01x11 - Episode 11

[bunniefuu]

[Missing Crown Prince]

[This drama is fiction. Characters, places, organizations, and events have no connection to historical facts.]

[Child actors and animals were filmed according to production guidelines.]

Why are you trying to deceive me?

You woke up too early.

Sang Rok.

You will have to sleep a bit longer, Your Majesty.

Hearing his daughter would become a widow otherwise.

Have pity on my father, who lost his sense of judgment-

Have pity?

Can you say the same thing even if your father has committed m*rder?

[Episode 11]

Was my father the one who poisoned His Majesty?

I heard Grand Inspector entered the bedchambers-

Please tell me honestly without hiding anything.

Did my father poison...

Did he really...

do that to His Majesty?

That is correct.

It was all your father's doing, Maiden.

My Lady, where have you been?

I thought something happened to you. Do you know how worried I was?

My Lady, are you okay?

Her Highness the Queen Dowager wants to see you.

Please come with me.

I will escort you.

You really grew up fine.

We met once when you were young. Do you remember?

I apologize.

Not at all.

You were young, and we only brushed past each other.

It is natural for you not to remember.

I will be by your side all the time.

So, consider me your biological mother

and come running to me whenever you are having a hard time.

Thank you for your grace, Your Highness.

I am going to take care of the preparations for your wedding myself.

So, do not worry about a thing and get some rest now.

The Queen and the Grand Prince are both good people.

So, do not be too concerned and have faith

in your father's decision.

Stop crying now.

You have a joyful event coming up.

Come closer.

You woke up too early.

You will have to sleep a bit longer, Your Majesty.

Do you fear your own father?

I understand how you feel.

But today is the last day I can treat you as my daughter.

So, please stop crying now and

look at your father.

There are many reasons

I am forcing you to marry Grand Prince Do Seong even when you refused.

But I cannot explain them all to you right now.

However, if I had not trusted Grand Prince Do Seong's character,

I would not have forced you to marry the Grand Prince.

His heart for you is one thing.

But judging from the Grand Prince's character as a man,

I am sure he will not make you miserable, at the very least.

So, I am trying to press on this marriage.

I will not ask you to understand me.

However, no parent in this world would wish for their child to end up miserable.

Kneel down.

Lower your heads.

Stand up!

There is an order from the King.

Kneel down.

Why is he not here?

He will be here.

He will come for sure.

Her Highness the Queen Dowager has spoken.

Strengthening a country truly depends on its crown prince.

And no one is better suited to be the king than the prince.

Hence, he is finally made the crown prince, and it is to be known so.

You, Prince Lee Young, inherited your ancestor's excellent essence.

So, you were born with many fortunes and sacred qualities.

Your character is gentle and great.

Your innate love for your parents and sibling has been showing since you were young.

Therefore, based on your qualifications and in pursuit of the customs,

you are ordered to be made the crown prince.

You shall listen, Choi.

You, Choi, have been raised well by a generationally loyal family,

granting you a kind and dignified character.

You cannot go inside.

Open the door.

You cannot go inside.

- Let us all go in!
- Yes!

Hence, with blessings from this fortunate day,

you are installed

as the crown princess.

Once they receive the appointment letter, it cannot be undone.

Why is he still not here?

Stop!

I, the crown prince of this country, is alive and well.

And His Majesty's will is with me here.

Who dares to steal His Majesty's name to appoint a crown prince?

It is all over now.

Hyungnim is back.

Stand up.

These are all fake!

Is that not true?

Why are you not answering me?

Is that royal seal truly the royal seal?

That means the royal seal has been fake-

Who fabricated the royal seal, then?

Come to your senses!

Whether the royal seal is real or fake,

that man is not the crown prince, but a traitor who attempted to m*rder His Majesty!

The Mayor of Hanyang is right.

He must be taken away right now!

Hear ye! Take that traitor away-

Shut your mouth!

G-Grand Prince.

Stay silent and wait for His Highness' words. Do you understand?

Yes.

Bring in the guilty!

I-Is that not the Main Hall's food inspector who was known to be dead?

The fact the Main Hall's food inspector is alive

proves His Highness was falsely accused.

