Episode 17
We have sent messengers, so the physicians should arrive tomorrow.
You and the physicians will observe this mysterious disease,
- and report to me your findings. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, are you alright?
I'm alright. I'm alright.
- Your Majesty! Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
Where is the physician? Fetch him immediately!
Please open your eyes!
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
Please open your eyes! Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
I thought we were supposed to leave ages ago! Why are you all still sitting here?
Haven't you heard? His Majesty has collapsed. Departure of the king's sedan chair is delayed.
What? When did that happen?
- Sir! - What has happened, Sir?
As you all well know, His Majesty has collapsed.
What do you mean he has collapsed? Is he alright?
I don't know what the specific problem is.
But according to the physician, he has lost consciousness.
If he has lost consciousness, then is his life in danger?
This is the first time this has happened, so I think so.
- In any case, wait in your quarters for orders. - Yes, Sir.
How is His Majesty?
Why are you so silent?
Please forgive me, Your Highness... But I think His Majesty has...
contracted the disease here.
Mysterious disease? What are you talking about?
According to the physician, he had a fever all night. But fever reducing medicine had no effect.
But he did not seem ill at all when he had his evening meal.
The disease the people here are suffering from cause high fevers and loss of consciousness.
I think he has contracted the disease.
Doesn't that mean we have to return to Dosung?
How can His Majesty be treated in such a country village like this?
We must prepare to return to the Capital at once!
- The physician has it was impossible. - Impossible? What does he mean?
His Majesty's health is weak and fragile. If he is fatigued, his fever will worsen.
How long must we wait here? There are no medicine here!
What if His Majesty is not able to recover?
Minister, how can you say such a inauspicious thing?
They say that the young and the elderly do not recover easily from this disease!
And if while we're here... If something happens to His Majesty...
Doesn't that mean that the prince will ascend to the throne?
Send someone to tell the queen what is happening here.
Yes, Your Excellency.
We have been too complacent.
We had forgotten that His Majesty is over seventy years old.
If His Majesty does not recover, everything is over.
Your Majesty...!
I've been looking everywhere for you!
Is it true that His Majesty has contracted the mysterious disease?
Everyone's talking about how the prince and the Ministers are all panicking!
I can't stand not knowing what's going on!
Tell me what's happening!
Many of the elderly living in this village have contracted the disease, so it's possible.
What will we do if something happens to His Majesty?
This is like lightning on a sunny day!
Yes it is, but it may be lightning that was sent to measure the earth.
What?
Welcome.
If you have finished your preparations, then let us be on our way.
But Your Majesty, should we be going on an outing when His Majesty is out of the palace?
Please don't worry. His Majesty has already given his approval.
The ninth day of the ninth month is the one day where women can go outside and enjoy the autumn colors.
If we don't go out today, we won't be able to go out for a year.
- But... - Just follow behind me.
Look at the girls, Princess.
Look at how happy they look at going on an outing.
It is also a superior's duty to know what their inferiors want.
Please forgive me. I have been too heartless.
- Let us go, Princess. - Yes, Your Majesty.
- The queen is always so deep! - I know!
- Let's go! - Yes, My Lady.
Stop for a moment.
How have you been, Your Majesty?
Yes. Is the princess here?
Yes, the princess is at the Temple praying.
- Praying? - Yes, Your Majesty.
She has been praying for seven days for the Princess Hyo Eui to conceive a child.
Princess...
Your Majesty!
- It has been a long time, Princess. - Your Majesty! What brings you here?
Why brings you here to this place...?
I wanted to do something for Princess Hyo Eui to conceive.
But seeing how you are making an effort, I am ashamed.
Not at all, Your Majesty!
I heard Princess Hun Kyung was most concerned about conception of the prince's heir.
I wanted to be of help. Is an heir not what we all desire?
These are the prayer beads I used, Your Highness.
Even if you do not believe in Buddha, it may help to settle the worries in your heart.
I will keep them close to me, Your Highness.
Even though you have been sent out of the palace, you are well-versed in the palace's affairs.
How did you know that I was hoping for an heir?
I am always worried about royal affairs and accidentally came across this information.
And I had been meaning to pray for a long time but now that I am away from the palace, I have time.
Even though you are away, I am grateful that you are always concerned about us.
Please be patient, Princess. I am sure His Majesty is thinking about you.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
She is indeed a fearsome foe. She knew we were coming here and put up a show.
She planned for many people to see her and report back to His Majesty.
