(This drama is a fiction based on history.)
(The contents may be different from the actual events.)
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.
Are you all right?
Yes.
Do not ever be in danger again.
Yes, I will stay away from danger.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
I do not understand how you dare to stand here.
Is His Majesty doing all right?
He gave an order to not let anyone in.
Come later.
Do you know...
what you have just done?
Yes.
I gave up...
on taking the throne.
Do you think...
the throne is all you gave up?
You gave up your life.
You gave up on living.
Like Yung,
I became suspicious of my family,
threatened them,
and even almost killed them...
to become a king.
- When did you do that? - You,
Deputy Commander, and Myong Hye are...
all Lee Yeok.
I am saying you, Deputy Commander,
and all of our people are me.
Everything they do,
everything they dream of,
and the world they are headed to...
will become a reality...
through my eyes,
my mouth, and my will.
However,
I was becoming more like Yung.
And it was the side which I despised the most.
I am not so different from him.
Why should I overthrow him and become a king myself?
So...
I could not find a reason to become a king.
I will protect the one I wish to protect...
and be happy with this life.
Did you forget that...
your life is not just your own?
Only because you gave birth to me...
and saved me,
do not try to control my fate.
No.
Yeok.
Is there anywhere you want to go?
Pardon?
I do not want to go home.
Finally our lives became...
easy and simple...
without any suspicion or secret.
We only have to be afraid of death.
However everyone dies eventually.
We put a spell on each other to be happy...
until the day we die.
Where are we going?
Just follow me.
(Inn)
This is...
We cannot go back to our childhood,
so I thought we would go to the place we met as...
adults and resolve our...
misunderstanding to start over again.
It is not...
a fond memory for you though, is it?
I was holding a memorial service for you,
who is clearly alive.
What hurt me more...
was the fact that...
you were with my brother.
I did not know...
you two had a misunderstanding,
I mean, such pain.
I know. That is why...
I did not hate you.
And because I knew, I could love you.
I see.
What did you just say?
What?
You just said because you knew...
you could do something.
Pardon?
Because you knew...
you could...
Well. I am not sure.
I do not know.
I do not know what you are saying.
Wait.
You were too late.
Yeok gave the secret letter to his brother...
and declared he would forfeit the throne.
How could he give...
the secret letter to the King?
Did you know this?
No.
It was your fault...
to put Chae Gyung in danger.
He decided to become king,
so he could protect her.
He decided to become king because of a girl?
If she is the reason he lives,
then it is possible, is it not?
I will not give up.
If you do anything wrong,
you will only make things worse.
Then is it all over?
Now that the secret letter is torn,
will everything be over when the prince...
and Chae Gyung leave Seoul?
The King might not...
let them go and live in the countryside.
Why not?
I believe...
the King...
likes Chae Gyung as a woman.
Goodness.
But the King was the one...
who had them get married.
The King is fighting...
in a way that we do not understand.
He is risking the late king's will,
his love for Chae Gyung,
life and death, fate,
and even his throne.
Then let us...
send Prince Jin Seong...
and Chae Gyung to the countryside quickly.
Please.
The owner here is very kind.
She let us have the whole tavern last time.
Tonight she lent me these clothes.
It is because we paid her.
Get changed.
I will not look.
I cannot trust you.
Stay seated like that.
Have you been lied to all your life?
I will not look. I promise.
Do not turn around.
Ta-da.
How do I look?
I like it. It is comfortable.
You look good...
in anything.
You look pretty.
I am not so different from him.
Why should I overthrow him...
and become a king myself?
Your Majesty. Queen Dowager.
What is...
Your Majesty.
Mother.
Yeok...
stabbed you in the back too.
You must have been looking...
for the secret letter desperately.
What will you do now?
Yeok did...
something unfathomable.
He has not...
changed a bit,
has he?
You drank too much.
You should take care...
Mother, bring Yeok here.
Should I give it...
to Yeok?
I mean the throne.
Tell Yeok to be the king.
Then...
I will be Chae Gyung's husband,
the Second State Councilor's son-in-law,
and...
your son.
I will live that way.
It...
is too late now.
