Original subtitles

This is where the real culprit is hiding.

All that has to be done is for one of us to get that ledger.

The transaction ledger that contains the name of the scoundrel

that sold my Forbidden City.

Could you please get the government soldiers here, covertly?

We have no choice now.

I'll stall the government soldiers.

You need to go and warn the guys.

There was a report that a thief has broken into the warehouse.

Thief? What thief?

I made the report.

I think there's a thief on the premise,

near the warehouse.

We have to get that thief,

Minister.

Do you doubt the government soldiers?

Our warehouse stores more than mere goods.

If the warehouse is robbed,

it won't be us that suffer,

but you.

Who...?

It's me, Mr. Wang.

The bear. The bear that does the tricks.

Kim Yunsik?

Did you catch the thief?

Don't worry.

This is when you use the expression,

"a rat in a trap."

Let's go!

I heard the government soldiers were on their way,

but I couldn't get in here otherwise.

I had no other choice.

You certainly...

You do perform tricks.

Thanks to you, now I don't know

where the ledger went.

That ledger...

Is this it?

Your hand.

Why is it trembling? Did you get hurt?

The ledgers contain records of all the transactions.

All the transactions?

The transactions affirming our loyalty to you, Minister.

What?

These...?

It's too dangerous.

It will get dangerous anyway if we are caught.

If something goes wrong with this,

even the King may not be able to help you.

Don't you understand?

Are you sure there was no one in the warehouse?

Yes,

except for a fellow necking with a courtesan.

Necking with a courtesan?

The courtesan in the warehouse wasn't one of our girls.

All the girls from the Peony Pleasure House are right here.

Search the warehouse again.

And this time, catch the fellow as well as the girl.

Yes, sir.

Father.

We'll talk later.

What with all the rich merchants,

I thought we were going to make a killing tonight.

What a shame.

I know.

The only winner is Choseon, who got to see her lover.

My lover?

Didn't you see Young Master Kim Yunsik?

That's strange.

I'm sure I saw him at the front gate.

Since I didn't see him inside,

I thought he was spending quality time with you.

No?

So Big Man is here...

Oh, no!

They must have already fled, sir.

If they fled from the warehouse,

they would have taken the back gate.

To the back gate. Catch them!

Yes, sir.

Father.

Go get him.

If something goes wrong, there will be no tomorrow for the Noron.

Wait!

Get the fellow and the girl!

Yes, sir. Let's go.

Why are you so angry again?

Has the rat in the trap gotten away?

Where is the bear that does the tricks?

Hurry.

You have to get down.

They couldn't have gotten far.

Catch them!

That way!

- Stop! - Stop right there!

Is it out of pity

that you risked your life to come get me, and in that getup?

Is it because you thought I was weak and foolish?

Did you think I wouldn't be able to take care of myself?

Is it out of pity that you have come to my aid?

Did you think I'd take whatever favor extended to me?

Lee Seonjun... You...

I don't pity you

as you don't me.

At first, I didn't want to see your talent go to waste.

Then I needed you.

If ever I made a friend,

I had wished it would be you.

I just didn't know the right way to do it,

because it was my first time.

I'm sorry.

I am sorry, Kim Yunsik.

Kim Yunsik?

Jerk.

I had tried so hard,

so very hard to stay focused.

But you're really...

You're really...

I do apologize for everything,

so I'd rather you didn't cry.

Hey!

Why are you alone?

I knew this would happen.

While you stalled the soldiers,

Big Man threw himself into the thick of things.

What?

Where the hell is he?

Come on, my friend. I'm Gu Yongha.

Do you think I left that pretty thing

in such a dangerous place?

Gu Yongha...

Big Man?

It's along story.

We'll save that for later.

Me and the girls will take over. Go. Run!

Big Man was even better than I had imagined.

I knew he had a pretty face,

but all dolled up like that,

he even made my heart flutter. That hasn't happened in a while.

That fool.

Why would he put himself in danger's way?

Danger's way?

