Original subtitles

[Marriage Proposal]

I'm a widow.

- I know. - You are the Grand Prince of this nation.

- So what? - People will curse

and mock you for being immoral.

Let them.

Let's go.

Don't take his hand.

[Episode 8]

You can't go.

Not until you die

in this house.

Move aside.

Unlike the noble Grand Prince,

I'm a lowly fellow who easily turns petty.

She's the lady of this house.

No one crosses this threshold unless they're dead.

If I get petty,

everyone in this house except Hong Eun Jo

will cross the threshold dead.

Dae Chu! Sword!

Bring it.

Strip away your rank, discard your status. Drop the formal speech.

Can you even fight?

Too much talking.

What are you doing? Just go.

I tend to clash if provoked.

That's the only thing I like about you.

Officer Seo.

Will you just stand and watch?

Men grow by fighting each other.

If I win, Hong Eun Jo won't leave this house until she dies here.

If I win,

Hong Eun Jo will live long and well under my roof.

This is so childish!

Hey, listen up!

I'll decide where I die!

Agreed?

Agreed.

Huh? If either of you actually cross swords...

You handle a sword pretty well, huh?

You got some strength, huh?

What's going on here?

Your Excellency.

How come you are here?

Eun Jo, come with me.

Oh dear, my goodness.

What do I do?

What are you talking about?

Father's here?

Young master, please go stop him.

Father! Father!

You... I knew you'd do this.

You'd inevitably involve Father.

Ah, Father!

Please, stop!

It's my own failing as a father.

Father?

Because you say such things to an eolnyeo,

now she acts so willfully.

She's a girl who tried to deceive us all and get married.

I'll teach her properly

how to be a servant.

You, come out.

You, come out!

Think I won't do it?

Don't.

Move aside.

How pathetic.

Ugh, I'm sick of this.

How long have you been there?

From the beginning.

Go.

I don't want us to look close.

Agreed.

Not going?

This is my house.

Who do you think looks most natural standing by this wall?

Who do you think looks cooler staying by this wall?

The duel isn't over.

The winner won't be decided by swords, but by judgment.

You chose the wrong opponent.

Well, I've never been defeated.

I've never surrendered.

Sorry to interrupt mid-fight.

You're not planning some pride battle,

waiting for the other to go first, are you?

Not at all.

Absolutely not.

You've been standing like this for about an hour, so your legs must be numb.

And your back must ache.

Well, let's do this.

When I count to three, you two go your ways simultaneously.

Ready, one,

two,

three!

Three and a half!

Four!

Wow, even now, those two are trying to be the last ones.

A draw for childishness. Jeez.

I was the one who knew everything and still sent her away.

Please blame me.

Where is Eun Jo?

I sent her out.

I told her to return after calming her heated emotions.

Welcome.

Come, see the ornaments before you go. Young lady!

Come over here.

Oh, how about this?

Just try it once.

My, it really lights up your face, just perfect.

Wow.

Beautiful, truly.

It brings such color to your face.

Heavens, you look just like a celestial maiden.

Try it.

Want to try swinging?

Go up high, really high.

Leave your worries and sorrows far away in the sky.

I don't want to.

Hong Si seems fine though?

She isn't.

You buried all your feelings inside.

Saying 'it's okay' was how you hid it all.

Even now, she keeps it buried.

Behind that 'I'm fine' face,

everything.

[Classics]

Let's check somewhere else first.

Why are you following me?

Well,

if you stumble into a ditch, I'll pull you out.

If you have a drink, I'll pour you another.

If you cry, I thought I could pat your back.

Since when did you know I was following you?

That height doesn't go unnoticed easily.

I tried hard to be discreet, but I got caught.

The reason I sent a letter to Lord Hong is...

What's the reason?

Simply as this nation's Grand Prince,

I sought to correct wrongful marriages

and reform misguided customs.

Oh.

And such a person sent a letter under my name?

Did I?

When I wrote it, I was living as you.

I must've absentmindedly written your name.

Oh.

My hand wrote my own name?

I know.

I acted on my own again.

Hit me once. I can take it.

Gently.

No thanks.

I understand.

With my body, you almost lived an indefinite widow's life.

