Original subtitles

[This is a work of fiction. All the characters, locales, groups, and incidents have no connection to historical facts.]

Are you the Mok In Hoe's leader...

Lee Gyeom?

Tell me...

why you did something like this.

I wanted to end the King's tyranny

as soon as possible.

By even...

borrowing your name, Lee Seol.

Do you believe that you could defeat the king on your own?

Is that why you are trying to take the throne by leading Mok In Hoe with a lie?

No matter how much the world has changed,

a lie will never become the truth.

You will have to turn everything back to its original state.

I will not wait long.

Are you okay?

Why did Scholar Kang San point his sword at you...

Let us go down and talk.

[Episode 13] He chose to do that to stop the king's tyranny?

He stole your name. No matter what the reason was,

it is stealing.

Since there is only one throne,

he will end up trying to take your life as well.

Father was also killed by his brother.

I never want to repeat that tragedy.

He and I share the same goal.

It is to remove the King and correct the order of the country.

Your Highness.

I will give Lee Gyeom a chance.

You might end up getting attacked.

The enemy's enemy could become my biggest ally.

Do you trust Lee Gyeom?

I want to try trusting him at least once.

If he is the man I know,

he will make the right decision.

It is your turn to sign, Your Highness.

Is that why you are trying to take the throne by leading Mok In Hoe with a lie?

[Lee Seol]

Scholar Kang San is Lee Seol, the deposed Crown Prince's son?

So the reason he pointed his sword at you was-

He told me to turn everything back to its original state.

It is too late to go back.

You know that, too!

You already got the scholars' signatures

and you even met with the Queen Dowager!

I am aware.

No matter what anyone says,

you are Lee Seol now.

Yoo Ha ended up finding out who I am?

Yes.

I asked him to keep it a secret,

but would it be okay?

Do not worry.

Yoo Ha will not speak.

I believe so, too, but...

You never get to be at peace, do you?

I always...

cause you nothing but troubles.

Do not say such a thing.

I am just relieved that we are together like this.

By the way,

why are you not preparing for the state exam?

I heard only you failed the first round.

That is what Dan Oh said.

My dream does not depend on the state exam.

You are a promising scholar, but you are not taking the state exam.

What will you do from now on, then?

I want to forget about the past.

I care more about our tomorrow together.

Why do you always avoid situations by making a joke?

I want to know more about you.

I feel the same way.

How about you? What do you want to do in the future?

I just want to...

live as I am.

Not as a lady ghost pretending to be dead,

but as alive Yoon Hong Ju.

Using my own name.

I am sure that day will come.

Maiden Hong Ju.

Are you trying to hide now?

I already saw everything.

The rice cake was tasty.

It is nice to share!

Do not look at me like that.

I thought we agreed to feign ignorance.

If it is just...

fleeting feelings,

please do not tempt her too much.

I am worried...

that she might get hurt again.

What if they are not fleeting?

I never felt this way, either. So I cannot explain it, but-

Are you...

treating Hong Ju sincerely?

Dan Oh.

Maiden Hong Ju is as strong as you.

If you keep worrying about her as if she is a child,

how could she go out to the world?

That is true, but...

- Unni is- - I know.

But she cannot

live as a lady ghost forever.

What is this about now?

Did you know

that Father had a son he hid from us?

Did you find Lee Gyeom by chance?

I knew you would know.

Please tell me everything you know.

I heard Lee Gyeom has followers.

Are you referring to Mok In Hoe?

Yes.

If so, do you know who is helping him?

It is Queen Dowager.

She thinks he is the eldest son of the Crown Prince.

He did not just lie to Mok In Hoe.

Please be careful.

You might end up getting eaten by the fake one.

The truth does not matter.

If the majority believes it, a lie becomes the truth.

Sir.

What brings you to the palace?

I was invited to Naeyeon.* (A party at the palace in which mostly women get invited)

I got to run into you like this.

What a joke.

She was waiting for him to come out desperately.

We could have come out sooner.

We had to clean up because of her!

- I know! - It was no coincidence.

Why are you acting innocent suddenly?

Could you set some time aside for me?

Right now?

I waited for you for a long time.

