Mr. Queen (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript
"This drama is fictional and
all characters, organizations,"
"and events are unrelated
to historical events."
No, I didn't mean that!
I can't help but take the last step.
He's fast.
What is it? I should
ask you the same thing.
I thought the moonlight was enough
to set the mood while having drinks,
so I blew out the candle.
I was going to clear my throat
before we started drinking for real.
You can consider it a warm-up.
Like this.
What are you doing? Darn it.
Did you not want to warm-up
each other's vocal cords?
What a cunning jerk. Did
he do that on purpose?
No, there's no way.
Now that we've warmed up our throats,
you should start drinking
in earnest, My Queen.
Gosh.
It's no fun to drink alone.
I did not think about that.
Here.
Thanks to the warm-up exercises,
the drink goes down very smoothly.
What? What was I doing until now?
Here. Drink up.
You should also drink too, My Queen.
The king must drink first.
The queen must drink first.
He has changed his strategy.
I know what's inside
that dark soul of yours.
Then how about we each have a drink...
and go to bed since it
has been a long day?
What are you saying?
We're just getting started.
Don't be like that.
Here we go. Be manly and
lovely and drink it all in one shot.
One shot.
I am a light sleeper,
so keep your distance while we sleep.
What kind of game is he
playing at with that nonsense?
"Win During the Day and Fade At Night"
The truth behind the king, known
for his love of alcohol and women...
The Annals of the Joseon
Dynasty are nothing but tabloids.
I was scared for no reason.
However, I shouldn't put my guard down.
I'm finally putting to use...
the granny knot I learned in the Army.
If he wants to take it off,
he will have to cut it off.
Okay.
That selfish king.
He's sleeping alone on the soft bedding.
Goodness, My Queen.
I know how you feel,
but I would just like to sleep tonight.
It's not like that. I
was raised with care,
so I can't sleep on the bare floor.
Give me one of these.
I cannot sleep...
if I have less than
three layers of bedding.
I am sure you were not raised
with more care than a king.
He's trying to distort history.
He's nothing but the Woodcutter
Prince of Ganghwa Island.
Gosh.
I hope he gets sleep paralysis.
Since things turned out this
way, I'll be on night watch.
I'm reminded of the Army in
more aspects than one tonight.
"Episode 2: Nobody Knows"
Are you awake, Your Highness?
Darn it.
I was hoping I wasn't,
but I guess I'm still here.
What does it feel like to
greet the first day as Queen?
It feels like poop.
Oh, my.
My granny knot.
Did you lose something again?
I will search high and low... No!
I'm sure I untied it in my sleep
because I felt uncomfortable. Right?
Your Majesty.
When did you arrive at Huijeongjeon Hall?
I apologize for not escorting you.
I did not want to wake the
Queen, so I left the room quietly.
Did you have a nightmare again?
The Queen must not
lose sleep because of me.
It is her first day as queen.
I will serve you Arabian jasmine
tea tonight so that you can sleep well.
The Queen must be greeting
the ladies of the court right now.
I heard they just left.
I am curious to see how the
Queen appears from now on.
I get that yesterday was the wedding,
but why am I busy as
soon as I woke up today?
You have the johyeonrye
where you must go and greet...
the Grand Queen Dowager
and the Queen Dowager,
and the celebration ceremony where
the royal court officials greet you.
After you complete the
official wedding ceremonies...
Is that when the royal marriage ends?
No. His Majesty must proclaim
the message to announce...
your investiture as the queen.
It's a never-ending wedding.
Hold on. The Grand Queen Dowager is...
Grand Queen Dowager ordered it.
If I fill the lake with water, it
means I will be crossing her.
What kind of person is
the Grand Queen Dowager?
The Grand Queen Dowager...
is an elder who is also from the
Andong Kim clan, just like you,
and the Queen Dowager is
from the Pungyang Jo clan.
So my mother-in-law and
grandmother-in-law are rivals.
And I, the queen, is in the same
line as my grandmother-in-law.
I'm sure I'll be able to
tell when I see them, right?
The person who looks older
will be the Grand Queen Dowager.
What else?
This is really important to me, so
tell me everything you know. Okay?
She is Lord Kim Jwa Geun sister,
and she has never set foot outside
of the palace once she entered it.
Also... Stop.
No, the palanquin. Stop!
Stop! Stop.
Go back.
Go in reverse.
Go in reverse.
That is enough.
Something more important just came up.
Did you lose your way because
the palace is complicated?
It's nice to meet you. What's your name?
Goodness.
I'm not used to this body yet.
Your luxurious aura is uncommon.
Are you a part of the royal family too?
Are you a princess or something?
I apologize.
If my behaviour was
arrogant and bothered you,
please forgive me, Your Highness.
No. What I'm trying to say is...
Your Highness.
You walk so fast. How
did you get here already?
Hello.
Do you know her?
She is Lady Hwa Jin of the Jo clan...
who is becoming the
king's royal concubine.
I understand that she is the Queen,
but is she not insulting you too much?
She keeps twisting her words.
There are rumours within
the palace that she is the one...
who pushed you into the lake.
I am certain that the rumours that
the Queen lost her memory are false.
You must be careful. You must be careful.
I have spent a lot of
time with many women,
so I am able to tell a lot by
seeing their physiognomy.
You are... How should I put it?
You're a good person.
I guess you and her don't have
a good history with each other,
but shall we start again?
I like you.
Let's be friends.
Did you decide to change your strategy?
My strategy?
I found out what kind of
place this is thanks to you.
The reality that I have entered
the palace has finally sunk in.
No. It seems you have
misunderstood what I am saying.
I... I am sorry, but I must go.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty. Your Majesty.
I went to the royal villa,
but you were not there.
I also went to greet you,
but you were not there.
Oh, my. We must have crossed paths.
We were thinking the same thing.
If she's the royal concubine, then
she's Cheoljong's second wife?
I shouldn't have gone into this body.
I should've gone into that one.
I am trembling in fear over the
jealousy in Her Highness' eyes.
Why don't you get a room?
My Queen.
I would like you to rush the
investiture of the Royal Concubine.
That's too bad.
I'm too busy to take care of the
investiture of the Royal Concubine.
It is a royal command.
I hope polygamy gets ruined.
Your Highness.
The ladies of the court
are waiting for you...
Your Majesty.
I have an important meeting. Bye.
What on earth...
Your Highness.
That must have scared you.
Hwa Jin.
I will finally be able
to call you my wife.
Now, I will be living
in the palace with you.
You deserve a proper wedding.
But actually, a eunuch
saw you in front of the lake.
They are trying to frame you
for what happened at the lake.
So I had to rush the selection process.
I only went there as I
was surprised to hear...
a loud noise at the lake.
Do not worry.
She will not be able to harm you...
even if she is from the Andong Kim clan.
No. I will make sure that
she does nothing about this.
I will protect you
with everything I have.
Your Majesty.
By the way, it seems to me
I do not have much to offer.
I am only a puppet on the throne.
And I have an older
brother who is a worry wart...
and a friend who likes to have fun.
And I have...
a beautiful woman.
You are a rich man.
I vouched for your
whereabouts of that night.
Do not worry.
What? Which one is the
Grand Queen Dowager?
Offer your greetings, Your Highness.
Darn it. Whatever.
I hope your night was
peaceful, Grand Queen Dowager.
You have gotten so young over the night.
It seemed you have regained your youth.
It almost fooled me that you
were the Queen Dowager.
That wench.
Is that so?
All my hard work paid off.
Great. That was smooth.
You were in such a tragic accident.
My gosh. It seems to me that
you have not made a full recovery.
Can you not tell?
That is how the perfect
queen ought to look.
She is sharp like before.
I see.
Gosh, yes. You are right.
They're getting on each other's
nerves while smiling at each other.
I should stay on my toes.
Now, all that remains is
your effort to produce an heir.
I have learned about this secret
tip on getting blessed with a prince...
which has been passed down
over generations at the palace.
Is that so?
This is what you do when you
are spending the night with the king,
When he is lying down on his back,
you can...
She's by far the worst in-law ever.
And at this very critical
moment, you can...
Mother, I will take care of that myself.
I couldn't hold it in anymore.
Well, I am
well-knowledgeable in that area.
Right.
You took a lot of bridal
lessons to be a good wife to him.
I am sure you are well-prepared for it.
I see.
I must have overstepped.
You don't like it when your
daughter-in-law is unsophisticated.
But it's nice to see when
your granddaughter-in-law is.
My gosh.
These are so long. What a
creative way to kill someone.
My neck hurts.
You seem very tired.
Right.
We did drink a bit too much last night.
That was nothing.
The court officials
must be waiting for us.
Let us go in.
"Injeongjeon Hall"
Chief State Councillor Kim Byung Hak.
Congratulations.
Left State Councillor Kim Seok Geun.
Congratulations.
Minister of War Kim Chang Hyuk.
Congratulations.
