Where did I drop it?
Are you looking for this?
Your Majesty!
This...
This was what I used to tie your arm with...
that first time we met.
So you kept this whole time?
Your Majesty... What brings you here...?
I... I've come for you.
Come back to the palace with me, Song Yeon.
Back to the palace, Your Majesty? What do you mean?
I know why you refused to enter the palace.
It wasn't because of the Bureau, nor was it because of your true feelings.
I heard you met with my mother.
Is that why you refused me?
Your Majesty...
Why were you so foolish?
How can you not know that I suffer when you are not with me?
Please go back, Your Majesty.
You should not speak this way to me.
Please go back.
- Song Yeon! - You are the king of this country.
I am a lowly artist.
How can the sovereign of this country speak of such things to me?
I am not here as the king.
I did not first meet you as the Crown Prince.
I have never treated you as my subject.
Don't you understand?
I am not here as king, but as a man.
I am asking you to be with me, as a man to a woman.
And I will be patient no longer.
I will not let you reject me anymore.
If you will not come with me,
I will not return to the palace.
- Search this way. - Yes, Sir!
- Next in line! - Thank you so much!
- My Lord! - Yes, long time no see.
How have you been? Are you fully recovered?
Yes, My Lord. I recovered thanks to you.
But what brings you all the way here?
Has something happened?
No, I just accompanied His Majesty here.
What? His Majesty is here?
Go and summon the Second Minister of Rites to me.
Yes, Your Highness.
Did you summon me, Your Highness?
I visited the Office of Astronomy today and heard some upsetting news.
How is it that you have not yet selected a date for the selection of concubines?
Is the Office of Astronomy doing their work?
Forgive me, but what do you mean by the selection of concubines?
How can you ask me this?
I specifically gave orders to the Ministry of Rites to hasten the concubine selection.
How can the Second Minister not be aware of this?
But Your Highness, we received orders to halt the concubine selection process.
- We assumed you were aware of this... - What did you just say?
The process was halted? Who gave such orders?
That... that was...
Second Minister!
The Second Minister was summoned to Mother's chambers?
Yes, Your Majesty. But that's not all!
After he left, her Highness was furious and left immediately for the Grand Palace.
- She went to see His Majesty? - Yes, Your Majesty!
He's not in the palace? Then where is His Majesty?
He has gone to Kyoha, Your Highness.
Kyoha? Why would he go there?
Mother. Please allow me to explain.
My Queen...
I know the reason why His Majesty went to Kyoha, Your Highness.
I did not first meet you as the Crown Prince.
I have never treated you as my subject.
Don't you understand? I am not here as king, but as a man.
I am asking you to be with me, as a man to a woman.
Impudent wench!
How dare you disdain the royal family?
I don't know what devious ploy you used to manipulate the queen.
But I will never allow you join the royal family!
Were you here this whole time?
Wook!
I searched everywhere for you.
Did you find the item you lost?
I was worried when you didn't return after you set out to find it.
No, I found it.
This is the item I lost.
That's fortunate. I knew it was something valuable when you rushed off to find it.
But isn't it time for you to go now?
His Majesty is waiting for you under the tree at the end of this road.
It's getting late.
- Wook...! - If you're worried about me, don't be.
I don't have any intention of leaving here, so you can always come back to visit me.
So please return to the Capital, Older Sister.
If you hide from him, you will most certainly regret your decision.
You searched the whole mountain frantically when you lost the tie he gave you.
How can you live apart from him?
What time is it?
It is almost the hour of the Dog. (7-9pm)
Your Majesty, the night air is cold.
I have found a place for you to sleep tonight. Perhaps we should head back.
No, Official Nam. I'm not going anywhere.
Your Majesty...
I'm going to stay here and wait for Song Yeon.
His Majesty is waiting for you under the tree at the end of this road.
My name is San. Why don't you say my name?
San... San!
This is the first time that someone other than my parents have called me by my name.
It's nice to hear you say my name.
