Original subtitles

This is a work of fiction. Characters, incidents, settings, titles, and content have no relevance to real life.

Subtitles by the Anti-marriage Ban Minions @ Viki

Please stay healthy and safe.

Head Eunuch, were you aware?

Aware of what, you ask?

This is the modified list of court ladies who will be leaving the palace.

Court Lady Won

Shin Won...

Seriously, what happened...

Your Majesty!

Wait, what brings you here?

I heard you were off duty today.

You should have left me to rest then.

Things are still hard for you, right?

You relied on Shin Won a lot during your time at the palace.

Oh, that...

It breaks my heart as well.

I fully understand how you feel.

Because Shin Won was important to us both.

Your Majesty...

Lean on me if things are hard.

I am your lover, after all.

Episode 9

What is going on? What do you mean you are leaving!

Let go of me first. What if someone sees us?

Is this something you have agreed to?

But why? You have spent so many years in this palace!

Still, I must go and look for them.

The husband and son I left behind outside.

You said you lost all contact with them, though.

Just how do you plan to find them?

If grief turns to resentment,

it becomes hard like a rock.

That is why

there are masses of rocks in here.

To continue like this,

I cannot bear their weight any longer.

And what if you cannot find them?

I feel that searching for them, at the very least,

would be the proper way to repay

my heart that has kept everything bottled up.

Could things just not remain as they are?

You should assist the king until you die.

Even if you are to leave, send the king off to marry first and then go. Please?

There. Just three bites.

Why did you not tell me even though you knew?

What? That Chun Seok's lifeline is short?

You already knew, did you not? Why did you let my heart break—

There was no human connection between you two, to begin with.

If I had asked you to accept Chun Seok's feelings, would you have done so?

But still...

Relationships and fate are things that are beyond people's control.

Fate, fate, fate! Damn it!

Would you say it was also fate that I was brought back from being kidnapped and almost killed?

So Rang also survived near death. And that is why she is continuing the path of her fate.

Who says that road will be straight?

Even if her foot blisters and bleeds along the way, that is the road that was laid out for her.

Every twist and turn in wandering is part of her fate.

Hae Yeong. Whether that road is paved with flowers or rocks,

you must walk down it to know.

My gosh! You cannot do this here, Your Majesty.

What do you mean, I cannot? We are lovers!

Please, will you! Why are you doing this here instead of in your comfortable quarters?

- Because you are not there. - Then, are you asking me to work here, too?

Work? Is all this time we shared simply work for you?

Do you not know how difficult it is to put you to bed, Your Majesty?

Coming from someone who dozed off and fell asleep before me all the time, huh?

A-All... What do you mean, all the time? I just... occasionally...

Once in a while. There were times like that.

- Then, I will do that "work" for you tonight. - Do what?

Putting you to sleep. Lie down.

Gosh, seriously.

Then, you must promise nothing will happen, all right?

And what exactly entails this "nothing" you speak of?

I share this room with Court Lady Won.

In such a place ...

should we let such a shameful thing happen or not?

D-Do... Do you not know just how much

of an innocent and pure man I am?

For the last seven years ...!

Yes, for seven years that I...

Lie down.

I shall be the one to put you to sleep tonight.

- Close your eyes. - This is quite the pressure.

You must close your eyes quickly, then.

Your Majesty, I apologize, but...

If you are sorry, please come again next time.

Now, go to sleep.

They have returned.

- I'm your servant, Choi Seon Hyeok. - And I'm Ji Hwal.

We have returned after fulfilling Your Majesty's orders.

Very well. Did you find Sin Won?

Have you found... Lee Sin Won?

No.

It will be good to rid of him completely.

The drawers were empty...

It was as if someone gave them a warning in advance.

Perhaps someone among us has been bought off by them?

How could you fail at such a short distance!

Someone just happened to get hit in his place and died.

- Forgive me. - Lee Sin Won, that bastard. You must never let him live.

Follow him to the ends of the earth and get rid of him without fail.

Yes, My Lady.

We could not... find him.

He did not return home.

We could not locate his whereabouts anywhere.

