(Episode 3)
- Ganggangsullae - Ganggangsullae
What? What is it?
- Ganggangsullae - Ganggangsullae
It's gae!
- Ganggangsullae - Ganggangsullae
- What is it? - Ganggangsullae
Keep going.
Go slow.
Well done.
Good job.
- A tiger? - People must not know.
No way. We must inform them now.
What do you think will happen if we do?
Everyone will be scared and run to the same place.
To that door.
The only entrance is that small door,
but there are 500 court ladies here.
What would happen if 500 people try to leave all at once?
What would happen...
if they step on each other to survive?
If someone dies or passes out,
that door will be blocked.
You need to help me.
I will make sure everyone gets out safely without getting hurt.
Do you have an idea?
I am...
going to read a book.
Act like a baby.
You are a baby.
Duk Im.
Will we be able to do it?
I am scared.
Not about losing my life,
but the fact all their lives depend on us.
I am scared of that responsibility.
I am scared too.
I am glad to have you with me.
Everyone.
Duk Im is going to read now.
Gather around. Duk Im is going to read.
Duk Im is reading.
She is going to read.
Let's hurry up.
What is she doing here? She is supposed to be on night duty.
Let's sit down. It will be fun.
Everyone.
I am going to read you a book now.
I am going to read you "Tale of Unyeong".
It is a story about a court lady named Unyeong.
This court lady falls in love with the person she must not love.
Oh, my goodness.
- A love story? - It will be sad.
That is right.
But before that,
we must practice something important.
We must hurry up,
so I can read you this book.
What kind of practice?
Everyone will line up...
and go out that door one by one.
Why do we need to practice that?
It was an order. Please hurry up.
Then I can read you this book.
Please trust and follow me.
Young maids who became a court lady in the Year of the Ox first.
- The Year of the Ox? - That is not me.
Line up and go out that door one by one.
You became a court lady in the Year of the Ox.
You too. Go out in a line.
Next is...
the young maids who became a court lady in the Year of the Rat.
Next is the Year of the Pig.
Duk Im.
What is going on?
- You should go out first, my lady. - What?
- Me? - Yes, you should go out first.
Help me!
A tiger!
- Get out of the way. - Out of my way.
- Get out of my way. - Wait.
The Year of the Dog!
Let me get out!
The Year of the Dog!
- The Year of the Dog! - The Year of the Dog!
The Year of the Dog!
Watch your mouth.
Watch out or your mouth will burn.
Watch your mouth.
You wenches! She said the Year of the Dog first!
The Year of the Dog!
- The Year of the Dog! - The Year of the Dog!
- The Year of the Dog! - Slow down.
- The Year of the Dog! - The Year of the Dog!
The Year of the Rooster.
- The Year of the Rooster! - The Year of the Rooster!
Hurry up.
The Year of the Rooster.
The Year of the Dragon.
- The Year of the Dragon. - The Year of the Dragon.
One by one.
Duk Im.
Seo Eun Bi. What are you doing here? You must get out now.
Duk Im. The door is stuck.
Ah Young and Yeon Ju are inside.
I will go check. You should hurry up.
Girls. Are you in there?
- Girls. - Help me.
Get out of there.
Is it just you two? Anyone else?
I do not see Sook Geum.
I will look for her. You should go first.
Are you okay?
Are you not hurt?
- I am okay. - Can you walk?
Yes.
Go that way, and you will be safe.
Now go.
Traps?
They're all in place.
Let us begin the royal hunting.
- Don't cry. - Oh, dear.
- Is everything going to be okay? - I'm worried.
Goodness, don't worry.
It's Duk Im. Duk Im!
Duk Im!
Duk Im.
Thank you.
Duk Im.
Good job back there.
We did it.
Duk Im.
Goodness, Duk Im.
My lady.
The Crown Prince's Lecturer drinks a bucket of water...
every morning he comes to the palace.
Is he not coming today?
Are you okay?
Are you not hurt?
I wanted to thank him.
- Excuse me. - He's here.
You are...
Do you know me?
The other day... No, nothing.
Did you call me?
Could I have some water?
Thank you.
Master.
Do you mind if I take a look at that newspaper?
(The government's newspaper about the news in the Royal Court)
A tiger showed up in the palace yesterday.
