Chief Han.
Why are you here?
I've sought for you a long time.
What?
For me?
I've something to tell you.
Ra-On.
How do you know that name?
Hong Ra-On.
Jeoha.
He has forgotten
I knew him as a child.
Your being there was unexpected.
Likewise for me, Jeoha.
What's your connection
to make you seek him?
I am indebted to Eunuch Hong's mother.
I looked after them closely for a time
but sudden separation stopped that.
So you met before he lost his mother.
Then...
you know too?
That child can't be a eunuch?
You can repay that debt.
In the Palace, please take care of that child.
Yea.
I'll heed your request.
Chief Han.
You'll have questions.
Wait till I call for you.
[ Chapter 11: A Promise ]
I'll ask Teacher Dasan to reschedule.
Yes.
What's Teacher Dasan like?
He can teach us a lot,
except his drinking.
What's he do drunk?
He talks to all the animals.
I know someone like that...
my Grandpa.
When he drank, every villager,
even dogs, avoided him.
Ra-On.
Is that fun?
It's my heart.
This is your heart?
Ages ago, I had
"my eye on you"...like that. ("paint a dot")
Did you hide your identity
to punish traitors?
I never worried about you.
You well know
who destroyed your clan name and killed them all.
Over many decades,
I served three kings
from close by.
When each ascended,
I had modest hopes
that ended up crushed.
There's no more hope for Yi Dynasty.
How can White Cloud Society create hope?
Another uprising?
That's only a means.
How can a riot create hope?
Doesn't that child remember the Revolt 10 years ago?
No, she recalls nothing.
What makes a good nation?
The King who cares for the people
would best know.
Unacceptable!
How could a child endure harsh adult punishment?
A criminal deserves it.
She threatened the Royals. Age is irrelevant.
Then bring me evidence of her guilt.
We'll *interrogate her (*torture)
to get evidence, Jeoha.
Big things start from small.
We can't start a big fire by ignoring a small flame.
I'll hear no more.
If she learned to spy before learning to read,
the ones who deserve rebuke
are me and all of you.
Release her now!
Please reconsider, Your Highness.
What? Wh-what is it?
How could this...?
Anyone, come here!
Where are you rushing?
Hold on.
What's going on?
Jeonha's meal had poison.
What?
And Jeonha...?!
Luckily, he's fine.
This means more chaos for us Eunuchs.
Those maids entered the Royal kitchen?
Yes. Also, someone not a maid.
Not a maid? Who?
It was the man who delivered the vegetables.
He disappeared from sight.
Who is he?
He's the father of the child with the leaflets.
What?
Mama, you'll faint if you don't eat.
Silence.
Staying this weight is hard.
Don't follow me.
Who are you?
P-P-Princess... a-a-actually... I-I...
- I... - Get away from me!
- I'll call the Guards! - N-no...I-I... th-this...
I-I-I... th-
What are you doing? Is anyone there?
- Are you okay? - How dare you?
Are you truly okay?
If you approach me again, I won't forgive you.
That's right.
It's the child we released
on your order.
Father and I delivered vegetables.
So father and child fled?
That's right.
Jeoha.
They tried to harm the King.
Please order their arrest.
We searched eunuchs' rooms
- so why...? - One lives here.
The strange one.
Search quietly.
Here.
What's this?
Unbelievable, really!
Jeonha.
You must be worried.
A strong will can lead to mistakes.
I'm glad you caught the culprit.
Yes.
However,
but for Seja, this incident wouldn't have happened.
What can be done?
I know he is young,
but warn him about his errors.
Please hurry Seja's wedding to calm public unrest.
Seja has no wish to wed.
What went well by following his wishes?
I'll begin the bride Selection.
I will lessen your burdens.
Mother, how should I rule?
Have keen sight.
Keen sight?
High status tends to not see those below.
What else?
Have good hearing.
Don't just hear people shouting.
Don't judge by status, care for all people,
listen to servants,
and discern flattery and counsel?
Protect everyone as your people.
Promise me to do that?
I will, Mother.
Ra-On.
Do I see the truth?
Whom do I believe?
Did I believe wrongly?
Everything's hard- what do I do?
Jeoha.
My Grandpa said,
a sad heart lets you doubt everything.
A sad heart lets you doubt everything.
Then, I need you.
Ease my doubts with joy.
Will that do, Jeoha?
Yes.
Ra-On (joy) fills me.
Sejabin Selection will
delay our children's marriage.
Yes.
