My lord.
Take the regent to safety.
My lord!
Kim Myung's followers have all been brought in.
What happened to Madam Jami?
She collected Kim Myung's body and fled.
We must capture her.
She couldn't have left the imperial city yet.
Heighten the security around the city.
Yes, sir.
There are dozens of soldiers guarding the north gate.
Security at the east and west gates is airtight as well.
Shouldn't we go back?
We will face them head on.
Madam.
We shall defeat the guards and leave through the north gate.
All right.
- Escort the regent and Madam Jami. - Yes, Captain.
Is it true that Kim Myung is dead?
Yes, his followers were also arrested.
- Who did such a thing? - It was Lord Kim Woo-jing.
What happened to Madam Jami?
She collected Kim Myung's body and escaped.
It was the former Mujinju governor,
Kim Yang who aided Lord Kim Woo-jing in this.
Lord Kim Woo-jing felt distaste for Kim Yang's political ambitions.
He wouldn't have trusted him to do such a thing.
That's how politics work.
You can join forces with your enemy in order to pursue power.
I only regret that you were left out of this matter.
My sentiments exactly.
The feast was laid out for you to consume,
so why would you turn it down?
Consul Jang, you must go to the imperial city now.
If you support Lord Kim Woo-jing at a time like this,
your name will be put on the list of meritorious subjects,
and the future of Chunghae Base will be guaranteed.
I maintained a relationship with Lord Kim Woo-jing
because he was above power.
If it is true he has started a bloody political struggle
for his own political ambitions,
if that is why he had employed a man like Kim Yang,
I will sever my ties with him.
What has you so deep in thought?
Do you also believe I should go to the imperial city now
and support Lord Kim Woo-jing?
I don't know what is right or wrong.
But Father has always kept his distance from political power.
He always said that
a merchant who has tasted power will only choose the easy path.
I believe there is no reason to distance oneself from political power,
but there is no reason to chase after it either.
I shall trust your judgment.
Consul.
There is a messenger from the imperial palace.
This is Consul Jang.
I am Kim Moo-hwan, captain of the imperial guards.
I have a message for you.
Excuse me, but may we speak in private?
What is the captain of the imperial guards doing here?
He must be one of the king's most trusted men.
He must be here with the royal command.
How fares His Majesty?
His health is in grave condition.
His Majesty has asked for you.
The imperial city is engulfed in political struggle.
His Majesty's invitation should remain a complete secret.
There is no time to delay. Please hurry.
Your Majesty, Consul Jang Bogo is here.
Your Majesty.
Come closer.
Your Majesty.
It seems my days are numbered.
Your Majesty, why would you say such frightful words?
You must regain your health and take care of the people.
A man's life does not depend on his will.
I am prepared to accept death.
Your Majesty.
I wished to keep you near me,
but I couldn't,
because the more I dote on you, the more the nobles will oppose you.
- Consul Jang. - Yes, Your Majesty.
You must well know that the imperial city has been engulfed in political struggle
while I have been bedridden.
My lack of virtue has caused such struggle.
I no longer have the power to appoint my successor.
My last wish is
to avoid all bloodshed, no matter who succeeds to the throne.
Consul Jang.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I have asked you to come to the palace
in order to entrust you with an important task.
This is the imperial seal.
I need you to protect it.
Your Majesty.
After I die,
the meeting of the nobles will be convened,
and the next king will be decided.
But there could be another struggle before the process can be completed.
You must safeguard the seal
until the next king is decided at the meeting of the nobles.
Your Majesty,
I have no right nor the capacity to carry out such an important task.
Please withdraw your command.
I know I have placed a heavy burden on your shoulders.
But I trust you won't be swayed by temptation of power.
You are the only man I can trust now.
Your Majesty.
Another reason I trust you with this seal is
because I need you to sincerely advise the next king,
in order to help him complete the reform of the imperial court that I failed to do.
Will you carry out my command?
