(All people, organizations, locations, and incidents...)
(in this drama are fictitious.)
(Episode 7, Cho-o)
(The tuberous root of monkshood)
Gosh. That looks so great.
I used sesame oil and light soy sauce...
to season the chicken.
Nice. It is seasoned too.
Her eating habits seem pretty wild.
By the way, that was not very nice of you.
I know that it was your plan.
But how could you not tell us...
that the crown prince's bodyguards were coming to help?
If I tipped you off, you would have made it obvious.
But still.
I was scared to death. Okay?
I...
Please forgive me.
Are you all right?
I told you to chew well and eat slowly.
Instead of tapping on my shoulder, could you...
stroke down on my back?
You want me to stroke down on your back?
Yes. Like this. A downward stroke, please.
I see. A downward stroke.
What are you doing? Are you even doing it?
Yes, I am.
I guess one must need experience to even enjoy meat.
You gobbled it up as if you had never eaten meat in your life.
Look at you now.
I made an effort to cook this.
A commoner like me had never eaten meat before.
I have never seen this much meat in my bowl.
Even so!
You should not have spat out the food you were eating.
I cannot eat my food because it splattered all over my bowl.
You can have it.
What are these?
They are taffy.
Taffy?
Is he crazy?
Why would he put taffy on the sticks?
He is not here.
Gosh.
Where is Hong Seok Gi?
Tell the chief clerk or whatever he is called to come out here.
Oh, no. The chief clerk is not here.
So he must have gone home.
Where is his house?
No, he did not go home. He was arrested by a secret inspector...
who came here on his inspection.
A secret inspector?
He is being detained at Soyang Trading Group now.
Why are you telling me that now?
I told you several times before.
You did?
Let us go.
Gosh.
My lord. Are you all right?
Shut your mouth.
Guys.
You have been well, right?
Goodness. This is too bad.
My dear folk entertainers have come here...
to celebrate the hideout chief's birthday...
- at this big occasion. - That is right!
But the stubborn scholar from Hanyang...
used us as his bait...
- and plotted a scheme. - Right!
So we are only alive because things worked out.
In other words, we could have been dead...
- if they did not. - Right!
To see if we indeed deserve to live or not,
- we ought to put on our show. - Right!
Birds chirp in the morning
Because they are hungry
Birds chirp in the evening
Because they miss their lovers
You are a lucky lady
- Because these men are very strong - Right on!
You are a lucky lady
- You and I - You and I
- Can play in the clouds - Can play in the clouds
- Day or night - Day or night
- We will always be in love - We will always be in love
- You and I - You and I
Did you hear? Those jerks are having a party at the hideout.
They sure think nothing can ruin their party.
How dare they celebrate our friend's birthday party...
at our hideout?
Let them enjoy it while it lasts.
I will kill them soon enough.
Tae Seo. What should we do about your arm?
I will have no problem killing them.
You bring the landmine. I will lay out the fuse.
You plan to use that here?
You could blow up the whole of Baekgwiryeong.
I can blow up bigger things to catch the inspector.
Hurry.
Is there anything I cannot do?
I wonder who the lucky woman to marry me will be.
My goodness.
Can you catch this?
She laughs at anything.
Do you see this? Do you?
My lord. You must learn how to have fun.
What do you mean?
- What do you want me to do? - What everyone else is doing.
Take a look around.
Come on.
What...
Wave your arms like this.
Come on. Wave your arms about.
Oh, dear.
Like this.
Oh, no.
Are you all right?
That was so close.
Your lips could have met in midair.
What would you do without me?
- That was close, was it not? - It was, yes.
Thank you. Very much.
Since when did you care so much about me?
Me. Untie me.
Hey. What about me? I am right here.
Hey. You.
Do not do anything.
Can you even use that?
Did I not tell you...
I used to be a bandit?
You used to be a bandit,
and now you are a fake shaman. How scary.
I am not much different from corrupt officials like you.
Darn you.
You should not have...
He is Hong Seok Gi, right?
He must die...
if my father is to sleep well at night.
Did I kill the right man?
Yes. You did.
Chief clerk of maritime transport.
