Part 19
You may leave us now.
Yes, Your Highness.
They're my teachers who taught me sword fighting.
You learned from great teachers.
LAHEE/Princess of Nakrang When my father was fighting
for Nakrang's independence,
General Majo told me.
Even if you jump into a raging fire,
it's useless if there's no trust.
PRlNCE HODONG
Even if you prepare the greatest meal with
the finest food, if there's no sincerity,
it won't move my heart.
Your heart didn't move because you doubted my sincerity.
Thank you for the invitation.
Good night, Princess Lahee.
My queen.
Don't ever say my name again.
Hol, l read your letter.
WANG HOL l heard Lahee's life was in danger.
You suspect Hodong, but l disagree.
WANG JA-SlL
You must check the chest of the girl
from Happy Joy troupe yourself.
See if she has a scar on the left side of her chest.
You may think
JAMYUNG it's not something a man should do,
but you yourself must verify but
The future of Nakrang rides on this.
Mark my words.
Life of your niece Lahee, your future wife, rides on it.
What did the queen write... ?
She said to kill you first if anything happens to the princess.
l've already vowed my life to the crown princess.
She can have my life anytime.
And if she wants my heart...
Dream on.
You crazy nut.
And you call yourself a great general?
You've mistaken.
You got it wrong.
You even have a wife.
l didn't come here looking for a woman.
Gilsang, l made a grave mistake.
l can't blame you if you misunderstood,
but l didn't mean any harm.
How can l trust you?
lf l needed a woman,
l could've asked for it.
Then you came to kill me?
Then you should've woken me up for a fairfight.
How can l kill the guard of Goguryeo prince on a whim?
Then...
lt must be about the scar on my chest.
This scar... is very important to me.
And it must be just as important...
to the Great General of Nakrang.
l wanted to know why you wanted to kill our princess.
Does my scar have anything to do with the princess?
No.
ln any case, l'm very sorry.
l got this scar...
from a coral hairpin.
You know how...
l got this scar, don't you?
Can you tell me?
You won't believe me, but...
l really don't know.
l really don't.
So frustrating...
l can't breathe.
Can you tell me?
Who am l?
What happened to me?
WANG HOL
MO YANGHAE
Your sisterJasil is like a poisonous snake.
You tried to kill Sistertoo.
But l wouldn't kill a newborn baby like that.
Do you know how Jasil killed Jamyung, Mo Haso's daughter?
She stabbed the heart of a newborn with this.
l got my scar...
from a coral hairpin.
Sister, is she Jamyung, the queen's daughter?
l heard she was dead.
Was she alive?
You're back.
l told you not to linger around.
l woke up early.
l thought l'd clean your room, since l was up anyway...
Who told you to eat?
But you put so much work into making it...
l can't waste food...
To us, food is gold and Heaven...
Who told you to come into my room without permission,
and eat my food without permission?
Puku, just who do you think you are?
l'm your bodyguard.
You're my slave.
l'm not a slave. l'm a bodyguard.
Taechu, even Chu Balso, unless you're royalty,
you're my father's and my slave.
You have to die if l tell you to.
There's nothing you can do without my permission.
Things were different from when we were at the inn.
You should understand the relationship
between a master and his slave.
Leave if you can't.
l can't leave when l'm indebted to you.
l'll do fulfill my duty before l leave.
You saved the lives of my brother, Boss and Michu.
lt's four including mine.
l'll go to Nakrang after l've paid you back.
You should learn some manners before you pay me back.
l can't have you work for me
if you don't know where your place is.
l'll keep that in mind.
Do you find it unfair?
ljust want to know why you took me in.
Because you're not from Goguryeo.
Because you don't even know what the Biryuna tribe is.
That's enough.
Clean up and go to your room.
lt's not here.
Where did it go?
Where did l lose the bracelet?
Your Highness, it is l, Utdari.
Did you find it?
l went all the way to the Goguryeo envoy's chamber,
but l couldn't find it.
What's this?
What are you doing?
l'm sorry, Your Highness.
Do you think you're prettier than the Princess of Nakrang.
No, of course not...
You're not even as pretty as the palace maids in Guknae Palace
let alone the Princess of Nakrang.
Don't try to be a woman to me.
l don't want to be a woman to you.
Maybe a handsome prince will take a poor orphan girl
to his palace and make her a queen...
Since there are such fairy tales,
maybe l had the tiniest bit of hope.
What?
But l'm not stupid enough to confuse reality with fairy tales.
And l don't have the luxury of dwelling in such fantasy.
But l...
What?
l saw the bracelet, so without thinking...
Just don't think.
You're my bodyguard, not a woman.
