The Crowned Clown (2019) s01e06 Episode Script
Mistaken
The Crowned Clown
This drama and its characters and events are all part of a fictional work.
There is no way for me to hide any longer
the reason why my heart flutters so.
I have come to love you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, are you okay?
I'm fine.
Your Majesty.
I'm fine.
Your Majesty.
I'm fine.
Your Majesty, please hold your breath.
Episode 6
I already did, many times earlier, didn't I? It's useless.
Then, I'll have to use a last resort.
Extend your tongue out all the way.
And gather it up at the front while holding your breath.
Forget it.
Then, there is another method too.
Lie like this and pull your legs to your chest.
While holding your breath.
Eunuch Jo. Eunuch Jo.
Never mind. It'll probably stop on its own.
It's already been one branch hour (two hours). Shouldn't we summon the royal physician?
It's alright. It will stop soon.
Perhaps it is caused by me?
No! Definitely not!
The weather's been rather chilly so my body was probably startled.
Are you going to be alright?
Of course.
I wish to lie down, so may you return now.
I understand.
Then, I will leave.
Your Majesty, it stopped!
I think it ran its course.
Thank goodness.
I will have them prepare your sleeping wear right away.
The more days pass, the more I lie.
Your Highness, are you unwell?
No.
I just wish to distance myself slowly.
What?
Tonight, it seems both the moon and the stars are brighter than ever.
But there are so many clouds.
Joo Ho Geol
Joo Ho Geol
Good job.
Summon me whenever you need me again.
Father.
Father, I apologize for plotting something without your approval.
I thought that Joo Ho Geol needed to disappear in order to stop Chief Royal Secretary.
So this is evidence Joo Ho Geol is dead?
Yes.
You paid without even seeing a corpse?
How can you do your work so haphazardly?
I apologize.
Yi Gyeom, if you've started something, you need to see it to its end so you don't leave any secrets.
Mark my words.
Yes, Father.
I've come to love you, Your Majesty.
I've come to love you, Your Majesty.
I've come to love you, Your Majesty.
Why in the world?
Your Majesty?
Do you have some sort of problem?
How outrageous!
I apologize.
I merely thought that Your Majesty hadn't slept well.
I wasn't saying it to you.
I was just thinking of something else momentarily.
Eunuch Jo.
Do His Majesty and I really look so much alike?
Well, that
I was startled the first time too, but when you returned upon being injured by the sword,
even I, myself, wonder if the real king has returned, at times.
I am fooled.
Fooled?
Fooled.
You are right.
It's not me. It's the king.
Your Majesty.
This is the path toward the queen's palace.
How did I end up here?
Your Majesty. The queen is coming.
Your Majesty, I was actually on my way to greet you.
By chance, are you on your way to visit me?
Actually, I was on my way to the side palace.
I was lost in thought and lost my way, it seems.
You appear a bit gaunt.
Did you have hiccups all night?
I've come to love you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty?
No. It stopped right away.
I was confused, but then I thought of something while seeing you hiccup last night.
I plan to make the tea with ginseng you used to love when you were the crown prince.
It's effective for digestion too, so you will not suffer from hiccups again.
Please do so.
Then, I have urgent matters waiting, so
Hanseong Manor
(Hanseong was the former name of Seoul)
How is the preparation for tomorrow's morning audience?
The inspection found no issue with Haeyu Certificates.
We should see no trouble in finding the Minister of Finance, Lee Han Jong's crimes.
But it's that rascal Joo Ho Geol that worries me.
If somehow the chief royal secretary assigned him to find evidence of embezzlement,
then the power will flip over at once to our disadvantage.
Do not worry since that will never happen.
Is there still no contact from the chief royal secretary?
No, not yet.
I am sorry, Your Highness.
His Majesty is not present at his palace.
This is fresh ginger tea sent in by the queen.
It seems to have chilled, so shall I have it heated?
No. You may leave.
I can't eat ginger.
Was it when I was seven? I went with old man Gapsoo to a noble lord's manor.
I stole and ate a ginger biscuit and almost died from acute indigestion.
It was so pungent and at times I can still feel that spicy taste come up.
It was because it wasn't mine.
It's best not to lay a hand on
things that don't suit your body in the first place
since you can get sick.
I understand.
Then allow me to take the tea away.
You drink it in my stead at least, please.
What?
If I just send out this precious thing,
wouldn't the queen's sincerity be put to waste?
I think you stood at His Majesty's courtyard for too long.
I will take care of sending ginger tea to His Majesty from now on.
I think it's best to reduce your standing in the cold.
Thank you for your worry.
But I wish to present the ginger tea to His Majesty personally.
Shall I bring you tea to melt away the chill?
Yes.
- Left State Minister.
- Left State Minister.
Yes, Minister of Finance. Minister of Rites.
But I don't see the chief royal secretary?
I heard he has not arrived at court yet.
Chief Royal Secretary is absent from the morning audience?
I am having to report more and more incidents of Chief Royal Secretary to His Majesty, and that's quite a problem.
Your Majesty, it's time to go to the side palace.
But the chief royal secretary is still not here?
Yes.
Let's go.
Your Majesty, upon inspecting the Haeyu Certificates seized from the Ministry of Finance,
it's revealed no issues were found.
Using the perfectly fine Haeyu Certificates and hiding them to stir up trouble in the royal court
is an act for which the minster of finance should be punished.
Your Majesty, as the minister of finance,
I have only done my utmost to carry out my duty.
If it's a crime to exhaust myself to find corruption and embezzlement done by provincial governments,
I shall seek to vacate myself from my duty and retire to my hometown.
That cannot be.
Your Majesty, you must severely punish Minister of Finance, who is trying to escape his punishment with a nonsensical excuse.
Your Majesty, Minister of Justice is right.
It is only correct to severely punish the minister of finance to uphold the discipline of the court.
Your Majesty, please understand.
Please understand.
I shall
Your Majesty, the chief royal secretary enters.
Your Majesty, I beg your forgiveness for my late arrival.
Come on in. What's kept you delayed?
I was late due to finding evidence of embezzlement in Haeyu Certificate.
Evidence of embezzlement?
