Original subtitles

Kim Yunsik!

Kim Yunsik!

It's out of my hands now.

As hard as I try,

I can't help but look for you.

So

now it's your turn.

Run from me, Kim Yunsik.

Wait!

You need to give me a chance to respond.

Kim Yunsik. Kim Yunsik. Wake up!

Why were you tailing him?

I thought

we would play in the water together.

As friends. We're on an outing after all.

Play with me, then.

As friends.

Kim Yunsik...

Are you a woman?

Mount Shingo crumbles down!

Come on now.

All right. Enough walking. How about here?

Not bad, right?

Stop!

I'm an old man. This is too tiring for me.

Let's go a bit farther.

Confucius once said...

What did he say?

Enjoy life when you're young.

Isn't it fun playing in the water?

We've had too much fun.

Can we come out now?

You stay right there until I return.

We'll have even more fun then.

I should get going.

Are you asking me to let you go like this?

I can't do that.

Kim Yunsik! Let's get going!

Kim Yunsik.

Where the hell is he?

Kim Yunsik.

Have you seen Kim Yunsik?

- Have you seen Kim Yunsik? - No.

Where the hell is he?

Don't worry. He's fine.

Are you sure? Where is he?

Slow down. One at a time, my friend.

I didn't see it with my own eyes,

but I'm sure he's at the lyceum with his other roommate.

What?

Big Man took off with Lee Seonjun.

If you're that worried, go and find them.

You can check with your own two eyes,

whether or not Big Man is okay.

Never mind. As long as I know where he is...

I'm done changing.

I don't know where

to start.

You must be tired. You should sleep.

In this room?

I can sleep outside,

so don't worry.

Where do you think you're going, sir?

Please convince Seonjun

to return to Sungkyunkwan, good sir.

Being all alone here is not good for him.

I'll be damned

if I see him ailing again.

Have you been ill?

He's been lovesick!

He won't eat, read, or sleep.

Sundol...

He is driving himself crazy over his beloved.

Cut it out, Sundol.

Please help Seonjun, good sir. Please.

There's only one set of bedding here.

Don't be such a prude.

Where will I find bedding in the middle of the night?

Just share the bedding. You're two men.

Let's party all the way! Let's party all the way!

Sungkyunkwan.

Kwan aksan.

Sangiseulk.

- Seulk... - Seulk!

What the...

Confucius never used the syllable "seulk."

- Drink, drink! - Eat, eat!

If you were going to be here as an outer shell only,

why be so stubborn?

Your inner core is far away, by Big Man's side.

See?

You sound so hollow.

Jumping to conclusions

can become a habit,

and you might also end up with a broken wrist.

You like Big Man.

And

you don't?

Well, who wouldn't like him and his twinkling eyes?

I'm going to bed.

Don't waste your energy on trying to be so cool.

You try so hard pretending you don't care,

pretending you're not jealous, and pretending you're strong.

If I were you, instead of wasting my energy on that,

I'd put everything into turning Big Man around.

You have an advantage over Lee Seonjun.

Lee Seonjun doesn't know Big Man's secret.

Could you please blow out the candle? It's time to go to bed.

I didn't get to finish the reading I needed to do for the day.

Don't mind me and go to bed.

Then I'll read, too.

At the creek earlier...

That is, right before you slipped...

weren't you going to tell me something?

It seemed important, so I thought it'd be best...

if you told me before your forgot.

So

this must be your preferred genre of literature.

Yongha gave it to me.

How did it get there?

I always thought you were reading lofty verses.

No wonder you focus so well on your reading every single day.

It's because of you that the book...

I told you we should just go to sleep.

I'm fine.

I'm a man and you're a woman.

Plus, you fell into a creek today.

Says the man

who had a few drops of water touch him at the island

and suffered from high fever all night long?

I'm fine.

I can do this.

When did you start...

hiding your beautiful face behind men's clothing?

You don't have to answer if you don't feel like it.

I told you I have an ailing brother.

But we had no money,

so I did some transcription work for the doctor.

He then got me more work from Mr. Hwang at the bookstore.

That was

about two years after my father passed away.

I must have been 12 or so.

Kim Yunsik.

Is that your brother's name?

Yes.

So what's your real name?

Kim Yunhui.

My name is Kim Yunhui.

Kim Yunhui.

I know Lee Seonjun better than you do.

