Otsomae Bolkeun Kkeutdong (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 14 - Episode #1.14 - full transcript
(This program is a work of imagination...)
(based on historical figures.)
(It may include fictitious details and psychological description.)
Sitting here and waiting for the King all night...
is just because of my job.
I do not have to think about anything else.
Is this a dream?
I will know if I pinch you.
I can not even...
pinch you in my dreams.
Why are you here?
You should not.
One good thing about being the King is...
that no one can not be in my way.
Wherever I go,
whoever I go to, no one dares to stop me.
Did something bad happen?
You look unhappy.
Yes, I am unhappy.
Because of you.
Amazingly, you shake my heart.
Sometimes I think of you...
while I am concentrating on my work.
You have been disturbing me all day today.
Thinking that it is your shift today...
makes my chest feel tight.
But I was worried for nothing.
You drool and sleep well here.
You're either...
cunning or slow.
You bother me.
You make me angry.
Look at you now.
Your eyes are just wide open.
You know how much I...
If you're tired, go to your room and rest.
Last night, the King went to the observation facility...
and not to Sookchang Palace.
He went there and turned it upside down.
Then is it true that more than half of the workers...
at the observation facility got fired?
Yes, as a punishment for receiving bribes...
and manipulating the date the royal concubine to share his bed.
The person who suborned is...
All right.
I will not talk bad about the Royal Secretary so stop crying.
The Royal Secretary is amazing.
He is the only one who got out of this chaos.
This is not Royal Guard's business.
I am saying this because I can not help it.
How could you suborn the workers at the observation facility?
You went too far.
The King said he will not punish you,
but it does not mean that he is not angry.
Of course, the King would be angry.
But the King has always forgiven me.
So he will forgive me again.
I am sure that I have...
His Majesty's heart.
Anyway, I said it because I am worried of you.
I will go now.
Royal Guard,
do you know...
about the three things that the King...
wishes to achieve?
No matter how bad my memory is,
I remember...
what I heard many times.
Tell me about them.
Is this a test?
First is water control.
(To control water)
Second is...
As soon as the water control is over,
I want to proceed with the next.
Is national defense the reason...
why you want to build a castle?
That is one of the purposes.
However, there is another reason.
I want to give people a new experience.
Experience of receiving a fair payment for one's own labor.
When we built castles,
we always forced the people to join.
The people had to give up their livelihoods and work.
The world always took it for granted,
but that is not right.
No one will step up first,
so I have no choice but to step up first.
I already chose the name for the castle.
It is Hwaseong.
Hwaseong.
The King...
told them...
but not me.
Why?
Why is that?
Your Highness,
Sung Duk Im, the personal maid from the King's Palace is here.
Lady!
I mean... Maid Sung, sit closer to me.
Your Highness,
I asked a special favor to Court Lady Kwon...
to let me meet you.
Maid Sung,
is my brother okay?
Will His Majesty continue to adore my brother?
Of course, Your Highness.
I am relieved.
That is what everyone says,
but I am still worried.
I wanted to ask someone I can trust.
Why are you worried about the Royal Secretary?
His Majesty now knows...
the kind of person I am.
He probably knows that I am useless.
What if...
he hates my brother because of me?
I am worried.
You should not be worried.
At least for once,
I want to be helpful to my brother.
But I am...
just useless.
Did you want to see me, Your Majesty?
I saw you on the way.
You are coming from Sookchang Palace.
- Yes. - Why did you go there?
Did Wonbin call you?
Did she call you on purpose or was it the Royal Secretary...
It is not what you think it is.
I know Queen Wonbin personally.
We have known each other for a long time.
She only wanted to see me as a friend.
Is that true?
Your Majesty. Queen Wonbin is still a young girl.
And to me,
she is an innocent person.
She is struggling to get used to the life in the palace.
She is having serious depression.
I think you should not neglect it.
Depression is a mental illness.
She should lean on someone she can trust.
You are her husband...
and a pillar to rely on.
If you visit her more often and treat her nicely...
Why should I...
hear that from you?
Treat her nicely?
She is only a young girl?
Do not be ridiculous.
Age does not matter.
She is my concubine.
Why are you...
sending me to another woman?
Do you not care about how I feel?
Do you...
not see me as a man anymore?
You are merely a court maid,
and you bragged about protecting me.
Until the day I die,
I shall protect you.
You sacrificed yourself to protect my life.
How can I possibly...
not love such a woman?
I have always thought...
that you also have feelings for me.
That you love me...
as much as I love you.
If that is not true, tell me right here, right now.
Do you...
really have no feelings for me?
I...
I...
I do not wish to be your woman.
Never for once,
I wished that.
Look at this.
I am back.
- Hi, Duk Im. - Hi.
Duk Im. This book is really funny. Let us read it together.
- Look. - Hey. I cannot see.
Duk Im just got here.
Put it in the center.
This is where I belong.
What are you talking about?
Wait. I am not done reading yet.
- Hurry up. - Wait.
Okay.
Your Majesty. It is late.
What are you thinking about in the Royal Office this late?
Your Majesty.
I was thinking about someone.
A precious one.
I thought she was mine, but she was not.
I thought she was...
always waiting for me in the same place.
But it turns out she was not waiting for me.
She only stood there...
because that was where she had to be.
I thought she would come if I told her to,
but it was all a foolish misunderstanding.
What do you think?
I do not understand what you mean.
Should I have her against her will?
I have endured the life of long-suffering...
and took the throne.
Should I compensate myself for that?
Your Majesty.
Someone told me...
it is not wrong to wish for something.
Now that I am king,
if I want anything, I may force them...
to give it to me.
Do you agree?
I do not dare to share my opinion.
I only follow your decisions.
However,
I have seen you since you were a baby.
I dare to say...
that is not the kind of man you are.
That is not the kind of king you are either.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
I received an urgent message from Sookchang Palace.
Wonbin is in a critical condition.
Your Highness.
You should not joke with your older brother.
Open your eyes and wake up right now.
Please.
Hurry and give her medicinal decoction.
Royal Secretary...
Her Highness...
already passed away.
Did you not hear when I said you must save Her Highness?
Hurry and save her, please!
I do not know why she suddenly died.
What do you mean she died suddenly?
Hurry up and do something!
Right now!
- Please. - Royal Secretary.
Please! Do something!
Hong Duk Ro!
What happened to Queen Won?
Your Majesty.
Queen Won...
Your queen...
has passed away.
Your Highness.
Why did you leave me?
No...
No, wake up!
It is my fault that I could not save Queen Won.
I do not deserve your mercy.
I can not blame everything on you.
I should be blamed for bringing a precious person...
and not taking good care of her.
Send a person to console her mother.
Ministry of Rites should discuss the funeral process.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
What will happen to the Royal Secretary then?
I am not sure either.
Chief State Councilor.
The Queen died out of the blue.
Do you not think it is strange?
His big dream is shattered.
The Royal Secretary will lose it and make a commotion.
Master Hong.
I cannot fathom how sad and painful it must be.
His Majesty is worried about you.
You must cheer up for His Majesty.
No matter how painful it is,
you must bury the dead in your heart...
and forget.
My sister who was perfectly healthy was killed.
