Original subtitles

What happens if he cannot hold back?

Everyone dies.

His father, mother, and brothers will all die with him.

Father...

Father.

Are you on your way back with the honey taffy?

Gil Dong.

We have to go down now...

to help the young master's study.

All right.

This is too heavy for me to carry.

Then why did you collect so many?

Goodness.

Please forgive us for being late.

It was my fault.

- Go and fetch some water. - All right.

"Sleep".

"Give".

Can you spot the mistake?

Pardon?

You told me you learned a few things while assisting him.

So tell me.

What did he do wrong?

Tell me now.

Keep writing.

I said to help him with his studies.

Where were you playing until now?

Please, I beg of you.

I pray to everyone...

who is up there listening.

Please protect Ah Mo Gae on his way there...

and guard him on his way back.

Please, I beg of you.

Please, I beg of you.

(HONG)

(THE REBEL)

We are playing rock-throwing with the next town over...

on the day of the full moon. You know that, right?

- Yes, Master. - Yes, Master!

Our town lost last time,

but if we lose again, I will not forgive you!

- Yes, Master. - Yes, Master!

Throw!

- Throw! - Harder!

- Move! - Hit it!

Harder!

- What does he think he is doing? - What are you doing?

Should we throw at him?

Even if he gets hit, how would he know who threw it?

- Should we try? - Yes.

Harder!

Throw it!

No matter how unfair things are,

the Mighty Child...

must not use his power.

Do you understand?

You cannot do it, I tell you.

Harder!

You are awesome.

Are you out of your mind?

You should have protected him!

I am sorry, Madam.

- What if he got a scar? - He is getting yelled at.

It is fine.

My father is probably thinking about eating rice right now.

- Rice? - My father says...

when a dog barks at you, think about eating rice.

I think about rice when I get hit, too.

When I think about eating rice with something fatty,

it hurts less when I get hit.

Then maybe I should think about...

having rice with grilled meat.

Come on now.

You have never tasted grilled meat.

Then that is useless. You need to think of something you have eaten.

Anyway, there is someone else...

with feet as big as our father's.

You are right.

Father.

Father!

Father.

- Were you well? - Yes.

Father.

Are you back?

Father is back

Father is back, Father is back

Father is back

- Father is back, Father is back - Goodness.

Where did you see the kids?

Is that all you have to say to your husband you have not seen in months?

Give them to me.

Come on now, the kids are watching.

Goodness.

What happened to your feet?

- Father is back. - Okay.

My father is back!

Father is back.

My mom said to buy fish.

Father.

Gil Dong.

Have you been doing as I said?

Of course.

Good.

Good boy.

This time,

I was able to get only two rolls of cotton.

The silk is nice, is it not?

You are quite capable.

Not at all, my lord.

It was so difficult...

being outside of your shelter.

How did you get these?

You know that people of Ming love fur, do you not?

- Yes. - They say the fur...

of Joseon's marten is much softer and nicer.

- So? - Fur is rare here,

but it is plentiful in the north.

I heard cotton is rarer there.

So...

I bought cotton with the money I made from selling the fish...

and exchanged it for all the fur the mountain people had.

Then I sold them.

I sold them all.

Then can you take the other items in our shed...

in the same manner?

Yes, I can but...

fur season is over now.

I would have to go with a different item.

I made some friends who are quite capable,

and I think I will make a profit...

if I follow them around.

Should I...

keep following around those merchants?

Sure. You should live outside of the house...

and continue to follow the merchants around.

Thank you, my lord!

Even if you live outside,

you must run over if he ever calls.

That goes without saying.

Even if I am pooping, I will run right over...

if I hear you calling.

You are so...

Goodness.

Mal Ddong's house is empty, so move in there.

Your wife...

will help with our farm.

We can leave the crock here.

The furnace is nice and big.

Oh my goodness.

The floor is lined with oiled paper.

Gil Hyeon.

Father!

I promised to get it for you.

