Dong Yi
Enjoy:)
Episode 1
7th Year of King Sukjong's reign 1681 AD
- Are you a fisherman? - Yes.
How diligent you are so early in the morning.
I was just about to leave. You may take this spot.
The catch is good here.
How kind you are.
Thank you, Inspector-General.
Do you know me?
Who are you? How do you know...?
Have you run out of places to run to?
Arrest them!
Yes, Sir!
There is no place in this world that runaway slaves can run to!
Is that what you think?
Slaves are people with two legs!
How can there be no place that they can run to?
Who are you?
If I wanted to tell you that, why would I be wearing this mask?
Don't chase them anymore.
Sheath your sword and I will spare your life.
What? How dare you!
You must have a death wish!
Come with me!
Who are you?
Are you the Sword Fraternity...!
Take this boat and leave Dosung.
This man will stay with you until you're safe. Farewell.
Are you the Sword Fraternity?
We heard about you.
We heard that you help the lowborn people!
Thank you! Thank you so much!
Hurry! We don't have time to waste!
You must hurry. We wish you a long life.
- What about them? - They got on the boat safely.
I need to leave Dosung for a while. One of the escaped guards saw my face.
All right, be careful. Let's go.
The guards will soon be here.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
Now we will begin!
Go! Go! Go!
You're the last pair. You have to circle the marketplace, right?
Yes, Sir!
The prize is honey cakes.
You live in the slave village. You've never eaten that before, have you?
But you'll have to win if you want to eat it!
Why do I have to run against a girl?
You have to open the pot to see if it's rice or porridge!
What?
I'm saying you should run fast.
I have nothing to lose, but you'll be humiliated if you lose to a girl!
Dong Yi, catch!
You jerk!
Excuse me!
Goodness me!
You brats!
Go! Go!
Today's winner is...
... Changmal from Jangsu Village!
We won! We won!
What? What do you mean?
I came in before him!
You cheated!
Cheated? How did I cheat?
You ran down a small alley and not the main streets!
That's why Changmal won!
No, that's not cheating! You said any street in the marketplace!
We won!
Be quiet! How dare you lowborn urchins argue?
No, we won!
Be quiet, you lowborn rascals! Leave this place!
The winner is Changmal!
This isn't fair!
This really isn't fair!
Does this mean we can't eat the honey cakes?
Enough!
Here you go!
What's this?
What happened?
- They....! - Those... those rascals!
- They saw us! Run! - Get them!
You all know where to go. Scatter!
- Get that girl first! - All right!
Where should we go?
You go that way! You, that way!
Wait 'til we get you!
I'm not scared of you!
Hey, Gaeduara!
Don't eat that! That's for the village children!
Sorry. I'll just eat this one.
I'm the idiot who asked the cat to keep the fish!
Hey, Dong Yi!
Are you crazy? How can you drop that!
He's dead! That... that man...!
It's a dead boy, Dong Yi!
No, I don't think he's dead yet. A dead man's complexion is...
Help!
Please... let me go!
What?
Sir! Sir..!
Are... are you all right?
Sir! Sir...!
What? What did you say?
Don't try to talk! You're bleeding too much!
Wait for a while! Let me go get some help!
Please wait!
Where do I go?
Hurry!
I said hurry!
He's over there! He's dying!
Sir! Sir!
- I think he's dead. - Dead?
That can't be true!
He was alive! I swear he was alive!
He was alive just now!
What? Inspector-General Jang Ik-Hun?
Yes, but that's not all.
Minister of Punishment Yi Jo and 2nd Minister of Finance Han Jung So...
... were both found murdered too.
Your Excellency!
How... How can this happen?
That's not how it's supposed to be done!
A drowned corpse should be wrapped in cotton, not reeds!
You'll destroy all the evidence!
And look, they're not even taking the shoe!
Wretched girl, what are you muttering about?
I'm sorry, but you're doing it all wrong!
What?
That man is bloated in water.
The "Treatise on Forensic Medicine" says that a drowned body should be wrapped with cotton.
Look, his fingers are wrinkled and soon he'll be covered with white foam!
Shut up! Who do you think you are!
The little girl is right!
Fools! How can you call yourself police?
- Wrap him with cotton like she said! - Yes, Sir!
What a clever girl you are! Where did you pick up that information?
My father performs autopsies for the government.
Is that so?
Yes, Sir.
Is she the one who discovered the Inspector-General?
Yes, this is her.
Listen to my words carefully.
If you give me useful information, I will give you a great prize.
- What? A prize? - That's right.
I will give you 5 puns.
So you must tell me exactly what you saw.
Yes, Sir.
When you saw the Inspector-General, was he really alive?
Yes, Sir! He even spoke to me!
- What? He spoke to you? - Yes!
What did he say? What did he tell you?
