Original subtitles

Jang Yeong Sil

Episode 3

Yeong Sil.

Come here quickly.

You've never seen gunpowder of this quality, have you?

The quality is very good indeed.

We brought a special gift for you as well.

[Go Gil Su, Yeong Sil's friend, a merchant]

He's never seen Honsang before but was able to make one like this.

I hope it can be put to good use.

And also...

the ship that goes from Tsushima to Ming...

This gunpowder...

isn't enough to get you on my ship.

Pardon me?

Why not?

You said that you'd take us on your ship if we could find gunpowder.

You.

There is Honsang that...

spins on its own and makes a full turn each day...

even without anyone spinning it.

Have you heard of it?

Make this self spinning Honsang and bring it to me.

Then I'll let you get on my ship.

But...

how can any Honsang spin on its own?

How could anyone make such a thing?

Gosh, seriously...

He's probably doing this because I told him about the rotating...

constellation you installed on the ceiling in your workroom.

No way. You're asking him to do this in two weeks?

How can he make a self spinning Honsang in two weeks?

I'll make it for you.

Instead...

please promise us that you will let us on your ship...

from Tsushima to Ming if I succeed in making the Hongsang for you.

If you can make one that can revolve on its own,

I'll gladly take you to Ming...

on my ship.

Even the Emperor of Ming...

would love to get his hands on the self spinning Honsang.

You can charge as much as you want for it.

Then...

Yeong Sil can make Honsang,

and I can make some money off them as a middleman.

Sir, you can sell them to those rich noblemen in Ming.

Yeong Sil, if we can make this happen,

we won't have anything to worry about in Ming.

You'll be able to look at the stars all the time without having to work.

I'm giving you exactly two weeks.

After that, my ship...

will no longer come to Joseon.

There isn't much work at the forge, so I'm taking tomorrow off.

Yeong Sil must be there already to work all night on making stuff.

[Jang Sung Hwee, Yeong Sil's father]

It's you, Suk Gu.

What brings you here at this late hour?

Yeong Sil.

Your lord is here.

What brings you here?

Suk Gu wasn't thoughtful enough...

to bring you all the way here.

I waited and waited.

I waited for someone to tell me that you passed away.

Gosh...

"If he is alive,

he would definitely try to find me."

"I'm not sure where and how he passed away,

but I'm sure he is not alive anymore."

"Otherwise, it makes no sense."

"That is the only plausible explanation for how the lord,

who used to care for me so much, isn't even looking for me."

"How much tears will I shed when I hear the sad news?"

"I might want to kill myself to meet him in heaven."

"I won't want to live in the world knowing that the lord isn't here."

"I shall go to the lord's grave and cry myself to death."

Thinking about these things, I waited to hear of your death,

but you are alive.

You're well enough to walk all the way here.

Well...

I know that Yeong Sil has been waiting for you.

He is acting like that because he has missed you terribly.

Because of the promise he made to you,

he has been diligently observing the movements...

of the sun, the moon and the stars every single day.

He just wasn't expecting to see you today.

He is being mean and saying harsh things to you because...

he doesn't know what to do with the emotions that have exploded.

My lord.

Have you forgotten what I told you earlier?

- What I waited for was... - This wine.

Let's drink it together.

After I left here...

I started regretting...

not dying before things got to this point.

Having a father who doesn't look for his son...

could be worse than not having a father.

Why didn't I know that sooner?

This is...

Isn't this Honsang?

I didn't see this earlier.

Did you make this?

The distances between the stars are measured correctly.

You probably came a long way to see me,

so I should tell you this.

I'm...

running away.

If you get caught...

you will die in the end.

I know.

I'm willing to take the risk.

Well...

I do not want you to have to face unfortunate news,

so please return to where you came from.

I saw...

the astronomical chart you drew on the ceiling.

I know that living as a servant is very difficult,

but I thought that you were trying to...

focus on what you'd like doing and stay positive.

I am sorry, my lord.

I am sorry for not obeying my fate as a servant.

