Original subtitles

(The Tale of Lady Ok.)

(The following program contains themes, language, imitative behavior and violence)

(that are not suitable for viewers under 15.)

(Viewer discretion is advised.)

(This program contains product placements and virtual advertising.)

(Production sponsors: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KOCCA.)

(All characters, locations, organizations, and incidents...)

(depicted in this drama are entirely fictitious.)

My dear Tae Young, whom I miss and love.

I am still alive, eating well,

sleeping well, and staying healthy.

Even the jailers have fallen for my charm and treat me kindly.

The wound from the arrow I took for Man Seok...

is healing quickly.

But the wound from losing Man Seok...

will not heal.

Though he was small in stature,

his absence feels enormous.

Our Man Seok...

should be running about.

What is he doing there?

You tried so hard to stop me,

but I led you to your death.

This is all my fault.

I am so sorry, Man Seok.

Now that I think of it, I have never been apart from Man Seok.

By the time you receive this letter,

he will have returned to Cheongsu County.

The reason Man Seok saved money...

was to buy us a house by the sea.

In return, he wanted us to name our son after him.

Such ambition.

So, Tae Young, we must have a daughter.

Promise me you will.

How are you doing, Tae Young?

Do not worry about me, Yun Gyeom.

If you know I worry, you will worry too,

so I will not worry about you.

So, please do not worry about me.

Even if time turns back,

I will still go to meet you.

You are the greatest gift of my life.

Every single day with you remains...

a precious memory for me.

I will now begin to write my final story.

Sir, did you bring my notebook?

You should be grateful that I gave you paper for your letter.

Do you know how expensive that gat ornament is?

I gave you a very expensive gat ornament.

How could you only give me this?

I will share a secret about the story's ending.

This is not a tale...

of a sorrowful woman mourning her husband.

This is a tale of a noble legal advocate...

who was born a servant but resilient like aloe...

who stayed strong and helped others.

I trust this tale's end...

will be filled with how you will do, my love.

From your husband.

How can you still cheer for me...

even until the very end?

(From your husband)

Strange disease? What do you mean?

Madam reported you, and the officials are coming to take you away.

They say you must go to the quarantine village.

Quiet.

I am not infected.

Why...

Please look after my father.

Are you out of your mind?

You are even pregnant. What if something happens to you?

I have been incredibly lucky so far.

I want to trust that one last time.

What?

Besides, I am dying to know what Bak Jun Gi is hiding.

And my husband's book...

I must finish it properly.

Please, give it back.

Help me, please.

Wait, just a moment.

Legal Advocate Madam,

are you afflicted with the strange disease?

Why are you all here?

There is something I must hear.

He cannot speak.

The Devoted Hearts Association has been active in Anbyon.

We took in not just children who left their home,

but also runaway slaves and wanderers.

We sheltered and taught them.

We believed that to create a world where all are respected,

education must come first.

If that were the case, he should have sent word.

If we get caught,

he said it could endanger the safe house...

and bring disgrace to the family.

Even so,

ignoring me is one thing,

but when he met his brother in Qing,

he should have explained himself.

The Leader was not in his right mind at the time.

While we were out briefly,

everyone was killed.

Someone made a false report again...

so the Devoted Hearts Association was once again labeled as rebels.

Learning the enemy was heading to Qing,

the Leader crossed over determined to eliminate them.

After his failure, however,

he lost his voice.

For years now, he has suffered from a heart disease.

He wishes to spend his remaining days caring for the sick.

I think I need to go find my real brother.

When I get to Hanyang, I will submit my resignation.

Even if he returns,

you know nothing will change.

Yun Gyeom asked you...

to care for Tae Young with that mind.

When I met my brother in Qing,

I should have dragged him back by the collar.

If I had, innocent Yun Gyeom would not be in that state,

and Man Seok would still be alive.

Sitting like this makes me miss him more.

You are right.

We sat here, and he even taught us how to do love cheers.

Now, link arms like this.

That is right. Now pull closer.

What is this?

It is called "love cheers," Miss.

If I had known, I would have treated him better.

Because of Man Seok,

I gained the courage to approach my Sweetheart.

It was so much fun back then.

We released fireflies together.

I even became a slave hunter with Man Seok.

Seriously, with Man Seok,

I even went to Bongraegol to catch Heo Soon.

Heo Soon.

Looking back, there were so many fun times.

I miss our Man Seok.

