[This drama is created with the background of the historical facts from the founding of Goryeo by Taejo Wang Geon until the rise of 4th King Gwangjong.]
Soo!
A prince marrying a water maid?
Don't manipulate Soo with such lies.
If I say it is marriage, it is marriage.
You!
Stop pretending to care about her
and turn your back on her like you've been doing.
You're no longer in-laws.
She has nothing to do with you.
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
What should we do, Yo?
Find our eighth brother now!
Run. Hurry.
Take His Majesty back now.
Yes.
[Episode 13]
Is this how I will go?
Where are you saying you will go?
Please do not say weak things that do not even suit you.
How short and fleeting it was.
What have I been living for all this time?
You have founded an empire, Your Majesty.
An empire?
Will Goryeo last forever?
Did I make the right decision in choosing Crown Prince Moo?
We can confirm that you made the right decision, Your Majesty.
The Crown Prince will rise to the throne.
I see I have very good friends.
My war is over now.
Now, your battle is starting.
Watch over the Crown Prince...
and the 4th Prince, as well.
Your Majesty.
Let's get married.
What?
While it was hard to travel as an ambassador.
I often felt very free.
I thought of you every time.
I wanted you to feel freedom like that.
Come with me.
The Crown Prince must not find out about this situation.
All roads out of Songak have been blocked.
The moment that the king passes away
we must secure his last decree and grab our chance at victory.
Wook, how is the king?
What are you doing?
Your Highnesses, you should all return.
His Majesty will give his commands soon.
We cannot do that.
If the king is suffering from an illness
we need to protect Cheondeokjeon so his last decree remains unchanged.
It's not that you wish to change his last decree?
If you do not wish to be suspected of that
you should all leave this place.
I do not see So.
What?
Whoever steps into Cheondeokjeon without His Majesty's permission...
will be stabbed as a criminal guilty of treason.
So, it is best for you to all leave now.
Move! I must see the king for myself.
You dare to stop me? Do you wish to die?
Step aside.
Ji Mong, are you hiding the condition of the king?
I apologize.
What about the princes? You haven't harmed them, have you?
Of course not.
The princes have returned to their homes.
You are buying time until the Crown Prince arrives.
Your Majesty.
Even the aroma of your tea is like that of Soo Yeon's.
Are you feeling all right?
I will be dying soon.
Bring the Crown Prince.
He must come before it's too late.
You want me to do it?
I will find someone who can go quickly.
No, it must be you.
No one from inside the palace...
must find out about my death before the Crown Prince arrives.
What?
Once you leave this room, someone will approach you.
That person will ask you about my condition.
To the person who merely asks how I am...
tell that person I am asking for more tea.
To the person who asks if I am dead, you need to be careful.
That person is after the throne.
Get going.
You cannot trust anyone.
The fate of the Goryeo Empire rests on your shoulders.
That is probably the reason you are here.
- Be on guard. - Yes, Grand General.
Step aside unless you want to die.
No one can leave Songak.
I'm sure these are Wook's orders.
My suspicions were correct.
Last night, I saw that Wook was wearing his armor.
I saw it very clearly under his sleeve.
I wondered why he would secretly wear armor into the palace.
Was he planning on killing the king at the peace gathering?
Soo.
Where are you off to in such a hurry?
The king is asking for more tea.
I am going to the Damiwon.
What is this about marriage with So?
I didn't know you had that kind of relationship.
I was surprised.
You're mistaken. The 4th Prince was...
I have errands to run for the king.
I will speak to you once I return.
- I... - By any chance...
Has the king passed away?
I'm worried about him.
Has the king died?
To the person who asks if I am dead, you need to be careful.
That person is after the throne.
Your Highness...
do you...
want to become king?
Last night's events are not important.
The king has passed out now.
The question is, who will sit on the throne?
The king's successor is Crown Prince Moo.
That is his will.
What do you want, So?
Do you want to become king?
Are you...
going to become king?
Is becoming king something so easy that you can become one if you want?
You can become one if I help you.
If the Hwangbos and I support you
you can become king.
When I lost you...
I could not do anything with the limited power that I had.
In order to protect those I love inside this palace
I realized that I need to become the most powerful.
What can one do if they become king?
The world will become yours.
You can have everything.
Then can I have a person's heart, as well?
If I become king, will the heart I so desire become mine?
You asked if I am going to become king.
