The Queen's Umbrella (2022) s01e03 Episode Script
Episode 3
UNDER THE QUEEN'S UMBRELLA
EPISODE 3
He must be at that place again.
We must get rid of it.
As long as the secret chamber exists,
it will remain a risk.
Yes, we must.
-We must get rid of it.
-Your Majesty.
Even if someone finds that place,
there will not be a problem as long as
Grand Prince Gyeseong is not there.
We will say that those feminine items
belong to a court lady.
Until the exam is over,
he must not even set foot in that place.
It is true.
I witnessed it with my own eyes.
In the royal palace, one is to forget
everything that they see and hear.
Do you know why?
If what you say is true,
he will face death. But if not,
it is your life
that will be taken, Consort Ko.
Do you still stand by what you are saying?
I cannot be certain,
but I believe I saw
Grand Prince Gyeseong--
Do you expect me to believe something
you cannot be certain of?
Who else did you spread
this groundless rumor to?
I did not, Your Royal Highness.
You are the only person I have told.
I fear for Prince Simso.
He must not have had a good upbringing
from a mother like you.
You clearly said you were not certain.
-Pardon?
-It is not true
unless you are certain of it.
If I ever hear a similar rumor
in the palace,
I will assume
that you have been running your mouth.
You said you wished
to repay me for the book.
-Yes, Your Royal Highness.
-The only thing I want in return
is that you provide Prince Simso
with proper education and guidance.
If you understand, you may leave.
Where have you been?
I went for a walk.
Let us go walk some more.
Refrain from taking walks
for the time being.
Concentrate on your studies
until the exam is over.
Focus only on your lessons
and nothing else.
I will not skip my lessons.
I will also study hard.
However, please allow me
to keep taking walks.
It is the only time I can breathe.
Do as I say until the exam is over.
Is there a reason I must become a cohort?
Do you not want to?
If that is not the case, give it a try.
Do you remember what I recently said?
You never know
what will happen in the palace.
Therefore,
I would like to be able to
lay my hopes on you.
Hwan.
Could you do as I say
just this once?
CHOSI: FIRST EXAMINATION
OF COHORT SELECTION
-Is it good?
-Yes.
It is made with musk, loquat,
and other medicinal herbs
that are good for the brain.
It is said to enhance
concentration rapidly.
I guess Mother could not make it.
She is the busiest person in the kingdom.
Always remind yourself.
Our mother is the Queen.
Are you ready?
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
You look fairly confident.
There must have been
rather insufficient time to prepare.
That word is not in my vocabulary.
I mean, the word "insufficient."
You remind me, Consort Hwang,
of my younger self.
What happened?
He said he was going to take a nap,
so I thought he was asleep
and would wake up soon.
But he has not regained
his consciousness ever since.
Crown Prince.
Wake up, Crown Prince.
Why did his condition worsen
all of a sudden?
I saw him this morning,
and he seemed…
perfectly fine.
His condition is deteriorating.
What is this?
It is a journal that His Royal Highness
has kept for the past year.
Do you mean…
this was recorded
by the Crown Prince himself?
Yes, Your Majesty.
From the dates and times when he collapsed
to the treatments that he received,
he recorded every little detail.
He used to collapse
about once every two weeks.
But now he collapses
every three to four days.
Are you saying
he collapses more frequently?
-Yes, Your Majesty.
-More importantly,
he remains unconscious for longer periods.
Your Majesty.
Rumors have spread in the palace
that His Royal Highness is gravely ill.
Just because he skipped
his morning lesson?
It must be because
it never happened before.
What if His Royal Highness cannot attend
his daytime lesson either?
I do not reckon that His Royal Highness
is fit enough to go about daily life.
He will need to focus on his recovery
for his symptoms to improve.
-Eunuch Hong.
-Yes, Your Majesty.
Cancel all of the Crown Prince's schedule.
They are starting.
Those who score high
on the first exam today
shall be given a chance
to proceed to the second exam.
Reveal the question.
We are going to build an embankment
with a width of 6 ja 4 chi at the top
and a width of 1 gil 5 ja 6 chi
at the base.
The height is 6 ja
and the length is 3 ri 74 bo.
Each worker can complete
364 ja to the power of 3 per day.
It takes an additional one-fourth
of the total workload
to take the soil out of the hole.
How many workers will be needed?
Along with your answer,
explain how you reached that conclusion.
If you have studied arithmetic
using books such as Sanhakgyemong
and Sangmyeongsanbeop,
you will be able to solve
the question easily.
We shall move on
to the composition question.
-There is another question?
-Apparently.
"Yu, sil, and shin."
Using these Chinese characters,
discuss the proper behavior of a wise man
who understands the essence of life.
Reveal the next question as well.
There is yet another question?
This is worse than the civil service exam.
You may begin.
May my son pass the exam.
How are you feeling?
Are you still feeling light-headed?
No, I am feeling better now.
That is a relief.
-Get some more rest.
-No.
I am not finished with my daily lessons.
You do not need to appear
in public for the time being.
Focus on your recovery.
I cannot do that.
Your Royal Highness.
This happened because you returned
to your daily life hastily.
However, Mother,
I have my duties as the Crown Prince.
