(The Secret Romantic Guesthouse)
(All people, organizations, locations, and incidents...)
(in this drama are fictitious.)
(Pyeong)
You gasping in shock must mean...
that Assistant Magistrate Jang spoke the truth.
You dared...
to save the life of the deposed heir Lee Seol.
He was just a poor trembling boy?
What? You arrogant broad.
I will charge you with high treason.
I was taught that pity...
is the root of benevolence.
Even if I had known he was the deposed heir,
I could not have turned him away.
You are a lot like your dead father.
You also refuse to give in.
Did you know...
my father?
Sungkyunkwan scholar Yoon Won.
He was my long-time tutor.
He just saved your life.
I cannot punish his daughter...
over something you barely remember.
I heard you run an inn in Jungchon.
Yes, I do, Your Majesty.
Compared to women who are shut away with their embroidery,
you must know how the world works.
Come to the palace sometimes and tell me about the world you see.
That will do for me.
(Episode 10)
Her Highness Royal Noble Consort Park.
His Majesty gave you something already.
You must have more skill than a kisaeng.
What is your name?
I am Yoon Dan O.
Yoon Dan O.
You do not want me to remember you.
(Pyeong)
This top-knot pin.
I recognize it.
Other than Lee Seol, the deposed heir,
the Crown Prince had another son born in secret.
Later, on his return to the palace,
he wished to use this to prove his bloodline.
That is correct.
He is that son.
Do you wish for the same thing?
Are you hoping to...
take the throne as Lee Seol?
While I hesitated,
many lost their lives.
If it will bring a stop to the tyranny,
I will willingly shoulder the burden.
Chief Eunuch.
The choice is yours.
Will you die in the hands of Lee Chang?
Or will you open the door to a new world?
Sit.
I will send word through her.
Hwa Ryung, I thought you worked for Jang Tae Hwa.
You were backing Mokinhoe?
With the hopes that perhaps a kisaeng could one day...
have ambitions.
Now I see you look a lot like your mother.
You know about my mother?
Your father the Crown Prince loved her greatly.
This is the best quality silk.
Why would His Majesty give you this?
I do not know what he wants either.
We need to talk.
What...
I apologize.
I did not want you to worry.
Tell me. Why did the King ask to see you?
Well...
Do not lie.
I heard you are trying to buy a ticket to Qing.
Something serious is going on.
Years ago.
My father's funeral. Do you remember the day?
How could I forget?
A revolt had happened,
and I was unable to pay my respects.
That night,
a little boy hid into Garden of Flowers.
He hid in the kennel, trembling,
and I let him stay the night.
The boy said...
his parents had died that day.
By chance, was that boy...
He was the deposed heir.
Does the king know about this?
That is why he asked to see you.
To ask who the deposed heir is.
No. He did not ask anything else.
He had you come in but did not ask you?
No. He just told me...
to come to the palace again.
To come back again?
That sounds even worse.
The King...
could take your life and those of everyone here at once.
Do you know...
who the deposed heir is?
Well...
- I cannot tell you. - Dan O.
I do not want to lie just to escape.
Right now,
could you not just trust me?
My goodness.
Oh, dear...
I must find Lee Seol.
I need to know if he is dead or alive.
If he is alive,
what will you do?
He is my only family,
since I do not know my birth mother.
Right.
You are half-brothers.
But you cannot meet.
You could end up fighting him for the throne.
If so, Snowflake would become your enemy,
- and eventually... - I am...
not like the King who killed his siblings to come to power.
Even if I meet Snowflake, I will not use force.
Then will you meet him and ask him for permission...
to use his name?
Would it not be worse...
if Lee Seol were to appear after I became king?
Do not look into what has not yet surfaced.
Keep it hidden.
Think about it.
When the real Snowflake appears,
who will be abandoned?
Had I feared being abandoned,
I would not have gotten involved in the first place.
Dan O.
Dan O!
I am totally fine.
You saw the whole thing.
I thought the King might have hurt you...
the moment I took my eyes off you.
You are the one who is always right by His Majesty's side,
which means you are...
most exposed to danger.
It is nothing new to me.
But for you, it is different.
Is that why...
you ran here to check in on me?
Do you know what I fear more than death?
Losing...
another loved one.
Do not look at me like that...
and call me a "loved one."
I have been curious.
Do not tell me that you truly do not know.
What do you mean?
The way you look at me and the things you say.
It...
makes my heart...
Your heart? What?