I know it was caught, but I haven't heard of other news.
So I'm curious...
if anyone got hurt in the process.
I bet you are.
What is this?
The Crown Prince and his guards will be punished...
for hunting the tiger down without His Majesty's permission?
Is it true?
Yes.
Everyone who participated in the hunting...
will be punished.
Are you kidding me?
The tiger showed up right in front of us.
There was no time to ask His Majesty for permission.
Or did they have to wait until all the maids were attacked?
It was probably the correct answer.
If dozens of people were killed,
His Majesty would've agreed that it was an emergency situation.
In that case,
he would've appreciated them for catching the tiger.
I would've stopped the Crown Prince had I been there.
So he could wait until there were a few more casualties.
Thanks for the water.
I'll be going now.
I apologize,
but have you heard any news about the Crown Prince's Lecturer?
What did you just say?
He saved my life last night.
I had to run away alone without getting to help him.
And it bothers me.
I'm worried he might be injured.
Have you not?
I'm not sure if the lecturer you know...
is the same lecturer I know.
How does that lecturer...
look like?
Well, he is...
about this tall.
And his looks...
He always wears a jade hair button.
He isn't even a high official, but he wears it all the time.
It makes me think that he'll get in trouble one day.
Please hold.
No way.
I'm sorry.
I don't think I recognize that lecturer you're curious about.
I see.
Goodbye then.
Thank you, master.
Your ornament reminds me.
We had a brief encounter the other day.
If we happen to run into each other again,
please let me know what your name is.
"Please let me know what your name is."
I shouldn't fall for him.
No, definitely not.
Royal hunting is king's hunting.
Your Majesty is the only one who can do it in Joseon.
Even if he is the Crown Prince,
he cannot host a royal hunting without the King's permission.
This is an insult to the King.
He is right.
In a palace with strict rules,
the Crown Prince mobilized the military as he wanted.
This is devastating.
You must impose severe punishment.
What is your opinion, Second State Councilor?
It is not easy to catch a tiger, Your Majesty.
But the Crown Prince did it easily.
I heard he caught the tiger at once just with one arrow.
Then this came to my mind.
If he is capable of catching a tiger that easily,
he could kill a dragon as well.
Second State Councilor.
Why would you say such a horrible thing?
The Crown Prince is an heir to the throne.
Baseless slander against him is unforgivable.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
It was just my honest answer to your question.
Of course,
I must have been wrong.
However,
other people might misunderstand him like I did.
In a palace, he mobilized the military...
without your permission.
It is unprecedented.
I do not even know...
what punishment he should receive.
Once you drew your sword, you should at least wield it.
Seeing the Second State Councilor with his plots infuriates me.
If you were going to withdraw so easily,
you should have not told him in the first place.
But...
what he said scared me too much to hold my ground, Mother.
He said the one who caught a tiger can catch a dragon as well.
It means the Crown Prince...
who has soldiers trained well enough to catch a tiger...
is capable of plotting treason.
The Crown Prince did royal hunting.
He mobilized soldiers in a palace...
without Father's permission.
If it is not treason, what is?
But he can make an excuse that he was trying to stop the tiger.
Why do you always hesitate like that?
If I were a man like you,
I would have already submitted appeals...
asking for heavy punishment for him.
Hurry and go to the Second State Councilor.
Persuade him to depose the Crown Prince...
using this opportunity.
Tell him to not hesitate in front of a chance from the sky.
Did I irritate the Princess?
Hearing the person of royal birth is mad...
sends chills down my spine.
Mother desperately wants deposition of the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince is Her Highness' nephew.
How can an aunt hate her nephew so much?
I believed we were on the same boat so far.
Do you have a different opinion?
Excuse me. What are you talking about?
Are you saying I am supporting the Crown Prince?
It seems you do not want to turn against him completely.
Listen, Royal Secretary.
If those who are on the same boat distrust each other,
it will make the boat sink.
I just want to be careful.
Rushing things leads to mistakes.
Do you think it is that easy...
to claim that this case is treason?
Different people call it different things.
The Crown Prince committed a crime...
of mobilizing the military without the King's permission.
But if you think about it, it was to stop the tiger and save people.
In my opinion, we cannot make a strong claim in this case.
