I must find the letter of Secret Roots.
You must arrest them.
I must find my father's will.
You must bring them to me alive.
How...
How can a young child like him
have such anger inside?
If you want to live, get out of here.
Hurry.
Sir.
Sir!
Sir.
The wound is too deep.
The traitor, Jeong Do-gwang, must surrender now.
You will never escape the woods!
Seo-jin.
Sir.
Make sure
you pass it all on to Gi-jun.
Go.
Hurry!
I swear on my life
that I will successfully execute your order.
Jeong Do-jeon's brother,
Jeong Do-gwang, is here!
Young Master...
Father!
Father.
What happened?
Young Master...
Jeong Gi-jun...
What...
happened?
Your father...
has passed away.
The child,
whom this pouch...
belongs to...
has...
the letter of Secret Roots.
The letter of Secret Roots?
No matter what,
you have to retrieve...
-Father. -Seo-jin!
Father.
Seo-jin.
-Father. -Seo-jin.
Father.
Secret Roots.
Secret... Roots.
Father!
Father.
Father!
Father.
Father...
Father!
Father.
That man is not the one
who took my father's will.
Darn it! You scared me.
Goodness.
LEADER
How did it go?
Jeong Do-gwang is...
dead.
I see.
What about Jeong Gi-jun? Is he dead as well?
He wasn't there.
Then...
Jeong Gi-ju must be alive.
Dam.
All of the servants who worked for Lord Sim On
are dead. Every single one of them.
That can't be true.
But
the edge right here
is a bit chipped.
Steal another one for me next time.
Dam.
Dam...
Dam.
No matter what,
I will come back.
NORTHERN SIX STATES BORDER
Did the kid named Ttolbok go back?
He was throwing a tantrum, asking us to accept him.
He must be gone.
He probably tired himself out.
That kid was so tenacious.
-What? -What is this?
You said you'll accept me if I bring a Jurchen's head.
Accept me now.
-What is that little punk saying? -What?
You little brat. Who are you?
Me?
I'm Ttolbok from Hanjitgol village!
KING TAEJONG, YI BANG-WON
Do you still...
believe in what you said before?
You said that you would not kill anyone.
And that you would convince people with words, not swords.
You told me you would embrace everyone
and patiently...
wait and persevere.
Do you still believe in that naive thought?
Yes.
I still plan to do so.
You're pathetic.
You said you would hide the poison
that comes with power,
and be patient and endure everything, didn't you?
Do you really think
that is something one can do?
That path will be far more brutal
than the one I have walked on.
That may be so.
I bet
one day, you will kneel
before my grave
and weep as you regret
how foolish you have been.
I doubt...
that will ever happen.
Because...
as the King of Joseon,
I won't have time
for such a thing.
You little...
Keep your word.
Make sure you follow through.
So that...
making you the King...
becomes
my greatest achievement.
I will...
make sure of it.
-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.
Yi Bang-won no longer exists
in this world.
Charge!
Watch me, Father.
Watch me, Dam.
That pathetic fool on the throne...
He'd better watch out.
KING SEJONG, YI DO
Your Majesty.
The assembly will begin shortly.
Assembly, my foot.
Your Majesty.
Many can hear you. Please watch your...
So many darn assembly meetings.
Why does being a king require so many rituals?
I thought I had transferred my role to the Crown Prince.
Why do I have to keep taking part in them?
Damn it.
Goodness.
Your Majesty, please.
Am I wrong?
There's already not enough time for books and taking care of political affairs.
What a crap!
Did I say it right?
Yes.
You said it right, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Please, watch your language.
I am watching my language.
I have so many things to deal with.
I have so much crap to deal with.
This word expresses my emotion perfectly.
No one in the palace
uses this kind of language.
Your Majesty.
The ministers are suggesting
that we cancel the Royal Lecture this afternoon
after the assembly.
They always want to cancel it.
They're worried about your health
because you've been attending many events lately.
Goodness, they care so much about my health.
