Episode 4
Your Majesty!
Take your order back!
Your Majesty, take your order back!
Your Majesty. Put that sword away.
It's none of your business. Stay out of it.
Your Majesty. Your Majesty!
Lord Jo broke our law and brought me into contempt.
I cannot forgive him.
If you kill him, the people will turn against you.
You can't kill someone for being loyal.
Your Majesty.
- Head of Palace Guards. - Yes.
King Yejong Lord Jo must be punished.
Throw him in prison.
I'll question him myself.
Your Majesty.
Doh Geum-pyo, bodyguard
Don't protest!
Jo Chi-gyum, Head of Eunuchs Or you'll become traitors!
Stay put!
Stay where you are!
Your Majesty!
Take your order back!
Your Majesty!
Take your order back!
Your Majesty!
Take your order back!
- Your Majesty! - Get them out of here.
We will.
Kim Chun-dong, future Chuh-sun Prince Jaeul, future King Sungjong
Queen Junghee Must you do this?
Is this what you wanted?
I cannot forgive those who challenge me.
Your Majesty. Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
I think we should skip our visit today.
Good idea. I'll tell your mother what happened.
Prince Jaeul, future King Sungjong How dare they oppose the king.
How could they?
Kim Chun-dong, future Chuh-sun
I thought highly of Lord Jo. You can't judge someone by their looks.
Mrs. Oh, Chuh-sun's birth mother You mustn't show how you feel.
I'm glad I don't live here.
I get to enjoy life AND stay away from all this.
Did you have fun at the palace?
Wolhwa, Chun-dong's foster mother What's wrong?
Mother. Can a eunuch be as powerful as a prime minister?
What do you mean?
The eunuchs were on strike.
Lord Jo stood his ground until the guards took him away.
What?
Prince Jaeul didn't like it, but I thought he was very brave.
Don't be silly. A eunuch can never reach that rank.
Minister Yoon's daughter, So-hwa is my fiancee.
Torture chamber
Lord Jo.
You instigated all this so you could take my place, didn't you?
I did my duty as Head of Eunuchs.
What? Duty?
I came to the palace when I was 1 6.
I've served four kings and I never went against any order.
But you are blinded by sweet talk.
If going against you...
will make you see the light, I would do the same again.
Lee Chan, Prince Goosung Even if you kill me.
Yoon Gi-gyun Even if you kill me.
Lord Jo!
Why won't you admit that you've done your king a disservice?
Torture him.
We will.
- Stop. - Yes, Your Majesty.
You still won't admit to it?
I am...
your...
loyal...
servant.
Jo Chi-gyum instigated a strike and insulted me and the law.
He shall be beheaded.
Your Majesty.
Please pardon Lord Jo.
How dare you side with him to bring me into contempt.
Han Myung-hwe If you behead him...
we shall all resign from our posts!
Your Majesty.
You can't run a country without any ministers.
Do as the ministers suggest. Forgive Lord Jo and withdraw your order.
Why are you siding with them, mother?
Lord Jo once saved the late king's life.
Who would serve you if you killed such a great man?
But they are using their status to feed their own bellies.
If I don't put them in their place, they will gain control over us.
You need more than just youth and passion to do great things.
It's not your time yet.
Please do as I say.
Then I'll let you rule as you wish.
Your Majesty.
I'll do as you wish.
Thank you. You're doing the right thing.
But I cannot forgive Lord Jo.
Eunuchs can marry if they wish.
And I will not punish anyone...
who took part in the strike.
But Lord Jo Chi-gyum...
shall be stripped of his title and all his riches.
I will never be able to serve a king again.
Please work hard and swear your allegiance to the king.
Dept. of Eunuchs
Yoon Suk-hwan Sir.
You mustn't leave.
Sir...
Yang Sung-yoon Sir.
Your Majesty.
Why did you withdraw your order? It might harm your authority.
I went for the eunuchs to shake things up.
I meant to get the ministers worked up.
Now that my mother isn't regent...
I can go after them.
Focus, will you?!
Gaedochi To us, it's just a pot.
But it's a eunuch's treasure chest.
Treasure?
A castrated man can't enter into heaven.
So when a eunuch dies, they sew their testicles back on.
If not, they'll be reborn as a female mule.
