Original subtitles

than way

Open your ears

to hear the people

Calm thy heart

first for the affairs of the nation

"THE CONCUBINE"

This's really

say nothing

Fool

He is such a reckless lad

Perhaps your son should join us

NO, sir! He is not my son, sir

He once saved my life

at war

so I took him in like a son

How scary!

-The prince is but a thief!

-How dare you!

Fool!

you

Let him go at once!

What have I done wrong?

There is an order to catching deer, too?

How dare you!

-Lock him away at once! -Yes, sir!

Kwon-yoo?

I apologize

for the disturbance,

Your Highness

Please forgive me

Wait until the guest has left

Why?

What worries you so?

Don't worry

I do not hear you reading these days

Just rumors of you wandering...

...out in mad hunting

To not fall weak, men not only

study but hunt and...

That is not what I meant

Why do you frequent Deputy-Minister...

...Shin's house?

Because of his daughter?

A mere deputy-minister's girl?

I've never felt this way before

The court is always critical of the king's half brother

Stay away from her

It is only right that

I visit you often,

stepmother

You still call me stepmother, sire?

I fret you come

to keep watch on me

Of course not

With no son and

not even a concubine

They say I'm stopping you

with ulterior motives

It is only because

I feel sorry to my late queen

Though I am a stepmother,

I have my courtly duties

I shall see to it immediately

Then, please find a new queen for me

Since you went against the court,

you must run for life

I'm not going

anywhere alone

But there's nothing

I can do for you

Just stay with me

Kwon-yoo!

Kwon-yoo!

Kwon-yoo!

Kwon-yoo!

Escort her away!

Kwon-yoo!

No!

No!

Let go!

Kwon-yoo!

-Hwa-yeon!

-Kwon-yoo! -Hwa-yeon!

No!

Kwon-yoo!

No, Father!

I suggested we run away

Kwon-yoo is innocent!

If this gets known,

not only he

we'll all die

Please let him go

It's too late

-Guards!

I'll go in the palace!

If Kwon-yoo dies, so will I!

-Hwa-yeon!

What have you done to her!

Hwa-yeon!

I will do it

There are rules and steps to bathing, too

I have no right to my own body?

Your Majesty Prince Sung-won is here

It's been so long

How've you been, brother?

Just roaming here and there, sire

please take care

I'm ashamed to see you

so weak and pale, sire

I feel much better seeing you

How are things outside?

The grain and crops have

fully ripened, sire

Your people are making spirits

with chrysanthemums

Recently, he's been ill quite often

I'm afraid the court physician

does not know why

He'll regain his health soon

Don't fret, Your Majesty

You left so suddenly

I was worried

You worried about me?

How foolish of me to worry you both

I'm glad you've returned safely

I came upon hearing

His Majesty's ill

I shall leave when he recovers

It'd be a burden on you and

my nephew for me to stay

What burden?

His Majesty welcomes you so

I've taken up too much of your time,

Your Majesty

Let's listen to the court physician

He's grown weak from boils

and can't eat well

Perhaps it's the food!

If so,

we must interrogate

the royal kitchen matron!

That's preposterous

We can always do that after

His Majesty recovers

We must get to the truth

behind His Majesty's illness

Your Majesty!

His Majesty's state is critical

Please come another day

What do you mean?

I am His Majesty's mother!

Step aside

Your Majesty!

Why do you keep me...

...from meeting my ailing son!

I must see how he is at once!

His Majesty must rest now

Ask her to go for today

Is the queen implying that

I'd interfere in his health?

-My acupuncture set! Hurry!

-Yes, sir

He isn't breathing!

Don't just watch! Do something!

This is a vital spot

-Please appoint your successor!

-Please, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Farewell, My King!

Farewell, My King!

Farewell, My King!

Well done, Minister Yoon

But the prince and queen are still alive

The queen's father also

has many followers

How hard can a woman and her child be?

Without the Left-State Minister and her father,

she won't last

Majesty!

We must push ahead

before the Queen Mother

She has the power to appoint the next king

They are not to be messed with

Majesty!

If you're ousted here,

you and the prince

will be in danger

By the way

This is the royal kitchen's log

There's nothing around

the day of the king's sudden illness

That means...

Yes. The matron who records

the log is also missing

She must be hidden away somewhere inside the palace

Inside here?

