Original subtitles

[intriguing music plays]

[man] Have you found out anything else?

I looked into the painters the guild conducts business with.

But none of them seemed suspicious.

I also did not find questionable ledgers in the guild's library.

When it comes to the painter,

it seems the chief merchant handles the matter.

As is expected. [inhales sharply]

You must delve even deeper, then, I suppose.

To do so, you must not raise any more suspicions.

You were close to being found out.

Sim Jae-yi. That wench nearly ruined everything we've worked for.

And I'm certain she'll complicate things again.

Get rid of her.

[music fades]

DEAR HONGRANG

[drumbeats]

[drumbeats]

[tense music plays]

I appreciate all you have done for the chief merchant

as his lead merchants over the years.

Nevertheless, I am glad to see that you have all made the difficult decision

to come and attend this meeting.

For this loyalty,

I shall repay you generously for a long time to come.

You have my word.

[merchants] Yes, my lady.

I have gathered you all here not to ask you to turn against my husband,

but to help guide the guild in a new direction.

I sincerely hope that you do not reproach yourselves at all

for attending this meeting.

[merchants mutter]

However, if perhaps you leave here wishing you hadn't come,

then I hope you are prepared to lose your life

and for all of your kin to face the consequences

for generations and generations to come.

[merchants cough and mutter]

You have my word. It will be so.

Now then, shall we begin this auspicious meeting?

[music stops]

[merchants mutter]

Lady Min.

Merchant Mun.

It is not us, the lead merchants,

or the guild's disposition that guide the chief merchant in any direction.

-What does then? -The patrons, my lady.

Those who have been instrumental in ensuring the guild's profitability

through their constant patronage.

But especially the patrons with significant influence

who've done business with the guild due to the trusted relationship they had

with the previous chief merchant, your late father.

That is the reason why they would be more favorably inclined toward you, my lady.

[tense music plays]

I suggest you win them over first.

[chuckles softly]

Her Ladyship held a covert meeting with the lead merchants.

It does not bode well for us.

Rumors are circulating

that the guild's ownership has already been transferred to young master Hongrang.

Let us set off at daybreak.

I shall go to the Jin Arts store.

[tense music continues]

[eerie whooshing]

[eerie whooshing]

[music stops]

I want you to see to this task personally and in utmost secrecy.

Yes. I will be most cautious, my lord.

-Has business been good these days? -[merchant] Yes, my lord.

[eerie whooshing]

Is something troubling you, my lord?

No.

I thought I smelled a familiar scent.

A scent?

Mun Gyu-ha.

What?

Uh, what of him, my lord?

How has he been faring these days?

He is dead, my lord.

His addiction to drinking and gambling ruined everything he had.

Then the mother he had been neglecting passed away.

He took his own life soon after that.

BIG EYES AND LEAN FACE

[gentle music plays]

I am so sorry for keeping you waiting.

Let us get you someplace safe first, then…

[tense music plays]

[muffled screaming]

[muffled groaning]

[muffled screaming]

What did you do to my sister? Where is she?

-Guards! -Where is she? Speak up!

What have you done to Kkot-nim? Where did you send her? [strains]

Where is she? Please tell me!

[Yeon-ui] Make your choice.

Either you leave with that wench or take this stamp and assume your place.

It is up to you. Choose wisely.

[somber music plays]

[exhales]

You could leave with nothing

or secure your place here.

[music fades]

[chuckles]

Young mistress.

My lady, are you still asleep?

Are you? I have brought you some food.

Four days have passed since you've been in here.

My lady?

[man] And I'm certain she'll complicate things again. Get rid of her.

[Jae-yi] Whether you are an imposter or not,

I hope you are no longer in pain.

And yet,

she's in no position

to worry about others.

[servant] My lady.

[Jae-yi breathes raggedly]

Oh! Oh no, goodness! Eul-bun! Eul-bun!

[wails] Eul-bun!

-[Eul-bun] What is it, Mother? -She's not well.

The poor young girl.

[Hongrang] What about my sister?

[gasps]

[Eul-bun's mother gasps]

[somber music plays]

[breathes shakily]

[music fades]

[young Hongrang] Sister,

please get better.

[somber music plays]

[young Hongrang] I feel sad when you're in pain.

Please… get better.

I want you to feel happy.

[music fades]

The combination of her being unable to eat, coupled with anxiety,

caused her spleen and stomach to malfunction,

resulting in her coughing up blood.

