Cinema Service presents
In association with CJ Entertainment Inc.
An Achim Film production
A court maid must be devoted to
the king to the day she dies.
If you do not keep your chastity,
you will be severely punished.
Shadows in the Palace
Your majesty, it is time. Your majesty?
Please wake up, my lord.
6 years later
Your majesty...
Bestow upon me, your seed.
Your majesty.
Grant me a prince...
To carry on thy throne.
Your majesty!
The queen woke his majesty past one,
And said, 'Bestow your grace. '
'Grant me the honor of your son. '
'I shall borne a prince to carry on the throne. '
The queen has no better luck.
Mistress Hee-bin had a son first.
But she's still just a concubine.
And she was a court maid just like us.
But it's the king's first son in 15 years of marriage.
He is thinking of making the baby the crown prince.
That will never happen with the queen mother still alive.
Stop yapping.
We're working here but you just yap, yap, yap.
How did you become the queen's maid?
The queen won't keep a pretty maid for the king to see.
What?
Watch your mouth or
your tongue will get cut off at the maids' rituaI.
The supervising maid's on the lookout
for the one to punish at the rituaI.
I'm leaving.
WoI-ryung?
Are you in?
A court nurse should be able to stomach this.
Did you put on hempseed oiI?
Right here.
Try the stacte.
Why do you think she committed suicide?
She didn't.
There's bound to be rope dust from struggling if she was hung.
Look.
This shows there was no struggle.
Also, a person hung to death usually has her eyes shut and fists clasped.
Also her teeth clinched, in fear of death.
With her eyes, mouth, and hands opened like this...
It's almost impossible to say
it was a suicide.
Her name is WoI-ryung. She's been here for 8 years.
Jung-ryuI, who lives
in the next room, discovered her this morning at 6.
I heard.
I would like to meet her to ask a few questions.
No need.
'Tis my jurisdiction to manage the maids.
You just finish the autopsy report.
How heinous... A court maid committing suicide.
But 'tis not a suicide.
What did she say?
It is a meticulously planned murder.
In this sacred palace, where no one but his majesty can choose to die
A murder? That cannot be...
I want the autopsy... reported as suicide.
You will not cause a stir.
Just because of one court maid's death, you hear?
The court will handle it.
You just do as you're told.
One of Mistress Hee-bin's maids hung herself?
I do not know what to say.
There are some weak ones who can't adjust to the palace life.
That's the third one this year.
Who is doing the autopsy?
Chun-ryung, she is a new court nurse.
She has been in the palace long.
She will know to take care of it.
Settle the matter at once.
Do not fret, ma'am.
How are the preparations for the maid's rituaI coming along?
With these cursed things happening...
The court maids' discipline must be weak.
Can't you ever get it right?
A thousand apologizes, ma'am.
It's cold. What if the prince catches a cold?
If she cares for her only grandson,
she will not leave you out in the cold.
Is my palanquin ready?
I shall see to it.
Put it down here.
What brings you out here, ma'am?
Preparing to go and greet the queen mother?
WoI-ryung hung herself this morning.
There are no bruises on her neck.
It's clear she was hung after she died.
Was there anything like a trinket fallen at the scene?
I didn't see any, ma'am.
Isn't that...
It is an exit pass through the palace gates.
But aren't exit passes only given to high court maids?
Light!
What is it, ma'am?
There is no sign of a miscarriage.
You mean she had a baby in the palace?
A suicide?
She committed suicide!
She was murdered.
Mistress Hee-bin has already lost favor with the queen mother.
If this is revealed,
she will be cast out from here even if she bore a prince.
Remember, Mistress Hee-bin can cast out
a court nurse anytime.
But I cannot leave the case like this.
She was destined to die, anyway.
Then I was, too...
Just remember how you became a court nurse.
Don't ruin your future out of pity.
It's as if I am the one Iying there, dead.
If it gets revealed she gave birth...
All the court ladies will be examined for their maidenheads.
Do you not know what happens to court ladies
who are not virgins?
They will be hung for
not keeping their chastity at the rituaI.
The murderer knew that and killed her without hesitation.
He knows the court will keep it covered.
It will cause the least damage.
What if this isn't the last time?
