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[Final Episode]
Sire, will the Grand Prince become the Crown Prince?
It is sad when I think about Gwanghae, but I have no choice.
He gained the Crown Prince title by surprise in the middle of the war.
He is a half-wit Crown Prince that hasn't even gotten the approval of Ming.
It's only logical that I pass the throne to the rightful heir.
Once he is deposed as the Crown Prince
I heard it would be hard for him to stay alive.
If it's for the sake of the royal court and this country...
If it's also Gwanghae's fate for being born with a king's face...
there is no other way.
I am not a criminal.
Remove the swords right now!
What are those?
These are fruits that will warm up your body.
The tea tastes delicious.
You still haven't confessed yet?
You asked me if I plotted treason.
- I've never plotted treason... - But?
I did think that I would become a generous king.
That's the mind of treason.
I... did commit a crime as big as treason.
What is it?
Father...
Do you remember 'Secret Book of King's Face'?
I have that 'Secret Book of King's Face.'
How... How can you have that book?
I got rid of it a long time ago.
Did you really think that it disappeared forever?
What?
I saw 'Secret Book of King's Face' that you forbade.
Did Eunuch Song steal it away?
According to 'Secret Book of King's Face'
all of the faces in the world become finally complete when it's time for death.
So it's still not too late to achieve the king's face that you so wished.
It says that everyone can form his face as he wishes.
Are you mocking me right now?
I will leave the palace as you wish.
But before that...
I'd like to tell you this.
What you should care about is
not a king's face, but your people!
The King creates the faces of the people!
What you really need to protect is not your face.
It is the faces of the people!
How dare you...
Father.
Father!
Father! Father!
Father!
What are you doing? Hurry up and help Father!
Your Highness, I kept my promise of helping you to the throne.
I'm going to follow His Majesty now.
I won't be able to completely pay for my sin by death.
Please forget this Kim Ga Hee now who was only a painful tie to you.
Please become a sage king who opens up a new world.
If... Heaven allows us...
let's meet later... much later in the future.
Sire... I don't think I can keep that promise.
What are you saying? His Majesty fainted?
He was so healthy just until this afternoon. Why would he faint?
The situation... is very bad.
My lady, what if His Majesty passes aw...
It's a possibility.
His Majesty will pass away?
That will never happen! Never!
Of course. Of course!
Mother, there is a big problem.
What is it again?
Is it a bigger problem than everyone dying one after another
following the Crown Prince?
Father is in critical condition.
Critical condition?
What do you mean, out of nowhere?
He fainted in the Main Hall yard.
Crown Prince and Crown Princess went to Kangnyung Hall.
What?
He passed away.
Shut that mouth right now!
His Majesty was healthy just until this afternoon!
How can you say such a foul thing?
My lady, I can't feel the pulse at all.
He has already taken his last breath.
It was a sudden death.
That's not possible.
He can't leave like this with such a young Grand Prince left behind.
Sire... how could you do this?
How could you leave me behind without any warning?
Sire!
Father...
Father!
But... why don't I see Court Lady Kim who is always by His Majesty's side?
- Court Lady Kim! - My lady!
- Bring the doctor! Now! - Yes.
This is...
Arisaema fruits...
The King... is dead.
It's suspicious that the healthy King died suddenly.
The King had a face to live a long life.
So why so suddenly...
What about Court Lady Kim? Did you check on her too?
Yes, I've been watching her as you told me to
but she disappeared suddenly last night.
According to the court maid that we installed
a corpse came out of Hwayoogak last night.
But Crown Princess took care of it.
It's Ga Hee.
Ga Hee killed the King and committed suicide.
Father passed away suddenly...
What happens now?
The plan of deposing Gwanghae and entering the palace
and receiving the Crown Prince title as the first son...
has disappeared like bubbles.
His Majesty passed away too soon.
Although our plan of having the Crown Prince deposed by His Majesty got twisted
please get your private soldiers ready like we had planned.
What are you going to do?
I'm going to proceed with the plan.
His Majesty had a face that would enjoy a long life.
But a sudden death? Someone must've murdered him.
Are you saying that someone assassinated Father?
It seems that Court Lady Kim killed His Majesty and committed suicide.
Why would Court Lady Kim do such a thing?
She probably did it for the Crown Prince.
His Highness and Court Lady Kim loved each other.
What?
Father... how could leave in vain like this?
Are you testing me right now?
Please get up now and order me to leave the palace right away.
This is not like you, Father.
- Your Majesty. - Did you get it in your hands?
