Original subtitles

I killed someone today.

- Find them all! - Sir.

Spare no one. Kill them all.

You will live. You must.

Don't. Spare us. Spare us.

- Take the baby. - Sir.

The baby didn't do anything. Please, spare the child.

Please...!

How did this happen? How did it get this far?

My master once said to see how much you've changed,

go to where there is no change.

The place I was born and reared, the place I was crazy to leave.

I never should have left.

No, I wish I had never met him.

Kang Dojun.

Brilliant Dojun... the friend I killed today.

A doctor?

Royal pharmacy herbalist Kang Dojun.

Yi Myonghwan.

I know. Pharmacist Level One, right?

That, and a low-level horse vet.

But I washed off the dung smell, don't worry.

Now we're Comrades in Fence-Jumping.

A pleasure, Myonghwan. You, too, Jang Inju.

You know my name...?

- Uh-oh... - Give her a boost,come on.

I swear, here you go...

- Lovely. - Anything to make you taller?

- Then you explain it. - I agree.

Please...

Don't.

This is it. Salgoji Ranch.

Oh, so that's how you check the horse's pulse?

Yes, exactly.

How are the left and right sides different?

The left reveals the five viscera, the right the life pulses.

These are huge. Because an animal's skin is so thick, I suppose?

Yes, different from people. Much more tearing.

Tearing?

- And you are..? - Listen, mind if I take a look?

Huh?

Hold on. I'm curious about animal pulses.

What? What's going on?

He's being treated and broke free.

...EEP...

Whoa.

Whoa.

Well?

Dropsy, at a guess.

Dropsy...

- Prepare a suppressant. - Sir.

Not you.

We need to check the animal's stool.

Yes, sir.

Amazing. His hands move so fast.

He's the best vet we've got.

I've seen doctors, of course, but never a veterinarian.

Remarkable skills.

Skills? With a horse doctor?

Are you kidding?

A doctor's a doctor, treating man or beast.

Father.

What did I tell you? No loitering, I said.

But he was?

Never you mind.

Dying horse, gasping cow, did I or did I not tell you to stay away?

What, you want to be a horse fart like your old man?

To be no better than a horse and cow vet?

Go wash off the stench.

Someone's here to see you.

Intelligent eyes, at least.

Yes, Your Glory-ship. All he needs is to look at something and he learns it.

He studied medical texts all on his own.

Yes, so I heard. That's why I'm here.

Still, skill is one thing, book-learning another.

But Your Worship-ness...

All the best doctors come to the royal pharmacy.

You think it's easy to be accepted as an apprentice?

- You need more than read some books? - Sir, liver dropsy.

Pardon?

Your companion. No doubt you brought him as a test.

The patient suffers from liver dropsy, I believe?

But you didn't even check his pulse...

His right side is painful to the touch, indicating a preexisting condition.

But jaundice is not far advanced, so he may still be treated.

Right. Well. How would you treat him?

Shall I prescribe a tonic? Or treat him here?

- Shall we? - A white horse means money.

No white horses here.

Right, well. I'll take him on. Bring him along.

Thank you. Thank you, Doctor Jang.

Well, then.

The bit we talked about.

The oldest one we've got.

Ah, thank you.

But that's servant stuff, and you're a noble?

Shh. No "noble" stuff. I'm incognito.

Yes, lord. May I ask what you want with that?

Hm? Making a needle. Horse bits are very efficacious.

Huh? A needle?

By the way, who is that young man?

Ah,Myonghwan? The vet's son. Very skilled.

He's been taken on as apprentice at the best physician's house in the capital.

From there he'll go into the royal pharmacy, and learn all sorts of stuff.

A blessing for his family, I'll tell you that.

But, lord, have you heard of the pharmacy?

All the best doctors graduate from there.

The pharmacy? Oh, yes, I know it.

You see? The Royal Pharmacy.

Now you'll be an herbalist of note.

Listen, forget all about your past.

