(Episode 40)
Did Ga Bi...
serve the former King?
She did.
Ga Bi...
served the former King.
That is why...
the hairpin was given to her as a token.
Does it mean...
Does it mean Ok Nyeo is...
Ok Nyeo...
is of royal birth.
Sir, it's bad.
What do you mean?
The King wants to appoint Ok Nyeo...
as his consort.
Pardon?
The one who killed my mother...
is Lord Yoon Won Hyung.
Whenever I think of you and look at you,
I can't help but think of Lord Yoon.
What do you mean?
Why would Lord Yoon...
kill...
your mother?
That...
I don't know either.
However, I must...
get back at Lord Yoon...
to resolve my mother's sorrow.
So how could I...
speak my mind to you?
Ok Nyeo.
Sir, don't we have to inform the King...
that Ok Nyeo is of royal birth?
It's not that simple.
This is a very complicated matter, so we need to give it more thought.
Yes, Sir.
Cho Hee, what are you doing here?
Sir, where have you been?
I've been looking for you for a long time.
Why?
Did something happen to Ok Nyeo?
Ok Nyeo...
is in a grave condition.
Ok Nyeo was...
attacked by assassins.
Her stabbed wound is deep, and she's still unconscious.
What?
I apologise.
How is Ok Nyeo?
I'm afraid to tell you that she's still in a serious condition.
Her wound is very deep, and she has a severe internal injury.
I cannot guarantee anything for now.
I apologise, Your Majesty.
You must save her.
Save her by any means. Do you understand?
I will do my best, Your Majesty.
You may...
You may leave now.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Jae Seo.
I need to meet...
Ok Nyeo.
I'll go to where she is. Go get prepared.
Your Majesty.
I don't think you should.
What are you saying?
She is in the place where she was attacked.
It's too dangerous for you to visit such place.
Also, if the Queen Dowager and her followers find that out,
they'll have another good reason to go against you.
Your Majesty, please reconsider it.
You cannot meet her now.
Who is taking care of her...
right now?
Chief Yoon Tae Won is taking care of her.
Very well.
Leave now.
Yes, Your Majesty.
A royal physician treated her?
Yes. The King sent the physician to Ok Nyeo...
and even ordered him to save her by any means.
The King must have lost his head over her.
What if she wakes up?
That won't happen.
She's too severely injured even for the royal physician to treat.
I'll make sure she dies this time no matter what.
Nan Jung, what will you do with the merchants she rallied?
I'll punish them.
They have mocked me, the best head merchant in Joseon.
I will not forgive them for rallying against me under Ok Nyeo.
This will be a good opportunity to show them what happens...
when they betray me.
- I heard that she took medicines. - Yes, my lord.
- She started eating as well. - That's good news.
- Let her know I'm here. - Yes, my lord.
Your Majesty, Lord Yoon is here.
Let him in.
Your Majesty, why are you sitting?
Please lie back down.
- What brings you here? - Your Majesty.
Ming envoys got out of Euiju and are heading to Hanyang.
Ming envoys?
Why are they coming?
The Joseon soldiers who subjugated Jurchen troops...
crossed the Ming's border.
And...
the head Jurchen who died there turned out to be a Ming's officer.
- Really? - Yes, Your Majesty.
The envoys are furious and even refused to travel with our officers.
All the trade at the border is halted.
Lee Jeong Myeong...
is the one who ruined the Joseon-Ming relations.
This is a good opportunity to expel him.
You're right, Your Majesty.
We must expel not only Lee Jeong Myeong...
but all of Yoon Yim's followers too.
My lord.
We must impeach Lee Jeong Myeong this time.
You must hold him accountable for the border breach.
He's right.
We should make him resign from his post.
- He's right, my lord. - He's right, my lord.
Compose yourselves.
I got it, but we must be very careful.
- Still... - This is a perfect chance.
There's a rumour that the Queen Dowager and her family...
will make Lord Lee resign from his post.
He's right.
We might lose the control over military,
the only power we have.
I'm sure they won't satisfy with dismissing Lord Lee.
- Let's go visit the King with me. - Yes, Sir.
