(This drama is a work of fiction created based on historical facts.)
(Most of the details and depictions of the characters are fictional.)
Lady Gil Chae...
I mean, Lady Yoo...
She is in Simyang.
Jong Jong.
Right.
Ryang Eum must have been mistaken.
Her husband is an officer.
There is no way she would be in a place like this.
How could she be here?
You will not get such a fine one elsewhere.
She is a real Joseon noblewoman.
Her skin is fair.
She has a scar, but everything else is fine.
The perfect rare item!
Her price...
starts at 30 nyang.
Name your price.
I keep seeing things.
What are you doing?
Pay up if you want the girl!
Why are you...
Why...
are you...
How?
Why?
This rat!
My lord.
My lord!
Lord Lee!
My lord.
My lord!
My lord.
Lord Lee!
My lord.
My lord!
My lord.
(My Dearest)
(Episode 14)
I knew this would happen.
You would risk everything for Lady Yoo.
Where is she?
I made sure they would not sell her.
Get your wound treated and go see her.
Madam.
Since when have you been here?
Who is your madam?
Leave at once.
Go...
and tell Interpreter Lee to pretend he never saw me.
It has been a while since she was brought to the slave market.
She was sold to someone but was sent back to the market...
because she ripped her master's ear.
Jong Jong has been sold to a faraway place.
I suggest you leave at dawn.
The sooner I leave, the sooner she can return.
I am leaving.
Do not worry.
I will be sure to bring Jong Jong back with me.
Come out.
This one is a rare item. I have never sent her out for these things before.
Therefore,
she is expensive.
Ten nyang.
Fifteen nyang if you wish to keep her all night.
I never thought we would meet again in a place like this.
What happened in Joseon?
You should have lived a good life.
The kind of life you can boast about.
More importantly,
how come you did not look for me?
You knew I was in Simyang.
Why did you choose to suffer like this instead of coming to me?
Why should I look for you?
I have no reason to ask you for help.
The two of us...
We are nothing.
Did you...
pay him...
to buy me up for the night?
You are no different, after all.
Then...
what shall I do for you?
Shall I pour you a drink?
Or shall I sing and dance for you?
Or...
Is it something else that you are after?
Even if you show me kindness,
I cannot repay you.
So...
do not do anything.
It makes me uncomfortable.
No.
This time, I am not going to do what you want.
I am going to do...
what I want.
Did you have a good time?
But the thing is, I have changed my mind.
I do not think I can sell that woman.
You are not going to sell her...
all of a sudden?
Well, that is up to me.
If you really want to buy her,
give me 200 nyang.
In the past, she ran away...
and hurt one of my right-hand men.
If you think of his medical costs,
I should be asking for 300 nyang.
No.
No!
Actually, I should not sell her. I should keep her here.
I am not selling her.
Think about it...
again.
I cannot sell her.
I will not.
Is that so?
I am also...
a merchant.
Since you worked hard to earn your money,
I will not take any of your money.
However,
if I give you money,
you must...
hand over the captive.
If you do not,
I will take her with me after shoving the money into your eyes.
All right.
They will all be up for sale.
Take everyone with you.
You can come out.
Go.
Get out!
Get out.
This way.
Hurry up!
Let us go.
It is strange.
I am always with you...
when the moon is bright.
I am not sure where it all started to go wrong.
Was it...
when I left you alone...
and went to Namhan Fortress?
Or was it...
when I left you alone...
and went...
to Simyang?
Or...
was it...
when you left me?
As soon as we get a certificate from the Qing's financial office,
your release will be finalized.
So,
do not worry about a thing.
Do not...
worry about a thing.
Do you feel okay?
I am fine.
Did I...
perhaps make a mistake?
I will get ready to go to the financial office.
(Hobu: the office in charge of the country's financial affairs)
Oh, and I will bring you a change of clothes.
Wait here for a bit.
Thanks.
Thank you.
No.
I am grateful to you.
What are you doing?
Hey.
Had I known this would happen,
I would have brought some silk clothes from Joseon.
These clothes are from Joseon.
I thought she might need them.
Thank you.
I feel as though you can see right through me.
Lady Yoo.
Lady Yoo, I am coming in.
The woman has been sold elsewhere.
