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[For the May 4, 2013 broadcast of Cruel Palace, JTBC aired a scene that violated]

[Korean Communication Standards and as a disciplinary measure received a warning.]

The Princess said she wrote that letter?

Yes Lady Gui In.

Really?

That's a relief!

I was so worried she would deny writing it and make a big fuss over it!

So what did the King say?

I didn't hear anything after that.

Lady Gui In, I will go back and check.

Your Highness, please take a closer look one more time.

If it truly is your handwriting.

I told you this is my handwriting.

Why? Why did you do it?

Even if you do hate me

how can you try to bring the barbarians onto our land?

- Your Highness - Yes, tell me.

Are you saying it doesn't matter if our nation crumbles?

As long as your son becomes King?

I have one favor.

I'm asking you if you asked for help from China so your son becomes King!

If I wanted to come up with reasons

I can come up with thousands of reasons.

So please burn this letter and come up with a different crime.

Sentence me to death by poison.

If I were to kill you...

Then it would be for one reason.

And that would be because you've committed treason!

Your Highness

how can I lie about my love for this nation and for you?

Please do not kill me for treason!

You do understand that you've committed a crime worthy of death?

Yes, Your Highness.

You won't resent me even if I kill you?

Yes, Your Highness.

You must not Your Highness!

Not treason!

She is begging me to kill her right now!

Your Highness!

Just how great a person do you think you are?

You should beg! You should be begging me for forgiveness right now!

Saying what you wrote is from an upset and narrow-minded wife and mother

and that you didn't mean any of it.

You should be crying and begging for forgiveness! That's normal!

That way I can decide whether to keep you alive or not!

Please beg Your Highness. You must beg!

Please think of your remaining sons!

Okay...tell me whatever you have left to say to me.

Do you remember the proposal Prince So Hyun wrote for you?

You asked the Prince what he meant by a new nation.

The Prince was so excited by your interest

he stayed up all night writing that proposal for you.

What do you mean by a nation without social class?

It is creating a nation where people are truly happy.

And if you do create a nation where the people are truly happy

will that make up for the humiliation I had to endure?

The humiliation you endured is an unfortunate part of our history.

What is that?

You fool!

I never want to see you again!

- Your Highness, please listen to me-- - That's enough!

Please read his proposal one more time Your Highness.

You were most likely so upset with the Prince at the

time you were not able to understand it the way he meant it.

But if you put down your resentment and read what he wrote carefully

you will find within it ways to save this nation.

Your Highness

If you do just as he wrote you'll be able to

pay back the barbarians what you owe them.

The hell they put you through and the pain our people suffered--

you will be able to wash all of that away.

See. See! See! See!

You're lecturing me again!

Your Highness

How is it that you do not know what true humiliation is?

What did you just say?

Did you say I do not understand humiliation?

What you endured in Sam Jeon Do was not something you truly experienced.

That--

Was a humiliation that tens of thousands of people endured.

How is it that you think you were the only one humiliated?

- That is why you-- - Say it.

You live resenting other people.

What a wicked girl you are!

I felt bad for you and was trying to find a way to save you!

- Your Highness, the Princess meant-- - That's enough!

Is anyone outside?

Yes, Your Highness.

Lock her up in the outer palace for now.

I will put out an official order upon daybreak

to dethrone the Princess and announce her a fugitive

then put out an order for a punishment appropriate for treason.

- Take her away! - Yes, Your Highness.

I will walk there myself so step away from me.

She said to step away!

Your Highness

After you kill me

please save Prince Suk Kyung and Suk Lin.

Why would I kill my innocent grandsons?

Thank you very much Your Highness.

What do you mean save Prince Suk Kyung and Suk Lin?

You're the one who suspected me of killing Prince So Hyun and Suk Chul!

Such an evil girl you are!

Your Highness! Your Highness! Your Highness!

What are you doing? Call for a doctor now!

Your Highness, please do not get angry.

What are you thinking getting so angry?

You will become very ill if you keep doing this.

I said to get a doctor!

My goodness! What now?

I am the only person that will look after the King now!

Your Highness! Wake up! Wake up Your Highness!

Princess Min Hwe!

Why did you not tell the truth?

There's no way you would have written such a letter!

Why are you pushing yourself to your death?

I must die in order for my two sons to live.

For as long as I'm alive

His Highness....one by one...

will kill my sons.

Princess Min Hwe.

Please take care of Prince Suk Kyung and Suk Lin.

Please be a mother to them on my behalf.

Princess Min Hwe!

Princess Min Hwe!

Please get in Your Highness.

Remember.

When I die, I will come back as a spirit.

So don't plot with Jo Gui In anymore or take

part in killing Prince Suk Kyung and Suk Lin.

I! Will watch you from the heavens.

Let's go.

How dare they...

