Original subtitles

You, over there.

What is it?

I knew it.

Who are you?

God... What was I thinking?

"I've let everything go?"

Boys,

unload everything from the cart

and go about your ways immediately,

before you get yourselves killed.

SECRET ROOTS: A SECRET SOCIETY CREATED TO KEEP THE KING IN CHECK

I found the documents.

But we also found Prince Gwangpyeong and the court lady So-i,

at the paper mill.

We took them captive. What should we do?

Prince Gwangpyeong is different from the scholars.

Sir, what if this gets too serious?

Things just took an interesting turn.

Lock them up at Gudalsan Mountain.

I'll go see them myself.

Who do you think you're talking to?

Stop talking bullshit.

That is irrelevant information.

Ttolbok.

The important information here is who I am.

I am...

Ttolbok...

from Hanjitgol village.

Okay?

Thank you.

Thank you, Ttolbok.

What is it? Where are we going?

Where are we going?

What do you think you're doing?

It's none of your business, Prince Gwangpyeong.

You must be...

Ttolbok.

What did you want to tell me?

You told me to come to the paper mill.

So?

What is it that you wanted to say?

Actually... I didn't.

I just wanted to see you.

And to make you stay.

I don't know what I should say to make you stay, but I want to,

and I have to.

You know you can't leave without me.

In the end, you came back.

No.

I can leave you.

I've lived well without you,

and I can live well from now on.

I don't care if I spend the rest of my life

without seeing you.

Then why did you come here?

Why are you here?

What will you do?

This may grow out of hand.

We have evidence of what Yi Do has been up to,

and his accomplice, Prince Gwangpyeong, is at our fingertips.

Then?

Put up notices all over the capital.

We have both the witness and the evidence.

You mean that we have the upper hand now, right?

So, go put up the notices.

-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.

Why did you come back?

You need to quit

doing this.

You don't have to come with me.

But I can't bear you dying as well.

-I won't die-- -You almost did just now!

When I first saw you at the Type Casting Foundry,

and when you went to Jingwansa Temple to see Scholar Jang,

you could have died.

Why are you always the one who has to put your life on the line?

The king sits in the palace and orders you around in safety.

So why must you go around risking your life?

You go around everywhere and memorize things for him.

You're only getting used.

Your talent and your heart are only getting used by the king!

How dare you!

In the end,

you'll get abandoned after he's done using you.

You will

lose your life, you idiot.

My father has also put his life on the line.

He's right.

He's risking much more than what we are putting on the line.

Is that so?

Three scholars have already died.

Do you think His Majesty batted an eye?

People who work for a great cause

don't care about such trivial things.

Don't they usually say

people like my father should be honored to have died for such a cause?

Because it wasn't his own life.

Because it wasn't

his family's life.

What do you know about my father?

What do you think you know to say that about him?

His Majesty considers

the lives of each and every person

more precious than his own.

That's why he's

risking his own life to finish this work.

You know what?

That's the funniest story

I have ever heard in this world, Your Highness.

How dare you!

You were almost abducted by the Secret Roots just now.

What do you think that means?

They are about to threaten His Majesty with your life.

Do you think he would have still left you to die

if that had happened to you?

No, right?

People like my father and Dam...

can die for that great cause, but that will never happen to you.

Why?

Because you're His Majesty's son,

a prince of this country, and a man of such noble birth.

Isn't that so?

You really know nothing about His Majesty.

Yes, sure.

You can only say that because I just saved you.

You weren't taken away by Secret Roots.

Even if we accept that you only have the lowly thoughts of a lowborn,

how could you not understand how he really feels?

He was heartbroken over your father and the scholars' deaths!

That is why he wants to

make an alphabet.

But you think

he will be swayed by his son's life?

Absolutely not. He will never stop!

That is what

keeping the throne means, which a lowly man like you...

would never understand.

Then do you want to find out...

what will happen?

Let's see if he'll choose the alphabet,

or if he'll choose you.

What are you doing?

What are you talking about?

What would His Majesty do

if I take you hostage and say I will kill you

unless he gives up on the alphabet?

Are you insane? What are you talking about?

Go ahead.

