Captivating the King (2024) s01e12 Episode Script
Episode 12
1
CAPTIVATING THE KING
That is enough.
That will not shield me
from the heavens' will to punish me.
Punish, Your Majesty?
That is unreasonable.
You have no idea…
of the tremendous
and serious crime I am hiding.
It is about time
that the crimes come to light…
and justice is served.
EPISODE 12
Let her know I am here.
Your Royal Highness.
His Majesty has arrived.
Welcome, Your Majesty.
I came worried that you might be startled
by the thunder and lightning,
but it seems I was concerned needlessly.
As I am the eldest member
of the royal family,
it would be inappropriate for me
to cause a ruckus
over some thunder and lightning.
Mother.
The peach tree in the Royal Garden
was struck by lightning
and went up in flames.
I did not know
such a disaster had occurred.
Senior Court Lady Han must not have
told me to avoid startling me.
It is an ominous sign
that lightning struck the palace,
but on the bright side, no one was hurt.
Let us consider that good luck.
Do you truly believe it to be good luck?
My late brother handpicked that peach tree
and had it planted for me.
Why do you think
the heavens struck it with lightning?
I am afraid
that my ascension to the throne
might have been
against the heavens' wishes.
Nonsense!
Why do you make
such a fainthearted remark?
Mother.
Are you not afraid?
What should I be afraid of?
Do you truly have nothing
that burdens your heart?
Your words are stranger
than the thunder and lightning.
The people will be stirred yet again
by this incident.
We cannot have you
be the first one to be so affected.
Stay resolute.
I only asked out of the agony in my heart.
Do not think much of it.
I apologize, Your Majesty.
The world thinks
that I poisoned my brother to death.
You know…
who poisoned
my brother to death, do you not?
I will…
order them to bring a new one.
There is no need.
That will be all for the night.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I should have had
that peach tree chopped down
and thrown it into the fire long ago.
Why is he trembling in fear
over a mere tree?
His Majesty regards that tree
as himself.
That is why he went
above and beyond to save it.
Do not be foolish.
This is because he does not have
an heir to continue his line.
Had he had a son and heir with the Queen,
he would not be so easily swayed
by a mere strange event.
It seems that it is more urgent
to find a new queen
than Grand Prince Munseong's spouse.
You have a point.
I shall see to it.
Even under normal circumstances,
rumors about His Majesty
spread like wildfire.
With such a bizarre incident,
word will spread wider and faster.
The peach tree
is the chink in His Majesty's armor.
Stand back
in the morning assembly tomorrow
and let the state councilors handle it.
Yes, Lord Park.
How is the Great Lord doing these days?
As Her Majesty's illness
is more serious than we thought,
he is seeking a way
to acquire a cure for her.
I hear he will not be attending
the morning assembly tomorrow.
The Queen Dowager
is quite distressed as well.
Let us soon discuss
a marriage arrangement.
Yes, Lord Park.
Please return safely, my lord.
Brother.
What did the Principal Director mean
by the marriage arrangement?
It seems our family
will have a queen again
after a century of waiting.
Sorry?
So the marriage arrangement he spoke of
was referring to the selection
of a new queen?
Do not speak of this to anyone.
Of course not.
Last night,
a strange event occurred, burning down
the peach tree in the Royal Garden.
This must be a sign…
to set me on the right path.
What do you all think?
Your Majesty.
May I answer your question?
You may.
Your Majesty.
Before I could carry out
your royal command to save the tree,
it was lost to lightning.
This is clearly the heavens punishing me
for my negligence.
As such, I will await your punishment.
Please punish me as you see fit.
Myung-ha.
You have admitted your mistake
and stood before me
to take responsibility for it.
I am truly impressed.
That is enough,
so do not wait for my punishment.
Your Majesty.
Forgive me for my words,
but what is the reason
for not punishing him
when his crime is so clear?
Goodness, Right State Councilor.
Do you think
the roaring thunder and lightning
was to dismiss
a mere sixth royal secretary?
I did not mean to suggest that.
- However
- If you truly wish to soothe the heavens
by having someone seek punishment,
the high-ranking officials
should do so first,
and I, the king,
must do so as well.
The strange event by the heavens' hand
was to send its message to me,
not Kim Myung-ha.
Do you not agree, Principal Director?
You are right on all counts, Your Majesty.
In my humble opinion,
I believe the heavens struck lightning
to keep you vigilant
as they treasure you as a king.
I, Inspector General Kim Je-nam,
would like to share my thoughts.
I am listening.
Please use this as an opportunity
to right the wrongs of the land
that is sickening our nation
and harming our people.
Then, the recent disaster
will be transformed into a blessing.
Your words of advice…
are pleasing to hear.
Listen, Chief Royal Secretary.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Command me as you wish.
Each office shall investigate in detail
the wrongs within their organization
and make a report of their solution.
This applies to everyone,
from the overseers of offices
to those of lower posts.
Do you understand?
- Yes, Your Majesty.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
Heed my words, Left State Councilor.
Submit a recommendation of officials
to be named as special royal commissioners
who will investigate
corrupt and greedy magistrates,
including the former ones.
I shall carry out your command,
Your Majesty.
Choam.
Please wait.
Did you call me?
My greetings are belated.
Congratulations on becoming
the Inspector General.
I am not sure
receiving congratulations
is appropriate on a day like this,
but I am flattered by your warm welcome.
The recent event should not hinder me
from offering congratulations.
I wish to arrange a gathering for you
in the near future.
When would suit you best?
Forgive me,
but I do not think I can attend.
His Majesty has appointed me
Inspector General himself.
I should not fraternize with a powerhouse
without a just cause.
Also,
please refrain from calling me Choam.
That name
is only reserved for my friends.
Master.
Do you really think the heavens
struck lightning to crumble this nation?
What is your opinion,
Your Highness?
In my opinion,
I do not think
the heavens would be that heartless.
However, I am worried.
The peach tree
that my late father planted burned down.
I am sure His Majesty is grieving over it.
But I am uncertain
what to say to console him.
Your Highness.
Are you not afraid of His Majesty?
Of course, I am.
When I have committed a crime
against him like the last time, that is.
But at other times, not at all.
I heard the court maids gossiping
that His Majesty will harm me one day.
Even after hearing such words,
you are still not afraid of him?
His Majesty that I know
will never harm me.
He will protect Myung-ha as well.
Your Highness.
See? Did I not tell you?
It is good news
that His Highness trusts the King.
Hostility toward the King
would only put him at a greater risk.
