(All people, organizations, locations, and incidents...)
(in this drama are fictitious.)
(Episode 5, Account Book)
(A book that records incomings and outgoings of assets)
I will go with this.
It is no time to show off. Get the sword now.
Grab the sword.
Master.
Master, grab the sword.
You brought this upon yourself.
Do not resent me.
Stop!
He is the secret inspector!
So what?
What do you want us to do?
He... He is the secret inspector.
So what?
Keep going. Finish what you started.
This all worked out.
Good. He grabbed his sword.
It is over now.
That is not the same as using a kitchen knife.
Well, they are all sharp.
To protect what is valuable,
we must be able to endure what we dislike.
One day in your life, you will have to wield...
a real sword, not a wooden sword...
to protect yourself...
and what is valuable around you.
Do not...
disappoint me.
My son.
Darn it.
I was sure there would be a death tonight.
But this is boring.
What are you doing?
You promised that the loser would admit defeat!
Promise?
That was between you and Tae Seo, not me.
Do not just stand there!
Do not move!
You know what? Get rid of that silly girl first.
You, Big Eyes!
Do you think...
your late mother would be happy to see you corrupting your life?
How did you know...
that was my mother's pet name for me?
(Big Eyes)
I am sure when you were young,
your nickname, Big Eyes, was befitting as you were a kind boy.
Right?
Gosh. Mother...
You must live a good life for the sake of your mother...
who dedicated her life to raising you.
Is he crying?
All right. Tell your men to back off.
And put down the sword.
I do not want to.
Do you think my mother just cherished me?
The sweet, meek Big Eyes...
died alongside his mother.
I am Mal Jong now, Cha Mal Jong!
Go on! Kill them!
Are the station men not coming?
Why am I always your target?
I would appreciate it if you did not speak.
Shoot!
The secret inspector is here!
They are all here!
The guards are always a step too late.
This is how it always was.
Stand up.
Bring in the criminals!
Mal Jong. I will deal with him. You keep quiet.
Sure.
Cha Mal Jong and Park Tae Seo.
Not only did you break the law...
to make moonshine and gather around to drink it,
but you abused your power to enslave people to do your will.
That is a grave crime.
For holding men against their will, hurting, and killing them,
I will now discuss your punishment.
We broke the law to gather and drink,
and that was wrong on our part.
But how is taking in homeless women to feed and clothe them...
a crime according to The Great Ming Code?
Also, orphans over ten years of age...
can be fostered or made a slave...
according to a government policy.
Those who can take the children...
must prove their worth and qualifications.
Ask the Charity Office if you wish to discuss qualifications.
I have a document they issued me.
In that case, even after I revealed my identity as the inspector,
you attacked me. How will you justify that?
So many fools these days claim to be royal inspectors.
I cannot believe anyone until I see the horse tally.
Also, you were quite skilled with a sword,
and you attacked Tae Seo first.
Then I will ask you about...
the murder of the last inspector and the covering up of it.
What?
After we killed the one before, they sent out another one?
Do not kill him. Just catch him.
Why? What use do you have for him?
I need to find out how much he knows.
We can kill him afterwards.
We are old friends and I guess our joking went too far.
An inspector is not like a random stray dog.
Would we dare kill one? Gosh.
It was a joke?
Of course, it was a joke we should not have told.
I will accept the punishment for insulting...
a government official.
But if you wish to charge me for murder,
you had better provide unquestionable proof.
You are right.
Just because I suspect you, I cannot charge you without proof.
I find Park Tae Seo and Cha Mal Jong suspicious,
but I have no proof and therefore cannot back up my charges.
However,
as this is a serious issue, I cannot release you right away.
I will interrogate you until I reach the truth,
and then find proof with which to charge you.
Take them to the Department of Justice!
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
The Department of Justice?
We are being taken to Hanyang?
Is this not serious enough to sentence them on the spot?
I think it would be best to arrest them now.
I do not like the look in his eyes.
It would be best to end it here.
You can only end something once it is started.
There is a proverb.
I am cutting them loose to catch a bigger fish.
We need good bait to catch a good fish.
This must be related to aconite.
Find out what you can about Park Tae Seo.
Yes, sir.
You can come out now!
You can come out of hiding!
Cha Mal Jong and his followers were arrested!
