(Characters, places, and events associated in this series...)
(are not historical facts but fictional.)
Fine.
I am the one whom you paid two yang.
I couldn't find you anywhere,
but you were in the palace this whole time.
Lay a finger on my sister,
and you won't live to see the light of day.
I see that you know how to party.
I know you're the clown, but I was still nearly fooled.
All right.
So apart from Haksan,
who else knows the truth about you?
Of course.
It's not exactly a secret you can easily share.
So where is His Majesty?
When will he be back?
Where is the actual King?
He's somewhere far away.
Far away?
Then when...
I do not know either.
He might come back suddenly like thunder...
or slowly in time like sunrise.
He might come back suddenly like thunder...
or slowly in time like sunrise.
Which it'll be, I do not know.
Whatever.
It doesn't matter if he's back this moment anyway.
When it's revealed that you are a fake,
and that Haksan used you to fool the entire court,
His Majesty will have to step down from the throne...
for giving him permission to do so.
But I don't have much time.
Let me teach you...
how to save your sister.
Make a royal command...
that you'll interrogate the criminal yourself.
Then tonight,
I'll punish Haksan...
for fooling the court by putting the lowly clown on the throne...
and dethrone the King...
for being played by that sly official.
Before then,
I want to make sure my sister is okay.
All right.
I'm sure you want to save your sister.
Go down...
on your knees first.
Do you not want to save her?
At the interrogation,
summon Chief Royal Secretary Lee as a criminal.
Then I'll bring your sister in as a witness.
Okay.
I'll do as you say.
(Episode 13)
Your Highness.
This is bad.
What is it about?
It's said His Majesty will be holding an interrogation himself.
What?
If it's about the moral crime which happened earlier today,
it should be done by the three justice offices.
Are you sure he'll interrogate the criminal himself?
Yes, people are busy...
preparing for the interrogation in the yard.
Lord Lee.
I was on my way to find you anyway.
After His Majesty met with Lord Shin,
he ordered for a royal interrogation.
What?
People are preparing for the interrogation in the yard...
and the judges have arrived already.
His Majesty is entering.
Your Majesty.
We'd like to arrest a person to be interrogated now.
Please name the criminal.
Chief Royal Secretary Lee.
Chief Royal Secretary Lee, step forward.
Bring the witness in.
Hear my command, Chief Royal Secretary Lee.
I will interrogate Shin Chi Soo.
Arrest the criminal!
What...
Let me go.
I'm not a criminal.
Chief Royal Secretary Lee...
and that rat are the criminals.
I warned you...
I wouldn't let you get away with it...
if you laid a finger on my sister again.
I'm going to make a fool out of you.
How dare you?
You're nothing but a lowly clown.
How dare you think of making a fool out of me?
Even a ghost would spit in your face...
and avoid you, rowdy yahoo.
Even a ghost would spit in its face...
and avoid it.
It's the rowdy yahoo.
A classless buffoon...
who doesn't know his roots.
You're a classless buffoon.
How dare you humiliate me, the King of this nation?
Do you really wish to die?
Do not let yourselves get fooled by this clown.
He's just a mere clown who looks like His Majesty.
That sly Chief Royal Secretary...
hid the real King somewhere...
and had this lowly clown on the throne.
We must escort the real King here as soon as possible...
and punish those two.
Who would believe you?
I have a witness.
That wench is the sister of this clown.
Ask her, and she'll give us an answer.
If you don't want to die,
tell the truth.
Is he your brother?
My brother...
Well...
My brother...
is gone.
He died a long time ago.
It's a lie.
She's lying.
It's a lie. How dare you?
Aren't you afraid of the heavens?
How dare you perjure yourself?
I'm telling the truth.
How can I dare lie to His Majesty?
Your Majesty,
I don't think it's right...
to treat this poor girl like a criminal.
Eunuch Cho.
Take her.
Yes, Your Majesty.
No. No.
Come to your senses.
