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[Previously]
They would gladly applaud a king
who bravely faces these issues head-on.
Ask your people for forgiveness.
Accept your mistakes.
Stop this slaughter right now!
People will forgive you.
Stop this now!
If you don't stop this,
[Maengui: Secret document]
the *Maengui...
will be posted
on the street for all to see.
[Episode 14]
How dare you order me to come here
because you hold my weakness?
What am I supposed to do now?
The Maengui
is in my son's hands.
Does that mean
I have to fear my son as I govern the state?
No.
I am not willing to exercise political leverage
by threatening someone else with his weakness.
Father.
You are my political enemy
from now on.
Political enemy?
You want to be
your father's enemy?
If so,
you shouldn't have burned the Maengui.
If you hadn't,
you would have had your once chance
to be my enemy.
What I want is politics,
not a war.
If I had declared you my enemy
with the Maengui in my hands,
there would only be war left between us.
If I were holding the Maengui,
I should be killing retainers and citizens
just like you did,
or perhaps even more than that
to end this war between us.
Not politics to kill, but politics to save...
I want to practice real politics, not war.
Politics without war?
Don't be absurd.
You won't have a chance to practice politics
before my death.
Are you afraid of me, father?
Are you afraid of me
because I would overcome you
if you shared your power with me?
Is that why you've completely barred me from politics?
You win this time,
but I will see how long that victory lasts.
Politics is extremely anomalous,
as is the drift of power.
Sure.
Bring it on.
You had better use all the strength you have.
I will deal with this in all sincerity.
Former Royal Secretary Chae Je Gong.
I am appointing you as my *Chief Royal Secretary.
[Chief Royal Secretary: The highest rank of Royal Secretary]
[Its primary role was to pass royal decrees to the ministries]
Why aren't you answering me?
Have you forgotten your promise already?
No, Your Majesty.
Then I give you your first assignment as Chief Royal Secretary.
As of this moment,
I hereby declare *Chinjung.
[Chinjung: The king seeing to government affairs himself]
Call a morning assembly for all court officials.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Also, deliver my commands clearly
to the crown prince.
From this moment,
- the crown prince's regency - the crown prince's regency
will be completely rescinded.
In addition,
all authority granted to the crown prince is hereby abolished.
In accordance,
the crown prince's government office, Shimindang,
will be shut down immediately.
The crown prince will perform his duties only from his palace
as he must have time
for self-restraint and self-reflection.
Here comes the king!
We appreciate you declaring Chinjung, Your Majesty.
Live long and cultivate virtue, Your Majesty.
We congratulate your rule, Your Majesty.
- Praise His Majesty. - Praise His Majesty.
Even though I'm not virtuous enough,
since this nation is troubled,
it was inevitable for me to declare Chinjung.
Before it is made official, however,
I'd like to order compassionate treatment of the criminals
who were involved in the publication last year.
Your Majesty.
Would you please explain what you mean?
I will not have the criminals charged with treason
punished by death.
I will also not extend their punishment to their families.
Please reconsider, Your Majesty.
Treason must be punished with death, Your Majesty.
Not just their families, but even their servants
should be put to death, Your Majesty.
All sources of evil must be routed, Your Majesty.
Please understand us, Your Majesty.
- Please understand us, Your Majesty. - Please understand us, Your Majesty.
Persuade the retainers
to stop hunting down traitors.
I am afraid I cannot.
I promised the crown prince.
He burned the Maengui because he trusted me.
I am not some rogue.
Once I make a deal, I should keep it.
A deal between the king and the crown prince?
This is the first I have heard of it.
Do you want to die?
It will not be easy for you to kill me now.
If you issue a death warrant for me,
there would only be retainers who oppose your will.
No one would follow your order.
It is all because Your Majesty eliminated my enemies
in the Young Learning Faction
with his own hands.
The crown prince burned the Maengui, and your Majesty
killed off the Young Learning Faction.
Now we of the Old Learning Faction are all that is left.
This is complete supremacy.
You are now officially the king of the Old Learning Faction.
Congratulations, Your Majesty.