Yes.
This is the king's seal.
But I got caught by Lord Lee San Hae on the way here.
He should also know the eldest of the palace.
He wouldn't barge in here and make a ruckus to take it.
So the king's seal must be at Junggung Hall now.
What should I do...
The eldest of the royal court is Queen Majesty now.
Since we don't have His Majesty's last words
of leaving the throne to Your Highness...
Queen Majesty has to provide an instruction
for you to ascend to the throne.
Queen Majesty is smart.
She wouldn't hang on to something hopeless.
What's with this rude behavior?
Didn't you hear me telling you to leave?
I haven't said even half of what I want to say.
I can't do that, Your Majesty.
It's not just a couple of debts I need to pay back to you.
What?
The longer you stay stubborn
do you really not know that it will be riskier for you and Grand Prince?
Even if it's really hard to know anything...
how could she not have any sense of what's going on at all?
Is anyone outside?
What are you doing? Take this wench out right now!
As for the Crown Prince...
he is born with kindness and usually calm.
He knows how to follow the royal customs properly.
But when someone provokes his people
he becomes scary as you've never seen him before.
You dug up the grave of Gongbin, the Crown Prince's mother...
and ordered a blind shaman to do evil things. If he finds out about it...
how would he react?
Before more people get hurt
write your instruction.
You're more than despicable.
You acted like you'd offer His Majesty anything, showing your tears...
but you're so happy even before His Majesty's body turns cold.
His Majesty and I spent decades together.
How would you dare to know... what happened between us?
Court Lady Yoon, are you there?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I need to send a message to Kim Do Chi right now.
Everyone's busy in the palace...
Where are you going?
I'm going for an errand for Queen Majesty.
Where did she say she was delivering this letter?
It's an inn at Mapo Port.
There is someone who shows up only to exchange letters.
It seems that they are also being very careful.
Kim Do Chi...
It means that there is no way to find out where he is at this point.
But we have sure evidence that Queen Majesty is in contact with a criminal who escaped prison.
You helped me.
It's my duty that I was supposed to do, Brother.
Where on earth is Court Lady Yoon that she still hasn't come back?
How can it be so difficult to deliver a letter?
Your Majesty, His Highness Crown Prince is here.
Let him in.
- Mother. - Welcome, Crown Prince.
It doesn't look like you just came for a visit.
What brought you here?
A court lady from Junggung Hall seems to have lost her way, so I brought her back.
Pardon?
Bring her in.
Yes, sire.
Crown Prince! What are you doing?
Why have you been in contact with a criminal who's been sentenced to death and escaped?
Watch what you say, Crown Prince!
I am your mother.
A mother who sets up her child and corners him to a crime of treason...
I've never heard of such a mother anywhere under the sky.
Crown Prince...
Mother...
Go ahead.
I'd like to have you stay in Daebi Hall and take good care of my younger brother Eui.
Please help me so that I won't change my mind.
The previous king passed the throne to Prince Gwanghae
because he fought off the strong Japanese troops that would even defeat the sky.
He also accomplished contribution of rebuilding the country.
He has unshakable accomplishments
and achievements of restoring the country.
Prince Gwanghae's good deeds in life should be respected.
Therefore, I also believe it's only logical for Prince Gwanghae to inherit the throne.
Sire, congratulations!
Finally, this day...
This day has finally come...
Tears are blinding my eyes.
You're still the same even after a time in prison.
Of course! A man should be consistent without a change.
After the coronation ceremony tomorrow
Your Highness will become King Majesty.
Don't be so happy.
We haven't completed Father's funeral yet.
Yes, sire.
- Imhae. - Your Highness...
you look so confident.
From what I hear, Queen Majesty sent an instruction for you to ascend to the throne.
Imhae, why are you finally showing up now?
What a vicious one.
Imhae!
Did you want the throne that much?
Enough to steal it away by killing Father?
Your words are too harsh, Imhae!
I'm harsh? Should I tell you something worse?
You dared to covet Father's woman
and ordered her to poison Father, right?
Where can you find a scoundrel like yourself in the world?
The throne you climbed after killing Father...
I will watch you with my eyes open and see how long you can keep it.
Crown Princess.
Court Lady Kim... is not in the palace.
What do you mean?
When Father passed away
it seems that Court Lady Kim also tried to take her life at the same time.
I found her without consciousness and sent her out to a private residence.
Why would Ga Hee follow Father and die?
Did Ga Hee poison Father, like Imhae said?
I don't know about that.