He said he would come back.

He promised to meet again alive.

He said my cooking was the best in the world.

Man Seok.

Eat this at least, and rest peacefully.

Let me see here.

This is so delicious.

How do you cook like this, Miss?

Dokki.

You should know you married such a talented cook all thanks to me.

Kkeutdongi, are you crying?

If you cry, you will end up all droopy,

and you will not be able to get married.

If you all stay like this, how can I leave in peace?

Just for today.

Mourn just for today.

And starting tomorrow, for our Master and Madam,

let us live diligently again, okay?

Thank you for accepting me as a family.

I will take my leave now.

I had such a fun life.

My aloe...

produced some tiny sprouts.

Mine too.

It seems they sprout quickly. It will multiply soon.

They handed out such a precious thing for free.

I never imagined I would feel this way.

But honestly, I feel bad.

At first, I was shocked and thought they were disgraceful.

To be honest,

I was jealous of the deep affection from the fake husband.

Do you think Special Inspector Seong...

really killed the real Seong Yun Gyeom?

- No way. - Right?

He does not seem like someone capable of killing.

Should we file a petition?

But will they reduce the sentence for that when he has disobeyed a royal decree?

Then, what about Legal Advocate Ok?

Or should we call her Goodeoki?

Regardless, she made great contributions and even established a monument here.

Can she at least be freed from servitude?

Thanks to those contributions, even as a runaway slave guilty of treason,

she avoided execution.

- About the scar on Kim Nak Soo's face? - Yes.

Did that make it treason?

Honestly, such a man deserves to die.

If it were me, I would have killed him.

Hearing the opinions of our Mothers Sanctuary ladies,

I will make a proposal as the Chair Lady.

Yes.

Could Special Inspector Seong really have killed someone?

If not, he should have firmly denied it.

Why confess to something false when there was not even evidence?

Perhaps he did it to shorten Tae Young's imprisonment.

Truly fitting of Special Inspector Seong.

How can such a romantic man...

exist in Joseon?

But were you not surprised?

I was truly shocked to hear...

Legal Advocate Ok was a runaway slave.

No matter what Tae Young's status is,

she is my one and only sister-in-law.

Yes. If it was not Tae Young,

you would have been falsely accused of killing your own mother and...

I apologize.

But you spoke the truth.

Thank you for understanding.

I deeply apologize for burdening Cheongsu County, Chief.

Burden, you say?

Special Inspector Seong and Legal Advocate Ok...

were treasures of Cheongsu County.

Without those two,

we would have starved long ago.

While Goodeoki acted as Ok Tae Young...

and Song Seo In as Seong Yun Gyeom,

who exactly did they harm?

I do not remember Seong Yun Gyeom from seven years ago.

To me, the returned Seong Yun Gyeom is...

the real one.

Thank you for saying so.

As the Chair Lady of the Mother's Association,

I discussed this with our ladies.

This is the aloe sales funds.

How about using this to offer to buy Legal Advocate Ok from the concubine?

We have tried multiple times but were refused.

As expected.

May that wretched concubine be struck by lightning.

Why do you hesitate to pour?

I said pour.

The one who caused his death...

was none other...

than your husband, Lord Bak Jun Gi.

You were just a hostage.

When Kim Nak Soo was captured,

you were held as leverage so he could not reveal Bak Jun Gi was behind all of it.

Was I a hostage?

What are you saying?

Is that why my father was beaten to death in silence,

unable to confess it was your doing?

- So what? - Now it makes sense.

How you operate.

You exploit weaknesses to order vile deeds.

And when caught,

you cut ties with threats to reveal the weakness...

and create distractions with what is in your hand.

Am I correct?

You could not have figured it out. Did Goodeoki tell you?

Goodeoki caught the strange disease so I sent her to the quarantine village.

She cannot possibly be infected.

To rush her own demise. What a pity.

It would be a lie to say I bore no resentment.

However, I too,

failed to wait for you...

and abandoned my responsibilities as a wife.

So please, do not be sorry.

I will not be sorry, either.

Because...

that is what I owe to the one I truly love...

taking your place as my husband...

earning punishment in your stead.

If you are wondering about my humble appearance,

yes.

My secret was discovered,

so I am a servant again.

Quickly.

Get inside.

So you heard what I said,

and to look for what Bak Jun Gi is hiding,

you risked your life to come here when you were not even infected?

