Original subtitles

(Children were filmed under production guidelines.)

(Animal scenes were directed and filmed...)

(under production guidelines along with animal experts.)

She left the house...

after receiving my letter?

I looked everywhere,

but Lady Sun Chaek is not at Cheonggye Stream.

I just so happened to be out running an errand for Lady Yoon.

Where in the world am I?

(Episode 9)

(The Wounded Things)

- Good grief. - My lord.

My dear Sun Chaek.

Do we still have no news about her?

No, not yet.

If anything happens to Sun Chaek,

I, too, will take my life that instant.

Do not say such a thing.

This is not the time for that.

Listen well. Have all our servants look around.

You three should also find...

a place where Sun Chaek might have gone.

- Yes, Mother. - Yes, my lady.

Let us go, my brothers.

- Hurry. Come with me. - Goodness.

- Get moving. - Sun Chaek...

Our Sun Chaek...

will come back to us soon.

Oh, Sun Chaek...

Come along.

We are looking for Lord Cha's daughter.

This way.

- Sun Chaek! - Sun Chaek!

Hey, you.

- Have you seen Sun Chaek? - Did you see anyone suspicious?

She is this tall and has a tiny face.

Did you see anyone suspicious?

Tell me if you see her.

Sun Chaek!

- Sun Chaek! - Sun Chaek!

- Sun Chaek! - Sun Chaek!

My lady!

Lady Sun Chaek!

My lady!

Lady Sun Chaek!

My lady...

My lady!

Search the place thoroughly!

- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!

What is going on?

The Chief State Councillor's daughter disappeared.

Everyone is looking for her.

Have you heard, my lady?

The Chief State Councillor's daughter disappeared.

Everyone's running around.

Help me.

Please help me! Someone!

It is useless.

No one can hear you or come to your rescue.

What do you want from me?

For you to die in agony.

That is what that person wants.

Darn it.

You squirmy thing.

You had better stop right now.

For whose sake?

You are only hastening your own death.

My life...

is already in the hands of another.

Who told you to do this?

Someone high up...

desperately wants you gone.

Whoever that may be,

Lord Lee Bun will take action.

Lord Lee will definitely find me.

Lord Lee might be able to.

But even if he were fortunate enough to find you,

it would be long after you die.

- Nothing yet? - I apologise.

We sent out all the guards to search,

as you commanded.

What about the servant who delivered the fake letter?

We raided his home,

but he had already fled.

If we have no clues, we must find a witness.

Yes, my lord.

Wait!

Okay, fine. I will die.

I will die for you.

I am too tired to go on like this.

What are you plotting?

I am not plotting.

I want to die pretty.

I do not want to be bludgeoned to death by a huge hammer.

I am the Chief State Councillor's only daughter.

I want my end to be beautiful.

If you must kill me anyway,

can you not do that for me?

So what?

How do you wish to die?

Well...

So...

How I want to die...

Did you think you could dupe me?

What happened?

Lady Sun Chaek disappeared?

Where did she vanish to?

Lord Lee Bun, you are quite powerful.

My word.

To make a whole mess of the capital...

because of your missing betrothed.

What a tearful love you have.

You look like you want to punch me.

I could do even worse.

You took the lives of others as if they were nothing but flies.

Yet you value the life of your betrothed.

It is not the time for this.

We found a witness who saw her by Cheonggye Stream.

Where is the witness now?

Over here.

Come along.

I gather wild ginseng.

On a path that leads from the mountain down here,

I think I saw an unfamiliar palanquin.

An unfamiliar palanquin?

When was that?

That was about an hour ago.

They cannot have gone much further.

Gosh.

You will not die a pretty death.

Do not kill him.

My lady!

My lady.

- My lady. - My lady.

Are you all right?

Are you okay, my lady?

Oh, no.

My lady.

Stay with me.

- Bring him along. - Yes, sir.

My lady.

Cha Sun Chaek.

This will not do.

My lady.

Could he be...

It cannot be.

- Sun Chaek! - Sun Chaek!

Come on. This way.

- What on earth happened? - Sun Chaek!

Is she all right? Goodness me.

- Sun Chaek, my goodness. - Should I get the royal physician?

- Goodness. - My gosh.

Oh, dear.

What on earth happened?