Today is actually my birthday.

I did not want to pretend to be happy

and spend the day meaninglessly.

You should have some, too.

I am okay.

You should take a break today.

I will talk to Hostess myself.

There are red bean rice cakes, too.

When Mother was alive, she used to make them on my birthday.

I am sure they are not as good,

but please enjoy them.

Sir.

Instead of thinking of me as a lowly courtesan,

could you think of me as a woman?

I know, too.

That you have to be qualified

to love someone, too.

But...

you were the only one for me since the moment I first saw you.

You were...

a woman to me from the beginning.

What are you doing?

It is just that...

my heart belongs to someone else.

Do you have a woman you love?

Is that woman Lady Dan Oh, by chance?

That is true.

Lady Dan Oh must be happy.

She cannot be just happy.

I am hurting her a lot.

Aigoo!

I thought there was thunder!

Why are you letting it out on the innocent cloth?

That little cat...

was on someone else's stove.

It is a good thing he went somewhere else, is it not?

He would no longer steal our food.

Meow!

Meow!

- Meow! - A woman?

Since when was he so good at making a move?

Although it's hard for you as a noble to lift scholars' ankles,

it's very easy for me, a courtesan.

Hold on.

What is wrong now?

Ban Ya could not have seen the red mole, has she?

Meow!

I cannot read at all!

Why is this cat meowing so loudly, anyway?

What are you doing over there, Ahjussi?

Have you not seen a cat?

I think he went inside the yard.

Right!

He even came into the house, so I shooed him away.

That is a relief.

- Go back in. - Yes.

Come out now.

- I cannot get up now. - Why not?

Will you put a blanket out here and sleep or something?

My legs fell asleep.

I was crouching here for too long.

I cannot walk.

The noodles turned cold.

Because of your icy stare.

Did I make a mistake by chance?

Since...

when was I a woman to you, Orabeoni?

What?

What are you talking about all of a sudden?

I just...

became curious.

You said someone was a woman from the beginning.

Were you at Buyounggak today?

You were...

not exactly a woman...

- So I was not a woman or anything- - A lover.

Lovers. That is what we are.

You are...

definitely good with words.

I meant it.

It is not working.

How much...

did you reveal yourself to Ban Ya?

What is there to reveal, anyway?

I mean...

Should I say your skin, maybe?

Dan Oh.

I kept telling you this,

but you are mistaken about that night!

We did not touch anywhere from head to toe!

How could I prove my innocence?

Even your ankle?

You did not show her that, either, right?

What do you mean, my ankle?

- Out of the blue? - Please be honest with me.

This is a very important matter.

She did try to take my socks off.

I was so drunk then.

You know, right?

My days in the palace will be difficult if I refuse to drink at the welcome initiation.

Yes.

I understand.

Take a rest.

I do not think she knows.

If Ban Ya saw the red mole,

she must have learned that he is Lee Seol.

Will you just leave Lee Seol alone?

I am thinking about how to overcome the current situation.

They say the weak ones have to make the first move.

You need to attack first in order to win this time.

Are you telling me to kill my brother?

Just think about it.

Lee Seol even put a sword on your throat.

Also, he has the Watchman.

If you do not act first, you will end up getting hurt.

I know it, too.

That there cannot be two Lee Seols.

Why do you want to see Ban Ya?

I have a question to ask.

She is not in her room now.

She left to go to Chief Administrator's house.

Chief Administrator?

Why would she go to his house-

Could there be a special reason?

He probably called her because he was fond of her.

So...

have you found out anything lately?

Tell me anything.

I think I gave you enough time.

The thing is...

It is not about Lee Seol, but...

Hostess has been acting very suspiciously lately.

What did you say?

Not only she goes out at night often,

young scholars frequent her room as if they live there.

What could the young scholars be doing there?

It did not seem like they were there to drink.

Maybe they are plotting something together.

They're secretive.

One of them is a scholar from Ihwawon.

I heard he is the son of His Excellency Jung Yoon.

- Do you mean Jung Yoo Ha? - Yes.

I am sure she is plotting something behind your back.

Look into it further.

Find out what she is up to.

Yes, I will.

Ban Ya.

