01x13 - Episode 13

[bunniefuu]

What is the matter?

You are trembling. What is wrong?

You cannot…

go inside.

Do you have another lover waiting inside?

Or…

is there an assassin hiding to k*ll me?

Since when have you caught on?

Why did you come…

when you knew everything?

Did I not promise…

that I shall

come running at your call?

Mong-woo.

Mong-woo!

Are you all right, Your Majesty?

Mong-woo.

My lady.

My lady!

No, Mong-woo.

"My lady"?

Mong-woo…

No, please.

You have to stay awake.

Mong-woo.

Mong-woo.

Mong-woo.

Your Majesty,

we are prepared to return to the palace.

Please give us your order.

Mong-woo's wound seems grave.

Bring Royal Physician Ji

and a female physician.

Your safety comes first.

Kang Mong-woo will be treated

after being taken to the State Tribunal.

- Let us return first.

- Mong-woo comes first.

This woman committed high treason.

Mong-woo took the knife…

to save my life.

It is clear that she is in league

with the assassin.

And their assassination attempt

simply failed.

- Your Majesty.

- I have already given my command.

- Bring the royal physician.

- Your Majesty.

Follow the royal command!

I shall, Your Majesty.

If I lose you like this,

I shall never

forgive myself.

His Majesty's return to the palace

has been delayed.

Not a single soul may enter the premises.

So examine the vicinity thoroughly

and stay extra vigilant.

- Yes, Captain!

- Yes, Captain!

Shall I transfer the criminal

in the storage to the State Tribunal?

Not yet.

Keep him there until there is an order

and do not take your eyes off him.

Yes, Captain.

You two will follow me.

- Yes, Captain.

- Yes, Captain.

The scent is pleasant.

You may drink too, Senior Court Lady Dong.

Please forgive my bluntness,

but His Majesty

may return to the palace anytime.

Please address the reason

behind your summon.

The empty queen's quarters

will soon welcome a new occupant.

The concubine appointment

would be within the new queen's purview,

but I shall put in a good word for you.

- How dare you?

- It is fine.

Why do you laugh?

I only laugh as I am reminded

of a past incident.

A past incident?

Long ago,

before His Majesty ascended to the throne

and I was a court maid in your service,

you gave me a command

when the late king

summoned me out of the blue.

Your Royal Highness.

Please do not send me

to His Majesty's quarters.

I would rather

you took my life this instant.

I hear you harbor affection

for Grand Prince Jinhan.

If you truly care for him,

become the King's woman.

Become the sword

that protects Grand Prince Jinhan.

Upon hearing those words,

my tender young soul

was shaken and terrified.

Whenever I recall that moment,

my heart still races

and I break out into a cold sweat.

And why are you bringing that up?

When lightning struck the palace,

His Majesty questioned me thusly.

"You know who poisoned

the late king to death,

do you not?"

You said you would put in a good word

for my appointment as a concubine.

I will be looking forward to it,

Your Royal Highness.

That insolent wench.

Do mind where you are!

Has His Majesty returned?

Not yet.

Come.

When he does,

I shall send you word immediately.

So please wait in your quarters.

How about Captain Joo?

How would he have returned

without His Majesty?

What is going on?

Did something happen

to His Majesty?

Wait here.

Follow me.

An attempt was made here

to assassinate His Majesty tonight.

Is His Majesty

the man who lost his consciousness

from a wound?

The one who was wounded

is a woman.

Gidaeryeong Kang Mong-woo.

She seems to be

associated with the assassin.

Should you learn anything about her

during your treatment,

report every little detail back to me.

Do you understand?

Yes, Captain.

How is she?

Thankfully, it is not a fatal wound,

but it is deep.

She is running a fever,

the bleeding has not stopped yet,

and her body seems too weak.

Take her pulse.

Her pulse is very faint and beating fast.

Is she in a critical condition?

