(The Secret Romantic Guesthouse)
(All people, organizations, locations, and incidents...)
(in this drama are fictitious.)
(Episode 16)
When everything is over,
then we can...
do what you wished.
You said you wished to travel far.
We can see the ocean.
No.
I will put my dreams aside for a while.
If the King leaves his post,
who will care for the people?
Be a good king.
You will...
become just that.
Dan O.
Do you believe I will be a good king?
You never broke...
any of the promises you made me.
As a child, you said...
you would tell me your name if we met again.
You also said you would come back unbroken,
and you did.
Would such a man...
fail to protect his people?
What...
You look like you saw a ghost.
I am indescribably pleased...
you regained your consciousness.
I shall get the royal physician.
You dared to collude with Lee Seol?
That is not true!
Would I side with a traitor if I valued my life...
I did not...
return from death's door to hear excuses.
What...
do you want for me?
Offer something up in exchange for your life.
All you can sell is the deposed heir Lee Seol.
Hand over Lee Seol...
and preserve the pathetic life of yours,
or become the most loyal of servants...
and be buried next to him.
You will be a loyal servant? So be it.
I know.
I will confess, Your Majesty.
Who the deposed heir Lee Seol is.
(Garden of Flowers)
Dan O.
You will always...
be my home.
Do not forget.
That is another promise.
Where is he now?
Lee Seol...
resides at an inn in Jungchon.
At Garden of Flowers,
he lives among a few other young scholars.
Garden of Flowers, you say?
Owned by Yoon Dan O?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Jung Yu Ha.
He is...
the deposed heir Lee Seol.
What is your name?
I am Jung Yu Ha, a scholar residing at Garden of Flowers.
Is that the truth?
That Jung Yu Ha is Lee Seol?
I told you just what I know, without any lies.
Please spare me my life.
Yoon Dan O.
She sheltered Seol and insulted me.
The fake must be taken down...
for the real to stand a chance.
I will bring them in for questioning...
and show my authority.
(Buyounggak)
Running a large inn on your own...
cannot have been easy.
Nothing in life is easy.
Being in charge of a place like Buyounggak...
is the best life a kisaeng like myself...
can have, people say.
It does not seem that great a life.
You must have been quite lonely also.
Then...
will you keep me company?
What will you do from now on?
My inheritance includes a house.
I think I will move there.
I might open a small school...
to educate children.
They will learn a great deal from you.
You have great knowledge and character to teach them of.
You seem to think...
I am much greater a man than I actually am.
I must try very hard to live up to your expectations.
The hood was very warm.
It is a farewell gift.
Will you leave soon?
The road will be long and arduous.
Will you...
come with me?
May I...
do so?
You will take the throne tomorrow.
So...
you are leaving in a hurry?
When the master comes to power,
the watchman must vanish.
I did not mean you should vanish.
I meant for you to find yourself.
What is it?
What is piercing your heart so cruelly?
I wish you well.
As your friend, I must know.
Can you not tell me?
What is the matter?
I can no longer...
Not even just one more day.
I can no longer stay at Garden of Flowers.
By any chance,
did something happen between you and Lady Hong Ju?
I have...
completely...
ruined her life.
What do you mean?
Do you remember?
Many years ago,
Yukinhoe was after you.
Assistant Magistrate Jang's son...
was a member of Yukinhoe.
The man I killed with my own two hands...
was Lady Hong Ju's fiancé.
Anybody inside?
You are...
His Majesty has recovered.
You mean, he regained consciousness?
Yes.
His Majesty said to deliver this secret letter.
Jung Yu Ha at Garden of Flowers.
He is Lee Seol, the deposed heir.
That is why the watchman was at Garden of Flowers.
They were all in it together.
While I find the traitors in the palace,
capture him and bring him to me in secret.
Deliver this to the Chief of the Palace Guards.
We will go to Garden of Flowers at once.
You need not capture him alive.
Kill the watchman as soon as you spot him.
Then what about Lee Seol?
Lee Seol is also at Garden of Flowers.
Once we eliminate the shadow that protects him,
he will have nowhere to hide.
Scholar Kim!
(Garden of Flowers)
Do not forgive me,
my lady.
Si Yeol!
