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Allow me to pour you a drink.

Sure.

My greetings have been delayed. I thank you for your help.

I've simply confessed my crime, no more no less.

I've heard about what happened in the king's palace.

That you volunteered to be exiled.

They don't seem to know about it, so let's keep that quiet.

I don't want to kill your excitement.

I am a lout with no future, so it doesn't matter how I live

but what about you? You are a progeny of a noble family of the Noron faction, why take on such a laborious job?

No.

The truth is that I chose this path because it is easiest for me.

Why would anyone choose the more difficult path?

After all, didn't you do the same, Your Highness?

Rather than retreat and pretend not to know, to face it was easier.

Lord, it is your turn. Hurry now.

Let's play together. You know how to play the "seung-gyeong-do game (fantasy promotion board game), right?

No, I'm fine. You guys...

Ah Bong, what are you doing?

Come on, His Highness will play with us. Give him the game piece.

No thanks.

Come on, go ahead and throw it.

Now I will acknowledge you as one of us too, Your Highness.

Shall I be grateful?

How about this? He is beginning late in the game, but he did receive the highest score on the exam in real life.

So shall we say that he already passed the civil service exam?

Yes, that's right. He took the test for another, but he did get the highest score.

You scored the highest, and you are also of royal lineage, so why don't you begin from the senior third rank.

No, that's cheating.

Never mind. Hurry and throw it.

Everyone is waiting.

Everyone prepare yourselves. I am the master of sundry skills and tricks.

Aigoo, is someone trying to throw the game piece with his mouth?

Three.

- You are the king. - What?

Hold on... One, two, three...

[ Three --> King ]

You're right.

You are really the king.

What are you saying? There are no kings in the "seung-gyeong-do" game?

We drew in a king's throne ourselves for fun.

How blasphemous.

It appears that this was just a joke.

Yes. We made that up, but it was supposed to be impossible.

Hey, but since it's happened, give it a try.

After all, it's a game. Isn't that true, Hyung-nim?

What?

Alright.

A king can do anything he wants to.

Just give the royal command.

Yes, as you said, it is just a game.

So I am the king.

You two are loyal and diligent

so I'd like you two to be in charge of the Capital Bureau, and protect Hanyang.

Capital Bureau (authorities in charge of administration and policing of the capital city)

- Us? - Wow! Us?

They do not suit those positions, though.

You have conviction and you are fair, so you are the Yeonguijeong.

(Yeonguijeong = Prime Minister, the highest government position of State Council)

Your Excellency Prime Minister!

Hyung-nim, the Prime Minister is you!

You are so meticulous that you are tiresome, but you know the rules and principles. You are the "podo-daejang."

(Podo-daejang = Joseon equivalent of commissioner of police)

- Me? - Podo-daejang. Wow.

- Commissioner Cheon! - My pal, Police Commissioner.

And you who believe that equality is the true way of this world,

you are the Inspector General of the Saheonbu which enforces the laws of our nation.

[Inspector General, the head of the Saheonbu]

Whoa. Inspector General?

Me? I am really the Inspector General heading Saheonbu?

So how about it? Am I a playing the game properly as the king?

Your Majesty! Your grace is immeasurable!

Your grace is immeasurable!

I'm the Inspector General, punk!

But I think the king might be too handsome.

Arrest him!

'王' (wang = king)

Of course, he should have done better.

To give a great position to one who is unworthy

was to expect him to perform during that one moment in need.

But it turned out, there was a nail sticking out

in a spot where we did not expect.

But political currents constantly change and we have been victors for a long time

and we know how to always win, do we not?

Prince Yeoning, Hyung-nim.

Hwon.

Prince Yeonryeong, Lee Hwon (Soron)

Please give Hwon dry clothing to change into, and bring him something warm to eat.

Yes, Your Highness.

Don't bother yourself. I apologize for waking you so late at night.

Please don't say such things, Your Highness.

I'm really fine. Hey...

Hyung-nim, please retract your request to volunteer for exile.

It isn't too late.

I don't intend to do that.

- I will leave for Tamra in three days as planned. - Hyung-nim!

Do you know why I confidently asked for an exile?

Because you will become the next king.