Naturally, you'd seek a way out of that household.

It was inevitable anyway.

Still, what a relief.

At least our bodies were returned in time.

You are fine, right?

Then that's good.

This is my proposal.

[Marriage Proposal]

And...

You said you are fine.

That's enough for today.

Circumstances aren't favorable. My apologies.

I'm the one who should apologize for raising an uncomfortable matter.

Hey there, Hyeju.

Oh, my cousin!

I was going to drop by your house after business at Hanseong,

yet here we meet.

We'll be late if we delay.

Thank you.

I owe him my life in battle.

You must be Eun Jo.

Yes.

No need to see me out.

Tell Hyeju to rest well before leaving.

Yes.

Eun Jo.

It's over now.

What do you mean?

I told them the land I cultivated was sold, and the money was earned easily.

Keep this matter secret.

May I ask the reason?

I just hope she's feeling even a little better.

Pardon?

I heard Lord Hong's assets were all seized in Gyeongo Year.

Consider this as returning them.

Your Excellency.

Where did you go?

Forgive me.

Don't tell me

you gave the land you received from the Naju elder

to the Chief Secretary's household?

Please take it back.

That marriage was my choice...

It wasn't your choice,

nor your responsibility,

nor was it

your marriage.

It was my mistake.

With that land, you could've lived comfortably...

Enough.

Do not disgrace yourself any further. I have never thought of you that way.

If you truly care for me,

then value yourself.

Forget what happened

in that household.

Forgive

this foolish father.

You told me to forget,

and I have completely forgotten.

You must be hungry?

I'll help Mother serve dinner.

[Marriage Proposal]

[Prince Do Wol proposes marriage]

Prince Do Wol?

Your Highness, was it you who summoned Lord Hong?

He once served as the Minister of War.

The battles he won in the north were beyond counting.

As someone living on the land he protected,

it is only proper

to pray for his safety

and the peace of his household.

Not because of Hong Si?

She's just the daughter of the minister I prayed for.

So you mean it's because of Physician Hong?

What? Why?

Lord Hong was dismissed by His Majesty in Gyeongo Year.

Between your families, you and her are nothing but sworn enemies.

[Hyeminseo]

Thank you.

You returned just in time.

Go attend to your duties.

Yes.

I feel so relieved that you ended that darn marriage.

Ah, now I can finally relax with a drink on my duty nights!

Is that what pleases you, you fool?

I was just about to have a drink with you, darling.

What? Darling?

Why? You punk?

- Darling? - You punk!

- Darling? - You punk!

- Darling? - You!

- Darling? - You!

Ugh, enough!

Eun Jo.

I'm glad it worked out.

Oh, have you both received treatment?

Well...

My stomach's been aching, so I thought it might be the plague.

But it turns out it just hurts because she couldn't get to the privy.

My head started spinning,

so I just assumed it was that darn plague...

It's a hangover.

Right.

You saw it last time too, right?

Lately, half our patients are like this.

False rumors are rampant in the capital.

Still, things outside the city are serious.

The plague, they say.

If it spreads to the capital, public order will collapse.

Plagues come every year, don't they?

If heaven wills it, it'll subside naturally.

More importantly, whenever His Majesty goes hunting to Onyang temporary palace,

the court remains vacant for extended periods.

I'm considering establishing a hunting ground near the capital.

The capital's vicinity is solely residential and farmland.

Impossible.

You should've made arrangements beforehand.

The Grand Prince has left the palace.

Please inform him that I wish to talk to him about my daughter.

I can't stop coughing all day.

You should've gone to the Royal Clinic.

My assigned physician joined the procession to the temporary palace.

I've had severe asthma since childhood.

I've lived in your body, so I know.

You're perfectly healthy, not a trace of any chronic illness.

But since a few days ago...

Is it from injuries during that fight?

Let me see.

Injured?

Just felt a bit itchy.

But I'm worried about him.

If I'm this hurt, he'd probably already drop dead.

Then why fight?

When someone is determined to torment you, the best response is to ignore them.

His emotions are pitifully tangled.

So you think that's why he stopped you?

What else could it be?

Telling you will only complicate things more.

Shall we eat instead?

All of a sudden?

