Original subtitles

Be careful with that. Put it right here.

Yes, my lady.

- Here it is, my lady. - Put on the table.

What are you doing all this for her?

She could take Soon-shin away from you. What then?

Should I tell the Madam not to let her go near him?

Don't start with that again.

She's had a hard life. I will care for her like a sister.

Even if she takes the man you love away from you?

Then... I'll just have to deal with it.

I'm speechless! How can you say that?

If you're not ready for a fight, forget about him!

Forget about him and get him out of your heart!

I failed to protect them...

But never again... I will become stronger.

I will never lose anyone else because I'm not strong enough to protect them.

Master Namgoong made you a true warrior.

He left you his heart.

I'm sure he died peacefully without regrets.

All teachers are alike.

Is that true?

I went to pay Master Bang a visit and heard the tragic news.

Poor Soon-shin... Nothing comes easy for him.

The pain of losing a beloved master will last a long time.

But what can he do?

He'll have to get it and go on with his life like a man.

Sir Yi, you're back.

What brings you?

My master asks to see you.

What can I do for you, sirs?

Is this Yu Sung-ryong's house?

Yes, it is. May I help you?

Your Majesty, what brings you to my humble home?

I missed my friend.

I cannot summon you to the palace as often as I please

because there are many eyes in the palace.

I am overwhelmed, Your Majesty.

I had so many thoughts and ideas when I lived at home.

It was before I realized that it isn't easy for a descendant of the royal

house to enter government service.

Every time I came upon unreasonable policies, every time I saw persecution

of the people, I told myself that I'd become strong and smart

and go out into the world.

I wanted to become a faithful minister who risks his life to speak the truth

and little by little change this world.

Your Majesty...

But now I'm on the seat of the King and everyone says that the world is

mine, but it's so difficult...

I feel helpless and incompetent...

You knew it would not be easy from the start.

But I assure you, you are doing extremely well.

That's no true.

All I hear is "no" from everyone, and I'm just feeling sorry for

myself not knowing what to do...

Sung-ryong, it's me, Soon-shin.

Oh, wait a moment. I'll be right out.

I had called a good friend of mine not knowing Your Majesty would be here.

I will send him home.

No, have him join us.

Any friend of yours is a friend of mine as well.

But, Your Majesty...!

My name is Yi Yun.

My name is Yi Soon-shin.

Please let me pour your first drink as you appear to be older than I am.

Let me pour for yours as well. Why are you so nervous?

Yes, please.

Sir Yi, so much has changed in the country. Don't you agree?

I'm told the rural literati have begun to return to the royal court since

the new King was installed and Master Jung-am was exonerated.

It's a wonderful world, isn't it?

Is it?

So we have a new King, a few subjects have been removed and a few innocent

men have been exonerated. Does that make the world a wonderful place?

Then...?

If the world is such a wonderful place, why are there still hungry people?

While we are drinking wine casually chatting about life, there

are those who are losing their mothers, their fathers, their

teachers and their sisters because no one bothers to care about them.

Do you really think this is wonderful world?

Soon-shin, are you drunk? You're out of line.

No, I'm not drunk. My head is crystal clear.

Changing people doesn't change the world.

His Majesty has raised the banner of reform, but if he stops at replacing

a few officials, the world will not truly change.

Remember. For as long as people are being persecuted and exploited,

for as long as the ruler and his ministers ignore them,

the world will not change.

If you'll excuse me?

Sung-ryon, I'll visit another day.

Soon-shin!

Wait!

I will take your words to heart.

Director Yu, to hear such truths is precisely why I came out of the

palace in disguise tonight.

Your Majesty...

Kneel. You are before His Majesty the King!

Your Majesty, I have unknowingly committed great contempt!

I deserve to be punished!

Why would a ruler punish a subject that speaks the truth?

I may not be a competent ruler, but I am not that narrow-minded.

Your Majesty...!

Yi Soon-shin was it?

Yes, Your Majesty.

I am in need of good men like you. Quickly enter government service.

And share your noble and pure heart with me.

Your grace is immeasurable?

I've summoned you all here today to make an announcement.

I intend to reduce the number of palace servants by half.

Your Majesty, such action is completely unreasonable.

The size of the royal staff reflects the King's authority and dignity.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What's more, there are many loyal servants who have served the palace

for generations. Such action may be disrespectful to the late King.

Yes, Your Majesty. We beg you to withdraw your command.

Withdraw my command? Is there any order you will not resist?

Deign to see, Your Majesty!

What is your opinion, Prime Minister?

Your Majesty, I, Prime Minister Yi Joong Kyung, believe it is a right

and proper command.