But you're the one who sent him to Song Haengsu's house.

Under the circumstances,

Kim Yunsik opted for the safest way to rescue Lee Seonjun.

What was so dangerous about it?

Where the hell are they?

Spit it out. Who's the girl that came with Lee Seonjun?

How should I know?

You and Gu Yongha schemed this together.

I'm but a lowly courtesan.

Our young masters would never find me fit to do anything with them...

Sir.

If there's anything else you want to ask me,

please come to the Peony Pleasure House

as a paying customer.

They're all here.

I don't think they even touched the ledgers.

- Confiscate them. - Yes, sir.

Minister.

Why did you even make such ledgers in the first place?

But sir,

that's what merchants do.

We record all our financial transactions...

How dare you?

Did you think you lowly merchants

could hold sway over us?

Please forgive me, Minister.

Burn every single one of them.

Not a single ledger can remain.

Yes, sir.

We'll have to start very early tomorrow morning

if we are to find the culprit.

All it says in the ledger is "Banin."

Do you think we can find him?

And in just one day?

- It's still... - Huh?

- It's there...still... - Oh.

Is it gone?

No.

There.

Here?

Is it gone?

Here?

How pathetic.

You can't even do that right.

Why think of dressing up like a girl in the first place?

Is it gone?

Just give it a quick look and tell me if it's still there.

Enough! Don't you get dizzy?

Are you sure?

- Huh? - Are you sure

they made it out safely?

Look for yourself.

See?

Is it gone now?

Now you don't have to worry like an old maid.

I wasn't worried.

They're here, so that's that. Let's go.

Crazy Horse.

You're hurt.

Are you okay?

Shouldn't you see a doctor?

Be a man and stop making a fuss.

But still...

We can swap stories later.

Did you complete the mission, Big Man?

I need to know why.

Why did Lee Seonjun sneak into Song Haengsu's house?

There must a clue in that house leading to the real culprit.

That means you must also know what the next step is.

I will do whatever it takes

to get in their way of finding the real culprit, proctor.

That's not the correct answer.

That's not enough.

You told us not to even think about the real culprit,

so I'm not thinking about anything, proctor.

I must've annoyed you again, proctor.

Like an itchy mosquito bite.

We will find the culprit first.

- Pardon? - Huh?

We have to take measures so that Kim Yunsik

can never find the culprit.

Found him.

It's all over now.

I found the culprit.

Really?

Who is it?

Banin... it's someone who lives in Banchon.

The answer's right there.

Stop your nonsense.

There are hundreds of people who live in Banchon.

But it is someone who lives in Banchon

who can come in and out of Sungkyunkwan without being noticed.

You mean it's a family member of one of the helper children?

Isn't that obvious?

But we can't jump to conclusions.

Look at me.

I've done no such thing.

Did you see him?

He's worried about his family member getting caught.

Let's get to bed early.

Tomorrow, we will search every corner of Banchon

to find the scoundrel

who took my Forbidden City.

I will find him, proctor.

Watch where you're going, kid!

Why, that little...

He must have stolen someone's snack or something.

Room 2...

I don't think you're in your spot.

My spot used to be this entire room.

So just go to sleep!

Didn't you say you refuse to sleep next to a Noron?

Let the meal commence!

No, no, no.

How dare they try to fool me, epicure extraordinaire?

How many times do I have to tell them

they must use beef from Gurim Village?

You can have mine.

I really don't want it.

It's all yours.

I'm going to head to Banchon first.

I need to find him.

- Sit! - Sit!

Finish your food.

I don't want to hear you whine about how hungry you are later.

What if that kid sets out for the day?

With what happened yesterday, he certainly won't be in Unjong.

I need to hurry.

So you're really intent on becoming a thief.

You came here for your grades, not the food, so you're a grade thief.

And with the money that went into preparing your meal,

we could have fed porridge to two people for two days,

so you're also a tax thief.

You're not going to Banchon?

I'll go once I finish all my food.

It's Banchon.