Suffering a wound in her weakened state

seems to have affected her deeply.

We shall stop the bleeding first.

As we must wash the wound

with salt water and apply ointment,

I must dare ask

that you give us some privacy.

- How is she?

- We have stopped the bleeding.

However, I am concerned about her fever.

We shall have to see

if she can last the night.

Your Majesty.

I await your punishment for my crimes.

Are you referring to…

your false report regarding her treatment

on the night of the gisinje?

I have committed a greater crime.

What is it?

I only reported to you falsely back then

as an old acquaintance

who did me a great favor long ago

made a special request

that I look after the gidaeryeong.

I only sought

to repay his kindness back then.

I never suspected that he was in league

with the gidaeryeong,

much less foresaw his return to the court

as the Inspector General.

What did Kim Je-nam…

say about his relationship

with the gidaeryeong?

He said she was the family

of a friend he considers as his brother.

Your confession now

equates to a confession of treason.

Can you swear

that there is no deceit in your words?

As you can question

the Inspector General for the truth,

there is no reason

for me to falsely confess.

Your Majesty, if his words are true,

you cannot let this slide.

Summon Kim Je-nam.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Please follow me inside.

Royal Physician Ji Nam-kyu

only reported the truth, Your Majesty.

Please ask me any questions you may have,

and I shall answer them.

Were you aware of…

the gidaeryeong's designs for me?

Of course, Your Majesty.

Three years ago,

she came to me in a wretched state.

As soon as she recovered,

she confessed

that she had a plan for treason

and requested my assistance.

Do your views

align with the gidaeryeong's?

Your Majesty.

It shames me to admit this,

but I do not have

a spirit of justice like her.

Before I received

your summon to the court,

I used to believe that I would be content

living all my days in the countryside.

While I found her spirit admirable,

I was sure of her failure

and only hoped for her safety.

Your Majesty.

Do not let him trick you

with his wicked words.

Why did you not report the gidaeryeong

even after being appointed

as the Inspector General?

Was it not to plot treason with her?

It is only natural for you

to have suspicion against me.

I, too, had a few against you,

Your Majesty.

I questioned your decision

to summon an unruly sword like me.

I assumed you were trying

to mimic acts of virtuous kings

to allay the concerns of the people.

However, upon meeting you,

my suspicion melted away like spring snow

and was instead replaced by hope

that I could contribute

to this nation and its people.

As such, I went to the gidaeryeong

and conveyed my change of heart.

Ever since then,

I have never had private meetings with her

nor have we exchanged words.

Your Majesty.

His words are nothing but crude excuses.

He sat back and watched the treason unfold

when he could have prevented it.

It is only right

to punish him for high treason.

I do not intend to avoid any punishment.

I prepared myself for death

when I was summoned here.

However,

should the gidaeryeong

survive and come to,

please be generous

and hearken to her reasoning.

Please contemplate

what would have driven her

to come before you

even in her weakened state.

I earnestly plead with you

for the sake of this nation

and its people.

I believe you.

I also

wish to hear her out…

so long as she wakes up.

Thank you for your generosity,

Your Majesty.

The master of this house

would also rejoice in the Underworld

to have his only kin

spared from being ex*cuted as a traitor.

What did you just say?

His only kin?

Are you saying…

Mong-woo is my Master Kang's kin?

Master Choam.

Stand back.

What about Lady Hee-soo?

Seeing as you are here,

she must be alive, must she not?

She has not

regained her consciousness yet.

We should interrogate him some other time.

You managed to save her life

three years ago.

You must have a way

to save her this time as well.

Is that not so?

Your Majesty.

You should return to the palace.

I will stay by the gidaeryeong.

I shall return. Lead the way.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Lady Hee-soo and Master Chu

are running late tonight.

The ingyeong will ring soon.

INGYEONG: THE CURFEW BELL

Did she tell you

she would be heading elsewhere?

How is it any of your concern?