How can I forget so easily?
What are you talking about?
She was killed?
Yes.
My sister was killed.
Master Hong must be grieving deeply.
He must be grieving.
He must have had an ambitious dream to become the uncle of a prince.
Kyung Hee, you are bad.
He lost his sister. He lost his family.
I do not care about your hatred for him.
But do not be so cold like that.
Of course, I feel sorry about what happened to Queen Won.
But I do not even know her well.
I do not have to feel sad about every death in the world.
Master Hong cherished her sister very much.
Having someone grieving with him will comfort him.
(To be continued)
Do you think so?
She was too young. I feel bad as well.
My lady.
- Yes, Sam Wol. - Here.
I hope I am not late.
It is from Lady Bae.
Kyung Hee?
Meet me at Neungheojeong at midnight.
Did she say anything else?
No. I will get going now.
What are you talking about?
Kyung Hee disappeared?
We are supposed to meet at Neungheojeong.
I have been waiting for her but she has not come.
She could be somewhere else.
We searched everywhere and she is nowhere in the palace.
What should we do?
Let us wait for the sun to come up for now.
When the morning comes, I will let Court Lady Seo know.
So...
Head Lady Cho's people are still active.
And their leader...
- is Hong Duk Ro? - Your Majesty.
Cho's information, network, and funds.
All of them went to Royal Secretary.
He has been posting people from influential families,
in return for money.
He also has been receiving bribes from interpreters and merchants.
Please forgive me for overstepping my bounds,
but you ordered Royal Secretary to wipe out...
those who had colluded with Cho.
However, they still exist.
And they are now doing a business with him instead of Cho.
I understood. You may go for tonight.
Your Majesty, you cannot let him slide.
I said you may go for tonight.
My goodness. Even Kyung Hee is missing?
What are you talking about?
Is there another person missing besides Kyung Hee?
The lady who served medicinal decoction to Won is also missing.
There is more.
Only court ladies know this.
Ladies have gone missing since a few days ago.
Not only the lady who served medicinal decoction,
but six ladies went missing.
All of them are court ladies of the main palace.
Have a seat.
I hear court ladies have gone missing.
Did you know about this?
It is my first time hearing about it.
I think there is no need to worry about it either.
Court ladies often commit suicides.
It happens 3 or 4 times a year. It is quite common.
I said they went missing.
I did not say they were dead.
You also serve as the Head Palace Guard.
(Head Palace Guard: The head of guards in the palace)
So, you are responsible for this.
Make sure to find the missing court ladies.
I receive your orders, Your Majesty.
A ghost must have taken Lady Bae.
What?
Everyone said that.
All the missing ladies are taken by a ghost.
A ghost?
Do not be silly and tell me about Kyung Hee.
Sam Wol, you are the last person to have met Kyung Hee.
You really do not know anything?
Really, I know nothing.
No matter how many times you visit me, I can not...
Okay. We are sorry to bother you during your work.
Go back to your work.
Isn't she acting a little strange?
She kept saying a ghost...
and did not answer to what we asked.
I think she is hiding something.
Duk Im, you had better go to the Queen Dowager Palace.
Queen Dowager called you on purpose.
You can not be late.
I feel that a ghost took her.
Where did Kyung Hee go?
After returning from the war, Pyeong Guk was terribly sick.
He took medicines day and night.
So, the emperor sent a noted doctor to him.
The doctor felt the pulse and said,
"The illness is not serious,"
"but something was strange."
Then, the emperor asked what was strange,
and the doctor hesitantly said...
when he felt Pyeong Guk's pulse,
he noticed that it was not the pulse of a man.
So?
Pyeong Guk, a woman dressed as a man was caught, wasn't she?
Yes, Your Highness.
You are just as I heard.
A common folk tale is fun when it is read by you.
(Folk tale: a novel based on a folk story)
I am honored.
I do not know how much a story reading gets paid.
So, I just prepared this.
Will this be enough?
This is too much.
Please take it back.
I borrowed a precious lady of the King.
I need to treat you right.
I am sorry, but I can not take this.
Okay. Have you found your missing friend?
I heard court ladies are going missing.
One of them is your friend, I hear.
Yes.
It is taking long days to find them.
What is the King doing about this?
Is he not interested in this...
because he thinks less of court ladies?
If I were him, I would not take it that easy.
Don't you think...
this is strange?
I believe it will be resolved soon.
I believe all of them will come back safely.
Alright.
I will get going now.
Is there anything else you want me to do?
Will you transcribe a book for me later?
Yes, Your Highness.
There are not many people who I can talk to easily.
I would like to have you closer to my side.
I am sorry, but I am...
You are the court lady of the King's Palace.
Remember this.
I care for you...
much more than you think.
Let me know if you have any trouble.
I will help you.
What is the King doing about this?
Is he not interested in this...
because he thinks less of court ladies?
I thought it was Kyung Hee's.
What are you doing?
Your Majesty!
Have a seat.
Explain what happened at the pond.
I told you to explain!
Please compose yourself, Your Majesty.
Maid Sung, answer him now.
You did not go into the pond to kill yourself, did you?
My friend went missing.
A court lady of the main palace, Bae Kyung Hee.
I couldn't just sit by.
I have been looking for her whenever I had time.
The perfume pouch floating on the water...
I thought it was hers.
I jumped into the water without realizing it.
Just in case, she...
I'm worried that I won't be able to find her ever again.
Stop crying.
When you cry,
I become powerless.
Don't make me that kind of King.
Your friend will definitely come back.
I promise you.
Royal Secretary already went out to search for the missing court ladies.
I trust him to succeed.
Am I right?
Yes, truly, my King.
Lady Sung, stop crying.
I am doing my best for the court ladies.
Trust me...
and please wait for a while.
Yes.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
You know how to be cunning.
I did not know you will move the King's heart with tears.
Do not be offended.
I am complimenting your smart move.
It is the talent only you can do.
You promised in front of the King...
to find the missing court ladies.
So you must make this right.
If not, you should be worried about your safety.
Is that really true?
What do you mean?
Will the King push me away...
just because I could not find some court ladies?
Of course, there will be some consequences...
such as cutting my wage,
or lowering my position.
That is not much.
If you have a scale, measure the weight.
Whether I, Hong Duk Ro, or the court ladies...
is more important to the King.
Did you call me?
Court Lady Seo, listen to my words.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Keep an eye on Sung Duk Im.
- Yes? - Find out where she goes...
and who she meets.
If something happens,
report to Royal Guard.
I'm sorry,
but please tell me the reason.
No one likes being followed.
She will hurt her feelings.
I do not care of her feelings.
I just need her to be safe.
Do not forget my order.
Yes, Your Majesty.
- You can leave now. - Yes.
Go in.
Welcome.
I heard it was urgent, so I came quickly.
- Please give me an order. - Head Lady Cho...
had a secret place.
Yes, I checked the place before.
I ordered to burn the place down...
to Hong Duk Ro.
I need to check with my own eyes...
if he followed my orders.
Yes, Your Majesty. I will guide you.
It is this way, Your Majesty.
- Oh, no. - Please.
- Oh, gosh. - Oh, no.
What's going on?
- What's happening to us? - Oh, no.
