Post by ajk on Jul 9, 2008 14:56:13 GMT -5
Yangnyeong has gone to see prime minister Yu in the conference hall. "Choose the wise one? You ditch me, flock to the king and conspire to put Choongnyeong on this chair? I hope you succeed, prime minister. Because you won't live if you fail." He's smirking and puts his arm around Yu as he says it; then he leaves.
Um Jachi finds Yi Su in a records office. He asks, "What do you think prince Choongnyeong will do?" They're both very anxious to find out what's happening. Then Jachi goes towards the throne room; officials are gathered there but they don't know anything either.
Minister Hwang walks into the ministers' lounge and find the ministers sitting around lazily and quietly. "What is everyone doing here instead of in their office?" Flood victims need help, Ming needs our attention, and Japanese pirates continue to be a problem. But the ministers are sitting, unwilling to continue working under Yangnyeong and waiting for news from the throne room. Yun Hwe tells Hwang, "Two hours. Please be patient for two hours, minister Hwang. In that time, the world may change."
The queen is waiting tensely. Escort Han asks her, "What will happen if prince Choongnyeong accepts?" "Then he will make an enemy of his own mother," she answers.
In the throne room (finally!): "Father, I am not the wise one." Taejong asks, "Is that a refusal?" Choongnyeong explains, "But if you give me a chance, I am prepared to give my best effort to become the wise one." Just then the queen barges in. "Don't give your best effort!", she tells her son. "Do not do anything." She turns to her husband. "Which of the ministers told you to choose the wise one?" Punish him--punish all of them, she says. Then back to her son: "You're asking the king for a chance to make an enemy of your own brother. If you start this fight for the throne, it won't end until one of you is dead. Don't you know that?" Taejong, taking back the conversation, asks his son: "Are you prepared? Are you prepared to fight your own brother for the throne?" Wongyeong implores the prince, "Say no. You must say no." "I am asking Choongnyeong," says the king. Throughout all of this the prince has stood silently, eyes fixed downward. But now he looks up at his father: "I am prepared. I am prepared to become the crown prince's political enemy as well." The queen is speechless.
In the ministers' lounge, the ministers are still sitting quietly, but their attitude is different. Hints of smiles and nods of approval can be seen throughout the room--except for Hwang, who looks rather sullen. They've heard the news and are taking it in. Then Shim On says, "Prince Choongnyeong is more decisive than I thought. Now we see if the world really changes."
Outside in the hallway, Jo Malseng and Park Eun are walking and encounter Shim On. "You are more formidable than you appear," Jo tells Shim. Park adds, "You didn't want to make him a rebel but you did want to make him a king?" Shim answers, "This humble man has not done much. But our support will give him great strength." They nod, and smile at Shim. "Let us give it a try," Park says.
The queen and Choongnyeong are outside, talking privately. "How could you? I begged you," Wongyeong says. And then she goes this route again: "Don't call me mother. You lost your mother today. You will not be my son unless you renounce your ambition for power!" And she walks away. So then the prince walks away, too, turning a corner...and finding dozens of ministers and officials standing in a group before him. Even prince Kyoungnyeong is among them. Shim on says, "You've been through so much." "The road is rougher ahead," says Kyoungnyeong. But they all tell him with enthusiasm, We're behind you.
Choongnyeong goes into the main records office. An official, his back to the prince, asks, "Would you like to review public works first or shall we take a look at public decrees that have been issued?" He turns around; it's Yi Su. He and the prince see each other for the first time since the prince's return. "I'm back, master." "Why did you come back to this treacherous place? Did the selfish and unashamed public push you back here again?" Yi speaks cynically but his face belies him: he's beaming with pride over his student. Choongnyeong sits down and Yi starts to talk him through the records.
Hwang goes to PM Yu in his office: "I want you to silence this debate about choosing the wise one. You're going too far taking this as far as the crown prince's deposal." That isn't what I expected from you when I recommended bringing you here, Hwang tells him. But Yu replies, "Did I look that naive to you? What made you think I would protect a man who doesn't have what it takes?"
Yangnyeong has gone to the jail to speak to the Mins and Gim Hanlo. He tells the jailer, "You can either release them or put me in there as well." (ooh, can we take a vote on that one? please?) But just then Jo Malseng shows up and drops a bomb on the prince: "The royal order is for you to execute them personally."
