Original subtitles

(This program is a work of imagination...)

(based on historical figures.)

(It may include fictitious details and psychological description.)

You solely depend on my decision.

Every part of you...

is mine.

You can die and live...

only at my will.

You should never...

forget that.

(Episode 8)

Where on earth is the Crown Prince?

You guys go to Juhamnu.

You guys go to Gyunghyundang and search through the place.

Yes, sir.

It seems you have examined the King quite often.

Is there anything else you prescribed other than geongongtang?

I am looking for ginseng and China root of good quality.

China root?

But does he really...

He is fine.

I will get going first.

Master Hong.

Is the person who just left the physician of the King?

Yes, he is.

He should not be seen by anyone.

It is a relief that it was you who came here.

What is it?

His Highness said you should never recruit the royal physician.

You should not disobey his order.

Please listen to me.

I am thinking of taking the physician...

to the next Dongdukhoe meeting.

- Master Hong! - Let us see.

Whether the Crown Prince will forgive me...

or not.

- I will do the rest of it. - Okay.

- It won't be long. - All right.

My lady.

How about Young Hee?

She went to the Sewing Department to do an errand.

I guess I should go by myself then.

If you do not mind, I will accompany you instead.

I do not want to bother you.

It is not easy to go by yourself.

My lady, should I just give it to him for you?

No.

I must give it to the Crown Prince with my own hands.

It is difficult to meet His Highness...

unless you are his personal maid.

No.

He will not refuse to see this old woman.

I was a nurse court lady...

of Jangjo.

It must have been very tough to come all the way here.

What do you want to deliver after coming such a long way?

I need to talk to you privately.

Come to my residence in the evening.

Yes, my lady.

You may go now.

What is this?

I clearly said you should not recruit the royal physician.

You can inflict any punishment. I will receive it.

But please...

listen to him first.

Many people already started noticing it.

You should not be the only one who does not know what is going on.

Master Hong deceived me.

I thought you called me. That is why I am here.

Please save my life, Your Highness.

I will never say what happened here.

Master Hong is my person.

Since my man called you,

I will secure your life.

So tell me.

The reason why the Crown Prince's Lecturer disobeyed my order...

to bring you here.

(China root, ginseng)

(China root, ginseng)

The royal physicians...

prescribed Chookmaetang to the King.

(Chookmaetang is a medicinal decoction for dementia.)

His Majesty...

has dementia.

(Dementia)

Did you want to see me, my lady?

I was going to wait a little longer.

However,

I'm getting a bad hunch.

That I might miss the right timing if not rush things.

I always believe in my gut feeling.

We must keep an eye on the Crown Prince.

In case he ends up like the former Crown Prince,

or the frightening incident repeats.

I need to know.

To protect the 700 court ladies under my responsibility.

For all the court ladies,

can't you come forward as one of us?

Can't you become his concubine...

to be my eyes and ears?

I beg you.

You don't need a strategy.

You just need to trust His Highness.

I believe that he will become a great king.

He will never end up like the late Crown Prince.

I got your intention.

You may leave now.

Search everywhere.

- Yes, my lady. - Yes, my lady.

Stop, you wench.

No!

- Goodness. - Oh, no.

What is going on?

(Moral Education for Women)

My lady.

Is this yours?

I asked you a question.

(Moral Education for Women)

That is mine.

- Drag her. - Yes, my lady.

- Duk Im. - Gosh.

My lady, it's just a mere book.

Or is it a forbidden book?

I will make her understand, so...

Do you know what this book is?

It's "Moral Education for Women."

It belonged to the late Royal Noble Consort Yeong.

What?

My lady, the inspector court lady went by.

So did she find something enough just to scare her a bit?

The late Royal Noble Consort Yeong's book?

(Moral Education for Women, Table of Contents)

Stamp her seal.

Yes, Your Highness.

I doubted it,

but it really is the late Royal Noble Consort Yeong's book.

You did steal her belonging.

It's a misunderstanding, Your Highness.

It's not true.

Lady Seo.

Yes, Your Highness.

How do you get punished for stealing a royal item?

According to "National Code of Laws" and "Code of General Laws,"

anyone who steals a royal item...

is subject to execution.

- Sung Duk Im. - Yes, Your Highness.

The situation is dire.

You're a complete stranger to the late Consort Yeong.

And you had something that belonged to her.

