(All characters, organizations, places, cases, and incidents...)
(in this drama are fictitious.)
Honey!
She's calling me honey again.
Is someone coming home?
Aeng Du, stop eating for a second.
Hear me out.
What is it?
There is...
something I must do...
outside this island.
- And? - That's why...
I cannot marry you and live on this island.
So I mean... You should tell Master...
that you and I cannot get married.
- Hey, hey. - I don't want to.
You promised my dad that you would marry me.
I only promised...
because he would not have taught me martial arts if I had not.
Hey, how can a little girl like you be so strong?
Gosh. Darn it.
Master.
Hey, my future son-in-law is here.
Goodness.
Please have this fish.
What were you two doing here, looking so cozy like that?
Father, he just told me that he will not marry me.
- Hey. - What?
She misunderstood me.
I only said that because she's still so young.
How dare you!
If that's the problem, I'm totally fine.
You're the youngest man among the lads on this island.
That's why you're perfect.
You two make the perfect couple.
I see. The perfect couple.
- Darn it. - Young man!
Nok Du!
Hey...
Your family is in big trouble!
What?
Father.
Who are you?
Father. Hwang Tae.
Are you all right?
Who are you?
Why are you here?
Go.
Go now!
No.
No!
Father. They were trying to harm us.
It will be pointless.
We can just leave this island.
Don't try to find out more.
What are you talking about?
I can't let them go like this.
Nok Du.
If we leave, this will go away.
Just forget about this.
Father.
I know everything.
This is all because of...
It's because of me.
It's because I committed a crime.
So...
No.
It's all because of me.
We live our lives hiding on this island,
we're about to take off again,
and Mother...
had to face such a death all because of...
It's all because of me.
That's it. Slowly.
Hwang Tae, are you all right?
Luckily, his wound isn't that deep.
By the way,
the way they handled their swords...
tells me that they are trained assassins.
Who could have sent them?
Master, please take care of my father and my brother.
Nok Du.
What are you talking about?
Goodness.
You saw how that assassin tried to commit suicide, right?
Even if you get back at them, that will not lead you anywhere.
So...
you should follow the assassin and find the leader.
I will take your father and Hwang Tae...
to my hometown.
Okay.
A woman?
(The Tale of Nokdu, Episode 1)
Move out of the way!
Move aside!
Make way for His Majesty!
Here he comes.
Your Majesty!
What is going on?
It came from that way.
Who is it?
What was that?
Darn it.
I am late.
Die!
What was that?
My goodness.
This is my message to the King.
This stone that I've thrown...
is the very stone you used to bury my son.
It is also the very stone you used...
to kill my grandson.
Get him!
You have demolished hundreds of our houses.
You have trampled on the innocent.
You built your palace.
Your Majesty, my foot.
You are not the King...
He must have accomplices. Find them.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Let us go.
- Giddy-up! - Giddy-up!
Search the surroundings!
- Yes. - Capture everyone you see.
- Goodness! - My goodness!
Darn it!
Let me go!
I said, let me go!
Let me go!
Hey! Let me go!
I found an arrow!
Who are you? Let me go!
Let go!
You better listen.
There! There is someone hiding in there as well!
Check for yourself!
Darn it!
No!
Take him.
You better listen to us!
Take him!
Follow me!
- Let me go! - Come here!
Darn it.
What is going on?
Let me go.
- My goodness. - Please let me go.
Gosh, I was so close.
Hey. I lost him because of you.
Who are you?
Wait. Are you not...
If it was not for you...
Then what?
Darn it!
What are your eyes for? Why did you run into me?
If your eyes worked just fine, why did you not move aside?
Because of you, I have ruined an important task.
I just cannot get through to this dog.
"Dog"?
Hey, how old are you? Tell me.
I was born in the Year of the Snake. What about you?
Year of the Snake, was it?
On that year, I mastered the "Thousand-Character Classic"...
and memorized Confucian texts, so what?
How dare you?
Be quiet!
How noisy.
- What is going on? - I do not know.
Look at you.
I am sad that I am the only one who is witnessing this.
Gosh.
Are you that old man's accomplice?
- What? - You will be released...
by tomorrow if you have done nothing wrong,
so why are you trying so hard?
If you get caught running, they will have your head.
Is he naive or just stupid?
Did you just talk badly about me?
No, I did not.
So help me. Help me.
Help me!
What did you say? I cannot hear you.
You...
Master!
Master! Please get me out.
- What? - Please.
