(All people, organizations, locations, and incidents...)
(in this drama are fictitious.)
No, wait!
I am sorry. I did wrong.
But I did it because the Second State Councilor told me to.
I had no choice. That is the truth.
It is time...
to reveal the truth clearly.
What command you were given,
and what evil you did to bribe the Second State Councilor!
Yes. Of course.
I will tell you everything.
Will you...
help me get out of this alive?
Yoo Se Poong.
No. Yoo Se Yeob, sir.
What the Second State Councilor made me do and took,
I will tell you everything.
Believe me.
I, Im Soon Man,
will expose the Second State Councilor's corruption!
That way. Go and search!
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
Listen, Se Poong.
Here.
Do not speak. I must stop the bleeding.
Here, take this.
My field of gold.
You cannot take it.
All this... is mine.
The Second State Councilor...
gave dansacho to the former king.
What will you do now?
Commander Im...
would have recorded what he gave the Second State Councilor.
I must find that ledger.
That ledger.
I found it.
Here.
From sable skins...
to produce meant for the King, he gave as a bribe.
What does this mark mean?
After he stopped giving sable skins and produce,
a massive amount of money and gold changed hands.
That must be the money made from selling opium.
He gave him gold bars to coincide with each harvest.
With the stiletto needle and this, we can take him down.
While I get things going in the Palace,
I need you to look into the damage caused by opium.
Okay, I will do that.
Young master, be sure to eat on time.
- I will be back soon. - Okay.
We should go.
No. You should remain here...
We must go. Is this not a pressing matter?
Have a safe trip. Go on.
Was she going too?
I have no idea.
I feel bad you have to be my hands.
Now I am putting you in danger.
I promised I would not let you leave alone.
We have come this far together, and I will stay until the end.
Yes. This is really the end.
I will bring the Second State Councilor to his knees.
(Episode 12)
That ledger shows...
how the Second State Councilor bled the people dry,
and that stiletto needle was used on the former king.
Are you saying...
this is enough to have him locked up immediately?
It is not yet time, Your Majesty.
Wait until he falters...
and causes himself to crumble.
When that time comes,
that is when you charge him for murdering the former king.
But the court...
is full of his people.
Even if we find more proof,
he will cut his losses and get out unscathed.
How about you burn his tail...
so he cannot cut it off and escape?
Set fire to his tail?
Here, on the date where it says the former king's boils went red...
and formed blisters,
write down what he ate.
Okay.
(February 9)
For a late-night snack, he was served candied red ginseng.
(February 9, candied red ginseng)
The next day, red bean porridge.
(February 10, red bean porridge)
Physician Gye must have arrived safely, right?
His Majesty's royal guard went with him,
so they must have arrived by now.
I am sure...
everything will go well.
You said bad things came from what you were never worried about.
I trust that you will untangle the mess.
If...
something happens...
I will be fine.
Long time no see, Shin Gui Soo.
I did not know that you were still alive.
Of course, you did not know.
You killed everyone.
You must want to get rid of me now.
You know that, yet you dared to show up before me?
I am here to give you a chance.
You should kneel before me and beg me to spare you, if anything.
What? A chance?
You will give me a chance? How dare you!
Did you think you could live...
as if nothing happened when you poisoned a king?
Such insolence!
That is a groundless accusation.
The stiletto needle used that day.
His Majesty has it.
What did you say?
Why?
Do you not believe me?
The Second State Councilor ordered you...
to murder the late King.
Everyone already knows all about it.
You killed your teacher and your friend...
and joined hands with the Second State Councilor.
How could a physician...
harm someone using poisonous herbs? Do you not care...
as long as you get the royal physician title?
Who is my friend? And who is my teacher?
All Jeon Kyu Hyung did was coddle hypocrites like you.
I do not consider him my teacher!
Our teacher...
cherished your skills...
as a physician.
His Majesty promised...
that he would spare your family...
if you confessed.
You must save your innocent children for they did nothing wrong.
This is your last chance to atone for your sins.
