Original subtitles

Vice Minister is here.

His Majesty the King has bestowed his answer.

After hearing his words, I too decided.

Dig up Jin Soo Myung's grave and exhume the corpse.

Minister!

The corpse will be examined again.

Oh, no.

Head Merchant...

Ok Nyeo...

You were looking for me, Your Majesty?

Je Seo,

have you ever heard of the External Learned Bureau (law bureau)?

I have heard of it, but I don't know the details.

Those who take up lawsuits on behalf of commoners who are not learned in the law, are called the External Learned Bureau.

That's what we called them, lawyers.

At the trial being held at the Ministry of Justice right now

the External Learned Bureau appeared.

He was denying the royal reports from the Police Bureau,

and even requested that the graves be overturned for an accurate judgement.

I couldn't dismiss Vice Minister's arguments, so I did give my permission,

yet I feel uneasy. Moreover,

I must find out who that person is.

Who the one who recruited the External Learned Bureau was

and under what circumstances he became one of them.

Could you find out for me?

Yes, Your Majesty.

It seems like now we've finally passed a hurdle.

But you, Ok Nyeo, you really are something.

Ok Nyeo you're the one who saved Clerk Ji.

When did you figure all that out?

It's all thanks to your help.

Ok Nyeo, I thought when the dumb witness who claimed to have seen Clerk Ji kill Jin Soo Myung

was kicked out of the trial, that was the decisive factor.

Did I tell you? I found that out.

Hyungnim, why bother telling us that a hundred times?

This is all thanks to our Ok Nyeo's marvelous trial.

It's true.

When I heard you say to dig up the corpse, I thought the trial was done.

I was so scared they might arrest you right away.

To re-examine was the only way to prove Ahjussi's innocence.

I said it knowing I could be punished.

I'm just glad it worked out.

Just a second.

She's just incredible.

I came because I want to be a lawyer.

What?

I'll reveal Clerk Ji is wronged. Wait and see.

You can't, sir.

A court official can't be a lawyer.

Government officials can't be lawyers.

I know that.

But who will do it then?

I will do it.

You will?

Yes, sir.

Then I have something to tell you.

I met someone who was a lawyer before.

I discussed with him about how to argue in court.

In this trial,

instead of exposing who is the real culprit,

it is better to focus the argument on Clerk Ji not being the culprit.

If you try to expose who the real culprit is, the argument will get complicated.

And it will be to Clerk Ji's disadvantage.

You understand what I'm saying?

Ok Nyeo.

Who are you looking for?

It's nothing.

Anyway, we are so relieved.

That's right.

Now we just need to dig up the corpse and Clerk Ji will get released.

It's too early to be relieved.

The verdict isn't out so we can't let our guard down yet.

Alright.

If they dig up the corpse and redo the autopsy,

it's only a matter of time until they discover we poisoned Jin Soo Myung to death.

What do we do?

Just keep your mouth shut and don't say anything!

Stay still so I can think.

Alright?

Chief, nothing is certain yet.

Don't worry too much.

What do you mean, nothing's certain?

Even if they get the corpse out, the examiner is someone we already bribed.

He won't say anything disadvantageous to you.

Fool.

You think the Minister will have the same examiner redo the autopsy?

You are so dumb as to not figure that out?

The witness, the examiner and the captain, too.

Everyone we worked on is under suspicion.

I'm sorry, Chief.

You can leave now.

Yes.

I think we need to tell this to Nan Jung.

What are you talking about?

Before this gets any bigger, we need to tell this all to Nan Jung

so she can figure out how to get out of this.

You can't! No way!

If Nan Jung finds out another way,

you and I will be done for. Don't you know that?

Above all else, if the police start to investigate us,

Nan Jung and the Lord could get in trouble, too.

That won't happen. I will figure this out before that happens.

Dear...

Even if we have to kill everyone who suspects us,

we need to stop this by our hand.

Go block the mouths of Examiner Choi

and the witness, Jang Man Bong.

