01x09 - Episode 9

[bunniefuu]

How come I never realized

that you are a woman?

I only had eyes for you

and wanted you from the outset.

Goodness.

Why are you running away

when you are here to see me?

Here.

Oh, that is cold!

I finally understand…

why my heart was torn into pieces

after sending you to your death.

Return this stone…

to its original spot.

Convey these words to Mongwoo.

"There is absolutely no meaning…

behind saving you."

"Our bond

has been severed

and my regrets have faded away.

I wish you a peaceful life."

Go this instant.

What do you mean Mongwoo disappeared?

After Courtesan Hongjang died,

he ran away in shock,

only to end up falling off a cliff.

However, his whereabouts are unclear.

According to the patrolmen,

a tiger probably took him.

Shut your mouth.

That cannot be.

Order the men

to find Mongwoo this instant.

Respectfully,

I have already searched

the cliff he fell from

and even every corner of the area.

Yet, I still could not

find a trace of him.

It is for certain

that Mongwoo has died.

No…

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Do not touch me.

I truly do not understand, Your Majesty.

What could he have meant to you

for you to suffer so?

He…

was my left-hand man.

My left hand that I had to cut off

to ascend to the throne.

You should be careful too.

You never know

when I might cut off my remaining hand.

Back then,

the royal physician

who claimed to have treated the wound

on your back was lying.

I would have gotten caught

if I were treated.

And as getting caught

would only lead to death,

I desperately pleaded with him.

If you are intending to punish him,

please punish me instead.

You have deceived me on all counts.

Was there any truth

to your words to me so far?

If you order me to answer,

I shall do so, Your Majesty.

I will not…

ask any questions of you.

I will not ask what your real name is,

why you are disguising yourself as a man,

or what you have done

and where you have been…

for the past three years

to finally return before my eyes

to drive me into madness.

Since long ago,

without my conscious knowledge,

I have fallen in love with you,

and you have felt the same way.

For now, this is enough.

I will not bed you…

nor dismiss you from my quarters.

Your Majesty.

You cannot be crueler than this.

How could you ask me

to endure such indignity?

I, too, am enduring one.

You must endure as well.

That is a royal command.

My lord.

A letter arrived from the palace.

His Majesty did not bed

Senior Court Lady Dong

and left the palace instead.

I thought he would at least

pretend to bed her.

His Majesty's affection

for the gidaeryeong

must run deeper than we expected.

This consummation

was clearly set out to fail.

As the court forced this on him,

it was only natural

for His Majesty to run away.

The court did insist,

but it was Her Royal Highness's wish.

So what?

Would you take your life

should she insist?

Great Lord!

Please do mind your tone

to the Chief State Councilor!

I am holding back.

Do you really want to see the worst?

Great Lord.

The Border Defense Council

has gathered here

to discuss important state matters

on His Majesty's behalf.

If you cannot keep your temper

under control, go home and rest.

I apologize, Lord Park.

I was over the line.

It has been over a month

since we have received word

that the Qing's envoy

has reached Paju.

They are inspecting various areas

under the pretense of sightseeing.

A recent report requested

an immediate dispatch of an envoy escort,

citing financial burden

as the envoy's party spends at least

1,000 nyang in silver for each feast.

An envoy escort?

If we send a nobody,

they may feign dissatisfaction

and threaten to return to the Qing.

Podan, the chief envoy,

is not the type

to cause trouble without reason.

However,

Jung Je-pyo, the vice envoy, is different.

Then who do you suggest

to send as an envoy escort?

Why are you all looking at me?

The title may sound grand,

but the post only exists

to serve Jung Je-pyo.

Now that he has been

promoted to vice envoy,

he will expect more compensation.

I am sick and tired of pouring money

into a bottomless pit.

I will have you know

that my fortune is not unlimited.

If you refuse, we will not force you.

There are many others

who are willing to supply funds.

Is that so?

The Royal Treasury's funds cannot be used

without His Majesty's permission.

Who in their right mind

would bear such a huge expense

other than me?

Let him in.

Podan carries a letter declaring

the Emperor's ascent to the throne.

The envoy escort

should at least be a full minister!

The Third Minister of Rites is too lowly!

