(Episode 36)
Master Dae Mok.
You ordered me...
to report every move the Queen Dowager makes,
no matter how trivial...
it may seem, did you not?
So?
She secretly met with the Chief Peddler.
- She did? - Yes.
I could not overhear everything,
but she seemed to be scheming something with him.
Here.
This is a letter the Chief Peddler sent her secretly today.
"Eliminate the demons."
(Eliminate the demons that may be the cause of all calamity.)
Give this letter to the Queen Dowager.
Are you telling me to feign ignorance and give it to her?
We are hunting right now.
We cannot have the prey run somewhere else, can we?
Yes, Master Dae Mok.
The Crown Prince met with the Queen Dowager...
and are planning a revolt.
"Eliminate the demons."
It seems he plans to return to the palace...
on the day of the exorcism ritual.
You said that if I take off my mask,
he will have no choice but to return.
When he sneaks into the palace,
catch him and kill him.
If you fail,
you will lose the throne as well as the Queen.
This is the last chance I am giving you.
Yes, master.
I will make sure to catch him...
and offer him up to you.
Your Highness.
I heard you met with the Crown Prince.
How did you...
Did he ask you to testify...
that he is the real Crown Prince?
Your Highness.
Do you not wish to return to being powerful and confident?
Do you not wish to live in the Queen Dowager's quarters,
rather than in this humble chamber?
What are you up to?
I feel bad keeping you here...
in the outskirts of the palace.
Filial piety is fundamental to Joseon.
What would the subjects think of me?
Whatever the case may be,
you are my mother, after all.
Mother. Please promise...
that you will take my side...
from now on.
If you do,
I will let you return to the Queen Dowager's quarters.
Did you forget that you are addicted to the poppy pill?
Do you wish to die here...
in this humble chamber by helping the Crown Prince?
Will you...
really...
release me?
Of course.
Your Highness. It is I, the Chief Eunuch.
His Majesty has bestowed these books to you.
Please study them prior to the wedding ceremony.
(Joseon Royal Family Birth Records)
He will enter the palace...
on the day of the ritual.
The Crown Prince will be here for the ritual.
I must find the placenta jar before then.
Your Highness, we prepared everything you asked for.
Is everything ready as I asked?
Yes.
Do dancers wear these masks?
You took off your mask to leave the palace.
Now you must wear one to return.
I am going back...
to live the rest of my life without a mask.
Tomorrow, we will wear these masks...
and enter the palace.
During the ritual tomorrow,
the Chief Peddler and his men will infiltrate the palace.
Capture all those traitors...
and as soon as you apprehend the Chief Peddler,
kill him.
Are you saying that...
the Chief Peddler will commit treason?
Yes.
Third State Councillor, put the Palace Guards at every gate.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Head of Supply Office.
Guard Geunjeongjeon.
None of the traitors...
are to approach or enter Geunjeongjeon.
Be sure of it.
Even if it means my body is burned and my bones crushed,
I shall stop them with my life.
If the Chief Peddler enters Geunjeongjeon tomorrow,
not only me...
but you also will lose your lives.
Stop him.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
A girl called Kko Mool wishes to see her. What should I say?
Of course you say...
Why are you asking the court lady for permission?
I am the mistress here.
Let the girl in this instant.
Your Highness.
The King ordered that you are to see no one.
Who...
do you think I am?
You will become the Queen of our nation.
As you said, I shall be Queen.
The King forbade visitors...
to prevent any unwanted trouble before the marriage.
Why are you...
stopping a six-year-old from visiting me?
Are you mocking me?
Your Highness.
That is not the case.
Let the girl in immediately.
I will.
Ga Eun.
Kko Mool.
Leave us.
Now.
We shall.
Kko Mool, I need your help.
Okay. I will help you.
Finally, tomorrow,
the Crown Prince will come.
This time...
I will end...
the fate that connects us.
The King put more Palace Guards...
at every gate and around Geunjeongjeon.
Every guard has a copy of that painting.
He will not get through.
You cannot let even a tiny mouse through.
Or we shall all die.
- Do you understand? - Yes, master.
Crown Prince.
There are traps everywhere.
Do you think you can sit on the throne alive?
It is time to go.
Why are you wearing masks?
We are the dancers...
who will perform Cheoyongmu.
Taking off our masks will bring bad luck. Can you let us in?
Take off the masks this instant!
Now!
This will really jinx the performance.
The longer you take the worse your luck will be.
You can enter.
Let us go. Masks on.
Next.
You got in safely.
Thanks to you.
We would have been in trouble if you had not switched the drawing.
This is all I can do for you.
There are guards everywhere. Take care.
Let us go.
As we thought, Geunjeongjeon is heavily guarded.
The Yeomchomun guards got the wrong drawing?
