CJ Entertainment Presents
A Film Company RAM Production
In Association With OJ Entertainment, The Tower Pictures
Executive Producer JEONG Tae-sung
Financing Executives Michelle KWON, Simon LEE
Produced by Aram CHOI
Co-produced by PARK Ji-sung, LEE Soo-nam
THE KING'S CASE NOTE
LEE Sun-kyun
AHN Jae-bong
Perfect.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Your... Majesty...
Your Majesty!
Punish me with death!
Nope.
Your Majesty...
Your Majesty.
Alright, palace, here I come!
Directed by MOON Hyeon-sung
Excuse me.
Hello?
Why are you blocking the way?
Oh!
Reporting for duty,
I'm Yoon Yi-seo, the new chronicler.
You're the newbie.
Yes sir.
We expect a lot of you, son.
I will serve the king with all my power, to the death.
Is that an appropriate attitude for a chronicler?
Sorry?
You're given the utmost duty
to record every word and action of the king.
Are you saying you're willing to compromise objectivity?
Oh...
How can you lead the king in the right direction with such attitude?
Don't go so hard on him.
It's only his first day.
Welcome.
Good education, solid background, and sturdy build,
and appearance...?
Fair appearance is the most vital virtue for a chronicler.
What you said earlier... did you mean that?
I misunderstood the true role of a chronicler...
- I liked it. - Pardon me?
Come with me.
Where, sir?
Your Majesty.
This is the new chronicler, Yi-seo Yoon, at your service.
Damn...
Your Majesty! It is my utmost honor...
Alright, stop.
Closer.
Your hand.
I beg your pardon?
Give me your hand.
You have a fat hand.
Turn it over.
Not a typical writer's hand.
Close your eyes.
Sorry?
Your eyes!
I'm told you have a very interesting talent.
You never forget anything you see or hear?
Inscrutable are your favors!
Will you stop that?
Where did you learn to talk like an old fart?
Did you teach him to?
No, Your Majesty. I would never...
Keep them closed!
Did you see the dragon carvings on the ceiling?
The carvings?
Yes, I saw them.
How many dragon pearls were there?
Pardon?
I asked how many pearls.
There are two, sire.
How many toes did the dragons have?
Sorry?
The toes!
Are you making me ask every question twice on purpose?
No, Your Majesty.
The toes.
2 dragons, 5 toes on each foot, 4 feet...
So it's 40.
Alright then,
how many scales were there on the dragon's tail?
How many scales on the dragon's tail?
I don't know where the tail ends,
but I counted 8 scales that were
a different size than the others.
What's his name again?
Yoon Yi-seo, Your Majesty.
Yoon Yi-seo...
Alright, I'll call him 'Five Steps.'
If it pleases Your Majesty.
Good job, Five Steps.
Sir?
Your Majesty?
You'll report everything about the king to me from now on.
You heard too, how arrogant and incapable he is.
The majority of the court are with us now.
You just need to hand over your records on the king.
Answer before I count to three.
One.
Two...
You, stinking piss of a rotten bug!
Do you believe I've become a royal historian to lick your ass?
How dare you make such preposterous demands?
You, stinking stray of a...
You have quite a foul mouth.
Your Majesty?
It's you...
Do you know what the basics of a royal historian is?
Five steps...
You shall stay within five steps of me at all times.
Yes, Your Majesty.
'Shadower of the light'?
Similar scarecrows were found outside the city gate.
It's supposed to represent the king.
What does the writing say?
Make way!
Stand back, all of you.
Disperse now!
Bring it over.
I said step back.
Take me to the king.
Take me to His Majesty...
Hey, are you alright?
Please, take me to the king...
Take me to His...
Your Majesty.
It's the shadower you dispatched to Hamgil.
When was he found?
This afternoon around 4.
And the cause of death?
It appears he burned to death, but an autopsy will be needed.
I shall conduct the autopsy right now.
Apologies, Your Majesty.
It's white phosphorous.
It has a low burning point, thus possible to light with a tiny spark.
To an undiscerning eye, it must've seemed like a spontaneous fire.
Another trait of white phosphorous is to paralyze the body,
which explains why he didn't struggle when he caught on fire.
Somebody must've shot embers from nearby.
But why wait, when they could've killed him sooner?
Why go through the trouble to kill him in public place?