Yes

We must find her and prove

His Majesty was assassinated

With proof, I can gather up forces with some ministers

How dare you!

They're conspirators of

high...

...treason!

-Seize them!

-Yes, sir!

High treason?

Why you!

Have you no fear of heaven!

There is a new heaven now!

The queen's father is charged with treason!

What?

The Queen Mother has ordered

his arrest for treason

Fools!

How dare you!

Go away at once!

Over there!

Fools!

This color was made

with red sage in lye

It must be soaked hundreds of times

to get this bright,

blood-like color

It absorbs all other colors to shine even brighter

It's the king's color

Your Majesty!

It hasn't been long since

His Majesty's been crowned

Thus, the court eunuchs will also stand guard for a while

Your Majesty

Lie to the left of the queen

Your Majesty

Lie over her with your heart to the left

Lick and suckle her lips

then swallow her saliva, sire

Then, caress down farther

Softly rub her lower stomach

Wait

until her breasts harden,

then grasp

them firmly,

sire

Your Majesty

Begin intercourse, sire

The queen must grab his waist

and accept

his royal penis

I am ready,

sire

Let it in

Go slowly, sire

Next is the anal position

Not yet, sire!

Not yet, sire!

You must ejaculate later

You must ejaculate later

to impregnate a son

sire

Please return to your chambers,

sire

If the Queen Mother knew...

What happened?

I couldn't say a word in the royal kitchen

The maids run away when they see me

We must find the royal kitchen matron

Your Highness?

You found something?

Tell me

Well,

if she is still alive...

I once heard the eunuchs whispering

Past the Queen Mother's court

and the laundry place

I heard there is a secret

pathway underground

No sunlight can get through,

But it snows all day there

And only

the Queen Mother's private soldiers

know of it

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Please get me out of here

I just did as I was told

Calm down

Calm down

And take a look at this

Did you write this?

Yes, Your Highness

But

Do you remember what

His Majesty ate that day?

He had lunch at the Queen Mother's court

The Queen Mother?

She suddenly called His Majesty

and ordered us not to prepare lunch

Why?

Is it not to your liking?

It's because

I have indigestion

Afraid it's poisoned, sire?

Of course not

They say you are ill

because I'm poisoning you

Then, he had diarrhea

all night

You two dare defile the palace order?

Make sure they never forget

their sins!

Cut off the atrocious fool's penis!

Remove her womb and...

...sew her genitals!

Show them the strict order of the court!

Yes, ma'am!

What brings you to this humble sire?

I haven't visited since you moved to this place

Where did you go at night

with no guards?

My father is locked up

How could I just sit and wait?

I apologize

I've been too busy with things

You must be devastated

I shall see to your father's release

no, thank you

I cannot be a burden on you, sire

I am just grateful

to be alive

It must be uncomfortable in this old place

Chief Eunuch!

Furnish this place suited to Her Highness

That is under jurisdiction

of the Queen Mother, sire

What?

It's her jurisdiction?

So, you won't follow the king's order?

Your Highness! Look this!

His Majesty sent such nice things

Embankment work on Nakdong

River damaged tributary

The peasant shares in great harm

With the rainy season...

...320 homes were lost

And over 200 people went missing

Apart from what's required, reduce the taxes

Order all district magistrates

to send soldiers to help the people

Next is a list of pardoned sinners

in honor of the coronation

Excluding murders and high treason

280 sinners...

...in the capital

and 1 37 elsewhere were...

Do you people not see me?

Why don't you submit reports to me?

While His Majesty learns affairs,

the Queen Mother is...

Does it look like I'm learning by just sitting here?

From now on, prepare reports

for him to see...

...as well

Continue

Is the queen's father on the list?

Have you lost your mind?

Do you not know for whom

they are being purged?

The former queen's father has many followers

I fret it'll perturb the people

Did she beg you to release her father when you met?

You kept watch on me?

Though you act as regent, I am still the king

You're not ready

Mentioning personal feelings

at court is no king!

Forgotten how we made it here?

If we don't nip the bud, we could get hurt again

We almost died when your court was on fire

I've never once forgotten that

Please stop mentioning that

Every woman in the palace is yours, but one!

You can never touch that woman

Bring all the eunuchs at the former queen's court!

What have I done wrong?

I did all you wanted, Mother

I accepted her as sister-in-law

And became the king as you wished!

What more do you want from me?

