01x09 - Episode 9

[bunniefuu]

[Missing Crown Prince]

[All characters, locations, organizations, and incidents...]

[in this drama are historically irrelevant and fictitious.]

[Production guidelines were strictly followed...]

[when filming with children and animals.]

[Episode 9]

Grandfather.

Your Royal Highness.

"Royal Highness?"

Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Grandfather.

You have been through so much.

I am glad that you are here.

I am glad to see you.

Please allow me to properly greet you.

Please, there is no need.

This is Gap Seok, my bodyguard.

Hello.

I am Lee Gap Seok.

She is a physician. She accompanied me here because of my wound.

You are hurt?

Thanks to her, it has almost healed up,

so you need not be concerned.

I am truly relieved.

Thank you for treating him.

It is cold. Let us go outside.

Take her to the annex.

And let my son know right away that His Royal Highness is here.

Yes, my lord.

Let us go inside.

Are you actually that clueless?

The moment he lives and speaks of the truth,

your chances of becoming the Crown Princess and...

I will not participate in the bridal selection order.

- You must see a physician at once. - No.

I cannot do that.

He does not even know that you were the one who kidnapped him,

so why are you doing this?

Why must you have him k*lled?

I do not understand.

I never asked...

for your understanding.

The lady you serve is...

So, are you...

Royal Physician Choi's servant?

Answer my question.

Do you work for Royal Physician Choi's family?

I see. That was what happened.

I thought something must have happened.

Those traitors set you up, Your Royal Highness.

I put you...

and Uncle in jeopardy. For that, I apologize.

Why would you say that?

Please do not say that again.

He is right, Your Royal Highness.

No matter what happens,

Father and I will keep you safe.

No, that is okay.

Grandfather, I do need your help,

but I do not plan to stay here for a long time.

The messengers must have arrived in Mungyeong by now.

The moment they find out that I am here,

they will come here at once to arrest me.

About you staying in Mungyeong, do not worry.

I will take care of it.

Traitor Lee g*n, come out at once. You are to be tied up!

We know that Lee g*n, the traitor, is hiding somewhere in this house.

Hand him over now,

or the whole family will be punished for treason.

Why must we wait?

Let us barge in at once.

Why cause bloodshed?

He is completely surrounded, so he will show himself.

Let us wait a little while. If he does not come out,

then we will barge in like you said.

Lee g*n is guilty of high treason. Tie him up!

Watch your mouth!

How dare you accuse him of high treason?

My lord.

It is an edict from Her Majesty the Queen Dowager.

You need not read it.

Please hand it over.

What are you doing?

How dare you toss a royal edict...

This edict...

is fake.

- Gap Seok. - Yes, Your Royal Highness.

Do you know what this is?

His Majesty ordered me to hold on to this,

the royal seal.

His Majesty's seal is here.

Who dared to forge a royal order?

Those traitors had the audacity to force the royal seal...

to issue a fake edict.

Arrest them at once.

Yes, my lord.

Arrest the traitors at once!

- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!

Mother sent these.

She said you would find some jewellery pieces and clothes in it.

Your Royal Highness, you should see this.

It is the royal seal, is it not?

All I do...

is cause her concern.

I am a terrible son.

Because of the royal seal,

Mother would get in trouble.

How could I...

repay her for this?

His Majesty must have known...

that this would happen.

Yes.

He predicted that I would end up in a situation like this...

and prepared a way for me to get out of this predicament.

I am deeply grateful for Father's...

boundless benevolence.

Even if we lock up the commander of the Palace Guards and his men,

those at the palace must be waiting to hear from them,

so we should come up with a solution as soon as possible.

I have a plan.

Ask the village head to arrange a messenger to be sent to the palace.

People will wonder if you are a spy or something.

Please do not get the wrong idea.

Follow me.

You are a servant, but you do work for Royal Physician Choi's family.

Do not do anything that could lead to a misunderstanding.

I will ask for you if we need you.

Do not visit the men's quarters without permission again.

Well understood.

By the way,

why was His Royal Highness deposed?

