Episode 7
What will you do? Will you be my son...
if I let you see the king?
If you become my son, you'll have all the riches you need.
You can make your mother rich too.
What do you say?
I can't desert my mother.
But if you let me meet the king, I'll serve you as a son should.
You can't be my son, but you'll serve me if I help you?
Yes, sir.
Geum-pyo. What should I do with him?
Anyway why do you wish to see the king?
I can't tell you until I see the king.
OK.
I'll help you out.
Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?
You doubt my abilities?
Chun-dong shares the same birthday.
Wolhwa, Chun-dong's foster mother How can one become king,
when the other is meant to be a eunuch?
Old shaman One was born a royal.
How can he have the same fate as one deserted in a mountain?
King Taejo also was said to have shared a birthday with a beggar.
Miss Han won't bear children.
Miss Yoon will, but her father was implicated in treason.
It's even harder to make the decision.
What do you think?
Queen Insoo I can't decide either right now.
Let's give it some more time, Your Highness.
Queen Junghee
King Sungjong
What brings you here?
We must talk in secret. Tell your servants to step away.
Walk ten steps backward.
What do you have to say?
I brought an old friend of yours.
Friend?
Step forward and greet the king.
Your Majesty.
Have you been well?
Aren't you Chun-dong?
Yes, it's me, Your Majesty.
What are you doing here?
I brought you a letter from Miss Yoon.
What? A letter?
Where is it?
I can never thank you enough for releasing my father.
Yoon So-hwa, future Lady Yoon Even if you don't marry me,
I won't blame you.
Study hard and become a sage and revered king.
I will pray to Buddha for your health and wisdom.
Lord Jo.
I need to go see her.
Can you help me?
I can't.
Why not?!
Didn't you say a eunuch would even die for the king?
I can't put you in danger, however strongly you insist.
If I don't tell So-hwa how I feel now, I'll regret it for the rest of my life.
The palace will be overturned if you disappear.
I'm asking you not as a king, but as a man deeply in love.
Help me sneak into town.
I called you in to discuss the king's marriage.
Han Myung-hwe The king should settle down.
He can focus much better once he produces an heir.
He says he is already betrothed.
This is news to me.
To Mr. Yoon Gi-gyun's daughter.
Yoon's very honest and trustworthy.
He'd have gone far had he not plotted treason.
Treason?
He was cleared of all charges.
He was Prince Goosung's ally.
Becoming in-laws with him might put the king in danger.
How can we be sure he won't plot treason against our young king?
Don't worry.
No one can harm the king for as long as I am around.
We will be training in secret. You must all wait here.
Be on high alert and do not let anyone in.
Yes, sir.
Please go in.
Have a seat.
I want to go into town. Why are we here?
Take off your robe, Your Majesty.
Chun-dong, take off your uniform.
What are you up to?
Please do as I say.
OK.
Chun-dong, are you done?
You look like a king in that.
Chun-dong.
You must pretend to be king. Don't let anyone notice.
How can I... ? I cannot do that.
It's for the king.
But...
Don't worry.
I gave the order, so do as he says.
Geum-pyo, are you there?
Doh Geum-pyo, bodyguard
Are the men ready?
Yes, sir.
Take Chun-dong over.
No one must find out until my return.
Yes, sir.
Let's go, Chun-dong.
What happens now?
Follow me.
Where are we going?
This leads to the village.
It was built in secret in case any king was in danger.
Do all the eunuchs know?
Only the Head of Eunuchs.
Let's go.
The king is here to observe.
Do not dare make any mistakes.
Yes, sir.
Begin.
You chose Minister Han's daughter?
But the shaman said she won't have any children.
That worries me too.
But the king needs a firm supporter.
If Minister Han doesn't back up the king,
that might put the future of our monarchy at risk.
What is the king doing?
He's observing the eunuchs' training.
Tell him to come and see me when he's done.
Yes, Your Highness.
Jung Han-soo Your Majesty, some fruit punch.
OK...
I apologize, Your Majesty.
Are you OK, Your Majesty?
I'm fine.
How dare you!
Forgive me.
Get lost.
Yes, sir.
What's taking him so long? Did you send a message?