You've worked all day.

No patients, no family,

no husband either.

Surely there's nothing in your stomach either.

So he knows about the breakup.

Could it be...

Your Highness?

I thought it might be you,

and now I see you here.

Is there any other woman you met while in my body?

It wasn't me.

As expected, you don't remember.

I'm Ji Yeon, daughter of Chief State Councilor Han Seung Rok.

Ah.

We met at the palace previously, didn't we?

Yes.

I heard that Your Highness has rejected all the young ladies in the capital.

What brings you here?

There's a plague going around.

My father ordered me to deliver medicinal herbs to Hyeminseo.

That's just like him.

Please convey my regards to him.

I shall do so.

Huh?

What's all this stuff?

Ah, give it to me.

Hey, come on.

We're going the same way.

Shall I ask her to make the chicken soup we promised last time?

What...

Surely you're not going to see my mother?

Right.

Since I once called her Mother, I should consider her my mother.

About the proposal...

Not now please.

Later.

Let's eat first.

No, listen.

You should seek someone worthy of you, Grand Prince.

Why look elsewhere when you're right here, perfectly healthy?

Who else?

Don't play dumb.

Someone like the daughter of the Chief State Councilor.

Are you jealous?

I'm not.

She was a woman I met out of obligation to Mother.

Just once.

I didn't even ask.

You could at least pretend to be curious.

I'm saying this for your sake, Grand Prince.

If you truly care about me,

make me some chicken soup.

Ask the head chef in the royal kitchen to make the chicken soup.

Wait, where are you going?

You need to take this with you.

If you two keep bickering like this,

you won't just be enemies between your families,

but you'll just become outright enemies.

Affairs of the heart usually end in enmity anyway.

That's more natural after all.

Looks like you're really stirring things up, huh?

Jealous?

He's talking nonsense.

If it's about the chicken soup again, then go on.

Well...

I really...

Goodness.

It's me, Physician Hong.

Mister, you startled me.

I need this to enter the capital.

If someone recognizes me, it'll cause unnecessary commotion.

Who are you?

Someone I know.

Why are you chasing her dressed as a woman?

Something happened at Gujilmak,

so I came to ask Physician Hong for help.

Gujilmak?

You mean the plague started there?

- Plague? - Yesterday,

a physician from Hwalinseo briefly inspected the area and reported as much.

Several are vomiting, and some have high fevers.

What's the exact diagnosis?

We don't know.

You mean they haven't even received proper examination?

Hwalinseo was established to manage plagues and provide relief.

Even physicians avoid Gujilmak.

People like me who live with sick family members face the same prejudice.

No one cares for us except Physician Hong.

Shall we hurry?

Mister, wait a moment.

What's wrong?

This is a treatment center with risk of infection.

I'm a court physician by profession.

Restricting access to this place is part of my duty.

Please comply.

I'll go check.

Dae Chu.

Find out who the Hwalinseo physician was that examined Gujilmak.

Yes.

We've gathered those with the same symptoms here.

Let me take a look.

Yum, delicious.

Hey, that's no, no.

Spit it out.

This is our meal.

Are you hungry too? Should we share?

Well...

The young master who came with you is over there on the hill.

Oh, thank you.

Right.

Right?

Yes.

- Alright. - There are plenty here.

Right?

Geum Dol, come down.

What happened?

I'll explain on the way.

I'll be right back.

You'll come back too, right, brother?

Yes.

Brother?

The water collected from the valley had gone bad over time?

Having drunk it unknowingly, all Gujilmak residents now suffer dysentery.

Notifying Hyeminseo and obtaining medicine will take time.

Huh?

Your Excellency.

It seems there's urgent business at Hyeminseo. Eun Jo, go handle it.

I need to talk with this young master here.

I won't cause trouble.

The Gujilmak patients are waiting.

I'll be back.

I thought I'd climb the rope your brother offered and enter the court.

But my father ruined it all.

After ending the marriage, I have to watch her go to Hyeminseo again.

She's going to Hyeminseo?

Ugh, she's probably meddling again, playing physician.

She should worry about me like that, not about others.

Nasty girl.

Isn't it nice?

What is?

That she worries about others.

You're back.

Ah.

