(This drama is a work of fiction created based on historical facts.)
(Most of the details and depictions of the characters are fictional.)
My lord.
Are you awake?
My lord.
Please, My lord.
No.
My lord.
Gosh, it is cold.
Goodness, gracious.
I am taking him home as he is drunk.
Do not mind us.
Go. I told you to go.
Should I help you?
Hey.
Why are you making such a fuss?
It is gone.
Gu Yang Chun's body is gone.
Thank you.
I do not understand...
why they are constantly beating people to a pulp at the palace.
My lord.
Madam.
My lord.
My lord!
Jong Jong.
Go and get some water. And some towels too.
Yes, Madam.
My lord!
(Episode 19)
Your Majesty!
His Highness, the Crown Prince, has gotten more ill and has lost consciousness.
Your Highness.
His Majesty sent a physician...
for His Highness.
He has a high fever with chills.
Can he take the heated needle?
(Beonchim: A technique where a hot needle is inserted into acupuncture points)
Please do something.
Anything!
Please do not leave like this.
Please.
Please!
My lord.
What on earth happened?
And what happened to Gu Jam?
I must bring Lord Lee elsewhere.
Pardon me?
Why?
The eunuch who helped me...
knows this place.
Gu Yang Chun's corpse is gone.
That incompetent brat!
Has he revealed where he was moved to?
Baedan-ri, sir.
My lord, we must go. Please...
Madam!
Some men are searching the village now.
Ryang Eum.
Let me take him.
They will be here in no time.
Keep him safe.
I told you. I do not know such a person.
There is nothing here!
Are you sure it was this house?
A man was seen leaving the village...
on his horse with someone else on it.
Come along!
Is there a man staying with you here?
Who are you people?
How dare you set foot in here?
I am sure it is this house.
I invited a singer,
who will sing at my master's birthday party.
What do you think you are doing?
If my master finds out...
Your master?
I heard a woman who had been ruined by a foreign intruder lived here.
A man who took in a girl who had been dirtied by a foreign intruder.
Do you think we would fear such a man?
What is all this fuss about?
What brings you here at this early hour?
How dare you raise your voice in my house?
My lord.
- My lord! - My lord!
I believe that Jang Hyun...
will wake up soon...
because you are right by his side, Ryang Eum.
A while back, when Jang Hyun was away on business,
you got into a fight...
with another customer at the courtesan house and got hurt.
Did you know that Jang Hyun stopped by that night?
As soon as he heard that you got hurt,
he gave up on 7,000 nyang of silver and came back.
He came by...
to see if you were okay and left again right away.
A friend of mine once asked him...
while serving him.
"Why do you care so much about Ryang Eum?"
Then he said,
"Seeing Ryang Eum enjoy his life gives me joy."
That was his answer.
So he would never die...
and leave you behind all alone.
How is Lord Lee?
How is he?
I wondered...
whom Jang Hyun would want to see the most...
in his final moments.
Go and see him.
My lord.
It is me, Gil Chae.
"Observation leads you to knowledge."
"Knowledge leads you to integrity."
"Integrity leads you to enlightenment."
"Enlightenment leads you to health."
You can whistle pretty well.
I shall give you a nickname.
Ryang Eum.
"Ryang Eum?"
It means "to reach the note."
Hyun!
Sister!
Hyun.
Do you hear?
When he smiles,
I hear flowers bloom.
Father!
Stop! Do not hit him!
Do not hit him!
Young Master.
I am sorry, Young Master.
Hyun.
My lord.
My lord, please.
My lord.
You are awake.
Ryang Eum!
My lord.
Where am I?
All is well.
You are well.
Who...
are you?
How is he?
He is fine. He has made it.
Then...
why does he not recognize us?
The hit missed and did not harm his skull.
So give it time.
He might remember you, and he might never.
But he is alive at least.
See?
All that touching almost made the wound fester.
How strange.
You seem younger than me,
so why speak like you are older?
Are you a physician?
You seem sure-handed.
