Episode 26
What are they doing?
They're soldiers from the Arsenal.
They said they need it for making explosives.
Those kids! They scared me!
Fireworks.
Explosives!
- You...! - I'm sorry!
This smell...!
Hey you!
What are these?
These are boxes of fireworks, Sir.
- Boxes of fireworks? - Yes.
Tomorrow at the fireworks display, the royal family will start a fire here.
The fire started here will travel to these boxes of fireworks.
Then the fireworks will come out from these boxes.
Where will these boxes be?
They are set on the tables in front of the royal family.
- The fireworks are closer than I expected. - Yes, but they are not dangerous.
That was it!
That's the reason why they changed the prince's seat!
It won't be fireworks! They'll put explosives in his box!
That's why they created a lower platform!
And that's why they moved the prince to the lower level away from His Majesty!
And they've seated the princess and his mother next to him.
- What is happening? - They are getting ready.
How is everything?
What are you doing?
I was checking the fireworks to see if they're in order.
- Then... work hard, gentlemen. - Same to you!
- Doesn't he seem suspicious? - Everyone looks suspicious to me right now.
So there are fireworks in there?
Damn it. We won't even be able to enjoy the fireworks display.
Let's go.
- Have you finished preparing for the festivities? - Yes, Your Highness.
- Well done on your efforts. - Thank you, Your Highness.
I heard that my seat is different than the previous years.
Why is that?
It is because you are giving a celebratory speech before the festivities, Your Highness.
- Is that so? - Yes.
Alright then.
Are you certain that the assassination is on hold?
Her Majesty has already given her orders. He will not do it by himself.
Select the Artists and the Damo Attendants for the fireworks display that will happen at night.
And recheck to ensure that we have enough paper and pigment.
Yes, Sir.
Paste these as you've been told, and remember to gather in time for the fireworks.
Alright!
We finally get to go to the Festival!
Song Yeon, you're going to the South Gate, right? I'll wait for you outside.
Alright.
Have you been well?
I must be well until the bitterness within me is relieved.
I must survive to the end.
What's wrong, Your Highness?
Nothing. It's nothing.
Mother.
- Are you headed to the festivities? - Yes, I was slightly delayed.
You look especially lovely today.
Thank you, Mother.
But you do not look well. Are you anxious about something?
No. We're late. Let us hurry.
Her Highness doesn't look good.
- Did you think so as well? - Yes, Your Highness.
How strange? Today's such a festive day! Is she feeling ill?
I am Inspector Hong of the Office of the Inspector-General.
- Please show us the new seal. - New seal?
Yes, a special pass has been given out today. No one can enter the palace without it.
I did not receive the pass as I was away. I must enter the palace urgently.
I will get the pass and come back to you. Just let me in first.
Forgive me, but I cannot permit that, My Lord.
Look here...!
The Year-End Festivities have begun! Shut the gates!
His Majesty the King!
- You may begin. - Yes, Your Majesty!
Begin!
Canons!
- Which command are you? - We're the Dragon Tiger Troop. What about you?
I'm from the Royal Guard of the Crown Prince.
If you see anything suspicious, let me know.
If I see someone suspicious, I'll take care of him myself.
Why should I tell you?
- Don't you agree? - That's true.
- What's happening? - They say there is little movement.
- What about the exterior? - Park Dae Su is taking care of it.
Alright.
If we look at their actions thus far, we are certain they will try to harm you.
And this year, someone has purposefully changed your seating to a lower platform.
And they have arranged the Dragon Tiger Troop to be stationed near you.
Enter.
Come again!
It must be the Year-End Festivities! We've been so busy today!
- You should go rest in the room. - I'm alright. Why don't you go inside?
Just go inside!
You've been frozen!
- How embarrassing! - So what? We're family!
- What? - You're so sly!
We've already discussed marriage!
You know Mak Soon... That talk about marriage...
Hey Dal Ho! Dal Ho!
- What brings you here? - I have something to ask you.
- Do you know an Artist in the Bureau? - An Artist?
You deliver goods to the Bureau! Don't you know any artists there?
