Original subtitles

Subtitles by MBC

[Episode 10]

Boon Nim, what brings you here?

Your mother was...

What about my mother?

Stop crying and tell me.

She collapsed all of a sudden.

Young Hwi!

Young Rae.

Mother collapsed? How come?

That's why I sent Boon Nim for Doctor Jin.

Where and how does it hurt?

A doctor checked her in the morning and he said

she has beriberi.

Beriberi?

She couldn't eat anything and has been drawn out.

Then when she went to the bathroom,

she collapsed, grabbing her chest.

Can I see her?

Tell her to go back.

Mother.

I said, tell her to go back.

But she's worried about you. Why don't you see her face?

Didn't I say I wouldn't see her again?

Mother, then how about consulting Doctor Jin?

I said there's no need!

Madam.

Mother. Mother.

Madam.

Madam, are you okay?

How dare you come in? Get out now.

I know you have resentment against me.

I think it's natural.

But you accepted me to stay here when I had nowhere to go.

I can't leave you like this.

Mother, please grant his request on my account.

Please help me not to become an undutiful child.

I said, there's no need.

Mother, Mother!

Madam.

If you touch my body, I will not forgive you.

Beriberi.

A disease caused by vitamin B1 deficiency.

The disease is common in Asia whose staple food is polished white rice.

Major symptoms are anorexia, paresthesia, and fatigue.

If she lapsed into dyspnea, she's already in serious condition.

In the worst case,she could suffer a sudden death due to heart failure.

Prince Heung Seon started gambling?

Yes, Father.

It seems he involved a group of scamps

and lend money to aristocrats at high interest.

Maybe he's really gone insane.

He's still a royal kinsman, but he makes money by gambling?

Maybe he'll get the winner's tip to cover the expense of the banquet.

I don't feel good about this.

Pardon?

He who once begged for food won the Queen Dowager's confidence.

What next?

Can you guess what's in the back of his mind?

But even if he could raise money,

and whatever his intention may be, he can't put through the banquet.

Your Highness, please listen to us.

Please listen to us.

Did you come to trouble this old woman?

Your Highness, please see the signs of this time.

His Majesty The King is indisposed and the citizens are full of complaints.

That is right, Your Highness.

If you throw a pageantry at times like this,

I'm afraid that the public sentiment will be in disarray.

It is because you failed to assist the King and manage the state affairs properly.

Thus, I want to console the sorrows of the people.

To face the people after a long time,

and show the Royal family is alive and well... What is wrong with it?

Laudable are your favors toward the people, however,

the outside of the palace is infested with wicked throngs.

This humble servant is only concerned about your safety.

You are concerned about this old woman?

The Left State Councilor of all people?

You are the eldest person in this nation.

If one in million, a mishap befalls on Your Highness,

the foundation of Joseon will be shaken.

But there's you, Councilor.

The whole world is under your power!

That is absurd.

Your humble servant serves this nation with absolute fidelity.

Please be understanding.

His Majesty the King gave word that he would follow the wish of his lieges.

The King said that?

Nonetheless, if your will is determined,

this servant will submit to the punishment for being disloyal.

Please punish this servant with death as well!

Punish me with death!

But what if you incur their hatred?

You know we have barely sustained our lives until now.

Why all of a sudden...?

Where have you been?

Father, I will not go to school again. So, please Father,...

Father. Father!

Stand up.

From now on,

read this book.

Isn't this the Imperial Reading?

How could I dare to read the text for kings?

From now on, you should not neglect your study.

Except when you sleep and eat, don't let this book out of your hands.

Do you understand?

You will meet the eldest person soon.

Behave with decency

and learn the forms of propriety.

Lady Young Rae's mother has beriberi?

Yes.

From old days, it was recommended to quit white rice

...and eat brown rice, barley, and beans for beriberi.

That's right.

When you eat polished white rice,

you're eating rice bran with depleted vitamin B1,

so you should eat food rich in vitamin B1.

Right, vita... I don't know it well but,

I know exactly the cure for beriberi.

If she even has heart failure from beriberi,

she needs to eat decocted mixture of cunninghamia,

areca, betel nuts, and orange peel.

But the problem is she's lost appetite and eats nothing.

That's a real problem.

In fact, food is the best medicine for this disease.