Do you not think the King would think the same way?
I understand what you mean.
I will persuade my mother.
Good.
You understand me.
I wish Her Highness could understand me like this as well.
I will get going then.
Take care.
I like that guy.
Her Highness found a good guy to be her foster son.
I wondered why she adopted a guy who is not from a noble family,
a son of a lowly fisher.
It must be you who recommended him to the Princess.
Do you also think I am being way too careful?
But I have bad feelings about defaming the Crown Prince...
using the recent incident for some reason.
I feel like I will lose the King's trust.
You are quiet. Why don't you give me some advice?
What do you think?
For now, planting even the smallest seed of doubt in the King's mind...
would be enough.
Because it is bound to grow fast.
You do not need to hurry.
Let us see how things will roll out.
Duk Im.
Yes, Your Highness.
You look tired. Is it hard?
- No, it is not. - I am sorry.
We did not have enough time in the first place, but I rushed you more.
What made you rush, Your Highness?
I was going to give him the manuscript...
after Grandfather's portrait is completed.
But I have a situation and we need to transcribe the book quickly.
So that I...
So that she can use the book as an excuse to meet Grandfather.
He loves this novel.
I will ask him to forgive my brother when he is in a good mood.
If His Majesty forgives the Crown Prince,
will all the people who followed him to hunt the tiger...
be forgiven as well?
I am sure it will be the case.
(He said the deceased wanted...)
Oh, my.
It is actually harder to guard the East Palace...
when the owner is not around.
There is nothing to do.
It is so boring.
Mother.
You look drawn.
What brings you here?
Have some water before we talk.
I have not...
been forgiven by the King.
Do you think I entered here...
without his permission?
The King has made sure...
you are fine.
Do you think...
I was careless too?
I am not sure.
When I first heard about it,
only one thought occurred to me.
Your father would have done the same.
He would have grabbed his favorite big bow...
and faced the tiger.
It would have been nicer if he was born as a military officer...
and fought tigers.
Only if he was killed by a tiger's claw.
The old thoughts only made me cry.
- Mother. - San.
I will...
never lose you.
("Tale of Kwak and Jang")
You should check for typos, Your Highness.
Did you complete it by yourself?
Did you stay up to transcribe?
Why did you do it alone?
If you told me, I would have helped you.
She is right. We would have helped you.
You are not that helpful anyway.
My goodness.
There is no typo at all.
You transcribed it alone?
Your Highness.
Can you have an audience with the King now?
I hope the Crown Prince and everyone who followed him...
will be forgiven soon.
Thank you, Duk Im.
Thank you so much.
Good. Let's go meet Grandfather now.
We will offer this to him and beg him to forgive my brother.
- Does that sound like a good idea? - Yes.
Duk Im. You should come with us.
Me, Your Highness?
What?
Grandfather will not see us?
Court Lady Kim. Are you sure you are not mistaken?
I asked him myself and received his answer.
My apologies, Your Highness.
I cannot believe it.
Do not be disappointed.
I will not be disappointed or give up.
Follow me.
- Your Highness. - Your Highness.
- Princess Cheongyeon. - Your Highness.
Princess Cheongyeon.
("Tale of Kwak and Jang")
I was actually bored.
My palace is becoming vital to have you young ladies.
I am honored by your welcome, Your Highness.
I am sorry about this, but we have a request.
Is it about having an audience with the King?
I am sorry, but I cannot help you with that.
Your Highness.
We only want to give Grandfather the book we transcribed.
Then you will ask him to forgive the Crown Prince.
The King did not allow you to enter his palace.
He is rejecting to hear anything about the Crown Prince.
If he rejected it,
even I cannot help you with it.
Your Highness.
Please look at that court lady.
She transcribed a book alone overnight...
which would take 3 days for 6 people.
Although no one ordered her, she did it on her own.
Do you not want to know why?
Raise your head.
You completed a book in one day?
Even if you have the skill, it would not have been easy.
Why did you do it?
I dare to answer you since you asked.
When the tiger incident occurred,
one young maid lost her life.
The court ladies collected money for her funeral...
and sent her family a consolatory payment.
I believe we did not have any more losses...
thanks to the Crown Prince.
You did it to repay the Crown Prince's kindness...
for protecting you from the tiger?
