On May 19th, 1762, (1762, 38th Year of King Young Jo's Reign)
Young Jo's second son, Crown Prince Sado
becomes embroiled in the political factions' struggle for power,
and is subsequently imprisoned in a rice box.
His son, San, disguises himself as an apprentice eunuch in order to see his father.
He tries to go to the Courthouse where his father is.
- Who are you? - You rascal!
- What's your name? - My name...
He meets Song Yeon on her way to the kitchens, and Dae Su on his way to escape the palace.
With their help, he is able to get out of danger.
Through these events, these three promise to be friends forever.
We've now made a promise and a oath to keep tonight a secret and forever help and support each other.
San reaches the ricebox in which his father is confined, and sheds tears of sorrow.
Crown Prince Sado tells his son, San, to become a good and wise ruler.
He tells his son to deliver a painting with a hidden meaning to the King.
Does anyone know what this is? It's a piece of rice cake!
Is this not an act of treason against the King?
Your Majesty!
Find whoever did this!
Song Yeon and Dae Su's presence at the Courthouse is revealed.
They fall in grave danger.
In the meantime, Song Yeon finds out that San is the Prince.
Forgive me, your Highness! I did not know who you were and dared to...
King Young Jo leaves the Palace to hear the grievances of the people.
The Prince finds out his plans, and while on his way to exile,
he escapes from the palanquin with Song Yeon.
The Prince has disappeared!
We must find the Prince!
He must be safe and unharmed no matter what!
My name is San. Now, call me by my name.
Sa... San!
The two hide in a cart headed towards the city square.
They are captured by illegal moon shiners.
Through Song Yeon's ingenuity, they escape and begin their journey to meet the King.
Your Majesty! Please hear my grievance!
Please save my innocent father! Your Majesty!
Please save my father's life! Your Majesty!
Even if I die for my actions today, (Episode 3)
please reconsider your misunderstanding of my father's loyalty, your Majesty!
Father has asked me to deliver this painting to you. Please look at it, your Majesty!
He said that if you saw it, your misunderstanding would disappear!
Your father asked you to deliver this? When did you see...!
You... was it you?
I saw him last night in front of the Courthouse.
Your Highness!
Is this true? Were you the culprit?
I will accept all punishment for that crime! But please look at this painting first.
Please look at it, and save my father!
Silence! Arrest the Prince and take him away!
Your Majesty!
I have ordered you to take him away!
Your Majesty, the Prince is still a young boy. Please be merciful to him...
- I told you to go away! - Your Majesty! My father is dying!
He is imprisoned in the rice box! He is suffocating!
I know that you also worry about him! You are his father!
You're my father's father!
My father does not blame you for any of this.
So please save him! Please, please forgive him!
I cannot do that. I am no one's father. I am this nation's King!
Arrest the Prince and charge him with treason!
Your Majesty! Please reconsider your command!
- Please reconsider! - Your Majesty!
Fine. If you won't, then I will.
- Get up! Get up! - Grandfather! Grandfather!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
The Crown Prince...
is dead.
What... what are you saying?
Dead? My father is dead?
Your Highness!
When?
Just a while ago... Just after the Hour of the Ape (3:30 - 4:30)...
This cannot be... How can Father be dead?
This cannot be!
Father... Father!
Father!
Father...
Your Majesty...
Let us forget the Prince's crimes.
His father has saved him.
Let us return to the Palace.
Father!
You told me you would give me a prize if I finished my studies on geometry!
Did you not also promise to teach me how to play polo?
I have yet to complete my lessons on the bow and arrow from you!
And you have yet to name the puppy you gave me...
And... and...
You can't go! You can't go like this!
You can't! Father!
- Don't cry! Don't cry, your Highness! - You can't go! Father!
It's all my fault. He's dead because of me.
- It's because of me! Father! - Your Highness!
No! No it's not, your Highness!
Father!
Those officers at the Office of Interrogation,
they asked me who I went to the Courthouse with, and started torturing me,
and they stuck a bright red iron brand in my behind!
But who am I? I'm the great Park Dae Su and I won't talk!
- I told them I didn't know a thing! - Really?
They branded you with an iron and you didn't talk? Let's see your behind!
If that really happened, then you'll still have scars. Let's see your behind!
W... well...
How dare you tell me to show my behind to you!
Hey you! Don't try to be funny! I'm the friend of the Prince!
He told me that I was his best friend!
So all of you, be careful!
If the Prince becomes King, then I'll be next in power!
