Subtitles by DramaFever
[Episode 21]
What's going on? What happened?
By the time I arrived, she had already passed away.
I wonder if she had a chronic illness.
Her face doesn't show that she had a chronic illness.
You are already here.
Yes, Chief Kim.
I ran over here as soon as I heard the news.
What misfortune is this to the one to be the country's mother?
The two... are on the opposite end.
Could it be...
The one to be the country's mother had a misfortune?
She was healthy even last night.
How could she pass away overnight?
Sire, it looks like Kim Jae Nam's daughter will become the new queen.
A mountainous fate that you have to go through awaits you again.
How can you be greedy to push a sick daughter into the palace?
Sire, please take my life.
I can't stand to see you! Leave right away!
It was my fault for believing Professor Go.
How could he not even recognize a face that'd die overnight?
She wasn't mean to be the owner of Gyotae Hall.
Professor Go probably didn't realize that.
Sire, before a rumor about this spreads out of control
there is a great way to resolve it.
Please choose another woman as soon as possible
and greet her as a new owner of Gyotae Hall.
If it's Kim Jae Nam's daughter as you suggested
would she be able to really establish dignity of Gyotae Hall?
Of course.
She would bring happiness and prosperity to the royal court
and would surely produce a rightful heir for Your Majesty.
Call the secretary.
I'll greet Kim Jae Nam's daughter as the new queen.
I'm going to order him to rush the royal wedding.
Sir, Eunuch Song asked when you left the office last night.
- Did he say anything else? - No.
He left after asking that question.
Find out where Eunuch Song is right now.
It's really hard to understand.
A chronic illness out of nowhere?
You were right.
From what I saw, I don't think she faced a sudden death because of a chronic illness.
Teacher, you know something.
The ambassador's daughter seems to have been murdered by someone.
Murdered?
Who would dare to do such a thing?
I'm not sure yet...
but I have a guess.
Kim Do Chi... I'm suspicious of him.
Suspicious of him?
Then, to make Kim Jae Nam's daughter get chosen as the new queen
Kim Do Chi didn't even hesitate to murder someone?
It's only my guess. I don't have any sure evidence.
It's just that when I saw their faces...
Kim Do Chi has a face of a snake...
and the dead woman had a face of a mouse.
They're on the opposite end.
Even between the faces of snake and mouse
they were the worst of the opposite end that one of the two had to die.
If it's true...
we can't just sit back and watch this.
I'll take a more careful look to see if there is a way to reveal his crime.
If we leave Kim Do Chi like this
he will bring on a bigger trouble in the future.
I've always wondered...
when we were in Uiju together
why you looked at my face so often.
What do you mean?
Your face shows that you have a fate of living as a half-man...
but you are bright with a deep insight.
So I already knew that you were no ordinary man.
But I've never imagined that you were able to read faces.
Just because this old hag read some books, why would you be so surprised?
A lot of eunuchs have peculiar hobbies.
But with those peculiar hobbies and useless curiosity
you shouldn't have an occasion to face any misfortunes.
Now he has the queen on his back
it's like Kim Do Chi has wings on his back.
I'll break those wings so that he can't fly.
But so many officials in the government are kneeling before him.
It won't be easy.
Before I hit him, I might fall.
So... the choice is yours.
Pardon?
Young Shin.
You've helped me so far to pay for your life.
Now you paid back in full...
You have no reason to stay involved in my business.
Yes, that's true...
I'm the Crown Prince
but I haven't received an approval from Ming
and I have little power that follows me.
I'm walking on thin ice everyday.
I have no power to protect my men or wealth to feed them.
So...
Make your decision now.
If you want to continue to follow me
share this wine with me.
If not...
kick yourself out of here right now.
What will you do?
I'll drink it.
Let's take it in one gulp.
I'm getting the buzz right away.
Sire.
Does this mean that Lord Heo Gyun can leave my room now?
Are you still staying in Eunuch Im's room?
Yes. Since I stayed there... I realized it was more comfortable than my house.
I don't have to get up early to get to the palace.
Food from the palace kitchen...
That's also great.
As long as my Eunuch Im is okay...
I'd like to stay there for a long, long, a really long time.
That's fine.
Do as you wish.
Sire!
His Majesty must be going through his first night by now.
By any chance... at the age of 51...
He wouldn't see another child, would he?
After His Majesty's first night...
he will fall deeply for the new queen.
Once the Queen Majesty produces a rightful heir
then our world will open.