It was the only way to escape that house.

Indeed, this is just like you.

What do you think Bak Jun Gi is trying to hide...

by distracting the Royal Tribunal?

Look over there.

They are letting people in...

without checking symptoms.

I entered easily as well.

Maybe it is to inflate patient numbers...

and get more rations?

No food or medicine has come for a long while.

So you are saying...

the supplies sent here are being embezzled?

The Grain Bureau and Health Office are under Bak Jun Gi's control.

Thanks to the chaos your case caused,

the Chief Minister's storerooms must be overflowing.

So it was all about money.

How ridiculous.

Do Gyeom?

Do Gyeom.

Forgive this unworthy younger brother who failed to protect you.

But I swear to risk my life...

to protect Tae Young.

- Why are you here? - Tae Young.

What is going on? Do you have the strange disease?

No, I do not.

I heard you were here, so I came.

How is your health?

Are you truly out of your mind?

Go back at once. What about Mi Ryeong?

If I tell her, she will surely praise me for coming here.

I am no longer your sister-in-law.

I am just someone else's servant.

How can you speak so coldly?

No matter what, you will always be my sister...

and mother.

Over there.

Do Gyeom.

Why are you here?

What gives you the right?

Do Gyeom, stop this. He is your brother.

He is not my brother.

Answer me. Why are you here?

He cannot speak.

Why can he not speak?

Why?

No words can justify your actions anyway.

Do Gyeom.

Because of you, an innocent man will be executed.

Because of you,

my brother is going to die.

I know you recognized me.

I suppose my time has come...

since I gained a chance to apologize.

I will not apologize for my comfort.

Do not forgive me.

Thank you for staying alive.

Thank you for covering my sins.

You do not need to care for me anymore.

I should not be expecting that.

Thank you.

I truly thank you.

Your life may be in danger.

That is right, so I think I should go alone.

What nonsense is that?

Like the Young Madam said, we could end up dead.

I have no dear wife or kids,

but you are newly married.

Well, Sweetheart, I...

You should go.

Even if it means dying, you have to go.

You have to do something.

You trust me, right?

I will return with Kkeutdongi,

so do not worry.

Yes.

I know how much you care.

Tae Young and Yun Gyeom will know, too.

So I wish no one would go.

It is too dangerous.

Well,

before I met Madam,

I thought I was nothing.

But she taught me how to read,

told me to memorize laws,

so even as a lowly servant,

I started to feel human.

Even if what we do changes nothing,

we must try.

Madam never gave up and always did something.

That is what I learned...

from watching her.

With all of you joining me, I feel reassured on this journey.

I am glad you have not left yet.

The Magistrate is not here, so if I leave as well,

you must take care of Cheongsu County.

The government office staff pooled this together.

It is not much, but use it for your travels.

Thank you.

Now, let us go.

Why have you come here?

There is nothing you can solve here.

You should do something outside.

Are you hurt?

I sprained my arm.

This is licorice root medicine, good for pain relief.

Take half a dose at a...

No, you should eat only half at once, not the whole thing.

My goodness.

Next time, take half a dose only.

Understood.

Here,

brew this for me as well.

- Heo Soon? - Yes.

Why are you here, Legal Advocate Madam?

Is the strange disease spreading in Cheongsu County as well?

No, it is not.

But why are you here, Heo Soon?

There were too few volunteers, so I came.

I thought I would at least not starve here, but I was wrong.

It seems I made a mistake.

I heard food and medicine supplies are running out.

- Is that true? - Yes.

These are all herbs I foraged from the mountains.

Even the food is brought in by wandering migrants.

Are they expecting us to starve to death or what?

We are lucky it is not contagious, at least.

Not contagious?

One of the medical ladies touched the infected blood and was quarantined,

but even after days, she showed no symptoms.

If it does not spread through contact,

could it spread through droplets or other means?

If it spread through breathing, everyone here would have been infected.

I found it strange too.

New patients keep arriving,

but there are no new cases here.

The symptoms resemble eruptive typhus,

but Sohwalhyeolsan, Igongsan, and Jungjungtang...

do not work.

Could it spread when infected areas directly touch each other?

Well, I have not tested that yet.

What are you doing?

Yun Gyeom.

I heard that Bak Jun Gi...

reported the Seong family case.

My father said Bak Jun Gi did it on purpose...

to divert the Royal Tribunal's attention.

