Original subtitles

- Episode 40 -

Palace Lady Seo.

Palace Lady Seo!

Palace Lady Seo...

What's going on?

You must get out.

Palace Lady Seo, get up. You must get out.

I can't go out.

What?

I'm in the same situation as people who are left here.

I'm in the same situation as people who are left here.

What do you mean, same situation?

Being abandoned by people...

I've been abandoned by my friends at the Royal Pharmacy.

I've been abandoned by my friends at the Royal Pharmacy.

You're saying they intentionally cornered you to the place of death?

I didn't do anyone harm.

I simply walked my path and I came to this point.

I endured again and again...

I persevered again and again...

Now I can't endure,

nor can I persevere.

I can't endure...

the fact that I've been...

abandoned by people, by my co-workers at that.

It feels like I have disappeared.

It feels like I'm floating.

What did I do wrong?

Just what did I do wrong?

You didn't do anything wrong.

It's just another obstacle for you to overcome.

It's the obstacle of people.

As you accomplish more and more,

and as your medical skills get better and better, the obstacles may grow bigger.

You must overcome it.

No matter what great achievements you accomplish, if you can't overcome it you will crumble.

I have no confidence.

No, I have lost confidence.

You don't need confidence.

You will do it with your heart, Palace Lady Seo.

Brush it off and stand up again.

I don't like the weak Palace Lady Seo.

You must go out.

What happened?

I'm not sure, let's keep moving.

Get away.

They left us here and escaped, but they missed one.

They abandoned the village,

leaving the healthy like us here!

Seeing that he is getting away with the female physician, he trying to kill us all.

No, that's not it. It was the order of the King, so unavoidably...

Order of the King? Unavoidably? Look around you!

There are healthy children and those who remained here

to take care of the patients too!

What is the King's order? To kill us all?!

What good is such an order?!

There's no need to talk anymore. Let's kill this jerk!

Everyone! Everyone!

Please listen to me for a minute!

If your words are right, do others have to die because of it?

Just because it's painful for you, do others have to feel the same pain?

What's she saying?

Bullshit! You're saying only we have to die?!

Everyone! You won't die!

You will not die! Never! Never!

What do you mean we won't die? The number of patients are increasing.

How are we to survive in this place where there are no physicians nor medicines?

I'm a female physician! A female physician!

A female physician from the Royal Pharmacy of the palace!

I'll heal you! I'm going to do that!

We came here to save you!

We will heal you! Trust us!

Everyone, we will not abandon you!

We will never abandon the patients!

So please go back to the infirmary!

We will not abandon you!

Trust us! Trust us!

I have some medicine that I brought from the neighboring town.

That's right, so please move the children and old patients

to the infirmary first. Hurry!

Everyone, please listen to us! Hurry!

Let's move to the infirmary!

Let's hurry to infirmary! Hurry!

To the infirmary.

I should have thought deeper.

Though it is said to have been an unavoidable order,

these people are also people of this kingdom.

We should have been more careful to

divide the sick and the healthy ones

and have at least a minimal treatment plan.

I will help too.

But you came as an adjutant relief administrator.

If you stay here...

It is my job to relieve the suffering.

Then ... please find out if we have any medicine available in the town,

especially in the storage of big houses.

Sure!

Here. I brought some.

But these aren't the medicine for the plague.

That's what I was afraid of.

How much medicine did you bring?

It's barely enough to treat a few critical patients.

Then...

How come you aren't giving me any medicine?

Give me some medicine too.

Give me some first... Give me...

Give me...

What are you doing?!

Only four pills?

Give it back to me! They're for critical patients.

This is everything you have?

Don't you have any more?!

That's all I have.

Please give them back ... please!

Please...

This jerk deceived us! We can't trust him!

That's not true! He wouldn't do such a thing!

Noblemen are all the same!

They deceive people and treat us like dogs and pigs.

Give us the medicine!

We can't trust him! He said he had medicine but he doesn't.

He lied to us! He lied to us about giving us the medicine!

Then... are you just going to die.

fighting over the few pills we have?! Is that so?!

You must trust me and this official. Then you can live.

We can't trust this!

We can't trust him! He lied to us about the medicine!

We can't trust him! Give us the medicine!

Give us the medicine!

Stop it, everyone!

I can't give you any medicine if you act this way!

There are only a few pills available.

And we even don't have anything to eat.

If we want to live, then we must send him out and get the medicine.

Then we can live!

Then we can have hope!

Think carefully. Who can easily

go out of here and get medicine for us?