Prince.

What will you give up if I win?

His Majesty said he really needs this lowly man's help.

In that case, I will do what he says.

But if I win,

His Majesty will experience the same pain that this lowly man has felt.

The pain of losing your family.

Doesn't that sound fair?

Ttolbok.

What do you think you're doing? Stop it.

What do you think?

You can make the decision.

If you give up,

I'll leave quietly

with Dam.

You can go back

to the palace.

No.

I will do it. Let's do this.

I'll write a letter for Mu-hyul to take.

That I'll die if His Majesty doesn't give up on

making the alphabet.

I'm sure the palace is turned upside down

because of the notices we put up.

What is it? What's wrong?

What's going on?

None of them came back.

What do you mean?

We told them to get Prince Gwangpyeong and the court lady at the paper mill,

then we went to Banchon.

And? They haven't returned yet?

Yes, so I told people to look for them.

Darn it. Yes, go find them immediately.

-Yes. -Yes.

I hope nothing happened to them.

What if they got into a fight with the royal guards?

I don't even want to imagine. How embarrassing would that be?

We already put up the notices. What if they took the Prince back?

Shouldn't we take the notices down first?

"The scholar-officials of Joseon rightfully requested

that Your Majesty reveal the work you have been doing in secret.

However, the answer you have given us

is to let Prince Gwangpyeong move the evidence of those letters in secret.

Hence, the scholar-officials of Joseon urges Your Majesty once again.

Make the secret alphabet public at the Royal Lecture on the second,

and give a royal statement that you will give up on the alphabet.

KING SEJONG, YI DO

Everything that happens

by not doing so will be

Your Majesty's responsibility."

Do you reckon that Prince Gwangpyeong is in danger?

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty. They suddenly attacked the paper mill.

What?

They took the documents,

Prince Gwangpyeong, and So-i, the court lady--

Darn it.

What about you? What were you doing?

They came disguised as slaves of the paper mill,

then they suddenly attacked us.

We were caught off-guard.

What is going on here?

I heard the king is making the alphabet. Something must have gone bad.

They have the evidence and the witnesses?

But still, isn't this too much?

I agree.

People already have gathered around.

We cannot retrieve the notices.

Are we destined to get humiliated like this?

How can something like this happen?

We put up those notices,

but Prince Gwangpyeong is probably back at the palace by now!

Darn it. I can't believe I made a mistake.

I apologize.

Mak-su didn't handle this properly.

We'll discuss who's responsible later.

You should go to the palace immediately and find out what's going on.

Yes.

What kind of a riot is this?

No matter how much they wish to go against the alphabet,

how can they steal the evidence and go as far as to abduct the Prince?

This is unacceptable. This shouldn't have happened!

However, it is true that His Majesty took the evidence away

after he had agreed to open Gyeongseong Palace to us.

What?

Are you trying to protect these bastards?

Protect them?

Nothing truly worrisome has happened yet.

I'm saying this so that we can resolve this without too much trouble.

Did His Majesty not give us any orders?

He has not given orders of any kind.

What can he order us to do at the moment

other than to look for Prince Gwangpyeong?

I don't understand. What is happening?

Didn't you see the notices around the city?

Pardon?

Then is Prince Gwangpyeong really--

All the military forces including the palace guards

have been ordered to conduct a search for him.

What's going on?

The palace guards are already searching the capital.

The royal guards will continue to guard the palace.

All members of the King's Guards,

thoroughly search the nearby mountains!

-Yes. -Yes.

Is it really true?

Yes, so I hurried in to assess the situation.

Then where is Prince Gwangpyeong?

Hey, have you heard?

Hey! My gosh.

Hey, the Secret Roots took Prince Gwangpyeong...

What's that?

Chae-yun, that idiot.

He left letters for us and disappeared.

What?

What is this?

What did he say to you?

"I left your pork with Garion."

That little jerk.

What did he say to you?

"I'm leaving everything behind.

To hell with the revenge or whatever.

I've lived my life in vain."

He's been acting weird lately.

I should have noticed.

Darn it.

What does this mean?

What?

Was Chae-yun here to get his revenge?

Revenge on who?

