Episode 19
- What is it? - Your Highness! Bad news!
Bad news?
After His Majesty drank the physician's tonic, his fever increased and he has lost consciousness!
His Majesty is in critical condition, Your Highness!
What is this I hear? Why is His Majesty in critical condition?
His condition changed only half an hour ago...!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
What is happening? His Majesty is having difficulty breathing!
- Don't just stand there! Do something! - Yes... yes, Your Highness!
Your Majesty...!
Princess!
What did she say? Has Father improved at all?
Your Highness...!
What is it? Did my medicine not have any effect?
After His Majesty took your tonic, his fever increased and he has lost consciousness!
What?
Father....!
- Princess...! - That's impossible! Impossible!
Your Highness...!
I will go to the palace now! Make preparations immediately!
- But Your Highness...! - I said make preparations now!
Yes, Your Highness!
Anybody in? Open the door!
- Anybody? - Who is it at this late hour?
Who are you?
- It's me. - S... sir!
Didn't you tell me that the ginseng had energy restorative properties?
But rather than having recovered, His Majesty is worse than before!
How could this happen?
Forgive me, Sir, but my patients have seen positive results with that medicine.
Are you implying that I am lying to you?
Please explain to me in detail once more. What were His Majesty's symptoms?
Was there anything else given to His Majesty other than the medicine?
Yes, we have stopped all other tonics except for this red ginseng tonic for the past three days.
Stop making this tonic immediately and make another one for His Majesty.
You can't do that, Your Highness!
Princess!
Please take back your order to stop the medicine.
If you stop the medicine now, it will become more difficult to treat His Majesty later.
What is the meaning of this? Didn't I tell you that you cannot be here!
Yes, you did. How could I dare to forget your imperial order?
But I risked my life to come here because I thought
I was going to lose my father if I didn't do something!
You must take back your order to stop the medicine if you truly want His Majesty to recover!
Enough of this!
His Majesty has lost consciousness because of the medicine you gave him.
But you want to keep giving it to him? What kind of mischief are you up to?
His Majesty is not in critical condition.
The medicine is showing its effect and curing him of the disease, Your Highness!
What?
His symptoms now are his body's signal of his recovery.
Some medicines make the body secrete the toxins,
which makes the symptoms temporarily worse.
These are surely signs that he is recovering, and not getting worse.
With time, his fever will subside and his symptoms will disappear!
Your Highness!
Is the princess speaking the truth?
I think the princess is speaking of recovery symptoms, Your Highness.
I know that!
I am asking you if His Majesty's symptoms could be signs of his recovery!
We cannot discount that possibility.
But only time can tell, Your Highness.
I am unable to give you an answer at this time.
Did you hear that, Princess?
I will not gamble on His Majesty's life.
- You must leave immediately! - Please give him one more day, Your Highness!
The physician just said there is a possibility! That means he could be recovering!
Please give the medicine to him for one more day!
Even though I have been disgraced and exiled, His Majesty is still my Father!
Would I be doing this to hurt him?
If his medicine is changed now, all the previous effects will be nullified!
So please give it one more day!
If His Majesty does not show improvement, I will give you my life!
You're telling me that the princess is insisting on using the same medicine?
Yes. She is refusing to move from the Grand Palace.
So what did the prince say?
This is the physician's list of the medicine's effects, Your Highness.
He said that a few of his patients had increased fever and difficulty breathing,
but they soon subsided and the patients recovered fully.
But we cannot guarantee that will be the outcome!
Even though the ginseng tonic has been known
to be effective in restoring energy to the patient,
its properties have not been fully tested.
We must stop giving this tonic to His Majesty!
- But what if they really are recovery symptoms? - Your Highness!
I read an old medical book once that said that difficulty in breathing can be a symptom
of the lungs renewing itself with good energy.
If that is the case, then the tonic may have already begun working.
The Royal Physician said that there is nothing else he could do.
This may be our last chance!
No. This may be a foolish gamble.
Don't you understand? If you don't stop the medicine now,
it will not just be the princess that will be in trouble.
You will also be held responsible!
His Majesty is between life and death? How could this happen, Your Excellency!
Maintain your composure. His Majesty is still alive.
