That's right. I am suffering from dementia.
That is why I was so cruel to you.
And also the reason why I cannot remember it.
You were foolish. Why did you pretend you didn't know?
Why did you decide to cover it up for my sake?
Why are you so similar to your late father?
I was told that I wanted to hear your answer today.
But I will give you the answer.
You are the son of Crown Prince Sado.
You are most certainly the son of my son...
as well as my successor to the throne.
Today, I will abdicate my position as king, and give you the crown.
Do you understand? From now on, the King of Joseon...
is you.
Your Majesty, abdicate the throne?
What are you saying?
It is as you heard. You are now the ruler of this nation.
Therefore, go and make preparations.
Your Majesty, this cannot be!
How can you talk about this unimaginable thing?
I did not say anything wrong.
Will you deny that I am suffering from this condition?
You know well that I can no longer act as king.
I am now uncertain of each day.
We must make you king before we lost any more time.
If you do not want to ruin government and create confusion for our people,
you must stop this emotional foolishness, and focus on the situation!
Do you understand?
Your Majesty.
We only have one day.
Before the day is over, I want to complete all processes for abdication.
And there is also something you must do.
Your father was the Crown Prince.
Those who conspired against him are traitors.
And traitors should be punished accordingly.
Find the conspirators of your father's death.
Take this.
What is this, Your Majesty?
It is a letter from your father.
Last night, a Bureau Damo came and gave me this.
A Bureau Damo...?
That's right.
She told me that this was in the painting you tried to give me fourteen years ago.
Read it. It contains information you should be aware of.
"If you are reading this letter, Father..."
"...it means that my efforts have been futile."
"The entire palace is rife with rumors that I have planning an uprising against you."
"You also have been influenced by those around you,"
"They have told you that I am conspiring against you with my supporters."
"And that is the truth."
37th Year of king Young Jo's reign Year 1761, Pyung An Do
I, Cho Suk Soo, greet Your Highness!
- Are you ready? - Yes, Your Highness!
We have two hundred rifles, five hundred guns and three thousand men.
We also have five hundred horses!
We have completed our preparations. In ten days, you will be king!
What about the list of people participating in this uprising?
This is a list of twelve supporters, including myself.
We are all ready to give up our lives for you, Your Highness!
Your Highness!
Did you really think that I would take my sword against my own father?
Your... Your Highness! How can you do this to us?
Forgive me. This is the only way I can stop you.
Your Highness!
If you don't cease the attack at once, I will hand this list over to His Majesty.
- Your Highness! - Please help to stop this!
I do not wish to harm you.
Your Highness...!
"They knew that I was innocent."
"But because of this, they could not let me live."
You fool! What are you saying?
What is this letter? Tell me what you were planning!
Tell you? What do you want me to say?
I am innocent, and yet all the officials are calling me a traitor and an insurgent!
- What else do you want me to say? - You rascal...!
"The reason I could not say anything to you that day,"
"was because I did not want to indict those who had already forsaken the uprising,"
"and my foolish bitterness at your lack of faith in me."
"But at this moment, I am filled with heartfelt regret."
"Now that I can no longer see you, only now have I finally realized it."
"I am filled with regret and sorrow at my silence that day."
"But Father, will you not understand me now?"
"Even though I never told you this personally, I have always said this in my heart."
"Will you believe that I have always loved you deeply?"
"I was a son that never brought you joy."
"But if you forgive me now, Father..."
"I have one heartfelt request of you."
"Please protect the prince, Father."
"He will suffer for the single reason of being my son."
"Please take care of him, Father."
Father...
Your father begged me to protect you.
I am so thankful he is allowing me
to do something for you.
I want to heed this final request.
I want to keep this promise with my life.
Become king.
I will protect you. Do you understand me?
I will protect you as your father would have done.
Just as your father requested,
you must live on and become a great king.
Your Majesty...!
Promise me one thing.
You must... must become a great king.
What? The prince was with His Majesty?
Yes, that was the message from the Grand Eunuch.
What did he say His Majesty and the prince talked about?
He wrote that he did not know.
He didn't not know? Why not?
His Majesty told all of his eunuchs and palace maids to leave the vicinity.
But he mentioned that the prince's face was troubled when he left.
Therefore, I do not think you should be too concerned, Your Majesty.
No, that is not so.
- Something doesn't feel right. - What?
