Are you embarrassed?
I've never met a girl who's as shy as you are.
If you've seen all you needed to see, I'll be leaving now.
Sit down.
This is to be your home from now on.
Don't even think about stepping foot outside of this place without my permission.
I don't have any inclination of becoming a court lady.
That's what you think.
I was told that the decision was up to me.
Once you enter the palace, you'll have all the luxuries at your disposal.
You still don't want it?
Just because I can eat well three times a day doesn't mean I'm living in luxury.
If that's what it means to live in luxury, then I'd rather be the hell gate's guard dog.
Are you saying that caring for the King would be worse than being the hell gate's guard dog?
Just because I'm serving the King, it doesn't mean someone like me becomes a queen.
What would I become? The royal concubine?
The best I can hope for, coming from my situation and background
is to win His Highness' favor to become his favorite pastime.
Who knows?
If you can give his Majesty a son
you may become something more than a royal concubine
and become the new queen to sit upon the empty throne.
Rather than become the King's distraction for the night
I'd rather become the hell gate's guard dog. That's what I'm saying.
I'd like to say one more thing.
I'm already spoken for.
I don't know how this exactly works
but you can't exactly take a woman who's already spoken for into the palace, right?
If you don't believe me...
Why don't you ask Nam Hyuk in my village?
I've already prepared your bed.
You're going to get yourself into trouble.
Let go of me.
Hey!
I've been lenient enough. You have no fear of authority!
Didn't I already do everything I've been told to do?
- Send me home! - This won't do.
Lock her up in the cell, and don't even give her a drop of water.
- Yes. - Yes.
What wrong have I done for you to do this to me?
Am I not even a person with rights?
Let go of me! Take your hands off of me!
Let go of me!
You listen to me!
If you don't open up this door
I'm going to bite my own tongue off and kill myself in here, you bastards!
Open the door!
Open the front gate.
Just drink this, you awful bastard!
After all I've done to save you out of pity when you were little, you do what?
You come to me now and tell me that you want my daughter as a concubine.
Oh my... a concubine in your lowly stature?
You think someone of my status would give you my daughter to be your concubine?
If you ever come near my house again, I'm going to break off all your limbs!
Are you planning on starving yourself to death?
You're only hurting yourself by being like this.
Just because a girl like you dies in here
you think Court Lady Kim is going to even blink an eye?
Why are you acting this way?
Did she eat anything?
- She didn't even touch anything. - Really?
She hasn't even had any water in the past five days and won't even say a word.
We'll see who wins.
What a stubborn girl.
Yes, Commander Kim.
How long do you think it'll take?
If you give me three to four months...
I can turn her into the girl that you're seeking.
Three to four months?
She seemed to have been born with the skills needed to seduce men...
but don't you think she needs to know the basics of the palace rules at least?
What are we going to do with a compliant girl like that?
Girls like that are spread out all over.
What then...
When you're only used to indoor flower plants at home...
you're bound to be drawn to the wildflowers out in the meadows.
Why do you think His Highness has been avoiding Queen Ryul his whole life?
Because no matter how much he tried to look for a way to please her
she has no sex drive.
However, His Highness' situation right now...
He's lonely, and he is in a sad state.
He's been humiliated into begging for his life to be spared and groveling for grace.
And he's even had to send all three of his sons away to China as punishment
so his reputation's been ruined greatly.
So it's time for the King to retrieve his dignity back in his name.
That's why she can't be just your normal average girl.
A pliable little girl who will do whatever she's told...
His Highness will have no use for a girl like that.
I have no idea what it is that you're saying right now.
Of course, you wouldn't know.
Since you've never been with a man before.
- You startled me. - Let me see Yam Jun once.
What are you going to do once you see Yam Jun?
No matter what happens, I'm going to take Yam Jun as my proper wife.
You should've done that from the beginning.
I beg of you.
- Let me see Yam Jun just once. - You're too late.
Yam Jun is going to be living in the palace from now on.
What do you mean by that?
What is she going to be doing at the royal palace?
You are so frustrating.
I'm saying she's going to be taking care of the King from now on.
It's going to be a new world.
A world where high and low class doesn't exist...
a new world like that.
Are you saying that you're going to become his legal wife?
What an awful little thing!
What do you take the Nam family for?
