DO KYUNG-SOO
NAM JI-HYUN
CHO SEONG-HA, CHO HAN-CHEUL
KIM SEON-HO, HAN SO-HEE, KIM JAE-YOUNG
What do you like better? Snow or falling petals?
I like...
You.
I'm going to marry you.
Oh, I'm sorry.
EPISODE 2
If she were still alive, that's what she'd look like.
You said no one survived in Yoon Bu-jun's family.
Search again just in case.
I searched all over the country for years.
There's no way she is alive,
but I still did so to obey your orders.
Are you still having a hard time forgetting her?
It's nothing like that.
I just can't forget her
because...
I became crown prince at the cost of her life.
I'm Jung Je-yun from the Police Bureau.
Why were you running away?
I wasn't running away.
I was just rushing because I had urgent business.
That travel bag doesn't match your outfit.
May I take a look inside?
Sure.
You fight well for a woman.
That only arouses my suspicion.
I was startled because strange men were chasing me
-in the dead of night. -What's your name? Where do you live?
I'm Yeon Hong-sim from Songju.
You're obviously unmarried.
What brings you all the way to Hanyang?
I came here to meet someone.
Is it...
your sweetheart?
I promised to meet my brother on Mojeon Bridge
every month on the full moon. Did I answer your question?
I'm innocent. Why are you asking me this and that
as if you're interrogating me?
Because I'm interested in you.
Why do you keep following me instead of going home?
Does this bridge belong to you?
I'm here
to see the moon, too.
The moon is full tonight.
The full moon is so beautiful.
Just stay right there.
Don't even think about coming on to me.
I'm going to protect you.
What if strange men chase you again?
It seems that your brother has forgotten about the promise.
See you on the next full moon.
We lost the assassin,
and the sole witness is dead.
What should we do?
Do you have a plan in mind?
I've got to throw a party.
Let's get this party started.
I thought we wouldn't be celebrating your birthday this year
because of your illness.
Seeing you in fine shape and throwing a party like this
makes me feel relieved.
I hear Her Majesty the Queen prays for my health every day.
Maybe that's why.
I'm glad the Crown Prince has regained his health.
But why does the Crown Princess look so pale?
Excuse me, Your Highness.
I didn't sleep well last night.
What's the use of being a woman of peerless beauty?
Crown Prince.
Please look after the Crown Princess.
This party is getting boring since we skipped the dance.
Can we move on?
I see what you're waiting for.
I heard you wanted bows and arrows for your birthday.
There are many rare and precious treasures in this country.
I don't understand why he wants only bows and arrows.
I used to like playing warriors when I was a child.
I guess I haven't grown out of it yet.
Will the bows and arrows help you find the assassin?
There are hundreds of arrow makers.
All arrows look the same if you don't look closely.
But they vary
depending on the maker
and the materials he uses.
The arrow that penetrated the physician's neck
isn't commonly found in the marketplace.
The shaft and fletching were rare,
and the nock was unique.
I'm sure it belongs to an assassin, not some thug.
A mastermind who could command such an assassin
must come from wealth and power.
But there's no guarantee that the same arrow will be given to you.
"Catch a tiger with a rotten rope."
A poor plan
may help you achieve unexpected success.
I, Second Vice-Premier Shin Seung-jo,
would like to present this to you.
Nice bow and arrows.
These are willow leaf-shaped arrows.
I'm very pleased.
Short arrows?
I've been interested in them lately.
I like them very much.
Your Majesty.
Prince Seowon is here.
I'm sorry I'm late, Your Majesty.
It took me a long time to find rare bow and arrows as Mother requested.
It's okay.
I'm curious to see how valuable they are.
I meant to visit you when I heard that you were ill, but I was afraid
that you wouldn't be happy to see me.
Nonsense.
We're brothers,
-though we have different mothers. -Crown Prince!
I can't wait to see the bow and arrows chosen by
Her Majesty the Queen.
Happy birthday, Your Highness. I present this to you
on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.
It's not the same one.
These are bamboo arrows.
How do you know that?
They're the finest arrows made from three-year-old bamboo and falcon feathers.
You've given me a wonderful gift.
Thank you so much.
Will I not be able to catch the assassin?
I hear that you've already achieved mastery in archery.