Don't even think of looking for me.

What are you saying, Father?

Listen to me. You and I were never really suited.

The seer said as much when you were in the womb.

"Your womb is a brook, and in it, a dragon."

A child that will do great things in life.

Not just as an herbalist.

As a doctor, a court physician, the finest animal surgeon in all the land.

That's my boy. You were born for this.

You.

Father.

Those who study medicine must know its source, they cannot neglect research.

An attending physician must calm his spirit and forego all greed and ambition.

You must commit to being compassionate...

...and easing your patients' suffering.

Have you heard? One of the herbalists here is from a noble family.

What? A noble?

Not just any noble. The eldest son of a great scholar.

He passed the civil service exams and still chose to come here.

What? That's stupid. Is he insane?

What does a noble need with this place?

That's not the only stupid thing.

I heard we've got some horse quack here, too.

I heard that too. Talk about nasty. They'll let anyone in these days.

I know, now the pharmacy reeks of horse poop.

Who is it?

Who else? Whoever stinks.

Heh. Good one.

...EEP...

Shhh. Quiet. The fire guards.

Whew, made it.

Listen, it's not just the palace guards. There are fire guards, too.

Huh?

You have to jump the wall to get to the library.

But get caught and -- whack -- off with your head.

Still, a doofus dog wets himself at a creepy totem, right?

Who are you, anyway?

What are you looking for?

The Emperor's Inner Classic? Essential Prescriptions for Emergencies?

Relax. Why else would an apprentice be here at this time of night?

Come on. I'll show you the way.

Well? Come on.

The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic. Compendium of Rural Prescriptions.

Rural Prescriptions.

Wait, there's more.

Here.

- Is this?? - It is. Chinese Medicinal Herbs.

Twenty volumes analyzing 470 medicinal herbs.

Compiled during the Song Dynasty 500 years ago.

I can't believe I'm holding such a rare book.

There's nothing like this in the apprentice library, huh?

Only physicians' apprentices can come in here. Not lowly herbalists like us.

That's why we jump the wall.

Herbalist?

Oops, I didn't introduce myself.

Royal pharmacy herbalist Kang Dojun.

Kang Dojun..?

Yep. Son of a highfalutin household.

Uh-oh...

Enough already.

And you?

Yi Myonghwan.

I know. Pharmacist Level One, right?

That, and a low-level horse vet.

But I washed off the dung smell, don't worry.

Fair enough. Come here.

Someone's here.

Isn't that a nurse?

An acupuncture dummy.

You use it to practice acupuncture.

Very sensitive.

One slip and the needle goes through.

I heard that.

Even the most advanced apprentices can't find the right spot.

What's she doing?

Meridian.

Bladder. Kidney.

Three points.

Amazing. How does she do it?

A lady acupuncturist.

Come again?

Haven't you heard? The ladies are able to do things even physicians can't.

And she's so young.

Who's there?

- The book we need is in here. - Yes, lord.

Open up.

You know where it is?

Of course. I've seen it.

Here it is.

Point of Immortality. This discusses the use of heated needles?

Yes, we've prepared a subject for you to work on.

- Fine. We have to work fast. - Yes,lord.

Bring the book.

Who are you? What are you up to?

- Ahem. - Ahem-hem.

You're herbalists? Aren't you?

Are you nuts? Do you know where we are?

This from Lady Sneak-a-lot.

I'm an nurse apprentice.

Shhh. Palace guards.

Follow me.

Your needle cases. Open them up.

Huh?

Well? You want us to get caught? Do it.

- Isn't that flammable? - We need smoke to get out of here.

- You're going to light it? - If that's what it takes.

You nuts? This is a library.

Who goes there?

Fire! Fire! Fire!

Wait, that's moxa.

You call this a fire?

Whew.

How did you think of using moxa smoke anyway?

I know. I thought the whole library would go up.

Like I would do that?

I've been plotting a quick getaway if I ever needed one.