How am I supposed to understand this?

I can explain. Please give me a chance.

Fine.

Explain it.

This happened in 1764 when she passed away.

Have you been forgiven...

for what happened with the royal physician?

Do you find it strange...

that I was forgiven too easily?

His Highness is hardly forgiving.

If his servant disobeys his command, he makes sure to punish them.

However,

you've always been an exception.

Are you jealous...

that I have his special favor?

That's not it, young man.

You must get punished for your mistake...

so this won't get to you later on.

Gosh.

If I were you, I'd ask him to have my bottom whipped.

That's what a man would do, no?

It's none of your business.

You little...

Master Hong.

You are...

Do you remember me?

Lady Kim, what can do I for you?

So you remember me.

- By the well... - Hey.

Well... Master, we beg you.

Please let the Crown Prince know...

that Maid Sung Duk Im was dragged to the Queen's Palace.

Her Highness is questioning her herself.

Question her?

Maid Sung, you mean?

Yes.

Are you...

sure that is the truth?

I swear, Your Highness.

Do you have...

any evidence or witnesses to support your claim?

Do you?

No, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

The Crown Prince wants to see you.

What should I tell him?

Bring him in.

Your Highness.

Did you think...

I would harm your court maid?

I doubt it.

I am sorry...

to cause you trouble with my court maid.

Do you know what Maid Sung has done?

I heard she kept Royal Noble Consort Yeong's keepsake.

Maid Sung argues...

the King granted her Royal Noble Consort Yeong's keepsake.

She said she met the King when she was a young maid.

What should I do, Crown Prince?

Should I trust her...

without any evidence like she claims?

The King cherished Royal Noble Consort Yeong so much.

Would he...

grant her keepsake to a mere young maid?

It is...

hard to believe.

That is what your owner says.

You do not have evidence or witness.

It is very hard to settle.

The King of this country...

granted me Royal Noble Consort Yeong's keepsake...

when I was a mere young maid.

Although it sounds like a lie even to me.

It is normal for my owner not to believe it.

However, I can say it as many times as you want.

I did not steal Royal Noble Consort Yeong's keepsake.

It was granted fairly. That book belongs to me.

I beg your pardon for saying this,

but it is wrongful to say that I have no witness.

The King who granted me that book...

is the witness.

I beg you, Your Highness.

Please...

do not falsely accuse me.

How can you ask...

the King to be the witness for a mere court maid?

But since you are the East Palace court maid,

your owner may ask.

Your Highness. What if...

the King does not remember what happened in the past?

What will happen then?

According to the law,

the one who stole the royal family's property will be executed.

Then...

I beg you desperately.

Please consider the contribution Maid Sung has made in East Palace,

and moderate her sentence...

and send her into exile.

Do you mean it, Crown Prince?

I cannot hassle the King...

for what a mere court maid has done.

But...

since it is hard to conclude that she stole it,

execution is too much.

Exile will be enough.

You should deal...

with the hassle as soon as possible.

Will you accept that?

Your Highness.

You are the mother of everyone in the land of Joseon.

So,

I beg you like a child asking her mother to show mercy.

Please...

allow me to meet the King and ask him only one question.

I did not steal it.

If I fall into disrepute and am sent into exile,

nothing can be more humiliating than that to a court maid.

Please...

give me a chance, Your Highness.

Your owner is the Crown Prince.

But he would not give you a chance to plead your innocence.

So I have to.

That would not be a bad idea.

It is bitter.

I do not remember it.

Now, leave.

Your Majesty. That court maid's life depends on it.

Please try to remember it one more time.

How can you tell me to remember what happened so long ago?

Yes,

I might have given you a book.

It must have been a very special day for a young child.

However, that happens to me every day.

How am I supposed to remember what happens every day?

It is not like you, Queen.

Why would you bug me with such a trivial matter?

That court maid transcribed a book...

and dedicated it to you before.

I remember it made you very happy,

so I wanted to give her a chance.

That court maid dedicated a book to me?

What kind of book?

A book?

Which book was it?

My goodness. What a headache.

Now, now.

Just punish her according to the law.

It seems the Queen does not want to execute her,

so I will decide.

Give her heel tendon amputation

and kick her out of the palace.

Now, you may all leave.

Please wait, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

If she gets kicked out of the palace...

after getting her heel tendons cut,

she is as good as dead.

