Original subtitles

Your Majesty, is the Grand Prince going to be the new crown prince?

I feel sorry toward Gwang Hae, but there's no other way.

Gwang Hae took the position in the chaos during the war

but he's not fully accepted because Ming never acknowledged him.

Hence, it's natural for him to pass it to its rightful owner.

I heard anyone, who's deposed from being the crown prince, barely survives.

If that's what it is for the Royal family and the country...

and that's the fortune of Gwang Hae who was born with a king's face...

no one can help it.

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I'm not a sinner.

Sheathe your swords, immediately!

What's that?

This herb will warm the body.

This tea tastes very good.

You still haven't admitted your sin?

You blamed me for plotting treason

but I never plotted treason, however...

However?

I have thought about becoming a sage king.

That's the traitorous mind.

I have committed a crime as bad as treason.

What is the crime?

Royal Father, do you remember The Manual of the King's Face?

The Manual of the King's Face...

is in my possession.

How can you?

How can you have the book?

I burnt the book long time ago!

Did you think that it was gone forever?

What?

I've read the forbidden book,

The Manual of the King's Face.

The late Chief Eunuch hid that book from me?

According to the book, all the faces in the world

will be completed at the moment they die.

Therefore, the king's face that you wanted to have for your whole life

is not too late to make.

Anyone can make...

their face as they wish.

Are you mocking me right now?

I will leave the palace as you wish.

But I must tell you before I leave...

What Your Majesty has to cling to

is not a face of a king but the subjects!

Because the king makes how their faces are.

What you must truly protect

is not your face but the subjects' faces!

How dare you!

Royal Father!

Father! Father! Father!

Father! Why are you standing there? Quickly take His Majesty inside!

Crown Prince, I have kept...

my pledge to set you on the throne.

Now I will follow His Majesty.

I know I can't pay for my sin with my death.

I pray you will forget me,

who was the source of your painful burden.

Please be a sage king

who will start a new world.

If the Heavens allow us...

let us stay together every day

in the far-off future.

Your Highness...

I can't keep that promise.

What did you say? His Majesty collapsed?

He was hale until this afternoon. Why would he collapse all of a sudden?

The situation is pretty bad.

Royal Queen, His Majesty might pass...

pass away.

His Majesty might pass away?

That will never happen! Never!

Of course, he shouldn't.

Mother, this is a disaster.

What's a diaaster?

Is there a worse thing than...

going down with the Crown Prince?

His Majesty

is in critical condition.

What critical condition?

What are you suddenly talking about now?

He collapsed in front of Gangnyeong Palace.

The Crown Prince and the Princess

all went to Gangnyeong Palace.

What?

His Majesty has passed away.

Why don't you shut that mouth?!

Even up until daylight, His Majesty seemed perfectly healthy.

However, how can you say such an ominous thing?!

Royal Queen. I can't find his pulse at all.

He has already stopped breathing.

He died instantly of a cardiac arrest.

That is not possible.

His Majesty wouldn't just leave his young Grand Prince like this!

Your Majesty, how can you justify this?

Without any clues...

Without even any prior notice ... you are leaving me?

Your Majesty!

Royal Father...

Royal Father!

But ... why do I not see Court Lady Kim, who was always beside him?.

Court Lady Kim! Court Lady Kim!

Your Highness!

Get the Royal Physician, immediately! Hurry!

Yes.

This...

a poisonous plant's fruit? [Colocasia esculenta: a tropical plant "taro", which is poisonous raw, and edible when cooked]

His Majesty...

is dead.

Something is very fishy for the fine healthy king to die suddenly.

He was born with a face that was meant to have longevity.

However, how can this be, all of a sudden?

What about Court Lady Kim? Did you monitor her activities too?

Yes. Just as we were told, we kept a watchful eye, but

the night before, she disappeared very suddenly.

According to our informant who is a court maid,

last night a human corpse came out of the Hwayoogak.

Which the Crown Princess took care of.

It is Ga Hee.

Ga Hee killed the king, then committed suicide.

