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Episode 9
- Hanseong Royal Palace, Baekje -
The council shall soon enter deliberation.
But Father is late.
Mentioning the council in that manner,
it almost feels as if you were our crown prince.
And I shall make sure that no one...
No one will ever hamper your glorious path.
Not even the fact that poisonous berries were in her possession?
It's more pungent than I can ever remember.
Father...
Providence never reneges on one's destiny.
For at last it gave me a chance to reclaim the throne which always belonged to me.
You sordid, vile rogue...
Is this how you are going to avenge four decades of shame?
Sordid?!
And who should you owe your survival to?
Gutae...
Ever since the age of six, you were nothing but my varlet.
The man who wiped my blade clean, polished my armor and horse.
When everyone was clamoring for your head,
I was moved by compassion and spared you instead.
And all you could do to repay your greatest benefactor...
was usurping the throne,
and even my future spouse Haesosul!
That vainglorious compassion of yours is not what kept me alive.
It was Baekje's fervent wish to see me survive!
Wrench yourself in this manner, and the poison will ravage your heart even sooner...
If demise is what awaits me,
for Yeogu and Baekje's sake,
I shall take you to the Pearly Gates with me!
Hasten! His Highness is waiting for us!
I shall not disgrace your final journey to the netherworld...
by piercing your flesh with this sword of mine.
Your time has long gone by.
It is no more...
My Baekje has yet to begin!
Is this what demise felt like?
I am suddenly sweltered by great clarity.
The path Baekje must walk on is now clearly before me.
The man destined to uphold Grandmother Soseono's great legacy...
and subjugate Goguryeo was neither you nor I.
Providence bestowed the crown upon me to pave the way for Yeogu.
Absurd!
Did the poison miss its intended target and head up here?
Do not let Goguryeo pillage this Baekje of ours.
You would never be able to contend with Sayu's might.
Baekje's next ruler...
is Yeogu, and not you!
Fare well.
And do not resent me.
For the one who poisoned you...
was Haesosul.
I might have resented you and fervently wished for your demise,
but I wish you a peaceful journey.
As I pledged to you in the past,
I shall grant Your Majesty a placid repose at the stone tomb.
Yeojun...
You foolish, feeble man...
Your indulgence is bringing destruction upon Baekje...
Will you just bestow Baekje upon Goguryeo?
And His Majesty?
Any tidings from the ancestral palace?
Yeochan went to escort him back.
Hyungnim. Hyungnim!
Hyungnim, what is the matter?
Don't follow us.
His Majesty is inside.
Father...
Father!
Father!!
Father.
What... What happened to you?
You cannot allow... internal strife to bring downfall upon Baekje.
Yeogu... is your father's heir.
I cannot allow that.
I shall never acknowledge that!
Chan...
Hyungnim!
Father!
Father.
I will summon a physician.
Hand me that sword...
You must be treated immediately!
Give me that sword now!
I, Biryu,
hereby proclaim Buyeogu...
as Baekje's twelfth ruler.
Take it...
As our ruler,
what is your foremost calling?
Should I gain the Hansu, the peninsula will be ours.
And should I conquer the western seas, we could vie for the Middle Plains*. [*aka Middle Kingdom, what Chinese dynasties used to refer the Yellow River basin to]
That is what my calling entails.
But be always mindful of Goguryeo,
and of Sayu's every move.
You may do the same for Lord Wirye,
but you cannot let any conflict result in internal strife which would ravage our nation.
Who is responsible for this, Father?
Was it Lord of Wirye Palace Buyeojun?
And should that not be the case, then who?
Do not try to avenge your father...
Your shan't renege on your calling for such paltry whims.
You must...
You must protect our nation.
Grandmother Soseono.
May you watch over your grandson,
Baekje's twelfth ruler Buyeogu.
Yeogu...
Father!
Father...
At long last I was living by your side as your son...
You cannot abandon me this way.
Father...
Father!
Were you responsible?
What are you trying to say?
Are you responsible for feeding His Majesty those poisonous berries,
and leaving your son without a father?
Did His Majesty perish?
Mother!!
I did it...
How could I let you perish,
and still call myself a mother?