Relay a message to your mother.
If the act of a concubine is found unpleasurable...
the lawful wife has the rights to teach her a lesson.
Now that the family fortune has been ruined, I can't believe the things that happen.
Whether I'm your legal wife, or your concubine...
I don't care about anything as long as I can live together with you!
But... you need to be different than that.
Before this world starts to change... shouldn't you change first?
I'm sorry.
That this is all I can do for you.
What do you mean, prohibit him from entering the palace?
Kim Ja Jeom is still a criminal.
I'm sure he came because he was called by His Highness.
Kim Ja Jeom is an evil doer!
You should be stopping him!
Your Highness...
On my way into the palace...
I saw that the boulder beneath the low wall
over by the Chanjang entrance is still broken up in a heap.
Are you aware of that?
Is that right?
Sneaking out of here in the middle of the night with you feels like it was yesterday.
I still remember what the Queen Mother said to me once.
That if I ever escort you again in your attempt to sneak over
the palace walls again, that she'd have my hide as punishment!
That's right.
Do you remember?
In an attempt to make our getaway, His Highness and I jumped down the wall.
And we were barely able to make our escape because the servant of the house we jumped over
grabbed the wrong guy and dragged him to the authorities.
Look at me... I'm tearing up.
Why don't you stop now, Former Commander Kim?
Your Highness...
You have to go back to those times.
You have to go back to the King that you used to be back in those days.
That way all the citizens wallowing in despair will be renewed in their spirit
and make a new attempt to improve their lives.
Don't you think I know that?
What's difficult about it?
Are you asking me that because you don't know what the citizens think of me?
It is an awful predicament.
Turning the hearts of the people around is not a difficult thing to do.
Are the same people in charge of grain still rationing these days?
Yes, Former Commander Kim.
Your Highness...
Call those people in right now.
And tell them to ration out the grains amongst the people in this village for food.
We don't have a lot of supplies left in the grain storage.
If there's not enough
then use the supplies set aside for the soldiers to feed the people.
Your Highness...
You need to feed the people first, for the country to become more stabilized.
The citizens aren't the problem.
It's the appointment letters that are circulating outside the palace.
I doubt those ignorant citizens wrote that letter themselves.
Are you worried of there being a spy inside the palace?
What way do I have of stopping it?
Kim Sang Hun's been captured and is imprisoned in Shinyang...
And Choi Myung Kil...
he doesn't have what it takes to lead anything like that.
On top of that...
when the army that I control is still over 40,000 in number...
What man would dare do that?
That is true.
The bigger problem is...
in Shinyang itself.
When Goryo used to boast that they're more powerful in the UN than us...
they were always so sensitive about the change of power in authority.
Former Commander Kim!
And even some Kings...
had their own sons become slaves just so that they could hold on to the throne.
What are you saying?
Are you saying that China is trying to to take over my throne?
China took your sons and your officers as their hostages onto their land.
Don't you think that that's where the problem lies?
There's no way that such a great Crowned Prince would do such a thing.
It is not the Crowned Prince's character I'm trying to talk bad about
but that we should be ready for anything that China may be plotting against us.
They'd do that and more!
Your Highness...
You need to send someone to Shinyang and find out whatever information he can get.
That's the only way we can avoid any possible tragedy between you and the Crowned Prince.
Okay... I understand. I understand you.
You can stop now.
Did I go a little overboard with my speech?
Suspicion breeds more suspicion, and that suspicion will only grow bigger.
Small ant holes can destroy giant foundations.
Your Highness...
If a god is living on borrowed time, he might as well be dead.
Your days are numbered
That cunning fox.
Don't you think I know your words are scheming something?
Call in the Prime Minister.
As Kim Ja Jeom said...
I am going to give the grain of Sun Hae Chung to the people.
During times of shortage, grains must be given to the poor.
And when harvest is bountiful, you must share grains in gratitude.
The office that governs the exchanging of grains is Sun Hae Chung.
What do you mean, there aren't anymore grains to give out?
What are you saying?
Last spring...
grains were in high demand with the Qing emperor.
Then release rice reserved for the military and give them to the people.
We can't do that Your Highness.
- How so? - If you do that...
We have to have the remaining soldiers at the Imjin river borders back home.