Your Majesty, there is no existence of such a thing.
Together with Chief Royal Secretary's crime of negligence to your morning audience,
please also charge him of making false accusations.
Your Majesty, whether the evidence of embezzlement is true or false,
may you hear it from the one who found the evidence personally.
Allow him in.
I greet Your Majesty.
Chief Royal Secretary, what are you doing?
How dare you bring in a slave into the audience of His Majesty and high ministers of the court.
Your Majesty! He has brought down the discipline of the court.
May you add this to the chief royal Secretary's crimes and send out this slave.
Though he is a government slave, he is also an official in the Ministry of Finance and found evidence of embezzlement in Haeyu Certificates.
He is well qualified to be in His Majesty's attendance.
Report to His Majesty.
Your Majesty, after looking through the Haeyu Certificates and the tribute ledgers,
I found that rice tributes were received at prices higher than market price
and evidence of profit from it.
Stop lying.
You claim the tributes were priced higher than market price but these tributes do not have a market price.
How could you know?
Your words are correct.
Hence it was difficult, and I had to convert each tribute good into price of rice
and compare that to market price.
What nonsense! That is not something one can do alone.
Your Majesty, I have recorded the embezzlement evidence
found in Haeyu Certificates and tribute ledgers here.
Listing of paper trail evidence of grains being sold at higher prices without authorization from the Royal Treasury which manages the Bureau of Royal Supply (of grains, for instance)
Minister of Finance's claim was right.
Your Majesty, though evidence has been shown, it is the Ministry of Finance's failure to carry out their duty properly
which allowed embezzlement by the provincial governments, and that is a fact that has not disappeared.
Hence, before you look into the embezzlement matter,
it shall be proper to hold Minister of Finance accountable for his crime first.
Your Majesty, Minister of General Affair's words are just an excuse.
He seized the Haeyu Certificates from the Ministry of Finance and exonerated provincial governments.
It is proper to hold Minister of General Affairs accountable for his crime.
Left State Minister is right.
I shall punish severely Minister of General Affairs as well as the provincial governments who committed embezzlement.
Your Majesty.
I apologize, but I have a plea.
Speak.
Last night, someone tried to kill me.
Who is it? Who hired you to kill Joo Ho Geol?
The son of Left State Minister.
I will give you ten-fold what he's paying you.
Go and say to him what I instruct you.
Your Majesty, someone tried to hire an assassin to murder me.
Please punish him.
Who is that man?
It was the son of the Left State Minister, Sin Yi Gyeom.
How dare you. Who do you think you are to lie in front of His Majesty?
The man who tried to murder me is currently being detained in the prison cells at the Royal Investigation Bureau.
Should I call for him?
Drag in Sin Yi Gyeom!
What is the punishment for a failed attempt at murder?
Just for harboring the intent of killing someone, he deserves execution,
but Sin Yi Gyeom is the son of a trusted servant and a sixth rank government official.
We may lay down his punishment, but if Left State Minister and Office of Censors were to collude with one another,
it's obvious they'll make it appear as though he were checking the king, and ask for amnesty.
You're saying they'll turn a blind eye to his crime?
That can't be!
If executing is too hard, then we should at least order him to be flogged until he excretes blood!
There is a way to humiliate Sin Yi Gyeom and teach him a good lesson.
What is that?
Munjeongjeon Palace
(Council Palace used by the king for state affairs)
Your Majesty!
Sixth rank officer of the Office of Censors, Sin Yi Gyeom, raise your head.
The crime of having intent to kill another
is a grievous crime that deserves to be dealt with according to the Royal Mandate for Punishments.
However, as your father is a distinguished retainer who is second to none in his services towards myself and the court,
and as Joo Ho Geol has not been harmed, I will forgive your crimes.
However, in order to give the world a warning against such attempts,
I will give the father an opportunity to punish the son.
Left State Minister Sin Chi Soo, step forward and give 100 whippings to your son Sin Yi Gyeom.
Father
Your Majesty, how could you punish a distinguished retainer for his inability to morally train his household?
This is a humiliation like no other. I plead with you to withdraw your orders!
Your Majesty.
I would rather have you punish my son according to the Royal Mandate for Punishments.
Your Excellency, how can you refuse His Majesty's unending grace in such a way?
Proceed as ordered!
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Five!
Six!
Stand up straight.
Seven!
Seventeen!
My Lord, what will happen to me now?
My Lord!
You must have worked hard to calculate all that over one night.
What is this smell?
I apologize.
I was lying in between corpses laid out at the magistrate all night,
so even after washing myself, the odor isn't going away easily.
Your courage is extraordinary.
I didn't muster up that courage from the beginning.
When Chief Royal Secretary first suggested the plan, I jumped up telling him to stop the nonsense.
If Officer Jang hadn't appeared, I wouldn't have dared.
The credit shouldn't be mine.
I just followed Chief Royal Secretary's orders.
Just in case, I suggested that he watch Joo Ho Geol's back.
I wish to release you from your status as a slave-servant and give you a government post.
What position would you like?
I would like the position of Arithmetic Tutor.
(A 9th rank officer part of the Ministry of Finance)
Arithmetic Tutor.
You could ask His Majesty for a slightly higher position.
Why are you asking for a mere 9th rank officer post?
You've chosen a good position.
If His Majesty were to assign you to a higher post, there would be some opposition from both the Ministry of Finance and the court.
But if you were to become an arithmetic tutor, you won't need to butt heads with higher ranking officers
and will just need to educate prospective Ministry of Finance officers,
which will be extremely helpful for the administration of the Dae Dong Policy in the future.
If Joo Ho Geol will educate people properly, we can administer the Dae Dong Policy even sooner.
Administer the Dae Dong Policy?
Your Majesty! Are you really only going to take rice as tax, from only those with land?
Well
Yes. That has been a lifelong dream of mine.
I will do my very best with all my energy to educate the officers!
Queen.
Your Majesty, I heard that you were able to gather rice for the impoverished and have been waiting for you here.
I don't know how I can show my gratitude.
The one who should be showing gratitude is me. Thank you.
Thanks to you, I feel like I've acted like a king for the very first time.
What do you mean the first time? You're being too humble.
