All language subtitles for The Great Merchant E11

Subtitled By
KBS America

Here. This is my maternal
grandfathers name.

And my mother is the woman
recorded here as his daughter.

Please have a look.

Your mother is this man's daughter?

Yes.

Then is your mother's name Yi Eun Hong?

How do you know her name?

Eun Hong
Eun Hong is your mother?

Please sign right here to confirm that there
were no ships scheduled to set sail that day.

You all know that diver Yi Eun Hong

was Yi Man Bok's daughter, right?

Yeah.

Come up one at a time and put

your finger print stamp right here.

What's your name?

Soon Duk.

Right here.

Next. Your name?

Thank you.

Is there something wrong, my lord?

Does this look familiar to you?

My flute! Why do you have my flute?

Sir, it's Jun Hong Soo.

There were no ships schedule to leave
the port on the day Hong was arrested.

These are statements
by ship owners confirming

that the two never made
a boarding request,

and petitions signed by divers that Yi

Eun Hong is indeed Yi Man Bok's daughter.

No one will be able to claim that Hong is

lying when we present these evidence.

Sir, I have a request.

Go on.

Please release Granny from
detainment until the trial tomorrow.

She's old and infirm from
long detainment.

What do you mean they have proof?

I heard they went out and
gather all kinds of proof.

Where is Assistant Magistrate Choi?

Doesn't he know that I could
end up becoming a maidservant?

No. My boss madam from Hanyang wouldn't
be looking for you if that were true, Sis.

"My boss madam"?

Are you jumping ship because
things are turning against my favor?

Oh, Sis, stop being so difficult
and just come with me.

And we'll figure out a solution together.

I've worked too hard to come this far.
No one is going to destroy me.

No one is trying to destroy you.
It's karma that's coming back to you.

Karma?

My karma can't be as bad as the
one who severed blood ties.

I will not go down alone.

Granny, I've put you through so much...

Don't worry.

You don't look too well. What's wrong?

I was just with Lord Kim Eung Ryeol.
He had a flute just like mine.

Granny, you know about this. Don't you?

I wanted to take this to
the grave if only I could...

but I guess blood ties are
not to be severed.

Things aren't looking good
for Myo Hyang.

She's not the only one things
aren't looking good for.

All of the evidence that have come to light so
far are about Myo Hyang's fight against Hong.

She'd be hurt if she heard you say that.

But there's nothing we can do.

If we get involved, we'll get hurt, too.

By the way, what happened to the
man who holds our fate in his hands?

Are you talking about the clerk?

Don't worry. I'm a man
who takes care of himself.

So is his family being well taken care of?

How do you know I have his family?

What's your plan? To come out of
hiding after I've been kicked out?

I'm not the one trying to
get you removed! Hong is!

Sit down. We're here to
figure out a way to help you.

Exiled Lord Kim was nearly lifeless from severe
torture, but Eun Hong brought him back to life.

Exiled?

She had conceived a child by an exiled
man, so she couldn't tell anyone.

She didn't want
to burden Lord Kim either.

Was I nothing but a burden to him?

Then what does the flute mean?

It was a symbol of their love.

He abandoned his woman and his child.
What do you mean a symbol of love?

Hong, your mother deeply loved

your father.

She didn't want to ruin his future,

so she couldn't tell him that

that she was carrying his child.

So he went back to Hanyang
not knowing about you.

Even if that's true, why didn't he ever
come back to Jeju to see my mother?

Hong, you must never tell anyone that
you are Lord Kim Eung Ryeol's daughter.

Why not?

If it comes out that he had a lover during
his time in exile and fathered a child,

both of you will
suffer severe consequences.

You can't continue asserting that she was
trying to escape the island at this point!

So you'd have me removed
from my position instead?

Why did you create this trouble
for yourself in the first place?

If this is how you want it,
I will not go down quietly either.

Then what are you going to do?

I guess you forgot about the clerk.

I can easily open his mouth.

Are you threatening me?

This is not the time to fight each other.

We can't let the ship sink
in such a small storm.

Mistress.

I think you're the one
who can calm this storm.

If Kim Eung Ryeol is really Hong's father and
he is the one who proposed this hearing,

don't you think people will be curious?

Then?

