Geum Deung Ji Sa is here,
at the initial location placed by the late king under the ancestral tablet.
"Where the learning is headed."
Becoming a public servant and building up the nation.
"Where the nation begins."
This place where the ancestral tablets of those who started Joseon rest.
Brought to you by the Sungkyunkwan Scandal Soompi Team
THIS IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY AND NOT FOR RESALE
How could you come here so dauntlessly?!
It's not here.
I was so certain it would be here!
I...
was afraid something might happen to you.
Get to Jongmyo!
Yes, Sir!
There's no one there!
It was empty inside.
The Hong Byuk Seo went this way!
Capture the Hong Byuk Seo!
To Banchon. Please hasten to Sungkyunkwan.
The royal guards won't be able to do anything once we're there.
The Hong Byuk Seo has escaped?
Was it the king's men again?
They appeared to be guards of a private household this time.
Private guards?
Use of private guards?
There is indeed such a rascal who is unsuited for Sungkyunkwan.
I must go out and take a look! They ought to be back by now...
It's almost curfew.
Although the chancellor isn't here, we will fully carry out our duties.
What are you doing?
This is Sungkyunkwan, a place consecrated to Confucius!
Even the royal guards may not conduct searches of Sungkyunkwan scholars without permission!
This falls under the authority of the student body president.
Make way.
President!
- What's that? - What's going on?
You cannot enter here! Not here!
Finding the injured Hong Byuk Seo is the first priority.
And conduct a secret search to check the existence of the Geum Deung Ji Sa.
If they found it at Jongmyo, unless it's already gone to the palace,
they would have hidden it somewhere in Sungkyunkwan.
Senior.
Do you think we could once again avert the crisis with some last-minute counter-plan?
And what exactly do you mean by that?
They say the injured Hong Byuk Seo has secretly entered here.
Have you seen him, Kim Yoon Shik?
So, you mean to confess that you're the Hong Byuk Seo?
If nothing else, I hope that this country, Joseon, can uphold such principles.
This is a belief that I cannot abandon.
But most importantly, I cannot allow Geol Oh Senior to be sent to jail in his condition.
The Hong Byuk Seo may be hiding in here, so make a thorough search!
Yes, Sir!
Stop that now.
All the scholars are watching.
Do you intend to be the first student body president...
to disgrace Sungkyunkwan by allowing the royal guards to enter?
I intend to be the first president to show you what power means.
You may count on it, Gu Yong Ha.
What is happening?
Senior!
The Hong Byuk Seo is here!
The Hong Byuk Seo...? The Hong Byuk Seo...?
Lee Sun Joon...? Lee Sun Joon...?
Senior...
What is the meaning of this?
Do you really expect me to believe that you're the Hong Byuk Seo?
Lee Sun Joon!
What are you waiting for?
Arrest the Hong Byuk Seo immediately!
Take the criminal away for questioning.
But, Father...
Don't interfere. This is your father's work from here on out.
That child... is the Hong Byuk Seo...?
Yes. The young master confessed to it himself!
The Hong Byuk Seo?!
That child... is the Hong Byuk Seo...?
Why would that child...?
Don't worry too much.
If I hadn't been assured of Lee Sun Joon's safety, I wouldn't have let him go either.
That boy is the Left State Minister's only son.
Even the Minister of War would not dare act recklessly.
That I can guarantee.
What did you just say?
Lie still!
You lost a lot of blood.
Tell me!
What did Lee Sun Joon do? What did the Minister of War do?
Senior...
Did that punk confess on my behalf?
That he was the Hong Byuk Seo, is that it?
That's right. Because if you get thrown into jail in this state, it would be dangerous.
So please just lie still.
Royal guards trespassed Sungkyunkwan.
This cannot be tolerated.
I'm going to redress this issue.
Is that possible?
Trust me.
I am Gu Yong Ha.
What about the Geum Deung Ji Sa?
The Geum Deung Ji Sa wasn't at Jongmyo or Sungkyunkwan, was it?
Of course, that's how it should be!
For what is merely the king's delusion,
the Left State Minister dared treat me like a common criminal.