Even if others fall for her tricks, we must be wary of her.
We must stop the princess from returning to the palace no matter what.
Yes, Mother.
You must have been very impatient to put up a show like this.
Forgive me, Your Majesty.
There will soon be a chance to change His Majesty's mind.
I can only help if you don't miss out on this chance.
Slowly and little by little... create reasons that justify your return to the palace.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty! We are in a big trouble.
- What is it? - An urgent message has been delivered to the palace.
It says that the king has collapsed and is ailing with a disease!
His Majesty is ailing with a disease? What are you saying?
His Majesty is not even able to regain consciousness?
Yes, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty...
A mysterious disease? A mysterious disease?
What were the prince and the Ministers doing?
What were you doing? Where were the physicians doing?
Please forgive us, Your Majesty!
How could he have contracted a disease while on a journey!
How could he become ill in a place where there is no medicine!
This is terrible news indeed that he is so weak that he cannot be moved back to the palace!
Has anyone else contracted the disease? Is the prince safe?
Yes, Your Highness. I asked around and they said that the prince is well.
Those fools! How could they have let His Majesty contract a disease!
I must go to the palace and speak to the queen!
- But Your Highness, you're not allowed... - Shut your mouth!
What do I have to fear? If the prince becomes king, I am a dead woman!
Go and make preparations now!
Yes, Your Highness.
My Lady, this is urgent. Please deliver this to the queen!
It is an urgent message from Secretary Jung.
- Secretary Jung? - Yes, it is an urgent message!
How useless they all are!
They said they would get rid of him forever, but now they are going to make him king.
Tell the messenger to deliver this to the Minister of Personnel.
Tell him that the prince must not return here by himself.
If His Majesty does not recover...
then the prince must die with him.
No... The prince must die before the king does.
- Do you understand? - Yes, Your Majesty.
Princess Hwa Wan begs your audience.
Hwa Wan?
- Your Majesty! - Princess, what is the meaning of this?
- You are not allowed in the palace! - I could not wait any longer.
Have you heard anything else about Father?
He is so ill that he cannot return to the palace.
Then what is going to happen?
- What if Father dies and the prince becomes... - Do not speak those words!
That will never happen. Never.
When I looked around, the adults were responding to the medicine and recovering.
But the children and the elderly were dying. It seems like it was an immunity issue.
Yes, Your Highness. I have observed that as well.
There is a medicinal herb that is arriving shortly from Qing China which aids immunity.
If only His Majesty would hold on until then...
Did you say medicine from Qing China?
Yes, there are herbs which are said to restore weak immune systems and stamina, Your Highness.
Alright. Then until that time, you must treat His Majesty with the finest medicine you have available.
And send for more physicians so that the disease does not spread out further.
- Do you understand? - Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness, let us return to the Magistrate's Office.
It is dangerous here because of the sick.
No, I want to look around some more.
Your Highness!
Your Highness, you must go to the Magistrate's Office.
- What is it? - His Majesty has regained consciousness.
He is looking for you, Your Highness.
Has he really regained consciousness?
Your Majesty!
Do you recognize me, Your Majesty!
I have something to say to you.
Yes, Your Majesty, I am listening.
Return to the palace immediately.
What?
It is an imperial order. Leave immediately.
What are you saying, Your Majesty?
How can you ask me to leave you when you are so ill?
When a king... cannot... move as he wishes...
the palace must not be unoccupied.
Don't you understand?
When I can move, I will follow behind you.
You must go there first and make sure you guard the throne and the Cabinet.
Do you understand? That is the role of the Crown Prince.
Have you delivered the queen's message to the Minister?
Yes, My Lord.
Where is the Minister now?
How is His Majesty?
He has regained consciousness, but he is still in critical condition.
They say the next three days is the most important.
Unless his energy is replenished, he will not be able to rise from his bed.
But in the midst of all this, the prince is returning to the palace?
The queen was right all along.
She wrote that if His Majesty regains consciousness,
he would send the prince to the palace.
But if there is no hope for His Majesty,
she has said that the prince must not return by himself.
But should we do? We can put assassins on the travel route.
- There are still a few locations... - Enough of that.
We have already failed once with that strategy.
The queen has said that the next step must be a no-fail strategy.
No-fail strategy?
Even if this starts a war, we must stop the prince.
His Majesty's order for you to return to the palace is a good one.
Even if you are reluctant, you must obey the king's order, Your Highness!
