Original subtitles

Episode 6

Sir.

I heard we use different words...

to avoid using the King's name today.

But he said...

the meteor showers are the King's fault, too.

(Geonseongyuk)

Stars are just stars.

Why do people...

read too much into them?

Who are you?

Gwak Soo...

This will be good enough.

Yeong Sil! Yeong Sil! What's going on?

He was here not too long ago. He was watching the stars.

Who goes there?

Lord Lee.

It was him.

It's an identity tag.

One of the men...

was wearing this.

Office of Astrology?

Jeon Bae Chun?

It's that custom.

It's because of that custom.

(Pihwi: the custom of not using the King's letters)

The loyalists of Goryeo that want to revive the kingdom...

changed the letters to avoid King Taejo's name...

in the stone carvings at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

They wrote Geonyukseong...

as Ipyeokseong.

The carvings were made to show that Heaven's will is with Joseon.

And they changed the letters to honour King Taejo of Goryeo?

Yes. And...

they're killing the people who have found out about it.

The owner of the identity tag could deny everything,

and there's nothing we can do.

We should go and find the craftsman who carved the stone carvings.

We should ask him who made him change the letters.

I was also thinking...

that we should find the craftsman first thing in the morning.

Before that...

we have something to take care of.

What if His Majesty reinstates Grand Prince Yangnyeong?

If that happens, the entire kingdom would be thrown into chaos.

I agree.

His Majesty must still care about Grand Prince Yangnyeong.

How could we still not know the secret of the stone carvings?

We have a long way to go to solidify the foundation of this kingdom.

The King is preventing the word to get out.

He is suppressing the members of the nobility.

- Yes, I agree. - That is very true.

No, no. It's okay.

There is no need to stand up to greet me.

Please have a seat.

Please sit down.

This is my house, so let's try not to be too formal.

Because of His Majesty's mood these days,

people are trying to stay away from having social gatherings.

Thanks to your generosity for allowing us to use...

your guest house, we can have this meeting today.

We can't let his mood affect our work.

As the officials of the royal court, it is our duty to meet...

to discuss various matters to better serve the kingdom.

Choosing not to carry out our duties because of His Majesty's mood...

is not a loyal deed. Rather, it's a cowardly act.

I agree with Lord Yu.

After speaking with everyone today,

I now have a clear understanding of the problem that Joseon is facing.

Tell us.

What is the problem?

The most urgent matter is...

revising the current system where the chief officers of the six...

main government agencies can directly seek and receive...

the King's approval instead of going through the top agency.

Currently, the King grants approval without consulting the top agency,

so the approval is issued without considering the important factors,

and not much progress has been made on crucial matters.

If all of us gather our strength,

we should be able to offer a word of advice to His Majesty.

And who knows?

A new world could open up, and all of your dreams...

might come true one day.

When and if that happens, you should remember this moment.

You shouldn't back out.

We of course cannot back out on something that is for...

our country and the people as the members of the nobility.

You are absolutely right.

What brings you to Lord Yu's residence?

I wanted to ask you that exact same question.

What were all of you officials plotting to...

gather here at Lord Yu's residence?

Lord Lee.

That was extremely inappropriate.

- What do you mean we were plotting? - I chose that word...

to keep my advice short and sweet.

Anyone would think that you've gathered to plot something...

because all of you are here at this late hour.

Am I wrong?

I can't deny that it could've been viewed that way.

But you know who we are, don't you?

We had a meeting to discuss how Joseon could thrive,

and you're accusing us of plotting a conspiracy.

My feelings are hurt, and I am offended.

Be thankful that only your feelings are hurt.

You should be careful not to get hurt.

It's my sincere advice.

How rude.

Let's go.

The Office of Astrology's servant who was staying at my residence...

was kidnapped by the owner of this identity tag and got out.

I'm convinced that Jeon Bae Chun would never do such a thing.

And why would he want to kidnap a servant anyway?

He kidnapped Jang Yeong Sil...

because he has figured out the secret of the stone carvings.

There must be loyalists of Goryeo in Office of Astrology.

Lord Yu, you must find out who they are.