Think wisely.
You could not find the stiletto needle?
It must have burned...
and melted in the fire when Im Soon Man died.
Then what about Yoo Se Yeob?
While I was taking care of Im Soon Man,
he disappeared.
You fool.
You asked for a chance.
I will not repeat myself.
The stiletto needle and Yoo Se Yeob.
Neither can be allowed to exist.
Understood.
I will do that.
Physician Yoo was right.
Shin Gui Soo is faltering.
What now?
If what I am thinking is right,
Shin Gui Soo will go straight to the Second State Councilor.
Where is the Second State Councilor?
As soon as he gets there, the palace guards on site...
will arrest him in front of the Second State Councilor.
Royal Inspector Cho Sin Woo...
must be arrested with him.
What is this ruckus?
How dare you.
This is the Second State Councilor's residence!
Obey the King's command!
Tie up Shin Gui Soo and Royal Inspector Cho Sin Woo!
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
- Let go! - Councilor Cho!
Did you say...
it was the King's command?
Yes.
Fine.
Go ahead and obey the King's command.
Councilor Cho!
This is His Majesty's chance to learn...
what could happen...
when he wrongfully imprisons someone without evidence.
Do not worry.
He cannot punish his loyal subjects who did nothing wrong at all.
Do not be afraid.
Take them!
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
I have secured...
countless pieces of evidence and witnesses.
As the royal physician,
how dare you poison the late King?
Your Majesty, there are many eyes watching me in the Palace.
They record every single thing I do,
and there are court maids who work as royal tasters.
How could you believe such false accusations?
This is not fair, Your Majesty!
You are still telling lies?
Does the man behind you...
scare you more than I do?
Tell them to cancel the morning audience.
Yes, Your Majesty.
When did this begin?
His condition has been worsening...
since he saw the royal physician yesterday.
He does not trust the physicians in the Medical Office.
Se Yeob, I...
I cannot breathe.
You are experiencing heart palpitations caused by anxiety.
Please get some rest. I will make some herbal tonic for you.
What about acupuncture?
Your acupuncture saved my life many times.
I can no longer...
administer acupuncture.
What do you mean?
For some reason,
I can no longer hold a needle.
However, there is a female physician who assists me.
Please allow her to do it.
You have my permission.
Your Majesty.
The Second State Councilor would like an audience with you.
Will you be okay?
Now is not a good time.
Your Majesty, tell him to leave.
You should see him another time.
No.
If I do not do it now,
I may never have another chance to have a 1-on-1 with him.
Your Majesty.
You do not look so well.
Hence,
I visited the dispensary and prepared a good medicine for you.
My medicine...
is not important now.
It has been confirmed...
that my father...
was lethally poisoned.
Your Majesty,
one must refrain from making such horrible accusations.
The case was under inspection this past year.
Royal physician Shin Gui Soo...
administered the poison.
Are you saying you have proof of this crime?
Would I have mentioned this...
without evidence to back up my claim?
A royal physician could not have done it alone...
which is why...
I must dig deep into who gave the orders.
Do you not agree, Second State Councilor?
Your Majesty,
your order is my command.
I am sure you came here for answers,
so why have you not asked me about your adoptive son?
An anonymous report was made regarding a dead court maid,
and her death is being investigated.
He will soon be released, so do not worry.
Father.
Is there anyone who could have known that you killed the court maid?
Is that why I was arrested?
Now that Im Soon Man is dead,
the assassins could have been talking.
That would worry me.
You will soon be released,
so maintain your silence until then. Do you understand?
Of course. Please do not worry about me.
Would His Majesty be all right?
Now that you treated him with acupuncture,
he will lie down and rest.
He must take cheongshimhwan and ondamtang when he awakes,
but the Medical Office cannot be trusted.
Please do not worry. The plan is already in motion.
Young Master, Lady Seo.
Stop bouncing with glee and get back to work.
Yes, get back to work.
We must make these until the end of the day.
Must you all take a punch at me?
When did you all make it here?
