(This drama is a fiction based on history.)
(The contents may be different from the actual events.)
If I die, I die.
But I must know the reason.
What is the reason for me to not kill you?
Yung,
I am your brother, Your Majesty.
We were born of the same father.
That is the first reason why you should die.
Do you think your brother is different?
You are half-brothers.
Marry the Chief Royal Secretary's daughter.
Move in with his family...
and live quietly in the Geochang countryside.
Why must I do that?
I trust you.
Young master.
Who are you?
Can I ask you...
what that look of yours means?
I guess this is not the right place.
If you go into the water again,
you will catch a cold.
Thank you.
I am thankful that someone who is fit like you...
would be worried about someone like me.
Then I hope you get to see something good.
Something good?
Excuse me.
Can you be my older brother?
(Episode 2)
This way, please.
Over there.
Do you see that? That inn.
Yes, I see it.
Because I am still young they might not...
let me check in alone.
If you tell them you are my brother,
I think they will let me.
Why should I do that?
The gates closed because I was chasing you.
Also...
Why is that my fault?
Do you not have a family or a sibling?
It is only natural to help those...
who are in need.
Unless you are evil, you would...
How dare you.
I would not dare ask you such favor...
if I was not scared.
Let us go.
I knew a handsome man like you...
would not be so heartless.
Did you not hear me?
He ran away from home.
Bring him to the police bureau in the morning.
Brother, why are you lying?
My brother is trying to abandon me...
because he can hardly make a living.
Please help me.
You have no proof that I am your brother.
You have a scar next to your belly button.
Take your top off.
- Well... - You two brothers...
should fight inside.
Go into that room.
I know a few other things too.
(Inn)
That scumbag stole my silk pouch.
Even so,
why were you looking for him all day?
How much money was in there?
Money is not the issue.
There is a letter that is more important.
I need it if he asks me,
"Why are you here?"
So I can answer,
"I am here to give you this."
At least that letter gives me an excuse.
Why do you need a reason...
to visit your parents?
They told me not to visit them.
You are afraid you will not be welcomed.
Then why were you all naked like that...
in the middle of the night?
I was trying to cool down the anger...
that filled my body and mind.
My deceased father...
keeps testing my younger brother and me.
Not too long ago, we had a race...
at my village school.
They said the winner will get something to eat.
So we all ran with all our might to the end.
But then the teacher told us to run again.
So what can we do? We ran again.
But then the teacher told us to run again!
He did that several times.
One of the students thought it was strange...
and asked everyone to run together.
So they put their arms around each other and ran.
That was when the teacher smiled and gave them food.
Everyone...
all together.
Can you not...
be together with your brother?
Unfortunately,
this cannot be shared.
(Alcohol)
Warrior.
He is not dead.
Why is he not waking up?
Warrior. Warrior!
Mother. Father.
What am I going to do?
Mother.
Father.
We are saved.
Who is there?
Please open the gate.
I have to go to the doctor's home.
This man is...
Open the gate.
The curfew has not been lifted yet.
You must wait.
It is a royal command.
Are you awake?
Warrior.
Are you okay?
What a foolish boy.
You should have escaped alone.
Why did you put yourself through that to save me?
How could I...
leave my family behind?
You...
became my brother.
Family...
should live together...
and die together.
Wait.
The inn...
There was a dead person at the inn.
I reported it to the police bureau.
You must have been shocked.
You should sleep get some more rest.
Forget about yesterday.
I want to go home.
I miss my mother and father.
I must be insane.
I should have stayed home.
Why did I come here?
I almost died without seeing my family one last time.
My goodness.
Let us go.
That could have been bad.
I will protect you from a closer proximity.
Do that, if you wish to die.
All rise for the King.
How on earth...
are you managing the safety of this nation?
Wicked people were pretending to be innkeepers,
doing harm to travelers.
It was merely 2km from the city.
- We apologize. - We apologize.
The mayor of the Capital Bureau...
and the head of the Police Bureau are dismissed.
If something like this happens again,
all of you...
will be held responsible.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
He has been sitting there since last night.
Your Majesty, about yesterday...
I have not changed my mind.
Marry the Chief Royal Secretary's daughter. Then...
life will be easier for you too.
How can I make an excuse to go home now?
If we ever meet again,
I will grant one wish you have.
It is not like he is the Great Jade Emperor.
Give me back what you have stolen.
Let go!
