(Characters, places, and events associated in this series...)
(are not historical facts but fictional.)
I cannot hide it any longer.
The reason my heart flutters.
I have fallen in love with you.
Your Majesty.
Are you okay, Your Majesty?
I am okay.
Your Majesty.
I am okay.
Why... Your Majesty.
I am okay.
Your Majesty.
Try to hold your breath for some time.
I tried this...
a few times already.
It is no use.
Let us try the last resort then.
Pull your tongue out like this...
and hold your breath in that state.
That is too...
I will not do it.
Then there is another way.
Lie down and fold your legs to your chest like this.
Then hold your breath.
Eunuch Cho.
Do not mind it. This will stop at some point.
But you have been hiccuping for an hour now.
Shouldn't we call a royal physician?
I am okay.
It will stop soon.
I am worried this might be because of me.
No. That is not true.
I think my body has gotten stiff...
because of the cold weather.
Are you sure you will be all right?
Of course.
I want to lie down.
You should go rest now.
I will.
Please excuse me then.
Your Majesty.
It stopped.
- I guess I did enough. - How fortunate.
I will have the servants prepare for your royal nightshirt.
I am telling more lies day by day.
Are you feeling uncomfortable with something?
No.
I just want to walk slowly away.
Pardon?
The stars and the moon seem brighter than usual tonight.
But it is cloudy, Your Highness.
Good work.
Call us anytime.
Father.
Father, I am sorry for pulling a scheme without your permission.
I thought I needed to get rid of Joo Ho Geol...
for us to stop the Chief Royal Secretary.
Is this the proof that Joo Ho Geol is dead?
That is correct.
Goodness.
How could you pay them without checking his dead body?
Why can't you be more thorough?
I apologize.
Yi Gyum.
Once you start something, see the end of it.
That way, you will not leave any trace.
Keep that in mind.
Yes, Father.
I have fallen in love with you.
Why...
Your Majesty.
Is something troubling you?
You disgraceful punk!
I apologize.
You did not seem to sleep well last night, so I was worried...
I did not mean you.
I meant someone else in my thought.
Eunuch Cho.
Do His Majesty and I...
look that much alike?
Well, that is...
I was shocked when I first saw you,
and ever since you returned after getting stabbed,
you seem so similar that I sometimes mistake you...
for His Majesty.
Mistake?
Mistake...
You are right.
Not me.
But His Majesty.
Your Majesty.
This is a path to the Queen's palace.
How did I end up here?
Your Majesty.
The Queen is coming this way.
Your Majesty. I was on my way to see you.
Were you coming to see me?
I was actually going to the Hall of Convenience.
I was deep in thought and must have gotten lost.
You seem to have gotten haggard.
Did you hiccup all night?
I have fallen in love with you.
Your Majesty.
No.
It stopped soon after.
I was too inattentive...
and remembered something only after I saw you hiccup.
You used to enjoy ginger. I will make ginger tea.
It aids digestion,
so hiccups will not plague you again.
You do that.
I have urgent business to see to.
How are the preparations for tomorrow's court assembly going?
According to the investigation,
there are no faults with the handover documents.
We will have no difficulty charging Lord Lee Han Jeong.
Joo Ho Geol still bothers me.
If the Chief Royal Secretary has him...
identify proof of embezzlement...
The tables will be turned and we will be at a disadvantage.
Do not worry. That will never happen.
Have you still not heard from the Chief Royal Secretary?
Not yet.
I apologize, Your Highness.
His Majesty is not in.
The Queen left some ginger tea.
It is cold. Shall I take it away?
No. You are excused.
I cannot eat ginger.
I think I was seven.
I followed Gab Soo to a nobleman's house.
I got violently ill after stealing a ginger treat.
I almost died.
It was so bitter.
I can still smell it sometimes.
I was not meant to eat it.
If it does not suit your constitution,
it is best to stay away from it.
It could make you sick.
- I understand. - In that case,
I will take the tea away.
Why do you not drink it instead?
Pardon?
If you were to throw this away,
the Queen's efforts will have been for nothing.
You stood outside the King's chambers for too long.
I will take the ginger tea to the King from now on.
You should stay out of the cold from now on.
Thank you for the concern,
but I want to serve the ginger tea myself.
Will you have some flower tea to warm you up?
Yes.
- My lord. - My lord.
Good morning, my lords.
Where is the Chief Royal Secretary?
I heard he is not in yet.