Tell me. Does it make you that uncomfortable?
If I made a mistake...
It makes my heart flutter.
It makes her heart flutter?
My lady.
Are you busy now?
I have a favour to ask of you.
My goodness.
What a pretty apple.
It is pretty, is it not?
I did my best to pick out the prettiest ones.
It should have some blemishes if it had to withstand storms.
Look at this shiny, flawless apple.
How could this be?
This is disturbing to look at.
Who is it?
The man who disturbed you like this. Who is it, Lady Dan O?
You said you had a favour to ask.
Well, it is this.
(The Tale of Yeon Yi)
"The Tale of Yeon Yi?"
Yuk Ho gave it to me and said I should read it.
He said it was a fun book.
The thing is, I could not bring myself to tell him...
that I could only read a few words.
So you did not tell him that you could not read.
You should have learned to read when I offered to teach you.
My goodness.
"That moment,"
"the guard clasped his big hand..."
"around Yeon Yi's."
"'Please do not do this.'"
"Even though Yeon Yi..."
"tried to push his hand away..."
Please do not do this.
Do you dislike me?
You should not do this.
No...
Do not...
My gosh!
(The Tale of Yeon Yi)
"Yeon Yi wished..."
"to kiss his sweet lips."
- That is where you stopped. - What?
Lips... What?
My gosh. Did you have to pause at such an important moment?
Please. Go on and read the rest to me.
Gosh, I cannot do this. Read it all by yourself.
My gosh, how obscene!
Lady Dan O, what about the kiss?
Did they kiss?
Just tell me that before you go, my lady!
(Garden of Flowers)
By the way, Scholar Jung is not in his room.
Did he leave early in the morning?
I do not think he came home last night.
Yu Ha did not come home?
My gosh. He has never done this before.
I guess he went to the kisaeng house now that the exam is over.
It is about time he had some fun.
No way. Yu Ha never visits the kisaeng house.
You never know.
After all, Yu Ha is a man too.
- He may look like a softie, but... - Not every man is like you.
What?
You are talking as though...
I practically live in the kisaeng house.
Is it not true?
You even spent a night with a virgin kisaeng at Buyounggak.
- Hush. - My gosh.
San.
You have earned my respect.
Dan O, I told you that it was...
My goodness.
I told you that I was just doing a good deed...
I explained everything already.
Handsome men are all womanisers.
You see, I was rooting for you, not Yu Ha.
But I should perhaps change sides.
- What... - I am still rooting for you.
I could tell, the moment I met you.
You are cool. You are my inspiration.
That is not what happened!
(Palace Layout)
What are you doing in my room?
How is it, working for the Palace Guards?
Why? Are you going to nag me to quit too?
Dealing with Dan O is stressful enough.
You will not listen to me, so why should I bother?
I will not waste my breath.
Get out, will you? I wish to get changed.
You see...
I must say, the uniform does not suit you.
This colour is too dull.
It does not complement your good looks.
Enough gibberish.
If you have nothing to do, go take a nap.
Do not say you must sleep next to me because you are scared.
What?
I suppose you were disappointed...
that we could not spend the night together.
Right, too bad.
I should have pulled out one of the swords.
I see that your wound has almost healed.
You recover very quickly.
Here.
Are you headed to the gambling den in broad daylight?
Look who is talking.
You even slept with a kisaeng.
Hey!
It has been a while. You are looking great.
I heard you joined the Palace Guards.
Why are you still in Hanyang?
You did not return to your hometown?
- Who is he? - I am his childhood friend.
We were best friends.
"Best friends?"
San is socially inept.
I am surprised he has such a friend.
Shut it. Just get going already.
All right.
I shall get going so that you can improve your social skills.
I am busy.
So just tell me what you want.
Well...
I wish to make a glorious return to my hometown,
so I cannot go back empty-handed.
Oh, about what you gave me the last time...
I put it to good use.
I will be in touch, so wait to hear from me.
I can give you three days.
If you take longer than that, I will tell Master Jang everything.
(Inner Military Office)
They will now demonstrate.
Let the sparring commence!
(Inner Military Office)
If that was a blade, he would have cut you.
And he is only a new recruit for that matter.
(Inner Military Office)
Pick up the sword.
Your Majesty, I am concerned for your safety.
Would you not be interested in knowing...
whether his swordsmanship is comparable to mine?
Pick it up.
(Inner Military Office)
If we were not training, you would have been cut.
Lower your sword this instant.
