Original subtitles

Your Highness!

Your Majesty!

Can you see me?

Light up the room a bit. Perhaps then...

Will he be able to live this way?

Your Highness...

Will he lose his eyesight and be forced to live in complete darkness?

But there is so much left that he wants to do...

Now?

The physician said it these bouts of blindness would become longer.

When did this start?

"How much longer?" is the important question now.

How much longer will I be able to see?

Will I be able to finish the writing system development while I still have my vision?

I'm seeing a lot of you fellows lately.

We're the ones who should be surprised.

You've been coming to the temple much to often.

I'm putting together some sutras to send to Japan.

What brings you two here?

We've taken an interest in Buddhist scriptures lately.

May I borrow this one?

Certainly.

There is certain to be a secret in that storeroom.

Keep your eyes on them and check more carefully.

Our speech sounds...

"Each sound is produced from different parts of the body."?

Tell me what I can do.

You'd be shocked if you knew what I am thinking.

Even so, you would help. Wouldn't you?

Of course, Your Majesty.

Are you out of your mind?

Do what to a human body?

Dissection of a human body?

All of the our speech sounds have different characteristics and different source.

I think we need to study the anatomy of human body in order to understand why.

But...

Don't raise objections. Keep an open mind.

If the world ever found out about this.

Make this possible.

I... I don't have a lot of time left.

What do you mean?

Figure out a plan.

I know it's pushing it.

That's an understatement, kid.

Cutting up a dead body that's just wrong.

Help me out on this.

I said no!

Don't you think we should oppose?

Why?

Confucianism is Joseon's national ideology.

This goes against our principles.

We've been working for 7 years, and we're

not even close to creating a new writing system.

My man!

I'd make a deal with the devil if that's what it'll take.

An anatomy study is the only chance we have of speeding up

the writing system development.

Focus on your inventions, kid.

That's why I need this even more.

I want to leave our work behind in our own writing.

Choi-Mu-Sun, your father left his life's work in Chinese. So...

Are you mocking me right now?

Because I was slow in learning

to read and I didn't know what my father left behind was shit or gold?

That wouldn't happen If we had an easier written language.

Are they really going to make it easy?

The whole purpose is so the common people can use it.

It would certainly reduce injuries if we handed out written

instructions to the weapons testers.

It'll be easier for the technicians to master their skills.

And that would speed up the development, too.

Does this mean you'll help?

Oh, you and His Majesty are always cooking up trouble!

Whatever happened to respect? Greet your elders when you see them!

This is so strange...

What is?

You're not drunk!

What's the story?

Do you really think I'd tell you the story?

I'll buy you a drink.

Since when does Saga Reading involve drinking?

Get back to your study, kid!

Choi Haesan frequenting Jingwan Temple?

What do you think is the reason?

Were looking into it as well.

Jingwan Temple...

The King, the young scholars now Choi Haesan...

Could you get me a detailed layout of the temple grounds?

I'll try.

List of foreigners, Your Highness?

Do many Hui Hui people still enter the country through Byuklando and Donglae?

Some do.

Why do you ask about Hui Hui if I may ask?

Would you see if you can find a physician among them.

A Hui Hui physician?

If the Crown Prince is personally looking for a physician, could this be about the King?

His condition may have worsened, perhaps.

But put the King's health in the hands of a foreign physician?

A serious illness?

His Majesty's illness has taken a turn for the worse. Hasn't it?

Did he speak to you about it?

So it must be true then.

Tell no one about my imminent blindness.

If you do, you will lose your life.

His Majesty's illness is nothing new.

Then why is the Crown Prince trying to find a Hui Hui physician?

A Hui Hui physician?

We can't allow a human dissection.

If the word gets out, Father would be a King who violated Confucian principles,

and the Royal House will lose its legitimacy.

Legitimacy of the Royal House will not crumple as long a the

people are at the heart of the reign.

But...

Don't waste your time with needless worries and make it happen.

Go to Gaesung.

Luckily, I'm told this physician can speak our language.

Find him and bring him back.

Are you going to fight me on this?

Yes.

Yes!

Yes, you must fight!

Didn't I tell you no visitors?

He said it was an emergency and forced his way in.

What's the reason?

Please tell me your reason first.