Though her pulse is erratic from the shock,

she appears to be sleeping deeply.

- I see. - Our Sun Chaek...

It seems like she needs to rest,

so let us leave her be.

Go on.

Are you leaving?

It is late into the night, so I should...

You should rest here for the night.

But before you do,

may I offer you a nightcap?

This must be uncomfortable for you.

Hardly.

Given the shock,

I doubt I will be able to sleep,

so I will have a drink first.

Right.

This is authentic wild ginseng wine...

that has been in the family for generations.

Goodness me.

Here.

Thank you, Lord Lee,

for bringing Sun Chaek home to me.

You will understand this once you marry and have children.

The feeling that someone else matters more than yourself.

Should you defeat me today,

I will consent to your marriage with her.

Do you honestly believe you can beat me?

Of course, I would...

lose.

I suggested this knowing that I would.

I see you cannot read between the lines.

Let this drink wash away...

the pain that was inflicted.

The harsh words...

that pierced your heart came from me...

as Sun Chaek's father,

not as the Chief State Councillor.

You will understand my actions one day,

when you have a daughter of your own.

Please do right by Sun Chaek.

You promised to keep her safe,

and you proved you are a man of your word.

As you have today,

please continue to keep her safe.

I will honour that promise,

even beyond death.

Let us drink, then.

This authentic wild ginseng wine.

Who gave the order?

Telling me right now...

is your best option.

This means there are countless people...

who want to see you bleed.

Did you get the note I sent?

They killed his whole family, and now they are exiling the poor boy.

- Tell me about it. - That poor boy.

Must they be this harsh?

- I could ask the same thing. - That poor boy.

- How could they? - Goodness me.

That poor thing.

He is the only one left in his whole family.

- Goodness. - Is that true?

- Oh, dear. - What did he even do?

The living should be allowed to live.

That poor boy.

Cha Sun Chaek!

Lord Lee...

Cha Sun Chaek!

Why are you breaking out in a cold sweat?

Did you have a bad dream?

Is it not too early for this?

I thought I had lost you again.

I have been through a lot lately,

and it taught me how to defend myself.

It was all my fault.

How could this be your fault?

My enemies could pose a threat to you,

and my misfortune could impact your life too.

It was the first time I realised it.

My love for you...

might be selfish after all.

Lord Lee, when did you become so fragile?

Those in love...

should face joy and sadness...

side by side.

If I could bear some of your misfortune,

that would be my happiness.

If your misfortune touches me,

then my fortune will reach you.

Chief State Councillor Cha...

I mean, Father gave us his blessing.

Really?

You did it, Lord Lee!

I told you, did I not?

Keep trusting your luck to me,

Cha Sun Chaek. All right?

Oh, right.

Oh, my.

I thought I had lost it.

True to its name, it brought us back together.

I promise never to lose it.

It was scary to see what I'd read in the novel...

happening right in front of me.

Do not kill him.

But...

I want Lord Lee to stop hurting others.

Even if he's doing it to protect me,

he must stop.

Did you know there was chaos last night?

Was it the Do clan?

To be precise, it was probably Lady Do Hwa Sun.

I knew it.

In Hanyang, she is the only one who could have done it.

Lady Do Hwa Sun.

She was deeply fascinated with Lord Lee.

Was that rumour real?

- Yes. - No wonder she had gone that far.

- Here comes Lady Do. - Good grief.

- There she is. - Oh, gosh.

Are the people talking about me?

Exactly.

What? I kidnapped Cha Sun Chaek?

Why am I blamed for everything that happens to her?

Were you behind it?

Father.

I asked if you were behind it.

No, Father.

Then who was it?

Why are you asking me that?

It was not me.

Are you even fooling me now?

I really am innocent.

Upon hearing what had happened,

even I thought I was the mastermind behind it.

What was that?

I am just saying it.

I am truly not the culprit, Father.

It is a misunderstanding.

Stay at the temple for the time being.

- Excuse me? - It is best that...

you keep a low profile until things calm down.

But I swear it was not me.

I have my limits, even with you, my daughter. Understood?

He has not spoken a word yet.

To copy my handwriting.

What a skilled person.

Who was it?

Confess,

and I will spare your life.

I promise.

My lord is offering you mercy.

Come clean, and save your life.