One premier chef rather than a hundred great physicians can cure it.

I know.

She should eat something anyways.

It's rather an illness of the mind that came

...from Lady Young Rae's broken nuptials.

I pray in the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Mother Mary, please protect my son Myeong Bok.

Amen.

Did you see the Queen Dowager's face?

Her face was purple with rage!

Birthday banquet for the clawless tiger? No way.

We decide whether to throw a party or not.

Anyways, she must be extremely frustrated since it was cancelled.

Lower your voice.

There are listening ears.

You are right.

Walls have ears in the courtesan house.

But at least I know how to value my precious life.

I will not tell anyone what I heard here. Please don't worry.

Councilor! Councilor!

Why do you want to kill this worthless royal kinsman?

What are you talking about?

The other day some thugs attempted to kill me.

I fortunately escaped death but the thugs gave me...

the name of your first son!

Hey, Prince Heung Seon.

Is it because of a banquet?

I only suggested it for the Queen Dowager who's confined in the palace.

If there's a misunderstanding, we should resolve it!

Please, Councilor, please let me sustain this humble life!

Don't talk nonsense. Why would I harm you?

What's so big deal about banquet?

So it's not a big deal. Right, you are right.

Now I am relieved of great anxiety.

I know you are not a person to draw a sword to remove this yellow dog.

Then, I'll report to the police to find the criminal.

He who dared to entrap the State Councilor and his son

and attempted to kill a royal kinsman.

Attempting to murder a royal kinsmen is a crime as grave as lese-majesty.

You know that, don't you?

Then I'll get down to the preparation of banquet as smooth as possible.

I'm sure the Queen Dowager will highly praise your generosity.

Miss.

Where have been all night? I was worried about you.

I'm sorry. It was because of me.

I did wrong to my mother, so I should receive due punishment.

There must be a way to help her regain her appetite.

I wish that too.

Does she care for any particular food?

Sweet food.

She likes sweet food very much.

Oh, sweet food?

She prefers snacks to her meals.

When new cookies appear in the market, she always buys and tastes them.

I see. So she likes snacks.

Oh, she's interested in something new?

I brought everything you told me to prepare.

What are you going to make this time?

A new medicine?

Kind of. It's something good for beriberi.

A medicine for beriberi? How do we make it?

I'll help you. Just tell me how.

I'm not sure if it'll come out well.

It's something someone I know made for me long time ago.

Don't be moved to tears.

I'll make you an incredible snack.

Mina, let's just buy it.

You just assist me till I'm done.

First,crush brown rice and beans good for beriberi,

Add sesame oil and brown sugar and mix it well.

Tada! Isn't it cute?

It's odd in shape.

Medicine? This? It's just oil-and-honey pastry.

I'm not sure if it suits your mother's taste.

It's delicious.

Let me taste it.

Try some.

It's okay.

I'm not a little kid craving for snacks.

What's this in front of the great doctor in Joseon?

Stop eating. You're not a little kid.

This is a medicine. A medicine.

By the way, what's the name of this snack?

It's called "donut."

Donut?

Father, are you really going to let him proceed with a banquet?

Why don't we eliminate the source of trouble?

Although I failed the other day,

this time, I will definitely have him kick the bucket!

What are you?

Pardon me?

Are you my first son or a rowdy on the street?

How could you utter such careless and crude words?

Kick the bucket?

They say, leave a person a loophole.

If you act rashly, you can meet disaster.

You may leave.

So you arrested a few suspects of Mumyonggye?

They didn't admit it yet.

We're still under investigation.

They wouldn't confess easily.

Decapitate them and hang their heads to tighten discipline.

Yes.

You are going too far, not knowing your place.

Why?

You think you can become the chief commander?

That wouldn't be impossible with me.

An illegitimate offspring.

And you are no better than this illegitimate offspring,

causing so much anxiety to His Excellency.

What?

How dare you!

The blood of His Excellency runs in my veins as well.

I will not let anybody walk over me anymore.

How dare you.

You must have lost your head because of that woman.

You think I don't know?

Mother, please taste this cookie.

I have no appetite.

I found something new in the market so I bought it for you.

Please try this, Mother.

No thank you.

Please try some.

Mother, I'll leave it here.

How did it go?

After having a bite, she's enjoying it.