The royal inspector arrested Cha Mal Jong.
- We are safe now. - That is great news.
(Soyang Trading Group)
What did I say? I said you need not worry.
Do you have homes to return to?
My lord. The women here...
returned after the war ended.
The children are orphans,
and even if they were to leave, they will end up...
at the Charity Office or be sold on as slaves.
How about you go to the magistrate who will protect you...
until it is decided where you should go?
You want them to go to the magistrate?
I know you are an inspector, but you trust magistrates too much.
What if Soyang Trading Group has connections there?
You saw how rash and brazen they were.
Slaves with no master become property of the magistrate.
That is where they must go.
My lord, strictly speaking,
the slaves here are privately owned.
That means the government has no charge or right over them.
Then what should be done?
Can you let the station men...
watch over them while they stay here for some time?
We would like to decide our own fate, if you do not mind.
Wait.
We have no intention of staying here or going to the magistrate.
What will you do, then?
We will all sail to Ganghwa Island.
Then neither the magistrate...
nor I can protect you.
I know that.
But this is our chance to be free, and we do not...
want to miss out on it.
I respect your decision.
Do as you wish.
My lord.
You cannot let them do whatever they want.
What will you put in your report?
Why not convince that woman to stay...
while you finish your report,
and then send her off?
Is your leg all right?
I have an ointment. Come with me.
- Go with her. - I will.
Your flesh is torn. It will take a while to heal.
Do you know anything about Park Tae Seo?
He is the only friend Cha Mal Jong cannot disobey.
I have no idea what he does in Baekgwiryeong.
It is rumored he was born between a powerful man and his mistress.
Do you feel this?
Do you?
- I feel that. - And this?
Yes. I feel it.
It looks like your nerves are fine.
I sprinkled a medicine onto the cuts so new skin will grow fast.
Are you all right?
- Hey. - Darn it.
What are you doing in here?
Will you remove that from your lips already?
Use the water.
What is it?
You are so clean.
They are definitely working with the government office.
I agree with you. I do not think they are simple bandits.
It would have been impossible...
to embezzle that much without the help of officials.
The person behind it whom I seek...
may be closer than I thought.
(Soyang Trading Group)
Rest up before we head out.
A war will begin soon.
Although we will not get a reward,
we get to sleep comfortably in this mansion.
We will call it even in exchange for sleeping on silk.
Let the children and women and the slaves...
use the main building.
Imagine how much they suffered until now.
Let them have it.
What about us?
Are you saying we did not suffer?
Do you not see the allergic reaction I had to the makeup?
What about this?
If this is not suffering, what is?
Come here. Lie down.
What is it?
The silk blanket will touch my dirty feet.
It is too good for us to use.
We will just sleep on the floor.
We get beat if we step on the blankets.
Goodness. This is nice.
What?
Why is this so soft?
Lord Cha Mal Jong...
hated hard pillows,
so he had them made with cotton.
I see.
That precious cotton is in here?
The cotton is replaced every month.
How much is this worth then?
Here, take it.
You too. Here.
Pillow fight!
- Wow! - Pillows!
This is so nice.
This feels good.
I have never felt something so soft before.
I feel like I am floating on a cloud.
I will show you something fun.
If you put your hands like this...
Look. What does it look like?
Flap.
Wow. How pretty.
It looks like a butterfly, right? Can you do it?
- Yes. - Yes.
- Mine is a bird. - Mine too.
- Snail. - Butterfly.
- I can make a snail. - Mine is a snail.
Mine is a toad.
Toad
I will give you an old house Give me a new one
Toad
I will give you a bad master
Give me a nice one
Toad
I will give you an empty bowl
Give me one filled with rice
Toad
I will give you tears
Give me laughter
Toad
I will give you an old house
Give me a new one
The secret inspector...
Shall enter.
The secret inspector has entered.
Gosh. What benefits from traveling with the secret inspector?
Darn it.
This is our reality and our lives.
He is my husband.
The king is a donkey's...
Stop it.
I said to stop it.
My lord. This is the night...
when you kissed a woman for the first time in your life.
In front of all those people, too.
Oh my gosh.
What a night it will be for a hot-blooded old bachelor.
Old bachelor? Why you...
Wait. The men should resolve it among ourselves.