Vice Envoy Jung Je-pyo and I

are old acquaintances who get along well.

I am confident that I can escort them

to the capital in a few days.

Please entrust me with this task.

Those of you who are against sending him,

raise your hands.

Except for one vote,

we are all in agreement

to send Yoo Hyun-bo as the envoy escort.

His Majesty will not approve of this.

I shall secure his approval,

so you need not worry.

I will not forget

the generosity and the trust

you have shown me today.

Is anyone outside?

Have you woken up, Your Majesty?

I will return to the palace.

Get ready.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Sang-hwa, you will remain here

and convey my command

when the gidaeryeong awakes.

Please speak.

"As you evaded my men

and intoxicated yourself last night,

thereby abandoning your duties,

your crime is grave."

"You are not to come to the palace

for the time being

and to await my orders

while confined to your lodgings."

Yes, Your Majesty.

I will convey your command.

That cannot be

for your father's court robe.

Why are you embroidering it?

This is for Hongjang.

She has taken good care of me,

but I have never returned her kindness.

My lady.

Your father is home.

Father.

Hee-soo.

Is it that you dislike marriage

or Kim Myung-ha?

I will get married.

When I find the right man, that is.

You mean someone

who can beat you at baduk?

What if he is a white-haired sage?

If that is my fate,

I must accept it.

Well, that is troublesome.

I am traveling under a royal command.

As a criminal.

I will return safely

like I always have.

Father…

My dear.

You must also

stay safe and sound.

Do you understand?

You look as if you have seen a ghost.

When one encounters the fearsome captain

of the Special Firearms Unit,

anyone would be surprised.

I have a royal command for you.

Please speak.

You are not to come to the palace

and stay confined to your lodgings.

If I am to stay confined,

that means he has given me a punishment.

May I ask the reason?

The crime of neglecting your duties

due to intoxication.

An incident like last night

cannot reoccur.

While serving your penalty,

you are not to leave the premises.

Do you understand me?

I shall do as you say.

My lady!

My lady!

Goodness.

Gosh, you startled me.

My heart almost skipped a beat.

Is Lady Hee-soo not here?

She did not stay with you last night?

What are you saying?

Lady Hee-soo stayed out last night?

What if she was taken

by the patrol troops overnight?

If that were the case,

she would have sent word in the morning.

I guess she would have.

This is the first time she has disappeared

since three years ago.

Wait, where is Master Chu?

He left upon paru to see Master Choam.

PARU: THE CURFEW LIFT BELL

I will go wait outside the palace

just in case.

- What in the world…

- My goodness.

My la…

- My lord!

- Gosh, my lord!

Goodness, my lord.

We were worried sick about you.

Where have you been all night?

I apologize for worrying you.

Things happened.

You should come in and rest.

I will prepare breakfast.

- Go ahead.

- All right.

My goodness.

I will leave you to rest, my lord.

Goodness.

Are you so bent on being the death of me?

Seriously, are you doing this

to drive me crazy?

It does not seem like

you spent the night outside.

Tell me, where did you spend the night?

My lady, this is…

I went to my house.

For what reason, all of a sudden?

You told me

not to even look in that direction

in case we run into someone we know.

You must be deeply distressed.

You should have told me

if you wanted to go visit.

Stay here and rest.

I will bring your breakfast soon.

We should hurry before you are late.

I cannot go to the palace

for the time being.

I have been ordered to stay confined.

What?

Confinement?

Is that not a punishment?

What could they possibly punish you for?

What happened?

Tell me the reason.

Goodness.

Did the King become enraged

over the rumors of his attraction to men

that delighted Jeomine so much?

What do we do?

The Qing's envoy will arrive soon.

Let us not worry too much, my lady.

They say you can always

find a way out of a tiger's den

if only you pull yourself together.

I am sure some other means will come up.

It is not that.

Then what is the reason?

Why? What is it?

The King has found out…

that I am a woman.

Senior Court Lady Dong is missing.

Actually, due to the incident yesterday,

she has fallen ill and feverish.

I ordered her

not to come to serve you today.

I must see Court Lady Dong.

Go summon her.

Why are you standing around?

I ordered you to summon her.

I beg for your pardon.

Your Majesty!

Please take my life!