Though it is a humble talent,
I hope it helps.
Your Highness. Grandfather likes this book so much.
If we give him this book,
he might forgive San for our effort.
Princess Cheongyeon.
Princess Cheongsun.
I understand your sincere heart.
But I cannot allow you to meet the King.
The King said he will not see you,
and that is his order.
I cannot dare to disobey it.
But that is not the case for her.
You can have an audience with the King.
The King never said he will not see you.
So?
Will you have an audience with the King?
Like you said, Your Highness.
Duk Im. Will you give Grandfather the book for us?
- I beg your pardon? - And beg him to forgive San.
Your Highness. I cannot do that.
I am nothing but a young maid.
How could I possibly have an audience with the King?
I beg you. Will you do it?
What will it be?
Will you have an audience with the King?
Or...
will you do nothing?
I beg you, Duk Im.
Goodbye, Your Highness.
I will meet the King,
give him this book,
and beg him to forgive the Crown Prince?
I must have gone mad.
Why did I say I will do it?
How surprising.
You will have an audience with the King?
I am sorry I could not tell you in advance.
It happened unexpectedly. You did not have a chance to.
I will let the court lady of the King's Palace know.
Thank you, my lady.
I am worried about you.
The Crown Prince was only trying to protect lives.
But it put him in a tight spot.
I'd like to beg His Majesty...
to forgive him myself.
However, it's beginning to become a conflict between the parties.
We shouldn't get involved so rashly.
- I'm aware of it. - You make me...
proud for being such a brave young maid.
But I'm worried at the same time.
Let me give you a piece of advice.
His Majesty's mood is what's important.
If he seems to be in a bad mood,
don't say anything, and just give him the book.
I won't force you.
But I do want you to give him the book,
remain silent,
and come back safely.
Wait here. I'll go ask his permission to let you in.
Yes, my lady.
- Duk Im? - Bok Yeon.
What are you doing here?
I'm here to meet His Majesty.
- You are? - I'll explain later.
How is he feeling today?
Well...
Hold on.
He washed his ears.
What does it mean?
It means he's in a terrible mood.
Follow me.
- Yes. - Not today.
I'll just give him the book with my mouth shut.
There's no other way.
It's the Crown Prince. Act like you didn't see him.
The Crown Prince?
I told you not to look at him. Lower your head.
He looked like the lecturer for a second.
Your Majesty, the young maid is here...
on Princess Cheongyeon and Princess Cheongsun's errand.
Let her in.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Sung Duk Im,
the young maid from the East Palace.
Wait just a moment.
Let me finish this first.
Sit down.
So,
do you really think this one is the most delicious?
Yes, in my opinion.
But your palate is bound to be less sensitive as you age.
Let her have a taste.
This is His Majesty's order.
Try a spoonful each.
So,
which one is the most delicious?
Well...
Sit closer.
I can't hear clearly.
Come now.
Good.
And raise your head.
I need to see your face...
to be able to hear you clearly.
So,
which one is the most delicious?
This one.
I knew it. The Jo family's sauce is the most delicious.
Tell them to send some more of this.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Let me see.
What were you here for?
Princess Cheongyeon and Princess Cheongsun sent me...
with a copy of "Tale of Kwak and Jang."
Oh, "Tale of Kwak and Jang."
You mean the sequel of "Tale of Hero and Beauty"?
Yes.
That novel is quite entertaining.
All right.
Let me put on my glasses.
Let's see.
Here, try one.
Now.
Thank you for your boundless generosity.
Good.
I appreciate your hard work.
You may leave now.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What on earth? I only got to eat some rice cake.
Girl.
Come here for a second.
"Sung Duk Im"?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your handwriting is outstanding.
The parts you transcribed are the easiest to read.
It is an honor, Your Majesty.
Bring me a gold coin.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Take this.
Thank you for your boundless generosity.
Now that I see it,
you look a bit like my child.
Do you have a wish?
Is there anything you want?
Feel free to tell me.
It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance...
to have your king grant your wish.
If not, you may leave.
Please forgive the Crown Prince.
What?
Forgive the Crown Prince?
You asked what my wish was.
I beg you, Your Majesty.
How long did it take...
to transcribe this book?
It took 3 months for 6 people to transcribe it.
