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Episode 20
What's the meaning of this?
I'm the Inspector of the Legislative Council.
How dare you accuse me of high treason?!
Do you have a death wish?
Father-in-Law!
Sire!
My Lord!
You bastard! Do you know who I am?!
I am Inspector of the Legislative Council, the man who presides over the penal laws of this land!
Now you're just a criminal who plotted against the King.
You can plead your case before the King.
[Seongjong (The 6th King of Goryeo)]
Lady Sungdeok and you are extreme opposites.
Her energy is strong enough to threaten your administration and even your life.
Do you understand?
Discretion?
Then do you call ignoring the attacks on and plunders of your people as having discretion?
Do you let your cunning retainers talk you into ignoring your land because,
you have so much discretion?
Su, no!
Your Highness, the offenders have been arrested.
Prince Gyeongjuwon!
Sir Gang!
[Gang Gamchan (Vice-Minister of the Office of Royal Decree)]
What happened?
What are you doing here?
How about you?
Prisoners will remain silent!
Were you apprehended from Myeongbok Palace?
Then what about Lady Seol?
Prince!
I said to remain silent. Didn't you hear me?
Prince!
Soldier, what is happening?
We're securing the palace because of the high treason scandal, Sir.
High treason?
I'm the Minister of Defense.
Who approved this action without my knowledge?
All I know is that it's the King's order, Sir.
Ministers are being asked to return home.
Prince Gyeongjuwon and the Inspector of the Legislative Council have been arrested?
Yes, Your Grace.
And soldiers are everywhere on the palace grounds.
I think this is something big.
This explains what His Highness said to Prince Gaeryeong yesterday.
(Queen Munhwa)
I thought he was just angry because of the letters,
but there is something else.
Are there soldiers guarding the audience hall as well?
(Attendant Jo)
Yes.
I'm told His Highness won't see anyone right now.
Someone must have really committed high treason.
You were right about everything.
My sister is with Gyeongjuwon's child,
and he was arrested at Choi Seom's house, along with the rest of them.
[Kim Won Soong (Minister of Finance)]
Your Highness,
You must be in such shock and dismay.
And man from Myeongbok palace made contact with Choi Seom.
Pardon! Really?
What's more,
Lady Sungdeok and Prince Gaeryeong have exchanged dozens of letters the last few months,
and their contents are most disturbing.
The mother tells the son to lay low for now and realize her dream,
when he succeeds my throne.
That's bone-chilling to think about!
I can't trust anyone anymore, not those who brought me to the throne,
not my sisters, not even the northern forces behind Gang Gamchan.
You have me, Your Highness.
The world may turn against you, but my loyalty will never waiver.
What am I to do now?
Your Highness, the circumstances spell out "high treason".
Fortunately, Prince Gyeongjuwon and Choi Seom are in custody.
But now, you must send your guards to Myeongbok Palace.
Myeongbok Palace?
Yes, Your Highness.
You must bring Lady Sungdeok in for questioning.
My sister?
Your Highness, she is the mastermind of this plot.
This is a most serious matter which concerns the fate of the government.
The perpetrators will no doubt deny guilt to the end,
so you must extract confessions from them through torture.
I cannot do that to my own sister.
First, I will interrogate Gyeongjuwon and Choi Seom,
and if my sister is needed,
the mastermind of this plot, I will sever my blood ties to rectify this state.
Very well, Your Highness.
[Lady Sungdeok Hwangbo Su (current Lady of Myeongbok)]
What do you mean?
Sir Gang and Prince Gyeongjuwon have been arrested?
Yes, my Lady.
On what grounds?
His Highness found out that Sir Gang was delivering your letters to the Prince.
[Hwangbo Seol (future mother of King Hyeonjong)]
How about the Prince?
Why did they take him?
He was arrested for high treason at Minister Choi Seom's manor.
What?
(Gang Jo)
What are you talking about?
What was he doing in Minister Choi's house?
And what is this about high treason?
He's lived his whole life without any self serving ambition.
Forgive me.
I rushed to return, so I didn't get all of the details.
Drillmaster Gang, get my horse ready.
