Is the queen still doing her bows?
Yes, her attendant has told me that it will be another two hours before she is finished.
- Will you return to the palace first? - No, I will return with the queen.
She has been performing the Three Thousand Bows everyday for the past month for Consort Ui.
Her Majesty's concern is truly remarkable.
I beg of you.
I beg of you with both hands clasped.
Please protect Consort Ui.
Please protect her.
Sir...!
So you've come.
Let's go. Her Highness is waiting for you.
Wook...
Your Highness!
You may leave us.
You must call for me if the pain starts again.
I will do that. Don't worry.
Why are you standing there like that? Come and sit down.
I am such an unworthy person.
I've caused you to worry about me as well.
What has happened, Your Highness?
How could something like this...?
Wook...
Why are you crying?
I'm alright, so please don't cry.
Your Highness!
- You must find a cure! - His Majesty the King!
Your Majesty!
Is this the physician you mentioned?
Yes, Your Majesty.
So, did you examine Consort Ui?
What is your diagnosis? Can she be treated?
It does not look good, Your Majesty.
Does not look good?
But I heard you cured a patient of liver cancer before!
Speak up!
Please forgive me, Your Majesty, but Her Highness' illness is too advanced to be treated.
So what are you saying?
Are you saying you can't treat her?
Are you saying that like the others you cannot do anything to save her?
Please forgive me, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, it is Official Nam.
Your Majesty, Consort Ui's brother is here to see you.
Your Majesty.
- So you've come. - Yes.
- Have you seen your sister? - Yes, Your Majesty.
Her condition is deteriorating rapidly.
But none of the physicians in this country can do anything to save her.
But I will not lose her so easily. I will not let it happen!
If Joseon's physicians cannot cure her, I will bring in physicians from other places.
I will bring them in as long as they can cure her.
Your Majesty!
That's the reason I asked to see you privately.
You may know who to bring in.
What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?
Your Majesty! Did you just say you are willing to use western medicine?
That's right. I've heard that Qing is using western techniques of medicine.
And I have heard that some of the catholic missionaries are physicians.
I have heard about this western medicine, Your Majesty.
But they perform atrocities such as using knives to cut human flesh and organs.
They perform unthinkable acts!
I know that their methods are difficult for us to accept easily.
But their methods are curing diseases such as liver cancer!
I have heard of such things as well.
They use ice and medicines to cause the patient to lose consciousness.
- Then they cut off the body part that is diseased. - That's right.
It is no doubt a dangerous thing to do.
But Interpreter Jang Choong Suk went to Qing
and saw a western physician use this method to cure a patient of liver cancer.
But even so, Consort Ui is a royal consort of Joseon.
If the government officials hear that her body will be cut, they will not allow it to happen!
I don't care. As long as she can be saved,
I will do whatever it takes!
Will you go to Qing for me?
Is this what you really want, Your Majesty?
I don't know anything about medicine, but to use a knife and cut out the liver...
Won't it be dangerous?
You must be afraid.
Yes... I feel the same way, Dae Su.
I'm afraid of doing this too.
Your Majesty.
I am even more afraid of the days that are passing by.
I'm terrified that I will lose Song Yeon.
This may be Song Yeon's last hope.
So will you go for me, Dae Su?
Will you go and bring them here?
Your Majesty...
This may be Song Yeon's last hope.
So will you go for me, Dae Su? Will you go and bring them here?
Did you find out anything?
I think what you said is true. I asked Dal Ho.
His Majesty has asked Lieutenant Commander Park to go to Qing and bring back western physicians.
Then what will happen? If they come, will Her Highness be saved?
Nothing is for certain, but the interpreter who went to Qing saw a critically-ill patient
being cured of liver cancer!
- So it's true! - It must be true!
How wonderful it would be if it were true!
I don't care if they are foreigners or Caucasians! As long as Her Highness will live...!
Let us all have hope! We can't let Her Highness go so easily!
There will be a miracle! I'm sure of it!
Yes! I'm sure there will be good news!
Yes, of course! Her Highness will not be defeated so easily!
I believe in miracles!
What? His Majesty is sending Lieutenant Commander Park to Qing?
- Yes, Your Highness! - Lieutenant Commander Park is here to see you.
But how can they suggest cutting human flesh?
Apart from the objections of the officials, what if Her Highness dies from the procedure?
But I've heard that western medicine can be used to save lives.
And since our physicians have given up, this may be our last hope!
Lieutenant Commander Kang is right. If that is our last hope...
We have to save Her Highness!
I won't be gone for long, Your Highness.
- I will not rest until I bring them back... - No, don't, Dae Su.
I beg of you, don't go. I will speak to His Majesty.