Does it have something to do...

with how he was taken to the Department of Justice?

You are a mere maid. Why do you have so many questions?

If you are that curious,

ask your lady when you see her later.

She does not know anything about it either.

Then ask your master.

They are asking for you in the men's quarters.

It is seolyamyeok.

It is not a snowy night,

but I prepared this dish for I heard it was one of your favourites.

How did you find out that I liked seolyamyeok?

Ever since I moved back to my hometown,

His Majesty has been writing me letters every year.

Except for the parts where he asked me how I was doing,

they were mostly about you.

It was thanks to His Majesty's letters...

that I found out seolyamyeok was one of your favourite dishes.

Father.

All right.

All right, please eat.

For you,

I prepared beef from cows that were fed medicinal stone powder.

Pardon me? You fed stones to cows?

Have you ever heard of geojongseok?

No, I have never heard of it.

Have you heard of it?

Yes. It is a stone that has health-promoting energies...

and detoxifying properties.

That is why it is called a medicinal stone.

That is correct.

However, we humans cannot eat it for it is a stone after all.

Hence, it is fed to livestock such as cows and pigs first.

Then we eat the meat.

Medicinal stone-fed beef...

does not smell and tastes tender.

All right. Hurry up and try it.

It melts in my mouth.

Right, Your Royal Highness?

Yes, it is incredibly tender and tasty.

It does not smell at all.

You can only taste this in Mungyeong.

All right. Eat as much as you like.

Yes. You should have some too, Grandfather.

It is okay. I am good.

It truly melts in your mouth.

It is such a beautiful colour.

Yes, indeed.

What is this? It has such a nice colour.

It was made with omija marmalade.

"Omija?"

Do you know about omija too?

The skin and flesh taste sweet and sour,

while the seeds taste spicy and bitter.

Together, the berry tastes salty.

Hence the name omija, "five-flavour berries."

Do you know what it is good for?

According to "The Compendium of Materia Medica" and "Dongui Bogam,"

it helps boost men's libido.

"Men's libido?"

It has many other health benefits.

From what I know, it A*DS digestion as well.

She is more knowledgeable than most male physicians, Your Highness.

I am selective as to whom I choose to accompany me.

Oh Wol, are you inside?

Go inside, Your Royal Highness.

I brought you new bandages.

Change the bandages once you are done treating his wound.

Has his wound festered?

No, of course not.

Everyone thinks you are a physician.

If he is seen visiting you again...

right after seeing you when he is totally fine,

they will think something suspicious is going on.

You must have been very surprised.

Please forgive me, Your Royal Highness.

Forgive you? For what?

I dared to do things...

I should have never done to Your Royal Highness.

Right.

You threw the medicinal herbs at me...

and smeared soot on me.

You were quite rude and disrespectful to me, Baek Gu.

However, you treated me like that because you did not know who I was.

I was the one who concealed my identity, so I should apologize.

No, Your Royal Highness.

Please forgive me, Your Royal Highness.

It does not matter whether I am the Crown Prince or a mere scholar.

You are my saviour who saved my life...

several times.

It is all thanks to you that I was able to come here safe and sound.

That is a fact.

Hence, you must stop apologizing.

Your Royal Highness.

What is the matter?

Are you worried about what is to come now that you know who I am?

Since you are a bright girl, you must be anxious about...

what would happen to your master who tried to k*ll the Crown Prince.

You must be worried about your young lady as well.

That is correct.

I certainly do not plan to forgive your master.

No matter what happens, I will make sure...

your master pays for what he did.

And if that happens,

your young lady will be affected too.

However,

I will keep you safe.

I will protect you no matter what happens,

so please stay with me.

Your Royal Highness.

I am...

I am not just saying it. I truly...

do not want you to get hurt.

Your Royal Highness.

The truth is,

I am...

Your Royal Highness, they are asking for you in the men's quarters.

I should go.

Let us talk again later.

Baek Gu, I did not know you were such a crybaby.

Do not cry.

I told you it was okay.

Your Royal Highness.

Stay with me, and nothing will happen to you.

Do not worry, and get some rest.

