Missing Crown Prince (2024) s01e05 Episode Script
Episode 5
1
(Missing Crown Prince)
(SUHO)
(Hong Ye Ji)
(Myung Se Bin)
(Kim Ju Hun)
(Kim Min Kyu)
(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.)
Giddyap!
(Episode 5)
No!
Your Majesty.
Prince Dosung.
His Majesty
His Majesty
What happened?
What happened to Father?
I am asking you what happened!
Please take our lives.
- Please take our lives.
- Please take our lives.
Mother.
Please calm down.
Calm down
and tell me what happened.
Prince Dosung.
Prince Dosung.
Yes, Mother.
I am listening.
It was not me.
I did not do this.
I did not do anything.
I am telling you the truth.
Please calm down and speak slowly.
Please explain what happened.
In the middle of his meal,
His Majesty suddenly
(Sura: King's meal)
He suddenly
So, you were with him when it happened?
Were you the one who prepared the meal?
Yes.
No.
It was not me. It was
prepared by the Queen Dowager.
Did you
just say the Queen Dowager?
I know nothing about it.
I swear, I know nothing about it.
The Queen Dowager
It was the Queen Dowager.
What are you doing? Stop him!
- Your Highness.
- Step aside!
Open the doors!
Tell them to get out, right this instant.
Before I slay them all.
You deserve to die a thousand times
to pay for what you did
to the Crown Prince.
How dare you hurt His Majesty
and frame my mother for it
just to cover up your despicable sin?
So?
Will you
slay me with your sword?
Shut your mouth!
The moment you had such a
secret rendezvous with Choi,
you lost your dignity
as the Queen Dowager
and became this witch who
has gone crazy over a man.
You do not think I can slay you?
Then go ahead and slay me.
Take my life.
However,
the King will never wake up again if I die,
and the Queen will become a
traitor who assassinated the King.
And you, Prince Dosung. For
killing me, the Queen Dowager,
you will undoubtedly face your demise too.
If none of that matters to you,
you may slay me.
Do you truly mean it?
I am asking you if you
are still on my side.
Because my grandfather betrayed you,
you wish to know if I am now on
the Queen Dowager's side too?
Are you?
Why did you want to see me if
you could not trust me at all?
To see if I would hand you over to them?
Did you want to check and
find out for yourself?
I did give the King a chance to choose
between the throne and the Crown Prince.
Unfortunately, he chose the Crown Prince.
And now, you are witnessing
the consequences of his choice.
I shall give you
a chance to save one of them.
Make your choice.
Will you choose your mother
or your half-brother?
Here comes Lee Gun, the traitor.
Tie him up!
Do you trust me?
Yes.
Unlike you, I am not untrusting.
I need a word with Prince Dosung.
Step aside.
Did something happen
at the palace?
Father
has collapsed.
What are you waiting for?
Tie up the traitor at once!
Oh, gosh.
Stop, that is enough.
Your Royal Highness.
It is okay.
Let us go.
Where is my father?
No.
- What just happened?
- Pardon me?
Father kidnapped that scholar.
Why did the Department of Justice take him?
(Euigeumbu: Department of Justice)
Father could not sort out
the situation himself,
so he got the Department
of Justice involved?
Is this why I was suddenly
sent to visit a patient?
So I would not see this?
My lady, it is not what you think.
Then why can you not answer my question?
If I am wrong, just say so.
Why can you not say anything?
What did he do?
Why did they arrest him?
Tell me that, at least.
I am sorry.
- Lord Choi
- What? He did it for my sake?
Is it okay
to trample all over someone
innocent for the sake of his child?
Where is my father now?
Is he inside?
I
did exactly what you people told me to do.
Give my father an antidote so that
he can regain consciousness
His Majesty will wake up soon enough.
I suggest you return to the palace at once.
You should stay by the Queen's
side at this critical time.
Why? Are you planning to do
something else to take her down?
Or is there a reason I must hurry
back to the palace to protect her?
Of course, that is not the case.
If something else happens to Father,
or if you try to kill my brother,
I will kill you.
The Queen Dowager too,
whom you love so dearly.
I will kill you both.
Say hello.
This is Prince Dosung.
Prince Dosung?
"Prince?"
(Public Dispensary)
By any chance, do you have
feelings for Myung Yoon?
I am talking about my daughter.
What are you doing? Step aside at once.
I need your answer.
He does not even know that you
were the one who kidnapped him,
so why are you doing this?
I kept racking my brain but
could not figure it out.
Why must you have him killed?
I do not understand.
Please tell me.
Why did this have to happen?
Explain so that I can understand.
Stop avoiding me. Please
help me understand you.
I never asked
for your understanding.
Father.
You were never like this.
Why did you change so much?
All your life, you were devoted
to saving lives as a physician.
You contemplating the
idea of killing someone
Moo Baek, are you outside?
Take her home at once.
If you truly have nothing to
do with what happened today,
please save him.
As soon as you get home,
lock her in her room
and make sure
she does not leave her room
until you have my permission.
- Father.
- What are you waiting for?
Drag her out, at once!
Please come with me.
What is it
that you are trying to hide?
My goodness. They must
have tortured him severely.
Those despicable scoundrels.
They deserve to be stoned to death!
Oh, dear.
My goodness.
Your Royal Highness, let me do it.
No, let me.
Are you all right?
Your Royal Highness.
Yes, it is I.
It is okay. You do not need to get up.
Because of my foolishness,
(Miuk: Foolish)
I disgraced Your Royal Highness again.
You are badly hurt.
How did you hold out?
Did they accuse you of treason too?
