Your Majesty, this is the food that the villagers here are offering to you.
It has been made by this region's buckwheat.
- Indeed? - Please have some, Your Majesty.
Please wait a moment, Your Majesty!
- What is it? - Forgive me, but there is an accompanying dish.
- Has it been tested? - Yes.
Bring it here.
- Is that all? - Please forgive us, Your Majesty.
It's alright. Don't worry.
How could you have made a mistake? We were fortunate His Majesty was so gracious!
- Forgive me, Madam. - Who is the attendant who tested the food?
It was I, Madam.
How could you have done this? Didn't you know there was a side dish?
But I was not the one who tested the noodles.
What? Then who tested the noodles?
Who was it? Why is no one answering me?
- Who tested His Majesty's noodles? - Why do you ask this of us, Madam?
- Didn't you order an attendant from the Grand Palace? - What?
What? An attendant from the Grand Palace? I never gave such orders!
What? But she showed us your seal!
What? What did you say?
Your Majesty! Please put down your chopsticks!
Please put it down, Your Majesty!
- What? - Your Majesty!
What's going on? He said the queen would be there!
- So why is His Majesty there? - I'm not sure either.
Stop! Stop!
- My Lord! - What happened? Did you shoot?
- No, My Lord. - Good. Let's abort.
- Let's abort this plan. - My Lord, the queen is nowhere to be seen.
- What do you mean? - The queen is not there.
- The king is there in her place, My Lord! - What?
Shut the north and south gates and prevent anyone from leaving the feast grounds!
- Do you understand? - Yes sir!
- Go to it! - Yes, Sir!
What do you mean by the king's food may be poisoned?
Someone pretended to be an attendant for the royal kitchen and sabotaged the food!
What?
Where are you going in such a hurry?
I am going on an errand.
Which palace are you from?
- From the queen's palace. What is the problem? - No one is allowed out. Go back!
No one is allowed to leave the grounds. Go back.
- You! Go and find Attendant Choi! - Excuse me?
- I said go and find Attendant Choi! - Yes, My Lord!
My Lord! My Lord!
Attendant Choi! What happened? Did you get my message?
- I stopped everything as you ordered. - Good. But why are you still here?
- No one is allowed to leave! - What?
Where is the poison?
- Go and find Attendant Choi. - What?
Find her and tell her to stop what I ordered her to do!
- My Lord...? - Hurry! Go now!
Yes, My Lord!
I almost committed an unpardonable crime of treason, Your Majesty!
I almost committed something unforgivable...
Your Majesty...!
Did you say dizziness?
Yes, Your Majesty. Lady Sung is suffering from dizziness.
Are you sure? I was hoping she was pregnant.
I do not think that is the cause.
- Alright. You may leave. - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty! It is Attendant Kim! - Enter.
- Something terrible has happened! - What is it?
Something unspeakable has happened during the feast, Your Majesty!
What? What do you mean?
So you saw all of the attendants but you did not find anyone suspicious?
Yes, it appears that someone deliberately disguised themselves to cast aspersions on you.
Although we were fortunate this time, it could have been dangerous.
We must reveal the culprits behind this fiasco!
He's right, Your Majesty. We must investigate all the attendants and guests of the feast.
We must find the person who dared to sabotage your food.
Alright. I will leave this matter to the two of you.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, the queen is here.
- Your Majesty! - My Queen...
What is this I hear about the food at the feast?
No, My Lady! You're not well enough yet!
How can I rest when something has happened to His Majesty?
- But My Lady...! - I must see if he is alright!
My Lady!
- What brings you here, My Lady? - I am here to see His Majesty. Is he in?
- Your Majesty! - Why are you here?
You have not yet recovered. Why are you out?
I heard about what happened. What is going on, Your Majesty?
Are you really alright?
I'm sorry for making you worry like this.
- But I am fine, so don't worry. - But Your Majesty...!
Return to your chambers. What if you fall ill again?
Are you the new attendant?
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Escort Lady Sung back to her chambers.
If she comes out again, I will hold you responsible!
I will heed your words with my life, Your Majesty!
Search more thoroughly!
- Look at each item more carefully! - Yes, Sir!
Do you think that something really happened at the feast today?
I'm asking you if you think someone really tried to poison me by touching my food.
Forgive me, but it is possible.
No one knows who was the attendant who taste-tested your food.