"Master, please."
Master, please.
What's going on?
Are you crying? Seriously?
Are you enjoying this right now?
Well, it is not so bad.
At least I am in Hanyang.
My gosh, I knew you would be from the countryside.
Why did you come to Hanyang? Are you here to see His Majesty?
No.
I came to find out...
who I really am.
What a joke.
I cannot believe this coward tried to run away.
Oh, my gosh!
My goodness gracious.
My gosh.
What is wrong with you?
My gosh, that really startled me.
Follow me!
We should follow the law and the mandatory procedure.
Are you sure this is okay?
We do not even know when the arrow was shot.
This is such an unnecessary hassle.
How dare you!
Carry on with the interrogation.
Who are you? And where are you from?
We are doing this to keep a record,
so answer the question.
I am Kim Won Sik from Jidam Valley.
What were you doing at the market?
I was...
just passing by.
You came all the way to Hanyang from Jidam Valley.
And you were just passing by?
Tell me what you were doing there in detail.
If you lie, you will not be able to walk out of here alive.
Stay alive, my baby.
You must...
You must stay alive.
Why can you not answer my question?
How dare you!
Answer the question!
My gosh.
Let me meet His Majesty.
This is really frustrating.
Let me meet him.
How dare you!
Are you trying to get yourself killed?
No, I do not want to die.
And even if I do die,
let me talk to him first.
What a complete lunatic.
Suppress him!
What are you so frustrated about?
If he really wanted to rebel against His Majesty,
do you really think he would have thrown a stone like that?
And the same goes for that arrow.
You do not even know when and who shot it.
Everyone in the country will be talking about this already.
You arrested hundreds of innocent people...
just because of an old man who lost his son and grandson...
due to the palace construction.
But is this really the best way you can use us?
What? "Use"?
Yes, that is right. If I were His Majesty,
I would lay grass on the grave of the old man's son and grandson...
instead of doing something so unnecessary like this.
I would show everyone how magnanimous I am.
Is that what you were going to say to His Majesty?
Yes.
I was going to tell him that he should at least pretend.
Who knows?
People might get moved by that...
and put in their best effort to build the palace.
What a shallow idea.
I will tell them to get rid of him.
No.
He does have a point.
It may be shallow, but it does make sense.
He is saying that the people of this country...
might start to like their incompetent King.
- Then... - Yes.
Let us pretend.
But do not spare the life of the man who threw the stone.
Yes, Your Majesty.
My gosh.
I know you are grateful.
So let me ask you for a favor.
What?
Do you like rice soup?
Do you have some money?
My gosh.
My goodness.
No!
You are very weak for a man.
How are you going to earn a living?
What did you just say?
You ruined everything by getting in my way.
You talk big for someone who just begged for a bowl of rice soup.
I did not beg you.
I gave you a chance to repay me.
Plus, if I had not helped you,
you would be in your grave by now.
My will!
What am I going to do?
My will.
I hope we never meet again.
If we ever do meet, I promise I will teach you a lesson.
He has a very loud voice...
for a coward and a weakling.
But where am I going to find this woman?
But then again, I am probably not the only one looking for her.
My goodness, what is wrong with you?
Do not eat if you are broke.
Why do you always come here?
Please do not be like that. Can I have some leftover rice?
I would rather leave it to rot. I will never give you anything.
Get lost!
My gosh.
Give me a room. I will stay the night here.
Do you have money?
Of course.
I am also going to eat dinner, so I will pay you then.
Come inside.
(Inn)
Come already.
So I can end this and go see my father and my brother.
Go inside.
Hwang Tae.
I made it clear that you should stop Nok Du from getting on a boat.
Father.
I'm sorry.
Why not?
I am not allowed to learn how to read or get on a boat.
I want to read books and paddle the boat too.
Why can I not do those things?
You have not learned your lesson.
Will more beating teach you a lesson?
Is anyone inside?
(Inn)
A customer left without eating this meal.
Would you like to have it?
You did not have dinner.
Well, I was about to go to sleep.
Eat it. I will give this to you for free.
For free?
Thank you. I will enjoy the food.
Hey, it is midnight now.
Where are you going?
Hey, what is wrong with him? What is he doing?
Are you okay?
Help me.
Hey. Hey, you.
What...
He is dead.
Go and get the chief.
- I will take a look around here. - I am on it.
You said you would pay me five yang for this.
Sir, this way.
He is right here.
What? How...
- How... - Hey, Chil Bong.