Then, Your Majesty...
Tell them it won't be canceled.
Yes, Your Majesty.
This stupid Royal Lecture!
These Royal Lectures never get postponed or canceled.
Ever since he became the King,
we have held this lecture
over 1,800 times.
What did he say when he decided to build the Hall of Worthies?
He said he'd just read books in there.
However,
look how things turned out.
We thought the scholars have been studying in there,
but they have been working closely with the King to sabotage us.
They have been attacking us constantly.
They're not just sabotaging us.
Actually, we have not been able to
counter their arguments.
That's not it.
The Hall of Worthies
was set up to gather
blind followers of the King.
What are your thoughts, Chief State Councillor?
HWANG HUI
I'm not sure.
What I can
assure you right now is...
that today's topic will be hard as well.
That's exactly what I mean.
I don't know why the King keeps bringing up
the law banning the people from filing complaints against authorities.
But...
today, I am fully prepared.
This time, I'll take on Seong Sam-mun.
You lost miserably last time.
How about you take on Park Paeng-nyeon?
Okay.
We can't back down
on today's topic, no matter what.
Do you understand?
-Yes. -Yes.
JEONG IN-JI
CHOI MAN-RI
YI SUN-JI
PARK PAENG-NYEON
SEONG SAM-MUN
His Majesty shall enter now.
MU-HYUL, COMMANDANT OF THE PALACE GUARD
You're here, Commandant.
Did you hear from General Kim Jong-seo?
Yes. Someone came from the north.
He brought a letter from the general.
I see.
Let's head inside.
Your Majesty.
The ban on filing complaints against authority
was legalized by the late King Taejong after thorough discussion
with the State Council.
Also, this law was already signed by you
in the first year of your reign.
I wonder why--
You must be wondering why I am making an issue out of it, aren't you?
Please do not mind
me doing my thing over here.
The Royal Physician
expressed his concern about my health since I eat too much meat
and do not exercise as much as I need to.
So I am trying to make a small effort by moving around a little.
You are wondering why I make an issue out of it again.
At the time,
on what grounds
did we ban the people and slaves from accusing authorities of wrongdoings?
King Taejong said
that those who report their authorities' treason
-should simply be beheaded. -"Hold on."
Hold on.
Regarding those who the late King mentioned to be beheaded,
could they be the ones who reported simple wrongdoings of their authorities
or could they be the ones
who reported their authorities' treason?
They are the ones who reported their treason, Your Majesty.
Then,
why does this law ban reporting on all wrongdoings, not specifically treason?
A similar law
was in place during the Goryeo period, so...
Goryeo is a fallen country.
We are
in the age of Neo-Confucianism.
Zhu Xi once told Emperor Xiaozong of Song
that when the young go against the old
or when the people of lower rank
disrespect those of higher rank,
no matter how valid their points are,
they must not be acknowledged.
What Zhu Xi meant to say
is that the country must be ruled with strict discipline.
Once we allow the subordinates to report wrongdoings of their superiors,
some of them would try to slander their superiors,
and it will eventually lead to the decline in discipline.
Even now,
there are many who used to hold power during the Goryeo period.
If we allow the people to file complaints against the authorities,
the authorities
will suffer endless slanderous attacks from those people.
WHAT A CRAP
After hearing your opinions,
I have come to realize that you are right.
This is why we need Royal Lectures.
-"So, please enlighten me..." -So, please enlighten me
by answering the following two questions.
Wait.
They're supposed to be three.
You can't even guess it right.
Please stop with that.
Is something wrong, sir?
What does it say?
Military Officer Go In-seol
is dead.
Pardon?
How could such a thing...
He was murdered.
I need to see His Majesty.
Did the one who brought this letter from the north go back?
No. General Kim Jong-seo recommended him to be part of the Royal Guard.
He must know something about this incident.
Ask around about him.
Yes, sir.
First question.
Under our current system,
censors are allowed to go against a royal command
and refuse to take on their duties.