- If that's the case, then something's odd. - What's odd, Your Majesty?
My attendance at the feast had not been scheduled.
As you know, the queen was supposed to have been in that place.
I went to the feast without any prior notice.
That's what I don't understand.
If I was the target, then why would they poison the food that was intended for the queen?
By the way, where's your Chief?
I haven't seen him all day. Is something the matter?
What?
What do I do now, My Lord? The attendants from the royal kitchen will find me!
That's why I told you to leave immediately!
I tried, but the Palace Guard were blocking all the exits. I had no choice!
Return to your chambers and lie low. I will send someone to get you out.
- Do you hear me? - Yes, My Lord.
Where have you been?
I've been looking for you all over! How can the Chief be away at this time?
Forgive me, but I was attending to security matters for the feast to be held in Yangju.
All of the palace staff will be gathering here.
Many have seen this attendant's face, so we should find her shortly.
Yes, Sir.
I am Officer Park of the Imperial Guard. I have some questions to ask you.
When did you receive word that His Majesty was going to be attending the feast?
We did not know beforehand. We thought the queen was coming.
We only knew when His Majesty entered the feast grounds.
That's what I don't understand.
If I was the target, then why would they poison the food that was intended for the queen?
He ordered me to find evidence to use against the queen!
Against the queen?
He even told me to make up things if there was nothing to be found!
The Imperial Guards will move their posts to this area here.
But My Lord, if we do that, the security will be poor for the feast.
Even so, we will have more than a dozen guards in the south gate here.
The palace army will also be present, so it will not make too much of a difference.
Next.
- It's not her. - Next.
I didn't do anything, but why am I so scared?
Me too! What if that attendant is confused and says that it's me?
That's true. I'm not like that, but you do have a common face.
Chobi!
Next!
- Is this her? - No! I didn't do anything! It's not me!
- How did it go? - She should be out by now.
Halt!
Officer Park!
What are the two of you doing here?
I... I was just obeying orders and taking this attendant to Yangju.
On whose orders?
Are you deaf? I asked you on whose orders?
All palace staff are supposed to be in one place.
And everyone is restricted from leaving. So who gave you the orders?
Move aside, Sir!
Was it the Chief who gave you those orders?
Answer me! Was it the Chief who gave you those orders?
Who goes there? Seize her!
Halt!
Seize her!
Over there! She's over there!
Please spare my life! All I did was obey the Chief's orders!
Was it...
really the Chief?
Was all this... really the Chief's doing?
Official Nam!
- Your Majesty... - When did you come? I wasn't aware you were here.
What is it?
Official Nam!
- What? Hong Gook Young? - That's right, Your Excellency.
I just heard that from the Commander of the Palace Army.
What did you just say?
Your Majesty...
My Lord! My Lord!
What is going on? How can the Chief have done this?
Hey, Park Dae Su! Say something!
Officer Kang was taken by the Palace Guard and Attendant Choi committed suicide.
My Lord! Now what do we do?
- Don't cause a commotion. - Excuse me?
This was bound to happen.
This was always what was meant to happen.
My Lord!
- My Lord... - My Lord!
I'm sorry for disappointing you.
I must see His Majesty.
Can you permit me to do so?
Summon that guard to me immediately! I must speak to him personally!
I must know why he is trying to frame the Chief!
- He is not trying to frame him. The Chief has confessed... - I don't want to hear it!
I told you I don't believe that!
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, Chief Hong is waiting for you in your chambers.
What is the meaning of this?
Speak! Why are they saying that you used the guard and Attendant Choi to poison the queen?
What kind of nonsense is this?
I don't believe a word of it!
If you know something, then tell me.
- Who is trying to frame you with this unspeakable... - Your Majesty...
No one is trying to frame me.
It's true, Your Majesty.
Everything you heard is true, Your Majesty.
What...
What did you just say?
It's true?
It's all true?
Your Majesty!
No...
It can't be. It can't be true!
- Your Majesty, please have me put to death! - Stop!
How could it be true?
How could you be behind a plot to assassinate the queen?
Why?
Why would you have done such a thing?
Tell me! What is happening?
Why are you saying these things to me?
It was because...
the queen knows about my crimes!
What?
I have been lying to you...
The queen knew I had been working with the Dowager Queen.
I was afraid you would find out...
That is why I tried to...
Now look here...