Something's going on between you two.

Tell me.

I need to know if I am to help you.

I know.

I know you don't like Lee Seonjun.

Please stay out of this.

Hyo-eun.

I will just keep trying and wait.

Lee Seonjun is a righteous

and upright man.

I'll be fine so long as there's no word of breaking off the wedding,

So...

So he said we should break off the wedding first?

That's his way of being polite?

Brother...

it's not his fault.

I'm just not good enough yet.

What did you just say?

You want me to leave Sungkyunkwan?

Isn't that reasonable?

What's so reasonable about it?

This is against the law.

Because genders are distinct and the dictates of decorum are almight?

You know this is an impossible situation.

Who was it that made me believe the impossible was possible

and that miracles do happen?

Have you forgotten?

- But... - It is...

because I'm a woman?

Even the poor,

oppressed Namin

can dream of miracles...

but a woman

cannot?

You know full well

that my gender was not of my choosing.

I'm not afraid of the law or the royal order.

Don't you see that I'm worried?

What you're doing is very dangerous.

You could get hurt. You're risking your life.

I don't want to worry about the future.

Even if I leave Sungkyunkwan,

I will still have to dress like a man

to find transcription work in Wunjong District.

And

if that's no longer enough,

I will have to get married to someone I don't care for.

So

there is no future for me to safeguard

at the cost of my present.

I want to enjoy the present.

I want to make the most of it.

What I have now

is something I won't get to enjoy in the future.

Big Man!

Where did you go so early in the morning?

He wasn't around all night.

Big Man.

Look at your bloodshot eyes. Something's fishy.

It looks like you were with your lover all night.

I have no lover. My goodness.

Which pleasure house have you been to?

Leaving Choseon alone.

Jaesin.

Things just happened.

Jaesin!

How can you be like this?

Don't you ever think about those who may be concerned about you?

Did you get to see Lee Seonjun?

How did you know?

I'm Gu Yongha.

Would he return to Sungkyunkwan again?

I don't know.

You don't know?

You don't know even though I sent you to persuade him?

What on earth

did you two do last night? Huh?

Even if I leave Sungkyunkwan...

I will still have to dress like a man

to find transcription work in Wunjong District.

And

if that's no longer enough,

I will have to get married to someone I don't care for.

I want to enjoy the present.

Well, are you leaving here already?

What you're doing is very dangerous.

You could get hurt. You're risking your life.

- It's Choseon! - Big Man!

- Choseon's here, Big Man! - Big Man!

- Big Man! Big Man!... - Big Man! Big Man!...

I know this is not proper etiquette, but I had to see you.

Since you don't come to see me,

I had to wait here to see you on your way back from the outing.

I'm glad.

I was thinking of paying you a visit anyway.

Now, now!

We should excuse ourselves right about now.

She has fallen hard.

The ever-aloof Choseon is lovesick.

Didn't you say that you just smell the scent of woman

- to find out who that was? - No.

Didn't I say that I will just tell you her innerwear color?

That perfume.

Do all courtesans wear it?

No way.

Choseon's the only one.

It was worn by Xi Shi, the legendary Chinese beauty.

It's a strong scent, so only Choseon can pull it off.

No other courtesan around is beautiful enough.

Oh, I'm telling you the truth. Believe me.

It was hard to get from China and it was also very expensive that

Only Choseon would have access to it.

Why?

Maybe...

Are you jealous of Choseon?

You don't know anything about women.

And you're so indifferent. I don't know what she sees in you.

She's even working on removing herself from the courtesan registry.

What did you just say?

You didn't know?

I will be a woman not to be a shameful of you.

I, the best Korean geisha Choseon will leave the money and fame

and be an ordinary housewife now.

Enough with your idle chatter.

Is that true?

Will you

take me?

No way.

Choseon's the only one.

I'm a lowly woman,

so I don't even dare dream of becoming your wife.

I became a courtesan at a very young age

and have done rather well as one.

But you are the first person

to look at me

not as a plaything for men...

but as a woman

who deserves respect.

Choseon.

So long as I'm with you...

whether as a lover

or a concubine...

I will be able to respect myself.

Please accept me and let me know I can look forward to the day

I can be with you.

No.

I can't.

I do not deserve someone

so beautiful and upright as yourself.

So

don't love me anymore.

I don't

deserve it.

If you dump me with such sweet words,

how can I let you go?