Turn to page 2.
Read out the field record.
Yes, Your Majesty.
According to the record, it was the day of the weekly market,
so there were about 100 people in the area.
The market, big crowd...
And the location?
Near the tavern.
To the victim's right were stalls selling vegetables,
- and to his front... - open ground.
That's the peddlers' spot.
Who were there today?
A scarecrow was put up.
A scarecrow?
Passersby were gathered around to read the writing on it.
What was written?
Your Majesty, it's too vulgar to even...
You make me ask twice again.
What did it say?
Karma of the underworld will burn a man's head,
a monster fish will burn the water of the Han River,
Hell's wrath will burn the pillar of the kingdom.
When light is gone and joy fills its place,
the world of the gracious Buddha will finally come.
Forgive me, Your Majesty...
Do you know what it means for the light to be gone,
- and for joy to fill its place? - It's just a trivial rumor.
Light refers to 'Hwang' in my name,
and joy refers to 'Hyeol' in my nephew's name.
It means Prince Jaseong will overthrow me and take my place.
Does it seem like a trivial rumor to you?
- Follow me. - Yes, Your Majesty.
As Your Majesty commanded, I've been keeping track of
the mysterious scarecrows appearing in the past 2 weeks.
The scarecrows all had the same writing on them.
Anything else?
It seems the scarecrow phenomenon originated
from Hamgil Province in the north.
As part of a carefully devised plan.
Hamgil Province...
Summon the magistrate of Hamgil.
Your Majesty, we should investigate discreetly until...
I've lost two of my men already.
I can't just wait for more deaths.
Brother!
Hwang, there'll be no more bloodbath in the court.
I will take all of our father's burden with me.
Brother...
Brother!
You have nothing more to worry about.
Be strong, brother.
Look after my son,
Prince Jaseong, for me...
Brother!
Brother, there won't be another bloodbath in the palace.
I will make sure of it.
It's great that the four of us got together.
Isn't that right, in-law?
You look troubled.
Is it something I should know about?
The king asked for me.
For what reason?
In the recent months,
he's been sending his men to spy on me.
To Hamgil?
What about our mines?
I temporarily shut them down.
We've never had a king who's so hard to control.
One who doesn't know who this country belongs to.
My lord,
it's time to draw the sword.
Are you suggesting treason?
What choice do we have?
We must move before the king gets his hands on our iron ore.
If he takes all the ore from us, our wealth will be lost.
What do you think?
To someone with a lot to do,
the throne
is just a burden.
You can rule a kingdom all you want
without sitting on the throne.
The strange rumors floating around the market,
do you have anything to do with it?
I will tell you when the time comes.
I should get going.
Very well.
You overheard us.
Your Majesty.
Nam, the magistrate of Hamgil at your service.
General!
Good to see you.
How does it feel to visit the court after such a long time?
How have you been, my friend?
Inscrutable are your favors.
I am but your servant.
You are a modest man, just like my teacher said.
Your Majesty is too generous.
Did our teacher say anything about me?
Not that I can recall.
Something like the best swordsman in all of the kingdom?
Well, he was indeed a man of few words.
Anyway, how are things in Hamgil?
Attacks from the northern barbarians are less frequent now.
How admirable!
There's still much work to be done.
I have a favor to ask of you.
As you know, things are rather unsettled in the capital.
I appoint you to the ministry of defense as of today,
to stand at my side and protect me.
- Your Majesty. - What...
You've got a problem with that?
Your generosity is immeasurable. I shall devote my all to serving you.
He is not like any other cunning man.
If only I wasn't the king,
I would've challenged him to a duel to determine who the best swordsman is.
You'll be my opponent in his place.
Come, Five Steps.
Here.
Get into position.
How could I possibly point a sword at your royal body?
But it's only a wooden sword.
Forgive me but I cannot uphold that order.
Please take it back.
Are you going to disobey me?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Really?
Even when it's a royal command?
I beg Your Majesty to withdraw it.
Well, it's a royal command. Get into position.
I wouldn't dare...
Do it.
But Your Majesty...!
Did you say it was a royal command?
Indeed.
Since your royal command is so powerful,
it leaves me no choice but to uphold it.
That's better.
Now, get into position.
Not bad at all!
My lord!
Yoon, what are you doing here?
Thank you for everything you have done.
