Dae Wang Sejong (2008): Season 1, Episode 37 - Episode #1.37 - full transcript
The world says you are the wise one.
If I depose the eldest and bring the
wise one forward as the future King...
Would you accept it?
Would you accept it?
Choose the wise one?
You ditch me, flock to
the King and conspire
to put Choongnyeong on this chair?
I hope you succeed, Prime Minister.
Because you won't live if you fail.
What do you think Prince
Choongnyeong will do?
You said you wanted to
help, so just do the work.
I know that you're even
more anxious than I am.
What if I am?
You should send me
to the conference hall.
My man!
I'm not anxious at all.
I'm going because of you.
What happened?
We don't know yet.
Sire, is there any word
from the audience hall?
Straighten up your headdress!
It's a shame I don't have a mirror.
What could be happening in there?
What is everyone doing
here instead of their offices?
Minister Hwang!
The flood victims are crying for
relief outside the four gates,
Ming is demanding an
answer about Gyeongsung,
Japanese pirates are rampant
in the southern provinces...
You don't think we know all that?
If you do, you can't do this.
His Highness is waiting. Let us
go to the conference hall and...
What if we refuse?
Do you want to shut this government
down? We have a country to run!
I think what they mean is that
they don't want to run this country
with the Crown Prince.
It's not that simple.
Do you really believe
the King would abandon
he concept of primogeniture
and choose the wise one?
Two hours.
That's all, Minister Hwang.
Please be patient for two hours at the most.
In that time, the world may change.
What will happen if Prince
Choongnyeong accepts?
Then he will make an
enemy of his own mother.
Father, I am not the wise one.
Is that a refusal?
But if you give me a chance,
I am prepared to give my best
effort to become the wise one.
Don't give your effort!
Do not do anything.
My Queen.
Yes, this will be a lot
quicker if you called this off.
Which of the ministers told
you to choose the wise one?
Punish them.
Kill them all and stop them from talking
about deposing the eldest heir.
Leave us.
Are you going to give him a chance?
Don't you know what kind of
chance this child is talking about?
You're asking the King for a chance to
make an enemy of your own brother.
Do you realize that?
If you start this fight for the throne,
it won't end until one of you is dead.
Do you know that?
Are you prepared?
Are you prepared to fight your
own brother for the throne?
Say no.
You must say no.
I am asking Choongnyeong.
I am prepared.
I am prepared to become the Crown
Prince's political enemy as well.
Prince Choongnyeong is
more decisive than I thought.
Now we shall see if the
world really changes.
Prince Choongnyeong is more
decisive than he appears,
and you are formidable than you appear.
You did not want to make him a rebel
but you did want to make him a king?
Since when did you start
molding him for the throne?
This humble man has not done much.
But your support will
give him great strength.
Let us give it a try.
Prince Choongnyeong will be very pleased.
How could you?
I begged you.
Mother...
Don't call me Mother.
You lost your mother today.
You will not be my son unless you
renounce your ambition for power!
Father-in-law.
You've been through so much...
The road is rougher ahead.
But we won't let anything happen to you.
We've been waiting for you,
Your Highness.
You have us behind you.
Don't ever be discouraged, Your Highness.
You have us, Your Highness!
Keep your spirit high!
- We've all been waiting for you!
- We're behind you all the way!
Would you like to review
the public works first or
shall we take a look at he royal
decrees that have been issued?
I'm back, Master.
Why did you
come back to this treacherous place?
Did the selfish and unashamed
public push you back here again?
They said not to fear since my unfailing
mentor is in the royal court to guide me.
I want you to silence this debate
about choosing the wise one.
I don't think so.
Don't press the King.
You're going too far taking this
to Crown Prince's deposal.
His Majesty chose you as Prime
Minister in preparation of abdication.
You mean you chose me in
preparation of his abdication.
Did I look that naive to you?
What made you think I would protect
a man that doesn't have what it takes?
Prime Minister.
Go to the Royal Inspector's Office.
The Royal Inspector's Office?
What?
You don't know where it is?
Come out.
Your Highness!
It's an order.
You mustn't do this, Your Highness.
You'll make your problem worse.
Failing to protect my men is
the worst problem I can have.
Your Highness...
You can either release them
or put me in there as well.