But... it is certain that Court Lady Kim saved you.
Where is Court Lady Kim now?
If it is true...
I will not forgive her.
We don't know about that.
Even if she did that
she probably did all of it for you.
That's why... I need to see her right now.
She dared to kill Father and take her own life for me?
How dare she! Why? Why?
Where is she?
I'm going to bring her in and interrogate her.
If all of it turns out to be true...
I'll execute her by beheading.
Even if you don't do that...
she... will die soon.
Do I really have any right to ascend to the throne?
I am afraid of the throne now.
I don't think I can handle its weight anymore.
Is the throne gained only when my most precious one dies?
Sire.
I'm glad you came.
I wanted to ask you a question.
Did you kill my father, Ga Hee?
I kept my promise of helping you take the throne.
Please become a sage king.
You wench!
I don't regret it.
I won't be able to see you again.
Sire, please don't forgive me.
How could I possibly forgive you?
You... and me...
How could we forgive ourselves?
Sire.
How did you fall asleep here?
Please get up now.
Sire, is everything alright?
Young Shin...
find out what happened to Ga Hee.
Whether she's alive or dead.
If she's still alive...
I have to see her right away.
Yes, sire.
All of this happened because of Kim Do Chi!
I'm going to get him first!
Welcome, Crown Prince.
Mother, I came to discuss something with you.
What is it? I will help you with whatever you need.
I need your help to catch a criminal of high treason
who shakes up the foundation of this country.
Do you mean, Kim Do Chi?
Yes, that's right.
Please write a letter to him.
Write this in the letter.
This is not a letter from the Queen.
It's not?
The Crown Prince is calling me now.
You mean, Gwanghae set a trap to catch you?
What a relief.
We could've fallen for it and died together!
The Crown Prince called me himself
so wouldn't it be rude to decline it?
What?
Gwanghae's face is a king's face under the sky.
That's why I've avoided facing him head-on for a long time.
But I can't avoid him anymore.
Before the coronation ceremony tomorrow, I am going to kill the Crown Prince.
But...
you said this is a trap.
If you could support me with your private soldiers
it's not a trap I can't avoid.
Have you given up, by any chance?
We should take down the Crown Prince soon and have you ascend to the throne!
It should happen before the coronation ceremony.
That's true...
I'll go there first and take the throne for you.
Please follow me.
Finally, it's the big day!
We endured the last six years for this day!
We will take down that corrupt Joseon today
and establish new Joseon!
Listen carefully.
Arm all the soldiers in the palace now
and have them wait in ambush.
Also, make everyone leave so that no one is in the palace.
Kim Do Chi, the criminal of high treason, will enter the palace.
His goal is me, Gwanghae.
Sire, why would you let the evil man step into the palace?
It's because we can fight them off without losing unnecessary blood.
So no one should move even a step until further instruction is given.
- Do you understand? - Yes, sire!
Why aren't you leaving?
I betrayed Your Highness. Please slay me.
Of course I haven't forgiven you.
Even if Father had a grab on your lifeline
you told Father about every move I made because
you were blinded by Chief of Security position.
How can I possibly forgive you?
So this order will be the last one.
Since you know Kim Do Chi very well...
you will kill Kim Do Chi with me today.
Do you understand?
Yes, I will follow your royal command.
Attack!
What about Kim Do Chi? Did you find him?
I killed dozens of men, but I haven't found Kim Do Chi.
How dare you... to be sitting there?
You have no right to sit there!
If I don't have the right...
do you have the right, Gwanghae?
For your father who sat here for 40 years
and pushed the country into calamity...
Did he really have the right?
Everything you've had since birth...
I didn't have any of it when I was born.
So there was no other way... to come this far.
So how dare you say that I don't have the right?
Does it look like a seat to enjoy all kinds of power and privilege to you?
You're wrong.
It is the seat that has to take responsibility
for everything that happens in the country!
That's why the late king agonized so much.
And that's why I am so afraid now.
It's not that you have no right to sit there because of your lowly class.
It's because you don't know anything about that
seat, that's why you don't have the right!
That's why I can't forgive you for coveting that seat.
Tie him up!
Before the whole country's eyes I'm going to behead him.
That won't happen.
[The 15th King of Joseon Prince Gwanghae]
People's lives are still in difficulty from the aftermath of the war.
Petitions keep coming in because of the damage from indirect tax payment.
Sire, it's been a chronic problem since before the Joseon Dynasty.
It's already spread everywhere in the country, so it's not easy to find a solution.