I'm overwhelmed by your material and spiritual support
for which I'm forever indebted.
My role as a record keeper, as king's shadower...
I really had no idea about the gravity of the duty.
And I'm not capable.
Actually, my father has been...
Very ill, I'm sure.
But he was perfectly fine when I saw him yesterday.
Well...
Why should I be the king's shadower anyway?
Why should I be involved in such dubious affair?
It seems awfully dangerous too.
That's our role at the royal archive.
Record keepers by day, king's secret agents by night.
You're in the king's immediate retinue.
Then why did you pick me for the post?
Don't complain to me. It was king who chose you.
His Majesty did?
Who else?
I fervently opposed the idea.
This wet fog gives me the creeps.
But you see it all the time.
Didn't you hear the horrible rumor
about a ghost fish?
If you have all this energy to talk nonsense
pull on the damn net.
Why aren't you pulling?
What in heaven's name...?
His Majesty the King!
Today, we ask Your Majesty to discuss the solution
for the recent public agitation.
I'm sure Your Majesty has heard about a bizarre rumor
that's spreading fast among people.
Don't you know that groundless rumors are prohibited by law
and those breaking this law are severely punished?
But the appearance of ghost fish
is considered an ominous sign, a warning from the heavens.
Your Majesty must never think lightly
of the rumors of treason surrounding Prince Jaseong.
Did you speak of Prince Jaseong?
He is a legitimate son of your late older brother.
It's irreverent even to mention
but should traitors plan to rise against you,
Prince Jaseong will give them a good cause.
Five Steps.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Do you want to know the reality of this country?
This shows how court officials are connected by marriage.
Just like a spider web.
Ever since they helped my forefather seize power,
they've been building their own power for decades.
They are tightly connected to each other by marriage.
And those they've helped to get various governmental posts
are deeply and widely rooted in all corners of this country.
I may be the king
but there isn't much I can get done without going through them.
I should no longer have Prince Jaseong in the capital.
It's been a while since I last saw my dear nephew.
As Your Majesty's kindred,
I've kept him away to avoid grounds for irreverent rumor.
Queen Dowager gets lonely.
Please have him visit her in the palace often.
As your Majesty commands.
This tea is very fragrant.
I miss having tea with my brother.
If you like it, I will have some sent to the palace.
That would be lovely.
Your Majesty!
I was preparing a formal request for punishment.
Because of the rumors in the streets?
It's all because of my lack of virtue.
Punish me with death.
Rumors are just hearsay. Don't mind them.
Let me see how much you have grown!
Have you turned twelve?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Now that you've become a big man,
why don't you nourish your spirit by traveling China?
China is a melting pot of new ideas
and culture is on cutting edge.
If you learn those new things,
you will serve the country well.
You will see the world and gain a great vision for the future.
As Your Majesty commands.
Your Majesty!
It appears Prince Jaseong was kidnapped last night.
Say who you are!
How admirable it is to see you in such high spirits.
Indeed you're of royal blood.
Don't look at me that way.
I'm the one who could put you on the throne...
How dare you!
Take such word in vain!
Your Highness Prince Jaseong,
you will die if I say you'll die,
and you'll be king
if I say you will be king.
Your Majesty.
Please give order to search the prince...
According to eyewitness' account,
the fish spotted at Gwangnaru is as big as 15m long.
Your Majesty!
15 meters...
No wonder it's called a ghost fish.
What do you think, Five Steps?
Do you believe there really is such a creature?
I feel my energy is running low due to the long hours I've been working.
I fear for my health. So, in order to restore energy
and to console you, my loyal retinue,
how about we go boating?
Where shall we go?
Your Majesty!
It is indeed not the right time for a king to go boating.
What is the time like?
I heard Prince Jaseong disappeared last night.
Rumors have spread already
that he's gone into hiding to gather allies for a treasonous plot.
What do you mean the prince disappeared?
He went to Hamgil upon my order to investigate the iron ore problem.
The iron ore crisis is disrupting people's daily lives.
So, I put my bright nephew up for the job.
What reasons do you have to place this suspicion on him?
Unless you're trying to drive me away from my kindred,
speak no more of such nonsense.
Secretary, make arrangements.
We're going boating
to Gwangnaru.
It's nice to be out in the open.
What...
Are you worried you might run into a ghost fish?
It's been spotted by several already.
