Gyebaek (계백)

Gye Baek

Enjoy:)

Episode 18

Did you just say that the Silla prisoners have escaped?

Yes, Your Majesty.

How could this happen?

Who could have done this?

Pardon me for saying this.

But I heard that Prince Gyo met secretly with the Tang Ambassador several days ago.

Gyogi? You mean this is his doing?

I'm not certain, but I suspect he's involved.

Who did you hear this from?

When Prince Gyogi had that disagreement with you regarding diplomatic relations with Tang,

I had some of my men follow him.

Are you telling us that you knew this was going to happen?

- That isn't so but... - Your Majesty!

You...!

Your Majesty, are you all right?

That was a close call.

Did you know the man?

No.

Are you all right?

I'm in shock. Everything almost got ruined!

It's my fault. I should have confirmed he was dead.

The Queen and the Prime Minister will be suspicious. We must be very careful.

All right.

Namjo had been watching Eun Go. I'm certain he was trying to tell us something.

It's strange that Eun Go had been monitoring Gyogi's movements by herself.

First, I want to know if it really was Gyogi's doing.

Mother! What brings you here so late?

- Did you release the Silla prisoners? - What?

Don't try to fool me. I know you met the Tang Ambassador.

Did you promise to release the prisoners? And did you do it?

- Forgive me. - Are you out of your mind?

How dare you do this without our consent?

I... I just wanted to keep good relations with Tang...

You still don't know what you have done?

You have disobeyed a direct royal order!

You are guilty of high treason and can be executed by beheading!

Mother...!

What else did you promise the Ambassador?

- Nothing. - That cannot be. What else did you promise him?

I told him... that we would return Gajam Fortress.

But that is only after I become King.

And when that happens, I can always make excuses and...

Your Majesty, you must compose yourself!

Foolish boy. What else did you do?

Did you sign a pledge?

Tell us the truth! This is of utmost importance!

Yes.

This is bad news. We must seize the Ambassador before he leaves our border!

What is it?

His Majesty has summoned the prince.

He has commanded us to bring him by force if necessary.

Is it true that you met with the Tang Ambassador and signed a secret pledge with him to release the Silla prisoners?

Your Majesty, I don't know anything.

- You're telling me this didn't happen? - I'm innocent!

This is the pledge you gave to the Ambassador!

You not only pledged to release the Silla prisoners,

But you promised to return Gajam Fortress to Silla and join forces with Tang to strike Goguryeo!

- Your Majesty! - Men!

Your Majesty!

Seize Prince Gyogi and send him to the interrogation room!

Yes, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty! I'm innocent, Your Majesty!

Someone reported Gyogi's movements.

The letter contained information about how he met the Tang Ambassador and disobeyed His Majesty's order.

Because of that letter, His Majesty stopped Lord Chang from leaving Baekje,

and searched for Gyogi's pledge.

I'm certain someone deliberately set up Gyogi.

Gyogi was blinded by his greed for the crown and walked into the trap.

His Majesty won't let this go unpunished. What do we do?

- Justice Minister, present Prince Gyogi's crimes. - Yes, Your Majesty.

First, Prince Gyogi is guilty of abusing his position to appoint his own people for construction projects.

This is evidence that he has overstepped his authority.

Furthermore, Prince Gyogi made his own authority superior over His Majesty in his dealings with the Tang Ambassador.

This pledge with the prince's handprint was found in the Tang Ambassador's belongings.

According to my investigations, it was confirmed that the handprint belonged to Prince Gyogi.

Heed my words, Ministers.

It is not a small crime for a prince to abuse his authority in placing officials in power.

But that can be excused as a young prince's eagerness for authority.

However...!

He not only stopped at that, but he released the Silla prisoners,

and entered into a secret agreement with Tang.

He pledged to return Gajam Fortress to Silla once he became King.

He pledged to join forces with Tang and attack Goguryeo!

He dared to disobey a direct royal command!

This is high treason indeed!

If anyone wishes to speak, do so now.

Hear me, Gyogi.

You are guilty of disobeying my command.

The punishment for that crime is beheading, but I will spare you from death.

However...!

From this moment onwards, you are no longer a prince of Baekje.

I hereby decrown Gyogi from his royal status, and cast him out of the palace!

Moreover, in order to continue the royal line, I hereby reinstate Euija as Prince of Baekje!

Mother!

I was foolish and committed a grave crime.

Please...

Please help me!

From now on, I swear...