Did you come up with a plan?
Yes, Your Majesty.
The move of the Ming envoys is predictable.
They'll demand ridiculous amount of offerings...
and will try to intervene in domestic affairs.
Your Majesty, the issue here is that Queen Munjeong's family...
will try to use this in their favour.
Why don't we meet the envoys first?
Lord Yoon had welcomed the envoys for a long time,
maintaining a good relationship with them.
I'm sure the envoys...
- will think they're more reliable. - Still.
If you promise us that you'll protect Lord Lee and us,
we're confident that we can persuade the envoys.
Why are you doing this to me? I've done nothing wrong.
- Just keep walking. - Wait, it hurts.
- What's the matter, Sir? - Why didn't you guys...
report me that Ok Nyeo gathered small merchants?
Sorry? Ok Nyeo did what?
- It's new to us. - He's right.
Stop your nonsense.
You still don't know what's going on.
Do you think I didn't notice that you're working...
as an agent for Ok Nyeo?
No way. We didn't know anything.
He's right. How would we ever dare to fool you?
Shut it, you brats!
Even if you didn't know anything, I still can't forgive you.
You missed the critical information. What have you been doing?
You need a good beating.
Hey, drag them!
- Please wait. - Sir, please save our lives.
- Please save us. - Do you want me to?
Fine, I'll save you. So mark my word.
You know that Ok Nyeo lies near death, right?
- Yes, Sir. - You no longer have to be loyal.
Just tell me the names of those who work with her.
Then, I'll spare your lives.
Chun Doong, name them.
Man Soo, come on.
Tell me at once.
Gosh.
- Did you look into it? - Yes.
How is Ok Nyeo?
She's still close to death.
Then what should we do now?
Hello, it's nice to see you.
It's been a long time, Head Merchant Cha Dae Myeong.
- Hello... You... You're Dong Chang. - I am.
You went on a trip to Chaekmun, I heard.
How did you...
I heard that you are a security guard of the organisation.
You moved up the ladder.
You were a scoundrel, ripping off the merchants in Samgae Dock.
- Now, you're a security guard. - Say that again.
Watch your mouth, you brat.
Ma Chang Do.
You watch your mouth. Do you have a death wish?
You know who I am.
Sir.
Lady Jung Nan Jung wants you to come over.
Why... Why does she want to see me?
I guess you know better.
Let's go.
- Guys, lead them! - Yes, Sir!
- Let's get going. - Wait.
Get off, you runts!
I am Chang Do!
What should we do now?
Should we leave the Capital until things get settled?
- Jung Nan Jung will kill us all. - No.
I don't want to run away like a coward.
Let's remain loyal to the very end.
Fine. Let's go as far as we can even if we have to risk our lives.
We must protect the organisation for now, so head there first.
- I'll be right there with others. - Okay.
My lady, please spare my life.
If you let me go this time, I'll serve you with all my heart.
If you valued your life so much, you should've made a better choice.
- Please save me. - Please, my lady.
Shut it!
Go to Ok Nyeo and ask for her forgiveness.
I don't want to see you any more.
- Take care of them! - Yes, my lady.
- Please. - Please spare our lives.
- My lady... - Please save me.
- Save me, my lady! - Please spare my life!
- Please, I'm begging you. - Please save me.
Please.
If you sincerely regret what you did,
- I'll forgive you this time. - Pardon?
If you don't want to get killed,
you'd better behave.
Yes, my lady. Thank you.
- Thank you, my lady. - Thank you!
- Thank you so much! - Thank you, my lady.
I'll serve you with all my might and stay loyal to you.
Thank you, my lady.
Sir.
Did you look into it?
- Yes, Sir. - Who is it?
It's Sir Kang Young Chun.
Kang Young Chun?
- Sir. - It's been long.
Who is behind you?
Who ordered you to kill Ok Nyeo?
You were a spy once. You must understand me.
I just follow orders.
I'll never reveal...
who's behind me.
- Please kill me. - You also know very well...
that you'll open your mouth...
in the end if I torture you.
You'll reveal it anyway.
You can choose the painful way...
or you can just tell me now.
I'm asking you one last time.