The fairness of the trial could
be brought into question,

and it will give us a chance to remove
the thorn in the flesh once and for all.

But it could backfire and hurt
all of us if we bring that up...

Not if we make incorruptible
Kim Eung Ryeol confesses to it himself.

Then...

Yes. Secrets are made to be exposed,
so everything is in your own hands.

My lord.

It's been a long time.

Do I know you?

Do you remember Eun Hong's friend?

Yes, I remember now.
The two of you were closest friends.

So how have you fared?

I've become the headmistress
of the gisaeng house.

Headmistress of the gisaeng house?
Then you're Hong's...

I'd rather not talk about Hong.

I don't know what happened between us.
I raised her like my own...

My lack of virtue is to blame.

Do you know who Hong's birth mother is?

Actually, that is the reason why
I came to see you tonight.

Is that right?

I took her in because she was an orphan,
but now she claims Eun Hong is her mother.

I'm simply appalled.

Are you saying she is lying?

Of course she is.

Eun Hong only had one child,
and that child is your daughter.

How there be another child?

Did you just say my daughter?

Didn't you know?

I thought you had taken the child in...

Hong is a clever girl who is
very skillful in making up lies.

The truth will be revealed soon
enough whatever that may be,

and the perjurer will be
punished according to the law.

You can be assured of that.

Of course.

I just didn't want you to be shocked if
Hong claims she is Eun Hong's daughter.

Well then.

Hong,

what are you so worried about when we can
prove you had no intent to leave the island?

Do you remember the man
that interrogated me

when I was arrested for vending without
a license seven years ago in Hanyang?

He said vending without a license
was like stealing. I remember.

It turns out he is my father.

Who would've thought the fate that had
brought us together seven years ago in

Hanyang jail would bring us
together again here today?

And as a father and daughter at that...

If... if this is true, shouldn't you be happy?

I don't know.

I don't know what kind of man he is,
if he loved my mother...

If he did love her, why did he
never come back to Jeju to see her?

Why didn't he protect my mother?

I feel frustrated, disappointed,

and a little angry...

And yet, I keep wanting to see him...

Am I yearning for my father?

Hong,

if he really is your father,
I'm sure he feels the same way.

He'll come to you soon.
Give him some time.

Good morning, sir. May I come in?

Yes.

Guards are ready to escort you
to West Gate Market Brokers.

Oh yes...

Yes, I was scheduled to
go to West Gate today.

Hong must've left her flute here.

She probably looked for it all night.

No, that's mine.

Yours?
How could this be...?

Mother...

I thought Hong's flute belonged
to her departed mother.

She said it was the only item she had
that could help her find her father.

Does this mean you are Hongs...?

Am I wrong?

No, you're right.

Sir...!

I will go to West Gate instead.

West Gate's new owner, Kang Kye Man's
widow, is not one to be taken lightly.

Are you referring to Oh Moon Seon?

She's always been involved in
every incident we investigated.

I've dismissed the fact because
she is young and she is a woman,

but I'm beginning to think
it was a mistake.

I know the woman well.
Please let me handle this investigation.

Sir, you must stay by Hong's side.

I abandoned her and her mother.

Whatever the circumstance, your mere
presence will give her great strength.

Your report of Gisaeng Hong's attempted
escape has been proven false.

Therefore, you are to be removed from your
position as the headmistress of gisaeng house.

Do you have anything to say?

It had come to my knowledge
that Hong was plotting an escape,

and in my attempt to prevent such event,
I have led the situation to come to this.

I deserve punishment for failing
to raise my child properly.

There is another matter to be heard,

so Myo Hyang's sentence
will be rendered thereafter.

Gisaeng Hong, you claim you
are a commoner's daughter.

Have you found proof to support
this claim?

These documents prove that Hong's
mother Yi Eun Hong was a commoner.

You've established that
Yi Eun Hong was a commoner.

Now how do you intend to prove
that Yi Eun Hong is Hong's mother?

I am the midwife who delivered this child.

Diver Yi Eun Hong is
indeed this child's mother.

If you were the midwife
that delivered the child,

you must know
who Hong's father is as well.

Don't you?

My lord, this very woman is the one who
goaded Hong to leave the gisaeng house.

It's obvious that she is using a dead woman's

name to gain the status of a commoner.

