Episode 39
How would Guksadang's shaman get married?
The rumors are going around everywhere.
Jillyeonggun would do it.
The problem is their marriage will do us no good.
Mama.
What do you mean you're leaving Guksadang?
You can't.
Move.
Mama.
Move out of the way!
Mama.
I am your spiritual daughter.
How could I just sit and watch you digging your own grave?
Until now, living wasn't living for me.
I've wanted this all my life.
You know better than I do.
Let me go now.
Mama.
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Kyotaejeon
Your Majesty, Jillyeonggun is here.
Tell her to come in.
Jillyeonggun paying you respect, Your Honor.
You said you'll leave Guksadang?
It's my understanding that Guksadang can't get married.
Plus, you're the one who's supposed to pray for the prince.
Your Majesty.
I've received unending grace
but I kindly ask you to take that grace away--
How could a shaman get married?
Your Majesty.
Please allow me to leave Guksadang.
No.
I cannot be Guksadang any longer.
If you say one more word, I will not forgive you.
This is my destiny, Your Majesty.
The destiny I know for Guksadang is
pleading for the prosperity of the royal family
and for the prosperity of the nation.
Your Majesty.
Leaving Guksadang for a man is unforgivable.
Go back and have time for self-reflection.
Your Majesty.
After the King pours out his favor on someone
and runs out of things to give, do you know what he gives at the end?
Death.
If you don't want to die, apologize a hundred times
and go back home.
Even if this is the road to death,
it's a road that cannot be avoided.
That's what you call destiny.
Haedong Shop
Merchant Chang.
Yes, Sir Head Merchant.
The Haedong Shop has decided to
gather rice from Yangpyeong, Yeojoo, and Leecheon.
Great job, Merchant Chang.
A round of applause for Merchant Chang.
I didn't do anything.
Chun Bong-Sam must be so bummed.
Peddlers Headquarters announced to protect rice, salt, and cotton.
Would gathering in rice be enough?
You've decided to completely step on Chun Bong-Sam.
We should buy in salt and cotton too.
Salt and cotton are two things we decided to throw out.
If we just don't get our rice taken away by them, we win.
So just focus on rice. Only rice!
Rice from Madeul, Kimpo, Yangpyeong, Leecheon, and Yeojoo
have already gone over to Yook-ei-jeon.
Yangpyeong, Yeojoo, Leecheon
Those must've been by Merchant Chang.
Luckily, Pyeonggang and Cheongun decided to sell their rice to us.
The problem is here.
The southern area.
Who will take the rice from there?
Will it be us or Yook-ei-jeon?
Yook-ei-jeon is going to offer them a lot of money for the rice.
We already don't have much money left.
Everyone.
We cannot beat Yook-ei-jeon with money.
Joseon's rice should go to the starving citizens.
We have to convince them with this goal and justification.
Leader.
Jillyeonggun Mama said she'll help.
How about you meet her first and discuss it with her?
Where's Jillyeonggun?
We have to discuss the rice issue for Peddlers Headquarters.
But I haven't seen her in days.
She's doing a public plea.
A public plea?
What do you mean?
A public plea?
She tried to ask the Queen if she could leave Guksadang...
but the Queen became angry.
It must've been because she tried to get married to you.
It's already been four days.
I don't know why she wants to go to Merchant Chun so badly.
Your Majesty.
This is Head Merchant's birthday gift to the prince.
The prince will be very happy.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
You are Euiryeong Nam's son?
You would've been a great government official
if you worked with Do Seung-ji and took care of the prince.
But you're also a great merchant.
How impressive.
You're too kind.
Your Majesty.
What is it?
Jillyeonggun fainted.
A foolish shaman who doesn't know her place!
Throw her out if she fainted.
What are you bothering the Queen for?
I'm sorry.
Move her to her room and call the doctor.
This big house,
and all the possessions that you have...
Would you throw all that away...
just to be with me?
I'll help you the best I can.
I'll raise the cows,
I'll cook,
and I'll follow you around and help you sell.
I'll raise Yu-su too.
Alright.
If you want even a small breath of warm air,
Come to me.
Your Majesty.
Who is the man that you so desperately call?