He is missing the court assembly?
He just keeps giving me...
more things to complain about.
Your Majesty, it is time for you to go to the Hall of Convenience.
Is the Chief Royal Secretary still not here?
Not yet.
Let us go.
Your Majesty.
The handover documents confiscated from...
the Ministry of Taxation had no fault or problems.
For trying to cause a rift...
with documents that were in order,
the Minister of Taxation should be penalized.
Your Majesty.
I only tried to do my duty as head of...
the Ministry of Taxation.
If it is a crime to identify if magistrates...
are stealing from the people,
then I would rather give up my office...
and return to my hometown.
You cannot do that.
Your Majesty.
He is making excuses to avoid being punished.
You must punish him severely.
Your Majesty, the Minister of Punishments is right.
Punish the Minister of Taxation...
and use him as an example to keep your court in order.
Your Majesty. Please accept our plea.
- Please accept our plea. - Please accept our plea.
I think...
Your Majesty, the Chief Royal Secretary is here.
Your Majesty, I apologize for my tardiness.
You are welcome. Why were you late?
I was late trying to find proof of embezzlement...
from the handover documents.
- What? Proof? - Embezzlement?
Proof of embezzlement?
Your Majesty. There is no way that could exist.
You must punish Chief Royal Secretary Lee...
for neglecting his duties and for slander.
Your Majesty. Whether the proof is legitimate or not,
you may ask the person who found it.
Let him in.
I greet you, Your Majesty.
Chief Royal Secretary. What is this?
How dare you let a slave join a court assembly?
Your Majesty. Punish the Chief Royal Secretary...
for causing disorder in court...
and order this slave be sent out.
He may be a slave,
but he works at the Ministry of Taxation and...
proved embezzlement with the documents.
He has more than enough right to report to the King.
State your discovery.
Your Majesty.
I compared the take-over documents with the tribute ledgers.
I found evidence that tributes of rice were accepted at...
a price higher than the market rate to make a profit.
Do not lie.
Tributes have no set market rate.
How could you possibly know?
That is true.
It wasn't easy,
but I converted the price of tributes to rice...
and compared it with their market value.
Nonsense.
One man couldn't possibly calculate them all.
Your Majesty, here is my report on...
the take-over documents of the Ministry of Taxation...
and the embezzlement of tributes from counties.
Minister of Taxation, you were right.
Your Majesty.
Although evidence has been found,
it still doesn't excuse Ministry of Taxation's tardiness...
that resulted in the delayed appointments...
of county magistrates.
So before you investigate the embezzlement,
punishing the Minister of Taxation should come first.
Your Majesty.
Minister of Personnel speaks of a sad excuse.
He confiscated take-over documents...
in order to exonerate county magistrates...
and he must be held responsible.
Left State Councilor Shin is right.
Minister of Personnel and...
county magistrates who embezzled will be severely punished.
Your Majesty!
If I may,
I have a request to ask of you.
Go ahead.
Last night,
an assassin was sent my way.
Who was it? Who ordered the hit on Joo Ho Geol?
The son of Left State Councilor Shin.
I will pay you 10 times of what was offered.
Go...
and tell them exactly what I say.
My goodness.
Your Majesty,
please punish the person...
who hired assassins to kill me.
Who is it?
It is Shin Yi Gyum,
the son of Left State Councilor Shin.
Such insolence.
How dare you speak lies in front of His Majesty.
The assassin is currently held at the Department of Justice.
Should I summon him?
Bring me Shin Yi Gyum!
What is the punishment for attempted murder?
An attempted murder is punished by beheading too.
However, he is the son of an official...
and also a Fourth Censor.
Even if you punish him,
Left State Councilor Shin and the Office of Censors...
will grant him amnesty stating that...
his sentence suppresses those who speak their minds to you.
Are you saying he'll be pardoned?
That cannot be. If I can't have his head,
I should at least sentence him to be flogged instead.
There's a way to humiliate Shin Yi Gyum...
and teach him a lesson.
How?
Your Majesty.
Fourth Censor Shin Yi Gyum of the Office of Censors,
raise your head.
Planning to hurt another person...
is a severe crime that should be punished by the Great Ming Code.
However,
your father is a loyal contributor to me and this nation.
Also, Joo Ho Geol, the victim, wasn't injured in any way.
That is why you will be forgiven.
However, in order for this to be a lesson for you all,
I will give your father the chance to properly discipline you.
