Episode 35
Aren't you proud of your son?
Say you're proud of me.
I became Yook-ei-jeon's Head Merchant as you wished.
And I even repaid the grudge you had for Chun Oh-su.
Isn't this enough for you to be proud of me?
It was you?
The one who made my father like that
Gil So-gae.
It was you, Gil So-gae?
Excuses and lies are for cowards.
Yes.
It was me.
I did it.
Father, why did you save a man like this?
Father!
Gil So-gae!
Why are you bringing it back in?
Take it up to the grave.
So he can warm himself up a little.
Mama
He was fighting with Song-pa's Merchant Chun.
What?
Mama!
Your father Chun Oh-su
forgave me.
Even if my father forgave you,
I can't forgive you.
I should have killed you at In-jae.
When Sir Head Cattle Broker passed away,
I should have at In-jae
Can't be
My wife
Was it you who killed my wife?
Did you kill her?
Why would I?
There's no reason for me to.
There must've been some reason.
A reason that I don't know of.
Not me. It must've been Shin Suk-ju.
It wasn't Sir Head Merchant.
It must have been you!
Tell me.
If you don't, you die!
Bong-Sam!
About that
Gae-ddong.
Come on, hurry.
Hurry! Come on.
Guksadang Mama, what are you doing here?
Oh my!
Merchant!
What happened?
He got into a fight with the Head Merchant.
Go take the blankets out in the room.
Let me see!
Why did he fight?
What are you all doing?
So he was fighting and he lost to Gil So-gae?
He got hit by Head Merchant's guard.
His guard.
Since when did Gil So-gae have a guard around?
Even Shin Suk-ju didn't have one.
Speaking of Head Merchant,
You know the day the Head Merchant passed away?
Did something happen to you?
You seemed a little shocked.
Why are you curious about that?
I was curious about that too.
Bong-Sam, are you okay?
Merchant, are you okay?
Things were chaotic so I forgot about it.
What happened between you and the Head Merchant?
Sir Head Merchant.
Please.
Sir Head Merchant was a special person to me.
If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here.
You can't go this late at night.
It's dangerous. Even boars pop out around here.
It's okay.
Let's go.
Honorable Mama.
It's too late.
You should spend the night here.
Take her to Mrs. Chun's room.
No, not that room!
That's not polite, Wol.
How can you give mistress' room to someone else?
Then make space for her in Yu-su's room.
Now.
Honorable Mama, come this way.
Get some rest, Honorable Mama.
There, there.
Yu-su, you grew so much.
So happy.
How can you hold Yu-su in your arms?
How can you, after killing our mistress?
How can you hold Yu-su like that?
You!
Do you really want to die?
Is only your master's heart precious and not mine?
There's a limit to my patience.
If you keep speaking nonsense, I won't take it anymore.
Watch your mouth.
Mistress.
My poor mistress.
The stable people must've already forgotten how you passed away.
Wol.
I know you have great affection for Madame.
But you need to let her go now.
When are you going to grieve until?
I know why mistress passed away. I know everything!
So I can't look at Guksadang's Mama and smile.
What are you talking about?
It was Guksadang's Mama that
made our mistress pass away.
Guksadang's Mama!
Guksadang...
How come
How come no one is leaving me alone?
Yu-su.
I can't help it.
Honorable Mama.
Was it you?
Yes, it's me.
How could you
How can I not come when you're like this?
You dreamt about Yu-su's mom, huh?
It was good to see you smile.
No.
Gae-ddong.
Can't be her.
Can't be.
Here.
Who led my father to death?
Yes.
I'm curious to.
I wonder what happened.
I became Yook-ei-jeon's Head Merchant as you desired.
And I took revenge on Chun Oh-su for killing you too.
Isn't this enough for you to be proud of me?
Gil So-gae.
Just because I don't have evidence doesn't mean it disappears.
It was Guksadang's Mama who killed mistress
No more!
Don't be foolish.
Then what about mistress?
Should she be forgotten like this?
Is Guksadang's Mama that great?
Enough for her to come to our stable back and forth after doing that to mistress?
There are two people that the Queen loves.
One is her nephew Do Seung-ji.
The other is Guksadang's Mama.
Sir Merchant.
It won't end in you dying!
Merchant Chun and everyone in the stable may die!
Mistress.
My poor mistress.
Leave this to me.
You forget about it.
I'll look for evidence.
Let's go back inside.
Where were you at this hour?
Bong-Sam!
Are you okay to sit up like this?
Sun-dol.
Yes?
Sun-dol.
What?
Gil So-gae...
I think he's the one who killed Yu-su's mom.