- Well, he... - Hurry up and tell me!
Well, he...
I couldn't hear anything he said. He just moved his mouth.
So what is it? Did he or didn't he?
He did speak to me, but I didn't know what...
Damn it! What a waste of time.
Does this mean I won't get the prize?
That's right, you rascal! I came all the way here for nothing!
Five pun just came... and left.
- The bodies? - Yes, they have all been collected.
- The crime scenes? - Yes, that has been completed.
And the time of murder?
The autopsies haven't begun....
- Not yet? - Please forgive us.
- We will order them now... - What is your position?
I...I...I am Police Lieutenant, Hwang Jong Gu.
Slow, inefficient and useless, and yet a lieutenant.
Starting today, you are no longer a lieutenant but a police guard.
Wh...wh...what?
A man must know his own limits.
I will examine the bodies.
- Go and look for the man I mentioned. - Yes, Sir!
Chief! Sir!
Choi Dong Ju (Dong Yi's Older Brother)
Older Brother!
Dong Yi! What are you doing here?
I was at the marketplace. I came here to go home with you.
The marketplace?
You saw a dead person and you weren't scared?
I've seen father performed autopsies so many times!
And I read those books too!
- You're so fearless! - Let's eat!
- Please give that to me. - It's all right. Let's sit.
Father, our Dong Yi is too fearless for her own good.
This little slip of a girl beat a boy! She sure is something!
Why should I not be able to do something just because I'm a girl?
I use my brain!
Choi Hyo Won - Dong Yi's Father
Yes, you're absolutely right.
Who cares if you're a boy or girl as long as you're talented?
But she's such a tomboy!
No wonder you didn't get chosen for the new year's greeting!
That's not why I didn't get chosen.
- The new year's greeting? - Yes, Father.
They choose children every year to wear silk clothes...
... and give new year's greetings to nobles.
Oh, that's right. You wanted to be in the Minister's group.
Yes, but I didn't get it.
They said they were going to choose children from the freeborn class.
They said no lowborn children. I really wanted to wear those silk clothes!
Oh, that's right. Please try this!
- Oh, these are honey cakes! - Yes, they almost got taken by Changmal.
They're so sweet and tasty! Please try one!
- These are so rare! - Look at how happy you make me!
- They're so sweet and delicious! - Are they?
- You should sleep too, Father. - Yes.
I'm worried about what's going on in Dosung.
They're murdering the top nobles of the Southerners.
Yes, I heard.
I wonder who's behind these heinous acts.
I'll go check on the doors.
Father, I spent five days making this pouch for you.
Promise me you'll take it everywhere! Promise!
Yes, I promise.
- Who are you? - You must be Dong Ju.
Release him. He's here with me.
Sir!
It's been a long time.
Sir...
Has it been five years since we saw one another?
How did you find me?
Don't you know I'm the Police Chief?
If I so wished, why wouldn't I be able to find you?
Why did you disappear without a word?
I was so upset at your disappearance that I wanted to search for you immediately.
But I waited because I knew there would be a good reason why you did so.
You shouldn't be seen here with a lowborn man such as myself.
Don't you know it may mar your reputation?
Am I a man who cares so much about my own reputation?
You are of the lowborn class.
But in my heart, you are first and foremost my teacher.
Sir!
A specialist? Why go to all the trouble?
I'm not sure, but the Chief says he brought in someone very special!
Why?
That someone very special can't possibly be that lowborn corpse-handler?
What do you think?
All three bodies have multiple stab wounds.
It appears that a sword pierced major blood vessels and caused their death.
The police lieutenants have speculated that the wounds were caused by double-bladed swords.
Yes, that is most definitely so.
So you're not completely useless.
What do you think of the location of the murders?
Two of the bodies were found at the location of their murders.
But the Inspector-General was killed in a different place from where he was found.
Yes, that's what they said too. But that was all.
None of them had any clues as to where he was possibly attacked.
Chief, his body drifted down the river.
How could we possibly guess where he was...?
It is possible. That's why I ordered you to be here!
Where was he attacked?
- Sir... - Tell me.
I'm certain you already know. Am I wrong?
Sir, he was a lowborn corpse-handler! How could he possibly know...?
The attack most likely occurred at Samban Crossing.
Why is that?
I heard that the Inspector-General went fishing early in the morning.
Is that why you say it's Samban Crossing? Dosung is full of fishing spots!
However, there are only ten places in which one can catch pond smelt.
I found a pond smelt fish scale in his hand.
In addition, with the number of wounds on his body and the winter chill,
... he should have died long before he drifted down the river.
But the fact that he survived shows that the water temperature was warm.
- The water temperature was warm? - Yes.
The Inam River today was known to have a breeze that made it warm as spring.
