Then tell me! Why did Concubine Hong have a miscarriage?
There were no mistakes made by the physicians and nurses.
But the tonics from outside the palace
might have had harmful ingredients that affected Her Highness and the baby.
What do you mean by that? The tonics from outside the palace?
Who could have done such an outrageous thing?
Speak, Physician!
It was the tonic that was sent by Her Majesty the Queen!
As far as I know, there can be no other reason
Episode 57
why Her Highness miscarried.
Your Majesty...!
It was because of the tonic that the queen gave her?
Are you telling me that the reason for the miscarriage was...
the queen?
Your Majesty...!
That is impossible! How could it have been the queen?
Do you understand what you are saying to me?
- Do you understand the implications of this? - Your Majesty...!
Please have mercy, Your Majesty!
Why have you told me this?
Your Majesty...!
Speak! You must have a good reason for having said this to me!
My Lord! Please stop drinking! You've had too much!
- Go away! I said go away! - My Lord!
The tonic that the queen gave to Concubine Hong...
had chrysanthemum root in it.
This herb is incompatible for Her Highness' constitution.
I am certain that this is the root cause of the miscarriage, Your Majesty.
But you cannot hold the queen responsible for that.
The tonic must have been prescribed by her private physician,
and the queen will not have known about the effects of the ingredients!
That is not true, Your Majesty.
I am certain that the queen was fully aware of the tonic's effects!
What did you say?
When Her Majesty first sent us the herbs for the tonic,
I informed her that the tonic was harmful for Her Highness.
But when the new herbs were sent to us,
it was the same herbs as before.
If the opportunity came to me again,
I would like to give you a son that looks exactly like you.
The baby is lost and Mother had lost consciousness.
How could a sinner like me rest in my chambers?
I couldn't do that, Your Majesty.
Please forgive me, but Her Highness is still weak and is unable to receive visitors.
Indeed?
Unable to receive visitors? How dare she refuse to see Her Majesty?
She may be unwell, but Her Majesty has come here personally!
- Do not say anything! - Your Majesty!
She must not be feeling well.
And I am sure she is reluctant to receive visitors.
Let us give her what we brought and leave.
- But Your Majesty...! - Do as I say!
This is tea made from Angelica Sinensis. It is good for bleeding.
And if anything happens, let my attendants know right away.
- Do you understand? - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Let's go. - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Did the queen leave? - Yes, Your Highness.
She has given you Angelica tea as it is known to be good for bleeding.
Angelica tea? Does she not know her own fate?
What a pathetic person she is.
This is justice from Heaven.
When I found out about the phantom pregnancy, I thought the world had ended.
How could I have known that this was actually my opportunity?
Let us turn back.
But you came all the way here to see His Majesty!
Why do you want to turn back without seeing him?
How do I have the face to see His Majesty?
Your Majesty...!
I am certain that the queen was fully aware of the tonic's effects!
Are you sure?
Who would have thought that Her Highness would faint during the feast?
Everyone was so shocked!
Then is it really true that she had a miscarriage?
How could something like that happen so suddenly?
That's why the palace is going crazy trying to find the reason.
What? They're trying to find the reason?
They won't let this miscarriage go by uninvestigated.
They're trying to find out if this was the result of an evil plot.
How could anyone do such a thing?
I'm sure His Majesty is suffering the most. He wanted this child more than anything!
- That's right! - That's right!
What are you all doing milling around here?
How is Concubine Hong?
She has yet to recover and is still resting in her bed.
Her Majesty even brought Angelica tea, but was turned away.
Yes, how much suffering she must be experiencing at her loss!
Make preparations. I think I will go and take care of her myself.
- But Your Highness... - Even if I am turned away, I should still go.
What else could I do for her?
Is that smoke coming from the backyard of Concubine Hong's palace?
- I will go and find out, Your Highness. - No, I will go personally.
- What are you doing? - Your Highness!
What are you burning here?
Why are you silent? I asked you what you were burning!
This is the Angelica tea that the queen sent to Her Highness.
What? How dare you burn the queen's Angelica tea?
Who gave you the orders to do so?
It was I, Mother.
Concubine Hong!
Please forgive me, but it was I that gave them the orders.
Why have you done this?
Concubine Hong!
Your Majesty, the queen is not in her chambers.
Is she taking a walk somewhere?
Yes, Your Majesty. They say she has gone to the Royal Kitchens.
Is this the seaweed from Uljoong Harbor?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I have heard that women after miscarriage can catch pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Since seaweed is good at countering that, make sure you give it to Her Highness everyday.
Yes, Your Majesty.