After a few days of good rest, she will be well.

There's no need to worry. I shall prescribe yeonsimsan.

Let it steep in water and have her drink it.

[gasps]

Oh my. This is Sin's Miindo painting, is it not?

How on earth did you manage to get your hands on this?

[gasps] I shall buy it from you right now.

What is your asking price?

This is a gift.

A present from Her Ladyship to you, Your Honor.

-What? -Ah.

She's offering this as a gift? A piece as precious as this?

[man gasps]

Very well. What would Her Ladyship like in return?

She has returned?

What? Is there something else?

[Mu-jin] I acted too rashly.

It was careless.

I know full well

the extent of your pain.

I've caused you even more suffering. I am so sorry.

Believe me.

Perhaps

he really is Hongrang.

Have you thought about that?

What would you do then?

[melancholy music plays]

I must accept it.

If he is your brother, in a way, he is my brother too.

If I understand correctly,

the person who conspired with Hong-sik to have me drink the pomegranate wine

was not Sim Jae-yi.

It was the substitute brother.

She was trying to protect him.

And I simply danced to her tune.

[music fades]

[Yeon-ui] I am utterly repulsed. I've lost my appetite.

What is it you want to say? Why are we all here?

Please get on with it.

[sighs]

Hongrang.

-Yes? -Pay a visit to your great-uncle.

But he lives so far. Why do you wish him to go?

[Yeol-guk] I received a letter from him.

He last saw Hongrang when he was but a child. He wishes to see him again.

It was inconsiderate of me not to have sent Hongrang to visit him sooner.

May I take my sister with me?

I have yet to recall so many memories from my childhood,

and it worries me that I may unintentionally cause him distress.

I'd like her to accompany me.

She would help alleviate my uneasiness and aid me in recalling my memories.

Very well. You may take her.

-He is away from home yet again? -Yes, my lord.

His leg condition must be completely cured, then.

He no longer needs his palanquin.

W-Well, that is--

Take this and have it delivered to His Honor.

-He gave you this and then he simply left? -Yes, my lord.

[chuckles]

I see both the husband and the wife

are being remarkably tactful in their efforts, are they not?

However, since I've already received a treasure from Her Ladyship,

it would be unlikely for him to persuade me with anything else.

[gasps] What?

What on earth?

Get my carriage ready.

I must go to the Min Family Guild this instant!

[tense music plays]

[music fades]

[exhales]

-This is an imitation. -How can you tell?

It is such intricate work. It is almost impossible to discern.

Are you suggesting that Lady Min sent me a forgery?

Are you sure about this?

Yeol-guk,

it is not that I distrust your judgment, but how can you be sure?

These two pieces look identical. How can you tell one from the other?

I am sure that I'm not mistaken.

All pieces that come into the guild have been marked in a certain way.

JIN

[exhales] How deceitful! The nerve of that woman.

[foreboding music plays]

Your Honor,

you have been greatly wronged here.

Please forgive me.

Oh, no.

You have done nothing wrong.

I now realize that Lady Min

has been acting in a very undignified way to claim the guild for herself.

She likely meant no harm, my lord.

She lacks a detailed eye for art.

You see, she typically handles the guild's financial matters.

Huh. [tuts]

Now, wait.

There must be others who have also received a forgery.

[Yeon-ui exhales] Lord Hong,

you should have sent word that you would be coming.

Please come inside.

Hmph.

Chief Merchant…

[music fades]

[foreboding music resumes]

Find out what is going on.

Yes, ma'am.

[music fades]

[gentle music plays]

[man clears throat]

-[Jae-yi] Why have you brought a dagger? -Do you remember what I taught you before?

I do, but vaguely.

I hold it like this?

Allow me.

[exhales] I think it was like this.

Have mercy.

-Was that correct? -[chuckles]

Yes. I give you it so you can protect yourself like that.

You must come back safely.

[Jae-yi] I will.

[porter] Tie them up tightly. Make sure.

[gentle music continues]

[music fades]

[porter] All right.

My dear son,

it pains me so much that I cannot go with you.

There is an urgent matter that I must attend to.

[Yeol-guk] His Lordship is a strict and principled man,

so be sure to treat him with the utmost courteousness.

I will.

I will see you soon, Mother.

[foreboding music plays]

I'm having them followed. There's no need for worry.

[music fades]

-[porter 1] Help yourselves. -[porter 2] Let us eat.

