Original subtitles

SECRET HEALER

SECRET HEALER

EPISODE 1

The sky of Joseon Dynasty

has long lost its sun.

The black clouds cover the skies

and the people are suffering from drought and infectious diseases.

Troubles continue to shake the nation,

putting the people in despair

and stripping the royal family of its dignity.

Knowing that the skies love the humans,

I, Hyun-seo Choi, the man in charge of Sogyeokseo,

dare request your blessing.

For a nation to have light shine upon it

the sun must be set up high.

However, this nation is covered by a cloak of darkness.

Dear sun, moon and stars.

Please send down the next sun that will bring peace to this land.

Once you let a ray of light shine upon us,

the nation will live,

the royal family will live,

and the people will live.

Last night

I had a very strange dream.

What kind of dream was it

that you asked for me this early in the morning?

Actually,

I dreamt of a black phoenix

flying into my stomach.

Isn't this a premonition of a child?

Did you say a black phoenix?

Yes.

It was a phoenix so big that it could cover the entire sky.

Once it flew over,

the bright sky suddenly turned as dark as night.

It's hard for me to forget it.

The bird had such mesmerizing eyes.

QUEEN SIM

What seems to be the problem?

HYUN-SEO CHOI

All right.

Well?

I'm very sorry to tell you this

but you are not pregnant.

Did you hear?

She is still not pregnant.

Sogyeokseo has been holding ceremonies every day but it's not working.

The Queen Dowager is furious.

Sogyeokseo must be scared to death.

That's good.

The Queen Dowager favored Sogyeokseo too much.

She didn't care about the Hall of Stars at the least.

That's true. Whenever something happened,

the Queen Dowager would go straight to Lord Hyun-seo Choi in...

What is it this time?

Hey.

She's at it again.

No news again?

Queen Sim, it has already been five years since you got married.

But why is there still no news?

This is unbelievable.

I am sincerely sorry.

Come to think of it,

yesterday was the day assigned for conception.

Your Majesty,

did you visit your queen's quarters last night?

Well, did you?

I told you that the energy from the North is good.

I even told you how it should be done.

Did you do as you were told?

Eunuch Park.

Yes, Your Highness.

When is the next date set for the Queen's conception?

It is on the 25th day of the sexagenarian cycle.

Cancel all of my appointments for that day.

I'll make sure to get involved in their conception this time.

In fact,

make sure all the servants are involved in this as well.

From what I hear,

you are quick to leave her quarters.

I will have to see with my own eyes

what the problem is.

Please stop.

What did you say?

I told you to stop.

I am

no longer a child.

-Your Majesty. -It's because of you

that everyone thinks I'm just a shell instead of being the king.

Who is the true king of this land?

Do you know what it took

for me to put you on the throne?

Do you have any idea

what I had to go through?

Did you forget what I had to do

to protect your title?

No.

What you have been trying to protect

was not my title.

It was your own title.

We cannot just sit and watch.

Eunuch Park.

Yes, Your Highness.

Call for...

Hong-joo right away.

Hello?

Are you in there?

Your Majesty.

The unexpected flood has ruined many farmlands.

The people are anxious.

Due to chaotic set of events,

some families have gone as far as taking their own lives.

That is unfortunate.

Speed up the construction on the Hwangsan River

by sending the army to reduce any more damage to the people.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Wait.

How can you use the army for something as low as that?

I think,

reducing taxes would be enough.

Do as she says.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What is next?

Your Majesty,

following your order...

THE SHAMAN OF THE HALL OF STARS HONG-JOO

You wretch.

How dare you walk into the royal palace?

You must be out of your mind.

Is anyone outside?

I called her.

Welcome.

I have been waiting for you.

It has been a long time, Your Highness.

Yes, it has been.

How are you?

Thanks to your grace,

I have been very well.

I am glad to hear that.

Actually,

-I called you today because... -I already know.

Do not worry.

No matter what happens,

I'll make sure you get to hold the crown prince in your arms.

Hong-joo, you never disappoint me.

This is the dress you will be wearing at the next banquet.

What is the matter, Your Highness?

I believed that I was pregnant this time.

If that dream was not for a baby,

then what was it for?

Your Highness,

please do not worry.

I am sure good news is on the way.

Your Highness,

people from the Hall of Stars are here.

Hall of Stars?

Show them in.

Your Highness, it is an honor to meet you.

My name is Hong-joo, I am the Shaman of the Hall of Stars.

All right.

