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.]

In the end,

you must have Yeong Sil killed?

In the end, this is the only way to save you.

Your Majesty...

You will not die from this,

but you must live as though you are dead.

Your Majesty...

Your Majesty.

Look, is anyone outside?

Your Majesty!

- Notify the royal pharmacy! - Yes.

My Lady!

Your Majesty.

She will not die.

She is already dead to me now.

You will not die,

however, you will not be able to conceive.

Thank you for your hard work.

What did you say? She will not be able to conceive?

Yes.

Bearing children is not the only duty of a concubine.

Why are you doing this when you wanted to kill me?

Seeing you lying here like this

makes me wonder if you were worth killing with my hands.

Please leave.

You tried to find your value in one man.

That is why you ended up like this.

Go away!

Please!

Even now, you should find your own reason for living.

If you do, I will help you.

How!

I'm a concubine who cannot even bear children!

Do not forget that you are the only one who can save yourself.

Attendant Lady is here.

What about His Majesty?

He is taking a bath.

Finally, the war between His and Her Majesty has begun.

That is how I read this situation.

You read it well.

But I wonder why they are taking it that far.

In order to create Joseon for the people,

he must strip the powerful ministers of their influence.

That is what His Majesty seems to have determined.

And who is at the center of the powerful ministers?

Is it not Her Majesty and her family?

Right now, His Majesty does not have Her Majesty nor Princess Hyosun by his side.

He has nobody beside him.

Yes.

[Episode 5]

Your Majesty, is not Her Majesty too much?

If she had stepped in, Your Majesty would not have had to do that to the Princess-

Stop!

Do not talk rashly about the Queen like that.

Yes, Sire.

My apologies, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

If Your Majesty steps in, it may cause more problems.

Have you not come out of the palace in secret?

But whose farmland is so expansive like this?

This belongs to Yeoganggun and Yeoseonggun.

When Sangwang decided to move the capital back to Gaegyeong,

some powerful ministers rushed to buy land from farmers

at a very low price.

That is when they bought it.

Did you hear?

The King tried to kill Yeong Sil in front of Her Majesty-

He did not try to kill her. He did that to save her.

What do you mean?

Even still, Yeong Sil was destined to die anyway.

Yeong Sil was working with forces trying to restore Sangwang to the throne.

Only the Queen was able to shield and save Yeong Sil,

but the Queen would not act.

So, the King did that to save Young Sil...

In the end, only the Queen was put into a difficult situation.

It is probably Kwon Hong's daughter.

The one who is playing the geomungo*? (Korean musical instrument)

Yes.

Kwon Hong is a music researcher at Sungkyunkwan.

Your Majesty. [Kwon Hong: Music Researcher of Sungkyunkwan]

Hyungnim, you said the chrysanthemum wine you preserved last fall has aged well, right?

Yes, that is so.

He suddenly notified me.

Please come this way.

[Kwon Seon]

Your Majesty.

How about you bring that girl to the palace and find comfort in her when you feel down?

You mean to take her as my concubine?

Yes.

She is a precious daughter of a noble family. How could I?

Thus, you should prepare properly and receive her.

Properly, by setting up a Ministry of Royal Weddings.

You saw the land that the Min brothers bought, right?

Who do you think they rely on to be so bold like that?

There is nobody like a powerful concubine to keep the Queen in check.

I hear powerful ministers, including my brothers-in-law,

bought land before Gaegyeong became the capital once again.

How many ministers have done this?

Probably many

since they have money and information.

Did you do so as well?

I, too, enjoy a few minor privileges that power guarantees.

However, I am confident that it will not hinder the reforms Your Majesty envisions.

Privileges that power guarantees...

Right.

I am thinking of taking Kwon Hong's daughter as my concubine.

- Your Majesty. - If it is to weaken the power of the Min family,

I can partner with anyone.

You should lead the Ministry of Royal Weddings.

Your Majesty, Yeoheung Buwongun Min Je is my friend!

That is why...

I am asking you to lead it.

Is anyone outside?

Yes.

Raise me up.

- My Lady... - Right now!

Where is His Majesty sleeping tonight?

I hear he is going to Favored Court Lady's quarters.

Carry me on your back, Court Lady.

- My Lady... - I said, carry me on your back!

He would not abandon me like this!

You said to live as though I am dead, right?

But I cannot live like that.

No matter how much I think about it, I cannot live like that.

Did you not love me?

Did you not say...

that you were comforted the most by me?

Take her away.

Your Majesty...

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty...

Are you worried about your mother?

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

I will take extra good care of her.

So, do not worry too much.

Yes.

Je. [Yi Je, Grand Prince Yangnyeong]

Yes.

