(The Secret Romantic Guesthouse)
(All people, organizations, locations, and incidents...)
(in this drama are fictitious.)
The watchman greets us.
I waited to see you for a long time.
There were two swordsmen.
The slayer has stopped dropping bodies?
Was he not the watchman?
I heard one of the scholars at Garden of Flowers was preparing for the military exam.
His name is Kang San.
I wish to know where he was born and raised. Find out everything.
Are you still asleep?
I have a gift before I leave.
Next time, we should walk together.
No.
Do not bring things like this again.
Thanks to your care of the Mokinhoe scholars,
everyone is well.
What could he possibly want with me?
You can ask him yourself.
I only serve one entity...
and that is this nation.
I urge you to serve the noble cause.
It seems as though Dan O was taken.
What did you say?
- What is it? - A compass.
This belonged to the deposed crown prince.
Did you dare to toy with me?
Just kill me.
I will pay her debt. Release Dan O.
Do you still believe that I am the watchman?
The day I pass the exam and receive the flower hat,
I shall return and tell you everything.
Let them have group matches.
You managed to relieve my boredom.
For that, I will grant your request.
I wish...
to serve you in close proximity.
As a member of the Palace Guards?
I will serve you with sincerity.
You finished...
in first place.
You passed the exam in the first place,
so it is time to keep your promise.
This. What am I seeing?
Back then,
I said I would tell you who I am...
when we met again.
More than a decade ago,
the terrified boy who hid in that kennel...
was me.
I...
I am Lee Seol.
(Pyeong)
What...
did you just say?
You are...
Lee Seol?
The reason...
I was unable to tell you until now...
Who is this?
My gosh. That is a flower hat.
You came in first place.
My goodness.
Gosh.
(Episode 9)
Gosh.
You do not look too well, Young Master Kang.
He is still on a high after the exam.
His Majesty himself attended.
You are the pride of this inn.
It has been years since anyone passed.
Am I wrong, Dan O?
No, you are not.
May I try on that flower hat?
I can feel the good energy.
- Try it on. - Thanks.
Then...
How do I look? Does it suit me?
We have another successful scholar.
It suits you tremendously.
I have a good feeling this time.
I wrote my answer without pause.
Should I contact my family and have them slaughter a pig?
Please, just pass the exam...
and I will bring home a wild boar for you.
Oh, dear. Here, take it back.
Scholar Jung, I am sure you did well in the exam also?
I think I did reasonably well.
Did you not return with Si Yeol?
Do not even ask.
- That fool... - What about me?
Hey, you.
Why did you run off halfway through the exam?
I did not run off.
The topic bored me, so I turned in my answer early.
Your sheet was blank, with not a single drop of ink on it.
The blank sheet was my answer.
There is more to life than correct answers.
You are helpless.
San, you have decided to dress more flamboyantly since we last met.
As if you came first.
- May I be excused? - Yes.
Goodness.
My gosh.
We are alone here. You can speak freely.
I still...
cannot believe it.
That you are Lee Seol, the deposed heir.
It is a great relief...
that you are alive and well.
What...
Did you...
keep it inside all your life?
How did you manage, all alone, all this while?
Dan O.
I wished so badly that...
you would no longer be chased.
I get it now.
How foolish what I did was.
I brought you to Garden of Flowers...
only to put a noose around your neck.
Even if you had not run off with my bag,
we would have met again.
At the tavern that day,
we did not meet by chance.
I had missed you for a long time,
and had come to find you.
Please tell me...
what your plan for the future is.
There must be a reason you want a title.
You promised that...
you would tell me everything the day you passed the exam.
My path leads to the palace.
Why did you suddenly...
I was on the run my whole life,
but I am heir to the throne.
I will join the Palace Guards and condemn the King myself.
What if doing that exposes your identity?
You will lose the life you fought so hard to preserve.
You risked your life to preserve Garden of Flowers.
I am doing the same.
I want to protect my home, the palace.
From a traitor blinded by greed.
You will be surrounded by enemies in the palace.
Could you please change your mind?
Both my father and mother are dead,
and my father's followers...
had their families wiped out.
I cannot turn away from them...
just to save my own skin.
That is why I have stayed alive,
and it is also...
my duty as heir.
Even so,
it is too dangerous.