They are all Kims.
So these are the famous
trio of the Andong Kim clan.
With the help of the Grand
Queen Dowager and the Queen,
they collected taxes
under all kinds of excuses...
which caused the people
to have a hard time.
In today's world, it's
equivalent to military corruption,
real estate corruption,
and tax evasion corruption.
They were corrupt in every way possible.
In other words, they
were the corrupt trio,
the symbol of corrupt politicians
that ruined the Joseon Dynasty.
The Andong Kim clan.
Right State Councillor Jo Man Hong.
Congratulations.
Minister of Personnel Jo Deok Moon.
Congratulations.
I see. The Pungyang Jo clan.
This clan that centered around
the Queen Dowager is famous too.
When the son of the Queen
Dowager, Heonjong, was the king,
they reaped the benefits. And
when Heonjong passed away,
Kim So Yong of the Andong
Kim clan became the queen,
they lost all of their power.
There are more than just these minnows.
The big names in this era.
Training Commander Kim Jwa Geun.
Congratulations, Your Majesty...
and Your Highness.
The real power behind the Kim clan.
I would like to report one
thing as we celebrate...
the royal wedding.
What is it?
The Royal Guard Commander
looks after your safety.
I would like to recommend your
father-in-law, Kim Mun Geun.
My father-in-law?
Yes.
It is an important appointment.
It was out of Her Highness'
concerns about your safety.
I apologize for not
bringing this up sooner.
Is that your request?
I have no idea. But...
I want to be on the winner's side.
All I care about, alive
or dead, is your safety.
To ensure your safety, I
even stayed up all night.
Oh, no. What a sly woman.
I see. I will consider it.
The Grand Queen Dowager...
was very satisfied with
Her Highness' request.
Currently, my older brother,
Prince Yeongpyeong,
holds the position.
Give me some time to consider it.
Your safety is the most
important matter at hand.
Please understand that we would
like to expedite the appointment.
Your Majesty.
Your love for me is endless.
Then, I will proceed
with it with your approval.
Kim Jwa Geun,
who is powerful beyond the king.
He's the real boss of the court.
I totally need some popcorn for this.
Your Highness. Your Highness.
Sorry about that. Please continue.
My Queen seems tired. How about
we wrap up the ceremony here?
Spending the night together is
a divine act to conceive an heir.
It should never be for your own pleasure.
However, I lost my prudence last night.
A loving, happy marriage is
nothing to be frowned upon.
Is that so?
What's this guy talking about?
Then we shall end the ceremony here.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
You were just bluffing, right?
What do you mean?
Nothing happened last night.
This makes me sad. I
understand you drank,
but how could you forget what
happened on our wedding night?
What are you saying?
However, I do understand.
You recently suffered from
amnesia, so that could be why.
Impossible. There's no way that happened.
You passed the test.
"Test"? What test?
The virginity test to make sure
you bleed on your marital bed.
Anyhow, I have other matters to tend to.
Hey, wait. Can we
finish this conversation?
Your Highness, let us take
you back to your chamber.
Don't worry, Jang Bong
Hwan. He's obviously lying.
Hey, think about it. You'd
know if it actually happened.
There's no way that happened.
Of course, he doesn't want people
to know that he lacks stamina.
And it seems that he has
a habit of distorting history.
Still, must he be so calculating?
And what's with that test
thing? He even made that up?
Stop for a second.
Can I ask you something?
Is it possible for women
to not know after doing it?
"It"?
What exactly are you
referring to, Your Highness?
She's obviously too young.
And this court lady must be
even more celibate than monks are.
I don't think anyone here
can answer my question.
Oh, my goodness!
Is that kid crying because of
me? Of course not, Your Highness.
The wind is cold. Let me
close the window for you.
What? I'm sweating
right now. It is very cold.
It's hot in here! You will catch a cold.
I feel hot right now!
Let us go.
What that punk, Cheoljong
said keeps bothering me.
It is safe for you to eat, Your Highness.
Now that I have seen the Queen,
I am certain that
something is wrong with her.
How should I put this?
Shall I say she is too brazen?
She did have a bold side to her,
but she was never that
blindly brazen and fearless.
She lost her poise even
during the ceremony.
I must teach her to behave herself.
There is no need for us to give
the others something to prey on.
About Jo Hwa Jin...
Are you sure she was
with His Majesty that night?
Yes, I verified everything.
She entered the palace
about 15 minutes...
after the accident took place.
It cannot serve as proof that she
did not try to harm Her Majesty,
but they will try to use it as evidence.
It is a mystery.
If it was not her, who did such a thing?
Do you think that
someone else is involved?
Perhaps.
However, it does not matter who did it.
Who do we need it to
be? That is more important.
Who do we need it to be?
If we point to a deer...
and say that it is a horse,
then it shall be a horse.
And in our case, that deer may
truly become a horse down the road.
All right. Forget about such
political affairs for a moment...
and have some food, Your Highness.
Since you are making
sure that I always eat well,
I have no choice but to take
excellent care of my health.
I will never let anyone or
anything harm your health.
Have some food.
"I hereby give the senior
first-rank in the Internal Court..."
"to Jo Hwa Jin, the daughter..."
"of Royal Secretariat Jo Dae
Su from the Pungyang Jo clan."
"She is also given the title
of Royal Noble Consort Eui..."
"because of her beauty
and righteousness..."
The Pungyang Jo clan.
Their families are
rivals, and so are they.
Did she really push Kim
So Yong into the lake?
She's dangerous,
so I find her intriguing.
I am much obliged, Your Highness.
Let's get along.
I should take the winner's side,
but I can't keep my guard
up in front of such beauty.
Let's get along.
You'll find out soon, but I'm
perfect, except for the fact...
that I have many flaws.
Well, since we're family now,
can I ask you something?
I have no one else to ask.
Since I am not wise enough, I am
not sure if I can answer your question.
Oh, it's about something
you know very well. The King.
Does he tend to bluff a lot?
I heard girls talk
about all sorts of stuff.
And that being said, the King...
tends to fade at night.
"Tends to fade at night"?
I have never heard such
an expression before.
He wins during the
day but fades at night.
But he talked as if we had
a steamy night together.
He has a tendency to
distort... Your Highness.
With all due respect, I find
this highly inappropriate.
Oh, I'm sorry if I offended
you. It just keeps bothering me.
I still have a lot to do since
I arrived only yesterday.
Sorry I took up your time. Get going.
I will be leaving then.
One thing though. His
Majesty is not like that.
He's not like that? Are
you saying he doesn't bluff?
Or he doesn't fade at
night? Which one is it?
This is bothering me even more now! Gosh!
My gosh.
Thieves!
There are thieves!
Thieves! There are thieves!
Thieves!
Thieves! Over there!
Thieves!
Stop crying. Oh, no.
Stop crying. Okay?
My baby. My baby!
No!
Your Majesty.
It was not in the secret
storehouse I raided last night either.
Seeing how it was not...
at the most secretive place with
the highest level of surveillance,
is it possible that it is really
hidden in the tiger's den?
Your Majesty, the
Queen is here to see you.
I am very busy with state affairs.
We're on the same page.
That's what I wanted to talk about.
You must be so busy that
you're holding this upside down.
I had my reasons. I was
busy with my thoughts.
Finish your thoughts. I'll wait.
Why are you staring at me?
You know,
I was just thinking that
you sure are trying so hard.
Of course. As the king, I
ought to look after state affairs.
Is that jerk talking about
"affairs" on purpose?
I selected the Royal Concubine
which you desperately wanted.
You can start sleeping in your quarters.
I shall.
And you have nothing to tell me?
You came here to see me.
So you must have something to tell me.
Let's be honest since it's just us here.
Last night, we...
We had a great time.
Well, if that's how
you're going to play it...
My gosh.
You are distracting me.
If you don't want to talk about it,
why don't we come up
with our own hand signals?
Like this one.
What is that?
This means whatever I'm saying is a lie.
What do you think? It's not that hard.
A king never lies.
You can go now.
My gosh. That's so annoying.
He keeps insisting that something
happened with such a straight face.
Now, I'm starting to wonder if
something really did happen.
Your Highness, it was
a tough day, was it not?
My gosh. It tickles.
Hey. My gosh.
Gosh. It tickles.
Your Highness.
Starting today, we will
begin your etiquette lessons.
I'm quite well-mannered.
It is a crash course on palace etiquette.
I don't want to.
It is an order from the
Grand Queen Dowager.
Whatever the King meant
by passing "the test"...
can't be more important than going back.
Winning the Grand Queen
Dowager over comes first.
You might not have guessed
it, but I took etiquette lessons...
in Cheonghak-dong at the age of four.
Do you want to see how
well-mannered a graduate can be?
A woman of the royal family
has the composure of Buddha.
When she walks, she
does not stir up the wind.
The candle lights do not flicker.
When she has her meal, she
must not open her mouth wide...
or take big bites of the food.