If the bee will not shoo away

the flower will be cut off

Get me a drink

Hwa-yeon!

I took you in like my own son

How dare you covet my daughter!

Hwa-yeon!

Remember why I let you live

And never come to us again

-Guards!

-Castrate him at once!

-Yes, sir!

Kwon-yoo?

How did you come here?

I thought you were dead

No.

I prayed every moment for you to be alive

Kwon-yoo

I'm so glad to see you

alive and well

Kwon-yoo died back then,

madam

What do you mean?

Please help me

I have no clue what is happening

I found evidence the king's been murdered

Please, go back

Do you not know I'm Minister Yoon's man?

What do you mean?

You're the only one

I have in the palace

Kwon-yoo

How could you?

How could I be

of any help now?

What more do you want

in life?

If you want to live,

run away alone

Alone again

Like before

Run by yourself

No visitors are allowed

Still, Her Highness is here

Just for a moment?

I could lose my head I'm sorry

Could you at least give this

to my elderly father?

It's rice gruel

Your daughter sent this

You?

How did you come here?

Such a dangerous act

I heard what happened from the royal kitchen matron

Who should I tell this to?

Look.

I'll die for my sin But not her!

You should've killed me back then

Stop!

Come back!

How is the former queen?

She is well, Your Majesty

Visit her day and night

to make sure she's well

Yes, sire

How dare you?

Persimmon is harmful to His Majesty's boils

What is your name?

Choong-young, sire

How'd you know I have boils?

I knew from how you hesitated

leaning against your back

Tell me,

how can boils be subdued?

Sweat and chills can cause

boils to form easily, sire

It is best to avoid

raw or cold foods

You seem familiar

Have we met before?

No, sire.

How can a lowly man meet His Majesty?

I like this lad

Promote him as senior eunuch

Your Majesty To become a senior,

one must work over 1 6 years

It took him over 20 years to reach that post to be here

-This man came in recently

-What?

Can't I do as I wish even with a eunuch?

Why?

Do you only follow the Queen Mother, too?

As you wish, sire

What brings Your Highness here this late?

Is it this?

Kwon-yoo

They will be beheaded at dawn

Why make the effort?

The poor kitchen matron died because of you

Madam? What is it?

I must watch my father die

for we couldn't die with the king

Please kill us first, sire

Beheading the former queen's father

is too harsh

Please take back the order

The court has already decided

Please save her father!

I will do whatever you want

I will no longer seek her!

Loyal ministers wish this to stabilize your reign!

No further discussion

Who do you speak of?

The relatives on your side who all hold posts?

She must suffer so because

the late king didn't kill us?

Watch what you say!

Am I this nation's king at all?

Not this time

It won't be as you wish

Sire!

-Chief Eunuch?

-Yes, sire

Run and stop the execution

Sire!

Changing the Queen Mother's order will...

Then, you go!

No judgments

That is not up to us

All hear His Majesty's command!

Shin Ik-chul and his men

have plotted high treason

And endangered the court

By law,

their entire family

must die and...

Wretched fool!

You poisoned the late king to death!

Off with his head!

Step aside!

I must speak with her!

Your Majesty

Sire!

Please calm down

Why you!

Perhaps it's best to go, sire

It is obvious for whom they plotted treason

Depose the former queen

and banish her and her son

Your Majesty

Please punish the former queen to avoid any future harm

Our king isn't coming again?

Your Majesty

Please give the order

Please give the order!

Find reason against her to persuade the king first!

Dismissed

Your Majesty

Please depose and banish them

His Majesty has arrived

Stay here

Please return

during the day, sire

I heard you are ill

With my father's head up on the street, how can I be well?

how can I be well?

Is that why you avoid me so?

Do you know

what is happening in the court?

I know very well,

Sire!

Those dying to banish me

will be avid to find you here

So please

Do not come for me again

How can you be so cruel?

Why do you think I endure being on the throne?

For what?

Why put me in such misery?

Yell at me instead

For stealing my nephew's seat

and letting your father die!

Say you are angry!

What is your name?

It's Geum-ok, Your Majesty

Why? Will you take her to your chambers?

Why not, madam

Does she resent me greatly?

She is torn by the loss

She cannot eat

She is devastated

Go on

How does she look before sleeping?

Pardon?

Well,

she changes her clothes

She unties her hair

And sleeps in a white dress

Who undresses her?

I do, sire

How do you undress her?

