Original subtitles

What brings you here?

Would you like to

marry me?

We should talk somewhere else.

Here, there are so many rats trying to listen in.

There are rats here?

Tae-su! Bring some tea to my room.

Tae-su!

What's going on in there?

Come on! Tell us.

She's so beautiful.

It seems like our boss will get married soon!

Get married? No way.

Beautiful, my foot.

Did you see her sharp, slanted eyes?

-She'll eat him up alive. -Exactly, right?

Yes, totally.

Hey, Three Months. You know how to read faces?

But why is your face so...

What?

She wants to marry him?

She said I wasn't even a candidate.

And Hun was one of your options?

Okay.

Let's get married.

However, I plan to continue working as a matchmaker.

I still need about three more years

to pay off the loan I took out to start this business.

And I'm not exactly welcomed whenever I visit my family,

so you'd be disappointed if you expected to benefit

from my family's wealth in any way.

You rambled on just to say no.

That was completely unnecessary.

I hope I didn't hurt your feelings.

After all, you're only here to find out what your options are

and compare them

before the queen selection process begins.

I got my answer, thanks to you.

Just so you know, we have many great candidates here.

Come back if you change your mind.

I won't see you off.

Get back safely.

I, Im Jeong-suk,

greet you with respect, Your Majesty.

I have heard a lot about your virtuous deeds.

It's been quite exaggerated, Your Majesty.

Before I praise you,

I need to confirm something.

Did you truly

abandon your family and leave home?

Yes, Your Majesty.

I'm staying at a kisaeng parlor at the moment.

You need to get further away.

Where should I go, then?

Go to the palace.

Go and save my father's face.

However, it wasn't my idea.

My uncle suggested it.

He felt bad that I'd have to live in solitude for the rest of my life,

so he wanted me to get remarried

even if it would dishonor the family.

To prevent rumors,

he even prepared me a room for me at the kisaeng parlor.

So that is why

Councilor Ma kept refusing the commendation.

Without knowing his thoughtful reasons,

I kept being stubborn about it.

I still have a lot to learn.

That is not true, Your Majesty.

Councilor Ma, you seem very determined.

Hence, I cannot force my decision on you.

Councilor Ma.

How about I help her get remarried?

Your Majesty, encouraging her remarriage

could set a bad example for other women and corrupt public morals.

Please reconsider.

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

Then,

is there anything else you need?

I hope my daughter

won't have to suffer because of my decision.

Councilor Ma.

Your niece-in-law is such an admirable woman.

Then how about this?

If your daughter is engaged,

the royal house will take care of her wedding.

Then Madam Im would not have to hide

in the kisaeng parlor anymore, right?

I am beyond grateful

for Your Majesty's boundless kindness.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

-Thank you, Your Majesty. -Thank you, Your Majesty.

How dare she humiliate me?

How dare she...

Hyeon.

Yes, My Lord.

Isn't the weather lovely today?

But accidents always happen on days like this.

What if something bad happens to my frail niece-in-law?

I am

truly concerned.

I will get ready.

Once I get my hands on something,

I never let it go.

It's time for us to take action.

The regency has to end soon.

But Councilor Ma

has the royal court in the palm of his hand.

He would not let it happen that easily.

That's exactly why we need someone new to help us.

Someone who can bring all the Confucians together

and is fully trusted amongst all the officials.

Lord Yun Dong-seok.

So many officials failed to bring him back to the court.

Even the late king visited him,

but he refused because of his ill child.

And that's why we need him. We need someone like him to join us.

Earning people's trust is the hardest thing to achieve.

What a bummer.

Madam Im's remarriage is off,

and we got on Councilor Ma's bad side.

Come on. It's not so bad.

No one got hurt, and that's good enough.

Big sis, are you really going to marry

that mean lady?

She's very beautiful, just as I've heard.

What? Do you have something to say too?

No, I don't.

I believe you have something to tell me.

-I don't think I do. -You do.

About the King, for example.

Right. I do need to talk to you.

Why do you have to bad-mouth the King in secret?

Big sis. If you marry a woman just because she's pretty, you'll regret it!

What's inside is more important.

He said she's beautiful.

What?

What's with her?

Does Gaettong know?

She won't be able to accept the fact that her fiancé is the King.

What's your plan?

I'll send her back to where she belongs. That is my plan.

Remember the story I told you a while ago?

About what happens if you raise a cat and a dog in the same house.

