Original subtitles

[This is a work of fiction. All the characters, locales, groups, and incidents have no connection to historical facts.]

[Episode 8]

Please allow me to ask you in return.

Why did you join Mok In Hoe?

Please tell me.

Do you wish to get on the throne and rule the land?

How could I desire to rise to the throne?

I have never wished for such a thing.

So do not try to use me for political conflict.

Could I not use you just a bit?

Instead, feel free to use me as well.

A world where the poor and the lowly can also work to make there dreams come true...

That is what Mok In Hoe is trying to achieve, is it not?

I will realize that goal for you.

There is a solution that is the most treacherous but the quickest.

It is taking the throne.

Innkeeper Yoon.

How have you been?

Chief Administrator wishes to see you.

You better surrender and follow us.

I enjoyed...

having you as a company.

Since I began living as a ghost,

I have never talked to anyone but my family.

You must have been very lonely.

Dan Oh was always worried because of me.

She was afraid Chief Administrator might find out that I was alive.

So she made me hide in the annex.

So...

- is that why you'll leave for the temple? - Yes.

I can no longer prevent her from living her life.

How about you?

How about the fact that you have to hide in the temple forever?

Is that not a pity?

Excuse me.

I am here to see Maiden Dan Oh.

I heard she works here.

Do you know My Lady?

Aigoo!

She is in big trouble!

San!

Kang San!

Jung Yoo Ha!

Are you all sleeping?

What is this? Why the fuss in the middle of the night?

Ahjussi, I think they took Dan Oh.

I went to the tavern to see her,

- but the Hanseongbu officers showed up and- - By Hanseongbu,

did Chief Administrator Jang...

What did you say?

This was found when we searched you.

What is this?

It is a compass.

I heard it is useful when you travel.

So I bought it at a store.

You underestimate me.

This is not something worthless you can buy anywhere.

Jade. The name is Pyeong.

It is a precious name that can only mean one person.

Lee Pyeong.

This used to belong to the deposed Crown Prince.

How did a lowly thing like you end up with this?

You must have...

indeed found Ok Jin.

How dare you play me?

Even if I told you the truth,

you would not have believed me.

You already doubt me.

You should just kill me.

You want me to kill you?

Is Ok Jin that important to you?

I am sure...

you will not believe me.

I will make you

say something trustworthy to me.

I will cut your throat in public for committing treason today.

Why are you all out here?

What took you so long? All hell broke loose right now!

San.

Listen to me without getting too upset.

Dan Oh...

has been captured.

I...

just knew him as a child!

Tell me all the details.

- If you try to be clever- - Several decades ago,

it was at my father's funeral.

That day, young Lee Seol broke into Ihwawon

and I helped him hide.

He gave me that compass

to express his gratitude then.

On the day of Yoon Won's funeral was-

It was the day the deposed Crown Prince died

and his eldest son Lee Seol ran away.

If you are telling the truth,

Ok Jin must owe his life to you.

It was too long ago to say that.

If so...

who came to the temple that day?

Was it Lee Seol?

I do not know.

I have never seen Ok Jin again since then.

Why would I not have told you if I had found him?

I would not know.

If you knew as a child, you could have grown fond of each other.

I am not stupid enough to hide a traitor.

Why would I volunteer to become a traitor because of someone I knew as a child?

What are you doing here?

Stop right there!

Leave him.

You are His Excellency Jung Yoon's son with the concubine.

How could the chief administrator of Hanseongbu kidnap a young woman?

- If people find out- - This is too great of a matter for you to get involved.

You should leave now.

I need to get involved!

You took Ihwawon from her.

Do you need to interrogate her further?

It looks like you care about Dan Oh greatly.

You ran over here looking so pale.

Thinking about it, you were at the temple that day-

I will pay off her debt. Please let her go.

All of this happened because of a hundred silver ingots.

I do not know what to say.

You gave so much money to Chief Administrator because of me-

Do not mention it.

I did it so I could be at ease.

Let us go.

I did not think you would let her go so easily.

You even gave her Ihwawon back.