I do know someone...
Oh my!
- How is it? - How did you get such a rare item?
I got it for you.
I can do anything for you.
Is that true, Sir?
Yes, I have only had one regret in my life.
It's that I didn't meet you sooner!
- Sir...! - Geum Mong!
- Lord Duk Poong is here! - Lord Duk Poong!
What? What? Lord what?
- My Lord! - Have you been well?
I thought I was going to die from my longing for you!
- You're as coy as ever! Let's go. - Let's go inside!
Geum Mong!
Sir Yi Chun! Sir Yi Chun!
I wondered where you'd be, but you're like a fly attracted to excrement!
Why? Is something the matter?
- Are you a Bureau artist? - Yes I am.
I'm Hong Gook Young. I have a request.
Of me?
- Did you get the entry pass? - Yes, I got it.
This red seal only allows you entry to the palace.
If you want to enter the festivities, you have to have a blue seal.
But that was only given to the Artists and Damos painting the event.
That's alright. I just need to enter the palace.
Thank you.
Look here! Look here!
I'm Inspector Hong. I was late because I was held up.
You may enter.
Salute!
- Are you unwell? - No.
- You've been acting strange. - I'm alright.
I'm glad it's over.
- It's over now. It must have been false alarm. - Yes.
- We have been fortunate. - All that is left is the fireworks display at sundown.
We must continue to be vigilant.
Fortunately nothing has happened, Your Highness.
If they are thinking individuals, they will not do such a thing at an event like this.
But the event is not yet over. We must continue to be cautious.
Don't worry too much.
Where is everyone?
- Dae Su! - Sir!
- What are you doing here?
Where are all the Royal Guards?
- What? - Hurry! We must tell the prince!
Sir, the gun performance of the Dragon Tiger Troop is over.
Nothing happened.
- It's not over yet. Their plan begins now! - What?
Their plan isn't to shoot the prince. It's to cause an explosion!
They are planning on assassinating the prince by putting explosives in his fireworks!
What? Ex... explosives!
Father, the fireworks must be starting now.
This year's festivities have been truly spectacular!
Yes, it has been.
I am happy to see everyone in the palace enjoying themselves so much.
It is all because of you, Your Majesty.
But we must never forget that the Year-End festivities is not just a grand show,
but a festival to chase away the bad fortune of our nation and people.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
- We have to go, it's time! - Alright. I'm done!
You should go too, Sir. We must hurry for the good seats.
I'm alright. You go on your own.
- What? You'll miss the show? - So what?
I have no one to watch it with.
What?
Alright, I'm done! Let's go.
- You're really not going? - That's what I said.
- Then take care of the inn for us. - Please do! Thank you!
Geum Mong!
- Hurry! - Alright!
- Mak Soon! Come here and climb up! - How can you climb up that thing?
- I'll hold you! - But I'm scared!
Try it!
- Why are you so heavy? - I told you! That hurt!
Stop exaggerating and come here.
Climb up!
Can you see? I can't!
Isn't it beautiful!
It looks like it's already started!
Once the fireworks begin, no one is allowed to enter the area!
Is there nothing we can do?
Guards may be able to enter.
Excuse me. I am Inspector Hong Gook Young.
I have an urgent message for the prince.
- My Lord. - What is it?
It is a message from Inspector Hong Gook Young to the prince.
- Give it to me. - Yes sir.
It's really lovely!
Excuse me!
Sir! Look at that!
What's going on? Why is he still there?
Forgive us. I think the fire has gone out.
- We will start it again. - No, it's alright.
- I must not have lit it properly. - Please wait a moment, Your Highness.
No, no need to delay for me. You may proceed.
Yes, Your Highness.
His Highness must not have received our message! What do we do?
Is it really going to explode? Is it really explosives in there?
Where are you going?
No, you bastard!
Hey! What are you doing? What are you doing?
I'm going to shoot in the prince's direction! He'll have to move from his position!
- Hurry! - Please be quiet! I may shoot the prince!
Protect the prince!
Prince!