What if it happens again? What will you do then?
The queen mother does not wish to receive you, ma'am.
Did you ask her if she would see the prince?
Unless you register the prince as the queen's son,
She wishes not to see you or the prince.
Tell her that if she will not see me even today...
I will never come here, again.
How dare you act so puissant for having a son!
I will not stand for the son of a common concubine becoming the heir.
Though you may not be pleased with me,
he is your only grandson.
If you want him to be king, let him go.
Let the queen adopt him as her own.
And she will not oppose should he become the crown prince.
What brings you here?
I need Mistress Hee-bin's maids' medicaI records, sir.
The viscount took them this morning.
He did?
He took all the records that Nurse Park kept.
Isn't she the one who recently left the court?
I heard there is quite a fight
for her spot among the court nurses.
If the prince becomes the next king,
his nurse will become a court physician.
Stop right there!
How dare you come in here!
I am court nurse Chun-ryung.
I've come to meet the viscount.
He is not here at the moment.
I heard he took all the medicaI records of Mistress Hee-bin's maids.
Could you look for them, sir?
I dare not touch the viscounts' things.
Don't you know that women are not allowed here?
But sir...
Please ask the viscount to return the records sometime today.
Swinging her buttocks, again.
What good does a mute have in practicing seduction?
Can she even groan?
Can you do this?
Come on! Do it!
Do it!
- Do it! - Someone's coming.
Gold and silver thread have been disappearing from the storage.
If you lay a hand on the court's belongings...
You will be beheaded.
Who is it?
If you shelter the culprit,
You will all be punished.
Ok-jin was gone for awhile this morning.
I saw her going to the storage house.
Why did you go there?
Skirt!
Raise it up!
I've scattered some ashes in the storage house.
Let me see your feet!
Bring me her sewing basket!
Where did you hide it?
Where is it!
Tie her up!
If anyone steals in the court, she must have her hands cut off.
There is no exception.
Will you lose your fingers for some spools of thread?
Where is it!
Hide her!
What brings you here, ma'am?
I heard Ok-jin is here.
Why are you looking for her?
No need for you to know.
This is my jurisdiction.
I must have a clear reason to call her out here.
I do not have to tell you
the matters of the royaI court.
I heard you are looking for a maid to sacrifice at the rituaI.
Did Ok-jin do something wrong?
Are you Ok-jin?
Follow me.
You shared a room with WoI-ryung.
She hung herself this morning.
I've seen the records. I know you were working at the time.
Why do you think she killed herself?
You will be kept here untiI things get settled.
Calm down, my lady.
His highness is coming, today.
Maybe it would be better for him,
if the queen adopted him.
You saw what happened to the former king's concubines.
They were forced to shave their heads and live in temples.
They are trapped in there for life.
But the queen mother is so obstinate...
My lady...
You must be stronger.
WoI-ryung hung herself in her room this morning.
What did you say?
We should've let her out of the court a long time ago.
If the queen mother makes this an issue,
It might cause problems for the prince to be crowned.
My lady.
Pretend you don't know, I will take care of everything.
I must see for myself.
Where is the court nurse?
She stepped out, ma'am.
What is the cause of death?
We are not finished examining...
She hung herself.
What are you doing?
If a lady does wrong,
her maid is punished on her behalf.
A lady? She is nothing but a commoner!
Come down, WoI-ryung.
But, my lady...
We should never have let someone like you into the court.
Even if his majesty should call on you,
If it is not your turn...
You must courteously refuse.
You knew it was Chung's turn.
But you lured his majesty into your room.
You must be punished.
Out of my way!
How dare a common maid! Do you wish to die!
Are you okay?
I'm fine.
My lady, it's almost time for his majesty to come.
When will the body be moved?
After the autopsy is over and the report is made.
We will check her court records for any family to take her.
If she has no family, she will be cremated.
Tell the court nurse I wish to see her
when she returns.
What brings you here?
I need to ask Jung-ryuI something.
Do you have permission from the supervising maid?
She is the one who told me Jung-ryuI was here.
I stayed guard all night at the king's quarters and came back at 6.
I spotted something strange
as I was going into my room.
So I opened WoI-ryung's door
and was shocked to see her hanging.
