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Episode 119

I promoted Heo Jun to the first rank and made him chancellor...

...in recognition of his past service.

But the scholars and officials don't like it.

Usually I would ignore their whining.

But the scholars have presented a scandal...

...which I cannot ignore.

This scandal involves you.

Is it true that you two have been close for years?

Well? Tell the truth.

Your Majesty, my father was a doctor.

After he died while treating plague victims across the country...

...I ended up as a nurse at Yu Eui-tae's pharmacy.

I met Doctor Heo there when I was nineteen.

From his days as an herbalist to the pharmacy and being a doctor...

...he has always shown great compassion to the sick.

He thought nothing of sucking pus from a poor man's infection.

He spent years treating those no others would touch.

Even living among them.

I have always cared deeply for Doctor Heo.

With the deepest respect.

And longing.

But Your Majesty...

I consider it a blessing to walk the same path, under the same sky.

It is enough just to offer what help I can.

Doctor Heo has a love that transcends status and death.

His dear wife also...

...lived a long life of suffering for Doctor Heo that the likes of me cannot imagine.

How could I possibly profane such a love?

Your Majesty...

I truly love and adore him.

But only in my heart, nowhere else.

If this is something that is worthy of contempt,

I will accept punishment.

But, it would not be right to punish Doctor Heo.

Please reconsider, Your Majesty.

Ye-jin.

You have given me so much and I've returned only pain.

I will speak with the King.

I will explain that these rumors are baseless infamies.

Being a chancellor of the first rank means nothing...

...if it dishonors you.

Doctor Heo.

You needn't worry about me.

I am only sorry that I caused you trouble.

Forgive me.

Ye-jin.

Don't say a word.

I know your heart.

Minister.

Your Majesty.

Doctor Heo will be chancellor of the first rank.

But the scholars' appeals?

Do as I say.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You didn't know?

How Ye-jin felt for you?

And you went your way, oblivious?

Indifference is cruel.

Sang-hwa.

Yes?

There's an old poem.

At age eight,

I snuck in the mirror and painted my face.

At age ten,

I went go to pick herbs in my finest dress.

At age twelve, I learned the lyre,

I never put it down.

At age fourteen,

suddenly shy around boys,

I hid behind my parents.

At age fifteen,

Spring broke my heart.

So I hung my head and cried.

The Tang poet Li Shangyin.

After I met someone on a Spring night,

Spring always breaks my heart.

My heart hurt every time I thought of that person.

Listen to me, going on about useless things.

Nurse.

Sang-hwa.

Yes.

I'm leaving the palace.

Nurse.

I'm going back to Samjuk.

To look after Master Samjuk and care for the sick.

Ye-jin.

But I have a favor to ask.

Look after Doctor Heo.

He has much work ahead,

in order to complete his medical text.

I could ask for nothing more than to help him.

But it's not to be.

Look after him.

Nurse.

The owl's cries are so sad.

Where's the fire this time?

Is it war again?

I just opened up shop again.

Don't even mention war.

I still have a ways to go before I can pay Jang-swe and Young-dal back.

Something's going on.

I'll find out, wait here.

Hey... wait...

Where you off to?

The messengers. Is something going on at the palace?

Ah, that. The royal marriage.

Royal what?

It's been many years since the death of the Queen.

His Majesty is also a man and it's high time.

That's nice.

Must be nice.

Hey, that's what money's for.

So what's new?

We may have found a match for On-nyeon.

Where?

A big pharmacy down the way.

Their son is quite a catch.

They're pretty well off because of their pharmacy.

Really?

Kyeom.

Kyeom... Kyeom...

Kyeom.

Kyeom...

Hold on now.

He your friend or somethin'?

Coming to his lordship's house calling his son, 'Kyeom'?

We'll have none of that, Missy.

I swear. Doesn't stop an old slave from calling me 'Missy.'

What? Come again? Old slave?

A slave's a slave. You a noble now?

A royal?

I'm like a sister to Kyeom, so who are you to butt in?

What's going on?

Kyeom. This old slave called me Missy. 'None of that,' he said.

Please. Enough.

Young Master, she kept calling you by name.

Then called me an old slave.

A slave's a slave, so?

Please. You're out of line.

Kyeom.

Servant or not, he's our elder. Behave yourself.

You're taking his side?

This old slave's side against mine?

This isn't about sides.

Shut up. I never would have thought, never ever.

On-nyeon, what's wrong?

Did something happen?

Nothing. Never mind.

Your Majesty, the country is calling for a royal wedding.

We must perform the necessary rites.