Even if he didn't do it directly,
he definitely knows about Yu-su's mom's death.
He's Yook-ei-jeon's Head Merchant.
You can't move just by your feelings.
I'm not going to act hastily.
I'm going to find evidence.
And I'm going to kill him with these hands.
I'm going to reveal the true sides of Gil So-gae.
And I'll repay the resentment for Yu-su's mom.
I will.
Head Merchant.
That house over there.
Shin Suk-ju gave that to us when we built Byeongbokgung Palace.
Shin Suk-ju.
Foreigners must not like Joseon's buildings.
They seem so uncomfortable to be sitting on their knees. The Queen is sad.
Uncle.
How about we build something just for meetings with foreigners?
That would be great!
We will make the Queen happy.
The new Head Merchant doesn't seem to talkative.
Head Merchant.
Do I have to chew Uncle's words and put them into your mouth?
I will build it.
I will build one and make it the meeting house.
Really?
That would be great!
The Japanese sent us a message.
They want the rice export ban gone so they can freely buy rice.
Not yet.
Do Seung-ji.
Why do you always say no to Uncle?
The citizens will go crazy.
The citizens can't even accept the open port yet.
We're already short on rice, but give them to the Japanese?
Tell them to find another way.
Sit down!
Uncle.
Don't take too much from the foreigners.
You won't be able to take care of the consequences.
Do Seung-ji!
Lord Ambassador.
Don't mind him.
That's what politics are like.
A no on the outside but a yes inside.
Foolish ones like him will only fight left and right.
Even dogs and pigs can do that.
Even I can do that!
Head Merchant.
A true pro is one who is good at negotiating.
Then let me borrow Seolhae's rice.
The rice that we collected as tax?
You're going to sell that to foreigners?
Peel off pine wood,
mix it with dirt and cook it,
and they eat that.
There must be at least some rice going around in Dosung.
But anywhere outside of Dosung is chaos.
Everywhere.
Bring those people here and give them just two bowls each.
Just two bowls.
Bong.
What are you going to feed our stable people?
We have barely enough for our stable!
We've already given out 40 bags of rice.
We don't have much left!
I'll look for more rice somehow.
If we can't give out two bowls, then just one!
We all have to fight this together.
How are we going to survive until harvest time?
Let's go to Kyungki and meet all the American merchants there.
Merchant Chun.
Merchant Chun!
Look at this.
What is this?
What did you bring rice plants for?
This is Seonhyecheong's rice.
Tax rice is going around right now.
Gil So-gae is selling these tax rice.
Gil So-gae, that bastard.
How could a Head Merchant do such a thing?
Where did you find this?
Kyungki-do.
Yangpyeong's Seonhyecheong tax rice.
It's being sold to foreigner merchants.
How can they sell off citizens' tax to foreigners?
Let's get all that rice.
That tax rice that Gil So-gae is selling.
We have to get those.
What do you mean?
Yes.
Kyungki-do Yangpyeong
This is where Gil So-gae is staying.
To get rice out of the storage, you need a receipt and and Seonhyecheong's okpae.
Gil So-gae probably has those.
I'll bring them out when he falls asleep.
Everyone else, as we promised earlier, make no mistakes
and you gotta do well, okay?
Stable's people and our brothers, they're starving.
3,000 bags of rice are about to be sold off to foreigners.
How can we just sit and watch?
We can't.
Let's go back and come back later.
Brother.
Choi Dol!
Are you crazy?
Why did you come in here?
Get out.
We should look around first.
Your job is to get a horse and a wagon from Yangchon stable.
Bong can't come in here.
If he gets caught, Gil So-gae is going to kill him.
I know it.
You're a coward.
Is this it?
Yes, this way.
Brother!
What, what?
Gil So-gae!
I'm gonna have to go back up to Hanyang now.
Lord Ambassador, give me the receipt and the okpae.
Here it is.
I told them so if you show them these, they'll give you 3,000 bags of rice.
No need to come out.
I'll see you back in Hanyang.
Sun-dol, right now is the chance.
Bring that out. Now!
Not now.
If Gil So-gae finds out he lost it, he'll block off the storage.
You're right. Then just come out.
Let's come back when he falls asleep. Come out!
Gil So-gae might take it with him or hide it somewhere.
That's true too.
Then what do we do?
I'll hide here and take it out at night.
If you get caught, you'll die.
Go first.
I'll bring them out.
You go tell Bong-Sam.
Tell him he has to hurry.
Yeah, we do have to hurry.
But are you sure you can do it alone?
Alright, alright, then.
What did you just say?
We're gonna have to rush things.
Man-chi.
Go to Song-pa and tell them to prepare the ships earlier.
