Original subtitles

[herald] His Majesty, the king, has arrived!

-[gong beating] -[court musicians playing]

-[gong beating] -[exhales sharply]

[Yun] From this day on, I will no longer worry about you.

Instead,

I will satisfy myself with wishing you the best for the future.

If you will allow,

I want to take that wish and place it in my flower.

For now, it is entrusted to you.

In the initial examination,

I asked in what ways the sacred herb tobacco most becomes a loyal subject.

Out of many answers,

a certain man most commendably expounded upon The Analects' teachings

that we be slow in speech and swift in action.

This is that man's paper from the palace examination.

I asked, "When a new branch is born of an old tree,

what should it throw away, what should it preserve,

and in what direction should it grow?"

Any fool could see this was a metaphor for my current situation.

Well then,

what did he give for an answer?

In a place where solemn scholarship is discussed,

he dared to criticize the neglect of fact-based inquiry.

N… No, your grace. That's not what I meant.

You wrote, "He who fears to prune old branches

will risk endangering the life of the entire tree."

Did you not?

Not only that, you rendered this thought in frivolous prose!

This is water spilled on white porcelain,

it will quickly dry up and leave no trace.

This, however, is ink.

It will not come off so easily.

And he who spills it is stained.

Do you understand?

Now, whether the stain of these careless words was made in water or in ink,

I shall have to keep a close eye on you.

Yes, your grace.

[sighs]

Follow me.

Hmm.

[scoffs]

Well, my chief Eunuch,

do you surmise why, despite this man's vulgar scribbles,

I elected to spare his life?

The manner in which he expresses his thought may indeed be vile,

but he does not have the skill to deceive me.

A king's life must touch upon the entire world,

and keeping this piece of it close will be useful.

[chuckles]

He is not to be cast aside hastily.

[Lord Yoo] Even if she is able to read the vernacular script,

I worry Elementary Learning may prove a bit…

If reading it is no trouble,

then understanding it will be no trouble either.

You are right. That is true.

But she says she has never properly studied before.

I worry it will prove to be too challenging for her.

Concubine or not,

she is a member of this family.

That membership comes with responsibility.

At the very least,

she must cultivate the discipline to learn by heart the propriety expected of her.

And so, until she does,

she will be looked down upon wherever she goes.

That is true.

Well, we can't have people gossiping, I suppose,

or claiming our concubine is ignorant.

Agreed.

Please entrust the matter to me, my lord husband.

[chuckles]

[Yun] Though it may seem severe,

please remember that all of this is for your own good.

Read the introduction to Confucian learning,

and copy it 100 times.

[So-ok gasps] 100 times?

[whines]

[whimpers]

[Mal-ttong] Young madam?

Young madam, are you asleep?

"Young madam"?

[Mal-ttong] A letter for you.

A letter?

[footsteps departing]

[In-ho] I apologize for breaking your alarm clock earlier today.

I am most dismayed,

as I have unintentionally damaged something precious of yours.

I sincerely beg your pardon.

How could I possibly make amends for such a mistake?

Uh, I am Kwon In-ho, youngest son of the Left State Councilor.

-My house is across from yours. -[So-ok] In-ho?

[scoffs]

You could pay me back for it.

[huffs]

[palanquin bearer] Steady does it. Halt. And down.

[knocking on door]

So she's Catholic.

[speaking Latin]

-Amen. -[all] Amen.

[speaking Latin]

[speaking Latin]

[wolf howls]

[sighs]

My cousin feared you'd be out alone at this late hour,

but she felt a palanquin excessive.

-[gasps] -She requested that I come instead,

as your journey back home can be quite dangerous from here.

[clears throat]

I am familiar with this household and its activities.

All the more reason to escort you home.

When I was still a young boy,

my mother would always give me dried mugwort leaves around this time of year.

They repel the troublesome mosquitoes that come down from the mountain as it warms.

[chuckles]

She feared that her only son's face might be blemished by mosquito bites.

Here. Take it.

Dried mugwort leaves for the walk back.

