(This drama is a fiction based on history.)
(The contents may be different from the actual events.)
(1506, year 1 of King Jung Jong)
My goodness, I feel so bad for her.
She was once a queen.
She was barely a queen. She didn't last for 10 days.
My goodness, look at her.
I feel bad for her.
Father. Father. Father.
Mother. Mother. Mother.
Father.
Mother.
Chae Gyung.
I should have killed you.
Carry out Deposed Queen Shin's execution.
When I am reborn,
I will never meet you again.
Your Majesty.
(Queen for Seven Days)
Five years into King Yeon San Gun's reign,
Lee Yung has stabilized his sovereign power...
by killing off the groups who opposed him.
However, after a while,
a severe drought came about and made Yung angry.
It was because people thought...
natural disasters break out when the King is unworthy.
(Lee Yung, King Yeon San Gun, Joseon's 10th King)
(Episode 1)
(Lee Yeok, Prince Jin Seong, future King Jung Jong)
It is about time they come.
Prince Jin Seong, please come down. It is dangerous.
- Prince, what if you fall? - It is about time.
They are here.
Is that good?
Hurry up and bring it.
Please explain. It was hard to catch this thing.
This thing? This is a dragon.
Stand up, you two. Have some respect.
Lizards.
Bring about clouds...
and breathe out the fog.
Let the rain pour down.
If you do, I will let you go.
Why are you standing around?
- Lizards. - Lizards.
Lizards.
- Lizards. - Lizards.
- Bring about clouds... -Bring about clouds...
- and breathe out the fog. - and breathe out the fog.
- Let the rain pour down. - Let the rain pour down.
Lizards. Lizards.
- Bring about clouds... -Bring about clouds...
- and breathe out the fog. - and breathe out the fog.
- Let the rain pour down. - Let the rain pour down.
If you do, I will let you go.
Lizards. Lizards.
Yung...
Your Majesty, are you going to the morning assembly?
Yes.
- Have fun playing. - Oh, we were not playing...
His Majesty is coming in.
Good morning, Your Majesty.
All subjects, bow down to your King.
Down.
And up.
All subjects, report on each governmental affairs.
Secretary of Ministry of Taxation, Sung Hee Ahn.
This is the year of the census.
To reduce the troubles of the people,
we have begun to restructure census register...
Senior Secretary of Ministry of Defense, Yoo Ja Gwang.
We just received the news on defeating Manchurians...
Deputy Minister of Ministry of Rites, Yoo Soon Jeong
We have granted a leave to talented civil officers.
A total of 17 officers were permitted to stay home...
What on earth...
do you people do?
When I have gathered you all in this yard...
for the morning assembly instead of the usual hall,
when your foreheads and backs are covered with sweat...
under the scorching sun,
you all should be thinking about the drying crops...
and the starving people.
- Please forgive us. - Please forgive us.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
Even little kids gather together...
to hold a ritual for rain.
But all you officials say is "Please forgive us."
- Please forgive us. - Please forgive us.
People have always thought natural disasters happen...
because the King is unworthy.
No matter how great things are, with a drought...
as bad as this, everyone will say I am unworthy.
Of course, they will say that about you too.
- We ask for your mercy. - We ask for your mercy.
Listen carefully.
I will not tolerate any nonsense...
about me or my country, Joseon. Therefore,
until we resolve this drought,
do not move an inch from this place.
You are an officer of Sogyeokseo.
You should have made sure...
I do not worry about natural disasters like this...
in advance.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty
Drought is the result of the lack of yin energy.
With the south gate, strong in yang energy, closed...
and with the north gate open...
Stop with the yin and yang energy.
Is there not any realistic solution?
Your Majesty.
It would be wise to hold a ritual for rain...
at an altar to the State deities.
Are you telling me...
to be a sycophant to the sky?
Your Majesty's weary people will be consoled...
and the sky will be pleased.
What else?
According to the professor of Astronomical Geography...
and Fortune,
a Royal Wedding will help with the drought.
How about having a Royal Wedding for Prince Jin Seong?
The marriage will supplement yin energy...
and bring harmony between yin and yang.
Is my brother...
already of age to be married?
Will you...
be Prince Jin Seong's father-in-law?
Your Majesty.
You have a daughter hidden away in Geochang.
