Original subtitles

(This program is a work of imagination...)

(based on historical figures.)

Give Duk Im a glance.

She begged our grandpa...

to forgive you on my behalf.

I'm busy right now,

so maybe later...

How rude.

How dare you look at the face of the Crown Prince?

I am sorry.

Your Highness.

What are you doing here at this hour?

I noticed you dropped the fan...

while I was passing by.

I thought you almost lost your precious fan, Your Highness.

I am glad the lecturer passed by.

Lecturer. Thank you.

The Crown Prince's Lecturer?

Lady?

You should head to the lecture room, Your Highness.

It is time to prepare the royal lecture.

Yes.

The lecture room.

San. Will you not even say goodbye to your sister?

I have a message from Mother too.

See you, Duk Im.

San. Mother is worried.

Strength is important,

but you need to find the truth.

What is wrong with him?

Why did he lie to me?

Why did he fool me?

- Good luck. - Good luck.

Are you really leaving first?

Why do you not stay and help?

It is so hard to put the collar on.

What is ever easy for you?

Hey. I am doing this to help you.

Then help me right.

I am already upset. Do not make it worse.

Being a rookie in the Sewing Department is tough.

I cannot believe the court maids.

They passed all the hassles...

to young maids.

At least give me enough thread. What is this?

Gosh.

What took you so long? You said you will be here early afternoon.

- Let's go throw stones. - What?

I will stay up to finish this. Even if that takes three days.

Let's go throw stones with me.

Let's go.

I am coming.

Duk Im. You are very good at skipping stones.

Why can I not do it?

Is there a secret?

Yes. Imagine this pond is...

the face of the person you hate the most at the moment.

Every time the stone skips,

it is a slap on that person's face.

Think about it.

One slap is never enough.

I need to slap him at least ten times.

Slap that face.

I have waited for three days.

But she never came for once.

Are you waiting for someone, Your Highness?

It is nothing.

Go ahead and inform me.

I have found the source of the anonymous letter.

The anonymous letter to East Palace...

Stop it. You do not have to inform me.

Your hands are empty.

If you have found evidence, you would have brought it.

A strong suspicion is useless.

Nothing can be done with just suspicion.

My apologies, Your Highness.

If we can't find any evidence,

it's better we forget about the anonymous letter.

We cannot dwell on it forever.

Your Highness, this cannot be condoned so easily.

We must reveal every detail...

about who dared try to slander Your Highness.

That petty anonymous letter...

does not come before my life.

The day the tiger raided the palace,

someone shot an arrow at me.

While I was hunting the tiger,

I found myself being targeted by someone.

Can you imagine...

how it felt?

The culprit is within my guards.

Find him no matter what.

The Queen has set the date for your coming-of-age ceremony.

You will no longer be young maid trainees.

You'll be official court ladies...

with the junior ninth rank.

I hope you all become outstanding court ladies...

who are true to the custom of the Internal Court.

(Court ladies served kings and queens in the Joseon times.)

- Yes, my lady. - Yes, my lady.

Duk Im, are you up to something?

Right, what's the long face when everyone's delighted?

I don't want to be an official court maid.

Why don't you want to be an official court maid?

Court ladies and maid trainees are treated way differently.

I think it's not a bad idea to remain as a trainee...

and keep working at the library.

But the library is too dusty.

No one will appreciate it no matter how hard you work.

Once you start working at the East Palace,

people's attitudes will change dramatically.

I don't want to work there.

Why not?

It won't change the fact...

that I'm a servant.

What?

I may attend the ceremony in pretty clothes...

and become a junior ninth-rank court maid.

But I'll just be serving someone high.

I won't get to say a word even if they mistreat me.

If I make a mistake, they will kick me out immediately.

I'll have to be anxious at all times.

I'm just a servant.

A servant isn't supposed to think,

but I keep having so many thoughts.

Don't spoil the good day with your silly words.

You're ruining the mood. Stop it.

We're not alone. We can help each other in need.

Don't be too afraid of becoming a court maid.

Okay.

Kitty, thanks for everything.

I wasn't lonely thanks to you.

I wish I didn't meet that jerk here, but good things happened too.

"That jerk"?

Did you perhaps...

refer to me?

Of course not, Your Highness.

Should I do anything for you?

