The King's Affection (연모)

You must not do this. Your Royal Highness, no!

Oh, no. Your Royal Highness…

Your Royal Highness.

Gosh…

Why did you do it?

Why did you do such a thing?

I put my faith in you.

Yet, you disappointed me.

You did the right thing.

Your Royal Highness,

you did the right thing.

You are a brave, bold man who can beat up the Chief Eunuch.

I'm sure you can handle this much.

That's enough.

Let me just treat your hand.

This might not be the right time to bring this up,

but I know that you saw me at the guesthouse.

I know I shouldn't have been there, so I'm sorry if that disappointed you.

But I can promise you that

I didn't do anything to disgrace myself.

So in case you misread the situation--

I never did.

I know that

you are not the type of person who would do such a thing.

Then…

why were you so distant toward me during the banquet?

Well…

I didn't want you to be in a tight spot because of me.

That's why.

I feel the same way.

So if you know how I feel,

please don't be distant toward me anymore.

There. It's all done.

EPISODE 8

I'm really fine, Your Royal Highness.

Your hand is hurt too.

I told you not to move.

How beautiful.

Your hair looks beautiful

even when it's short.

I have a chance to get my hair done by you thanks to the Chief Eunuch.

This is truly a blessing.

Your Royal Highness.

The Chief Eunuch's subordinate is here.

He invited you, the Vice Minister of Rites,

and Royal Tutor Jung for a drink.

He did?

Yes. Should I tell them to station some royal guards?

That's all right. I can't afford to use a cheap trick like that.

There can't be any more problems.

I will get going first.

Go and bring Royal Tutor Jung to the guesthouse.

Yes, Your Royal Highness.

It seems the Vice Minister of Rites hasn't arrived yet.

Men can resolve this kind of matter over drinks.

There is no point in bothering other people.

Please sit.

As a peace offering,

I thought I could show you something interesting.

So I asked you to come.

What do you say?

Come on out.

From what I hear,

your bodyguard is the best swordsman in Joseon.

Who do you think will win?

That doesn't interest me.

If this is why you asked to see me, you can count me out.

I will head back now.

Let's go back.

Stop it! What do you think you're doing?

My guard is the best swordsman in Ming.

But he wasn't with me when I was getting beaten to a pulp.

So I thought he deserved a chance to show me he's worth his salary.

Stop this immediately!

Why? You were having fun when you were beating me up.

But you don't want to see your man getting beaten up?

I told you to stop!

Do you think you'll be able

to leave Joseon unscathed if you leave a scratch on me?

Are you all right?

If you put a finger on the Crown Prince…

I will…

kill you.

With my own hands.

Royal Tutor Jung.

Are you all right, Your Royal Highness?

Your Royal Highness!

Your Royal Highness. Goodness.

-Oh, no. -What is going on here?

-Bring a physician. -Yes, my lord!

Oh, no. Are you all right?

This is no fun.

How dare you pull out your sword in front of His Royal Highness?

How dare you do this?

It wasn't my intention, but the fight seems to have gotten heated.

If you are disgruntled, take it up with me.

Leave the innocent alone.

How could I dare to do so?

Well, don't you keep them around,

so they can take your place in punishment

and do your dirty work for you?

Why are you doing this?

-What is it that you want? -What do I want?

Right. There is one thing I want from Joseon.

People like you who were born with a silver spoon

are hypocrites who pretend to care for the people.

And I want to destroy people like you.

I guess we will have to drink next time, Your Royal Highness.

This way.

Put him down here.

Oh, no. What should we do?

Do you think he'll wake up?

Fortunately, he stopped bleeding.

But the cut is too deep. We'll have to observe him for a while.

What on earth happened?

My lord. We have an urgent message from the guesthouse.

The Crown Prince's bodyguard was badly hurt by the Chief Eunuch's guard.

How is the Crown Prince?

Yes. He returned to his quarters just now.

Is the Chief Eunuch at the guesthouse?

What did you say?

How dare you talk about her here?

Please hear me out. I just wanted to say there's no reason to shed blood here.

For that poor girl's sake.

You cannot do this to me!

What did you say?

I will visit you tomorrow night.

So wait quietly.

Yes, my lord.

Goodness.

What brings you here this late at night?

I heard that your guard badly hurt the Crown Prince's bodyguard.

Not only did you cut off the hair of a court lady from his quarters,

but you also hurt his guard.

I would like to know why.

Why are you making such a fuss over your subordinates?

Right. I heard a very interesting story.

Someone the Emperor trusts very dearly

has been stealing offerings to the Emperor.

I heard this person in question is also stealing the Emperor's private assets.

Don't you want to know who that person is?

Are you trying to threaten me

with that groundless rumor?

I hear that the Emperor has high expectations for you.

The higher they are, the harder they will fall.

Unless you want there to be a big scandal,

I advise you to behave for the remainder of your trip here.

How ridiculous.

I don't see why you would want to do this to me.

I'm afraid you're mistaken.

I have many reasons why I must.

"It is why traitor Kang Hwa-gil will hereby be executed by beheading."

Don't move. Your wound is severe.

I'm sorry, Your Royal Highness.

I have failed my duty to protect you.

Do not say that.

I have failed to protect you too.

What is it that infuriated and saddened you this much?

To the point that you were suffering even in your dream.

You still need to recover.

You shouldn't move. Just rest up here.

Hyun.

Is your bodyguard all right?

Yes. He passed a critical moment.

The people at my quarters are suffering because of me.

And I feel burdened by that.

You're not to blame here. The Chief Eunuch is at fault.

He's dangerous.

So if there is a problem with him, you should tell me right away.

If you're hurt, I'm hurt too.

So don't feel burdened.

You have me, Your Royal Highness.

Thank you, Hyun.

You saw someone suspicious in the Chief Eunuch's chambers?

That brings me to my next point. I need your help.

Double our tribute?

Did the Chief Eunuch demand this too?

-Let me talk with him. -There is no need.

I'll take care of this.

You are not to get involved any further. You can leave now.

I can't do that.

I will resolve this problem between the Chief Eunuch and me.

Please put your faith in me one more time.

Please…

give me a chance, Father.

Why does the Chief Eunuch keep causing trouble?

He ought to help us since he's from Joseon.

Sometimes, your own people can be even worse.

What do I want?

People like you who were born with a silver spoon

are hypocrites who pretend to care for the people.

And I want to destroy people like you.

Royal Tutor Jung is close to the Vice Minister of Rites, right?

Yes. That's what I've heard.

I must look into the Chief Eunuch.

Goodness.

Tail the Chief Eunuch tonight,

and you'll be able to find out who that man is.

Royal Tutor Jung wasn't at the royal institute.

What business does he have at the guesthouse?