Original subtitles

On June 28th, 1567, King Myeongjong passes away.

June 28, 1567

The 30th king of Yi's Dynasty dies of a sudden illness.

His age was thirty six.

Not having had any heirs,

Deokheung Daewongun became his step son,

to make him the successor to the throne.

Jeongeopwon, it no longer exists now

but it had been the place of sorrow of the court ladies.

Of all the concubines, this was the place

for those who failed to bear any child of King’s.

They would gather here after the King passes to spend the rest of their life.

Because of the beauty that they were born with,

they once won King's heart

and gained quite a fortune as a noble lady.

King, in other words, god. They were loved by the very god,

and the god took her in his arms.

For that reason, after the king passes,

they were kept away from other men

by being locked in a private quarter of Jeongeopwon

and never to see the outside world again once they're locked.

Court Lady

Bok-nyeo Yoon Jeong-hee

Kim Byeong-ryeol Shin Yeong-gyun

Lee Gyeong-gu Park No-sik

Sun-deuk Jeon Yang-ja Inspector Court Lady Do Geum-bong

Court Lady Kim Yun In-ja

King Myeongjong Kim Dong-won Kim Jae-jung Choe Nam Hyeon

Officer Song Kim Wung

Court Lady Hwang Jeon-suk Court Lady Min Song Mi-nam

Queen Mother Seok Geum-seong Gyeong-gu's Wife Jeon Yeong-ju

Sponsor Anyang Theatre Arts School

Screenplay Gwak Il-ro

Music Jeong Yun-ju

Cinematography Choe Seung-wu Lighting Kim Tae-seong

Art Director Park Seok-in

Editing Kim Hyeon Sound Recording Yu Chang-geuk

Developing Korea Color Developing Center

Executive Producer Park Haeng-cheol

Director Shin Sang-ok

This is the chief monk of Jeongeopwon.

Salute her.

This is Court Lady Kim, the former concubine of

the late king who oversees this private quarter.

Salute her.

And these are the former concubines of our late kings.

Salute them.

Now that the four of you

have set your footsteps in Jeongeopwon,

you should consider yourself as the dead.

You are dead with the death of your King.

From this day on, you are not to be treated as noble women

but mere sinners.

By repeating Buddhist chant,

you may thoroughly wash off your femininity

and give condolences to the late King for the rest of your life.

There is also a law to abide by

as you are paying tribute to the late King.

First, you must never go outside.

Oh, I see that everyone was gathered here.

- Court Lady Min. - You were all here.

What's wrong with you all?

Court Lady Min, I told you that you should not be out here.

- Now! Let's go in. - What's wrong, you wenches!

So you're the Inspector Court Lady. You wench!

You are the one that said I shouldn't go outside, you!

Why is everyone standing around? Get her out of here!

Let's get out of here.

There you are. Skull faces are here.

- Your fairness turned into a skull... - Why are you doing this, Court Lady Min?

- What's wrong with you? - Let’s get out, Court Lady Min.

What's wrong with you all, you wenches!

She was once a concubine, just like all of you.

It's been thirty years now. or maybe more than that.

If you don't wish to turn into such a skull face,

you should cleanse your sinful nature by diligently memorizing Buddhist texts.

Inspector Court Lady! Inspector Court Lady!

Inspector Court Lady! I cannot die in here.

I'd rather kill myself

than be locked up in here for the rest of my...

Shut up!

Inspector Court Lady, please let me out.

I implore you, Inspector Lady!

Don't you out of all the people know my situation better?

Just kill me instead then.

- Step aside! - Inspector Lady!

You! Are you to blaspheme against the late King?

Inspector Court Lady! Inspector Court Lady!

Inspector Court Lady!

Inspector Court Lady! Let it go. Let it go!

Let go of my hand.

- Please take her. - Yes.

Chief Monk! It's not because I wish to return to palace life.

I, just need to get out of here and live!

Is it not the way of Buddha to save a suffering soul?

Please get me out of here, Chief Monk.

This separate quarter is inside Jeongeopwon yet, it's not part of Jeongeopwon.

I just don't have the power to... Amitabha, Aryavalokitesvara.

The source of all sufferings

comes from the desires and obsessions of human.

Unless you leave any such obsession alone, living is a suffering itself.

Chief Monk, I just can’t.

I just cannot help being obsessed about it.

Even if I may plunge down to a burning hell, I cannot drop my obsession.