Sire, I'm young and inexperienced
but I will do my best as the country's mother.
[Queen Sosung Kim Seonjo's second wife, Great Queen Inmok]
Please be generous with me.
Not only the Crown Prince, but concubines are older than you.
Please take good care of the children from other concubines without causing much trouble.
I will keep that in mind.
What the heck are you doing?
I can see that this country is falling apart in front of my eyes.
How could I not make a sound of mourning?
Father...
why did you get married again?
Even when there is the Crown Prince...
the whole country is a mess to fight over the seat of the Crown Prince.
If a rightful heir is actually born...
then what's going to happen?
What are you doing? Take him out right now!
Yes, sire!
Don't stop me! I'll kill you all!
Prince Imhae, you're no longer my son as of today.
And you're not a prince either.
You should never come into the palace again!
You were bragging about making peace with the Jurchens...
I knew this would happen in the end.
Ming refused to approve you as the Crown Prince again!
You reaped what you sowed.
We sent letters to Ming to approve of you as the Crown Prince several times.
So I did everything I could.
You'll have to solve this problem on your own.
Sire, how could His Highness solve this problem alone?
Please reconsider, sire!
As you suggested, I'll find a way on my own.
Crown Prince, can you accept me as your mother when I'm nine years younger than you?
Of course I should.
Why would you ask the obvious, Mother?
Thank you, Crown Prince.
By the way, I heard that you haven't received an approval from Ming as the Crown Prince yet.
Is that true?
The Crown Prince has to be established in order for the country to stand strong.
I'm very worried.
We can't change the Crown Prince at this point.
Right, we can't change the Crown Prince at this point.
You'll have a lot to worry about to get used to living in the palace.
So please don't be concerned about this matter.
I am your child, but an old enough Crown Prince.
So I take care of my own business, Mother.
Queen Majesty, Lady Kim and Prince Jungwon are here.
Let them in.
Sire, I believe it's better for us to leave now.
Let's do that, Crown Princess.
Your Majesty, congratulations on becoming the new master of the queen's quarters.
I will do my best to serve you.
You are Gwiin Kim?
Yes, Queen Majesty.
All my feelings appear on my face.
So when I see someone like you, I am amazed.
I heard you pushed for the dead daughter of the ambassador, not me, at the selection?
Pardon?
So how can you tell me that you'll serve me well with a smile?
You have no shame.
I have nothing more to say, so take your leave.
Since it's the Crown Prince's request
so I recommened you to His Majesty.
Luckily, His Majesty thought of your late father and accepted my recommendation.
But this time, you should be very careful in your behavior
and not be dismissed again.
Yes, Lord Lee. Please don't worry.
I'm asking you, given your late father who was the leader of our Easterners.
It's forbidden to talk back at the elders and to brag in front of them.
Drinking all night and not showing up to the palace without a word.
You should never do that.
And you should never act out suddenly.
- Do you understand? - Yes, sir.
I will keep that in mind.
One more thing.
Don't stay too close to the Crown Prince.
You might get hurt, too.
Forgive me, but I cannot follow that direction.
I just told you not to talk back!
The government was too boring
and it felt nautious to please the powerful.
So I volunteered for a post in the border area
and wandered around here and there in Ming, following the envoys.
But I somehow have a hunch that I'd be able to do some fun things with the Crown Prince.
I have a pretty good hunch, so I'll go with it.
By the way...
Sir... please sign here.
What is this?
I wrote down the Crown Prince's accomplishments.
He hasn't received the approval from Ming...
so if all of our government officials sign a paper and send it to Ming
wouldn't it help?
So please be the first one to sign it.
Did you forget what I just said?
So are you becoming an administrator at the Ministry of Justice?
That's what I hear.
The fifth rank administrator at the Ministry of Justice.
You made it sound like a big deal...
so I thought I'd get a highly-ranked post.
But this... is only a fifth rank, close to the bottom!
By the way, I heard you're going around the officials and doing something odd.
Oh? Did you already hear about it?
Yes.
I'm going to give this to the envoys to the Ming.
I wrote down all of Your Highness's accomplishments so far.
I'll also get signatures from all of the officials and send it along as well.
Are you really doing it for that?
It's not to find out who is on my side?
How did you know?
Since the new queen is in
you're trying to figure out who's on my side and who's on Kim Do Chi's side.
Yes, that's correct.
So, what's the result?
Well... many are cheering for you in their hearts
but only few are cheering for you with their signatures.
