Episode 18
I-is anyone there?
Chae Gyeong, I am here.
You must have waited long.
♫ You approached silently ♫
♫ You smiled at me while offering your hand ♫
♫ The time we spent together ♫
♫ Is going far away like a dream ♫
Have you already forgotten how it feels to be touched by me?
♫ I can't stand the longing now which is growing so ♫
♫ Why didn't I know loving would be that? ♫
♫ I can't do anything else but leave even though I don't want to go ♫
♫ I know now that I can't live without you ♫
I've missed you.
Then why did you come so late?
I've waited too long.
I am sorry.
How is your foot?
It's all better.
Really?
Royal Mother took measures beforehand so I was able to avoid a severe injury.
I didn't know.
I was worried you might not be able to stand up or walk.
Then how would you eat or use the bathroom?
I was worried and lost sleep over it.
You should have told me beforehand.
That you'll be able to walk, that it won't be serious. You should have told me beforehand.
I am sorry about that too.
I am sorry that
I keep on saying sorry, Chae Gyeong.
Grand Prince Jin Seong just entered the palace. Did something happen?
He said he will join us after securing the safety of his family members in the palace.
The rebel forces will enter the capital soon.
We have to escort the Grand Prince Jin Seong out of the palace first.
Let's hurry and call the Capital Defense troops.
However, Chae Gyeong.
I know what you're going to say.
If you have entered the palace again,
you must have already decided and prepared for something.
If I say it was a decision to save you, us, our family,
and furthermore, the people of Joseon,
will you believe me?
I am sorry but I don't think you will be able to hear my answer now.
After you complete your task well,
after that, please carry out your goals into actions.
If you keep me and my family safe,
I will naturally come to believe and support you.
Right. Right.
Have you met my parents?
Father-in-law.
As the king's subject and as his family, I ask for forgiveness on his behalf.
It's not time for you to beg for forgiveness.
You should advise and scold the king,
and if you still don't succeed, it's time for you to abandon the king.
Which subject in the world would think of abandoning his lord?
After protecting his lord as long as he can,
if he still doesn't succeed, he will die fighting for his king.
This is the fate of a subject.
Then how about Chae Gyeong? Are you going to abandon your daughter?
Your lord has Chae Gyeong imprisoned in the palace as a hostage.
Still, you can say such things?
You must protect Chae Gyeong, Grand Prince. She's your wife!
I am no longer related to Chae Gyeong.
Rather, you don't have to dwell on me and my family.
I've met him.
I am relying on you.
Yes, Your Highness, the Grand Prince.
Chae Gyeong is my wife. I will keep that in mind.
Deed for house and land.
Have you met my parents?
I've met them.
That's why
you have to leave the palace now, and take your parents to a safe place.
Once the revolt begins,
the king's closest subjects and his in-laws will be in the most danger.
Property sales transaction record
I've found a place for you to go to.
I have to make a decision now.
Lady, you have to hurry.
Just pack lightly.
I understand.
His Majesty is entering.
Really delicious grapes have been provided as a royal offering, so I brought them here for you to taste.
Your subject does not deserve such grace.
Did you eat dinner?
I don't have an appetite.
I told you that you can't live or die as you wish.
Thus, not eating dinner is disobeying the royal command.
Do you really need to get punished before you come to your senses?
I am sorry.
If it's stuffy to stay in the palace,
do you want to go for a night hunt with me?
It will be fun to watch.
Hunting?
You want to go outside the palace?
What do you plan to do?
Once the king hears the rebel forces have arrived at the capital,
he will send out the troops of the Defense Ministry.
Then, there will only be the Royal Guards remaining in the palace.
At that time, I will have a talk with the king.
When will the rebel forces arrive?
It will take about half a day.
Do you want to come with me?
If it's for me, there is something I want to do more than hunting.
Can you grant it?
Sure. What is it?
I want to watch the moon.
You want to watch the moon?
Last time in his letter, my father
said the moon that can be seen from Gyeonghoeru Pavillion is very beautiful and he misses that.
Right. Today's weather is better suited to watch the moon than to go hunting.
Your subject does not deserve such grace.
I will leave after putting my outerwear.
I will stall for time by keeping the king in the palace.
However, it's dangerous.
If not, all of the Grand Prince's plans will go to waste. Then, everyone will be in danger.
Thus, you must take my parents to a safe place.
Please.
Yes.
Will you die as the king's subject
or will you live as the father of a daughter?
Then, how about Chae Gyeong?
