No, youâre changing the scene just because Seojun did a good job of acting like he was dying? Seojun wanted to say, but he found himself nodding in agreement after hearing the words of PD Choi Min-sung and writer So Eun-jin.
âEveryone is so deeply immersed in Seojunâs portrayal of Seongnyeong Daegun. They say they donât want to see him die and that it would be too sad. If the staff feels this way, how will the viewers, who are currently engrossed in the drama, react? If Seojunâs death scene is broadcast, there might be chaos.â
âItâs just acting, right?â
âI wouldnât worry if it were another actor. But itâs âactor, Lee Seojun.ââ
âAre you worried about the Werther effect?â
At Andahoâs words, Seojun tilted his head, and PD Choi Min-sung and writer So Eun-jin nodded.
âWeâre not thinking that people will follow and die. Weâre just worried that people who have been enjoying it might be shocked. Everyone is mentally prepared, but still.â
âWhatâs the Werther effect?â
Andaho explained to Seojun.
It was a story about how readers of a novel attempted to commit suicide after the protagonist did. It wasnât just the novelâs protagonist; people also followed the deaths of famous people. Seojun was taken aback by this unexpected story.
Writer So Eun-jin said,
âItâs not that serious. If the video from the last shoot doesnât air, thatâs all. Seojunâs acting was good, but Jongsuâs acting was so realistic that it made it look even more dangerous.â
Seojunâs acting was indeed good. The camera wouldnât capture the drop in his body temperature or the smell of the skeleton mouse. The problem started when Jongsuâs intense performance turned into reality.
âCombined with that expression and Seojunâs acting, itâs too much.â
PD Choi and writer So, who watched the video again, rubbed their goosebumps from the urgent expression on Jongsuâs face and Seojunâs limp form. Andaho and Seo Eunchan, who rushed over when they heard about deleting Seojunâs scene, agreed and immediately had the video collected and destroyed.
âIf my sister and brother-in-law had seen it, I would already be dead.â
Years later, over drinks with his nephew, Lee Seojun, Uncle Seo Eunchan revealed his true feelings, and Seojun laughed, recalling his younger self who put all his effort into acting.
Seojun realized that acting that felt too real wasnât always good. No matter how great the acting, it should still be acting.
Acting that allows you to laugh, enjoy, and talk. Even if itâs sad, you can think, âItâs just acting.â
People can enjoy thrillers and horror movies because they know itâs not real.
Where is the line between realistic acting and acting that can be called acting? Everyone said Seojun acted well, but he still had a lot to learn.
âIs it okay to change it?â
Seojun nodded vigorously in response to PD Choi and writer Soâs cautious question.
âYes! Itâs fine!â
Seojun wanted the people watching the drama not to be sad. Even if it was a sad story, he hoped it would be just a little less sad.
Thus, the final scene of Seojunâs first drama, "The Royal Physician," disappeared.
* * *
Wednesday, "The Royal Physician," Episode 13 aired.
âYour Majesty, I humbly report...â
Physician Yang Hongdal bowed and reported. âYour Majesty, I humbly report...â Those words weighed heavily on Taejongâs heart.
It was a more terrifying sound than ever before. His hands, gripping the armrests, trembled.
â...Changjin.â
Changjin!
At Physician Yang Hongdalâs words, Taejong and the Queen were speechless. They could only look at the back of Yang Hongdalâs head, which was bowed in despair.
âChangjin? Changjin!?â
Seongnyeong Daegun had had a fever and labored breathing for several days. He sometimes complained about not being able to sleep, looking tired.
The physicians said it was a serious illness. Just take the medicine and rest, and heâll get better!
But Changjin, smallpox?
âTreatment... Physician, how...?â
The Queen, finally composing herself, asked. Yang Hongdal bowed his head even lower. The heavy silence left Taejong and the Queen in shock.