Did Master Chu mention anything to you?

What?

He did mention something.

Right.

It was nothing. You need not know.

Are you trying to drive me out of my mind?

Look.

I do not know what came over him

to make such a request,

but he asked me to make an offering

in his stead on Hongjang's memorial day.

But he can do that himself, can he not?

Is anyone inside?

You seem to have a visitor.

That is odd.

I am not expecting anyone at this hour.

What is going on?

Who could it be

for it to be dead silent outside?

Who is Jageunnyeon?

That would be me.

The Inspector General summons you.

Come with us.

Wait, is that not Master Choam?

I am Jageunnyeon.

Why is Master Choam

looking for me at this hour?

You will know once you reach him.

I wonder why they are so serious.

Something must have happened here

in Lady Hee-soo's house.

Master Choam.

You are here.

Something happened

to Lady Hee-soo, did it not?

I noticed

that she had become very frail.

What happened?

She has suffered deeply

from her troubled heart.

She would skip meals

and have trouble sleeping.

I do not think

she intended to go this far.

She must have used all her might

to get here.

Your Majesty.

The Chief Royal Secretary is here.

You may leave.

Remind me of my agenda for today.

You have a morning assembly,

a rotational council,

and an evening study.

You must also review the reports

submitted by the offices.

Postpone the morning assembly.

I shall join the rotational council.

I will also go over the reports

at a later date.

Additionally,

I shall have a nighttime study

after the evening study.

So do prepare it.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I would like to see the Crown Prince.

Is he in his lecture?

He is at the Queen Dowager's quarters

to greet Her Royal Highness.

Here comes His Majesty!

Father.

Why are you standing out here?

I am waiting for permission to enter

from Her Royal Highness.

How long have you been waiting?

Does she keep you waiting every time?

I apologize for my t*rd,

Your Majesty.

Please come inside.

The Crown Prince will accompany me.

Until when are you going to leave

the Queen's quarters vacant?

Should you not order the court

to issue a decree for a selection?

We are still in mourning.

I will not have such a decree issued

while the Crown Prince

remains in mourning.

To think the nation

would not have a queen for so long.

This is unprecedented.

We shall have a new precedent then.

It seems that you keep

the Crown Prince waiting for a while

whenever he visits to greet you.

For what reason are you doing that?

I only did so as it was agonizing

to see him in his mourning dress.

It is not like

I am refusing to receive him.

What harm is there in a little wait?

I have failed to consider the agony

you are going through, Mother.

For the time being

until your sorrow subsides,

I shall have a palace eunuch greet you

on the Crown Prince's behalf.

I shall excuse myself first

to attend to matters of state.

You should rise as well.

We should not keep your lecturers waiting.

You wish for me to retract my command?

Are you sure you can bear it?

I am aware that you have

given the command for my sake.

However,

greeting Her Royal Highness

is my duty as her grandchild.

If I refuse to do as much,

I will not be able to handle

anything in the future.

Crown Prince.

You are a dutiful child indeed.

Do tell me if you need anything.

You must have something in mind.

What is it?

I miss Gidaeryeong Kang, Your Majesty.

It is not because I want to play baduk.

How could I indulge myself in pleasure

when I am still in mourning

for my late mother?

It is just that

he is my master

and I have not seen him in a while.

Am I not

allowed to see him?

I apologize.

I should not have made such a request.

For what reason is His Majesty not issuing

a decree for the selection of the queen?

With his heir secured,

he does not feel the need

to rush the matter.

My lord, even if that is

how His Majesty views the matter,

we cannot sit idly and watch.

We must appoint a new queen soon,

even if only to conduct

the memorial services

of the Royal Ancestral Shrine.

That is right.

That is what I was trying to say.

Additionally, we must have a new queen

to select a crown princess.

I hear His Royal Highness vowed not to wed

until he is done mourning.

Is that not right, Great Lord?

His Royal Highness

is such a dutiful son.

