She came to ask for work.
Will you really let her work for you?
My name is Nak Cheon.
I also have a woman,
so if you honestly cherish Prince Jin Seong,
you should not...
bring up his name to chase after...
a stranger.
How come you...
My lady.
Please let me work here.
I wish to serve you.
(Episode 14)
Eunuch Song.
Is Lady Shin in the other building?
Yes, however, the Queen Dowager...
just stopped by.
My mother? Why was she here?
I heard she came give you the date of consummation.
Who...
are you?
I can do anything.
What is your relationship with the Prince?
What is your intention of approaching me?
Is this because of the secret letter?
You can do that.
Thank you. Thank you, my lady.
Chae Gyung.
Greetings, Your Highness.
She is going to serve me starting today.
Hello.
I am Jjong Ah.
Where are you going?
Your Highness.
Somewhere I can be at ease.
You are hurting me.
I am sorry.
I thought about what you said last time.
I overlooked the fate of our children...
the late King had blessed them with.
Therefore I am going to start wishing them...
happiness sincerely like you suggested.
That is a wonderful idea.
So I went to their house...
and gave them a date for consummation.
If they have a baby,
they will not be able to be apart.
If something happens to one,
the other one will suffer.
So...
in every situation in life,
they must put each other first.
Yes.
Most of all, they both should not...
do anything that would harm the other.
No one would do anything...
harm his or her family on purpose though.
Go in.
Why?
I am a married woman.
I will go back to my house.
Please stay here today.
I have to take care of some things.
You have not seen your parents...
since the wedding.
Are you worried about me?
No.
I am worried about myself.
I would feel more at ease if you stayed here.
Chae Gyung.
Goodness.
Why are you here?
What do you mean?
Am I not supposed to visit?
I am glad you are here.
My goodness.
She is going to serve me starting today.
Greetings, Your Highness.
Did anyone die yesterday?
I have not received any reports yet.
There will hardly be a report.
Because the one...
who is reported and the one who reported him...
could both be beheaded.
His Majesty is here.
- Greetings, Your Majesty. - Greetings, Your Majesty.
I am only here to give rewards today...
because I do not feel well.
Vice Minister of Personnel.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I read the poem you wrote about...
my night hunt.
It was very impressive.
I want you to write more great poems,
so I will appoint you as a Commissioned Officer.
Congratulations.
Your Majesty, I...
Take whatever I give you...
whether it is a promotion or demotion.
That way you can hold on to your life.
Vice Minister of Personnel.
I will go see His Majesty.
No.
If you speak up,
you will be hurt.
Second State Councilor.
If you are going to see the King,
I would like to come with you.
Is there a particular reason?
The King has asked me to...
find a way to catch...
the snail wives.
He permitted me to use the troops.
No!
The troops...
are to be mobilized when there is war.
They should not be used for personal revenge.
I am not trying to take a revenge.
It is only right to catch the rebels.
Have you found a way to catch them?
The Chief Royal Secretary could not,
so how could I?
I will keep making the troops...
do inspections and patrols.
How can you catch them...
with such a foolish method?
I am the one in trouble.
If you are having trouble,
I will ask the King...
to let me do the job.
Would you?
I will let you use all my troops.
Is that true?
Yes, it is.
A new shop opened...
in front of the silk store...
at the three-way intersection.
They give out rice...
if you bring information.
Just like this pawnshop.
I do not go there because I am loyal.
Thank you.
What kind of information do they buy?
They only ask you one thing.
Snail wives.
(Myeongcheol District.)
We collected...
tremendous amount of information...
since the snail wives helped a lot of people.
Sort them by time and place.
Mark the incidents that happened...
at similar hours and places.
Yes, my lord.
(When the cock crowed twice...)
When the cock crowed twice,
when I went to the bathroom,
there was no rice.
After I came out, there was rice.
That was when the cock crowed three times.
After returning from...
the neighbor's house to borrow coal,
there was a bill on the wall.
I am not sure if it was 10 or 11pm.
Gosh. Is this how they will catch us?
In your dreams.
No. The Deputy Commander is on probation.
The King is keeping us in check.
You never know...
how this will affect us.