Fine. Let me follow you and see who your leader is.
(Episode 2)
There it is.
You are all dead.
- Goodness. - Oh, my.
- Gosh. - Look.
- Why is here? - What is going on?
- How did he get in here? - That's a man.
- What? - He's a man.
This is odd.
- Why do I only see women here? - My gosh.
- What is going on here? - Look at him.
- Why is he here? - Look.
- How did he get in here? - Goodness.
Why are you doing this to me?
You must have a death wish.
No, you must have gotten the wrong idea.
As if.
You must be here for a sly agenda...
because only widows live in this village.
- Get him! - No.
(Women Only, Village for Widows)
Darn it.
They banned men from entering the place,
but there are assassins inside?
I should just destroy...
No.
I would be dead even before I find their leader.
Are you sure this is the right way?
Yes, this is the only way...
to reach the village for widows.
How dare she?
The ceremony is right around the corner.
How dare she run away?
Your men are following Sung, right?
They are searching every nook and corner of the mountain.
It's highly likely that we'll catch him there.
Even if we miss him, he'll come here,
so do not worry.
Over there! There!
Please let me help you.
Please forgive me.
Are you all right?
No!
I am okay.
Who are you?
Dol Bok, are you all right?
- My lady. - Dol Bok.
Goodness.
Are you okay, my lady?
I am sorry.
You saved me, but we did you wrong.
My apologies, Master.
I thought you were trying to harm her.
Forget it.
You should not go to the village for widows.
Your father-in-law is waiting there.
Were you really planning...
to go there?
Do you not know that you will never see me again if you go there?
I would rather not see you forever...
than see you get hurt.
Why do you not understand me?
No. I will not let you go.
Well...
I do think there is a way.
Why are they not coming?
I hope they did not go somewhere else.
My lord, over there!
You wench!
You should think you're honored to sacrifice your life...
for your family. How dare you run away?
You will not be able to meet a peaceful death anymore.
Oh, my!
How dare you?
What is this?
Isn't this...
How dare you hit your father-in-law?
Who are you?
This is not my daughter-in-law.
Do forgive me.
She is lovely.
She is, indeed.
Especially from the back.
Goodness. Look at you.
I think we made a mistake.
- I will find another way... - Not at all.
You look very beautiful.
You just need to fix your gait and voice.
Right, your gait is a bit...
This is not much, but I would like to thank you.
That was not necessary.
Wait, I was not expecting anything in return for helping you.
Have I inconvenienced you once again?
Then...
However, I was taught that refusing a lady's hospitality...
was not something a man ought to do.
That is true.
All right. Let us go.
Goodness, that is pretty.
- Look at this. - It looks nice.
Thank you.
Who are you?
Well... I...
I am a member of the Kim family from Hanyang.
I heard that you helped widows who were on the run.
Is that so?
Come on in.
Come this way.
This village was formed during the Japanese invasion.
Widows who lost their husbands in the war...
came here in groups and started living here.
They told us to kill ourselves...
to preserve our families' honor.
They talked such nonsense.
But for whose benefit?
After living here for some time,
this place has turned into a nice village...
that even His Majesty approved of.
Do you not think so?
You're right.
- Goodness. - I'm dying here.
Do not worry.
Other than the entranceway you entered from...
and the way to the gisaeng house over there,
there are no other routes to this place.
Are all these ordinary-looking women...
in one team?
My goodness. You have quite a build.
You are the best wife material.
My mother's side of the family is known for their height.
I took after her.
- Yes. - I see.
There you are.
Hi.
We have a new widow.
She was chased all the way here from Hanyang.
- Goodness. - What?
Hello.
Do not be alarmed.
At times, there are some brazen men...
who try to sneak their way in.
But we, the Virtuous Women Corps,
catch every single one of them...
and send them on their way to the netherworld.
- We always do. - We always do.
- I see. - Leave those men up to us.
Lady Chun!
She is a new widow.
She is the head of the gisaeng house.
Hello.
Why is there a gisaeng house next to the village for widows?
The female energy is strong here,
so we thought it was an ideal place for a gisaeng house.
And now, the widows...
make alcohol and sew clothes for the gisaeng house.
And Lady Chun takes care of our village as well.
We are helping each other out.
Welcome.
She must be tired. Report this to the Vice-Curator...
and let her rest.
But we do not have a vacant place for her.
It will take some time to build a place for her.
How about letting her stay at your place for the time being?
Sun Nyeo, since you sleep alone, how about you take her?