I have broached

the matter to him many times,

but he stayed resolute.

What brings you here?

I am here to convey a royal order.

His Majesty wishes to postpone

the morning assembly set for today

and only attend the rotational council.

I understand.

Let us leave now.

The new blunt-lobed spicebush

on the former peach tree's plot

looks very pleasant.

Have you noticed it too,

Left State Councilor?

Peach blossoms are quite fine,

but they are not as grand

as the flowers of blunt-lobed spicebush.

I am looking forward to next spring.

I am flattered by your praise.

Let us go.

When Her Majesty passed away,

I was too bitter

and lost my will to continue on.

But life has its twists and turns.

Who would have thought

I would gain such a dutiful grandson

as His Royal Highness?

You are right, Great Lord.

Life indeed has its twists and turns.

He must still believe

we are his subordinates.

How foolish.

Everyone in the court

is favoring His Royal Highness.

Do you not agree, Minister Min?

You are not wrong,

but nothing is for certain.

What is the problem this time?

As His Majesty

and the Queen Dowager's kin,

he still remains in power.

But what about us?

You are the Crown Prince's grandfather

only in name with no influence.

and I am…

holding my breath

for a marriage that may never happen.

Brother.

That was not my decision,

but His Royal Highness's.

You have changed.

Becoming the Crown Prince's kin

has changed your attitude.

Nothing has changed.

Please do not think so.

I must meet the gidaeryeong.

Why would you seek my approval

when he is not my subordinate?

Have you not heard?

While His Majesty

was in mourning for the late queen,

the gidaeryeong did not enter the palace.

He only did so yesterday briefly

and has not come in today.

I asked a runner

and learned that he did not come

without sending any word.

His Majesty did not summon him either.

I have been so busy tending

to His Royal Highness

that I have been out of touch with him.

I assumed that you and the gidaeryeong

were working together

for His Royal Highness.

Was I perhaps mistaken?

Do you now see

how much you have changed?

Do not mind him.

He is only being brusque out of annoyance

regarding the marriage matters.

Officials are already flocking

to the Crown Prince

and Sixth Royal Secretary Kim Myung-ha.

I knew this would happen.

The court is composed of people

who have a knack for detecting

who holds sway in the world.

I shall seek the official's support

and petition His Majesty

to issue a decree

for the selection of the queen.

Min Ji-hwan has sided

with the Crown Prince.

Do you still have

Yoo Hyun-bo's family in mind?

How about the former Minister of Justice

Kim Nae-seon's daughter?

Is his daughter

not your wife's niece?

He has people following him

and is close to our family.

His daughter would be perfect

as His Majesty's spouse.

You should have thought of that earlier.

What about the Crown Prince

and Kim Myung-ha?

I will take care of them all in due time,

so please do not worry.

I was about to deliver

the herbal medicine.

Is His Majesty looking for me?

He is still at the hall of governance.

Then what brings you here?

Last night,

I saw you leave the palace

with Captain Joo.

Where did you go?

His Majesty was out of the palace.

Did he summon you?

I cannot say.

Who is that?

Is that not Senior Court Lady Dong?

Speak the truth.

Where was His Majesty last night?

If you tell me,

I will reward you handsomely.

I apologize,

but I cannot tell you anything.

I can easily have you

framed for a crime, flogged,

and expelled out of this palace.

Do you wish for such a fate?

What are you doing there?

Did you not hear me?

What are you doing back here?

I have been feeling unwell,

so I was just asking her for treatment.

Is that true?

Yes, my lady.

Senior Court Lady Dong…

complained of pain in her shoulders,

so I was about to tend to her.

I will give it to you.

Who was His Majesty with?

You must keep this to yourself.

I do not know whose residence it was,

but he was with Gidaeryeong Kang.

But the gidaeryeong…

turned out to be a woman.

What?

The gidaeryeong…

is a woman?