My wish...
is to catch that darned young master.
Who is that?
I am so lucky.
They are not going to rebuke me while guests are here.
Do you know why I came all the way to your house?
I do not have any idea.
I am sure you have heard that we decided...
to get Prince Jin Seong married.
I thought coming here myself...
instead of a matchmaker would show you my sincerity.
Young lady.
- I searched everywhere for you. - Nanny.
Look at you. Are you all right?
I wish to take in...
your daughter as my daughter-in-law.
However, my daughter...
is not a great match for the Prince.
Yes, Queen Dowager.
Chae Gyung lacks the quality to be the Prince's wife.
Mother.
She was weak, so she was raised in the countryside.
We do not know when she will get sick again.
I am healthy, Mother.
She used her sickness as an excuse not to study,
and we did not teach her well either.
She can barely read the alphabet.
She does not know any manners or customs.
She was brought up with servants,
so she is also very vulgar.
She can always learn manners and customs.
We have great doctors in the palace,
so it is better for your daughter.
However, my daughter will become...
a great shame for our family and the Royal Court.
Mother.
Father.
Why do you make me sound like such a fool?
I do not share the same thoughts as my mother.
Prince.
I have no intention of marrying your daughter...
Funny seeing you again.
You.
Why are you here?
- Chae Gyung. - Chae Gyung.
Mother, Father.
They must be so glad to see each other.
She is very different from your description.
What my father said is not wrong.
However, I always strive...
to fill up whatever I lack, Queen Dowager.
You are modest too.
I agree with Chief Royal Secretary.
She may be worse, not less than his description.
Prince, what do you mean?
It is too embarrassing to speak of, Mother.
However, I can tell you this for sure.
I will never marry this girl.
Not me!
I will get married to him.
What is your reason?
What is yours?
Why do you keep turning up?
And now you even changed your gender to follow me.
Are you angry that I am here or that I am a girl?
Do you know what happened to me that day?
I almost died because of you.
But now I have to marry you?
I have to beg for my life to this family?
I would hate any daughter of Chief Royal Secretary.
On top of that, it is you.
Why? Because you fell off of the horse?
Because I arrived late.
I almost died by the King's sword.
Why would our King kill you?
Then why do you want to get married?
Do you want to become the Prince's wife?
Pardon?
Your family loves taking positions.
Your aunt is the Queen, the mother of this country.
And your father is the Chief Royal Secretary.
Your uncle has the power over the military.
And if you marry me to become my wife,
your family will exert all the power you have.
What on earth are you talking about?
Then why?
I want to show them that I can do it.
As I had told you earlier, she is quite reckless.
Prince Jin Seong is no better.
This...
is what they call fate.
I am not a nuisance nor am I an ugly duckling.
I will show everyone that I am worthy of marrying you.
Let us be honest. I am out of your league.
What? Out of my league?
When a woman marries someone with less fortune,
she has a good life.
You are really funny.
- Thanks. Now give me back my pouch.
Pouch?
The silk pouch with money and letter.
You are barking up the wrong tree.
What a country bumpkin.
In Hanyang, you get robbed if you do not stay alert.
- What now? - Prove it.
Prove that you are not the thief.
Find the real pickpocket.
Otherwise you are the culprit.
You are making me speechless.
Brace yourself. This is only the beginning.
Why would I see you...
How?
I am the King's nephew.
I am the King's brother.
Meet me at Dongjeokjeon pavilion at 9am.
Why?
You told me to find the thief!
If I do,
the marriage is off.
Don't forget. It is at nine.
In front of Dongjeokjeon pavilion.
One more thing.
You sounded really weird earlier.
Just talk with an accent.
Is this why you followed me without a complaint?
To refuse the marriage so rudely?
You brought me here without telling me...
where we were going.
When will you stop sulking?
Eat first.
Just scold me first.
I do not want to get a stomachache.
Why you little...
Do you know how shocked I was?
Mother!
I told you to stay in Geochang.
I told you I would come to you.
My back.
When? After I get married?
How dare you talk back?
Come here.
So...
are you saying you did nothing wrong?
You ran away from home and came to Hanyang.
You were ill-mannered before the Queen Dowager.
Dear.
Go back to Geochang tomorrow.
I will disregard the marriage proposal.
Why?
Because I am not worthy of marrying him?
Because you are afraid I would put...
my family to shame?
Chae Gyung.
