No, how could the Guksadang Shrine Highness be getting married?
Rumors are flooding around.
Jinryeonggun will do that
The problem is marriage between Jinryeonggun and Merchant Cheon will not benefit anyone.
Mother!
You're leaving the Guksadang Shrine?
You can't, Mother.
Move aside.
Mother.
Move aside this instant!
Mother.
I'm your god daughter.
How could I just watch you go down the path to your death and just stand idly by?
Until now, I wasn't living even though I lived.
This is something I've waited for my entire life, you know this better than I do.
Please let me go.
Mother!
Mother! Mother...
Mother!
Gyeongbok Palace Queen's Quarters
Her Highness, Jinryeonggun has arrived.
Allow her in.
I, Jinryeonggun, greet you, the Queen.
You said you would quit the Guksadang Shrine, didn't you?
From what I know, the people in the Guksadang Shrine cannot marry.
On top of that, aren't you someone who prays for the Crown Prince?
Your Highness, I have received your overflowing grace.
I came to request that grace be withdrawn.
How could a shaman marry?!
Royal Queen, please allow me to quit the Guksadang Shrine.
That's impossible.
I can't serve the Guksadang Shrine anymore.
If you say one more word, I won't forgive you.
This is my fate, Your Highness.
Goodness!
The destiny of the Guksadang Shrine Priestess, that I know is that with a pure heart and body,
she wishes for the royal family to flourish and for peace for the whole nation.
Your Highness.
How dare you desire a man, to decide to abandon the Guksadang Shrine. It's an unforgivable sin. Go and reflect on your wrongdoing.
Your Highness! Royal Queen!
After the emperor has given many favors and has nothing left to give
do you know what the last thing he gives is?
It's death. Leave. If you don't want to die, sincerely apologize and renounce your wrongdoings 100 times.
Even if this is the path that leads to my death, there are roads that cannot be avoided. Those roads are known as fate.
Haedongsanghoe
Now, Merchant Jang.
Yes, Great Head Merchant Elder.
Our Haedong Company has decided to buy rice from Yangpyeong, Yeoju, and Icheon
after consulting with the respective merchants.
You've done well Merchant Jang.
Now how about a round of applause for the hardworking Merchant Jang.
Aigoo, aigoo, this. What have I done?
That Cheon Bong Sam is probably so long-faced right about now.
The Itinerant Merchant League has declared they will buy these three things: rice, cotton, and salt.
Do you think it would be effective to only target the rice?
Since you've decided to completely destroy this bastard, Bong Sam,
why don't we buy cotton and salt as well?
Cotton and salt are things we've decided to abandon.
As long as we don't lose our rice supply to them, our company will win.
So, just focus on the rice. Just rice!
Here this Madeul Plain, Gimpo Plain,
Yangpyeong, Icheon, and Yeoju Plain rice has gone over to the Yukuijeon.
Yangpyeong, Icheon, and Yeoju are probably Merchant Jang's handiwork.
Thankfully, Pyeonggang and Cheonyeom Plain, decided to sell their rice to our merchant league.
But the problem is here,
at the bottom in the southern provinces.
Who will take charge of the rice from the three southern provinces?[Jeolla, Chungcheong, and Gyeongsang]
Is it our Merchant League, or is it the Yukuijeon?,
The Yukuijeon is going to raise the price of rice sky high.
Our merchants' league has already spent a lot of money and we have very little left.
Everyone, we can never beat the Yukuijeon with money.
We must release Joseon's rice to its people who are struggling with hunger and feed them.
We will convince the rice vendors in the three southern provinces with this justification.
Leader. Jinryeonggun promised to help us with this. What do you think about trying to meet with her and discuss this first?
Jinryeonggun.
We were supposed to discuss our Merchants League's purchase of rice but I haven't seen her for several days.
She is awaiting judgment for a serious crime.
Awaiting judgment? What do you meant by that?
Awaiting judgment?
She will receive it at 2 o'clock.
She went to get permission from the queen and incurred her wrath.
It seems they've had a falling out because she went to get permission to marry you.
It's already been four days.
After doing that much, she might go to lower her head to the Cheon Gaekju.
Your Highness, didn't the Great Merchant Head give a unique birthday present to our crown prince?
The crown prince will be pleased.
I am much indebted to you.
Ui Ryeong Nam, it is said you are a descendant of the nobility.
