Your Majesty, Secretary Hong wishes to speak with you.
Let him enter.
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty! - Welcome, Secretary Hong.
Why are you standing there? Come closer.
We were just talking about you.
But we didn't expect you to come.
I was just asking His Majesty a few questions about you.
Why do you look so surprised?
Does it bother you that I asked questions about you?
Of course not, Your Majesty. I just...
Seeing how Secretary Hong has come here at such a late hour,
it must be an urgent matter. I shall take my leave.
- You're leaving? - Yes, Your Majesty.
It looks like His Majesty trusts you very much.
I hope that you will be a loyal subject that deserves that trust.
What did you do, Your Majesty? Did you tell him the truth?
Your Majesty!
So tell me. What is it you came here for?
Your Majesty, before I speak, may I ask you something?
Her Majesty mentioned that she asked about me.
What did she ask about?
You're curious about that?
What a strange evening.
First, the queen comes to me asking what kind of man you are,
and now you're asking about what she asked.
Yes, the queen asked about your character.
She asked me what I thought of you, and if I trusted you.
Forgive me for my impudence, Your Majesty...
But may I ask how you responded to that question?
I told her that I trusted you like I trust myself.
Although your quick temper has gotten you in a few predicaments,
you were always loyal to me.
And every step I took had your blood and sweat in it.
Your Majesty!
I would not be here if it weren't for you.
And my ideas would never be accomplished without you either.
Was my response satisfactory to you, Secretary Hong?
Motherwort? How could that be?
Did Secretary Hong really sent motherwort to the pregnant Concubine Hong?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Song Yeon!
Dae Su! Are you off duty?
No, I have to head back soon. I came to get some of Officer Suh's things.
What are you doing here? This isn't your usual route home.
- I was at the palace. - The palace?
What do you mean? Concubine Hong didn't have a miscarriage?
Then are you saying that she was never pregnant to begin with?
Yes, that's what the queen said.
And even if she had miscarried, it was probably because of the motherwort.
That can't be true!
If what you say is true, then Secretary Hong would have known about it!
Do you know what you're saying?
Officer Suh was injured while following the Royal Physician.
He's in critical condition! And you're saying Secretary Hong was behind it?
You're saying that Secretary Hong lied to His Majesty and tried to kill Officer Suh?
Dae Su...!
Your Majesty, it is late. I will tend to Officer Suh.
Please retire to your chambers.
No, I will stay here until he recovers consciousness.
You once promised me one thing.
That when you became a royal relative, you would never abuse your power.
Since you broke that promise, you will have to pay the consequences.
I have a request, Your Majesty.
Concubine Hong made this mistake because she is still young and naive.
- Please forgive her this once and... - No, I can't do that.
When she lied about her pregnancy, she lost her right to be a royal concubine.
Your Majesty!
I didn't tell His Majesty the truth for his own sake.
I did not want him to hear about his trusted subject's lies from anyone else.
So confess your crimes to him yourself and accept the punishment.
That is the last act of mercy I can show you.
- Your Highness, it is Attendant Choi. - Come in!
Did you find out anything? Why has my brother not sent any messages?
Your Highness, I think something has gone wrong.
What do you mean by that?
I heard that the queen was at the Grand Palace before Secretary Hong went there.
What?
What will we do now? What can we do?
This money should be sufficient for you to make a living anywhere.
- Leave the Capital today. - Yes, My Lord.
But what should we do about the captive?
- If you order it, we will... - No need for that.
He will accompany me to the Tribunal. Bring him here.
What? The... the Tribunal?
What do you intend to do?
Don't worry. I will never say anything about you even under torture.
My Lord.
My Lord! My Lord!
- My Lord! There's trouble! - Trouble?
I untied his gag briefly this morning. He must have committed suicide.
How...? How could this happen?
Your Majesty!
As you predicted, there was very little chrysanthemum root in the Royal Hospital.
It is most certainly the work of the Royal Physician.
He did it to frame the queen.
But we need to find the missing Physician to prove that.