Protect His Majesty!
- Your Highness! - Hey, where are you going?
- Let me go! - Come back here!
Mother! Mother!
Dae Su!
Lay her down.
Give me a wet towel.
Please wake up, Your Highness!
How is the princess and Prince Eun Un?
The prince's injury is not serious.
Her Highness was in critical condition, but is now said to be stable.
She is being tended to by the physicians.
- Has she regained consciousness? - Yes, Your Majesty.
But both of them have been given tonics and are now sleeping deeply.
Inform me immediately when the princess awakes.
- I want to see her myself. - Yes, Your Majesty.
What do you mean, Dae Su?
The explosives in the fireworks were meant for His Highness?
Did you not say that the Dragon Tiger Troop were the suspects?
- Go on and speak, Dae Su. - Please forgive me.
Their plan was to use the fireworks.
They moved your seat so that you would be far away from His Majesty when it exploded.
Then was the gunshot directed at me as well?
No, Your Highness. That gunshot was...
... fired by me.
Woosema! You shot the prince? Why did you do that?
We were in such a panic that we had no choice!
We thought only then you would move away and the Royal Guards would protect you!
For... forgive me, Your Highness! I deserve to die for my crime!
Deserve to die? Not at all, Dae Su!
If it weren't for you, I would have been hurt in that explosion.
That's right. If it weren't for Dae Su, you would have been in great danger!
Dae Su's role was great during this whole incident, and he succeeded in saving your life.
Dae Su, you have accomplished a great thing!
His efforts will be rewarded by the Royal Guard, Your Highness.
Thank you, Dae Su. You have saved my life again.
No, Your Highness. To be honest, all of this...
... wasn't accomplished by me alone.
To tell you the truth, Inspector Hong was behind everything.
What? Inspector Hong?
Yes, he suspected of an assassination plot during the Year-End Festivities,
and ordered myself and the other Royal Guards to find out what was happening.
All I did was to follow his orders.
Why didn't you tell me this before?
That's because Inspector Hong didn't know how you would feel if you knew it was him.
He thought it would be better if you didn't know.
I think Inspector Hong thinks of himself as having committed a great sin against you.
- Official Nam. - Yes, Your Highness.
Go and bring Inspector Hong.
Yes, Your Highness.
His Majesty the King!
There was an explosion and a gunshot directed towards the prince!
Because of that explosion, the princess and Prince Eun Un was hurt!
How could this happen? How could this outrageous thing happen!
Your Majesty, we are ashamed! Please take our lives!
Please take our lives!
Alright. I will do so.
If it is found to not have been a mistake.
If it is found to have been an attempt on the royal family...
I will not forgive that person and punish him accordingly!
- Hear me, Chief Tribunal! - Yes, Your Majesty!
Arrest the Minister of Culture,
as well as all others involved in the preparations. Interrogate them and find out what happened!
I will not let this incident go unpunished!
I will find the culprit and he will have to pay with his life!
- Do you understand? - Yes, Your Majesty!
I will obey your command and find the culprit!
Leave!
- I said get out! - Your Majesty!
I don't care if you go back to Pyongyang or overseas. Do not ever appear before me again!
Your Majesty, if you command me to die here, I will do so!
But all of this was done because of my loyalty to you, Your Majesty!
- I don't want to hear it! - Your Majesty!
I told you to stop it! I told you that we would be in great danger if something went wrong!
But how could you allow this to happen?
Not only that, Princess Hwa Wan and Prince Eun Un have been hurt!
I deserve to die! But I did it for you...!
Did you just say that you did it for me?
The prince was already suspicious and was following you.
If they look for the mastermind of this plot, who would be the most obvious culprit?
It would be you! Didn't you think that I would be accused as well?
How could you be so foolish? Do you think this is the reason I called for you?
Your Majesty, the Minister of Personnel and Secretary Jung are here.
How is the princess?
She is no longer in critical condition.
I have nothing to say to the princess.
No, Your Majesty.
So what did His Majesty say?
This incident will not be easily forgotten.
He has said that he will treat this incident as treason.