Even if that's true,
why worry when you're with Joseon's best swordsman?
Yeah... of course.
I don't like that tone.
Chasing the ghost fish is all good
but shouldn't you look for Prince Jaseong first?
They won't have killed him yet.
Otherwise, why go through the trouble of kidnapping him?
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty! - Over here.
Good heavens!
Your Majesty!
So it's really here.
Your Majesty!
Who are those people?
They're the descendants of the ancient Garak tribe,
traditional whale hunters.
Let's go, Five Steps.
Go where, Your Majesty?
To catch the ghost fish.
Sorry?
- This is an experience of a lifetime! - Your Majesty! Oh, no.
WOW!
Let's go.
It's a hit! Bull's eye!
Stop the boat.
Your Majesty!
Turn the boat around.
Turn it around!
Do it, now!
No, we continue on.
Hold me, Five Steps.
Inscrutable are your favors!
Mama!
Call the royal physician!
The royal physician, now!
Your Majesty!
Are you alright, Your Majesty?
Your Majesty, please wake up!
Your Majesty!
You can't leave us like this.
Please, Your Majesty!
Five Steps...
I'll be fine if you quiet down.
Are you alright?
It was a good hit
but the harpoon felt light like it pierced through the air.
My harpoon also hit its body,
but I too,
could feel nothing.
A ghost fish...
Five Steps, do you believe it was really a ghost fish?
You saw it with your own eyes too.
There's no believing or not what you see with your eyes.
Was there anything that seemed strange?
In the havoc, nothing in particular.
Oi, oi!
You follow me around and be nothing but a bother.
Can you be useful for a change?
I saved your life today.
Are you taking credit for yourself?
Don't just sit around but try to remember something.
I'm done painting, why are you rubbing the ink stick?
Can't you do anything right?
What is it? Do you remember something?
Your Majesty.
Holy...!
Underneath the ghost fish...
there was
a big turtle.
A turtle?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Five Steps.
Yes, Your Majesty.
There was no mention of the turtle in the rumor. Why?
Those who spread the rumor didn't want anyone to know about it.
That's right.
And what they try so hard to hide, I shall find out.
Have you heard of a psychic called Sunhwa?
No, I haven't.
She's been gaining public confidence and fear at the same time.
She tells future events as if they happened yesterday.
Her arrival coincides with the start of the rumors.
Do you think she spread the rumors?
What do you think, Five Steps?
What does she have to gain by spreading such rumors?
That is exactly what we're going to find out.
Let's see... What shall I wear tonight?
What's this thing?
Is it a coffin?
What are you doing?
Get changed into this.
Wondering what this is?
Yes, Your Majesty.
It's a box made especially for magic.
See? There's nothing inside.
Yes.
Now,
look.
Holy...!
Magic shows are just optical illusions.
But contained inside
is the truth about all things and nature.
In the country called France, this symbol represents a king.
You can perform magic too?
The man that taught me magic said that,
with my nimble fingers,
I could easily be this country's best magician.
Did he now...?
You don't believe me?
Of course I do.
Five Steps!
Are you alright, Your Majesty?
Sire!
What's the matter?
Your Majesty!
For crying out loud!
For crying out loud?
For what?
What did you say?
It's nothing, sire.
You told your supervisor you'd quit.
You really are something.
It wasn't like that.
Don't forget.
Once inside, we're friends.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Don't call me that.
Alright, buddy.
Like this?
Have you lost your marbles?
Just go back.
What troubles brought you here?
Your Majes...
I'm a major, by rank!
My dear friend, Major Lee,
has been worked up lately.
You silly bugger!
Every man has his troubles.
It's nothing serious.
My friend here will be working in the court.
Will I have anything to gain by being friends with him?
This man has a rare and amazing gift.
Is that right?
I see a fate of assisting the king
to be generous and fair.
However,
it's not clear whether your talents will be put to a good use at all,
as the existing king lacks virtue and is incapable...
You're out of line.
There are auspicious spirits contained in this bottle.
Why don't you ask the spirits
if the king is worth serving?
Perhaps the spirits are not pleased.
The spirits have quieted down.
Only temporarily.
The rage toward the king
has only begun to grow.
We've heard enough.
Let's go.
What now?
'What now'?
Come on, buddy.
Good night.
Alright then.
Are you still thinking about the psychic?