They accused me of delivering the
poisoned dried yellow croaker
you gave me
to the Queen.
Your Highness.
The Department of Justice has
arrested the Crown Prince.
That means Father is
I am sorry, Your Royal Highness.
I see.
That is what happened.
That is why Prince Dosung is also
Yes.
The meal
was served by the Queen.
But it was not her. The
Queen Dowager did it.
That witch!
I am worried about Mother.
She has such a tender heart.
She must be deeply devastated.
It is all my fault.
It is my fault that the Crown
Prince is in such a mess now.
This is all my fault.
What kind of mother puts her
son in such a predicament?
Mother, please calm down.
I will tell them the truth
before it is too late.
That I was the fool who was
deceived by the Queen Dowager
and that I served the meal without
realizing that it was poisoned.
It was all me.
I will tell them that it was all me
and gladly accept any punishment
they decide to give me.
Mother!
I must go to the Department of Justice.
No, I must go to the
Queen Dowager's quarters.
Mother, please calm down.
You will collapse at this rate.
I cannot let the Crown
Prince die because of me.
I cannot do that.
I must save the Crown Prince.
Mother!
The Crown Prince did nothing wrong.
I am the one who should be punished.
Why did they take him?
He did nothing wrong.
Mother.
Crown Prince
Mother.
Mother!
You stay there.
You may come out.
I am sorry, Gun.
You are a fool.
Then what was I supposed to do?
What would you have done
in such a situation?
You should have gone after Choi Sang Rok.
Had you caught the one who used the poison,
we could have saved Father.
As Father always said,
you must learn to tame
your fiery temper first.
Gun, in this situation
In urgent situations,
you must think twice before you act.
You are at it again.
Once I die,
you will have to ascend
the throne and become King.
I am truly concerned.
Will you really die like this?
There is no way out of this.
I did not know you were the
type to give up so easily.
This is very unlike you.
If I deny it,
Mother
will be arrested right away for treason.
Is that what you want?
If you are doing this to relieve me of
How is Mother? Is she all right?
I do not know
how I would pay for being
such an unfilial son.
You are concerned about
not being a perfect son
in this situation?
Please.
Figure out a way with
that smart brain of yours.
Please, Gun.
My lady, what are you pondering now?
My lady.
Yes?
I understand that you are
worried about the scholar,
but what are you cooking up
that you are so deep in thought?
I am deeply concerned and anxious.
Do not be concerned.
I wish I could do something,
but there is nothing I could do.
That was what I was pondering.
Who
exactly are you?
Who are you really?
Baek Gu. How does Baek Gu sound?
This will not do. Let us go.
Pardon?
To where in the middle of the night?
Why must you look for
patients at this hour?
Stop picking a fight.
I must do something to clear my mind.
Why must you clear your mind?
Thinking will not give me any solution.
I do not want to think,
which is making me think more.
Why not
drink instead?
If you get drunk and knocked out,
you will not think of anything.
Are you serious? May I do that?
- Excuse me?
- Hold on.
I better ask the cook
maid for drinks first.
Are you really going to drink?
Do not do it!
All right, fine.
Wait a moment.
I forgot to give this medicine to Jin.
Wait here. It will not take long.
Do not think of running away.
Then go and deliver this to them.
Do not move an inch from this spot.
I will not leave without you.
I came here to drink in silence.
Leave. Do not disturb me.
We meet again.
I am a regular of this place.
Little did I expect to see you here.
- If you are asking me to leave
- No.
I, too, came to drink in peace.
If you allow it, I will leave
after drinking these bottles.
I will not disturb you.
Seriously
My lady
Where is she hiding?
May I ask a question?
Earlier, at the Office of Medicine
You promised not to disturb me, no?
But I gave you a bottle.
Consider it as payment and
No.
Take it back.
Some may think
I am hitting on a stranger.
You are much colder than the winters
Cheol Du!
- Cheol Du!
- Yes.
- Did you ask for me?
- More drinks.
Understood.
My apologies.
My mind is crowded today.
I took it out on you for no reason.
I apologize.
I am sorry.
Do not apologize.
I had a bad day as well.
I apologize if I crossed the line.
Let us drink.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Why of all people
were you born as the daughter
of the royal physician?
Then why of all people were you born
as the son of His Majesty the King?
Oh, right.
What was it that you wanted to ask me?
Well
What did you talk about with my father?
That
It is better to ask your father yourself.
Then
I witnessed the military
arrest a scholar
at the Office of Medicine today.
By any chance,
do you know what happened?
Did you not see him?
When he was getting dragged away,
you would have been at
the Office of Medicine.
Why are you curious
about that matter?
I doubt you know who that man is.
It suddenly occurred to me.
The one I love and respect
the most in the world
might die because of me.
Same here. Because of me
No.
Because of the fate I was born with,
an innocent person might die.
I believed
I could die in that person's
stead for their sake.
But I am drinking here
after running away alone.
I had no idea how much of a coward I was.
I kept them alive one way or
another, but today again
"This must be the end."
"In the end, they might die because of me."
"They will die."
Just thinking about it drives me mad.
However, there is
nothing more I can do now.
You little
I am your elder brother.
Stay still, will you?
Do you trust me?
Yes.
Unlike you, I am not untrusting.
My Baek Gu.
I suppose you were very worried about me.
He has been stabbed.
Would you be able
to help me?
He does not even know that you
were the one who kidnapped him,
so why are you doing this?
What is it that you are trying to hide?
We must make the Crown Prince admit it.
He will not confess to it easily.
You, Left State Councillor,
must make him confess to it.
