sure His Highness lives a few more days.
Even if he dies, he must be breathing.
Why did you come back?
I was afraid Lady Gui In would yell at you.
Why did you stutter all this time when you can speak perfectly fine?
One night, I heard the late Prince Suk Chul
whisper to me while I was asleep...
'If... you were actually the King's child... how great it would be...'
Your Highness, you look just like the King.
Your eyes are like his... so is your nose...
How could I not know that my mother looks at my sister and me differently?
I know very well that even the youngest court ladies laugh at me behind my back.
Hurry and tell him.
I... worked out near China for a long time...
And at that time I got to know Kim Ja Jeom very well.
Recently, some of us gathered at his home often
and according to him, he will take the nation away from the Lee family
and make this nation one that belongs to the Kims.
He will build a nation belonging to the Kims?
Yes, Your Highness.
I thought the meetings were for him to help you take out Jo Gui In
but it turned out to be a revolt of very large force...
Please save me, Your Highness!
When will the attack be?
When the King's health declines, Kim Ja Jeom will come to hear the King's last words
then kill both the Crown Prince and Jo Gui In...
How large is Kim Ja Jeom's army?
It is still very small.
Two men are on their way to recruit men as we speak.
Who in the palace has been speaking to Kim Ja Jeom?
I'm not exactly sure
but I have seen Court Lady Kim come to his home often.
- Is anyone outside? - Yes, sir.
Get someone to bring the Ministry of War to the castle, immediately!
Yes, Your Highness.
- You'll have to do it without anyone noticing. - Yes, Your Highness.
Thank you.
Thanks to you I was able to avoid an early death.
I am not worthy, Your Highness!
What can we do to lure Jo Gui In away from the King?
Why don't you do this, Your Highness.
I came to deliver Prince Bong Rim's message to Jo Gui In.
Please wait.
Lady Gui In.
Advisor Kim came with a message from Prince Bong Rim.
How did he find out about this place?
Okay.
Ask him to come inside.
Why does the Prince want to see me?
- I don't know exact details-- - Go and tell him.
His Highness is in critical condition so I cannot leave his side.
So if it is urgent, you can tell him to come here.
The Prince requested that you come to Do Sung Jin.
Wouldn't it be to officially bring down the Queen from the throne?
If it's about that
it wouldn't be too late to talk in the morning...
Dethroning the Queen is not a simple matter.
Prince Bong Rim wishes to take care of this tonight.
If anyone finds out about this, there will be extremely strong opposition
so the longer this is dragged out, the more difficult it will be.
Got it.
Wait here.
I will head back first.
Look here.
You need to tell me where I need to go see him.
His Highness is waiting in the Eastern Palace.
Your Highness...
I think my wish is finally about to come true...
If anything happens while I'm gone
you must move the King to a different location.
Yes, Lady Gui In.
You must not let anyone take away His Highness!
I will not let anything happen, my Lady.
If anything happens, kill the King.
We are going to get His Highness.
Put aside all thoughts of making it back alive.
Let's go.
Your Highness, Lady Jo Gui In is here.
Welcome, Lady Gui In.
Why did you call me here so late at night?
Please come inside.
- Ask them to bring us some tea. -Yes, Your Highness.
Have a seat.
Shall I bow formally before sitting?
What do you mean?
Since you're sitting at the front of the room, it's only right I bow.
Nonsense.
Please just have a seat.
How is His Highness doing?
How could he possibly be doing well...
He's spent his entire life walking on eggshells.
So why did you ask to see me?
What are you doing?
I told you to bring us tea!
Take your time.
We have plenty of time.
So... is that all you wanted to know?
Just about the King's health?
If you were so curious you should have come to see him yourself...
Who are these men!
Kill anyone standing in our way!
Please have some tea first.
You didn't bring me here just to have tea.
Are you that curious as to why I asked to see you?
I came because I was told you'd dethrone the Queen and kick her out of the palace tonight.
Is that so?
What do you mean by that?
I asked you to come here to speak to you about your crimes.
What?
My crimes?
How dare you.
Put away your sword right now.
Either put your sword away
or kill me.
Now!
Your first crime is ordering Lee Hyung Ik to kill Prince So Hyun by poisoning him.
Murdering Prince Suk Chul is your second crime.
And your third crime is falsely accusing Princess Min Hwe and causing her to die.
That's enough. Are you saying there's more?
With those three alone, you can kill me over ten times.
The fourth is kidnapping the King and trying to kill him!
And the greatest crime is--
Lying and ridiculing the King by saying you gave birth to a son!
Remember.
If you brought me here to kill me
you'll have to worry about the King's health first.
If I am murdered then His Highness will be poisoned, so in the end...
You will be the one killing His Highness.
Do you think I do not know what you are up to?
You are trying to lure me here so you can take the King while I am gone.
How many men do you think support Advisor Kim?
You cannot!
Stop!
Here, Advisor Kim! His Highness is in this room!
Let's go.
That man was trying to administer a shot so I stabbed him.
Your Highness!
Your Highness, it's me, Kim In.
Yam Jun, you're coming with me... with me...
I will take you with me!
Put His Highness on my back.
We must take Jo Gui In with us. Go find Jo Gui In!
- Please hold tight, Your Highness! - We have to take Jo Gui In!
When you come to see His Highness you'll have to be prepared.
Because at that time, I will punish you for your crimes!
Your Highness, Lord Byung Pan and Lord Do Sung are here.
I called on you in the middle of the night because Kim Ja Jeom is planning a revolt.
I'm going to take Yam Jun with me...
What's all the fuss?
Your Highness...
Your Highness... Your Highness... Your Highness!
Where did everyone go?
What about the King?
Subtitles by DramaFever
So that's where he took the King...
And where are you off to?
If you came to work at the palace, you should bury your bones here as well.
It doesn't seem as though he will make it past tonight!
There is no reason to let Jo Gui In live anymore.
If Jo Gui In dies, my father will still be misunderstood as the man that killed his father, daughter-in-law and grandson.
I cannot stand to see Jo Gui In living even for another second!
Kill Jo Gui In and Prince Jing right now.