The Fatal Encounter (Yeok-rin / 역린) (역린)

LOTTE ENTERTAINMENT presents

a CHOICE CUT PICTURES production

Executive Producer CHA Won-shun

"I'm so afraid, I'd rather die."

Prince Jeong-jo, February, 1775 -"

"- Noron faction, November 1775 -"

"Prince Jeong-jo has no need to know about the Noron faction or the country."

"Noron faction : The ruling political faction at the time."

"They had Jeong-jo's father executed when he took sides with the opposition party."

"Don't be shaken by what the ministers say. Just follow my example."

"That is your filial duty. - King Young-jo, November, 1775

"JULY 28th, 1777 KING JEONG-JO'S 1st YEAR OF REIGN"

"11115 PM"

I am surrounded by enemies.

THE FATAL ENCOUNTER

"20 HOURS 15 MINUTES EARLIER"

"3200 AM"

It's the Clerk, sire.

Enter.

What is the matter?

Forced to carry such weight...

Even warriors won't last half a day.

But Your Majesty...

You wear that until the day's end...

I cannot exercise openly.

What else can I do?

Without a maid at your service...

Your Majesty?

Isn't it time you had a chamber maid?

We are still in mourning.

Does it bother you so?

Of course not, sire.

Your Majesty? It's HONG, the Chief of Guards.

It's almost time, sir.

Wait. I am coming.

What book is it?

I didn't see it, sir.

'What Heaven confers is called nature'.

'Accordance with this nature is called the Way'.

'Cultivating the Way is called education'.

- What book is it? -'Doctrine of the Mean', sir.

What does it say in Chapter 23?

Your Majesty...

It's time for the Memorial Hall.

'If there is anything you want, do your utmost'.

'Then, it will be realized'.

“ 4100 AM“

General KOO must be eliminated, sire.

He is behind the Queen Dowager's growing power.

He's the key to the Noron faction's hold of the military.

Imbeciles!

You're all out of order!

Why train?

Together fools!

From dawn to sunset!

He's behind your father's death.

He's worse than the ministers you ordered to death.

Chief HONG?

Yes, Your Majesty.

The military will rise up if we strike General KOO.

It could back fire on us.

Your Majesty.

We must strike first, sir!

Our late king awaits me in the Memorial Hall.

Let me go.

"KILL YOUR MASTER TONIGHT"

Grandmamma. Have you slept well?

How could I?

Are you ill?

I heard the light is always on at your chambers.

If you overdo yourself, you'll get hurt.

Should you get hurt...

I'd be troubled.

Yes, Grandmamma.

I heard Chief HONG wants to kill General KOO.

Rising to power so young, they say he's bloodthirsty.

He killed several ministers...

and sent my brother into exile.

He claims the Noron faction killed your father...

I heard his goal is to kill all the culprits.

And now as the Chief of Guards, he strolls the palace with a sword.

I'm afraid to cross paths with him.

I say this because you are my dear grandson.

Striking General KOO won't just rise up the military.

Without good judgment...

ruling is difficult.

Yes, Grandmamma.

Come closer.

If...

By chance...

Should anything happen to you, I'd be troubled.

Appointing a new king and such...

The ministers will all come to me.

At your chambers...

You stay up reading books?

A man should sleep.

Yes, Grandmamma.

Wash this.

Yes, ma'am.

My father is in charge of the gates tonight.

Today's the day.

It will take place tonight.

If I say to destroy, will it be so?

Of course, Your Highness.

Bok-bing...

Would you like to decide?

We'll see.

A summer's day...

is long, isn't it?

Pour me more liquor!

It's hot! Take it off!

- That's better! -I'm hot, too!

Keep yours on.

But who are you?

Your Majesty.

Traditionally, Literary Discussions...

"6230 AM"

have been led by the ministers to help the king's studies.

But since you took reign, you've built a royal library...

and spent time with young clerks.

We fear tradition is taken lightly.

A king is not just a ruler...

but must also be a teacher of learning.

Your leader of Noron and my childhood teacher taught that.

How is that a problem?

If you only deal with low servants, and listen only to praise...

That is not the way of a king.

When knowledge becomes insight...

and insight practiced is then learning complete.

I lack discretion...

to speak of complete learning yet.

But the Literary Discussions...

shouldn't the point be learning that leads to practice?

For that, you must first learn.

Of course.

However...

If the teachers are idle, would it not be a problem?

On what grounds do you claim we are idle?

You insist on reviewing just the Classics!

Why don't we ever talk about theories to put into practice?

The basics come first, sir.

The Classics must be studied over and over again!

How much do you know the Classics?

Raise your hand!

If you know Chapter 23 of 'Doctrine of the Mean'.

If any one of you can recite it by memory...

I'll listen to you as of tomorrow.

The Classics you so cherish!

Did you study them over and over again?

Raise your hand if you memorized it all.

No one?

Clerk?

Do you know?

'Do your utmost even in trivial things'.

'From that, you can attain sincerity'.

'This sincerity becomes apparent'.

'From being apparent, it becomes manifest'.

'From being manifest, it becomes brilliant'.

'Brilliant, it affects others'.

'Affecting others, they are changed by it'.

'Changed by it, they are transformed'.

'It is only...'

'those with complete sincerity, who can transform everything'.

That's what it says in Chapter 23, sire.

We should discuss real issues.

That is true discussion and learning.

What issues would you like to discuss?

I'm cancelling the Discussions for 3 days.

Every one of you must prepare within those 3 days...

how to help slaves and children of concubines.

Your Majesty!

How can we discuss them at the Literary Discussions?

Please reconsider, sire!

Please reconsider, sire!

Please reconsider, sire!

Your response...

is weak.

He's here.

Have a seat.

What a fool for trying to run off.

He got scared and tried to run.

Look at him!

How could you!

Sir! Sir!

What did you teach him?

I'll return the money.

You bastard!

Money's not the problem!

Sir! Wait!

Stay calm!

You know GWANG's the one who sent him.

That raccoon looking fool!

Hey, you!

Yes...

No greeting?

Have you been well, sir?

Looks like you've been eating well.

Your face is white and plump.

This is the man Head Servant AHN mentioned.

Right.