Is it really difficult to come up with a solution?
Sire, from King Sejong through the previous king
they have tried hard to solve the problem
but they all failed.
That's because...
everyone here is deeply involved in taking profit from the system.
Since sucking the blood out of people tastes sweet
so it must've been difficult to cut that off.
Sire...
please review Lord Lee Won Ik's 'Uniform Land Tax Law.'
'Uniform Land Tax Law'?
Yes. Collect rice instead of grains
but collect 8-mal per land lot every spring and fall.
That means the rich will pay more based on how much they own.
Yes. Wouldn't that be fair?
I'll take a more careful look into 'Uniform Land Tax Law.'
Sire, please also review all the crimes done by Queen Dowager.
Queen Dowager partnered with evil ones such as Kim Do Chi
and helped him train soldiers.
And she also committed wrongful deeds in order to
establish the Grand Prince as the Crown Prince.
Queen Dowager is the legal wife of the previous king and also my mother.
I will do my duty to my mother...
So I didn't hear what you just said.
Yes, sire.
In order to survive as a middleman merchant
fast intel, speedy sense, and quick action...
those are necessary.
Let's say abalone was decided as the tax item in a mountainous region.
But where can you find abalone in a mountaineous region?
So we rush to find abalone
and sell it at ten times, a hundred times the original cost.
I've already unpacked my money to the town heads
so they have no choice but to buy it from me no matter how expensive it is.
With the money that we make
we have to share it with the town heads and government officials
in order to continue as a middleman merchant next year.
This is the breeding ground of corruptions.
This is the truth of the middleman merchant
who squeezes sweat and blood out of people.
There are countless merchants like this in the city.
Figure out their actions... and find a way to stop them.
That's what you need to do before we implement 'Uniform Land Tax Law.'
- Do you understand? - Yes, sire.
The palace used to be so noisy. It's finally quiet, Mother.
It's probably only for a short while.
The palace is where people bite off each other and fight for the throne.
We found a way to live by siding with Gwanghae...
but will you settle like this?
Mother...
I'm your child.
That wouldn't happen.
Yes, you're right.
You are indeed my son.
Why can't you fall asleep?
Father!
So, now you're sitting on the throne, how do you like playing the king?
Now I'm sitting on the throne that I looked forward to
I will make sure to become a sage king.
Yes, I will keep an eye on you and see how well you do.
Please help me, Father.
To me, this is still a cushion with thorns.
To be a king is like a flower bloomed on a cliff.
No one is going to help you.
So trust yourself and go forward.
Father!
If it wasn't for you...
I would've have been deposed and died.
I knew you saved me...
but I couldn't come to see you.
I'm sorry.
Sire, why would you say so?
I only feel guilty for being alive.
The head monk told me that you're praying
from your heart for Father every day.
No matter how hard I try, it's not enough.
How could I possibly wash off my sin?
The throne that I'm sitting...
is the price of you losing your voice and living as a sinner your whole life.
I will not forget it.
I couldn't fall asleep last night, so I read 'Secret Book of King's Face.'
The king's face is the face that holds the hearts of his people.
So I'm going to unload everything now.
My guilty feelings for you... and resentment towards you.
And unbearable pain, too.
And how I miss you.
Ga Hee...
I won't come to see you anymore.
I have a favor to ask you.
What is it, sire?
If I can't take the path of a sage king...
don't hesitate to point it out to me.
You have to keep me on track. Do you understand?
Yes. I'll keep that in mind.
The king who tries to listen to people's sound and read people's minds.
You have to hold me so that I can serve the people from below.
Do you understand?
Like this?
Please don't worry.
I will always study Your Majesty's face.
No.
It's not my face.
You have to look at the people's face.
People's faces are the king's face.
I've considered for a long time that negative effects
from indirect tax payment made people suffer.
Using this harmful effect
middlemen and the noble class partnered with each other
and competed to exploit the people's sweat and blood.
So I accepted Lee Won Ik's suggestion
and give the following instruction.
Establish an office now
and collect 8-mal of rice per lot instead of other payments.
We will implement 'Uniform Land Tax Law.'
Your grace is immeasurable, sire!
I will establish a fair country where the have's
pay more and the have-not's pay less tax.
I will establish a country where the powerful
and the wealthy can't exploit the weak.
I will make the people of Joseon happy even if they don't have much.
A fair country where all the people can dream.
That is the duty as the King of Joseon...
and I, Gwanghae, will realize it.
Your grace is immeasurable, sire!