However,
His Highness will come to see one day
what a heinous man
the King is.
My father
died before my eyes by the King's sword.
He slaughtered my father
in front of everyone.
Even beasts…
hold a grudge when one of its own
is slaughtered like so.
Even if the King spares my life
and forgives me a thousand times over,
he is still…
the enemy who killed my father.
Your Majesty, His Majesty has arrived.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
I apologize, but Her Majesty
is making herself presentable,
so please give her a moment.
I have finished, Your Majesty.
Tell me.
When will Her Majesty recover?
We can only learn about her symptoms
by checking her pulse.
We shall check her pulse
every morning and evening
and bring her herbal medicine.
Great Lord.
Please mind your manners
before His Majesty.
I apologize, Your Majesty.
Do not mind it.
The Queen will not be able to get her rest
if I stay here too long,
so I will excuse myself now.
Your Majesty, please stay a little longer.
It has been so long
since I have seen the two of you together.
Would that be all right?
If it is all right with you,
please stay longer.
I will.
Bring some tea for His Majesty.
Could the Queen
have been poisoned like my brother?
No, Your Majesty.
Her Majesty was innately weak,
and her chronic illness simply worsened.
How long does she have?
I am afraid to predict
the matters of her life,
but it seems her time is running out.
I have a matter
I wish to discuss with the Great Lord.
What could this be about
for you to seek privacy?
It may be painful for you to hear,
but please bear with me until the end.
If it is a painful matter, do not speak.
I will not listen.
Father.
Go ahead.
I am afraid
I will be
leaving you soon.
That is not true.
It is only your illness
that is making you dispirited.
A talented fortuneteller
from Mount Paektu swore to me
that you were born
with an extremely rare fate
and that you will bear His Majesty's heir
and live a long life.
Father.
Please hold on just a little longer.
I will find a talented physician
to cure you
even if I have to empty out my fortune.
People may point fingers at you
and call you a greedy miser,
but you have always been so generous
and understanding toward me.
The prospect of traveling
to the cold Underworld all alone
makes me feel hopeless
and terrified.
But as you have always treated me
with kindness despite my foolishness,
I will remember the warmth of your hands
as I face my death.
Father.
I have one wish.
I hope you will grant it.
I wish to
secure Grand Prince Munseong's safety
before I die.
I understand your affection for him.
But securing his safety is no easy feat.
If he becomes the Crown Prince,
his safety will be ensured.
Please attend the assembly
and petition His Majesty.
Be sure to mind your manners
in front of Her Royal Highness.
I understand.
These are highly valuable
100-year-old wild ginseng.
Hoping for your long and full life,
I went through great efforts
to acquire it.
Thank you.
I will gladly accept it.
Bring some tea.
So,
how old are your nieces?
Your Royal Highness.
The older one is 17,
and the younger one is 16.
Both girls are well-behaved and strong
without any illnesses.
My family
is also blessed with many sons.
I understand your meaning,
Third Minister Yoo.
Please drink the tea before it turns cold.
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Why did you bring Yoo Hyun-bo,
not Min Ji-hwan?
He seems greedy
and without any class or wisdom.
That is what makes him perfect.
To avoid people pointing fingers at me
for being a domineering kin of the King,
I humbled myself, even bearing
the nickname of the Three Hwans.
But I cannot do so indefinitely.
To ensure my best service to His Majesty,
I decided that I could
no longer split the power
among the three of us.
You have made a wise decision.
But would Min Ji-hwan stand back?
I am sure he is full of anticipation.
I shall explain to him with reason.
Will your words be enough?
What did you just say?
A spouse for Grand Prince Munseong?
I misheard you, did I not?
You heard me right.
What do you think of him
as your daughter's spouse?
Lord Park.
Did you not mention
that she would be the queen?
I only said that we would discuss
marriage arrangements.
I never mentioned
that she would become the queen.
Do not tell me…
you chose Yoo Hyun-bo.
That is none of your concern.
What wrong did I ever do to you?
Do not think of this marriage offer
as a punishment.
It is no reward either!
Then what about everything
you have received until now?
Think carefully and get back to me.
You brats!
What took you so long to open up?
Brother, why are you so upset?
I am not upset.
I came to tell you that we have guests.
What impolite people
have barged in at this late hour?
What brings you to my house,
Gidaeryeong Kang
and Sixth Royal Secretary?
I came to give the Third Minister
the baduk table I owed him
and have been waiting for you
to greet you before leaving.
Forgive me for the inhospitality,
but please leave.
I am very exhausted.
You must have been shaken to learn
that the marriage offer
was not for the next queen.
Did you tell them, Sang-hyo?
Absolutely not.
But is he right?
Was the offer not for the queen?
The Principal Director's offer
would have been
the spouse of Grand Prince Munseong.
So the baduk table was an excuse.
I will speak in detail inside.
Accept the marriage offer
to Grand Prince Munseong.
You are asking me
to take a leap into the abyss.
Brother.
You must know what will follow
should you refuse the marriage offer.
My family will be destroyed.
For what reason
would the Principal Director
bring such a disaster to our family?
He had the Great Lord
and you, Minister Min,
at his side as his two wings
when ascending His Majesty to the throne.
He controlled the court
and exploited his power
while hiding behind the nickname,
Three Hwans.
Then Kim Je-nam was appointed.
He would have felt the need
to seize all power himself.
And as you would likely not acquiesce
when you hold the military power,
he sought to cripple you
by offering marital ties
to the Grand Prince.
Were a queen to emerge from our family,
our influence would grow.
So he took the initiative
to nip it in the bud.
What is it that you want to say?
I will have the two wings
the Principal Director abandoned
become Grand Prince Munseong's wings
and have him
become the Crown Prince,
His Majesty's heir.
It is up to you, Minister Min.
What do you say?
It is easier said than done.
Merely suggesting the idea
of appointing him the Crown Prince
would have one branded as a traitor.
One way or another,
your family is set out to be doomed.
Am I wrong?
I must know
how His Majesty feels about this.
Gidaeryeong Kang.
His Majesty summons you.
Follow me.
I have wanted to do that since long ago.
But I have yet to discuss it
with the court.
Then I shall report to you again
after coming up with a detailed plan.
Please do.
If you will excuse me now, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
The gidaeryeong is here.
Why are you looking at me so intently?
Forgive me, Your Majesty.
It is just that you seemed
quite distressed last night.
However, I am relieved
that you seem bright.
One's heart is truly a fickle thing.
To wish for life when you love them…
and death when you hate them.