Royal Father has unexpectedly passed away.

What is going to happen, now?

I was supposed to enter the palace, after deposing Gwang Hae.

To My Royal Father, I'm the eldest son.

My plan to become the Crown Prince...

has disappeared like soap bubbles.

His Majesty died too soon.

Although our plan to depose the Crown Prince through the King has gone totally awry,

please prepare your personal guards to go as scheduled.

- How come? - We will begin the coup as planned.

His Majesty's fate was to live a long life.

However, if he died of a heart attack, without a doubt, someone murdered him.

Then, someone assassinated My Royal Father?

Court Lady Kim killed His Majesty and took her own life.

Why would Court Lady Kim do such a thing?

That ... is for the sake of the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince and Court Lady Kim shared deep, loving feelings for each other.

What?

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Royal Father. How can you leave senselessly like this?

Are you testing me, right now?

Quickly, awaken

and order me to leave the palace, immediately.

You're being very unlike yourself right now, Royal Father.

Royal Queen.

Is it in your hands?

Yes.

It is the Royal Seal.

However, on my way over here,

Lord Yi San Hae caught me.

I'm sure he also knows who the most senior elder is in the royal palace.

He can't possibly force himself into here

and harass me to give up the Royal Seal, right?

Then ... the Royal Seal is at the Queen's Quarters..

What would be the best course to take?

Currently, the highest ranking elder is the Queen.

In the absence of the late King's will that you would succeed to the throne,

the Queen now must command by royal edict

in order for Your Highness to ascend to the throne.

The Queen is a very clever person.

She will not aimlessly dwell on a lost cause.

You. What is this rudeness?

Didn't you hear me when I said to 'get out'?

I didn't even get a chance to say what is really on my mind. Not even half of it.

So, I can't do that, Your Royal Queen.

For me to repay you for the last few years,

it's not just one or two, is it?

What?

The longer you stick around,

both you and the infant Grand Prince

will be in grave danger.

Do you seriously not understand?

No matter how immature and naive you may be...

how can you be so senseless like this?

Is anyone out there?!

What are you doing? Drag this bitch out and whip her!

You know ... the Crown Prince...

He was naturally born with a kind heart

and is very well mannered.

He knows how to follow the proper etiquette of the royal court.

However, if someone messes with one of his people,

he does turn fearful.

When the Crown Prince finds out that you ordered a blind shaman

to perform the foul deed of digging up the grave

of his deceased biological mother Gong Bin,

how do you think he'll react to that?

Before more people get harmed,

hurry up and make a choice, Your Highness.

You are extremely shameless!

How you were so tearful in front of the late king.

It seemed as though you were quite loyal to him.

How you're having so much fun, even before His Majesty's dead body turns stiff and cold.

Throughout the decades-long relationship between His Majesty and me

how dare you act as though you know...

what actually happened?

Court Lady Yoon, are you there?

Yes, Royal Queen.

Send out a letter for help to Kim Do Chi, immediately!

The palace is in complete disorder. Where are you heading to?

I'm going on an errand for the Queen.

Where was she going with the letter?

The inn at Port Mapo.

She said a man only appears for exchanging letters.

I think they are being extremely careful.

It means that we can't find out...

where Kim Do Chi is.

However, we have caught

the evidence that the Queen was in league

with the state prisoner who escaped from prison.

You are helping me.

It's only natural to help you, Hyungnim.

Where in the world is Court Lady Yoon? Why hasn't she come back yet?

Sending a letter isn't much of a difficult task.

Royal Queen, the Crown Prince is here.

Let him in.

Royal Mother.

Welcome, Crown Prince.

I don't think you came to say hello. What brings you here?

I have brought

a Court Lady of the Queen's quarters. She seemed lost.

Pardon?

Let her in.

Yes, Your Highness.

Just what are you doing?

How could you be in league with the state prisoner

who was sentenced to death but escaped?

Be careful with your words, Crown Prince.

I'm your mother.

What kind of a mother can frame her own child...

with high treason? I've never heard of it.

Crown... Prince...