Who was he after? I'll go rip off his--

His father's enemy.

Chae-yun told me that he was in Hanyang.

Prince Gwangpyeong did not return to the palace.

What do you mean?

It's a word from Sim Jong-su.

A search for Prince Gwangpyeong has been issued in the palace,

and they are in an uproar.

Then, Jeongmu Brigade wasn't attacked by the palace guards

as they were bringing Prince Gwangpyeong?

Yes. An unidentified assailant came and took him away.

But one of the survivors said,

the assailant called himself...

"Ttolbok from Hanjitgol village."

What?

That's Kang Chae-yun.

But if Kang Chae-yun had saved the prince, he should have returned to the palace.

Does he have other thoughts?

According to Kkeok-soe, Kang's father is the one who gave the letter to Sim On.

Then all of the servants in Sim On's household

were slaughtered because of it, isn't that so?

Yes.

But the man who left that kid with us was Mu-hyul.

He told us to kill him if things go bad.

And that kid became Yi Bang-ji's pupil,

then came back to the palace?

His father's enemy.

Chae-yun told me that he was in Hanyang.

Not a single life is worthless!

Kang Chae-yun...

came to assassinate him.

Assassinate him?

Who?

Wait, is it...

Yes.

He came to kill the king.

Are you saying he came back to assassinate the king?

The Ttolbok that I knew can definitely do far worse.

Does that mean he didn't take the prince back to the palace

to get his revenge?

The heavens help me.

Find Kang Chae-yun.

We must save the Prince first.

You must think of our next move after we find the Prince.

We will do our best to find him.

However, if we cannot do it,

consider their request...

Yes, Your Majesty.

What do you think they mean, by "consequences thereafter"?

They have already killed three scholars.

What did you do with the documents?

I kept them well.

This should be enough.

I will give it to

Commandant Mu-hyul.

What does this all say?

I don't know what it says,

but people are saying that there's a huge trouble.

What is it?

Prince Gwangpyeong has been abducted by traitors.

-What? -Really?

What on earth is going on?

Chae... Chae-yun.

What happened? I thought you left.

The notices around the town. When did they get up there?

The Royal Investigation Bureau said they went up between 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

What happened to you?

I got to the paper mill

around 5 a.m.

If they put those up between 5 to 7 a.m.,

The Secret Roots put the notices up first, thinking that they already had

Prince Gwangpyeong in their hands.

I am Ttolbok from Hanjitgol village.

They must know that I have Prince Gwangpyeong.

Chae-yun!

Have you found Kang Chae-yun yet?

Jeongmu Brigade began their search.

They will be in contact very soon.

We have to keep our story going no matter what happens.

The notices are already up there,

and Prince Gwangpyeong is gone, no matter who has him now.

We just have to find Kang Chae-yun before then.

But...

what if the king doesn't give up on the alphabet?

Yi Do won't give up.

Then do you have another plan?

Distributing the alphabet isn't a big deal.

Even if it was distributed, who would learn or use it?

It's a waste of time.

Look at what happened to Phags-pa script.

Then?

We'll take what we really need from him.

Your Highness.

I'm fine.

Your Highness, you have a high fever.

This isn't good.

I will get out and find some help.

No.

Our fight

isn't over yet.

Your Highness, but--

I don't exactly understand,

but Father said

he really needs...

Kang Chae-yun

to finish making the alphabet.

I will make sure...

I bring him to my father.

He doesn't require Kang Chae-yun

to finish the alphabet.

Both His Majesty

and Kang Chae-yun...

are wounded in their hearts.

Only Kang Chae-yun can heal His Majesty,

and only His Majesty...

can heal Kang Chae-yun's wound.

What is this?

Things have taken a very weird turn.

It looks like Secret Roots put up this notice

without knowing that I have taken you.

So His Majesty must believe that Secret Roots has you now.

He probably believes they are far more dangerous than me.

They already killed three scholars.

What will His Majesty do?

Will he give up on the alphabet or you?

His choice will not change.

He will never give up on the alphabet.

How can you be so sure?

The world calls my father

a wise king.

But you know what?

My father has...

King Taejong's blood in his veins.