Who is that?

It's this official here, do you understand?

What are you going to do?

Are you just going to fight like this and see the end for yourself?

Or will you send the official out and be hopeful?

Sure, he has one day... one day!

If he doesn't bring any medicine by tomorrow,

this female physician will die.

Go now!

I'll be right back.

Once you go over the hill there's a town called Yong-Je.

It's a big pharmacy so you can't miss it.

Can all the medicine we need be there in a time like this?

I was there not too long ago, so I know.

They said medicine would arrive soon.

Okay, then...

Sir...

Yes, is there anything else you need?

No ... go ahead.

Okay, bye.

I'm sorry. You'll wake up soon.

Goodbye.

The fact that you came back to find me is more than enough for me.

That joy is enough for me.

Is he really coming back?

Of course.

Anyhow, if he doesn't come back

you're finished, so just remember that.

Don't worry about that.

Get some moss with other healthy folks.

Moss? Why would you need that?

It's good for a fever.

And go to each of the houses

and boil all the kitchenware to disinfect them.

Everyone should live.

Okay.

Physician lady, please take a look at me.

I think I'm going to die.

Will he really come back with the medicine?

Yes.

He's not coming back, is he?

He will come.

Though I agreed to send him

as I thought they might kill him...

will he really come back?

Yes, he will.

Who in the world is going to

come back to a plagued town?

Especially as a nobleman...

That's how people are.

Will we die like this now?

Will we die...?

Excuse me! Excuse me!

When did it stop operating?

What?

When did the pharmacy stop operating?

Because of the plague, they left a long time ago.

Once you go over the hill there's a town called Yong-Je.

It's a big pharmacy so you can't miss it.

Can all the medicine we need be there in a time like this?

I was there not too long ago, so I know.

They said medicine would arrive soon.

Sure, he has one day ... one day!

If he doesn't bring any medicine

by tomorrow, this female physician will die.

You don't know when you were the relief administrator?

What are you talking about?

I'm sorry, but adjutant Min Jung Ho's whereabouts aren't known

ever since he disappeared.

We don't know his whereabouts?

While going to those three locations, we received the order to come back to the palace,

but I didn't find Min Jung-Ho.

Then are you saying he ran away because he became afraid of plague?

He wouldn't do such a thing.

Then how come he isn't back yet?!

How can an official receiving the King's order disappear

forsaking a responsibility like this?

There must be a reason.

And he'll surely be back.

Anyway, he left without permission.

There must be a good reason for it.

Just what is that good reason

which you can't explain at all?!

Jang Geum didn't come back?

She received the Queen's favor...

and instead of being under the physicians' control

she probably got scared of the plague and ran away.

There were girls who ran away out of fear before.

She is not that type of girl.

Then how could she just disappear when all the others

were treating the patients?

Could she have met a pack of tigers?

Tigers don't move in packs.

What are you talking about?

Jang Geum was the only one who didn't show up.

Even though you told her the time and the place?

I even met her on the way.

Yes, we saw her for sure.

How could this be ... she probably got into big trouble.

Even so, do you know

how many days it's been?

I know. Anyway, she caused trouble here in the palace,

and she causes trouble outside the palace as well.

Teacher, something isn't right for sure.

Jang Geum was the girl who wanted to come into the Royal Pharmacy the most.

I know that.

So how could she run away? That doesn't make sense.

I'm sure there are other reasons.

If that's true then she'll be back soon.

Don't worry about her. Just be diligent in your work.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Then what is it that you want?

Tell me.

You want to be the head female physician?

No. I can become that on my own.

Give me the ownership of Sir Choi's medicinal herb fields.

I think getting rid of Jang Geum is...

that valuable to you and the Chief Court Lady.

You're indeed someone who would do something big.

But if you did your job well...

There will surely be no mistake at all.

The relief administrator gave the officials

an order for tougher measures so the plague won't spread.

This wench had the disease but she's been deceiving us all along!

When did it start? When?!

I knew something was wrong when she brought us here. She had already caught the plague!

Oh no, that's not it.

How can it not be that?! It's been a day already!

How about that official who left to get the medicine?

Official?! Yeah, right! It's an obvious trick!

That jerk deceived us!

Then we are all dead!

We're dead!

Lock her in the storage!

Yes, lock her in the storage until he comes back!

Come here. Come here.

That's not it.

Oh my gosh! My Dal Suk!

His breathing is irregular! Our Dal Suk!

I'll kill her myself!

Fire! Fire!