Only then can Prince Dosung
become the Crown Prince,
and only then will people
not talk behind his back
when he ascends the throne later on.
You ought to persuade the Crown Prince.
If he says things we
do not need him to say,
the rest of the plan will go awry.
And if that happens, the situation
will get uncomfortable
for both of us.
Your Highness.
Please try to pull yourself together.
If you keep refusing to eat and drink
- Your Highness.
- I must see him.
Your Highness.
The Commander of the Royal Guards
must be guarding the bedchamber.
He said he would let us know right
away if anything happened, so
Your Highness.
Gosh, Your Highness.
Yes, my lord.
Hey.
Me too?
Tell the guards outside to leave
and wait at the meeting hall.
(Bincheong: Meeting hall where
ministers' meetings were held)
Pardon me?
Leave at once!
How are you feeling?
The cat is worried about the mouse?
You are out of line.
Do you really think so?
This situation saddens me too.
What do you want?
You framed me and came here to see me.
There must be something you want from me.
Tell me.
Please die.
The Queen raised you as
if you were her own child,
and Prince Dosung cherishes you
as if you are his real brother.
You are the only one who can save them.
Why must I do that?
I suppose you have already forgotten
why I am here now.
Most importantly, you
ought to save His Majesty.
If you wish to save His Majesty,
you must do as I say.
If I obey you and die,
Father
will be your next target.
Am I wrong?
Because as long as Father is alive,
Dosung cannot become King.
You are making unreasonable assumptions.
"Unreasonable assumptions?"
If you want to, you can influence
the Minister of War right now
to oust the Queen Dowager
as well as Choi Sang Rok.
But why are you obeying the Queen
Dowager without rebelling once?
Do you think I would not know the reason?
If you can make Dosung ascend the throne
No. If you can become
the King's grandfather
and take power over the sovereign,
you will not care even if
your daughter becomes a widow,
and you will hurt my father
without feeling an ounce of guilt.
If I am wrong,
try and deny it again.
You will not believe me
no matter what I say,
so go ahead and think whatever you want.
But if you wish to save His Majesty
and those who are dear to you,
you must
remember what I said.
And you must remember this.
If you do anything to
hurt my father in any way,
you will certainly pay for it.
Your Highness, what happened inside?
Gosh, Your Highness.
Your Highness, are you all right?
How did it go?
What did the Crown Prince say?
Did he accept it without resisting?
Why was the Queen there?
Did you call her there to
persuade the Crown Prince?
What do you mean?
The Queen was at the prison?
If I obey you and die,
Father will be your next target.
Because as long as Father is alive,
Dosung cannot become King.
Your Highness.
You should return to your
palace and go to sleep.
I told you
that I would not even budge
until His Majesty woke up.
Just know that and leave.
Your Highness, but
What are you doing?
Step aside!
Her Highness
ordered us not to let anyone in.
"Anyone?"
Do you not know who I am?
I am the Queen's father.
We were told not to let
anyone in, whoever it may be.
How dare you.
What are you waiting for?
Tell her at once that I am here.
Tell her now. What are you waiting for?
- I apologize.
- How dare you!
Move aside!
Leave now, or I may have to hurt you.
Such insolence.
Step aside at once!
Your Highness!
I must speak with you urgently.
Please spare me a moment!
Your Highness!
Please leave.
Your Highness!
Commander of the Royal Guards.
You must not let anyone in
until I give you permission to do so.
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Highness.
My wife.
We will soon be summoned to the palace,
and I cannot guarantee
when I will be able
to visit your grave again.
Please
watch over our Gun.
When I die sometime in the future,
have me buried beside your mother.
Gun.
Yes, Father.
The palace is like a forest
that harbours blades.
(Dosangeumsu: A situation of grave danger)
I am aware of it.
No, you are not.
Once I become King
and you become Crown Prince,
many who covet authority and power
will flock to you like flies.
With words that cut sharper than blades,
they will try to cloud your judgement.
Some will mask them as loyalty,
and some will deceive you
with lies about others.
(Chameon: Speaking ill
of others through lies)
No matter what happens in the future,
can you promise me
that you will protect your
stepmother and brother
without wavering to such forces?
Do not worry, Father.
Your son
will protect my mother and little brother.
Place your trust in me.
Your Royal Highness,
Sang Soo and I will confess
that it was our doing.
We urge you to feign ignorance.
He is right.
We will confess that you are innocent
and that we are to blame for everything.
Your loyalty is laudable,
but it is my head they want on a stick.
It will be futile.
However
I must speak to the Queen Dowager.
Send word to her quarters.
The Queen Dowager enters.
You are to raise your heads.
- We bow to the Queen Dowager.
- We bow to the Queen Dowager.
The tragedy that found His Majesty
has led this nation to
the brink of disaster.
Those involved in this
incident will not be forgiven,
and all sinners must be interrogated
in order to find everyone
that was involved.
For that purpose, you will install
a temporary interrogation office.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty,
to officially interrogate the sinners,
all three judicial offices must
be present as it is the law.
However, the Inspector General position
remains vacant.
I advise that you first appoint someone
to fill in that position.
(Daesaheon: Head of Office
of Inspector General)
You are
to recommend anyone you seem fit.
(Cheongeo: Recommend or introduce)
I, Magistrate Yoon Jung
Dae of Hanseong Magistracy,
humbly voice my opinion.
Royal Physician Choi Sang Rok
seems to be the best candidate
to take on the position.
Choi Sang Rok may only be a physician,
but he is of a prestigious family
that once saw an elected minister.
He passed the lower civil
service examination,
and even though he greatly contributed
in the restoration of this government,
he never once sought power since then
which speaks to the
righteousness of his character.