Find him at all costs. Find him, and...

Shall we bring him back to the palace?

No. For now, just check that he is safe and sound.

Sang Ju.

Guide and send him off to his path.

M-My lady! Your Excellency!

This time, I will surely succeed without fail! My Lady!

That bastard is the one you cannot spare.

He doesn't even have what it takes to kill someone.

I've heard the news.

They say the business of trafficking women is no longer possible.

What do you plan to do now?

My Lady, such a thing should bring you joy,

enough to make you dance.

The plans you have set for a long time now

are finally able to bloom.

If kidnapping women is no longer possible,

that must mean there is no longer a need for the Marriage Ban Edict.

Then?

Your Majesty, we can no longer postpone the royal marriage.

Please select a queen as soon as possible and fill the queen position.

Of course! No time should be wasted in pushing for the royal marriage.

The court ministers used to make all kinds of excuses are now pushing, all of a sudden?

Of course, I must select a queen but I am worried about So Rang.

To seat someone other than So Rang as my queen...

That certainly must not happen.

There is a way, Your Majesty.

That is...

Well...

Well?

Well...

If So Rang were to conceive a crown prince who would serve as heir to this nation, it might be possible.

To make So Rang a legitimate queen.

So, to let her conceive, first of all...

I don't think I can.

W-We're going at too fast of a pace.

What do you mean fast? You are now lovers, are you not?

Still, not a chance!

I still need some time to get to know her.

Or perhaps, Your Majesty... Are you not being true to your feelings?

What do you mean? I am totally being true to her! Totally!

Well, um.

In that case, I shall set something up.

Set up what?

An opportunity where you may get to know each other and grow closer to one another.

Namsangol Flash Market*? (Current day flea market in Jung-gu, Seoul)

Yes.

Have you been there before?

Of course, I have!

Because it opens briefly only for two hours and then closes thereafter, they call it the Flash Market.

Yes.

I wanted to take some time and look at the livelihood of the people.

How about we go together?

We will go to look around, and also buy some items here and there.

Your Majesty.

That place is not somewhere you go to have fun.

That place... is great for business.

We must make money!

Well, that's...

Are you suggesting to set up a display to sell goods there?

With so many people gathering there, we must at least make a display on the ground, no?

Well... I am the king.

I do not really need to make money, nor do I need more.

Your Majesty still does not know the fun in moneymaking, I see.

Well. Money, you say. What do you propose we sell?

All right, I will tell them to bring the most expensive treasure from the royal family.

You sure do not know how to analyze your customers.

But to make money, we should sell something expensive.

No, no.

Thread is all you need.

Thread?

This is a knot, right? Please make me one.

Please make me one.

Me, too!

Here. Go ahead and pick your colors.

Knot?

For me, this one.

And I want this one.

There.

Ten bun* each. (Ancient Korean currency, 100 bun = 1 nyang)

Ten bun?

Thank you.

So pretty...

So Rang. One bunch of thread doesn't even cost 10 bun.

Does it make sense that this mere knot costs 10 bun?

That is what you call business, Your Majesty Yi.

No, this is called swindling. Is it not?

Seems like swindling to me...

I am actually... a real swindler, you see...

Come and take a look at the colors.

If I make a knot like this, I should be able to marry Jun Jun, right?

They say the queen selection is near.

Just wait until the Marriage Ban Edict is over. I shall accept you as my husband.

I shall accept you as my husband.

- Come, come. Come now and pick your colors. - Look, isn't that pretty?

- I want to buy it. - What should I do?

There. Ten bun it is.

All right, please come again next time.

Well, Your Majesty Yi?

If you have two hands, do not stand idly by. Increase the inventory.

Ah, right. Yes, yes.

Come now and take a look at the colors. Oh, that would look good on you.

But this is... L-Like... this?

Like this... This, this! Such a disgraceful hand! We must throw this away.

Oh, leave it.That is ours.

Use this for us?

I like that one better.

Did you do this type of business in the past?

Like the weft thread and warp thread, I used to work on connecting two together.

However, I was not able to successfully tie the knots.

Now...