This isn't your first time?

Two years maybe?

One of them was a doctor. But what was Lord Kim Jajong doing there at night?

And taking out a book on heated needles?

Now we're Comrades in Fence-Jumping.

A pleasure, Myonghwan. You, too, Jang Inju.

You know my name...?

Be rude if I didn't know the famous nurse's name.

Am I wrong?

So, when do we jump the wall again?

Do what now? This was my first and last time.

Me, too. Never?

Guess I'll get the next volume on my own.

That's?

Medicinal Herbs...

Volume One. Want to see the rest?

Fine. Goodnight, then.

- Wait... - Ah-ah-ah.

I'll bring it back in two weeks.

But...

Someone's coming. Come on.

Move it.

Come on.

- Uh-oh... - Give her a boost, come on.

I swear, here you go...

My point is, the ingredients are the important thing.

Listen to you.

- Then you explain it. - I agree.

Dojun.

Myonghwan. Be a man.

All right?

Kang Dojun.

Yi Myonghwan.

Are you that happy?

Sure. We made it, we're pharmacists.

We are. Good for us.

Your Highness.

Are you all right?

He's coming back. The Crown Prince is coming back from China.

He's already on his way.

The day he ascends the throne, everything is finished.

He must be stopped.

But how, Your Highness?

Your Highness.

You're sure it will work?

Yes, he will come right away.

Where is he now?

Finding test subjects.

Night.

State your business.

What do you have there?

Show us.

Attack.

Please, spare me. Doctor, I'm a father.

Spare me... please...

Dead.

So much for heated needles. Now for the poisoned ones.

- Take him away. - Sir.

- You! You! - Sir!

He got away. What do we do?

He saw my face. You have to find him. Move!

Sir.

Are you all right? Nothing wrong?

I'm fine, darling. We have to come with you.

Our little one must pay his respects after all.

What? The Crown Prince?

Yes, he's coming back after all those years as a hostage in China.

He'll be in the capital today.

The Crown Prince is back.

Dojun will be ecstatic.

His Highness set him on the road to being a doctor.

Really? He did?

Yes. His Highness proctored the state exams on one of his visits home.

Dojun took top honors.

That's when they met.

Your Highness.

Crown Prince.

All those that took top honors have become great scholars.

But you seem to be holding back.

Your Highness?

Maybe you snuck in a cheat sheet.

Pardon? I would never...!

My lady, my lady, my lady...

Wake up.

Where is the doctor? Send of him immediately.

Your Highness.

If I may, I have some small knowledge.

- Oh? Do what you can. - Your Highness.

My way of saying thanks.

You honor me. These are rare, indeed.

You know them?

Of course.

Chang Chieh-pin's encyclopedia is nearly impossible to find in our country.

Sit.

Your brilliance rivals that of Confucius and Mencius.

Pardon?

Tell me, is that the path for you?

Your Highness, how could I??

Why? Because you're a noble?

Nobles are too good for medicine?

What do you think? Not what others think. You.

No. I don't think that way.

It's those who save lives that are too good for nobles.

Careful. Thinking differently from the crowd can cost you your head.

But suppose that doesn't scare you.

Suppose you do as you like, live according to your beliefs?

Not just getting by. Living with heart.

Couldn't a man like that change the world?

I can't forget that day even now.

I decided to walk through that gate.

To live according to my beliefs, with heart.

So I gave up on scholarship and came to the pharmacy.

I'm something of a black sheep to my family.

Then why give up on the pharmacy now?

Shouldn't you try even more?

No, I'm not giving up.

I never intended to be a pharmacist.

There are plenty of acupuncturists serving those in power.

They don't need me.

Then what?

The Crown Prince told me he had a vision.

To make our nation the strongest in the world when he returns.

So our people will never again be persecuted.

That's how he lives with heart, that's his vision.

Mine is to eliminate deaths among those who can't afford a doctor.