He sets an example to all officials,
and no one is more adequate
to take on the role as Inspector General.
I strongly request that you
consider my recommendation.
(Ganab: Gladly welcoming
someone's request or advice)
Are there any other recommendations?
Magistrate Yoon's recommendation
is nothing but logical.
Please consider his recommendation.
- Consider his recommendation.
- Consider his recommendation.
Choi Sang Rok, step forward.
I hereby appoint
Choi Sang Rok
as Inspector General.
(Jesu: Appointing personnel
by word of the king)
- I am much obliged.
- We are much obliged.
In Left State Councillor Yoon's place,
Choi Sang Rok will also be appointed
as principal director of the
Royal House Administration.
And until the deceased Chief
Royal Secretary is replaced,
he will also serve in
that position as well.
Consider yourselves informed.
We are much obliged.
- We are much obliged.
- We are much obliged.
(Kim Dae Seung: Censor, Lee Guk
Ju: Deputy Education Director)
A word, please.
She and her people will rise to power now.
You do not want to get on their bad side.
Are you telling me to curry
favour with them instead?
Hardly.
They say one should know their
place in certain situations.
Be patient, and the moment will come.
Is it not the king's father-in-law
who is appointed as principal director
of the Royal House Administration?
(Gukgu: The king's father-in-law)
Left State Councillor Yoon will
not give up his seat so easily.
- Did you not hear the rumour?
- Hear what?
Royal Physician Choi,
I mean Inspector General
Strike that.
The now Principal Director Choi.
His daughter
will soon be Crown Princess.
Prince Dosung is yet to be Crown Prince,
but they have already chosen his wife.
Once the interrogations are over,
they will rush his coronation.
That seems highly likely.
Appointing him as Inspector General
and Chief Royal Secretary
is a way to keep us in check,
but him as Principal Director of
the Royal House Administration
came out of nowhere.
He must be in that position
for them to meet as they please
without people raising their eyebrows
as they are right now.
You did well.
I am proud of you.
When the interrogations begin,
how will you handle the Crown Prince?
You do not seem your healthy self.
- That is why
- Once Prince Dosung
is installed as Crown Prince,
Left State Councillor Yoon
will first murder my father.
After him,
it will be you and Choi Sang Rok.
Are you voicing
your concern for me?
If you wish to live,
you must make sure my father lives.
You told Dosung
to choose between me
and his mother.
But in your case,
you do not get the luxury of choosing.
To stay alive, you must
continue to act as regent.
And to remain as regent
(Suryeomcheomjeong: Acting as
regent for a tender-aged sovereign)
You must protect my father.
I will excuse myself knowing
that you are informed.
Lastly,
may I ask one thing?
All the moments you spent with me.
Were they all a show
and full of lies?
If any of it came from the heart,
please spare the lives
of Guard Lee Gap Seok
and Eunuch Han Sang Soo.
That is my last request.
Let go of me.
Let go!
Mother!
Mother!
Mother, please save me.
- No!
- Mother!
Let go of me. My son!
- Mother!
- You cannot do this.
- Mother!
- No!
Please help me.
Prince Gwangchang, no!
No, you cannot.
Not my Prince Gwangchang.
Please let him live.
Crown Prince Gun.
Crown Prince Gun.
Please let me go.
Can you please
Can you please spare his life?
It is like losing Prince
Gwangchang all over again,
and I cannot bear the pain.
At least let him live
I am sorry.
I am sorry,
Soo Ryeon.
Bring the prisoners forward.
- Yes, my lord.
- Yes, my lord.
Prepare for their interrogation.
- Yes, my lord.
- Yes, my lord.
Please get back on your feet
and punish your foolish wife.
(Shincheob: A humble way for a woman
to refer to herself to the king)
Please save the Crown Prince's life.
You attempted murder by
poisoning His Majesty.
Do you admit to this crime?
When Father collapsed,
I was outside the palace walls.
Eunuch Han Sang Soo of the
Crown Prince's quarters
confessed that you ordered him
to deliver dried yellow
corvina laced with poison
to the Queen's Palace.
And Han Sang Soo delivered the corvina
to Court Lady Cho of the Queen's Palace.
We confirmed that
by confronting both Han
Sang Soo and Court Lady Cho.
The statements collected in advance
have their words written in detail.
Also, the Queen stated
that the corvina was sent
by you.
Is this true?
It is.
I confirmed it
by asking the Queen myself.
It is not true.
He is being framed!
I swear to the skies
that the Crown Prince
has no knowledge of this.
He is being framed!
Once His Majesty's health is restored,
he will not forgive those
who participated in and sanctioned
this line of questioning.
Do not just stand there.
Shut his mouth this instant!
- Yes, my lord.
- Yes, my lord.
Your Royal Highness!
Your Royal Highness!
Your Royal Highness
Your Royal Highness
Do you agree
with his statement?
Will you claim that the
Queen lied to the officials?
Or
will you admit to the
poisoning of His Majesty?
You have my word
that I will keep His Majesty safe.
Answer the question.
Were you framed
or not?
Your Majesty.
Have you come to?
Your Majesty?
Your Majesty
I
(Missing Crown Prince)
Lee Gun who is guilty of high treason
will be deposed.
The Crown Prince escaped of his own accord,
which makes him guilty of high treason.
Have they still not been able to find him?
He will be caught in the end.
What do you mean the royal seal is missing?
The chest containing the royal seal
and national seal disappeared?
Were my brother and your
daughter arranged to be married?
If you want Myung Yoon to yourself,
proclaim the position as Crown Prince.
That is him. Get him!