That is not what I meant.

This Honsang.

I'm using this to get on a ship.

The magistrate of Tsushima promised to get me on his ship...

if I could make a self spinning Honsang for him.

Did you say a self spinning Honsang?

Yes.

Do you know...

how to make Honsang like that?

Well,

I do not know yet.

If that is the case,

how will you make one?

Have you thought about what method you can use?

I'm not sure yet,

but I'm thinking of using cogwheels.

Right.

If you're skilled enough to make that,

making it wouldn't be impossible.

Could you...

let me meet your mother?

Eun Wol.

I've missed you a lot.

I will follow you soon.

You can yell and swear at me.

When you see me there,

please don't walk away from me.

Have you decided to leave this country...

on New Year's Day?

I saw your notes in your "Sun and Moon Records".

You stopped recording your observations that day.

So I saw it coming.

Yeong Sil.

I...

fell because...

I lost my footing.

Don't let my death...

sadden you.

Don't let it anger you.

I hope...

you can...

stay strong.

Yes, okay. Okay.

You were born as a servant...

because of me.

I am really sorry.

My mother used to say that all the time...

when she was alive.

She passed away,

and I no longer have any reason to live in Joseon as a servant.

That is why I've decided to run away.

Eun Wol.

I will do my best...

to help our son so that he doesn't have to...

live as a servant anymore.

Please do not worry.

I do not need your help, my lord.

Eun Wol!

Our son is going to a faraway land,

so I should at least help him...

with his ship fare as his father.

Let's go now.

Let me help you prepare your ship fare.

Why are you standing there? Let's go in.

A long time ago,

there was a gigantic water clock that had Honsang inside it,

which was designed to spin by water power.

This water clock was made 300 years ago.

It was invented by So Song in the Northern Song...

and was called Suwooneuisangnae.

Honsang was placed in the middle of this.

Also, there was Honeui on top of this structure.

The water clock in it that was much taller than the castle wall...

rotated with a series of gears.

One of them...

had figurines that showed the time every hour.

Another...

was placed with figurines that showed 100 sub-divisions of the day.

There were also figurines that were designed to ring a bell...

and play drums at each mark to let people know the time.

But I still...

do not know how exactly that device was made to revolve on its own.

There were multiple plates with all those figurines.

Plus, both Honsang and Honeui were designed to spin on their own.

Numerous cogwheels must've been used to make the structure.

It's a water clock, so instead of operating it manually...

It needs a device that allows the structure to run with water power.

For a device like that, the flow of water must be kept consistent.

That way, the water clock would rotate at a consistent speed.

But...

maintaining the consistency of the water flow...

would be extremely difficult.

If you're worried about that...

I can help you.

I made a water clock at the Office of Astrology in Goryeo.

Stars move at a consistent speed,

so the amount of water needs to be measured according to their speed.

Then you just need to make sure the water falls at a regular speed...

in order to make a well-functioning water clock.

In case of Suwooneuisangnae,

a uniform amount of water was kept, and the power generated from...

the water drops made the waterwheels rotate.

What's wrong?

What's the matter?

We need a device to make sure that the waterwheels spin properly.

For the Honsang to rotate at a consistent speed,

the waterwheel also needs to move one bucket at a time.

You're right.

What kind of device was used for that?

I'll find out.

If I keep thinking, I'm sure I'll be able to come up with a solution.

That's right.

You don't have much time left to get on that ship.

Try making that device as soon as possible.

I will help you.

I should make a cogwheel model and rotate it.

My lord!

I'm okay.

You know that...

I didn't get any sleep last night.

I'm just exhausted.

Take me to...

my family's residence.

Ouch, it's hot.

Why are you doing the work now?

I told you to bring that man, Yeong Sil.

Right, yes.

Yeong Sil, that idiot.

I told him to sharpen my sword again.

Did he do it properly?

Yes.

He already took care of it when he was here earlier.

Is that so?

Please wait here for a few minutes.

I will go and bring my mallet. It will be quick.

Sure.