What's the use of even feeding those soldiers?
It's not as if the Qing Dynasty is going to attack us.
If it's to help out the starving citizens...
I wish I could carve out my own flesh to feed them if I could.
If it means that I can fill the empty bellies of my citizens...
there's nothing so precious that I wouldn't be willing to give up.
You may leave!
I'm thinking of sending Kim Ja Jeom to Shim Yang as an ambassador.
What do you think of that idea?
Since they won't return Kim Sang Hun
I can no longer just stand by.
Kim Ja Jeom is...
still on probation.
In that case... why don't you go yourself?
Why don't you go and bring Kim Sang Hun back yourself?
What do you think about my plan?
For Choi Myung Kil to come back...
it's going to take at least three to four months.
During that time, I am going to reassign the officials.
Please excuse me for saying this...
but don't you think you're being too trusting with Kim Ja Jeom?
Kim Ja Jeom...
What could he do to me?
I...
can see right through his ploys.
You rotten, useless girl.
Listen wench...
Your eyes aren't just there for you to look at other people with.
Your eyes are there to look at people with feelings and emotions mirrored in them.
Do you understand?
There you go... you've got the glaring right.
Court Lady Kim told me that I should cast my eyes down like so during times like this.
You rotten wench.
How would Court Lady Kim know anything about men?
At her age, she's never even known the taste of a man before...
or even the touch of their flesh either.
When she's spent her life in the royal palace
she must have caught the king's eye.
You think anyone can win his favor?
That's why you are still a palace servant.
So what is it that I'm supposed to do?
Make up your mind and tell me if I'm supposed to cast my gaze down or up.
You little wench... you listen to my words very carefully.
When a girl is looking up while in the presence of a man...
It means, 'You're no match for me'.
And when you cast your gaze downward...
You're saying, 'Come and get me'.
You don't need to be listening to this.
You may have eyes, but you don't have what it takes.
There's no sex appeal in your eyes.
Let's try it again.
There you go.
Lift up your chin a bit.
A little bit more.
There you go, and cast your gaze down a little.
Your gaze...
That's good.
There you go.
You're starting to get the idea.
He butt will catch fire if she keeps that up.
If she can't even smile before the king
what's she going to do with that gaze?
Be gone with you.
What do you know to interrupt out session like this?
I'm telling you this since you're teaching Yam Jun things that only geishas do.
You rotten wench!
What's the difference between a geisha and the royal palace?
All the men are alike.
How are the King and dirty men alike?
Why you little wench!
Get back here!
That little wench! Who does she think she's mouthing off to?
Come back here, you wench!
You wench!
Of all the geishas in this land...
every single one of them have learned how to seduce men from me!
It's a skill!
How dare she mouth off when she's going to rot away in her current position.
There you go.
That's good.
That's pretty good.
So is Yam Jun settling down and doing a good job now?
Don't worry about a thing.
I don't know if she's made up her mind, but she's working really hard in there.
Oh my, I feel so much better.
I was so worried that stubborn girl was going to remain pig headed the whole time.
You can't forget all I've done once Yam Jun enters the Palace, okay?
If you can just get me in there
I'll take care of you for the rest of your life.
Every other word out of your mouth is about us being together.
Don't you know how I feel about you?
Come here.
Here, just eat this.
Welcome, Court Lady.
Where's Yam Jun?
You rotten wench. When you were doing so well...
You call that dancing?
If you dance like that, you're not even going to get horse flies let alone a man.
Why are you picking on me nonstop?
Take a good look at how I do it.
Okay...
Sweep down your arm like this.
And with your head leaned to one side, lift up your shoulder like this...
and open up the fan in one move.
You incompetent...
Bring that fan to your chest as if you're about to embrace it in your arms.
Side to side...
I see that you're working hard.
I'm so glad you're here. This girl is frustrating me to no end.
Even though she may have a pretty face, she's totally empty on the inside.
I don't know if she grew up eating blocks of wood or what...
but there's not an ounce of cuteness, or coyness about that girl.
When did I ever tell you to teach her how to dance?
What need would she have for dancing once she's in the palace?
Court Lady Kim...
You don't know what you're saying.
In order for her to become a proper lady, she must learn to dance.
Body language, the way she moves her hand, and the way she fixes her gaze...
this is all learned through dancing.