You saved my life.
I will not waste it in vain.
Do not worry.
Bring your heirloom.
The proof of your bloodline...
the Crown Prince left you.
(Crown Prince Lee Pyeong)
This is Crown Prince Lee Pyeong's request to his son...
and the proof of your bloodline.
Once I ascend the throne and stabilize the political situation,
I will call you back to the palace.
Stay strong and survive until then.
The only thing I can give you now is the name, nothing else.
My son, Gyeom.
(Lee Pyeong)
(Pyeong)
(Buyounggak)
You are Jang, the merchant.
Yes, I am.
I am looking for a ship going to Qing.
I was wondering if you had a vacant spot on yours.
A vacant spot?
What is this for?
I will pay you handsomely.
If there is, please contact me at Garden of Flowers in Jungchon.
Sure, I will.
She asked Jang to look for a ship for her.
Yoon Dan O is trying to go to Qing?
Thank you for letting me know.
Continue to keep a watchful eye on her.
Yes, my lord.
At this rate, you will soon lose your lowly status and level up.
You just need to find Lee Seol.
Lee Seol?
You mean, the deposed heir?
So you have heard of his name before too.
I have heard some rumours.
I did hear that the deposed heir has not been caught yet.
If you change your mind,
come back anytime.
You are hiding for you do not want to be a burden.
You are being such a coward.
A coward? I am doing it for Dan O's sake...
No, it is not for her sake.
You are guilt-tripping her...
just so that you could feel better.
Dan O will beat herself up for not being able to protect her sister.
If I were Dan O,
my one and only sister...
would never be a burden to me.
She would give me the strength to carry on.
Knowing that you wish to return to the palace...
I am concerned.
Since we both survived,
we ought to do our duty.
As...
the Crown Prince's bodyguard,
I did not take my own life when my master passed away...
because the Crown Prince ordered me to protect you, Your Highness.
Please...
stay safe.
I will.
Once you enter the palace, you are on your own.
The watchman is highly capable,
but he will struggle to beat the royal guards and enter the palace.
I must meet the watchman. Can you find him?
But why? The watchman is...
Dan O has figured out...
who I am.
If the watchman finds out,
he will think it could pose a threat to my safety,
so he might try to hurt her.
I do not know where the watchman is now.
I cannot track him down either.
Then...
what should I do about Dan O?
No one is more endangered than you are now, Your Highness.
I am used to it.
However,
Dan O is not.
(Garden of Flowers)
Why are you running?
It was you.
I thought someone was following me.
Why are you out and about so late at night?
Let us go inside.
Okay.
Were you that anxious?
You started running, looking terrified.
Master Jang...
might still have some people tailing me.
Dan O.
What if I give in to his threats...
and expose everything?
- If that happens... - Even if that happens,
I will not resent you.
You absolutely should not join the Palace Guards.
I implore you to think about it again.
Once your real identity is exposed,
you will not be the only one getting hurt.
The others at Garden of Flowers too...
Everyone will die.
Just leave and go somewhere far away.
I am looking for a ship going to Qing.
If anyone in the family is put in danger,
I will leave without looking back once.
Trust me.
I will never do anything to endanger you or the family.
But you should still be very careful for the time being.
And do not go out by yourself at night like you did today.
If possible, refrain from going out altogether.
It is not like your house will never be broken into if you lock the door.
Thieves...
will jump over the wall if they must.
I wish I could build a tall wall that reaches the sky...
so that no one can dare to jump over it.
Who are you? You cannot enter this area.
Lady Hong Ju.
What is going on?
I...
I am back.
Truly?
Then can we be together now?
You were right.
I wanted to run away from everything...
because I hated myself for not being able to help anyone.
You helped me, just now.
Sorry?
Seeing your face...
melted all my worries away.
In any case,
you have gotten quite manly.
I came here disguised as a man for I did not want to get caught.
It must look awkward.
It suits you.
You look like you are my best friend of ten years.
How about we have some rice wine at the tavern?
I have not even seen Dan O and Ms. Naju yet.
When I got here, there was nobody here.
Oh, then I should not be standing around.
I will go find them now.
My lady.
You are back.
Let us sit down.
You came all the way here by yourself?
Gosh. Why did you not ask me to come and get you?
I would have run over to where you were.
