Original subtitles

The rats weren't the problem.

Hey, you.

How could your sleeping habits be so...

Are you the strange one to be sleeping in this situation,

or am I the strange one to lose sleep over this?

What are you doing?

What do you think? I couldn't stand how messy you looked.

Gosh, for a while there,

I got the wrong idea that you were trying to

come on to me.

Me? Come on to you?

Just who do you think you are?

Whatever. Let's not bicker so early in the morning.

Can you please not snore?

Do you know how loud you were? I couldn't get a wink of sleep.

If only you knew what you did last night--

I made that thing.

What is it doing over there?

Because the real rat is somewhere else.

Is it because you're scared of rats?

I could take care of that.

Forget it if you don't want me to.

Who said I don't want it?

Here.

The rats won't dare come near you now.

Can you make another one?

But it's not Kkultteoksoe.

It's probably one of his men.

How did you know he would come here?

This is the place Matchmaker Do told me about.

But by the time we got here,

the man had found out and hid himself somewhere else.

However, the stove still felt warm,

and there was quite a lot of food left.

He would have needed to come back

to check if we were gone.

Who are you?

All right. I will save us some time and cut to the chase.

First, if you tell me where your boss is,

I will take that off your foot.

Don't be ridiculous.

Do you think you're a match for Kkultteoksoe?

My boss

will come to save me.

Second, if you keep your mouth shut like that,

the poison will spread through the body and kill you soon.

Look at your foot.

What? Poison?

Based on your condition, it seems you have about 15 minutes left.

I hope your boss comes to save you

before you run out of time.

Oh, right.

Tell him to take this with him.

I know you're lying.

Don't you feel shivery all over?

Your mouth will dry up and your tongue will go numb.

You'll break out in a cold sweat soon.

He is a man that never lies with that serious face.

Can't you see? That cold, ruthless face.

Just tell him already!

You can't die while trying to be loyal to your boss!

-Oh, no. -Gosh.

Look at this cold sweat.

Your Highness.

His Majesty is having breakfast

with the court lady he spent the night with.

Although the world is ruled by men,

they say those men are ruled by women.

We should prepare an ornamental hairpin.

Also, inform the Medical Bureau to prepare some deer velvet.

Yes, Your Highness. I will tell them it is for the court lady.

It is for me.

Do you know how much trouble I went through

in order to choose a woman for His Majesty?

Look. My skin looks so saggy.

Yes, Your Highness. I will inform the Medical Bureau right away.

Goodness, Your Majesty,

how could you do that?

I couldn't get any sleep.

It hurts so much.

How long do we have to do this?

I can't continue to do this for you.

That was a bit too much, Your Majesty.

I might fall sick at this rate.

Grinding ink stick all night for you is taking its toll.

I can't even spread my fingers now.

How could you really stay up all night?

I'm really sorry.

It's because I'm in such a hurry.

Se-a, you should have some of this.

Your Majesty, it's Eunuch Jang.

May I enter?

Yes, Eunuch Jang.

What do you want?

If you're finished with breakfast,

would you like some tea?

What? Oh.

Okay.

I had quite a strenuous night.

I will return with your tea.

You go ahead and do that.

The antidote.

Give me the antidote, please.

Here.

The antidote! My goodness.

What if he can't find it? Why did you throw it like that?

That thing?

-It's just water from the well. -What?

Then why did he get the chills?

It's morning.

Then what about the cold sweats?

He would have been getting cramps in his leg because of the mousetrap.

The cramps will go away

by the time he finishes drinking it.

You're such a swindler.

Now shall we go meet the real swindler?

Soe-dol, is that you?

The dumb wench came all the way here on her own.

Did you find your brother?

You swindler.

Give me back my 30 yang.

I'll make sure I get that one myself.

Don't try to stop me.

It's not that I want to stop you,

but I would feel guilty if I didn't.

If you get hurt,

three generations of my family may be annihilated.

What?

Anyway, I did try to stop you.

