Hong Gil-Dong
Episode 23
Everything was a lie.
And is the final destination of those lies this throne?
Even if everything was a lie...
I will never let this go.
Chang Hui, hold on tight!
Hold on to that throne! And like me, go insane.
Come here, Chi Su!
I will proceed with the coronation now.
Summon the officials and prepare the ceremony!
The coronation? At this hour?
Yes, he has ordered the officials to return to the palace.
Why the coronation all of a sudden?
Could he have....?
He was so insistent on being coronated before his people, but now...
Perhaps he has come to his senses.
But he rushes his coronation, then we will not be able to see Yi Nok next to him!
At this hour?
Didn't you say it was going to be a grand coronation before the people?
There is something you must know. I will tell you on the way.
What about Hwal Bin Dang?
They were looking forward to the coronation too.
It will not be appropriate for them to participate.
Why not?
They did most important role to make the prince to be king.
They've earned the right to be there.
The coronation will only be attended by nobles.
Please prepare to enter the palace.
Does that mean that I'm going to be queen tonight?
Not tonight, but he summoned you because he wanted to talk to you privately.
Episode 23
What's this? Where are all of them going dressed in their government robes?
Since the coronation is a few days away, the people will flock to the capital to watch!
I'm going to be rich! Long live His Majesty!
We present the new king of Joseon with the Imperial Seal!
Bow to His Majesty!
Arise!
Bow!
We made him king.
He truly cares about the people.
And I trust him.
But the scholars will hold on the fake sword as evidence against him.
It will become his greatest weakness.
They will use that weakness as a weapon against me and Hwal Bin Dang.
If we do not want to be taken lightly, we have to grow our power.
If we are strong enough, our new king will be swayed by them.
All of you here are my supporters and most loyal of subjects.
I appoint Lord Ryu as the Prime Minister, and Lord Choi as the Interior Minister.
The two of you will review the list of supporters and appoint positions for them as deemed fitting.
I will use all of them as my most loyal and trusted officials.
You are most gracious, Your Majesty!
Soon, I will become the core of all power again!
If you want to gather power, there must be an enemy.
Since the enemy of the nobles is Hong Gil Dong, make him the public enemy and gather power.
Eun Hye, if you had been born male,
you would have become the core of all power like me.
What were you writing anyway?
It's a story that brings together all the gossip and hearsay from the marketplace.
A story?
Yes, a story.
A very interesting story where a much-beloved hero of the people becomes king.
Young Master...
Your Majesty.
I want you to move into the palace.
You will be my queen as planned.
- Your Majesty! - I won't let you go!
You cannot reject me. And I will never let you go.
If this was a time when I could just love and cherish you,
I may have allowed you to leave.
But not anymore.
I heard about your mother from Madam Noh.
This was all done by your father and my mother.
I was just a pawn.
So you have to stay with me until the end.
I will never let you run from me even if you would rather die.
If you want to die, then die beside me.
I'm sorry.
Sorry?
Yes, you should be.
We started out the same way,
but you stayed pure because you didn't know the truth.
But I am now filthy.
It's not fair.
I'm sorry.
I'm a fool that doesn't know anything.
And I have hurt you as a result.
I'm really sorry.
You were impatient, were you?
Now all you have to do is kill me,
and cover up the truth about the Sa Yin sword.
Do you wish to die at my hand?
I am merely eager to see my younger brother become like me.
I am not as weak as you, older brother.
That is why I will not go insane like you.
If I had only revenge in my heart, then I may have gone insane like you.
But I'm different.
I found my reason to be king from the people.
And I will guard my place now because of them.
Hong Gil Dong knows everything!
He knows your cause is fake!
The king that the people raised? Don't make me laugh.
The one that the people want is him. You're just a puppet with a fake cause!
That was because I was holding onto a cause that had nothing behind it!
But now that my cause has been found to be fake,
I will now stand on my own two feet and walk the path I want to.
But you're nothing!
It was all a lie!
