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[Episode 20]
You don't seem to have slept well last night.
You do not look well.
I'm sorry.
No, it's okay.
I am worried about how father will react today.
Announce us.
Your Majesty.
The crown prince is here to see you.
Leave.
This makes ten days, Your Majesty,
that you have refused to see His Highness.
So what?
I don't need him to come to see me,
so tell him to do his job well.
You should not come to see His Majesty in person for a while.
Why don't you send a retainer instead, Your Highness?
I cannot do that.
I'm his son.
I cannot disrespect my father like that.
Above all, the Royal Family has its customs.
Visit father in the morning for *Kamseon
[*Kamseon: Inspecting the king's table ware before he eats]
is part of the crown prince's official schedule.
But when you visit His Majesty,
you put him in a bad mood, Your Highness.
What if His Majesty takes seriously ill because of it?
What would you do then, Your Highness?
What are you saying, Eunuch Sang?
Are you trying to intimidate us?
Stop.
That's enough, crown princess.
But Your Highness...
I understand.
I will do as you say.
Why do you think that father refuses to see us?
He intends to stay away from you.
I know.
Then you must also know the reason
he intends to stay away from me.
I heard that you refused to see the crown prince today again.
It is a wise decision, Your Majesty.
Even though he exiled Lee Jong Sung
and recovered the official robes given to the commoners,
he has not sincerely given up his wishes.
If he had the chance, he would give
examination qualifications to commoners again at any cost.
Maybe.
If you knew that,
why did you allow him to keep his position as prince?
Are you saying
you would take him down?
Why do you doubt my loyalty like this?
Would you depose the crown prince
and let the Old Leaning Faction find
a new heir to fill his position again?
Take this to clean up.
The medicine splashed on your clothes and hands.
I do not mind being splashed with medicine
tomorrow and even the day after too.
No, I would not mind even if you did it for a hundred days.
No, even if you ask me to bear something more than that,
I would do so gladly.
So please...
Please...
Do not question my loyalty, Your Majesty.
He isn't willing to abandon the crown prince?
It was not sincere.
Rescinding the commoner's examination qualifications
and revoking their official robes...
Those actions weren't sincere, were they?
What makes you think that?
I just know.
I have lived with you for over ten years.
There are things I just know about you,
even if I don't want to.
If I know it,
father would know it too.
That's why
even though you recovered
the official robes bestowed to the commoners yourself,
he hasn't lowered his guard against you.
What is it you mean to tell me?
I want you to abandon these thoughts completely
and even after you the King
You want commoners to all have equal opportunities in life.
Even more than that, you want them all to live in an equal world.
You should
abandon this notion altogether.
Such a nation...
is not Joseon.
*Kyun.
[*Kyun: Equality]
All peoples are equal regardless of their social classes.
This is the ideology I have chosen to rule with.
If I have no hope to exercise
my own ruling ideology...
You just mentioned equality.
Where does it end?
Once commoners and nobles become equals,
will commoners
and the Royal Family
become equals as well?
Answer me.
Yes, that is how it should be.
It would make no sense for me to say
that equality applies to all but me.
The Royal Family will be equal to peasants?
Does that make sense to you?
Why doesn't it make sense to you?
Your Highness.
Did you endeavor to be born as a noble?
I believe not.
It's the same for me.
I didn't do anything to be born
as part of the Royal Family.
It was granted to me for free.
It is the same way for commoners and slaves.
The were not low-born
because they did something wrong.
If so...
I cannot accept it.
Princess.
Whether it's in the name of Kyun or an equal society,
your belief that it's possible
for commoners and the Royal Family to be equals...
I will never be able to understand it,
not for the rest of my life.
It will be the same with the king and your retainers.
I do not blame you for having your dreams and hopes.
In this world, however,
there are things you can do
and things you cannot.
I mean there are certain things you can never do.
In this world,
such a thing is called a delusion,
not hope.
Awake from your delusions.
Everyone must know that
you have awoken from them
for the crown to remain yours.
It is also the only way
your son and I will have a future.
You should remember that.
His Majesty isn't willing to depose the crown prince immediately?
The crown prince isn't the only problem. His Majesty is too.
Royal authority is more important to him
than the order and future of this nation.