I ask that you order her to reveal the father.

If this is true, you will be
charged for contempt as well!

Magistrate!

My father.... is dead.

I am just Yi Eun Hong's daughter.

If she can't reveal her father, it's
obvious everything she say is a lie.

I caution you not to be
deceived by her smooth tongue.

My lord, it took me over twenty
years to learn my mother's name.

How could anyone in this world speak
falsely about the mother she finally found

after twenty years?

If she can trample all over the
mother who raised her like this,

there's nothing she won't do
to be exempted from base status.

Then allow me the chance to expose
the truth about my mother's death.

Truth about your mother's death?

See, my lord? She's cornered,
so now she's trying to use

Eun Hong's accidental death
to weasel out of this!

It sounds like you have explicit
knowledge about my mother's death.

My lord, I ask that you order
her to divulge the details.

What is this girl's accusation? Explain.

How am I supposed to know
about your mother's death?

Magistrate, there's no need
to go any further with this.

Myo Hyang is trying to distract the court with
an irrelevant issue to get out of punishment!

Assistant Magistrate...!

How dare you!

You've already committed calumny and
you dare do it again in the court of law!

Magistrate, permit me to remove her
from this proceeding at once.

What are you waiting for? Take her away!

Yes, sir!

You're mistaken if you think
I'm going down alone.

Shut your guileful tongue!
Remove the woman at once!

You just wait!
I am not going down alone!

It feels different seeing you here in Jeju.

Are you comfortable
where you are staying?

I'm on official business as the captain
of the Commerce Control Bureau.

If that is the case, I shall speak to you strictly
as owner of West Gate as well, Captain.

Please go on, sir.

The Commerce Control Bureau has secured a
ledger that details West Gate's corrupt dealings.

I am aware.

Then do you know who
West Gate conspired with?

I believe the province clerk
was arrested for the crime.

It is true that we were connected
to this unfortunate incident,

but it stemmed from our effort
to obey government authorities.

West Gate was just obeying the clerk,
so you did nothing wrong. Is that it?

How could we possibly deny wrongdoing?

We admit to and regret our mistakes.

So we've paid the fines imposed upon
us without protest.

And I came here personally to
rectify poor management.

Then can I expect your full cooperation
in this second investigation?

Of course, sir.

I know this is belated, but I'm
sincerely sorry for your loss.

You took his life,
and you're sorry for my loss.

My father will jump up from his grave.

Watch your words.

I risked West Gate and gave you that
ledger so you could protect Hong.

What are you doing back here after making
her go through this terrible ordeal alone?

You don't have to worry about Hong.

Don't string her along when you
can't be responsible for her.

What will happens when your parents
find out about you and Hong?

Do you think your high and
mighty father will stand for it?

Enough!

I won't tolerate any more of your insults!

I won't tolerate any more of this either.

If anything happens to Hong
because of you, you will pay.

Thank you for believing me
and giving me a chance.

You've been through a terrible ordeal.

Then we will go now.

Don't just sit there.

They're going to come

and get you any moment!

Who will dare come to get me?

The state guards, who else?

Get out! Leave me alone!

Yes, ma'am!

Oh, that temper...

Your life is over, but you're still hollering!

That mouth of yours...

Be quiet!

All right.

This is a disgrace to Jeju gisaengs!

How can you say that when the woman you

served for over ten years is getting thrown out?

If you feel so bad for her,

why don't you join her?

That wretched wench!

You should clean out the mistress's room.

I'm sure someone will replace her soon.

Let's go, girls.

I'll teach that wench a lesson!

Ahem!

Sir, there's trouble!

The investigator barged
into the penitentiary, and...

Do you expect me to believe that you
processed this huge quantity by yourself?

Whether you believe me
or not is not my concern.

What did Choi Nam Gu threaten you with?

I don't know what you're talking about.

With corruption charges and murder of the

diver master, you're looking at death penalty.

You'd trust a man who committed all these
crimes and made his subordinate take the fall?

I guess that's your choice.

Do you serious believe Choi would keep
the promises he made you after you're dead?

Let go! I said let go!

Sis!

I am not going to run away.

Let me have a few words
with my sister before I leave.

Make it quick.

Sis, why is this happening to you!

Oh, that's a little...

Okay, I'll deliver the message.