He can't do either of those things.
The royal order is for you
to execute them personally.
The Crown Prince will
not obey that order.
Then he will lose his crown.
Their only crime is obeying my order.
Yes, I know.
Then how could he tell
me to punish them?
His Majesty is not trying to punish
them. He is trying to punish you.
Tell him to endure the pain of cutting
out his own flesh by killing his own men,
and forgiveness of the Royal court.
He must humbly reflect and admit his
errors and vow never to repeat them.
He will surely refuse.
Then he will leave me no
choice but to depose him.
I will see the King.
You'll be putting yourself
in worse situation.
Yes, I know.
Then why?
That's the difference
between me and the King.
I do not kill my own to protect my crown.
If the Crown Prince loses his crown,
will this country belong
to Prince Choongnyeong?
If that is the will of Heaven...
Then you must kill the Crown
Prince with your own hands.
Minister Hwang.
If the Crown Prince loses his crown,
he will know exactly what he has to
do to get it back because
he learned by watching you.
Stop!
If the tragedy that occurred in your
generation is repeated,
this country is over.
Public will not tolerate
a Royal house that turns into
a slaughter house every
time there is a new King.
Stop, or I might kill you first.
Please do.
Kill me with Your Majesty's sword.
And give mercy to the Crown Prince.
Look upon him kindly for his
care and loyalty to his men,
and tell him to start over.
Do not defend a boy who can t even
distinguish between flattery and loyalty.
That, too, is my fault.
I taught him to be wary of his subjects,
but I failed to teach him
how to choose them.
I am the cause of his errors, so punish me
and give the Crown Prince another chance.
Death is what you wish?
You must not give up on the
Crown Prince no matter what.
Royal attendant!
Enter, Royal attendant!
Remove Minister Hwang Hee from
his post and banish him out of the city!
Your Majesty...!
Now!
You're... wrong about everything.
Please be well, Your Highness.
Prince Choongnyeong is diligently
preparing himself for the throne...
And the Crown Prince is...
The Crown Prince is
no longer a royal proxy...
Gu Jongsu and his brother
have been execute...
What are you doing here?
He doesn't even have...
the decency to see you off
after all you've done for him...
Do I have to lecture you
about your wifely duties?
Father...
You are all he's got right now.
You must protect him
with all your strength.
And his father-in-law Gim Hanlo
has been sentenced to exile.
But His Majesty is yet
to go forward with this.
He has to depose the Crown Prince
so the wise one can take his place.
The censorate officials are
continuing to submit their appeals.
Censorate officials aren't the only ones.
Your Majesty, you must renounce the
eldest heir and choose the wise one!
Choose the wise one!
Protect this country and its government!
Protect this country!
Your Majesty, you must renounce the
eldest heir and choose the wise one!
The King can't make up his mind?
What could be the problem?
You should know that better than I do.
You are his shadow, not me.
My duty is to assist him,
not to guess his thoughts.
Sounds like you're asking me
to find out what's on his mind.
I am saying Prince Choongnyeong
needs to be re-evaluated.
An evaluation...
I will not be a Royal Prince.
If we can't reflect on our past mistakes
and continue to rule with violence,
if that is the very fabric of
Joseon that will not change,
I refuse to continue
living as its Royal prince.
Prince Choongnyeong once
denied legitimacy of this regime.
And if he still feels that way,
he cannot be our wise one.
And your guess is that is the
cause of King's hesitation?
I do not guess, Your Eminence.
I just want to help the King see
clearly who the wise one is.
I suppose legitimacy of the regime is an
uncomfortable subject for him to bring up.
It would look best brought up by
the Council of the Royal House.
Why are you coming to me with this?
Is this you way of saying you
want to help Prince Hyoryeong?
If he is a benevolent prince who hasn't
defied the King or denied the legitimacy
of the regime, the world will see him as
the wise one without my having to help.
What do you think?
Do you think your younger
brother needs to be evaluated?
The longer we wait, more people
will begin to doubt the prince.
We must expedite the decision!
The quickest way to
expedite the decision is
for Prince Choongnyeong
to prove that he is the wise one.
But he has been buried
in books since his return...
We must provide him with knowledge
and information about actual state affairs.