- Your Highness! - It is useless and hopeless!
- It's too late for me, Dae Su. - Too late? How can you say that?
That's not true! That's not true, Your Highness!
Don't do this, Dae Su. You know the truth.
I don't want His Majesty to put his faith in futile attempts.
Your Highness...!
Don't you understand? He will suffer.
If he clings on to hope, it will bring more suffering to him.
- It's better for him to give up... - Give up?
- How can you say that, Your Highness! - Dae Su...
Have you forgotten who you are to His Majesty?
Don't you know how His Majesty feels each day as he struggles with this?
He is able to go through each day because of his hope that he can save you.
That is the only reason he is able to survive each day.
And if he loses that hope, he will lose his ability to survive each day.
So how can you say this is all useless? How can you say this is hopeless?
- Dae Su...! - I will ride like the wind.
I will ride without rest and bring back the physicians who will cure you.
So please wait for me. Until I return, please save your energy.
There is no time. You must return before the end of the month.
Please, Dae Su!
He is able to go through each day because of his hope that he can save you.
That is the only reason he is able to survive each day.
And if he loses that hope, he will lose his ability to survive each day.
So how can you say this is all useless? How can you say this is hopeless?
Your Majesty...!
Sir, you have been riding for two days straight. You must get some rest...
We have no time. I will ride on to Euiju. I will see you at the post station there.
Yes, Sir.
Madam!
What did you say? Her Highness asked for her robes?
Your Highness? What are you doing? Why aren't you lying down?
I'm alright. Don't make a fuss.
- But Your Highness... - I did this on purpose.
I felt like if I lay down, I would never get up again.
So please let me be.
I have to gather my energy back.
I was looking for you anyway.
I need a few things from the Bureau. Will you go for me, Attendant Yang?
The Bureau, Your Highness?
What did you say? Consort Ui left her chambers?
How can she be outside in her condition? Where were her attendants and physicians?
They said that Consort Ui was so adamant that they could not stop her, Your Majesty.
They told me that she has requested you to join her at Buyoung Pavilion.
What?
Song Yeon!
- Your Majesty! - Why aren't you resting in your chambers?
What do you mean? You want to draw my portrait?
This was my lifelong dream, Your Majesty.
I wanted to draw your portrait every year with my own hands.
Just like I painted you in my heart as the years went by,
I wanted to paint you on paper as well.
So even though I know this goes against the customs of the palace,
please allow me to do so, Your Majesty.
But this is preposterous, Song Yeon. How can you paint in your weakened condition?
- You can paint my portrait when you've recovered... - Your Majesty.
Let me consider this my hope.
Just as you have hope that I will recover,
I will also have the same hope.
I will have hope, Your Majesty. I won't give up.
I will do this as I paint your portrait daily.
I will use this time to gather my energy and strength.
Song Yeon...
So please promise me one thing in return.
Promise me that you'll withstand anything, no matter what happens.
Just like how I won't give up hope because of you,
you must think of me and how much I love you,
and never give up hope.
- And the baby inside me... - Song Yeon!
That's it, Your Majesty. That's all I want.
So please promise me you'll do this for me.
Alright.
I promise.
I promise to withstand it. I promise to bear with it.
I promise.
Your Majesty...
Song Yeon...
Your Highness, how do you feel?
I'm alright. It's bearable.
Her Majesty the Queen!
Your Majesty...
How is she?
Her pulse has weakened considerably.
I'm alright, Your Majesty.
Please do not be worried.
Consort Ui...
Lieutenant Commander Park will be arriving from Qing shortly.
Please hold on just a while longer.
You are not just His Majesty's friend.
You are also mine.
So just hold on a little bit longer, just for me.
Your Majesty...
You will inform the palace the moment he enters the capital and escort him back safely.
- Yes, Your Majesty! - Yes, Your Majesty!
You mean you're going too?
I can't stand it any longer! I'm going to wait for Dae Su outside the capital gates.
You don't know how long he'll be! Did you even inform the palace?
- What if they fire you? - Who cares when Her Highness is on her deathbed!
I'm leaving!
Why is he so late?
They say he hasn't come this way yet.
It's almost the end of the month. I hope he arrives soon.
He'll be here. He swore he would return by the month end. He'll be here!
Dae Su, please hurry back! Please!
Sir! Sir!
Sir, he's coming! Dae Su's coming!
Really?
It's Dae Su! He's coming!
But why is he alone?
Uncle! Sirs!
What happened? Why are you here by yourself?
Where's the physician? You couldn't find him?
No, the physician will arrive shortly with the Commander of the Five Armies.
I wanted him to come with me, but he was too fatigued from our journey.
I left before them to inform everyone of his arrival.
