(Geumomun)
Do it.
Father.
Chae Gyung.
Why are you here?
Why did you return?
I have told you...
to never return no matter what happens.
Is this why you wanted to send us away so quickly?
We gave out rice to starving people.
All they did was expose the corruption...
of the high officials with the information they got.
Even if they had any plans after that,
they did not reach anywhere near that point.
They said they will break up.
If I did not do this,
His Majesty would have been...
devastated with a deep sense of betrayal.
The King has already crossed over the line.
And you are...
defending him just because he is still the King.
Is this because of me?
Did everything happen...
to make us return?
Chae Gyung.
Second State Councilor, this is bad.
Prince.
- Chae Gyung. - She is a rebel's wife.
Arrest her.
- A rebel? - Let go of me.
What is going on, Prince?
Take your hands off of her!
Lock him up in Royal Investigation Bureau.
And take his wife to the night duty office.
- Yes. - Yes.
- No. - Prince.
- Let go. - Prince.
Let go of me.
Do not believe anyone.
I did not do anything, Chae Gyung.
Prince. Prince!
Chae Gyung. Chae Gyung!
Let go of me.
What is going on?
What are you up to?
Prince Jin Seong just tried to kill the King.
How dare you raise your voice?
Do you not understand what is going on?
Take her away.
Yes.
- Yung. - Your Majesty!
Treason!
Goodbye,
brother.
You are...
trying to kill me.
You will kill me...
by all means?
But since you did not keep your promise,
you will have to pay for it.
Do not believe anyone.
I did not do anything, Chae Gyung.
Your Majesty.
Is this the punishment you said?
How is the King?
What happened?
Your Majesty, how did this happen?
I ran here after I heard...
that you were attacked.
What?
Are you surprised because...
I am better than you thought?
This all happened...
because you could not capture Prince Jin Seong.
I personally...
made you a reason and evidence...
to catch the traitor.
Your Majesty.
Do you...
Now you cannot say that you do not have...
a reason or evidence to capture...
Prince Jin Seong anymore.
Am I right, Second State Councilor?
Why...
are you looking at me like that?
Why are you giving me a contemptuous look?
How dare you...
look at me like that?
Is your...
royal body healthy?
I do not want to hear it. Go away.
This happened because you did not fulfill your duty,
therefore, you should be responsible.
Dismiss your position immediately,
and confine in your house.
You will not be able to...
leave your house without my permission.
I will...
follow your command.
I must go to the Royal Investigation Bureau now.
Please calm down, Your Highness.
The Royal Investigation Bureau...
does not allow anyone to enter.
Who dares to stop me?
Who dares?
Your Highness.
It cannot be.
It must be false.
Yeok would never do something so reckless.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
- I beg your kindness. - I beg your kindness.
Your Majesty, please consider the love...
for your brother and keep him alive.
That is right, Your Majesty.
You cannot sentence...
the royal family to death...
You are trying so hard.
There is no one listening.
A royal command?
You stand before me wielding a sword.
I am so excited.
A traitor!
Prince Jin Seong is trying to kill the King!
How did you find my acting?
Do you want to ask...
why I am doing this?
I needed a reason to kill you for sure.
I needed a reason to kill you...
and show the world...
so that no one will ever bring up your name...
in front of me and erase your name completely.
You cannot cover the sky with your hands.
That will never erase my existence.
How can you do something so horrible?
How?
I will never ever...
forgive you.
Forgive?
That is funny.
Who will give you a chance to do that?
How can you when I am about to kill you soon?
I will put you on the gallows as soon as...
it becomes morning, and hack you to pieces.
You will have to kill me.
Otherwise,
I will kill you, Yung.
You have not changed.
You are just a powerless monarch...
who cannot do anything.
You keep shouting so loudly...
with those eyes.
How many times do you have to die...
for you to be mature?
It was well done, Your Majesty.
Prince Jin Seong should have disappeared earlier.
Where is...
Chae Gyung?
Oh, yes. She is in the night duty office.
How is Lady Yoon?
She looks lost.
She has not moved in that position since last night.
She cannot even...
take a sip of water.
Your Majesty.
How dare a wife of a traitor...
behave the way you want?
You cannot...
either die or live...
until I decide to forgive you...
or to kill you.
Your Majesty.