Hwang is before the king: "The crown prince will not obey that order." "Then," Taejong says, "he will lose his crown."
At the jail: "Their only crime is obeying my order," Yangnyeong tells Jo. "Yes, I know." "Then how could he tell me to punish them?" Jo explains, "His majesty is not trying to punish them. He is trying to punish you."
In the throne room: "Tell him to endure the pain of cutting his own flesh and blood...He must humbly reflect on his errors and promise not to repeat them." Hwang says, "He will surely refuse."
In the jail: "I will not kill to protect my crown."
In the throne room: Hwang asks the king, If Yangnyeong refuses, "will this country belong to prince Choongnyeong?" The king answers, "If that is the will of heaven." Hwang then challenges the king: "Then you must kill the crown prince with your own hands." Yangnyeong, he says, will know how to get his crown back; he learned it from you. "If the tragedy that occurred in your generation is repeated, this country is over. The public will not tolerate a royal house that turns into a slaughterhouse every time there is a new king." An angered king glares at Hwang and threatens, "Stop or I might kill you first." Not missing a beat, Hwang answers, "Please do." (Thanks to member jocal for checking the videotape and clarifying the rapid exchange in this scene.)
Yangnyeong approaches the throne room just in time to hear Hwang tell the king, "Kill me with your majesty's sword." As he listens in: "And give mercy to the crown prince. Look upon him kindly for his care and loyalty to his men, and tell him to start over." The king won't have it: "Do not defend a boy who can't even distinguish between flattery and loyalty." "That too is my fault," Hwang says, for not teaching him better. "I am the cause of his errors, so punish me and give the crown prince another chance." "Death is what you wish?" "You must not give up on the crown prince no matter what." That settles it: "Royal attendant!", calls the king. Noh Huibong enters. "Remove minister Hwang Hee from his post and banish him out of the city!" Noh gasps: "Your majesty?" "Now!", the king shouts.
It's evening as we see Hwang leaving the palace. Yangnyeong is outside waiting for him. He tells him, "You're wrong about everything." Not wanting to discuss any of it, Hwang simply says, "Please be well, your highness." And Hwang slowly walks from the palace, the same kind of long, slow walk that we saw from PM Ha Ryun in Ep23. Behind him, the prince starts to sob.
We see Choongnyeong studying records, preparing himself for the crown.
We see Yangnyeong, with Auri; they’re eating together.
We're told that Gu Jongsu and Gu Jongmi are being executed. We see a flash of them, although not the actual execution. Then we're told that Gim Hanlo has been banished. We see him being escorted out of the palace; his daughter the crown princess is there to see him. She's very upset with her absent husband: "He doesn't even have the decency to see you off after all you've done for him." But Gim tells her she needs to do her "wifely duties" and look out for her husband (again showing less regard for his own daughter than for Yangnyeong).
Choongnyeong's closest supporters are talking, concerned that the king hasn't made a decision yet. Continued delay will only complicate the situation, they agree.
Dozens of Confucian scholars are in front of the palace; it's a sit-in protest. Choi Manli is leading them. They're beseeching the king to bring Choongnyeong forward. "Choose the wise one!"
At the ex-king's palace: Jo Malseng has come to see Jeongjong. They discuss the king's apparent difficulty in making up his mind. Prince Hyoryeong is with them and listens silently. Then things take a strange turn. Jo says that he thinks "prince Choongnyeong needs to be re-evaluated." ...Flashback to the scene in Ep28 in which Choongnyeong says publicly that he refuses to continue living as a royal prince if Joseon continues to rule with violence; this results in his banishment...Flashback ending: "Prince Choongnyeong once denied the legitimacy of the regime," says Jo. Jeongjong responds, "And your guess is that this is the cause of the king's hesitation?" (This seems a reach, but....) Jo says, "I just want the king to clearly see who the wise one is." Legitimacy is a difficult subject to discuss with the king, so Jo came to Jeongjong to do it. Then Jeongjong wants to know if Jo is doing this for the benefit of Hyoryeong. Jo answers (and we're not clear if he's simply acting dutifully or if he's being evasive (his history suggests only the former, but this is all so odd, you can’t help but wonder)), "If he is a benevolent prince who hasn't denied the legitimacy of the regime, the world will see him as the wise one without my having to help." Jeongjong turns to Hyoryeong and asks him, "Do you think your younger brother needs to be evaluated?" No answer from the prince.