You cannot fulfill them…
if you lose your health.
Mother.
If I do not attend to my duties,
the palace will be in confusion.
Then are you confident
that you will not collapse in public?
Will you be able to manage your symptoms?
I am telling you to return
to your duties after you recover.
Even if it is just for two weeks,
I want you to focus on your recovery.
Your Majesty, it is Court Lady Shin.
The examination has just begun.
What are they being tested on?
On arithmetic and composition,
Your Majesty.
The questions differ
from those of the past,
so the examinees seem perplexed.
His Majesty also posed
one rather unusual question.
An unusual question?
Reveal the final question.
Draw one line to create two half-moons.
You should not overthink it.
Think out of the box,
and you will find the answer.
We will end the examination.
The answers are
just as bizarre as the question.
What in the world is this?
But is that not correct?
He created two half-moons
by drawing one line
as the question required.
I agree.
It is very thick, but he did draw
one line, so I agree it is correct.
He thought out of the box
as His Majesty said.
I would argue that these answers
are much more correct.
Yes.
They folded the paper
to create a full moon,
which they then split in half.
They surely are excellent as well.
There is no one correct answer
to that question.
Remain seated.
Any answer that makes sense
shall be deemed correct.
Let me see.
I have never thought of this.
How interesting.
When will the results be announced?
Are the results not predictable?
What do you mean by that?
All the princes have been
secretly tutored.
It does not end there.
Some even hired geobyeok, expert scribes.
Not only Jonghak tutors
and Sungkyunkwan students
but also the tutors of the Crown Prince
at Sigangwon have been hired.
My goodness.
-By whom?
-Whom else?
Those darned distinguished concubines.
But that is against the rules, is it not?
It gave them a head start. What are we,
mothers without resources, to do?
Darn it.
What if Prince Bogeom fails the exam?
I think the purpose of the exam today
is to screen out the examinees.
How many will be eliminated?
Only those who achieve top scores
will proceed to the second exam.
Everyone else will be eliminated.
That is extremely harsh.
"Gong," meaning "together."
"Jo," meaning "to help."
I believe all of you understand
the meaning of the word "gongjo."
This word is our sign.
If you see this word, it means
it is Prince Uiseong's answer sheet.
TONG: OUTSTANDING
"Pass"?
Who in the world had the audacity
to give him this poor grade?
DAETONG: PARTICULARLY OUTSTANDING
Here is the answer
to the arithmetic question.
Who gave this absurd answer?
Have a look at this.
This examinee is trying to lecture
the examiners in his answer.
He must have thought he could
scribble whatever sprang to his mind.
Give him a "bangoe" and be done with it.
BANGOE: UNDESERVING OF A GRADE
Unbelievable. Here you go.
-"Based on the provided information,
-…provided information,
-the number of workers required…
-the number of workers required
would be close to 1,413.
In reality, however,
that number would be erroneous,
for the number should vary
depending on the season.
Productivity decreases in spring
compared to summer
as the days are shorter.
In autumn, productivity varies
even more greatly
as most workers are farmers.
Therefore, the mobilization of farmers
should be avoided during the harvest.
Also, the work hours
should not interfere with the harvest.
In short, when calculating the number
of workers required for public works,
one should consider the season
as well as the circumstances
that the people are in.
PRINCE UISEONG, PRINCE BOGEOM
As expected, Prince Bogeom made the list.
Consort Tae must be so proud.
GRAND PRINCE SEONGNAM
GRAND PRINCE GYESEONG
Wait a second.
Why are those names on the list?
What is going on?
I have no idea.
What an unexpected outcome.
Forgive me, Mother.
But I did my best.
How could you say that
after seeing those results?
Even the worst student at Jonghak passed.
So did Grand Prince Gyeseong, that freak.
How could you…
How could you say that you did your best?
The princes who passed
the first examination
shall take the second examination
in four days.
-Yes, Your Majesty.
-Yes, Your Majesty.
My Queen, what brings you here?
I have been waiting
to discuss an important matter with you.
What is the matter?
It concerns the Crown Prince.
His Royal Highness was absent
from his daytime lesson as well?
Yes. It seems that he has caught a cold.
That cannot be it.
I presume that something much worse
happened to him.
The selection process this time around…
might not simply end
with a cohort selection.
Then we shall speak in private.
No, Your Majesty.
Most officials here are also the tutors
of the Crown Prince at Sigangwon.
I would like their opinion
on deciding the future schedule
of the Crown Prince.
The future schedule of the Crown Prince?
Yes. To be precise,
I ask you to grant him your permission
to visit a hot spring.
Has his skin disease gotten worse?
No, Your Majesty.
It is to prevent it from getting worse.
A visit to a hot spring
was recommended by his physician.
The officials are occupied
with the cohort selection lately.
If the Crown Prince needs a change of air,
this would be the perfect time.
Your Majesty.
It is true that the authoring
and grading of the exam
have prevented us
from paying full attention
to the daily lessons
of His Royal Highness.
Your Majesty.
His Royal Highness
is the heir to the throne.
Devoting himself to learning
should be his top priority.
However,
nothing would matter more
than the health of the Crown Prince.
See? I told you.
What did I do?
You said the situation
of the Crown Prince was dire.
