Original subtitles

Mil...

and bon.

SECRET ROOTS

It means "Secret Roots."

It can't be.

There is no way, Your Majesty.

It cannot be Secret Roots.

What Scholar Yoon Pil

tried to tell me as he died is definitely about Secret Roots.

Your Majesty. This is Mu-hyul.

I am coming in.

What is it?

The dead bodies went missing

at the Autopsy Office in Banchon.

What?

What we don't know?

Each member of Cheonji

has a job assigned to them.

But we don't know the whole story.

The whole story.

And what is that--

Hold on.

If this really indicates us,

we cannot let it get out yet.

The Leader

does not have enough strength to surge back yet.

That is not true.

He has already begun.

What did you say?

This is the order from the Leader.

Scholar Hyegang?

Yes.

If Scholar Hyegang takes our side...

Half of the scholars in Joseon will follow him.

I will go and meet him immediately.

This is Pyeong.

Yes. Come in.

So, who took the bodies?

Seong Sam-mun and Park Paeng-nyeon.

They had the tattoos as well.

Seong Sam-mun and Park Paeng-nyeon?

It looked like

they were trying to match the tattoo on the corpses with theirs.

That means

even the members do not know of each other.

That means

they operate in cells.

That means even Seong Sam-mun and Park Paeng-nyeon

do not know what the whole picture is like.

Yes. It seemed so.

Then keep your eyes on Seong Sam-mun.

He wouldn't

hold back his curiosity.

What about the bodies?

I couldn't find them.

Why do weird things keep happening around this case?

There was also that gun, na, mi, yok or whatever.

Goodness.

What's gun, na, mi, yok?

You northern hillbillies.

Why are you two leaving me out?

You fat pig of Hanyang. Let go of me.

Fine, okay. Let go of him.

Let's start after we eat.

I ran around Hanyang looking for those dead bodies.

I'm about to faint from hunger.

Grab a drink.

Well, you're right.

Goodness, I'm so hungry.

See that?

This is why I call him a pig.

Unbelievable. Look at yourself.

Excuse me!

I'll take a huge bowl of rice soup.

GUN, NA, MI, YOK

What?

Are you saying

Scholar Yoon Pil tried to destroy this?

Precisely.

And he took it from the late Scholar Huh's desk.

What is it?

"Gun."

"Na?"

My gosh, my eyes are failing me.

What is this character?

That's mi. Like Mireuk, Buddha, you pig.

Now, look.

So what are all these? They're giving me a headache.

Everything that's connected to this case.

But the problem is this.

Everything here was not done

by one group.

We have to find the bodies first. What are you talking about?

So look.

It all began with this jade green bundle.

His Majesty got it from the north,

and I delivered it to Scholar Huh.

Then that man stole it.

You're right.

Then whose bundle is this?

His Majesty's.

Then I'll push this to the right side.

Next.

Huh Dam.

He's on His Majesty's side, so to the right.

And that man definitely killed Scholar Huh,

so this goes to the left.

Why on earth are you doing this?

Will you give me a moment?

After that comes gun, na, mi, yok

and the thief that stole gun, na, mi, yok.

-And? -Logically,

the thief who stole gun, na, mi, yok should be the culprit.

But it was Scholar Yoon.

That means gun, na, mi, yok, the one who stole gun, na, mi, yok,

Scholar Yoon, and gon, gu, mang, gi, all goes to the right.

They are on His Majesty's side. And the one who killed Yoon Pil

goes to the left.

-Then what? -In that case,

which side do you think stole the dead bodies?

Well.

I don't know.

I have no idea either.

Get thinking, you animals.

Would the killer have any reason to steal the dead bodies back?

-He wouldn't. -No.

Right? Also,

this happened right after I proclaimed

that I would do a body search at the Hall of Worthies.

Therefore,

the one who stole the bodies

is in a similar case to Yoon Pil's theft.

What does that mean?

Someone on His Majesty's side

did this to hide something done by someone on their side

or to check something.

I'm saying the bodies

were probably stolen by a scholar in the Hall of Worthies.

Really?

Then let's go.

Gosh. Why did you beat around the bush and not jump to the conclusion?

