Your Majesty!
June 28, 1567, King Myung-jong passed away without a successor after 22 years
on the throne, and Prince Duk-heung's third son Prince Ha-sung would rise to
the throne. This was the first time in 200 year Chosun history that the
royal line was sustained by oblique line of descent.
Scholar Yu Sung-ryong of the Office of Royal Decree to see you, Your Majesty.
See him in.
I bid you greetings, your Majesty.
You will be a benevolent ruler. I do not doubt it for a moment.
I just feel uncomfortable. And I can't believe it.
I feel like I'm in someone else's clothes.
No, Your Majesty. You are here today because Heaven is with us.
If you just hold on to the will and spirit you had as a prince,
you will be able to embrace your people like your children.
I always looked up you and followed your guidance like an older brother
and a teacher. I may be on the throne, but that has not changed.
Please stay by my side and guide me.
I need subjects like you to rule wisely.
Your Majesty...
I asked you here to discuss some administrative affairs.
The royal court has been in shameful disarray with the royal in-laws and
the old guards are running out of control.
Isn't why there is a shortage of good men in government service today?
Nothing is more important than personnel affairs.
I'd like to know what you think.
Your Majesty, the Neo-Confucian literati have retreated away from
the royal court after a string of purges that began in 1519.
That is why we have a shortage of competent men.
Restore the good name of Master Cho Kwang-jo and redress his grievance.
Exonerate each and every scholar who where wrongfully persecuted.
And those scholars moved by your sincerity will rush to reenter
government service, and you can choose competent men among them.
Yes. I will discuss it with the Queen Dowager and the advisers
and make it happen.
Your grace is immeasurable!
Is this true?
Soon-shin's grandfather has been exonerated?
Yes.
That's wonderful. That's wonderful!
I never thought this day would come.
This is a new era.
His Majesty understands the pain and grief of the people.
And since many literati that supported Cho Kwang-jo have been exonerated,
the royal court will soon be replenished with good men.
My lady, my lady, didn't you hear me?
Sir Yi's grandfather has been exonerated!
I heard.
How can you just sit there painting? Aren't you glad?
I can't believe it. I can't believe it...
Imagine how he must be feeling when this is so overwhelming for me...
My lady...
He has endured so may years of pain and hardship.
He will soon be coming back now.
My lady, we're almost here. This is Gon-yang.
May I help you?
I've come to see Master Nam. Is he in?
He's not home right now.
May we wait inside?
Yes, sir.
Let's go inside, my lady.
Okay.
Soon-shin, who are they?
My lady, what brings you here?
I'm glad to see you well.
My father is here as well.
Master Bang?
Master!
Have you fared well?
Yes, Master.
By chance are you...?
My name is Mijin.
Yes, I was right.
You look very much like your father.
He brought you up well. He brought you up very well.
Exonerated?
It's hard to believe, isn't?
I know the emotional hardship you've endured.
My heart has been heavy watching you unable to help.
So I wanted to deliver the good news personally.
Master...!
It's time to go back.
Your clan is clear now, so you should pay your parents a visit as well.
Yes...
Who is here?
My man!
Forgive me for not coming sooner.
No, don't be. I'm just glad to see you!
Would you like to come into my room and rest?
You must be tired from the trip.
Thank you, but perhaps later.
Well then...
My name is Yun-hwa.
I thought you might need a hand.
No, please go inside and rest.
Don't.
You must feel thrown for a loop with all these unexpected visitors.
We didn't want to cause you havoc coming here without word, so we
brought some things with us. Please let us help.
Yes, Lady Yun-hwa packed lots of things.
The problem is they are all Sir Yi's favorites.
Borem!
What? Did I say something I shouldn't have?
You're engaged. You should pay attention to your fiance.
Did you find Soon-shin worthy of your teaching?
He wasn't a worthless piece of broken porcelain.
You even talk like a potter.
I've been making pottery for over a decade now.
Do you think he is ready to leave the nest?