We must not let her go like this.
What are you doing, Lord Jinpyeong?
Do you agree with him, Lord Jinpyeong?
Of course not, Your Majesty.
We do not agree with this despicable traitor.
You'll regret this.
When the real King returns,
it won't be just these two. None of you will be forgiven.
Shut it.
I cannot put up with your nonsense any longer!
Don't just stand there!
Tie the criminal in his seat!
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
I'm not a criminal. I am not a criminal.
Haksan is the criminal.
And the fool sitting on the throne...
- is a lowly clown! - How dare you!
You are out of line!
Gag him immediately!
- Yes, Your Majesty. - He is a clown.
That fool... His name is Ha Seon.
I am not the criminal.
Listen to me. That fool...
is called Ha Seon.
Begin the interrogation on the traitor Shin Chi Soo.
Your Majesty. There is a witness who will...
shed light on all his hidden crimes.
Bring the person in.
As you know, Your Majesty, Court Lady Kim...
tried to see if there was a scar on your body.
To find out who was controlling her,
I sent her to Shin Chi Soo's home.
She then disappeared.
How could you?
You dare tried to check the King's body?
He suspected His Majesty?
Fortunately for us,
Officer Jang found her alive.
Get the Great Lord of Goseong.
How much longer must I stay here?
I want to ask him.
Interrogate the witness.
Did Shin Chi Soo bribe you...
in an attempt to slander the King?
Yes.
He told me to check for a scar...
to see if the King was an impostor.
How dare you, you witch?
The one who killed court painter Song Ji Sang...
and posted bills with the King's face all over the town...
was also Shin Chi Soo.
This is shocking.
For a long time, Shin Chi Soo had me...
burn an incense in the King's chamber to induce a drugged state.
He also bought the royal physician and court maids...
to lie that the Queen's court lady...
buried cursed objects to jinx Seon Hwa Dang.
Was Seon Hwa Dang part of this ruse?
She knew nothing about this.
Shin Chi Soo feared that the plot would go awry...
and ordered that she be given real poison.
You are evil and cruel.
I will discuss...
your punishment with the officers.
Lock her up in the Department of Justice.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Until Shin Chi Soo confesses,
torture him.
You fool.
You clown.
You...
You fool!
Why will he not confess?
He's too tenacious.
Will you confess to your crimes?
I committed no crimes.
He says he did nothing wrong.
What do you think?
Your Majesty. Shin Chi Soo's crimes...
are supported by evidence and witnesses.
They are so grave that we do not...
dare mention them ourselves.
Especially, posting bills with your face to mock you...
and confuse the people...
is treachery for which he cannot be forgiven.
The Minister of Punishments is right.
According to the Great Ming Code,
I believe you should command he be beheaded.
You fool.
Shin Chi Soo's beheading...
is permitted.
Uncle.
You cannot enter.
I wish to see my uncle.
Please let me.
Uncle.
It is wrong.
Tell me you did not have me poisoned on purpose.
Right? I'm right, aren't I?
Come closer.
In my guest room...
is a potted plant that I cherish.
Get what is inside and keep it safe.
What do you mean?
What are you saying? What potted plant?
If you wish to live,
you must hurry.
Do you understand?
He must go now.
Get him out of here.
- Sir. - Sir.
Well done. I will take it from here.
You must be surprised I called you over here.
Why do you ask nothing?
I know that you will not answer.
How could I ask?
Dal Rae.
Woon Shim.
I will explain later.
Please take good care of her.
What on earth happened?
Why are you in the palace?
Please don't ask me anything.
It'll only put my brother in danger.
I won't ask,
so please stop crying.
I have something to give you.
Ha Seon...
collected these for you.
Ha Seon...
How is Dal Rae doing?
I brought in Woon Shim to take care of her,
so she'll be all right.
I'm finally at ease.
Why are you looking at me like that?
I shouldn't have left you all alone...
and headed to the Department of Justice.