I was not the only one who said that.
Also, why would he need a change of air
if he was in good health?
It is just a skin disease.
It is no news
that he is suffering from it.
I also want to visit Onyang
and relax in a hot spring.
We will be serving you in the quarters
of Her Majesty starting today.
The Crown Prince went for a change of air.
Did you not say that the Queen Dowager
implied that his condition was grave?
Yes, it definitely sounded quite serious.
But the Queen said
that it was a mere skin disease.
I will closely watch
the quarters of the Queen.
By the way, what happened
in the first exam?
After all the preparation, Prince Uiseong
failed to come in first place.
The King posed a question
that had not been planned.
Who would have foreseen
such an unusual question?
This may be a good thing.
Now we have learned
that His Majesty can act
unpredictably at any time.
Now that we know,
we can better prepare for the second exam.
You are right.
The first exam results
are of no importance anyway.
What matters is the second exam.
No matter what move the King makes
this time, we will be prepared.
We will be.
The prince who becomes
the cohort of the Crown Prince
will be able to take his place.
The news of the departure
of His Royal Highness
managed to suppress
rumors about his disease.
Rumors are covered by rumors.
However, we can hide the truth
for only so long.
The Crown Prince must recover in time
and prove he is completely healthy.
It is time to face…
the true side of Grand Prince Gyeseong.
Welcome.
Her Royal Highness
has been waiting for you. Please.
I am more nervous
than on my first night with His Majesty.
Even though this is strictly confidential,
Prince Bogeom came in first place
in the first exam.
Oh, my goodness.
Is that true?
I was elated that he proceeded
to the second exam.
But he even came in first place?
This is unbelievable!
Forgive my ungraceful behavior,
Your Royal Highness.
A mother is meant to laugh and cry
over every event in the life of her child.
Who knows? Prince Bogeom
may end up becoming a cohort.
That would be absolutely wonderful.
However, Prince Bogeom does not have
the Queen as his mother.
Also, his maternal relatives are not
as powerful as those of Prince Uiseong.
He has no one to have his back.
I could not even find him tutors
like the distinguished concubines.
I am well aware that it will take
far more than his own capabilities.
Then,
what if I support Prince Bogeom?
Are you confident
in making him the cohort?
It makes no difference to me
who the mother is.
Each of them is my precious grandson.
So I am thinking of having his back
as his grandmother.
Oh, my.
As long as he has your support,
he could do anything.
As long as you keep the promise
you made to me the other day,
I am willing to provide my grandson
with the position that he deserves.
What do you say?
But what can you give me in return,
Consort Tae?
I will obey
whatever orders you give me.
What if…
it is your life that I want?
How would I forget that promise?
After all the kindness you have shown me,
I will always remain loyal to you.
Would there be a way
to keep Grand Prince Gyeseong away
from that place for the time being?
How can I stop him?
I know.
There is a way.
Why is Mother doing this?
I never study even when I am alone.
Being with you certainly will not help.
She has been acting strange lately.
Brother.
I refuse to answer any academic questions.
Have you been studying behind our backs?
Not at all. I was just lucky.
Do you have any snacks with you?
-He is dead?
-Yes, Your Majesty.
Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk
passed away long ago.
Why? What happened?
He is said to have spent some time
treating the plague in Gangwon-do
after he left the palace.
And?
But not long after,
he and his son died in a house fire.
There was another fire?
Is it certain it was
Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk who died?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Apparently, his burned body was found
along with his belongings.
That means…
there is no one left
who remembers what happened back then.
All the records
and people…
disappeared in fires.
Her Majesty went so far
as to deceive His Majesty
and hid the Crown Prince in her quarters?
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Is the Crown Prince
unable to even walk now?
No, Your Royal Highness.
Her Majesty was told
that he would recover within two weeks
if he postponed his plans
and focused on his recovery.
That is why Her Majesty is pretending
that he is away.
Are you saying
the Crown Prince is recovering?
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
He is recuperating.
Court Lady Shin.
Among the Grand Princes,
who do you think is the brightest?
In my humble opinion,
it is Grand Prince Gyeseong.
I see.
You have watched him grow up.
What is your opinion of him?
He is the gentlest and the most
good-natured Grand Prince of all.
Court Lady Shin.
I heard a dreadful rumor about him
is spreading in the palace.
Have you heard of it?
Pardon?
A dreadful rumor?
Forget it.
You may leave.
She confessed that His Royal Highness
is in the quarters of Her Majesty.
She must be telling the truth.
It seems that Her Majesty
is unaware of the secret
of Grand Prince Gyeseong.
What shall we do?
Both Her Majesty and His Majesty
should know about it
as it concerns their own child.
Why is the treatment not taking effect?
All known remedies are being employed,
but it is difficult to ascertain
what the problem is.
Your Majesty.
There is a problem.
Her Royal Highness seems to have found out
about Grand Prince Gyeseong.
What shall we do?
If she really has,
she will attempt to find evidence.
I have to stop Grand Prince Gyeseong
from going to that place.
I am going to his quarters.
Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness
has asked for your audience urgently.
Please tell her
I will visit her this evening.
I cannot make time at the moment
because of banquet preparations.
She said that it concerned
Grand Prince Gyeseong.
