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[Episode 69]

What's wrong with him?

In my opinion...

I should perform acupuncture right away.

What are you doing?

I am Doctor Yu Do-ji of the royal medical bureau.

Since Doctor Yu is here, you may go.

Now!

What are you waiting for? Do something!

Sir.

He's dead.

Impossible! That can't be.

He can't die like this!

Tae-hoon! Tae-hoon!

Tae-hoon!

Tae-hoon! Tae-hoon!

Tae-hoon... Tae-hoon...

Tae-hoon! Tae-hoon!

- Insert. - Sir.

A person may die suddenly due to severe vomiting or diarrhea caused by cholera.

Or they are choked by vomit, or they suffer from a sudden high fever.

However, I didn't find any of these symptoms on him.

Then why did he die so suddenly?

I heard that he has been suffering from diabetes.

That must be the cause of his death.

Is there any other possibility?

He could have died of poisoning.

However the silver would have changed when I slid it inside his throat.

All right.

This is the place.

Da-hee.

Kyu-hwan.

Who is he?

Let's go somewhere else.

What do you mean by that?

A gentleman came to meet Da-hee, and they left together.

They were looking into each other's eyes like this.

They are in a serious relationship. She was horrified to see me.

Isn't that Heo Jun's wife?

Yes, it is.

The man she is with looks to be a nobleman.

I recognize him.

Who is he?

He is the son of Lord Lee Jung-soo, who is my father's close friend.

What would he have to do with that peasant's wife?

Milady, remember how haughty she was when she first came to Saneum?

You think she might be a noble?

And she married beneath her?

I couldn't find you anywhere, and I have been very worried.

What happened to you? Why are you living this way?

Kyu-hwan.

Did you get married?

Yes.

What does your husband do for living?

He is a royal physician at the public hospital.

A royal physician? Is he of the nobility?

No.

Are you saying you married a commoner?

He risked his life to help my father and me.

I love and respect my husband with all of my heart.

He is not a man of noble origin, but he'll improve his civil status someday.

Let me help you financially. First, move to a decent house.

I can well imagine how little a doctor at the public hospital makes.

It surely won't be enough.

You may think I live a shabby life.

But I am happy as it is. Please don't worry about me.

Da-hee...

If you truly want to help me, pretend that you never saw me.

Haman tells me that a nobleman came. Who was it?

I met a cousin by chance.

So what happened? Did he scold you for marrying my son?

It is against the law.

It's fine. Please don't worry.

He just asked me if I was doing all right.

I don't want my husband to be distracted by my cousin's visit.

Please don't tell him what happened.

I won't.

Are you still here?

Yes.

Excuse me, I have a question.

Did the fifth counselor have a chronic illness?

Yes, sir.

He suffered from diabetes, didn't he?

How did you know?

He suffered from diabetes for years, and I served him a tonic each day.

Then were the tonics prepared in the royal medical bureau?

No, sir.

Why not?

He insisted that the bureau is for the king and the royal family.

He got his tonic from the public hospital.

- The public hospital? - Yes, sir.

He arranged for one of the assistants to deliver the tonic.

- Excuse me. - Are you back, sir?

Someone has been delivering tonics to Fifth Counselor Gu Tae-hoon.

Do you know who?

Fifth Counselor Gu Tae-hoon?

I don't know, sir. I've never heard of this.

Think about it carefully.

You must be talking about the tonic Assistant Park used to make every day.

The guy who hung himself?

Didn't he go to the palace on the day he killed himself?

He had been doing it for a few months.

Can I see the prescription he used?

These are Park's belongings.

We should have turned them over to his family.

But since nothing was of value, we just kept them here.

What is it, sir?

I have seen him put that into the tonic once.

Are you sure about that?

Yes, sir. I have worked in the tonic room for 10 years,

but I had never seen the herb before so I asked him what it was.

He said he didn't know.

A doctor from the public hospital wishes to see you, sir.

A doctor from the public hospital?

I'll see him.

What brings you here?

I have something to discuss with you, sir.

Have a seat.

What can I do for you?

What is this?

It's a type of poison called meloid.

Meloid is a small insect the size of half a finger found in Henan, China.

It is dried and powdered and used as a medicinal ingredient.

But if consumed for a long time, it is poisonous and damages the organs.

It's hard to get this in this country. It's rarely used since it's poisonous.

Are you saying it can be used as poison?

The effects of other poisons are immediate,

but the meloid works very slowly.

It's hard to detect if it is used.

Why are you showing this to me?

Sir.

I don't think Counselor Gu died from his chronic condition.

He died from the long-term intake of meloid.

What?

He'd been taking tonics made at the public hospital for a few months.

I found the meloid among Assistant Park's belongings.

I have a witness who saw him put this into Lord Gu's tonic.

Who is Assistant Park? Who is he?

He is already dead.

