Original subtitles

Go! Stop right there!

Stop right there! Stop right there!

Where am I?

Oh!

Stop right there!

Mother, here are the medicinal herbs we were looking for.

You will get better quickly if you just take some of these.

He's not here. That way!

You almost got into big trouble!

Um, are you all right?

Are you injured?

Am... I...

handsome?

Pardon?

You are the first one who has seen me in so long...

At any rate, thank you for your assistance.

I survived thanks to you.

[Episode 3]

[Jongmyo]

The exhibition is encompassing all of Jongmyo.

What about the Crown Prince?

I believe that he escaped before it began.

Why did he go outside alone? He has nowhere to go!

If he is caught by the Pyeonsoo-hwe, then...

I will locate him, Your Majesty.

No, do not make any hasty movements.

The Pyeonsoo-hwe will be monitoring your movements.

Please step forward, Your Majesty!

And where is Chung Woon right now?

Your Majesty.

My son has worked with me for a very long time

but he has never seen the Crown Prince's face.

I guess it cannot be helped then.

Bring Chung Woon immediately.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I beseech you, O Sunjo.

Because you lacked virtue and were incompetent

you became a King who abandoned the will of the heavens above

and handed off his own citizens.

However, the Crown Prince is different.

He is the only hope that Joseon has to make itself right again.

Please look after that child.

Um, I'm just going where I need to go.

Are you heading to the Seosomun slums, too?

So, why do you keep speaking to me so informally?

If only you knew.

I'm actually someone who has the right to speak this way to you.

What?

Who are you, then?

Me? I'm...

I'm...

a part of the Literature Organization.

The Literature Organization?

Then, you must have come across many rare books in your lifetime.

Have you seen "Survey of Roads" or "Survey of Mountains and Rivers?"

What about the "Unabridged Compilation of Herbal Lore?"

Have you read all those books?

No.

I really want to read them, but I haven't been able to get my hands on them yet.

Can you get books related to medicine, or Western teachings?

Well, I actually have a translated book of Western teachings right here.

Here.

Goodness!

This is "The Chronicles of Foreign Lands!"

Where did you obtain such a valuable book?

Oh my, if only you knew!

I'm actually someone who can get books like these quite easily.

Oh, what a shame. And this is such valuable book, too.

Oh no!

Oh, I was going to give this to Woo Bo!

Professor Woo Bo?

Wait... you know Woo Bo?

Yes, he's my teacher.

I'm actually on my way to see him right now.

Really?

So you're a disciple of Woo Bo

who is interested in books related to geography, religion, and even medicine?

What is your name?

What about you then, Young Sir?

My name is...

Chun Soo.

My name is Ga Eun. Han Ga Eun.

Please wait here for just a moment.

Wait, why? Can't I go with you?

I'll be right back.

Just sit still for a second. What have you been doing?

Sheesh!

Are you okay, Lee Seon?

Oh, Young Miss!

There was a huge fuss in the middle of town again today.

I'm all right, Young Miss.

Young Miss.

Please stop by on your way home.

It's not much, but I've prepared some things for you.

You don't even work for us and yet you're always taking care of my family.

I feel so bad.

Oh, don't say such things, Young Miss!

Lord Seo Yoon has always been so generous to us.

You're here, Young Miss?

Hello.

Didn't I tell you not to cause any trouble?

Why are you hitting me?

I told you to catch them no matter what! Why did you get the others involved?

Do you know how hard today has been for me because of you?

Those guys hit me! All I did was get beaten up!

Why, you... why do you keep getting beaten up by him like an idiot? Why?

You've caused so much trouble because you want to learn how to read.

No good will come of you learning how to read!

Are you really not injured?

It's not a futile effort. Lee Seon is really smart.

He can memorize anything if he sees it once

and Professor says that he's a genius!

Oh my. Not you too, Young Miss!

It doesn't matter even if this punk is smart.

I can't eat because I'm busy...

Hey, punk. Where are we?

I'm not sure, either.

Ow!

You're here now, and yet you don't know where you are?

Did you just... hit me?

Want me to give you a sip?

Did you just drink all of my alcohol?

What? You handed me an empty bottle!

Oh, looks like there were a couple of drops left.

But...

where are we?

Where are we? Where are we?

Ugh!

Ow!

I told you to wait for me. Why are you here?

What about you? What took you so long?

I just saw a crazy person--

Huh?

You are... that guy from before, huh?

