Subtitles by DramaFever
Clear the way! The new queen is arriving!
Get out of the way!
Can't you hear me?
You mean, you knew about the king and Ok Jung, too?
More importantly, since you brought her here, shouldn't you protect her?
It's over now.
The Queen Mother is now ruling by proxy with the Western Party on her back.
Which means the Queen Mother's words...
are His Majesty's command. How could I stop it?
Your Majesty, we can't just give up like this.
She may be the only one who can revive the life of the Southern Party.
There may be a way...
Welcome.
It was a bit unpleasant. Maid Jang was in the way.
What a rude wench... But do not worry.
It's over for that wench Jang.
The one who serves His Majesty has to be pure without a trace of dirt...
Who could guarantee the purity of a maid who's been kicked out?
Unless she receives protection by a royal family member...
she'll never be able to come back.
Yes, Maid Jang will get protection from a royal blood.
Prince Dongpyung!
Who in the royal family would accept such a vulgar maid?
That's me, Prince Dongpyung Lee Hang.
I, Prince Dongpyung Lee Hang, as a part of the royal family...
Will protect His Majesty's beloved Jang Ok Jung...
until he regains consciousness.
Why would you bother protecting that wench?
His Majesty gave me his command.
If anything bad happens to him, he wanted me to protect Maid Jang.
Therefore, Maid Jang will return to the palace...
without a trace of dirt under my protection.
Now I'll escort away Maid Jang.
Prince Dongpyung!
How is His Majesty? Is he still unconscious?
Let's go to my house for now.
A royal relative Prince Dongpyung Lee Hang will...
protect Maid Jang until His Majesty calls for you.
Thank you, Prince Dongpyung.
You may leave now.
I will stay by His Majesty's side.
Ok Jung!
What could you have done wrong to be dismissed from the palace? Baby...
Mother...
I just loved him...
This lowly one is not even allowed to take His Majesty in her heart.
Take His Majesty in your heart?
You shouldn't do that! No!
What a fool you are! How are you going to live?
Who made my Ok Jung like that?
If you tell me who they are, I'll end them with this right now!
How dare you bring this stupid dagger here after finishing your study in China!
Because you didn't see Ok Jung!
I felt like... fuming out my blood.
She just had feelings for the king.
It just means it's finally going the way it's supposed to.
Without your help, the king will draw out his sword for Ok Jung on his own.
The more Min Yoo Joong tries to harm Ok Jung.
But what if it becomes, 'out of sight, out of mind'?
If that's all it is, then forget it. How can you put your fate in it?
Just go find a shaman and give an offering.
Pray that ghosts will grab the Queen Mother...
or whoever is in the way of Ok Jung. Understand?
- Do an exorcism? - Yes, Your Majesty.
And even get drenched in water?
Yes. His Majesty can come back to this world...
only after you get punished by being drenched in water.
And the only way to do it is being drenched...
in ice water wearing only one layer of clothing.
A single layer of clothing in this weather? In ice water?
That could never happen, Your Majesty.
What do you know about anything?
When my son is on the line of life and death...
I would jump into the fires of hell.
- Court Lady Hong, start the preparation for prayer. - Your Majesty...
Your Majesty.
An exorcism in this solemn palace?
It's not an exorcism, it's a prayer.
No, you can't. It will shake up the foundation...
of Joseon, the country of Confucianism.
But there has to be the king for Joseon to exist.
What if the king never wakes up from this?
How would this act help wake up the king?
Lord Min! You believe he won't wake up?
Even if it's you, I won't forgive you for saying that.
Please don't misunderstand me.
I just believe it'll be more effective to pressure the doctor...
It's a situation that the doctor can't help.
Gods are angry and my effort is lacking. What else do I need?
I've followed your words without question... even if it angered my own son.
But this time, I'll do what I want.
What are you doing? Let's go!
This is why we can't let a woman take care of government affairs.
Bring the retainers into the palace and have them prepare a petition.
We should understand her frustration, too.
Why don't we let this one slip?
Queen Mother!
Your Majesty, it's bad weather.
I'll do it instead... please take care of yourself.
No, my karma caused this situation, so I have to resolve it.
Then, I will also...
You shouldn't.
If something happens to my body and I die...
Please take care of His Majesty, my new Queen.
- Let's start. - Your Majesty.
There may be a way...
A way to relieve you from the low class...
You can become my princess.
Be my princess. Then you're not the low class anymore.
Meaning, I'll become your disguise.
Your Majesty! Are you awake?
