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Synced & ripped by bozxphd Subtitles by VIU

Did you know?

That is right.

Did you...

At the garden...

You knew everything.

Were you teasing me?

Hong Sam Nom.

She is in the palace now.

She was sold off by the creditors.

I am sorry.

However,

I did not do that out of disrespect.

At first, I resented you,

but then I was happy.

And then I could not say anything.

When I sat comfortably in a palanquin,

you walked.

When I walked,

you held the parasol until your arms failed.

I sat on silk,

but you sat on dirt.

How could I say I cherished you as a woman?

I am a eunuch that serves you,

so it is only natural.

However,

it is not how a man treats his lover.

I will now...

treat you like the most precious lady in the world.

I shall block the wind for you...

and block the sunlight for you.

I shall cherish you.

May I do that?

Yes,

I am a woman.

However,

I have never lived as a woman.

You can live that way from now on.

I cannot.

I was where I do not belong...

and did which I should not. I apologise for that.

- I do not wish to harm... - I am not blaming you.

I am blaming myself for not recognising you sooner.

- So... - Your Highness.

I must go now...

to the Office of Eunuch Discipline.

I will now...

treat you like the most precious lady in the world.

Yes,

I am a woman.

However,

I have never lived as a woman.

(JAHYEONDANG)

There is a rumour Hong Gyeong Nae's daughter is alive.

If it is true,

we must find her...

before Premier Kim.

You must find out before anyone else.

It will help recollect the power that has split up.

Do not be like that.

I like you, Byung Yun.

(CHAPTER 9, THE MOMENT THE LOCK OF THE HEART IS OPENED)

(JAHYEONDANG)

Byung Yun, do you have something on your mind?

I do not.

I have a question.

What is it?

What did you do before you became a eunuch?

Did I not tell you...

that I was in a performance troupe?

Before then?

I lived with my mother.

What about your father?

I was told he passed away...

when I was very young.

I do not even know his name.

All I have...

is my mother in my memory.

It must have been difficult.

Why do you ask about my past?

Do you still...

like the palace?

Hong Sam Nom. What nonsense is that?

We are swamped because the Crown Prince became busy.

I am sorry, Master.

I thought you were lasting long.

What? You cannot stand it?

Should I transfer you?

We can't vacate the spot without his permission.

I shall try to fill that vacancy.

May I chip in as well?

You brats are clueless.

None of the officials appeared at the first assembly...

after the Crown Prince took the throne in the interim.

What did I tell you?

Did I not say being the interim king...

will be his demise if he does not do well?

Eunuch Sung!

Did you hear that?

Your acts like these bring criticism to His Highness.

I shall keep that in mind.

Your Majesty. The exam held every three years is...

the only way for men from suburbs to prove themselves.

Please conduct the state examination as scheduled,

and let us show the skills we have gained.

Please be understanding, Your Majesty.

Please be understanding, Your Majesty.

Do you not feel the sorrow of the students...

who looked only to the exam?

Crown Prince.

Is there any way to console them?

When you open a path,

you must open the gate at the end of the path.

How can you call the exam an opportunity...

when the successful applicants have been predetermined?

Your Highness. Please be prudent.

The future of hundreds depends on your whim.

(DONGUNGJEON)

I do not see Eunuch Hong.

That is what I would like to say.

You cherished him all this time.

How did you scold him?

Why?

Did he refuse to come to Dongungjeon?

Yes, Your Highness.

He volunteered for all the harsh assignments...

to work outside of Dongungjeon.

And?

Where is he now?

Hide while I count to 10.

One.

My lady.

Did you run out of paper and brushes?

I have brought them.

Are you playing right now?

I will wait, so go on and hide.

Here I come.

Princess. Please come out.

Princess. Where are you? Princess!

I heard from Eunuch Jang.

Did you try to run away from me?

Yes, Your Highness.

Why is that?

I deceived the Office of Eunuch Attendants and palace.

You know everything now.

I do not know how to face you.

I am not sure.

Do you not know...

that I want you to take a step closer...

as yourself and not as eunuch?

And do you truly not know?

How could someone lowly as I,

pretending to be a man and defying the palace laws,

stay by your side...

if not as a eunuch?

That is...

- Princess! - Princess!

- Princess! - Princess!

Have you still not found the Princess?

No. I shouted several times...

to come out, but she has not.

Where did you see her last?

- Princess! - Princess!

- Princess! - Princess!

- Princess! - Princess!

Princess!

Princess!

Princess.

Princess?

Princess. It is I, Eunuch Hong.

Princess!

Princess!

Princess! Are you all right?

Princess.

She could not even ask for help.

She must have been very frightened.

I am so relieved that Eunuch Hong...

found her.