From now on, I ought to train with you.
The others always let me win, which is no fun at all.
Allow me.
Your demonstration earlier was inspiring.
I hope I did not do anything to upset you recently.
How dare a new recruit leave so soon?
You should clean the weapons first.
Make sure they are well-polished.
There will be an inspection tomorrow.
Do you expect us to clean them all?
Quiet.
What rotten luck.
I thought I would get off early,
so I booked an appointment with my real estate agent.
Head home, then. I can handle the rest.
Are you sure?
But there are so many more to polish.
I am probably the reason we were given this chore.
You should meet with your real estate agent.
I appreciate this.
I will make it up to you big time.
Toodles.
(Palace Guards Log Book)
(Siwi: Escorting and protecting the King)
(2pm, 4pm, 6pm)
Why was this left blank?
(Noon, 2pm, 4pm)
Did the Palace Guards not escort him during these hours?
I was still a tender age the last time I had a friend over.
You are busy working all day, so of course I should come to you.
This is nice.
I have always wanted to quietly chat with someone...
just like other women of this land.
As if this is anything special.
I heard you were at the palace.
Right. How did you hear about it?
The talk about you receiving silk from His Majesty...
spread through Buyounggak like wildfire.
Why did he summon you?
Well,
it turns out that my father used to be his tutor.
It is why he wanted to meet me.
Was that the only reason?
Yes.
He must have been upset to hear that the daughter of his tutor...
was running an inn.
Could he have summoned you to show you his affection?
I doubt it.
Do not come to a hasty conclusion.
Have you heard of the Office of Performing Arts?
His Majesty has been recruiting kisaengs as court musicians...
to serve as his concubines.
That is correct.
He already summoned a few from Buyounggak.
Come to the palace sometimes...
and tell me about the world you see.
Every night, he beds a different woman.
You could be next, so be careful.
I see you are here.
Scholar Jung, what prompted this urgent meeting?
Could there be an issue with our next gathering?
Not at all, but there is something I wish to discuss with you...
before the upcoming gathering.
You said we would be discussing Mokinhoe's future plans.
Could it be that you have another strategy in mind?
I have a way to overcome this crisis.
(Pyeong)
I, myself, am the plan of action.
(In the Year of Muja, the awakened one will appear.)
(He will become a man of virtue and bring peace to the world.)
Posters are everywhere in the capital.
Everyone is talking about the awakened one and who he may be.
"In the Year of Muja, the awakened one will appear."
Lee Seol must soon be making his appearance.
Are you all set to leave?
Are you sure about this?
What if someone recognizes me?
While you hid away in the annex,
the world kept changing.
Others will only see you as a scholar with a pretty face.
Besides, did you not say that you wanted to help Dan O?
I did.
What will it be, then?
I will only do as you say.
A scholar cannot go back on his word.
I hear that the awakened one is the deposed heir.
Is he still alive?
You see, the deposed heir...
Your nose will touch the soup any time soon.
You should look up.
It is busier than I thought.
It is not even market day.
We are here to tout.
This is the Jungchon entrance,
so it tends to be busy.
We should have some rice wine.
I need to relax.
You drink wine?
A cup or so when I feel lonely?
Dan O has no idea.
(Liquor)
At last, I have left cold Hanyang...
to come to my dear hometown.
I heard you rented a room.
You must like it.
They provide breakfast and dinner,
and even clean the room for you.
Not to mention the incredibly low rent.
I feel the love of a mother...
who considers a scholar's budget too.
How cheap is the rent?
Per month, they charge...
- They charge? - They charge?
They charge?
Three nyang.
Three nyang?
Where is that place?
The place that...
feels like home.
Yes. They provide two meals a day, and it is still just three nyang.
Are you sure it is three nyang?
It is at the edge of Jungchon.
- Oh. - That is why it is cheaper.
I see.
What is the matter, my lord?
Did you see someone suspicious?
No.
I saw a lookalike.
It cannot be her.
(Liquor)
Let us go.
You will not regret the visit.
Thank you.
I saw a few places today too,
but the rent is so high.
Why not head over there right now?
Yes, sure.
Are you married?
No, not yet.
Do not go there.
Unless you wish to marry a ghost.
A ghost?
That inn is haunted.
By the ghost of an unwed woman...
who preys on men.
Do you believe in such rumours?
It is not a rumour. There is talk that the eldest daughter...
Do not speak of someone's precious daughter so flippantly.
Forget about it if you wish.