They took her away just now.
This is...
I will give this back.
What are you trying to pull?
I mean, a royal wanted to buy her.
How can I say no?
She is nothing special.
Why did he want to buy you by paying so much money?
Your Highness.
Interpreter Lee Jang Hyun is here.
Lai.
Your Highness.
Did you come to see me,
or...
did you come to find that woman?
I am sorry,
but I meant to release that woman and send her back to Joseon...
No.
Now,
you will not be able to do so.
She is already my servant.
Whether she lives or dies...
is up to me.
Joseon captives are so pitiful.
From what I hear, Joseon women who get sold to Qing households...
are envied by the wives.
The wives pour hot water on them and ruin their faces.
Do you want a servant who listens to you well?
I will find one for you.
You can tell me anything you need...
This is not like you.
You were always so relaxed that I could not tell what you were thinking.
But today, you are so anxious.
Since you are this desperate,
it makes me want to refuse her release even more.
Oh, right.
What if I present that woman to His Majesty?
It just so happens Royal Concubine Shin, His Majesty's favorite, died recently.
He has been ever so down since.
(Royal Concubine Shin: Hong Taiji's royal concubine)
Your Highness.
In the old days, a great emperor had...
a precious only daughter.
But when the princess fell in love with a lowly warrior,
the emperor became angry...
and decided to test the princess' love.
He had the warrior choose between two doors.
Behind the door on the right, there was a beautiful woman.
And behind the other door,
there was a hungry beast.
Then, he told the princess...
to choose which door she would lead the warrior to.
In order to save the warrior,
she had to point at the door with the beautiful woman.
But then, the princess...
had to go through the pain of watching her beloved end up with another woman.
If she led him to the other door,
the man would have been torn to shreds and killed by the lion.
What would you do?
For me,
I would rather see him get ripped to shreds by the lion.
I do not let other women...
steal the man I want away from me.
I went to the Emperor's Palace...
and brought a maid who is most fluent in both languages.
I am honored to meet Your Highness.
Very well.
You are to relay my words to her.
I heard you had been sold several times. It must have been hard.
She says you must have had a hard time.
Yes.
I have been through a lot.
Who cares? She does not understand what I am saying anyway.
Yes. She says she has been through a lot.
Chastity is very important to Joseon women.
I was told they would take their own lives when taken prisoner.
How come...
you are still alive?
Did you not have the courage to kill yourself?
She is asking why you did not take your own life...
when you were taken prisoner.
Whether I die or not, it is none of your business.
Someone made a lot of effort to save my life.
For that person's sake,
I will persevere and survive, no matter what.
If you kill me,
you will pay for it too.
She did not have the courage to die.
She is much obliged to Your Highness for kindly taking her in.
You have a foul mouth.
Do you know Da Jim?
Do you?
I do not need it!
I put you in charge...
of all matters regarding Joseon.
How come we still have not received the military provisions from Joseon?
They said the rice was ready.
However,
they do not have enough workers and wagons.
We have not captured Songshan yet!
If the provisions do not arrive,
we cannot finish the job.
Get the provisions...
from Joseon at once...
and send them to the battlefield.
His Majesty says to send the provisions at once.
How come there are still no updates?
By any chance,
is it because Joseon does not want Qing to win?
Does Joseon still serve Ming?
We cannot transport 5,000 seok of rice immediately.
We need 60 rolls of cotton...
just to transport one seok of rice.
If we were to transport 5,000 seok at once,
we would need hundreds of horses...
and hundreds of wagons.
Dozens of Joseon men froze to death...
while transporting provisions previously,
and over a hundred horses died from exhaustion.
His Majesty says,
if the provisions do not arrive by the promised date,
Qing will not accept them...
even if they do arrive after that date.
Did he say there would be "consequences" to threaten me again?
I understand I am held hostage here, but I am still the Crown Prince of Joseon.
My fate decides when I will die,
so do not threaten me like that.
His Majesty said...
Your Highness, I have a suggestion.
A mere interpreter should not step in!
How about we send Yiju's rice to Jinzhou first?
After that, we can send Joseon's rice to Yiju.
If we do that,
we will need less wagons and cows,
and we will be able to meet the deadline as well.