Is that why you arrested Lee Sun Joon?
Lee Sun Joon is not the Hong Byuk Seo.
Well, we can just have him be the Hong Byuk Seo, then!
Do you plan to atone for events of a decade past?
Your father committed no wrong that night.
But you helped cover the wrongs thereafter.
In your rebellion against me, you have chosen too painful of a path.
I am merely following the path you have always taught me, Father.
Seek not personal gain, but pursue justice.
Gain friends through loyalty.
Do not hesitate to sacrifice even one's own life, for righteousness' sake.
This is a true man.
Am I... wrong?
News! News!
The Hong Byuk Seo was transferred to the Office of Inspection!
- What? - Let me see!
The Hong Byuk Seo was transferred to the Office of Inspection!
What does it say?
I've been thinking, Senior...
The Minister of Justice lost a son from the events of the past.
Perchance if he holds a grudge...
That won't happen.
Senior!
I won't let Lee Sun Joon get hurt because of a past grudge.
Who'd believe that clumsy one is the Hong Byuk Seo...
when the real one is standing here like this?
So are you thinking of going to confess now, is that it?
In your condition?
Unwilling to hand over his injured senior, someone else took the blame on your behalf.
I won't forgive you if you make his effort be in vain.
Because if it was for your sake, I, too, would have done the same.
Even so, let me go.
I have to go to tell the Minister of Justice.
That it wasn't the Left State Minister who did that to my brother ten years ago.
Only then can we save Lee Sun Joon.
Senior!
Is that true, Geol Oh?
Is this something to joke about?
So you don't have to worry about that matter anymore either.
And you!
Don't forget what you boasted about.
Didn't you say you'll redress the wrong of the royal guards trespassing Sungkyunkwan?
Naturally.
Have everything prepared by the time I return.
I'm...
Yeah, you're Gu Yong Ha.
Lee Sun Joon is innocent.
You must release him.
The Hong Byuk Seo...
You know very well who he really is.
I'll take care of it.
The Left State Minister wasn't the one who did that to Brother... It wasn't him!
You heard Officer Yoon's confession too, Father.
What difference does that make?
So you're going to resort to the same thing they did?
You won't be able to do that...
because I'm on my way to confess.
The proof that I'm the Hong Byuk Seo is etched on my body like this.
For the past ten years,
as I donned these official robes every morning,
I waited for this day to come.
So you must not get in my way anymore.
President Ha In Soo.
In response to yesterday's event,
the Student Council seeks an appeal and a student protest.
For the royal guards' wrongdoing in trespassing Sungkyunkwan without permission...
and violating Daeseongjeon (testing room) and Myungryundang (lecture hall).
And for the wrong of capturing a Sungkyunkwan scholar on school grounds.
We will publicly proclaim that the Sungkyunkwan scholars are justly outraged,
and receive an apology from the Ministry of War...
and an official declaration from the king that such an event will never occur again.
So?
The royal guards entered Sungkyunkwan under your authority.
If you repent and apologize,
we shall bestow upon you the position as the head of the appeal.
But if you refuse to repent, and choose to withhold your participation in this matter...
We will act as the president for the appeal.
And for opening the doors of Sungkyunkwan to the royal guards,
we will also seek the impeachment of President Ha In Soo.
The time has been set for yu-si (5-7pm). The venue, Myungryundang.
Oh dear, but what to do?
You won't have the choice to make that decision.
Because I, too, intend to question your credibility.
That Gu Yong Ha, born and raised on Woonjong Street to a prestigious, moneyed family,
is in fact merely the son of a joongin* merchant. (*non-nobility middle-class)
Maintaining the pretense of a noble with your fancy clothes, how long do you plan to keep it up?
In Myungryundang, at yu-si (5-7pm), you say?
But I shouldn't be seeing you there at that hour, now should I?
Senior! What's the matter?
Look here, Yeorim. Myungryundang at yu-si, nothing's changed, right?
Are we really going to impeach Ha In Soo?
Huh, Yeorim?
Gu Yong Ha...
Things have taken a very interesting turn.