Lose this chance to confess,

and I will have you taste the most horrible pain...

in the world.

My lord.

My lady.

Are you here again to see me today?

There was a commotion in the city last night.

Oh, you must be talking about the incident with Lady Sun Chaek.

Have you also heard about it?

Of course.

It left me deeply shocked.

She is not badly hurt, is she?

Hearing the news...

kept me up all night with worry.

Who could have done such an atrocious thing?

Has the culprit...

been caught?

The culprit...

was arrested at the scene.

Lord Lee has him tied up...

and is interrogating him about the mastermind.

What a relief.

Does that mastermind have a name yet?

There is a suspect.

But the true culprit has yet to be caught.

Lord Lee...

will surely find out who did it.

Do you have something to tell me?

No, I do not.

Did I get in the way of your busy day?

No.

I have put off all my work related to the guild today.

My plan is to visit Lady Sun Chaek with some refreshments and tea.

"Lady Sun Chaek?"

Yes.

I would like to comfort her.

Would you like to join me?

Please wait here as I go and get the refreshments...

for Lady Sun Chaek.

I brewed the tea myself.

Thank you.

Please take your time.

Lady Eun Ae is far too sweet.

I must have been deluded.

So this is where Lady Eun Ae works.

As expected,

the room is relaxing, tidy, and clean,

just like...

My lord.

I am ready to leave...

(Be at Cheonggye Stream, where we first met.)

Judging by how perfectly they copied my handwriting,

they must know me very well.

Who could it be?

It is a special paper made...

using the doc him technique,

which removes moisture and mixes impurities.

To use such a technique.

It can only be The Black Gang, no?

But it is different from the incidents caused by them so far.

I must find where this was distributed first.

- I am still in disbelief. - Oh, dear.

- My lady. - I hope she gets better soon.

- What in the world happened? - If only we could prepare food...

- she could eat. - When will she wake up?

But we know so little about what happened.

I am heartbroken.

The doctor should still examine her.

These symptoms result from physical and mental weakness,

along with qi stagnation and blood stasis.

She must get absolute rest for a while.

Make sure she takes her medicine on time.

- I will. - Okay. Thank you.

Thank you for checking on her.

I will see him out. Stay here.

My lady. Lady Eun Ae is here to see you.

My lady.

Lady Eun Ae.

You are safe.

Were you hurt?

You were kidnapped?

I was so shocked, I could barely sleep.

Thank you for your concern.

I will protect you with all my might.

I brought some tea that will help you relax.

Brew the tea.

Pardon?

Oh, sure.

You were hurt.

Just a moment.

I brought an ointment to speed healing.

Do not fall in love with me.

Do you know...

what happened to the man who kidnapped you?

Lord Lee got him,

but I have not heard anything since.

Could someone else be behind it?

Everyone is talking already.

There could be only one person...

who would do such a thing.

Do you mean Do Hwa Sun?

Yes. Be sure to condemn her...

so she cannot deny it.

Oh, how about handing him over to the State Tribunal?

Lord Lee is more ferocious than the State Tribunal.

Lady Eun Ae.

Why do you seem more angry than I am?

What happened to you...

might as well have happened to me.

The special paper...

is manufactured in only one place.

Can you help me?

That special paper...

was offered as a gift to a neighbouring nation last year.

We did not make any more since then.

Is that so?

Recently,

quite a few people have been requesting that paper.

Someone else was here?

Not long ago,

people from the biggest guild in Hanyang came by.

Cho Byung Moo's guild?

Someone who used to work there...

worked here as well.

There was a stack of this special paper in his room.

Cho Byung Moo's guild bought the whole lot.

Cho Byung Moo's guild...

My lord.

You are to come to the Palace immediately.

Thank you.

Goodness.

I have not yet...

received the acknowledgement from our neighbouring nation.

What do you think...

the reason could be?

I am sorry to say...

It is fine. Speak freely.

Everything...

- is a deal, Your Majesty. - "A deal?"

The neighbouring emperor does not care about us at all.

You cannot get what you want...

from one who does not care.

I believe you need bait that will make him interested.

If you feel uncomfortable...

No. I do not.

No one...

told me such things until now.

"The people come first."

What the emperor thinks is important,

but I believe our people should come first.