Also in making a visit to the court, you've become chief royal secretary and gave brilliant advice to His Majesty the King.
Even in mourning here for your parents I'm amazed how brilliant you are.
It's over-praising me.
Your Royal Highness. Your Royal Highness.
What is it?
Jinryeonggun has collapsed.
That ignorant worthless shaman. If she collapsed, just throw her away.
Why bother to bring it up to the queen at all!?
I'm sorry.
Carry her to a room, and call a physician quickly.
Hurry.
Even willing to give up this fancy house and all the worldly treasures
do you want be on my side?
I'll help you as much as I can.
Raising cows, preparing for cow food, and supporting your peddler business
I'm even willing to foster Yu Su well on my own.
Ok.
If you want to feel even the small warmth
come to me.
Is it...?
Queen...
Who is your man that you've been so eagerly calling for?
He's Cheon Bong Sam.
Cheon Bong Sam. Do I know him?
He's the head of the peddlers.
When Great Head Merchant Shin Seok Joo was dying, Shin left a huge promissory note for him.
Your Highness, please allow me to leave the Guksadang.
When I was 14 years, my marriage to the king was arranged.
What is a feeling between a man and a woman among many women?
I don't know why they even risk life for their longing and loving.
You may leave the Guksadang Shrine.
Your Highness.
You saved my life and this man's life as well.
Please remain my social companion even after you leave the shrine.
Your generosity is as broad as the ocean.
Let me give you a gift for your marriage.
Since your man is a businessman
he may feel bad since he didn't receive the huge promissory note he was supposed to receive from Shin Seok Joo.
I'll give you gift as good as the note.
As marriage gift, I'll give you the exclusive right to sell ginseng and red ginseng.
Queen!
Oh, Highness!
Highness, your grace is immeasureable! Highness, your grace is immeasureable!
East Sea business group
Chief Merchant Elder.
What brings you here at this night?
Exclusive rights to sell ginseng and red ginseng is about to fall to Merchant Cheon.
Exclusive rights for ginseng and red ginseng?
What is this... considered like gold...
It's called the exclusive right to sell ginseng and red ginseng.
My Lord Chief Royal Secretary!
What can you do? Queen cherished Jinryeonggun so much.
No, take it back!
Not only China and Japan, even the United Kingdom and Russian are eager to buy ginseng and red ginseng.
If the Excusive Right goes to Cheon, business power in Korea would become chaotic.
There's no way to change a royal decree. The Queen's announcement is the same.
Then, our effort to reform trading business in Korea thru East Sea Business Group
will go to waste.
Your guys excuse us, please.
Yes.
Is that Exclusive Right so important?
It's worth mega bucks.
Then, Cheon Bong Sam could be like the Great Head Merchant Shin Seok Joo?
Can Cheon really accept the exclusive right offered by his wife's murderer?
You know Merchant Cheon best, don't you?
Well, I find it difficult to figure out too.
The Cheon Gaekju may need the exclusive right to support his plan for rice, salt, and cotton fabric.
We don't have time for hesitating. Reveal everything to Cheon.
Jinryeonggun murdered his wife, you know.
- Gae Ddong.- Madam,
Are you ok?
The queen has gifted us the exclusive right as a marriage present.
Exclusive rights to sell ginseng and red ginseng?
Did you just say "exclusive right"?
Exclusive Right!!!?
Is our Leader Cheon really getting married to Jinryeonggun?
What have you been listening to so far?
Hey Gom Bae, Mak Bong, Bong Dae...
Hyungnim .. I mean..
I mean Chief Merchant Elder.
How have you been?
Well ..
I am sorry about before, I didn't even get to say a proper goodbye then.
I'm really sorry and very thankful.
Thank you for saving my hyungnim's life.
I am indebted to you for my uncle's life as well.
Well, no need.
Wait a second.
Well, we must check for the undecided merchants of the southern provinces.
Now then.
We have the exclusive right to sell ginseng in our possession. We can get back
all of the undecided merchants who joined the Yukuijeon.
Please check.
Head Merchant...
What brings you here?
We have a guest. Sun Dol is here.
Excuse me for a second.
What brings you here?
When you marry Jinryeongun, you will gain the exclusive right to sell ginseng. Everything is going your way, Bong Sam.
Congratulations!
The Great Head Merchant came all the way to Songpa to congratulate me?