The day they say the wrong thing, you and I are over.

Don't use your men.

Find another way to settle this quietly.

Do a good job with it.

So salty.

Let's see.

Sungnim, are you alright? Did you eat something wrong?

What?

Wait.

What?

You don't know? In here...

Sungnim, what are you saying?

Finally the day has come.

The time for you to call me Second Mistress.

Second Mistress?

What are you talking about?

It's nothing, Ma'am.

Shut up.

You, wench, said Second Mistress.

Just a joke.

What an outrageous wench!

Is that something to joke about?

You did it with the Lord, wench?

No, Ma'am.

Soon Geum, fetch a doctor.

I said to fetch a doctor!

Yes, Ma'am.

Come with me, wench.

Ma'am.

No problem, baby.

How is she? Is she pregnant?

Is that wench really with a child?

That's...

You're a doctor and you can't tell if she's pregnant?

It's not that so please just wait.

Ma'am, she's not pregnant.

But I saw her having nausea.

Sometimes women who are desperately wishing to get pregnant show those signs.

They have morning sickness,

and in severe cases, they even have growing bellies.

That means she's gone nuts.

No, not quite nuts, but just that desperate.

I got it so you can leave.

Yes, Ma'am.

Ma'am, spare me.

Crazy wench. I'm speechless at how ridiculous you are.

Ma'am.

How desperate you must have been in trying to get my place, that you're even imagining a pregnancy!

Ma'am, I'm sorry. Please spare me.

Shut up! I would like to have you killed right away.

But I won't send you off so easily.

From now on, you're in charge, Soon Geum.

What?

Ma'am. Thank you.

And you order Jong Geum to do all the rough work around here.

Don't take it easy on her no matter what. Got that?

Yes, Ma'am.

I'll have to see you dry up and die. Get ready for it.

Ma'am. Please just once.

Just once. I really am very sorry.

What are you waiting for? Drag the wench out and have her work.

Yes, Ma'am.

What are you doing? Follow me right away.

Get out.

Get out!

Sir.

Yes?

Um...

Go ahead.

Do you know a gisaeng named Chae Sun?

Chae Sun? Yes, I do.

Chae Sun's father was wronged

but there's no way out.

So could you please...?

Have a seat.

How your father was wronged, what was it?

Go ahead and tell him.

My uncle owed taxes, but

he ran away with his family in the middle of the night.

But the precinct holds my father responsible for it.

They confiscated the little land he owned, too.

My father protested and he was arrested by the precinct and was beaten there and now he's barely hanging on.

How can they be such thugs?

Sir, can you help her, please?

He's not the only commoner who's in that unfair situation. What can I do?

Then, powerless people like us just let this happen?

Right now, I can't help you but I plan to raise people who can help the commoners who are unfairly treated.

There are such people?

Yes.

Sir.

Sir, I brought him.

Thank you for your time. Please sit.

Something's up with Tae Won these days, right? I don't ever see him.

I know.

Chief.

Yes. Where is Tae Won?

He's meeting a guest at the Gibang.

A guest? Who?

Someone who used to be a lawyer.

A lawyer?

What's the reason you wanted to see me?

The person I know who was almost executed today was spared his life thanks to you.

Did you act as his lawyer?

No.

But at the trial today I made up my mind.

I want to reestablish lawyers.

To gather lawyers and develop them has been a long-time dream of mine.

I'd like to start now.

I will need your help with that.

However I have no desire to be a lawyer again.

I don't mean for you to be a lawyer personally.

Teach the newly recruited lawyers the know-how and experiences you gathered.

But even if you develop a group of lawyers, they will soon be kicked out again.

Even if the state acknowledges someone to argue in trial for another, it is shunned.

Not just the police but they will also run into conflict with the department of punishment.

In the end it will bring yourself troubles, too.

That's something I will see to. You needn't worry about it.

Please help me.

Have a seat everyone.

Yes.

I think the demolition of the Rites Bureau will go through.