I wondered why His Majesty

was so smitten with a lowly baduk player.

I can see why after seeing you up close.

You are a man,

yet peculiar.

I would like to become your woman.

Please allow me to spend a night with you.

I…

will not bed you…

nor dismiss you from my quarters.

I cannot bring myself to do this.

Your Majesty!

I do not understand the reason

why you are explaining

His Majesty's heart to me

when you are so sure of his affection.

Is anyone inside?

Have you been on my tail?

Do not take this the wrong way.

I am here to meet the gidaeryeong as well.

Is there no one inside?

Do not stand in my way.

Do not act this way.

I want to be on good terms with you.

Let us consider the past

water under the bridge

and become good friends.

There is no reason for us to be enemies.

You have the audacity

to utter such disgusting words?

What is it?

Has the Principal Director

had a change of heart?

Did he go back on his promise

about the new queen?

Lady Hee-soo.

Where have you gone?

I think she is waking up.

My goodness.

Master Choam!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

The news you have been awaiting

has arrived.

Has he awakened?

Answer me.

Yes, Your Majesty.

He has awakened.

What is the matter?

It is enough to hear he has awakened.

Eunuch Kim.

Yes, Your Majesty. Please speak.

I have ordered a nighttime study,

so bring me the Royal Secretary.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Master Choam.

Why have we not heard from the palace yet?

His Majesty's day is long

and filled with countless duties.

He will send word soon.

What will happen to Master Chu?

Principal Director.

What brings you here?

As you keep postponing

the morning assembly,

I have come to convey the court's wishes

and to seek your approval.

The Chief Royal Secretary

is apprising me of all urgent matters.

What is this important matter

that you must report to me yourself?

This is the list

of potential Sixth Royal Secretaries.

Please replace Kim Myung-ha.

What is the reason?

He is His Royal Highness's

only kin remaining.

His holding a position responsible

for relaying royal commands

is not appropriate.

To speak the truth,

some people are already lining up

to be on his good side.

It would only be proper to dismiss him

before he causes any concern

for His Royal Highness.

I shall consider it.

Inspector General Kim Je-nam

has not come to the palace for days.

The same goes for Gidaeryeong Kang.

I advise you to inspect them

for disciplinary actions.

You do not let even a small blunder

slip through the cracks, do you?

For officials

who have the duty

to serve you and the people,

even a small blunder is a grave crime.

If you let this slide,

the discipline of the court will grow lax.

Your words are correct.

Crimes are crimes.

We cannot minimize them as blunders.

I will keep that in mind.

Master Choam will give you an earful

if he finds out.

I feel too stuffy.

I will take a short walk and come back

before he notices.

My lady.

The night air is chilly.

Wait here.

I will quickly go get your robe.

You sure have returned quickly.

Your Majesty.

And who might you be?

I will guard this area, so leave.

Bollocks.

I suggest you leave.

I will protect Lady Hee-soo.

I thought you would never come.

I wanted to come running

as soon as I heard you were awake,

but I could not bear myself to face you.

The sight of a traitor like me

would understandably distress you.

It was because of my crime, not yours.

The crime that began three years ago

and still continues to this day.

Your crime?

What do you mean by that?

All your actions…

were all that I wished for.

If I had not wished for them,

I would not have made you the gidaeryeong,

given you access to Yeongchwijeong,

or kept you at the Grand Prince's side.

I would have punished and expelled you

when Princess Jangryeong was substituted.

I would have punished you harshly

for high treason

when your advice

prompted the Queen

to urge the Great Lord to petition

for the Grand Prince's appointment

as the Crown Prince during assembly.

But Your Majesty,

you threatened to have me k*lled

if I sought any patron other than you

when I first entered Yeongchwijeong.

I only did so…

to scare you enough

to make you act with caution.

But seeing you refuse

the Queen Dowager's offer

changed my mind.