What makes you so certain?

Are you asking me that question...

because you're not suspicious of anyone at the Office of Astrology?

Unless you're one of them...

You're being way out of line, Lord Lee.

This isn't just an identity tag, is it?

You brought this as a weapon to threaten me.

Please decide whose side you're on.

I shall speak to you again.

(Jeon Bae Chun, Officer of Astrology)

I apologise for the trouble.

It looks like...

we need to move faster.

The generals should gather and...

take up arms at the location four days earlier than the initial plan.

Tell them to raid Deokheungchang in Chungju...

and seize the military provisions.

The generals in Naju and Yeonggwang...

should seize Haereungchang and Buyongchang.

Tell all of them to assemble in Hanyang after the job is done.

Yes, Lord Yu.

I remember it now!

What? What's going on?

Erasing the character, "ip" and carving the character, "geon".

There was a poem about it!

It was in one of the books that the lord gave to me.

My books! All of them have been burned.

Right.

(Jeong Cho, Jeong Heum Ji, Jeong In Ji)

(Gwak Soo)

(Herbal Apothecary)

They said they'd pay double if you bring wild ginseng.

If you follow him, you should be able to meet...

the man with the surname, Gwak.

(Crown Prince Chungnyeong)

(Official Jang Hee Je)

I'll look for places of illegal trafficking of wild ginseng.

You two should take this composite sketch...

to the market and look for him.

We might be able to meet the Crown Prince if we find Gwak Soo.

We should hurry.

Yes, Lord Lee.

That man looks a lot like this composite sketch.

Yes, you're right.

Goodness. This time, his eyes look just like the composite sketch.

How come so many people in this area look like the craftsman, Gwak Soo?

Oh! My ornament.

Goodness!

- Suk Gu! - Gosh, what should I do?

My goodness.

What are you going to do about this? Tell me!

Let go of me.

It's your fault for dropping it. I just happened to step on it.

- What did you just say? - Why are you doing this to me?

Let go of me. Let go!

Stop it!

Well, this...

I'll just buy a new one for you.

How much does it cost?

This is...

not replaceable.

You can't buy it.

Well...

I'll make the same one for you.

It may end up being a bit smaller than that,

but I'll make one for you right now if you like.

Gil Seon.

Did you find your ornament?

(Princess So Hyun, King Taejong's illegitimate daughter)

Here you go.

Thank you.

Let's go now.

Have a look.

He carved it just like the one you gave me.

I carved it for you, Lady Ga Hyun.

This looks exactly like me.

I'll take good care of it. Thanks.

It's Eun Bok.

Medicine is dispensed at the front.

The herbs are sold here.

I'm not here for medicine.

I have questions regarding stone carvings...

at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Gwak Soo (Master of stonemason)

Stone carvings?

Yes.

How would I know anything about it?

I've spent all my life digging up herbs.

An Officer of Astrology who found out about the secrets...

behind the stone carvings was killed by an arrow.

What does that have anything...

to do with an old folk like me?

You are such a strange fellow.

Yeong Sil!

Yeong Sil!

- Yes, my lord. - I know where Gwak Soo is.

He lives near a village by the temple

I'll be on my way. You can follow me.

Yes, my lord.

Suk Gu!

- Suk Gu! - Yes?

Come quick! Lord Lee has found him.

- Yeong Sil! - Hurry!

Wait! Wait up, Yeong Sil!

I found him as well!

Hey!

I told you I know nothing about the stone carvings.

- What do you want from me? - I came to save you.

A commoner like you can't save me.

It's best to leave me alone.

I'm the Crown Prince of this country.

You expect me to believe that?

Please believe me.

I need you to come with me.

That's the only way you can live.

Please tell me the secrets behind the stone carvings.

You'll kill me as soon as...

I reveal the secrets to you.

I won't. I give you my word.

Leave me alone.

How many times do I have to tell you that I don't know?

Get up!

We need to move.

Be careful.

Here.

Lie down.

Let me die.

The human will can't decide...

who will become...

the next king.

But a fool like me tried...

to interfere with Heaven's will.

If it was written on paper,

I could have shredded it.