That means that the Inspector-General was fishing somewhere on Inam River for pond smelt.
If one uses the supposition that a body can drift 10 li in two hours,
The only potential location would be Sangban Crossing.
- Go now and check the location. - Yes, Sir.
Yes, that's the place.
We found it!
Drink up. This is the young leaf tea that you like.
How can you remember such things?
Your skills are still extraordinary.
This is why I need you!
This case isn't just a simple murder case.
Someone selected these noblemen and organized their murders.
Do you already know who might have done these things?
You already suspected the location where the Inspector-General was attacked.
You summoned me merely to confirm it, isn't that so?
Yes, you're right.
I already know who might have done this.
They might be the men I have been searching for a long time.
What is going on here?
- Who ordered you to do this? - It was I, My Lord.
What did you say? You think I might be the next target?
The top three members of the Southerners have been murdered.
Who would be next to lead the faction without those three noblemen?
Look here, Chief Suh!
It is only speculation for now, but it won't hurt to be more cautious.
You think these murders are targeting Southerners, don't you?
Are you saying that this might be the work of our rivals, the Westerners?
If that's true, they won't get away with this!
Murder for political gain! Is our government so decayed?
This is not the work of the Westerners, My Lord.
It is another group that is targeting the nobles.
Another group?
Have you ever heard of the Sword Fraternity?
- Sword Fraternity? - Yes.
It is a secret society made up of the lowborn.
These murders are their work, My Lord.
Sulhee
You must be Choi Dong Ju's sister.
Yes, I am.
I'm Sulhee.
Her Majesty, the Dowager Queen!
Dowager Queen Myeongseong
Older brother! Older brother!
We bring royal orders!
Stop the music!
Your Majesty,
We are here on the King's orders to root out the Sword Fraternity!
Please give us your permission!
- I give you my permission. - Thank you, Your Majesty!
- Hear me! - Yes, Sir!
Amongst these musicians and dancers here...
... there are members of the Sword Fraternity!
You will root them out immediately!
Yes, Sir!
Older brother!
What's happening?
Sir...
How can you say it was the servants who murdered the nobles?
The prefecture has been investigating the Sword Fraternity for a long time.
They learned swordplay and have been helping runaway slaves escape.
I have heard of the Sword Fraternity too!
But I have heard nothing about them targeting innocent nobles to murder!
Guards who were chasing runaway slaves were attacked by the Sword Fraternity
... at the same location where you said the Inspector-General was attacked.
But... that may not be related!
These items were found in the houses of the accused criminals.
Are you still going to insist they were unrelated?
Uncle.
Oh Tae Suk
Have all the bodies been collected?
Oh Yoon
Yes.
I prayed for the souls of the men who died.
These were all men who sacrificed for the sake of the Southerners.
But they all maintained their positions for too long.
They realized nothing, except for their stubbornness.
If they remained, they would have destroyed the Southerners.
They should have moved aside...
... once they realized they were useless old men.
They caused me to do this to them.
Chief Suh is an intelligent man. Do you think he will be so easy to fool?
When one holds a hammer, everything looks like nails.
He has been chasing them for a while. Now all evidence points to them.
He may be smart, but he will think of nothing else.
Prolonging this matter may cause problems.
Hasten things along and let us close the matter.
Yes, Uncle.
- How many of us were caught? - Twelve.
But they're not the only ones. They've taken innocent people too.
This is a frame-up.
Someone is killing the nobles and blaming us.
Let's go.
He's been acting strange since yesterday.
We finally caught you!
- Dong Yi! - Gaeduara!
Dong Yi, help me! I'm scared! Dong Yi..!
Despicable boy! You came all the way here!
Shut up, you thief!
I didn't steal anything! Those cakes were ours!
I said be quiet!
Stop! Let's just get beaten and have done with it!
I found it! It's here!
Is this it?
And what's this?
- Drag him over here. - All right!
- Help me, Dong Yi! - Don't do this!
- Help me, Dong Yi, help me! - Gaeduara!
It was twenty pieces in total.
He's going to get beaten one time for each honey cake you don't bring back, got it?
- Let's go! - Gaeduara!
I'm scared, Dong Yi! Dong Yi!
This is...!
Tribunal Officer, Kang Jung Hyuk?
If you give me useful information, I will give you a great prize.
I'll give you five pun.
Gaeduara, wait for me!
There should have been evidence like this in the other houses too.
Yes, Sir.
How strange.
Why did they keep these things in their own homes?
Sir, something has happened!
My Lord, what is going on?
The investigation has not yet been completed!
Why has the Tribunal already taken the prisoners?
Once transferred to the Tribunal, those men will become pronounced guilty!
This cannot happen unless we have sufficient evidence!
I'm surprised by the orders too, but what's done is done.
My Lord!