Bring some tea.

Yes.

Shh.

I'll bring it right away.

The other day,

I failed to recognize the grown Grand Prince.

Please forgive my rudeness.

Please, be at ease.

[Marriage Proposal]

Do not visit Eun Jo anymore.

If it's because of His Majesty...

Please don't try to persuade me.

I apologize to you on behalf of His Majesty.

I've nothing but sincerity...

I dislike that sincerity.

Those around you would become His Majesty's hostages.

If Your Highness is sincere, His Majesty will use it against you easily.

I will not force Eun Jo

into the palace where only death awaits.

Especially if

it's a wedding.

If that's the reason,

I will protect her even if I have to leave the palace...

No.

Please do nothing.

That is the only way to protect Eun Jo.

If I say I must,

if I still insist on marrying her...

If you insist,

I will threaten Eun Jo

with my own death.

If you proceed despite everything,

I will truly end my life

to stop it.

Please help me,

so that I do not end up

hurting Eun Jo as well.

You're still here?

What about Gujilmak?

I finished the urgent treatments.

Hyeminseo provided ample medicinal supplies.

That's a relief.

The Chief is providing relief using medicine bestowed by Grand Prince Do Wol

and instructed me to express gratitude to the royal family.

Thank you.

Um...

What did you talk about with His Excellency?

Greetings.

He said he saw me in the palace when I was young.

I don't remember, though.

So he also knew...

He seemed well aware of that too.

Ah, I see.

Oh, right.

Geum Dol has been looking for you, calling you 'brother'.

What did you do to him?

I guess I have exuded charm.

You seem to be spilling it everywhere.

Yeah, so you can pick it up.

Why don't you pick it up yourself?

Can it even be contained? It's overflowing.

Where on earth does your confidence come from?

I learned it. Royal education lesson.

Ah, learned arrogance.

Why are you laughing?

Why do you keep laughing?

I just want to keep laughing with you.

I plan to do just that to my heart's content today.

Young master, you're here again today.

What?

The eldest young master ordered everything in this room to be burned.

Leave it.

There's still

warmth here.

Yes.

Huh? The marriage proposal...

Oh no.

Where did I drop it?

Oh dear, you careless fool.

Did you lose something?

No.

I heard

you met the Grand Prince at Hyeminseo?

Since he has such a warm-hearted nature, I've received his help multiple times.

He must simply be doing what's expected of a royal.

Yes.

Do you remember?

I wish to spend my life serving my mother and Your Excellency in this household.

I never wished to live as a lady.

Do you still feel the same way?

Yes.

Then do as you wish.

Young lady, I'll go in now.

Did a message come from the palace?

Is it from the Queen?

Huh?

Why?

The Queen Dowager wishes to see me?

What about the Grand Prince?

I've sent someone to his residence, so he should be...

Oh, there he comes.

What is it that you wish to say?

You look neat enough. That will do.

Who is coming?

I'm not in the mood to see anyone today.

It's not a person.

It's the other one of that pair of unruly colts.

Hae Rim of the Sin family has arrived.

Remember this from now on.

It's the name of that woman you spent one night with and left.

I'm Sin Hae Rim, Your Majesty.

You already know my son, I presume?

Yes.

Sit.

I apologize to you in advance.

Your Majesty, there's a misunderstanding.

I heard you are the Queen's niece.

So she was your in-law's daughter?

Weren't you already aware?

You two...

I heard you recently broke off the engagement.

Was the reason perhaps related to the Grand Prince?

Pardon?

You have no reason to answer.

That question is improper.

Why press someone who's already overwhelmed

by receiving comfort over a broken engagement?

What happened the other night was just my boast.

I've brought disgrace upon you.

I will explain in private. Please rise.

Ah.

Yes.

Sit.

Yes.

I'll be brief.

You both amused yourselves.

No need to speak of responsibility, just hold the wedding.

We'll be double in-laws. That calls for a celebration for the royal house.

I speak now only because I fear

Your Majesty's lingering attachment

may harm an innocent young lady.

I already

have someone I like.

Forget her. That's it.

I can't forget her in this lifetime.

This is my answer.

Find out how long Hong Si will remain on sick leave.