Are you going to abandon your daughter?
Who are you people?
The Deputy Commander sent us.
He asked us to keep the First Vice Premier safe.
The Deputy Commander wants me to be protected?
What's happening here?
A revolt has happened at last.
Have you been bored all this time?
Why are you constantly looking back?
That's not true, Your Majesty.
Tell me.
People that are armed are following behind me and I'm just not used to that.
I feel like they are going to kill me any minute, Sire.
Maybe it's because I still have a memory of suffering through something so difficult.
The rebels have invaded.
The Snail Brides have invaded.
We should hurry and get away from here.
Hurry up.
Today, your world will end, Sire.
Why are you crying?
I thought of my family.
Family?
I guess you must miss the First Vice Premier and his wife.
No, Sire.
Then what?
No, you do not need to answer me.
I thought of the Warrior.
In the past, he fought with his younger brother,
which made him so upset that he cooled himself off by seeking a cool place.
Who is it?
That was the person I thought about.
It was hard to go by oneself
but he did a favor for a young girl when she asked.
At the end of the day he couldn't say no and he went to the tavern with the girl.
That's the person I was thinking of.
I was asked why I didn't run away by myself and how foolish I was.
Why aren't you waking up? Warrior!
He worried about the girl that was just laying there in the medicine room.
He isn't even the Jade Emperor for crying out loud.
He said that he would grant her a wish when he sees her again.
I thought of that person who was really friendly and warmhearted.
A lonely man who performed a ceremony for his dead mother who died alone.
A man who cried because of guilt over what happened to his younger brother.
I was recalling a man who lifted me up in the rain.
Every time I met with him, at every hour of the day
he was a man who was warm and kind, at least to me.
I was recollecting the memory of a man who was just lonely and in pain, that's all.
I cried because I really miss that person right now.
He must have died already.
He must have disappeared. He's gone, I say.
Yes, Sire.
That's why I cried.
Because I know that I won't be able to see him ever again.
Why did you kill him, Sire?
You could've saved him, Sire. You could've protected him!
You could've done that for him
and also for his younger brother, friends and family.
But you didn't do any of that, Your Majesty.
You, Sire...
You, Sire, have enough power to put fate in its rightful place and fix it.
And you also have the power to organize and find the right opportunity.
But you didn't do anything.
You can't even control your own heart so why are you trying to do that with other people's lives?
You're trying too hard, my dear. Trying too hard, I say.
You are intentionally trying to provoke me
and buying time...
What is the cause?
Why are you saying that all of a sudden, Sire?
Your Majesty!
We're in big trouble, Sire. They say that the rebels have barged in through the gate and are advancing further in.
What do you mean by the rebel soldiers?
People that were exiled into the provinces and the countryside were the ones who raised the military.
Was it because of this?
Were you holding me hostage until Yeok returns?
Didn't I already warn you?!
I can kill you at any time and I can also kill you and have you for myself!
There must not be anything that a King cannot possess.
It would be better if we die together.
I am guilty for daring to accept your love.
You are guilty for
abandoning Joseon.
We both will probably die
but a lot of people will be able to survive for that.
There will be war soon. The rebel soldiers are coming up towards the capital from the provinces.
And also the opposing groups in the palace to take your throne are surrounding the whole palace.
There are no troops to protect you here in the palace.
What did you say?
Everyone will abandon you and run away.
You have lost the public sentiment and the whole country has lost faith in you as well.
You also lost the support of the governing officials as well.
I'm going to kill you.
I should've killed you.
If I can't have you, I should just kill you and have my way with you!
That's what I should've done!
Your Majesty.
These are the first group of people that should be killed once the traitor's rebel troops arrive.
What do you mean rebels? You chopped off both of Yeok's hands and feet
but you are still being suspicious of him?!
You don't think I know that Yeok is perfectly fine?!
As if that's not enough, he is on his way over here with his rebel troops?
What do you mean by rebel troops?
What do you mean by all this?!
It's because Chae Gyeong is helping with all this.
Would there be any way that Chae Gyeong would dare to betray me and help somebody else other than Yeok?
- Mother! - I command you to watch this room exclusively!
There can't be anybody coming in and out of this room! Never!
Yes, Sire!
Royal Mother, are you all right?
I command and appoint one thousand men to Minister of Defense Ryu Ja Gwang.
Capture every single one who is part of this rebellious act and get rid of them.
Your wish is my command, Your Majesty!
