01x12 - Episode 12

[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 12]

Why... How is it that...

Why are you here alone?

Where is the Queen Dowager?

I just escorted her...

to the Queen Dowager's quarters.

The Queen Dowager's quarters?

I told you...

to escort her away even if I did not make it.

She was adamant...

about not leaving without you.

Such insolence!

I am still the Queen Dowager of this country.

Show your respect.

You should have left with the Queen Dowager.

Myung Yoon...

I could not find her.

But she was not in any imminent danger.

I was still at the palace, so you should have trusted me...

and left with the Queen Dowager.

I apologize.

I understand how you could not leave your daughter behind,

but to think that Her Majesty...

walked back into a deadly situation...

I am sorry.

Her Majesty...

wishes to at least spend one night with you tonight.

Let us head to her quarters.

Not right now.

I have someplace to be.

Are you saying there is another way?

Up until a while ago, I did not expect...

that I would be willing to go this far.

But if my plan works,

Soo Ryeon will keep her life.

So please ask her to take care of Myung Yoon.

What do you mean she is not here?

While I was off at the lavatory,

she left.

Could your master have sneaked her out of here?

That may be it.

Such insolence. You are to speak the truth.

That seems like the case.

If you allow my daughter...

to safely make it out of the palace...

In exchange,

will you give me the antidote?

Once Myung Yoon is safely on the other side of these walls,

then yes. I will hand it over.

The situation at the palace is unstable.

You will stay hidden until the matter is resolved.

- Your Royal Highness... - Right now,

my head is about to explode from everything I must consider.

I ask that you at least ease my mind.

Your Royal Highness.

Enter.

Change into this first.

What is going through your head?

She is the daughter of Choi Sang Rok.

For now,

I will keep her hidden.

Tomorrow, I will find a way to let her escape the palace.

Tell Sang Soo to prepare a set of bedding.

Of course.

Their fates have gone awry.

If the Crown Prince lives, your daughter will die.

And if your daughter lives, the Crown Prince will die.

Inspector General Choi, what brings you by?

Let us leave.

We will talk outside.

k*lling me...

will not bury your transgressions.

I do not care.

The crimes will all fall on me.

I will not ask for forgiveness.

Father.

Lady Choi.

Cut me instead.

Father,

k*ll me instead.

Lady Choi.

- Step aside. - Move aside.

k*ll me first.

Until you k*ll me,

you will not be able to harm His Royal Highness.

k*lling me will not change anything.

Even if I die,

Dosung will never forgive you people.

With you gone,

Prince Dosung will be King whether he likes it or not.

That means...

Myung Yoon will be safe.

Your Royal Highness, it is Gap Seok.

Your Royal Highness.

Your Royal Highness?

You may enter.

If you have nothing more to say, dismiss yourself.

What happened?

It was nothing.

Did you request for an extra set of bedding?

Yes.

I told Sang Soo, so he will soon bring it.

Wait...

a few moments.

k*lling me will not bury your transgressions.

With you gone,

Prince Dosung will be King whether he likes it or not.

That means...

Myung Yoon will be safe.

His Royal Highness almost died...

while trying to save Lady Myung Yoon,

but he still stayed up all night nursing her back to health.

But back then, he thought you were my daughter.

Exactly. That had me puzzled as well.

Why would he care about what happens to a female servant?

Still, he always seemed to look out for her.

She was not his hostage.

He also harbours feelings for Myung Yoon.

So...

By the way, where is Lady Myung Yoon?

Tell Moo Baek that I urgently need to see him.

Gosh.

Moo Baek.

Lord Choi needs to see you urgently.

The palace is so spacious...

that I had a rough time locating you.

Are you not worried about Lady Myung Yoon?

Her whereabouts are unknown.

What?

I heard she was at the Crown Prince's Palace.

The Crown Prince's Palace?

Please let me return to Yanghwadang.

If I am the reason you are attacked again...

Your father...

did not know you were here,

so what happened earlier...

had nothing to do with you being here.