I got here safe and sound.
I dressed as a man just in case.
My gosh, Young Master.
You must have made a few women cry on your way here.
You are truly back, right?
You are not going to suddenly disappear, are you?
No, I am not going anywhere.
I will find what I can do around here.
No longer will I be a burden to you.
I have said this numerous times, but you have never been a burden.
I am thrilled to have you back.
Come here. Allow me to give you a hug.
My gosh.
How about we sleep together in the annex tonight?
Why not?
Sit tight, then. I will grab our comforters.
So that compass was given to you by the deposed heir?
No wonder.
You seemed odd during Dad's funeral,
but I brushed it off thinking you were still in denial.
But that was not the case.
What should I do?
I should probably do something,
but there is nothing I can do.
All I can do is wish for him to be safe.
He has been on the run all his life.
When it comes to surviving, no one will be more capable.
Do you really think so?
Of course.
I am sure of it.
Why are you looking at me like that?
We are proud to see you as a member of the Palace Guards.
Who knew that a man of talent was here at Garden of Flowers?
Won would have been so proud.
Could he have wanted you as his son-in-law?
Yuk Ho, you and your jokes.
Gosh.
Si Yeol, it is not like you to be this quiet.
I do not even know where to start.
Maybe I should start with this.
His Majesty is highly strung and can be violent.
It is why rookie palace guards quit within three months.
San is not like the average man, so I am sure he will stay strong.
Is that a compliment or a curse in disguise?
- A compliment. - He must be encouraging me...
in his own way. Am I right?
You will be late on your first day at this rate.
Off you go.
I will get going, then.
You are serious about going to the palace.
I will return home safely.
Your Majesty, please shut down the risky expansion of the palace.
You have recruited farmers during farming season.
And to cover the necessary cost,
you even raised the interest rate on the grain we lend.
First Vice-premier.
(Hwangok: Grains are lent and then returned with interest)
Do tell me.
Must I terminate this project?
The purpose of this project is to uphold royal authority.
The people must comply as it is their duty.
Driving the people to poverty and draining their assets...
will result in a disaster.
I fear that the people might protest...
and start a rebellion.
Please reconsider, Your Majesty.
"The Secret Records of Samhan."
In it, it is written like so.
"When the people rebel like burning flames,"
"a wise man from the east will be crowned as king."
By the looks of it,
you must also be a member of Mokinhoe.
How else could you have the audacity...
to speak such ludicrous words?
Your Majesty, you have me wrong.
I was only advising you as a member...
of the Office of the Inspector General.
I am not with Mokinhoe.
You have me wrong.
Lord Sin, please say something.
You of all people know...
that I am not a part of Mokinhoe.
Come hither!
Take him away this instant.
On grounds of treason, annihilate his family and in-laws.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, please.
Your Majesty.
Lord Sin.
Lord Sin!
It has you suspicious, does it not?
You saw the way Dan O looked at Scholar Kang.
There seemed to be a strong bond between them.
We should prepare for a wedding that is soon to come.
Well, I stand by what I have always said.
Rather than swordsmen,
I prefer scholars who write their battles.
And Scholar Jung...
will move on to do great things.
I am also a scholar who writes my battles.
Why you only mentioned Yu Ha is beyond me.
I mentioned him as a suitor for Dan O.
I must say I am curious as to how you think of me.
Goodness.
You failed to pass the state exam,
and the years have not been kind to you.
For that, I feel sorry.
What... My gosh.
I will pass the state exam in first place...
and become the bachelor everyone wants to court.
Master Jang has asked to see you.
Me? What for?
Shall we?
I heard the first literary exam took place recently.
You must hope to serve this time around.
I doubt you summoned me out of concern for my career.
What did you want to say to me?
Yuk Ho,
you are the elder to those at Garden of Flowers.
Are you aware that Dan O looked for the deposed heir...
in hopes of keeping Garden of Flowers?
I heard she did not find him.
She found him,
and she knows about Lee Seol.
It is why she wishes to flee to Qing.
That is preposterous. How could Dan O have...
If Dan O flees...
to protect the identity of Lee Seol,
she...
and her entire family will be executed.
You also studied under Yoon Won.
Will you sit idly by...
and watch your mentor's daughter be executed for treason...
and her family be annihilated?