And because I know you, as the future king, will never release me from the exile out of personal feelings.

That is the sort of king you will become.

A just king without self-interest.

As you did for me,

you will embrace even those most lowly subjects that everyone else shuns,

a king like that. - No.

Please don't do this.

Hwon, the people of this nation,

don't they at least once deserve to have a king like that, boy?

I too want to live in a Joseon in which you are the king.

Hyung-nim...

So you must not come to see me again.

They will definitely mount a counterattack.

Don't lose to them, Hwon.

This is regarding Inspector Han Jeong Seok.

Can I entrust you with it?

The day I passed my exam and became an inspector of the Saheonbu

I set fire to the straw-roofed house that I had been living in.

I was determined to never return to such a lowly house.

Indeed, the nights of Hanyang seem to be in your grasp, Your Excellency.

So how can I not envy those hands of yours?

I know who that is, too, Your Excellency.

I wouldn't have come if I hadn't the confidence.

Let us not shed blood.

Stop. Retreat.

Indeed, he doesn't even feel pain.

What a great hunting dog you have there.

So who are you? What brings you here?

I am a useless cad.

Originally, I was a beggar from the neighborhood of Gwangtong Bridge.

Wow, these are nice.

Wow, is this white porcelain?

A lowly beggar could not recognize such things.

I imagine that you are more curious about how I found this place.

A lowly beggar like me.

Recently, there was a whirlwind of rumors about Prince Milpoong tearing through the capital city.

'So fast. The rumors spread so fast that they could not be controlled.'

Didn't you think that, Lord?

What is it that you want to say?

I am the one who did that.

And I came here to brag to you about what I did.

What is this? Weren't we to meet at Mapo Port?

Why are you so slow? What time is it already?

Hey, Yeo Ji, why are you... ?

Looks like you received a note, too.

Let's hurry. We are in a rush.

Hold on, Your Highness. Looks like we need to clarify some things.

- Clarify? - Look, it's not as if I am your mutt.

You just issue orders like this and expect me to go wherever you tell me? That isn't right.

I have to study and I am quite busy...

Undo this rope, and give up on studying.

- It's over for you already. - What?

In this world, there are people who just can't do something, no matter how they try.

It's not as if just anyone can get the highest score, as I did, after making a minor effort.

Look here, Your Highness. How can you speak harshly like that?

Well, if you're ever in the mood,

perhaps I can take the exam for you?

Whoa, Your Highness. Are you picking a fight with me?

Just because you are a prince, you think it is alright...

Stop grumbling and just go.

Oh, geez.

You heard what he said, right? What a rude guy.

Yes, he is arrogant and hopeless.

He is very full of himself.

- Right? - Yes, he doesn't consider the other's feelings and only speaks the truth.

That's what I... hey, wait a minute.

But it appears that he is not a bad person.

So please go and don't make a fuss.

He will be leaving us, soon.

Leaving us? What are you saying? Where is he going?

Your Majesty, please allow me to escort you.

These are the results of profiling Prince Milpoong.

It contains everything since his days in Ganghwa Island (Prince Milpoong's birth place and childhood home).

The reason I sought you out rather than the director of the Royal Investigation Bureau

is that I know that the classified information

is ultimately in your hands.

All higher-ups leave the Royal Investigation Bureau (investigative agency under direct control of king) at some point.

But not an agent like you who actually performs the day-to-day duties.

You are the talent keeping the Royal Investigation Bureau strong all your lives.

I am highly flattered, Your Majesty.

The reason I summoned you here rather than to the palace,

you must know it, too, right?

The Royal Investigation Bureau is under your direct control.

Not a word will be leaked outside.

Raise your head.

His Majesty must have asked you for classified information on Prince Milpoong.

I belong to the Royal Investigation Bureau, Your Excellency.

If you ask me an unanswerable question, that will put me in trouble.

Of course you will pretend ignorance

as to how much information was given the king.

But you must have a present for me too, right?

Of course. Because even though the Royal Investigation Bureau is under direct control of the king,

that kingship is not a permanent position either.

But I must know how you are going to use it. I have to watch out for myself, too.

Under no circumstance, you will suffer any harm,

because I secured the services of a rather useful beggar.

