(All people and backdrops are unrelated to history,)
(and the drama is a work of fiction.)
(Pil Inn: Run by Pil Merchant Guild,)
(the biggest peddler guild in Unjong-ga)
(Pil)
Did you bring enough money?
Of course.
Then let us begin.
- Darn it. - Come on!
I won!
Here goes.
Goodness. You are back, old man Kim.
I brought the deed to my house.
Take it and let me join in just one game.
Yes, of course I should.
You must win this time.
I hope so!
- Who are you? - That is mine.
Starving kids and an abused wife.
- How dare you try to stop me? - Father.
Leave me alone!
- You cannot go. - Darn you.
As if that was not enough,
you made me follow you here.
If you come here again,
you will not lose the deed to your house but your life.
- Okay. - Who goes there?
Get him!
One hundred nyang.
Match it if you can.
I will.
I believe I won this game.
Oh, dear. Two nines.
My goodness.
(He has two numbers ending in nine.)
Goodness.
I earned some money just by sitting still.
How can this not be fun?
Get that fool!
Thief! Catch that thief!
Get him!
- Go after him. - Hey, you.
Wait.
There is no such thing as a free winning.
Even a game like this requires talent and skill.
(Ten, Ten)
What?
Two tens?
(Two tens is the highest winning pair.)
I thought there were...
only two tens per game.
(One, Ten)
My gosh. How could this be?
This is my first game in Hanyang.
(Ten)
What is this lunatic saying?
Who are you?
- You fool! - He should be stoned.
You are a conman!
Do not mind me and continue with your game.
You little rat.
Stay back...
or I will slit his throat.
Calm down. Why would you do this?
My money.
Hey, you. Wake up.
You can all relax.
No need to be alarmed.
You!
Why you...
- What on earth... - A woman?
Get him!
What? The morning curfew bell is ringing already?
(A bell rung to inform the lift of the curfew)
I am not with this man.
Do not lie!
Lend me that fan.
That darn woman.
(Episode 1: Between Me and My Alter Ego)
Yeo Hwa.
Yeo Hwa?
Is she at the ancestral shrine?
Shoot.
- My lady. - Mother is coming.
- Gosh. - Hurry up.
Done.
My goodness.
Mother.
Were you here all night?
I could never grieve as much as you,
but to think of my husband who died so suddenly...
I was not able to spend the night on a heated floor.
One must dress and carry oneself with decorum.
That is the basis of virtue.
I apologize.
You have been mourning at the shrine for over ten years,
so why are you still so inadequate?
I will do my best to gather myself.
Good.
According to Elementary Learning,
we are to erase chaos...
from our minds and to focus on training in morals.
Everything from our tone of voice, expression, and gait...
must be carefully guarded as we...
Yes. I will copy out the contents of Guidelines for Women...
How dare you cut off your mother-in-law?
I apologize, Mother.
You must restrict your diet...
in order to train even harder to control your instincts.
Pardon?
Starting today, you are back to eating a meal a day.
You will refrain from eating meat and anything that is sweet.
I understand.
Darn it.
I cannot defecate if I eat only one meal a day of greens,
and that will make me even more dirty in body and spirit.
I hate this.
I feel hungry already.
What am I to do, Yeon Sun?
Come on. You are scaring me.
Are you not curious about my injuries?
How could I possibly ask such questions?
Whether the morning curfew bell strikes...
or the sun is up and high,
all that matters is that Lady Yoo does not catch you.
I sense something in your tone.
Hardly.
Worrying about you may suck the life out of me...
or have me cough up blood,
but you should not worry.
It is not like I am worth it.
I only wanted to see...
how Kkot Nim was doing.
She comes by every day for needlework,
but she has not been by recently.
Of course you were curious.
Every time I hear a thud in the distance,
I wonder if you got injured jumping the wall.
The sound of the dog barking next door...
has me wondering...
if you were actually caught by patrolmen.
Still, you made it home safely today...
That is it. The one and only lady you serve...
once again returned home safe and sound.
I ask that you be careful.
What excuse will you have for coming home with a broken arm?
It was a close call today.
Swords were flying around,
and the curfew bell rang while I was still in Unjong-ga.
Swords?
Were you in a sword fight?
Did I say "swords?"
Gosh, no.
Yeon Sun, do not be silly.
That is absurd.
Either way,
I finally learned today...
that I could take on 17 men.