By chance,

did you really tell Chief Administrator the truth?

So, you also knew, Dan Oh...

who Scholar Kang San is.

You were supposed to discuss it with me first.

- You should have- - Do not worry.

I did not say anything.

I am looking for silk clothes. What do you recommend?

If it is for you, there is a lot inside.

Come in.

It is for a woman.

You said you wanted to live as Yoon Hong Ju.

You will get a chance to go out into the world in new clothes soon.

My dear husband...

My dear husband!

Please open your eyes!

You cannot leave me like this! You cannot!

That is enough.

Crying will not do anything.

Being a virtuous woman is the best thing a widow can do.

If your father were alive, he would have told you that.

Unni!

Think carefully.

It would bother me to just let this go.

I need to check.

Yes, sir.

Aigoo!

Aigoo, I could have carried it myself!

Is it not heavy?

This is light!

Should I put this in the kitchen?

Yes.

I am thinking of making a refreshing dongchimi!

This will be the side dish for the whole winter.

You will make it?

- You mean yourself? - Yes.

Aigoo! I wanted to help My Lady out.

When there is a flower blossoming in your heart,

you cannot bring yourself to work.

Hold on.

A flower blossoming?

You must be...

having a hard time working, too, then.

Geez!

Seriously!

Aigoo!

My goodness!

I will not be able to make dongchimi anymore!

Is Dan Oh inside?

S-She left early in the morning.

She has not returned yet.

I am sure she will come soon.

You are looking for Dan Oh first thing as soon as you come.

There is something I need to tell you.

Please come to Jookrimwon.

Do not be too shocked.

She found out everything about you.

Everything?

What do you mean...

Feel free to talk. I will wait outside.

Do not worry.

I will not report you, Your Highness.

Thank you...

for saying that.

Do not misunderstand.

I'm not doing this because of my feelings for you.

My father...

died trying to protect the Crown Prince's son.

As his child,

I cannot let my father's death be in vain.

I am sorry for what happened to your father.

I should have apologized and sought forgiveness a long time ago.

How could that have been your fault, Your Highness?

I will reinstate everything to its rightful place

and your father's honor will be included as well.

I did not know Ban Ya had such a painful past.

It is my fault.

I made her lose her family...

and completely ruined her life.

You said you have a calling...

to fulfill as a grand heir, right?

Because countless people lost their lives,

you cannot turn a blind eye to them.

I think...

I understand a little bit of what you meant.

If I don't bring down the King...

their sacrifices will have been for naught.

I won't let it end up like that.

Y-You came back early today.

- What about dinner? - I already ate.

See me for a moment.

Then...

I'll leave you two to talk.

Tell me...

what you plan to do from here.

I'll see you at the meeting.

Tomorrow at the Hour of the Monkey.

All right.

I'll meet you there.

What did you just say?

Who met whom?

Lee Seol and Lee Gyeom.

Those two have met.

But...

how did you find that out?

Lee Seol had come to see me.

He appeared out of nowhere and asked about Lee Gyeom.

He even knew Lee Gyeom stole his name to be the leader of Mok In Hoe.

He already found out that much?

There will be yet another slaughter

between brothers for the throne.

How different would they be from the other royalties?

I do not know who will die and who will live...

but you should be the one to make the final decision.

As I had promised...

I will make the one you choose...

into Lee Seol, Your Excellency.

Head Eunuch visited Left State Minister last night?

- Not Watchman? - Yes.

He went into Left State Minister's residence and took forever to come out.

Good job.

- Keep watching him closely. - Yes.

Did you call for me?

Is there anything new you found about Left State Minister?

There was nothing worthy to be reported about.

There was nothing, huh?

Yes.

I will tell you right away when any suspicious circumstances are observed.

You may take your leave.

Did Lee Gyeom send you?

Answer me.

Who ordered you to come to me?

Kim Chi Woon, was it?

Is there still no information about Lee Pyeong's bodyguard Yoon Dan Oh spoke of?

We have people searching in each province in addition to Gaeseong.

Besides that, I have something to report.

The former inspector general who was executed for treason...

Are you talking about the one

who was telling me nonsense, calling it advice?

Yes, Your Majesty.