You said you'd break Kim Do Chi's wings?
Then there is only one answer at this point.
Gwiin Kim.
A little closer...
Remove those hands!
She's from a poor family that didn't even get to eat porridge of bamboo pieces.
But now she gained the queen's seat, she acts like she's earned the whole world!
I had never got my pride broken by the late queen.
Such a young girl who still looks like a baby...
How dare she!
She is from a poor family, but she has Kim Do Chi on her back.
That's why she can be so confident.
If she produces a rightful heir...
those two will become stronger.
Kim Do Chi... I need to get him beaten to death
for me to sleep comfortably.
Mother, there is only one person who can stand against Kim Do Chi.
It's the Crown Prince.
Are you telling me to partner with the Crown Prince again?
We've done it once. Why can't we do it twice?
Act like you'll help the Crown Prince and watch the Crown Prince and the Queen fight.
Then we can just wait until one of the two falls out.
So, just 'offer a prayer and eat a rice cake'?
One thing I'm worried about is...
that if the queen produces a rightful heir before that
then what happens?
I'll stop that from happening no matter what it takes.
Here is the auspicious day for consummation.
You'll be able to have a son on the date written here.
So please make sure to share the room with His Majesty on that day.
I will do so.
I was cautious in choosing and assigning the court maids in Your Majesty's residence.
But things are never sure, so please be careful in every aspect.
Who should I be careful of?
I mean Gwiin Kim.
I'm sure the Crown Prince feels that way too
but Gwiin Kim's heart must be burning to ashes with worries of your possible pregnancy.
I see. Don't worry.
Ga Hee.
From what you see, how does my face look?
What do you mean by that?
Has it changed?
Yes, you've changed.
You look more at ease compared to before.
Do you mean it?
Are you really afraid of the face?
What?
Forgive me, sire.
It's fine. Yes, I'm afraid of my own face.
Sire, why are you afraid of your face?
It's the face of Your Majesty that the whole country looks up to.
It's all because of the book called 'Secret Book of King's Face.'
'Secret Book of King's Face'?
Yes, because of the book that was handed down in the palace
my fear grew.
I'm still afraid.
That's why I need you, Ga Hee.
'Secret Book of King's Face'...
I've forgotten about it for a while.
It's the evidence that will prove the current king shouldn't be the King.
Heaven is helping me now.
'Secret Book of King's Face' is a physiognomy book about the faces that will become the king.
If I can get that in my hands
I'll be able to use it as a reason for my revolt.
Where could it be?
Who would have it?
Does the King have it?
As you've ordered me to do, I've been keeping a close eye on Kim Do Chi for a few days.
He was a bit strange.
Strange?
Not just the royal library, but he went to all the libraries in the palace
and looked for something in secret.
Looked for something? What?
I don't know.
But since he only went to libraries, he must be looking for a book.
He's looking for a book?
Kim Do Chi who used to be the leader of Daedong Society is looking for a book in secret?
Who are you? What were you looking for here?
I came to get 'Secret Book of King's Face.'
Did you just say 'Secret Book of King' Face'?
That's right.
The physiognomy book that will prove that you don't have the face to become the king.
I came to get 'Secret Book of King's Face'!
Yes, 'Secret Book of King's Face'!
He is looking for 'Secret Book of King's Face' now.
What brought you here again?
If I didn't listen to you last time, some fire fox...
It turned out this way!
Everything got twisted because of Kim Do Chi.
We didn't find any sure evidence
but someone murdered the daughter of the ambassador who was selected.
Sire, who would do such a horrible thing?
Is it Chief Kim by any chance?
We have no sure evidence yet.
He is more than capable of doing it.
Lady Kim, as the elder of this royal court, do you plan to leave Kim Do Chi as is?
Of course I shouldn't just let him be...
but you said you didn't have any sure evidence.
It'll be hard to find any evidence that he killed the ambassador's daughter.
But we have a witness who will tell us about Kim Do Chi's misdeeds so far.
Who is it?
It is you, Lady Kim.
Pardon?
Me?
Kim Do Chi's evil deeds to establish Prince Shinsung as the Crown Prince before...
evil deeds to corner me as a traitor
and the evil deed to report me to General Kinoshita and kill me.
Aren't you the witness in all of these?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
You're the only one who can get Kim Do Chi.
Of course you'll have to sneak out regardless of what it takes.
I'll help you with that.
Please give some serious thought to my suggestion.
Do you find my suffering so funny?
Not at all, Mother.