Are you going to Gaegyeong?
He's been accused of high treason. I can't just stay here and wait.
Yes, Ma'am.
Unni, I'm coming with you.
No, you can't.
My husband's been imprisoned.
How can I stay here and wait?
I'm coming.
Not in that condition.
I will see the King and convey his innocence, so stay here and wait.
But you're not even allowed in the palace.
How can you convey his innocence?
Unni, I have to go.
Only I can see the King.
Your relationship with him is problematic, but not mine.
He will believe my words.
High treason? Horse feathers!
Prince Gyeongjuwon never even took a step outside of this palace until last night.
How could he possibly plot anything?
I know.
This is awful.
He is the most unselfish man.
Perhaps the King found out about Lady Seol's pregnancy.
(Sa Illa)
They got married and conceived a child because they love each other,
what's wrong with that?
[Yi Sulhwa (Weapons Instructor of Myeongbok Palace)]
The King was always very straight-laced, even as a child.
So he would be angry if he found out about Lady Seol and the Prince.
And if someone played both sides against each other...
That's right! You're right!
(Yi Jujeong)
Who among you let the word get out?
Why... if I find out who did this, I'll...
What's the commotion?
Drillmaster Gang?
Yes, my Lady.
Seol is going with us. Get a coach ready instead.
Lady Seol?
There is no reason for any commotion.
Don't get distracted and focus on your jobs.
Yes, my Lady.
His Highness the King!
Prince Gyeongjuwon, name your accomplices in this treasonous plot!
Your Highness, this is an outrageous accusation!
We already know everything.
With Lady Sungdeok's backing,
you conspired with Minster Choi Seom and his men to take the throne from the King.
(Prince Gyeongjuwon- Wang Ook)
Your Highness.
I don't know how you derived such a conclusion,
but it is an outrage!
Never once have I coveted the Royal throne.
It is true, Your Highness.
Prince Gyeongjuwon is the last man to get involved in high treason.
In fact, he has drifted all of his life, to avoid political entanglements and controversies.
You must see that, Your Highness.
I'm not talking to you!
How dare you intervene?!
Your Highness!
Silence!
You've been a spy for Lady Sungdeok, sneaking around the palace!
You have no room to talk!
A spy?!
I simply delivered letters to a mother and son who were forced to be apart,
so they would at least know how they were.
Silence!
You defied the King's order and you make light of that crime?
Your Highness,
I will gladly accept punishment for my crime,
but I beg you to reconsider Prince Gyeongjuwon.
This is a conspiracy!
A conspiracy?
Prince Gyeongjuwon...
Why, for what purpose,
did you have an illicit affair with my sister?
It is not an illicit affair, Your Highness.
We are husband and wife.
What?
Though we did not have a ground ceremony with guests,
we've said our marriage vows before the Gods and became husband and wife.
And I am not ashamed.
Silence!
Husband and wife?!
You fornicated with the departed King's widow, and you dare make excuses?!
Inspector of the Legislative Council, Choi Seom,
confess to the high treason you committed with Prince Gyeongjuwon!
Come clean before you are subjected to limb-tearing torture!
Your Highness...
have you forgotten the decades of loyalty I have shown you?
[Choi Seom (Inspector of the Legislative Council)]
I've given my life to your service.
How could you accuse me of high treason?
Then why did you call Prince Gyeongjuwon into your house?
I did not call him. He came on his own.
That is a lie, Your Highness.
He has been to Gyeongjuwon's home as well.
Minister Choi Ryang had run into the Prince on the street one day,
so I did indeed pay him a visit.
But it was only because I had not seen him in years and I wanted to say hello.
I am aware of your past attempts to bring Prince Gyeongjuwon to the throne.
So do not make excuses.
[Kim Shimon (Minister of Foreign Affairs)]
Your Highness, it is not an excuse.
We are the very retainers who brought you to the throne.
Have you forgotten?
You once replaced the King. Who is to say you won't try again?
You're trying to replace me because I won't be your puppet.
No, Your Highness. You must believe us.
This is a conspiracy! You must trust our loyalty to you.
Trust our loyalty, Your Highness!