Is it really okay to bring this person to Professor Woo Bo?

Wait, you're one of Woo Bo's disciples, too?

Follow me.

Wait! Wait, wait, wait.

Is this... really Professor Woo Bo's home?

What is that?

Professor!

- Wow. - Professor?

Professor.

I really think that you've brought me to the wrong place.

Pardon?

The man I am looking for is the great scholar, Woo Bo.

Yes, this is Professor Woo Bo.

No!

Not this drunk old man! Woo Bo!

The great scholar, Woo Bo, who was once a professor at Sungkyunkwan!

Professor.

Um... um... yeah?

Where am I?

This man from the Literature Organization says he has a book for you

so I brought him here.

The Literature Organization?

Are you really Professor Woo Bo?

Woo Bo. I'm Woo Bo.

But I'm no professor.

Look. This is "The Chronicles of Foreign Lands."

This is a rare book, and this is the only copy that exists in Joseon.

If you can answer my question, I'll give this book to you.

I apologize, Professor!

I knew that he was a strange person, but--

- Ow! - I didn't know he'd do this.

It's fine. I want you two to step out for a bit.

What?

All right.

Do you know who I am?

How am I supposed to know that when you haven't told me yet?

Is that the only question you had for me?

All right, I'll go ahead and ask, then.

Do you know the reason why the Crown Prince must wear a mask?

I do.

Let me ask you a question, too. Do you know what the Pyeonsoo-hwe is?

Pyeonsoo-hwe?

I'm the one who's asking the questions, so why are you asking me that?

Do you truly know the reason why the Prince must wear a mask? subtitles ripped and synced by riri13

The reason why the Prince must wear a mask, eh?

Let me give you a brain teaser.

The rivers are twice as high as they were last year

so what is the reason for the wells being drier this year?

If you can figure out the answer, I'll tell you the reason why.

Ugh.

Are you going to continue following me?

Do you know what it took for me to get this far?

I have to figure it out!

I have no idea what the answer is.

And even if I did, I couldn't tell you!

I never asked you to tell me the answer.

I'll just stay at your house for a bit and figure out the answer for myself.

That's quite enough!

You should mind your manners!

Are you saying that I'm being rude?

Aren't you?

I may be from a humble family, but my manners are better than yours!

I thought you were Woo Bo's disciple.

You're of humble birth?

Is there a law saying that people of humble birth have to be stupid?

I'm sure your temper is more of a problem than your birth.

What did you say?

Let go!

Oh, my back!

Why, you little...

Sir Chun Soo! Lee Seon!

Sir Chun Soo!

Lee Seon!

Lee Seon?

Lee Seon?

Your name is Lee Seon?

Wait, so you're Lee Seon, right?

This is the first time I've gotten into a physical altercation

with someone my age.

Whoa.

Wow, fireflies!

Wait a second. You can't even take the state exams.

But you're studying because it's fun for you?

Studying is fun?

The fact that the me of today will be different from the me of tomorrow

and the feeling that studying is improving me as a person

makes my heart race.

It... makes your heart race?

What a strange fellow.

Auntie!

I didn't know that having relationships with people

was something that could make one's heart race like this.

- Auntie! - Mom!

You're too dehydrated.

At this rate, both you and the baby will be in danger.

I'll be okay because the midwife said she'd be here soon.

Don't worry, Young Miss.

What are you doing? She needs water, quickly!

She has to keep drinking water in order to live!

We don't have any water, though.

Um, where's the well? Let's go get some water!

The people at Yangsucheong closed up all the wells for today

so there isn't any place for us to get water!

Let's go.

Let's go to Yangsucheong and buy water, no matter what.

Yes, Young Miss.

Hey, wait...

They can't get water from anywhere else but from Yangsucheong?

Fath-- Your Majesty.

I told you to call me, "Father!"

F-F-Father!

This lowly mortal before you is scared and wary--

Not "lowly mortal", but "lowly man!"

And furthermore, the Crown Prince...

does not fear me.

We must make haste, so you must hurry and get used to this.

Again!

F-Father!

Again!

F-Father!

- Again! - F-Father!

There is no need for you to be scared!

You are the real Lee Seon!

The child that the King hid away

has been locked away in a secret basement room for a long time.

Are you positive that the Crown Prince didn't make any movements?

Yes.

But the Royal General was going around last night looking for a eunuch.