Do you not think Baek Gu is acting strange?

In what way?

Never mind.

Anyway, why is he asking for me?

They have sent the messenger to Hanyang.

[Deposed Crown Prince Lee g*n has been arrested...]

[and is being transported.]

- Giddyap! - Giddyap!

A messenger arrived from Mungyeong.

The deposed Crown Prince has been arrested.

Head Eunuch, what brings you by?

His Majesty is in critical condition.

What is going on?

Her Highness ordered us never to let the Inspector General enter.

Let her know that I am here.

Your Highness, Prince Dosung is here.

Your Highness.

Prince Dosung has not been installed as Crown Prince yet.

If His Majesty passes away now,

the Queen Dowager and Choi Sang Rok...

might get different ideas.

Oh, right. The other day,

the Queen called a physician to the palace. What did he say?

You spoke with him in private.

If you...

answer my question truthfully,

I will let you go.

Do you think...

there is a chance that His Majesty will recover?

Poison from the poison-feather bird?

It has not been used for a very long time.

It is passed down like folklore even among physicians.

It is poison that no one has actually seen.

Then...

how could he be so sure it was caused by that poison?

The symptoms are similar to those described by his teacher.

If it was any other poison,

the physicians at the Royal Infirmary would certainly know.

That means His Majesty...

It means that...

no one except Choi Sang Rok can treat him.

Why are you out here?

For some strange reason, my chest feels tight and heavy.

Do you have indigestion?

Would you like some omija tea?

Please spare me a moment.

I cannot step out at the moment. Could it wait?

I must speak with you now.

I will do anything you say.

I will become Crown Prince if you tell me to.

If you want me to marry your daughter, I will do it.

I will take care of my maternal grandfather too,

but you must...

treat my father...

and let my brother go.

That is too much to ask.

Releasing the deposed Crown Prince will backfire on us.

I will persuade him.

I will tell him to live in hiding in a place where no one knows him.

If that still makes you anxious,

I will make sure he leaves the country...

and never returns to the palace again.

You do that.

Your Majesty.

However,

never forget that you promised us to take care of everything...

going forward.

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Open the door.

Take the Queen to her palace.

I refuse to leave.

Just go ahead and k*ll me instead.

Queen, you seem to be in utter shock.

Return to your palace...

- and take care of yourself. - I refuse.

What are you waiting for? Take her to the Queen's Palace at once.

Let go. I told you to let go!

Prince Dosung, you ought to stop them.

You should not trust them!

Take her to her palace.

Let us go, Your Highness.

Do not do this, Prince Dosung.

What is that?

It is a device that helps remove the poison.

Soon, His Majesty's breathing will become stable,

and he will no longer vomit blood.

Do you still feel unwell?

No.

I am okay now, so do not worry.

Father's condition is improving.

Is that true?

Yes.

I must go to his bedchamber.

I have...

something to tell you.

Please calm down...

and sit.

I have decided...

to obey their wishes and become Crown Prince.

- No, you cannot. - Mother.

You must not do that.

I am well aware that both you and Father...

want g*n to ascend the throne.

That is why...

you gave him the royal seal.

You knew about it?

I could guess that much.

Did it...

hurt your feelings?

Handing over the royal seal to g*n did not hurt my feelings at all.

But your decision to hide it...

even from me...

did hurt me.

Yes, Your Majesty. I am here.

The royal seal...

The royal seal...

Make sure you send it to the Crown Prince.

To the Crown Prince...

Make sure no one finds out.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty...

You need not feel bad about it.

It is my own fault for failing to earn your trust, Mother.

That is why you are against me becoming Crown Prince.

No, that is not why.

Then why are you against it?

Because I am not wise enough,

I cannot figure out what you are thinking, Mother.

There is no other way to save Father.

I must...

become the Crown Prince of this country.

Prince Dosung.

I will be off, then.

If I obey you and die,

Father will be your next target.

Because as long as Father is alive,

Dosung cannot become King.

Your Highness.

I suggest you tell Prince Dosung the truth.

The truth?