Do we have to stop the crown prince's regency first?
Instead, didn't you
say there was a strange woman in the palace?
Yes, I did.
Why don't we verify her identity first?
If we confirm that she's Seo Ji Dam,
the daughter of a traitor,
it could be a reason to depose the crown prince immediately.
Hello.
Would you recognize Seo Ji Dam,
the girl you tried to arrest last time?
Yes, of course.
Follow me.
Would Bing Ae come to your palace without any trouble?
I'm her superior.
She could not refuse without a proper reason
if I called her.
Royal Noble Consort Moon called for Bing Ae?
Why?
Her reason was to ask Bing Ae to write a letter to her family,
but we have no reason to refuse.
Tell her that Bing Ae went to *Ankookbang on an errand.
[*Ankookbang: One of twelve districts in Northern Hanseongbu]
I should find out her real reason
before we send Bing Ae to her.
Yes, Your Highness.
I will follow your order quickly.
An errand?
The crown princess' mother is currently sick,
so the crown prince sent a letter to comfort her.
Okay.
You may go back to your work.
What should we do?
Bing Ae seems to have slipped through my fingers again.
You don't need to worry.
I knew she would react this way.
This is a letter from the crown prince's palace to Ankookbang.
Go ahead.
Are you Court Lady Park Bing Ae?
Yes, I am.
I have a question to ask you.
Ask me.
You seem like a little nervous.
I am not, minister.
Then answer me.
Have you ever met these men before?
Are all court ladies like this?
You seem very prudent.
Then the two of you answer me.
Do you know her?
No, I don't.
Is that the truth?
Who is this *Hangah?
[*Hangah: A polite way of addressing a young court lady]
Take a closer look.
Are you sure that you don't recognize her?
Yes, I'm sure.
Then...
Would you mind if I leave to carry out my orders?
No, go ahead.
I'm sorry to interrupt.
That woman isn't Seo Ji Dam?
She doesn't seem to be.
Oh my.
If that's true,
where did the crown prince hide Seo Ji Dam?
I'm certain that he hid her away somewhere.
Huh?
Thank you.
I won't forget your kindness until I die.
That's not necessary.
We're just paying you back for the time
you divided that merchant's bribe
into three equal parts when you were our boss.
By the way, officer...
What kind of work are you doing these days?
How did you know that the daughter of a traitor was hiding in the palace?
Also, why do you want to help her?
It's a long story.
However,
I can assure you that...
I'm working
for a very good thing.
It's not just good for me, either.
It will help the two of you, too.
Ha...
What should we do now?
Do we have to wait
for a new reason to depose the prince?
We can't do that.
Why have you stayed here this late?
Why did you come to me?
We came to ask you to take
a new Queen Consort promptly.
You need to have a new heir
by taking a new Queen Consort.
So...
You must be in a real hurry.
You came to see me in this late night
to tell me this?
Your Majesty.
I will think about it.
You may leave now.
If you decide
to depose the crown prince,
we will leave without another word.
Depose the crown prince?
Watch your mouth!
The crown prince has dangerous ideas.
What peril will the nation
be in if he is crowned the 22nd king
with those ideas in his head?
You know yourself,
more than anyone else, Your Majesty.
In spite of this, if you make no effort
to conceive a new heir through a Queen Consort
because of your love for your son,
your retainers must to find a way
to depose the crown prince.
An effort
to have a new heir?
You're a bad son, Sun.
How could you put your father in this situation?
Hello, Your Highness.
Why did you want to meet me in this forest?
I used to live in these woods when I was an assassin.
This is the first time in a long while I've wanted
to practice swordsmanship, so I invited you to spar.
Why don't we throw away the sheath
and fight to the end?
Are you suggesting that we
fight to the death?
It won't be me
who dies.
You want to kill me?
I feel like it.
I know why you're mad at me.
I understand.
You told me that
you were willing to attack your own father,
but ultimately,
you did nothing.
Minister Lee Jong Sung was exiled
and those poor men returned their robes.
Why didn't you fight for them?
It's because I had to keep my position as prince.
I have to keep my crown
to become king later.
Why can't you realize that the crown is something to be taken?
What are you suggesting?