I didn't know Jeonha would rush Seja's marriage.
The bride has been decided,
so Selection should be quick.
The bride is chosen?
Who else can it be but a Kim clan bride?
I heard Jeonha called you a few days ago.
Ah, yes.
I felt sorry towards you.
There's no need.
Be comfortable.
Didn't I tell you?
Don't think too hard.
Either stand with me
or don't stand with me.
Choose one.
What's this mean?
I've no idea. I'm curious.
No way.
He's prettier than a girl.
If I'm curious, I can check.
Seja won't stand for it.
Of course he won't.
That makes it enticing.
They're in the middle of Sejabin Selection.
Eunuch Hong.
Is something wrong?
Eunuch Do, is it true you know about poisons?
No! I just heard a few things.
Tell me what it is.
It's about the King's poisoned meal.
They fed the meal to animals, and not one died.
Yet the silver utensils turned black?
It's water boiled with Gleditsia (honeylocust).
Poison-blackened silver
can't be cleaned with Gleditsia water.
This isn't poison.
Why'd it change colour?
We need to find out.
( MEDICINE )
Poison?
Is Jeonha alright?
He's struggling since the leaflet incident.
When will you come to Court?
Apologies.
I'm busy healing the sick.
The Palace has better doctors.
It's not for medicine, but to save an innocent child.
"Don't lose a single person,"
is what you told me.
I need your help.
Something interesting was found in your place.
Pardon?
This is...
Will you claim it isn't yours?
Fine.
I need no answer.
I'll see for myself.
Strip him.
Mama.
Jeoha, you're getting fresh air?
You're fearless.
Forgive my rudeness.
If I bothered you...
I meant, you're out alone late.
I learned I'm courageous,
thanks to you.
Jeoha.
May I ask something?
Did you dislike my forwardness?
Or felt no interest because I showed my feelings?
I have a woman I like.
It's no-one's fault.
Does that answer you?
What woman?
Jeoha. It's bad.
Eunuch Hong...
What is it?
Eunuch Hong...
What is it?!
Hurry to Jungungjeon.
Mama, Seja is here to see you.
Seja, you came.
What made you call a Dongungjeon eunuch?
This trainee's pretty face is wasted on a man.
What do you think?
Remove your hand.
His beauty would move you.
He's so girly,
you got confused.
However,
while searching his room,
this was found.
You faced difficult rumours.
I, your mother, will clear up these rumours now.
As you wish.
Why do have a lady's outfit?
Well...
That's...
I...
I said you needn't answer.
Shut your mouth
and take off that uniform!
Eunuch Hong!
Do as the Queen said.
You called one eunuch
to play at undressing him at night-time?
How long will you toy with the Palace over rumours?
Right now,
let's see who's correct.
If you're incorrect, you bear responsibility.
Yes.
You're correct.
I said, disrobe.
Why are you stalling?
Mama, Chief Han is here.
- Why'd you come? - Mama.
Stripping a trainee isn't hard
but please use a way to uphold the dignity
of the Eunuchs Office.
This child
passed the Eunuchs' exam.
Eunuch Sung.
Didn't you examine him?
Yes.
Mama.
You wish to scold a eunuch for wrongs.
But how can the nation's pregnant Mother
look at a man's naked body?
If His Majesty learns of this...
Chief Han.
Both the Queen and I get ill if we're thwarted
so let her be.
Mama.
Why do you hesitate?
Go ahead and check!
Take him away.
Yea, Mama.
( Jahyeondang )
Did something happen?
To keep a precious person by my side,
why do regretful things keep happening?
Jeoha.
I'm thankful to you.
Why'd you ask to meet?
I felt you'd share my mood.
I was nostalgic.
I know.
We spent a lot of time at Jahyeondang.
Well...
I heard about the Queen.
Is Eunuch Hong safe?
Jeoha is with him.
As a child,
I wanted to be Jeoha's best friend.
But somehow
we grew estranged.
And the first woman I want...
Don't say it.
Keep it inside.
No.
I won't keep it inside.
I never wanted anything this badly.
- May I ask for directions? - Ah, yes.
- My Grandpa... - My Grandpa...
- used to say... - used to say...
Grandpa!
Ra-On?
Are you Ra-On...?
No. I'm Sam-Nom here.
Brat!
Don't call me "Grandpa".
But...
how are you here...
as a...
eunuch?
It's a long story.
It just happened.
I'm a good eunuch
so don't worry.
Brat, that's more worrying!