Bo. [Yi Bo, Grand Prince Hyoryeong]

Yes.

Do. [Yi Do, Grand Prince Chungnyeong]

Yes.

Take good care of Bi and love him.

You are all brothers.

Yes, Mother.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

What did you say?

It has not been long since he took in Yeong Sil.

How could he take another concubine? How could he!

Not only that, but they are also setting up the Ministry of Royal Weddings since she is Kwon Hong's daughter.

M-Ministry of Royal Weddings...

It is clear the King was swayed by Suk Beon, who is out to torture Her Majesty!

I will set up the Ministry of Royal Weddings and take Kwon Hong's daughter as my concubine.

Pardon?

Your Majesty, how could you take in a concubine?

The King, who is the master of the nation, is taking a woman for himself.

We just need to accept it dutifully as his subjects.

He is not just taking her. He is setting up the Ministry of Royal Weddings for it!

He is taking a daughter of a noble family's daughter as a concubine.

We should observe proper etiquette for her.

Pressing state affairs are piled up like a mountain!

Making sure the King has many descendants is also an important state affair.

Your Majesty!

Your M-

There is no need. I will wait.

I hear you recently brought His Majesty to Kwon Hong's house, Anseonggun.

How did you know?

Did you think there are secrets in this world?

Yeoseonggun must believe it is his duty to look into everything His Majesty does.

Do not sow discord between us!

What do you mean, sow discord!

Do not sow discord between His Majesty and the Min family!

What are you all doing in front of His Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Keep going.

Your Majesty, Anseonggun is jealous of the relationship between Your Majesty and us

and is using Kwon Hong's daughter to divide us-

Do you think Her Majesty brings comfort to His Majesty?

You!

A woman should provide relief for the King.

You!

You!

Let him know.

Your Majesty, Her Majesty is here.

I will set up the Ministry of Royal Weddings and take a concubine.

Since it also concerns palace ladies, help with the palace rituals-

No, you must not.

- I must not? - If you set up Ministry of Royal Weddings

and hold a grand royal wedding,

the people will think Your Majesty is taking a new queen.

That is a big leap and a victim mentality.

If the new concubine gains your favor and bears a son,

how would I know if the bloodshed Your Majesty experienced will not happen again?

Are you doubting my heart for you?

Yes. I do now.

- Queen. - My children.

- Queen! - Our Je.

Our Bo. Our Do!

I must protect the positions of these boys.

They are all my sons as well!

If you still insist on this,

I will die before you.

What did you say?

If there is nothing more to say to me, I will go to my family's house.

I do not give you permission.

Every single time!

If you refuse to obey me every single time like this,

you will lose my love in the end.

Losing your love does not mean I should lose myself.

In the Joseon I build,

please live as a Joseon woman.

I would rather...

die as a Goryeo woman.

How could she be so relaxed like that?

The woman coming as a concubine...

I hear she is good at playing geomungo.

Yes, it appears it is from her father's influence.

While the King lived at his previous residence,

he often called in musicians and enjoyed music.

Whenever I watched His Majesty lost in the music from afar,

I wished I could be that geomungo.

Kwon Hong's daughter...

What is her weakness?

I do not know.

She grew up in a wealthy family without lacking much, so there is nothing much.

Then I know very well the weakness of people like that.

What do you mean by people like that?

People who are always at the center of attention.

People who are complimented for just smiling.

People like that.

Now, I will exploit that weakness.

Are you...

all right?

I will only look forward.

Your Majesty.

Father.

You must be tired from your journey here.

Please come inside.

Mother.

What brings you here?

You have been well, right?

His Majesty is here.

It is a wine made with ginseng and Siberian ginseng.

It will soothe your body and heart with warmth.

I want to...

bear you a prince.

I must bear a prince.

I will not allow a woman into my heart anymore.

I already...

know that.

I hear the Ministry of Royal Weddings already sent a dowry to Kwon Hong's house.

The King is not in his right mind!

The one who protected His Majesty from Taesangwang's iron mace at Hoeamsa

and the one who saved His Majesty from the danger of losing his throne to Sangwang

was Your Majesty.

So, how could he betray you like this?

The King is setting up the Ministry of Royal Weddings and taking in Lady Kwon

to use her family's power to put down the Min family.

Not only that, His Excellency Ha Ryun is leading the Ministry of Royal Weddings.

And with regard to the concubine,

this is completely different from how he tried to torture

Your Majesty with Yeong Sil and Chae Ryeong!

Are you confident you can replace the king?

Your Majesty.

If you are not confident, then keep your mouth shut.

His Majesty will take Sungkyunkwan Music Researcher

Kwon Hong's daughter as a concubine.

His subjects should respectfully and wholeheartedly partake in this wedding ceremony.