Thanks to that, I have a decoy under my foot.

That child must be set free in order to catch Lee Seol and Watchman.

If Yoon Dan Oh had saved Lee Seol's life,

I am sure he will show up again.

Aigoo!

You were with Young Master Yoo Ha!

Aigoo, thank you!

Where is Unni?

She is in her room.

She has not slept at all.

She has been waiting for you.

What took you so long?

I have been waiting for you all this time.

I thought I should at least say goodbye.

Unni!

Take this.

Hurry.

I was going to give it to you when you got married.

Unni, hold on!

We...

can go back to Ihwawon!

Yoo Ha orabeoni paid off my debt for me.

That is a relief.

But...

nothing would change even if I went back.

I still need to live as a ghost.

I will get going now.

Najudaek.

Please take good care of Dan Oh.

Aigoo...

You should get to work now.

Let me pour you a drink.

Treat him well.

I will get going then...

I have something I want you to do in secret.

Feel free to tell me, sir.

Become friends with Yoon Dan Oh.

Those rotten scoundrels at Buyounggak!

When did they remove the sign, anyway?

Geez!

Ahjussi, we are back.

Aigoo! There you are!

I am glad to see you, too, Najudaek.

I missed your cooking so much.

- Are you serious? - I saw you enjoying the food.

You were so impressed with Buyounggak's cook.

Of course.

Looks like you got a little plump, too!

You little...

Looks like you got plump just on your lips!

San went on martial arts training.

I thought you might be curious.

I see.

Orabeoni.

- Could I talk to you for a second? - Oh, yes.

Is...

Lady Hong Ju not coming back?

No. She was more determined than I thought.

She can get married now!

He was right here all this time. We were looking too far away.

You mean, My Lady?

I got it as an inheritance when Mother passed away.

I wanted to put it to good use. But...

do you really want to pay me back?

Yes.

I will pay you back little by little.

There is the monthly rent, and if I get paid from the tavern-

It would take forever to pay back a hundred silver ingots.

Well...

I might not be able to pay you a lot at once but at some point-

Okay.

Go ahead and pay me little by little.

Often. Here and there.

Here and there?

I might see you twice a day like this.

When did you come back?

You should have told me that you were here.

Why are you using a real sword again?

What dangerous thing will you do?

Sit down.

You must be tired from training.

I am okay.

You must have...

worried a lot last night, too.

- Because of me. - Worry?

Why would I?

Pardon?

By the way, what are you doing here?

Can you walk around in Hanyang like this?

The thing is...

I got to come back to Ihwawon.

That is good.

But what will you do with Chief Administrator?

It worked out.

Yoo Ha orabeoni helped me.

Is that so?

Yoo Ha must have done something great.

Do not worry.

I did not say a word about Watchman.

Do you still think I am Watchman?

You said Watchman is

a shadow who protects Lee Seol, right?

Instead of a shadow,

can you not just be Kang San, a military service applicant?

Instead of protecting Lee Seol,

can you not protect yourself instead?

I will.

I am trying to protect.

Steadily.

Do not just be steady. Be enthusiastic!

- If you do not do that- - Yes?

I will blame you!

Until that bamboo blossoms.

Do you mean you will think of me for that long?

It would take about a hundred years for bamboo to blossom.

Do not laugh! I am serious.

When the time comes,

I will tell you everything.

Without hiding anything.

Everything.

Will that day even come?

The day I put on Eosahwa* for passing the state exam. (A hat given by the king to the ones who passed the state exam)

I will tell you then.

It will not be so easy to pass the state exam.

You are so arrogant.

It will be easier than making you stop doubting.

Ban Ya!

Why are you coming out of my room?

I have been staying there

while you were gone.

- I am here to collect my things. - I see.

Did you get everything?

Yes.

I am sorry about all the trouble.

Do not mention it.

I am just happy to see you again.

Thank you for saying that.

Talk to me casually.

We agreed to become friends if we saw each other again.

How could I...

There still is a difference in class.

Being friends is not a big deal.

If you come by to chat and share drinks,

that would make us friends.