[Prince Yeoning]

Make the rumors as dirty as possible.

They must spread through the capital before the end of the day.

Just trust my skills.

Now you are going to swallow up Gae Dol's gisaeng house

and get some rich and powerful sponsors too?

Like your dream, is the day coming when beggars like us

can stop crouching and live it up too?

That's right. The political intrigues among the high and powerful are none of my business.

We take what we need, that's all.

This is all Prince Milpoong's land?

So from o--------ver there all the way to here?

Take bragging out of him and Prince Milpoong might as well be a corpse.

His itchy mouth couldn't hold it in but spilled it to me a while ago.

Saying that beside this plot, he had plenty all over the 8 provinces of Joseon.

So bragging runs in the royal blood.

He must hold them all under different names. If you steal them all, they should come in handy.

Report this too to Saheonbu...

There should be a gisaeng house nearby. Do you want to go and wet your throat?

Do you know this neighborhood?

Didn't you say this was your first visit here?

There is no way Prince Milpoong frequents neighborhoods without gisaeng houses.

The ways royalty play are pretty predictable.

Follow me.

Indeed, the players know the rules of the game.

Come in.

Here, first accept a cup from me.

I suggested a nice place. Why a tavern?

It's okay to drink at any place.

Drink sparingly. To go on a long trip, you need a fat purse.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Truly, you are the manliest man of all I've seen.

What hogwash I'm hearing from you. Drink up.

Speaking of which,

shall we become pledged brothers?

Aigoo, gross, seriously...

What? Pledged brothers?

I mistook you, Your Highness.

Because you have a gigolo's face, I didn't know you are a real man.

Look here, scoot over there.

- Go back to your seat. - How old are you?

We have to figure out who's the hyung (older brother) and who's the dongsaeng (younger sibling).

Let me see your ID stick. Where is it?

Where do you think you're fumbling?

That's right! Let's allow Yeo Ji in, too.

She's actually a tremendous macho man.

Three brothers! Three brothers is just perfect!

All right, no biggie. I'll let you become the eldest brother, Your Highness.

Okay, Hyung-nim, let's have a drink. Here.

To our eldest brother...

Speaking of the devil, where did you send our youngest Yeo Ji?

Really? Prince Yeoning is so infamous?

Don't even make me start.

He is widely known in gisaeng houses and at gambling tables.

Aigoo, he practically lives at archery ranges

where rakes gather. - That's right!

Indeed, Prince Yeoning the rake...

Still, Prince Yeoning is not

a bad person by nature.

What did you say, Elder?

Right, there was a time

during the last year's drought, when piles of rice sacks suddenly

appeared by the night in front of the town hall?

Oh, you mean when the rice subsidized by the government ran out?

There is a rumor that the one who provided that

was Prince Yeoning.

Is that true?

- That's what I'm saying. - Because his mother is from the lowest class,

he understands how the have-nots feel.

What the highborn royalty wouldn't understand, even if they died and came back to life,

he understands.

Everyone's here.

There is quite a hubbub in the streets and everywhere!

Gambling and womanizing are not all.

He stole several thousand houses from the common people.

Acting the part of a sorry prince that he is,

the money he looted from the national coffer

is as much as 500 thousand nyang!

How much? 500 thousand nyang!

This darned rotten bastard!

How much did I say? That's right!

Is that really true?

There is a rumor spreading about how he hid

silver bullion underground.

Prince Yeoning's been playing around with so many married women.

Really?

So the rumor was true?

Hey, look. What the heck are you...

But this is...

Yes, this is too rapid considering these are the outskirts of the capital.

The talks about me are spreading too fast.

What? Rumors about Prince Yeoning are spreading?

His Highness expected this to happen.

That they might call the credibility of his testimony into question through attacks upon his character.

He asked me to come up with a solution.

They will undermine Prince Yeoning's moral character

and even shake up the truth of his words?

Have you heard?

Then, was Prince Milpoong also...?

Halt for a second.

He's always had a bad reputation.

He has done stealing, womanizing

and everything else that's bad.

He's done all sorts of bad things.

It's because

Prince Yeoning comes from the lowest class.

That is...!