That's why that urn means so much.
You must spend the night with the queen.
The other concubines are giving me such a hard time.
Don't just stand there.
Escort the king away...
Beodeul
Hong Gwi-nam What were you doing?
I'm working on sweet-talking the king.
Choi Ja-chi You and the king? You're only a child.
I know I'm young, but I know more about the king than you do.
There are special words for his face, hands, and...
Who are you? Are you new here?
Is someone down there?
Water...
Water... Give me water.
Water.
Water... Give me water.
Wait.
You'll kill him.
If he drinks within three days, his bladder will burst and kill him.
Got that?!
So-woon.
It really is you, Chun-dong.
Who brought you here?
Moon So-woon My troupe leader.
Really? Why?
I didn't know he'd hurt his leg until he fell and broke it completely.
He'll never walk the rope again.
Old shaman, headmistress Why did you bring him here...
when he's a good singer?
He'd be better off here than selling his body to old men.
Will 1 5 taels of silver do?
It feels like I'm selling my own kid. But I have no choice.
You fell off the rope because of your leg?
It's OK. My leader will let me stay on.
Where is this place? It's full of children.
It's a school.
A school?
For eunuchs.
What? Eunuchs?
So-woon.
This is your home now.
Do as the lady says and...
No way. I don't want to be a eunuch.
It's for your own good.
I'll do all you want me to.
I'll sell my body. I'll even steal if you want.
So please don't leave me here.
Master. Master.
Master! Master!
Master!
I don't want to be a eunuch.
Please... don't leave me.
Master.
I don't want to...
So-woon.
I heard people visit you every day with bribes to ask for favors,
and that some of you make a huge profit.
Is that true?
Han Myung-hwe It's a rumor, Your Majesty.
How could we, as ministers, dare abuse our status?
Shin Sook-joo Someone is trying to frame us.
Please look into the matter and prove our innocence, Your Majesty.
How dare you insist you're innocent.
My secretaries have already looked into all you've done.
I have their report right here.
Lee Chan, Prince Goosung However...
you were loyal to my father, so I'll give you a chance.
I will overlook all you've done if you resign.
Do what you want. Resign, or get punished and kicked out.
Hello.
Mr. Noh, Jo's foster father He tortured you. Has it healed?
Jo Chi-gyum, Head of Eunuchs It's bearable. Don't worry about me.
Take good care of him.
Mrs. Jung, Lord Jo's wife I don't know what to do.
Please help us out.
A eunuch husband should make up for what he can't do.
You won't starve.
I trust in you.
Let's go inside.
A dismissed eunuch can't continue his family name.
Who will honor and remember us?
What will you do now?
I'm so sorry about this.
What is this?
A way out of this mess.
This was handed down in secret between Qin Shi Huang's eunuchs.
My ancestor brought it back from a trip to China 300 years ago.
What does this phrase mean?
"A way to a new era. "
The present king won't let you live, will he?
To continue our family name, you must open a new era.
- Leave us. - Yes, sir.
Why did you call me out here in the middle of the night?
To escape the spies the king sent.
Every day is torture. I don't know what he'll do next.
I'm thinking of starting a new era.
You...
Have you... lost your mind?
Remember what you did 1 4 years ago.
You put King Sejo on the throne.
Do the same again.
For the sake of our nation.
Things have changed.
Prince Goosung and Yoon Gi-gyun...
will watch us like hawks.
Try anything rash...
and they'll have us killed!
Where has all your courage gone?
Do you wish to...
be dismissed and live in poverty...
and disgrace for the rest of your life?
Do you... have a plan?
Leave it all to me.
What do you want?
I want my job back.
Is that it?
Can you promise me that?
Start a new era...
and I'll bring you back.
I'd like that in writing.
You don't trust me?
I trust you.
But words disappear without a trace.
How thorough.
OK.
Stay away from the throne...
and I'll do all I can.
Give me a brush.
Minister Han.
It's in your hands. Don't let me down.
Trust me.
Stop fighting for the food!
Is anyone home?
Are you Dr. Park?
No, I'm not. Go away.
I need what's in here.
Sorry, but I don't make potions to harm others.
Someone from Gwanja sent me.
Old Noh's still alive?
I'm doing it as a favor for old Noh.