I wondered why he initially withheld key evidences...

when he had them all along.

Perhaps to prolong the investigation?

Was it to stop the investigation of him?

It seems we have been misled.

Why do you say that, Lord?

What he was blocking was not an investigation.

What?

What we overlooked was...

the strange disease.

Are you feeling any discomfort?

He has no fever, and no blood spots or rashes are visible.

If it is not contagious,

then where did they catch the disease?

During consultations,

I noticed one thing common among the patients.

Before the outbreak, they all had underlying conditions of some sort.

I had knee joint issues too. When the pain worsened,

I would get acupuncture or take licorice root medicine.

But then, I started developing a heat rash on my body.

Exactly like this.

Do Gyeom.

It is a blister.

Let me see.

But it clearly seemed non-contagious. Why is it spreading?

- Are you okay? - Stay back, Tae Young.

Have you had any prior injuries or ailments?

I sprained my arm.

He took a licorice root medicine.

I gave it to him.

It is just a pain reliever.

I got it from Sinjae Pharmacy.

The disease did not develop from any illness.

Those who took licorice root medicine because they were sick developed it.

Why follow me all this way,

just to be of no help like this?

That is what your face says.

Please, do not read my mind.

Yun Gyeom is writing a masterpiece in prison.

I know that.

If I had brought the real Yun Gyeom back...

when I met him in Qing,

what would have happened?

One thing is clear.

Tae Young,

you would not have been happy.

Let us stop this talk. Please rest.

Only some supplies from the Grain Bureau...

and the Health Office reached the quarantine village.

Only some?

The rest were sent to Bak Jun Gi's homes.

There were other strange happenings.

I followed but lost him...

around the pharmacy district.

The pharmacy district?

Find out what is going on right now.

Why are the symptoms so severe?

Other patients also had licorice root medicine.

It seems something was added to it.

What could have been added?

I believe they added blood plants.

Blood plant?

Blood plant is a toxic herb not even listed in "Bencao Gangmu."

It is a rare plant from the West, neither in Joseon nor Qing.

A small amount was likely added...

to mimic the symptoms of a strange disease.

It was advised to take half a pill.

Swallowing a full pill at once likely caused acute poisoning.

Those who consumed it daily...

were slowly poisoned and died.

I took it daily, too.

I suppose I will die soon.

Are you certain it is blood plant?

With a few pills, I was not sure, but with a batch gathered,

it emitted a distinct fishy smell unique to blood plant.

A fishy smell?

The herbs he stores here are made into pills...

in the back warehouse and sold.

But what is that herb? It smells so fishy.

That was blood plant.

Bak Jun Gi is selling pills made of blood plants.

What?

He did not try to profit from the disease.

He spread a fake one...

to make money.

My mother injured herself badly.

She is in severe pain, so give me some licorice root medicine.

We are out.

It arrives late tonight. Come early tomorrow morning.

The Ministry of Constitution...

as well as the Royal Tribunal halted their investigation to focus here.

I got news from the diseased village.

Goodeoki has figured it all out.

Should we clean it up?

It ended faster than expected.

Clean it up thoroughly. Leave no trace.

Are you halting everything again?

How dare you enter without permission!

Eavesdropping?

There are still plenty of herbs left.

Why are you calling to clean it up?

Do you even know what this is?

A poison pill.

I realized when you said Goodeoki could not have been infected.

It was not a strange disease.

It seems you have prepared this for so long.

You have not been caught, so why stop this early?

Not a single blemish must be made to the Chief Minister.

I will stop at even the smallest risk. That is how I play it.

I thought you were bold, but you are a coward.

It explains why you are just filling the Chief Minister's coffers.

What?

Why? Are you going to hit me again?

Hit me once more, and I will make sure you never wake up.

May I offer my help?

Surely they would not bother tracking...

a bored concubine out for a walk?

In exchange, make me your official wife.

What?

I am tired of being belittled as a mere concubine.

And I refuse to let my child be treated as illegitimate.

I will redistribute the poisoned pills...

to ensure the disease continues spreading.

But burn the quarantine village to make sure the Royal Tribunal finds nothing.

Let Goodeoki burn to ashes as well.

There is a detoxifying herb.

Is that true?

A retired royal physician called Toji is here,

and he said brewing the Baeksacho roots...

neutralizes blood plants.

It is not a rare herb, but it is unavailable here.

We must inform the chief guard.