Chief Monk, I have a plausible reason.

You can come up with a million reasons.

In order to gain inner peace,

you need to let 84 thousand things go.

Chief Monk, you certainly don't know my story. That’s why you are saying that.

Chief Monk, would you listen to my story?

I am a person, not of this world.

I cannot advise you on the things of the world.

None at all...

Amitabha, Aryavalokitesvara.

I entered the palace around this time of the last year.

It must've been a year.

What really shocked me was that there is a huge hierarchy

for all of the three hundred court ladies

from the Queen, Queen Mother, Concubines,

Inspector Court Lady to Maids of Honor.

I was a Musuri, the lowest in the hierarchy,

assigned to do the mundane chores.

Musuri would start the day by rinsing rice.

The chores in the palace kept me busy as my bones could shatter

and no time was allowed for me to even breathe.

I don't remember which King

but after a needle showed up in the prince's rice bowl,

they said, all the needles had to be counted

or else the Musuri would lose their life

so I had to take extra care of the needles like I would treat gold.

Bok-nyeo!

What are you thinking?

Nothing.

Have you ever been embraced by a man?

What! How can you think of such a crazy thing?

Just tell me the truth! Don't hide from me, girl!

There is nothing to hide... at all!

I can smell something, just by looking at you.

For me, I was lightly embraced by a man once.

There was a guy who chased me around.

If I had known how hard it is to live a life inside the palace,

I would have just let him embrace me harder. It's my fault.

What does he do?

He is a famous plasterer in town.

Well, after three years, we get to be out of the palace

unlike the court ladies who are here forever.

I thought I would enjoy life here once I come inside the palace but I was wrong.

I still have two and a half more years to go.

Each day is so boring and slow.

If we hang tight, it'll go by before we know it.

Oh, what a waste!

Rice is leaking everywhere.

What are you doing?

- I am picking up the rice. - The rice?

Farmers don't waste even a half grain of rice.

Although we are inside the palace, stepping rice is a sin.

Shut up!

How dare you speak so rudely.

It's King!

Dismiss immediately!

I apologize.

Stay put.

You may pick up as much as you want.

Famers don't waste even a half grain of rice, you said.

I think it is a piercing word to my bones.

Farming is the source of life yet

those who live in the palace often forget the hard work of our people.

Accept my apology.

I am truly sorry, Your Highness.

Lift up your face.

Why aren't you lifting up your face?

Do you have a farming experience?

Yes, my father is a farmer.

- Inspector Court Lady! - Yes.

Let this girl into my bedroom.

- Your Highness! - I just want to listen to her farming story.

Why are you just standing?

Go inside and get yourself ready!

What? No?

Are you out of your mind?

- Inspector Court Lady! - Shut up!

There is only yes to what King says.

There just cannot be a no.

You should be thankful that you were even called

out of all those lowly Musuris. How can you even...

Please forgive me, Inspector Court Lady!

You still...

Listen to me!

The king turned 36 this year.

His one and only son just passed away

and there is no one to take over the throne.

The Queen is now getting old and she is extremely concerned.

Imagine you bear his son at this point by winning his heart.

Not only will you gain all the glory of the world,

my duty of serving the queen will also be made complete.

Inspector Court Lady! But I can't... I just...

You wench... you!

What is your reason for rejecting the majestic word of the Lord?

Are you making fun of me? How rude!

Anyone, hear me!

Just kill me instead.

If I died trying to preserve my body, my husband...

What? Husband?

What? You have a husband?

Yes, I have a husband.

I had to disguise as a virgin to come to the palace

because I was poor.

My husband comes from a family of soldiers.

When he raises his sword,

no one will dare to fight against him.

But while my father-in-law took office in the army,

he fought the corrupted government workers

but was dismissed from his office.

This caused the whole family to be on the black list

and my husband also lost a way to go forward.

My father-in-law then got sick in bed from anger.

My husband ran everywhere to earn money for medicine

by covering up his identity and working as a plasterer.

But doctor said a very expensive medicine can heal him.

My husband tried hard to talk me out of coming here.

But I was stubborn to come into the palace.

That night, Inspector Court Lady locked me up in Chief Inspector's room

and tried to threaten me but I didn't give in.

But I heard that my husband was captured and sent to prison.

Inspector Court Lady! Please let my husband go.

He didn't do anything wrong!

