Gye Baek
Episode 23
I saw you meet Kim Eui a few nights ago.
Why did you meet such a dangerous man?
Do you think I met Kim Eui because I like him?
We have received countless petitions asking you to punish Commissioner Eun Go.
She did all of this to protect you.
What do you mean?
You're here in this place because she met Kim Eui and compromised with the nobles.
His Majesty gave orders for us to arrest Commissioner Eun Go!
Scoundrels! Touch her and die.
Don't be reckless.
- Arrest the Commissioner! - Yes, sir!
Episode 23
She managed to expand her influence in such a short time! Impudent wench!
Your Majesty, we haven't found any evidence that indicates the Commissioner accepted the bribes directly.
But such allegations against her uncle were found to be true.
The nobles allowed her to have power over them and to influence the Noble Assembly!
It's as if the Sataek family has emerged yet again!
Guard!
Your Majesty?
Arrest everyone from the Mok family and seize all the nobles who offered the bribes!
Yes, Your Majesty!
Seize everyone!
Why are you doing this?
- Get him! - Yes, sir!
I've done nothing wrong! I only followed the orders given by Commissioner Eun Go!
I only did what I was told!
So this is how it unfolds! I knew this would happen to Eun Go!
I didn't like it when she compromised with the nobles.
This all happened because she was trying to save Gye Baek.
She should have looked for another way! How could she have made this mess!
In any case, Miss Eun Go is our comrade and she is the woman Gye Baek loves.
We must find a way to save her.
I want to save her too! I just hated it when she wanted to work with the nobles!
The punishment for the crime of corruption is 100 strokes of the cane and exile to an island.
She would not be able to survive the punishment.
If they also accuse her of turning a blind eye to crime, she may receive the death penalty too.
There is no evidence that she accepted the bribes.
If she denies knowing about her uncle's actions, she will only be guilty by association.
If we go this route, there will be a way to save her.
- You're right. - Are you discussing how to save Commissioner Eun Go?
Your Highness!
The two of you are His Highness' trusted advisors!
How dare you defend such a woman!
The Commissioner used her relationship with His Highness to wield power!
I saw her ask His Highness to appoint someone from the Sataek family as the Prime Minister!
Are you telling me that this isn't a crime?
If such a woman is allowed to be around His Highness, she will surely cause his downfall!
- Your Highness, please calm down. - Please do not be so angry.
No, I will not stand for this.
I have already met His Majesty to ask him to give her the harshest punishment under the law.
Do not meddle in this matter.
You may be His Highness' trusted advisors, but I will not forgive you if you do!
Your Majesty...
What brings you here?
I was the one who watched the Mok household.
I know the situation better than anyone.
Commissioner Eun Go has done nothing wrong.
Her crime is simply that she's related to Lord Mok.
Are you suggesting that I am accusing her of this crime despite my knowledge of her innocence?
- Your Majesty... - This is not your business.
I am going to be personally involved in the investigation.
Your Majesty, I beg you!
Please forgive Commissioner Eun Go!
You must owe her a debt seeing how desperate you are to save her.
Did you ask her to meet with the nobles?
Did you ask her to try and achieve a favorable vote for you at the Noble Assembly?
Your Majesty, I did no such thing.
But if I am the cause of this, I will take full responsibility.
I will give my resignation and leave. Please forgive the Commissioner.
I don't want to hear it!
The investigation will yield the truth. I will make my decision then.
Leave me.
- Your Majesty. - Are you here to say the same thing as Gye Baek?
Please be lenient in your punishment.
The Commissioner is a loyal subject who helped us defeat the Sataek family.
Even if she is guilty, it would not be right to give her a harsh punishment.
Is it not a king's duty to point out the mistakes of his vassals but render mercy as well?
Is that the only reason you are defending her?
I know how you feel about her.
But that is precisely why she felt confident in flaunting her power and influence.
You are also responsible for everything that has happened.
Your Majesty...
It is my opinion that if we allow this to continue, the Mok family will become the new Sataek family.
Undesirable weeds must be pulled out by the roots!