I will carry out your order to the best of my ability.
What is this?
It is the king's seal.
- This is really the imperial seal? - Yes.
Then what are you doing with this?
His Majesty has asked me to safeguard this seal
until the next king is chosen at the meeting of the nobles.
He means to prevent any political struggle that could be caused by the imperial seal.
Now that the seal is in your possession,
you are at the center of power whether you like it or not.
Once the news spreads, the nobles will do anything to win your friendship.
What will you do?
I will return to Chunghae.
Return to Chunghae?
You must remain in the imperial city.
In order to avoid political strife and protect the seal,
I must return to Chunghae.
You are wrong.
You must give this seal to Lord Kim Woo-jing.
Now that Kim Myung is dead, no nobleman will oppose him.
If you give this seal to Lord Kim Woo-jing,
you will be a meritorious subject who put a king on the throne.
I will not be bound by personal feelings.
If he doesn't win the trust of nobles at the meeting of the nobles,
I will not give him the seal.
He can easily get their votes with your support.
Why would you waste such a golden opportunity?
I will respect His Majesty's wishes.
No one must find out that the seal is in my possession.
- Please be careful. - All right.
I should pay my respects to Lord Kim Woo-jing before I return.
- Get ready. - Yes, sir.
We couldn't capture Madam Jami.
We will send troops to Mujinju and capture her.
It is now time to bring this matter under control.
There should be no more bloodshed.
Yes, sir.
I will reward your efforts. Tell me what you want.
There is nothing I want.
I only wish to reinstate the identity of Yum Jang,
who has rendered great service.
He still has the mark of punishment on his forehead.
Please help him back into the world.
Please put his name on the list of meritorious subjects,
and give him an official post.
Consul.
They are Kim Yang and Yum Moon.
Do you have to start a bloody power struggle?
If I hadn't gotten involved,
the imperial city would have seen much worse struggle.
Kim Myung would have killed more people in order to succeed to the throne.
You once said that Wang Wei must have confused the seasons,
when you saw his painting of plum blossoms and chrysanthemums.
But I do not believe he had confused the seasons.
The reason Wang Wei painted plum blossoms and chrysanthemums together
was to paint a more beautiful world
by bringing together an unlikely pair of objects.
That is why people praise his paintings as poems, not just paintings.
I wished you would also embrace those you do not get along with.
That is why I agreed when you embraced Kim Yang.
But you have used those men to kill more nobles.
Who would praise your work as they do Wang Wei's?
I understand your reproach, but in order to paint the picture I wanted,
I had to make certain sacrifices.
I do not wish to paint weeds in my painting.
In order to root out the weeds and resurrect the imperial authority,
it was necessary to kill Kim Myung.
Do not discuss this matter any further.
My lady.
What is it?
Consul Jang wishes to see you.
The consul is in the imperial city?
When did you arrive?
I arrived today.
If you are here to see the regent, he is available now.
Please follow me.
There is something I must ask you.
Is it true that the regent has joined hands with Kim Yang,
and murdered Kim Myung?
Is it true?
Yes.
Is Yum Moon also involved in this?
Please tell me.
I saw Kim Yang and Yum Moon leave the house.
What is Yum Moon doing in the imperial city
when he should be working as a slave?
How is it that he goes freely in and out of the regent's house?
Head Chief Yum Moon was freed by the former governor.
And he led the recent attack as his subordinate.
I can't understand the regent either,
but it seems that
politics allows people with different goals to join hands at times.
I can't tolerate this.
Regardless of the regent's intentions, I can't accept his decision.
The reason I had respected him as my teacher in life was
because I thought he was right.
But now, he seems no different from a corrupt nobleman
who is blinded by political ambition.
I shall no longer see the regent.
He has not given his word,
but Lord Kim Woo-jing will put your name on the list of meritorious subjects,
and give you an official title.
No one stands in our way now,
but it bothers me that we failed to capture Madam Jami.