They say that one of the Crown Prince's eunuchs has gone missing.

The Crown Prince's eunuch has disappeared?

When did that happen?

Water. Please give us water!

It is late, return tomorrow!

This is urgent!

The lives of a mother and her unborn baby are on the line!

Please, just give us one container of water!

Despite your personal situation, we do not sell water after hours.

So leave now!

She said that there are people's lives on the line!

Why, you little...

I ought to...

What are you doing?

You vermin! Do you know who I am?

I am the Crown Prince of this country--

I mean, um, the friend of the Crown Prince!

Hey, you punk.

If you're the Crown Prince's friend, I'm the King's brother!

You must hurry. The King awaits you.

The King said that there was an urgent matter.

Hyah!

It's really urgent.

Please, just allow us one container of water.

At this rate, my mother and younger sibling will die!

I'll give you 10 times the price.

No, I'll give you 100 times the price.

I'll pay whatever price you ask, so open the doors!

Hey!

If you don't leave now, we will punish you!

Why, you...

Please, I'll be in and out.

Wait, you are...

Um, here.

I left something behind in there.

Oh geez.

Yangsucheong?

What are you doing at this hour?

Move!

Eh?

Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!

We must tell Father that Yangsucheong is being improperly managed.

What are you doing?

Sheesh, you're so loud.

Crown Prince?

I will ensure that nothing like this ever happens again, for as long as I live.

So, please. Don't tell Elder Dae Mok--

Oh, whatever. Let's move out.

Oh, my daughter! Oh, my daughter!

Look at her tiny hands wiggling around.

How are you so cute? Aw!

How about "Wiggly" for her name?

What kind of name is that? And for a girl, at that!

What's wrong with "Wiggly?"

Would you like to hold her, Young Miss?

Yes.

Here you are. Be careful.

Hi, Wiggly!

I understand that you were in a rush and all

but you stole water from Yangsucheong.

Will you be all right?

Don't you know who I am, Sir? I'll be just fine!

All I have to do is apologize for my mistake, and pay them double!

Oh, my little Wiggly!

Here! Here!

I do not know what the Crown Prince looks like, Your Majesty.

You do. You're his mentor and friend.

No one knows him as well as you do.

You must find him without anyone finding out.

Do a thorough search for him anywhere he might be.

All we can do is hope that the Crown Prince recognizes you first

or that you recognize his voice.

His voice.

I'm... the Crown Prince's friend!

I cannot be certain, but there is one place I must search first.

Keep up the good work, guys!

Whoa!

Do you know the kids who were here about six hours ago?

I... I don't know the kids--

but I do know the water carrier.

Goodbye, Sir!

Yeah, yeah.

The water carrier? Where does he live?

In... in the slums of Seosomun.

All right. You can go.

That looks like the Royal General's son. What's going on?

The Royal General's son?

Yeah. He shares a special bond with the Crown Prince.

With the Crown Prince...

No way.

Where is Lee Seon right now?

We hid him away in a secret basement room a long time ago

and he hasn't moved since then.

But based on the information we obtained

there are two other Lee Seons besides the one residing in Jongmyo.

Well, how about we catch all three of them and make them all disappear?

Oh, and I heard that one of the Crown Prince's eunuchs went missing

and the Royal General was looking for him all night.

What is it?

Where is the Crown Prince right now?

He's at Jongmyo right now because of the rites.

Are you certain that the person at Jongmyo wearing the mask is him?

Please go and check if it truly is him.

And why do you think that the Prince at Jongmyo is a fake?

My granddaughter is not a girl who would speak up without a plan.

Gon.

I need you to go and check for me in person.

Yes, Sir.

Oh my goodness.

Do you actually even know the reason?

I don't have the time to be sitting around solving your riddle

so hurry up and tell me the reason why, and take this book!

Hm.

Do you know what "yongnin" means?

"Yongnin?"

Um, the scales on the underside of a dragon's chin?

One can ride a dragon, but they cannot disturb its scales.

And if you do touch a dragon's scales, it will crush you between its teeth.

And for a King, his dragon scales are his Crown Prince.

That's why he is hiding him and protecting him.

But is there really a need for the Crown Prince to know that reason?

When the King is insisting on shrouding him in his protection?

Huh?

It'll be a much more difficult thing to live life with the mask off

so why has he taken it off?

Because he's the Crown Prince.

A Crown Prince shouldn't just sit idly and accept everything.

He needs to protect his citizens!