That is the punishment I am giving you.
Please just kill me.
Dying is too easy.
I will think about it after I see...
the death of your husband.
I will sentence him to quartering...
tomorrow morning in front of Souimun.
Your Majesty.
What?
Are you going ask me to not kill him?
Your Majesty.
Due to your command,
I suddenly became a traitor's wife.
You cannot say...
you are not responsible for this.
Therefore,
for the sake of me and my family,
please stop the Prince from dying of treason.
Treason is a serious crime...
that kills three generations.
Since I married the Prince,
my family and I...
must become a slave or die.
Sure. You make sense too.
It is also my fault.
Then what should I do?
If I exile you,
I do not know how you will come back.
I will stay...
beside you forever.
As long as I am beside you as a hostage,
the Prince cannot behave recklessly.
A hostage?
I will stay until you feel relieved,
even if I must stay for life.
I will stay by your side forever.
Even if I let him live trusting your words,
what if you run away,
or what if he comes to rescue you?
I can...
no longer trust you.
I cannot trust you on words alone.
I must take this a step further.
Okay.
I will cut off his tendon.
If I cut a tendon in his feet in half,
it will not be easy for him to go about.
Then he will never dream of a rebellion.
Your Majesty.
This is a punishment given to a thief.
Is it not a perfect punishment for Yeok?
He tried to steal what is mine.
My throne.
My people.
And my life.
If you do not like that,
he will have to die.
Please let him live.
Okay.
How can this be?
How can he live after that punishment?
His tendon will be cut off.
This means...
he will be disabled for life.
Should we go help him break out?
What if the King changes his mind,
and say he will kill him...
instead of disabling his ankles.
No, that will cause another problem.
Lady Shin and the Queen Dowager are...
still in the palace.
We must find a way...
to let him live, no matter what it takes.
Chae Gyung.
Let go. Your Majesty.
My wife did not do anything.
Please... Please let her go.
She is a rebel's wife.
That in itself is punishable.
So she will need to see...
the price you pay with her own eyes.
That way, you two will...
never dream of doing anything weird.
Your Majesty!
No, Yung.
This is...
too harsh for her. Please.
Please. Please...
Go.
What do you want to do?
I will watch.
She will watch.
Lee Yeok...
has committed high treason of hurting the King.
However, he is a son of the late king,
and a member of the royal family.
So he cannot be put to death.
Therefore, the tendons of his ankles will be cut.
Do it.
Prince, you must hold out.
I must watch.
That way, I will never forget.
I will remember what happened today.
I will remember your brutality.
I will remember the Prince's pain...
and my foolishness.
Lee Yeok, the criminal...
will be banned from meeting other members...
of the royal family in private.
Lady Shin, the wife of the criminal...
will be confined in a detached palace...
until the criminal's loyalty is proven.
Prince Jin Seong will be deposed,
and his bloodline is no longer royal.
Your family will never be reinstated.
Are you feeling better?
Yeok, do you know where you are?
Home.
This is my home.
And...
where is Chae Gyung?
Did she return to her family?
She is in the palace.
She is confined there in your place.
She decided to do that...
in exchange for your life.
Who did?
Why? Why would she?
Yeok.
Lady Shin, this is Eunuch Song.
His Majesty sent these to you.
Leave it here and go.
Excuse me.
Did anyone else try to reach me?
My father, mother,
or...
the Prince?
No one in particular reached out.
Chae Gyung.
Are you up?
Chae Gyung, how did you get here?
You got hurt.
How can I not be here?
Your wound looks much better now.
I am relieved.
I doubt that.
Look again.
I am still in a lot of pain.
What hurts is not your ankles,
but your heart.
To make your heartache go away,
you must bring me home as soon as you can.
Will you...
continue to leave me alone?
How can I do that?
We are here together right now.
This is only a dream.
We can sit here next to each other...
because this is only a dream.
No.
So...
please get well soon.
No, do not go, Chae Gyung.
No.
Your Highness.
Are you up?
Did you have another nightmare?
There is no use for recovering your body.
Your mind must become strong.
Eat now.
Why do you look at me like that?
You must...
hate me.
I made Chae Gyung suffer.
There is no need to talk about it.
I hate you so much.
I am not good at lying.
Yet...
you are the only one My lady can trust,
so I should trust you too.