Bring Gyeongjuwon and Gang Gamchan back out.
And prepare the torture racks.
There will be torture if they do not confess.
Yes, Your Highness.
He threatened to expose the pregnancy if I did not meet with Lord Choi.
No, I sent no one to Prince Gyeongjuwon.
Then who is trying to trifle with the King with these lies?
I would never, Your Highness.
Your Highness, if I may dare ask a question,
who came forward with the accusation of high treason?
Was it Minister Kim Won Soong by chance?
If so, he is the one who fabricated all of these lies beyond any doubt.
What?!
How dare you attempt to incriminate the father of the Queen?!
You are the one who is trying to incriminate us, Minister Kim.
Your Highness,
Minister Kim is the man behind the attempted murder
of Prince Gaeryeong and Lady Sungdeok at Guibup Temple.
No, Your Highness.
He is blurting out nonsense in a desperate attempt to save his neck.
What possible motive would I have to do something like that?
This information was obtained through the foreman of Minister Kim's trading group.
This is a fact, Your Highness.
Why, it's you and Lady Sungdeok who attacked and robbed my trade caravan!
Your Highness,
that bastard teamed up with the Jurchen and stole from me!
They were no doubt trying to acquire funds for their rebellion.
[Prince Gaeryeong (future King Mokjong)]
High treason?
My mother is involved in high treason?
What are you talking about?
Like I told you repeatedly, Lady Sungdeok is a dangerous character.
Now with this plot exposed, her life is over.
No, you're wrong. There is no way.
Wake up, Prince.
His Highness is already furious because of the letters you've been exchanging with that woman,
and you're still trying to defend her.
If His Highness found out about this, he would punish you as well.
Is this true?
Did my sister team up with the Jurchen and attack his trade caravan?
It was essential in investigating the attempt on Prince Gaeryeong's life.
Your Highness,
someone had purchased a large quantity of Jurchen clothing,
just prior to the attack at Guibup Temple.
He was one of Minister Kim's men.
We did indeed make such purchase,
but they were items required for business.
To go to Khitan, the caravan must cross Jurchen territory,
and that is why we purchased those costumes.
Your Highness,
the foreman of his merchant group confessed.
He said one of his men organized the attack on Prince Gaeryeong.
That's a lie, Your Highness!
He must be put through torture so he will not dare utter another lie.
Start the torture!
Stop, Your Highness!
Sir Gang felt sorry for me and simply delivered my letters.
So please punish me instead.
How dare you enter the inquiry without permission?!
Leave at once!
Your Highness, please.
My mother would never plot against you.
You must trust her.
She is your sister, Your Highness.
I said leave.
Please just talk to her.
You will see that she sincerely cares about me and about this country.
Audacious fool!
Must I have you whipped for defying the King's order?
Prince Gaeryeong!
Your Highness, this is my fault.
Please forgive him.
Get him out of my sight this instant!
Get up, Prince Gaeryeong.
Your Highness...
Now.
- Your Highness! - Your Highness!
What's wrong, Your Highness?
How could you be so foolish?
You had me scared to death.
Are you that concerned about Lady Sungdeok?
The truth will come out at the inquiry.
You don't have to worry if she is innocent.
You saw how furious His Highness was.
You can get hurt if you interfere.
What were you thinking?
Prince Gaeryeong. Prince Gaeryeong.
What's wrong with him?
Song! Song!
- Prince. - Song, my child.
Song, what's wrong? Song?
Song, can't you hear me? Song?
Song!
Are you okay now? What's wrong?
Mother...
Yes, I'm right here.
My poor child...
You're emotionally traumatized...
How is he?
It looks like there is still poison in his blood stream from the poisoned arrow.
What? After all this time?
For the time being, it is not a cause for great concern.
But you must avoid stress and rest.
What happened to the inquiry?
(Goh Hyun)
The accused have been sent back to their cells for now.
Your Highness,
please rest and continue the inquiry another day.
My Lady.
Why are you gathered here?
[Seo Hui (Minister of Foreign Affairs)]
We heard you were coming and came out to greet you.
My Lady...