I sent word since it would be...
more dangerous for them in Sorak Village.
That was wise of you.
Darn.
Cho Tae Hak is will not be easy to take down.
We may seem to have weakened him,
but he might not react in the way we anticipated.
Shin Gui Soo very much believed that Councilor Cho...
would guarantee his freedom.
He could position himself...
to be the only one who does not take the blame.
How can he...
when the evidence against him is clear?
We do not have evidence...
directly linking him to the former king's death.
If he continues to claim innocence,
only Shin Gui Soo will be punished.
We need a way to rattle his cage.
What could it be?
Physician Gye.
Yes?
I have too much work to do,
so dinner will be red bean porridge tonight.
- Red bean porridge sounds good. - Enjoy.
Look at these plump round dumplings.
For a late-night snack, he was served candied red ginseng.
The next day, red bean porridge.
Red bean porridge!
Red bean porridge.
I have an idea.
The other day, I was not myself due to the severe cold I had.
I was also embarrassed for wasting your time.
It is why I have prepared a snack for you all today.
Please enjoy.
Please enjoy it freely.
They are the snacks...
my late father used to frequently enjoy.
My recent illness...
had me rethink the importance of gifted physicians.
It is why I wish to reinstate a physician...
to a post in the Medical Office.
Allow him to enter.
Physician Yoo Se Yeob...
who was banished from the Palace and Capital...
will be reinstated as Head Acupuncturist.
But Your Majesty, the former king died at his hands...
Royal Physician Shin Gui Soo...
is currently being questioned for that reason,
and Yoo Se Yeob's name will soon be cleared.
Councilor Cho,
you are the only one who has not taken a single bite.
You dare to confront me despite the difference in our ranks?
My apologies.
However, the others seem to have eaten,
but you have yet to take a single bite.
May one assume there is a reason behind it?
In front of you are the two snacks...
that were consumed by the former king...
right before he passed away.
They were laced with poison.
The former king passed away after ingesting these snacks.
Anyone who is aware of that could not have eaten them.
You evil boy.
You are audaciously framing another for the mistake you made.
The Royal Kitchen court maid was tricked into thinking...
that dansacho was a rare herb from Qing.
A round dumpling was laced with dansacho...
to keep it from being caught by the royal food taster.
The Second State Councilor caused the death of the former king.
Where is your proof?
What you described...
is a wild story you concocted in your brain!
Proof?
Do you know what this is?
Councilor Cho stashed away goods...
that were presented to His Majesty...
and approved opium to be distributed...
despite it being banned by the royal court.
It is all written here along with the bribes he took.
- What? - How can that be?
It is proof...
that he stole from the country and harmed the people with drugs.
I am...
being framed, Your Majesty!
An investigation will prove who is right.
Do not just stand there. Arrest Councilor Cho immediately!
Yes, Your Majesty.
- What? - What on earth is happening?
- How could this be? - A ledger?
My lord!
Royal Physician Shin. Are you all right?
What is the Second State Councilor up to?
I do not know how much longer I can take this.
His Majesty seems to know a lot.
Do not worry.
My father spoke to the King in private.
Then he came to see me to say we would be released soon.
Okay.
Come out.
Is it my turn?
Why?
Why did you kill Wol?
Why?
Is that what...
you did to my father too?
Come with me.
My goodness.
I said I would do it.
Our smart little lady can eat more.
Who would have known they used round dumplings?
Still, we cannot bring down Councilor Cho...
unless the royal physician turns against him, right?
Shin Gui Soo is cornered.
He will make up his mind,
and so will the members of the court.
Will you all eat up?
Now that we are living in a Hanyang mansion,
everything is much better quality, right?
No, I cannot tell at all.
The crunchy rice definitely tastes better.
Jang Gun, you know your stuff.
This is not even your mansion and you brag any chance you get.
Your old place was this fancy.
How did you survive at the clinic?
You ate much more with us,
and you say it is nicer here, you boar?
Boar!
Dunce, this place of yours.