My lady!
Goodness me.
(The Capital Defense Command)
(A garrison located in the central to protect the capital and king)
So tell me,
Officer Park Soo Ho.
You ranked first in the military examination,
come from a prestigious family,
and came to us after resolving the rice tax issue in Jeolla Province...
which had me thinking I could blindly trust you.
I only carried out my duties.
Yes, that.
Your duty.
Your first task...
was to arrest a scammer,
but what was it that happened?
As ordered,
I arrested a man causing public disturbance.
Investigations fall under the Police Bureau's jurisdiction,
so I had him escorted there.
Every municipal office wants a piece of this man,
and we,
the Capital Defense Command, had him in custody,
but you took him where?
The Police Bureau?
He will be judged by the law, so please do not worry.
You will make Confucius proud, I give you that.
It was someone else's meal that was served on your table,
so you do not want to eat it. Is that it?
Unbelievable.
Good for you.
There was a commotion at the gambling den.
Judging by the scale of this gambling den...
and how it was disrupted by a suspicious individual...
makes me think we should increase security measures in the Capital.
Why would you tell me that...
and not report it to the Police Bureau?
Or arrest this suspicious individual...
to send over to the Police Bureau again.
Then,
I will report back to you when there is progress...
on the investigation.
Unbelievable.
Why am I always stuck with idiots?
Did you get an earful?
I cannot believe you. If you had brought him back here,
you would have made a name for yourself as an officer.
First the tax rice case in Jeolla Province...
and then the scammer at the gambling den.
It would have put you on Commandant Hwang's radar...
There goes my career.
I have a task for you.
An individual behind a black mask...
caused a commotion inside Pil Inn.
A mask?
As in a swordsman...
or a thief?
Could it have been an assassin?
I cannot be sure,
but his skills were extraordinary.
He disrupted the community,
so find out who he is...
and how he came to be there.
I want a detailed report.
Of course.
Your Majesty.
Your absence at today's morning assembly...
had everyone concerned.
Whatever symptoms I have tend to go away as soon as the morning assembly ends.
That reminds me. Your younger brother recently joined the Capital Defense.
He must be busy with work...
seeing how I have not been able to see him either.
They all say...
that the adopted son in your family is destined for great things.
That is what has me worried.
If he catches attention and...
It has been 15 years already.
No one would possibly guess that he is the son of Im Kang.
But even you are showing interest in him.
I should never forget my father's loyal subject...
who served him until his final moments.
Besides, he is now your younger brother.
What a sweet move.
Check!
It is your move.
If I win,
you will attend tomorrow's morning assembly.
Now I will have another reason not to attend tomorrow's assembly.
I urge you to never lower your guard.
Because until the very end,
I will protect my king.
So much for suffering from a fever all night.
There he is playing janggi...
with the Royal Secretary Officer.
This is hardly anything new.
Did you not know he was faking it?
His Majesty is one thing,
but the Royal Secretary Officer also loafs around all day...
just because he was His Majesty's childhood friend.
(Baedong: Selected friends of the crown prince)
Meanwhile, Left State Councilor Seok...
devotes his days and nights to govern the nation.
It is preposterous, to say the least.
His Majesty's cha seems to be in danger.
Quickly issue a royal command and have the Royal Secretary Officer...
take back one of his moves.
Left State Councilor Seok, what brings you by this place?
I heard you had trouble sleeping last night,
and I wanted to know how you were doing.
I happened to feel better in the morning.
Is it the three-month-long drought that has you concerned?
But how is it your blame for there not being any rain?
This is all due to my shortcomings.
Ever since you were a child,
a burdened state of mind easily led to fevers.
Please do not let national affairs add weight on your shoulders.
I, as well as other government officials,
will be here to aid you.
Thank you, Lord Seok.
Still, I am relieved to know you have the Royal Secretary Officer...
to keep you company.
Please assist and comfort him so that he is always at ease.
Of course, Lord Seok.
I will do my utmost best.
Then, allow me to excuse myself.
Please do so.
A loyal subject does not serve two kings,
and a chaste lady does not serve two husbands.
After losing her husband, Lady Yoon of Suncheon,
lived for seven years beside her husband's grave.
I am not scared.
(Yeomyosalyi: Living for 3 years besides the grave of a husband or parent)
I am not scared.
I am scared.
I am not scared.
I am scared.