It's a man named Chun Bong-Sam.
Chun Bong-Sam.
Do I know him?
He's the leader at the Peddlers Headquarters Office.
He's the one Merchant Shin gave all his possessions to.
Your Majesty.
Please.
Please let me leave Guksadang.
My marriage to the King was decided when I was 14.
As all the Palace women are,
I don't know what it feels like to love someone
to miss someone, and to risk your life for someone.
You may leave Guksadang.
Your Majesty.
You saved my life and Do Seung-ji's life.
Even if you leave, just make sure to stay as my friend.
Your grace is overflowing.
I'll give you a wedding present.
The man you'll marry is a merchant.
He must be sad to have lost the money that Merchant Shin was going to give him.
I'll give him something in place of that.
I'll give him the sole selling right for ginseng.
Your Majesty.
Thank you.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Haedong Shop
Head Merchant.
What are you doing here at this hour?
Hwangcheop is about to go to Merchant Chun.
Hwangcheop?
Hwangcheop is the sole selling right for ginseng.
Do Seung-ji.
What could I do?
The Queen cherishes Jillyeonggun that much.
No, stop them.
Japan, the qing dynasty, and everyone else is dying to buy out our ginseng.
If Merchant Chun gets the hwangcheop,
Joseon's commercial supremacy will be ruined.
There's no taking back in the Palace.
The same with the Queen's words.
Then.
Do we have to quit our plan to renew Joseon's commerce through Haedong Shop?
You two.
Stay outside.
Is hwangcheop that great?
Does that mean Chun Bong-Sam can become as great as Shin Suk-ju?
Will Chun Bong-Sam really take it from the one who killed his wife?
You know Merchant Chun the best.
I'm not sure.
That's hard for me to predict.
If he wants to protect the commercial supremacy with rice, salt, and cotton,
he will need the hwangcheop.
We don't have time.
Break the news to Chun Bong-Sam.
Tell him Jillyeonggun killed his wife.
Gae-ddong!
Are you okay?
The Queen gave us the hwangcheop as a wedding gift.
Hwangcheop?
Did you just say hwangcheop?
Hwangcheop?
Sir Merchant and Jillyeonggun are really getting married?
Were you not listening all this time?
Gom-bae.
Mak-bong, Bang-dae.
Chief merchant--
Ah.
Sir Head Merchant.
Have you been well?
Sorry about the incident.
So sorry and thank you.
Thank you for saving our brother.
I owe you for my uncle's life too.
No need for such words.
We have to look into the American sellers first.
As long as we have the hwangcheop,
we can get back all the American sellers that had gone to Yook-ei-jeon.
Look it over.
Sir Merchant.
What's up?
So--
Sun-dol is here.
Excuse me.
What brings you here?
If you marry Jillyeonggun, you'll get the hwangcheop.
Everything will be as you planned.
Congratulations.
The Head Merchant came all the way here just to congratulate me?
I owe Wol something.
Let me have a talk with you.
Guksadang's Mama is here, right?
Give this to Jillyeonggun
and when the time is right, bring Merchant Chun to his wife's grave.
This is what you wanted so badly.
Is that the only reason you came here?
You have no other intentions?
Even if I do, why does that matter to you?
Wasn't your only wish to take revenge on Jillyeonggun?
What is that letter?
It's none of your business.
Sir Merchant.
Wol.
What's up?
I have something to tell you.
Sit down.
I'll tell you at mistress' grave.
Why not here?
There must be something going on.
Then sit down and wait a little.
I was writing a letter for the rice collection.
Right now.
It has to be right now.
Why did you call me here?
What do you want to say to me?
You cannot marry Merchant Chun.
The Queen allowed it.
I have nothing left to say about that.
Jillyeonggun Mama.
You threw away Song-pa and chose Yook-ei-jeon.
You threw away Chun Bong-Sam for Do Seung-ji.
That says enough.
Do you think there's still something left between us?
That's Gae-ddong.
This is a matter of morality.
Morality?
Noble men speak of morality when they have nothing to say.
It's not one of your little merchant tricks?
You're afraid of the hwangcheop.
If Merchant Chun gets it, Yook-ei-jeon will be under him.