Wishing them to live
while wishing them to die.
That paradox
is what it means to be captivated.
These are the words of the wise scholars
that the late king enjoyed reciting.
I used to think that it meant
a king should not be captivated.
But I finally understand its meaning.
This tree may be gone,
but it found a place
to put down roots in my heart.
And it will continue to grow there.
Thinking so put my mind at ease.
Will you leave this spot empty?
I have already given an order
to have another tree planted.
The peach tree that turned into ashes
will serve as a good ground
for the new tree.
So he ordered for another tree
as the burnt tree
would serve as a good ground?
What does this mean?
I believe that it means
he is looking for an heir
who will inherit his throne.
And how can you be so sure
that he has the Grand Prince in mind?
No one in the royal family
will satisfy His Majesty.
Only Grand Prince Munseong will.
I have never once thought
that His Majesty saw him as his successor.
Please convey this to your brother.
I shall.
But I cannot promise you anything.
My brother is a cautious man
who meticulously assesses his moves.
I am aware.
Right, that baduk table was great.
Let us play baduk with a bet sometime
without His Majesty's knowing.
It would be my pleasure.
I do not know when it will be,
but I shall keep it in mind.
I do not think
we can convince Min Ji-hwan.
Even I cannot believe
that the King wants
Grand Prince Munseong as his heir.
There is no chance
Min Ji-hwan will believe it.
I am sure of this.
The King intends
to give the throne to His Highness.
Last night,
I had the same impression
as you repeated the Grand Prince's words.
It seems to me
that you want to believe the King.
Great Lord.
How is Her Majesty doing?
Why do you ask?
Are you counting down
the days she has left?
You may find it hard to believe,
but I am concerned as well.
The Principal Director
seems to have offered Yoo Hyun-bo
the chance to become the next queen's kin.
I suspected as much.
I seek to petition His Majesty
to appoint the Grand Prince
as the Crown Prince
upon Her Majesty's request.
Will you join hands with me?
Are you trying to drag me down with you?
This is the last resort for us.
We cannot let him put us down
like some useless hounds.
I shall accept the marriage offer
to Grand Prince Munseong.
Tell me your conditions.
I will step down from my position
and petition to be replaced.
In return,
appoint me as the headmaster
of the Royal Confucian Academy.
So you wish to protect your family
in return for relinquishing
the military power?
I mean to take on a position
where I will not be a threat to you.
I understand.
I will arrange that.
Something is off with Minister Min.
He is not the type
to meekly accept the offer.
It does not matter.
The Min Family will not be able to
gain power in court again.
In tomorrow's morning assembly,
you must petition His Majesty
that as the Grand Prince has matured,
he should get married
and leave the palace.
Repeat those very words.
Yes, my lord.
That is enough.
Go rest, Grand Prince.
Please do not mind me.
I will stay by your side
until you fall asleep.
Righting the wrongs of every office
will take days.
Before that,
we must have a countermeasure
to put the people's minds at ease.
When such disasters struck,
we had daesaryeong to soothe the people.
DAESARYEONG: ROYAL COMMAND FOR AMNESTY
Freeing criminals and offering relief
will be effective
in combating the ill rumors
that are swaying the people.
Such temporary measures have limits.
Are there any other thoughts?
Your Majesty.
Please allow me to speak.
Go ahead.
The recent strange event
was brought upon by
my family and I.
What do you mean by that?
If the future of our nation
was ensured by your heir,
the heavens would not have
struck lightning into the palace.
The people's minds
would not have been rattled
this much either.
As an unfortunate coincidence,
Her Majesty has fallen ill.
Thus, it is clear that this disaster
was caused by my family and I.
Father-in-law.
Do not think that way.
I have never once
considered this to be your fault.
Your Majesty.
As you have consoled me
with your benevolence,
I would like to muster up the courage
and request a petition.
Your Majesty!
I entreat you in tears!
Please appoint Grand Prince Munseong
to be the Crown Prince
and ensure the future of this nation!
Your Majesty!
The Great Lord's petition
would harm the safety of this nation
and your reign.
His words are no different
from those of any traitor!
I advise you to have the Great Lord
interrogated immediately
and punished harshly for high treason!
Do you all concur
with the Principal Director?
I humbly advise you
to grant the Great Lord's petition.
Inspector General.
Do reconsider.
You must remember
that offering support to a traitor
makes you one as well.
Inspector General.
For what reason should I approve of it?
Appointing the Grand Prince as your heir
offers three benefits.
First, with the Grand Prince
as the Crown Prince,
this nation's future will be ensured.
Second, it would calm
the anxious minds of the people.
And third,
the ill rumors will subside by themselves.
There is no other measure
better than this, Your Majesty.
What you have spoken
is absolutely foolish!
Grand Prince Munseong
is the son of the late king.
Should he become the Crown Prince,
that would make His Majesty
an intruder to the lineage.
Then, His Majesty's sovereignty
shall seem illegitimate to the people.
This will inevitably endanger his reign
and give a pretext to the traitors!
That is not an issue.
You can simply adopt
the Grand Prince as your son
and appoint him the Crown Prince
and easily prevent any potential issues.
Do you not agree, Principal Director?
Your Majesty!
I have petitioned this request
with that very intent!
This is my final request.
Please adopt the Grand Prince
as Her Majesty's issue
before she passes away
so that he may perform
the memorial service for her
after her passing!
Here comes His Majesty.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
I have not made myself presentable yet.
You are still weak, so stay as you are.
I come with a question.
Leave us.
During today's assembly,
your father petitioned me…
to appoint Grand Prince Munseong
as the Crown Prince.
Were you aware of this?
It is what I wish for.
For what reason?
Your Majesty.
I am a sinner to you.
And to the Great Lord,
I am an undutiful daughter.
Do not…
Do not say such words.
It is a pity that I am only now realizing…
what a kind person you are.
It is my fault.
Until now,
I have been…
an awful husband to you, My Queen.
No, Your Majesty.
It was through no single person's fault.
I will answer your question.
Your Majesty.
As my last service to you before death,
I wanted to remove
a burden on your shoulders.
I also thought
that Grand Prince Munseong's position
would become more secure this way.
Is this sincerely and entirely your idea?
Yes.
It is…
my idea.
If you do not feel comfortable,
please do not approve of it.
I dare ask
that you punish me for the suggestion
and not…
the Great Lord and Grand Prince Munseong.
I shall go to Yeongchwijeong.
Summon Gidaeryeong Kang Mong-woo.
