Gye Baek
Episode 2
Please protect the Queen and the Prince.
I will.
I do this not because you command it, but because this is my destiny.
What Baekje citizen wants to serve a Crown Prince with Silla blood in his veins?
I may have been born and raised in Silla,
but this child and I have become citizens of Baekje a long time ago.
She left her country and her people for me.
They must be eliminated for the sake of our Kingdom!
That Silla woman and her spawn...
Episode 2
Why are you doing this?
- Don't you know? - No.
I'm saying this out of concern for a past love.
I have already forgotten everything. I'll pretend you never said that.
You may have forgotten.
But I have never forgotten for one second.
Because you are the only man I have ever loved.
Do you think I entered the Palace willingly?
You discarded me.
I cried tears of agony.
Don't you realize that I can destroy everything you chose over me?
I'm giving you an opportunity.
Consort Sataek.
Let me tell you why I did not choose you.
It was because you were the same then as you are now.
Please don't say such things again.
I have never considered you a lover.
Is that really so?
May I remove completely from my heart any remaining affection for you?
The fact that you have any remaining is a sin against His Majesty.
What are those wooden dolls?
Did I wake you?
This child told me that his father went out and woke me up.
Who are they?
You and the baby.
They were meant to be a gift for you.
One of them looks like me. (Myung Ju: Gye Baek's mother)
Didn't you want a son?
I... want a daughter.
That wouldn't disappoint you?
I want her to look like you. I don't want our child to be a sword-wielding male.
Are you troubled?
You look troubled.
You and our child are my strength.
Be patient with me.
There will come a time when we can return to my hometown and become farmers.
I will destroy them all.
Aren't you being too hasty? Perhaps you should plan our strategy slowly...
I already have a strategy.
Amitabha.
Pretending to be a holy monk will cause you to burn in hell. Who sent you here as a spy?
Goguryeo.
There is one way you can save yourself. Shall I tell you how?
Yes...
- Who sent you here as a spy? - From Silla!
Good!
It is a nice day. Have a safe journey.
We will pray for long life for you.
Pray for yourselves first.
We'll be going now, your Majesty.
Please take care of them.
Let's go, Your Majesty.
How comforting it is to pray to Buddha.
I'm sure Buddha smiled when he saw your flowers, Mother.
Yes, let's go more often.
Halt!
What is it, General?
Bring him here!
This Silla spy was captured while trying to leave Hoam Temple.
- Confess! - Your Majesty!
General Mu Jin! Please forgive my carelessness!
What is this? Who do I and the Queen have to do with you?
General!
Are you claiming no knowledge of this?
This is the map of Dosung that you and the Queen passed over to the spy!
Isn't this the reason why you came to Hoam Temple?
Your Majesty, come out here so that we won't have to offend you by dragging you out.
You scoundrels, this is a conspiracy!
Any man who approaches the Queen shall not be able to survive!
Protect Her Majesty's palanquin!
Archers!
Soldiers of the Baekje Army, move aside!
- Throw down your sword, Mu Jin! - Never!
Shoot!
Halt, General!
Your Majesty, this is a trap!
I know. That is why we must not react hastily.
- But...! - I know.
Throw down your sword, General.
A spy? Did you say a spy from Silla?
That is correct, your Majesty.
This is a conspiracy against me...
What do they want from me?
Your Majesty, what is this atrocious news I just heard?
This doesn't make any sense! The Queen has already discarded any ambition!
Why would she do such a thing?
I don't know what is going on either. Let's go outside.
Inform all the Ministers to enter the Palace immediately.
Yes, your Highness.
- Your Majesty... - My Queen!
Your Majesty.
Even you, your Majesty, are prohibited from speaking or having contact with the suspect,
if they are from the Royal Family.
Please allow the Minister of Discipline to begin his investigation.
Minister, can't I even inquire after her health?
Your Majesty, how could I wish to go against your wishes?
But if I go against the regulations in front of everyone,
- ... the national law will... - Minister.
Until the investigation yields its findings, she is still the Queen of this Kingdom.
I ask you to treat her with all due respect.
That goes without saying, your Highness.
Incarcerate Mu Jin in the Central Prisons.
Escort the Queen and the Prince to their respective Palaces and stand guard.
Yes Sir!
You need to go that way, your Highness.