That jerk, he must have ordered to start a fire

in the village after he went out.

What a wicked person!

We must move the patients!

Or else, they'll all die Let's move them!

I must kill her first!

Dal Suk's father! Come! Come! Help! Please help me!

Just leave her! Just leave her!

Help me! Help me!

Fire!

Help me! Help me!

Help me! Help me!

Help me!

Mother, stop speaking and eat these...

You're tired because you didn't eat anything.

It's delicious.

You can't chew them? Then I'll chew it for you.

You did it for me when I was sick.

Mother, eat ... so you can regain strength.

Madam, you must not sleep now.

Your eyes are open, right?

Jang Geum...

Don't call me that way.

Don't call me like my mother when she was dying.

Madam...

Madam...

I will...

go to the palace first.

I'll say sorry...

once you come back.

Jang Geum...

Madam, don't fall asleep.

We're almost there.

Don't tease me..

Why are you doing this to me?

Why is everyone doing this to me?

What did I do wrong? What did I do?

What should I do now? What now?

I'm not going to start over again.

I want to rest now.

Palace Lady Seo! Palace Lady Seo!

Palace Lady Seo!

Palace Lady Seo! Palace Lady Seo...

Palace Lady Seo! Palace Lady Seo!

Palace Lady Seo! Palace Lady Seo!

Palace Lady Seo, Palace Lady Seo, Palace Lady Seo!

Palace Lady Seo, Palace Lady Seo, wake up!

Palace Lady Seo! Palace Lady Seo.

You can't leave like this!

You can't leave like this!

Palace Lady Seo, wake up!

Palace Lady Seo.

Palace Lady Seo...

Are you awake, Palace Lady Seo?

Palace Lady Seo, it's me. Are you waking up?

Palace Lady Seo!

Palace Lady Seo!

I was afraid...

that you might not come back.

How could I...

How could I not come back?

when I found your heart valuing me?

I realized that you were trying to save me.

So how could I not come back?

Thank you for coming back.

Thank you for coming back...

Sir...

Sir...

Father!

How can you leave like this...

without having one good meal?

I'm sorry, please forgive me, father.

At least use this to cover him up.

Honey, we can't stay like this.

Since children aren't suffering heavy symptoms, please send them out.

We should save them at least.

If they remain alive, they'll find a way to live somehow.

I don't want to leave... I'm staying here!

No! You'll all die if you stay here!

No...

Honey, let's not stay here any longer.

Let's leave. I don't think we should stay here.

The official didn't come back... and the female physician...

A little longer ... let's wait a little longer.

Someone's coming!

The official and the female physician are coming!

What happened?

Everyone, didn't I tell you that he'd be back?

I came back with medicine.

A physician will be here too. Take courage.

A physician? Who would come here?

Me.

Physician lady! How did you get in here?

That's not difficult.

I told them I have the disease and they let me in right away.

But here is...

What does that matter for a physician?

Did I teach you that way?

We have no time. Let's find a useful house and set up the infirmary.

Alright.

If you aren't sick,

take a patient with you and go out of here one at a time.

Here! Here!

Please take a look at my child first.

You must be in line, so wait outside.

He's an infant.

Everyone here is sick.

I breast-fed him while I was sick.

You breast-fed him with the plague?

I thought there was no hope

and felt that it'd be better for him to feel satisfied.

When did you start feeding him?

Actually, there was nothing to eat

so it was more than 5 days ago.

Will she be okay?

I'm not sure yet.

There are many more serious patients than me.

But something's strange.

What is it?

I've seen many epidemics in Jeju...

but this one doesn't seem to be contagious.

Not contagious?

With that infant, if he had been breast-fed he should have caught it,

but there were no symptoms of the disease.

Even so, if it isn't contagious how can so many people get sick

at the same time like that?

It's the same with Palace Lady Seo.

I know.

I did notice something strange as well.

What is it?

Normally, when there is an epidemic, the whole family dies.

But that wasn't the case here.

And although infected people were scattered throughout the town

there wasn't any case where all family members were infected.

And those who were taking care of them were fine as well.

I'm not sure what's happening here.

Sir, ask them when it started

and whether or not all family members got sick.

Yes.

I'll go check out the town.

But you're sick.

We have to find the source in order for patients and I to live.

Tell me the details! What happened there?

How come there's no news of Jang Geum?

I don't know since I've only been in the palace.

All I know is that she didn't show up at the appointed time.

And people at the royal pharmacy think she left her post.

No way! She didn't toil her way back to the palace to run away.