Eat now.
At least, I bought the executioner...
in advance, and he did not cut his tendons.
It will take time for him to heal,
but he will be able to walk.
Yeok.
I saw...
Yeok in my dream again.
Yes. As usual,
I killed him again.
You know how dreadful he is.
Even though I keep killing him,
he appears again and again.
If you ever find a way to kill him,
please tell me.
Otherwise, I will die first.
It is all...
my fault.
5 years ago and even now,
I made Yeok die.
I said cut the mother and son relationship,
but I still trusted you when you said...
you will spare Yeok's life.
At least, at that time, I was...
not only Yeok's mother,
but your mother too.
However,
you betrayed my trust...
and put Yeok in danger,
and now again...
Even in the past or now,
you will lose the ones you love because of...
your doubtful and despotic personality.
You will spend the rest of your life...
in solitude and disease.
If you want to live, you should...
shut your mouth.
I trusted you when you said...
you will spare Yeok's life.
At least, at that time, I was...
not only Yeok's mother,
but your mother too.
You were my mother?
No.
You have never been, Mother.
You always cared about Yeok first.
I should spare my mother's life.
Did you call me, Your Majesty?
Bring all the girls...
that put my mother to death now.
Yes.
Let me go.
Since that day,
the King turned himself into a monster.
What do you think you are doing? Let go.
No.
Hit them.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
What are you doing?
I told you to hit them.
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
No one could stop him,
and his rage was out of hand.
Vast bloodshed was in and out of the palace.
My mother drank poison,
and died with all her organs distorted.
- All the ministers... - How could I...
were scared that...
- let you live? - Joseon will fall.
The people...
have lost...
the country and the King that will protect them.
Are you scared?
Since he killed both Royal Concubines...
who joined dethroning the queen,
you cannot guarantee the safety of Queen Dowager.
You have gone too far with what you said.
What is your purpose of telling me this?
What do you mean a purpose?
I thought you would be bored stuck in here,
so I am here to tell you what is happening outside.
I am in no need for it. Do not visit me again.
She is still Prince Jin Seong's mother.
I should inform you of Queen Dowager.
Queen Dowager is also the King's mother.
- How dare you... - Do you still...
not know the King?
Do not even try...
to ask the King...
to spare Queen Dowager's life.
The King is not the same as before.
Please...
eat.
Father told me...
the food tastes good because of Mother.
Because it is for the family,
he said it is always good regardless of her skill.
I wish you feel the same.
Not because the side dish tastes good,
but I wish it tastes good because I made it.
I...
miss her too.
Your Highness.
No.
They can come in.
Why do you want to go out?
How is the situation going?
Do not even get me started.
It has not been long since people died...
because of dethroned queen,
and now there are wagon full of bribes...
That is not what he is asking.
Then what?
Nothing has gotten better.
Lady Yoon is still confined in the palace.
She cannot go anywhere...
without the King's permission.
You can imagine the Queen Dowager's palace.
Have you heard Queen Dowager is sick...
Due to the situation,
she has become weak.
It is not something serious.
Lee Gi Yong who became an inspector of Jeolla...
sent a precious deer tail...
to return your favor.
This is silky chicken that Choi Chan sent...
who was promoted.
Chief Eunuch.
How is Yeok?
I heard he is trying to adjust...
with his uncomfortable body.
I should have checked on him.
I have been heartless.
Go to Yeok.
I am curious...
how his legs are...
and how he walks.
Here.
Prince.
I am okay.
Your Majesty.
You must be bored again.
You have sent someone to spy on me.
Goodness, it is so hot today.
What is this thing doing here on this hot day?
Is this a mouse?
My goodness, why is this thing here?
Stop it.
My gosh, you can even speak.
Stop it.
You must become a king as soon as possible.
If you do,
you can at least protect those who are left.
To me,
to us,
the King is a murderer who killed our families,
and an incompetent king who persecutes his people.
You were right.
There is no hope with the King.
I will destroy the King with my own hands,
and I will resolve your sorrows.
His Majesty is here.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
How is everything?
Do you like it here?
I thought it would be better for you...
to stay with those you already know...
than staying here with strangers.
I cannot face you...
like how I used to.
They are helping me greatly.
I will come back tomorrow.
His Majesty is here.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Sit.
I will come again.