If you think about it,
that goes against Zhu Xi's teachings, doesn't it?
We cannot possibly go against Zhu Xi in a Neo-Confucian country.
I'll have to dismiss all of you.
I'll pass on your words to the Royal Secretariat.
Your Majesty, that is not what I meant.
You have to read between the lines.
There should be three questions.
Zhu Xi
had never forsaken the people.
Do not try to answer my question by quoting another person.
You should answer me with your own reasons.
Second question.
If we ban our people from filing complaints against their authorities,
the authorities will be subject to weaker supervision than the king.
Then who would control them?
Wait.
For that, the Royal Court can send Censors and investigate--
But the people are banned from filing complaints.
Then,
from whom will the censors hear the complaints?
There's no point in hearing from the authorities,
and if they listen to the people, that would be ironic.
Please answer this question, ministers.
Your Majesty.
There should be three questions.
Watch it. This is the Royal Lecture. Sit down.
Your Majesty, you forgot the most important question.
His Majesty said he has two questions.
How dare you?
His Majesty must have forgotten it.
Please allow me.
Sixth Counselor Seong Sam-mun.
How dare a young person like you
try to correct His Majesty with your shallow knowledge?
That's right.
Watch what you say, Sixth Counselor.
You are not qualified to be a part of this Royal Lecture.
How dare you?
The third question His Majesty should ask is--
How dare you?
Shut your mouth!
This is it.
Just because one is young.
Just because one is inexperienced.
Just because one is of low class.
Just because of mutiny that may or may not happen.
Just because it could lead to the decline in discipline.
If we silence the people
because of such reasons,
from where
am I supposed to listen to my people?
This is the most important question Seong Sam-mun mentioned.
And these three questions
are the answer to your question for me.
This is the reason that this law must be discussed again!
General Kim Jong-seo
sent a letter that says Go In-seol is dead.
I heard that he was murdered.
Why would anyone murder him?
If...
Go In-seol was killed because of that thing,
this is a serious matter.
Thankfully,
it has been delivered safely.
Apparently, they meticulously tampered with evidence
to make it look like an accident.
As it was a premeditated murder
and what they tried to get their hands on
was Mahavibhasa...
MAHAVIBHASA: SANSKRIT BUDDHIST SCRIPTURE
It means
that someone knows about our plan.
Did you meet the person who brought the letter?
I plan to meet him, Your Majesty.
OFFICE OF THE ROYAL GUARD
Wait.
You still have ten more.
Stand up!
It just hurts so much.
Can we take a short break?
You little...
Okay, sir.
I'm a man of his word!
Fine, I'll take the beating.
You have five more.
You'd better count it right.
Give me a second.
You little...
Go on.
My legs. I can't move my legs.
-Quit making a big fuss. -My legs!
-What on earth... -Are my legs moving?
-Is that him? -Could you please check?
Yes, sir.
-As soon as he joined, he bribed someone. -What is wrong with my legs?
My goodness.
Even in the north, everyone knows your name, Commandant.
It is a great honor
for a mere border guard like me to meet you in person.
Long live the commandant!
You're a flatterer.
Yes. I hear that often.
All right.
Are you Kang Chae-yun from the north who was sent
by General Kim Jong-seo?
Yes, sir. I joined the Royal Guard upon the general's recommendation.
Developing a new relationship is something I consider special,
and give-and-take is a must to cultivate it.
This is nothing much, but--
How dare you!
-Sir? -I heard that you bribed someone
as soon as you came here.
But you still haven't learned your lesson
and try to bribe me?
What do you take
the royal palace for?
That was...
That was not a bribe.
It was only a barang.
"Barang"?
Yes. In the northern dialect,
it means an object that someone really needs.
-So? -So it wasn't a bribe, but a barang.
There was a gentleman who wasn't doing so well in bed,
so I gave him the rare aphrodisiac from the north.
And to a man from Royal Guard, I gave him an ornament from Ming,
so that he can win the heart of So-hwa, the kisaeng of Maehyangjeong.