I guess you're right.
You were the most famous geisha after all.
Even the King himself called you into his presence once.
I lost a very good opportunity back then.
If the King had spent even one night with me back then
I'm sure my life would be very different right now.
Anyways...
that girl was born with the skill.
A girl is born with seduction skills. It's not something that can be learned.
Was there a man that you were seeing?
Excuse me?
Have you been tainted?
I asked you if you've shared your flesh with him.
No, I didn't.
There's a way to find out all that later.
So don't even think you can fool me.
- We just grew up together... - Just answer the questions you're asked.
No, I didn't.
The reason why I chose you...
is because I am searching for the king's lady.
I...
have already erased him from my heart.
I'm being honest.
Were you feelings for him that deep?
Enough for there to be a need to erase him from your heart?
That's not what I meant.
First love isn't something that can be so easily erased from the heart.
Go away!
What do you think you're all doing?
Get out of my way!
My name is Nam Hyuk.
- What's your name? - It's Yam Jun.
Learn everything, ask in detail, think thoughtfully, and judge clearly.
Welcome.
- This one. - This?
Thanks.
Thief! Catch them!
Yam Jun...
Will you be my wife?
Keep him in your heart as you live on with your life.
That may actually be better if you're to take care of an old king.
However... don't think about ever seeing that man again.
If you do, you'll be good as dead.
No matter how important you become after having become High Highness' body.
Do you understand?
Yes.
I understand.
- Is she the girl? - Yes, Former Commander Kim.
Come closer.
Yes, Former Commander Kim.
You may leave us.
Do you know how to dance?
Show me your dancing skills.
Do you feel better?
Yes.
I feel much better.
And you won't fear me anymore either?
Yes.
I'm not afraid of you anymore.
Don't forget what happened here tonight.
Whenever I play the Gumeungeum, you dance to the beat of my music.
Do you understand?
You are my puppet.
If I pull the string to my left, then you must lift up your left hand...
and if I pull the string on the right, then you lift up your right hand.
Yes.
I wont forget it.
If the tie that keeps us together is severed...
then you and I will both die.
I will also keep that in mind.
I've already spoken to your father.
That I'm...
going to take you on as my daughter.
It means that as of today...
you can start calling me father.
Father...
Father.
One hundred yangs in gold.
One hundred sheets of deer leather.
A thousand cartons of cigarettes.
Four hundred otter furs.
Two hundred sheets of squirrel leather.
One hundred rolls of white grass cloth.
Two thousand rolls of a variety of colored silks.
You may translate that to him.
[Do Reu Gohn]
Translate to him exactly what I said.
[Jung Myung Soo]
The Joseon king betows his tributary gifts for the Qing Dynasty.
I've learned some of your language before I came here!
Your Excellency.
What I was saying was...
the government is bankrupt because of the Qing's excessive tributary demands.
And in addition to all that...
you're demanding an extra 10,000 bushels of rice...
That's the same thing as you telling the citizens of my country to starve to death.
What are you doing? Translate that to him right now.
Lord Young Sang...
I can't relate the message to him like that.
What!
What I know is that you're here to save Kim Sang Hun and take him back with you.
Kim Sang Hun was sent to congratulate the birth of the crowned princess' child.
How can you preserve the relationship of lord and subject holding Kim hostage?
I will send Kim Sang Hun back.
I cannot accept this tribute.
What did Do Reu Gohn say?
He said he'll send Kim Sang Hun back.
But he won't accept the tribute.
You were lucky today.
You could've ended up not being able to go back to Joseon either.
I was called a traitor for trying to restore the relationship between Joseon and the Qing.
so what advantage can there be by killing me?
I need to see Lord Kim Sang Hun.
Lord Sang Hun. How you must've suffered.
I don't... have any right to walk out of there alive.
Since I wasn't able to save the other three people that were with me.
Then does that mean...
are you saying that all three of those people met a cruel fate?
The Manchurians captured and tortured Oh Dal Jae, Yoon Jib, and Hong Ik Hwan.
They tried to bring them over to their side.
But because they kept their loyalty
they were executed.
Oh goodness.
Why don't you at least have a drink?
In order to start a long journey...
Not having saved those three people... is all my fault.
