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[Episode12]
Chook Pa...
Your Highness.
"Yoo Do Ja. Boo Do Ja."
It means he's in the picture...
...but he is not in the picture.
This man.
He is the king of this country and also my father.
My father is...
...a sinner.
Your Highness.
I am going to see the king after *Gamsun.
[Gamsun: Inspection of the food and utensils at the royal table]
What do you mean?
I am just trying to follow my formal schedule.
There is no other meaning.
Double the prince's guard for now.
But how...
Just do what I say.
Yes, sir.
He seems resolute now.
It looks like he's going to kill the king.
I'm not sure if it was a good thing to tell the prince about *Chook Pa.
[Chook Pa: King Yeongjo's pen name]
I'm only paying my debt...
...and warning the king at the same time.
The king won't make bad decisions for us anymore.
You've come.
Sun.
Get ready.
We have...
...somewhere to go together.
[The tomb of Sookbin Choi, the king's mother]
Mother.
I'm here.
It's me, Geum.
Today...
...I brought my son with me.
I wanted...
...to see you...
...with my son...
...mother.
My mother's hands...
...were rough.
Before the previous king chose her...
...to become his concubine...
..she was a *Moosoori.
[Moosoori: Maid in charge of the water court ladies use to wash their faces]
She always had to scoop up water for others...
...and do all the hard work.
I was embarrassed by her.
I hated that...
...we were of such low birth.
If she was just a Moosoori...
...she should've lived without children.
Why did she have to give birth to me...
...for me to suffer like she did?
I hated that more than the thought of death.
One day...
...my mother whipped me for the first time.
I was the one being whipped...
...but she cried...
...more than I did.
I was such a troublesome child...
...that I made my mother...
...suffer a lot.
I got scolded...
...and when I left the palace...
...I felt free and easy.
It was like being unencumbered.
I made up my mind then...
...not to return to the palace.
I even spat...
...and then I just left.
But you know what?
I had no choice...
...but to go back to that palace.
I was chosen to be the next king.
I was crowned prince...
...not as the son of the king...
...but as the king's younger brother.
The worst part is that I was qualified even after...
...my mother killed the king at that time.
It meant the position of prince...
...was...
...the position of the trouble for me.
You wouldn't understand.
A Moosoori's son becoming king?
That is funny.
They all ignored me.
It wasn't the Young Learning Faction who supported the king...
...but the Old Learning Faction who were after the king that appointed me.
They treated me with contempt.
They always talked about...
...my origins...
...and sent assassin to kill me after all.
They said I was a man who only came to the palace...
...out of desire.
They said that kind of man...
...should die.
I...
...did what I had to do to survive.
That's why I became king.
At first...
...I wanted to become a good king.
I wanted all of my people...
...to have all three meals each day. Generously, even.
That's the kind of king I wanted to be.
That's why Gyunyeokbeob...
I wanted to make *Gyunyeokbeob with my own hands.
[Gyunyeokbeob: Tax system of paying for military service exemption]
I wanted to do that for my people.
But even now...
...I am spending all of my time...
...on stopping my retainers who are divided into two parties.
I'm wasting...
...my time...
...and I am getting old.
How many days do I have left?
Within that time...
...can I make Gyunyeokbeob happen...
...after all?
Why are you saying that, father?
You can...
...do it.
No.
You will live a long, healthy life...
...and do something far greater...
...than Gyunyeokbeob.
If you believe in me...
...I think...
...I can actually do it.
Sun.
Until Gyunyeokbeob is established...
...I want...
...to take care of government affairs myself.
Could you take a break...
...and help me out?
What do you think?
Of course.
I won't stop you.
Do as you will.
I will...
...help you...
...with everything I have, father.
Thank you.
Eunuch Sang.
Yes, Your Majesty?
[Chinjung: The king seeing to government affairs himself]
Let the princess know that...
...Chinjung will be in effect from now on.
I will take care of everything...
...at my palace.