He even confessed that you both are in it together

by disguising you as a virgin and sending you into the palace.

That's not true. Listen.

Shut up and look at this!

This is a document for Hojo proving that

your husband got you off the family certificate.

No way.

They offer him the title of the chief of Ganghwajin army,

if he offers up his wife to the king.

And your husband gladly sealed the deal with his fingerprint.

- Not true! - All men are like that.

It is saying that if it's sweet, you swallow but if it is bitter, you will spit it out.

Just give in to the King's order.

Please let me at least see my husband.

He is not the kind of man who would sell his wife in exchange for the title.

If it is so, I'd rather kill myself.

Shut up!

What a wench! You really want to be die?

Listen up!

If you kill yourself in the palace, your family would perish for three generations.

Sleep on it until tomorrow.

Lock up this wench and guard the door.

Lady!

Don't you recognize me?

It was the man who grew up with my husband

and studied together and learned how to fight.

They were also the perfect competitors to each other.

He won the first place in the military service test

while my husband passed it as the second best.

He also fought the Japanese in a battle field.

He saved my husband once from trouble.

He was the Chief Inspector.

Lady Park! Today I had to drag my friend Byeong-ryeol myself in a leash

and am awaiting the order from King to kill him.

That is unthinkable. What did he even do wrong?

Inner Chamber is a scary place.

They can make you a criminal whenever they want to.

Not only that, Byeong-ryeol's father is not in good terms with

officer Noh who is Inspector lady's brother.

When the Japanese from Daemado invaded the port of Busan

and were slaughtering people and looting,

Officer Noh was blamed for neglecting his duties.

It was Byeong-ryeol's father who impeached him.

Later, his father lost his office as a result.

Lady Park! There are things you just cannot go against.

Are you saying that I should abandon my husband?

Not abandon him! This is the way to save him!

He didn't take the title because he was eager for it.

He took it to save you.

Chief Inspector, please!

Please let me see him just once.

I would not be able to see him nor call his name ever again.

So just please let me see him for the last time.

I do not have the authority to do that.

And now that you decided to save him,

it's probably better to not ever see him.

Now that I decided to accept it as my fate,

I was going more crazy because I missed him.

Go back now.

Father will probably find out sooner or later, but if he looks for me

just tell him that I went to see my mother.

I am afraid his condition will get worse once he hears the news.

My dear!

Darling!

Come follow me.

My dear!

- My dear! - Bok-nyeo.

My dear... I put you in trouble.

Bok-nyeo... Bok-nyeo!

It is okay for me to die! But you should live!

Oh, dear! What about your father?

He is alright.

Thanks to you, he is better now.

Darling, I decided to take up the office

- in exchange for you... - Don't say that.

Just don't say anything.

Look who's here. Inspector Court Lady?

King is anxious to see Bok-nyeo in his bedroom.

He will get upset if I tell him the truth.

I was sweating trying to hide the truth.

Please let me see the wench now.

Inspector Court Lady!

Worry no more. She promised to go in his bed tomorrow.

Is it true?

Why would I lie?

I'd better make sure then to...

Well, she seems to be sleeping after such a long exhausting day.

Just leave her alone.

The next day came and I went in his bed at night.

And the following day, I was appointed a noble woman.

I didn't see him ever since.

And he died suddenly after two months.

I went in his bed just once.

But he didn't touch me at all.

Why didn't you say so to Inspector Court Lady?

I did! Of course, I did.

But she didn't believe me.

She said I was lying

because I simply didn't want to come here.

Chief Monk.

Is it not why I should think it's unfair?

My soul and body still belong to my husband.

If you think that is unfair,

every little thing in this world is unfair.

I am now seventy years old.

I've been here for more than fifty years

since I was fourteen years of age.

That year that I came here, I wedded the prince

who was physically weak and ill.

I did not ever sleep with him, either.

Six months later, he passed away

and I had to come to this temple because I didn't know where else to go.

That was fifty years ago.

Chief Monk! Please listen to me for once.

That is not the only thing!

As I was leaving the palace this morning, something terrible...

How dare you!

Mentioning government law with your petty mouth?

You think you can continue to live?

Inspector Court Lady! That is not true at all.

I am just begging for my daughter-in-law to come back home.

Shut up!

The Noble Lady Park just served the majesty.

How can the Noble Lady be returned home now?

Bok-nyeo wedded my son, before she served King.