Just a figure of speech.
Your Majesty, today's incident is nothing but pain deeply engraved into my very bones.
What pained you so?
All along, there have been those jealous of me who would slander me with false claims,
but yet, you have always trusted me and allowed me to manage the nation's affairs.
I wasn't able to repay your grace,
but have imposed on you and the court, and I know not how to atone for my sins.
If you had asked me to hand over my government position and my head,
it would be better than how I feel at this moment.
So what is it that you want to say?
Just because of a lowly slave-servant, not only I, but also my son
had to endure humiliation so severe that we can't hold our heads up.
I'm just worried that, perhaps, it will cause the dignity of your court to crumble.
If a state councilor like myself can have something like this happen,
who would be willing to loyally advise you and take care of the nation's affairs?
I plead with you, for the sake of the dignity of both the court and this nation,
today's humiliation should rightfully be rectified.
Left State Minister, I have something I must ask.
Yes, Your Majesty. Please ask.
With your mouth, you say you are a loyal servant,
then how do you turn a blind eye to the sighs and moans of the pain of our weak people?
How can you remain deaf to the resentful cries of the innocent?
Did you just say, a mere "lowly" slave-servant?
That dignity you so dearly wish to protect
is nothing more than the horns on an insect when compared to Joo Ho Geol's life.
If it is something that harms my people, no matter how small it may be,
I swear to the heavens that I will not let them pass lightly!
But, Your Majesty, that was—
I don't wish to hear this! Take your leave!
Yes, Your Majesty.
You must be heading out to collect donations.
I'll be back before it gets dark, so don't worry about preparing dinner.
That sounds good to me.
Have a safe trip.
It sounds like he's going to bring us something tasty again!
Let's go chop wood.
No. You're not allowed to stay on your own.
You need to be right in front of me for my mind to be at peace.
Come on. Let's go.
Why? What's wrong?
Right now?
What to do?
We need to chop a bit more wood.
Oh, alright. Go quick.
If you go that way, there's a cliff.
So go this way. This way.
Go on.
You can't go about your business on the roads where people are, alright?
Please, one coin.
Just one coin.
Please donate just one coin.
Thank you, My Lord.
Head over there and say you were sent by Hak San, and they'll give you a meal.
They'll prepare a nice—
Why would you
I was told to wish you pleasant travel to the afterlife.
Let's go!
Sheesh, he could have woken me up and gone with me. Headed to the office first, now is it?
Lord! Are you alright?!
Lord.
What's wrong?
Hyungnim! Hyungnim!!
Hyungnim! Hyungnim!
Hyungnim.
I'm so stupid. I've got to go and call a physician.
No need.
Are you awake?
Hyungnim, why wouldn't I call a physician?
Nothing good will come out from hearing that the chief royal secretary,
who serves His Majesty directly, has been stabbed.
Jeong Saeng. Call Jeong Saeng.
Jeong You mean Jeong Saeng Hyungnim?
Yes.
My Lord. We will send someone to get Jeong Saeng,
so please hold on for a bit.
You're saying that Chief Royal Secretary took a day off?
Yes, I was surprised as well.
But then again, he hasn't had a rest in a while.
It is time for him to rest a bit as well.
Well
It seems like you didn't sleep very well all night. Your complexion
I've felt a bit frustrated as of late,
so I haven't been able to fall asleep. That may be why.
Your Highness! Are you alright?
I wonder why this could be. I need to go see His Majesty.
Your Highness!
Seonpyeong Gate
Your Majesty.
I apologize.
No, what should you apologize about?
Don't worry. It's just a simple ache that will pass.
No need to say anything.
Just rest comfortably.
Why did the queen faint?
It seems she has been weakened in both heart and body due to various incidents of late.
But if she stays like this, things will only be worse,
so I wonder if she could go somewhere for a change of air.
Go somewhere?
Your Majesty, isn't it for Her Highness' health?
Why are you hesitating?
That may be so,
but I don't know if I can make that call without Chief Royal Secretary being here.
Even if he were here, he would agree.
It will be a good opportunity for both you
and Her Highness.
I understand.
Well done. How is the queen's condition?
All her energy and bloodways are blocked, and she is very weak.
How about this, then?
Is there any way the queen will be able to bear His Majesty's heir?
How could I dare to speak of such a thing so lightly?
- However.
- However?
If we maintain this state, it will be difficult.
Take your leave.
With the excuse that tax officers in Houjin are crossing our borders,
Ming is asking us for our military to help them.
The borders becoming chaotic is beneficial for us as well.
Even if they were to notice the soldiers after the king's death,
we can just tell them our forces are for the purpose of defending our country from Houjin.
These two failed the exams.
Did you get their oath in writing that they are willing to offer up their life once they enter here?
Yes. One is a butcher, and the other is a runaway slave.
They seek to be released from their status.
We will only let the one who holds this sword survive.
I won.
Well done.
You should have done that from the very beginning.
Then you would have avoided failing.
Queen Dowager, the queen is here to see you.
Let her in.
Sujeong Hall
(Empress Dowager's Palace)
His Majesty cherishes you very much, Queen.
Don't worry about the palace and take good care of yourself while you are away.
I will make a full recovery and return to support His Majesty, so do not worry.
Of course.
Go on and drink. The tea will get cold.
♫ One flower petal out of reach ♫
♫ It leaves, pushed away by a harsh wind ♫
♫ It hovers, under the cold moonlight ♫
♫ Memories of you ♫
♫ Keep lingering in my mind, without realizing it ♫
♫ With a frozen heart, if I stop and turn around ♫
♫ I hope that everything is a dream and try to endure ♫
♫ But only my regrets grow ♫
♫ Just once, just once, if I could see you again ♫
♫ Even if I have to throw away everything I have ♫
♫ I can't forget, can't forget, until the day the world ends ♫
♫ Clutching my empty heart ♫
Who is escorting the queen?
Other than the reserved guards to protect His Majesty, I sent the elites to escort her, so don't worry.
Good work.
My Lord, when will you tell His Majesty about your condition?
I am not going to tell him.
You must find the person who tried to kill you and bring him to justice.
