Original subtitles

[Episode 19]

Nurse.

What are they talking about in there?

Something about a punishment?

For me?

Nurse.

They're discussing your resignation.

Resignation?

Yes.

Or your dismissal.

Dismissal?

They're going to fire me?

Send me away from the clinic?

Dismissal?

Based on what?

We have more than enough cause.

He insulted His Majesty.

What more do you need?

That's not cause.

His Majesty has forgiven him.

His Majesty's mercy does not negate the offense.

Offense?

It's a simple case of misdiagnosis.

A what?

He noted symptoms that were similar to those in animals.

A diagnosis based on his own experience.

Would you condemn him that that?

He was clearly mistaken.

His affront must be dealt with.

It is the nature of apprentices to make mistakes.

And to learn from them.

No. A mistake is one thing.

Ignorance another.

He has been below standard from the start.

His being apprentice is an insult to us all.

And suppose I disagree?

My lord.

Suppose I refuse to allow this travesty?

Would you ignore the wishes of the entire staff?

None of us will condone this.

Do what you must. I'll ignore it if I must.

As chief physician, I must do what's right.

My lord.

My lord, Lord Ko refuses to budge.

So it seems.

Just as I had hoped.

Sir?

So much the better. Let it get out of hand.

Let Lord Ko and the horse quack dig their own graves.

Come, we need to see the viceroy.

My lord.

Try not to worry.

Lord Ko knows it's unfair.

He won't allow you to be dismissed.

But I've put him in a bad spot.

Yet again.

Every little bit.

Right. All of it.

To think he could apprentice here.

What are you up to?

As you see, packing, sir.

What?

Baek Kwanghyon.

We refuse to study with that scum.

We sweated blood to get here.

We won't let it be disgraced.

Come on.

Now wait...

This is because you got above yourself.

Why are you doing this?

What did I do that's so wrong?

No, you did nothing wrong.

Anyone else, we would look over the mistake.

It was an error, nothing more.

But they hate you.

You're different from us.

What?

This kind of thing will never stop.

Not until you give up.

Announce me.

Your Majesty.

I heard what happened in the selections.

How could you pardon such an affront?

Your Majesty, he's an apprentice.

To punish a student for an error...

Student or not, you are the king.

Our people will not condone such insolence.

Your Majesty.

If you don't do something I will.

I won't have some commoner compare you to a beast.

Not him nor his patron, Lord Ko.

Disloyalty cannot be allowed.

Just as you hoped.

Her Majesty is handling it now.

Yes, my lord.

Use a goat to knock down your fences.

I knew Ko Juman would dig his own grave.

But don't let up.

Keep up the pressure...

and drive Lord Ko from the palace.

Not to worry.

It's already begun.

A bad flu.

Tea and soup. Now.

Yes, ma'am.

Ma'am.

They're getting worse.

When will Doctor Nam and Jong be back?

I'll go ask.

Ma'am.

I thought I sent you to find the doctors.

Ma'am, it's terrible.

All the doctors...

All the apprentices have walked out.

My lord...

They have three days.

Those that aren't back by then will be disqualified to serve.

Understood?

My lord.

So you're going all the way, eh?

Well, well, we'll just see who laughs last.

My lord, come quick.

The doctors have left their patients.

What?

- Where are you going? - Unhand me. Let go.

- But the patients. - Please.

Doctor.

Ma'am.

It won't be just here.

The institutions, too...

They would just leave their patients to die?

Right. Let's go.

Report.

We have dozens of patients.

How many doctors?

Myself and Doctors Min and Choi.

I and Doctor Shin will look after the urgent cases.

Give the others the rest.

My lord.

Have nurses skilled in acupuncture treat the patients.

My lord.

Our first duty is to the sick.

- Let's go. - My lord.

Intensive care.

Move it along.

Aejong, to the infirmary.

Eunbi, Malgeum, quickly, go on.

Send her to Lord Ko. Quickly now.

It was an error, nothing more.

But they hate you.

You're different from us.

They'll let anyone in.

You smell that manure?

Forget it. He can't last.

There's the fool now. The horse quack himself.

What? Should I get on all fours for him to treat me?

They hate me?

It will never stop till I give up?

Kwanghyon.

You all right?

How goes it?

The nurses are doing their best.

But they're not doctors.

I do what I can to help.

But, well...

I can't! I can't do this!

What is it?

Acupuncture.

I can't do it. I can't.

Pull yourself together, come on.

- Look after him. - All right.

I'll do it.

Help me.

Hold him tight.

My lord, this can't go on.

We can't last out the day.

The doctors still aren't back?

No, Sire. They are adamant on this point.

Send for my privy council.

I intend to issue and edict.