The Queen's palace is empty right now.

The former Queen Consort was unable to bear me a son,

but we still get along because of our past affection.

And the Queen bore you three sons already.

What makes you so unhappy about her?

Taesangwang said there will never be reforms for the people

without cutting off powerful ministers.

But the Queen's family is at the center of powerful ministers.

So, you want to dilute the power of the Queen by taking more concubines...

I do not know.

From the start, you did not have it in your heart to cut off the Queen.

So, regardless of whether you take in more concubines, nothing will change.

I feel that you are leaving your post for too long.

You do not need to worry.

Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, has seized the throne of the Ming empire.

- What about Yunwen? - When Zhu Di's elite forces entered Nanjing,

Yunwen was already gone.

There is also a rumor that

he was brutally killed while hiding from them in the city.

So...

why are you watching my reaction as you report this fact?

I apologize.

Then, we should receive a new proclamation and seal from Zhu Di

and discuss our tribute in earnest.

We should prepare the tribute with the proper formalities of a tributary relationship,

but we should determine the return gifts for the tribute.

A tributary relationship is where a small nation offers tribute to a great nation to show respect.

Thus, it is not proper for us to determine the return gift for the tribute.

Do you know the origins of the tributary relationship?

It dates back to the Yin and Zhou dynasties.

The Yin and Zhou dynasties received tribute from neighboring states to avoid further wars.

Smaller states would send tribute,

and the larger states would offer return gifts,

essentially forming a system of trade.

The purpose was to establish peace through these exchanges.

So, why do you only think so abjectly and hastily to offer tribute?

If you attack your subjects so vehemently for not knowing something,

resentment toward the king will build up in their hearts.

I think it is best that we bring Her Majesty back.

Why are you suddenly bringing up the Queen?

I say this because you seem anxious.

She left on her own because she did not like me.

Your Majesty.

How are you unable to read your own feelings, Your Majesty?

How are you unable to read your own feelings, Your Majesty?

♫ Cold and barren ♫

I am afraid.

Do not be afraid.

The history stands with us tonight.

Prepare the horse!

♫ Brushing against my skin ♫

♫ Please grant even my small wish ♫

Open the door!

Open the door!

♫ Please grant it ♫

♫ Please grant it ♫

His Majesty is here!

- The King is here? - Yes.

Where is he right now?

He entered the annex.

He said he would meet with you another time.

So, he said not to cause much commotion today.

Queen!

Why did you come?

I came because I missed you.

I tried to suppress it,

but I just could not suppress it, so I came.

Please dismantle the Ministry of Royal Weddings.

I said I came because I missed you!

Your Majesty is the one who turned our relationship like this.

Fine.

I hear Her Majesty has returned.

His Majesty personally brought her back early this morning.

Your Majesty.

I have something to say to Anseonggun.

Yes.

Why did you do something that would cause you so much anxiety?

Something that would cause anxiety?

You took a stand against me.

You put in so much effort, so I will turn a blind eye regarding the concubine.

However, do not expect anything more than that.

Should you not enjoy what trivial power you have?

Your Excellency, what do you mean the Ministry of Royal Weddings is being dismantled?

Look, we have no choice.

At the Queen's sincere plea, the King relented.

This is a plot of the Min family.

A-And it is an insult to our family!

Come now, how could you speak like that?

- Then, this should have never- - If she bears him a prince,

things would be very different.

Is she not the only concubine from a noble family?

Can you hear me?

I am sorry to send you off in such a lowly manner

when you are marrying the King.

His Majesty's current concubine comes from a lowly background.

Do not forget that fact.

Let us go.

Escort her.

Set it down over here.

The wedding vows will take place in three days at the Hour of Sheep.

You must be tired from traveling since morning, so please rest early.

I was really worried this time.

I would never have imagined His Majesty would personally come here

to Chudong so late at night.

Their relationship is quite amazing.

It is quite a relief.

However, this incident clearly shows that His Majesty is trying

to use other forces to keep us in check.

We should also use this opportunity to show our strength.

How?

We will host a banquet.

A banquet?

We will invite His Majesty to our home and hold a banquet.

Invite all the meritorious subjects as well,

including His Excellency Ha Ryun, too.

That is a good idea.

We will be able to show off our strengths properly.

But will the King agree to do so that easily?

On the night the King took the Queen with him,

we were unable to serve him anything.

If I personally ask him with that as an excuse, he will not be able to say no.

We should invite Yi Suk Beon as well

and break his spirit for good.

This is silk from Ming.

I hope this pleases you, Your Majesty.

I am the one who opposed installing the Ministry of Royal Weddings.

You probably resent me for it, but somehow, you are still smiling.

The only thing I can say to you is this.