Choongnyeong's closest supporters are again talking. Prince Kyoungnyeong provides the best insight: "The quickest way for the king to expedite the decision is for Choongnyeong to prove himself the wise one. But he has been buried in books since his return." They agree that he needs mentors who will teach him in law, economics and military affairs. Gang Sangin, who's among the group, wants to bring in Choi Yundeok and Yi Chun from the north. But Yun Hwe says that they need "Something to push the king to make up his mind once and for all." As in, sooner rather than later.
That night, we see Noh Boon holding the walking lantern for Yangnyeong. "To Auri's again?", Noh asks with concern. "You must practice restraint." The prince walks along and grumbles, "I can't get the naggers out of my life." He turns a corner...and there's the king standing there as though he were expecting his son to show up right then and there (which he probably was). "When will you stop behaving like this? Won't you restrain yourself for me? The world is urging me to renounce you and choose the wise one. My retainers and even trifling scholars are on my back pressuring me. Won't you consider my position for one moment?" Yangnyeong tells him, oddly, "This would all be over if you just go ahead and choose the wise one." "I am hoping you would be that wise one. Prove to the world for me that you are both the eldest and the wisest." The king continues, and it's hard for him to say this, "I've tried very hard, but I can't give you up no matter what anyone says. It's too hard to give you up." (So THAT'S why the indecision.)
"I can't start over, can I?" Yangnyeong is with Auri; he's gone to see her anyway. "It's too late for that. The whole world knows that, but the king, that stubborn old fool, is still refusing to see it." His eyes are glazing and he's choking up as he speaks. But Auri tells him, "It's never too late, your highness." "Does that mean you still believe in me?" "The king still believes in you. It's not too late to start over, your highness."
Nighttime: We see attendants running to alert the royals. It's prince Seongnyeong; something serious is happening. Then we see the crown princess arrive at Auri's. "Get the crown prince," she tells her. Auri doesn't want to disturb him: "He is finally getting some sleep." The princess winds up and slaps her! "You think I came here not knowing it's time for his slumber. How dare you try to lecture me!" Clearly she's been itching to deliver that slap.
Seongnyeong is very sick, burning up with fever. The king and queen are with him. The queen asks the royal physician, "What is wrong with him? Why is he delirious all of a sudden?" The physician delivers the terrible news: "I'm afraid it is smallpox." She's horrified. The king asks the physician, "Will he recover?" "I'm afraid it's a disease we have no cure for." The queen becomes frantic; the physician bows and says, "Give me death, your highness." (Because he couldn't cure smallpox? Geez, that is one rough job.) She hovers over her son: "Mother is here. Open your eyes!" Then to her husband: "Tell them to cure him. No, you cure him yourself. You're the one who did this to him, so restore him to health right now! This is our fault, yours and mine. You put so much blood on our hands...and now heaven has struck this poor child in rage to punish us!"
Outside, the three brothers show up simultaneously. Noh Huibong announces their arrival to the king inside. "Tell them to leave. They don't deserve to see him!", is the queen's answer. "They're at each other's throats fighting for the throne, and they think they deserve to see him?" As Yangnyeong stands there, his wife is behind him and throws in an icy comment: "I would not have to put up with this if you had a firm hold on the crown." This annoys the prince, and he turns around and walks away in a huff. Then she starts in on princess Shim, accusing her of trying to suck up to the king and queen. Shim assures her otherwise, but she arrogantly warns her, "Don't even dream of making prince Choongnyeong a crown prince. Even if the crown prince loses his position, my eldest son will take his place, not your husband. Remember that." This is a side of the crown princess we haven't seen before.