Chatting and drinking.

If it is something like that,

I would be happy to.

Visit Ihwawon often.

- Would that be okay? - Of course!

Anytime.

Your Majesty.

I came here to ask you a question.

What is it?

It is about the Watchman.

Some say the Queen Mother's Palace funds him.

Is that true?

It is.

Why do you just sit and watch, then?

I once pushed Queen Mother to come clean about Watchman.

And she bit her tongue and tried to commit suicide.

The palace was turned upside down then.

Court Lady Kim of Queen Mother's Palace seems suspicious.

I heard that she has been

leaving the palace often.

Court Lady Kim?

Why is Yook Ho ahjussi not coming? He must need exam papers, too.

He is not feeling very well.

He gets sick whenever the exam approaches.

Is that so?

There was a reason why he got such poor scores.

Oh?

You put the sign back on.

Aigoo!

You are so attentive.

You always take care of even small things like this.

What?

Let us go!

Aigoo! That temper.

Let us go before he starts complaining again.

The place looks a bit empty today.

Yoo Ha is growing on me.

What do you mean?

He was generous enough to take Ihwawon back at once.

Look at him now, too.

He is grabbing that expensive rice cracker like that.

He is a man of wealth, unlike us.

What a shame.

If I were a woman, I would have been Dan Oh's rival.

It would have been so fun!

Fun, my foot.

By the way,

Yook Ho ahjussi and Najudaek are so eager

to make those two a pair.

They would push them to get married in an instant.

What? No way!

Aigoo...

Aigoo, you could start a fire with those eyes.

What? Do you hate it that much?

Try some of these.

- Yoo Ha orbeoni bought these- - No!

I hate it!

Pardon?

Forget it if you do not want it.

He has been so grumpy since earlier.

You are right. What is wrong with San, anyway?

Is it because he is heartbroken? Sweets are the best at times like that.

- Try some! - Could you shut your mouth?

What is going on?

What?

Let us check it out.

My gosh! My gosh!

Oh, no! Oh, no!

What are they getting executed for, anyway?

They apparently had some forbidden book.

I changed it like this. How is that?

I think that would be okay.

Hey!

Let us go.

Let us go.

Do you still have that thing?

What?

- Three secret something. - Why?

- What if I did? - You saw it, too!

People's throats are getting cut off because of that-

Of course, I saw it.

The country is going insane.

I know.

Be careful not to get swept away by this crazy world.

We took good care of the body.

When the weather clears up, we will bury him in a sunny spot.

You would...

be able to have a funeral for Scholar Kim then.

Thank you so much!

Thank you!

The King is crazy.

I guess he will accuse the whole country of being treacherous.

I wonder how far the King's madness will go.

I am very afraid.

Rise to the throne?

You are partially to blame for

Joseon's condition since you did not advise the King properly.

It is my fault for tolerating the immoral king all this time.

But I cannot allow the inhumane king to destroy this country.

What do you mean by that?

The prince is not Royal Consort Park's

biological son.

He made the fake prince a future crown prince.

The royal line will certainly end down the road.

And if the royal court finds out about this-

The palace and the country will be in distress.

But how could I possibly take the throne-

You were born valuable, so be used for a valuable purpose.

Moreover...

you have people who trust and follow you.

Mok In Hoe does not know who I am.

They will find out soon.

They...

will open your path to the throne.

Please take on this great cause.

Great cause.

Great cause...

Orabeoni.

Have you not seen Bokshil?

I have not seen her for days.

You did not know?

Bokshil ran away at night.

- Just like you. - Pardon?

Bokshil ran away from home?

She has nowhere to go.

I guess she is having a love affair or something.

She was going to the mountains and fields with the dog next door.

Just like you-know-who.

You must have nothing to worry about.

You did not care if I disappeared or not.

Well...

the sign...

I heard you put it on.

Why did you not say anything?

You made me get the wrong idea.

This is still an inn.

It would not be proper not to have a sign.

Right.

You know, Ok Jin...

You have...

- seen him, right? - What?

Could you tell him this if you get to see him?