I owe it to Wol.
Please see me, Wol.
I know that Jinryeonggun, the former Guksadang priestess is here.
Please pass this to her. After you see her,
bring Merchant Cheon to sister-in-law's grave.
I will avenge Yu Su's mother, the thing that you desperately longed for.
Is that the only reason you're here?
There's no other reason?
Even if there is some other reason, what does that matter to you?
Isn't your only wish to have revenge on Jinryeonggun?
What does the letter say, Unni?
It's none of your concern.
Head Merchant,
Head Merchant.
What brings you here, Wol?
I have to tell you something.
Sit down.
I will tell you at the Lady's grave.
Why not tell me here?
I guess there must be a reason.
Then, take a seat and wait a while.
I was writing a long letter concerning the rice monopoly.
Now, it must be now, Head Merchant.
What's the reason you brought me here with your letter?
All right. What do you want to talk about?
You must not marry Merchant Cheon.
Her Majesty the Queen gave her permission.
There is nothing more to discuss.
Madame Jinryeonggun!
You gave up Songpa and chose Yukijeon.
You left Cheon Bong Sam and sided with the Chief Royal Secretariat.
With that, we ended up even.
Do you still think there is anything else left?
Sun...?
Isn't that Gae Ddong? Why...
This is an issue of principle.
Principle?
The thing they bring up when the nobility has no good reason?
It's not the number crunching of a merchant?
You're probably afraid of your downfall.
If you lose to Merchant Cheon, the Yukuijeon will become absorbed under the feet of the Itinerant Merchant League,
Whatever excuses you say!
It doesn't alter the fact that you killed Yu Su's mother
There is no proof anywhere that I did it.
Gil So Gae already confessed to it and paid for it with his life.
It's all over with that.
The Heaven knows, the Earth knows, I know and you know.
Let's say you could become the wife of Bong Sam,
but, how can you become Yu Su's mother when you killed his birth mother.
If you bring this up once more, I won't forgive you even if you are the Chief Royal Secretariat's man.
Head Merchant...
Head of the Merchant League...
You must know what you must know. You were my friend once
I cannot just sit and watch you marry Jinryeonggun who killed Yu Su's mother.
When did you find out?
Since when?
I am asking how long you knew?
At Yangpyeong,
when I went to Yangpyeong to collect rice for taxes.
Why now?
Why did you come now?
I didn't know you'll marry Jinryeonggun.
Lies!
The exclusive right for ginseng! It must be because of the exslusive right.
How are you following the footsteps of Gil So Gae?
How? Does Great Head Merchant position of Yukijeon make people like that?
Bong Sam!
I should have seen.
Deep in my heart my friend Sun Dol always resided.
Is it empty now?
My friend has left.
You, Yukuijeon's Chief Merchant Elder Nam Seon Yoo
are just a useless, desolate,
corrupt, bottom-feeder.
Leave from this place, Yu Su mom's grave, right now!
I am so foolish and ignorant.
Please don't.
Please don't forgive me.
How much must you... how much have you blamed me
and will continue to blame me again?
I pray,
So Lin.
Please do not forgive me.
After searching all this time, I finally met my destiny,
Did you say this is it, its the Guksadang Shrine?
This is the only way I can go to you.
This is the only way.
Since I've already said my farewell to the shrine, you are now the head female shaman at Guksadang Shrine.
Mother, all I want for you is for you to be happy.
That's my only wish.
Thank you.
Your highness? Is it your highness?
Yes, it's me. I'm here.
Your highness how could you...
How could you...
Great Chief Merchant. Great Chief Merchant.
Please Great Chief Merchant.
All night... were you here the whole night?
What? You can't even tell if anyone's here or not.
What's wrong?
Your eyes are faraway.
What's wrong? Did something happen?
Elder Bong, say something please.
What concern filled you to the brim?
Bong Sam. From the time we first met when you were 10 years old and I was 28 we have been friends.
Though I'm a bit lacking,
we're been friends for twenty years through and through.
What in the world can't you tell even me?
Hyung...
Yeah, tell me. Get it off your chest
People have to empty their hearts. That way they don't get sick.
Yu Su's mother...
My Yu Su's mother...
My Yu Su mother's killer was Gae Ddong.
What? What?
That... That... is that true?
That... is that truly real?
How could?
How, how. Our pitiful sister-in-law. How could that be?
