(Episode 9)
Who are you?
I asked who you are.
Lee Yeok.
Yung.
It is me.
I am back.
- Did he say he is Lee Yeok? - He did.
- He is Lee Yeok. - Was he not dead?
Have you been well?
You were alive.
Take her to the Royal Infirmary.
Chae Gyung.
My brother whom I thought was dead is back.
What are you all waiting for?
We welcome the Prince.
- We welcome the Prince. - We welcome the Prince.
You do not look any different.
Goodness, did you get a promotion?
Yes, Prince.
Congratulations.
You do not look any older compared to five years ago.
Prince, I am ever grateful.
Thank you for the medicine you gave me at Ming.
Do you still remember that?
Of course.
All right, everyone. Stand up.
It has been such a long time.
Go and call the royal doctor.
Yes, Your Highness.
Please lift Lady Shin and my false accusation.
We cannot overlook...
the officials of the Procurement Office who tried...
to abandon people when the boat started sinking.
I doubt people of the Procurement Office would do that.
We should not make a judgment without evidence.
Then...
how will you explain...
locking up Lady Shin in the jail as a criminal...
without evidence and putting the blame...
on her family as well?
The real thief is...
one of your royal subjects.
Thief, Your Highness?
You are taking things too far.
This one, this one,
and up to this place are the things written...
on the list of the offerings from the south.
- What? - Why is it so long?
However,
from this, this, this,
and all the way to this place are a list of things...
that belong to someone unknown.
A bokgeon embroidered with gold thread,
kwaeja, sagyusam.
Aren't these used for a kid's first birthday party?
Among our officials, is there anyone...
who had such a party for your grandson or son?
Do you not think the one who fulfilled their own greed,
squeezing out the blood and sweat of the people...
by using the royal command is the real thief?
How can anyone here use the royal command...
to fulfill their personal greed?
I am sure local officials tampered with the list.
I will find out who it is and punish them accordingly.
Then who do you think is...
behind those men?
I will investigate further on that subject as well.
If so, were you not the one who stole...
from the royal subjects' storehouse?
Your storehouse?
"Do not feel bitter."
"Even the King got robbed."
Unbelievable.
This person is not afraid of using the King's name.
He will surely be not afraid of a prince like me.
This man is the real power behind this country.
Listen.
Prince Jin Seong was...
unexpectedly accused as an offering thief.
Because of that, the Second State Councilor's daughter,
Lady Shin suffered as well.
Let the world know Prince Jin Seong and Lady Shin...
are innocent and set the records straight.
And make sure Lady Shin gets...
properly compensated for this account.
Also,
about the thief who used...
Prince Jin Seong's name.
Chief Royal Secretary will take the responsibility,
and you will work with the Ministry of Justice...
to arrest the thief.
I receive your royal command.
Stand up, Second State Councilor.
The King has pardoned you.
Prince.
That way leads to the Royal Infirmary.
The Queen's place is this way.
Your Majesty.
Everything Prince Jin Seong said is a lie.
How can it be coincident?
How could he do it because it was righteous?
Prince Jin Seong did not return without a plan.
You just died.
What is your charge?
I have injured your prestige...
in front of the other royal subjects.
You just died again.
What is your charge?
I went against the royal command...
and lost Prince Jin Seong...
You just died again.
My crime is that...
I let Prince Jin Seong return alive.
Therefore,
you will live like a dead man from now on.
Stop making a scene.
Your Majesty.
Will you finally get a grip if you really die?
Your Majesty, I cannot die like this.
I have not completed my task.
No one else but I can do the job.
Your Majesty.
You cannot do away with me.
Your Majesty.
Will you disobey your mother?
I did not think you would return...
just to save that girl.
I regret enduring all those years.
Mother.
Go ahead. Speak if you have something to say.
I do not understand...
Could you please give me a hug?
Or...
I will come and hug you.
See...
how wonderful it is...
to be together.
From here on, more good things will come.
I will...
make sure of that.
Please do not cry.
Still, you made an imprudent decision.
It was not solely because of Chae Gyung.
Yung found out about me.
If I keep running away and hide,
I would end up putting the people around me in danger.
Yung and the Chief Royal Secretary...
would have done anything to lure me.
Now they will surveil you out in the open.