I can't imagine how good you'll be after today.
I'm just trying my best as I'm told to be proficient in
both literary and martial arts.
Come to think of it,
you haven't given him a gift yet.
I couldn't prepare a nice one
in time for this party.
Time was tight for everyone here.
Are you saying
that you, the Crown Princess's father,
came empty-handed?
That's not what I meant.
It's just that mine is nothing special.
I'm afraid that it isn't fine enough to please His Highness.
These are
just ordinary bow and arrows.
These arrows are made of bushweed
and eagle feathers.
And the nocks are cut into the shaft.
They're clearly identical to the one that penetrated
the physician's neck.
Are these the same as the ones you use?
Yes. I use them sometimes
when I go hunting.
Are you...
the one who killed the physician?
Are you...
the one who is trying
to kill me?
Free yourself
of anger before you die.
And do not worry
about your children
for they will
join you very soon.
Go after them.
No one in his family should be spared.
Are you trying to kill me now
just like you killed that girl?
If you don't like them,
I'll present you with different ones later.
No.
These are exactly what I wanted.
Should I ask the musicians to start?
No need.
This party is now over.
The mastermind behind the murder is Kim Cha-eon.
It's clear that he killed her to cover up his attempts to poison me.
But why?
Why is he trying to kill me?
Your Highness. Her Highness the Crown Princess is here.
Isn't it discourteous to walk in on me at this hour?
Please dismiss the others.
I need to have a word with you urgently.
You want to talk with me in private?
-That makes me deeply uneasy. -Your Highness.
You're dismissed.
I'm behind in my work because of the party.
Please make it brief.
I heard you traveled in disguise a few days ago.
I was worried sick while you were unconscious.
Is it really true that you're sick?
Or are you pretending to be sick
to avoid sleeping with me?
Why would I use such a shallow trick to avoid such a thing?
Besides,
I'm the future king of this country.
My father
risked his life to help the King sit on the throne.
He risked his life for this country?
But he's still alive and now owns half of the land in Hanyang and Gyeonggi.
It's rumored that your family's storeroom is bigger than the royal repository,
and that it's not just a rumor.
Is that...
the reason you hate me?
It wasn't my father who arranged this marriage,
but His Majesty the King.
We both know that this marriage is just for show.
I wonder why you're making an issue of it now.
I know you hardly get any sleep because you're striving to focus on your studies.
The courtiers were not pleased because you were late
in getting a royal family education
as you entered the palace at the age of 10.
That's why you never skipped your classes and studied hard for over 10 years.
It was to be the perfect foundation for this country.
But...
how can you be
a perfect king without an heir?
Are you suggesting...
that we should have a child?
For the first and last time,
I beseech you.
Please allow me
to sleep in your arms tonight.
It must've been hard for you to bring that up.
But what can I say?
My heart...
is unable
to take control of my body.
I'm still unwise, so I have no time to think about
the future of this nation without an heir.
Please leave.
Has Father left his office?
I have no idea
why he looked at me like that.
What brings you here?
Our plan has failed.
We don't have enough time.
I understand
what you mean.
Oh, my goodness!
What? Sir.
Don't go that way!
There's a ghost!
What? No way.
Listen carefully.
See? I told you!
This is all because of you.
Because you spinsters won't get married, ghosts have started to appear.
Unbelievable.
Goodness.
Father.
You're finally back!
Give that to me.
There you go. Have a seat.
What is this?
Oh.
Go ahead and eat. You must be hungry.
Jeez. Have you been waiting for me without eating anything?
No. I ate earlier, but I want to eat again.
Go ahead and eat.
Thank you for the meal.
By the way,
from next month,
don't go to Hanyang.
Your brother wasn't there. That's why you came back alone again.
Promise me that you won't go again.
No.
This is no time to worry about your brother.
While you were away, the county governor came
and pestered me to marry you off.
I'm afraid that something bad might happen. I'm so worried.
Come on. Don't worry.
I told them I was marrying Won-deuk.
You didn't get any sleep last night.
Did you find out who the arrow belongs to?
Dong-ju.
A scorpion that needed to sit on a frog's back to cross the water
poisoned the frog.
That would only make both of them drown.
Why do you think it did that?
I'm not sure.