According to the Royal Investigations Bureau...

the one who freed that man's old mother after becoming a slave

was Left State Minister, apparently.

Is it treason?

Is Left State Minister Shin Won Ho...

trying to commit treason against me?

Kim Shi Yeol...

why on Earth would you be...

What would you like me to do?

Retrieve...

your sword.

Will you be okay?

I must hear the specifics.

I believed we might be able to join forces...

since we have the same goal.

Although that belief has just been shattered to pieces.

I know it would be hard to believe,

- but I did not do this. - Then who did this if not you?

Who would scheme something like this?

And why did you come so early? I said let's meet at the Hour of the Monkey.

You said you wanted to meet two hours early.

You sent a letter to me, did you not?

If you do not act first, you will end up getting hurt.

I know, too.

That there cannot be two Lee Seols.

Therefore, it is right for me to step off.

You are going to give up at this point?

How will you handle the aftermath?

I will meet Lee Seol at the meeting tomorrow and tell him my intentions.

I think I suspect who was behind this.

I will take care of it without trouble.

I started it.

I will put everything back into place.

I mean it.

The throne is not what I could not give up.

Mok In Hoe vowed in writing to give up our lives for the sake of taking down the King.

What I feared the most was having their determinations go to waste.

As you said,

we have the same goal.

So let me request of you.

Since you showed yourself now,

please lead Mok In Hoe yourself, Grand Heir.

The Lee Seol whom Mok In Hoe follows...

is not me.

It is you...

Lee Gyeom.

If I stand before them, there is sure to be confusion.

So you have led them for a while now.

I will think more about...

what we will do from now on.

Also, as for this hairpin...

I do not have the right to take it from you.

It is an inheritance Father granted you.

All right, help yourselves.

The two of you are doing great work...

looking for Lee Seol, who has been on the run for over a decade.

I am only sorry I fail to relieve your concern every day.

Do not say such things, Left State Minister.

If it was not for you,

I could not have protected the throne.

You embrace this humble one's flaw with so much grace.

Your grace is as vast as the heavens.

Is there anything else you found out about Lee Seol?

There was a suspicious move.

I will soon secure the evidence and report to you in a few days.

Your Majesty...

please do not worry about Lee Seol.

I currently have a spy who is collecting information in Mok In Hoe.

You ordered it yourself?

At a recent gathering,

Lee Seol showed himself and became their leader, I heard.

I am also looking into when the next gathering is.

I will raid Mok In Hoe with soldiers.

If that day comes...

could you take down Lee Seol?

Yes. Of course.

Of course.

This time, without fail...

I will catch Lee Seol and bring him to you.

You two are coming together?

Yes. We ran into each other just now.

Your hands must be cold. Give it to me. I'll sweep the rest.

It's okay. I'll do it.

Give it to me. Hurry inside and take a break.

Aigoo, San.

You think Dan Oh came out to sweep the yard?

She was obviously waiting for you.

Did you get hurt?

Was it your doing, Hostess?

Did you try to kill Ok Jin?

I am very disappointed.

- I said I will step down! Why would you- - I did not...

want to witness another horrendous sight.

It is always righteous people like you...

who get sacrificed in political strife, Your Highness.

It was the same for Crown Prince, too.

How do you know so well...

about Crown Prince?

I have been curious from the beginning.

You are hiding something from me.

- Could you possibly be... - He had a reputation great enough...

for even this lowly one to know.

Crown Prince's character and knowledge were outstanding.

You take your hands off in this matter, Hostess.

Who is my birth mother?

He did not mention Mother in his will at all.

I heard she was of low class.

It is more beneficial for you not to have any interest.

What's wrong?

Are you worried about something?

It's nothing.

Why are you outside in this cold, Unni?

Is Scholar Shi Yeol still out?

It's so late at night already.

He already came back.

He has been back the whole time, huh?

He could have told me he was back.

But he came home a bit injured.

- He probably needs to rest- - He was injured?

Yes.

I heard there was a feud with the ruffians on the way...

Scholar Kim...

Maiden Hong Ju...

why are you in front of me?

I'm sure this is my room.

Why would you sleep like...

you were dead?

