Episode 5
What now?
If the brat does anything wrong
Kim Ja Jeom is going to kill me with his bare hands.
Yam Jun...
Take me.
Take all of me!
I'd rather die than to become some old king's play toy!
Go back.
Why?
Are you scared?
To die?
Let's run away together.
Let's go somewhere where no one knows us
and live together.
I can't ruin my life because of one woman.
What?
What did you just say?
Do you know what a great crime it is to steal the king's woman?
Both you and I!
Will not live be able to live through that.
I told you I don't care if I die!
The future of the Nam family legacy is in my hands.
You want me to put down my beliefs and my mother
and run away with a girl instead?
I don't like you that much.
Then why did you want to see me?
You don't mean that, do you?
You just said that to push me towards a better life?
If I enter the palace like this
I'm going to suffocate to death.
Every time the old king's hand touches my body
I'll be so horrified I'll want to die.
I'm... going to engrave you into my body.
Every single touch of your hand...
I'm going to treasure each of it in my body.
Then no matter who holds me
I'll be yours.
No one can have me.
Because I'm yours.
Oh my! Oh my!
Yam Jun! Where did you go?
Save me, will you?
You must feel every single drop of rain
that wets your body with your entire being.
That way you will feel the electricity
of the snake licking your entire body.
Focus your mind
and feel the rain drops.
That way you will feel the touch of a man!
Is she trying to ruin my life?
Even the gods are so negligent!
I thought a whole new life was opening up for her!
Why you!
I'm just going to live as if I'm dead.
If it's an unavoidable fate
then I'm going to face it with my head held high.
How hard could it be to keep an old man happy?
I've been through worse than that...
Who knows?
The king might like me so much he makes me one of his royal concubines.
No matter what
I'm going to help you.
I'm also going to right the false accusations against your family.
Yam Jun...
What?
Let's just...
Let's...just...what?
I'm not going to forget.
I promise you.
To the day I die... I won't forget what happened tonight.
Don't go!
Let's die together...
or run away together or something.
I'm going to make thousands of people kneel before me.
I'm going to make sure no one can belittle me for being a concubine's wife.
I will make them terrified of me
and beg me for kindness.
I'll beg.
I don't think I can live without you.
I'm... going to... make everyone kneel before me!
What do you mean she's not here?
What is this preposterous news I'm hearing?
She had so much to tell me she was talking to me all night
and left for her room early in the morning...
What were you doing?
I'm sorry!
I feel asleep early...
You wicked girl!
How dare you fall alseep before the person you are to guard!
I deserve to die!
We will question your crime later!
Lord Kim Ja Jeom was summoned to the palace
early in the morning to receive a royal order.
What do you mean a royal order?
The hairpin accepting Yam Jun as a royal concubine!
Oh my! Oh my! What do I do?
I wasn't aware things were moving so quickly!
What is all this noise?
Where have you been?
I went to the temple to pray.
Then you should have said so before you left.
You told me to come home and rest.
You couldn't even wait a day so you came to get me?
You may be called in to the palace as early as tonight.
I was excited about making my entrance into the royal palace.
Yes it's all done in the middle of the night?
I put up 1,000 prayers for me to
become a part of the royal palace.
My legs hurt now so I need rest a bit.
Tonight?
If we drag this out
do you think those against you will just stand by and watch?
No doubt they will each say what's on their mind
and that right now is not the time to bring in a concubine.
If you are so uncomfortable bringing in another concubine
I can talk to Court Lady Kim about keeping her as one of her ladies.
We cannot do that.
How can we do such a thing to Kim Ja Jeom's daughter?
If I can just relieve you of your loneliness it does not matter to me.
In--
Will a court lady's assistant be good enough?
That would make her a servant of sorts...
Are you saying that's low or high?
Considering Lord Kim's rank, how about court lady-in-waiting?
A court lady-in-waiting is fine.
As long as she is looking after His Highness. Don't you think?
They say old habits die hard.
Looks like I'm in for a treat thanks to Kim Ja Jeom.
Who told you to take his side?
Do you not know what Kim Ja Jeom is thinking
better than anyone else Your Highness?
True.
So he wants to find out what's going on inside
the palace through a girl?
Is that not what Kim Ja Jeom's scheme is?