What is this bag?

It is mine.

I do not work here from now on.

Then where will you be working?

I belong to the East Palace, so I will be working there.

I own that palace.

I guess I'll have to keep seeing you.

That is correct.

I'd rather not leave any cause for future trouble.

I happened to fool you unintentionally,

but do not resent me...

or have me bothered for it.

Do you understand?

I have work piled up.

I have so many grave and urgent matters to deal with.

But because of you, I wasted four days...

Anyway, don't bother me.

It's tiring.

Yes, Your Highness.

That liar.

Why did he have to fool me? He's so annoying.

You.

Do you have like 10 spare lives?

I asked you a question.

Your... Your Highness.

I am so sorry.

What are you thinking right now?

There's always a way out if you keep your head on straight.

Your Highness, I don't deserve your mercy...

Please show mercy and forgive me.

Why are you changing words?

In case I kill you for real?

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Sit.

Your Highness.

Come sit here.

Your Highness.

Stand up.

And sit down here.

I only have half an hour.

Tell me how you truly feel within that time...

instead of cussing at me behind my back.

Until the shadow hits five o'clock,

you may treat me like the lecturer.

How can I treat you the same way when I know who you are?

Then what was that with the salt?

People even cuss at the King behind his back...

I don't deserve your mercy.

Sit.

I promise.

I won't get mad at you until it turns five.

Tell me how you feel.

I may be...

just a mere court maid to you,

but I will be serving you for the rest of my life.

It's not right to mock me.

I mocked you?

You faked yourself a lecturer...

- in disguise. - First.

I wasn't in disguise on purpose.

I simply enjoy wearing humble clothes.

Besides,

my outfits shouldn't matter.

I'm astonished that a maid can't even recognize my face.

Second.

I never faked my identity.

It was just your assumption.

You could have corrected my misunderstanding.

Why do I have to do that to a mere young maid?

Anyway, do not hold a grudge about it.

It would bother me, which is tiresome.

So...

"Do not hold a grudge against me for your misunderstanding."

"Do not dare to resent me. You are just a mere young maid."

You came to say that?

A sincere apology would have done.

You do not know how to apologize.

Are you telling me to learn...

how to apologize to my subordinate?

Yes. You should learn it.

Everyone in the world is your subordinate...

and your people.

So you should learn how to apologize to your subordinate...

and your people.

They said a true king always reflects on his mistakes...

and bows down to his people.

I am very disappointed with you...

who do not know how to do that.

So that is your opinion about me.

I will forget what happened so far.

Between you and me, nothing has ever happened.

Do not show yourself in front of me from now on.

My lady.

What nonsense is that?

Does it make sense that a young maid in the East Palace...

does not want to work there?

I could do other jobs.

I could go to palaces for ancestor veneration or annexed palaces.

The one who cannot work in the main palace is not even a court maid.

She is just a lowly girl at the palace.

Stop with your nonsense and sleep.

Please.

If I should keep working in the East Palace,

how can I not show myself to the Crown Prince?

This is driving me crazy.

The Crown Prince is strict about everything.

So you must learn properly.

Be careful with the shade of the ink.

It cannot be too dark or too light.

It should look like this.

- Yes, my lady. - Yes, my lady.

Write it.

Everyone is a mess.

If you grind the ink stick like this,

how would His Highness write letters with this?

- You are frustrating me. - I am sorry.

Give it to me.

You did a good job.

Duk Im is very good at grinding ink sticks.

Her handwriting is also the best.

Is that so?

You know what you are doing.

Wol Hye.

You are picked.

Picked? Did I do something wrong?

You will serve the Crown Prince.

Your hair is not tidy.

Cut her wage in half for this month.

Yes, Your Highness.

What are you doing?

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

You are late.

How can you not be on time?

Do not give her wage this month.

Yes, Your Highness.

Please forgive me.

Take them to the inspector court lady...

and cane them 20 times.

Yes, Your Highness.

Do you think I am your friend?

How dare you talk like that to me...

forgetting your position?

What did those court maids do wrong?

They were being overly friendly.

The Crown Prince hates court maids to the bone.

Everyone tries to pawn off their duties to others,

and make a fuss.

Wol Hye. I cannot do it either.

Please help me hide from His Highness.

It is too late for you.