If he really wanted to kill me, he wouldn't have sent those beggars.
I am sure he has a different intention.
If I say it carelessly and reveal it, it'll cause chaos in the court and
that'll be just what the culprit wants.
So you must not tell this to His Majesty.
Understand?
Yes, My Lord.
Aren't they hazelnuts?
If you bite down on a hazelnut, the goblin that protects the buildings
will be startled by the sound and will grant you a wish.
I came to be with you.
We laugh together. We cry together.
I will endure it with you, so please don't give up on your will.
Your Majesty, what did you wish for?
Seeing you smile big and bright,
I'd love to see it once.
That what I wished for.
I see you with my eyes, so it would seem I see you with my heart as well.
The weather is quite chilly, so why don't you go inside now?
Ae Yeong, get ready to go back tomorrow.
Excuse me?
We've only stayed for three days and you want to go back already?
Your complexion has only gotten brighter now, how about we stay a little longer?
I am feeling much better.
You heard the physician say I am making a fast recovery.
But still
I think I must return to the palace to make a complete recovery.
Do you miss him already?
I am getting energized just by thinking about going back to the palace.
When is Chief Royal Secretary coming?
Not sure.
He said he is taking five days off, so I guess he'll be off all five days.
You still haven't heard any news about Dal Rae?
No.
Actually, that
I couldn't deliver the letter at the time.
Why did you not tell me until now?
Actually the brothel you asked me to deliver the letter to,
the chief royal secretary lives there.
The chief royal secretary?
Yes.
I think it'll be difficult for a while.
I'll go there myself.
Your Majesty.
Why not just give it up?
I'm her brother. Shouldn't I at least have news of my sister?
I'll come right back after hearing that she's alright.
I understand. I'll get ready.
I'll go alone.
It's cumbersome if you come with me and it'll only draw attention.
I can't.
Don't worry. I'll be quick like the wind.
This can't be
Your Majesty, what brings you here?
You didn't come alone, did you?
That is
I just came out for a short while.
By chance, did you come to see Chief Royal Secretary?
No.
I just came out to watch the people enjoying the Double Ninth Festival.
Your Majesty, let me escort you.
Okay, you may.
It's quite busy outside.
Is something happening?
It's the Double Ninth Festival. It seems there's a party.
I see it's that time already.
Your Highness, do you remember?
When we were young, we all made flower pancakes and went to the back hill to play on Double Ninth Day.
Of course, I remember.
It was the first time you got drunk on chrysanthemum liquor, wasn't it?
It was quite fun then.
Your Highness, how about if we go there and have a quick look?
Please, Your Highness. We don't know when we can come out again.
Very briefly, please.
I understand.
Stop.
Because it's the Double Ninth Festival, everyone's so excited. It's good to see.
Your Majesty, I'm nervous that I'm your only escort.
I think it would be best to return to the palace as soon as possible.
I feel very assured that you are here though.
I don't know how to react hearing those words.
Children, let's let our wishes fly. Write down your wishes.
I want to eat every day.
I want to eat meat side dishes.
Meat
That looks like fun. Shall we also write down our wishes and let them fly?
My apologies, but I don't have any wishes to ask for.
You have no wishes?
Is that possible?
Don't be like that and just tell me.
What's your wish?
It's not a wish.
But I do have one thing in mind.
Then, what is it?
Like the hyungnim who left this world while protecting you during the last rebellion,
I wish to dedicate my life and loyalty to protecting Your Majesty
and to die honorably.
Dedicating your loyalty and dying.
That's a good and magnificent deed.
But for me, instead of you dying magnificently for my sake,
for your sake,
if you were to live for what you want would be better.
Your Majesty.
Ah, yes.
I'm imagining things again.
Your Majesty.
Is it really you?
Have you been well, Your Majesty?
I've been well.
My Queen, you should have rested longer. Why are you out so soon?
Three days are enough.
If it were any longer, I felt like I would fall ill so I rushed out.
Are you here to see the people of the capital?
Yes! I heard that there will be festivities for the Double Ninth Festival,
so I stopped by to see for a moment.
Now that we've met up like this, we can return to the palace together.
Your Majesty.
Can't we stay a bit longer before returning?
Just a little bit will do.
I can't be either a bird soaring high in the heavens or a fish swimming in the deep waters
since we don't know when we can come out again.
Can't we?
Sounds good.
Dal Rae!
Dal Rae!
Monk! Monk!
Have you seen my Dal Rae?
She was definitely here not that long ago.
I think I know where Dal Rae is.
Let's go to the capital.
Yes.
The capital, you say?
Dal Rae!
Are you the new concubine that His Majesty selected?
Let's see that face, face, face!
Let's see that face!
Your Highness, why are you doing this to me?
Seon Hwa Dang, you wench!
Get away from His Majesty this instant!
How dare you put your butt there?
The queen is killing me!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
Why are you like this?
I'm going to tell His Majesty!
Why are you doing this?
This bitch of a queen is this evil and full of jealousy,
so the heavens have been angered and the country is becoming more and more chaotic.
Isn't that right?
Take this, take this.
It's red beans, enough to boil away ghosts.
Take that, you wench!
That's right, you wench!
Where did His Majesty go?
He was here just a moment ago!
Your Majesty, what's wrong?
I couldn't keep you there any longer.
I just thought we had to go somewhere with no one.
I'm sorry.
It's because I am imperfect. Why are you apologizing?
Your Majesty, I'm fine.
I'm just blissful that I am here with you
as if I'm in a dream.
If this is a dream. If it indeed is a dream,
then no matter what I do, it won't be a sin.
Is that not so?
Your Majesty.
Let's go.
Orabeoni (Older brother - mouthed).
Orabeoni.
Orabeoni!
Orabeoni!
Orabeoni!
The Crowned Clown
Preview
He has disappeared.
Have you forgotten formalities already?
There is someone who risked his life after believing me.
If I don't go, he will die in His Majesty's hands.
Drag him to the mountains and throw him to the tigers to be eaten.
Order the royal astronomy observers to make tomorrow the day for the queen and I to share her sleeping quarters.
Although you may wander from time to time, wander over to me.
I'll always be there at the end of your road.
