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The Crowned Clown
The characters, organizations, locations, and events in this drama are fictional and have no relation to historical facts.
Episode 12
Can you not live for my sake?
After I entered the palace,
I almost died on several occasions.
Every time I thought I would really die,
I desperately wanted to survive.
Even if I can only live one more day, I want to live with you.
Next to you, while listening to the sound of your laughter,
together like that,
Together like that,
for a very long time.
Please live.
For me, please.
Your Majesty?
Your Majesty!
Move out!
Please wake up, Your Majesty!
Taepyeonggwan
Vice Minister of War.
Please hold for a moment.
I apologize for his rude behavior.
Please forgive Chief Secretary's wrongdoing.
This is the person who'd beg for forgiveness.
Why should you ask for forgiveness?
What are you doing? Ask for forgiveness, quickly.
I won't do it.
What?
I came here as the King's subject and
not for personal business like Gosung without a title.
I can't soil His Majesty's name and this country to save my neck.
Aren't you afraid of death?
How can you be this brazen?
If my death can preserve the good relationship between Joseon and Ming Dynasty, then what will fear me?
Your Emperor wouldn't want the relationship with Joseon to go sour, either.
Isn't that right?
They said tongue (words) is better than the sword. I didn't realize a person like you existed in His subjects.
I see that among the Joseon subjects, there is a person like you.
That is a subjective complement.
There are countless people better than me in Joseon.
I'll come to the palace tomorrow.
Instead, as the envoy escort,
I will take Goseong Boowongeun with me.
I understand. Please do so.
Taepyeonggwan
I was wondering why he arrived a day earlier, disregarding courtesy.
I see it's your doing.
Don't make out His Highness' wrong move and your mistake like it's my fault.
Ahead of this country's approaching crisis,
I'm only showing my loyalty as Joseon's subject.
Is acting like a minion to Ming's envoy something that a Joseon subject would do?
Go and at least send a messenger to His Highness.
If he's still not in the palace tomorrow,
the problem will grow so big it will get out of hand.
Make haste.
Were you not hurt?
I'm somehow uneasy.
Since you're not talking,
by any chance, am I dreaming?
I was very scared.
Because I thought I would lose you,
I couldn't see in front of me
and my heart fell down a bottomless pit.
The thing that is scarier than death,
I realized that it was this.
Then, have you given up on dying?
This guilt of not knowing it even after I committed the sin,
I thought I should pay for it by death.
However, now,
even if the whole world points fingers at me, curses me, or throws a stone at me,
I will endure it.
I will live beside Your Highness.
You have saved two lives.
If you have not given up on dying,
I would have followed you and died.
Please lie down now.
I'm worried that your wound will get infected.
Close your eyes and get some sleep.
I feel like I cannot fall asleep
because it seems like you will disappear.
Don't worry.
I will not go anywhere.
I will stay by your side.
Please promise me.
Yes, I promise you.
An attack?
Where is His Majesty right now?
Officer Jang escorted him to a clinic near the exile house.
Did you catch the culprits?
We chased but lost them.
Is His Majesty seriously injured?
He was still unconscious when I left him.
I understand. Go back and protect him.
Don't you need to go to his side immediately?
Early tomorrow morning, Ming imperial envoy will arrive.
I will protect the palace until he returns.
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Can you explain this situation?
I was under the impression that I would meet the king today.
This seems to go against the agreement.
Joseon has been called the country of courteous people in the East,
however, the king of Joseon doesn't know basic manners?!
How highly fluent your Korean is, esteemed ambassador.
When did you learn to speak this way?
To become an ambassador of the emperor,
this is to be expected.
You should have known that I was coming,
how come you were missing?
Being rude to the emperor's envoy,
is the same as looking down on the emperor.
Of course, you might think that way.
Bring it in.
This is the skin of a tiger, is it not?
I went to catch an animal to use in my welcoming of you.
I was late, trying to hunt a tiger.
It's the best I've hunted recently, so please offer it to the emperor.
But...
the tail?
Did you see?