Next in power? Then you'll be Prime Minister?
Prime Minister! That's right!
- Prime Minister? - Wow, that's really high up!
Prime Minister, my behind!
The Prince is never going to be King! I heard he's going to be given poison to drink!
W... what?
That's right! Taegoon's father is a guard in the Palace.
He said that they already made the poison.
- Poison? Poison? - They made it already?
Don't be silly! The King has forgiven the Prince.
Th... that's why the guards let us go!
My father said that the Prince is prohibited entry into the Palace and will die in exile.
So if you really are the Prince's friend, then you'll be executed too!
My Lord...!
My Lord!
I put her in as a Palace girl to get a foothold in the Palace.
But... Kicked out because she helped the Prince escape?
Please forgive me, my Lord!
If it's known that she helped the Prince, I may lose my life!
But the Prince is now the successor to the throne. How can he be punished for this?
How foolish you are!
Do you think the No Ron faction who caused the death of the Crown Prince will let his son live?
There has been an order given to Angookdong, where the Prince is in exile.
What do you think that means?
It's a slow execution!
Princess Hae Kyung and the Prince must come to receive the order of the King!
It is alright. They are not here to harm your puppies.
Forgive me. This is all my fault.
Your Highness! Your Highness!
- The Palace has sent... - Don't make such a fuss.
I know they are here.
The King has ordered us to return to the Palace.
Nothing is clear at this moment. (Princess Hun Kyung - Future Queen Dowager Lady Hong Hae Kyung)
He may have forgiven you or...
Let us prepare for our return.
He has bade us to return. We must go and meet him.
I will not go.
I will not ask Grandfather for forgiveness.
I will not take Father's place as you expect me to.
I will never... I will never become King.
It is not my desire that you become King.
I... I just want to keep you alive.
I do not ask of you to ascend the throne to keep my family's honor.
I do not ask of you to ascend the throne to wield unimaginable power.
If you do not ascend the throne, you will lose your life. Do you understand me?
That is your destiny.
I believe that the Crown Prince your father chose to die at that moment to save your life.
I believe that strongly. He was that kind of person.
Because he loved you more than he cared for himself.
It doesn't matter that you are angry with me. But...
But the Crown Prince your father's last wish would have been that you survived.
So if you know your father's heart...
You must ascend the throne. Do you understand?
No matter what happens, you must become King and survive.
You must! You must live!
Are you alright? Are you... unharmed?
Yes... Yes, Father..
That is good.
Now go. You must survive.
I can't lose you as well. Now go.
Father... Father...
Do you know where the Left Minister lives?
Where? Who? I don't know!
- Song Yeon! - Dae Su!
Dae Su!
Your... Your Highness!
Song Yeon! Dae Su!
Let's go, Song Yeon.
- Dae Su! His Highness is... - Song Yeon! Dae Su!
Song Yeon!
Your Highness!
How fortunate I am to be able to see you before I go!
Are you alright? Have you been harmed?
Yes, we're fine. We're alright, your Highness.
What about you? I heard that when you enter the Palace, you will be in danger!
They're lying, right? Nothing will happen to you, right?
Yes, don't worry about me.
Nothing bad will happen.
This... will be the last time...
If I return to the Palace, I will never see you again.
We’ll go to you, your Highness!
If you can't leave the Palace, then we'll go into the Palace!
That's right, your Highness! Song Yeon and I will protect you!
- Dae Su! - So you have to wait for us!
We'll enter the Palace no matter what, so you have to safe until then, alright?
Then let us friends make a promise.
This is a promise amongst friends that must be kept even if Heaven falls from the sky.
I will stay alive until you come to me.
So promise me you'll come.
I'll keep this promise! Even if they torture me! Even if they cut off my thing! I'll keep it.
Your Highness!
You may sit.
It must have been difficult for you while you were in exile.
Your face is pale.
Forgive me, your Majesty.
We fared well through your Majesty's generosity.
It is your unending mercy that keeps us both alive.
Is that so? Do you really think that way?
What about you, my grandson? Do you agree with your mother?
What I just said was what the Prince and I discussed.
Leave us for a while. I have something to discuss with the Prince.
Yes, your Majesty.
You have worn your royal robes again. But the peasant's robes looked good on you.
Do you know what these are?
These are all petitions that claim you have no right to be Crown Prince.
You broke several laws and had a tantrum in front of hundreds of people in the city.
Why would they not think so?
I must give my response to these petitions by tonight.
Now... What shall I say?
Are you saying that you will respond according to what I say?