There are plenty of mentors who
can help him with law, economics
and foreign relations...
But not with military affairs.
The Prince needs mentors who will share
their knowledge about military affairs.
We must find a way to bring Choi Yundeok
and Yi Chun back to the capital.
But what we need right now is a cause.
Something to push the King to
make up his mind once and for all.
There is a perfect cause for that.
To Lady Auri's again?
You must practice restraint, Your Highness.
I just can't get naggers out of my life.
Your Highness...
Leaving the palace in plain
clothes at this late hour?
When will you stop behaving like this?
Won't you retrain yourself for me?
The world is urging me to renounce
you and choose the wise one.
My retainers and even trifling scholars
are on my back pressuring me.
Won't you consider my
position for one moment?
This would all be over if you just go
ahead and choose the wise one.
I am hoping you would be that wise one.
Prove to the world for me that you
are both the eldest and the wisest.
I...
I've tried very hard,
but I can't give you up no
matter what anyone says.
It's too hard to give you up.
I can't start over, can I?
It's too late for that.
The whole world knows that,
but the King...
that stubborn old fool...
is still refusing to see it.
It's never too late, Your Highness.
Does that mean you still believe in me?
The King still believes in you.
It's not too late to start over,
Your Highness.
Your Highness!
My Queen!
Your Highness!
Your Highness!
- Your Highness.
- What is it?
It's Prince Sungnyeong.
Get the Crown Prince.
He is finally getting some sleep...
You think I came here not
knowing it's time for slumber?
How dare you try to lecture me!
Sungnyeong...
Sweetie, it's me.
Mother is here.
What is wrong with him?
Why is he delirious all of a sudden?
I'm afraid it is smallpox.
Smallpox?
If this is smallpox...
If he's infected with smallpox...
Will he recover?
I'm afraid it is a disease that
we do not have a cure for.
What are you saying?
What will happen to my child?
Give me death, Your Highness...
Sungnyeong, open your eyes.
Mother is here!
Tell them to cure him.
No, you cure him yourself!
You're the one who did this to him,
so restore him to health right now!
This is our fault, yours and mine.
You put too much blood on your
hands to get that miserable throne
and this worthless country, and
now the Heaven is punishing us!
Heaven has struck this poor
child in rage to punish us!
Your Highness...
Your Highness,
the Royal Princes have arrived.
Tell them to leave.
They don't deserve to see him!
They're at each other's throats
fighting for the throne, and they
think they can come in here?
Tell them to leave at once!
I wouldn't have to put up with this
if you had a firm hold on the crown.
Pretending to be the mother
of the country already?
Never miss an opportunity to score points
with the King and Queen. Is that it?
No.
I know you are angry.
I did not have a chance to visit knowing
what difficult time Lord Gim
was going through.
Did I ask for your pity?
Your Highness...
Don't even dream about making
Prince Choongnyeong a Crown Prince.
The eldest son inherits the throne.
Even if the Crown Prince loses his position,
my eldest son will take his place,
not your husband.
Remember that.
Jong.
Can you hear me?
I'm sorry, Mother.
You're a bad son...
I'd like to see the brothers.
Why those horrible characters?
I must say goodbye...
Jong...
I heard what the physician said.
No, he's wrong.
You're going to be just fine.
I won't let anything happen to you.
I want to say goodbye, Mother.
The Crown Prince?
He stepped away for a moment...
Go on in.
My wish is that you would get along.
Brother Jae and all of you...
I wish you'd all get along so
that Mother won't be so sad...
Take care of her.
Sungnyeong...
Wake up.
Jong?
My baby...
My poor child...
My poor baby...
My poor baby...
I beg your pardon?
I am asking you not to reveal the
Crown Prince's relationship with me.
You are the one that came to
me and told me to expose it.
I will give you my life.
So please...
Please don't let anything happen to
the Crown Prince on account of me.
I am begging you.
Leave.
- My lord...
- You chose the wrong man.
I'm not the kind of man
that changes his actions
based on one woman's frivolous words.
Your Highness...
Let me just hold you for a moment...
I am the one who did this to you...
Would you wait for me?
Would you be the home that
I can always come back to?
The Crown Prince has
committed adultery again?
Auri!
Auri!
Auri!
Your Highness, you mustn't!