But it's carved on a stone...

so I can't even shred it.

The stonemasons who worked...

on the stone carvings with me...

were all assassinated one by one.

Were they killed by the royal powers of Goryeo?

Because it wasn't favourable to Goryeo?

No.

I didn't hide because...

I was scared of the remaining powers of Goryeo.

Well, then...

who were you hiding from?

It's someone close to the court.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, are you okay?

Sir, are you hurt?

Your Highness, you must flee here.

Crown Prince,

I told you to stop.

This one is...

for ignoring my warnings.

My goodness.

Hey!

My lord! Watch out!

Are you okay?

What a relief...

that it only hit your shoulder.

Are you the Crown Prince?

Yes, I am.

Stay still.

Let's get some help.

I...

I am all right.

I'll tell you the secrets behind the stone carvings.

Please punish those responsible...

for killing people over this.

You...

You know the secrets behind it?

Yes, Your Highness.

On the stone, the character "Geon" from Geonseong was...

replaced with the character "Ip".

That's the secret.

"Geon"...

to "Ip"?

That means...

it was done to avoid using the character from the King's name.

Exactly.

They avoided using the character from the King's name...

as to wish for the long-lasting of Goryeo dynasty.

That's the secret behind the stone carvings.

Crown Prince should have been killed.

You lost an easy target.

It was told that the Crown Prince died for disrupting...

the Heaven's will, there will be more chaos. That's favourable to us.

Either way,

I got a load off my shoulder.

To be honest,

I had some doubts...

about you.

However, I have...

regained my trust in you...

for targeting to kill the Crown Prince.

Thank you, my lord.

Aren't you disappointed...

that I had doubts in you?

I think it's obvious...

to be certain of all things...

before an undertaking.

This is the map to Wang Sang Gong's shelter...

who will follow the steps of King Gongyang...

to be the next king of Goryeo.

If things don't go as planned, please protect Wang Sang Gong.

If you appear at his doorsteps with this pouch,

he'll know what it means.

I trust that Wang Sang Gong will be safe in your hands.

I will protect him with my life.

(Changdeok Palace)

(Crown Prince Chungnyeong)

Your Majesty.

The Crown Prince is here to see you.

I'm not in the mood to see him. Send him away.

Father.

I have found out the secrets behind the stone carvings.

Please let me in.

- Open the door. - Your Highness.

Gatekeeper, please come in.

Father.

What's the matter?

(Ha Yeon)

His Majesty says...

if you ask for his forgivness,

then he shall meet you...

at the Hall of Worthies.

(Meng Sa Sung)

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

- Please repeal your order. - Please repeal your order.

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

- Please repeal your order. - Please repeal your order.

Beg for forgiveness.

Beg now, Crown Prince.

Your Majesty, I beg for your forgiveness.

Please take back your order.

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

- Please repeal your order. - Please repeal your order.

Your Majesty.

Please repeal your order.

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

- Please repeal your order. - Please repeal your order.

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

Please repeal your order.

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

- Please repeal your order. - Please repeal your order.

(Lee Chun's house)

That should do it.

The wound has almost healed.

My goodness. You're one heroic person.

Why would you take an arrow for someone?

I know, right?

I wasn't planning to be the hero,

but my instincts kicked in.

Gosh. You can never escape being someone's servant.

I thought these were burned into ashes.

- How could this be? - I was just running an errand.

What do you think?

You are shocked to death, aren't you?

What?

When the workshop caught on fire...

My goodness.

I hid it from Kim Hak Joo.

I had to run for my life, so I couldn't take them with me.

But I ran into him, so I asked him for a favour.

Thanks so much, Suk Gu.

Thanks, Go Gil Su.

I have more surprises for you.

There you go.

What is this?

What do you think it is? It's silver.

I sold the Honsang you made.

I took my share and this is the rest.

(Honsang: A sphere on which a map of constellations is depicted)

Honsang?

They said they tossed it in the sea.

Who do you think I am?

I'm Go Gil Su.

I only pretended to throw it.

Jang Yeong Sil,

let's head to Ming.

You'll make lots of Honsang...

and live a rich man.