Everyone should be on guard.
Are you scared?
I am telling you to be on guard.
Okay.
Eat up.
Your father is here.
You are home.
Chae Gyung.
Father.
What brings you here?
Do you prepare meals for the Prince?
Are you well?
Yes, I am.
You look like you lost weight.
Is something wrong?
No, Mother.
When you do not have any appetite,
you should drink the honey water I gave you.
The food is getting cold.
Why are you not eating?
She cannot eat because she is answering you.
Why are you blaming her?
Is that so?
What can I do?
I just have so many questions for her.
Here you go.
It would have been great if the Prince could stay.
Is he really busy?
This is good. You did not make this, did you?
Goodness, Chae Gyung.
Try this too.
How can you take things so far?
Take Myong Hye away immediately.
You always say they are your colleagues,
friends, and family.
You pretend you cherish your people very much.
However, do you not see Myong Hye,
who saved your life and who is like your family?
She is trying everything she can to help you.
- Mother. - The King said this.
Second State Councilor...
and even Chae Gyung are on his side. In that case,
how am I supposed to believe her?
- So... - He is mistaken.
Chae Gyung is my wife and my family.
You are mistaken.
I will pay for my mistakes.
So leave Chae Gyung alone.
What happened to what you said about...
turning Second State Councilor to our side?
Goodbye.
Since when...
have you been suspicious of the Prince?
Since the moment...
he returned.
Why?
Because he returned...
to get his revenge on me and to take my throne.
Without any reasons,
you can still kill the Prince.
Can you two resolve the misunderstanding...
and reconcile with one another?
Do not come near.
- How dare you! - She is my wife!
My goodness.
It is so obvious that you are a newlywed bride.
Do you feel anxious to be outside for a few hours?
Do you think something may happen to him?
Do not be embarrassed.
I was like that too.
Pardon?
When you are just married,
it is hard to be separated for mere 15 minutes.
Have some.
Mother, I am sorry.
I feel too nervous to leave the Prince...
alone in that house.
What? Hey, wait.
Chae Gyung.
You should take the side dishes.
Now you must pay for saving his life.
Young lady, I thought you were staying over.
Did you return because you missed the Prince?
I just came. Where is the Prince?
He is not home yet.
You must be very tired.
I will heat up the bath...
No.
Why are you standing there not heating up the bath?
Oh, yes.
How is Madam Gwon? Is everyone well?
Yes.
I brought some chrysanthemum petals.
They will add sweet aroma.
Thank you.
I just need Nanny here when I take a bath.
Get out of here.
I told Mother already,
so do not think about making an excuse.
Do you think I want to do this?
Do you know what I went through...
to protect you?
I know you went out of your way to help me.
I will pretend I do not know, so let us end this.
You pretended not to know for your own sake.
You are right.
So...
when the dawn breaks,
please leave this place.
Please.
No.
I think Chae Gyung has the secret letter.
I heard she may have the tattoo.
What?
Did you...
already know?
Did you know all along?
Since when?
The location of the letter...
is written on the body of a woman.
Who is that woman?
She...
is very close to you.
She is the daughter of...
Second State Councilor.
Are you talking about...
Chae Gyung?
It looks like...
he believed...
that lady will protect you.
Then why did you not tell us?
I will take care of this.
If we do not take this way,
Chae Gyung will be in a greater danger.
What are you talking about?
What if someone forcefully tries to check her tattoo?
What do you think will happen?
You do not dare.
When that happens,
the blood is on your hands, not mine.
If you try to stop me,
my uncle or the Queen Dowager...
will have to take another way around.
You should leave it to me if you do not want...
Chae Gyung to get hurt.
I will only keep my eyes on her.
So do not worry.
Chae Gyung.
What am I doing to you?
Where have you been?
Goodness. Young Lady.
The Queen Dowager is acting suspicious.
She had said...
no consummation was allowed yet.
But today she went to their house...
and gave them the consummation date.
I am not interested in the newlyweds' lives.
I am sorry.
But I believe...
Lady Shin...
has a deep connection with the secret letter.
What?
Chae Gyung.
You will see it soon.
You did not have to come all the way here.
Please do not misunderstand.