Did you rush yourself here, worried I might move on to the afterlife?

I heard you were injured.

Where's the injury?

It's nothing. Just a bit.

How did you get into a feud with the ruffians?

You know I have a way with words.

Since they couldn't win with words, they resorted to violence.

I'm sick of those jokes now!

I can never really tell...

what you're thinking, Scholar Kim.

I apologize.

But it was really a light injury.

Gosh.

Shall we make a bet?

You're bound to improve a lot when you get competitive.

A bet? How can I win against you, Orabeoni?

I'll land all three shots in the middle.

You only need to land only one.

All right.

But we still need punishment.

- It's still a bet. - Go ahead and choose.

It doesn't matter to me.

Please, please, please.

Gosh.

Geez, that was so close.

You saw it, right?

Right. You were a whisker away from winning.

We don't know that yet.

You still have one more shot to land, too.

Whoa, what a great teacher you are.

Did you have to try so hard to win?

Well, a bet is a bet.

Since we agreed not to go easy...

No, I don't want that, either.

Don't go easy.

Hurry up, and let's get it over with.

♪ Dazzles my eyes, like the sunlight ♪

♪ Lost in a dream that is you ♪

♪ When I'm walking for countless nights ♪

♪ The star that shines on me ♪

♪ Whenever it may be, let me be with you ♪

What's this?

They say the five-colored pouch keeps you healthy for life.

It was handmade, so have it with you all the time.

Do you trust such superstitions, too, Dan Oh?

I need to rely on whatever I can.

When a person's desperate, there's nothing he can't achieve.

All right.

I'll have it with me until I age and my hair turns grey.

Even if...

in the slightest chance...

this five color pouch has no power...

so nothing gets achieved...

I want you...

never to fall.

Is it really all right to go outside dressed like this?

It's only for today.

I found a great place.

The migrating birds would be the only ones to recognize you there.

Gosh.

Aigoo, it's fine.

The handkerchief looks more precious than my shoes.

- I'll do it myself. - It's fine.

What brings you to the tavern?

To see you, Dan Oh.

You're almost done, right?

Dan Oh.

Do you remember?

I had asked you to meet me at Gwangtong Bridge before.

Yes.

We did not get to talk on that day, right?

I must tell you today what I could not tell you that day.

Even though it's too late.

Try them on.

I was always concerned about your feet tapping in the cold.

Orabeoni, I am...

I know, too.

You would not be walking toward me with these shoes on.

Still...

Even so...

I liked you deeply, Dan Oh.

I'm sure you would not know.

Just how consoled I was by you.

I was able to last this far...

thanks to your consideration.

This was why she protected Ihwawon like her own life.

Yoon Hong Ju!

That child was alive, after all.

How is it?

Do you feel better?

They said happiness lasts but a moment.

I think that moment is right now for me!

♪ Because I have been hiding these feelings ♪

Maiden Hong Ju...

I'm very different...

from what you...

think of me to be.

♪ It gets farther and farther away ♪

Perhaps, the Kim Shi Yeol you know...

might have been made up entirely.

But please remember this one thing.

Though I may be a different person,

my feelings are...

sincere without a speck of falsehood.

♪ Do I just need to wait endlessly? ♪

I love you, Maiden Yoon.

♪ Can you hear my heart? ♪

♪ My heartbeat flows toward you ♪

♪ Although it calls out to you like this ♪

♪ The love that can't be severed ♪

♪ The feelings that can't be hidden ♪

♪ The love that I want to express to you ♪

[The Secret Romantic Guesthouse]

♪ To me, all of them are for you ♪

♪ Do I just need to wait endlessly? ♪

♪ Can you hear my heart? ♪

Please do not leave me behind.

If she really is alive, I will end her life.

You're braver than anyone in this world, Maiden Yoon.

Aren't you afraid of getting your brother's blood on your hands?

- I'm afraid. - I'll be with you by your side, Orabeoni.

So please succeed in taking the throne.

Deposed Grand Heir Lee Seol will not make it alive past this month.

If he makes it past this month, will you give up your neck, Left State Minister?

Do you intend to kill the King?

That day is our chance. The chance to get rid of the King.

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