That my father...

will k*ll his father...

if he is installed as Crown Prince?

Is something the matter?

I told you...

to tame your fiery temper first.

You did.

- Pardon? - It is nothing.

I am...

Actually...

I am...

No.

You cannot.

Do you know where I am heading?

You are going to Oh Wol again, are you not?

What if someone spots you going to the annex?

I am going to the restroom.

Go ahead.

Now tell me.

What were you going to say during the day?

It seemed you had something to tell me.

What is it that is so hard to talk about?

Nevermind. Let me hear it later when we have time.

No, Your Royal Highness.

I will tell you.

Your Royal Highness.

Yes?

Actually...

"Actually?"

Actually...

I am not the servant Oh Wol.

What do you mean by that?

Are you not Oh Wol?

The Royal Physician Choi Sang Rok is my father.

What...

- was that? - I am...

Myung Yoon, the daughter of Royal Physician Choi,

who was behind your kidnapping.

For deceiving Your Royal Highness...

Stop.

As you got kidnapped because of me...

As you were in danger of death and pursuit,

I wanted to help one way or another.

I wanted...

to protect you from my father.

However, to do so,

I had to be the servant Oh Wol.

As the Royal Physician's daughter, I could not protect you.

By becoming Oh Wol and Baek Gu,

I wanted to stay by your side.

And so, I fooled you.

There was a reason for you...

to disguise yourself as Oh Wol.

I can understand that.

I, too, had hidden my identity.

However...

I cannot say anything for now.

Nor do I want to hear anything.

That is because, of all people,

you are the Royal Physician's daughter.

Of course, I cannot accuse you of your father's crimes.

I also know it is not your fault to be born as his daughter.

However,

only my brain understands it.

My heart cannot.

What your father did...

My father did not harm you with intention.

He had no choice but to kidnap you...

as I was to become a widow.

But you turned out to be the Crown Prince.

He was scared of the aftermath.

Please take pity on my father for his clouded judgment...

- because of me... - I do not want to hear it!

"Take pity?"

Will you be able to say that even if your father had m*rder*d someone?

Do not bring up...

your father again in front of me.

I will take you to Hanyang.

Until then,

do not tell a soul...

that you are the Royal Physician's daughter.

Understood?

Yes.

Please forgive me, Your Royal Highness.

They accused me of delivering the poisoned dried yellow croaker...

you gave me...

to the Queen.

But it was not her. The Queen Dowager did it.

You have my word...

that I will keep His Majesty safe.

I...

I am...

Well...

I have something to say. Step outside for a moment.

Did you leave?

I am leaving first as it will be an utter shame for me...

to keep you company until Hanyang.

Please forgive me for leaving...

without even saying goodbye.

My lady!

Were you still after me?

Are you all right?

Are you hurt or in pain anywhere?

- No. - Then,

let us take you home right away.

I have yet to finish his lord's order.

These men will take you.

You two. Take the lady to Hanyang.

Understood.

We need to talk in private.

Why do you look so shocked?

After all this time we have been together,

did you think I was still unaware that he was the Crown Prince?

Now, answer me.

Will you escort me home...

or continue to pursue the Crown Prince?

- My lady... - If you give up on the latter...

and escort me home,

I will come with you without causing trouble.

But if you go after him,

I will subdue those men and run away.

Are you afraid to go against my father's order?

I promise to talk to my father so that he does not blame you...

I do not care about what happens to me.

You are always my priority.

I will escort you home.

His condition has greatly stabilized.

I am glad to hear that.

However,

we may be able to trust Prince Dosung,

but the same cannot be said about Left State Councillor Yoon.

What if he has other ideas?

I have come across a way to keep him leashed,

so please do not fret.

Recently,

a report came in from the sl*ve Administration Office.

A report came in from the sl*ve Administration Office.

One of the officials is rumoured...

to have a lowborn mother.

[Eolja: A son conceived between a nobleman and a lowborn woman]

The rumour should be investigated,

and the official should be impeached if the rumour is true.

The subject of the rumour...

is Left State Councillor Yoon.

