(This drama is a work of fiction created based on historical facts.)
(Most of the details and depictions of the characters are fictional.)
(Episode 20)
Did you perhaps act upon the Crown Prince's orders?
My lord.
I hope...
I did not do anything too silly.
My lord.
I am sorry.
It took too long, did it not?
I am so sorry.
My lord.
Who...
are you?
Do not joke around like that.
Why?
Are you worried I might lose my memory again?
Do not worry.
Something like that will not happen again.
The physician...
kept scaring me that you might...
lose your memory forever.
You seem to regain your memory...
whenever you look at my face.
I should stick right by your side wherever you go.
By the way, what happened to the Crown Prince?
I think there was someone...
who told His Majesty everything about the Crown Prince.
Pyo Eon Kyum...
wants to meet with you.
I want to stop working as a eunuch now.
Do not think of quitting.
Just go and get some rest before returning to work.
Why are you giving me this?
Why else?
You deserve it.
Thanks to you,
we were able to get rid of our greatest enemies beforehand.
What do you mean?
Good work.
Mother, you sent me to the palace when I was a young boy,
and you enjoyed a life of comfort.
I guess it was worth making your son a eunuch.
Even in the future,
I will not make you worry about being able to afford a living.
You are here.
What on earth is this?
I drank the same poison...
that was given to the Crown Princess.
As this poison is mild,
I heard even Her Highness...
suffered for two whole days.
Do you think this will wash your sins away?
I will call for a physician.
It is too late.
There is no use now.
Do you...
Do you remember the day we first met?
Look.
You should think of winning a victory.
Why is everyone so determined to die while fighting?
Since we are already risking our lives,
should we not risk them for a fight that will end up in a victory?
- What are you doing? - I protect His Highness,
so protecting me is like protecting His Highness.
I noticed you from the start.
If it was you,
I knew you would protect me.
Both me...
and His Highness.
If it was you...
So how can you betray His Highness?
I thought it was the only way to save His Highness.
His Highness...
did such a great job entertaining the Qing emperor.
He was always worried for the captives.
And I wanted to let everyone know.
But I was fooled.
They had fooled me.
They fooled me.
His Highness' body...
Every orifice of His body...
oozed with black liquid.
Please ease his grievances.
His Highness...
left a letter for you.
Your Majesty.
How is your illness these days?
I have recovered from the symptoms.
Because you lot did not believe how wicked Thief Kang was,
His Majesty suffered a bout of fury.
Luckily, Jin Saeng's report...
exposed her atrocities to the world.
That was how His Majesty could recover!
How did the court ladies react?
Please do not bother about them.
They must be gossiping about silly rumors again.
Like how Thief Kang stowed away a lady,
how she had a will,
or that His Highness left behind a letter before he passed...
What letter?
Rumors say that His Highness wrote a letter...
before he died.
But no one saw it, so it was merely...
Find the letter.
Go and find the letter right now!
He must have...
written the letter to get the Qing involved.
What...
What do we do about this?
- Search the place. - Yes, sir.
Do a thorough search.
Are you the interpreters...
who served the late Crown Prince closely back in Simyang?
All right.
Did any of you send His Highness' letter to the Qing?
I have never seen or heard of a letter.
Did...
the letter end up in Gu Yang Chun's hands?
He is the leader of the traitors, Gu Yang Chun.
Do not say that you do not know him.
If you do not tell the truth, all of you will...
This person...
is not Gu Yang Chun.
He is...
Be sure...
to keep them forever.
Jang Hyun, read this.
You live here?
You...
Why I am here?
I am here to take Lee Jang Hyun.
How is the gentry acting?
Please do not worry.
After Jin Saeng's report, everyone has been silent.
Have you taken care of the traitors...
that were kept in the prison?
Yes, Your Majesty.
We smashed all their heads in, but...
Please sentence me to death!
We smashed all their heads in,
but one of the bodies disappeared.
What?
Whose body disappeared?
It was...
Gu Yang Chun's body...
Was he not the leader of the traitors?
No, that is not true.
That guy was not Gu Yang Chun.
The leader of the traitors that was imprisoned...
turned out to be Interpreter Lee Jang Hyun.
An interpreter?
Why, look at that.
I told you that...
the interpreters would be close to Thief Kang.
So? What happened to him?
Is he dead or alive?
I am aware that all of the Crown Prince's followers are being purged.
No matter what I tried,
I could not find any traces of Lee Jang Hyun.
Please tell me...
if he is okay or not.
Is he alive?