Petty or not, if any woman serves King,

her body shall now be the same as King's.

Well then if her body is as the same as King's,

why should she be locked in the private quarter of Jungeopwon?

What?

Guards!

Call the army and get this crazy old man out.

Inspector Court Lady! To lock up concubines in the private quarter

is clearly the worse law ever.

This law will only get the Inspector Court Ladies be

more ambitious to abuse their power.

I don't mind dying but seeing

my daughter-in-law end up in Jeongeopwon...

- Get him out now, lock him up! - Yes, ma'am.

Let it go! Get your dirty hands off me!

You rascals!

You rascals shall die in my hands.

- Sir! - Let it go!

Gyeong-gu, I need to get her. Please let go of me!

- Gyeong-gu, please. - No, sir. Calm down.

I'm so angry.

I tried to plea for my daughter-in-law until I couldn't any more.

To the end...

Sir!

Father!

Father!

Chief Monk! Am I truly stuck here for the rest of my life?

While trying to save me, my father-in-law ended up...

Chief Monk! I am so bitter and sorrowful!

Amitabha, Aryavalokitesvara.

Chief Monk! Please hear me out and...

Chief Monk! It is time to offer up prayer.

Is it time already?

Let's get going.

How dare you.

How rude for you to leave in the middle of a sacred prayer

for guiding the soul of the King to a good place.

Come, follow me.

Don't think of this as the same as the palace.

Or you will be in trouble.

Your reason for living is to pray for the King's soul.

Yet you leave in the middle of it?

- Undress her. - Yes.

Leave it. I'll do it myself.

Come on in.

Chief Inspector!

Sir, you are my lifesaver.

Without you, I would have been in deep trouble.

If the Queen Mother steps down from regency,

she would certainly lose her place in the palace as she has no child

and everyone on the Queen Mother's side

will be driven out of the palace by the King's people.

If I'm lucky, I get to stay in the palace but somewhere far back.

Otherwise, I would end up in the private quarter of Jeongeopwon.

Inspector Court Lady ends up in a miserable place

once she loses her power.

Sir, please be on my side.

I will.

- Byeong-ryeol, the one I told you about... -Oh, not that one.

His father tried to kill me.

If I let both of them go, I don't know what they would do to revenge.

- Inspector Lady. - Chief Inspector.

Are you sorry that you're on my side against him?

Then maybe save just his wife...

That is a bigger no.

Sir, do you even know why former concubines of late kings are sent to Jeongeopwon?

They all want the title Inspector Court Lady.

They are the past king's concubines without any child.

I can name one girl who is on King's side

looking to take over my place.

- But Bok-nyeo? - Sir.

- This is strange. - What's strange about what?

Why is Chief Inspector defending someone else's wife?

Oh, what are you thinking!

I'm just kidding... just kidding.

Sir, please take this cup.

Greetings!

- What is this? - I brought a message for Chief Inspector.

What is it?

Yes, Kim Byeong-ryeol escaped from the prison

after beating the guards.

- What? - What?

Is that true?

Are you going to the toilet?

Yes.

Be safe.

- You wench... Inspector Court Lady! - Help, anyone!

- I've been waiting for you. - Help, anyone!

- I've been waiting for you. - Help, please!

Where do you think you are going?

- I can't go, you wench! - Please help!

- You cannot go unless you take me! - Help, please!

I'm not letting you go.

Where are you trying to go?

- What's going on? - You wenches are not going anywhere!

See, I told you to be careful.

Lady Min! I will take you to your bed. Please don't do this.

- What? - I will take you to bed.'

- Wait, is King calling for me? - Yes.

I will certainly get ready, call for the maids.

Warm up the bathtub and bring the dang-eui to wear.

- What are you wenches doing? - Yes, I will do as you say.

The king is calling for me.

- Wait, I will be back soon. - Go ahead.

Hurry. This way.

Are you the Noble Lady Park?

- You must know Sun-deuk. - Yes.

You probably heard from Sun-deuk about me.

And this is from your husband.

Where is he now?

No worries. The note says everything.

I must get going.

Bok-nyeo, such a hard life you are living.

When I tried to break out of the prison to come and rescue you,

I ran into Sun-deuk and she told me everything.

I then decided to go against any evil powers

that are trying to snatch you away from me.

Tonight, upon hearing of the gong at 9 pm,

come out to the back of yard and hang your white skirt over the wall.