Sire.

Doctors abandoning their patients.

How dare they?

Sire, pardon me.

But perhaps if you acquiesced just this once.

My queen.

They do have a point.

If this gets out of hand,

it will give the court the excuse they need.

Sire, are you ill?

Shall I send for the doctor?

No, there's no need.

Just ill effects of all the pressure going on.

Always something.

The clinic?

A shambles, what else?

Apprentices, doctors, all gone.

A mess, a complete mess.

People, huh?

What did Kwanghyon do that's so wrong anyway?

Who knows? Pettier than a speck of rice, the lot of 'em.

Extra salt and pepper in their soup should fix them.

And some spit.

Where's Kwanghyon?

I looked for him at the clinic.

No luck.

Off somewhere pouting, I suppose.

My lord, it's quite late.

Yes. Things are bad at the clinic.

My father

Inside.

I have to see him.

Please let me in.

Tell him it's Baek Kwanghyon.

I have to see him now.

Who are you to demand anything?

Quiet down and get out of here.

. . . oh, no . . .

Apprentice Baek.

What? Him?

Yes, my lord. Your orders?

You dare come crawling to me?

You've got some nerve.

Come to beg, have you?

Kneel and grovel for another chance?

But it won't do you any good.

I refuse to allow you to stay.

Yes, I know.

It is your way.

And you won't stop until you have it.

But I refuse to give in, my lord.

I'll be a doctor, whatever anyone says.

What?

You're bound to hate me.

For my differences.

But if the world reviles me for having different circumstances...

different thoughts, different dreams...

I will fight that world to the end.

If it takes all my life, so be it.

I will fight to be a doctor till the day I die.

You little..!

You come here..!

However.

I will leave...

the clinic.

What? You'll leave?

Yes, my lord. Just so.

Just as you wish. I will go.

If I do, will you stop this madness?

If I do,

will you leave Lord Ko be?

If I do,

will you allow the doctors to return and treat their patients?

Who would have thought it?

Things are finally going my way.

He's a blight. Good riddance.

Inform the viceroy.

Tell him I'll call on him at dawn.

Sir.

Father.

Why are you treating the apprentice this way?

Songha.

I saw his teacher here before the selections.

Were you behind the diagnosis as well?

Leave me. It's not your concern.

No. I can't do that.

Baek Kwanghyon isn't in the wrong.

It's the doctors who deserted their duties.

Which they did on your orders.

What? What did you say?

Father, please stop this.

Don't use false charges to harm him.

His dreams are the dreams of all the weak and oppressed.

Seeing him gives them hope for change.

Silence.

You have a fine future ahead of you. Don't be a fool.

Father.

What? Hope for change?

And who will give them this change?

Who has the power to give them that?

The strong stand with the strong.

Stand with the weak and become weak. It's how things are.

I'll have no more of this weakling talk.

Understood?

Hush, that's quite enough out of you.

Your Majesty, I beg you.

How him mercy.

How many times is this?

It doesn't concern you.

Yet you come back here ever hour on the hour.

I know him. He's a fine doctor.

What? How well?

Ah, well...

Not that well.

How could I?

Just a little, that's all.

Jinyong.

You trust her and she thinks well of him.

Be merciful, Your Majesty.

Princess.

Your Majesty.

Any luck this time?

Not even a little.

I keep trying to help him.

But I seem to make things worse.

What did I tell you?

How many times did I say, "You can't..!"

What?

Pardon me. I'm just so worried about Apprentice Baek.

Anyway, what about Officer Mah?

It's been forever since I sent him for news.

He'll be back soon. He's a man, not a horse.

Definitely not.

What a slow-poke.

Officer Mah.

My lady.

What brings you here?

Her Highness has asked for an update.

How is Apprentice Baek?

Not good. The backlash is huge.

Is it?

I'm concerned.

I don't know how Her Highness will react.

Tell her not to worry.

Jinyong.

Ma'am.

Apprentice Baek is with Lord Ko now.

He is?

Yes. Something...

What was that?

You're leaving?

Yes. I came to tell you.

I submit to the medical council's decision.

Look here.

Please grant me this.

Don't put yourself out on my account.

So? He's leaving of his own accord?

Yes. So it would seem.

What now? Should I tell Her Highness?

Oh, no, she'll cut out my tongue.

Why me?

My lord.

I won't have it.

Please. Let him go.

Doctor Shin.

Think of the patients.

They come first. We have to get the doctors back.

My lord.

What is all this?

Are you insane? Tell me why. What did you do wrong?

Nurse.

You're not in the wrong, the doctors are.

Why are you running?

Who does that help?

Songha was here.

He's rallying the scholars.

If you can just wait...