Inform me the second you learn of Lee Seol's identity.
Do so, and I will provide you...
with a government position.
Grandmother awaits us. Please hurry.
Do not run.
You do not wish to get hurt.
Here.
How heavy he weighs tells me that our son is all grown up.
(Palace Guards Log Book)
It was you as I thought.
It is nice to see you here.
It is me, Yoon Gu Nam.
We met during the exam.
I am the one who threw the pole to you.
Right. I remember now.
Of course.
Did you also join the Palace Guards?
It happened that way.
The two of us showed great teamwork during the exam.
Although, I must take 80 percent of the credit.
This is the layout of the palace.
Memorize it by tomorrow.
(Palace Layout)
Are we supposed to memorize all the buildings in one day?
You are here to protect and serve His Majesty.
One can not afford even a single mistake.
For each mistake,
you will be beaten once.
Follow me to the Royal Office.
I wondered why things were going so smoothly.
I will get sores on my first day.
Follow me quietly.
Yes, sir.
You.
That glare.
I like it very much.
It looks familiar, as if I saw it for years.
How dare you?
Lower your gaze.
So, where is your family from?
I am a Kang from Jinju.
Did the wound you sustain heal up?
It is much better.
Good.
This is...
my older brother's compass.
I got it from Yoon Dan O,
The innkeeper of Garden of Flowers in Jungchon.
Yoon Dan O?
Who is she and why did she have this?
Over ten years ago, during Yoon Won's funeral,
deposed heir Lee Seol hid into Garden of Flowers,
and she let him stay the night. She confessed to me...
that she received it...
as a token of gratitude.
Wait.
Yoon Won's funeral?
It was the day I revolted.
Yes.
That is so.
How interesting.
Yoon Won's daughter is acquainted with the deposed heir.
(Pyeong)
How much do you know about my father, Hwa Ryung?
I do not know much.
You have not...
met His Highness,
have you?
I have.
I thought I had not,
but I had.
Get up.
I apologize.
Who are you?
Take care.
From now on, you must protect yourself.
Do you understand?
That was the day I was sent to Lord Jung Yoon.
A boy servant who carried manure at Prince Geumryeong's residence...
became a noble's illegitimate son.
It was a joyful day for me.
But...
that man had such sad eyes.
He was...
the Crown Prince.
You do resent him?
Shortly after I was adopted,
the revolt happened,
and Prince Geumryeong's family was wiped out.
If it had not been for His Highness,
I would also have lost my life.
If he were able to see you now,
he would be pleased.
My life was full of lies.
I was born Prince Geumryeong's slave,
I grew up as Lord Jung Yoon's illegitimate son,
and now...
I am the Crown Prince's long-lost son.
Who am I really?
I do not know anymore.
I would like to know something.
Sure. Please, ask away.
Who is my mother?
My father's written will did not mention her.
I heard she was of low birth.
It would be better for you to not wonder.
I do not care of her status.
She gave me life.
Lord Sin is waiting.
We should hurry.
I have decided what to do.
I will take the throne.
(Pyeong)
So,
what must I do now?
I will take this...
and alert the Mokinhoe members.
I will tell them Mokinhoe's secret leader was in fact...
the deposed heir Lee Seol.
You will take the throne as Lee Seol.
As Lee Seol?
What are you saying?
Must I come to power as the brother...
I have never met?
I am sorry to inform you,
but you were hidden away young,
and were never given a princely title.
You may be the late Crown Prince's son,
but you may as well be a love child born from an unknown woman.
If we were to make you king,
no one would support us.
But as a deposed heir, Lee Seol's case would be different.
Mokinhoe would follow you naturally.
A fake claim to the throne?
That would be deceiving...
not only Mokinhoe but the people.
I will take no part in that.
Instead, find the real Lee Seol and crown him.
We could not find him anywhere.
He never truly showed himself in over ten years.
To spend even more time to find him,
the current Joseon is in too big of a crisis.
Thousands of people are dying at his hands,
and subjects who appeal to His Majesty...
have their families annihilated.
Are you willing to...
keep letting this happen?
Why are you out here?
(Garden of Flowers)
Just because.
Do the Palace Guards...
make you work hard on the first day?
Yes. I worked half to death...
and got back safely.