Eun Go...
Your Highness...
His Majesty will be interrogating you. He is furious and I cannot change his mind.
You must insist that you knew nothing of your uncle's crimes. That is the only way you will avoid execution.
Your Highness, I can't do that.
Eun Go!
My uncle and the rest of my relatives returned to Sabi because of me.
Even if they are guilty, it is my duty to defend and protect them.
I cannot ignore them just because I want to live.
But your life is in jeopardy!
Please forgive me, Your Highness.
Are you sure about this?
No. I will save you.
I swear it.
Hear me, Commissioner Eun Go.
I had high regard for your talents and appointed you Commissioner of the City Prefecture.
But you grew greedy for power and engaged in power dealings with the nobles.
You shirked your duties!
This is considered high treason.
- Do you acknowledge this? - Yes, Your Majesty!
I am responsible for everything. I will accept my due punishment!
- You acknowledge all the accusations? - Yes.
So please! I beg you to let my family go!
My family lost their honor because of a made up charge.
Everything was taken away from them but their lives! Please!
Please consider this in your judgment!
I will take full responsibility for everything!
You will take full responsibility?
Yes, Your Majesty!
That cannot be allowed.
This is evidence that members of the Mok family received bribes from the nobles.
You are one of the Crown Prince's advisors, but you used that power recklessly.
If I allow this to continue, you will bring harm to the Crown Prince when he takes over the throne.
- Your Majesty! - I will use you as an example to others.
Record the Commissioner's confession and carry out the punishment against the Mok family!
Yes, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty! Please have mercy on the Mok family!
Your Majesty!
- What happened? - Miss Eun Go's uncle was executed.
What?
The rest of the Mok family has been exiled. They can never set foot in Sabi again.
This isn't good. Our trade clan isn't going to be safe either.
Who is responsible for this trade clan?
I am the manager here.
Because the Chief of your trade clan is guilty of accepting bribes, the fine is three times the accepted amount.
This trade clan is hereby closed and disbanded. You will all leave Sabi at once.
Carry it out!
I said it hurts! Stop touching me!
I feel like my back's breaking!
That needle is too small to be effective!
What are you saying? I can't even turn my head!
It really hurts...!
Fix him in one shot!
That's why I called the physician! Acupuncture will...
Why are you holding a sword?
- That's not a needle, that's a sword! - That's a needle!
- This needle does make it better faster. - Wait! Wait...
Wow, I feel better already! It doesn't hurt anymore. You can go now.
- But you just said your back felt like it was broken! - Yes, well, it did.
But once I saw the needle... Wait, that's a sword.
My bones decided to bond together so now my back isn't broken anymore.
So I don't acupuncture anymore. Physician, you may leave.
Are you sure? You should still get acupuncture...
That's not acupuncture! You're going to stab me with that sword!
When I shouted, that hurt. So go. Go and take that box of swords with you.
Go! Run if you can!
Why did you bring a swordsman? I need a physician!
- Sir Dokgae! - What is it now?
You know the man we spied on? He was arrested! They took his entire family in too!
That means we did our job well!
That's right! I'm sure he was a corrupt nobleman!
I'm sure we did exactly what we were meant to do!
Does that mean we're going to be appointed officials?
How foolish you are. You should dream bigger!
We won't be just any officials, but Royal Investigators because nobles fear us!
That means we'll be in the money!
We'll be rich!
- Finally, we can make an honest living! - That's right!
- Wait, we have a problem. - What?
- Brother Gye Baek told us to watch the money. - That's right.
But I think we're missing some.
Maybe you're missing some brains. Missing what?
Sir Dokgae, did you...?
Wait! Daesu, when you come closer, my back hurts again!
I'm going to go and look for the physician.
Just stay here and go to sleep. Oh, my back.
That hurts. My back really hurts.
Wait wait, what is it? I'm not well, you know.
- Be gentle. - Shake him!
Shake him well!
What... what's that...?
What is that? Who does it belong to?
Did you drop it?
Government officials? That's the end of that.
Miss...
Are you happy now?
