Original subtitles

ALL CHARACTERS, PLACES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INCIDENTS

PORTRAYED IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS

If there are hundreds of soldiers, it is basically a war.

It is incomparable to just fighting off a dozen bandits.

What did I tell you is more important

than your fighting skills?

Perseverance.

Good, you remember it.

-Master, -Yes?

you must be careful, okay?

Who do you think I am?

I am General Hwang.

I know you must have a lot of thoughts on your mind, but get it together

and be careful, okay?

Do not worry, I will not do anything dangerous.

I know I do not deserve to say this,

but I do not care whose son you are.

I do not care who I am.

Nothing matters.

I just want to live a happy life with you.

I am tired of hating someone

or feeling bad for who I am.

And I am scared of being alone in the dark.

And...

I can no longer live without you.

So, please...

Can I do that?

Of course.

Okay, then.

Have a safe trip. I will wait for you.

Everyone is apparently waiting at the back door, so I am going that way.

Once again, you must be careful.

We are outnumbered.

I will not die, no matter what happens.

She said that she will wait for me to live together happily ever after.

So,

I must come back alive.

That is the spirit.

Okay, go.

Good work.

What do you think you are doing?

I am here to get rid of all the traitors.

Whoever regrets your choice, come forward now.

I promise I will show you mercy.

No one?

Well then, so be it.

Come inside.

Minister,

how did you end up joining his side?

He was in for the revolt with me up until yesterday.

So is it not suspicious of him to side with His Majesty all of a sudden?

Perhaps he has an ulterior motive.

Perhaps he is getting me to fight you

-and is planning on taking the throne. -That is nonsense!

There is no need.

What do you mean, Your Highness?

His Majesty had an accident during the trip

and has passed away.

What?

What do you mean?

He has no reason

to revolt to take the throne.

After all, he is the one and only

rightful heir to the throne.

He shall be the King after following proper procedures,

so watch what you say, Prince Neungyang.

Your Majesty, why are you doing this?

I would like to know why you are

trying to kill your son since I may be the one to kill him.

He is destined to be the King.

Proper procedures?

-Based on what evidence? -He is my son

whom I gave birth to 20 years ago.

I thought he was dead.

Can you prove it?

That is right.

How can you prove that?

I can...

testify for this.

Minister of Military Affairs. Commandant.

You must remember who I am.

I am Jung Yun-jeo,

who served His Majesty 20 years ago

when he was Crown Prince.

His Majesty ordered me to bury his son.

I thought he had died,

but right before I buried him, he began to breathe again.

Hence, I took him in and raised him.

I raised His Majesty's rightful heir.

No.

How can a criminal who was imprisoned until a few days ago be a testifier?

That is right.

Who knows if you have just brought a random man in and made the story up?

Then what about this?

I gave the other half to my son.

For the past 20 years,

every single one of you

has witnessed me carrying

this old ornament that is broken in half.

Her Majesty and I could not have

planned this out together for the past 20 years.

Is this good enough evidence for you?

If I had never found out

and had lived

with my son

growing fond of each other...

It is not your fault, Nok-du.

That is what I wanted to say.

And all along, I had no idea.

I am sorry for having left you.

I was scared.

I was not sure how you would see me

if you were to find out who I am.

I was not sure what we would become.

I was not sure of anything.

I am sorry for leaving you to bear everything alone.

And I am sorry about what happened to your family.

I told you.

None of the tragic things that happened to us

are your fault.

There was nothing that we could do.

So,

do not do anything that would break your heart.

I hope that you will...

never have to live through the hell I had to live through.

I mean it.

I told you to go get some sleep. Why are you still here?

Are you coming back from somewhere?

Well...

I went out because I had a bad feeling.

I think something is going on at the palace.

Then,

why did you flee with His Majesty's son who Her Majesty loves so much?

If you saw him breathing again,

you should have taken him back to His Majesty.

Why did you raise him in hiding?

Right!

Is it because the rumor is true and His Majesty...

He wanted me dead.

Exactly.

So, you want the people to accept him as the King

when he was abandoned by His Majesty at birth?

How can they serve a king with an unknown past?

Do you really think you qualify as the King?

Did you not spend most of your time at the kisaeng house?

-I am-- -You are what?

Have you coveted the throne ever since you were young

and dreamed of becoming a wise king?

A successor does not need to be loved by the preceding King

to become enthroned.

Although I have a long way to go,

I have the wise ministers at the palace to guide me.

And there is a peaceful and lawful way to sort this out,

so is a bloody revolt

so necessary?

Do you think I will let you have your way?

Protect Her Majesty!

Get them!

We outnumber them by two to one!

Do not retreat and fight them!

You must not miss them.

Her Majesty used to stay here a long time ago.

It is very isolated and currently not being used,

so they will not be able to find this place easily.