I am already the king of this country.
I will never allow anyone to take away my crown like you.
Enter, Secretary!
The deposed king will be put into exile, and his supporters punished!
Expose all of their crimes!
Yes, Your Majesty!
Your exile will not be for too long.
Just as you did to us when we were imprisoned in my mother's palace...
I will repay the favor, Hyung-nim.
- Move quickly without attracting attention! - Yes sir!
Let me out, you wretches!
Let me out! Is this what Chang Hui ordered you to do?
What are those men doing at this hour? They should be in bed!
Let me out! Let me out!
The Sa Yin Sword is fake! I am the true king!
What's going on over there? They should get rid of that mad king!
I should go and see that sight!
I hope they drop the palanquin!
So they already had the coronation?
But they said they were going to invite us and have a feast!
They're all the same!
I heard the deposed king was killed last night!
I wanted some revenge, but it's already over!
- That's why they're all the same! - You're right.
Everyone was excited to be finally able to enter the palace and see the new king.
But now that it's cancelled, everyone is really disappointed.
I wonder if something happened last night?
It was probably the Sa Yin sword.
The Sa Yin sword? What about it?
Don't worry about it.
Then does that mean Doe Eyes is already queen?
They said that they were going to have the wedding at the same time.
Hey!
Gil Dong will never be able to see Doe Eyes again.
Unless he becomes a eunuch, how could he see the queen?
They won't let him become one anyway.
Everyone knows about their "I love you" relationship.
Everyone knows about their relationship.
Doe Eyes should be roaming free.
Gil Dong should just kidnap her and run away!
That would be treason!
He just gone done being a criminal because of the new king.
You want him to be wanted again?
Amitabha...
So what if it's a new world?
Damn it, it still sucks.
It's a bit big. I hope there is enough time to alter it before the wedding.
Isn't that the Dowager queen's hair ornament?
Did His Majesty give it to you?
I have been thinking about what to do with this.
But now there is no need for me to think about it anymore.
His Majesty had no choice but to leave his mother in the flames with just that hair ornament.
He must have suffered a lot.
When you went through your suffering, he was there with you.
Now that I look back, you're right.
When I thought Gil Dong was dead...
When my grandfather died...
He was always there at my side.
Now it is your time to be at his side as his queen.
I just...
I'll try.
Why don't you put it on?
Do I really have to wear this if I want to see you?
Yes.
If you are wearing that,
our relationship is clear and needs no explanation.
Have you found out about the Sa Yin sword?
Why didn't you tell me when you found out?
Did you think that I would give up the throne and run away when I found out?
Or were you worried that I would go insane like my brother?
Why did that woman beg us to not tell you when you're perfectly fine?
And you said you'd guard me?
Because I am the king that you chose.
I said that I would guard you from being blackmailed by the officials.
Don't be shaken like your brother.
Be a good and wise ruler.
I will. I will no longer be shaken.
Is this the village where all the villagers were executed as traitors?
Yes, sir.
Before you leave, send someone ahead,
and let them know the deposed king will be passing through.
And when you enter the village, leave him alone for a while.
Yes, Your Majesty.
We will stop and rest for a while.
The apricot trees have bloomed beautifully...
I could... I could have bloomed like this too.
There he is! He's the king that had my son killed! Get him!
I could have been a good king to those people too.
Would they be angry if I told them I don't deserve this?
We buried his body under the apricot tree.
Do not let known that the deposed king is dead.
Yes, Your Majesty.
He is the witness to uncover the secret of the Sa Yin sword.
So what is it that you want?
I want a position where I can wield influence,
and sway His Majesty with his weakness.
I don't want to fight with you, Prime Minister.
I'm asking you to join forces with me and fight against the public enemy.
The public enemy?
I'm talking about Hong Gil Dong.
He is the enemy of all of the nobles.
We must reinstall the core of all power in this new world,
and prevent low-born fools like them from wielding power in our country.
You are truly a remarkable man, Councilor!