Did the Queen Dowager command it?

Where is Court Lady Dong?

Drag her out.

If you value your lives,

step back.

You wench!

How dare you disobey

Her Royal Highness's order?

As I serve His Majesty,

I will only take orders from him.

His Majesty's orders?

No one will fall for that now.

Your lies were uncovered

due to yesterday's event.

How dare you act high and mighty?

What are you waiting for?

Drag her out this moment!

If any one of you

dares to lay a finger on me,

I shall make a request to His Majesty

to have every limb of your body severed,

starting with those fingers.

Why are you having so much trouble

dragging out a mere court lady?

My apologies.

She put up a fight

with such a vicious attitude.

It was impossible to lay a finger on her.

Order the adjunct overseers

to expel her from the palace.

Yes, Your Royal Highness.

Your Royal Highness, His Majesty is here.

Let him in.

I hope you had

a comfortable night, Mother.

I did indeed, Your Majesty.

Mother.

I am thinking of bestowing

the former First Senior Consort's abode

on Senior Court Lady Dong.

What do you think?

Your Majesty.

For what reason are you allowing her

to have her own place?

From what I heard,

you and she did not even

consummate your union.

Such an event is a mere formality.

She has served me for long

and will continue to do so in the future.

It is only right for her

to have her own place.

If Court Lady Dong wishes for it,

I will appoint her as a concubine as well.

That is ridiculous.

You should not allow her

a personal residence either.

Why do you disapprove of it?

Did you not want her to bear my son?

I am only trying to honor

you and the court's wishes.

Are you trying to mock me?

As the feeble Queen

could not bear you an heir,

I approved of the consummation

in tears and heartbreak

only to secure an heir to your bloodline.

Forgive me,

but the feeble one is not the Queen

but me.

We should not be so greedy.

How could a bud sprout

when no seed has been sown in the field?

Do you not agree, My Queen?

Mind your words, Your Majesty!

Look at her.

How pathetic.

I apologize, Your Royal Highness.

No man can understand heaven's will

as no child can ever fathom

their mother's heart.

I do not want to see any of you.

Everyone, leave this moment!

Your Royal Highness,

I am to blame for this.

Please do not be upset and forgive us.

- Please forgive us, Your Royal Highness.

- Please forgive us, Your Royal Highness.

Mother.

I shall excuse myself

as I have matters of state to tend to.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

You have my approval

to skip today's greetings

and return to your quarters.

Pardon?

For what reason…

Forgive me for saying this,

but I have learned

that a greeting is not to be skipped

as it goes against the etiquette

and is deemed a failure of filial duty.

Has the Queen Dowager taught you that

whenever I skipped my greetings?

Yes.

The Queen Dowager is deeply upset,

even more so than ever.

Do you think you can handle it?

Living in the palace,

at times, I must carry out duties

that I do not desire.

Also, such are things

I cannot entirely avoid.

Her fury finds itself back to me

in the end.

I have learned a lesson from you,

Grand Prince Munseong.

Make sure you greet her properly

and return to your duties.

Lord Park!

Do you not know

what His Majesty thinks of Yoo Hyun-bo?

He will not approve of

this recommendation.

His Majesty will approve of

the Border Defense Council's decision.

If he wishes to keep Gidaeryeong Kang

at Yeongchwijeong, that is.

What do you mean by that?

I have brought

what you have asked for, Lord Park.

These are the petitions seeking

an immediate removal of the gidaeryeong.

Gidaeryeong Kang Mong-woo…

is indeed useful in many ways.

Do you not agree?

All right.

Let us go speak to His Majesty.

Lord Park.

I have an urgent matter to report.

Save it for later.

I am on my way

to make a request to His Majesty.

It concerns that very matter.

Last night,

His Majesty ordered the gidaeryeong

to be confined as a punishment.

He seemed to be so fond of him.

His Majesty would not expel

Kang Mong-woo like this, would he?

Who knows?

He may just give out a royal command

to behead Kang Mong-woo tomorrow.

My goodness.

Do not say such an awful thing

even as a joke.

His Majesty

is more than capable of such things.

Do not tell me

you have already forgotten

how my father lost his life.

What shall we do about this?

Your Majesty.

May I truly take up my abode

in the concubines' quarters?