Just this once.
Don't touch that.
It's full of germs. Get infected and you'll die.
You're scared?
You're a scaredy-cat. A terrible assassin.
What?
This only works on men.
He'll feel tired and lethargic.
He'll start to vomit blood in less than ten days.
He won't last a month.
I don't want money.
Go and tell old Noh that I don't owe him anything now.
Shouldn't we kill him off?
Leave him. He can't report us.
Who is he?
He was a eunuch and a great doctor.
How can a eunuch grow a beard?
Incomplete castration.
He had an affair with a king's concubine but my foster father saved his life.
Geum-pyo.
Find a trustworthy eunuch medic.
You endured the pain very well.
As of today, you are a eunuch.
Jung Han-soo This urn...
contains your testicles, covered in salt.
They'll be buried with you after you die.
Only then will you be reborn as a human.
Take good care of it.
So-woon.
Do you still miss your master?
I don't know.
He was of noble birth.
He joined us to escape poverty.
I wasn't born a real man anyway.
What?
I don't care what I become.
Then...
Why didn't you want to be a eunuch?
My troupe leader was a father to me.
But he abandoned me.
That's why.
You won't betray me, will you?
I won't. Trust me.
Thanks.
I saw the eunuchs stand up against the king once.
They are human beings too.
Sir.
Will Lord Jo ever get his job back?
What? Do you miss him too?
Yoon Suk-hwan Didn't he fight for the right reasons?
Yang Sung-yoon Don't waste your time daydreaming.
Get the king's chamber pot.
Lord Jo wishes to see you.
Suk-hwan.
What do you think of me?
Everyone in the department hopes you will return sometime soon.
Thank you.
Suk-hwan.
Do you trust me?
I do. You risked your life for us.
I wish to follow in your footsteps.
Will you die for me?
I'd jump into a fire if you told me to.
Here.
What is this?
Don't ask. You mustn't know.
This is for the sake of our department and our nation.
Do this for me and I'll reward you greatly.
Suk-hwan.
What are you doing?
I was checking on the medicine.
The king will take it before he goes to bed.
OK.
What's that white powder?
It must be ash.
A grown-up getting his clothes dirty...
It's to preserve your health. Take it.
I will rid the court of corruption.
I will dismiss all officials who accepted any bribes.
Illegal profits shall be confiscated.
Ministers Han and Shin haven't resigned yet?
We have no reason to resign.
Let's see how long you last.
Your Majesty!
He's...
Your Maj...
Your Majesty! Get on my back!
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
The king vomited blood. He is very ill.
You're quite something.
You must decide who will become king.
The king has a son.
Who just learned how to walk.
And he might question his father's death.
You're right.
We can't take that chance.
Next in line is Prince Wolsan.
How about Prince Jaeul?
Prince Jaeul can't become king. Prince Wolsan is the elder.
I'm sure Prince Jaeul's father-in-law will help.
Father-in-law? Prince Jaeul's still single.
Did he get married in secret?
Don't you have a daughter?
All will be well if she marries Prince Jaeul.
You are one amazing strategist.
Mrs. Oh.
Lady Han, future Queen Insoo Send a matchmaker to see So-hwa.
Mrs. Oh, Chuh-sun's birth mother You've made up your mind?
The king favors Minister Yoon. He's the most ideal in-law.
Prince Jaeul, future King Sungjong She sent a matchmaker?
Yes. You'll be married soon.
I have to go somewhere. If my mother calls, cover for me.
No way.
- If she finds out... - It'll be OK.
Chun-dong.
I was on my way to see you.
Pardon? What about?
I'm off to see So-hwa. Come with me.
I won't go. Sorry.
No.
I'm a royal. I can't visit a lady on my own.
Follow me.
Yoon So-hwa, future Lady Yoon
So-hwa, do you recognize me?
You're Prince Jaeul.
Why don't you get a servant to do this?
We can't afford servants.
Oh... really?
What a nice day.
If only I could live like this forever.
The king is ill and everyone is worried.
Shouldn't you be too, as a royal?
I meant...
People will talk. Please leave.
Take this.
A reward for finding my ornament.
Please don't insult me.
Go to a bar and try your luck there.
We'll be married.
We might as well be engaged.
Take it, as a token of my love.