And the doctors must examine the candidates.

A marriage so soon after the war?

I'm not interested.

Your Majesty, please.

To preserve the royal line, Your Majesty.

Please reconsider, Your Majesty.

- Please, Your Majesty. - Please, Your Majesty.

We must act in the King's best interest.

Best interest? How do you mean.

He lost the Queen as soon as the war ended.

He's only been focusing on recovering from the war since then.

He hasn't said so, but it's time he was married.

Not only that, he lost Prince Sinsong during the war.

There's no reason he shouldn't remarry.

So the examination of candidates by the doctors is in preparation for marriage?

Exactly.

The late queen died without bearing an heir.

The royal house and the court were on pins and needles because of it.

We can't have that again.

What about Crown Prince Kwanghae?

A marriage now could be construed as an affront.

Your Highness, you don't look well.

No, that's just you worrying.

It's nothing.

Everyone's worried I'll be upset about my father marrying.

But I'm not.

Ensuring the royal line makes perfect sense.

Your Highness.

I am reassured because you are always taking care of His Highness.

You know the most important factor in the selection process?

She'll be queen. So it must be her character.

Nope. Wrong.

What then?

The answer is...

...her looks.

They'll base it on looks, mark my words.

That's silly.

Nuh-uh, and to prove it, I'll show you how it works.

Hyeon-ji.

You know without me having to say it, right?

No chunky girls for our queen, thank you very much.

Fail.

Su-yeon, passable.

Myeong-geum, those saucer eyes won't do.

Ok-jeong. Hips too small. Fail.

Chae-lyeong, why are you here?

Jang-deok, I'd just as soon not say.

Sir.

What?

Pssh.

Gae-geum and Sae-hee...

Too old. Fail.

No candidates here.

- You're being too much. - What's too much?

What's all this?

Well?

Nothin'. I never did nothin'.

They were curious is all.

I swear. Believe me.

Come with me.

Is this everyone?

- Yes ma'am. - Yes ma'am.

We are commanded to participate in the candidate process.

Those selected will assist the candidates.

You will eat with the candidates and do well for yourselves.

But you will have to work hard all day.

Still, it's better than treating patients.

Make the selections.

Yes, ma'am.

Chae-lyong, Ok-jeong, Myeong-geum, Hyeon-ji.

Prepare yourselves.

- Yes, ma'am. - Yes ma'am.

How is the selection going?

The initial screening is complete. The candidates will arrive in three days.

Surely the court has already decided.

Who will it be?

Milady, nothing has been decided yet.

You needn't fear.

My old friend Jang Yeong-gi's daughter will be selected.

Please be patient.

Don't tell me to be patient.

I have already lost a child.

Must I lose the King as well?

Milady.

Your candidate must be selected.

Then we can push her into the back.

And have our own way.

Yes, trust me.

Your turn.

Yes ma'am.

This is the royal palace.

You must be groomed accordingly.

Well? How did it go?

Who passed the re-selection process?

It's down to two, the daughters of Kim Jeh-nam and Jang Yeong-gi.

Only two?

Yes, just so.

Still, it's strange.

Of all the noble families, we pick ones of the sixth and fourth ranks?

It stabilizes the royal house.

It prevents the rise of the maternal line.

I knew this would happen.

Then we must infer the King's preference.

Be careful to prevent pubic resistance from starting against the selection.

See that the nurses do their duty.

Yes, my lord.

Doctor, the final candidates are ready.

Well done.

Keep up the good work.

Yes, doctor.

Hold on. 'Keep up the good work?' That's it?

I'm dying to know which one the nurses favor.

So am I. Aren't you?

Sir, we have been ordered to examine the candidates prior to the final selection.

I had intended to have you do it.

Examine them with the nurses present.

It won't be easy to discover their medical histories, but we have to be sure.

I will review your findings.

My examination will be exhaustive.

Very well.

I understand it all rests on you now.

I suppose.

Suppose the examination went poorly?

Something in the medical history could have quite an impact on the selection.

I wouldn't know about that.

I merely present my findings to the Chief Physician.

I have no say over the final decision.

Quite so.

What is it you wanted to say?

Doctor Yu, you will take what I'm about to say to your grave.

You must make a full disclosure of your family history.

A token of my esteem.

Heo Jun shouldn't be Chief Physician.

You should.

What must I do?

Make up a fake illness.

We found a nice girl for you.

I want to marry On-nyeon.

You're willing to meet him?

If you like.

The decision has been made.

Who is it?

I must leave the palace.

What do you mean, leave?