If we send Yiju's rice to Jinzhou first,
we would not have to worry about wagons and horses, which will be helpful.
However, I doubt that Geng Zhongming would agree to do it.
I will persuade Geng Zhongming myself.
However,
I have a favor to ask of you, Your Highness.
Qing's princess took in a Joseon woman as her slave.
Please kindly help that woman...
return to Joseon.
Qing has a custom where a subordinate who made a significant contribution...
is given one of the master's women as a reward.
Sending provisions...
and catching runaway slaves...
are some of the things that Khan greatly values,
so if the provisions arrive on time,
Khan will be very pleased.
When that happens,
could Your Highness ask him to release...
one of the Princess' maids?
A maid?
What are you talking about?
We cannot do that.
If His Majesty in Joseon finds out,
His Highness will be scolded for indulging in women in Simyang.
It is simply about releasing a mere female slave.
If it is not recorded in the report being sent to Joseon...
I cannot lie to His Majesty.
This is so unlike you.
What is with the rush?
Your Highness.
Do you know who this woman is?
She is the one...
who saved...
your first son in the Year of Byeongja.
That day,
the eunuchs taking care of your first son all died.
I heard a woman risked her life to save him...
and took him to the boat.
And that woman...
got caught as a runaway slave?
The Princess is planning to send her to Khan as a gift?
Yes, Your Highness.
I hear Qing's women often abuse Joseon slaves...
out of jealousy.
If even commoners' wives and mistresses do that,
think about what the Emperor's royal concubines would do.
If...
Khan shows any interest in her,
she...
will not survive.
So please,
before Khan gets her,
we must get her released no matter what.
Thankfully, he is staying at the hot spring at the moment...
to recuperate from the Songshan War,
so we still have some time.
Your Highness.
I will...
persuade Geng Zhongming at all costs.
Please help her...
get released.
Da Jim?
Grandpa Duk Chul's grandson, Da Jim?
Yes.
Where is he?
Where is Da Jim now?
Da Jim is staying at my house in Joseon.
Thank you.
What is your relationship with Interpreter Lee?
His Majesty's favorite princess bought you up.
The Princess...
seems to have feelings for Interpreter Lee.
She said she would destroy him...
if he tried to protect you.
Lady Yoo.
My lord.
Did you wait here all night?
I saw your face, so I am good.
I will be gone for a few days on a mission given by the Crown Prince.
So even if you do not see me for a few days,
do not worry.
Will it be dangerous?
Not at all.
Well, then.
Her Highness is benevolent.
My life here is not even comparable to the slave market I was at before.
So, my lord,
do not do anything...
for me.
I am begging you.
All right.
I will do as you wish.
Do not worry about anything.
You do not have to worry.
Goodbye.
Geng Zhongming has always been closely acquainted with Joseon, right?
Yes, General.
The result of the war depends on the provisions.
His Majesty was deeply injured...
while fighting in the war to conquer Songshan.
His Majesty spilled blood on that battlefield.
So...
we must conquer Songshan.
If you do not accomplish this mission,
neither you...
nor the Crown Prince of Joseon will be safe.
Officer Gu.
What brings you here?
I just had something to say regarding Lady Yoo.
Since you are busy with government affairs,
I was thinking I should go to Simyang.
If another man goes to find my wife,
what would other people think?
Do you think that will help my wife?
This has to do with my family.
It is none of your business.
I sent someone to Simyang.
We will probably hear some good news soon.
I am sorry.
I have no energy these days.
It is because you are not getting enough sleep.
The living has to go on living.
Officer Gu sent someone to Simyang.
So let us wait for now.
She has a husband,
so I cannot go and bring her back.
I know.
Gil Chae will be back.
My lord.
When we used to live in Neunggun-ri,
all of my friends wanted to hang out with me.
But for me,
I had the most fun when I was with Gil Chae.
Gil Chae...
was easily jealous...
and greedy,
but also warmhearted.
She was filled with all types of emotions,
which made her bouncy and full of life,
which I liked about her.
Also,
Gil Chae was my lifesaver.
Yes.
Thanks to Lady Yoo, we were all able to avoid starving to death.
(Hogu: just barely having enough to eat)
That is not what I mean.
She actually saved my life.