Don't you understand? I am not here as king, but as a man.
I am asking you to be with me, as a man to a woman.
If you will not come with me, I will not return to the palace.
Your Majesty...
Song Yeon!
Your Majesty!
What happened? Are you hurt?
I'm alright. This is nothing.
How can this be nothing? You're bleeding!
I thought you had left! I thought you had left because I was too late!
- Song Yeon! - I'll go with you, Your Majesty!
If I may do so, I will go with you!
I know I am lacking in every way.
I know I am low-born and unworthy.
The only thing I can give you is my heart.
If that is enough for you, I want to be with you.
If I am permitted, then to the day I die...
I wish to serve you at your side...!
The only thing you can give me is your heart?
Your lowly and unworthy heart?
Your Majesty...!
Don't get hurt again, Song Yeon.
I will protect you from now on.
Stay by my side, and never be in pain again.
Your Majesty!
- Summon Attendant Park. - Yes, Your Majesty.
A girl is outside the Grand Palace.
She will sleep with me tonight. Make preparations.
Did you hear what I said, Attendant Park?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Please forgive my impudence, Your Majesty.
But Her Highness has not yet given her permission to make Song Yeon a royal concubine.
- This may cause a problem... - I am doing this to cause a problem.
- Your Majesty...! - Do not speak to me any further regarding this.
Song Yeon...!
- Come with me. - Yes, My Lady.
Bathe her and prepare her for His Majesty's chambers.
She will sleep with His Majesty tonight.
- What? Are you certain? - Yes, My Lady!
Alright.
- Your Highness, it is Attendant Yi. - Enter.
What did you find out? Is His Majesty still away from the palace?
His Majesty has returned to the palace.
But he brought a girl with him and has given orders to prepare her for his bed.
What? What do you mean by that?
Your Highness...
Your Majesty, it is Attendant Park.
Enter.
The girl is ready, Your Majesty.
- Bring her in. - Yes, Your Majesty.
You may enter.
Your Majesty...
Come and sit close to me.
- Your Highness! - I have come to see His Majesty. Is he in?
Answer me! I asked you if His Majesty was in!
Please forgive me, but His Majesty has already retired to his chambers.
What?
Your Highness!
You must be scared.
I'm sorry for having done all this without preparing you first.
But don't be too worried.
In a short while, I will go to the study. You can stay here and rest.
This was my intention from the start.
I know this goes against tradition.
But we have no choice but to do this if we want to sway Mother's mind.
Your Majesty...
Have faith in me, Song Yeon. I will have you with me no matter what.
I will make you my rightful companion no matter what it takes.
What? Are you sure? Song Yeon's going to be a royal concubine?
That's right! I told you my younger sister became a palacemaid.
I saw her at the Ministry of Rites, and she told me that Her Majesty went to Kyoho to fetch her!
What? He went there just to get her?
- That's what I said! - But that's not certain.
Do you really think the royal family will accept a low-born like Song Yeon so easily?
Even if His Majesty is adamant, it will not be an easy feat.
- But still... - You're such a raincloud!
- Announce me to Her Highness. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Highness, His Majesty is here.
So is that what you came here to tell me?
You want to tell me to remain silent because she has already spent the night with you?
- Mother... - No, I will not do that.
You came all the way here to say something like that?
You brought her all the way from there so that you can tell me this?
- Mother... - That is enough. I will not change my mind.
I will not acknowledge any heirs from such a lowly peasant.
If you want to talk about status, grandfather's mother was also a low-born.
Father and I both share that blood. How can you use that to object to her?
Are you asking me that because you don't know?
Yes, like you said, the late king's mother was a water-bearer.
But did you forget how much that fact caused the late king to suffer?
He could never hold a public memorial for her death.
He could never rest easy that it would never be used as an excuse to destabilize his rule.
If a royal heir is brought forth from her, he will have to experience the same suffering.
Even if he becomes Crown Prince, no one will treat him as such.