Still, how could you reveal yourself to Shin Chi Soo so quickly?
It wasn't smart.
Everything we worked for nearly went to waste.
I couldn't think otherwise...
since Dal Rae's life was on the line.
That's why I'm saying this.
You should've waited for me.
With people like Shin Chi Soo,
it's better to act fast than to be calculative.
If I had measured different options,
things would've gone south.
So what about Gab Soo?
Make way for His Majesty!
Tell His Majesty why you attacked Shin Yi Gyum.
Well...
I had more than a valid reason for doing so.
How dare you! Stop lying.
You came at me for no reason.
Is what he is saying true?
No, my lord!
For quite a while now, I have made up my mind...
to smash his head open...
and leave this earth as its consequence.
What grudge do you have against him?
There's a young girl I care for like a daughter.
He lured her out...
She's a pure and innocent girl, but he...
Being nothing but a lowly clown,
I couldn't go to the authorities.
I had to keep it all bottled up inside.
Then I saw him and...
I have no regrets now.
I will take any punishment you give me.
Your Majesty, the Great Ming Code states...
that a peasant who attacks a noble...
must be sentenced to 80 counts of flogging.
Instead of the flogging,
have him serve in the navy down south.
Yes, Your Majesty.
So what punishment should be laid upon someone...
who violated a young girl?
He should pay with his life.
Only if the victim is above a commoner though.
That's right.
She's of a lowly status.
Therefore, I have committed no crime.
Are you saying that what you did is no crime?
Well...
The Great Ming Code states that it isn't.
I reviewed precedents set by the former king.
When the people were wronged,
in order to appease them,
he set new rules via royal command.
That is why...
I will establish a new law too.
Your Majesty, you can't make up a new punishment.
That's absurd!
Are you just trying to punish me...
because of what my father did?
I will not punish you because of what your father did.
You committed a crime...
that is worthy of its own punishment.
Your Majesty, you can't do this.
This isn't right.
I am only in this position...
to serve the people.
Why is it wrong to establish a law...
that protects the weak and powerless people?
I sentence Shin Yi Gyum to the branding of his face.
Burn his crime on his face...
so that he can remember it for the rest of his life.
- But Your Majesty... - Do it right now!
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, please don't do this.
I was wrong, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, please don't do this to me.
Who is that filthy rat?
There is nothing you can do.
Name him right now!
Shin Yi Gyum.
The son of Shin Chi Soo,
who recently became Left State Councilor.
My goodness!
Gab Soo, it's me.
Is it...
really you, Ha Seon?
Why on earth would I lie to you?
My gosh.
My goodness!
Yes, of course.
I could tell that it was you.
I really could.
Now it's been confirmed.
Wait.
What's going on though?
Does the King know that you're impersonating him?
Do you have his permission?
Don't worry.
How could I be doing this without his permission?
Yes, of course.
I couldn't be more grateful.
Please tell His Majesty that I'm very grateful.
My dear Ha Seon. Goodness.
You will now be sent to serve in the navy in Muan-hyeon.
What?
Muan-hyeon? Isn't that where you and Dal Rae...
used to live as kids?
It'll be the best place for you and Dal Rae.
Sure.
You should head there first.
Of course. I understand what you're saying.
Don't worry about Dal Rae.
I'll take good care of her.
You should just think of yourself.
The last thing you need is to lose favor with the King.
My goodness, Ha Seon.
I'm so proud of you.
I'm so happy that it doesn't feel real.
How do you feel?
Only a day has passed,
but it feels like a year...
or even longer.
I feel lighthearted...
as if the heavy burden has been lifted off my chest.
But I also feel weighed down at the same time.
It's a relief...
to hear that.
What do you mean?
It's nothing.
I'm not here as a guest.
You don't have to serve me by my side.
Did something happen in the palace?
Well,
things happen every day.
Is Ha Seon not doing a proper job...
as a king?
Did Dal Rae tell you?