Really?

Yes. I think it suits her taste.

That's good. I'll make her more.

Don't tell her I made it.

Young Rae.

She will understand you someday.

How come the two were caught in a police check?

They are arresting anyone suspicious at random.

The police are desperate.

I'm sure they're targeting us.

I'm concerned about our comrades under arrest.

We should do something.

What are you doing? Put the money.

Put the money.

A government job!

Can't believe this man of the back alley got a government position.

You'll need a government title to do the job.

Although it's the lowest position, if you take charge of it,

I'm sure you can manage the work of a higher position.

I reported this to the Queen Dowager.

Sir, I am a man of loyalty. If you command,

I will even go into the fire.

Sure you should.

Can I try it on now?

Go ahead.

Gae Bok! Gae Bok!

Will you really hold a banquet?

They say a job half-done is worse than not starting.

Since I started this, I'll see it through.

Sir.

In fact, I have some favors to ask of you.

Sit down.

On the day of the banquet,

the Left State Councilor and his party may try to do something.

Lie in ambush around the banquet place just in case, and...

A few of my comrades are in fetters.

Please send in a petition to your Queen Dowager for their lives.

I'm sorry to hear that but I can't.

There is an order to everything.

Banquet comes first.

It may come first to you, but to me,

my comrades come first.

Scholar Hong.

If you cannot help them,

I cannot help you, either.

Scholar Hong!

Make way.

Work hard.

Gae Bok, is everything going well?

Are you guys working hard?

Yes.

By the way, you called me Gae Bok? There are my employees.

I need to save face.

Look at you. You're acting like an aristocrat with your minor job.

What about you?

You only got the lowest position, but the way I see you walk,

you strut as if you were a minister.

So how do I look?

With my good figure, I'm quite stylish, right?

How do I look?

Stylish?

You look like a boar in a clown suit.

Hey.

You are envious of me, aren't you?

What?

Me, envious of you?

Nope, never.

Hey, Joo Pal.

No. Mister Shim.

Yes, sir. I'm here to obey.

You should gather people as many as possible.

A party should be boisterous with party guests.

Don't worry about that.

If I drag the people who owe me money, I can fill this place.

Oh! We practiced this chant too.

Hurray for the Queen Dowager!

Hurray!

Then I'll go gather party guests.

Okay.

You!

Can you walk on tightrope?

Sure.

Thanks to Doctor Jin, now I feel wonderfully light.

Still you should be careful.

Or the area you had surgery can get infected.

Okay.

You should come that day too.

Sorry?

The thread follows the needle.

Where I go, you should go there, too.

Oh.

Sir.

What is that?

Would you like to taste one?

This is a medicine made at the infirmary.

Medicine?

I've never tasted such a delicious medicine before.

We made it for the cure of beriberi but because of its taste,

everybody wants it whether they are sick or not.

So it is tasty and good for the body?

Then we might want to present it to the Queen Dowager that day.

This is a cookie Doctor Jin made.

They say it's good for beriberi.

So?

I was told that the banquet thing weighed heavy on your mind.

To you, Prince Heung Seon is a nuisance

and to me, Doctor Jin is a corn on my sole.

Join the flats.

What is it you are trying to say?

I heard they will present this cookie to the Queen Dowager.

Looks delicious...

Don't you think she will like it as well?

How long are we going to take it lying down?

We can't put up with them anymore.

At least for the sake of revenge of our comrades' death,

we shouldn't leave the Left State Councilor alone.

We should get rid of him on the day of the banquet.

Right.

If we just keep biding our time, we'll go down before that.

Are you telling me to kill the father of my best friend?

We stole the wealth from aristocrats in power for the hungry people...

and now what's left for us to take is their lives.

First, the life of the Left State Councilor.

Tomorrow, the Queen Dowager and royal court members will attend the banquet.

There's a possibility of provocation by the Mumyonggye.

Heighten the security around the banquet place.

You got that?

Yes!

Let's go.

Kyung Tak.

Tonight,

I came as your friend not as Young Rae's brother.

My sister...

I don't want to talk about it.

Okay.

It's regrettable that things became like this.

Our tie is quite unfortunate.

In a way, the two families are enemies but...

we became friends and could've almost become in-laws.