How can that be for our pitiful Bong Sam?
As for me, for me, it's more pathetic for you Bong Sam than for Sister-in-Law.
To lose your wife, to lose your friend, and to lose Gae Ddong.
It's like your right arm and left arm were both cut off.
How!
Listen carefully to what I say.
For the time being, don't tell Gae Ddong.
None of our members must ever know.
The exclusive right. Is it because of that?
Ginseng. If I lose the exclusive trade right of ginseng, it goes without saying the merchant league,
and the country's markets will collapse.
I need the time.
How should I make Gae Ddong pay for her sins? How will I collect the rice?
I need the time.
Queen's Quarters Gyeongbok Palace
Your Highness.
Trade Minister (Min Kyum Ho's character) please pass this to Jinryeonggu.
What kind of model are you setting by providing this extremely powerful exclusive trade right for ginseng to a mere shaman, as dowry?
My Lord!
I apologize.
Your grace is immeasurable, Your Highness.
It'll be giving wings to Merchant Cheon
I hope that it will be helpful to you too.
What?
The Naju and Jeonju Merchant Heads refuse to handle our rice transactions?
We were notified that they will do their business with Cheon Bong Sam.
Already, a rumor has spread throughout the eight provinces that
Cheon Bong Sam has gotten the exclusive right to sell ginseng.
They're probably hoping for some benefits, by being on his side.
How did such a rumor go around?
The Songpa Horsethings apparently deliberately leaked it.
Great Chief Merchant! Great Chief!
Take a look at this, Sir.
Joseon Yu Su Guild?
Merchant Cheon has set up a company dealing in grains, cotton and salt in the Ihyeon marketplace.[Ihyeon Market, a market near Dongdaemun]
If we can't do anything but allow the exclusive right being in Merchant Cheon's hands, then
we must rush to close down the Provincial Merchant League.
There are as many as 200,000 merchants.
In the last military uprising only 10,000 were lost/
If you are to close down the association of over 20,000 peddlers, there needs to be a proper justification.
You must wait until there's a cause good enough for the king to permit it.
Time is of the essence, Chief Secretary.
Even I'm eager for the reshuttering of the association..
How to create such a reason, I'm not yet sure.
If you go to the Japanese legation at Baeogae, you'll find Ichiro-san.[Baeogae is an area near Dongdaemun]
Go summon him, telling him that I want to see him.
Ichiro-san?
What's his connection to the exclusive right?
Use an enemy to fight an enemy.
I need to use them for a while to disarm the peddlers
Highness. I've come to see you.
What about the Chief Elder?
Umm... He said he were busy today and he will come back next time.
Even though you told him I will bring the exclusive right?
Yes. Honorable Jinryeonggun.
Here.
Joseon's merchandise should flow like water following its natural path.
So, our peddler's association's trading house's name
is "Joseon Yu Su Union Store."
Yes...
It literally means it's a union and not just an individual.
In our peddler's association, because every merchant had the same goal
it's made with the money given by 20,000 peddlers so that's how it was named.
Didn't you really name it after your son Cheon Yoo Soo?
Oh my.
In't that Madam Jinryeongun?
Here...
I've placed in your hands the long awaited exclusive right.
From your expression I guess it's nothing.
It's not good?
It's nice.
Very very nice.
Very nice. Very nice.
By having this exclusive right there are many many things which can be done.
We can even buy a machine which weaves cotton cloth like Japan.
We can stop all the sales of rice in the three southern provinces to Japan.
Excuse me.
By now, you must speak to me first, right?
Everyone knows by now, whether it's the Songpa Stable's family members and such...
Additionally, the royal queen has given us permission as well.
We should set the date for our wedding, please?
Gae Ddong ...?
Why don't we have our grand opening for our merchant store, first...
We'll talk after that.
I have to go shortly after, since I was attending to other business.
Raise it up, raise it!
Please, do it well.
Yes, just like that!
-Ah, yes, yes...-Great job.
Welcome!
Hey! Mister ...!
Why ruin a good day?! What?
Why don't you make your rounds over there and such?!
How come you're walking and prying back and forth in front of someone else's store front? Huh?!
That's what I mean... Who told you to open your merchant store right here?
I don't want any bad blood between the Japanese merchants and you guys!
That won't happen, so
go yonder over there, please! Before you give the potential customers a bad vibe.
Oh, my!
Jeez!