Do not worry about Lord Jo anymore...

- and study freely, okay? - Okay.

For Gil Hyeon and for Gil Dong.

Wow! It is rice!

Yes. You will eat rice from now on.

Eat up.

Please eat.

What are you doing?

Lord Jo made the servants follow that stupid law...

so I could not eat with you at the same table once.

Mom, this rice goes down easily even without chewing.

No.

Why not?

I did not take a break at all...

and ran home, thinking of your soft skin.

- No. - Goodness.

I am pregnant.

What?

- That night... - The night before I left?

You should have saved your strength before a long trip.

You bugged me all night long.

We should go to a doctor tomorrow.

Since when did we go to a doctor when I was pregnant?

We should!

I will do everything a nobleman does now.

My goodness. Watch what you say.

She is with child.

The baby is a lively one.

Goodness! What great fortune! Great fortune, indeed!

Where is the child?

You cannot see the child now.

- He means she is pregnant. - What is "pregnant"?

- Something. - How do you get pregnant?

You do not need to know!

Ah Mo Gae!

Ah Mo Gae!

Hey, kid.

Does Ah Mo Gae live here?

Goodness.

Hello, there.

You are still alive.

I told you we would have a guest today.

You did. I have set out the drinks.

- This is my wife. - Hello.

He is a merchant who travels with me.

We have nothing to eat, though.

No, it is fine.

Goodness.

Hey, kid. Are you Gil Dong?

Say hi.

What...

That kid.

- Is that him? - Yes.

- Come inside. - Sure.

Goodness. Oh my.

You brought more?

We do not have much.

You should join us for a drink.

- No, no. - But...

- I will let you talk. - But... Okay.

Okay.

You refused to visit the kisaengs and could not wait to go home.

Now, I see why.

Stop the nonsense...

and continue what you were saying.

Choyang-ri is all the Lee family's farms.

A few years ago, although people from a neighboring town died,

they did not share a single bowl of porridge.

We will have to share that precious rice even if by force.

We will not be harmed, do you think?

I am in no position to be afraid.

Why? Is it because of your second son?

I must buy our freedom.

If we do not go free, he will die.

I thought you told him to keep his temper in check.

How long would that last?

Just as water cannot flow upstream and fish need water to live,

someone born with his fate...

will not live long if he remains a servant.

Oh my. Where are you going already before breakfast?

I am busy.

I thought you would stay a few more days. Goodness.

Well...

Here.

Change your shoe insert regularly.

I put in some crusted rice, too.

I am so upset about sending you off without breakfast.

I am too jealous to watch.

Thank you for your hospitality.

I will head out first.

I will see you soon.

Look at this. What can you see?

- What is this? - Here you go.

Cheers.

If you are jealous, tell your fathers to become merchants.

Have you heard?

The dethroned queen's second son died in the palace.

The dethroned queen had another son other than the Crown Prince?

That is correct.

But this baby died just 10 days after she was kicked out...

from the palace.

She found out after three years and decided on revenge.

Now, people who are trying to use this chance...

are flocking to her.

Should I join her as well?

She has the Crown Prince.

We are still short 200 yangs.

We sold all the land that we can.

Perhaps we should sell more paper?

It is so expensive to be a nobleman.

This is because you wasted the tribute on useless things.

- What do you mean, useless? - The dethroned queen...

(THE DETHRONED QUEEN: KING YEONSAN'S BIRTH MOTHER)

Why do you work with people who wish to reinstate the dethroned queen?

We have a new queen already.

She will not be reinstated.

You never know.

Do you not know that the King...

is fickle when it comes to women?

Who knows when he will call back the dethroned queen?

Also,

her son is still the Crown Prince.

How do you know if they are scamming you...

or if they truly have a connection to the dethroned queen?

What do you mean?

I have a letter written by the dethroned queen herself.

Do you think I do this for myself?

I do this for our son.

Watch.

By the time Soo Hak is old enough to take office,

the Crown Prince may have taken over the throne.