Someone's life depends on this matter.

You always said...

the King of Joseon has...

the power of life and death over everyone in Joseon.

"People were given by the diety."

"If I do not appreciate their lives,"

"I do not deserve to be the King."

So I beg you, Your Majesty.

Please give that subject...

more time.

If I am unable to protect the people given by the deity...

because I fail to recall my memory,

that does not fulfill the King's duty.

Come here.

Tell me what happened in detail.

Who knows? It might bring back my memories.

I will see...

if you can bring back the memories I have forgotten.

Then...

please accept my apology first.

Apology?

It is a painful memory for you.

Please forgive me for requesting you...

to recall the memory.

All right.

Will you light the incense stick for me?

It happened in 1764 when Royal Noble Consort Yeong passed away.

I was a young maid and went to pay my respects to the deceased...

by the order of the head court lady.

At the secret garden, there were silk-covered lanterns.

Guided by the light,

I went to Consort Yeong's funeral parlor.

If you follow those lights,

you can reach Consort Yeong's house.

In the middle of the night,

yellow candle lights were swaying inside the dark palace.

The room was filled with the scent of incense sticks.

It was hot and humid outside the palace.

But it was chilly inside.

The ice from the stone ice storage...

was surrounding Consort Yeong as if it was protecting her.

And I met you.

You saw me and said this.

You look like Princess Hwapyung when she was little.

With immeasurable generosity,

you told me about Consort Yeong who had died.

When she was young, she was a beautiful woman.

She was a court lady like you.

Her sleeves were very red.

But it broke my heart to see them.

"This ice may be cold, but not as much as my heart."

This ice may be cold,

but not as much as my heart.

I really did lose her.

Now,

I might never come here again.

You shed tears saying that.

I still remember it clearly.

After that, you gave me...

Consort Yeong's book.

Here, take this.

(Moral Education for Women)

Consort Yeong wrote this book herself.

You cheeky girl.

Just to save your life,

you dared to make the King cry.

Please forgive me.

Do you remember that day?

I do not.

You deserve heel tendon amputation!

Do you know...

why I gave you...

Consort Yeong's book?

Do you not remember?

I do not remember.

You said you wanted to become...

a court lady who has beautiful handwriting.

That is why I gave you her book.

Her handwriting was beautiful.

I...

am glad I gave you the book.

Sung Duk Im.

Your handwriting is quite good.

Thank you for your boundless generosity.

Your handwriting is good.

It is really not easy to live as a court maid.

It is not that easy to live as a crown prince either.

Take it.

It is your book.

(Moral Education for Women)

That night when you went to Consort Yeong's funeral parlor,

you were not alone.

Am I right?

How do you know that?

Am I right?

Yes.

Crown Prince.

Your Highness.

You worked hard today.

You may return to the East Palace.

Yes, Your Highness.

Are you still looking at it?

It is so pretty.

You must tell her I thanked her.

- Do you like it that much? - Yes.

It is just a trifle.

It is made of leftover silk pieces...

after making clothes for the royal family.

Lowly court maids are happy to have such items,

but you should not be.

Brother, why are you looking at the night sky like that?

I was wondering...

when this boring night will end.

There is a burning sun...

in my heart.

I am hoping...

that the sun will rise from the east.

The world...

will know my name then.

You can achieve anything.

I believe in you.

You said you liked the palace.

Yes.

Then it is good.

Your Majesty.

You have all gathered.

A king...

must force himself to do what he doesn't want.

I'm sure you remember...

my grave decision in 1762.

Solely for the people of Joseon,

those who must disappear, must disappear...

and those who must step down, must step down.

Even if it...

includes me.

I've thought about...

who would risk his life for the Crown Prince.

That's all of you here.

I give you my earnest request.

You will be faced with difficulties and struggles.

Do not give up and bear with them.

Has the time...

finally come?

The night you went to Consort Yeong's funeral house,

you weren't alone.

How in the world did he know?

What?

Are you guys sleeping over here tonight?

I knew it.

Why haven't you made bed yet?

You should've been resting in bed.

Are you here out of concern?

How can you be smiling? You almost got killed today.

We were worried sick about you.

Now that we're here to sleep all together,

it feels like we're back to being maid trainees.

Should I tell you an old story?

This is unlike you to tell a story first.

I heard this old story from Lady Park in the past.