A capital interrogation must be opened to clearly find out

who falsely claimed the food inspector's death and hid her away,

the reason the traitor attempted

to poison His Majesty to death, and the reason

he falsely accused the Crown Prince!

His Excellency Munhyeong is correct.

The fact that the criminal is alive

proves the Crown Prince has nothing to do with the poisoning of His Majesty.

He is right! The Crown Prince was falsely accused!

We must immediately discuss the Crown Prince's reinstatement.

Your Highness!

Nothing has been discovered yet.

Is it not too soon to discuss his reinstatement?

We must first t*rture that wench to lay out the course of events!

I agree with you.

It seems Her Highness was greatly shocked by this sudden happening.

Let us first go discuss the matter at the Conference Hall.

Let us all get going!

- All right.
- Let us go!

Hyungnim!

I am so glad you came back safely.

I am sorry you had to protect Father and Mother alone.

So why did you come so late?

It felt like an eternity waiting for you.

I am sorry.

I must let Mother know you came back as well.

I will escort her here, so please wait a moment.

Long time no see.

Have you been well?

Yes, Your Highness.

You must get going now.

Your Highness, did you see her?

Baek Goo- I-I mean, Oh Wol is not the servant.

I know.

Pardon?

S-Since when?

Crown Prince!

Crown Prince!

Mother.

Thank you so much, dear heavens.

Thank you so much for safely sending the Crown Prince back.

Mother.

Are you not injured anywhere?

Yes.

It is thanks to your concern.

How hard must it have been for you

because of this terrible son of yours?

Not at all.

I am more than thankful enough to have you back safely.

Mother.

Why are you both crying on such a joyous day?

We should laugh.

How did the Left State Minister join the Crown Prince's side?

I am sure he knows

the Queen will also be troubled if the food inspector confesses the truth.

I am sure the Crown Prince has Yoon Yi Gyeom's grandmother's sl*ve documents.

There is no other reason for the Left State Minister to side with them.

How much does the food inspector know?

She knows everything.

Your Highness.

I heard Father has been safe thanks to you, Chief Royal Guard.

Thank you.

I am undeserving of such praise, Your Highness.

Please go inside.

Why is there such a thing covering Father's face?

It is a device Grand Inspector made for treatment.

- Choi Sang Rok did?
- Yes.

He treated him with that device when his life was in peril.

That is when he started getting better, so we could not remove it.

Please remove it for a moment.

I must see Father's face.

Yes, Your Highness.

Father.

Your bad son,

Geon is here.

You are...

listening to me, right?

You should reprimand me if you are.

You should reprimand me

for coming so late and

for coming only now, Father.

There is not much time left now.

Please...

Please endure a bit longer, Father.

Reinstate the deposed crown prince?

The crown prince Her Highness appointed was Grand Prince Do Seong.

The installation ceremony was halted.

The Crown Prince whom His Majesty appointed clearly exists.

He was deposed for the capital crime of attempting to poison His Majesty.

So what use is that?

It was already found out that he was falsely accused.

We did not even start the interrogations! What are you saying was found out?

Stop trying to hide the obvious!

What did you say?

Your Excellency!

Let us stop now.

What would be the use of us talking here all day?

Let us ask Her Highness

to start the capital interrogations on the food inspector as soon as dawn breaks tomorrow.

That would be the best idea.

Let us get going now.

You should pull yourselves together.

We deposed the crown prince with our hands.

If the deposed crown prince takes the throne,

do you think our necks would still be attached?

The only way for us to survive is to make sure Grand Prince Do Seong

becomes the crown prince, whatever it takes.

Do you understand?

I do not want to hear about doing something to the food inspector.

So, do not even mention it.

Do you trust the Crown Prince that much?

Yes, Hyungnim will protect my mother and me, no matter what.

In that case, what about your grandfather?

When you entered the palace with Hyungnim,

did he not make a promise to you?

Do you know why I entered the palace with the Crown Prince?

The Crown Prince threatened me last night with your maternal great-great grandmother's

sl*ve documents, telling me to find the food inspector.

How does he know about that matter?

Do you think the sl*ve documents that no one knew about fell out of the sky?

I am sure Munhyeong is the one who gave

the Crown Prince the sl*ve documents and

made him submit the accusation to Jangyewon*.
[Government office in charge of all matters regarding sl*ves.]