If that happens, the dethroned queen would be the Queen Dowager.

The Prince has passed away.

Everyone knew but kept silent...

so she only recently heard the news.

She is heartbroken.

If we do not do something,

there is no one to protect the Prince.

So Her Highness has made a decision.

- Your Highness. - Your Highness.

Those who help the Queen...

will receive a letter in her hand...

as a guarantee.

Her Highness the Queen still has a son, the Prince.

Her Highness will return to the palace one day.

- Your Highness. - Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Did you greet His Majesty the King?

Yes. My dad...

"My father". That is what you must call him.

Everyone I know are allowed to say, "Dad."

Why must I say, "Father"?

That is because you are...

His Majesty's son, the Prince.

Why do I not live with my father?

That is because you were a sickly child.

Kang Hee Meng offered to care for you.

Then...

did my brother die because he remained in the palace?

Gil Hyeon.

- Hello. - Father.

Father.

Are you well?

- Yes. - Yes.

You are back.

For you, Gil Hyeon.

For you, Gil Dong.

These are calligraphy brushes.

Father, are these not expensive?

I wonder how these rice cakes taste.

I sold a lot of salted fish from Gangneung and made a profit.

You did well.

I got you some combs.

My goodness.

A ribbon for our daughter's hair.

How do you know it will be a girl?

I am positive it is a girl.

Oh dear. I am so, so tired.

Your father needs to sleep.

Go and play outside.

- Okay. - Okay.

Oh dear.

Oh dear...

Lift your head.

You might wake the whole village.

Why do you not ask questions?

Just do not hurt anyone.

Why...

Poor you...

What will you do now?

Look after yourself.

Are you here to pay your tribute?

What happened?

She was sold to Hamgyeong Province.

Why so far away?

Our master has been...

Our master has connections.

He is gathering money to purchase a title.

He wants a title so badly that...

he is giving bribes.

He is selling his land and servants, too.

I am afraid...

I might end up getting sold off.

Goodness.

This little thing is worth...

three rolls of cotton cloth?

Is that what you mean?

Hey.

What are you thinking about?

I think I can become a free man.

Did you not say your master refuses to let you go?

He did.

But now, he is in need of riches.

If he will not release me,

he can still sell me.

For that to happen,

I need a commoner willing to purchase me.

Could you ask around if there is a man...

who would be willing to purchase my services?

Who...

petitioned for this lawsuit?

Park from Gunae-ri got into a fight...

with the landlord...

- Who owns Gunae-ri's fields? - Pardon?

Did you not know its fields...

belong to the Minister of War's wife's family?

Are you trying to ruin my career?

Are you deceiving me because I am from Hanyang and clueless?

Do you think I do not know you take bribes to write these up?

No, no, you are sorely mistaken.

If I find out you took bribes to write another false report,

your son will never inherit...

that puny title you got from your father and grandfather!

But...

Master. Master.

I had to work for those bribes. You were of no help.

This is just so unfair.

There are...

a few men who insist on meeting you.

This wine is a gift from them.

We offer our greetings, Master.

(THE SUBJECTS ARE GREETING THE MASTER.)

Who are they?

I shall leave you to talk.

Master.

May I offer you a drink?

That man is one of...

Master Jo's servants.

He has something to speak to you about...

so I brought him along.

Is he not able to speak for himself?

Would you...

like to purchase me?

Come this way, Master.

He may look strong...

but he is practically useless.

Look at this man.

He is as strong as an ox.

Hook him up to a plow...

and he can plow a few paddies in a day.

Do not worry about anything.

Master.

How about him?

He is also strong...

and makes smart, business calculations...

My head hurts.

Come this way, then.

This servant here is...

So...

you want me to purchase you and your family...

from Master Jo with your money...

- in return for releasing you? - Yes.

Why do you not pay your master and buy your freedom?

Would he release me if he knew I had that much money?

I guess not.

What if...

I do not release you?