That day, I saw a lantern of mourning hanging up there.
(Jodeung: A lantern that signifies a house holding a funeral.)
That is what drew me in.
Yes.
On each and every death anniversary,
I thought of...
the little boy that hid,
shuddering in the kennel.
"How is he doing now?"
"Is he safe?"
You would not know,
but I have changed a lot.
The endlessly vulnerable...
and hopelessly spiritless boy...
you saw in the kennel is no more.
Dan O, you are...
the last memory that does not hurt...
to remember.
I was grateful for a long time.
I never got to...
tell you so for a long time.
(Onyang Temporary Palace)
Have you made up your mind?
I need your answer now.
Your Highness.
What is the reason you are asking me to be...
the watchman's financial backer?
Many years ago, you betrayed the Crown Prince's eldest son.
But thanks to it, the watchman was able to get rid of Yukinhoe,
who was after the Crown Prince's eldest son.
Hence, no one would be able to imagine...
that you are the one backing the watchman.
While you are at it,
you will also cross paths with Lee Seol's watchman.
I must find out...
how Seol is doing.
Please wait just a little longer.
His Highness will soon come to the palace.
He will come to the palace?
Is he in some kind of danger?
Did the King arrest him or something?
He will return to the palace in the near future...
for that is where he belongs.
(Buyounggak)
Let us begin the initiation.
Welcome to the Palace Guards.
Today, your task is to drink from this.
Do not spill a single drop,
and prove that you are indeed qualified to join us.
What are you doing? Let me pour you one too.
Gosh, how could I drink from this...
Goodness. It is leaking.
They are literally pouring wine into a bottomless jar, are they not?
Drink up.
The poor scholars cannot go home today.
I heard the Palace Guards had the toughest initiation ritual.
It was indeed true.
Hey!
Please pass on my thanks to the Queen Dowager.
Will those boys...
work as watchmen when they grow up?
Yes.
If they manage to survive until then, that is.
I have a question for you.
The deposed heir's watchman. What is he like?
Even the watchmen...
do not know...
who is protecting whom.
However,
they are always right by their masters' side.
Day...
and night.
Right by the master's side...
My gosh!
Gosh, Young Master. Try to walk.
Sober up, please!
- No. - No, Young Master. Please, no!
Oh, boy.
San, I can see that you drank a lot.
Did you have your initiation?
Hey, what brings you here?
I came to this gambling den to gamble, of course.
I am not here to see you.
Get out of my way. I must get home before this gets cold.
Dan O likes this.
You stole this? To give it to Dan O?
San.
How many fingers do you see?
Do you think I am an idiot?
Three, clearly.
Clearly, you are so drunk now.
If Dan O sees you now, she will call you a drunkard.
You should let him take a nap. There are many empty rooms here.
There is no need. I can carry him home in no time.
He is a strong man and is drunk now. You cannot carry him by yourself.
I am incredibly strong, but I simply hide it.
Let me show you.
- Give me a hand. - Pardon me?
He is too heavy.
Then get some rest.
I apologize.
I wanted you to sleep comfortably.
Forget it. Get out at once.
I have never seen such a red spot on the skin before.
About earlier...
I was rude to you.
I was on edge for I was still half-asleep.
No, it is okay.
It is my fault for making you uncomfortable.
You did nothing wrong.
How are things here? Do you like it here?
No, I do not.
Even here, I rarely feel like I can breathe.
If you ever encounter a problem you cannot solve on your own,
come to me.
Can I really do that?
You are the only one who has seen Snowflake as an adult.
And that is why His Majesty has spared you so far.
Confirming the rightful heir.
That will be...
my last duty.
So if you say someone is Lee Seol, that person becomes Lee Seol.
If you say it is not him, we will have to believe you.
I will put Lee Seol on the throne.
Have you found him?
I did find someone.
Turn him into Lee Seol, the deposed heir.
Are you suggesting that we put a fake Lee Seol on the throne?
The King's mercy toward you will expire...
the moment Lee Seol is found.
But if you decide to join hands with me,
I promise I will keep you safe.
I...
do not trust you.
Lowly nobodies like me are always the first to be sacrificed...
to achieve big goals.
What can I do to earn your trust?
Next time, let me meet the man who will be Snowflake.
I would like to speak with him too.