You are not too bad yourself, Lord Ryu.
You did such terrible things so that your granddaughter could be queen.
Even in this new world, I am still the core of all power!
We're safe because of you!
We'll follow you everywhere!
What is it that you hold over them?
That's my own secret!
- Secret? - Secret?
Why are corrupt men like the Councilor still roaming in the palace?
He knows my weakness as well.
I had to make a compromise.
Then did you fill all the government positions with Lord Ryu's scholars
because of this compromise?
I would rather guard my place than fight with them!
If you want to change something,
you must change the people first!
All you have done so far is to change the king!
Then join me.
You told them that you would guard and protect me from being swayed.
It doesn't have to be forever. Serve me and try to influence them.
Fine, Your Majesty.
I'll try it.
So what position are you going to give me?
While we're at it,
give me something cool!
I appoint Hong Gil Dong of Hwal Bin Dang as the Minister of Defense!
Hong Gil Dong has become the Minister of Defense!
A bastard has become a Minister! The world really has changed!
I never knew that handsome young copyist was the Minister of Defense!
When I robbed your house, I was wearing a blue scarf. Don't you remember?
That means you... were that thief...?
Your lecture about power at the palace a few days ago was mesmerizing.
Oh, a Minister of Defense should know about military strength.
What should be the core of military strength, Councilor?
The core of military strength is most like the number of soldiers.
Number of soldiers!
Then I should get more men!
That's true, but how?
One two three! One two three!
From now on, nobles will go into the army too!
But Minister, how can you drag the nobles who were drinking at the brothels here?
We have to check their physical health!
It is only normal for young men to guard their country!
If they can avoid serving in the army because they have money and power,
does that mean that this country is guarded by the poor and the powerless?
Minister, please exempt me from the army.
- I have gastric problems. - I have hemorrhoids.
- And I have mental problems! - What?
Minister, actually I was born in China and therefore Chinese.
I am not a citizen of Joseon, so please exempt me!
Good for you, you wretches!
Until the day when everyone in Joseon understands the duty of serving in the army,
I will fight!
No, Your Majesty!
Please dismiss Hong Gil Dong from his position!
Please dismiss him!
I heard that Hong Gil Dong was transferred to the Office of Inspector-General!
The office where they investigate corruption?
- That's right?
- Let's go and have a drink. - Sounds great!
What are you doing?
Are you the richest man in Joseon?
Who are you?
We are here to investigate you!
Steal all accounting records and all his assets!
- I mean, look for them! - Yes, sir!
What are you doing? Why are you doing this?
Not those, please! Please!
I, Hong Gil Dong, will fight until the day when there is no more corruption!
No, Your Majesty! Please dismiss him from his position!
Those are news reports that the people wrote about Hong Gil Dong's exploits in government.
If they're popular, they post them on other walls too.
They mark them based on the number of readers, and the positive reviews have high marks.
Wow, our chief is really popular!
With the people, yes. But the nobles will want his head.
That Hong Gil Dong is really uncontrollable!
He has no fear or restraint!
He really is impossible!
I wonder why His Majesty wanted him in the palace so badly.
That is why we must all join forces and alienate him from His Majesty!
Which means...
We have something that can make the king do what we want!
I'm sure you've given up on making me serve you in the palace, so I won't wear the robe anymore.
Did you do all that on purpose so that the other official would protest against you?
I wanted to stir them up.
I wanted to show them that even in a short period of time,
problems can be solved or looked up if someone stirs things up.
Even though everything was returned to its original place.
Because of what you have done, I can no longer,
restrain the officials nor ask them to allow you to work here.
I've put you in a bad spot.
I'm sorry, Your Majesty.
Men who want to fight and change the world, as well as men who want to stop them...
They are all my people.
I cannot let go of either of them.
Objectively speaking, you would rather protect this world.
Because you are the most powerful in this world.
If the most powerful man in the world can work with someone like me,
I think that we can fight less and be hurt less.