I am deeply apologetic to you and His Excellency.
Please arrest me now.
- I've come to see Her Majesty. - Yes, My Lady.
- Your Majesty, Lady Sung is here to see you. - Let her in.
- Your Majesty! - Welcome.
You must have heard the news.
He tried to kill me. Yes, he would have tried to do so.
He must have really hated me.
Your Majesty...
I'm fine, so don't worry about me.
Everyone must be so shocked, and His Majesty must be so troubled...
That is all I am worried about.
Everyone seems to be talking about the events of the ancestral visit.
Yes, everyone in the Capital already knows about this.
Artist Yi! Artist Yi!
What will happen to Chief Hong? If half the rumors are true, he will be executed!
Of course! The worst crime of all is the crime of betrayal!
And since he's also committed treason, his life will not be spared!
But Sir, even so, you're too mean!
Mean? That greenhorn wielded his power in government so recklessly!
Some even called him Jung Hu Gyum's successor!
- So he'll be executed by poison? - Poison? Most likely it'll be a public beheading!
Prepare yourselves! The Bureau will be painting his beheaded skull soon!
Your Majesty, the Third Councilor is here.
- Let him enter. - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty! - Welcome. I was waiting for you.
So Chancellor Jang Tae Woo has volunteered to be the Head of the Tribunal?
Yes, His Majesty has given his approval and has given him authority over this case.
As a result, the Chancellor is investigating Hong Gook Young's past acts as well.
He has said he will not only investigate Lord Wan Poong but everyone in government involved with him.
If that is the case, then our involvement with Hong Gook Young will become an issue.
We may fall into the grave that Hong Gook Young dug for himself!
That's right, Your Majesty. If the Chancellor wishes,
he can make us involved in this assassination attempt as well.
It looks like we have to lay low for a while.
Councilor, I will pretend to be ill and leave the palace for a while.
It may be advisable for you to find a reason to leave government for a while. What do you think?
Yes, Your Majesty. That is a good idea.
We have orders from the Tribunal Minister to investigate something.
- Search the house thoroughly! - Yes, Sir!
- What? What? - Why are you so surprised? Did you do commit a crime?
Commit a crime? Who? Me?
- Go and find Attendant Choi. - What?
Find her and tell her to stop what I ordered her to do!
- My Lord...? - Hurry! Go now!
- Take the men away! - Yes, Your Excellency!
What did I tell you? I said all of your crimes will be revealed!
I knew you would volunteered for this responsibility.
But I am responsible for everything.
Please do not vent your wrath on them.
You're mistaken if you think I'm merely venting my wrath.
It was His Majesty who gave me the authority to do this.
In order to reveal all of your treasonous acts, you will not be interrogated.
As this is also His Majesty's order, I hope you will cooperate.
- Tie the criminal up for interrogation! - Yes, Your Excellency!
These are all petitions asking for the reversal of all the actions of the Chief.
Yes, everything he has done is now being criticized.
It does not look like it will end quickly.
The bigger issue is that most of these petitions involve His Majesty's own reforms.
I'm worried that His Majesty's reforms will be reversed because of this.
Has anyone of you heard how His Majesty is doing?
He hasn't left the Grand Palace in a few days.
Take a good look.
This is the end of a power you so envied.
It won't be long.
The tighter you hold on to that power, the faster the end will come.
And ultimately, you will face the same fate as me.
You will sit in here just like me...
and others will mock you like they mock me now.
How is the interrogation going at the Tribunal?
He has confessed to everything. The interrogation is said to have ceased.
His judgment will be passed shortly.
Yes, he will most certainly lose his life.
How did all of this happen?
I had such great faith in Hong Gook Young's loyalty.
Your Highness...
What are you doing?
You haven't been sleeping well. I am going to spend the night here with you.
No, I do not want you to be uncomfortable because of me. Retire in your own chambers.
I won't be uncomfortable, Your Majesty! I like being here with you.
Your Majesty, don't be too troubled about Chief Hong.
If you think about how impudent he acted and spoke to you,
he is deserving of what has happened to him.
I am ignorant of these things, but I do know the difference between ambition and loyalty.
There are still many men who know the difference and continue to serve His Majesty.
This is the report from Lord Jang Tae Woo.
The criminal Hong Gook Young has confessed to attempting to assassinate the queen.
In addition, guards Kang Jong Pil and Jang Kyung Ok
have also confessed being accomplices to this plot.