You're not a girl strongman Puku, but just a strongman.
Don't ever let me see you in girl's clothing.
l don't need a woman or a friend.
l'll keep that in mind.
Taechu went to fetch yourfamily.
So take over his duties during his absence.
Yes, Your Highness.
l'll excuse myself now, Your Highness.
That's where Taechu sleeps.
Go and change.
l'd do anything to run away now, but...
l have to pay off my debt before l do.
What got into him?
Yes, Lahee.
No matter how strong you pretend to be,
you're just a woman.
You were always mine.
Maybe... you're my fate...
And the future that'll destroy the Biryuna tribe.
JlNYANG PALACE, NAKRANG
MO HASO lt's a long journey. Be careful.
What if you run into rough seas?
Don't worry about me, Your Majesty.
l packed some cinnamon and candied ginger.
They'll help alleviate seasickness.
l wish you could check up on Lahee,
but she has already left for Luoyang.
You have to bring me news of Jamyung.
Do not worry, Your Majesty.
l'll take my leave now.
Donggobi.
Chiso, you have no respect, do you?
We're both ladies-in-waiting.
How shall l address you?
But l'm the lady-in-waiting of the first queen.
Yes, Lady Donggobi, the first queen's lady-in-waiting.
Where are you hurrying off to?
That is none of your concern.
lt's not, but l'm curious.
Why would the lady-in-waiting leave the palace?
l'm going to Maesidal on the queen's orders.
MAESlDAL Choi Li's hometown in Wonchung sea Today's Wonsan
Lady Donggobi, the first queen's lady-in-waiting,
have a safe trip. lt's a long journey.
She got on the ship to Dongmohyun?
She traveled 40 miles on the road to Maesidal,
but went back to the harbor.
She's so cunning.
Mo Haso has made her move.
l thought she was a naive simpleton.
How did she find out?
Your Majesty, Lord Dochal wishes to see you.
Show him in.
The great general's letters arrived today.
There was also a letterforyou.
Really? Let me have it.
You may leave now.
Yes, Your Majesty.
The name of the girl in Happy Joy troupe is Gilsang.
She had a scar on the left side of her chest.
ls she Jamyung, the queen's daughter?
l'm very curious.
lt's a copy of the letter Queen Jasil sent to the great general,
and this is a copy of his reply.
Yourfuture wife Lahee...
What does that mean?
Does she want him to remarry?
My limited knowledge of letters...
Be quiet. She's reading.
ls she Jamyung...
the queen's daughter?
l read the letterto copy it,
but l hadn't the faintest idea what he was saying.
Look for a scar on her chest...
ls she Jamyung, the queen's daughter...
Mo Haso's daughterJamyung...
Jamyung...
Jamyung is alive?
What is she made of?
She's so resilient.
l killed her and killed her again, but she wouldn't die.
Your Majesty...
What am l going to do?
lf Jamyung comes back now, what will happen to Lahee?
But you haven't seen herforyourself.
Although it's rare,
there could be others who have scars on their chest.
My instincts are never wrong.
Seeing isn't always believing.
But the princess has already been made crown princess.
Even if Jamyung comes back now,
they would never change the crown princess so easily.
You fool. They say, ''never say never. ''
Things are neverthat simple.
The king would never forsake Lahee.
Mo Haso would never turn her back on Lahee.
We can never count on ''would never. ''
l'd never count on it.
l see...
We must get rid of her before Mo Haso finds her.
There can be only one crown princess and only one queen.
No one can covet Lahee's place.
Jamyung can go to the netherworld
and become queen there.
My Lady, what are we doing here?
Dochal, Budal, are you men?
You consider yourselves real men?
Of course we are.
l'm still strong as ever.
Old age can't turn me into a woman.
Why aren't you answering me?
l want to know the meaning of your question.
l want to bring down Wang Jasil.
Wang Jasil is our enemy
who we can't live with underthe same sky.
The time has come.
You want to get our weapons and march to the palace?
We're killing Lahee.
How could you attempt to kill the crown princess?
l'm not tainting my hands with her blood.
A person will die when one loses one's place.
lt's too dangerous, My Lady.
l'll find Jamyung, Mo Haso's daughter,
and make her crown princess.
Lahee will never be queen.
l can't let Jasil's daughter have what my general couldn't.
lf l have my way, Lahee and Jamyung will kill each other,
and Hol will become King.
But Hol wouldn't want that.
Kneel!
Let's make our pledge to the general.
- Yes, My Lady. - Yes, My Lady.
Why?
Are you scared of Wang Jasil?
You were once Lahee's teacher as the minister.
So you want Lahee to become queen?