Let everyone know.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Chinjung?
What is going on?
I know.
I know that the king wants to accomplish Gyunyeokbeob...
...but taking over and enacting Chinjung...
...is just too strange.
If the king wants to take power from the prince, there could...
...only be one reason why.
He is being threatened.
Threatened?
Perhaps...
...the king knows the prince has been curious...
...about what happened in 1724.
Chinjung?
The prince accepted that?
Yes, minister.
What is going on here?
I don't think the prince told the king that he knows about Chook Pa.
I don't know what the prince is thinking.
It's even harder to predict what the prince is thinking than the king.
Your Highness.
- Why... - Your Highness.
The princess is here.
What brings you all the way here?
Can you leave the two of us alone?
What is going on this time?
Can you please go back?
I don't have the strength to argue with you now.
I'm asking you what you're doing...
...now that you've finished...
...playing police.
Nothing is going on, so just go back.
If nothing is going on...
...why would the king want Chinjung?
Why would he take away your power...
...to check up on you?
I am asking you why all of this is happening.
When I don't want to explain...
...have you ever heard from me?
If you don't want to answer me...
...keep this in mind.
Don't do anything that is...
...unbecoming for a prince.
There are a lot of people...
...who are anxious to take your position...
...for many reasons.
I am not telling you this as the princess.
I'm telling you...
...as the mother of our child...
...to please be careful.
If your position is in danger...
...my son's position will be in danger too.
Please keep that in mind.
I completely agree with the princess.
The king wants to do Chinjung...
...to check up on you, Your Highness.
I understand.
If you knew that...
...why did you agree to it?
You have no power at all now...
...and if the king finds out you know about Chook Pa...
...then what would he do to you?
Have you ever thought of what would happen?
Gyunyeokbeob.
He was so desperate to escape my suspicion...
...my father...
...even took me to his mother's tomb.
He was trying so hard...
...he even brought up Gyunyeokbeob.
Your Highness.
That part was actually true.
For Gyunyeokbeob...
...he did actually try for a long time.
Everything is true.
But...
I know a different side of my father.
People wouldn't believe he was king...
...if they saw him wearing cotton clothes.
He is an economical king.
From early in the morning...
...he works like it's an addiction.
He is an economical king.
My father is like that.
That's how he is...
...and how his dream came to be.
The dream was to establish Gyunyeokbeob with his own hands...
...and give it to his people.
But now, to escape his own son's suspicion...
...he's using that.
Your Highness...
If I weren't the son of my father...
...and...
...if I were my father instead...
...what would I have done?
Can't I take a break just for a bit?
Just until he's able to establish Gyunyeokbeob himself?
I want to buy some time for him to do that.
His hometown was...
...Gyeongju.
You're here.
Were you looking for me, father?
I called you here...
...because I wanted to discuss...
...personnel matters.
Personnel matters?
Look at you!
You fired...
...the minister yourself.
Now we have to replace him.
I am sorry, father.
Let's see.
Kim Sang.
Lee Jong Sung.
Hong Bong Won.
Jo Jae Ho.
I want to decide...
...between these four.
If you thinking about Gyunyeokbeob...
...what about Right State Councillor, Kim Sang Ro?
He's very talented with economic affairs.
But...
...he's too small-minded.
Then...
...are you saying you need a tolerant person?
That's why I'm thinking...
...of Lee Jong Sung now.
What?
Why are you laughing?
No, it's not that, father.
Alright. Then if you're okay with it...
...let's decide that way.
The Previous Chief State Councillor was from the Old Learning Faction...
...so...
...this time we can pick one from the Young Learning Faction.
That is a good idea, father.
What should I do...
...with the Left State Councillor?
Look here.
I asked you here for personnel matters.
Why are you looking at my face?
Is there something on it?
No, father.
You are boring.
What is the prince thinking?
Do you think he's trying to cover up for his father?
A cover-up would be good for us too...
...so let's just see what's going on first.
Then we can make our move afterward.