Your Majesty...
Alright. I will give my judgment tomorrow. You may leave.
Forgive me for asking, but your judgment would be...?
The Chief...
has insulted the king and attempted to assassinate the queen.
What other judgment would a criminal of this magnitude deserve?
How could you say that to me? Why am I going overboard?
- Damn it! - Sir, what's wrong with you?
A traitor is a traitor! And all traitors deserve death! What's wrong with that?
I'm not saying the Chief isn't a criminal. But he was someone we used to trust and serve!
How could you turn your back on him so easily?
It's because I'm furious at him! We didn't know him at all!
I'm furious that I used to trust him!
Even so, you can't say that! His Lordship treated you so well!
- He even promoted you! - What? Officer Kang, you...!
Sir! Please contain yourself!
I'm Suh Jang Bo! Suh Jang Bo!
Will you give me some time?
Dae Su...
I have a request to make of you...
In my office, I have a proposal on reorganizing the military units.
I was working on reorganizing the Imperial Guard and the Five Armies.
Can you take it and organize it at a later time?
I'm glad I don't have to worry about this because of you.
It may seem like a ridiculous request coming from me,
but please take care of His Majesty's security.
Why did you do it?
I... I still can't believe it.
Did you really try to kill Her Majesty?
If His Majesty hadn't gone to the feast, and it was the queen who was there...
Would you really have tried to kill her?
The criminal Hong Gook Young has confessed to attempting to assassinate the queen.
In addition, guards Kang Jong Pil and Jang Kyung Ok...
have also confessed being accomplices to this plot.
Your Majesty...!
Did you serve me to come to this end?
Did you come to me that night when I was the Crown Prince...
so that you can come to this?
Your Majesty...!
When tomorrow comes, I have to pass judgment on you.
Do you understand?
With my own hands,
I have to pass judgment on you as a traitor.
Say something to defend yourself! I told you I would believe you.
I will believe you no matter what you say!
Say something! I will believe anything you tell me!
Tell me that nothing is true!
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, I am a criminal who has committed high treason.
I am guilty!
Please turn your back on me...
and never again...
allow yourself to be troubled...
by someone like me again!
Do you know...
what you were to me?
You were...
someone I wanted to accomplish many things with.
Everything that I had dreamt to accomplish...
I wanted to accomplish them with you.
You weren't just a subject to me.
You were my friend.
You were my comrade.
Your Majesty...!
But...
How could you make me do this to you?
How could you make me find you guilty?
How could you...
make me...
take your life?
I want to spare his life.
If I could, I want to forgive him.
I want to spare his life.
Your Majesty...
But...
I can't forgive him.
No...!
I must not forgive him.
That is...
That is my duty...
as king.
You're back!
- What will happen to Chief Hong? - He will be given his sentence today.
The rumors have it that he may be beheaded at Hongsuh Gate.
But if he's lucky, he could be given death by poison.
What?
So that's why Dae Su drank so much last night!
Dae Su was here?
Yes, he drank all night and he's still here because he was too drunk to go home!
Drink this!
I know how you must be suffering, but you shouldn't drink like this!
I'm sorry, Uncle.
But then again, if I was a few years younger, I would be drinking like you too.
It's too difficult to go through this completely sober.
But you know, Dae Su...
Have you heard anything about the investigation?
What?
Are they going to seize more people because of this incident?
Why do you want to know?
This is driving me crazy! I'm so terrified these days!
What are you talking about?
Dae Su! I'm depending on you!
If something happens to me, you have to take care of me!
Speak clearly! What are you talking about?
Actually, to tell you the truth...
All I did was deliver a message!
What?
Right before the feast, I ran into His Lordship!
He grabbed me like a madman and ordered me to go to the feast grounds
and deliver a message to Attendant Choi to stop what she was about to do!
How could I know what he was up to?
So without thinking, I ran to her and delivered his message.
Uncle! What did you just say?
What message did you deliver?
Tell me! Stop what?
Well...
Your Majesty, it is Official Nam.
Your Majesty.
As you ordered, I have assembled the criminals to the Tribunal grounds.
His Majesty the King!
Your Majesty!
Today, the fourteenth of the fourth month,
I will sentence the criminals guilty of attempting to assassinate the queen.
- The Tribunal Minister will read the sentence. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Episode 66