No matter what you say,
the fact that you killed Yu-su's mom doesn't change.
There's no evidence that I did it.
Gil So-gae already confessed
and he already paid the price for his crimes.
It's a done deal.
God knows, the world knows, you know, and I know.
Let's pretend you become Bong-sam's wife.
But how would you be Yu-su's mom after killing his real mother?
If you bring this up one more time,
even if you work for Do Seung-ji,
I will not forgive you.
Sir Merchant.
Leader.
You have to know what you have to know.
You were once my friend.
I couldn't let you marry the woman who killed Yu-su's mom.
When did you find out?
Since when?
When did you find out?
Since Yangpyeong.
When we went to go get the tax rice.
Why?
Why are you telling me now?
I didn't know you would want to marry Jillyeonggun.
Lies!
Hwangcheop.
It's because of the hwangcheop.
Why are you going down the same path as Gil So-gae?
Why?
Does the Head Merchant position turn people like that?
Bong-Sam!
You were my friend.
Even now, deep inside my heart, you were my friend Sun-dol.
But...
that friend just left.
Yook-ei-jeon's Head Merchant, Nam Sun-yu!
You are nothing but a monger who has fallen.
Get away from Yu-su's mom!
I've been so foolish.
Don't forgive me.
You must've felt so much resentment.
So much resentment.
Don't forgive me.
I finally met my destiny that I've been looking for.
This is it?
Guksadang?
This is the only way I can go to you.
I've given my goodbye bow.
Now you're the big shaman of Guksadang.
Mama.
I just want you to be happy.
That is my only wish.
Alright.
Thank you.
Your Majesty.
Is it you?
Yes, it's me.
How could you...
Sir Head Merchant.
Were you here all night?
What's wrong? You're so out of it.
What's wrong, Bong-Sam?
Your eyes are fogged up.
What's wrong?
Bong-Sam, tell me.
Tell me what's worrying you.
Bong-Sam.
Remember when we first met? You were 8 and I was 28.
I am a bit slow
but we're friends who lived together for 20 years.
There are things you can't tell me?
Brother.
Yes, tell me.
You gotta let it out so you don't get sick.
Yu-su's mom.
The one who hurt our Yu-su's mom was--
Gae-ddong.
What?
What? Is that really true?
Is that really true?
My gosh.
My god.
Poor lady.
Poor boy Bong-Sam.
You're more pitiful to me than your wife.
Lost your wife, lost your friend, lost Gae-ddong...
It must feel like you lost your left foot and your right foot.
Listen to me carefully.
Don't tell Gae-ddong.
Don't tell anyone. They can't find out.
Is it because of the hwangcheop?
Hwangcheop.
If I let go of that right now,
Joseon's commercial supremacy and Peddlers Headquarters will all crumble down.
I need some time.
How I should punish Gae-ddong...
How I should collect the rice...
I need time.
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Kyotaejeon
Your Honor.
Give this to Jillyeonggun.
Why are you giving such a great item to a shaman?
Lord.
Sorry.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
They'll be like wings to Merchant Chun.
I hope it will benefit you as well.
What?
Najoo and Jeonjoo merchants refused to sell us their rice?
He announced that he'll be working with Chun Bong-Sam instead.
The news spread out everywhere already.
That Chun Bong-Sam has the hwangcheop.
They're weighing the benefits and lining up that way.
How did such rumors come about?
Song-pa stable's people spread it out on purpose.
Sir Head Merchant!
Look at this.
Joseon Yu-su Union Store?
Merchant Chun opened a shop that sells rice, salt, and cotton in Leehyeon Market.
If you can't stop Chun Bong-Sam from having the hwangcheop,
we have to at least close down the Peddlers Headquarters.
There are 200,000 peddlers.
The last revolt was only with 10,000.
If you want to close down the office with 200,000 peddlers,
we need a good reason.
We have to wait until we find a good reason to tell the King.
We don't have time.
I know that.
But what reason would we make?
I can't think of any.
If you go to the Dongdaemun Gate vicinity, there is a man named Ichiro.
Go tell him I want to see him.
Ichiro?
What does he have to do with the hwangcheop?
