Original subtitles

(Kang Tae Oh)

(Kim Se Jeong)

(Lee Sin Young)

(Hong Su Zu)

(Jin Goo)

(Nam Gi Ae)

(And Kim Nam Hee)

(Moon River)

(All people, incidents, and backgrounds...)

(in this drama are fictitious and unrelated to reality.)

(Also, children and animals were filmed under production guidelines.)

Please stop.

Please stop.

- Oh, my. Your sash is crooked. - What is your problem?

What are you waiting for? Beat them to a pulp!

What on earth?

How dare you glare at me, you jerk?

No!

It seems you truly have a death wish.

Very well.

- Die! - What do you think you are doing?

It is hard for a ruined noblewoman to be a brewer.

I imagine you have to deal with plenty of scoundrels.

Your father must be weeping in the skies.

So, stay firm.

And you, get stronger.

I would have won if that geezer had not fought dirty.

All talk from a sore loser.

Come on.

Thank you, my lord.

Of course. If you get in trouble, come straight to me.

I will protect this fledgling until he is ready to leave the nest.

I am leaving.

Let me see.

Oh, no. This is going to leave a scar.

Are you even training properly for the military service exam?

Do you want to spend your life as a good-for-nothing?

You have to pass this time!

Once I pass the military service examination,

and I am strong enough to protect you,

then can I be your husband?

Pass the exam first, then we will talk.

- What do we do? - Oh, dear.

First in the military service exam.

Kim Han Chul.

How much is this hairpin?

It is 100 nyang.

It is 100 nyang?

- Then what about this one? - Yes. That one is 50 nyang.

The cheapest one I have is 15 nyang.

A gift for you.

It is a hair ribbon.

I hear the Marriage Ban is about to be issued.

For the military exam's top scorer to be the last one to stay...

and train each day. Is that not a bit unfair?

Your Majesty.

How did you know I was here?

Were you not hoping I would notice?

Have a seat.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Tell me, what is your dream?

My dream is to become stronger.

There is someone I wish to protect.

I see. We are kindred spirits, then. Our dreams are the same.

How could I be a kindred spirit, Your Majesty?

Those who share the same aspirations are kindred spirits.

And those who share a meal are friends.

I am grateful for your grace, Your Majesty.

A gift from your new friend.

Finally, I can breathe a little easier.

The palace is suffocating enough as it is.

And if I must have this wedding to a woman my Royal Mother chose,

I might just suffocate to death.

Who are you men?

How about you hand over any money you have?

Please stay back.

I have three bites left. Finish them off before I am done.

Your Majesty!

I was the one fighting. Why are you the one who got hurt?

That is what friends are for. Sharing the pain.

We cannot go back to the palace like this.

Is there somewhere we can get this treated?

Please come to my house.

I am coming in.

She is my neighbor.

I see.

Please do me a favor and help me.

Why would you give this greenhouse to me?

- This is too much. - A thank you for the other day.

And a bribe of sorts.

To get on your good side.

What do you think?

We look pretty good together, do we not?

My apologies.

Please forgive my rudeness for leaving first.

You said you wanted to be strong to protect someone, did you not?

That must be Lady Ji Hye.

But compared to a mere military man like you,

do you not think I can protect her better as the King?

And it is not like you would ever defy me.

We are friends, after all.

Are you not even angry? How can you just stand by and watch?

His Majesty...

will protect you better than anyone else.

Because he is the King.

I am no match for him.

He is the most powerful man in the world.

I am going to blow out the candle.

- A firstborn prince, Your Majesty. - A son.

And the Queen?

- Is she all right? - Yes, Her Highness is safe as well.

I simply cannot ignore that prophecy.

Are you speaking of the Queen again?

- She has not committed any crime. - A crime? We can just invent one.

Your Majesty!

You must punish the Queen severely for her adultery!

How could Her Highness commit adultery?

Your Majesty, I beg of you, please clear Her Highness's name!

The man in the affair with the Queen has confessed.

I lost to my Royal Mother.

You should see the Queen off on her final journey.

How did you get in here?

His Majesty will serve you the royal poison tomorrow.

You have to escape now.

Where do you...

expect me to go?

I will take you.

I will protect you, Your Highness. So please come away with me.

