Hwajung (화정)

Episode 16

So imagine... how curious I must be.

Who you are, and what your goal is.

My goal?

Are you... an informant for the king?

I'm asking if Gwanghae is behind you.

Following the command of the emperor of Great Ming

we came to say our greetings to the highest elder of Joseon first.

Ma'am.

His Majesty has arrived!

Your Majesty, I get to see you here.

It's been a long time, my king.

Isn't that right?

But what do we do about this?

I didn't mean to, but I'm about to receive greetings...

from the envoys from Ming before you.

Where on earth have you gone, Hwa Yi?

- Move aside! Move aside! - Move!

What do you mean by that?

Is the king behind me?

King... I know a bit about him.

A snake-like man you just can't figure out.

Just like me.

My thoughts reached to this point...

'Maybe the bureau case was a game that the king had planned with a purpose.'

Plot an accident, solve it, and turn the game around to make it beneficial for him.

Sure... he's more than capable of fooling everyone.

Is he... by any chance...

Then there was you who rolled into the center of the accident.

And you're aiming for Gyungwoon Palace now.

So how could I leave you alone?

Now...

If you want to preserve your life, open your mouth.

What is Gwanghae trying to do with you at the frontline?

What is the truth of the Eye of Mercy Goddess that the queen dowager is chasing?

Your goal is the king.

Am I wrong?

That's what I hear...

Your treacherous mind.

Do you not understand this situation?

You're the one who needs to answer, not me!

No, you're the one who doesn't understand what's going on.

Yes, whoever you are, if I am right...

you're barking up the completely wrong tree.

That's because...

I'm not an informant for the king.

I have the same goal you do.

- What? - Do you understand?

I also want to take down the king!

Summon an official meeting right now.

Right now!

- Yes, sire. Let's hurry. - Yes, sir.

You want to take down the king...

You do?

So, how about it?

To share the same goal together...

why don't you untie me?

Shut up!

How dare you make fun of me!

Why should I trust you?

Eye of Mercy Goddess.

The prayer beads I left at Gyungwoon Palace...

Didn't you say you wanted to know what it is?

It's important to the queen dowager.

That's why I delivered it to her.

It's important to the queen dowager? How?

Why?

What are you doing?

Why should I trust you and tell you?

Don't we feel the same way, that we can't trust each other?

- You... - That's why...

If you want to open my mouth, you need to make a gamble.

If our goal together is Gwanghae.

Isn't that right?

What should we do about him, sir?

I'm not sure...

What should I do about him?

I don't know if rice is going down my throat or my nostrils.

Where did Hwa Yi run off to again?

And why did the envoys go that way?

Is something going to explode again?

- Your cheeks will explode first. - What?

Even if the envoys came quietly, we don't know what they would pick on.

How can you still eat?

- I barely had a bite. - Because you have no appetite...

this is your second bowl of rice.

You don't understand what's going on, you don't have a head to think...

What don't I have? Are you making fun of my head?

You're dirty and you're ignorant!

Your head to think! Not that kind of head, but to think!

What?

Again, there you go again! I'm so busy! Who's going to clean this up?

Here, have one more bowl.

Yes, we're really busy.

Hey Soo Deok, clean this up too.

- Hey hey, what's that? - So ignorant...

And why are you giving me more rice?

I have no time to clean up right now.

So you should eat more rice and clean up afterwards.

Eun Seol, we're so busy! What are you still doing here? Hurry!

- I'm coming, Mom! - What's going on?

What's going on with them?

Why do you think?

In the middle of chaos, something strange rolled into our weaponry bureau.

Sir.

You're the workers from the bureau I saw in the northern border area last time.

- So did you bring what I told you? - Yes, sir. Eun Seol, show him.

I brought ashes from the sulfur kiln.

It's as fine as I heard. Go in there and sprinkle it!

Pardon? Oh, yes.

Eun Seol, let me have it.

Go in there and sprinkle the seeds.

I heard the ashes from the bureau are the best

to increase the texture in vegetables.

I'll come and check often

but they are precious ones that will go on His Majesty's table

so you should take responsibility, and take care of them.

Pardon? Are you saying that you'll grow vegetables here, sir?

I heard there was a big ruckus at the palace now.

Don't you need to go there and check?

That's why I'm more focused here.

His Majesty will start a fight soon, so I should support him.

All the officials are gathered in the hall and are yapping about useless things.

They don't have a speck of loyalty!

- Hurry up and sprinkle them! - Yes, sir.

- Line them up straight. - Yes, sir.

With loyalty in each and every seed!

That's why he's called 'Minister of Japchae.'

That's why high officials don't like including him.

Sire... I pray for your health for ten thousand years to come!

Everyone, pay extra attention so that it won't become a problem at the bureau.

Yes, sir.

Sir.

How can one with the title of councilor decide to show up this late?

Forgive me. But what's going on in the palace?

His Majesty has arrived!

Sire!

Transcriber, leave us.

Sire!

Transcriber, do you not hear me?

Forgive me, but that's impossible, sire.

Transcriber's job is to record everything that happens.

How can you make him leave?

Then... should we leave?

The reason I'm letting the transcriber out

is that all of you, and I...

should say the truth in our hearts without worrying about anyone today.

Do you understand?

At least for today!

Let's set aside everything

your ill feelings towards me, and your factions!

Let's talk about this country Joseon.

But I wonder... if it went too far.

What's going on? You suggested that I should use the queen dowager.

You said that the king of Joseon will know his place if I take it that far.

Yes, you're right, Your Highness.

For the king who is not even of the proper blood

Whose grace is it that he still has his seat

even after he kicked out the queen dowager?

It's because His Majesty the Emperor has been understanding.

But even then, the king of Joseon is refusing to send troops?

How dare he refuse the order from His Majesty the Emperor!

That's right!

The envoys from Ming must've done this today

in order to press the issue of sending troops

To humiliate the king of Joseon...

and to tell me to follow the order quietly.

So I'm going to ask you...

When you call Ming the country of Heaven's son...

does it mean that it's fine if Ming rules Joseon?

Is it all right for Joseon to respect Ming as its master

and Ming to consider Joseon as its subject?

That's what I'm asking.

If that's not the case, then tell me.

Lift your hate towards me just for today

and tell me if I should accept this rude behavior that happened on our land today.

We're in a very difficult situation.

It's true that the envoys from Ming were rude.

Anyway, the current king is surely the king of Joseon...

but it went against principles and moral obligations.

I can't speak for or against sending troops...

I can't go forward or backward.

I don't know if the Westerners will really stand on His Majesty's side.

Still, the mood in the meeting was solemn.

They always consider justifications and big purposes

so in this case, it's clear what's right and what's wrong.

Would they?

But even if the Westerners stand with His Majesty this time

it will be hard not to send troops.

What? Why?

I've been supporting His Majesty so far

but not on this matter, to be honest.

He won't be able to hold out in the end.

Joseon is still a weak country. That's the reality.

'The reality'?

Yes, what a good comment!

Everyone needs to focus on the reality in front of him.

Look!

Sir!

Did you find out what Heo Gyoon has been up to?