If asked to choose between you and your father,
it is my duty as your mother to save you.
I cannot believe it...
Father... Father would never wish for my demise...
I had hoped you would never have to learn of this...
But resentment and distress will have to await.
For you must now seize control of the council and ascend our throne.
If you still wish to punish your mother, do it as our ruler.
Geom, escort Lord Heukgang here,
and Payoon, you escort Seung and Councilor Jin.
Should they ask the reason, what should we tell them?
His Majesty has fallen.
Your Highness...
There is no time to waste. Hasten.
Father.
- Your Highness. - Ahh... It's you.
Lord Yeomun and his troops are standing by at Mount Akgye.
They must hasten and traverse the Ungni River,
going unnoticed by Jinjeong and Lord Heukgang.
Councilor Hae, you head to the council.
Yes, Your Highness.
What is his malady and how serious is it?
That is all I have heard from His Highness.
Let us go.
Ohh... Summon the physician as well.
Something must have happened to His Majesty.
His Highness Prince Yeogu is urgently looking for you.
Is anything the matter?
- His Highness... - His Majesty summoned us.
The council is awaiting his arrival...
I shall join you.
Just remain here.
He did not summon you, so I will escort His Majesty back.
Where are you so hurriedly heading to, Milord?
Just a brief saunter to the ancestral palace, nothing more.
I am pleased to see you visit the palace so often as of late.
Then...
Should we not try to stop them?
And how would you suppose we do that?
It is the Jin's troops what we must stop,
for the future of Wirye Palace depends upon this fateful day.
I am Lord of Wirye Palace Buyeojun, seeking Your Majesty's audience.
Prince!
If my relentless fealty for Baekje must be rewarded with demise,
I shall gleefully accept my fate once I have helped Your Highness to the throne!
I am well aware of how you inveigled my mother into doing this,
so I shall first rid myself of that cantankerous tongue of yours!
Prince!
Compose yourself.
Here is the edict His Majesty was about to issue to the council.
Peruse it, and then slit my tongue or whatever else you wish!
I, Biryu, was moved to make a momentous decision for Baekje's sake,
and I expect you nobles of the council to comply with my wishes.
Sayu's might knows no limit, whilst old age keeps enfeebling me.
Would our current crown prince be able to contend with Goguryeo's might?
His ineptitude forced us to sacrifice Gomori Fortress,
so I can no longer allow him to inherit this throne of mine.
Which is why I hereby proclaim Prince Buyeogu as crown prince.
And in repentance for leading 4,000 men to their bitter demise,
I condemn Buyeochan to his death.
This is not possible...
Father could not possibly do this to me...
I was not responsible for His Majesty's death.
It was Yeogu, for instigating the Jin clan with the ultimate goal of usurping the throne.
What you say is right.
His ambitions blinded him into bringing demise upon my father!
It was to take the throne and my father away from me!
Yeogu is the only one responsible for this.
That is right, Prince.
And that is why you must join forces with Wirye Palace,
and repel the treacherous varmints supporting Yeogu's usurping whims.
I shall treasure this myself.
That is preposterous.
This is war.
And as I am staking my life by aiding His Highness' cause,
I shall hold onto this until my sacrifices are duly rewarded.
Hand me that edict at once!
This is the only tie keeping Wirye Palace and Your Highness together!
Cut this tie, and you will lose our military support as well.
So you forced your father to witness your demise...
Were you so eager to meet our ancestors?
Sire...
Who will Prince Yeogu depend upon now?
How could he perish so suddenly?
Had he not recovered from the wounds he suffered at the hands of Goguryeo?
Physician, speak the truth.
It... It is poison.
May you slay this humble servant...
Sire...
How...
How could you be subjected to this infamy?
How can your humble servants...
How!
How could we be defiant enough to survive after this?
Sire...
Sire!
Sire...
Fine.
You may conserve that edict.
It is not a mere edict, but what your very existence depends on!
Would I dare use it to coerce His Highness?!
It is merely an expedient to secure Wirye Palace's survival.
But I cannot trust you.
This is no time for conflict,
but to join forces and together contend with Yeogu.
You may have the edict.
Your humble servant Buyeojun...
shall devote his life to help Your Highness to the throne.