[porter 3] Heavens, this tastes good. [chuckles]

[bird chirps]

[Jae-yi] Oh my goodness. You are just a fledgling, aren't you?

[bird chirps]

How ever did you fall from up there?

It might have been pushed out by its own mother.

What?

Mother birds tend to abandon chicks that are weak or have deformities.

Keeping it alive would mean another mouth to feed. Most likely it would die anyway.

I don't know. This one wants to live.

Look. See how its wings are flapping.

I believe it's telling us it needs our help.

It wants to go back to its nest.

Here. You hold it.

Hand it back to me once I get close to the nest.

Can you even… climb?

[Jae-yi grunts]

[Jae-yi strains]

[jaunty music plays]

[sighs]

[Hongrang] You hold it.

[Hongrang grunts]

[gasps]

What are you waiting for?

[gentle music plays]

-[Hongrang grunts] -Oh! [panting]

-What? -[sighs]

Are you going to catch me?

-Hmm. -All right, then, as you wish.

[Jae-yi] Oh! [yelps]

[groans]

You said that you would try!

You said you would try harder to be a little brother. Is this what you meant?

I thought that's what little brothers were like.

Immature, reckless, and impulsive.

[huffs]

[music stops]

The objects I sent the patrons were all imitations?

Yes, my lady.

That cannot be.

We retrieved them from the strongroom, so how could that be possible?

Someone must have tampered with the pieces.

But who?

Why?

[exhales]

Do you mean the items were not authentic to begin with?

This is disastrous.

[sighs]

I have damaged the guild's reputation and the trust of its patrons.

I have to be the one accountable for everything, mustn't I?

[sighs]

My lady, I have heard rumors that Madam Gwigokja is close by.

Find out where she is. Right now!

Yes, my lady.

[gentle music plays]

[man] Do away with her on the journey.

Say she fled to find her brother. That should be a sufficient excuse.

I have evidence to prove she saved enough money working with the strays

to flee to Yanjing.

[Jae-yi] Hah!

[horse neighs]

[gentle music continues]

[music fades]

[gasps] Hongrang! My heavens, is it really you?

Why, you've not changed one bit, indeed.

I thought I would never get to see you again before I died. [chuckles]

[woman 1] Do you remember me at all? Please, take a look around.

Everything should be exactly as you remember it.

No wonder. I thought it looked familiar.

Beautiful.

Especially the pine tree.

[woman 2] Of course you remember that!

You used to stand on the tips of your toes

and say that you would grow taller than it. Hmm!

Goodness. Hmm.

I owe everything to my sister.

It's thanks to her I have been able to recall things little by little.

Oh, of course. You two were inseparable ever since you were little.

Oh, yes, yes.

Jae-yi, is it not? You have not changed a bit either.

-[man clears throat] -Oh, yes. Welcome back.

[woman 2 chuckles]

[woman 1 chuckles]

[woman 3] …to become such a dashing young man.

I hear you thought differently.

Pardon?

What was it?

What instantly prompted you to deny

that he was the brother you had lost 12 years ago?

I did not

find him recognizable at all.

Then, what about now?

Do you still have doubts that he is your little brother?

[clanging]

Let me tell you something.

In my youth, I led countless soldiers, and every single one of them

had a fear of some sort pent up inside.

Fear often stems from something one experiences in childhood.

Soldiers who have memories of almost drowning as a child

develop a fear of water.

Those who recall falling from a considerable height

develop a fear of heights.

Which means that…

you must fear this.

You were severely burned by a brazier's flame in this very room.

It must have left you with a scar.

Yet, look at you. You do not seem to fear fire at all.

It is simply because I have experienced much worse horrors.

Intense hunger left my insides feeling as though they were being seared by fire.

The biting cold made my skin feel as if it were being torn apart.

That was worse than any pain from a burn.

[grunts, panting]

[Hongrang] In the darkness, where I could not see an inch ahead of me,

I hoped for a single ember to warm me.

I did not care if it meant I could burn up or die.

However, despite the hunger

and the bleak cold and dark,

what I feared most was nothing that would hurt me physically.

It was the fear of being alone.

[melancholy music plays]

No other kind of fear could surpass that feeling of loneliness.

No other fear

will ever be greater.

Fortunately, it appears that you will not have to endure such a fate.

[music fades]

She is here.

[uneasy music playing]

You should not be staying in such an awful place.

Come with me, please.