Ok Jung...
Your Majesty, are you okay?
Your Majesty!
My son...
See? My prayer didn't go to waste.
Mother... are you ill?
I'm not. I'm just so happy.
I'm just so happy...
To see my son come back like this...
Why tears when I'm fine?
Now I only have one wish.
For you to greet a new queen.
Consider this my last wish.
Please make this come true. Please.
His Majesty has arrived!
I was half way across the river of the afterlife, but finally returned.
So I'm very glad to see you.
Why don't we catch up later and focus on the urgent court affairs now?
Your Majesty, the most urgent of them all is the royal marriage.
That's right. Please don't make me a disloyal retainer anymore.
Please forget my unlucky daughter...
And bring in the new queen soon to settle the court.
Kim Man Gi, are you realizing again...
the blood in you is that of the Western Party?
Where is the king? I came to see him.
- He went for a walk with two attendants. - Really? Where?
- I just want to see his face and... - And do what?
Congratulations, Queen Mother.
I ran over here when I heard His Majesty came back safely.
And I have something to tell him, too.
What is it that you want to tell him?
- That's... - It can't be about that wench Jang, can it?
Why wouldn't it be? His Majesty must be very curious about her.
So I came to tell him where she is and and have them meet again.
Let him meet her again? This is why I can't let you come here.
Don't you feel bad for him? He tried to save her at nearly the cost of his life!
He must miss her a lot... He must be wondering where she is.
Who saved whose life?
That was just an accident.
Please leave this room now.
Even for the Queen Dowager, it's not a place to step in as you please.
- The same goes for you, too! - No!
It's my son's room.
Who'd be able to come into the son's room if not the mother?
What are you doing! Escort the Queen Dowager now!
Out of my way! How dare you touch me!
I'll just say one thing before I leave.
You may block the tiger coming from the front...
but you can't block the fate coming from behind!
She's destined for the king.
Don't go against heaven's will anymore!
If His Majesty ever asks about that wench Jang...
Tell him that she snuck out of the palace...
and you don't know if she's alive or dead.
If you say anything else, you won't continue on with your life. Understand?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Is she by any chance...
You can become my princess.
Young Master...
I promise. I'll become your disguise.
Is that why she looked familiar?
Is it Ok Jung?
Your Majesty, it's me.
What about Maid Jang?
Is she taking care of other duties again?
Pardon? Well, that's not the case...
You told her I'm awake?
Maid Jang is not in the palace. They tell me she went to China.
Not in Joseon?
Went to China? What are you saying?
As soon as you lost consciousness...
she asked to leave the palace and went to China.
No way... that can't be.
Hurry and tell the king where Ok Jung is.
You're the only one who can do this now.
Prince Dongpyung!
What brings you to the guest quarter?
Is there any news from the palace?
Yes, there was a message from the palace.
What... was the message?
His Majesty woke up.
Is it true? Did His Majesty really wake up?
Then I have to go. He'll look for me.
No!
He won't look for you. No, he won't be able to look for you.
No, he wouldn't do that.
His Majesty won't care if I'm from... the Southern Party or from the low class.
- I have to go to the palace now. - I said it's no use!
The ways of letting him know about you are completely blocked off.
But there is the Queen Dowager. We can send a message to her...
No, she can't do anything right now.
As long as there is the Queen Mother who can't stand the Southern Party.
I don't belong to the Southern Party.
But Lord Jo Sa Seok and the Queen Dowager...
who brought you in are from the Southern Party.
And so now you are, too.
Besides, His Majesty might not look for you anyway.
He might not look for me?
No, that can't be.
You don't know who he really is.
He's the king I love dearly...
But also the king that I am fearful of.
To him, there is no woman he loves with sincerity.
There is always a wind of blood around him.
He'll end up abandoning you.
Even if that's the case, I will be with him.
What can you do there?
The royal wedding has already been announced.
Royal wedding...
The wedding messenger ritual will be held soon.
Let's just go to China.
Let's have a new beginning there.
I'll make all your wishes come true.
It's not in China.
There is nothing I want in China.
Besides, I won't go anywhere before I see His Majesty.
What is it that you want?
His Majesty. He's the only one.
- It's the ritual of the wedding messenger. - I know.
It's the ritual of sending a messenger to the...
house of the bride who's been selected.
And after the ritual, I can just come back to the palace.
Forgive me, Your Majesty.
I already know it from having done it before. What nagging...
You're so beautiful, My Lady. No, Queen Majesty.
