(This drama is a fiction based on history.)
(The contents may be different from the actual events.)
Lady Shin was in league with the dethroned king,
and have rebelliously helped him escape.
Her crime is beyond imagination.
Execute her publicly.
Your Highness.
You knew we were never meant to be.
I can finally accept...
what you said, Father.
However, we met and fell in love.
And we must take the responsibility.
Your Majesty.
Is the Second State Councilor here?
What about Commandant of Palace Guards?
No, that is not why I am here.
Your Highness.
- Your Highness. - This is terrible.
- How can this be? - I feel bad for her.
Who pushed up the time of execution, and why?
It was the Queen Dowager's order.
She was not sure what the previous king would do.
In this life,
I wish to protect...
the love we had with death.
Do you have any last words?
I do not.
Carry out the dethroned queen's execution.
In my next life,
I will never meet you,
Your Majesty.
- No, Your Highness. - Your Highness.
Your Highness.
- Your Highness. - Your Highness.
- Let her go. - Your Highness.
Stop right there.
Stop.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
Chae Gyung.
What have I done to you?
Let us go.
Move aside.
This is where the previous king was last seen.
We conducted a search, but we could not find him.
We might find him in his relative's home.
Tell His Majesty that I will do as he wishes.
I will turn over the culprits.
Why did you suddenly change your mind?
I do not think we have the time to nitpick.
Shin Chae Gyung's time of execution was moved up,
so His Majesty ran over to the execution ground.
What about the Queen?
She saved her life for now,
but if we do not hurry,
His Majesty may get in trouble.
Where are the culprits?
Go down to Mapo River Dock.
Mapo River Dock? Let us go.
Okay.
Suk Hee and Gwang Oh...
moved Seo Noh's grave to Dongjeokjeon yesterday.
Yes, I have heard.
You did not come.
I was busy with work.
I found out that you have not gone for three days.
And at that time,
you were seen where my brother was found.
Why did you do this?
Is this the kind of world...
that you had hoped for?
How did things...
How did things get this far?
I will give you a chance to correct what you did.
This is your final chance.
Your Majesty, Commander of Palace Guards is here.
Come in.
Your Majesty, we caught the real culprit...
behind the previous king's escape.
His Majesty is here.
- Greetings, Your Majesty. - Greetings, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, these men attacked...
the previous king on his way to exile.
Why did you do this?
I have committed a mortal sin.
I asked, why did you do this?
We...
took orders.
What kind of order?
Attack the previous king,
so that...
he gets a chance to escape.
- Eunuch Kim. - Yes.
I deliberately mentioned Second State Councilor.
I did that,
so you would run there while he escapes.
Who is it?
Who ordered you to do such a thing?
Tell me.
It was Third State Councilor.
I am falsely accused, Your Majesty.
Are you?
Eunuch Kim worked for the previous king.
I believe he wants to get revenge...
by coming between you and me.
He is right.
You cannot punish him...
on their words without any proper investigation.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Above all,
Third State Councilor is the biggest contributor...
who helped you become the king.
Your Majesty.
Please conduct an investigation...
and find out the truth behind this.
Of course, I will.
I cannot punish a major contributor...
of this country just on someone's words.
I am ever grateful, Your Majesty.
Imprison the criminals.
I will interrogate them myself.
Take them away, and lock them up.
- Yes, Commander. - Yes, Commander.
Are you giving Lady Shin the position of Queen?
I am not giving her anything.
It was not my place to begin with.
Forget it.
If you are going to say something that pathetic,
leave for Ming Dynasty right away.
It does not have to be you.
I have many ways to get to my goal.
Were you determined to kill her, after all?
If Chae Gyung...
dies in your hands, on your command,
how could I go on?
Her parents...
and all of her relatives...
died in your hands, in your command.
Do you honestly believe she can live...
the rest of her life...
without despising or blaming you?
I am sure...
you cannot look straight into her eyes anymore.
Because you are sorry.
Because you are distressed.
Because you feel anxious.
Am I wrong?
You are right, Mother.
There was a time when I could not look at her.
However,
if I talk to her,
caress her,
and console her,
then her wounded heart will be healed.
It will be healed one day.
"A husband and wife must stay together,"
"tell one another that they love them..."
"and care for one another."