I appointed you the Grand Prince's master

to avoid the Queen Dowager

and the Principal Director's keen eyes

and finally carry out

what I intended to do.

Appointing Grand Prince Munseong

as the Crown Prince.

I took advantage of you.

I used you as my shield

to veil my doings.

Even if your words are true,

the crimes I committed against you

do not go away.

I assume you could not

bring yourself to forgive me

for what I did to you three years ago.

That was not the reason.

In the evening

Principal Director Park Jong-hwan

intruded into Yeongchwijeong

without your permission,

I was there.

I hid myself

and heard what you said to him.

The appointment of the Crown Prince

is merely a trick to overcome the chaos

caused by the strange event.

When the people's minds are put at ease,

I can expel and banish him from the palace

and then eliminate him.

You are the one who should stop

being foolish and come to your senses.

I am the king of this nation.

Anyone who opposes me shall face death

and that includes

my kin who shares my blood.

And thus…

you decided to k*ll me

because you became afraid and sick of me.

Had that been the case…

Had I become sick of you,

I would have

discarded the plan to harm you

and made a rational decision

to wait for the Grand Prince's chance.

The man whom I love

revealed his true nature before me

as a treacherous and depraved king

just as I have long known.

And yet, my love for you did not diminish.

Instead of diminishing,

it only grew so painfully strong

that it swayed me.

That is why I decided to assassinate you.

It was to prevent myself

from becoming more captivated by you

and to protect the Grand Prince

who was appointed the Crown Prince.

Do you hear my heart beating?

Do you hear the mad, racing heartbeat

overcome with joy?

I will not lose you ever again.

I will protect you.

I have news to share with you.

Please speak, Your Majesty.

My master,

Lord Kang Hang-soon, has not passed away.

He is alive.

Where is he,

Your Majesty?

He is staying in Beijing to observe

the tension between Qing and Ming.

Your Majesty.

Are you saying

that Kang Hang-soon is your spy?

That is right.

He was imprisoned in Shenyang and released

while being transferred to Beijing.

But instead of returning,

he decided to hide his identity

and stay in the Qing.

His Majesty sent his men several times

asking Lord Kang to return,

but he refused.

Your Majesty.

When you mentioned

that there was a caretaker in the Qing

to look after Her Highness…

Yes.

I was referring to Master Kang.

I tried to find you at all costs

upon his request.

But I could not.

Thank you for the letter.

As I shall find what is lost at all costs,

make sure you tell them not to worry.

Has there been any progress

on finding what was lost?

We have combed through the capital,

but we have not found anyone

who knows of or holds the item.

You must find it at all costs.

Do you understand?

I had my men travel all across the land

when you were here all along.

I am truly relieved

to have finally heard

the news about my father.

Your Majesty.

You should let Gidaeryeong Kang rest now.

She has not fully recovered yet,

and her condition could take a bad turn.

You heard him.

You may leave and rest.

Yes, Your Majesty.

My lady.

Jageunnyeon.

My father…

is alive.

Is that true?

Your Majesty.

What will you do with Chu Dal-ha?

Your Majesty.

I know you are conflicted

because of the gidaeryeong.

But Chu Dal-ha

dared to point his knife at you!

We must transfer him

to the State Tribunal for interrogation.

Untie the rope.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You may leave, Sang-hwa.

I cannot, Your Majesty.

He attempted to harm you.

Raise your head.

Is there anything you want to say?

Lady Hee-soo

has nothing to do with this incident.

I plotted and carried this out

all on my own,

so take my life.

Though I am resentful

that I could not punish

the wicked criminal

who served as a spy for the Qing

to ascend to the throne

before my death,

I have no regrets.

You truly believe…

that I informed against you to the Qing.

Are you saying

you did not do it?

It would be difficult to believe me.

It does not matter even if you do not.

You are a righteous man.

As such,

I will give you two options

to choose from.

You may hide your crimes

and find a way to live on.