She told me to keep this from the others,

but I'd like to share it with you.

Once upon a time,

moon fairies lived on the moon.

Their palace's name was...

Gwangan Palace.

The fairies lived in that palace...

happily without any worries or concerns.

One day, the fairies looked down on Earth...

and saw a great king rule over his country.

They wanted to serve that king.

So they came down to the Earth and became court ladies.

The king was delighted...

and promised he would treasure them.

When there was peace, the promise was kept.

The fairies lived happily.

But a war broke out all of a sudden.

The king abandoned the palace to leave far away.

He took off the King's Robe,

abandoned his people...

and the fairies.

He left far away with strong men...

who were capable of protecting him.

So? Did the king never came back?

He returned.

The fairies became happy again?

The king came back...

and scolded the remaining fairies.

That they fell from chastity...

when they were supposed to be his ladies.

He kicked them out to somewhere far away,

saying new fairies would always come down from the moon.

He kicked out the old fairies...

to bring in young and new fairies.

That jerk is unforgivable.

- I'm going to destroy him. - Hey.

Others might get it wrong if they hear this.

I feel so bad for the fairies.

It's just a story.

Right?

So,

what happened next?

The king kicked all the fairies out...

and became alone in the palace.

Only then, he realized that he needed the fairies.

Because without them, he couldn't do anything properly.

His food, clothes, sleeping.

Everything required their care.

Without them, he couldn't be king.

He ordered the old fairies...

to come work at the palace again.

The old fairies started working again...

and trained the young fairies.

The king was satisfied, thinking everything was resolved.

But the old fairies...

never forgot about what happened.

They gathered the young fairies and taught...

"Don't ever..."

"trust the king."

"Don't ever trust the king."

"We only have ourselves to trust."

"We court ladies only have each other."

"Remember this burnt King's Robe."

"Remember that..."

"the king abandoned us to run away."

We must do whatever it takes...

to trust ourselves.

Keep that in mind.

- Yes, my lady. - Yes, my lady.

(Jung So Sa, East Palace)

You two will work at the King's Royal Kitchen.

(Choi Bong Bi, King's Palace)

Welcome. You're one of us now.

We have one last person left.

Bring her in.

Please... Spare me.

What did I do wrong?

Court Lady Seo.

My Lady.

I am sure you know where you are.

You spent your whole life in the palace.

Someone would have probably let you know.

No?

I do not know.

Where is this place?

My goodness. I must be dreaming.

I've been having nightmares lately for I have been weak.

I bet it is a nightmare.

If I roll you in a straw mat and flog you,

would you wake up from this nightmare?

You were always like this.

You pretended to be foolish, useless,

and innocent when you already know everything.

That is how you survived all these years.

It suddenly occurred to me.

If I had you in advance,

it would have been easier to obtain your student.

Do you mean Duk Im?

That is not all.

It would have been easier to plant a spy in East Palace.

Am I wrong?

Bring it.

Sign it.

Welcome to Gwangan Palace.

I look forward to seeing your student joining us.

Though you are slow-witted,

I am sure you know what to do now.

How unfair.

You were ready to stab me in the back any time,

but just because you are a court maid,

I cannot take your life.

Why on earth are you getting in my way?

I must choose the wise king to protect the court maids.

You are also a court maid.

But why do you keep getting in my way?

San is the son of the late Crown Prince.

How could you defend the criminal's son?

The person who drove the late Crown Prince mad...

was you!

You put a barrier between father and son.

You made the King...

hate his own son.

As everyone said the late Crown Prince has gone mad,

it really did make him go mad.

You planned...

what happened in 1762!

How dare you come at the leader of Gwangan Palace?

I know...

why you hated the Crown Prince so much.

Because he was Royal Noble Consort Yeong's only son.

The King is the son of a lowly maid.

You supported the trivial prince who was nobody.

The King has probably promised you...

to make you his wife.

- Stop it. - But...

as soon as the King took the throne,

he chose Royal Noble Consort Yeong...

who was your closest friend.

You are truly amazing.

You took your revenge in the end.

You killed the child...

of the King and Royal Noble Consort Yeong.

Shut it.

I said, shut it.

I knew you do not deserve to be with us.

You never change despite all that time and chance I gave you.

The day I became the leader of Gwangan Palace,

I took a vow to protect all court maids.

I will not break that vow for you.