Myonghwan, the Crown Prince is home and will realize his vision.

My vision, my dream, will also come true.

Lord, a letter from Yi Myonghwan.

Oh?

His Highness is seriously ill. But how...?

Is it much further?

Nearly there, lord.

Are you all right? Hello?

What's that?

Ah, is she with you? She seems distressed.

Mind your own business.

- Identification. - Here, take this.

Actually, I'm a doctor. I can see your wife is nearly due.

Huh?

But this won't do. If her fever doesn't break, go to a pharmacy.

You must, understand?

Yes.

You sure you'll be all right without a doctor?

How can I with them searching?

I'll be fine. People used to have babies like this all the time.

But how long will this go on? Why are they after us?

I have no clue. I was in a cave and they killed this guy.

I got out of there and they've been after me ever since.

I saw him. I saw him kill a man with a needle.

How are things in the eastern palace?

Everything is arranged.

We've tested it several times. There will be no trace.

Don't worry.

One of your test subjects got away?

Yes, I'm sorry.

Mobilize all our men and find him.

You finish your business in the palace.

Yes, lord.

Malaria?

He lived on the continent for years.

For him to have contracted this is absurd.

It's not a case for acupuncturists. You need doctors.

You're alone? Where are the court physicians?

He says he's familiar with malaria, so...

Who is attending?

His name is Yi Hyongik. The Queen Cho recommended him.

What? A Cho?

Yes.

Myonghwan, a Cho?

You're right, I know what you're thinking.

But he's attached to the royal house. Don't say it.

No...no...

Don't you remember? When we first met, Lord Kim had a doctor with him.

They got a book on heating needles.

What if they meant to use it on the Crown Prince?

Easy. Watch what you say.

You're right, people have risen to power that way in the past.

But this is His Majesty.

No one would dare.

So watch it.

- Lord. - Inju.

Did you get it?

Here.

They use this for treatment in the eastern palace.

Thoroughwax, hydrangea, ephedra. All used to treat malaria.

Nothing out of the ordinary yet.

Don't be so hard on Yi Myonghwan.

He's worried about you.

I know. You think I don't?

My lord.

That's him. The man with the minister. Yi Hyongik.

What's that? Dead?

Explain. She's breathing. How can someone alive be dead?

As good as dead, I said.

Why bring her when she's like this?

Look, is this about money?

Maybe I can find?

Pay millions in gold, it won't do any good.

Your wife and child are gone.

No, he's wrong.

I'll find someone else.

Another doctor...

Aren't you..?

I beg your pardon. Are you all right?

It's fine.

I'm just not with it today. Just now I ran into a man carrying his pregnant wife.

Where did he go?

Oh, that way, maybe...

Honey, honey!

Lord, save her. Please save her.

Pick her up. We'll take her to my house.

Send for Inju and boil some water.

Right away.

Lord, what is it?

Is it bad?

I'm sorry. It's too late for her.

How did she get like this? How?

And the child?

What about the baby? Is it...?

I'll try. I'll do my best.

Maybe we can save the baby.

My lord.

It's not Dojun's wife? Who is it?

I don't know the details.

But it's urgent, so I've got to go.

Listen, can you hear me?

The baby is coming. Hang on for your child.

Can you do that?

I'm sorry. I don't know if you'll make it.

But your child will.

Let's get started.

Doctor.

Stay with us.

Almost there.

You're a father.

She's a girl. Prettiest girl I've ever seen.

I'm sorry. If I had treated her that day at the ferry, this might not have happened.

No. My little girl is alive because of you.

I don't know how I'll ever repay you.

But how did this happen?

Why were you hiding from that doctor?

Well...

So, what, you're going to take that man's word for it?

He saw Yi Hyongik kill with a needle.

And he's in the palace.

I have to look. I have to see for myself.

Don't. We can tell someone...

Haven't you been listening?

The guards are searching for him

This goes all the way to the top.

That's why you should stop.