Or…

you will confess your crimes

and lay down your life

to have your resentment resolved.

Whatever you choose, I will follow it.

What will you do?

Get some rest.

My lady!

Good grief.

Lady Hee-soo needs peace and quiet.

My lady, Master Chu is being taken away

by the men of the Special Firearms Unit.

What?

Master Choam.

What is going on?

His Majesty ordered him

to be transferred to the State Tribunal.

Where is His Majesty?

He returned to the palace

after giving the command.

My goodness.

Your Majesty.

The Chief Royal Secretary is here.

Have you summoned me, Your Majesty?

Summon the members

of the Border Defense Council.

I will interrogate

the traitor myself.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I shall follow your command.

What is going on, my lord?

A man who attempted

to assassinate His Majesty

has been transferred

to the State Tribunal.

We must send out the royal summons,

so summon all the clerks and runners.

Yes, my lord.

My lord.

What is the name of the criminal?

Chu Dal-ha.

A spy dispatched to the Ming

and caught by the Qing three years ago.

SUMMONS

My lord.

Have you heard the news?

I was about to head to the palace.

I came running

as I had urgent news to share.

You would not know who Chu Dal-ha is.

I had forgotten about him

until I heard his name today.

Who is he?

He is a spy who went to the Ming

and was caught by the Qing.

And now, he serves Gidaeryeong Kang.

Are you certain?

After hearing his name,

I went to the State Tribunal

to confirm my doubts.

I am certain.

The gidaeryeong

has to be related to this case.

Has he truly lost his mind?

Why would he make such a blunder

when he holds a position

others can only envy?

After all,

he did make a false attestation

three years ago.

What with Princess Jangryeong's incident,

it would not be so strange

even if he harbored a treacherous intent.

False attestation from three years ago?

That means

Kim Myung-ha may be implicated as well.

Yes, my lord.

They may have committed such an act

for His Royal Highness.

I must go see His Majesty immediately.

Your Majesty.

What shocking event is this?

Captain Joo Sang-hwa

of the Special Firearms Unit

should be punished harshly

for his negligence.

He has committed no crime

for the traitor's blade did not reach me.

The heavens have truly helped.

I have looked into

Chu Dal-ha's past doings on my way here.

Indeed?

You may report them to me.

Yes, Your Majesty.

To speak the truth,

Chu Dal-ha was a spy who was caught

by the Qing three years ago.

He currently works as a butcher

in Banchon Village

with Gidaeryeong Kang Mong-woo

as his patron.

Due to the grudges they hold

for the incident three years ago,

Kang Mong-woo and Kim Myung-ha

must have given the order

to assassinate you.

I shall have them

sent to the State Tribunal

for interrogation.

- Please approve of this.

- Principal Director.

This interrogation is not to investigate

Chu Dal-ha's crimes.

He has already confessed his crimes.

Then…

what is this interrogation for?

Chu Dal-ha made a report.

What must I do

to resolve my resentment?

Confess your crimes and make a report.

Report the wicked spy

who sold you to the Qing

and petition to have them

found and punished.

He reported the spy

who put this nation at risk

and asked that their crime

be brought to light.

I have long awaited this day.

The capital traitor

who joined hands with the Qing

and put this nation

and its people in a crisis.

I will find that vile spy

and have them punished for high treason.

I will have their disgraceful name

engraved in the records…

so that the people of this nation…

will remember their crime.

CAPTIVATING THE KING

Hiding the crimes I have committed

has been eating me alive.

If His Majesty dares to bring me down,

he will crumble before I do.

Are you suspecting the spy

who colluded with the Qing

to be among the members

of the Border Defense Council?

Attacking the Principal Director

will only endanger your reign.

For what reason

are you taking such a high risk?

Kim Myung-ha

wishes to join hands with you.

Are you telling me to take my own life

now that you have no use for me?

Do you truly believe

your treasonous collusion with the Qing

can remain a secret?