You are truly leaving like this?
Yes.
Are you sad?
I am too ashamed to even express my sorrow.
Is there a place where you can go?
A while back, I found a boat going to Qing.
You unsheathed your sword only for my sake.
Hence, all your guilt...
is my burden to carry.
So please,
do not point your sword at yourself.
It is my sin and my burden to carry.
Do not...
even think of sharing my burden.
Si Yeol.
I have a favour to ask of you.
Please protect Lady Hong Ju.
I believe Assistant Magistrate Jang...
has figured out that she is still alive.
Do not worry about that.
Just like I am keeping Dan O safe,
I will protect Lady Hong Ju too.
Go back inside.
Dan O must be waiting for you.
San.
Do not end up like me.
Do not become a monster.
Live as a decent man.
The watchman has left.
He said he was headed to Qing.
In a way, it is a good thing, is it not?
The shadow has finally been set free.
Right, that would be a good thing.
However,
he seemed to have entered a darker path, haunted by the past.
I thought I could protect my people...
if I just took down the King who had usurped the throne.
The watchman needs some time too.
I am getting a bad feeling for some reason,
as if everything I am trying to achieve will come crumbling down.
The throne will be all yours by tomorrow.
You need not worry.
It is so strange.
Hong Ju.
I mean, how could he?
How could his feelings change so easily?
I cannot believe this.
Who knew Si Yeol would leave like this?
Maybe he met another woman.
Otherwise, how could he leave Lady Hong Ju?
My gosh.
Search every nook and cranny.
What is going on?
Why are your armed soldiers here in broad daylight?
The scholars are not here.
The main house is also empty.
That only leaves one place.
Not the annex. That place is off limits.
You will be held responsible for your actions today.
Master Jang.
Please compose yourself and allow me to explain.
- My sister... - Yoon Hong Ju...
should already be dead.
She sins with every breath she takes.
Wishing to live should not be a crime!
- Dan O. - I was always afraid of this day,
but this has enlightened me.
I should not have kept her hidden.
Keeping her hidden when she is innocent...
is why she is being disgraced as a sinner.
You think she is being disgraced?
But I have not even started.
(Garden of Flowers)
My goodness.
Why are you both out here? Where is Dan O?
Scholar Kang, it is bad.
The ladies...
Master Jang took Dan O and Hong Ju.
Where?
Where are they?
At an abandoned house in Namsan Village.
Unless you, Yu Ha, and Si Yeol show yourselves,
- the girls... - Was he accompanied...
by six swordsmen?
Yes, he was.
What do we do?
You two should not stay here.
Do you know Chunhwawon, the inn in Jungchon?
- I do. - Find a man known as Kim Chi Woon.
He will be of help.
Scholar Kang, it will kill me if the ladies are harmed.
Please, my ladies...
Do not worry.
I will bring them home unharmed.
Is something the matter?
(Garden of Flowers)
Where is Si Yeol?
He will only let them go if all three of us are there.
I am the one Master Jang wants.
You should stay here.
But Dan O is there.
If it were you, would you be able to stay put?
San.
Why is it just the two of you?
Where is Kim Si Yeol?
He has already left Garden of Flowers...
and will not come.
Let Dan O and Lady Hong Ju be free.
Then, we will talk.
That is out of the question.
You failed to meet the terms.
For that, you must pay.
I heard you were looking for me.
- Who... - Kang San sent us.
And Master Kang already went there?
If Master Jang knows the truth,
they will not make it out alive.
I am afraid I do not follow...
Kang San.
The fact that he is the son of the Crown Prince.
My goodness.
Gosh.
San!
These men are not a match for you.
You should get some sleep inside.
This is His Highness' safe house.
But I have a bad feeling about this.
Master Jang would not let the ladies go.
Not when he has discovered that Lady Hong Ju is alive.
Let us wait.
In a few moments,
they will return as if nothing ever happened.
I am also upset with you as well.
Why did you not tell me...
that Scholar Kang San was the Crown Prince's son?
Ms. Naju,
- that... - Because the information...
was too important and noble for the ears of a servant?
You still should have told me.
The ladies are all I have left in this world!
This is why I kept it from you.
I did not want the person I cherish...
to be in tears.