I am going to become king.
If so...
I will do it.
I will... become king.
Your Majesty, are you all right?
Your Majesty.
Are you awake?
Soo Yeon...
He has passed away.
No.
How can you leave me behind?
Open your eyes!
Queen Yoo.
You cannot leave me behind like this.
Come back!
You can't leave like this!
You can't throw me away like this!
Your Majesty! Come back.
Come back! Open your eyes.
Come back, come back!
Wake up.
Come back to me.
You terrible person.
For your sake, I will become king.
For my sake? You're doing this because of me?
It has already started.
Tomorrow, I will attack Cheondeokjeon with my third brother.
No, you can't do that.
That is treason.
Soo! The Crown Prince will not be able to return anyway.
Fighting over an empty seat is just a battle over a throne.
So, do not say anything to anyone.
You only to need to hide and wait for me.
You can do that, right?
I will ask you one more time.
Has the king died already?
The king...
has asked for more tea.
Crown Prince Moo is in Chahyeon.
You will not be able to get him here on your own.
You want to become king just to win over someone's heart?
The throne is not a seat to trifle with in that way.
To me, that is all it is.
Open up the road.
If you do not do so, I will assume you are plotting treason.
I am only stopping people from traveling to prevent treason while the king is ill.
I can't open the road for a person when I don't know who he will bring back.
There are no exceptions. Please return.
You ruined everything.
If it weren't for you, I would've killed the king.
Did you pretend to be a gisaeng this whole time just to kill the king?
You are a very scary girl.
Why did you do it?
What kind of deep grudge did you have that you would do that?
Your father...
killed my family.
All of them.
I was the only one left.
All of them.
Is that why you have the scars on your wrist?
Because of my father?
I am sorry.
I will beg in his place.
I am sorry.
I am sorry for being his son.
I have to assume that the king must be dead by now.
Or he is very close to it.
Then, will the Crown Prince take his place on the throne?
Oh, good thing you're here.
Do you have any news about Cheondeokjeon?
Has the king died, by any chance?
Don't speak so carelessly.
He must have more energy now after drinking tea from the Damiwon.
Why would you say that?
Are you certain?
Then why is he holding the queens hostage?
Hostage?
Have they not returned from Cheondeokjeon?
They are likely keeping them there to keep news from leaking out.
I will go back there.
By the way, where did you hear about the Damiwon?
Who said that tea was served?
They said that the king was getting his appetite back with Hae Soo's tea.
She served him tea both last night and today.
Find that girl.
That girl is the only one who knows the condition of the king.
We have to stop her from telling the Crown Prince about the king.
Find her. Now!
Have you seen Hae Soo?
I don't know her.
You know, that water maid from the Gyobang.
Why don't you know her?
The king has passed away.
What?
When I last saw him, he was just about to die.
By now...
He told me to bring the Crown Prince without anyone finding out.
The 3rd Prince is going to attack Cheondeokjeon tomorrow.
You need to bring the Crown Prince and stop him.
How do you know this?
Is that what's important right now?
The Crown Prince is in Hubaekje.
All the roads out of Songak are blocked.
We need to find another way out.
You said Hubaekje?
I know someone who might know the way.
Because the king has passed out, no one is left who will recognize you.
Would it be wrong to ask you to forget everything and be with me?
Woo Hee!
You said your hometown is Hubaekje, right?
Why are you suddenly asking?
We need to go get the Crown Prince.
- What? - How can I trust this girl?
She's my friend. You can trust her.
I don't know what it is, but she is all right.
It seems the king has passed away.
What?
Are you positive?
We have to assume it.
Soon, Yo and Wook...
they will attack Cheondeokjeon to go after the throne.
I will stop them, so you go get the Crown Prince.
It should take two days.
Wook has blocked all the roads out.
There is a road in and out of Songak that only I know.
If So was trying to leave Songak, he was going to get the Crown Prince.
You don't think the king has already died, do you?
I don't know yet.
I haven't heard from Mother, who is inside Cheondeokjeon.
So, no one knows the king's condition.
This is an opportunity.
Attack Cheondeokjeon now and get Mother out.
Announce that the king decreed you to be the next king.
No one will be able to refute it.
You have no fear.
You want to alter the king's last decree?
We can't lose everything while pondering for too long.
I told you already.
I do not want to become king with people calling me a traitor.
