Episode 43
How could you cause Royal Lady Jung's miscarriage?
What? How dare you insult me with such slander.
I could beat you for this.
Do you know what this is?
I found this in your house. How dare you feign innocence.
What?
Why are you going to such lengths to cause trouble and frame the queen?
Be quiet!
You can't interrogate me over some random poison.
Is this another one of the queen's orders?!
Mr. Jung!
You should be showing remorse, not talking back at me!
If you refuse to confess, I'll tell my superiors about this.
Fine. If you're so sure, report me to Lord Jang.
But if they find out I'm innocent, I'll punish you for slandering me.
And the queen will be punished too, for putting you up to this.
Mr. Jo.
Hand her over.
Only then can you and your dept. survive.
Remember that Queen Insoo...
wants to reform your department.
Why are you so deep in thought?
It's nothing.
What brings you here?
I found out who caused...
the miscarriage.
What? Mr. Jung conspired with Sulyoung?
I found this in his home.
Dr. Yang proved it harms only the fetus.
You were a bit too rash.
Pardon?
We have no proof they used this.
We can't punish them just because they possessed it.
But it's a rare poison.
I'm positive it caused the miscarriage.
Even if that's true,
we'll be held responsible for letting an outsider cause trouble.
It will shake our department.
We need more than just some circumstantial evidence.
So you'll just let them off?
I'll take care of them.
Until then, don't tell anyone about this.
Not even Queen Yoon.
Why do you want to abolish the Dept. of Eunuchs?
They've been involved in every disgrace that has happened so far.
This is because they're abusing the trust and attention you give them.
Your Majesty.
We must correct their wrongdoings...
and make sure they know their rightful place.
Please accept our advice.
Accept our advice.
Why do you want to abolish a perfectly legal department?
Besides, don't you know that all such decisions are up to me?
I won't accept this.
But Queen Insoo thinks they need a lesson too.
Please think about our request.
Queen Insoo?
I suggested it...
because you trust Mr. Jo and Mr. Kim more than the court officials.
The eunuchs are better at some duties than the ministers.
How can I abolish them?
Don't abolish the department.
Demote them. You can give them jobs of less importance.
I can't do that.
The rift between you and the queen...
was caused because Mr. Kim sided with her and not you, right?
Don't you see that you must stop them before they control us all?
I won't do this your way, whatever you say.
I hope I got my point across.
Lord Jang.
Do the ministers really want to get rid of us?
It's even worse, now that Queen Insoo's backing them up.
I can't believe...
this happened under my watch.
Your sighs are piling up on the ground.
I envy you, Dr. Yang.
You don't seem to care if our dept. will be abolished.
Us, abolished? I'll tell you how to get out of this mess.
What can we do?
Go on strike.
Who can stop you if you're willing to die fighting?
Am I wrong?
We might have to do that.
Mr. Jo is our only hope.
I wonder why he won't do anything.
I'm glad you're here.
Ulwoodong was kidnapped as she was being brought here.
Did you do it?
I took her somewhere safe.
I'm so glad you work for me.
But you cannot see her.
I'll keep my word, as a king as well as a man.
Thank you.
I heard Queen Insoo wants to abolish my department.
Don't worry, I won't let them.
I won't let you down.
I heard you and the ministers want to abolish my department.
My many warnings fell on deaf ears.
You brought it upon yourselves.
You will regret making that decision.
What?
If you demote us and cut our salary, no one will want to become a eunuch.
Then you will only have the ministers to protect you.
And every single problem you have will be harshly criticized.
What's there to fear as long as we're upright?
I won't give in no matter what you say. You're excused.
Your Highness. Please...
Don't forget I warned you.
How are you, Your Highness?
Aren't you Mr. Jo?
You remember me?
Yes, you're very loyal to my father.
Be loyal to me too, when I become king.
I will, and so will my son.
Be true to your word.
That's what I fear the most.
Generations of eunuchs pretending to be loyal.
We must stop that.
Do you know who's framing Queen Yoon over the miscarriage?
I still have no proof.
But Queen Insoo suspects Queen Yoon.
What about you? Do you agree with her?
All circumstantial evidence...
points to her.
It's just too clear, which means it was planned.
Investigate this case thoroughly.
I will.
Hello, Chuh-sun.
My father said you'd have something to say to me.
Here.
I made it for you.
Why are you giving me such a precious gift?
I won't lie to you.
I decided to date Mr. Jo.
Pardon?
Now that we're together,
that makes you my son.
Think of me as your mother from now on.
I'll treat you like my own son too.
Why do you look so gloomy?
You don't want to be my son?
I know how much you care about me.
But my father is married.
Mrs. Jung is my mother now.
