The Crowned Clown: Episode 4

by mary

Of course, Lord Neungchang denies the accusation, and demands to speak to his daughter, the queen dowager. MINISTER SHIN (Kwon Hye-hyo), the Vice Minister of War, refuses the request, and Lord Neungchang accuses him of telling the king lies against him. He threatens to tell Yi Heon that Minister Shin is the true traitor, but he doesn’t even finish his sentence before Minister Shin cuts him down in cold blood.

The tiny prince, Yul, is taken from his screaming mother’s arms on Yi Heon’s order, but the Chief Censor argues that the boy couldn’t possibly have committed high treason. Minister Shin asserts that Yul was on the list of traitors, but the Chief Censor tells Yi Heon that if he punishes his brother, he’ll be harshly criticized. Minister Shin calls for the Chief Censor to be punished along with the traitors, and as his advisers argue over what to do, Yi Heon just sits with no expression whatsoever on his face.

He visits Yul at the prison, and when Yul throws his arms around his big brother, Yi Heon crouches down to speak to him. He displays compassion for the first time as he tells his little brother that he has to send him away for a while, promising to come get him as soon as he can. But as Yul is led away, Yi Heon’s emotionless mask slams down over his face again.

Yul is taken somewhere and fed a hearty meal, but he’s dead before he even finishes eating, the food having been laced with poison. The rest of the supposed traitors are executed, and Yi Heon grants Minister Shin the title of Lord of Goseong as reward for his service to his country.

The troupe of clowns finishes their re-enactment of Yi Heon’s murderous rampage with a wild dance by the red-robed figure. He concludes with a jump high into the air, during which he throws off his mask to reveal… Yi Heon?

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