I was not trying to peep.
Then?
I just...
came for you.
People are watching.
I should do this...
so we look like newlyweds.
The room is this way...
Okay.
You should have...
stayed at your parents and rested.
Why did you come back so soon?
I am a married woman.
I should be with my husband.
You must be tired. You should go to bed.
What about the consummation?
The Queen Dowager was here today.
Next time.
Is it not urgent?
The secret letter.
You have to find the secret letter.
What are you saying?
Will you pretend not to know again?
She already knew.
That she was the woman with the secret letter.
Look.
Did you want this from me?
She knew it all...
and carried that harsh fate.
All the while I pretended not to know,
she had known.
When...
and how did you know?
That is not important.
I cannot bear it any longer.
Knowing everything but pretending not to.
Being suspicious but pretending to be.
Being anxious but pretending not to be.
I cannot do it anymore.
I thought...
my trust and love...
could change a man and his will.
I was too naive and foolish.
Even if you...
approached me with a dishonest intention,
I thought you would change...
that you would change your mind.
In the end,
I thought my sincerity would win you over.
I was too foolish, was I not?
- Chae Gyung. - Do not...
call my name.
When you...
call my name,
my heart melts.
I become deceived.
I tell myself...
not to be fooled or swayed.
But I keep hoping...
that what I know,
what I saw and heard could all be...
a big misunderstanding.
Your Highness.
Who are you?
Why did you come to me?
Why can you not answer me?
Is it because you told too many lies?
I...
am sorry, Chae Gyung.
It is all my fault.
Let us leave.
Like you said,
let us go and live in Geochang, Chae Gyung.
Do you know what makes me so sad?
That I can no longer...
trust your words.
You should rather ask for the secret letter.
She made sure Lady Shin uses a separate room,
but she suddenly allowed their consummation.
She must have obtained new information...
that Lady Shin may have something to do with it.
She wants to check this through consummation.
Mother is one wicked woman.
She will exploit Chae Gyung completely...
and throw her out when she is done.
But without knowing that,
Chae Gyung has chosen Yeok instead of me.
That fool.
Your Majesty, will you just sit around?
If Lady Shin really is the woman with the tattoo,
we must obtain the secret letter...
before they find it.
Let us...
leave.
Like you said,
let us go and live in Geochang, Chae Gyung.
What brings you here, Deputy Commander?
I just thought the two of us...
who are free can chat a little.
As you know,
I am also confined to my house right now.
Our nation is already very unstable.
How can the King not remain balanced,
but sit there enjoying wicked men's sweet talk?
The King's senses have been gone for a long time.
Deputy Commander, that is an overstatement.
Why do you think Chief Royal Secretary...
stayed by the King despite all the suffering?
He wanted the King to go blind and dead...
to put Joseon under his feet.
Do you have a plan?
If I do, will you hear me out?
What do you think about Prince Jin Seong?
I really should lose some weight.
Are we all here?
Not yet.
I suddenly got hungry jumping over the wall.
What is going on? Hey, gather around.
(Pawnshop)
Hey, what are you doing?
Goodness, man.
Be careful.
(Lee Yung, King)
He thinks...
once he finds the secret letter,
he can either have the throne and protect it.
Why should I give you the secret letter?
I am asking you for the reason...
why you must become the king.
Nak Cheon, what brings you here?
Just because. I had something on my mind.
Stop.
Why? Should we keep our masks on?
Second State Councilor.
Prince.
How did you find this place?
Nak Cheon.
Check if there are any royal forces outside.
Yes.
I am here by myself.
I did not tell anyone.
Not yet.
But still, I will check.
You must want to know how I found this place...
so quickly.
Did you find us with this poor information?
If you read them one by one,
they do seem pretty meaningless.
However, once you gather around 100 of them,
they round up to something you can use.
I gathered hundreds to make thousands,
and thousands to tens of thousands.
I could easily figure out snail wives' path.
Did you wait for us in our path in disguise?
You must stop here.
You have to disband snail wives immediately.
Wait.
I cannot do that.
As long as the King's tyranny continues,
our work will also continue.
You are not doing this out of chivalry alone.
What you are really after is something else.