Then I will come and get you.

I will come.

Buddha!

Please have mercy on us.

Please have mercy that we can safely escape.

Come in.

- Court Lady Hwang. - Are you trying to escape?

I saw you talking to a boy during the day.

Please be generous and ignore it.

Please, Court Lady.

- Take me with you. - What?

I've been wanting to get out of this place, too.

That's why I've been watching you.

Please, Bok-nyeo. Take me with you.

Court Lady Hwang!

I have a good reason to get out of here.

What do you say? If you don't take me, I will shout.

Court Lady Hwang, Court Lady Hwang!

Please don't do this. Pull yourself together.

Court Lady Hwang, please wake up.

Court Lady Hwang, please wake up.

Please take me with you. I beg you.

I can't have a child in here! I need to get out and...

A child?

If I give birth here, Inspector Court Lady will kill me.

Please, I beg you. Please take me with you.

Bok-nyeo! I beg you.

It happened last summer.

There were looters. This place was a chaos.

Come to think of it, those looters

were probably sent by Inspector Court Lady.

My brother was appointed as a senior minister last year.

Court Lady Hwang.

That's why... I had petitioned to go into the palace.

I was so close to returning.

But the looters... They...

Now, will you come out?

Hiding your head doesn't help when your tail still shows.

- Boys! - Yes, sir!

Come on out, will you?

What are you doing!

Help!

- Take off her clothes. - Yes.

Are you the Court Lady Hwang?

- Hold her tight. - Yes.

It has been 20 years since I came here

with a pride of being the King's ex-concubine.

It was the pride that got me through those hard times.

But... that's come to an end.

In that moment, I couldn't help it.

The next day, Inspector Lady came and did a physical exam on me

and made such a big deal.

Even after then, the army would come here to protect us

under her conspiracy.

- I will go outside and... - Don't!

Come with me.

I need to get out of here and have a child.

Don't worry.

I'll take you with me. Just let it go for now.

No, don't try to escape alone. No.

Court Lady Hwang.

Court Lady Hwang.

- Court Lady Hwang. - I am such a sinner.

Just leave me alone here and go ahead yourself.

Court Lady Hwang, please pull yourself together.

Just bear with it a little more.

Court Lady Hwang, please pull yourself together.

Just bear with it a little more, Court Lady Hwang.

Hold on just a little more.

What!

Thief!

Thief!

Thief!

Bok-nyeo!

Worry not, Court Lady Hwang.

I'm sorry for the baby.

This way!

- That way! - No, this way.

Bok-nyeo.

Bok-nyeo, what happened? Wake up.

Bok-nyeo. Wake up.

Bok-nyeo.

Get her!

Stop. Don't shoot!

We need to catch him alive.

Child died before she was born.

Court Lady Hwang just passed away.

Disgusting!

- Medical Eunuch! - Yes.

Make a medical report for Court Lady Hwang and Court Lady Min

saying that they died of chronic disease.

- Understand? - Yes.

What about the guy?

The army came in the morning and took him.

Get up.

You wench, get up right now!

You wench!

I think she passed out.

Unleash her.

If the word gets out that an ex-concubine died

during child birth,

the dignity of the palace will be plunging.

Tell all of the concubines to seal their mouths.

Yes, I will.

Good thing the army didn't see the dead body.

Inspector Court Lady!

I will take the Noble Lady Park to the palace immediately.

What?

She is pregnant.

What? Pregnant?

I would have to take her to the palace and examine more closely

but it looks like she is in her first trimester.

Court Lady Kim, please stay outside.

No way.

That's hard to believe.

You definitely have the luck from the heaven.

Once the Queen Mother finds out, she will be jumping with joy.

Medical Eunuch, go to the main gate and bring Chief Inspector.

- Take good care of Noble Lady Park. - Yes.

No.

I'd rather die if I had to go back to the palace.

Even if I might be pregnant, it couldn't be King’s.

Stop it now! How dare you!

King is not a cripple.

He has had many concubines serve him.

It is hard to believe that he didn't touch you when you were at his bedside all night.

Who would believe your story?

It's true.

Greetings to you, Inspector Lady.

The Chief Inspector is here.

- Please let him wait. - Yes.

Okay, tell me about that night.

How come he didn't touch you at all?

I will tell you.

King had come late at night...

Sorry to make you wait too long.

I had a meeting that got delayed.

Now, come close to me.