From what they have gathered,

the culprit lives in Banchon.

And there was some incident in Unjong District yesterday.

Unjong District in Banchon?

Banchon. That means a helper child is involved.

Yes.

But there are so many helper children here at Sungkyunkwan.

Where do we start, proctor?

I don't know.

Young Master.

They're all watching his back.

They can't not know with such a detailed portrait.

These people know everything about one another.

Leave them alone.

They're just trying to help one another out.

I had no idea how poor the people in the back alleys of Banchon were.

Half are butchers, eking out a meager living,

and the other half are Sungkyunkwan slaves.

They're some of the poorest and most maltreated in the city.

Do you think that's why this kid was forced to steal?

A crime is a crime.

There can be no excuses.

How privileged of you.

We only have half a day left.

At this rate, we may not be able to prove Kim Yunsik's innocence.

We have to come up with a different approach.

A different approach?

He has no parents and lives with one older bother?

Why do you want to know where Bokdong lives?

Heaven is on my side,

so I thought I would share some of my good fortune.

This was the only time

Banin was listed in the ledger.

And this was also the first robbery in Sungkyunkwan.

That means this kid's not a repeat offender.

He might have suddenly needed money.

Or his family may have had a pressing need.

Wedding, a move, funeral, or ancestral rite. But which one?

There must be items whose prices have shot up so high

that everyday people are having a hard time buying.

Something that can only be had through a direct trade?

Over the past two weeks, the items whose prices spiked

are salt and hemp cloth.

A helper child who has recently lost a family member?

That would be Bokdong. His mother passed away.

Why do you ask?

Say hello

to the proctor of Sungkyunkwan.

Don't do that again.

By running away,

you're admitting to your guilt.

It wasn't me. It really wasn't.

Yes, that's right. That's exactly right.

You never stole anything from Sungkyunkwan, right?

If you maintain that stance,

this money will be yours.

Why are you offering me this?

It's a transaction.

You need the money,

and I need you to keep quiet.

Just keep your mouth shut,

and this really can be yours in two days' time.

There...

Run, Brother.

Run.

They've come to get you. Run.

What?

You want me to confess in front of the King?

Why should I?

Do you have any proof it was me?

And your brother Bokdong.

Need I say more?

What if I refuse?

Will you send me to the police?

You're just Sungkyunkwan students.

Watch your mouth.

Nice eyes.

Do you think you can lay a single finger on me?

This is Banchon, where Sungkyunkwan stands.

You must know that government soldiers can't come here.

You don't seem the least bit ashamed.

What did I do wrong?

You'll all become public officials one day, living off the poor.

And right now, you're learning about Master Confucius' teachings

with our tax money, our sweat and blood.

So I got myself a little tax refund.

Is that so wrong?

That doesn't make your crime of theft

any less serious.

What was I to do?

My mother needed a funeral.

While she was alive,

I couldn't get her medicine

or take her to the doctor.

That was bad enough.

But for my mother who never got to wear a new dress in her lifetime...

I wanted to get her

a proper hemp shroud.

But I couldn't afford it,

no matter how hard I tried.

It was impossible to get any hemp cloth with what little I had.

What choice did I have?

Because I'm poor and powerless,

I can't even fulfill my filial duty?

What kind of a world is this?

And you come asking me to help you?

Get lost.

All you rich boys can do

with some hardship.

But this...

Enough.

Let's call it quits.

Are you just going to leave?

What can we say?

The boy is right.

Kim Yunsik.

I can see a lot of my old self in him.

But I was fortunate enough to have met you

and got a lucky break.

If not,

that could very well have been me.

Money talks, even to a young kid.

It looks like he will keep his mouth shut.

So all we have left to do

is make the King Himself expel Kim Yunsik.

She begged me to bring her to see you.

I wanted to apologize for the other day.

Father told me he was coming to see you.

I know I may be out of line, but...

Please forgive me, Father-in-Law.

So you want to apologize for a past faux-pas by committing another one?

I am sorry, Master.