But the Crown Prince is really amazing.
I really want to learn a lot from him.
What?
Kim Do Chi is out to get 'Secret Book of King's Face'?
How does he know about the book?
Kim Do Chi was a pupil of Jung Yeo Rip who was accused of treason and died in 1589.
Jung Yeo Rip...
I know about him, too.
Jung Yeo Rip was one of the few who knew about 'Secret Book of King's Face.'
Teacher, a long time ago, Daedong Society broke into the palace library to steal that book.
Kim Do Chi seems to be looking for that 'Secret Book of King's Face' now.
If he's aiming for 'Secret Book of King's Face'...
that means...
Yes... what he wants is probably a revolt.
You told me before, Teacher.
'Secret Book of King's Face' is the standard that determines the king's face.
Teacher, I think we can use 'Secret Book of King's Face' as a bait
and reveal that he is plotting a revolt.
Where is 'Secret Book of King's Face' now?
A long time ago, His Majesty ordered me to burn it.
What?
You mean, 'Secret Book of King's Face' doesn't exist anymore?
On the night that thieves got into the library to steal 'Secret Book of King's Face'
I expected that His Majesty wouldn't just leave the book where it was.
Just as I expected, His Majesty burnt the book on his own.
So, 'Secret Book of King's Face' doesn't exist anymore.
Are you disappointed?
Yes.
It's a treasure in the royal court.
To be honest, as a face reader myself
I wanted to take a look at that physiognomy book.
Yes, it was the best physiognomy book in Joseon.
How do you plan to fight against Kim Do Chi now?
Gwiin Kim will probably be a witness to his evil deeds.
Sire.
- It was you, Young Shin. - Pardon?
Are you sure that the Crown Prince mentioned 'Secret Book of King's Face'?
Yes, but the King already burnt it a long time ago.
I have one more thing to report to you.
He said that Gwiin Kim would confess all your wrongdoings.
What is it about?
I heard you were looking for me.
How is it that the elder has to look for you first before you come?
Don't you know that a concubine should come to the queen to pay her respect?
I'm not a concubine of His Majesty.
What?
I haven't received a letter of concubine appointment.
So I felt that it would be against the customs to introduce myself when I'm not a concubine.
That's why I didn't make my visit.
I may have had a shallow mind.
Forgive me.
Stand up and pull up your dress.
Pardon?
Bring a stick!
Queen Majesty...
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty... what are you doing now?
How dare you... meddle in the business of your elder?
I see. Since Your Majesty is my elder, I shouldn't say a word as Crown Prince.
Then I should have reported this to King Majesty, who is the elder of Your Majesty.
Wait.
Why were you just getting beaten like a fool?
You didn't even do anything wrong.
I'm sorry to cause you concern.
I don't worry about you.
Everyone who has a mouth says a word these days.
Even after greeting the new queen, His Majesty only comes to this Hwayoogak.
Everyone in the world is envious of you.
So why would I be worried about you?
It's just that... if you go through this trouble...
His Highness will be worried about you.
That's what I'm worried about.
Your Highness.
Be careful next time.
Prince Jungwon, what do you think of the Crown Prince's suggestion?
No matter how much I think about, I can't get any answer.
Mother, Kim Do Chi has already partnered with the new queen.
We have no other choice.
I'm sure the Crown Prince won't tell Father what you did.
Do you think we can trust the Crown Prince?
If it was me, I'd trust him.
But Mother... there is someone we need to take care of before that.
It's Court Lady Park.
She knows too much.
Have her run an errand out of the palace.
I will take care of the rest.
Gwiin Kim will definitely try to kill you.
Come look for me then.
Father, I have something to report to you in private.
Go ahead.
I'd like to report Chief Kim Do Chi as a traitor.
What? Traitor?
Chief Kim is a traitor?
That's right.
What proof do you have?
It's rare to see that kind of loyal retainer.
Why do you accuse an innocent man?
You're being fooled by him.
Kim Do Chi was the leader of Daedong Society.
- What? Daedong Society? - Yes, Father.
It's that Daedong Society that sent thieves to the palace to steal 'Secret Book of King's Face.'
Father, he was a pupil of Jung Yeo Rip.
Sire, Chief Kim is here.
Let him in.
Sire, I thought Your Majesty would be looking for me about now, so I came.
Were you Jung Yeo Rip's pupil?
Were you in the same group with the thieves who broke into the library in the palace?
What do you mean by that...
I have no idea.