Gom-bae.
Go get the merchants.
Go tell our workers and the merchants that the time was pushed up.
Do you understand?
Don't worry and get Sun-dol out safely.
Hurry!
I'll get going.
Go to sleep already.
It's getting so late.
Go to sleep already.
What if something is wrong?
What's taking him so long?
I need to go inside and get Sun-dol out.
No, you cant.
You cannot be seen by Gil So-gae.
People are coming!
Gae-ddong.
What are you doing here?
I'm going to the Queen's house for a funeral.
Sit down.
Do you want a drink?
I have to talk to you about Yu-su's mom.
What for?
I can even risk my life to win over Chun Bong-Sam.
You know, right?
What is it?
It's just wind.
This room has much draft going through.
Gae-ddong.
About Yu-su's mom--
Let's talk about that later.
What I said at my father's grave is the answer.
Bong-Sam cannot be your destiny.
When Yu-su's mom died, you were already over.
I said stop!
I'm about to go to a funeral.
I shouldn't be talking about the dead.
Get up.
I came with Do Seung-ji. He's at Yangpyeong.
You should go say hi.
Okay.
Wait here. I forgot my incense pouch.
You repay life debt with a life.
Honorable Mama.
How much were you involved in Yu-su's mom's incident?
Do you have that much free time right now?
You owe me a life now.
I'm going to be repaid for that debt.
Here's the receipt.
And the Seonhyecheong okpae.
Yangpyeong, Seonhyecheong Storage
We're emptying out the whole place!
What are you all doing? Hurry before you get destroyed!
Yes, yes, sir.
Open the door! It's 3,000 bags.
Yes, sir.
Yes, yes, we should hurry.
Quick, come inside.
Let's go inside!
Hurry!
They took out all the rice on Seonhyecheong.
Sir Head Merchant!
The ones who took the rice left money.
It was 75,000 nyang.
Who...
Who did this?
It was you, right?
It was you!
What are you doing? Let her go!
It was you, wasn't it?
Yes.
I'll go get people.
Just stay outside.
Mama.
Stay outside.
We lived together the past 10 years.
I wasn't a man to you,
but like you said,
I was...
your brother...
your friend,
and family.
How could you betray me like this?
There are times when you know one side will get hurt,
but you can't help but choose the other side.
Soo
So you're telling me you're choosing Bong-Sam?
And throw me away?
We're splitting like this?
You were my younger sister
and my only family member.
But you're throwing me away?
I can't let you go to Bong-Sam.
So-gae.
Our destiny must be up to here.
You and Bong-Sam cannot live under the same sky.
I can't help it.
I'm going to kill Bong-Sam.
You became Yook-ei-jeon's Head Merchant.
You got what you wanted.
So stop now.
You thought that's all I wanted?
You're wrong.
You were part of it.
You, Gae-ddong.
It feels like my heart is shattering for me, too.
But if I'm with you,
I can't go to Chun Bong-Sam.
Yu-su's mom, yes,
She's holding onto my ankle and won't let me go.
Can you take that burden for me?
If you really love me, then please do.
And So-gae,
Let me go now.
Please.
I can't do as you say.
I can't let you go.
I am Gil So-gae.
Don't worry. I'll protect you from now on.
Hyung.
Sir Head Merchant.
There have been no movements in Song-pa stable.
You must've guessed wrong.
They go around buying rice everyday.
They're going from one market to another.
Those evil ones.
We have to get them no matter what.
Seonhyecheong rice is being sold in the public and to foreigners?
What is this?
Do Seung-ji.
Are you questioning Uncle right now?
An anonymous letter came in!
The King is very angry.
Seonhyecheong's official is the King's older brother.
How embarrassed must he be?
Your Honor.
They're all rumors.
Trust me.
Why would I have done such a disrespectful thing?
Even the Queen knows. What are you gonna do?
What are you going to do about the stolen rice?
Don't worry too much.
You can't even buy rice with money these days.
I am Yook-ei-jeon's Head Merchant.
I'll fill up the rice storage.
I'll take care of it.
Don't worry.
Alright.
I trust you.
This is the one who brought the okpae and took the rice.
What a handsome man.
Should we search Song-pa stable?
They stole tax rice so it's a shame on Uncle.
And it's putting mud on the Queen's face.
What if you secretly bring him in and question him?
I can do that whenever I want.
But will he be my tool or my enemy?
That's what I want to know.
Watch every move of Chun Bong-Sam.
Yes, sir.
I'm back.
Great job.
Good job, everyone.
We went around so much pretending to buy rice again.
Yes, yes.
Merchant.
When are you going to unleash the rice?
It's not time yet.
Let's wait a little more.