I do not want anyone to pick at my weaknesses.
I do not want any flaws.
I don't know what your true intentions are.
You wore your armor when you entered the palace yesterday.
I thought you were on the same side as Yo
but you will not kill the Crown Prince.
I am confused.
I am prioritizing.
Who would be more advantageous to attack first?
The Crown Prince or my third brother?
Or...
I cannot make a single mistake on my path to the throne.
You have changed, Wook.
You're not being forcefully dragged.
You seem to sincerely want the throne now.
I am happy.
If the situation will not change, then I must change.
The thing that worries me most now...
is the betrayal of one person.
What is it? Do you want to sit in it?
No.
I don't like it.
Everyone risks their lives for that seat.
You don't like it?
The king threw Court Lady Oh aside in order to protect that seat.
And you, Your Highness...
will have to fight your brothers.
It is a scary seat.
Even if you fight tomorrow
you won't hurt them, right?
Are you worried about Wook?
I guess you still consider him a relative.
Then why did you come to me?
You could have just stood by and watched.
He said it was for my sake.
He was angry that he could not do anything when I got kicked out.
He couldn't help and had to leave me alone.
He says he wants more power.
I see.
I felt that way back then too.
The king told me to live my life rationally and according to reason.
That is why I am siding with the Crown Prince.
But if the 8th Prince were to get injured...
I would be scarred forever.
All right.
I can't be confident about it, but I will try.
I don't want Wook to die either.
I could die too.
Are you not worried about me?
You are Gwangjong.
You have a long history ahead of you.
Even people who don't seem like they'll ever die...
eventually die.
You will be fine, Your Highness.
I don't know much else, but I'm sure about that.
Get away.
He is mine. Do not touch him.
His Majesty would not like you acting this way.
What do you know?
Have you ever even been loved by him?
Move that hand!
Please do not get caught up in your emotions and cause a scene.
Your Majesty.
I would like to see him briefly.
How did you get in here?
What about Yo? Is Jung here?
His last words were...
that life is short.
He said life was short and fleeting.
And fleeting, yet again.
[Two years earlier, Shinju]
The king must think sending a mask every year is enough fatherly affection.
Ji Mong.
How many men and weapons does Cheondeokjeon have?
Go check with Grand General Park.
Once the sun comes up...
3rd Prince Yo and 8th Prince Wook will be raising a rebellion.
The king wished to hand the throne to the Crown Prince.
We should make that happen.
I will go talk to Grand General Park.
Did you really just say Wook?
I think I must have heard wrong.
I apologize.
A rebellion? What about Yo?
Yes. He is probably coming for me.
He is coming to see why you all have me locked up in here.
Do not harm Yo.
If you touch one hair on his body, I will kill you myself.
You expect him to live after committing treason?
You are too greedy.
Leave my son alone!
What do you mean treason? What treason?
Shut your mouth. Why are you being stupid?
With one wrong move, your son and mine will both die.
We need to come up with a plan to save our children.
Forget that you're a woman and remember that you are a mother.
Understand?
Whoa!
We need to keep going.
We need to take a break in order to arrive a bit earlier.
If we keep going like this, your wound will open up more.
We might not arrive at all.
I wasn't trying to hide that I was a prince from the beginning.
I wasn't trying to fool you.
I know.
You're not like that.
I hid things from you too.
We're even.
I could just be a musician and you could be a gisaeng.
I wonder what it would've been like if that were true.
If so...
would we have an entirely different relationship?
Rest up a little more.
We just need to cross one mountain.
Then... we will be in Hubaekje.
It's my hometown.
We will have to part ways tomorrow.
We won't have a reason to meet again.
I don't want to.
All right.
I guess that's how you feel.
Since we won't see each other again, then...
can I do whatever I want for tonight?
It's strangely too quiet.
It's as if they are expecting us.
Most of the military is out with the Crown Prince.
There are not many soldiers left.
Even if they were to come back now, it would take them a whole day.
I have a request to ask of you.
What is it? Ask me anything.
If 4th Prince So tries to stop us...
please make sure to kill him.
There's no need to request that of me.
I will make sure to kill him.
You dare to bring an army to a place where the king lives?
This is treason!
My mother has been in there for over a day.
I need to know the truth behind why Cheondeokjeon has been sealed off.
I have told you that the king needs his rest.
Do you think I would believe such an blatant lie?