If you wish,

I will appoint you a concubine as well.

As Her Royal Highness

would never allow the appointment,

I will only accept the house.

As you wish.

I am grateful, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

The Principal Director

requests an audience.

What shall I do?

Let him in.

You must have heard about

what happened to the gidaeryeong.

What took you so long to seek an audience?

I merely seek

to report what was discussed

by the Border Defense Council

and to ask for your opinion on the matter.

However,

I shall speak of the gidaeryeong's matter

as you have mentioned it.

If I may be candid,

a part of me was hopeful.

As you have broken our promise,

I hoped that you would

adhere to my wishes this time.

However,

you punished the gidaeryeong

by ordering him to stay confined.

I did not expect you

to jump ahead and punish him

before I could speak with you.

I could not sit back and watch

when your next move was so obvious.

I warned you

when Prince Deokseong died, did I not?

That I would not hold back

should it happen again.

Have you forgotten already?

As the envoy escort

who will receive the Qing's envoy,

we seek to send

Yoo Hyun-bo, the Third Minister of Rites.

Please give us your approval.

He is not an appropriate candidate

as the envoy escort.

You are well aware of

the kind of man Jung Je-pyo is.

There is no one better than Yoo Hyun-bo

to handle a man like him.

Since when was Yoo Hyun-bo

such a capable man?

The Qing's envoy is visiting many areas

under the pretense of sightseeing,

looking for any opportunity to fault us.

It would be best to have them

at the capital as soon as possible

to receive the Emperor's letter

and send them back.

Your argument

has merit.

You have three days.

You may appoint Yoo Hyun-bo

as the envoy escort.

However, if the Qing's envoy

does not reach the capital in three days,

both Yoo Hyun-bo

and you, who recommended him,

shall be held responsible.

I also have a condition.

If the Qing's envoy

arrives in the said period,

please dismiss Gidaeryeong Kang Mong-woo

and exile him from the capital.

Would you accept the terms?

I will pour my heart and soul

not to betray your trust in me, my lord.

You must confirm one matter

when you meet Jung Je-pyo.

Please speak.

See if there are other letters

other than the Emperor's letter.

By "other letters,"

whose letter might you be referring to?

Prince Rui's.

Confirm if Jung Je-pyo

has brought Prince Rui's letter first

before compensating him with the riches.

Do you understand?

Yes, my lord.

Move aside!

The Principal Director

must have lost all sense of propriety.

How dare he demand

such an absurd condition to His Majesty?

Yoo Hyun-bo would never be able to

escort the envoy here in three days.

I hope His Majesty

takes this chance to reform

the corrupt Border Defense Council.

Park Jong-hwan is His Majesty's uncle

and the Queen Dowager's

only family member.

I feel heavy at heart

that I seem to have gotten you

on his bad side needlessly.

I only deferred to him until now

for your sake, Your Majesty.

And how did he treat the both of us?

The Principal Director

must come to understand

that even he cannot

have his way in all matters.

Your Majesty.

Grand Prince Munseong

is here to greet you.

Let him in.

Welcome, Grand Prince.

It has been a while, Great Lord.

Your Highness.

It has indeed been a while

since the gisinje.

Had I known the Great Lord was here,

I would have visited you later.

There is no need.

The Great Lord was on his way out.

Is that not right?

Pardon?

Yes.

Please excuse me, Your Majesty.

Bring in the refreshments.

Your Majesty.

Would you like to take a walk

in the Royal Garden afterward?

The sky today

is exceptionally clear and blue.

Is that so?

Then we must go.

Please invite Princess Jangryeong as well.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Sixth Royal Secretary.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Have you made any progress

with the peach tree?

I acquired a compost

known to enhance soil fertility.

I am currently observing the tree

after scattering some.

Your Majesty.

What is the difference between

an act with knowledge and one without it?

Even done with knowledge,

an act is meaningless without virtue.

Even done in ignorance,

an act will see fruition

if it holds virtuous intent.

Have we not heard back from Kim Je-nam?

He seems to be uninterested

in a government post.

Dispatch a messenger

and have my wish conveyed clearly.

You may leave.

I will head to Yeongchwijeong.

Summon the…

Shall I summon the gidaeryeong?