No, Your Majesty.
You dirty little man.
You must be the dirtiest man in all of the palace.
Here.
When did you take it?
When do you think?
What now?
Ouch.
Did you say 'what now'?
We'd better be going.
- Drink it. - Sorry?
Are you telling me to drink water that contains ghosts?
You can't? But it's a royal command.
How could I possibly...?
Oh well...
What are you doing?
You aren't going to drink it, and there's no one else here.
You can't, Your Majesty.
Forget it.
Give it to me, sire.
- No. - Give it to me.
- That's fine. - I'll drink it.
- Give it me! - There's no need to shout.
Here.
Whoa.
Ha!
Wow, this...
What is it?
This thing...
- It pops. - It pops?
It feels poppy.
Here.
Keep this safe.
This doesn't look like the way to the palace.
Quiet! We have a tail.
Sorry?
Are you looking for me?
Judging from your expression, you seem to know who I am.
Good heavens!
But would a king make an incognito visit without a bodyguard?
I'll introduce him to you. Black Cloud!
Black Cloud!
Hey, Cloud, are you there?
Your Majesty?
Black Cloud!
Your Majesty!
I swear to God...
You really like to make an entrance.
You do this deliberately, don't you?
Give me an order.
What's going on?
Don't kill him.
Who is this man?
That's Black Cloud, my personal bodyguard.
Forgive my oversight.
Never mind.
You can't stop a man determined to kill himself.
It's not like I'm his only servant.
I studied 15 long years to score first in the state exams.
And what was that all for?
I'm a historian, a secret agent,
now a butcher?
Looks yummy.
Your Majesty really takes pleasure in persecuting me, don't you?
Double-bladed dagger.
What is that?
It's a concealed weapon favored by the northerners.
Why would the Jurchens attack you?
Interesting.
Do you know a place called Sibinjae in Hamgil Province?
Recently, some men were found slaughtered by unknown assailants.
The victims were my secret agent and his men investigating
the matters around iron ore.
What you're looking at
is the autopsy report of the deceased agent.
Doesn't that wound look familiar?
It's similar to the one you made in the pig skin.
Pigs have the skin tissue that's closest to humans.
Now I know who killed my agent.
The Jurchens crossed the border to kill my secret agents.
This looks a lot more complicated than I anticipated.
Good heavens!
This is the new matchlock developed by the royal armory.
It has a longer gun barrel,
considerably improving accuracy and range.
Want to know the secret of the gourd bottle?
Sire?
Are you curious to know?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Then give this a go.
Oh, no, Your Majesty! I'm fine.
If you hit one out of three,
I'll tell you the secret of the bottle.
I'd rather not hear then.
You lack a challenging spirit for a man.
Alright, out of 5 shots.
Do you mean it?
Of course.
Alright, then.
Grip firmly, and beware of the recoil.
Yes, sir.
Five Steps.
This is not your first time.
I never said it was the first time.
What?
Do you know who developed this new matchlock?
It's a man named Yoon Yi-mok at the royal armory...
Yoon Yi-mok, Yoon Yi-seo.
He's my older brother.
He made me test his prototypes all the time.
You devious little man.
The secret was simple.
When you add salt to mineral water
the carbonic acid in the water reacts to salt creating fizz,
causing the water to foam.
The bubbles created in the bottle
make the coin move as they find ways to escape.
Wow, Your Majesty!
How did you find out?
From this book.
While you were busy sleeping last night,
the Second Counselor searched all of the storage room to find it.
This book contains the essence of the scientist Jang's life's work.
Pathetic idiots
dumped this precious book in the textile storage room.
Is this book really that great?
There's even how to make a ghost fish here.
Making a ghost fish?
To be precise,
about how to make the big turtle.
I found it, Your Majesty.
It's called the 'underwater ship.'
A ship that moves underwater.
A ship that can move underwater?
Split and hollow out an oak trunk,
put them back together and bind tightly with a chain.
Paste the gap with resin and lime powder.
A person riding inside controls the water intake.
Letting water in decreases buoyancy
making the vessel submerge in the water.
If the turtle is a man-made device...
It's only a matter of time until we find the truth behind the rumor.
Let's start with finding more about the scientist Jang.
Look at this, Your Majesty.
According to this record,
Jang's descendant survived, whose name is Jang Nam-ju.