I apologize.
Arrest those responsible!
Stop!
Stop.
Who are you?
We are the dancers who will perform Cheoyongmu.
Wait.
The banquet will be held in another part of the palace.
We are dumb and we got lost.
That voice.
It sounds familiar.
Where would you have heard this great a voice?
Take off your mask.
I have a huge head and so the mask gets stuck.
Get it off him!
Run.
After them!
Get them!
That way!
Oh dear.
Now...
- take off their masks. - Yes, master.
You cannot.
This is very bad.
The ex-Minister of Personnel and Censor General.
You two are always getting into trouble.
What are you doing here?
I was dismissed from my position.
I needed a trade so I learned to dance.
- Every man... - Take him and lock him up!
- Yes, master. - Come along.
Dance, dance.
Go after those who got away.
- Yes, master. - Yes, master.
- There they are! - Arrest them immediately!
- Yes, master! - Yes, master!
Over there!
Gosh! Please spare me!
How did you come in when the guards are watching?
I came in before they started to guard the palace heavily.
- Understood? - Yes, master!
So that is why you wanted me to slip the information...
to Dae Mok.
Thanks to you, the palace guards are watching...
the people entering the palace.
He was able to come in beforehand...
and avoid dragging their attention.
Thank you.
Thanks to you, I was able to...
enter the palace safely.
Please thank us after you take the throne.
It is yet too early to thank us.
Your Highness.
I think the fragrance is too strong.
It is a precious aloeswood which the king gave me as a present.
It clears your head and relaxes your body and soul.
I will open the windows to ventilate the room.
Leave this be.
By the way, what is this?
This is to make you get sleepy,
and this is to keep you awake.
All my court ladies collapsed all of a sudden.
My gosh!
I think they are poisoned by something.
- Go let the physicians know. - Yes, Your Highness.
Please let me in.
Go away.
His Highness said she is always allowed in the greenhouse.
Yes, the king gave me permission to play inside here.
Follow me.
- This is bad, master. - Is something wrong?
Yes, about this man.
He is... It is the man whom the king ordered to arrest no matter what.
I just witnessed him running away in a direction to Hamwundo.
A court lady who was with me went after him, but she might need help.
Kko Mool.
- Good job. - That was easy.
Please be careful.
Its color and pattern could have changed,
but its shape...
The placenta jar's shape must still be the same.
The placenta jar must be one of them.
Your Majesty,
they are all gathered and ready for the morning assembly.
I see.
Your Majesty.
The jade on your belt is cracked.
Get me another belt.
Yes, Your Majesty. Please give me a moment.
Your Majesty,
please head to the assembly now.
I heard they arrested the rebels who sneaked into the palace.
Go and take those rebels who are locked up in Ministry of Justice...
to Geunjeongjeon immediately.
Yes, Your Majesty. Let us go.
Why is the Chief Eunuch taking so long?
My apologies, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
The Chief Peddler and his men sneaked into the palace.
The guards arrested them including the former Minister of Personnel,
but they have not caught the Chief Peddler yet.
Did they miss the Chief Peddler?
They must never let him go near Geunjeongjeon.
Yes, Your Majesty.
No, I shall go to Geunjeongjeon myself right now.
I do not care about a cracked jade. Get me that belt.
Yes, Your Majesty.
It is not cracked.
Then why did he...
- Where is my winged cap? - It is here.
Your Majesty, we have not finished dressing you yet.
Do not bother. I shall head to Geunjeongjeon right now.
All rise for the King.
The former Minister of Personnel, Censor General,
and head of Supply Office sneaked into the palace.
and I arrested them all, Your Majesty.
Release them...
and let them up.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty,
please sit on your royal seat.
Stop!
What?
He is a fake. I am the real king.
What are you waiting for?
Hurry and drag that fake king down!
How dare you call me fake?
I am the real king.
I am the true king of Joseon.
(The Crown Prince is already in Geunjeongjeon.)
How did the Crown Prince get into Geunjeongjeon?
Which side is the real one?
This one?
That one?
Gosh.
Do you have any idea which is the real King?
They are wearing the same robe and the same mask.
How could I know?
We do not know which is the real Crown Prince,
but this is our chance.
We must find the real one and bring him in.
Lower the shutters!
Do not let anyone in!
- Yes, master. - Yes, master.
Which of you...
is His Majesty?
Please prove...
which of you is the real King.
Right here today,
the fate of Joseon will be decided.
(The Emperor)
Which of you is His Majesty?
Please prove which of you is the real King.
I shall prove myself first.
You will self-destruct in a few days.
How dare you try to reclaim the throne?
You will not get out alive today.
Take off their masks.
Look! He is the impostor!
What are you doing?
Arrest the impostor!