Royal Mother.

Say what you have to say.

I'd like to keep you in the Dowager Queen's Quarters

and take good care of my brother, Ui.

Please help me

so that I can take care of you and him.

The late king has abdicated the throne in favor of Prince Gwang Hae

because he has defeated the strong invaders

and re-established this country.

Therefore, he made a significant contribution to the Royal Family

and the national restoration.

He has performed admirably in the nation's crisis.

I also think the Prince Gwang Hae has to succeed to the throne.

Congratulations to Your Highness.

Truly, the day is...

finally approaching us.

My eyes are filling with tears.

Even after you came out of prison, you're still the same.

Of course, a man

shouldn't be capricious but consistent.

Then after the coronation

you will be the King, not the Crown Prince.

Don't be too happy.

We haven't even held my Father's funeral yet.

Yes, Your Highness.

Hyungnim.

Your Highness, you are in very high spirits.

I heard that the Queen granted the royal edict to put you on the throne.

Hyungnim, why did you come so late?

You spiteful bastard!

Brother!

Did you covet the king's seat so much

to the point that you could poison the Father?

You're going too far, Hyungnim.

I'm going too far? Do you want me to go even further?

You dared covet our father's woman

and made her poison His Majesty!

You're the dirtiest bastard in this whole world!

I will see with my own two eyes

how long you'll be able to sit on the throne

that you earned by killing your own father!

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Crown Princess.

Court Lady Kim...

is not in the palace.

What are you talking about?

The moment the King passed away

she tried to kill herself.

She was hovering between life and death when I found her

so I sent her out of the palace.

Why would Ga Hee follow His Majesty and die?

By any chance, did Ga Hee tried to poison His Majesty

just as Im Hae said?

I don't know about that.

But...

Court Lady Kim did save your life.

Where is Court Lady Kim?

If that's true...

I will never forgive her.

No-one knows what the truth is.

Even if that's true

Court Lady Kim must have done it for you.

That's exactly why...

I have to meet that wench right now!

How dare she kill His Majesty

and herself in order to save me?

How dare she!

What was she thinking?

Where is she?

I will bring her here and question her!

If that's the truth...

I will put her to death.

Even if you don't,

Ga Hee...

will die soon.

Do I really have the right to sit on the throne?

I'm now afraid of the king's throne.

I don't think I can take the burden.

A king's throne,

by sacrificing someone you love?

Your Highness.

You're here just in time.

I wanted to ask you about something.

Did you really kill my father?

I have kept the promise

to set you on the throne.

Please be a sage king.

How dare you!

I...

don't regret what I did.

I won't be able to see you again.

Please don't forgive me.

How can I forgive

you? Or me?

How can I?

Your Highness.

How come you're sleeping here?

Please get up.

Are you okay?

Yeong Sin.

Find out what happened to Ga Hee. Determine whether she's dead or alive.

If she's still alive, I want to meet her.

Yes, Your Highness.

This whole thing is all caused by Kim Do Chi.

I will capture him first thing in the morning.

Welcome, Crown Prince.

Mother, I came to discuss with you.

About what?

I will help you with anything.

I need you to help me to capture the state prisoner

who's shaking the basis of the nation.

Are you talking about Kim Do Chi?

Yes, I am.

Please write a letter to him.

You can write this down.

This letter was not sent by the Royal Queen.

What do you mean?

Currently, the Crown Prince...

is calling for me.

Then, are you saying that it's a trap set by Gwang Hae, in order to capture you?

Truly, what a relief. What if we fell for it, then we would all be dead, right?

It's not too proper to decline when, the Crown Prince has privately called upon me, like this.

-What? -Gwang Hae's face is a truly fit for a king.

That's my reason for avoiding going face to face with him.

However, I can't flee from it anymore.

I plan on killing the Crown Prince, before the coronation ceremony.

However, didn't you just say that, this is a trap?

It's not a trap that we can't defeat, as long as your personal guards join in our cause.

You're not possibly giving up, are you?