Why did you do such a good job at grinding ink sticks and writing?

The others did a bad job to avoid the duty.

From now on, it is your responsibility...

to fill His Highness' water dropper.

Make sure it is always filled with water.

It is not that hard.

You just need to stay in your place next to His Highness.

I will count on you, newbie.

I want to go back to the library.

The place for royal lecture will change...

on the first day of the next month.

It will take some time to repair the building.

Tell them to finish it as soon as they can.

Yes, Your Highness.

Why do you want to change it all of a sudden?

Do you not like Juhamnu?

I do not like the library next to it.

You.

Yes, Your Highness.

Never touch what is on the desk.

I understood, Your Highness.

Your Highness, I brought medicinal decoction.

Bring it in.

My lady.

Can I ask for a glass of cold water?

Yes, sir.

I have found a suspicious man amongst your guards.

What are you doing here?

I was wondering how you were doing.

How is it?

I was scolded for touching the desk.

You should be glad you were only scolded.

If you touch food, you will get whipped on the spot.

Do not even think about tasting it.

The eunuch of East Palace does it himself.

(The eunuch of the Crown Prince's palace)

No one ever explained it to me.

They just told me to serve the prince out of nowhere.

Will you help me please?

I will see about that.

You should go. Hurry.

I have poured it.

Dry it by the window.

What are you doing here?

You have been getting on my nerves.

Do you recognize me?

Did you think I would not even check who is in the room with me?

If you ordered me to leave, I would have left immediately.

My apologies, Your Highness.

How could I possibly work here...

after making you angry?

I will rush to change my assignment...

and never appear before you again.

Come back here.

Raise your head.

A court lady who serves me by my side does not keep her head down.

She has the privilege to look at my face.

That way she can serve me promptly.

Make sure this is always filled. Do not leave it empty.

Your Highness.

I will soon change my assignment,

so I will tell the new person...

Change your assignment?

Says who?

Does the soldier make the decision for the general?

I make the decision. You just follow it.

But I was told not to appear...

You only caught my attention because it is your first day.

If you always stay next to me,

you will eventually become invisible.

You are just one of many court ladies after all.

It does not bother me at all.

As long as you are good and useful.

Get me water.

Yes, Your Highness.

I like that it is raining,

but I do not have an umbrella.

- Master. - My lady.

I wanted to apologize.

I'm sorry I couldn't tell you...

I'm the Crown Prince's lecturer.

Please don't apologize.

I'm the fool...

for mistaking someone else for the lecturer.

I wanted to resolve your misunderstanding,

but I was worried he might not want it.

So you knew...

that he's the Crown Prince.

Everyone knew, but me.

I mean, he wears a jade hair button at such a young age.

And he can go everywhere in the palace.

Why did His Highness fool you?

I guess it was fun teasing a clumsy maid.

I didn't know he could do such a thing.

I should've...

thought of it at least once.

Thank you.

I can go alone from here.

But you still have a long way left to walk.

There might be a lot of people inside.

We don't want to cause any misunderstandings.

Right.

Take care, master.

Goodbye, Lady Sung.

How did you know about my surname?

I was going to wait.

I wanted you to tell me your name yourself.

I guess it's better we don't meet too often.

- Why? - Because you're a court maid.

You can keep...

this umbrella.

Now I get why everyone is head over heels for him.

You're back.

Sam Wol, are you going home now?

Yes.

- Take this with you. - I'm okay.

Come on. You don't want to catch a cold.

Thank you.

Bok Yeon.

What are you doing here?

It's not Duk Im. She doesn't have an umbrella.

What a relief. It's not your friend.

- What's going on? - Some young maid...

dared share an umbrella with Master Hong.

She even received his umbrella.

He's always kind,

but he never offers his umbrella to anyone.

I'm sure she pulled a trick on him.

Why couldn't Ok Geum see her face?

Once I catch her, I'm going to tear her limbs apart.

By the way,

why isn't any wench coming in with an umbrella?

Duk Im.

Ok Geum said she saw it.

The coming-of-age ceremony is coming soon.

Around this time of every year,

I feel delighted and sad at the same time.

After the ceremony,

they will join this family of court ladies.

It's a good thing to have more family members.

But it's sad that those beautiful young girls...

must be stuck in the palace for the rest of their lives.