Do you understand what I mean?

The Crown Prince you trust so firmly knew it would be problematic

for you and Her Majesty, if our family becomes that of a sl*ve,

and still brought on about this scheme.

I am sure it was not Hyungnim's intention.

Also, I am sure he knew it would get silenced like this.

- Grand Prince-
- I trust Hyungnim!

So, please stop trying to shake up my relationship with Hyungnim anymore!

I am not telling you to stop trusting the Crown Prince.

Do you think I would not know what kind of a person the Crown Prince is?

Just like how I am trying to get rid of the Crown Prince for your sake,

Munhyeong that man can also do worse things than sl*ve documents,

if it means he can get rid of you for his grandson's sake.

Regardless of what you say, I trust Hyungnim.

Please excuse me.

Did you finish talking to Father?

- Yes.
- We should grab a drink, then.

Let us stop by just one more place.

We still have faces we must see.

What are you doing? Announce His Highness' arrival right now!

I meant to come to see you,

but the two of you happened to be together.

You will not even stand up now?

The two of you did not pay your respects to Her Highness, either.

- What did you say?
- Let us sit.

I will have the guilty interrogated first thing tomorrow through Capital Interrogations.

I believe you will allow it.

Once the interrogations are over, I will identify every single traitor

who tried to poison His Majesty at the assembly, in front of every official.

You can still regret your crimes sincerely and

restore Father back to his healthy self.

I will then protect your honor and dignity as the Queen Dowager.

If you refuse,

your adultery and affairs with this man will be exposed to the entire world

and you will remain the most shameful and evil woman in this country's history.

Do not be so quick to

measure us and our long years with your yardstick.

Even if you denounce it as adultery and affairs,

the fact our love was sincere does not change.

This man will not admit it!

Let us see if you can still say that when your neck is hanging above the streets.

It is not over yet.

Just because you got the food inspector,

do not be mistaken and think the Deposed Crown Prince's name will be cleared.

Can you guarantee the food inspector will open her mouth?

Even if she does open her mouth,

are you certain she will not

take Crown Prince, Grand Prince Do Seong, or Her Majesty with her?

It looks like you want to give your final struggle.

But the end of this fight has already been decided.

So go ahead and try everything you can.

I will do everything within my power to face you.

I clearly understand what you two intend.

- Hyungnim!
- Instead...

I will promise you this one thing.

Not more or less than what you did to us,

just as much as the suffering Do Seong and I endured,

only as much as the miserable times Father and Mother spent,

I will make sure to pay you back.

His Excellency Munhyeong, the Censor, and the Deputy Chancellor are waiting inside.

Chief Royal Guard came as well.

All right.

- Let us go inside.
- I will not.

They must be waiting to discuss matters with you. So you can go inside.

There is nothing to hide from you. We will go in together.

You know I hate sitting down for a long time.

I will spend the night at the palace today and leave tomorrow.

So let us grab a drink later at night.

I understand. I will see you later, then.

Yes, Hyungnim.

Regarding Maiden Myeong Yoon...

I was too busy to take care of her.

You do not need to say more.

I think the same way you do, Hyungnim.

Okay.

I see.

I do not know what you will think about it-

Do not worry and go on inside.

I will make sure to take good care of Maiden Myeong Yoon.

Yes. I will leave it to you.

Cheol Doo!

Yes.

Find out where Maiden Myeong Yoon is.

It is such a relief, though.

Since the wedding was halted,

your marriage is more or less called off.

My Lady?

Huh?

Yes.

You were also thinking about Scholar-

I mean, Crown Prince, right?

Seriously, even I am in disbelief, so you must have it worse.

My goodness.

To think Scholar was the Crown Prince...

How can such a thing happen?

They said the messenger said he was arrested and getting transferred.

It was a fake message.

He was safe.

By the way,

what will happen to Master now?

It was also found out Master is the one who kidnapped the Crown Prince.

It is all my fault.

When you said the food inspector must be gotten rid of together,

I should not have stopped you.

How can you say such things?

I am the one who decided to spare the food inspector.

Not at all.

I know you decided so for my sake

because I implored you too persistently.

Because of me, even you, Orabeoni-

Your Highness, you must stay strong.

Nothing has happened yet.

Yes. Please endure a bit longer.

