Original subtitles

[Cha Joo Young / Lee Hyun Wook]

[The Queen Who Crowns]

[This drama is a fictional story based on historical figures and events and may differ from actual historical records.]

[Filming of animals or child actors followed production guidelines.]

[Previously...] Hoeamsa is where prayers were offered for the two princes

and his son-in-law, who died in the Year of the Yellow Tiger.

This is a nation of Neo-Confucianism.

He asked Your Majesty to come to a Buddhist ritual ceremony.

Is that not strange?

Then, I will heighten the security. [Hoeamsa]

We will prevent anyone with weapons from entering

and make sure not even a mouse can get in without authorization.

A long time ago, a king once said [Yi Seong Gye, Taesangwang (Yi Bang Won's father)]

the heavens raise up a king

not because it loves the king,

but for the benefit of all the people.

I am not sure what you mean.

I was just thinking for a moment

about what I should do for all the people.

We are touched that you invited us to such a meaningful event, Father.

What is it?

The object that is inside is not a metal bell.

You have to stop!

You must not!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Arrest him!

Perhaps this is the will of the heavens.

Stop!

I said, stop!

Wait. Your Majesty.

Move aside.

Yes.

What do you desire to gain by killing me?

Go back.

Do you hate me so much that you want to kill me?

I said, go back.

We should continue your offering of the metal bell.

What did you say?

Think of the people.

Who will follow a king when his own father wants to kill him so badly?

Did you just say the people?

How dare you.

The heavens raise up a king

for the benefit of the people.

I will continue the offering ceremony.

When the offering ceremony ends,

arrest Taesangwang.

[Episode 3]

Try rotating your shoulders.

Take the medicine the royal pharmacy gives you.

After a few days, you will get better.

All right.

Are you really all right?

Did not the physician also say so?

It only brushed by me.

Father's iron mace flew straight at me

when all the government officials were watching

where I came to show my filial piety!

How did you know?

How did you know there was an iron mace in the metal bell box

and that Father was trying to kill me?

How did you know?

I just...

happened to find out by chance.

Do not concern yourself over it.

[Gaegyeong Suchang Palace]

Who are the sympathizing forces?

I do not want to have to chop off the soles of your feet.

So please tell me the truth.

Who are the sympathizing forces?

Hurry up and tell me!

I do not know.

Your Majesty.

Look carefully.

You are next.

Grab his face and make him look.

This is impossible without any sympathizing forces.

Who are they?

I do not know.

Confess!

Ga... byeol... cho.

Did you say Gabyeolcho?

[Gabyeolcho: Tae Jo Yi Seong Gye's private army]

Yes, yes, that is right.

There are Gabyeolcho in the Three Armies. [Three Armies: Early Joseon central army organization]

Then...

after killing me,

the Gabyeolcho would take over the palace?

There are Gabyeolcho gathering under Jo Sa Eui at Dongbukmyeon. [Jo Sa Eui: Queen Shindeok's relative]

Is this the will of Taesangwang?

Yes.

Why?

He said when enough forces are gathered,

they would come down and attack Gaegyeong.

Father, Bang Won is here.

You are a king who gets blood on his royal robes, I see.

You cannot go anywhere.

I should never have given birth to you.

You are right.

Why did you give birth to me?

Why did you raise me?

Why did you have me learn to read and write?

And why were you so proud when I passed the state exam?

How dare you.

You made me this way, Father!

Your finger always pointed to the top position, Father.

I also lived believing that was best,

and that is why I rose to that position.

After all that, why!

Why are you denying me now?

Yes, you are not.

Not presently,

nor will you ever be.

You will never be deserving.

Father!

I will...

make sure to kill you

and undo everything that went wrong.

You will now have to live only in this palace.

You will not be able to take one step outside of here.

In this place, you will see how well

the son you did not choose does.

While seeing that,

you will realize to your core that you are responsible

for Bang Beon and Bang Seok's deaths,

not I, Bang Won.

Your Majesty...

The King asked how I knew about the iron mace.

What did you tell him?

I told him I found out by chance, and he did not ask further.

How about we hand over our intelligence network to him at this time? [Yeoganggun Min Mu Gu, Younger brother of Queen]

We should not. [Yeoseonggun Min Mu Jil, Younger brother of Queen Won Gyeong]

If we do, it will become an official agency

and cannot assess the movements of the meritorious subjects and royal relatives.