Many powerful families asked her hand in marriage,
but you rejected them all.
You would not...
reject my proposal, would you?
(Shin Chae Gyung, future Queen Dan Gyeong)
Massaging it like that would not help it poop.
It has been constipated for days.
Just wait.
Young Lady Chae Gyung's whistling...
can even stop a stray dog from passing by.
Goodness!
- It is coming out! - There is goes!
- She did it! - Goodness!
- It is a success! - Yes!
Gosh, it is all good now!
- It pooped! - Yes!
- The donkey pooped! - It did indeed!
- Goodness. - It's amazing.
- She did it. - My gosh.
- That was unbelievable. - It was.
It really pooped.
Excuse me! Wait!
Cow and horse poop is really noxious.
If you feed it to plants right away...
they will die. You know that, right?
Of course, I do.
Wait. Do not just...
give those to the farmers.
Tell them to mix it with dead leaves and sawdust.
Poop, sawdust, poop.
They need to ferment the mix...
for at least three months before using it.
Okay.
My nanny is going to be mad.
Young Lady! Young Lady!
Say thank you to the young lady.
Thanks to you, our donkey is not constipated anymore...
and we even made money with the manure.
Thank you so much, Young Lady.
You are my friend. Do not mention it.
The manure is not going to solve the problem though.
See? Young Lady helped us because of me.
Because I am her friend.
How can you and that precious Young Lady be friends?
Goodness.
Despite what she said, you have to behave.
Be respectful, okay?
Precious Young Lady?
You said...
she was an ugly duckling...
and her family abandoned her.
You told me to be nice to the poor thing.
Be quiet!
Then why?
Why is her family living lavishly in Hanyang,
but she is living in the tiny village alone...
with a nanny?
You said she was a nuisance.
When did I say that?
Do not put words in my mouth.
Mom, come on.
Do not keep two tongues in one mouth.
I am hungry. Give me food.
Goodness. Go get it yourself.
It must have been a long way.
Yes.
Please wait a minute.
It is so hot.
Nanny! It is from Hanyang, is it not?
Young Lady, you are all dirty again.
You may not come to Hanyang.
Stay in Geochang.
We will be down there soon.
Why does he always say I cannot go?
Just give up already.
Did you hide treasure in Hanyang or something?
Thank you.
Nanny.
Why was I born?
Why did they give birth to me...
if they were going to keep me in this tiny village?
Please.
Do not say that.
- Then why? - Well...
I mean...
- Why are you not eating? - I am.
- Are you being picky? - No, no.
Give...
this to Lord Shin.
It is really important.
Okay.
Why are you still here, Young Lady?
Let us go.
Let us get going. What is this smell?
Did you step on poop?
Chae Gyung?
Keeping her hidden in Geochang is no use now.
She has to avoid the members of the Royal Family.
Prince Jin Seong?
Why did you do such a foolish thing?
Why is that...
a foolish thing?
When people are present...
Do not do anything.
Do not see or hear anything.
Yes, I know.
Yeok.
Can a younger brother not...
show a bit of sincerity for his older brother?
Ritual for rain is a national matter.
It concerns the king, not you.
It also...
concerns the people.
You are not an ordinary person.
If you really want to do something for the King,
you should knit for him.
Okay. Then I will...
go buy some yarn.
Brother!
My sweet pumpkin!
Lizards. Lizards. Bring about...
Bring about...
Clouds.
Bring about clouds and breathe out the fog.
Let the rain pour down.
What a smart boy you are, Yeok.
That little boy has grown a lot.
He is to be wed already.
Excuse me!
I need to get on that boat! Wait!
I will deal with this head on.
I am a very determined person.
I cannot find it.
What can you not find?
- I remember putting it in here. - Goodness.
Search more thoroughly.
It is not here.
- This is odd. - Gosh.
- I put it here. - What are we going to do?
Young lady. Young lady.
Young lady.
Hey, let us go by ourselves.
Goodness.
Are you really not coming?
- I am not. - You promised.
- I am not going. - Unbelievable.
Is his heart as big as a soy sauce dish?
He was rebuked by the Queen Dowager a while ago.
Why is he still sulking?
Soy sauce is sacred.
You idiot. I did not mean it like that.
And you. Why must you be so troublesome today?