Yeorim's face turned dirt-yellow.
I guess he never in a million years expected this to happen!
Right, Go Bong?
I won't give the king the excuse...
to exonerate and release Lee Sun Joon because of the students' appeal and protest.
But, President.
Next time you need the aid of the royal guards, use us instead.
There were several scholars who got injured that night,
and it didn't look good to see royal guards on campus.
Me too. I thought so, too.
President, to see those precious books getting damaged, it's really...
I distinctly remember saying that you aren't entitled to an opinion.
As Yeorim likes to say, it will be an amusing sight to behold.
Let's see what kind of choice Gu Yong Ha will make...
If there is any news of Scholar Geol Oh, I shall pass it on to you.
Still no news of Geol Oh Senior?
Daemul, Geol Oh, he...
He has been locked up at home, unable to take a single step out.
It seems the situation with the Minister of Justice isn't going to be solved so easily.
Then, is our only option for the Sungkyunkwan scholars to appeal and protest together?
If we put our strength together and prove Lee Sun Joon's innocence,
he should be able to get released, right, Senior?
That too might be difficult.
Daemul, I'm...
I'm...
I'm really sorry.
I may not be able to participate in the appeal.
Senior, what's the matter?
If nothing else, it is my hope that this country, Joseon, would be able to uphold such principles.
This is a belief that I cannot abandon.
Have everything prepared by the time I return.
I... have no intention to apologize.
Under my authority as student president, I helped capture the Hong Byuk Seo.
And so I have no intention to start an appeal or a demonstration.
Then it can't be helped.
As requested, you need to step down from your position as student president.
We cannot acknowledge a president who dishonored Sungkyunkwan.
You don't have the right to do that.
Even though you may enter Sungkyunkwan as a joongin,
you cannot be in the same classroom as the nobles,
and moreover, be on the executive board at that.
Here. Everyone take one and read it.
You... You're not a yangban*? (*person belonging to the noble class)
I...
am not a yangban.
My family...
comes from a long line of merchants.
We're a joongin household.
A grandfather who served as an official of the Ministry of Justice and Punishment,
I never had.
My father,
in order to pass onto his son a decent family, bought a genealogy.
No.
To be precise, he bought the pretense of a yangban.
And that is...
the person you see before your eyes... Me.
That punk isn't even a yangban!
The purpose of today's meeting was to set forth a student protest,
for the Ministry of War's offense, and Lee Sun Joon's innocence.
I plan to hand over the tasks I had planned to execute here today...
to Kim Yoon Shik.
S...Senior!
- What is he talking about? - Is he trying to excuse himself?
The reason I am not qualified...
is not because I am a joongin.
It's because I...
...was ashamed of myself.
So from now on, I'm not going to live like that anymore.
What is he talking about?
Why the long speech, when you're not even a yangban!
- That's right! - What's happened to the Council?!
I'm telling you that your little threats won't work on me anymore, Ha In Soo.
Because this is Sungkyunkwan.
And I am Gu Yong Ha.
Those rascals!
They sure know how to identify the goods imported from the Qing Dynasty.
A part of you must have felt uneasy all this time.
It's only a small price to pay for lying to the world.
Well...
It was even a greater reason for me to want to find it.
The Geum Deung Ji Sa.
Whether a world in which your social status holds no importance will really come about,
I wanted to see as well.
I placed a too-heavy burden on you, Daemul.
To present the appeal to the king and to preside over the student demonstration.
That now rests on your shoulders.
The student demonstration...
You understand that it is the only way to save Lee Sun Joon at this point, right?
You will make it happen, Daemul.
I...
don't know if I'm qualified to do so.
It won't be an easy thing to do.
I...
have no experience... or competence...
But you have earnest desire.
There's no other scholar here who longs to save Lee Sun Joon as much as you do.
That...
That's your qualification.
Get it!
Myung Shik! Here!
Over here!
What do you want?
Please join us in our petition for Scholar Lee Sun Joon's release.
Lee Sun Joon is not the Hong Byuk Seo.
That night... the reason the Ministry of War's royal guards took him into custody was...