I have misspoken.

There is no need.

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.

They will be sending word again soon.

I shall discuss it with them then

and find another way.

You must find it at all costs.

- Do you understand?

- Yes, Your Majesty.

It has been a while, my lord.

Do you recognize me?

Has the gidaeryeong sent you?

Yes, my lord.

You have been called to an urgent meeting.

Lead the way.

I will follow you.

Have you decided to live as Kang Hee-soo?

I only dressed like this as a disguise.

I would be asking for trouble

to meet you while receiving my punishment

as Gidaeryeong Kang Mong-woo.

The King's refusal to consummate

and his order for your punishment

has the entire court in turmoil.

As they cannot fathom

the reason behind his actions,

they must be confused and frightened.

And you are not?

I, too, was afraid at first.

However,

the King's bet over you

with Principal Director Park Jong-hwan

changed my mind.

The King

seems to have placed you in confinement

to protect you.

What I do not understand

is the fact that he proposed

the three-day period first.

Yoo Hyun-bo will do his best

to make that happen.

Why did the King propose

a condition unfavorable to himself?

The King has set up a trap

that the Principal Director cannot avoid.

A trap?

What could he have up his sleeve

to set up one?

That much

is unknown to me.

I suggest we pretend

that our conversations did not take place.

My priority is the well-being

of Their Highnesses.

I came by to tell you that.

I understand your wishes, Lord Kim.

However,

I do not think we can pretend

they did not take place…

with the Qing's envoy on their way.

What do you mean?

What does the Qing's envoy

have to do with us?

If my assumption is correct,

a difficult ordeal

will be upon Their Highnesses.

I have returned, my lady.

I have heard about the confinement.

I should have waited

around the courtesan house

and brought you home, my lady.

It is in the past.

Tell me.

How is Master Choam doing?

He is doing well.

A court official was dispatched again

to convince him to take up a post.

He said he did not give them an answer.

Did you tell him not to refuse,

but to accept the offer next time?

He promised that he would.

However,

if Yoo Hyun-bo returns in three days

and the King does not summon you again,

what will you do?

Even with Kim Myung-ha's support

and Master Choam's return to the court,

what could possibly change?

What are you trying to say?

If your plan goes to shambles,

I will take the initiative

just as you promised me before.

Nothing is set in stone.

Even if I am dismissed,

I will not give up.

I truly wish that things turn out

the way you have planned.

Your Majesty,

the Chief Royal Secretary is here.

Your Majesty.

The Qing's chief envoy, Podan,

has arrived at Mohwa Guesthouse.

Your Majesty.

Please prepare to head out

to receive the Emperor's letter.

I do not think I will be able to go

as I am suddenly feeling ill.

Please go and receive the Emperor's letter

on my behalf, Uncle.

To my eye, you seem very hearty.

I am afraid that the envoy

might be enraged if I go in your stead.

If we hold a welcoming feast tonight

and relieve the exhaustion of the envoys,

there will not be a problem.

Your Majesty.

The three days we have promised

have not yet passed.

I hope you have not forgotten

the promise you made…

to dismiss and expel the gidaeryeong.

I have not.

Then I shall abide by your royal command.

We shall go to the Mohwa Guesthouse

to receive the envoy.

Get ready.

- Yes, Lord Park.

- Yes, Lord Park.

My lord, have you summoned me?

Immediately arrest

Gidaeryeong Kang Mong-woo

and bring him to the State Tribunal.

Yes, my lord.

Lord Park.

He is the Fourth Investigator

of the State Tribunal.

It is not like Kang Mong-woo

committed high treason.

The crime of disturbing the king's heart,

defiling the order of the court,

and weakening the people's hearts.

Tell me.

What are these crimes, if not treason?

The Principal Director is determined

to k*ll the gidaeryeong.

There is trouble, Myung-ha.

The Principal Director gave the order

to arrest Kang Mong-woo for high treason.

I must meet His Majesty immediately.

Please request an audience.

I have already told you that you cannot.

Please return.

Eunuch Kim.

How dare a royal secretary

behave so crudely

before His Majesty's quarters?

I apologize, but there is

an urgent matter I must inform him.

It is an important matter

that His Majesty must know about.