It's already been decided where I have to go.
I'll return to the palace.
This drama and its characters and events are all part of a fictional work.
There is no way for me to hide any longer
the reason why my heart flutters so.
I have come to love you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, are you okay?
I'm fine.
Your Majesty.
I'm fine.
Your Majesty.
I'm fine.
Your Majesty, please hold your breath.
Episode 6
I already did, many times earlier, didn't I? It's useless.
Then, I'll have to use a last resort.
Extend your tongue out all the way.
And gather it up at the front while holding your breath.
Forget it.
Then, there is another method too.
Lie like this and pull your legs to your chest.
While holding your breath.
Eunuch Jo. Eunuch Jo.
Never mind. It'll probably stop on its own.
It's already been one branch hour (two hours). Shouldn't we summon the royal physician?
It's alright. It will stop soon.
Perhaps it is caused by me?
No! Definitely not!
The weather's been rather chilly so my body was probably startled.
Are you going to be alright?
Of course.
I wish to lie down, so may you return now.
I understand.
Then, I will leave.
Your Majesty, it stopped!
I think it ran its course.
Thank goodness.
I will have them prepare your sleeping wear right away.
The more days pass, the more I lie.
Your Highness, are you unwell?
No.
I just wish to distance myself slowly.
What?
Tonight, it seems both the moon and the stars are brighter than ever.
But there are so many clouds.
Joo Ho Geol
Joo Ho Geol
Good job.
Summon me whenever you need me again.
Father.
Father, I apologize for plotting something without your approval.
I thought that Joo Ho Geol needed to disappear in order to stop Chief Royal Secretary.
So this is evidence Joo Ho Geol is dead?
Yes.
You paid without even seeing a corpse?
How can you do your work so haphazardly?
I apologize.
Yi Gyeom, if you've started something, you need to see it to its end so you don't leave any secrets.
Mark my words.
Yes, Father.
I've come to love you, Your Majesty.
I've come to love you, Your Majesty.
I've come to love you, Your Majesty.
Why in the world?
Your Majesty?
Do you have some sort of problem?
How outrageous!
I apologize.
I merely thought that Your Majesty hadn't slept well.
I wasn't saying it to you.
I was just thinking of something else momentarily.
Eunuch Jo.
Do His Majesty and I really look so much alike?
Well, that
I was startled the first time too, but when you returned upon being injured by the sword,
even I, myself, wonder if the real king has returned, at times.
I am fooled.
Fooled?
Fooled.
You are right.
It's not me. It's the king.
Your Majesty.
This is the path toward the queen's palace.
How did I end up here?
Your Majesty. The queen is coming.
Your Majesty, I was actually on my way to greet you.
By chance, are you on your way to visit me?
Actually, I was on my way to the side palace.
I was lost in thought and lost my way, it seems.
You appear a bit gaunt.
Did you have hiccups all night?
I've come to love you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty?
No. It stopped right away.
I was confused, but then I thought of something while seeing you hiccup last night.
I plan to make the tea with ginseng you used to love when you were the crown prince.
It's effective for digestion too, so you will not suffer from hiccups again.
Please do so.
Then, I have urgent matters waiting, so
Hanseong Manor
(Hanseong was the former name of Seoul)
How is the preparation for tomorrow's morning audience?
The inspection found no issue with Haeyu Certificates.
We should see no trouble in finding the Minister of Finance, Lee Han Jong's crimes.
But it's that rascal Joo Ho Geol that worries me.
If somehow the chief royal secretary assigned him to find evidence of embezzlement,
then the power will flip over at once to our disadvantage.
Do not worry since that will never happen.
Is there still no contact from the chief royal secretary?
No, not yet.
I am sorry, Your Highness.
His Majesty is not present at his palace.
This is fresh ginger tea sent in by the queen.
It seems to have chilled, so shall I have it heated?
No. You may leave.
I can't eat ginger.
Was it when I was seven? I went with old man Gapsoo to a noble lord's manor.
I stole and ate a ginger biscuit and almost died from acute indigestion.
It was so pungent and at times I can still feel that spicy taste come up.
It was because it wasn't mine.
It's best not to lay a hand on
things that don't suit your body in the first place
since you can get sick.
I understand.
Then allow me to take the tea away.
You drink it in my stead at least, please.
What?
If I just send out this precious thing,
wouldn't the queen's sincerity be put to waste?
I think you stood at His Majesty's courtyard for too long.
I will take care of sending ginger tea to His Majesty from now on.
I think it's best to reduce your standing in the cold.
Thank you for your worry.
But I wish to present the ginger tea to His Majesty personally.
Shall I bring you tea to melt away the chill?
Yes.
- Left State Minister.
- Left State Minister.
Yes, Minister of Finance. Minister of Rites.
But I don't see the chief royal secretary?
I heard he has not arrived at court yet.
Chief Royal Secretary is absent from the morning audience?
I am having to report more and more incidents of Chief Royal Secretary to His Majesty, and that's quite a problem.
Your Majesty, it's time to go to the side palace.
But the chief royal secretary is still not here?
Yes.
Let's go.
Your Majesty, upon inspecting the Haeyu Certificates seized from the Ministry of Finance,
it's revealed no issues were found.
Using the perfectly fine Haeyu Certificates and hiding them to stir up trouble in the royal court
is an act for which the minster of finance should be punished.
Your Majesty, as the minister of finance,
I have only done my utmost to carry out my duty.
If it's a crime to exhaust myself to find corruption and embezzlement done by provincial governments,
I shall seek to vacate myself from my duty and retire to my hometown.
That cannot be.
Your Majesty, you must severely punish Minister of Finance, who is trying to escape his punishment with a nonsensical excuse.
Your Majesty, Minister of Justice is right.
It is only correct to severely punish the minister of finance to uphold the discipline of the court.
Your Majesty, please understand.
Please understand.
I shall
Your Majesty, the chief royal secretary enters.
Your Majesty, I beg your forgiveness for my late arrival.
Come on in. What's kept you delayed?
I was late due to finding evidence of embezzlement in Haeyu Certificate.
Evidence of embezzlement?
Your Majesty, there is no existence of such a thing.