The King's royal guard includes royal messengers,
palace guards, and armed bodyguards.
They are about 2,000 people in total.
Among them, around 400 to 500 are on duty,
and about 100 guards guard the King nearby.
They are the best of best.
We will face them in the end.
The Five Military Commands will be on your side.
Among 12 commanders and 25 deputy commanders...
in charge of guarding the palace, over half...
are associated with my uncle and Lord Sung.
But the problem is the military.
If they barge into the palace,
the snail wives and the forces of...
Five Military Commands will not be enough.
Then we must drag them out.
Out of the palace.
If we can, out of the city.
I will be back tomorrow.
Do you have...
anything to say to me?
No.
Then why do you come here every single day?
Is this because you are anxious?
Are you afraid the Prince may have come?
How could he come here?
He probably cannot even walk.
It is just that...
I find it amazing...
that you are here...
beside me.
I cannot let a day go by...
without checking in.
I ignored this until now...
because I did not know how I should react.
I could not...
look you in the eyes.
However, Your Majesty.
If you truly liked me as a woman,
you should have never let the Prince marry me.
If you had not,
at least...
we could have stayed...
as friends and as a family.
If I did not let you, will you not have married him?
It is better for me...
to marry you two and have you despise...
and hate one another,
instead of letting you two miss each other...
although you two could not get married.
But Your Majesty...
If you do not have anything to say,
please do not visit me so often.
It puts me on a spot.
You make me feel uncomfortable.
Do you feel...
uncomfortable around me?
Yes.
Why?
One day, you will end up killing me.
Why would I kill you?
I will die if something happens to you.
Because I am your family.
I will die if something happens to the Prince.
Because I am his wife.
I am sure...
even if I die, I cannot fully die.
Even if I live, I cannot fully live.
That will be the life I live on this land.
So, Your Majesty.
Do not expect anything from me.
I have nothing to give to you...
other than my dead heart.
The only thing...
she can give me is her dead heart?
And I wait for the Prince...
sitting here half-dead.
When he returns,
I will have to make a choice.
Whose side...
will I pick until the day I die?
(People in exile wishes to start a rebellion.)
This is news from snail wives in the provinces.
People in exile in Jeolla Province...
such as Yu Bin, Lee Gwa, and Kim Jun Son...
wishes to raise an army and start a rebellion.
What is going on?
An army of rebellion will come from the provinces.
Are they...
going after the King?
Stop!
Get them out!
- Yes, master. - Save us.
- Save us.
Come on out.
Oh no.
Officials that the King...
demoted or exiled to the countryside...
colluded with the magistrates...
to gather men...
and are headed towards the Capital.
They will oust the King...
and take over the government.
How long is there until the rebels...
reach the Capital?
A few days. A week at most.
Maybe just 3 or 4 days.
We do not have enough time...
to organize a defensive strategy.
At this rate,
there could be a civil war.
There will be...
a bloodbath inside the palace.
Before then,
we must make up our minds.
If we just wait...
and let the rebels take the advantage,
all of us who held important positions...
will be eliminated.
His Majesty the King is unwell,
so there will be no meeting.
If you have an urgent report,
you can come to me.
I do not think...
it would be right to report to a secretary.
I wonder if...
you can discuss anything political...
without going through me.
We shall see.
This is why there is a rebel uprising.
Did you just say a rebel uprising?
Yes. Men from all over the country...
are showing signs of revolting.
Some are even heading for the Capital.
My lord.
This is a pressing issue.
Give it to me.
A revolt?
"The magistrates are plundering the people."
"The provincial governors colluded with..."
"a minister in the palace with the name of Im..."
I shall report this to the King.
The King does not need to...
hear about such unimportant issues.
Uncle.
Hello, Myong Hye.
Did you deal with everything as planned?
Yes.
What are you so concerned about?
You must have...
heard about the rebels.
There are more than we thought.
They could be a threat to us too.
The starving people do not differentiate...
the good nobles and bad.
You do not have to worry about that.
I believe the Prince's plan worked.
To deceive the enemy,
you must first deceive your allies.
Your Highness.
Why did you not tell me of this plan?
Keep on pretending you do not know.
Your Highness.
Rumors say there are...
over 1,000 rebels.
If they reach us and...
merge with the Five Military Commands,
they will outnumber the Palace Guards.