It is not just my father.

No one should know I am here.

That is why you are keeping me hidden.

I am the daughter of a traitor.

I am not worth you risking your own life to save,

so please let me leave.

I meant what I said...

when I wished you to be unscathed.

If making me waver and suffer is not your intention,

you will put this to rest.

How could I dare to... Gosh, no.

I am worried that I will do you even more harm,

which is why I request this out of fear,

so please consider my request.

The worst...

happening to you outside these walls...

is something I cannot handle.

That is why I ask for your understanding.

Clear your mind tonight and get some rest.

g*n, it is I.

Your Royal Highness. Please keep it from Prince Dosung.

Brother, it is Dosung.

Come in.

I hope you did not forget.

It has been so long since we enjoyed drinks together.

Right.

Our time at the kisaeng house was our last.

Yes, and that was ages ago.

I have informed the Royal Kitchen, so they will soon bring our drinks.

People will constantly knock on these doors,

so let us drink in your room.

Sure, let us do that.

This is the royal taster sent by Master Moonhyung.

Due to her origin,

she has vast knowledge regarding poison.

I, Court Lady Oh,

will answer to Master Moonhyung's order...

We hear you, so taste the food already.

What is that?

It is a seosaengwon.

- As in a rat? - Yes.

Get that away from me!

There is no need to be alarmed. You may raise your head.

While playing around as children,

a rat went into his pants.

That is why he fears them.

I blame you for that.

Are you feeding food to the rat...

to detect toxins that can build up in the body?

Yes, Your Royal Highness.

Because of how small it is,

toxins will be detected...

even with the smallest amount of food.

I get it, so hurry along.

At this rate, it will be daybreak before we get to smell the alcohol.

My brother must long to drink, so hurry things along.

- She must die. - Father!

For you and Prince Dosung to live,

the royal taster must die.

If she talks,

both you and Prince Dosung will die.

No one will be able to protect you.

His Royal Highness will.

I trust him.

Not a chance.

How can the Crown Prince protect you...

when Jang Hyun Mok is among the officials?

I am well aware of Master Moonhyung's character.

He...

will remain impartial and uncover the truth.

You are too naive.

Jang Hyun Mok and I are not so different.

Just like I will do everything for my blood that is Prince Dosung,

Jang Hyun Mok will consider his grandson's best interest...

and eliminate Prince Dosung...

for the Crown Prince's sake.

Despite what you say,

I do not have any power to keep the royal taster from talking.

The Commander of the Royal Guards may disregard the request of others,

but he will answer to you.

So persuade the commander...

and clear a path to the prison cell.

How can you ask your own child to help you k*ll someone?

- I cannot do it. - Clear a path for me,

and I will take care of the rest.

That is enough. I do not wish to hear more of this.

Your Highness,

do you truly wish to lose Prince Dosung?

I am saying that I trust the Crown Prince.

- Your Highness! - It is late into the night.

Please dismiss yourself.

You heard everything, yes?

Follow me.

You know better than anyone else...

that the Crown Prince...

may fortunately be able to protect...

the Queen and Prince Dosung...

while he cannot protect you.

I...

simply followed your order.

You fool.

Do you truly not know you will be...

the scapegoat of this matter the moment...

you forget to watch your mouth?

For the Crown Prince to keep the Queen...

or Prince Dosung alive,

he will certainly need a scapegoat to die in their stead.

You are the best scapegoat he can use.

In short,

you will die in the end...

no matter what you say.

What?

My lord.

What are you doing,

still in the palace at this late hour?

How can I leave the palace with the current situation?

Everyone, including Master Moonhyung,

is too distressed and about to stay up all night.

How did the talk with the Queen go?

If the day passes as is,

everything will end. You know that, do you not?

Wait.

I have played the final hand.

Here.

Are you that happy?

Of course.

I thought you got caught.

But the moment you came into the main hall,

it felt like a dream of some sort.

Had it not been for me,

you would have become the Crown Prince.

Did it not upset you?

No way.