I know...
On the way here, there were attempts on your life.
We don't know what they will do on the return journey!
They will try and stop me from returning to the palace.
You're right. They will not stop at using just a few assassins.
What do you think we should do? Have you thought of a plan?
The journey back to the palace has two routes, one is Danakwon and the other is past Yanggeun.
Thus we will divide the group in half, and I will lead them to one of the routes.
What do you mean we will divide the group in half?
We will use a decoy and send half the Royal Guards with him.
When their attention is on him, you can return to Dosung without being noticed.
Then what will happen to the Royal Guards that will not be going with me?
They may be attacked in my stead!
- Yes, that will be so. - Look here, Tutor Hong!
Your Highness, we have no idea what they have up their sleeve.
This is the only way you can return safely to Dosung.
- I will not approve of this plan. - But Your Highness...!
Enough! I did not train them to be my Royal Guard only to use them as shields!
Your Highness, it is our duty and honor to protect you with our lives.
There is no greater death than to die protecting you, Your Highness!
It is my duty also to protect your lives!
Your Highness!
There will only be one route back.
No matter which route we take, the entire Royal Guard will be with me!
Your Excellency!
Please try and persuade the prince! He will be in great danger!
Your Excellency! I agree with Tutor Hong.
Protecting the prince's life is our first priority!
Do you still not know the prince?
No matter what we say, we will not be able to change his mind.
My Lord, I have prepared the army to stand by.
We will not use them.
Then...?
When you take out a viper from its den, you borrow someone else's hand.
Someone else's hand...?
You must keep secret what I am about to tell you.
Yes, Sir.
Go quietly and deliver this message to the Magistrate.
He will tell you what you need to do.
Yes, Sir.
The life of His Highness rests on you.
Make sure that this message is delivered to the Magistrate.
- Sir! - You scared me! What is it?
I have a favor to ask!
What is it?
I know we're short of manpower, but how can they ask to wash the dishes?
This is all because of Official Park!
What do you mean?
He went to the official in charge of nursing and told him we had nothing to do.
Does that mean we have to keep doing this?
Probably. We have to boil the dishes in order to stop the disease from spreading.
I came all the way here just to suffer!
You don't have to worry so much.
As long as you drink good water, you should be alright.
Alright? They can't even cure His Majesty!
I feel very uneasy about all of this. What if we get the disease?
Well, they say we're returning to Dosung in a few days, so cheer up!
I'll go and get more dishes from the kitchen attendants.
Why is she so tactless? She's going to collect more dishes?
Just be patient with her. Song Yeon is great except for the fact that she's a bit tactless.
When she brings it, clean it yourselves.
I'm going back to rest.
Come on out.
- I... I'm coming with you. - Where are you going?
Your Highness...
It is time for you to leave.
Alright.
Your Highness...
- Go ahead. I'll follow shortly. - Yes, Your Highness.
Where is that Song Yeon? Did she run away?
Excuse me...
Hello. Do you remember me?
Of course. But what brings you here...?
- I heard you didn't come... - I'm a Royal Guard! Of course I came.
I was looking for a long time. I'm glad I found you here.
- Looking...? For me? - No, Song Yeon.
What?
Where is she? I thought all the Bureau staff were here.
So you were helping with the kitchen work. You have come all the way just to suffer...
Not at all, Your Highness. We do this at the Bureau too.
But your face has become wan.
I have something for you.
Your Highness, what...?
Take it. It is medicine from the Royal Bureau.
No, Your Highness, this is for you. Why are you giving it to me?
I am returning to the palace on the king's orders.
But my heart does not rest at the thought of leaving you here.
Please don't get sick, and return safely to the palace.
Do you hear me?
Yes, Your Highness.
You're still here?
- Yes... I was on my way. - Hurry! We have no time to waste.
Yes, Sir.
I wanted to see her face before I left...
Minister, I leave His Majesty's well-being in your hands.
Please do not worry, Your Highness. I will do my best.
Dosung is only a hundred li away, but it will not be an easy journey.
But I trust you, so trust me and do your best.
Yes, Your Highness!
Let's go!
Has the prince left?
Yes, he left about an hour ago.
He should have decided by now if he's going by Danakwon or Yanggeun.
- Is everything ready? - Yes.
- What is this? - I sent a message to this post station.
Dosung is eighty li away. We should rest here.
I agree. I am worried that we didn't feed the horses enough last night.