Hey, Bak-po, wait for me!

My goodness.

What great colleagues I have.

COURT LADY SO-I, BRACELET PATTERN

So which side are Court Lady So-i

and the bracelet pattern on?

I don't know. Prince Gwangpyeong took her back,

so they should be on His Majesty's side.

But he didn't kill her even though she saw his face.

And she memorized the bracelet pattern after just one look.

That's why that court lady is still in the middle.

We aren't going that way.

You said he's a scholar. Aren't we going to the Hall of Worthies?

Are you going to go there and ask the thief to come on out?

Then what?

Those were his fellow scholars.

What would he do with the bodies after checking them?

I don't know.

Put them back in the Autopsy Office.

You animal. That's too dangerous.

Maybe he buried them.

These are scholars. They wouldn't harm a body which was given by the parents.

-Back in their house. -Back in their house.

You two look awfully thrilled.

Anyway, we'll each keep our eyes on Scholar Yoon and Scholar Huh's house.

He will probably move them at night.

And the bodies are huge, so he will use a cart or something.

Hey.

This is bad.

-What is it? -We were going to hand over

the two scholars' bodies today.

And they disappeared yesterday.

-And? -What do you mean?

Their families are angry.

You have the responsibility to explain the situation and persuade them.

Yes, right. We were heading over to their houses

to find their bodies anyway.

Hey, what is he talking about?

You know...

Well, you wouldn't understand.

Just follow him.

Those brats.

Is that His Majesty again?

Goodness, he seems so carefree.

You jerks!

KING SEJONG, YI DO

Bamboo pipe.

A bamboo pipe?

Go get Jo Mal-saeng.

Did you not hear me?

Go get Jo Mal-saeng.

Your Majesty.

Lord Jo Mal-saeng asks to see you alone.

Goodness, Secret Roots?

What are you talking about?

What is this?

That is an order given to me by the late king

as he passed away.

He asked me to be prepared for a strange happening

and to help Your Majesty.

I believe

this is the time.

Ever since Joseon's establishment,

has there ever been a time when something stranger

than the recent incident happened?

Your Majesty.

Secret Roots

does exist.

Do you find it hard to believe?

Then please come with me in disguise.

I have something to show you.

This is

the house of Jeong Do-gwang the rebel.

Please follow me.

Your Majesty.

"Secret Roots

will correct the king and lead him onto the right path.

Secret Roots will take the post as the chancellor.

Secret Roots will move Joseon.

By the First Leader of Secret Roots,

Jeong Do-jeon."

This happened

back in Jeong Do-jeon and Jeong Do-gwang's time.

It happened decades ago,

and they are both dead already.

Are you suggesting

that Secret Roots is related to the recent incidents?

How can you be so sure?

What did you just say?

I said that it's time

to keep the promise you made with Lord Sambong 45 years ago.

Please take your side with Secret Roots.

Secret Roots?

Did you just say Secret Roots?

Yes, my teacher.

Shut your mouth! I am not your teacher!

You're the teacher of Confucian scholars. That means you're everyone's teacher.

In the year 1398,

my late teacher Lord Sambong passed away.

And 20 years ago,

his brother Jeong Do-gwang died a violent death.

Then

who do you suggest is left to lead Secret Roots?

How dare you use the name of Secret Roots

to trick me into doing something?

Everyone!

-Yes. -Yes.

Master, what should we do?

It's all right.

There is no meaning

in slaying me right here.

It'll only cause trouble for the Leader.

"The Leader"?

Who dares to impersonate the Leader?

All of Lord Sambong's family is dead.

The late king annihilated them.

So,

how can anyone become the Leader of Secret Roots?

Who?

Who has any rights--

There is someone.

One person...

survived.

I'm asking you.

Both Jeong Do-jeon and Jeong Do-gwang are dead.

That organization showed no activity for the last few decades.

Even if

Secret Roots did exist, they would have been dissolved by now.

Like it's written here, they don't have a leader.

Who can lead such a huge organization,

and even if someone led them,

what's their cause?

They do have a leader.

In the year 1409...

Chodongyosa

of the year 1409.