Nothing, you said.

However, do you know what happens when the dog

falls in love with the cat?

The dog will embrace the cat even if the cat claws at him.

Without even realizing that he's bleeding everywhere.

Are you sure you can handle it?

Can you really send her to the King

with your own two hands?

There's no other way.

It's the safest place she can be.

What are these?

What do you think? They're books that you must read and memorize.

All of these?

Look at all these squiggly letters!

I can't even read them, let alone memorize them.

How did you learn to talk so inelegantly anyway?

I don't know.

I learned to talk like this while wandering around. What can I do?

We need to fix that first.

Try to be polite and respectful when you talk.

Do you understand, Lady Yun?

Got it.

"I understand."

I understand.

Scholar Ma, I am afraid

I do not understand a thing written in these books.

I'm so very troubled.

I didn't expect you to be able to read them anyway.

Here's a summary of the important parts that you need to know.

Read it and memorize everything.

This is a summary?

This one is more important.

A true noble lady must know these poems by heart.

What? I have to memorize all of these?

I'm out. It's not like I'm trying to marry the King or something.

If you pick and memorize 40 poems,

I'll take you to the festival on July 7.

Really?

Then will you let me make a wish and fly a sky lantern too?

Yes, if you memorize them all.

I will.

About Councilor Kang's daughter...

You mean, Lady Kang?

Remember that you're now a noble lady too. Try to sound like one.

You have no idea what she's really like.

She's aggressive and mean.

She's so scary when she glares at you like this.

You have until July 7.

If you get another warning, it'll be your third.

That's not fair! The second one shouldn't count.

What? Hold on.

Right, I deserve an apology.

Okay. I'm feeling generous, so I'll give you a chance to be forgiven.

"A chance"?

Tell me where he lives.

Lady Yun's father.

You're grounded. You keep forgetting that.

That's what I'm talking about. Let me go, and I'll forgive you.

I now have a name thanks to him, so I want to do something for him.

Let's show everyone what Five Pun can do.

-Eat whenever you can. -Okay.

Okay? Do you understand?

All right, go!

Who are you?

Is that you?

You're...

The weather is pretty cold.

Cover yourself with this.

Oh, what are you doing here?

Mister, you can't come in here. You'll get in trouble.

-You should leave. -Wait, what are you doing here?

I'm indebted to the owner of this house.

-Leave at once. -Hey, wait.

You're "indebted"?

That's right. You have to leave

-before he comes back. Go! -Gosh, wait!

Goodness. Get back safely, okay?

FLOWER CREW, 90 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE

There's a place called Flower Crew at the end of Pimatgol.

Come find me here if you don't have a place to stay.

FLOWER CREW

"Flower Crew"?

Matchmaker Ma?

Then is she that girl?

There you are.

I couldn't find you anywhere,

so I came here just in case.

I didn't think I'd actually find you here.

I'd appreciate it if you could pretend you never saw me.

That will be for the best.

You should return to your post.

The royal court needs someone who can bring a fresh wind.

But you'd never let the wind stay.

After knocking someone down,

the wind will blow away with that person.

I do not wish

to be that "wind."

Just as I heard, he is one stubborn man.

What is that?

July 7 is just around the corner.

I suppose everyone wants to fly sky lanterns with their wishes.

July 7...

Time goes by so fast.

Your Majesty.

How about we write down our wishes together?

DEEP INTO THE NIGHT WHEN ALL MOVEMENTS STOP

"Deep into the night

when all movements stop,

the shining moon

embraces the empty garden so dearly.

As it washes

my conscience clean,

I realize my true love."

"I realize my true nature."

You can't read it even with the annotations?

I REALIZE MY TRUE NATURE

But...

why would the moon make one realize one's true nature?

Did this poet never love anyone?

"At the moment of enlightenment, I realize my love."

This sounds much better.

Just memorize it, will you?

What's that?

None of your business.

I have seen this character somewhere.

FLOWER

FLOWER

Could this be... Flower Crew Rulebook?

So it actually exists?

Let me have a look.

Give it back!

Try and take it.

What are you two doing?

Madam Im will move back to her parents' house soon.

What are you guys going to do?

We should go see her off.

Flower Crew Rulebook, Chapter 11.

"Even if the marriage falls through,

once a client, always a client."

Of course. I'll get ready.

You're grounded.

You keep forgetting it.

She's such a nuisance. Please just take her.