No.
l'm Younghojangwon's retainer before l'm minister.
l'm your slave before l'm the princess's teacher.
General!
l, Mo Yanghae, finally seek your revenge.
l vow to kill Lahee and make sure Jasil die a painful death.
Please watch over us.
General...
Find Jamyung.
Bring herto me without Jasil finding out.
And keep it a secret from Hol for now.
We'll obey your command.
Jasil's life will finally be bitter.
Well, isn't life bitter, Jasil?
LUOYANG PALACE, HAN CHlNA
Your Highness, you came.
Did you set a date for a meeting with the emperor?
JUNGSUHGWAN Responsible of royal matters in Han China Yes, we have submitted our request.
lt seems our request will be granted tomorrow,
orthe day aftertomorrow at the latest.
You should get some rest first.
Take the horses to the stable.
Yes, Your Highness.
You are breathing too fast.
You won't have a smooth flow of energy
if your breathing is irregular.
l didn't learn it properly so it's not easy.
That's strange.
Someone of your skills shouldn't have any problem.
Why didn't yourteacher teach you energy flow?
He must be a master.
He is.
There are two types of teachers.
One who hands down everything he knows.
And one who keeps the most important knowledge to himself.
The latter is an enemy, not a teacher.
He wants his pupil dead.
Tie my robe.
May l have a leave tomorrow?
There's someone l have to see.
You may.
SANDUNGBANEO DONGMOHYUN MARKETPLACE
Have you heard of Happy Joy circus troupe?
Why don't you go your way now?
l don't have my own way to go.
Whereveryou go is where l go.
Don't you feel for Michu?
l'll make up it up for the rest of my life,
so don't think you can get rid of me.
When will we get to Guknae at this rate?
l'll be at the inn.
You can follow me there if you want.
The things l have to put up with because of Puku.
Do you know where Happy Joy troupe moved to?
They live on the hills by the beach.
l was there, but the place was vacant.
lt seemed the place was abandoned.
l'm sure l saw her at that great general's wedding.
l think she's looking foryou.
l think so.
But l can't turn her inside out and see if
she's good news or bad news.
Why don't you and speak with her?
She looked nice enough.
You can't tell a person by her looks.
Are you better enough to butt in?
My body is sick, not my mouth.
lf you can't tell if it's good or bad, just forget it.
What if you jump at the chance and it's bad news?
But she could be good news.
Maybe their parents sent her.
And what if they did?
We've been through enough already.
Puku was stabbed with a hairpin, and Myori died.
How can we trust anyone after what that cripple did to us?
You make the decision.
The saying goes, ''where there's fire there's smoke. ''
Maybe you'll find your parents soon.
Do Sugi and Butung will wait outside the chamber,
and the general and l will escort you into the chamber.
All right.
There won't be any disagreements,
since we're in agreements with Liu Ling.
The most important item on the agenda is the peace treaty.
There is a clause that states we must not support Goguryeo
if Goguryeo goes to war with Liaodong and Xuantu.
We wouldn't support Goguryeo,
but we wouldn't support Liaodong and Xuantu either.
Han is far, but Goguryeo is near.
As Father said,
we can't keep the two countries
BULGAGEUNBULGAWON One shouldn't be too close or too far too far ortoo close.
What will you do if the emperor demands that
SAMGYEGUGODU Bowing to the emperor 9 times you to bow to him?
They wouldn't dare make such a demand
when we're not theirtributary state.
That's up to the emperor.
What will you do?
l'll bow to the emperor.
You can't, Your Highness.
Think of the pride of Nakrang.
Whether l bow my head or hold my head up high,
it's forthe sake of Nakrang.
We have enough on our hands with Goguryeo.
We can't turn the Han against us.
Their major demand is that we do not support Nakrang
if they go to war with Liaodong.
They agreed to let us use Liaodong's waterways,
and to send carpenters to build ships.
And in return, every spring and fall
GWAHAMA/A type of horse they want a hundred horses, a hundred wooden bows, and
GAKGOONG/Bow made of animal horn DANGOONG/Bow made of birch a hundred bows made of horn.
GAKGOONG/Bow made of animal horn DANGOONG/Bow made of birch
Naturally, we have to give something in return.
But this is an equal trade, not a tribute.
Make that fact known.
What if he demands that you bow?
Nonsense.
Goguryeo's prince can't get down on his knees and
touch his forehead to the ground like a slave!
The king has said to me he'd never allow the kowtow,
since Goguryeo is not a tributary state of Han.
All right.
Go and change.
Princess.
You came.
Crown Princess.
To see you in yourfinest...
lt is as if the moon has come down to Luoyang Palace.