Your Majesty Yi should end the Marriage Ban Edict,

and tie the knot between these young men and women.

There we go.

Wow, so pretty...

Now, now. It is a pity, but we have exhausted all our supplies.

That's it for today.

Next time...

There.

Let us go now.

You said you wanted to have some fun, right?

No, no need.

You were right.This moneymaking business is a whole lot more fun.

We, too... shall make a knot.* (In Korean, it means to come to a conclusion)

Your Majesty, look at this!

You plan to buy this?

Why are you spending all that hard-earned money on something like this?

Give us two, please.

That would be four bun.

Looks good.

Here you go. Can't eat it, can you?* (Teasing the customer)

Can you catch it? Hurry, hurry, get it.

Come on, catch it! Such a fool you are.

Quickly, catch it!

So chewy, chewy...

Dismember him!* (Punishment for treason)

This man, you see... He has a lot of anger inside of him.

Is it right for someone to draw the portrait of the king carelessly like this?

No one here knows that you are the king, Your Majesty.

Just smile.

It is so beautiful.

Give me that thing from earlier.

That trash? It came out so strange, though...

So what if the design is a bit clumsy?

His majesty Yi himself made it.

There.

So pretty.

Hey, hey! Over there!

Who is tying a knot there again, huh?

- Was this illegal? - We live in a time when marriage is forbidden.

All this must not be exactly legal.

They arrest people for even this?

Why! Why would I run away? I'm the king.

Then, I shall run away by myself.

I said to stop! Why don't you listen?

Hey, wait up!

Why do you look at me like that?

I think I smell a sweet scent.

Why are you so clingy today?

What... Me? What did I do?

So Rang.

Tonight, I plan to...

undress in this place.

R-Right now?

Why?

Do you not want to?

N-No... It's not that...

T-Then...

what happens to me, Sire?

Will I... become a concubine?

I trusted you when you said you would leave the palace!

As expected of an uneducated lot... Is that why you are changing your mind?

No matter how you shake up the king's heart,

the queen selection process will go on as planned.

I will see to it that someone else will become the queen of this nation.

I will allow you to stay as a court lady favored by his majesty.

Whoever it may be, I must get a prince out of her.

I do not... wish to do so.

- What did you say?

- I... am not even cut out to become a favored court lady.

I am also not qualified to produce a prince for this nation.

If that is the case, I will have to get you to promise me once more.

That you will never become a hindrance to this nation's queen selection process.

I will not... become anything at all.

Do not worry. I will make you my queen no matter what.

Your Majesty,

do you even know my name?

I do not know my name.

The name "So Rang" was given to me while I was a wanderer.

I do not even have a name given by my parents nor know of my birth.

How can I become a queen or a royal consort?

Why do you not even try to come up with a way to stay with me? You said you're in love with me.

You said you would not leave my side.

Receiving a title ... was never in my plan.

Are you saying you love me yet do not wish to become my wife?

Your Majesty,

we are fine... just the way it is now.

This is not enough for me. I cannot hold back my feelings for you.

Do you think I can hold myself back?

Why not... think about this a little more, Your Majesty?

You're here.

Well... I have some artwork that I drew.

Will you take a look?

What is it?

This isn't a place for this.

May she be excused, please?

Whoa...

Come now.

Is this the beginning of a relationship?

There lived... the biggest loser in the world.

Pardon?

He had never even touched a woman's hand.

He has never even come close to a woman.

A commonplace Born Sul Ro* (Single since birth, has never been in a love relationship)

who was full of romantic ideas.

There was a woman he liked.

Do you think that Born Sur Ro idiot could even let that maiden know that

he liked her at all?

He finally realized it on the day that maiden was put in danger.

That he could not live without this woman.

Not long ago, a friend went to a distant place.

He was a rival who also used to like that pretty maiden.

But he died so helplessly.

He just could not believe it, no matter how hard he thought about it.

That's when the idiot realized it.

Even if the Marriage Ban Edict was in place, he should not hide his feelings.

If he hid his feelings as he obeyed the government,

he might lose that maiden forever.