I'll memorize the poems.

I promise I'll memorize them, so let me come with you. Please?

She'll memorize them.

You two have good teamwork only at times like this.

Mother!

Mother...

Mother.

Are you all right?

I came to say goodbye.

I'm okay.

Thank you for everything.

I'll get going.

Why didn't you run away?

You could've been put in danger.

Because I'm a mother.

Not all mothers

are like you.

I don't agree with that.

A mother

never abandons her child.

WOLHYANGGWAN

I'll walk you to the gate.

You didn't have to come.

Flower Crew Rulebook, Chapter 11.

"Even if the marriage falls through,

once a client, always a client."

Someone said so.

You said you didn't care.

She's still my client as she came to the kisaeng parlor.

Doesn't it feel like we're gathered here for a mokkoji?

MOKKOJI: A GATHERING FOR A CELEBRATION OR A DAY OF FUN

Wait.

I think someone's tailing you.

We'll distract them,

so you take her to the gate.

We'll meet you there.

What about me?

That way!

Don't be scared.

I'll keep you safe.

Don't be scared. I'll keep you safe.

Mother, please let me out.

Don't be scared.

I'll keep you safe.

-Mother! -Where are they?

Where did they go?

You bitch!

I shall teach you a lesson!

Father?

No, I don't want to!

No!

Where are you going, Mother?

I have to leave. You must come too.

When will we be back?

We'll never come back.

Let's go, Jun. Come with me.

No!

I promised Gang-u that I'll play with him at school tomorrow.

I'm not leaving! I don't want to go!

We might get caught.

Uncle.

We should leave first. Come on.

-Let's go, Jun. -No!

-We'll come back for him later. -I can't leave without him!

-I don't want to leave. -If we get caught, you'll both die!

No!

All right, Jun. Go to school tomorrow and play with Gang-u.

But why don't we play hide-and-seek?

After you're done playing with Gang-u,

come find me under that zelkova tree over there.

You're the seeker, okay?

-Hurry. -Okay?

-Come on. Hurry. -Jun!

-Jun! -Mother!

Jun!

I was the one who abandoned her.

They couldn't have gone far.

-Find them. Quick. -Yes, sir.

You were right.

A mother...

never abandons her child.

You guys ran off without me.

You're all so disloyal!

How could you stitch me like that?

It's "ditch."

Goodness.

I'm sure your mother is waiting for you.

It's too late.

No, it's not.

It's never too late when it comes to the parent-child relationship.

There they come.

Did anyone try to threaten you?

How could anyone dare to harm me, knowing it's His Majesty's order?

That gentleman told me about it.

We'll do anything we can to help you two be together.

He can be a prick sometimes,

but he's a man of his word.

You can count on him.

Thank you.

We shall be leaving, then.

Be safe.

I'm going to charge extra fees for what happened today.

Look at this!

I'm a trendsetter, remember?

I'm the most fashionable man in Hanyang.

Why don't we all go for a drink together?

That's a great idea.

I can't.

I have to go see someone.

Let's go have a drink.

My clothes are...

Sis! Three Months!

You're leaving me again?

Goodness.

Can't you do anything right?

I deserve a punishment, My Lord.

Get out before I lose it.

My Lord, that lady was with them.

Your son came here to rescue her a while ago.

Did you find out anything about her?

She is Yun Su-yeon. Yun Dong-seok's daughter.

-Yun Dong-seok's daughter? -Yes, My Lord.

Be careful.

You might get bitten by a tiger next time.

Anything else?

No, My Lord.

Yun Dong-seok's daughter and Hun...

I'm exhausted.

This is like killing the hunting dog after hunting is over.

I look horrible!

Forget it. Big sis, I'm going to head in

and wash my babies.

See you.

Take it off.

What do you mean?

That looks so precious. Why tie it on my foot?

Your foot is more important than this handkerchief.

No one has ever told me that I come

before expensive goods.

From now on, I'll always put you

before anything else.

All right, Jun. Go to school tomorrow and play with Gang-u.

But why don't we play hide-and-seek?

After you're done playing with Gang-u,

come find me under that zelkova tree over there.

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Jun.

-Jun. -Where are you, Mother?

Mother.

Mother. Once again, I'm the seeker.

Wait for me.

I will find you no matter what.

Jun.

Don't be so nice to me.

It's making me

want to stay by your side.

What brings you here?

You can stop asking around now.

I won't be coming here anymore.