If I run away,

the Crown Prince will be known as the son of an adulteress...

and be scorned for the rest of his life.

He might even lose his life.

Can you please just live?

Please, I beg you, live.

Please live.

Please live.

I am sorry.

Put this medicine in the royal poison.

She will vomit some blood,

but it will stop the poison from spreading.

Then give her this antidote as quickly as possible.

Your Highness.

Your Highness. Are you all right?

Your Highness?

Un.

My Un.

Un.

Un.

- My Un. - Your Highness.

What is wrong?

Who are you?

Your Highness.

I gave up a queen and protected much in return,

so I suppose it was a fair trade.

Did you not...

love the Queen?

You promised...

you would protect her.

Did you not?

What I wanted to protect...

was not some foolish emotion like love,

but the throne.

Strong royal authority.

A sword, too, was once merely iron.

The iron became a sword,

and that blade is made to sin...

all because of love.

(Chapter 13: A Sword's Purpose)

The Crown Prince...

The Crown Prince...

sent Je Un to Mount Gamak?

He returned by himself without the Left Flank Guard.

The Crown Princess must be at Mount Gamak.

Should you not send the Royal Guards?

The Left State Councilor is on high alert right now.

I will wait for the opportune moment to make a move.

But is it safe to leave the Crown Princess's family...

at Unjeong Palace?

Right. I trust you to protect them.

Yes, Your Majesty.

It is not safe at Unjeong Palace, so you all must move.

But what about our Dal? What happened to our daughter?

I heard from the servants that the Crown Prince was captured.

Please do not worry.

His Highness sent Grand Prince Un to the Crown Princess.

Where is Her Highness?

Well...

Gamak...

No, you must not.

It is too risky to go to Her Highness.

Hey, how long have you been a palace eunuch?

- I started here in the Gyesa Year. - Gyesa?

Darn it, Gyesa Yer?

How dare a round-faced pipsqueak who became a eunuch in Gyesa Year...

talk back to me?

Let me tell you.

I started back in the Gyeongo Year.

- I see. - Oh, "you see," is it?

I ought to knock some corners into that round head of yours.

Just tell us. Where is our daughter?

We owe our lives to Her Highness.

Please tell us.

My apologies.

I heard the Crown Princess would leave to Qing.

The Nameless men are lying in ambush...

on all roads, even Jemulpo, to Qing.

Mount Gamak.

I know exactly what you are hiding on Mount Gamak.

If I die here today,

the Crown Prince will reveal your secret.

It is different.

Candle wax.

(Cross Mount Gamak's Ungye bridge, and you will find a forbidden rope.)

Found it.

My lord. Are you sure you will be safe alone?

Let me go with you.

No. Deliver this letter to Eunuch Yoon.

Yes, my lord.

Please be careful.

Do not worry. I can handle myself in a fight.

I found The Nameless' fortress from the military treatise.

I will be back in three days, at the latest.

(Cross Mount Gamak's Ungye bridge, and you will find a forbidden rope.)

Three days.

The Office of Astronomy has chosen an auspicious day.

(Auspicious Day: The Ninth of the Seventh Month)

The auspicious day is two days from now.

So much for not fearing the skies.

Have you finally decided to play the Almighty?

Do you think I do not know it was you...

who chose this "auspicious day"?

Your Majesty.

Do you still believe in the skies?

Time is of the essence.

Please issue the royal edict today and proceed with the Royal Wedding.

By order of the King,

in the matter of the Crown Prince taking a spouse,

we have consulted the skies and chosen an auspicious day.

The ninth day of the seventh month, which is in two days,

is designated for the Royal Wedding,

so it is decreed.

Yeo Ri...

Was she laid to rest properly?

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness, about the Royal Wedding in two days...

Send Yeo Ri's mother money for the funeral,

and send her some medicine.

It is the last thing I can do for them.

Pass along that I am sorry.

Yes, Your Highness.

I suppose you wrote the National Code too?

Despite the Royal Order to admit no one,

I see you are an exception.

You look well.

For someone who just sent his wife away to Qing.

I suppose I should be sick with grief.

My apologies.

If I had known Your Highness was the same kind of man as I,

I would have cast you aside long ago.

But it is too late for that.