Back inside, Seongnyeong regains consciousness and asks to see his brothers. "Why those horrible characters," his mother asks. He answers, "I must say goodbye. I heard what the physician said." The queen insists, "No, he's wrong. You're going to be just fine. I won't let anything happen to you." But her son again tells her, "I want to say goodbye, mother." The king gets up and goes outside to fetch his other sons. Only Hyoryeong and Choongnyeong are there. "The crown prince?", he asks. Noh Huibong tells him only, "He stepped away for a moment." The king tells the other two to go in.
Inside, Seongnyeong speaks (with difficulty) to his two brothers: "My wish is that you would get along. Brother Jae and all of you. I wish you'd all get along so that mother won't be so sad." Choongnyeong takes his hand. Seongnyeong tells them, "Take care of her." His eyes close, and he dies. For a time the princes and their mother all sit, stunned and dazed. Then the queen goes to him--"Wake up. Jong? My baby?"--and holds his lifeless body. "My poor child...my poor baby...my poor baby...." She's bawling, almost coming apart with grief.
Outside, Taejong looks blankly into the night sky, tears in his eyes.
Yangnyeong is on horseback, galloping alone through the woods at night.
The next morning: "I beg your pardon?" Auri has come to see Shim On, who's surprised by her request: "I am asking you not to reveal the crown prince's relationship with me." No deal, Shim says: "You are the one who came to me and told me to expose it." Auri drops to her knees and begs, "I will give you my life. So please, please don't let anything happen to the crown prince on account of me. I am begging you." Unmoved, Shim tells her, "Leave. You chose the wrong man; I'm not the king of man who changes his actions based on one woman's frivolous words."
Auri walks aimlessly through the streets. She walks for a long way, looking dazed and lost in thought...we see flashbacks of Yangnyeong showing her genuine affection and care.
Yangnyeong enters a darkened room at Auri's home, but no one is there.
Nighttime: Posters are hanging from a building. Noh Huibong spots them, reads one, is shocked, and takes it down. He brings the poster to the king, who reads it: "The crown prince has committed adultery again?" He simmers with rage.
Yangnyeong is standing outside of Auri's home with Noh Boon. Then Auri shows up. As she walks over to him she collapses.
Still that evening: We hear Noh Boon's pleading voice: "Your highness, you mustn't. Your highness!?" The king is standing in a courtyard when Yangnyeong walks in. He's carrying the unconscious Auri in his arms! The king demands, "What is the meaning of this?" Yangnyeong tells him urgently, "My woman is ill, father."
Um Jachi finds Yi Su in a records office. He asks, "What do you think prince Choongnyeong will do?" They're both very anxious to find out what's happening. Then Jachi goes towards the throne room; officials are gathered there but they don't know anything either.
Minister Hwang walks into the ministers' lounge and find the ministers sitting around lazily and quietly. "What is everyone doing here instead of in their office?" Flood victims need help, Ming needs our attention, and Japanese pirates continue to be a problem. But the ministers are sitting, unwilling to continue working under Yangnyeong and waiting for news from the throne room. Yun Hwe tells Hwang, "Two hours. Please be patient for two hours, minister Hwang. In that time, the world may change."
The queen is waiting tensely. Escort Han asks her, "What will happen if prince Choongnyeong accepts?" "Then he will make an enemy of his own mother," she answers.
In the throne room (finally!): "Father, I am not the wise one." Taejong asks, "Is that a refusal?" Choongnyeong explains, "But if you give me a chance, I am prepared to give my best effort to become the wise one." Just then the queen barges in. "Don't give your best effort!", she tells her son. "Do not do anything." She turns to her husband. "Which of the ministers told you to choose the wise one?" Punish him--punish all of them, she says. Then back to her son: "You're asking the king for a chance to make an enemy of your own brother. If you start this fight for the throne, it won't end until one of you is dead. Don't you know that?" Taejong, taking back the conversation, asks his son: "Are you prepared? Are you prepared to fight your own brother for the throne?" Wongyeong implores the prince, "Say no. You must say no." "I am asking Choongnyeong," says the king. Throughout all of this the prince has stood silently, eyes fixed downward. But now he looks up at his father: "I am prepared. I am prepared to become the crown prince's political enemy as well." The queen is speechless.
In the ministers' lounge, the ministers are still sitting quietly, but their attitude is different. Hints of smiles and nods of approval can be seen throughout the room--except for Hwang, who looks rather sullen. They've heard the news and are taking it in. Then Shim On says, "Prince Choongnyeong is more decisive than I thought. Now we see if the world really changes."