Milord, halt at once.
Why are Wirye Palace troops traversing the river without Hanseong's consent?
What unit are you from?
The 2nd Royal Palace Guard, originally from Saori Fortress.
One of the Jin's minions, then.
They're attacking us!
Archers!
Hold your tears.
My heavens have fallen... Baekje's heavens have fallen.
It is no time for tearful abandon.
We must find why, for what reason and who is responsible for this,
who is trying to bring destruction upon our nation and why!
Seung, bear his words in mind.
I have suspicions regarding Wirye Palace.
I believe it wasn't Buyeojun, but His Highness the Crown Prince.
What cruelty...
How could Yeochan...
Are you not well aware of the fact that His Majesty...
was going to proclaim Yeogu Hyungnim as the new crown prince?
We must alert Moro Fortress at once.
The Royal Guard must be deployed to apprehend Yeochan.
Send the hawk and summon Chief Marshal Jingodo.
Councilor Jin, contact Yeohwi and mobilize the Royal Guard.
Would Prince Yeohwi ever try to contend with the crown prince?
Yeochan is no longer the crown prince.
Before he met his demise,
His Majesty handed me Chogo the Great's sacred sword.
I have no authority over the Royal Guard,
and we can only count on 3,000 troops from Choseongni Fortress.
The Royal Guard protecting Hanseong alone numbers in the 2,000 strong.
Should Jingodo mobilize Moro Fortress' troops, we'd find ourselves outnumbered.
Chief Marshal Jin will need at least two days to arrive,
so we must seize control of the Royal Guard before sunset,
and the Royal Palace as well.
With Jinjeong holding authority over the Royal Guard and Jingodo commanding it, how?!
Have you forgotten Prince Yeohwi?
He is righteous like no other.
He would never mobilize the Royal Guard away from their calling to capture Yeogu.
Yeogu and his mother are behind His Majesty's demise.
How could Prince Yeohwi leave them unpunished?
The twelfth period* has already passed. [*used in ancient folklore, 10:30 to 11:30 am]
His Majesty had never made the council await for so long, so why?
It makes me throb with apprehension.
And His Majesty?
His Majesty...
has perished.
There is no way.
Even in the morn he was in fine fettle.
His Majesty passed away at the ancestral palace.
Sire!
Father...
Father.
Father!!
Are they alerting us on enemy infiltrators?
It must be Goguryeo.
I am sure it's not Goguryeo.
What is the matter?
It is treason!
Treason?!
Choseongni Fortress' troops traversed the Ungni.
Their numbers were beyond any imagination.
How could Choseongni's troops cross the river without His Majesty's consent?
- Apprehend Councilor Hae! - Yes!
Stop!
I was the one who gave them consent to traverse the river.
Your Highness has no control over the military.
I am this country's crown prince.
Are you telling me I cannot even transfer troops to protect this country?
Are you ignoring the fact that the Royal Guard had already been entrusted to Prince Yeohwi?
Those were direct orders from His Majesty.
He had no reason whatsoever to do so.
Not to mention deploying troops from Choseongni Fortress, of all places.
I demand a clear explanation, Your Highness.
Ask His Majesty yourself.
Let us go to the ancestral palace.
Father...
His Majesty...
has perished.
There is no way.
Were you not aware of his passing?
Just a few moments past, when I visited him with Yeogu,
he held my hands, concerned over our country's fortunes.
Until I witness it firsthand, I cannot believe what you're saying.
I will not.
Father...
How could you abandon me?
How could you entrust Baekje to someone like me?
My time has not come yet, Father!
Father!!
Sire...
Father...
The year 344.
Baekje's eleventh ruler King Biryu meets his demise.
Inheriting the throne from King Bunseo of the Goyi line,
his reign had lasted forty-one years.
During his reign, Biryu made strenuous efforts to increase Baekje's influence.
He repelled the last Han Commandery Daifang along with Goguryeo's King Micheon,
with the goal of expending Baekje's territory all the way to the Yeseong River.
Internally, he attempted to bring an end to the century-long strife...
between the Goyi and Chogo royal lines, and in turn strengthen the king's authority,
but ultimately, he failed to achieve such goals.