And I have another mother who raised me.
I don't want another mother.
Chuh-sun...
Queen Yoon...
is suffering because of the king.
Whatever the reason,
no wife should suffer over another woman.
Please excuse me.
Dear gods.
Don't forgive me for separating a mother and her son.
I'll accept any punishment, even if I end up in hell.
But Chun-dong and Mrs. Oh...
are innocent.
Please protect them.
The ministers...
want to abolish...
the Dept. of Eunuchs?
How dare they meddle in something that's none of their business.
They dared to get involved in politics.
They brought this on themselves.
What do you mean?
Do you agree with the ministers?
The Dept. of Eunuchs' sweet-talk is confusing the king.
They're taking control and alienating the ministers.
If we don't stop them now,
the king will be in grave danger in the future.
Who do you think has taken control?
Are you talking about Mr. Jo?
He resigned years ago, but he's still in control.
The king's involvement with Ulwoodong,
and Royal Lady Jung's miscarriage are all his fault.
We must abolish their dept. and teach them a lesson.
I disagree with you.
Above all else, the eunuchs are our protection.
We can't get rid of them just because they made a few mistakes.
But Your Highness...
Whatever you say,
I'm against this. Don't ever mention it again.
Miss, you have a guest.
What's this?
What does this mean?
The mother rat took this and miscarried.
This poison caused Royal Lady Jung's miscarriage.
And a few years ago, it threatened the prince's life.
Someone snuck into my room...
and stole something last night. So it was you, Mr. Kim.
How could you do such a terrible thing?
Why are you causing such unrest in the palace?
Why do you think it was me?!
This dead mouse doesn't prove I did it.
Unless Queen Yoon miscarried too.
Am I wrong?
What? How dare you say that!
Why are you upsetting everyone and framing Queen Yoon?
Prove that I'm behind the poisoning.
Then I'll let you kill me.
Alright. I'll prove it was you and punish you for it.
Royal Lady Jung begged to be sent away.
Are you here...
to yell at me for slapping her?
She's no queen, but it was still my child.
I'm here as a distraught father.
You were jealous, and rightly so.
And now state affairs are paralyzed because the ministers are upset.
Everything that has happened is because I didn't do my duty as husband and king.
Things might not be the same as before, but I don't want to fight anymore.
I'll do my duty as king.
I hope you do your duty as queen too.
Good night, then.
Did you find out who poisoned Royal Lady Jung?
I have no proof yet.
But you can still guess, right?
Chuh-sun.
Why won't you answer? Tell me who you think it is.
These people are doing this to get you in trouble.
If you punish them without proof, it will work against you.
Why should I fear that when I did nothing wrong?
You can tell me. Who is framing me?
I think Captain Jung is involved.
What? Are you sure?
We can only make a move...
when we have conclusive proof of their plotting against you.
Pretend you know nothing until then.
I'm sorry to have kept you in the dark.
Why did you save me?
The king requested I do so.
What will you do with me now?
The ministers are looking for you.
You should hide here for now, then leave later and go far, far away.
Or...
Or you'll have to kill me.
I thought everything would calm down if I left.
Why am I involved in a political power struggle?
Men get away with sleeping around as much as they want.
Why am I being called immoral for falling in love?
I regret having been born here in the Josun kingdom.
What should I do?
The king told me to let you live.
It was a request, not an order.
I trust you won't tell anyone of your relationship with him.
But his reign will be threatened for as long as you live.
If you regret being born in Josun, you decide what to do.
It's up to you.
You're being watched.
She can't stay here for a long time.
It's her decision to make.
Is someone with her?
Yes, Royal Lady Yoon is inside.
Tell her I'm here.
Your Highness, Queen Yoon is here.
Why, when I said I don't want to see her?
Tell her to go away.
She is...
a bit upset today. Try coming by some other time.
Your Highness, you're turning me away when you let a concubine in?
Leave. I don't want to see you!
Then I'll bow to you here.
How dare you!
You're going against me instead of admitting your mistake.
Your Highness, please forgive her.
All this tension is making me feel uncomfortable.
Don't mind her.
If I don't put her in her place, the queen will think she's above me.
You must focus on recovering.
My poor baby...|
I'm in a living hell right now.
I will never forgive Queen Yoon.
Why do you say that when it wasn't her fault?
Queen Insoo...
gave her a piece of her mind.
She won't even see her, you know.
You wouldn't know what it feels like to lose a child.
I will avenge my poor unborn baby.
Why are you all insisting I abolish the Dept. of Eunuchs?
We're all afraid they will sweet-talk you into making mistakes.
If you keep defending them,
even those...
loyal to you will turn against you.
So you agree with the consensus?