I am not scared.
I am terrified!
My goodness.
Lady Ko of Danyang,
starved herself...
and joined her husband in the afterlife on the tenth day.
Just...
Just a spoonful.
Just...
And Lady Park of Haeju.
The death of her husband...
overwhelmed her with grief...
which led her to throw herself off a cliff.
No, I cannot do this.
A chaste lady...
- Do it. - Jump!
Jump.
It is your duty to jump.
Jump!
Jump.
For...
being in the arms of a man who is not your husband,
both your arms will be severed.
And your two eyes...
will be plucked out.
No!
(A chaste lady)
(A woman who remains chaste...)
(by giving up her own life after her husband passes away)
Gosh.
Goodness, it hurts.
It felt like my arms got cut off for real.
Did your arms get cut off this time?
I almost got my eyes plucked out too.
What is making you anxious enough to have a nightmare?
I am not anxious.
Yeon Sun.
This is not at all about me,
but some widow, truly by accident, went into a wastrel's arms.
No, got pushed.
Is she dead?
Yes.
Most widows could not stand the humiliation and died in that case.
They cut off the parts where the man touched.
Or...
they took their own lives.
So who is that widow?
What?
It is just someone I know. My acquaintance's acquaintance.
If the widow I know does not finish transcribing...
by the end of today...
She will end up dying.
Why is transcribing so hard for me?
This is heavier than a bushcraft knife.
Instead, you are good at martial arts.
Then again,
my older brother told me this when he taught me how to do martial arts.
"I cannot believe you have such a talent for someone so pretty."
"It is a shame that I cannot let the world know."
And I am quite worried the world might discover it.
How much do I have left to do?
I knew this would happen and did one more in advance.
Yeon Sun.
Wipe your cheek.
Well...
I will take two nyang this time.
- Two nyang? - I am being generous, you see.
You said you wanted to buy a fine tile house in Hanyang.
Is what you have saved thus far not enough?
I have a long way to go.
Oh, right. Madam Bong Mal said earlier...
that Lady Yoo would be off to visit Lady Jae Yi's mother-in-law today.
Really?
Then has she stepped outside?
If a Chastity Gate is granted to this perfect family,
you will mark the top as the most prestigious family in Joseon.
But it is likely to go to the daughter-in-law...
of the Minister of Government Administration.
What...
do you mean by that?
A faithful widow is barely subject to it these days.
Yes, of course.
In this case I just mentioned,
people are gossiping that is only possible...
because the Minister of Finance's wife, who is also the Queen Dowager's niece,
especially adores her.
From old times,
a Chastity Gate is granted by the skies.
Yes, of course.
It cannot be given only with connections.
I am afraid it might sound like I am bragging,
but for a hundred days, my daughter-in-law...
is stuck in the ancestral shrine, having only one meal a day.
Devotion may not be enough already,
so how can one use connections...
to win a Chastity Gate?
I feel bad for that family.
That is exactly my point.
Look at you sticking your nose in the kitchen already in the afternoon.
Just why does she come here so often when she is now married?
Too bad I cannot take some sweets in secret.
It indeed shows when someone's undereducated.
You cannot even starve a meal...
that you snoop around here.
What, 1 meal a day in the ancestral shrine for 100 days?
- Then why do you look so well? - I am polite.
What a disgrace to the family.
I do not get angry even if I am looked down on.
I am generous.
How dare you keep your chin up like this?
Gosh, I am hungry.
Unbelievable.
You should have just died along with my brother!
How annoying.
My lady.
Have you been well?
Kkot Nim.
I was worried because you were not around for days.
Did anything happen?
I think my father settled himself down.
He went outside to gamble with the house deed.
But he put it back on the floor of our house.
Is that true?
That is fortunate.
It is a dried persimmon.
Thank you.
You look the prettiest when you smile.
I shall be going then.
All right.
See you.
Just who did this to my inn?
My apologies.
A man in a mask suddenly showed up.
A mask? While he was making a mess here,
what were you doing?
He was too fast.
You missed him?
Could he be...
the man from seven years ago?
That, I am not sure.
Then what do you know for sure?
A sharper sneaked in.
Even an officer of the Capital Defense sneaked in to catch him,
which made things bigger.
Do you not know how valuable this place is?
How could you let a scammer and even an officer get involved?
What if rumors spread among higher-ups?
My hard-grown business will go down!