Who is it?
Lady Jung sent me.
Lady Jung...
asked me to kill Ok Nyeo.
Now that you gave her up,
you can no longer stay in the Capital.
Leave the city this instant.
If I ever see you again,
then...
I will kill you myself.
Go.
Do you know who is behind this?
It's Jung Nan Jung.
I shouldn't work too hard.
Work prettily.
I really don't like your attitude.
You never put your heart into it.
Oh Jong Geum, work harder, okay?
Did you just mock me?
Cheon Soon Geum.
Every person has a limit.
I've had more than enough.
Don't bother me any longer.
Take this and get lost.
Have you lost your mind?
Cheon Soon Geum.
Don't do something you'll regret.
We go back a long way so I'll spare you your life.
What makes you think you can spare me my life?
- I hate you. - I knew you'd react like this.
- You're just... - What's going on?
Lord Yoon.
You're making me look bad.
How dare you fight out here.
I deserve to die, my lord.
But Jong Geum acted like a lunatic...
and I had to put her in her place.
What? She acted like a lunatic?
My lord. I did it.
I did it at last.
What did you do?
My lord.
Jong Geum.
Did you...
really do it?
I really did it.
Is it true?
Did you succeed?
Yes, my lord.
I even saw a physician.
He confirmed it.
Did he?
You are truly amazing.
- I am amazed. - I want something sour.
My lady. My lady.
What is it?
Did something happen?
Lord Yoon wishes to speak with you.
Me?
Yes.
What's going on?
The thing is...
- I called them all. - My lord.
My lord, why is she with you?
I would like you to treat Jong Geum with...
a little more respect from now on.
As of today, she is Lady Oh.
I'm naming her my second wife.
- What? - Calm down.
Jong Geum is pregnant with my child!
Did you really...
Treat her with respect, I said.
Listen up, everyone.
Jong Geum is no longer a maid.
She's your mistress.
Serve her with the respect she deserves.
- Do you understand? - Yes, my lord.
Hello, Nan Jung.
What? "Nan Jung"?
How dare you.
You can't treat her like you used to.
- My lord! - I'm so scared.
Not in front of the servants. Let's talk indoors.
Come with me. Let's talk inside.
She's so scary.
Look at me, everyone.
I'm not like Lady Jung.
I'm open to hearing your issues, so come to me freely.
Soon Geum.
Why won't you answer, Soon Geum?
Yes, my lady.
Good.
This is what it's supposed to be like.
That laugh was too loud.
You will all be happy from now on.
Try to accept it.
She's carrying my child. I have no choice.
You can't have slept with someone so lowly.
How could you embarrass yourself like this?
I will not serve you alongside her.
So what, then? What will you do?
Will you kick out a woman carrying my child?
I've done it before.
What? Nan Jung.
If you so much as touch her, I will not forgive you.
My lord.
How could you say that?
If you do something of the sort again,
I will throw you out first!
How could you do this to me?
I don't deserve such treatment.
Wait and see if I do it or not.
My lord.
My lord!
How...
How could he...
Sir.
You need to rest.
I'm fine.
It's not much, but you should eat.
I'm not hungry.
You should eat instead.
Sir.
Ok Nyeo. Ok Nyeo.
Are you awake?
Did she open her eyes?
Ok Nyeo. Ok Nyeo.
At last. Ok Nyeo. Ok Nyeo.
You're awake at last.
Sir Yoon.
Sir.
Do you see me?
Are you all right?
Yes, Sir.
Sir. I...
- I... - I know.
You're alive. You made it.
Did she wake up?
Yes, Your Majesty.
How is she?
Your physician said he can now use acupuncture...
and prescribe medicines.
Good. That is great news.
It is.
Ok Nyeo.
Here's your medicine.
Drink up.
Good girl. Drink it up.
Good.
While you were unconscious,
Sir Yoon looked after you day and night.
He couldn't have taken better care of you.
How do you feel? Are you okay?
Yes.
You don't have to worry.
I won't. I won't.
Sir.
Do you have something to tell me?
Yes.
Speak, then.
We found out who sent the assassins.
Did you?
Who was it?