What are you doing? I said let's go!

Fools!

Where are you all running off to?

Is anyone outside?

Hurry and close the doors and light the candle again!

What are you staring at?

How dare you stare at me like that!

Your Highness! Wake up! Your Highness!

You have to wake up and protect me!

Your Highness! Wake up

Your Highness... Your Highness...

Your Highness, I brought your breakfast.

Come inside.

Put it down here.

You were up all night so I asked them to make you porridge.

Please have a bite.

- Please take it away. - Your Highness.

I must not eat too much so as to avoid anything unsightly.

His Highness would not punish you to death by poison.

Please tell Jo Gui In.

I give up so please do not kill any more of my sons.

Please.

I will pass on your message but...

True.

I'm probably asking for too much.

But please pass on exactly what I've asked.

Even stones rolling down a hill are shown mercy...

It's so bitter!

Good job.

Welcome.

His Highness threw a fit like a young child

because he didn't want to take his medicine.

Have a seat.

Are you okay Your Highness?

Yes. What is the Princess doing?

She stayed up all night and is waiting for your punishment.

Stubborn girl...

Father! Is there any way to avoid dethroning her?

You were there yesterday and heard what she said!

- Father-- - Rather than begging for forgiveness

she tried to lecture me!

She is a poor woman who lost her husband and son!

Are you saying that's my fault?

The Princess resents the world because--

The Princess doesn't resent the world! She resents me!

Stop it.

If you punish the Princess even the heavens will be upset with you.

What are you talking about?

Did you not hear everything last night?

There was lightning and thunder out of nowhere

and it was so loud as if the world was coming to an end!

What's wrong with that?

Imagine how upset the Princess must have been to say such a thing.

What did she say for there to be thunder and lightning?

Forget about it. I shudder just at the thought of it.

Tell me now!

Why are you trying to cause trouble again Jo Gui In?

What do you mean trouble?

I couldn't sleep at all last night because

the Princess's words were so frightening.

Just what did the Princess say?

My goodness... I cannot say myself.

What did she say for Jo Gui In to be so shaken up like this?

Tell him. It's not like it's a terrible curse or anything.

Curse?

As she was being dragged out

the Princess said this--

Watch what you say!

So even if the Princess cursed the King

you're telling me to keep my mouth shut?

If it was a curse then it was a curse directed at you.

Oh my!

I... I am your mother!

Is a step-mother not a proper mother?

Father! You must not believe anything else Jo Gui In tells you.

Please take another look at the letter that

the Princess has been accused of writing.

I know the Princess's handwriting very well!

I asked what the Princess said last night!

Tell me that first!

Father!

What did she say?

How did the Princess curse me?

The Princess said she would become a spirit

after she dies and return to the palace.

Father!

Is anyone outside?

Yes Your Highness.

Go bring me the Councilor!

Yes Your Highness!

She'll come back to the palace a spirit?

Fine. If that is her wish I will grant her that wish.

Your Highness!

Please think of Prince So Hyun Your Highness!

Yes! I killed my own son!

I killed my own son and my grandson!

- What about the Prime Minister? - He went directly to the main palace.

is Highness is going to exile the Princess?

That's not all! It seems that the King will

sentence her to death by poison as well!

We need you to stop him from doing that much.

Of course we will.

To do so we must get the King away from Jo Gui In.

Jo Gui In has taken control over the King

and has been making decisions on her own!

His Highness has lost his mind.

Let's all go to the main palace.

- Let's meet with the King and-- - We cannot enter the main palace.

The situation is serious.

Let's go. Even if we break down the doors we must see the King!

Order the entire council to stay inside the palace

and do not let a single person out of the palace doors.

Anyone who goes against my orders and tries to leave the palace

will be considered to be working with the

Princess and also be charged with treason.

Men! Open the doors this instant!

I made the King who he is today!

Today I will meet with the King and set this nation back on the right path!

Let's go in!

This is blasphemous!

Fools! Kill me first then!

The King has ordered no one is to leave the palace until further notice.

And anyone going against those orders

regardless of who it is, will be punished for committing a serious crime.

So return to your homes

and wait quietly.

Does the King intend on killing us all?

I will die sitting right here!

Do as you wish.

A word with me.

We may have to get rid of them now.

Now?

It will not be an easy task.

All the councilmen have taken the the Princess sides.

These are the men who have promised their loyalty to me.

Kim Shin... Kim Say Young...

Byun Sah Ki, Ki Jae--

These men were all a part of the revolt that--

What are you talking about a revolt?

How can you call getting rid of an unfit King a revolt?

The King has given me the authority to make all decisions.

If I want to

I can get rid of not just the council but every person working in the palace.

Just what are you asking of me?

Get in touch with the men listed there.

Get the army together and have them wait outside the palace.

And when you get the cue... do you understand?