I only found out he had no tail after I caught him.
Isn't it surprising? A tiger missing a tail.
It's a precious item rarely found.
Please report that to the emperor exactly as such.
Yes.
His Majesty the Emperor.
At the news that you've driven out a loyal subject as Sin Chi Soo.
He was quite startled by it.
As there is filial piety between the superior nation (Ming) and the uncivilized nation (Joseon),
there is also loyalty that needs to be kept between the king and the subjects.
To bring him back into the royal court would be rightful duty.
Those are his words for you.
It is true.
Actually Duke of Goseong was a good host to the ambassador in my absence, I heard.
I will give Duke of Goseong an official duty again.
This immense grace by His Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the King.
I shall not forget it.
You did well.
Were you hit by the arrow here?
Earlier I thought you wouldn't be able to come when it was time.
Didn't I promise to return?
If Eunuch Jo hadn't let me know in advance,
when the ambassador told me to bring Sin Chi Soo back into the royal court,
I wouldn't have endured my fury and would've caused chaos.
It was good you endured it.
Since the ambassador arrived a day early,
it's very likely that everything, including bringing in Sin Chi Soo,
were all part of Sin Chi Soo's scheme to come back into the royal court.
To use the Ming envoy...
it becomes harder and harder to forgive.
Did you find Ha Seon and Queen's attackers?
I apologize.
We chased them, but failed to catch them in the end.
To go after two majesty's.
Who exactly are those impertinent men?
I don't know who put carried out the plan,
but I might have an idea who the mastermind is.
Who is that?
The only person who knew you left the palace.
It's the person who came into the grand palace,
to demand the surrender of the royal seal and military badge.
You can't mean...the Queen Dowager?
How could you not even do something so simple?!
The king would have followed the queen to his father-in-law's exile house.
So chase after him and stab him to death.
I already told you where and how.
So answer me! Can I indeed trust you?
To continue to plan the act together with you?
The act, you mean?
Besides me, who else would take up Queen Dowager's will to preserve this nation's royal family?
If all it takes if words to realize the act,
you would've been seated as king and then some by now!
Queen Dowager. Prince Yeonghwa is here.
Let him in.
You may leave.
Welcome, Prince Yeonghwa.
I was happy thinking you'd be going back to the queen's central palace when you said you'd returned to the royal palace.
Why are you staying in this ruined Youngchun Pagoda that is said to have ghosts?
I will finish the tea rites and return to the central palace.
So just bear it for three days.
Who is this for?
Someone you don't know.
Your highness...
there...
Queen. Your grace of returning safely back.
I don't know how I can repay you.
Grace is an unfitting word.
I ran away to avoid my crime.
But I only returned to face it entirely.
Now the duty that's left for me,
It's solely to protect him.
If it is to protect him,
I will do whatever it takes.
I've already heard of a similar statement once before.
The one who was in the grand palace, upon returning after a near-death, said the same thing to me.
That he wanted to have power in order to protect what's precious.
I will make a promise as well.
I will risk my life to protect the king and this nation.
Until my death, I'll never forget your grace and I'll repay it.
I said to put you back into the royal palace,
only to get the 10,000 soldiers Joseon is to offer to the emperor.
Don't forget it.
There will not be occasion for that. Please don't worry.
Now.
You should still be resting,
why did you come all the way here?
For me only to lay in the warm chamber, I came out of apologetic and worried mind.
Please extend your hand out.
Do you remember?
If you bite on the hazelnut and make a wish,
the goblin that protects your home will appear and make that dream come true.
When you're bored, bite on it one by one to make a wish.
Who knows, maybe a goblin lives here.
How much longer will you be formal with me?
What?
Since we are in the palace, please speak informally like you used to.
It is more comfortable to me, and safer for you.
How could I dare...
Then I will do as you wish.
When are you going back?
Please give me three days.
Three days?
I understand.
So Woon.
My name is Yoo So Woon.
So Woon.
Yoo So Woon.
It is a beautiful name.
Please let me know yours.
I'm Ha Seon.