Yes, Your Majesty.
The Great Lord petitioned today.
Did you advise the Queen on this?
Yes, Your Majesty.
As Her Majesty was concerned
about the safety of the Grand Prince,
I told her a way.
Do you understand
the gravity of your action?
If the court sets its mind on it,
the Great Lord,
as well as the Grand Prince,
may be branded as traitors and face death.
I have only done what you wished for.
Watching the ashes of the peach tree,
you said it would serve
as a good ground for the new tree.
You now dare to read my heart?
I can read it like an open book.
Please do not try to deceive me as well.
Please stop trying to sway me.
You will end up in danger.
Your Majesty, it is me, Sang-hwa.
Her Royal Highness
requests an urgent audience.
All right.
The ones who petitioned this request,
Great Lord Oh Wook-hwan
and Minister of War Min Ji-hwan,
and the one who supported it,
Inspector General Kim Je-nam,
must be dismissed and punished.
The Queen should also be
stripped of her position and expelled!
Your Majesty.
I hope you are not considering
adopting the Grand Prince as your son.
As I have mentioned,
it is difficult for me to sire an heir.
The only closest kin I have
is the Grand Prince.
That is ridiculous!
If only you change your mind,
you can always sire an heir.
Forgive me,
but I have made up my mind.
I will…
appoint the Grand Prince
as the Crown Prince.
That can only happen
over my dead body.
Do you think His Majesty
will accept the Great Lord's request?
Yes.
Inspector General Kim Je-nam's remarks
would have convinced him.
It is indeed the best measure
to soothe the people's minds.
You are all speaking nonsense.
You should not concur
with something so unacceptable.
Mind your tone and manners,
Third Minister Yoo!
I was just too frustrated.
Please forgive me.
Anyway, we shall follow
His Majesty's decision
if he approves.
My lord.
Are you going to sit back and watch?
My lord.
Please hold onto this.
I will take it back
the next time there is a drizzle.
All right.
I will keep it safe until then.
You brat, what insolence is this?
Withdraw your sword immediately.
Your Majesty.
What shall I do?
Principal Director.
Did you forget that no one can enter here
without my permission?
Your Majesty,
I have come to request a private audience.
You may leave.
Your Majesty.
Are you truly considering
approving the Great Lord's petition?
I will approve it.
The Inspector General had a point
when he said that ensuring
the nation's future
would silence the ill rumors.
It is a foolish thought, Your Majesty.
I have struggled on and on
to protect your reign.
What wisdom could he have
after years away from the capital?
You must not let him sway you.
I just cannot accept it.
Please come to your senses!
Are you the king of this nation, Uncle?
How dare you raise your voice at me
and lecture me
on what is acceptable or not?
I apologize, Your Majesty.
- I was only
- In your eyes,
I must still look like a weeping child
holding onto my mother's skirts.
I cannot dare to think that way.
I was only concerned
that you were lending your ear
to the words
of the cowardly and disloyal
Shut your mouth!
What exactly have you done for my reign?
Stop taking the credit
and tell me of your exploits.
The appointment of the Crown Prince
is merely a trick to overcome the chaos
caused by the strange event.
When the people's minds are put at ease,
I can expel and banish him from the palace
and then eliminate him.
You are the one who should stop
being foolish and come to your senses.
If you dare to disrespect me
and display insolence ever again,
you will not go unpunished
even with protection from my mother.
If the court opposes your decision
to expel the Crown Prince,
what will you do then?
I am the king of this nation.
The king shall not be insulted.
Anyone who opposes me shall face death
and that includes
my kin who shares my blood.
I finally understand
why my late brother hated me so much
and wanted me dead.
The power of the king
is not to be shared with anyone else.
Your Majesty,
Grand Prince Munseong is here.
Let him in.
Take it.
This is a token of my vow
that I will adopt you as my son
and appoint you the Crown Prince.
I promise to serve you as your son
with all my heart
and carry out the duties
of the Crown Prince.
I will call you Mother from now on.
Congratulations, Your Majesty.
This is all…
thanks to you, Father.
I can finally
close my eyes in peace.
Your Majesty.
Mother.
Your Majesty.
Mother.
Mother.
Mother.
Your Majesty…
Your Majesty…
Her Majesty has passed away.
His Majesty ordered you
not to enter the palace
during her funeral.
I understand.
The time has come.
With the King still alive,
the Grand Prince's life will be at risk.
Please make your decision now.
The appointment of the Crown Prince
is merely a trick to overcome the chaos
caused by the strange event.
When the people's minds are put at ease,
I can expel and banish him from the palace
and then eliminate him.
You are the one who should stop
being foolish and come to your senses.
My lady.
I will do it.
I started this,
so I want to finish it myself.
I cannot allow that.
I must end the King's life
with my own hands.
That is the only way…
to soothe Hongjang's resentment.
All right.
Do as you wish.
My lady.
My lady.
I was arrogant.
I thought I lost myself three years ago…
and had nothing left
to lose or be afraid of.
But I still must have kept hopes…
to live out my life as Kang Hee-soo
and to believe in the King.
I am clueless…
as to what to do with my feelings.
You are breaking my heart, my lady.
I am the one who went through
the mourning for the Queen,
and yet, you look worse off than me.
It must be due to my guilty conscience
for my crimes against her.
The Queen relied on you.
She would not wish for you to be in pain.
You said if I called for you,
you would come running to me.
I wish…
to see you tonight.
I also wish for the same thing.
Then…
I shall wait for you there.
Let the King enter first
and come in a moment later.
I must
remain a nameless assassin
who snuck in to murder the King.
You must pretend to have been ignorant.
Do you understand?
If you do meet Hongjang,
please give her my regards.
I shall.
Wait outside.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I…
Must have given you a hard time.
What must I do to stop your tears?
What is the matter?
You are trembling. What is wrong?
You cannot…
go inside.
Do you have another lover waiting inside?
Or…
is there an assassin hiding to kill me?
CAPTIVATING THE KING
Did something happen to His Majesty?
Is His Majesty the man
who lost his consciousness from a wound?
If you truly care for Grand Prince Jinhan,
become the King's woman.
"You know who poisoned
the late king to death, do you not?"
She must have used all her might
to get here.
Where is His Majesty?
You decided to kill me
because you became afraid and sick of me.
Due to the grudges they hold,
Kang Mong-woo and Kim Myung-ha
must have given the order
to assassinate you.
Summon the members
of the Border Defense Council.
I will interrogate the traitor myself.