What do you mean something doesn't feel right?
In the early morning, he left the palace. And then he has met privately with the prince.
It is near the time for the daily Cabinet meeting. Why would he meet with him separately?
But he wrote that the prince looked troubled.
I'm sure His Majesty asked him again about Crown prince Sado.
If not this, why would he be so troubled?
Please do not worry yourself, Your Majesty.
Come noon, it will be time for the daily Cabinet meeting.
At that time, we will be able to finally get rid of the prince,
and you will be able to grasp what you always wanted.
What did you say? You want me to meet Magistrate Cho?
Isn't he Prince Eun Jun's father-in-law?
That's why you should meet him. We need to make preparations to decrown the prince.
- But what if the prince changes his answer today...? - Don't worry about that.
That will not happen.
If that was the risk, we would never have allowed this to happen.
The Personnel Minister is right.
It is soon time for the Cabinet meeting. Nothing will save the prince at this point.
Your Excellency...
The prince has asked to see me urgently. Is he inside?
Yes, Your Excellency. He is waiting for you inside.
I asked all of you to come to tell you something.
The Cabinet meeting is going to be delayed.
Delayed? Why, Your Highness?
The Cabinet will be postponed to tomorrow.
Tomorrow at the Cabinet meeting, His Majesty will...
announce his abdication.
Your Highness, that... that means...
Abdication? You mean His Majesty will hand you the crown?
His Majesty has postponed the Cabinet due to his ill health?
- How sick is he? - I'm not sure myself.
All he said to me was to delay the Cabinet meeting to tomorrow.
Then you don't know anything, do you?
Delaying the Cabinet meeting... What do you think that means?
Is His Majesty giving the prince more time to think about his answer?
I'm not sure. But even so, would that change anything?
We are all living each day dangerously.
The prince must be so anxious right now.
Wait!
Why...?
What is it?
- I don't see anyone from the Eastern Palace. - What?
I will speak to the Royal Guards, so please make preparations.
Alright. There is no time. You must hurry.
Yes, Your Excellency.
You look very busy.
Did you hear? The Cabinet meeting has been postponed.
Oh, is that so?
How fortunate for the prince. He has earned himself one more day.
Yes, that's true. How fortunate.
You seem busy. I must be holding you back.
- I won't bother you any further. - Yes, My Lord. I will see you next time.
What do you mean it's strange?
The prince was going to be de-crowned at this Cabinet meeting.
But Chief Inspector Hong and his Advisor weren't even present, let alone the prince.
Don't you realize what that means, Mother?
They knew in advance that the Cabinet meeting had been delayed.
- What? - And not only that...
Chief Inspector Hong's attitude was different. He looked frozen and nervous.
Something is going on.
There may be another reason unknown to us why the Cabinet meeting was postponed.
I have come to see His Majesty. Is he inside?
Forgive me, Your Majesty, but you cannot enter the Grand Palace today.
What?
His Majesty has retired after taking a tonic for fever and diarrhea.
He has ordered no one to disturb him until he awakens from his rest.
Was there anything out of the ordinary?
- What? - Anything other than his fever?
Was there anything else out of the ordinary with His Majesty?
Yes, Your Majesty. There is no change from yesterday.
The Royal Physician said that apart from the slight fever, there was not much change.
Your Excellency, someone is waiting for you.
Oh... What brings you to my house?
I have come to tell you something, Your Excellency.
Please forgive me, but you must go back on your palanquin again.
- What? - You must go somewhere with me.
This is...!
Please go inside.
Isn't this where His Majesty lived before he became king?
Yes, you're right.
- It is Hong Gook Young. - Enter.
The Personnel Minister is here.
- Welcome. - Your... Your Majesty...!
- Anything out of place? - No, My Lord. We are guarding closely.
Today is going to be a dangerous and nerve-wrecking day. Be on your guard!
- Do you understand? - Yes, My Lord.
Do not worry.
What do you mean, Your Majesty?
The armies under the influence of the No Ron faction?
Don't deny something everyone already knows about.
And I'm sure you control more than a private army.
We all know that the this country's government is in the complete control of the No Ron faction.
So tell me the truth. Which armies do you control?
The Yongho army or the Suho army?
Please forgive me, Your Majesty...
But may I ask why you are asking this?
Why are you asking me such a question?
I must know the reason, Your Majesty.
Tomorrow, I am going to abdicate the throne to the prince.