You do not have alcohol, do you?
As if.
He is the weird one.
His father drank like crazy.
Give me that.
The wine I made for him should still be untouched.
I know how to make wine too.
You can make what you cannot drink?
What a good boy.
Take the others to safety!
Physician Gye.
Father.
We cleaned his wound.
We will give him an energizing tonic and then see how he does.
You and Jang Gun, make medicines that give energy.
Okay. I hope he does not run a fever.
I will also prepare some Haedoktang.
(Haedoktang: Used to combat inflammation)
And something to stop the bleeding.
No. Something to improve his stamina.
No, make something with all the best ingredients...
Physician Yoo.
You did your best.
He will be okay.
I have to make all that, right?
You know acupuncture, my lady.
Stay with my father.
Jang Gun and I will make all the tonics.
I should have learned acupuncture.
Am I doing something pointless?
What is the use if I cannot protect those dear to me?
- Physician Gye. - Physician Gye.
Why the long face?
Is someone dead?
Do not speak.
Your father...
was a good man.
You must not run away like I did.
Perhaps I waited...
for someone like you...
to show up and put everything right.
"Run away." "No, do not."
I taught you nothing but nonsense.
I am sorry.
Physician Gye.
I think he just passed out.
I will condemn them all...
and correct everything.
Yes.
We are almost there.
It is okay.
It will all be okay.
Head Acupuncturist, report your findings.
Gwak Gyo Young, the King's taster...
was poisoned with something not even a silver binyeo could detect.
This stiletto needle was specially made to discolor...
when coming into contact with such substances.
The color of the needle changed when it touched the court lady's blood.
Also, purple blisters were found on the body,
and it shows that a deadly plant called dansacho was used.
Furthermore,
the exact same discoloration occurred on this needle as well.
This stiletto needle was used...
the last time I treated the late King.
Just like the court lady's needle, its color has changed.
Why did this happen?
The Second State Councilor used dansacho...
to poison him.
- He poisoned the late King? - That is absurd.
- My gosh. - How could he do such a thing?
I swear, I did not do anything...
that I should be ashamed of.
The person who knows the most about dansacho is someone else.
The person who caused the late King's death...
was none other than Yoo Se Yeob.
His father, Commissioner Yoo Hoo Myung,
left the citadel to get rid of the evidence...
and suffered such an accident.
Your Majesty, the Second State Councilor...
is absolutely right!
Many people here witnessed Yoo Se Yeob attempting...
to treat the late King with his needles.
You were there too, Your Majesty.
He claims that I used dansacho.
But who saw me and the royal physician, Shin Gui Soo?
Who is the witness?
The person who put dansacho...
in the late King's food as per the Second State Councilor's order.
Wol, the court maid.
That court maid is dead.
Please do not let the wicked traitors...
deceive you, Your Majesty.
- Please, Your Majesty. - Please, Your Majesty.
Your father died at the hands of an assassin...
sent by the Second State Councilor. It was not me.
And the court maid is not dead.
She is alive.
Councilor Cho poisoned the King...
as he was against his plan to conquer the North.
This evidence was found before your father died.
It states that the royal physician collected...
and burned all the dansacho as per Councilor Cho's order.
Because of this, I began to suspect Councilor Cho.
And that is why I hid the stiletto needle...
and the court maid as well.
Tell His Majesty who you are.
I am Wol, a court maid in the Royal Kitchen.
Is it true...
that you were told to put dansacho in the late King's food?
Yes.
I was told that it was a rare spice from Qing.
I was ordered to sprinkle it on the King's candied red ginseng...
and to put it in his red bean porridge as well.
Tell us exactly how you put it in the red bean porridge.
In the round dumplings, as I was told it would enhance the flavors.
And who ordered you...
to do that?
Royal Physician Shin Gui Soo...
gave me the order along with the ingredient list.
Your Majesty!
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
I was afraid of the Second State Councilor's power.
He threatened me...
that he would hurt my family if I did not obey his orders.
That is why I did it.