What?

He's the man who hung himself at the public hospital.

I believe that their deaths were carefully planned murders.

What's wrong?

Tae-hoon.

Tae-hoon! Tae-hoon!

Tae-hoon!

I have a witness who saw him put this into Lord Gu's tonic.

Who would order the assistant to poison Tae-hoon?

The gulf between the two parties is growing ever wider.

Although they are hiding their claws now,

they won't hesitate to strike the moment they are given an excuse.

When it comes to Lady Kong-bin's illness...

These ingredients are used for the liver.

There should be some left.

Sae-hee!

Why are you staring at so mindlessly?

What are you talking about?

You're in love with Doctor Yu, right?

No way!

Well, he is very handsome.

After being surrounded by patients, feels good to be working in the palace.

While I was sleeping last night, I felt so happy and lucky.

Don't you feel the same way?

I do.

Who do we have here? Didn't you work for Hong-choon?

What brings you all the way here?

We are royal nurses now.

What? Not anyone can become a royal nurse.

I remember you were a poor student during Doctor Heo's lectures.

I know a lot about medicine.

It was a joke. Good to see you.

The tonic for Lady Kong-bin is ready.

What is that?

It's for Lady Kong-bin.

So which tonic is it?

It's for Lady Kong-bin.

I already know that. I want to know what's in the tonic.

I was just ordered to take it. I don't know what's in the tonic...

You don't know when the ingredients are written on the prescription?

Read it out loud.

You don't know how to read?

You are the dumbest nurse I have ever seen!

How did you get here anyway?

Take the tonic to the lady.

The girl seems she can't do anything right.

Let's go.

Sir, we choose the nurses ourselves. How could you do this?

If you're here to talk about procedure, I don't want to hear it.

I hired these two because I tested their prowess already.

What exactly did you test?

They give very good massages.

Patients aren't cured by tonics and acupuncture alone.

Helping to loosen stiff muscles is a medical practice as well.

Are you saying you didn't test their basic medical knowledge?

Medicine isn't learned overnight.

That is something you can teach them from now on.

What's so great about a nurse's skills?

Sir!

I understand, sir. We will accept them.

But...!

Enough.

Go with them.

Yes, sir.

Cho-rye, visit me from time to time.

Yes, sir.

Good, good. Run along now.

How'd it go?

Success! We're nurses now.

- Yay! - Yay!

Don't forget everything we did for you.

We'll quit if you're gonna hold that over our heads.

Don't spout such nonsense.

No pressure. Just do your best.

Do your best so Justice Heo doesn't lose face.

I won't accept them.

How could he disregard our rules like this?

That's enough. You know what Justice Heo is like.

You think I'm okay with this?

If he starts hiring nurses, I'm going to report him.

Choon-hee, have you already forgotten?

He was the one who framed you and had you kicked out of the royal place.

Do you have experience looking after patients?

Yes, we worked for years at a clinic.

Then you know that the body has four basic elements.

What are they?

Pardon?

Tell me about the four basic elements.

You don't know?

Do you know or not?

On-ji, you explain.

Yes, ma'am.

Soul is the root and start of all life.

Energy is the physical breath and sweat of the body.

Spirit is the outside influences on the body.

Blood is...

That's enough. Do you see now?

You want to be nurses, yet you don't have basic knowledge.

You're not officially nurses. Run errands for the nurses.

We'll decide in due time if you're worthy to join us.

Haman.

Yes?

A moment.

I have a favor to ask.

What is it?

Please don't tell anyone about the nobleman's visit.

Ask Il-seo to keep mum as well.

Is there a reason?

Something personal we can't tell you.

My son must not hear about this.

Since you're asking so earnestly, I'll do as you ask.

Thank you.

Who are you?

Jun, an officer from the constabulary is here.

Did you say the constabulary?

Is something wrong?

Don't worry, it's someone I know.

I'll be right back.

Sir.

Sorry for the late night visit.

It's fine.

I have something important to say.

Do you know about Tae-hoon's rank and office?

Rank wise, the office was of only 5th rank senior.

It is a relatively low level office.

But because of the office's privilege to present counsel to the King directly

concerning all crucial matters including the appointment of government officials,

the office of Fifth Counselor is deemed very influential.

That's why those seeking to rise to minister or premier seek that office

as a stepping stone for their political career.

These days, the royal court is divided by two opposing factions.

And both of them were hoping to replace Tae-hoon with their man.

If Tae-hoon had been poisoned, it was most likely those people.

But I can't figure out who.

Do you think you can help me?

How could I...?

I must find out how the meloid was acquired by the assistant.

But if I start an investigation openly, they will get rid of the evidence.

Before they can do that, find out where the poison came from.

I know it's a lot to ask, but you're the only one I can trust.

One more deal.

What do you mean? Another illegal trade?

Sir.

Someone is following us.