Embroidery is the best way for a woman...
to sort out her thoughts.
Embroidery. That is her specialty.
I'm not the one who's bad-mannered.
You're overly well-mannered.
You don't even want
me to breathe, do you?
This is worse than
staying in Cheonghak-dong.
Darn it.
Gosh, how can I eat such a pretty meal?
I should enjoy the
meal with my eyes first.
Is it just me? It sure looks like...
you are enjoying it with your mouth.
You used to love that.
Hong Yeon, have one. Open wide.
What is wrong, Your Highness?
Was that Kim So Yong's memory?
My heart...
She has been poisoned.
Call the royal physician now!
Your Highness. Your Highness.
Please spit that out! Your Highness.
Your Highness. This isn't physical pain.
Does this woman like Cheoljong?
You should love me.
His eyes.
That's more than hatred. He despises her.
Please, Your Highness.
I enjoy the accompaniment
more than the liquor.
That is great.
All the liquor here is yours.
He had no intention to go
through with our first night together.
That's why he tried to make me drink.
We were thinking the same thing.
Now, all that remains is
your effort to produce an heir.
Please come to your
senses, Your Highness.
Bring her some water!
In order to fool the Kim
clan who was trying to...
persuade him to sleep with her,
Cheoljong lied.
Hong Yeon. Nothing happened to me!
It was bothering me like crazy.
I trusted myself, but
I can't trust that jerk.
But...
What are you all doing?
More. Pull it up higher.
This is how exhausting it
is to maintain one's position.
Appearing decrepit means
that you have become weak.
If you do this twice a day,
you can prevent your
wrinkles from getting deeper.
I see. You work so hard.
But what brings you here?
After receiving the etiquette
class you have ordered,
I have had a deep realization
regarding how I should act...
as the queen.
That makes me happy.
That is enough. You can
stop. Yes, Your Highness.
But last night, as I was
in bed with His Majesty,
I felt my energy waver,
and I was unenthusiastic.
I thought about why that could
be, and I found the answer.
Since all the water in every
lake has been removed,
the yin energy is weak here.
I feel like if the lakes
are filled with water again,
I could bear a prince right away.
That is unacceptable.
Darn it. You almost died in the lake.
If we were to do things properly,
it would not be enough to punish
all those who assist you with death.
However, with such a joyous
event like your wedding coming up,
we thought there should not be
any bloodshed, so we were gracious.
If you wish to fill them up with
water, let us do what we must.
Hong Yeon, Court Lady
Choi, and who else is there?
Everyone who has responsibility
will receive a severe punishment.
She's savage. She's not
your average grandmother.
I will sleep with the
King for three nights.
I will sleep with the King...
to conceive an heir as soon as possible.
Could you fill the lakes with
water as a gift for doing so?
Seven days.
Five days.
Listen here. Give all those who
assist the queen with a severe...
Seven days.
That is perfect.
If you promise to fill the lakes
with water after seven days,
I will make sure to conceive a prince.
Prince or not, all I need to do is leave.
Royal Noble Consort
Eui has come to see you.
Goodness. You are as
graceful as I have been told.
His Majesty has a good eye for women.
You are too kind.
This is a gift.
It is something that you
need while living in the palace.
It is very important.
Please take it out.
This is how life in the palace is like.
There is no place you can lean on,
and once you feel nervous,
you cannot stop feeling so.
Oh, that is right. What is your
exact time and date of birth?
What must you do to create a prince?
Oh, my. Where is my head at?
Your marital compatibility
must come first.
Tell me if you need a strong talisman.
There is a fortune-teller I
know who is an expert at curses.
I received good results last time.
Your Highness, I apologize,
but I entered the palace in
order to assist His Majesty.
I am so silly.
I apologize, Your Highness.
My speech and behaviour
were too resolute.
It is okay. Do not worry.
Speaking of which, your
investiture just happened,
but you will be spending
a long time alone.
Goodness. That is too
bad. What will you do?
Pardon?
The King and Queen
will be sleeping together...
for seven days.
There must be no thunder,
and there must be no fog or
wind during their time together.
Yet their time together has
been arranged consecutively.
Do not worry too much.
I am sure that His
Majesty's feelings for you...
will not change in that time.
You will end up...
losing someone precious to you too.
Your Highness.
I ruined it so badly that
I cannot fix this mess.
It is a waste, but I should throw it out.
Your character and everything
else is perfect to become the queen.
She has nothing to offer
but the power of her family,
but she is pushing His Majesty so much.
Look here.
The queen can be considered another king.
There is a duty that
comes with your position,
so you must hold your tongue.
However, it is obvious she
had the royal palace court lady...
to manipulate the period
that they get to spend together.
Furthermore, she blamed you
for something you did not do.
Why did that have to happen
when you were passing by?
I have not adjusted
to life in the palace.
This mouth of mine...
I apologize, Your Highness.
What can I do this time for His Majesty?
You told me to sleep in the royal villa,
but you had the Grand Queen
Dowager arrange for us to sleep together.
It is very hard to
understand a woman's heart.
I have a favour to ask.
Will you do it for me?
Of course. It is a request
from you, My Queen.
Let's install a no-touching rule.
I do not want to. You said you would.
I have never heard that word before.
You didn't even know
what I said, but you refused?
I refused because I do not
know what you are saying.
Listen carefully, Your Majesty.
No touching means that we
will live happily separately.
It's a good thing.
For example, we'll say
we're sleeping together,
but you'll be happy at the royal
villa, and I will be happy here.
So let's have a no-touching rule.
However, I do not want to.
Why do you keep refusing?
For some reason, your
behaviour upsets me.
This crazy king.
Only a lunatic knows how
to deal with another lunatic.
I don't remember what
happened last night,
so what if we reviewed it?
HN. Okay?
HN?
A hot night.
Tonight...
is our real first night together.
If that is the case...
Hey. Hurry! They'll see you.
A king never runs.
Darn you.
Oh, Court Lady Choi!
This could get you in deep
trouble, Your Highness.
I must see what the
commoners are enduring...
to become a sage queen.
Your intentions are highly admirable,
but it is just too dangerous.
I would even die if you
tell me to, but this is...
The map.
But this time... The identification tag.
I cannot let you do this.
The name is...
"Lee Saeng Mang".
What an ominous name.
"Saeng" means "to observe",
and "Mang" means "effort".
An observer who makes efforts
for our nation. It is a great name.
Well, sure. It's not my name anyway.
What time does the curfew start? At 11pm,
they will ring the
evening bell 28 times...
and close the gate.
Oh, they'll ring some kind of bell?
At 11pm, right?
Too bad. That's like prime time.
Okay.
I promise I'll be back before that.
No.
I will do everything in my power...
to make sure Your Highness cannot leave.
Hong Yeon.
What kind of person was I?
You were always...
kind and optimistic.
You always smiled a lot,
and you were friendly to others.
You know, I'd rather
hear the truth from you...
than from others.
That is true.
Then...
Once, when you were reading a book...
I cannot focus on the book.
Your noisy breathing...
is ringing in my ears.
Get in here! Drag him out and flog him!
I suffer from chronic rhinitis.
Forgive me, Your Highness!
Come on.
You are offbeat by a quarter note.
You have such an awful sense of rhythm.
How dare you call yourself a teacher?
Anybody there?
This witch ought to be flogged!
Really? My gosh!
How dare you laugh?
I suppose life is easy for you.
Take these two and
give them a good flogging!
When someone sighed before you,
you said, "How dare you sigh?"
When someone smelled good...
"How dare you try to seduce the King?"
You complained about
others' loud steps...
as well as gentle
steps for being arrogant.
Gosh, you nitpicked about everything.
You went bonkers when
anything got on your nerves.
So everyone called you a witch.
I apologize.
I wanted to give you
a detailed description...
but got carried away.
Sounds like many people must've
wanted to push her into the lake.
Is that why the court ladies...
It is because they do not
know what you are really like.
But you do?
Of course.
I have been serving
you since I was little,
so I know that you
have a warm, kind heart,
and you are incredibly smart.
Once you set your mind to something,
you make sure you achieve it.
You are one inspiring lady.
You have just been a little
lonely since coming to the palace...
because His Majesty is openly
affectionate toward another woman.
This woman wasn't
always lonely after all.
She has someone who understands her.
"This woman"?
I was just saying, I'm
not lonely thanks to you.
You flatter me, Your Highness.
Don't worry, Hong Yeon.
Just get a good night's sleep.
I'll make sure I won't
get caught for your sake.
Gosh! I will kill you all!
Take my other eye too, you scoundrels!
I will not let you take my
wife and child as slaves!
If you cannot pay your taxes,
you have no choice
but to let us take them!
That punk has committed many sins!
My only sin...
is bringing my child
into this horrible world!
Stay away! Do not come near me.
That crazy rat is even
guilty of treason now!
If killing scoundrels like you is
considered treason, I will do it.