I will return, Father.
Please wait until I do.
(Missing Crown Prince)
(SUHO)
(Hong Ye Ji)
(Myung Se Bin)
(Kim Ju Hun)
(Kim Min Kyu)
(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.)
Giddyap!
(Episode 5)
No!
Your Majesty.
Prince Dosung.
His Majesty
His Majesty
What happened?
What happened to Father?
I am asking you what happened!
Please take our lives.
- Please take our lives.
- Please take our lives.
Mother.
Please calm down.
Calm down
and tell me what happened.
Prince Dosung.
Prince Dosung.
Yes, Mother.
I am listening.
It was not me.
I did not do this.
I did not do anything.
I am telling you the truth.
Please calm down and speak slowly.
Please explain what happened.
In the middle of his meal,
His Majesty suddenly
(Sura: King's meal)
He suddenly
So, you were with him when it happened?
Were you the one who prepared the meal?
Yes.
No.
It was not me. It was
prepared by the Queen Dowager.
Did you
just say the Queen Dowager?
I know nothing about it.
I swear, I know nothing about it.
The Queen Dowager
It was the Queen Dowager.
What are you doing? Stop him!
- Your Highness.
- Step aside!
Open the doors!
Tell them to get out, right this instant.
Before I slay them all.
You deserve to die a thousand times
to pay for what you did
to the Crown Prince.
How dare you hurt His Majesty
and frame my mother for it
just to cover up your despicable sin?
So?
Will you
slay me with your sword?
Shut your mouth!
The moment you had such a
secret rendezvous with Choi,
you lost your dignity
as the Queen Dowager
and became this witch who
has gone crazy over a man.
You do not think I can slay you?
Then go ahead and slay me.
Take my life.
However,
the King will never wake up again if I die,
and the Queen will become a
traitor who assassinated the King.
And you, Prince Dosung. For
killing me, the Queen Dowager,
you will undoubtedly face your demise too.
If none of that matters to you,
you may slay me.
Do you truly mean it?
I am asking you if you
are still on my side.
Because my grandfather betrayed you,
you wish to know if I am now on
the Queen Dowager's side too?
Are you?
Why did you want to see me if
you could not trust me at all?
To see if I would hand you over to them?
Did you want to check and
find out for yourself?
I did give the King a chance to choose
between the throne and the Crown Prince.
Unfortunately, he chose the Crown Prince.
And now, you are witnessing
the consequences of his choice.
I shall give you
a chance to save one of them.
Make your choice.
Will you choose your mother
or your half-brother?
Here comes Lee Gun, the traitor.
Tie him up!
Do you trust me?
Yes.
Unlike you, I am not untrusting.
I need a word with Prince Dosung.
Step aside.
Did something happen
at the palace?
Father
has collapsed.
What are you waiting for?
Tie up the traitor at once!
Oh, gosh.
Stop, that is enough.
Your Royal Highness.
It is okay.
Let us go.
Where is my father?
No.
- What just happened?
- Pardon me?
Father kidnapped that scholar.
Why did the Department of Justice take him?
(Euigeumbu: Department of Justice)
Father could not sort out
the situation himself,
so he got the Department
of Justice involved?
Is this why I was suddenly
sent to visit a patient?
So I would not see this?
My lady, it is not what you think.
Then why can you not answer my question?
If I am wrong, just say so.
Why can you not say anything?
What did he do?
Why did they arrest him?
Tell me that, at least.
I am sorry.
- Lord Choi
- What? He did it for my sake?
Is it okay
to trample all over someone
innocent for the sake of his child?
Where is my father now?
Is he inside?
I
did exactly what you people told me to do.
Give my father an antidote so that
he can regain consciousness
His Majesty will wake up soon enough.
I suggest you return to the palace at once.
You should stay by the Queen's
side at this critical time.
Why? Are you planning to do
something else to take her down?
Or is there a reason I must hurry
back to the palace to protect her?
Of course, that is not the case.
If something else happens to Father,
or if you try to kill my brother,
I will kill you.
The Queen Dowager too,
whom you love so dearly.
I will kill you both.
Say hello.
This is Prince Dosung.
Prince Dosung?
"Prince?"
(Public Dispensary)
By any chance, do you have
feelings for Myung Yoon?
I am talking about my daughter.
What are you doing? Step aside at once.
I need your answer.
He does not even know that you
were the one who kidnapped him,
so why are you doing this?
I kept racking my brain but
could not figure it out.
Why must you have him killed?
I do not understand.
Please tell me.
Why did this have to happen?
Explain so that I can understand.
Stop avoiding me. Please
help me understand you.
I never asked
for your understanding.
Father.
You were never like this.
Why did you change so much?
All your life, you were devoted
to saving lives as a physician.
You contemplating the
idea of killing someone
Moo Baek, are you outside?
Take her home at once.
If you truly have nothing to
do with what happened today,
please save him.
As soon as you get home,
lock her in her room
and make sure
she does not leave her room
until you have my permission.
- Father.
- What are you waiting for?
Drag her out, at once!
Please come with me.
What is it
that you are trying to hide?
My goodness. They must
have tortured him severely.
Those despicable scoundrels.
They deserve to be stoned to death!
Oh, dear.
My goodness.
Your Royal Highness, let me do it.
No, let me.
Are you all right?
Your Royal Highness.
Yes, it is I.
It is okay. You do not need to get up.
Because of my foolishness,
(Miuk: Foolish)
I disgraced Your Royal Highness again.
You are badly hurt.
How did you hold out?
Did they accuse you of treason too?
They accused me of delivering the
poisoned dried yellow croaker
you gave me
to the Queen.