Left State Councillor Yoon's grandmother...

used to be lowborn?

Yes.

She was the daughter of a sl*ve,

but when the family they served...

perished during the Japanese Invasion,

she masked herself as the daughter of her master's wife...

and married Yoon Yi Kyum's grandfather.

That means Yoon Yi Kyum is also...

Yes.

Our status follows that of our mother...

which means all of her descendants...

are born lowly by default.

That makes Yoon Yi Kyum a sl*ve as well.

One of the descendants of his grandmother's master...

must have had her sl*ve document.

He has asked the sl*ve Administration Office...

to authenticate it.

Was it authenticated? Was his grandmother a sl*ve?

Most of the sl*ve documents stored by the office...

were burned during the Japanese Invasion,

so the authentication process will take time.

However, once the document is proved to be real,

we will have our hands around Yoon's throat...

and will be able to remove him when necessary.

There is a chance of it not being authenticated.

Since that can happen, I have been asking those...

who know his family to serve as a potential witness.

Could he be aware of his grandmother's social class?

What?

The Office of the Inspector General has been asking about my family?

Yes.

Apparently, they are looking into your grandmother.

What is it?

Do you know what this could be about?

Of course not.

Anyway, I should head out.

You are to find out the information Choi Sang Rok has.

Wait.

On top of that, get me leverage I can use against him.

As leverage?

Would there be a secret he is harbouring...

that I would be able to find?

If you cannot find anything, make something up!

Do not sit around until he bites down on our necks...

and find something we can use.

Do you hear me?

Darn it.

I wonder if the ember I sent to the sl*ve Administration Office...

has caused a fire.

Please do not worry.

The bait will be too tempting for anyone to pass up.

I am sure a fire has already erupted.

I only hope you are right.

They have never been able to trust one another.

The Queen Dowager will want leverage against Yoon Yi Kyum,

and Yoon Yi Kyum...

will go from being at the top of the food chain...

to joining those of lowborn status overnight.

This is a battle they will surely engage in.

How were you in possession of such a document?

In case Yoon Yi Kyum thought of hurting you...

after you succeed to the throne,

I made such preparations in advance.

Grandfather...

I only did what I had to do.

Then,

I will see you in Hanyang.

Please take care of yourself until then.

I humbly request that you take your own advice.

Uncle, stay strong.

Take care of yourself, Your Royal Highness.

Have you sent out the letter?

I have sent people to Sosu Academy, Dosan Academy,

and Byeongsan Academy.

Good.

Kings of the past.

[Yeolseongjo: Kings of the past]

Please protect His Royal Highness.

What could it be that you are holding dearly?

Something that is good for men.

Is it omija?

Sure. Enjoy all that you want.

Your uncle made sure we took some of it.

"Producing heirs is the duty of a prince."

I am full of vigour even without such a thing.

You must have thrown Oh Wol out with that extra energy you have.

I mean...

Oh Wol left us out of the blue,

but you have not said a word about it.

Could something have happened?

Your Royal Highness.

How is Myung Yoon? Tell me she is all right.

She is. However,

she was aware that the man we abducted...

was the deposed Crown Prince.

When you had found out he was the Crown Prince,

you should have immediately asked for his forgiveness.

Were you that desperate to make me Crown Princess?

Were you that desperate to be the king's father-in-law?

Yes.

I wanted you to be Crown Princess,

and I wanted to be the king's father-in-law.

Was I wrong...

to dream of such things?

Yes, you were wrong...

for I did not have the right to be Crown Princess.

There is no need to mention the abduction now.

The deposed Crown Prince has been arrested.

He will not make it out alive this time around,

so everything that happened including his abduction...

will be buried when he lays to rest.

If you understand my words,

you will make preparations to become Crown Princess.

How can I become Crown Princess...

when the Crown Prince no longer holds his title?

It was the deposed Crown Prince who was arrested,

not the actual Crown Prince.

I do not follow.

Prince Dosung will soon be installed as Crown Prince...

and will marry you.

That...

will make you Crown Princess. Is it now clear to you?

This is preposterous.