The court ladies aren't allowed in. But I'm sure he got your message.
Hey.
What are you doing here?
Han-soo! Where are you going?
So-hwa, how are you?
It's me.
How are you, Your Majesty?
I missed you so much.
I'm sure you hated me for exiling your father.
I can't thank you enough for releasing him.
My grandmother is regent, so I can't do what I want yet.
But I'll reinstate your father...
and marry you no matter what.
I'm just glad I got to see you again.
I'll become a sage king, like you want me to.
I want you to be my queen.
Your Majesty...
Don't cry.
Queen Insoo is looking for the king.
We don't have much time. Your mother is looking for you.
Just a moment.
I'll keep my promise and marry you one day.
Trust me and wait.
I trust you. I will.
Your Majesty, we must hurry.
OK, let's go.
He's taking too long.
I wish to see Queen Insoo.
Your Highness, a eunuch trainee is here.
A eunuch trainee?
- Let him in. - I will.
What are you here for?
The king is missing.
What?
He can't be missing. I heard he's at your department.
The person observing...
is not the king.
What?
I checked all our grounds, but I couldn't find the king.
Is this true?
I wouldn't dare lie to you.
How... ?
How could this be?
Lady Hong, get ready.
I'm going to the Dept. of Eunuchs.
It's been two hours already. Why isn't he back yet?
He'll be back soon. Hang in there.
Queen Insoo is on her way here.
Let me in. I'm here to see the king.
I'm sorry.
Lord Jo ordered us to keep everyone out.
What?
We're training to protect the king from sudden attacks.
It's top secret, so we can't let anyone in.
I'm worried for the king too.
I just want to check on him.
It's customary to not let anyone in during training.
Not even the king's mother?
Let me inside.
I apologize. I can't do that.
Your customs come before a royal order?
Open the gate or I'll punish you for contempt.
What's going on, Your Highness?
A eunuch bodyguard won't let me inside.
Do your rules come before mine?
How dare you. Open the gate and let her in.
Lord Jo ordered us to keep everyone out.
Lord Jo?
Step aside!
I'll explain to Lord Jo.
Open the gate!
Please forgive him. Go inside.
Queen Insoo is entering.
You're safe.
I was worried something had happened to you.
Your Majesty, why... ?
Who... Who are... ?
Forgive me, Your Highness.
What the... ?
What... What is going on here?
Where on earth is the king?
Stop.
Tell me. Where is the king?
I don't know.
You're in his robe, pretending to be the king and you don't know?
I really don't know.
What a stubborn little boy.
Beat him until he confesses.
Mr. Doh.
Where is the king?
How dare you not answer me.
What's wrong with you all?
You should protect the king, not hide him.
Where is Lord Jo? Call him this instant.
Mother.
Your Majesty.
Mother.
They did nothing wrong.
Where have you been?
He was touring our department.
What?
A shaman's son was in his robe, pretending to be king.
You think I'll believe you?
How dare you lie to me.
I wouldn't dare lie to you.
Your Majesty.
Tell me, is Lord Jo telling the truth?
Why won't you answer?!
Queen Junghee is entering.
What's this commotion about?
Were you really touring the Dept. of Eunuchs?
Your grandmother asked you a question.
Lord Jo, is this true?
I swear it is.
What was a commoner doing wearing the king's robe?
He was taking part in training against sudden attacks.
We get a stand-in to act as king.
That boy was just a stand-in. Nothing more, nothing less.
A shaman's son in a training session?
I'm going to adopt that boy.
He'll become a eunuch, so I included him in the training.
Please drop all charges against Chun-dong and Mr. Doh.
No way.
They refused to tell me the king's whereabouts.
All eunuchs swear never to tell where the king is.
They just did their duty.
But I'm the king's mother.
That's not the issue here. Eunuchs have rules we must keep.
Only then can we truly protect the king.
Please be more understanding.
What?
Lord Jo is right.
We owe them our lives. If they disobey their rules...
our monarchy will fall immediately.
Mr. Doh's name is cleared. You are excused.
Thank you. I shall leave you, then.
Tell me, Your Majesty.
Why did you cause this mess when you could've just agreed with Lord Jo?