Pardon me Your Highness
but there was an instance in the coup d'etat of 1506
where a man from the opposing party offered his
daughter to King Jung Jong to buy his trust.
I don't know the details but
I feel that is where Lord Kim's thoughts may lie.
So use that to buy his loyalty?
They say that even the fiercest dog
does not bite the man that feeds him.
Lord Kim doesn't seem to have much other motives
so how about trusting him and using him as you did before?
No no no no.
What if he still has resentment left towards me?
I sent him off to a deserted island to starve to death!
Then... why don't you do this?
Okay! Okay! Okay! That is a great idea!
The look on Kim Ja Jeom's face!
Makes me laugh just thinking about it!
Let's go.
The Nobleness Cho.
Of the entire Joseon royal court's history
the greatest femme fatale and villain Nobleness Jo
made her official entrance into the royal court that night.
While records indicated she was Kim Ja Jeom's adopted daughter
she was actually the illegitimate daughter of one of Kim Ja Jeom's men.
Because a concubine's daughter could not enter the royal family
Kim Ja Jeom adopted her as his daughter
and behind that were Kim Ja Jeom's
complicated plans to seek revenge on Injo.
Kim Ja Jeom, the man
who tried to become king by starting a revolution.
And the sacrificial lamb in that plan was the noble Lady Jo.
More than that, she was also the victim of Injo's
political plans to restore his dignity after
pathetically bowing down and surrendering to the Manchu Dynasty
That was so close!
I was so nervous they'd find out she didn't come home last night
but then she just walked in through the front door
and I couldn't have been happier to see a ghost.
She was praying at the temple?
She's so creative with her words!
Then where are you saying she was all night?
Well she was you know--
That!
This man! How dare you say such a thing!
If she didn't go to pray at the temple
then where are you saying she was?
Well that--
You mark my words.
You go around spreading rumors
you will die a silent death.
Who do you think I am to be threatening me?
Who else? A shot doctor who talks a bunch of nonsense.
You want a job at the royal palace with these skills?
Yeah right!
Is that what you're talking about?
Of course I saw with my own two eyes.
She was concentrating so hard on getting her prayers to Buddha
I was so impressed just standing there watching her.
We are ready to enter the palace, My Lord.
Is there anything you'd like to say to her privately?
Then--
Court Lady Kim!
Before His Highness gets any older
the girl... must bear him a son.
That girl must have a son
so I can fulfill my plans.
I will remember that My Lord.
Damn... that girl... is quite pretty.
Even the king who is as emotionless as a rock
will not be able to help his mouth from gaping open.
Hurry now!
Did you not know?
The girl that Kim Ja Jeom offered His Highness
is on her way into the palace right now!
What use is there in knowing about that?
It is what goes on within the king's palace.
I heard she is not to be messed with.
She is very pretty and gentle
but she has a bewitching--
Ignore it.
Your words can get you into trouble.
I'm just worried a young girl will come in
and try to take over without any respect for us.
What do we have to worry about?
It's Court Lady Lee that should be worried.
Actually you are right.
She just barely started to attract His Highness's attention.
We can just stand by and enjoy the show.
Where did he say he's going?
He went to Court Lady Lee's room early in the evening.
I told you Lord Kim's daughter will be arriving tonight!
How can you make such a mess of things like this?
Have you forgotten?
Tonight is the night Lord Kim's--
How could I forget?
Then how can you bring him to Court Lady Lee's room?
He wanted to come. How could I have stopped him?
I have told him.
That tonight is the night.
Just in case he forgot I told him again.
That Kim Ja Jeom's daughter will be presented at the royal court tonight.
[Court Lady Lee]
I pray. I pray.
Please help my daughter to be loved deeply by His Highness
so she can bear him a son.
I pray. I pray. I pray. I pray.
What? What?
Of all people she had to fall for Nam Hyuk. What? What?
Of all people she had to fall for Nam Hyuk.
What do I do?
What if she did something in a moment of anger?
We agreed to act like that never happened.
She didn't go to meet Hyuk.
We said she went to pray at the temple.
What if Court Lady Kim catches on even the slightest bit?
Catch onto what?
She's probably seen so many girls!
She's probably only chosen virgins to take in to the king's palace.