(Yi Ji Baek)
It is true?
Is Lady Seol really with Prince Gyeongjuwon's...
Let us talk inside.
Sulhwa, take Lady Seol inside to rest.
Yes, my Lady.
I'm sure you already know,
but Sir Gang was arrested for delivering your letters,
and Prince Gyeongjuwon was arrested at Lord Choi Seom's house.
[Yi Gyeomui (Minister of Defense)]
It looks like Minister Kim Won Soong is the one who went to the King with this,
but I just can't understand why he would do this.
I can tell you why.
He is the one who tried to kill my son at Guibup Temple.
I raided his trade caravan and captured one of his men to extract a confession.
Is that right?
So he's taking revenge.
But I'm puzzled as to why he has involved Minister Choi Seom in this.
That's probably because of the second consort, Lady Yunchang.
They became enemies over that matter.
Then,
I guess he is using Gyeongjuwon and Seol to destroy us both.
In any case, you're in a very unfavorable position.
Your right-hand man Drillmaster Gang was seen visiting Choi Seom,
and Prince Gyeongjuwon was captured there as well.
What's even more incriminating is Lady Seol's the pregnancy.
His Highness was always guarded against Gyeongjuwon even before he became King.
Why did you allow this to happen?
I will explain that to the King when I see him.
I'm afraid that won't be possible.
Your entry to the palace is forbidden.
You won't even make it past the city gate.
Then what should I do?
I will go.
Seol.
I'll go to the palace and talk to the King myself.
No, my Lady.
Forgive me for saying this,
but seeing you will only further infuriate the King.
I must go nonetheless.
I caused this, and my husband's life is in danger.
I must go.
Very well.
Then we will go together.
I'm not letting you do this alone.
Your Highness, this accusation of high treason is false!
It is a conspiracy plotted by villainous officials!
I beg you to open the city gate!
Open the gate and let us be heard!
Please open the gate, Your Highness!
Attendant Goh, has His Highness granted our entry?
He has granted entry to Lady Seol alone.
I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you must leave.
No, go ask the King again!
No, I will go myself!
Step aside at once!
My Lady, please don't do this.
I can't guarantee that you will be safe if you go in right now.
Please stay back, my Lady.
It's okay, Unni.
I'll go alone.
But Seol...
Your Highness, it's been years.
Have you fared well?
My God!
I can't bear to look at you!
Twelve years, Your Highness.
You probably didn't know, but,
I have loved one person for twelve years.
It was even before I came into this palace.
I loved him since then.
If I didn't have to protect, my dear brother,
I would never have had to come into this palace,
and I would have married Prince Gyeongjuwon then.
You are the departed King's wife!
I know.
I'm guilty of loving a man when I am the wife of a dead king, in the name only.
And I will gladly accept punishment for that crime.
So please let him go.
He couldn't care less about politics.
And you accuse him of high treason?
You may be innocent, but not your sister and those who want to use you.
If Su really didn't have any selfish interests,
she would never have allowed you to become... this.
But just look at you!
Brother...
Your sister and treacherous retainers brought you and Gyeongjuwon together,
to remove me from the throne.
No, Brother, you couldn't be more wrong!
You should never have done this with Gyeongjuwon!
You foolish child, why did you do this?
Is it a crime for a woman to love a man?
Love has no reason.
But there are principles and duty no matter how much we love.
The King's widow having a lover! How am I to keep public discipline?
That's not my concern.
Brother...
if loving him was a crime, I'll accept my punishment.
So let him go.
Enough. Get out of here.
I don't even want to look at you.
Brother, please. Please release my husband.
Husband?! Have you no shame?
You commit adultery and you call your lover husband?
Attendant!
Yes.
Take her away!
Brother, how could you do this to me?
I gave you an order. Get her out of my sight!
Please, Brother. I beg you!
Please release him, Brother!
Sir Gang,
I don't think I'll be able to get out of this unscathed.
What are you talking about?
Don't get weak on me. God knows your innocence.
You hate politics. This is a ridiculous accusation!
But I don't have a very good feeling.
I spent my whole life running away from this exactly,
but here I am.