From now on, Queen Dowager and the Soyoon faction won't be able to wield their power through the Rites Bureau.

So from now on, we will need to figure out ways to weaken the Soyoon Faction.

The first thing is to block their profit route.

Yes. They have for generations raised enormous funds through the large shares of land they keep.

More than half the lands they own were stolen from the people illegally.

We need to confiscate the illegally acquired lands owned by the Soyoon faction and redistribute them.

But they are very sensitive about the land issue.

Minister Jo was targeted by them when he tried to introduce the Bill of Equal Land Distribution.

Sir, it's time you wield your authority over personnel full-on.

After the Literati Purge of 1519 and the Literati Purge of 1545, many scholar officials left politics and retreated to the countryside,

devoting themselves to scholarship only.

Now it's time to gather them up again.

It's a strategy to weaken the Soyoon faction.

I see.

Your Majesty, it's Lady Han.

May I come in?

Come in.

What is it?

It's...

It's alright to speak.

Queen Dowager is refusing to eat and stays in bed.

Your Majesty.

Nothing to be shocked over. It's expected.

Alright, you may leave.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I'm sorry to say this, but you can't hesitate.

It's not because of that. When my mother is sick in bed,

there is always a windstorm outside the palace.

But we've started this expecting troubles.

The ministers have steadied themselves to fight till the end.

The king can't do this, Your Excellency.

Yes, Your Excellency. We put so much work into putting the king in the throne.

Demolition of the Rites Bureau is only a start.

They will go after our power and assets soon.

Minister Jo took up that ridiculous Bill of Equal Land Distribution before

and that will come up again to take our land and put Daeyoon faction in control of the court.

We need to come up with a strategy quickly.

Your Excellency.

Your Excellency.

What brings you all the way here?

The Queen Dowager is sick in bed.

What? Sick in bed?

She can't get up due to a headache and chest pain.

But she won't even eat or take medicine.

What do we do?

My.

Oh.

How is she?

Her pulse is weak, Doctor.

Your Highness, please.

Please allow me to bring you medicine.

The doctor is dismissed.

However, Your Highness.

Dismissed, I said.

How is she?

It will be very dangerous if she continues to refuse food.

Your Highness, I heard you were very ill. Are you alright?

This is all my fault.

The king can't do this to me.

For the king, I got so much blood on my hands.

I can't let those people take away my reward.

Your Highness.

I won't try to convince the king anymore.

Then?

Find a way to pull out those people who are confusing him.

If the Daeyoon faction continues to gain power by the king,

we will only suffer blows in our fight with the king.

Since the king wants to see blood, we have no place to retreat.

Got that?

Yes, Your Highness.

What did Queen Dowager say?

Did she say she will just let them demolish the Rites Bureau?

She told us to find a way to eliminate the Daeyoon faction.

She wants to see blood.

To do that, we need to come up with a good excuse.

Do you know what I'm saying?

Yes.

We need a great plan that not even the king can block.

Yes.

My Lord, I will find a way so don't worry.

This is hard! My back.

Put it down.

Go now.

What's all this?

Before you finish all this laundry,

don't think about going to sleep.

Soon Geum, if you keep talking so rude to me,

I'll get mad.

So what are you going to do?

Hey! You're so mean!

Hey, Oh Jong Geum! I'm Chun Soon Geum. Chun Soon Geum.

Supervisor of the Maids, Chun Soon Geum!

If you don't want to die, do as I say, got it?

Bye now.

This is not living.

It hurts.

Where did that stick go.

You die and I die.

Careful.

This is important evidence, so careful.

Sorry to disturb your sleep.

Here, put it up there.

Here.

Think of him as your ancestor. Your own father.

Cover it.

Got it? Now, we go to the police bureau.

- Jong Soo! - Hyungim. - Busy?

No, I'm not busy.

I have something important to tell you. Let's go get drinks.

Drinks? Sure.

Have a lot.

Yes. Hey, welcome.