I will find a way to stop them by any means.

Getting rid of the food inspector is the only way out of this now, is it not?

That will not be so easy anymore, either.

Would they not know that is our only option?

I am sure getting prepared for that is the first thing they are doing.

You are the only one I can trust, Chief Royal Guard.

We do not know what Queen Dowager may do,

so please protect the food inspector.

Yes, Your Highness!

However, Teacher, if the food inspector confesses,

the Crown Prince's false accusation will be cleared for sure.

But the Queen's pavilion is also-

I mean, Left State Minister Yoon Yi Gyeom was also involved in this matter.

Of course, we will have to do away with Left State Minister Yoon Yi Gyeom.

He falsely accused the Crown Prince.

The problem is Her Majesty the Queen.

I am sure that will be an issue.

Can rewards and punishments differentiate people based on their class?

Anyone, including Her Majesty,

must be punished if they committed a crime.

That cannot be.

- Your Highness-
- I will never allow it.

Please do not mention it ever again.

Mother did not know anything.

She was deceived by the Queen Dowager's blackmailing.

However, the Queen's pavilion also assisted in falsely accusing you.

It was not the Queen's pavilion. It was the Left State Minister's sole doing.

However, Your Highness-

I said I will not allow it!

Our goal is Queen Dowager and Choi Sang Rok.

It is not the Queen's pavilion.

I will end this discussion with the Left State Minister's dismissal.

Do you understand?

- Yes, Your Highness.
- Yes, Your Highness.

Excuse me, Your Excellency.

You two can go ahead.

His Highness did not let me utter a word, so I could not ask.

If we just reveal Queen Dowager's adultery with Choi Sang Rok,

there would be no need for these headaches, right?

It was the Queen Dowager who made His Majesty the king through a rebellion.

What do you think will happen if that Queen Dowager

is claimed to be a seductress who committed an immoral sin?

I think the throne's authority will be shaken.

Correct.

His Majesty's legitimacy will be questioned.

The traitors are still waiting eagerly for an opportunity.

So, we can never let the throne's authority be called into question.

Yes.

Father.

You are happy Hyungnim came back safely, right?

Now...

everything will find its rightful place.

Since Hyungnim came back, I will now

go back to being the Do Seong who was playful

and live freely.

Since I have had my share of hardship so far,

you will at least allow that much, right?

Anyone, including Her Majesty,

must be punished if they committed a crime.

Is the meeting over?

Yes.

Why? Is there something you need to tell me?

I do not.

I have to be at the prison cell, so please excuse me.

It has been a long time.

I did not think I would be seeing you over a matter of this nature.

I will keep it short and cut to the chase.

If you wish His Majesty to be restored,

please overlook the matter regarding the food inspector.

Do you even hear yourself?

How can you dare speak of His Majesty's well-being?

I am sure you know the extent of things I have done

to protect Queen Dowager's well-being.

Please give this a careful thought.

Should the Queen Dowager be harmed even the slightest,

His Majesty will also pass away.

I will now take my leave.

Look here.

No matter what you say, my decision remains the same.

So do not try to convince me.

I am not going to convince you.

I came to correct you because you seem to be mistaken about something.

You can do as you please.

From what I know, His Majesty

would be willing to sacrifice his life for the Crown Prince.

He would never wish to be taken hostage by you and save his life pathetically.

However, if His Majesty passes away,

you will have to meet your consequences.

Not just you and Queen Dowager.

It will be everyone, including your daughter.

Do you understand?

If you want to at least save the Queen Dowager's life, hand over the antidote.

Right now.

I do not think...

there is any other way.

You still have the antidote.

With that, at least Queen Dowager can-

Even if I hand over the antidote, he will k*ll us all.

Even if His Majesty dies without the antidote,

he made it clear he would never forgive us.

Did the Crown Prince really say so?

It was His Excellency Munhyeong.

You know what kind of a person Munhyeong is.

Even if the skies were to split, he would never change his conviction.

There is only one option left now.

Taking Soo Ryun and escaping the palace.

Will you help?

Do you have a way to make it safely out of the palace?

I could not execute it because I could not guarantee success.

I have been thinking about this countless times over the years.

Yes. I understand.

Soo Ryun may not want to escape

in case something might happen to me.