How can I marry the man...

after wronging his older brother?

Does it not occur to you that marrying Prince Dosung...

might be the only way for our family to remain unscathed...

should our wrongdoing come to light?

The deposed Crown Prince...

is now an enemy of this family...

which means that only Prince Dosung can protect you...

Do you think he will marry me...

after knowing all that we have done?

He will...

for his heart already beats for you.

Why did you...

have to be born as Royal Physician Choi's daughter?

My lady.

Why the long face?

Did Lord Choi give you an earful?

Why do you seem heartbroken...

when you were caught after running away from home?

A commendation...

was never an option.

Oh Wol,

I should rest.

Right.

My lady,

are you not feeling well?

That is not it.

I am tired...

and would like to turn in early.

Sure.

Something was off about her,

but I cannot put my finger on it.

He will not make it out alive this time around,

so everything that happened including his abduction...

will be buried when he lays to rest.

Prince Dosung will soon be installed as Crown Prince...

and will marry you.

That...

will make you Crown Princess.

As you got kidnapped because of me...

As you were in danger of death and pursuit,

I wanted to help one way or another.

I wanted...

to protect you from my father.

Nothing good will come from provoking them.

I advise that you stay away from the King's quarters for now...

I shall not do that.

No matter what they do,

I will stay by His Majesty's side.

But you are aware of our current situation.

Choi Sang Rok is the only one...

who can help Father.

You of all people know that.

Please put your faith in me...

and follow my lead.

Your Highness,

I also agree...

that it will be in your best interest...

to protect you from my father.

Mother, please.

I hear you.

Is there trouble?

Her Majesty has not been able to take a bite of anything.

She had to deal with a lot lately.

Her heart seems to be in pain,

so maybe it would be nice...

for her to get some fresh air outside palace walls.

Court Lady Kim,

you have lived your whole life being concerned for her.

What else could I possibly want in life?

All I want...

is for her to find ultimate peace.

How can you stand strong if you do not eat anything?

I have only lost my appetite,

so do not worry too much.

What do you say...

to some fresh air at Botaam Hermitage?

But people will talk if I go on an outing...

to offer Buddhist prayers.

Who would dare to object...

a suggestion made by the Queen Dowager?

Anyone who does are traitors...

who I will sentence to death.

[Mulgo: Terminating the lives of sinners and criminals]

Maybe I should trust your words.

Yes.

That you should.

I do not want it to be extravagant.

Please let me leave without it being a fuss.

Sure.

I will discuss the details with Left State Councillor Yoon,

so try to eat something for the time being.

You will need your strength to be on the road.

Sure thing, Sang Rok.

The Office of the Inspector General has been asking about my family?

This is the new cheonbo r*fle...

enhanced at the Office of Firearms.

[Cheonbochong: A g*n with a range of 1,000 paces or 1,800m]

I hear your daughter...

is at the risk of being sold to cover your debt.

You cannot let that happen to your daughter.

When will the temporary palace be completed?

I hear spring will have to pass.

I wish to be free of all this trouble...

and leave the palace...

to be beside Prince Gwangchang.

Can they not speed up the process?

I will give notice to the Palace Supply Bureau.

[Naesusa: The Palace Supply Bureau]

Spring will soon reach us, so please hang in there...

a while longer.

Take cover!

- What on earth happened? - Take cover.

Protect Her Majesty.

Oh, no.

Please come to.

Come on.

- Your Majesty. - Please!

You must take cover, Your Majesty.

Where is the physician?

Call a physician right away.

Do not just stand there!

Escort Her Majesty to a safer place!

Yoon Yi Kyum.

Yoon Yi Kyum, how dare you?

[Missing Crown Prince]

Have you found a way to clear your name?

I have an idea in mind.

Why is he not waking up?

Please tell me what I can do...

to appease her anger even in the slightest.

The new Crown Prince gets installed tomorrow.

What do we do?

He will be installed as Crown Prince...

and take his bride on the same day.

What am I supposed to do now?

I will become Crown Prince and protect those precious to me.

Please do not forget the man whose heart beat for you.