If anyone is jumping into the bandwagon with this rebellious group,
it doesn't matter what positions they have, just grab them and kill them all. Do you understand?
From now on make sure that not even an ant can pass through here!
Yes, Sir!
Get all of the troops and gather them in front of the gate!
We will be advancing straight to the gate of the fortress as soon as everyone is summoned!
Yes, my Lord!
Long time no see,
Minister of Defense.
Your Highness the Grand Prince.
If you lead the troops outside of here, then you would
join forces with the rebel soldiers stationed outside of the fortress.
And you would be going against the forces surrounding the palace so you can fight back and forth.
The chances of winning are extremely low.
If you don't go out there despite all this,
then you would be guilty for going against the royal command and you would lose your head for that.
Would you rather die in the hands of the rebel soldiers?
Or would you rather die in the hands of the King?
Would you rather help me and be the number one contributor to this opposition?
Your Majesty. I will be utterly loyal.
Yeok.
It's alright. Your Highness, the Queen Dowager.
Don't worry.
What is going on?
Let him be.
He's on our side.
Pardon?
Yeok has already made him to be on our side.
What is going on?
His Majesty has moved the troops.
To stop the rebel forces stationed at the entrance of the capital.
Then, is it going according to the Grand Prince's plan?
Yes. Once all the Defense Ministry's troops leave the palace,
our troops will enter the palace and stop the king's guards.
Please endure a little longer, Your Highness.
It won't be long.
All command. Shoot.
Shoot.
They are fleeing very fast.
We shouldn't relax yet.
Orabeoni, now it's up to you.
Keep in mind. The gate must stay shut.
Yes.
Those rebel forces didn't even leave any proper weapon behind when they were fleeing.
There were only lots of farm tools left behind such as sickles, rakes, and hoes.
Grand Prince Jin Seong must have felt really rushed.
Seeing how he brought as his troops some low-lifes who only know how to farm.
How pitiful.
Still, you should guard properly.
The Minister of Defense stationed troops
at every gate into the capital.
Capital Defense troops, along with the Minister Seong, will guard the palace gate,
the Snail Brides disguised as the Defense Ministry's troops, will follow me into the Grand Palace.
Yes.
I will take the remaining troops to block the insects.
We must eliminate those closest to the king to prevent commotion.
I understand.
Let's move now.
Yes.
This is the Minister of Defense. Make way.
Yes.
- Halt! - I am the Minister of Defense Ryu Ja Gwang.
Make way!
You cannot go any further.
I have an urgent report for the king.
Then
leave the troops here.
Only you will come with me.
Protect this place with the Royal Guards.
Yes.
Oh my, Minister Ryu. You're working hard.
It's nothing.
I have entered the place since there is something I must personally report to the king.
Oh, yes.
The first rule of Sun Tzu's The Art of War is to win without a battle,
and you have made that happen today.
This is called capturing the city without any blood loss...
Or rather, shall I call it winning the war without any blood loss?
We still need to wait and see. Then.
Oh, yes.
Yes. You have won without shedding any blood.
Yes, Your Majesty. They were low-lifes that weren't worth fighting.
How about Yeok?
Did Yeok show up?
Grand Prince Jin Seong wasn't present.
Really? Yeok must also have known they had no chance of winning.
You must capture Yeok.
As long as we capture Yeok who is the root of the treason,
all the traitors will scatter.
Do you really think so?
They say that heaven bestows the king.
The heart of the heavens is same as the heart of the people.
Even if you kill Grand Prince Jin Seong,
if the heavens don't acknowledge the king, will the people
and the heavens forgive the king?
What did you say?
Who are you? Daring to say such nonsense in the royal presence?
How, how can you be?
Now I must put everything back to its rightful place.
Did you increase the troops?
No, they are the troops of the Defense Ministry that the Minister of Defense brought with him.
Troops of the Defense Ministry—
- That is so. Work hard. - Yes.
Lord, you said the troops of the Defense Ministry are all stationed by the gate.
It's capturing the city without any blood loss.
They have kept the Defense Ministry's troops outside the capital, and entered with the rebel forces.
You are saying...
It seems as though Ryu Ja Gwang has betrayed us.
It's too late.
With the troops inside the palace, we can't stop them.
His Majesty is already...
Lord, go seek what you serve.
I will seek the person that I serve.
Since you have given me a chance,
I will give you a chance as well.
What did you say?
This is the last chance given to us brothers.
What's happened?
What is it?
What's going on? What are you doing?
What are you doing?