Outside in the hallway, Jo Malseng and Park Eun are walking and encounter Shim On. "You are more formidable than you appear," Jo tells Shim. Park adds, "You didn't want to make him a rebel but you did want to make him a king?" Shim answers, "This humble man has not done much. But our support will give him great strength." They nod, and smile at Shim. "Let us give it a try," Park says.
The queen and Choongnyeong are outside, talking privately. "How could you? I begged you," Wongyeong says. And then she goes this route again: "Don't call me mother. You lost your mother today. You will not be my son unless you renounce your ambition for power!" And she walks away. So then the prince walks away, too, turning a corner...and finding dozens of ministers and officials standing in a group before him. Even prince Kyoungnyeong is among them. Shim on says, "You've been through so much." "The road is rougher ahead," says Kyoungnyeong. But they all tell him with enthusiasm, We're behind you.
Choongnyeong goes into the main records office. An official, his back to the prince, asks, "Would you like to review public works first or shall we take a look at public decrees that have been issued?" He turns around; it's Yi Su. He and the prince see each other for the first time since the prince's return. "I'm back, master." "Why did you come back to this treacherous place? Did the selfish and unashamed public push you back here again?" Yi speaks cynically but his face belies him: he's beaming with pride over his student. Choongnyeong sits down and Yi starts to talk him through the records.
Hwang goes to PM Yu in his office: "I want you to silence this debate about choosing the wise one. You're going too far taking this as far as the crown prince's deposal." That isn't what I expected from you when I recommended bringing you here, Hwang tells him. But Yu replies, "Did I look that naive to you? What made you think I would protect a man who doesn't have what it takes?"
Yangnyeong has gone to the jail to speak to the Mins and Gim Hanlo. He tells the jailer, "You can either release them or put me in there as well." (ooh, can we take a vote on that one? please?) But just then Jo Malseng shows up and drops a bomb on the prince: "The royal order is for you to execute them personally."
Hwang is before the king: "The crown prince will not obey that order." "Then," Taejong says, "he will lose his crown."
At the jail: "Their only crime is obeying my order," Yangnyeong tells Jo. "Yes, I know." "Then how could he tell me to punish them?" Jo explains, "His majesty is not trying to punish them. He is trying to punish you."
In the throne room: "Tell him to endure the pain of cutting his own flesh and blood...He must humbly reflect on his errors and promise not to repeat them." Hwang says, "He will surely refuse."
In the jail: "I will not kill to protect my crown."
In the throne room: Hwang asks the king, If Yangnyeong refuses, "will this country belong to prince Choongnyeong?" The king answers, "If that is the will of heaven." Hwang then challenges the king: "Then you must kill the crown prince with your own hands." Yangnyeong, he says, will know how to get his crown back; he learned it from you. "If the tragedy that occurred in your generation is repeated, this country is over. The public will not tolerate a royal house that turns into a slaughterhouse every time there is a new king." An angered king glares at Hwang and threatens, "Stop or I might kill you first." Not missing a beat, Hwang answers, "Please do." (Thanks to member jocal for checking the videotape and clarifying the rapid exchange in this scene.)
Yangnyeong approaches the throne room just in time to hear Hwang tell the king, "Kill me with your majesty's sword." As he listens in: "And give mercy to the crown prince. Look upon him kindly for his care and loyalty to his men, and tell him to start over." The king won't have it: "Do not defend a boy who can't even distinguish between flattery and loyalty." "That too is my fault," Hwang says, for not teaching him better. "I am the cause of his errors, so punish me and give the crown prince another chance." "Death is what you wish?" "You must not give up on the crown prince no matter what." That settles it: "Royal attendant!", calls the king. Noh Huibong enters. "Remove minister Hwang Hee from his post and banish him out of the city!" Noh gasps: "Your majesty?" "Now!", the king shouts.
It's evening as we see Hwang leaving the palace. Yangnyeong is outside waiting for him. He tells him, "You're wrong about everything." Not wanting to discuss any of it, Hwang simply says, "Please be well, your highness." And Hwang slowly walks from the palace, the same kind of long, slow walk that we saw from PM Ha Ryun in Ep23. Behind him, the prince starts to sob.