Well,

I untie the breast-tie

-Do you bathe her, too?

-Yes, sire

How do you bathe her?

She goes into

a scented hot tub

Where do you wash her first?

With a fine cloth

I wash her breasts and shoulders

Is she soft?

Yes, she is so soft and white

Go on

When she gets up,

I wash between her legs

Your Majesty

This is your new room, madam

You've gained His Majesty's favor,

but have yet to be a concubine

Please mind your conduct

and do not wander from this room

Yes, ma'am

I see

She will be your maid

bringing harm upon yourself

How I upset you not knowing

the great pains I've caused

No, madam

I, too, have been upset over

what happened to your father

What harm does the Queen Mother

think my son and I could be?

Madam

Forgive me about your father

How could I blame you, sire?

I must not be fit to be king

What do you mean, sire?

The late king always said

you had the wisdom and morals

Why the Queen Mother's regency?

What a shame and a pity

It's time you gave orders to depose them, Your Majesty

He visited the former queen?

Do you know anything about poison?

I once saw poisonous aconite while with ginseng diggers

Having this inside the palace -Means trouble

But to those who don't know, it's just a rock

Know how to make poison with that?

-By burning it, sir

-Then, make it

If the mother and son won't leave,

there's only one way out of here

You deal with where His Majesty sleeps?

Me?

I wouldn't dare

Could you lead him to me

on the 3rd?

-Please, madam

-Who knows?

If I give birth to a prince, you'll be the chief eunuch

People are so cunning

When you go up, you don't want to get down

Right, Your Highness?

With His Majesty's favor,

who says I can't become a queen?

How dare you!

Watch your words, madam

You dare tell me what to do?

With the king's favor who would I help?

Would I do anything to harm you?

Of course

How can I help?

I should adorn myself to catch his eye

I need jewelry

Take whatever you think you'll need

What are you doing!

I am not only your son, but the king

What king? When you don't come to the assemblies!

You don't give me a chance to do anything

You make all the decisions

Now, you want me to be a puppet?

When things settle and you have an heir,

I will...

...step down

When will that be?

What?

Why don't you just sit on the throne, Mother?

I am sick of sleeping with the queen before you!

I just have to sow the seeds?

It doesn't have to be the queen

An auspicious day?

I'll give the concubines a chance!

Who is it?

It's Lady Geum-ok, sire

bitch

Let's go

Why you!

Your Majesty

Why do you have this?

Your Majesty, please...

Sire! I can explain...

Your Majesty!

I have something to say, sire

Tell me why you have this!

There's something you must know. Why was this in someone else's hand?

Please calm your anger and have a seat, sire

Don't you know how I feel?

Do you detest me that much?

Am I...

no better than that eunuch?

Drag him in

He seemed familiar

He was the fool who lived in your house!

You disguised him...

...as a eunuch?

-That's preposterous

-Explain yourself!

Why is that fool here!

I didn't know he was here

until recently, Your Majesty

You expect me to believe that?

I remember how he used to look at you!

You and that fool!

Who's the father of your prematurely born son?

Is he my brother's son or not?

Undress him

I must see if he is a eunuch or not!

Must you humiliate me like this?

Strip him!

Sire. Why would you see something so hideous?

Please leave, sire

Don't you know how I feel?

Do you really think I don't know?

When the Queen Mother watches so viciously...

Queen Mother or not, I don't know care!

Look at me. I'm a wreck

I want you so!

Sire

Sire

Sire

When you become a true king,

please return then

I shall become a king

I shall become a true king

He broke family morals and...

No one must know of this

Yes, Your Majesty

You know very well, sir

What I had to do to seat him on the throne

Get rid of her

You shot 40 times

Think of...

You called, Your Majesty?

Let's see how good you are

I dare not hold

Give him a bow

Kwon-yoo

Why'd you come into the palace?

Becoming a court eunuch was the only way I had,

sire

A eunuch dare loved the queen?

Of course not, sire

I must see the former queen

I acted disrespectfully last night,

so I must see her

The Queen Mother...

...is sick in bed

I'm not drinking that decoction again

But, Your Majesty

The Queen Mother makes sure you drink this every day

Then, you drink it

Pardon?

But we don't even eat garlic

to curb our libido, sire

If I drink that decoction, I am afraid...

Oh.

Eunuchs have sexual drive?