Don't you think his kidnappers will have killed him by now?
My Lord!
- What is it? - Something terrible has happened!
I think something big will happen at Princess Hae Kyung's palace!
- What? - Something happened at Mother's palace?
Concubine Hong is doing the atonement ritual before Princess Hae Kyung's palace!
What?
- What are you doing, my daughter? - Mother!
You are not yet recovered! Why are you doing such a thing?
- Don't just stand there! Bring her inside! - Yes, Your Highness.
- Mother... - I don't know what this is about, but let us go in.
What will you do if you fall ill?
What did you just say?
The miscarriage was caused by another tonic, not the one prepared for you by the queen?
Mother, please know that I did not do it on purpose!
Did you not hear what I said?
You swore to me that you did not drink any other tonic!
But now you're saying you drank another tonic? Explain yourself!
There... there was another herb that I was using in order to conceive.
I had heard that motherwort was good for conceiving a child and...
- and continued drinking it... - What?
What did you just say? You drank motherwort?
You were pregnant with the royal heir and you drank motherwort?
- Mother...! - How could this happen? How could you not know?
How could you not know that once you have conceived, you must stop drinking motherwort?
Are you telling me that your foolish mistake cost the life of this country's future heir?
Mother, I deserve to be executed!
Mother...!
Mother, please have me executed!
Your Majesty.
Did you know about this?
Tell me. Is that why you asked about Secretary Hong?
My queen...!
Your Highness! Your Highness!
Go away, Older Brother. You must stay far away from me.
Your Highness, why do you say that?
You didn't know anything about this.
That's what I told Mother and His Majesty.
You must persevere to the end. Do you hear me?
I can't do that! How can you take all the blame yourself?
You must do this! I will not allow you to fall because of me.
If the truth must be revealed, then it is enough for me to take all the blame.
You were the reason why our family reclaimed our honor.
I cannot allow all of us to be ruined because of me.
- Your Highness! - I... I just need to conceive again.
If I do that, then both Mother and His Majesty will forgive me.
You must be unharmed until that day.
You must persevere for the sake of our family.
- Your Highness! - Older Brother!
What did you say? Concubine Hong miscarried because of another tonic she drank?
That's what I just said!
Stop spreading false rumors and go work!
But I'm telling you the truth!
Even a man like me knows that pregnant women can't drink motherwort!
How could Her Highness not know that?
- No, Sir Yi. I think Sir Kam is right. - What?
Song Yeon and I saw Her Highness drinking that motherwort tonic!
Is that true, Song Yeon?
- We didn't see it directly, but... - I'm sure! I should have known she was up to something!
Since she miscarried because of her mistake, she'll be kicked out of the palace for sure!
But will she really be kicked out? She has Secretary Hong behind her.
You think Secretary Hong will be safe? He was the one who sent it to her!
They're both going to get kicked out!
That's why you have to be a nice person. You didn't see that expression on her face!
- I had nightmares about her! - I think I saw her get angry once too.
How could anyone look like that!
Your Majesty, you cannot let this incident go unpunished!
Concubine Hong is protecting Secretary Hong but this is ridiculous!
How could her own brother not know about this situation?
That's right, Your Majesty! I am certain that he kidnapped the Physician as well.
You must arrest Secretary Hong and have him interrogated.
Also, Concubine Hong must be stripped of her titles.
- Please hear our plea, Your Majesty! - Please hear our plea!
Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I think the Councilor and Justice Minister are taking it too far.
Even though Concubine Hong has committed an unforgivable error,
it was caused by lack of knowledge.
I believe that stripping her of her titles is an excessive punishment.
It would be sufficient to lower her rank and put her in temporary confinement.
How could you say that, Minister!
Concubine Hong is not an average woman!
She forgot her duty and not only that, she miscarried the royal heir.
How can she be let go so lightly? Furthermore, Secretary Hong...
Concubine Hong herself said that Secretary Hong was unaware of everything.
Her Highness has already confessed to everything. For what purpose must Secretary Hong be interrogated?
