Original subtitles

Now, we must decide which prince to place on the throne.

We must establish a new ruler

so that we can persuade and rally the other scholar-officials.

The prince we will place on the throne is Yi Yeol,

Grand Prince Dowol.

They're plotting against the king.

We must move up the plan.

We'll gather the exiled officials and…

Lady Sukeui, Chief State Councilor Han Seung-rok…

If we raise an army, there is a chance.

We act for what is right, not for the odds.

Delay will only bring more suffering to the people.

We must rally the officials first.

Without a settled court, this turmoil will continue

even under a new ruler.

That can be discussed once the throne is secured.

Using force is not an option.

Power can only be checked by greater power.

I agree. Bloodshed is inevitable.

Bloodshed? We are not like the military officials of late Goryeo.

Even if it ends in failure, what we stand for will remain.

That's right. Somebody will continue the fight.

That was quite heated, wasn't it?

Why…

Grand Prince Dowol?

A scoundrel, an idler, a philanderer, a wastrel.

That's what they call him.

He must have had to hide his true self behind those disgraceful nicknames.

Until his final moments,

the late king sought to depose the Crown Prince,

and establish Grand Prince Dowol as the rightful heir.

And now, I understand why.

He must have seen the makings of a king

in the young prince.

The makings of a king?

His kind heart for the people.

It's what the current king doesn't have.

You've seen it too.

When you were stealing for the sick,

when you brought corrupt officials to justice,

and when you were helping the people at the leper camp,

the Grand Prince was always by your side.

It was also deeply moving

when he stepped forward before the king to save your brother.

It's the power of love.

As you said, I know Grand Prince Dowol well.

So I know he will not join your plot.

We will keep our existence hidden from the Grand Prince.

We will offer him the throne once we succeed in overthrowing the king.

May I ask why?

If we include the Grand Prince in the plot and fail,

he will be beheaded immediately.

And that must not happen

so that there will be another chance.

So the Grand Prince must remain alive

until the next attempt because he is meant to become king?

From what I saw today, with so few officials and scholars,

this is bound to fail.

There will be nothing but death ahead.

We will fight regardless.

Even if all that awaits us

is death.

Is this not your resolve as well, Gil-dong?

You're wrong, Lady Sukeui.

I won't let this body

die like that.

Let's go.

Somewhere far from the palace,

somewhere far from Joseon.

I…

can't go.

You already

knew.

You already made up your mind.

You were already

with them.

Sorry I couldn't tell you sooner.

I needed time to understand

why they are trying to change the world,

and why my lord challenged His Majesty,

risking his own life.

And?

Those people are fighting to survive.

And my lord

probably tried to help people like them survive.

And?

If we go back to our own bodies,

I'll join them as Gil-dong.

They're using you because you're a commoner.

I know.

Once you're caught as a traitor, you'll be torn limb from limb.

I'm prepared for that.

How can you

speak of your death so lightly in front of me?

Because the new king they want

is you.

So you should also--

No.

You're wrong.

What do you mean?

If you choose to become a traitor as Gil-dong,

I'll stand with the royal family as the Grand Prince.

They're defying the royal traditions upheld for generations

and trying to overthrow the realm and its king.

I can't let them do that.

So I have learned.

But--

I will never be the traitors' king.

Which means this plot

is bound to fail.

That is my decision.

Eun-jo, it's your mother. I'm coming in.

You must be tired. Finish up and go to bed.

After this.

What are you writing about?

We will fight regardless.

Even if all that awaits us

is death.

I'm trying to give your daughter a long and healthy life.

How long do you want to live?

Until "happily ever after"

becomes her ending.

Remove her.

I beg Your Majesty's mercy.

I beg Your Majesty's mercy!

I will reorganize the courtesans.

Geum-nok's cold has lasted quite a while.

She's getting her strength back now.

I was really worried after you left like that.

You must be conflicted, but--

No, my head is clear.

I'm only thinking about how I can bring the plotters down.

What is it?

The names of the plotters I saw with your eyes last night.

What will you do with this?

What do you think will happen if I take this to the king?

They'll all be killed.

That's not like you.

If you want me to stay as I am,

then stop me.

If you change your decision to stand with them,

no one needs to die.

I'll give you one day.

You make the decision.

One day?

Thanks.

Take care.

I must follow him.

This is…

Is this Chief Secretary Im's house?

Why did Chief Secretary Im's guard

approach the fake Gil-dong's body?

One. The Chief Censor wrote Gil-dong's name before he died.