Lord Sambong's nephew,

Jeong Do-gwang's eldest son,

Lord Jeong Gi-jun.

That is not possible.

You received it too.

Receive what?

The last words

which Lord Jeong Gi-jun left 20 years ago.

That means...

Recently,

there was a fire at the Type Casting Foundry.

The time...

has come.

You already know

that Jeong Gi-jun did not die.

You even

tried to save his life.

Do you know where Jeong Gi-jun is?

This is a record of Jeong Gi-jun's whereabouts.

JEONG GI-JUN

"Jeong Gi-jun."

FUNERAL

I am sorry.

Today was

supposed to be his funeral.

And the coffin from His Majesty

should be here soon too.

Don't worry.

His body will return soon.

Well...

I've delivered something to Scholar Huh.

Are you the one who brought that book?

Was that a book?

What kind of a book was it?

It will help us find the body and the culprit.

Please tell me.

I heard it's called Mahavibhasa.

Mahavibhasa?

What is that?

Buddhist scriptures.

Buddhist scriptures?

Three people have died because of the Buddhist scriptures?

What is the book about?

I wouldn't know.

It's in Sanskrit. I couldn't read it.

What should I do to find out what it's about?

Do I have to find a high priest?

No.

I've seen my husband discussing the contents

with the owner of Byeoksajae.

Byeoksajae?

It's a bookstore in Banchon.

That's where scholars usually go to find a book they need.

I see.

Byeoksajae...

Hey. What did she say?

Is she going to forgive us?

Will she forgive all of us?

The body

will definitely show up here tonight.

We have to catch the man

who returns the body. That's how we'll be forgiven.

Yes, of course.

But how do you know if he will show up?

Because

their bodies are their parents.

What? Their bodies are their parents?

You're so stupid.

Anyway, they will certainly show up here.

And remember. If we don't catch them today,

we'll never catch them.

We have to catch them tonight.

Yes. We have to catch them.

Keep watching and make sure you catch them. Let's go.

What? Are they telling me to stay here through the night?

You jerks!

I'll be right back.

BYEOKSAJAE

Is anybody here?

Who's there?

Are you the owner?

He went out for a bit.

I see.

When will he be back?

Are you looking for something?

Do you have...

I left my money at home.

My goodness. I'm so out of it.

I'm such an idiot.

How can I buy a book without money?

Anyway, I'll be right back. Give me a second.

Sure. Go ahead.

How did you

find out about me?

Why do you

lower your voice like that?

Don't do anything foolish.

No. There are too many people around.

Darn it. Go get that guy.

Who is that?

The one who killed Yoon Pil. Go!

What's wrong?

The coffin is way too heavy.

What?

Did you find him?

He's gone.

Your teacher...

Isn't he related to that old man?

You always boasted about how

that high-flying technique...

can only be done by that old man.

You already know that he disappeared two years ago.

I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find him.

Well, he could be that old man's pupil.

No.

He definitely said I was his only pupil.

Then how can he do that high-flying technique?

Hey, Kang Chae-yun!

The dead body showed up.

How?

It was in the coffin

which His Majesty has given.

Search for the guy who brought that coffin.

I'll find Byeoksajae's owner.

Okay. Let's go, Dwarf.

Yes.

You have messed with the wrong guy.

I'm Ttolbok from Hanjitgol village.

Damn it!

Damn it.

Your Majesty.

Secret Roots

does exist.

Jeong Gi-jun...

"Secret Roots will move Joseon."

You already know

that Jeong Gi-jun did not die.

He's Ttolbok from Hanjitgol village.

Darn it.

Damn it. Fucking hell!

Secret Roots.

Jeong Gi-jun.

Your Majesty.

Prince Gwangpyeong is here.

You called for me, Father.

I want to stop

what we have been doing for a while.

PRINCE GWANGPYEONG, KING SEJONG'S 5TH SON

Yes, Father. I will do that.

After today,

I won't meet anyone who's involved in this project,

and only focus on the political affairs.

I'll no longer visit the Hall of Worthies either.

Tell everyone to wait for the next order

and to keep a low profile.

Yes, Father.

However,

what about Counselor Jang's project?