If it was not for Gil Chae,
I would practically be dead.
If it were Gil Chae,
she would have gone to Simyang herself to rescue me.
Definitely.
If it were Gil Chae, she would have.
But...
there is nothing I can do.
Gil Chae is probably dead.
You are here.
Please accept me as your student.
Why do you want to be a student of mine?
I...
admire your virtue and wisdom...
Actually,
I admire your power.
Thousands of bags of rice and thousands of soldiers...
are being sent to Qing from Joseon in a year.
Many porters freeze...
and starve to death on the way there.
And hundreds of soldiers died due to another country's war.
No one knows when this war will end.
I went to Pyeongan Island a few days ago...
and heard the screams of our people.
Even when they were deprived of their rice...
and the head of the household was taken away, they did not even groan.
But I saw them scream.
I cannot do anything even after seeing their pain.
Even after seeing my lifesaver suffer,
I cannot do anything,
and I feel like a good-for-nothing. It is hard to bear.
If there is anything that even a man like me can do,
I would like to do anything.
For this nation and the people,
please accept me...
and use me to become...
more than a good-for-nothing.
(Yiju, Qing)
(Geng Zhongming: a Ming general who surrendered to Qing)
You came to discuss something regarding the military provisions?
I heard you were of high status in Joseon.
You must not have had to serve someone else before.
If I do not release you,
you will now...
live like this for the rest of your life.
In that case, how about...
becoming His Majesty's woman instead?
Who knows?
He might treasure you like he did with Royal Concubine Shin.
If I were to present you to His Majesty,
he might be willing to overlook...
this scar you have on your body.
His Majesty...
cherishes me so much.
If you do not want to,
you can be my servant forever...
Yes.
I will serve His Majesty.
I feel sorry...
for Lee Jang Hyun.
He worked so hard to release this woman who is nothing special.
A girl like you...
will be cast aside after His Majesty has his way with you a couple of times.
But it will be more than enough...
to make Lee Jang Hyun give up.
You want us to take our rice to Jinzhou first...
and receive Joseon's rice later on?
Yes, General.
The thousands of seok of rice that you have piled in your palace here...
will be eaten by moths once the new year dawns.
So,
why not send the rice to Jinzhou before the rice goes bad...
and receive fresh rice from Joseon later on?
His Majesty in Songshan...
will be able to get his provisions at the right time,
and I will be able to get fresh rice from Joseon.
It will be a win-win for everyone.
However,
I cannot do so.
If I say I will transport the military provisions...
but fail to arrive on time,
I will be blamed for it.
I cannot have that.
Then will you let your rice rot away?
Even if my rice rots,
it will be better than displeasing His Majesty.
I came here from Ming.
I cannot make any mistakes for the time being.
General.
Do you know why General Yong Gol Dae came with me?
It was because he did not trust me, a Joseon man,
or you, a general from Ming.
Why is he acting that way?
Why was he surprised?
I am sure...
His Majesty still does not trust you either after you surrendered from Ming.
They are at war against the Ming,
so he may want to keep you by his side, a man who surrendered from Ming,
and show you off like a trophy.
But...
will he still keep you around...
even after the war ends?
Military provisions are...
something His Majesty considers to be of utmost importance.
This is your chance to prove your use...
as a man who came over from Ming.
Will you really miss out on this chance...
just because you wanted to avoid displeasing His Majesty?
Or,
even if you have to take a risk,
will you gain His Majesty's trust?
What are you talking about?
General.
How about we do this?
Let us pretend that I never came here.
You saw...
His Majesty's struggles...
and suggested sending your rice first.
If His Majesty...
learns of this news,
how happy would he be?
At the end,
you spoke in the Ming language, did you not?
What did you say?
What did you say to him...
that he agreed to transport the provisions...
and even lower the transportation costs...
from 500 to 200 nyang?
Geng Zhongming is originally from Ming, so he would understand better...
if I spoke to him in his own language about such important matters.
Why?
Would you like to try learning the Ming language this time?
You are teasing me.
You offered to send Yiju's rice to Jinzhou...
and be repaid with Uiju's rice?
Geng Zhongming.
I was always suspicious of you since you come from Ming.
You must have finally realized the Great Qing's power.
Joseon took care of the military provisions on time.