What man is so frail?
Come along.
One glance tells me...
you are not her type.
So do not be scared...
Then it is all true.
I will not go.
Why do you not ask?
Ask what?
Why I became a ghost...
and lived in the annex.
I do not like to ask...
and talk freely about the past...
one wishes to keep a secret.
So...
I thought you would feel the same.
Do you have...
a painful past as well?
It is cold out.
You fool.
Did you invite Hong Ju here?
She will be your daughter-in-law.
Please accept her.
Thank you for the food, Lady Hong Ju.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
Meat?
Abalone?
Did you try this?
Yukinhoe will be called to serve soon.
Have them train hard.
Yes, my lord.
(Successful Candidates)
(Jung Yu Ha)
I found it.
Your name.
Right here.
Yes, I saw it too.
I am so relieved.
I was worried you had ruined your chances.
You had been acting strangely.
There is a reason for that.
What about you, Yuk Ho?
Oh, my goodness.
Do not be too disappointed.
It is not the first time you have failed.
It is there.
My name is there.
Gosh.
Where?
Are you not seeing things?
He is right.
"Yuk Yuk Ho."
- Right here. - My gosh.
Here.
Right here.
Yuk Yuk Ho...
- Oh, dear. - Yuk Ho.
Not now.
You cannot die until you are in office.
You studied for years for this.
Oh, you are awake.
Get up.
Now you can do anything you want.
You said...
I could do anything.
Thank you.
I owe this to you!
My gosh.
Oh, dear.
I made it!
We should cook up a feast tonight.
This is such a great day.
I would be much happier...
if Si Yeol would come around.
Me too.
I wonder what he is up to today.
Will he be gambling?
(Garden of Flowers)
Who are you?
(Gwang Pavilion)
I can tell by your face.
Pardon?
This is boring because we bet nothing.
Betting something on a game...
makes it worth playing.
I have very many things.
What will you bet?
Will you bet Garden of Flowers?
I was joking.
Try and beat me,
and I will reward you greatly.
In that case,
I will bet my life on this stone.
You are in too deep.
You should be careful.
You must enter deeply into your enemy's territory,
or you will never win.
I lost.
It was fun though.
Why is she smiling like that?
The Palace Guards should take her home today.
Yes, Your Majesty.
We will do this again soon.
San, you take her home.
You may leave early today.
Yes, sir.
Your Majesty, a poster has been put up in the capital district.
The deposed heir is closing in on us.
Why are you just watching Yoon Dan O?
She is not one to easily give in to threats.
She said she did not regret saving the deposed heir's life.
How dare she say such a thing in front of me?
However, I am certain that...
she knows something about Snowflake.
Hence, he must be afraid.
His fear will grow as Yoon Dan O and I become closer.
Wait for now.
Lee Seol will have no choice but to find that girl himself.
The watchman might step in.
And if he kills Yoon Dan O,
Snowflake will slip away yet again.
The watchman will not be able to go ahead and take her life.
After all, he gave her his father's keepsake.
That is how much he cherishes her.
(Capital District Office)
You.
You are Kang San's friend.
Why are you here?
How did you buy the position?
Where did you get the money?
Forgive me. I must have been out of my mind.
I have failed every state exam that I took...
Just answer my question.
Please spare me.
You were Kang San's reference.
Did it have something to do with him?
That is...
Yes, Kang San!
He was the one who gave me the money.
He gave me the money in return for hiding the fact...
that he was adopted.
Please spare me!
Were you not afraid?
His Majesty could change his mind at any time.
He did not, thankfully.
That much, I could tell.
What did you say to him that he gave you all these things?
I am just good at playing Go, that is all.
That is not all. You also smiled a lot at him.
Pardon me?
You kept smiling at him nonstop.
I saw it.
I did not smile that much.
With those eyes...
Do not smile at every man you see.
Where are you going again? It is late.
Nothing happened at the palace, right?
Yes, nothing happened.
I kept a watchful eye on them all day.
I am relieved that she has you by her side.
You know...
Remember the book you took?
Did you throw it out?
Yes.
I told you I would.
I threw it into the furnace.
No way. You actually burned it? All of it?
Why? Was there something precious in it?
Did you...
open it?
Did you see what was inside?
No, I did not.
Why bother? I knew what it was about.
I burned it to ashes right away.
(Garden of Flowers)
Hong Ju.
There is a female physician named Yeon Yi.
Who is Yeon Yi? Is she your new friend?