Those charged with treason have been arrested again.
Even their families and servants are being punished.
It was a mistake
to burn the Maengui, Your Highness.
If we hadn't, this slaughter would only be worse.
Someone must break the chain.
Minister.
I thought you would choose this way to escape.
Why don't you go with us?
If you stay here,
you will be in danger too.
Mine is a shameful life.
I'd be more than happy to let it be taken this way.
But...
I'm sorry.
I am ultimately the reason you've ended up like this.
Not even my death can fix that.
Don't say that.
I may have started this work because of you,
but I decided to continue it myself because of the truth.
I believed this rotten world would revive even just a little
if I exposed the truth to the public.
I'm being chased off like this now,
but I won't live this way forever.
Someday I'll be back.
Then I'll make sure to repay all that I've suffered
or more than that.
We have to go.
This will be our last.
Chul Joo.
Please take care.
Minister...
Leave now.
Leave quickly.
Now!
Quickly!
Go now!
Stop!
No!
Your Majesty.
This is *Sangeon from Park Moon Soo
to Your Majesty.
[Sangeon: Letter from a retainer to the king]
[Chook Pa]
You made a pen name...
...for me?
Chook Pa?
Become the king where justice flows like water.
It isn't too late.
Thank you for staying.
It is a great comfort to me
that I wasn't left all alone.
You should become the king
where justice flows like water.
Minister.
Minister?
Please...
- ...be a sage king. - Minister...
I'm all alone again.
I am the only survivor.
Eunuch Sang.
We have survived
one more time.
In the end
this is how he left us?
Your Highness.
San.
Will your father
be able to bear this pain well
and win this battle eventually?
For you...
At least for you,
I would like to be a king
who can make the world a better place.
[Three years later, the 34th year of King Yeongjo's reign]
What nice weather.
It's too nice to stay in the palace.
If His Majesty finds out you left the palace...
I left so he would know.
Come out!
Let's leave for today.
[Seoyeonchong]
Here comes the king!
What happened to *Seoyeon?
[Seoyeon: Political Education]
Why are you leaving already?
Where is His Highness?
Why can't you answer me?
The crown prince told us that
he would choose a teacher for himself,
so today Seoyeon is being held somewhere else.
Somewhere else?
Where is that?
You have been visiting me often these days, Your Highness.
I think you make a fine match for me.
That is checkmate, Your Highness.
Wow.
You're so good.
I should have you as my teacher rather than as my match.
I may look better than you, Your Highness,
but I am not good enough to be your teacher.
[Janggi: Korean chess]
I meant for politics, not *Janggi.
I'd like to have you as my teacher
and learn politics seriously.
What do you think about that?
Would you mind if I ask you the reason?
I mean the reason you want to take me as your teacher.
It's because I want to beat my father.
You know my relationship with the king, do you not?
Are you going to brag about you loyalty
for staying by my father's side for thirty years?
A strong retainer and a weak king.
Isn't this your relationship with my father?
How interesting.
Your political prowess
is strong enough even to win over the king.
That is what I want to learn.
It is the king rather than me
who you want to attack when you gain such power?
Can you teach me that well?
Why?
Are you afraid?
Are you afraid that I may be your enemy later?
Is that why you won't teach me?
Of course not.
Then try to teach me.
Who knows?
I will follow your teachings well
and become the real king the Old Learning Faction has wanted.
Are you out of your mind?
How can Kim Taek be the crown prince's teacher?
You're a principled man.
You wouldn't have let the prince leave without a reason.
So?
Did you agree to this too?
Yes, of course.
Seoyeon is the prince's political education.
Book learning is important,
but I believe it will also be good for him to learn from the Chief State Councillor
and ask for his mentorship.
How dare you?
I ordered the crown prince to stay quietly in his palace!
I did not know
I was to interpret your order literally
and forbid the crown prince from leaving the premises.
I interpreted your order to mean
that the crown prince must fulfill his duties,
so I allowed him to go take his lessons elsewhere.
Three years...
The Old Learning Faction has been running things
for a critical three years.