- M...Mother! - Euija!
Don't worry about me.
My innocence will be proven.
But... But if something happens...
... open this and read it, you hear?
You have to go.
Don't do anything reckless. You must retain your composure.
- Do you understand? - What do you mean if something happens?
I asked you if you understood me?
Yes, Mother.
Mother...!
- Mother! - Euija...
Be careful!
Answer this one question.
Were soldiers sent to my house?
I don't know, Sir.
Leave nothing untouched!
We couldn't find anything of importance.
Make sure no one comes and goes until the investigation is over!
Yes Sir!
Why are you doing this?
Please return to your chambers!
Please tell me! Has something happened to the General?
You'll find out soon enough.
Will this unborn child be able to meet his Father? Has the General done something wrong?
I beg you!
He is being investigated for treason.
My Lady! What's wrong, my Lady?
Make your confession!
You can ask me a hundred times, but my answer is the same. I am not a spy.
The Queen has been unhappy in Baekje and it isn't surprising she would want to contact Silla.
You pitied the Queen and wanted to help her.
And there must be others like you within the Palace.
Give me all their names and we will exonerate you.
You swear it?
Who are they?
In that case...
- I'll confess. - Go ahead.
Prime Minister Sataek Jeok Deok.
And all the Ministers, including yourself.
And lastly, Her Highness Consort Sataek!
Did you summon me, your Majesty?
What must I do to make you happy?
I made it clear that I had no intention of appointing Euija as Crown Prince.
He may be young, but Euija agreed with my decision.
Your Majesty, why do you say such things?
This is not a conspiracy.
This was an unexpected result of an investigation of spies in our Kingdom.
We are all in a state of shock.
How could you do this?
You can be honest with me.
If you are doing this because of my actions
following the assassination attempt by Wi Je,
I shall beg for forgiveness before all of you.
Your Majesty, we do not harbor any personal resentments against you.
If Her Majesty is truly innocent, nothing bad will happen to her.
Moreover, Minister of Justice Wang Hyorin is known for his integrity and fairness.
Are you really...
... really going to take the Queen's life?
If this is found to be a conspiracy,
then you must put the conspirators to death.
Even if the conspirator is you, Prime Minister?
I am no exception.
You met them three separate times at Hoam Temple.
And Mu Jin was responsible for handing over the map?
That's right!
How did he give it to you?
He put the map into a stone lantern and I took it out.
Where was this stone lantern?
It was in front of the main sanctuary.
And you took this map from the stone lantern?
That is correct.
Go to the stone lantern he described and check if anything is inside.
Sir?
A stone lantern that is lit every night will have soot inside.
But there is none on this map.
That is what I want you to check.
Yes, Minister!
Let's go.
The spy is dead.
Now there is no one who can refute the evidence.
Is this your doing?
If I answer that, that means I am behind everything.
I am innocent.
Even if it were your doing, who would believe a spy like me?
Now that the other spy is dead, is it my turn next?
No, I came to save you.
I don't want to be saved by you.
This is your last chance.
Tell them you didn't know it was a map.
Tell them you were just obeying the Queen's orders.
You want me to kill the Queen so that I can live?
Do you really want to become Queen so badly?
I don't care about becoming Queen.
Then why? Why are you doing this?
To prevent any disruptions now and in the future of Baekje.
Don't you realize that you're the ones creating the disruptions?
I don't have time to argue with you.
But one thing is clear.
Based on your decision,
your unborn child may never taste his mother's breast.
Pitiful man...
Why did you have to leave me?
The spy is dead. We have no more testimonies.
The soldier who left to confirm the evidence is missing, and Mu Jin won't confess.
What kind of investigation is this?
Perhaps the Minister of Justice has received orders...
... to remove evidence on purpose.
That is outrageous! Besides, the spy confessed before he died.
He said he received the map from the Queen and Mu Jin.
But you have no other testimony other than the dead spy.
We also confirmed that the handwriting on the map belongs to the Queen.
What about Mu Jin's confession?
He hasn't confessed yet, but the dead spy's confession is sufficient.
Even for the Queen?
That is correct.
What will be the judgment?
Based on the law, the sentence for treason is death.
But if the criminal is a government minister or a royal, the punishment is even more severe.
The entire family is executed.
Are you suggesting that His Majesty be sentenced?