Who are you?
I am... a nobody.
I was brought here and tied up not knowing what for,
and I have nothing to do with them!
That wench tried to hurt the chief clerk.
I bet she had a huge grudge!
- Her? - Yes!
Go on. Get her!
Get her, now!
Hey.
Wait.
Take your time.
Let us have some fun.
There we go.
Ma'am.
With the leftover bones...
and perilla leaves, we shall brew some soup.
The kids will get hungry soon.
- What is it? - Gokdu...
asked for a five-day extension of payment.
What rotten luck.
Why is it so hard to make a living?
- I will come with you. - Feed the children something.
You had better not come beyond that.
Very well.
How dare you?
If you took our wares, you must pay.
Or you pay otherwise.
That is how we conduct business.
Baekgwiryeong ran into some problems.
I asked for a five-day extension.
We will pay you.
Five days?
I do not live with plans or hopes for such a distant future.
You have until tomorrow to pay me.
If you do not, our deal is off.
Can you sell that much gunpowder in the market?
Or will you supply the Ministry of War?
If not, you had better treat me with courtesy.
Other than Gokdu,
there is no merchant in Joseon who will buy that much gunpowder.
It would be best if you do not take me lightly.
Because within Joseon,
I am the only person who can make...
as much gunpowder as you need.
You have three more days.
Wait.
You trashed our goods.
You must pay for it!
I taught you a lesson about how we do business.
That could not be free.
My lady, the translator sent a message.
A ship sailing from Portugal to Nagasaki...
is loaded with rifles.
How many murders have there been in just a month?
Should I just turn myself in?
This is why they say you must never commit a crime.
You must be tired. Why do you not stay another day?
We come when asked and leave when it is time.
That is our way.
We had some fun,
and now it is time to go elsewhere.
Come on, clown.
Yes, sir!
Today, we enjoy ourselves here
Tomorrow we will find fun elsewhere
My lord.
I shall go now.
So soon?
The local government will come to investigate...
once they hear about a commotion in this region.
We will leave before then.
You always save me when I am in danger.
It is very reassuring but I feel bad at the same time.
I cannot put it into words.
His royal highness made us promise again and again...
to protect you at all costs.
How are you living?
I am not starving.
Please do not worry.
Why do you not...
return to the palace?
I will not do that.
It is already a sin to be alive longer than the crown prince.
How could I enjoy comfort as well?
My final duty...
is to protect you for as long as I am living.
That is...
my only way...
of showing my devotion to high royal highness.
As for the royal family's medical records that you requested...
did you look into it?
The records from around the time...
his royal highness passed were missing,
so I could not find anything.
Luckily, a court lady who worked in the crown prince's palace...
was able to get me the prescription.
It included some ingredients that should never be ingested...
together with aconite.
If it is one don of aconite,
that is too much to take with every meal.
Please get to the bottom of this mystery,
my lord.
I swear I will.
That is also...
my way of showing my devotion.
What? Is it over already?
How boring.
Again.
Run.
Run!
Let us catch her again. Run!
Why are you back alone? What about Yuk Chil?
I have no idea. I have not seen him in hours.
Why are you here alone? Where Gwang Soon?
I do not know. I have not seen her in hours either.
You should go to sleep.
I am going to review the ledgers a little more.
Sure.
Gosh. One day feels like three.
- Night. - You too.
Wait.
Who is it?
Is someone out there?
Who is that?
Is it Gwang Soon?
Gwang Soon?
Darn it.
It is Mother.
I know you must be tired, but stand guard vigilantly.
- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.
Where is she going?
Why is she...
Where is he going?
Where are you going?
There is no path that way!
Nor light.
How will she return if she gets lost?
Stop right there!
Do you not hear me?
These are...
aconite.
It included some ingredients...
that should never be ingested together with aconite.
Mother!
- Mother? - Mother! It is me, Jo Yi!
What? Oh no.
Wait. Hey. Do not step on that!
Mother!
I said not to step on them.
Got you.
Please do not kill me.
Game over.
My goodness.
Of all the luck. Why must I see her here?
How annoying.
How did she find me here?