What brought you here?

Your Highness.

Please ask all your servants to step away.

How dare you?

How dare a shaman request that?

The Queen Dowager asked me to speak to you in private.

Leave us.

Go ahead.

What are you doing?

I am sorry,

but this is an order from the Queen Dowager.

What are you doing? Take it off.

How dare you? What do you think you're doing?

Stop it right now!

How dare you?

I am the mother of this nation.

We are chasing the bad energy away from you.

You need to conceive as soon as possible

to become a true mother of the nation.

Continue.

Ma'am

It is impossible.

What do you mean?

I am sorry to tell you this,

but Her Highness is sterile.

STERILE INCAPABLE OF PRODUCING OFFSPRING

What?

Queen Sim is sterile?

Then

What should we do?

Your Highness,

please do not worry.

What do you mean?

Do you have an idea?

That cannot be.

That is the only way.

If something goes wrong,

it will cause another big trouble.

Yes.

However, what we need the most right now

is to get a crown prince.

This is a choice you must make.

I will only follow your orders.

All right.

Like you said,

to have a crown prince is what is most important right now.

And he must come

from Queen Sim's womb.

It has been a while, my lord.

How did you manage to come back into the palace?

Did

the Queen Dowager summon you again?

Although you have held ceremonies at Sogyeokseo every day,

the Queen has yet to conceive.

I only came to console the Queen Dowager.

There are things that cannot be done.

Yes.

Queen Sim is sterile.

Keep it down.

However,

it is not impossible.

It may be considered impossible,

but I plan on doing it myself.

What do you mean?

No...

We're still suffering from what happened five years ago.

Are you planning

to do blasphemous acts in the palace again?

I'm not sure what you mean by blasphemous acts.

Both you and I pray for the betterment of this land.

Watch what you say.

How can those who serve the skies

and those who serve ghosts be the same?

Is that why

you prayed to the unwavering skies?

How can you expect a flower to bloom from a stone?

You are naive.

It seems like the scar is almost gone.

If you plan on going against divine providence,

I won't

sit still this time.

Ma'am!

What is it?

We have no time.

He is in danger!

Didn't you promise me that you would

never bring Hong-joo back

to the palace after I covered up

what happened five years ago?

But, why did you bring Hong-joo back?

Against

the cries of the scholars,

I did my best to keep Sogyeokseo under my wings.

How could you

stab me in the back?

What do you mean?

You knew, didn't you?

That Queen Sim is sterile.

Yes.

I already know.

How can I not know?

I want peace in the palace as much as you do.

However,

the heir to the royal family

is not just for the peace of the palace but is a duty to the nation.

How can a person of your job

hide this from me?

Had I told you the truth,

what would have happened?

I'm sure Queen Sim

would have lost her life

just like the queen before her.

Watch it!

Your Highness.

I cannot depend on Sogyeokseo any longer.

From now on,

all spiritual activities will be led by Hong-joo.

You are dismissed from your title.

Your Highness,

I don't mind what you do to me.

But I cannot allow Hong-joo

to take over.

The energy from the sun is weak.

I can see signs of treason rising from the outside.

How can you be against my decisions?

I understand you completely,

but you must not be tricked by Hong-joo.

You already know that

her black magic calls for misfortunes.

Hong-joo will end up

taking over the palace.

Be quiet!

Do I look like a person who would be fooled by a shaman?

How dare you think so lowly of the royal family?

I am done speaking.

Leave this palace right now

and don't ever come back.

-Your Highness. -I said, leave!

Your Majesty.

Your Highness.

There is a huge problem!

What is it?

His Majesty is in critical condition!

What?

What happened?

I believe

it is acute indigestion.

"Acute indigestion"?

Yes. We were able to notice it right away,

so he has been looked after.

That is a relief.

How did you know?

That is...

It's all right.

Go ahead.

I'm so sorry.

But I'm not sure.

You're not sure?

Yes.

I just

hear things.

Hear what?

Sometimes,

I can hear things other people cannot.

Once I hear the sounds

those things end up happening

no matter what.

When did this start?

I can't be sure

but I have been hearing them

ever since I was a child.

You have done your job as a shaman.

I'm sure the King will reward you.

You should head back to your quarters for the time being.

Yes, Ma'am.

I can sense a strange energy around her.

She is

no ordinary shaman.

Goodness.

I'm so jealous.

They gave her the palanquin

so she may visit her mom and her brother.

She is so lucky.