Thus, I'm not responsible for any bloodshed that occurs from now on.

Make sure you tell him that.

Tell who?

Just someone

whom I cannot address by his name.

Hey, you wench.

My eyes...

I thought you were just a bookworm. I'm impressed.

Hey, you rat.

Stop right there!

Hey!

Stop! Hey!

Stop, I said!

Hey, you!

Stop right there!

Hey!

Darn it.

Hey! Stop right there.

Hey!

Once I catch you, you're dead meat.

Hey!

Hey!

Gosh, that persistent wench.

Your hands and feet suffer when you're stupid.

You're absolutely right.

I don't care about your hands and feet,

but this is such a nuisance for me.

How did you get here before I did?

Who are you? Why do you keep following me?

I don't remember taking your money.

You do not need to know who I am. I just need you to answer this.

The arrowhead you stole from Jang's Merchant Guild.

Who did you sell it to?

That arrowhead killed someone.

Do you want to be charged with murder?

What do you mean, "murder"?

I just sold it. That's all.

So you did sell it to someone.

All right. I have your confession.

Let's go now before I raise my voice.

Right, holding hands would be awkward.

You persistent punk.

Do you think I'll let you take me?

Don't come any closer.

I know nothing about that arrowhead.

Do you think you can track them down by catching me?

We can talk about that at the Police Bureau.

All I did

was deliver that arrowhead.

Do you even know who they are?

They're people in high places who are silent, without faces!

You'll end up dead if you do anything reckless.

I truly appreciate your concern,

but you should worry about yourself first.

You don't listen, do you?

See?

I told you to worry about yourself first.

Are you all right?

What was that about?

Well...

Oh, there they are.

It's this man. Please arrest him.

Damn it. What a cursed day.

You think you haven't found your brother because of me?

You're wrong.

It's all because you have a cursed fate.

And your husband.

I'm sure he ended up dead somewhere because of you.

You sure are talkative for a thief, aren't you?

But you're doomed.

This cursed bitch caught you,

so you won't get out until you cough up my 30 yang.

Some powerful people got my back.

If I were one of them, I'd eliminate idiots like you first.

So tell me who they are if you want to live.

Only then will your life be spared.

You can't fool me.

I can't help you if you don't believe me.

Be careful.

Who knows? They might put poison in your food.

Isn't that the hair ribbon we saw?

The one that handsome man picked out.

The red hair ribbon looks good on you.

How dare he hold that up to me

when it was for that rude girl?

What should I do with this?

Throw it out.

But it looks totally fine. Why...

Yes, My Lady.

When can you bring the information broker to me?

The thing is,

he says you should come to him if you want information.

How dare he ask a noble lady to visit the kisaeng parlor?

Yes, he says the one who wants information must come in person.

If it is urgent, how about we go there now--

A lady doesn't go to such lowly places as the kisaeng parlor.

Forget it then. You may leave.

This looks totally fine.

I should try it on.

It's so pretty.

-Beautiful. -Gosh!

You scared me, you idiot.

I guess even an idiot like you can recognize beauty.

You look beautiful.

Gaettong is beautiful too.

I want to give it to Gaettong.

I don't care about Gaettong or whatever her name is, so get lost.

I said, get lost.

Go away. Get lost!

-How beautiful. -Stop smiling and get lost.

Your Majesty.

The people are suffering due to the bad harvest this year.

How about we temporarily reduce the taxes

to ease the burden on the people?

We cannot do that.

How is that going to help them?

Even if we allow them to submit one doe or one mal less,

that is only enough for a couple of meals.

How can that be a fundamental solution to help the people?

In other words, he wishes to make the people suffer

so that he can continue to collect wealth.

Councilor Ma.

Do you know how much one doe of grain is worth?

Of course, I do.

I'm not talking about the amount.

I'm asking because you said it was only worth a few meals.

Do you know how I ate

one doe of barley before I came to the palace?

A doe of barley was so precious that I divided it into many portions,

which were made into porridge to make it more filling.