So please forget about that painful memory.
- Your Majesty... - Yes.
Please say what's on your mind.
Although I despise the Machurians
I feel shame whenever I see them.
Once they were worthless nomads, but now they have taken over the land.
They overtook the Myung Dynasty.
The Manchurians will take over the Myung Dynasty, and the Machurians will rule China.
However...
No matter how much I think about it, and how I ponder over it...
the future just seems so dim and bleak.
We need to grow our own strength, and defeat China one day.
I vow... to make that day a reality.
How proud I am to hear that.
I'm so proud to hear our Prince Bong Rim say that.
However...
that's not as easy as it may sound.
Your Majesty...
If it can't be realized in my generation, the next generation will realize it...
if the generation after me can't, then the following generation will realize it.
If we all keep passing down our love for our country
we will one day regain our own power.
And we will never have to shed another tear of agony again.
You must start the movement.
What is there that I can do...
having been sent away to this far away land?
However...
I will find out how the Manchurians became so powerful, per your request.
Then I will return to my country.
Of course...
that's as long as I don't die before then...
and survive until then.
Your Majesty...
You must survive!
You must survive for the citizens of Joseon not to lose hope.
Thank you.
Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you so much.
Kim Sang Hun taught Crowned Prince of Joseon a lesson
and told them that he was the hope of the citizens in Joseon?
Yes, Your Highness.
Look at this, Your Highness.
If you dethrone the King of Joseon
I think the citizens of Joseon would actually be happier about it.
That's impossible.
If you seat the Crowned Prince of Joseon up on the throne...
it may be even harder to control him.
Or then why don't we just find someone that we like
and place him upon their throne?
The Prince of China, Do Reu Gohn...
is the 14th son of China's Neu Ro Ha Chi...
and is the half brother of Hong Tai Ji from Chungtaejong.
Upon the death of Chungtaejong
Soon Chi Jae inherited the throne at the age of six, which Do Reu Gohn assumed...
and governed the land as sovereign ruler once he assumed the throne.
Why do you keep planting these vegetables when they don't even grow very well?
The reason why the people of China's gums always bleed
is because they're always eating fatty meat and not enough fresh vegetables.
Since I cant even buy any vegetables out at the market
I have no other choice but to grow them myself.
Why don't you stop working, and get some rest?
If you push yourself too hard...
If I rest now, who's going to take care of this vegetable garden?
This is going to be too much work for just the two of you.
So I should help as much as I can.
You could use one of the slaves that you bought back to do some work around here.
What do you mean, slave?
Those poor people have been dragged here against their will.
I was just saying that because you let them all go without even making them work first.
We have to think of their families that are waiting for them back home.
We were only able to save 15 people this month.
Brother...
And most of them are sick old people, and young little girls.
Could there be another way?
We need to find the money to save at least one more person from being sent away
to be sold off at the slave market.
Brother...
If our motherland hears of Crown Princess Min Hwe tending
to the vegetable garden herself...
her reputation as well as your position are going to be scrutinized.
- Why would it? - That's what farmers do.
How is my situation any better than that of a farmer?
That's right!
The last time we spoke to Do Reu Gohn
we were told we'll be given all the farming land that we want.
Okay.
If we use that land to farm and make money...
Are you saying you're going to set up a farm out here?
Why haven't I thought of this earlier?
What do you mean, take on a concubine?
Do I look like I'd be interested in taking on a concubine with the nation in this state?
Its been over a year since the Queen was laid down to rest.
All the tears that I've shed with her passing...
haven't even fully dried yet.
If it was up to me, I'd mourn her for the rest of my life and it still wouldn't be enough.
But still... you need to find yourself a new queen.
Please stop that.
Must you put me in this situation for you to feel better?
You're coming to the palace quite often these days.
Thanks to you.
You have no shame.
You did a great thing, Your Highness.
I can't believe that he was speaking of recommending a concubine.
That old man must've gone senile.
You dare...
Your Highness...
I have found a very pretty little girl for you.
What are you saying?
You shouldn't go on sleeping by yourself anymore.
His Highness has been visiting Lady Lee rather frequently these days.
She is not worthy if his status.
The truth is...
there is a young girl in my family who comes from great parents
that was raised well by her aunt on the mother's side.