With internal strife still ravaging Baekje politics,
the future King Geunchogo was left with two exacting dilemmas,
bringing unity to Baekje and vanquishing Goguryeo.
- Hanseong Royal Palace -
I still have been given no reason why Choseongni troops have been deployed here.
Let us not be imprudent,
for the Royal Guard is pointing its blade at you.
Be that as it may, you dare hold us hostage?
Mun.
Could Wirye Palace foment any ulterior motives?
- Wirye Palace -
Bear in mind the commander's orders,
as flames must devour Wirye Palace at the first hint of suspicious activities!
Yes!
What is happening?
His Majesty has been consigned to his demise,
so how could we be spared from their insinuations?
Fret you not.
Prince Yeogu was already bestowed Chogo the Great's sword.
Your Excellency,
you must proclaim him as our new ruler.
A simple proclamation shan't bring this impasse to a swift conclusion.
How would you convince the council without any edict,
let alone gaining the people's understanding?
Then, will you just let the people who brought demise upon His Majesty go unpunished?
We should subjugate them first.
Are you looking for an all-out conflict?
We might be outnumbered,
but we are more than capable of holding the fort until reinforcements from Moro Fortress arrive.
I shall meet with my brother.
Gu!
Never forget how His Majesty met his demise.
Convincing the council while awaiting Jingodo's arrival would be wise.
But before that happens, I first must find out who did this to my father.
If I may,
I would like to ask you a question.
Whose side is Your Highness on?
After summoning the Choseongni Fortress troops, His Majesty passed away.
We have not been told why Wirye Palace's troops were deployed here.
What he says is right, this whole ordeal is suspicious.
I am on no one's side.
My only duty is to answer my calling,
and punish whomever tried to create strife.
This is insufferable.
The wintry spell is right around the corner,
yet I feel as if scorching heat was sweltering me.
So let us at least hear a few suggestions.
Be quiet.
The palace is surrounded by Wirye Palace troops,
and the Royal Guard is surrounding them as we speak.
Is a conflict between the two armies what you wish for?
Why is Your Highness not by His Majesty's side,
and engaging in parley with Wirye Palace instead?
Those Jin usurpers have already seized control of Anpyeong Hall.
Did you just say usurpers?
Are you perchance aware of the fact that His Majesty was poisoned?
Afraid it would stir the council, we chose not to announce it yet.
This will quell your every doubt.
It is what Jinjeong wrote to support Yeogu's investiture.
I thought it was trivial palaver,
who ever imagined that Father would be poisoned?
For Gu's sake, you must remain strong.
Father...
You must protect Yeogu.
How dare you violate His Majesty's...
Wearing an armor during royal mourning?!
We are here to apprehend the criminal responsible for His Majesty's death.
Prince... The criminal responsible for His Majesty's death?!
Delusion must be clouding your judgment, Councilor Jin.
Address me as you should, as your crown prince.
She treacherously poisoned His Majesty.
- Apprehend Consort Jin! - Yes!
- South Pyeongyang Fortress (Goguryeo) - Royal mourning has been announced in Hanseong.
Meseems King Biryu might have perished.
And a weakling who could not even deal with matters at home...
wanted to engage in battle with the mighty Goguryeo?!
A country's ruler faced an ignominious demise.
It is nothing to laugh about.
It only concerns Baekje, Your Excellency.
Be it Baekje, Goguryeo, or even a small state of the Mahan,
royalty is sacred.
No subject bringing demise upon his ruler can be excused.
So my father-in-law shall soon be held responsible for his misdeeds.
Are you suggesting you will interfere with Baekje's internal matters?
Goguryeo is the core of our peninsula.
And I, Sayu, am the peninsula's eldest ruler,
so it is my duty to show Baekje the righteous path!
But now, as promised, we must prohibit Chief Marshal Jin from leaving.
A Baekje without Biryu...
I am sure dealing with them will become a drab affair.
So His Majesty met his demise.
This is only the beginning.
Your Majesty and I must aid His Highness' cause.
Be mindful of His Majesty.
His audacity and vainglory are only second to his ambitions.
We must stop Goguryeo from trampling upon our Baekje.