Sir, here, here... Please go inside.
Go to your right side, please.
- Aigoo, aigoo! Gentlemen, you're here. [welcome].
Merchant Head, congratulations!
Josoen Yu Su Jo-ahp-sahang(Joseon 'Yu Su' Union Store)
Oh, yeah! What a swell name it is! Huh?
Anyhow, in spite of our business being a lot smaller in scale than Yukijeon, yet you still offered us the rice as one of our products.
Thank you, Gentlemen. Please, come inside...
Yes, yes.
Please, hang left.
Yes...
Congratulations.
Please, go inside.
Please, hang to your right side.
Today is the day, Sir.
I'll entrust you, since you're a very meticulous person.
This is an ultimate way to block our contender.
He's on his way. Sir.
Let's go.
Merchant elder?!
Look, over there! Sir.
Oh, my! Why our those high status lords here uninvited?
No, wait... Why are the Japanese merchants here?
Gentlemen, what bring you all the way out here?
Your store front looks amazing.
When I had the grand opening to my store front, I cordially invited you. Merchant elder.
Yet, you must have forgotten to send me an invitation.. Therefore, I just came on my own.
Merchant Elder, congratulations! Ha, ha, ha!
In Japanese
This is what we heard Queen Myeongseong said.
The vicinity of the Dongdaemun Gate is for us Japanese merchants to do business.
I came to say hello, since we're now neighbors.
Koroko,...
Anyhow, arigato [thank you].
Please, come on in...
Anyhow, we'll be proceeding with our grand opening ceremony for our store, after a bowl of rice soup.
Hyung [brother]...
Elders/lords: please have a complementary rice bowl, while we prepare for the ceremony.
Much obliged.
Japanese merchants: don't just stand there...
We must all eat. Hurry, come!
Hurry up, already!
Come on everyone.
In Japanese
What is he saying?
How is it that you promised to sell us rice, but did not keep your promise?
Do you know how difficult it is to do business in Joseon because of you dishonest merchants?
What did you say?!
You devils! Just so that we could earn a few pennies,
would we let the people of Joseon starve, and hand over all the rice to you, you bandits!?
I heard what the Head of the Provincial Merchant League had to say, and I felt something. That's why.
[It's not too late to uphold your part of the contract and hand the rice over]
There are many people in our country who are starving waiting for this rice
Ah!! I don't care what you're saying,
Anyway, we southern provinces won't be selling not so much as a kernel of rice. Ehem!
(Japanese)-What did you say Chikso!
Why you...!
A gun!
What are you doing?
That gun. Drop that gun now!
I came to kill you today
You bastard will be second.
Chief Merchant.
Call the troops. Call the troops!
Merchant Head!
You, you!
Hurry and shield our Head Merchant
Stop stop!
Hey... hey... stop sto-op!
Stop! stop
Wake up!
It's to late. He's dead.
There is a dead person. Arrest Cheon Bong Sam
No. You can't have him.
Hurry and arrest Cheon Bong Sam!
Yes
Block them! We cannot hand over the Head Merchant! Alright
Block them!
Head Merchant, you have to flee.
It's all because they were targeting you. You have to go.
I can't!
Head Merchant!
Mak Bong, please take care of the rest. Hey Gom Bae
Drat-Come on Head Merchant
Hyung. Hurry.
Run!
There!
We're going to Jinryeonggun Highness's
uh... wait. uh... Man Chi Hyung Man Chi Hyung!
We can't go to Jinryeonggun's place.
If the Merchant Head was conscious, it wouldn't be possible.
If we don't run there, where else are we going to go?
Bong Elder, Bong Elder!
Hyung! Run!
Hyung!!!
Hyung!
Choi Dol Hyung!
Don't worry about me and go!!!
I didn't do anything wrong, so I'll be ok.
Please, please let me down
Go-o-o!
Choi Dol Hyung!!!
Hyung Choi Dol!!!
Preview
I cannot become a traitor.
How is this incident an act of treason?-So what? What do you want me to do!
Without this, there's no way for you to survive.
Do you think I would want to kill Cheon Bong Sam?
I will try to resolve your arrest warrant.
Head Merchant.
It's your and Head Merchant Yoo's doing right?
Did I try to kill the Jeonju Head Merchant
Our group is 200,000. It's worth putting up a fight.
No. no!!!
I will accept the royal command.