I would like to praise you for it.
If there is anything...
among the spoils of war brought back from Songshan...
that you would like, do tell me.
In that case,
would you be able to let me have...
one of the Joseon women who was brought here as a captive?
I see...
that you are a man too, Crown Prince.
Fine.
Which servant girl do you want as your prize?
It is already too late.
What do you mean?
A few days ago,
His Majesty already came to meet Lady Yoo in person.
(A few days ago)
Gak Hwa.
You went to enjoy the hot springs.
Why do you still look weary?
I cannot rest at the thought of the military provisions.
Please forget about the battlefield even for a moment.
I will...
present a woman to console you.
Your Majesty.
I hear you inflicted a wound on yourself...
in order to avoid serving a man in bed.
However,
I do not think it is bad that Joseon women try to protect...
their chastity.
I also like how Joseon's vassals are loyal to their king.
I saw before...
when Joseon's vassals were hitting themselves in the head and crying...
because they wanted to save their king who had lost the war.
If we occupy the ruling position,
my people should learn that loyalty as well.
It is a great honor to meet Your Majesty.
Do you speak our language?
In order to address Your Majesty,
I learned to speak Manchurian.
You learned to speak our language...
because you had something to tell me?
Fine.
What is it you want to say?
Your Majesty.
I am not a runaway captive.
I have been abducted.
Please help undo this injustice.
So you were not a runaway,
but you were abducted?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I was never taken captive,
and I never ran away as a captive.
I was abducted in Joseon and was dragged here.
I am not the only one.
Countless people were dragged here when they were not prisoners of war.
But no one here understands our language,
so we could not tell anyone about the unfair treatment we had received.
Also,
once dragged to Simyang, Joseon women...
are abused by the wives of their masters.
They get their fingers severed and burned.
There is not a day when you do not hear them wailing in pain.
Your Majesty.
You are a fair and just emperor.
Please do not let this injustice...
anger the skies and taint your honor.
How brazen.
I have met many Joseon women,
but none of them learned our language...
and spoke to me like this.
I heard your wives and concubines...
abused the women from Joseon.
Our soldiers...
fought hard to get those women from Joseon,
but our women are torturing them by plunging them into hot water,
chopping off their fingers and ears,
and scarring their faces.
How ruthless and cruel!
(Prince Yoon)
If...
I hear once more that our women are torturing women from Joseon,
those women will be buried alive...
as soon as their husbands die, so let them know.
Thanks to her, they are now banned from abusing women from Joseon.
So every woman from Joseon is deeply grateful...
to Lady Yoo even though they do not even know what she looks like.
However...
(A few days ago)
That girl said...
she was never taken captive...
and that she was abducted and dragged here.
Your Majesty.
It is true that I sent my men to Joseon...
and ordered them to catch and bring back all the runaways,
but I would never abduct someone who was not our prisoner.
Good.
You never once disobeyed my orders.
Of course,
I would not believe the words of a mere Joseon girl...
over the words of my loyal subject who had risked his life for me.
Your Majesty!
We own...
those captives from Joseon for our soldiers fought hard to get them.
Whoever pays up to buy them can become their master.
Now, about that girl...
Take care of her however you want.
Yes, Your Majesty.
As for Lady Yoo,
the Princess took her again,
and I do not know whether she is alive.
Let go of him.
Your Highness.
Please punish me.
Punish me instead of her.
If you tell me to scrub your feet,
I will.
If you tell me...
to become your servant in her stead,
I will be your servant.
So please...
let her...
Or, at least...
tell me where she is.
Is that woman...
still alive?
Your Highness.
If you do me a favor,
I may be able to tell you where she is.
Remember the day when we went hunting together?
That day,
it was very nice.
Would you go hunting with me again?
Is that all?
But this time we go hunting,
you will have to put your life on the line.
Will you still do it?
A hunting trip, where you have to...
put your life on the line?
There is definitely something. I have a bad feeling about this.
Let us not go. Please?
Must you do this?
I was the one who told you about Lady Yoo being dragged here.
Must you make me regret it until the day I die?
Why should you regret it?
You saved me.
If something bad happens to her...
I will die.
Please stop him.
He may listen to you.
Quit trying.