- Sure, that sounds good. - That works.
No!
Well... So... What I mean is...
I refused because...
I feel utterly terrible...
to inconvenience you.
Come on, now!
It does not matter. We are both women.
No!
I cannot bear such a burden.
Did you not say the gisaeng house was next to the village?
May I sleep there?
What?
At our gisaeng house?
Will you be all right?
There will be many men.
It will be uncomfortable.
I am fine. It will only be for a few days. I will be okay.
All right. How about...
you share Dong Joo's room?
She has terrible sleeping habits but is quite a nice...
Stop crying.
This is so good.
- Come out! - It hurts!
It hurts!
Come here!
My lord.
- Please do not do this. - Come here!
No.
Let her go.
Dong Joo, stop.
You must want to die, do you not?
My lord!
- Goodness. - Goodness.
My lord, what brings you here?
I offered to give that girl a chance to become a true gisaeng.
But that lowly wench dared to refuse.
Look at this mess!
She is not an official gisaeng,
and she is merely 12 years old.
Bring Cho Sun to the main building.
My lord, for now...
What did you say?
You must be out of your mind as well.
You will not take her away!
My lord.
Do you not know that this is against the customs?
"Customs"?
I cannot believe you lowly wenches are talking about customs.
You are right.
What use is there for lowly women like us to mention customs?
However,
it is a different story for you.
I only said that because I was worried...
that someone so high and significant like you...
might lose your dignity because of a fleeting emotion.
Then how long do you expect me to wait?
You will have to wait for another 3 to 4 years.
All right.
I will wait.
Oh, my gosh.
My lord.
Will this do?
My lord, what are you doing?
It will take about 3 to 4 years...
for this much of her hair to grow back.
- My lord! - Why?
I do not want her...
to get snatched away by another man...
while I wait for her.
Or...
will you sacrifice your hair instead?
What do you think you are doing?
If the hair is what you want, I will give it to you.
Hair always grows back.
It cannot be more important than that little girl.
- My gosh. - Oh no.
What an arrogant brat.
Do you really want to die?
Hurry up and teach her a lesson!
- You little... - Is anyone inside?
- My lord. - My lord.
Byeon Hong. Ok Ran. Hello.
- My lord. - My lord.
Yes, what is it?
Everything will be fine.
Who are you?
I am sorry about that.
Are you okay?
Are you a caterer?
Let us say I am.
You must be very upset because of what happened.
I am glad you understand.
Look at what these witches have done to me.
These darn witches dared to cross an aristocrat!
Here.
Try it.
What is this?
Chew it well.
That will help you...
calm your anger.
My gosh, this is so bitter!
whatever tastes bitter is good for your health.
What do you say? Would you like another?
- Water! Water! - Where is the water?
Where is the water?
- Give me water! - Here you go.
- Drink up. - My lord, drink some water.
My goodness!
Oh, gosh.
I thought it was water.
But it was vinegar.
This is bad.
If you eat vinegar with what I just gave you,
it will turn into poison.
My lord, get on my back.
Out of the way! Move!
- My goodness! - My lord!
My lord, hang in there.
Does it really turn into poison?
I do not know. I have never had it before.
My lord, come inside.
Let us stop the fuss. Now, get back inside.
- Okay, ma'am. - Okay, ma'am.
I am sorry you had to see that.
- Your room is at the very end. - Okay.
I can find it on my own.
Look at this.
It's okay.
Follow me inside.
Oh, dear.
She really looks familiar.
I wonder where I saw her.
My goodness.
Well, I am finally here.
But she obviously will not tell me who gave the orders.
How am I going to find out?
Why would you do something like that?
Mae Hyang was only 13 years old when he took her.
But she came back dead, and that only happened a month ago.
How could I let him do that again?
So you cut your hair? You are a gisaeng!
I could not let him cut your hair!
I am not even an official gisaeng yet.
Are you proud that you are still a trainee?
Look at yourself.
He made me get so angry.
How could he mistreat us like that?
Who does he think he is? That ugly little jerk.
My goodness.
My gosh.
I will leave you to rest.
I heard you recently went outside.
Where did you go?
Do not get yourself in trouble.
Do you understand?
Okay.
Why did you do that?
I got really angry.
That ugly little jerk...
caused a ruckus at the gisaeng house.
I really adore this place.
Do not get involved again.
I cannot guarantee that.
You left behind a will and disappeared.
How could I not get involved?
I almost had a heart attack.