- Oh, gosh. - Oh, no.
- Oh, no. - Please.
Next is Sewing Department.
- Lady Kim. - Come out!
- No! - Let go of me!
Keep an eye on the situation...
so that the captured court ladies can be safe.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You called for me?
Have a seat.
It is my first time to be called to the library.
I am so glad.
Seeing you come in reminds me of the old days.
I was mostly locked up at the East Palace for a long time.
You were always by my side.
I still remember.
Every morning, when the doors of the East Palace opens up,
you will enter...
holding a newspaper.
You brought me all the news in the world.
As always...
I am still by your side.
There is something I want to ask for your opinion.
Think carefully and answer me.
It is a very important matter.
One day, I will free all the slaves of this country.
It is the most important goal...
I want to achieve as the King of Joseon.
Why do you want to achieve such a goal?
Joseon is my home.
So all the people living in my home are my family.
I can not stand that I live off of...
the fat of the land while my family lives like animals.
Your Majesty, please think about the reality.
The slaves have no power.
What if you miss the hearts of important people...
while putting efforts into useless people?
You should pay attention to slave owners, not slaves.
They are the ones with power.
They will be useful to you.
So,
I should abandon the weak and useless?
Is that what you think?
I said I will tell you the facts.
Then how about the court maids?
Pardon?
Most court maids were district office slaves.
Are they also useless...
because they come from humble background?
They serve the King. How can they be useless?
It is just...
Just?
That they can be replaced without a problem.
I understand.
So that is what you think.
I understand you fully now.
You may leave.
You suddenly wanted to play Go with me.
I have to admit I was surprised.
I am not good at Go or Janggi.
Since you enjoy it,
I will learn from now on.
It has been three years since I took the throne.
After the time of long-suffering,
I think I have finally formed the basis a bit.
I should thank you for that.
If you wish,
I will move Kim Gui Joo who is exiled in Heuksan Island...
to Naju.
My brother?
One day, he might come back to the capital city.
That is an unexpected favor.
Then what should I do for you in return?
Play Go with me...
as you are doing now.
You are...
an elder of the royal family who even I can not treat carelessly.
Play Go with me,
and if you wish for anything, you should tell me right away.
I will grant it with filial love.
Then shall I say one now?
Since your concubine died without having a son,
you should marry someone new.
Sure.
However, I will choose whom I will marry this time.
She is probably not from Noron as you would want.
What if I have another idea?
Then your brother will not be going to Naju,
but he will receive poison in Heuksan Island.
Is that so? That is actually better.
It is better to be honest to each other.
We should have opened our hearts to each other in the first place.
Your Majesty.
The women in the royal family did not...
marry the royal family on their will.
The hairpin on their heads is heavy like a stone.
And responsibility on their shoulders is heavier.
However,
you treat us like relatives that you must be careful of.
I see you are taking control of the family...
before making a decision on something.
I love playing Go.
You should visit me more often.
I will do so, Grandmother.
Duk Im.
I am going to see Sam Wol.
Again?
She is the only evidence.
You all noticed she has been acting strange lately.
She argues the ghosts took the court maids who disappeared.
She keeps talking nonsense, so everyone avoids her.
I think she is doing that on purpose.
I will be back soon.
Duk Im. We will go with you.
- You are on duty tomorrow. - Duk Im.
Kyung Hee means a lot to me, but so do you.
Yes. What if something happens to you too?
We will go with you.
Did you say she is here?
Yes.
I am scared.
Sam Wol.
Sam Wol.
Sam Wol.
Sam Wol.
Put her down.
Hurry.
- Put her down. - Yes.
Sam Wol.
Sam Wol.
Do you feel like talking now?
What on earth happened?
It is poison.
(Poison extracted from Arsenic trioxide)
Royal Secretary ordered me...
to plant it in Queen Kim's palace.
So it will be evidence...
to frame that she killed Queen Wonbin.
Is that...
why you tried to die?
It is high treason to slander Queen Kim.
If I get caught, it is not just me who gets killed.
All my family will die as well.
I would rather die alone.
Royal Secretary took the missing court maids, right?
So where did he detain them?
I do not know either.
I am telling the truth.
How on earth could he take the court maids secretly?
Definitely not through the gates of the palace.
Everyone has been keeping an eye on them.
Then what is it?
Is there a secret passage in the palace?
What should we do now?
Girls.
A secret place that nobody knows came to my mind.
The court maids who disappeared must be there.
Where is it?
I cannot say it. I cannot put you in danger.
(Tale of Hong Gye Wol)
This is the book the Queen Dowager told me to transcript.
I will search for Kyung Hee now.
If I do not return by noon tomorrow,
you should give this book to the Queen Dowager for me.
Hey, this book is not important in a situation like this.
It is important.
Because it will be the only way for you...
to meet the Queen Dowager.
I will write a letter.
I will write all the truth about the court maids...
who disappeared and about the Royal Secretary.
I will put it in this book.
If I do not come back,
give this book to the Queen Dowager.
No. You work at the King's Palace.
If you drag the Queen Dowager into this carelessly,
you might upset the King.
For telling the Queen Dowager without telling him.
Right. Let us go to the King and tell him before it is too late.
I cannot trust him.
Girls, he is the King.
He always calculates.
When he has done calculating,
if he chooses to save the Royal Secretary instead of court maids,
what will happen?
I am different from him.
I cannot weigh people's lives.
Kyung Hee is the most important person to me.
If it is to save her, I will do anything.
So you will drag the Queen Dowager into this?
Among those whom I can ask for help, she is the most powerful.
Duk Im, it might not work as you think.
You might end up losing your life for nothing.
I know.
But this is the best thing I can do for Kyung Hee.
The four of us should always stay together.
Wait for me. I will go...
find the missing one.
You must come back safely.
I will wait for you.
- Take her. - Yes, sir.
Come here, Lady Sung.
You managed to find this place.
Do you think you can get off scot-free after doing this?
Are you not afraid that the King might find out about this?
Why did you come to me before telling His Majesty?
You do not trust him.
Whether telling the King about this...
will save your friend...
or kill her,
you were not sure.
That is why you came here first.
You are fearless.
Is your arrogance derived from the King's favor?
Is it not you who became arrogant as you received the royal favor?
Did you think everything would work out as you want?
If things work out as I want, Queen Won should be alive.
She should give birth to the King's first prince and smile happily.
A happy smile.
That is what she has to show me.
Do you believe she was happy after she became a queen?
If she did not become a queen, she would have been alive.
Are you saying my sister's death is my fault?
No!
My sister was murdered.
Why would have she died suddenly if it were not the case?
The Queen killed her.
She called her to cane her...
and ended up killing her by making her suffer.
Lady Sung.
Do you know those disgusting things that happen to concubines?
Do you have proof?
If you slander the Queen without evidence...
Unfortunately, I could not find one.
But I am not worried.
If there is no proof, I can just make one.
You could help me as well.
Follow me.
- Please. - Write it.
The medical nurse cannot do her job.
You should write for her.
Now,
make proof for me.
Do not worry about the content. I will tell you.
"After Queen Kim poisoned Queen Won,"
"she bribed royal physicians to make the cause of her death."