We can't have erections

but still feel sexual desires, sire

Choong-young

You drink it

Why? You can't?

Afraid to be sexually aroused?

Drink it

I won't endanger my son

I'll protect him no matter what

No worries

Yours is completely gone

It can't be!

Who is it?

Who ordered this? Please calm down, sire

I do not know anything, sire

I just got the medicine and decocted it as usual

Your Majesty...

Anyone who speaks of this

shall be beheaded!

Call the physician in secret

Save him I have something to hear from him

Forgive me, sire!

I do not know anything

Show the evidence

Do you recognize it?

It was found in your room

I really don't know, sire

Did the Queen Mother say to kill me?

Then, who is in charge of

the medicinal herbs?

It's Minister Yoon, sire

No one is allowed in, sir

I promise

I'll bring the prince back safely

We'll soon meet again

Don't fret, Your Highness

Mother! I don't want to go!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

That is nothing but the truth?

I wouldn't dare lie to you, Your Majesty

She deceived a eunuch's child

for the king's son?

And became a queen?

Wretched whore!

Come in!

Yes, Your Majesty

Send her to the dungeon

Me?

Your Majesty! I'll go back to being a maid!

Please, not the dungeon!

I'd rather die than go there!

Kill her

But, Your Majesty! No!

Let me go!

Why're you doing this to me?

Please save me, Your Majesty!

Let go! No!

I don't want to die!

You sent away the soldiers I sent?

How can you send soldiers to your mother?

I must really be a puppet king

Right

You liked that seat so much,

you cut me up...

...into a puppet

Now, you'll get rid of me?

What do you mean?

Did you give the order to poison me?

What?

The physician confessed

You plotted with Yoon to kill me?

What?

-That's preposterous! -Isn't it?

I thought it was strange

Your man, Yoon, couldn't have

plotted this alone!

This is a trap!

The former queen is up to this

That wretch!

Right. Now, I see

Poison the decoction

than frame her?

Kill me,

her, and my nephew?

Then, who did you plan to seat here?

What do you mean?

Minister Yoon and...

...I lived to put you on that throne!

You lasted quite long

-Kill her! -Yes, sir!

-Who are you!

Seize everyone one of the traitors!

Traitors!

Do you know what she did?

The late king couldn't have children

Be honest for once!

Have you forgotten?

The late queen died while giving birth!

I poisoned him since

-The prince's birth is dubious

-What?

You poisoned my brother?

Who asked you to do that?

For whom!

For whom did you do that!

When did I ever say I wanted to be king!

My child... Look at me

It was all to protect you

in this cruel palace

I'm your mother

Why'd you force me on the throne

and turn me into someone who can't trust his mother?

You can't trust me?

You dare defy your mother!

If you all meet,

the truth will come out

Guards!

Bring Minister Yoon and Kwon-yoo at once!

That won't happen!

Yes, it will!

Minister Yoon!

I brought the criminals as ordered, Your Majesty

The physician confessed

Evidence was found in his room

Who do you think he said

was behind this?

How would I know, sire?

Why can't you say it!

I do not know anything

I drank the decoction, did I not?

Then, why'd you hesitate

when I told you to drink it!

You knew it was poisoned, didn't you!

Enough! Stop it!

I'm asking this fool a question!

You knew!

How'd you know it was poisoned?

Sire!

Do you know what she did?

She defiled the royal court

with that fool!

Drag her here to confess!

Yes!

I'm guilty

Guilty for bearing the late king's son

And guilty for being alive

You're guilty for this uproar due to your son

And guilty for distracting the king!

But, Your Majesty

Who is that man?

He's Minister Yoon's man

who killed my father

What daughter would secretly

plot with the enemy?

You wretch!

How dare you show fake tears here!

What would my young child know or do

that I'd covet your throne?

If I thought that in the slightest

I'd bite my tongue and die right here

But I cannot die falsely accused

as someone so shameless

Confess the truth!

Who ordered you to poison the decoction?

The Queen Mother

She ordered me to make

the poison

And Minister Yoon

gave it to...

This is a trap!

It's a trap, sire!

What are you doing?

Why did you do it!

Was the throne that dear

to kill your own son?

Tell me!

Calm down, sire!

She can't breathe!

Sire!

Lock them up

and execute them all!

When you become a true king,

please return then

Is it all done?

Will you accept me now?

Farewell, My King!

Farewell, My King!

Farewell, My King!