Don't you think you should quickly drag the Crown Prince off the throne so you can ascend it?

Before the coronation ceremony.

That is true but...

I'll go first and claim the throne.

Follow me afterwards.

Finally, the 'D-Day' is here!

For the last six years, we have endured and were very tenacious for this day to come.

Today, we will bring down that putrid and decomposed legacy of "Yi's Royal Dynasty."

We will establish a new Joseon!

YES!

Listen, very carefully. Now,

have all the royal guards armed and lay an ambush around the palace.

Also, without even leaving one person out, you must help in aiding every person to escape.

Traitor, Kim Do Chi will be entering the palace today.

His objective is to kill me, Gwang Hae.

Crown Prince, how can you let those heinous people to step foot into the palace?

It's because that is the way for us to defeat them without needlessly shedding blood.

Therefore, until there is a separate executive order,

don't even move a step. Do you understand?!

Yes, Crown Prince!

How come you're not leaving?

Please kill me, who have betrayed you.

Of course, I have not forgiven you.

Although, your life line was in the hands of my Royal Father,

and you were blinded by the title of the 'head royal guard",

how can I forgive you for turning in my every move to my Royal Father.

Therefore, I will give you the last order today...

You know Kim Do Chi better than anyone.

So, you're going to kill Kim Do Chi with me. Do you understand?

Yes, I will honor your order.

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ATTACK!

What happened to Kim Do Chi? Did you find him?

We have killed many opponents but

Kim Do Chi is nowhere to be found.

You dare... where do you think you're sitting?

You don't have the right to sit in that seat.

If I don't have the right...

then you, Gwang Hae...

do you have the right?

Your Father, who sat in this seat for forty years and caused the country to fall into chaos,

indeed, did he have the right?

Gwang Hae, from the time you were born, you had everything;

I was born with nothing.

So in order to get to this point...

there was no other way.

Then how can you carelessly...

tell me that I don't have the right?!

In your eyes, did that seat look like a position to enjoy power and privilege? You're wrong.

That seat is a position that must bear the responsibility of everything that arises in this land! That is why

the late King suffered such anguish.

I am also afraid now of the expected weight of responsibility.

It's not because of your low standing that you don't have the right to sit in that position,

It's because you don't know anything about that position, that you don't have the right!

You, who have the effrontery to dare covet that seat,

I can't forgive.

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Arrest him!

You will be sentenced to be executed by beheading in front of the whole nation.

That won't happen.

As an aftereffect of war, the livelihood of the people is difficult.

The harmful effect of the proxy tax payment is getting worse as time goes by, and there are endless appeals on that matter.

Your Majesty, before Joseon, the problem of the proxy tax payment

came as a chronic problem and has spread through much of the country.

It is not easy to devise a policy.

Is there really nothing that can be done?

Your Majesty, from the time of King Sejong the Great until that of the late king,

the kings in the past have tried hard to reform the proxy tax payment system, but

they have all failed.

It's because...

all of you who are standing here

are involved with the benefit of the proxy tax payment deeply. Isn't it?

Since sucking the sweat and blood of the people tasted sweet,

it would have been difficult to stop doing that.

Your Majesty, please take a look at the Daedong tax policy which Lord Lee Won Ik proposed.

Daedong tax policy?

Yes. Instead of the tribute tax, Daedong tax is

to charge 8 Mal (64Kg) of rice per 1 Gyul(1 Hectare) in spring and autumn.

Then, the rich will pay more taxes according to how much they own, is that right?

Yes, isn't that fair?

I will study that Daedong tax payment closely.

Your Majesty, as to the offenses of the Queen Mother,

please examine her thoroughly.

The Queen Mother conspired with wicked persons like Kim Do Chi,

and helped them train their private soldiers.

She also used dishonest means to set the Grand Prince on the throne.

The Dowager Queen is the late King's wife and my Mother.

I will respect her as the Queen Mother.

I never heard anything.

Yes, Your Majesty.

If you want to survive as a proxy tax merchant,

Prompt information, snap judgments, and quick actions

are required.