She used to be so cheerful and chatter away...

endlessly like a bird.

It must be the most frustrating for her...

to not be able to speak.

She was able to smile and be this well...

because you taught her how to write.

(3 YEARS AGO)

I will write it once,

so guess that it is.

This time,

I will write your favourite season.

Does she still...

not remember anything from that day?

No.

It must have been too difficult for this small body...

to fight the illness,

seeing how she erased...

those few days that she was ill with a fever.

Yoon Sung.

Where are you going?

I am going to the palace.

What? To the palace?

Everyone vacated the palace in order to train...

the Crown Prince. What are you talking about?

Thus, I want to go.

How dare you?

Yoon Sung.

Do you pity the Crown Prince who used to be a friend?

I believe his decision is right.

I see.

Everyone thinks that justice is right at first.

However,

what is right is not always the best for the people.

To be honest, I disagree.

How does expanding our family's power...

help make the people happy?

Do you think you can coexist...

simply by sharing the power?

It will only create unnecessary fights.

Politics is not about becoming friends with the people.

Those with power must reign...

and lead the people.

Is becoming in-laws with Minister Jo...

another means for maintaining that power?

It is.

Please find another means.

I do not want to marry her for that.

I wish to marry a woman with whom I can converse...

and share my feelings.

I shall excuse myself, Grandfather.

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I kept frequenting the bookstore at the market,

so the Princess...

lent me several books from the palace library.

That is right. You said you enjoy reading.

However,

that is not the only reason...

I come to the palace.

Sorry?

The man I told you about before...

is in this palace...

and is very close to you.

The Crown Prince.

Why do you not speak?

Were you very surprised?

Yes, I am surprised.

He says only what he must and leaves.

I am exhausted from finding excuses.

That. I saw that as well.

They say if you share the bracelets,

you will meet again even if you are parted.

I did not know it held such a meaning.

Did you receive it without knowing the meaning?

Whoever it is must be as clueless as I,

giving a man a gift like this.

I will now...

treat you like the most precious lady in the world.

- Try it. - It is my turn.

I am very good at this.

Your turn.

How long must I live as a boy?

Keep it down.

Until I am 10? 20?

Until I die?

Ra On.

It is not time yet.

I told you to wait a little while longer.

Tell me why.

When will you tell me?

Will you not tell me that before I die, either?

I guess word spread that the Royal Court is a mess.

Yes.

Because you cancelled the state examination,

the students' days...

supposedly begin and end with cursing you.

Do you plan to conduct the special exam as planned?

(THE SPECIAL EXAM IS CONDUCTED BY A KING.)

I have already begun this battle.

You cannot lose since you are the Crown Prince.

My grandfather used to say,

"Fighting with your spouse just to win..."

"is a shortcut to the family's demise."

Why are you bringing up the fight with your spouse?

I am sure at first,

it was to correct the wrong of the state examination...

and pick competent people that would help you.

But what about now?

Is the objective of this fight...

victory...

or change?

It is...

It is very difficult not to lose your way.

Princess, it is I, Eunuch Hong.

I came to speak about myself,

so you may tell me to go if I annoy you.

When you do not wish to speak,

why don't we exchange signals with our hands?

Here. When you are happy, this.

When you are unhappy...

Never mind.

Even if I ask a question,

you do not need to answer me.

The truth is...

there are a lot that I am hiding as well.

I do not know what it is,

but I think I understand a little of how you feel.

Because...

I am still trapped as well.

I am forced to hide,

but I shake in fear...

that someone will open the door...

and that I will be found.

When will we...

be able to open the door ourselves and walk out?

How does it feel to be here?

Each department is busy with emergencies,

but it is so quiet here, is it not?

Did you summon me here to ask how I feel?

We will hold the state examination as planned,

so why don't you return?

Do you mean it?

Do you think I am lying?

I wanted to conduct a new examination...

only to accomplish the goal of the state examination,

which was to find the most qualified people.

It was not to hinder the political affairs...

by causing a power struggle with the officials.

Your Highness.

Ignoring the process...

in order to obtain the desired goal...

is not the proper method.

If you would make the wise decision...

and conduct everything as required,

we will all return...

and serve you.

Do not worry.

I will...

conduct the state examination as you wish.

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This is the question!

(WHOSE NATION IS JOSEON?)

Wait.

But...

All rise for the Crown Prince!

Here is the question!

What is this?

An opposition to opposition.

How will you convince the other?

There is no set answer.

Be convincing with your ideas.

I desperately wait...

for diverse and novel ideas...

for the future of Joseon.

Proceed.

An opposition to opposition.

You are skilful...

in avoiding where I am when I am there.

You know me better than anyone,

so if you hide,

I have no way of winning.