Would we become rich in Ming?

Yes, you'll both be rich.

I'm going to build a ship and sail to the West.

To the West?

Jung Hwa is a big name in Ming right now.

The Emperor gave him a few hundred ships...

and ordered him to sail to the West end of the world.

He's been there four times already.

The entire crew sold rare products...

and became filthy rich.

Wow.

But how can a few hundred ships...

sail across the sea?

They went with...

the easterly wind.

Then you won't have to paddle...

to move towards the West.

How can the wind only move towards the West...

in such a vast sea?

You're right. Isn't that incredible?

Hey, I was talking about becoming a rich man.

Who cares about the wind?

But you said you were going to make money...

from selling Honsang then build ships.

You shouldn't treat me like that.

Come to Port Mapo today at midnight.

I've secured a ferry that goes to Ming.

Tonight?

- Right away? - You shouldn't waste any time.

The ferry owner said...

he'll take you free of charge.

- Me? - To be exact,

he wants somebody who can make Honsang for him.

Yeong Sil, you must go this time...

to Ming.

All right.

- Let's go. - I knew you would say yes.

See you both tonight.

What's the matter?

There was something...

I wanted to check in this book.

I thought I would never see it again,

but you changed that for me.

I found it.

"A sad song of the stonemason."

"Night after night in my dream,"

"they make the outlines with a sharp tool..."

"and carve with a stone."

The person named Woo Bo...

knew the stone carvings was altered at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Yeong Sil,

come out for a second.

Hey, do you think...

he found out about our runaway plan?

Come out right now!

You are the lady with the wooden doll.

So you remember me.

Do you remember Lady Ga Hyun from Dongrae-hyun?

I do, my lord.

This is she.

Pardon?

I had to mask her as my niece before,

but she is the daughter of the King.

Princess So Hyun.

Excuse me?

Forgive me for not recognising you, Princess.

I didn't recognise you at first,

but I thought you resembled Eun Bok...

with your carving skills.

She's here to borrow you.

I would like to offer a token of appreciation...

for saving the Crown Prince.

You can meet the King and...

I would love to hear how you've been.

The little Eun Bok didn't even know...

how to read the clock.

And then you've learned to read from merely two books.

It took time.

Not only have you taught yourself to read,

but you also built a workshop.

I wish I could have seen...

the workshop you built as a child.

It would've been nice if I had stayed longer in Dongrae-hyun.

We watched the solar eclipse together.

I remember it like yesterday.

But I heard that you've never...

asked Lord Lee about me.

I thought you forgot about me.

I've been sad about it.

How could I forget you, Lady Ga Hyun?

You are...

the first person who treated me as a human, not as a servant.

If you didn't help me back then,

I would've broken my back...

from acting as a horse for all those children from noble families.

I was very thankful for your help back then.

Even now,

I'm very grateful for everything you've done for me, Lady...

I mean, Princess.

I also have...

something that I want to thank you for.

The butterfly-shaped wooden hairpin that was broken.

Do you remember its shape?

Yes, I remember.

It looked like it was made by a skillful craftsman.

That skillful craftsman...

is me.

Pardon me?

Princess, you...

Yes.

I carved it.

I started it because I was jealous of your wood carving skills.

You motivated me to learn it.

When did you start wood carving?

When I was young,

I saw you making carvings and I wanted to learn it.

But everyone told me I shouldn't, so I couldn't learn it then.

Then...

when did you learn to become so good at it?

Well...

I started learning it after becoming a widow,

so I guess it was a number of years ago?

Even when I could hear what people were talking about me,

I tried to focus on wood carving,

which made all of my worries go away.

Princess, so...

you know that feeling too.

By focusing on wood carving, I was able to forget...

how people were labelling me as a fatherless son born of a kisaeng.

You've experienced the same thing too then.

Yes.

That's right, Princess.

(Wayoungjeong)

Another special guest is here.

(Jang Hee Je)

Since he was a kid, Yeong Sil...

has always exhibited an exceptional talent for astronomy.

I see.

If that is the case, I'd love to know which...

astronomical phenomenon intrigues you particularly these days.

