Original subtitles

What are you trying to do?

We have no evidence or witnesses.

You cannot do anything only with that letter.

Then what do you suggest me to do?

Just stay quiet pretending not to know?

You must if necessary.

You can win every battle

if you know yourself and the enemy.

It would not be too late

to take action

after finding out what exactly happened to your mother

ten years ago.

Your Majesty.

Dethrone the Princess.

-Dethrone the Princess. -Dethrone the Princess.

Your Majesty,

sneaking out of the palace without permission was not enough,

but she went outside again and cannot be found now.

You cannot be silent about this anymore.

Please dethrone her.

-Please dethrone her. -Please dethrone her.

Your Majesty, please dethrone her.

-Please dethrone her. -Please dethrone her.

Please dethrone the Princess.

Your Majesty, Second State Councilor Jeong is here to see you.

Let him in.

Please dethrone the Princess.

-Please dethrone her. -Please dethrone her.

Punish Master Gyeon for not serving her properly.

And accept the royal marriage with the Qing.

That is

the only way to calm the officials down

and stop her dethronement.

Your Majesty,

please understand

this loyal servant who is very much concerned...

about this country and the Royal Family's welfare.

Your Majesty, please dethrone her.

-Please dethrone her. -Please dethrone her.

-Do not be shaken. -Your Majesty,

please dethrone her.

Your Majesty,

-please dethrone her. -That is

exactly what they want.

-Please dethrone her. -Please dethrone her.

We shall protest here

until Your Majesty approves her dethronement.

Your Majesty, please dethrone...

Your Majesty,

please dethrone her.

-Please dethrone her. -Please dethrone her.

You did well.

Your Highness.

Jeong Gi-jun.

Be careful of that man.

Your mother's disappearance

may be because of him.

Are you all right?

You look pale.

Do not worry.

I just advised,

His Majesty a way to help you.

Thank you for your help.

He is waiting.

Tell him I am here.

Your Majesty, the Princess is here to see you.

Where have you been all night?

I asked you where you have been.

My apologies, Your Majesty.

You will stay quiet, is that it?

It is all my fault,

so punish me.

It happened because I did not serve Her Highness properly.

No, Master Gyeon had no choice--

Return to your residence.

-Father. -I told you to go.

I will ask you one last time.

Not as the King,

but as her father.

Where did you go with her?

Tell him nothing?

-Why... -It was him at the end

who approved Mother's dethronement

and covered up the incident.

I can't

tell him anything

about Mother or Master Min.

Not until I come to know what happened ten years ago.

I am sorry,

but it is not something I can tell so easily.

You...

connived the Princess' misdeed

and betrayed my trust.

You

do not deserve

to be the Prince's teacher.

I shall dismiss you from your position.

Master Gyeon.

The Princess has returned to the palace.

What did you say?

He ordered me not to hang out with you

but read and self-reflect at home.

-Are you sure? -Why would I lie?

You can go ask yourself then.

I was so worried.

Were you worried I might get punished?

Yes.

Excuse me?

Hyemyeong!

Hyemyeong!

Prince.

Is that true that you will be sent out of the palace?

Is that true, master?

That is just a lie.

I heard the officials are protesting for your dethronement.

Let them protest all they want.

Do not worry.

I will not leave you behind.

Stop.

Hyemyeong!

If you cry, my heart will break.

Do not cry.

If you do, my heart will break again.

Hyemyeong...

Your Majesty,

please dethrone the Princess.

-Dethrone the Princess. -Dethrone the Princess.

Your Majesty,

please dethrone the Princess.

-Dethrone the Princess. -Dethrone the Princess.

Your Majesty,

please dethrone the Princess.

-Dethrone the Princess. -Dethrone the Princess.

What if he doesn't give in?

Should I tell you every detail?

I am telling you I will help out.

Just keep an eye on the Princess.

I will take care of the rest.

Now,

I know who chased me and framed me.

Jeong Gi-jun.

Your Highness.

Where have you been?

You should have told us so.

Are you okay?

Why? Were you worried something happened to me?

Master Gyeon's family was in chaos too.