I guess this is the inescapable fate of all royalty.
Prince...
I don't care what happens to me.
But when I think about what my pregnant wife will have to endure...
It tears me apart.
Prince...
My child is going to be born soon...
I have to see my child.
Sir Gang...
do you think I'll be able to see my child?
Of course you will. Be strong, Prince.
My poor wife...
She must be so worried about me.
Her heart must be aching.
Gang Gamchan is right,
Kim Won Soong is behind this.
He is paying us back for bringing in a second consort.
[Yi Yang(Minister of Public Information)
Can we get out of this?
[Kim Shimon (Minister of Foreign Affairs)]
It won't be easy.
He might have set Gyeongjuwon up to come to us,
but we did indeed contact him to try to bring him to the throne.
[Seol Shinyu (Minister Attorney General)]
Then are we to just sit here and wait for our heads come off?
No. Never!
I'm not going down like this!
There is one thing we can do.
If we're going down, we will take Kim Won Soong down with us.
We will expose the fact that he was indeed behind the attempt on Gaeryeong's life.
But if that comes out,
we will be incriminating ourselves as well.
Yes.
But at least Kim Won Soong will be destroyed as well.
This is a groundless accusation.
It's a conjecture based solely on visits Prince Gyeongjuwon,
and the Myeongbok palace martial arts instructor made to Choi Seom's house.
If that constitutes treason, what wouldn't be treason?
Are we committing treason right now by sitting here together?
To be honest,
I'd be happy to see Minister Choi Seom and his faction disappear,
but this is just absurd.
I don't disagree with you,
but His Highness is furious with Lady Sungdeok.
It's not going to be that simple.
(Park Yang Yu)
I think he is most angry about the mother and son being in secret communication.
(Han Ungong)
I don't know about anything else, but one thing is certain,
Gyeongjuwon and Lady Seol's illicit affair is reprehensible by any standard.
Indeed it is.
(Han Ingyeong)
The Queen Dowager sleeping with another man,
it is an unspeakable offense.
It is a clear, indefensible crime.
My Lord, what is happening in the Royal court?
Everything is going well.
This inquiry today should leave them half dead.
And they'll acknowledge guilt just to keep their necks.
(Jo Du)
But I'm not so sure if making so many enemies is a good idea.
(Jo Sun)
That's not important after what those bastards did to me.
Sir, you must get all of Lady Sungdeok's men arrested and tortured.
I will.
You know I can't stand having debt.
I'll pay them back two fold, so don't worry.
I made some pine nut porridge.
You have to eat and get your strength back.
Seol.
Unni...
I had no idea Brother changed so much.
He wouldn't let me see my husband and he wouldn't even listen to me.
What do I do now? What do I do, Unni?
I don't think I can last a day without Prince Gyeongjuwon.
And our child will be born next month.
How am I going to do this alone?
Seol...
Your Highness.
High treason is unfaithful subjects attempting to overthrow the throne.
But there's nothing to indicate such crime,
hence the charge of high treason is invalid.
If this is high treason, I am a traitor as well,
and I respectfully ask to be sent to the prisoners' cell.
What is this, Minister Seo? Are you threatening the King?
No, it is not a threat.
Minister Seo is wagering his life,
on the certainty of his conviction that there was no crime of high treason here.
We'll find out if that's true tonight when we interrogate them.
Why do you always have to be so dramatic?
And you say there's no evidence,
but Gyeongjuwon was captured at Choi Seom's house.
What more do you need?
If visiting Choi Seom's house constitutes high treason,
then how about you?
You used to visit his home like it was your own.
What?
Your Highness,
Gyeongjuwon and the Dowager have indeed committed a serious crime of moral turpitude,
but we do not believe high treason was committed here.
I also believe there are too many unsubstantiated factors.
More importantly...
Choi Seom and his men are the faithful retainers who brought you to the throne.
Why would they betray you?
I implore you to see that they would not.
We implore you to see.
I can't find Hyang Bi. Is she around?
(Gang Jo)
I sent her to the Balhaen village.
Why do you ask?
(Kim Chi Yang)
I was just wondering.