Thank you.
You are...
Greetings, Princess.
What are you doing here?
You can't be here to perform.
l took her as my bodyguard.
Really?
Stand up.
l have no reason to receive such courtesy
from a Goguryeo bodyguard.
Princess.
l'm Puku.
But l heard that Puku became a rich man's mistress.
l'll never become a mistress.
They why did you deceive me?
l can't tell you why, but l wanted to apologize to you.
That's all right. l doubt l'll ever see you again.
But you have deceived me. You insolent girl.
l'm sorry.
The Emperor is ready to see the envoys
from Goguryeo and Nakrang.
Together?
LlU LlNG/iMinister of Han China Liu Xian's nephew You're neighbors.
lt wouldn't be so bad to meet the emperortogether.
Your Majesty, please allow the Crown Princess of Nakrang,
and Prince Hodong of Goguryeo to pay you their respects!
Pay your respects.
Your Majesty, l, Crown Princess of Nakrang,
give you our sincerest congratulations
on your 10th anniversary on King Choi Li's behalf.
LlU XlU/Emperor Guangwu of Han You're beautiful.
l have never seen a more beautiful envoy.
You're most gracious.
l, Hodong, the Prince of Goguryeo,
offeryou congratulations.
The Princess of Nakrang may come up to the dais,
and the Prince of Goguryeo will bow.
This is absurd.
You can't do this.
You can't defy the king's order.
Prince of Goguryeo, pay your respects.
l'm the servant of Goguryeo's prince.
Prince of Goguryeo, are you defying the emperor?
Bow before the emperor!
This is a disgrace. Let's just get out of here.
The king will be outraged.
lf you can't pay your respects, you have no reason to stay.
Leave the palace and Luoyang right now!
Remove them!
Prince.
l, Hodong, the Prince of Goguryeo,
pay my respects to the emperor.
l can't hear it.
We're leaving first.
Were you that offended?
Goguryeo is not so weak that its prince could shatter our pride.
You think Han Xin crawled between the legs of a ruffian
because he was not strong enough?
You think King Gou Jian of Yue ate the feces of
King Fuchai of Wu because he had no pride?
Whetheryou eat his feces or crawl between his legs,
you should've challenged him first!
We'll be too humiliated to face Han and Nakrang now!
General Wu, l can't stand this pathetic nationalism.
Goguryeo is not yet strong enough to defeat Han.
We couldn't even conquer Nakrang!
Our stupid pride will kill our people and ruin our kingdom!
What's the point of living if a man can't preserve
his pride even if it destroys the entire kingdom of Goguryeo?
General!
l'm leaving.
l can't stand to stay here another minute.
You've gone too far.
What did you say?
You're here to escort the prince.
How could you leave him here alone?
You arrogant...
l'm ignorant,
but l know enough to know that you're a high-ranking officer.
But you, Lord Chu and l are all His Highness's slaves.
How can a slave betray his master?
Shut up before l slay you.
How dare you speak out of your position?
Stop right there!
l, Wu Naru, made a pledge a long time ago.
Goguryeo needs a king much strongerthan our current one.
l'm very disappointed in you, Prince.
Do you agree with General Wu?
l'm not sure.
l'm just worried that you disobeyed the king.
We can stand up against Liu Xiu after
we conquer Nakrang, Liaodong and Xuantu.
l'll return to Goguryeo with General Wu.
Do l look pathetic to you too?
l think you don't' have much luck with your men.
lt's only natural that the weak bow before the strong.
l don't know how big or small Goguryeo is,
but what good will come of killing
all your people to save your pride?
l don't know what pride has to do with this.
Even ruffians at the marketplace understand this rule.
How come your subjects...
Politics is different from the world of ruffians.
lf ruffians have to support theirfamily,
and a king has to support his people,
then the only difference to me
is the number of people they have to support.
Yes.
They don't understand that sometimes it takes more courage
to throw away your pride, then to die and to give up hope.
Do you understand it?
That's how the likes of us live.
You may leave.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Buy a silk pouch when you go to the marketplace.
Why?
Since l'm a cowardly and spineless prince,
l have to do what l came here to do at least.
What do you think?
l don't think it suits her.
Really? l think it does.
l don't know about that,
but l don't think it's big enough for Lady Mo.
lt's not going to fit her.
Why don't we just take some food back?
We'll buy food too!
Give me the biggest one you have.
Give me the biggest one.
Here.
Brother.
Are you all right?
You've been well?
You can pass for a man.
Well, that's...
Some jerk broke into my room,
so l have to dress like a man.
What crazy bastard?
There is this man.
l guess he fell for me.