I am sure you are well aware, but she is a cunning and frightening woman.
She may prove to be trouble if we do not kill her.
You must take our men and capture her.
Yes, sir.
That feels good.
Massage me right there.
Yes, right there.
Very good.
- What is your name? - I am So-yang.
So-yang? You have a pretty face and strong hands.
You will serve me as your husband from now on.
I will ask Madam Jami to set you up. You will serve only me from now on.
Men should have big noses like mine. You got that?
- Yes, chief. - Good.
With Madam Jami and the captain gone, I feel as if I'm ruling the world.
You sure are precious.
Chief!
What's wrong now?
Yum Moon is here.
What?
We searched everywhere, but couldn't find Madam Jami.
- You. - Yes, sir.
- Where is Madam Jami? - I don't know.
- Where is she? - I don't know. Please don't kill me.
Joong-dal and Chun-tae were working for Madam Jami.
They must know where she is.
- Find them. - Yes, sir.
I will return to the imperial city. Get ready.
Yes, sir.
How is he? Will he survive?
I am doing my best, but I can't guarantee anything.
What happened?
Kim Yang has sent his troops to Mujinju to find you.
Our security officers have been put under house arrest by his troops.
We have turned over every stone in Mujinju,
but couldn't find Madam Jami.
But she's all alone now.
You need not worry about her.
She will come back even from death.
We must not let our guards down
until the day Lord Kim Kyun-jung ascends the throne.
Yes, sir.
- Governor. - What is it?
His Majesty has passed away.
My day will finally come.
Madam.
Did you find out?
It is true that His Majesty has passed away.
The meeting of the nobles will convene soon after the funeral
in order to vote Lord Kim Kyun-jung in as the next king.
Madam.
What is it?
The regent has regained consciousness.
My lord.
It seems he's out of danger for now.
My lord.
His Majesty has really passed away?
Yes.
If the inspector general and the minister of the military were thrown in jail,
then Kim Kyun-jung and Kim Woo-jing must rule the world.
It was Kim Yang who sent an assassin after you.
Kim Yang?
Yes, and Kim Woo-jing is behind Kim Yang.
Those wretches!
But you have survived. Heaven must be on our side.
The meeting of the nobles will soon convene
to vote Lord Kim Kyun-jung in as the next king.
But if the nobles find out you are alive,
they won't willingly obey Kim Woo-jing.
You must recover as quickly as possible.
I appoint Jang Bogo as the consul of Chunghae Base,
and grant him the authority to draft 10,000 soldiers.
Consul Jang.
You were His Majesty's most trusted subject.
You must attend his funeral.
My presence in the imperial city will only increase the confusion.
I will offer my condolences here in Chunghae.
I am certain His Majesty will understand.
Until His Majesty's funeral is over,
there will be no drinking, dancing, or singing at our inn.
You must not serve any alcohol.
- Do you understand? - Yes.
His Majesty's memorial tablet will be placed at Chunghae Base.
You should go and offer your condolences.
- Yes. - Go back to work.
Soon-jong, we must go offer our condolences too.
Yes, Father.
What brings you here?
Have you been well, sir?
Me? Yes, I've been well.
But what happened to you?
Head Chief...
Sir...
Please save me.
Save me.
What's wrong with you? What are you up to now?
Soon-jong, I'm not up to anything.
I will do anything you tell me.
Please take me in... and him.
Sir, please take me in.
Don't cry.
Hush!
What are you saying?
The imperial seal is in Consul Jang's possession?
His Majesty has called Consul Jang to the imperial city,
and entrusted him with the imperial seal.
He has ordered him to give the seal to the next king,
who was chosen unanimously at the meeting of the nobles.
If His Majesty has entrusted Consul Jang with such an important task,
he must have reproached me for starting the political strife.
I will respect His Majesty's wishes.
My lord, great harm could befall you if you delay.
You must send troops to Chunghae, and bring back the imperial seal.
What are you saying?