Please forgive me, my lord.
Darn you...
How dare a petty officer mess with my inn?
Skilled at martial arts.
What in the...
A lady.
What...
Look at him crack at the last moment.
Is he not so humble?
How surprising.
I had my expectations too high for him.
You are home, my lord.
I was busy all day that I came a little late.
Welcome home, Father.
Father.
Jae Yi's mother-in-law...
sent her here this afternoon.
She was coming down with a cold,
so her mother-in-law let her rest up a few days here.
Goodness.
You are a married woman now. You should not come here too often.
Spend the night here only for today.
Go back to your house tomorrow morning.
Yes, Father.
Did you get hurt?
While coming down from the shrine this morning...
I am sorry.
Can you not be so clumsy?
I see. Be careful not to get infected.
You must be tired. Go in and rest up.
Yes, Father.
Let us go up now, my lady.
Let us go.
She came over to stay a few days.
How could you tell her to return tomorrow?
I would love to let her stay for days,
but consider how Yeo Hwa must feel,
a widow, stuck with us because she has no family.
If Jae Yi were to visit too often,
do you not think Yeo Hwa would feel sad?
Must I consider the feelings of a girl...
who sits and does nothing?
All a widow can and must do is mourn her husband.
I am just asking you to be kinder...
toward the poor girl who is left with no one.
Let her go out sometimes to get some air.
A grieving widow cannot go outside.
What if people were to notice...
and gossip about her?
Why would we worry...
when you teach her so well?
(Ancestral tablet of Yeo Hwa's husband, Seok Ji Sung's dead son)
Now that I think of it, I had nothing to eat all day.
Did you embroider this yourself?
I embroidered China pink flowers...
because they are like you.
The flower that blooms between rocks.
I heard their stems...
look like those of bamboo.
I saw these flowers very long ago.
I know where they grow everywhere.
Would you like to come and see them?
I would like to,
but I cannot go outside.
Even though the gate is open?
Yes.
I am...
not allowed to step outside.
Then I will embroider these flowers on every handkerchief...
I give you from now on.
I heard a couple must share...
even half of a bean.
Dear husband whom I never even met.
Apparently, I look like the China pink flower.
Do you know what?
Your sister Lady Jae Yi was here.
Again, she complained that I did not follow you in death.
She killed me with her words.
I am sure...
she said that because she misses you.
I will take that to mean she misses you...
when I should too, and I will try to put up with it.
Enjoy the dried persimmon.
(Myungdo Inn)
We are expecting special guests today.
Everything must be prepared without fail.
- Yes, my lady. - Yes, my lady.
I should attend the gathering?
Yes.
You should go out for some air every now and then.
I have a feeling I need...
your assistance with the gathering today.
Do you really?
How long has it been since I went out in my hood...
in the daytime?
How do women wear it these days?
A narrow slit.
A round opening.
A long oval.
Who cares what shape?
I can do this.
Like this.
My lady.
Yeon Sun.
What are you doing? You scare me.
Was it a stern scolding?
Mother will take me with her to the Moran Gathering.
You too?
I get to go out during the day.
The last outing was six months ago.
Are you that pleased?
I am.
It is dark and lonely at night when everyone is asleep.
Right now, Unjong-ga...
will be milling with people.
Then...
eat this on the way.
These are dasik.
I stole some in case you got hungry.
Thank you.
My lady.
If you are ready, come on outside.
I am coming.
See you later.
Come and take a look!
Hello. How many do you need?
Under the pretense of investigating,
the Capital Defense turned the inn inside-out.
Not to mention I lost my prized golden toad.
A golden toad!
What will you do about it?
Did you search the inn?
What?
You want me to look for it?
You caused the mess,
and you want me to clean it up?
My goodness.
He feels lonely, that is all.
Buy him something that looks similar.
Why should we buy him a golden toad?
If we do not wrap this up soon,
he will torment us for a long time.
Then will you handle...
the Minister of Finance?
Let us keep going.
Dried persimmons for sale.
Buy some pretty dried persimmons.
What are these?
Peeled and dried by Kkot Nim herself.
They are dried persimmons.
Dried persimmons?
They look tasty.
Kkot Nim's dried persimmons.
What a pretty name.
I will take one.
Thank you.
My lord. What about me?
My lord.
Make way.
A palanquin is coming through.
Dried persimmons for sale.