Yong Ha...
Did that fellow tell you to do this?
Who would believe a liar like him?
You're all the same, no?
That Lee Sun Joon is not the Hong Byuk Seo...
I can't believe it anymore.
- Of course. - How can we trust it?
Guys... let's go!
Yeah!
- For Scholar Lee Sun Joon's release... - That's fine!
It's a petition for Scholar Lee Sun Joon's release.
Are you really certain that Lee Sun Joon is not the Hong Byuk Seo?
I heard that this thing gets presented to the king.
If we write something wrong, it will be our demise!
You'll be in a real fix if it ruins your chances of becoming a public official.
Scholar Lee Sun Joon is definitely not the Hong Byuk Seo!
I... believe that the truth will be revealed some day.
So, please help, will you?
You're merely going around begging for the truth.
And you insist on holding a protest, going up against me?
Do you think it'll actually work?
Where there's a will,
there's a way.
Participating in the appeal and the demonstration...
signify that you are choosing to stand up against me, President Ha In Soo.
If anyone wishes upon them the same plight as Gu Yong Ha,
then go ahead and stand up against me.
Even Confucius would have excused himself at a time like this.
Listen carefully, Kim Yoon Shik.
It's not that where there's a will, there's a way.
Those with power make the way.
Then I shall have that power.
Before proceeding with the demonstration tomorrow morning,
I'll make sure you answer for...
turning over Sungkyunkwan to the Ministry of War's royal guards.
You troublesome kids!
One fellow defies my royal order and acts as the Hong Byuk Seo.
And another fellow gets arrested in his place, and puts me under a test.
Now, unless the real Hong Byuk Seo gets caught,
you may forever be framed as the Hong Byuk Seo...
and have to pay the price.
Is that... all right with you?
What amazing friendship.
It's not something I had set out to do from the start.
"If there's an easy road and a difficult road,"
"choose the difficult one."
"Then, even if you may not always succeed, you won't have any regrets."
It was my father's teaching.
Did you... resent me?
Since I did a virulent thing to such a close father and son.
Although there was a time I felt resentful,
my heart would not let me give it up.
The father who gave me my life... (biological father)
And the father who gave me my will... (the king)
It was the same for both.
How can they do that, Senior?
How can they believe that Scholar Lee Sun Joon is the Hong Byuk Seo?
After all those times they've spent with Scholar Lee Sun Joon!
No matter how much time you spend together,
people can't always understand everything about one another.
Do you really believe that?
Not even understanding the heart of a roommate you live with...
That's human.
That's why you need justification and evidence.
The evidence that Scholar Lee Sun Joon is not the Hong Byuk Seo.
The justification for His Majesty to acquit Lee Sun Joon.
Oh jeez! This I really can't stand!
Hey Daemul, must I go this far?
Because my complexion is so white, wearing black really doesn't suit me.
Hey, look!
I look like the Grim Reaper, don't you think?!
Wow, Senior!
It really suits you nicely.
It's a perfect color coordination with your hair today.
Well, I am the most stylish man in the capital after all.
I, Soon Dol, like this.
I look so much more agile.
I can save my young master ten times over.
Here, here!
Then the first place we need to go today is Geol Oh Senior's home?
Give it up now.
In your condition,
I can't sedate you.
Lee Sun Joon is innocent.
Please release him.
By seeking revenge on Left State Minister like this,
will it bring back my dead brother?
If you thought about Brother,
Back then...
You shouldn't have stayed silent like that back then!
You're choosing the cowardly way until the very end, Father!
I was protecting you!
For staying silent back then,
I protected you and I kept my power!
Now,
it's finally time to use that power!
I was...
I was wrong.
I acted up, thinking that I was more hurt than you, Father.
I'm sorry.
I believed I loved my brother more than you.
For that too, I'm sorry.
I was wrong, Father!
So...
please let Lee Sun Joon go.
That kid and I...
We haven't even properly started off yet.
Please...
Please help me so that I won't ever have to loathe you again, Father.
Never again...
Never again do I want to live in that hell.
We have to get rid of those guys in order to open the door to the storage room.