Others will plot against him and shake the foundations of the royal family.
Now will you still say that you don't know how much this is going to affect the royal family?
Mother, I am aware of all of this.
But even so, I will not back down this time.
I will make her my royal concubine, and if she gives me an heir, he will be Crown Prince.
I will protect him myself.
- Son... - I cannot live without her.
I will not change my mind no matter what the consequences.
- Son...! - Mother!
Mother...
The king has not changed his mind and has defied my wishes.
So what else can I do? I told him to do as he wishes.
Are you satisfied, my Queen?
Did you have to do this? Did you have to make her concubine?
- Mother... - I find you even more unforgivable.
If you really cared for the king, you should have done what was good for him.
Not what he wanted.
Fine. Since you wanted this so badly, then do as you wish.
But I will never acknowledge her and neither will the entire palace.
You should be aware that I will also be bringing in another concubine to bear the royal heir.
Mother must be furious.
- Last night... - I know, Your Majesty.
You took Song Yeon to your chambers last night.
But I heard that you left for the study before midnight.
Even though Mother is not aware of this, I know why you did it.
My Queen...
Please do not be too worried, Your Majesty.
Even though Mother will need some time, she will come to accept this.
Thank you for saying that even though you must be troubled as well.
Your Majesty...
My heart is heavy because my selfishness seems to have caused you to be burdened.
Please don't say that, Your Majesty.
I too wanted Song Yeon to be your concubine.
I'm certain Mother will come to understand. Please do not worry too much.
I'm sure you must be troubled by this as you are still grieving for your sister.
No. If His Majesty wishes it, then there is nothing we can do. However...
I don't know if making Song Yeon is ideal for helping His Majesty's reign.
I am fond of Song Yeon as well, but feelings are not the only thing that is important.
If she bears a royal heir like Her Highness is worried about,
it will pose a big problem.
Rather than stabilizing His Majesty's reign, it may help shake its foundations.
You have gone too far with your words.
His Majesty will decide what is good for his reign.
- It is not for you to decide. - No, Your Excellency. I do not agree.
I know better than anyone what is best for His Majesty.
All the preparations have been made, My Lord.
Alright.
- Move everything to the storehouse. - Yes, My Lord.
Secretary Hong!
Have you been well, Excellency?
Please have a look at this.
What is this?
This is the new name for your son, who will soon be adopted by Concubine Hong.
Now look here, Secretary Hong. I did not agree to let you adopt my son.
- The queen is also objecting to this and... - Please do not worry about the queen.
His Majesty has already given his permission. Why would there be any problem?
We used meaningful characters to create the name "Wan Poong".
Do you like it, Your Excellency?
A new name is only given to royal heirs. What do you mean by this?
Do you really not know, Your Excellency?
What would happen if your son was adopted by Concubine Hong?
That would mean that he would be the only living heir of His Majesty.
That is what will happen. He will become the Crown Prince.
And he will become the heir to the throne.
I will make this happen for the sake of this country's government.
All you have to do is have faith in me and do as I ask.
What do you mean? You've been preparing for war?
While you were in Qing, I was quite preoccupied preparing for war.
What do you mean, Your Majesty? What war?
There will soon be chaos in government as well as in the Capital.
That is because I will soon proceed with my free trade reforms.
When I was ruled in the late king's stead, I tried to ease market monopolies.
I tried to give independent peddlers the right to trade freely.
But I was too impudent then and did not prepare properly.
And I was defeated.
But this time it will be different.
I have prepared for this moment for the past few years since I became king.
This time, I will not be defeated by the influence of the merchant clans.
It will not be an easy feat. They hold the economy of this country in their hands.
They will not release their hold so easily.
Indeed. That is why I call this a war.
The merchant clans will use all means necessary to stop me.
They will be our biggest obstacle. However...
I will back down this time.
I will keep my promise to the peddlers.
I heard that His Majesty plans to take away the monopolistic rights of the merchant clans.