The palace was enveloped in a cold silence. Taejong scolded Yangning, who was playing happily despite his brotherâs illness, and couldnât eat a single bite.
Queen Wonkyung visited temples with Hyoryeong Daegun to pray to the Buddha and offer sacrifices to the gods.
The intelligent Chungnyeong Daegun researched Seongnyeong Daegunâs illness with the physicians.
In an era where medicine was not advanced, everyone did their best. They sought out gods they didnât even know existed and searched for elixirs rumored to cure all diseases.
Even if the treatment methods were incomprehensible, the viewers understood their hearts from their expressions and actions.
Among them, Heo Yuseon was the busiest. The sick Seongnyeong Daegun didnât call for his family out of consideration. Heo Yuseon was the only one he could act spoiled with.
The considerate Seongnyeong Daegun would act a little spoiled with Heo Yuseon and then apologize.
âSorry.â
âNo, itâs fine.â
âPhysician Heo, thank you so much.â
âReally, itâs fine.â
Heo Yuseon smiled, hiding his red eyes. There was no time to cry. Heo Yuseon took care of Seongnyeong Daegun, fed him medicine, and, when he had time, researched the illness at the place prepared by Chungnyeong Daegun.
["The Royal Physician" Episode 13, 37% viewership!]
[KBC Thursday 10 PM, the day has come!]
[The level of medicine in the Joseon era!]
[Learn about smallpox!]
[Fortune tellers, shamans, sacrifices. They prayed to the gods to cure the illness.]
-Why are they performing sacrifices if the prince is going to die?
=That was the treatment at the time. They believed that if they performed the sacrifice on a good day determined by fortune-telling, the grateful gods would cure the illness.
-Wow, is he really going to die?
-To be honest, I find a lot of things annoying about this fusion historical drama, but I canât judge the death of Seongnyeong Daegun.
-On one side, they pray to the gods, and on the other, they research. The contrast makes it more impressive. Doing anything for family, itâs no different from us.
-My parents also prayed for me at the temple because of my illness.
=Are you okay now?
=Yes, much better.
âSeojun, are you feeling okay?â
âYes! Iâm very healthy, teacher!â
Thursday is a weekday, and on weekdays, you have to go to school. Seojun answered confidently when his friends and teachers asked about his health. They all looked relieved and went back to what they were doing.
âHang in there, Seojun.â
Seojun, who had seen similar situations many times, chuckled and sat down.
And finally, the day arrived.
[Finally, the day. The day in history is approaching!]
[KBC "The Royal Physician"! Will they make a decision?]
[Fusion historical drama, how far can the story go in history?]
[Please let our Daegun live happily!]
-My "The Royal Physician" ended yesterday. Haha.
-Iâm a history major, so I donât like fusion historical dramas, but I really want Seongnyeong Daegun to live!
-Canât he run away?! Send him to a sanatorium!
-Damn smallpox! Even if it destroys history, please save him!
Despite this, as 10 PM approached, everyone turned on their TVs to watch KBC.
The high-priced ads ran for a long time, but everyone waited without complaint. They were still the same ads that seemed to gather the top 10 companies.
-Heâs going to die anyway, but heâll live a bit longer during the ads.
-đ The ads are so sad.
-I want the ads to end quickly, no, not to end at all đ
Despite everyoneâs wishes, the ads ended early today. Or rather, they felt it ended early.
When the heavy drumbeats, which sounded especially sad today, began after the ads, the people watching the TV fell silent.
"The Royal Physician" started.
Seongnyeong Daegun, covered in rashes, was breathing heavily. The people in the royal physicianâs office, covering their mouths with white cloths, were working hard.
Heo Yuseon, the busiest among them, was seen. Following the orders of his teacher, Yang Hongdal, he was boiling medicine, wiping Seongnyeong Daegunâs sweat, and massaging his limbs.
A few days ago, he could at least open his eyes slightly, but now there was no sign of that. His condition was serious.