Subtitle translation by: Jea-heon Chung
CAPTIVATING THE KING
That is enough.
That will not shield me
from the heavens' will to punish me.
Punish, Your Majesty?
That is unreasonable.
You have no idea…
of the tremendous
and serious crime I am hiding.
It is about time
that the crimes come to light…
and justice is served.
EPISODE 12
Let her know I am here.
Your Royal Highness.
His Majesty has arrived.
Welcome, Your Majesty.
I came worried that you might be startled
by the thunder and lightning,
but it seems I was concerned needlessly.
As I am the eldest member
of the royal family,
it would be inappropriate for me
to cause a ruckus
over some thunder and lightning.
Mother.
The peach tree in the Royal Garden
was struck by lightning
and went up in flames.
I did not know
such a disaster had occurred.
Senior Court Lady Han must not have
told me to avoid startling me.
It is an ominous sign
that lightning struck the palace,
but on the bright side, no one was hurt.
Let us consider that good luck.
Do you truly believe it to be good luck?
My late brother handpicked that peach tree
and had it planted for me.
Why do you think
the heavens struck it with lightning?
I am afraid
that my ascension to the throne
might have been
against the heavens' wishes.
Nonsense!
Why do you make
such a fainthearted remark?
Mother.
Are you not afraid?
What should I be afraid of?
Do you truly have nothing
that burdens your heart?
Your words are stranger
than the thunder and lightning.
The people will be stirred yet again
by this incident.
We cannot have you
be the first one to be so affected.
Stay resolute.
I only asked out of the agony in my heart.
Do not think much of it.
I apologize, Your Majesty.
The world thinks
that I poisoned my brother to death.
You know…
who poisoned
my brother to death, do you not?
I will…
order them to bring a new one.
There is no need.
That will be all for the night.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I should have had
that peach tree chopped down
and thrown it into the fire long ago.
Why is he trembling in fear
over a mere tree?
His Majesty regards that tree
as himself.
That is why he went
above and beyond to save it.
Do not be foolish.
This is because he does not have
an heir to continue his line.
Had he had a son and heir with the Queen,
he would not be so easily swayed
by a mere strange event.
It seems that it is more urgent
to find a new queen
than Grand Prince Munseong's spouse.
You have a point.
I shall see to it.
Even under normal circumstances,
rumors about His Majesty
spread like wildfire.
With such a bizarre incident,
word will spread wider and faster.
The peach tree
is the chink in His Majesty's armor.
Stand back
in the morning assembly tomorrow
and let the state councilors handle it.
Yes, Lord Park.
How is the Great Lord doing these days?
As Her Majesty's illness
is more serious than we thought,
he is seeking a way
to acquire a cure for her.
I hear he will not be attending
the morning assembly tomorrow.
The Queen Dowager
is quite distressed as well.
Let us soon discuss
a marriage arrangement.
Yes, Lord Park.
Please return safely, my lord.
Brother.
What did the Principal Director mean
by the marriage arrangement?
It seems our family
will have a queen again
after a century of waiting.
Sorry?
So the marriage arrangement he spoke of
was referring to the selection
of a new queen?
Do not speak of this to anyone.
Of course not.
Last night,
a strange event occurred, burning down
the peach tree in the Royal Garden.
This must be a sign…
to set me on the right path.
What do you all think?
Your Majesty.
May I answer your question?
You may.
Your Majesty.
Before I could carry out
your royal command to save the tree,
it was lost to lightning.
This is clearly the heavens punishing me
for my negligence.
As such, I will await your punishment.
Please punish me as you see fit.
Myung-ha.
You have admitted your mistake
and stood before me
to take responsibility for it.
I am truly impressed.
That is enough,
so do not wait for my punishment.
Your Majesty.
Forgive me for my words,
but what is the reason
for not punishing him
when his crime is so clear?
Goodness, Right State Councilor.
Do you think
the roaring thunder and lightning
was to dismiss
a mere sixth royal secretary?
I did not mean to suggest that.
- However
- If you truly wish to soothe the heavens
by having someone seek punishment,
the high-ranking officials
should do so first,
and I, the king,
must do so as well.
The strange event by the heavens' hand
was to send its message to me,
not Kim Myung-ha.
Do you not agree, Principal Director?
You are right on all counts, Your Majesty.
In my humble opinion,
I believe the heavens struck lightning
to keep you vigilant
as they treasure you as a king.
I, Inspector General Kim Je-nam,
would like to share my thoughts.
I am listening.
Please use this as an opportunity
to right the wrongs of the land
that is sickening our nation
and harming our people.
Then, the recent disaster
will be transformed into a blessing.
Your words of advice…
are pleasing to hear.
Listen, Chief Royal Secretary.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Command me as you wish.
Each office shall investigate in detail
the wrongs within their organization
and make a report of their solution.
This applies to everyone,
from the overseers of offices
to those of lower posts.
Do you understand?
- Yes, Your Majesty.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
Heed my words, Left State Councilor.
Submit a recommendation of officials
to be named as special royal commissioners
who will investigate
corrupt and greedy magistrates,
including the former ones.
I shall carry out your command,
Your Majesty.
Choam.
Please wait.
Did you call me?
My greetings are belated.
Congratulations on becoming
the Inspector General.
I am not sure
receiving congratulations
is appropriate on a day like this,
but I am flattered by your warm welcome.
The recent event should not hinder me
from offering congratulations.
I wish to arrange a gathering for you
in the near future.
When would suit you best?
Forgive me,
but I do not think I can attend.
His Majesty has appointed me
Inspector General himself.
I should not fraternize with a powerhouse
without a just cause.
Also,
please refrain from calling me Choam.
That name
is only reserved for my friends.
Master.
Do you really think the heavens
struck lightning to crumble this nation?
What is your opinion,
Your Highness?
In my opinion,
I do not think
the heavens would be that heartless.
However, I am worried.
The peach tree
that my late father planted burned down.
I am sure His Majesty is grieving over it.
But I am uncertain
what to say to console him.
Your Highness.
Are you not afraid of His Majesty?
Of course, I am.
When I have committed a crime
against him like the last time, that is.
But at other times, not at all.
I heard the court maids gossiping
that His Majesty will harm me one day.
Even after hearing such words,
you are still not afraid of him?
His Majesty that I know
will never harm me.
He will protect Myung-ha as well.
Your Highness.
See? Did I not tell you?
It is good news
that His Highness trusts the King.
Hostility toward the King
would only put him at a greater risk.