Do you have any solution?
I will use Yung's people.
Are you suggesting to spy him?
Yes.
When we have a clear evidence,
we can destroy Prince Jin Seong once and for all.
A spy would be the best resolution.
I know someone who would be perfect.
Who is it?
It is Lord Shin's daughter, Chae Gyung.
What did you say?
Prince Jin Seong.
I will...
marry Chae Gyung.
Chae Gyung.
Are you okay?
Did Prince Jin Seong really return?
Stay here until your father comes.
There is something we need to tell you.
That is what you wanted.
If I marry Yung's most trusted minister's daughter,
he will not keep me in check any longer.
The situation is different now.
Yes. It is different indeed.
Lord Shin has more power now.
He is the King's trusted minister and...
he is close with those who control the military.
Therefore,
I will marry Chae Gyung...
and make Second State Councilor be on my side.
He might...
stand by his daughter...
rather than by his sister.
I will not allow it.
Chae Gyung cannot be used in that way.
Or I can find Prince Jin Seong's prospective bride...
among the other ministers' daughters.
However,
could you trust them like you trust Lord Shin?
Is the gift for the Queen Dowager ready?
Yes, Your Majesty.
First, I will...
offer my greetings to the Queen Dowager.
What you are trying to do is protect that girl.
Protecting her works to my advantage.
Finding the secret document...
would be the best advantage.
Mother.
The...
Because all the ministers and the people...
will follow the late King's will.
It would be wiser to look for the officer in hiding...
and find out about the secret document.
The officer is Seo Noh's father.
If Seo Noh finds out where his father is...
Quiet.
Yung.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Am I interrupting?
No, Your Majesty.
I only came here to give my greetings.
I was about to leave.
I hear you are his cousin's daughter.
My name is Yoon Myong Hye.
I will leave you, Your Majesty.
I do not know how much the King has heard.
Since the Prince had a near death experience,
he reacts quickly to a person's presence.
He must have sensed the King...
as soon as he entered the hall.
Marry Lord Shin's daughter?
All our hard work was for nothing.
It is okay.
I will be the one smiling...
in the end.
Yes.
The King and the Prince's battle has begun.
You must persevere if it means winning.
Yes, but...
I will not simply persevere.
We must be the main force of the coup.
Only then...
can we claim our share after we win.
Yes.
Then I should come to the front now.
The King absolves Lee Yeok, Prince Jin Seong,
of all his sins...
who had been banished to Hamgil Province.
His title and status will be restored.
Thank you for your boundless generosity.
Are you that happy?
Of course.
This is all thanks to you. Thank you, King.
Do not mention it.
It must be relaxing to not have to hide this anymore.
Yes.
When the Prince died,
I could not be as sad as I wanted...
because I knew it would make you look bad.
It was difficult for me to hide my heart.
However, he is safely back with us.
I am going to be very happy without hiding my heart.
Of course, you should.
Come in.
These are presents from me to Yeok and you, Mother.
You are very considerate.
When did you prepare all these?
Goodness, what are these?
I am so grateful.
It is very rewarding to be born as your brother.
Should I say it is rewarding to come back from dead?
Prince, that is extremely disgraceful.
Yes.
Starting now, you can enjoy everything you could not.
I will make that happen.
I am forever grateful.
Do you want to have a drink?
A drink?
That sounds great.
I have to stop by the Royal Office,
so you can wait for me at Chwirodang.
Yes.
Do not ever bring up the secret document again.
Because of that secret document,
Yung has been suspicious of me for a long time,
and he even tried to kill me. Have you forgotten?
Yeok.
I do not want to risk my life over that petty document.
It may take a long time, but I will take the throne...
in my own way.
Are you saying you must marry that girl?
Yes.
Do you remember this?
Yes.
Open it and read it.
That is the reason...
why we hid you away in Geochang as a child.
(If Chae Gyung gets involved with the royal family, )
(it will be woe to the entire family.)
Now that the Prince is back alive,
I thought I must tell you before it is too late.
Chae Gyung. It is time for you to...
escape your ill fortune by yourself.
What happened?
It cannot happen at once.
First, you should return home.
He will call you shortly.
Lord Shin.