If a mosquito bite were to appear on your face,

would it not arouse suspicion in your house?

I'm all right, my lord.

[sighs] But it is not all right, is it?

If suspicions are aroused, then your activities will be discovered,

and if that happens, not only I,

but everyone who gathered here will be harmed.

So I ask you again,

would that be all right?

Hmm?

Go on, take it.

Madam.

The palanquin has just returned home.

And the councilor's daughter-in-law?

She returned home, I trust?

Actually, no. It returned empty.

They said that Lord Cho came out and sent the palanquin back to us.

He should not have done that!

Go and have it sent back.

Go instruct them to wait at the district entrance.

When she arrives, make sure she goes the rest of the way hidden.

-Gye-hwa. -Yes, ma'am.

The widow can't be seen with Cho Won.

If anyone so much as catches a glimpse of them together,

the gossip in Bukchon will go on without end.

You're right, madam.

What of the Left State Councilor and Lady of the First Rank?

Has either of them yet returned?

No, ma'am.

Then go with all haste.

Careful.

The road is riddled with loose stones.

If you stumble and fall, I will not be able to catch you.

So, please, watch close.

I will show you which way is safe.

[Hui-yeon breathing heavily]

[people chattering in distance]

Please, go on ahead.

I shall rest here a moment longer.

Ah.

Oh, no. Forgive me.

I had only considered my own pace.

[chuckles] As you wish,

we'll rest before we go on.

[sighs]

Tell me,

why do you yet live, my lady?

Had you taken your own life,

all the kingdom would have wept at your virtue.

My mother-in-law is ill.

The household cannot spare another woman.

And with a new heir yet to be adopted,

I thought best to delay.

But now, my mother-in-law's health improves,

and I will soon be able to follow my husband.

[groans]

Well then,

this is goodbye, eh?

[chuckles]

I'm sorry, it's just…

You would not be able to do such a thing.

Especially if you're aware of the Lord's teaching to cherish life.

[sighs] I am aware of the teachings of the Lord.

It's not as strange as you might suppose.

I have always had a great interest in various fields of knowledge.

Naturally, I've come across it in my study of Western learning.

Hold, hold, hold, hold, hold.

My lord.

Lady Cho has ordered us to carry the widow back.

Did she?

[palanquin bearer] Heave ho. [grunts] Onward.

[sighs]

[palanquin rattling]

[drum beating]

[gong chiming]

Madam, the palanquin has returned safely.

[gasps] My lady.

-[palanquin bearer] Whoa, whoa, whoa. -My lady.

[Hui-yeon] Eun-sil.

Right this way.

[palanquin bearer] Halt. Down.

[drum beating]

[gong chiming]

INTRODUCTION TO ESSENTIAL CATHOLIC TEACHINGS

[Hui-yeon] "Thou shalt not kill."

"Thou shalt not kill."

"Thou shalt not kill."

[creaking]

[wings fluttering]

[melancholic music playing]

[singer vocalizing]

[in Korean] ♪ I thought it was a spring day ♪

♪ I thought I would ride A flower palanquin ♪

♪ Following my groom ♪

♪ On a swift horse ♪

♪ And walk the path ♪

♪ Of a woman ♪

♪ But you did not come ♪

♪ Only a plain palanquin Covered in cotton cloth ♪

♪ Was there alone ♪

[vocalizing]

♪ I thought it was a spring day ♪

[music ends]

[crying]

[in English] Won, are you nervous?

Dear cousin.

Madam.

If you cannot sleep, shall I bring you some tea?

Forgive me for causing you any worry.

I am all right.

You may retire.

[rooster crows]

[sighs]

How can she expect me to write this 100 times?

It was the young master who caused the commotion.

Why is she doing this to me?

[sobs]

[yelps]

[gasping]

Huh.

[So-ok] I am most grateful

that Your Lordship would offer me an apology.

But you need not worry anymore about the broken clock.

It is of no grave matter to me.

However, to tell it true,

my hand was slashed upon the pieces of broken glass.