According to the land registry,
Jang Nam-ju purchased a property
on the river bank of
Gwangnaru.
That must be it.
- Five Steps? - Yes, Your Majesty.
I have a peculiar feeling about this.
Don't get more than three steps away from me, understood?
I said three steps!
This looks like an ordinary mill. Let's go back.
Three Steps.
Your Majesty.
Places like this are more than meets the eye.
Your Majesty.
I think what we see is everything.
Can we just go, please?
You look like you know something.
Hold this.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Giddy up.
Good cow.
Giddy up.
Come on.
I found it, Three Steps!
Man, I just love secret passages.
Please, Your Majesty...
Come on, Three Steps.
So not my style.
So careless!
Three Steps is the biggest crybaby in the whole kingdom!
I think I broke my leg.
Mind your head.
There you are, ghost fish.
Your Majesty?
The turtle I saw is here.
The craftsmanship is even better up close.
They tied a rope here and attached it to the fish.
Look at this, they even made marine shells.
This is incredible.
Over here, Your Majesty.
What is it?
This is Hong's espionage journal.
Isn't Hong the secret agent who was killed in the Hamgil Province?
According to this record, Hong discovered
a vast outcrop of iron ore.
What is an outcrop?
It's a visible exposure of rocks.
You can estimate the kind of mineral and buried amount.
It says the estimated deposit is
roughly 3,000 tons.
3,000 tons?
The entire amount iron ore mined last year in the country
is just over 300 tons.
It's an enormous amount.
How did that journal get here?
Hamgil Province.
Sibinjae...
They killed Hong who was carrying out a secret mission.
You must be aware of a strange rumor spreading fast.
They killed my secret agent exactly as described in the rumor.
You cannot look lightly on the rumors of treason involving Prince Jaseong.
The appearance of a ghost fish
is an ominous sign from the heavens.
The emergence of a ghost fish,
the psychic's curse,
the Jurchen that followed me.
Relocate part of your forces
in order to fortify security.
We beg Your Majesty!
It all fits together.
The beginning and end of all these incidents
lie with the northern region,
and Nam Geonhee.
It was curious that the troubled northern regions became quiet.
It was all Nam's doing.
Nam Geonhee.
He spread the strange rumors, and kidnapped the prince
all in an effort to dethrone me.
How can one be so blinded by power...
It's not power that they're after.
It's exclusive access to this kingdom's wealth.
The iron ore.
Your Majesty.
What's going on?
Open this, psychic.
Open this right now.
I'm impressed.
How did you find out about this place?
You're indeed the king of this country.
You are Jang's surviving descendant.
You even figured out who I am?
Open this gate now.
Why did you become a part of this devious plan?
What reasons would one need to obsess after money and power?
They've taken hostage,
the father of a powerless psychic to force me to do what they want.
It's Nam who took your father and threatened you.
Your crime of cooperating with the traitors is not light,
but I understand it comes from a child's love to protect her father.
If you change your mind now, and help restore peace in this country,
I will pardon your crimes.
So, open this gate now.
I'm grateful for your words, Your Majesty.
But to me, this man is far more threatening than Your Majesty.
Besides, as a daughter,
I can't gamble on my father's life.
- What? - What?
- Fire... fire! - What are you doing?
Your Majesty!
- You... no... hey! - Don't do it!
- You bitch! - Why are you doing this?
We can still talk this out.
Come back.
Come back!
Three Steps,
- I believe we're screwed. - The bomb!
Your Majesty! Black Cloud!
Summon him. Where is he, now?
Black Cloud!
I sent him to do something else.
Are you saying Black Cloud isn't here?
How could I have known this would happen?
This is exactly what he's needed for!
Ouch!
Stop shouting and think.
It's all done.
Where's my father?
You promised
that you'd give my father back when I finish the job.
Your father...
is there.
Up there.
You didn't...
Get ready to sit on the throne.
Be respectful.
Let go of me.
What did you do to His Majesty? Let go of me.
I feel as though a heavy burden's been lifted off my chest.
It all turned out as the rumor said.
The pillar of the kingdom has burned down.
Now joy will fill that place.
A child is always easier to control.
Watch what you're saying.
His Majesty the King!
Your Majesty!
This submarine is bigger than the passage we came from.
There must be another exit.
There's water underneath.
What?