It's been years.
I can't believe this.
My Grandpa said...
people destined to meet will meet somehow.
We're looking for traitor Hong Gyeong-Nae's family.
Can we search your house?
The Royal Guards left. Come out now.
So you lost your mother at the Lantern Festival.
Yes.
Well...
How do you two know each other?
You came to meet Seja?
Then, Grandpa is...
Dasan...?
Grandpa?
The culprit is Sam Chae (Hooker chives).
- Sam Chae? - Yes.
It's sweet, spicy, and bitter. Sam (3), Chae (salad).
Its sulphur content darkens the silver.
It isn't poisonous.
It has no poison?
Still disbelieve me?
It's a foreign plant but
Royal Physicians know it, so why'd they not speak?
Seja hasn't returned?
He'd be anxious.
Pitiful.
Royal Physicians won't talk; he can't find out.
No-one will talk and anger Premier Kim.
Now Seja will realise
no-one in the Palace sides with him.
Agree?
Jeoha.
Lantern Festival Naeuri?
He's Seja.
Jeoha, thanks for our lives.
Thank you.
It's alright.
Look at me.
I'm sorry you had this hardship.
Did my wish to see the King come true?
Yes.
Remember your request to ask the King?
Watch me to see if I make a good nation.
Yes, Jeoha.
Due to you, I saved a child.
But,
when will you answer my request?
How could this old man help with that?
I'll go now.
Grandpa!
Have you any news of my mother?
I hope to have news next time.
Your marriage will proceed.
Father.
Do you also think I'm a coward?
I don't.
It's just that...
I don't wish for an unwanted marriage.
I see how you feel.
Yeong.
Since I took the throne at 10,
there's no day I wasn't confused or afraid.
It's like walking in a rough current.
I felt I took 10 steps forward,
but found I was standing in the same spot.
Shouldn't I grab a branch
to move to calm water?
Marry Minister Jo's daughter.
If Seja marries into an influential family,
people will come to his side. It'd be nice.
This is frustrating.
Ra-On.
Jeoha, you startled me.
Why were you so preoccupied?
Jeoha.
What is it?
Can you walk me to Jahyeondang?
We're walking back and forth.
You loath parting from me?
Know when I'm happiest?
It's when you call me "Ra On".
Me too.
I'm happiest then.
When I call your name, you're in front of me.
What more do I need?
I won't wish for more.
I aspire to more.
Liking someone makes you want more.
Yes.
I'm your person, so do that.
But, don't risk danger for me.
If I'm not by you as a woman,
I won't stop loving you.
So...
Say no more.
Don't reject marriage.
Jeoha.
I said, stop!
I requested your help
for Hong Ra-On.
You'd give her a house, and seek her parents?
Correct.
Why do you care about a mere eunuch?
She's in eunuch guise,
but she's my beloved.
You asked me to overcome
your status difference and crossed fates.
Yes.
But you see...
the person she needs
isn't you, Jeoha.
Jeoha.
Why are you here so early without notice?
I must tell you something.
Remember the lantern girl?
Yes.
I can't forget her joy
reuniting with her father.
She told me... the King knows best
what makes a good nation.
What dream for Joseon
do you hold?
Well...
Children live as children...
women live as women, in a happy world.
Until I create that for you,
wait for me?
In my Joseon,
you'll be my first person.
What if Ra-On finding her mother endangers you?
If you bury the truth,
you and Ra-On might be happy together.
Let's say,
in a difficult moment,
you must let something go...
it must not be me.
Can you promise me?
Yes, Jeoha.
Good.
Now, my wish is granted.
What wish is that?
My wish...
to fulfil your wish.
I found your mother.
~ can moonlight through the clouds see my heart? ~
~ I hide in an old wall's shadow ~
~ nameless wildflowers are accompanied ~
Mother.
~ why am I the only one crying alone? ~
Ra-On.
I'm sorry I'm late.
~ I miss you, the one I miss I can never forget ~
Mother...
~ all my tears and heart are calling you ~
Mother...
I'm sorry, Ra-On.
Mother.
~ you're the only person ~
Mother.
~ existing in thousands of memories ~
Mother...
~ I miss you, the one I miss I can never forget ~
~ my tears, my heart, are calling you ~
~ I love you, a love I can't let go ~
~ Moonlight Drawn by Clouds ~
I'm so happy, I'm scared.
I'm waiting
for when Seja can do nothing.
What if I've gotten someone else's happiness?