So...

the idiot is about to confess his feelings to you.

Maiden Hae Yeong,

after the Marriage Ban Edict is lifted,

will you marry me?

Orabeoni Do Seok ...

Could you stay?

I have been thinking about this for a long time and have made up my mind.

Chief Lee Sin Won is no longer here and with you gone...

who would I trust and lean on in this palace?

The king of this nation is your lover.

What is a more joyful thing in this world?

But I do not know.

For some reason, I feel like the end of this love will not be all that happy.

Why do you think that?

You must not know how strong the power of love is, do you?

I mean, look at me at this age going outside to look for my husband.

Love is not something you can overcome by having internal strife.

The way my heart aches...

I do not know if it's the longing that I have experienced for so long

or the heartbreak that comes from parting...

I cannot even distinguish between the two.

What can we do about this, huh?

Here comes his majesty!

Aigoo...

Your Majesty.

What brings you all the way here?

Is it about that thing you asked about?

No, it is not. I came to bid you farewell.

I was grateful for everything you did for me all this time.

To me, you are like my mother.

Thanks to you,

I was not lonely in this palace.

May I... hold you in my embrace?

hold you in my embrace?

Your Majesty...

Goodbye, Court Lady Won.

Your Majesty, Seon Hyeok and Hwal have arrived.

What happened to Sin Won?

Who are you?

He asked us... not to ever look for him again.

What brings you all the way here?

How about a day drink?

How did you know to come to this place?

Old Man Gwaeng Yi sure is clairvoyant.

"You will be able to see Chief Lee Sin Won right around this place."

That's what he said.

No need to address me as "chief" any longer.

I stepped down from the position.

Then...

Hyeong?

Do not joke around. Am I older than you?

Were you not born in the Year of the Tiger?

I was born in the Year of the Dragon.* (Two years younger than Sin Won)

Born in the Year of the Dragon...

You're the same age as Chun Seok.

Please speak down to me, Hyeong.

Is something the matter?

I... confessed my feelings of love... to Maiden Hae Yeong.

Orabeoni Do Seok, I ...

don't know what... love is yet.

You're doing this all of a sudden.

It feels strange and awkward.

I feel pressured, too.

By the way, Hyeong.

Can I forget everything just because I tried?

The feelings are...

just like my right hand.

It's always been a part of my body ,

but I can't even control it nor train it.

Can you not use that arm anymore, then?

There's an extremely slim chance, but...

Isn't it better not to nurture any hope?

What will you do then, Hyeong?

The arm doesn't hurt.

It hurts inside.

Perhaps... it's because there's hope inside.

If you gave up completely, it wouldn't hurt, either.

If I felt better in the mountains,

I was thinking of staying, too.

Your Majesty, do you have a moment?

There's something I'd like to show you right now.

What is this?

It's for the two of you who just got together.

It's my modest gift.

Anything that would happen in this place

would be a secret.

Well, this is outdoors, isn't it?

What do you mean, "outdoors"?

It's quite cozy once you go inside.

I've asked around, and... since So Rang was a vagrant before,

she likes to sleep outside, apparently.

Well, that's not the same...

- as this. - Isn't it, though?

Try trusting it this time, too.

Your Majesty's...

bag of tricks.

I guess his majesty stopped by.

So Rang.

Well, yes. So, please step out for a moment.

Why didn't you rest longer?

Well...

Your Majesty!

When did you leave those flowers?

Well... I-I thought...

you might be woken up.

Did you miss me already?

Yes.

Did you make that bouquet yourself?

Well...

Forget it. That's enough.

Why?

Can't I do this to my lover?

Oh, wait... Um...

I have a lot of things to do. Let's meet in the evening.

In the evening. Well...

Well, over here!

This way, this way.

Here, here!

His majesty sent you to keep the promise, didn't he?

However...

I can't arrange a blind introduction meeting at this rate.

- Why not? - I think you know.

- Do you not like how we look? - No.

- Don't hurt me like that. Do you mean it? - Yes.

I believe you since you sound so firm.

Oh, well...

If you went to the blind introduction meeting looking like that,

you'd either get waterboarded or slapped.