From the number of visitors we are having, Father must be gathering the nobles.
I feel so vindicated!
Did you enjoy the story?
It's supposed to be a scary one.
It's not scary at all! It's quite enjoyable!
You write very well, Young Miss!
Isn't it scary that a man of low status becomes a king?
That means the world is upside down!
But that's great news for people like us!
That's true.
Because it means that the world now belongs to people like you.
You're right that it's not scary but enjoyable.
But you know...
The man who was born a bastard and becomes a thief who steals for the poor...
Is he...?
Yes, it's Hong Gil Dong.
Hong Gil Dong becomes king?
That's what people want, isn't it?
For the story to be interesting,
I have to give the people what they want.
Are you the person that's looking for a publisher?
Make a few hundred copies of this book and give it out to the people in the marketplace.
Burn the original.
The Tale of Hong Gil Dong?
Did you write about the infamous Hong Gil Dong?
This book is going to be interesting!
You must make sure that nobles can read this book as well.
Yes, I understand.
In a fairy tale, Hong Gil Dong can become king.
But what about in real life?
He'll probably die.
Did you read the book "the Tale of Hong Gil Dong"?
If you haven't, read it!
They wrote a book about him?
The book is great, I tell you!
- Let me see! - Buy a copy for yourself!
- Stop bothering me! - Share the book, you miser!
I'm going to read this at home!
What's this?
Hong Gil Dong the bastard raises up a nation and becomes king?
What an ending! Oh my head!
The book ends with Hong Gil Dong the bastard becoming king.
This book is known as the Hero Chronicles and is spreading rapidly amongst the people.
This is treason!
It is only a story.
Hong Gil Dong is a real person.
This book is proof of his treasonous intent!
He did not write the book nor sell it to others.
But writing about a low-born becoming king upsets the customs and traditions of our country.
Don't you agree, Your Majesty?
What's going on here?
Magic? And he becomes king?
It's the Hero Chronicles, isn't it?
I've changed my opinion of you because of this book.
Where did this come from?
I'm not sure, but they keep printing them and they keep selling out.
The dream of all low-borns! The hope of all slaves!
The light of the powerless! That's Hong Gil Dong!
Me?
Not you. The Gil Dong in the book.
This book is going to add fuel to the fire.
Who would write something like this?
The response is good.
How funny.
I hope the king has read it by now.
I wonder if he's read it?
Yes, I put too much personal emotion in this book.
I made him appear too dashing.
It's a book about how a low-born Hong Gil Dong eventually becomes king.
I didn't write this.
I know.
But this is a big problem.
This book has upset the order of our country.
Someone has dreamt of this and the people now want it desperately!
This is exactly the thing I don't want.
Even if there is a country called Yuldo, I will never become king.
Are you saying that you don't need a king in the new world of yours?
Everyone needs a leader.
But the king is someone that exists despite the people's wants.
It may be different if the people can choose the man they want to be king.
That is not the king!
The king is not chosen in such a way!
Do you want to break the lineage of the royal crown?
Even if the king and the nobles disappear, there will be other ways to separate men.
And under whoever becomes superior, peasants and slaves will appear again.
There is no such world in which everyone is the same status.
But the people below have a dream and that is why they fight.
And Hwal Bin Dang and I are amongst them.
Are you saying that you will continue to fight until the world you dream of arrives?
We have to fight so that the world will change a little bit at a time.
Stop.
If you don't, your world will collide with my world.
We will fight until someone destroys our world.
You promised to have faith in me and let me fight.
It will be a much better world.
Hong Gil Dong and us...
We must demand that he choose between us.
Now that we have His Majesty's weakness, we can be more aggressive!
We can demand that he strike Hong Gil Dong!
His Majesty has read the book as well.
His Majesty can accept the fact that Hong Gil Dong became a minister.
But he will not be able to accept him becoming the king.
Your Majesty, is Gil Dong doing something dangerous?
I heard from the Councilor's daughter that he is in danger because he has waged war on you.