We need to find Baeksacho and treat the patients.

The chief guards work for Bak Jun Gi.

They do not want us to recover.

Then, I will speak to them.

No.

Even higher officials here are just patients.

Even if we are doomed, let us not hasten our deaths.

I will go to Hanyang myself.

You cannot, Tae Young.

You should not do this when you are even pregnant.

It does not matter. I must.

I have to save them.

Once inside, no one can leave this place.

Did you not notice the guards?

There are no guards on the rear mountain.

We forage for herbs freely there.

Beyond the mountain is the government office.

Even if you pass it, you will be stopped outside.

You will die before you reach Hanyang.

Everyone, just stop.

Where are you going? Let me go with you.

Please let us go.

We must avenge ourselves against Bak Jun Gi.

What?

Bak Jun Gi ordered the slaughter of the Devoted Hearts Association.

He was the one the Leader tried to assassinate in Qing.

You must come back safely.

Do Gyeom lost his brother already.

Once is enough.

Mother.

They might burn the quarantine village.

What?

They claim the wind spreads the disease's germs.

Who would make such a decision?

The king himself.

Do you think he made it?

Are you worried about your brother?

I am worried about you.

What is happening?

They plan to burn this place down.

They say the disease spreads through the wind.

What are you doing?

How can the wind spread disease? You fools.

I am the Hongmungwan Deputy Tribunal Officer.

Bring the chief guard here immediately.

If you have something to say, say it to me.

I am the chief of the office in charge of this place.

Bak Jun Gi.

It has been a while, has it not?

This disease is not contagious.

You know that.

What do you think you are doing?

Was pillaging the provinces not enough for you?

How dare you!

Do you not fear the heavens?

How could you poison the people?

When will the Chief Minister's storehouses be full enough?

Do you intend to fill them with the blood of all the people?

It is because of you.

You kept interfering, so I had to act decisively.

What grand plans do you have...

that require such effort?

Are you plotting treason...

to shake the world itself?

I only do my best with what I am tasked with.

You are no different from me.

You are a servant to the Chief Minister.

Speak as much as you want, as this will be your last words.

By morning, you will be ashes.

Be careful.

You never know when you will be discarded.

Hae Gang.

Sending one mere rat and showing off like that?

Leave no trace behind.

Burn everything to ashes.

You scoundrel. You will face divine retribution.

Hae Gang.

What happened?

We apprehended the owner of Sinjae Pharmacy,

but he claimed he bought the licorice root medicine from a stranger and sold it.

Licorice root medicine?

Is it not just a painkiller?

We are analyzing the pills,

but it may take some time.

The Chief Minister pushed the king...

to order the burning of the quarantine village.

Lord.

They claim the disease in the capital spreads through the wind.

We had no evidence to refute it,

so we could not stop it.

My goodness.

My goodness.

Please, find a way to save her.

We are all going to die anyway, Lord.

If they plan to kill us, let them do it quickly.

Shall I go outside and distract them?

While they are distracted...

I...

I was the bait.

The Leader's will has been fulfilled.

You...

What is mixed with the licorice root medicine is...

blood plant.

Deok Hun.

Quickly, take the patients and feed them the detoxifying herb.

Yes, sir.

Where is Yun Gyeom?

I thought I would die, but I survived.

Let us go quickly.

Madam, where are you heading so early?

To a tea gathering with the other ladies.

But you were not invited.

What if you are turned away at the door again?

Here, eat. This is good for pain.

Kkeoksoe, you eat too.

Hurry up and eat.

It is really good for you. Eat it.

Come on, eat.

- Search the place. - Yes, sir.

What is the meaning of this?

Who do you think you are to enter my house like that?

In various of your houses in Hanyang,

herbs and rice you pocketed...

from the Health Office and Grain Bureau were found.

And for that, you cause such a commotion?

In the barn, we found ground blood plants,

and in the back storage, licorice root medicine mixed with blood plants.

I know nothing about this.

This house belongs to my wife.

You did all of this, did you not?

Are you trying to frame me now?

You should have listened when I told you to clean up.

You!

A government official, tasked to care for the people.

How could you commit such heinous and unforgivable crimes?

As if spreading poison to massacre innocent people was not enough,

you even tried to burn the quarantine village to hide it.

Are you not afraid of the heavens?

The Chief Minister is my heavens.

Do you really think you can punish me?

Guards!