It looks like your visit to Lord Choi's house became a big issue.
I know.
Who would've thought...?
Did you come here to rub that in?
No.
I know why you went there and I understand.
It was a bladed boomerang that killed your friend at Lord Choi�s house,
so it's only natural for you to suspect us.
What's your point?
I genuinely want us to get along.
And the reason?
Isn't it obvious?
I need to serve Her Highness well to support my tribe.
But I'm frustrated because little misunderstandings are causing you,
to have qualms about me.
Time will tell whether or not they are misunderstandings.
But please believe this one thing...
Like you, I'm loyal to Her Highness and I will serve her with all my heart.
Please don't be foolish and turn a friend into an enemy.
Is that a threat?
No.
It's a plea.
Your Highness, you don't look well.
Highness,
I know women have no place in politics, but I feel this case is too weak.
It's not your concern.
Yes, I know.
But Your Highness, I speak out of concern for Prince Gaeryeong.
If it turned out that his mother was really involved in a treasonous plot,
what would happen to the child?
Yesterday, he was in such shock, he couldn't even hear me talking to him.
I fear this might destroy him.
I will reeducate him and raise him well,
so won't you please put the matter to rest?
Your Highness, I dare speak out of concern for this country's future.
Please do as I ask.
Brother.
Stop.
Hear me my subjects.
I was awake the entire night thinking.
And I've come to a conclusion,
so let there be no further discussions regarding this matter.
I hereby dismiss the case of high treason on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
Insufficient evidence, Your Highness?
How can you say that when you saw the traitor yourself?
Do not cut me off when I'm speaking!
Therefore, immediately release Lord Choi Seom and his men from confinement.
But for defying the King's order,
and delivering letters between Lady Sungdeok and Prince Gaeryeong,
I hereby order Gang Gamchan removed from office.
As for Prince Gyeongjuwon, there is no proof he has committed high treason.
However, his illicit affair with the Queen Dowager cannot be overlooked,
so I order him into exile to *Sasu County, 300 miles away.
[*Sa Su Hyun : providence in present day China]
What happened?
You've been removed from office for defying the Royal order.
Consider yourself lucky.
How about Prince Gyeongjuwon?
He'll be sent into exile to Sasu County.
Exile?
Prince Gyeongjuwon!
Sir Gang...
deliver a message to my wife for me.
Tell her that I'm all right and not to worry.
And to name our child "Sun".
It means I want the child to be open and able to discuss problems with others.
But Prince, I can't let this happen to you.
I'm all right, my friend. Now go.
Prince...
Let's go.
Just a minute. Give me another minute.
Take him.
Prince! Prince!
Be strong, Prince.
I'll find you wherever they send you. Be strong, Prince Gyeongjuwon!
Prince!
Exiled to Sasu County?
Yes, my Lady.
Where is Sasu County? Is it close by?
Minister Seo?
It's a distant place, at least 300 miles away from Gaegyeong.
Make way!
Husband!
Stop!
Husband!
My Lady!
Won't you give them a moment?
Husband!
What are you doing here? You're in no condition to travel.
Did they hurt you?
I'm fine.
But you, why did you come all the way here from Hwangju?
I'll go anywhere you are.
Darling, I'm sorry.
I don't think I can be there when the child is born.
I really wanted to be there for you.
That's all right.
I'll join you once the child is born.
Yes, we'll be together again soon.
I'll go there first and prepare lots of tasty food for you,
so have the baby and come find me when you're ready.
Don't cry.
This wait will be short compared to the years we spent longing for each other.
But I miss you already.
I said don't cry.
It's not good for the child.
I guess the Gods are jealous of me.
You're so beautiful the Gods are jealous.
I'll join you soon.
I promise I'll be with you again soon.
I'm sorry, my Lady. We must go now.
Seol, what's wrong?
Seol!
Unni, my stomach... It hurts.
But you still have a whole month to go!
Seol, try to stand up.
- My Lady! - My Lady!
Seol!
My Lady, I think she's going to have the baby. She's bleeding.
No, Seol! Not here, not now!
Unni, I feel weak. I'm dizzy.
Seol! Seol!
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