Are you satisfied now that my family has paid the price?
Miss...
I'm so upset with you.
You did this because you didn't doubt my innocence?
But if I had been in your shoes, I would never have done this to you.
Even if you and your family were guilty,
I would have tried to save you first!
Please forgive me, Miss...
This is all my fault.
It's too late.
It's all over already.
No! I'll get you out of there.
Get me out of here?
You destroyed my family and my trade clan.
I've lost everything! How am I supposed to live?
If I lose you, I'll die too.
I feel like I'm having a nightmare.
Here you are, suffering so.
But I am helpless to do anything.
But of this I am sure. I will rescue you.
I promise!
- Leave me. - Miss...
Go away!
Gye Baek...!
Brother Sung Choong, Brother Heung Su...
Please help me! Please save Miss Eun Go...
Have a seat first.
If you keep your wits about you, you can survive even a tiger attack.
You need to think about a strategy.
What can we do? His Majesty is furious.
I'll do anything to save Miss Eun Go.
I'll do anything.
Are you saying you don't fear His Majesty's wrath?
We'll send a petition pleading for her release.
Miss Eun Go is a loyal subject and servant. If we remind His Majesty of her service, he may relent.
If Miss Eun Go dies, I will die too.
I'll risk everything.
I knew it!
- Are you trying to break her out of prison? - Brother Heung Su...
- Come with me! - No. I have to rescue Miss Eun Go.
Do you want me to alert the guards?
Sit down, you fool!
What were you going to do after you had broken her out of prison?
We're going to go far away from here.
And then what?
And then he probably planned on living happily ever after with her and their children!
- And then what? - I didn't think that far ahead!
You would be a fugitive! You and your children!
How could you be so foolish? You're a national hero!
And what about the pledge we made to work together for the people?
What do you want me to do? Do you want me to watch Miss Eun Go be executed?
I can't do that! I won't!
I'll save her no matter what it takes.
- Gye Baek! - Don't try to stop me!
- Sit down, you fool! - Calm down and sit!
We just have to hide for a little while.
Once the Crown Prince becomes King, he'll save us!
Yes, as you said, His Highness will not let Miss Eun Go die so easily.
He'll do something even before you do.
What can he do when His Majesty is so angry?
The Crown Prince won't let her die so easily! He'll risk his life to save her!
His Highness loves...!
You know very well that His Highness cares for Miss Eun Go too.
We all know how you feel about her.
But you need to be patient. If you draw your sword, you'll only make things worse!
Eun Go...
I've been pondering for days how I can save you.
But this is the only thing I can come up with.
If you do as I say, you'll live.
Tell them you're pregnant with my child.
Even a peasant woman isn't executed until after she's given birth.
What if you're pregnant with the Crown Prince's child?
Unfortunately, this is the only solution.
Can you do it?
I can't.
My poor uncle is dead and the rest of the Mok family has come to ruin.
Even the trade clan where I lived most of my life has been shut down.
How can I live?
How can I be the only one that lives?
What will I do with my life? I would rather die.
What am I supposed to do if you die?
You and I have been together since we were young.
We overcame struggles and obstacles together.
Whenever I was in despair and wanted to end everything, it was you that came to my rescue.
I was reborn because of you.
I was determined to become King because of you.
When you rescued me all those years ago, I swore that you and I were one.
So if you die, how could I live?
I will follow you in death.
Your Highness... What do you mean by that?
I'm not saying this as an empty threat. Mark my words.
You and I share one life.
If something happens to you, I will die too.
Your Highness!
I can't do what you want.
How could I do such a thing...?
What would happen to Gye Baek...?
Do you truly think that you can embrace that star?
It is not the star you should be embracing, but the sky of Baekje that holds it.
Embrace the sky?
You need His Majesty's permission in order to return to the Temple.
How is it that you want my help in this matter?
You will soon be able to do so.
Already, the sky longs for you.
The Crown Prince already has a wife.
They are married and have a child.
Why are you saying this to me?
But doesn't the Crown Princess owe her status to you?