I decided to bed you because I liked your smell of dirt.

But they were thoughtless and

cleaned you up and turned you into a doll.

Now, come close to me.

You have such rough hands.

Is the job of Musuri hard?

Do you not like me?

Answer me.

No, that's not it.

There are people in the next room.

Ignore it.

King is always accompanied by a group of guards.

It is the law of the palace.

You might feel uncomfortable at first

but you will get used to it soon enough.

Now, come on.

I told you to ignore it!

Please punish me with death.

It is only natural that we, human beings, feel shame.

And me...

Is it that embarrassing?

- Guards! - Yes.

Is there any sort of game to make her feel less shame?

Yes, there is.

How about the Tuho game?

- Good, get ready. - Yes.

If you lose, you must take off your clothes.

Now then...

You hold it like this and...

Now, you try on your own.

Do it again.

It is in.

Do it again. Now.

You're going to lose.

This is the last chance.

You lose.

- Now, take off your clothes. - No.

- Yes. - No.

- Let go of me. - Let go!

Oh no.

He is asleep already.

I'll find out once I interrogate those palace ladies.

Let's say he didn’t touch you at all,

then how come you became pregnant?

It is my husband's child.

You wench! You went into King's bedroom

six months after you came into the palace.

But you are now in your first trimester...

It is my husband's child. I am sure of it.

What!

The night before I went inside King's bedroom,

I met with my husband in the barn. That's when...

Shut your mouth!

Your husband was locked up in prison.

Look me in the eye and lie, you...

It is true! It's my husband’s child.

Shut your mouth!

Chief Inspector brought my husband to me.

Really? He did?

I couldn't resist his favor.

I really didn't want to reveal this

but the child is my husband's.

Clearly my husband's.

Let the guards wait and you follow me.

I need to have a few words with you alone.

- Wait here. - Yes.

Listen carefully.

You and I are going to the palace and have that child.

The King's baby prince, that is.

What?

After Queen Mother stepped down from regency

under the pressure from King's people,

she's been weeping day and night.

Your bearing of a child is a sign that heaven is on our side.

You will have that child for the Queen Mother.

My child is not a prince!

It is my husband's child!

It doesn't matter where the child comes from.

It is all for paying loyalty to the Queen Mother.

Then take me now to the Queen Mother.

I will tell her myself that the child in my womb is my husband's

and you are conspiring a fake prince.

So please take me to her.

What?

Your husband is now in prison

and his life is in my hands.

That's not all.

Chief Inspector shall be punished for bringing your husband

to secretly meet you when you were chosen to be King's.

And you...

You'll all die together anyway.

You cruel creature!

Just kill me. I'm doomed anyway.

That's probably what my husband wants, too.

Kill me now. Hurry!

Hurry up and kill me.

I don't care if you two are gone.

But are you sure you want Chief Inspector to die?

Well...

His family existed from King Taejo. A very honorable family.

He has a wife and children and family's name to live up to.

Stay still.

How dare she!

These two wenches broke the law of the loyal palace,

and had a homosexual affair.

One killed the other with jealousy

and committed a suicide with poison.

That's how you will tell Queen Mother.

- Got it? - Yes.

And you should watch your own mouth about

Bok-nyeo'd secret meeting with her husband that night.

Yes, Inspector Lady.

Then tell Chief Inspector to come to my room.

Yes.

Hamwonjeon

Noble Lady Park.

Please look up.

Now.

Thank you, Noble Lady Park.

For the sake of our country and me

you should bear a prince.

It has been my deep-rooted grudge to have that child become

a foster child to take over the throne.

Especially when the people surrounding King

are trying to get rid of me

and meddle with everything in this country. Your role is very important.

- And Inspector Lady. - Yes.

When Noble Lady Park bears a son,

he will be the successor to the throne.

Her body carries such importance. Though it will rarely happen,

take extra care of her so she won't lose the baby.

Yes, Your Highness.

That is why I had her stay in the room next door.

Good. Good.

Anyways, keep a close eye on her

and take good care of her.

I will do as you say, Your Highness.

I can already imagine those rascals in panic.

What, is that true?

Queen Mother interviewed her immediately

and gave her gracious words. I'm positive.

A prince? After all this time?

If that turns out to be true, we are in deep trouble.

What do you mean, 'deep trouble'?

If Noble Lady Park bears a son, he will be an authentic prince.