Is that matter

more important than the Qing's envoy?

Your important duty

is to prepare to receive the envoy.

Return to your post and get back to work.

Immediately!

Where are you going, my lady?

After being stuck here

for the last few days,

I feel suffocated.

I will go get some air.

Getting air, my foot.

You should be running away.

The Qing's envoy has arrived.

And where do you say we run to?

Are you sure we will not be caught?

Well…

It is better than waiting for the noose.

I will be back shortly.

My lady.

My lady.

Gidaeryeong Kang Mong-woo?

That is me.

Arrest his man immediately.

- Yes, my lord!

- Yes, my lord!

My lord!

- Back off!

- Goodness.

Jageunnyeon.

These officers

are harming innocent people!

I shall follow you obediently.

Please refrain from needless violence.

Why are you standing about?

Arrest the criminal this instant.

- Yes, my lord!

- Yes, my lord!

I commend you for your efforts

in making such a long journey.

I was concerned

as I heard that you had fallen ill.

It is of much relief that you seem

to be feeling much better now.

It appears my concern for your ill health

was unnecessary.

As I felt bad for not being able

to receive the Emperor's letter myself,

I tried my best

to attend this feast at the least.

He has brought himself

to receive the letter.

I do speak Joseon's language.

Do not try to deceive me

and interpret properly.

I apologize. Please forgive me.

I hope the feast is to your liking.

I am rather disappointed.

I expected to see something better.

Something better?

Please tell me what you mean by it.

I shall have it brought here.

I heard of the gidaeryeong on my way here.

Word has it

that he is quite

an excellent baduk player.

Is that so?

Did you perchance forget

that I like baduk?

How shall I forget?

Our close friendship was formed

thanks to baduk games

all those years ago in Shenyang.

Right. That is true.

Where is the gidaeryeong?

Who is it…

among them?

The recent development

must not have reached you, Chief Envoy.

As the gidaeryeong was dismissed

and expelled from the capital,

he is not present here.

I beg for your understanding.

His Majesty can simply summon

the gidaeryeong back, can he not?

Am I wrong, Your Majesty?

You are not wrong.

I shall summon him should you wish.

Your Majesty, that cannot happen.

You would be breaking the promise

you have made to me.

Is your petty promise so important

when we have our treasured guest to serve?

Are you attempting to humiliate me

before the Qing Emperor's envoy?

What I do not understand

is the fact that he proposed

the three-day period first.

The King has set up a trap

that the Principal Director cannot avoid.

A trap?

What could he have up his sleeve

to set up one?

That much

is unknown to me.

He had set up a trap

with the envoy up his sleeve.

Principal Director.

My apologies, Your Majesty.

Please forgive me for my discourtesy.

Hear my command.

Bring the gidaeryeong here.

He is young.

I thought he would be around my age.

Did you not mention

that you were a famed baduk prodigy

from a young age as well?

I played baduk before I walked.

I would like to play baduk

with the gidaeryeong this instant.

Would that be possible?

Your Majesty.

Would you allow me

to speak on this matter?

You may speak.

With all due respect to the envoy,

that man is a criminal

who was dismissed and expelled.

Your authority will be weakened

if you allow a criminal

to play baduk with the envoy

in front of everyone.

Your Majesty.

Might I propose another idea?

The gidaeryeong…

No, the criminal and I

will play a baduk with a bet.

If I win,

I shall decide his fate however I see fit.

If I lose,

the Principal Director

shall decide his fate.

How does that sound?

As you insist on playing with him,

I will not go against you

on this matter any further.

Your Majesty.

Mong-woo.

What do you say?

I would not refuse such a great honor

to play against the Emperor's subject.

All right.

Shall we begin?

Bring a baduk table and the stones.

CAPTIVATING THE KING

You are my gidaeryeong.

You must come running

whenever I summon you.

I have missed you.

How can you get revenge when you love him?

The King is my one and only family

before he is my lord.

We are bound by the heavens.

I implore you, Your Majesty.

Please do not command me

to marry Prince Rui.

I desired power.

I thought it was the only way

to protect those that I wished to protect.

Through this marriage,

I seek to plant a spy

in Prince Rui's inner circle.

Are you suggesting a substitution?