She was already dead when I found her.
Have you ever watched someone die?
I saw many criminals get cut up into pieces this year.
They try to look proud and dignified even to the day before.
But when the time comes, they all soiI their pants in fear.
I can't wait to see the maids' rituaI...
We're talking about WoI-ryung.
She always did as she pleases.
She did not care for any rules or ranks.
I'm the queen's maid and she was just a concubine's maid!
But she wore silk,
pretty shoes and talked as she was the queen.
Then why wasn't she punished by the court?
She never acted any different outside of her room. No one knew.
Did WoI-ryung fancy a man?
A man?
Since when did you stop speaking?
You were sick...
What an elegant trinket.
Something you can't afford on a court ladies' wage.
I heard WoI-ryung wore silk clothes and shoes in her room.
Did she give you this for keeping a secret?
A roommate is closer than a sister!
WoI-ryung had a man, didn't she?
You know the truth.
You can trust me. Tell me who impregnated and killed her!
If you cover it up, your life will be in danger, too!
He murdered her in fear of their relationship being revealed.
Open the door! Open up!
Open the door! Let me out!
She'll kill me!
Let go!
Get her!
Please go back.
Too-ah-yi Mo-gua Bo-ji-yi Kyung-guh
She gave me a papaya
and I sent her a jade.
Be-bo-ya Young-yi-wui ho-ya
Notjust to repay her...
But 'tis a sign of eternity with her.
Relax.
Cursive writing should be done smoothly.
Softly...
Boldly...
Sir... please...
I haven't had a menstruation for months.
What? Are you, crazy?
A court nurse should've known better!
I will get you some pills.
Get rid of it.
Who is it? Is anyone out there?
What troubles you so?
Your majesty...
Perhaps it would have been better, if I did not bear your son.
Then maybe...
There would not be such disorder in the palace.
Don't worry.
I promise to protect you, my dear.
If I did not give birth to the prince...
Would you still have loved me so?
What are you saying?
I am 30 years-old.
The court is filled with young maids.
How long will his majesty look favorably on me?
No need to worry.
But I do, your majesty.
Your majesty is
the only one the prince and I have to depend on.
If something should happen to you,
our lives will be in danger.
That's enough.
Please promise me, sir.
I already did all I could.
You cannot do anything while the queen mother is alive.
Admit the truth, sir.
Not this again!
When will you come out from under her wings, sir?
Are you okay?
The letter!
Is it WoI-ryung's
There was a love letter hidden inside.
A maid swears chastity to the king upon entering the palace.
Impregnating and killing a court maid
shows contempt for the king.
We must do this for WoI-ryung.
If we don't catch the culprit now, he may hurt another maid!
Do you know Baron Lee in the court physician's quarters?
He's the queen mother's daughter's son.
If you don't say anything, no one will be able to help you.
Hurry! Jung-ryuI can't breathe!
Get her down.
Why did you let the nurse in?
She tried to swallow this.
It probably belonged to WoI-ryung.
The royaI seaI is imprinted on it.
It was a token of love.
It's not unusuaI for royals to meddle with maids.
What?
WoI-ryung had a baby!
Are you saying
that a royaI member trifled with a maid then killed her?
Do you want to go to triaI?
What if something like this happens again?
I just need to discipline the court maids harder.
I shall show them at the maids' rituaI.
What happens if they steaI or not keep their chastity.
It can't be solved by scaring the maids!
She stole this and killed WoI-ryung.
You plan to frame everything on Jung-ryuI?
Where were you all night?
Why are you in men's clothes?
Where is Head Nurse Chun?
The viscount called her at the break of dawn.
He did? For what?
Anything happen over night?
Ah... ma'am...
I think someone was here last night.
Nothing is missing but it's as if
a ghost scattered things everywhere.
A court nurse, speaking of ghosts?
All the dead bodies in the court go through here.
My chums make fun and say I'm possessed by ghosts.
Why did I leave you here?
Because the culprit may come to get rid of any evidence...
I was to stand watch.
And?
Oh, Mistress Hee-bin was here.
She wanted to see you.
She did?
I once saw the mistress wearing this.
Where did you...
WoI-ryung must have been wearing it.