Oh, right. If you continue to be like this,
I am not going to give you this.
Hey, that is...
Prince Jin Seong, you do know what this is, right?
Did you read it?
Come on. You cannot threaten me with that.
What is this?
Are you all right?
My palms are scraped.
If you apologize, I will give it back to you.
We bumped into each other. I am not apologizing.
You are like a little girl.
You hurt me. You owe me an apology.
Is every guy in Hanyang like you?
We just bumped into each other. Stop being so uptight.
You have no friends, right?
What did you say?
Let us go to catch a good sight of things.
- Let us go. - Let us go.
- To see something good. - To see something good.
- What kind of scumbags are they? - Something good.
Let us go to see something good!
See something good?
Hey.
Hurry up.
Stop splashing me. Stop.
"The girls will..."
"take a bath in the streams."
Something good?
I knew it.
I wondered why those scumbags wanted the book so badly.
Wow, what a nice scene. Looking great.
Goodness, I guess your nice scene is over.
You, stop right there.
- You. - Hey, run.
- Stop right there. - You have to run.
Hey.
Hey, stop right there.
- Stop right there. - Hey, you.
- Wait, what is this? - We have to run.
I will kill you when I catch you.
Hey, you. Stop.
He will kill me if he catches me.
I have to run away.
Why are they not coming?
Stop right there.
Hey you, stop.
- Yeok. - Yeok, where are you?
You are killing us. Where are you?
What...
did you just...
- Yeok. - Yeok.
Hey.
- Yeok. - Help me out here.
Yeok.
Get that bird dropping kid. Get him.
Wait for me.
You have to run. Run for your life, Chae Gyung.
Stop right there.
I will kill you when I catch you.
- Yeok. - Yeok.
Hey, help.
We will meet again.
Things cannot end like this.
Are you insane? I will never see you again.
This is not over.
(Sogyeokseo: An office for the ritual of Taoism)
Are you determined to marry Prince Jin Seong...
to the daughter of Chief Royal Secretary?
Be it a royal authority or a divine authority,
all authorities should be focused in one place.
I cannot let any old subject take that place.
They may start boasting about the fact...
that he is the father-in-law of the Prince.
However, he is the Queen's older brother,
the Crown Prince's uncle,
and now he'll be the Prince's father-in-law.
If a man of his influence gets ambitious,
what will you do with him?
Are you trying...
to come between Chief Royal Secretary and me?
I am talking about Your Majesty and Prince Jin Seong.
If his ambition is justified with an excuse,
not just Shin Su Geun, but anyone can be...
overtaken with a rebellious heart.
An excuse?
A rebellious heart?
Your Majesty, do not forget about the late king's will.
What did you say?
This is a copy of a history draft...
that was taken out in secrecy.
Please forgive me for saying this, Your Majesty.
The late king's will was...
left in a secret document.
Your Majesty, you must leave your will.
Name Prince Jin Seong the Crown Prince.
Your Majesty.
When Prince Jin Seong comes to maturity,
turn over the throne to him.
He must...
become the King.
Yung, you are going...
to ruin Joseon.
A secret document?
Why did you not have faith in me?
Why?
Is it because I am the son of a Deposed Queen?
What did he do...
other than being born?
Why should I be afraid of that boy?
What a smart boy you are, Yeok.
How could you...
adore him only until the end?
Where is Yeok?
Where is Prince Jin Seong now?
Where did they go?
Gosh.
I want to buy a gift for my family.
What should I get for someone in very high power?
Did you not hear what I just said?
I can hear people perfectly well...
as long as they have a lot of money.
But you...
I have money.
Funny seeing you again.
Did you follow me all the way here?
To catch me?
How much is this lizard water holder?
It is one yang.
Are you trying to get back at me?
Come on, do not be so childish.
I will sell it for two yang.
Since it is the only one left.
Okay, two yang.
- 3 yang! - 3 and a half.
What are you doing? Are you cutting in line?
I was touched by your sense of duty to report.
That is why I am paying you back like this.
So you are getting back at me?
Sell it to me.
No! I will buy it.
I told you.
It is for someone who's very high in powerful.
I am going to give it to someone...
who is much more powerful.
I will give this to the King.
How?
I am the King's nephew.
I am the King's brother.
Goodness.