Ha Seon?
It is a warm name.
Ming nation will ask for army? What do you mean?
Ming and Later Jin have had their relationship worsening in the last few years.
Ming's border defense will struggle to fight against Later Jin.
So they will be asking us to send our troops to them too.
If we can't?
Before they engage in a war with Later Jin, they will attack us first then.
But if we give our troops to Ming, Later Jin won't just sit idly either.
They are already infiltrating our borders to threaten us.
So in the end, we will see blood no matter which side we take.
In this land, a war may happen again.
It's fine if they want to fight with each other but to pull us in?
Is there a way to evade a war?
Have you ever done tightrope?
Since I'm a clown, of course I've done it.
But what about the tightrope?
From now on, you and I are about to ride on that tightrope.
Will you commit to it?
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Congratulations for becoming First Minister.
You've suffered a lot to come to this.
Thank you. This is all thanks to His Majesty's grace.
In the end, he's even summoned his son, Sin Yi Kyeong?
People would think he's been reinstated as Left State Minister.
Nothing we can do.
His Majesty can't ignore Ming Emperor's request.
Your Majesty, the barbarians have abandoned their allegiance to the superior nation (Ming) and declared offense.
So as our duty as the subjugation nation, not just 10,000,
but even if it's 20 or 30,000 soldiers we give them, you cannot deem that a waste.
Your Majesty, it is proper to decide on giving army support after careful royal court evaluation.
Chief Royal Secretary is right.
Matters of Superior Nation is urgent but we were struck with drought and cold wave this year,
and it is difficult to come up with ample army grain provision,
so we should ask the Superior Nation for understanding.
What ill-fitting words!
Your Majesty, at the last war, Ming nation gave us army,
and our war was pacified. You cannot forget that.
If we show any sign of reluctance,
we will be deemed as defying our duty to them as their subjugated nation.
May you, may you, please understand.
May you understand.
I cannot do so.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, how are you trying to be a son who knows no grace?
If our nation and Ming nation are son and father,
then I am my people's father.
As their father, knowing full well they will die,
how can I send my children into the fire pit?
Even if I am to become a criminal to Ming Emperor, I cannot be a criminal to my people.
Those are horrendous words that wil cut our duty and loyalty.
How will you handle the opposition from the nobles.
To spew such unfavorable and disloyal words so lightly?
Are you so tormented you cannot offer full allegiance to Ming?
Then I shall approve so you march off to war with the nobles and the scholars personally!
How are you all standing quietly?
I said I will approve, so are you going or not?
Your Majesty, what unreasonable words they are.
Shut up!
Which country do you belong to?
You regard your own bloodline precious.
But you don't know how to cherish the people!
Shame on you!
Your Majesty. Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
How can you dare to defy the superior nation's order? You cannot.
Your Majesty. How will you handle His Majesty the Emperor's reproach?
May you please reconsider.
May you reconsider.
[ Imperial Envoy's Reception Hall ]
What are you stammering about? Hurry up!
Yes.
I came to pay respect to you, Imperial Envoy.
I don't think you're here to beg me to kill you.
What brings you here then?
I came to deliver His Majesty's order.
If it's nonsense, I will slay your head and take it to the emperor.
First, please hear His Majesty's message before you slay me.
Unlike Ming Nation, Joseon doesn't raise soldiers and farmer separately.
If we are to send soldiers to you, we would have to draft the army and train them.
And time is too lacking for that.
Moreover, due to drought and chill wave this year, we were not able to have much of a harvest.
Hence, that is why His Majesty cannot offer you soldiers.
If you will give him time, His Highness will pick out soldiers, train them,
and he thinks he can secure military provisions.
What would you like to do?
How much time do you need?
Two years will suffice.
One year.
I will grant you one year.
Alright. I will inform His Majesty.
What is this?
It's a secret letter to be sent to Hugeum's Nurhaci.
We will not yield to the Ming's army and even if a war breaks out,
we will not attack Hugeum's rear side. That's what's written on it.