Her destiny was determined by you.
Am I wrong?
How did you know...?
Do you think that you have power to change people's lives?
Unfortunately that is impossible.
Nobody has the power to change Heaven's will.
Look at you now.
- Your Highness... - You only have yourself to blame for all of this.
This was the only possible outcome when you started your manipulation of His Highness.
You have no one to blame but yourself.
You are the reason your entire family is dead.
Is that so?
Is that why this has happened to my family?
His Majesty has ordered you to be executed before the court.
But even that seems too lenient to me.
All you had to do is execute me. Why did you have to destroy my entire family?
Do you have regrets now?
Good. Go ahead and regret.
Your Highness.
I, Eun Go...
... must not have the destiny to die so early.
The criminal Eun Go gathered the nobles to further her nefarious purposes.
She secured their influence by offering bribes.
Therefore, the court finds it appropriate to sentence her for execution.
The court urges all people and officials to take this example and avoid corruption by all means.
- Gye Baek, calm down! - Miss...!
- I have to go to her! Let me go! - His Highness isn't here yet! Just wait a while!
- She's going to die! Let me go! - Gye Baek!
His Highness hasn't even met with us because he's been in such deep thought.
He must have a plan! If he didn't, he would have asked us for help!
Your Highness...!
Please... please save Miss Eun Go!
Are you prepared to accept anything as long as I save her life?
Yes! I'll give up my life if that could save hers.
Stop!
Your Majesty! Eun Go must not be executed!
- Move aside. It's too late. - Your Majesty!
You cannot execute Commissioner Eun Go.
What are you talking about?
It is against the law to execute a woman who is pregnant with a royal heir!
Pregnant...?
Is he speaking the truth?
Is he?
It's true.
Add that to my list of crimes.
Your Highness...!
Is she truly pregnant?
Just do as I say.
But Your Highness...
You have served His Majesty all your life.
And if he dies, you will be held responsible.
Even if he dies of old age, you will still be held responsible for his death.
But if you are loyal to me...
... you will be appointed as my personal physician.
There is a weak second pulse. I am certain that it is the baby's pulse.
What happens now?
As His Highness mentioned, it is against the law to punish a woman who is pregnant with a royal heir.
There is nothing we can do until she gives birth.
- Imprison her in the guest palace until she gives birth! - Yes, Your Majesty.
So this is the only way Miss Eun Go's life could be saved?
Why did His Highness do this?
I don't understand any of this! Please explain to me what's going on!
I'm sorry...
What happens to Miss Eun Go now?
It'll be one of two outcomes.
The truth is revealed and she'll be executed.
Or she'll have to get pregnant for real and live.
Get pregnant?
But even if she becomes pregnant, once she gives birth there are no guarantees.
And if she becomes a royal consort, that's another story.
What do you mean? How could Miss Eun Go become a royal consort?
Nothing has been determined. Don't think too far ahead.
But let me ask you something. You were the one that gave His Highness the ledger?
Yes...
Why?
Why are you avoiding me?
What else do I have to say? This was the only way to save her life.
How could you do this without discussing it with me first?
Discuss?
You told me that you would give up your life if you could save her life.
And Eun Go got herself in trouble because she was trying to save you.
- But what did you do to save her? - Your Highness!
I don't know who started it first.
Did you fall in love with her first? Or did I?
What... what are you talking about?
It's just as I said. I gave up Eun Go because of you.
You lost too many things because of me.
So I gave up the woman I loved for you.
But this is the result?
Your Highness...!
You were powerless. You didn't possess the strength to protect the woman you loved.
You not only couldn't protect her, but she died because of you!
It was me that saved her.
You asked to see me?
The palace has commended you for your work.
Because of your petitions and protests, corrupt officials were arrested and punished.
Is that so? We did that because of an anonymous report.
Continue to keep that a secret.
Then the Crown Prince will know your loyalty and continue to keep you in his favor.
Yes, my Lord.
Good...
So this was all the Crown Prince's plan for the very beginning!
It was a scheme to take Eun Go away from Gye Baek!