Peeled, dried, pretty as a flower.
Dried persimmons.
Dried persimmons for sale.
- Dried by Kkot Nim. - I see Kkot Nim.
Pretty, dried persimmons.
- I will take two. - Two?
Thank you.
It is getting away. Catch it!
Get that for me!
(Hwayeon)
(Hwayeon has a 200-year history and is run by Head Merchant Jang So Woon.)
It looks like they are closed today.
Can I help you?
You must be the newly appointed official.
I heard you transferred to Hanyang.
I am Head Merchant Jang So Woon.
I am Park Soo Ho with the Capital Defense Command.
I am looking for something.
Are you closed today?
If you name what you need,
I will send it to your office later.
Today, Myungdo Inn is hosting the Moran Gathering.
- The Moran Gathering? - How have you been, Lady Jang?
Welcome.
Is this the vase?
Yes, it is.
(Myungdo Inn)
Welcome.
Lady Jang.
Are you well?
It is good to see you again, Lady Yoo.
- Hello. - Hello.
You look even younger.
Do not flatter me.
One cannot beat time.
What made you bring your daughter-in-law?
This is the new officer who recently transferred...
to the Capital Defense Command.
I am Officer Park Soo Ho.
Oh, right.
The son adopted by Chief Scholar Park.
Then,
until next time.
We should head inside, ladies.
- Sure. - Refreshments will be served,
so please head inside.
Shall we?
I see you must not be familiar with the gathering.
Moran Gathering is said to discipline noble women of this nation.
It is the gathering of wives of officials above senior rank three.
(Dangsangkwan: Government officials above senior rank 3)
- Goodness. - What a treat.
- This way, please. - Right.
Have you been well?
Then, I will leave you to converse.
Today, Lady Yoo,
the wife of Left State Councilor Seok,
has been accompanied by her eldest daughter-in-law.
Announce yourself.
It is a pleasure to meet you.
She is one of many shortcomings,
but I ask that you think fondly of her.
Lady Yoo,
the meaning of shortcoming must be lost on you.
How can one lack in any way...
when she is that prim and proper?
The wife of the Minister of War...
must not have come across women who are prim and proper.
First and foremost, one's clothes must be spotless.
The sleeve of a widow's dress should not be that dirty.
My second daughter-in-law...
has been in a mourning dress for almost five years now,
but I have never seen even a speck of dust on it.
I have heard a lot about that daughter-in-law of yours.
You should bring her to the gathering sometime.
When out and about, it will not be long before...
she sins with her eyes and mind.
How could her eyes possible sin...
when her heart only beats for one person?
Our will is what we harbor in our minds,
and it is words that come out of our mouths.
That is why we should be mindful of the latter.
I prefer the quiet night of Unjong-ga.
Gosh, the Moran Gathering.
I had only heard of it, but it sure was intimidating.
We saw the ladies with our own eyes.
How are you aware of this gathering...
when you were stationed in Jeolla Province with me?
Everybody in Hanyang knows of Moran Gathering.
Only you did not know since such things do not interest you.
The lady who dropped the dasik...
is the widowed daughter-in-law of Left State Councilor Seok.
She is the Left State Councilor Seok's daughter-in-law?
Yes, rumor has it that she is a lady...
of beauty, character, dignity, and class.
Dignity?
I am sure you heard.
The new concubine used to be a gisaeng.
Do not get me started.
The Minister of Finance's wife paid her to leave,
but of course word spread.
I would not be surprised even if she came back...
claiming to have given birth to sons.
The minister's wife lives by the rules of ladies.
It will not be easy for her to bear.
Would a widow's life...
be better than living in such agony?
Having a menace of a husband...
Do you not agree?
Widow or not,
the life of a lady is not that different.
Having a clear day or a cloudy one...
is not determined by who we are.
It is why I devote and apply myself to the fields I lack...
in the hopes of not tarnishing my family's reputation.
The wife of the Minister of Finance has arrived.
Welcome.
Goodness.
You are finally here.
I apologize for my tardiness.
Please have a seat.
Sure.
What were you talking about that has you all smiling?
Well...
You have glowed up since the last time we saw you.
Goodness.
- She has always been a beauty. - Gosh.
She was always beautiful.
This is the one.
How lovely.
I can sense the soul of the artist.
It is why such items must be from abroad.
Take a look. They are different.
They were not made by those overseas...
but artisans from Cheongsong.