Why do you want to become a king?
Do you have to...
become a king?
You scared me.
You are late,
and you brought me flowers as a way to say sorry.
His Majesty gave us a present as well.
Are you hurt...
or injured?
No.
Can you not...
live just as a prince?
No one is outside.
I am sure nothing will change...
because I found your hideout.
You are boldly continuing on with your plan...
even after...
the King visited you right under your nose.
I am sure you will find another place to hide.
But you can have only one place to rest your heart.
Where do you think...
will be the place to rest your heart...
as you live your life?
Do you think it is the throne?
Soon,
a curfew will be issued in and out of the city.
It is because of the rebellious posters.
Also, there will be a move to mop up snail wives.
Disband snail wives before that happens,
and go to the countryside with Chae Gyung.
If you cannot do that,
you must leave her.
I cannot...
let my daughter become a wife of a rebel.
What are you doing?
Are you really going to let him get away?
This is the second state councilor.
He is the leader of the Queen's family...
and the royal subject of the King.
Yes, trusting Lady Chae Gyung...
and trusting him are two different things.
Then are you saying you will kill him?
He is Chae Gyung's father,
my father-in-law,
and a loyal subject of this nation.
He is not someone to let the innocent die.
So I did not look at your faces.
If...
this creates a problem, I will take the blame.
So...
let him go.
That is an order!
My lord.
Where were you?
Why are you dressed like this?
Water. Get me some water.
Sure.
My lord, a man from the palace is here.
At this time of night?
You can find another hideout.
But you can only truly trust one person.
Oh, this wound...
Do you remember? In that cave.
It was a poisoned arrow.
I did not say anything.
If you say it is a wound from years ago,
then it is what you say it is.
I can...
make myself trust whomever I want.
We will move...
far away from the capital...
and live a normal, quiet live.
I cannot let...
my daughter become the wife of a traitor.
They got out safely.
It is still quiet, but...
Yeok.
He is your father-in-law,
but that was too rash.
If the Deputy Commander hears, that means trouble.
We must clear out...
or silence the Second State Councilor.
Pick one.
Why will none of you ask me...
why I must become King?
The fact that you think of that...
means you are a prince.
The deities and people turned against the King.
Even corrupt officials who do not care...
who is in power...
as long as they have a title rejected the King.
Do you need another reason?
You at least...
value the people's lives more than anything.
You protect those in your charge.
If you become King,
all the people of Joseon will become yours.
You will do what you need to do.
What if...
I cannot protect the one who means the most to me?
Chae Gyung spends each day...
not knowing what danger will befall her.
She trusts me...
and stays cooped up in our house.
My brother is watching us,
and now even my mother sent someone to watch her.
What? Who?
Myong Hye is with Chae Gyung.
If you leave those two together,
this means war.
Myong Hye can be very scary.
Will your wife be okay?
Did your mother send her to the cell?
What cell?
Tell me what you know.
Well...
Myong Hye was locked up in a cell.
I think she was there to make sure Chae Gyung...
did not speak of us.
That cannot be all.
Yeok.
Oh, no. What happened?
This was the night of your consummation.
Had I known...
you would be out, I would have stood guard.
Dozens of servants live here with us...
and no one heard my wife's kidnappers?
Your Highness...
Was it the King's order?
Yes.
The Chief Royal Secretary said that...
it was the King's order.
Yeok.
Is he not here?
Where could he be?
Chae Gyung is gone too.
Is it true that...
you are with her under an assumed identity?
In the cell.
Were you there to kill her?
Why do you ask about that?
Why now?
Is it true?
I told Yeok.
What?
This time again,
were you going to do the same?
I pity you.
Be careful, Lord Shin.
Your life hangs on every word you say.
What did you do this time?
As I tell you each time,
I do not come up with cunning plans.
You and your daughter bring everything...
upon yourselves.
Lord Shin.
Did you really deceive me?
I do not know what you are talking about.
No wonder.
When I first saw you talking with my mother,
I had a bad feeling.
Your Majesty.
When did you know about...
Prince Jin Seong?
Did you know he was alive before he came here...
with the gifts he had stolen?
I see.
So you already knew.