Thank you.

I am sorry.

I had no idea that you were alive all along.

I cannot imagine how hard your life has been

and how much pain you must have endured.

Mother...

Could you...

call me that once more?

Yes, Mother.

I will never lose you again.

Never again.

What are you doing? Are you--

I must go and see my father.

He is still in there!

No, you cannot go!

I did not say all that

just to improvise.

I am talking about you becoming the King.

By chance,

if His Majesty cannot return,

you must become the next King.

So, how can you go back and put yourself in such danger?

Mother,

I am not fit to become King.

I understand.

There will be opposition.

You will feel cut off.

Indeed, it will be difficult.

-But-- -No.

To be honest,

I am just scared.

All along, I wished that His Majesty abandoned me

for something else other than the throne.

If he had greater reasons or had no other choice

but to abandon me, it would have been less painful.

I cannot stop thinking about this.

My baby,

His Majesty...

I do not want to become like him.

I do not want to become enthroned.

And...

I do not care who I am.

Nothing matters.

I just want to live a happy life with you.

I no longer want to live without you.

Forgive me, Mother.

Go.

But...

can you promise me that you will not get hurt?

Yes, I promise.

Please take good care of Mother.

-Give me the bow. -Sorry?

I will find him and Her Majesty.

I am getting rusty.

I hear that you are the best swordsman of Joseon.

But what use is a sword in a mess like this?

The key here is

perseverance.

Wait right there.

Damn it.

I am a busy man.

Fine.

Let the fight begin.

Did you get hurt?

-Why are you alone? -I am fine.

I was looking for you.

I should have found you sooner.

Let us get out of the palace first.

-If we stay here-- -Because me being here

would put Nok-du in danger?

I am worried that you might get hurt.

How could you say that?

You and Nok-du are both my precious sons.

Then please,

just trust me this once,

so that I can get everything back.

I do not want to live in hiding anymore, Father.

Hwang-tae...

I am Jung I-hyeong.

That is what Grandfather named me.

I know I have no right to stop you,

but how do you not realize that this is wrong?

I do.

But what good came from doing the right thing?

Mother passed away,

and everything I had believed in came crumbling down.

I am going back to Prince Neungyang.

What did he promise you?

Did he offer to compensate you for your life and give you a title?

Yes.

-He promised me. -Why?

Why would he do that?

Based on what?

Why would he have promised you such things without asking for anything?

To get Nok-du!

Because I am the perfect bait.

No matter how much I keep yelling at him and running away,

and even if he had to risk his life, he would never let me go.

Your heart is already broken

and you are still going to do that?

Are you?

Father!

Father!

Are you okay?

It is too dangerous here.

Run away as fast as you can.

Father!

Father, stay here.

Do not let that man see you, okay?

Hwang-tae,

do not...

I will be back. I promise.

So please, hold on.

What are you doing here?

Why did you run away?

I just fled the scene to avoid getting caught.

Thank goodness you found me.

We must search the whole palace and find him.

Take that away!

What are you doing?

-Go after them! -Yes!

Are you okay?

I am fine.

How is your arm?

It is fine.

We are too outnumbered

to keep fighting until reinforcements come.

It is almost midday.

What do you think you are doing?

You could have died had I aimed wrong.

Are you going to kill Nok-du and revolt?

-Is this what you wanted? -Yes.

And I could have fulfilled your wish.

You know that I do not want anything from you.

Why not?

Why do you not want anything from me?

I could give everything you want,

so why not?

If you had given me just one thing,

your heart, I would have...

My lord,

I am not fond of you. You scare me.

What did you say?

I believe that you deserve to be punished.

However,

I feel bad for you.

That is why...

I know I have no right to say this.

But please stop

all of this dangerous work.

I am telling you with utmost sincerity.

-Please-- -No.

I will not stop.

I am going to take the throne and have you.

You cannot give your heart to me?

I do not care if you cannot.

You may wither away, but you will never get away from me.

There is no way he can have you.

I will kill him,

no matter what.

-Take her. -Yes, my lord.

-Everyone, this way! -Pull back!

-Come this way! -This way!

Make sure that you get every single one of--

He will never know that you came here or that you saved his life.

What were you two going to do, anyway?

Were you two thinking of eloping?

You tried to kill his birth father

and he is the son of the man who killed your whole family.

You two might be fine now, but you will end up destroying each other.

Am I wrong?

-Take her. -Yes, my lord.

Keep an eye on her as it is still dangerous outside.

Yes, sir.

So,

were you just busy being scared inside while they ran away?

I did not know what was happening to the Commandant.

Since we certainly outnumber them,

even if they are to strike again...

So, you just want to wait until they attack us again?

That is not what I meant.

I saw the soldiers run off to hide at the Hall of Convenience.