That looks better does it not?
Push everyone back.
These annoying runts.
Gosh.
Thank you for putting the kids to bed.
It was my pleasure.
Anyway, do you really not know Bo Ri?
Who is she, that you keep asking?
She was a close friend and comrade.
Was?
She passed away recently.
I see.
That was why you were so shocked when you first saw me.
They say everyone has someone...
who looks exactly alike somewhere in this world.
It is so special and rare, that you can only meet...
by crossing the Milky Way 100 times.
Perhaps that is what they were.
It was fate that we met. Will you go with us?
As you must have heard.
everyone who wants to leave is leaving together.
Tell me if you are interested. Gwang Soon is coming with us.
I will join you. I will go.
I want to go with you.
You do not even know where we are going.
It will not be easy.
I hear it is a place where women who have returned live.
That is more than enough of a reason to go.
I knew it.
I felt like you would.
I can sense these things.
You do not mind her going with us, do you?
She is an adult. Why are you asking me?
It is always good to have a travel companion.
So... Anyway... Did you like it?
What?
How did it feel to kiss the secret inspector?
My things! Yes. My things.
I left them in the kids' room. Yes, I did.
I will go get them. Wait a minute.
Go to sleep. Sleep first.
You are outside.
That is right.
So are you.
You must be tired.
Why are you out here instead of sleeping?
Well,
seeing the trumpet creepers reminded me of the old days,
so I was out here, taking a walk.
You can recognize the flowers?
Of course.
When I placed first in the state exam,
I wore a chaplet made with these flowers.
By the way, how did you know that?
Cha Mal Jong's nickname as a kid was Big Eyes.
I saw him wearing different socks.
And one of the socks said "Big Eyes" on it.
When I was young, my mother also used to embroider...
butterflies on all of my things.
When I saw him wearing the same, old sock...
instead of throwing it out,
I just thought he must miss his mother a lot.
So I was trying to appeal to his emotional side.
You are indeed smart.
You were able to make a very nice observation.
I am quite observant.
I see.
So what do you plan to do now?
I decided to leave with the people here...
and head to Ganghwa Island.
How unfortunate.
You are quite smart.
I thought about keeping you around to run my errands.
Your showing up as my wife was indeed a game changer.
You were appalled when people thought I should marry you.
But now, you are telling me that my pretending to be your wife...
was a game changer?
It is unfortunate what happened before.
But come to think of it,
pretending to be a fake couple is the best disguise.
And what if we are forced to kiss again?
Well, I can put up an act as I am divorced.
But your awful acting gave away our disguise.
If only it was not my first...
Well, let me explain that.
I meant to say...
this was my first time acting.
I am not saying that this is my first kiss or anything. Never.
I am relieved to hear so.
Anyway, I am not interested. If you need a fake wife,
look elsewhere, please.
Goodnight.
Fine. Goodnight to you too.
Hunting is in order.
- Yes, chief. - Yes, chief.
Master, kite of Soyang Trading Group has come to visit.
Did you want to see me?
- What is it? - Tae Seo was...
arrested by the secret inspector.
Really?
Tae Seo is in trouble.
The Department of Justice's head is from the south.
So we will not be able to fix this.
We must stop him from arriving at Hanyang no matter what.
I see.
Father.
Should I go then?
It sounds fun.
He cannot get transferred to the Department of Justice.
If you cannot stop it...
If I cannot stop it,
I should kill Tae Seo then?
Do Soo, Tae Seo still has...
a lot of work left.
Can I just kill him?
You brat.
"Father, would it be okay if I just kill him?"
You must ask politely.
Father, would it be okay if I just kill him?
If you do not want any blood on your hands, let him live.
Do you understand?
- Yes. I must get going then. - Okay.
Do not skip any meals.
Make sure to eat balanced meals. Okay?
Sure.
Master.
The arrested men were just sent to Hanyang.
They put up quite a resistance. They were like a bunch of lunatics.
They even bit off the officers who were transporting them.
Gosh.
What is all this?
They are not for you.
When are the kids and women leaving for the port?
The ferry leaving for Ganghwa Island...
will arrive at the port around noon.
So they will get going soon.
I see.
We must bid farewell when we have just met.
Here you go.
The secret inspector made the boxed meals himself.