She should have been more carefuI with his majesty's gift.
We could not report it stolen.
We do not want anything to get in the queen mother's ear.
That would cause problems for the prince.
Do you know a court nurse named Chun-ryung?
She is doing the autopsy on WoI-ryung.
She's poking around here and there.
I imagine she'll come to you, soon.
Where are you going ma'am?
Court Nurse Park is dead.
The viscount gave me this and told me to see to her corpse.
This is Mistress Hee-bin's maids' medicaI records.
Look here, ma'am.
WoI-ryung's page color is different.
It was clearly added in here later.
There is no record of her being pregnant or giving birth.
Nurse Park fabricated this.
The dead do not talk.
That is the merit of death.
The culprit made his way to the examination room.
How can we just bury the case?
If Nurse Park was involved, we could be in danger, too.
Don't let your past ruin you, now.
What took you so long in coming here?
My deepest apologies, ma'am.
WoI-ryung was my maid for a long time.
How did she die?
She was hung by the rafters to look like a suicide.
But she was murdered.
How absurd...
How can something so profane happen inside the palace?
It is a plot to harm you, my lady.
They plot to canceI the prince's crowning and cast you out.
Who put you up to this?
Look at this, my lady.
This is her medicaI records made by Nurse Park.
It's fabricated.
She must've known something.
Nurse Park?
What are you trying to suggest?
Guards! Drag her out of here!
WoI-ryung had a baby, ma'am!
How dare you...
The culprit killed her to conceaI it!
Let go!
Drag her out!
I know who it is! I just need the evidence!
My lady!
Let go!
My lady!
Please!
This is where Nurse Park lived.
She must've fallen asleep while lighting a fire.
Where is her court record?
She had it on her.
I asked around for her family but couldn't find any.
WoI-ryung?
Why are you doing this?
If word of WoI-ryung reaches the queen
mother, everything will be ruined.
But she was the mistress' maid for over 8 years.
She should find the truth and...
The truth?
If a son commits a crime, his father is also punished here.
The living can pay for the dead's crime.
The queen mother is looking for an excuse to take the prince.
Do you know what will happen, if she finds out?
You are a threat to us!
Throw her in!
Watch it, mute!
How long do you think you can stay in the palace?
Get the point and leave!
Let's go!
You must go, now or you'll be in danger.
Why are you saving me?
Can you walk?
No need, ma'am. I still plan to solve the case.
Let me ask you again.
Was WoI-ryung really murdered?
hen find the killer.
Any word from the queen mother's quarters?
Not yet, sir.
Hey, there...
You forgot your basket.
What is he doing here?
Who is that?
What did you do in my room! Tell me!
You... took the letter, didn't you!
That's what you're looking for?
I already burned it.
I knew it was you!
I will unveiI that vile mask of yours!
If you do, you're going down with me.
I am prepared for that.
You want to die together, is that it?
That would've been better!
You think the king will kill his nephew for meddling with a maid?
You made me kill the baby, too!
You're crazy!
My god.
Who's there?
What is that?
Where did you get it?
Who wrote it?
Who did you get it from!
Don't you know a maid can be killed for not keeping her chastity?
How can you get a letter like this?
You're crazy!
If anyone sees it, I will be put on triaI, too!
If you don't burn it now, I'll report you!
I mean it!
Are you okay, ma'am?
Where's the body?
Supervising Maid took it.
It's been over two weeks. She took it to be cremated...
How could you let them take it!
- Maid Choi! - You cannot go inside!
Let go!
Ma'am!
Please don't do this.
Please go.
How can you cremate her when the case isn't solved yet!
The case is closed!
But ma'am!
I found this in her room. It's a love letter.
We can compare handwritings and find the culprit!
Stop it, ma'am!
What happened?
No need for you to know.
What are you doing?
Too-ah-yi...
Mo-gua...
She gave me a papaya and I sent her a jade.
Not just to repay her.
But 'tis a sign of eternity with her.
Your majesty...
To satisfy your majesty...
I studied various techniques...
How dare you enter his majesty's quarters!
Do you all wish to die!
Ma'am.
You know she is innocent!
You said yourself that she stole WoI-ryung's trinket.
But...
Stealing leads to execution.