So you believe His Majesty will choose the alphabet over you?

I guess that can happen.

But how can you say that with such excitement?

Your life is at risk right now.

It's because King Taejong's blood...

also flows...

through my heart.

So you will gladly give up your life for such a great cause?

Goodness,

you noblemen are absolutely incredible.

Your fights are really interesting.

But you know what?

Let me tell you about the people that you want to give the alphabet to.

People who can't understand such notice unless a nobleman reads it for them.

Do you know what they're interested in?

The fact that His Majesty is making the alphabet?

Or that they're threatening him to give it up?

No. None of those.

They're just interested in your abduction.

They're just worried about you.

No one cares about how His Majesty is making the alphabet.

Not one of them are talking about his alphabet.

You noble people are fighting over the alphabet

with your life on the line,

but us,

the people don't give a shit.

His Majesty...

is trying to reform exactly that.

It's to let the people know how our fight, the nobles' fight,

can affect their everyday lives.

He's trying to let them know...

that our fights are not unrelated to their lives.

Even if we knew how to read,

are we going to understand that?

No, before that, do you really think

people will learn and use the alphabet once it's made?

You noblemen's job is to study.

That's why you can recite over 50,000 Chinese characters.

Yes, even I know about 1,000 of them.

But do you know how difficult it was for me to learn them?

Is it because I'm not smart?

No. I had no time.

This is how the people live.

We have to wake up before the sunrise

and work without rest until sunset to barely survive.

When do we have time to learn the alphabet?

You haven't even tried yet!

It's possible.

It took me a long time to learn 1,000 characters out of the 50,000.

And you expect me to learn his alphabet?

How many letters are in his alphabet?

Did he make 5,000 of them? Or 3,000? Maybe even 1,000?

Twenty-eight.

You mean, 1,028 letters?

No.

Just 28 letters.

That makes no sense.

There are over 28 things in this shed alone.

Doesn't the alphabet embody the entire world?

How can you express

over 10,000, no, 20,000 things with just 28 letters?

Not just 10,000 or 20,000 things.

It can contain over 100,000...

or even a million things.

This is it.

You just have to learn these.

If you learn just these 28 letters,

you can write Korean names we can't write in Chinese characters,

swear words, your specialty,

dialects,

our hearts, the sound of wind, chirping of birds,

and all the sounds that exist in this world.

I heard you are very smart

despite your lowly birth.

You'll master this before a day passes.

What do you think?

I have a different opinion.

He'll need...

less than half a day.

Do you want to try learning?

Mu-hyul, are you there?

Your Majesty, do you really have to go?

Where is the base of Secret Roots? Tell us.

Just...

kill me.

How dare you!

If you...

so much as touch Prince Gwangpyeong and So-i,

I will not only use the Palace Guards, Royal Guards, Special Attendant Guards,

and the Royal Investigation Bureau, but also all of the army...

to sweep all of you from this land.

Then I will dismember you on the streets

for every single person to see,

and then eviscerate the lot of you

to display them

all across the land of Joseon.

To re-establish order within this country.

Three generations will be cleansed, then three more after that

for a total punishment...

No.

It's my fault.

Please spare

Prince Gwangpyeong's life.

I will...

I will give up...

I will give up everything.

Did you think I would say that?

Listen carefully.

I don't care who you people are.

And I don't care what you people want.

What's important is this.

No matter what you want,

you will not get any of them.

I will make that happen.

Therefore, I am not negotiating anything with the likes of you.

Also,

I won't get my revenge through blood.

But I will show you...

how you will end up failing.

Watch and see.

Is this really possible?

Can everyone

really learn to read and write?

"Father.

Ttolbok.

Chair.

Dam."

Did you...

Did you just read what I wrote down?

"I met Dam.

I miss Father."

Is this correct?

Is this really correct?

Yes.

In half a day. You learned it all.

The language that we use...

Can we really write down everything that we say with our mouths?

Everything?

You already have.

Your Highness!

Move aside.

When did you get hurt?

When we were at the paper mill.

Why didn't you tell me before?

What do you think?

The alphabet's pretty good, is it not?

Do you think

you can give up on

such a great alphabet?