- Have you brought in the other ingredients I asked for? - Here they are, Your Majesty.
- Is Concubine Hong eating well? - Yes.
- What does she enjoy eating? - She enjoys roast beef.
Indeed?
Your Majesty!
Why are you checking the ingredients yourself?
I heard that food must be carefully made for women who have miscarried.
Even though I have yet to fulfill my duty as the queen of this country,
I think that it is also my duty to make sure that Concubine Hong is well taken care of.
She must be going through suffering and loneliness right now.
I must do everything I can so that I can be of comfort to her.
Your Majesty, didn't you say you had a question to ask me?
What is your question, Your Majesty?
Your Majesty...?
It's nothing. I don't think I have anything to ask you after all.
What?
I was momentarily distracted by something someone said.
I am ashamed of myself.
What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?
You must investigate this secretly for me.
If we don't do anything, the queen may come to harm.
- So we must... - Your Majesty, Her Highness is here.
Mother!
I was just at Concubine Hong's palace! And I heard the most awful thing!
She said that the reason she miscarried was because of the tonic the queen gave her!
She said that the Physician should have told you this by now!
- Mother... - Tell me! Is that true?
Did the Physician tell you this? Is what Concubine Hong told me true?
Mother, please calm yourself. We are investigating this incident.
Investigating this? Then it's true?
No, Mother! It's not true!
It must be a misunderstanding.
You know that the queen would never do such a thing.
Yes, I know the queen better than anyone else.
- No! That's just what I thought! - Mother...
But I'm not sure anymore!
If that's not true, then what is it?
Does that mean that Concubine Hong and the Physician are both lying?
Your Highness...
Bring the queen to me.
Mother, how can you say that I gave her a harmful tonic on purpose?
How can you even suggest such a thing?
I did not say that you did so.
I too don't want to believe that you are capable for such a horrendous thing.
But if that is what the Physician is saying, we cannot let this go uninvestigated.
I am just telling you that I will be looking at the tonic that you gave her.
Mother!
The Royal Hospital has begun examining the prescription of the tonic you gave to Concubine Hong.
So if we wait, we will have our answer soon.
My Lady, this cannot be! Her Majesty is totally innocent!
How can Her Highness be so cruel?
Uncle! What are you doing here?
This isn't good, Dae Su. The queen is going to be in trouble!
What?
The Royal Hospital has begun their examinations of all the herbs used in the tonics.
If it is true that chrysanthemum root was included in the queen's tonic,
what will we do?
I am concerned that this will cause a huge uproar in government, Your Majesty!
I must speak to Secretary Hong! Where is he?
- I told you not to come here! - But things are bad!
If I don't come to you, who can I go to?
- Did you take care of the herbs? - You don't have to worry about that.
But His Majesty did not look like he believed what I told him.
- What? - We must do something!
If we don't, things will get worse!
Then meet me later at the Gisaeng House. There are too many eyes here.
My Lord!
- My Lord! - What is it?
- His Majesty is outside. - What?
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
What is going on, My Lord?
Why has His Majesty come personally to the Imperial Guard?
Why else would he be here? You know the commotion in the palace.
He must want to speak to Concubine Hong's older brother.
Why were you meeting with the Physician here?
Speak. I asked why you were with the Physician.
Your Majesty, I was...
Were you asking him about the queen?
You must have heard that there was something wrong with the queen's tonic.
And that it may have caused the miscarriage.
Were you meeting with the Physician to confirm this?
Your Majesty...!
What is your opinion? Do you think the queen is responsible?
I want to hear your opinion. I want to know what you're thinking.
Please forgive me, but until the truth is revealed after the investigation,
I have nothing to say.
Alright. So that is what you think too.
But I trust the queen, Secretary Hong. She is not capable of doing something like that.
- I wish you will keep an open mind as well. - But Your Majesty...
I am sure it will be difficult. But trust me in this.
If someone deliberately caused this miscarriage, I will find the culprit personally.
So until the truth is revealed, I ask you to cooperate with me.
Will you do this for me?
If someone deliberately caused this miscarriage, I will find the culprit personally.
So until the truth is revealed, I ask you to cooperate with me.
Will you do this for me?
Indeed? So everything is pointing at the queen?
Yes, Your Majesty.
But when the Physician told her this,
didn't she have the herbs resent without the harmful ingredients?
But they have found the ingredient in the leftover herbs.
That is why she has no defense.
We must wait and see, but it looks like the palace will be swept up in scandal.
Isn't this grounds for the queen to be stripped of her crown and titles?
Stripped of her crown...?
Your Majesty, it is Attendant Kang.
Enter.