Inform the Chief Minister at once.

How foolish.

This was all directed by the Chief Minister.

What?

What will happen to me?

Guys, what will happen to me?

Concubine Kim So Hye,

you are equally guilty of aiding Bak Jun Gi's crimes.

Arrest her and take her to the Royal Tribunal.

What should I do?

Let go of me!

What are you guys doing? Help me.

Help me! What are you doing?

Help me.

Let go! Stop this!

- My goodness, Elder Master. - Elder Master.

Elder Master.

- What now? - My goodness.

Elder Master.

No.

What do we do?

Goodness.

Yun Gyeom.

Yun Gyeom.

Yun Gyeom!

Yun Gyeom.

Yun Gyeom.

He could not endure imprisonment, and...

His body was recovered by Deputy Tribunal Officer Seong.

The servants shall return to their owners,

government servants to their respective offices,

and wanderers and displaced people to their hometowns.

The criminals will be investigated and duly punished.

Servant Goodeoki.

Allow me to serve as a legal advocate...

one last time.

What is a legal advocate?

What does that even mean?

Let it be so.

These people...

are neither doctors nor nurses.

This man...

ran away, unable to endure his master's beating,

and that woman has burn scars...

from rejecting her master's advances.

That man failed to pay tenant fees,

and that man could not endure the excessive labor demands.

Despite all this, they did their part in the quarantine village.

Thanks to them,

patients survived in a village...

without medicine or food aid.

They boiled medicinal decoctions all day,

foraged for herbs in the wild,

cleaned up after the sick and took care of them,

and even tended the dead without hesitation.

Yet you plan to send them back...

just like that?

With a merciful heart,

please provide a way for them to survive.

I earnestly plead with you.

I shall consider this carefully and handle it accordingly.

However,

why do you not defend yourself?

I...

have no grievances.

Servant Goodeoki, receive the royal decree.

This is what the king proclaims.

"Servant Goodeoki disrupted moral order and customs.

She is a grievous offender.

However,

the Chief and members of Cheongsu County's Yuhyangso submitted a joint appeal."

Although she is guilty of hiding her status,

she was a good and righteous person...

who showed kindness to the oppressed.

Thus, we humbly petition Your Majesty...

to show her mercy.

We humbly plead.

Furthermore, the people of Cheongsu County...

risked their lives to petition in protest.

Please, grant our wish.

Are you aware that protesting incurs flogging?

We have already prepared to die for this.

I humbly beg Your Majesty.

She shows no regard for rank or class,

and has a kind heart.

She has always cared for our hardships.

Please, show compassion and grant our plea.

"This overwhelming support from so many people...

reflects their sincere and noble hearts.

I am deeply moved.

Furthermore,

she volunteered to enter the quarantine village,

uncovered the truth of the strange disease,

and saved countless lives that I failed to protect.

Her merit and contribution must be recognized.

Therefore, weighing her crimes and merits carefully,

Servant Goodeoki's...

status as a slave is revoked."

Bak Jun Gi never revealed...

his superior, the Chief Minister.

Whether it was loyalty...

or resignation to death, we can only speculate.

As for Kim So Hye,

being the concubine of a traitor,

she was demoted to the lowest status and became a government servant.

Her unborn child will likely share the same fate.

There were twelve babies.

My child.

My dear child.

My daughter.

You have endured so much.

You have truly suffered.

My poor Goodeoki.

Goodeoki was dragged back with stones thrown at her,

but she returned to a path of flowers...

and reunited with her long-lost father.

How pitiful, my child.

Yun Gyeom.

Did I...

properly complete your novel?

Yes, it is a perfect ending, Tae Young.

(Aloe)

Our Cheongsu County's pride, the Aloe Festival,

is already in its third year.

Expected visitors will likely triple compared to last year.

Who is in charge of the product brochures?

That would be me, Chair Lady.

Please ensure the text is large and easy to read at a glance.

Are we still negotiating with performers?

The Flower Troupe is fully booked.

Make sure to secure the deal. Offer them more if needed.

Yes, Chair Lady.

Madam,

would you be able to serve as the product exhibition guide?

If the Chair Lady wishes it,

then I must oblige.

Thank you.

Please ensure everyone pays close attention to their roles.

Understood?

Yes, Chair Lady.

Migrants?

You propose we settle migrants in Cheongsu County?

To create jobs,

expand farmland, and grow the aloe enterprise.