Two. The fake Gil-dong was killed by an arrow before he was arrested.

Three. The person who approached the fake Gil-dong's corpse

was Chief Secretary Im's guard.

But why?

Wait.

What if there was intent behind their actions?

One. The murderer of the Chief Censor had to be Gil-dong.

Two. The fake Gil-dong had to be arrested after his death.

Three. Chief Secretary Im's guard had to get rid of the fake Gil-dong's body.

Why?

Because the Chief Censor was murdered by…

Chief Secretary Im.

Did you do as I said?

What kind of incense is this?

It will

bring peace to the king.

Wouldn't it be better if I went to find him?

I know this house well.

And I'm a pretty elusive thief, you know.

I seriously can't get used to this.

Whether you are His Highness or Hong-si,

when I give you the signal, come out at once.

If the secret had to be kept at the cost of the Chief Censor's life,

it must be a pretty serious one.

At least in Joseon…

What is taking so long?

I'm sorry.

You'll wake up soon.

Your Highness?

What are you doing here?

Please help me.

I must head to the palace now.

What are you stealing from my family's annex?

Lady Jang?

Put your sword down.

I forgot to shout

that I found a thief.

This woman is not an object that can be stolen

or an animal to be hung or mistreated.

Hung?

Tell the Chief Royal Secretary

that this woman went where she wished to go.

Put that down.

Let's go.

Wait.

Before we reach the palace…

Why were you held at his house?

Apparently, he can't stand a lowborn

having ideas of her own.

Is that it?

She had been tortured for days.

Later.

You look even paler now. Are you all right?

This won't do.

Let's get a horse from the constabulary.

Yes, Your Highness.

A house call at this late hour?

They said it's urgent.

It looks pretty bad.

- What are you doing? - I…

I think I should leave.

I refuse to be in a women-only area. It's inappropriate.

What are you saying?

Start from there.

You see, I know you wouldn't understand,

but I'd be out of my mind to stay here.

Pull yourself together, will you?

I know you haven't quite been in your right mind

since what happened to your lord.

So I overlooked all the mistakes you made.

But I can't do that now. Can't you see how bad things are here?

Could you go a little lower?

Here?

Can I just take it off?

I'm a bit uncomfortable.

I'm uncomfortable.

Here?

How is it now? Does it feel better?

You've got the strength of a man.

You've got good instincts.

Pardon?

Does it hurt anywhere else?

The horse is not for His Highness?

It's a long story. Lady Jang will ride the horse.

Geum-nok.

Lady Jang is here?

Your Highness.

It's been a while.

Do you know each other?

We once held each other's hands

and eloped together.

Here.

I should get going.

It was before I started wearing the courtesan wig.

Why did you choose not to elope with Aide Park?

I wanted to become

the most powerful woman in Joseon.

Your dream came true.

You're now His Majesty's woman.

Let's run away.

Somewhere far from the palace,

somewhere far from Joseon.

You chose not to run away with the man you loved.

Have you ever

regretted that?

Never.

One day,

I may be able to repay this debt.

Is the cold messing with your mind too?

Could we speak in private?

Geum-nok?

I could not stop the Grand Prince.

How much does the Grand Prince know?

Go and tell Seung-jae that

if something bad happens to me, he should do as I previously ordered.

Something bad? What will you do?

Nothing.

I will do nothing but wait here for His Majesty's order.

Is this perhaps related to the bedchamber matter you mentioned?

What are you plotting?

His Majesty has granted you an audience.

Your Majesty.

Sit.

Sit on the throne.

It's a royal order.

Breathe it in

deep into your lungs.

Your Majesty.

Everything I did was for Your Highness.

Same old excuse.

Your role was to be my loyal dog.

That is why

I became the greatest flatterer in Joseon.

You've enjoyed enough power pulling the strings.

Now,

humbly accept your death.

This is what you wanted me to be.

You surrounded yourself with ministers who bowed to you,

and brought all the worldly pleasure into the palace for yourself.

Am I wrong?

What lame final words.

Your trembling hands are your curse.

When did you quit that poison? A few hours ago?

Tonight, your body will be wracked with pain and tremors,

and you will beg for the poison before dawn,

just as you always have!

Soon, all of Joseon

will witness your madness.

To the ministers who have turned against you,

your madness will serve

as the perfect justification.

I'm talking about your fall.

Do you understand?

In all of Joseon,

there's only one person who wants you on the throne!

It is I!

I am the only loyal subject you have!

The Chief Secretary?