That young master,
the Prince is far worse than I am.
He peeps at naked women,
pickpockets, and gets mad like a scumbag...
How dare you speak such foul language?
Growing up without manners and customs is no excuse.
But you did not teach me.
You hid me in a village...
because you were ashamed of me.
You never gave me a chance...
to be loved or to be acknowledged...
or to do something for you, mother, and my family.
I will give you that chance now.
Return to Geochang tomorrow...
quietly.
We should at least...
tell her the reason why.
Do you think she would believe the prophecy...
that she has to avoid the Royal Family?
She will only think that we made it up...
to send her back to Geochang.
Why would the King want to kill you?
Exactly.
What time is it?
It is almost 9:30pm.
It is a hit!
Family should live together...
and die together.
Why must I do that?
I trust you.
It is a hit!
I feel confident...
thanks to you.
Goodness!
Were you waiting for me?
I came to give you an answer.
I do not care whose daughter it is.
Even if she is a butcher's daughter.
However,
I will not marry Chief Royal Secretary's daughter.
Because I feel like...
I am doubting you and begging for my life.
Are you not...
afraid of me?
I could have killed you just now.
You will not.
But I know...
I am not welcomed.
I am okay with growing old...
without getting married.
If you want,
I will never become an adult.
I will...
only live as your younger brother.
I have not slept...
for many days.
I am very tired.
Will you...
play the mandolin for me?
Your boring performance...
is a great cure for insomnia.
Did you say you would live only as my younger brother?
You will have to do your best to prove yourself.
I am also trying my hardest...
not to kill you...
and to protect you.
Return...
to Geochang tomorrow.
I will seduce him.
You scared me.
Seduce him?
Yes. I will.
I am going to marry that Prince...
and stay here.
I will be near Mom and Father.
But how?
That scumbag Prince and I made a promise.
Tomorrow morning...
we will meet in Dongdongdong village.
Young lady.
Prepare the prettiest dress, the nicest shoes,
and the flashiest palanquin.
Tomorrow, I will show him how pretty I am.
Well, you know.
There is a limit to how much clothing and shoes...
can change you.
Nanny, do you not trust in me?
Are you ashamed of me?
Oh, no. It is not like that.
What if he does not show up and breaks his promise?
Please do not lose your temper.
Try to be as girly as you can be.
Excuse me, let me out.
Excuse me, please let me out.
Excuse me.
What is this place?
None of the houses here are cooking breakfast.
Why is this town so empty?
(Dongjeokjeon)
Come to the Dongjeokjeon pavilion at 9am.
Fine, I will find the thief for her.
Just wait and see.
Our relationship will end as of today.
What is this?
- Hurry up and come. - I said it is not me.
We will find out when we get there.
I did not do it.
Someone saw you.
It is a misunderstanding.
- How can you do that? - Bring them over.
- Make them kneel. - Kneel down.
Make all of them kneel down.
You should know better.
No matter how hungry you are,
how could you...
steal the King's rice?
We did not do that.
Before you bring catastrophe to your family...
- and this village, turn yourself in. - It is not me.
I did not do this.
Listen, it is not me either.
Then what did you use to cook breakfast today?
I am sure the thief is one of the people...
who had breakfast today.
I saw her chimney giving out smoke today.
- It is her. - I saw her.
It is you.
Why did you do such a foolish thing?
When people are present...
Do not do anything. Do not see or hear anything.
Yes, I know.
My goodness. I starved for three days.
Then open your mouth.
We will be able to tell. Stop lying.
The little one is lying too.
Open your mouth.
If you steal the King's rice,
you will be beheaded immediately.
- They will not tell. - Beheaded?
- Take them to the officers. - You are here.
- No, I did not do it. - Take them.
- Then who is it? - It is not us.
Let us go.
Where to? They will be killed?
They stole the King's rice.
Is that a sin to die for?
A judge will decide.
Are you blind?
Do you not see that?
Their crops are dead.
The fields are dried up from the drought.
The King's rice is not the problem right now.
It is obvious that they do not even have food to eat.
How can you kill someone for not giving the King rice?
And look, he is just a kid.
The drought is not my fault.
Forget about them.
You will not apologize.
You will not yield to people.
If you are not going to do anything, why were you born?
- Why? - You do not even know them.
And that kid is the thief who stole from you.
Then we are not strangers.
What are you doing? Take them to the officers.
- Let us go. - No.