My gosh.
It will be all right.
Goodness.
Are you hurt?
I am fine.
Are you all right?
Yes, I am fine.
Neither of you should have come here.
You knew it was a trap.
Yu Ha, what did I say about you staying back?
You should not have come with.
Read the room before you wish to joke.
Has Si Yeol been rubbing off on you?
Did Si Yeol...
really leave?
Yes. My guess is that he did.
Will we be all right?
Those men are clearly waiting for him.
I know.
It is why we must think of something else.
Will the watchman show himself?
Lee Seol is here, is he not?
There is no doubt in my mind that the watchman will appear.
I looked for you everywhere.
I have made my decision.
Please leave if you are here to stop me.
The situation is dire.
The ladies at Garden of Flowers were taken by Master Jang,
and His Highness went to rescue them.
However, only the watchman could save them all.
It is no longer my concern.
I have already...
given up on my duties as the watchman.
How long will you keep us here for?
Keep quiet.
Do not hasten your death.
Will you see His Majesty one final time?
I changed my mind.
I passed your message to the head of the Military Training Command.
He will bring his men if needed.
I need not worry, then.
As you have planned everything.
I will read out the Queen Dowager's notice.
"The one to calm the confusion in court..."
"and straighten out what is wrong..."
"is the one all believe and trust."
"Who else would that be but Lee Seol?"
"Therefore,"
"I reinstate Lee Seol, the deposed heir..."
How could this be?
The traitors are all in one room.
Arrest them.
Arrest them!
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
Did you also wish for me to die, Mother?
Shut the gates!
- Yes, my lord! - Yes, my lord!
Pour me a drink.
I could not go to work today.
I might as well get drunk.
They shut the gates so you could not get in?
I worked in the Royal Infirmary for years,
and this is the first time.
I wonder if something bad happened inside.
I will bring more food.
It is Ban Ya. I will come in.
You seem rushed.
What is it?
The palace gates were shut.
I thought you would know something.
Did the assistant magistrate tell you to spy on me this time?
It is not that. I am only concerned...
I do not know who you are concerned about,
but we stay out of palace business.
- Madame. - Leave.
Now.
Shout, and you die.
Do not be a fool.
I must try something.
I must applaud your guts.
That got you to join the Palace Guard.
I told you.
Kim Si Yeol will not come.
The watchman does not accompany his master?
You expect me to believe that?
I cannot help it if you do not.
I told the truth.
If he will not come,
I have no choice.
You will all die.
Who knows?
Maybe that will make the watchman rush.
Whom shall I kill first?
Yoon Dan O.
She is a good bet.
There is nothing you can do.
Do not act rashly and lower the sword.
What you want...
is the deposed heir Lee Seol.
You need not...
sacrifice everyone to take him.
Is anyone home?
I am from Buyounggak. Is no one in?
I leave this letter in case you come back here, Si Yeol.
Assistant Magistrate Jang took Dan O and Hong Ju.
As soon as you read this, head to the hut in Namsan Village.
Yu Ha, San, Si Yeol.
All three of you must come together if the two are to be released.
Please go.
San!
You are the owner of Buyounggak.
- Yes. - Why are you here?
Where is everyone?
I do not know.
Garden of Flowers seems empty.
You should leave as well.
It is dangerous to be here.
Excuse me.
Did something happen in the palace?
Did His Majesty recover?
Yes.
If you release them all,
I will come quietly.
No.
Please.
Do not do that.
Lee Seol, the deposed heir you have been looking for.
I am Lee Seol.
Lee Seol.
Every single time,
you hide behind someone.
I already knew.
Jung Yu Ha.
You are Lee Seol, the deposed heir.
Did you hate me that much?
Enough to wish to kill your own son?
Ever since I gave birth to you,
I have been suffering from regret every single day.
I should have whipped some sense into you long ago.
I deeply regret not doing so.
Not even once...
have you taken my side.
If only you had been a wise king.
Then even if I cannot forgive you,
I would still think of you as my son.
This is your grave, Mother.
Do not even take one step out of this room.
King!
Just...
kill me.
You should stay alive to witness...
the death of your beloved grandson.
There must have been some misunderstanding.