I came here to tell you that.

I don't need you anymore.

So,

you're going to marry Councilor Ma's son?

Why would an information broker need to ask me that?

I don't have questions about anything else,

but you pique my curiosity.

I'm leaving.

-What are you-- -Just a moment.

Stay like this just for a moment.

Don't be so harsh on me. Please, not today.

Will you comfort me a little?

Will you choose me?

You just buy and sell information at a kisaeng parlor.

What can you

do for me?

Will you change your mind and take the civil service examination?

It's not that I'm not interested.

I cannot take it.

Why do I feel like

there's something heavy on my chest?

So...

What you're saying is, Councilor Ma's son

helped the virtuous woman run away?

The entire Flower Crew, the matchmaking agency that he runs,

to be exact.

Flower Crew...

How interesting.

Find out everything about that agency.

I want to know what kind of people keep butting in like this.

I need to find out whether they'll be on my side or not.

Yes, My Lord.

Father. It's me, Ji-hwa.

I heard you're busy preparing for the upcoming event.

What's the matter?

I have a favor to ask of you.

Sure, what kind of favor?

I wish to meet His Majesty in person.

What?

Just twice.

Why do you need to meet him exactly twice?

The first time is to make my decision.

And the second time

is to be sure of my decision.

You cannot meet His Majesty in private like that.

Then I will not participate in the queen selection process.

That's not up to you to decide.

It is the law!

And that's why noble families share their secrets

for avoiding it without going against the law.

Some get married,

and others become Buddhist monks to avoid it.

Which of the two

would be better for you, Father?

Are you threatening me now?

Yes, I am.

They say a woman's life is like a bowl.

What she fills her bowl with determines how her life will unfold.

I must see what I'm putting

in my bowl.

Where are you going so early?

The early bird catches the worm,

and the early customer

can get his hands on the best items at the market.

-Let's go, Tak-su. -Yes, sir.

Let's go have some fun.

He really loves shopping.

I'll see you later!

Keep watch.

Yes, sir.

Ten yang?

Come on. Make it eight.

Nine yang.

-Get them! -Stop right there!

-Stop! -Get them!

-Damn it. -Catch them!

-Stop right there! -Stop!

We're just customers.

-Come here. -Let go of me!

-I got conned too! -Be quiet.

-Move. -Let go of me, please!

Go on in, or you'll get hurt.

Let's go!

Do you know how powerful my boss' family is?

He's Councilor Ma's son!

I'm going to tell on you!

I mean it!

I know him from somewhere.

I got conned too. I'm telling you the truth.

Why did you want to see me in private at this late hour?

I wish to help you end the regency.

And why would you help me?

Of course, I'd want something in return.

Do you want your daughter

to be one of the final candidates?

I do,

but that is up to her.

If she can't even achieve that on her own,

she won't be able to oversee everything that goes on in the Internal Quarters.

Then what do you want?

Please meet my daughter.

Just twice.

I would say

it's not a bad deal for Your Majesty either.

How will you look after your ill father from now on?

Even a dog earns its keep.

At least do something to earn your keep!

It seems like

His Majesty has a new friend.

I knew something was up.

I bet Councilor Kang was behind what happened with Im Jeong-suk as well.

Those two are messing with us.

It's time

we let His Majesty know

who is really in charge here.

Spare my life, please. Please don't kill me!

Please spare my life.

Uncover her face.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, please spare my life.

You may begin.

Spare my life, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Please spare my life...

One more.

-She might die. -Please...

She cannot die.

I need answers.

Stop.

What does His Majesty do every night?

What did His Majesty discuss with Councilor Kang?

No.

What is His Majesty plotting? And with whom?

Tell us everything you know.

I don't know anything.

You don't?

Then I should arrest your parents tomorrow and ask them instead.

You still don't know anything?

Councilor Ma.

Your Highness...

Councilor Ma...

Speak!

Forgive me,

Your Majesty.

What is this, Your Majesty?

I heard your father is ill.

I had the Medical Bureau make it specially for you.

Give it to your father on your way home.

You work right by my side,

so I should've been more attentive to you.

I'm sorry.

It's my first time being a king.

Your Majesty.

To tell you the truth...

Your Majesty! The court lady...

All right. You can test me now.

I'll test you when we get to Gwangtonggyo.

No, we have to do it now.

I might forget it later!

This way, I'll get to know how good you really are.