Now even a man like Hong Gye Hee
is fully colored by his party's platform.
What do you think that the crown prince is up to?
This is not a matter I can guess, Your Majesty.
There's no need to guess.
He will be teaming up with Kim Taek
to challenge me.
If that is what the crown prince is thinking,
you should bear it, Your Majesty.
What do you mean?
The crown prince has practiced politics since the age of fifteen,
and lived with that power for five years.
That is hardly long enough,
but it is enough to know the taste of power.
He declared his own father his political enemy.
That is exactly what I meant.
Right now,
you have excluded the crown prince from the government.
You are already treating him as your political enemy.
That is why the crown prince is behaving like this
to stand against to you, Your Majesty.
Call him in.
The crown prince.
Call him in to the palace immediately.
You're here.
You should be at the Royal Academy. Why are you at home?
[Kim Moon, Kim Taek's grandson]
I had an important appointment with His Highness,
so I snuck out of the academy.
What?
Since when did you make my grandson your man?
Am I enough
to be your best pupil now?
Did you call everyone?
Yes, of course.
Let's go.
Then I'll see you later,
teacher.
Look here!
Everyone!
A toast to the crown prince!
The prince wants to take you as his teacher to fight his father?
Is this what really what the crown prince said?
So how did you answer him?
What else could I say?
I told him I would.
Thank you, Councillor.
His Highness has been lived quietly for the last three years.
Now he finally has someone to back him.
This isn't a matter we can decide carelessly.
I'm sorry to say this as you're his father-in-law,
but the crown prince is no pushover.
When he asked for your mentorship,
he could have had an ulterior motive.
Minister of Taxation.
Don't say such things.
If he weren't hiding anything, this wouldn't be any fun.
If his intentions were crystal clear, even though he wants to learn,
I would be less interested in him.
I also think it will be interesting to teach the crown prince.
Since the Young Learning Faction was completely eliminated, this is now a war
between the king and the Old Learning Faction.
If we successfully check the king and tame the crown prince,
we can change the order of this country.
The retainers' power will exceed that of even the king.
It will officially be a country of noble scholars.
I assume that the rest of you were thinking the same.
That means
we should have the crown prince on our side
even if he doesn't want to be.
You look well.
It is because I've let everything go and lived my life quietly.
Anyway...
Do you have any good news from the palace?
I do not.
In fact, it's the opposite.
I'm embarrassed to say it, minister.
Why? Is the news that bad?
The crown prince has been visiting Kim Taek's house often recently.
Why would the crown prince visit Kim Taek?
So he can learn to live his life.
He's lost faith in winning over the retainers
and decided to join them instead.
We said some had to survive to protect the crown prince.
That was why I bent in humility to save myself,
but now it doesn't seem worth it.
Who is this?
It's the Chief Royal Secretary.
I thought that you are having a lesson in politics.
I finished my lesson already.
Now we're discussing the future of Joseon's art and culture.
Aren't we?
Say hello to each other.
This is Chief Royal Secretary Chae Je Gong
These are the young gentlemen from the families of the Old Learning Faction
who will be my loyal retainers in the future.
Why don't you have a seat here?
Sit with us and let us think about the future Joseon's art and culture.
I am afraid
I am not free enough to joke around with you,
Your Highness.
If you're busy, then go back to work.
We'd stop a man from joining us,
but we'd never stop him from leaving.
His Majesty is very concerned about you.
Please return with me to the palace.
I told you that I'm thinking about Joseon's art and culture.
Once I finish thinking about it,
I'll go back to the palace,
so tell my father not to be concerned about me.
Does he come here often?
Yes, he does.
Haven't you thought about stopping him?
Even you failed to stop him.
What can I do?
I'm sorry.
That interruption ruined the mood.
All is well, Your Highness.
You need not worry.
No, I really am sorry.
Madam.
Yes, Your Highness.
You told me that you have a new reed instrument player.
Bring her here and introduce us.
Your Highness, she is only a musician.
She only plays
and does not provide bed service...
Don't be absurd.
If she's a *Kisaeng, she should act like one.