We see Choongnyeong studying records, preparing himself for the crown.
We see Yangnyeong, with Auri; they’re eating together.
We're told that Gu Jongsu and Gu Jongmi are being executed. We see a flash of them, although not the actual execution. Then we're told that Gim Hanlo has been banished. We see him being escorted out of the palace; his daughter the crown princess is there to see him. She's very upset with her absent husband: "He doesn't even have the decency to see you off after all you've done for him." But Gim tells her she needs to do her "wifely duties" and look out for her husband (again showing less regard for his own daughter than for Yangnyeong).
Choongnyeong's closest supporters are talking, concerned that the king hasn't made a decision yet. Continued delay will only complicate the situation, they agree.
Dozens of Confucian scholars are in front of the palace; it's a sit-in protest. Choi Manli is leading them. They're beseeching the king to bring Choongnyeong forward. "Choose the wise one!"
At the ex-king's palace: Jo Malseng has come to see Jeongjong. They discuss the king's apparent difficulty in making up his mind. Prince Hyoryeong is with them and listens silently. Then things take a strange turn. Jo says that he thinks "prince Choongnyeong needs to be re-evaluated." ...Flashback to the scene in Ep28 in which Choongnyeong says publicly that he refuses to continue living as a royal prince if Joseon continues to rule with violence; this results in his banishment...Flashback ending: "Prince Choongnyeong once denied the legitimacy of the regime," says Jo. Jeongjong responds, "And your guess is that this is the cause of the king's hesitation?" (This seems a reach, but....) Jo says, "I just want the king to clearly see who the wise one is." Legitimacy is a difficult subject to discuss with the king, so Jo came to Jeongjong to do it. Then Jeongjong wants to know if Jo is doing this for the benefit of Hyoryeong. Jo answers (and we're not clear if he's simply acting dutifully or if he's being evasive (his history suggests only the former, but this is all so odd, you can’t help but wonder)), "If he is a benevolent prince who hasn't denied the legitimacy of the regime, the world will see him as the wise one without my having to help." Jeongjong turns to Hyoryeong and asks him, "Do you think your younger brother needs to be evaluated?" No answer from the prince.
Choongnyeong's closest supporters are again talking. Prince Kyoungnyeong provides the best insight: "The quickest way for the king to expedite the decision is for Choongnyeong to prove himself the wise one. But he has been buried in books since his return." They agree that he needs mentors who will teach him in law, economics and military affairs. Gang Sangin, who's among the group, wants to bring in Choi Yundeok and Yi Chun from the north. But Yun Hwe says that they need "Something to push the king to make up his mind once and for all." As in, sooner rather than later.
That night, we see Noh Boon holding the walking lantern for Yangnyeong. "To Auri's again?", Noh asks with concern. "You must practice restraint." The prince walks along and grumbles, "I can't get the naggers out of my life." He turns a corner...and there's the king standing there as though he were expecting his son to show up right then and there (which he probably was). "When will you stop behaving like this? Won't you restrain yourself for me? The world is urging me to renounce you and choose the wise one. My retainers and even trifling scholars are on my back pressuring me. Won't you consider my position for one moment?" Yangnyeong tells him, oddly, "This would all be over if you just go ahead and choose the wise one." "I am hoping you would be that wise one. Prove to the world for me that you are both the eldest and the wisest." The king continues, and it's hard for him to say this, "I've tried very hard, but I can't give you up no matter what anyone says. It's too hard to give you up." (So THAT'S why the indecision.)
"I can't start over, can I?" Yangnyeong is with Auri; he's gone to see her anyway. "It's too late for that. The whole world knows that, but the king, that stubborn old fool, is still refusing to see it." His eyes are glazing and he's choking up as he speaks. But Auri tells him, "It's never too late, your highness." "Does that mean you still believe in me?" "The king still believes in you. It's not too late to start over, your highness."
Nighttime: We see attendants running to alert the royals. It's prince Seongnyeong; something serious is happening. Then we see the crown princess arrive at Auri's. "Get the crown prince," she tells her. Auri doesn't want to disturb him: "He is finally getting some sleep." The princess winds up and slaps her! "You think I came here not knowing it's time for his slumber. How dare you try to lecture me!" Clearly she's been itching to deliver that slap.