If we send this secret letter, we can block Hugeum's attack for the meantime.
If you, Ha Seon, feels the same way as I do,
please stamp this with the royal seal.
I don't know if I am really allowed to stamp it.
If it's not you, then who else can use the royal seal?
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Royal letter to Later Jin, promising of not attack on Later Jin borders.
It's His Highness' secret letter. I put my trust in you.
Please leave it to us.
Why did you ask me to come here? What if somebody sees?
There is someone who quietly wants to see you so I invited you here.
What is this about?
This is something Prince Jin Pyeong prepared for you.
I heard that your heart to serve is different than others. You were right.
I am humbled before Imperial Grace.
Chief Royal Secretary said to wait a year.
I was very upset with him.
After seeing you two, I now feel at ease.
Please tell the Emperor
that there is a magnificent subject in Joseon who will immediately serve Ming.
Do not worry.
Instead, within half a year, you have to give us 20,000 soldiers.
If I can ascend to the throne,
there is nothing that I cannot give you.
[ Sujeong Palace ]
Your Highness.
Queen Dowager, we have come to give our greetings.
Queen Dowager, how have you been?
Do you not have shame?
If you left the palace like that, it is only right for you to kill yourself to eliminate the disgrace
but you secretly came back to the palace like a cat burglar?
Please do not insult the queen. I gave her permission.
Isn't that the problem?
Because you are soft, she dares to humiliate your position.
That's why I cannot leave the Queen's arrogance anymore.
Queen, if you have shame as a person,
Before the court asks to take your title away and poison you,
you should step down on your own.
I apologise, but I will not.
What?
In the end, you lived shamefully and caused trouble to His Highness and this country's royal family.
All this time, I didn't doubt your loyalty in the least but looking at it now, all of it
appears to be a wicked plan to save your traitor of a father and to preserve your position.
Please stop.
If you continue bothering the queen, I will not stand for it.
And what will you do?
Are you planning to chase me out again?
I know very well that you do not think of me as a mother and that you are not afraid of lacking filial piety.
If you want to chase me out of the palace, try as you please.
Let's see who'll be ruined, me or Your Majesty.
Even if you ordering Chief Secretary to bring the King's seal and the seal to move the military in my absence,
be known to Royal Court and to the people?
About that... You were away from the palace so I was forced to make such a command.
You probably want to make such an excuse.
However, if they find out that I was attacked by an assassin outside the palace,
Who will believe you?
Do not insult the queen.
If you do so again, even if you are my mother,
I will not forgive you.
Then, I'll take it that you allowed the Queen re-entering the palace and I will leave now.
Queen Dowager.
To think that the enforcement of country laws is fast approaching,
You did amazing work.
Thank you for recognising my work.
Although some will not agree,
I think I did amazingly as well.
Please look forward to what I can offer you in the future.
Alright. You may leave now.
Already?!
If there is anything else you're curious about, you are welcome to ask anytime.
Didn't he tell you to leave?
I just want to talk a bit...
Your majesty...Your majesty...
Your majesty...
Before we enforce the country laws, it will be nice to know what the people think of it.
It has failed previously.
Then, would you like to go on a royal visit?
A royal visit?
You can go out to the streets and listen to the people's opinions regarding the law enforcement.
If you comfort the people's hurt feelings,
it will help you as well. Do you want to try?
Yes, let's do it.
Where are Dal Rae and Ahjae Gap Soo?
I see that you want to see them.
Although I want to see them,
I am not allowed to see them anymore.
Were you thinking about that?
For my followers and the things I have to handle for the throne,
for Dal Rae and Ahjae Gap Soo,
the precious connections I have harbored up to now,
I realized that the time will come for me to cut them.
That way, Dal Rae will also be safe.
Please send Dal Rae and Ahjae Gap Soo to a safe place as fast as possible.
That way, it will be easier for me to cut ties.
I understand. I will do that.
Please tell my sister Dal Rae this.
Okay. I will make sure to send it.
My lord.
My lord. My lord.
Oh, I am a lord.
How can I be of service?