Left State Councillor Lee Jong Sun will become...
...the Chief State Councillor.
Right State Councillor Kim Sang Ro will become...
...the Left State Councillor.
The captain of the Capital Bureau will become...
...the Right State Councillor.
Don't reject...
...my will.
- Immeasurable are the king's favors. - Immeasurable are the king's favors.
Right Minister Park Moon Soo will be placed in the...
...Ministry of Taxation, and with the help...
...of Hong Gye Hee from the Ministry of Defense...
...they will work on Gyunyeokbeob.
Please work to better the lives of our civilians.
Do your best.
I will do my best, Your Majesty.
Immeasurable are the king's favors.
[Office of the Ministry of Defense]
Minister of the Ministry of Taxation.
What should we do?
We should only accept...
...one Goonpo from each family...
...without any exception.
[Goonpo: The actual tax to be paid to be exempted from military service]
Of course.
That is good.
No family should be excepted...
...from protecting the country.
But...
...nobleman will go against this.
Why?
Most of the government officials...
...don't make their opinions publicly known...
...but they are against Hojungron.
[Hojungron: A flat tax rate despite social standing]
We need a solution to for this matter.
Then...
...schedule a Soonmoon.
[Soonmoon: Meeting for the king and his retainers to question civilians]
I need to get my civilians' support...
...myself.
Father.
Yes...
Thank you for your efforts.
Do we have a chance for Goonpo as well?
Don't worry about it.
If you have any questions...
...ask the prince yourself.
Is it true that you will cut our taxes in half?
Yes, it is true.
The prince and I are going...
...to make this Gyunyeokbeob...
...work together.
- Thank you, Your Majesty. - Thank you, Your Majesty.
It seems like Gyunyeokbeob will start with Hojunron.
They will collect Goonpo from the nobleman as well.
Let's just see what happens.
Gyunyeokbeob is now finished and waiting to be carried out.
Now we need to decide what to do...
...about the king's wrongdoings...
...from the past, Your Highness.
The incident from 1724...
Shall we do nothing?
No.
Can you find out...
...if there are more files that I can check?
Moreover...
...can you find out about the people who were involved?
To prove their crimes, I will need...
[Maengui: Secret document]
...the original *Maengui.
I need the original with their signatures on it.
It's possible that Kim Taek, Min Baek Sang or Kim Sang Ro has it.
They're all from the Old Learning Faction.
Among them...
...Kim Taek is most likely.
Any news from our agents who are watching them?
We don't have any news yet.
I think we need a plan to search their houses.
Is Min Woo Seob still not back at his post yet?
The prince sent someone again today...
...but he is still refusing to go back to his post.
Why is he refusing?
That's no good.
The reason the prince wants him to return...
...is because he is my son.
The prince wants information on us through him.
If you look at it differently...
...your son might be helpful for us.
Even though Min Woo Seob has returned...
...I do not think he will help us.
It is a matter of his father.
I see that...
...I am in the same situation...
...as Min Woo Seob now.
Bamboo?
People call you that, right?
I have never heard it.
Don't be too stubborn.
Lighten up some.
I will keep that in mind.
You shouldn't live only for justification.
You should learn how to get along in the world.
In your opinion, who does this world belong to?
Isn't it the civilians?
Then...
...who is protecting them?
Is it the king?
No.
It's us...
...and the noblemen.
Two incidents in the past...
Think about it.
You should know better as a military man.
Tell me...
What did the king do?
*Mongjin.
[Mongjin: The king leaving the palace for his safety]
Yes.
They were busy running away.
We should take care of the civilians with the noblemen...
...and we should check up on the king.
That way the world will work as it should.
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Tomorrow...
...you should join Ikweesa.
[Ikweesa: The prince's Royal Guard]
You should be the one to watch the prince for us.
Go check up on him.
What do you mean?
Just work at the prince's palace.
Then you'll understand.
Minister.
Hey.
Did you bring him?