Let's say the abalone is designated as tribute in a mountain village.

But they don't have abalone in mountain villages.

Then you buy abalone as much as you can, and sell it for 10 times or 100 times higher.

I've already bribed all the officials in that area

so citizens have to buy is from me, who' am the designated proxy tax merchant no matter how expensive it is.

After you make money that way

you must split the profit with the officials and the leader of the area

so that you can be the proxy tax merchant the next year again.

This is the hotbed of the corruption,

the substance of the proxy tax merchant who squeezes the people.

There are countless proxy tax merchants in the capital city.

Your job is to study and figure out their behaviors to stop them...

before the Daedong tax is enforced.

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Majesty.

The palace has finally calmed down, Mother.

It's just for the moment.

This palace is where everyone bites each other

to be on the throne?

We have survived for a bit by staying on the same side as Gwang Hae...

but are you just giving up like this?

Mother.

I'm your child.

I don't give up.

That's right. You are indeed my son.

Why can't you get to sleep?

Father!

Now that you're on the king's seat, how is it to be the king?

I've have long hoped for this throne, I will to a sage king without fail.

That's right.

I will watch how well you do.

Please help me, Father.

I'm not used to sitting here yet.

A king...

is like a flower on a clif. No one will help you out.

So, believe in yourself and be confident.

Father!

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If it weren't for you, I would have been deposed and died.

I knew you saved me but I couldn't come to see you.

I'm sorry.

Your Majesty, you don't need to thank me.

I feel so guilty that I'm still alive.

The head monk told me...

that you pray for my late father everyday.

No matter how much I pray, it won't be enough. ♬ The closer I get, ♬

How can I wash my sin away? ♬ the more the tears fall ♬

The throne that I'm sitting on now...

♬ Even if I extend my hand, I cannot reach you. ♬

is what you paid for with your voice

and your life living as a sinner for the rest of your life. I will never forget that.

♬ Even if I want to abandon you, you can't be disposed of. ♬

I couldn't get to sleep last night, so I was reading The Manual of the King's Face.

A king's face should contain the subjects' hearts.

So I decided to take off... ♬ You are my love, my everything, ♬

♬ Even if it pains me to death ... and my heart is bruised ♬

Feeling intensely sorry toward you,

resentment, bitter pains... ♬ From a distance, I will always wait for you! ♪ ♬

and tormenting yearning.

♬ Because of that one word, I couldn't say to you ♬

Ga Hee.

♬ Because of that one step that I couldn''t take to get closer to you ♬

I will never come to see you again.

♬I can see you before my eyes.. ♬

♬ As my tears flow down... ♬ ♬ I realize that I miss you even more... My love♬

I have one request for you.

What is it, Your Majesty?

If I step off the path of a sage king...

don't forget to reproach me.

You should push me and scold me. Do you understand?

Yes, I will keep that in mind.

You should hold me to making me a king...

who listens to the subjects, understands their feelings,

and works at the bottom. Do you understand?

Like this?

Don't worry, Your Majesty.

I will always watch Your Majesty's face.

You're wrong.

You shouldn't watch my face but the subjects' faces.

The face of the subjects is the king's face.

I've been thinking for a long time

that what makes the citizens suffer the most is the proxy tax payment.

Proxy tax merchants colluding with rich noblemen exploit the loopholes of the proxy tax system

and squeeze the citizens.

I will take Lee Won Ik's proposal

and announce the royal edict regarding this matter.

We will open Sunhyechung (Tribute bureau) which is in charge of tax.

Instead of the tribute tax, we will charge 8 Mal (64Kg) of rice per 1 Gyul(1 Hectare)

which will be called the Daedong tax.

Your Majesty's grace knows no bound!

I will make this country a fair country

where those who have more should pay more taxes.

A country where people who have power and money

won't be able to abuse the weak and poor.

So that the citizens will be happy without owning a lot of things.

An equal world where the whole nation can dream.

That's what the king of Joseon is supposed to make

and I, Gwang Hae will make it happen.

Your Majesty's grace knows no bound.