I feel very relieved as if all my stress has washed away.

That cannot be true.

Do you have any idea what I did so as not to become...

the Crown Prince?

Well.

You even did the sword dance, right?

You cannot even dance with your shoulders.

Seeing you dance up and down must have been great entertainment.

It is such a bummer I could not see that rare sight.

Right now...

Shall I dance it for you?

Will you really do it?

- Go ahead. - All right.

Watch carefully.

You are about to watch Joseon's best sword dance.

Here it comes.

Here it comes.

It is almost here.

Here it comes.

Forget it.

It is making the drinks go bad.

No, watch me a little longer.

Relax your wrists more.

My wrists? Right.

Like this.

Your wrists are too stiff.

If the royal taster speaks,

Prince Dosung will not be safe, either.

For Prince Dosung's sake,

we must stop Court Lady Yoon from speaking, Your Highness.

Father left after mentioning the same thing for an hour.

Leave.

Your Highness.

Why was Prince Gwangchang shot to death?

I heard the King back then was against it until the very end.

However, Prince Gwangchang died coughing up blood...

at that young age.

Your Highness. You must recall that Prince Gwangchang...

was innocent just like Prince Dosung.

Similar to how those wanting to drive out the Queen Dowager...

k*lled Prince Gwangchang,

- Prince Dosung will also... - Enough!

Your Highness. If the royal taster speaks,

Prince Dosung will surely die.

Only when Prince Dosung dies...

will the deposed Crown Prince be reinstated...

and succeed to the throne.

Do you truly wish to die?

I told you I have had enough!

If I can protect Your Highness and Prince Dosung,

I do not mind dying over and over again.

Please consider it.

Leave. I beg you.

Can we really do this?

Of course not.

But what can we do?

Those brothers have the closest relationship in Joseon.

Oh, it is about Lady Myung Yoon.

Her father must have sneaked her away already.

Right. Is that so?

Yes.

So there is no need to worry about her.

He successfully took her away from that forbidding Yanghwadang.

She will somehow sneak out of the palace.

- What a relief. - Yes.

Your Royal Highness. Please keep it from Prince Dosung.

Pour me another glass.

Oh, right. Sure.

You can hold your drinks now.

That is for me to say.

Were you drinking all day and night somewhere?

I always had a strong head.

- I simply did not drink. - You could not drink.

- No, I did not drink. - Right, you did not.

I shall not beat you in anything you say tonight.

You shall not beat me?

Good.

Then I shall beat you.

With that skill of yours?

Give it a shot.

You little...

Here I go.

You really...

- Barley. - "Barley?"

Barley. Rice.

Barley. Rice.

I caught it. I caught your hand!

It is my turn now.

- Come here. - Wait.

- Here I go. - Calm down.

Calm what down?

Give me your hands.

I seem drunk.

I cannot hold my liquor.

Barley is best when you are drunk, Brother.

Here is my barley.

No.

Barley.

Rice.

Excuse me for a minute.

We will set up the bedding if you step outside for a while.

How can you not hide your displeasure before her?

Just do your work.

Make sure not a soul comes in here.

Especially,

Choi Sang Rok's household members.

The guard-like man and the female servant...

Darn it.

How dare a sl*ve act like a lady?

And to treat me lower than herself?

Really.

Wait until I catch a glimpse of her.

I will k*ll her at that young age.

Lower your voice. She might hear you.

What? I did not say anything inappropriate.

Either way, His Royal Highness will be given a hard time...

the day she is found hiding in here.

Make sure everyone stays away from the Crown Prince's Palace.

- Understood? - Yes.

All sins...

are my responsibility to take.

So as for Her Majesty the Queen Dowager...

Once it is confirmed that the Queen Dowager is safe,

the antidote will be delivered to Your Royal Highness.

- It is I, Moo Baek. - You may enter.

Deliver this to the Crown Prince as soon as the sun comes up.

Then leave the palace with Oh Wol right away.

Pardon me?

- What about Lady Myung Yoon? - Wait outside the palace.