- Write it down. - You are not in your right mind.
If you are caught...
You will die with me.
When you are forced to write something...
that slanders the queen of the country,
you should rather bite your tongue and die.
Do not blame me.
That is how the national law works.
It is especially crucial for lowly court maids.
Why?
Do you not want to hear that you are lowly?
All court maids...
were government slaves anyway.
Write it down quickly!
Let go of her hand right now!
Arrest all the Palace Guards.
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
Your Majesty, I can explain.
- I can explain. - Take him out.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Get up.
Duk Im.
Kyung Hee.
(Tale of Hong Gye Wol)
Take this with you.
I know you are mad at me.
But, I lost my sister, Your Majesty.
I had a solid reason for doing this.
You made fake evidence and defamed Queen Kim.
Is that because of the solid reason you had, Royal Secretary Hong?
Your Majesty, you do not need to listen to him anymore.
Look at the horrible thing Royal Secretary Hong has done.
Royal Secretary Hong.
His Majesty knew all of your misdeeds.
Even though he knew,
he was waiting for you to confess.
"Let us give him a chance one last time."
He said that.
What are you waiting for?
You need to tell His Majesty what he has done wrong.
What makes you hesitate?
You must have wanted this day to come.
Tell all the bad things about me.
Hong Duk Ro.
I've always disliked you.
But I thought of you as my friend of Dongdukhoe.
I cannot run for the official since I am a son-in-law of the king.
Back in the days,
when I worked for His Majesty with you in Dongdukhoe,
those days were the proudest days of my life.
Saying that we should kill you, the one I spent those days with,
kills me inside, to be honest.
What...
What led you to this?
Your Majesty.
There are many officials who hate me...
just because I was promoted to the superior position.
However, Your Majesty,
I don't care if the world hates me.
I only need you to trust me, Your Majesty.
Everyone makes a mistake at least once.
A mistake?
You did not make a mistake.
You knew it was wrong.
But you had no problem doing it.
You were sure that you will be forgiven for whatever you do.
I forgave you for many of your wrongdoings.
Do you know why I did that?
Because I felt sorry.
For a long time,
I knew the day like this would come.
I was certain that you will threaten my government...
and my country.
So, when it is the time,
I know that I have to get rid of you.
What...
do you mean by that?
I already knew the time has come.
Even though I knew, I kept postponing the decision.
And we are here today.
How dare you to defame the Queen...
and confine my people?
While I was being hesitant because of my personal feelings,
all of these happened.
I didn't...
want to kill you with my own hand.
Now, you are...
the enemy that I watch out the most,
and the traitor I hate from the bottom of my heart.
Tell me.
Do you think...
I will let you go now?
Have you forgiven me all this time...
to kill me in the end?
Just like you build a high tower...
to break it at once.
Your Majesty, are you mad at me?
Are you trying to scare me because you are mad?
I am sorry. I was wrong.
You are saying this because you are mad at me now.
As time goes by, the anger will melt away.
Your Majesty, you know me.
I am Hong Duk Ro, who worked for you my entire life.
We promised!
The day I saved your life,
as promised,
I've always been by your side.
I already forgave you as much as I can.
Now, it's time to pay all at once.
The price!
Is your life.
You never realize you are wrong on your own.
You don't even know what you did wrong.
You will never be my person.
No matter how long I waited!
I was not...
your person, Your Majesty?
Not even once,
I was not your person?
Not once,
you were not my person.
Then,
kill me.
When I lost my sister,
I thought I had no hope for living.
But that was not true.
Your Majesty,
you were my purpose,
and hope for living.
Please kill me.
I have lost everything now.
Your Majesty. Please do not kill the Royal Secretary.
Please spare his life.
I...
I am begging you.
Whose subject are you?
How dare you interfere...
when I am trying to decide his punishment?
Pardon me.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
You always said...
you do not think.
You just obey my order.
I do not think.
I just obey your order.
However,
I dare to say...
you want...
someone to step out and save the Royal Secretary.
That is why...
I stepped out.
Am I wrong?
Am I wrong about that?
I...
Look.
Do you not understand what His Majesty wants?
Last night,
Royal Secretary Hong wished to resign.
I will comfort him by entitling him as baron...
and accept...
his resignation.
- Kyung Hee. - Kyung Hee.
You fool.
You just woke up.
I am talking to you, Sung Duk Im.
It was thoughtless of you to spring out.
If His Majesty did not appear on time,
you could have been in danger too.
Did you do that for me?
Yes.
- So are you mad? - No.
I was happy.
Hey. How did you get taken?
I happened to witness...
the Palace Guards capturing Queen Kim's maids.
I thought they did not know I saw it.
So I sent Duk Im a message to talk about it.
Sam Wol was working for Royal Secretary.
I knew she was strange...
Lie down.
Hey. You should rest.
We are on night duty today.
We will come back in the morning. You should get some sleep.
Yes.
Duk Im. I am really sorry.
I lost the book you told me to keep.
It is not Young Hee's fault.
She went to the restroom at night,
and it was gone.
Yes.
Who could have sneaked in at night...
and took the book?
Duk Im.
His Majesty wants to see you.
- Are you going to explain? - No, Your Majesty.
Are you going to beg me for my forgiveness?
I do not dare to do that.
You do not think you were wrong.
You knew it all along from the beginning.
Yes.
I took everything under control...
and expected the conclusion.
Until you arrogantly interfered...
and tried to drag the Queen Dowager into it.
Duk Ro is my subject.
No matter how high he holds his head,
I can always take care of it in my own way.
However, the Queen Dowager is a different story.
She is the only person who can stand...
against the king in this country.
If she had found out...
The Royal Secretary would have to die.
No matter how much you defend him, there would not have been a way.
Like the time you had to kill your own brother,
you would have had to kill him.
This is not some kind of children's play.
This is about the court. This is about the country!
Not even the smallest thing should stray from my plan.
However, you...
You dared to ruin my work.
It was not children's play for me either.
I knew it would make you angry,
but I stepped out to save my friend.
So I dared to drag the Queen Dowager into it.
That is how much it mattered to me. More than my own life.
You came up with a plan, calculated and governed...
with an understanding of all the circumstances.
While you were doing that, my friend could have died.
Is it okay for a mere court maid to die?
Is it okay for a mere court maid to die...
who spent all her life working for the palace?
When it was time, I planned to save everyone.
What if someone dies...
before the time you chose?
Is it an inevitable sacrifice?
Did you know...
I was afraid of losing my friend...
that I searched around the well every night?
I went crazy after seeing a perfume pouch...
and jumped into a pond.
I was afraid of every day, of every moment.
I promised you...
that I will save your friend.
I was so happy about your promise that I cried in secret.
However, the truth is...
you knew what was going on, and yet lied to me.
Because it is easy for you to deceive a mere court maid.
However, I do not want to be deceived anymore.
I cannot take it anymore.
You are only a court maid!
How arrogant...
and rude.
Yes, I am aware of that.
So you should punish me.
I am just a mere court maid.
If you do not like me, you can just kill me.
I loved you.
I asked you to be my family.
You were...
the only person to hear that.
The only woman I ever loved...
since I was born...
is you.
I have never loved you.
You were never a man to me.