I may have along way to go,

but I will learn and obey so that I do not tarnish your family's fine reputation.

All he knows

how to do is study.

He's probably a dunce when it comes to women.

It's only natural given that he's never been around a girl,

neither a sister nor a playmate.

Really...?

I mean, I will keep that in mind, Father-in-Law.

He's so scary. So very scary.

You're going to have to find me a Chinese teacher, Beodul.

Chinese? Why?

You have a lot to learn as it is.

Sewing, cooking...

I'm all set with that.

After the Young Master takes the high exam, we're going to China.

I can't live with that father of his.

I would have to be the perfect lady around the clock.

I would die from the stress.

It would be just awful.

You're something else, Miss.

But Beodeul...

What is it, Miss?

You're scaring me with your mood swings.

The Young Master has his father's lashes.

That's so cute!

Due to the incident,

we appointed a new head of the registered merchants,

Jeong Hanmo of the dry goods store.

Song Haengsu is a fool.

He should've known that blowing in front of fiery flames

will only cause the sparks to go into his own eyes.

He's just a merchant. He doesn't know any better.

So have you been working with

a man who doesn't know any better

to manage state affairs?

I'm ashamed, Prime Minister.

Nothing like this will ever happen again.

I was told that someone saw your son at Song Haengsu's house.

I had thought your son was just a straight arrow,

but it turns out he may be well versed in the ways of the world.

It pleased me immensely.

I hear news of my son from someone else.

That's how pathetic a father I am.

But we're all family now.

In any case,

I had my men burn all the ledgers

under my very watch.

So please rest assured,

my dear in-law.

Hey...

What is this?

It records all the bribes the merchants have given to public officials.

What have you done, Big Man?

And this is why

I can't tell that kid to confess at the Sundujeongang.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Are you saying you don't mind being falsely accused and expelled?

I don't know about that.

But I do know one thing.

As long as ledgers like this are being made,

there will always be kids like Boksu.

But just because I want to be cleared,

I can't point fingers at the boy and call him a criminal.

I'm not sure

that would even be meaningful

nor am I sure whether I have the right to do such a thing.

Big Man,

he sure has a way of confusing people.

Was this what you came for?

If you were going to give up so easily,

why did you come to Sungkyunkwan in the first place?

Crazy Horse.

What's wrong with you?

I'm sorry for being so pathetic.

Hey, Garang.

Don't worry too much.

Big Man has no idea what this actually means.

He grabbed it out of blind fury.

He really has guts though.

You don't need to try so hard.

I'm fine.

This won't be easy on Lee Seonjun.

I'm sure his father's name isn't in that ledger,

but everything ultimately points to the Prime Minister.

What do you think Lee Seonjun will do about that ledger?

Well...

No matter how terrible a deed,

a father is a father, and a son is a son.

That's the ugly truth.

I can see a lot of my old self in him.

What was I to do?

But I couldn't afford it

no matter how hard I tried.

It was impossible to get any hemp cloth with what little I had.

I had no other choice.

The Noron are financed by the money the registered merchants provide

in exchange for political protection.

What kind of a world is this?

I don't think Joseon is that great a nation.

As long as ledgers like this are being made,

there will always be kids like Boksu.

The Sundujeongang is tomorrow.

The culprit must be hiding between the pages of that book.

Or wait...

Are you planning to plead guilty?

I'm innocent, sir.

Even if the real culprit is not found,

it doesn't change the fact that I am innocent.

No,

Kim Yunsik, you are indeed guilty.

No matter how badly you feel for the pain and hardship of the people,

if you don't have the ability to ease their suffering,

you are guilty as a public official.

And the incompetent temporary appointee of the Hanseongbu

who can't even prove his own innocence

is definitely guilty.

You deserve to be expelled.

You said a girl...

You said a girl is not qualified to become a public official.

But the strange thing is...

Why is our nation in the state that it's in

when men, who are so well qualified, have been governing it all along?

What?

I was right.