He is waiting for you.
I should go now.
Decide wisely.
If you do well...
...your father will be the leader...
...of the Old Learning Faction after me.
Then you can lead after your father.
Keep that in mind.
Becoming the leader of the Old Learning Faction...
...means becoming more powerful than the king.
You will be able to take care of the civilians.
If we don't want the Old Learning Faction to lose the Maengui...
...we should find a better way to protect it.
This time...
...I am going to hide it near the king.
Your Highness.
Min Woo Seob came back...
...to work as a royal guard.
We finally meet.
I was going to come see you myself...
...because you've refused me so many times.
I am sorry, Your Highness.
No, it is fine because you've come now.
I'll be counting on you.
I will do my best, Your Highness.
In half an hour, Soonmoon will be held in front of the palace.
Along with the other guards...
...please watch out for the king and the prince.
Of course, sir.
You will hold Soonmoon again?
Why are you here?
I know you didn't come here for me.
I know...
...you're against this Gyunyeokbeob.
But this time...
...don't interrupt.
What do you mean by that?
Why would you say that, Your Majesty?
All I want is for you...
...to become a wise king.
Your Highness!
What's going on?
It's serious, Your Highness.
What are you doing?
Your Highness.
I will arrange Soonmoon on some other day.
Please don't do it today.
Open the door now!
I can't do that.
Minister.
Why are you being rude?
I don't want to talk about this now.
Just take the king back.
Minister of the Ministry of Defense.
Yes, Your Majesty?
Take him away and open the door.
Your Highness...
...kill me instead.
What are you waiting for? Take him.
You can't do this...
Your Majesty!
No, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
No, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
There should not be Hojungron, Your Majesty!
We shouldn't be treated like peasants!
How can this be happening?
Father.
Let's go back for today.
But...
Don't let the guards follow us.
I will convince them without the guards.
We shouldn't threaten them either.
There should not be Hojungron, Your Majesty!
Stand up, everyone.
Just return now.
There should not be Hojungron, Your Majesty!
Please promise us...
...that you will eliminate Hojungron first, Your Majesty.
We shouldn't be treated like peasants, Your Majesty!
Class is irrelevant to protecting the country.
Does the nation only belong to noblemen?
Goonpo is only for those of low birth.
Noblemen could lead them in protecting the country...
...Your Majesty.
Even the Royal Family will pay Goonpo.
I will not touch my *Netangeum...
...and put that money towards Goonpo.
[Netangeum: The king's personal money]
The Royal Family will participate as well...
...so please...
...do not reject my project.
- This shouldn't happen, Your Majesty! - This shouldn't happen, Your Majesty!
I would rather die than be treated...
...like a low-born citizen!
We are only trying to correct this, Your Majesty!
- This shouldn't happen, Your Majesty! - This shouldn't happen, Your Majesty!
You are not fit to be king...
...if you do not respect you basic duties.
I am serving my people...
...and what they need is to escape their hunger.
If they have to pay higher taxes...
...then they will all stay hungry.
If I don't spare them from their hunger...
...how would I be fit to be king then?
If we pay Goonpo together with those of low birth...
...our laws separating the classes will all collapse!
If that happens, we will be no different than the barbarians.
Are you trying to become a king of the barbarians?
Why are you trying to become a tyrant?
No, Your Majesty.
How rude!
What are you all doing?
Wanting to harm an innocent noble...
...would make you a tyrant.
Your Majesty...
Father!
What are you all doing?
Hurry up and help the king.
You will all die...
...or I will.
I will decide that today.
Right now!
You bastard.
Say that again to me.
Father.
Move!
Say it again!
Father.
I will remember all of you.
You who said you would never be the same as peasants...
...out of your own selfishness...
I will never forget any of you.
Father.
You should return now.
No, Sun...
I will deal with them now.
You told me I should know...
...when to step back.
Today won't be the only day.
I will make a difference...
...on a different day...
...so please...
...take care of yourself today.
