THIS DRAMA IS FICTIONAL AND ALL CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS,
AND EVENTS ARE UNRELATED TO HISTORICAL EVENTS.
They say your arrow does not fly straight when you are troubled.
EPISODE 11
I apologize for requesting a meeting with you so late.
Why would you say such a thing?
You are seeking me out when you are troubled,
so I am grateful for that.
If only this was a dream.
If only this would all end when I wake up. That would be so nice.
I have something to give you.
CONFIDENTIAL
Please drag the Queen down into the nightmare I am living in.
My King.
You appeared in my dreams last night,
and such a big power came into my hands.
THE QUEEN'S DICTIONARY
NO TOUCHING
AWESOME, MAGIC HOUR, ATTENTION SEEKER
SHOWDOWN, JASMINE TEA, ILL-MANNERED
You're so cute.
Your Highness.
My, did you lose your voice because you've been calling me nonstop?
Your Highness.
How is the temperature of the water?
I like it.
What on earth are you doing here?
My Queen.
Today,
I shall forget "No touching".
Your Highness. Are you awake?
Goodness.
How did you end up looking like an executioner overnight?
How dare he ruin my sexy bath dream?
Call him in right now!
Yes, Your Highness.
Call him in...
Who shall we call?
THE QUEEN'S DICTIONARY
You look like you are in good spirits, Your Majesty.
I slept the entire night without waking up.
Start preparing for the banquet today.
Okay.
EPISODE 11, THE ONE WHO CANNOT BE FORGIVEN
Doctor.
I had a nightmare.
But what's scarier than the nightmare...
is the fact that I felt disgusted,
but I also liked it at the same time.
I don't know if this is how I feel or if it's how this body feels.
I feel like I've been assembled by pieces from here and there.
That's right.
It feels like I've become a set of Legos.
Who on earth am I?
But the thing is...
why are you calling me "doctor"?
You're making me break character.
Just listen. It's just a type of convention.
So what is the opinion of the expert?
After you've been in a vegetative state,
some of the common side effects are changes to your body.
It's common?
So this is common.
That is actually quite comforting.
Just hearing that makes me feel like my anxiety is going away.
One who can heal without performing any acupuncture...
is truly a great physician.
It turns out that...
our royal physician's specialty was in psychology.
Then when will my mixed up and duplicitous state...
going to be relieved?
Those are all issues related to your heart.
Once you accept it, it will not trouble you anymore.
If it does not trouble you, that is when you can start living.
I have to accept myself as who I am?
It makes sense. The only consistent thing about me was my inconsistency.
Oh, right.
The medicinal herbs you used for the beauty cover were great.
Take that experience...
and make something to apply on the face.
Elasticity, glow and brightening.
Make sure the functions attract attention as soon as you hear them.
She's going to need a new one every 28 days, so make a bunch.
Why is it every 28 days?
That's how long it takes for your skin to regenerate.
Every time she has dead skin,
she will need me.
Your Highness.
Great Lord Yeongeun has come to see you.
Was it really the Royal Consort's court maid?
That is what she believes.
I am hoping that the court maid who sold the norigae...
was O Wol.
She must be really upset.
I must go visit her.
Your Majesty. The Royal Consort Eui has come to see you.
Tell her to come in.
Royal Consort.
Excuse me.
I have drawn a composite of O Wol.
Because I am the one who remembers her appearance the most.
I am sure...
that the person who sold the norigae was O Wol.
There is no way she would end up like that in the Palace.
You will be able to know for sure with this.
Please excuse me.
Okay.
I just heard.
You must have been so upset alone last night.
I pulled myself together all night, so do not worry too much.
I have something to tell you.
It is about how you feel towards the Queen.
It is harder to overcome yourself...
than to overcome another person. That is why...
you should not try to stop your feelings.
What I want from you is not your apology.
Are you doing okay so far?
It has only been a day since I have returned to the Palace,
so I am fine.
However, I will be busy due to the investiture of the Royal Concubine.
The investiture of the Royal Concubine.
While you were at home,
did anything strange happen?
Anything strange?