Pardon me?

Well...

The North Star has changed.

Cheonchu, which is the fifth star among the five stars in the North,

is the North Star.

Yes, that is correct.

However,

the astronomical map of Goguryeo, which the lord gave to me,

depicts Daeje as the North Star.

But Cheonchu is the North Star now.

I think that the star that occupies...

the position for the North Star changes with time.

We rely on the North Star to determine direction and orientation.

Noon, which is when the sun is at its highest,

also changes every day.

I'm guessing that...

the change of the North Star as well as of noontime...

could happen for similar reasons.

Did you hear what Yeong Sil just said?

Yes, Your Highness.

Yeong Sil...

also had the same question as you, Your Highness.

According to the theory we believe,

the sky is surrounding the outside of the earth.

It is said that the moving energy between them...

is what causes the astronomical phenomena.

The ones you mentioned, are they also caused by energy?

Your Highness.

I don't think there is energy moving between...

the celestial sphere and the earth.

You don't think such energy exists?

Official Jang. What do you think about what Yeong Sil just said?

Your Highness.

There are various and complex reasons...

that cause astronomical phenomena.

It's important to note that...

we can't even prove whether energy exists or not.

If we believe that is what causes astronomical phenomena,

we will never be able to find out the truth about them.

There is one thing that people are truly misinformed about.

It's about meteor showers.

Meteor showers are not an omen of disaster.

It is an astronomical phenomenon...

that occurs at the same time every year.

Is that true?

Yes, Your Highness.

There will be another meteor shower soon.

Since I was a kid,

I've watched countless shooting stars...

falling from Pleiades on the same day...

for many years.

I call meteor showers...

"Shooting stars from Pleiades".

If countless shooting stars fall like raindrops,

it'd be truly beautiful.

Yes.

The four of us should meet again that day.

How about we wait for a meteor shower together at Wayoungjeong?

That is a good idea.

Joseon needs people like you...

who can study these matters...

and find out the truth about them as well as what laws govern them.

You will be seeing His Highness often from now on.

Tell him more about astronomical phenomena next time you see him.

Come to Port Mapo today at midnight.

I've secured a ferry that goes to Ming.

(Wayoungjeong)

You're here. You said you wanted to get fresh air.

Do you like the signboard for Wayoungjeong?

I saw it earlier as I was passing by it...

and thought that the writing looked familiar.

People can have similar handwriting.

But...

you probably have never seen the handwriting on the signboard.

His Majesty wrote it.

"Wa" means a spring.

"Young" means being full.

Wayoung.

He wrote it for me wishing that...

my life could be like a spring that never dries.

If that is the case,

I'm sure I've never seen the writing before.

The handwriting I'm thinking of belongs to a man named Woo Bo.

He has extensive knowledge of astronomy,

and he is a great poet as well.

Woo Bo?

Does the name mean "foolish man"?

Yes.

What you saw...

could be His Majesty's handwriting.

His Majesty has two pen names.

One is Gokgang Cheosa,

and the other one is Woo Bo.

His Majesty is very knowledgeable in astronomy,

and he writes exquisite poems too.

You've worked hard...

for your work.

Your Majesty.

If I could ensure...

the safety of Joseon and you by sacrificing my life,

I could take my own life right now with no regrets.

Those traitors who are trying to weaken the foundation of Joseon...

have been thrown into one little hole.

So we must make sure to kill every single one of them.

His Majesty has known all along that the letters...

on the stone carvings were changed.

Then why did he pretend that he wasn't aware of it?

I wonder why.

What could be the reason?

(Jang Yeong Sil)

The fact that he knew about the changed letters.

- You must forget it. - Pardon?

The King has given an order to arrest Jang Yeong Sil!

The key has disappeared.

I delivered it to His Majesty.

- What evidence do you have? - We have this letter.

- Arrest him. - Your Highness. Your Highness!

This was what Lee Bang Won needed.

His Majesty is a lot scarier than you think, Your Highness.

Whether I knew the secret of the stone carvings or not,

- what does it have to do with me? - Jang Yeong Sil.

- Your Highness. - Why are you in there?