Your Majesty!
- What is it? - Concubine Hong's palace has sent a message.
She has lost consciousness and is in critical condition!
What did you just say? Concubine Hong is in critical condition?
Yes, Your Majesty!
Why has she lost consciousness all of a sudden?
How critical is she?
I'm not sure of the details. But I heard the Physician has rushed there.
Are you telling me that no one knows what is happening to Concubine Hong?
Forgive me, Your Majesty.
Concubine Hong has a weak constitution, and her atonement has caused it to worsen.
I will go to her chambers myself and see how she is doing.
But Your Majesty, a meeting has been planned to discuss the birthday tribute to the Qing Emperor.
You have been preoccupied with other state matters that we are already late in sending an envoy to Qing.
What will you do?
Your Majesty!
Alright, I will attend this meeting before heading over to Concubine Hong's palace.
Go there first and let me know if there are any changes.
Yes, Your Majesty!
Please come with us for questioning.
- What did you say? - Take them!
You curs! Let me go!
What is the meaning of this?
What is this all about?
- Take them in! - What is this? How dare you!
- Let me go! - Don't touch me, you curs!
We've arrested all the No Ron members like you wanted, My Lord.
The culprit behind yesterday's assassination attempt will be amongst them.
Search their houses and bring me anything you find suspicious.
Yes, My Lord.
I will not let this go easily. I will flay them alive to find the culprit!
You must raise petitions accusing No Ron in this assassination attempt.
Here.
- Proceed immediately. - Yes, My Lord!
My Lord! My Lord!
- What brings you here? - My Lord, something terrible has happened!
Did something happen at the palace?
It's not that! Something terrible has happened to Her Highness!
What? What's happened to her?
Tell me clearly!
They... they say Her Highness has lost consciousness!
What?
I heard the Royal Physicians are with her. But I don't know what has happened.
But I think she has fallen ill!
- Your Majesty! - I stopped by because I heard you were in here.
Why are you still here? Did you not hear about your sister?
- No, Your Majesty. I just heard the news. - Then why are you still standing here?
- Your Majesty... - I must attend a meeting about the Qing birthday tribute.
Go ahead and see how your sister is doing.
- Secretary Hong! - No, Your Majesty. I will attend the meeting with you.
What do you mean by that?
We must also discuss how to handle your assassination attempt at that meeting.
- I will go to my sister after the meeting. - Secretary Hong!
Please don't worry. I am sure she will be fine.
Your Highness, please try and wake up! You must not give up!
Where is my brother?
Please summon my brother!
Your Highness, please try and gather your strength!
Your Majesty! You should not concern yourself over this!
That is not so. Concubine Hong is ill.
- I must go and tend to her. - Your Majesty!
- Now escort me there. - Where are you going, my Queen?
- Mother... - If you are headed to Concubine Hong, then don't go.
Concubine Hong is in confinement as punishment. You should not go to her at this time.
Even though she is being punished, it is too cruel to ignore her when she has fallen ill.
It may be cruel, but that is what you should do.
But Mother...
When you must punish someone, you must not show mercy or favor.
Concubine Hong has committed a crime against the royal family and deserves her punishment.
This birthday tribute will be instrumental in determining our diplomatic relations with Qing.
Rather than accepting all of their exorbitant demands,
we must focus on letting them know the conditions that are favorable to us as well.
According to my research, the Qing merchants and officials are abusive
and arrogant in their dealings with the international trade market.
Yes, Your Majesty. It is time for us to renegotiate our trade conditions with Qing.
But one thing we must consider is the actions of our own traders.
These traders make significant profits from trading with Qing.
Then they give great amounts of money to the No Ron officials for their support.
Secretary Hong, the subject of this meeting is the envoy we will be sending to Qing.
Your Majesty, my investigations have shown that the gun used yesterday was from Qing.
We confirmed that from the flint that was found on the ground.
I am certain that the gun was smuggled in from one of the traders supported by No Ron.
Please grant permission to investigate these traders!
Indeed?
Isn't this amazing?
You can almost see the water coming forth from the waterfalls!
But the brushwork is terrible. Can't you tell, Sir Genius?
Please wait!
You're that gentleman, aren't you? The one who helped me last night?
Don't you remember?
I didn't get a chance to thank you properly for last night.
No need for that. I just did what I had to.
Did you just buy that book of paintings?