Here you go. Enjoy this.
You can have them on your way to the island.
Okay. It is a special boxed meal prepared by the secret inspector.
It will be so delicious.
Master, they have a lot of things to carry.
Can I carry them and escort the women to the port?
Go ahead.
- You too, Gu Pal. - Yes, my lord.
Thank you so much for saving us.
- Be healthy. - Thank you.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
- Thank you. - Please stay healthy.
Thank you.
Thank you for everything.
We have a long way to go. We should go now.
Let me. I can carry that for you.
A meeting is followed by a farewell.
My stomach hurts.
Be quiet. Let us just go.
My gosh. I cannot just go without taking care of this.
Must I give you a beating, so you can come to your senses?
You know, I have very sensitive bowels.
My body is sending me a signal. What am I supposed to do?
Do I have to beat you up...
- That stinks. - Gosh.
I am about to take a dump right here. What do I do?
Let me take care of that. Cut me loose. Come on.
I get that we are being transported now.
But I must get rid of this first.
- Gosh. - Oh, no. My stomach!
My stomach... Goodness.
This will not be enough evidence.
The taffy?
Should I take it to them?
Come on, just take a dump here.
Even if I am under arrest, I still hold dignity.
It is about to come out.
I think this will be a nice spot.
I am good now.
This is the perfect spot.
You are called the tiger of Baekgwiryeong for a reason.
Was this hunt successful, then?
Good job.
How was my act?
It is not at all easy to control a fart.
What happened?
I will explain back at the hideout.
My gosh.
They are on their way.
Slow down.
Tae Seo. How are you?
I must have come too late.
Are you safe and sound?
Why are you here?
Father heard of the inspector and sent me to take a look.
Father sent you?
It looks like you two have a lot to talk about.
I will go and get those kids.
I will cut them all down.
- Mal Jong. - What?
Bring her to me unharmed.
- Who? - The girl.
She is the inspector's weakness.
Okay. Now you are to come with me to get them!
Come along.
Do not just stand there!
Let us go.
Hurry up if you wish to board.
- We are ready to set sail. - We are coming!
Give us a few moments.
Watch your step.
Come on.
Watch out.
Get off unless you are headed to Ganghwa Island.
I am coming.
No, thanks. I can manage.
Are you coming too?
Do not break, heart of mine!
You have a body to rule!
What is wrong with you?
You did not see anything, okay?
We shall set sail, then.
Oh, gosh. Silly me.
I forgot my own baggage.
You can read?
Only the simple letters.
Why do you have a book, then?
It is half burned.
This is not just a book.
It is what is left of Bo Ri's belongings.
Oh, sorry. I had no idea.
Just a moment.
Can I have a look?
You can read?
Just for a moment.
This is...
Why? What does it say?
What is it?
It is not just any book. It is an account book.
An account book?
This must be important evidence.
The inspector must see this.
Oh, gosh. I am dead exhausted.
Now we shall really set sail for Ganghwa Island.
- Wait! - Wait!
You can look after the children, right?
Ladies, take good care of the children for me.
- Sure. - Do not worry.
- No, wait. - We are getting off.
I cannot return your fare.
You do not have to. Look after those people for us.
Hurry!
Where are you going?
You went to the port. Why are you going that way now?
What are they doing here?
Shall I tell you?
We are here to get you!
- You scoundrels! - Listen.
We can talk it out.
Take one more step forward and I will beat you to a pulp.
- Get them! - Get them!
- Run! - Darn you!
How will you get them without your sword?
Pick it up and go after them.
They are ahead of us.
Run!
Hurry!
You spent just one day with her.
One would think you spent a lifetime together.
The length of time does not matter.
It is the heart that does.
Yes, of course it does.
Is this sorrow?
I think I can hear their voices already.
So clearly.
- Stop! - Run!
Stop! It breaks my heart!
Yuk Chil!
- My lord! - My lord!
What is the matter?
- Why are you jumping in? - My lord!
Get them!
My lord. Help us.
My lord!
What is going on?
I have the account book regarding the Gaehwa Valley case.
- An account book? - Yes.
If we lose them, we all die.
Go after them!
Hear about it later.
- We must go. - Retreat!
Hurry. Pull.
Pull!
- My lord, this way! - My lord!