However,
His Highness will come to see one day
what a heinous man
the King is.
My father
died before my eyes by the King's sword.
He slaughtered my father
in front of everyone.
Even beasts…
hold a grudge when one of its own
is slaughtered like so.
Even if the King spares my life
and forgives me a thousand times over,
he is still…
the enemy who killed my father.
Your Majesty, His Majesty has arrived.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
I apologize, but Her Majesty
is making herself presentable,
so please give her a moment.
I have finished, Your Majesty.
Tell me.
When will Her Majesty recover?
We can only learn about her symptoms
by checking her pulse.
We shall check her pulse
every morning and evening
and bring her herbal medicine.
Great Lord.
Please mind your manners
before His Majesty.
I apologize, Your Majesty.
Do not mind it.
The Queen will not be able to get her rest
if I stay here too long,
so I will excuse myself now.
Your Majesty, please stay a little longer.
It has been so long
since I have seen the two of you together.
Would that be all right?
If it is all right with you,
please stay longer.
I will.
Bring some tea for His Majesty.
Could the Queen
have been poisoned like my brother?
No, Your Majesty.
Her Majesty was innately weak,
and her chronic illness simply worsened.
How long does she have?
I am afraid to predict
the matters of her life,
but it seems her time is running out.
I have a matter
I wish to discuss with the Great Lord.
What could this be about
for you to seek privacy?
It may be painful for you to hear,
but please bear with me until the end.
If it is a painful matter, do not speak.
I will not listen.
Father.
Go ahead.
I am afraid
I will be
leaving you soon.
That is not true.
It is only your illness
that is making you dispirited.
A talented fortuneteller
from Mount Paektu swore to me
that you were born
with an extremely rare fate
and that you will bear His Majesty's heir
and live a long life.
Father.
Please hold on just a little longer.
I will find a talented physician
to cure you
even if I have to empty out my fortune.
People may point fingers at you
and call you a greedy miser,
but you have always been so generous
and understanding toward me.
The prospect of traveling
to the cold Underworld all alone
makes me feel hopeless
and terrified.
But as you have always treated me
with kindness despite my foolishness,
I will remember the warmth of your hands
as I face my death.
Father.
I have one wish.
I hope you will grant it.
I wish to
secure Grand Prince Munseong's safety
before I die.
I understand your affection for him.
But securing his safety is no easy feat.
If he becomes the Crown Prince,
his safety will be ensured.
Please attend the assembly
and petition His Majesty.
Be sure to mind your manners
in front of Her Royal Highness.
I understand.
These are highly valuable
100-year-old wild ginseng.
Hoping for your long and full life,
I went through great efforts
to acquire it.
Thank you.
I will gladly accept it.
Bring some tea.
So,
how old are your nieces?
Your Royal Highness.
The older one is 17,
and the younger one is 16.
Both girls are well-behaved and strong
without any illnesses.
My family
is also blessed with many sons.
I understand your meaning,
Third Minister Yoo.
Please drink the tea before it turns cold.
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Why did you bring Yoo Hyun-bo,
not Min Ji-hwan?
He seems greedy
and without any class or wisdom.
That is what makes him perfect.
To avoid people pointing fingers at me
for being a domineering kin of the King,
I humbled myself, even bearing
the nickname of the Three Hwans.
But I cannot do so indefinitely.
To ensure my best service to His Majesty,
I decided that I could
no longer split the power
among the three of us.
You have made a wise decision.
But would Min Ji-hwan stand back?
I am sure he is full of anticipation.
I shall explain to him with reason.
Will your words be enough?
What did you just say?
A spouse for Grand Prince Munseong?
I misheard you, did I not?
You heard me right.
What do you think of him
as your daughter's spouse?
Lord Park.
Did you not mention
that she would be the queen?
I only said that we would discuss
marriage arrangements.
I never mentioned
that she would become the queen.
Do not tell me…
you chose Yoo Hyun-bo.
That is none of your concern.
What wrong did I ever do to you?
Do not think of this marriage offer
as a punishment.
It is no reward either!
Then what about everything
you have received until now?
Think carefully and get back to me.
You brats!
What took you so long to open up?
Brother, why are you so upset?
I am not upset.
I came to tell you that we have guests.
What impolite people
have barged in at this late hour?
What brings you to my house,
Gidaeryeong Kang
and Sixth Royal Secretary?
I came to give the Third Minister
the baduk table I owed him
and have been waiting for you
to greet you before leaving.
Forgive me for the inhospitality,
but please leave.
I am very exhausted.
You must have been shaken to learn
that the marriage offer
was not for the next queen.
Did you tell them, Sang-hyo?
Absolutely not.
But is he right?
Was the offer not for the queen?
The Principal Director's offer
would have been
the spouse of Grand Prince Munseong.
So the baduk table was an excuse.
I will speak in detail inside.
Accept the marriage offer
to Grand Prince Munseong.
You are asking me
to take a leap into the abyss.
Brother.
You must know what will follow
should you refuse the marriage offer.
My family will be destroyed.
For what reason
would the Principal Director
bring such a disaster to our family?
He had the Great Lord
and you, Minister Min,
at his side as his two wings
when ascending His Majesty to the throne.
He controlled the court
and exploited his power
while hiding behind the nickname,
Three Hwans.
Then Kim Je-nam was appointed.
He would have felt the need
to seize all power himself.
And as you would likely not acquiesce
when you hold the military power,
he sought to cripple you
by offering marital ties
to the Grand Prince.
Were a queen to emerge from our family,
our influence would grow.
So he took the initiative
to nip it in the bud.
What is it that you want to say?
I will have the two wings
the Principal Director abandoned
become Grand Prince Munseong's wings
and have him
become the Crown Prince,
His Majesty's heir.
It is up to you, Minister Min.
What do you say?
It is easier said than done.
Merely suggesting the idea
of appointing him the Crown Prince
would have one branded as a traitor.
One way or another,
your family is set out to be doomed.
Am I wrong?
I must know
how His Majesty feels about this.
Gidaeryeong Kang.
His Majesty summons you.
Follow me.
I have wanted to do that since long ago.
But I have yet to discuss it
with the court.
Then I shall report to you again
after coming up with a detailed plan.
Please do.
If you will excuse me now, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
The gidaeryeong is here.
Why are you looking at me so intently?
Forgive me, Your Majesty.
It is just that you seemed
quite distressed last night.
However, I am relieved
that you seem bright.
One's heart is truly a fickle thing.
To wish for life when you love them…
and death when you hate them.