Where is Yeong-su? Tak-su is not here either.

Big sis.

Matchmaker Ko.

What on earth happened to you?

Don't even get me started.

I wanted to do some shopping, but I got interrogated instead.

Let's talk about it later.

We need to go somewhere, so get ready.

Don't you see this?

All this stress is making me age fast.

You, come over to my room in a few minutes.

You guys give me wrinkles.

Go wash up.

That hurts!

Stay still.

Eyebrows are the most important part of a woman's face.

How will you become a noble lady if you can't even endure this?

Look up.

Why are you crying?

It's made by crushing pine needle soot with charred barley.

Your Majesty!

Step aside.

Your Majesty.

Where are you headed,

Your Majesty?

Was it your doing, Councilor Ma?

Didn't I tell you not to do anything?

If you listened to me,

that dead girl

would still be alive.

From now on,

these men will serve Your Majesty.

And this is where you belong.

-Councilor-- -Don't...

Don't do anything.

You don't want to lose Gaettong as well, do you?

Serve His Majesty well.

-Yes, Councilor Ma. -Yes, Councilor Ma.

Just look at her. I did such an amazing job.

KANG CHEON-JU, GEUMCHEON KANG FAMILY

What is this?

People call this "island hopping."

"Island hopping"?

In this country, men and women aren't even allowed to sit together,

so an opportunity like this is very rare.

First, they exchange eye contact.

Then if they like each other,

they'll exchange names.

If they don't like each other,

they'll look for someone better.

It's like hopping from one island to another.

I see. "Island hopping."

It'd be wise to stop yourself now.

It's not too late yet.

The way you look at her... You obviously can't let her go.

We should not forget our role.

The Bridge of Love.

The very bridge that Jik-nyeo crossed

to reunite with her love, Gyeon-u.

She needs to return to him, and that's all.

If we go further, it'll be considered abuse of authority.

Big sis.

What's wrong with him?

You look as if you've been "island-hopping."

I WISH FOR HIS MAJESTY'S HAPPINESS

I wish for His Majesty's happiness.

Her wish...

was merely for me to be happy?

I WISH FOR HIS MAJESTY'S HAPPINESS

She never

got to reunite with her lover, whom she promised to meet at Gwangtonggyo.

Your Majesty...

She only got to leave the palace after her death.

I should have expected something like this to happen.

I should have protected her.

I...

have failed to protect one of my people, once again.

It's my fault, Your Majesty.

I...

passed on the information to Councilor Ma.

That's why she...

Please punish me, Your Majesty.

It is all my fault.

Everything.

You should go.

I will stay here

in your place.

-Hello, what a nice night. -Look.

I'll take one of those.

We'll take one.

I've never done anything like this before.

Write down your wish.

Aren't you going to write one too?

No, thanks.

Then I'll write your wish for you.

By the way, how do we launch this?

Do you know how to do anything?

I'll do it. Just recite a poem while I prepare it.

What?

Must you test me

under this beautiful moonlight?

Then why don't you recite a poem

about this beautiful moonlight?

Do I really have to?

If you fail, you'll get another warning.

"Deep into the night

when all movements stop..."

That looks so precious. Why tie it on my foot?

Your foot is more important than this handkerchief.

From now on, I'll always put you before anything else.

"The shining moon embraces the empty garden so dearly."

Yun Su-yeon.

Become an outstanding, beautiful lady.

This name...

It's my first time

being given a name.

"As it washes my conscience clean

at the moment of enlightenment,

I realize my love."

Wrong again.

I said it's "I realize my true nature."

No, I'm not wrong.

You are wrong.

I'm not wrong about my feelings.

I love you.

I'm in love with you,

Mr. Matchmaker.

I WISH TO LIVE WITH MY BROTHER AGAIN

I wish to live with my brother again.

PLEASE DON'T LET MR. MATCHMAKER GET MARRIED

Please don't let Mr. Matchmaker

get married.

I WISH TO MARRY GAETTONG AGAIN

I wish

to marry Gaettong again.

Please hurry with the preparations for the royal wedding.

Rock Head, what shall I do with you?

Did you not say that you wanted to see me?

I'm Lee Su.

Is he crazy or what?

Those who dare to want the King's woman

will have their limbs ripped and their families killed.

What's that expression? Aren't you happy to meet Su again?

You are just a man who likes a woman.

Do you really want me to leave?

Subtitle translation by Jin-young Hyon