Yes! I will gladly do it!
My dear!
Do not do it.
I understand you are
upset, but do not do this.
Those scoundrels want us dead.
Why are you telling me to stop?
Dam Hyang.
Move! Out of the way! Move!
My goodness.
Gosh, what do we do?
Father, you are back.
Yes, how was your trip?
I apologize for missing...
such a joyous event.
Have you made up your mind?
Which position are you leaning toward?
I have decided on the
direction of my dream.
But as for its scope, I am not sure yet.
Its scope?
All right.
Since I trust you, I will not rush you.
But something happened
while you were away.
The Queen fell into the lake...
the night before her wedding.
She was unconscious for a full day,
so we had to postpone the wedding.
How is Her Highness now?
Is she okay?
You, stop there!
I have not seen you before in the palace.
Seeing how you are
looking around, in a rush...
Well... Your first time in the palace?
I suppose you are lost.
I got lost too when I first came here.
That's right.
You look familiar for some reason.
Luxurious clothes...
and that unguarded, confident attitude.
He must be from a rich family.
I was about to say the same thing.
You're that famous son
of the prestigious family.
That handsome son of
the highly respected family.
You are smart and are
also skilled in martial arts.
I have heard so much
about you. Your name was...
Kim Hwan.
Kim Hwan from the Andong Kim clan.
Gosh, that means he's her relative.
Am I that famous?
Yes, you really are.
Even all the commoners outside
the palace know about you.
It is an honour to meet you.
I was on my way out too.
Let us go together.
Oh, I came from that way.
I was confused as it is too dark now.
Slain like this.
Gosh, he's so chatty.
He won't stop talking even for a second.
That is why it is a little spooky here.
And that is the reason His
Majesty has a nightmare every night.
Nightmare?
His Majesty has been
having the same nightmare...
every night since his Ganghwa days.
It is about...
being accused of treason...
and getting beheaded.
I apologize I did not recognize you.
Do not worry. Countless people
walk in and out of this gate daily.
"Lee Saeng Mang"
Since I made such a good friend today,
I would like to visit a kisaeng parlour.
Which one is the best?
Oktajeong. It is the best one.
The ladies' laughter
sounds like what you hear...
when you beat a jade tablet.
Hence the name, Oktajeong.
Please join me.
Look at the bright moon.
It's the perfect night to have some fun.
Here you go.
Let's go.
Take it easy. Thank you.
We seem to be around the same age,
and we even share the same
hobby. I am very glad that we met.
Oh, right. You have not
told me your name yet.
What is your name?
I'm Lee Saeng Mang.
Lee Saeng Mang, as in
"A failure in this lifetime".
Take it easy.
What is your name?
Yes, that's it.
Oh, my apologies.
You are a woman.
What are you talking
about? I'm obviously a man.
We do not let women in here as customers.
Girls, come and greet this young master!
Yes!
It is an honour to meet you.
Please allow me to pour you one...
I never have more
than three drinks a day.
I have already had two,
and I wish to have the last
one with a friend of mine.
He is a man of principle.
His son recently passed
the civil service examination.
Congratulations.
Even though he is very competent,
he was not able to get a
good position in Hanyang.
If you can guide him, I
will be happy to pay you...
no matter how much you ask for.
Are you asking me to sell you...
a government position for money?
Well, what I meant was...
I would just like to
express my deep gratitude.
From what I know, your son
passed the exam a while ago.
Why come to me now? That is...
You must have reached out
to the Pungyang Jo clan first.
My wife is their distant relative.
Please forgive me.
I understand you are deeply worried...
that your smart, competent
son might not be able...
to achieve his goals due
to the family's past mistakes.
I will help him clear his name
and become a royal secretary.
A royal secretary?
Thank you. Thank you very much!
And you do not need to pay me.
I just need a friend.
Someone who would
gladly risk his life for me.
As of this moment,
everyone in my family...
will gladly do that for you, my lord.
Pour me one,
since we are friends now.
Yes! I am much obliged.
All right, come on in! Okay.
We shall drink until we drop.
We will let it all go and
have some serious fun!
My gosh.
Take me too.
Gosh! Look here!
Here, drink this.
There we go. Nice.
Young Master!
You're so handsome.
Which one of you will
have the pleasure of...
undressing me tonight?
I have been a kisaeng for 20 years,
yet I have never seen
such a pervert before.
Here, have a drink. Come
on. Do not be like that.
This is awful.
I cannot believe we are
drinking alone at a place like this.
It is not the time to
complain about such a thing.
We thought it would be at the
secret storehouse, but it was not there.
That leaves us with one option.
The Queen's father's residence.
But they want to appoint him
as the royal guard commander,
which means it will be
even harder to sneak in now.
They want control over
the Royal Guard Division...
because they want the King's
life in the palms of their hands.
It is only a matter of time before
the guards' disguise is caught.
What? Then this is a dangerous situation.
If they get caught and have to disband,
going after the corrupt
officials at night...
and raiding storehouses
to find illegal ledgers...
will be our job.
So I will be a public
official during the day...
and an assassin at night?
I will be overworked.
Gosh.
Did you make me leave
Ganghwa to work me like a dog?
On my way to Hanyang,
my heart was filled with
ambition and big dreams.
"I shall use my friend
and become successful."
I told you that I wished to
save our rotting, corrupt country,
and you decided to follow along.
You did not word it like that.
You always talked about
Hanyang, so I asked you about it.
And this is exactly what you said.
Why go to Hanyang?
Joseon is rotting. I want to
teach those scoundrels a lesson!
Right, I did.
It sounded so cool,
but I had no idea that
meant I had to work this hard.
I was such an idiot back then.
Do you think you have changed a lot?
Are they trying to obtain control
over the Royal Guard Division...
because they have figured
out what we are up to?
No way.
Had that been the case, they
would have sent someone here...
to eavesdrop on our conversation.
Wait, that is true.
What is your name?
Gosh, this is so uncomfortable.
Gosh, I am drunk.
Where is the washroom?
There it is.
"Women's Room, Men's Room"
What?
Hey.
I'm jealous.
I used to have that too.
But it's no longer mine.
Bye, my dragon.
Goodbye, my dragon.
I can't even relieve myself standing up.
In this unfair world,
it's a privilege granted...
only to those who have it.
I'm so sad that I no longer want to pee.
Even my tears have dried up.
I no longer have my dragon.
Even my dragon balls are gone.
It would've been better to just die.
This is so cruel. Why must
you do this to me? Why?
Pour me one. Here.
My, this is nice.
What are we going to do about this?
What?
Do you think they
have also figured out...
that the blood on the marital
bed was actually pig's blood?
The fact that they want to give
that position to the Queen's father...
means they have no
idea what we are up to.
Otherwise,
you and Officer Hong would
have been beheaded already.
Then why, all of a sudden...
The only change is that the Queen...
and Royal Noble Consort
Eui are now in the palace.
The Queen must want to keep
Royal Noble Consort Eui in check.
She is pointing the sword...
at her husband's neck as
soon as the wedding is over?
That woman scares me.
Considering what happened,
we should stop looking
for it for the time being.
We are preparing for...
a justified war against those in power.
The only way we can punish them is...
if we manage to find documents
to prove their corrupt acts.
The double bookkeeping is
at the core of it, so we cannot...
delay getting our hands on their ledgers.
Then what do we do?
We will just let them take the
royal guard commander position.
However... If we throw bait,
they will be all over it...
and fail to see what is
really going on around them.
He will be preoccupied
with his new position,
and it will help us figure
out where the ledgers are.
As for the position, we
can take it away from him...
when he thinks that it is fully his.
Protecting the position
from them is hard,
but getting it back will be even harder.
Only a true warrior deserves to
lead the Royal Guard Division.
I understand that he
will be a mere puppet,
but he will not be able to last...
if he is physically unfit for the job.
We will plan a little accident...
on his first day at the new job.
But what if Kim Mun Geun is
more quick-witted than we think...
and figure out who the guards really are?
Then we will make sure to
protect the Royal Guard Division...
and get our hands on the ledgers.
It will be our last resort.
If you already know of a
way, why not just do it now?
What is that "last resort"?
Assassination.
It is bound to happen anyway.
What is this drab room?
Darn it.
The bell is ringing!
That was the Queen, right?
Did she follow us here
disguised as a man?
We must not let her leave.
We do not even know how much
of our conversation she heard.
And I am sure someone is here with her.
Which means, we must
run after her and silence her.
Your Majesty.
Do not let your personal
feelings get in the way.
I will do it myself.
10.
11.
Gosh, I'll be in trouble if I
don't make it back on time.
Darn it.
"Mr. Queen"
Your Highness, do not trust anybody.
Be especially careful of
those who are close to you.
You know who did it.
The culprit is...
If the Queen heard everything,
bloodshed is bound to occur.
Who are you?
How dare a woman set foot in here?
When I'm here,
I'm the boss.