I believe your intent is to display voluntary privation.

The King is the father this people.

If you share your children's pain in this time of hunger and scarcity with

moderation and voluntary privation, the people will revere you and

praise your virtue.

I agree.

I don't believe that the size of the royal staff reflects the King's authority.

One must rule his household before he can rule the country.

The palace is my home. How could I discuss the affairs of the state

if I cannot properly manage my household?

I will revive under in the palace by removing those who committed immoral

acts after a thorough investigation.

- Search the room for records! - What is the meaning of this?!

- Start the search! - What is going on?

Is this Imperial Attendant Ju Tae-moon's home?

Yes, sir...

- Come! - Yes, sir!

Split up!

Read the report!

Your Majesty, this is...!

There is a nameless eunuc in the palace who won't let one grain of rice

go to waste, but there are sacks of rice rotting in every one of your

grain sheds!

Your Majesty...

How many innocent lives have you destroyed to fatten your own belly?

And how severely did mislead the late King?

Were these actions in accordance with the customs of the palace?

Your Majesty...

Leave. I cannot have you near me any longer!

Eunuch Yoon Gil-choong, receive the Royal Command!

Your profundity to see the thought and effort of others from a grain

of rice is the reason why I am placing you in charge of the palace

staff as the new Imperial Attendant.

Never lose your compassion and serve me well.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty.

Harvest ceremony, Your Majesty?

Yes. The farmers are the heart of this country.

But they've been suffering great distress due to natural calamities.

To make matters worse, tyranny has been at its peak.

I will go personally and comfort them.

Your grace is immeasurable!

Furthermore, we must devise a measure to wisely endure the lean years.

Your Majesty, if I may be permitted to speak...

There was a book called "Famine Relief" published during the reign

of the late king.

"Famine Relief"?

It contains various ways to deal with famine, but it was never

widely distributed.

Why was this book not widely distributed?

Take from the Royal vault if you must. Print and distribute this book

to each provincial authority and implement these measures.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty.

He didn't touch his meal again?

Don't sigh. Time heals all things.

It's awful for the girl that was taken, but I'm relieved in a way.

At least you won't be agonizing over Sir Yi because of her.

You're the only one near him now...

Perhaps I wanted the challenge.

You know what, Borem? Yes, I wanted to compete.

I wanted to give it a shot. Am I not silly?

My lady...

I thought perhaps if I treated her really well he'd take notice of me.

He said she was like a younger sister. He did not say they were lovers.

So I told myself to just trust those words and treat her well,

and perhaps he will be moved.

Her room... I set up her room with thought and attention for me.

Not for her but for me.

I want to keep her near me and measure her love for him against mine.

My lady...

But she was way ahead of me.

How did she figure it out?

He did she figure out that she would forever remain in his heart

by leaving this way?

I guess it's over for me now... I'll never be able to defeat her...

I will protect them...

I will look upon everyone I come across as you and as the master,

and I will protect them...

Are you alive? Will we ever meet again?

Won't you let me be there for you?

You don't have to share the joy.

I will expect nothing from you.

But... let me share your rage and pain.

Father!

Ahsan, 1572

I told you to be careful.

Wife, you're here.

Yes, Husband.

Don't you show your tears!

You're such a brave boy. You feel but you won't cry.

What brings you out here?

There was a messenger from Seoul. My father sent a letter.

He says a military service examination is soon to be held.

Madam, why are you outside? The baby might catch a cold.

The sunlight is lovely.

A little bit of autumn sun is good for the baby.

Oh Madam...

Isn't that right, baby? Wui will grow up healthy and strong.

I'm back, Mother.

There you are.

You must be exhausted. Go inside and get some rest.

Yes, Mother.

Perhaps you should have stayed with my father.

I could have taken care of the household alone.

You've been working so hard alone taking care of the house and keeping

up with your martial arts training at the same time...

No, wife. It is my duty to lead the household.

I can't put all of the burden on your shoulders to pursue my cause.

But...

When will you go to the capital city?

I suppose I should go soon.

I'd like to go with you this time. I haven't seen my father in a while,

and there is something I'd really like to do in the capital.

Ham-kyung Province, North Military Base

Can't you run any faster? Hustle!

How will you catch the nomads at that speed?

Hustle! Hustle!

Move quickly or you're dead!

What the?

Get up. Get up and run!

Captain, I think I sprained my ankle...

Get up, I said!

Let me take a look.

Captain, he's badly hurt. This soldier needs to rest.

No. Get him on his feet!

But...

Try telling that to the nomads.