Yes. But why do you ask?
Oh, nothing. I was looking for paintings from Ming too.
In any case, thank you for last night. Goodbye.
- Please... please wait a moment. - Excuse me?
It seems like you need this. Please take it.
You're giving this to me?
Yes.
- But... - I just bought that for no reason.
An artist like you will need that more than I. So please take it.
How did you know that I was an artist?
Song Yeon! Come over here for a while!
- Come and take a look at this! - Yes, Sir. I'll be there shortly!
You've been following her for a few days now.
Why won't you tell her the truth?
I heard that your sister looked for you for a long time too.
But your adopted parents told her that you died after they sold you off as a slave.
Don't you think she'll be happy to see you again?
Listen to me, Wook!
No, I don't know how long I will live.
We are men that look to overturn this nation's laws and customs.
We don't know when we'll be seized. I won't reveal myself to my sister.
I'm just happy that I can see my sister from afar like this.
Let's go. We have a meeting today. Everyone will be there already.
Isn't this amazing?
Mine's better, Artist Tak!
I just bought that for no reason.
An artist like you will need that more than I. So please take it.
Wait. What is all that?
Look at that!
Isn't that Dae Su?
Dae Su!
How can you be so informal with an officer of the Imperial Guard?
Please forgive him, Sir.
You're such a coward. Don't you know Dae Su and I are really close?
Am I right, Dae Su?
Yes, Sir. What are you doing here? Did you go somewhere?
Yes, we just came from the bookshop. We bought some books for the new novices.
Did something happen here?
Well, to be honest, His Majesty was outside the palace last night.
But there was an assassination attempt.
Is that true? How?
Is His Majesty alright? Was he hurt at all?
Fortunately he wasn't hurt, but the palace is in chaos again trying to find the culprit.
Don't worry too much, Song Yeon. I'll find that culprit myself!
His Majesty the King!
Today's royal lecture will be on Lao-Tzu's book, Tao Te Jing.
You may begin.
~Recites Lao Tzu~
Since people do not know where the power lies,
the greatest virtue of a great ruler is to trust the people.
That's true. A ruler must always seek and know the people's needs and wants.
A good ruler must always do what is best for the people.
I believe there are three steps to ruling a country.
What do you think those are, Finance Minister?
Why don't you answer, Minister?
- Forgive me, Your Majesty. - Don't you know the answer?
- No, Your Majesty, I just... - How surprising.
How can a senior official not answer that question?
Then let me ask you something, Industry Minister.
What is the one character that a ruler or government official must always keep in his heart?
- One... one character, Your Majesty? - That's right.
Is it not the character 'sky', signifying Heaven?
Wrong.
What is your opinion, Justice Minister?
- It is the character for honesty... - Wrong again.
The one character that we should all remember is the character for integrity.
If we maintain our integrity in our wealth, our relations and our positions,
how can the people not follow us?
If we keep integrity as our focal point, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
Your Majesty, may I say something?
- What is it? - There was an attempt on your life last night.
You should be investigating this incident yourself. Why did you leave it to the Chief of the Imperial Guard?
Why are you attending this lecture?
Are you asking me why I am so carefree when someone has made an attempt on my life?
Fine. Since you asked, I will give you the answer, Councilor.
I am handling matters of the state.
I am teaching the government officials on how to run the government.
How can you say I am carefree?
- But Your Majesty... - Yes, someone tried to kill me last night.
But is neglecting my duties as king the right thing to do?
That is why I have entrusted the investigations to the Chief and the Imperial Guard.
That is the reason why they exist.
So do you think I am right? Or do you think I'm wrong?
Were all of these items taken from the No Ron officials' houses?
Yes, My Lord. The majority of them possessed great amounts of weaponry.
Did you find any guns that resembled the one used yesterday?
We haven't found it yet.
What are those?
Those are financial records kept by their stewards, but there were a few discrepancies.
It must be to hide the bribes. Investigate them closely!
Yes, My Lord!
Secretary Hong.
You seem very busy.
What brings you here, Your Excellency?
The Dowager Queen is asking for you. Why don't you take a walk with me?
Please forgive me, but I am preoccupied with investigating the assassination attempt.
- Please tell her I will visit her later. - It's about that attempt.
Her Majesty has summoned you to discuss the assassination attempt.
- Take a look at this. - What is this, Your Majesty?