-The Hall of Convenience? -Yes.

I just saw every one of them head inside.

It is even better that they are gathered in one place.

Muster the remaining forces and attack.

Get ready.

I thought you ran off to your brother.

Why would I do that?

Come to the Hall of Convenience with me.

You have to watch his downfall.

I have to go to the bathroom. Will you be fine alone?

It is just a woman. Take your time.

You brought everyone, I see.

Thanks.

We are too outnumbered

to keep fighting until reinforcements come.

It is almost midday.

Lady Kim, sorry we are a little late.

Lady Kim?

Go after him!

Are you insane?

Why on earth would you come here?

I will follow wherever you go

even if it is a battlefield or a fiery pit.

I told you that I cannot live without you.

You just realized?

Of course, you cannot live without me.

I cannot live without you, either.

So, do not worry.

I will be back. Stay hidden, okay?

Do not worry about me. Promise me that you will return.

I promise.

-You are laughing? -It is as fun as I anticipated it to be,

to fight you.

You crazy lunatic.

Stop.

Stop it right here.

My lord, be careful!

Dan-ho...

Forgive me,

my lord.

Dan-ho...

Dan-ho!

I will take revenge for Madam Chun, may I?

Go ahead.

Everyone, stop!

Put down your weapons.

What?

You mean, the rumor was true?

He abandoned his son?

Yes.

I cannot believe that His Majesty died so suddenly.

He should have had a more painful death.

So,

what are you going to do with Prince Neungyang now?

You cannot let him become the new King.

Queen Dowager!

What is it?

His Majesty...

is alive.

What do you mean?

Did you not say that he died?

Her Majesty certainly said...

I saw him and his troops enter the palace with my own eyes.

Queen Dowager, you should move to the West Palace.

I must meet His Majesty.

The sound is coming from the Hall of Convenience.

Your Majesty!

You should be at the West Palace.

-What brings you here? -I was dragged here.

He came to the West Palace

and threatened me to allow his revolt.

Who was it?

Seems like I have interrupted you

from your moment of victory.

I asked, who came to threaten you to help with his revolt?

I have never seen him before.

Absurdly enough,

he claimed that he is your son.

You asked if I have forsaken you

just because of some prophecy, yes?

Yes, I did.

Not only that,

I killed the shaman who made the prophecy,

and ordered to kill Yun-jeo, too.

Do not look at me like that.

I did what I had to do.

See?

The prophecy has come true. You are trying to steal my throne

and you made me a dead person.

You want to deny it, do you not?

Then explain.

If you were not planning to revolt,

why have you lied and stayed by my side?

Why have you made me trust you,

and made me tell you everything?

You must hate me to death.

I am the man who abandoned you,

and who tried to kill you your whole life.

Am I wrong?

I asked, am I wrong?

Yes, you are right.

I detest you.

I resent you to death.

Of course, you would.

And that is why

you caused all of this mess.

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

I tried to stop all of this when I found out.

But he...

even created the unspeakable rumor that you have passed away.

He is lying!

Prince Neungyang planned the revolt!

Nok-du, my brother, was just trying to stop him from--

Do not trust him.

He tricked me and helped his brother plan the revolt.

You deceived me to take revenge on me.

You came a long way, indeed.

What can I possibly say to make you believe me?

Kill anyone who may cause trouble later.

Make sure the rest stay silent.

Are you sure this is going to work?

His Majesty will not trust his son.

If anybody sides with his son,

that will be considered treason as well.

So, who would risk his life to tell the truth?

He is nothing but an abandoned son.

Would you believe me if I said

that I was trying to stop Prince Neungyang from revolting?

Would you believe me if I told you

that I was terrified yet so happy

the whole time I was with you, not knowing how you thought of me?

You would not believe anything but that I tried to dethrone you.

Did you truly plan

to take over my throne?

Are you heartbroken?

What did you say?

Are you heartbroken

that I hid the fact that I am your son and tried to dethrone you?

Are you

trying to deceive me

again?

Are you disgusted

at yourself

for blindly giving me trust?

Is your heart broken by betrayal?

Does it hurt?

-How dare you... -Just like how I felt

when you abandoned me?

If so,

then I will answer as you wish.

Yes, I planned on dethroning you

and killing you

with my own hands.

Are you satisfied now, Your Majesty?

-Your Majesty! -Your Majesty!

Since he confessed to his crime,

arrest him immediately!

Arrest him!

-Yes, my lord! -Yes, my lord!

Protect His Majesty!

-Yes, my lord! -Yes, my lord!

Come with me, Your Majesty.

Be careful.

Take him while I distract them.

We will follow you, so do not worry.

I am also crazy about you!

Do you know...

who I am?

It is not your fault, Nok-du.

Subtitle translation by Min-sun Kim