I learned a lot, thanks to someone.
I learned to play the geomungo,
and to shoot arrows.
Someone kept getting hurt,
so I learned how to treat wounds as well.
Who was that?
Was it...
a woman you loved?
I am done.
You know, I...
Over there.
Who is that woman?
Of all people, I thought...
you would at least remember her.
I do not remember.
But I enjoy...
watching her.
Here.
Open wide.
So, why are you so nice to me?
Compared to what you did for me,
this is nothing at all.
Was I good to you?
Not just good.
That young man.
His name is Ryang Eum?
Someone I know has the same name.
I owned a servant named Sam Do.
"Sam Do?"
Yes. He whistled very well,
so I gave him the nickname "Ryang Eum."
And...
his name is also Ryang Eum?
How strange.
Ryang Eum...
is the name I gave Sam Do.
My lord.
Your Highness.
Do you have any news about Lee Jang Hyun?
In Joseon,
the Crown Prince's people are all being purged.
Is that true?
Your Highness.
Look at this.
Was I...
in bed for a long time?
It is fine now that you are up.
I am hungry.
Prepare some milk porridge.
(Tarak porridge: porridge with ground rice in milk)
No.
I will do it.
I will make it myself.
You may all leave.
What about Jang Hyun?
What happened to Interpreter Lee?
I believe Interpreter Lee...
is safe and sound.
Good.
Prepare my desk so I may write a letter.
I want to rest.
Yes, Your Highness.
However, the Crown Princess will be bringing your milk porridge.
Right.
I must eat the milk porridge she made.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, I have made you some milk porridge myself...
Your Highness.
Your Highness!
Your Majesty!
Please move those who are being kept in the Palace Supply Bureau...
to the Department of Justice.
- Move them to the Department of Justice! - Move them to the Department of Justice!
Please move those who are being kept in the Palace Supply Bureau...
to the Department of Justice.
Master!
His Highness, the Crown Prince...
- Your Highness! - Your Highness!
Your Highness!
Your Highness.
You must wake up.
Your Highness.
Crown Prince!
My son...
Jang Hyun, read this.
Hyun!
I shall give you a nickname.
Ryang Eum.
"Ryang Eum?"
Hyun.
I will be away from home for a few days.
If people ask, say that I went to visit my family.
Is Interpreter Lee all right?
Well...
Is there any news of Gu Jam?
Anybody home?
I heard you had been struggling since your divorce.
Why did you not ask the Crown Princess for help?
People are pointing fingers at me, calling me a girl ruined by an intruder.
I was afraid it might cause Her Highness harm...
if people found out I knew her.
You...
and Interpreter Lee...
were quite close in Simyang.
Are you still in contact with him?
No, of course not.
I have never seen him since I returned to Joseon.
I see.
I brought some jewelry for you.
The Crown Princess heard that you had been struggling financially...
and sent these for you.
There is no need.
Her Highness wishes to repay you for saving her son.
Her Highness prepared them herself.
Be sure...
to keep them forever.
Your Majesty.
I understand that His Highness the Crown Prince just passed away,
but we should install His Highness' eldest son as heir apparent...
Install him?
Yes, Your Majesty.
We cannot leave such an important position vacant.
So please...
Do you already wish to win the favor of his eldest son?
You know...
that the Crown Princess buried a cursed object in the palace.
No, I do not...
You are scared, are you not?
Yes, I see that you are terrified.
All you have to do is tell me what you saw and heard.
Do you wish to die in pain, like those people?
You do not, right?
Even if you have made up your mind to die,
it is not like you will be the only one dying.
You should think about your old parents...
and your little sister, who is still young.
You know?
The Crown Princess is involved in a shameful affair.
So how could we install her child?
Hence,
I wish to expel the Crown Princess and send her to a faraway place...
to prevent trouble.
Your Majesty.
Do you wish to expel her because of the rumor...
that she put a curse on the main hall?
However, you cannot banish...
the mother of the Crown Prince's eldest son without evidence.