I'm sorry.
I kept quiet to preserve my authority.
What do you mean?
If I sided with Lord Jo, my mother would've lost face.
But I would've lost face if I said he was lying.
What was I to do?
You are very wise. Don't you agree, Queen Insoo?
Do you mean that?
Yes, mother.
You went through a lot.
You did well not to tell her the truth.
Thanks to you, no one else got into trouble.
Did the king... meet Miss Yoon?
Yes.
Then it's all good. Then it's...
Chun-dong!
He lost consciousness.
He really IS born to be a eunuch.
A royal physician treated him. It won't fester.
Your son did a great thing.
He was born to be a eunuch.
Don't you ever make him do anything like that again.
Would you stop him if he wanted to become my son?
That will never happen.
Things don't always go as you wish.
Buy him some medicine.
I don't need that. Take it with you!
It's a reward for protecting the king.
The king's whereabouts is a top secret.
You made a big mistake by telling Queen Insoo.
Don't let him eat or drink for three days.
If anyone does what he did, I shall cut out your tongue.
Song Man-deuk
What do you mean, I'll marry Minister Han's daughter?
Your grandmother has made up her mind.
No way. I promised So-hwa...
Forget about that.
You're a king now.
The nation comes before personal relationships.
I trust you.
Why does he have a fever and why is he unconscious?
I don't know the cause.
How can you not know the cause?
I think it's psychological.
Psychological?
Can't you treat such illnesses?
I'll brew some medicine to energize him.
But he must have the will to get well.
There's nothing I can do.
I guess all the studying to become king is taking a toll on him.
The king's on the brink of death?
Mr. Noh, Jo's foster father Another state funeral?
It's lovesickness.
It burns and you feel like you're dying, but it goes away in due time.
I'm sure the king will get better.
How come you know so much?
I hear people talk.
You heard it, huh?
Chi-gyum.
I heard you have a nice batch of trainees.
I'd like to see them.
You?
Yes.
You need help. I don't want to die without seeing...
Sulyoung who you adopt.
Gosh. Hi.
That's hard work. Let me help you.
I can manage.
You can't.
Your hands are too soft for this.
Let me.
I can...
Don't do this. Let go.
Ma'am.
I knew we were meant to be the day we first met.
- Ma'am. Ma'am... - Don't. Please stop.
Let go. You're...
Gaedochi.
You're...
Are you OK?
A teacher should set a good example.
How embarrassing...
What do you mean, you'll leave? Is it about something I did?
No.
The school is so quiet now that the children have left.
Then where will you go?
I'm thinking of becoming a Buddhist nun.
Did you tell Lord Jo?
You can... tell him later.
I'm afraid he will stop me from leaving.
I'm sorry you have to leave.
I owe you so much. Look after yourself.
What did you say? The king is ill?
He has a high fever and he's unconscious.
The doctor says it's psychological.
I think it's because he's been feeling lonely.
Why don't you visit him before leaving the capital?
I should've waited just a bit more.
She needed more time.
My Beodeul. What's with the long face?
Father. I want to be a court maid too.
OK, OK...
What did you just say?
Beodeul Get the headmistress to find me a job.
No way. You're my only daughter.
Don't you even think about it.
What's wrong? Don't cry.
I'll run away if you won't let me.
- Beodeul... - What's all this noise?
She wants to become a court maid.
Calm down.
You want to be a court maid?
It's the only way I can marry the king.
What?
Marry the king? Wake up.
One night with him and you'll become his in-law. We'll be rich.
I want you to be well-off.
How unbelievable.
Beodeul. Do you think a night with the king is all it takes?
Yes.
Hundreds of girls waste their lives hoping the king will visit their rooms.
Get your head out of the clouds.
I'm confident.
Put in a good word for me to Queen Junghee.
I'll repay you when I become the king's concubine.
She has her mind set on it.
- Mr. Choi. - Yes?
What now?
Beodeul.
I don't want any riches.
I just want you to marry a nice man and have children.
No thanks.
I'll kill myself if you say no.
Beodeul.
Beodeul!
How dare she. She's all I have left.
I begged new mothers for breast milk after her mom died.