Worried it might harm her brother,
she didn't say a thing.
Then who told you?
I've been by your side for more than 10 years now.
I have that much of wits.
I wouldn't have been able to put up with that time otherwise.
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
I don't expect you to share everything...
with me anyway.
You are...
someone I cannot even dream of.
Just don't push me away.
I just want to be with you...
whether you're happy or sad.
That's all I ask.
Pour me a drink.
Yi Gyum.
Where are you taking him?
He'll be sent on an exile to the north under the King's orders.
Look.
I want you to do me a favor...
in exchange for this ornament.
My lord, Shin Chi Soo sent a message through a prison guard.
He wishes to see you.
How dare he wish to see me?
He must have gone crazy.
I apologize.
Wait a second.
He might report me.
I better see him.
Let's go to the Department of Justice.
Yes, my lord.
I knew you'd come.
Why did you want to see me?
Don't tell me...
you're planning to pounce on me.
It depends on how you behave.
Don't try to pull a scheme.
Everyone in this nation knows...
that we despise each other.
No one will believe what you say.
The King will.
Are you threatening me?
What I mean is,
we should live or die together.
We should live together?
That is a big false hope.
It is not.
I have a justification...
to drag the King down from the throne.
What are you waiting for? Dig in.
You don't want this? Do you want something else?
I'm too frightened to even drink water now.
How am I supposed to eat this food?
Gab Soo must be waiting too.
I just want to leave soon.
My hazelnuts.
What are you doing? Let's go already.
Dal Rae.
I can't go.
I have work left to do here.
Work?
What work?
Is it more important than me?
There's nothing more important than you.
So why can't you go?
Aren't you scared of this place?
Dal Rae, you saw for yourself...
what I do here in the palace.
Since I started,
shouldn't I see the end to it?
You can't pretend to be king forever.
Do you think that's possible?
I can't go leaving you here.
I can't leave you in case...
you end up dying.
Go with Gab Soo. I'll follow soon.
Don't lie.
You said last time that you'd come soon and you didn't.
Don't you believe me, Dal Rae?
I do.
I believe you, but...
I'm sorry.
You have to come soon.
I will.
Let's go.
Come along.
Let's go.
Come on.
- Your Majesty. - Queen.
Thank you for coming.
Did you see your sister off?
I don't know if I did the right thing.
Don't say that I'm being weak.
To survive in this position,
I must withstand such pain.
I know that.
My sister...
left with a smile on her face for my sake.
Seeing her off...
made me feel more afraid and weighed down.
It's natural.
Not because you're weak,
but because you're a human being.
Having to part with family.
I know very well...
how that feels.
The one who must leave...
and the one who must stay.
Both suffer from broken hearts.
One day, when there is peace,
on a spring day,
visit Gab Soo and your sister.
I would like to meet them as well.
I will remember...
and ask you to go and visit them.
What brings you here?
The Queen Dowager sent me.
She thinks so little of me that she thought this would work?
Is she afraid that I will report her?
Wait.
I should acknowledge her for thinking of me.
It's not much,
but I'd like to give...
the Queen Dowager a gift.
If you like the gift,
call on her again.
Do you expect me to believe this?
I apologize.
I only repeated what she said.
The sly wench...
gave me a huge gift before her death.
Shin Chi Soo...
posted bills mocking the King...
and plotted treason.
It gives me the chills.
There's no option.
To strengthen the King's reign,
you must give birth to a prince soon.
A baby?
Yes. A baby to succeed the King.
I am close with one of the female physicians.
How about have her examine Your Highness?
I will tell her to come over tomorrow.
How am I doing?
You have tachycardia, Your Highness.
Your pulse is weak and too rapid.
You seem to be lacking energy, so it's important to regain it.
Is a few days' time,
I will present a herbal decoction for you.
Thank you.
It must be flower tea.
Could I take a closer look?
Sure, go ahead.
Forgive me, Your Highness,
but could I see these flower leaves?
What is this about?