He is right, Your Majesty.
You cannot banish the mother of the Crown Prince's eldest son.
Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is your child too.
How could you speak of banishing her so easily?
Evidence, you say?
Jin Saeng, One of the Crown Princess' maids,
confessed that the Crown Princess buried a cursed object in the palace...
to put a curse on the main hall.
It is truly a mess.
And you say she is my child too?
How dare you call that mutt...
a king's child?
The first time the cursed object was found in the palace,
Lady Cho said it was the Crown Princess' doing.
But the ministers including Choi Myung Gil...
protected the Crown Princess, saying there was no evidence.
However, Jin Saeng's confession has completely changed the situation.
Now, no one is willing to speak up...
or defend the Crown Princess...
for everyone is afraid they would be labeled as a traitor too.
Master.
At a time like this, you should...
But what if...
Jin Saeng's confession is true?
If the Crown Princess truly had put a curse on the main hall,
that is like a child putting a curse on her own father,
which violates the moral code...
and shakes the foundation of this nation.
In Joseon,
children are dutiful to their parents,
wives serve their husbands,
and vassals must remain loyal to their king.
Joseon could hold out...
despite the foreign intruders' invasions...
for the moral code has remained intact.
People say...
that things like courtesy and loyalty...
are useless in this world ruled by the foreign intruders,
but we...
No, you and I...
know very well what courtesy and loyalty...
can help us protect.
Your Majesty.
I request a cross-examination with Jin Saeng.
Treason?
Assassination?
I poisoned the grilled abalone prepared for Your Majesty...
and hid a cursed object in your chambers...
to put a curse on Your Majesty?
That is not true.
They did nothing wrong, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
How dare she raise her voice at me like that?
I bet someone has got her back.
I am certain that the Crown Princess won them over...
with the wealth she had gathered in Simyang.
By "them," you mean...
The captives whom the Crown Prince helped get released.
She thinks she can be that insolent because she is counting on them.
It is important that we do not let our guard down at a time like this.
We must inspect everyone at each checkpoint.
(Gichal: Inspecting pedestrians at checkpoints)
Summon the chiefs of the Police Bureau...
and tell them to patrol the area more often...
to keep treasonous scoundrels out even at night.
And tell the Minister of War not to leave the palace.
Also,
you are to join the Office of the Royal Guard.
Yes, Your Majesty.
If a coup takes place while I am distracted,
it will be too late for regrets.
This man is the leader of the traitors.
His corpse is gone.
If he is still alive, we must catch him at all costs.
If you catch him,
you have my permission to kill him on the spot.
Excuse me.
- Have you seen this man? - No, I have not.
Hey, excuse me.
Have you seen this man?
Hyun.
I promise I will always protect you.
You cannot be out on your own.
Did I...
do something wrong again?
I am sorry.
It is not that.
What are you doing?
Thank you.
Thank you so much...
for staying alive.
Your arms...
I will not go out alone, so will you...
No.
We are allowed to do this.
What?
You remember nothing.
So take my word for it.
I will believe you if you will...
Look.
Do not lose it ever again.
What is this?
Put it where it is meant to be.
Where is it meant to be?
What the...
My chest...
Did we really...
do childish things like this?
Yes.
Let me see...
Darn it.
Did you curse?
You know,
you keep touching me.
It is said that...
since the age of seven, men and women must sit apart...
I told you already.
We are allowed to do this.
Let us play again.
Go on.
Well done.
Open wide.
Come on.
This is shameful.
I told you already.
- We are allowed to... - Okay, fine.
Good.
- That is dry, so have some broth. - Okay.
Well done.
Here.
Are you crazy?
Even if we are allowed to do some things,
do you not think that was too much in broad daylight?
We used to do this.
Until the last moment,
you held this ring in your hand.
I did?
What...
Well,
now that I have no memory,
I am a burden.
Shall I be honest?
For a long time,
I wished for us...
to exchange childish jokes and wonder what to eat for dinner.
I wished so ardently...
for that kind of simple life.