If she has recovered, tell her to come meet me at once.

Is this the disgrace you brought

upon me?

Perhaps.

I apologize

for both the dishonor

and today.

There's another woman reflected in his eyes.

Who could she be?

The woman

who shines in his gaze.

He's gradually recovering.

Thank you, you've worked hard.

Eun Jo?

What do you mean something's there?

Over there, look!

What is it?

What's over there?

- What's that? - Look at that!

Hey, come quick!

It's rice.

It's rice.

Our chestnut tree has grown real rice!

It's rice!

It's at least a year's worth of rice.

Who gave us such precious grain?

[Fill the Gujilmak storeroom with these.]

Could it be the Grand Prince?

I'm not sure if we should accept it outright.

You must eat well and regain your strength quickly.

I believe that's what the sender wishes.

Gil Dong, Gil Dong!

Huh? Gil Dong?

Ah, I guess it's him.

Is Lord Gil Dong watching over us too?

They say he's a master thief. Perhaps it's true.

It's true.

Oh dear, everyone's got it completely wrong.

Gil Dong was just a petty thief.

And I heard Gil Dong is dead.

Hey, are you listening to me?

Eun Jo, did dead Gil Dong come back to life?

As a court physician, I know that death is the end, and you can't come back.

No, Gil Dong would never die.

Wow, even immortality now!

What should I do?

The rumors are spreading like this again.

I thought everyone in the world

wanted us dead.

But there are those who encourage us to go on living.

Like Physician Hong.

Huh? No, I'm not...

- We won't starve anymore. - Wonderful.

- So much rice. - This is so good.

Gujilmak?

Moving Gujilmak here

and using the surrounding mountains as a hunting ground

would minimize the loss of civilians.

I agree.

Is a new royal hunting ground really necessary?

Every time the king goes hunting, Father must also travel to Onyang temporary palace.

It's too troublesome.

Being far from the palace makes court administration difficult, I suppose.

Brat, you're all grown up, huh?

But why must Hong Min Jik cause trouble precisely when Father is away?

Where did the land that supposedly covered their debts come from?

It's his cousin's.

That wench should be kept within our household.

Why must that be?

Father is keeping Hong Min Jik in check.

She's kind of a hostage.

Then wouldn't it still work even if it weren't Grandfather?

What are you saying?

Just proceed with the original arrangements.

What arrangements?

Take that venomous girl as my concubine?

Are you insane?

Wait.

What about you do it

instead of me?

It seems you won't be able to see His Highness for a while.

With royal lectures, it's difficult for him to leave the palace.

Ah...

I see.

The Grand Prince sent the relief rice for Gujilmak, right?

I came to express gratitude. Please convey my thanks.

Did you all hear?

Gil Dong has returned from the dead.

He really died and came back?

He was immortal!

Oh my, oh my!

- The rumors are true? - What?

I heard he even sent rice all the way to Gujilmak.

Huh?

Eun Jo's been going in and out of Gujilmak constantly lately.

Could she have seen Gil Dong?

What did I tell you?

There's no corner of Joseon

beyond Lord Gil Dong's reach.

Oh, Gil Dong.

Oh, Gil Dong!

I see you're here to offer prayers.

I came to express gratitude for His Excellency's safe return.

This is my daughter, whom you once said you wished to meet.

I'm Hong Eun Jo.

Would you write your family's names for prayer?

I'd like to pray for them.

How kind of you!

[Hong Min Jik, Hong Dae Il, Hong Eun Jo, Chun Seom]

Thank you for your consideration.

They say before Gyeongo Year,

there wasn't a single soul in the capital beyond Lord Hong Min Jik's protection.

I was one of them.

Well.

Do you know what kind of man the current king is?

I know little about the affairs of those in high positions.

I'm merely a commoner struggling to survive each day.

But you should know.

Because he raised his sword against Lord Hong Min Jik too.

Raised his sword?

Gyeongo Year,

a year of bloodshed.

Punishing them for petitions alone

will bring great misfortune to Your Majesty in the future.

Lord Hong Min Jik nearly lost his life for his loyal counsel.

Punishing immoral writings is a prudent course of action.

But Im Sa Hyeong, then a mere censor, survived through flattery.