That is such an obvious remark.

What the people want is not visible to the eye,

and moves freely in the wind.

Once a path is set out,

they are bound to follow.

You speak as if you have a good idea.

So,

did you say "bait?"

With your permission,

I will see what I can do to help.

Did you rescue your betrothed?

Why are you glaring?

It looks as if...

you think I were the one who harmed her.

Your Majesty. Lord Lee Bun is here.

Let him in.

I heard there was a commotion last night.

You summoned all the guards in the Capital?

I apologise, Your Majesty.

Was it about the Black Gang?

Or...

did you use the guards...

to find your betrothed?

I make no excuse on the matter.

I did give you...

the authority to take command of the guards in an emergency.

But you used them for a personal mission.

Do you believe you are the king?

That is not at all true.

The old proverbs are always right.

It is darkest under the lamp.

Right under my nose...

is a man planning a revolt.

My loyalty is to you and you alone.

Please forgive me.

I will accept any punishment.

You will accept any punishment?

Anything I say?

Please spare our lives.

I will do anything you say, Uncle.

Anything I say?

Can you wield this sword on my behalf?

That is a hit list.

Your unwavering loyalty for me.

Prove it.

Leave now...

and you should arrive in the morning.

Handle it immediately.

I did not say a word.

Do not worry.

Next time,

I will succeed.

You are badly hurt.

Take this.

I do not...

need anything.

You showed me...

great favour when I did not deserve it.

I did this to repay your kindness.

Still, take it.

You must find a safe place.

Otherwise, there will not be a next time.

Once again,

you are showing your kindness even to someone like me.

Someone could burst in at any moment,

so you need to get to safety.

Will I get to see you again?

As long as we both live,

our paths are bound to cross.

Until now, I have made it this far on my own.

Actually, she was adopted,

but there is talk that she sleeps in the master bedroom.

My gosh.

You must also dislike me too.

I am sorry I spoke out of place.

I should have known better than to ask you to be my friend.

I shall excuse myself now, Lady Hwa Sun.

My name...

is not Do Hwa Sun.

It is Cho Eun Ae.

Lady Eun Ae?

Was she not quarantined with the plague?

Goodness. My lady.

In this world, nothing is set in stone.

- Your Highness. - Massage her legs harder.

- Keep at it. - Harder.

- Your Highness? - Your Highness!

What?

Nothing is going right because of you, Cha Sun Chaek.

A title of nobility can be bought,

but I see it cannot alter one's fate.

Fates are meant to be rewritten.

An orphan who lived on the streets...

expanded the guild business and is now a noble by title.

This is far from enough...

to satisfy me.

I will personally eliminate anyone who stands in my way.

You could not even complete a simple task.

How pathetic.

Goodness me.

I must have seen what I was not supposed to see.

You...

It was a valiant attempt,

but you still have much to learn.

You missed the jugular.

So tell me.

How about it?

Should I wrap this up for you?

Do not worry.

Your secret is safe with me.

What do you want from me?

Kindred spirits tend to recognise one another.

It could be...

that we share the same goal.

Do you not want to change the world as well?

What do you mean by that?

You can drop the awkward act around me.

Any smart person...

would have understood what I meant.

I would rather we not waste each other's time.

Are you willing to join me?

Mother.

How about this?

- That is nice. I love it. - Right.

That is stunning.

Mother, what is that?

Although the help can handle everything else,

I wanted to embroider the lovebirds myself.

How come you kept these talents hidden?

It is more accurate to say I never had the chance to flaunt them.

Your grandmother herself embroidered...

a decoration for me too.

I am sure it was to wish you a happy marriage.

You must have been happier after marriage.

Marriage...

does not guarantee happiness.

- Pardon? - A marriage...

means building a new future together...

with your husband and children,

despite the occasional hardships.

Happiness arises from that journey.

Nothing is ever set in stone.

I see. Then,

what matters is how Lord Lee and I work together.

I want to create a happy life for Lord Lee.

How do I make it happen?

Sun Chaek, you seem determined.

You will complete your bridal lessons in no time.

Bridal lessons?

To help you manage better than anyone else as a wife,

I will teach you all there is to know.

Brace yourself.

Mother, please.

But first, there is something I would like you to do.

What is it?

Is there a reason you are dredging up the past?