- So the physician is coming? - Yes! And he's cured patients of liver cancer!
He'll be here in a few hours.
Send a guard to inform His Majesty. Tell him we'll arrive in the palace shortly.
- Do you hear me? - Yes, Sir!
Your Highness, you are very pale.
Why don't we go back to your chambers?
No, I'll be finished soon.
- What is the time? - It is the Hour of the Snake (9-11am).
Send a messenger to find out the status.
Your Majesty, it is Attendant Park.
Your Majesty, you have a message from the post station at Euiju.
Hand it over!
Inform the Royal Hospital to begin preparations.
Yes, Your Majesty.
- Did you find it? - We can't see it anywhere!
- You must find it! - Yes, Madam!
She said we must find it!
Madam! Madam!
We cannot find Her Highness!
- What? She isn't at the pavilion? - She's not there!
- Your Highness! - His Majesty the King!
I heard Consort Ui is here.
Your Majesty...
Your Highness! Your Highness!
Song Yeon!
Your Highness! Your Highness!
Song Yeon!
Your Majesty...
What happened? Where have you been?
I... I went to find this...
Song Yeon! Song Yeon!
Call for a physician immediately!
Song Yeon! Wake up!
Dae Su's back. He's brought a physician with him!
Please! Please wake up!
- Your Majesty... - Yes, just a little bit longer.
The physician will be here from Qing soon.
Please... Please wait a little bit more.
Forgive me, Your Majesty...
I... I'm going ahead to be with Hyang...
I have to go...
What are you talking about? Go where? Where are you going without me?
No! I won't let you go! Song Yeon!
No, Song Yeon! I won't let you go!
I won't let you go like this.
Please don't cry, Your Majesty...
Please don't suffer, Your Majesty...
Please don't forget...
how much I loved you...
I leave my love with you...
Song Yeon!
What... what do you mean, My Lord?
What do you mean Her Highness has passed away?
My Lord!
Dae Su...
No! That can't be...
That's not possible...
But the physician is here from Qing...!
The physician who can save her life!
He's almost here! He's on his way here!
- So how can she have passed away? - Dae Su, calm yourself.
No! That can't be.
Her Highness said she would wait.
She said she would wait until I returned!
So how could she have passed away?
She... she said...
Your Majesty!
Consort Ui...!
- Your Highness! - How could such a lovely person die like this?
I should have cared for her more.
If I had known I would regret it like this, I would have loved her more.
Your Highness...!
Your Highness!
Our poor Consort Ui!
Your Highness!
I didn't even mind watching you from a distance.
All I wanted was for you to live happily ever after with His Majesty.
So how could you do this to us?
How do you expect me to live from now on?
How can I live in this world when you are no longer in it?
Your Majesty, it is time for you to leave.
Your Majesty...
Tell them to wait a while longer.
I still have things to say to her.
Please don't cry, Your Majesty.
Please don't suffer, Your Majesty.
Do you know something?
When I was a boy,
when I tied this around your hand,
I tied my heart to you as well.
Did you know that?
So...
Take it with you.
Take my heart with you.
Have you seen Hyang?
Did you see our boy there?
You said you would take my image with you.
So wait for me.
I will go to join you and Hyang.
Until then...
Wait for me.
Excuse me, I heard there's a house here that makes mills. Do you know the place?
- Yes, it's over there. - Thank you!
Anyone home? Anyone home?
This is the right house!
Who are you?
I apologize for intruding.
I am Custodian Jung Ya Gyong from the Gyujunggak.
I'm here to ask some questions about these mills.
What?
So when the mill revolves, the thread combines together?
Yes, the mill makes it faster.
I see, it's a quick and efficient way of combining thread!
If it's not too much trouble, may I try it for myself?
- What? You want to try it? - Yes!
- Sir! Where have you been? - What is it?
You better hurry to the Office of Hwaseong! His Majesty has been waiting for you!
What? Oh, that's right! I forgot about the report!
- Why are you so late? - Please forgive me, My Lord.
- Is His Majesty inside? - Yes, hurry and go in.
Yes, My Lord.
Where have you been?
Your Majesty!
I'm certain you were aware of this meeting. Where were you?
Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I was looking into something and was in the village.
Have a seat then. I've heard the others' reports already.
It's your turn now.
Custodian Jung!
Please forgive me, Your Majesty! In my haste, I left the report in my chambers.
- What? - I'll go and get it quickly.
- No need for that. - Excuse me?
I will see for myself at the construction site.
How are the workers at the construction site being paid?
The masons, bricklayers and carpenters are being paid 2 pun daily.
Their supervisors are being paid 5 pun.
Since we are paying them daily wages rather than forcing the citizens to do the labor,
the construction is going more smoothly and quickly than before.