There hasn't been a wedding ceremony yet. Don't be so fast.
The royal wedding has already been announced.
You don't know who he really is.
To him, there is no woman he loves with sincerity.
There is always a wind of blood around him.
Could I be the one that you long for?
I'll close the distance.
Step by step, not too fast or too slow.
Not as the Chief of the Royal Guard, but a promise as Lee Soon the king.
I will leave to China with you, Prince Dongpyung.
Ok Jung.
But please do me a favor before that.
What is the favor?
If His Majesty doesn't look for me even after he finds out where I am.
I will leave to China with no regret.
So please, help me send a message about where I am.
You don't think about me at all.
How I've been watching you this long. How I've felt about you.
Prince Dongpyung...
- No, you can't. - Aside. Move aside.
The Queen Mother banned Prince Dongpyung...
If you want to stop me, you'll have to kill me first.
But you know very well what happens to those who harm the royal family.
My Lord, no you can't, Lord!
Uncle, I thought you went to China. Why did you come back?
And what's the ruckus about?
I have something to tell you, so please clear the room.
- Leave us. - Your Majesty, it's time for the ritual.
- After the ritual... - I said, leave us!
Your face and everything... what's going on?
I came to ask you something.
You've said that women are only used as a political tool...
And you have no woman you'd take in your heart in any situation.
Did you take it that seriously?
Is that still the case?
Uncle...
I asked if that's still the case.
Are women only to be used when necessary?
Yes, they are.
But there is one exception in this world.
Can you give up the throne for that one woman?
The throne...
I'll consider it as if it never existed from the beginning.
Jang Ok Jung is at my house.
Ok Jung... how is Ok Jung at your house?
After being dismissed by the Queen Mother...
rumors could spread about Maid Jang if she stayed in private households...
So I was protecting her as your relative.
What would you do now?
Please give me an answer.
Where is the Chief of the Royal Guards?
- Here I am. - Get the horse ready and follow me.
Don't show me your back or walk away from me anymore.
I will close the distance.
Not as the Chief of the Royal Guards, but as a man...
As Lee Soon of the palace...
Can you promise me that you'll never let go of this hand you're holding now?
Jang Ok Jung, you're at Uncle Dongpyung's house?
Ok Jung, I just sent you to a place where I can't protect you anymore.
His Majesty left the palace before the ritual?
How can this absurdity happen?
Where did he go?
We don't know yet...
But he left after Prince Dongpyung barged in.
I banned Prince Dongpyung from the palace, so how...
That means, he went to see Maid Jang at Dongpyung's house?
My my... how can something so ludicrous like this happen?
Your Majesty!
My Lady! Something happened!
There will be messengers from the palace soon. What's with this nonsense?
About that... His Majesty hasn't give his command...
so the messengers haven't left the palace yet.
Not given the command? Why?
His Majesty disappeared...
His Majesty disappeared?
Where is my father?
Father, what does it mean His Majesty disappeared?
Let's postpone the ritual for now...
And wait for word from the palace.
No, we have to complete the ritual today regardless of what it takes.
This is a royal wedding.
Your Majesty... I'll make sure to return this humiliation.
When I resisted, reminding myself that I shouldn't take him into my heart...
That's the time I was scared of the most.
Because I was afraid you might stop coming towards me.
You're so beautiful, no wonder I can't stop thinking about you.
You know how to joke like that?
Of course, considering all the foolish things I've done so far, a joke is nothing.
As soon as I return to the palace, I'll order your appointment.
- Would you really do that? - Of course I would.
And I plan to build a quarter just for you.
A special place only for the two of us.
And have children there...
Why? What's your concern?
The royal wedding has been announced. Your command will cause a big dispute.
And my class could put you in trouble.
I don't want to cause you any trouble.
The king's woman is only the king's woman. Who'd dare to bring up the class issue?
I don't need to be appointed, as long as I can stay by your side.
I'll send someone soon, come to the palace then.
Your Majesty!
By the way, Ok Jung...
Do you... remember a young boy who said he'd make you his princess?
Pardon?
Your Majesty!
The Queen Mother is in critical condition. We need to head back to the palace.
I heard you're just the person for this kind of job.
Things should be taken care of as part of doing business.
You can trust me.
But if it's a woman in Prince Dongpyung's house...
Just do what you're told!
It's nothing. I'll take care of it quietly.
Is that all you heard?
Your place must be in trouble since you can't sell alcohol.
Exactly. I barely make it by selling honey wine...
and soju, not the one made with rice.