No, please.
- What is that? - Wait.
Hey, how did you find the money for this medicine?
He is the thief.
- Darn you. - Take him away.
Let go of me.
- Hey, stop. - Move away.
- Move. - Take him.
- You idiot. Follow us. - Come with us.
I know who the thief is.
Prince, what will you do?
Prince?
Prince? Are you...
really the Prince?
Yes, it is true.
I am Prince Jin Seong.
- My goodness. - Bow down to him.
It is an honor to meet you, Prince Jin Seong.
Forget about that.
Look at that rice storage.
To get to that building,
you must walk across that field.
Without the rain, the field is sticky...
with excessive manure.
The one with dirt on their shoes is the thief.
Therefore, I am the thief.
- Pardon? - What?
- Look at him. - It is true.
You have enough. Why would you steal from us?
That makes no sense.
You all do not believe me.
I dropped a dried peach tree branch near here. Find it.
- What are you doing? - I dropped it earlier.
What are you doing? Look for the branch.
- Yes. - Where is it?
- Over there. Right there. - Yes.
Goodness, I found it. I found the branch.
- Wait, what? - Here it is.
Is this the peach tree branch?
- Here you are. - My goodness.
Just as how a slave cannot report about their master,
I heard it is very difficult and complicated...
for a lowly person to report a person of status.
If it is not a rebellion,
you will get punished instead...
for breaking moral principles.
What? Breaking moral principles?
Will you report me?
Or will you take the rice and end it here?
- Of course, we will not. - My goodness.
How can us lowly people report you, Prince?
If you give us the rice back,
everything will be over.
- Yes. - Yes.
They just want the rice back.
Are you tossing the ball to me?
You can try to resolve the situation.
Oh, well.
Let us sell that.
- What? - Sell that?
What are we going to do?
- Thank you. - Thank you so much.
- Thank you. - Take more.
Prince, we are forever grateful.
If it was not for you, things would have been bad.
If we had gone to the officers,
we would have been flogged to death.
- Thank you, thank you. - Thank you.
- Get some rice. - Oh, right.
- Thank you. - Thank you, Prince.
- Let us go. - Thank you.
We have more rice left after filling up the storage.
Make sure you eat some rice today.
This is from the wealthy Prince,
so you do not have to refuse.
Thank you.
Our village is concerned about the drought too.
We even hold rituals hoping for rain to fall,
but it is not easy to please the sky. It is darned...
It is absolutely difficult.
He is the son of the Deposed Queen.
If he becomes the King,
the country will fall into a chaos.
Your Majesty, you must leave your will.
Name Prince Jin Seong the Crown Prince.
Do not forget about...
my daughter, Your Majesty.
She is your mother, Your Majesty.
The nation of Joseon will fall because of you.
Thank you for your blessing.
I will make sure I become a sage king.
Chief Eunuch!
Burn that.
I will never wear that robe again.
Yes, Your Majesty. I will have a new one made.
I am ruined. I am not feminine at all.
Why are you mumbling?
I was just...
So,
why did you change your mind?
Who would not react when someone...
asks why they were born?
That was my temper...
We were given a life.
We must make it worthwhile.
You were born in...
an incredibly high and noble family.
You will do something great and meaningful.
- Me? - Yes.
Look at what you did earlier. You saved someone's life.
What does that change?
I saved that coward's life, but he did not show up.
8, 9.
The last one.
10.
You ignorant fool.
Let us go.
Give it back.
You said you would give it back after 10 punches.
How did you know he was the pickpocket?
How did you know?
I saw him that day.
I come here often, so I know almost all the boys.
Many of them are forced to steal...
for the local bullies.
Why are you looking at me like that?
You are surprisingly interested in...
how the people are doing.
Why do you pretend not to care?
Are you wary of your in-laws?
What?
Think about it. You pretend not to see or hear.
You keep your mouth shut.
That is what women when they get married.
You are acting like a woman who just got married.
You are right.
That is what I must do to survive.
Thank you.
This is yours.
Did you ask what it will change?
This changed.
I thought you were a coward.
You still have a conscience, I see.
Did you get beaten up for this?
Is that true?
I have nothing for you, Your Highness.
I will give you my life.
I will die for you.
Why would you give your life for this?
You saved my life.
I shall repay you with it.
Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, my lady.
Do whatever you want.
Then instead of giving up our lives,
shall we become friends?
Who?