Together with Chief Royal Secretary's crime of negligence to your morning audience,
please also charge him of making false accusations.
Your Majesty, whether the evidence of embezzlement is true or false,
may you hear it from the one who found the evidence personally.
Allow him in.
I greet Your Majesty.
Chief Royal Secretary, what are you doing?
How dare you bring in a slave into the audience of His Majesty and high ministers of the court.
Your Majesty! He has brought down the discipline of the court.
May you add this to the chief royal Secretary's crimes and send out this slave.
Though he is a government slave, he is also an official in the Ministry of Finance and found evidence of embezzlement in Haeyu Certificates.
He is well qualified to be in His Majesty's attendance.
Report to His Majesty.
Your Majesty, after looking through the Haeyu Certificates and the tribute ledgers,
I found that rice tributes were received at prices higher than market price
and evidence of profit from it.
Stop lying.
You claim the tributes were priced higher than market price but these tributes do not have a market price.
How could you know?
Your words are correct.
Hence it was difficult, and I had to convert each tribute good into price of rice
and compare that to market price.
What nonsense! That is not something one can do alone.
Your Majesty, I have recorded the embezzlement evidence
found in Haeyu Certificates and tribute ledgers here.
Listing of paper trail evidence of grains being sold at higher prices without authorization from the Royal Treasury which manages the Bureau of Royal Supply (of grains, for instance)
Minister of Finance's claim was right.
Your Majesty, though evidence has been shown, it is the Ministry of Finance's failure to carry out their duty properly
which allowed embezzlement by the provincial governments, and that is a fact that has not disappeared.
Hence, before you look into the embezzlement matter,
it shall be proper to hold Minister of Finance accountable for his crime first.
Your Majesty, Minister of General Affair's words are just an excuse.
He seized the Haeyu Certificates from the Ministry of Finance and exonerated provincial governments.
It is proper to hold Minister of General Affairs accountable for his crime.
Left State Minister is right.
I shall punish severely Minister of General Affairs as well as the provincial governments who committed embezzlement.
Your Majesty.
I apologize, but I have a plea.
Speak.
Last night, someone tried to kill me.
Who is it? Who hired you to kill Joo Ho Geol?
The son of Left State Minister.
I will give you ten-fold what he's paying you.
Go and say to him what I instruct you.
Your Majesty, someone tried to hire an assassin to murder me.
Please punish him.
Who is that man?
It was the son of the Left State Minister, Sin Yi Gyeom.
How dare you. Who do you think you are to lie in front of His Majesty?
The man who tried to murder me is currently being detained in the prison cells at the Royal Investigation Bureau.
Should I call for him?
Drag in Sin Yi Gyeom!
What is the punishment for a failed attempt at murder?
Just for harboring the intent of killing someone, he deserves execution,
but Sin Yi Gyeom is the son of a trusted servant and a sixth rank government official.
We may lay down his punishment, but if Left State Minister and Office of Censors were to collude with one another,
it's obvious they'll make it appear as though he were checking the king, and ask for amnesty.
You're saying they'll turn a blind eye to his crime?
That can't be!
If executing is too hard, then we should at least order him to be flogged until he excretes blood!
There is a way to humiliate Sin Yi Gyeom and teach him a good lesson.
What is that?
Munjeongjeon Palace
(Council Palace used by the king for state affairs)
Your Majesty!
Sixth rank officer of the Office of Censors, Sin Yi Gyeom, raise your head.
The crime of having intent to kill another
is a grievous crime that deserves to be dealt with according to the Royal Mandate for Punishments.
However, as your father is a distinguished retainer who is second to none in his services towards myself and the court,
and as Joo Ho Geol has not been harmed, I will forgive your crimes.
However, in order to give the world a warning against such attempts,
I will give the father an opportunity to punish the son.
Left State Minister Sin Chi Soo, step forward and give 100 whippings to your son Sin Yi Gyeom.
Father
Your Majesty, how could you punish a distinguished retainer for his inability to morally train his household?
This is a humiliation like no other. I plead with you to withdraw your orders!
Your Majesty.
I would rather have you punish my son according to the Royal Mandate for Punishments.
Your Excellency, how can you refuse His Majesty's unending grace in such a way?
Proceed as ordered!
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Five!
Six!
Stand up straight.
Seven!
Seventeen!
My Lord, what will happen to me now?
My Lord!
You must have worked hard to calculate all that over one night.
What is this smell?
I apologize.
I was lying in between corpses laid out at the magistrate all night,
so even after washing myself, the odor isn't going away easily.
Your courage is extraordinary.
I didn't muster up that courage from the beginning.
When Chief Royal Secretary first suggested the plan, I jumped up telling him to stop the nonsense.
If Officer Jang hadn't appeared, I wouldn't have dared.
The credit shouldn't be mine.
I just followed Chief Royal Secretary's orders.
Just in case, I suggested that he watch Joo Ho Geol's back.
I wish to release you from your status as a slave-servant and give you a government post.
What position would you like?
I would like the position of Arithmetic Tutor.
(A 9th rank officer part of the Ministry of Finance)
Arithmetic Tutor.
You could ask His Majesty for a slightly higher position.
Why are you asking for a mere 9th rank officer post?
You've chosen a good position.
If His Majesty were to assign you to a higher post, there would be some opposition from both the Ministry of Finance and the court.
But if you were to become an arithmetic tutor, you won't need to butt heads with higher ranking officers
and will just need to educate prospective Ministry of Finance officers,
which will be extremely helpful for the administration of the Dae Dong Policy in the future.
If Joo Ho Geol will educate people properly, we can administer the Dae Dong Policy even sooner.
Administer the Dae Dong Policy?
Your Majesty! Are you really only going to take rice as tax, from only those with land?
Well
Yes. That has been a lifelong dream of mine.
I will do my very best with all my energy to educate the officers!
Queen.
Your Majesty, I heard that you were able to gather rice for the impoverished and have been waiting for you here.
I don't know how I can show my gratitude.
The one who should be showing gratitude is me. Thank you.
Thanks to you, I feel like I've acted like a king for the very first time.
What do you mean the first time? You're being too humble.
Just a figure of speech.
