(Episode 1)

Sir! Sir!

Lt. General...

What is it?

The King ordered you & a royal minister
to bestow poison upon the deposed queen

What? How could this be...

Why has this order fallen on me?

I don't know, but the Minister of
Royal Guards has ordered...

that you do this immediately

13th year of King Sungjong's Rule
(1482) August

Minister, it's been over 3 years
since the queen was deposed

Isn't poison for walking out
of her residence an excessive order?

She's the mother of the Crown Prince

If he takes the throne...

Don't worry about it
Nothing bad will happen

Would you like a sip?

How are you going
to watch it sober?

Are you OK? How is he?

I think he hurt his ankle

I'm so sorry
All of sudden, the horse...

Even the horse doesn't want to
go to the deposed queen's house

Why else would a horse
jump like a mad man?

Did you drink wine?

How dare you be so insolent while
carrying out the King's order?

I deserve to die, sir

Can you move?

Yes

I'll carry out the order
even if I need help

It's OK
What can you do in that condition?

Wretch! You'll pay for
your crime later

Due to the circumstances
get him to a doctor quickly!

Yes, sir!

Deposed Queen Yoon is
wicked and dangerous by nature

and she's done many perverse things
In the past, while in the court

her atrocities grew worse,
but I was indecisive about her

because she was the mother
of the Crown Prince

And it has caused the nation
to crumble beyond remedy

I order her to drink poison
on August 16 at her house

I shall see the King

If he tells me to, I shall drink it
Bring the King

The criminal must be silent
This is the King's command

It can't be. He's not a king
who'd kill his son's mother

because she ran out on bare feet
to see her son

This is clearly a plot to
do harm to the royal line

Shut up. How dare you speak
such blasphemous words!

Give her the poison

Stop! I'm the mother
of the Crown Prince

If you still insist on killing me
then bring the Prince here!

Captain, make her drink
the poison now

Do it now!

Stay away!
How dare you approach me!

You'll disobey the King's command?
Make her drink it now!

Hold her

Stop! How dare you!

Don't touch me. I was the Queen
of this nation. I'll drink it myself

I'll drink it myself

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Crown Prince! Do ascend the throne
and wreak my vengeance

Mother... please tell the Crown Prince
of their atrocity

You wretches, you shall pay for this

Your Majesty

Crown Prince Yoong
(Later called Yeonsan-Kun)

Your Majesty

Are the court ladies coming this way?

Yes, they are

Don't tell them you saw me

Yes, Your Majesty

Your Majesty, where are you?
We give up, Your Majesty!

Please come out, Your Majesty!

You wretches, you shall pay for this

Stop!

Your Majesty!

Stop! I'm the mother
of the Crown Prince!

Bring the Prince to me!
Your Majesty!

How dare you!

Are you awake now?

Drink all of it

I must've gone unconscious
after falling down from a mountain

Your arm's hurt. You should be fine
after a few days of rest

Thank you

Sir, I have to be on my way,
so please tell me the way out

Sir

You don't seem to be the kind
to harm someone else

but why do you have
a storm of blood in your hands?

Excuse me? What do you mean, sir?

Your fate, what a pity...

What do you mean, sir?

Please explain to me
Why do you pity my fate?

Three women are holding your fate

Even though you killed the first woman
you will not die

The second will die because of you
even though you save her

And the third will kill you
but she will save many lives

Sir, what shall I do? What can I do
to free myself from this fate?

The best thing is not to meet them

How? How can I not meet
the first woman?

Haven't you already met her?

That's why it's a pity...

And the second... no...
I will die because of the third woman?

Then how can I not meet
the third woman?

Don't meet the second woman

Then how can I not meet
the second woman?

Please tell me, sir

What do these mean, sir?

Sir! Please wait, sir!

What could they mean?

This is "geum," which means rash

This is "soon," meaning meek

This is "ho," meaning good

Refer to women? A rash woman,
a meek woman, and a good woman

Do you have any ideas?

No

People have used compound words
to tell secrets since ancient times

What do you mean by compound words?

Don't you know? When King Taejo
founded this kingdom

people talked of "mok-ja-deuk-guk"
(tree, son, gain, kingdom)

Here "mok"(tree) and "ja"(son)
Combined to form "Yi"

It meant a person whose last name
is Yi would gain the kingdom

If they are elements,
what would the compound meaning be?

"Geum" is a compound of "yeo"(woman)
And "geum"(now, today)

It could mean "woman you met today"
When did you get these?

I received them yesterday

Woman you met yesterday
Is there any woman you met yesterday?

Seeing your face,
I guess you did meet a woman

Then the rest should be
deciphered as elements too

The second woman has to do with
"cheon"(creek) and "hyeol"(head)

And the third is related to
"yeo"(woman) and "ja"(son, child)

So I will die
because of the deposed queen?

And who are those two
other women I will be meeting?

2 nd year of Yeonsan-Kun's Rule
(1496) July

Sir! Please wait!

It must be that stupid
spiritual master again

It's been 14 years already
Anyway did you really meet him?

Are you sure that old guy
gave you those characters?