Sure, that is no problem.
("Book of Documents")
You still have that book?
If you read it openly like that, you will be arrested.
There is no one here now.
Yuk Ho went out with Ms. Naju,
and the boys are not in their rooms.
You should not read it even when no one is around.
Birds and mice are watching.
So is the chicken walking by.
Do you not trust me at all?
That is not what I meant...
Fine, I will throw it away...
so that no one can see it.
Give it to me. I will burn it to ashes.
No, this book is dangerous.
I cannot let anyone see it. I will throw it away myself.
Why are you suddenly being so stubborn like a little child?
What? A little child?
Have you ever seen such a strong child?
Yes, I am looking at one right now.
Give it here.
What if someone sees this?
- I will throw it out for you. - Yu Ha.
When did you get back?
I got this for San,
so it should be me who gets rid of it.
I thought I could trust you to always be unswerving.
Come to think of it,
this must be what you read in secret.
Had I known...
I never lied to you.
I said these were not licentious drawings,
but you did not believe me.
I am sure he read it out of curiosity.
I begged him to get me this book.
Swing by the marketplace sometime...
and see how many people died because of this book.
How can you all be this reckless?
It is only my heart that blackens out of concern.
Exactly.
You should have only read it once,
not kept it around.
If you had not given me this book,
I would not have read it in the first place.
The pot is calling the kettle black.
(Book of Documents)
Me visiting you at the home only for women paid off.
I was worried you would not come back.
You did not prompt my return.
Like I said before, my concern for Dan O...
Who cares why you came back?
I am not why you came home,
but you still brought back what I gave you.
Well,
it was not like I could throw it away.
Sure. I will take your word for it.
I wish to be someone Dan O can rely on,
but I cannot think of a way.
How can a maiden who hides away in the annex...
be of any help?
Let us find a way, then.
I am sure there will be something you can do.
Why are you always so nice to me?
Because I see myself in you.
We are similar in a way.
We are similar?
All my life,
I have never been able to live freely.
Pardon?
Until you fall asleep,
you should think about what makes us alike.
Delivering eggs is not as easy as I thought.
I do not think I have walked around Jungchon this much before.
You should not have come with me.
It was unnecessary.
I had to keep track of my debtor.
I mean,
the debt is 100 nyang of silver.
Did you not decline my offer to pay it back?
Still, I am glad you have accepted it.
By the way,
you and San seem to have gotten closer.
What? San and I?
You two have been talking a lot these days.
Gosh.
Did it seem that way?
One thing leads to another when we converse, I guess.
The more you like someone,
the more you wish to say to them.
Meanwhile,
you seem glummer than usual.
There seems to be a lot on your mind as well.
You can talk to me about what is troubling you.
I am all ears.
Would you really listen...
if something was troubling me?
Of course. It is not like it costs me any money.
Lay it on me.
Wherever I am or whatever I am doing,
if I use the 100 nyang as an excuse,
would you converse with me?
It does not have to be often.
Maybe occasionally...
like today.
This is he.
He will take the throne as the deposed heir Lee Seol.
Please sit comfortably, Your Highness.
The deposed heir Lee Seol,
the impostor backed by First Vice-premier,
and Lee Chang who usurped the throne.
Only one can sit on the throne,
but there are three kings.
This is Dan O.
Yuk Ho, what is this about?
Your Majesty, the girl you summoned is here as ordered.
He first brought in a girl from the Institute of Performing Arts...
and now a girl living outside palace walls.
I heard she was a woman of noble birth...
who runs an inn in Jungchon.
His Majesty is speaking to her privately in the back garden.
How odd.
A woman of noble birth is running an inn?
Look into it.
Yes, Your Highness.
Are you Yoon Won's daughter?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I have something for you.
Come and receive it.
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.
(The Secret Romantic Guesthouse)
Yoon Dan O. You do not want me to remember you.
Do you know what I fear more than death?
Losing those in my life once again.
Are you sure about this?
While you hid away in the annex,
the world kept changing.
In the Year of Muja, the awakened one will appear.
Lee Seol must soon be making his appearance.
Do not look into...
what has not yet surfaced.
Are you hoping to take the throne as Lee Seol?
Will you die in the hands of Lee Chang?
Or will you open the door to a new world?
The choice is yours.