Our faces are the culprits, right?

But... you know who I am.

I was the head court lady of the Joseon dynasty until yesterday.

I'm good at cleaning and polishing anything up.

Nunim!

However, there's one condition.

What is it?

I'm looking for a man.

His name is Hwang Dong Sik.

He's my husband from whom I parted 25 years ago.

It's all right.

It's all fine now that you have returned.

I put everything from the palace here.

Young Master, you worked so hard and lived

so diligently to get to that place.

Can't believe that happened to my gentle young master.

I put it up here because it seemed like a valuable book.

Why is his majesty acting like that all of a sudden?

I can't believe I gave something like this to his majesty.

I was so immature.

You were...

You were busy. I thought you were just a baby.

- It's not like that. - Aigoo, silly me.

I forgot to feed the dog.

Well, I said it's not like that!

This doesn't look like mine.

April 5, 1858, Year of the Horse, To the Lee Family of Gyeongju

Why am I being called here today?

What's all this?

Well...

We can...

eat meat outside, sit in front of the fire,

and while enjoying the outdoor scenery,

we can have fun drinking, too.

You wanted to drink outside?

We can drink in there.

I see. Let's start with drinking, then!

Why is that here, by the way?

So you can lean or lie down if you get tired while drinking.

What?

That's amazing!

Why couldn't I think of that before?

Should we go ahead and start drinking, then?

All right.

Shall we?

You must've been really surprised then.

When I brought you that book saying it's literature...

Why bring that up now?

I was tidying up the Gangnyeongjeon, (Official residence of the king)

and found that book.

and found that book. Even when I look at it now...

I was so immature, wasn't I? I dared to give a book like that to the head of the country.

You talk as if you're mature now.

But I was more surprised the other time.

You were so pretty then.

When I twirled like this?

Did I tell you?

That everything that happens here will be a secret.

Even if we drink,

make a mess, dance, or

something shameful happens.

You said everything that happens in here is a secret.

Don't do it.

Can't I?

Don't do it. You should experience it, too.

I can't hold it in.

But you told me to.

This is a tough thing to do.

♫ I think only about you all day. ♫

♫ Because I wonder if you know how I feel, ♫

♫ Because I long for you, because I always want to see you. ♫

♫ If I'm not with you for even a day, ♫

♫ I cannot do anything ♫

♫ Although I'm doing my best again to pretend to be calm and to pretend to be fine ♫

♫ By any chance, can you hear me? ♫

♫ Do you feel the same way? ♫

♫ My small wish reaches that sky ♫

♫ I hope you can approach me a step at a time ♫

April 5, 1858, Year of the Horse, To the Lee Family of Gyeongju

Ye Hyeon Seon

Did she know that she was to be married to me?

Is your name Chief Lee Sin Won?

The willow tree family's firstborn son?

Then, before the Marriage Ban Edict was issued, what did you do?

What?

I was a beggar.

Ye Hyeon Seon.

You knew it was me, but you pretended not to know?

Old Man!

Old Man! Old Man!

Old Man!

Old Man!

What's going on?

Chief!

He suddenly started boiling with a fever and got sick.

Elder, are you all right?

Because he's an old man,

you don't know what will happen and when.

I think his family should come.

If so...

I think I should call Eonni So Rang.

You were here.

I had no idea where you were. So I looked for you everywhere.

What's this about?

You got a letter from outside the palace.

Eonni, the Old Man is dying. Please come quickly.

How come you're not sleeping?

I talked to the Chief Royal Secretary a lot earlier today.

If your status and name are the issues, he suggested

getting you adopted by a good family.

I thought about this a lot. Please don't turn this down, too.

Your Majesty.

I think I need to go home.

I need to confirm.

What brings you all the way here?

Tell your mistress.

That the man who almost became her son-in-law is here.

How dare he come here?

Bring out all the weapons in storage.

We'll use force if necessary.

Right, give snowbell resin to His Excellency.

It might get noisy.

It'd be better if he slept.

Yes, My Lady.

You came to see me?

You almost became my mother-in-law.