- It is this way. - Come on!
- My lord! - This way!
- This way! - What a fool.
One, two, three.
Pull!
I must cut the rope. Hold on tight.
Okay.
- That will take ages. - Wait.
My gosh.
My bundle!
I caught my bundle.
Are you crazy?
- My lord! - My lord!
- Get him! - Help me!
My lord!
Drag them all off the raft!
Get him! Go!
Get him!
Drag him down!
Yes!
Wait.
If you cannot catch them,
you will never step foot on land again!
My lord!
Are you all right?
Yes.
Gosh.
That is good then.
- Why you... - Goodness.
We nearly died because of you.
Please help me. I do not want to die.
Please help.
Stop!
Please save him.
If we show mercy and save him, he may confess.
Pull him up.
Pull him up?
He tried to kill us just a minute ago.
Saving him may end up causing grief later on.
If he tells us about Cha Mal Jong,
it may help the investigation.
Darn it.
You!
Let us go.
I am all this way. You should show me around.
We may be brothers, but we are not close.
Right.
Forget it then.
Come on. I know we are not close, but I hoped we could be brothers.
Are you saying we were not brothers until now?
The thing with concubines' sons is...
they might as well not exist.
What choice do I have?
I was rejected, so there is nothing I can do.
I saw that you are still alive, so...
Bye.
Thank Father...
for me.
For sending you all the way here when I am not even your brother.
Go visit him.
He is very worried about you.
But find the account book or eliminate the secret inspector.
That is the only way you will have an excuse to see him.
(Soyang Trading Group)
What happened to the prisoners being transported to Hanyang?
Ji Maeng Soo took them.
I only did as I was told.
- Ji Maeng Soo? - I had no choice...
because they have my mother.
Please help me.
My mother will die if I do not do as ordered.
If he says to kill, we must kill.
If he says to die, we must die.
So I had no choice.
That was why...
Yuk Chil, Gu Pal. Go get a straw mat.
- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.
My lord. Please do not kill me.
There.
- There. - No.
There.
Gosh. There.
I meant...
to cover him.
Cover him, not roll him up in it?
We sort of covered him, though.
I did not say to roll him up.
He is shivering because he is wet.
Wrap him up. Now.
- We are all wet too. - Yes, my lord.
Explain in detail.
The hideout is Soyang Trading Group's base.
The goods Cha Mal Jong stole and the stuff that the bandits...
and Ji Maeng Soo embezzled by working together...
with officials from Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang gather there.
They sell those goods and the moonshine that they make...
all over the country to make an insane amount of money,
which I hear is used to operate Park Tae Seo's smelting plant...
in Baekgwiryeong.
A smelting plant in Baekgwiryeong.
Yes. I hear they extract silver...
from the ores that they dig up.
Oh, way over there in Jinsan.
There is a valley called Baekgwiryeong.
That is where we make it.
We make wine,
weave hemp cloth, make silver...
What are you scheming?
We must go there.
Can you guide us to the base?
Then my mother will die.
Please, anything but that.
We must go there if we want to save your mother.
Where are they?
I do not know. I mean it. I do not know anything.
My lord. I hear the chief bandit...
hold his subordinates' families hostage...
to make sure they don't tell anyone about them.
Do you know anything about the base?
Nothing specific,
but I did go to its entrance once...
to bring traveling entertainers for the chief's birthday.
Traveling entertainers?
Yes. They hold a feast once a year...
with traveling entertainers on his birthday.
Take me there.
I can do that. That is not a problem, but...
Even the military is powerless in there.
They check your identity thoroughly when you enter,
and the doors are locked.
You cannot get in that easily without careful planning.
My lord. Perhaps you should...
ask Hanyang for more soldiers and then raid the base.
There is not enough time.
We must strike before Park Tae Seo and Cha Mal Jong destroy the proof.
Lock him up for the time being.
- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.
My lord.
Show me the account book that you have.
What happened to this?
Well... I thought it belonged to her and burned it.
You burned this important piece of evidence.
I didn't know it was an important piece of evidence.
If only this account book had been preserved,
we could have ended it swiftly.
Why did you not tell me back then?
What? I had never even seen you before.
And you looked like a beggar asking for food.
Would it have been normal for me to just blab about it?
She has a point.