I am well aware.
What are you eavesdropping on?
Eavesdropping?!
What is the matter?
The attendant was overhearing what Her Majesty was saying.
I'm no mere attendant, you're in the Chief Imperial Court Lady's presence!
I laud your efforts.
But you may no longer violate my quarters at will.
My foremost duty is exactly that of overseeing Your Majesty's quarters.
Her Majesty the Empress is in Long Fortress*, so leave that to me. [*Yan capital, as hostage]
- Moro Fortress, Baekje -
He was my ruler, my dearest compeer,
and my everything, and they dare bring demise upon him?
How dare they belittle Jingodo in this manner?
- Sangyo - (border between Baekje and Goguryeo)
First unit, protect Moro Fortress.
Second and third unit will deploy for Hanseong with me.
Let us punish those who brought demise upon our ruler!
Chief Marshal... Chief Marshal!!
Chief Marshal. Gochisu just crossed Sangyo.
- Chumo the Great (Jumong) Ancestral Shrine -
Grandfather Chumo...
Your grandson has welcomed a new spouse to the vacant Ami Hall.
I shall take her as my second consort,
so accord me your blessing.
May you pay your respects.
Grandfather.
I am Yeohwa from Baekje's Wirye Palace.
A descendant of Grandmother Soseono...
has now become in-laws with you, so may you rejoice.
- Gubu - (Sayu's son, to be King Sosurim)
Mother, my sincerest felicitations.
My gratitude, Crown Prince.
This is not your mother.
Your mother is held hostage in Long Fortress,
so calling her Lady Ami shall suffice.
Your father is right.
However, until her return from Long Fortress,
I shall look after the crown prince.
My sincerest congratulations, Your Majesty.
My gratitude.
My congratulations, Sire.
How can a Baekje subject violate these kingly walls?
On your knees!
I shall bestow my benevolence upon Her Majesty's guard Haegeon.
You came here from Baekje,
so with the hope you will bring peace to the southern region,
I hereby proclaim you Annam General.
Your grace is immeasurable, Sire.
The situation in Baekje is truly fascinating.
In what sense?
It is now ravaged by internal strife.
The Jin clan supporting Prince Yeogu...
and Wirye Palace, backing the crown prince, have both mobilized troops.
The Jin will be vanquished.
And I suppose Prince Yeogu will pay the ultimate price.
There is no way!
- Moro Fortress (Baekje) -
Jingodo!
You cowardly poltroon!
Come out and let us fight like men!
Was it you?
Or Lord of Wirye Palace Buyeojun?
What is it that you're asking me?
You were well aware of our father's impending demise.
And that is why you left Dongmyeong Hall in haste and went to the ancestral palace.
Such can a son's foreboding be.
Hyungnim.
Can someone who has spent a decade on foreign soil...
even comprehend the bond Father and I had developed?
The fact that so fervent was his hatred for the Hae clan,
he wanted to take every drop of blood flowing in my veins,
and turn it into Jin blood?
Devotion, the purest form of devotion is all I felt for my father.
But you took him away from me in a moment's whim.
Is that why you did that to him?
I was not the one who brought demise upon my father.
Then, who did?
- Your Highness! - Your Highness.
Apprehend them at once!
Who did it? Who is responsible for Father's death?
Was it not Jinjeong's sister,
Father's second consort,
and your mother, none other than Sosukdang?!
Brought to you by WITH S2 Written In The Heavens Subbing Squad
This is a FREE fansub. NOT for SALE! Get it for FREE @ withs2.com
Subtitles by Anarchist
Fine-tuning: julier
Coordinators: mily2, ay_link
It's a conspiracy.
How dare you insinuate that my mother could possibly kill His Majesty?
Yeogu is going to perish at my hands.
But should he be victim of a conspiracy, someone will pay with his life.
How could Yeogu carry this sacred sword?
It was handed to me by Father.
How could he do so, unless he was completely deranged?
Was it Your Majesty?
Wanwoldang, were you the one who caused Father's demise?
Who is responsible for my spouse's death?
Was it not you?
Where are you taking my son?
You shall not escape punishment merely because of your young age.
No...
It was not him...
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