Anyway, the woman in Prince Dongpyung means your niece...
Shouldn't you do something?
Mother, how did you become ill?
She just cleared being in critical condition.
That's a great relief.
Did you go see her?
Mother, I consider her...
I can't allow her.
Mother, it's not like a king can't have a woman.
Why is Maid Jang not allowed?
There are more than a couple of reasons for it.
She's the low class. Besides, she's from the Southern Party.
It means she's instigated by the Southern Party to seduce you.
Is that why you dismissed innocent Maid Jang out of the palace?
And you even plotted to say that she ran to China...
when she's right there in Dongpyung's house?
Think how desperate I was to do that!
If you bring that vulgar one in, it'll shake up the nation.
Besides, she was determined to seduce you...
with the instigation from the Southern Party.
It'll bring a wind of blood to the court.
Mother...
Maid Jang never seduced me.
I fell for her.
And you talk of a wind of blood because of a court maid...
who hasn't even received an appointment?
My goodness. You're taking her side in front of me?
What's the reason I'm bedridden now?
I saved your life! How can you do this do me?
She'll never come back to the palace. Not until dirt covers my eyes!
You're Court Lady Joo who served Queen Inkyung.
Yes, how have you been?
Yes, ma'am. What brings you here?
- His Majesty sent a secret message. - A message?
So, hurry up and get ready. His Majesty will be coming soon.
Pardon?
I'll send someone soon, come to the palace then.
Yes, I'll get ready. Please wait.
Court Lady Joo, is this the right place?
We got her, My Lord.
Who are you?
Right... now I look at you closely, you definitely look similar.
The one who hanged herself after an unfortunate incident with Prince Boksun.
She was Officer Jang's daughter.
Just who are you to know Hong Joo and to drag such a lowly girl like me here?
Knowing your lowly status, how dare you...
not know your place and seduce His Majesty?
For a lowest of the low, how dare you desire out of your place!
A lowly girl has a heart, too.
Don't think that heart is vulgar, too.
That's why I say you don't know your place.
How is the low class a human being?
A lowly slave costs less than a horse.
I may have been dismissed from the palace...
But I am the king's woman.
It's no different from treason to treat the king's woman like this.
King's woman?
The queen is the only woman for the king.
Just as I heard, your rudeness goes through the roof.
Fine, I'll give you a chance.
If you leave everything and go to China now, I'll let you live.
What are you going to do?
Will you leave?
No.
His Majesty promised never to let go of my hand.
So I can't break that promise first.
Promise?
Using that useless promise as an excuse...
You suck out the blood of the precious nobles like leeches. I know very well.
I gave you a chance, but if you insist on not saving your own life...
Then it's best if you disappear like smoke.
Make sure she'll never see the sun again.
Lord, please let me go!
Lord, Lord! Please let me go!
Fire!
There may be a way...
Be my princess. Then you're not the low class anymore.
Have we really not met before?
Do you remember... a young boy who said he'd make you his princess?
Kwang Sun... save her before it's too late. Understand?
My Lady!
Ok Jung disappeared? What happened?
She followed a court lady from the palace.
Follow a court lady? Why are you saying that?
Because... she said she'd leave quietly, so...
What? Ok Jung disappeared?
Yes, I have people looking for her everywhere.
Is this the Queen Mother? Or the Western Party?
We have to find her.
She's the only bridge that will connect our Southern Party with the king.
Your Majesty, she's different. She'll come back alive.
I sent someone to bring Ok Jung in?
It was a court lady from the palace.
Someone from the palace...
It has to be my Mother.
Your feelings must have hurt a lot about the ritual.
I'll find another auspicious day, so please don't mind it.
It's okay. Fate is something that comes, so I'll be waiting patiently.
Why doesn't my son recognize this wise maiden...
Mother!
Mother, what did you do to Ok Jung?
Why are you asking me about her?
You're the one who hid her deep somewhere!
She followed a court lady from the palace.
So who else is there if not you?
My son, are you doubting me right now?
Doubting that I harmed that wench Jang in some way?
My goodness.
No matter how much you're against her...
No matter how much the Western Party is against her...
I'll find her and bring her into the palace!
If you harm her in any way...
I will never forgive you, even if it's you, Mother.
How can you do this to me who's gotten ill from praying for your health?
How... how...
Queen Mother!
Tell Hyun Moo to gather a search team.
I'll find her myself.
If we can't find her after searching everywhere in Seoul...
I'll send a drawing of her to all eight provinces and post a notice everywhere.