I had a feeling you'd be here.

Say what you want to say.

I'm going to have the real culprit take the stand tomorrow.

But of course.

That was what His Majesty ordered.

But in my view, the real culprit

are these people.

But

to get anything started with this ledger,

I thought the decision should be up to you,

not me.

Is it because of my father?

And that's why I may not make the decision you want.

I may

disappoint you.

Well...

I believe in Lee Seonjun,

more than in myself.

You're always trying so hard.

You talk about decorum and the path of the righteous

in an attempt

to become a good person.

And you'll do the same this time.

That's why whatever decision you make,

I trust that it'll be the right one,

even if it's not the decision I may have wanted.

That little frail one with the pretty face

was unjustly set up.

You know all about how unfair this world can be,

don't you?

Eavesdropping can become a habit.

And running away can become a habit, too.

I had someone who would nag at me like that.

Stop crying. It can become a habit.

Stop lying. It can become a habit.

Stop running away. It can become a habit.

Who was it?

My older brother.

I used to have an older brother, too, a very nasty one.

But he was right.

I kept repeating his words,

and now I talk like him.

For how much longer do I have to listen to your nonsense?

The thing about young brothers

is that they follow in their older brother's footsteps.

What do you want this kid to become?

A petty thief?

A coward who runs away from his problems?

Get out of here!

Who do you think you are?

It's not too late yet

for you to become a decent person and a useful brother.

It's not too late.

This is a loan.

You should be able to pay back for the stolen goods.

I can just take the money and run.

I don't think so.

Not with this little fellow watching you.

What is it that a good boy like you

would break school regulations to come see me?

I have something to ask you, Father.

Integrity means everything to a scholar who wishes to change the world.

A scholar won't let anything come in the way of his integrity,

even his own family.

That's what you've always said to me.

Do you still believe that, Father?

I have always tried to live by your teachings.

I do have to thank you for that.

Father.

May I continue to live by your teachings?

You didn't need to come.

You are my son.

You've never done anything that displeased me.

And I am sure

you will never do anything that will displease me in the future.

Don't you know that a dutiful son is good to look at

but terrible as your own husband?

Lee Seonjun won't go to study in China. He is the exemplar of a filial son.

If a man follows his parents' wishes over those of his wife,

that man has some issues.

I don't like that tone, Beodeul.

I'm just saying that may be some people's opinion.

I will have him wrapped around my little finger

in one go.

How?

I'm going to

spend a night with him.

Sundujeongang! Sundujeongang!

Hey, Big Man. Have you found the culprit?

Well...

I'm sorry we couldn't help you.

We were given a lot of field work to do

in Unjong District.

We had no time to work on your case.

Confucius said,

A man of virtue

never sides with a trivial friend,

- so I... - Sir.

Decorum dictates that you listen to your friend.

- Trivial... - Friend!

Have you seen Lee Seonjun?

No.

Have you seen that kid from Banchon?

No.

Have you failed to find the real culprit?

Kim Yunsik,

have you failed to find the culprit who stole from Sungkyunkwan?

I have not been able...

He'll be here.

Do you mean the real culprit has been found?

Please give us time.

The culprit will come to confess.

I'm sorry, Your Majesty,

but I thought the deadline for the assignment was last night.

If they haven't found the culprit yet,

doesn't that mean they have failed the Sundujeongang?

The proctor is right.

Kim Yunsik was unable to find the culprit by the deadline.

Is that not so?

I'm afraid so, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, the real culprit is here.

The real culprit of this theft case

is in here,

in this ledger.

The lost items can be compensated for, but the crime cannot be.

He is just like you.

A complete lunatic.

A lunatic without any sense of fear.

What's there to ask?

The East Hall, of course, where the Ravishing Quartet is staying.

If you don't like it, I don't like it either.

It doesn't go against the dictates of decorum.

It doesn't go against the dictates of decorum.

He will never go along with you, no matter what.

What in the world are you thinking?

I plan to keep a close eye on you,

a very close eye.