All language subtitles for The Great Merchant E10

Subtitled by
KBS America

Sir, we've searched

everywhere to no avail.

She's an invalid who fled

from the quarantine camp.

She could not have gone far.

Continue the search!

Yes, sir.

Hong! Hong!

This way!

After him!

There is one way to save the
boy and save yourself as well.

Tell me what to do.
I'll do anything!

Then be my foster daughter.

Don't call me Mother.

I fed you, gave you education, and made you
who you are, and you dare try to run away?

Your birth mother Eun Hong
died because of Myo Hyang!

I was told by my departed husband to
seek your advisement regarding matters

of Six Licensed Stores.

And I was asked by Kye Man

Kang before he passed away

to look after his wife

and his unborn child.

Let us all welcome the
new owner of silk store.

Minister of Justice has told us a great deal
about you. Just ask if you need our help.

It's a great relief to know that
the three lords will be my shield.

But the shield won't come cheap.

Rumor has it business failures in recent
years have drained Kang Kye Man funds...

Those are false rumors
fabricated by competition.

Then can you prove your
financial capacity?

Absolutely. We have the
West Gate Market Brokers.

I believe West Gate Market Brokers is under
investigation for tax embezzlement in Jeju.

It won't be easy to raise slush funds.

Every business has ups and down.

I will have the fee for
your protection just as soon

as I go to Jeju and straighten out
the situation.

What do you think?
Let us give her a shot.

Cunning old snakes...

Moon Seon!

It's trouble. That punk is here!

Who?

The West Gate brat from Jeju!

Please sit up.

You're making your father
lament from his grave.

It seems my father's death is doing
wonders for your complexion.

As your mother, I won't allow you to show
such disrespect for your departed father.

As my mother?
How old are you?

Age is irrelevant.

Your father's child is growing
in my womb,

so you will have to call me Mother
from now on.

Mother?

Okay, Mother. How could you allow
this to happen to my father?

I should ask you that question.

Who gave up incriminating
evidence to the authorities?

You're the one who put your father in
danger by botching things up in Jeju.

Kye Man died due to malady of the
heart brought on by his own son.

I will go to Jeju and remedy
this situation myself,

so I'd like you to leave
West Gate Market Brokers.

Hanyang silk store is not
enough for you, huh?

I don't know who the unborn
child's father is,

but it's certain that you're the mother.

He's not even born yet but he already
covets what belongs to his brother.

Jeju is a rough place.
Be careful.

If Kang Kye Man's wife is going to Jeju,

this might be a good chance to resume the
investigation on West Gate Market Brokers.

I heard you were going to Jeju, sir.
I will assist you.

I want you to stay out of this case.

I don't understand, sir. Why do you
want me out of this investigation?

It's an order.

Don't ask any questions.

If that's the only reason, I will not obey.

Captain Jung.

Many sacrifices were made in Jeju
so I could bring back that evidence.

Kang Kye Man was not the only man
you were after when you sent me to Jeju.

This investigation is not over
until we find his backer.

Allow me to come with you, sir.

Very well.
But you will be my assistant only.

I do not want you directly involved
in the investigation. Is that clear?

I understand, sir.

My baby,

you were born on the Island of Wind.

Wind is strong.

It can both fuel a fire and extinguish it.

I want you to grow up strong like the wind.

That's what we Jeju women are.

Grow up strong and proud, my baby...

Hong...!

What are you so afraid of
that you can't sleep at night?

Hong, I'll tell you everything.
I'll tell you everything, so?

Why? Why did you kill my mother?

I didn't have the power to
protect Eun Hong. That is all.

Is that really true?

Eun Hong found out that tribute goods
were being misappropriated

by local officials and informed a man
who was on the island in exile,

and Choi Nam Gu
demanded to know her name...

So instead of protecting your
friend, you gave her up.

What did you gain by
turning my mother in?

What did you gain?