I might sound like I'm bragging, but I have to tell you this, sir.
Well, I'm always good in bed,
and I don't know why, but girls love me.
So I shared what I didn't need with someone who needed it.
That is caring.
So, what I was trying to give you
is just a barang as well.
Barang...
How would you know what I need?
Well, why don't you have a look at it first?
How dare you!
How dare you try to fool the commandant?
Go ahead and take it out.
As soon as you do, I'll cut your head off.
If you have the guts,
take it out.
Gosh, spare me, sir.
I need your guidance.
The general told me to follow you no matter what.
I'm a very fast learner.
Please spare me.
Is anyone out there?
Yes, sir.
Take him outside
and give him five beatings with the paddle.
Pardon, sir? With the paddle?
-You said you needed my guidance. -But...
Also,
take him to the unit leader
and finish his caning.
Yes, sir.
Please, spare me.
Oh, gosh.
Gosh.
Oh, goodness.
That man is Joseon's best swordsman,
Mu-hyul,
He is Yi Do's right-hand man.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE PALACE GUARD
FROM ENTRANCE TO EXIT, 30 STEPS
Oh, right.
That guy from the north
bribed someone with an aphrodisiac as soon as he joined.
Who?
What about him?
Why are you giving me that look?
-You have a guilty look on your face. -What?
What nonsense...
Hey.
Don't you hate the sound owls make?
The late King hated that sound the most as well,
saying that it's Jeong Do-jeon's reincarnation.
Watch what you say!
Jeong Do...
He's a notorious traitor,
but I don't know how else to call him.
Anyway,
you could get in trouble
for just mentioning his name.
I should be careful.
Hey.
Did you just see that?
Was that an owl?
No owl is that big.
One hundred and seven steps.
When is Kim Jong-seo coming?
He'll be here tonight or tomorrow.
You look very worried, Your Majesty.
Even if he was murdered,
we can't say for sure that they were after the Mahavibhasa.
It's safe and sound with Scholar Huh Dam,
so do not worry, Your Majesty.
Where is Huh Dam? Did he go home?
No. He's on a night shift tonight.
He's probably at the Hall of Worthies.
I should head over there.
Yi Do.
How dare you! Show His Majesty respect!
My apologies, Your Majesty.
I am only five steps away from him.
There are only six guards around him.
Mu-hyul is not around.
Are you a royal guard?
Current success rate is greater than 80 percent.
My sword...
I do not have my sword on me.
If I can snatch that sword, I still stand a 70 percent chance.
How disrespectful!
Did you not hear His Majesty's question?
I am too overwhelmed by His Majesty's presence to answer the question.
Seventy percent.
Your Majesty, I was looking for you.
Mu-hyul just showed up.
Now, the success rate is 60 percent.
Kang Chae-yun, what are you going to do?
What are you doing here?
This is the man General Kim Jong-seo sent.
I was on my way back to the quarter after finishing my shift.
But I got lost.
Let's go to the Hall of Worthies.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What should I do?
What is your name?
How dare you!
His Majesty asked for your name.
Yes, Your Majesty.
My name is
Kang Chae-yun.
His Majesty shall now enter.
Huh Dam must have dozed off.
Sir.
His Majesty is here.
My gosh. How disrespectful!
-Wake up! -Stop.
Don't wake him.
Scholar Huh.
Commandant!
He's dead.
What did you just say?
The commandant has ordered not to let anyone
get inside the Hall of Worthies. Understood?
-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.
What's going on?
The pillars fell down, so they're fixing the hall.
His Majesty ordered you to read at home for a few days
or study at Jingwansa Temple up in Samgaksan Mountain.
Is the Deputy Chief Counselor aware of this?
Yes, sir. I informed him.
Then, let's head to Jingwansa Temple right away.
We have almost 20 books to read today. We don't have much time.
-Let's hurry. -Let's go.
I'll see you later.
What about you?