It seems like he locked Lady Jang up to manipulate her,

since he couldn't kill His Majesty's concubine.

The king's favorite concubine and the sycophant are at odds now?

I wonder why.

You know what?

I also wonder why you did this.

What?

So, last night,

you broke into Chief Secretary Im's house

instead of making the decision you're supposed to make.

You don't care about what I say, do you?

I don't think so.

I warned you.

If I don't get your answer today,

I'll hand over the list of traitors tomorrow.

Do you think I can't do it?

One day is too short.

What?

I thought about it over and over before making that decision.

I can't go back on it overnight. I won't.

Fine.

If you can't do it, I'll stop it myself.

Let go.

I can't.

I can't let you go either.

There's no reason to rush yet.

I can't do anything while our bodies are switched anyway.

Right now, I'm the Grand Prince.

I know. Right now, I'm Gil-dong…

Exactly.

We can talk about it once we're back in our own bodies.

Then I wish we never go back.

Because I will never do anything

under that famous name of yours.

Let's do that.

I'll live as you for the rest of my life.

Tonight, your body will be wracked with pain and tremors,

and you will beg for the poison before dawn.

Play the music louder!

My ears are ringing!

I am the only loyal subject you have!

They are your people, Your Majesty.

Please remember his sincerity.

That's the only thing I wish for.

Bring her in.

May I ask whom, Your majesty?

Hong Min-jik's daughter.

I hear you are Min-jik's concubine's daughter.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your spirit isn't that of a lowborn.

It must come from your father.

That must have been his teaching.

From what I know,

he was a man who treasured people,

never judging them by their birth or learning.

He was.

That's why he treated me, a dethroned queen's son,

like a human being,

unlike my other teachers.

Why did you send me for, Your Majesty?

To remember

his sincerity.

Is this what someone

who remembers him would do?

Your Highness,

even at this very moment,

the capital is filled with the cries of people being exploited.

Outside the capital,

the sick cry out in anguish suffering from the plague,

and the streets are filled with the tears of orphaned children.

Please listen to them.

Listen to the people, not the flatterers.

That is the duty of the throne.

You're right.

My teacher sent you here.

I still have a loyal subject!

I told you not to stop!

Please stop!

They can barely stand. Their bodies are worn to the bone.

For my new loyal subject,

I shall throw a feast!

Physician Hong?

The music sounds nice.

It sounds so nice that

I can't hear anything from outside.

Your Highness!

Hong-si was in His Majesty's bedchamber.

What?

We were locked in the palace, not allowed a single drop of water.

We had to dance like that all day.

I broke a bone,

and His Majesty didn't even care.

I've been looking for you.

You went to His Majesty's bedchamber.

Are you all right?

No.

What's wrong?

Let's steal them.

Steal what?

His Majesty's women.

I need you to meet

my mother and the Queen Consort for me.

If this continues,

all the courtesans will die by tomorrow night.

I need Your Majesties' help.

I'm sorry.

If things go wrong,

tell him it was my order.

I'm his mother by law. He won't go so far as to kill me.

Let it be my order.

I ordered the women be kicked out, blinded by jealousy.

I'm his wife in name only,

but he won't cast me aside.

Your Majesty.

Please go now.

You must save those women.

I need you to discreetly get the clothing of the eunuchs and court ladies.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Do as I said.

Who are you

right now?

Unfortunately, it's still me.

Your Highness, please sit here.

I have something important to tell you.

Why don't we go see the moon? We didn't get to see it last time.

Get out of here.

I'm here to help you.

This is as far as I can go. Escape safely.

Let's go.

Where are the courtesans?

We are going to His Highness' private villa.

Intruders! Close the palace gates!

Try to stay in the palace if possible.

I received the message. What happened…

- A sword? Why-- - I'll explain on the way.

I must stop here.

Please take care.

Physician Hong.

I'm sorry I'm late.

Let's go.

They are nowhere to be found.

If this was planned, they must be outside the capital by now.

- We will go to the port. - Yes, Your Majesty.

- Clear the way! - Yes, sir!

Move!

Your Majesty, I'm Shin Hae-rim, the Queen Consort's niece.

I saw Your Majesty at the your wedding.

Yes, I remember.

I'm out to see the moon today.

May I ask where you are headed, Your Majesty?

Oh, dear. The beautiful moonlight must have distracted me.

What are you doing? His Majesty is here!

His Majesty?

His Majesty!

His Majesty!

Clear the way at once!

Physician Hong!

Get down.