Now that the Prince has returned,
I worry it will make the King angry and confused...
for us to nitpick over who is responsible.
So I will let this one pass.
Consider your life as a second chance from now on.
I hope you will serve His Majesty with loyalty...
without causing him any trouble.
That is unbelievable.
Your daughter is the one who created this trouble.
How can you hold me responsible for everything?
Chief Eunuch.
Tell Chief Royal Secretary to delegate...
his responsibilities to Second State Councilor...
and to assist him.
Yes, Your Majesty.
As you ordered, we prepared a table at Chwirodang.
It has already been two hours since we set the table.
This is not good.
I will tell the Prince that His Majesty will be late.
You idiot.
How can you be a good eunuch with your senses?
It looks like...
His Majesty is taming the Prince.
Taming?
Think about it. No matter what,
if the King told you to wait,
his subject is supposed to wait.
Not just for an hour, even for half a day.
I will pour you one.
Your Majesty.
Back when I saw you at the inn,
I thought you really got me.
I tried hard to pretend like it was not me.
I got you, right?
You did.
I could not have imagined such a cute little boy...
would grow up to be a gross man.
You have grown up.
I really wished...
you would never grow up.
It must be because...
you have to give up your throne once I do.
Who do you think...
tried to kill you?
Of course, it must be...
the bandits.
Who else would it be?
Once I was brought back alive,
I felt so frustrated about this world.
On one hand, I want to take in everyone...
who did that to me and get my revenge.
On the other hand, I got my life back,
so I do not think I should waste my precious time...
on resenting and getting angry at people.
My mind changes 12 times a day.
"It might have been better for me to die."
Did you not think of that?
When people are in such immense pain,
I heard they have such a thought.
I did.
But recently,
I began to want to live again.
I ended up having a small dream.
A dream?
Yes.
I want to become a strong person,
so I can protect myself and my people.
Have you accomplished your dream?
I have a long way to go.
I barely got my name back.
Prince...
is not an easy title to carry.
Of course not.
My brother is the King of Joseon.
You must keep all the promises you made earlier.
So what do you want to have the most?
Shin Chae Gyung.
I want to have Chae Gyung.
Why her?
I like her.
I want to be...
with her.
Leaving so soon?
I have not drunk so joyfully in a while,
so I am already tipsy.
Your Majesty.
Seo Noh, what are you doing? Have a drink.
Hey.
You left me out...
and went to take back the offerings.
Is that all you were trying to do?
The decision you resorted to...
was revealing that Prince Jin Seong is alive.
We tried to stop him...
"Hiding is not the only solution."
I agreed to Yeok.
We were able to save the wrongly accused.
When situation changes,
strategy changes as well.
What...
You call marriage...
a strategy?
I do not like the idea...
of using Chae Gyung.
- Then? - But...
I will not oppose it.
Why not?
Because their marriage will not be an arranged one.
They will...
fall truly in love.
What will you do...
if they do not?
There is nothing to be done.
It will be that way.
If Chae Gyung gets involved with the Royal Family,
them and the Royal Court will be in a violent turmoil.
Do not forget about my prophecy.
No way.
Is anyone in there?
Who is it?
Chae Gyung.
Nanny, tell him I am sleeping.
Tell him I am still sick and I cannot see him.
Make sure no one comes in.
Why are you asking me to do this?
I am not good at lying.
Stay quiet.
Promise you will not yell.
Then I will let you go.
Quiet.
Nanny.
You must be well now.
You even lied that you were asleep.
Please leave.
Are you not happy to see me?
I am not.
Why not?
- Chae Gyung. - Because I cannot trust you.
You only tell lies.
At the inn,
at the pawn shop, at the grave,
and in the cave.
So I do not want to see you anymore. Please leave.
You are right.
I lied at the inn,
at the pawn shop,
at the grave,
and in the cave.
The biggest lie I told...
was that I did not miss you.
I missed you...
a lot.
Truly a lot.
You said there were no promises to keep.
You even returned the token.
Why are you saying that now?
Why did you return?
Why did I return?
Do you not remember what I said after?
The reason why we no longer have a standing promise.
The reason I gave the ring back.
They all meant that I would soon...
keep my promise to return.
You said that a promise...
requires a token.
We no longer have a standing promise.
I will soon keep...
my promise to return.