Let's go to Guksadang.
If we want to release the rice secretly, we need Gae-ddong's help.
Go with Choi-dol.
Why me?
My legs hurt so much from walking all day.
I can't walk.
We never got to even thank her.
She helped us at Yangpyeong and we couldn't have gotten the rice without her.
Let's go.
Come on.
Thank you.
I heard from Sun-dol.
With empty hands?
I rushed here so I couldn't bring anything.
I'll come with two heavy hands next time.
Then from next time, express your gratitude with presents.
Alright, alright.
What are you doing there standing?
Sit down.
Okay.
I don't know if it's my eyes but I have a headache.
Let me go get some fresh air.
What's wrong with your eyes?
Where I got injured last time.
Sun-dol!
Sit down.
We have some eye medicine.
I'll go get it.
I can't even tell Bong-Sam...
Tell Bong-Sam what?
I saved his life three times.
I delivered Yu-su and saved both Yu-su and his mother.
Those eyes.
You almost went blind but I made you see.
Ah.
I saved your life at Yangpyeong too.
And even let you have Seonhyecheong's rice.
Say what you want to say to Bong-Sam to me first.
How could I not know of the favors you showed us?
But that and Yu-su's mom are different.
Different?
How are they different?
These two hands saved the lives of all Song-pa stable people.
You all would've died during tax time if it weren't for me.
How are they different?
All of your lives belonged to me.
Sun-dol.
Don't be ungrateful.
Sun-dol!
Do your eyes hurt a lot?
I'm worried.
I heard these work really well. Try them.
Yeah, try them.
Thank you.
Honorable Mama.
Let's go inside.
I need to talk to you about Yu-su's mom.
I can even risk my life to win over Chun Bong-Sam.
You know, right?
I saved the lives of everyone at Song-pa stable with these hands!
Don't be ungrateful.
This is hard.
This is the hardest moment of my life.
So many lives depend on my decision.
What are you saying?
You're telling him to become a peddler again?
What do you mean?
What I said is what I mean.
We 36 representatives
decided to invite Merchant Chun to become our leader.
I understand your hearts,
but there is a leader there already.
Choi Bang-gu.
Choi Bang-gu died.
What?
There are those who are old and ill and cannot be out in the streets selling.
They have to be given money monthly by the government.
So Choi Bang-gu took that money and
Then
he died because of that?
That's right.
They beat him to death.
How did they beat him to the point of dying?
That's crazy.
If a person is greedy,
you eventually pay for it.
They laid him down on a mat.
But he accidentally got hit on the head.
It was according to law. What can we do?
So you want our Merchant to take that empty space?
Chief merchant.
Why would you put it that way?
Merchant Chun was originally our leader.
Shin Suk-ju, Choi Bang-gu, and Kim Bo-hyeon stole that from him.
And now we're trying to get him back.
How unfortunate.
There's an old saying.
A pig must fear gaining weight
and a person must fear having his name lifted high.
Choi Bang-gu.
Look at his ending.
Greed.
Greed is to be avoided.
Being a leader is greed for me.
They're selecting a new leader for the peddlers?
Yes, sir.
It's an old law that says they take care of their own business.
Chun Bong-Sam as the new leader.
Leader.
I think he will become the leader unless something happens.
Bring Chun Bong-Sam.
Yes, sir.
Well our Merchant can't take that role.
Do you not know he almost died last time?
Merchant Chun.
Our workers right now
We're going through such a hard time.
When foreigners come into the market,
we get the first hit.
Merchant Chun.
We beg you.
We beg you, Merchant Chun.
Merchant Chun.
Please accept our offer.
We beg you.
Sir Merchant.
Come in.
Did you call, Do Seung-ji?
Sit comfortably.
You don't have to be so formal in front of me.
Merchant.
You are talented.
You did a great job taking all of Yangpyeong's tax rice.
Did you think you fooled everyone?
Save us!
Merchant Chun.
Do Seung-ji.
Tax rice belongs to the citizens.
Outside of Doseong, there are so many citizens starving.
The 3,000 bags rice isn't of my interest.
That's up to Uncle and the Head Merchant.
Then
why did you call me?
20,000 peddlers.
You want to keep the peddlers at your feet?
You will become the leader and change the system so that peddlers are right under me.
Doseong is in a mess right now!
This is a list of people to be killed!
Gil So-gae.
You must hurry!
Will you work for me?
We found Min Kyeom-ho!
Trust me, Your Honor.
Gil So-gae is over here!
Open the door!
Are you telling me to send them over?
Either save me or kill both me and the Head Merchant.
Isn't it time to tell the truth?
Why did you kill my wife?