Pan Su* has a nationwide network. (Male shaman, usually blind)

To distinguish allies and foes, we must know who is meeting whom.

Is not our intelligence and having the wealth to support it our strength?

For now, it may be better for the King not to know about this.

You are right.

I do not think now is the time yet.

Her Majesty seems like someone who makes you lonely.

I will comfort you.

Yes.

There is no one else but you.

I will protect you.

Stay far away from this place, all of you.

Yes, My Lady.

There is no one in front of this room now.

Until you tell me to stop,

I will guard the front.

There were certain circumstances,

but Taesangwang blessed the future of this nation

while offering the metal bell at Hoeamsa.

Yes, Sire.

- Minister of Justice. - Yes.

There is a rumor about a disgraceful incident at Hoeamsa.

Find out who is spreading this rumor and punish them severely to prevent future rumors.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Secretary of Royal Orders.

Yes.

Based on strange information, the Queen

upset my father, who was trying to offer a metal bell to Buddha

and also ruined a rare chance for reconciliation between father and son.

This is a clear act of filial impiety.

Thus,

let us discuss the procedures for deposing the Queen.

Your Majesty...

Your Majesty, it is me, Court Lady Seo.

I will enter.

I am sorry to say this, but His Majesty told the Secretary of Royal Orders

to discuss procedures to depose the Queen.

Your Majesty.

He is afraid my authority might grow stronger after the recent incident at Hoeamsa,

so he is trying to suppress my influence in advance.

Thus, no need to make a fuss about it.

Your Majesty, Yeoganggun and Yeoseonggun are here.

Your Majesty.

Court Lady, what happened? Deposing the queen?

I know. [Court Lady Seungeun (Favored), Chae Ryeong]

Is someone visiting her?

Yes, her younger brothers.

I will wait here and see her afterward.

How could the King mention deposing the Queen unless he has gone mad?

Yeoseonggun, watch your mouth.

Watch my mouth? How could I?

If it was not for Your Majesty, the King would have been struck by the iron mace and died!

Yet depose the Queen?

A father tried to kill his son.

Should he not stop this news from spreading?

Do you think that is possible?

Not only that, why is he deposing the Queen to stop that?

To show even if the Queen defies his father's will, she will be cast aside.

He probably wanted to emphasize his filial loyalty.

Is it not killing two birds with one stone?

Since he needs legitimacy.

How does that make sense?

- After all we did to make him king! - Stop right there!

I apologize.

But this is what I find strange.

Let us imagine the terrible hypothetical situation

where the King was struck by Taesangwang's iron mace.

Then, naturally, my Je would rise to the throne as the eldest prince.

But would Taesangwang

have thrown the iron mace to enthrone my Je?

Then what?

Are you saying there are sympathizing forces?

There is probably a powerful sympathizing force in the palace.

There are Gabyeolcho in the Three Armies as well.

Are you referring to them?

The one who can mobilize the Gabyeolcho.

Then you mean...

The Sangwang.

The Sangwang was a fierce general [Yi Bang Gwa, Sangwang (Yi Bang Won's older brother, Jeongjong)]

who used to fight in wars with Father.

Are there not many former Gabyeolcho

in the Three Armies, who still follow Sangwang?

You mean, Sangwang was involved in the Hoeamsa-

Is that what you are saying?

It is only my hypothesis.

But if you are able to figure this out,

would the King not know this?

The King probably does not want to consider such a possibility.

If so, will he not have to raise his sword against another brother?

Your Majesty,

now that you mention it, I am reminded of something.

Someone is going around meeting individually with former Gabyeolcho in the Three Armies.

Supposedly, he has a burn mark on his face.

He is probably Won Beom. [Won Beom, Yi Seong Gye's right-hand man]

Secretly find out where he is

and find out who he is meeting with.

Your Majesty,

Favored Court Lady is here.

Your Majesty, it is me, Chae Ryeong.

I came because I was worried.

I will not be deposed from my position,

so do not worry and go back.

You should do so.

Even when I told her about the potential deposition, she did not bat an eye.

Even if that is so,

I used to serve Your Majesty.

So I should perform my duties.

You must not leave in a rush like this.

Shall I inform His Majesty?

I am on my way to offer prayers for my brothers.

There is no need to inform him.

Taesangwang is also waiting for you, Sangwang. If you leave like this...

I do not care. Do not come outside.

Even if I serve the King in the future,

that will not be my will.

Have I ever blamed you for that?

You speak thus,

but you still distance yourself from me.