Hurry, Grand Prince.
The Minister of Defense and the Grand Prince have just entered the royal hall.
The royal hall?
Now, he will be facing his last obstacle.
Why were you born?
I am sorry for being born.
However, as long as I was born, I must fulfill my duty and responsibility.
Thus, just leave.
I guess this fight will only end if one of us dies.
Grand Prince! Your Majesty!
What?
While the two brothers prepared their last time,
the troops led by the high ministers wishing to depose the king,
and the king's direct protection command, the inner forbidden guards, were on standby with their arrows drawn on bows.
Inside and outside the palace, the place was overflowing with those who fled to seek their path to be alive.
Grand Prince.
Hurry and slash me.
Isn't this the moment you so desperately waited for?
Grand Prince, you must not.
What are you waiting for?
Did you come all the way here without even the nerve to kill me?
Grand Prince.
Great. This is great.
Finally, Yeok, you became king.
Alas, you became king.
Thanks to that, my revenge is complete.
When you abandoned the royal throne
to pick up Chae Gyeong's hand
to seek for happiness. Since that moment,
I've plotted my revenge upon you.
How could I torment you more thoroughly?
I agonized and agonized over it.
And you got merely this as your answer?
Like this...
to come to your downfall so bitterly?
No. It was to make you King.
Make you king, and the pain I've endured living as King,
I cast off all to you.
I'll let you experience it exactly the same. It was my resolution.
Yeok. My younger brother.
Just what agony awaits you in this path.
Do you not wonder?
Hyungnim.
You may look forward to it.
Is it all finished now?
Yes. It's all finished now.
Now, can we be happy?
Of course. Now we...
can be happy.
Laugh!
If you will not cry for me, it would be better to laugh!
Laugh to your content!
Wife, I'm sorry.
Even if I try to stop you,
you will still go, right?
I've told His Majesty I'd be his father.
That I'd be his family for him.
But I failed to keep that promise.
Probably, this is the last chance
I can keep that promise.
I understand.
I will escort you on your path.
Since it may be a long path,
how could I send you away by yourself?
Please wait a moment.
It's been so long since you've worn it, it's wrinkled.
I can iron it quickly.
Robe worn by higher ranking officials
This time, I am not going as His Majesty's subject.
I am going as His Majesty's family.
Can you not wait even for one moment?
What about our Chae Gyeong, Your Excellency?
Our Chae Gyeong will be alright then, right, Your Excellency?
It's all my fault.
I'm sorry, Wife.
Your Excellency.
Back away.
The order is to block you if you move.
Open the door!
Chief Royal Secretary.
So you've come, alas.
That's quite tremendous.
We battled with our lives wagered so the loser should hand over his life, right?
How is it that the First Vice Premier and Deputy Commander are both so clogged up?
I always leave open a clear way to spare my life.
It seems there isn't a way for you to leave here alive.
Deputy Commander, you will come to open that path for me.
If His Majesty finds out it was you who blew the whistle on the Snail Brides,
will he leave you alone?
I've shown clemency and saved your life once.
Now it's your turn to give me the same, it seems.
Just because a new era has opened, we can't fill everything with only the new.
I shall put effort towards you and the new king in the future.
What do we do, Deputy Commander? Give us your order.
What reason would there be to kill me for certain?
I am someone who could come to be much help.
Those offerings are my first gift to Your Excellency.
Let him go.
Deputy Commander.
Did you go on a wrong path?
It's not here but...
This is the right path, Your Lordship.
Scum, what is this act you're doing!
It's an honor I could escort Your Excellency on the final path.
What?
You scum.
Scum.
Your family will be spared as promised.
And as promised, I will allow you to live as a villager in a nameless mountain village.
Slave deed
Thank you.
And you need to pay the rest of what you owe too.
Though your body is crippled,
you will finally now live as a human.
Move aside.
Even if I am to be hauled away, I should at least bid farewell to my king.
Nok Su is here.
Your Majesty.
Flee even if it's now.
You need to keep your life in order to do whatever it is.
What could your consort do without her king?
Does a flower bloom for long?
A flower blooms beautifully for one short season,
and it will wither.
Your consort, in this lifetime,
I came and lived as Your Majesty's flower before leaving.
That is enough to satisfy me.
With Your Majesty's hand,
please kill me.
Because I do not know the reason for this dreary feeling,
Because I do not know with what state of mind I should gaze upon you,
it is better to close my eyes.
Clearly it went as I willed. Why is it that I feel so dreary?