My parents haven't told me about this.
Stop this nonsense and focus on studying.
Chun-dong.
Don't you have anything better to do? I'm disappointed in you.
Chun-dong.
You know So-hwa?
You want us to become in-laws?
Prince Jaeul is old enough, and so is my daughter.
Thank you, but I've found Jaeul a wife already.
I see I'm a bit late. Whose daughter is she?
Minister Yoon's. I sent a matchmaker.
They're not married yet, so forget about it.
Don't be so rude. How can you say that?
If Prince Jaeul marries my daughter, he'll become higher than anyone.
You can't say that, not when the king is still alive.
He will not live for a long time.
Think about my proposal.
I'll look forward to hearing from you.
Mrs. Oh, are you there?
Yes.
- What is it? - What is Prince Jaeul doing?
He's studying.
Is he?
Yes.
Bring him over.
Pardon?
I said bring him over.
But...
What's the problem?
He went out about an hour ago.
He went out?
It's my fault. Punish me instead.
Mrs. Oh.
Don't you know that letting him have his way might ruin his future?
I'm sorry.
Get out.
What?
I thank you for all you did. But if you care for him, leave.
But...
Leave before he returns.
Sorry I'm late. Chun-dong...
Mother.
Mrs. Oh left. Don't ask for her anymore.
What do you mean, she left?
Don't do this. She did nothing wrong.
Are you still a baby?
Only a strong person can do great things.
You're old enough to get married, so grow up.
Nurse...
The royal physician says the king might not make it.
How terrible...
It's just my luck...
I know how upset you are.
But you must decide on his heir.
Queen Junghee The prince is young and Wolsan is weak.
Who should I choose?
What about Prince Jaeul?
Prince Jaeul?
The Minister of War won't give in to whoever becomes king.
Choose Prince Jaeul and I'll do all it takes to stop him.
Your Highness. The king is dying.
What?
- Your Majesty... - Your Majesty...
A star has fallen.
It's time for a new era.
I lost both sons, but I can't waste time lamenting.
We must decide on a new king.
I choose Prince Jaeul, King Sejo's grandson and third in line.
Please don't object.
Minister Han got to her first.
Prince Goosung Why else would she choose...
some random prince as king?
Yoon Gi-gyun We have no choice but to accept.
Lee Chan Some say the king was poisoned.
What? Poisoned?
Were there any signs of poison?
Some eunuchs saw strange spots on the king's corpse.
Decomposition is unusually fast.
Who would do such a thing?
The court lady tasted it.
Some poisons pass the tasting.
I swear I'll get to the bottom of this.
Dr. Yang, see what you can find out.
Something's not right. Something...
It must be ash.
Suk-hwan. Where... ?
There are rumors he was poisoned.
I'm... I'm scared.
You are innocent. You won't get in trouble.
Stay away until all this dies down.
Where are we going? Where is the boat?
Prince Jaeul, King Sejo's grandson,
has been chosen to be king.
The coronation will be at noon.
Return to the palace and do your duty.
Congratulations, Your Majesty.
I can't believe this.
Me, become king?
You'll do fine.
Work hard and gain the respect of the people and your officials.
I will.
You should pack now.
Find Suk-hwan's family and pay them well.
Yes, sir. I will.
Chi-gyum, you wretch!
You killed an innocent boy so you could get what you want?!
Did you kill the king too?!
You won't get away with it!
How could you do such a thing?
I'll report you and get to the bottom of this!
Is it true you'll be king?
I can't believe it myself, but my grandmother issued an ordinance.
Congratulations, Your Majesty.
Chun-dong.
Do me a favor before I leave for the palace.
Miss Yoon.
What brings you here?
I have something to say.
Prince Jaeul will become king?
Yes. His coronation begins at noon.
He told me to give you a message.
What... ?
The day we first met...
was the day I fell for you.
I will become a sage king, one that cares for the people.
I want you to be my wife.
So-hwa, I want you to be my queen.
If you accept my proposal...
then take this.
If you don't...
then he'll give up on his love for you.
Get on the carriage.
I'll join you in a few days.
OK, mother.
I'm proud of you. Be a sage king.
Have you heard Prince Jaeul will become king?
Yes.
Why do you look so down?
Oh, it's nothing.