Goodness.
Goodness, that hurts.
Gosh.
- Gosh. - Mother! Got you.
Let go of me.
Oh no.
It cracked because of you. Look at that.
What happened?
Oh no. He cannot eat it now.
Are you all right?
Goodness.
I remember you. You are the secret inspector.
Please do not tell me you are here for another inspection.
Inspection?
Then I should ask you what you are doing here.
Why are you doing this to me?
I cannot even feed my son a warm bowl of food.
Why are you getting in my way?
Your son?
Tell me the truth.
Chu Han is here.
What is he doing here?
Do you even know what this place is?
This place is very dangerous.
We were in debt. What choice did we have?
Did you think Chu Han wanted to be dragged to this middle of nowhere...
and worked like a slave?
Gosh.
Then are you telling me that he is working at the hideout?
I would not call it work.
Anyway, I do not know anything.
I heard that there are...
a lot of leopards and foxes in this area.
And boars too.
We must get back first. You, come with us.
No. I do not want to. No, I cannot.
Gosh, this place is too dangerous.
Gosh, no. I cannot go with you.
Look. It is pitch-dark.
- What if you run into wild animals? - Gosh.
- What about my son? - Be quiet!
Did you sleep well?
I do not have to tell you where you are now. Right?
Then tell me.
What is your relationship with the chief clerk, Hong Seok Gi?
What were you doing there?
I have no business with him.
I am telling the truth. It is nothing.
Then why were you guarding the door?
The secret inspector arrested Hong Seok Gi.
Does that make you the secret inspector's underling?
The secret inspector's underling?
I do not know him.
I have never met a secret inspector in my entire life.
Then why are you here?
You do not know Hong Seok Gi or the secret inspector.
So just tell me. Who on earth are you?
Who are you?
You are working for the secret inspector, right?
Gosh. Hey.
Master Park Tae Seo told me to!
There is a man named Park Tae Seo.
He has complete control over this area. And he...
He...
found the chief clerk before the secret inspector...
and locked him up in there.
And I was only guarding the door under Master Park's order.
Tae Seo?
Gosh.
Tae Seo should have killed the guy after catching him.
He made me come here because he was so slow.
He is not helpful at all.
Then you must know where the hideout is.
Take me there.
Master Yi Eon and Jo Yi are at the hideout right now.
- Not interested? - I will take you there.
I know the hideout where Master Park Tae Seo's mine is.
- Mine? - Yes.
I will take you there.
There was a mine?
Impressive, Tae Seo.
Bring her up.
Goodness.
Why are your socks so dirty?
Had I known, I would have washed them too.
Take them off now.
I can wash them quickly and hang them up.
They will be dry by tomorrow morning.
I think it is too early in our relationship...
to smell each other's foot odor.
This feels rushed, you know.
Let go of me. Come on.
Where am I going?
I was trying to make a point. Who goes there?
- I cannot go there. - Come on.
- Come with us. - They are Master Yi Eon and Jo Yi.
- Please! Let go of me! - What is going on?
Not going there to check...
would be the wisest thing to do given my experience.
They are probably conducting official business.
I doubt that he would kill her. He is educated, after all.
I guess I was wrong.
Go ahead. Kill her.
Take off your socks.
- It is me who wants to die. - Come on. Take them off.
- Wait. - Come on. Let me wash them.
Sorry. I rolled up your pants too much.
Goodness.
- Mother. - You should just kill me.
Gosh.
Goodness.
Oh, my.
What is your son doing in the middle of the mountain?
Manual labor or chores. He probably does everything they ask of him.
He was sold here because of his gambling debt.
Then what about you? Why did you get dragged here?
My son was getting dragged by some men I did not know.
How could I let him go alone?
I said I would help out in the kitchen.
I came here of my own will.
So you were stealing...
When will he learn to take care of himself?
How much longer will he put you through this torture?
So what is up there?
I really do not know.
There is a mine, and they are digging something there.
And I am not even allowed to go up there either.
No one can enter there without permission.
It is in the middle of the mountain.
I can only leave a rice ball there.
The stuff 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.