Chief Secretary wanted me to tell you.
He said to get the people staying your house ready for him to pick up tomorrow night.
Tomorrow night?
So quickly?
I thought I told you I quit the night snacks.
These are dried persimmons gifted from San Chang.
Because I can't quit these...
This taste that good?
- Eunuch Jo. - Yes.
Send all of them to the Queen's quarters.
Such deliciousness needs to be shared.
What?
Alright.
And this is for you.
What?
Your Majesty.
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Queen, the king has sent a late night snack.
Dried Persimmon.
And...
this letter was sent along with it.
I plan to go out to check the people tomorrow.
[Will you come with me?]
Let's eat breakfast.
I cooked mackerel today.
I see you were packing.
But I thought you guys came empty-handed when you came to my house.
How did you get so much stuff?
Yeah? We don't have anything like that.
Got a lot...
Isn't that my shirt?
It's not.
What is this?
No!
Isn't... this a poster?
No...that...
This...
You should have told me.
I guess you guys like the King like I do.
What are you talking about?
The face on this poster is really the King's face?
You mean you didn't know that and kept the poster?
Ah, right? I heard the King is coming out today to check the people out.
Where will he go?
The people get to see this handsome face. What an honor?
The world has changed a lot, don't you think?
Then, I'll be home before you leave. So wait for rme.
I'll prepare a big dinner for you.
Then be careful.
Ahjae.
Still, we can't leave here.
They are saying the King's face and my brother's face are the same.
We need to leave the capital tonight.
- But I must see him with my own eyes before we leave.- What?
If you are afraid, you stay home.
Dal Rae! Dal Rae!
Sir. So Ha Seon is not coming to see Dal Rae?
That's how it worked out.
Please tell Dal Rae for him.
Dal Rae must be very disappointed.
Okay, I'll do that.
[ Injeong Gate ]
Your Majesty, where would you like to go?
Somewhere they will never expect a king.
Stop.
Your Majesty is here!
Where?
Your Majesty.
Stand up.
Your Majesty.
Stand up.
Stand. Stand up.
Everyone, stand up.
A rice soup for me too, please.
Yes, of course.
How is your life?
With your grace, we are well fed.
Yes.
Tell me the truth.
Otherwise, I cannot help you.
Is it because you fear the punishments if say something wrong?
Don't worry, and speak freely.
Yes, then there is one thing.
Please tell me.
That is... it's so hard just being able to feed ourselves.
So we cultivated the abandoned rocky fields.
But the nearby noblemen swarmed in like the bees
and stole it saying they are the original landowners.
Please let me own the land I cultivated myself.
Those lowly bastards!
Okay, I will permit you.
Your grace is limitless!
I am about to enact on my Dae Dong policy which collects taxes from the landowners.
Do you still want to own the land?
Yes. If paying the taxes based on what you own, what could be the problem?
Collecting taxes when we have nothing is the proble---!
Of course, you speak the truth!
Your Majesty. I borrowed rice during the winter.
But I was told to pay a 70% interester rate for it.
70%---!
My master stole my wife!
Please resolve my wretched situation.
Your Majesty! Please listen to my story, too!
Your Majesty, me too!
Your Majesty! Hear me out, too!
Your Majesty!
Don't worry.
I will listen to each and every one of you.
Please line up.
Please don't push!
How dare he?
Why is it so noisy?
What is His Majesty doing here?
Let us go.
Ahjae. I think it's over there.
You are so stubborn.
What's wrong?
Did you see a ghost? Why---
Dal Rae.
Is that bastard that bastard?
Excuse me. She can stay here for a bit, right?
Yes, do that.
I will be right back. Stay here.
Sorry. I'll come next time.
Where did she go?
She was right here.
So that clown's sister Dal Rae was really holding this?
Yes, it's true.
Perhaps I can bring out Ha Seon's rebellious designs after all.
That child Dal Rae must be quite startled. Keep her pacified.
Yes. I shall do so.
What about Yi Gyeom? Is he gravely injured?