I picked up a king while I was passing by the well but...
No. Is something wrong?
Well...
After having the two of you at home,
the house feels empty without you there.
I suppose that is the problem.
Why don't you see His Majesty before you go?
I'm saying the parties involved should handle it on their own.
No, it is okay.
I am sure he is busy because of the banquet.
Your Highness, I have brought the letter to the house of the fiancee.
You should take care of business. I will get going now.
Your Highness.
Even if they fill the spot of 100 concubines,
they cannot dare...
to fill the spot of the Queen.
Right. Of course.
Please take care of yourself.
Goodbye.
HAN SI OK
Take out everyone from the Han family.
We don't want to end up like "Romeo and Juliet".
What happened with what I asked for? The Han family registers.
Pyeongsan Han clan.
Hanyang Han clan.
Anbyeon Han clan.
- Yangju Han clan. - Hold on.
Are all of those Han family registers?
Yes, Your Highness.
Gosh, this is getting out of hand.
This won't do. I need to win her favor properly.
DS. I should start doing that.
- DS? - Door-to-door sales.
Is it already time for a meal?
It is time for you to share it with your skin.
My gosh, you are blinding my eyes.
This glow must be from out of this world.
Thanks to you, my entire day is filled with taking care of myself.
I have not been paying attention to the investiture.
I am sure you are doing well.
I am doing my best.
Of course. If you see one thing, you have seen it all.
You do everything so well,
so I trust you.
There is something that...
I prepared especially for you, Grand Queen Dowager.
If you sprinkle this magic powder on your hair,
it will make you look 10 years younger.
It's hair powder.
You do not need to bother with putting mulberry juice...
on your head every morning.
Oh, my.
Gently. sprinkle the powder.
Sprinkle it.
It is a completely different person.
Her eyes were a bit more slanted.
Wait, was her left eye more slanted?
I'm hungry too
Okay.
Her face was slim, and she had chubby cheeks.
She had a wide forehead,
and her eyes shined.
Like this.
Her nose was straight but round at the end.
Your Majesty. The Royal Chef is here.
I think sweet flag liquor would be good. What do you think?
Pardon?
Oh. I was lost in my thoughts, so I was ahead of myself.
I was thinking about the liquor to have at the banquet.
Your Majesty. I have prepared something.
Punish me with death, Your Majesty.
You can be at ease.
That way things will go smoothly.
If you say so.
Are you comfortable like that? Come here then.
Hey.
It is a traditional banquet set-up.
The banquet I have in mind is a bit different.
I want to reduce the number of dishes and remove...
the big, unnecessary set up in the middle.
- I apologize, Your Majesty, - Okay.
but a royal banquet...
is supposed to be big and fancy.
So as unnecessary as it may be...
Have you lost your mind?
Starvation is common for the people.
How can I waste food just to please our eyes?
Then, as for the food we will prepare,
we will bring starving people outside the palace and feed them.
Modest, but not shabby.
Fancy, but not extravagant.
That is the banquet I have in mind.
I will give everything I have for the next two weeks.
Let us work together.
Your Majesty.
How can a man cry so easily like that?
I cannot believe he kept such a detailed record...
of the sources of the bribes.
The Queen's father is more meticulous than I thought.
Royal Noble Consort Eui's enemy is not the Kim clan. It is the Queen.
That is why she fails to see the big picture.
We must use the ledger more effectively.
We will bring the fall of the Kim clan...
and dethrone the Queen as well.
A ledger?
What was he thinking? How could he keep such a dangerous item?
I should...
Keep it a secret for now.
If the clan finds out, people will be agitated.
My goodness. That man...
Anyway,
who do you think has the ledger now?
The King stayed at his house for two whole days...
and ignored the request of his attendance in the palace.
The...
The King?
He is planning to expose us at the banquet on Surit-nal.
He may have a weapon with him,
but we must make him weak, so he cannot hold his weapon.
From Kim Mun Geun's point of view,
I am the only suspect left now.
But he cannot question the King if he had stolen the ledger.
He must be in a tight spot.
Have we found out the identity of the man behind the mask?