Are you telling me to go to battle with Consul Jang?
You now have the military power of the imperial city.
What are you afraid of? You must do this.
Leave me.
You heard him.
Lord Kim Woo-jing has you and me by his side,
but he trusts Jang Bogo more.
The obstacle we must overcome is Jang Bogo,
not Kim Myung or Madam Jami.
The imperial seal is in Jang Bogo's possession? Are you certain?
Yes, madam.
It seems the king's trust of Jang Bogo could prove to be like shackles to him.
What do you mean?
If all goes well, we could buy time until the regent recovers.
My lord.
Have you fared well, my lord?
How dare you come here?
Leave here at once!
I have something important to tell you.
Please spare me a moment.
I have nothing to say to you.
Lord Kim Myung is alive.
We have wiped out Kim Myung's followers,
but some nobles at the meeting of the nobles are still against us.
Who are they?
Kim Je-yung, Kim Myung's brother-in-law.
Since the nobles discovered the imperial seal is in Jang Bogo's possession,
they have been coming together under Kim Je-yung.
What did you find out?
Members of the imperial family are holding a meeting
at Lord Kim Je-yung's residence.
We can't delay any longer.
We must take our troops to Chunghae to retrieve the seal.
But the regent disapproves.
He won't say anything if we bring him the imperial seal.
It is a chance for me to retrieve the imperial seal,
and for you to kill Jang Bogo.
Prepare to go to Chunghae.
Yes.
What are you saying? To attack Chunghae?
Lord Kim Yang has taken Head Chief Yum Moon's men to Chunghae.
What? You took Joong-dal in?
I opposed until the very end, but Father said yes.
We have so many years between Joong-dal and us.
And you know how soft my father is.
He must be up to something again.
I don't think so.
He will really die if he's caught by Yum Moon.
If he is to stay in Chunghae, we must report it to the consul.
Chief, should you be out and about like this?
Then you expect me to stay at the inn and serve customers?
But what if the head chief finds out and kicks us out?
The first step is the hardest.
Once you take that first step, it is all over.
He will never be able to kick me out.
That's Baek-kyung,
and that man is Tae-chun, the leader of the Mujinju thugs.
What are they doing in Chunghae?
Maybe they are here to get us.
Why...
What are you doing?
I have to follow them.
- Did you find out? - Yes.
We have learned the size and stations of the Chunghae troops.
We also learned the hour of the changing of the guards.
Good work.
We must avoid a head-on confrontation,
and have our men enter Chunghae disguised as merchants.
All right.
Disguise the soldiers as merchants.
It will take at least two days to produce fake identification documents.
We have no other choice. We must do it even if it takes time.
Yes, sir.
Don't move.
Joong-dal, where have you been during our busy hour?
I went out to take care of business for a while.
It wasn't a while.
What business do you have besides your work at the inn?
Come on, you can't be so hard-nosed about this.
I had important business to take care of.
Yong-soo, bring me a jar of wine.
So what is that important business?
You sure are curious for an old man.
Are you sure?
Don't you trust me at all?
You are always asking, "Are you sure, are you sure?"
Yes, I am.
Wait a minute... I have no time for this.
I will talk to you later.
Consul Jang.
What is it?
Kim Yang's and Yum Jang's men were seen around Chunghae.
They might attack Chunghae.
Summon all the captains, and heighten security around the harbor.
All right.
Heighten security around the base, and place more guards at the harbor.
Yes, sir.
You will infiltrate into Chunghae,
get rid of the security officers in your assigned area,
and launch an attack on Chunghae Base.
If you succeed, your past will be erased,
and you will become imperial guards.
Chunghae Base is a virtual stronghold,
and Jang Bogo's men are martial arts experts.
Do not forget that we will not succeed
if you let your guard down, and miss the time of attack.
Yes, sir.
March.
Stop!
What do you think you are doing?
- We will bring you the imperial seal. - Silence.
