The King's Affection (연모)

PREVIOUSLY…

Are you all right, Your Royal Highness?

Royal Tutor Jung Ji-un of the Crown Prince

is in fact Samgaebang's real physician?

-No. -Your Royal Highness!

Why do you have this book?

That girl must have been someone quite special to you.

-She was my first love. -You have a big problem!

The Minister of Personnel lodged an appeal for your resignation.

For my resignation? I'm in need of your help.

You are the only person who can help me now.

There is nothing I can do for you.

So I advise you to stop asking.

You could have punished just me from the beginning.

Why are you torturing my innocent friends and putting everyone in danger?

Moreover, he deceived me and the Crown Prince.

The degree of his crime is quite severe.

Who is going to get killed?

I order you as the Crown Prince. Hand over the prisoners.

If you do, no one will shed a drop of blood here tonight.

Allow me…

to answer that question.

I was the one…

who moved the prisoners.

I was taught that prisons are where prisoners receive punishment,

not where they are meant to die.

Despite that objective of His Majesty's,

their living conditions have become horrendous

and have led to prisoners starving or freezing to death.

It is why I seek forgiveness regarding the unsanctioned transfer

of said prisoners.

You dare interrupt today's ruling

to notify me of this frivolous matter?

Your Majesty, I have urgent information

regarding the incidents at Samgaebang.

This is not a matter His Royal Highness should involve himself in.

I'll allow it.

Speak.

Royal Tutor Jung never disobeyed the custom of our class system.

Those who actually did…

are them.

Enter.

One is a herb gatherer

who supplied pharmacies within the capital

and one is the custodian of Literary Licentiate Choi's storage.

Repeat to His Majesty what you told me.

The accusation that the physician of Samgaebang

only prescribed pricey medicine is a false one.

Literary Licentiate Choi over here bought all the medicinal herbs

available from villages

and stocked them in the storage he owns.

Regardless of age, people started dying left and right

due to a lack of medicine.

After learning the truth, Physician Jung found herbs that provide similar remedies

and made them affordable.

It resulted in the price drop of the herbs in storage

which prompted this accusation.

Is this all true?

Of course not, Chief State Councilor! I'm being falsely accused.

No, we speak the truth!

I have a ledger that lists all transactions of the herbs.

MEDICINAL HERB INVENTORY LEDGER

Unlike the rumors surrounding Samgaebang,

you are saying it was a place that helped the unfortunate.

It never indulged in foul play either.

Yes, but I guess

that depends on what you view as following the rules and being dutiful.

All I want to say is that it's a place that didn't go against the justice

I wish to promote in this nation.

And Royal Tutor Jung shares the very same values.

I also believe His Royal Highness' claims to be true, Your Majesty.

But you were the one

who first raised questions regarding this matter!

Please forgive me for acting rashly

without taking a deeper look into the underlying truth, Your Majesty.

I hear you. However, that was not the only issue.

Jung Ji-un became a royal tutor

without disclosing his prior operations.

If I dare say so, Royal Tutor Jung never lied about his past endeavors.

I accepted his teaching while aware of his past,

and I'm sure you remember that I informed you of this matter.

But you chose not to listen to me.

In the end,

you were the one who moved forward with appointing him as my tutor.

So if anyone's to blame,

it would be Your Majesty and the high officials of the court

who did not properly conduct a background check.

So us being negligent is to blame?

Do not forget.

The path I choose

will be your path.

And if you deviate from that path,

I will not forgive you,

no matter how much I adore you.

I wish to take

that path with you.

Aren't you curious

as to in what way…

I wish to follow your lead?

Is the Crown Prince ready to fight his battle?

EPISODE 7

Thank you so much.

Your gratitude should be extended to His Royal Highness, not me.

Your Royal Highness,

no words can possibly convey my gratitude.

There is no need to thank me.

I just could not sit idly by

when I knew the truth.

If you head to Seorin-bang,

you'll be able to reunite with your assistants.

I had no idea you'd take action in solving this issue.

Well…

He's your friend, isn't he?

And he's also…

my tutor.

JEONOKSEO

-Ji-un. -Ji-un!

Ji-un.

You obtained the Crown Prince's trust in a short amount of time.

I'd expect no less from someone as prodigious as you.

If you ever harm them again--

I won't force you…

to find a place within the royal court.

But don't you dare think about being a hack of a physician again.

For your sake and your mother's especially.

Just remember that it isn't easy to cope with your one and only son

being chewed out.

My lady!

My lady, the night is deep.

-My lady, where are you headed? -Stop this. I can't take it anymore.

-My lady, it's dangerous. -Let go!

-My lady. -I won't let this slide.

-But it's dangerous. -What could be so dangerous?

-Let go of me! -My lady!

Let go.

-Those blabbermouths-- -I knew it.

I was wondering whose voice was so loud.

Ji-un!

Gosh. Are you all right? Are you?

Of course I am.

My lady, your shoes don't match.

You can give me those and go about your business.

Did the ladies in Bukchon speak ill of me again?

No, that's not it.

They once loved to pass around the medicine you prescribed,

but now they're saying ridiculous things.

They're obviously jealous that you became a royal tutor,

so how can I let them carry on?

That's feisty coming from the inspector's better half.

From what I hear, you used to be the most timid maiden in the village.

My one and only son made me a salty woman, that's why.

Until when will you find shelter elsewhere from home?

It's time you moved back in.

Your father is gravely worried about you.

I'm sorry.

Goodness, I repeated the same thing again.

Just come by whenever you want to. Like today.

Your room is still as it was.

Success doesn't mean finding work at the palace.

Doing what you love and being happy is the definition of a successful life.

So don't let others intimidate you

and live your life as you wish.

Don't let others dictate your life. Do you hear me?

What…

Weren't you going to leave the palace

once you saved your assistants?

How could I possibly leave when you went through so much

to clear my name?

I decided to stay where my heart lies for a while longer.

Your heart?

I seem to have had the wrong idea about you.

I let your nicknames Five Step Prince and Ice Prince

cloud my judgment

and assumed that you were audacious and cold-hearted.

However, that wasn't the case.

Your generosity knows no limit, Your Royal Highness.

You could have easily been written about in this Confucian classic.

A cold-hearted soul

who doesn't bat an eye even at the sight of death?

No, that was only a preposterous rumor.

I'm living proof of it, don't you agree?

That being said,

why was His Royal Highness given the nickname Ice Prince?

Because his heart is icy cold all year round--

Ice is clear and sparkles under the sun.

It is more elegant than any other jewel.

And that is the origin

behind his nickname the Ice Prince!

Why does it feel like there's a chance of him getting a promotion before me?

Your Royal Highness.

Your Royal Highness.

We have fine weather today.

Isn't it nice to enjoy a lecture outside for a change?

You should watch where you're going.

Walking backward will surely make you trip and fall into a pond.

I'm more sturdy and nimble than people think

which is why I have never tripped before--

Goodness!

Your Royal Highness.

How cool.