I will never lose...

my pride to protect all court maids...

because of you.

So I will have to spare your life.

Keep her alive.

Why did she go all the way to East Palace with that leg?

I mean Court Lady Park.

I wonder what she had to give to the Crown Prince.

I think...

there was some kind of ceremonial clothes inside.

It was probably the winter hat.

(The hat one wears when it is cold)

The winter hat?

It was a small winter hat that a young prince would wear.

She could have ordered us to do that.

Why did she try to give it to the Crown Prince herself?

And the head court lady took it away from her.

Your Majesty.

I only say this...

for the good of Joseon and the royal family.

The Crown Prince...

does not need to know who is Noron or Soron...

or should he need to know...

who is better between Minister of Personnel or Minister of War...

or the state affair.

I beg you to withdraw your order on his regency.

- I beg you, Your Majesty. - I beg you, Your Majesty.

It does not matter what they say.

The work has been assigned already.

I must be careful.

You already made an appeal to refuse regency twice.

That is now enough.

You should move forward now, Your Highness.

Vice Minister.

Yes, Your Highness.

Remove the Second State Councilor from the office.

Submit appeals...

and petition the King to punish...

those who dared to slander the Crown Prince.

Do not budge an inch.

There will be a lot of opposition.

The decision is theirs.

To live in my Joseon in the future...

or to die.

Do not insist on forced suicide with poison.

(Forced suicide with poison is a respectful method of execution.)

I will give the Second State Councilor...

poison with my own hands when I take the throne.

Mother!

Did your son already become the king?

Mother.

Even if your son does take the throne,

you can never become a queen dowager.

You will be a mere consort for the rest of your life.

Stop being arrogant.

You'd better escort your stepmother out.

Let us go out now mother.

Who are you listening to?

I am your mother.

Queen Hong.

Father is still healthy.

The Crown Prince cannot act as regent.

It does not make sense.

Go and admonish him.

He must listen to his mother.

Right now.

I cannot become a queen dowager...

like you said.

I will be a mere consort for the rest of my life.

But the Crown Prince wanted to treat me well...

as I gave birth to him.

He said he will give me a title.

He already decided the title and the manner of address for me.

Her Highness Lady Hyegyeong.

So I will be called...

Her Highness Lady Hyegyeong in the future.

Do you know how you will be called?

When the Crown Prince San takes the throne,

you will lose your title.

You will not be a princess anymore, but a mere commoner.

Your deceased husband's surname is Jung.

So "the wife of Jung".

"Wife Jung", that would be an appropriate title.

How dare you!

Mother.

Let go of me!

You should leave, Your Highness.

Let go of me!

You!

Mother.

This is my residence and you are telling me to leave?

- Your Highness, please. - Queen Hong!

Let go of me!

I will not stay still!

Mother.

Did you see it?

How much she hates me.

She never forgot about the past.

She thinks I killed her husband.

Why does she hate me?

Does she think I killed my brother because I wanted to?

He went crazy.

He had gone mad and killed people. What did I have to do then?

(Fight and resist.)

That day, if the Crown Prince...

had not stepped up at the King's Palace,

I would have received heel tendon amputation and gotten kicked out.

I will never forget...

your boundless generosity even after I die?

No. Was it extraordinary?

- - Oh, yes.

I misunderstood you that day.

I definitely did not steal it,

but I thought you did not believe me, which made me angry...

and upset.

But now I know why you did that.

I was glad that you defended me...

and protected me at the King's Palace that day.

On the day Consort Yeong died,

did you meet a child of a noble family?

How do you know that?

Actually,

I met a noble child who was around my age.

Hey.

Hey. Do you know how to get to Consort Yeong's house?

We went to her funeral parlor together...

and I remember that he was crying...

because he was missing her.

Do you remember...

the name of the boy?

His name was...

Consort Yeong.

It is me.

San is here.

San.

San.

My name...

is San.

Crying too much is not good for your body.

It was you.

I do not need to take it.

It was you.

(The Red Sleeve)

Wear majestic outfits like a king and leave.

The Crown Prince will pay a visit to the grave.

Far away out of the King's sight.

This is a medicine pouch for the Crown Prince.

We cannot use it anymore because it is all wet now.

The enemies showed themselves. Fight and resist.

Protect His Highness!

Hurry on, my lady.

Run from now on.