You catch the enemy with the enemy.
I need to use them to get the peddlers.
Honorable Mama.
I'm coming in.
What about the leader?
He says he's busy today so he'll come next time.
Even though you told him I brought the hwangcheop?
Yes, Honorable Mama.
Joseon's goods must flow like water.
That's why we named our store "Joseon Yu-su Union Store."
Union means it doesn't belong to us as individuals.
We peddlers put in our money to build this together with the same goal in mind.
That's why we named it like so.
Did you not name it after your son Yu-su?
It's Jillyeonggun Mama.
You got the hwangcheop that you've been waiting for.
Why don't you look happy?
Aren't you happy?
I am.
I'm very happy.
So happy.
With this hwangcheop,
I can do so many things.
I can buy the cotton machine like Japan.
I can stop all the rice from going to Japan.
You have to say it first now.
Everyone knows now, including Song-pa stable's people.
The Queen has allowed it, too.
Let's set our wedding day.
Gae-ddong.
Let me open the store in Leehyeon Market first.
Let's talk about it after that.
I have urgent things to take care of. I gotta go.
Lift up the left side.
Come on.
Welcome.
Hey!
Are you trying to ruin the party?
Walk around that way.
Why are you lingering around someone else's store?
Why did you open your store here then?
We're just scared you'll get into a fight with the other stores!
That's not going to happen so go away!
Don't ruin a good day for us!
Go inside.
Go in through the right side.
Congratulations, leader.
Joseon Yu-su Union Store.
What a great name.
We offered a smaller amount than Yook-ei-jeon
but you decided to sell us your rice. Thank you.
Go inside.
Congratulations.
Go inside.
Go in through the right side.
Today is the day.
You're a discreet person.
I'll trust you.
This is the only way we can stop the hwangcheop.
They're coming.
Let's go.
Leader.
Look over there.
What are all those high officials doing here?
We didn't even invite them.
What are the foreigners doing here?
What brings you all the way here?
This is a great store.
I invited you to the opening ceremony of my store.
But you seemed to have forgotten to invite me so I came myself.
Congratulations.
This is what Myeongsung heard.
The Dongdaemun Gate vicinity is an area designated for the Japanese.
We're neighbors now, so we came to say hello.
Thank you anyway.
Have some food.
We were going to eat first before starting the ceremony anyway.
Go eat some soup and rice first.
We're fine.
Foreigners, eat some food.
Hurry, come on.
What is he saying?
You promised to give us your rice.
Why did you break your promise?
Because of you liars, do you know how hard it is to work with Joseon merchants?
What?
You!
Do I have to give you rice just to get more money so that our citizens starve?
It's because what the leader here said moved my heart.
Give us the rice according to the contract.
Japanese people are starving from an earthquake and are waiting for the rice.
I have no idea what he's saying.
We're not selling you any of our rice.
What are you doing?
Put that gun down.
I came to kill you today.
You're up next.
Call the soldiers!
You have to escape, Lord Ambassador.
Sir Head Merchant.
Take Sir Merchant inside!
Stop, stop!
Stop!
Hey! Hey!
It's too late. He's dead.
He died!
Arrest Chun Bong-Sam!
No, not the leader!
Arrest Chun Bong-Sam!
Block them! Don't let them take him!
You have to run away.
Then who will take care of this place?
They did this all to get you.
You have to go.
No!
Come on, sir!
Let's go to Jillyeonggun Mama.
Man-chi, Man-chi!
Not Jillyeonggun's house!
If he was awake, he would say no!
There's nowhere else to go.
Bong!
Criminals! Over there!
Run!
Fire!
Brother!
Choi-dol!
Don't worry about me and run!
I didn't do anything wrong so I'm fine.
Put me down.
Run!
Choi-dol!
We cannot be swayed.
How is this a conspiracy?
So what do you want me to do?
Without this, you cannot live!
Do you think I want to kill Chun Bong-Sam?
I'm trying to let you out of the jail.
Head Merchant.
This was you and Head Merchant's doing, huh?
Did I tell you to kill him?
We have 200,000 peddlers.
It's worth a fight.
No. No!
Here at your service.