Yes, I gained everything!

I gained money, and that money
gave me everything I have!

Did that money you got by betraying
my mother bring you happiness?

Is there anything in this world
sweeter and better than money?

That money gave me
everything I wanted.

I changed my destiny
with my own hands!

It saddens me to know that my mother
died a cruel death because of that money.

And it breaks my heart that I may
never be able to forgive you.

Forgive me?

I don't need your forgiveness.

I haven't done anything
to be forgiven for!

Mother... Mother! Mother!

You've just severed
our seven-year ties.

Magistrate, sir, we have a new
gisaeng I want you to meet.

You've gone mad to come
back here of your own accord!

Magistrate, being sent to the
quarantine camp is a death sentence.

I believe death sentence is

given only after three trials.

Shut up!

Wait.

But I did not get a trial, not even once.

You wench!

Assistant Magistrate Choi,
what do you say about this?

She came here on her own because
she knew she'd be caught.

I will take care of this.

Take her!

Yes.

Granny!

What happened?
How did they get you?

I wasn't captured.
I came here on my own.

On your own?

I'm not going to run.

I'm going to find a way to get my name
off of the gisaeng register like you said.

I thought of checking the census register to
prove that your mother was not a peasant,

but I didn't think
Choi Nam Gu would allow it.

The census register?

I heard that your mother was a daughter
of a merchant named Yi Manbok.

If we can find your grandfather's record,
that will confirm your mother's status.

And we can get you off
the gisaeng register.

I should've tried this
before Captain Jung left...

You must eliminate Hong this time.
Do you understand?

We're not talking about a slave that
you own.

Do you think it's easy to kill a prisoner
in jail?

Assistant Magistrate!

What?

An inspector has arrived
from Hanyang, sir.

What? Is it Jung Hong Soo again?

Yes, and he brought someone
else with him.

Sir!

Aren't you a cook at the gisaeng house?

There's something I must tell you.

I received word you were coming,
but this is sooner than I expected.

I'm sure you recognize me.
It's been a long time.

It's a pleasure to see you again.

Magistrate, I understand
the province clerk alone

was convicted for misappropriation of
tax-in-kind.

Confession was obtained,
and we wrapped up

the case by seizing all of
his personal property.

Did that wrap-up include
imprisonment of gisaeng Hong?

I believe Hong is being detained

for attempting to escape the island.

Then you must also be aware that

she has not been given a fair trial.

This is an official meeting, Inspector.

Are you defending a girl you have
personal interest in?

I'm inquiring about follow-up details of
a case I worked on, Assistant Magistrate.

Well, be that as it may, it doesn't
make you look very good.

The fact that the witness who exposed
the tribute goods embezzlement is in jail

does not bode well for you either,
Assistant Magistrate Choi.

Is the gisaeng one of the reasons why
why you wanted to come to Jeju with me?

I can't deny it, sir.

I thought you cared about nothing but
books, I guess I was worried for nothing.

You know this gisaeng, too, sir.

Hong was the girl I was
peddling with that day long ago.

The one that was arrested for selling rice.

Hong.

My lord!

Are you all right?

Yes, I'm fine.

Remember the Captain Kim?

He was the one who punished us for
peddling without a license.

It's a shame to see you behind bars again.

I heard you violated
the no-departure order.

They put me in here without
any proof of crime, sir.

If you give me a chance, I will prove that I
never made an attempt to leave the island.

How do I know that you won't run away?

If I wanted to run away, why would I
have walked in here on my own will?

Magistrate, she seeks to
prove her own innocence.

Perhaps you should give her
time to prepare for her trial.

Release a girl who was arrested for
attempted escape? That's ridiculous.

I will guarantee Hong's compliance.

Very well. I will give you her
time to prove her innocence.

An official hearing will be
held five days from today.

Prove your innocence within that time.

And present evidence to show that your
birth mother is a middle class commoner.

Only then will your petition be granted.