Orders have been coming in from Qing...
to purchase these white porcelains.
- Is that so? - Yes.
No wonder they seemed of noble work.
These precious white porcelains were not easy to obtain,
and I had to pay a premium.
I expected no less from Pil Merchant Guild.
This is exactly why I am fond of you.
Let us have a seat.
By the way,
you want me to once again authorize a sea route to Qing?
That is right.
In three days' time, merchandise will be shipped to Beijing.
All I have to do is stamp my seal on a document.
However,
I should be heavily compensated for my troubles.
As if you need to ask.
Even this will be delivered to your house tomorrow.
Right.
Is that so?
From what I hear,
your daughter-in-law...
can draw the finest orchid.
What? Who?
Me?
Her paintings only barely save face.
I am embarrassed since it sounds like I am bragging.
Each leaf she draws has strength to it,
and the flowers seem to give off a scent.
It is quite grand.
- Gosh. - Goodness.
To hear about her talent with the brush...
makes me want to see a painting of hers.
Gosh, no.
Please say I heard wrong.
It would be rude of her not to show you since you requested.
Is that not right, Yeo Hwa?
Mother...
I hope she never has to hold a brush.
Look at that stroke.
- As expected. - Oh, my.
- I knew it. - Outstanding.
How beautiful.
- Well... - All right.
Gosh.
- It is crushed. - It is a little...
It seems a little too abstruse.
What is that?
Is that an orchid?
My apologies!
My hand slipped.
- Oh, dear. - My goodness.
I am sorry.
I have prepared something small...
as a token of apology for the shameful incident today.
Be careful...
not to let the same thing happen again.
Yes, my lady.
How beautiful.
I am sorry.
I am sorry we could not provide anything suitable to change...
because we only had colorful clothes here.
She can only wear mourning garments anyway.
So do not mind it.
When you visit us next time,
I will make sure to have something you can wear ready.
Go on along first.
Which one did you choose?
For me...
- The center. - Sure thing.
- Thank you. - How nice.
- Let us go. - All right.
I knew it.
How can one draw four gracious plants when she has not trained a thing?
I found it suspicious...
when she said she was good at drawing orchids.
That is enough.
Maybe she is hiding something more from us.
Should I go through her room?
What do we do?
I will see if anything should not be caught...
Then again,
all she could do might be embroidering and transcribing.
I doubt she has anything to hide.
She cannot even climb over a wall. What can she possibly do?
Be quiet.
You are making me feel worse.
I can climb over a wall way better than you.
My lady.
- It is not the time to say such a thing. - Okay.
You are too weak-hearted.
You should have kicked her out when my brother brought...
that classless woman.
How dare she...
act like a noble lady and draw an orchid?
You should not be easy on her.
I am sorry.
This is my fault.
No.
It is my fault for drawing an orchid too well.
Is it heavy?
This will not do.
Mother.
I deserve to die for daring to humiliate...
and ridicule you.
According to "Instructions for Women,"
one should gladly take it...
even if her mother-in-law punishes her with words or beatings.
So as much as you adore me, for five days...
No.
For ten days, I will starve myself...
and pay my devotion in the shrine.
No, my lady.
It could kill you for real.
She would never be appeased otherwise.
She is really mad this time.
Until I give you further instructions,
do not leave the shrine.
Yes.
It must have been so heavy.
- Oh, no. - I am okay.
But...
are you going to starve for real?
I should.
Goodness.
- Let us go. - Gosh.
Poor my legs.
You are home.
I am sorry I am late.
You must be tired. Hurry inside to get some rest.
Thank you.
What did you learn at school today?
I...
am home.
It is me, Bi Chan.
What are you doing here?
Well, is it not obvious?
I was busy going here and there to do what you ordered.
Then I saw this extraordinary figure.
I could tell it was you.
So I followed you.
Gosh.
Whose house is this?
Did you look into what I asked?
You know, the rumors about that stranger with a mask on...
He was quite impressive.
When the moon is high up at night,
a stranger with a mask on shows up from somewhere.
Help.
He gives food to a family who has starved for days.
Who is it?
- Rice! - It's rice.
- Rice. - Oh, my.
- Thank you. - We are saved.
He gives medicine to a slave who was punished with beating...
or takes them to a physician.
He is like the wind, and he is faster than light.
He runs on rooftops like a flying squirrel.