Why did you return to the palace?

Where have you hidden the Deposed Crown Princess?

What kind of nonsense is this?

I know that you will not give up on your revenge.

And that is why I have come to tell you this.

In two days,

the Royal Wedding will be held.

With that, I will take my leave.

But one thing.

The Deposed Crown Princess is alive,

so why are you still bent on revenge?

She remembers you,

and she is alive and well, is she not?

You tore us apart,

and you ask me why I am dreaming of revenge?

Parting...

The Royal Family is always so greedy.

Sir, the Royal Wedding is in two days.

Are you not pushing yourself too hard?

Let me go alone.

Let us go.

The Left State Councilor has left the capital.

Yes, Your Majesty.

We confirmed he left through Donuimun Gate.

To the Eastern Palace.

- Your Highness. - Your Highness.

Wait, that is..

- Your Highness! - Where are you going?

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

- Your Highness! - You are confined.

You cannot leave!

- Come on! - Your Highness!

- Move! Get out of my way! - Please go back inside.

- Let go of me! - Your Highness!

- His Majesty, the King, is here! - Goodness!

What is the meaning of this?

I refuse to go through with the Royal Wedding.

If I cannot help, the least I can do is not be a burden.

If you run away now, it will all have been for nothing.

I am not trying to run away.

Prince Je Un said he would be back by the day after tomorrow.

He said he would, so he will.

But on the off chance...

that he does not make it back by then,

then I will go. Please lend me the Royal Guards.

I have already sent my most trusted Royal Guards.

I have to go too.

I cannot just send someone into danger...

and then sit back and do nothing myself.

Gang.

Let us have faith in Je Un.

In case Je Un does not return before the wedding procession,

then you go to the Crown Princess.

I will take care of the rest.

Thank you. Thank you, Your Majesty.

Please...

keep His Highness safe.

Please.

Please help me.

Please see me through this.

Let me end all of this...

so I can protect Dal.

I am sorry I am late. I had to be sure I was not followed.

So, you are here.

We were wondering if you would show up or not.

We were worried you would not show.

That is what I meant.

Yes, I was very worried as well.

Do you know how worried I was when I heard what happened?

You could have been killed.

Here we go again.

Why look at another man's woman with such tenderness?

Cut it out.

Please.

Okay?

Back when she was the Crown Princess,

was she always this prickly?

She was not. It must be His Highness's influence.

Like husband, like wife.

It feels like I am with my brother. You feel it too?

I suppose.

I can hear everything you are saying.

You heard that?

I meant for you to, so I am glad.

- Why you... - Your Highness!

A little decorum, please.

- You brought the military treatise? - Oh, right.

Of course. Who do you think I am? Let us talk inside.

(Mount Songak)

(Cross Mount Gamak's Ungye bridge, and you will find a forbidden rope.)

Finally.

I have finally found their mountain fortress.

I will go at once. Your Highness, please wait here.

I am going with you.

I will not get in the way.

(Search: Gyeonggi)

(Mount Gamak)

Cross Mount Gamak's Ungye bridge, and you will find a forbidden rope.

Over there.

That is the forbidden rope. Let us go.

Once you pass the forbidden rope,

you will find a fallen birch tree with their symbol on it.

My lord!

Follow the symbols, and they will lead you to the fortress.

(The Nameless's Mountain Fortress)

This is the stronghold of The Nameless.

They deal in counterfeiting coins, illegal weapon manufacturing,

loan sharking, human trafficking, and more.

They are a vicious band of criminals.

I proved the Left State Councilor is the Jimjo's master,

but then this secret pact appeared and made this whole mess.

If the Left State Councilor dies, the secret pact gets released.

That clearly means he entrusted it to someone.

And the most likely suspect is this guy.

The one in the Choraengi Mask.

He used the Cheonghye Merchant Guild to get the Jimjo's feed inside.

And their backer is The Nameless.

The mountain fortress.

Six years ago,

on Mount Gamak,

I swear I saw the woman in white and The Nameless there.

Please take me to the palace.

This letter...

(Letter)

(Secret pact)

(Mount Gamak)

(Mountain fortress, Mount Gamak, Woman in white, letter)

Wait.

The woman in white.

The letter.