And you...
never will be.
(Episode 15 will air soon.)
(based on historical figures.)
(It may include fictitious details and psychological description.)
Sitting here and waiting for the King all night...
is just because of my job.
I do not have to think about anything else.
Is this a dream?
I will know if I pinch you.
I can not even...
pinch you in my dreams.
Why are you here?
You should not.
One good thing about being the King is...
that no one can not be in my way.
Wherever I go,
whoever I go to, no one dares to stop me.
Did something bad happen?
You look unhappy.
Yes, I am unhappy.
Because of you.
Amazingly, you shake my heart.
Sometimes I think of you...
while I am concentrating on my work.
You have been disturbing me all day today.
Thinking that it is your shift today...
makes my chest feel tight.
But I was worried for nothing.
You drool and sleep well here.
You're either...
cunning or slow.
You bother me.
You make me angry.
Look at you now.
Your eyes are just wide open.
You know how much I...
If you're tired, go to your room and rest.
Last night, the King went to the observation facility...
and not to Sookchang Palace.
He went there and turned it upside down.
Then is it true that more than half of the workers...
at the observation facility got fired?
Yes, as a punishment for receiving bribes...
and manipulating the date the royal concubine to share his bed.
The person who suborned is...
All right.
I will not talk bad about the Royal Secretary so stop crying.
The Royal Secretary is amazing.
He is the only one who got out of this chaos.
This is not Royal Guard's business.
I am saying this because I can not help it.
How could you suborn the workers at the observation facility?
You went too far.
The King said he will not punish you,
but it does not mean that he is not angry.
Of course, the King would be angry.
But the King has always forgiven me.
So he will forgive me again.
I am sure that I have...
His Majesty's heart.
Anyway, I said it because I am worried of you.
I will go now.
Royal Guard,
do you know...
about the three things that the King...
wishes to achieve?
No matter how bad my memory is,
I remember...
what I heard many times.
Tell me about them.
Is this a test?
First is water control.
(To control water)
Second is...
As soon as the water control is over,
I want to proceed with the next.
Is national defense the reason...
why you want to build a castle?
That is one of the purposes.
However, there is another reason.
I want to give people a new experience.
Experience of receiving a fair payment for one's own labor.
When we built castles,
we always forced the people to join.
The people had to give up their livelihoods and work.
The world always took it for granted,
but that is not right.
No one will step up first,
so I have no choice but to step up first.
I already chose the name for the castle.
It is Hwaseong.
Hwaseong.
The King...
told them...
but not me.
Why?
Why is that?
Your Highness,
Sung Duk Im, the personal maid from the King's Palace is here.
Lady!
I mean... Maid Sung, sit closer to me.
Your Highness,
I asked a special favor to Court Lady Kwon...
to let me meet you.
Maid Sung,
is my brother okay?
Will His Majesty continue to adore my brother?
Of course, Your Highness.
I am relieved.
That is what everyone says,
but I am still worried.
I wanted to ask someone I can trust.
Why are you worried about the Royal Secretary?
His Majesty now knows...
the kind of person I am.
He probably knows that I am useless.
What if...
he hates my brother because of me?
I am worried.
You should not be worried.
At least for once,
I want to be helpful to my brother.
But I am...
just useless.
Did you want to see me, Your Majesty?
I saw you on the way.
You are coming from Sookchang Palace.
- Yes. - Why did you go there?
Did Wonbin call you?
Did she call you on purpose or was it the Royal Secretary...
It is not what you think it is.
I know Queen Wonbin personally.
We have known each other for a long time.
She only wanted to see me as a friend.
Is that true?
Your Majesty. Queen Wonbin is still a young girl.
And to me,
she is an innocent person.
She is struggling to get used to the life in the palace.
She is having serious depression.
I think you should not neglect it.
Depression is a mental illness.
She should lean on someone she can trust.
You are her husband...
and a pillar to rely on.
If you visit her more often and treat her nicely...
Why should I...
hear that from you?
Treat her nicely?
She is only a young girl?
Do not be ridiculous.
Age does not matter.
She is my concubine.
Why are you...
sending me to another woman?
Do you not care about how I feel?
Do you...
not see me as a man anymore?
You are merely a court maid,
and you bragged about protecting me.
Until the day I die,
I shall protect you.
You sacrificed yourself to protect my life.
How can I possibly...
not love such a woman?
I have always thought...
that you also have feelings for me.
That you love me...
as much as I love you.
If that is not true, tell me right here, right now.
Do you...
really have no feelings for me?
I...
I...
I do not wish to be your woman.
Never for once,
I wished that.
Look at this.
I am back.
- Hi, Duk Im. - Hi.
Duk Im. This book is really funny. Let us read it together.
- Look. - Hey. I cannot see.
Duk Im just got here.
Put it in the center.
This is where I belong.
What are you talking about?
Wait. I am not done reading yet.
- Hurry up. - Wait.
Okay.
Your Majesty. It is late.
What are you thinking about in the Royal Office this late?
Your Majesty.
I was thinking about someone.
A precious one.
I thought she was mine, but she was not.
I thought she was...
always waiting for me in the same place.
But it turns out she was not waiting for me.
She only stood there...
because that was where she had to be.
I thought she would come if I told her to,
but it was all a foolish misunderstanding.
What do you think?
I do not understand what you mean.
Should I have her against her will?
I have endured the life of long-suffering...
and took the throne.
Should I compensate myself for that?
Your Majesty.
Someone told me...
it is not wrong to wish for something.
Now that I am king,
if I want anything, I may force them...
to give it to me.
Do you agree?
I do not dare to share my opinion.
I only follow your decisions.
However,
I have seen you since you were a baby.
I dare to say...
that is not the kind of man you are.
That is not the kind of king you are either.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
I received an urgent message from Sookchang Palace.
Wonbin is in a critical condition.
Your Highness.
You should not joke with your older brother.
Open your eyes and wake up right now.
Please.
Hurry and give her medicinal decoction.
Royal Secretary...
Her Highness...
already passed away.
Did you not hear when I said you must save Her Highness?
Hurry and save her, please!
I do not know why she suddenly died.
What do you mean she died suddenly?
Hurry up and do something!
Right now!
- Please. - Royal Secretary.
Please! Do something!
Hong Duk Ro!
What happened to Queen Won?
Your Majesty.
Queen Won...
Your queen...
has passed away.
Your Highness.
Why did you leave me?
No...
No, wake up!
It is my fault that I could not save Queen Won.
I do not deserve your mercy.
I can not blame everything on you.
I should be blamed for bringing a precious person...
and not taking good care of her.
Send a person to console her mother.
Ministry of Rites should discuss the funeral process.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
What will happen to the Royal Secretary then?
I am not sure either.
Chief State Councilor.
The Queen died out of the blue.
Do you not think it is strange?
His big dream is shattered.
The Royal Secretary will lose it and make a commotion.
Master Hong.
I cannot fathom how sad and painful it must be.
His Majesty is worried about you.
You must cheer up for His Majesty.
No matter how painful it is,
you must bury the dead in your heart...
and forget.
My sister who was perfectly healthy was killed.
How can I forget so easily?
What are you talking about?
She was killed?
Yes.