... I will do everything you tell me to!

Mother! Grandfather! Are you listening?

Please do not cast me away!

Your Majesty!

This is not the time to place blame.

We must act so that we can prevent Gyogi from being decrowned.

If Euija returns, he will become King.

There is only one way now to stop this from happening.

Please give us your command.

- Call for a meeting tonight. - Yes, Your Majesty!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

You know you can't call me that anymore!

Your Highness! You need to take off those monk robes!

What are you talking about?

Congratulations, your Highness!

His Majesty has commanded that you be reinstated as Royal Prince!

Now you can return to the Palace!

I've been waiting for this day!

I thought His Majesty would punish Gyogi, but I never imagined he would reinstate me.

Things are moving quicker than we expected.

If His Majesty wanted to decrown Gyogi, then reinstating you would be the next step.

But if things move too quickly, it will only aggravate the Sataek family and the nobles.

They won't let His Majesty cast away Gyogi.

Then what should we do?

We need to have a meeting. Call your scholar friends!

Yes, your Highness.

Gyogi is guilty of high treason for putting his own authority over His Majesty's.

But the Sataek family will stop to nothing to prevent His Majesty from casting Gyogi away.

We need your help so that the government officials cannot turn their back on His Majesty.

All right. We will do all we can to help.

We will prepare a petition in support of His Majesty's decision.

- Thank you for your help. - Yes, your Highness.

What will you do now?

You have been ordered to return to the Palace, but it is still much too dangerous right now.

I know. I will tell His Majesty that I wish to stay here at the Temple.

Damnation! So Prince Gyogi has been decrowned!

So what now? We've been sitting on top of a dead horse!

What the hell are you going to do now?

Shut up. I'm trying to think.

Don't you know that you have to open your mouth so that air can circulate to your brain?

You need to open your mouth to think. And what did I tell you?

I told you not to get involve in matters of the Royal Court!

But did you listen to me! You deserve this!

Do you want to shut up with a punch or without?

Without.

Maybe we should switch sides to Euija.

I agree.

We need to see if the horse really is dead or not first.

Do you need to taste shit to know it's not bean paste? You just ate shit!

That's disgusting!

The Queen is behind Gyogi. She's the kingdom's greatest power.

She won't let this happen so easily.

Yes, you may be right.

So let's get this straight.

So Gyogi is cast aside and Euija becomes Crown Prince.

But the Queen definitely wouldn't stand for that.

She'll call for Gyogi. Come here, Gyogi.

And Gyogi returns. But would His Majesty let her do that?

I'm confused. Who is shit and who's bean paste?

I'm sure you all know why we've asked you to come here.

His Majesty has decrowned Gyogi and reinstated Euija.

That means that he will appoint Euija as Crown Prince.

Please know that all of us are loyal to you.

But right now, we have no justification to oppose His Majesty.

It is a grave crime for Prince Gyogi to go against His Majesty's express command.

So you intend to follow His Majesty's intentions?

I know very well that all of you are disappointed in Gyogi's character.

You worry that if you go against His Majesty and put Gyogi on the throne,

he will still be an immature and despotic King.

Am I wrong?

It is true that we are all disappointed in Prince Gyogi.

Look at him now! If he's King, what will happen to our kingdom?

Then if Gyogi becomes King, will you accept me as Queen Regent until he becomes more mature?

That is a brilliant plan, Your Majesty!

You all agree, don't you?

All of you know how Empress Dowager Ma of the Han Dynasty helped her son prosper their kingdom!

Your Majesty, we will all serve you as our Queen Regent.

Yes, Your Majesty. We will serve you with our utmost loyalty.

You all know what we need to do now.

If I am to rule as Queen Regent, there is only one path.

We must remove His Majesty from the throne.

They're going to usurp the throne?

That's right. The nobles have already begun preparations.

Once the meeting is over, they will carry out their plan.

Everything is happening as we expected.

Please do not worry. We will make sure His Majesty is safe.

I will let you know if I hear anything else.

Please... please be careful.

Please take care of yourself too.

You don't think usurping is enough?

Do you mean we should assassinate His Majesty?

That is too dangerous! We can lose the support of the nobles as well as the people!

I know that. But Gyogi cannot become King if he is alive.

And there is not enough justification for me to rule as Queen Regent.

We need to remove the root of the problem completely.

You cannot fail in this!

Yes, Your Majesty.

"Assassination attempt on His Majesty tonight"