[Kisaeng: Traditional female entertainer]
It's ridiculous for a Kisaeng to act noble.
You're quite beautiful.
Why would you only want to play without showing yourself
and your beauty?
I want you to provide bed service for me..
Your Highness.
I outrank you, don't I?
You seem well.
Where have you been...
What do you want from me, Your Highness?
Ji Dam.
Bing Ae.
That is my name as a Kisaeng. Please use it.
The naive girl Seo Ji Dam who believed the truth was everything
died with her father three years ago,
but I can see the naive Seo Ji Dam is not the only one who died.
The lives of citizens should be at least as precious as the prince's.
The crown prince who declared that
does not seem to be here anymore either.
If he were,
you wouldn't be wasting your time
with the young nobles of the Old Learning Faction's families
at a place like this.
What do you want from me, Your Highness?
If you want bed service from me,
do as you wish.
What are you doing?
Giving away this body without my heart isn't a big deal to me,
so do whatever you want and go away quickly.
I'm sorry.
I'll come again.
Ji Dam...
Is it okay to let her stay here?
I think she will be fine unless you
meet her like this and reveal that you know her,
Your Highness.
If you need my help by any chance,
contact me by what's written here.
Yes, Your Highness.
Reveal that he knows her?
What does that mean?
What are you asking me?
The new Kisaeng...
His Highness seems to know her.
Doesn't he?
I believe he met her previously at a different bar.
A different bar?
That's absurd.
How could he go to a different bar without me?
Why were you not honest
with Ji Dam?
Don't be a fool.
That would risk all of my hard work up until now.
Let's hurry to the appointed place.
Yes, Your Highness.
Hello.
Did you have a safe trip back from China?
Yes, of course.
What is the emperor up to?
Is he still working on conquering the west?
There's a rumor he plans to expand his conquest.
Is that right?
What about my books and maps?
Here they are.
I also brought the English dictionary you asked for.
Thank you.
Oh, and buy these books for me on your next trip.
Yes, sure.
Bye.
By the way,
what's the reason for your interest in books like this, sir?
Just for fun.
I don't have much else to do in my free time.
Boss.
I'm back.
This is the list of books that man purchased?
Yes.
It's like a list of banned books, including
*Jeonggamrok, Namsagobiki,
[Jeonggamrok and Namsagobiki: Prophetic writings about the fate of the nation]
and the Chinese book *Myeongedaebangrok
which argues for equality of four social classes,
scholars, farmers, artisans and tradesmen.
[Myeongedaebangrok: work of Chinese theorist Hwang Jong Hee which criticizes]
There are also Western books
and even a map of China.
What a broad spectrum of interests.
Why is he reading such books?
I was curios too so I asked him. He said,
"Just for fun."
"I don't have much else to do in my free time."
For fun?
What an interesting man.
These are difficult and even dangerous books to read,
but he's doing it for fun?
Just for fun?
That doesn't make sense.
Then...
Maybe he's dreaming of the same thing we are.
I mean the dream
of changing the world.
He disobeyed an order from the king
to stay at the bar?
What were you doing?
What were you doing
that you failed to persuade him and returned alone?
Your Majesty.
It is Eunuch Sang.
What happened?
Not yet...
He isn't back yet?
What the hell has he been doing at a bar until now?
What is he doing?
Your Majesty.
It is time for your dinner, Your Majesty.
Starting today,
I will not take meals
or any medicine.
Your Majesty.
A fast?
The king has really begun fasting?
His Majesty is even rejecting medicine and checkups too.
Is the prince not back to the palace yet?
I am afraid not.
Why are you at my palace at this hour?
Come in with me first.
It's honey water.
Try to sober up with this first.
What's the matter?
Did you prepare water for gargling?
Yes, Your Highness.
Gargle this to get rid of the smell of alcohol.
The king's rage is serious...
Fasting, refusing medicine, refusing the doctor...
Which is it this time?
Your Highness.
I'll take care of it, so do not worry too much.
Here, Eunuch Jang.
Yes, Your Highness.