Allow me to serve you close by your side as in the past, Your Majesty.

You have already received the favor of the King.

You are no longer Main Chamber Maid Chae Ryeong.

Your Majesty.

I am just Chae Ryeong.

I am Chae Ryeong who served you a long time at your former residence in Chudong.

Though I may give my body to the King,

my heart belongs to Your Majesty.

I have not changed.

You have changed, I see.

The news of His Majesty

ordering to discuss deposing the Queen is widespread in the marketplace.

[Princess Hyosun, Yeong Sil]

They say his filial piety is to the point of casting aside his own wife.

He will not be casting aside his wife.

I know him very well.

You never know what the future holds.

Who would have known you would be lying here today, Princess?

I want to erase the Queen from the King's heart,

but I cannot figure out how.

Be patient and wait.

While he was Prince Jeongan,

why do you think he sought you out?

It is because you were comfortable.

Eventually, men cast aside women

who are burdensome.

If that happens, that would be good for our baby prince.

Well, what happened to the safflower blush we talked about last time?

I will soon obtain it.

Goodness, you are so pretty already.

If you put that precious thing on,

he will say Yang Guifei has reincarnated.

I want to...

give birth to a prince.

Pardon?

I must give birth to a prince.

While I am still young and beautiful,

I must give birth to a prince over and over again.

Will you help me?

You must endure it.

Yes, I will endure it.

Why are you here?

Taesangwang keeps looking for me,

and I can tell what Taesangwang will tell me to do if I see him.

So I left the palace for a moment. [Nam Jeong: Yi Bang Gwa's right-hand man]

The memorial tablets of those who died for me on the battlefronts are here.

Sangwang.

I thought about

what to do if I had to come to

Myeongbujeon again [Myeongbujeon: A temple where you pray for the dead]

for the same reason.

Do you not feel it is unfair at all?

You lost the kingship to Bang Won.

We will help you get it back.

Just tell us you want it back.

We will prepare everything by ourselves.

Most importantly,

that is what Taesangwang wants.

I do not

want any more of you to die.

Why do you think we will die?

Sangwang.

The sunlight is harsh.

If the sunlight is harsh,

I should stay in the shade for a while.

I am worried that shade will last forever.

Are you worried that I will be deposed as Queen?

How could you say such a thing?

Do not worry so much.

No matter what happens,

I must look after the princes.

[Yi Je, Grand Prince Yangnyeong]

[Yi Bo, Grand Prince Hyoryeong]

[Yi Do, Grand Prince Chungnyeong]

[Yi Bi, Prince Jeongnyeong (Prince Hyosun's son)]

You have not studied for a long time,

but you have improved a lot.

Father promised to give me

a reward for every book I read.

Is that so?

He praises me and gives me snacks.

Studying is starting to become more fun.

I see. You did well.

She says I did well.

Yes, you did well.

Did Father really give you snacks?

Yeah!

Your Majesty, His Majesty is here.

Do not follow me any further. Wait here.

After the incident at Hoeamsa last time,

I asked you how you knew there was an iron mace in the box.

At the time, you said you found out by chance, Queen.

When the private armies were disbanded in the past,

I clearly declared that having private informants was unacceptable.

However,

you hid the fact that you are using private informants, Queen.

Is that why you decided to discuss deposing me as Queen?

It's still the early days of my reign, which is not yet stable.

I cannot openly proclaim that the Queen and her family have defied royal commands.

I was able to protect you from the danger because of that.

You should stop now.

From now on, I will face and fix them.

Are you confident that you can distinguish

the factions within this court?

The stench of blood spilled to establish this nation still lingers in many places.

You have experienced it, so you know.

Those who are loyal to the previous dynasties,

those who are loyal to Taesangwang,

and those who are loyal to Sangwang.

Are you confident that you have seized control

over those who are in hiding?

What is it you want to say?

Let us imagine the hypothetical terrible situation

that you were hit by Father's iron mace.

- Queen. - Do you believe

Father acted thus without any preparations?

Will he not have prepared for the next steps after that?

- Queen! - Sangwang!

You probably figured it out already, but you are ignoring it.

So, you are saying I should view both my father and hyungnim as enemies?

I am saying you should see the reality with a level head.

It will not be too late to get rid of my informants

after Your Majesty becomes level-headed.

Will you make a fool out of me to the end?

Did I not say I will face it myself?

Did I not say I will handle it?

I, as King!

Did I not say I will take care of it!