- Get ready. - Yes, Sir.
When we leave the post station, I will lead the group towards Danakwon.
Going via Danakwon will add an hour to our journey.
But the way to Yanggeun is mountainous and may pose a problem.
Any movement from the enemy?
I have been watching from the rear, but nothing so far.
Do not let your guard down. Tell the Royal Guard to be focused.
Yes, Your Highness.
The horses must be changed and fed, so please go in and rest for a while.
Alright.
Tell them they are headed towards Yanggeun. Tell them to eliminate all of them!
- Do you understand? - Yes, I will leave immediately!
We must all be on our guard from this point forward.
- Be careful and look for anything suspicious! - Yes, Sir!
Are you alright?
Yes, Sir. Don't worry about me.
I heard you asked Tutor Hong to go in the prince's stead.
- Yes. - You will be their main target.
- Do you know that? - Yes. Don't worry, Sir.
I may not look much, but I can avoid a few arrows easily.
Look at your bravado...!
I will most certainly protect you. Have faith in me.
In any case, you are His Highness at this moment.
Don't say that, Sir.
What is going on? Why do I not see some of my Royal Guard?
They have left for Yanggeun, Your Highness.
What do you mean, Yanggeun? Didn't you say we were going by Danakwon?
Forgive me, Your Highness, but I have ordered a decoy team.
What are you saying? We agreed to go together!
We can't do that, Your Highness! The Royal Guard is responsible for your life!
- They must be able to give up their lives for you! - Have you disobeyed me?
Have you given an order without my approval?
Please execute me, Your Highness! I had no other choice!
How many? How many have gone to Yanggeun?
Eight.
Eight? Are you out of your mind?
What can eight men do? You have sent them to their deaths!
It is more important to protect your life!
We cannot afford to send many soldiers to the decoy team!
When did they leave?
They left shortly after you fell asleep.
Another troop went with them to dupe the enemy's eyes.
When they reached the mountains,
they returned while the decoy team headed for Yanggeun.
You too...?
- Forgive me, but I cooperated with Tutor Hong. - Official Nam!
Your Highness, the Royal Guard has committed themselves to guard you with their lives.
Please accept their loyalty, Your Highness!
Please forgive us, but right now it is more important that you reach the palace safely.
While the enemy is distracted, you must head towards Danakwon and return to the palace!
Where is Dae Su...?
Where is he?
Has he gone to Yanggeun?
Your Highness...!
- Your Highness... - We will go to Yanggeun!
- Your Highness! - I will not sacrifice them for my own life!
- I will bring them back myself! - It is too late! They left over an hour ago.
Even if you leave now, it will be too late!
It's a trap!
Dae Su!
Let us ride! It is the enemy!
Let's go!
It is no use! Everyone, retreat! Run away!
Come at me! Come at me, all of you!
Dae Su!
Hold on for a while, Dae Su!
Dae Su! Dae Su!
Come to your senses!
Dae Su!
- The bleeding isn't stopping. - Dae Su! Look at me! Dae Su!
- Come to your senses! - No, Dae Su!
- Dae Su! - No, Dae Su! No!
- Open your eyes, you bastard! - Come to your senses!
- Dae Su! - Dae Su!
Your Highness...
The prince is here! His Highness has arrived here!
Is that true?
- The prince arrived here by himself? - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, the prince requests your audience.
Let him enter.
My Prince...
Your Majesty...
I just received news that you had arrived.
What has happened, my Prince?
Why have you returned alone with His Majesty?
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
How is His Majesty? Was there any improvement?
Although he regained consciousness, he was still unable to arise without help.
But we are waiting for medicine to arrive from Qing China, so please do not worry.
His Majesty will most certainly recover.
- My Prince... - Yes, Your Majesty.
I am so glad you have returned unharmed!
I was so worried that you would contract this mysterious disease!
Please forgive me for worrying you, Mother.
Now that I have seen your healthy face, I can finally put my worries away.
- Is that not so, Princess? - Yes, Mother.
At sunrise, I want you to gather all the Royal Physicians.
Find out about this medicine from Qing China, and find out how to cure this mysterious disease.
Yes, Your Highness.
I heard that the people are worried and restless that the king has contracted this disease.
Yes, there are many contagious diseases going around in the autumn, and medicine prices are high.
But with the news of the mysterious disease, the prices have skyrocketed and is causing distress.
Since His Majesty's return is yet unknown, you must try and settle this with the Cabinet.