"That is what we should do."
Chae Gyung told me that.
So Mother,
please...
leave us be.
I beg you.
Who are you?
I am Seo Noh.
I was wrong.
Since you are not here with me,
I thought it did not matter how I lived.
I heard love means respecting your...
loved one's ways and copying them.
That is why love is hard.
I realized the moment I saw Shin Chae Gyung.
Loving someone truly means...
fully respecting your loved one's wishes.
Even if...
you have to face death.
Therefore...
I will save Shin Chae Gyung,
the one you held dear.
By doing so...
I will pay the debt I owe you.
Chae Gyung.
Prince...
Are you okay?
What happened?
Why did you save me?
Why did you do what you did?
You should have said someone framed you.
You should have asked me...
to catch the maligning forces.
Why did you not do that?
How could you think to die first?
What if there is something scarier than death?
What then?
What if I can protect it only by dying?
What should I do then?
Chae Gyung.
Why can I not...
be yours entirely?
Your Majesty.
I hate myself.
For the first time...
I am so resentful of myself...
for being who I am.
It is okay.
You bled so much, but you are still alive.
What about Chae Gyung?
What happened to her?
Do not worry.
The Queen is safe.
You should not try to move.
Please...
let me go.
Is there...
a reason you must live?
I started all this.
I must put an end to it.
The Prince used this for a long time.
He could not breathe, walk or smile properly...
for five years.
Now it is your turn.
Where did it...
Goodness. What a fright you gave me.
Why do you treat this spoon like a treasure?
Your mother bought this when she was preparing...
your wedding gifts.
In case anyone tries to harm you,
she told me to use these for your meals...
and to only use this silver spoon...
Why did I bring...
In case I might get killed?
Young Lady.
This is not living.
You should not live like this.
Poor Young Lady.
All three of them committed suicide.
I believe the Deputy Commander did this.
Your Majesty, the prisoners who can prove...
the Queen's innocence are all dead.
We cannot be sure if what they said about...
the Queen's innocence is true.
We do not know what the dethroned king is up to.
We must do something about the Queen,
the only witness and suspect.
You must depose the Queen...
for the royal court and the family...
I will not allow it.
If you assert disposing the Queen...
without new proof that she committed a crime,
I will punish you for contempt.
Your Majesty.
Please do not disregard your loyal subjects.
- Please, Your Majesty. - Please, Your Majesty.
I have put too much effort into this.
If I give up now, I will end up with nothing.
Who gave the current king his throne?
It was all thanks to us...
who fought against King Yonsan, the tyrant.
The King is blind and deaf.
He is not listening to his ministers' advice.
Therefore,
we will deliver the people's...
and the divinity's message to the King.
The snail wives will continue...
to deliver the messages to the King,
as it is our destiny.
- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.
I will go to the Ming Dynasty.
I told you to do so.
What is the use for what you are doing now?
Without me,
the Queen's position would be meaningless.
Therefore for the safety of our family...
you should not turn your back against the King...
You are still naive.
You are not the only niece I have.
Better yet...
what use is a niece when I have a daughter.
Over here.
Let her in.
Yes, my lord.
Father, did you call for me?
Uncle.
Say hello. This is my stepdaughter.
Are you going to marry her to the King?
Why not?
That will make me the Queen's father.
His Majesty is here.
Your Majesty, you are here.
Are you feeling better?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Did you quarrel with the ministers again?
How could we...
run the country without quarreling?
I heard a discussion about...
my future has been going on for a few days.
Who dared to tell you such unnecessary news?
- Apologies, Your Majesty. - Apologies, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
I do not know much about the customs...
and manners of the royal family.
But...
I have heard...
ordinary women say goodbye...
by cutting off the ribbon of their top.
Chae Gyung.
If I do not cut you off first,
I know you will never let go of me.
I want a divorce.
Please let me do that,
Your Majesty.
You know...
what my answer will be.
We can reconcile.
We can overcome, have courage,
be determined, promise, and comfort each other.
There are so many things...
we can do for each other.
Why would you want to break up...
without trying any of those?
I cannot do that because I made you suffer so much.
No.
I will not do that.
Your Majesty, think of your heart...
when you were still...
living under the name Nak Cheon,
and you pushed me away with all of your lies.