Business is fine,

but it might disrupt the order and decorum of our customs.

Why do you always oppose my proposals so persistently?

Am I not the Chief of Cheongsu County?

Do you not respect the previous Chief?

What era are we in to speak of respect to the prior?

Rather than bickering,

let us seek input from Special Inspector Seong.

Come in.

Our dashing Special Inspector Seong, so radiant as always!

How dazzling.

The sound of your debate echoed outside the Yuhyangso.

Why do you always raise your voices in disputes?

Your voice is louder than mine.

- Mine? - Now.

I have something to inform you both.

A royal decree has arrived from the court.

It seems I must return to Hongmungwan.

I see.

But...

There was vandalism at your father-in-law's grave?

Yes.

They say they will move the grave within the year.

They may say otherwise later,

so be sure to get a written pledge with the exact date.

Yes.

By law, property sales...

cannot be changed after fifteen days,

so if you want to cancel the contract, you must file a petition...

- by the day after tomorrow. - Yes.

Next.

It has been a while.

What brings you here?

Are you here to take something again? I mean,

hello, sir.

That is not it.

I have opened a large legal advocate office in Hanyang,

I was wondering if you would like to work together.

I am not interested.

I was not asking you.

What do you think?

Me?

Peek-a-boo.

My goodness, how fair and pale.

That is why we named her Baekyi, remember?

Who did she take after to look this beautiful?

Who else? She took after her pretty mother.

Baekyi, you cry only when you are with her mother,

but you stop crying right away when with Mak Sim.

Exactly.

She must think I am her mother.

I told Baekyi to be born as a noble in her next life,

and look at her now, a noble young lady.

Baekyi, let us go.

I will go visit my brother-in-law now.

If our Baekyi catches a cold, it is trouble.

That is true. You go on peacefully with your husband.

We will look after the young lady here.

Look at this.

Here, take this.

- Father. - My goodness.

- Man Seok. - Man Seok.

- Mom is here. - Uncle is here.

- Was it hard watching the baby? - Not at all.

You are so well-behaved.

Our Man Seok really took after his father and mother.

Man Seok is growing so fast, Tae Young.

He is so heavy. I can hardly carry him anymore.

Our Man Seok.

My goodness.

By the way, where is Yun Gyeom?

Inside.

Yun Gyeom, we are here!

- You two are here. - Yes.

My goodness, you must be tired from your long journey.

I have some great news.

I have been appointed to a government post and will be moving to Hanyang.

Really? That is wonderful news.

Have you finished your manuscript?

Yes.

I have finally completed it.

You will not execute me at night,

so what brings you here?

What?

The Deputy Chief granted permission.

Hurry and change clothes so you can leave.

Are you saying you will be executed in my place?

What kind of absurd act is this?

Do you think I will just leave with a simple thank you?

I once thought I could change the world.

I...

was arrogant.

If your thoughts had changed, you should have returned home!

I did go.

But...

that was not my place anymore.

"I will protect you."

"I will be your refuge."

"I will return."

I could not keep a single one of those promises I made.

So I have...

one final request.

Allow me...

to keep my last promise.

Please help me,

so Do Gyeom...

does not lose his brother again.

I used my last breath to come here.

So please...

return home...

and live happily in my stead.

(The Tale of Lady Ok)

How does it feel?

Many sacrifices were made to reach this point.

Thanks to them, I have achieved my dream.

Living by the sea with my father.

Is that all?

You have a wonderful husband and a cute son too.

But why did it take you so long?

It took you three years.

Well, there was so much to revise in the beginning.

Writing in prison, you see, caused utter chaos.

You are always so lazy.

You are always nagging.

Do you think I ever have time?

Because of our busy Legal Advocate,

I am stuck with childcare and your father.

Fine, I get it.

By the way, when Man Seok gets excited, he seems...

just like a celestial storyteller.

Do not even joke about that.

Man Seok will ace the state examination and become an official.

Now that you mention it,

studying for the exam with you was very challenging.

What!

It must have been very tough for my younger brother.

Man Seok.

Man Seok.

(The Tale of Lady Ok)

(The Tale of Lady Ok)

(Written by Park Ji Sook)

(Directed by Jin Hyuk)

(And Choi Bo Yun)

(Thank you for reading The Tale of Lady Ok.)

(Subtitles are provided by KOCOWA.)

Ripped and synced by WEISSACHsubs