I have returned safely.
Will you not say you are proud of me?
You kept the promise you made.
So do not come to me again.
Chae Gyung.
Shin Chae Gyung.
I have returned safely.
Will you not say you are proud of me?
You have kept all of your promises.
So you must not come back anymore.
Young lady.
Is it the Prince?
Your Majesty.
Have you been waiting for Yeok?
No.
I have not.
Are you allowed to be outside?
Yes.
The royal doctor told me to walk from time to time.
I am indebted to you, Your Majesty.
If it had not been for you,
I would have died already.
Indebted?
You also saved my life once.
You cannot call that saving your life.
I apologize.
I could not tell you earlier.
I have lied to you against my will.
Yes, I want to say that I am fine,
but I was quite hurt.
Did you...
not trust me?
No, please do not misunderstand.
It is not like that.
I did not want to see someone's life...
go astray again because of me.
From now on,
I will never lie to you again.
I am sorry.
Okay, you promised.
Yes.
From now on,
I will never lie to you again.
- Take a glass. - You too.
Hey.
I will pay for the drinks.
Let us pretend like we are friends.
Paying for your drinks makes me your friend.
Excuse me, we need more liquor.
Coming.
I have to go relieve myself.
Excuse me.
You were all here.
- Nak Cheon. - Nak Cheon.
You are here, Prince.
Deputy Commander.
I have imitated what you did.
You came to the palace without a word,
so I came here without a word as well.
I am sure you are not here to rebuke me.
What brings you here?
Now that you have shown yourself to the world,
we will need someone to lead the revolution.
Are you saying you are going to do it?
Leading the snail wives?
While you are trying hard...
to marry Second State Councilor's daughter,
We will still have to move forward...
with the snail wives, the merchant business,
and other aspects related to the revolution.
Not bad.
I thought you were just running around with rice bags.
I also have a present for you.
- We greet you, Prince. - We greet you, Prince.
They have sworn...
to help you in order to change this country.
There are those who lost families in the last massacre,
and there are those who lost their entire fortune...
because of false charges claimed by disloyal subjects.
Also, scholars dissatisfied with the King's governing,
warriors who wish to make this country better are here.
Please become a sage king who will satisfy...
the deities and the people.
My service to you too.
I am Prince Jin Seong,
Lee Yeok.
- Become a sage king. - Become a sage king.
When Prince Jin Seong was born,
that same monk blessed him and Chae Gyung,
saying they are perfect for each other.
Why do you think she turned and left us...
with such a horrendous prophecy?
I think something happened between...
the late King and the head monk.
I keep going back to the time when the monk...
was attacked by assassins.
Are you saying...
the late King is the one who hurt her?
I cannot say this for sure,
but the monk betrayed him and left us that prophecy.
We should presume something like that happened.
However,
I do not know why the late King tried to kill the monk.
I do not know what it has to do with Chae Gyung.
We cannot know that.
We just have to make sure...
that we are careful.
Are you telling me to believe this?
After Prince Jin Seong was born,
the late King, Seong Jong wanted to see you.
At that time, the head monk who was in charge...
of the national affairs was there with us.
Let us marry the Prince and your daughter.
They are destined to protect each other.
It is an honor, Your Majesty.
To remember today's promise,
and to wish for Chae Gyung's health and luck,
I will make a talisman for her as a tattoo.
Go ahead and do that.
Oddly enough, after you got that tattoo,
you who used to get sick frequently...
grew up very healthily without getting sick.
- However, one day, - Monk.
The head monk was attacked by someone...
- and came to me covered in blood. - Monk.
Do not trust the King.
If Chae Gyung gets involved with the royal family,
there will be bloodshed in the royal court...
and the royal family.
(If Chae Gyung gets involved with the royal family...)
Then...
every bad thing that happened to the Prince...
was caused by this prophecy?
Is it my fault?
You are not to blame.
I am just saying that some should never meet.
You must avoid some people if you can.
This is not a lucky charm. It is a curse.
Chae Gyung. Chae Gyung.
Where are you going?
I'm on my way to earn your heart.
I have no heart to give you.
I do.
Sit here.
Sit.
I wrote down...
the cruel things I did to you, lies I told,
things I must apologize for,
and things I should explain or make excuses for.