Do not hang everything you have on the King's affection.

Pardon?

What I am saying is

find your own reason to live in this palace apart from the King's affection.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Here it is.

It has already been several days since the wedding vows.

Should you not go today to greet her?

It will not be beneficial to you to go too late, My Lady.

The carp are so cute.

Yes, you are right, My Lady.

My Lady.

Look.

Look!

So, it is you.

Why have you not come to greet me?

I asked you a question!

I could not decide how I should treat you.

What do you mean by how to treat me?

How rude!

Why are you laughing?

I thought for a moment about how I would get to say

"How rude!" to you one day, Princess.

Do you want to die?

Of course not.

From now on, there is only one

who will decide the hierarchy between us. His Majesty.

Are you confident?

I am...

confident.

Your Majesty!

You are quite arrogant and bold.

Your Majesty.

Were you saying you are confident you can win my heart?

I know very well that no one apart from Her Majesty can have your heart.

Then?

What were you saying you were confident in?

I asked what you were confident in.

Though I cannot win your heart,

Though you cannot win my heart...

I believe I am useful to Your Majesty.

That is why...

I said I was confident.

That is all.

You say you are useful?

His Majesty saw the Favored Court Lady insult his consort.

Even if His Majesty scolds you for the palace ladies' lack of discipline,

there is nothing you can say.

You should summon the Favored Court Lady and reprimand her.

That way, you can uphold your dignity as Queen.

With such a narrow-minded response,

how will that uphold my dignity as Queen?

- Your Majesty. - Where is the Favored Court Lady right now?

I received His Majesty's favor first.

Will you be able to handle Her Majesty's wrath?

Did you forget who ultimately made Princess Hyosun like that?

If the Queen hits you with a rod,

make sure to accept it obediently,

so people will at least look at you with sympathy.

Your Majesty, the Favored Court Lady is here.

Your Majesty.

Come here and sit down.

Are you not sick of drinking tea all the time?

Will you have a drink?

No, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Just hit me with a rod instead.

Why?

I did not show proper respect to Princess Jeongui.

This is a difficult situation for me as well.

How could I blame you?

In a few days, I will go to my family home in Chudong with His Majesty.

I will go ahead first to prepare.

Then, allow me to escort you there.

Chae Ryeong.

Yes.

Do not place yourself on the edge of a cliff.

Yes...

Your Majesty.

Are the preparations against the rebellion going well?

Yes, we are preparing flawlessly for it on our side.

However, Yeoseonggun is currently in Chudong.

The Queen also decided to go there early.

The Queen is heading there early?

- Summon the Favored Court Lady. - Yes, Sire.

Things are looking ominous at Dongbukmyeon.

By Dongbukmyeon,

is it Taesangwang?

We do not know where Taesangwang is,

but I received information that Dongbukmyeon's Gabyeolcho are on the move.

Military weapons are also being drawn in.

Military weapons?

Does the Queen also know about this?

Yes, I told her.

What did she say?

I will need to meet with Pan Su.

The King is watching carefully because of what happened last time involving Sangwang.

Especially if you are leaving the palace.

This is a serious matter.

By Pan Su, are you referring to that blind man?

Yes.

When?

She said she would come here a few days before the banquet and meet with him.

Goodness...

Why is she meeting that blind man at this point?

There she is.

Aigoo, My Lady. Aigoo, My Lady!

When you first came, you were such a tiny little kid.

- Have you been well? - Yes.

Hello.

Who is the one providing information to the Queen?

They will raise an army at Dongbukmyeon soon.

And Father will also be with them?

Yes.

However, Taesangwang's health is not very good.

After he demonstrates his strength to the soldiers,

he will enter Wonjung Port.

Wonjung Port...

I received orders from His Majesty.

Even still,

how could you, of all people, spy on Her Majesty, Favored Court Lady?

What will you report to him?

I did not...

see anything noteworthy, so...

You say you did not see anything noteworthy.

Yes.

Believe me, Your Majesty.

You want me to believe you?

Your Majesty,

why are you accepting Yeoheung Buwongun's invitation at this point?

I know what you are worrying about.

Since His Majesty is coming, tell Chae Ryeong.

Why did you tell me to come here?

I was reminded of the old days.

Did you not used to wash me here?

Enter.

How could I dare to-

Then, shall I come out for you instead?

Chae Ryeong.

Do not place yourself on the edge of a cliff.

[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 ♫

The gazes directed at our Min family have grown sharper.

They pay attention to everything about me.

They watch closely and wait for the right moment to exploit any weakness.

Did you not say that your body may belong to the King, but your heart belongs to me?

How dare you!

It is all for Your Majesty.

This is a battle you cannot win.

Is he not going to battle where people may live or die?

Kill him.