But if I do that, the enemies of the prince will go insane.
I know that in order to survive, they will not hesitate to attack the palace.
Your Majesty...
So in order to pass the crown to the prince and keep the palace safe,
we have to keep your armies at bay. I will send your armies outside of Dosung,
and prevent the enemies from acting.
The reason you are here is...
because I know you do not wish our government to collapse.
You are a manipulative viper,
but at least you have a sense of responsibility about your position and role in the government.
Your Majesty, will you promise me something?
I know there will be bloodshed,
but can you promise me that
most of the government will be spared?
Answer him. That will be your decision as the new king.
That will be so. I promise you this.
We control all armies, Your Majesty.
What?
If you do this, all the armies of the government, except for the palace army
will take up weapons against the prince.
Move the Chungho army to Inam in Gwangju province.
Move the Suho and Youngchung armies 100 li away from the Capital.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Their private soldiers will be disguised within the Yongho army.
Make sure you pay special attention to them. Do you understand?
- Yes, Your Highness. - Yes, Your Highness.
The palace guards will not be qualified to manage this situation.
Therefore, you will order the Royal Guards and the palace army to guard the palace.
But since we cannot fully trust the palace Army,
fill the senior positions with the Royal Guards you trust.
- Do you understand? - Yes, Your Majesty.
I have been raising your enemies with my own hand.
- You mean the entire army? - Yes, move them all a hundred li outside the Capital.
What do you mean by this? Move the army that protects the city and the palace?
I do not have time for such questions. Shall I show you the Imperial Decree again?
His Majesty has ordered this to happen at once!
- Assemble all the men immediately! - Yes, Sir!
What is going on? Why are they moving all the men?
I don't know. But we must wait for our orders.
Let's get scattered, then gather at private house by 3pm.
Where are you all going?
- Who are you? - Isn't it obvious? We're Royal Guards.
This is not the way to Suwon. Where are you officers going?
I am Lieutenant Jang Do Ik of the Yongho army.
We were on our way to return to Dosung.
All of the officers here are under orders to never leave Dosung.
Really? Whose order was that?
We will not explain ourselves to you. Move aside!
What will you do if we won't?
- What? - Return to the army immediately.
Don't be foolish. There are only three of you.
Really? Do you think so?
There are only ten of you. Don't be foolish. Turn back immediately.
This is an order from His Majesty!
Your father was the Crown Prince.
Those who conspired against him are traitors.
And traitors should be punished accordingly.
Find the conspirators of your father's death.
- Your Highness! - How is everything going?
I just received a message from Chief Hong. All of the armies have been moved.
Indeed. Good.
Will you return to the palace now, Your Highness?
No. There is something else I must do.
I cannot forgive those who caused the death of my father.
Your Highness...!
Something is going on.
There may be another reason unknown to us why the Cabinet meeting was postponed.
Your Highness, it is I, Attendant Kwak.
Have you made inquiries? What is Father doing right now?
He is still taking a nap.
- Really? - Yes, Your Highness.
He has ordered that no one disturbs his rest.
I really don't understand. He threatened to decrown the prince.
But now he is taking a nap?
Did you ask if there was anything else out of the ordinary last night?
Well... I did hear something.
What is it?
I heard that at midnight last night, that Bureau Damo went to see His Majesty.
What? You mean Song Yeon?
Yes, Your Highness. According to the palace maid, she brought a painting for His Majesty.
A painting at that hour?
Why did it take so long for you to get water?
- Forgive us, My Lord. - Did something happen?
Well, we saw thousands of army soldiers on our way to get water!
- We were watching them. - What?
Soldiers in broad daylight? Has something happened?
I'm not sure, but they all had weapons. And they all looked so fierce!
Song Yeon, someone is here to see you.
Take a seat.
It has been a long time. Why haven't you visited me?
- Forgive me, Your Highness. - Have you had no opportunity to enter the palace?
Yes, Your Highness.
Indeed?
Actually, I summoned you to ask you to do something.
His Majesty is not feeling well. I wish to commission a painting for him.
And I would like you to paint it.
- M... me? - That's right.
You should know exactly what type of painting my father likes.
So did my father like the painting you gave him late last night?
Your Highness... How did you...?
You really have an honest face.
- What? - Do you dare to lie to me?
Your Highness, what do you mean?
Then tell me. What is it?
