Original subtitles

A pretty-looking rat lives on the mountain.

What a cute boy. So little.

How can I catch him when he's so pitiful?

Then let her go since she's not a boy.

You've got pride too, right?

Twisting a girl's wrist is a bit much.

- A girl? - Come, Tan.

Go at it with me instead.

Look here! What are you trying to do?

This is a wench?

So you're going to make yourself look cool?

That's how all the males work, isn't it? They can't help it when it comes to pretty women.

With just that one? Do you see the boys as just a folding screen (decoration)?

Of course. Since I only need to shoot one down.

Don't get involved and step away. Are you dying to die together?

No way. We are not in any relations to die together yet.

Are you nuts?

Can't be that you're actually going to shoot, right?

Yes, it's true.

He missed? Why this, wide off the mark!

Are you in your right mind? You can't even shoot an arrow properly, so why?

Over there! Are you pretty good at sprinting?

But why is there a strange noise coming from the forest?

What are you talking about?

What noise is that?

It's a boar!

It's a big one, right? Tan! Your gold toad is mine!

Crazy punk.

It's now! You're not going to run off?

Wait. I need to get something.

Those things!

Hey, catch! Catch them!

Move.

Timing and subtitles brought to you by The Guardians of Justice Team @ Viki

I'll lure them, so you pull out from the back.

You want me to flee alone? Are you joking right now?

I'm not sending you off because you're pretty.

It's because I'm curious about what's in there too.

No matter the reason, it seems both of us have that item as our goal.

We'll meet at the hour of pig (9 - 11 PM) at the gisaeng house by Gwangtong Bridge.

Can you deal with them all alone? Earlier, there.

Oh, thanks to you? Since you hit me so lightly.

When we were running earlier, it seemed like you were limping.

I wasn't, alright?!

But there's no way you're fine after getting hit by me.

- That should work better since your torso is more agile. - Torso?

Make sure you come at the hour of pig. I don't want to be the coward all alone.

Hey!

Chase him! Halt!

Prince!

Do you get it, Tan? This is always your problem.

That you don't know you're an idiot.

Prince Yeoning!

You dare to make my nose bleed?

To me, the next king, you dare?

His Majesty arrives.

Your Majesty.

They said it would be a sight since it's the hunting competition.

So that assurance was correct.

Indeed, it is the first spectacle of its kind in my life.

There must be a reason for it, Your Majesty.

- Y-Your Majesty, let me explain in detail. - No.

It can be known without hearing it, so why bother?

Was it you again?

Yes.

It's always you.

[Chapter 2: Your Name]

If you're born a male and you can't let your name be known to the world,

it's better to go and live in the mountains, he said.

What? That person placed first?

It's right at the top, clearly on the post.

That's what's more shocking than the fact that my name isn't there.

You not making it on the roster is a given, so that's not shocking.

But even so, you can't just pull off the exam poster.

He had the face of a pimp and reeked of alcohol too.

And even his brush was made of dog-hair.

So in the end, a man who possesses everything?

He is so slick-looking too.

He didn't just pass the exam either.

He placed first. What kind of a life is that?

Huh? Ah Bong!

Is he illegitimate? For a man of this skill to be a substitute test-taker is strange indeed.

It's not just strange, it's very suspicious.

But this Noh Tae Pyeong who hired him as his substitute has skipped town and left.

I said it's enough so why do you keep bringing me stuff?

Since this is all I can give you.

It's enough for last month's turf tax.

But if you give me just a few more days, I can somehow—

- The broth is fishy. - Pardon?

This is why your business isn't thriving.

You know the fish shop up front by the intersection, right?

Go and tell them Dal Moon sent you.

Then they will give you good anchovies without pulling the wool over your eyes.

Wait, then this?

If you give punks like me whatever they ask for, what are you going to eat to live?

You'll just die?

For the noodles.

But he made first place, so he'll show up, right?

- What if he doesn't show up? - Nothing we can do about it.

So I'm starting.

Hyung-nim Dal Moon. Oh, were you collecting money?

You see those two in front of the noodle shop, right?

Those two?

Find out what those items are about.

Yes.

His Excellency the Prime Minister arrives.

[Saheonbu] (Office of the Inspector General)

Is was you? The impertinent one who put up the fence of yadasi around my house?

Since you obstructed the investigation on Prince Milpoong, I had no other way.