I will put a halt to it as well.

But I should still take the data.

When were we supposed to meet with Jang Seong-su?

Today at sinsi.

SINSI: BETWEEN 3:00 P.M. AND 5:00 P.M.

Then tell Counselor Jang to burn everything else that's related,

and just take the data from him.

Where will you meet him?

At Byeoksajae.

Byeoksajae.

Okay.

BYEOKSAJAE

-Come out! -Come out.

Where are you?

Why are you doing this to us, sir?

Where is the owner?

Where is he?

-Pardon? -The guy with a bracelet.

The tall and pale guy

who has a voice like a ghost's!

Where is he?

Today is the scholars' union.

You must all hurry.

-Yes. -Yes.

Yes, Ms. Dodam.

Ms. Dodam!

Goodness, Ms. Dodam!

This is bad.

-What's wrong? -The royal guards

dropped into Byeoksajae and are turning the place

upside down.

What are you talking about? They just dropped in?

Ms. Dodam!

Let's go.

Let's go.

Get the weapon.

Let's go.

Let's go. Come on.

Let's go.

I really have no idea.

You idiot.

Are you joking with us?

Hey, how can the owner not know who his employee is?

I'm telling you the truth.

He worked for Master Wang,

who used to get me books from the Ming Dynasty.

I only kept him because he suggested I give him a shot.

I let him stay because he knew a lot about books and was organized.

How could I have known that he was such a wicked man?

Please, believe me.

Get a hold of yourself, and tell me.

Since when did he work here?

It's been

about a month or two.

What are you doing?

How dare you do something so irreverent here?

This is Banchon, where the shrine

of Lord Munseong is.

One of the men who worked here

has killed a scholar of the Hall of Worthies.

And

he messed with Chae-yun.

He dared to kill a royal guard.

Then

are you here with His Majesty's permission?

Byeoksajae is where we provide books to the scholars of the Hall of Worthies.

Under whose order are you doing this?

-What? -Is it the captain of the Royal Guard?

Or the Supreme Commissioner of the Royal Investigation Bureau?

Or is it His Majesty?

There's nothing like that.

You heard him.

He's not here with the permission.

Okay, fine.

Now you're all dead meat.

-Fine. -Sure, bring it on.

Bring it on, jerks. One guy at a time.

Come on over!

-Bring it on! -My goodness.

Go. Go get him.

My goodness.

Royal guards.

Ms. Dodam, we should just talk it out.

Don't try to stop me. I'm angry. You're all dead.

Enough.

Are we leaving after we made such a scene?

We didn't even bring our swords here.

You know, don't you?

You know the guy who used to work here.

Who is he?

I may be the head here,

but how could I keep track of all the people in Banchon,

where they're from and what their stories are?

Fair enough.

Hey, let's go.

Let's leave.

Why is that court lady here?

Hey, Kang Chae-yun!

You! Kang Chae-yun!

Hey. Have you gone insane?

Don't you know what this place is? Are you crazy?

What? Why?

Goodness.

JANG SEONG-SU, FIFTH COUNSELOR

His Majesty ordered you to organize the data and give it to me.

And burn all the books that are in the Hall of Worthies,

then keep a low profile at home.

I understand.

I'll leave tonight.

See you at Jingwansa Temple at haesi.

HAESI: BETWEEN 9:00 P.M. AND 11:00 P.M.

Can you organize everything by that time?

I'll make it happen.

His Majesty tells you

to be careful.

Tell him

to not worry about me.

I'll leave first. You can come out after.

-You can keep this. -Thanks.

What are you doing?

What are you talking about?

Why did the royal guards raid Byeoksajae?

The scholars' murderer was

working undercover in Byeoksajae.

What?

How on earth can they

sneak into Byeoksajae?

Your Majesty.

Lord Jo Mal-saeng is here.

Tell him to come in.

Your Majesty.

I have heard that the culprit of the last murder case

had been working undercover

as a worker at Byeoksajae of Banchon.

Yes, I just heard.

Members of Secret Roots have infiltrated everywhere.

Think about what kind of place Byeoksajae is.

The students of Royal Academy go there,

and your beloved scholars of the Hall of Worthies

go in and out of there all the time.