If what you say is acceptable.
Please do not accept.
Why?
Because I have to survive. Because I have to be a good grandson and be a loyal friend.
I do not accept your answer.
The position you hold now is as successor to the throne of this nation.
Whether you live or die is entirely your business.
If a unworthy person is made King, then the entire nation and its people will suffer.
Then I will prove it to you.
Then I will prove that I am worthy to wear the royal robes to you and the Cabinet.
Will that be acceptable?
You will prove it to me?
Impertinent boy! You are truly impertinent.
What has happened?
His Majesty will be giving a decree regarding the Prince's position.
Because the Prince has caused humiliation to the throne and the Imperial Palace,
He deserves to be punished. However, as the Prince is still young,
he is given another chance to repent.
In order to grow the Prince's potential, His Majesty intends to give him a great duty,
and test his suitability for his role. Therefore...
As of today, the Prince will live in the East Palace (Palace of Crown Prince),
and give him all duties of the East Palace.
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty, this is unacceptable!
- Continue reading the decree! - The Prince has committed a grievous crime!
- Please reconsider your decision! - Please reconsider, your Majesty!
I said continue reading!
Therefore, the Prince will reside in the Jagyung Palace in the East Palace.
His Majesty hereby designate the title of Royal Tutor to those entrust with the education of the Prince,
and the title of Royal Guard of the Crown Prince for the Prince's guards.
- Please reconsider your decision, your Majesty! - Please reconsider!
Please reconsider your decision!
Please reconsider, your Majesty!
Your Highness, please enter.
Your Highness, your Highness!
- Your Highness! - What is it?
He begins the Imperial Food Tasting tomorrow and must rise at the Hour of the Tiger (3 - 5am)
He has already risen at the Hour of the Ox (1-3am) and has already left for the Imperial Kitchen.
Now we shall begin the recitation of the teachings.
Recite Mencius' teachings from the first volume.
Mencius said: Respect the worthy and employ the capable.
The realm will be pleased and will want to be members of your court.
Here we go!
What's this? I'm urinating!
Stupid! Coward! Fool!
Cut off my thing for me, please! I'm too scared to do it myself.
Uncle!
Do you know how humiliated I was at the Office of the Inner Palace?
That's why I'm going to go back!
You can't just go in and out as you wish!
- I have to go back! I have to! - Stop!
Al... Alright. I'll cut it for you.
Give me the knife.
You.. you little!
So cut off my thing!
Uncle!
Are you still here?
- Yes. - How many days has it been?
- He won't change his mind. - I have no choice.
- I have to return to the Palace. - Why... you!
~Crown Prince recites teachings~
Your Majesty...
Mencius answered, "Politics are economy, military and the people's trust".
The scholar asked Mencius which of those could be discarded if it had to be and he said...
Your Majesty!
- Sit and continue the lessons. - Yes, your Majesty.
Continue what you were doing.
Yes, your Majesty.
"Discard the military".
"Then if another has to be discarded among the two, then what can be discarded?"
"Discard the economy. All kingdoms have death come to their people."
"But without the trust of the people, the Kingdom cannot stand."
- You are studying Mencius discourses. - Yes, your Majesty.
What is the discourse speaking of?
It is a discussion on the basics of politics.
Is that so? In that case, what is politics?
The Jung character in the word politics is the character for straight.
It also stands for root. Thus, politics mean "straight roots make a strong tree".
So that is what you thought...
So how do you think we can have straight rooted politics?
The ruler of the people must be a man of ethics.
I will uphold my father's wish that I become a wise ruler...
Your father told you to be a wise ruler?
Fine. Then what is a wise ruler?
A wise ruler... is a King who knows the hearts of his people.
And what is the heart of the people?
Th... that...
That is to not go hungry and eat their fill.
And what must a King first and foremost to make that happen?
- Reduce taxes and control prices... - Wrong!
What is it?
I...
Keep watch over the magistrates of the people...
- and lessen the punishments... - Wrong!
Then... it...
- Reduce the government posts and... - All wrong!
You don't even know the first thing a King must do and you dare to become Crown Prince!
Find out what it is.
I will give you three days to find the answer.
If you don't, you will bear responsibility for your foolish talk!
You don't even know the first thing a King must do and you dare to become Crown Prince!
I will give you three days to find the answer.
If you don't, you will bear responsibility for your foolish talk!
The answer will not be in a book!
You want to see all the people's petitions?
That is correct. Show me all the petitions that were submitted this year.