Your Majesty.

If you view me as the King, then stop here.

If you bring up Sangwang again,

I will not let you off.

His Majesty is deeply worried after hearing that you have not eaten.

I said to bring Sangwang to me.

Sangwang!

[Won Beom, Yi Seong Gye's right-hand man]

He brought the commands of Taesangwang.

We will raise an army

in Dongbukmyeon as originally planned.

[Nam Jeong: Yi Bang Gwa's right-hand man]

Is not Taesangwang imprisoned in the palace?

He predicted all of this.

He must have a plan.

Then...

the Gabyeolcho in the Three Armies need to join us,

but Sangwang needs to make his intentions known first.

He is...

sill unable to decide.

I am not sure what he is so afraid of.

Then let us do this.

Let us show him the secret royal order we signed.

How will we deliver that to him?

After the incident at Hoeamsa, the security at the palace has grown strict.

There is...

one way to do so.

Tell me.

At Nam Jeong's house, several former Gabyeolcho met in secret.

What did you say?

Aigoo, my Princess must be pretty powerful.

To think I would live in a house like this!

My goodness...

Welcome.

I was waiting for you while stretching my shoulders.

You cannot buy that safflower blush these days

even if you wanted to.

- Oh, really? Then I will take this, and- - This one.

Okay, let me see.

It looks so good on you.

Really?

- This one, too. - Goodness, this woman.

You know, that thing.

This.

I barely managed to find it after digging around Boseong.

If you wash your private parts with this,

it will be very effective in...

That scared me.

Who is it?

You want me to deliver this to the Attendant Lady of Sangwang's palace?

That is correct.

What is this?

You do not need to know.

I heard several times that Taesangwang is looking for you.

You are quite peaceful

despite the chaotic situation around you, Sangwang.

My mind is conflicted.

Seeing how you are unable to tell,

I see that I was not found out.

What is it?

- I was worried, so I made some porridge. - Porridge?

I remembered she used to eat black sesame porridge to calm her stomach and

improve her appetite when she lived in Chudong.

Goodness, so commendable.

Your Majesty,

Favored Court Lady has brought some black sesame porridge.

Shall I have her come in?

Have her come in.

I am Your Majesty's servant.

Then,

can you find out what the King is thinking and tell me?

Can you?

If I do,

can I serve you closely?

That is so.

Yes.

His Majesty said he will come here.

The reason he is seeking Favored Court Lady's quarters is-

I know.

His Majesty is here.

There is no need.

Has Yeoseonggun visited the Queen's chambers recently?

Yes.

Yeoganggun and Yeoseonggun both came by.

What did they talk about?

It appeared that they were talking about Sangwang.

What did they say?

I could not hear in detail

because they spoke so secretively in a low voice.

You need to tell me everything that you hear regarding Sangwang.

Yes.

That is all.

If you carelessly rush like last time, you can mess things up.

So allow His Majesty to decide the sleeping arrangements.

I hear His Majesty is staying tonight at Favored Court Lady's quarters.

As Queen, must I know

which quarters the King spends the night in?

That is so.

It is late at night.

I suggest you sleep now.

I understand, so leave.

Yes.

No!

How dare you!

You will never deserve it.

I will kill you

and undo everything that went wrong.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

You should lie down straight and sleep comfortably.

Are you not going to sleep?

As for me,

instead of sleeping while looking at Your Majesty's back,

despite the dim moonlight, I would rather

sit here and look at your face all night.

You were a maidservant of the Queen at the private residence.

Then, you became a Main Chamber Maid after entering the palace.

- Yes. - Then you received my favor

- and became Favored Court Lady. - Yes.

Not only that, you were bold enough

to make me seek you out two times a month.

Then, have you not gained enough?

I have not gained

your attention.

You should not keep one foot on the Queen while keeping the other foot on me.

- Your Majesty. - You also must not decide for yourself what to tell

and what not to tell me.

You must report everything to me.

Do you understand?

Why are you not answering me?

If I agree to do so,

will you trust me?

Everyone still thinks of me as the Queen's servant.

I will trust you. I will...

- trust you. - If I agree to do so,

what will Your Majesty give me in return?

I will give myself.

I will...

give you myself.

All right. Did you serve the King well?

Yes.

Did he seem upset at all?

No, he did not seem that way.

He rested well.

You are quite good.

To think you satisfied him in my absence.

That is not so.

I will merely do what you say.

You may leave.