Please reconsider, My Lord! This cannot happen!
Sir, is Lieutenant Jang inside?
- Who? - I have to see Lieutenant Jang!
Lieutenant Jang, is he inside?
That child brought something with her?
Yes, she said she remembered what the Inspector-General was trying to tell her.
- She was holding a name tag. - A name tag?
- Where is she? - She's at the gate.
Where is she? She's not here!
That's strange. I told her to wait here.
Sir!
Sir, something has happened!
What is it?
What did you say?
The girl who found the Inspector-General came with a name tag?
The guard said that it looked like the name tag of a soldier!
How did this happen?
It must be the name tag I lost...
... when I was taking care of the Inspector-General.
When I slashed him with my sword, he fell against me.
He must have grabbed it then.
- What? - Please forgive me.
I thought I lost it somewhere else...
Idiot! Do you know what you have done?
Please forgive me!
Find the name tag and take care of the girl!
If it falls into the wrong hands, it's all over!
- Get rid of that girl immediately! - Yes, Sir!
How did this happen?
- Let's go! - Yes, Sir!
She's a young lowborn girl. She's here somewhere, so find her!
Sir, she's nowhere to be found!
What is this commotion?
What has happened now?
It's nothing.
It's merely a small problem. Please do not mind us.
You don't want me to mind you when you're causing such a commotion here?
The Tribunal has no respect for others!
Please forgive us, but we're in a rush.
Is this what you're in a rush to find?
Tribunal Officer, Kang Jung Hyuk.
It appears to me that this is your name tag.
Did you know that the deceased Inspector-General wanted this delivered here?
- Arrest this man immediately! - Yes, Sir!
- Sir... - Inform His Lordship. Hurry!
Yes, Sir!
- Dong Yi! - Father!
What are you doing...?
- Is this child your daughter? - Yes, Sir.
Have a seat.
I went to look for you and met this child there.
But she was holding this name tag.
I underestimated the complexity of this investigation.
I shouldn't have blamed the Sword Fraternity for this so quickly.
Sir...
But I suspect the Inspector-General had more information to pass along apart from this.
Information?
This child told me that the Inspector-General made some signs with his hand.
- Will you show it to me again? - Yes, Sir.
- This is what he did. - It must be something important.
But I don't know what that means.
I doubted that anything would ever surprise me.
But now your daughter has made me ashamed of myself.
- You said your name was Dong Yi? - Yes, Sir.
Yes. You have done well.
Thank you, Sir.
Dong Yi.
I will go meet with the Head of the Police.
- Go and interrogate Officer Jang. - Yes, Sir.
Will you examine the evidence we found at the houses of the prisoners?
Yes, Sir.
This case involves major characters of government.
This may be what the Inspector-General was trying to say.
- I will do my utmost, Sir. - Thank you.
You and your daughter are proving very useful. Thank you.
So that's how it's going to be played.
Please forgive me, Uncle. I had no idea this would...
No, not at all. This could have happened to anyone.
This is usually how it works.
Arrows don't always fly from ahead. They also pierce you from behind.
There's no need for disappointment or worry.
It was fear that caused this mess.
Uncle.
Eliminate the little pebbles that bother the feet one by one.
We are still capable of everything.
Never forget that.
It's so late. Are you sure you can go back alone?
Father, don't you know it's me? Your daughter, Choi Dong Yi!
- Yes, go on then. - Hurry home too!
Yes, I promise.
- I'll go now. - All right. Be careful!
- Here you go. - Thank you.
One two three four...
I'll have ten left over after I get Gaeduara!
Child!
- Where do you live? - Me?
Yes, where is your home?
I live in Banchon. Why do you ask?
Kim Hwan
Banchon?
Yes.
Child!
Don't go down any small alleys. Make sure you use the crowded main street!
What? Why?
You just bought honey cakes. I'm worried someone will come after you!
Oh, I see. Thank you!
Why did you say that, Master?
It's nothing.
I sense mortal danger around that child.
What?
My gifts must be coming to an end!
I don't know why but I see the aura of heavenly blessings...
...on that lowborn child.
Gracious me!
Have you seen the corpse-handler Choi?
What the hell is this?
What's going on?
That's the Tribunal Officer!
Yes, Sir.
How did this happen?
I don't know either, Sir! I came to get him and he was dead!
How? How did this happen!
Get rid of him!
Let's go!
Chun Su!
Cha Chun Soo
What happened, Sir?
Why did those men attack you?
Dong Yi is in danger!
What?
I'm here!
Are you the corpse-handler's daughter?
Yes, I am.
Who are you?
Dong Yi! Dong Yi...!
Dong Yi!
Dong Yi...!
Sir, she's not in the village!
Sir!
Inform the others, Chun Soo.
Do it now!
Chief!
- Chief! - Chief!