She's a smart girl, but a dangerous one.
Since Gil Dong is working with you, he will be alright, right?
He is trying to find a way to stop so that he will be alright.
Is that why you came here?
It wasn't just that.
I wanted to know what I was supposed to do.
I have already told you what was expected of you.
It was decided the moment we were born.
I'm not sure if someone like me should be queen.
Frankly, I acknowledge that I'm a bit dumb.
I'm fine in normal life, but this is an important role.
I don't know if I should be queen just because it was decided at birth.
That is how the king and queen of this nation is decided.
But if I become the queen and give birth to a son as dumb as me...
Should he still be king?
Then this nation will really be in danger!
You say you are dumb, but you say the same thing as Hong Gil Dong.
Halt!
You wretches!
How dare you stand upright when passing me!
- Seize them and punish them! - Damn it.
What a bad temper that man has!
That... that...! Seize him!
Don't be stupid. This is the era of Hwal Bin Dang.
You have no more power!
You... you!
Now is the time for you nobles to fear us peasants!
Let's get him!
Wait! No! No!
You wretches!
So you wrecked the Councilor's palanquin and then came to us for protection?
We thought that we would not have to be powerless anymore!
Will the world really change?
Nothing will change just because you wrecked a nobleman's palanquin.
Then will we be executed when we return?
I won't let that happen.
We have to find a real way to fight them.
It has to be a proper fight.
If we fight like that, we'll just have fingers pointed at us.
Poor and powerless folk must join forces and fight together.
We have to organize and grow stronger so that we can fight them properly.
- Like Hwal Bin Dang? - That's right.
We'll do it together.
Those beastly peasants beat me like a dog.
How could a councilor of this country be attacked on the streets?
Our nation is in ruin!
If they mentioned the new world of Hwal Bin Dang,
they will have most likely run to Hwal Bin Dang for protection.
But do you think that Hong Gil Dong will give them to us?
I'm afraid they are going to make gangs to attack nobles and kill them!
We can no longer step aside on this issue.
We must fight them with our strength and power before they start their violence!
Please hear our plea, Your Majesty!
If you continue to let Hwal Bin Dang do as they wish,
they will transform into a violent gang that will ruin this country!
They are not violent!
If you do not restrain and police them,
we will not put our faith in you and serve you!
Are you threatening me?
Your Majesty, we can find many reasons to not serve you as king.
Are you referring to that damned Sa Yin sword again?
Furthermore, we have the strength to fight.
Please reconsider your decision,
and accept our loyalty to you and the nation!
Please hear our plea, Your Majesty!
You must do a good job.
You must make sure that these angry and bitter peasants do not turn into a violent mob.
I will.
And to ensure that, we must become stronger and more grounded.
I hope that this country will be able to handle your growing power.
If it can't handle it, it will be shaken in its foundations.
- His Majesty is here to see you. - He's here?
Here?
Seeing how the king has come personally, I gather my explosions of anger have gone off!
My explosions are truly powerful!
Stop it. I know you only have one testicle.
Mal Nyeo!
You're sexier now that you're in government uniform.
I won't fall for that again.
Really?
Mal Nyeo!
Take your hands off my woman!
- I didn't touch her! - I saw you!
This is mine again!
I stole another sword from the soldier!
Give that to me.
This iron is from Mt. Piman. It's not that tasty.
You're not suitable for me. Poor thing...
I always feel a bit confused when I come here.
They're all a bit odd, aren't they?
I feel like Hwal Bin Dang is a different world.
Don't you feel like you want to stay around for a little while longer when you're here?
I want to keep going forward with you.
That's why you need to stop here.
I don't want any more fights.
Now that you're king, you want to stop?
It may be the end for you, but for us, this is just the beginning.
I am this nation's king, and I have to protect it.
I will fight until this nation becomes closer to what we dream it will be.
I know your power very well.
I wanted to keep that power and use it to help the nation.
We joined forces with you because we knew that you understood and feared that power.