Queen Mother and her people

will make him be the successor to the throne.

If worse comes to worst,

Queen Mother will ask King to step down.

Minister Cho! That is unthinkable.

How can a current King step down and who will make him?

I will take care of it. Just leave it up to me.

What do we do now?

Go straight to the private quarter in Jeongeopwon,

and have Court Lady Kim come to my place immediately.

Yes.

This must been done secretly. You hear me?

Yes, I will do as you say.

- Why, who is this? - Well...

This is the court girl who assisted me while I was in the palace.

I decided to take her in.

My name is Sun-deuk.

Is that right?

You be a good assistance to Noble Lady Park then.

Yes, I will do my best.

- Well then, leave now for today. - Yes.

You didn't tell her things, did you?

Who do you think I am a child?

Suit yourself.

This is only between you and me,

Chief Inspector and your husband.

We are all in the same boat.

Don't forget that your husband is still in prison.

Now, come and sit.

Please let us have some time alone.

- Retreat, guards! - Yes, sir.

First of all, after that year with illness,

the late king can't possibly have descendants.

This is a secret that was leaked from a medicinal eunuch

and the late king ordered them to never disclose it as long as he lives.

That is why it is hard to believe that Noble Lady Park is pregnant

with the late king's child.

And I know Noble Lady Park had a husband

and that cunning Inspector Lady is protecting her.

Last time the husband broke into Jeongeopwon,

who knows what they did?

He is known to be the best swordsman around

and he is probably be the only person

who can go against you.

Yes, we practiced swordsmanship together side by side.

All we are trying to do now is to get rid of any source of trouble,

while King is doing a good job with the country.

But like His Majesty said, this is not a trivial matter.

Until we have more evidence...

This is so obvious!

Well, I don't know!

Easy with the temper.

I believe you because you are the son-in-law of Vice Minister Cho.

We are far away from the Inner Chamber anyways

so you try hard to keep the foundation of country from falling. I need your loyalty.

Yes, sir.

Gyeong-gu, I will take your word for it.

Stop by my house when you have some free time.

Let me have a talk with Chief Inspector.

I need to speak to him!

Let me have a talk with Chief Inspector.

Inspector Court Lady,

don't try to fool me but tell me the truth.

What happened to my husband?

Where is he now?

He is well. I told you not to worry.

Then show me a proof that he is well.

Was it not the promise that you made?

Wasn't it, Court Lady?

Just bear a son.

If you bear a son, all your wishes will come true.

I understand you're chasing the power.

But it's truly inhuman to try to sacrifice other person's baby for your power.

You don't know anything.

I came in this palace when I was fifteen during the ruling of Yeonsan.

Since then for thirty years,

I have witnessed so many times that someone's morning was in glory

and was destroyed by evening.

If you ever experienced being kicked out of authority,

everyone turns into your enemy especially in the palace.

Just thinking of it gives me shivers.

Old man.

Please be careful.

Come on, pull yourself together.

Old man. Old man.

He's pretending. Tell him to get up now!

Wait... this old guy is dead.

The troublemaker is gone.

Hey, you. Don't just stand around!

Put that stone down and get the old guy.

Now!

Hurry!

Hey, you. Get up and throw out that old guy.

Now! Hurry up and throw him out.

What? A prince is born?

Yes, it's a boy.

Oh, heaven is on my side.

Queen Mother.

- Inspector Lady. - Yes.

Get ready to give offering at the altar to the State deities.

- Hurry! - Yes.

Sir, a prince has just arrived.

What?

I had wished for a girl.

But a son?

Darling.

You're not asleep?

How come you are not sleeping?

Darling, you haven't been able to sleep lately.

Is there any concerns in your mind?

No, nothing.

There is a rumor that two lines of people are fighting for power in the palace.

I am worried.

I'm okay. Don't you worry about me.

- Now, let's go to bed. - Okay.

Good. Now, lie down.

Let me see.

I couldn't wait to see the baby so I had to come right away.

His eyes and nose are those of the late king's.

Just wish that he was alive to see him.

Don't cry.

Don't cry, baby.

By tomorrow, you'll be living with me in Queen’s quarter. So don’t cry.

What?

The prince who will be the successor,

will be sent to Queen 21 days after the birth

and that is the law of the palace.

That's why it's natural that the baby will be in Queen’s quarter.

Don't worry.

They are fully ready for a precious prince.

Queen Mother.