Your Majesty, it appears our opportunity has come.

Are you referring to the envoy from Ming?

Yes, you knew about it.

If the envoy from Ming comes looking for Taesangwang,

it will be difficult to discuss deposing the Queen any longer.

- Yes. - Yes.

Help the King make the decision.

- Yes. - But...

it will not look good if you pressure him too much.

Yes, Your Majesty.

But I do not know if it is okay to let Taesangwang leave the palace.

Rumors of what is happening at Dongbukmyeon are ominous.

Have our informants pay close attention through Pan Su.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Give this...

You want me to give this to Sangwang?

That is correct. And...

- This is... - What is this?

It is not much, but...

- No. - Court Lady.

His Majesty is here.

Your Majesty.

The envoy from Ming will be arriving in Gaegyeong soon.

How is the reception of the envoy from Ming progressing?

It is traditional for the Queen's palace to prepare for this,

but we are currently discussing deposing the Queen.

No matter how well the Yeongjeopdogam prepares, [Yeongjeopdogam: A temporary office created for receiving Ming envoys]

I am afraid there might be some problems.

The envoy from Ming said he would meet with Taesangwang and hear directly from him.

Even if he says he will hear directly from Taesangwang,

their actual goal is to receive tribute.

What Yunwen needs the most in his ongoing war with Zhu Di must be horses.

But if we just offer horses as a tribute to Yunwen

and Zhu Di ends up taking control of the empire...

We have to consider that possibility as well.

We need to stall for time so we can see how the war is progressing.

However, only Taesangwang is capable of doing that.

I hear that the envoy became close friends with Taesangwang

during his time at Dongbukmyeon.

But will Taesangwang do this for us?

How about you tell the Queen to help?

She acted as a temporary bridge between Your Majesty and Taesangwang

before you ascended to the throne.

Are you telling me to meet Father and persuade him?

What will you do?

I will do it.

However...

It is your right as the Queen.

Sir!

They are no longer discussing deposing the Queen.

Thus, we must pick a date for the royal consummation.

It has been 11 days since Her Majesty's last period.

However, tomorrow is the day of the snake. So that is no good.

You say the day of the snake and the day of the tiger are no good.

And the first, 15th, and last day of the month are no good, either!

Then when can it happen?

Well, maybe we can look again next month.

We cannot wait until then!

Looking at the weather,

there is also the risk of thunderstorms for the time being.

How about tonight?

Tonight?

Today is not the day of the snake or the tiger.

Nor is it the first or last day of the month.

And it is not the 15th day of the month.

And there are no thunderstorms.

How could we so suddenly?

There is a slight mist-

That is settled!

Let us set it up for tonight.

There is no such rule!

The rules are made based on need. Is it not?

Come on now!

You should stay here.

I heard the leader of the envoys who came was a longtime friend of yours, Father.

Welcome your long-lost friend and comfort him-

You should get to the point.

Supposedly, he will demand 10,000 horses as tribute.

I would like for you to persuade him

that it will take time to prepare this.

You want to watch how the war between Yunwen and Zhu Di progresses

and respond accordingly to the tribute demands.

And so, you are asking me to buy you some time.

If it is about such a matter, why are you here

instead of the King?

There was the incident at Hoeamsa,

and he also felt you may find the King uncomfortable, Father.

And?

And he thinks you and I have been close since our private residence days.

That was during your private residence days.

He is now the King.

There are things the King should do

and things the Queen should do.

What?

Will you talk about the people and lecture me again?

- No, Father. - Do you...

perhaps even subconsciously,

consider this nation, Joseon, to belong to the Min family?

How could you say such a thing?

- You enthroned the current King. - Father.

I say this since the King has always been manipulated under the folds of your skirt.

Will you not...

see more bloodshed in the future?

How could you say such terrible things?

I am referring to Sangwang.

Father.

Father.

I called for him.

What do you want me to do?

- Die. - Father!

[The Queen Who Crowns]

♫ Only the moonlight lights up the entire mountain ♫

♫ Oh, heavens, holding your breath from being shy ♫

♫ Until the day breaks ♫

♫ We are separated, and I sing alone ♫

At each hour, the court lady on duty will give the signal.

At her signal...

You just have to follow!

Following and obeying mindlessly... Is that it?

I am saying you should be clever.

In the end, they will stage a rebellion.

The sorrow of having to kill my own son is my cause!

Hyungnim!

Save her. Only you can, Queen.

How about you beg me to save her?