Do you trust me?

I will trust your ambition.

Do you want to spend the rest of your life...

flattering magistrates who return to Hanyang every three years...

or do you want to earn a servant...

who will stay loyal forever?

I like this man.

I see his wife is with child, so I will...

buy him and his whole family as well.

- 300 rolls of cotton cloth. - 300 rolls?

And at least 200 more for the children.

Are you trying to make it big with this one deal?

It cannot be helped, then.

You have a deal.

Here you go.

As soon as I cash in this note,

I will send Ah Mo Gae's family over.

Is that this man's name?

- Is he called "Ah Mo Gae"? - I gave him that name.

That is such a demeaning name.

I find this a bit too strange.

How do you think a mere secretary amassed such a fortune?

A district magistrate's secretary is a fruitful position.

He manages disputes...

and people line up to give him fur, precious metals, and jewels.

That is true but still.

He paid 1,000 rolls of cotton...

for just four servants.

Not only that, he even...

handpicked Ah Mo Gae out of the whole group.

There is no problem. We earned 1,000 rolls of cotton.

I shall have him followed...

to find out who the man is meeting.

Most officials do not like anything in Buddha's likeness.

I hope you like that.

Of course, I do.

I am not as closed-minded as most.

Where were you? I missed you.

Man Seok, one of Lord Jo's servants,

asked me to spy on you. Would you believe that?

To spy on me?

It is...

exactly as you said.

No one knows my master as well as I do.

You found out nothing from the kisaeng parlor?

The kisaeng said...

he hangs out and drinks with other secretaries.

Is that all you found out?

A physician was...

at Ah Mo Gae's home recently.

Yes.

Rumors say that...

the physician examines his wife regularly...

and he teaches his son to read and write.

Their crock is full of sauces...

and they eat rice for every meal.

He is more than able to afford to do so.

He is not.

A servant should know his place, not eat rice...

and teach his son to read and write.

Postpone the deal for now.

If we must sell Ah Mo Gae,

it must be after we take all of his riches.

If he happens to have...

a hidden stash of money or produce,

it belongs to us.

He may be my servant,

but I cannot take what is his unless it is the agreed tribute.

That is our law.

However,

is the case not different if the servant harmed his master?

If a servant causes even the smallest of cuts on his master,

the master can take the servant's life.

No one can condemn us...

if we demand the servant's money instead of his life.

Come on now.

Ah Mo Gae served us for his whole life.

Would he make such a mistake?

I shall do something he cannot help but react to.

How is your uncle?

Did you not say...

he has fallen for a particular kisaeng?

You should invite him over and treat him to a drink.

At the games,

let us not just scare him.

We should crack Soo Hak's head open.

Why are you so weak when you eat so much?

It is so strange.

I told myself I must not be strong...

and my strength really went away.

What nonsense is that?

Come look.

The world has turned upside-down.

- A servant wants to buy rabbit fur? - Is there a problem, Master?

I will come another day.

Goodness.

I shall buy this.

A nobleman demanded you give it up. You should say yes and hand it over.

How dare you stay silent?

Mother.

How dare you block the path of a nobleman!

Until we all move to Secretary Um's house,

you must not cause any trouble.

I see it.

The way you shake your bottom...

is proof that you are enticing me.

I am not, Master. Please go on your way.

No!

How dare you?

Mother!

Mother.

Mother.

How dare you glare at me?

Get lost!

Leave my mother alone!

You need to learn some manners.

I told you to get lost.

Leave my mother alone!

What is he...

How dare he...

No, Gil Dong. No! Gil Dong!

- Gil Dong, no. - Wait.

- No, Gil Dong. - Please spare my life.

Gil Dong. Gil Dong!

Gil Dong!

Gil Dong!

Father.

A servant tried to kill a nobleman. A servant...

tried to kill a nobleman.

A servant is trying to kill a nobleman!

A servant is trying to kill a nobleman!

Come. There.

It is him. That one.