Your Highness.
The Department of Justice has
arrested the Crown Prince.
That means Father is
I am sorry, Your Royal Highness.
I see.
That is what happened.
That is why Prince Dosung is also
Yes.
The meal
was served by the Queen.
But it was not her. The
Queen Dowager did it.
That witch!
I am worried about Mother.
She has such a tender heart.
She must be deeply devastated.
It is all my fault.
It is my fault that the Crown
Prince is in such a mess now.
This is all my fault.
What kind of mother puts her
son in such a predicament?
Mother, please calm down.
I will tell them the truth
before it is too late.
That I was the fool who was
deceived by the Queen Dowager
and that I served the meal without
realizing that it was poisoned.
It was all me.
I will tell them that it was all me
and gladly accept any punishment
they decide to give me.
Mother!
I must go to the Department of Justice.
No, I must go to the
Queen Dowager's quarters.
Mother, please calm down.
You will collapse at this rate.
I cannot let the Crown
Prince die because of me.
I cannot do that.
I must save the Crown Prince.
Mother!
The Crown Prince did nothing wrong.
I am the one who should be punished.
Why did they take him?
He did nothing wrong.
Mother.
Crown Prince
Mother.
Mother!
You stay there.
You may come out.
I am sorry, Gun.
You are a fool.
Then what was I supposed to do?
What would you have done
in such a situation?
You should have gone after Choi Sang Rok.
Had you caught the one who used the poison,
we could have saved Father.
As Father always said,
you must learn to tame
your fiery temper first.
Gun, in this situation
In urgent situations,
you must think twice before you act.
You are at it again.
Once I die,
you will have to ascend
the throne and become King.
I am truly concerned.
Will you really die like this?
There is no way out of this.
I did not know you were the
type to give up so easily.
This is very unlike you.
If I deny it,
Mother
will be arrested right away for treason.
Is that what you want?
If you are doing this to relieve me of
How is Mother? Is she all right?
I do not know
how I would pay for being
such an unfilial son.
You are concerned about
not being a perfect son
in this situation?
Please.
Figure out a way with
that smart brain of yours.
Please, Gun.
My lady, what are you pondering now?
My lady.
Yes?
I understand that you are
worried about the scholar,
but what are you cooking up
that you are so deep in thought?
I am deeply concerned and anxious.
Do not be concerned.
I wish I could do something,
but there is nothing I could do.
That was what I was pondering.
Who
exactly are you?
Who are you really?
Baek Gu. How does Baek Gu sound?
This will not do. Let us go.
Pardon?
To where in the middle of the night?
Why must you look for
patients at this hour?
Stop picking a fight.
I must do something to clear my mind.
Why must you clear your mind?
Thinking will not give me any solution.
I do not want to think,
which is making me think more.
Why not
drink instead?
If you get drunk and knocked out,
you will not think of anything.
Are you serious? May I do that?
- Excuse me?
- Hold on.
I better ask the cook
maid for drinks first.
Are you really going to drink?
Do not do it!
All right, fine.
Wait a moment.
I forgot to give this medicine to Jin.
Wait here. It will not take long.
Do not think of running away.
Then go and deliver this to them.
Do not move an inch from this spot.
I will not leave without you.
I came here to drink in silence.
Leave. Do not disturb me.
We meet again.
I am a regular of this place.
Little did I expect to see you here.
- If you are asking me to leave
- No.
I, too, came to drink in peace.
If you allow it, I will leave
after drinking these bottles.
I will not disturb you.
Seriously
My lady
Where is she hiding?
May I ask a question?
Earlier, at the Office of Medicine
You promised not to disturb me, no?
But I gave you a bottle.
Consider it as payment and
No.
Take it back.
Some may think
I am hitting on a stranger.
You are much colder than the winters
Cheol Du!
- Cheol Du!
- Yes.
- Did you ask for me?
- More drinks.
Understood.
My apologies.
My mind is crowded today.
I took it out on you for no reason.
I apologize.
I am sorry.
Do not apologize.
I had a bad day as well.
I apologize if I crossed the line.
Let us drink.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Why of all people
were you born as the daughter
of the royal physician?
Then why of all people were you born
as the son of His Majesty the King?
Oh, right.
What was it that you wanted to ask me?
Well
What did you talk about with my father?
That
It is better to ask your father yourself.
Then
I witnessed the military
arrest a scholar
at the Office of Medicine today.
By any chance,
do you know what happened?
Did you not see him?
When he was getting dragged away,
you would have been at
the Office of Medicine.
Why are you curious
about that matter?
I doubt you know who that man is.
It suddenly occurred to me.
The one I love and respect
the most in the world
might die because of me.
Same here. Because of me
No.
Because of the fate I was born with,
an innocent person might die.
I believed
I could die in that person's
stead for their sake.
But I am drinking here
after running away alone.
I had no idea how much of a coward I was.
I kept them alive one way or
another, but today again
"This must be the end."
"In the end, they might die because of me."
"They will die."
Just thinking about it drives me mad.
However, there is
nothing more I can do now.
You little
I am your elder brother.
Stay still, will you?
Do you trust me?
Yes.
Unlike you, I am not untrusting.
My Baek Gu.
I suppose you were very worried about me.
He has been stabbed.
Would you be able
to help me?
He does not even know that you
were the one who kidnapped him,
so why are you doing this?
What is it that you are trying to hide?
We must make the Crown Prince admit it.
He will not confess to it easily.
You, Left State Councillor,
must make him confess to it.
Only then can Prince Dosung
become the Crown Prince,
and only then will people
not talk behind his back
when he ascends the throne later on.