Is this how you hold it?
all characters, organizations,"
"and events are unrelated
to historical events."
No, I didn't mean that!
I can't help but take the last step.
He's fast.
What is it? I should
ask you the same thing.
I thought the moonlight was enough
to set the mood while having drinks,
so I blew out the candle.
I was going to clear my throat
before we started drinking for real.
You can consider it a warm-up.
Like this.
What are you doing? Darn it.
Did you not want to warm-up
each other's vocal cords?
What a cunning jerk. Did
he do that on purpose?
No, there's no way.
Now that we've warmed up our throats,
you should start drinking
in earnest, My Queen.
Gosh.
It's no fun to drink alone.
I did not think about that.
Here.
Thanks to the warm-up exercises,
the drink goes down very smoothly.
What? What was I doing until now?
Here. Drink up.
You should also drink too, My Queen.
The king must drink first.
The queen must drink first.
He has changed his strategy.
I know what's inside
that dark soul of yours.
Then how about we each have a drink...
and go to bed since it
has been a long day?
What are you saying?
We're just getting started.
Don't be like that.
Here we go. Be manly and
lovely and drink it all in one shot.
One shot.
I am a light sleeper,
so keep your distance while we sleep.
What kind of game is he
playing at with that nonsense?
"Win During the Day and Fade At Night"
The truth behind the king, known
for his love of alcohol and women...
The Annals of the Joseon
Dynasty are nothing but tabloids.
I was scared for no reason.
However, I shouldn't put my guard down.
I'm finally putting to use...
the granny knot I learned in the Army.
If he wants to take it off,
he will have to cut it off.
Okay.
That selfish king.
He's sleeping alone on the soft bedding.
Goodness, My Queen.
I know how you feel,
but I would just like to sleep tonight.
It's not like that. I
was raised with care,
so I can't sleep on the bare floor.
Give me one of these.
I cannot sleep...
if I have less than
three layers of bedding.
I am sure you were not raised
with more care than a king.
He's trying to distort history.
He's nothing but the Woodcutter
Prince of Ganghwa Island.
Gosh.
I hope he gets sleep paralysis.
Since things turned out this
way, I'll be on night watch.
I'm reminded of the Army in
more aspects than one tonight.
"Episode 2: Nobody Knows"
Are you awake, Your Highness?
Darn it.
I was hoping I wasn't,
but I guess I'm still here.
What does it feel like to
greet the first day as Queen?
It feels like poop.
Oh, my.
My granny knot.
Did you lose something again?
I will search high and low... No!
I'm sure I untied it in my sleep
because I felt uncomfortable. Right?
Your Majesty.
When did you arrive at Huijeongjeon Hall?
I apologize for not escorting you.
I did not want to wake the
Queen, so I left the room quietly.
Did you have a nightmare again?
The Queen must not
lose sleep because of me.
It is her first day as queen.
I will serve you Arabian jasmine
tea tonight so that you can sleep well.
The Queen must be greeting
the ladies of the court right now.
I heard they just left.
I am curious to see how the
Queen appears from now on.
I get that yesterday was the wedding,
but why am I busy as
soon as I woke up today?
You have the johyeonrye
where you must go and greet...
the Grand Queen Dowager
and the Queen Dowager,
and the celebration ceremony where
the royal court officials greet you.
After you complete the
official wedding ceremonies...
Is that when the royal marriage ends?
No. His Majesty must proclaim
the message to announce...
your investiture as the queen.
It's a never-ending wedding.
Hold on. The Grand Queen Dowager is...
Grand Queen Dowager ordered it.
If I fill the lake with water, it
means I will be crossing her.
What kind of person is
the Grand Queen Dowager?
The Grand Queen Dowager...
is an elder who is also from the
Andong Kim clan, just like you,
and the Queen Dowager is
from the Pungyang Jo clan.
So my mother-in-law and
grandmother-in-law are rivals.
And I, the queen, is in the same
line as my grandmother-in-law.
I'm sure I'll be able to
tell when I see them, right?
The person who looks older
will be the Grand Queen Dowager.
What else?
This is really important to me, so
tell me everything you know. Okay?
She is Lord Kim Jwa Geun sister,
and she has never set foot outside
of the palace once she entered it.
Also... Stop.
No, the palanquin. Stop!
Stop! Stop.
Go back.
Go in reverse.
Go in reverse.
That is enough.
Something more important just came up.
Did you lose your way because
the palace is complicated?
It's nice to meet you. What's your name?
Goodness.
I'm not used to this body yet.
Your luxurious aura is uncommon.
Are you a part of the royal family too?
Are you a princess or something?
I apologize.
If my behaviour was
arrogant and bothered you,
please forgive me, Your Highness.
No. What I'm trying to say is...
Your Highness.
You walk so fast. How
did you get here already?
Hello.
Do you know her?
She is Lady Hwa Jin of the Jo clan...
who is becoming the
king's royal concubine.
I understand that she is the Queen,
but is she not insulting you too much?
She keeps twisting her words.
There are rumours within
the palace that she is the one...
who pushed you into the lake.
I am certain that the rumours that
the Queen lost her memory are false.
You must be careful. You must be careful.
I have spent a lot of
time with many women,
so I am able to tell a lot by
seeing their physiognomy.
You are... How should I put it?
You're a good person.
I guess you and her don't have
a good history with each other,
but shall we start again?
I like you.
Let's be friends.
Did you decide to change your strategy?
My strategy?
I found out what kind of
place this is thanks to you.
The reality that I have entered
the palace has finally sunk in.
No. It seems you have
misunderstood what I am saying.
I... I am sorry, but I must go.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty. Your Majesty.
I went to the royal villa,
but you were not there.
I also went to greet you,
but you were not there.
Oh, my. We must have crossed paths.
We were thinking the same thing.
If she's the royal concubine, then
she's Cheoljong's second wife?
I shouldn't have gone into this body.
I should've gone into that one.
I am trembling in fear over the
jealousy in Her Highness' eyes.
Why don't you get a room?
My Queen.
I would like you to rush the
investiture of the Royal Concubine.
That's too bad.
I'm too busy to take care of the
investiture of the Royal Concubine.
It is a royal command.
I hope polygamy gets ruined.
Your Highness.
The ladies of the court
are waiting for you...
Your Majesty.
I have an important meeting. Bye.
What on earth...
Your Highness.
That must have scared you.
Hwa Jin.
I will finally be able
to call you my wife.
Now, I will be living
in the palace with you.
You deserve a proper wedding.
But actually, a eunuch
saw you in front of the lake.
They are trying to frame you
for what happened at the lake.
So I had to rush the selection process.
I only went there as I
was surprised to hear...
a loud noise at the lake.
Do not worry.
She will not be able to harm you...
even if she is from the Andong Kim clan.
No. I will make sure that
she does nothing about this.
I will protect you
with everything I have.
Your Majesty.
By the way, it seems to me
I do not have much to offer.
I am only a puppet on the throne.
And I have an older
brother who is a worry wart...
and a friend who likes to have fun.
And I have...
a beautiful woman.
You are a rich man.
I vouched for your
whereabouts of that night.
Do not worry.
What? Which one is the
Grand Queen Dowager?
Offer your greetings, Your Highness.
Darn it. Whatever.
I hope your night was
peaceful, Grand Queen Dowager.
You have gotten so young over the night.
It seemed you have regained your youth.
It almost fooled me that you
were the Queen Dowager.
That wench.
Is that so?
All my hard work paid off.
Great. That was smooth.
You were in such a tragic accident.
My gosh. It seems to me that
you have not made a full recovery.
Can you not tell?
That is how the perfect
queen ought to look.
She is sharp like before.
I see.
Gosh, yes. You are right.
They're getting on each other's
nerves while smiling at each other.
I should stay on my toes.
Now, all that remains is
your effort to produce an heir.
I have learned about this secret
tip on getting blessed with a prince...
which has been passed down
over generations at the palace.
Is that so?
This is what you do when you
are spending the night with the king,
When he is lying down on his back,
you can...
She's by far the worst in-law ever.
And at this very critical
moment, you can...
Mother, I will take care of that myself.
I couldn't hold it in anymore.
Well, I am
well-knowledgeable in that area.
Right.
You took a lot of bridal
lessons to be a good wife to him.
I am sure you are well-prepared for it.
I see.
I must have overstepped.
You don't like it when your
daughter-in-law is unsophisticated.
But it's nice to see when
your granddaughter-in-law is.
My gosh.
These are so long. What a
creative way to kill someone.
My neck hurts.
You seem very tired.
Right.
We did drink a bit too much last night.
That was nothing.
The court officials
must be waiting for us.
Let us go in.
"Injeongjeon Hall"
Chief State Councillor Kim Byung Hak.
Congratulations.
Left State Councillor Kim Seok Geun.
Congratulations.
Minister of War Kim Chang Hyuk.
Congratulations.
They are all Kims.