Come on, get him.

No, no. It was me. Me.

No, it is the young one. The kid.

That one, the kid. Get him.

- Get him. - No, no.

How can my little son...

have the strength to hammer a stone into that tree?

Is it not so?

Is that not so?

He is right.

My husband did it.

Wait, no.

Ah Mo Gae.

Wait.

Ah Mo Gae...

Wait, that one.

My goodness.

Goodness.

I am perplexed.

I know that we are lowly servants,

but how can anyone harass...

a pregnant woman?

No reasons needed.

No matter what,

if you have hurt a nobleman, you must be punished.

Yes.

I will gladly receive my punishment.

I will be flogged. I do not care if it is 10 or 20 times.

However,

please do hear out what the circumstances were.

Did you think things will end with just flogging?

If you hurt your master's immediate family,

(AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY REFERS TO ONE'S FIRST CIRCLE OF FAMILY.)

that also counts as hurting your own master.

You can be sentenced to death for this.

This man is your master's second uncle.

My goodness. Come on.

Just a little more. My goodness.

What are we going to do?

My gosh. I see the head. Just a few more pushes.

My goodness, baby. You might kill your mother.

Oh my goodness.

If you spare me,

I will do anything!

I do want to keep you alive.

But to do that, there must be...

no deceiving between the master and his servants.

Have you been hiding anything from me?

Do you not have...

any properties you are hiding from me?

How dare you fool me?

Fine.

What will you do with these?

- These are... - These are?

These are what?

These are...

what I have accumulated for my children,

for them to be freed from their status as servants.

All of my wealth are...

all...

yours, Master.

You should run home.

Your wife is in labor.

Father. She is a girl.

You are home.

Father.

I am so sorry.

I should not have thrown those stones.

You are not the one who threw those stones.

Father.

How did you know she was going to be a girl?

I told you. I prayed to the skies,

asking for a daughter who looks like you.

I tried to stick around because I was afraid...

I will not be able to see you.

What are you talking about?

Something must be...

wrong with my body.

- I am sorry. - I will go...

and get a doctor right away.

Please just stay with me.

Why... Why are your hands so cold?

I really...

had a great life.

I am so glad that I have married you.

Oh, no. You poor thing.

I am...

an awful mother.

I feel worse for you...

than I do for my children.

Honey.

Do not do this.

Do not do this to me.

Please do not be...

so harsh on Gil Dong.

Honey.

Honey.

What is wrong?

Geum Ok.

Geum Ok.

Geum Ok.

Mother!

Geum Ok.

Mother.

Geum Ok.

Mother.

Father.

You two can stay here.

Your mother and I have something to talk about.

Honey.

I am so sorry.

I am so sorry.

I am so sorry.

I am so sorry.

Sources say,

Lord Jo brought...

his uncle into this.

They said...

he went after your wife because of your money.

Is that...

really true?

Yes.

Father.

Father?

Father.

Father?

Get up.

You cannot sleep like a baby...

after you have killed someone else's wife.

You...

What do you think you are doing?

Why do you ask?

I came to ask you something.

Did you want my money that badly?

But still.

How could you do this to me?

My wife...

would starve Gil Dong but she always fed your son.

And Gil Hyeon was beaten many times instead of your son.

I never could even stand up straight because I served you with diligence.

My father,

my father's father, and my grandfather's father...

have given our everything to this family.

Calm down.

No, no.

It is not your fault.

It is all my fault.

How can you ever be at fault?

Everyone says servants are not even human.

I am sure you could not think otherwise.

Why did I not think of this before?

How did I not think of killing everyone...

who are not human to get a fresh start?

Hey, listen.

No. Ah Mo Gae!

Ah Mo Gae!

Ah Mo Gae!

"Ah Mo Gae"?

You named me Ah Mo Gae which means "nameless".

Did you think I would have lived namelessly?

- Hey, Jo Sang Moon. - Did you say...

How dare you?

Now,

it is time for you to die.