Then you have no intention of stopping.
What must I do with you?
I must think about it.
If the king wants to stop,
then I must also think about what we are going to do with you.
When the end comes for Hong Gil Dong,
I suppose I must write about it too.
If I end it like that...
I'll be at peace.
I'm sure of it.
When that happens, I will finally be able to let him go.
The nobles of this country must join forces and stop Hong Gil Dong!
We will mobilize all the soldiers in our power.
We will use the Sa Yin sword to influence the king, but if he still does not cooperate...
Then will you attack me?
Your Majesty!
What are all of my subjects plotting behind my back?
Were you planning to strike me down?
No, Your Majesty!
The one we want to strike down is this country's enemy, Hong Gil Dong!
I will strike him down myself!
Your Majesty...!
I will strike him down and protect my country!
This is what you all want. Therefore you must all obey me!
Yes, Your Majesty!
So never again...
You will never again use the Sa Yin Sword and use it against me and my throne!
Yes, Your Majesty...
If anyone tries to do so in the future,
I will have him executed as one who blasphemed against the throne!
Your Majesty...!
Who dares to challenge my power and throne?
I am the sovereign king of this nation!
Your Majesty! Please protect our country!
Please protect us, Your Majesty!
We have taken care of the blacksmith in the Councilor's custody.
I am now free of the Sa Yin sword.
And lastly, I will let go of the beginning as well.
- I will not make Yi Nok my queen. - Your Majesty!
It was a promise between my family and your mother before you were even born!
I cannot kill her because of that promise.
I will strike down Hong Gil Dong.
But if she is here when that happens, she will go to Hwal Bin Dang to where he is.
Do not worry yourself over that lowly...
No.
I know her better than you.
She will go to him no matter what.
Old man...
I must be a horrible person.
I must be already forgetting you.
Frankly, I miss Gil Dong more than I miss you.
I'm a horrible person.
But I'm trying hard not to do anything really horrible.
I'm sorry...
I am the one that should be sorry.
You're too dumb...
I don't think I can make you my queen.
Like you said, you are not suitable to be queen.
Right?
I cannot do anything to hurt you.
So I will let you go.
I will let you be yourself.
You will always be a lucky and pure person.
So don't be afraid that you will lose that.
Thank you.
You're a good man too.
You will board a ship headed for China with me tomorrow.
His Majesty has already spoken to your grandfather.
I didn't know I would leave so quickly.
But it's better this way.
If I'm far away from here, it will be easier for me to bear it.
It's better this way.
When you return,
the headquarters of Yongmun which used to protect His Majesty will protect you.
I will always be grateful to His Majesty.
Move the troops swiftly. Take them to the place we know best.
We will strike Hwal Bin Dang's headquarters!
The king has stopped here, but we will continue to fight.
First, we must move to another location.
We abandon the hideout!
We will leave shortly.
If you come to me, I will never let you leave.
So unless you're on the verge of death, you can't come here.
Are you alright?
I was just on the verge of death!
So let me go see Gil Dong just once!
The ship will be leaving soon.
I'll be faster than an arrow!
If I don't see him just once, I might die in China!
Young Miss!
I'll be right back.
You can't.
Just once. Please just once!
I know I'm being horrible, but even my grandfather in heaven would forgive me.
If you go there, you'll die.
What do you mean?
The soldiers have gone to attack Hwal Bin Dang.
Why?
Young Master ordered the attack?
It was His Majesty's decision.
But they were going together!
Their worlds cannot coexist at the same time.
I have to go. I have to go to Gil Dong!
Yi Nok!
Yi Nok, you're my granddaughter. Hong Gil Dong is your greatest enemy!
You're Ryu Yi Nok!
Stop!
- The soldiers are coming! - Damn it!
He planned this beforehand!
We have no choice.
If we scatter, we'll all die.
We'll fight the king here!
You can't go, Yi Nok! You can't go to him!
Attack Hwal Bin Dang!
We will fight the king!