- Is the room empty? - Yup, empty.

Should I prepare a feast?

Bring the wine in slowly. We need to talk, so don't let anyone in.

Alright. Go in.

Let's go in.

I'm so hungry.

So annoying.

What do we report today?

Just say something.

What are you going to say?

I'll say Ok Nyeo became a lawyer and saved Clerk Ji.

Hyungnim.

Give me something to say, too.

You? Let me see.

You can say Tae Won Hyungim

is gathering people to start a group of lawyers again.

What? Are you sure I can say that?

What does it matter? It's not a crime.

I'm hungry. Lets go eat.

- Jong Soo. - Yeah, Hyungnim.

You want a job?

What job?

I'll tell you what the job it is slowly.

You just do what I tell you and you'll get good pay.

This is a good chance for you to get a good life.

As long as it's not killing anyone, I'll do anything.

It is to kill someone.

Hey, why so surprised?

Would I give you the job if it was so easy?

Ma'am, what are you doing?

Hey.

What is it?

Dong Chang and Jong Soo are in the room right now and those two are talking suspiciously.

Dong Chang is asking Jong Soo to kill someone.

What? Kill someone? Who?

I don't know. I didn't hear that part.

What do we do?

Man Soo.

Chief. Chief. I brought him.

Long time no see, Chief.

I heard you are leaving on a long journey.

Yes, I'm leading this merchant trip personally.

Say hello. This is Chief Cha Dae Myung of Baeok Company.

I'm Gae Hong Bae.

I'm Ma Chang Do.

They will serve as your bodyguards for the group.

Bodyguards?

Wow, I was just worrying

about the robbers that are rampant between Uiji and Changmoon.

This is so great.

Ok Nyeo.

Did you find out?

Examiner Choi has been transferred to another office.

And another examiner did the three stages of the autopsy.

The result?

They will announce it at the trial.

What is this?

That's the one.

Arrest him.

Chief.

What are you doing?

Director has ordered you to come to the Rites Bureau.

Follow me.

Ok Nyeo.

Don't worry. It's nothing big. Have a safe trip.

Let's go.

Wait.

Ok Nyeo.

It's probably nothing to worry about.

What the hell's happened?

I made you a practitioner when you were a lowly slave.

But you defy my order and resign?

I'm sorry, sir.

But in order to save my adopted father, I had no choice.

Shut up. I don't want to hear your excuse.

- Sir. - I've warned you.

It's not up to you to leave this office.

But you went and resigned.

I suppose you were prepared to be a slave again.

- Sir. - Starting today, you are not a Rites Bureau practitioner.

I will report you to the Slave Administration and have you be a slave again.

Sir.

Did you look into it?

Yes, Your Majesty, however...

Who's the lawyer and why did they become one?

It's Ok Nyeo, Your Majesty.

What?

At the trial, it was Ok Nyeo who made the request to dig up the grave and pull out the corpse.

How did Ok Nyeo become a lawyer?

She's a practitioner at the Rites bureau, isn't she?

The one on trial is Ok Nyeo's adopted father.

He's on the verge of being executed for the crime of murder.

So Ok Nyeo quit the Rites Bureau to be a lawyer.

I must meet Ok Nyeo.

I must meet her and hear the details from her.

You make the secret arrangement.

Yes, Your Majesty.

From now on you are not a practitioner at the Rites Bureau anymore.

I will report you to the Slave Administration and make you a slave again.

Ok Nyeo.

Slr.

- The inspector is looking for you. - Me?

We must move secretly so let's go.

Yes, Sir.

Let's go in.

Where is this?

You and the Lord can meet here safely in this house.

Yes.

- Sir. - Ok Nyeo.

- It's been a long time. - Yes, My Lord.

So did you have any issues coming here? Anyone tailing you?

No, My Lord.

Sorry to call you to come when it's dangerous.

But I have something to ask you.

I heard you were a lawyer at the trial at the Department of Punishment last time.

What? How did you find that out?