- Your Majesty, he is here. - Alright. Tell him to wait.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Minister, there is something you must do for me.
Welcome. I summoned you because I have a question for you.
- Have a seat. - Yes, Your Majesty.
What? Secretary Hong wanted you to have the Physician followed?
That's right, Your Majesty.
I think Secretary Hong knew in advance that someone wanted to harm Concubine Hong.
Isn't that why he wanted me to have him followed?
I don't think that the queen is guilty.
I think we should investigate the Physician, Your Majesty.
Perhaps that is the same reason why Secretary Hong was speaking with him.
Dae Su, go and bring Officers Kang and Suh.
I want the three of you to follow the Physician.
Follow the Physician? If you suspect him, you should arrest...
No, if we arrest him, things will get more complicated.
And there is no guarantee that he will confess to anything.
If the Physician is responsible for this, then he cannot have done this alone.
I want to know who he was working with to do this terrible thing.
And keep this from Secretary Hong as well.
What?
Since this involves Concubine Hong, it also involves Secretary Hong.
He can get himself into trouble if he intervenes inappropriately.
I will handle this myself.
Yes, Your Majesty.
My Lord!
I will have a visitor. Bring him to the last room.
Yes, My Lord.
- No word must be said about this. - Don't worry, My Lord.
- I'll go in with Dae Su. You stay outside. - Alright.
Let's go.
Which room did that man just enter?
Wait. He said no one was to be harmed.
Let's go around the back.
Who goes there?
Sir! Sir!
Are you alright?
They took the Physician and left that way.
Hurry after them! Go!
Jangbo! Come to your senses!
I told you no one was to be hurt!
Why have you made this mess?
Please forgive us, My Lord, but we have no choice.
How badly was he hurt? Will he live?
What did you say? Officer Suh was injured?
The bleeding has stopped, but he has lost a lot of blood and needs further monitoring.
- When will he regain consciousness? - I am not certain of that, Your Majesty!
- My Lord! - My Lord!
So will he live?
- That is unknown. - Your Majesty...!
This is most certainly a conspiracy.
Someone has done this to frame the queen.
This should be enough for them to not call me a thief.
I hope those two rats don't show up.
What's wrong?
I startle easily. Why are you here, my lovely?
- I just decided to come. Where are you going? - Me?
I felt a bit claustrophobic, so I was going to take a walk.
I'll see you later, my lovely!
Sir!
If you were going to take a walk, may I accompany you?
You might get cold.
Please let me go with you!
- No... I mean... - Please?
- Alright then. - Thank you!
Give me these two.
Madam, if a pretty young girl comes looking for me,
tell her you haven't seen me.
- Try it. Good. - I've never seen you.
Buy yourself a candy.
Sir, where are you going?
I thought that I would go home.
- Then take these back too. - What is this, my lovely?
Things you need for your escapade. You're trying to leave the Capital, aren't you?
- How did you...? - Why are you so surprised?
I told you I startle easily.
- So you knew I was leaving? - Yes, I knew from the start.
It's so obvious that you were going to disappear.
Yes, I wanted to disappear into the sunset.
Thank you, Sir. I learned a lot from you.
Not just painting, but many different things as well.
Did you really learn a lot from me?
Yes.
Then why are you still here?
Forget about everything else, and go get what your heart desires.
I can't do that.
It's too late.
And I've come too far.
While you think that, it will go further away from you.
Shall I show you something? Here.
This is my wife...
and this is my daughter who was as lovely as you.
Aren't they lovely?
My preoccupation with my art kept me travelling for over three years.
When I finally returned home, they had all died of the plague.
Sir...
I wanted to paint them so that I could remember their faces.
But even though I could paint the king's portrait without looking at him,
I couldn't remember my wife and my daughter's faces.
I don't think you know this,
but living with the one you love and cherish,
that is what life is about.
Art and talent comes after that.
Yes, Sir.
Look, what do you think? Don't you think they're lovely?
Yes, Sir.
This is where my wife is buried, and my daughter is buried over here.
Look how lovely they are!
- He's not here... not here! - Royal Artist Yi!
He's not here! Master has disappeared!
What?
That can't be! He took three months of lesson fees from us!
He must have stepped out. I will go and find him.
He's not here! He's gone!
There is nothing left here. He must have packed up and left!
"The Completed Erotica"
"The Completed Erotica"?
- Oh, Master! - Yi Chun!
- You're back! - He's nowhere to be found!
What did I tell you! I think he's run away!
Then what? Has he taken our lesson fees and run away with our money?
That's not possible! All I learned so far was this!
It was just this!
This is all your fault! You dragged me here! You are responsible for this!