That's not possible. How could this be?

It's been 15 days already.

There's nothing we can do if she's dead,

but if not, we can't forgive her for not being back by now.

That's right.

I really can't understand it.

The Queen favors her so much,

so she should be the first to come back to the palace.

Why isn't she coming?

I'll ask the head physician for the decision on her.

Head physician lady, please wait for her for a few more days.

She'll be back.

Don't worry. It's all over now.

Even if she comes back, she can't stay in the palace.

It's this girl.

I'm Yeol Yi.

Okay.

I'll give you what you want as soon as Jang Geum's position

is officially nullified.

What are you going to do about Jang Geum?

I came here to inquire about it.

Didn't we wait long enough?

Seeing that she still hasn't com back, she doesn't want to come back.

It's clearly desertion of duty.

We'll give you the decision soon so wait

Yes.

She probably has a good reason.

How could she be justified in not sending us

a letter for over 15 days?!

Instead of worrying about this

I think you'll have to go to Gae Sung and Eum Sung.

What is it?

I think there was a report of plague in those places as well.

What? But aren't those places far away from the plague's origin?

Actually, there must've been some other places unreported to us.

An epidemic hasn't spread like this before.

That's why I'm asking you to go there and check.

Though I feel that it's an exaggerated report.

His Majesty is very worried.

You should be resting. Why are you outside?

What's happening here?

It's a vegetable field, but we burned it down.

The vegetables started to turn bad

and it spread to other fields.

So we burned it all to stop the spreading.

So did it disappear afterwards?

No, not at all!

It turned out that it wasn't just on my field, but also on other's fields.

In addition, it was the same even in mountains.

What?

I guess even the plants are plagued.

Anyway, this year's harvest is ruined.

Then did you throw them away?

Oh no, we won't have anything to eat if we throw all of them away.

Then what...?

We sold the ones that looked okay and we ate the rest.

You ate the diseased ones?

I'm not sure exactly if they are diseased or not,

but we have to eat something.

How can we be picky when we don't have much?

Not just the mother who nursed the baby,

but also a couple sharing a bed didn't spread the disease to each other.

Then...

I think it's the disease of plants.

Disease of plants?

There was a widespread disease of plants around here.

But a disease of plants aren't contagious to people.

Right, it's not contagious but people got sick because they ate those plants.

Though the vegetables don't normally have poison, but when it's gone bad or on the area where it starts sprouting,

it can create poison.

So eating that would cause food poisoning

Were radishes, cabbage, apples...

or shepherd's purse infected too?

Yes. They all turned tender and was rotting.

Then it's just like eating poisonous herbs.

If it's caused by plants...

Plants can have a disease too,

and it could spread widely.

If people eat it, they'll get sick,

but it is not contagious between people.

Many people got sick at the same time because they all ate at around the same time.

Wouldn't that be why it looks so widespread?

That's right. It's clearly caused by the plants then.

It's not a plague, but food poisoning.

People didn't know this and they kept on

eating radish and vegetables and that's why their illness increased.

And in this region, because of the last flood, their grain harvest was ruined.

So they were surviving on vegetables from last winter.

And I, too, ate radish since coming here.

Okay, then I'll change my treatment.

I'll feed them ginger water

and herbal root water.

Sir, you can tell the people...

Yes ... since ginger neutralizes poison in the stomach, that'll be good.

Give it to me. I'll do it.

Oh no, you can just tell the people the news.

Oh no, this and that, I'll do it all.

Please go in and rest.

I'll just...

I'll do it.

Please drink it...

you didn't drink at all yet.

We'll try using this herbal pill first.

Everyone has gotten better now.

How about you, Palace Lady Seo?

I'm doing better too.

Everyone is doing much better.

Their diarrhea stopped and

fevers are coming down.

I think it was really food poisoning.

Yes, I think so.

We almost got the healthy ones sick.

I think I have to find out more about it,

whether it's happening only locally

or if it has spread to other regions.

Yes, we must also tell the palace

and let the people know as soon as possible.

Okay. I'll take care of things here so go and find out.

Alright.

It's here too.

Excuse me.

Is the plague spreading here, too?

Yes. How did you know?

Several families are infected, so I'm still wondering

whether I should flee or not.

But they say there's no place to flee to.

It's spreading everywhere!

Damn, this kingdom is about to be ruined.

Sir! There is a big problem.

We'll need to hurry.

The vegetables here go to the palace.

This is a contract promising you the medicine trade of my brother.

It'll be given to you just as we promised.

Thank you.