Thank you, sir.

Magistrate, sir.

May I ask what will happen to
Mistress Myo Hyang

for setting me up if I can prove my
innocence?

She may be prosecuted for calumny.

How do you wish her to be punished?

I beg your pardon?

Hong asked the magistrate to have
you removed from the gisaeng house

if she can prove her innocence.

And you allowed her to be released?

How am I supposed to stop a
girl who is being escorted out

by not one, but two Commerce
Control Bureau agents?

I don't care. You should've stopped them!

Do you even know who the second
man is that came with Jung Hong Soo?

It's Kim Eung Ryeol.

Why?

Does it make your heart go pitter-patter
to hear that your old crush is back?

I'm curious to know how he will
react if he finds out what you did.

You loved him so much that you sold out
a friend. Do you think he will be moved?

Or do you think he will hate you
for hurting the girl he loved?

Kim Eung Ryeol couldn't
possibly know who Hong is.

What's that out of the blue?

It's not out of the blue.

In fact, it's a very old story.

Assistant Magistrate, just watch.

Things are about to get very interesting.

Are you all right?

I'm sorry for making you worry.

Dong Ah,

can we find out about the harbor activities
on the night Granny and I got arrested?

Acquire testimony from ship captains?

Yes. We need to find all of the
ships that left the port that day.

If we can get their statement that no
attempt was made to get on board,

this might easily be resolved.

Will it be possible, sir?

Don't worry. All of the vessels that leave
the port are required to make a report.

And Jeju is a small island, so I'm sure
we'll be able to find people that remember

your maternal grandfather from
the village that your mother lived.

What?

When it comes to Hong, you
don't miss a thing. Do you?

What did I do?

You talk about Hong so much that the
mere mention of her name makes me gasp!

But you're the one who taught me that
we have to help our friends in trouble.

Inspectors from Hanyang are on the case,
so I'm sure she doesn't need your help.

Don't poke your nose in where
it doesn't belong.

You'll just end up causing more trouble.

You are absolutely right, sir.

Did you hear that?

Jeju Harbor

Foreman!

Where's Hong?

Well, she's in jail...

What did you say?

She turned herself in and

now she's filing a petition.

Who is Hong?

She's the gisaeng Foreman
Kang is in love with.

It's no wonder the business is
in this shape.

He's preoccupied with a woman!

Let's go.

Who's the snobby woman?

She's the new mistress but
she's no ordinary woman.

The new mistress?

I wonder what our new mistress likes.

Our new mistress... likes me.

One is a petition to have
your name removed

from gisaeng guild register since
you're a commoner's daughter,

and the other is an appeal denying
the allegation of attempted escape.

Thank you.

My lord, would you help me so
I could see the census register?

Why?

If I could find a record that my
grandfather had a daughter,

perhaps I could prove that
I am a commoner.

You must be the busiest man in
the Commerce Control Bureau

going back and forth
from Hanyang to Jeju.

I'll be in the census records room.

I heard about your petition.

You don't have to through this trouble.

I will take care of it.

I'll clear your name and
I'll make you a commoner.

I will do it.

You're mine, so it's only
fitting that I take care of you.

I am not yours.

And no matter how hard it is, even if I fail,

I must get my name removed
from the gisaeng register myself.

The owner doesn't care about the
business, so everything is in shambles!

Assistant Magistrate Choi is here.

I am familiar with your name.

I heard there was quite
a commotion in Jeju.

It still is.

Two Commerce Control Bureau
agents are here from Hanyang.

What are their names?

Kim Eung Ryeol and Jung Hong Soo.

They're like tenacious barnacles.

Minister of Justice is quite concerned
about what is happening here.

You will need to resolve
the situation swiftly.

Let go of me!

Oh, sir, why do you do this to yourself?

You're drinking in broad daylight!
Oh, dear!

What's the commotion?

You must've been rejected
by that wench Hong again.