Listen to me.

The boat won't leave until you're all aboard.

So run for your life. Don't look back.

I'll run till I collapse.

If I get caught, I'll die anyway.

I would've died tomorrow anyway from all the dancing.

I might as well die running around here like a lunatic.

All right. One.

Two.

Three.

Over there. Fire.

Stop them!

Hurry.

It's an archer!

Stay in formation!

Watch out for the archer's arrows!

Yes, sir!

Physician Hong.

Over there.

You had to come, after all.

Physician Hong!

Come on! Run!

Now!

Come on! Run over here!

It's over.

Stop them at all costs, even if it means killing them!

Kill them all!

Your Majesty.

"If you chase those women,

the next arrow will pierce your heart."

How did he aim from this distance?

It's the assassin from that day.

If you leave now, you'll at least save your life.

Please run.

Leave me be.

I will not beg for my life.

I'll be the one who begged.

I appreciate your intention,

but I do not have a reason to run.

Are you going to die like a dog here?

Like some lowborn?

Tell Seung-jae that

I am

coming back soon.

There's only one person who wants you on the throne!

It is I!

Bring

the Chief Secretary.

His Highness said it would just be for a while.

Don't worry.

They may search all of Joseon,

but this is the last place they'd come.

A courtesan named No-eul was with us, but she was left out.

We don't know if she's alive.

Go look for her.

Yes, Your Highness.

I mean, yes, I will.

Thank you so much.

Thank you. Thank you.

Since the courtesans vanished into thin air,

I hear the investigation has stalled.

It is probably beyond their imagination

that the Grand Prince would ever help them.

Thank you.

It wasn't the most pleasant night to see the moon.

I was just so excited

that I could do something for them as the same woman.

His Highness once told me here

that there was a woman he could never forget.

I have always wondered

how one could be so deeply etched

in a man's heart.

But I think I know now.

It's because that woman is you, Eun-jo.

It's Your Highness in there now, right?

It's just a formality.

Should I say "no more formality" too?

It is Your Highness.

Whoever did this, ghost or god,

I wonder why they tied you to this fate.

I asked myself the same question the other night.

It happened every time my life was threatened.

Does that mean that, if you were to return to your bodies,

one of you would have to be in danger again?

It's just an assumption for now.

For now, at least.

One night,

I searched for an answer

as to why our souls had to be switched.

If that's the reason,

why would we…

Perhaps I knew it then.

Do you still feel the same way?

- What do you mean? - About them and--

No.

My answer hasn't changed.

I should get going.

Why won't you be honest with me?

You're just running away

from the world.

Just be honest with me.

You're avoiding me now.

Because you're scared.

Because you're scared.

You're right, I'm scared.

I'm scared to lose you.

Even now,

the palace is filled with music every day.

In the past,

when others said that the world was indifferent to our suffering,

I held onto a faint hope that

those high in the palace must surely be doing something

to make the world a better place.

But I know I was wrong,

now that I've lived your life.

It wasn't the world that was indifferent.

It was

the man on the throne.

Now, you know

the very things I wished you didn't know about my life.

You have lived my life too, so you must know

that in a world like this,

I have no choice but to live as a thief.

No.

You're wrong again, Hong Eun-jo.

I…

I…

I will never let you live as a thief.

Have you made up your mind?

I will make a world

where I don't need to live

as a thief.

The Left State Councilor, Im Sa-hyeong, is entering.

Your Highness,

there is a reception for envoys hosted by the royal relatives today.

Right.

It's pretty far away.

They're holding the banquet in a place with a beautiful view.

Have the royal relatives not arrived yet?

They have all arrived.

It can't be…

No.

One night,

I searched for an answer

as to why our souls had to be switched.

Perhaps I knew it then.

Ever since our souls were switched,

perhaps I knew that…

Look at that shameless face of yours, just like your father's.

…fighting against your ordeals…

Thank you.

Thank you!

Stop!

…protecting your people,

and taking the world with you was the fate laid out before me.

Perhaps I also knew that one day,

I would die for you as well.

And if that's my fate,

I will gladly accept it.

Are you here?

If you can hear me, answer me!

Please!

Don't sleep for too long.

Congratulations.

Since I am to succeed Father as Chief Royal Secretary,

I would like to begin in Father's court robes.

It's a royal order.

Anyone who sees Gil-dong

is to kill him on the spot.

Your Highness and I are no longer protecting the same thing.

Do your best.

What I protect has never changed.

Subtitle translation by: Sunyoung Baek