Go and check
if the banquet is being prepared properly.
Report to me immediately
if there is any problem.
Yes, Your Majesty.
My Queen.
Where are you headed?
I was on my way
to the quarters of Her Royal Highness.
How thoughtful of you.
Her Majesty makes sure
this old woman does not feel lonely.
You came at the right time.
I am going for a walk with His Majesty.
Would you care to join us?
I would be delighted if you joined us.
With pleasure.
He is not in. He went for a walk.
When did he leave?
He left just a moment ago,
so he could not have gone far.
I see.
Excuse me.
Is everything well
with Grand Prince Gyeseong?
The Queen Dowager had just sent
someone here as well.
Your Majesty.
Would you like to visit a place
you have never been to before?
Is there such a place in this palace?
The palace is quite a labyrinth.
Even I sometimes stumble upon new places.
Is that right?
Your Majesty.
There is a problem with the banquet.
You need to come immediately.
If you will excuse me,
I must leave you now.
The banquet is not until tomorrow.
What is the hurry?
It is the banquet held
following the sacrificial rite.
It is to be prepared with utmost care.
Due to my incompetence,
there has been a mistake.
Would you be so kind as to come with me
and share your wisdom with me?
I am merely an old woman
who has never been the Queen.
I would be of no help.
I would only be a burden.
You may leave, My Queen.
Your Majesty.
Let me stay with you
and escort you myself, Mother.
I was going to show you
a rather amusing sight.
It is such a shame, Your Majesty.
Shall we, Mother?
I have never been here before.
I presumed so.
Down this path,
there is a secret chamber
hidden from view.
A secret chamber?
Yes.
Are you not curious to find out
just what is hidden there?
Your Majesty. As the chamber
was unoccupied, there were no casualties.
The fire will be extinguished shortly.
It is nothing serious,
so you do not have to worry.
The fire has yet to be contained.
We must leave.
Her Royal Highness is here.
You may all leave.
The fire was a rather spectacular sight.
A fire surely does not occur
very frequently in the palace.
I was too late this time.
But next time, I shall reveal
the ugly truth about Grand Prince Gyeseong
to the whole world.
A fire destroys many things.
There is no evidence left whatsoever.
Who would believe what they cannot see?
Your Majesty.
My grandson
whom you are hiding in your quarters…
He had better regain his health.
You should also bring
the rest of your sons to their senses.
Otherwise, I shall replace
those sickly and detestable brats
with worthy ones to protect my own son.
It must be your specialty
to drag down the son of the Queen
and set the son of a concubine
on the throne.
Yes, it is indeed.
I have done it once.
Who is to say I cannot do it again?
That was one huge fire.
I thought I was going to die in that fire.
My goodness, I am exhausted.
SUSEONGGEUMHWASA:
FIRE SUPPRESSION OFFICE OF THE PALACE
-There is something I must ask.
-Yes, Your Highness.
How did you extinguish a fire
in such a secluded place so quickly?
We received a report
soon after the fire started.
Who was the first person
to report the fire?
It was a court lady.
I heard people saying
that she serves Her Majesty.
Was it you, Mother?
Yes.
It was me.
How could you do that?
If you found that place,
you must know the truth about me.
How could you be so cruel to me?
There are eyes and ears all around us.
Lower your voice.
You destroyed my everything.
It was to protect you.
How was that supposed to protect me?
Did you do that
because you were ashamed of me?
You are the one who hid yourself.
And you are the one who failed to hide it
and got caught.
You could have turned a blind eye.
You could have just looked the other way.
Are you happy now that you have burned
that place to the ground?
Do you know why I burned that place down?
I shall show you.
Meet me outside the East Gate.
Follow me.
Now!
Are you all right, Your Majesty?
Of course not.
I lost my son overnight.
What will I do about the cohort selection?
But you see,
I tried to imagine how he must have felt
when he failed to overcome it
and had no choice but to accept it.
He must have been so scared.
That is why…
I could not look the other way.
I am his mother.
You know everything about me now.
Be careful.
Had I not shown you
the secret shortcut earlier,
you would not have been
able to set the fire in time.
Does that make us even, Your Majesty?
Says who?
Take it.
But you know,
if you take it, there is no turning back.
We must…
pull ourselves together now.
Starting from tomorrow,
the real battle begins.
One may have very different wishes
from those of others.
However,
one should not reveal
everything in their heart.
Whenever
you want to see your true self,
look at that painting.
Did it make you upset?
When I first found out,
I was at a loss for a while.
But…
I was not upset.
No matter how you look,
you will always be my child.
This is my favorite hairpin.
It used to belong to my mother.
I would have given it to my daughter
if I had one.
It is yours now.
There will come a day
when those who have
different wishes from those of others
no longer have to hide.
UNDER THE QUEEN'S UMBRELLA
It was the best decision I could make
to protect your brother.
Once the Crown Princess gives birth,
he will have no choice but to appear.
There is a disease called hyeolheogwol.
I want to find
a physician who can treat it.
I wish to discuss
the problem of the hut village in Seochon
with my princes today.
No one will notice even if we go out.
I need you to help me this time.
How could he not
show up to his princess' delivery?
Has the Crown Prince not returned?