And I've recently taken her on as my own daughter and been raising her myself.
The more you're with this girl, the more you see her...
- Your adopted daughter, you say? - Yes, Your Highness.
She's so special that my first thought was to give her as an offering to you.
Please accept her, Your Highness.
You want...
to become my in-law?
When I know your preference better than anyone else
how could I ever make a mistake?
No matter what happens, the queen must come from our side.
There are lot of rumors that Kim Ja Jeom is trying to plant a queen on the throne.
If the new queen is someone of Kim Ja Jeon's choosing
you're going to regret it forever, My Lord!
Did you get his permission?
You know he's not a man to refuse a young nubile girl.
It's a wonder how he controlled himself all this time.
Get her prepared.
So that I can officially take her to His Highness for his appraisal.
Yes, I understand.
Go home and visit your family one last time.
You won't be able to see your mother much anymore from now on.
We're here, My Lady.
Let me take a look at you!
Let me see how you've changed now that you'll be caring for His Highness.
- Mother! - Oh my!
You look so beautiful.
I wouldn't even have recognized you had I passed you by on the street!
Let go of me right now.
Let go of me!
You scoundrel! What do you think you're doing?
What are you doing?
What do you think you're doing?
Save me. Okay? Save me.
I'll do everything that you tell me to do!
I can kill you so fast that the spirits won't even know that you're dead.
You can't do that.
What's the use of even killing someone like me?
I got it!
I know what you want.
What if I set up a meeting with Yam Jun for you?
Let me just see her once.
Okay.
A request like that... what would be the difficulty in that?
Then...
I'll be on my way.
Yam Jun!
What do you mean, revenge?
We have to teach that wench a lesson for spreading such nasty rumors about you.
Don't say such a thing.
If your father heard... I mean, if the Lord heard you say that...
The same goes for father.
Since he made me shed tears of blood, I'll make them shed blood of tears too.
Oh my. Stop saying such frightening words, and you just worry about your own life.
And once you enter the palace, be cautious how you act and don't buy others' hate.
I can't do that.
The debt must be paid.
Just forget it.
Forget everything that happened in the past.
If I can have it my way...
you and I could be married and have a nice and happy life.
Be my wife.
Don't even think about seeing that man ever again.
You'll be good as dead if you do.
Yam Jun.
Yam Jun!
Yam Jun.
Save me!
I'll arrange a meeting for you to see Yam Jun as you wish!
Please spare me my life!
What an act.
What else could I do?
He told me that he'd kill me unless I arranged a way for him to see you.
He's too strong for me to take him on my own.
Yam Jun.
Even if it's for the sake of your years' worth of friendship...
don't you think the right thing to do would be to see him one last time?
He told me that he'd wait for you by that prayer tree.
I'll keep you covered here, okay?
What did he say?
What else did he say when he told you that he wanted to see me?
What was it that he said?
Did he say... that he wanted to run away with me?
That's not the problem right now, but the man looks like he's about to die.
His face looks hollow as a skeleton.
Tell him he should never ask for me again.
Because I never want to see him again.
Yam Jun! Don't be like that!
Yam Jun!
You have to feel every single rain drop that's running down your body.
That's the way you'll learn...
to feel what it is that you're going to have to do with your body.
Concentrate on your senses, and feel the raindrops on your skin.
That's the way you'll learn to feel the touch of a man on your skin.
Yam Jun!
- You sass! - Who's out there?
I could've sworn I heard the sound of the front gate opening.
No, that's not what you heard.
I'll see you later.
Yam Jun.
Take it.
Take all of me. Everything.
Subtitles by DramaFever
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Every single touch of your hand, I'm going to imprint on my body.
Then no matter who takes me in their arms, I'll remain forever yours.
- Don't go! - I promise you this.
That I'll never forget this night.
What do you mean?
The hairpin is meant to signify your being a royla concubine.
Did she and His Highness spend the night together?
His Highness didn't lay a finger on her.
He ordered Eunuch Kim to undress her.
Are you Lady Lee?
You have to let her know who's in charge right from the beginning.
What an awful girl.
I haven't laid my eyes on the King once since I've entered the palace.
Are you planning on not letting me see your face all night?
If it's my destiny that I can't avoid...
then I'm going to face it head on and fight to the end.