Give me back my money!
You came here with your own two feet! I have no money to give you!
You've got money there, haven't you? Give it back to me!
- Your Majesty, it is I! - Enter!
There was a message from Her Highness' palace.
She has ordered the Inspector Attendants to go outside the palace.
What? Why would she give such an order?
Her Highness has ordered them to arrest
the physician who sent the queen the herbs for Concubine Hong.
What is going on here?
What did he do?
Hurry and examine everything!
Yes, I gave the orders to have the physicians arrested.
- But Mother...! - There are terrible rumors about the miscarriage.
This is causing both Concubine Hong and the queen much distress.
But Mother, I intend to find out the truth.
- And since this is a matter of state... - No, I don't agree with you.
This is a matter that should be handled by the Royal Women's Court.
It is the custom for the Royal Women's Court to handle all cases regarding pregnancies.
The Royal Hospital has already confirmed that chrysanthemum root was found in the queen's herbs.
If we delay the investigation at this stage, it will only cause more trouble.
- Mother... - It is for the queen's sake that we must reveal the truth.
So if you are truly concerned about the queen,
do not interfere in this.
This is what you have to do for the future of the royal family.
This can't be happening, Your Majesty! How could they suspect you in this?
How could something like this happen?
Stop crying. Tears will not help with this.
Your Majesty...!
Your Majesty!
The Gyujunggak custodians have been waiting for you since the Hour of the Ram. (1-3pm)
What should I tell them?
- Postpone it. Tell them... - No, you must not do that, Your Majesty!
My Queen!
His Majesty will be going to the Gyujunggak. So wait a while.
My Queen!
Please forgive me for having caused you this trouble, Your Majesty.
Don't say such things, my Queen. I know you are innocent!
Your Majesty...!
Then may I say something to you?
What is it, my Queen?
If you truly believe that I am innocent,
please leave it to the Royal Women's Court as Mother wishes.
My Queen...!
I heard that you have been postponing state matters for several days because of this.
Please leave this to the women and look after the state's matters...
No! How can I handle state matters when you are being suspected of such a thing?
No, you must do so. That is your duty as king.
I am content that you trust my innocence.
How can you not understand that that alone is enough for me?
- My Queen... - So please leave this to the women's court.
You must look after the state matters first. I beg you, Your Majesty.
Please do not cause me to sin against this country anymore, Your Majesty!
So now you are turning that power of yours against the queen?
What do you mean by that, Your Excellency?
I heard that the queen sent harmful herbs to Concubine Hong.
I'm just saying that if things turn out right, you may even have control of the queen's palace.
Watch your words, Councilor! How dare you accuse me of such a thing?
Accuse you? I'm merely stating the obvious.
The power in your hands is sufficient to do so, is it not?
Councilor!
Do you know why people change when they have power?
It is because they can take easier and quicker paths than before.
Power gives one that opportunity.
That is why no one can resist power.
And that is why people always change.
The path you are headed towards is obvious in my eyes, Secretary Hong.
No matter how much you resist, you will find yourself on a different path.
And on that path, you will find yourself
suffering the same consequences like everyone else before you.
What are your thoughts? Have you made up your mind?
Make up my mind? My fate was to die like a dog at Hong Gook Young's hands.
What other choice do I have?
But just promise me one thing.
Can I really return to my original position later in the future?
That all depends on what you decide.
Take a look at this.
What is this, Your Excellency?
This is your orders from the Dowager Queen.
I see. I thought Sir Chang Yong had returned for good.
Did he say where he was going?
- No, Sir. - Alright then.
What is the status of Concubine Hong's folding screen?
It's almost completed. It should be ready to be sent to her soon.
- Don't finish it too quickly. - What?
Since the queen is being implicated, we will not be needed immediately.
I think it will be better if we take it slowly.
- Oh, you're here. - Yes, Chobi.
Have you heard about the queen? I heard she's being implicated in something.
You haven't heard about it?
Everyone's saying that Concubine Hong's miscarriage was caused by the queen's tonic.
- Supposedly that was the only other tonic she took. - What?
But you know something strange? When we were in the palace,
I could have sworn she had another tonic too. I don't know why they're blaming the queen!
You know, that other tonic she drank that was sent from her own family!
She left to go drink that tonic!
Your Highness, it is time for your tonic.
Tonic? Didn't I just drink it?
This is a special motherwort tonic your brother sent you.
- Please let me enter! - How dare you come here!
My Lady, I have to see Her Majesty! Please!
- I said go away! - Please, I must see Her Majesty!
- Take this girl away! - Yes, My Lady!