Who on earth is Jung Yeo Rip?
I have no idea what it's about.
Whose words am I supposed to believe?
Father, I expected that he would act this way.
Since Jung Yeo Rip died, if he denies it like this, I have no way to prove it.
But we have a witness who can tell us what evil deeds he has been plotting.
Let her in.
Are you the witness that the Crown Prince spoke of?
Your Majesty.
May I also call for a witness who can prove my innocence?
Go ahead.
Isn't she a court lady in Gwiin Kim's residence?
Yes, sire. She will clear the unjustfied accusation on my name.
Tell me, Gwiin Kim.
Lady Kim, please tell us everything that you know about what Chief Kim has done.
Gwiin Kim, is Gwanghae telling the truth?
Sire, it's...
No, sire.
I have no idea what the Crown Prince is talking about.
What?
Gwiin Kim...
Crown Prince, you should tell me what's going on here.
- Father, it's... - Your Majesty...
His Highness seems to have misunderstood me for a while.
I am very sorry.
Everyone, get out of here!
How dare you try to humiliate me!
Were you going to side with Kim Do Chi and mock me?
You tried to abandon me first.
You didn't think I knew that you tried to kill me?
What?
This wench, you still think you were right?
I was pretty confident...
I guess I still thought of him as an easy target.
Sire, it turned out this way because he is too evil.
Now I showed all my cards...
it will become more handful to deal with him.
Your Majesty, please forgive this old hag.
As a face reader, I could not follow Your Majesty's order.
Please take care of this book for a while.
I have heard about this book a long time ago.
It's a physiognomy book that's handed down in the palace?
Please keep this and give it to the Crown Prince when the time comes.
Why would you give this precious book to me?
Just in case.
I'd like to ask for one more favor.
Please go for a walk outside of the palace with His Majesty tonight.
Sire, it was a lost game to begin with.
Kim Do Chi has a firm grip of everyone in his palm
from high-ranking officials to servants and maids in the palace
so how could you fight him off?
It's really annoying.
Have a sense of what's going on.
Why do you say that at this point?
Sire, I'll go and kill Kim Do Chi right now.
He looks a lot stronger than you.
Do I have to clean out a corpse?
- Sir... - What?
Sire.
I have a favor to ask.
Ga Hee, you have a favor to ask?
It's been a long time, so I'd like to go outside of the palace.
Yes, where do you want to go?
I'm glad you're here.
Whether I should come or not... I hesitated for a while.
'Secret Book of King's Face'...
You want to hand over the book to me. But I have no idea what you have in mind.
You've always distanced yourself from me.
But you still came, so you must've really wanted 'Secret Book of King's Face.'
Didn't you say it was burnt?
Of course, you even found out about that, too.
But it was a lie.
As someone who reads faces...
I really couldn't burn it even under the order of His Majesty.
First...
you need to promise me like I wrote in the letter.
In return for receiving this 'Secret Book of King's Face'
you will stop sladering the Crown Prince.
Since I want 'Secret Book of King's Face,' I'll accept that condition.
Why do you want this book so much?
My teacher... Teacher Jung Yeo Rip told me...
that this 'Secret Book of King's Face' can prove the King doesn't have the face to be the king.
So I really wanted to take a look at this book.
You acted like you didn't know anything in front of His Majesty.
But now you're telling me.
In front of the King who's already gone blind and deaf
is there anything I couldn't say?
Now, I'll take 'Secret Book of King's Face'...
You have no right to read this book!
What?
Did you just lie to me?
Those eyes... the eyes with a hidden sword...
I was always afraid where those eyes were aiming at.
And they are aiming at me after all.
How pitiful.
The resentment in your heart must have been so big and deep...
for your eyes to have become the eyes of an evil animal!
No matter how many evil deeds you commit...
no matter how many things you grab...
do you think your emptiness can be filled?
Stop!
Eunuch Song!
Tie him and take Eunuch Song to the royal physician right now!
Yes, sire!
Were you really Jung Yeo Rip's pupil?
That's right.
It was also me who sent my men to take 'Secret Book of King's Face' from the palace library.
But you swore your loyalty to me
and enjoyed all kinds of power and wealth?
When I acted like a tongue in my mouth, did you really think I offered my loyalty?
Wake up, King!
The war broke out all because of you.
It's because someone who shouldn't be the king is sitting on the throne!
So I was going to become the King!
How dare you!
As soon as the day breaks
execute him by beheading.
Yes, sire.
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