Seongnyeong is very sick, burning up with fever. The king and queen are with him. The queen asks the royal physician, "What is wrong with him? Why is he delirious all of a sudden?" The physician delivers the terrible news: "I'm afraid it is smallpox." She's horrified. The king asks the physician, "Will he recover?" "I'm afraid it's a disease we have no cure for." The queen becomes frantic; the physician bows and says, "Give me death, your highness." (Because he couldn't cure smallpox? Geez, that is one rough job.) She hovers over her son: "Mother is here. Open your eyes!" Then to her husband: "Tell them to cure him. No, you cure him yourself. You're the one who did this to him, so restore him to health right now! This is our fault, yours and mine. You put so much blood on our hands...and now heaven has struck this poor child in rage to punish us!"
Outside, the three brothers show up simultaneously. Noh Huibong announces their arrival to the king inside. "Tell them to leave. They don't deserve to see him!", is the queen's answer. "They're at each other's throats fighting for the throne, and they think they deserve to see him?" As Yangnyeong stands there, his wife is behind him and throws in an icy comment: "I would not have to put up with this if you had a firm hold on the crown." This annoys the prince, and he turns around and walks away in a huff. Then she starts in on princess Shim, accusing her of trying to suck up to the king and queen. Shim assures her otherwise, but she arrogantly warns her, "Don't even dream of making prince Choongnyeong a crown prince. Even if the crown prince loses his position, my eldest son will take his place, not your husband. Remember that." This is a side of the crown princess we haven't seen before.
Back inside, Seongnyeong regains consciousness and asks to see his brothers. "Why those horrible characters," his mother asks. He answers, "I must say goodbye. I heard what the physician said." The queen insists, "No, he's wrong. You're going to be just fine. I won't let anything happen to you." But her son again tells her, "I want to say goodbye, mother." The king gets up and goes outside to fetch his other sons. Only Hyoryeong and Choongnyeong are there. "The crown prince?", he asks. Noh Huibong tells him only, "He stepped away for a moment." The king tells the other two to go in.
Inside, Seongnyeong speaks (with difficulty) to his two brothers: "My wish is that you would get along. Brother Jae and all of you. I wish you'd all get along so that mother won't be so sad." Choongnyeong takes his hand. Seongnyeong tells them, "Take care of her." His eyes close, and he dies. For a time the princes and their mother all sit, stunned and dazed. Then the queen goes to him--"Wake up. Jong? My baby?"--and holds his lifeless body. "My poor child...my poor baby...my poor baby...." She's bawling, almost coming apart with grief.
Outside, Taejong looks blankly into the night sky, tears in his eyes.
Yangnyeong is on horseback, galloping alone through the woods at night.
The next morning: "I beg your pardon?" Auri has come to see Shim On, who's surprised by her request: "I am asking you not to reveal the crown prince's relationship with me." No deal, Shim says: "You are the one who came to me and told me to expose it." Auri drops to her knees and begs, "I will give you my life. So please, please don't let anything happen to the crown prince on account of me. I am begging you." Unmoved, Shim tells her, "Leave. You chose the wrong man; I'm not the king of man who changes his actions based on one woman's frivolous words."
Auri walks aimlessly through the streets. She walks for a long way, looking dazed and lost in thought...we see flashbacks of Yangnyeong showing her genuine affection and care.
Yangnyeong enters a darkened room at Auri's home, but no one is there.
Nighttime: Posters are hanging from a building. Noh Huibong spots them, reads one, is shocked, and takes it down. He brings the poster to the king, who reads it: "The crown prince has committed adultery again?" He simmers with rage.
Yangnyeong is standing outside of Auri's home with Noh Boon. Then Auri shows up. As she walks over to him she collapses.
Still that evening: We hear Noh Boon's pleading voice: "Your highness, you mustn't. Your highness!?" The king is standing in a courtyard when Yangnyeong walks in. He's carrying the unconscious Auri in his arms! The king demands, "What is the meaning of this?" Yangnyeong tells him urgently, "My woman is ill, father."