It is not like Jang Hyun will not do something...
just because someone says he should not do it.
If things go wrong, he will die.
I remember the day...
when you and Jang Hyun first came to me.
Jang Hyun...
was holding your hand tightly.
You were...
very fond of Jang Hyun.
You always listened to him and did as he said.
And Jang Hyun truly cherished you as well.
But...
to Jang Hyun,
you are like his little brother.
Do not get greedy.
I...
I will not dare...
to let myself get greedy.
I am just afraid.
I have never seen him do this because of a woman.
Then you should have turned a blind eye.
Why did you tell him?
Because if something bad happens to her...
Jang Hyun...
I was afraid something bad would happen to Jang Hyun too.
Okay, you did the right thing.
But...
if Jang Hyun loves her that much,
there is nothing...
we can do about it.
His Majesty heard all about your story...
and ordered you to be released.
You can return to Joseon now.
Really?
Yes.
But there is one condition.
Leave Simyang right away.
You must not meet...
any Joseon person including Lee Jang Hyun.
If...
you meet Lee Jang Hyun again,
Lee Jang Hyun will have to suffer greatly.
The road back to Joseon will be rough.
Since you cannot receive any help from Interpreter Lee,
take this.
Thank you.
No, I should thank you.
Thank you for taking in Da Jim.
You have to go back safely.
Please go and tell Da Jim...
that his mom will be there to meet him.
That I have not forgotten about him...
for a single day.
Okay.
I will make sure I tell him,
no matter what.
Thank you.
Once I leave,
we probably will not ever meet again.
But that is...
what will be best for you.
So,
you sent her off along with money?
Good job.
How did you know...
I gave her money?
Greetings, Your Highness.
Are you ready to hunt?
Yes, Your Highness.
And to risk your life?
Yes, Your Highness.
Good.
Did you not call me to hunt?
I did.
We will be hunting down a captive.
That woman...
over there.
That captive betrayed her owner...
and ran away after stealing her riches.
His Majesty has given us permission...
to kill any captives who run away.
Then...
shall I inform you of the rules?
Whoever catches her first,
wins.
If I win,
both you and the woman will live.
However,
that woman will be my slave for the rest of her life.
If you win,
I will let her go.
But instead,
you will die.
Will you make the choice for both of you to live,
or will you choose to die?
Your Highness.
Do you think I will not be able to kill you?
There is one thing I have not told you yet.
My husband who never came for me...
I killed him.
You can go first.
Lady Yoo!
My lord.
If...
you meet Lee Jang Hyun again,
Lee Jang Hyun will have to suffer greatly.
Do not come close.
Lady Yoo!
No!
Gil Chae!
Young Master Jang Hyun.
No!
No! Gil Chae!
Gil Chae!
No!
Gil Chae!
No!
My lord.
I won.
It is all good now.
My lord.
My lord!
My lord...
My lord.
Why is it...
that you risk your life for a mere woman?
Are Joseon men all strange?
Or...
is it just this man who is strange?
I am afraid.
I feel like...
something might happen to you because of that woman.
My instincts are never wrong.
What happened to...
Interpreter Lee?
Did he survive?
I had a good experience.
For the first time,
I learned there is something I cannot have even if I want it.
What happened to Interpreter Lee?
If...
he is dead,
your life will be at risk too.
In life, I will follow you wherever you go and curse you.
In death, I will appear in every one of your dreams and curse you.
So, Interpreter Lee has to be alive.
Tell me.
Tell me where Interpreter Lee is!
Since I have lost the bet,
I will release you.
The reason I am keeping this promise...
is to win Lee Jang Hyun.
Wait and see.
Someday, Lee Jang Hyun...
will be mine.
Are you Lady Yoo?
You know Lee Jang Hyun, do you not?
Follow me.
Go inside.
Lady Yoo.
My lord.
I have been released.
This is all...
thanks to you.
(My Dearest)
I have wanted to hold this hand too.
I let you go.
I am sorry.
Have you decided to return to Joseon?
No, I will not leave.
I will stay and help him recover.
- Lady Yoo. - My lord.
Oh, no.
My leg hurts so much.
With his injured leg,
I feel like he is all mine now.
I missed...
your smile.
Ripped and resynced by YoungJedi