No one from the Department of Justice...
has a scar on their chin.
Even if we fail to obtain the ledger,
we must be able to devise a plot to carry out our plan.
Have you looked into other clans?
The law of five seconds.
It only takes five seconds to fall in love.
Your Highness, everyone is here.
- This is everyone? - Yes.
Nice to meet you.
Let me see.
Women I felt a spark with...
She was nice too.
Lady Yoon. I'd love to know more about your life...
because you have such a nice aura.
In my hometown, there is this beautiful mountain.
It is called Mount Gamak.
- Mount Gamak? - Yes, Your Highness.
That is amazing.
- "Amazing"? - "Amazing"?
- Your Highness. - Yes?
There is a big palace in my town.
The palace was built by King Jeongjo.
Is Hwaseong Palace is the only thing you can brag about your hometown?
That is all you ever talk about.
Now, you may have one more thing to brag about...
if you become a consort, Lady Hong.
Your Highness. Thank you.
In the empty lots from my hometown, there are many peach trees.
When the flowers are in bloom,
they are gorgeous.
And my mother dreamed of peaches when she had me.
I knew it.
If a peach were to be born as a girl,
it would look just like you, Lady Min.
Peach.
If you can win over these three clans,
you can have a dragon and two phoenixes on your sides.
So you will be riding on a white tiger's back.
As Hwaseong Palace guards the gate...
and I adore the scenery of Mount Gamak,
the sweet aroma of peaches fills my room.
The Papyeong Yoon clan. The Namyang Hong clan.
The Yeoheung Min clan.
This is a good balance of the clans.
Innocent, sexy, and cute.
How harmonious.
Gyeong Ok of the Papyeong Yoon clan.
Ja Yeon of the Yeoheung Min clan.
Sim Hyang of the Namyang Hong clan.
I assign you the rank of Grade Two in the Internal Court, consort.
The three of these consorts and their families joined my family.
So tell the elders of your families...
to attend the banquet on Surit-nal.
- Thank you, Your Majesty. - Thank you, Your Majesty.
- Gosh. - Goodness.
The King started to build his own allies.
But they are bound to leave him...
once they find out he is weak as a kitten.
The King insisted on having a banquet.
Is this what he wanted?
- I hope you are getting it ready. - Do not worry.
Yes!
Everyone must've been dying to see what was beyond the walls.
They are so good at neolttwigi.
The Queen Dowager is coming.
I hope all is well with you.
It has been a while, Royal Noble Consort Eui.
- Hello, Your Highness. - Hello, Your Highness.
I will head to the archery range and practice my archery.
It has been quite some time...
you woke up from the vegetative state now.
But you did not come to see me once.
I have been busy...
with selecting the royal concubines after I returned.
My apologies.
Given that you had a near-death experience, you seem too well.
I am very healthy.
So you must have given up to hunt on Surit-nal.
Instead of practicing your archery at the range,
you are here, jumping on the plank.
I am sure Royal Noble Consort Eui will win anyway.
I decided to enjoy the process.
I may be good at the "haunting",
but I am not good at hunting at all.
"Haunting"?
Do you know why...
the young women of the Internal Court going hunting...
on Surit-nal?
No, I do not.
On Surit-nal, we chase away evil spirits.
People used to chase away the evil spirits...
with the blood from their killings.
Now, we are hunting animals instead.
Actually, there was a body from the well at the palace.
People are saying she was Royal Noble Consort Eui's court maid.
In the well?
Gosh. Why?
Your Highness.
- Please come. - Please come.
Okay.
- My gosh. - No way.
- She is so good. - Your Highness.
A triple axel.
I can't sleep and feel restless.
Should I send a message to my dear consorts?
What would be good?
A simple opening line that isn't too burdensome but provokes emotions.
I got it.
Deliver these to them at the royal villa.
Yes, Your Highness.
Oh, right.
Tell them to see if the King stops by.
Yes, Your Highness.
One for each consort at the royal villa.
- Check on His Majesty. - Check on His Majesty.
One for each consort at the royal villa.
- Check on His Majesty. - Check on His Majesty.
Seriously?