That I am sorry I could not keep the secret as I promised.

Secret?

Actually, Ok Jin

has been to Ihwawon before.

Is that so?

It was when we were very young.

He was trembling his little body inside that dog house.

He was afraid he might get caught.

If so,

you must have saved Ok Jin's life.

I was actually the one who was comforted.

The day Father passed away,

I was able to hang in there because of Ok Jin.

That is why I feel bad...

that I let him take the compass.

Compass?

Ok Jin told me

that he was giving me the most valuable thing he had.

I guess he was grateful that I had saved him.

I did not know then.

But I know now.

A parent's keepsake means the world to a child

who lost his parents.

He gave his everything to me.

Gosh...

I let Chief Administrator take such a precious thing.

Well done.

He probably thinks it was the right thing to do.

I am saying Ok Jin probably wished for the same thing.

I was curious from time to time.

He must be an adult by now...

I wonder how he has grown up.

How do you think he turned out?

He was handsome even as a child.

If he matured without big change,

he should be quite handsome-

Please leave out this part.

I cannot believe the stuff I am telling you...

You must be the one who told Left State Minister about me.

Since you are also the one who gave me Crown Prince's will.

If your identity is exposed, Scholar Jung...

your life will be in danger.

At least for your own safety...

it is proper for you to take the throne.

I cannot pursue the throne just for my own safety.

You grew up in sorrow among regular people when you are a noble being.

I trust that sorrow.

You are the only one...

who will embrace the people's hearts with sincerity.

To our next meeting...

please bring the inheritance.

By inheritance, you mean...

I mean the keepsake...

Crown Prince left to you.

How have you been, Maiden?

Wait...

what are you doing here?

Giving me the cold shoulder as soon as you see me?

- Let us go inside- - It is forbidden to men, so leave, please.

Aigoo...

My ankle must be tired from hiking such a tough mountain for the first time.

I do not think I can go back like this.

Did you sprain it?

Stand up for now, please.

I absolutely do not think I can stand up at all.

It hurts.

Then just for a moment...

It hurts a lot.

Could you give me a hand?

You can use that.

How can you smile like that after getting hurt?

It is because the monk's robe does not fit you at all.

Since your pain went away,

just finish your meal and go back down.

I do not have the energy to lift the spoon.

I think I will just lie down and rest.

Scholar Kim...

Just think about it.

If I wander the mountain with a sprained ankle and

run into wolves or wild dogs, I cannot even run away. Oh, my...

There you go with your words.

Aigoo, I do not even want to think about it.

How can I cause such sorrow in your heart?

Just rest for a little while.

Only for a short while, okay?

What a daring woman.

She comes here to earn pocket change?

What if she gets taken away again?

Is that true?

The scholar who gave Ban Ya her first night is from Ihwawon?

Yes, I am telling you it is true.

Gosh, what was his name?

Was it San of the Kang family?

No way.

How can Scholar Kang San be with Ban Ya...

I also want to try delving into the insides of such a handsome man.

- Whoa! - It must be splendid, right?

You must be back in Hanyang, huh?

I heard you went bankrupt and got kicked out.

It is, as you can see.

I will never be leaving again.

What the heck?

I am going now.

Did you come for a day drink at such an early hour?

I am only waiting for someone.

You can come whether it is day or night.

I will be the first one to serve you.

To be honest...

other courtesans know you were the man who gave me my first night.

However, I did not get any token of gratuity, so my reputation is...

You want a token of gratuity from me?

Even the smallest thing is okay.

It just has to be anything you have.

Go and get yourself clothes or something.

Thank you, Scholar Kang.

By the way, what is your original name?

Ban Ya must be your courtesan name.

It is Lim Seo Hyeon.

Seo Hyeon, huh?

Your father gave you a great name.

I will buy my freedom as soon as possible and get my name back.

That is my only wish.

You will definitely make that happen.

Scholar...

Soo Hyang would like to pour you a drink.

It is fine.

You, over there.

Yes, you come and pour me a drink.

Were you...

talking to me just now?