I'm sorry.

I am very sorry, Choseon.

Jaesin.

What are you doing here?

Entering a pleasure house in broad daylight.

Shame on you.

About Choseon...

You should keep your distance from her.

She's a good person,

too good for someone like me.

Just listen to me, will you?

It's annoying

to see a young lad wasting his time

at pleasure houses.

Are you still mad at me?

I mean the time of outing.

Sometimes you worry about me too much.

Don't worry about me.

I'm Big Man. Big Man.

I worry

because

it's you.

Hey, Myeongsik. Why do I have to carry this?

Good grief.

It's the Tangerine Exam!

Tangerine Exam?

Have you ever tasted a tangerine?

Tangerine?

Tangerines, which grow on Jeju Island, are presented as a gift to his majesty.

You have to taste one to know it.

It's sweet, tangy, it's the taste of heaven.

The story goes that if you get the highest score

on this exam, you are awarded tangerines.

The harvest was good this year, so I set aside a whole basketful.

Sungkyunkwan students are the lucky few

who can even taste this delicious fruit.

I would hate to be a student again,

but the Tangerine Exam

might lure me back to my student days, Your Majesty.

Prime minister.

It's time again for the Tangerine Exam, Your Majesty.

So it is, prime minister.

This Tangerine Exam will probably be especially enjoyable for you.

Of course, Your Majesty.

Whether it's verse or essay composition,

Lee Seonjun is the strongest contender.

I thought

the prime minister's son was staying at a lyceum.

You didn't know?

He returned to Sungkyunkwan today.

I told him to return.

Although he wanted to focus on nothing but letters,

I thought it'd be better for him to be here

to learn matters of governance.

Have you found me, prime minister?

You don't have to do, the supreme investigator.

Today, I just...

I just called you to share the mind of father with son.

I heard that your son is the roommate of my son.

I mean at Sungkyunkwan.

The Red Writer is

well, yet to be caught.

The Ministry of War or Political judiciary agency cannot get into this.

Ah, yes.

Can Judicial inspection agency for government officials undertake

inspection work for those students at Sungkyunkwan?

May be...

For patrolling the Red Writer

is there any reason that the Supreme Investigators' Bureau

would not do its best work?

No way.

Well, just try harder, Supreme Investigator.

You wouldn't make me

be a shameful father to my son, would I?

The Tangerine Exam?

Excuse me...

Are you looking for this book?

Have you returned to Sungkyunkwan?

Are you here to prep for the Tangerine Exam?

You were right.

Kim Yun...

Anyway.

I was the one who made you come here,

so I'll fulfill my responsibilities to you.

How will you do that?

I will help you

leave Sungkyunkwan very quietly before anyone finds out.

It's me.

Everything should go smoothly.

So

you've returned to make me leave Sungkyunkwan?

Leave my woman

in a place filled with men?

What do you take me for?

What gives you the right?

I don't want you to get hurt.

And I have a duty to protect you.

What else do you want?

You can help me

finish my studies here.

Will you change your mind

if I show you what a good fit I am for Sungkyunkwan?

How will you do that?

Well...

What if I get the highest score on the Tangerine Exam?

The Tangerine Exam?

The exam tests both composition and memorization.

So?

For the composition part,

you need to have read and internalized at least five books,

and for the composition part,

you need to know seven books by heart.

Other people can do it. Why not me?

There's another thing.

What is it now?

You have to

beat me.

Big deal.

Ever since I was little, I've always been the top student.

So if I beat you,

don't bother me again about leaving.

Fine. You're on.

I heard Lee Seonjun's back.

Hey! it's Lee Seonjun.

Confucius once said,

It brings great joy

to have a friend come from afar.

But I don't feel any joy!

Not one bit!

He has wrecked my chance at winning the tangerines.

You're back.

For Kim Yunsik, right?

Hey, Noron.

I told you not to confuse people.

Don't keep flitting back and forth.

It's distracting.

This is his first in ten years.

A welcome greeting.

I heard you came back to the Sungkyunkwan.

I'm sorry, father.

Those were the matters to have the blames as reckless behavior.

I did not want to create a situation to regret for being afraid of him.

Regret?

I started the work, so I want to wrap up it.

I think that is the motto of a man.

Why do you think so?

You went to Sungkyunkwan first

without coming to your father first.