Left State Councilor Shin Chi Soo step forward...
and cane your son 100 times.
- Caning? - Father.
My goodness.
Your Majesty, you cannot...
punish a major contributor this way.
This is more than just humiliating, so please rescind your order.
Your Majesty...
I'd rather you...
punish my son based on the Great Ming Code.
Lord Shin,
how could you possibly refuse His Majesty's boundless generosity?
Execute!
One.
Two.
Three.
Four!
Five.
Six.
Stand up straight.
Seven.
17.
Lord Shin, what will happen to me now?
Lord Shin!
It must've been exhausting to calculate...
all those numbers in one night.
What is this I smell?
Darn.
I apologize, Your Majesty.
I lied down in between dead bodies last night.
The odor does not go off easily even after washing myself several times.
I am impressed...
by your courage.
I did not take my courage from the start.
I thought it was outrageous...
when Chief Royal Secretary Lee first suggested this idea.
I would not have had the courage to take the action...
if Officer Jang did not show up.
It was not my contribution.
I only followed Chief Royal Secretary Lee's orders.
It was fortunate...
that I told him to watch Joo Ho Geol just in case.
I shall set you free from your slave status and grant you a position.
Do you prefer any position?
A ninth-class accountant position, if I may.
Accountant?
You may ask for a higher position.
Isn't the ninth-class position too humble?
He picked a position that befits him.
If His Majesty grants him a high place,
the Ministry of Taxation and other court officials will complain.
But as a senior accountant,
he can focus on training his juniors...
without having to face any conflicts with his superiors.
He will also be of great help in enacting the rice payment law later.
Conducting a proper training...
could advance the enactment.
Enactment of the rice payment law?
Your Majesty, do you really intend to collect taxes...
only from those with properties in the form of rice?
Well...
That is right. It is my long-desired wish.
I shall do my very best...
in teaching junior accountants.
- My Queen. - Your Majesty.
I heard the news about relief rice.
I was waiting here to see you.
How should I express my gratitude?
I should be thanking you instead.
Thank you for letting me do my job as the king for the first time.
The first time? That is too humble of you.
I am just saying that is how I feel.
Your Majesty.
What happened today put me in the greatest distress.
What made you so?
Disregarding those who slandered me out of jealousy,
you have trusted me and let me handle court affairs until now.
When I should have worked to repay your kindness,
I disgraced you and the court.
I do not know how I should pay for my sin.
If you rather had taken my position...
as well as my life,
I would not be feeling so miserable as this.
What is your point?
Because of one lowly slave,
my son...
and I were humiliated to death today.
I am worried...
this might put the court in disorder.
Even a left state councilor like myself goes through such trouble.
No one will dare give you loyal advice.
No one will volunteer to be in charge of court affairs.
If I may ask,
please redress today's injustice and humiliation...
to strengthen your authority and dignity of this nation.
Left State Councilor Shin.
I have a question.
Please ask me, Your Majesty.
You say that you are loyal to me,
but why can you not see...
the sufferings of the powerless people?
Why can you not hear...
the resentments of the innocent?
Did you say, a lowly slave?
The dignity and authority of the court and the King...
you say you want to protect...
is nothing compared to Joo Ho Geol's life.
No matter how trivial it is,
I swear I will not let it slide...
if it harms the people of my nation.
However, Your Majesty...
I do not wish to hear anymore. Get out now.
I will, Your Majesty.
Gosh.
Are you on your way to take offerings?
I will come back before it gets dark.
Do not cook for dinner, and wait for me.
That would be great.
Take care.
He might bring some delicious food again.
Let us go get firewood too.
I will not let you stay here alone.
I need you by my side to feel at ease.
Hurry. Let us move.
What is wrong?
What, right now?
Oh, dear.
I need more work to do.
Okay, but hurry back.
There is a cliff that way,
so go this way.
Okay? Go on.
Make sure you do it where people are not around.
Help us.
Show mercy.
Help us.
Thank you, sir.
Go to that courtesan house,
say Haksan sent you,
and get some food.
They will feed you...
Why did you do this?
Good luck in the afterlife.
That was the message.
Run.
He could have woken me so we could leave together.
Why did he go on his own?
- Oh, dear. - My lord, are you all right?
My lord.
What is the matter?
Kyu. Kyu!
Kyu. What happened?
Kyu.
Silly me.
I will bring a physician.
You cannot.
Are you awake?
Yes.
Kyu.