I did my own investigation into this assassination attempt.
I'm certain this will be of great help to you.
You will not solve anything by harassing No Ron officials.
You know very well that they will not do anything so reckless and foolish.
Are you saying that No Ron is not involved in this?
Yes, that is what I am saying.
Then who do you think was behind this?
There are rumors that a group of men who are against the king and government...
are holding meetings in the Capital.
You should investigate them.
How is Concubine Hong?
When I visited her this morning, she looked to be in critical condition.
Is she alright?
My Lord, I have brought Attendant Choi.
- Bring her in! - Please come in.
- So how is Her Highness? - She has gotten worse, My Lord!
What? She's worse? How bad is it?
Her fever is still high and she has developed delirium!
Even though she is severely ill, no one other than the Dowager Queen has visited her.
If the Dowager Queen herself has come, shouldn't the queen come as well?
Did you inform Her Majesty that she is critical?
Yes, I sent her a message this morning, but she merely sent one palacemaid to help.
How could that be?
My Lady! My Lady!
My Lady, something terrible has happened!
How is she? Has Concubine Hong shown improvement?
I regret to inform you that she has yet to regain consciousness, Your Majesty.
What have the physicians been doing all day?
Her fever is so high that the physicians cannot do anything.
Cannot do anything? Are you telling me that she could die?
Your Highness! Your Highness!
- Your Highness! - Your Highness!
Your Highness! Your Highness!
Prepare to resuscitate her! Hurry!
What's happening? Tell me what is happening!
- My Lord! - Tell me what is happening!
Your Highness, I'm here! Open your eyes!
Your Highness! You cannot die like this!
Please come to your senses! Your Highness!
Older Brother...
Your Highness...
I think... I think it's too late for me.
Don't say that! Don't say such things!
You have to live! You must keep on living!
We have to live, Your Highness!
Older Brother... It's better this way.
I would rather die, Older Brother...
than be humiliated like this.
Your Highness!
Physician! What is wrong with Her Highness?
Your Highness!
I... I wanted to give His Majesty an heir, Older Brother.
I wanted it for you and His Majesty.
I wanted to give him an heir and make him... and you happy...
Your Highness...
Your Highness!
- Your Highness! - Your Highness!
Your Highness!
This is my fault!
Your Highness! Your Highness!
No! You can't go like this!
Your Highness! Your Highness!
- No, Your Highness! - Your Majesty!
Your Highness!
We have to persevere!
Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!
- Something terrible? - Concubine Hong...
has passed away!
What?
Mother!
- My queen! - Did you hear about Concubine Hong?
I cannot believe my ears!
She was fine until this morning.
How could she die so suddenly?
Your Majesty, it is Official Nam.
Enter.
- Have the eunuchs finished preparing the body? - Yes, Your Majesty.
They will be putting her into the coffin soon.
I see.
I should have gone to her sooner.
I never thought this could happen.
She had been in the palace for less than a year, and now her life has been cut short.
This is all because of me.
I should have paid more attention to her.
But my heart was elsewhere, and I did not do so.
Your Majesty...
I gave Secretary Hong that heavy burden.
How is he doing?
He is still at Concubine Hong's palace.
You're the only one I can depend on in the palace.
And if I give birth to a son, you will be future king's uncle.
You must protect me and the future king of this country!
I... I wanted to give His Majesty an heir, Older Brother.
I wanted it for you and His Majesty.
I wanted to give him an heir and make him... and you happy...
Your Highness!
Please forgive me!
I could not protect you!
Please forgive your unworthy brother, Your Highness!
Well done, all of you. You have all handled Concubine Hong's funeral well.
Now that it is all over, we must all focus on our normal duties again.
- Keep up the good work. - Yes, Sir.
Since we must resume the backlog, Royal Artists Tak and Yi will come with me.
- Yes, Sir. - Yes, Sir.
- Artist Kam, come with me. - Yes, Sir.
What a relief! We haven't had a proper night's sleep!
Look at my pale complexion!
I felt really sorry for Her Highness. She was so young.
She died at such a young age. I felt really bad for her.
That's why Heaven is just. She was punished for her sins!
That's mean, Chobi. She's dead!
- She's right. - I can't forget His Majesty's expression.
- He looked so sad. - I know. He made me really sad too.
It was really sad.
I'm really sorry about this, Aunt.