After you.
- One for His Majesty. - One for His Majesty.
- Check on royal consorts. - Check on royal consorts.
What?
- One for His Majesty. - Something has changed.
- Check on royal consorts. - Check on royal consorts.
"Are you sleeping?"
Well...
Are you sleeping?
Why is she so curious about this?
It is three "Are you sleeping?".
The reply was delivered.
I sent 3. Why there's only one reply?
Is everyone putting too much effort?
Let's see.
What a beautiful handwriting. She's indeed from a noble family.
I went out on a sleepless night.
There is something that shines on the dark sky at night.
I looked up wondering if it was the moon. But it was my friend.
What a cringey but emotional text.
If so, I will also...
- Hong Yeon. - Yes, Your Highness.
This is a reply. Send it to the person who sent the letter.
I sometimes think of other things.
I will be happy drowning to death in the thought of you.
Please row to me.
Oh, I did not let you go.
My Queen.
I finally made use of what I learned for the college entrance exam.
Nice. This is how I'll rediscover my identity.
Okay.
Follow the same recipe,
but instead of extravagant croaker,
pomfret would be nice.
POMFRET IS A KIND OF BUTTERFISH.
Should I get some inspiration for the poems for my letters?
My Queen.
Darn it.
My Queen.
You! I said you're not allowed.
But...
At the investiture, I was acting like we were a couple...
as it was an official ceremony.
It's an important time for me to rediscover my identity.
Please cooperate.
How rude.
Darn it.
How can she be so different?
She is shier than she looks.
The menu list for the ceremony is completed.
Please work on that.
Did you check the offering list for the Dano ceremony?
Here it is.
Why do they keep saying "erection"?
The menu "erection" refers to the list of foods.
Offering "erection" is a record of items for ritual ceremonies.
What is the matter, Your Highness?
Really? Am I the only trash here?
Your Majesty!
You overwork yourself every day.
You should go and have a rest, Your Majesty.
No.
We do not have time. Let us keep going on.
I almost felt sorry for him again.
This is not good. I should send even more emotional letters today.
"Erection" is indeed a dangerous word.
Unlike what history says, he has a nosebleed for the other thing.
The name I will die calling!
It will linger in my mind as I cannot forget it.
How can she be so different day and night?
Is she having a hard time deciding...
whether to forgive me or not?
There is no way to forgive me for the broken heart.
Would there be a path we could walk together?
I hope we can walk together from the beginning next time,
even if it is in dreams.
Practicing sword at night?
Having one crazy person is enough.
We need to prepare for the sparring at the Dano ceremony.
Do it with the people from the Department of Justice.
How do you evaluate your own swordsmanship?
I do not know.
I never tried my best because I am not interested.
That is why I need you.
An opponent whose ability is unknown.
SURIT-NAL
LONGEVITY AND GOOD FORTUNE
DAEJOJEON HALL
The weather is amazing, Your Highness.
Is that so? That's nice.
I hate when it rains on sports day.
My father will come. So it should be more glamorous.
It is the first day I will present myself in front of everyone.
Pay extra attention.
Yes. I look pretty.
Everyone will be looking at me, right?
Are you planning to use a metal arrowhead?
Today, I have...
a big game to catch.
All right. This must be delivered quickly.
Let us hurry.
Hello, my lord.
We have the fresh ingredients for the Surit-nal banquet today...
and the royal offerings.
We must hurry to the palace. Please excuse us.
- Do you have a document for them? - Of course.
Here you go.
It is time to dress, Your Highness.
Give me a moment.
It is a very important day.
I should at least try to read my fortune with this.
Let me see. The card for the Pungyang Jo clan.
TOJANG: A LOW CARD IN TUJEON
The rabbit card.
Well, luck is relative.
Let me see. And the card for the King.
What?
"Injang". The ninth card.
Will the tables turn?
Now, this is for the Queen.
Dragon?
EOJANG
The eighth card. Darn it.
I hate my reading today.
Is the Queen...
plotting something again?
The Queen Dowager is here.
You could have let me know in advance that you were visiting.
You will not even hide your dislike toward me.