Why can I not call a physician?
Nothing good will come from...
word getting out that the King's secretary was attacked.
- Darn it. - Jeong Saeng.
- Get Jeong Saeng. - Jeong...
Jeong Saeng?
Yes.
My lord.
I will send someone to get Jeong Saeng.
Stay strong.
Hang in there.
The Chief Royal Secretary took a day off?
Yes. I was surprised myself.
But he has not taken a break in a long time,
and a holiday is long overdue.
But...
Did you not sleep well?
You look unwell.
I feel a bit stifled...
and cannot sleep well.
Your Highness. Are you all right?
What is wrong with me?
I must see the King.
Your Highness.
- My Queen. - Your Majesty.
I apologize.
What for? Why should you apologize?
Do not worry.
It is a passing fever.
Do not talk.
Just rest in comfort.
Why did the Queen faint?
Her body and mind have been weakened for many reasons.
Letting her remain in this state will only worsen her condition.
I suggest she be sent on a vacation.
A vacation?
Your Majesty.
It is to help the Queen get better.
Why do you hesitate?
That is true, but...
The Chief Royal Secretary is away.
Can I make such a decision?
Even if the Chief Royal Secretary were here,
he would have made the same decision.
This is a good opportunity...
both for you and the Queen.
I understand.
Well done.
How is the Queen?
Her circulation is blocked and she is very weak.
Well?
Can the Queen give the King an heir?
I cannot say such a thing for sure.
- But... - But?
If she were to remain in this condition, it will be unlikely.
You are excused.
Ming will ask us for reinforcements because...
Aisin Gurun spies keep crossing the border.
It works for us if the borders get out of control.
Even if the King finds out about us,
we can always say...
we are training soldiers to protect the borders from Aisin Gurun.
These two failed the recent exam.
Did they sign over their lives when they joined?
Yes. One is a butcher.
The other is a runaway slave.
They hoped to become peasants.
Only the one who grabs the blade can live.
I won, sir.
Well done.
You should have done so sooner.
Then you would have passed.
Your Highness. The Queen is here.
Let her in.
The King cares for you greatly.
Don't worry about the palace...
and focus on restoring your health.
I will...
make sure to return so that I can take care of His Majesty,
so please do not worry.
Of course.
Now please drink before it gets cold.
♫ A single flower petal that I couldn't catch ♫
♫ Flies away with the rough wind ♫
♫ Underneath the cold moonlight ♫
♫ Memories of you pace back and forth ♫
♫ It keeps circling around so without knowing ♫
♫ When I stop and turn around from my aching heart ♫
♫ I tried enduring, saying it's all a dream ♫
♫ Only regret keeps growing bigger and bigger ♫
♫ Just once, just once, I hope I can see you again ♫
♫ Even if I have to throw everything else behind ♫
♫ I can't forget, I can't forget, 'till the world ends ♫
♫ I'm holding on to my empty heart, desperately ♫
Who did you choose as the Queen's guards?
Apart from those protecting His Majesty,
I sent the best men that I have,
so do not worry.
Good.
My lord,
when will you notify the King of your current status?
I will do no such thing.
We must find out who tried to kill you and serve justice.
If one truly wished to kill me,
he or she wouldn't have sent beggars to do the job.
I'm sure there's another meaning for this,
so causing chaos in court...
by alerting the King of this matter...
might be...
what the person wanted by threatening my life.
That is why...
His Majesty must not know of this.
Do you understand?
Yes, my lord.
These are hazelnuts.
If you crack open a hazelnut,
it surprises the goblin that protects the house...
into granting you a wish.
I came here to be with you.
To laugh and to cry with you.
I will go through everything with you.
Please strengthen your resolve.
Your Majesty. What wish did you make?
My wish...
is to see you smile big and bright.
That is what I prayed for.
I keep seeing her everywhere...
and my heart longs for her.
The air is quite chilly.
You should now head inside.
Ae Yeong, prepare for my return tomorrow.
Pardon?
Already? But it's only been three days.
You finally seem healthier,
so please rest for a few more days.
I feel much better.
Even the royal physician said I'm making a fast recovery.
However...
I feel like...
I won't be fully back to health until I return to the palace.
It hasn't been that long, but you're already missing it.
Just thinking about returning gives me a surge of energy.
When will Chief Royal Secretary Lee arrive in court?
Well, I'm not sure.
He said he'd be gone for five days,
so he'll probably be absent for that long.