That's a difficult question.
I must find the answer
to that difficult question.
There's something I must look into urgently.
These are all the pharmaceutical records
we have left.
PHARMACEUTICAL RECORDS
Why just these?
Someone came in two days ago and took all of them except those.
I went to the Royal Infirmary, but someone
had already taken all the records.
Who was it?
THE PEOPLE
TEN THOUSAND, DESIRE
That answer is correct.
-Your Highness. -And wrong at the same time.
This is Jung Je-yun,
a chamgun at the Police Bureau.
CHAMGUN: MODERN-DAY SENIOR POLICE OFFICER
Why did you take the pharmaceutical records?
I've been assigned
to the recent murder case of the female physician,
and I was investigating it.
Tell me what you've learned from your investigations.
This wasn't a crime of passion.
Those usually involve
manslaughter caused by physical violence,
suicides with a knife,
or strangulation of the victim.
It didn't stem from a grudge either.
The physician, Song Seon, had no one to turn to
and didn't interact with her neighbors, so she didn't have any enemies.
The conclusion I've come to is...
that it was mosal involving
the Royal Infirmary.
MOSAL: PREMEDITATED MURDER
That's why I read through these records.
Song Seon
had recently gotten her license and was still an apprentice,
so she was exempt from night duties.
But one day,
a female physician who was supposed to be on night duty
had to leave urgently, so she covered for her.
I've got to go in and get some sleep.
Yes, sir.
I need you to come with me now.
February 19th.
I don't know exactly what happened that night because
this doesn't detail everything.
But the very next day,
she was appointed as chief physician of Gyoyeon Palace.
-Gyoyeon Palace? -Yes.
The palace of the Crown Princess.
It was a big promotion.
It's not common.
And a witness testified that he saw
two men in her house on the night she was murdered--
Don't look into this case anymore.
Wash your hands of it.
This is an order.
If Kim Cha-eon is behind the plot to poison me,
it's only natural that the Crown Princess would be involved.
Then what is it that she's hiding from me?
Why did they try to kill me?
She called Song Seon over on February 19th
probably
to plan my murder.
You need to bring me the list of banned ingredients secretly.
Yes, Your Highness.
But the next day, she refused to have her routine check-up.
Despite that, she made Song Seon her physician.
Could it be...
TO IMPREGNATE
"To impregnate"?
GYOYEON PALACE MEDICAL RECORDS: CROWN PRINCESS'S MEDICAL RECORDS
"Not available due to preparations
for the sericulture ceremony. Recorded by Kim Nae-cheon."
"She has left the palace to visit her sick father.
Not available.
Recorded by Kim Nae-cheon."
She didn't have her regular check-up
for two months in a row?
TO IMPREGNATE
Has your question
finally been answered?
I may have known
the answer from the beginning.
His Highness the Crown Prince is here.
Your Highness.
What brings you here, Your Highness? You came without notice.
It's an urgent matter, so I couldn't wait.
Should I serve you some refreshments?
It's okay. You're all dismissed.
I want to speak privately with the Crown Princess.
I'm so slow-witted.
I apologize.
Lady Kang must've been surprised
to receive you in my quarters.
You must've been surprised too.
You look very pale.
Does it make you feel uneasy?
Yes.
Which is why I've prepared something for you.
Eunuch Yang.
Send her in.
Yes, Your Highness.
Why did you call a physician over?
I recently noticed that your complexion has grown pale.
And I found out that
you skipped your monthly check-up twice in a row.
I called a physician over out of concern for you.
Feel her pulse and prescribe her something that will invigorate her.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
Hurry up and feel her pulse.
I have severe indigestion, so my pulse may be irregular.
When my stomach feels better,
I'll be prescribed medicine so as not to worry you.
Her Majesty the Queen told me to take good care of you,
so I made myself available to you today.
It's too bad.
I'm deeply sorry.
You may leave.
Yes, Your Highness.
Crown Princess.
Yes, Your Highness?
They've never held hands affectionately, not even once,
but she's pregnant?
Why are you so startled?
I don't understand what you're talking about.
I'm talking about one of my close friends.
He has never slept with his wife,
but she's pregnant.
She did such a disgraceful thing, so he asked for my advice
on what to do with her.