As soon as Myung Yoon gets out of the palace safely,

leave far away with her.

Once you find a place where you two can settle down,

you can use this to start something.

You will be able to afford it even after getting a house.

But what if Lady Myung Yoon cannot sneak out? Then what do I do?

She cannot sneak out of the palace on her own.

- I must... - Just deliver the letter.

I failed to protect you until the end.

Please forgive me.

No.

Without your help,

Soo Ryeon and I...

would not have been able to come this far.

Thank you.

I...

will be sure to return the favour...

in my next life.

It was an honour...

to have been able to serve you,

Young Master.

I wish...

to spend at least one night with you as your wife before I die.

Please let me, Sang Rok.

Soo Ryeon.

Please...

call me your wife, just once.

My dear wife.

Yes.

My dear husband.

Now, I can die without regrets.

In our next lifetime,

let us born as commoners...

[Pilbupilbu: An ordinary man and woman]

and live happily ever after.

Yes,

my dear husband.

I remember the day...

when I met you again ten years after becoming a royal physician.

Just like today, it was the saddest...

and happiest day of my life.

That day,

we lost Prince Gwangchang.

Soo Ryeon!

No! You cannot do this.

Soo Ryeon!

Court Lady Kim!

Court Lady Kim!

Please stay alive.

I will never...

I will never let you go again.

I promise.

No matter what happens,

I will be sure to leave the palace with you one day...

and spend the rest of my life with you,

so please...

just stay alive...

until then,

Soo Ryeon.

And to keep my promise,

I put up with everything and held out for 20 years.

Had I known we would end up like this,

I would have run away with you long ago.

You did not want to endanger me.

I know that you did what you did for my sake.

Soo Ryeon.

You need not say more.

I...

have been holding out, thinking of this moment...

when I could finally become your wife.

The moment we have been desperately waiting for...

Our first night together...

will now be our last night together.

I am sorry.

It does not matter.

One night is enough.

I mean it.

Your Highness.

If the royal taster speaks,

Prince Dosung will surely die.

Prince!

- Mother! - Gwangchang!

No, my prince!

No!

No, Gwangchang...

Why was Prince Gwangchang shot to death?

Prince Gwangchang died coughing up blood at that young age.

Do you truly wish to lose Prince Dosung?

No...

If she talks...

If the royal taster starts talking...

Both you and Prince Dosung will die.

Prince Dosung will surely die.

Do you truly wish to lose Prince Dosung?

Your Highness.

- Choi Sang Rok? - Yes, Your Royal Highness.

He started using it...

when His Majesty was in critical condition.

That was when His Majesty's condition began to improve,

so we could not remove it.

I also know that it was my father...

who caused it.

I meant what I said when I wished you...

to be unscathed.

k*lling me will not change anything.

With you gone,

Prince Dosung will be King whether he likes it or not.

That means...

Myung Yoon will be safe.

Your Highness.

Where are you going at this late hour?

I cannot fall asleep.

I wish to go and see my father.

Yes, I will escort Your Highness.

No.

I will go to the Main Palace.

You go to the prison and make sure there are no problems.

Yes, Your Highness.

If you turn a blind eye to it, no one will ever know.

I will make sure it will not affect you negatively.

She tried to poison His Majesty.

What will she say during the investigation to slander my prince?

I am so anxious that I cannot sleep.

The Queen kindly brought it for you out of pity.

Try anything funny, and you will be beheaded at once.

I will wait by the entrance.

Please let me know if you need me.

Thank you.

Please save me, Your Highness.

I will do anything you say.

Please just spare me, Your Highness.

Please...

Please spare me, Your Highness!

You will die anyway.

How could you expect to be spared...

after attempting to poison His Majesty?

Rather than dying painfully after being tortured,

would it not be better to take your own life?

Why should I die?

All I did was obey the orders from the Queen Dowager's Palace.

This is unfair!

Shut your mouth!

How dare you say it is unfair?

When I think of what you did,

I cannot appease my anger even if I rip you to shreds right here.