Water, Your Majesty!
Here's gotta be a hatch opening on the floor.
Find it.
Three Steps, you saved our lives!
Get in, we've got no time.
Oh, mama!
I slept in and kept you waiting.
This won't happen again.
I hope you'll understand.
What?
Something wrong?
Secretary.
What's the agenda for today's discussion?
There's a request for relief for the recent water disaster...
Explain to me what happened?
Do you know what damage you did?
I got a lowly slave like you to be where you are...
What if the King has figured everything out?
Have you gone deaf? Say something!
Your superior just asked you a question.
You... just talk too much, old man.
You've never had a drop of blood on your hands.
You think your words mean anything?
Go blow off steam, all of you.
The King will strike back,
let's put aside our feelings and come up with a plan.
I may have been a little carried away.
What should we do if the King knows everything?
It's over.
What are you talking about?
You may come in.
You are...
The fate of this kingdom is in your hand.
Because I have you,
I brace myself not to lose hope in this pitch darkness.
I pray you will all come back safely
and together,
walk toward the breaking new dawn.
How is the tea?
The prince's mother sent it.
There is little left after I sent some to the Queen Dowager.
You look as though you have something to say.
How can you do nothing?
Shouldn't you have the traitor Nam arrested and
punish everyone else who was part to the conspiracy?
Your tea is getting cold.
Don't you know that aroma wears off once tea gets cold?
The more haste, the less speed.
If I arrest Nam now without solid evidence,
it's like an outright declaration of war against the officials.
It will only worsen the situation, and more than that...
You fear for Prince Jaseong's safety.
Finally, you've gained some insight.
Is the royal meal unpalatable, Your Majesty?
I don't have an appetite. You may clear the table.
Where's Three Steps?
He's gone to collect some books from the library.
Your Majesty, it's me.
Your Majesty, it's Yoon.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Good heavens!
Is anybody there?
Call the royal physician now!
Tell me.
What is the cause?
I beg Your Highness' forgiveness
but I have never seen these symptoms before and I cannot...
Is that something that the most skilled physician should say?
Could it have been a treasonous attempt?
Could someone have tampered with the royal meal?
As Your Highness knows,
the leftovers from the royal meals are shared with the kitchen servants.
And no abnormal symptoms have been seen among them.
Then!
What is the reason that he's fallen so severely ill?
There cannot be a mistake. Is that clear?
I'll do everything in my power.
You'll be rewarded for your contribution.
There won't be any mistakes.
Assemble in the capital as soon as you receive this order.
When we have gathered, a new world will come.
So, move swiftly.
King's medicine?
It's a medicine
that His Majesty takes regularly to help him sleep.
Are you saying this caused him to fall ill?
No. There's an herb that is incompatible with the sleeping remedy.
Perfectly harmless normally,
but caused a fatal reaction in His Majesty.
What do we do now then?
We must make him drink this neutralizing agent.
Will he wake up if he drinks this?
Well...
it could take time but it should work.
I'll evacuate His Majesty from the palace.
What?
The conspirators won't just sit idly until His Majesty recovers.
How will you manage that without Black Cloud?
We just can't risk waiting for Nam to get to him.
We must do this immediately.
Stop.
What is it?
Queen Dowager has a message for you.
Tell me.
It's meant only for the royal physician.
Can you all give us a moment?
What is this?
Take a closer look.
It smells like some kind of herb.
Come on, hurry.
Take His Majesty to Gilam Temple in Bukhan Mountain.
I will send Black Cloud as soon as he returns.
Take care.
Stop.
Identify yourself.
I'm Yoon Yi-seo, a royal chronicler.
What's a chronicler doing with a cart at this hour?
Following a fengshui inspection,
this box needs to be removed immediately.
What's inside?
Nothing. It's empty.
Open the box.
Open it.
Your Majesty!
Are we good now?
You may go.
This was the biggest headache of my 40 years in the office.
I agree!
By tomorrow, this country will go back to normal.
This is a country of scholars.
Of course.
I'd like to propose a toast to Second Minister Nam,
for his great contribution.
- Here, here. - Cheers!
Your Majesty!
Last night. He went that way.
Come on.
Where are you, Your Majesty?
Your Majesty!
How could you act so disloyally as a servant?
Nam, you'll never avoid the judgment of history.
History is made with split blood.