I know very well that you don't like my family,

but no matter what, the Councilor gave me life.

Anyone who tries to dishonor him, I will not forgive.

It would've been better if we were strangers.

But please never forget this.

To me, you were...

always too good of a friend and I'm thankful for that.

Did something happened to you?

I'm sorry.

Young Hwi!

You came back from home?

Yes.

My mother is doing much better now.

That's good.

Thank you.

I feel beholden to you all the time.

Not at all.

By the way,is "donut" a snack in the future you came from?

Yes.

Then someone who made it for you must be her, Mina.

You must've been very close with her.

I guess you miss her.

That's why I must go back.

Uh oh. I guess I disturbed you.

I heard you would make it a big party.

I can't make it shabby since it's an occasion for the Queen Dowager.

These are donuts to present.

Doctor Hur made it himself.

Thank you.

I'll hand it over to the royal kitchen tomorrow.

Lady Young Rae.

Yes, coming.

He's a smart boy. I'm sure the Queen Dowager will adore him.

I'll take your word for it.

Today of all days, I'm reminded of our encounter.

Get him! Get him!

Am I crawling? I'm rushing now!

I'm a kinsman of the Royal family.

Calm down! Don't go there.

Had it not been for you,

I wouldn't have experienced all those things.

Maybe, I wouldn't even be able to prepare a banquet tomorrow,

and would be still soaked in drink at the marketplace.

To your eyes,

do I still look like a yellow dog?

What are you talking about?

In fact, you are very different from your first impression.

And different from my prejudice.

Maybe she was right.

What do you mean?

I'm just reminded of a conversation I had with someone.

A true reformer? Prince Heung Seon?

He's the enemy of Modernization.

That's how people think of him but they're missing the point.

He saved the people from the 60 year political reign of the Kims of Andong,

and tried to rebuild Joseon. That's Prince Heung Seon.

Anyways, tomorrow is the banquet.

Now is the beginning.

I will surely reform this nation, Joseon.

I will relieve the people under oppression.

Please do that.

That's how you can make the history and the future everybody dreams of.

History everybody dreams of.

Thank you. Enjoy the food.

Once the banquet begins, all eyes will turn to the stage.

I'll take up my position in the meanwhile.

I put poison on the tips of the arrows.

I must succeed on the first shot.

There will be no second chance.

If I fail, attack the Councilor on the retreat.

Yes.

After sending him to the next world, we shall meet again there.

Here comes the Queen Dowager!

Vox populi, vox Dei. The voice of the people, the voice of Heaven.

The reason why I hold this banquet in this difficult time

is to comfort my people, not to show off luxuries of the Royal family.

Thus, forget all about my birthday

and enjoy the day!

Long live the Queen Dowager!

Hurray for the Queen Dowager!

Hurray!

Hey!

Who are you?

You don't look familiar.

We came from the East Police Bureau.

Then you should patrol across the street.

Why are you here?

Move the bodies and secure the retreat.

Yes.

Where are the guards in charge of this area?

Search!

Yes!

What is this?

This is the gift presented by the public infirmary.

The Queen Dowager allowed it.

Is this the cookie made in the public infirmary?

It is.

It is not only tasty but also good for the body. It's food medicine!

Good.

Huh?

Your man over there,

what if he falls?

Seems he's fully recovered, huh?

My mother can't even come to see this.

I'm such a bad daughter.

She's getting better. She'll recover soon.

Don't worry.

Commander!

It's Mumyonggye! Chase him!

Good.

Pay your respects.

Your Highness,this is my second son, Myeong Bok.

Your Highness, I offer my hearty congratulations on your birthday.

It's so admirable of you.

What book do you read?

I am reading the Great Learning.

You are making a rapid progress in your study.

You have a brilliant son.

Inscrutable are your favors.

I wish the King had a son like him.

Then there would be no anxiety in the Royal family.

Since Your Highness is deep in anxiety, Heaven will grant your wish.

Why don't you taste this?

Your Highness!

Your Highness, you did not taste it yet.

It is against etiquette to let a junior taste it before you do.

I always eat tasty food. Etiquette is not important here.

Take it.

I'm overwhelmed in your grace, Your Highness.

It's really delicious, Your Highness!

Really? Have more. Here.

Take this. Here.

Inscrutable are your favors.