Lucky ones get to have dreams about the King's sickness,

while I

get muscle cramps.

Why don't I hear or see things?

-I know, right? -Goodness.

-It's Hae-ran. -Hae-ran.

HALL OF STARS

You look so beautiful.

Hae-ran.

You must be so happy.

Can you buy me a present at the market on the way back?

I want a rouge.

The red one, okay?

Did you hear anything today?

Share with me if you did.

Gosh, move back.

This is what the Queen

is giving as a gift for you and your family.

Thank you, Ma'am.

Have a safe trip.

What is it?

Your Highness.

You do not

have a womb that can conceive.

What?

Is that true?

Does the Queen Dowager know?

Your Highness.

Do you really want to conceive?

If you follow my orders,

you will be able

to conceive a baby.

Will you do as I say?

I will.

What should I do?

Please, help me.

We're here. You may come out.

Are you Hae-ran, the shaman from the Hall of Stars?

I'm sorry? Yes, Your Highness.

You will have to follow my orders from now on.

You will be

serving the King tonight.

Pardon me?

What do you mean?

-How could I? -The lady-in-waiting

and the Hall of Stars made this decision with me.

All you have to do is follow my orders.

Do you understand?

I am a shaman. I am serving the spirits already.

I cannot serve a man.

He is not just any man.

He is the King of Joseon Dynasty.

All you have to do

is rid the King of any bad energy.

But...

I heard that you have an old mother and a younger brother.

If you do a good job at serving the King,

I'll take care of them for the rest of my life.

However, if you reject

You don't want to see what I will do.

You may not look at His Majesty in his eyes.

Also,

you may not make sounds.

Even if by mistake,

you may not cause any injury to the King.

Do you understand?

Your Majesty,

you may start the intercourse.

Your Majesty,

please start the intercourse.

You must accept him.

Your Majesty,

you must do it in a position like that of a seal.

Your Highness.

I'm fine.

I heard from the others

that you have been turning your meals away.

I was worried about your health,

so I called a doctor.

You should get checked.

I'm fine, really.

I just don't have an appetite.

Your body is no longer yours alone.

It is the King's.

Stay still.

Why are you smiling?

Pardon me, Your Highness.

I was just

reminded of my mother.

Whenever I was sick,

my mother would have the same expression

every time she looked at the doctor.

Thank you, Your Highness.

You are always looking after me.

I'll get out of my blankets by tomorrow

to pray for your conception.

What do you mean someone else will conceive for me?

Although someone else will get pregnant,

I will make the baby crown prince come out of your womb.

Who would be

that someone else?

A strong shaman will be able to absorb the black magic.

I'll make sure there is no further trouble

so do not worry.

Do you mean...

Kill her.

She is with child.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Does the child know?

No.

She thinks it's a cold.

It's time.

Did you bring it?

These are Hae-ran's belongings.

Your Highness.

You have to be strong.

It will be a very long night.

It's you again. Don't try to stop me.

Wasn't it enough

to have covered the sun of Joseon five years ago?

It's my duty to revive a rotting sun.

What's wrong with changing kings?

And that is why

I plan on making a king with my own hands.

Don't you know

that black magic comes with consequences?

I do.

I know it very well. I know how dangerous it is.

I could lose my life from doing this.

So stop acting as if you're the only one concerned about this nation.

I'm putting my life on the line for this nation.

You? The one who despises this country

more than anyone?

What

do you plan on doing?

Are you trying

to kick me out like five years ago?

Or will you

cut me with that sword?

Stop the incantation right now.

This is your last warning.

Go ahead and cut me.

You won't be able to stop me otherwise.

Stop!

Why did you come back here?

Did I not tell you

to never set foot in here again?

Your Highness.

You have to stop this.

Please don't let her continue.

Having an heir is important to the royal family.

To try and stop such a thing

can only be seen as treason.

Do you want me to take you that way?

-Your Highness... -What are you doing? Take him out.

-Yes, Your Highness! -Yes, Your Highness!

What are you doing? Get him!

-Yes, Your Highness! -Yes, Your Highness!

YEONEUNGAK

Yo-gwang!

Stop!

No.

Yo-gwang.

Are you all right?

Actually, I dreamt of a black phoenix

flying into my stomach.

Was everything

predetermined?

Was it impossible to stop it?

Good work.

You deserve all the praise.

Good job.

I'm going to reward you handsomely this time.

Congratulations, Your Highness.

However,

it is not over yet.

Black magic...