You ought to persuade the Crown Prince.
If he says things we
do not need him to say,
the rest of the plan will go awry.
And if that happens, the situation
will get uncomfortable
for both of us.
Your Highness.
Please try to pull yourself together.
If you keep refusing to eat and drink
- Your Highness.
- I must see him.
Your Highness.
The Commander of the Royal Guards
must be guarding the bedchamber.
He said he would let us know right
away if anything happened, so
Your Highness.
Gosh, Your Highness.
Yes, my lord.
Hey.
Me too?
Tell the guards outside to leave
and wait at the meeting hall.
(Bincheong: Meeting hall where
ministers' meetings were held)
Pardon me?
Leave at once!
How are you feeling?
The cat is worried about the mouse?
You are out of line.
Do you really think so?
This situation saddens me too.
What do you want?
You framed me and came here to see me.
There must be something you want from me.
Tell me.
Please die.
The Queen raised you as
if you were her own child,
and Prince Dosung cherishes you
as if you are his real brother.
You are the only one who can save them.
Why must I do that?
I suppose you have already forgotten
why I am here now.
Most importantly, you
ought to save His Majesty.
If you wish to save His Majesty,
you must do as I say.
If I obey you and die,
Father
will be your next target.
Am I wrong?
Because as long as Father is alive,
Dosung cannot become King.
You are making unreasonable assumptions.
"Unreasonable assumptions?"
If you want to, you can influence
the Minister of War right now
to oust the Queen Dowager
as well as Choi Sang Rok.
But why are you obeying the Queen
Dowager without rebelling once?
Do you think I would not know the reason?
If you can make Dosung ascend the throne
No. If you can become
the King's grandfather
and take power over the sovereign,
you will not care even if
your daughter becomes a widow,
and you will hurt my father
without feeling an ounce of guilt.
If I am wrong,
try and deny it again.
You will not believe me
no matter what I say,
so go ahead and think whatever you want.
But if you wish to save His Majesty
and those who are dear to you,
you must
remember what I said.
And you must remember this.
If you do anything to
hurt my father in any way,
you will certainly pay for it.
Your Highness, what happened inside?
Gosh, Your Highness.
Your Highness, are you all right?
How did it go?
What did the Crown Prince say?
Did he accept it without resisting?
Why was the Queen there?
Did you call her there to
persuade the Crown Prince?
What do you mean?
The Queen was at the prison?
If I obey you and die,
Father will be your next target.
Because as long as Father is alive,
Dosung cannot become King.
Your Highness.
You should return to your
palace and go to sleep.
I told you
that I would not even budge
until His Majesty woke up.
Just know that and leave.
Your Highness, but
What are you doing?
Step aside!
Her Highness
ordered us not to let anyone in.
"Anyone?"
Do you not know who I am?
I am the Queen's father.
We were told not to let
anyone in, whoever it may be.
How dare you.
What are you waiting for?
Tell her at once that I am here.
Tell her now. What are you waiting for?
- I apologize.
- How dare you!
Move aside!
Leave now, or I may have to hurt you.
Such insolence.
Step aside at once!
Your Highness!
I must speak with you urgently.
Please spare me a moment!
Your Highness!
Please leave.
Your Highness!
Commander of the Royal Guards.
You must not let anyone in
until I give you permission to do so.
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Highness.
My wife.
We will soon be summoned to the palace,
and I cannot guarantee
when I will be able
to visit your grave again.
Please
watch over our Gun.
When I die sometime in the future,
have me buried beside your mother.
Gun.
Yes, Father.
The palace is like a forest
that harbours blades.
(Dosangeumsu: A situation of grave danger)
I am aware of it.
No, you are not.
Once I become King
and you become Crown Prince,
many who covet authority and power
will flock to you like flies.
With words that cut sharper than blades,
they will try to cloud your judgement.
Some will mask them as loyalty,
and some will deceive you
with lies about others.
(Chameon: Speaking ill
of others through lies)
No matter what happens in the future,
can you promise me
that you will protect your
stepmother and brother
without wavering to such forces?
Do not worry, Father.
Your son
will protect my mother and little brother.
Place your trust in me.
Your Royal Highness,
Sang Soo and I will confess
that it was our doing.
We urge you to feign ignorance.
He is right.
We will confess that you are innocent
and that we are to blame for everything.
Your loyalty is laudable,
but it is my head they want on a stick.
It will be futile.
However
I must speak to the Queen Dowager.
Send word to her quarters.
The Queen Dowager enters.
You are to raise your heads.
- We bow to the Queen Dowager.
- We bow to the Queen Dowager.
The tragedy that found His Majesty
has led this nation to
the brink of disaster.
Those involved in this
incident will not be forgiven,
and all sinners must be interrogated
in order to find everyone
that was involved.
For that purpose, you will install
a temporary interrogation office.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty,
to officially interrogate the sinners,
all three judicial offices must
be present as it is the law.
However, the Inspector General position
remains vacant.
I advise that you first appoint someone
to fill in that position.
(Daesaheon: Head of Office
of Inspector General)
You are
to recommend anyone you seem fit.
(Cheongeo: Recommend or introduce)
I, Magistrate Yoon Jung
Dae of Hanseong Magistracy,
humbly voice my opinion.
Royal Physician Choi Sang Rok
seems to be the best candidate
to take on the position.
Choi Sang Rok may only be a physician,
but he is of a prestigious family
that once saw an elected minister.
He passed the lower civil
service examination,
and even though he greatly contributed
in the restoration of this government,
he never once sought power since then
which speaks to the
righteousness of his character.