He is the prime minister most cherished by the former king.

From what I hear,

he is even more respected than the county magistrate.

It is time to eliminate future trouble.

Can I help you?

You are here by the King's order.

Is His Majesty...

ordering executions again?

All I do...

is follow his commands.

I will die as you wish.

But...

please spare me some time, Lord Lee.

You of all people know that is not an option.

My youngest daughter...

is getting married tomorrow.

It would not be fair...

to have her mourn me before her big day.

Please.

So this is the place.

In my family,

before the important event of marriage,

we always offer a devout prayer at the temple.

With all your heart, go offer a prayer for your wedding...

with Lord Lee to be flawless.

My lady.

While you pray,

I will run an errand for Lady Yoon.

Go ahead.

All right.

Let's think of it as a temple stay.

(Daeungjeon Hall)

Wait. Isn't that Lord Lee Kyu?

Why is he standing over there, getting drenched in rain?

What are you doing here?

You will catch a cold. Come this way.

Come now.

See? You have already caught a cold.

Why did you let yourself get rained on like a fool?

Standing in the rain...

feels like my old wound is getting washed away.

Your wound?

Before leaving Hanyang, I held my parents' memorial service...

at this temple.

I was paying my respects to my parents after ten years away.

(Seol Sun Dang)

My apologies. I had no idea.

Do not worry about it.

Having you here makes it less lonely.

Are you truly all right?

Us being here...

reminds me of that time.

"That time?"

Remember when I rescued you after you fell...

in the library at my house?

But then we both fell, and you got hurt.

Where did you get hurt back then again?

Was it my head?

No.

Was it my leg?

Are you really Sun Chaek?

Well...

It was such a long time ago.

Your flustered eyes tell me...

you are Sun Chaek.

I was simply joking.

Gosh.

Down I go.

Gosh.

What are you doing?

I would like a nap.

I have not slept for three days, which has been tormenting.

It will be a short one.

Just until the rain stops.

Cha Sun Chaek and Lee Kyu must've been much closer than I imagined.

What now?

Are you awake now?

Look at this.

A puppy, is it not?

How adorable.

Where did you come from?

Looking lost and soaked from the rain,

I found him just up ahead.

This is bad.

It must have lost its mother.

I have no choice but to keep you.

I cannot possibly...

leave you behind.

How about you name it?

- Me? - Yes.

- Oh, my. - Unbelievable.

- Good grief. - It is a man. A man is dead.

- How could anyone die like that? - Oh, dear.

- How shocking. - What could have happened to him?

- What is going on? - I wonder too.

What is that?

- Let us go and have a look. - Yes.

He is not even covered.

- Good grief. - Just look at him.

It is Lady Sun Chaek.

- This is horrible. - Goodness gracious.

- How did this happen? - He bled heavily.

For such a young man to die.

I wish you had not seen that.

It is all right.

You are all right.

What are you two doing?

If it is not Lord Lee.

Over there.

It is the body of the unidentified man who kidnapped me.

Do not fret.

I am right here.

The Ministry of Justice surely exists in our country.

If you punish them all by yourself,

what is the use of the law?

- What? - It is Lord Lee.

- Was it Lord Lee's doing? - Did he do it?

- I knew it. - It was Lord Lee.

I should have guessed.

- Goodness. - How cruel of him.

- Gosh. - Do not look at him.

- How scary. - He punished that man?

Sun Chaek seems extremely shocked.

Please comfort her well.

I am fine now.

Thank you.

Lord Lee.

What Lord Lee Kyu...

said earlier.

Lord Lee Kyu.

Under any circumstances,

keep your distance from him.

He holds a grudge against me.

For what reason?

I no longer want you...

to make people resent you.

What do you mean by that?

I want you to stop killing people.

Could it be that...

you believe Lord Lee's words?

If it is not true, tell me.

Do you not trust me?

(The First Night with the Duke)

I have acquired a new card.

You claim to know everything about me,

yet you understand nothing.

Please explain to me...

so that I can understand.

Effective immediately, Lord Lee is dismissed from office.

Please execute...

Lord Lee at once.

A trace of the accomplice...

was found on the kidnapper's dead body.

Is this how you bare your claws?

Lord Lee will not return alive...

from the path he is taking.