Do as you are ordered

and we will pray for your peaceful end.

Your job is to bring life to the nation

but you brought evil along with your black magic.

Are you not scared of the consequences?

Joseon Dynasty will be doomed because of you.

The King will die an unnatural death.

The bloodline of the royal family will be broken

and the palace will see a bloodbath.

Looking at you going on and on,

I see that you still have some energy left in you.

Kill her.

Your Highness!

Please have mercy on me.

If I die, my poor mother and brother will also die.

Please have mercy!

Your Highness!

Do not worry.

I will send your mother and brother with you.

Hae-ran!

Hae-ran!

Hae-ran.

-Hae-ran. -Are you all right?

-Have mercy. -Hae-ran!

-I'm scared. -Please don't hurt us.

-Please, have mercy. -Please don't kill my baby.

-Please don't kill us. -Have mercy.

Why did you

kill my poor mother and brother?

They're innocent.

Why?

Die, you witch.

Die!

Shamans

may see another's future but not their own.

I'm sure it's the same for you.

Your spell will end up taking your own life.

You will be ripped into pieces and become food for the dogs.

Remember it!

You will die without leaving a trace.

Die, you witch.

Die!

Were you...

in on this, too?

Congratulations, Your Highness.

They are beautiful twins.

However,

these beautiful babies

will die on the day

of their 17th birthday.

If they somehow avoid death,

they will lead lives more painful than death itself.

Anyone who loves them will die

and anyone they love will

also die!

Your Highness, push a little more!

You're almost there!

Congratulations, Your Highness.

It's the Crown Prince.

My son...

Your Highness!

-I see another head! -What?

-What is this? -Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Congratulations.

It's the Princess.

Princess...

Did I have twins?

Did I really have twins?

Call Hong-joo right now.

Now!

It's just as she said.

She said I would have twins.

What is that?

A curse.

What?

Both the Princess and the Crown Prince are cursed.

What should we do?

What do I have to do?

What can I do to save them?

The only way is to transfer all the curse

onto one child and kill it.

Kill the child?

How can I kill my child?

That's impossible.

I won't do it.

I won't!

You originally asked for a Crown Prince.

If you kill the Princess, you will have the Crown Prince.

Please make up your mind.

Will you lose both

or will you gain a Crown Prince?

My baby...

My baby.

Oh, my baby.

Is this the child?

Yes.

What should we do?

She's cursed.

She has to die.

If she holds the seed to misfortune,

she must.

However,

it'll be difficult to kill her

because of the curse on her.

What do you mean?

The only person who can kill this baby

is her twin, the Crown Prince.

What?

The Crown Prince is still only an infant.

How...

Is there any other way?

The only way to purify the curse is through True Samadhi Fire.

However,

the burning technique is only used by those of Sogyeokseo.

Lord Hyun-seo Choi is the only one who can perform it.

You should be happy.

The Crown Prince

was born today.

This is his twin sister, the Princess.

But there is a problem.

That baby

is cursed.

What?

You...

You really...

I warned you your black magic would bring misfortune.

Sacrifices must be made

to achieve great work.

That is why...

I need your help

to cut off the curse.

What?

Kill...

the Princess.

Do you think he'll do it?

He cares for this nation more than anyone else.

If he is the person I know he is,

he won't be able to refuse.

My lord.

If the curse is let loose,

the Crown Prince's life will be put in danger.

Don't be arrogant like five years ago.

Or you will end up being responsible for diminishing the royal blood.

The child must die for our country.

There is no life that should not have been born.

That is what my brother used to say.

It does not matter who they are.

Whether they are rich or poor,

sick or healthy,

every life has a reason

for coming into this world.

Yeon-hee.

Everyone is born

with a reason in this world.

He told me that finding the reason is what we call life.

So don't be sad.

I'm sure

you have a reason for your existence, too.

I wasn't sad.

I will make sure

to find that reason.

SECRET HEALER

500 nyang.

I have been wanting that kite ever since I saw it.

I'll go get it.

500 nyang.

I really need that money, so get out of my way.

Go away, you ghost!

Save me, merciful Buddha!

The Crown Prince tells me

-he dreams about this girl every night. -You fools.

Do you even know what her curse is?

You are all dying now

because of her.

-No! -I will

protect you.

Hey, is your name Yeon-hee?

If you get lost like you did today,

then

listen for this sound and find me.

Father.

What is

wrong with me?

SECRET HEALER

SECRET HEALER

Subtitle translation by Julia Lee