What do you think?
Why must you
make me answer such a horrible question?
"Horrible"?
Indeed.
It is something that will go down in history.
She's a lewd woman
who brought disgrace to her family.
If you were him, what would you do
with that woman?
"You and your family
are finished."
Before I said that, I'd give her some time.
Because of all our years together,
I'd give her a chance to make a wise judgment.
You're so wise, Your Highness.
And I'm a very unfortunate crown prince.
Is the painting of the dragon ready?
Yes, Your Majesty.
It looks like it could ascend to heaven any minute.
I'm sure it'll be effective this time.
It has to be.
It must rain before April 20th.
My heart is heavy.
Your Majesty.
I suggest you don't go
to the rain ritual.
-What are you saying? -Your Excellency.
We've already had many rain rituals.
If it doesn't rain this time either, what do you think
people will say?
Your Highness. His Majesty the King is asking for you urgently.
What perfect timing.
Go to the upcoming rain ritual on my behalf.
Please retract your words.
Retract my words?
I apologize. But I have
an urgent matter to handle--
Are you...
trying to disgrace me?
-Father. -Public sentiment is worsening
due to frequent natural disasters.
Every day, I receive hundreds and thousands of reports saying
people are afraid that this drought may lead to a bad harvest.
Everyone is criticizing and blaming me.
And you want to disobey my order at a time like this?
How much more disloyal can you be?
How come
you don't even ask why?
What could possibly be more important than this ritual?
I'm the Crown Prince and your son at the same time.
Has it never occurred to you that I may be faced with
a terrible problem that is unsolvable?
No matter how bad your situation is,
it can't be worse than mine. I suffer from a heavy workload every day.
All right.
Let me hear your reasons.
What is it that's troubling you so much that you can't make it to the ritual?
I said, I'll listen to you!
Never mind.
You shoulder great responsibilities since the whole nation is counting on you.
My troubles
are nothing compared to yours.
You must think
I'm ridiculous.
Ever since that day, 10 years ago,
you've looked at me with those eyes
because I killed a lot of people to take the throne.
That look of disdain in your eyes!
The late King was a vicious person. Because of him,
there wasn't a day when I could breathe comfortably.
After killing Yeong-seon,
he aimed to kill me.
If I hadn't drawn my sword that day,
do you think
you and I would have been able to survive to this day?
I had to kill them so as not to be killed.
You...
of all people
have no right to blame me.
No.
I will blame you.
As your son, I won't hesitate to express
my deep-rooted grudge against you today.
But after today,
I'll never see you again as your son.
Then I'll have no more reason to blame you.
I'll go
to the ritual in obedience to your order.
But when I return, I'll handle my problems
as the Crown Prince of this country.
I hope
you'll not discourage me.
I'm being undutiful.
I'm being disloyal.
Even after all those years,
my resentment towards him hasn't died down even a bit.
I know you'll never come back to life.
And my heart will always be heavy like this.
Even so,
I'll get my revenge.
I'll make them pay
the price for killing you
and for looking down on me.
No matter what.
Why did you
ask for arsenic?
I'm pregnant.
I see it's not the child
of the Crown Prince.
So are you going to
take this and die or something?
Please give me some time.
You risked your life to bring power and wealth to our family.
I'll find a way to protect us.
But if that doesn't work,
either...
the Crown Prince or I will have to disappear.
Who is it?
Who is the child's father?
It's none of your concern.
Whoever it is, this child
will be the Crown Prince's heir.
You and your family
are finished.
Will I have to
use this arsenic in the end?
Your Highness. The Crown Prince
will go to the rain ritual.
I'm glad to hear that.
Throw this away.
Yes, Your Highness.
Why did you have to treat me so cruelly like that?
You started all this, so you have
no right to blame me.
I need you
to go somewhere urgently.
Who is it this time?
What do you see in the sky
at dawn?
Where is the Crown Prince going?
How come you never ask
about the reason?
I don't need to hear the reason.
But I need you
to promise me one thing this time.
Oh, my gosh! Go home!
What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?
Yes.
That was a horrible dream.
You were walking down a street,
and an old dog was
chasing after you drooling.
I swung a club really hard to shoo the dog away,
but it wouldn't go away.
It was an ominous dream.