Good.

I see a bug on this happy occasion.

I remember your swordsmanship.

You can't escape this time.

Attack them.

Get them!

Sir, leave here to us and escape quickly.

But...

Please avenge our death.

I told you, you will not escape this time.

Why do you keep defending?

I know you attempted to take the Left State Councilor's life.

I will never let you escape alive.

You...

How come you are...

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Restrict access.

Royal Physician! Royal Physician!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, how do you feel?

I feel pain as if my stomach is burning.

It's poison.

I think she ate arsenic.

What? Arsenic?

How could it happen?

Give her oil and bring me alum powder.

There are eyes. We'd better take her to a private residence. Hurry!

Isn't your residence in the back?

Right. Let's take her there. This way, please.

Come here!

Your Highness.

Take her inside.

Yes. Hurry up.

Your Highness!

Your Highness.

Your Highness...

Sir!

Doctor Jin!

What happened?

The Queen Dowager took poison, arsenic!

What?

How much? Is she in a critical condition?

I have no idea.

The Royal Physician said he'd take care of her.

Miss, can you go get something from the infirmary?

Okay. What do you need?

Your Highness...Your Highness...

Please come to consciousness, Your Highness.

Professor Lee, how is the Queen Dowager?

The Royal Physician is examining her.

Isn't alum powder ready?

Excuse me.

What brought you here?

If she is seriously poisoned with arsenic, that method won't work.

What?

To detoxify arsenic,

you should prescribe oil and then alum power in water for the prompt effect.

Yes, that's right. But,

if she's heavily poisoned,

it's better to do gastric lavage.

Gastic lavage?

It is emptying the stomach and taking poison out of the body.

Don't be presumptuous. He is the Royal Physician.

How dare you, a mere doctor of the public infirmary.

Be quiet.

The Queen Dowager is in serious condition. Stop the argument.

Royal Physician, please hurry.

Yes.

Stop!

We should listen to Doctor Jin.

Prince Heung Seon!

Don't you know the seriousness of this situation?

I do.

That's why I'm saying we should listen to Doctor Jin.

You yourself were saved by his medicine, weren't you?

But if a mishap befalls on the Queen Dowager,

how will you take the responsibility?

Even if it means I have to die a horrible death,

I will take the responsibility.

I admire your spirit, Prince Heung Seon.

And I know Doctor Jin is an excellent doctor.

But the national law prohibits non-royal physicians

...from laying their hands on the Royal Family.

That's right.

The Royal Physician can do it himself.

Following my instruction, he can do it himself.

Then there will be no problem. Don't you think so?

She needs prompt treatment. Please hurry!

Free the way.

The life of the Queen Dowager depends on this.

Your Highness.

Your Royal Highness.

Your Highness. Your Highness.

Calm down.

Why do we laying her down on the elevated position?

It's to use pressure difference to empty her stomach.

Lay her on her left and bend her knees.

This position strains the abdominal wall.

Alright, just tell me the direction.

Hold on.

Put a pillow under the legs and another under the head.

Her head should be a bit lowered so the gastric contents

...can't run to the duodenum.

Do as he tells you.

The Queen Dowager's height is approximately 160 cm.

The tube length should be 59~60 cm to reach 5 cm inside of the stomach.

Now what should I do?

Insert the tube into her to the marked point.

Don't force. Insert it slowly.

You are doing good.

Smoothly. To the marked point.

Now, connect the syringe.

Yes.

Before we inject lavage fluid, we'll remove the gastric contents.

Pump it up slowly.

It smells garlicky. You're right, it's arsenic.

I told you it is arsenic.

Is the lavage fluid ready?

Did you say it should be a little higher than her temperature?

Yes.

I think it's ready.

Now, instill the lavage fluid.

One dosage should be 1~1.5 hops. Let it flow in slowly.

Why is it so complicated?

Little by little, please.

If you pour in at once, she could throw it up.

Now, turn the funnel upside down.

Repeat the process till the fluid becomes transparent.

I saw his face. He was...

This is why I am called a greenhorn.

Maybe I am second to none in empty talk in Joseon.

Now it is clear.

Feel the area around her stomach to see if it's emptied.

It is emptied.

Now, please help her to sit up.

Sit her reclined to avoid vomiting.