Are you saying I should take down my father
and take his crown with this sword?
It is for the people's sake.
You clearly know
how your father treats the people.
I saw enough of it in the events of 1755
and now with this exam incident.
- So... - No.
I'm not willing to do it.
Is this because the king is your father?
No matter if he were my father or anyone else's,
I would not raise a sword against him.
I will not do such a thing in the future, either.
What is
your reason for that?
Using a sword is too easy.
If I take the king's crown with a sword,
what do you think will happen next?
Who will I turn the sword against next?
Are you sure you wouldn't be my next target?
Power obtained with a sword
cannot be maintained without a sword.
That's the most painful lesson I learned
in the events of 1755.
Then...
What can you do, Your Highness?
Will you do nothing
and wait for your father to die?
I'm looking for what I can do.
Four commoners passed the exam.
Even though I failed to grant them official robes,
it was a great achievement.
I don't want that achievement to be meaningless,
so trust me,
and quietly wait for me a little longer.
He wants to change the world,
but he doesn't want to use violence.
Does that make sense?
It isn't easy for a son to cut down his own father.
Instead,
it's much easier for a traitor to cut down the king.
So...
I want to do this job for him.
Don't you
have any spare time to paint these days?
You skill
doesn't seem to have improved much.
Where have you been?
Based on the way you're dressed,
it seems you've been out of the palace again.
I am sorry.
You wouldn't have gone out to have fun.
What kind of a citizen were you with tonight?
I'm asking you how poor of a man he was.
Out of compassion, did you make a promise
to a pitiful man
that you can't keep?
No, I mean...
Did you make the promise
you weren't supposed to again?
Father.
My son.
Answer me quickly!
Sun.
Your father...
just can't give up on you.
You're a bad son.
You're a cruel son who even declared
to be his father's political enemy.
You're a son
who tried to break up the nation of Joseon
that I developed with thirty years of blood, sweat and tears.
You're a dangerous man,
But I just can't...
I can't give up on you.
Your warm compassion to the people...
I'm not asking you to give that up.
I'm just asking you to try not to break down
the order of this society completely.
Father.
Sun.
Promise me...
that you will never...
ever have such a vain dream again.
For your father...
can you promise me this?
I will
think about it.
I am sorry,
father.
You need time...
You and I...
It seems that both of us
need some time.
The reason why I called all retainers including the crown prince
is that I have decided I can't leave the position
of Queen Consort empty any longer
since it has been vacant for two years.
Find a way to solve this matter
and *Sangju to me.
[*Sangju: Reporting to the king]
We accept your order, Your Majesty.
His Majesty has finally formalized
appointing a new Queen Consort?
Oh my...
I don't know how this will happen.
Appoint Royal Noble Consort Moon as Queen Consort.
For the last two years that you have
had no queen, she has served you sincerely.
That's why you've favored her so.
I think she's the Old Leaning Faction's favorite.
Your Majesty.
I get it.
Leave me be now.
*Kunsabuilche.
[*Kunsabuilche: To serve a king, a father and a teacher the same way]
I see your writing has improved.
Father.
Are all kings, fathers and teachers the same?
Why do you ask?
No matter how hard I try,
I cannot like them equally.
Is that so?
I like you the most, father.
Come on.
You don't, father?
Of course I'm the same.
I'm also attached
to my father the most.
It is difficult to turn down such a father,
but it's more difficult
to turn down my people
who think of me as their father.
I don't understand what you're saying.
Your Majesty.
It's time for you to go to sleep.
Are you considering
Royal Noble Consort Moon for Queen Consort?
Why don't you
also consider *Kantaek?
[*Kantaek: Selecting a consort of a king, a crown prince or princess]
His Majesty went to Royal Noble Consort Moon's palace again?
What will happen
if she becomes Queen Consort
and has a son later?
She's desperate to defame the crown prince even now.
If she becomes Queen Consort and has a son,
she will do anything to grant him the title of crown prince.
I have to stop this.
I cannot let her become Queen Consort,
no matter the cost.
Do you understand?
Kantaek?
The only way to stop Royal Noble Consort Moon
from becoming Queen Consort is Kantaek.
It would be better to have her as Queen Consort.