Look here, Personnel Minister!
The Personnel and Industry Ministers and Inspector-General were all defending you.
I thought they would all join together and try to get rid of you, but I was wrong.
You must have gotten close to the Dowager Queen's people recently.
Fine. It doesn't really matter.
But what I would like to know is the truth, Secretary Hong.
So tell me. Were you really unaware of everything?
You really weren't the one who took the Physician?
You didn't know anything about this.
You must persevere to the end. Do you hear me?
I... I just need to conceive again.
If I do that, then both Mother and His Majesty will forgive me.
You must be unharmed until that day.
You must persevere for the sake of our family.
Your Majesty...
I was aware of everything.
I lied to you in order to cover up Her Highness' mistake.
I deserve to be executed!
Did you take care of the Physician?
I doubt you will come to much harm because of this incident.
All of the Dowager Queen's supporters will be behind you and Concubine Hong.
You should be aware of that and lay low for the time being.
Lay low? Does the Dowager Queen think she can order me around?
Don't be too worried.
If I make this go away for him, Secretary Hong will have no way out.
But Your Majesty, do you think it will be that easy?
The queen and Her Highness is furious about this.
- I doubt this will go away quietly. - No, I am certain it will be easily concluded.
We are in a critical junction. If we win, we will gain Secretary Hong.
Your Majesty!
- Is Concubine Hong still outside? - Yes, Your Highness.
I am sorry, my daughter. I am ashamed to face you.
No, Mother. Please don't feel that way.
No. I was so upset at the loss of the royal heir that I was excessive.
- Mother... - So please apologize to your father on my behalf.
Yes, Mother.
Return to your chambers. This will not solve anything.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty! This is because of my foolishness!
Please bestow your mercy on me just this once...!
Then you should have told the truth.
If you were really repentant, you should not have lied to save yourself.
You should have told the truth and truly repented.
Your Highness!
Did you want to save your brother so that you could return some day?
Is that why you lied to His Majesty again?
Your Majesty, that is not so! I just...
Enough! I do not wish to listen to you any longer.
Your Majesty!
Fine. If you wish to take responsibility for your brother's crimes as well,
then your punishment will be heavy one.
You will be stripped of all your titles, Concubine Hong.
Your Majesty! Stripped... stripped of all my titles?
Your Majesty! Please forgive me!
Your Majesty, please forgive my foolishness! Please forgive me this once!
Forgive me, Your Majesty! I was wrong!
Your Majesty!
Is this why you asked me for time?
Your punishment will be given by His Majesty, but the Royal Women's Court is presided by me.
Concubine Hong will be sent out of the palace.
- Oh, you're here. - Yes, My Lady.
Her Majesty was waiting for you.
Your Majesty, Sung Song Yeon from the Bureau is here.
Send her in.
Thank you, Song Yeon. You saved me from a terrible fate.
I didn't do anything special, Your Majesty.
No, if it weren't for you, I would never have been cleared of this false charge.
I'm glad, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, why do you still look so clouded on a happy day like this?
Where is His Majesty right now?
What?
Your Majesty, did you summon me?
You're here.
I must be distracted. My arrows keep missing the target.
Your Majesty...
Do you know something, Dae Su?
The reason I gave Secretary Hong all that power
was because of my faith in not only him, but in myself.
Even if he made a mistake,
I had faith that I would be able to see him through it.
But now I don't know why I was so confident.
Your Majesty...
I am so fearful...
that I can no longer trust Secretary Hong.
Your Majesty...
Your Majesty!
- Take Her Highness to her chambers. - Yes, Your Majesty. Take her!
Yes, My Lady!
- Is it still raining? - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, it is Attendant Park from the Grand Palace.
Enter.
- What is it? - His Majesty wishes to see you.
- Your Majesty, the queen is here. - Let her in.
Come and have a seat, my Queen.
My Queen...
Yes, Your Majesty.
I am thinking of forgiving Concubine Hong and Secretary Hong.