What do you mean?

How...

How could you betray your mother?

I did not betray you.

You ran away and slept over.

You stay quiet.

Gyeon U, you did not want to go, right?

That sassy Princess forced you,

right?

I followed her because I wanted to help her.

Are you siding her now?

You totally fell in love.

-Shut it! -Why are you taking it out on me?

Never hang out with the Princess, okay?

If you do this again, you will see me dead.

Mother.

Goodness.

Father.

You crossed the line.

Do not get close to the Princess anymore.

You do not deserve to be the Prince's teacher.

I shall dismiss you from your position.

I can't

tell him anything about Mother or Master Min.

Not until I know exactly what happened ten years ago.

OFFICE OF STATE RECORDS

-What are you doing? -I thought you went home.

I asked you first.

I just...

Are you here for the state records?

No.

Go back to your residence.

Then why are you here?

Because I was worried that you would be here.

Even a king is forbidden to look into the state records.

If you get caught...

I might

be dethroned

or even be killed.

You know well.

Because I have no way

to find out the truth otherwise.

No one tells me

and no one

can tell me.

Turn a blind eye for me.

I cannot do that.

The Princess is wandering around the Office of State Records?

Yes, Your Highness.

Office of State Records...

We are missing last year's records.

This way, Your Highness.

These are the records written around that time.

Put this where it belongs.

Over there.

It is so dusty.

Are you done?

-Yes, master. -Let us go then.

Queen.

Where are you going in such a hurry?

Well...

I was going to the Prince.

I see. Then let us go together.

Actually...

What is it?

I was going to look for the Princess.

The Princess?

Do not be so disappointed.

I do not understand,

why there is no record only about that year.

It was ordered to put in silence for 100 years.

The records may be kept in somewhere else.

Princess Hyemyeong.

Follow me.

They hid a lot.

Did we find them all?

Let us burn them all.

What brings you here?

Where is the Princess?

Why do you think she went to the Office of State Records?

It is terrible

if she went there to read the state records.

We must hurry.

I think

you are mistaken.

I met her in her residence.

Did you read the state records?

What is the reason you risked your life to read them?

Do you not realize what you just committed?

My apologies.

How could you be on this with her?

Was being dismissed not enough?

My apologies.

I do not know what you are looking for, but stop here.

Do not attempt to know more.

Forget everything you have found out.

Grandmother.

Master Gyeon too.

You will have to expect worse if you disobey my order.

Why do you not tell the King about your mother?

I think it would be better...

Master Gyeon.

Do not mind my business from now on.

That is not what I meant.

You're not helping and you're getting in my way.

Forget about it all.

About my mother and Councilor Jeong.

It has nothing to do with you anyway.

It is just that I am worried about you...

Is it not that you are worried about yourself?

-Your Highness. -Do not worry

if it is because of your dismissal.

I will do whatever it takes to reinstate you.

Why would you distort my words?

Do not act like you care about me.

You're out of line.

I sent the invitation to the Prince of the Qing.

Thankfully, he was glad.

He wants to leave for Joseon soon.

We have finished preparing for the stuff here.

As soon as he is ready, we will set off.

I hope you prepare well according to the plan.

Good work.

This is a token of my gratitude.

He is looking forward to this visit.

Do not worry.

I will pay more if everything goes as planned.

My lord.

You have a guest.

He told me to send the Princess to the Qing

if I want to stop the dethronement.

I do not know.

What should I do to protect her?

What should I do for her?

You should not send her off like this.

Are you out of your mind?

The Princess seems to have tried to read the state records.

-The state records? -Perhaps,

she heard something from Master Min.

You know the Queen is behind the King's decisions.

Rumors say that she and Prince Chuseong

are scheming to attack you.

You must attack them first before they do.

I have a nice plan.

Before I tell you,

you need to make me a promise.

I want you to make me the next queen

once the Queen is gone.

The Queen has been in league with

Prince Chuseong for a long time.

Shut your mouth.

I have evidence.

I have seen you just now,

but I miss you already and write you a letter.

When will my longing end?

I know I must not do this,

but my heart to you...