Obstruction? When did I?

Your Excellency the Prime Minister.

I apologize for making you come all the way here, Your Excellency.

What is this humiliation on me!

Please come first. The inspector general is waiting.

That would pose as an issue. We need to investigate first—

So you drag out the prime minister after all?

How dare a meager inspector come forward here!

Please send him to the investigation room after half an hour.

Why this—

First, you need to escort the prime minister, Chief Inspector.

[Uigeumbu](Royal Investigation Bureau)

Since you're a prince, you think we'll cover it up.

If things get bigger, it'll only disgrace the royal family.[Prince Yeoning, Lee Geum]

You are not bold enough to touch the royal family.

Well, since we can understand each other's position, let's stop here.

What about the woman who disguised herself?

Who is that wench?

She disguised herself as a man and stole something from Prince Milpoong.

Even if we let you go because you're a prince, we must catch that wench.

It's better to just drop it.

If she is caught and opens her mouth, that will also disgrace the royal family.

What?

A strait-laced official like you wouldn't understand,

but if you play around like I do,

sometimes you face a turning point.

How should I say this?

Women... become a bit boring.

I do not understand what you are saying...

I'm saying that my eyes wander to the sex that is not woman.

As a member of the royal family, I shouldn't feel this way towards men.

You mean...

Yes, I had her dress that way.

By making her disguise herself as a man, I thought I could restrain my heart.

What?

Oh my, is my preference making you uncomfortable?

Now that I look at you, you look good in your uniform.

I like it.

This is Prince Yeoning's answer?

He did that because he desires men?

Immense regrets, Your Majesty.

Fool!

That fool.

Are you waiting for Prince Yeoning, Your Highness? [Prince Yeonryeong, Lee Hwon (Soron Faction)]

Minister of the Interior.

I understand that you must be worried.

Prince Yeoning, who is close to you, [Min Jin Heon (Minister of the Interior, Noron Faction)]

brought dishonor to Prince Milpoong.

Won't there be repercussions?

But isn't your side the ones making up the nonsense?

Like that our Royal Highness is trying to harm Prince Milpoong through Prince Yeoning.

Please lower your voice, Minister. We are in the royal palace.

Don't try to use what happened today as justification for a political battle.

In addition, Prince Yeoning is "His Highness" to you.

My older brother is not merely Prince Yeoning.

Indeed, your character is as straight as a carpenter's ink line, Your Highness.

I have always found that regretful.

What you find regretful is not very important to me.

It is so difficult for us to understand each other.

This is why it's difficult for us to work together,

since the king's way

cannot be walked alone.

Older Brother.

I've had dirty water thrown upon me since birth.

But you, because of me...

I am sorry.

It is not your fault, Older Brother.

Do not worry about it.

You should learn to blame others sometimes.

That's what politics is, and you lack too much political sense.

The Minister of the Interior, Min Jin Heon...

won't it be better for you to join him?

- Older Brother. - Hwon, politics is a fight for who has more people.

- In the end, the one who has more numbers— - That is disloyal.

There is already a crown prince.

You already know that seat will have to change its owner soon.

And if you lose that fight, what waits for you is death.

You know that, too.

Even so,

I can't go with the Noron Faction that pursues a one-party monopoly of power while ignoring the king's authority.

Of course, that is how you are.

Tan's "Record of the Dead." You've heard of it too, right?

The rumors of him going around committing murders.

Older Brother, how did you know?

- Perhaps I may get a hold of his weak point. - Pardon?

I may be a little bit useful.

[Inspectors' Room]

Crazy! Does this make sense?

Does this make any sense?

Bloody hell!

What foolishness and madness!

Why would a man dry flowers?

Why would he preciously carry this around?

Some say Prince Milpoong is crazy.

It might be true then.

This is what I carried out after all that fuss?

I am an idiot, an idiot...

Hey, you will hurt your head. Be careful.

I am sorry, Lord. I was desperate and looked for the wrong thing—

No, it wasn't there in the first place.

If you couldn't find it, that is what must have happened.

Oh, I...

- I am doing such foolish things, wasting time. - I know, right?

When we are so busy that we would shit while standing up,

it's driving me nuts that I'm going to make such a request.

What request?

Let's find someone, Yeo Ji. You have some time now, so it's perfect.