I just wish you don't forget the vow you made to help your people.
What?
State affairs are paralyzed because of the petitions?!
That's all the ministers talk about.
Even the young officials and scholars are backing them.
They might even go on strike.
The eunuchs are worried.
I'm afraid order will diminish.
I don't know what to do.
Your Highness, Captain Jung is here.
Mr. Jung.
I heard you're investigating Royal Lady Jung's miscarriage.
Yes, I am.
It was the same poison that was used on me a few years ago?
I believe so.
I was suspected of poisoning my own son.
So I guess you suspect me now too.
Why are you trying to frame me?
I don't know what you're talking about.
I heard you may be involved too.
Why are you leading the investigation?
I don't know who told you what to make you suspect me.
But I'm just investigating a case. I never tried to frame you.
You can't investigate a case you might be involved in.
Hand the case over to someone else.
I can't do that.
What?
Unless you have concrete proof and tell me who told you this,
I cannot do as you say.
Your Highness, Queen Junghee summoned you.
If you dare fabricate or destroy evidence,
I will not forgive you.
I'll do my job, so trust me.
What is going on?
How dare you shout inside the palace.
Shame on you two.
You should work together, not argue.
You have too much responsibility to act without caution.
It's all my fault.
I apologize, Your Highness.
I'm pleading with you.
Queen Insoo, be a merciful mother. And Queen Yoon, respect Queen Insoo.
If you start arguing, everything will fall apart.
That will harm the king's reign more than anything.
I'm sorry for not leading the queen down the right path.
I will remember your advice.
What do you say, Queen Yoon?
I'm sorry if I lack in virtue.
I will do my best to not become an obstacle to the king's reign.
I hope you keep your word.
We will.
But if this ever happens again, I won't let it slide like this time.
Keep that in mind, both of you.
What? Queen Yoon threatened you?
She said I can't investigate a case I might be involved in.
Why would she say such a thing?
She thinks I'm involved in the recent miscarriage.
What nonsense.
But why does she think you are involved?
I think she got Mr. Kim to look into it.
What?
I found out the poison was the same one that was used on her a few years ago.
I think she fears the truth will come out.
Do you bet your life on that?
If you stop her from threatening me,
I promise to bring you concrete proof.
Alright, you have my backing. Do what you can.
Why is Mr. Jung accusing me?
Who's behind this?
Why does Queen Insoo suspect me?
Your Highness, Queen Insoo summoned you.
Is it true that you told Mr. Jung to quit heading the investigation?
I heard he was involved in the case.
I told him to quit in case he'd fabricate the evidence.
You distrust him enough to get Mr. Kim to look into it?
I did so to make sure the actual truth would come out.
Why do you blame and scold everyone else...
when you're involved yourself?
What do you mean?
Don't you realize you yourself are a suspect in this case?
What do you mean?
Do you know what this is?
The person who cursed Queen Gonghye...
made this to curse me this time.
I covered it up last time.
But the same doll turned up again.
Do you have any idea why?
No, I don't, just like I didn't back then.
The same doll was found...
behind your chambers back then.
Are you suspecting me?
I do hope you're innocent.
But everything is pointing towards you.
Your Highness, I...
The one who's cursing me...
must've poisoned Royal Lady Jung.
I will not let this incident slide.
I will find out how this doll got here,
and why this person is doing this.
You...
stay out of it until I find out.
If you get Mr. Kim involved again,
I will punish you both.
Don't forget I warned you.
Mother.
Why do you look so gloomy?
It's nothing. I'm happy to see you're well.
Let's go.
Chuh-sun. Gaedochi left the eunuch school.
What?
Mr. Choi.
Is it true that Gaedochi has left?
Yeah.
He left a few nights ago.
Did he say where he'd go?
The fool got upset because we hired another worker.
That's not it. You don't even know.
I hope the cold doesn't worsen his illness.
Where is my mother?
She's been searching for him all over the place.
Wait just a moment.
Over there.
Thank you.
Why are you here?
Go away.
How can you be so heartless?
Let's go home.
I won't, so go away.
Why are you so stubborn?
What if the cold worsens your health?
Please come home with me.
If you won't leave, I won't leave either.
I don't want to burden you.
I don't want you to see me like this.
Don't be silly.
Would YOU desert me if I became sick?
I relied on you so much. I can't live without you.
I don't care if you're ill.
I just want you to stay with me.
Please don't leave me now.
Don't cry over someone like me.
Don't cry. I'm sorry.
Have you made up your mind?
Have you already forgotten...
that I replaced a king to save my department?
How could I when we did it together?
But if you insist on abolishing us,
then I'll have to go against you.
Don't do something you can't get away with.