I will do whatever it takes to convince Her Highness.

I will also earn you the time to escape the palace.

What are you saying? If you stay behind alone-

You cannot be concerned with my life right now.

Her Highness' safety is at peril.

I will trust you and make the preparations, then.

Yes, I will also prepare and wait for you.

Please send word.

Are you telling me to run away right now?

Grand Inspector said this is the only way.

Your Highness, leaving the palace was your lifelong wish, was it not?

Grand Inspector said he is finally doing what he has been wishing to do for 30 years.

However, in the unlikely case of getting found out by them-

Your Highness, you must have faith in the Grand Inspector.

Would the Grand Inspector have come to a rash conclusion

when he is most concerned about your safety?

- What about you?
- I will follow you right after.

Who would be able to serve you if I am not there?

Please hurry.

Where is Orabeoni?

Get changed.

You will not be noticed while you roam around the palace.

This is a pass for entering and leaving the palace. Use it when necessary.

Listen carefully to what I am about to say,

and do not make a single mistake in carrying it out.

I am prepared to accept any punishment.

If you only let Myeong Yoon escape the palace safely-

If I do, will you hand over the antidote?

After Myeong Yoon leaves the palace safely, yes, I will give it to you.

Do you expect me to believe that?

Though the wedding was halted,

Myeong Yoon is more or less your wife, Grand Prince.

Please have pity on Myeong Yoon, for she can go through hardship

because of her father's sin

and help her out.

Notify me first if anyone tries to come inside.

Yes, Your Highness.

I am sure your day was long,

but my day was truly just as long.

When I opened my eyes in the morning,

the only thing I could think about was coming back to the palace today.

I did not know if I wanted to stop

the crown prince installation

or the wedding.

However, now that I see you now,

I think I can tell now.

I am sorry.

I should not have said that.

Did you get to meet His Majesty?

I did see him.

Did his condition improve?

You already knew my father had fallen ill?

I also know it was my father's doing.

Did you hear it from Do Seong?

I secretly...

entered the Main Hall last night and found out.

You had entered the Main Hall?

Why did you do such a reckless thing?

If someone finds out, who knows what will happen to you?

If I consider what my father did,

I already deserve punishment from the heavens.

Why would I worry about what could happen to me?

Did you not think it could

be a concern for me?

For now, let us put out the more urgent fire first.

I am sure you were expecting this,

but if the food inspector confesses tomorrow,

there will be another tempest inside the palace.

So you must escape the palace first.

I will look for a chance to get you to leave the palace-

I apologize,

but I do not intend to leave the palace.

I cannot do that.

What are you saying?

- If you stay here like this-
- I know.

I cannot leave because I know.

- Maiden!
- Even if he is a criminal who deserves death, he is my father.

How can I escape alone to save myself as her daughter?

Are you telling me to just watch when I know

you will be in harm's way?

If I escape, you will surely be troubled as well.

Knowing that, how can I-

Whatever trouble may come, it is my share to shoulder.

Are you insane? Remember where you are.

This is an urgent matter.

Your Highness!

I told you not to let anyone in.

Your Highness, I think the Queen Dowager escaped with Grand Inspector.

It is now the Second Hours*.
[9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.]

You must get going now.

By myself? I will not.

I cannot go until the Grand Inspector comes.

He had sternly ordered me to leave with you first if the promised time passed.

I said I will not go.

He also chose a spot for rendezvous just in case.

So Master will come there with My Lady.

If the Grand Inspector fails to escape the palace, what will happen then?

That will not be so.

However, if you do not go,

The Master will risk the danger and come back to the palace again.

So please come with me now.

What kind of rude act is this?

I am still this country's Queen Dowager!

Mind your manners!

♫ Walking down the memory lane ♫

♫ Looking for the faint sight of you ♫

♫ The nostalgia engrained ♫

[Missing Crown Prince]

This is why you tried to k*ll His Highness the Crown Prince?

We have to distinguish who the real crown prince is, right?

I meant it when I said I do not wish to harm you.

You promised me...

that we will live happily ever after in the next life.

Munhyeong will also try to get rid of Grand Prince Do Seong.

The food inspector was m*rder*d.

I heard the culprit is the deposed crown prince.

You are right. It was my doing.