This is how she repays me. How dare she...
Untie him.
- Are you OK? - Are you OK?
Water.
Water, water...
- Hurry... - He wants water.
- Water... - Hurry up.
Song Man-deuk Thirsty?
A lowlife like you doesn't deserve to drink water.
Anyone who hangs out with this squealer will be treated the same.
- Let's go. - Are you OK?
You need a shower.
- You need a shower. - He stinks.
- All this sand... - He stinks.
Han-soo... The sand...
I heard Chun-dong got beaten. How is he?
He's not well enough to walk yet. He can't work for the time being.
Cook him some ox bone soup.
It works wonders on wounds.
Thanks.
Have some yourself. You've lost weight too.
Let's have a drink of water.
How about some rice wine?
I'd like that.
That was nice.
You want me to be Chun-dong's dad?
It's not like I want to marry you.
I heard Lord Jo wants to adopt Chun-dong.
You can use me to get out of it.
It's a rumor.
Think about it.
I just want to help you.
- Thanks for your help last time. - You're welcome.
What brings you here?
Chun-dong was supposed to meet me to study.
Did something happen?
Miss...
Chun-dong. What happened?
I shouldn't have brought you out here.
It's OK. I was getting bored anyway.
The fresh air is making me feel much better already.
Thank you, Chun-dong.
You helped me meet the king. But you got beaten because of that...
Don't say that. I volunteered to help.
Are you glad you met with the king?
Yes.
He promised to make me his wife.
I'm going to wait for him.
Is anyone with the king?
The physician and the nurses, sir.
Tell them to leave.
But...
Do as I say.
Your Majesty.
Open your eyes.
I'm here.
Your Majesty.
Nurse?
Can you see me?
Nurse...
Is it really you?
Am I dreaming?
You're not. It really IS me.
What took you so long?
Do you know how much I missed you?
Your Majesty...
Give me a hug.
Nurse.
Don't ever leave me again. Stay with me.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I won't ever leave you again.
Merciful Buddha.
Please take pity on our nation and its people and heal the king.
Help us.
Your Highness, the king is awake.
He's awake? What great news.
Thank you, Buddha.
What's good for you tastes bitter.
You must get well soon or your people will worry.
I can't even keep a promise I made with my love.
Would my people trust a weak and dishonest king like me?
Don't say that.
I'm sure So-hwa will understand too.
I'm so embarrassed of myself.
You've regained consciousness.
I apologize for causing such worry.
Don't worry. I'm glad to see you look much better already.
Can you pull through then?
Yes, mother.
We owe it to Buddha.
I haven't seen you before. Whose court lady are you?
You're...
What are you doing here?
I called her in. Don't berate her.
- You were his wet nurse? - Yes, Your Highness.
Thank you for coming in and nursing him back to health.
I'll reward you greatly.
I'm just glad I got to see him again.
His illness was psychological. I guess he missed you a lot.
The king was lovesick. He misses the lady he's betrothed to.
How dare you say such nonsense.
Let her finish.
Go on.
The king is in love with Mr. Yoon Gi-gyun's daughter.
I believe she's the one the king misses.
Please take that into consideration.
I'd heard he was betrothed.
But I didn't know he loved her so much.
She's the lady he wants to marry.
Stay at his side and nurse him until he's fully recovered.
Your Highness...
We must do all we can to speed up the king's recovery.
Lady Jang. Find her a place to stay.
I will.
You're excused.
Follow me.
OK.
Sit down.
I wanted the king to marry Miss Han.
But I can't ignore the fact that the king loves Miss Yoon so much.
What should we do?
Why don't you make the decision after interviewing the two ladies?
OK. I'll do as you suggest.
You promised you'd leave the capital.
She was about to when the king sent me to find her.
If you let him have his way again, I'll punish you accordingly.
So-hwa's family So-hwa, are you ready?
Yes.
You're beautiful.
It's such a pity you have nothing nice to wear.
Don't worry. The royals do not like extravagance.
Wish me good luck.
So-hwa.
Make sure you don't make any mistakes.
Don't worry.
Answer all the questions as best you can.
Yes, mother.
Let's go.