People call us the ladies on the moon.

They treat us with respect.

The palace on the moon where the legendary women lived.

Gwangan Palace.

But they wouldn't know how lonesome that place is.

We must rely on each other and protect one another.

We only have each other to trust.

Keep this in mind, all of you.

- Yes, my lady. - Yes, my lady.

Maybe the rain got me sentimental.

I didn't have to say that.

Let's talk about work.

Recommend some eligible soon-to-be court ladies.

We need new court ladies...

to serve the King and the Queen.

Of course, the Crown Prince too.

Lady Seo.

Yes? Yes, my lady.

You're Sung Duk Im's teacher, aren't you?

That's right.

I remember when I saw her for the first time.

She was a brave kid.

She's pretty and smart,

so it may be a good idea to keep her close to the Crown Prince.

I... I...

I disagree.

- You do? - She isn't careful.

She can't keep her tongue under control.

In other words, she's confident and brave.

A timid personality is a no.

One shouldn't be scared...

to serve her master.

I think she's eligible, but you don't?

Still...

I'm afraid she will bring disgrace on you.

She's still young, so let me train her a little more.

The ceremony is to be held soon.

She will no longer be under your wings then.

She needs to be trained more...

Fine, let's wait and watch.

- We don't have to rush this. - Yes.

But it has to happen someday.

A young man is the owner of the East Palace.

Thus, a young woman should serve him.

- Yes, my lady. - Yes, my lady.

My lady.

My lady.

I will see you later.

Oh, you're meeting your family outside the palace today.

That's right.

You've grown up to be a woman now.

Of course, I'm expecting the coming-of-age ceremony soon.

Goodbye.

- Why's taking her so long? - Goodness.

- There she is. - Finally.

- They're coming out. - My gosh.

- Sweetheart! - Here!

- Bok Yeon. - Father!

- We're here. - Mother!

Goodness, you must've gone through so much.

Duk Im, see you later.

It must've been tough.

See you.

Look at you.

Young lady.

- Bye. - Should we go now?

Oh, my.

Who are you?

Sir, it is me. Duk Im.

Can you not recognize me?

Oh, the young maid whose surname is Sung?

I want to make a deep bow to you.

Can I go in?

How can I receive a bow from a young maid?

I could work in the palace because you had adopted me.

We just received an order from Her Highness.

We do not know anything about you.

Her Highness wants to see you.

You should go right now.

I am deeply grateful to you...

for adopting me as your daughter.

Both my parents died.

If you do not save us,

my sister and I would die as well.

I am fine to die if I must.

Please save my sister at least.

My father...

served the Crown Prince with loyalty.

So please... I am begging you, Your Highness.

You came.

Your Highness.

I cannot believe you are already 18.

Oh, my. Time flies.

I heard you are going to be a court maid soon.

It is all thanks to you.

I will repay your kindness of saving me and my brother.

Do you really think so?

Will you repay my kindness?

You saved our lives. I must repay you.

Then you can do it from now on.

I need a person.

A person to tell me about the Crown Prince.

You want me to report to you about the Crown Prince?

I should know everything...

that is happening around my son.

Your Highness, even if you are his biological mother,

you cannot spy on the Crown Prince, an heir to the throne.

It is against the rules of the palace.

The rules of the palace?

I used to stick to them.

Everyone in the palace spy on one another.

It is actually harder to find someone who is not a spy there.

But I...

cared about useless rules...

and just read "Instructions for Women", stuck at my palace.

What is a sense of shame?

What did caring about losing my face do?

If I had had my spies...

on my husband...

if I had had my eyes on the late Crown Prince...

Talking about someone who is already dead is useless.

What I should do is to save my child who is alive.

Tell me everything that happened to the Crown Prince.

I need to know everything that is going on with my child.

- Your Highness. - Your parents are traitors.

You are only alive because I had mercy.

Someday,

you should be reunited with your brother.

I will leave the palace and convalesce...

at my family's house for a while.

(Convalesce is to move to a quiet place to recover one's health.)

This is a pass.

When something happens, come out of the palace to report to me.

- My lady. - Yes.

- Tell them I am thankful. - Yes.

Is that the young maid who begged Father...

to forgive the Crown Prince?

Yes, Your Highness.