She will be executed at the rituaI tonight.
No!
Out of my way!
There's something in her mouth.
What is it?
It looks like a secret code.
It is WoI-ryung's medicaI records.
It looks like her menstruation dates.
Isn't this...
Her predicted ovulation date.
But that is only calculated for the queen and mistresses.
I must go to the library.
His majesty's sleeping records.
The 20th...
It's the same date as when his majesty visited Mistress Hee-bin's quarters.
You are a threat to us!
Your majesty, it is time.
May you be one with the mistress.
Your majesty, it is time.
May you be one with the mistress.
You are the queen mother's maids.
You must not forget to set good examples.
Do not get mixed with other quarters' maids and stay close.
Some maids will be left behind in case the queen mother should call.
Will you be okay to stay here alone, ma'am?
Just be sure to keep watch on our maids.
Are you the one who released Chun-ryung?
I must know who killed WoI-ryung.
Will you ruin everything because of her, ma'am?
Think of the prince.
He must become the next king for you and us to survive.
I must get rid of Chun-ryung, as I did Nurse Park.
Did you kill WoI-ryung, too?
Why...
I was going to send her out of the palace like you said.
You should stay out for awhile.
The queen mother is
set on anything to stop the prince's crowning.
Exit the palace like Nurse Park and wait.
You were the one afraid of having her near, not me.
What are you saying?
She did everything for me! Why would I be afraid of her?
She used your things as if they were hers.
She took the silk and jewels from his majesty as she wanted.
You knew better than I, how avaricious she was.
What if the other maids see you? Do you want to get all of us killed?
Maids from the queen mother's quarters come by often.
I put my life on the line for you, but he is still my son.
My breasts are leaking but you won't let me touch him!
Now you'll chase me out of court and won't even let me see him?
You were incapable of handling her.
How dare you!
What if she knew Nurse Park was dead?
And claimed she's the reaI mother?
You cannot do this to me.
After everything I did for you!
I cannot have my son be raised by a murderer!
There is not one drop of your blood in him.
Do you know what this is?
This is your court record.
But... I burned that myself...
Give me the baby!
I made him!
Who's there? Stop it!
Who's there!
I will not go down alone!
Where are you?
Mistress Hee-bin and WoI-ryung were sisters!
Everything you see and hear inside the palace...
Is linked to the fate of this country.
If you speak without permission, your tongue will be pulled out!
If you steaI something, your hands will be cut off.
You have all married into the palace.
If you defile your chastity and take in another man.
You will be beheaded!
Jung-ryuI is innocent!
No!
Let the baby go!
Maid Shim?
Take her away at once!
Get her!
What's the matter?
Who's there? How dare you wear my robe!
Maid Roh!
Where are you!
My baby shall be King!
Did you call, ma'am?
Mistress Hee-bin...
Give me my baby.
You saw the rituaI, didn't you?
I want my baby.
You knew that Maid Shim killed WoI-ryung.
Did you give the orders?
My baby.
This is WoI-ryung's baby!
He's mine!
There's a dead man here!
No!
Give me the baby. He shall be king.
Will you kill another baby?
Take her away.
Confess everything now!
You know how Maid Shim ended up dying at the rituaI!
Don't you!
Who did you meet in the forest?
Do it.
WoI-ryung, Nurse Park, Maid Shim they all worked under Mistress Hee-bin.
There is a treason connected to the prince's coronation.
Isn't there?
You know something.
Did you find out?
She will not open up.
His majesty calls all of you inside.
Why are you covering up everything?
Who are you trying to protect?
When I entered the palace...
I made a pledge before everyone...
To close my eyes...
Cover my ears...
Shut my mouth...
Pretend I did not see...
Pretend I did not hear...
And pretend I do not know...
Don't forget it!
Ma'am...
Are you okay?
Did someone die?
The queen mother passed away. Didn't you know?
Look at this, ma'am.
This states that you've become Mistress Hee-bin's nurse.
The crown prince's coronation is under way.
You will soon be a physician.
Upon the queen mother's will, on this day...
I proclaim prince Kyun as the crown prince.
Bow!
Long live the crown prince!
Bow!
Long live the crown prince!
Bow!
Long live the crown prince!