No, you will be recorded forever as the king's killer.
Get him.
Get away from here.
Now!
I remember a rumor I heard some time ago
about the kingdom's top assassin known as 'Black Cloud'
who is after the king's life.
How did he become the king's bodyguard instead?
It's none of your concern.
If you had killed the king then,
it would've saved trouble for me.
Your sword will never touch His Majesty's royal body.
Your Majesty!
Please open your eyes.
Please come back!
Black Cloud!
Are you alright, Black Cloud?
Black Cloud!
Take me... to His Majesty.
Stay with me.
Your Majesty...
There you are, traitor.
It's over now.
Lower your sword.
You have a lot of nerve for a scholar.
If I should die,
my spirit will remain here to stop you.
I will teach you clearly.
Only the fittest survive and rule.
That's the only rule of the world.
What's all this commotion, Three Steps?
Your Majesty!
You two were so loud
I couldn't help but get up.
It would've been much better if you hadn't woken up.
Are you trying to put up one last fight?
But it's too late.
10,000 soldiers from the northern region are headed here.
You're dreaming while wide awake.
I sent a secret envoy to the north before I fell ill,
which said
never to mobilize any armed forces
unless the command bears the King's seal.
You were looking so high and far out,
you didn't see the ground crumble under your feet.
Your Majesty, you're forgetting the most important thing.
There's no one here
to protect you.
What are you doing, Three Steps?
I cannot have this sword drawn to your face.
Stand back. He is not your match.
I said stand back, Three Steps.
I don't want you to get hurt.
How do you think Black Cloud got that scar on his face?
How dare you try to kill me...
I'll decide where you will die.
How about it?
Will you place your fate in my hands?
Have you heard about me?
Your sword will never touch His Majesty's royal body.
Something like, that I'm the finest swordsman in Korea?
Have you run out of things to say?
You were saying something funny...
that only the strongest survive and rule.
Do you really believe that?
How about now? Are you satisfied?
To be trampled under the feet of someone stronger than you?
Do you still have things to say?
How...
Why do you think Black Cloud came here?
Your Majesty.
We should've interrogated him and brought his co-conspirators to justice.
Why did you take his life?
Yi-seo.
This is enough.
Let's go.
Black Cloud.
The case was put to an end with the death of Nam.
Peace and tranquility was quickly restored in the court
and the public sentiment livened up again.
By the time Nam's displayed head was taken clown,
people no longer spoke of the ghost fish.
All was peaceful
and everything seemed to have resolved.
You may leave us.
What was it that you wanted to ask me
that you came here without any servants?
Ever since I was made the Crown Prince,
I've been taking this medicine to help get sleep at night.
I'm sure you're familiar with it too,
since my older brother used to have the same trouble sleeping.
So you must also know very well,
about herbs that are fatally incompatible,
if taken with this sleeping medicine, it could threaten your life.
The only people who know about the sleeping medicine,
are myself, the Second Counselor and you. Just us three.
You may come in.
You'll guarantee the safety of Prince Jaseong?
Not just his safety,
but we'll put him on the throne instead of the current king.
I'll pay for my sins by killing myself.
So, please have mercy on Prince Jaseong.
He is my son but he is also your blood relation.
This is all my fault. I was a foolish mother
to think this was the only way to protect my son.
I didn't come here today to interrogate you about your crimes,
but to lift a burden off your chest.
This attempt of treason was concluded with Nam's death.
There will be no reason to hold you or your son responsible
for the treason.
Your Majesty...
I only ask
that you become a good mother to Prince Jaseong
so that he'll grow to be a good and wise king.
Inscrutable are Your Majesty's favors!
I shall get going then.
THE KING'S CASE NOTE
Stop.
If you make a sound or take a step,
I will kill you.
Hand over all information about the king.
You must know about the king...
how weird and peculiar
strange and troubled...
just how crazy he is!
The people of in this place, no, I mean...
- The majority of those around... - Stop, just stop it!
It's all so wrong. Forget it.
You didn't practice, did you?
- I did the best I could. - I'm so gonna kick your butt for this.
You should just do it for one more year.
Sorry?
But Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
What do you mean, do it again? That's not what you promised.
Just do it another year. It's such a hassle to train a newbie.
Your Majesty, what's that supposed to mean?
I won't hear of it. Come on, Three Steps.
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!