She won't even notice.
She won't.
She won't. She won't.
Even if something did happen last night
there's no way she'll find out.
Even the quickest man will not be able to catch on.
You think so?
I thought you were a virgin too.
I don't have time for this!
I pray. I pray. I pray.
Please don't let Yam Jun experience what I had to go through
and shower her with nothing but goodness.
I pray. I pray. I pray.
[Yam Jun]
Where are you going?
We cannot keep Lady Kim waiting all night.
Your Highness.
It is I, Court Lady Kim.
Pardon me but
you need to take off Lady Kim's headpiece--
Tell advisor Kim to do it!
So tired...
I am coming in My Lady.
Please bow your head.
Please stay still.
You must take off your headpiece to make your first night official.
Undo her hair.
You should get your rest. Court Lady-in-Waiting Kim.
Did His Highness have physical realtions with the girl?
The thing is...
What is it?
His Highness did not lay a finger on her.
My...
He even had Advisor Kim take off her headpiece for him.
I don't know what to do.
I did everything I can to teach her...
It's not your fault His Highness did not lay a single finger on her.
Do you know something?
He's probably out to play a game with me.
That is also probably why he summoned the Prime Minister back.
[Kim Ryu- Prime Minister]
That's hot.
I told you many times not to make my tea too hot!
Did I not say I like it lukewarm?
Shall we bring you new tea Your Highness?
Forget it you fool!
Ever since those barbarians toasted me
I've come to like everything a bit lukewarm.
This is probably an illness as well, isn't it?
Should I look for a new girl?
Even if you bring him the most conniving girl
he will most likely not even glance in her direction.
But--
Let's wait.
The girl seems smart
so she'll most likely find a way for herself.
There's even a phrase to keep your enemies closer.
He'll become curious eventually.
What Kim Ja Jeom was thinking offering him a girl...
And just what type of girl she is...
His Highness is like dry fire wood so
once he lights up he will burn uncontrollably.
He will hate the girl and treat her horribly
but in the end he will fall in love with her is what I'm saying.
Just wait and see.
Don't be too upset.
All that matters is that it's official.
So no matter what happens you won't get kicked out of the palace.
They said that's how it is living in the palace.
What did they say?
It's a lifetime of waiting.
They said that's how it is in the palace.
You barbarians!
Did you have a bad dream?
No nothing... it wasn't that...
I didn't sleep well last night...
Anyways...
Were you here the whole time?
I thought you'd left a while ago
and I fell asleep...
Your Highness, I will sit upright.
My back is...
Sit comfortably. Why are you sitting like that?
Please sit comfortably.
Oh my my my my...
Look at me...
I sent someone to bring you here early in the morning, didn't I?
Yes Your Highness.
It's nothing too special.
I gave it some thought
and the court is empty.
Kim Sang Hun and Choi Myung Kil
are all in Shimyang.
So I called you here today to ask you to take back
your seat on the court as the Prime Minister.
Since I left it has only been--
Royal orders have already been sent to the council.
To have Kim Ryu proceed over Choi Myung Kil's duties.
And make Shim Ki Won an Idol.
Congratulations Prime Minister.
You are back on the council now.
And thanks to you I was also promoted.
You must be excited.
Of course I am.
This is our chance to tighten our hold over Kim Ja Jeom.
What is there not to like?
When you go to pay your respects to His Highness...
make sure you get a list from him.
What kind of list are you speaking of?
There must be a reason he's appointing me as the Prime Minister.
Things have started to move very quickly.
His Highness sent an official order to the council.
I heard the list was filled with unexpected individuals.
I took a quick peek at the list
and your name wasn't anywhere to be seen.
It's just the council...
Shouldn't you at least be appointed to military operations?
He's probably testing me.
To see how upset I get.
Let's wait a bit.
In the end His Highness will run to me in his socks
and beg me for his life.
Do you have some sort of good idea?
Choi Myung Kil and Kim Sang Hun will be returning from Shimyang soon.
Yes, most likely.
And they will probably also bring news of Crown Prince So Hyun.
What about the Crown Prince?
The only way for us to live is to tear apart the father-son relationship.
Do you...
- Do you think that will work? - It will.
Isn't the Crown Prince a very devoted son?
And that's why the shock will be that much larger.