I was not sure,
yet you knew for a fact.
You knew everything...
and yet you deceived and mocked me.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
I had no intention whatsoever of mocking you.
I only had my suspicions and was not sure.
I was reluctant to report to you.
What else do you know?
Do you know what he is...
planning to do?
Do you know what he is doing?
How about this?
Chae Gyung, your daughter.
On her body...
is there a tattoo?
Your Majesty.
Why would you ask such a thing?
I heard the location of my father's...
secret letter is tattooed on a woman's body.
Could that woman...
be Chae Gyung?
If it is, then you...
and my father plotted to put Prince Jin Seong...
on the throne starting 20 years ago.
By tattooing the child of the one subject I would...
suspect the least.
Your Majesty, you could not be more wrong.
I never did such a thing.
Please believe me.
Really?
Is it not Chae Gyung?
No, it is not.
I do not trust you any longer.
Your Majesty.
That is why...
I brought someone who will help explain everything.
May I bring the person in?
Yes.
Your Majesty.
What is it that makes you so aggressive?
Will you be at ease...
once the secret letter is destroyed?
Can you go back to the old days?
With the letter gone,
my reign will be secured.
And Yeok's greed will be curbed.
Your Majesty, my daughter knows nothing.
That is what...
we are here to confirm.
Do you two really know nothing or...
are you both deceiving me?
Will you check?
Strip her clothes.
Your Majesty.
Chae Gyung.
How dare you touch me. Step away from me.
Keep going.
Your Majesty.
Lady Jang!
I will do it.
If the King must see for himself and if...
that is the only way to free myself,
then I shall show him.
What are you doing?
It will be okay.
What will you do?
What do you think you are doing?
You came without notice.
I brought you...
a parting gift.
A parting gift?
My wife made a request of you.
She asked you to let us move far away.
What you said is truly upsetting.
You must become king.
I am not like you.
I do not...
wish to become king at the expense of...
my loved one's happiness.
How dare you.
Come on, stop him.
Kill Prince Jin Seong!
Freeze!
Behold the late king's secret letter!
The secret letter?
Did you really...
find it and bring it here?
"When Prince Jin Seong comes of age,"
"Lee Yung..."
"will abdicate in favor of Prince Jin Seong..."
"and support him in his duties."
My father actually...
I will kill you all.
All of you!
No, you must not. You cannot, Your Majesty.
Did you...
Did you really...
give him the secret letter?
Not to me...
but to Yeok?
Your Majesty...
Do you really...
want him to become king?
No, your Majesty.
That is not at all true.
Whatever your father said,
you are my one and only master.
Your Majesty! Please calm down.
It is not over yet.
Even the late king's secret written will,
must be authenticated.
There is no use for that.
I am only here to take what is mine.
I told you already that...
I will leave the capital with Chae Gyung.
What?
The deities...
decide who becomes king.
Yes.
As you thought,
Chae Gyung had the secret letter.
I thought...
it was the last chance...
the deities were going to offer you.
It is proof that they expect something from you.
The people deserve...
a life where they do not need the snail wives.
This could be the deities' way of...
begging you to change your ways!
That is what Chae Gyung believed in.
Could you please...
give the King one last chance?
He is your brother.
Trust in him and help him be a good king.
Is it not your duty as his subject...
to give him time?
Promise me.
Until you find the reason why...
you must become king,
say you will not use this to take the throne.
Why did you give me this?
What you do...
requires you to risk your life.
I am giving it to you...
as a last resort to save your life.
And so...
I will give you one last chance.
I, Prince Jin Seong Lee Yeok...
will accept my late father's will...
and ascend to the throne.
And then...
I give it back...
to my brother.
Are you writing this down?
Yes, Your Majesty.
This is my answer.
Stop.
What if...
I do not give permission?
Kill me.
But even if you kill me,
you will not get what you want.
I will become a ghost...
and stay with Chae Gyung.
(Queen for Seven Days)
I do not want us to part.
We were together all this while.
We will be together from now on as well.
Let go of my hand.
I thought it was mine.
Look, Yeok.
The King will not change.
Did something happen?
Where were you?
I am right here.
Our sad and hard times and memories...
we can leave here.