Wishing them to live
while wishing them to die.
That paradox
is what it means to be captivated.
These are the words of the wise scholars
that the late king enjoyed reciting.
I used to think that it meant
a king should not be captivated.
But I finally understand its meaning.
This tree may be gone,
but it found a place
to put down roots in my heart.
And it will continue to grow there.
Thinking so put my mind at ease.
Will you leave this spot empty?
I have already given an order
to have another tree planted.
The peach tree that turned into ashes
will serve as a good ground
for the new tree.
So he ordered for another tree
as the burnt tree
would serve as a good ground?
What does this mean?
I believe that it means
he is looking for an heir
who will inherit his throne.
And how can you be so sure
that he has the Grand Prince in mind?
No one in the royal family
will satisfy His Majesty.
Only Grand Prince Munseong will.
I have never once thought
that His Majesty saw him as his successor.
Please convey this to your brother.
I shall.
But I cannot promise you anything.
My brother is a cautious man
who meticulously assesses his moves.
I am aware.
Right, that baduk table was great.
Let us play baduk with a bet sometime
without His Majesty's knowing.
It would be my pleasure.
I do not know when it will be,
but I shall keep it in mind.
I do not think
we can convince Min Ji-hwan.
Even I cannot believe
that the King wants
Grand Prince Munseong as his heir.
There is no chance
Min Ji-hwan will believe it.
I am sure of this.
The King intends
to give the throne to His Highness.
Last night,
I had the same impression
as you repeated the Grand Prince's words.
It seems to me
that you want to believe the King.
Great Lord.
How is Her Majesty doing?
Why do you ask?
Are you counting down
the days she has left?
You may find it hard to believe,
but I am concerned as well.
The Principal Director
seems to have offered Yoo Hyun-bo
the chance to become the next queen's kin.
I suspected as much.
I seek to petition His Majesty
to appoint the Grand Prince
as the Crown Prince
upon Her Majesty's request.
Will you join hands with me?
Are you trying to drag me down with you?
This is the last resort for us.
We cannot let him put us down
like some useless hounds.
I shall accept the marriage offer
to Grand Prince Munseong.
Tell me your conditions.
I will step down from my position
and petition to be replaced.
In return,
appoint me as the headmaster
of the Royal Confucian Academy.
So you wish to protect your family
in return for relinquishing
the military power?
I mean to take on a position
where I will not be a threat to you.
I understand.
I will arrange that.
Something is off with Minister Min.
He is not the type
to meekly accept the offer.
It does not matter.
The Min Family will not be able to
gain power in court again.
In tomorrow's morning assembly,
you must petition His Majesty
that as the Grand Prince has matured,
he should get married
and leave the palace.
Repeat those very words.
Yes, my lord.
That is enough.
Go rest, Grand Prince.
Please do not mind me.
I will stay by your side
until you fall asleep.
Righting the wrongs of every office
will take days.
Before that,
we must have a countermeasure
to put the people's minds at ease.
When such disasters struck,
we had daesaryeong to soothe the people.
DAESARYEONG: ROYAL COMMAND FOR AMNESTY
Freeing criminals and offering relief
will be effective
in combating the ill rumors
that are swaying the people.
Such temporary measures have limits.
Are there any other thoughts?
Your Majesty.
Please allow me to speak.
Go ahead.
The recent strange event
was brought upon by
my family and I.
What do you mean by that?
If the future of our nation
was ensured by your heir,
the heavens would not have
struck lightning into the palace.
The people's minds
would not have been rattled
this much either.
As an unfortunate coincidence,
Her Majesty has fallen ill.
Thus, it is clear that this disaster
was caused by my family and I.
Father-in-law.
Do not think that way.
I have never once
considered this to be your fault.
Your Majesty.
As you have consoled me
with your benevolence,
I would like to muster up the courage
and request a petition.
Your Majesty!
I entreat you in tears!
Please appoint Grand Prince Munseong
to be the Crown Prince
and ensure the future of this nation!
Your Majesty!
The Great Lord's petition
would harm the safety of this nation
and your reign.
His words are no different
from those of any traitor!
I advise you to have the Great Lord
interrogated immediately
and punished harshly for high treason!
Do you all concur
with the Principal Director?
I humbly advise you
to grant the Great Lord's petition.
Inspector General.
Do reconsider.
You must remember
that offering support to a traitor
makes you one as well.
Inspector General.
For what reason should I approve of it?
Appointing the Grand Prince as your heir
offers three benefits.
First, with the Grand Prince
as the Crown Prince,
this nation's future will be ensured.
Second, it would calm
the anxious minds of the people.
And third,
the ill rumors will subside by themselves.
There is no other measure
better than this, Your Majesty.
What you have spoken
is absolutely foolish!
Grand Prince Munseong
is the son of the late king.
Should he become the Crown Prince,
that would make His Majesty
an intruder to the lineage.
Then, His Majesty's sovereignty
shall seem illegitimate to the people.
This will inevitably endanger his reign
and give a pretext to the traitors!
That is not an issue.
You can simply adopt
the Grand Prince as your son
and appoint him the Crown Prince
and easily prevent any potential issues.
Do you not agree, Principal Director?
Your Majesty!
I have petitioned this request
with that very intent!
This is my final request.
Please adopt the Grand Prince
as Her Majesty's issue
before she passes away
so that he may perform
the memorial service for her
after her passing!
Here comes His Majesty.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
I have not made myself presentable yet.
You are still weak, so stay as you are.
I come with a question.
Leave us.
During today's assembly,
your father petitioned me…
to appoint Grand Prince Munseong
as the Crown Prince.
Were you aware of this?
It is what I wish for.
For what reason?
Your Majesty.
I am a sinner to you.
And to the Great Lord,
I am an undutiful daughter.
Do not…
Do not say such words.
It is a pity that I am only now realizing…
what a kind person you are.
It is my fault.
Until now,
I have been…
an awful husband to you, My Queen.
No, Your Majesty.
It was through no single person's fault.
I will answer your question.
Your Majesty.
As my last service to you before death,
I wanted to remove
a burden on your shoulders.
I also thought
that Grand Prince Munseong's position
would become more secure this way.
Is this sincerely and entirely your idea?
Yes.
It is…
my idea.
If you do not feel comfortable,
please do not approve of it.
I dare ask
that you punish me for the suggestion
and not…
the Great Lord and Grand Prince Munseong.
I shall go to Yeongchwijeong.
Summon Gidaeryeong Kang Mong-woo.
Yes, Your Majesty.