There's nothing you can't do if you try hard enough.
I will try tens and hundreds of times... who's to say I can't try 10,000 times?
[Shimyang Quarters]
What are you doing?
The Chinese prince sent us 500 yen.
He asked us to get him
cotton, leather, otter skin and honey
from a Joseon merchant for him.
The Chinese have strong armies
but it is a country that lacks resources.
Before they got materials they needed from other countries
but now that they're at war with them
there's no way for them to get what they need.
It's not just that.
Things like Joseon's high quality paper
cotton, medicine, and cigarettes
can be sold to Chinese aristocrats for a high price.
What are you going to do with all that money?
We have to save our people being sold in the marketplaces.
Do you know the selling price of a servant sold in the marketplace?
30 silver yens.
With 30 silver yens we can send one of our people home.
Your Highness.
Even though we were brought here as hostages
I'm actually glad it happened.
I barely saw you once or twice a month at the royal palace
but here I can see you everyday.
Do you still...
resent me?
That's my question for you.
Your first love...
committed suicide because of me.
Wife...
Do you know how happy I've been lately?
Thanks to you, I feel alive.
Had it not been for you
I would have been immobilized by homesickness.
Okay.
Whether it's farming or trading... let's try whatever we can.
Hold on Your Highness.
Look Your Highness.
The land that was promised to us is enough for a horse to walk in a day.
If we just do it right, we can farm over 3,000 produces.
If we trade all that for money
we can save hundreds of our people.
Look.
At this unused land.
What are you planning on doing here?
Plant whatever we can.
Rice farm as well.
You're so ambitious.
What do you mean a rice farm in the cold weather here?
We can do it.
I saw a large lake on the way here.
If we get water from there and farm rice
it will be very profitable for us.
While your intentions are great
who will do the farming?
I have a good idea.
Brother.
She doesn't mean to do it herself, does she?
How do I look?
Do you really intend to do the farming yourself?
No reason why I can't when I have perfectly good hands and feet.
Your Highness!
Crown Prince!
What are you doing here so early in the morning?
What are you doing in commoners' clothes?
Well ...if I want to farm--
So are the rumors true?
That you and the Crown Princess will be building a farm yourselves?
Yes. It will be good for my digestion too. I feel good about it.
You must not!
If the royal palace hears of this--
Don't worry.
Here even the highest ranking officials hunt for their own food
and farm on their free time.
Are you saying you're going to adopt the barbaric lifestyle?
Even if it is the barbarians' lifestyle
we must learn where there is room to do so.
Your Highness!
You mean the Crown Prince and Princess from Joseon are farming themselves?
Yes Your Highness.
What'd I say?
The Crown Prince is not one to turn down jobs such as farming.
It's probably not because they want to do it.
They're probably faking it to buy your sympathy.
Your Highness.
Do you not think he is fit to be the King of Joseon?
The Crown Prince of Joseon is not a conniving man.
Keep a close watch
and figure out what the Crown Prince has in mind.
Yes Your Highness.
Are you okay?
He's such a strong fellow.
Let's try again.
Before accepting her as his wife the Crown Prince So Hyun
had another woman he was in love with.
When Injo first put out the order for a Crown Princess
the person that made it to the final round was the daughter of a court official.
But because of her father's heritage
she was eliminated all together as a candidate.
Because of that the woman committed suicide by hanging herself
and Crown Prince So Hyun did not have a good relationship with the Crown Princess.
And then the two were dragged to Shimyang as hostages
where they developed a closer relationship.
So more than anyone else, the Crown Princess was extremely happy.
What do you mean pay my morning respects?
Who are you telling me to pay my morning respects to?
It is a rule in the palace to visit the queens' quarters
three times a day-morning, day and night.
How am I supposed to visit a dead queen?
Much less three times a day?
Right now the highest woman is Lady Jang.
So it is customary for you to pay respects to Lady Jang.
You don't know what will happen to you if you delay it anymore.
I'm in the royal palace but I have yet to see the king.
My Lady!
What if someone hears you?
It's just you and me here. Who would hear us?
They say even the walls have eyes and ears in the royal palace.
Please be careful!
I'm saying I didn't see him because I didn't.
Was I lying?
So His Highness has stopped by your room every night recently?