Why did you enter the Grand Palace at that hour with the painting as an excuse?
Your Highness, I... I just went to deliver the painting!
Silence! I have known for a long time that you are working closely with the prince.
If you entered the palace at that hour, you must have a hidden motive!
- Your Highness...! - What was it?
Did the prince make you do it? Did he make you deliver something to Father?
No, Your Highness! I didn't do anything!
Fine. If you refuse to talk, then I also have no choice.
- Take her away. - Yes, Your Highness!
- Get up. - Your Highness! Your Highness!
Your Highness! I didn't do anything!
- Take her and beat her until she talks. - Yes, Your Highness.
- Your Highness! - Mother, please stop.
Let this girl go. This is not the time to do this, Mother.
What?
I have found out what is going on.
- Your Majesty...! - What did you say, older brother?
The entire Yongho army is being sent out of the capital?
That is not all, Your Majesty. All of the nation's armies
have been ordered by His Majesty to move a hundred li outside the Capital.
What is going on, Your Majesty? These armies are under our power.
Why are they all leaving the Capital?
That is impossible! His Majesty's orders? He has been sleeping all day in his...
Your Majesty, the Royal Kitchen is here with refreshments.
What is going on?
His Majesty skipped his lunch, so the Royal Kitchen sent refreshments.
But he is not responding.
You mean His Majesty hasn't left his chambers all afternoon?
Yes, Your Majesty.
No, Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, it is I.
Your Majesty!
What is this? Where is His Majesty?
- What is happening? - Something is strange.
The prince is not in his chambers either.
- What? - His servants said that he left the palace in the morning.
What did I tell you? I asked you to watch things carefully!
But now His Majesty is missing and the prince has left the palace as well!
How can you be so careless!
- Forgive me. Everything seemed to be going smooth... - Enough!
- Is that your idea of an excuse? - Your Majesty, Your Majesty!
- What is it? - Please go to His Majesty's study!
- Your Majesty...! - Oh, my Queen...
Your Majesty, what is going on? Why are you here...?
What do you mean why am I here?
Didn't you say that you were going to rest as you did not feel well?
All of your eunuchs and palace maids think so, so why are you here by yourself?
I woke up at the Hour of the Ram (1-3pm). I came here to get something to read.
- Did you say the Hour of the Ram? - Yes.
Is there a problem?
Not at all, Your Majesty! There is no problem.
Your Majesty...!
Something is going awry.
What?
Call a meeting this instant.
- Have they all gathered? - Yes, they are all waiting for you.
Your Highness! Your Highness!
It has been a long time. Have you all been well?
Yes, Your Highness. We have been well with your help.
Your Highness...
His Majesty has asked me to find the people behind my father's murder and convict them.
Is that true, Your Highness?
Yes. I also will not forgive those who caused the wrongful death of my guiltless father.
I have lived long so that I can finally see the death of the Crown Prince avenged!
The Crown Prince will finally be able to close his eyes in peace.
Yes. I will make it so.
- But I need something. - What is it?
I have my suspicions as to who is involved. But that is not enough.
I need concrete evidence to prosecute them.
That is why I have asked to see you and my late father's Royal Guards.
Do any of you have any evidence?
- Did you say evidence? - That's right.
Your Highness, the princess is here.
- Princess. - Mother!
What did they say? Is the prince not yet back?
Yes, Mother. The palace maids in the Eastern Palace had not heard anything.
The Cabinet is tomorrow! Where is the prince?
Did you say a mountain?
Yes, Your Highness. When the Crown Prince got a hold of evidence
regarding Kim Gui Joo and the others, he took it and went up a mountain.
Then that means that he has buried it somewhere in the mountain.
Do you remember the location?
No, the Crown Prince asked all of us to leave him. We do not know where he buried the evidence.
Do you at least remember which mountain it was?
We need to find that evidence even if it takes a whole army to do it!
Let's see....
If I remember correctly, it should be Mt. Inwang.
- Mt. Inwang? - Wait, what did you just say?
- Did you say Mt. Inwang? - Yes, Your Highness.
The painting... That day was on that painting...!
What is it, Your Highness?
I have to meet Song Yeon. Hurry!
Your Majesty, all of our armies have left the Capital. What is going on?
Even if no one does, you should know, Your Majesty!
Has His Majesty changed his mind?