I had promised the elders of the family

to read the annotated vernacular edition of Elementary Learning and study it

while copying down

the chapter on introduction to Confucian learning 100 times.

But now I am unable to do so, which is a pity.

I'm sure you are well aware, young master,

that a promise is a matter of great trust between one member of a clan and another.

That book…

I have my copy somewhere.

[So-ok] It pains me to say, but I fear I will now lose their trust.

Sixty-two.

Sixty-three.

I only wish I had brought them sooner.

I was glad to reread Elementary Learning.

For that, I have you to thank.

Sixty-five.

Sixty-seven.

[In-ho] I studied Elementary Learning with my older brother.

Sixty-eight.

I was only five years old at the time.

He was like a teacher to me.

Seventy.

-Seventy-one. -Indeed,

it is hard to believe it has already been twenty…

-Twenty. -…seven months.

-Twenty-seven. -Or twenty-eight months.

-Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine. -No, wait.

Twenty-six months.

Thirty.

Uh. Thirty?

[exclaims]

-Anyway… -Damn him.

-This year, the mourning period will end… -I'll start again.

-…so I had decided to visit him. -One.

Two.

Each step I took, one by one…

-One. -…filled my heart with profound sorrow.

Hang on.

[groans] Did you do this on purpose or what?

Elementary Learning allows me to reminisce of the times I spent with him.

In a most tender--

Uh…

My sincerest thanks.

But it seems there's a page missing.

I counted 99.

But I made sure there were 100.

It would appear not. And I counted them over twice.

Would you make one more?

I would thank you.

Of course.

Yes, my lady.

I shall do it at once.

[door closes]

Um, here.

Oh.

Young Master In-ho. My thanks.

Oh, of course.

May I ask you what your name is, my lady?

Ah.

[chuckles]

Yes, it's

So-ok.

My name is So-ok.

Ah. So-ok.

It is truly a most fitting name.

-[chuckles] -So-ok.

May I inquire, So-ok, as to what brings you here,

to His Lordship's house?

Me? Uh…

Well, it's just I, uh…

-I mean-- -You see--

Are you by any chance, the niece of Lady Cho who visited before?

I remember my mother telling me about you.

Then, you must be related to Master Cho Won as well, no?

[chuckling] Yes, uh, so I am.

Oh, well, I'm afraid I must head back inside.

-Wait. -Oh.

-[stammering] -[gasps]

I… I would keep you for one thing further.

Uh, I brought this from my house without my mother knowing.

You said you cut your hand on the clock.

Ah…

If you gather some like this and apply it to the cut,

it should be healed in no time.

You were hurt because of me,

so I must bring the remedy,

-should I not? -Mm-hmm.

I will borrow it, only for three…

No. For only two days.

Two days from right now,

when the two hands of the alarm clock stretch out flat like the horizon,

let us meet here again.

Uh… Yes.

Good night.

[Mal-ttong] Mind your step.

When the two alarm clocks… No.

When the hands of the alarm clock stretch flat…

[grunting]

Let me see here.

Now, how long has it been since we last drank together?

Hmm?

Oh, yes.

Is it not the first time since we drank when I was at Hwaseong?

Yes, that's correct.

You were there for the relocation of the royal tomb.

Hmm.

[sighs] You know, I must say,

I found myself quite unable to comprehend.

Comprehend what?

The king cherished his son.

To seal his cherished son in a mere rice chest,

that I cannot comprehend.

He's a father.

How could he do that to his precious child?

-I can't speak for the father… -Hmm.

…but I think I can understand the heart of the son who longed to defy him.

Until the day he was sealed away.

To a son,

a father can be a world he can never reconcile with.

Indeed. Mmm. You speak it true.

[sighing]

It would seem the prince…

was much like myself.

Two men…

defeated before the dreaded name of "father."

[rooster crows]

[coughing]

[gasps]

Make sure it is clear.

That's how my dear cousin prefers his broth.

Yes, madam.

[groans]

[sighs] If I ever imbibe so much again,

I will be changing my family's name to Cho.