Subtitle translation by: Min-jin Kim
EPISODE 3
He must be at that place again.
We must get rid of it.
As long as the secret chamber exists,
it will remain a risk.
Yes, we must.
-We must get rid of it.
-Your Majesty.
Even if someone finds that place,
there will not be a problem as long as
Grand Prince Gyeseong is not there.
We will say that those feminine items
belong to a court lady.
Until the exam is over,
he must not even set foot in that place.
It is true.
I witnessed it with my own eyes.
In the royal palace, one is to forget
everything that they see and hear.
Do you know why?
If what you say is true,
he will face death. But if not,
it is your life
that will be taken, Consort Ko.
Do you still stand by what you are saying?
I cannot be certain,
but I believe I saw
Grand Prince Gyeseong--
Do you expect me to believe something
you cannot be certain of?
Who else did you spread
this groundless rumor to?
I did not, Your Royal Highness.
You are the only person I have told.
I fear for Prince Simso.
He must not have had a good upbringing
from a mother like you.
You clearly said you were not certain.
-Pardon?
-It is not true
unless you are certain of it.
If I ever hear a similar rumor
in the palace,
I will assume
that you have been running your mouth.
You said you wished
to repay me for the book.
-Yes, Your Royal Highness.
-The only thing I want in return
is that you provide Prince Simso
with proper education and guidance.
If you understand, you may leave.
Where have you been?
I went for a walk.
Let us go walk some more.
Refrain from taking walks
for the time being.
Concentrate on your studies
until the exam is over.
Focus only on your lessons
and nothing else.
I will not skip my lessons.
I will also study hard.
However, please allow me
to keep taking walks.
It is the only time I can breathe.
Do as I say until the exam is over.
Is there a reason I must become a cohort?
Do you not want to?
If that is not the case, give it a try.
Do you remember what I recently said?
You never know
what will happen in the palace.
Therefore,
I would like to be able to
lay my hopes on you.
Hwan.
Could you do as I say
just this once?
CHOSI: FIRST EXAMINATION
OF COHORT SELECTION
-Is it good?
-Yes.
It is made with musk, loquat,
and other medicinal herbs
that are good for the brain.
It is said to enhance
concentration rapidly.
I guess Mother could not make it.
She is the busiest person in the kingdom.
Always remind yourself.
Our mother is the Queen.
Are you ready?
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
You look fairly confident.
There must have been
rather insufficient time to prepare.
That word is not in my vocabulary.
I mean, the word "insufficient."
You remind me, Consort Hwang,
of my younger self.
What happened?
He said he was going to take a nap,
so I thought he was asleep
and would wake up soon.
But he has not regained
his consciousness ever since.
Crown Prince.
Wake up, Crown Prince.
Why did his condition worsen
all of a sudden?
I saw him this morning,
and he seemed…
perfectly fine.
His condition is deteriorating.
What is this?
It is a journal that His Royal Highness
has kept for the past year.
Do you mean…
this was recorded
by the Crown Prince himself?
Yes, Your Majesty.
From the dates and times when he collapsed
to the treatments that he received,
he recorded every little detail.
He used to collapse
about once every two weeks.
But now he collapses
every three to four days.
Are you saying
he collapses more frequently?
-Yes, Your Majesty.
-More importantly,
he remains unconscious for longer periods.
Your Majesty.
Rumors have spread in the palace
that His Royal Highness is gravely ill.
Just because he skipped
his morning lesson?
It must be because
it never happened before.
What if His Royal Highness cannot attend
his daytime lesson either?
I do not reckon that His Royal Highness
is fit enough to go about daily life.
He will need to focus on his recovery
for his symptoms to improve.
-Eunuch Hong.
-Yes, Your Majesty.
Cancel all of the Crown Prince's schedule.
They are starting.
Those who score high
on the first exam today
shall be given a chance
to proceed to the second exam.
Reveal the question.
We are going to build an embankment
with a width of 6 ja 4 chi at the top
and a width of 1 gil 5 ja 6 chi
at the base.
The height is 6 ja
and the length is 3 ri 74 bo.
Each worker can complete
364 ja to the power of 3 per day.
It takes an additional one-fourth
of the total workload
to take the soil out of the hole.
How many workers will be needed?
Along with your answer,
explain how you reached that conclusion.
If you have studied arithmetic
using books such as Sanhakgyemong
and Sangmyeongsanbeop,
you will be able to solve
the question easily.
We shall move on
to the composition question.
-There is another question?
-Apparently.
"Yu, sil, and shin."
Using these Chinese characters,
discuss the proper behavior of a wise man
who understands the essence of life.
Reveal the next question as well.
There is yet another question?
This is worse than the civil service exam.
You may begin.
May my son pass the exam.
How are you feeling?
Are you still feeling light-headed?
No, I am feeling better now.
That is a relief.
-Get some more rest.
-No.
I am not finished with my daily lessons.
You do not need to appear
in public for the time being.
Focus on your recovery.
I cannot do that.
Your Royal Highness.
This happened because you returned
to your daily life hastily.
However, Mother,
I have my duties as the Crown Prince.
You cannot fulfill them…
if you lose your health.
Mother.
If I do not attend to my duties,
the palace will be in confusion.