You are pathetic.

What did you say?

You can't win a girl's heart
by wielding your power.

Then what do I need to do,
my dear smart mother?

You need to acquire what the girl wants.

You have a lot to learn
from your mother, Son.

Assistant Magistrate!

Did you really act alone?

Yes...

He may be a criminal, but he should not
be subjected to another interrogation for

the crime which he has
already been convicted.

Your crime will be extenuated
if you confess the truth yourself,

but you will face heavier punishment if
I find out that your testimony is untrue.

Are you solely responsible
for the crime in question?

Well...

I, too, am responsible for my
failure to control a subordinate!

I plan to stay here in Jeju until I can ferret
out all those involved in this corruption,

Assistant Magistrate Choi.

What the girl wants...

What Hong wants...

Did you find out what
Hong is looking for?

Yes. Hong is checking the census register
to prove that her mother was a commoner.

Is that right?

Hong,

this is probably not the only records
room in the government office.

These are all new records.

I'll find out where older records are kept.

Sir, it's Dong Joo.

Come in.

Jung Hong Soo is at the records
room checking the census register.

Kim Eung Ryeol is on the embezzlement case,
and Jung Hong Soo is on Hong's case?

I'm getting squeezed from two directions.

So did he find the record he needs?

I don't think so. They've been in
Mokwan records room all after noon.

Mokwan records room?

He's searching the wrong place!

Does he really think there's only
one records room in this office?

Go to Yeongcheon records room at once
and bring back the census register that

contains Eun Hong's family records.

Me?

Then do you want me to do it?

Then I'll...

What are you doing here?

Why are you going into the records room?

I... don't know.

This is a facility for official records.
It's off-limits to the public.

Yes, of course.
So why... am I here...

Oh, yes.
I was actually just passing through.

But I saw you coming,

and you looked so lovey-dovey that
I didn't want to spoil the mood.

So I quickly turned to hide
to give you some privacy, and...

Get out of here.

Have a good time, sir.

We'd better hurry.

Sir!

I nearly died.

I was just about to enter the records room
when Captain Jung and Hong showed up

and started berating me with this menacing
glare saying the official records are off-limits.

I was scared of my wits.

Good grief!
So where's the census register?

I couldn't get it.

You fool!

You should've had me go sooner!

What, you little...!

Hong has the census register!

The tribute goods embezzlement case?

Didn't you say your clerk took
the fall and it's over?

Kim Eung Ryeol is digging it up again.

And Jung Hong Soo is on a mission to

get Hong exempted from base status.

Everything is a mess.

Getting someone exempted from
base status is easier said than done.

That was my thought, too,

but I'm afraid they have evidence that will
prove that the girl's mother was a commoner.

To boot, there's a sly old fox sitting
in jail...

I'm stuck between a rock
and a hard place.

An old fox?

The old woman that raised Hong.

Old woman that raised Hong?

Yes.

I must see this old woman and
the gisaeng house headmistress.

You?

One must enter the tigers
den to catch the tiger.

I heard about what happened.

Don't worry. I won't leave you and
Hong in this situation now that I know.

You won't leave us in this situation?

I will get them to drop the charges
against Hong for attempted escape.

And if you'd like, I'll find a way to get
her exempted from base status as well.

You must want something in return.

I'd like you and Hong to come work for
West Gate Market Brokers once you're freed.

Not bad.

You want me, the woman who never
gave you approval, to come under you.

You've got balls. I'll give you that.

But you still don't know how to
judge who you're dealing with.

Hong would never want your money
to buy her remission of punishment.

That's not how I raised her.

If you don't need my help,
I'll see you next time.

Things will get more complicated if Granny
and the inspectors are allowed to meet.

That old woman knows exactly how things
work in West Gate and the silk store.

Then we should silence the woman.

Now is not the time for hasty moves.

Best option we have right now is to
send the inspectors back to Hanyang.