I will go
read at home.
I'll go with you.
I have something to ask your father anyway.
SEONG SEUNG: FATHER OF SEONG SAM-MUN
Why are you doing this to me?
It's because you're young
and have shallow knowledge.
Let's go.
Was the autopsy performed in secret?
Yes, Your Majesty. We don't know how he was killed,
but it's likely that he was murdered.
Is that true?
Your Majesty.
Mahavibhasa is gone as well.
Someone was after it.
Then...
Go In-seol in the north and Huh Dam
were killed by the same person who was after the text.
Is that what you are saying?
Someone knows about my plan
and is killing my people.
Damn it!
Your Majesty.
First,
we have to make sure the word doesn't get out about the incidents.
I can't even control my own mouth.
How would I control what other people say?
The word will get out no matter what.
You're Kang Chae-yun, right?
You brat.
You are the Kang Chae-yun who bribed people as soon as you joined, right?
Yes, I am.
By the way, isn't that heavy?
You can just bring it over there.
Yes. Please lead the way.
Stay right here.
All right.
They're not bribes.
I just shared what I already had.
It was unfair.
You mean that aphrodisiac?
Yes. Why do you ask?
Do you want some?
Do you have any left?
Those who live in the palace aren't so different from those outside.
At least there are two guys I can really talk to.
Two?
Who is the other one?
There is this one guy I know.
Anyway, I'll give you some after the shift.
It's super effective.
Gosh. Hey, let's be friends.
Sure.
I've got your back now.
By the way,
why did they restrict access to the hall
and make us guard it?
I overheard
that a scholar on duty last night
suddenly died.
He died?
Someone died in the palace? How?
He probably died from studying too much.
Goodness. He studied for days
without sleeping or eating. It'd be a miracle for him to be alive.
No wonder it's so quiet.
Don't tell anyone.
It's a secret, okay?
Of course. I'm very good at keeping secrets.
Then the Hall of Worthies must be empty.
Probably.
I mean, someone died, so they shouldn't let anyone in.
The Hall of Worthies is empty.
Your Majesty.
How could this horrible thing happen in the palace?
Moreover,
the Hall of Worthies is the place you visit every day.
I know.
Huh Dam was still young.
I can't believe he died from overwork.
Life and death are mysterious states,
but this is too unfortunate.
It is, Your Majesty.
However,
there's a rumor that Huh Dam was murdered.
Who would spread such nonsense?
A murder in the palace?
Your Majesty,
the problem
is that the rumor is spreading fast.
The Royal Investigation Bureau should investigate this case thoroughly.
Are you trying to say that we should let everyone know about the tragedy
that took place in the palace?
With all due respect,
I am only trying to do my duty as the supreme commissioner of the bureau.
I cannot allow it.
I am aware
that the officials are not favorable toward the Hall of Worthies.
If the investigation is launched into suspected murder in the Hall of Worthies,
what would happen?
I urge you to make sure
that the rumor doesn't spread.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What is it?
I have to go use the toilet.
Strangely, my constipation has been cured after the beatings,
but now I have to go too often.
Goodness. Hurry up!
Don't get into trouble for abandoning your post.
Okay.
Hey, I'll definitely get you the aphrodisiac.
All right!
Yi Do visits the Hall of Worthies almost every night.
And when he's here,
Mu-hyul often stays outside.
ENTRANCE
Eight steps.
It's less than ten steps.
If only
I can hide somewhere in the Hall of Worthies.
A scholar on duty last night
suddenly died.
If he really died from overwork,
why do they keep the scene untouched?
You are...
You!
Why were you in there?
Well...
I was looking for a toilet and got lost.
Where is it?
But I got lost.
Arrest him.
Pardon? But...
We have restricted access to the Hall of Worthies.
Why were you there?
Goodness, sir!
I'm innocent.
Having to take a dump isn't a sin.
I still have to go.
I really had to go, so I was looking for a toilet everywhere.
How dare you!