Maintain our composure?
How can you say that so calmly?
If His Majesty passes away now, everything is over!
How could the princess let this happen?
How could she have given His Majesty such a....
Minister!
That is enough, Minister!
You only know how to talk, but the princess has done more action!
So shut that mouth!
- Is the princess still outside the Grand Palace? - Yes, Your Majesty.
She has asked me to tell you that she is sorry for causing you such worry.
This is something we could not control. But...
If His Majesty passes away, it will not only be the princess that will have to give up her life.
As contingency, summon our army and place them outside the palace walls.
- Do you understand? - Yes, Your Majesty!
His Majesty is not in critical condition.
The medicine is showing its effect and curing him of the disease, Your Highness!
He said that a few of his patients had increased fever and difficulty breathing,
but they soon subsided and the patients recovered fully.
- Internal Officer! - Yes, Your Highness.
Tell the Physician to prepare the medicine again.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness, the Physician has been ordered to prepare the medicine again!
- Really? - Yes!
Let us go back and wait at your residence, Your Highness!
- You have been here for three hours... - No.
I will wait here. Where else can I be other than here?
- Your Highness... - Father will recover soon.
He will most certainly recover soon!
Alright, I will return shortly.
Is His Majesty really that ill?
Yes, Uncle, they say it is very serious. Even the Bureau has stopped working because of it.
But why do you have to return to the palace? You're still unwell!
If His Majesty dies, there will be chaos in the palace!
We have to increase security at a time like this.
What? Chaos?
Be quiet, Uncle!
- You're here? - Let's go.
Sir.
- Why are you back? - I received the message.
I told them not to tell you!
And you ran all the way here in your state?
I'm fine. Please don't worry about me.
How is the environment in the palace now?
It's so tense here.
Everyone is holding their breath and watching the Grand Palace.
We have no idea when the mourning bells will ring.
How is His Majesty?
Has there been any improvement?
There is no word yet.
So? Any news from the Grand Palace?
No, I could only see the eunuchs going in and out with the tonic.
A day has passed already, Your Excellency.
If there was a change, we would have heard something.
It looks like it is too late for His Majesty.
What time is it?
We have just passed midnight, Your Highness.
Tell the Physician to stop preparing the tonic.
Yes, Your Highness.
Move aside. I will do it myself.
- But... - It's alright. Move aside.
Yes, Your Highness.
- Wait! - What is it, Your Highness?
- When did you put this cloth on? - Half an hour ago, Your Highness.
Because of his high fever, we have been changing it every 30 minutes.
It's cold... The cloth is cold!
What?
Tell the Grand Internal Officer to fetch the Royal Physician immediately!
- How is he? - His fever has dropped.
And his pulse is now stable.
- Is it really? - Yes, Your Highness!
And his difficulty in breathing will improve if it is a recovery symptom.
It looks like he has made a significant recovery.
Is that really the case? Has Father's fever really dropped?
Yes, Your Highness. The Physician has said that His Majesty will soon recover!
- Your Highness! - I'm alright. I'm alright!
It is alright now. You are safe now, Father!
- Princess! - Your Majesty!
Did you hear? They say His Majesty has improved greatly!
Yes... Yes, Your Majesty!
How you must have suffered. This is all because of you.
You have saved not only His Majesty but all of us as well!
Your Majesty!
- Congratulations, Your Highness! - Congratulations, Your Highness!
Thank you. This is all because of your efforts.
Not at all. Your filial piety must have moved Heaven to have mercy!
No, I did nothing. This is all the princess' effort.
If it weren't for the princess, His Majesty would never have recovered.
But it is difficult to make the right decision when forced to make one.
But at the risk of terrible consequences, you made a difficult decision.
Even though he is no longer in critical condition, His Majesty is still terribly weak.
Until he is fully recovered, you must oversee the Royal Bureau of Medicine.
Yes, Your Highness.
I will do my utmost. Please do not worry.
- Are you leaving the palace? - Yes. Congratulations, My Lord.
I think this will be the first and the last time we exchange good wishes.
Yes, I think so too.
I will be taking my leave now.
Is that the man you mentioned as the prince's tactician?