He was never in my nest.
He is not the kind that can be held even if I tried.
I guess I was right about him after all.
I'm considering him as my son-in-law.
Yes... I don't blame you.
Any father with a daughter would.
I thought you might be returning home since your clan's honor is restored.
But you're so busy tending to Deung-ryong Pavilion...
I wish you hadn't gone through the trouble.
I'm not very good seamstress, but I tried my best.
Please do not refuse.
My father has told me about Mijin.
Despite her painful childhood, she is outgoing and... pretty as well.
She's very kind and gentle. She is like a little sister to me.
And the trusts and depends on me like an older brother as well.
What happened? Are you all right?
No, I tripped...
You should be more careful.
Your shoulders look heavy for a man who just gained new wings.
You can relax and be happy.
I'd like to make pay my parents a visit.
You don't have to return. It's time you left this place.
Master...
Do as I say.
But I am still teaching Jang-pyung how to read.
Nalbal's house is not ready for the winter, and...
I can't leave like this. I can't just pack up and leave because
my situation has changed. Not yet, I can't leave just yet.
I'm reminded of what you said shortly after you came here.
You said there was nothing for you to do.
You said you were angry because there is nothing you can do
except pad a crying boy in his shoulders.
Such compassion, such spirit alone is enough.
Compassion to cry with them-if you don't lose that compassion,
you will be in Gon-yang no matter where you are.
It's time to expand your world.
A man should not act in haste, but he should not hesitate when
opportunity presents itself.
Don't fret. It's broken. You cant put it back together.
Mijin...
How about people?
Aren't there people that never meet again once they go their separate
ways like this broken cup?
You can't compare people to a cup.
We may go our separate ways, but if our thoughts are with each other,
we will always be together.
Love is the strongest bond that connects two people together.
Soon-shin...
We will be going now.
Travel safely and stay in touch.
Soon-shin...
Be well. And don't neglect your studies.
Thank you for everything.
Don't. You're making me feel bad.
Take care.
You're a real man.
You're the only one who can protect your mother. You know that, don't you?
That's a good boy.
When will you be back?
Soon.
She went out early this morning saying that she had to be somewhere.
Oh, she left this for you.
Let us briefly rest our legs.
Yes, Master.
Master, please go ahead without me.
But why?
There is someone I must see. I won't be far behind you.
Was it the fifth of September?
The anniversary of your parent's death.
Soon-shin...
I will keep my promise. So you must keep your promise as well.
I promise you I will be back.
So you must take care of yourself.
Mother...
My son...!
You're all right...! You're all right...!
Mother,
you've become so thin... All the hardship you must've endured...
No, it can't compare to what you've been through.
The heartache you must've suffered...
Where is Father?
He is at the riverbank. Go see him. He will be so happy to see you.
Yes, Mother.
Your father is a traitor, and you're a traitor's son!
There is no place for descendants of traitors in the royal court!
The same shackles that tied me down have now tied you down,
and I am powerless to free you from it.
I'm back, Father.
You've come a long way...
I wasted my best years resenting your grandfather.
And in my mind life, I squandered my time fishing, and trying to
break you and your brother dreams.
Father...
I'm glad...
I'm glad you and your brothers do not have to be stern fathers like me.
I'm glad such time has come...
And I hope that from now on the world continues to be kind to you.
This is the beginning.
The times may have changed, but if good men do not rise up, the world
will plunge into chaos again.
Establish a righterous prupose and always look back at yourself.
I know that you will do great things...
I thought... you might be thirsty.
Thank you, but you don't have to do this.
Righteousness "Ui"
Kyun!
What brings you all the way here?
What brings me? You haven't been outside of this palace since you
returned to the capital, so I had to come myself!
I'm sorry.
Let's go inside. Sung-ryong brought you good news.
Is this true? Lord Park Su-chan has been exonerated?
But why wasn't he exonerated sooner with the others?
There are still many rural literati that have not been exonerated.