I will meet the headmistress.

It's not here. I checked over
and over, but it's not here.

If you look at the dates,
there's one volume missing.

Someone must've gotten
to it before we did.

The headmistress.

It's not going to help for you to go there.

If we don't get that record you'll be
sent back to the gisaeng house even

if you're proven innocent.

Then Myo Hyang will have
control over your life again.

I have to face this head on.
I'll find another way.

What do you want?

Um... Foreman Kang wants to

see Hong at the bonfire...

Alone.

Must you go?

There's something
I must sort out with him.

I'll go with you.

It was Yoo Ji that gave me the ledger
of records against West Gate.

His love for you is genuine.

That's why I don't want you to go alone.

What did you wish to see me about?

About the same subject
that's got Jeju buzzing.

Hong, won't you change your mind?

If you marry me, I can get you
out of the gisaeng register right now.

Captain Jung told me that you were the one
who turned over the evidence that saved me.

And the price I paid was my father's death.

Isn't that enough to win your heart?

Then how about this?

It's the census register with records
of your grandfather and your mother.

My lord!

It's yours if you will be mine.

I'll burn it if you refuse.
What will it be?

I came here to discuss how we might send
the Commerce Control Bureau agents back.

West Gate and the local government
are in a fix because of Kim Eung Ryeol.

Getting rid of that thorn in the flesh was
Kang Kye Man's life long-wish as well.

By chance do you know Hong?

If you're talking about the gisaeng
that stirred up Jeju, yes, I do.

Then are you also aware that
Kim Eung Ryeol is her father?

Kim Eung Ryeol is Hong's father?

Then...!

An exiled offender slept with a local
woman while serving his sentence.

And Hong is that proof.

I cannot make that promise.

Okay. I understand.

No! No!

Let go! No!

No! I risked everything
because I wanted you!

There's only one thing I want
in this world and that's you!

Like it or not, you're mine!

I thought your feelings for me were genuine
when I heard you turned over the evidence.

But now I can see you were just
being the reckless child that you are.

Would you be pushing me away like
this if Jung Hong Soo hadn't shown up?

Can you honestly say that you had no feelings
for me when you gave me your ribbon?

Do not use his name in vain.

This is the real census register.

I don't know either...

...whether these feelings are
genuine or just childish fancy.

I don't know. You figure it out.

A man serving a banishment sentence
violated the law and slept with a local woman?

Kim Eung Ryeol is probably oblivious
to the fact.

Until recently, I had no idea
Hong was Eun Hong's Daughter.

This all came to light when
her granny showed up.

I did know Eun Hong was
with Kim Eung Ryeol's child,

but I had no idea that it was Hong.

Hong wants to claim her identity,
and Kim Eung Ryeol is defending her.

It's an extraordinary quirk of fate.

If I had known about this 20 years ago,
I would have never let it come to this.

If only I had gotten rid of her then...

It's not too late.

What should I do?
Should I expose everything?

All you two have to do
is sit back and watch.

Blood ties will make them
restless for each other.

Sir, are you in?

Come in.

I found it!
This will prove my identity.

Look. This is my maternal
grandfather's name.

And this is his daughter, my mother.

Please have a look.

This is your mother?

Yes.

You mean your mother's
name is Yi Eun Hong?

How do you know her name?

Eun Hong...
Eun Hong is your mother?

Subtitled by
KBS America

There were no ships scheduled to leave
the port on the day Hong was arrested.

These are sworn statements of divers that
confirm Yi Eun Hong is Yi Man Bok's daughter.

I worked too hard to come this far.
No one is going to bring me down.

I'm not going down alone.

Gisaeng Hong is asserting
she is a commoner's daughter.

I am the midwife that delivered this girl.

Then you must know who
Hong's father is as well.

She's using a dead woman to get
herself exempted from base status.

If that is true, she will be

punished for deceiving the state!

Magistrate!

My father is dead.