No.

It won't do any good.

I can keep pushing, but it won't help.

Besides, I gave my word to Lord Yi.

What?

The apprentices and doctors will be back.

This kind of thing won't happen again.

I was hoping I could sneak off.

Spare myself the nagging.

Sorry.

I appreciate your faith in me.

But here we are.

No. Don't do this.

You've come so far.

It can't end like this.

Please.

Welcome.

The scholars?

Upstairs. Is something wrong?

In a way.

The doctors walked out because they were told to.

They put self-interest before their patients, before our people.

They're blinded by ambition.

Which is why I asked you here.

Confucian scholars cannot turn a blind eye to this sort of thing.

True, he's right.

We need to act, act!

It was inevitable.

He was bound to give up.

So much for your headache.

The horse quack got above himself.

It was bound to happen.

So, what are you plans for Ko Juman?

It's in hand. He can't escape responsibility.

Don't get in the water if you don't have oars, eh?

If you'll excuse me, Father?

Of course.

Can we speak freely in front of her?

Relax.

She's a quiet one.

My lord.

My lady, time for your medicine.

I don't know what to say.

You had such hopes, such expectations.

You're worried about us at a time like this?

Sir.

So you're not an apprentice?

You've still learned enough to help people.

He's right. Absolutely.

It doesn't have to be the end.

Kwanghyon, let's leave the capital.

What are you saying?

Sir.

Go where that people don't know you.

To where they have no idea you were a horse doctor.

Sir.

Good idea, great...

Where the unfairness of it all can't hurt us.

Sire, hear our plea.

No, I can't accept this.

The young man has left the clinic.

Now you want to punish Lord Ko?

How long are you going to pursue this?

It's a question of leadership at this point.

It's not just us. The entire court feels the same.

Viceroy.

Sire. Lord Ko has lost the faith of the medical council.

He can't be entrusted with the health of the royal house.

Hear us, Sire.

Enough.

I won't have it.

Sire.

I said enough.

Sire!

I made myself clear. Don't bring this to me again.

Understood?

Sire!

- Sire! - Sire!

A doctor! A doctor!

Sire!

What? His Majesty collapsed?

Yes, my lord.

Please, come quickly.

No...

Sire... Sire...

What is it? Explain it to me.

Your Majesty.

Sire.

What has happened? Well?

It's...

Wait, what is...

Ko...

Sire.

Ko...

Sire.

- Sire! - Sire!

It's certainly not heartburn. Not with this kind of excruciating pain.

His Majesty has a great tolerance for pain.

It must be unbearable.

Liver failure, perhaps?

Or colon failure?

Not liver, not with this fever.

Then what is it?

Doesn't anyone know?

Vomiting, nausea, fever.

Accompanied by jaundice and discoloration...

What do you mean?

Yes, the symptoms are consistent.

There is one possibility.

What would that be?

I'll find us a place to live.

You find someone to take over here.

I will. Don't worry about a thing.

Where you going?

Hello?

Anyone?

Where are they?

Nurse.

Apprentice Baek? Where is he?

That's a good boy. Take your time.

You'll give yourself hay fever like you used to.

Kwanghyon, let's leave the capital.

To where they have no idea you were a horse doctor.

Kwanghyon.

Jabong.

My lord, what brings you..?

The bezoar cow.

My lord?

Well? Time is short. Go on.

My lord.

What are the symptoms of a gallstone?

Why do you ask?

Spit it out.

My lord.

The first sign in cattle is excruciating pain.

Making it difficult even to stand.

As it progresses, paralysis of the flanks and shoulders, then...

Then?

And then...

Sire.

Fever and nausea, followed by violent seizures and jaundice.

And a gray discoloration of the feces.

The gray is getting worse.

My lord.

Please hurry.

His Majesty, His Majesty...

And if it's not treated in time?

What's the worst that can happen?

If the stone is large enough, it can lead to infection of the liver and pancreas.

The greatest danger is sepsis.

What? Sepsis?

Yes, which can be...

life-threatening.

Sire, Sire.

My lord.

Sepsis.

Infection is spreading throughout his body.

What are you saying?

My diagnosis of His Majesty was correct?

Yes, so it seems.

Your diagnosis is the only possible explanation.

But my lord..

We can't wait.

There's no time.

My lord, your prescription?

My lord, please.

Sepsis is treated with...

A tincture of ferula...

No, bupleurum and peony...

My lord.

It's worse.

What? What could be worse?

The treatment?

We use a decoction to induce urination.

He must pass the stone first.

The ingredients?

Gardenia, rhubarb and capillaris.

Ideal for leaching dampness and promoting urine.

But people are different from animals.