I just thought that it is right to be responsible for my own deed.

You are doing things

that you have never done before.

Don't disappoint me.

Are you planning to leave the marriage with the family of the prime minister alone?

Father!

The Prime Minister is a fearsome one.

I just do not understand what he thinks.

The son of the prime minister

is known to never go against the words of his father

and all we have to do is wait for his decision.

For the matters of the Red Writer, we heard that

there was a dispute with the son of the prime minister.

You are in the proctor position, but still so immature!

Could you have some soldiers on me?

Soldiers? What for?

I just want to do my job as proctor.

I'll go to bed first, Jaesin.

Hey, Noron.

That's my spot.

There's no "my spot" or "your spot."

You said wherever one lies down becomes his spot.

Get out of here.

Hey.

What's the matter with you?

And you?

What's matter with the both of you?

Come. Let's go to bed.

No.

This is Kim Yunsik's spot.

He tosses and turns in his sleep.

He should be by the wall.

No. We'll sleep the way we used to.

- No. - Wait.

I'll decide where I shall sleep.

Did you hear that creepy sound?

It's a nine-tailed fox.

I'm going to sleep here tonight.

- Hey! - Yongha!

Then I'll sleep in Yongha's room.

What are these strange things?

I figured you might know how, which is why I came by

Everyone's studying so hard.

They're studying harder for this

than they do for the High Exam.

They never listen to us when we tell them to study.

A basket of tangerines is better than us.

I feel so ashamed, director.

Who do you think will get the highest score?

Lee Seonjun, right?

He never loses when it comes to words.

He'll have no rival, especially in the memorization part.

But Kim Yunsik is also a force to be reckoned with.

He's faster than anyone else when it comes to memorization.

Kim Yunsik versus Lee Seonjun.

It will be quite a match.

This is not right.

Those two have been different

since the time Lee Seonjun came from the lyceum.

What a rowdy man.

He is just studying for the Tangerine Exam as if his life is depending on it.

Lee Seonjun, are you meditating at the lyceum?

Look, he is focusing on study as he cuts off all ties to earthly matters.

It is natural to have students study.

Don't fuss over it.

What do you think of this?

Lee Seonjun broke off his marriage.

Is there something huge going on

for him to break off the marriage as he is a man of

integrity and laws who seemed to live all his life as a straightlaced man?

Is it true?

This morning, it was said by the woman of sad fate herself,

so it must be true.

So you have to work hard as well.

It may be cumbersome for me

but I will get the details for you.

I want to get him back.

I want to ask Yeorim for a way to get him back.

Knowing it goes against etiquette.

A way to get him back...

I'll do whatever it takes,

no matter how hard or difficult,

so please help me.

How moving!

Do you want to become a woman whom Lee Seonjun can love?

First,

don't have private meetings with other men.

Second, develop an elevated taste in literature. No more trashy novels.

Third, don't mistreat people

you think are beneath you.

I'll try.

Anything else?

Do you really think

you can make someone love you through effort?

He met her.

He tried.

He loved her.

And lived happily thereafter.

Is this story book fun? Huh?

Why

do you want to be cuddly again?

Lee Seonjun is like a stone tower without knowing of women.

So if he knew of women,

will he love me, Ha Hyo-eun?

Just accept it.

In this storybook, you're the character

who doesn't get chosen.

Just give it up.

That way, you won't have to shed more tears

or have someone like me give you advice.

Jerk.

Why are you so mean to me?

Raised a little princess...

You need at least one person who is honest with you.

Now that you're back,

you'll take the High Exam soon...

and marry that woman you're betrothed to, right?

That won't happen.

I did not

get engaged that day.

I told you.

I will no longer lie to myself.

Hello, enjoy yourself looking around.

Your father wants to see you.

No more of your risky business.

Did you think

I didn't know you were the Red Writer?

You gained a lot of popular support

after commercial liberalization,

so the prime minister and war minister have been out to get you.

I also know that the fake Red Writer

is a bait to lure you into their trap.

But until the fake Red Writer is caught,

you are the guilty party.

So please be careful.

Could you submit an appeal to his majesty

instead of me?

My son was killed while transporting "Geumdeungjisa"...

not by bandits, but by the Noron.

Jaesin.

If you do it,

I'll stop.

Hey.

It's Gwangtong Bridge this time?

Don't come over the line.

I won't, even if you beg and plead.