I'm certain he will try to push his intent through this time.
Even if the merchant clans resist, he will not back down easily.
Is there something else he is preparing for?
Something else? What do you mean?
The merchant clans hold the purse strings of this country's economy.
What do you think that means? There is nothing they won't do to protect it.
If they feel the need, they will try to change the king.
The Minister and I are asking if you are prepared to protect the king's life.
Change the king? You mean...
I heard you were investigating Kim Choong Shik for the assassination attempt.
But you have been focusing on his relationship with No Ron.
Am I right?
What do you mean by that?
Are you saying that the assassination was planned by the merchant clans?
Nothing is certain. But I knew that they were up to something.
That is why I have asked to see you. His Majesty's life is in danger.
I am sure you will protect His Majesty, but one cannot always know the future.
In order to protect His Majesty's throne, we must hasten Won Poong's designation as Crown Prince.
Right now, the only way to secure His Majesty's reign is to establish an heir.
If Wan Poong becomes the Crown Prince, then you as his uncle will be of great help to him.
You must hasten this, Secretary Hong.
Her Majesty has ordered me to gather all the No Ron member's support for you.
If we all join forces, everything will be as you wish.
Don't be too worried.
What did you say? Song Yeon is going to become a royal concubine?
You don't know anything! Song Yeon has returned to the Capital.
- His Majesty went all the way to Kyoho to fetch her! - What?
Do you think His Majesty would have done that if he didn't intend to make her his concubine?
- That means....! - Yes, she's going to be a royal concubine!
She's finally entering the palace!
I can't believe you have raised a fourth rank official and a royal concubine!
Dal Ho! You have the midas touch!
Dal Ho, can you get me chosen to do the royal portrait?
Dal Ho!
Dae Su! Dae Su!
What are you doing here, Uncle?
Big news! Song Yeon is going to be made a royal concubine!
I confirmed it at the Ministry of Rites!
Yes, that...
What's this? You knew about this?
Yes.
Why the fuss? We should be celebrating for her.
Where is she, by the way? I should congratulate her personally.
Did you see her? She must be really happy.
What... what are you talking about?
Song Yeon is going! She's going to the king!
What are you going to do now? You've been waiting for her your whole life!
What are you going to do now, you stupid boy?
Don't be like this, Uncle. This is what I wanted.
I'm happy if she's happy.
That's why Uncle should congratulate her.
Now that she can be with His Majesty, it's a great opportunity for her.
Hey, Park Dae Su!
I heard Her Majesty was looking for me.
- Why are you so late? She's been waiting for you. - Yes, My Lady.
She's been looking for new robes for you.
Why do you look so glum?
Is it because I didn't use formal language with you?
What?
Well, it's not like you're a concubine yet, and I just thought it was the appropriate thing.
If I've offended you, I'm sorry... Forgive me.
Not at all, My Lady. You haven't offended me at all.
- Really? - Yes, My Lady.
And I wanted to say that I wasn't mean to you because I didn't like you.
I did it because of the customs of the palace. I hope you understand.
- Yes, My Lady. - Good. Let's go in.
Your Majesty, Sung Song Yeon from the Bureau is here.
Bring her in.
- Welcome, Song Yeon. - Your Majesty.
- Have a seat. - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Attendant Kim, bring it out. - Yes, Your Majesty.
What is this, Your Majesty?
I wanted to give these to you. Open it.
Your Majesty!
I used to wear them. I don't know if you'll like them.
You can't mean to give those valuable jewels to me.
I am unworthy of them. Please take them back, Your Majesty.
That is not so. Soon you will be a royal concubine.
You will need to have these jewels according to the customs of the palace.
- Your Majesty... - Do you like them?
How can I ever repay your kindness to me?
Repay me? Why do you say such things?
It is I that is grateful to you.
I know how difficult this decision must have been for you.
Your Majesty...
Life in the palace will not be easy.
Her Highness is against you, and she may never acknowledge you.
But even so, I will help you with all my power.