Let's go!

Deliver my message word for word.

Don't worry, Sis! I won't let you down!

It turns out the clerk's family moved into
Choi Nam Gu's house the day before

he was arrested.

Have you met the family?

Yes. His mother is elderly and infirm,
and his children were quite young.

They were not aware that
the clerk had been arrested,

and Choi claims he didn't tell them because
he was afraid they would be devastated.

So he is holding the clerk's family hostage

and claiming to have taken them
in out of sympathy.

That's my speculation as well.

I will secure the safety of the family first
then persuade the clerk to confess the truth.

Yes.

We'll have to pay more attention to
the safety of the jailed clerk as well.

The investigation has been reopened, so
Choi Nam Gu will attempt to kill him off.

Yes, sir.

By the way, sir,

have you had a chance to talk with Hong?

You should go to her.

Captain Jun Hong Soo came to my
house and talked to the clerk's family!

This was bound to happen
as long as the clerk is alive.

Didn't you know that?

Well, he and I go back a long way, and
he is such a good son to his mother...

So you held his mother hostage and
thought everything will be fine?

What will you do?

Now that the investigators are on to you,
killing him off won't be easy.

That's the reason why I've come to you.

Madam!

How dare you barge in unannounced!

I've come to deliver
Mistress Myo Hyang's message.

Mistress my foot!

You may speak.

"The fact that Assistant Magistrate Choi
ordered the killing of the driver master,

"and all of the illegal activities you committed
in collaboration with West Gate over the years...

Silence!

How dare you attempt to threaten me!

I haven't done anything wrong, sir.

I'm simply delivering a message
verbatim as I was told to.

So is that everything?

No, there's a little more.

There's no need to listen to this!

Let us hear what she had
to say before she left.

Continue.

Then.

"I remember the details of the past events
that will fill the pages of at least two books

if I were to compile them."

"Now that I've lost everything,
I have nothing to fear."

"So, for old times sake, I am informing
you about my state of mind in advance."

Go and deliver my message to Myo Hyang.

That she'd better keep her mouth shut
if she wants to keep her head intact!

Go deliver my message!

Yes, sir...

Why aren't you saying anything?
We have to dispose of Myo Hyang at once!

Calm down.

Myo Hyang knows too much
to make her an enemy.

So we'll just silence her!

If we do that, we have to kill off her
brother and sister Dong Joo and Seo Joo as well.

The clerk, Myo Hyang, Dong Joo and Seo Joo?
how can we say that they all died by accident?

Then what are we supposed to do?

Indulge the woman who's been
reduced to a maidservant?

I think I'm going to visit the deer ranch to check
on the deer antlers I need to send to Hanyang.

What are you talking about?

Isn't the deer ranch is in Daejeonghyeon?

You shouldn't discard anything

until you know what it's worth.

Don't look at me like that.

I'm but a visitor from Hanyang. What
could I have possibly done to help you?

Just tell me why you're here.

Like you said in your message,
you know too much.

So I've come to make a deal.

A deal?

Yes.

I cannot reinstate you as
the headmistress right away.

But I can get you out of here.

And what am I supposed
to give you in return?

The investigators from Hanyang have
begun questioning the clerk again.

So you want me to find a
way to get rid of him for you.

You've been the headmistress of Jeju
government gisaeng house for many years.

I'm sure there are people
who owe you favors.

How do I know you won't
ignore me once this is done?

If you can't trust me, I'll go.

I suppose things can't
get much worse than this.

Fine. I'll help you.

You won't regret it.

Hong.

What brings you here, my lord?

Please go inside.

I'd like to have a moment with Hong.

Too many people are watching.

Have you always known
about Hong and me?

Yes.

Then why didn't you let me know?

If I had known I had a daughter,
I would have taken her in.

I'm sure you would've wanted to.

But would your family have accepted a
child you fathered during your time in exile?

All this time I watched her suffer all
kinds of misfortune and did nothing!

I've committed an atrocity!

Then would you rather have given the poor
girl who grew up without parental love

the guilt of having destroyed
her father and his family as well?

But...

Think of how much Eun Hong must've cared

about you to have kept the child from you.

If that means anything to
you, please leave now.

All I ever did was take from her.

I couldn't even stop her
death that I essentially caused.