Yes, he is.
I will take Lee Jang Hyun with me.
Where is he?
Then...
can you help him?
Please help him.
Let the King of Joseon know...
that soon,
a royal messenger from the Qing will be arriving.
Also...
I was told that the letter was left with the woman...
who saved the life of the Crown Prince's son.
Gu Yang Chun.
No.
Interpreter Lee Jang Hyun.
Let His Majesty know I am here. It is urgent.
He is already hearing some urgent news.
But do not worry, Your Majesty.
The slaves of the Palace Supply Bureau have caught Lee Jang Hyun.
I ordered them to kill him immediately to get rid of any future problems...
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty,
you must not kill Lee Jang Hyun.
Did you kill him?
Attack!
Stop!
Stop.
A royal messenger is coming from the Qing.
But...
they asked for Lee Jang Hyun to be their interpreter.
Interpreter Lee Jang Hyun...
got the Qing involved?
I heard a royal messenger was coming suddenly, so I thought it was strange.
But it turns out Interpreter Lee was behind it.
Jung Myung Soo has gone back and forth...
between the two countries to derive benefits,
but he has never called in a royal messenger.
Are you certain this is true?
Is it not just a rumor?
The royal messenger from the Qing...
insisted on having Lee Jang Hyun as the interpreter.
Interpreter Lee served the Crown Prince in Simyang...
and maintained close relationships with the foreigners.
And now he is using that power to suck the blood of Joseon.
Interpreter Lee must have his reasons.
Reasons? What reasons?
Now I see that Lee Jang Hyun is worse than women.
Even women with no power were honorable enough to take their own lives...
after just brushing past the foreigners.
My lord,
do you think women should take their own lives...
if the foreigners grab their wrists?
I am not saying that is what they must do.
I am saying that is how Joseon has been protected.
A single drop of ink...
is enough to make clean water dirty.
But...
only their wrists would have been grabbed.
Nothing else could have happened.
That is not what is important.
Whether it was just their wrists...
or something even worse,
they have lost their chastity.
Then...
do you think Gil Chae's return...
caused the water...
to become dirty?
No, I do not.
I am also happy...
that Lady Yoo is alive and well.
I am thankful for how brave she is.
However,
I also understand...
Officer Gu's choice.
But you always felt for the people...
for all the hardships they went through, did you not?
Just because I feel pity for the people...
does not mean that women can neglect their chastity.
No, especially at a time like this,
subjects should be loyal...
and women should keep their chastity.
That is the only way for there to be discipline in this troubled country...
and for the people to live in comfort.
Officer Gu works for the country.
If he wants to govern the country,
he must first maintain discipline in his own household.
I know that very well.
That is why I am saying that Joseon women who are truly honorable, must...
My lady.
Have Interpreter Lee Jang Hyun enter.
Your Majesty.
Who are you?
Answer me.
Reveal your identity.
I am an interpreter.
You are just an interpreter,
but the Qing is earnestly asking for you?
I am not just any interpreter.
I was the late Crown Prince's...
favorite interpreter.
Your Majesty, the royal messenger is here.
His Majesty the Emperor...
wants to know what happened to Crown Prince So Hyun's...
three children.
He is curious about Crown Prince So Hyun's three children.
I wonder how the Great Qing knew the children of traitors.
But I do not think it is a matter in which the Great Qing should get involved.
The children of a traitor?
Did the Crown Princess...
really plot treason?
Do you have evidence of the Crown Princess' plot of treason?
He is asking...
about the evidence...
that proved...
the Crown Princess' guilt.
I ran into a foreign intruder as I was running away.
But before I was about to be abused by him,
Gil Chae helped me...
You met...
a foreign intruder?
Jung Myung Soo has left, but now Lee Jang Hyun is here.
Do you plan to sit back and watch?
We cannot do that.
We cannot let a single drop of ink dirty the entire pool of clear water.
(Hanyang Brazier)
I will show you the best-tasting meat in Hanyang.
Does it not gleam...
and look tasty?
Meat is...
the best when grilled on a brazier, indeed.
It is not bad.
How dare you bring in a foreign intruder?
Do you figure you will change your fortune like Jung Myung Soo?
Do you want to have...
the authority of a king with the Qing Empire backing you?
If I can.
I have known...
that you have been looking down on me for a long time now.
But I still did not hate you.
We may be on separate paths, but I believed...
that both of us were concerned about the people.
And yet, you bring in a foreign intruder?
Do you know?
Some people do not live on food but on a sense of accomplishment.