To do that...
You need to be reborn.
In the next life, be born as my daughter.
Then,
I will braid your hair,
make your dress,
and love you dearly.
Court Lady Joo.
Yes, Queen Dowager.
Send a message to the Queen.
I will stay with His Majesty.
Bring some honey water.
Yes, Your Highness.
I forgot I had this.
What is that?
Nothing.
I do not think that is nothing.
Are you hiding something from me again?
I kept this with me...
because I wanted to give it to you.
Is this a present?
When did you have the time to prepare this?
It has been a while since I had it on me...
because I wanted to give it to you.
I do not think this is a suitable present now.
What I mean is...
I do not think it can even be counted as a gift.
I do not think this is something predictable.
You have been hurt very much because of me.
Whenever you are frustrated or angry,
do not keep it to yourself.
Throw them all you want.
Throw them?
You come and flirt with any men...
saying your heart beats in their arms.
- You... - Go.
- Go. - What?
Go.
It hurts a bit.
No, it hurts a lot.
I mean, it hurts bit,
but I can take it if it makes you feel better.
Did you bring this to me as a present?
Wait, were you just scared of me?
- No. - I am doing it this time.
I do not think...
I am ready yet.
I think...
it really hurt last time.
Is this your way of avoiding what you deserve?
I have been...
a huge coward, right?
And that made you suffer so much.
If you do not do anything now,
that will make you the biggest coward.
Do something.
You can continue to be a coward...
Do you love me?
How can I not love you?
I love you.
I adore you.
I love you.
So much.
Very much.
One word is enough.
Lee Yung...
will yield the throne in favor of Prince Jin Seong,
and he will support him in his duties.
He is the son of the deposed queen.
Throne Prince Jin Seong as a crown prince.
And support him in his duties.
Yield the throne in favor of Prince Jin Seong.
Chief Eunuch.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Bring alcohol immediately.
Chief Eunuch.
Who are you?
You fool.
How dare you...
go against your father's order?
Are you determined to keep your throne?
Go. Go away.
Disappear.
Did I not tell you that Joseon will perish...
if you end up taking the throne?
Get out of here.
The people of Joseon...
will suffer...
because of your tyranny,
temper, and dogmatism.
You just...
love Yeok more.
You just...
hate me, is that not right?
So please just go.
Disappear.
Your Majesty.
I do not want to part.
We will always stay together from now on.
Not you.
With my friends.
Gwang Oh, Suk Hee, and Seo Noh.
Well, we can all go down to the countryside.
Snail wives would have to break up...
if you are not here, right?
I am not sure.
I guess so.
Are you going to return home soon?
Of course.
Then go.
You have to let go of my hand.
Oh, this. I thought this was my hand.
I am really going.
Go in.
Go.
Lady Shin, you are home.
All of you.
Are you still standing here...
knowing what I went through last night?
Get out of here immediately.
I cannot trust any of you.
But Lady Shin,
we are here on His Majesty's order...
Then are you saying I was abducted...
under His Majesty's order last night?
Or are you saying...
I must tell His Majesty about what happened,
and hold you responsible for not guarding me?
If it is the first case, it will cause trouble...
for the Royal Court and the Royal Family.
If it is the latter,
a few of you...
will end up getting executed.
You should leave while you still have the chance.
We will do as you say.
Nanny.
Young lady.
My goodness.
Are you all right?
My goodness.
Have you been worried?
What do you think?
I promised not to make troubles,
but I keep making you cry.
Young Lady. Can we not live...
in Geochang like we used to?
Even if you snoop around the stables,
I will not say anything.
Let us just leave Hanyang.
I am afraid something might happen to you.
I cannot stay here any longer.
We will leave soon.
As soon as the Prince...
finishes his work, we will leave.
The King will...
soon let us live in the countryside.
Is that true?
By the way, Jjong Ah, the wretched girl...
for some reason...
Lady Shin. I heard you are home.
Let me introduce myself again.
I am Yoon Myong Hye.
You are the Deputy Commander...
Park Won Jong's niece, are you not?
Since when have you known?
Since when you first came here.