If you are the King's brother,
then I am the Queen of Joseon.
The Queen of Joseon!
All right.
I will sell it to whoever gives me three yang first.
I have money.
Thank you.
Hurry up and give it to me.
Stop right there!
"I am the Queen of Joseon."
What a nonsense. He is a boy.
If you really want to do something for the King,
you should knit for him.
It is perfect.
I got my revenge and present.
Give this to Lord Shin.
It is really important.
What am I going to do?
What are you looking for?
Did you get pick-pocketed?
Hot tea! Buy hot tea.
Hot tea.
Gosh, that Hanyang boy pulled a trick.
He was...
after my money, not the water holder.
I am going to kill you!
I am going to break your wrists!
Where did they go?
Yeok, where on earth are you?
He is not here.
- I found you! - Gosh.
Where have you been?
We have been looking all over for you.
Where have you two been?
My leg.
What is it? What is the matter?
What? Did you sprain your ankle?
I knew this would happen when you started running.
I did not want to run.
It was because of that...
Well, at least I got my revenge.
Whatever.
Put your leg in.
Left leg.
Right leg.
All right. Stand up.
Let us go.
This is great.
If you are a true friend,
you should not put your friends through hardship.
How dare you!
Move faster.
Why are you so slow?
Charge!
Your Majesty, how did you...
It seems like...
you are the King here.
No, Your Majesty.
I am a mere leader of my gang.
I hear you are Yeok's best friends.
Did you enter into government service?
We will be able to apply next year, Your Majesty.
I will apply for military service, Your Majesty.
I cannot expect you to be loyal to me...
since you have not entered into service.
Regardless of the post, all the people of Joseon...
are loyal to you, Your Majesty.
We are probably better than any government officials...
Your Majesty.
Is that so? Then...
can you die for me?
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Yeok and I are in a house...
and a fire breaks out.
Who will you save first?
I will...
We will save Your Majesty first, of course.
Then we will go back to save the Prince.
I will do the same.
If I cannot get out of the burning house,
I will die with my friend.
You will save me,
but you will die for the Prince.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
That is a wrong speculation. What he meant was...
Wrong speculation?
Are you saying I am wrong?
- Your Majesty. - He said he would...
die for the Prince, who is my half-brother...
and this country's legitimate son.
Officer!
What is the charge?
They could be punished for having a traitorous mind.
Officer.
Your Majesty.
If you want to save your friends,
defeat me.
I will give you that horse.
If you arrive at the palace before I do,
I will save you...
as well as your friends. However,
if you are late,
I will behead you first.
Your Highness.
Prince Jin Seong, get a grip.
Yeok.
Let us go.
The late king's will was...
left in a secret document.
When Prince Jin Seong becomes an adult,
turn over the throne to him.
I will not.
You should just tell me to die.
This is the only thing that is mine.
How can you take even this throne away from me?
Move. Move away!
Yung. Why are you suddenly like this?
What has made you this angry?
Please tell me what is going on.
Turn east after the market and jump over the street.
You will see an empty house at the dead end.
You will be at the palace after you jump the fence.
Where is that office?
Maybe I should have asked for a direction.
You scumbag.
- What are you doing? - What are...
you doing? Are you crying?
Move.
Go away.
Give me back what you have stolen.
- Let go of me. - Give it to me.
Let go!
Where are you going? Give it back to me.
Give it back to me. I will kill you when I catch you.
You scumbag.
I will kill you when I catch you.
You lost.
Why... What made you this angry?
- Is this a misunderstanding? - A misunderstanding?
Do you call this a misunderstanding?
Is this dreadful situation a misunderstanding?
A dreadful situation?
As we promised, I will behead you.
If I die, I die.
But I must know the reason.
If I am convinced, I will die gladly.
You are saying...
your judgment is above my will.
- I am not saying that. - Then...
what is the reason for me to not kill you?
You like reasons. Tell me what it is.
Yung, I am...
I am your brother, Your Majesty.
We were born of the same father.
That is the first reason why you should die.
I am a prince of this nation.
You are a prince who does nothing...
for the government and the nation.
I am a member of this country.
And a very noble member at that.
You receive a great amount of stipend...
and waste the country's finances.
That was not my wish.
Then what is your wish?
Do you wish for my throne?