He is like the hero in a legendary tale.
Hero in a legendary tale?
I came up with it.
The moment the people struggle in pain,
he offers his warm hand.
The legendary hero.
So who is he?
Well, no one has seen him.
He does not let his left hand know...
what his right hand is doing.
No one has seen him?
(Hwayeon)
You are here.
You can even recognize my steps now.
Not just your steps.
When I hear your voice, I recognize how you feel.
I can recognize the tension in your eyes too.
And I know that your mother-in-law scolded you severely today.
I was waiting for you.
I am sorry.
You got scolded for nothing because of me.
I am a businesswoman who deals with noblemen's wives.
It is something that often happens.
So do not mind it.
Still, I should not cause you harm...
when you work hard to make money.
Deduct the amount you spent today...
from my payment.
Yes, I was going to take it...
from your payment this month.
Goodness, says someone...
who offered the entire business in return for saving your life.
How calculative you are.
I am a merchant.
I should be accurate with calculations.
However,
only if you make up your mind,
I am willing to hand it to you at any time.
No, thank you.
You cannot stick to night-traveling forever.
If I leave home,
who will I possibly be?
Will I have a face?
Will I even have a name?
My lady...
Cho Yeo Hwa, the daughter-in-law of Left State Councilor Seok,
will be a dead woman.
It may be a way to start a new life somewhere far away.
What if...
my older brother comes for me?
I am sorry.
I cannot even find him for you, and I...
said something unnecessary.
It is not your fault.
One day,
we will find him.
We have not heard that he is dead,
so I am sure...
he is alive somewhere.
(Booklending Store: Lends books copied by hand)
("The Story of Hong Gil Dong")
- Oh, dear. - Gosh.
Are you hurt?
I am fine. Do not mind me.
I cannot do that.
I made you fall. You should see a physician.
If you are that concerned,
give me money to see a physician.
What?
I said I was fine.
You can go on your way.
What...
"I Woke and Found I Was..."
"the Royal Secretary Officer's Wife?"
What a waste.
- Mister. - Yes?
Is Kkot Nim in trouble?
Goodness.
Do not even mention it.
A group of punks came over...
and took her to make up for her dad's gambling debts.
What?
- Gosh. - Shoot.
My lady!
My lady.
I have bad news.
What is it?
Kkot Nim was taken for her father's debts.
What?
(Pil)
Let us see.
- Oh, no. - Yes!
What rotten luck.
- I had a great hand! - Too bad.
- My gosh. - Come and drink.
Will you excuse us?
It has been a while.
Sit.
Yes, Yoon Hak.
Thank you.
Where are you...
staying at?
I am staying at my post for now.
What brings you here, then?
I went to your place and was told you were here.
That is not what I mean.
You went to Jeolla Province.
What are you doing back in Hanyang?
I was at Jeolla Province for a while and...
Lie low.
The fact that people talk about you...
could harm the family's reputation.
Yes, Yoon Hak.
Have you been well?
As you can see,
I am doing well.
Is there more to say?
No.
I will stay and drink some more.
You can leave.
I will.
Fa...
Father.
Girls who are sold to cover a debt...
are made to work at the inn...
before they are sold to be a nobleman's concubine...
or end up as a gisaeng.
I must do something. I will go to Pil Inn.
(Pil)
Buy some pretty dried persimmons.
Peeled and dried by Kkot Nim herself. They are dried persimmons.
You are Kkot Nim.
My lord.
What are you doing here?
Come with me.
You cannot do this, my lord.
I must talk with you, so come.
Come along.
What? She was sold to him already?
Let the girl go.
I will buy her.
Who are you?
I do not know how much you paid for her,
but sell her to me.
Wait.
Have we not met?
Where could we have met?
What are you doing?
(Knight Flower)
(Epilogue)
(12 years ago, 3rd year as a widow)
It is Mother's favorite handkerchief.
I cannot leave it up there.
I heard a man was on your tail.
Do you know the man?
It has been years, and I was never caught.
It will remain so.
Officer Park.
You wish to know who brought the child.
I would like to meet the person if possible.
Do you know a man called Kang Pil Jik?
He is involved in all kinds of nasty business.
You will have seen him.
Who was it?
Who would dare take something from the Minister of Finance?
Was the person wearing a black mask?
Was this also the woman's doing?
(Subtitles are provided by KOCOWA.)