Still you let me in.
Why do you lead such a hard life?
If you have to be under false pretenses,
is it the right thing to do?
I do not think...
I need to be lectured by you.
You said people either live a lowly life...
or a cruel life.
And you said you chose a cruel life...
because you did not want a lowly one.
However,
what you did was...
lowly.
It is not worth hatred nor anger.
Farewell.
What if it was...
for Yeok?
How lowly...
can you be for Yeok?
Can you abandon yourself?
It seems that...
I am more desperate than you are.
I did not think...
the secret letter would be with Chae Gyung.
I did not know it either.
Is that so?
In any case,
the Prince did what he did...
and now we have to put a good closure.
Everyone seems to be confused.
But what do you know?
The King will not...
let Yeok and Chae Gyung go to the countryside.
We should be thankful...
that he did not kill them.
What do you mean?
Anyway,
the King must feel betrayed by you.
Especially Chae Gyung.
It is embarrassing to say...
since she is my daughter-in-law,
but the King...
seems to be very fond of her.
Did you know?
I do not understand what you mean...
at all.
In any case,
tell her to conduct herself sensibly.
I should have...
killed you then.
No.
It is not too late now.
It is not too late.
I am here.
How could you do this?
Do we not mean anything to you?
I am sorry.
Even if you really wanted to give everything up,
you should have...
at least discussed it with us.
How about the boys?
Those who risked their lives...
to make you king?
I am sorry.
Get up.
For not keeping the promise...
to be a king for you.
For running away irresponsibly.
I truly am sorry.
I am terribly sorry...
for what I have done,
but I am happy...
for the first time in my life.
After throwing away...
the secret letter that kept Yung and I apart,
I feel free.
Also after telling Chae Gyung everything,
I finally feel alive.
I said get up.
I only realized it now.
Rather than for a great cause or belief,
I tried to take over the throne,
so I could take revenge.
However,
one should not become a king for that reason.
Right?
Most of all,
I wanted to...
trust Yung one more time.
I understand how you feel.
However,
I cannot follow your decision.
To you, the King...
is your family before he is a king.
So you have a soft spot for him.
But to me,
to us,
the King is a murderer who killed our family.
He is an incompetent king...
who persecutes his people.
So I will continue to be a snail wife.
Even if we cannot overthrow the King,
we have to display vigilance against him.
You can leave.
If you stay,
you will only put us in danger.
What is it? Is there something urgent?
The secret room in the pawnshop.
The Second State Councilor knows about it.
What?
What do you mean?
He had been...
investigating the snail wives secretly.
He disguised as one of us...
And sneaked into our secret room.
What happened?
The Prince let him go.
Are you saying Second State Councilor...
knows everything but is not making a move?
If he tells the King about Prince Jin Seong's...
involvement with snail wives, and his treason,
that would also get his daughter in trouble.
But remember who Second State Councilor is.
He is the closest royal subject of the King,
and he is called to protect the King...
and his throne.
I am sure he will not keep the secret...
of the pawnshop because of his daughter.
In that case, let us do as the Queen Dowager said.
Did she say anything in specific?
She told me to stop him from leaving...
by using his weakness.
His weakness.
Yeok dreamed of a rebellion...
because he felt betrayed by him...
when his brother tried to kill him.
It created an obsession to keep his life...
as well as the lives of the ones he loves.
And this obsession is Yeok's weakness.
That must be why...
such unexpected things continuously happen.
He loses control when someone...
gets in danger or gets hurt.
So I believe it will not be so hard...
to handle him from now on.
We must make him understand...
he must become a king to protect his people.
Let us create a trouble between...
Second State Councilor and the King.
When the King finds out Second State Councilor...
did not report about the snail wives' hideout,
the King will feel greatly betrayed.
And judging by the King's character,
I am sure he will threat Second State Councilor.
Yes.
Then the Prince will do whatever to save...
him and his family.
He will never dream of...
moving to the countryside.
Deputy Commander, you must be very bored...
because of your house confinement.
I cannot believe you wanted to see me.
I came to comfort you because you are the one...
who was shocked the most because of this.
I also have a present for you.