Stop the ministers' petitions.
Why must we go against each other?
Give Ulwoodong to me. Then I'll persuade the ministers.
I will, if you promise me something.
What's that?
Don't let her get involved with the king.
And...
let her live.
Promise me that and you can have her.
I promise.
Thank you.
But I have a condition too.
I'm listening.
Help me replace the queen.
What did you just say?
It takes more than just a woman to persuade the ministers.
But think about it...
You replaced a king for your sake.
Replacing a queen is nothing to you.
So? Do I have your word?
Geum-pyo. Let Ulwoodong go tonight.
Yes, sir.
What are you doing?!
You really don't know?
I married you when I was 1 6.
People accused me of marrying you for the riches.
But I swallowed it all because I was your wife.
How could you...
leave me over one jacket when I made you all your clothes?
If you consider me your wife, please hold me tight.
Don't do this to me. You can't...
Why make a deal with Mr. Jo when you could get rid of him?
I can get rid of him whenever I want to.
But I need his help to replace the queen.
What? Then... ?
To get to the prince, we must get to his mother first.
This is as far as I go.
I'll keep my word, so tell your master to protect the king.
I will.
Arrest her!
Yes, sir!
I'll walk there myself.
What? Ulwoodong has been arrested?
The palace guards are bringing her in.
I must go now.
You can't.
That will mean you admit you dated her.
I'm a king, yet I can't protect my love.
How terrible...
She's been arrested?
Yes. The ministers are going to question her.
Does the king know?
He said he wanted to be alone.
What is your name?
I am Ulwoodong.
What's your family name?
I did have a family name long ago, same as my family, naturally.
But they disowned me, so now I just go by Ulwoodong.
- Bring him in. - Yes, sir.
Is this her?
Yes, it is.
You slept around with everyone, and now you're getting punished.
It's a pity I didn't get to you first.
How foolish.
You beat me to vent your anger at your own impotency.
Then you slandered my name. Is that what a husband does?
Aren't you ashamed...
to even say you're a royal?
Why you... !
How dare you say that.
Minister Han, there's no need to even torture her.
Behead her immediately.
You may leave.
If you don't tell the truth, you will be severely tortured.
I walked here myself.
If I were afraid of torture, I'd have killed myself long ago.
I'll answer all inquiries as truthfully as I can.
What if she gives in to the torture and says she was with the king?
She really loved the king.
I don't think she'll put the king in danger.
Don't worry. I'll visit her in jail.
Name all the men you slept with.
You'll need much more paper than that.
Queen Insoo is here.
What brings you here?
This is Ulwoodong?
Yes, Your Highness.
Excuse us while I talk to her.
We can't leave you alone with her.
It won't take long. Do as I say.
I expect you to answer truthfully.
I will.
Did you sleep with the king?
Of course not.
Why would a king even care about me?
The man I loved with my life is Mr. Lee.
I know and love Mr. Lee, but I've never even met the king.
Are you sure?
I wouldn't dare lie to you.
You're married to a royal. Why did you disobey all the rules?
As a royal's wife, I once had a title and riches.
I used to think rules were everything.
I did it to get back at those who accused me of having an affair.
Everyone called me a wanton woman.
But I have lived life to the fullest, so I am content.
I heard...
you were widowed at a young age.
Don't you regret having to keep all the laws and rules?
What?
How dare you. How dare you insult me.
I'm sorry.
I was just being frank. Please forgive me.
If you wanted to clear your name, then you should've killed yourself.
That would've protected your family's honor.
To me, you're just a woman who couldn't curb her lust.
It's cold. Let's go inside.
Ulwoodong should be getting questioned now.
What will happen to the king?
She won't admit to seeing him.
What do you mean?
I handed her over to protect the king and my department.
I never minded doing anything if it were for those reasons.
But this feels different.
I'm sure you did your best.
The king will understand what you did.
What happened?
Why didn't you leave?
They'll follow me wherever I go. Leaving the capital wouldn't work.
I came here myself.
Mr. Kim.
Do you remember our promise?
You promised to let me see the king one last time.
I've lived life to the fullest. I'm not afraid of dying.
But... I want to see him one last time.
Will you keep your word?
I said I wanted to be alone. Why are you here?
Go and see Ulwoodong. I'll escort you.
What?
- Why are you... ? - Please...
Don't ask, just come with me.
I've arranged for you to see her.
I thought I'd never see you again.
The king went to the prison to see her?
Mr. Kim took him there.
You mean Chuh-sun?
Why are you telling me this?
Just so that you will stop suspecting me, that's all.
Will you take me to her prison cell?
I will get you out of here.
I'm glad I got to see you one last time.
Your Majesty.
What are you doing here?!