That would be thousands, your Highness!
They are exaggerated and unclear and thus are not all sent to the King.
It does not matter. I will see all them. Bring them out to me.
How could he mention the Crown Prince in front of His Majesty. Is he not a foolish boy?
He is full of impropriety! That is why he was in trouble in the first place!
He will not be able to answer His Majesty's question.
~Recites Zhuangzi's teachings~
Your Highness!
Forgive me. I was thinking of something else.
May I ask you something?
What is it?
I heard that in Chunpo there are a group of children who solicit customers into shops.
How can children do such a thing?
They are usually orphans or beggar children. (Chae Jae Gong)
They do it to fill their bellies.
Why do you ask?
It's nothing. I was reading the petitions and found that they are having some trouble.
It is the duty of the King to have a heart for the people.
But if it goes beyond the norm, it can be detrimental to the King. You must pay caution.
- But... - In any case,
You are supposed to be doing your studies with me.
Yes.
It is time already?
This is not good. I haven't found the answer yet.
Is this what the Prince wanted to eat?
Yes. He ordered us to prepare the same food that the people eat.
- Continue. - Yes, your Highness.
It is said that he has not slept in three days.
What if he falls ill after eating that?
Eating that won't solve anything!
What is His Majesty's intent, I wonder?
It could have been his intent to send away the Prince.
Your Highness! How can you say that so calmly?
You know what is in store for the Prince within these walls.
This is just the beginning.
Your... your Highness!
- Your Highness! - Your Highness!
Send for the Royal Physician!
- I'm fine. Don't cause a commotion. - No, your Highness!
Send for the physician!
I don't know...
I ate their food and read their petitions, but I still don't know...
So, do you have the answer?
Speak.
The first thing a King has to do for the people is...
to stop the poor from becoming slaves of noblemen because of poverty.
Wrong!
I will give you one more chance.
All of your answers are things the King must do, but they are not the first thing.
This is your last chance. Speak.
I said speak!
I... I don't know.
No matter how much I think about it, I don't know, your Majesty!
Is that the kind of answer you give me as Crown Prince?
Since you did not keep your promise, take off your Imperial Robe.
Your Majesty! Give me... Give me one more day!
Then...
This is the Imperial Catalog of Funds.
It says that you have spent all of the funds for the East Palace.
Tell me. What did you spent the money for?
- Your Majesty! - Did you like the look of all that money?
Is that why the moment you entered the East Palace you spent all of it's funds?
What did you get for 3000 yang!
- Th... that...! - Useless fool.
You are not suited to be King. Leave the Palace at daybreak!
- Your Majesty! - Take off your robe and leave!
Your Majesty!
The Prince is a mere boy.
Please be merciful and forgive your grandson, your Majesty!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Please forgive the Prince one more time! He is just a young boy!
Have you all thought of a way to extend the territories?
Promise me one thing...
Promise me you'll be a wise ruler.
We’ll go to you, your Highness! If you can't leave the Palace, then we'll go into the Palace!
That's right, your Highness! Song Yeon and I will protect you!
- Dae Su! - So you have to wait for us!
We'll enter the Palace no matter what, so you have to be safe until then, alright?
Where is the Prince?
He left on the palanquin just a while ago.
Your Highness!
My son... no, my son!
Your Highness!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
As you ordered, I have found out how the Prince used the 3,000 yang.
Is that so?
This... This is...
Let us go to the Ministry.
Father... Mother...
Forgive your foolish son.
Stop the palanquin!
Turn the palanquin around and go to the ministry.
The ministry? What do you mean?
His Majesty has requested for your presence urgently.
And in the capital, there were these children that used to solicit customers for the merchants.
But a new law was passed prohibiting this,
and the petition stated that the merchants were going to sell the children to Qing China.
They are mainly orphans.
And the petition revealed how scared they were.
So even though I knew I should not... The boat from Qing China was due today,
- So I... - That's why you used the money?
I thought that it would be alright if we saved on our expenses this year to make up for the funds.
Forgive me, your Majesty. I have done an unforgivable thing.
Why didn't any of you give me this petition?
Forgive us, your Majesty. The petition was written poorly and had many errors...
Fools! Are you boasting that you did not understand the petition of the people?
Dismiss the officer in charge and arrest the merchants immediately!
- Do you understand? - Yes, your Majesty!
Escort the Prince back to his quarters.
- Yes, your Majesty. - But...
What you did today is what politics is.
You did well.
Well done. If it weren't for you, I would have made a mistake.