I did not do it of my own accord, Your Majesty!
There is one more thing.
Tell us.
I witnessed...
Lord Yoo Hoo Myung's murder.
What is she saying?
Tell us...
what you witnessed.
He was in a rush to go somewhere.
Someone appeared out of nowhere and hit him with a heavy stick.
Did you see the person who hit him?
He was wearing a jade butterfly ornament.
A black jade butterfly ornament...
is the symbol of your family, Councilor Cho.
Shin Gui Soo, you ought to tell the truth.
Who ordered you to use dansacho on the late King?
Who was it?
It was the Second State Councilor!
He was the one who gave me the dansacho.
All I did was hand it over to that girl, Your Majesty!
This is a trap.
You are doing this to slander me!
If that is the case...
Why did you steal this secret letter...
and try to endanger our country?
Get rid of him...
and deliver the late King's secret letter to Qing.
You assassinated the late King...
and stole the letter that ordered the army to advance into the North.
And to survive,
you tried to use the letter to get Qing's army involved!
Keep His Majesty safe!
What did you just do?
My goodness.
What I did...
was...
to salvage this country from the aftermath of the war.
I...
am the most loyal subject this country has ever seen!
Se Yeob.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I was born fragile and weak.
Days like this did not seem to be in my future.
I thank you for that.
You are one of the sturdiest and healthiest leaders...
this country has ever seen.
You not only saved my life,
but persistently searched for the truth.
All alone, while suffering from an illness from within,
you let yourself carry the burden.
I apologize...
all while expressing my gratitude.
It must have been depressing for you...
to have lost your ability to perform acupuncture.
I worry...
that you also harbor an illness within just like I do.
Have you been taking it lightly...
all because you are a physician yourself?
I apologize, Your Majesty, for making you worry.
However,
it seems as though you have gained even a better ability.
Now that you can cure illnesses within one's heart and mind,
I should refer to you as a specialist of the mind.
I have yet to recover...
and am in need of a physician who can cure me.
Would you...
be willing to take on the position as royal physician?
Ip Bun, you're getting food everywhere!
Hold on, Father.
Is that alcohol?
Gosh, of course I am not drinking. Keep serving our guests.
Take another sip and I will discard it all!
Look how fine he is.
Physician Yoo, you glow like the sun.
What did I tell you?
There is no man in Hanyang better looking than him.
I am blinded.
Poong is now getting married!
Everyone, may I have your attention?
Attention, children.
Physician Yoo who was wrongfully accused of a crime...
and banished from the Palace and Hanyang...
turned out to be the physician who saved His Majesty's life.
- Nice! - Attention, please!
Minister of Personnel...
Supreme Commissioner Yoo Hoo Myung...
was also one of this country's most loyal subjects!
Enjoy all the various foods we have prepared for you.
And spread the word.
Yes, spread the word!
Spread the word, please.
- Bravo! - Bravo!
As per His Majesty's command,
back in office is Head Acupuncturist Yoo Se Poong...
I mean, Yoo Se Yeob.
Let us have fun and celebrate his accomplishment!
Let us party!
Here, here!
The Medical Office?
His Majesty summoned you back to the Medical Office?
Not just as the head acupuncturist,
but as the royal physician?
Call me baffled.
Granny, there is nothing to be baffled about.
A royal physician is a high-ranking position.
I bet you will get paid a lot.
Not really.
No government job pays well.
But they still expect you to work twice as much.
Physician Gye, you were also ordered to return to office.
- Me? - Oh, my.
Goodness.
Why me?
Why not? You said it yourself...
that you were a renowned physician of the Medical Office.
Exactly. It must be time for you to show us what you are made of.
Right.
Once everyone goes to the Medical Office,
who will run Gyesoo Clinic?
You are right.
Hold on a second.
All we have to do is open Gyesoo Clinic in Hanyang.
That will be Hanyang Clinic, not Gyesoo Clinic.
Right, Hanyang Clinic.
Let me think. We can store herbs there and...