Yes, although it is Joseon's law to use citizens for free labor, that law should be changed.
How can we use our people for free labor
when they have to abandon their own fields for the country?
There seems to be a delay in building the fortress walls. What is going on?
As the walls get higher, it takes a longer time to transport the stones to where it is needed.
I told Custodian Jung to find a solution to that using machinery.
Have you not found a solution to this yet?
- There is a small problem, Your Majesty. - Problem?
It is larger than I expected!
This uses a pulley system.
Using the pulley, you can minimize the effort needed to lift heavy objects.
It is different than what I've seen in the past.
Aren't most pulleys secured to the ground? Why is this one not secured?
That's because this pulley system halves the effort needed to lift up the objects.
That means this pulley uses 40 kgs of strength to lift 25,000 kg.
Is that really true?
Therefore, I have named this invention "the Heavy Pulley System".
Then what is the problem? Shouldn't this system be of help to the construction?
It is a little unsafe because of the balance issues.
Indeed?
To use this system, we have to use the exact amount of strength to pull the ropes from each side.
If not, the balance will be off and the object can be dropped.
That's right, Your Majesty. But since we have no time to waste,
- what do you think about tying the ropes together? - That's not possible.
What if the ropes come loose? The workers may be severely injured.
This is my people's lives we're talking about. We must find another solution.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty. In my haste, I did not consider that.
No, don't feel that way. I did not say this to blame you.
- Your Majesty! - I will give you five more days.
What about it? Can you find a solution by then?
Yes, Your Majesty! I will try my best!
- Alright. Continue to monitor them. - Yes, My Lord!
So the construction at Suwon is almost finished...
That means that soon His Majesty's sharpened sword will head towards our necks.
What do you plan to do, Your Majesty?
Will you do nothing when the situation has come to this?
His Majesty has weakened the Five Armies while strengthening his Dragon Guard.
This has caused outrage in the military ranks.
- And? - Your Majesty!
Why don't you meet with the Chief Commander of the Military?
They are angry with His Majesty, and may be potential allies for us.
Your Majesty...!
Your Majesty!
Summon all the Ministers to the palace.
Yes, Your Majesty!
They will soon begin to carry out their plans.
- Continue to carry out what I ordered before. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty! Did you just say you wanted to move the government to Suwon?
That's right. Suwon will be made a new city.
I will name the fortress there Hwaseong Fortress.
Therefore, all of you will begin preparations to move your offices to Suwon.
- Ensure that everything goes smoothly! - Your Majesty!
This is an impossible directive!
Suwon is an isolated area far away from the capital!
You've moved the citizens there and now you want to move government there as well!
If you do that, the core of our nation, Hanyang will be destabilized!
Yes, that is true.
But what is the problem with that, Councilor?
Along with Hanyang, Suwon will also become a focal point of our nation.
I believe that that will be an advantage for the development of our nation.
So what is the reason for your objections?
Is it because of your interests and influence here?
- Your Majesty! - When the construction of the fortress is over,
I will move the people of Hanyang there. I will give them land and houses to live in.
In addition, I will create a private estate for Princess Hae Kyung and my late father's tomb.
And there is one more thing.
No matter how many petitions you send to me, and how many of you bow down in protest,
I will not change my mind about this. Do you hear me?
Excellency, His Majesty is certainly planning on moving the capital to Suwon!
Then what will happen to us? Hanyang has been our seat of power for a hundred years!
Isn't this his way of telling us to give up everything?
This is a letter from the Councilor, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
This may be our last battle.
Go and tell the Councilor this.
- Tell him I will meet with the military commanders. - Yes, Your Majesty.
There is only one alternative left for us.
I am sure all of you know what that is.
If His Majesty wants us to give up our lives, then we must expect the same from him.
Hyo Chang Won (Crown Prince Moon Hyo and Consort Ui's tombs)
Please promise me that you will withstand and bear it, no matter what happens.
Just as I will not give up because of you,
you must remember how much I loved you,
and promise me never to give up.
I have not forgotten that promise.
I will be victorious, Song Yeon.
Until the moment I am no longer on the throne,
I will do everything in my power to be a good king.
Your Majesty, Lieutenant Commander Park is here.
Your Majesty...
- Is that so? - Yes, Your Majesty.
Not only were the Third Councilor and the No Ron members there,
but the military commanders were present as well.
What will you have us do, Your Majesty? Shall we use this opportunity to seize...
No, it is not yet time.
We cannot seize them for the sole reason that they held a private meeting.
We must continue to be patient.
It will all come together at that place, Dae Su.
They will try to stop me at Hwaseong Fortress,
so that is where I will wait for them.
Episode 74