The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won (The Great King Yi Bang Won / Taejong Lee Bang Won / 태종 이방원)

It is cold outside.

Let us go inside the cabin, Grand Prince Jeongan.

I am fine.

You may go inside, Lord.

I am fine as well.

How long will it take for us to come back?

I am not sure.

As you know,

the trip usually takes six months.

But for this time...

I cannot be sure of anything.

You should be prepared.

You need to overcome...

whatever you face along the way.

I will.

Let us go.

Everyone else has left.

I cannot seem to move.

If I leave now...

I am afraid I might forget Bang Won's face.

Why do you say that?

He will return safely.

Of course.

I think so too.

But...

What difference would it make even if he returns alive?

All I can say is that he did well.

And he will only return...

to being an abandoned son.

Thinking of that...

makes me so sad.

Such a thing would not happen.

As long as he comes back safely,

His Majesty will treat Bang Won differently.

He used to be the favorite son of His Majesty.

If it were you,

would you send your favorite son to his death?

He has already lost His Majesty's favor.

His Majesty would not care even if he died.

That is why Bang Won was chosen.

Give him great compensation when he comes back.

You should grant him land and slaves.

Then...

He will be very pleased.

Do not worry.

The deity will watch over you.

You must go to sleep.

Tomorrow, you must tend to national affairs.

You may sleep first.

I will go and get some fresh air.

Your Majesty.

You may already know that if we pay a tribute,

the Emperor bestows us with much more in return.

Most of them are things we cannot procure in our country.

If we can no longer offer tribute,

we will lose out on the opportunity to accept an advanced culture.

Then everything will be decided with that one single meeting.

Yes.

Depending on the answer you give to the Emperor,

everything will be decided.

The relationship between Joseon and Ming,

as well as the lives of us envoys.

Kicking him out is not the end.

The hardest thing to do in the world...

is to turn away from one's family.

On the outside, it looks like he abandoned him,

but Bang Won still resides in a corner of his heart.

He still considers him a son.

Then what must we do now?

Keep a close eye on the Min clan.

They are the only people Grand Prince Jeongan can rely on.

(Grand Prince Jeongan, royal name of Prince Lee Bang Won)

If we manage to tie that family down,

Grand Prince Jeongan cannot do anything even when he returns.

Yes, Your Highness.

Okay. You may...

Are you...

feeling unwell?

It is nothing.

Sometimes...

I have chest pain.

Call the royal physician immediately.

Do not worry. I can manage.

You are excused.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness, I bring bad news.

What is it?

I am sorry to inform you that the Crown Princess...

was found having an affair with a eunuch.

What?

Who else is aware of this?

I apologize, but the news has already spread far and wide.

The court maid who found them ran out screaming,

and all those within earshot came running to see why.

Is it true that you committed a crime?

Yes.

Are you prepared to die?

Yes.

Fine. I will have you killed immediately.

- Take him away! - Yes, Your Highness.

Come along.

(Crown Princess of the Ryu clan, Crown Prince Lee Bang Seok's wife)

Your Highness. Welcome...

Are you trying to get yourself killed?

You dare threaten my son's future?

Do you know how badly you tarnished the Crown Prince's reputation?

However foolish and vulgar you may be,

how could you do something this crazy within this small palace?

Did you think you would not get caught?

I never thought I would not get caught.

I did it knowing that one day, I would get caught.

What?

Do not put the blame entirely on me.

You do not treat me like a human being,

and your son cares not for his wife. That makes you two responsible!

Shut your mouth.

You can replace me, but things will be the same.

He is incapable of caring for a woman...

Go on, if you dare to.

For insulting the royal family,

I will have your parents beheaded as well.

Go on.

I dare you to go ahead. Go on!

Your Highness!

I am fine.

Drag her out of here immediately.

Yes, Your Highness. Take away the Crown Princess!

Your Highness. Are you all right?

Are you all right?

The people already think badly of me,

and this scandal just made things worse.

Do not be too concerned.

Consider it the will of the skies that you bring in...

a wiser Crown Princess.

How is the public sentiment in Gaegyeong?

If I may speak the truth,

it is still negative.

We announced the State Examinations,

but more scholars are leaving the Capital.

The problem is that the Wang clan still exists.

With them still alive,

there are those with the hope that the previous dynasty will recover.

Gaegyeong truly belongs to Goryeo.

Yes. I believe that is a fact we cannot deny.

Then we shall leave.

I would like the court office to discuss moving the Capital.

Find a new location where the new dynasty can call home.

There will be great opposition.

Most officials are based in Gaegyeong.

They will be against leaving their roots.

Then keep that in mind when you discuss it.

And also,

kill all the Wang clan members we exiled in the outlying islands.

For the Crown Prince's sake,

I must get rid of all future threats in advance.

Do as I say.

- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.

(Ganghwa Island, where Goryeo royals are exiled)

After them!

I would rather be fighting against foreign enemies.

I really hate...

(Jo Yeong Gyu, Lee Seong Gye's loyal subject)

doing this.

It is a Royal Decree. We have no choice but to follow.

I am thinking about laying my sword to rest.

What do you mean?

I want to rest.

Listen here.

To be honest,

Jeong Mong Ju keeps appearing in my dreams.

He stands still, covered in blood after getting beaten by an iron mace.

He just stares at me.

It seems...

he is waiting to take me with him.

Your Majesty.

What are you doing?

Look here.

Where are you going?

- Are you talking to me? - Yes.

You look like a Confucian scholar.

Why are you going into the Capital?

What do you mean?

The State Examinations are being held soon.

Are you unaware?

So? Are you saying you will be participating in the examinations?

Then are you suggesting I miss...

an opportunity that has returned after three years?

Whether it has been 3 years or 30 years,

you should be refusing it at this time!

Look at us.

We are leaving the Capital because of that.

To prevent getting weak...

and participating in the State Examinations.

- What? - Do not do something shameful...

and let us leave far from Gaegyeong.

Join us to live secluded lives...

until these traitors leave.

Goodness, you are a funny lot.

If you are going to lock yourself up in the mountains,

why did you study literature?