No.

This sword.

I asked you if this sword was sharpened by Jang Yeong Sil!

My lord...

You better stay out of this.

Every time you try to get involved,

I will slash Suk Gu.

Right. Yes!

I spoke to Yeong Sil earlier and told him to sharpen your sword.

Well...

No.

- Suk Gu! - Look!

Suk Gu.

This is not what your sword is for.

This will bring dishonour to your reputation as a military official.

Who are you?

My lord!

I'll deal with this.

Yeong Sil.

By chance...

Are you his uncle?

I am...

Kim Hak Joo, Hee Je's friend.

I don't think sword is necessary.

Whatever the problem may be, I think you can just talk to them.

Sir.

These low-class jerks only learn...

when they are put under strict punishment.

They are servants who belong to the local civil court I work for,

so I'll decide what kind of punishment they deserve.

Why did you sharpen my sword yourself and ruin it?

Tell me why.

Right now!

I will...

sharpen it again for you.

I told you to stay out of this!

What did you just do?

How could...

a military official who works in the local civil court...

not follow the code of conduct and treat them horribly?

I told you I'll make my own decision on how they should be punished!

They deceived me and lied to me who is their master.

No one will blame me even if I hurt them badly for what they have done.

Don't you know that low-class servants like them...

can only report their master when he commits treason?

You told me that you're Hee Je's friend,

so I'll think of you as my nephew and give you a word of advice.

You are a military official...

that works for Royal Court.

From now on,

draw your sword only when it is for protecting the country.

Sir.

Yeong Sil's mother, Eun Wol.

Do you know how she died?

Eun Wol, that foolish woman.

She kept denying that she knew the whereabouts of a runaway servant,

so I pushed her down the hills.

Your mother.

She didn't die from an accidental falling.

With this hand of mine, I grabbed her by the collar and pushed her.

"Eun Wol."

"The minute I let you go, you'll die."

But she still didn't say anything.

So I just let her go.

Yeong Sil!

"Another wilting petal...

falls in front of my eyes."

"I shall drink more...

and be immersed in sadness."

This poem written by Du Fu is truly beautiful and has a deep meaning.

My daughter, nothing consoles me more than...

hearing you read poems. It is the sweetest lullaby to me.

[King Taejong]

Don't you feel lonely living by yourself?

You can live with me in the palace.

[Princess So Hyun, illegitimate daughter of King Taejong]

I live so close to the palace.

Your Majesty, you can almost think that I live inside the palace.

"A kingfisher comes to the little house on the river."

You can stop now.

I'll hear the rest next time I visit you.

You've already read many poems for me.

What is the matter?

Well...

Who goes there?

Your Majesty.

Please tell them to withdraw their swords.

He is Grand Prince Yangnyeong.

You are supposed to be in Gwangju now.

Why are you still here?

[Grand Prince Yangnyeong, disposed crown prince]

You must want to lose your life.

Where are my Royal Guard soldiers?

Decapitate Yangnyeong for breaking the code of conduct.

Behead him immediately!

Your Majesty!

Grand Prince Yangnyeong is here to beg your forgiveness.

Please forgive him.

My dear father...

I've realised how foolish,

heartless and...

immature I have been all these years.

You wanted to follow primogeniture and have your legitimate son...

succeed the throne and ensure that Joseon can thrive forever.

I committed the sin of rebelling and ruining your great plan.

I feel absolutely horrible and have nothing to say to you.

However...

I'm here to...

beg your forgiveness...

Keep it to yourself.

Do not utter anything.

Bury all of it inside your heart.

That is the only way you can spare your life.

Your excessive love for women and music has been...

the target of all officials' legitimate criticism and concern,

which has been growing to the point where I can no longer handle them.

Why have you been wasting your life like that?

Loyalists like Hwang Hui put their lives on the line...

to make sure that you are not stripped of your title,

but no one could protect you.

They all ended up being sent into exile because of you.

As you are my eldest son,

I wanted you to succeed the throne.

What should I do...

with you?