Hurry up and help the king.
Your Majesty.
No.
I will...
...take him myself.
You all did a good job.
The king will have no choice now.
Sun.
Yes, father.
I am here.
I think...
...the Hojungron won't work...
...right?
Unless I go against...
...each and every nobleman...
...this country...
...won't be a pleasant place to live.
It is not easy...
...to reject them right now.
Hong Gye Hee and Park Moon Soo...
Where are they now?
They are standing by in the meeting room.
Call them now.
Father.
You are not all well yet.
No...
I shouldn't be lying down at a time like this.
Call them now.
Perhaps the Hojungron won't work...
...but we should cut the price of Goonpo...
...in half...
...for the civilians.
Then how will we compensate the deficit, Your Majesty?
I will cut the Royal Family's Netangeum...
...in half too.
Moreover, I am going to give up on *Goongbangjeon...
[Goongbangjeon: Royal Family land]
...and *Gyulse, manage the deficit with that.
[Gyulse: Tax for the landowner]
You should all come up with more solutions...
...and report to me as soon as possible.
- Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty. - Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty.
Can we talk without the force?
You're Ji Dam, right?
Who are you?
I came here to see your father.
Since you were young...
...you loved books more than anyone else.
It was inevitable you'd live this life.
Minister, we should have kept in touch.
How long has it been?
This is the first time we've met since what happened in 1721.
It's been 26 years, I think.
How has life treated you?
What about your, Minister?
Back then...
...if we hadn't abandoned our friends...
...and run away...
...what would have happened to us?
Don't bring that up.
It's all in the past now.
If no one had run and we had fought until the end...
...at that time...
...we...
...might have straightened out the world.
I think about that often these days.
I've forgotten everything.
Yes, I forgot everything and have lead a good life.
I was the same.
Let's all forget.
The world will never change...
...no matter how hard I try.
Because of that...
Because we all forget about it...
...the world is getting worse. What do we do then?
Jung Soo Gyum.
Isn't this Painter Jung Soo Gyum's diary?
Take a look at it.
Is this true?
The document that people signed to choose a new king...
That document called Maengui is real and it was hidden at the palace?
Because of that document...
...a lot of innocent people have died.
Do you remember Shin Heung Bok's death that you daughter was...
...rewarded for solving?
That case...
...I believe it is connected to this one.
Shin Heung Bok's case...
...is connected to what?
You should return now.
We shouldn't...
...just let this problem go.
No, even though we do nothing...
...we should at least let the citizens know about this.
They have right...
...to know what kind of king...
...they serve.
What then?
Let's say they know.
What would it change?
Four years after the previous king's death...
...we rose in revolt but failed.
Even if people find out about it now...
...they won't do anything about it anyway.
They only thing they would do is...
...talk about it while drinking.
Don't you see that, sir?
I know...
...that you don't mean that.
Just go back please.
I will leave it here.
If we don't do anything now...
...the next generation will suffer.
Your daughter will live in a world...
...where anyone...
...would even kill the king for what they want.
Do you want your daughter to live in that world?
I will walk you out.
Don't come out too far.
Yes. Take care, sir.
I will tell them to bring the medicine.
I look silly now, don't I?
No, father.
What are you talking about?
I announced...
...to my people that...
...I will make sure...
...Gyunyeokbeob happened...
...with my own hands.
But I still haven't succeeded.
Don't I look stupid?
The is the beginning.
We've just now started.
That's what I think.
We've...
...just now started.
[Gyun: Balance]
*Gyun.
I will keep...
...this one word in my mind.
You taught me...
...that civilians are all equal.
I will take that truth...
...to heart and never forget it.
In the future...
...if I become king...
...Gyun...
...will stay with me...
...as I rule the country.
I will make a better Gyunyeokbeob.
I will try to make a better country.
Yes.
Thank you, Sun.
My son...
...is a real prince now.
Yes.
He said the word Gyun...
...would guide him as he ruled the country.