Have you still not heard from my sister?
Well, no.
I guess I should tell you.
The letter...
couldn't be delivered to her.
Why didn't you tell me earlier?
You see,
the courtesan house you told me to deliver the letter to...
is where Chief Royal Secretary Lee lives.
Lord Lee lives there?
That's right.
I won't be able to deliver the letter any time soon.
I must go there myself.
Your Majesty.
It's best if you just let this go.
How can a brother not know the well-being of his sister?
I will hear if she's all right and then hurry back.
Very well.
I will get things ready.
I will go on my own.
I do not want to bother you,
- or attract attention. - You cannot go alone.
Do not worry.
I will be like the wind.
But you cannot.
My lord.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty. What brings you here?
Are you on your own?
Well...
I am.
Are you here to see the Chief Royal Secretary?
No. I just...
I wished to see the people enjoy the Double Ninth Festival.
Your Majesty. I will escort you.
Very well. You do that.
It is quite noisy.
Why is that?
There must be a Double Ninth Festival party.
Is it September already?
Do you remember, Your Highness?
We used to make flower pancakes...
and went on a picnic up a hill.
I remember that.
That was the first time you got drunk on flower wine.
That was so much fun.
Your Highness.
May we have a short look around?
Please, Your Highness.
We never know when we will be able to leave the palace again.
For a very short while.
Very well.
Stop the sedan.
Everyone is enjoying the festival.
It is a great sight.
Your Majesty.
I do not like it that I am the only one with you.
You should return to the palace.
I feel so much safer with you around.
I am flattered that you say that.
Kids, write down your wishes.
Write them down.
- I want good food. - I want meat.
(Meat)
That looks like fun.
Shall we write a wish too?
I am sorry to say I have no wish.
You have no wish?
How can that be?
Why do you not tell just me?
What is your wish?
It is not a wish,
but there is something I would like to do.
What is that?
My older brother died protecting you in the last revolt.
I would like to serve you loyally...
and die in the line of duty.
You will serve me loyally then die?
That is a good thing.
A noble thing.
But rather than...
have you die a good death for me,
I would like you to...
live for yourself doing what you would like.
Your Majesty.
I am seeing things again.
Your Majesty.
Is it truly you?
Your Majesty. Have you been well?
I am well.
You should be resting.
Why are you back already?
Three days was enough.
Any longer and I felt as if I would get worse.
Are you out to see your people?
Yes.
I heard about the Double Ninth Festival...
and came to see.
Seeing that we met, we can return together.
Your Majesty.
Can we not return a bit later?
Just a bit later.
I cannot be a bird that flies high...
or a fish that swims deep.
But who knows when I can come out again?
Can we not stay?
Very well.
Dal Rae!
My gosh. Master. Master.
Did you see Dal Rae?
She was right here a while ago.
I think I know where she is.
- Let us go to town. - What?
To town?
Oh, no, Dal Rae...
Hey, hey, hey, you!
Are you the King's new concubine?
Let me see your face, face, face.
Show your face.
Your Highness. What is the matter?
Seon Hwa Dang.
Get away from the King this instant.
How dare you shove your bum in there?
The Queen is trying to kill me.
Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
Do not do this.
I will tell the King.
How dare you?
The Queen is vicious and jealous.
The heavens are angry...
and that is why our nation is in turmoil.
Am I right?
- Yes. - You are.
Here, take some.
Adzuki beans ward off evil.
Take some adzuki beans.
Come on, over here!
Here you go.
You brat!
Get lost, you wench!
Here you go.
Where is His Majesty?
They were here just until a while ago.
Your Majesty, why did you...
I could not let you watch it.
I thought I should take you somewhere quiet.
I am sorry.
It is because of my incompetency,
so please do not apologize.
Your Majesty, I am not wavered.
It rather feels like a happy dream...
that I am with you like this.
If this was a dream...
If this really was a dream,
I would not be blamed for anything I do.
Do you not think so?
Your Majesty.
Let us go.
Come take a look.
Ha Seon.
(The Crowned Clown)
He is gone.
Have you forgotten your manners already?
There is a man who trusted me and risked his life.
If I do not go, the King will kill him.
Take him to the woods and feed him to tigers.
Tell the Office of Astrology.
I would like to spend the night with the Queen tomorrow.
If you ever get lost, come to me.
I will always wait for you at the end of your path.
My path has been decided.
I am returning to the palace.