Madam!

What is it?

Jang Geum is back!

What?!

How can Deputy Relief Administrator show up just now? After all this time?

You, too. How could a female physician with a mission...?

You've been discharged already!

Female physician Jang Geum, you've lost your position, too.

Now that you are no longer a female physician, go back to Jeju now!

I'll receive my due punishment gladly

but there's a more important matter at hand.

We found the cause of the plague.

That's right.

The cause of the plague? What is that?

Yes, this isn't a plague.

Not a plague?

You found the cause of the plague, but it isn't a plague?

Yes ... it's food poisoning.

Symptoms are similar, fever, vomiting, diarrhea

and that's why we misunderstood it.

It's caused by a vegetable disease.

People are sick due to a vegetable disease?

All those people? Yes.

Nonsense!

It's an epidemic of vegetables.

That's why those symptoms only showed up on people who ate a lot.

That's why it's not contagious among people, and it appeared irregularly.

The starving people ate the poisoned vegetables

and that's why this happened.

We need to hurry, we saw the fields infected around the palace,

and even vegetable suppliers for the palace.

We must spread the news quickly and stop the deaths of people!

And we must carefully examine everything that came into the palace.

Your Excellency!

This is a big problem, isn't it?

His Majesty has ordered to find the cause, so this was it!

That's right.

Can that be possible?

I'm not sure.

What? Plant illness?

Yes. There's a problem with the vegetables

and those who ate them got food poisoning.

Nonsense!

No such thing ever happened by eating vegetables.

I've been in the royal kitchen for decades.

But all those people are sick from eating vegetables?

And even the ones that came into the palace are infected?

And I heard she appeared with Sir Min Jung Ho.

I wonder what they've been doing together all this time.

This won't do! I'll have to step in myself.

So did you take a look?

Yes. I didn't find a clear cause yet

but it doesn't look like an epidemic.

How about you?

The symptoms are similar to an epidemic

but it isn't contagious.

Then isn't Jang Geum right?

Jang Geum is back?

Yes. She said something strange.

Something strange?

She said it's the epidemic of plants.

She said whoever eats the plant has food poisoning.

Food poisoning? That's a possibility.

What are you talking about? No one has ever gotten sick over vegetables.

Harmless vegetables can start producing poison once it has a disease.

Madam...

Did you check the Food Services?

Yes.

How are they?

None that were going to the royal kitchen or the queen dowager's kitchen was like that,

but there were some that were going to palace ladies or to the storage.

Isn't she just saying it's food poisoning because they have similar symptoms

and because it's hard to find the cause?

Sir Shin and I agree after visiting other places.

It's clearly not an epidemic.

If we assume an epidemic to be food poisoning,

we could endanger even more people's lives.

The safety of the people and His Majesty's health depends on this.

We can't be reckless.

But unlike other epidemics,

it didn't start from one area but it started from everywhere.

I was in the royal kitchen before becoming the Chief Court Lady.

I've never seen anyone get sick over vegetables except poisonous herbs.

Only good vegetables are in the palace.

It isn't that way with the common people.

The people probably ate the same things

so how come only some people are sick?

There could be differences of the amount of intake

and those who did take bad vegetables could have built up resistance

by drinking a lot of ginger, garlic, or green tea.

But I can't believe that.

It seems to me they've put their own work aside

and showed up late without a good excuse.

How about this?

Why doesn't the Chief Court Lady confirm it herself?

Confirm it?

If you're that confident, why don't you try the diseased vegetable yourself?

Yes, we can just confirm it.

Yes, we should check

but is there a need for Court Lady Choi to do it herself?

No ... I will do it.

I will do it.

Be careful. Don't shake it too much...

- Right. - Be careful.

So Court Lady Choi said she would try it herself?

Yes.

I hope she gets really sick!

Shhh! You should only say such things under the blanket!

Why? Do you hate Court Lady Choi?

No, not that.

She's our worst enemy!

Madam, are you feeling okay?

Madam, are you feeling okay?

Help me put on my coat.

Madam...

Help me put on my coat now!

Madam!

Madam!

Madam!

What?

She's showing the symptoms.

You should quickly tell His Majesty.

We should spread the news so people's lives can be spared.

I'll go and tell His Majesty.

The royal pharmacy should prescribe medicine

and tell the medical office and commoners' clinics to respond to this.

Yes, sir.

Is it you, Geum Young?

Why are you...?

I know the cure.

I'll treat you.

Subtitles adjusted by The Jewel Polishing Team @ Viki