Suppose it's true, what then?

Don't you see? They'll kill you.

It's too late, Dojun.

If it's true, there's nothing we can do.

No. We're doctors, Myonghwan.

How can doctors give up on a patient?

We're doctors. How can doctors give up on a patient?

Are you going to let Dojun go alone?

Your Highness.

Your Highness, look at me.

Your Highness...

It's you.

The one that helped my wife. The scholar.

Your Highness.

Tell Dojun this for me. I'll get to the truth.

Go.

I'll save you. And I'll find out who did this to you.

No, don't. Don't do that.

Just go. Don't do anything. Just go.

Your Highness.

These are for the palace. Look after them.

Doctor.

Poison... for the prince...

You there!

Who are you?

Lord, we're ready.

Don't ask me to do nothing.

We must learn who did this to you.

Please...

Just go. It's dangerous for you here.

Your Highness.

Lord.

Someone is coming.

Well?

Myonghwan sent me.

He said to say he'll look into it.

No, no...

What?

Don't. Not you, not Myonghwan.

I'll do it. Only me, understand?

You stay here. Don't do anything.

My lord.

The scholar's brat is looking into it?

And this doctor here?

Yes, lord.

Always something.

Kill him.

I had the same thought at first.

But there may be a better way to use him.

A better way?

Yes, my lord.

What are you saying?

- Inside you? - Listen closely.

Report to the authorities. Tell them what you know.

Say Kang Dojun suspects an assassination.

Tell them you know who it is.

Kang Dojun will be tried for high treason.

Treason? That's ridiculous.

How is that treason?

Treasonous intent, certainly.

Since the one who wants the Crown Prince dead is the King.

W-what?

His own father. He wants the Crown Prince dead.

Do you see what's going on here?

This Manchu business was just for show.

As you suspected, the prince would use the barbarians...

...to back his claim to the throne.

You let him off easy.

Now he sees how just you can be.

Go to Songpa and take the ferry west.

I'll let you know when it's safe.

What's going on?

Are you in danger because of me?

No, not at all.

You were very brave.

My lord.

Don't worry. Nothing will happen to me.

You're a horse doctor?

It must be hard for a commoner go get this far.

You want to lose that? Or your life?

You can't save your friend Kang Dojun.

But you can save yourself.

Go to my family seat in Ansong. Can you make it?

Yes.

I'm sorry. For you and our baby.

Don't be. You have never given us cause for shame. Never.

Darling.

The traitor's house is this way.

Darling.

My lord.

Lord...

Dojun...

No...

You'll die with him.

You have to stay here.

Stay here? They've taken Lord Kang.

Can't you see? They've taken Kang Dojun.

My lord...

...Dojun...

Oh? So Kang Dojun was beheaded?

That's not all. The Kang assets were forfeit.

And the baby?

His wife was with child.

If it's a girl, she'll go into service. A boy, he'll be killed.

A male child is as good as dead.

The thought...

My lady, a little more, just a little more.

I see the baby.

A little more...

Well? Is it a boy?

My lady... He's a boy.

No... Not my baby... Not my boy...!

My lady.

My lady... My lady! My lady!

My lady... My...

Bring out the traitor's brat.

No, no!

Translated by D. Bannon Subtitles provided by MBC

The baby didn't do anything. Please, spare the child.

"Bright" Kwang, "Day" Hyon. It means to be a light to all the world.

Orders from the capital. They're looking for his son.

I can't waste my life on an island. Cause I'm a man.

We can finally go to the capital.

The capital is dangerous. Not there.

First time in the capital?

- It's all over your face. I'm a hick. - True, true.

I understand my brother saw a doctor just before he died.

Kang Dojun.

His Majesty is looking into his brother's death.

You won't survive this.

Find someone for me. He should be about twelve.

He's still a boy.

Long time, Yongdal.

We'll go together.

You were close with Kang Dojun?

You know the best way to keep a secret?

Spare me.

Do it.