He sets an example to all officials,
and no one is more adequate
to take on the role as Inspector General.
I strongly request that you
consider my recommendation.
(Ganab: Gladly welcoming
someone's request or advice)
Are there any other recommendations?
Magistrate Yoon's recommendation
is nothing but logical.
Please consider his recommendation.
- Consider his recommendation.
- Consider his recommendation.
Choi Sang Rok, step forward.
I hereby appoint
Choi Sang Rok
as Inspector General.
(Jesu: Appointing personnel
by word of the king)
- I am much obliged.
- We are much obliged.
In Left State Councillor Yoon's place,
Choi Sang Rok will also be appointed
as principal director of the
Royal House Administration.
And until the deceased Chief
Royal Secretary is replaced,
he will also serve in
that position as well.
Consider yourselves informed.
We are much obliged.
- We are much obliged.
- We are much obliged.
(Kim Dae Seung: Censor, Lee Guk
Ju: Deputy Education Director)
A word, please.
She and her people will rise to power now.
You do not want to get on their bad side.
Are you telling me to curry
favour with them instead?
Hardly.
They say one should know their
place in certain situations.
Be patient, and the moment will come.
Is it not the king's father-in-law
who is appointed as principal director
of the Royal House Administration?
(Gukgu: The king's father-in-law)
Left State Councillor Yoon will
not give up his seat so easily.
- Did you not hear the rumour?
- Hear what?
Royal Physician Choi,
I mean Inspector General
Strike that.
The now Principal Director Choi.
His daughter
will soon be Crown Princess.
Prince Dosung is yet to be Crown Prince,
but they have already chosen his wife.
Once the interrogations are over,
they will rush his coronation.
That seems highly likely.
Appointing him as Inspector General
and Chief Royal Secretary
is a way to keep us in check,
but him as Principal Director of
the Royal House Administration
came out of nowhere.
He must be in that position
for them to meet as they please
without people raising their eyebrows
as they are right now.
You did well.
I am proud of you.
When the interrogations begin,
how will you handle the Crown Prince?
You do not seem your healthy self.
- That is why
- Once Prince Dosung
is installed as Crown Prince,
Left State Councillor Yoon
will first murder my father.
After him,
it will be you and Choi Sang Rok.
Are you voicing
your concern for me?
If you wish to live,
you must make sure my father lives.
You told Dosung
to choose between me
and his mother.
But in your case,
you do not get the luxury of choosing.
To stay alive, you must
continue to act as regent.
And to remain as regent
(Suryeomcheomjeong: Acting as
regent for a tender-aged sovereign)
You must protect my father.
I will excuse myself knowing
that you are informed.
Lastly,
may I ask one thing?
All the moments you spent with me.
Were they all a show
and full of lies?
If any of it came from the heart,
please spare the lives
of Guard Lee Gap Seok
and Eunuch Han Sang Soo.
That is my last request.
Let go of me.
Let go!
Mother!
Mother!
Mother, please save me.
- No!
- Mother!
Let go of me. My son!
- Mother!
- You cannot do this.
- Mother!
- No!
Please help me.
Prince Gwangchang, no!
No, you cannot.
Not my Prince Gwangchang.
Please let him live.
Crown Prince Gun.
Crown Prince Gun.
Please let me go.
Can you please
Can you please spare his life?
It is like losing Prince
Gwangchang all over again,
and I cannot bear the pain.
At least let him live
I am sorry.
I am sorry,
Soo Ryeon.
Bring the prisoners forward.
- Yes, my lord.
- Yes, my lord.
Prepare for their interrogation.
- Yes, my lord.
- Yes, my lord.
Please get back on your feet
and punish your foolish wife.
(Shincheob: A humble way for a woman
to refer to herself to the king)
Please save the Crown Prince's life.
You attempted murder by
poisoning His Majesty.
Do you admit to this crime?
When Father collapsed,
I was outside the palace walls.
Eunuch Han Sang Soo of the
Crown Prince's quarters
confessed that you ordered him
to deliver dried yellow
corvina laced with poison
to the Queen's Palace.
And Han Sang Soo delivered the corvina
to Court Lady Cho of the Queen's Palace.
We confirmed that
by confronting both Han
Sang Soo and Court Lady Cho.
The statements collected in advance
have their words written in detail.
Also, the Queen stated
that the corvina was sent
by you.
Is this true?
It is.
I confirmed it
by asking the Queen myself.
It is not true.
He is being framed!
I swear to the skies
that the Crown Prince
has no knowledge of this.
He is being framed!
Once His Majesty's health is restored,
he will not forgive those
who participated in and sanctioned
this line of questioning.
Do not just stand there.
Shut his mouth this instant!
- Yes, my lord.
- Yes, my lord.
Your Royal Highness!
Your Royal Highness!
Your Royal Highness
Your Royal Highness
Do you agree
with his statement?
Will you claim that the
Queen lied to the officials?
Or
will you admit to the
poisoning of His Majesty?
You have my word
that I will keep His Majesty safe.
Answer the question.
Were you framed
or not?
Your Majesty.
Have you come to?
Your Majesty?
Your Majesty
I
(Missing Crown Prince)
Lee Gun who is guilty of high treason
will be deposed.
The Crown Prince escaped of his own accord,
which makes him guilty of high treason.
Have they still not been able to find him?
He will be caught in the end.
What do you mean the royal seal is missing?
The chest containing the royal seal
and national seal disappeared?
Were my brother and your
daughter arranged to be married?
If you want Myung Yoon to yourself,
proclaim the position as Crown Prince.
That is him. Get him!
I will return, Father.
Please wait until I do.