What kind of a ridiculous dream was that?
That's what we call a silly dream.
It doesn't mean anything.
Yes, you're right.
Is anyone there?
Goodness.
What brings you to this shabby place
at this hour?
Come on, no need to be so modest.
Go on.
What is this, Your Honor?
These are sweet cookies and dried persimmons.
I hope you like them.
Why are you giving us such precious food?
Due to the severe drought, many people are starving these days.
How could I not be concerned?
I came all the way here to help you overcome
the difficult situation, even if by just a little bit.
There's no need, Your Honor.
Come on.
Delicious food only tastes better
when you share it with others.
Oh.
Thank you.
-Then we'll share it with our neighbors. -No way!
There isn't enough to share with others.
Just eat it all yourself.
If you need more, tell me.
I'll bring you more.
A minute ago, you said it's better to share.
I have a tickle in my throat.
-Go in and get me some water. -Yes, Your Honor.
It must be tough for you to look after
such a frail, old man.
By the way, what is all that?
That's a medicinal herb called barrenwort.
Barrenwort? The herb that is good for men's health?
Yes, Your Honor.
I'd like to buy some now.
Grab some and follow me.
Not now. It's not dry enough to be used as medicine.
Is that so?
But since the weather is dry, I think it'll dry up soon.
I'll be waiting then.
I can't believe you left the palace at a time like this.
Father is weak.
I'm sure he was afraid of getting all the blame.
It's also my duty to share his burden.
Besides your bodyguards, I secretly called
the royal guards for backup just in case.
I hear the drought has devastated the whole country,
but Mount Cheonu in the spring
is so beautiful.
What is the horrible secret
you have found out?
Dong-ju.
Yes, Your Highness?
Why are you so serious?
If you take everything so seriously,
it makes me feel uneasy.
And whenever you say that, it makes me feel uneasy too.
Let's forget about the troubles since we're out here.
There will be a bloodbath when we return.
We're under attack!
Protect His Highness!
-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!
You must leave this place, Your Highness.
Your Highness!
Your Highness.
We must get away.
Bum and Hyuk!
Follow me!
Let's wait a little bit.
The royal guards will come and help us.
They won't come.
The arrows fired at me
were identical to the one that killed the physician.
I'm sure it's part of Kim Cha-eon's plan.
We have a total of five arrows.
If they luckily pierce two at a time,
we can eliminate 10.
But there are well over 30 assassins.
Have you forgotten?
I'm a good archer and also a good swordsman.
This is no time to show off.
I think they're close.
Your Highness. Run.
I'll stay behind and fight them to the end.
Don't fight for me anymore.
-This is an order. -It's my duty
to protect you
at the risk of my life.
Don't protect me anymore.
From this moment on,
fight to protect yourself.
I'm asking as your friend.
Your Highness.
Please forgive me.
No matter what I say, it'll make you feel uneasy.
Gosh, I'm so tired.
I've got to sit down.
What's wrong with me?
Oh, no. No way!
I hardly eat anything, but nature's always calling.
What should I wipe with today?
We were attacked in the mountain.
I searched everywhere after I regained consciousness,
but His Highness
was nowhere to be seen.
Mobilize the military now to search for the Crown Prince.
And I want the Royal Investigation Bureau
to arrest everyone involved in this!
I won't forgive them.
I'll tear them to pieces!
No, Your Majesty.
-What? -The people are agitated due to
frequent natural disasters and a drought
that has been continuing for several months.
Many harbor resentment towards you.
If the news spreads and everyone learns that His Highness was attacked,
the public sentiment will worsen and get out of control.
Then what do you suggest?
Lord Kim.
This is treason.
High treason!
Excuse me, Your Majesty.
His Highness hasn't been found yet.
Isn't that evidence that he's still alive?
I think it would be better
to investigate this secretly to stop rumors from spreading.
Your Majesty.
I suggest that we cover up this incident for a while
so the news won't spread.
Let's secretly
mobilize the royal guards.
What do you think?
I'll leave this case to you, Lord Kim.
Please hurry.
What are you doing, Minister of Defense?
I'll call up the royal guards now.
You must come back.
You must come back to me
as a corpse.
Never.
You must never come back.
What is he planning on using all this for?