Yes, Your Majesty.
If we can't find her...
Just find her, no matter what it takes!
Will you bring her into the palace after you find her?
What do you mean?
After you find Maid Jang from your search...
You will go against the Queen Mother who's fallen ill from praying for you...
And you'll ignore the ruling Western Party...
And you'll stir up the whole court like a beehive...
Then you'll bring her back to the palace?
What if I do.
You'll turn your back on all the difficult issues...
And you'll waste that much time to fight against the retainers on it?
I'll do it for you.
I'll convince the Queen Mother and keep the retainers quiet.
What's the reason you're volunteering to do that?
Because it's a matter of the internal court.
It's only natural to be handled in the internal court.
Handle it in the internal court... meaning...
You'll be the leader of the internal court and handle it.
Are you suggesting a deal with me?
With the seat of the queen as your prize.
A deal sounds unpleasant.
It could be just a reason for both of us.
Bringing Jang in?
You should never bring Jang back in.
The royal wedding was part of the court affair...
that was determined when I was ruling by proxy.
Even His Majesty can't overturn that decision.
But as the person who will go through with...
the wedding, he will need a reason for it.
I'd like to help him be at ease.
If that wench seduces him with her looks...
My well-mannered Queen won't be able to handle her.
Still, a concubine is a concubine.
I'll show the dignity of the Queen.
A flower doesn't stay red for ten days... a woman's beauty can't outlast time.
Time will take care of the lustful affair from the younger days.
So please, leave that to me.
Were you looking for me, Your Majesty?
There was a woman.
Even in the midst of despair, she'd get up again with her weapon of hope.
She shined brighter than stars in the sky with her talent...
And I couldn't take my eyes off of her because...
of the bright sparkles that came out of her.
But she didn't look at me and made me suffer...
So she made me angry.
She's my first love...
Jang Ok Jung.
I was selfish and mean to Queen Inkyung, not paying attention to her at all...
But I gave my heart to Jang Ok Jung without any political calculation.
Do you still mean to go through with the royal wedding with me?
I'd like to.
I'd like to do it for you.
The wedding has been decided regardless of your opinion.
It's the queen's job to keep His Majesty at ease.
But I do have a favor to ask.
After the royal wedding, let me find her as the Queen.
If you'd let me have that pride...
I will definitely find your woman for you.
Congratulations, Queen Majesty!
It tastes much better to take the seat...
after pulling someone down, rather than climbing easily.
Go ahead and climb...
Min Yoo Joong.
Using that useless promise as an excuse...
You suck out the blood of the precious nobles like leeches. I know very well.
The king's woman is the king's woman. Who'd dare to bring up the class?
Your Majesty...
Uncle!
How could you do that?
Knowing what kind of danger Ok Jung was in...
How could you throw Ok Jung as bait to those cruel bastards?
That's why I saved her. Without getting hurt at all.
But you could've gotten her out sooner or not let her go there at all.
Do you know what Ok Jung needs right now?
It's self-realization.
Self-realization?
Realizing that she needs power to earn what she wants.
Whether that's the power of wealth or authority.
Only then she'll want to hold my hand.
It's the first time... to stand looking in the same direction with you.
Who is the one who tried to harm me?
Min Yoo Joong, the father of the current queen.
Am I someone who'd be in the way of that mighty lordship?
You were in the way of his daughter's road to becoming the queen.
But she ended up getting that seat thanks to you.
The king must think you disappeared or died.
Do you realize now...
the burning desire when you can't get what you want?
The resentment when others take what you want from you.
You were thrown out on the street even after His Majesty gave you his heart.
Min Yoo Joong's daughter got to the seat even without the love of His Majesty.
Just because she was born to the noble family. Without even lifting a finger...
She's at the seat that you can't even dare to look up at.
It's still not too late.
Ok Jung, why don't you hold my hand and have what you want?
I'll hold it.
I will hold your hand.
And I will absolutely earn it.
So please help me.
What is it that you want to earn?
His Majesty Lee Soon in the palace...
And the appointment of Level 1 Bin.
Lee Soon and Bin.
I will have them whole-heartedly.
To do that, I'll go back to the palace.
Put your life on the line to make that happen.
Then I will give you what you want.
What is it that I want?
The status of father-in-law of His Majesty.
And the succession of your bloodline.
Then I'll show to those who say the low class...
can never become anything or be loved by anyone.
Then I'll have the whole world under my feet and I will destroy them.
To do that, I will go back to the palace.
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