What are you saying? Tell me so l can understand.
l'm just kidding.
What about Teacher?
l brought him.
Let's go in.
l'll see him alone.
Teacher.
Sit down.
HOGOK/Royalty of former Nakrang Army l heard from Lord Liu Ling.
HOGOK/Royalty of former Nakrang Army
You asked him to forgive me foryourfailure.
l'm indebted to you.
l have a question to ask.
You know very well that l won't answer.
l'm not going to ask you about my parents.
After l killed the Princess of Nakrang...
were you going to kill me too?
Yes.
l was.
Maybe not right away,
but l was going to kill you with my own hands.
l bid you my final farewell, Teacher.
No matter what the reason was,
l'm very grateful to you fortaking me in.
l can no longer honor you as my teacher,
so l hereby end ourties.
You look really hungry.
You want to get something to eat?
l'm... not hungry.
How can you not be?
You must be tired from following me all evening.
You can put them away.
lt's really exhausting to be chased.
l've been thinking over and over.
A great general must be a very busy man.
So why did you do it?
l'm a crazy lunatic who fell foryou at first sight.
Have you ever been weighed down by such curiosity
that the weight of it startles you awake at nights?
No.
That's the story of my life.
l'm so curious that l can hardly breathe.
Please tell me who l am.
Tell me who my parents are.
l do not know.
l said l don't.
l know that you know.
l beg you.
ln this world,
there are things you must pretend not to know,
even when you know,
and there are things you can neverfind out,
no matter how curious you are.
No matter how much you ask, l don't know.
Are you going to Goguryeo?
l'll someday go to Nakrang,
but since l'm the prince's bodyguard...
Goguryeo might go to war with Nakrang someday.
Don't go to Goguryeo.
lf...
Goguryeo and Nakrang go to war,
l'll accompany the prince
to the battlefield and crush the Nakrang army.
Since l don't have any money, you pay forthe food.
Puku.
You'll find some gold in there.
lt's all right.
l'm money-crazy, just like Michu,
but if l stuff myself with all the money that comes my way,
l'll be constipated.
You have a dirty mouth.
Bye.
What's this?
l ruined your clothes...
Don't hate Nakrang too much.
lt's okay if you hate us, but don't come to Nakrang.
Stay in Goguryeo.
Don't ever set foot in Nakrang.
No.
Whether it takes ten years or a hundred,
l will go to Nakrang.
l didn't find out anything.
l can't let others do my work.
l'll have to find out one by one.
l have to wash my clothes.
l can't believe him.
l'm sorry.
l had no idea you were awake.
The Princess of Nakrang is leaving today.
l need you to run an errand.
Yes.
Leave it there and go.
Thank you for accepting it.
Why aren't you leaving?
He also said to wait for him.
He'll go to Nakrang soon to see you.
Leave.
JlNYANG PALACE/CHOl Ll'S OFFlCE NAKRANG
Welcome back.
l have returned from the 10-year celebration of
Emperor Guangwu's reign.
CHOl Ll You've done well.
l'm overjoyed that you brought us a fruitful outcome.
GUKNAE PALACE KlNG DAEMUSHlN'S OFFlCE GOGURYEO So Hodong went down on his
knees and bowed to Liu Xiu?
Yes, Your Majesty!
lt was an appalling sight.
But he has acquired everything we wanted from Han.
KlNG DAEMUSHlN lf a king can't behave like a king
and loses his authority,
he can't rule the world even if he gains it.
Your Majesty.
What is it?
The Queen has crossed the Gipyeong Gate,
GlPYEONG GATE/Gate on the border of Gaeryu tribe and Biryuna tribe and is returning to the palace.
GlPYEONG GATE/Gate on the border of Gaeryu tribe and Biryuna tribe
SONG MAESEOLSU
Everything is up to the will of Heaven.
No, it's up to the will of men. Heaven can't break a man's will.
lt's the first time having a drink with you.
Father, l want to know why l'm here.
What do you think of Hodong?
He's a cold-hearted and frightful man.
lt's easy for lowly people to endure insults,
but it's more difficult than death itself
for a noble to endure insults.
l was scared of Prince Hodong,
who bowed to Emperor Guwangwu.
Lahee, l intend to marry you to Hodong.
ls she Jamyung?
Yes, she is.
Gilsang or Puku, whatever her name is,
she is Jamyung, Mo Haso's daughter.
Hol, life is a series of choices.
When you gain one thing, you lose another.
Eitheryou will live oryou'll die.
lt's always one orthe other.
You too have to make a choice now.
What will you burden me with now?
You will you save. Lahee orJamyung?
Sister.