When I was the Queen, such actions were unheard of.
Regardless of the eras,
no daughters-in-law would want to be ambushed by their mothers-in-law.
Look at you, talking back to me.
I heard that you are cooking for the Grand Queen Dowager.
But you have never offered me a single refreshment.
You must fear...
your grandmother-in-law more than you fear me.
My gosh. No, that is not true.
The Grand Queen Dowager takes good care of herself,
so she seems young.
But she cannot defy time.
You should think more carefully.
I will live longer than the Grand Queen Dowager.
I will serve you my food some time...
I must eat it now.
I am curious about your cooking which I only heard about.
I cannot wait.
Right now?
Is this the beginning of bullying from my mother-in-law?
My gosh. I'm so annoyed.
What is she hiding?
Royal Chef. I need the grain syrup.
What will I do without the fresh ingredients for the banquet?
All the guards around the wagon died.
What could I do?
My goodness. Come on.
- The dried fish. - What?
The dried fish. The dried fish!
The Royal Chef is too busy these days.
I can't boss him around.
Where's the grain syrup?
I WENT OUT ON A SLEEPLESS NIGHT.
"I went out on a sleepless night..."
Royal Chef. Royal Chef!
- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.
What is this about?
Your Majesty.
These are precious ingredients. They are all rotten!
They must have been stored improperly.
Punish me with death, Your Majesty.
That cannot be.
No one would have ruined them unless their safety was guaranteed.
Royal Chef!
Your Majesty.
We have a problem.
Someone added stones in the rice jab.
- What? - We cannot serve anything.
Do not worry. Do everything you can on your end.
I will do whatever it takes to get those ingredients.
Yes.
Goodness. What are you doing?
Royal Chef! Hey!
I should show her how I'm bringing the food all by myself.
That will help her feel better, right?
The mix of sweet grain syrup and salt makes...
the perfect example of sweet and salty dishes.
Over there, I see a beautiful mountain
Secretary Han?
You jerk!
How dare you?
My popcorn!
You!
That scumbag!
Where are the refreshments?
Well...
Here.
You can look forward to your life at the palace.
Given the circumstance,
you must get the ingredients...
once you are done with your demonstration of martial arts.
Yes.
Thank you for inviting us to this banquet.
You deserve to be here.
The consorts are doing well here.
I hope all is well with you.
- Yes. - Yes.
Anyway, have a good day today.
Is the Queen Dowager not here yet?
I will find out.
TONGMYEONGJEON HALL
I thought you ran away.
Of course not.
If anyone has committed a crime, they must be punished accordingly.
I am glad that you are aware of it.
The Queen sent me some snacks in the morning,
and I started getting ready late because I was tasting them.
The Queen did?
I feel like I'm going to die being stuck in the middle like this.
Is she having another misunderstanding?
No way.
The Royal Guard Division will put on a martial arts performance.
Attention!
Round one.
How dare he try to harm the Queen with that sword?
Spar.
Oh, my. The King has prepared very well.
Grand Queen Dowager. It is time to go hunting.
Your Highness. You should change into your hunting attire.
I will be back, Grand Queen Dowager.
I will be back.
First line, prepare to shoot.
Fire!
I thought this was all for show.
It's all about what items you have.
I think I look cool right now.
I like it. I look cool right now.
Why does she look so determined?
There are always those who take sports days so seriously.
What's with that glare?
A bird is worth 1 point, a rabbit is worth 2 points,
a badger is worth 3 points, a boar is worth 4 points,
a deer is worth 5 points, a wolf is worth 7 points,
a bear is worth 9 points, and a tiger is worth 10 points.
WOLF, TIGER, RABBIT, DEER
You will each be given 10 arrows.
For a fair match, your court lady and court maid...
will not join you.
How cruel.
This would make people sign a national petition...
if it happens in the present day.
Then we will get started.
You may now go.
I should just waste some time and come back.
The hunting competition today is so predictable.
It is a competition for the pride of each family.
But the Queen does not seem interested.
I did not know you have enough time to care about a playful competition.
You might see your son's face today.