You must pay back your daughter for what she's done.

On behalf of your wife who hung herself, you must kill Jo Gui In and her mother.

The army surrounded the outer walls of the palace.

It was a silent threat to kill all the council members if they spoke out.

Despite that there was serious opposition from the council members.

Your Highness! The governor is here!

If you have something to say, tell me from where you are standing!

Your Highness, there are mounds of petitions from Eui Jung Bu and others.

Burn them all!

Your Highness!

We cannot burn the petitions!

If you cannot burn them then you can throw them away!

Your Highness, you must read the petitions and release a response.

Do you think I don't know what those men are thinking?

Just that the Princess is still alive

they're scared and so they're sending in their petitions!

Your Highness, where are you going when you're so ill?

Get out of my way.

Go tell everyone!

If they write another petition

I will kill Prince Suk Kyung and Suk Lin who are on Jeju Island!

Do you understand?

Write what I tell you.

While the Princess was living outside the palace

she plotted to take the Queen title

and had a Queen's outfit made in advance with red silk

and acted boldly as if she actually was Queen.

What are you doing? I told you to write it all down.

Around last Fall

she came to my room and yelled loudly

and then proceeded to put poison in the abalone she served me.

There has always been rebels planning an uprise throughout history

but it was never as brutal and serious as the one she planned.

Anyone planning to get rid of a nation's King

should not be allowed to live.

Princess Min Hwe will be dethroned

charged with treason, sent to isolation

and will be presented with a bowl of poison!

Send the announcement off and let the Council know.

Make sure this is taken care of today!

The King has ordered the Princess be dethroned and exiled!

He has charged her with treason and death by poison!

Your Highness!

Do you not fear the heavens?

Your Highness!

Please tell everyone to go home.

Princess Min Hwe

Please do not fight for me anymore.

If the King so chooses, he will give the crown to Prince Jing.

You know that and that is why you were cold to

Prince Suk Chul and myself.

You must become the next King.

And when you do, build the new nation that Prince So Hyun dreamed of.

That is how you can pay back your debt to your brother.

I was foolish.

I should have stood up to Jo Gui In from the beginning...

How could all this be solely Jo Gui In's doing?

It's not.

Even if Jo Gui In's evilness bring back the dead from the grave

she cannot make all this possible.

- His Highness-- - His Highness...

you do not need to defend him.

I was too impatient.

After being held in China for so long,

I wanted to quickly bring to life in our nation what I learned in China.

I was too impatient.

Yes... I was overly ambitious.

Instead, had I been kinder to the King and soothed his scars

as I set out to accomplish my goals one by one

then the King would have taken my side as well.

Please tell him.

Just because you drag this out does not mean I will be able to avoid death.

Please wait just a bit longer.

- I will do whatever I can-- - Suk Chul... Suk Chul died.

Do Suk Lin and Suk Kyung need to die as well?

I am prepared to die.

Please let me go before I become afraid of death.

Im sorry.. Princess Min Hwe...

Princess Min Hwe...

She said she's prepared to die?

Yes, Lord Kim.

Then... not this time.

It would be wise to avoid trouble at this time.

She's a stubborn woman.

The Princess I mean.

Who can stop a mother desperate to save her children?

It is the Princess's wish to save her two sons.

That doesn't mean the King will grant her what she wishes.

Once they return, they will want revenge for their parents' deaths.

The King and Jo Gui In would not save them fully aware of that.

I will protect them for as long as I'm alive.

They will probably kill Prince Suk Kyung and Suk Lin before you become King!

I will keep the promise with my life!

Let's send the Princess off peacefully now.

You are such a cruel man!

That's enough.

You should at least think of Prince So Hyun--

I said enough.

Let's do as the Princess wishes.

I cannot give up.

What do you mean the Princess committed treason?

We cannot let her die for such a thing!

Your Highness... I do not think I will be able to live much longer.

What do you mean?

I've lived a long life.

You need to help me rise to the throne.

Watch out for Kim Ja Jeom.

When His Highness dies, Jo Gui In will be a bird without wings

but it will be different for Kim Ja Jeom.

For as long as he has control of the council

he will one day cause an uprise.

I am aware of it.

I'm relieved you're at least prepared for it.

Starting today, whenever you eat and drink, and even when you sleep

you will have to be careful and take extra precautions.

Jo Gui In will try very hard to kill you.

You must not let anything distract you even for a brief moment.

Okay, I will keep that in mind.

The King has spent a lifetime of loneliness.

He tried so hard to keep the throne

that in the end he killed his son and grandson.

Yes...things have unfortunately come to a point of no return.

You must prosper.

If there is one thing more important than the throne, it is the people.

I'd like to live to see such better days...

Why do you keep saying such tragic things?

I have committed a lot of crimes.