Then are you confident
that you will not collapse in public?
Will you be able to manage your symptoms?
I am telling you to return
to your duties after you recover.
Even if it is just for two weeks,
I want you to focus on your recovery.
Your Majesty, it is Court Lady Shin.
The examination has just begun.
What are they being tested on?
On arithmetic and composition,
Your Majesty.
The questions differ
from those of the past,
so the examinees seem perplexed.
His Majesty also posed
one rather unusual question.
An unusual question?
Reveal the final question.
Draw one line to create two half-moons.
You should not overthink it.
Think out of the box,
and you will find the answer.
We will end the examination.
The answers are
just as bizarre as the question.
What in the world is this?
But is that not correct?
He created two half-moons
by drawing one line
as the question required.
I agree.
It is very thick, but he did draw
one line, so I agree it is correct.
He thought out of the box
as His Majesty said.
I would argue that these answers
are much more correct.
Yes.
They folded the paper
to create a full moon,
which they then split in half.
They surely are excellent as well.
There is no one correct answer
to that question.
Remain seated.
Any answer that makes sense
shall be deemed correct.
Let me see.
I have never thought of this.
How interesting.
When will the results be announced?
Are the results not predictable?
What do you mean by that?
All the princes have been
secretly tutored.
It does not end there.
Some even hired geobyeok, expert scribes.
Not only Jonghak tutors
and Sungkyunkwan students
but also the tutors of the Crown Prince
at Sigangwon have been hired.
My goodness.
-By whom?
-Whom else?
Those darned distinguished concubines.
But that is against the rules, is it not?
It gave them a head start. What are we,
mothers without resources, to do?
Darn it.
What if Prince Bogeom fails the exam?
I think the purpose of the exam today
is to screen out the examinees.
How many will be eliminated?
Only those who achieve top scores
will proceed to the second exam.
Everyone else will be eliminated.
That is extremely harsh.
"Gong," meaning "together."
"Jo," meaning "to help."
I believe all of you understand
the meaning of the word "gongjo."
This word is our sign.
If you see this word, it means
it is Prince Uiseong's answer sheet.
TONG: OUTSTANDING
"Pass"?
Who in the world had the audacity
to give him this poor grade?
DAETONG: PARTICULARLY OUTSTANDING
Here is the answer
to the arithmetic question.
Who gave this absurd answer?
Have a look at this.
This examinee is trying to lecture
the examiners in his answer.
He must have thought he could
scribble whatever sprang to his mind.
Give him a "bangoe" and be done with it.
BANGOE: UNDESERVING OF A GRADE
Unbelievable. Here you go.
-"Based on the provided information,
-…provided information,
-the number of workers required…
-the number of workers required
would be close to 1,413.
In reality, however,
that number would be erroneous,
for the number should vary
depending on the season.
Productivity decreases in spring
compared to summer
as the days are shorter.
In autumn, productivity varies
even more greatly
as most workers are farmers.
Therefore, the mobilization of farmers
should be avoided during the harvest.
Also, the work hours
should not interfere with the harvest.
In short, when calculating the number
of workers required for public works,
one should consider the season
as well as the circumstances
that the people are in.
PRINCE UISEONG, PRINCE BOGEOM
As expected, Prince Bogeom made the list.
Consort Tae must be so proud.
GRAND PRINCE SEONGNAM
GRAND PRINCE GYESEONG
Wait a second.
Why are those names on the list?
What is going on?
I have no idea.
What an unexpected outcome.
Forgive me, Mother.
But I did my best.
How could you say that
after seeing those results?
Even the worst student at Jonghak passed.
So did Grand Prince Gyeseong, that freak.
How could you…
How could you say that you did your best?
The princes who passed
the first examination
shall take the second examination
in four days.
-Yes, Your Majesty.
-Yes, Your Majesty.
My Queen, what brings you here?
I have been waiting
to discuss an important matter with you.
What is the matter?
It concerns the Crown Prince.
His Royal Highness was absent
from his daytime lesson as well?
Yes. It seems that he has caught a cold.
That cannot be it.
I presume that something much worse
happened to him.
The selection process this time around…
might not simply end
with a cohort selection.
Then we shall speak in private.
No, Your Majesty.
Most officials here are also the tutors
of the Crown Prince at Sigangwon.
I would like their opinion
on deciding the future schedule
of the Crown Prince.
The future schedule of the Crown Prince?
Yes. To be precise,
I ask you to grant him your permission
to visit a hot spring.
Has his skin disease gotten worse?
No, Your Majesty.
It is to prevent it from getting worse.
A visit to a hot spring
was recommended by his physician.
The officials are occupied
with the cohort selection lately.
If the Crown Prince needs a change of air,
this would be the perfect time.
Your Majesty.
It is true that the authoring
and grading of the exam
have prevented us
from paying full attention
to the daily lessons
of His Royal Highness.
Your Majesty.
His Royal Highness
is the heir to the throne.
Devoting himself to learning
should be his top priority.
However,
nothing would matter more
than the health of the Crown Prince.
See? I told you.
What did I do?
You said the situation
of the Crown Prince was dire.
I was not the only one who said that.
Also, why would he need a change of air
if he was in good health?
