The East Palace (동궁)

Your Majesty.

THE EAST PALACE

Yeom-mae? I can't hear you. Can you please speak a little louder?

Why is it so cramped in here?

Is this really the only place you could hide me?

What am I, a kind of grub to you?

What is he saying?

Come closer. And speak louder.

Through this hole.

- It's probably better that I quit now. - Would you stop complaining?

You chose to stay in the palace when I told you to run from here.

I stayed because I vowed to save you, like you saved me.

Now you're giving me a scolding?

I had to beg grandmother to hide you, but with this complaining,

I'm honestly about to lose every bit of guilt and even appreciation

I had for you.

The yeom-mae…

is somewhat difficult,

so I lost my temper.

So can you…

tell me what a yeom-mae is?

A curse ritual.

A particularly vicious one.

It's the act of creating a won-gwi by sealing a person in a jar.

And then starving them to death.

What if something goes wrong?

Since I cannot enter the water to become a spirit, this is the only way.

If you accomplish this,

can you get rid of the spirit of the Crown Prince?

This wouldn't give me that power.

My soul would only be able to slip out through this small hole in the wall.

Instead, I will find a way to suppress the power of the Crown Prince's spirit.

Then I must…

somehow manage to… to convince Father to not kill you before then.

Do you think you can?

What if you get thrown out after raising your voice at the King again?

Seeing as you both have vicious tempers.

Just make sure you don't get yourself killed, will you, please.

You don't need to worry, Princess.

I don’t want you becoming my companion in the afterlife

just because you tried to help me.

All right. Now.

Please seal the hole.

I can't disclose his whereabouts.

Not until you are willing to promise me that you won't kill him.

Now that Prince Yeongan is dead,

his role in the palace has ended.

We still need his help since the spirit has not been dealt with.

He has already failed us.

I will not give another chance to some incompetent, lazy bastard.

You hid the truth about the spirit and who he was truly dealing with.

You have to acknowledge it all before it's too late.

If you kill Gu-cheon to conceal that the Crown Prince is the spirit,

then very soon,

we will share Prince Yeongan's fate.

You are expelled from the palace as of right now.

-Leave here at once. -That is not possible.

If you disappear, there will be no one left to help him.

-Am I clear? -So be it.

Then I shall expose your shameful secrets to the palace.

How there was never a pond spirit to begin with

because the late King's son was murdered.

Murdered by your hands, Father!

If you do not wish to die as your mother did,

never speak those words again.

Do you understand?

Now where is he?

Tell me honestly.

-Did my mother die at your hands too? -I am asking you again.

Where is Gu-cheon?

I am asking you again, Father!

Did you kill my mother?

Chief Eunuch!

Confine the Princess to her quarters immediately,

and make sure she never steps outside.

Ensure she's constantly watched.

That ungrateful little bastard.

Stuffing its face all by itself.

has spread throughout the palace in all directions.

At this rate, even the lives of the Princess,

the King himself…

…and Royal Noble Consort Sukbin Choi.

The Royal Noble Consort Sukbin Choi.

Why are you asking about the Crown Prince who is deceased?

Is there anything left of his belongings?

I hid you because Saeng-gang asked me to.

Have you called me here just to spout nonsense?

Your goal should be to destroy the spirit tormenting His Majesty.

Why would…

the Crown Prince have resentment toward His Majesty?

You're saying

that the one that is cursing us

is the dead son of the late King?

It cannot be.

This explains why His Majesty is looking for you.

Do you wish to lose your granddaughter?

If this continues,

your son and granddaughter

will end up vomiting blood and die one by one.

The villagers near Goyang-hyeon are refusing to do mandatory labor,

claiming illness?

What illness is that?

It appears to be nothing more than a common cold, Your Majesty.

Is it true that every able-bodied man assigned to work has fallen ill?

Illnesses like that are very common in the village,

due to the cold energy of the mountain.

The issue, Your Majesty, does not lie in the sick--

Your Majesty, the seat of the Crown Prince is vacant.

I believe that you must anoint a royal relative as our new Crown Prince--

Are you really suggesting

Prince Iksang's son as our new Crown Prince?

At the birthday banquet for the Queen Dowager,

did you not all see how he fainted in front of her

and then collapsed, or did you all look away?

Are you suggesting I should anoint such a flawed child?

It's too early to impart the crown on anybody.

My health is still good and strong,

so never let such pathetic statements leave your lips!

Your Majesty!

Such hubris, thinking you can roam around so freely.

Look at this.

This Ikseongwan was prepared just for Prince Yeongan.

Now that child

is no longer breathing,

and you're the bastard to blame.

I will stake everything that I possess to hunt you down. I swear it.

Because I will not be stopped…

before I catch you.

For goodness sake.

I should have fled.

The King is combing through the palace, you say?

Has he gone insane now that his last son is dead?

It seems he's searching for the one named Gu-cheon.

If he failed at his job, he should've tried to get away.

How are things over there?

It's clear the spirit's power has spread throughout the palace.

Even I nearly fainted around it.

So even His Majesty's life is in danger, dangling by a thread.

But what troubles me is that Gu-cheon.

I fear he'll become the King's lifeline at some point.

Then we should act fast and cut that lifeline completely,

should we not?

Your Highness.

His Majesty is urgently summoning your audience.

Was I not commanded to not step outside my quarters?

His Majesty will be leaving the palace for a brief while.

He would be happy to have your company.

Halt.

-Check the surroundings. -Yes, sir.

Very well.

Your Majesty.

They look like refugees.

Some elders and children are among the lot.

Their illness appears to have worsened as they fled,

leaving them no choice but to stay here.

It is close to Goyang-hyeon.

-I suggest we-- -I'll see myself.

But Your Majes…

Goyang-hyeon…

I will inspect the surrounding villages.

And the memorial rite?

We'll make a quick stop.

Were you planning to go to the late Crown Prince's grave?

I will hold a rite there.

Do you intend to kill Gu-cheon using a memorial rite?

That won't work, I promise you.

You must spare his life because you will need him soon.

You two stay here and help with the people.

Let's move on.

Just try.

Sir!

Oh, wait, sir! Sir!

Wait, sir, please. Take a look at her, will you?

Please, I beg you.

Something is wrong.

She's not responding at all.

Please!

What could be wrong with her, sir?

Please help us.

I am begging you. Could you look at her?

I can't help her anymore.

Oh, no, that can't be. There must be something you can do.

My dear! My love!

My love, open your eyes and look at me, please!

It's a deadly illness.