I heard you asked them to dig up the grave to re-examine the corpse.

Did the king ask you to see me over the incident of digging up the grave?

No, nothing like that.

I just want to find out about that lawyer system so I wanted to see you.

Lawyer system?

Yes, I heard they take up the trial in the stead of commoners who don't know the law.

Is that right?

Yes, My Lord. They are paid money to take on the trial.

Then, it's a great system.

But why haven't I heard about lawyers?

It's because over a decade ago, the lawyers were accused of prolonging trials,

so they were all kicked out of the city.

I just found that out, too, recently, My Lord.

Really?

Yes. It's true they take on the trials for people,

but at times they ripped off the commoners, too.

In every system, there are problems.

If the state will keep lawyers under good inspection,

this system will greatly benefit the commoners.

Yes, My Lord. There are countless people locked up in jail wrongly, without understanding the law.

If we have lawyers, they can get fair trials.

Yes. The King's gotten very interested in this lawyer system after what's happened.

I'll make sure to discuss what you and I discussed with the King.

Yes, My Lord.

But what about your job as the Rites Bureau, for you to start working as a lawyer?

Well, I resigned at the Rites Bureau.

But wasn't becoming a practitioner a condition of your release as a slave?

The director accepted your resignation easily?

Um...

What did the director say?

Well that... actually I might become a slave again.

What?

The director is very angry about my resignation.

So he said he will make me a slave again.

Don't worry. It's not certain yet.

Alright. Don't worry too much. He wouldn't really do that.

He just said that to scold you, I'm sure.

Yes, My Lord.

There are people watching so I can't walk you back today. Will you be okay going alone?

Yes, of course. Don't worry, My Lord.

Alright. See you again then. I'll message you again.

Yes. Then.

Your Majesty, the head of the Rites Bureau is here.

Let him in.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, you wanted to see me?

Have a seat.

Yes.

You must have heard but the Rites Bureau will soon be demolished.

Your Majesty, please reconsider.

I've already made up my mind. I didn't call you to come to discuss that with you.

Then?

Among the practitioners at the Rites Bureau, I think there's a girl named Ok Nyeo.

How do you know her?

You told her you'd make her a slave because she resigned?

Well, Your Majesty, sorry, but

that girl was released from slavery on the condition of becoming a practitioner in the first place.

She's abandoned her identity as a practitioner so to return to being a slave is...

The Rites Bureau will be demolished anyway so she wouldn't be able to remain a practitioner.

But...

I know the stuff that went on in the Rites Bureau through my mother's doing.

But I will let everything be buried with the demolition of the Rites Bureau.

So you should bury about that girl as well.

Leave that girl alone. Got that?

Yes, Your Majesty.

One more thing. You must keep your mouth sealed on the fact that I'm involved in this incident.

What?

Make it so you decided to let that girl go on your own.

If someone finds this out, I will not forgive you.

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Ok Nyeo, the minister is here.

In the last trial, the lawyer who argued for Ji Chun Deuk

asked for the re-examination of the corpse for the purpose of exposing the truth.

Today we will make public the result of the autopsy

and decide on the verdict of Ji Chun Deuk based on it.

Before the verdict, we will hear from the examiner who conducted the autopsy.

Examiner Yoo, come forward.

Yes.

State Jin Soo Myung's cause of death.

Yes, sir.

Jin Soo Myung's belly had four stab wounds.

So it looks like a death by stabbing by first look.

However his fingers and toes were blackened,

and his tongue was sunken inward.

So I did an autopsy on his stomach.

Then? What was the result?

Yes, Jin Soo Myung's death was confirmed as death by poison.

It appears he ate arsenic.

But, sir! That's just the cause of the death. It doesn't prove Ji Chun Deuk didn't stab Jin Soo Myung.

Sir. Ji Chun Deuk could have poisoned Jin Soo Myung, then stabbed him.

Sir, Ji Chun Deuk's murder motive and witness have been proven invalid already.