I only want to see if you're drinking...
what is right for you.
I don't think there's any need...
to check the flower leaves though.
It was...
specifically given to her by the Royal Infirmary.
Oh, did they really?
Still, could I please take a look at it?
Go ahead.
Your Majesty,
Shin Chi Soo's beheading will take place at the end of this month.
Please approve it.
I approve.
What is the punishment for Court Lady Kim?
Her crimes are heinous since she tried to hurt you and the Queen.
Hanging would only be appropriate.
However, she did serve the court by revealing Shin Chi Soo's crimes.
Therefore, she should receive 40 counts of flogging...
and be sent to the border area as a slave.
I approve.
Your Majesty,
I have something to say regarding...
Lord Yoo Ho Joon, the Queen's father.
Go ahead.
Lord Yoo's confession...
regarding his attempt to murder you...
is false.
Is there evidence or a witness...
to prove your claims?
Yes, there is. The man who spoke...
against Lord Yoo on the matter is now dead,
but there is still a record of his statement.
I wish for this court to discuss...
the overruling of Lord Yoo's case,
so please approve it.
Your Majesty.
I apologize, but Chief Royal Secretary Lee is wrong.
Why should we discuss his innocence when he was proven guilty?
You cannot approve this.
Chief Royal Secretary Lee or Lord Jinpyeong.
The court will discuss whose claim is correct.
A discussion?
When it comes to words,
Chief Royal Secretary Lee is always victorious.
It's obvious who His Majesty sides with.
Your Highness!
Your Highness, you'll be delighted.
His Majesty ordered the court...
to discuss your father's innocence.
I should talk to him right away.
Your Highness, the female physician wishes an audience.
Let her in.
Your Highness.
Is it bad news?
Why are you being so hesitant?
Your Highness, forgive me for saying this,
but the flower tea you've been drinking...
is known to cause infertility.
But the Royal Infirmary...
How could the royal physician...
send me such a tea to drink?
I do not know of the reason.
I asked around...
if any of the consorts were drinking it too,
but only you were in possession of it.
Could I dare ask how long...
you've been drinking this?
Ae Yeong?
She's been drinking it for at least three months.
What is it?
Forgive me for saying this,
but only drinking it for a month...
will ruin the blood flow within your veins.
The clotted blood will make you sterile.
Your Highness!
I will bring the royal physician right away.
No, don't.
If he does, then His Majesty will find out.
- But... - Your Highness,
why can't His Majesty know?
The court is finally stable.
I do not want to cause any trouble.
Therefore, no one can know about this.
Do you understand me?
- Yes, Your Highness. - Yes, Your Highness.
I searched every inch of Shin Chi Soo's residence,
but I could not find what you asked for.
Is that so? Fine. You're dismissed.
A justification for the rebellion?
I have evidence that His Majesty...
secretly delivered word to Nurhachi of Aisin Gurun.
An evidence of their communication?
That's right.
Chief Royal Secretary Lee delivered the King's secret letter...
to a spy under Nurhachi of Aisin Gurun.
I intercepted it.
The King would never.
What if it were...
Chief Royal Secretary Lee's doing?
Are you saying that Lord Lee manipulated His Majesty...
into secretly communicating with Aisin Gurun?
Once this piece of evidence is revealed,
officials of the court and scholars all over the country...
will rise against the King.
What do you wish to achieve when you're locked up in prison?
It can be done with your help.
If you truly wish to take the throne, that is.
The choice is yours.
There's no way he is in possession of His Majesty's secret letter.
No, hold on.
He wouldn't be that confident if he made the story up.
What should be my next move?
Search him.
Lord Shin will be very pleased.
You lowly clown.
Just you wait.
I will not go down on my own.
Your Majesty.
What a pity. I wanted to surprise you.
You did surprise me.
Why are you here at this time of day?
I came to give you some good news.
- Is it about... - Yes.
Your father will be reinstated.