So these are the famous
trio of the Andong Kim clan.
With the help of the Grand
Queen Dowager and the Queen,
they collected taxes
under all kinds of excuses...
which caused the people
to have a hard time.
In today's world, it's
equivalent to military corruption,
real estate corruption,
and tax evasion corruption.
They were corrupt in every way possible.
In other words, they
were the corrupt trio,
the symbol of corrupt politicians
that ruined the Joseon Dynasty.
The Andong Kim clan.
Right State Councillor Jo Man Hong.
Congratulations.
Minister of Personnel Jo Deok Moon.
Congratulations.
I see. The Pungyang Jo clan.
This clan that centered around
the Queen Dowager is famous too.
When the son of the Queen
Dowager, Heonjong, was the king,
they reaped the benefits. And
when Heonjong passed away,
Kim So Yong of the Andong
Kim clan became the queen,
they lost all of their power.
There are more than just these minnows.
The big names in this era.
Training Commander Kim Jwa Geun.
Congratulations, Your Majesty...
and Your Highness.
The real power behind the Kim clan.
I would like to report one
thing as we celebrate...
the royal wedding.
What is it?
The Royal Guard Commander
looks after your safety.
I would like to recommend your
father-in-law, Kim Mun Geun.
My father-in-law?
Yes.
It is an important appointment.
It was out of Her Highness'
concerns about your safety.
I apologize for not
bringing this up sooner.
Is that your request?
I have no idea. But...
I want to be on the winner's side.
All I care about, alive
or dead, is your safety.
To ensure your safety, I
even stayed up all night.
Oh, no. What a sly woman.
I see. I will consider it.
The Grand Queen Dowager...
was very satisfied with
Her Highness' request.
Currently, my older brother,
Prince Yeongpyeong,
holds the position.
Give me some time to consider it.
Your safety is the most
important matter at hand.
Please understand that we would
like to expedite the appointment.
Your Majesty.
Your love for me is endless.
Then, I will proceed
with it with your approval.
Kim Jwa Geun,
who is powerful beyond the king.
He's the real boss of the court.
I totally need some popcorn for this.
Your Highness. Your Highness.
Sorry about that. Please continue.
My Queen seems tired. How about
we wrap up the ceremony here?
Spending the night together is
a divine act to conceive an heir.
It should never be for your own pleasure.
However, I lost my prudence last night.
A loving, happy marriage is
nothing to be frowned upon.
Is that so?
What's this guy talking about?
Then we shall end the ceremony here.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
You were just bluffing, right?
What do you mean?
Nothing happened last night.
This makes me sad. I
understand you drank,
but how could you forget what
happened on our wedding night?
What are you saying?
However, I do understand.
You recently suffered from
amnesia, so that could be why.
Impossible. There's no way that happened.
You passed the test.
"Test"? What test?
The virginity test to make sure
you bleed on your marital bed.
Anyhow, I have other matters to tend to.
Hey, wait. Can we
finish this conversation?
Your Highness, let us take
you back to your chamber.
Don't worry, Jang Bong
Hwan. He's obviously lying.
Hey, think about it. You'd
know if it actually happened.
There's no way that happened.
Of course, he doesn't want people
to know that he lacks stamina.
And it seems that he has
a habit of distorting history.
Still, must he be so calculating?
And what's with that test
thing? He even made that up?
Stop for a second.
Can I ask you something?
Is it possible for women
to not know after doing it?
"It"?
What exactly are you
referring to, Your Highness?
She's obviously too young.
And this court lady must be
even more celibate than monks are.
I don't think anyone here
can answer my question.
Oh, my goodness!
Is that kid crying because of
me? Of course not, Your Highness.
The wind is cold. Let me
close the window for you.
What? I'm sweating
right now. It is very cold.
It's hot in here! You will catch a cold.
I feel hot right now!
Let us go.
What that punk, Cheoljong
said keeps bothering me.
It is safe for you to eat, Your Highness.
Now that I have seen the Queen,
I am certain that
something is wrong with her.
How should I put this?
Shall I say she is too brazen?
She did have a bold side to her,
but she was never that
blindly brazen and fearless.
She lost her poise even
during the ceremony.
I must teach her to behave herself.
There is no need for us to give
the others something to prey on.
About Jo Hwa Jin...
Are you sure she was
with His Majesty that night?
Yes, I verified everything.
She entered the palace
about 15 minutes...
after the accident took place.
It cannot serve as proof that she
did not try to harm Her Majesty,
but they will try to use it as evidence.
It is a mystery.
If it was not her, who did such a thing?
Do you think that
someone else is involved?
Perhaps.
However, it does not matter who did it.
Who do we need it to
be? That is more important.
Who do we need it to be?
If we point to a deer...
and say that it is a horse,
then it shall be a horse.
And in our case, that deer may
truly become a horse down the road.
All right. Forget about such
political affairs for a moment...
and have some food, Your Highness.
Since you are making
sure that I always eat well,
I have no choice but to take
excellent care of my health.
I will never let anyone or
anything harm your health.
Have some food.
"I hereby give the senior
first-rank in the Internal Court..."
"to Jo Hwa Jin, the daughter..."
"of Royal Secretariat Jo Dae
Su from the Pungyang Jo clan."
"She is also given the title
of Royal Noble Consort Eui..."
"because of her beauty
and righteousness..."
The Pungyang Jo clan.
Their families are
rivals, and so are they.
Did she really push Kim
So Yong into the lake?
She's dangerous,
so I find her intriguing.
I am much obliged, Your Highness.
Let's get along.
I should take the winner's side,
but I can't keep my guard
up in front of such beauty.
Let's get along.
You'll find out soon, but I'm
perfect, except for the fact...
that I have many flaws.
Well, since we're family now,
can I ask you something?
I have no one else to ask.
Since I am not wise enough, I am
not sure if I can answer your question.
Oh, it's about something
you know very well. The King.
Does he tend to bluff a lot?
I heard girls talk
about all sorts of stuff.
And that being said, the King...
tends to fade at night.
"Tends to fade at night"?
I have never heard such
an expression before.
He wins during the
day but fades at night.
But he talked as if we had
a steamy night together.
He has a tendency to
distort... Your Highness.
With all due respect, I find
this highly inappropriate.
Oh, I'm sorry if I offended
you. It just keeps bothering me.
I still have a lot to do since
I arrived only yesterday.
Sorry I took up your time. Get going.
I will be leaving then.
One thing though. His
Majesty is not like that.
He's not like that? Are
you saying he doesn't bluff?
Or he doesn't fade at
night? Which one is it?
This is bothering me even more now! Gosh!
My gosh.
Thieves!
There are thieves!
Thieves! There are thieves!
Thieves!
Thieves! Over there!
Thieves!
Stop crying. Oh, no.
Stop crying. Okay?
My baby. My baby!
No!
Your Majesty.
It was not in the secret
storehouse I raided last night either.
Seeing how it was not...
at the most secretive place with
the highest level of surveillance,
is it possible that it is really
hidden in the tiger's den?
Your Majesty, the
Queen is here to see you.
I am very busy with state affairs.
We're on the same page.
That's what I wanted to talk about.
You must be so busy that
you're holding this upside down.
I had my reasons. I was
busy with my thoughts.
Finish your thoughts. I'll wait.
Why are you staring at me?
You know,
I was just thinking that
you sure are trying so hard.
Of course. As the king, I
ought to look after state affairs.
Is that jerk talking about
"affairs" on purpose?
I selected the Royal Concubine
which you desperately wanted.
You can start sleeping in your quarters.
I shall.
And you have nothing to tell me?
You came here to see me.
So you must have something to tell me.
Let's be honest since it's just us here.
Last night, we...
We had a great time.
Well, if that's how
you're going to play it...
My gosh.
You are distracting me.
If you don't want to talk about it,
why don't we come up
with our own hand signals?
Like this one.
What is that?
This means whatever I'm saying is a lie.
What do you think? It's not that hard.
A king never lies.
You can go now.
My gosh. That's so annoying.
He keeps insisting that something
happened with such a straight face.
Now, I'm starting to wonder if
something really did happen.
Your Highness, it was
a tough day, was it not?
My gosh. It tickles.
Hey. My gosh.
Gosh. It tickles.
Your Highness.
Starting today, we will
begin your etiquette lessons.
I'm quite well-mannered.
It is a crash course on palace etiquette.
I don't want to.
It is an order from the
Grand Queen Dowager.
Whatever the King meant
by passing "the test"...
can't be more important than going back.
Winning the Grand Queen
Dowager over comes first.
You might not have guessed
it, but I took etiquette lessons...
in Cheonghak-dong at the age of four.
Do you want to see how
well-mannered a graduate can be?
A woman of the royal family
has the composure of Buddha.
When she walks, she
does not stir up the wind.
The candle lights do not flicker.
When she has her meal, she
must not open her mouth wide...
or take big bites of the food.