There is no reason for Ji Chun Deuk to be a murder suspect anymore.

The knife and stab wound were clearly fabricated.

Stop! You two shut up.

I will make my judgement after some discussion.

Examiner Yoo, you are dismissed.

Yes.

Here's the verdict.

Police captain listed three reasons why Ji Chun Deuk murdered Jin Soo Myung.

First, Ji Chun Deuk's gambling debt owed to Jin Soo Myung.

Another is the eye witness who saw Ji Chun Deuk kill Jin Soo Myung.

Finally, the knife that killed Jin Soo Myung was discovered at Ji Chun Deuk's house.

However, the first two were proven invalid by Lawyer Ok Nyeo.

The murder by stabbing as argued by the police has also proven to be murder by poison.

However, the lawyer has not given us a clear explanation on Ji Chun Deok's knife.

And while it has been confirmed that Jin Soo Myung did not die from the knife wounds,

It hs not been proven that Jin Soo Myung's knife wounds were not committed by Ji Chun Deuk either, as was argued by the captain.

However, Joseon's law always favored a light punishment when the crime is not clear.

Hence when a crime is suspected, the protocol is to punish lightly.

Ji Chun Deuk is suspected by the Police Bureau to have murdered Jin Soo Myung,

but we will not sentence Ji Chun Deuk to execution.

Ji Chun Deuk will be punished for the crime of pulling Jin Soo Myung out of prison

and be given twenty lashes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ok Nyeo.

One more thing. I have never seen the police act so incompetently as in this incident.

Sir!

The Police Bureau failed to get proper evidence.

It also allowed the burial of a corpse during an ongoing investigation.

Hence, the police captain who led this case will be punished.

He will be sent to Jeolla Precinct as a demotion.

Sir! Sir! No.

The police must reinvestigate this case

and find the culprit who killed Jin Soo Myung and disturbed the case investigation.

Hyungnim.

Hyungnim, good work.

All good now.

It's all good now, Ahjussi.

Thank you.

Thank you. You saved me. You did.

Thank you. Thank you, Ok Nyeo.

What about the trial?

He's going to live. Clerk Ji will live.

Really?

Ok Nyeo became a lawyer and did this.

Yes. For the crime of pulling Jin Soo Myung out of prison,

he will just get 20 lashes and that's it.

Wow. Those lashes are nothing.

Better than dying, right?

Yes. Really great.

Something good happened?

Clerk Ji escaped execution.

What? Really?

He's got a long life.

I'm so relieved.

From now on no more pulling criminals out of prison.

Okay?

You, too.

There's no other way. We need to tell Nan Jung.

Tell her everything and beg for forgiveness.

I can't do that, I told you.

They're doing a re-investigation. There's no time to waste now.

Nan Jung, if she finds out through the Punishment Board,

we will not even get a chance to beg for forgiveness.

Sungnim won't forgive me.

If she finds out she might kill me.

Stop talking scary. She won't kill you.

Why don't you know her? I can't.

If you can't, then I will go beg Nan Jung.

No. Yun Hee's dad.

Yun Hee's dad!

Sungnim. Sungnim.

Sungnim.

What are you doing?

Please forgive me. Just once.

Uncle, what is it?

The servants are watching. Let's go inside.

We'll talk inside.

What's happened that the chief is kneeling?

You guys watch your mouth.

Yes, Ahgussi.

What did you just say?

You two killed Jin Soo Myung? Why?

I'm sorry, I deserve death.

Listen, Nan Jung.

It's me. I did it.

What?

I needed money quick.

So behind you and my wife,

I pulled money out of your account through Jin Soo Myung.

- What? - Yun Hee's dad.

But Jin Soo Myung was blackmailing us with that.

- Brother! - So I killed him.

And I framed Clerk Ji of Jeonokseo.

But at the trial, they are doing a re-investigation.

If they start the investigation again, we will be suspected.

So please save me.

Sungnim, just once. Please spare us.

So what do you want me to do?