- He is... - Yes.
I am Lee Seol.
Hey, what are you doing?
I am also the leader of Mokinhoe.
I planned to join forces with them...
to take the throne.
No. He is not Lee Seol!
Do not say anything else.
It is not like I will thank you for this.
I can prove it.
The fact that I am Lee Seol.
Jung Yu Ha!
Please do not do this.
There is one way to find out.
When Lee Seol is about to breathe his last,
the watchman will appear out of nowhere.
I will tell you everything!
What are you doing here?
Leave at once!
I know Scholar Jung very well.
- He is... - Madame.
He is...
He is not Lee Seol.
We have already wasted too much time.
We do not have time for your trickery.
Madame!
First Vice-premier.
I am deeply disappointed in you.
I trusted you more than anybody else.
I saw you kill your own brothers but had to turn a blind eye to it.
Think about how I must have felt in that moment.
I failed to slay you,
but someone else will. I am sure of it.
You are garbling nonsense at death's door.
I will rip you to shreds and scatter your remains all over the country.
Would you do that for me?
That was exactly what I wanted.
Then everyone in the kingdom will find out what their king did.
Darn you...
I should rip your mouth out first.
No...
Stay with me, please.
The watchman.
To see your face,
I made sure to stay alive.
Today, I must see your face...
hidden behind that mask.
I knew it was you.
My wish has come true, at last.
What a sick twist of fate.
You and Yoon Hong Ju.
That girl.
Shut your mouth.
I see that Hong Ju is still unaware...
of whom you killed.
You killed so many people, and one of them...
was my son.
Yoon Hong Ju.
He was that girl's fiancé.
What...
Scholar Kim.
It is not true, right?
How pitiful.
She fell in love with the man...
who killed her fiancé.
Admit defeat,
and I will at least let you live.
Kill me.
She should witness...
what you truly are...
which is a bloodthirsty ghoul.
Mother.
Even until the last second,
I remain a worthless mother...
who only inflicts pain on you.
You promised to be by my side.
But we finally met.
We finally met again.
You were a son...
whom this woman of lowly origin did not deserve.
Thank you for growing up to be a fine young man.
No.
No, you cannot leave me this way.
It...
It was a joy...
to have you in my life again. So please,
do not be in pain.
Mother.
Mother, please.
- Please... - Gyeom.
My son.
Find...
happiness.
Mother...
Mother!
Mother...
No...
Scholar Kim.
Please tell me.
It is not true, is it?
She wishes to know...
whom you killed.
Please say it is not true.
That it is all a misunderstanding.
That is all you need to say.
Please.
I am sorry,
my lady.
You must get to safety!
Chief of the Palace Guards is on his way...
with officers from the Department of Justice.
My sword may not be as sharp as it once was,
but I am still a strategist.
Dan O, leave with Lady Hong Ju.
No.
I will not. Then what about you?
I will soon follow suit with the others.
Hong Ju, we must go.
Hong Ju.
We must go.
Come on.
Go without me.
There is no time for this.
If we stay, they will...
They think I am Lee Seol.
If they capture me,
they will not waste their energy hunting you down.
What nonsense are you spewing?
If anyone gets captured, it will be me.
Now, get up.
Even His Majesty would believe it.
That I am Lee Seol.
Yu Ha.
We do not have the time. Come on!
Come on. We must go.
Go without me.
Yu Ha.
Take Madame's body with you.
Please.
This is wrong. It is nonsense.
- We must... - Stay alive.
You must live for us to have a future.
I do not wish to accomplish anything by sacrificing you.
So please...
Come and rescue me.
I will be waiting.
- How is that? - Yu Ha!
We must go right now, or we will all die!
Where is Yu Ha?
Let us go.
You are here for me, are you not?
Go ahead and arrest me!
(The Secret Romantic Guesthouse)
Blabber all you want.
But know that your voice will never be heard.
I will rescue him. I should at any cost.
You disgust me.
How many lives did you take...
with the hands that once held mine?
Dan O, please.
I will not be a nuisance,
so please do not tell me to leave.
What will you do to my grandson?
The execution of deposed heir Lee Seol...
will be my grand finale.
I may die, but my brother lives.
And he will bring down His Majesty.