What are you waiting for?
Get the wheels in your head turning!
A thief!
Get him!
I used my head... Clickety-clack.
We're here to capture the Hong Byuk Seo, Senior!
Geol Oh!
There you go again.
You wouldn't believe how long my day has been today.
What's wrong with this kid?
He was very amazing today for me to say he's the Yeorim Senior that I know.
Sir!
The people who came for the young lord are now...
Let them be.
Lee Sun Joon is not the Hong Byuk Seo.
That's something I know and His Majesty knows.
But, there's no evidence and justification.
Even though the "Hong Byuk Seo" is stuck in the jail cell,
the real Hong Byuk Seo still exists out there.
Thus, Lee Sun Joon is not the Hong Byuk Seo.
What greater justification and evidence can there be!
Now all that is left is the demonstration tomorrow?
Do you think the other scholars will come out?
Of course they must!
That's why I embarrassed myself wandering the capital...
wearing these clothes that do not flatter me.
Since we proved that the real Hong Byuk Seo is out there,
unless they're afraid of Ha In Soo, they'll show up.
Shouldn't Lee Sun Joon...
know what is going on right now?
That's where we are headed. To report to that punk.
R...Really, Senior?
But...
I can't go around in these clothes anymore, so you two go on ahead.
You can't go in first!
Since it's my first time at a place like that, I'm a little scared.
What if they say it's too late and won't let us see him...
They wouldn't do that, would they?
He doesn't know we're coming...
He'll be so surprised to see us.
You don't think he'll be upset that we took so long to go see him.
Huh, Senior?
It's not going to work.
I think you should...
go visit him alone.
Senior, why all of a sudden?
He won't be glad to see me.
I... feel ashamed... to face him.
So, you go ahead.
Kim Yoon Shik!
Have I...
ever said this before?
Thank you.
For what, Senior?
For you...
Thank you.
Silly, Senior!
I'm tagging along with you, Miss.
But I'm afraid we'll get in trouble if the young lord or His Excellency finds out.
What's done is done!
I... am not going there because I want something from him.
If you think about it,
he ended up like that all because of me.
My heart felt uneasy just sitting around, doing nothing.
That's why I'm going.
Kim Yoon Shik?
Your face... became very haggard.
I heard everything.
Like a fool,
I felt relieved.
I don't believe...
that you can completely forgive my father.
But if I can...
I want to ask for forgiveness...
on his behalf.
No, you can't do that.
You're the one who told me that we don't get to choose our parents.
What I can give you...
is not forgiveness,
but only that of a lover's...
A woman's heart alone.
So I wish that you'll give me...
not the heart of a sinner,
but only that of a lover.
So you ended up sending (her) in alone?
Forget (about her).
If you keep doing it, it will become a habit.
Make this the last time where you're just looking (at her).
The demonstration starts with a hunger strike for breakfast, Daemul.
The scholars will be coming out soon.
Let's have faith.
Kim Yoon Shik!
I heard that the Hong Byuk Seo made another appearance.
See, what did I say?
I believed Lee Sun Joon since yesterday.
Thank you.
Well, I don't like Lee Sun Joon,
but I didn't like the food that came out for breakfast today.
I'll just join you.
There's a saying.
Act, and you'll regret it.
Don't act, and you'll regret it.
It's better to regret it after having acted, is it not?
Is that another saying by Teacher Confucius?
No!
It's a saying by the brilliant Teacher Kim Woo Tak.
Senior, you came as well!
I... know.
I can be cowardly at times, and I'm easily frightened.
That's why I want Sungkyunkwan to be even more firmly protected like no other.
For the royal guards to have recklessly entered Sungkyunkwan,
and for them to forcefully capture Lee Sun Joon,
they were at wrong.
Senior.
I'm sorry... about yesterday.
I'm just distrustful.
The Soron's Three Musketeers... We join you as well!
Let's go, let's go!
Yeorim.
- Gu Yong Ha. - Gu Yong Ha...
Is everyone here?
Seeing you guys, I understand.
As of yet, Sungkyunkwan is the most entertaining place.