The Great Lord petitioned today.
Did you advise the Queen on this?
Yes, Your Majesty.
As Her Majesty was concerned
about the safety of the Grand Prince,
I told her a way.
Do you understand
the gravity of your action?
If the court sets its mind on it,
the Great Lord,
as well as the Grand Prince,
may be branded as traitors and face death.
I have only done what you wished for.
Watching the ashes of the peach tree,
you said it would serve
as a good ground for the new tree.
You now dare to read my heart?
I can read it like an open book.
Please do not try to deceive me as well.
Please stop trying to sway me.
You will end up in danger.
Your Majesty, it is me, Sang-hwa.
Her Royal Highness
requests an urgent audience.
All right.
The ones who petitioned this request,
Great Lord Oh Wook-hwan
and Minister of War Min Ji-hwan,
and the one who supported it,
Inspector General Kim Je-nam,
must be dismissed and punished.
The Queen should also be
stripped of her position and expelled!
Your Majesty.
I hope you are not considering
adopting the Grand Prince as your son.
As I have mentioned,
it is difficult for me to sire an heir.
The only closest kin I have
is the Grand Prince.
That is ridiculous!
If only you change your mind,
you can always sire an heir.
Forgive me,
but I have made up my mind.
I will…
appoint the Grand Prince
as the Crown Prince.
That can only happen
over my dead body.
Do you think His Majesty
will accept the Great Lord's request?
Yes.
Inspector General Kim Je-nam's remarks
would have convinced him.
It is indeed the best measure
to soothe the people's minds.
You are all speaking nonsense.
You should not concur
with something so unacceptable.
Mind your tone and manners,
Third Minister Yoo!
I was just too frustrated.
Please forgive me.
Anyway, we shall follow
His Majesty's decision
if he approves.
My lord.
Are you going to sit back and watch?
My lord.
Please hold onto this.
I will take it back
the next time there is a drizzle.
All right.
I will keep it safe until then.
You brat, what insolence is this?
Withdraw your sword immediately.
Your Majesty.
What shall I do?
Principal Director.
Did you forget that no one can enter here
without my permission?
Your Majesty,
I have come to request a private audience.
You may leave.
Your Majesty.
Are you truly considering
approving the Great Lord's petition?
I will approve it.
The Inspector General had a point
when he said that ensuring
the nation's future
would silence the ill rumors.
It is a foolish thought, Your Majesty.
I have struggled on and on
to protect your reign.
What wisdom could he have
after years away from the capital?
You must not let him sway you.
I just cannot accept it.
Please come to your senses!
Are you the king of this nation, Uncle?
How dare you raise your voice at me
and lecture me
on what is acceptable or not?
I apologize, Your Majesty.
- I was only
- In your eyes,
I must still look like a weeping child
holding onto my mother's skirts.
I cannot dare to think that way.
I was only concerned
that you were lending your ear
to the words
of the cowardly and disloyal
Shut your mouth!
What exactly have you done for my reign?
Stop taking the credit
and tell me of your exploits.
The appointment of the Crown Prince
is merely a trick to overcome the chaos
caused by the strange event.
When the people's minds are put at ease,
I can expel and banish him from the palace
and then eliminate him.
You are the one who should stop
being foolish and come to your senses.
If you dare to disrespect me
and display insolence ever again,
you will not go unpunished
even with protection from my mother.
If the court opposes your decision
to expel the Crown Prince,
what will you do then?
I am the king of this nation.
The king shall not be insulted.
Anyone who opposes me shall face death
and that includes
my kin who shares my blood.
I finally understand
why my late brother hated me so much
and wanted me dead.
The power of the king
is not to be shared with anyone else.
Your Majesty,
Grand Prince Munseong is here.
Let him in.
Take it.
This is a token of my vow
that I will adopt you as my son
and appoint you the Crown Prince.
I promise to serve you as your son
with all my heart
and carry out the duties
of the Crown Prince.
I will call you Mother from now on.
Congratulations, Your Majesty.
This is all…
thanks to you, Father.
I can finally
close my eyes in peace.
Your Majesty.
Mother.
Your Majesty.
Mother.
Mother.
Mother.
Your Majesty…
Your Majesty…
Her Majesty has passed away.
His Majesty ordered you
not to enter the palace
during her funeral.
I understand.
The time has come.
With the King still alive,
the Grand Prince's life will be at risk.
Please make your decision now.
The appointment of the Crown Prince
is merely a trick to overcome the chaos
caused by the strange event.
When the people's minds are put at ease,
I can expel and banish him from the palace
and then eliminate him.
You are the one who should stop
being foolish and come to your senses.
My lady.
I will do it.
I started this,
so I want to finish it myself.
I cannot allow that.
I must end the King's life
with my own hands.
That is the only way…
to soothe Hongjang's resentment.
All right.
Do as you wish.
My lady.
My lady.
I was arrogant.
I thought I lost myself three years ago…
and had nothing left
to lose or be afraid of.
But I still must have kept hopes…
to live out my life as Kang Hee-soo
and to believe in the King.
I am clueless…
as to what to do with my feelings.
You are breaking my heart, my lady.
I am the one who went through
the mourning for the Queen,
and yet, you look worse off than me.
It must be due to my guilty conscience
for my crimes against her.
The Queen relied on you.
She would not wish for you to be in pain.
You said if I called for you,
you would come running to me.
I wish…
to see you tonight.
I also wish for the same thing.
Then…
I shall wait for you there.
Let the King enter first
and come in a moment later.
I must
remain a nameless assassin
who snuck in to murder the King.
You must pretend to have been ignorant.
Do you understand?
If you do meet Hongjang,
please give her my regards.
I shall.
Wait outside.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I…
Must have given you a hard time.
What must I do to stop your tears?
What is the matter?
You are trembling. What is wrong?
You cannot…
go inside.
Do you have another lover waiting inside?
Or…
is there an assassin hiding to kill me?
CAPTIVATING THE KING
Did something happen to His Majesty?
Is His Majesty the man
who lost his consciousness from a wound?
If you truly care for Grand Prince Jinhan,
become the King's woman.
"You know who poisoned
the late king to death, do you not?"
She must have used all her might
to get here.
Where is His Majesty?
You decided to kill me
because you became afraid and sick of me.
Due to the grudges they hold,
Kang Mong-woo and Kim Myung-ha
must have given the order
to assassinate you.
Summon the members
of the Border Defense Council.
I will interrogate the traitor myself.
Subtitle translation by: Jea-heon Chung