Thanks to them,
this world does not become overrun with wild beasts.
Thanks to those who die while maintaining their loyalty and integrity,
it is proven...
that even the most powerful cannot rule this world however they want.
I will dedicate my soul to clear up this land...
that has been tainted by foreign intruders.
So,
if you become like Jung Myung Soo and oppress Joseon,
I will bury...
the long relationship between us,
and I will...
rid this land of you, no matter what.
Seriously, your love of Joseon...
is so sincere that it is even pitiful.
Do you perhaps have...
the Crown Prince's letter?
I want to keep my promise to those who trusted me before it is too late.
Bring...
the captives back to Joseon.
If I am unable to keep this promise,
I cannot call myself the Crown Prince, a man,
or a human being.
If...
something happens to me...
and I cannot be the Crown Prince or the King,
please help me stay a human being,
at least.
You are the only person...
I can ask to do this.
I give you all of my wealth...
and the wealth that the Crown Princess saved up.
However,
as promised before,
all of the captives...
must be in possession...
of release papers recognized by the financial office of Qing.
Also,
the captives will not cross the river.
They will confidently...
enter Joseon...
via a land route.
If...
you guarantee this,
I will hand over this silver.
No one in Qing can pose questions...
regarding the Joseon captives being released today.
I guarantee it.
Yes, Your Highness.
- What are they doing? - Those intruders.
What are they doing over there?
Those darn intruders.
We are going to Joseon now!
We are free now!
Yes!
My goodness!
We are free!
We are going home!
Hurrah!
My gosh!
We are free!
Yes!
We can go home now!
Your Highness.
Come with me, Jang Hyun.
I will take you from Joseon...
while I still have power.
I have to return to my hometown.
Are you a fickle fool...
who cannot keep his promises?
Yes.
That is just the kind of fool I am.
This fickle fool...
would like to return to his hometown alive.
If you return to Joseon,
you will die.
You will face death.
Is it because of her?
She...
is my hometown.
Now...
I want to return home and take a rest.
Either you leave with me...
or you die here.
Those are your only options.
Either way,
you will die if you go to Joseon.
My lord.
I know now.
I know how you feel about me.
I also know exactly how I feel...
about you.
My lord.
I am happy with these earnest feelings of love...
even if we are apart.
As long as you can be safe,
even if you are far away,
my heart will be filled with joy.
Two Joseon interpreters have already been flogged to death.
So please,
stay in the Qing...
No.
I miss you.
In that case, I shall die on the way back.
Please forgive me.
Go.
Leave before I change my mind.
Your Highness.
Please be safe and healthy.
Farewell.
You worthy fool.
Gil Chae.
Your husband is coming.
- At Usimjeong in Uiju? - That is what I said.
The captives are all gathered there, covered in dirt.
There are always guards patrolling around that area.
Some of the captives vowed to take revenge for His Highness.
Is it really true that the Crown Prince was poisoned to death?
- Watch your mouth! - What if...
it causes an uproar in our village?
We should hurry.
(Uiju)
How did you...
I thought you could not come.
I told you I would be back.
Yang Chun.
Jang Hyun.
Jang Hyun, you...
Now that he is back, all is good.
It is good.
Have you been well?
By the way,
I heard His Highness was poisoned to death.
Is that true?
Did Lady Cho give him a poisoned needle...
That was not the rumor I heard. It was His Majesty...
Oh, please. Stop it.
Since we owe our lives to His Highness,
should we not avenge him?
Now that I am old, I have no regrets even if I die.
I will do anything you say.
Please forget about His Highness.
But...
he is our savior.
No matter if His Highness was poisoned or not,
please...
stop trying to find out, or avenge him.
I am asking of you.
That is...
what His Highness would have wanted.
After word got out,
more captives were making their way here.
Thousands of them were brought to the Qing, after all.
Since people are gathering here,
the Uiju government office keeps sending people...
to inspect the place.
I am worried we will run into problems...
like last time.
Problems?
What problems?
We are in Uiju, and I am Gu Yang Chun of Uiju.
Yang Chun.
We must not cause any trouble.
I will handle...
this matter.
- Is it good? - Yes.
It tastes good.
Here.
Eat up.
Jong Jong.
Gu Jam...
Gu Jam.
Madam.
I presume...
Lord Lee went to the Qing.
That must be why you are here alone.
No, he will be here soon.
He told me to come here first.
I brought his letter.
Also...
Come in.
I am writing this letter because I cannot return right away.
The captives who are staying at Usimjeong right now...
do not have anywhere to go...
or any family members to take them in.