A porridge so thin that it was like soup. I needed it to fill my stomach.

That's how much one doe or mal of grain is worth to the people.

I do understand what you mean, Your Majesty.

However,

it is the people's duty to pay the taxes.

-Thus-- -In that case,

what is the government's duty?

I was a subject of this country for a long time.

The people want only one thing.

Even if they can't be full, they don't want to starve.

And it is your job to make sure

that the people don't starve.

Therefore,

please consider lowering the taxes.

-Yes, Your Majesty. -Yes, Your Majesty.

I thought he was a powerless fool who knew nothing about politics.

Maybe we've been underestimating him.

With the Commandant of the Palace Guards away,

the King has no one to help him now. Things will settle down soon.

He is just an immature child

wanting to play the King.

Let him be.

What happened to the court lady that was sent to his bedchamber?

Don't worry about that.

His Majesty wants her there tonight too.

Soon he will be too busy

having fun with women to be involved in politics.

You want me to deliver your napchae?

The groom's napchae is

usually delivered by one of his brothers.

But I don't have any brothers.

So please deliver my napchae to Lady Choe.

Why would you give this important task to me?

She's right. You should have Hun deliver it instead.

This girl hasn't even mastered the rules yet.

She can't carry out this important task.

You gave me the courage to proceed with this marriage.

I'm grateful to you.

So I insist that you carry out the task.

Can she do that?

I don't see why not.

A messenger's job is

to deliver what is in the sender's heart.

Do you think you can do that?

Pardon?

You think you haven't found your brother because of me?

You're wrong, It's all because you have a cursed fate.

And your husband.

I'm sure he ended up dead somewhere because of you.

I don't want to.

I'm not doing it.

Then forget it. Why would you get all worked up?

See? Three Months is such a handful.

Hey, newbie. How have you been?

Did you just ignore me?

No girl in the whole city ever ignores me.

Just look at my face.

Excuse me.

Mr. Matchmaker.

By any chance, can you find

a dead person too?

Why? Are you worried your husband might be dead?

Scholar Lee probably doesn't know what happened.

But shouldn't you know better?

You do know what happened to Gaettong.

How could you ask her to be his messenger?

It's not Rock Head's fault that she got stood up.

In fact, about the whole stood up thing...

Forget it.

Why do you hate that girl so much?

You keep violating the principles for her.

You used to be good at separating business from emotions.

What happened to you?

Kang.

To be honest,

I wanted to be

the messenger.

But people call me unlucky.

What if everyone becomes miserable because of me?

That girl...

What's wrong, my lady?

It's nothing.

Something's been bothering me.

Maybe that's why I'm seeing things.

Guys, you must be hungry.

-Dad is back! -Dad is back!

Let's eat! Come here.

Where did you get so much food?

From the house next door. Eat up.

-We haven't eaten in days. -Eat up.

Okay.

There you go.

Father!

You're home.

-Mother! -Where are you going?

Come on in.

-Oh, my. -Hi!

My sweetie-pies.

Where have you been?

Father!

Eat up.

It tastes good.

It gets pretty cold at night.

You'd better wrap yourself up.

I will.

-Eat some more. -Eat slowly.

Mister.

The weather is pretty cold.

Leave me alone. Get lost!

My goodness.

What a lousy temper you have.

Go ahead and cover yourself with this.

Your family would feel so sad

to see you like this.

Gosh.

My family?

You can relax.

May I ask why you wanted to see me?

I worry

about His Majesty all the time.

As he was crowned king so suddenly, he must have many difficulties.

He must miss living outside the palace, too.

I'd do anything to make his life in the palace easier.

But the problem is, I don't know much about His Majesty.

I'm not quite sure I get what you mean.

You're slow.

What I mean is I'd like to understand His Majesty.

To do that,

I want you to report everything

His Majesty does in detail from now on.

Are you telling me to spy on His Majesty?

"Spy"? Nonsense.

Like I said, I'm trying to help His Majesty here.

Eunuch Jang, I heard taking out high-interest loans

because of your father's illness.