I dethroned Gwang Hae

and made Injo King

thinking it was in the best interest of the people.

My life was in vain...

The Councilor died just shortly before King Injo.

Just as he'd said, it was an unaccomplished life.

Is the Princess still inside?

Yes Lady Gui In.

What's taking so long?

Send her outside the palace now!

It's been a while.

What has you so excited you came all the way here?

I should be asking you that.

Have you forgotten orders not to take a step outside Kyung Duk Palace?

You've grown quite a bit but Jing.

Come here.

Stay next to me.

Otherwise, you might miss an exciting event.

You are quite a spiteful person.

The Princess is being exiled and sentenced to death by poison.

You call that exciting?

If my luck turned sour that would be me instead of the Princess.

I can't help but to smile when I think of that.

I supposed it would have been much better if that was you.

I'm sure it would be.

Such a shame... not like I can die on her behalf...

I'm sorry Your Highness. We will take out your hair ornaments.

Your Highness...

This is unfair and infuriating Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Who dare cries out loud?

Take her away in the palanquin now!

My dear, look here.

I was narrow-minded and gave you a hard time.

Please forgive me.

I'm not worthy.

I was immature and unable to understand the deep meaning behind your actions.

I may...

Never be able to see you again so please forgive me.

If you are born a human in the next life, let's meet again then.

I should have thought things through more carefully.

What do you mean?

Instead of her drinking her poison outside of the palace

I should have made sure she died inside the palace.

Then I would feel so much better!

You're right...

So did you do as I asked?

- Excuse me? - The poison for the Princess.

Why yes, is that what you're talking about?

Yes, yes! I did exactly as I was told!

Such a shame... Our dear Princess will beg for another bowl of poison.

How can this be happening?

Please accept the King's letter Your Highness.

You can at least wait for her to catch her breath.

We have orders for you to take this today.

You must at least give her time to say goodbye to her family!

Just what has the Princess done so wrong?

If anything it's that she knew Prince So Hyun, Suk Chul's father.

So how can that be grounds to kill her?

You wanted to see me?

Please save Princess Min Hwe.

She is a powerless woman, trapped after having lost her husband and son.

Even if you do not kill her she is no longer alive!

Then what will you give me?

If I do as you ask, I'd like to know what you can do for me.

Tell me what you want.

You know very well.

Maybe if you make Jing the next heir to the throne...

Jing is my step-brother so I cannot adopt him.

So I cannot make him the next heir.

But I can promise you one thing.

No matter what happens, I will protect Jing.

Even if he commits treason

I will keep that promise.

You want me to believe such a promise?

Do you think the King wanted to kill Prince So Hyun?

It is because the nation tried to make him replace the King.

The same for you.

You will want to get revenge for those that have wronged you and your family.

So you too can be considered an enemy.

When you rise to the throne

Kill me and kill Jing.

I will not resent you.

Isn't that what power is about?

It certainly cannot be shared.

So it's only right the winner takes it all.

I will promise you one thing.

If my son Jing becomes the next King

at the very least I will save you Prince Bong Rim.

So don't do anything to my son because I did not save the Princess.

All anger can be directed at me.

Your Highness! Please come out and accept the King's orders!

There is not enough time!

If you do not come out right now I will have to go inside and use force.

Please! That's enough!

These are her last moments! Why are you being so impatient?

Your Highness!

Please hurry Your Highness!

Please don't cry mother.

The King has killed me

so he won't kill Suk Kyung and Suk Lin.

That's all that matters.

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

You do not need to read it.

I am very well aware of what I've done wrong.

I'm sorry Your Highness...

I have a favor.

Yes, please say what it is.

Drinking poison and dying is not the most attractive sight.

May I go inside the room and take care of this quietly?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

What else do you have to fear?

Please take back the order to have the Princess killed by poison!

Your Highness!

My dear husband...

My wife...

Mother.

Suk Chul...

What did you say Your Highness?

Your Highness!

- Stop it! Stop it now! - Excuse me?

I said to stop it!

Tell them to stop it now!

You must not drink that!

Tell them to stop it!

- Your Highness! - Tell them to stop it now!

Your Highness!

In...

Go and tell them to stop! Now!

Your Highness.

You can't go peacefully...

You need to have a long and torturous final moments and I'll feel much better.

What is wrong?

It's taking a long time for her to stop breathing.

Your Highness. Your Highness.

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Run over there right now and tell them to stop!

What is wrong Your Highness?

Your Highness!

The more pain he is in, the harder it will be.

No matter what you must save the King.

He has to stay alive in order for my son to become King.

Can things be made right?

Please leave it to me Your Highness.

She plans to kill me even before the Princess has been buried.

She doesn't seem to be in the right state of mind.

I'm sure she's nervous. She's surrounded by enemies.

You must not let anyone inside the main palace.

The King will die in my arms.