If I neglect them as well,
they will not have much of a future,
so I am trying to help them.
Please understand.
Whenever I managed to fall asleep after tossing and turning,
I think I dreamt of you.
It would be nice if I could remember my dreams,
but whenever I wake up from a light sleep,
all I remember is...
your name, Yoo Gil Chae.
I am always lost in thought over you,
so it feels like...
I have never fallen asleep or woken up. Do you know that feeling?
Madam, more people are here!
Come on in.
You can go inside.
I cleaned everything.
You must be excited.
I have to take good care of them...
for Lord Lee to come back quickly.
So you better be good as well.
Now, Lee Jang Hyun...
is completely mine.
Hurry inside.
You...
Oh, my.
Just as you said, I sought Interpreter Lee's help,
and he helped me.
Good job.
You did a wonderful job.
By the way,
do you know if Da Jim...
is...
A square,
then a crooked triangle.
Then this is a long rectangle.
Look.
Da Jim.
My son.
You have grown so much.
Da Jim.
She is your mom.
I told you, did I not?
Your mom...
has not once forgotten about you.
Mom?
Yes, Mom.
Mom.
- It is me. - Mom.
- My son. - Mom.
Mom.
This will not be easy.
Baedan-ri is probably full by now.
We can make it work.
We will find a way.
How long has it been?
You, me, and Gu Jam...
We traveled around the whole country and observed various people.
We did. It has been a while.
It has been a while,
and it will probably be our last.
What do you mean?
I am sick of this now.
How long do I have to be attached to you at the hip?
Anyway, the people here are so cold-hearted.
In Neunggun-ri,
the people even celebrated...
Grandpa Song Chu's 60th wedding anniversary together.
Come to think of it, the elders of Neunggun-ri...
Courtesy comes from affection.
You must be tired.
Yes.
My lord.
I ran into a foreign intruder...
and I was almost raped...
But Gil Chae stabbed him to death...
and rescued me from disaster.
Do you still think...
I have lost my chastity...
since my shoulder was grabbed by a foreign intruder?
You have never once tricked me.
But you have kept it a secret...
that you were captured by a foreign intruder for so long.
This is...
the gruesome stain that the intruders have left on Joseon.
Will you deny it?
Will he not come today either?
My dear.
Did you just call me "My dear?"
Yes.
My dear.
Yes.
Let us call each other husband and wife from now on.
- You look beautiful! - Be happy!
- You look great! - You are a lucky girl!
Goodness, you look pretty!
You look beautiful!
- She sure is beautiful. - Goodness.
I am sure you will have sons.
- What a great occasion. - My goodness.
Gu Jam, you are a lucky man!
- My gosh. - Treat her well, Gu Jam.
She looks so pretty.
How nice is this?
They look so great together.
They sure do.
- Goodness. - They will live well together.
They look so happy, do they not?
We should drink up on a day like this.
My gosh.
- Have another drink. - All right.
Let us drink up on a nice day like this.
Slow down, man.
This is a great feast.
Jong Jong and Gu Jam look great together.
They look...
so great together.
So, that is why I think we should also...
I am not sure.
I have already been married once.
Did you not say so before yourself?
Why should we have to be bound by the formalities of marriage?
We can just live a life of passion with each other,
can we not?
We are already living passionately,
so I do not see why...
That is right. Sure.
I did. Yes.
I did.
I was flabbergasted at the time,
but you sure are right.
I also do not like...
things that are too obvious.
I also...
do not like things that are obvious.
I am not such an obvious man.
Of course, I am not.
Let me see your ring.
What?
Why do you want my ring?
Will you take back what you gave?
Here you go.
I will have to inscribe a nice saying on these.
So, without being too obvious,
I will do it.
The proposal.
Marry me.
I will make you...
the happiest man in the world.
Let us go to Neunggun-ri.
Let us go...
and live like...
rocks and grass there.
Like trivial things.
Like boring things.
Just the two of us.
(My Dearest)
Let me tell you about Lee Jang Hyun.
Round up all the rebels.
Jang Hyun, soldiers are on their way here.
I will be sure to come and get you. Wait for me.
Please help Interpreter Lee.
He will die if you arrest him.
Get them!
Please save me.
I will live as if I am dead.
The leaders of the rebels have all been wiped out.
I have destroyed their traces as well.
This is it.
This is Neunggun-ri.
What about your husband-to-be?
He will be here soon.
He promised he would come.
(Subtitles are provided by KOCOWA.)