My sister was killed.
Master Hong must be grieving deeply.
He must be grieving.
He must have had an ambitious dream to become the uncle of a prince.
Kyung Hee, you are bad.
He lost his sister. He lost his family.
I do not care about your hatred for him.
But do not be so cold like that.
Of course, I feel sorry about what happened to Queen Won.
But I do not even know her well.
I do not have to feel sad about every death in the world.
Master Hong cherished her sister very much.
Having someone grieving with him will comfort him.
(To be continued)
Do you think so?
She was too young. I feel bad as well.
My lady.
- Yes, Sam Wol. - Here.
I hope I am not late.
It is from Lady Bae.
Kyung Hee?
Meet me at Neungheojeong at midnight.
Did she say anything else?
No. I will get going now.
What are you talking about?
Kyung Hee disappeared?
We are supposed to meet at Neungheojeong.
I have been waiting for her but she has not come.
She could be somewhere else.
We searched everywhere and she is nowhere in the palace.
What should we do?
Let us wait for the sun to come up for now.
When the morning comes, I will let Court Lady Seo know.
So...
Head Lady Cho's people are still active.
And their leader...
- is Hong Duk Ro? - Your Majesty.
Cho's information, network, and funds.
All of them went to Royal Secretary.
He has been posting people from influential families,
in return for money.
He also has been receiving bribes from interpreters and merchants.
Please forgive me for overstepping my bounds,
but you ordered Royal Secretary to wipe out...
those who had colluded with Cho.
However, they still exist.
And they are now doing a business with him instead of Cho.
I understood. You may go for tonight.
Your Majesty, you cannot let him slide.
I said you may go for tonight.
My goodness. Even Kyung Hee is missing?
What are you talking about?
Is there another person missing besides Kyung Hee?
The lady who served medicinal decoction to Won is also missing.
There is more.
Only court ladies know this.
Ladies have gone missing since a few days ago.
Not only the lady who served medicinal decoction,
but six ladies went missing.
All of them are court ladies of the main palace.
Have a seat.
I hear court ladies have gone missing.
Did you know about this?
It is my first time hearing about it.
I think there is no need to worry about it either.
Court ladies often commit suicides.
It happens 3 or 4 times a year. It is quite common.
I said they went missing.
I did not say they were dead.
You also serve as the Head Palace Guard.
(Head Palace Guard: The head of guards in the palace)
So, you are responsible for this.
Make sure to find the missing court ladies.
I receive your orders, Your Majesty.
A ghost must have taken Lady Bae.
What?
Everyone said that.
All the missing ladies are taken by a ghost.
A ghost?
Do not be silly and tell me about Kyung Hee.
Sam Wol, you are the last person to have met Kyung Hee.
You really do not know anything?
Really, I know nothing.
No matter how many times you visit me, I can not...
Okay. We are sorry to bother you during your work.
Go back to your work.
Isn't she acting a little strange?
She kept saying a ghost...
and did not answer to what we asked.
I think she is hiding something.
Duk Im, you had better go to the Queen Dowager Palace.
Queen Dowager called you on purpose.
You can not be late.
I feel that a ghost took her.
Where did Kyung Hee go?
After returning from the war, Pyeong Guk was terribly sick.
He took medicines day and night.
So, the emperor sent a noted doctor to him.
The doctor felt the pulse and said,
"The illness is not serious,"
"but something was strange."
Then, the emperor asked what was strange,
and the doctor hesitantly said...
when he felt Pyeong Guk's pulse,
he noticed that it was not the pulse of a man.
So?
Pyeong Guk, a woman dressed as a man was caught, wasn't she?
Yes, Your Highness.
You are just as I heard.
A common folk tale is fun when it is read by you.
(Folk tale: a novel based on a folk story)
I am honored.
I do not know how much a story reading gets paid.
So, I just prepared this.
Will this be enough?
This is too much.
Please take it back.
I borrowed a precious lady of the King.
I need to treat you right.
I am sorry, but I can not take this.
Okay. Have you found your missing friend?
I heard court ladies are going missing.
One of them is your friend, I hear.
Yes.
It is taking long days to find them.
What is the King doing about this?
Is he not interested in this...
because he thinks less of court ladies?
If I were him, I would not take it that easy.
Don't you think...
this is strange?
I believe it will be resolved soon.
I believe all of them will come back safely.
Alright.
I will get going now.
Is there anything else you want me to do?
Will you transcribe a book for me later?
Yes, Your Highness.
There are not many people who I can talk to easily.
I would like to have you closer to my side.
I am sorry, but I am...
You are the court lady of the King's Palace.
Remember this.
I care for you...
much more than you think.
Let me know if you have any trouble.
I will help you.
What is the King doing about this?
Is he not interested in this...
because he thinks less of court ladies?
I thought it was Kyung Hee's.
What are you doing?
Your Majesty!
Have a seat.
Explain what happened at the pond.
I told you to explain!
Please compose yourself, Your Majesty.
Maid Sung, answer him now.
You did not go into the pond to kill yourself, did you?
My friend went missing.
A court lady of the main palace, Bae Kyung Hee.
I couldn't just sit by.
I have been looking for her whenever I had time.
The perfume pouch floating on the water...
I thought it was hers.
I jumped into the water without realizing it.
Just in case, she...
I'm worried that I won't be able to find her ever again.
Stop crying.
When you cry,
I become powerless.
Don't make me that kind of King.
Your friend will definitely come back.
I promise you.
Royal Secretary already went out to search for the missing court ladies.
I trust him to succeed.
Am I right?
Yes, truly, my King.
Lady Sung, stop crying.
I am doing my best for the court ladies.
Trust me...
and please wait for a while.
Yes.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
You know how to be cunning.
I did not know you will move the King's heart with tears.
Do not be offended.
I am complimenting your smart move.
It is the talent only you can do.
You promised in front of the King...
to find the missing court ladies.
So you must make this right.
If not, you should be worried about your safety.
Is that really true?
What do you mean?
Will the King push me away...
just because I could not find some court ladies?
Of course, there will be some consequences...
such as cutting my wage,
or lowering my position.
That is not much.
If you have a scale, measure the weight.
Whether I, Hong Duk Ro, or the court ladies...
is more important to the King.
Did you call me?
Court Lady Seo, listen to my words.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Keep an eye on Sung Duk Im.
- Yes? - Find out where she goes...
and who she meets.
If something happens,
report to Royal Guard.
I'm sorry,
but please tell me the reason.
No one likes being followed.
She will hurt her feelings.
I do not care of her feelings.
I just need her to be safe.
Do not forget my order.
Yes, Your Majesty.
- You can leave now. - Yes.
Go in.
Welcome.
I heard it was urgent, so I came quickly.
- Please give me an order. - Head Lady Cho...
had a secret place.
Yes, I checked the place before.
I ordered to burn the place down...
to Hong Duk Ro.
I need to check with my own eyes...
if he followed my orders.
Yes, Your Majesty. I will guide you.
It is this way, Your Majesty.
- Oh, no. - Please.
- Oh, gosh. - Oh, no.
What's going on?
- What's happening to us? - Oh, no.
- Oh, gosh. - Oh, no.
- Oh, no. - Please.