Once the investigation begins, it will be a matter of time before they find him.
The prince is already suspicious of the Second Royal Secretary.
Fortunately, the Chief Tribunal is one of us. I will speak to him to ease over this matter.
But this happened in front of His Majesty.
If anything is amiss, he will not let it slide so easily.
Then what should we do?
Leave everything to me, Your Majesty. I will find a solution.
I will go and meet the Minister of War.
- Come see me when you have a plan. - Yes, Your Excellency.
This is my work, so I will try to solve it. You should...
You still haven't come to your senses, have you?
What?
You have no idea what a foolish thing you have done, do you?
- Now look here, Secretary Jung! - From here on, I will speak and you will answer me.
Do you understand?
You must tell me everything about this incident.
Tell me everyone who were involved and how they were involved. I need to know everything.
And from now on, you have to do exactly as I tell you.
If you value your life, you must do so. Do you understand?
- Did you ask for me, My Lord? - Do you remember that Arsenal Chief?
- Yes, My Lord. - Get rid of him tonight.
- You must not leave any evidence behind. - Yes, My Lord.
And one more thing. Find out who shot at the prince.
Since Lord Kim says that it wasn't him, it must have been someone else in the palace.
Tell the men to get rid of the Arsenal Chief. I want you to find out who shot at the prince.
Yes, My Lord.
Yes, Sir!
- Did you find out? - Yes, Your Highness.
Both Princess Hwa Wan and Prince Eun Un have regained consciousness and are being tended.
How fortunate, Mother!
I worried about their well-being.
I am glad that the two of them are not badly injured in this terrible incident.
Your Highness, there is word in the palace that this was not an accident.
What do you mean it wasn't an accident? Do you mean they think it was set up?
She's right, Princess. There was an explosion and a gunshot.
This incident was not an error or an accident.
- Mother...! - But this may be a good opportunity for the prince.
This is a good opportunity to find out who is behind the plots against the prince's life.
We cannot back down on this.
We must reveal the evil mastermind behind these attempts on the prince!
Song Yeon...!
- You're not going to bed? - I'm going to wait for Dae Su.
I doubt he'll be back after what happened at the palace.
Go in and sleep!
- Go on in. - Yes sir.
Take a seat.
You have lost weight. You must have had a difficult time.
Not at all, Your Highness. I was doing well.
I heard that you were involved in preventing this assassination attempt.
Why did you do it? I kicked you out.
You could have ignored my plight and not cared whether I lived or died.
Your Highness...!
Thank you. If it weren't for you, I may not be here right now.
If I had found out about this sooner, this incident would not have become so big.
I placed you in danger by now understanding what was happening until it was too late.
Don't say that. I am ashamed of myself.
Your Highness...
Dae Su also told me that the incident at Honganmun
was also a misunderstanding on my part.
I know now that you ordered the Prefecture to disperse the people peacefully.
Why didn't you tell me this yourself?
Why didn't you tell me and stop me from doing the wrong thing?
Your Highness, please do not say that to me.
I was not able to protect and guard you against your enemies.
- Now look... - But Your Highness...
I will never allow that to happen again.
I swear to you now. I swear that I will help you in every way,
and help you fulfill your dreams. I will give you my life and my future.
And if you allow it, I will say one more thing.
May I do so?
What is it?
You must be the one to reveal the culprit this time.
There were several attempts on your life in the past,
but we have never been able to identify the mastermind.
But this time, you must reveal who they are.
You must use this opportunity to cut them off by the roots!
Since my involvement in this incident,
I have found incriminating evidence against Lord Kim
and the people who helped him in this plot.
If you allow me to handle this investigation,
I will reveal the culprits behind this plot!
- How is the princess? - You no longer have to be worried, My Lord.
Alright, well done.
Those crazy fools! How could they let this happen?
I am certain they did it on purpose. They added explosives to my fireworks!
Please calm yourself, Mother. It does not seem to be that it was on purpose.
So please let go of your anger.
Let go of my anger? Do you see me and my state?
I will not forgive that fool Kim Gui Joo!