It took 3 months for 6 people?
Burn them all.
Yes, Your Majesty.
The palace has its guards.
They are to handle...
unexpected accidents.
But the Crown Prince neglected them.
He hunted the tiger down...
with his personal guards whom he trained himself.
Why do you think he did it?
He looked down on them.
He thought the palace guards...
were too ignorant and incompetent to handle the crisis properly.
So he took care of the matter...
his own competent self.
He considered the palace guards incompetent,
the Police Bureau incompetent,
and everyone in the Five Army Garrisons incompetent.
Because the incompetent King must have raised incompetent ones.
He thinks he is the only right one...
and the only competent one.
But the king of this country is me, not him.
If a mere court maid...
asks for his forgiveness,
should I forgive him without hesitation?
There are so many people who disdain me.
I have committed a mortal sin, Your Majesty.
Then you should die.
I am a man of my words.
I said I would grant you a wish.
Tell me your wish before you die.
Right now.
Thank you for your boundless generosity.
What do you mean?
You thank me for taking your life?
I will never forget your grace to give me this one yang.
This one-yang coin means a lot to me.
What does it mean?
The goal of my life has been to save 100 yang since I entered the palace.
I was 7 when I came and it took more than 10 years to save 99 yang.
I finally earned the last one yang thanks to your grace.
I am just grateful for your generosity.
Wait, Sung Duk Im.
Until His Majesty gets curious about your story.
Be patient and wait.
Why did you have to save 100 yang?
It is a long story.
I do not care. Tell me about it.
One day when I became seven,
my mother called me and my older brother.
"Our family is financially suffering."
"We cannot live together anymore."
"One of you can stay here."
"The other one should go to your father with me."
I was scared to be left alone.
I begged my mom to take me instead of my brother.
She agreed.
She said it's dangerous for a little girl to live by herself,
so she will take me instead of my brother.
My brother got mad at my mom.
"You cannot take Duk Im."
"I will never send her away."
I was thrashing to follow my mom,
but he did not let go of me.
Watching the back of my mom leaving me,
I resented my brother.
I said I would hate him until I die.
He said he was sorry to me...
and promised to protect me no matter what happens.
After that, I entered the palace to become a court maid.
I have not seen my brother since then.
By any chance,
did your father die?
And did your mother...
also die?
Yes, Your Majesty.
What is your intention...
to tell me your story?
I want to live, Your Majesty.
I want to live and give my brother...
the 100 yang I saved in person.
I want to tell him to take the national examination...
and do whatever he wants with the money.
Even though we'll never be able to see our parents again,
I want to tell my brother that I am happy to see him.
Your Majesty.
Please...
have pity on me...
- and save my... - I will not kill you.
I will not kill you. You can stop now.
I was not going to kill you from the beginning.
I just wanted to scare a daring young maid a little.
You resemble my dead daughter a lot.
You remind me...
of Princess Hwapyung.
So how can I kill you?
Thank you for your boundless generosity.
Go to Cheongyeon and Cheongsun and tell them...
not to bother me for something like this ever again.
Everything in the world...
has the right time.
I am looking for the right timing.
I understand, Your Majesty.
I am tired. You may go now.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Duk Im.
Help! Duk Im.
I will carry her on my back.
You rascal.
- I did wrong, Your Majesty. - Stop with your apologies.
I know you do not mean what you say.
If the same thing happens again,
you will do the same thing.
Why would you run around with a bow?
There are guards in the palace.
Did you step up because they were all foolish and incompetent...
and you were the competent one?
I had no thoughts.
I did not even have a chance.
I led the soldiers to catch the tiger...
because I had a bow in my hand at the time...
and reliable followers next to me.
I had the tiger in front me...
and people to save.
That is all.
See? You do not think you were wrong at all.
Then why do you ask for forgiveness?
You don't even know what you have done wrong.
Look at you.
Do you know how startled I was?
I thought my precious grandson...
was going to get eaten by the tiger.
San.
Do not ever do that again.
If I lose you,
I will not be able to carry on.
Look at you.
Buy pretty shoes.
Take care, sir.
Come take a look.
- Come. - Let me see.
What is that? It is so nice.
You should get it.
Were you not surprised that I called you all of a sudden?
You made a hassle to call me.