The secret pact?

The woman in white, the letter, the secret pact?

This letter...

(Coup, meritorious contributor)

- The secret pact. - I said move!

You must not, Your Majesty.

Out of my way!

Your Majesty.

- One! Two! - One!

- Two! - Three!

At ease! One!

Two!

Three!

The security is very tight there. It is suspicious,

sir.

We should get a closer look.

What on earth are you doing here?

If you stay here, you will be in the crossfire too.

I am already prepared to be incarcerated anyway.

And what is with this tone of yours?

That is...

Well...

I have been around Dal a lot. I guess her speech rubbed off on me.

The Royal Concubine... No, the Crown Princess.

How is she?

I can only pray that she is safe.

There is nothing more I can do.

Then make use of me.

The tragedy of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess...

was all my fault.

Pardon?

What do you mean?

What do you mean by incarceration? And how could it be your fault?

The Gyesa Year Incident...

was the Left State Councilor's revenge.

Revenge for the woman he loved being stolen by the Royal Family.

Revenge for her miserable death.

You are saying that the bloodbath was all for the sake of revenge?

Come to think of it,

for a simple grab for power,

his methods were too elaborate.

He even spread rumors of Queen Jangjeong's ghost.

He used those rumors as a pretext...

to reopen the false adultery case.

The people he killed in the Gyesa Year...

Every last one of them...

was connected to Queen Jangjeong.

The more the Left State Councilor's crimes pile up,

the more my own guilt grows.

I must put a stop to it.

So, if you need anything at all,

just say the word.

I need to see...

Queen Jangjeong for myself.

Wait, so the woman in white...

was really Prince Je Un's mother?

Royal Mother!

Royal Mother!

Mother!

Mother.

- You cannot go now. - Let go of me.

If you go out there now, you will ruin everything.

I know this is hard for you,

but please...

This should be enough to prove this fortress is an illegal den.

Go to the Capital Garrison Command and request reinforcements.

The Crown Princess Consort asked me to give this to Choraengi Mask.

She said Choraengi Mask has a scar by her mouth, like a fingernail.

You are Choraengi Mask, are you not?

Daughter of Kim Deok Chun and Yun Gye Sim.

This is a letter from the Crown Princess Consort.

My lord.

Your mother died three years ago.

I promise you,

I am going to ruin my father.

So, you need to get away from him.

Do not be tied down to anything anymore.

Go and be free.

Leave.

My mother's life is in the Left State Councilor's hands,

so I am not going anywhere.

Do not disappoint me again.

Your mother deserves to be free, does she not?

Is it true?

I do not know what your relationship with the Crown Princess Consort is,

but to get that letter to you, she took a great many risks.

If you cannot bring yourself to trust us,

then trust Crown Princess Consort.

Tonight,

the forces of The Nameless will march on the capital.

I will help you. You can escape after they have left.

Why are The Nameless going to the capital?

The Royal Wedding is tomorrow.

The Left State Councilor knows you are all on Mount Gamak.

You need to be careful.

Wait.

Do you happen to know anything about a secret pact?

I am not sure it is the secret pact,

but it seems there is something important in those quarters.

And what is that?

Whenever the head of our order gets drunk,

he mentions entrusting a key item to a woman who is not of sound mind,

and says he can never understand the Left State Councilor.

Not of sound mind?

For about 15 years now, I hear.

When she has a rare lucid moment and tries to escape,

I heard she takes that object with her.

My Royal Mother...

But how?

If she is the Left State Councilor's weakness,

he will bring his full force to bear.

Gosh, no. No way.

What if the secret pact is not even there?

No, hold on.

No, that is not it.

Park Dal.

Since when were you so cautious?

A merchant without guts is dead.

Trust me. Trust His Highness.

We charge head-on!

If what Deok Chun said is true,

the secret pact must be with Queen Jangjeong.

I will request reinforcements...

- from the Capital Garrison Command. - No, you cannot.

If soldiers swarm the place,

we cannot ensure Queen Jangjeong's safety.

Rescuing Her Highness must be our first priority.

Your Highness, the Crown Princess.

Thank you.

I am the one who should thank you for your restraint.

And...

I am afraid I have another difficult favor to ask.