It is just a skin disease.
It is no news
that he is suffering from it.
I also want to visit Onyang
and relax in a hot spring.
We will be serving you in the quarters
of Her Majesty starting today.
The Crown Prince went for a change of air.
Did you not say that the Queen Dowager
implied that his condition was grave?
Yes, it definitely sounded quite serious.
But the Queen said
that it was a mere skin disease.
I will closely watch
the quarters of the Queen.
By the way, what happened
in the first exam?
After all the preparation, Prince Uiseong
failed to come in first place.
The King posed a question
that had not been planned.
Who would have foreseen
such an unusual question?
This may be a good thing.
Now we have learned
that His Majesty can act
unpredictably at any time.
Now that we know,
we can better prepare for the second exam.
You are right.
The first exam results
are of no importance anyway.
What matters is the second exam.
No matter what move the King makes
this time, we will be prepared.
We will be.
The prince who becomes
the cohort of the Crown Prince
will be able to take his place.
The news of the departure
of His Royal Highness
managed to suppress
rumors about his disease.
Rumors are covered by rumors.
However, we can hide the truth
for only so long.
The Crown Prince must recover in time
and prove he is completely healthy.
It is time to face…
the true side of Grand Prince Gyeseong.
Welcome.
Her Royal Highness
has been waiting for you. Please.
I am more nervous
than on my first night with His Majesty.
Even though this is strictly confidential,
Prince Bogeom came in first place
in the first exam.
Oh, my goodness.
Is that true?
I was elated that he proceeded
to the second exam.
But he even came in first place?
This is unbelievable!
Forgive my ungraceful behavior,
Your Royal Highness.
A mother is meant to laugh and cry
over every event in the life of her child.
Who knows? Prince Bogeom
may end up becoming a cohort.
That would be absolutely wonderful.
However, Prince Bogeom does not have
the Queen as his mother.
Also, his maternal relatives are not
as powerful as those of Prince Uiseong.
He has no one to have his back.
I could not even find him tutors
like the distinguished concubines.
I am well aware that it will take
far more than his own capabilities.
Then,
what if I support Prince Bogeom?
Are you confident
in making him the cohort?
It makes no difference to me
who the mother is.
Each of them is my precious grandson.
So I am thinking of having his back
as his grandmother.
Oh, my.
As long as he has your support,
he could do anything.
As long as you keep the promise
you made to me the other day,
I am willing to provide my grandson
with the position that he deserves.
What do you say?
But what can you give me in return,
Consort Tae?
I will obey
whatever orders you give me.
What if…
it is your life that I want?
How would I forget that promise?
After all the kindness you have shown me,
I will always remain loyal to you.
Would there be a way
to keep Grand Prince Gyeseong away
from that place for the time being?
How can I stop him?
I know.
There is a way.
Why is Mother doing this?
I never study even when I am alone.
Being with you certainly will not help.
She has been acting strange lately.
Brother.
I refuse to answer any academic questions.
Have you been studying behind our backs?
Not at all. I was just lucky.
Do you have any snacks with you?
-He is dead?
-Yes, Your Majesty.
Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk
passed away long ago.
Why? What happened?
He is said to have spent some time
treating the plague in Gangwon-do
after he left the palace.
And?
But not long after,
he and his son died in a house fire.
There was another fire?
Is it certain it was
Royal Physician Yoo Sang-uk who died?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Apparently, his burned body was found
along with his belongings.
That means…
there is no one left
who remembers what happened back then.
All the records
and people…
disappeared in fires.
Her Majesty went so far
as to deceive His Majesty
and hid the Crown Prince in her quarters?
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Is the Crown Prince
unable to even walk now?
No, Your Royal Highness.
Her Majesty was told
that he would recover within two weeks
if he postponed his plans
and focused on his recovery.
That is why Her Majesty is pretending
that he is away.
Are you saying
the Crown Prince is recovering?
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
He is recuperating.
Court Lady Shin.
Among the Grand Princes,
who do you think is the brightest?
In my humble opinion,
it is Grand Prince Gyeseong.
I see.
You have watched him grow up.
What is your opinion of him?
He is the gentlest and the most
good-natured Grand Prince of all.
Court Lady Shin.
I heard a dreadful rumor about him
is spreading in the palace.
Have you heard of it?
Pardon?
A dreadful rumor?
Forget it.
You may leave.
She confessed that His Royal Highness
is in the quarters of Her Majesty.
She must be telling the truth.
It seems that Her Majesty
is unaware of the secret
of Grand Prince Gyeseong.
What shall we do?
Both Her Majesty and His Majesty
should know about it
as it concerns their own child.
Why is the treatment not taking effect?
All known remedies are being employed,
but it is difficult to ascertain
what the problem is.
Your Majesty.
There is a problem.
Her Royal Highness seems to have found out
about Grand Prince Gyeseong.
What shall we do?
If she really has,
she will attempt to find evidence.
I have to stop Grand Prince Gyeseong
from going to that place.
I am going to his quarters.
Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness
has asked for your audience urgently.
Please tell her
I will visit her this evening.
I cannot make time at the moment
because of banquet preparations.
She said that it concerned
Grand Prince Gyeseong.
Go and check
if the banquet is being prepared properly.