You have told me numerous lies...
because you were concerned about my safety.
Is that not right?
That is the case for me.
All I wish for...
is your safety.
On the road which you will now take,
there will be Seo Noh,
there will be my parents,
and countless people of the land of Joseon.
Please do the things you decided to do.
After you achieve your goals,
you can come back to me.
Why can you...
not be with me on that road?
Because we continuously die.
You and I both...
continue to be put in near-death situations.
If we stay together, this will never end.
You have now become...
a king of a country.
That is why...
you must now fear death.
So keep yourself alive in any way possible.
Chae Gyung.
The biggest comfort...
which we can give to one another...
is that we are alive.
If we stay healthy and alive for a long time,
it will be the proof...
that we love each other very much.
If I live for a year,
that means I loved you for a year.
If I live for 10 years, I loved for 10 years.
If I live 100 years,
does that mean I loved you for 100 years?
Yes.
We do not have to be together.
But if we love each other,
staying alive itself...
is the proof that we loved each other.
Just like when you go away from home for a while...
because you have many important things to do,
your home...
will always be in the place where you left it.
Do you not think...
this place could be that home?
This place...
is the Queen's home.
I...
am just Shin Chae Gyung.
Is this his house?
- Move aside. - Move aside.
- My goodness. - Unbelievable.
Are you sure about that?
My goodness.
His Majesty is here.
- Greetings, Your Majesty. - Greetings, Your Majesty.
I heard about the uproar in the city last night.
Apparently, snail wives were seen once again.
Third State Councilor,
have you see them?
Your Majesty.
That cannot be just the will of snail wives.
I saw the people gathered together...
in one heart and one voice on my way here.
I see. Did you see them?
I did, Your Majesty.
You may be able to ignore the ministers' wills,
but you should never ignore the will...
of destiny and the people.
You are right.
I should not.
In that case,
will you dethrone...
It looks like...
you are mistaken.
What is this?
- Your Majesty. - "During the process..."
"of taking the dethroned King's assets,"
"Park Won Jong bought out houses..."
"of Shim Geun Son, Kim Sook Hwa,"
Choi Sook Won, Jang Son and many others..."
"to enlarge his own house,"
"and built up many houses for himself."
"Allegedly, Park Won Jong..."
"met often with Jo Gye Hyeong,"
"Kim Su Gyeong and many more..."
"and received requests from local authorities..."
- Hurry up. - "for their post."
"Their meeting itself was designed for bribery,"
"and many authorities are well aware of..."
Your Majesty, I am falsely accused.
Let the witnesses in.
I do not know them.
You...
Will you kill all the witnesses...
again this time?
Do you have more to say?
Fifth Secretary.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Strip Park Won Jong of his position...
and confiscate the assets he unjustly acquired.
Also...
exile him as his punishment...
Your Majesty, it is all a vicious slander.
I am being framed.
If he admits his guilt and repent,
I will stop at this. However...
if he keeps denying the charges...
and feigns ignorance,
I will consider it as contempt.
He will be beheaded...
and his entire family will be annihilated.
As you command, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
You cannot do this.
Your Majesty.
Your Highness.
Are you leaving?
I am sorry for making you worry.
There is no need to apologize.
Please take this.
Some relationships...
can only be protected by being separated.
All you can do is watch over him from afar.
I...
will bear that in mind.
Your Majesty.
From now on,
I live to love and miss you.
I will keep on living...
to love and miss you more.
We find our own way...
to protect each other.
I...
never ran away.
Therefore, the Queen...
never helped me escape.
I must deliver this message.
Your Majesty. Commander of Palace Guards is here.
Let him in.
Your Majesty.
Lee Yung returned to his place of exile.
He sent a written statement...
saying that he had never escaped,
and the Queen had been framed.
My brother...
must have wanted to save Chae Gyung too.
It is scorching hot, day and night...
so I am worried about your health.
You always feel more exhausted in the summer.
You should refrain from drinking,
consume healthy food, and take herbal medicine...
to gain more energy.
I think about and miss Your Majesty...
day and night.
I hope my earnest wish will touch...
Your Majesty's heart.
Yung.
Are you okay, Yung?
Yeok...
Yeok, is that you?
Yes.
It is me, Yeok.
It is me.
I came here to see you.
Go.