Your Majesty!
I asked you here because I wanted you to forget about this incident as well.
Your Majesty, I will obey you in anything you ask of me.
- But this incident... - I know.
I know why it is hard for you to forgive them.
I know exactly why you feel that way.
That is why I have asked you here.
Your Majesty...
A long time ago, I told myself that I would forgive you of anything
as long as you didn't commit treason against me.
And you did your part to earn that kind of commitment from me.
There are still many things I need to do and accomplish.
How can I do any of those things if I don't have trust in you.
My Queen...
Will you do as I ask?
Your Majesty...
This is the last time you will be forgiven.
Your Majesty!
My Lord!
- This are the new maps for the Prefecture. - Oh, alright.
Why is there so few maps?
Didn't they ask for twenty maps?
Sir Tak was responsible for them, but he isn't here today.
Indeed? Go and find out what is wrong.
Yes, Sir.
Finish the rest of the paintings with Artist Yi instead.
What is it now? Artist Yi isn't here either?
- He was just here a while ago. - Where did he go?
My wife, just be patient a while longer! I have the erotica bible with me!
It's only a matter of time before we're in the money!
Is that you, Royal Artist Yi?
- It's me! - What are you doing here?
- I can't enter the Bureau. - What do you mean?
Why are you covering your face up?
Isn't that scratch marks?
My wife did this to me because of the lesson fees I lost!
What do I do now? If I don't find that money, I'm dead!
Your wounds are deep, my friend!
That stings! And your breath stinks!
- You're here, Your Excellency! - I heard His Majesty wanted to see me. What is it about?
I do not know the reason either, Your Excellency.
Did you say you wanted to go outside the palace tonight, Your Majesty?
That's right.
Your Majesty!
What is so strange about the king wanting to see how his people are living?
Your Majesty, the palace is still in commotion because of Concubine Hong...
Although it is a tragedy, it is a matter for the Royal Women's Court.
I cannot neglect my duties because of that.
Inform the Imperial Guard of my plans.
Yes, Your Majesty.
- Sir! - You're here.
- Are you really alright? - I went to Hell's door, but I was too angry to go in!
What were you so angry about?
You know that gisaeng named Gaewol?
I never got to touch that wench's...!
I regretted never taking her to bed!
Sir! I'm not even married, and you were angry you couldn't take a gisaeng to bed?
Actually, I was angry that I was going to die without having enjoyed my new status!
- Dae Su. - Yes, Sir.
There's not much to life. You just have to enjoy things when you have a chance to.
When I regained consciousness, that was the first thing I thought of.
Oh Sir...!
Leaving the palace tonight is impossible?
- That's right, Your Majesty. - Why?
The Vice Councilor Min Joo Shik escaped only a short while ago.
We don't know who helped him.
I am concerned that you would come to harm while you were out of the palace.
Please postpone your travels.
I feel the same way, Your Majesty.
Now that I know your concerns, I will be more careful.
- Your Majesty! - I haven't been outside the palace since my coronation.
How can a king care only for what happens inside the palace?
I will go out tonight.
What did he say, My Lord?
His Majesty will be going outside the palace tonight.
- You. - Yes, Sir!
- Have you chosen your men? - Yes, we chose the finest fighters.
Then listen to me carefully. Take a look at this first.
This is the route His Majesty will be taking tonight.
You will escort and guard His Majesty along this route.
- Do you understand? - Yes, Sir.
Then take your men and scout these areas, removing all potential danger zones.
Remove danger zones? How so?
Remove anything that might pose a risk!
Take care of all the gangs in this area. And if His Majesty insists of speaking to anyone,
make sure that they have already passed our security checks.
- Do you understand me? - But that goes against His Majesty's plans.
I know that! But think carefully.
This is not the right time for His Majesty to be going out of the palace.
There was an assassination attempt even after he was coronated.
Think about what may happen if others know he is going out of the palace!
I'm saying that we have to control all risks and dangers to His Majesty.
Now, go and do what I ordered.