It was Lady Jung.
Tae Won.
What brings you here?
- I wish to say something. - Sit.
I will...
quit Price Policy Division.
What?
You can't. Not after all the trouble I went through to get you the job.
I will resign and...
train legal officers.
What? Legal officers?
Have you lost your mind?
Why would you quit a government job to waste time on that?
I have made up my mind.
I came to tell you that. I shall leave.
If you quit Price Policy Division,
our relationship is over.
I don't care.
What is this about?
Does it have something to do with Ok Nyeo?
Will you cut ties with your father over a woman?
I will not be seeing you again...
over any personal matters.
Good day.
Tae Won!
How dare he.
What are you doing here?
You still have that steely gaze.
You looked at me...
with that same gaze the day you threw a stone at me.
I know you sent someone...
to kill Ok Nyeo.
You sent an assassin after her.
I found out.
What nonsense is that?
I will...
never forgive you.
I will...
make you pay for...
hurting her.
I don't know who sent an assassin after her,
but I'm glad someone did.
She always gets in our way and if she were to die,
- I would thank the world. - Shut your mouth!
How dare you speak to me like that.
I left you alone out of fear of what Lord Yoon would do.
You showed me your true colours first.
Thank you.
Ok Nyeo isn't the only one I'm after.
When the time comes, I will attack you as well.
Be prepared.
I have no more patience...
to show you mercy.
The reason I'm holding back...
is because I am...
waiting for an opportunity...
to crush you for good.
Mother, what did you say to my brother?
What?
He's not your brother.
Mother.
Sir Lee Myeong Heon sent a letter.
Thank you.
Is something wrong?
He is seriously ill.
Before he dies,
he wishes to see Ok Nyeo.
She is in no condition...
to make the trip to Icheon.
Hello, Sir. Come in.
Come inside.
Ok Nyeo, look who's here.
- Sir. - Ok Nyeo.
I'll let you talk.
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
I'm glad you pulled through.
I have something urgent to tell you.
What is it?
I found...
an officer who knew...
your mother Ga Bi.
What? Is that true?
Yes.
But...
he is gravely ill.
Before he dies,
he wishes to meet you and tell you something.
He lives in Icheon.
You are in no condition...
to travel that far.
I don't know what to do.
I am fine, Sir. I wish to meet him...
as soon as possible.
Do you?
Let's go inside.
This is Sir Lee's home.
Come inside.
Okay.
You wait here.
Yes, Sir.
Let's go.
Sir.
This is Mr Lee.
Have a seat.
I am Ok Nyeo.
Your Highness.
Your mother Ga Bi...
served King Jungjong.
What?
Did you ask to see me?
Have you found a way to make Ok Nyeo a court maid?
Now is not the time, Your Majesty.
I believe it's best if we find another way...
- to protect Ok Nyeo. - What do you mean?
She almost died because of me.
I cannot leave her alone any longer.
Your Majesty.
Sir.
What was my mother like?
I want to know what kind of person my mother was.
Please tell me, Sir.
When I...
first met Ga Bi,
I was...
a palace guard officer.
After passing the state exam,
I was working...
in the Palace for the first time.
Everything was new...
and amazing.
It's strange. She should be here by now.
Sir.
May I ask you something?
Which part of the Palace are you from?
I'm a court maid at Dongungjeon.
I see.
What did you want to ask me?
I have a friend who is one of the King's court maids.
We were supposed to meet half an hour ago,
but she hasn't shown up.
I think they went to the Queen's chamber...
with the King.
I see.
When will the King come back?
I'm not sure about that.
Officer Lee.
- What is it? - Sir.
She was looking for the King and his court maid,
so I answered her.
What?
You don't even know her. Why did you tell her where the King is?
Don't worry, Sir. She is a court maid at Dongungjeon.
Did you confirm it yourself?
Pardon?
- No, Sir. - What's her name?
That's...
I didn't think to ask her name. I'm sorry.
Are you insane?
You informed an unidentified court maid where the King is.
If you want to live, bring that court maid here right this second!
Yes, Sir.
I couldn't find her,
so I was...
punished by a senior officer for revealing...
confidential information about the King.