I'm fine.

Stop with the swaggering.

Are royals born

wearing plate armor?

Try to care about your life for now.

Our bet isn't over yet.

Where are you going?

I am sure the clinics are all closed.

Put pressure on it to stop the bleeding.

You haven't found him yet?

No.

But I heard Gwangpyeong got injured.

I'm sure they didn't travel far.

Find him as soon as possible.

It looks like everything happened because Pyeong wasn't here.

What should we do about him?

He has completed his duty. We should get him out.

Yi Sin-jeok is the commissioner of the Royal Investigation Bureau.

Go tell him.

Yes.

-Where have you been? -Kang Chae-yun.

Royal Guard Kang. What brings you here?

Get some medicine first.

It's a stab wound, a pretty serious one.

-What? -Will you help me out?

You're the only one.

Yes, of course. Whatever you need.

-Grab your stuff. -Yes.

Kang Chae-yun walked in just like that??

What brings you here?

Councilor Yi wanted a book.

Is he still here?

Yes, he's in his office.

The prisoner has escaped! Get him!

The prisoner has escaped! Arrest him!

Get him!

We'll be able to find them if we follow the white clay.

Let's go.

-Yes. -Yes.

You have already taken measures.

What do you mean?

Yoon Pyeong. He just managed to escape.

What?

I didn't do anything.

Then...

This is a trap.

Mu-hyul is pursuing him, using the trail of white clay.

He said he would move with as few people as possible

for the safety of the Prince.

He will handle this.

It's tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the Royal Lecture.

There isn't much time left.

Ttolbok.

Goodness, So-i. What's going on here?

Gwangpyeong.

Who's this? He's...

I told you not to ask anything.

-Treat him first. -Yes.

Boss.

You managed to escape.

I'm guessing Councilor Yi helped you.

The Prince must be in there.

You must prioritize

the Prince's safety above all else. Do you understand?

-Yes. -Yes.

Go to your spot and wait

until I give you a sign.

Who's there?

What happened?

We found Prince Gwangpyeong.

What? What are they saying?

Then is the Prince not around here?

It's over there.

Where is Prince Gwangpyeong?

It's Sokwangsan Mountain.

We'll attack him immediately.

The sun will rise soon. You must hurry.

-Yes. -Yes.

What's going on?

Go back to the palace and report on the situation.

Yes.

We're going to follow them.

Let's go.

Isn't Mu-hyul back yet?

Yes, he's not back yet.

No contact has come from him, either.

Your Majesty, what are we going to do?

Yes, the sun will rise very soon.

He is out of danger.

But I was in a rush to pack everything,

so I forgot to bring herbs that can lower his fever.

There's this plant called honeysuckle in the mountain.

If you brew it and feed it to him, his fever will drop right away.

Yes, great job.

Thank you.

Then, please excuse me.

You do know that you cannot tell anyone about this, right?

Goodness, my lord. I owe my life to you.

Don't worry.

What should we do?

You don't stand a chance against Kang Chae-yun.

Where's Jeongmu Brigade One?

We contacted them. They'll be here soon.

They won't be able to move right away because Gwangpyeong got hurt.

I bought some time, so keep watching, then attack them together.

Yes.

I'll get some honeysuckle.

Wait here.

Should I thank you?

What if you lose the bet after you thank me?

Won't you feel upset when you die?

I will make sure I win the bet

to repay your kindness.

Goodness. You shocked me.

Look at me

Look at me

Can you walk?

-Where's the Leader? -He just left.

There's a woman, an injured man,

and a martial arts master.

Do not lower your guards. Understood?

-Yes. -Yes.

They're on the move.

The Prince's safety is the most important.

Remember that.

-Yes. -Yes.

Let's go.

There's no one over here either.

Nothing.

They were just here.

What happened?

Did they know we were coming and run away?

Go grab the stuff in there.

What happened?

Are they not in there?

Who are they?

The Secret Roots? Or the palace guards?

I am not sure yet.

But we should run away when we're not sure.

Get on my back.

One of them is injured.

They are probably still in the mountain.

Find them.

-Yes. -Yes.

Who's there? Come out.