Him, you, and me?
Your joke is really harsh.
It is good to have a friend.
You will feel proud of what you did...
whenever you see him,
and he will show remorse for what he did...
and never steal again.
And I will have an excuse...
to visit Hanyang from now on.
That is why you wish to be friends?
That is so degrading.
Are you the Chief Royal Secretary's daughter?
Are you sure you are the Queen's niece?
Why are you bringing up my family background?
What if I am not?
You are right. I am the ugly duckling...
whom everyone suspects is illegitimate.
My lady.
I will return to Geochang...
and marry the teacher's nephew.
Goodbye.
I leave Hanyang today.
I was hoping to...
make friends to have an excuse to come back.
I see why you would be embarrassed to befriend me.
Prince Jin Seong, Lee Yeok and Shin Chae Gyung.
I am Seo Noh.
Lee Yeok, Shin Chae Gyung, and Seo Noh.
The three of us vow to become friends from this day on.
Go on, kneel.
I swear.
I vow to be the best and loyal friend that no one...
would be ashamed of.
Go on, swear.
I swear.
Can we do it with words alone?
Without a ritual?
When I am with the girls,
we share a secret to seal the deal.
That brings us closer faster.
Forget it.
I will tell the eunuchs and court ladies...
to keep these candles burning throughout the night.
They will stop you from dreaming.
Have you not found it yet?
My apologies, Your Majesty.
Please give me more time.
I cannot sleep until that secret letter is destroyed!
Do you have no solution other than scented candles?
I wish that I could...
pass out like then.
I live here.
My father took my grandmother for acupuncture.
If you think it will not work, do not be clingy.
Turn around right away.
"Let us be friends instead,"
that kind of nonsense?
That just shows you have no pride.
Do not do anything so devaluing.
Do you understand?
I am in no position to be picky.
You do not have any friends, do you?
You are just doing because you were jealous...
of other people doing it, right?
What are you saying? I did this many times before.
Okay, I will believe you.
Since we became friends.
I shall offer...
this book.
This is...
Hey.
This is actually a book written by Mencius.
It is one of the most difficult books on Confucianism.
I made it look like this because...
- It is obvious. - It is obvious.
It is because I do not want the ministers and royals...
to know that I study.
- What an excuse. - That cannot be.
I read more scriptures than the King.
By the way, why must you not study?
It is good to be smart.
That is because...
Wait.
Oh, no...
Are you scared or is it the smell?
Both.
If you are scared, I will stand guard for you.
Your nose will get used to it soon.
- Are you sure? - Just go.
Get in and respond to the call of nature.
Is that you, Bird Dropping?
Who else would it be?
I whistle like this when I am scared.
It helps me calm down.
Why do I feel so relaxed by that?
I finally found it, Your Majesty.
I found the scribe who was doing his night duty...
in the late King's chambers when he passed away.
He hid his identity and is currently living in...
Dongjeokjeon outside of Dongdaemun.
Do you have eyes on him?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I sent some men to watch him from a distance.
Bring him to me...
after the rain ritual. I will...
meet him in person.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I believe...
the Queen Dowager is up to something.
Yesterday afternoon,
she took Prince Jin Seong with her...
on an outing outside the palace.
She also did not report her destination.
She is trying...
to find a way to shield...
her precious son from me.
The best way would be...
to find the secret letter.
The will that the late King...
left behind.
What do you mean?
What if the Queen Dowager...
knows the existence of that secret letter?
What if...
she is trying to find the scribe to get a hold of it?
That is why I must find it.
Find it as soon as possible and destroy it.
Just the secret letter?
Will destroying the secret letter...
be the end of it?
The closer I look at her,
the more amazing she is.
You will not apologize.
You will not yield to people.
If you are not going to do anything, why were you born?
We were given a life.
We must make it worthwhile.
Then instead of giving up our lives,
shall we become friends?
I vow to be the best and loyal friend that no one...
would be ashamed of.
I was...
I thought about it long and hard.
I think I really must...
get married to you, Your Highness.
(Queen for Seven Days)
Why on earth is Yeok there? Why?
Why are we on the run?
If you happen to know,
I will not forgive you.
It is okay. Do not be scared.
You must like me.
Have you grown to like me, Your Highness?
Please do not kill him, Your Majesty.
Can you not leave?
I am sorry.
I miss you so much.
I will tear your world apart.
I will take your throne as well.