Have faith in me and depend on me.
And just you are doing now, be with His Majesty and support him.
Do you understand me?
I am honored, Your Majesty. I will never forget your words.
I will serve you and His Majesty until the day that I die.
Did you come here to pack your things?
Sir!
I always thought this would happen, and it appears that day has finally come.
Please forgive me, Sir. You helped me realize my dream of becoming an artist.
But I have to leave the Bureau like this.
Don't worry about such things.
As a subject of His Majesty, I am glad that you will be with him to serve him.
Sir...
However, I hope that you never lose that heart of yours for art.
Talent comes from the heart. It will not disappear because you don't lift a brush.
Even when you enter the palace, don't lose that heart.
Yes, Sir. I will heed your words.
Artist Tak! Artist Tak!
What are you doing here?
Get up! Dal Ho is waiting for you with wine!
I'm not going.
- What? Why? - I don't think I will be able to eat or drink.
Song Yeon will soon become a royal concubine.
My heart is broken and I feel like the earth is shaking under my feet.
Your heart is broken? You mean you...?
Who knew she would really become a royal concubine?
If I had known this, I should have made her my second wife!
What? How dare you say that?
How dare you say such things about someone who's going to become a royal concubine?
Well done.
- Carry out the plan. - Yes, Sir!
- Goodbye! - Thanks for the food.
- We're closed for the day! - But we came to drink!
- Come next time! - Alright, we'll be back.
But where is Officer Park? It's getting late.
I'm not sure. He said he'd be here, but he must be busy.
I'm really sad to think that you'll be leaving the Bureau for good tomorrow, Song Yeon.
- I mean, Your Highness. - Your Highness? Don't say that, Mi Su.
Well, once you enter the palace, you'll be a royal concubine!
Just be normal with me. I want to act normal around you too.
If you act strange, then I'll be uncomfortable.
That's if we see each other.
Yes, Chobi is right.
It's going to be difficult to see you, Song Yeon.
Who's going to help me with my backlog?
Sir!
We've run out of wine.
I'll go get more.
I think she feels sad too.
Why wouldn't she be? We were like family.
I can't live without being drunk!
- My little...! - Drink up, Sir.
Dae Su!
Song Yeon...
This may be the last time I can call you by your name, Song Yeon.
In a few days, you'll enter the palace and become His Majesty's concubine.
Hey!
Oh my goodness!
Hey! What are you doing?
- This... - What?
The Discipline Master asked me to give you this.
Do you know something, Song Yeon?
The first time I met you was a moment I would never forget.
People say that a young man needs to meet a king he can serve,
and a woman he can protect.
You were someone who realized that dream for me.
The years that we were together as friends...
were wonderfully happy days for me.
So don't feel bad for me, Song Yeon.
Don't be hurt because of me.
I wanted to do something nice for you for the last time.
But this is all I could think of.
Wear it for me. Even though the palace has nicer cosmetics,
tell them no.
Dae Su...!
And... and be happy, Song Yeon.
As much as you were precious to me,
be happy with His Majesty.
Duck - Korean Symbol of Mates for Life
Song Yeon!
His Majesty has just entered the Royal Villa.
Your Highness, perhaps you should go there as well...
Inform the Ministry of Rites to withdraw the formal reception of the concubine.
I do not wish to see that girl.
- But Your Highness... - I said go and inform them!
Yes, Your Highness.
His Majesty the King!
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty...
His Majesty has entered the Royal Villa.
Indeed? Alright.
- The night air is cold. Let us go in. - Yes, Your Majesty.
I still can't believe that you are here.
I feel like I'm in a dream.
And I fear you'll vanish when I wake up.
Your Majesty...
Promise me one thing, Song Yeon.
Promise me you'll be with me forever.
Don't ever leave my side.
Stay with me forever like this.
Yes, Your Majesty. I will do so.
For the rest of my life, I will give you my heart and be at your side.
I will never leave you.
Episode 62