Mu-hyul.

I got him.

Report this right away and go after Chae-yun.

Get them!

Get on my back.

Take So-i and leave this mountain.

Stop the nonsense.

Get on my back.

Don't you get it? They are the Secret Roots.

I'm sure they are hidden everywhere.

You won't be able to escape with me on your back.

So?

You can leave me here and take So-i with you.

-Hurry. -You can't do that.

Of course I can't.

As a prince of this country, you sound quite dignified,

but for now, you're just my hostage.

You're my responsibility.

Where is the Prince?

Didn't you abduct him?

Are you all right?

Let go of me.

Who is...

that man?

He is very strong.

Your Majesty.

It's time to attend the Royal Lecture.

Why don't you do this?

Tell them that you know nothing about the alphabet.

And that there is no reason

for the King to answer the questions of traitors.

Also, that there is no reason

for the officials of the Royal Court to get stirred because of their question.

Mu-hyul has not returned yet,

so we cannot tell what the situation is.

Do not give them any solid answer.

You should buy some time.

Your Majesty.

I wish to be...

left alone for a moment.

Leave.

Prince Gwangpyeong.

The Prince's safety is at stake.

Then must the Royal Court

and the Royal Family, accept the threats of those wretched rebels?

If His Majesty is truly creating

Joseon's own alphabet in secret,

he should definitely offer us disclosure,

and ask us for our opinions.

Although this is unrelated to the safety of the Prince.

Yes, you are right.

If he really is making the alphabet,

publishing and forfeiting it is a way to save the Prince as well.

Then what? Do you suggest that we accept their request?

Their request is similar to the general scholar-officials' request.

Joseon's own alphabet?

That will turn us into barbarians.

Goodness! Watch your words!

Barbarians?

His Majesty shall now enter.

It seems to be that you were all having

quite an entertaining dialogue.

Right.

Were you talking about the strange notice?

I also have quite an amusing story.

Do you all want to hear it?

This notice says

a lot of things about this and that.

To put this in simple terms,

it says, "Have you created a new alphabet? If it's true, give them up.

If you don't give them up by today,

I will do something to Prince Gwangpyeong."

They wanted an answer by today.

Then I should give it to them.

And this is my answer.

My answer to their question is...

Stop shitting yourselves.

That's it.

It seems as though they thought I would give in and say,

"Yes, sure, I am frightened, and I will do as you say"

if they tried to threaten me by abducting the Prince.

Did they seriously believe

the Royal Court and the Royal Family as some kind of joke?

Your Majesty.

This is about the safety of Prince Gwangpyeong.

That is exactly what I'm saying.

Prince Gwangpyeong is my pride and joy, and he wouldn't want me to ruin

the great work because of him.

Oh, and what else do we have here?

Oh, the alphabet!

Have I been making the alphabet in secret?

Of course, I have been doing that.

And it is almost finished.

I have made Joseon's own alphabet

after our words and language.

Your Majesty!

It's absolutely preposterous

to make Joseon's own alphabet!

Starting tomorrow, we will discuss

this matter at the royal lecture until your ears bleed,

so prepare yourselves.

Right.

The Secret Roots.

I'm sure that's not the case,

but if any of you are a member of the Secret Roots,

make sure you pass this onto them.

You just resorted to violence?

You just...

resorted to violence?

Prince Gwangpyeong.

I have made my decision.

No matter what happens to you,

I will not shed even a single teardrop...

and endure to the end.

Father.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Father.

Prince Gwangpyeong.

Father...

Your Majesty.

So-i.

What happened?

We lost them.

You two...

have made a bet on the king's heart?

So what did you bet?

If I win,

he said he will return to you without saying another word.

Is that so?

I will...

carry out your order without saying another word.

However, I do have one condition.

Goodness. You said you will not say another word.

Seok-sam?

Royal Guard Kang Chae-yun has learned our alphabet.

Is that so?

So what is your condition?

And what's "Seok-sam"?

Seok-sam is...

my father's name.

Your Majesty, I dare ask you...

to never...

forget that name.

Okay.

I will not forget it.

On my honor, I will do my best.

Subtitle translation by Eun-sook Yoon