A comet appeared?

Yes. The Lees will fall,

- and the Wangs will return. - My goodness.

Will Joseon fall after just 30 years?

We've been suffering from a drought for years.

I heard that people are starving outside the Capital.

Disperse!

Go on your way!

The royal family of Joseon...

no longer honours the people.

The heavens sent a drought...

to tell us that they have forsaken us.

People of this land.

Do not forget that you originally were people of Goryeo.

People of Goryeo.

Overcome the disgrace of being called people of Joseon...

and rise against the King.

The destitute souls of the hundreds of Wangs...

that Lee Seong Gye drowned in the sea...

moved the heavens.

It is now time.

The drowning thing is just a rumour.

What must we do now when such talk...

is deemed true?

We should not...

- inform the King just yet. - I agree.

He is still in shock.

I fear for his health.

He is even more upset...

since he replaced the Crown Prince.

I heard that...

Grand Prince Yangnyeong got into the Capital...

and met with the King at Princess So Hyun's home.

[Meng Sa Sung]

I see he failed to change his ways.

For as long as he lives,

he will be a threat to the Crown Prince.

We cannot be sure...

when the King will want to...

make his eldest son his heir.

That must not happen.

I once was of the opinion that the Grand Prince is...

the eldest son and therefore should be the King's heir.

But if we make him Crown Prince who was ousted once,

the people will mock the royals.

If that is what is required to strengthen our nation,

then it must be done...

at the expense of being mocked.

No book on history or morals states that a King...

cannot change heirs multiple times.

Lord Ha.

If Yangnyeong is reinstated,

what will happen to us?

We opposed him.

Have you not considered the aftermath?

The future of Joseon and its legacy are more important than...

what happens to us.

What sets Joseon apart from Goryeo?

We aim to lead the people based on Neo-Confucianism.

Lord Ha!

Everyone here knows that much.

Do not lecture us.

I am saying this because...

although the Crown Prince is clever, I wonder if...

he conforms to these standards.

If he...

insists on doing things that go against our ideology,

should we not think of what to do...

to preserve Joseon?

Watch what you say!

I shall pretend I did not hear that.

Stop right here.

If the King hears what you just said,

he will be beheaded.

It's noon. Noon!

Beat the drum.

[Crown Prince Chungnyeong]

Your Highness, he is here.

Did you ask for me, Your Highness?

Do you hear that beating drum?

I do.

It means it is now midday.

The officials...

follow the time given by the water clock.

But look at the sundial.

It is 30 minutes past noon.

What do you make of this disparity?

I apologise, Your Highness.

I called you to discuss this because you are a man of science.

Not to hold you responsible.

"For a nation to flourish,

the basics must stand firm."

"That is most important."

You said that to me once.

If I think of what we consider the basics,

the fact that our clocks tell different times...

is an important issue.

As you said, time is very important.

Now we know there's a problem.

Let's discuss what to do at the Office of Astrology.

Yes, Your Highness.

I shall escort you.

I am Choi Bok.

I shall relay...

the fate of our nation.

Your Highness.

What brings you here?

I am pleased you are here.

We were just about to hear what the circumstances...

surrounding the comet have to do with our future.

The recent incidents imply...

a great crisis...

in the form of a change of dynasty.

What an outrageous thing to say.

Are you willing to stake your life on that prophecy?

It is the result my officers reached based on the books...

that we inherited from Goryeo.

Do not concern yourself, Your Highness.

There will be a way to counter it.

[Yu Taek Sang]

- Speak on. - Yes, my lord.

To counter the effect of...

the northern wind, the comet and the halo,

the King and his loyal subjects...

must confess their sins in mourning clothes.

To what must we confess our sins to?

The sun, of course.

The sun symbolises the King.

By confessing to the king in the sky,

the positive energy will flow to our King reigning on earth.

Your Highness.

The Office of Astrology...

will select a day for the ceremony.

I believe we can end this meeting.

I am here...

to discuss something else.

Let me ask you.