Send a messenger to the Chief State Councillor's house.
Why the Chief State Councillor?
I told you that I'll take care of it.
Why are you refusing meals?
I'm worried it may hurt your health, father.
Please tell me the reason.
I have no idea
why you are this angry.
The crown prince's teacher
should be selected by his father and his retainers.
Do not choose one carelessly.
I am afraid I cannot do that.
How can Kim Taek be your teacher?
It's to groom me into a sage king.
It is not just Kim Taek.
I wouldn't hesitate to take a servant
or a butcher as my mentor if I could learn from them.
That is necessary for a sage king.
Then what about the bar?
If you want to be sage king so badly,
why did you go to the bar with young scholars?
For the same reason
you provide *Juyeon to your retainers.
[Juyeon: A party with alcohol]
What?
By meeting these young scholars comfortably at a casual place,
I wanted to find a man who would be invaluable to me after my enthronement,
so do not be too mad.
Enthronement?
Are you telling me you are preparing for your enthronement already?
That is a duty of the crown prince.
Why are you working this hard?
Do you
wish me to die as soon as possible?
How could you ask me such a question?
I am simply preparing myself to be a sage king like you.
I have no other reason.
Don't try to sneak out of here like a loach.
Tell me what you really think, Sun.
Tell me the truth.
What is it?
Do you want to have power?
Do you want to take down your father
with that power?
If that's what you want,
bow down here and beg for it.
Why would I have to do that?
I am not willing to practice politics right away.
If I devote myself to studying and am patient,
I will get the throne anyway.
Why should I rush that?
How dare you say such an absurd thing to me?
Get out.
I don't want to see you!
Go away!
It doesn't seem easy to break his fast.
I'm afraid this will hurt the king's health, teacher.
Trust me.
It will be alright.
Have a meal and take this medicine.
I do not know how long you will last this way.
If you came here to mock me,
go away now.
Would you accuse the crown price of threatening your throne
even if there are no ground for it?
Will you threaten abdication again?
If that is what you want, do as you wish.
The crown prince has already been through that seven times.
The eighth will not be more difficult.
We have gotten used to it as well, so even if you try,
we would react incredibly well.
If you continue to insist on fasting,
all of the retainers
will go on strike at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.
What...
What did you say?
If you do not wish to see the government come to a grinding halt,
please stop being mad at the crown prince.
Stop this fast, Your Majesty.
I thought it'd be easier to persuade the king with your help,
but I didn't expect the king to stop fasting so early.
Thank you, teacher.
I owe you for this.
You do not need to say that you owe me, Your Highness.
Just consider it a small gift from an old man.
Please.
The tea is getting cold.
He said
the throne will be his anyway.
Since getting close with Kim Taek,
the crown prince
is learning how
to take down his father.
Anyhow,
I need to plan a counterattack to take down
the Old Learning Faction
along with Kim Taek.
Chief Royal Secretary.
Do you
have any ideas?
No, I do not.
You don't?
Three years ago,
when you eliminated the Young Learning Faction
including Park Moon Soo,
this is what you should have expected, Your Majesty.
There is no one left to check the Old Learning Faction.
Who can stop them now?
Are you blaming me
for digging my own grave?
How dare you...
I always have a letter of resignation in my pocket.
If you order it,
I will resign at anytime.
No.
I like your honesty.
You are an honest, loyal man
who isn't afraid of losing anything.
I am flattered, Your Majesty.
Finish what you were saying.
There are many things
that I disagree with you over,
but there is much more in your performance and achievements I respect.
If your will and the principle is right,
there will be people who will follow you.
Principle?
The greatest and most valuable principle you've established
is *Tangpyeong.
[Tangpyeong: Achieving balance by appointing retainers from all parties]
Is it not, Your Majesty?
You should call back the surviving retainers of the Young Learning Faction.
You should have a well-balanced government to continue your peaceful reign.
Tangpyeong.
Tangpyeong...
Did you clear the palace?
Yes, Your Highness.
I'll be at basement library with Royal Guard Min Woo Seob.
Inform me quickly if anything happens.