Be careful.

Your Highness, can you hear me?

You've borne it well.

It's finished now.

We need to detoxify your body with charcoal water.

Can you swallow it?

The charcoal water will pass out naturally.

Take out the tube.

You did a good job.

I am so embarrased.

Was I saved?

Yes, Your Highness.

Your body has been detoxified.

Your Highness,

the grace of Heaven was with you.

This disloyal servant deserves death, Your Highness!

We deserve death, Your Highness!

We deserve death!

Submit to arrest!

What is this you are doing?

Back off now!

They are criminals of high treason to assassinate the Queen Dowager.

What?

But you saw it with your own eyes.

It was Doctor Jin who saved her life.

I guess he resorted to petty tricks.

Maybe he had her take poison and then detoxified her quickly,

so he could be acknowledged as a good doctor.

Nonsense.

What the Queen Dowager ate during the banquet is...

only this cookie you made.

Isn't this substantive evidence?

Take them!

Yes!

Wait.

Wait! It's a misunderstanding.

That's impossible.

A court lady tasted the cookie and my son also ate it,

but they both had no problem.

How it harmed the Queen Dowager,

we will find out at the police court.

It's a trap. A vicious trap.

Please sit down.

They tied up Doctor Jin and even Lady Young Rae and took them.

How can I just sit on my hands?

They might have aimed you.

You won the Queen Dowager's confidence

and held the banquet to show off the dignity of the Royal family.

You thought they would leave you alone?

Yet they couldn't dare to harm the Queen Dowager.

They are as desperate as you are,

because in this fight, the loser will lose everything.

I must get Doctor Jin and Lady Young Rae out of jail.

Locked up in prison?

I'll ask Joo Pal and Scholar Hong to break the prison.

You didn't know yet?

The police wiped out the Mumyonggye.

It seems Scholar Hong alone escaped.

You might want to hide out for the time being.

I will look for a hideout for you.

Far from it!

When Doctor Jin suffers hardships because of me, how can I hide myself?

I will clear him of false accusation first.

But there is no way.

There is a sword.

Sword?

A double-edged sword that can slay either me or others.

There should be no mistake, even the slightest one.

My Lord.

What is it?

I'd like to report on the Mumyonggye I subdued.

I'm not feeling well today.

Report me on another day.

What a lucky man you are.

You almost became the husband of a traitor.

Stop that idle talk and let's just go.

Wait.

What do you mean?

Are you deaf in one ear?

Your betrothed attempted to poison the Queen Dowager to death.

Miss. Miss!

Please stop!

Stop.

I'll ask you again.

Why did you attempt to assassinate the Queen Dowager?

I've never attempted it. Why would I do that?

Arsenic was found in the cookies you presented!

Yet, you're denying it?

No. It's not me. It's not me!

We were falsely charged.

Then did someone instigate you?

What?

If you give me his name, you will be set free.

Who instigated you?

Isn't it....

Prince Heung Seon who told you to do that?

Who the heck are you...?

Prince Heung Seon incited you, didn't he?

No, he didn't. He never incited us. No.

A woman has better judgment than a man.

It would be easier for you to confess to me than to the hot iron.

No.

She is innocent!

Prince Heung Seon told us to do it,

will be enough.

From the Southern faction...

and from my father...

Is this how you extracted confession?

What?

I will receive punishment if I am guilty.

However,

I can't make a false confession to save my life.

What an impudent wench!

Let's see if you can refuse to confess.

Stop. Please stop.

Please, stop. No. Stop.

Stop! Stop!

Miss... Miss.

Miss!

Subtitles by MBC

Your Highness, please listen to us.

What is wrong with showing the dignity of the Royal family?

This humble servant is only concerned about your safety.

This servant will submit to the punishment for being disloyal.

Where have you been?

Father, I will not go to school again.

From now on, you should not neglect your study. Do you understand?

This is for the sake of all the people, not just for myself.

Lady Younglae's mother has beriberi?

She's lost appetite and eats nothing.

It's a heartache that came from Lady Younglae's broken nuptials.

You are going too far, not knowing your place.

How dare you!

I will not let anybody walk over me anymore.

How dare you.

Take her inside. Hurry!

Your Highness...

Doctor Jin!

The Queen Dowager took poison, arsenic!