It is possible that...
this moment is my happiest one with you.
Then...
if my memory never returns,
will you not abandon me?
Me, abandon you?
Watch and see.
Even if I die,
I will never leave your side again.
Lee Jang Hyun.
I am here for you.
The Hoemaengje ceremony...
is a place where the vassals swear their allegiance to their king.
Today, we have shared the same blood.
Lady Kang was protesting with her voice raised,
which I thought was very odd at first.
But now that I think,
she must have done so by trusting those who are supporting her.
Think about what happened during Gwanghae's reign.
The enemy must always be nearby.
What if a treacherous revolt occurs...
and the nation falls to its ruin? What will you do then?
Have Lady Kang thrown out of the palace and have her die at home.
Seek out all of her supporters and get rid of all of them!
Your Highness.
Please come.
How have you ended up in such a state?
(Choi Myung Gil)
(Kim Sang Heon)
Do you regret what happened in the past?
"Regret?"
The reason why I took the lead in reconciling with the foreign intruders...
in the Year of Byeongja...
was solely for the Joseon court...
I mean making...
His Majesty the king.
Do you regret it?
You joined hands with Kim Ja Jeom and Kim Ryu...
to have Prince Neungyang take the throne.
(Prince Neungyang: King Injo's title before being crowned king)
No one expected Prince Neungyang to seek to rise to the throne.
He was mild and afraid of many things.
But what I see now is that our king is a fighter.
When he felt a threat to his life, he became more shrewd than anyone.
No one could have stopped Prince Neungyang back then.
And it is the same now.
Our king...
feels that his life is being threatened.
Some paths lead to death even in life and others lead to life even in death.
In the Year of Byeongja,
we should have fought against the foreign intruders until the very end.
Then, His Majesty would not have broken down as he has now.
Then...
Did you come to say that?
I came because I was afraid.
What might become of this nation...
I am afraid.
Still, the only person I could tell my inner thoughts to...
was you.
Thief Kang...
took the poison but did not die right away.
She suffered for two days...
and finally drew her last breath.
You are seeking out Thief Kang's supporters, are you not?
I am suspicious of the interpreters.
The interpreters have been in close contact with the people of Qing.
Dig into the lives of all the interpreters...
who were close to the Crown Prince back in Simyang.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What are the reactions from the nobility?
How about Choi Myung Gil?
It is suspicious that Myung Gil defended Lady Kang until the end.
By any chance,
will Choi Myung Gil get any silly ideas?
I did not protect you...
and put up with being called a traitor who sold his nation off...
just to see you like this.
However,
I am sure this is also my fate.
I want to rest now.
No more.
(Choi Myung Gil dies of old age...)
(at age 62.)
Those jerks.
How could they do this to a man?
If I ever run into them on the streets,
I will rip out all of their hair.
Their hair?
Right.
There. You can turn around now.
Yes.
Here.
Goodness.
Still, it is a relief that your wounds are healing well.
- Here too. - Wait.
It is fine.
Why? I should apply some ointment on here too...
I said it was fine.
Next time, I will apply the ointment myself.
You can leave it here.
- Still, I should help you apply... - I can do it myself!
Also,
you say that things have always been like this between us?
I do not want to hear it.
And you keep touching me.
Then, I... You know?
I am also...
Anyway! Do not ever...
So...
Well, that is not...
what I meant.
Did you perhaps act upon the Crown Prince's orders?
My lord.
I hope...
I did not do anything too silly.
My lord.
I am sorry.
It took too long, did it not?
I am truly sorry.
(My Dearest)
I believe you took care of the captives...
that were locked up.
This man is not Gu Yang Chun.
It was Lee Jang Hyun, the interpreter.
Then what happened to that scoundrel?
Is he alive or dead?
Jang Hyun, you are the only person I can trust...
to do this.
Qing...
requested Lee Jang Hyun as their interpreter.
Everyone is looking for you.
And you wish to go to the palace?
Ripped and resynced by YoungJedi