Even if that's true, you're 40
and you still haven't gotten married

because of that old man
Do you even look at girls?

And how could you think of
quitting your job?

I think it's all in your own mind

You're just feeling guilty
because the ruler has changed

You're not even listening to me
You said you're quitting

So how will you make a living
from now on?

I'm leaving here

What? When?

Today's my last day of work
I'll leave tomorrow morning

What a fool you are!

I can't forget those eyes

The eyes of the deposed Queen
looking at me

Yeah, same here

Did you hear how cruelly
His Majesty killed the deer

that former King Sungjong
loved so dearly?

I know that he killed
his own childhood teacher

Think what he might be capable of
if he finds out about his mother

Just imagine what might happen

Madam, did you call for me?

Yes. The King is asking for
your steamed bear-foot dish again

Lady Choi has rushed to prepare
the ingredients, so go take a look

Yes, ma'am

Is everything ready?

Yes

I'll try again

What did you do wrong?

You still haven't learned the amount
of perilla oil that the King likes?

You make them again

Yes, ma'am

The wind will weaken the aroma
so prepare...

the final ingredients separately
I will do it myself

You can go and wear the garments now

Yes, ma'am

Bring me the garments
Yes, Madam

Madam, I'm your servant Myeong

What is it?

I have something to tell you

Come in

Have a seat

What is it?

I'm asking you what this is about

It's about the food the King ordered
to send to his grandmother

Isn't it a special dish from the
Royal Kitchen for hypertrophy?

Yes, but Lady Choi's adding wolfsbane
root and cnidium officinale with garlic

Isn't wolfsbane root used for
such symptoms?

Yes, but using it raw
causes dizziness

and using raw cnidium officinale
causes hindrance to the flow of energy

thereby causing sickness
And it's not used for hypertrophy

At first, I thought nothing of it
thinking that...

it was good medicine
prescribed by the pharmacists

but I was worried that
her symptoms might get worse

Are you sure about this?

Yes, ma'am

When did this start?

It's been four days now

You mean it started on the day
the King ordered it?

Why have you been
so watchful of Lady Choi?

It was incidental, ma'am

Who else knows about this?

I'm the only one

Are you sure?

Yes

OK. I'll take care of this secretly
so don't tell anyone about this

Yes, Madam

Baek-Yeong, one moment

What is it? I have to get going

I told her about it

Who? The Highest Kitchen Lady?

No, the Taster Lady

Good, I think that's better
What did she say?

She's going to take care of it

She asked me if anyone else knew,
but I didn't tell her about you

Why not?

You never know...

Baek-Yeong!

I have to get going...

the side dish ingredients
for tonight have been spoiled

Oh, no...

Let's talk later Sure

Excuse me...

What is it this time?

What's this?

It's a face powder from China

I'm only a servant here
If you keep on doing this

I'm going to tell the Head Lady

I have no other intention
but to pay you back in gratitude

Please do receive it

What's this? Isn't this
face powder for Chinese women?

You must be so happy
Myeong, share it with me

Sure

Isn't he overdoing it even though
he may be indebted to you?

What does it matter? I wish I had
someone giving me such gifts, too

What are you doing here?

It's almost time for the feast
What are you doing here?

Wait

What is it?

The Highest Kitchen Lady
has called for you

At this time of night?

She has called us as well

She's late

Is it you, Baek-Yeong?

Uncover her

Untie her

Do you acknowledge your crime?

What crime are you talking about?

I will ask you again
Do you acknowledge your crime?

Madam, what is this about?
Please tell me...

why you're treating me this way

How dare you play innocent!

Madam!

What is a court lady?
A court lady is a woman of the King

who must be careful in speech,
conduct, and maintaining dignity

and you must not make eye contact
with any other men

These are the laws
in the Royal Palace

I know that, ma'am and
I've always fulfilled my duties

You've always fulfilled your duties?

Then what are these?

Those... they are...

Do you know the officer
who guards the Manchun Gate?

You were with him
late at night once, right?

Is that true or not?

True, but it's because he collapsed
on the ground with a stomachache

and I gave him first-aid treatment

How did you treat him?

I gave him a cup of hot water
and some medicine

So in gratitude he gave you
this valuable pendant and powder?

And you just accepted them
without much thought?

Madam, that's not how it is...

Witch! How dare you lie to me!
If he'd collapsed with a stomachache

you should've gone to another officer
And even if you did treat him

how could he possibly give you
these precious items

and how could you receive them?

Unless you've become
intimate with him

who could explain these?

Madam! That isn't true!
Truly, that isn't so!

Shut up! Tell me what
you saw four days ago

I saw Lady Park and some man...

entering the warehouse
together at night

Madam, never... never...
has such a thing occurred

Isn't that why...
you've spoken ill of Lady Choi?

That isn't true! That isn't true!

If you've disgraced yourself that way
it is only proper for a court lady...

to end her life, and yet
you even tried to frame your friend

You ought to pay for
your sin by death

When you first became court ladies
what did we say

the consequences were
for betraying the King

by approaching a man
or betraying your friend?

Madam, this is unfair!
I'm being falsely accused!