We greet Your Highness, the Queen Dowager.
Overnight, a grand event happened and I too was much agitated.
However it settled quite well and it was indeed with Heaven's help.
It is so, Your Highness the Queen Dowager.
Hence your subjects have come here to ask for your permission.
We recommend crowning Grand Prince Jin Seong as the new king.
May you grant us your permission.
I do not know if Grand Prince Jin Seong could really shoulder such grand and laden burden.
We deem him fully capable of doing so well.
Yes, it is thanks to Grand Prince's quick action
that we could capture the deposed king without much resistance.
We also blocked the rebellion army and an internal war among the standing army.
He is the king we have waited for.
Then do so.
Royal Father. Royal Mother.
Crown Prince.
Royal Grandmother.
The king has lost his virtues on the upper end.
And the common people are toiling in misery.
With our state in crisis, we have worried in wake and sleep.
Hence we crown Grand Prince Jin Seong as our king, overseer of our state.
All military and scholarly officials of the court, follow suit.
Henceforth deposed king, Lee Yoong, shall be demoted as Prince and exiled to Gwanghwa Gyodong.
Deposed queen of Sin clan shall move to reside in Jeongcheong Palace.
Deposed crown prince Lee Hwang to Jeongseon. Grand Prince Changnyeong to Suahn.
Prince Yangpyeong Lee Yi exiled to Jaechan.
Chae Gyeong, are you alright?
Please look at me.
We greet Your Highness, the Queen.
Your Highness the Queen. Your Highness the Queen.
Please forgive me.
First Vice Premier and Premier Madam passed away.
Step aside.
Our order was to stop you if you moved.
Only His Majesty can cast orders on me.
Step aside.
Your Excellency.
Your Excellency. Your Excellency!
Wife, upon our death, let us be one and protect Chae Gyeong only.
For failing to live completely as a father and for failing to die as a royal subject, I'm sorry.
Father. Father!
Father. Fa—
Mom. Mother. Mother.
Mother.
The deposed king has been moved to the Eastern Palace, so now Your Highness the Grand Prince...
No, Your Majesty should be seated in the Grand Palace.
Your coronation will take place soon, so you must make preparations.
I understand.
Royal Mother, is your royal body well?
I'm fine. Today, I am all recovered.
However, why is your expression like this?
I made it through a big crisis, but I do not feel happy.
I have lost too much.
And I gravely fear what is to be lost in the future.
You have thus far lived being always chased by death and with exorbitant apprehension.
So you must have forgotten how to enjoy happiness.
Now, only happiness exists.
Then, I shall go to my wife.
Yes. She's contributed greatly to the capturing the deposed king, I hear.
What?
What happened?
Mother. It's my first time coming home in a long time, but will you only sleep like this?
You should cook me food, nag me, and slap my shoulder.
Mother. Mother.
Mother.
Father.
Father, I'm sorry I got mad at you.
Father, I knew very well where you stood but I was just resentful.
Father. You don't have to be a wonderful father.
You don't need to be an extraordinary subject or anything of that sort. So please.
Please just be alive.
Father, please.
Father-in-law!
I...
How... why...
Chae Gyeong! Chae Gyeong, wake up!
Live only as my son-in-law. Only as Chae Gyeong's husband. Only as the King's younger brother.
After protecting his lord as long as he can,
if he still doesn't succeed, he will die fighting for his king.
This is the fate of a subject.
Why did you make such a foolish choice?
Why?
Why!
My lady.
Nanny. You were alive!
Are you safe? You're not injured anywhere?
Yes, my lady.
You're really alive, right? You're really alright, right?
Yes, I'm alive.
Nanny, I think I had a nightmare.
Do you know what I saw? What I saw was my mother and father.
But that's not possible, right? It's a nightmare, right?
Nanny. Let's go see my parents. Now. Quickly.
My lady. My lady.
My lady.
What do you mean?
You don't need to worry about the Lady of the House.
She will likely get off of that seat on her own.
Nanny.
Yes. I'm right here.
Can you bring me a dressing stand?
What?
Yes.
Look here.
Yes, Your Highness.
I plan to go see His Majesty, but I can't go looking like this.
I will alert them to prepare.
Let them know to put extra care into it.
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Chae Gyeong.
This is where the heart is. That way I'll die.
♫ I want to hold you, the one whose brilliance chills my heart ♫
♫ I'm afraid you might fly away when the wind blows ♫
♫ Because your smile ♫