These are tax receipts.
No. They are not simple receipts.
They are a log of people involved in tax embezzlement.
Did you say this was among her belongings?
It was among Bo Ri's things.
Why was this there?
Well...
Bo Ri's baby...
was the magistrate's baby.
My lord.
What about the account book?
- Well... - Spit it out.
- I could not find it. - You could not find it?
Where could it be if not in Gaehwa Valley?
I searched the magistrate's house...
as well as his wench's tavern.
I checked every sheet of paper, but I could not find it.
However, I found this.
This...
Here.
Yes.
I found this.
What is this?
It was in the tavern's furnace.
In the furnace?
It seems it was burned with her belongings.
Burned her belongings?
Who?
There's a wench named Jo Yi. I think it was her.
Then go get her.
But she got a divorce and left Gaehwa Valley,
so I do not know where she is.
You fool.
Do you call that an excuse?
Please show mercy.
If you want to live, search all of Joseon...
and find that wench Jo Yi.
Chief clerk of maritime transport, Hong Seok Gi.
(Chief clerk of maritime transport, Hong Seok Gi)
Even the chief clerk of maritime transport is involved?
However, why did the magistrate...
give this account book...
to Bo Ri instead of to Hong Seok Gi?
Did Bo Ri say something unusual...
or show odd behaviors before she died?
She said that she was leaving anyway.
But I assumed that she meant closing down the tavern...
because once she became the magistrate's concubine,
she would be with the magistrate.
She was going to leave anyway?
Someone who knew...
that the magistrate gave the account book to Bo Ri...
went there to find the account book, and she ended up dead.
Then Bo Ri's death was not an accident?
Does it mean she was murdered?
It seems so.
Then do you think Hong Seok Gi also killed...
the magistrate?
The coroner stated that the arrow...
was made from an aconite root.
Aconite?
Is that not used in the palace as medicine?
Yes. They say it is the best tonic,
But if misused, it can be the deadliest poison.
They have been using aconite.
If there is aconite even in the palace...
How deep is the chief clerk's connection?
Then we should catch Hong Seok Gi or whatever his name is first...
and interrogate him.
Things are not that simple.
If we do so, we might scare away the mastermind behind this.
Then how about going after the hideout?
If we ransack the hideout, I bet we will find more evidence.
Besides, they are holding people hostage.
But it is not that easy to penetrate there.
Then are you saying that just because it is hard,
we should just let these criminals run free?
No. That is not what I meant.
He is putting on a show.
I see the secret inspector...
putting on a show with the traveling entertainers.
Come on.
I am sorry. Sometimes, Bi Ryeong gets possessed by spirits.
All right. Bi Ryeong. You are all right.
Did you say that he was with the traveling entertainers?
Did I say that?
Gosh.
Besides, you girls need to watch your tongue around him.
Show some respect to him.
Do you remember when the chief's birthday was?
It was the Month of the Horse...
in the Year of the Dog. Wait. It is in two days.
Gwang Soon is right about this.
She is good at numbers and has a great memory.
- The traveling entertainers. - The traveling entertainers.
We can be one of the traveling entertainers and get in there.
I had the same thought.
Then we will go to the marketplace and look for traveling entertainers.
- Now? - Now?
- Let us go. - What?
I can see it!
You are putting on a show.
- There is nothing here. Gosh. - A show.
We must go.
Sir.
Your cousin's nephew is waiting for you inside.
- Who? - He said you would know him...
once I said that.
They are trying to use my connections again.
I said you were not here,
but they said they would wait inside.
They should try to pave their own paths.
I must scold them this time.
How dare you!
How dare you pretend to be my relative...
and deceive the officials?
The horse tally...
(No animals were harmed during the filming.)
(Staff ensured child actors' safety in the filming of this episode.)
(Special appearance by Lee Jun Hyuk)
(Secret Royal Inspector & Joy)
Look at my shoulders.
They are as sturdy as rafters.
You and the secret inspector...
must have had a deep connection in your previous lives.
I must catch the secret inspector myself.
Is it because of that girl?
They are all gone.
Who is trying to cover up the truth behind this incident?
We must get rid of the chief clerk first.
He was also looking for the account book.
The account book.
I can do it all by myself.
Do not get hurt. It is an order.
Let us go.