What are you saying, all of a sudden?

Lord Moon Soo is looking desperately for this guy, more than he would a wife who ran away.

He saw him take the test for someone at the test grounds not long ago.

Why would Lord Moon Soo be looking for him?

You know that he is super nosy.

He pesters me to death.

What is this?

Are you sure it's this person?

Lord said his name was Noh Tae Pyeong or something?

Noh Tae Pyeong?

Can't be that Noh Tae Pyeong that lives in Majangnae?

Do you know him, too? Did Lord Moon Soo tell you already?

Where is Lord Moon Soo?

Where is Lord Moon Soo right now?

Was it you again?

It is always you.

So you really did come out soundly.

Seeing that you came,

you have the basic manners even though you're a thief.

Promises are there to keep.

Flowers?

I'm not playing a trick. You might not believe it, but it's truly—

No, it's plenty understandable.

He's an unpredictable crazy punk anyway.

I guess you know the owner of that really well.

I suppose you were quite disappointed. There's nothing valuable in here.

There are times in life when you meet naught.

By the way, what is your name?

What do you do?

Seeing how you came out soundly after causing that ruckus earlier,

your ranking must be pretty high.

You want to exchange names?

Well, I suppose it's about time you get curious about someone as charming as me.

But I'll decline. I won't pester you about who you are either.

I'm a lowborn woman. I'm not a thief but a damo (tea maid, female investigator) of the Saheonbu.

Saheonbu damo?

And you must be Prince Yeoning, Lee Geum.

You are His Majesty's second son, Prince Yeoning, right?

You are a bold girl indeed.

We're done with our business with each other, so let's part ways.

Wait!

Where are you going, 52-year-old Noh Tae Pyeong?

I finally caught you, you little rat!

Yeo Ji, you did well! Thanks, macho man.

You are unusually late, Your Excellency.

Everyone's waiting.

Prince Milpoong is like a kid who only dances when you praise him,

so don't be too hard on him.

So you don't only spill out smiles, but you spill out words too.

Is that how you talk to the prime minister too?

Can't be.

Your Excellency seems to be aware of my relationship with Prince Milpoong,

so I was just being honest.

The prime minister...

I'll coax him nicely,

so please guide Prince Milpoong well, Your Excellency,

since you're the one who raised Prince Milpoong to his current height when he was just living an ignorant life.

So you say you will take care of the prime minister.

What a grateful deed it is.

But next to the king of this nation,

there won't be a seat for a prostitute.

[Prince Milpoong, Lee Tan (Noron Faction)]

I'm going to kill Prince Yeoning.

- He's gone mad! - I'm going to kill him for sure.

Why are you smashing things around in my house?

If he's going to throw a fit, he should break his own items.

Look here. What are you doing? Try to stop him.

- This is your home, Your Excellency. So you should—

Why this...

That's Goryeo celadon pottery!

Your Excellency.

Your Excellency.

Prince Yeoning was released?

You can't even clean up the likes of that?

It's a matter of the royal family.

To cover it up and move on is the proper course.

Proper course.

He humiliated me and what the hell were you doing?

What are all these things useful for?

Wait and see.

When I become king, do you think it's only Prince Yeonryeong that I will kill?

All the useless things will be wiped out!

- Y-Your Excellency. - I will advise Prince Milpoong.

You all go outside.

Yes.

Do you know what the current king's reign was like?

In the name of reformation of the state, he purged and replaced the court ministers from time to time.

As a sweet-sounding excuse to strengthen the king's authority,

he took the nobles of this nation, who are the pillars of this nation,

and with one word, knocked them out.

We can never have another king like him again.

A man like that cannot be king.

Furthermore, do not disdain Noron ever again.

Little punk!

Hey, use words. It seems ignorant to show off your physical might.

Hey.

Heaven and earth know I'm ignorant.

But the whole world will also find out soon that you're screwed.

Let's go easy and let's contain the cussing too.

What are you saying? I want to beat him, but my good disposition is keeping me back.

How do you know Noh Tae Pyeong who lives at Majangnae?

Why did you take the test as his hired substitute?

[Substitute test-takers were hired for the state civil exams.]

Noh Tae Pyeong? Substitute test-taker?

I am pretty bright but I have no idea what you're saying.

I just knew it! I knew it!

Hey, you're going to keep on acting like you don't know?