You are

at risk of losing something again, I gather.

[Yeon-ui] I beg you to lay a blessing upon me.

I fear that both myself and my son appear to be at serious risk

of falling into grave danger.

Who is at fault?

If you had not put yourself at risk to begin with,

you would not have had to come here at all, would you?

Yes.

-It is because I acted rashly. -[bangs table]

An imitation exists only because an authentic one exists.

What?

What do you…

[haunting music plays]

[exhales]

[music fades]

[indistinct chatter]

I once thought that it might be better if you did not in fact return home.

I had hoped that you had either passed on

or found happiness in another life far from your homeland.

I did not want you to one day suffer the consequences of your parents' sins.

Forgive me.

What do you mean by that?

Remember this.

Spilling innocent blood will have its consequences.

[uneasy music plays]

We will rest here for the night.

Take the porters and settle someplace farther.

[uneasy music continues]

[music fades]

[haunting music plays]

[panting]

[gasps]

[haunting music continues]

[music fades]

[gentle ballad plays]

[gasps]

[gentle ballad continues]

[music fades]

[ballad resumes]

[music fades]

[sighs]

[gentle music plays]

[rustling]

[music fades]

[ominous music plays]

[music stops]

[tense music plays]

[dramatic music plays]

[yelling]

[music fades]

[tense music plays]

Why are you lurking here?

Let us end this quickly. We wouldn't want to wake anyone.

[dramatic music plays]

[grunting]

[swords clashing]

-[flesh squelches] -[assassin groans]

[assassins yell]

[Hongrang grunts]

[music stops]

[breathes heavily]

Hongrang?

Hello? Are you sleeping?

I'm talking to you!

[tense music plays]

[Hongrang] Such a shame.

Quite wasteful.

You are all good swordsmen.

Now tell me, who sent you?

[Mu-jin] You are up against a Soul Reaper.

Take only your most skilled men with you.

Do not let her out of your sight.

You must not let him harm a single hair on her head.

[tense music plays]

Get rid of the bastard.

But the grandmaster's orders were to protect the lady, sir.

[coins clink]

I doubt your silence is due to loyalty. Perhaps pride? Or is it work ethic?

However,

pride and duty are luxuries

that mercenaries who kill for money can ill afford.

I do understand though.

You see,

I am not much different from you.

[tense music continues]

[assassin splutters]

[assassin groans]

[breathes heavily]

Where is she?

[footsteps approach]

[gasps]

Oh! What is it?

-Did something hap-- -[Jae-yi] I…

thought I had lost you.

-Again. -What?

I said I thought I had

lost you again.

[gentle music plays]

You thought you did what?

-[twigs crack] -[gasps]

[meows]

[chuckles]

[Hongrang] What was that just now?

Springing into action. Was that to protect me?

[laughs]

Just stop it.

[music stops]

[Hongrang] What? Stop what?

[scoffs]

[gentle music plays]

[horse neighs, snorts]

[horse snorts]

[music fades]

What is it now?

That must have happened when I went for a stroll to, uh…

[Jae-yi] Why are you hurt?

Why do you keep getting hurt? I do not understand why.

Why?

[gentle music plays]

[Jae-yi breathes shakily]

[music fades]

[Yeol-guk] Now then, we must resolve this issue.

In order to do so,

we will compare the pieces you received with the ones I have kept.

We will identify which ones are authentic

and which ones are imitations.

We will do it right here and now.

Send in the appraisers.

[Yeon-ui breathes deeply]

[man 1] Goodness, why are they so quiet?

[indistinct chatter]

[man 2] I, for one, remain hopeful.

[appraiser breathes deeply]

[man 1] Why do they need to stare at it for so long? Good heavens.

Be quick, damn it.

[appraiser exhales]

What is your opinion?

After conducting multiple examinations and speaking amongst ourselves,

we have reached a unanimous conclusion.

The pieces on the right-hand side are authentic.

[man 3] We were had, then.

-[man 4] How on earth did this happen? -[man 5] I am curious to know as well.

Did you mean to deceive us from the start?

We would very much like to hear what you have to say.

Lady Min,

speak up and explain yourself!

[man 6 exhales]

[men gasp]

[tense music plays]

[men clamor]

-[man 2] Oh, my heavens! -[man 1] Oh! Oh!

What do you think you're doing?

[Yeon-ui] You are mistaken.

This! And this!

All of these are the fake pieces!