A present?
I am sure you know that I do not accept...
just any old present.
I am sure you will like it.
Your relationship with Second State Councilor...
has not been that great for a while.
Second State Councilor?
Are you going to...
tell me what his weakness is?
Actually...
Second State Councilor did that?
Yes, Your Majesty.
If this is true,
this means he is siding with those rebels.
You must not keep him by your side.
- My goodness. - Oh, no.
Please spare me.
How dare you say anything against...
my order to tear down those houses?
What are you doing?
Wave the flags and say I hit the mark.
It hit the mark.
Your Majesty, you must stop meaningless killings.
Meaningless?
I am...
solidifying my place as a king.
I can never know which of these...
disobedient ones may rebel against me.
They do not have the power...
or the rebellious spirit to go after your throne.
You are right.
They are powerless...
and without any rebellious spirit.
However,
you do.
You have the power...
and a rebellious spirit.
Your Majesty.
I am nothing but one of your subjects.
Then why did you not give me the secret letter?
I did not know.
If I had known, I would have brought it already.
Prove it.
Prove that you have no rebellious intentions.
Capture the snail wives.
And prove that...
Prince Jin Seong is their leader.
The secret letter is already burnt,
and Prince Jin Seong is determined to leave.
Even if Prince Jin Seong is their leader,
their group is without any power or a cause.
You are right. They are without power or a cause.
That is all the more reason to take them in.
I must take them in and kill them all.
Your Majesty.
Please let Prince Jin Seong go.
I did not ask you to get Prince Jin Seong.
I am telling you to go and get snail wives.
You are making a mess.
You will be more helpful if you just sit there.
What is that? I have not seen that before.
Did you get that as a present?
It was a surprise.
But he said he has prepared it a while ago.
You two are doing everything as a couple.
So this was his real present.
No.
My nanny took down my headpiece.
The least he can do is put a ring on my finger.
Why are you not asleep?
Put this on me.
What?
How did you...
Yes, I found it myself.
You can put it on me.
It fits perfectly.
This is so pretty.
Let me try it on too.
Why?
- Let me take a look. - No.
It is not like I will steal it.
- No. - Come on.
- Let me see it. - But why?
- I just want to see it. - Is Lady Shin here?
Young lady, someone came from the palace.
Is he here to give you a permission to leave?
I am fine.
I am fine too.
By the way, I doubt the Queen Dowager...
or Deputy Commander will give up on a rebellion.
- You are here. - You are here.
You were here.
The Queen Dowager asked me to bring you.
You will get a permission to leave today.
She would like...
to see you before you leave.
A permission?
Yes.
His leave was approved quite quickly.
I have to go to the palace.
See you at the inn at the junction.
It might be the last time.
Let us have a drink.
We received a tip that the snail wives who...
gave rice to the poor...
and caused public unrest...
by posting bills exposing corrupt officials...
are actually plotting treason.
We shall raid their headquarters...
and capture those in charge.
You shall all follow and heed my command.
The Second State Councilor took some soldiers?
Yes.
Where is Yeok?
Is he at the pawnshop?
Lady Myong Hye went to get him.
I do hope she gets him out to safety.
To spring a trap of that size,
we must offer something in return.
And we must also gain from it.
I think it is time...
you quit the snail wives.
The King and Chief Royal Secretary are after them.
We must cut our loss...
and get out of the way.
How much of a loss are you talking about?
I think we can give them Seo Noh.
With his father dead,
he is of no more use.
Your Majesty, Lady Chae Gyung is here.
Let her in.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Hello.
Hello, Your Majesty.
Do you know why I called you?
I do not.
You made a wish.
Your husband affirmed it...
in exchange for the secret letter.
What else can I do...
but grant it?
It was the promise of a king.
Thank you for your generosity.
I kept my word,
but you did not keep yours.
You will pay the full price.
What price?
The Second State Councilor...
had found the snail wives' hideout,
but kept it from me.
In order to test his loyalty, I sent him...
on a mission to annihilate...
the snail wives.
Is everyone here?
- Yes. - Yes.
Search every corner.
- We will. - We will.