Report to me immediately
if there is any problem.
Yes, Your Majesty.
My Queen.
Where are you headed?
I was on my way
to the quarters of Her Royal Highness.
How thoughtful of you.
Her Majesty makes sure
this old woman does not feel lonely.
You came at the right time.
I am going for a walk with His Majesty.
Would you care to join us?
I would be delighted if you joined us.
With pleasure.
He is not in. He went for a walk.
When did he leave?
He left just a moment ago,
so he could not have gone far.
I see.
Excuse me.
Is everything well
with Grand Prince Gyeseong?
The Queen Dowager had just sent
someone here as well.
Your Majesty.
Would you like to visit a place
you have never been to before?
Is there such a place in this palace?
The palace is quite a labyrinth.
Even I sometimes stumble upon new places.
Is that right?
Your Majesty.
There is a problem with the banquet.
You need to come immediately.
If you will excuse me,
I must leave you now.
The banquet is not until tomorrow.
What is the hurry?
It is the banquet held
following the sacrificial rite.
It is to be prepared with utmost care.
Due to my incompetence,
there has been a mistake.
Would you be so kind as to come with me
and share your wisdom with me?
I am merely an old woman
who has never been the Queen.
I would be of no help.
I would only be a burden.
You may leave, My Queen.
Your Majesty.
Let me stay with you
and escort you myself, Mother.
I was going to show you
a rather amusing sight.
It is such a shame, Your Majesty.
Shall we, Mother?
I have never been here before.
I presumed so.
Down this path,
there is a secret chamber
hidden from view.
A secret chamber?
Yes.
Are you not curious to find out
just what is hidden there?
Your Majesty. As the chamber
was unoccupied, there were no casualties.
The fire will be extinguished shortly.
It is nothing serious,
so you do not have to worry.
The fire has yet to be contained.
We must leave.
Her Royal Highness is here.
You may all leave.
The fire was a rather spectacular sight.
A fire surely does not occur
very frequently in the palace.
I was too late this time.
But next time, I shall reveal
the ugly truth about Grand Prince Gyeseong
to the whole world.
A fire destroys many things.
There is no evidence left whatsoever.
Who would believe what they cannot see?
Your Majesty.
My grandson
whom you are hiding in your quarters…
He had better regain his health.
You should also bring
the rest of your sons to their senses.
Otherwise, I shall replace
those sickly and detestable brats
with worthy ones to protect my own son.
It must be your specialty
to drag down the son of the Queen
and set the son of a concubine
on the throne.
Yes, it is indeed.
I have done it once.
Who is to say I cannot do it again?
That was one huge fire.
I thought I was going to die in that fire.
My goodness, I am exhausted.
SUSEONGGEUMHWASA:
FIRE SUPPRESSION OFFICE OF THE PALACE
-There is something I must ask.
-Yes, Your Highness.
How did you extinguish a fire
in such a secluded place so quickly?
We received a report
soon after the fire started.
Who was the first person
to report the fire?
It was a court lady.
I heard people saying
that she serves Her Majesty.
Was it you, Mother?
Yes.
It was me.
How could you do that?
If you found that place,
you must know the truth about me.
How could you be so cruel to me?
There are eyes and ears all around us.
Lower your voice.
You destroyed my everything.
It was to protect you.
How was that supposed to protect me?
Did you do that
because you were ashamed of me?
You are the one who hid yourself.
And you are the one who failed to hide it
and got caught.
You could have turned a blind eye.
You could have just looked the other way.
Are you happy now that you have burned
that place to the ground?
Do you know why I burned that place down?
I shall show you.
Meet me outside the East Gate.
Follow me.
Now!
Are you all right, Your Majesty?
Of course not.
I lost my son overnight.
What will I do about the cohort selection?
But you see,
I tried to imagine how he must have felt
when he failed to overcome it
and had no choice but to accept it.
He must have been so scared.
That is why…
I could not look the other way.
I am his mother.
You know everything about me now.
Be careful.
Had I not shown you
the secret shortcut earlier,
you would not have been
able to set the fire in time.
Does that make us even, Your Majesty?
Says who?
Take it.
But you know,
if you take it, there is no turning back.
We must…
pull ourselves together now.
Starting from tomorrow,
the real battle begins.
One may have very different wishes
from those of others.
However,
one should not reveal
everything in their heart.
Whenever
you want to see your true self,
look at that painting.
Did it make you upset?
When I first found out,
I was at a loss for a while.
But…
I was not upset.
No matter how you look,
you will always be my child.
This is my favorite hairpin.
It used to belong to my mother.
I would have given it to my daughter
if I had one.
It is yours now.
There will come a day
when those who have
different wishes from those of others
no longer have to hide.
UNDER THE QUEEN'S UMBRELLA
It was the best decision I could make
to protect your brother.
Once the Crown Princess gives birth,
he will have no choice but to appear.
There is a disease called hyeolheogwol.
I want to find
a physician who can treat it.
I wish to discuss
the problem of the hut village in Seochon
with my princes today.
No one will notice even if we go out.
I need you to help me this time.
How could he not
show up to his princess' delivery?
Has the Crown Prince not returned?
Subtitle translation by: Min-jin Kim