Help me understand His Majesty,

and I'll find your father a competent doctor.

FLOWER CREW

Slacking off that much won't get you fired,

Gaettong.

Were you waiting for me?

Of course.

I was waiting.

You have so much debt to pay back, yet you're just slacking off.

How would I be able to sleep?

You really never change, I envy you for that.

What is this?

It's a pair of wooden geese the groom gives to the bride.

I'd like you to deliver them.

I can't.

Why? Because you might bring misfortune again?

Yes. Because I might bring misfortune to their lives.

What if I get involved and mess up the wedding like last time...

I'm a very fortunate man.

Everything I do turns out well,

to the point that I find life boring.

Of course. You must be so happy.

I'm just an unlucky woman who brings misfortune everywhere.

Give me your hand.

I'll share my fortune with you,

so you can share your misfortune with me as well.

What is this nonsense?

I find life boring because I am fortunate all the time,

and your life is always difficult because of your misfortune.

I'm saying we should share my luck and your misfortune.

Since you took my luck, nothing bad will happen.

Like I said, I'm an extremely fortunate man.

Could you please take some more of my misfortune--

Were you

awake at the time?

What? My snoring kept you awake?

-Well, the thing is... -What?

It was an accident! A purely random accident.

And I'm not the only one who's responsible.

We're mutually responsible for it.

So let's not blame each other.

"Mutual"?

It was obviously her fault.

Why do I have to feel guilty?

I mean,

I wasn't trying to blame him or anything.

I was even pretending like I didn't know until now.

I'll share my fortune with you,

so you can share your misfortune with me as well.

Can I trust

your fortune then?

I'm trusting you.

He says you should come to him if you want information.

Now that you came all the way here,

I guess it's your turn to talk to me.

I don't know what you want, but just mind your business.

I have some other business to attend.

Doesn't that business involve me?

I have no business with you.

If you keep harassing me, I will report you to the police.

Weren't you looking for an information broker?

Then are you...

I never thought you'd really come here yourself.

So are you asking me

to carry out an investigation on the King?

Yes.

A noble lady visiting a kisaeng parlor

in the middle of the day and asking to investigate the King?

In that case,

how about you show me that precious face of yours first?

Why do you keep that beautiful face hidden?

You're not a broker, but a mere flirt.

There is no need to be so impatient.

Okay, I'll look into it.

Come back in ten days.

-What's the price-- -You can pay me later.

Well then.

You'll have to come yourself next time too.

In my entire life,

I've never seen a woman ask me to investigate the king.

Isn't this a bit too much on the first day?

One more bottle.

Here you go. Have a taste.

This is Gaettong's special recipe.

If you don't drink this in one go, I'll make you drink twofold.

Go on then. Chug-a-lug.

All right. We should make a toast on a day like this.

How could you leave me out on a day like this?

You drink every day anyway. I thought it would make no difference.

We still have a long way to go until the wedding.

-Don't get overexcited. -Don't ruin the mood, Big Sis.

Stop being so serious on a day like this.

He is right. We can worry about tomorrow later.

Let's celebrate for now.

All right. Always lucky.

Everything works in our favor. We make marriages happen!

-All right! -All right!

All right.

Hey, keep disguising yourself as a noble lady for the time being.

Why should I? It's such a hassle.

I met Councilor Kang's daughter,

and we shouldn't underestimate her.

It wouldn't hurt to be careful until the wedding is over.

It's a hassle,

but I can put up with it as long as it's for the wedding.

By the way, don't you think everything's been so easy--

What? Did I say something wrong?

Saying things like that always brings bad luck.

We have a big problem!

Lady Choe

wants to call off the wedding.

What did I tell you?

Why is this my fault?

"Glass and corals for hat strings, 30 rolls of silk,

two rolls of premium silk for her wedding costume,

and ten sacks of rice."

All of this?

Mother said

we should get the best of everything

as a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

In the end, she sent me all these things.

But all I can afford

is ten sacks of rice, at best.