Yes. His name is Hong Gook Young.
- He is a young man. - Yes.
But that young man caused great stress for you.
He must not be underestimated.
If we cannot bring him to us, we must cut him off from the prince.
Your Highness, you have not rested for four days.
His Majesty is on his way to recovery. Please return to your chambers and rest.
No, I'm alright. Do not concern yourself with me.
Listen to the Physician.
Your Majesty!
Have you regained consciousness?
- Your Majesty! - I'm alright now.
Go back to your chambers.
No, Your Majesty. I will stay with you for one more day.
Stop being so stubborn and go look at your own face.
You have lost so much weight in the past few days.
You have suffered.
You have suffered greatly because of an old man.
Your Majesty...!
The Ministry of Rites has asked us to draw a current map of Dosung,
and the Office of Ceramics have requested an artist to draw them a design prototype.
We have so much backlog already. It will be difficult to clear all the work.
- These are the paintings from the Ancestral Visit. - Alright.
- Oh, and organize these as well. - Yes, Sir.
Artist Tak, have you completed the folding screen for the Crown Princess?
Because of the Ancestral Visit and His Majesty's illness,
we have not been able to complete it.
She has asked us to complete it by the tenth day of this month.
We only have three days left, and we still four screens left to complete?
Please forgive me.
What should we do?
Is there any else who can complete this?
Well, no one else knows the intent behind it, so it is hard to find someone...
What should we do?
- Come over here. - Yes, Sir.
Why don't you let her help you with one of the screens?
- Sir! - What do you mean?
Neither you nor I have time to complete the screens.
But Sir, this girl is a Damo.
How can a Damo dare to touch a painting that will be displayed in the palace?
He's right, Sir. How could I dare to...?
It's alright. And besides, it was you that suggested the theme of this painting.
- But still... - Why? You don't want to do it?
This is no good.
This is no good either.
And this one too.
When you draw a dress that is tightly fitted to the body,
I told you that you must accentuate the body!
It should like she's naked even though she's dressed!
Draw them again! Why don't you understand my instructions?
I'm sorry, but I can't do this anymore.
What? You can't?
Yes, I have a lot of other paintings to complete other than these.
I can't just draw figures all day!
Are you rejecting my teachings?
Why are you doing this to me, Sir?
You are the one I have chosen to continue on my work and my heritage!
You keep saying that, but what exactly do you mean by that?
You...! Hey you!
Sir Yi seems a bit strange after he went on that Ancestral Visit.
It's because he almost died! Anyway, a lot of people changed on that trip!
What do you mean?
Don't you know? Chobi is really strange nowadays!
How is Chobi strange?
Is anybody home? This should be right place.
Is anybody home?
Is no one home?
What are you doing there?
Hello!
Oh, hello!
- Oh... your clothes.... - What?
You're wearing uniform. Did you start working already?
How are your injuries?
Oh, I'm completely healed now.
Oh, and thank you for the medicine you sent me through Song Yeon.
I recovered quickly because of you!
Really? Was it really because of me?
Y... yes.
I was right! That Chobi is completely head over heels in love with Dae Su.
Semo and Shibi were both saying that every time she opens her mouth, she can't stop talking about...
- Song Yeon! - What?
What's wrong with you? Are you listening to me?
What? Oh...
You know, Misu, I'll be back soon.
What's wrong with her?
So, you want to try it?
Yes sir. If it's alright with you...
Damn it. I can't do it because of the lack of time.
But how can I ask a Damo to do it...?
Alright. I will give you paper and pigments.
Complete a Trinity Talisman within three days.
- Are you sure you can do it? - Yes, Sir! I'll try my best!
Your Majesty!
- Is the prince inside? - Yes, Your Majesty!
What brings you here to my quarters, Your Majesty?
I came because I had something to speak to you about.
Have I interrupted you on anything?
Not at all, Your Majesty.
My Prince, I am sure I have upset you these past few days.
But that was because I was so shocked and distressed by His Majesty's illness.
So please forgive me.
Your Majesty, why do you say such things?
No, I have realized that I have done many things to upset you.
Your Majesty...