Why do you need a Hui Hui physician?

Will he be caring for the King?

No.

If not, what is the reason?

His Majesty's health is not improving, so we are simply trying to seek advice.

Hui Hui are beastly people who cut up

human body without any medical knowledge.

They cut up human body?

Renounce this idea, Your Highness.

Respecting the body given to us by our parents is beginning of filial piety

the first principle of Confucianism that this country is built on.

We cannot seek advice from those who does not share our belief.

Choi Manli has become suspicious?

I told him that it was because of your illness, but...

He won't believe you.

Then?

It might be best to forget about the Hui Hui physician before he digs any further.

You asked to see me?

Would you like to guess why?

No, and I'm quite offended.

Offended?

I am not at your beck and call, Assistant Director Choi.

Are you angry with me?

Yes, I am.

But not as angry as you are with the Crown Prince, of course.

I refuse to be tested by you.

But how could I be your tactician if

I couldn't read what's on your mind, Your Highness?

What's this about?

You need someone like me.

How... is he?

Deputy Commander Jang?

Would you take me to him?

He's probably not at his place.

Finding a corpse is not easy, so...

He's out looking himself?

What's the story with this stiff?

It's a murder case.

They're done with the examination, so we're getting it out.

Did anyone claim the body?

Huh?

If not, I'll give him a funeral.

In what generosity?

I'm trying to do good deeds to make up for my past sins.

Oh, my husband!

- Honey! No! - Father!

What are you doing here? You shouldn't be out and about!

No luck again?

They don't just dump the body unless it's an executed criminal of high treason,

but high treason is unheard of these days

and there hasn't been an execution in over a decade.

Are you complaining about the good world His Majesty has worked so hard to create?

I guess I am.

We are in the most troublous times Joseon has ever seen.

Troublous times?

It will require a new King to restore peace.

I believe you are our only solution.

That's quite a sweet talk.

Sweet talk?

Are you trying to soften me up?

You're fishing for something you can use against the King.

You underestimate me.

I do not need you to get the information I need.

I'm trying to tell you that I can give you the throne.

Do you know that is high treason?

It would be called loyalty if you became the occupant of the throne.

I will forget that I heard this.

However you won't turn me in.

Shall I tell you why?

Because of the thirst you feel right here.

One who can't hold a government post no matter how hard he works,

one who can's seize power of his own no matter how diligently

he supports the King and the Crown Prince...

The thirst only he can feel.

That's my destiny as a Royal Prince.

Knowing it and accepting it are two different things.

I told you once before not to second guess me!

I'll stop here for now.

You'll need some time to come to terms with the truth in your heart.

My doors will always be open for you.

Knock when you're ready to face the truth.

And I will gladly be your servant.

Let's get back and think of another way.

Hey buddy, do you want this guy?

What do you mean?

Didn't you say you're trying to do good deeds?

This man died in prison last night and no one's come to claim his body.

Thank you! Thank you so much!

What's to be so happy about?

Oh, well, I can lighten my karmic burden now.

Right?

Well then... Let's go!

Doesn't that man with Choi Haesan look familiar to you?

Jang Youngsil? Are you certain?

It was definitely him.

You are the best...

You made a sketch of him just in case of such event.

Good work.

Jang Youngsil is alive!

What could that be?

It's got to be something they need for the writing system development.

Why else would Gang Hui be taking it?

So it wasn't the storeroom.

What do you mean?

The King's secret office.

There's a hermit's cell up there.

You mean that hermit's cell is the secret office?

Let's find out.

Open the crate and see what's inside.

Did you get it?

Yes, it's ready.

G-g-g-ghost!

I guess you might think that.

Dongchang has confirmed that Jang Youngsil is alive?

He was seen with Choi Haesan.

Jang Youngsil...

So that's what happened.

No wonder Choi Haesan suddenly changed his mind.

I should've expected this from the King.

Sir, Choi Haesan and Jang Youngsil were transporting a corpse.

A corpse?

What could they possibly want a corpse for?

Hui Hui are beastly people who cut up

human body without any medical knowledge.

Is the King trying to dissect a human body?

Sir.

In the name of writing systems research?

I cannot. I cannot cut this man open.

Royal Physician might refuse.

What's more, anatomy dissection is a very specialized field.