- Your Majesty. - Why are you so confident?
- Your Majesty. - Prince.
Your Majesty.
I am the one who did wrong.
Please let my friends live.
All right. Let us end this with your life.
Yung.
Your Majesty!
Oh, no.
Right.
Your confidence comes from Mother.
And your father, who is...
always supporting you even after his death.
No.
I feel confident...
thanks to you.
You, the King of this country...
love me...
and adore me.
That is why I am confident.
Your Majesty, what on earth is going on?
Prince Jin Seong.
I feel confident...
thanks to you.
This is driving me insane.
How will I go home now?
Hurry up.
He is half and half.
He is half a nice guy and half a scumbag.
He is finally showing his true self.
He is anxious now that you have grown up...
and his subjects are discussing your marriage.
A marriage?
My marriage?
Do you now understand everything I have said?
Do you see why I told you to be careful?
Are you saying I become a threat...
to my brother by growing up and getting married?
Is that the reason for today's incident?
If the prince of the line of descent gets married...
with a rich and influential family,
there is a chance he can go after his throne.
That is absurd.
Power is something...
you cannot explain with any words or principles.
That is the throne.
I have told you many times.
You may trust everyone in this world...
except for one person.
If there is one person you must beware of,
that is the King.
Mother.
Look back at our history.
Brothers young and old killed each other.
Uncles killed nephews.
Do you think your brother is different?
You are half-brothers.
Now that this has happened,
marriage is the only solution.
To protect you...
Your Majesty.
How about Chief Royal Secretary Shin's daughter?
As a shield to protect your son that is.
Your Majesty, I meant...
Chief Royal Secretary is the Queen's brother...
and my closest loyal subject.
He will never challenge me for the throne.
He has no need to.
He has more power than a King's father-in-law can have.
Your Majesty.
Marry the Chief Royal Secretary's daughter.
Move in with his family...
and live quietly in the Geochang countryside.
Do not have any children.
Make sure that the sound...
of your breathing is not heard from outside.
Then...
I shall let you live.
Why must I do that?
I trust you.
I...
do not trust you...
or everything surrounding you.
If you wish to prove your loyalty,
die and be born again.
As a commoner and not as my brother.
Yes.
It would be better...
if you were born a woman.
Your Majesty, Your Majesty...
Did you see that?
That is his true face.
Yeok.
Then...
why am I still alive?
I fell off the horse today.
Anyone else would have been badly hurt.
All I got...
was a scraped knee.
Because I learned how to fall.
The one who taught me how to fall...
was my brother.
You were both young.
Exactly, Mother.
If I were him,
if he is the man you think he is,
before I got this old,
before I learned how to fall,
he would have killed me then.
That would have been easier.
I must get out of here.
This place is suffocating.
This palace is full of people...
and all of them seem to doubt me.
You have me, Your Majesty.
The palace guards will change shift soon.
If you say you are returning home,
no one will suspect you.
Go to a hot spring.
It will make you feel better.
Unclothe me.
Wait! You scumbag!
Stop right there!
We will wait here.
Your Highness, please, wait.
Your Highness.
I wish to see my brother.
I want to resolve the misunderstanding and reconcile.
Announce me.
Do it.
Your Highness, the King wishes to rest.
Return tomorrow...
Then...
I shall play the lute for him here.
I shall tell him so.
I am sure that your playing...
will help him sleep very soundly.
Yung, whatever the people say,
the fact that I am alive...
is proof that you love me.
He thinks he can move the King by playing the lute?
How shall I play along with...
his foolish notion of romance?
Where am I?
He went this way.
Where is your master?
Young master. Young master.
Young master.
Who are you?
Can I ask you...
what that look of yours means?
(Queen for Seven Days)
You were naked late at night.
You have no fear.
My daughter is not a suitable match for the Prince.
She was always weak. We raised her in the countryside.
She was too frail to study for long hours...
and we did not educate her at all.
Let us be honest.
Am I not out of your league?
I will seduce him.
We are over.
Let me out, mister.
I will charm him properly.
Try to be as feminine as possible.
What if the Queen Dowager...
knew of this secret document?
The King will want to kill him.
Bring him to me. Why are they there? Why?
We were given a life.
We must make it worthwhile.
Stop right here. You were...
never meant to meet each other.