No, he was just very startled and his arm is a bit injured.
That will do then.
I'll go see Minister of Punishment right away so prepare it.
Yes, my lord.
Your Majesty.
I bid you my apology but I came out of urgent report to you.
What is it?
In the capital, an incident defying moral principle has occurred.
I am requesting an interrogation by the three departments. May you approve.
Interrogation by three departments?
You need to report the details of the matter in order to get an approval.
This morning during Your Majesty's royal procession,
First Minister Sin Chi Soo's son, Sin Yi Gyeom was attacked on the streets.
Sin Yi Gyeom was? Just how did that happen?
That's . . . a lowly clown by the name of Gap Soo.
He attacked him out of the blue.
I must meet Uncle Gap Soo.
You can't.
Sin Chi Soo was looking for you recently.
So most likely it's a trap he's set up.
That's why I must go. Since Dal Rae and Uncle Gap Soo are in danger.
Control yourself. If you go, it might only get more dangerous.
Then what am I supposed to do?
Trust me and wait. I will go find out and return.
So Gap Soo and that child named Dal Rae must be arrested here.
I already told you many times they are not here.
Brother. Are you also here upon hearing news of Dal Rae and Gap Soo?
At any rate, good that you're here. Ask this detainment officer.
Ask him where Dal Rae is.
Was he someone you are acquainted with, my lord?
You should've said that sooner then.
I came to meet the offender of morale crime, by His Majesty's order.
Was it only the one called Gap Soo who was arrested? Was there no girl by the name of Dal Rae?
Yes, it was just him all along.
There was no girl named Dal Rae.
I understand. I'll summon you again so go see to your work now.
Brother, he's lying.
Dal Rae must clearly be arrested here.
How are you so sure?
Dal Rae, that child . . .
She was holding a dagger with a dragon pattern that only the king can have.
A lowly artisan was holding such a royal item.
So I thought she would be imprisoned by Royal Investigation Bureau so I ran here.
Brother. What exactly is that dagger for you to be like this?
That's a royal item,
that His Majesty received from the late king during his ascension to crown prince.
What?
Such a precious item and why did Dal Rae have it?
Brother. Brother!
Please send my request to His Majesty for a meeting.
Your Majesty. Sin Chi Soo says it's regarding the clown Gap Soo,
that he has something urgent to report to you.
Let him in.
I don't have a good feeling about this.
How about you just send him away?
No. It's about Uncle Gap Soo, so I must hear it.
Your Majesty, I came to report something urgent to you.
May you clear the room, please.
I heard the news.
Your son, Sin Yi Gyeom suffered an attack on the streets.
Was he gravely ill?
More so than his physical injury, the fact that the moral principles were harmed.
Isn't that the greater issue?
You said you had something urgent to report to me.
I have something to show Your Majesty so I brought it.
Please open it.
Do you remember what that is?
How do you have this, Minister?
Actually, the girl who was with the clown that attacked my son,
that girl named Dal Rae had it.
That dagger was a gift to you, by Ming emperor.
I couldn't believe that lowly clown would have it.
So I came to show it to Your Majesty.
You always kept this with you.
That dagger. Is it right? Please verify it.
I remember this now.
I had it when I went out for procession earlier.
But I must have dropped it then.
Your Majesty.
Are you certain?
I am. I am certain.
That dagger . . . when the late king conferred you as crown prince during the last war.
Entrusting you with the new royal court.
He gave you that as a token of that.
You scum!
That girl named Dal Rae.
She's in my hands right now.
Speak truthfully.
Who are you?
Alright.
I'm that two-nyang, the price of a dog back then!
The crowned clown
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Preview
In order to handle this seat,
I know very well I need to overcome such pain as this.
How come you couldn't bear it until the end?
But you said so to me as well.
That there are only two ways to survive here.
Kneel.
I will tell you how you can save your sister.
So you will hold out until the end?
Right this very moment. Summon Chief Royal Secretary as a criminal.
I will put your sister as a witness.
There is only one method left for me now.
♫ I can understand it all ♫