Your Majesty, today's incident is nothing but pain deeply engraved into my very bones.
What pained you so?
All along, there have been those jealous of me who would slander me with false claims,
but yet, you have always trusted me and allowed me to manage the nation's affairs.
I wasn't able to repay your grace,
but have imposed on you and the court, and I know not how to atone for my sins.
If you had asked me to hand over my government position and my head,
it would be better than how I feel at this moment.
So what is it that you want to say?
Just because of a lowly slave-servant, not only I, but also my son
had to endure humiliation so severe that we can't hold our heads up.
I'm just worried that, perhaps, it will cause the dignity of your court to crumble.
If a state councilor like myself can have something like this happen,
who would be willing to loyally advise you and take care of the nation's affairs?
I plead with you, for the sake of the dignity of both the court and this nation,
today's humiliation should rightfully be rectified.
Left State Minister, I have something I must ask.
Yes, Your Majesty. Please ask.
With your mouth, you say you are a loyal servant,
then how do you turn a blind eye to the sighs and moans of the pain of our weak people?
How can you remain deaf to the resentful cries of the innocent?
Did you just say, a mere "lowly" slave-servant?
That dignity you so dearly wish to protect
is nothing more than the horns on an insect when compared to Joo Ho Geol's life.
If it is something that harms my people, no matter how small it may be,
I swear to the heavens that I will not let them pass lightly!
But, Your Majesty, that was—
I don't wish to hear this! Take your leave!
Yes, Your Majesty.
You must be heading out to collect donations.
I'll be back before it gets dark, so don't worry about preparing dinner.
That sounds good to me.
Have a safe trip.
It sounds like he's going to bring us something tasty again!
Let's go chop wood.
No. You're not allowed to stay on your own.
You need to be right in front of me for my mind to be at peace.
Come on. Let's go.
Why? What's wrong?
Right now?
What to do?
We need to chop a bit more wood.
Oh, alright. Go quick.
If you go that way, there's a cliff.
So go this way. This way.
Go on.
You can't go about your business on the roads where people are, alright?
Please, one coin.
Just one coin.
Please donate just one coin.
Thank you, My Lord.
Head over there and say you were sent by Hak San, and they'll give you a meal.
They'll prepare a nice—
Why would you
I was told to wish you pleasant travel to the afterlife.
Let's go!
Sheesh, he could have woken me up and gone with me. Headed to the office first, now is it?
Lord! Are you alright?!
Lord.
What's wrong?
Hyungnim! Hyungnim!!
Hyungnim! Hyungnim!
Hyungnim.
I'm so stupid. I've got to go and call a physician.
No need.
Are you awake?
Hyungnim, why wouldn't I call a physician?
Nothing good will come out from hearing that the chief royal secretary,
who serves His Majesty directly, has been stabbed.
Jeong Saeng. Call Jeong Saeng.
Jeong You mean Jeong Saeng Hyungnim?
Yes.
My Lord. We will send someone to get Jeong Saeng,
so please hold on for a bit.
You're saying that Chief Royal Secretary took a day off?
Yes, I was surprised as well.
But then again, he hasn't had a rest in a while.
It is time for him to rest a bit as well.
Well
It seems like you didn't sleep very well all night. Your complexion
I've felt a bit frustrated as of late,
so I haven't been able to fall asleep. That may be why.
Your Highness! Are you alright?
I wonder why this could be. I need to go see His Majesty.
Your Highness!
Seonpyeong Gate
Your Majesty.
I apologize.
No, what should you apologize about?
Don't worry. It's just a simple ache that will pass.
No need to say anything.
Just rest comfortably.
Why did the queen faint?
It seems she has been weakened in both heart and body due to various incidents of late.
But if she stays like this, things will only be worse,
so I wonder if she could go somewhere for a change of air.
Go somewhere?
Your Majesty, isn't it for Her Highness' health?
Why are you hesitating?
That may be so,
but I don't know if I can make that call without Chief Royal Secretary being here.
Even if he were here, he would agree.
It will be a good opportunity for both you
and Her Highness.
I understand.
Well done. How is the queen's condition?
All her energy and bloodways are blocked, and she is very weak.
How about this, then?
Is there any way the queen will be able to bear His Majesty's heir?
How could I dare to speak of such a thing so lightly?
- However.
- However?
If we maintain this state, it will be difficult.
Take your leave.
With the excuse that tax officers in Houjin are crossing our borders,
Ming is asking us for our military to help them.
The borders becoming chaotic is beneficial for us as well.
Even if they were to notice the soldiers after the king's death,
we can just tell them our forces are for the purpose of defending our country from Houjin.
These two failed the exams.
Did you get their oath in writing that they are willing to offer up their life once they enter here?
Yes. One is a butcher, and the other is a runaway slave.
They seek to be released from their status.
We will only let the one who holds this sword survive.
I won.
Well done.
You should have done that from the very beginning.
Then you would have avoided failing.
Queen Dowager, the queen is here to see you.
Let her in.
Sujeong Hall
(Empress Dowager's Palace)
His Majesty cherishes you very much, Queen.
Don't worry about the palace and take good care of yourself while you are away.
I will make a full recovery and return to support His Majesty, so do not worry.
Of course.
Go on and drink. The tea will get cold.
♫ One flower petal out of reach ♫
♫ It leaves, pushed away by a harsh wind ♫
♫ It hovers, under the cold moonlight ♫
♫ Memories of you ♫
♫ Keep lingering in my mind, without realizing it ♫
♫ With a frozen heart, if I stop and turn around ♫
♫ I hope that everything is a dream and try to endure ♫
♫ But only my regrets grow ♫
♫ Just once, just once, if I could see you again ♫
♫ Even if I have to throw away everything I have ♫
♫ I can't forget, can't forget, until the day the world ends ♫
♫ Clutching my empty heart ♫
Who is escorting the queen?
Other than the reserved guards to protect His Majesty, I sent the elites to escort her, so don't worry.
Good work.
My Lord, when will you tell His Majesty about your condition?
I am not going to tell him.
You must find the person who tried to kill you and bring him to justice.
If he really wanted to kill me, he wouldn't have sent those beggars.