There are those who fiercely oppose the exoneration in the royal court.
It's not that easy for His Majesty to push through.
I suppose it's unreasonable to think that everything will change overnight
just because we have a new ruler.
Their powers have lasted over three decades and duplicity had become the norm.
Those who know the sweet taste of power will
no doubt try to protect it. Our battle is just beginning.
Why does it have to be so complicated?
What does the King have to fear when he is above all men?
Why can't he simply bring them down with the first and sword of his authority?
The sword of authority can be dangerous if swung in haste.
It could cause unintended casualties as well. His Majesty's true strength
is not his sword off authority but his wise ministers.
Transforming this country is not His Majesty's job alone.
Our battle has just begun.
I won't forget that.
What? Park Su-chan was exonerated?
Yes, Master.
This is wonderful news!
I must go to Gon-yang.
I'd like to deliver the great news myself.
Go ahead.
I will write a letter to Master Namgoong, so bring Mijin back with you.
It pains me when I think about the hard life she must've had being
born a lady of nobility. I feel partly responsible.
I will take here in and love her like a daughter.
Thank you. Thank you, Master!
I heard you were going on a trip. I packed a little something for you.
Well then...
Are you coming back?
Be... safe...
Owari, Japan
Take it, Wakizaka.
Exact revenge without fail.
Master...
My heart will go to Chosun with you along with is word.
And I will slay those who took your brother's life.
Ogawa...
Sir!
Find the merchants that dealt with my brother.
They will know who killed him.
Yes, sir!
Who was it? Who just tripped me?!
Look who's here!
If it isn't the bastard that tried to sell the country to the Japs!
How about the way he always bullied us when he was a supervisor?
Trash!
Should we break his legs so he can never walk?
Yeah, yeah, let's put him out of his misery!
I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Let me go just this one!
Sorry isn't enough!
What's wrong with you fellows? Stop this!
Stop it!
Don't defend him, or you'll get hurt too!
It's all bygones! Look how he's struggling to survive.
Don't you feel sorry for him?
Sorry? Don't you know how many lives this bastard ruined?
It's all in the past!
Are you all right?
That's it. You can't take this kind of beating everyday.
Chun-su. I'm not letting you go to work tomorrow.
Why do you keep going out there when you know you'll be beat up?
Who is going to feed me if I don't work?
I will!
Do you know why I'm still here in the boonies? It's because of you?
Why are you refusing to go to Seoul with me?
I can't go back like this. I'm not going back until I have some money.
You're so naive! Do you think that's going to be easy?
I guess being a supervisor messed with your head, but I have news
for you buddy; life is not easy! If you try to take the easy way,
only thing you get in return is a punch in the face!
So are you telling me to just give up? I can't.
You can't live on sugar if you're used to living on honey.
I'll build my life back up no matter what!
And I'll make those bastards pay for what they did to me!
You're see.
Ogawa, it's not polite to treat our guest this way.
Please sit up.
I heard that you're an expert on dawan.
I sure am. I've been trading dawans for over three years.
I may not look it but, I used to be a supervisor of a big trading...
Will that be enough?
I know a little about dawan myself. I will chose personally, so lead me to them.
Sure, I can do that. You got it.
One more thing...
Do you remember a man named Yasuyoshi?
How do you know Yasuyoshi sama?
He is my older brother.
Who killed him?
I... I...
I asked you a question.
If you cooperate, I will give you twice as much.
But if you do not cooperate...
you will not leave here alive.
What could've happened to Chun-su?
I told him from the beginning not to get too involved with Baron Huh!
Where did those Japs come from anyway?
Chun-su! What happened? What did those men want?
It's not my fault...
I have to survive too.
Besides, you've done terrible things to me.
What terrible things have I done to you?
It's all just fate...
It's your fate...
Ogawa, we are going to Gon-yang.
And I will revenge my brother's death. Do you understand?
Yes, sir!
Yi Soon-shin, Yi Soon-shin...