Your Highness!
What is the meaning of this?
My woman is ill, Father.
If I depose the eldest and bring the
wise one forward as the future King...
Would you accept it?
Would you accept it?
Choose the wise one?
You ditch me, flock to
the King and conspire
to put Choongnyeong on this chair?
I hope you succeed, Prime Minister.
Because you won't live if you fail.
What do you think Prince
Choongnyeong will do?
You said you wanted to
help, so just do the work.
I know that you're even
more anxious than I am.
What if I am?
You should send me
to the conference hall.
My man!
I'm not anxious at all.
I'm going because of you.
What happened?
We don't know yet.
Sire, is there any word
from the audience hall?
Straighten up your headdress!
It's a shame I don't have a mirror.
What could be happening in there?
What is everyone doing
here instead of their offices?
Minister Hwang!
The flood victims are crying for
relief outside the four gates,
Ming is demanding an
answer about Gyeongsung,
Japanese pirates are rampant
in the southern provinces...
You don't think we know all that?
If you do, you can't do this.
His Highness is waiting. Let us
go to the conference hall and...
What if we refuse?
Do you want to shut this government
down? We have a country to run!
I think what they mean is that
they don't want to run this country
with the Crown Prince.
It's not that simple.
Do you really believe
the King would abandon
he concept of primogeniture
and choose the wise one?
Two hours.
That's all, Minister Hwang.
Please be patient for two hours at the most.
In that time, the world may change.
What will happen if Prince
Choongnyeong accepts?
Then he will make an
enemy of his own mother.
Father, I am not the wise one.
Is that a refusal?
But if you give me a chance,
I am prepared to give my best
effort to become the wise one.
Don't give your effort!
Do not do anything.
My Queen.
Yes, this will be a lot
quicker if you called this off.
Which of the ministers told
you to choose the wise one?
Punish them.
Kill them all and stop them from talking
about deposing the eldest heir.
Leave us.
Are you going to give him a chance?
Don't you know what kind of
chance this child is talking about?
You're asking the King for a chance to
make an enemy of your own brother.
Do you realize that?
If you start this fight for the throne,
it won't end until one of you is dead.
Do you know that?
Are you prepared?
Are you prepared to fight your
own brother for the throne?
Say no.
You must say no.
I am asking Choongnyeong.
I am prepared.
I am prepared to become the Crown
Prince's political enemy as well.
Prince Choongnyeong is
more decisive than I thought.
Now we shall see if the
world really changes.
Prince Choongnyeong is more
decisive than he appears,
and you are formidable than you appear.
You did not want to make him a rebel
but you did want to make him a king?
Since when did you start
molding him for the throne?
This humble man has not done much.
But your support will
give him great strength.
Let us give it a try.
Prince Choongnyeong will be very pleased.
How could you?
I begged you.
Mother...
Don't call me Mother.
You lost your mother today.
You will not be my son unless you
renounce your ambition for power!
Father-in-law.
You've been through so much...
The road is rougher ahead.
But we won't let anything happen to you.
We've been waiting for you,
Your Highness.
You have us behind you.
Don't ever be discouraged, Your Highness.
You have us, Your Highness!
Keep your spirit high!
- We've all been waiting for you!
- We're behind you all the way!
Would you like to review
the public works first or
shall we take a look at he royal
decrees that have been issued?
I'm back, Master.
Why did you
come back to this treacherous place?
Did the selfish and unashamed
public push you back here again?
They said not to fear since my unfailing
mentor is in the royal court to guide me.
I want you to silence this debate
about choosing the wise one.
I don't think so.
Don't press the King.
You're going too far taking this
to Crown Prince's deposal.
His Majesty chose you as Prime
Minister in preparation of abdication.
You mean you chose me in
preparation of his abdication.
Did I look that naive to you?
What made you think I would protect
a man that doesn't have what it takes?
Prime Minister.
Go to the Royal Inspector's Office.
The Royal Inspector's Office?
What?
You don't know where it is?
Come out.
Your Highness!
It's an order.
You mustn't do this, Your Highness.
You'll make your problem worse.
Failing to protect my men is
the worst problem I can have.
Your Highness...
You can either release them
or put me in there as well.
He can't do either of those things.
The royal order is for you
to execute them personally.