It was even worse than the hazing ritual.
Ma'am. Have you seen a court maid who is pretty and has big eyes?
No.
I wanted to find Ga Bi and tell her that...
I had to go through...
so much trouble because of her.
Then...
she showed up...
in front of me one day.
Sir.
Ma'am!
Is this him?
I heard you went around looking for her.
Yes.
Is she really a court maid at Dongungjeon?
Do you know how much trouble she went through because of you?
- Excuse me? - I know you are...
a palace guard, but don't you know the custom of the Palace?
Aren't you afraid of dying?
How could you look for a court maid inside the Palace?
What were you going to do if a rumour spreads?
Don't you ever look for my friend. Do you understand me?
Yes.
Let's go.
Wait.
What's your name?
Sir.
Why are you asking my name?
Please tell me your name.
I almost died because of you.
- Pardon? - Please tell me.
I must know your name at least.
My name is...
Ga Bi.
We should know your name as well.
- Excuse me? - We should at least know...
who to blame if something goes wrong.
My name is...
Lee Myung Heon.
That day,
I realised that...
you never know what will change your mind.
I resented her every night.
How could I...
fall in love with her overnight?
One day, she also...
said the same thing to me.
She said she hated me so much,
but after that day,
she started to see me differently.
We...
spent days having feelings for each other...
as a man and a woman,
and missing each other.
Two.
Three.
Front.
Horizontal cut. One.
One.
Two.
Front.
As everybody knows,
all women inside the Palace belong to the King.
They should never have feelings for...
any men...
except for the King.
They shouldn't even imagine it.
She was a court maid and I was a palace guard officer.
We wanted each other, which is a crime...
to even wish for.
Ma'am.
One day,
she surprisingly sent me...
a message for the first time.
My mother sent you a message?
Yes.
It said...
she wanted to meet me outside the Palace.
Ma'am.
Sir.
Why do you look so pale?
Did something happen to you?
Sir.
Please run away with me.
That day, I heard a terrible story from her.
That was...
about the plot of poisoning the previous king.
Ga Bi said...
she stopped by the kitchen of Dongungjeon...
on the way back to her room.
Did you bring the kind of poison I asked?
No, Your Majesty.
I thought the poison we already have will be enough.
Very well then.
Ga Bi.
What is it?
You're sweating.
Did something happen at the kitchen?
What happened?
Who saw us?
I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I lost her.
Do you...
recognise whose it is?
I don't know whose it is,
but every court maid at Dongungjeon has this ribbon.
After that day,
the court maids of Dongungjeon...
was summoned to the Queen's chamber one by one.
Ma'am!
Take her.
Tell me what you saw at the kitchen.
I saw nothing.
Are you sure?
I really didn't see anything.
You witch.
I'm the great Yoon Won Hyung.
I guess you wish to die.
Fine. I'll lead your way to the underworld.
Please spare my life.
- I wasn't at the kitchen that day. - Is that true?
Yes. Please don't kill me, my lord.
None of the court maids who were taken...
to the Queen's chamber came back alive.
They were quietly replaced...
by new court maids.
Ga Bi was...
trembling with the fear that...
they would take her soon.
Sir. Please save me.
Please take me outside the Palace... No.
Take me outside of the country.
Please take me to Ming...
or to the land of the Jurchens.
Sir.
Please.
But...
I was a coward.
Having an illicit liaison with...
a court maid means beheading.
Besides,
it was around the time...
that I got promoted to a senior officer.
Sir.
That moment,
I was afraid I might be beheaded.
I thought about the things I'd be losing.
So...
I drove her back to the Palace...
when she couldn't stop crying.
I told her to wait.
I convinced her saying I'll figure out a way soon,
so she should...
hold out a little longer.
But it was a wrong judgement.
That night,
I should've run away with her.
Why?
That night, after seeing me,
she was going back to the Palace feeling miserable.
It was when...
she caught the eye of King Jungjong, the previous king.
Pay your respect to the King.
Come closer and sit down.
You may leave now.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What's your name?
It's Ga Bi, Your Majesty.
How old are you?