How am I supposed to buy silk?

What should I do?

How could she do this?

Does she want to call off the wedding or what?

You're right.

This wedding will be called off.

We'll be the ones calling it off.

Will that really work though?

Her family cannot afford to buy all those expensive things.

You don't even have to do anything.

They'll want to call off the wedding first.

Are you suggesting we sell those wedding gifts?

Your mother is expecting gifts

that are on par with what she sent in terms of value.

If we sell them, we'll earn about the same amount of money.

That's like burying your head in the sand.

It won't work because she'll find out soon.

We want her to find out.

We will take this away now.

Your Majesty.

Please return safely.

I will. Get some rest.

Se-a.

Se-a.

What is this?

I'll take everything except for this.

Sure.

I'll take this, this, and this.

-Gosh. -I want the prettiest ones.

Yes, sure thing.

Five yang, please.

What are you waiting for?

Here you go.

Thank you.

-Have a good day. -I hope to see you again soon!

Why is she running such an errand?

What is the matter, My Lady?

Don't you think it's odd?

Pardon me?

My Lady, your coat.

Gosh, give me those.

Hurry up.

Did we buy what she'd like

or what he likes?

"Glass and corals for hat strings, 30 rolls of silk."

Also, two rolls of premium silk for your wedding costume

and ten sacks of rice outside.

On top of that, we also brought two horses.

Everything is ready for you.

We know the financial situation of Officer Choe's family.

There is no way they could afford to buy all these things.

I'm sure

they took out a high-interest loan.

Does that mean you knew from the beginning

that the list you sent would be beyond their means?

That is not important.

If they actually took out a high-interest loan,

we cannot accept it.

Of course, they didn't.

They were able to buy everything because they sold what you had sent,

so please do not be concerned.

What?

They sold what?

You gave her those things so that she could use them for her wedding,

which means they belong to her.

What is this nonsense?

I must call off this wedding.

As soon as the sun comes up,

I will report you to the government office, so brace yourself.

If you do that,

your son will be taken to the Royal Investigation Bureau first.

"The Royal Investigation Bureau"?

All the gifts you sent

were obtained through bribery.

What are you talking about?

They were just wedding gifts.

But in return, you promised them that you have their backs.

What will happen then?

Promising a position in the government is punished by the law.

In addition, government officials aren't allowed to personally meet anyone

outside their close relatives.

However, she met all her distant relatives

as well as people from her hometown and accepted bribes.

Hence, he will be removed from his position and flogged 100 times.

They may even drive him out into exile.

What do you think will be better?

That's enough.

I'll let it slide.

And I'll send all the gifts back

to those who gave them to me.

Ji-yeong, you don't need to bring anything.

Are we good now?

I only believe what I can see,

but there is one invisible thing that I believe.

It's a person's blind devotion to another person.

Just like you sacrificed yourself for your son,

Lady Choe showed selfless devotion

to Scholar Lee.

How likely do you think it is

to meet someone who is devoted only to you?

I hope you won't disregard the most precious gift

Lady Choe brought with her.

Here comes the groom,

Master Lee Hyeong-gyu from Yangsatgol!

Here comes the groom,

Master Lee Hyeong-gyu from Yangsatgol!

Here comes the groom,

Master Lee Hyeong-gyu from Yangsatgol!

Here comes the groom,

Master Lee Hyeong-gyu from Yangsatgol!

How can Mun-seok do this to me?

How could they run away with the money on a wedding day?

Could a human really do that?

Poor girl. She got stood up on her wedding day.

Three Months, do you know how much those are?

I'll pay you. Let her keep them.

-They look good on her. -You think so?

Actually, I wasn't sure which pair suited me best, so I ended up buying all these.

What do you think?

Now that our job is done, why don't we shout our slogan?

I'm glad the wedding was successful.

I have things to do as well.

Thank you for these.

What's going on? Why are you all running away?

Are you ashamed of me?

Wait for me!