Once we find the secret pact,

can you take it straight to Hanyang?

I cannot leave my mother behind.

Someone has to get the secret pact to His Royal Highness.

Trust me and leave Her Majesty to me.

Okay.

Lord Shin Won, after rescuing Her Majesty,

get reinforcements from the Capital Garrison Command.

I will escort the Grand Prince's mother...

to the Mount Bulgok cabin where we hid before.

After you and your soldiers raid the fortress,

we will meet back at Mount Bulgok.

It is too risky for you to go alone. Let me escort you.

I am a wanted traitor. It is more risky for me...

to go to the Capital Garrison Command with you.

We will use the ferry dock, so do not worry.

Are you sure you will be all right?

You will need more people to leave the ferry dock quickly.

- What are you guys doing here? - You impossible girl!

Who told you to get involved? Who asked you to rescue us?

You are going to be the death of me! I swear!

Wait...

- How did you even find this place? - How else?

We forced it out of my round-faced junior eunuch.

And honey, you should speak straight.

Dal is the reason we got to live extra five years and seven days.

For goodness' sake.

Talk about a textbook case of ingratitude.

It is like saving a drowning person and then they ask why you bothered.

What has gotten into her?

One moment.

Let us speak privately.

Alone.

What happened?

- It is just as it looks. - Do not tell me you switched again.

I did it on purpose. I wanted her safe in the palace.

You mean you can switch bodies at will?

It would seem so.

Then...

you must switch back with Her Highness now.

We will take care of Her Highness.

That is not something I can do on my own.

Besides, even if I could, I would not.

This revenge is for both me...

and for Dal.

And Her Highness? Does she feel the same way?

In that case,

I will help you.

I will do whatever it takes.

I am finished. You may clear the table.

- Yes, Your Royal Highness. - Yes, Your Royal Highness.

Here, allow me. I will take care of this.

All right.

I need to see the Crown Princess Consort.

Prepare a eunuch's uniform for me.

Thank you for your hard work. His Highness is already asleep.

So why do you not have some of this while you work?

- Go on, have a taste. - Much appreciated.

Try this too.

Halt!

What is this?

Oh, right. It is just some liquor.

I will have to check it.

Put wet straw and chili powder in jars and have it ready.

Oh my. It is really spicy, right?

- Here. Wipe it with this. - Get me anesthetic powder too.

That is it. There you go.

Gosh!

That hurts.

Who are you?

It is okay, little one.

Do not cry.

Mother.

Royal Mother.

Your son is here.

It is me, Un. I am here.

It is okay, little one.

It is okay. Do not cry.

Mommy is here.

Please!

- My baby! - Mother! Please!

Please look at me. Not at that pillow!

I am your son.

These eyes,

this nose,

these lips.

From head to toe,

everything was a gift from you, Royal Mother.

I am your son.

Royal Mother.

Crown Prince!

Is that you, Un?

Is it really you, Un?

Yes. It is me, Mother.

My dear Un.

Mother.

How have you been all this time?

Are you feeling all right?

Your Majesty, I apologize,

but did the Left State Councilor leave anything with you?

Like a letter, perhaps.

A letter?

Forgive my intrusion.

I must briefly search the room.

What brings you here?

I have come to discuss a difficult matter.

Grand Prince Je Un has now gone to The Nameless' mountain fortress.

He will probably return with his mother.

When you say his mother,

who are you referring to?

Queen Jangjeong.

Grand Prince Je Un's mother.

So the Gyesa Year Incident...

was revenge for the Grand Prince Un's mother?

To think she was in love with my father...

What a truly ridiculous pairing.

It would seem...

that Queen Jangjeong is...

his weakness.

Which is why...

I think I can call off the Royal Wedding tomorrow.

He will return,

but if Grand Prince Je Un is not back for the Royal Wedding,

I will strike the Left State Councilor...

where he is most vulnerable.

(The Meritorious Subjects)

At last.

- Please take good care of her. - Yes.

Open it! Break it down!

Open it!

Hurry, people are coming!

- Go! - Yes, sir!

Mother, are you all right?

- It is the traitors! - They went that way!

Your Highness, please escort her to the ferry dock.

Mother, I will be right behind you.

This is a secret,

but your son is quite the master fighter.