Why do the water clock...

and sundial tell different times?

In this situation, should we adhere to the water clock,

or should we go with the time on the sundial?

Your Highness.

The officials in charge of the water clock...

take their duties seriously and are never lax.

Officer Ji, His Highness is asking you...

why noon on the water clock...

does not correspond with noon on the sundial.

Both clocks...

are set to the revolving sun and stars.

Yet they tell different times.

Is that not a problem?

If the water clock is accurate,

then the issue is with the sundial.

In that case,

should we not discuss if there is an issue with the sun?

Your Highness.

The...

The sun...

Your Highness.

The sun is a flawless being.

It symbolises the King.

Suggesting there could be a problem with the sun...

is blasphemy.

Your Highness.

You are our Crown Prince.

Why would you think the great sun could be the problem?

Whatever time the clocks tell, all you have to do...

is follow the time the Office of Astrology gives,

and do your duty.

Just go about your everyday tasks as Crown Prince.

Your Highness is...

the foundation of our nation.

I will come back again.

We can discuss this matter then.

What must you tell me that is so hard to bring up?

Whenever you had to speak to me,

you never let anyone's opinion or glare stop you.

And now you are hesitant.

This concerns me greatly.

Speak up.

After discussing...

hosting a ceremony to the sun,

the Crown Prince spoke negatively of it,

saying there is a problem.

He must know well enough that the sun symbolises...

the reigning monarch, which is you, Your Majesty.

Just because two clocks...

show different times,

he spoke...

negatively of the sun.

Hearing what he had to say...

made me worry for...

the future of our nation, Your Majesty.

You slandered...

the Crown Prince, my own son.

I could have you imprisoned this very instant.

Even if the result of my loyalty...

is death by beheading,

I have no regrets.

I could not...

continue as a loyal servant without a will to accept that fate.

Is the Crown Prince...

truly the one to follow you...

and rule our people?

I beg that you do not ignore answering that important question.

Leave me.

Whether this will...

lead to your beheading or not,

neither of us know.

Only the heavens know.

Your Majesty.

The Crown Prince is here.

I am not willing to see him now.

Tell him to return another time.

Yeong Sil!

Yeong Sil!

- Don't do it! - Yeong Sil!

Why are you stopping me?

If you kill him,

you will die, too.

He's the man who killed my mother!

He killed my woman,

and he killed my son's mother.

Yeong Sil.

Put down...

that sickle.

You must head to Ming.

Even if it's for one day,

live as a human being and not as a servant.

That is my wish, Yeong Sil.

Please.

Put it down.

You...

How dare you.

The Honsang moves...

as much as the wheel does.

I need to stop the wheel from turning...

until each box is full.

How can I stop the wheel from turning...

until it should?

Oh dear.

It's done. I did it.

Yeong Sil.

I figured out the amount of water...

needed to turn the Honsang.

Now we just have to make sure the waterwheel...

turns at regular intervals.

Servant Jang Yeong Sil.

Come outside.

Oh dear.

- Sir. - Where is Jang Yeong Sil?

Did you not send him to the timber yard...

a few days ago?

What? He finished his duty and returned hours ago.

Oh, yes, stupid me.

Yeong Sil?

He came home and napped,

then went out for a stroll, Sir.

Find him immediately...

and bring him to me.

Pardon?

- Right now? - Yes.

Right now.

Right.

Yeong Sil. Yeong Sil.

Oh?

Sir...

He has lost his mind...

completely.

How dare he build a place like this.

Burn it.

No. No!

No! You can't!

Don't! No!

No.

No.

No! No!

No!

Gosh, no...

No...

[Jang Yeong Sil]

There's something I didn't tell you.

- I was going to go to Ming. - You mean you tried to escape?

Crown Prince Chungnyeong is...

a very clever man.

I wish to protect the Crown Prince.

I cannot ignore those who try to scheme against him.

Where did he say he would go?

He travels like the wind.

Who would know?

I heard you said that you would run away today.

I will.

Right now.

[Jang Yeong Sil]