I cannot believe,

she actually wrote this letter,

but it is her writing for certain.

This court lady

has delivered the letters for them.

Was this really

written by the Queen?

I will punish you immediately if you lie.

Please.

I had no idea

that they were...

exchanging this kind of letters.

This...

will be more than enough to pay for your mother's medicine.

Thank you.

Search the whereabouts of the Jeongungjeon servants

who worked ten years ago.

Why...

I need to know now.

Yes, Your Highness.

What? Was your dream about the Princess?

Have this.

Mother has made this herbal tonic

despite all the fuss she made yesterday.

Take this.

The sun is up high.

Are you not going to work?

You gave him the herbal tonic

and saw him off.

Are you really mad at him?

Even so, I need to see my son off.

Then why did you hide?

Because I am angry now.

Stop shaking your legs.

Okay, so write on.

My lips and her lips meet.

That is right.

Do not act like you care about me.

You're out of line.

Then my hand starts to undress her top.

After then, my...

Her...

What are you looking at?

It must be hard for you.

Of course, it is hard for him. He is jobless.

This is really hard.

Every time I read your books,

I cannot help but sigh.

-It is hard to turn a single page. -Why that...

Our stories are so popular.

Let us just stop.

His standards are too low for us.

Even the Princess talked highly

of that book.

Do you have any idea?

Master, you have a visitor.

Who is it?

Not you.

Master Gyeon, you have a visitor.

Here.

Hi, Lady Da-yeon.

It has been a long time.

I heard you went through a lot

because of the Princess.

That is not true.

But

you were dismissed.

My family do not know about it yet.

Please do not tell Gyeon Hui.

Of course, I will not.

Thank you.

I will ask for help

to my father.

If I tell him how unfair the situation was for you,

-he will-- -You do not need to.

I will take care of my own business.

It is not something you should step in.

I feel a distance

between me and you.

I do not see a reason

why we should get closer.

Like always, you are handsome.

-Is that so? -Sure.

Lady Da-yeon.

I cannot live

without you.

What do you think?

That was such a sweet comment.

Hey, you should call it a proposal,

not a comment.

Whatever.

I just like how it is said. Sweet comment!

Whatever.

-Hold it higher. -Sorry.

Goodness.

Lady Da-yeon.

What do you want?

I heard Gyeon U got

-dismissed at-- -I know.

Well, then.

Well...

Lady Da-yeon.

-It is all right. -Do not be upset.

Is it funny to you?

You punks!

You little...

I will get going first.

Your Majesty, a messenger came from the Qing.

THE PRINCE OF QING IS COMING.

The Prince of Qing is coming.

He plans to propose to you and go back to Qing with you.

I am not going.

Are you going to cause your father another trouble?

That will

work as a huge disadvantage for the Prince in the future.

I wish to go to my mother.

Eat this and regain your health.

Everyone is worried about you.

Let me go to my mother.

You are facing your mother now.

Why would you say so?

Stop whining and eat this.

If you keep behaving like this, your brother will suffer more.

Your dead mother is a sinner.

Are you going to...

make the Prince be the son of the sinner?

You always hide

behind the Prince.

But...

your threat will not work anymore.

I am no longer a child who was so scared of you.

That was me ten years ago. Not anymore.

I am not sure what I should do.

Approve the royal marriage.

Mother.

If the Prince comes,

it will be harder to refuse.

But...

The Princess is already their target.

At least for her sake,

it would be better that way.

Gosh, it stinks.

-What a savage. -Seriously.

Goodness.

I had no idea you enjoy eating fermented skate.

How do you manage to eat that stinky fish?

Taste some first.

First time is always the hardest, but you'll get addicted right away.

I guarantee...

I guarantee

that you will start to crave this even in your sleep.

You guarantee what?

There he goes again. He might have bipolar disorder.

My apologies.

How could you be on this with her?

Was being dismissed not enough?

The King is entering inside.

You lost weight.

It is not true.

Hyemyeong.

Do you still have nothing to say to me?

The Prince of Qing is

coming to see you.

Prepare to greet him.

Father.