Yes.

You look better than most courtesans.

If mopping is hard, should I help you with your first night?

Wait, Scholar...

despite her shabby appearance...

she is still a lady of a noble family.

She is not a low class?

Soo Hyang, you must be joking.

Just pour me a drink.

I will pay you handsomely in tip...

Maiden.

Will one glass do?

Fill it to the brim.

Whoa! Has she gone mad?

- What are you doing? - I do not need your tip.

Go buy yourself clothes.

You look...

like a toddler who is not even potty-trained.

It seems to me that you lost here.

How dare you shabby-looking thing-

Who are you?

Are you that bitch's pimp?

Get lost.

If you come back, I will break your useless head, too.

Let go.

Let me see you. Are you okay?

- You! - Orabeoni, behind you!

Move aside. Make way!

Aigoo...

I heard you got badly injured.

Please take a good look.

He is a warrior, so his body is his best property.

Please take off your clothes first.

What are you doing?

You must show him your injury if he is to treat it.

Why? You're going to watch, too?

- Well then... - O-Oh... no!

I will remain outside.

Don't worry.

Nothing is broken, so it will heal soon.

I will be relieved if that is the case.

Why did you go to Buyounggak and get mixed up in someone else's business-

Someone else's business?

The distance between us has grown in mere moments.

Right. It is not that you had no business.

You went to flirt with women first thing in the day, right?

What do you mean, flirt?

I have no idea what you are going on about.

I mean, the final exam for martial arts is tomorrow, is it not?

Would you even be able to pass when

you are so drunk in women, right before the exam?

You already forgot about the promise...

you made with me, did you not?

What in the world are you saying?

Say it properly, so I can understand.

I heard...

you gave Ban Ya the right to put her hair up*. (Spending the first night.)

I heard everything the courtesans said.

What?

I only saved her since she was in danger.

Th-Then...

- what I heard was... - Not true.

Do not worry.

Although I cannot buy you sweets, I will keep my promise.

Sweets?

What are you talking about?

I am not one to fail because of a mere arm injury.

I was not telling you to keep your promise right away.

- After your shoulder heals... - Forget it.

Someone lavished silver ingots on someone else's business.

I should at least wear the Eosahwa.

Did he leave already?

Without saying goodbye?

What is all this?

It is Ihwawon.

I thought you might miss this.

I have no intention of going back to Ihwawon.

That resolution of yours...

is very similar to Dan Oh's.

Dan Oh is the one who takes after me.

The sun will set soon.

Please make your return.

And do not come back here again.

All right.

Since you insist, I will take my leave now.

Everyone is waiting for you.

Dan Oh...

Najudaek...

and Yook Ho ahjussi, too.

So...

if you ever change your mind,

feel free to come.

[Temporary Palace in Onyang]

Seeing how you are at the temporary palace...

Your Highness must be feeling ill.

How can I be in good health?

I am...

a mother who lost two sons,

and a failure of a mother who could not even stop her son

from killing his brother.

Please do not say such a tragic thing.

Your Highness...

do you, perhaps, have a secret order...

to give to a retired eunuch?

I guess you have survived so far...

thanks to your keen insights.

However, I no longer belong to the Eunuch's Bureau...

so orders alone are not enough to move me.

In that regard...

I will not disappoint you.

Although I failed as a mother,

I will not fail as a queen mother.

My son, Chang, will not last long.

After a tyrant is gone...

establishing a proper kingship...

would that not be a queen mother's duty?

I heard you did not open your mouth the entire time.

You are just as stubborn as my mother, you wench.

as my mother, you wench.

I shall kill you if you do not talk.

I killed my own blood...

You think I will not kill you?

I do not know.

I cannot say anything.

I cannot put the Royal Family in danger-

[Ihwawon]

I wish we took the state exams every day.

It is a shame to finish a spread like this in one day.

It must have been tough to prepare all this food since morning.

- Thank you for the food. - Sure, Ahjussi.

Eat up to your heart's content and do well on the exam.

Why did you give him chicken porridge?