Damn it! How could he be so despicable!
How could he plan all this just to gain a woman?
Do I tell this to Gye Baek or not?
How can you even consider it? Will you ruin their relationship?
You mean to keep this a secret from him? You want us to be despicable too?
His Highness told us he loved her from the start too.
The relationship between a man and woman is extremely complicated.
If you don't know that, it's no wonder that you're still single!
Yes, I'm ignorant!
But I can't stand the thought that our future King will stoop this low!
So what do you want to do?
Gye Baek needs to know about this. We'll make Prince Euija return Miss Eun Go to him.
We'll help them run away. Once Prince Euija becomes King, he can reinstate them!
Don't be ridiculous. Do you really think His Highness will do what you want?
He destroyed her entire family to gain what he wants.
He can be cruel and cold-hearted!
Do you think he'll become King from our help alone?
You're sorely mistaken.
He is shrewd enough to escape the eyes of Queen Sataek for several decades.
The moment you open your mouth, you'll be eliminated too.
What?
More importantly, we haven't achieved any of our goals.
We joined forces for the people. Must we be divided over a woman?
We must feign ignorance. We must take this to our grave!
We should never have found out about this scheme in the first place.
Damnation!
Poor Gye Baek!
It's getting cold. Perhaps you should go back inside.
All right.
Your Majesty! Are you all right?
How am I?
- You are still the prime of health, Your Majesty. - You don't need to lie.
I know my own body.
I never got treated from my wounds by Wi Je and took Machisan.
This must be the repercussion.
Machisan? That would cut short the life span of a healthy man!
It's been over 30 years since I became King.
Is it not time for me to become weak and old?
Your Majesty...!
- Bring Eun Go to me. - Yes, Your Majesty.
How did you come in here?
Miss Eun Go... Leave this place together with me.
I don't want to stay here anymore.
You shouldn't stay here anymore either.
Let's go somewhere where there's no people.
As you can see, I have nothing left.
I have to start from scratch to regain everything I lost.
How could I leave?
Wait and see.
Wait and see what I am capable of.
But that can happen in the future too.
If you let go of my hand now...
... you will never be able to hold it again.
Can you really live without me?
Miss..
Please...
Sir Gye Baek!
Please give me some time to think.
Think about what?
What will you do after you run away?
If the hero of Baekje runs away with the woman who is carrying the Crown Prince's child,
what will the people say?
Even if I reinstate the two of you after I become King,
do you think the people and the royal court will forgive you?
Fine, if you think you can do it, then go. Run away!
I'll pretend I never saw the two of you.
Your Majesty.
To be honest, I knew you didn't do anything wrong.
But I tried to kill you anyway.
Do you know why?
It's because I could see Queen Sataek in you.
Now, I will give my permission for you to become the Crown Prince's Royal Consort.
But heed my words.
You will not use your influence with the nobles.
You will use all the power and skills you have to help Euija become a great King.
You must not become like Queen Sataek.
Do you hear me?
- Yes, Your Majesty. - And one more thing!
The next Crown Prince will be Tae. (Buyeo Tae: Euija and Yeon Taeyeon's son)
You will have nothing to do with the selection of Crown Prince.
Can you swear to this?
I swear.
Go back to your chambers.
Are you inside?
Did the sky fall on you?
Let's have a drink. You can shake this off.
You fool, Gye Baek!
This has made you an invalid!
I know that nothing can comfort you right now.
If it hurts, you need to feel the pain. Accept the fact that it wasn't meant to be.
You were separated because there is someone better for you.
That's right. There are millions of people who go through heartbreak every day.
Consider yourself lucky that you can still see her.
I know that you're tormented.
But I'll say it again. This was the best solution.
No, it was our destiny.
I'll say this.
I...
... only agreed to this because I wanted to live.
You only have my body.
You want to tell me that your heart only belongs to Gye Baek?
You were the only woman in my life.
I withstood the suffering and torment because of you.
But you have no space in your heart for me?
Do you mean to tell me that you feel nothing for me?
I...
... have only respect for you, Your Highness.