We had the appraisers inspect them right before our eyes.

Yes.

I know.

They are fake as well!

All those imbeciles.

So now let me show you the truth.

Bring him in!

[men mutter]

[tense music continues]

[Hong] It is Chu, the son-in-law from Jin Arts Supply Store, is it not?

Which of these did you draw?

The ones on the right-hand side are the ones I drew, my lady.

[men gasp]

What nonsense.

I leave my mark

on all my imitation pieces.

[tense music continues]

[men mutter]

[Yeon-ui] Is that so?

Then show us.

We need to see if there is a mark there.

[tense music continues]

JIN

No! Those markings indicate their authenticity.

It is a mark in my handwriting indicating that it is a work of imitation.

[man 2] Work of imitation?

[tense music builds]

The character "Jin"?

[men clamor]

-[man 1] The handwriting is identical. -[man 2] So that one is fake?

[man 3] Exactly.

[men mutter]

[tense music continues]

Now then, shall I fill that chest up with gold or

shall I have your family's heads cut off and put them in there?

-[gasping] -[man 5] This is ridiculous!

[music stops]

[Yeol-guk] What do you think you are doing?

I merely took a page out of your book.

[tense music plays]

What did you do?

You had the authentic pieces replaced with forgeries.

Is that why you think you can do this?

That you can falsely claim that those imitations are authentic?

You will have to face the consequences of this action.

There are dozens of appraisers,

as well as the original painters who will be able to identify their work.

An imitation is what it is.

It will never be an original, no matter how much you insist otherwise.

But that is exactly what is happening now.

[tense music builds]

[coughing]

No! All of these are authentic pieces!

Put the fire out now!

[gasps] Put it out!

Dowse the flames. Hurry!

Hurry! Put it out now!

-[man 5] Fire! -[man 1] Fire!

-[man 2] Fire! -[groans]

[tense music continues]

These are authentic pieces! No!

What makes a fake a fake

is the existence of an authentic.

Well then,

which ones should be considered authentic now?

[tense music continues]

Will you do something for me?

[music fades]

Ridiculous.

I should not have cried.

[Hongrang] Strange, is it not?

I am the one who is injured,

yet she's the one in pain.

Is it because we are alike?

[sighs] It was pity.

I was feeling sorry for her.

Watching her show concern for someone else when she is clearly suffering.

It was such a sad sight to behold.

Rest assured

I am well aware that there are worse things.

Souls that are worse off.

This emotion will pass.

We cannot have the Min Family Guild's only daughter looking this gaunt.

You should go and rest. You will be exhausted from all the travel.

Welcome home, my beloved son.

-[Hongrang] Have you been well, Mother? -Yes.

Let us go inside.

[indistinct chatter]

Oh dear. [sighs]

[tense drumbeats]

[man] Why is the girl still alive?

I doubt it was a failure on your part.

Have you kept her alive intentionally?

Yes.

It would be tragic.

Tragic, how?

I am not the guild master's real son.

Mu-jin is adopted, and he is just there to further his cause.

The girl, though,

Sim Jae-yi is his daughter by blood.

If you keep her alive,

she'll prove useful when the critical moment arrives.

But still, she remains suspicious of you. And she will keep you at risk.

Her trust…

That is all that I need to earn from her.

[woman] But can you truly earn her trust?

[man] It has been a long time. My goodness, you look pale.

Have you seen a specter?

No.

It is just that I heard…

Ah.

You heard the rumor that my mother died

while I was searching for my missing sister,

and that I had killed myself after indulging in drinking and gambling, yes?

Mm. Well, I'm sorry to say,

it is only half true.

As you can see,

I am alive and well.

I have been living in Qing.

My uncle owns some land there, so I thought I would offer him some help.

I see.

What are you doing here now?

Oh.

Yes. I have a task to attend to.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have some place to be.

Let us talk some more at another time.

[tense music plays]

I must say, though…

how can you be so heartless?

She was once your lover, was she not?

I am curious.

How could you not ask about my sister Kkot-nim's whereabouts?

Perhaps you simply do not care.

Or is it

that you know better than anyone else where she is?

[tense music continues]

[Yeol-guk] I will protect you

at all costs.

[tense music builds]

It is good to see you again, Master.

[dramatic music plays]

It has been so long,

dear Mother.

[dramatic music continues]

[music fades]

[dramatic music plays]

[music fades]

[gentle ballad plays]

[music fades]