But the reason why I took the side of the princess and the Personnel Minister,
was because I was desperate for a solution, and not because I opposed your views.
But how fortunate are we all that His Majesty recovered after all of that?
Yes, Your Majesty, you are right.
Thus there is something I want to discuss with you...
Don't you think Princess Hwa Wan should be allowed back in the palace?
If it weren't for the princess, His Majesty would never have recovered.
Therefore I believe that it is right for the princess to be allowed to return.
What do you think of this, My Prince?
- But His Majesty has... - Don't worry about His Majesty.
I will persuade him. After all, she is his savior.
Even though he may still be angry with her, how could he ignore her efforts?
The princess is returning to the palace? How could that happen, Your Highness?
We have no choice. We have no way to oppose it.
- Then we should find a way to oppose it...! - Tutor Hong is right.
In any case, the princess is His Majesty's savior.
We have no choice but to acknowledge that.
Your Highness, we do not know when she will draw her sword against you again!
How can you allow her proximity to yourself?
- You should not give in so easily...! - That is enough, Official Nam.
Your Highness...!
When His Majesty was ill, I thought to myself that I would do anything to save him.
So let us not discuss this any further.
Your Highness...!
Your Highness! Look over there!
Isn't that Princess Hwa Wan?
There were rumors that she would be allowed to return because of her effort, and it must be true!
Look! She has brought her belongings with her!
You're telling me that the princess is in the palace?
Yes, she is at the Grand Palace now and her attendants are making up her quarters.
Making up her quarters?
Does this mean she will be living in the palace?
Yes, Your Excellency. That is what I have heard.
Please sit, Princess.
Father... How are you feeling?
Have you really recovered?
Your Majesty...
Yes, I'm alright now.
I have heard that I was able to recover because of you.
Father...!
You must have been angry at me when I sent you on exile.
Thank you.
Angry at you? How can you say such things?
How could I have been angry at you?
Don't you know my loyalty and love for you?
I am so happy that you are well again.
I thought I would never see you again!
I thought I would never...!
Princess! Why do you cry on such a joyous day?
Forgive me, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, why do you just watch when the princess is crying?
Why don't you at least hold her hand?
Yes, do stop crying.
Look at how well I am now!
Father! Father!
Well done, Your Highness! Your efforts have saved all of us!
I did not do it merely to save us.
His Majesty is my father who gave life to me.
If this is repeated again in history, I will do exactly the same.
We all know full well.
I know very well how much you love His Majesty.
In any case, you have saved all of us from the edge of the cliff, Princess.
I will not forget this.
You honor me, Your Majesty.
You have done well too.
If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have been able to influence the prince.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
I can almost see it now.
When Father collapsed, everyone must have panicked!
They all turned their backs on me when I was exiled.
But now they are all plying flattery upon me.
- Will you return to your quarters? - No, there is something I must do.
Something you must do?
What do you think I wanted to do first when I returned to the palace?
- Your Majesty, the prince is here. - Yes, let him enter.
Your Majesty, did you summon me?
- Yes. Take a seat. - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Give it to Her Highness. - Yes.
This is the medicine you gave me when you paid me a visit at my private residence.
But I don't think I need it anymore.
I'm sure it is priceless, so I could not throw it away.
When I thought about it, I thought perhaps you might need it more than me.
I took a few packets myself,
but perhaps because it benefits one's health, it was quite bitter.
But now that I am back in the palace, shouldn't this bitter medicine be yours now?
If that is your wish, then I will gladly accept the return of the medicine.
But it will not be so bitter for me, so please do not worry.
Because of your efforts, I have already tasted medicine far more bitter than this.
Would mere medicine make me grimace?
I will set this aside for you, so please feel free to tell me if you need some.
It will not be too long before you'll need it, Princess.
I guarantee it.
An Imperial Decree? What do you mean, Your Majesty?
I should be asking you the same thing!
Four days ago, I gave out an Imperial Decree to the Royal Secretary!
Why have you not consulted me on anything thus far?
Have you ignored the Imperial Decree because you did not want to obey me?
Please forgive me, Your Majesty,
but I do not know what you are speaking about.
I never received any Imperial Decree from the Royal Secretary, Your Majesty.