- No, you cannot. - Over there!

How can I possibly go alone?

I entrust the Royal Mother to you, Your Highness,

You must go, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Get them! Do not let them get away!

Just so you know, I am furious.

You should be worried about saving your own neck.

This way, please.

- Find them! - Yes, sir.

I will draw them away. You go on ahead.

It is too dangerous for a woman to deal with them alone.

Technically speaking, I am not really a woman.

If you go a bit further,

you will find a man and two women at the ferry dock.

They will help you, Your Majesty.

- But how can I leave you? - Think only of your son.

You must not get caught,

and you cannot lose your mind. Do you understand?

There she is!

Get her!

My dear Un...

- That way! - That way! Get them!

- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!

Another unit's soldiers?

There he is! Get him!

They are the Royal Guards. His Majesty must have sent them.

Attack!

We apologize. We got lost on a mountain path...

- and got held up. - It is all right.

Go to the Capital Garrison Command and bring back reinforcements.

Are we not going to the mountain fortress?

We are outnumbered by The Nameless at the mountain fortress.

And you, go to the Royal Mother at Bulguksa.

I will go to Hanyang and give my brother the secret pact.

I will go with you.

You?

We do not know how many men from The Nameless are...

in Hanyang or on the road.

If I go with you, we can avoid being spotted by The Nameless.

Let us go.

Let us get going.

Tomorrow, in front of the ministers and all your subjects,

if you reveal the truth about the secret pact,

Your Majesty..

Will be seen as staging a coup without just cause,

and you will suffer the consequences.

Furthermore, His Highness...

will not be able to escape guilt by association.

If all we do is worry, we will never change anything.

The best option is already off the table.

All that is left is the lesser of two evils.

When you said strike...

During the Royal Wedding procession,

I will claim I sent troops...

to Mount Gamak to save Queen Jangjeong.

My father will not stand for that.

We do not even know if Grand Prince Je Un is alive.

Exactly.

The Left State Councilor will rush to Queen Jangjeong's side,

and that is when we can go after him with the Royal Guards.

Come with me then.

Are you worried about me?

We are a team now, are we not?

That is what teammates do. They help each other.

If the Left State Councilor falls, you will be arrested too,

and I cannot let that happen.

If, by some slim chance, this goes wrong,

you must go to Grand Prince Je Un anyway.

I will confess to the Sinjusa incident...

to tie my father's hands,

so go and save Grand Prince Je Un.

My father was the one who shattered me.

I have no choice but to pierce him...

with these shattered pieces of me.

He will come.

He said he would, so he will.

And if he does not,

I will just go to him.

The daughter of Left State Councilor Kim Han Chul...

is hereby appointed Crown Princess.

Your Highness, you may alight now.

Oh, okay.

- Your Highness. - Your Highness.

- Oh, my. Are you all right? - Your Highness.

- Your Highness. - Your Highness.

- Your Highness. - Your Highness.

- What is going on? - Your Highness.

- Call the Royal Physician! - Okay!

- Your Highness. - Your Highness, not again.

- Fetch the Royal Physician! - Yes, sir.

Open the door.

Remove this headdress.

- Your Highness? - Now.

Yes, Your Highness.

If, by some slim chance, this goes wrong,

I will confess to the Sinjusa incident...

to tie my father's hands,

so go and save Grand Prince Je Un.

I must put an end to this charade.

Summon the Royal Physician!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

Gang!

Summon the Royal Physician!

Get the Royal Physician!

Gang.

Your Highness, are you all right?

Are you all right?

You must go now.

The mountain fortress is surrounded.

- Find their leader! - Yes, sir!

Your Majesty!

The killer of the former King, the Crown Prince,

as well as the Queen Dowager in the Gyesa Year,

is the traitor Kim Han Chul. Please order his arrest!

What in the world?

(Moon River)

Arrest the traitor!

Left State Councilor, your era is over!

Did you see Dal at the mountain fortress?

There was no one inside her quarters.

Withdraw for now. My plan will not be your undoing.

Let us go.

The Left Councilor has broken through the Souimun Gate.

There is no time. I have to find Dal.

Do you intend to go down with me?

What was that?

We are leaving through the back gate.

What?

(Moon River)