- The postponement of the Cabinet today was... - The Cabinet...
was postponed, not cancelled.
Do you understand? His Majesty's orders are still valid.
So why are you all so agitated?
Tomorrow, the Cabinet meeting will go as planned, and the prince....!
- Will be decrowned. - You cannot be certain of that, Your Majesty.
What brings you two here?
Have you forgotten my orders for you to lie low and wait?
How can that be?
I just came to ease your state of confusion.
What?
I have something to tell you, Your Majesty.
I am certain that you will be shocked by what I have to say.
So what is this news you came to tell me?
What do you think it would be about?
This is about His Majesty's motives.
Today, His Majesty ordered all the armies except for the palace army outside of the Capital.
I wanted to tell you the reason why he did this.
- So what is it? - We have one condition, Your Majesty.
- What? A condition? - Yes.
You must also tell us what you know.
What?
His Majesty has done many strange things recently.
We are certain you know the reason behind this.
You have been restored back into favor and allowed to recall Lord Kim to the palace.
Isn't it because you know the reason?
- Impudent rascal! How dare you...! - Older brother...
Do not say anything, older brother.
Fine. I will tell you the reason.
- But Your Majesty! - His Majesty...
is suffering from dementia.
What did you say? Father is suffering from dementia?
It's been a while. I was able to control His Majesty because of this reason.
Now it's your turn.
What is this motive you think you discovered?
Why did His Majesty move the armies?
If His Majesty really is suffering from dementia...
and has rushed this in a state of clarity...
the situation will get worse, Your Majesty.
What do you mean he has rushed things?
Do you know where His Majesty was this morning?
He went to Young Woo Won, Your Majesty!
What?
Yesterday, after his meeting with a Bureau Damo, he went to Young Woo Won.
Today, he postponed the Cabinet meeting and left for his old residence and met with the prince.
I was suspicious of the prince's movements and had him followed.
You mean that His Majesty gave his orders to move the army with the prince present?
Yes, that is so, Your Majesty.
Think of it, Your Majesty. What could this mean?
His Majesty intends to abdicate to the prince.
And he intends to announce this at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.
Abdicate? Abdicate to the prince?
What do we do now? The Cabinet is tomorrow!
We have to do something. We have to stop this abdication.
How do you suppose we do that? Our armies are a hundred li outside the Capital!
We cannot just sit and wait to die.
If we want to live, then tonight...
one of us has to die.
One of you has to die? What do you mean?
- How many men do we have here? - About a dozen for your guards.
- Did you say the palace army was still here? - Yes, Your Majesty.
Send your men and bring the chief of the palace army to me.
- He is not an easy man to... - If you can't get him alive, then bring him dead!
Do you understand? Unless you mean to give up your life to the prince!
- Hurry! - Yes, My Lord.
What? Song Yeon is still at the Bureau?
Yes, she must be busy. She hasn't come home yet.
Why are you looking for her at this hour?
- Song Yeon! - What brings you here at this hour, Dae Su?
Song Yeon!
- Your Highness! - Do you have my father's painting with you?
- The painting? - Yes.
Yes.
Did you show this painting to His Majesty?
Yes, I showed the painting to him when I went to the Grand Palace with the letter.
What did he say when he saw this? Did he say anything?
- Say? - That's right.
He did say that he recognized this area.
Actually, I found the letter when I took out the turtle.
Everyone is pointing to the turtle in the painting so I decided to tear it out.
His Majesty then said that he understood the meaning of this painting.
I don't remember exactly when this was, but I do remember this scene.
Crown Prince Sado, Prince San and I,
We went sightseeing at Mt. Inwang.
The young prince told us that he had found a rock in the shape of a turtle.
He led me and the Crown Prince there.
We looked at the excitement on the prince's face and laughed.
The Crown Prince must have remembered that time.
Because it was the last time I laughed in his presence.
That is probably the reason why the Crown Prince wanted this painting delivered to me.
He must have thought that if I remembered that time, I would be able to find this hidden letter.
That is what he must have thought.
That was in the sixth month of the year 1760.
Yes, I remember now. I found this turtle rock.
Your Highness...!
My father wanted us to see more in this painting.
He did not just hide the letter in it.
There is evidence out there convicting them of their crimes.
I am certain my father hid that here for me to find.
Timer and Editor: MrsKorea
Coordinator: mily2
Special thanks to: saturn, Suz07
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