Don't say that! I'm not a stranger!
I hope Secretary Hong will eat this and regain some of his energy.
We have to force him to eat. He was like a ghost at the funeral.
- It broke our hearts to see him like that. - Her Highness died so suddenly.
I'm sure his heart was broken in two.
I know! Her Highness' death broke my heart too!
I can't even sell my wine because of her funeral!
What? How can you say something like that!
A royal funeral is a royal funeral, and my belly is my belly!
Shut your mouth! How can you say something so disrespectful?
The pillar of our nation, Secretary Hong, is about to collapse!
Secretary Hong...
Was His Majesty looking for me?
Yes, he was. Go inside.
Welcome. Take a seat.
I ordered you to take some time off.
Why did you return to the palace so soon?
I merely wanted to complete my duties.
- Please do not concern yourself over me. - I can't do that.
Can't you see that your presence here is more of a burden to me?
Here. Take it.
I am ordering you to take a sabbatical.
You should be more focused on yourself, rather than me and the government.
So don't protest and do as I say.
I'm sorry, Secretary Hong.
Even though my words cannot console you,
please forgive my lack of attentiveness to your sister.
Your Majesty...
Thank you, Your Majesty.
- My Lord! - My Lord!
How could you have lost so much weight in only a few days, My Lord!
Please do not be too devastated. It is a terrible thing Her Highness died so suddenly.
But His Majesty gave her a grand funeral, so her journey must have been a peaceful one.
No, that is not so.
I know very well how she went.
A grand funeral? What use is that?
Her Highness will never be able to close her eyes in peace.
How can a mere funeral console her?
What are those men doing?
I think they are emptying Concubine Hong's palace.
So soon?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Those of you that wish to remain in the palace may speak with Attendant Kim.
Those of you that wish to leave may do so.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
I stopped by because there has been orders to empty out Concubine Hong's palace.
Secretary Hong, I am sure you are devastated by her...
You must have really disliked my sister
to empty out her chambers so quickly.
- Secretary Hong! - I don't understand it, Your Majesty.
Was Her Highness' crime so bad that she had to pay for it with her life?
Pay with her life? What do you mean by that?
The reason Her Highness died so suddenly was because of her emotional wounds.
She begged for forgiveness, but you refused to grant it to the end.
She could not overcome her fear and trepidation.
And that is why she died.
Can you really say that is not what happened?
Secretary Hong!
I understand your sadness at your sister's death.
I also am filled with grief and remorse.
But even so, your words have crossed the line.
Please forgive me, but it was not I that crossed the line, but you, Your Majesty.
Even though I may be executed for my impudence, I had to say this to you.
It is true that Concubine Hong made a terrible mistake.
I am not defending that.
But it was a mistake caused by her desire to bear you and His Majesty a royal heir.
The reason she didn't reveal anything when she found out the truth,
was her naiveté and inexperience.
She did not seek forgiveness.
All she wanted was a little bit of mercy.
If you had understood her intentions,
then you should have visited her at least once before she died.
But you did no such thing.
If it had been someone else, would you have been so cold-hearted?
If Her Highness had not been my sister,
would you have treated her the same way?
Your Majesty, how could he say that to you?
How could he have been so disrespectful to you?
You must not let him go unpunished! You must speak to His Majesty about this!
- Don't meddle in this. - Your Majesty!
Secretary Hong lost his sister.
It is not strange that he holds me responsible.
But Your Majesty, you cannot let this pass!
Secretary Hong blamed his sister's death on you!
If you let him get away with this, this may come back to haunt you!
I understand your sadness at your sister's death.
I also am filled with grief and remorse.
But even so, your words have crossed the line.
I would rather die, Older Brother...
than be humiliated like this.
Did you say that I crossed the line?
Will you continue saying that, Your Majesty?
You have all been working hard.
Is His Majesty still in bed?
No, My Lord. His Majesty did not retire to his chambers last night.
What? Again?
Then where is he? Is he still in his study?
Your Majesty, it is Official Nam.
Oh, you're here. I didn't know the time had passed so quickly!
You're going to nag me again!
Your Majesty, why did you spend the night in your study again?
I was reading trial reports from Hongkyung and Samnam.
- But you didn't sleep last night either, and... - Alright, alright.
I'll stop now. Will that make you happy?
Your Majesty, please return to your chambers and get some rest.