- Yes, Sir. - Yes, My Lord.
- I don't agree, Sir. - I know how you feel, but we have to obey.
He is responsible for His Majesty's security.
What is this? Why are you doing this?
Shut up and listen to what I say. You will leave the Capital today.
Leave here and don't return until the day after tomorrow.
If any of you are seen in the Capital, you will be punished immediately!
Yes, Sir!
- Goodnight, everyone. - See you tomorrow!
You're a pretty girl!
- What are you doing? - I... I...
Thank you.
The road by Jingogae is safer at this hour.
There's a tavern there, so there are more people around.
- I see. - Alright then.
Open!
- I will head to Woonjongga. - Your Majesty, the plan is to go to Samgae.
The plan? Who has planned this?
It was Secretary Hong.
We established a route for you and posted Imperial Guards along the way.
What? Then what is the point of this visit?
Your Majesty, please understand Secretary Hong's concern for your safety.
I don't want to hear it! Don't you know the reason why I am here?
If I am to work within a plan, how will I know the true state of the people's lives?
You should be cautious as there may still be enemies out there...
I wouldn't be here if I feared them.
I'm going to Woonjongga, with or without you.
Your Majesty!
This is great! Thank you, Madam!
You worked hard, my friend!
Oh goodness!
You mean he can play music without a score and after hearing the tune just once?
Would I lie to someone I just met?
That's the only talent I have. I wish I had talent in making money instead!
- Do you know what people call him? - Now now, you don't have to say that!
They call him a bookworm!
- What's a bookworm? - It means a fool who reads all day and night!
He had an eye disease once, but he still pried his eyes open and read a book!
Is there anything better than reading? I would rather starve to death than not read!
Of course you would!
By the way, what do you do?
I'm a bookworm too! I can't survive if I don't read everyday!
Then you should join our White Tower Club!
What's that?
They must call themselves the White Tower Club, Your Majesty.
- Find out more about them. - Yes, Your Majesty.
No one has come seeking slave tax after that?
At first I expected them to come, but they never returned.
I heard this was all because of the king.
How will I ever repay his kindness to us?
I am sure my son has finally closed his eyes and is resting in peace.
Who goes there?
Halt!
- What did you say? An assassination attempt? - Yes, there was a gunshot.
- How is His Majesty? - He is safe.
How could this have happened?
I told you to remove all potential dangerous zones!
His Majesty changed his route suddenly. There was nothing we could do, My Lord!
Your Majesty, please punish me. This is all because of me.
Why is that your fault?
I am responsible for your safety.
How can it not be my fault when something like this has happened?
Actually, I have a question to ask you.
Why did you plan my route and post Imperial Guards?
Your Majesty, I did that to prevent something like this...
I blame you not for what happened tonight, but for the preparations you made.
Why did you try to move me according to your will?
Your Majesty...!
I know you are loyal to me, but don't ever do such a thing again.
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Majesty.
You may leave.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I wanted to apologize to you about this incident with Concubine Hong.
Please know that I did everything because of His Majesty and forgive me.
Please do not apologize to me, Mother. I have forgotten everything.
- Thank you, my Queen. - Your Highness!
- What is it? - His Majesty was shot at while outside the palace!
- Is that really true? - Yes, it has been confirmed.
How is His Majesty? Has he been hurt?
Fortunately, he was unharmed.
Someone really tried to shoot His Majesty?
Yes, Your Excellency.
Do you have any suspects?
No, I have none.
That Hong Gook Young is going to be running around for the culprit again.
This is the work of the No Ron faction!
I will strangle all of them until the truth is revealed!
Go and find Min Joo Shik and have all the No Ron members followed!
- Yes, My Lord! - Yes, My Lord!
Official Nam!
- Official Nam, something terrible has happened! - What is it?
What?
Your Majesty!
- What is it? - Concubine Hong's palace has sent a message.
She has lost consciousness and is in critical condition!
What did you just say? Concubine Hong is in critical condition?
Yes, Your Majesty!
Episode 58