I will raise my son myself.

How can you take a newborn away from his own mother...

How rude, Noble Lady Park!

I am a woman, too.

I do understand a mother's heart.

But this baby is not only your own.

This baby will set the foundation of this nation straight

and you made an offering to the nation by bearing a child.

As an exchange of your offering,

today I ordered an office to be granted to you.

So take even more care of yourself.

My Lady!

Sun-deuk!

What am I to do now that they are going to take away my son.

I can no longer be a puppet of Inspector Lady.

Instead of committing a huge sin,

I'd rather take my own life.

Noble Lady Park! Please calm down.

King's people seemed to have found out,

so why don't we just tell them everything?

No way.

Noble Lady, that may be the way to save life

of you and your husband.

How?

If we disclose the secret,

King's people will be on our side.

But...

Court Lady Kim had asked me things

about the baby and Inspector Lady.

She said she would help me if I tell her everything.

Just do as I say.

Tell the spy girl

that Noble Lady Park and her husband will live

as promised

and take them inside the palace.

And tell her to come to my house which is the safest,

get her outside the palace.

We can then stay in ambush and kill them

as soon as we see them. How about that?

We will announce that after the truth has been revealed,

in an effort to cover up her lie,

she decided to kill Noble Lady Park and the child.

That's the perfect plan.

We can remove Inspector Lady at the same time

and the next Inspector office will go to you for sure.

What, is that true?

Yes, he knocked down three guards

and escaped from Ganghwa.

That bastard Kim Byeong-ryeol

should have been taken down a long time ago.

Sun-deuk!

Can we get out safely?

Don't worry. Just do as I tell you, ma'am.

Now, hurry!

Where is Noble Lady Park staying now?

Say it now! Where?

Do you think Court Lady Kim is waiting for us?

Bok-nyeo.

Darling, my dear!

Bok-nyeo!

Can't believe that you’re alive!

It's your child.

- Bok-nyeo. - My dear!

Noble Lady Park, hurry.

Come on.

- Darling. - Now, let's get out of here.

Freeze!

What? The guy did what?

Hurry up and get Chief Inspector.

I have a good idea. Just follow me.

Come on this way.

There is a hole at the end of this. Hurry, now!

Master, the guy went out and took his wife

and got out of the road and escaped in the mountain.

What?

Chase them and do not leave any life. Even the child.

- Kill them all! - Yes.

Let's go!

Where is Chief Inspector? Look for Chief Inspector.

Get those guards out.

Kill the couple and bring the prince alive.

- Understand? - Yes.

I guess the raft is not ready yet.

Let me go look for it.

Where are you heading to?

You are trapped.

Both parties are desperately looking for you.

This hill has already been...

Shut up and let me go through.

Darling.

I cannot accept that.

I thought you had the least bit of dignity left,

but you still choose to be a puppet of those in power?

I have a wife and children.

I have my family's name. I have no choice.

When I held onto your father in the palace,

I was already compromised with those in authority.

I have thought that one of these days I would fight with you

and today is the day I would have to kill you.

Darling, no!

My dear!

Don't worry.

It'll never happen

but in case I die,

you need to make every effort to get out of here

and raise our baby as our own to be a farmer.

Darling! Don't go!

My dear!

Darling, don't leave me. Darling...

Dear, you stay right here. Right here.

Byeong-ryeol, give up.

If you die, I'll let your wife and children live.

If you want them to live, you must...

Shut up!

If you win, you and your whole family dies.

You may win the fight and kill me,

there is not a place in this small world that you can hide.

If you truly love your wife, you die first.

Just sacrifice yourself alone.

Power doesn't change with one man’s death.

I'd rather die in their hands than live as someone's puppet.

That's how I have lived.

I will win.

I will never lose.

You really don't understand me.

Then you shall die in my hands.

Gyeong-gu.

I shall lose.

I can't win since I took sides with the evil.

But I had no choice and I couldn't help it.

Byeong-ryeol... Sorry about your father.

Forgive me.

Run away now.

Go now...

Gyeong-gu!

Oh no.

How could you fight with the back of the blade?

- Darling! - Bok-nyeo!

Bok-nyeo! Darling!

Bok-nyeo!

Shoot!

Just shoot him! Don't run!

Darling.

Darling!

Hurry up and bring the baby prince here.

Yes! Let's hurry!

Noble Lady Park!

My Lady! My Lady!