- A smelting plant. - My son just comes down...
and takes the rice ball. That is all.
That is why you were hiding there even after that whole ruckus?
By the way, he is not going to be able to have dinner tonight.
What do I do?
My gosh. My baby must be waiting for me!
Even so. Your son is forced to work there.
You must have heard something about it.
Tell me everything you know.
Well, Chu Han said he had to make a fire.
Make a fire?
He told me that they use the fire to melt the ores...
they dug up from the mine...
in the smelting plant in Baekgwiryeong all day long.
Let us go.
There is an isolated hideout above the smelting plant.
I heard that is where...
the chief comes and goes.
How many reside there?
The thugs who guard the chief.
I doubt they even need guarding.
With its location and terrain, it is an impregnable fortress.
Also,
I heard there is something that explodes when you step on it.
What must they hide so badly...
that they would steal tax grain and tributes?
What is their ultimate goal?
You are to leave this instant.
Even if it is over a debt, it is illegal to abduct and detain.
I will punish them.
Will you please...
save my poor son Chu Han?
- Yes. - Thank you.
Thank you.
Mother.
Take this.
What about you?
I have no mother to look after or spoil.
Get back safely.
The road is rough.
Walk slowly.
Why would you give me money?
You gave me a lot last time too.
Keep it all...
and give it to your mother when you see her.
Look after yourself.
You are shrewd and I am sure you will manage.
Goodness.
What should I do about my poor Chu Han?
Oh, poor me.
Oh, dear.
My rotten fate...
When March
Comes around
The dead tree
On the hill in the back
Will grow new leaves
And new petals
- My lord. - Are you up at last?
Where are you going?
The sun is up. I must check out Baekgwiryeong's entrance.
I must at least locate the mine if I am to bring soldiers.
It is so early yet.
- We will get ready. - No.
It will be faster if I go alone.
We must go with you.
What if there is a trap. It will be dangerous.
Traps and whatnot were all just things Jang Pat Soon overheard.
She did not see them herself.
It is more likely they do not exist.
No. You cannot go on your own.
I will run to the nearby office to ask for assistance.
- Write me a letter... - It is of no use.
The officials are on their side.
- Then Yuk Chil and Gu Pal... - There is no need.
They are a hassle. I can manage on my own.
Do not be so stubborn.
- Do this the safer way. - Come on.
Why are you making such a fuss?
I am just going to locate the mine.
What is it? Are you that concerned for me?
Yes. No.
It is not that. It is more like...
Me. I am worried for myself.
Ever since we met, I looked death...
in the face many times.
You know how many times I suffered and struggled.
That is why I will go alone.
If that is what you say, I will come with you.
No. You stay here...
and look for more ledgers with Gwang Soon.
That will help.
No, you cannot go alone.
My lord. What about us, then?
I have a job for you.
I must submit a report on this illegal field as soon as possible.
- I need you to... - Measure the field?
measure the field.
From that point there...
to that point there.
You must be kidding me.
- I almost cursed. - I already did.
- What? - What do you mean what?
Did you just speak down at me?
More like he cursed at you.
You spoke down at me too.
No.
So, what are we supposed to do?
Measure the darn field.
Ouch!
Hey.
Is this the right way?
We are almost there.
What is this?
If I go that way, we will meet Master Yi Eon.
It is this way.
Hey!
What are you doing? Why did you take a different turn?
Are you sure about this?
Yes. I must have gotten confused.
This is the right way.
I guess you are right. Let us keep going.
(Tavern)
Officer Mi!
- Pat Soon? - It is you!
My gosh, Officer Mi. What are you doing here?
Why is it...
that you always hug me whenever you see me?
My gosh.
Hey.
Do not call me "Officer Mi."
What if someone were to hear you? Stop being so careless.
What?
You are Officer Mi. If I cannot call you "Officer Mi",
- what do I call you? - Quiet.
What are you doing here?
I heard that you and your son were sold off due to a gambling debt.
Were you sold here?
Do not even get me started.
I was caught by that inspector,
so I got out by myself first.
Inspector? Which inspector?
Well... You know the one who made Chu Han a divorced man...
and turned Gaehwa Valley upside down.