And she is a personal maid of the Crown Prince now?

Yes.

You wench.

Who are you?

She is Princess Hwawan.

- Your Highness. - You wench.

Do you know your fault?

Your Highness, what did I do wrong?

How dare you use the King's path?

- I beg your pardon? - I saw it clearly.

Your skirt brushed the road only His Majesty can use.

I was definitely not on the royal road.

How dare you make an excuse after committing a cardinal sin?

You are a mere young maid but your arrogance is intolerable.

Take this wench and flog her 100 times immediately.

Yes, Your Highness.

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

I beg for your mercy.

I beg for your mercy, Your Highness.

- Please forgive me. - Release her right now.

- The Crown Prince. - Aunt.

This young maid used the King's path.

And I was going to punish her for that.

Did you see that in person?

- Of course. - That is strange.

I was there at the same time but I did not see that.

I see.

You are taking her side.

Because she is working at the East Palace?

How did you know...

that she belongs to the East Palace?

Because...

it is obvious.

If she does not belong to the East Palace,

why would you interrupt?

Right.

As you said, she belongs to the East Palace.

So...

the one who can punish her is not you...

but me, the owner of the East Palace.

Follow me.

Stop.

Do you know only you can punish your maids?

No.

There is another person who can discipline...

all the women working at the Internal Court.

Your Highness, a young maid from the East Palace committed a sin.

But the Crown Prince is taking her side just because she works for him.

Punish her by flogging her 100 times.

And you cannot allow that?

No, I cannot.

Even if she did step on the King's path,

flogging 100 times is too harsh for her sin.

Being flogged for 100 times as a girl, she might die.

Instead of flogging her,

let us not give her wage for half a year. How about that?

If you show your mercy and generosity to her,

I will take your side as well.

What do you think?

You are the owner of the Internal Court.

I...

will do as you want.

Mercy and generosity?

That sounds nice, but please do not force me.

How is it my fault...

for wanting to protect the palace customs...

and the royal family standing with dignity?

I said I saw that young maid breaking the custom...

with my own eyes.

So you shall flog her 100 times...

and keep Internal Court's dignity.

- Crown Prince. - Yes, Your Highness.

You just said...

you will follow me...

since I am the owner of Internal Court.

Princess Hwawan is your aunt.

One young maid should not...

ruin the relationship between the aunt and the nephew.

As Princess Hwawan wishes,

we shall punish that young maid.

What a clear decision.

You sure deserve to be the head of Internal Court.

I shall be going, Your Highness.

You wrench.

Follow me immediately.

Princess Hwawan.

We can punish the maids at any time.

You have not been here for a long time.

If you leave so early, I will be disappointed.

I made some duteoptteok myself.

You should try it.

Your Highness. I am busy...

I want to treat you...

with the food I made for six hours.

You do not have to decline it.

His Majesty is here.

What are you all doing here?

- Queen Kim. - Yes, Your Majesty.

You have made food yourself for me?

Was that not tiring?

If it is for you, nothing is tiresome.

I shall try it.

Father. You must not eat it.

The Queen has made it with effort.

Why are you stopping me?

That rice cake is poison.

What?

Princess Hwawan.

I made it myself and tasted it.

And you call it poison?

Are you doubting me?

Princess Hwawan. What on earth are you talking about?

I do not mean the Queen put poison in the rice cake.

However, that rice cake itself will be poison to you, Father.

Have you forgotten you had indigestion...

after having rice cake and suffered for three days?

I still remember it vividly.

Because I was worried something might happen to you...

and cried for whole three days.

I am worried about you...

more than anyone in the world.

You mean the world to me.

If I lose you,

I lose everything.

Others have nothing to lose.

They would not understand how I feel.

My.

To put it down, the Queen will be disappointed.

To eat it, Princess Hwawan will be worried.

San.

What do you think I should do?

What should I do...

with this rice cake?

The Queen spent six hours to make it.

If you do not eat it,

the Queen will be disappointed.

No.

But since your safety matters the most,

it is better...

not to have the rice cake.

- Is that so? - The Crown Prince is right.

I am sorry, Your Majesty.

I should have known better.

I only thought about increasing your appetite.

I did not possibly think...

it could harm you.

Wait.

That reminds me. Isn't that her?