[chuckles]

I would not do so myself, that name has made you Minister.

[both chuckle]

Oh, my head.

Why did you not stop me? [groaning]

My lord! My lord! My lord!

There's a herald out front! A herald from the palace wishes to enter!

-A herald? From the palace, you said? -Yes, my lord.

I thought the king was upset with me.

I thought I was to be dismissed.

Have I not always advised you

not to worry over things that lie outside your control?

It is just as I thought.

His Majesty knows your true heart.

You really think so?

[gasps] Oh. Go now. He is here.

Yes, yes.

Goodness. I should not be sitting.

[groans] My word.

I am prepared. Recite it at once.

-My lord, I-- -Come and recite.

Has His Majesty not summoned me?

There's not a moment to lose.

That is not so.

His Majesty

has summoned a man named Cho Won.

Then, I am not summoned?

[herald] Cho Won, come forward!

His Majesty orders you to read this.

UPON RECEIVING THIS ROYAL COMMAND

ENTER THE PALACE AT ONCE

[panting]

[worker] Another order of paper has just come in.

We work through the night!

Can I help you, sir?

Who are you?

Ah, I… I'm in the right place, at least.

[worker 2] Take it easy now!

At this pace, I doubt this paper will be fit for sale come the morning.

Damn you and your idle talking!

Well, sir. What brings you here?

In the last petition,

you claimed your family was starving.

Well, how have you been faring since?

No better.

Because of your petition,

several officials have faced punishment.

So, I came by to see if any of them had tried getting revenge.

Hmm… [clears throat]

I received your confidential message

and took the papermaker's words to heart.

Therefore, I have commanded for all those involved

to be summoned to Hanyang at once.

Forgive me, your grace,

but it seems the matter concerns more about papermaker Gil-san.

I assumed as much.

Corruption, by nature, is wont to spread like wildfire.

[pounds table]

I humbly apologize, your grace.

You have no need to apologize.

-Left State Councilor. -Yes, your grace?

[king] I shall entrust that man with a task.

[councilor] I humbly await Your Grace's command.

I confide this to you in trust.

What I have begun in Hwaseong

is no less than an act of filial piety to honor my late father.

That is the reason

I shall not tolerate any form of injustice,

no matter how trivial.

My lord husband,

what has caused you to take up smoking again?

This book…

Cho Won wrote this book, did he not?

The other day,

when we briefly passed each other on the road,

I felt the faint smile on his lips bore a trace of excessive lust.

It was rather disturbing.

Did you not say that Lord Cho Won had fallen out of favor with the king?

Hmm.

It would seem…

his fortunes will soon be quite the opposite.

So I have asked him to be our guest here a while.

That is all you need to know.

[sighs]

This is all we need to pack?

You rascal.

You seemed almost pleased at that.

It's just over there. We'll be fine.

-[both laugh] -[Yun] Are you leaving?

Oh, my.

Have you come to see me off, my lady?

I am most humbly honored.

You are talented indeed.

Somehow, you got inside that house.

[exhales] The heavens must be lending a hand.

Although,

who is this assistance for?

Could this blessing be meant for you in the end?

Or indeed for me?

If I had to guess,

I'd say your debauchery was too much for heaven.

[laughing]

Too much, you say?

Well, now, when this little wager of ours is over,

you'll have to see for yourself, cousin.

[chuckles] Until then.

[laughing]

Madam, a messenger just delivered this.

It's from the tobacco shop,

but he said it was intended for Lord Cho Won.

Shall I go after him?

Since it came from that shop,

I assume it is tobacco.

But that red silk vexes me greatly.

I shall deliver it to him. Take it to my chamber.

Yes.

You have no idea how excited I am.

Right this way.

This is the rear garden.

Now that I have you in my house,

you had best put away any thought of escape.

There are so many things I wish to ask you, hear from you,

and learn from you, of course.

[gasps]

Oh, um, these quarters are where my sister-in-law has been residing.

Since my brother's passing, she has been in mourning,

but you know this from meeting her.

A tragedy.

Please follow me.