Yes, Your Highness.
It has been two years since we met here for the first time.
It's all because of that assassin.
Sometimes
I'm grateful enough to him that I would bow to him if I could.
Your Majesty.
If the assassin hadn't set that fire to kill me,
this palace never would have had the chance to be rebuilt.
Then
I wouldn't have this library either.
It would be much harder
to save these books secretly without this library
since people are always in the palace.
Jeonggamrok and Namsagobiki...
These books completely deny the Joseon Dynasty itself.
What is your reason for reading such books?
It is public sentiment.
Even if it is difficult to read,
as long as it is public opinion,
I have to read it thoroughly.
I heard that you met the crown prince.
Yes, I did.
So
what do you want to do now?
I want to move to the next stage.
If it fails,
it will put your life at risk.
I don't care, so please proceed.
Seeing the crown prince
has only hardened my resolve.
I want to pay back
what I've suffered with interest
to the Royal Family and to the world.
I don't care what happens to my life.
Open the door!
This is urgent, Your Highness.
Your Majesty.
It is the Chief Royal Secretary.
Come in.
What's the matter?
I have news that the Chinese envoy has crossed out border.
What do you mean?
Chinese envoys have already passed Pyeongyang
and are on their way to Gaeseong?
Yes, Your Highness.
What is the reason?
Why did China suddenly dispatch envoys
without any prior warning?
The governor of Pyeongyang beguiled the envoys
into telling him the truth.
In the western sea,
Chinese fishing boats operating...
What? Our naval forces attacked a fishing boat?
If this is...
If this is true,
then...
This could be a big crisis.
Yes a big crisis
can mean a big opportunity too.
All of the retainers...
Call them to gather at my palace.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What is really going on here?
Our naval force attacked Chinese fishing boats
at work in the western sea.
Your Majesty.
I believe that this is a minor dispute.
If it were a minor dispute,
Chinese envoys would not cross the border with no warning
and refuse *Sashinyeon.
[Sashinyeon: A welcoming party for diplomatic delegation]
It's clear that they are raging mad
and consider this the same as provoking China.
If China tries
to start a war over this,
what will you do then?
Minister of Defense.
Will you handle this?
Don't you know anything about this, Minister of Rites?
I did not hear any special news from our ambassadors who returned
from China last month.
What else do you do other than sit here quietly?
My retainers are just sitting here.
What else can you do other than tell me no?
This is why I can't rule this nation with just you.
- Chief Royal Secretary. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Tell the Ministry of Personnel
to chose official candidates from the Young Learning Faction
and report them to me.
Your Majesty.
If anyone opposes this decision,
then I will
assume you are the ones to bring war to our nation.
They will be punished by death with no exceptions.
Even if you bring back the Young Learning Faction,
do you think that they can solve this matter?
I decided to appoint them again because of your incompetence,
not to solve this matter.
Then?
About this matter...
I will order the crown prince to resolve it.
No, Your Majesty.
This is not something the crown prince can handle.
The Ministry of Rites will take care of it at any cost.
I have already made my decision.
Call the crown prince
immediately.
Please reconsider, Your Majesty.
Stop opposing me and shut your mouth!
Now,
leave everyone!
Will you see the king, Your Highness?
Yes, I will.
Your Highness.
Whatever the king asks you,
tell him that you will do it.
No.
Tell him that you cannot.
I will take care of this.
Father.
Were you looking for me, father?
What was your reason for taking Kim Taek as your teacher?
Did you really want him to teach you
to be a sage king in the future,
or did you want the opportunity
to gain your regency by persuading Kim Taek?
Answer me carefully.
I am trying to give you an opportunity.
Let me ask you one more time.
Are you willing to go back to politics
or not?
I am.
In that case,
take care of this matter first.
No matter what you do,
persuade the envoys from China well.
You should do it well
without providing them a reason for war
or damaging Joseon's national interests.
Can you do that?
If you can handle this matter well,
I will make you regent again
without any other conditions.
However, if you fail,
you will be deposed as crown prince.
What is your answer?
I will do it.