Now you're being silly. This is the normal starting hour for government!
How can you suggest that the king sleep during working hours?
- But Your Majesty! - Save your breath. You know I won't listen to you.
A moment of laziness can ruin an entire year's work!
So how is the weather outside? Is it a nice day?
Move quickly! The people are due here any moment!
- Damn it! - Who asked him to come?
It wasn't me, Sir!
Hey, Officer Kang and Officer Park! Are you two going to work or what?
You're still not well! Why are you out here?
What did you say?
Are you saying that you don't want me here?
What do you think?
His Majesty the King!
Why are you working already?
I'm fine, Your Majesty. Please do not worry about me.
That's good to hear. I needed more help with the training.
Your Majesty.
Why are you here, Your Majesty?
Are the Imperial Guards staging an archery exhibition?
No. These arrows are for you.
You all look like you're in agony!
Please forgive us, Your Majesty, but that's how we feel.
We're civil servants who have spent our entire lives reading books.
We have never used a bow before. It is very difficult for us.
- Is that so? - Yes, Your Majesty.
- In that case, we should do this again tomorrow. - Excuse me?
- Official Nam. - Yes, Your Majesty?
- How many arrows did the custodians shoot today? - They shot 50 arrows.
We were there for four hours. And they only shot fifty?
Officer Kang, do you remember how many you shot when you were in training with me?
Yes, Your Majesty. I shot 600 arrows in three days.
Not only that, I had to hit the target more than three hundred times or I wasn't sent home.
I better keep a close watch on you all since you may run away out of fear!
It's a joke. I won't make you civil officials do the same thing.
- But you will still shoot fifty each day. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Just as you enrich your mind by reading, you must enrich your bodies by exercising.
Reading books all day will not give you any leadership skills.
I expect all of you to be leaders in guiding our country to the right path.
- Do you understand me? - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Alright, let's all drink! - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, Officer Park Dae Su is here to see you.
- Your Majesty. - Welcome.
Have you found out how Secretary Hong is doing?
Yes, he was found to be at a Gisaeng House at Yonhadong.
He has been drinking there for the past few days.
What a bother!
I don't feel like working because Secretary Hong isn't around.
Why are you being like this? We have so much work to do!
In any case, this is not good. His Majesty is worried about His Lordship too.
Why don't we go to the Gisaeng House where he is staying?
Yes, let's do that!
- No need for that! - My Lord!
Are you alright, My Lord?
- Why wouldn't I be? - What? I just...
Go and deliver this message to the Imperial and Palace Guards.
Tell them to assemble together for a very important briefing.
- My Lord...! - Quickly!
Yes, My Lord.
What did you just say? Secretary Hong entered the palace at this hour?
Yes. He has assembled the Imperial and Palace Guards.
He will be taking them outside the palace.
What is the reason?
He said he was going to arrest those responsible for the attempt on your life.
What?
There are rumors that a group of men who are against the king and government...
are holding meetings in the Capital.
You should investigate them.
- Excellency! - You're here.
- What of the task Her Majesty gave you? - Don't worry about that.
Everything is ready.
At the Hour of the Pig (9-11pm), a group of insurgents will be holding a meeting.
These are the criminals that attempted to assassinate His Majesty a few nights ago.
If they run, you may execute them immediately!
Not one may escape our grasp!
Seize all of them without fail!
- Do you hear me? - Yes, Sir!
Come in.
Why won't you stop crying?
It's me! It's Wook!
- What is it? - The soldiers are coming! You must escape!
- Soldiers? - We must escape!
Come this way! Hurry!
Open the gate! Open the gate!
Break it.
Yes, My Lord.
My Lord, there is back gate here.
The criminals have escaped! We must seize them all!
- Do you hear me? - Yes, My Lord!
Sir!
- Just go! - Come with me!
- What are you doing? - Go ahead. I will bring him.
There they are!
Let's go ahead!
Let's go!
We're off! Aren't you finished yet?
Go ahead. I still have work to do.
Too bad. At times like this, I'm not sorry at all that I'm not an artist.
I'm off then!
Wait for me!
Excuse me...
Are you... are you alright?
Are you...
This person...
Sir...
Sir! Open your eyes!
Somebody please help me! A man has been hurt!
Sir! Please open your eyes!
Is anyone there? Please help me! A man has been hurt!
Episode 59