Embroidery is the best way for a woman...
to sort out her thoughts.
Embroidery. That is her specialty.
I'm not the one who's bad-mannered.
You're overly well-mannered.
You don't even want
me to breathe, do you?
This is worse than
staying in Cheonghak-dong.
Darn it.
Gosh, how can I eat such a pretty meal?
I should enjoy the
meal with my eyes first.
Is it just me? It sure looks like...
you are enjoying it with your mouth.
You used to love that.
Hong Yeon, have one. Open wide.
What is wrong, Your Highness?
Was that Kim So Yong's memory?
My heart...
She has been poisoned.
Call the royal physician now!
Your Highness. Your Highness.
Please spit that out! Your Highness.
Your Highness. This isn't physical pain.
Does this woman like Cheoljong?
You should love me.
His eyes.
That's more than hatred. He despises her.
Please, Your Highness.
I enjoy the accompaniment
more than the liquor.
That is great.
All the liquor here is yours.
He had no intention to go
through with our first night together.
That's why he tried to make me drink.
We were thinking the same thing.
Now, all that remains is
your effort to produce an heir.
Please come to your
senses, Your Highness.
Bring her some water!
In order to fool the Kim
clan who was trying to...
persuade him to sleep with her,
Cheoljong lied.
Hong Yeon. Nothing happened to me!
It was bothering me like crazy.
I trusted myself, but
I can't trust that jerk.
But...
What are you all doing?
More. Pull it up higher.
This is how exhausting it
is to maintain one's position.
Appearing decrepit means
that you have become weak.
If you do this twice a day,
you can prevent your
wrinkles from getting deeper.
I see. You work so hard.
But what brings you here?
After receiving the etiquette
class you have ordered,
I have had a deep realization
regarding how I should act...
as the queen.
That makes me happy.
That is enough. You can
stop. Yes, Your Highness.
But last night, as I was
in bed with His Majesty,
I felt my energy waver,
and I was unenthusiastic.
I thought about why that could
be, and I found the answer.
Since all the water in every
lake has been removed,
the yin energy is weak here.
I feel like if the lakes
are filled with water again,
I could bear a prince right away.
That is unacceptable.
Darn it. You almost died in the lake.
If we were to do things properly,
it would not be enough to punish
all those who assist you with death.
However, with such a joyous
event like your wedding coming up,
we thought there should not be
any bloodshed, so we were gracious.
If you wish to fill them up with
water, let us do what we must.
Hong Yeon, Court Lady
Choi, and who else is there?
Everyone who has responsibility
will receive a severe punishment.
She's savage. She's not
your average grandmother.
I will sleep with the
King for three nights.
I will sleep with the King...
to conceive an heir as soon as possible.
Could you fill the lakes with
water as a gift for doing so?
Seven days.
Five days.
Listen here. Give all those who
assist the queen with a severe...
Seven days.
That is perfect.
If you promise to fill the lakes
with water after seven days,
I will make sure to conceive a prince.
Prince or not, all I need to do is leave.
Royal Noble Consort
Eui has come to see you.
Goodness. You are as
graceful as I have been told.
His Majesty has a good eye for women.
You are too kind.
This is a gift.
It is something that you
need while living in the palace.
It is very important.
Please take it out.
This is how life in the palace is like.
There is no place you can lean on,
and once you feel nervous,
you cannot stop feeling so.
Oh, that is right. What is your
exact time and date of birth?
What must you do to create a prince?
Oh, my. Where is my head at?
Your marital compatibility
must come first.
Tell me if you need a strong talisman.
There is a fortune-teller I
know who is an expert at curses.
I received good results last time.
Your Highness, I apologize,
but I entered the palace in
order to assist His Majesty.
I am so silly.
I apologize, Your Highness.
My speech and behaviour
were too resolute.
It is okay. Do not worry.
Speaking of which, your
investiture just happened,
but you will be spending
a long time alone.
Goodness. That is too
bad. What will you do?
Pardon?
The King and Queen
will be sleeping together...
for seven days.
There must be no thunder,
and there must be no fog or
wind during their time together.
Yet their time together has
been arranged consecutively.
Do not worry too much.
I am sure that His
Majesty's feelings for you...
will not change in that time.
You will end up...
losing someone precious to you too.
Your Highness.
I ruined it so badly that
I cannot fix this mess.
It is a waste, but I should throw it out.
Your character and everything
else is perfect to become the queen.
She has nothing to offer
but the power of her family,
but she is pushing His Majesty so much.
Look here.
The queen can be considered another king.
There is a duty that
comes with your position,
so you must hold your tongue.
However, it is obvious she
had the royal palace court lady...
to manipulate the period
that they get to spend together.
Furthermore, she blamed you
for something you did not do.
Why did that have to happen
when you were passing by?
I have not adjusted
to life in the palace.
This mouth of mine...
I apologize, Your Highness.
What can I do this time for His Majesty?
You told me to sleep in the royal villa,
but you had the Grand Queen
Dowager arrange for us to sleep together.
It is very hard to
understand a woman's heart.
I have a favour to ask.
Will you do it for me?
Of course. It is a request
from you, My Queen.
Let's install a no-touching rule.
I do not want to. You said you would.
I have never heard that word before.
You didn't even know
what I said, but you refused?
I refused because I do not
know what you are saying.
Listen carefully, Your Majesty.
No touching means that we
will live happily separately.
It's a good thing.
For example, we'll say
we're sleeping together,
but you'll be happy at the royal
villa, and I will be happy here.
So let's have a no-touching rule.
However, I do not want to.
Why do you keep refusing?
For some reason, your
behaviour upsets me.
This crazy king.
Only a lunatic knows how
to deal with another lunatic.
I don't remember what
happened last night,
so what if we reviewed it?
HN. Okay?
HN?
A hot night.
Tonight...
is our real first night together.
If that is the case...
Hey. Hurry! They'll see you.
A king never runs.
Darn you.
Oh, Court Lady Choi!
This could get you in deep
trouble, Your Highness.
I must see what the
commoners are enduring...
to become a sage queen.
Your intentions are highly admirable,
but it is just too dangerous.
I would even die if you
tell me to, but this is...
The map.
But this time... The identification tag.
I cannot let you do this.
The name is...
"Lee Saeng Mang".
What an ominous name.
"Saeng" means "to observe",
and "Mang" means "effort".
An observer who makes efforts
for our nation. It is a great name.
Well, sure. It's not my name anyway.
What time does the curfew start? At 11pm,
they will ring the
evening bell 28 times...
and close the gate.
Oh, they'll ring some kind of bell?
At 11pm, right?
Too bad. That's like prime time.
Okay.
I promise I'll be back before that.
No.
I will do everything in my power...
to make sure Your Highness cannot leave.
Hong Yeon.
What kind of person was I?
You were always...
kind and optimistic.
You always smiled a lot,
and you were friendly to others.
You know, I'd rather
hear the truth from you...
than from others.
That is true.
Then...
Once, when you were reading a book...
I cannot focus on the book.
Your noisy breathing...
is ringing in my ears.
Get in here! Drag him out and flog him!
I suffer from chronic rhinitis.
Forgive me, Your Highness!
Come on.
You are offbeat by a quarter note.
You have such an awful sense of rhythm.
How dare you call yourself a teacher?
Anybody there?
This witch ought to be flogged!
Really? My gosh!
How dare you laugh?
I suppose life is easy for you.
Take these two and
give them a good flogging!
When someone sighed before you,
you said, "How dare you sigh?"
When someone smelled good...
"How dare you try to seduce the King?"
You complained about
others' loud steps...
as well as gentle
steps for being arrogant.
Gosh, you nitpicked about everything.
You went bonkers when
anything got on your nerves.
So everyone called you a witch.
I apologize.
I wanted to give you
a detailed description...
but got carried away.
Sounds like many people must've
wanted to push her into the lake.
Is that why the court ladies...
It is because they do not
know what you are really like.
But you do?
Of course.
I have been serving
you since I was little,
so I know that you
have a warm, kind heart,
and you are incredibly smart.
Once you set your mind to something,
you make sure you achieve it.
You are one inspiring lady.
You have just been a little
lonely since coming to the palace...
because His Majesty is openly
affectionate toward another woman.
This woman wasn't
always lonely after all.
She has someone who understands her.
"This woman"?
I was just saying, I'm
not lonely thanks to you.
You flatter me, Your Highness.
Don't worry, Hong Yeon.
Just get a good night's sleep.
I'll make sure I won't
get caught for your sake.
Gosh! I will kill you all!
Take my other eye too, you scoundrels!
I will not let you take my
wife and child as slaves!
If you cannot pay your taxes,
you have no choice
but to let us take them!
That punk has committed many sins!
My only sin...
is bringing my child
into this horrible world!
Stay away! Do not come near me.
That crazy rat is even
guilty of treason now!
If killing scoundrels like you is
considered treason, I will do it.
Yes! I will gladly do it!