"This man is hurt, so don't kill him."

I won't hear any excuses!

This is the frontier!

The battlefield is right in front of our noses!

What are you doing here?

Aren't you pushing these men a little bit too hard? Take it easy.

They still have a long way to go to catch up to the nomads.

Come. The regional commander wants to see us.

Very well.

Captain Won, Captain Yi.

Yes, sir!

I need the two of you to take your troops and go to Jongsung.

I'm sure you've heard, but the number of Jurchen nomads have been rapidly

increasing in that area. They are raiding the villages,

and even the government agency is under threat of their attack.

They need your assistance.

But sir, the northern frontier could become vulnerable if we take our

troops out of here to assist Jongsung.

What are you saying?

The local government agency is under threat of nomad attack.

Imagine if Jongsung fell under their control.

There is no guarantee that this area will be safe either.

Ham-kyung Province Jongsung Military Base

Keep up the good work!

You idiots!

Do you want to got your head chopped off by the nomads?

Are you out of your minds!

If I ever catch you sleeping on duty, you will answer to my sword.

- Is that understood? - Yes, sir!

Wake up!

Where are you from?

Naju.

You're from a warm place. No wonder you're shaking like a wet dog.

How long have you been here? Ten days?

Exactly ten days.

You're one unlucky son of a gun to have ended up here so close to the

devils when you've barely finished your training.

Devils?

They are beastly devils! They use javelins and hatchets,

and they ride horses like you wouldn't believe!

I was so afraid on my first encounter that I buried my head in the ground

and played dead.

I wonder if we'll make it back home in one piece...

Don't be too scared. What's even crueler than those nomads is

Captain Won. If we can survive his cruelty, we can survive anything.

It must be the cold. I have to go again.

Go ahead.

All right. Keep your eyes open.

What's that?

Are you sure this is all right, sir?

Captain Won will be furious if he found out.

The guards are freezing their intestines out there,

and I can't feed them a little wine?

But Captain Won will never accept that.

Captain Won is a human being and so are all of you.

But he treats his men like dogs.

Tell him to stop me if he can! I'll show him!

If he tries to fight me, I'll thrash him!

That boy is dead asleep!

Hey, where's the other one?

On your feet, soldier!

What?! The nomads have raided the village?!

Yes, sir.

Those bastards!

Sir, I come with a message of the local magistrate!

What is it?

The nomads attacked and destroyed the village and got away with our grains!

What?!

Lt. Woo issue an alert!

They're running with sacks of grains so they couldn't have gone far.

Yes, sir!

Is there a shortcut to the nomad's camp?

Yes, but the road is very rough.

All right. I will make mincemeat out of all of you!

All forces attack!

Lt. Woo!

Go after them! Don't let them get away!

Yes, sir!

What happened? Speak!

We... were... ambushed.

Dam it! What happened to Lt. Woo? Where is he?

The nomads... captured him... and took him alive...

What now?

What do you mean? I'll kill them all and save Lt. Woo!

But there was an ambush.

That means they were anticipating our retaliation.

What are you trying to say?

I'm sorry about Lt. Woo, but we can't risk more casualties to save one man.

Let us retreat.

No, we will not!

I will not let the nomads hold our soldier hostage!

Captain...!

Drop your weapons! Drop your weapons, I said!

Spare us!

Seize their weapons!

Yes, sir!

Retrieve the goods and grains they stole from the village!

The law of the land will deliver justice for what they've done!

What are you doing?!

What's the point of putting these beasts on trial?

I'll make an example out of these bastards so that the nomads never

set foot in Chosun territory again!

Lt. Woo!

Yes, sir.

Decapitate the dead and collect their heads in a cart!

Pardon?!

Send their heads hack to their camp and show them what Won Kyun

does to those who bring harm to Jongsung!

Yes, sir!

Ji Gwa (Stop the spear)

Things are finally looking bright for you, my lady!

You've been stuck in the boonies for years now.

Once Lord Yi passes the military service exam, you'll be saying

goodbye to the backwoods!

Lord Bang will set you up with a wonderful house once you return.

Stop that. Mother will be hurt if she heard such talks.

You're not planning to stay here, are you?

Then Lord Yi will be living all alone in Seoul.

What are you doing outside?

The night air is cold. Please come inside now.

No. My prayers are all I have to give for my son...

Your ardent prayers will surely help him to pass the exam.

Yes, I certainly hope so...

I'd like to do my part. Let me pray with you.

Wife,

you will have to go to Seoul first without me.

I'd like to stop by Gon-yang.

I should let Master Namgoong know...

Yes, of course.