(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...