Shocked by their numbers,
the people will flee to save their lives.
The palace will be left empty.
Yes.
That is when...
I shall sneak in and challenge the King.
If you and Lord Sung...
and the Five Military Commands can hold off...
the Palace Guards,
that should give me time to subdue the King.
Why did you keep this from those...
who are against the King?
That was...
to prevent any betrayals.
Not everyone who is against the King...
can be unwavering and courageous.
They are doing what others cannot.
Of course, they would become scared.
If any one of us were to betray the others now,
we will all perish.
That is why...
I wanted to instill in them the fear that...
if they do not cooperate, they could...
die by the rebels' hands.
No one would have second thoughts.
Every human being...
values their own life over everyone else's.
Will you...
keep this a secret until the end?
Yes.
This attempt cannot fail.
So many lives and...
Joseon's future is at stake.
In my case,
I have my family...
inside the palace. Remember that.
I will, Your Highness.
Your Majesty.
Shin Su Geun who is confined to his home...
sent another letter to ask how you are.
No.
Bring it to me.
Your Highness.
Is your leg healed?
Do you eat regularly?
His Majesty the King is here.
I am here on business.
Your father sends me a letter every day.
I am sure he asks...
how I am and then...
gives advice as a minister should.
I am also sure he writes out of concern for you,
in an attempt to placate me,
so I may release you.
Unless...
you wish your father's efforts be in vain,
I would like you to read me...
your father's letters every day.
I shall do as you command.
"Do you remember this note?"
"It is an invitation to your birthday party..."
"from when you were a young prince."
Read this.
"Your Majesty, I saw many rings around the moon."
"The most beautiful..."
"was the one I saw from Gyeonghoeru."
"I miss the drinks..."
"we used to share in the moonlight."
Read this.
"Your Majesty."
"Evening primrose flowers cure nightmares..."
That is enough.
The Second State Councilor is a terrible writer.
I cannot stand this.
What is that look on your face?
Are you not pleased to see me?
Do you mock my gifts?
I am a traitor's wife.
I would not dare wear...
colorful clothes or expensive accessories.
From now on, I shall bring the gifts myself.
Father.
What should I do now?
I am astonished by your level of loyalty.
Why did he turn away a loyal subject like you?
A deceitful subject...
cannot be called a loyal one.
No.
The first one to tell a lie...
was the King.
You saw the late king's will with your own eyes.
Deputy Commander.
If that is all you can say,
please leave.
To feed his greed, the King is...
starving his own subjects and people.
For the future of Joseon,
we must make a choice.
I have made mine.
I will oust Lee Yung...
and enthrone Prince Jin Seong.
What...
Will you go ahead with this?
You must make a choice too.
It might be a little harder for you.
You must pick your sister...
or your daughter.
If you cannot answer,
I shall change the question.
Will you die the King's subject...
or live as your daughter's father?
If you choose your daughter,
do not do anything today.
If you make a move,
it will be to alert the King of our plans.
I shall take that to mean you are against us.
She is your only daughter.
Should you not save her?
- Well? - Everything is ready.
The rebels are waiting a day's ride away.
Myong Hye will join tonight and take charge.
Perfect.
Let us go.
Are those the gifts for the King?
There are too few men.
Who would steal from the King or Im Sa Hong?
They got arrogant.
All the better for us.
Halt.
Show us your pass and the list of goods.
Let us through.
The Chief Royal Secretary is waiting.
We still have a job to do.
Of course. You must do your job...
while we give what we must.
You have such a tough job.
Pass.
Wait!
You.
Are you...
What is taking so long?
Why are you stalling?
Let them through.
Yes, master.
Pass.
What is going on?
Mother.
Yeok.
I made you wait.
I am here now.
How...
I found it myself.
Now put it on my finger.
It fits perfectly.
Is anyone...
Chae Gyung.
It is me.
Did I make you wait?
Have you forgotten my touch already?
(Queen for Seven Days)
Follow me to Court.
Attack.
You cannot even control how you feel.
Why do you try to control other people's lives?
Did I not warn you already?
I can kill you at any time.
I will kill you to have you.
It is time to turn everything back to normal.
Did you come here...
without the guts to kill me?
Can we be happy?
Now...
we can be happy.
I should have killed you.
Let us both die together.