Once the Punishment Board starts the investigation, it means we've lost any chance to cover it up.

Now you come and beg me? What can we do now?

You! Why didn't you tell me sooner?

If my brother is like this, at the very least you should have had some sense.

I didn't get to tell you sooner. I'm very sorry about it.

But we didn't want to trouble you and the His Excellency.

So we tried to clear it ourselves,

If we get punished,

it will be trouble for you, too.

Please forgive us once.

Now you are threatening me?

No, I'm not, Sungnim.

Nan Jung.

We've lived our lives for you and the His Excellency.

This time, please help us, and we will continue to serve you.

Please save us.

What in the world did you do to let them do a re-investigation?

Ok Nyeo. It was because of Ok Nyeo.

- Ok Nyeo? - Yes, Sungnim.

Ok Nyeo took on the trial in Ji Chun Deuk's stead.

So the bribed witness and the fabricated evidence all became invalid.

She did the trial for him?

So she was the lawyer.

Ok Nyeo? She's pissing me off till the end.

You guys go out.

Yes.

Now I just go to the Punishment Plaza?

No, Jung Dae Shik hired a sub for you.

He will get the beating on your behalf so you follow me out.

A sub?

Jung Daek Shik is kind of loyal, actually. Let's go.

No. Sir, send the sub back.

I can't let someone get hurt because of my crime.

I will get the punishment.

Hey, the sub gets money to do the work.

If he doesn't do it he won't earn money. You know how it is.

Sir, I'll get the beating

and I will leave the Police Bureau without a care.

I'm sorry for the trouble but send him back.

Oh jeez. You are so stubborn. But I got a share, too.

Alright, I'll give it back.

Tie him up.

Here.

Hey. Do a good job. You know the police are in trouble.

Don't kill anyone and make things weird.

Yes.

From now, the criminal Ji Chun Deuk

will get his punishment. Start.

Yes.

One.

Two.

Sir. Sir.

What?

- Do it properly. - Too weak?

Do it right.

You don't like it weak?

You're weird. You'll regret it.

Hey, raise it up a bit.

Start again.

Three.

Four.

Sir. Sir.

What now?

- What now? - It hurts.

- It hurts. - Too strong?

You said you wanted strong.

Too strong.

Oh, jeez. Half of it.

Start again.

Five.

Okay. He deserves it.

- Sir. - Keep going till 20.

Like the first time.

It hurt so bad?

Gentle. Don't touch me.

Why did you all come out?

Ahjussi, are you alright?

Yeah, I'm fine.

The fool. Jung Dae Shik from the prison even got a sub for him,

but he said he would take the beating. He was asking for it.

Why did you do that?

It must have hurt. You could lose your back.

Let's go and put him in bed.

Gentle.

Careful.

Oh, jeez.

He's very fortunate.

Was it very lovely?

Welcome, sir.

Is Hyungnim in?

Of course. They are inside. Go in.

Chief.

Director is here.

How did it go?

We finished the buyout for the dried fish and fruit. They will soon arrive in the city.

- Alright.. - I looked into it and Jung Nan Jung's group

has been buying dried fish and fruit, too.

Your agents went everywhere.

Those guys and our sheer volume of purchase

have raised prices of dried fish and fruit.

But they are buying, anyway.

Yup, that's natural since they will want to make the mid-autumn sales take place.

The market control office and the company

plus Jung Nan Jung's company...

Maybe we're going to cause the cost to drop too much.

The chief spent a ton of money in this buy out.

If we don't get back what we invested, it will be bad, Tae Won.

Don't worry, that won't happen.

Jung Nan Jung will be the one to see a loss.

What do you mean by that?

What?

Sir, we're getting messages from our agents down in the provinces.

They are finishing up buying up the dried fish and fruit.

Did you find out how much the Min Dong Joo company has been able to purchase?

Yes, about half of what you've gotten.

But they are paying three times higher than what our agents paid.

Really?

Yes, sir.