If Physician Gye becomes a royal physician,
will he be ordered around too?
That sure is baffling.
Would you...
be willing to take on the position as royal physician?
Father,
how must I live my life from here?
Physician Yoo, are you here?
Are you going somewhere?
I will leave the country tonight.
To where exactly?
I have yet to decide. Maybe to the warm Okinawa...
or far away to western China.
The truth would not have been revealed...
without your help.
My actions were to atone for my family's sins.
They do not change the fact that I committed treason.
For assisting you in a meager role,
His Majesty spared me my life.
You could have lived in power...
with the Second State Councilor.
But you made this choice.
I felt uncomfortable.
While I enjoyed the power as an adopted son,
others had to die for no reason.
Although I learned to use a sword to survive,
I never once used it in vain.
That is how you saved both me...
and Wol.
Are you returning to the Medical Office?
As a royal physician?
I have not yet decided.
It is because of Eun Woo.
Do not live in pain like me in a position you do not want.
Look deep into your heart in advance.
Take good care of Eun Woo.
Royal inspector.
I wish you good health.
Oh, dear.
What is wrong with me?
There.
What did you wish for?
What about you?
I wished that Gyesoo Clinic flourish.
Will you not work at the Medical Office?
No. The pay is too tiny, and there are too many...
nosy people who nag...
and comment on what to do, so I will not work there.
Ip Bun will be disappointed.
Sorak Village suits her just right.
I cannot have her getting too dreamy.
You know you are very important...
to the womenfolk of Sorak Village, right?
Forget about the dunce who cannot use needles.
We should start over.
Why should she start over with you?
Oh, I am so scared.
Physician Yoo.
Right.
I should return this to you now.
No. I gave it to you.
Yoo Se Poong the royal physician.
No. Yoo Se Yeob.
You should go back.
His Majesty...
gave me a new set of needles.
I see.
His Majesty is still unwell.
I am concerned.
You will be there for him.
(Gwanghwamun)
The boar is not here.
We must take him.
Man Bok lives in Hanyang. That is his home.
I wish you would work at the Medical Office too.
At Sorak Village, there are many patients waiting for us.
We must hurry.
Yes, Jang Gun. We should run back.
Come along.
- Let us get back. - Be careful.
We should run.
(Gyesoo Clinic)
(3 months later)
What did you eat last night?
- Barbarians! - What?
The barbarians are here.
Grab her! Oh, dear...
Barbarians!
Poong.
- Poong. - My goodness.
The barbarians returned to their country long ago.
Poong is here!
Have you all been well?
Jang Gun.
Here you... Oh, gosh.
- Are you well? - Yes.
Physician Yoo.
Were you fired from the Medical Office already?
Why are you here? What about His Majesty?
He is much better.
I am that great a physician.
I missed you.
Hey. For some reason,
you seem more grown up.
Man Bok is still as immature as before.
What?
One would think Physician Yoo is older.
What are you talking about?
I am three years younger than him.
What?
- What? - What?
Dunce.
We are really busy, so treat some patients.
Fine.
Look at them.
Why are you hitting me?
I will see the next patient.
(Physician of the Mind)
(Physician of the Mind, Yoo Se Poong)
The first patient I saw with an ailing soul...
Eun Woo.
Physician Yoo.
I have something to tell you.
But not right now.
Tomorrow afternoon.
The Big Boulder Pass on Mount Sorak.
Meet me under that tree.
Then...
I will see you tomorrow.
Bye.
Wait.
Father.
Eun Woo.
I am being transferred to Heuksan. Get ready.
It is urgent. We must leave very soon.
No.
This time, I must tell him.
What is this about?
Stay away.
Physician Yoo.
We are here on His Majesty's order.
Yoo Se Yeob, you must obey His Majesty's commands.
Eun Woo.
(Thank you for watching Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist.)
(We wish you nothing but happiness.)
(Season 2 will begin in January 2023.)
Ripped and resynced by YoungJedi
(The entire cast and crew will always remember Hwang Sun Hwan.)