What? Do you mean to say that the Royal Secretary ignored my Imperial Decree?
- Grand Internal Officer! - Yes, Your Majesty!
Summon the Royal Secretary immediately!
Yes, Your Majesty!
His Majesty is looking for the Royal Secretary and I think it's because of the Imperial Decree.
Is that really so?
The queen needs to know, so go and tell her.
Yes, Sir.
- Alright. You may leave us. - Yes, Your Majesty.
What will you do, Your Majesty?
If the Royal Secretary goes to His Majesty, he will know that you have the Imperial Decree.
Yes, I know. But this was not something we could hide anyway.
But if His Majesty finds out, his wrath will reach the heavens!
What are you going to do?
What is it, My Queen?
I have summoned the Royal Secretary, so perhaps you can come another time.
You don't have to summon the Royal Secretary, Your Majesty.
Isn't this because of this Imperial Decree?
What is the meaning of this? Why is this with you?
I took it from the Royal Secretary, Your Majesty.
Do you know what the Imperial Decree is about?
Yes, Your Majesty.
It says that you bestow upon the prince the right to rule in your stead.
That's right.
But why is such an important Imperial Decree in your hands and not the prince's?
I did it because of my loyalty to you and the government.
Please hear my explanation and relieve yourself of your anger.
Loyalty? You took this Imperial Decree of your so-called loyalty to me?
If you want to punish me for this, I will accept whatever you order for me.
But Your Majesty, after you gave this Imperial Decree,
you lost consciousness and fell into a coma.
How could we accept such an edict at a time like that?
If the government officials found out about this,
how could you not have known the accusations that would have been pointed at the prince?
They would have risen up in opposition at this decree at such an inappropriate time.
And you would not have been able to defend the prince!
That's why...
That's why I held the Imperial Decree for a while.
I wanted to protect the prince, and prevent the officials from rising up.
Even so, this was a government matter.
It was not for you to handle.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
Forgive me for saying this, but I do not think the queen should be held to blame.
I cannot possibly rule in your stead. It is preposterous!
And now that you are well again, you would have taken back the decree.
That is not so.
I have not changed my mind about letting you rule in my stead.
- Your Majesty! - What are you saying, Your Majesty?
This Imperial Decree will be made official today.
I will announce this myself to the Cabinet. Gather them immediately.
Your Majesty...!
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, it is inappropriate for me to handle the state's matters.
Please take back the edict!
You have handled the state's matters well in the past couple of days.
It is no different than that, so do not disagree with me again.
Your Majesty, that was because you were unwell.
You are well now, so why do you give such an order?
Handing over your sovereignty is a matter of the throne!
How could I presume to be responsible for the nation's affairs when I am so underqualified?
Stop stating the obvious, go and see how you can do well.
- Your Majesty! - And by the way, don't come to the Cabinet.
I will handle the objections of the officials.
- Let's go. - Your Majesty!
Let us go.
Look here, Tutor Hong.
- Sir! - I was looking for you.
Is something happening?
Why have all the officials returned to the palace?
His Majesty is going to announce his plans to have the prince rule in his stead.
- What? Rule in his stead? - Yes, so go to the Eastern Palace.
The prince may look for you.
No, I'm not going to go now.
What do you mean you won't go now?
We must block the Imperial Decree at all costs.
We must not allow the prince to have full authority over national matters.
Therefore, from this moment onwards,
I will confer upon the prince all authority over matters of the state.
Thus, all of the Ministers must also support the prince in his rule.
Your Majesty, we cannot accept your decree!
You have recovered completely from your illness.
How can you give your authority to the prince? This is an order we cannot accept!
- Please hear our plea! - Please hear our plea, Your Majesty!
Please hear our plea! Please hear our plea!
Even though I may look well in your eyes, Minister, I am still quite unwell.
- Is that enough reason? - Your Majesty!
I will say this once and for all. Even if you beg me to hear your plea,
it will be useless.
The prince's rule will begin starting from tomorrow's monthly assembly.
- Do you understand me? - No, Your Majesty! This is unacceptable!
- Please hear our plea! - Please hear our plea!
Your Majesty, please hear our plea! Please hear our plea!