I am sure he has a different intention.
If I say it carelessly and reveal it, it'll cause chaos in the court and
that'll be just what the culprit wants.
So you must not tell this to His Majesty.
Understand?
Yes, My Lord.
Aren't they hazelnuts?
If you bite down on a hazelnut, the goblin that protects the buildings
will be startled by the sound and will grant you a wish.
I came to be with you.
We laugh together. We cry together.
I will endure it with you, so please don't give up on your will.
Your Majesty, what did you wish for?
Seeing you smile big and bright,
I'd love to see it once.
That what I wished for.
I see you with my eyes, so it would seem I see you with my heart as well.
The weather is quite chilly, so why don't you go inside now?
Ae Yeong, get ready to go back tomorrow.
Excuse me?
We've only stayed for three days and you want to go back already?
Your complexion has only gotten brighter now, how about we stay a little longer?
I am feeling much better.
You heard the physician say I am making a fast recovery.
But still
I think I must return to the palace to make a complete recovery.
Do you miss him already?
I am getting energized just by thinking about going back to the palace.
When is Chief Royal Secretary coming?
Not sure.
He said he is taking five days off, so I guess he'll be off all five days.
You still haven't heard any news about Dal Rae?
No.
Actually, that
I couldn't deliver the letter at the time.
Why did you not tell me until now?
Actually the brothel you asked me to deliver the letter to,
the chief royal secretary lives there.
The chief royal secretary?
Yes.
I think it'll be difficult for a while.
I'll go there myself.
Your Majesty.
Why not just give it up?
I'm her brother. Shouldn't I at least have news of my sister?
I'll come right back after hearing that she's alright.
I understand. I'll get ready.
I'll go alone.
It's cumbersome if you come with me and it'll only draw attention.
I can't.
Don't worry. I'll be quick like the wind.
This can't be
Your Majesty, what brings you here?
You didn't come alone, did you?
That is
I just came out for a short while.
By chance, did you come to see Chief Royal Secretary?
No.
I just came out to watch the people enjoying the Double Ninth Festival.
Your Majesty, let me escort you.
Okay, you may.
It's quite busy outside.
Is something happening?
It's the Double Ninth Festival. It seems there's a party.
I see it's that time already.
Your Highness, do you remember?
When we were young, we all made flower pancakes and went to the back hill to play on Double Ninth Day.
Of course, I remember.
It was the first time you got drunk on chrysanthemum liquor, wasn't it?
It was quite fun then.
Your Highness, how about if we go there and have a quick look?
Please, Your Highness. We don't know when we can come out again.
Very briefly, please.
I understand.
Stop.
Because it's the Double Ninth Festival, everyone's so excited. It's good to see.
Your Majesty, I'm nervous that I'm your only escort.
I think it would be best to return to the palace as soon as possible.
I feel very assured that you are here though.
I don't know how to react hearing those words.
Children, let's let our wishes fly. Write down your wishes.
I want to eat every day.
I want to eat meat side dishes.
Meat
That looks like fun. Shall we also write down our wishes and let them fly?
My apologies, but I don't have any wishes to ask for.
You have no wishes?
Is that possible?
Don't be like that and just tell me.
What's your wish?
It's not a wish.
But I do have one thing in mind.
Then, what is it?
Like the hyungnim who left this world while protecting you during the last rebellion,
I wish to dedicate my life and loyalty to protecting Your Majesty
and to die honorably.
Dedicating your loyalty and dying.
That's a good and magnificent deed.
But for me, instead of you dying magnificently for my sake,
for your sake,
if you were to live for what you want would be better.
Your Majesty.
Ah, yes.
I'm imagining things again.
Your Majesty.
Is it really you?
Have you been well, Your Majesty?
I've been well.
My Queen, you should have rested longer. Why are you out so soon?
Three days are enough.
If it were any longer, I felt like I would fall ill so I rushed out.
Are you here to see the people of the capital?
Yes! I heard that there will be festivities for the Double Ninth Festival,
so I stopped by to see for a moment.
Now that we've met up like this, we can return to the palace together.
Your Majesty.
Can't we stay a bit longer before returning?
Just a little bit will do.
I can't be either a bird soaring high in the heavens or a fish swimming in the deep waters
since we don't know when we can come out again.
Can't we?
Sounds good.
Dal Rae!
Dal Rae!
Monk! Monk!
Have you seen my Dal Rae?
She was definitely here not that long ago.
I think I know where Dal Rae is.
Let's go to the capital.
Yes.
The capital, you say?
Dal Rae!
Are you the new concubine that His Majesty selected?
Let's see that face, face, face!
Let's see that face!
Your Highness, why are you doing this to me?
Seon Hwa Dang, you wench!
Get away from His Majesty this instant!
How dare you put your butt there?
The queen is killing me!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
Why are you like this?
I'm going to tell His Majesty!
Why are you doing this?
This bitch of a queen is this evil and full of jealousy,
so the heavens have been angered and the country is becoming more and more chaotic.
Isn't that right?
Take this, take this.
It's red beans, enough to boil away ghosts.
Take that, you wench!
That's right, you wench!
Where did His Majesty go?
He was here just a moment ago!
Your Majesty, what's wrong?
I couldn't keep you there any longer.
I just thought we had to go somewhere with no one.
I'm sorry.
It's because I am imperfect. Why are you apologizing?
Your Majesty, I'm fine.
I'm just blissful that I am here with you
as if I'm in a dream.
If this is a dream. If it indeed is a dream,
then no matter what I do, it won't be a sin.
Is that not so?
Your Majesty.
Let's go.
Orabeoni (Older brother - mouthed).
Orabeoni.
Orabeoni!
Orabeoni!
Orabeoni!
The Crowned Clown
Preview
He has disappeared.
Have you forgotten formalities already?
There is someone who risked his life after believing me.
If I don't go, he will die in His Majesty's hands.
Drag him to the mountains and throw him to the tigers to be eaten.
Order the royal astronomy observers to make tomorrow the day for the queen and I to share her sleeping quarters.
Although you may wander from time to time, wander over to me.
I'll always be there at the end of your road.
It's already been decided where I have to go.
I'll return to the palace.