Sung Duk Im. Am I right?

Yes, Your Majesty.

What are you doing here?

Your Majesty. We were discussing her punishment...

as she committed a crime.

Apparently, her skirt has brushed past the King's path.

It is only a minor incident,

but it bothers the Crown Prince and Princess Hwawan.

I am not sure how to punish her.

My Queen. You should not be concerned.

She is not the only maid in the palace.

How could you pay attention to every one of them?

Since she belongs to East Palace,

the Crown Prince shall decide her punishment.

- Father. - What?

If you let the Crown Prince decide her punishment,

he would defend her blindly since she belongs to his palace.

Then there is no point in punishing her.

Then we shall watch if he handles it properly.

Whether he defends her blindly...

or makes a fair decision that anyone would agree with.

- San. - Yes, Your Majesty.

One day, you will have the power of life and death...

over everyone in Joseon.

So, you should only make the right decision...

and make everyone agree.

I am aware of it, Your Majesty.

Punish that young maid.

I will see if I like your decision.

If the Crown Prince defends that young maid blindly,

you will not be satisfied by it.

If...

a minister walks on the King's path,

I must kill him.

If a commoner walks on the King's path,

I will imprison him, but I will not take his life away...

and set him free with mercy.

An ignorant commoner made a mistake,

but I cannot take away a man's life that was given by the deity.

I will let the world know that.

However, if a court maid walks on the King's path...

I do not even want to pay attention to something so trivial.

Aunt Hwawan.

If there are leaves on the King's path,

the court ladies choose a date to sweep.

If the King's path is icy due to snow...

they sprinkle hot ashes on the snow to melt it...

and sweep the ashes away.

If the slippery path...

causes the Your Majesty to fall,

it will be a huge problem.

Court ladies are just tools.

Thus, they can't even be subject to punishment.

However,

she seems to have ruined Aunt Hwawan's mood.

I shall punish her for it.

I'll deduct her salary for six months.

Aunt Hwawan, do you like my decision?

Princess,

how do you like his decision?

Father, I...

like his decision.

I hope you're satisfied with it too.

Of course, I am.

He has never disappointed me before.

I'm glad everything's settled on good terms.

You must be happy to receive a light punishment.

If the punishment was grave,

I was going to defend you a bit.

What happened today isn't your fault.

Don't take it to heart.

- Your kindness saved me... - Today,

you saved me first.

I didn't get to read His Majesty's intention thoroughly.

If not for you, I would've told him...

just as I thought.

It could've been dangerous.

A woman is delicate indeed.

A woman is delicate indeed.

Make it easy to wind already.

I'm doing my best.

Duk Im.

What kept you busy in thought?

Am I delicate?

Not at all.

Someone thinks I'm delicate.

Whoever that is, they probably don't know the definition of it.

Young Hee is one example.

She put all the colours together to make our work easier.

That's being delicate.

Anyway, it's a good thing, right?

It's good to be delicate.

You're dwelling on it so much. Who told you that?

I'm not.

I'm just wondering if I left a good impression.

Kyung Hee's right. I'm not delicate at all.

Anyone who thinks I'm delicate will be disappointed for sure.

So who thinks you're delicate?

Lady Seo.

- Liar. - Liar.

You seem suspicious.

I'm looking for Sung Duk Im.

There are strange rumours...

that the Crown Prince frequents the courtesan house.

- Pardon? - He's said to be close...

with Lords Kim and Jung.

Do you know anything?

I do not.

But I don't think he'd do such a thing...

You think those rumours are groundless?

I do not know.

I'm just a servant.

I cannot dare judge him.

Find out.

Sure.

Welcome, master.

Leave us alone.

Master Hong?

Where's the Crown Prince?

Who are these people?

You came all the way here without knowing anything?

Pardon?

Whether you knew or not,

I have only one conclusion.

Kill her.

- Yes, master. - Yes, master.

Stop!

(The Red Sleeve)

You're no longer a maid of East Palace.

Leave the palace tomorrow.

I must be obedient.

Because I'm a court maid.

It seems the Crown Prince can replace me now.

I will make sure to dethrone the Crown Prince...

and help another royal become a great king.

This game is ours.

Nothing should get in his way...

until he takes the throne.

Did I sway you?

Or did you sway me?