The Crown Prince will
not obey that order.
Then he will lose his crown.
Their only crime is obeying my order.
Yes, I know.
Then how could he tell
me to punish them?
His Majesty is not trying to punish
them. He is trying to punish you.
Tell him to endure the pain of cutting
out his own flesh by killing his own men,
and forgiveness of the Royal court.
He must humbly reflect and admit his
errors and vow never to repeat them.
He will surely refuse.
Then he will leave me no
choice but to depose him.
I will see the King.
You'll be putting yourself
in worse situation.
Yes, I know.
Then why?
That's the difference
between me and the King.
I do not kill my own to protect my crown.
If the Crown Prince loses his crown,
will this country belong
to Prince Choongnyeong?
If that is the will of Heaven...
Then you must kill the Crown
Prince with your own hands.
Minister Hwang.
If the Crown Prince loses his crown,
he will know exactly what he has to
do to get it back because
he learned by watching you.
Stop!
If the tragedy that occurred in your
generation is repeated,
this country is over.
Public will not tolerate
a Royal house that turns into
a slaughter house every
time there is a new King.
Stop, or I might kill you first.
Please do.
Kill me with Your Majesty's sword.
And give mercy to the Crown Prince.
Look upon him kindly for his
care and loyalty to his men,
and tell him to start over.
Do not defend a boy who can t even
distinguish between flattery and loyalty.
That, too, is my fault.
I taught him to be wary of his subjects,
but I failed to teach him
how to choose them.
I am the cause of his errors, so punish me
and give the Crown Prince another chance.
Death is what you wish?
You must not give up on the
Crown Prince no matter what.
Royal attendant!
Enter, Royal attendant!
Remove Minister Hwang Hee from
his post and banish him out of the city!
Your Majesty...!
Now!
You're... wrong about everything.
Please be well, Your Highness.
Prince Choongnyeong is diligently
preparing himself for the throne...
And the Crown Prince is...
The Crown Prince is
no longer a royal proxy...
Gu Jongsu and his brother
have been execute...
What are you doing here?
He doesn't even have...
the decency to see you off
after all you've done for him...
Do I have to lecture you
about your wifely duties?
Father...
You are all he's got right now.
You must protect him
with all your strength.
And his father-in-law Gim Hanlo
has been sentenced to exile.
But His Majesty is yet
to go forward with this.
He has to depose the Crown Prince
so the wise one can take his place.
The censorate officials are
continuing to submit their appeals.
Censorate officials aren't the only ones.
Your Majesty, you must renounce the
eldest heir and choose the wise one!
Choose the wise one!
Protect this country and its government!
Protect this country!
Your Majesty, you must renounce the
eldest heir and choose the wise one!
The King can't make up his mind?
What could be the problem?
You should know that better than I do.
You are his shadow, not me.
My duty is to assist him,
not to guess his thoughts.
Sounds like you're asking me
to find out what's on his mind.
I am saying Prince Choongnyeong
needs to be re-evaluated.
An evaluation...
I will not be a Royal Prince.
If we can't reflect on our past mistakes
and continue to rule with violence,
if that is the very fabric of
Joseon that will not change,
I refuse to continue
living as its Royal prince.
Prince Choongnyeong once
denied legitimacy of this regime.
And if he still feels that way,
he cannot be our wise one.
And your guess is that is the
cause of King's hesitation?
I do not guess, Your Eminence.
I just want to help the King see
clearly who the wise one is.
I suppose legitimacy of the regime is an
uncomfortable subject for him to bring up.
It would look best brought up by
the Council of the Royal House.
Why are you coming to me with this?
Is this you way of saying you
want to help Prince Hyoryeong?
If he is a benevolent prince who hasn't
defied the King or denied the legitimacy
of the regime, the world will see him as
the wise one without my having to help.
What do you think?
Do you think your younger
brother needs to be evaluated?
The longer we wait, more people
will begin to doubt the prince.
We must expedite the decision!
The quickest way to
expedite the decision is
for Prince Choongnyeong
to prove that he is the wise one.
But he has been buried
in books since his return...
We must provide him with knowledge
and information about actual state affairs.
There are plenty of mentors who
can help him with law, economics
and foreign relations...
But not with military affairs.