We'll use bupleurum and peony rather than rhubarb.

Get it ready.

My lord.

How dare you?

You're following his advice?

Are you insane?

This is the royal house.

His Royal Majesty himself.

Correct.

So we must do everything we can to save him.

My lord.

If it's not gallstones, what is it?

What ails the King?

I'll find out.

I'm in charge, I'll..

He already has sepsis.

And if you can't reverse it, what then?

Well? What then?

Will you pay for your hubris with your life?

Will you pay for this fool's diagnosis with yours?

Will you leave His Majesty's life in the hands of a commoner?

Will you?

And you? Do you run the pharmacy or not?

My lord.

Your pardon, but Lord Yi isn't to blame.

No one knew what was wrong.

Not even Lord Ko.

You must stop him.

I can fix this.

And if you can't? If the King dies?

It's not just you. I'll go down, too.

Enough. Leave this to Lord Ko.

My lord, my lord.

Get us out of this.

Apprentice Baek's prescription with my own additions.

Begin treatment immediately.

And acupuncture?

His Majesty's condition is critical.

We'll begin acupuncture when he stabilizes.

Let's get moving. There's no time to waste.

My lord.

Pardon me. Will this be all right?

If this fails...

Yes. It will cost both our lives.

Are you scared? Do you want to run?

No, not scared.

It's as you said my first day here.

Prepare to kill, prepare to die.

That is the physician's path.

I won't run away.

I would die to save His Majesty.

So Kwanghyon is treating the King?

Yes. Lord Ko collected him.

But why? Where did this come from?

They'll kill him if he makes a mistake.

Right? It's the law.

Please calm down.

Calm down?

That's my only brother lying there.

Your Highness.

Doctor Baek is right, isn't he?

My brother will be all right?

Yes, Your Highness.

Will this help His Majesty?

An apprentice? It's absurd.

It's our only option at this point.

Lord Ko is set on it.

It's unheard of.

Leaving the King's life in the hands of a commoner.

Sire, this will help you, please.

Medicine.

- Pass. - Thank you.

His Majesty? How is he?

He had his third treatment.

This is the last one.

That's the last of it.

My lord, will he recover?

Time will tell.

We'll wait to see if he passes the stone.

No, they can't succeed.

I'll be ruined. All I've done will be lost.

Father, help me.

Help me to save His Majesty, please.

It can't be allowed.

You made it.

Well? Is the King recovering?

I haven't heard anything yet.

This is bad. I heard he was critical.

The palace?

My lord, nothing yet.

What? Nothing?

Isn't that the same as saying no improvement?

Your Majesty, you mustn't.

His Majesty mustn't be disturbed now.

Oh? So I should just wait for the worst?

No, I won't have it.

I'm going.

I'll see how he is for myself.

Your Majesty.

Nurse. How is he?

Under observation.

We're waiting to hear if he passed the stone.

My lord.

Well?

Go on. Did he pass it?

Not yet.

They could find nothing.

And the color of the feces is getting worse.

What?

My lord, come quickly.

His Majesty is having a seizure.

Sire.

Sire!

Siler root, quickly.

My lord.

Nothing? Nothing at all?

No, not in his urine or his feces.

Nothing.

Perhaps it wasn't gallstones after all.

And His Majesty? How is he?

What? A seizure?

Yes, a failure. They were wrong.

See? What did I tell you?

Cheer up. We'll find something.

No, it's too late.

We can't stop the infection now.

Ma'am, may I see it?

If I look at his excrement..

No need.

You won't find anything we missed.

He's getting worse.

His feces isn't gray. It's turning green.

Wait.

What was that?

Green?

You say it's green?

Yes. Why?

Green?

Green...

There.

Now the siler root.

Stand away from His Majesty.

Well? Take him away.

Your Majesty, his treatment isn't complete.

Silence.

Whining won't save you.

Take him away.

Your Majesty.

Lock him up. Lord Yi will take over now.

Lord Yi.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You will treat His Majesty now.

- Also... - One moment.

One moment, please.

We weren't wrong.

The diagnosis and treatment weren't wrong.

His Majesty is on the mend.

There is no doubt about it.

Subtitles provided by MBC

We can't leave this to Lord Ko.

A commoner? A horse doctor?

Ah-hah. I knew it.

This may be the answer.

His Majesty?

What was that again?

How dare you?

He's not the type.

His color is worse.

I'll tell you this, it will only get worse.

Whack, off with his head.

If he recovers, we're both finished.

This is the only way.

All that's left is the acupuncture treatment.

He'll never hold the needle.

Wait, wha..?

If you insist, of course.

What? Who is performing the acupuncture?

Have you seen Lord Ko?

Not now... not...

My lord!