The East Palace (동궁)

Your Majesty, Prince Iksang has arrived.

Has his son come as well?

Yes, Your Majesty.

How is Prince Yeongan's health?

There has been no improvement,

so he will not be able to attend at this time.

- You may leave. - Yes.

It seems that Gu-cheon has failed his part, Your Majesty.

I've heard people say

the reason I am able to sit on this throne is due to spirits.

Now they mock me,

saying that my position will be threatened because of spirits.

Which do you believe to be true?

We will know which one when we get there.

Kneel before the honored guest, straighten yourself,

and perform the four ceremonial bows.

Bow.

Straighten.

Bow.

Straighten.

Bow.

Straighten.

Next, the Crown Prince would present a ceremonial drink,

praying for your long life without illness.

However, as the seat is vacant, I suggest you omit it.

No. That's enough.

This tired and old body

cannot be certain any longer of another birthday to come.

And what do you think of that, Your Majesty?

Then you must do as you wish, Mother.

Prince Iksang's eldest son, will you step forward right now?

Prince Iksang, congratulations.

This is the drink presented by Prince Inha.

Your Royal Highness, I pray for your well-being.

What is happening?

I can tell that something has arrived here.

I knew that if I drove you far enough,

you would come to me with that resentment.

Now,

what will you do?

Gu-cheon!

Get a hold of yourself!

You'll become an ak-gwi.

If you kill, that's what's going to happen to you.

You said that becoming an ak-gwi after death

was what you feared more than anything.

Gu-cheon!

Your mother's death was not your fault. You must believe that.

You were possessed by the gwi-mae.

If you still won't trust me,

then I'll get to the bottom of this.

The second we can leave the palace,

I will go find your mother's grave so we can uncover the…

Please, Gu-cheon.

Let us make it out of the palace alive.

THE EAST PALACE

What is wrong with him?

What happened to him? Come on. Wake up!

Send for the physician!

Summon the physician now!

Your Majesty.

This child is a little flawed.

You must be disappointed with what you're observing, Mother.

In such a frail state,

how could he ever endure the palace's energy?

I must say you need improving when reading others, Mother.

Resume the banquet at once.

Carry on the music!

What are you standing around for? Attend to Prince Inha at once!

No, no.

Princess.

Princess!

Have you lost your mind?

I told you to never set foot in there.

You've never listened to me once.

I saved you, and this is the thanks I get.

Am I supposed to do nothing and just stand by and watch you become a gwi-sin?

You are never to do something like that again,

whether I am a spirit or not.

I never want to see someone die because of me again.

I will never do it again

if you truly cannot bear it.

I, too,

cannot convince myself to go in again.

I was terrified.

It must have been very difficult for you,

having spent all that time in there.

Everyone who carries the King's blood is mad.

There are no such things as spirits.

Mother.

There are no spirits.

There are no spirits.

Mother?

Your father is the palace entity.

How are you?

What are you doing out there?

How is it? Your fever?

Why would you open the window without asking?

At least you still have your temper.

Miss Saeng-gang, you're awake!

How are you feeling now?

What in the world is going on?

I thought Gu-cheon was dead.

Now he's talking to you and walking around.

And you, who are perfectly fine, slept for three days and nights.

I mean, you basically slept like the dead.

It was three days?

Yes! Have this first.

I had to beg the female royal physician to brew this medicine,

and I snuck some rice cakes to bring to you here.

You haven't eaten one thing for three days.

Here, please have these.

I appreciate it.

But, um, why did you bring me so many rice cakes?

It's Gu-cheon.

I brought some for him also.

But he just left.

He must have terrible luck with food. Is he not even hungry?

He has not eaten for three days.

Mmm.

After three days without food, it tastes better.

Do you want some?

I don't have an appetite.

Please help yourself.

You should eat too.

You cannot work without it.

I found something at the guard's house.

I will handle all of that.

You needn't be concerned, Your Highness.

"Your Highness"?

What?

What?

You have changed somehow.

So, anyway,

tell me what you have found at the house.

I found what the Favored Court Lady made for the child she was carrying.

Do you think this could ease her resentment?

It might be possible, but the preparation will be complicated.

Her spirit is not ordinary.

She killed people for 30 years as a won-gwi.

Oh! The lightning-struck jujube wood. Where did you get that?

Ah! The jujube tree inside the palace was struck by lightning.

-Oh. -Was that branch helpful at all?

It helped a great deal having that wood, and it will continue to help.

Well,

I believe I have helped in more ways than one.

The least you could do is say thank you.

You know, the second you brag, it makes all of your goodwill disappear?

And how is that bragging?

It is simply the praise I am owed.

I nearly died dealing with your family's mess,

and you want my thanks and praise?

What? You want recognition that badly?

Forget it.

Fine. I do not need your thanks.

But you should be thanking the Ggeomeoksali.

The gwi-mae had you in the well, and it saved you.

That saved me?

I did wonder why I had not seen it roaming around here.

It fell into the well while helping fight the gwi-mae.

How sad.

Good riddance.

Don't be cold about it!

I don't make stupid decisions like getting attached to it like you do.

Let's just focus on the pond spirit and how to get rid of it.

Is something wrong?

The truth is…

…when I crossed over to the other side, I came face-to-face with the pond spirit.

and drained my spiritual energy.

But I was able to come back because you pulled the rope just in time.

What's the matter?

Uh…

The spirit that consumed your soul down there…

has likely begun to regain its strength from it.

The curse that had briefly weakened will grow stronger again.

Your Majesty.

The royal physician attending Prince Yeongan

says you must prepare yourself for what is to come.

Why?

Is confronting the spirit impulsively like this truly wise?

I believe Prince Yeongan won't make it through the night, most likely.

He's reached his limit after enduring the curse for so long.

We cannot waste more time.

Sh!

Can you hear it?

That sound?

Be careful, please.

I am not saving someone who will not say thank you.

You're still on that?

My baby.

because I'm a princess,

but I stubbornly insisted my father teach me.

since you were little.

I will spin thread from the shirt made by the Favored Court Lady,

and stain it with my blood.

If you wrap this thread around an arrow and hit the spirit,

it can weaken its resentment.

Here.

When the baby's crying stops, that is when you shoot.

We must release the resentment born of being falsely accused,