Next is Sewing Department.
- Lady Kim. - Come out!
- No! - Let go of me!
Keep an eye on the situation...
so that the captured court ladies can be safe.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You called for me?
Have a seat.
It is my first time to be called to the library.
I am so glad.
Seeing you come in reminds me of the old days.
I was mostly locked up at the East Palace for a long time.
You were always by my side.
I still remember.
Every morning, when the doors of the East Palace opens up,
you will enter...
holding a newspaper.
You brought me all the news in the world.
As always...
I am still by your side.
There is something I want to ask for your opinion.
Think carefully and answer me.
It is a very important matter.
One day, I will free all the slaves of this country.
It is the most important goal...
I want to achieve as the King of Joseon.
Why do you want to achieve such a goal?
Joseon is my home.
So all the people living in my home are my family.
I can not stand that I live off of...
the fat of the land while my family lives like animals.
Your Majesty, please think about the reality.
The slaves have no power.
What if you miss the hearts of important people...
while putting efforts into useless people?
You should pay attention to slave owners, not slaves.
They are the ones with power.
They will be useful to you.
So,
I should abandon the weak and useless?
Is that what you think?
I said I will tell you the facts.
Then how about the court maids?
Pardon?
Most court maids were district office slaves.
Are they also useless...
because they come from humble background?
They serve the King. How can they be useless?
It is just...
Just?
That they can be replaced without a problem.
I understand.
So that is what you think.
I understand you fully now.
You may leave.
You suddenly wanted to play Go with me.
I have to admit I was surprised.
I am not good at Go or Janggi.
Since you enjoy it,
I will learn from now on.
It has been three years since I took the throne.
After the time of long-suffering,
I think I have finally formed the basis a bit.
I should thank you for that.
If you wish,
I will move Kim Gui Joo who is exiled in Heuksan Island...
to Naju.
My brother?
One day, he might come back to the capital city.
That is an unexpected favor.
Then what should I do for you in return?
Play Go with me...
as you are doing now.
You are...
an elder of the royal family who even I can not treat carelessly.
Play Go with me,
and if you wish for anything, you should tell me right away.
I will grant it with filial love.
Then shall I say one now?
Since your concubine died without having a son,
you should marry someone new.
Sure.
However, I will choose whom I will marry this time.
She is probably not from Noron as you would want.
What if I have another idea?
Then your brother will not be going to Naju,
but he will receive poison in Heuksan Island.
Is that so? That is actually better.
It is better to be honest to each other.
We should have opened our hearts to each other in the first place.
Your Majesty.
The women in the royal family did not...
marry the royal family on their will.
The hairpin on their heads is heavy like a stone.
And responsibility on their shoulders is heavier.
However,
you treat us like relatives that you must be careful of.
I see you are taking control of the family...
before making a decision on something.
I love playing Go.
You should visit me more often.
I will do so, Grandmother.
Duk Im.
I am going to see Sam Wol.
Again?
She is the only evidence.
You all noticed she has been acting strange lately.
She argues the ghosts took the court maids who disappeared.
She keeps talking nonsense, so everyone avoids her.
I think she is doing that on purpose.
I will be back soon.
Duk Im. We will go with you.
- You are on duty tomorrow. - Duk Im.
Kyung Hee means a lot to me, but so do you.
Yes. What if something happens to you too?
We will go with you.
Did you say she is here?
Yes.
I am scared.
Sam Wol.
Sam Wol.
Sam Wol.
Sam Wol.
Put her down.
Hurry.
- Put her down. - Yes.
Sam Wol.
Sam Wol.
Do you feel like talking now?
What on earth happened?
It is poison.
(Poison extracted from Arsenic trioxide)
Royal Secretary ordered me...
to plant it in Queen Kim's palace.
So it will be evidence...
to frame that she killed Queen Wonbin.
Is that...
why you tried to die?
It is high treason to slander Queen Kim.
If I get caught, it is not just me who gets killed.
All my family will die as well.
I would rather die alone.
Royal Secretary took the missing court maids, right?
So where did he detain them?
I do not know either.
I am telling the truth.
How on earth could he take the court maids secretly?
Definitely not through the gates of the palace.
Everyone has been keeping an eye on them.
Then what is it?
Is there a secret passage in the palace?
What should we do now?
Girls.
A secret place that nobody knows came to my mind.
The court maids who disappeared must be there.
Where is it?
I cannot say it. I cannot put you in danger.
(Tale of Hong Gye Wol)
This is the book the Queen Dowager told me to transcript.
I will search for Kyung Hee now.
If I do not return by noon tomorrow,
you should give this book to the Queen Dowager for me.
Hey, this book is not important in a situation like this.
It is important.
Because it will be the only way for you...
to meet the Queen Dowager.
I will write a letter.
I will write all the truth about the court maids...
who disappeared and about the Royal Secretary.
I will put it in this book.
If I do not come back,
give this book to the Queen Dowager.
No. You work at the King's Palace.
If you drag the Queen Dowager into this carelessly,
you might upset the King.
For telling the Queen Dowager without telling him.
Right. Let us go to the King and tell him before it is too late.
I cannot trust him.
Girls, he is the King.
He always calculates.
When he has done calculating,
if he chooses to save the Royal Secretary instead of court maids,
what will happen?
I am different from him.
I cannot weigh people's lives.
Kyung Hee is the most important person to me.
If it is to save her, I will do anything.
So you will drag the Queen Dowager into this?
Among those whom I can ask for help, she is the most powerful.
Duk Im, it might not work as you think.
You might end up losing your life for nothing.
I know.
But this is the best thing I can do for Kyung Hee.
The four of us should always stay together.
Wait for me. I will go...
find the missing one.
You must come back safely.
I will wait for you.
- Take her. - Yes, sir.
Come here, Lady Sung.
You managed to find this place.
Do you think you can get off scot-free after doing this?
Are you not afraid that the King might find out about this?
Why did you come to me before telling His Majesty?
You do not trust him.
Whether telling the King about this...
will save your friend...
or kill her,
you were not sure.
That is why you came here first.
You are fearless.
Is your arrogance derived from the King's favor?
Is it not you who became arrogant as you received the royal favor?
Did you think everything would work out as you want?
If things work out as I want, Queen Won should be alive.
She should give birth to the King's first prince and smile happily.
A happy smile.
That is what she has to show me.
Do you believe she was happy after she became a queen?
If she did not become a queen, she would have been alive.
Are you saying my sister's death is my fault?
No!
My sister was murdered.
Why would have she died suddenly if it were not the case?
The Queen killed her.
She called her to cane her...
and ended up killing her by making her suffer.
Lady Sung.
Do you know those disgusting things that happen to concubines?
Do you have proof?
If you slander the Queen without evidence...
Unfortunately, I could not find one.
But I am not worried.
If there is no proof, I can just make one.
You could help me as well.
Follow me.
- Please. - Write it.
The medical nurse cannot do her job.
You should write for her.
Now,
make proof for me.
Do not worry about the content. I will tell you.
"After Queen Kim poisoned Queen Won,"
"she bribed royal physicians to make the cause of her death."
- Write it down. - You are not in your right mind.
If you are caught...
You will die with me.