There is no reason I could not come to see you.

You think I still want you as Hyeon Seon's husband?

Do you still call your younger daughter "Hyeon Seon"?

Be careful what you say!

There's the real Ye Hyeon Seon out there.

How dare you say something crazy like that without proof?

I was the Chief of the Royal Investigation Bureau.

You think I came here without proof?

Ye Hyeon Seon

How dare you bring up this nonsense?

You people...

conspired with the kidnappers to commit treason like this!

Treason?

I'm not the traitor of this country.

That wench who dared to fool the king of Joseon.

It's that bitch So Rang.

If I uttered a word,

she will get beheaded as soon as tomorrow.

Do not speak carelessly.

Did you not know?

That wench does not have any ability to channel spirits at all.

Go ask her yourself.

About when and how she got her spiritual power.

Did you not know that anything that comes out of her mouth is a lie?

If you want her to die, go ahead and blabber your mouth.

Tell them that bitch So Rang is the real Ye Hyeon Seon.

What did he say? Did he threaten you?

So, we should've reported her as a swindler earlier.

It'd be a problem if the investigation took longer.

They might mention us, too.

Will you let him go like this?

He cannot even use one of his arms.

Could he even do anything?

Even though I'm not around, please eat well and sleep well, too.

They will be protecting you.

You do not have to do this.

I think I can rest assured only if I do this.

Thank you in advance, then.

I'll be right back.

My gosh, Old Man, look at yourself.

You're like a dried persimmon.

Your Highness the queen.

What brings you to this humble place?

Please return to the palace.

What's wrong with him?

He's been saying nonsense since a few days ago.

Your Highness, you can't be out right now.

Seriously...

He's doing that because he has a high fever.

He'd be in critical condition a few more times.

He needs to turn those corners well.

Aren't you short on medicine ingredients?

Haven't you seen them?

How did you afford all these ingredients?

The thing is...

So...

Sin Won was here, wasn't he?

How's his condition?

Here, Old Man.

That's right.

Your Majesty, I think it might take longer.

The physician says Old Man Gwaeng Yi is not doing well at all.

He cannot figure out the cause,

but he says it's critical that he rests.

I'll come to meet you as soon as he gets better.

So please don't worry and be well.

Sin Won.

Your arm...

It just ended up like this.

You should've told me.

It's not your fault, So Rang.

How have you been?

I became his majesty's woman.

I see.

You must've been given a title, then.

But I haven't heard about that.

It's because we decided to keep everything a secret.

What?

You know, that I'm not qualified to become a royal concubine.

So Rang.

Why have you been hiding it?

Why did you play ignorant?

That you're Ye Hyeon Seon.

I have been looking for you for seven years.

I tried to forget myself for seven years.

Otherwise it'd be too unfair and hard.

Why did I have to get everything taken away from me?

If I keep thinking about that, it'd be too awful.

You might've lost your bride,

but I lost everything.

My family,

my name,

and my whole being, too.

I couldn't acknowledge it because I'm not Ye Hyeon Seon.

Ye Hyeon Seon already died then.

If you talk like that, I won't be able to believe that it was all a lie.

I heard about everything.

That you don't have spiritual power.

Was that all a lie, too?

That you could channel the spirit of the dead crown princess?

What did you...

just say?

All of that ...

was a lie?

Since when and up to what point did you lie, exactly?

Your Majesty...

So Rang,

you cannot return to the palace anymore.

Subtitles by the Anti-marriage Ban Minions @ Viki

♫ On this night, when even the moon is asleep ♫

♫ Where are you going in such a rush? ♫

The Forbidden Marriage

We select the best maiden of Joseon here and now.

Even for this queen selection, will they let the royal family choose whom they want?

Ye Hyeon Seon, the eldest daughter of the Minister of Personnel Affairs.

Apparently, she's the most likely to become the queen.

How could you not know that everyone but you was bought off, Your Highness?

What if I'm not wrong?

We need another option just in case.

I have only been running away all this time.

I cannot do that any longer.

I'm the real Ye Hyeon Seon.

♫ I still... ♫