How dare you come here?
What did you want to see?
Did you come here to see how much you can mock me?
Yung. Yung.
Yung.
Are you awake?
Can you see me now?
Everything...
is meaningless.
So meaningless.
I wanted to prove...
that Father's decision...
was wrong.
One day,
I opened my eyes and I saw...
that I became a tyrant like he prophesied.
I was just like my mother,
who brought upon her own peril...
because she was blinded...
with jealousy.
Yeok.
Yes.
I...
did not hate you.
I hated the reflection of myself...
in your eyes.
And...
in Chae Gyung's eyes,
which are just like your eyes.
I was too embarrassed to face your eyes.
That is why I tried to kill you two.
That is why I wanted to ruin you two.
I just...
really hated...
and resented...
myself.
I finally managed to split up you two.
That is why...
I am being punished like this.
That is what this is.
Yung.
I...
will receive the rest of my punishment...
after...
I die.
There he is.
He is finally...
reaching out his hand to me.
Yung.
Why are you leaving me so soon?
Please...
rest in peace...
in a world...
without any hate...
or resentment.
Aunt.
I brought some snacks.
I was making some padded clothes...
for His Majesty and the Crown Prince.
I was not able to..
give him a birthday gift.
I will help you.
My lady.
Someone is here from the palace, no, Gyo-dong.
The dethroned king...
has passed away.
Mother, happy birthday.
Crown Prince, this is a hairpin.
How did you get this?
Do you like it?
Of course.
Try it on.
Yeok can be the King.
Then I...
will be Chae Gyung's husband,
Second State Councilor's son-in-law,
and your...
son.
I will live like that.
Your Highness.
Please...
be my daughter in your next life.
I will cherish you dearly.
Your Highness.
The horse must be tired.
Let us rest here for a bit.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Highness.
Eunuch Song.
The King is at your gate.
He said his horse is tired...
and would like to stay a while.
Wait for a bit.
I will make some horse feed.
Her Highness said...
she will make some horse feed.
Horse feed?
And me? Did she ask about me?
Chae Gyung.
Feed your horse.
Chae Gyung.
I apologize for not being able to greet you.
Sorry, I will get you more.
Can you show me your face?
Only a door stands between us.
Do you really wish me to leave like this?
"No."
Say that one word.
Then I will open this door...
and run to you.
And I will embrace you.
Have you forgotten?
Facing each other,
being together,
holding each other,
is not the only way to love.
We are unlike others.
We do not stay together.
We do not meet each other.
That is how we promised to stay true to each other.
Are you giving in already?
Do you really wish me to leave like this?
Husband. Your Highness.
Husband.
I cannot do this.
I cannot live without you.
Do not leave.
Let us stay together.
Ta-da.
What is this?
It fits perfectly.
Look.
You have a boy, a son.
Oh, my. My goodness.
Chae Gyung.
Your Majesty.
I thank you greatly for the offer...
to reinstate me.
But...
you already are the father of a son.
If I were to return as your queen,
our future son...
would be involved in the fight for power.
Think about you and your brother.
You...
would not want what happened to you...
to happen to your children.
- The sleeve. - Yes.
Half a measure.
- And the shoulder. - Yes.
- One measure. - One measure.
Do I need more...
My goodness.
Just borrow one of his outfits.
Why are we doing this?
Ignorance plagues the body.
Use your brains for once.
I know you suffered so much.
I know you were so afraid.
We must not...
create such a tragedy ever again.
I know that...
you are being strong for the both of us.
That is enough.
(1544, 38 years later)
(39th year of King Jung Jong)
Eunuch Song.
Yes, Your Majesty.
His Majesty, the King is unwell.
Open all the gates to the King's chambers.
Do not stop anyone...
and do not stand guard.
Your Highness.
When did you get here?
Bird Dropping.
Did you wait for long?
I am used to waiting for you.
Am I too late?
No.
You are not late at all.
Was it very hard?
I am very proud of you.
You...
did very well until now.
I knew you were waiting for me.
That is how I managed.
I knew you were always there for me.
I also...
did what I had to.
Now...
I will stay at your side.
Now you can rest in peace at home.
I am finally home.
I love you.
Husband.
Just once is enough.
(Thank you for watching.)
(Queen for Seven Days)