Are you suspecting the scholars?

You probably know that many scholars

started to admire Jeong Gi-jun in their hearts

after Chodongyosa of the year 1409.

How could that assailant have entered

the palace without inside help?

Both the Royal Academy and the Hall of Worthies must be checked.

We cannot tell which one of them

has turned over to Secret Roots' side.

No.

We can't be sure

who in court might be members of Secret Roots.

The king

must first suspect those

who are the hardest to suspect.

If the king neglects his duty to do that,

there will be

another bloodbath in the palace.

-And? -This case

is not something a mere royal guard can take.

If you give me

the authorities to conduct the investigation,

I will put my life on the line

to resolve this.

Well.

If I cannot trust anyone,

how can I trust you?

Do you actually believe

that the late king

believed you to the end?

There is no such king.

You would not come up with a policy

if you trusted people.

If we could believe in people, why would we make laws and mandates?

Everyone would have behaved on their own.

Everything was created because people cannot be trusted.

That's why we have the Administrative Code of Joseon, the country, and the king.

If I feel this way,

how can I trust you?

If you put it like that,

I feel

much more relieved.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You must keep doubting.

Even if they are the closest,

and even if they are the most trustworthy,

you must doubt them, watch them,

and judge them.

Your Majesty.

Greetings, Lord Jo.

Are you on your way after meeting His Majesty?

Yes.

You've recently been coming to the King's Room quite often.

I heard you met him secretly last night,

and went out in disguise with him too.

Isn't that right?

How can it be a meeting in secret and going out in disguise

if you know about this in such detail?

People say that the palace has ears on its walls.

I just hear a lot of things

because I work with a lot of people.

So what did you two talk about?

Why are you giving me such a look?

What do you

think about Secret Roots?

Secret Roots?

Secret Roots.

There's a word I haven't heard in forever.

It's just an old rumor.

Do you think

Secret Roots exist?

Do you think

the Dragon King's underwater kingdom really exists?

It's the same type of story.

It's just a funny old tale.

Right, I guess so.

Please excuse me.

Sure.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Stop calling me.

Your Majesty. What is it?

Do you trust people?

I trust you.

Then how can you suggest that we kill Ttolbok?

You must already know what I want.

Because I also trust

that his bloodthirst is true.

You're telling me to kill because you trust people.

Someone told me to kill because we cannot trust them.

I guess a king is

destined to kill people, after all.

You know what, Mu-hyul?

Do you know when I wish to kill the most?

When is that?

It's when I cannot trust myself.

And I feel like that right now.

How on earth

did he recognize you?

I honestly have

no idea.

I will have to send someone else

to Byeoksajae from now on.

I apologize.

Make sure you do not

make any mistakes on your next mission.

It's Seong Sam-mun.

Yes.

What's all this?

Counselor Jang.

Are you really a scholar?

How do you call yourself a scholar?

Deputy Chief Counselor Choi.

Please forgive me.

Two of our fellow scholars died a premature death,

and the King has been worried

about all the chaos in and out of the palace.

And you have been reading

this kind of literature in a time like this?

I apologize.

What's your job?

Your job is to discern good books from bad books

among hundreds of books that come into the Hall of Worthies

to lead the scholars onto the right path of academics.

My lord.

But

how could a man of that position

hide away these books to satisfy his lewdness?

You should learn to be ashamed!

I have defiled the Hall of Worthies

by doing something so lewd because of my lack of self-control.

I have absolutely no excuses.

Please expel me immediately!

Yes.

I won't simply expel you.

I will flog you myself!

-Open your mouth. -Okay.

There was a body in the coffin.

And you had no idea?

Yes, I really didn't know.

The cart did feel a bit too heavy,

but how could I have ever guessed?

Have you been coughing out phlegm lately?

Pardon? No.

Scholar Huh's body went missing at the Autopsy Office.

And when you do an autopsy,

they use something called chukcho to keep the body from decomposing.

If you use chukcho lightly, it's good for phlegm,

but if you use too much, it's poisonous.

Yes, you're right.

But what do you mean by that?

Your hand.

Your fingernails have died because of the poison in chukcho.