They are all here.
I do not care to know anything.
First, when we met at the inn.
Forget it.
Then...
at the grave.
Forget that too.
Then...
do you wish to know how I survived?
I was being exiled...
when assassins attacked me and I fell down a mountain.
A group of merchants who did business with Ming...
found me dying.
They are the actual owners of this pawn shop...
and my partners.
We buy information from the people...
and sell them to the merchants.
The merchants use that information...
to do business or strike deals with nobles.
Is that why you gave rice for information?
Yes. Now, are you curious?
No.
Let me see.
I shall show you how incredibly well-informed we are.
I have something here about you.
What?
"Shin Chae Gyung."
"Shin Chae Gyung. Lives in Bukchon."
Give me that. Let me read it.
I cannot let you have it.
- Give it to me. - No.
"Second State Councilor's daughter. She is too ugly..."
"to get married despite being of marriageable age."
I am ugly? Who said that?
Give it to me.
"On Prince Jin Seong's death anniversary,"
"she drinks herself senseless."
Give me that.
"Whenever she sees Prince Jin Seong's lookalike,"
"she asks if he is a ghost."
Prince.
Did you miss me that much?
Who did?
Are you really not curious?
Do you expect me to believe that?
I am not curious. Give me that book.
Here.
Unbelievable.
If you think that because I am a woman...
Now I am curious.
Were you...
gravely wounded?
Are you...
still in pain?
I am healed.
May I...
have a look?
What are you doing?
I shall close my eyes...
and feel you only.
If the wound is healed well,
if you are no longer in pain.
I feel it here.
The scar.
Here as well.
Does it not hurt?
I am fine.
You were so young and pretty.
How did this happen?
Are you teasing me for...
turning ugly?
You are not ugly.
I am proud of you.
You grew up a strong young man.
Thank you.
Thank you...
for coming back alive, Prince.
Prince Jin Seong keeps losing his tail...
to disappear.
You can beat any opponent if you know him well.
You have no idea where he is and what he does.
How will you prepare for war?
But still,
must it be Chae Gyung?
Yes.
It is love.
One may be able to deceive everyone else,
but not your own lover.
It is almost impossible to ignore your lover's plight.
That is why she will make the perfect spy.
That is another reason to not send her.
I cannot send Chae Gyung as a spy.
Love? Affection?
Those two?
It is mere pity...
and guilt.
They only just met as adults.
They have not met often enough to be in love.
If that is love,
Chae Gyung is capable of loving...
everything she sees and everyone she meets.
Out of all that,
Prince Jin Seong is special.
At the pawn shop,
you kept saying "our" and "we".
Do many people work there other than you?
I believe I met two of them last time.
One had a slightly long face...
and one had a round one.
You met Gwang Ho and Suk Hee.
They are my friends.
There is one more person.
Is it...
Seo Noh.
Seo Noh... Seo Noh?
My friend, Seo Noh?
Why is he your friend? He is my... He is our friend.
How did you two meet again?
As soon as I had recovered,
I went to find him.
Why did you not bring him?
It would have been fun.
Bring him to my place tomorrow.
So I can say hello.
Did you hear me?
Out of Seo Noh and me,
who did you miss more?
Of course, it was...
- Seo Noh. - That is a lie.
It is the truth. Right now I miss Seo Noh.
I got to see you...
so much that I am sick of seeing your face.
I did not ask about now.
While we were apart.
Now is more important.
What happens next, even more so.
That is why you should...
look at my face as much as you can.
You will not get to see it ever again.
What do you mean?
I am here as if this is our last meeting.
We should not meet again.
No.
Time is not important.
A shared glance,
a breath transferred in the wind.
Even a slight touch...
is enough to spark a flame.
(Queen for Seven Days)
Tell me the real reason...
you wish to marry Chae Gyung.
My only reason...
is Chae Gyung.
You are prettiest when you are asleep.
It is not a mere marriage.
It is a stepping stone towards our goal.
You must use everything you have to become king.
If Prince Jin Seong were to plot treason,
whose side will you be on?
You mean so much to me that...
that prophecy scares me.
There can be nothing a king cannot have.
Watch and see. I shall take everything back...
one by one, starting with Chae Gyung.