The king swayed by the flattery of corrupt courtiers

ruthlessly purged officials off all ranks

[Royal Investigative Bureau] who would not submit to him.

He even oppressed the former king's concubines and his own half-brothers

under the pretext of threatening the prince.

I'd rather die than live with such disgrace!

Mother!

Mother!

The king who drenched the court in blood that year

filled the royal court with his puppet, the treacherous Im Sa Hyeong,

and officials who were lackeys just like him.

Now he's leading Joseon to ruin.

I knew he incurred His Majesty's wrath by speaking bluntly,

but I never imagined he went through such things in the palace.

You couldn't possibly know.

The royal family and nobility all kept silent.

That's why His Excellency also...

Why are you telling me this?

Because children

should know their father's history.

I say this out of both relief and respect,

knowing that Lord Hong

endured all of that and is now living in peace.

Alright.

I met Gil Dong myself.

[Capture Gil Dong]

Among the people,

rumors say Gil Dong has returned.

[Hong Eun Jo]

A divine being.

Perhaps,

a god is what we need.

I want to know all rumors about Gil Dong.

I shouldn't ask His Excellency about the Gyeongo Year incident too easily, right?

Let's eat.

Why chicken soup?

You said you were craving the soup I make.

Huh?

Oh, you startled me.

Why?

Is this because only half was left after sharing with His Excellency?

Chicken soup, again?

When did I tell you to make chicken soup?

You said it last time.

Why are you acting like a stranger?

It wasn't me...

Nothing.

You've looked troubled since earlier. What's wrong?

I'm fine, don't worry.

Okay, I won't worry.

You told me not to.

You said not to worry about you.

Did that person say that?

Told you not to worry?

What else did he say?

You said it.

Did you forget?

You promised me you wouldn't put yourself through hardships.

And you just accepted that?

What have you been doing on the roof every night?

I thought it might

appear smaller from here.

Why did you send Hong Si back using lectures as an excuse?

Please do nothing.

That is the only way to protect Eun Jo.

Do nothing.

You must protect your mother.

[Marriage]

I'd momentarily forgotten my place.

You won't be going to Gujilmak again?

I heard you saw the plague in Gujilmak.

- Are you certain? - Yes.

Gujilmak is the origin of the plague outside the capital.

No, I don't believe that's certain.

I'll be the judge of that.

A plague.

That makes a good pretext.

I wouldn't put myself through hardships?

He said all sorts of things using my mouth.

Eun Jo.

Did you leave something behind?

I thought you should know, so I turned back midway.

Anyway,

I heard this while having a drink with the Hwalinseo servants.

What is it?

Apparently, they're closing Gujilmak tonight.

They say they'll just clear it all out and burn it down?

How awful. What do we do?

Ouch.

Physician Hong?

If we ask you for help,

you'll know who to inform.

Understood.

Everyone, wake up.

Wake up, wake up, hurry.

- Hurry. - Jeez.

Physician Hong.

We must move the patients outside, quickly.

Geum Dol, go wake everyone up.

Tell them we must leave here.

Is this acceptable?

I am a beast, so I do not judge.

I merely carry out orders.

Can you move?

Come out with me.

What on earth is happening?

I'll explain later.

First, the patients, quickly...

Mister, your leg...

I injured it hunting yesterday. It's fine.

The soldiers are already...

Wait a moment!

What is this...

An order came to execute the patients here and close this place.

Oh no.

Run!

Escape through the back door.

Hurry!

Sun Dol.

Sun Dol.

- Stay there. - It's dangerous.

End this now.

- Take my hand. - Go quickly.

Just save my child.

Take my hand.

Hurry, or we'll all die!

Please go!

I'll be back, so please wait.

Physician Hong!

Hong Eun Jo.

Do you think this is funny?

Because of your family's greed, all those people were on the brink of death.

How dare you act like this when you know exactly where we are?

There's nothing I can do about it.

Being with you makes me lose my sense of fear.

Gil Dong is alive.

Seeing how far you're willing to go to protect him,

he must be someone very dear to Your Highness.

Keep everything about Gil Dong under wraps,

and you handle the rest.

What about Your Highness?

Are you leaving? Where to?