If we choose from among the nobility,
her father may try to exert his power.
That's why we should choose the queen's father.
Find someone who has a fine daughter,
but a *Hanmi family background
[*Hanmi: Poor and difficult]
so they would be easy for us to control.
Would His Majesty accept that?
I have told you before that His Majesty
is about seventy years old now.
He will be embarrassed to order
the royal decree to find a new Queen Consort.
We can mold public opinion favorably this way.
Are you asking me to move the retainers?
No.
You need not do anything, father.
This is not a matter for the retainers.
This is a matter of finding a new Queen Consort.
For this,
no matter how honestly a retainer advises the king,
the king will have his doubts.
If so,
do you have a plan?
I will cause a different kind of doubt.
A different kind of doubt?
What do you mean?
She is a messenger from the crown princess' mother.
Even so, if I cannot verify her identity,
I cannot let her into the palace.
This is a gift from the crown princess.
Why has the shaman Da Bi come
to see the crown princess again?
Her Highness needs to have a psychic reading.
Whenever she wants to have a son,
the days this shaman selected worked better than
the days Ministry of Rites selected for her.
Shhh!
Be careful. Someone might hear you.
Did you hear why I called you?
Yes, Your Highness.
You can handle this well, right?
What?
The crown princess brought a shaman to the palace?
Yes, Your Highness.
It's always the quiet ones who make trouble.
I can't believe she's done such a thing.
What brings you to my palace,
Royal Noble Consort Moon?
Why?
That's what I should be asking you.
You are always talking about the importance of custom.
How could you commit such *Nanhaeng?
[*Nanhaeng: Disgraceful behavior]
Nanhaeng?
How could you bring a shaman to your palace?
What ever do you mean?
You should answer me directly.
I hear your specialty is predicting dates for having sons.
In that case,
why don't you tell me a good day for me?
You do not need
to have a day selected, Your Highness.
What?
What do you mean?
Your destiny is *Maeahsal.
[Maeahsal: A fate difficult to have children,]
[or where those born become disabled or do not live long]
No matter how desperately you pray for it,
you will have no son.
Ha!
How dare you?
Do you want to die?
How dare you to make such a ludicrous statement?
I am just a messenger of the god I serve.
How could this happen?
Don't be concerned.
No matter how powerful she is,
she can't always be right.
Your Highness.
- I wouldn't make a remark carelessly... - Silence.
Do not interfere in this conversation.
Just forget it.
Simply ignore that you heard it and...
Please tell His Majesty about this immediately.
Are you out of your mind?
Your Highness...
You think I should go to him
and tell him that my fate is never to have a son?
Can it be interpreted that way?
- Did you hear the rumor? - What rumor?
It's Royal Noble Consort Moon.
She'll never have a son.
Really?
Then what will happen?
Are you sure about this rumor?
I heard it myself clearly.
Then who will be the next Queen Consort?
I don't know.
They say Royal Noble Consort Moon will be chosen.
It means that there won't be a new *Jeoktongdaekun.
[*Jeoktongdaekun: A prince who is born from the Queen Consort]
We have a crown prince. Why would we need Jeoktongdaekun?
Is the shaman Da Bi that famous?
I heard she won't have a son.
The rumor started with the shaman
the crown princess brought into the palace?
It seems that way.
My daughter-in law...
It seems she's set up quite an interesting game.
How could you go to the crown princess' palace
without any consideration?
I am sure that this is a trap.
It is a trap the crown princess set.
It seems that even His Majesty has heard the rumor.
What should I do now?
His Majesty
has finally heard?
Yes, Your Highness.
San.
Grandfather!
Yes.
[*Tuho: Traditional Korean game]
Are you playing Tuho?
Join me, grandfather.
You have only been concentrating on your reading and your work,
so you need a break now.
Who told you
that I only concentrate on reading and working?
Mother told me that
you work too hard on your reading and your job
so that you do not leave the palace often.
She is worried it may hurt your health.
Is that so?
Play with me, grandfather.
No, no.
I need to talk with your mother for a moment.
Start without me first.
Alright.
Was it for him?
Did you bring that shaman to the palace
for the crown prince and your son?
No, father.
I just...
Be honest with me.
You have achieved your goal.