No, your Majesty. (Chae Jae Gong)
Are you not going to ask the Prince for the final answer?
I think you know the final answer.
The first thing a King must do is...
is to treasure his people.
Yes. Love for his people...
A desire to give his people the best...
That is politics.
The Prince does not know that he already has the answer.
Father...!
His Majesty is becoming more and more inclined towards the Prince. What shall we do?
Don't worry! This is all happening to plan.
The most important thing is the rebellion.
If His Majesty sees that like father, like son, he will change his mind.
It looks like they will accept your terms.
- That child... - Oh no!
- That... That boy! - What is the matter? (Nam Sa Cho and Park Dal Ho)
He runs after me all day begging me to cut his thing off!
- Is he still doing that? - That thing in the cloth... that's a knife!
That... that insane boy... Sir, I will going out the back.
What's taking him so long?
If it hurts you so much, do you really want to be a eunuch?
I... I didn't even grab it that hard!
I'm going to die!
For a boy, you really exaggerate!
I didn't exaggerate! It really hurt!
Do you really want to be a eunuch?
You will always be mocked as a eunuch!
So what? Does having a thing make you a man?
A real man has to have a woman he'll die for and an ambition he'll do anything for.
- Is that what you think? - I heard that somewhere.
But I agree.
Well, that is an honorable thought, but the eunuchs will not accept you again.
That's why I'm begging you.
- Begging won't solve anything. - My Lord!
- But if you want to enter the Palace,
- what about this? - What about what?
We must not let anyone see this, so hurry and pack!
She... she...! What is she doing there?
I was just trying to figure out where I was...
- Who is this girl? - It is alright. She lives here.
- Do you feel well? - Yes.
- Then go on your way! - Where is my Lord?
- I said go! - Where is he?
His Majesty has invited some pupils from the country to stage a debate with you.
Before you begin the debate, you will have to pass a test.
Will it be a recitation test?
Yes. It will be a difficult test.
Then, the subject of this debate will be...
We will only be discussing history and politics. We will not include the Classics.
- No classics? - Yes, your Highness.
You must recite the teachings you have chosen.
Classics - Moo Il
We will only be discussing history and politics. We will not include the Classics.
- Is the Prince declining to recite? - He is still new to the Classics, your Majesty.
- Will you not recite? - No...
~Recites Classics~
Do any of the students know this?
They are all new to this Classics.
I will attempt to recite it.
Alright, go ahead.
~Recites Classics~ (Jung Hu Gyum)
Do you know the interpretation? Go ahead.
A man of noble character must know labor,
in order to know what the people seek in times of peace and rest.
It says that children do not know the labors of their parents as they play.
- What is your name? - My name is Jung Hu Gyum.
Jung Hu Gyum? You look the same age as the Prince and yet you recite Moo Il.
You flatter me, your Majesty. The Prince had already recited the difficult parts.
All I did was add the rest.
Admit that boy into the Royal Academy and allow him to study with the Prince.
Yes, Your Majesty.
It will be beneficial for you to have a study partner.
Yes, your Majesty.
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
- Bad news! - What is the matter?
A message has just arrived.
Something suspicious has been discovered at the Prince's previous residence!
Something suspicious?
That...
Ri... Rifles...
They have discovered chests full of rifles and swords there!
How could this happen? How could weapons be discovered there?
Your Majesty, this must be the work of the late Crown Prince Sado!
Do you remember the terrible rumor earlier this year?
It was said that Crown Prince Sado was planning an insurrection and storing weapons.
It was also confirmed that this rumor was true.
And now, weapons have been found in the Prince's previous residence.
What could this mean? Does not this mean that the Prince is also planning an insurrection?
Your Majesty, you must summon the Prince and find out the truth!
Your Majesty, we must get to the root of things so that an insurrection can never happen!
- We beseech you, your Majesty! - We beseech you, your Majesty!
What... What are these things?
Why are these things here?
Enter His Majesty!
Your Majesty...
In the 4th month of this year,
there was a rumor that your father was planning an insurrection and bringing weapons into the Palace.
But I did not believe the rumor
as I believed that no one would be so evil as to do such a thing.
But now these weapons have been discovered at your previous residence.
Why are these weapons here?
Did your father ask you to store them here?
No, your Majesty! I know nothing of this!
This is your previous residence! This is where you lived and breathed!
If you don't know, then who has done this terrible thing?
I really... really don't know anything about this.
Why these things are here... I do not know, your Majesty!
Please believe me, your Majesty!