What if he eats porridge and does poorly*? (Korean superstition)

Whether he makes porridge or rice out of it,

he needs good digestion first to take the exam.

Aigoo, Najudaek...

Here comes His Majesty!

Then we shall begin.

Gun An of the Yoon family, prepare yourself!

It is going to take forever to proceed one by one.

Just divide them into two teams and make them compete.

Your Majesty...

if we hold a competition without any preparations...

there will be tons of injured men.

Are my future warriors really that fragile?

However...

I hate watching boring fights.

Do not hold back.

If you lose the competition...

it means you failed.

If we lose, we fail?

He is telling us to fight with our fists, is he not?

I expected a lot when I heard His Majesty would be watching in person...

Gosh, what the hell is going on?

Good luck with your exam.

First place will be good enough for me.

I will do my best.

Thank you for the meal today.

You must be tired. Go take a break.

All right.

Aigoo.

You are quite enjoying that.

You are not being fair.

You tell me to enjoy the sweets and tell Yoo Ha to take first place?

You should not harm Ihwawon's reputation, at least.

You know you all have to pass, right?

This is what I think.

With my looks, if even my academics are outstanding, would that not be unfair?

Please give it a try, at least.

- Use all unfair means you have. - Wake up, Dan Oh.

Never mind me. It would be impossible for everyone to pass.

Aigoo...

Here, have this.

Relax. It is not like this is your first time.

Who said I am nervous, huh?

I am fine. I am totally fine.

If you fail again this time,

it means you did poorly after eating porridge.

Najudaek! Why would you jinx me like that?

If you happen to fail, it is all my fault for making the porridge...

so take those chips off your shoulders.

All right.

This time, I should really...

certainly, and finally pass...

All right, all right. Stop talking and copy me.

Breathe in, breathe out.

I'm going to see the scholars off and do some grocery shopping.

All right, take care.

- I'm leaving, Dan Oh. - Have a safe trip.

I will be back.

I wonder if his exam is going well.

He should not overexert himself.

[Book of Documents]

[Book of Documents]

[Three Secret Prophecies of Joseon]

Three Secret Prophecies of Joseon?

Why is this here?

He will be in trouble if he is found with this.

[Three Secret Prophecies of Joseon]

Giddyup! Giddyup!

Catch!

Pass!

Raise your head.

You look pale.

Are you hurt?

It is a light injury.

Please do not worry yourself.

Since you have eased my boredom...

I shall grant you one request.

Is there anything you desire?

Yes.

May I dare share it with you?

Go ahead.

I wish...

to serve you up close.

You mean as a Royal Guard?

What greater glory could a warrior ask for?

I will serve you with all that I am.

You did...

pass the exam.

What did I say?

I am not someone who will fail.

Yes.

I knew you would succeed.

You look very pale.

Did you overexert your shoulder?

I am fine.

Fortunately, the exam was not difficult.

The scholars are still at the examination site.

Najudaek also went to buy groceries.

I see.

I knew it was too quiet.

It is...

just you and me here...

Just the two of us.

Now that you have worn Eosahwa,

please keep your promise.

What is...

all this?

If I see you again next time,

I will tell you.

That is what I said.

That I would tell you if I see you again...

who I am.

Many years ago,

the child who hid in the dog house in fear...

was me.

I am...

I am Lee Seol.

[The Secret Romantic Guesthouse]

♪ Melting in again, baby your love ♪

♪ Drowning in my imagination ♪

♪ Dazzles my eyes, like the sunlight ♪

♪ Lost in a dream that is you ♪

♪ When I'm walking for countless nights ♪

You must not join the Royal Guards.

What if I give in to his threats and spill everything?

If you find out who Lee Seol is, let me know.

I will reward you with a proper government position.

Why are you always kind to me?

Somehow, I see myself in you. We are quite alike.

Tens and thousands of people are dying.

Subjects speaking the truth to the King are being executed with their family.

Can you bear to just watch this?

There is only one throne, but there are three kings?

I will go to the Royal Palace.

That is my reason for living and my duty.

Ripped and resynced by YoungJedi