- My Lady! My Lady! - Stop!
What is this? Why are you here?
I have to speak to Her Majesty. It's about Concubine Hong's tonic.
This child is Her Majesty's favorite Bureau artist.
She is here on urgent matters. Let her through.
- But... - I said let her through!
- Let's go. - Yes, My Lady.
What? Is that true? Concubine Hong drank another tonic?
That's right, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, how could she have done this?
She drank another tonic and yet she hid the fact and has blamed you for everything!
How do you know this?
Tell me everything in detail, Song Yeon!
We were at her palace to paint the folding screen and Her Highness came to see us.
That was when I heard that Secretary Hong had sent her motherwort tonic from outside the palace.
Wait, what did you just say? Motherwort?
Yes, Your Majesty. That is what I heard.
Motherwort? How could that be?
Did Secretary Hong really sent motherwort to the pregnant Concubine Hong?
Yes, Your Majesty.
The Shinmoongo Drum has been gathering dust, Your Majesty. (Used by citizens to complain to the king)
Because hearing the complaints of the people is vital to the government,
we believe that you should reinstate it.
I'm sorry. I must have been thinking about something else.
Forgive my impudence, Your Majesty, but why don't you end this meeting?
You look very troubled.
No, let us continue.
Tell her I am here.
- Forgive me, Your Majesty, but Her Highness is... - I said tell her I am here.
Do not make me repeat myself.
Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I cannot stand as I am still unwell.
Fine.
Please forgive me, but if this is not urgent, can you come another time?
Why? Do I make you uncomfortable?
Forgive me, but that is so, Your Majesty.
I have miscarried because of the tonic you gave me.
- How can you... - Is that so?
Did my tonic really cause you to miscarry?
Your Majesty...!
Your opinion differs from mine.
As far as I know, you have never miscarried.
Your Majesty, how can you say that I have never miscarried...?
You must have been drinking motherwort tonic.
Don't be so surprised. I know motherwort very well.
I drank it everyday for the past decade. I can tell what it is from the smell.
Do you know why I drank motherwort tonic for so long?
It's the same reason as you.
Like you, I wanted to conceive as soon as possible.
So you must have known this.
Even though motherwort is effective in enabling pregnancy,
one must stop drinking it when pregnant because it can cause miscarriages!
- Your Majesty...! - I doubt you were unaware of this fact.
Furthermore, your private physician from outside the palace will have been aware as well.
But interestingly enough,
you drank this motherwort tonic until the very night before your supposed miscarriage.
I wonder why you did that?
Isn't that because you were never pregnant?
You were angry with me once saying that I doubted your pregnancy, and that was why!
Your Majesty, how can you say that? How can you say I was never pregnant?
- How could you say that to me? - We will know if your pulse is examined.
I asked a nurse before I came here. She said that if you truly had a hemorrhage,
your pulse would confirm it.
She said that heavy bleeding like that would be obvious in the pulse for at least seven days.
So what shall we do, Concubine Hong?
Shall I summon a nurse to examine your pulse right now?
Or will you voluntarily confess to the elders that you had a phantom pregnancy?
- Let's go. - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Your Highness! - Find my brother! Bring him to me!
- Your Highness! - Go! Bring him to me immediately!
Why have you asked for me?
You must have many worries. Your face is clouded.
I am saddened that you are so heavily burdened.
Have some tea. It is good for worried minds.
- Your Majesty, if you want to say something... - It appears you have done a foolish thing.
Did you think that doing all that would conceal Concubine Hong's phantom pregnancy?
- Your Majesty! - I summoned my private physician.
He told me that you had obtained motherwort and had it sent to Concubine Hong.
It seems that the herb merchant you used,
has been boasting everywhere that the great Secretary Hong had purchased from him.
You are a well-known figure in the Capital.
If you had known that, you should not have been so careless.
Think about it. If His Majesty finds out about this, what would he do to you?
So what is this about? Do you mean to blackmail me with this?
Blackmail? Of course not. Why would I do such a thing?
I told you that I wanted to help His Majesty.
And His Majesty needs a man who is as loyal and talented as you at his side.
So if I want to help His Majesty, what should I do?
I should help you, don't you agree?
My Lord, where have you been? Something terrible has happened!
What do you mean?
The queen has found out everything? What do you mean by that?
Her Majesty knew not only that I had a phantom pregnancy, but all the details as well!
She said that if I didn't confess myself, she would tell everyone!
- Secretary Hong! - I must meet His Majesty! Please announce me!
Your Majesty, Secretary Hong wishes to speak with you.
Let him enter.
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty! - Welcome, Secretary Hong.
Episode 57