So you mean

the arrow found in the forest was stolen

from the merchant guild by Kkultteoksoe?

Where is he?

-Hey! Let me out! -Me too!

Don't you know who I am?

I can get you all killed with the tip of my tongue.

Hey! Let me out!

I said, I can kill you with the tip of my tongue.

Look here.

The higher-ups want you to wait here for a while.

Do they think this will satisfy me?

Officer! Hey!

Be careful.

Who knows? They might put poison in your food.

If I were one of them, I'd eliminate idiots like you first.

So tell me who they are if you want to live.

Only then will your life be spared.

Flower Crew.

Officer! Please bring Matchmaker Ma here.

Say that I'll tell him everything I know about the culprit.

Officer! Please bring him here!

Please!

He knows nothing.

-He can stay-- -Still,

groundless stories can sometimes make things worse.

What would happen

if Councilor Kang finds out who he is?

I'll have a word with the Police Bureau.

Go take care of it.

Yes.

By the way, Kkultteoksoe was brought in

by your second son.

By Hun?

Like last time,

he is never where he should be but shows up wherever he shouldn't be.

Be absolutely careful.

Whatever he is after, he'll find it by all means.

Fine. Marriage is no big deal.

I'm not jealous at all.

Why is this dress so uncomfortable?

Mr. Matchmaker.

There is a dead man's body at the government office.

The description

pretty much matches Kim Su.

May I help you?

Is he the one you were looking for?

Ma'am.

No.

He is not

my Su.

Mr. Matchmaker,

I'm not feeling good today.

Stop looking for him.

Pardon?

That blacksmith

was adopted by an aristocrat who had no son.

He is living in comfort now.

So forget about him.

No way.

That doesn't make sense.

Just tell me you don't want to look for him.

Why would you make up such a lie?

He is...

Forgive me for being disrespectful to you in the past.

Your Majesty.

How did you...

He is...

Look at you.

You can't even say anything.

Anyhow, it's true.

While he lives in luxury,

will you spend the rest of your life looking for his dead body?

I'll just head in first.

Do you refuse to believe it

because you've been through too much?

Mr. Matchmaker.

My Su

would never do that!

Mr. Matchmaker, the Police Bureau sent a letter.

Kkultteoksoe wants to see you.

Is there anyone out there?

Please call that matchmaker for me.

I have something to tell him.

Officer! Please call the matchmaker.

Come over here.

Yes, listen. Can you bring the matchmaker to me?

I have something to tell him. Okay?

Hey! Please call him for me.

What...

Your job is to stand guard outside. Why are you coming in here?

The higher-ups want you to wait here for a while.

Please, anyone! Help me!

Help me!

Pal-pun!

Gosh, where in the world is he?

Darn! This is driving me crazy.

He doodled on the wall again.

Darn it! It'll take forever to erase this.

Pal-pun, that idiot! I've had enough.

I'll kill him!

Smiling Gaettong.

Crying Gaettong.

Hi, Gaettong.

Gosh, it's so pretty.

Let's see if we can find them elsewhere.

-Okay. -Okay.

I found one!

-Wow. -Where?

-Guys! -That's so pretty.

Mom said we should go. Come on, let's go.

-Okay. -Let's go.

Gaettong.

He should just tell me he can't find him.

Why make excuses?

Is he that desperate to kick me out?

My Su will never do something like that.

I'm sure.

What...

These are

my brother's drawings.

How could these be...

Let's go!

-Okay. -Okay.

-Let's go. -Come on!

-Come on, let's go. -Hurry up.

Gaettong!

Gaettong!

Kang?

I'd like you to investigate this case.

She keeps getting on my nerves. That girl. I must get to the bottom of my suspicions.

I was starting to take a liking to you.

Gaettong is our family now.

Make the right decision about who your real family is!

Make sure you find her before the officials find out.

Gaettong, I may be late, but I promise to come for you.

Who made you cry?

Mr. Matchmaker. Stop being nice to me.

You keep making me not want to leave.

Subtitle translation by Min-jin Kim