That is the proper path for him, is it not?

Emotions without any actions to back them up are worth shit!

Protect the citizens?

Do you think the Prince has the courage to do that?

He is nothing but a delicate flower who has been coddled all his life!

Yet, you say that a young ignorant whelp like him

who knows nothing of the outside world will protect the citizens?

I shouldn't have yelled. It's hurting my throat.

If you've taken off the mask and sought freedom for a fleeting moment

it'd be best for you to put the mask back on.

I saw that he had knee pads on his knees.

It seems that he is just a eunuch.

Perhaps he's already switched the Crown Prince out?

If he's still wearing his knee pads, he was brought there in haste.

There's no way that the detail-oriented King would've made that mistake.

I'm sure that it's not the King who's fled, but the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince fled?

If the Crown Prince really walked out on his own two feet

this is a golden opportunity.

We'll have to find the Prince before finding the King.

Gon.

Gon!

Yes?

Grandpa told you to find the Crown Prince, right?

So help me.

Do you know Chung Woon, the Royal General's son?

Yes.

Find him, and let me know when you do.

Um, who might you be?

Allow me to ask you something.

Was the man who was with you at Yangsucheong your son?

I'm looking for my younger brother.

He seemed to be with your son before.

Oh, that young man?

He left with Miss Ga Eun.

Miss Ga Eun?

Yes.

I said no!

You have a guest, and yet you won't even serve him a single chicken?

What kind of guest is this haughty?

What goes around comes around.

If you do many good deeds, your household will surely be blessed

so don't be shy, and give me one.

It seems that my daughter has brought over an important guest.

Then it's only natural that we kill and serve one of the chickens.

I cannot allow there to be rumors

about how inhospitable a member of the Hansungbu is.

Do you... think that it's better to live life while wearing a mask?

Pardon?

Well, um...

Oh.

A chicken is safe if it stays in its coop.

But it isn't free.

But it'll be in danger if it leaves the coop seeking freedom.

- Then-- - How idiotic.

Is it really good for the chicken to be cooped up

even if it's nice and safe in there?

Even though it doesn't know when it'll be eaten

life may be tough for it, but it'll only be free if it leaves its coop.

I see.

Do you know what my favorite teaching from the professor was?

"If you do not endure your pain and try your hardest"

"you will never attain true freedom."

If it were me, I'd rather not be a chicken who can't escape its coop

but a bird who can fly high up into the sky, even if life is more difficult.

Don't you think?

A woman who speaks of true freedom.

How cool.

Are you betrothed?

You don't have anyone, do you?

Why... are you asking me that all of the sudden?

Wait, so do you have someone, or not?

You don't, do you?

Oh, really? I see.

What? What?

What do you want me to do in the middle of the night?

Why... who is this? It's Miss Hwa Goon!

What brings you here so late at night?

Well, you're welcome here anytime, but...

at any rate, what brings you here?

I was just worried.

Are you just going to let that water thief go free?

Oh.

I think it'd be best for you to catch him immediately before Grandpa finds out.

Grandpa...

Do you mean Dae Mok?

I was actually going to go after that thief, first thing tomorrow...

um, I mean, right now. Right this moment would be good.

Chul Goo!

Yes, Sir!

Bring me that water thief immediately!

Yes, Sir! Let's go.

People's lives were on the line, but they wouldn't sell water because it was late?

Does that make any sense?

Exactly. Something terrible could have happened.

I mean, if the citizens are foolish and cowardly

and can't unleash their frustrations, then--

shouldn't people like you be more brave and fight for their sake, Sir?

You do have a point, but that isn't exactly the case.

Do you not have the nerve?

Listen.

Do you think that the citizens can't stand up for themselves

because they're less educated and less brave than you are?

What a surprise. You didn't even burn the food.

All right. Come over more often!

Yes, I will!

Father!

I think we'll have to make the coop bigger.

Sir Seo! Sir Seo!

Please save my father, Sir Seo!

What happened?

My father was taken by Yangsucheong for stealing water.

They said that they'd cut off his hands!

Please, spare the rest of him, at least!

Wait, they're cutting him up just for stealing a container of water?

I cannot interfere with the business of Yangsucheong

since they are self-ruling.

If I take out a prisoner when this does not fall under Hansungbu's jurisdiction--

A citizen's life is on the line!

This is no time to be arguing about jurisdiction!

Subtitles by DramaFever