There is no such precedence. I'm not sure what to do...
The kingdom's laws exist to maintain stability and order.
If it brings chaos by punishing the King, what use is the law?
What is your goal?
Father, do you still want to use this opportunity to ensnare the King?
Your Highness.
The struggle for power involves lives.
We must not let go of this opportunity.
If we do, all of us will lose our lives.
Besides, you were the one who first suggested pulling it out by the roots.
After you eliminate the Queen and the Prince, how will you restrain His Majesty?
I'm going to eliminate the possibility of His Majesty ever vetoing a decision made by the Noble Assembly.
Even if that decision involves the selection of any low-ranking official.
So you don't want him to command even a single soldier.
You know very well that His Majesty has a rebellious streak.
You're truly ruthless.
But I suppose that is why you made me this way too.
I'm not sure I like the sound of that, your Highness.
What will you do with Mu Jin?
- I'm going to keep him near me. - What?
- Do you still have feelings for him? - No.
I just want him to face the consequences.
Mu Jin is not a man who will allow himself to be kept.
He will never let this go. You must not leave things untidy.
Please do as I ask.
What are you going to do with him?
I'm going to cut off his limbs if I need to. But I'm going to make him watch.
I'm going to make him regret.
Are you troubled?
You look troubled.
You and our child are my strength.
Be patient with me.
There will come a time when we can return to my hometown and become farmers.
I don't have time to argue with you.
But one thing is clear.
Based on your decision,
your unborn child may never taste his mother's breast.
Is someone there? Somebody!
Noble Assembly Pavilion
Now, we will reveal the votes pertaining to the Queen.
Behead.
Sa Geol...
I may be King,
but I am powerless to protect my own wife.
Your Majesty...
What would you do if you were me?
Would you abandon your position as King to live with your wife?
Or would you let your wife die and keep the crown?
I know...
You must think me heartless to even consider this.
Your Majesty...
Who can presume to understand your tormented heart?
I will do everything in my power to be of help.
Please give me an order.
Scoundrel!
Are you saying that you intend to raise an army?
I do not have an army to command.
- I merely wanted to lend my assistance... - Silence.
Because of men like you, His Majesty is in a state of confusion.
Leave us.
Why did you reprimand him like that? He was just expressing his frustration.
There are eyes and ears everywhere, your Majesty.
You must not allow wrong perceptions to be made.
Has the Noble Assembly ended?
They will present their vote to you tomorrow morning.
We have to wait until tomorrow morning?
You know very well that no one is allowed to leave the Noble Assembly until the next morning.
It is tradition.
This is about my wife! They are deciding on whether she will live or die!
If you were me, would you be able to wait until the next day?
You know, don't you?
What is their decision? Will she be executed?
Tell me!
Your Majesty...
Do you love her that much?
It's because I pity her.
I pity her so much.
They have voted for her execution.
Send someone to rescue the Queen and the Prince from their respective palaces.
I have a horse cart waiting for the outside the Palace walls.
It will be heading for Silla's capital.
This is the only thing I can do for you. However...
Not General Mu Jin.
Is that...
... the only outcome?
As long as they are living somewhere, they are still alive.
Your Highness, what brings you here?
I'm sorry.
What do you mean? I am merely doing my duty.
Are you here to kill me?
Go.
There will be a horse cart going east.
Go to Silla and stay alive with them.
Your Majesty!
How can I consider myself King,
when I can't even save a brother?
Forgive me.
Prison break! Prison break!
This way!
Who goes there?
General!
He was the only one who gave us news of you.
Do you have a horse?
Bring it here.
General...!
I knew you would never leave us behind.
I feared never seeing you again more than dying.
- Are we going to our hometown now? - Yes.
But not our hometown. It will be our child's hometown.
Was it you, your Highness?
- Please have a cup of tea. - Answer my question!
Yes, I sent them away.
Why?
His Majesty can never see Seonhwa and Euija again. It is the same as being dead.
And now he is forever indebted to me.
He had a losing hand, so I merely used it to my advantage.
So you tricked your own father?
Please forgive me. The situation called for this.
Then why did you let Mu Jin escape?
- Escape? - Mu Jin escaped and left with his wife!
Why didn't you keep your promise?
I know nothing about it. Why did Sa Geol do such a reckless thing?