Your Majesty, please take back your Imperial Decree!
Please take it back!
Those fools. I told them it would be useless.
Your Majesty, the prince will find it difficult to uphold your Imperial Decree.
You are now well. Why do you insist in the prince ruling in your stead?
Do you know what I realized during this time?
I realized that I was going to die soon.
Your Majesty, how can you say such an outrageous thing?
Outrageous? Are you suggesting that I will live for a thousand years?
Your Majesty!
I must see what the prince is capable of.
And while I am still here, I must help him improve on what he is lacking.
Your Majesty...!
I have not changed my mind about letting you rule in my stead.
His Majesty is more resolute than ever.
At this rate, we will not be able to find a solution.
Call a meeting immediately.
Yes, Your Majesty.
It is now clear that His Majesty fully supports the prince.
There is now nothing we can do!
Have you changed your mind now that it looks as if the prince will ascend to the throne?
How can you suggest such a thing, Your Highness?
We must prevent the prince from taking full authority over all matters.
We must put our influence over all the palace officials as well as the attendants!
That's right.
We must make it so that no one attends any of the assemblies the prince is presiding over!
That is not a good strategy.
No need for that.
Why do you sit around and speak useless words?
We cannot block the Imperial Decree. We must obey His Majesty.
- But Your Majesty...! - Let the prince rule.
All we have to do is to show how lacking he is in that position.
This may be a good opportunity for us to show how inadequate he is to sit on the throne.
When that happens, His Majesty's support will quaver.
I trust all of you will take care of things from here.
This is not the first time. You did it before with Crown Prince Sado.
Mother!
- Princess...! - Why are you out in the cold night?
Is it? I am so distressed that I cannot tell if the air is cold, Princess.
Mother...
Now that the prince will be sovereign over all matters, I am overwhelmed with worry.
Even the late Crown Prince was made sovereign before he made His Majesty angry.
Mother, His Majesty trusts and supports the prince fully.
So why are you so worried?
Yes, I know.
The circumstances now are different from when the Crown Prince was alive.
But I do not know why I am still so worried.
Mother...
So have you thought through what you will do at the assembly tomorrow?
Your Majesty, will you not take back your edict?
I cannot possibly obey the decree to rule over all matters of the state!
So what will you do if I won't?
Will you fast and cry out for three days like those foolish ministers out there?
- Your Majesty! - Don't do anything stupid.
If you wish to become a great ruler according to your father's wishes,
take the time you are spending saying no and study to improve yourself!
The reason I am doing this is to give you
the opportunity to learn before you actually take the throne.
Do you not understand my intentions?
Your Majesty...
The Assembly begins at the Hour of the Dragon (7-9am).
If you do not wish to be eaten alive by the Ministers,
you will have to prepare all throughout the night!
Remember this. Politics are not for one's personal gain.
You must also not overly depend on the Ministers' opinions.
You must show them what you would do if you were king.
Do you understand?
Tutor Hong, the prince is looking for you. Go to the library immediately.
Yes, Sir.
The Bureau of Medicine will prepare tonics with bear gall for the next two days.
Alright, but...
Is there something else you would like for me to do?
- Strange... - What?
- You. - What about me, Your Highness?
The man I know would have run over last night and spoken many things to me.
- But you have been so quiet. - Oh, you mean the Imperial Decree?
You have already made up your mind. What can I say to change it?
When you first saw me, you told me that you could see ambition in my eyes.
Do you remember, Your Highness?
Of course.
Forgive me for saying this, but that night I saw something in your eyes too.
May I continue?
Tell me. What did you see?
It was also ambition.
I am not talking about ambition for the throne.
There is something else that drives you.
What that is and how far you would let it take you...
That is something I do not know.
You have the ambition to make great things happen.
And you know now that this is your first opportunity.
Am I wrong?
His Majesty enters!
- Is the prince not here yet? - Yes, Your Majesty.
You have the ambition to make great things happen.
And you know now that this is your first opportunity.
It is already past the Hour of the Dragon (7-9am). Where is the prince?
Grand Internal Officer, find the prince and bring him here.
Search the whole palace!
- Yes, Your Majesty. - I am already here, Your Majesty!