You've succeeded
in protecting the crown prince this time.
Then...
Would you protect
my son's future, father?
Yes.
Try it.
- Yes. - Watch.
See?
Throw it high.
Like this.
Wow!
Great!
I did it!
No, no.
Like this.
It's your turn.
Take it.
Try it one more time.
No.
A public search?
You don't
believe the false rumor that Royal Noble Consort Moon
will not have a son, do you?
It isn't because of the rumor.
It's her qualification.
She was embroiled in controversy
because of the shaman's meaningless remarks.
She is no longer trusted at all by the people of the palace.
Her virtue is lacking,
meaning she isn't qualified
to be the mother of the nation.
I will choose my Queen Consort from
among the virtuous daughters of the nobility.
Issue the royal decree to find a Queen Consort immediately.
Why aren't you answering me?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I will proceed with your order promptly.
My goodness!
It's absurd!
What's going on?
*Keumhonryeong?
[*Keumhonryeong: A decree to prohibit marriageable women from being wed]
[until after the royal wedding]
He's over sixty now,
and he wants to remarry a virgin?
He's an old man who could die anytime.
He must be ashamed of himself.
How is
the public reacting?
Do not be concerned, Your Majesty.
Ignorant people cannot understand
the true intentions of the king.
You decided to take a new Queen Consort
to protect the crown prince
from the Old Learning Faction.
That way,
it is better to have a queen
who is less influenced by the Old Learning Faction
than Royal Noble Consort Moon.
That is why I advised you to do Kantaek
in the first place.
We are not saying
that we are returning these robes permanently.
The day you become king...
We will run to the palace when that day comes.
When that day comes,
please give us back these robes.
Sun.
Your father...
just can't give up on you.
You're a bad son, and a cruel son who even declared
to be his father's political enemy.
You're a son who tried to break up the nation of Joseon
which I developed
with thirty years of blood, sweat and tears.
You're a dangerous man,
but I just can't...
I can't give up on you.
Seojae?
It's a kind of experimental academy.
I want to establish a Seojae
at a secret location in the *Kwanseo area.
[*Kwanseo: Northwestern part of the Korean peninsula]
For whom are you establishing this Seojae?
Not only commoners, but also the lowest classes
and the descendants of traitors.
I will gather the people who cannot take the exam now.
Will you be alright?
You have been greatly worried
about His Majesty.
I am sorry to my father,
but I cannot...
I cannot just turn down the people's hopes.
This plan will be carried out secretly.
In five to ten years,
I'll accumulate achievements gradually
to prove that these people are a valuable asset to this nation.
Why don't you delay it a bit?
No.
This is a good time.
If I want to establish it in Kwanseo,
I will need a budget.
To get it, I will use *Naetangkeum secretly.
[*Naetangkeum: The king's private assets]
Now is the right time for it
because the nation is preoccupied with the royal wedding.
Send a message to Merchant Na quickly.
You said that you want to establish a Seojae in the Kwanseo area?
I'll let the commoners who passed the exam to administer it.
Using them as the foundation,
I will establish an academy
to research necessary studies for the nation.
How will you use them afterward?
Will you appoint them as your retainers when you become king?
It would be better if I had the chance beforehand.
Are you still unsatisfied?
Do you still think that I'm too moderate?
No.
I think this plan is worth trying.
Find a secret place in Kwanseo area first.
As soon as I find a way to use Naetangkeum,
I'll send you the money.
I can use the funds of my merchant clan to put the plan in motion.
Then please do so.
It would be better if we could start as soon as possible.
However, Your Highness...
Would you mind if I ask you a difficult favor?
I would like you to write me a promissory note.
A promissory note?
Even though I am the master of my merchant clan,
I still run a business with many others.
If I want to use the clan funds,
I need to specify a backer.
What if the other merchants learn my identity?
They wouldn't recognize your signature, Your Highness.
They will just think you are a typical noble.
Alright then.
I'll do it.
Did you send word to those who passed,
including Jang Dong Ki and Lee Dal Seong?
They came here a long time ago
and are waiting to see you.
I am very glad you have agreed
to my plan without any hesitation.
We are just grateful that you
have called us so quickly.
I'll be relying on you.