That's why I...
plan to fully act out the part of a yangban, a nobleman, from now on.
So don't look upon me too unkindly.
But, where is this punk?
Geol Oh didn't come?
This is a matter that involves saving Lee Sun Joon.
How can Geol Oh not show up?
I know.
Where is he?
Speak of the devil!
Oh, Geol Oh!
Senior!
I've never seen you like this before.
We're on our way to make an appeal to the king,
so even the campus Crazy Horse has to show up as a clean-cut steed.
What are you waiting for?
If everyone is here, we should get going.
- Let's go!! - Let's go!
Lee Sun Joon, here we come!
I thought I warned you.
To hold a student demonstration is to go up against me.
I thought I told you.
That I'll have you answer for your wrong.
We're on our way to see the king to ask for Scholar Lee Sun Joon's acquittal and release,
and to request an apology from the Ministry of War for trespassing on Sungkyunkwan.
As Sungkyunkwan's student president, will you lead the way?
Impossible!
I have no other choice.
Then we can't acknowledge you as our president.
I'll lead the demonstration.
Then, see you.
Don't go!
Not a single one of you!
Do you think you'll be safe after having insulted me?
Didn't I warn you?
That all the scholars are watching you.
We didn't forsake you first.
You were the one who had forsaken Sungkyunkwan first.
Don't forget that.
Excuse me, President.
I'm going to follow them too.
Go Bong, are you insane?
Let me speak.
President.
You really don't know?
Even a dim-wit like me knows that you did wrong, President.
You really don't know?
If I stay by your side, I'm going to become a greater idiot.
Let me have an opinion too.
To see you fall even further,
I can't bear to watch any longer.
Sungkyunkwan scholars are here to present their appeal.
Please acquit and release Scholar Lee Sun Joon.
Please acquit and release him.
Please order that the Ministry of War make a formal apology.
Please order it.
We, the Sungkyunkwan scholars,
demand the acquittal and release of Scholar Lee Sun Joon who's held captive,
and an apology from the Ministry of War's guards for trespassing on Sungkyunkwan grounds.
Will you please present the appeal to the king?
Daemul, that punk, is quite something, huh?
He's a Sungkyunkwan scholar after all.
Please acquit and release Scholar Lee Sun Joon.
Please acquit and release him.
It... really is a great thing, Father.
To meet good friends, share thoughts,
and proceed in achieving our goals.
I saw the glimpse of hope not seen in books.
Did you ask whether it was the right thing...
to plant desire in a daughter who can't live out her dreams in this world?
I too wish to ask of you.
Is this desire in my heart today...
a right thing?
This new Joseon that you dreamt of, Father...
What kind of world is it?
At that place...
Is this desire inside me...
not considered a crime?
Is it... me?
And, it's also hope.
The place where the learning is headed... Where the nation begins.
The door to Sungkyunkwan opens to the lowliest of places, Banchon.
My brother taught me.
No way!
How can something like this happen?!
The world is going to the dogs, I tell you!
How can a girl dare enter Sungkyunkwan?
Scholar Kim Yoon Shik...
I thought there was something off about him from the start.
What are you talking about?
Kim Yoon Shik... is a girl?
Geum Deung Ji Sa...
I found it, Father.
Brought to you by the Sungkyunkwan Scandal Soompi Team
THIS IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY AND NOT FOR RESALE
Translators: miss_tofu, blue, softy
Spot Translator: blue
Timers: momo-san, Dai-chan
Editor/QC: thunderbolt
Episode 20 Preview
You mean the confined Lee Sun Joon is not the Hong Byuk Seo?
I was quite bored in there.
Don't you dare show off like that again!
Are we in such a relationship that if we saw each other yesterday,
we don't need to see each other today?
Then, what kind of relationship are we in?
Kim Seung Hun's son...
Ahh... we can't say it's a "son" anymore.
Is... that true?
You guys were not unaware of it, were you?
That Scholar Kim Yoon Shik is a woman.
Then why!
Give up on Kim Yoon Shik, and make your long-time dream come true.
Will you...
please help me, Father?