It is time to give you my gift.
On the night when the Queen has fallen into a vegetative state,
Royal Noble Consort and the King were going to share a bed.
The Queen woke up...
only a day after she fainted.
Do you mean she pretended to lose consciousness...
to keep them from sharing a bed?
The Queen put everything at stake...
to win the King's heart.
Diving into the lake...
throwing herself in front of the sword pointed at Consort Eui.
She even put the last thing she has at stake now.
The Queen abandoned her family.
I was getting bored, and you told me a funny story.
The King insisted on giving a banquet out of nowhere.
And the Queen rushed the investiture of royal consorts...
to select families in power.
As if she chose the ones who can support the King.
The King will reveal the true side...
he has hidden in front of the officials today.
As a strong ruler.
Can you see it now?
The Queen moves for the King.
Are you not afraid of your future saying such things?
You must have believed the Queen would never betray you.
I was actually disappointed.
You were bewitched by the Queen's cheap tricks...
and fooled like that.
I guess you are old now.
I will tear those lips off.
The Queen pretended to faint. Then I committed no sin.
So I am not afraid anymore!
Why did you stop playing?
You made Grand Queen Dowager upset.
Next,
the King will grant you with Dano fans.
You have worked hard. I am excited for the banquet.
I also saw you working hard.
Grand Queen Dowager has come.
You are here.
The royal banquet was so boring.
I could not stand it.
I was wondering if the banquet here is any better.
I am sorry that I could not please you.
I wanted to see the martial arts demonstration but I was late.
Well, it is just as boring to see the staged event.
I would rather have them spar for real.
I will make the royal guards compete with each other.
How about doing it yourself?
I heard you chopped firewood in Ganghwa...
and delivered water for living.
With that stamina, it would not be so hard.
Manual work and martial arts are different.
Furthermore, I only have sat on the throne for the past few years.
My body became stiff.
You may use a Dano fan instead of a weapon.
How about competing against the head of the Department of Justice?
You are around the same age.
The head of the Department of Justice...
is a warrior who has professionally trained for years.
I am worried the King might get hurt.
If you want to watch a match, I will have others...
I have to see how the King fights.
What do you say?
Father was wrong.
Please see the King's true face on Surit-nal.
DEER
Darn it.
BEAR
Go.
You are not the prey I have been looking for.
Is it the wrong way?
I think I saw this tree earlier.
Where should I go?
We will hold a fan in our hands.
The person who takes the fan from the opponent will win.
Be gentle.
What is going on?
I said be gentle.
How will you take responsibility for hurting the King's body?
It is Grand Queen Dowager's order.
I cannot do anything but do my best.
So you have Grand Queen Dowager behind you.
Then I shall teach you a thing or two again.
Let me show you who this palace belongs to.
You said he is different from the late King.
He is indeed different.
Whatever.
I should just take a nap. They will find me when it's over.
My gosh!
What are you doing here?
What do you think I am doing? I am hiding to live.
It's not like you'll die for real. Why are you so scared?
I know but the arrow hurts quite a lot.
I still have bruises from the last year.
You're such a crybaby.
Don't worry. I'm not interested in hunting.
I will get shot by someone else's arrow anyway.
My gosh.
How can you just come back here like this?
TIGER
Like this?
Thank you, Your Highness.
This is a souvenir.
Go.
Already?
I did not know the Queen's archery skills were that great...
to catch a tiger so quickly.
She is an archery master.
I did not see her and only heard the sound of the wind.
Then I got shot just like that.
Really?
It was you.
You were that person.
I will not forgive you.
I will take your life.
MR. QUEEN
I have regretful news.
My hand slipped...
and I shot an arrow to the Queen.
The banquet is about to begin, but the ingredients did not arrive.
Is this all?
Is it you who put the drug?
The name is Lee Saeng Mang.
I will make a new menu list according to the ingredients we got.
How dare you fry my precious needle?
What we will make today isn't ordinary food.
It's the face of the president.
How dare you refuse to obey the orders of your superior?
- Catch them! - It is not disloyalty but mutiny!
You have to pay the price for letting your temper control you.