Yes, My Lady.
His Highness must be completely taken by Court Lady Lee.
What about Court Lady-in-Waiting Kim?
What do you mean Court Lady-in-Waiting Kim?
I mean Kim Ja Jeom's daughter.
She is actually Court Lady-in-Waiting Jo.
Isn't that so Court Lady Lee?
What do you mean Lady Jo?
I think they're just saying Kim Ja Jeom adopted her
but really she's a concubine's--
How can they let a concubine's daughter into the palace...
Where did you hear such a thing?
His Highness said so himself.
Oh my. His Highness has said such a thing?
What are you doing?
Let her know she is here to pay her respects.
My Lady!
Who are you?
I thought it was just as rude to eavesdrop outside so I just came in.
Let me introduce myself.
Are you that Jo--
Lady Kim?
Even I myself am not sure if it is Kim or Jo
but I am sure I am a concubine's daughter.
What a petulant girl!
How dare you run your mouth like that!
Are you Lady Lee?
Yes.
They say that I've been spending the nights alone thanks to you.
I just--
And that is why a damn court lady sits
while a nobleness pays her respect to the Ladies?
I haven't learned much
so I was unaware of the palace rules.
However I will make sure to stop by three times a day everyday.
But
you should stop gossiping about me behind my back.
What would my birth father think if he heard such a thing?
Who talked about you behind--
I will get going now.
Why you!
A bit more and you just might swear at me.
Why that--
Let's go.
Yes My Lady.
That's right! You look down like that when you make eye contact with me.
Are you just going to sit and watch?
You just let her run around and that girl will be trouble!
My Lady, you are so great!
At first I was so nervous
and then I felt so much better later!
People like them you have to put them in their place from the beginning.
Old hags sitting and ordering me to come and go...
I didn't come here to take orders from them.
Yeah right.
But we have a problem.
It might feel good right now--
You don't have to worry.
It's not like they were ever going to welcome me.
I just need to somehow survive and eventually die.
Maybe I'll just become senile...
Excuse me?
Rather than growing old in the palace...
Please don't say such things even as a joke.
You'll jinx yourself.
Jinx myself how?
What's worse than dying?
[Nam Hyuk]
Forget about that girl!
She moved into the palace so good for her!
She slapped you?
The dead queen must have come back from the dead.
To slap the people below her.
It is because you acted disrespectfully.
So how can you blame her?
The reason His Highness has not gone to her room
is not my fault.
How dare you tell on her.
I haven't seeked her out
so she took it out on you.
So you're saying it's my fault.
What a wicked girl.
It's because she's just like her father.
Your Highness!
Have I done something wrong?
No no.
You haven't done anything wrong.
I'm a bit tired today.
So I need to sleep alone.
Your Highness.
I will make sure to look after you tonight.
It's okay.
Let's go.
She can't see us now right?
Where is Lady Kim's room?
Excuse me?
Let's go to her room.
Your Highness! It's not that way. It is this way.
You should have said something sooner.
Let's go!
Advisor Kim! Advisor Kim!
What is it?
His Highness is on his way to Lady Kim's room.
Is that true?
Yes Court Lady Kim.
This is it.
You should hurry along.
You should prepare for their sleeping arrangements.
My Lady--
Let it be.
Will you not let me see your face all night?
Answer me!
Please think about it.
Even when welcoming someone in a lower position
they are not treated like this.
To be frank, this is only because you wanted it.
Not because you felt bad for a girl who had no other choice than to become a concubine.
Is that so?
Of course.
You may be right.
What do you mean I may be right?
A formal wife
may not get kicked out
but if you dont like me--
Continue.
Why have you stopped suddenly?
You are blinding.
What was that?
I didn't expect you to be so young.
I am young?
Yes... Yes Your Highness.
I'm young?
Yes.
Subtitles by DramaFever
If you make any mistakes with His Highness
you will not be given a second chance.
I like her boldness!
Someone is probably looking to take my place.
I hear you spent the night with His Highness last night.
Let's try to get along.
You should remember your place.
That young girl!
Only way to is to have His Highness's undivided attention.
He runs to Lady Kim's quarters every chance he gets.
Do you like me that much?
What's wrong?
Just have a son.
I will make you my queen.