The Prince needs mentors who will share
their knowledge about military affairs.
We must find a way to bring Choi Yundeok
and Yi Chun back to the capital.
But what we need right now is a cause.
Something to push the King to
make up his mind once and for all.
There is a perfect cause for that.
To Lady Auri's again?
You must practice restraint, Your Highness.
I just can't get naggers out of my life.
Your Highness...
Leaving the palace in plain
clothes at this late hour?
When will you stop behaving like this?
Won't you retrain yourself for me?
The world is urging me to renounce
you and choose the wise one.
My retainers and even trifling scholars
are on my back pressuring me.
Won't you consider my
position for one moment?
This would all be over if you just go
ahead and choose the wise one.
I am hoping you would be that wise one.
Prove to the world for me that you
are both the eldest and the wisest.
I...
I've tried very hard,
but I can't give you up no
matter what anyone says.
It's too hard to give you up.
I can't start over, can I?
It's too late for that.
The whole world knows that,
but the King...
that stubborn old fool...
is still refusing to see it.
It's never too late, Your Highness.
Does that mean you still believe in me?
The King still believes in you.
It's not too late to start over,
Your Highness.
Your Highness!
My Queen!
Your Highness!
Your Highness!
- Your Highness.
- What is it?
It's Prince Sungnyeong.
Get the Crown Prince.
He is finally getting some sleep...
You think I came here not
knowing it's time for slumber?
How dare you try to lecture me!
Sungnyeong...
Sweetie, it's me.
Mother is here.
What is wrong with him?
Why is he delirious all of a sudden?
I'm afraid it is smallpox.
Smallpox?
If this is smallpox...
If he's infected with smallpox...
Will he recover?
I'm afraid it is a disease that
we do not have a cure for.
What are you saying?
What will happen to my child?
Give me death, Your Highness...
Sungnyeong, open your eyes.
Mother is here!
Tell them to cure him.
No, you cure him yourself!
You're the one who did this to him,
so restore him to health right now!
This is our fault, yours and mine.
You put too much blood on your
hands to get that miserable throne
and this worthless country, and
now the Heaven is punishing us!
Heaven has struck this poor
child in rage to punish us!
Your Highness...
Your Highness,
the Royal Princes have arrived.
Tell them to leave.
They don't deserve to see him!
They're at each other's throats
fighting for the throne, and they
think they can come in here?
Tell them to leave at once!
I wouldn't have to put up with this
if you had a firm hold on the crown.
Pretending to be the mother
of the country already?
Never miss an opportunity to score points
with the King and Queen. Is that it?
No.
I know you are angry.
I did not have a chance to visit knowing
what difficult time Lord Gim
was going through.
Did I ask for your pity?
Your Highness...
Don't even dream about making
Prince Choongnyeong a Crown Prince.
The eldest son inherits the throne.
Even if the Crown Prince loses his position,
my eldest son will take his place,
not your husband.
Remember that.
Jong.
Can you hear me?
I'm sorry, Mother.
You're a bad son...
I'd like to see the brothers.
Why those horrible characters?
I must say goodbye...
Jong...
I heard what the physician said.
No, he's wrong.
You're going to be just fine.
I won't let anything happen to you.
I want to say goodbye, Mother.
The Crown Prince?
He stepped away for a moment...
Go on in.
My wish is that you would get along.
Brother Jae and all of you...
I wish you'd all get along so
that Mother won't be so sad...
Take care of her.
Sungnyeong...
Wake up.
Jong?
My baby...
My poor child...
My poor baby...
My poor baby...
I beg your pardon?
I am asking you not to reveal the
Crown Prince's relationship with me.
You are the one that came to
me and told me to expose it.
I will give you my life.
So please...
Please don't let anything happen to
the Crown Prince on account of me.
I am begging you.
Leave.
- My lord...
- You chose the wrong man.
I'm not the kind of man
that changes his actions
based on one woman's frivolous words.
Your Highness...
Let me just hold you for a moment...
I am the one who did this to you...
Would you wait for me?
Would you be the home that
I can always come back to?
The Crown Prince has
committed adultery again?
Auri!
Auri!
Auri!
Your Highness, you mustn't!
Your Highness!
What is the meaning of this?
My woman is ill, Father.