It's at least five geun.
Of course he needs a lot of it.
He has four concubines.
Even if you charge a ton, he'll buy it all up.
Hong-sim.
I helped you a little bit when you were picking this.
Don't worry.
I'll rip him off and give you your share.
You must be exhausted from carrying this heavy thing all the way here.
Go ahead and quench your thirst first.
As for this tea,
-it's from the faraway Ming-- -I'm okay.
Is that so?
Why don't you check the herbs first?
Sure.
These are of the finest quality, so they're quite expensive.
How much are you asking?
Twenty yang.
How about 2,000 yang ?
If I can make you my girl,
I don't mind paying you that much.
Are you saying
you want me to be your fifth concubine?
If you don't get married by tomorrow,
you'll be in trouble. I'm only trying to save you.
But I already have a fiance.
But you don't know when he'll return.
You may be beaten to death before he comes back.
Even if that were so, it's none of your concern.
You'd rather die than become
my concubine?
I should get going.
You shouldn't go back empty-handed.
I'll still take the herbs.
Put them in my storeroom before you leave.
What the heck.
Was Lord Park the dog
that appeared in Father's dream?
Goodness.
I'm dumbfounded.
What? What's going on?
What?
Why did you close the door?
I'm still here!
Just stay quiet. Don't waste your strength.
Open the door!
I said, open the door!
Please open the door!
No matter what, don't open the door.
Don't give her a drop of water!
Open the door!
Excuse me! There's someone in here!
Excuse me!
So tell me.
Have you changed your mind?
Of course not.
It would've been nice if you had come to your senses.
Goodness. Maybe I shouldn't have brought him here.
How many days has it been already?
What if he ends up dying in this mud hut?
Whoever he is,
he's a good-looking man.
He has a sharp nose
and full lips.
Goodness. He has...
very fine skin too.
What a handsome man.
Are you awake?
Can you see me?
Are you conscious now?
Here. There you go.
You're not fully recovered, so it must still hurt a lot.
How did you end up getting hurt like this?
What's your name?
Can you not talk?
Oh, I totally forgot.
You must be hungry.
Have some of this.
That's disgusting.
You can talk!
What's your name? Where are you from?
Do you live up there or down here?
I...
don't remember.
Oh, no. You poor thing.
His head was bleeding a lot.
Did he hurt his head and become a fool?
Go and have some.
Mr. Yeon!
What brings you here?
Something serious is happening.
Hong-sim...
Hong-sim is about to die.
-What are you saying? -Today is the last day of the month.
The patrol
took her to the government office to beat her 100 times.
-Hong-sim! -Come on!
Hong-sim!
Twenty-nine!
Oh, no.
Wait!
If you change your mind,
your life will turn around.
Lord Park has kindly offered to accept you
as his concubine out of pity.
I don't want to be his concubine.
-As I said earlier, I have a fiance. -Oh, no.
You mean, Won-deuk? The one in the military?
But today is the last day of the month!
Do you wish to live after disobeying His Highness the Crown Prince?
Has His Highness
ordered you to beat those who are still unmarried?
-Goodness, that wench. -I don't believe you.
Please take me to him!
What are you doing? Go on and beat her!
No, please don't!
Oh, my goodness!
-Thirty! -My goodness!
Thirty-one!
-Goodness. -Stop.
Let me ask you once more.
Will you continue to be beaten or get married to Lord Park?
She's so pigheaded.
Continue to beat her.
Stop!
You musn't!
You mustn't do that!
Please stop!
Please stop, Your Excellency!
Won-deuk is back!
He's been discharged from the army and is back!
How dare you lie to me to get away with this?
It's true!
Won-deuk!
SPECIAL THANKS TO JUNG HO-BIN, CHOI JI-NA, AND DO JI-HAN
I think he lacks intelligence.
Maybe he's an idiot.
Why was His Highness personally looking into this case?
The world is dangerous like this outside the palace.
-Hurry up and find him! -Hey, Won-deuk!
I can't possibly have proposed to a woman with such a look on her face!
Won-deuk. There's something you mustn't forget.
That night at the mill.
Gosh, you!
She's such a bad wife.
Give it to me.
You can't help but follow me around.
Did you, by any chance, fall in love with me at first sight too?