No, she is a character in a romance novel.
It is not my story.
You see, Yeon Yi is...
in love with a military officer.
A female physician and a military officer?
He is certainly out of her league.
And he lives a dangerous life.
He could die in war anytime.
If they lose the war,
Yeon Yi and even her family could be dragged away as prisoners.
They should not be together, right?
They will just end up hurting each other.
Regardless of whom she fancies,
she will regret it later if she gives up without even trying.
That is true.
She will regret it, indeed.
This will not do.
I should drink this today.
You knew there was wine in that bottle?
I know everything about you.
Fine. Drink up and forget everything.
Stop thinking about the family too.
Focus only on your heart.
Only think about yourself.
Only myself?
Here is the fund you asked for.
Your Highness.
Rumours say that the deposed heir is the awakened one.
They say Mokinhoe is backing him.
Mokinhoe?
See if you can find out who is leading Mokinhoe.
Yes, Your Highness.
Anyway,
what were you thinking about?
What is the King really thinking?
He keeps calling Dan O to the palace...
but would not ask her anything.
Lady Dan O knows who you are.
- If she tells him... - No, she will not.
Dan O would never do that.
We must expedite things.
I have a question for you.
Are there times when the King is not escorted by the Palace Guards?
According to the Palace Guards Log Book,
it was for about half a day.
For top-secret undercover inspections,
the Chief of the Palace Guards would be the only one accompanying him.
Such undercover inspections are not recorded.
It was the last day of December and the 15th day of June.
The exorcism ritual takes place on the last day of December.
And the harvest ritual on the 15th day of June.
He could not have left the palace for the rituals.
Then why...
I heard...
the King was obsessed with shamanism.
Do you think he leaves the palace in disguise to see a shaman?
In disguise...
That is our chance.
Kim Hwan, the Chief of the Palace Guards.
If we take him down,
we can reach the King.
What are you doing, sitting in front of my room?
Hi, San.
I smell alcohol.
How much did you drink?
Well, I had a glass of wine.
I was worried...
and I had a lot on my mind.
I know.
My existence alone...
is a huge burden you have to carry.
Yu Ha...
I have no idea where he goes every night.
As for Yuk Ho,
I worry about him...
receiving a government position at the age of 60.
And Si Yeol...
Gosh.
I worry about...
every aspect of his life.
And what about Hong Ju?
Have you ever seen a ghost that lively before?
She is forced to stay in the annex all day.
My poor sister.
And Ms. Naju...
is a terrible cook.
She cannot cook,
but she keeps cooking.
What is the matter with her?
You seem highly intoxicated.
In you go.
And then...
there is you.
This face of yours...
is the worst.
Do you dislike me that much?
Do you dislike me?
You grew up...
leading a sorrowful life among the public.
I believe in that sorrow.
A world where the poor and the lowly...
can also aspire and reach their goals.
Is that not the world Mokinhoe aims for?
(Pyeong)
If you choose to stand at today's gathering,
you will have to live your life as Lee Seol forever.
Here is your last chance.
If you have doubts,
this is where you pull out.
I will not regret this.
Who sent this?
He said you would know...
if I told you it was from an old friend.
By 4pm today, come to...
the west riverside reed field with my money.
Keep your promise,
and I will head back home immediately.
Are you here to meet someone?
Could it be your friend from Jecheon?
San of the Jinju Kang clan.
You have been living a lie.
There seems to be a misunderstanding.
How could I have joined the Palace Guards...
if I was not who I said I was?
My friend must have been mistaken...
He confessed.
So what is your real name?
Every man here...
will die.
What?
Once you hear who I am, that is.
Do you still...
want to hear the name?
Such audacity.
The only one who will die here...
is you.
Stand down.
- If you do not... - Answer me.
Are you the deposed heir Lee Seol?
You are.
You were Lee Seol all along.
The watchman.
Attack!
Show...
your face.
That is an order.
It is my pleasure...
to greet my king.
(The Secret Romantic Guesthouse)
I have been curious ever since I first met you.
I have lived my life shadowing yours.
The leader of Mokinhoe called himself Lee Seol...
and stood before the scholars.
I cannot pretend...
that nothing ever happened.
Write it all down.
Everything you have missed out on.
Why is that? Will you make them happen for me?
There is no way of knowing how Lee Seol will approach me.
Your task is to identify him.
Did you just say that Seol has been captured?
Protect everyone at Garden of Flowers.
That includes you.