We will devote our lives to it, Your Highness.
He's establishing an academy in Kwanseo
to foster talented people he can use when he becomes king?
Then...
Are you willing to wait for the crown prince to become king
while you tend to an academy?
No.
I will hasten
his coronation.
What do you mean?
How is the search going?
The second round was just concluded.
*Samkantaek will be in five days.
[*Samkantaek: The final step of the selection process for a royal consort]
I want to send a gift to my new mother
after the whole process is over.
That is a wise decision, Your Highness.
I would like to use Naetangkeum separately for it.
Why Naetangkeum?
Can you just help me without asking questions?
The woman you support is included
in those that passed the second step, right?
Yes, of course.
Who is she in this list?
Right here.
She's a daughter of Kim Han Ku.
Her father, Kim Han Ku, is very obedient man.
He should be easy to control.
That means we must make sure that his daughter is selected.
Why don't I meet her?
Sure.
I will arrange a meeting.
You want to quit?
How could you be so irrational?
Only Samkantaek is left.
I won't attend the Samkantaek.
I'm afraid that I will be selected
as Queen Consort.
Then you shouldn't have let me submit your application at all.
You can't do this now!
I thought I could do it.
I thought I could make the sacrifice for you and our family.
That's what I thought, but...
After I met His Majesty...
After I met him,
I can't do it.
No, I mean I don't want to do it!
Baby.
Baby!
Are you the daughter of Scholar Kim Han Ku?
Who are you?
Where are you going?
If you tell me your destination,
I will take you there.
However,
I have one condition.
Your destination must be a better
and more definite future
than the one you just gave up.
Baby.
Baby!
Minister...
Show proper respect.
This is the crown princess.
Your Highness!
I'd like to talk to your daughter for a moment.
Would you mind?
Not at all.
Be my guest, Your Highness.
I know how you must
be feeling now,
but think about this rationally.
If you fail to pass Samkantaek,
what will happen to you?
Is there anything you will be able to choose freely?
With whom and how will you live?
Will you be able to choose any of it yourself?
Even if you can,
you're the daughter of a scholar who failed the exam.
Who do you think you'll marry?
Isn't it possible your future husband
will be a poor and incompetent man
who isn't any better than the king, just simply younger?
No.
As a woman who failed Samkantaek,
you will be avoided
as a potential wife, so you may spend the rest of your life unmarried.
Is that
the future you want?
Are you sure
that that future would be better than marrying the man
who has ruled this nation
for over thirty years?
A consort of a king.
A mother of a nation.
A luxurious life of power
in accordance with the position.
You should choose a future
that is attainable
for you to reach.
Let me ask you one question.
So...
Are you happy, Your Highness?
As the consort of the prince
and the future mother of the nation
and with the power you have because of it,
are you happy?
No.
I'm not happy.
[Five days later]
Will Kim Han Ku's daughter come today?
I don't know.
What about fathers of the other candidates
aside from Kim Han Ku?
They do not appear so easy.
Look.
Have you chosen the attainable future?
Only if it can be mine.
Would you mind if I ask you why?
I am not happy.
You answered me that you are not happy either.
I found it strangely comforting.
If I take any comfort in this,
I will be able to make at least
one person happy by doing it.
That is what I thought.
Don't be too afraid.
If you become Queen Consort
and come to the palace,
I will be here for you.
This is the last stage of becoming Queen Consort.
His Majesty will ask you one question.
What is the deepest thing in the world?
That would be water.
Is a mountain not deeper than water?
What is your answer?
The mind.
The deepest thing in the world
is a person's mind.
A person's mind?
Your Highness.
Your Highness!
What happened?
It is done.
His Majesty chose Kim Han Ku's daughter.
The woman who was selected as Queen Consort
has already moved into the queen's palace.
[Queen Jeongsun: King Yeongjo's second Queen Consort]
There will be *Chinyoungrye
on the 22nd of this month.
[*Chinyoungrye: A ceremony where the king goes to the queen's palace to greet her]
Chinyoungrye...
That means
the king will appear to the people for the first time in a while.
On the day of Chinyoungrye,
the king will be assassinated.
The 21st king of Joseon will be gone forever,
and the crown prince
will become the 22nd king of Joseon.