My dear!
Do not do it.
I understand you are
upset, but do not do this.
Those scoundrels want us dead.
Why are you telling me to stop?
Dam Hyang.
Move! Out of the way! Move!
My goodness.
Gosh, what do we do?
Father, you are back.
Yes, how was your trip?
I apologize for missing...
such a joyous event.
Have you made up your mind?
Which position are you leaning toward?
I have decided on the
direction of my dream.
But as for its scope, I am not sure yet.
Its scope?
All right.
Since I trust you, I will not rush you.
But something happened
while you were away.
The Queen fell into the lake...
the night before her wedding.
She was unconscious for a full day,
so we had to postpone the wedding.
How is Her Highness now?
Is she okay?
You, stop there!
I have not seen you before in the palace.
Seeing how you are
looking around, in a rush...
Well... Your first time in the palace?
I suppose you are lost.
I got lost too when I first came here.
That's right.
You look familiar for some reason.
Luxurious clothes...
and that unguarded, confident attitude.
He must be from a rich family.
I was about to say the same thing.
You're that famous son
of the prestigious family.
That handsome son of
the highly respected family.
You are smart and are
also skilled in martial arts.
I have heard so much
about you. Your name was...
Kim Hwan.
Kim Hwan from the Andong Kim clan.
Gosh, that means he's her relative.
Am I that famous?
Yes, you really are.
Even all the commoners outside
the palace know about you.
It is an honour to meet you.
I was on my way out too.
Let us go together.
Oh, I came from that way.
I was confused as it is too dark now.
Slain like this.
Gosh, he's so chatty.
He won't stop talking even for a second.
That is why it is a little spooky here.
And that is the reason His
Majesty has a nightmare every night.
Nightmare?
His Majesty has been
having the same nightmare...
every night since his Ganghwa days.
It is about...
being accused of treason...
and getting beheaded.
I apologize I did not recognize you.
Do not worry. Countless people
walk in and out of this gate daily.
"Lee Saeng Mang"
Since I made such a good friend today,
I would like to visit a kisaeng parlour.
Which one is the best?
Oktajeong. It is the best one.
The ladies' laughter
sounds like what you hear...
when you beat a jade tablet.
Hence the name, Oktajeong.
Please join me.
Look at the bright moon.
It's the perfect night to have some fun.
Here you go.
Let's go.
Take it easy. Thank you.
We seem to be around the same age,
and we even share the same
hobby. I am very glad that we met.
Oh, right. You have not
told me your name yet.
What is your name?
I'm Lee Saeng Mang.
Lee Saeng Mang, as in
"A failure in this lifetime".
Take it easy.
What is your name?
Yes, that's it.
Oh, my apologies.
You are a woman.
What are you talking
about? I'm obviously a man.
We do not let women in here as customers.
Girls, come and greet this young master!
Yes!
It is an honour to meet you.
Please allow me to pour you one...
I never have more
than three drinks a day.
I have already had two,
and I wish to have the last
one with a friend of mine.
He is a man of principle.
His son recently passed
the civil service examination.
Congratulations.
Even though he is very competent,
he was not able to get a
good position in Hanyang.
If you can guide him, I
will be happy to pay you...
no matter how much you ask for.
Are you asking me to sell you...
a government position for money?
Well, what I meant was...
I would just like to
express my deep gratitude.
From what I know, your son
passed the exam a while ago.
Why come to me now? That is...
You must have reached out
to the Pungyang Jo clan first.
My wife is their distant relative.
Please forgive me.
I understand you are deeply worried...
that your smart, competent
son might not be able...
to achieve his goals due
to the family's past mistakes.
I will help him clear his name
and become a royal secretary.
A royal secretary?
Thank you. Thank you very much!
And you do not need to pay me.
I just need a friend.
Someone who would
gladly risk his life for me.
As of this moment,
everyone in my family...
will gladly do that for you, my lord.
Pour me one,
since we are friends now.
Yes! I am much obliged.
All right, come on in! Okay.
We shall drink until we drop.
We will let it all go and
have some serious fun!
My gosh.
Take me too.
Gosh! Look here!
Here, drink this.
There we go. Nice.
Young Master!
You're so handsome.
Which one of you will
have the pleasure of...
undressing me tonight?
I have been a kisaeng for 20 years,
yet I have never seen
such a pervert before.
Here, have a drink. Come
on. Do not be like that.
This is awful.
I cannot believe we are
drinking alone at a place like this.
It is not the time to
complain about such a thing.
We thought it would be at the
secret storehouse, but it was not there.
That leaves us with one option.
The Queen's father's residence.
But they want to appoint him
as the royal guard commander,
which means it will be
even harder to sneak in now.
They want control over
the Royal Guard Division...
because they want the King's
life in the palms of their hands.
It is only a matter of time before
the guards' disguise is caught.
What? Then this is a dangerous situation.
If they get caught and have to disband,
going after the corrupt
officials at night...
and raiding storehouses
to find illegal ledgers...
will be our job.
So I will be a public
official during the day...
and an assassin at night?
I will be overworked.
Gosh.
Did you make me leave
Ganghwa to work me like a dog?
On my way to Hanyang,
my heart was filled with
ambition and big dreams.
"I shall use my friend
and become successful."
I told you that I wished to
save our rotting, corrupt country,
and you decided to follow along.
You did not word it like that.
You always talked about
Hanyang, so I asked you about it.
And this is exactly what you said.
Why go to Hanyang?
Joseon is rotting. I want to
teach those scoundrels a lesson!
Right, I did.
It sounded so cool,
but I had no idea that
meant I had to work this hard.
I was such an idiot back then.
Do you think you have changed a lot?
Are they trying to obtain control
over the Royal Guard Division...
because they have figured
out what we are up to?
No way.
Had that been the case, they
would have sent someone here...
to eavesdrop on our conversation.
Wait, that is true.
What is your name?
Gosh, this is so uncomfortable.
Gosh, I am drunk.
Where is the washroom?
There it is.
"Women's Room, Men's Room"
What?
Hey.
I'm jealous.
I used to have that too.
But it's no longer mine.
Bye, my dragon.
Goodbye, my dragon.
I can't even relieve myself standing up.
In this unfair world,
it's a privilege granted...
only to those who have it.
I'm so sad that I no longer want to pee.
Even my tears have dried up.
I no longer have my dragon.
Even my dragon balls are gone.
It would've been better to just die.
This is so cruel. Why must
you do this to me? Why?
Pour me one. Here.
My, this is nice.
What are we going to do about this?
What?
Do you think they
have also figured out...
that the blood on the marital
bed was actually pig's blood?
The fact that they want to give
that position to the Queen's father...
means they have no
idea what we are up to.
Otherwise,
you and Officer Hong would
have been beheaded already.
Then why, all of a sudden...
The only change is that the Queen...
and Royal Noble Consort
Eui are now in the palace.
The Queen must want to keep
Royal Noble Consort Eui in check.
She is pointing the sword...
at her husband's neck as
soon as the wedding is over?
That woman scares me.
Considering what happened,
we should stop looking
for it for the time being.
We are preparing for...
a justified war against those in power.
The only way we can punish them is...
if we manage to find documents
to prove their corrupt acts.
The double bookkeeping is
at the core of it, so we cannot...
delay getting our hands on their ledgers.
Then what do we do?
We will just let them take the
royal guard commander position.
However... If we throw bait,
they will be all over it...
and fail to see what is
really going on around them.
He will be preoccupied
with his new position,
and it will help us figure
out where the ledgers are.
As for the position, we
can take it away from him...
when he thinks that it is fully his.
Protecting the position
from them is hard,
but getting it back will be even harder.
Only a true warrior deserves to
lead the Royal Guard Division.
I understand that he
will be a mere puppet,
but he will not be able to last...
if he is physically unfit for the job.
We will plan a little accident...
on his first day at the new job.
But what if Kim Mun Geun is
more quick-witted than we think...
and figure out who the guards really are?
Then we will make sure to
protect the Royal Guard Division...
and get our hands on the ledgers.
It will be our last resort.
If you already know of a
way, why not just do it now?
What is that "last resort"?
Assassination.
It is bound to happen anyway.
What is this drab room?
Darn it.
The bell is ringing!
That was the Queen, right?
Did she follow us here
disguised as a man?
We must not let her leave.
We do not even know how much
of our conversation she heard.
And I am sure someone is here with her.
Which means, we must
run after her and silence her.
Your Majesty.
Do not let your personal
feelings get in the way.
I will do it myself.
10.
11.
Gosh, I'll be in trouble if I
don't make it back on time.
Darn it.
"Mr. Queen"
Your Highness, do not trust anybody.
Be especially careful of
those who are close to you.
You know who did it.
The culprit is...
If the Queen heard everything,
bloodshed is bound to occur.
Who are you?
How dare a woman set foot in here?
When I'm here,
I'm the boss.
Is this how you hold it?