I called you to have a drink.
Have you forgotten the prohibition law?
Will you tell on anyone?
Look. We are both from the Hongs.
Let me pour your a drink as an elder member of the family.
I wonder if you will drink from the glass I poured you.
Have a guess.
If you guess it right,
I will answer the question you have.
Of course you will drink it.
You are bold enough to have a glass.
I won.
Now tell me. What do I want to know?
You want to know how far I have gotten.
I have found the source...
of the anonymous letter to East Palace.
Anonymous letter?
I have never heard of it before.
Did the East Palace receive such?
Then you should have notified the King immediately.
Why did the Crown Prince only watch it?
Was the anonymous letter...
about the King's wrath?
Let me guess what his wrath is.
The crown prince who died in 1762.
The King...
wants to forget the crown prince's death for good.
If he is reminded of it,
who would be in trouble?
Will finding the source of the anonymous letter...
benefit the Crown Prince?
So you should persuade the Crown Prince.
He should let go of what happened in the past.
What happened in 1762 is not my fault.
What happened then is not your fault.
That is right. Now we are speaking the same language.
You do not have what it takes to kill a Crown Prince.
Unless you are someone's pawn.
If you are not thinking about killing me here,
I will get going now.
I finally remember your mother's face.
After losing her husband,
she begged everyone in the town...
to feed her young children.
I am certain everyone in the Hong family...
remembers your mother's face.
What did I do when she came to my house?
I am certain I gave her a sack of rice at least.
Has it been that long enough for you to forget already?
I am certain you were there too.
Of course I remember what happened on that day clearly.
That day, when you saw my sister, you said,
"If you raise her well..."
"and send her off to an old man as his second wife,"
"she would not have to worry about food."
"When she gets bigger,"
"I will look for someone looking for his second wife."
I have always...
planned to make her stand in a shining and honorable spot.
I was quite disappointed in what you said.
"A shining and honorable spot"?
Are you thinking about sending your sister to the Crown Prince?
My sister is only a child.
However,
by the time the new sun rises in the east sky,
she will be a woman.
Look at you. How ambitious.
So,
you do not plan to unite with me?
We are both Hongs.
We are family.
If you plan to unite with me,
inform me any time.
If you become my subordinate,
I will take good care of you.
I will be off now.
My lady.
Did the King really forgive the Crown Prince?
- Yes. - Then...
Never mind.
Gosh!
The Crown Prince was forgiven,
so the lecturer should be safe too.
Duk Im.
Your...
I'm so sorry.
You almost got into huge trouble at the King's Palace.
Sometimes, I forget the fact that my grandpa is the King.
He's just a sweet grandpa to me.
I'm so sorry.
You must've been frightened.
I am the Crown Prince's maid.
I did what I had to do for my master.
Thank you so much for saying that.
However,
"Tale of Kwak and Jang" was all burned to ashes.
Don't mind those mere books.
We can transcribe it together again.
Then...
about the transcription fee...
You'll have to transcribe the book again...
Will this be enough for the job?
Thank you so much, Your Highness.
I hear you will soon be an official maid.
When is the ceremony?
The date isn't fixed yet.
But the Queen will make a decision soon.
It's my brother.
San!
Princess Cheongyeon?
You frequent the palace too often.
Oh, please.
Aren't you glad to meet your sister?
The palace is full of conflicts.
It's not good to come here at all.
Oh, right.
This girl will be your court lady soon.
Her name is Duk Im.
- A folding fan. - Excuse me, Your Highness?
- A folding fan. - Sure. Do you have a folding fan?
He seems to be feeling hot.
Brother, are you feeling hot?
You should leave now.
Give Duk Im a glance.
She begged our grandpa...
to forgive you on my behalf.
I'm busy right now, so maybe later...
(The Red Sleeve)
I have work piled up.
Anyway, stop bothering me.
What a liar. Why did he have to fool me?
So annoying.
The Crown Prince's maid can't refuse to work at the East Palace.
You will be serving His Highness.
A servant shouldn't be thinking anything,
but why do I keep having so many thoughts?
Report to me about everything that happens to the Crown Prince.
Is she the one who begged His Majesty...
to forgive the Crown Prince?
Nothing happened between you and me.
Don't ever let me see you again.