I have already told you, I can't fight Consul Jang, no matter what.
I will personally go to Chunghae Base now.
Dismiss your men right now.
- Consul. - What is it?
Lord Kim Woo-jing is here.
- Have you been well, my lord? - It has been a long time.
What brings you here?
I have an important matter to discuss with you.
I know His Majesty has entrusted you with the imperial seal.
I shall return it to the next king
who is approved unanimously at the meeting of the nobles.
There are signs of another political struggle in the imperial city.
It is customary for the chancellor to succeed to the throne,
should the king die without an heir.
We need your support in order to quiet any confusion,
and have my father, the chancellor, succeed to the throne.
I will respect the king's last wishes.
I will wait until the new king is chosen at the meeting of the nobles.
Consul Jang.
My lord, His Majesty wished to pass on the throne without any bloodshed.
And you have betrayed his wishes.
Why have you started this political struggle?
If I hadn't killed Kim Myung, he would have killed me.
I have experienced his temper as well.
But you must have embraced your enemy, regardless of how difficult it was.
If you defeat them with a sword,
you will be no different from other corrupt nobles.
I heard it was Kim Yang and Yum Moon who led the political strife.
Why do you believe they follow you?
They will try to satisfy their greed
claiming that they are your meritorious subjects.
In order to resurrect the authority of the imperial family,
I needed strong power.
I kept Kim Yang and Yum Moon by my side because I needed their swords.
Even if they are dirty swords,
they are swords I dearly need in order to bring reform to the imperial city.
Power won with force will succumb to stronger power.
You have avoided a difficult path, and chosen an easier path with a sword.
Are you not here now
because you wanted to avoid persuading your enemies and embracing them?
I can't help you.
You must embrace your enemy, no matter how hard it is.
That pain will become the foundation to rebuild the authority of the king,
and bring reform to the imperial city.
You must endure the pain.
My lord.
I am ashamed to face you.
You have imparted great teachings to me.
I will respect you as my teacher.
My lord.
I will return to the imperial city and embrace my enemy.
And if I lack the virtue to embrace them, I will give up on the throne.
How did it go?
Did you get the imperial seal from Jang Bogo?
- I will return to the imperial city. - My lord.
I will persuade Kim Je-yung and his followers
until the meeting of the nobles convenes.
I knew it.
We should have subdued Jang Bogo with a sword.
Governor.
What happened?
They have unanimously voted on Lord Kim Kyun-jung as the next king.
It is done.
Consul Jang.
I heard Lord Kim Kyun-jung was unanimously voted in as the next king.
Congratulations.
I owe all this to you.
I can return the imperial seal to you now.
No, the inauguration will take place soon.
You must personally offer it to Father.
I will return to Chunghae.
But you are the number one meritorious subject.
You must attend the inauguration ceremony.
I will serve you and the chancellor by fulfilling my duties at Chunghae Base.
Consul Jang.
My lord.
- Are you all right? - Yes, I am.
I must recover soon to pay back this humiliation.
That day is drawing near.
I would have died if it weren't for you.
I will repay your kindness someday.
- Madam. - What is going on?
The inauguration ceremony will take place tomorrow.
Why must we rush our return to Chunghae?
Are you that upset we are not attending the inauguration?
Yes, it's killing me.
We deserve some rewards,
since we protected the imperial seal with our lives.
But the consul doesn't wish to stay.
I just don't know what goes on in his head.
What troops are they?
They are not carrying any flags... I can't tell where they are from.
- Find out what's going on. - Yes, sir.
Stop the procession.
You must take His Majesty to safety.
Father!
Hundreds of soldiers are moving toward Mt. Suak.
There are soldiers moving toward Mt. Myungsoo also.
But mobilization of troops is forbidden on days of important imperial events.
There are shortcuts to the imperial palace over Mt. Suak and Mt. Myungsoo.
The king and Lord Kim Woo-jing are in danger.
We must return to the imperial city.