Let my mother out now
or I have to assume you're pushing out the Crown Prince.
And you are planning to take over the throne.
Crown Prince!
Wook, go to Cheondeokjeon now.
You're going to betray me now?
We were never on the same side, so it is not betrayal.
I heard about your plan from Wook.
I was on my way back after receiving a letter.
Wook, you proved your loyalty this time.
It was my honor, Crown Prince.
So, it was a trap to catch me?
His Majesty...
has just died.
He has left a decree stating that Crown Prince Moo shall be the next king.
The queens have acknowledged and received the decree.
I deliver this message to you, Your Highnesses!
Father...
Greetings to the new king, Your Majesty.
Long live the king! Long live the king!
Greetings to the king, Your Majesty.
Long live the king! Long live the king!
What are you all doing?
Greet your new king!
Long live the king! Long live the king!
Is he really dead?
I cannot believe it.
Your Majesty.
Father.
Wait and see, Your Majesty.
You always thought I was too ambitious.
I, Yeon Hwa, will make this empire mine.
Are you crazy?
We must go now and say our last goodbyes to the king.
You cannot go to the palace.
You are very sick right now.
What do you mean? I'm not sick.
You're so deathly ill that you can't go to the funeral.
You won't be able to attend when the new king is enthroned.
That way... that way, you can live.
Why would I die? Explain it so I understand.
Do you know what a new king does once he gets on the throne?
He kills off all male siblings and nephews who will threaten his position.
Kill?
You need stay as silent as a mouse if you want to live.
You need to make the new king completely forget about us.
Why are you giving me your armor?
You want me to wear my wife's armor to save my own life?
I noticed that you tend to look down on your husband.
Then... should we die together?
Are you crazy? Why would I die with you?
Why should we die at all?
Let's both... live.
Life and death are matters of luck. I'd rather not die together.
We are married, so we shouldn't die alone.
Your Highness!
You were on the Crown Prince's side.
Why did you lie to me like that?
You did it on purpose, right?
You were testing me.
And... you went to So in the end.
You weren't planning to kill the 4th Prince, were you?
It was not a lie that I plan on becoming the king.
Nothing bad will come from getting rid of those who will get in my way later.
I...
I was the cause of what happened to Court Lady Oh.
You knew how much pain that caused me.
Yet, you were going to use me to kill the 4th Prince?
You have changed.
You are not the person I once knew.
What about you? Why did you hide the truth from me?
I wanted you to tell me that the king had died.
Didn't you care if I would die or not?
The king asked me to help the Crown Prince become the next king.
That was what was logical.
I could not go against that and...
the 4th Prince had promised that he would not kill you.
You pleaded for my life with So?
You said to me before.
That we should leave Songak and leave in peace.
I can do that now.
If you ask the new king, he will allow it.
Even if we do that, another problem will arise.
There is no other way.
You said you were doing this for me.
You are fooling yourself.
Now...
I cannot have the same feelings for you as I did in the past, Your Highness.
I want to keep my distance from you.
Is it because of the 4th Prince?
For even one moment...
have you ever been sure of my feelings for you?
Have you ever completely trusted me?
I will make you come back to me.
It won't be easy.
Don't hunt him like he's an animal.
I'll do it. I can convince him.
Don't do it.
Can you handle him until the end?
He is still your older brother.
Give up already.
If it were you, would you give up?
Yo!
Yo... Yo!
It's not possible.
It is not possible.
It is not possible!
Why would Yo?
This would not happen to me.
I will find him.
I can find him.
Yo... he always comes when I call, Jung.
Mother.
I told him to stay away from him.
He ended up taking my child!
Jung.
Jung, this can't be happening to me.
Jung, Jung!
I am here. I will stay with you.
I will not leave you, Mother.
Yo!
My child, my child!
Yo!
What's the matter?
If I came to you, I didn't think you would forgive me.
But I thought you would understand.
I...
stabbed my older brother.
[Scarlet Heart: Ryeo]
Are you trying to make me give up on you or make me look only at you?
If you're not going to come to me, don't give me hope.
About the words that are important
but you have forgotten...
What are they?
I...
love you.
You should stop now
and abdicate the throne in my favour.
I had to commit treason to protect Mother and this household.
Is it because of Hae Soo?
Rebellion? Did you say rebellion?
A successful plot of treason is not treason at all.
Find the king now!
You!