I'm 20 years old, Your Majesty.
Pour me a drink, will you?
I'm sorry, Your Majesty. Please kill me.
It's fine.
Why...
were you crying so sadly?
Raise your head and tell me.
I was...
crying because I did something that I regret.
Regret?
I...
asked someone to do something difficult for me.
I was crying because I regret it, Your Majesty.
I felt like crying tonight as well.
I feel regret about something like you.
Today was the anniversary of Jeongam's death.
Do you know who he is?
Isn't that Lord Jo Gwang Jo?
You're right.
I deeply regret that...
I let him die like that.
King Jungjong promised her...
he will make her a royal consort soon,
but the next day,
the Queen wanted Ga Bi.
I didn't do anything wrong, Ma'am!
Ga Bi. What on earth is going on?
Tell me. It's okay, Ga Bi.
Don't cry, and tell me what it is.
Ga Bi.
While I was hesitating,
the Queen's threat had...
become imminent.
Please let me go.
Did she confess?
Go and get a girl named Ga Bi.
- Take her out. - Yes, Ma'am.
What is this? Find Ga Bi right now!
- Yes, Ma'am. - Yes, Ma'am.
- Sir. - You must hurry.
Sorry?
I took...
Ga Bi away from the Palace.
She said...
I must tell...
Court Lady Han everything.
So the next day,
as soon as I arrived at the Palace,
I went to visit Court Lady Han.
However,
she was already...
taken to Lord Yoon Won Hyung.
I see.
I also heard that she was tortured...
by Lord Yoon...
because she was close to my mother.
Since then,
I and Ga Bi...
decided to remain silent...
not to put Court Lady Han in danger.
And...
my father who suffered a long illness passed away.
I resigned...
from Palace Guards...
for the three-year mourning.
I left the Capital...
with Ga Bi.
Although we were on the run,
I felt at ease for the first time...
since I met her...
because I believed...
that I could stay with her regardless of her past.
Ma'am.
Please eat this.
I am okay.
Please eat some.
Ma'am.
Ma'am, are you okay?
But...
I was a fool...
to the end.
What do you mean by that?
At that time,
she was pregnant...
with you.
Pardon?
She served the former King...
while she worked in the Palace.
Since then,
I decided to let go of my feelings for her.
I also decided...
to protect her and you for the rest of my life,
believing that it's my mission.
However, staying on the run...
within the border was not easy.
No matter where we were,
the chasers the Queen Dowager and Lord Yoon hired...
found us.
After they found out that I'm helping her escape,
my family...
and Ga Bi's family were harmed.
The bigger you grew in her belly,
the harder it became...
for us to give the pursuers the slip.
I can't move any more.
I'll block them for you, hurry into the Capital.
- To the Capital? - It will be better...
to intermingle with the crowd.
I wish you a safe delivery.
Your baby will resolve...
your deep sorrow.
I managed to escape...
and enter Ming.
I wandered around for 20 years outside the country,
and ended up...
with an illness.
I came back to my hometown...
because I wanted to die...
in my mother country.
I also tried to find out...
what happened to Ga Bi.
My mother...
died in Jeonokseo...
right after...
she gave birth to me.
I know.
Kang Sun Ho told me.
I heard that she doesn't even have her own grave.
I also heard...
that you had to suffer a lot...
because of Lord Yoon and Lady Jung.
I...
failed...
to protect...
both Ga Bi...
and you...
in the end.
I apologise.
I am sorry, Your Highness.
Please don't apologise.
I came into the world...
and found out who I really am...
all thanks to you, Sir.
I am sorry, Your Highness.
I apologise.
(The Flower in Prison)
What are you talking about? How can Ok Nyeo be alive?
How could she survive every time?
My goodness.
It's Jung Nan Jung who ordered to kill Ok Nyeo.
I will never forgive her.
How is Ok Nyeo now?
She cannot move her body by herself yet.
Didn't they find the culprit yet?
No, Your Majesty.
Please hurry yourself out of Sosoru. Ok Nyeo came here...
- to see you. - Ok Nyeo did?
You're the only one who can prove their evil deeds.
I won't live as a princess.