âDaegun. Daegun.â
Heo Yuseon couldnât even speak, but his eyes showed his deep concern.
In a world where he had no one to care for, this was the first child he had opened his heart to. Even though he was a bastard, he dared to call the child family.
Seongnyeong, who shared snacks, shot arrows beautifully, and laughed while playing. And the unforgettable first meeting with Seongnyeong Daegun.
Where have you gone, Daegun?
Seeing Seongnyeong Daegun, who was only breathing heavily, Heo Yuseon could only clench his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his skin.
The camera pulled back, showing Chungnyeong Daegun looking at Seongnyeong Daegunâs quarters from a distance.
Jong-a, Jong-a. Under Chungnyeong Daegunâs feet, the papers he had researched with the physicians and scholars were scattered like snow.
Among the busy physicians, the one moving the fastest was Heo Yuseon, who had been taking care of Seongnyeong day and night and researching with Chungnyeong Daegun when he had time.
Even I, as a Daegun, and he, as a physician, and all these papers couldnât save my brother. Thinking of his dying brother, Chungnyeong Daegun shed tears.
This scene deeply moved the viewers.
-Wow, Park Do-hoonâs tears đ His acting is amazing.
-Ah! This is it! Itâs that scene, right?!
Everyone held their breath and watched the TV. It was as if all of Korea was watching "The Royal Physician," and the surroundings were quiet.
Above the image of Seongnyeong Daegun, who was breathing heavily, Heo Yuseon was seen running somewhere.
Throwing away the white cloth that hindered his running, he ran with all his might, as if to send the child, who wanted to see his parents, to them.
âPhysician Heo, you should exercise more.â
The image of Seongnyeong Daegun, who used to laugh brightly, came to mind. Yes, youâre right. I should have exercised more, as Daegun said.
Ignoring the pain in his lungs, Heo Yuseon arrived at a place where Sangseon, who had already sensed the end of Seongnyeong Daegun, was standing.
âWhat is a shift system? Sangseon, who recognized Heo Yuseon, who had been following Seongnyeong Daegun every day, struggled to speak.
âYour Majesty. Physician Heo...â
Before he could finish, the door burst open, and Taejong and the Queen appeared. The expressions of the two, who had sensed the death of their youngest son, moved the viewers.
Furrowed brows, lips bitten so hard they hurt, trembling eyes. There was no unimpressive acting.
-Wow, Kim Jong-ho and Lee Ji-hye are amazing.
-Even if it destroys history, itâs fine!?
âLetâs go!â
Taejong and the Queen quickly moved their feet. To where their young son was waiting for them.
They couldnât go there because of the risk of smallpox spreading and the opposition of the ministers. No one could say anything about the hurried steps of the two heavens.
Heo Yuseon followed behind. The palace maids and guards quietly moved their feet.
Seongnyeong Daegun, who brought laughter to the palace, was mourned by everyone.
When Taejong and the Queen entered Seongnyeong Daegunâs quarters, even the ministers nearby couldnât stop them.
The door to Seongnyeong Daegunâs quarters, which had been tightly closed since the onset of the illness, was now wide open.
In Heo Yuseonâs field of vision, the backs of Taejong and the Queen, who disappeared into Seongnyeong Daegunâs quarters, were visible.
The wooden door closed heavily.
It was winter. Cold winds and fluffy snow began to fall.
âJong-a!â
At the voices of Taejong and the Queen, which seemed to tear apart, Heo Yuseon, who had been looking at the door of Seongnyeong Daegunâs quarters, knelt on the ground and bowed his head.
Ah.
âJong-a! No! Jong-a!â
Heo Yuseonâs back, which was bowed, trembled. Overwhelmed by despair and frustration, he couldnât even let out a cry.
Ah,
The guest who came in winter left in winter.
[On February 4, 1418, the 18th year of Taejong, Seongnyeong Daegun, Yi Jong, passed away.]