But there's a good chance Choi Manli has his men on the Hui Hui physician.

I'll go.

Since they think I'm already dead.

This might be a dangerous and difficult task with your legs in such condition,

but I shamelessly except your offer to help.

Would you forgive me?

I'd like to praise you instead.

You're becoming a fine King-to-be.

Do you know that I love you and look up to you like a father?

Of course I do.

I also have a father that I love and respect.

Be careful, Deputy Commander Jang. It's an order.

Jang Youngsil is in Jingwan Temple.

We must search Jingwan Temple at once.

No, not yet.

We will wait until the Hui Hui physician arrives.

Sir...

We have to catch them at the act.

Then the entire aristocracy of Joseon will deny the King.

The King will have to leave the throne,

and his writing system development will be history.

I cannot dissect this man.

Is it because you don't have the skills?

It's also because this dead body must not be touched.

What do you mean?

This man died of an infectious disease.

Cutting open this man could potentially cause the disease

to spread though out the city.

What?

There're two roads that lead to Jingwan Temple through Ilji Gate...

And by this hermit's cell!

Jang Youngsil hide out...

This hermit's cell.

Chances are this is Jang Youngsil's hideout!

Geez! Please be gentle! You startled me!

Darn, after all that trouble!

What are you talking about?

It's none of your business. Where is Youngsil?

He told me to tell you that he's going to get the Hui Hui physician.

Alone at this time of the night?

He said we couldn't attract attention with lots of people.

But we don't even have a body. What's the use?

What's this all about anyway?

Mind your own business, kid.

We're going to Jingwan Temple.

We must kill Jang Youngsil and punish the Joseonese King

that patronized Great Ming!

I will find another body.

No, that's not necessary.

What do you mean?

It was an extreme idea. We will look for another way.

Do you have that kind of time?

Your eyes... I was there with you that day.

Youngsil has gone himself to bring back the Hui Hui physician.

We can't give up if only for the effort he's putting into this.

Deputy Commissioner...

Don't give up, Your Majesty.

Youngsil and I will do everything we can to help.

Because... because...

We really do need a writing system that's easy to learn and understand.

Just as I thought, you were the traitor.

Kill him!

Do we go after him?

I got him on a fatal spot.

He won't last long.

Commissioner Choi.

What is this?

You might need money.

Are you telling me to buy a dead body from the survivors? That's ridiculous.

- Fellow! - Poongae!

Hey, Poongae!

Jang Youngsil... He's life is in danger...

What?

I took a shortcut.

They'll be coming through the other road any moment.

Take Jang Youngsil to safety.

Youngsil! If he's going to Gaesung...

Commissioner!

There he is in the flesh.

We're in luck.

Get him!

There! After him!

No!

No. No, you bastard!

Clean up.

Hang on.

Hang in there.

We'll fix you soon.

Don't.

Sir...

"Father", kid.

Thank goodness your hands are all right.

Thank you.

I had a good life because you were there.

Don't say things like that. Just hang in there, and.

It's too late, kid.

Give His Majesty a message for me.

Tell him that I might be useful to him one last time when I'm dead.

That I'd like to contribute to creating our own writing that's easy to learn.

Tell him not to forget the promise he made me.

I cannot accept.

I don't deserve this great loyalty.

What in the world happened?

Please sit down.

Is it true?

How could Choi Haesan be dead?

I don't mean to callous,

but it's Haishou's death that we should be worried about right now.

He came to Joseon as a diplomatic envoy.

This could potentially lead to a huge diplomatic trouble.

We'll just have to pray that one man lives.

What brings you to my humble home, sir?

Choi Haesan was killed by Haishou.

And it's on you to remedy this situation.

What do you mean?

You must know who Haishou's informant was on our side.

Find a way to clean up this mess without causing a diplomatic row.

A Hui Hui physician...

Why did you bring the Hui Hui physician here?

What do you know about this?

Your love for the people, Your Majesty.

It's that love that infinitely connects us to you.

And when we see that love, we don't need to ask any questions.

We just know what we have to do, Your Majesty.

It's time to accept my father's loyalty, Your Majesty.

I will not forget your loyalty.

And I will return your loyalty by creating a writing system and improving

the quality of our people's lives.

Let us begin.