You have no idea how much you toss and turn in your sleep.

Where is Crazy Horse when we need him?

I know.

The room feels so empty without him.

This is why I can't let you stay at Sungkyunkwan.

This is the last night you can nag me, so I'll indulge you.

Tomorrow is the Tangerine Exam.

I will easily beat you to get the highest score.

Then you won't be able to tell me to leave Sungkyunkwan anymore.

Let's sleep.

At the creek the other day...

Didn't you say you had something to say to me?

It's not that I'm curious,

but every scholar seeks the truth.

Are you listening to me?

Are you sleeping?

The Tangerine Exam!

Explain the teaching I just recited.

Confucius said...

Confucius said,

In order to effectively govern a large country,

the leader must earn the people's trust.

Explain the teaching I just recited.

Pass.

Pass.

Lee Seonjun.

Lee Seonjun.

This is the final question.

His majesty himself wrote this question.

How should a government official treat the people?

Use these characters to come up with your answer.

Your answer must coincide

with chapter 42 of the "Book of Rites."

His majesty has a knack

for giving very tough questions.

He sure does.

You need to know the "Book of Rites" by heart,

have studied the annotations thoroughly,

and have your own opinion

to solve this question.

Whoever solves this

is worthy

of all those tangerines.

Chapter 42 of the "Book of Rites" is "Great Learning."

Great Learning...

The government official leads the people to virtue...

I can't remember...

The annotations.

There are 15 minutes left.

Reveal your answers.

Similar, but different.

From "Great Learning" I used the expression

the virtue of renewing the people, and came up with the answer

people's renewal.

The nobility have the duty

to enlighten the people and make them anew.

This is from the annotations.

I don't recall where this passage is,

but in "Great Learning"

it is said that the sage likes what the people like

and dislikes what the people dislike. I thus came up with

befriending the people.

I believe government officials must be close to the people.

I will now reveal the answer.

The student with the same answer is the highest scorer.

People's renewal and "befriending the people"...

the former being Lee Seonjun's answer

and the latter, Kim Yunsik's.

We have a winner.

Tell Lee Seonjun and Kim Yunsik

they did a good job.

What have we here?

I thought the Ravishing Quartet would sweep the winnings.

You must have decided to let Lee Seonjun and Kim Yunsik win.

How about you?

I have better things to do

than take a stupid exam.

The highest scorer of this year's Tangerine Exam is

Lee Seonjun.

Congratulations.

I'm so stupid.

Why couldn't I remember that?

I believe you have better things to do than cry over spilled milk.

It will take you some time

to fill out the necessary forms

and pack your belongings.

Can't you give me another chance?

Please, Lee Seonjun.

I...

I still cannot come to terms with a woman being at Sungkyunkwan.

Nor have I ever associated with anyone who has no respect for the law.

But I have no choice

but to relent.

A government official who would rather befriend than teach the people

is someone I would like to be with.

So I suppose I have to let you stay.

Plus, a lass bold enough to violate the law

and turn up her nose at royal order

could wreak havoc out in the world.

It could be disastrous.

So...

I can stay?

Why go to such lengths?

I was terrified.

Wait, Kim Yunsik.

I need you to tell me something.

I wish...

you would just tell me...

At the creek...

What were you going to say?

Do you not remember?

Remember what?

You said I needed to hear your response.

I think

I may have said something like that.

Think long and hard.

Do I really have to spell it out?

How else would I know?

You really don't know?

I have no...

Why are you so startled?

If you were a good boy, you'd have no cause to be startled.

There are soldiers waiting for you from the Gwangtong Bridge to Wunjong.

Sleep over at my place.

My bracelet...

The Red Writer?

Get them.

Those fiends insulted me and my family.

- Get them right now. - Yes, sir.

It's too dangerous out there.

It is the only thing I have that belonged to my brother.

I wish my dear friends could've been better treated.

Professor.

I have a secret mission for you.

Take on this mission...

and bring about a new Joseon.

Jaesin!

You were out again last night.

Is everything going well?

If we manage to arrest him, my father won't take issue with this.

Secret inspection?

Is it because of Lee Seonjun? Or...

Kim Yunsik?

What's that doing here?

Think long and hard.

Do I really have to spell it out?

How else would I know?

You really don't know?

I want to enjoy the present.

What I have now is something

I won't get to enjoy in the future.