We have time to dispose of Kim Gui Joo.
But right now, we have more important matters to attend to.
- More important matters? - Listen to me carefully, Mother.
Even though you were hurt in this incident, this plot was a complete failure.
This is a good opportunity for you.
- Opportunity? - That's right.
His Majesty is determined to find out who was behind this incident.
My plan is to make the prince into the culprit.
The prince? How? Is that really possible?
Have I ever been uncertain about anything, Mother?
This is a valuable opportunity for us.
Not only can we eliminate the prince, but the Queen's power may shift into your hands.
How do you feel now? Do you feel better?
- So is the princess feeling better? - Yes, Your Majesty.
- That is what her physician says. - Alright.
- I will pay her a visit myself. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Highness, His Majesty is here.
Don't get up.
- Father...! - How shocked you must have been!
Father, please forgive me for causing you worry.
What are you saying? This is all because of me.
Forgive me. You are suffering because of me.
No, Father! Please don't say that.
Father, I have a request. Will you grant it for me?
What is it? I will do anything for you.
As soon as I have recovered, I will leave the palace and live outside.
- Please allow me to do so. - What?
Live outside the palace? Why?
All this happened because I was in the palace.
If I weren't here, then something like this would never happen again.
What do you mean this happened because you were in the palace?
Princess...!
I won't say it with my own lips. How could I tell you such a terrible thing?
This is all because I am lacking and unworthy, Your Majesty.
If I have caused that much hatred in someone, then that is also my fault.
So please don't ask me any further, and grant me my request.
What is this all about? Tell me!
- Father...! - Tell me. Who do you think hates you?
How is this because you are in the palace?
I found out what you asked for, My Lord.
I was told that the man who attacked the marksmen and
shot the gun in the festival was a Royal Guard.
- Really? Is that true? - Yes, My Lord.
- Can you find out who it was? - Yes, the marksman still remembers his face.
You weren't at the Guards' Quarters, so we came here.
Yes, I woke up early.
I was the same. I tossed and turned all night.
I felt like we were responsible for what the prince went through.
But I am sure Inspector Hong will get to the bottom of this soon.
Dae Su!
Song Yeon! What brings you here?
- The prince is alright, isn't he? - Yes, he met with Inspector Hong last night.
Inspector Hong will be able to reveal who the culprits were behind this attempt!
It was dangerous, but we were fortunate.
You must have been so scared to see that terrible thing happen in front of you!
I'm glad His Highness is alright.
You didn't sleep all night, did you?
I'm sorry for not sending you a message. I should have known you would be worried.
No, it's alright. You must have been so shocked and chaotic last night.
Then I'll get going. I lied and said that I forgot something at the palace.
What?
Are you Royal Guard of the 9th Order Park Dae Su?
Yes, Sir.
- Is this the man? - Yes, that's right!
- Seize him and take him to the Tribunal! - Yes, Sir!
- Seize him! - Yes, Sir!
- What? The Tribunal? - Dae Su!
Sir, how could you arrest a Royal Guard? What is the meaning of this?
- How dare you block us! Move aside! - No, we can't do that.
How dare you come into our training grounds and arrest one of us!
- Arrest these men as well! - Yes, Sir!
- What? Let me go! - Song Yeon!
Dae Su.
What? The Tribunal soldiers came and arrested the Royal Guards?
Why? For what reason?
I don't know the exact details, but I know they were taken to the Tribunal.
Who was taken and for what reason?
Kang Suk Ki of the Right Guard, Suh Jang Bo of the Left Guard, and...
... and they took Dae Su as well.
What? Dae Su?
- Have they all been imprisoned? - Yes, Sir.
- Guard them well. I will interrogate them myself. - Interrogate?
- Your Highness! - What crime are they being accused of?
Your Highness...!
- I heard you arrested some of men. Is that true? - Your Highness... that...
What is it? Is it true that my Royal Guards have been arrested and brought here?
Yes, Your Highness, it's true.
Return my men to me!
Your Highness!
Didn't you hear what I said? I said return my men!