There are too many eyes...

and too many ears on you, Your Highness.

If you are with me,

you will not have a moment's peace.

Then...

do you think I am at peace...

without you?

Your Highness.

When I served you as a eunuch,

I felt...

that I was a useful person.

However,

I do not feel that way now.

I am afraid...

I might put you in trouble...

or I might cause you any harm.

I am too worried...

to take a single step toward you.

It is shameless to ask you for this,

but if you would let me leave the palace,

I shall be ever grateful.

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

Is that truly...

what you want?

Yes, Your Highness.

There are thousands of things...

I can and want to do for you.

But that is all you want from me.

Is running away to live without seeing me...

the only thing you will ever ask of me?

Yes, Your Highness.

I understand.

You may go now.

(3 YEARS AGO)

What is that?

What were you going to deliver to the Crown Prince?

Is there...

anything you do not want His Highness to see?

If you believe...

you can bury the truth by killing me,

do what you want to do.

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I shall...

stay here...

even if...

I die.

And I shall reveal the truth...

about...

the unjust death...

of the Queen.

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

Is that true? Is she unharmed?

Yes, Your Highness. Her Highness is safe.

Let us go to Jipbokheon.

Your Highness,

why did you really go there?

I am asking because you disappeared suddenly,

so you do not have to answer if you do not want.

You said before that you wonder...

when we will be able...

to open the door on our own...

and leave.

I regretted it.

I should have pretended I did not know.

If I had known you'd be always looking...

for a way to escape...

Had I known,

I would not have struggled...

with whether you were a eunuch or a woman.

I would have thought...

about...

how to keep you with me as long as possible.

I could not understand you better.

For that, I apologise.

Good day,

Your Highness.

However,

could you not stay...

despite all of that?

Can you not stay...

here...

beside me?

You are all grown up now, my lord.

I did not expect you to pass the exam.

Dal Bong.

Will I be all right in the palace without you?

You need to watch out for the one at Mount Mongmyeok.

The Princess does not know my face.

You need to be careful not to get caught.

I shall do that.

Let me hug you.

Hold on.

- You go this way. - Yes, my lord.

I will go that way.

No, this way.

Your Highness.

Are you all right?

I am fine.

She looks very familiar.

She looks cold-hearted with the sharp face.

A maiden should look like the Princess...

with a pleasantly plump face.

Why are you making me want to cry?

- Go on now. - That hurts. My lord...

The exam was done well.

I heard you changed the question on the day...

and posed the final question yourself.

(THE CROWN PRINCE POSED THE QUESTION HIMSELF.)

Despite my efforts to make the exam fair,

7 out of 33 people who passed the exam are...

from your family.

I am surprised...

that your family has so many talented people.

Your Highness thinks of my family so highly.

I am grateful, Your Highness.

I promise you...

that I shall continue to keep my principles...

and I shall not accept any corruption or expedient...

to select truly talented people...

based on their abilities alone.

Has every official returned to the palace now?

Yes, Your Majesty.

They have been attending...

every court assembly since then.

(THE OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN ATTENDING COURT ASSEMBLIES.)

I am relieved.

Chief Eunuch Han.

Do you know why I became an incompetent king?

It is because I did not have people.

My people.

That is not true, Your Majesty.

It is true.

There is no one I can trust in this palace.

All the six ministers, all the commanders,

censors and even the remonstrance officials.

They are all Premier Kim's people.

I cannot let the Crown Prince become like me.

I have to find people who are truly loyal to him.

Chief Eunuch Han.

Prepare the marriage of the Crown Prince.

Your Highness, where are you taking me?

Please tell me.

Your Highness.

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It is useful to write in Korean which you taught me.

The hand signals Eunuch Hong taught me is even better.

If everyone in the palace learns the hand signals,

you would not need this notebook any more...

as they would understand what you want to say.

Then please teach me.

I...

like...

you.

No.

I love you.

So please...

Eunuch Hong, what hand signal should I use...

when I ask someone not to leave?

How about this?

Please watch me.

Do not leave me.

Do not leave me.

Stay with me.

Stay with me.

Your Highness, what does this mean?

It means you should stay away from me.

Yes, Your Highness.

When will we...

be able to open the door ourselves and walk out?

Tell me why.

When will you tell me?

Until I am 10?

When I turn 20?

Will you not tell me that before I die, either?

Until you can protect yourself.

When you're big enough to be fine without me.

Then you can live as a girl.

Could you not stay...

despite all of that?

Can you not stay...

here...

beside me?

Mum.

I am good now, right?

For the past 10 years,

I did fine without you.

I am all grown up now and capable...

of protecting myself.

What shall I call you...

as a lady?

I am Hong Ra On,

Your Highness.

Hong Ra On.

Ra On.