It's time to wrap this up now.

A letter from His Excellency, Minister of Interior.

Over here.

How did it go?

I've made an arrangement for you to meet Prince Milpoong.

Since you're Prime Minister's mistress, did he send you

to look in on him?

He says to deliver these words for him.

For you to do your work properly.

Yoon Yeong! Yoon Yeong!

Please calm down, Your Highness.

I'm so scared.

I want to go home, Yoon Yeong.

Get a hold of yourself, I said!

It's not the time for you to be whining.

Prince Yeoning is suffering that plight then?

After making me like this, he's getting his retribution!

You'll come out soon since Prince Yeoning's testimony will fall apart.

Then, it's no issue for me to become king, right?

That's what we need.

But right now, your current reputation . . .

I'm going to have to eat oxtail soup first thing after I get out.

These things! I asked for oxtail soup!

But they gave me radish leaf soup and rice!

Your Royal Prince, this isn't the time to sing about food . . .

Wait.

They gave you soup rice?

They did, I said. Yesterday they gave me what I wanted though.

No need to feed the dog that is useless?

Can't be, Minister of Interior. He . . .

Come on in.

This is my private study.

What are you all doing at my home at such a late hour?

What did you just say, Minister of Interior?

Bipartisanship.

It means we are prepared to go together with Prince Yeonryeong.

Do you mean you will enthrone Prince Yeonryeong?

Then what about Prince Milpoong?

Cracked fine porcelain is even less useful than crude crockery.

And cheap broken woodware, even less. Prince Milpoong cannot be king.

The next king set forth by Noron is Prince Yeonryeong.

However, in order for that, there's something for you to do.

Inspector General, Sir.

Why did you seek me out at this hour, Chief Royal Secretary?

Your Majesty. Inspector General, Lord Yi Yi Kyeom is here.

Have him come in.

Your Majesty, for what reason did you want to see me at such an hour?

Be seated.

This is something that no one can know.

A secret solely between you and me.

However,

in order for that, there's something you need to.

Your Majesty, what did you just say?

Did you say you wish to seat Prince Yeoning on the royal throne?

That's right.

Not Prince Yeonryeong, but Prince Yeoning. I believe he must be the one to become king.

Something I need to do? What is it?

With that, Noron will truly protect Prince Yeonryeong?

I speak no falsehood.

This matter should already be settled with Prince Yeonryeong too.

Speak then. I will do whatever it is.

Whatever it is? Well, since it's not a difficult task.

Retract your testimony, Your Highness. You just need to state you lied as an informant.

That it was all a scheme plotted by Inspector Han Jeong Seok.

What?

Retract my testimony and frame Inspector Han?

Why? Exactly for what?

No. I can't do. I can never do that.

Then will you abandon Prince Yeonryeong?

If the prince mentioned to be the next king cannot become the king, what will happen to him?

If you open the door and leave, Prince Yeonryeong will die.

Why?

Why do you have to go to that extent?

You are going to abandon Milpoong anyway. So why? For what?

That is how we win, Prince Yeoning!

Yeo Ji.

Yes, My Lord.

I need you to make a trip to home.

Shall I tell you how we've been prevailing so far?

We need to plant fear into everyone.

What happened?

What happens when you resist and how it ends.

Bank note.

If everyone in the world sees that,

then no one will ever dare to come forward easily.

That is always the way to win, Prince Yeoning.

To trample on them and traumatize them with fear so they will never stand up again.

Your Highness!

Your Highness, what brings you here . . .

Haechi preview

Timing and subtitles brought to you by The Guardians of Justice Team @ Viki

Drag him away.

Shove this dog crap right away.

Don't mess with Inspector Han!

The one who entrapped him was not me. It was you, Your Highness!

This is full of crap!

But we had almost won!

Will it suffice to only trade all this solely for Prince Yeoning?

Don't abandon me.

I will do anything you tell me to do, so please!

He won't just leave Hyung-nim Jeong Seok in this state.

It's not too late, Your Royal Highness.

I will leave a permanent wound on that rascal Yi Geum's heart.

What did you think you could get done?

The king I acknowledge to continue my legacy.

Perhaps it's something I can achieve together with you all.