Hey, punk, I saw you clearly at the test ground.

You will get in trouble acting this way. Go easy on him, I said.

I don't think this will do.

A punk like this needs to be beaten to get a confession out.

Noh Tae Pyeong is the maternal uncle of the young widow Yoon Yeo Ok who died last month.

That woman

was raped by Prince Milpoong whom you know very well, Your Highness.

The woman Milpoong raped?

Hey, what did you just call that punk?

Yoon Yeo Ok committed suicide in the end.

However, the Saheonbu is looking at the case as a murder case by Prince Milpoong.

Yeo Ji, you don't hear me? What did you call him?

- So please answer me, Your Highness. - Your Highness?

How do you know Noh Tae Pyeong?

- Where is that disappeared man, Your Highness? - Can't be.

- Yes! I am a prince. - Really?

So you should already know the likes of you can't touch a prince like me.

Prince?

For the same reason, even if his words are right,

they will cover up the little substitute test-taking act.

The royal family is very capable in those matters.

If you understand now, step aside.

I will be generous and forgive your indiscretion tonight.

He's a prince so he can get out of this?

This messed up world.

He's really a prince?

That pimp is?

He's Prince Yeoning. The king's second son.

Hey! How can you just tell me that now? You should've told me in advance.

That's what I did. I told you to go lightly and watch the cussing.

But you should have told me clearly and precisely

that the bastard is a prince so I shouldn't act up!

He clearly had a knowing look.

Why exactly is he chasing after Prince Milpoong?

How can this be?

My life was already a no-go, and now it's really finished.

I didn't even pass the exam,

but my rope to officialdom is already blocked.

Noh Tae Pyeong is the maternal uncle of the young widow Yoon Yeo Ok who died last month.

That woman was raped by Prince Milpoong whom you know very well, Your Highness.

Yes, now I can see the big picture.

Prince Milpoong hired the substitute test-taker in order to muzzle Noh Tae Pyeong's mouth.

But why did he...

He passed the test like he wanted, but he disappeared.

Why?

You have heard the rumor about Tan's "Record of the Dead," right?

[Record of the Dead: ledger recording the number of corpses]

You know how dead bodies pile up around Prince Milpoong Tan!

You seem to take medicine more frequently now.

I saw you laugh internally

that this king will finally die.

Those are ill-fitting words, Your Majesty.

Will Prince Milpoong's wild temperament be fitting for a king?

A king is a human as well.

They too can possess some flaws, of course.

If Noron can clench power,

even if a hellion becomes the king, it is no issue is what I hear.

A good person doesn't make a good king.

Your Majesty didn't cause so much slaughter in the past with evil intentions, right?

They were unavoidable sacrifices in order to rectify state affairs.

Or perhaps retaliation against your subjects.

At the very least, Prince Milpoong will go through the motions of taking advice and govern well.

So you will support Prince Milpoong in the end?

I am also aware of the rumor in the world about Tan's "Record of the Dead."

That Prince Milpoong has committed murders.

It is not proven. With what evidence do you speak?

Hey, you retarded idiot!

Who said to place first?

What am I supposed to do if you place Noh Tae Pyeong first in the exam?

But you said to show good result so I did that.

That's back then. But we're here now, you bastard!

You don't know what adaptable means?

Hey, you'll have to silence that substitute test-taker first.

By tonight, catch him and kill him.

And bring him to me.

It won't come off! So filthy!

The highest passer will draw everyone's attention.

If Noh Tae Pyeong doesn't show up, then the problem...

could get bigger.

So you're telling me this in case I don't know?

Pardon?

So what the hell were you doing on the side?

You should've stopped me when I killed that bastard. How could you just watch?

I'm sorry.

That bastard Noh Tae Pyeong.

I made you pass the test!

But why did you ask for money too, to piss me off and cause this trouble!

Seriously. Minister of the Interior told me I couldn't cause more trouble after all this.

What do I do?

So filthy! Ack!

The first place finisher didn't show up at the roster ceremony?

Yes, there was quite a ruckus since no one knew about the top scorer.

Indeed.

But what's this all about, Your Highness?

You are not involved in any dangerous matter, right?

I will explain to you later, but more urgent is what I asked.

Wow, are you just leaving your house now, Your Highness?

Wow, what a great house.

Indeed, you are royalty.