Why would the toilet be inside the hall?
Why would the toilet be inside a building?
Why were you there?
To be honest,
I was looking for a toilet,
but I suddenly became curious about the hall.
You had to take a dump badly,
and you suddenly became curious?
Tell me the truth!
Well...
They caught the new royal guard from the north
and are interrogating him.
He entered the hall while on duty.
Into the Hall of Worthies?
He's saying that he was looking for a toilet.
A toilet?
Did he go into the hall to take a dump?
Your Majesty.
Please watch your--
Your Majesty. General Kim Jong-seo is here.
Okay, let him in.
Welcome, General.
You must be very tired from the long trip.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
KIM JONG-SEO
It's been a while since the last time I saw you,
and I'm glad to see
that you are well.
You ran into His Majesty near the hall past 11 p.m. last night.
Also,
you even entered the hall when you were not allowed to.
Last night, I was near the hall because I was lost,
and today, I was just looking for a toilet.
I was merely curious.
You went inside to have a look at the scene again. Isn't that right?
What do you mean by a scene?
Last night, you killed Scholar Huh Dam and went in there again
to hide the evidence.
He didn't die from overwork. He was murdered.
And the dead scholar is Huh Dam.
If you don't tell the truth,
you won't get out of here alive.
If you want to live,
confess. Now!
Huh Dam.
This is from General Kim Jong-seo.
Thank you for delivering this.
HALL OF WORTHIES
That Huh Dam was killed.
Pardon?
Kang Chae-yun is being interrogated?
It's true that he seems suspicious.
That is not possible.
When Go In-seol died in the north,
he was the one who proved that he was murdered.
He was very close to Go In-seol as well.
I highly doubt...
Your Majesty.
They're investigating it right now,
so light will be shed on the truth soon.
Anyway, this is no ordinary case.
We must catch the culprit,
but if the royal bureaus investigate the case,
they might find out about our plan along the way.
This is not the right time.
Why don't we let Mu-hyul
investigate it himself?
If the commandant investigates it himself,
it would draw attention to the case.
Your Majesty.
Let's go see Mu-hyul.
I'll tell you everything, sir.
Can I talk to you alone?
What are you trying to pull here? Tell the truth right now!
Yes, sir. I think
that the same murderer killed both Go In-seol
and Scholar Huh Dam.
You two, wait outside.
What do you mean?
There's something on my left leg.
CASE LOG ON THE MURDER OF GO IN-SEOL
That case log
was the one
I was trying to give you, sir.
I was
Go In-seol's best friend.
I investigated his case as well.
I heard the rumor that Huh Dam was killed,
so I went inside the Hall of Worthies
to study the scene, sir.
His Majesty shall enter now.
What similarities did you find between the two cases?
First,
both Go In-seol and Scholar Huh Dam
had something wrapped in jade-colored cloth.
The culprit
was after that object.
Second,
the culprit used two different methods for the murders,
but tried to make both cases look like accidents.
Lastly,
both on the day of the murder in the north
and last night,
an owl cried.
I put you, Royal Guard Kang Chae-yun, in charge of
the investigation of the murder of Scholar Huh Dam.
You may choose whom to work with among the royal guards.
Let the captain of the Royal Guard know.
Yes, Your Majesty.
If you fail to solve this case,
you'll be our sole suspect.
You'll have to risk your life.
Understood?
Yes.
Yes, Your Majesty.
If I solve the case...
How dare you?
...would you grant
this lowly man a wish?
What is your wish?
If...
I solve this case
and make a tiny contribution by taking in the culprit,
I'd like you to grant me a small wish.
I wish to have
a glass of drink poured by Your Majesty.
How insolent of you? How dare you--
If this lowly man
could receive a drink from you,
my late father
would be so proud of me.
Solve the case.
If you do,
I'll pour you a drink myself.
Good.
I will solve it no matter what.
And before my glass is filled,
you'll be dead,
Yi Do.
Subtitle translation by Jin-young Song