Are you accepting the royal marriage?

It is time

you get married now.

I cannot go.

I need to find

Mother.

What did you

just say?

Do you remember this?

I heard you gave this ring to her.

Even on the day she was dethroned,

she had this on her finger.

Master Min brought this to me

after meeting with my mother three years ago.

Is she

alive?

I

believe so.

You asked me why I did not say anything.

I could not.

Because you

ordered to put Mother's incident in silence for 100 years.

You did not permit me

to even say I missed her.

I am not going anywhere.

I cannot.

Good work, everyone.

He was going to approve anyway, so why did he resist?

Everything will be over

once things work out well with the Qing.

There must not be any mistakes.

We have prepared

everything thoroughly.

This is like killing two birds with one stone.

Sending the annoying Princess off and making a profit out of it.

It is going as we planned.

Let us cheer

to celebrate it!

Good. I will pour you a drink too.

-My lord. -Goodness!

Why have you not visited us recently?

I missed you.

Hello, Hyang-dan.

-Good. -Let us go in.

-I am going in. -Let him in.

Goodness.

I had no idea a dead body was under the floor.

This way.

Your Highness, this is...

Do you like it?

It is so pretty.

They say mandarin ducks

love and care for each other eternally, once they find each other.

I wish to live

a happy life with you like those mandarin ducks.

Your Highness.

The Prince of Qing?

He is on his way to propose to the Princess.

It has been several days

since he crossed the border.

Master Gyeon will greet him?

He is the perfect person to be in charge.

He studied abroad, so he knows well about the Qing.

We do not need translators.

Also,

he is close to the Princess.

That seems to be a great idea. Your Majesty.

I do not see

any better person than him.

Master Gyeon was dismissed.

This is very important for the diplomacy between the two countries.

He's the perfect man for the job.

There's no reason to find someone else.

I cannot.

How could I greet him?

-It is the King's orders. -Father.

Will you disobey him?

Just do it.

Now that Master Gyeon is in charge,

even if things go out of our plan,

Master Gyeon and the Princess

will take full responsibility.

That is right.

Of course,

it must go according to our plan.

Sure.

Your Highness, what brings you here?

Second State Councilor Jeong,

I have something to tell you alone.

What is it that you want to say?

Not long ago,

Master Min was found dead.

-Was he? -I have

his letter that he left behind.

Do you not want to know what is written inside?

A traitor's letter.

Should I be curious?

He mentioned

my mother in the letter.

Now,

are you curious?

I

cannot leave this country

before I find the truth about all this.

Your Highness,

why are you telling me this by the way?

Do you really not know?

I am not sure what is written, but why do you not have

Office of Investigation

take care of the dethroned queen's matter?

It was ordered to put in silence.

You could be placed in danger.

I am thinking as well.

Do not think too hard.

You are busy as is, preparing to greet your fiance.

I clearly told you I will not

go to Qing.

The country's welfare is on the line.

It is not something you can choose.

Do you really want to stop

your brother from becoming the crown prince?

What do you mean?

We are discussing

his becoming crown prince with the Qing at the moment.

Things are on edge now.

What would happen if the Prince of Qing's proposal

is rejected?

They are waiting at the Envoy Residence.

Your Highness,

what should we do?

The Prince and the envoys arrived in the capital.

They will be here soon. What should we do?

Why is the Princess not here yet?

She is coming, is she?

This way.

The Princess is here!

You look more beautiful than ever, Your Highness.

Thank you.

This is the Prince of Qing.

Hello, I am Darhan.

Hello, I am Princess Hyemyeong.

The Prince of Qing seems to be very fond of her.

Must I make her go to Qing?

Think only about protecting the Princess and the Prince.

Do not go.

The installation of the Crown Prince is on the line.

She has no choice but to go to the Qing.

She is dead.

I thought something incredible was hidden in the letter.

...and no witnesses.

The Princess is being suspicious.

Watch what she does outside the palace.

Find out anything that could be Second State Councilor Jeong's weakness.

My lady.

What is your wish?

I can make it happen.

Subtitle translation by Lexi Lee