How could you leave this and just disappear?
Did you not care how worried I would be?
Did you forget our promise? You promised...
that you would not meddle in my life.
Am I also not allowed to worry?
If you keep doing this, I will just leave this place.
Okay, fine. I will stop.
You really have a way of shutting my mouth.
See you, then.
My gosh, what is wrong with you?
Let me check if she took anything.
Give me that.
Don't touch me!
- Just give me that! - My gosh, what are you doing?
My goodness.
I am sorry.
Why did you go through my stuff?
You...
You are the one who groped my top.
You touched my stuff without permission.
Did you see what was inside?
No.
But wait a minute. What are you doing in this room?
Lady Chun told me that I could stay here.
My gosh, I hate sharing rooms with someone.
Does she think I am happy that I have to share rooms with her?
But then again, I am the only one who sleeps alone.
So I guess she did not have a choice.
You are free to make yourself at home.
But if you touch my stuff...
I will not touch anything.
I will not touch a single thing that belongs to you!
What?
Hey.
I lost him because of you.
I guess you are also quite the unusual kind.
I am not following you.
Okay.
"This beautiful flower..."
"soothes my loneliness."
My lord.
What are you doing here?
"However, I dare say many feelings of my loneliness were blissful..."
"now that I have had the honor of witnessing the beauty of Korea."
You must have meant to say, "beauty enough to cause a downfall."
Well, are you teasing me because my hair looks different now?
I knew at first sight that you were the woman...
I have been looking for.
What...
What? Me?
What about her?
I will leave you to it.
- No. - Okay.
- I believe you are the new widow... - I cannot believe this.
who just arrived here today.
- I am not interested. - Goodness.
I used to have a very important position in Hanyang.
To comply with the royal command from His Majesty,
I have come to this village as its supervisor.
My position is of Class Nine. I am a vice-curator. My name is...
- Yeon Geun. - That is one useless position.
Wait.
I am going to touch your hand now.
I cannot go inside,
but I am in charge of everything that goes on in the village.
- Please let me know whenever... - I do not want this.
So you're in charge of the village?
Thank you.
This will help me befriend a lot of widows here.
I would like to be a very good friend too.
Lady, there is no need to feel shy.
Even if you get back at them, that will not lead you anywhere.
So...
you should follow the assassin and find the leader.
I found her.
I found you.
We have been looking all over for you,
so we could have an honest conversation.
I am not much of a talker. I would like to decline.
I bet it must be tough.
Come with us.
Go where?
Taking a bath together is the best way...
to be friends.
"Taking a bath"? That is ridiculous.
How could women bathe together?
I am very shy.
- We were shy at first too. - That's right.
My goodness, we're all here together.
- Let us go. - Let us go.
- I am very shy. - Wait up.
- You are loving it. - Just join us.
I told you I did not want to bathe.
- Come on. - I am very shy.
- We are neighbors, are we not? - Goodness.
Hey, hey.
I have been looking for you.
You and I...
were supposed to go to that place together.
Together...
Where were you planning to go?
Pardon?
I have been feeling itchy because of my hair.
So I was going to take a bath.
- Come on. All right. - Oh, no.
Let us get going.
No, no! I cannot do this!
- Let us bathe! - No!
I cannot!
Please put me down.
Homage to the Amitabha Buddha, homage to the Amitabha Buddha.
I think I should get going.
Goodness!
I cannot...
I think it is better for me to skip this one.
How come?
Well...
Actually, I have a skin disease.
This water is medicinal.
It will cure your disease.
Please go into the water.
Well, the thing is...
I drowned once when I was young. I have bad memories of water.
Only weak people avoid their problems.
Face your fear and overcome it.
Goodness.
Come join us in the water. The water is clean here.
No, that is not what I meant.
Gosh, you are way too shy. All of us are women here.
No, no.
I cannot...
Oh, no! It's cold.
Isn't that refreshing?
I knew you would come in.
Hey.
That little...
(We thank Lee Ho Jae, Park Chul Min, and Jung Yi Rang...)
(for their guest appearances.)
(The Tale of Nokdu)
So hear me out.
"Really?" "No way."
It's something you cannot say it yourself.
You must have something you want other people to talk about.
Are you Jung Yun Jeo?
I am certain that it was Jung Yun Jeo.
Do you remember the day when Yun Jeo died?
He died after he had buried the baby.
That is what you told me, correct?
It's itchy because I cannot change my clothes.
Move down a bit. Just a bit.