What? That...
Where...
Where is he? Here?
Is he here? Nearby?
Not here. Up there.
In the hideout...
Wait. But...
I guess we met again because we were alive.
As long as we stay alive,
we will meet again someday.
When will that be?
What?
The inspector is in the hideout?
What do I do now?
The chief clerk is dead anyway.
Why am I risking my life like this?
I may even be framed for murder.
Should I...
report it?
Men like this are the worst.
He does whatever he wants, does not listen to others,
and makes others worry.
What are you grumbling about?
You sound like his wife or something.
I am not his wife.
I am just...
So...
Yes. I simply want to catch the jerks who killed Bo Ri...
and punish them.
Which is why I need him.
That is why I am angry at him for not listening to me.
Sure, I get it.
Let us look for the ledger.
We need that to catch the killer. Understand?
I simply hate wasting time.
And I hate being misunderstood like this.
- Sure. - And that inspector...
really angers me, that is all.
- I am getting angry too. - Right?
- He never listens. - Sure.
Look to see what items were sold,
where, and to whom, if any includes an official seal...
or a name that you recognize.
I think this is a log of items that were returned.
This is a ledger of slave trades.
It lists children's names.
Evil jerks.
They did every bad thing they could by colluding with officials.
Do they name the officials? Can we identify the government office?
Yes. With this, we can capture everyone...
who was involved.
Would you review the ledgers written in Chinese?
I will review the others.
How did you learn how to read?
I had a hard time even finding books on how to read.
Well... So...
You are amazing. You studied whenever you had a little time.
Sure... That is right.
Where did you come from?
You do not sound like you are from Chungcheong Province.
Well, my...
My hometown is Gyeongsang Province,
but I came from Hanyang.
Hanyang?
Wow. Then you must know a lot about Hanyang.
I have never been.
Is It true that you get robbed blind even with your eyes open?
Even if you keep your eyes wide open like this...
What?
If you're from Gyeongsang Province, why did you come from Hanyang?
Well...
But then again, I do not know what I am doing here either.
I was planning to go to Hanyang after getting my divorce,
but I got involved with the inspector...
Darn it. What am I doing here in the middle of the mountain?
But I cannot just leave because of Bo Ri.
Life truly is...
absolutely unpredictable, is it not?
- The tax grain ledger. - Yes, that.
We need that to find Bo Ri's killer,
but... So...
I cannot find it anywhere.
Did that jerk Cha Mal Jong take it?
No. It may be mixed in with the others,
so we should check everything here carefully first,
- and then search more afterward. - Yes. Let us do that.
This is in Chinese. You check it.
I have a lot more to review, Jo Yi.
I know. This is in Chinese too.
Darn it. How far are we going?
Darn it.
Darn it. Let go of me.
Darn it.
This is not even a trail.
Why are you setting a trap? No one will come this way.
The inspector is down there.
We should set them everywhere he may walk to get up here.
So that he cannot step foot here.
We must buy time until the silver hardens.
Seriously. You are very thorough.
It is better to bury it than to have someone take it.
You worked so hard...
to dig the ores.
You jerk!
Not bad.
Set as many traps as you can. As tightly as possible.
So that regardless of which way he comes, one step,
and he will become a hedgehog.
You...
You try being the hedgehog.
You... Get over here!
You are busy. Do what you must.
I will do it.
You can dip the tips in aconite if you wish.
Tae Seo is sincere about killing the inspector.
Would it not be better to capture him alive?
We are not inspectors.
Can we kill all these people like that?
Darn it.
(No animals were harmed during the filming.)
(Staff ensured child actors' safety in the filming of this episode.)
(Secret Royal Inspector & Joy)
How interesting, is it not?
I have seen a great number of people heading up the mountain today.
Is this my fault? Is it?
You will regret it. You ought to confirm what I am telling you!
Niter? That is for gunpowder, is it not?
They cannot be some lowlife thugs.
We have unexpected guests.
- How is that possible? - He did that every day.
It is a trap!
How dare he talk to me?
If you provoke me, the entire mountain will blow up.
My lord!