Eunuch Sang.
Yes, Your Majesty?
If he knew that I signed...
...the Maengui...
If he knew...
...that I am Chook Pa...
...he would think everything I said was a lie.
He would never listen to what I've taught him...
...and he wouldn't treat me...
...as his father anymore.
Your Majesty.
I am afraid of the day...
...that he learns...
...I am Chook Pa.
I hope that day never comes.
Shin Heung Bok's murder...
Even though my friend died...
...I shouldn't have done anything.
Even though Ji Dam came to me with the truth...
...I should have laugh it away.
Even though I saw that copy of the Maengui...
...I should have thought it was a lie.
I never should have...
...discovered Chook Pa.
Your Highness.
Right Government Official.
I am...
I don't know...
...what to do about my father.
I can't do anything.
We should at least...
...let the citizenry know about this.
They have right to know...
...what kind of king...
...they serve.
Let me talk to you for a second.
Don't let Ji Dam know about this.
I will keep that in mind.
Okay, go back to work now.
You scared me.
What are you doing here?
You...
...should have let us handle it.
What is this?
This book is being published in the streets.
As a supplement...
...I also attached the diary.
Are you okay with this?
Why are you being weak now?
People are disappointed with the king...
...over the failure of Gyunyeokbeob.
Even though they're already disappointed...
...his sin won't disappear.
Moreover, from their places of exile...
...our Young Learning Faction members...
...are sending me letters.
They have big plans.
Now is not...
...the time to step down.
Until we bring these illegal actions to light...
...and eliminate everyone...
...who was involved...
...we should never give up this fight.
I heard that you shouldn't eat fish with ginseng...
...but they kept on serving it to him.
Yes, I heard that too.
They served it to him.
I heard it's like poison.
Hey, you two.
What are you doing there?
You boys...
What is this?
This bastard!
Have you seen this book?
What happened?
Is this a true story?
Your father tried to hide it from you...
...but you picked it up in the street.
Don't let your father know you read it.
He'll worry.
I know.
But boss...
Do you think...
...the prince would knows about this too?
Of course.
How can you be sure?
I just know.
If this is true...
...the prince must be suffering greatly.
It will put him through more hardship.
Are you sure?
Is this book was published by Seo Gyun?
Ji Dam's father?
Yes, minister.
I might be able to take down the prince.
What is this?
Where did you get this?
I took it away from one of our government officials.
It's become quite popular among the citizens.
Your Highness!
What happened?
It's serious!
It's serious, Your Highness!
Why are you doing this to us?
Let go!
Why are you doing this, sir?
Eunuch Sang. - Yes, Your Highness.
Burn this book...
...and kill everyone...
...in possession of it.
No.
Actually, not just this book.
Anyone in possession of an illegal book...
Kill them all.
Then search the entire city...
...to find who wrote this book...
...and kill everyone...
...who read a single word...
...of this book.
No, father.
Don't interfere.
Please retract your command.
I told you not to interfere!
We can't kill them all...
...just because they read that book.
Here...
Have you seen...
...the slander against the Royal Family here?
Everything written here is lies.
Even though someone wrote this...
...to slander the Royal Family...
...we cannot kill anyone just for reading it.
Father.
Please...
...take back your command.
Eunuch Sang.
Go kill them all now.
Stop!
If you're going to kill them all...
...you shall be the first one to die.
Why are you hesitating?
I said go now!
Take back your command.
Killing...
...innocent civilians...
...is not the way...
...to solve this.
You know better than I do, father.
Don't listen to him!
Go kill them all now!
Why?
Why are you so afraid of this book?
Tell me the reason!
Perhaps...
...everything written here is all true?
What are you talking about?
I asked if everything here...
...is true.
True?
What's your evidence?
Chook Pa.
Thirty years ago...
...a document was signed as a pact...
...to kill the current king and crown a new one.
I am asking you...
...if you signed that document...
...with the name Chook Pa.
How dare you...
How dare you?