Go ahead!

What are you doing?

Remember this well and
never let such a thing happen again!

Hide the body and go back

Stop crying

But Aunt, did we really
have to go that far...?

How ignorant... a seed surely grows
to blossom and bear fruit

and likewise the seed of fire
certainly blazes up

You can't keep this position
with such a soft heart

Though in private you are my niece

you're the successor to
the Highest Lady of the Royal Kitchen

and that position is the foothold
of our family's prosperity

What do you think was the foundation
of our family's great fortune

when our family is only middle-class?

Our family has produced
5 Highest Kitchen Ladies

serving 6 kings since King Moonjong

What do you think made it
possible in this palace

where no one knows
who will be killed next?

Do you know how our 5th great
grandmother Lady Choi Mal-Hee

had become the Highest Lady
for the first time?

She kept serving pork to King Moonjong
who was suffering from boils

But meat is forbidden for boils
Physicians couldn't have allowed it

Exactly. The physicians were
people of next King Sejo

Lady Choi realized this
and she threw herself...

to the flow of power,
risking her own life

Everyone's lives are
on the line already

Stop being timid
and understand the times

and always learn from us
so that you don't make mistakes

Our family and our lives
depend on this

She asked me if anyone else knew,
but I didn't tell her about you

Why not?

You never know...

Myeong, please... please...

Hello! Hey!

Priest! Priest, are you here?

What's wrong?

Priest, she's dying. Please help

Come inside

What is it?

She seems to have taken buja tonic

You mean the one used as poison?
Is there any hope?

But seeing how she still
has some life left in her

she must've taken small amounts
or taken some antidote

Then can she survive?

I'll go make the antidote,
so you follow me

It'll take some time
to make the antidote

so boil water with some mung beans
and then have her drink it

It helps to detoxify too

OK

Here are the mung beans
Boil them in water and give it to her

She'll vomit and that's a good sign
so you have to keep feeding her

There's the medicine pot

OK

Drink this

You still have to drink it

Please drink it, so you can live...

Will she be OK?

Though she's grown thin,
I think she's passed the critical point

What did she say was
the reason for taking poison?

I don't know. I only found her
by the stream and brought her here

Anyhow, you have saved her life

What do you mean? Didn't you say
she had already taken an antidote?

Even so, if it weren't for you
she'd be dead by now

You have done a great deed

Anyhow, you have saved her life

"Soon"(Meek), with simple words
of "cheon"(creek) and "hyeol"(head)

She had her head in the creek
Could she be the second woman?

The second will die because of you,
even though you save her

In order not to meet the third woman,
don't meet the second

And the second... no...
I will die 'cause of the third woman?

Then how can I not meet
the third woman?

Don't meet the second woman

Then how can I not meet
the second woman?

Sir! Sir!

Don't try to stop it
He said that vomiting is a good sign

Myeong... are you alive?
They're plotting to murder you

and I don't know what to do

You said buja tonic
could be detoxified with tonic

made with mung beans
but I don't know if you'll survive

Are you still alive, Myeong?
If you're dead, don't forgive me

but if you're alive, listen to me
I don't know the details

but I don't believe that
you've become intimate with a man

Therefore, you must not
come back to the palace

or be found by them
Run far away. Please do live!

You may punish me for
yielding to their threats

I'm so sorry... Myeong...

May I come in?

Please have a seat

There is no other way for me
to repay you for saving my life

Please forgive me for
making a mere curtsy

I have to get going
having only received your grace

It's too early for you to leave

I don't want to allow myself
to be a burden anymore

Where will you go?

You haven't even prepared anything
What will you do?

Don't worry. Thank you again

I'll say bye now

The second will die because of you,
even though you save her

Would you like some porridge?

Thank you, but I have no money

It's all right. Go right ahead

I gave her pure rice porridge
as requested, so give me the money

Please set aside a room for her and

get her a new pair of shoes

You're giving me two?

Don't tell her that
I told you to do this

OK

It's hard work
You think you can manage? Yes

OK, then

You look so pretty
When did you come here?

Please stop it

I'm asking you a question
Where are you going? Sit

Pour me a cup!

What are you doing?
Boss is asking for a cup

You look so pretty

Hey

What's this?

You shouldn't do such work
Your hands aren't for such work

Although I have saved you
he said you will die because of me

It's dangerous to stay with me

I already owe you my life

Please do take care of me
by all means

14 years ago, when I was
an officer in the Royal Militia

I was beside the deposed Queen
when she was poisoned

and on the way back home,
I met this spiritual master

He told me there would be 3 women
who would determine my fate

He said despite killing the first woman
I will not die

I would save the second,
but she would die because of me

And he said the third would kill me,
but she would save many people

He gave me the characters
referring to those women

The first was the deposed Queen Yoon

and the second woman is you
He said you would die because of me

Are you still going to follow me?

8 years later, 10th year of
Yeonsan-Kun's Rule (1504) August

Father!

So did you catch it?

Where's Mother? Where is she?

Mother...

Follow me

What are you doing?
Didn't I tell you to follow me?

Mother...