When you are forced to write something...
that slanders the queen of the country,
you should rather bite your tongue and die.
Do not blame me.
That is how the national law works.
It is especially crucial for lowly court maids.
Why?
Do you not want to hear that you are lowly?
All court maids...
were government slaves anyway.
Write it down quickly!
Let go of her hand right now!
Arrest all the Palace Guards.
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
Your Majesty, I can explain.
- I can explain. - Take him out.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Get up.
Duk Im.
Kyung Hee.
(Tale of Hong Gye Wol)
Take this with you.
I know you are mad at me.
But, I lost my sister, Your Majesty.
I had a solid reason for doing this.
You made fake evidence and defamed Queen Kim.
Is that because of the solid reason you had, Royal Secretary Hong?
Your Majesty, you do not need to listen to him anymore.
Look at the horrible thing Royal Secretary Hong has done.
Royal Secretary Hong.
His Majesty knew all of your misdeeds.
Even though he knew,
he was waiting for you to confess.
"Let us give him a chance one last time."
He said that.
What are you waiting for?
You need to tell His Majesty what he has done wrong.
What makes you hesitate?
You must have wanted this day to come.
Tell all the bad things about me.
Hong Duk Ro.
I've always disliked you.
But I thought of you as my friend of Dongdukhoe.
I cannot run for the official since I am a son-in-law of the king.
Back in the days,
when I worked for His Majesty with you in Dongdukhoe,
those days were the proudest days of my life.
Saying that we should kill you, the one I spent those days with,
kills me inside, to be honest.
What...
What led you to this?
Your Majesty.
There are many officials who hate me...
just because I was promoted to the superior position.
However, Your Majesty,
I don't care if the world hates me.
I only need you to trust me, Your Majesty.
Everyone makes a mistake at least once.
A mistake?
You did not make a mistake.
You knew it was wrong.
But you had no problem doing it.
You were sure that you will be forgiven for whatever you do.
I forgave you for many of your wrongdoings.
Do you know why I did that?
Because I felt sorry.
For a long time,
I knew the day like this would come.
I was certain that you will threaten my government...
and my country.
So, when it is the time,
I know that I have to get rid of you.
What...
do you mean by that?
I already knew the time has come.
Even though I knew, I kept postponing the decision.
And we are here today.
How dare you to defame the Queen...
and confine my people?
While I was being hesitant because of my personal feelings,
all of these happened.
I didn't...
want to kill you with my own hand.
Now, you are...
the enemy that I watch out the most,
and the traitor I hate from the bottom of my heart.
Tell me.
Do you think...
I will let you go now?
Have you forgiven me all this time...
to kill me in the end?
Just like you build a high tower...
to break it at once.
Your Majesty, are you mad at me?
Are you trying to scare me because you are mad?
I am sorry. I was wrong.
You are saying this because you are mad at me now.
As time goes by, the anger will melt away.
Your Majesty, you know me.
I am Hong Duk Ro, who worked for you my entire life.
We promised!
The day I saved your life,
as promised,
I've always been by your side.
I already forgave you as much as I can.
Now, it's time to pay all at once.
The price!
Is your life.
You never realize you are wrong on your own.
You don't even know what you did wrong.
You will never be my person.
No matter how long I waited!
I was not...
your person, Your Majesty?
Not even once,
I was not your person?
Not once,
you were not my person.
Then,
kill me.
When I lost my sister,
I thought I had no hope for living.
But that was not true.
Your Majesty,
you were my purpose,
and hope for living.
Please kill me.
I have lost everything now.
Your Majesty. Please do not kill the Royal Secretary.
Please spare his life.
I...
I am begging you.
Whose subject are you?
How dare you interfere...
when I am trying to decide his punishment?
Pardon me.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
You always said...
you do not think.
You just obey my order.
I do not think.
I just obey your order.
However,
I dare to say...
you want...
someone to step out and save the Royal Secretary.
That is why...
I stepped out.
Am I wrong?
Am I wrong about that?
I...
Look.
Do you not understand what His Majesty wants?
Last night,
Royal Secretary Hong wished to resign.
I will comfort him by entitling him as baron...
and accept...
his resignation.
- Kyung Hee. - Kyung Hee.
You fool.
You just woke up.
I am talking to you, Sung Duk Im.
It was thoughtless of you to spring out.
If His Majesty did not appear on time,
you could have been in danger too.
Did you do that for me?
Yes.
- So are you mad? - No.
I was happy.
Hey. How did you get taken?
I happened to witness...
the Palace Guards capturing Queen Kim's maids.
I thought they did not know I saw it.
So I sent Duk Im a message to talk about it.
Sam Wol was working for Royal Secretary.
I knew she was strange...
Lie down.
Hey. You should rest.
We are on night duty today.
We will come back in the morning. You should get some sleep.
Yes.
Duk Im. I am really sorry.
I lost the book you told me to keep.
It is not Young Hee's fault.
She went to the restroom at night,
and it was gone.
Yes.
Who could have sneaked in at night...
and took the book?
Duk Im.
His Majesty wants to see you.
- Are you going to explain? - No, Your Majesty.
Are you going to beg me for my forgiveness?
I do not dare to do that.
You do not think you were wrong.
You knew it all along from the beginning.
Yes.
I took everything under control...
and expected the conclusion.
Until you arrogantly interfered...
and tried to drag the Queen Dowager into it.
Duk Ro is my subject.
No matter how high he holds his head,
I can always take care of it in my own way.
However, the Queen Dowager is a different story.
She is the only person who can stand...
against the king in this country.
If she had found out...
The Royal Secretary would have to die.
No matter how much you defend him, there would not have been a way.
Like the time you had to kill your own brother,
you would have had to kill him.
This is not some kind of children's play.
This is about the court. This is about the country!
Not even the smallest thing should stray from my plan.
However, you...
You dared to ruin my work.
It was not children's play for me either.
I knew it would make you angry,
but I stepped out to save my friend.
So I dared to drag the Queen Dowager into it.
That is how much it mattered to me. More than my own life.
You came up with a plan, calculated and governed...
with an understanding of all the circumstances.
While you were doing that, my friend could have died.
Is it okay for a mere court maid to die?
Is it okay for a mere court maid to die...
who spent all her life working for the palace?
When it was time, I planned to save everyone.
What if someone dies...
before the time you chose?
Is it an inevitable sacrifice?
Did you know...
I was afraid of losing my friend...
that I searched around the well every night?
I went crazy after seeing a perfume pouch...
and jumped into a pond.
I was afraid of every day, of every moment.
I promised you...
that I will save your friend.
I was so happy about your promise that I cried in secret.
However, the truth is...
you knew what was going on, and yet lied to me.
Because it is easy for you to deceive a mere court maid.
However, I do not want to be deceived anymore.
I cannot take it anymore.
You are only a court maid!
How arrogant...
and rude.
Yes, I am aware of that.
So you should punish me.
I am just a mere court maid.
If you do not like me, you can just kill me.
I loved you.
I asked you to be my family.
You were...
the only person to hear that.
The only woman I ever loved...
since I was born...
is you.
I have never loved you.
You were never a man to me.
And you...
never will be.
(Episode 15 will air soon.)