- Alright. - Your Highness, it is Official Nam.
Enter.
What of it? Any news from the Royal Guard that went to Yanggeun?
Not yet, Your Highness.
Please do not worry. They will return with their lives.
What has happened?
- I asked you what happened? - Please forgive me!
We staged an attack, but it was a decoy!
What?
It must have been... that Hong Gook Young...!
I knew I should have destroyed him if I could not have him on my side!
What happened?
We failed.
The prince will have arrived at the palace by now.
What do we do now? His Majesty is still critical and the prince has reached the palace.
How do we face the queen now?
We can't just sit here and do nothing. We must escort His Majesty back to the palace.
They have said that it will be too difficult for His Majesty to make the journey.
- What if something happens to him? - It is more foolish to wait for him to recover here.
I have to get some medicine...
- Sir! - What is it?
- I am an artist at the Bureau of Painting. - Yes?
I heard there was medicine that cured the disease. May I have some?
- Are you sick? - No, but I thought if I ate it...
- No! We don't even have enough for the sick. - Sir! Sir!
Why won't he save me...?
I can't just die...!
I wasn't feeling well, so I asked for some medicine, but he won't give me any!
- No word on when we're leaving? - His Majesty is still ill, so we can't go anywhere.
Damn it! There are sick and dying everywhere around us! What are we doing here?
I'm not even breathing properly because I'm afraid I'll catch the disease!
My body feels strange. I hope I didn't catch it!
Here... This is supposed to be good for the disease.
Where did you get this?
I got it from a physician.
- How can you eat that alone? - Share that with me!
- I want some too! - No!
Spit it out! Spit it out!
You bastard!
What do you mean the medicine isn't arriving from Qing China?
I regret to tell you that the ship that is transporting it is grounded due to a typhoon.
Then where is that ship now?
It is in Ganghwa, Your Highness.
Your Highness...!
Ganghwa is at least a day's ride away from here.
It will take two days to reach His Majesty at Yangju.
Your Highness!
The Royal Guard who went to Yanggeun have returned!
Are they alright? Are they all alive?
Five of them have been killed, and three of them are critically injured.
They are being treated now as we speak.
Your Highness!
Dae Su...
Your Highness...
I heard that you volunteered to be my decoy.
Why did you do such a foolish thing?
I am so glad that you are safe, Your Highness.
- Is that all? - Well done!
I'll bring you a table full of food and wine, so wait a while!
You're so manly even when you drink!
You're such a nice man. You'll be so good to your wife.
- Wife? - No really! You're such a gentleman!
You're so good to your nephew, so imagine how good you'll be to your wife.
You'll be like a eunuch with his wife!
- Eu... eunuch? - You don't know what a eunuch is?
Where is Dae Su?
Dae Su has been critically injured.
In... injured...? Dae Su!
Dae.. Dae Su! Dae Su!
Uncle!
You're my only blood relative in this world.
If something happens to you, what will I do?
I'm alright, so don't cry, Uncle. I'm not going to die.
Wretched boy! You're alive now.
But you just started being a Royal Guard! What will you happen to you in the future?
You won't be so lucky next time!
Who am I, Uncle? I'm Park Dae Su! I won't die so easily!
This time it was because those bastards all attacked me in droves!
The others were killed, so I'm lucky.
Shut up, wretched boy!
Does it hurt?
Lie down!
You will search all the medicine shops in Dosung
and gather all the Lingzhi, Astragalus and Rehmannia that you can find and send them to Yangju.
They may not be as good as the herbs from China, but they will be greatly helpful.
With the exception of the physicians already looking after patients, send all the physicians down.
- Yes, Your Highness. - That cannot be done!
His Majesty will be returning to the palace shortly, and will need physicians to be healed.
- How can you order all the physicians to leave? - Our priority is to stop the disease from spreading.
We must send the physicians to the neighboring areas and stop the disease from spreading.
My Prince, the royal hospital exists for His Majesty.
It is their responsibility to work for His Majesty's recovery. They must stay here.
Although I understand your opinion, I'm afraid I must heed my own instinct.
My Prince...!
His Majesty's purpose for sending me back to the palace was for me to make these decisions in his stead.
Are you saying that you are rejecting my order?
Yes, Your Majesty. The king's health is well-cared for by the Royal Physician.
The Bureau physicians must save the people from this disease.
Please remember that my orders are the same as His Majesty's orders.