Then you guys figure out ways to block all transportation routes

that the Min Dong Joo company could use to bring the goods up.

What?

Make it so that our control office manages all shipping, manpower and carriage routes.

I will make it so Min Dong Joo company can't transport their goods to the city.

But if that's the case, they will suffer a huge loss.

That's not for you to worry about. I will follow through with it. You guys just worry about getting the order done.

Yes, sir.

Did you find Sir Lee Myung Han?

Let's go in.

Lee Myung Han went to Ming to evade people. That's how much I've confirmed.

To Ming?

Yes, but afterwards, whether he returned to Joseon

or if he is still in Ming is something I haven't figured out.

Then what do we do now?

Last time when you two weren't here, Ok Nyeo came.

Ok Nyeo did?

Yes. She wanted to ask you two

about her identity, something which she seemed to have figured out.

But what can we tell her?

We really don't have a way to find out who Ok Nyeo's father is now.

Anyway, we need to protect Ok Nyeo.

Yes, My Lady.

Sir.

You wanted to see me?

I have an important task for you.

Yes, sir.

Follow me.

Sir.

Long time no see. Have you been well?

Yes, sir. Have a seat.

Last time I went to see you at Sir Lee Jung Myeong's home,

but you weren't there.

Who is this?

This is Chu Yi. I've trained her to be an intelligence officer.

Ok Nyeo, will you do me a favor?

Yes, tell me, sir.

She's lost a place to stay after her work as an intelligence officer.

Can you keep her at the merchant company?

What?

If you keep her by you, you will find a use for her.

Alright, don't worry. I will take her.

Sir, soon, I will need to see Lady Han.

Can you contact her?

Alright. I'll make the arrangement.

Keep a good watch on Ok Nyeo and protect her should she encounter danger.

Yes, sir.

- Chief, big trouble. - What is it?

Right now, the messages from the buyers we sent down to the countryside to purchase dried fish and fruit

state they don't have a ship to transport the goods to here.

No ship?

The provincial ports say they can't give our company a boat.

What's the reason?

They are saying they have no boat as their excuse but they must have another reason.

We can send a ship from here if there isn't one there.

Tell Hong Man Jung's company to send a ship down.

But Hong Man Jung is already dealing with another company.

We won't be able to get a boat from him.

Can we make a request with the marketplace control office?

The control office says they are already short with just transporting their own goods.

What the hell is going on? No boat?

Then we let our goods go to rot?

Chief, if we can't find a boat we will see a huge loss.

There's one method. Find out who is dealing with the largest shipping company, Hong Man Jung's company.

Yes, Chief.

Madame, the Director from the Divinity Office is here.

Invite him in.

Yes, Madam.

Madam, you wanted to see me?

Have a seat.

Sir. How upset you must be that the Rites Bureau is getting demolished.

Don't worry too much. The office was demolished many times before, only to be revived again and again.

Queen Dowager and I will find a way.

I only trust you.

But I have something to tell you.

What is it?

I say this with my life on the line.

You know Ok Nyeo works in the Rites Bureau, right?

Yes.

That girl is well thought of by Queen Dowager. You know that too, right?

Yes. What about that wench?

Ok Nyeo meets the king outside the palace.

What?

Are you sure?

Yes. I personally saw her meeting the king outside the palace.

Also, the next day, the king wanted to see me over the matter of Ok Nyeo.

Really? The king told me he would not forgive me if I mentioned this.

But I believe you will protect me so I am telling you this.

Ok Nyeo.

Sir.

Queen Dowager is looking for you. You must go to the palace now.

What?

You go to the company first.

Yes.

Let's hurry.

Sir.

You said to meet Queen Dowager, didn't you? Where is this?

You'll know when you go inside.

♪ I hope I’m somewhere in your mind ♪

♪ I hope to stay somewhere near your lips ♪

♪ Only this person (I love) ♪

♪ Only this person (I sing for) ♪

♪ Only for this person (I call out to) ♪