Sa Geol was with me the whole time. He didn't have time to help him escape.
How clever you are.
If it is proven that you were behind Mu Jin's escape,
everyone will find out that I was responsible for the Queen and Prince's escape.
Live or die together...
Am I not right?
Forgive me...
I couldn't let Mu Jin be sacrificed.
I will not allow Mu Jin to leave.
Do you still love him?
Didn't you think I would find out?
That ten years ago, you gave all of yourself to Mu Jin and came to me only as a shell?
I didn't want him to die.
But at the same time, I didn't want you to keep him near.
How surprising.
You knew everything and yet you never revealed anything.
Stop! Stop!
General! How did you get out?
- Are they both safe? - Yes Sir.
- General! - General, we thought you were dead!
How could I die when you were still in danger?
Thank you, General. Thank you!
This is my wife.
I am Myung Ju, your Majesty.
There are men coming after us. Let us exchange pleasantries later.
Let me take over from here. You've done well.
I am glad you are here, General.
I hope we can meet again.
We will survive. Please take good care of His Majesty.
- Where are we going? - I don't know.
We were told to hide somewhere for a while until His Majesty summons us again.
So don't worry.
I didn't realize you were expecting. I've been too negligent.
Not at all, your Majesty.
Come to me. I will slay all of you!
General, I cannot allow you to go to Silla.
I told you I would allow you to live.
So they were following your orders all along.
General, I wanted to send the Queen and the Prince to Silla so that they could live.
If you fight back, all of you will die.
The only person who can kill me by sword is myself.
Mu Jin, you may be the King and Queen's loyal subject.
But before that, you are Baekje's loyal subject.
My sword is used for the sake of Baekje, but before that, it will be used to protect my family.
Are you implying that you will betray your kingdom for the sake of your family?
I have never betrayed anyone.
Fine. I won't harm your wife.
- Is that enough? - Then let us continue on our way.
I don't believe what you say anymore.
I never want to see you again.
How dare you scorn me, not once but twice!
I have never loved you.
But I was not without pity for you.
But now, I will erase all memory I have of you.
Was it Silla?
You were going to send us to Silla in exchange for our lives?
Then Euija and I will forever be branded as spies.
We will never be able to return to Baekje.
How ruthless you are, Consort Sataek.
Euija, do not come outside. But listen carefully to me.
I will not go to Silla.
I am not a spy. You are not a spy's son.
I may have been born in Silla, but I will always be a citizen of Baekje.
I am the Queen of Baekje!
Your Majesty!
General, you must not send Euija to Silla.
Euija is a son of Baekje.
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty! - Mother!
Mother...
I told you not to come outside.
Mother...!
Mother!
Now what will you do, your Highness?
Execute everyone.
Proceed.
Take the Prince and go ahead.
- General...! - Go!
There is no escape.
All who block my way will die.
Your Majesty, please forgive me,
In your next life, let there be no wars or spies.
Let there be no need for people like me.
Come, your Highness.
Where are we going?
- I know a hiding place up ahead... - Then you go ahead, General.
Run away and make a life for yourself!
- I'm going to return to the Palace! - Your Highness...
Your Highness, the Palace is full of people who want to harm you.
You cannot return there now.
I will not run away.
If I run away now, I will never be able to go back.
I have too many reasons to go back!
First, I need to bring my mother back.
Second, I need to go back and become King.
Third!
I will become King and tear them apart with my hands!
They will continue their pursuit.
I will try to thwart them. Please stay hidden until it is dark.
You must discard your clothes before you reach Dosung.
I was unable to protect Her Majesty.
I should kill myself as punishment, but I will live on.
As long as you are alive, I shall continue to live.
I will make sure that you accomplish everything.
Until then, please restrain yourself and stay low.
My mother gave me this.
I do not deserve to accept it.
It is a token of my affection for you.
Please stay alive, and return it to me later.
Please be well, your Highness.
If I ever meet your child, I will make sure he becomes my brother.
My dear...
My dear!
You must go without me. I'm only slowing you down!
Please don't say such things.
I can turn my back on His Majesty and on Baekje.
But I cannot turn my back on you!
I told you that you were my Queen.
It's just a bit more...
Gui Woon: Chief of Wi Je
Where is the Prince?
Go to hell and ask the Lord of the Underworld!
Get him.