Oh, I just got bruised

while using a plane.

You touched the dead body.

But according to your testimony, you shouldn't have.

Don't accuse an innocent man like me.

Jong-geum.

Grandpa.

-No, Jong-geum... -Quiet.

-Grandpa. -Jong-geum.

Who is it? Who made you do this? Tell me.

I really didn't do it. Please spare him.

He's denying it.

He is? I guess there's no other way.

Jong-geum.

No.

I didn't cut too deeply.

Did you really do it?

Of course.

He didn't cut him too deeply.

You can save him if you take him to a doctor now.

So just tell me. You're running out of time!

Are you going to kill your grandson?

Come on.

It was

Sixth Counselor Seong.

It was Scholar Seong Sam-mun.

Seong Sam-mun.

My baby.

Jong-geum.

Grandpa.

Jong-geum.

You must've been shocked.

Make some chicken soup with that out there.

Jong-geum.

Are you here to see me off?

I'm ashamed.

You know something,

don't you?

Know what?

Scholar Huh studied Sanskrit.

Scholar Yoon studied types.

And you studied 'Phags-pa.

What are you talking about?

You had lewd books written in 'Phags-pa, an obsolete language.

You've been studying 'Phags-pa, didn't you?

I have no idea what you're talking about.

You are not the type to stare at obscene pornography.

To be honest,

that's who I am.

When the sun sets, my heart gets filled with lewdness

and I can't control my desires.

But I had no other way to deal with that.

That's why I did that.

Counselor Jang!

I'm embarrassed as it is. Don't say anything.

Goodbye.

Then what's this tattoo?

Are you going to keep lying?

This is a mole.

I was born with it.

Why are you doing this?

Then what about this?

You're a member of Cheonji.

The members are dying.

I don't know what it is,

but they all received a secret mission from His Majesty.

And you received one too. What is that? I have to know!

I'm telling you.

I have no idea what you're saying.

Why are you doing this?

You have to answer me.

What is it? Tell me!

Let go of me.

I don't know anything.

I won't let you go until you answer me.

Let go of me!

Scholar Seong? Why?

I have something to ask him.

Is he not here?

YI SUN-JI, FIFTH COUNSELOR

I think

he went to see Scholar Jang off.

See him off?

Is he going somewhere?

That only concerns the Hall of Worthies. It's none of your business.

Oh, right.

Can you tell me where he went to?

He probably

went to Jingwansa Temple.

He needs to get his things from the time when he stayed there.

Jingwansa Temple?

All right.

Counselor Jang.

I need to know what's going on.

What's His Majesty doing in secret?

And who is

killing the people that are involved with His Majesty's work?

Also,

why did our fellow scholars die?

And who will die next?

I need to know.

Counselor Jang.

Go back and wait.

I will answer your questions.

Goodness.

Why did Scholar Seong come this far to see him off?

Hey, look.

That's the court lady.

Put that down.

Come with me quietly.

I have many questions for you.

Even if you take me,

you will not get any answers.

Do you really think so?

Run away! Do not come here!

Run away!

Run away!

Run away!

He died.

He's already dead.

Leave the mountain and let someone know.

Hurry!

You came to meet someone.

Cho-tak. What happened?

I'm fine. It's just a scratch.

Go and get that bastard.

Go and get him!

No one can

see you here.

The high-flying technique...

Use it as much as you want.

I'll be right back.

Wait here.

Hey, Halfling.

It's very nice to see you.

We finally meet.

Are you looking for this?

What is that?

Aren't you here to meet Jang Seong-su?

Jang Seong-su?

Fair enough. You wouldn't know.

I have no idea what you mean.

Take off that mask.

I know who you are already.

You're very lucky. I'll kill you next time.

Why?

You can kill me now.

What's going on?

What happened?

Jang Seong-su is...

dead?

Damn it!

Damn!

Don't ever approach me again.

I'm not interested in you.

Okay.

The...

The high-flying technique...

How was it?

You.

You.

Who are you?

I thought you weren't interested in me.

Are you curious now?

Did I spark your interest?

You son of a bitch!

Subtitle translation by Eun-sook Youn