If you wish to die in one piece,

you must take this dagger now.

No, I do not want to.

If I...

will die anyway,

I wish to at least speak out and fight before I die.

What did you say?

Your Highness, you are afraid I would speak the truth.

That is why you are ordering me to take my own life.

Your Highness, if you fail to save me,

I will tell them that the orders all came from you.

Who would believe you?

Suit yourself.

Then...

instead of you,

I will tell them that Prince Dosung was behind it all.

What do you think will happen, then?

Those who support the Crown Prince will come after him.

Then Prince Dosung will not be safe either.

No...

If you wish to save Prince Dosung,

you must save me now.

Tell the Commander of the Royal Guards...

to release me right away.

- No! - Shut your mouth.

If Prince Dosung dies,

it is all on you.

You are getting him k*lled.

Do you wish to be a mother who gets her own son k*lled?

I told you to shut your mouth!

Please spare me, Your Highness.

I thought g*n was a lightweight compared to me,

but I learned today that he can easily drink me under the table.

All right.

Your hands are clean now.

My feet look just like this, and so do g*n's.

Like father, like sons.

We certainly take after you.

How come your feet are so cold?

It is I, Joong Young.

You may enter.

You need...

to come with me for a moment.

Who did this?

I kept it from you for I thought telling you...

would change nothing and only disturb you.

But now that the royal taster ended up like this,

I believe you should know too.

You must know that Master Moonhyung and his supporters...

met earlier today to discuss what to do going forward.

Yes.

What about it?

Surely, the Left State Councillor should be ousted too.

He dared to slander His Royal Highness.

The problem is the Queen.

It will certainly stir up a debate.

Everyone...

is equal before the law.

It does not matter if she is the Queen or something else.

All those convicted of a wrongdoing or crime deserve punishment.

I am sorry to say this,

but even if I keep my lips sealed about it,

the fact that the Queen visited the prison is bound to come out.

Then things will get out of control,

so you should be prepared for what is coming.

Your Royal Highness.

We have a problem.

Lower your voice.

The royal taster...

was found m*rder*d.

What should we do?

It is not like we can bring her back to life.

What should we do now?

Bring me my official robe.

Your Highness!

Who is it?

Who is pushing my mother to the edge?

Is it you?

Or is it my grandfather?

Right, it must be both of you.

If you do anything that may disturb my mother again,

I will k*ll you with my own hands.

Do you understand?

Dosung.

I k*lled her.

Wait outside.

You promised me.

In our next lifetime,

we will be born as commoners...

and live happily ever after as a couple.

Yes.

We will do that.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

No, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, please open your eyes.

Your Majesty!

I said I k*lled the royal taster.

Why will you not ask me anything?

Sit down.

Because of me, you can no longer clear your name.

Now, you can no longer save Father...

or take down the traitors.

So, why...

Why are you not saying anything?

Ask me why I did such a thing.

Yell at me and call me insane!

Your selfish brother dragged you into this mess for his own sake.

So, why...

Why...

Why are you not saying anything?

Let go.

I said, let go.

Let go.

Let go of me! Let go...

It is okay.

Dosung.

It is all right.

It is all right.

g*n.

Please forgive me, g*n.

g*n...

Please forgive me, g*n.

That is enough.

Forgive me, g*n...

Stop.

That is enough.

Master Moonhyung is here.

He may enter.

Prince Dosung, you are here too.

Go to your chambers.

No.

Prince Dosung should hear this too.

- The royal taster is... - About the royal taster.

I k*lled her.

[Missing Crown Prince]

How will you carry the burden of your sins?

I wish you were Baek Gu.

Tell the Crown Prince to hand over Myung Yoon.

I will take her there.

After all, we nearly got married.

Lee g*n has been cleared of all charges...

and is bestowed with the title of Prince Susung.

The trap was set up to get Prince Susung.

Prince Susung can no longer tell anyone about us.

Do you plan to spare Prince Susung?

Of course, we must k*ll him.