- Get everything. - I checked.
We must hurry.
Here.
Start from the back.
I commend you on your great efforts.
Did you find their hideout?
If I had, I would have raided it already.
Oh dear.
Had the King heard that,
he would have been greatly disappointed.
From what I heard,
you actually got into the hideout...
while investigating them undercover.
Who told you such a thing?
Someone gave me a gift.
There is no turning back now.
Is it your son-in-law or daughter?
You can choose only one.
If you capture Prince Jin Seong...
and take him to the King,
I am sure he will pardon you and your daughter.
But...
if you try something foolish...
in a bid to save them both,
you will not get out of this alive.
If he returns empty-handed again,
I will not be able to test his loyalty.
I shall have to make a call.
Shall I punish your father and your family...
for attempting the equivalent of treason?
Your Majesty.
Then even with...
my written permission to move to the countryside,
you will be unable to leave.
Am I wrong?
Did I...
make you like this?
Yes.
Why do I meet you here...
and not in the palace all the time?
Goodness.
Your Majesty.
Your mother...
would be my mother too.
You said it is an ink painting.
You said it is a Chinese rose.
Chae Gyung.
Your Majesty.
There can be nothing a king cannot have.
Am I wrong?
Therefore, I must have you as well.
Chae Gyung. Shin Chae Gyung.
Your Majesty.
Why did you care for someone like me?
Why take such a torturous path?
I cannot remain with you.
And yet you came.
You set foot in my heart...
and became mine.
I cannot let anyone else have you.
You already did.
You gave your order...
and married me to your brother.
I regret doing so, and so...
I must rectify it now.
Myong Hye.
What?
The ink on your hand.
You do not write bills anymore.
(Prince Jin Seong is the real king.)
What are you doing?
It is nothing.
What is it? You are deceiving me.
We must go.
You will find out.
What about the others?
Yeok.
Search everywhere!
Prince Jin Seong is the real king.
What is...
The late King left a written will.
What are you doing?
- Get moving. - Wait.
Do not put anything out. Something is wrong.
I found bills saying that we plotted treason.
What?
Oh no.
Who did to us?
If they find this,
the snail wives are doomed.
If you wish to correct your wrongdoing,
you will do as I say.
Good.
Some could be mixed in with what we left outside.
- We must go. - Okay.
You must run.
There are soldiers everywhere.
- What? - Let us go.
- Go. - Okay.
Go.
(Prince Jin Seong is the real king)
About now,
the soldiers will have...
raided the snail wives' hideout.
What can I do...
to help calm your anger?
You will find out soon enough.
You will...
end up coming to me.
Father.
That will be Im Sa Hong.
They will break through very soon.
You must get away.
If you let me go,
you will get into trouble.
Do not come this way ever again.
Leave with Chae Gyung as soon as you can.
This will be...
the last call I make...
as Chae Gyung's father...
and your father-in-law.
Go!
Get him.
You made the wrong call.
(Prince Jin Seong is the real king)
It is a trap.
Go to the hideout and disband the others.
Send a word to the messengers too.
If anyone gets caught,
they will be killed, okay?
- Okay. - Go.
- Go. - Let us go.
Do not come this way ever again.
Leave with Chae Gyung...
as soon as you can.
Your Majesty.
The Chief Royal Secretary is here.
Come in.
Father.
Chae Gyung.
Your Majesty.
Lord Shin Su Geun...
helped the traitor get away.
This is...
proof that the snail wives...
plotted treason.
Prince Jin Seong is the real king.
The late King left a written will.
Did you...
really betray me?
Your Majesty.
Father.
Your Majesty.
As we promised,
I must take your life.
Of course,
Chae Gyung must die first.
Your Majesty.
(Queen for Seven Days)
Look, Yung.
The King never changes.
Will you use others as shields and weapons...
to save your own skin?
Even without solid proof,
you can name someone a traitor...
and have them killed.
You stand before me brandishing a sword.
I feel so excited.
What good is the throne...
without beliefs and principles?
You two can protect each other.
Is it not over now?
The King will surely...
demand something he must not have.
I cannot give it to you.