And you want me to turn my back
on Hong as well? I can't do that.

Frankly, it's not my concern what
happens to you or your family.

But I can't allow Hong to become an offender's
daughter and suffer for the rest of her life.

So please leave now.

There is something I must
give her as her father.

Won't you let me give it to her in person?

So, did it go well?

Of course.

Jail Guard Kim wouldn't hesitate to
drink poison if my sister told him to.

Now the clerk is as good as dead.

Are you really going to get her out?

Do I look like a liar to you?

No, but...

Madam! Madam!

Kim Eung Ryeol... is going to give it to her.

Give what to whom?

He said, "There is something I
must give Hong as her father."

Good.

Once we get that item in our possession,
Kim Eung Ryeol will be in our hands.

And soon your sister will be reinstated
headmistress of the gisaeng house.

Really?

That object Kim Eung Ryeol wants to give
Hong has to be something important.

Perhaps it'll prove that they
are father and daughter.

Follow Hong.
We must get that item in our hands.

Don't worry, Madam.
I'll get it for you if it's the last thing I do!

Deok Pal, take Mangwan and Yoo Bong
and organize the inventory by tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

I want you to get a room
ready for Granny to stay.

Is she going to be staying with us?

She'll need a comfortable room to rest and

recuperate after being detained for so long.

Wouldn't she be better off resting at

a home than at a place of business?

I've asked her to stay here because
it'll be easier for us to work together.

Are you hiring her to work here
at East Gate Market Brokers?

I intend to have her as
our business advisor.

No, sir. She has too many
enemies in the government office.

Who knows what kind of problem
it will cause us to have her here?

Junior Foreman is right, sir.
I think you should reconsider.

Granny is an experienced merchant
who learned about business in Hanyang.

She will be a valuable asset to us.

Senior Foreman.

I've already made my decision.

Where did Dong Joo disappear to this time?

He's probably somewhere drinking
again upset over Myo Hyang.

How about Hong? Is she still
staying at the government office?

Why are you asking me about
the girl who ruined my sister's life?

That hurts my feelings.

Be quiet.
No one told your sister to lie.

Cut the rubbish and get a
room ready for Hong to stay.

Pardon? You're bringing Hong here?

Why?

What do you mean why? I'm the one who put
up her hair, so that makes me her husband.

It's only right that I take her in.

Um, there's a possibility she may not come,
so can I do the cleaning when she gets here?

Just clean the room.
I want it immaculate!

Love is a wretched disease...

When Hong rejects him,
he's going to be shattered.

I wish he'd give me those jade rings.
It's going to get tossed out anyway.

Where are we going?

You'll know when we get there.

My lord, where are we going
and why are we running?

We're going to see the man
you need to see.

The man I need to see?

Let's hurry.

You two go that way,
and you go around the back.

Seo Joo said you were passed out drunk.

This is an odd behavior for a drunken man.

Sir, I have an urgent business.

I really must go.

What's the urgent business?

Well...

Why are you following Hong and Hong Soo?

Who put you up to this?

And where are those two going?

I'll tell you everything later.

If I lose them, Madam Oh will...

Madam Oh?

Who is following us?

The people who are after you
and your father.

I'll take care of them.
Go inside and see your father.

But...

It'll be all right. Go on.

That way!
What are you waiting for? Follow them!

Yes, sir!

You can't go in there right now, sir.

Let go of me or I'll kill you.

Sir, please wait a few minutes.

Just until the father and daughter
start crying their guts out.

Father and daughter?

We need to secure proof that Kim Eung Ryeol
and Hong are father and daughter.

That's the reason Madam
Oh had me follow Hong.

Just a few minutes, sir.

That's not my concern.

Subtitled by
KBS America

Where are you hiding Hong?

I thought hiding things is your forte.

I asked you a question!

"Kim Man Deok"

You are my daughter.

I've confirmed the clerk's death.

We need to know the cause of death.

You'd cut the dead man
into pieces to be satisfied?

I thought this case was
over with the clerk's death.

Policy reform without my knowledge?

Mak Soon? Mak Soon, is that you?

Your son has fallen for a former gisaeng
and become a mockery of Jeju.

I urge you to quickly find him

a suitable maiden to marry.

If I can't have him,
you can't have him either.