Thank you, Your Majesty...
for clearing my father's name.
I want to take the credit,
but the Chief Royal Secretary did all the hard work.
Please thank him for me.
Queen.
- Is something wrong? - Pardon?
Why would you ask?
For some reason, you seem sad.
The good news shocked me.
Maybe that's why.
Do not worry.
Oh, right.
I picked out some books for us to read together.
I forgot I had something to discuss with the Chief Royal Secretary.
I won't be long.
Okay, Your Majesty.
Let's talk.
Pardon?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Tell me the truth.
Why is the Queen so pale?
Your Majesty, please kill me.
Why do you want me to kill you?
The truth is...
What is the matter?
Your Majesty.
I heard about the flower tea.
Were you never going to tell me?
I'm sorry.
You must be pained more than anyone right now.
I'll find out who did this...
and will make them pay.
I could not tell you for fear you'd say that.
What do you mean?
Do you know who did this?
Your Majesty.
Where is the royal physician?
Come here this instant!
Your Majesty.
Tell the truth.
Who was it?
Who made you give the flower tea to the Queen?
What... What do you mean?
I truly have no idea.
How dare you?
Your Majesty. I deserve to die.
Please spare me my life.
Who gave the order?
It was...
It was the Queen Dowager.
When the Queen fell gravely ill,
you suggested she leave to recuperate.
As soon as she returned,
she was given more flower tea.
Was it all the Queen Dowager's idea?
Yes.
I did not dare to go against...
the Queen Dowager's commands.
Where is the flower tea?
Here it is.
I will go with the King.
Bring the Chief Royal Secretary.
I will.
Your Majesty.
It has become a habit.
You have no manners or shame.
Have you decided to resort to violence?
That is the flower tea...
you told the royal physician to give to the Queen.
So what?
There are things that cannot be forgiven.
Things a human must not do.
That is exactly my point.
If you are even capable of rational thinking,
you must not forgive the Queen this easily.
She stepped outside the palace and came back as she pleased.
Why do you hate her so much?
I do not hate her.
It is the sin that I hate, not the person.
Pretend to be sorry at least.
Would you be able to do the same?
In front of my family, my father,
and your brother, Prince Gyeongin,
would you be able to seem like you're repenting?
Do you intend to hold out until the end?
What if I do?
It leaves me no choice then.
The Queen Dowager...
Your Majesty.
Please calm down.
You know nothing. Stay out of it.
I do know what's happening.
So please calm down.
Why are you stopping me when you do?
His Majesty is right.
Continue.
What were you going to tell me?
Your Majesty, please stop.
Why are you telling me to stop?
Your Majesty.
What an amusing sight.
A play of clowns in the marketplace...
won't be as entertaining as this.
Your Majesty.
Now that the Queen cannot give birth,
it is only right you depose her.
What do you think?
If I must,
I'll depose the Queen Dowager first.
Go ahead if you can.
Why couldn't you hold it?
Do you not realize that she was waiting...
for you to mention deposing her?
I do, but I had no choice.
You must be aware...
that I planned to depose her earlier.
It was solely for the sake of His Majesty's safety.
If I had appealed for her deposition,
I would've gotten his permission easily.
But her people must've rebelled against it...
and attacked the court and His Majesty if I did.
My plan to protect him...
would've ended up harming him.
Why are you telling me this?
The one who stopped me...
from making such a mistake was you.
That's because I didn't know much about the palace then.
But now I do.
You once told me...
that there are only two ways to survive in the palace.
It's either to trample on them...
or to ignore them completely.
I'm left with the last resort.
In order to depose the Queen Dowager,
you need definite evidence and witnesses.
Above all, the court has to discuss it.
Once the Queen's father gets reinstated,
I'll start preparing for it.
When the time comes,
the court will make an appeal,
so wait until then.
Then hurry.
I'll go escort Lord Yoo tomorrow morning.
Lord Yoo.
Lord Yoo!
(The Crowned Clown)