Subtitles by DramaFever
[This program is provided by the MCST and the media contents of the KCCA.]
[This drama is loosely based off of historical figures and events.]
Can you make 5,000 sheets in five days?
But if you can't fulfill your end of the deal, you'll owe me 10 times this.
What is going on here?
They're drifters.
Please help me make paper.
Everyone died that day.
There was a rumor that it was the former mayor of Pyeongchang.
The mayor of Pyeongchang at the time was Min Chi Hyung.
How can they make 5,000 sheets?
We brought the paper that you ordered from us.
This is not my contract. I don't know anything.
What am I supposed to do with 5,000 sheets of paper?
I cannot return like this.
[Saimdang: Light's Diary]
[Episode 11] Buy this paper. I have many colors!
I have orange, blue, pink, green.
I have every color.
Buy colored paper here!
Isn't it pretty?
What is she doing there?
I think she's selling her paper.
- Selling? - Yes.
Was manual labor not enough?
Now she's selling things in the middle of the street?
You're telling me.
I have blue. I have every color. Come take a look.
Orange, green, pink...
Get out of here.
What do you think you're doing?
What's going on?
Who gave you permission to sell paper here, huh?
Are you all right?
Are you all right, my lady?
You rascals!
Who are you that you're creating this ruckus in the middle of the day?
Do you really want to get taken in by the police?
Who are you? Go about your business.
A fine nobleman such as yourself...
- Uncle. - What?
Just go about your business. Go about your business.
No!
- What do we do? - What's going on?
A fight has broken out, a fight!
They're really good at fighting.
No!
Wife? My wife.
Wife, Wife!
Wife!
Wife, it's me. I'm here.
Wife, let's go.
[Joseon Era Fan: Only given to royal family members]
[or high government officials.]
It's one of the 40 yellow lacquer fans.
He must be family of the king.
Let's go, Wife. What are you doing?
It's the police!
The police!
Take it.
Hurry up and get it all.
I will not let this go.
Lee Gyeom and Saimdang.
Those two, those two!
I have no idea what has led you to act this way
but if your intention is to cause someone turmoil
I hope that you will think about the scar on your hand
and refrain from shooting arrows at someone else's heart.
They've been communicating with one another.
For all those 20 years...
Where did he get all this colored paper?
He really is amazing.
All right.
Today's theme is this colored paper.
Paint, write a poem, or rip up this colored paper.
Do whatever you please.
Here. Take it.
All right. Lie down now.
I cannot.
I need to go now.
Where are you going so late at night?
I need to see the drifters.
I cannot be here.
Hold on, Wife. Wait now.
Oh! Wife, Wife?
Are you all right?
Hey, Hyang. Hyang!
I like it. I like it.
Because the colors are nice, the work looks good too.
Yes, it does.
There is a subtle difference to the look of the poem because of the color.
It's nice. It really is.
How could it look so fine?
Where did you get such good colored paper?
There's this new paper merchant up in the mountains.
Wait. Take a close look.
These colors are very unique.
Right?
However, the paper quality isn't that great.
Yes. What is made of?
You are so dense.
Do you know how much labor goes into making paper?
Try making it yourself.
Your body will feel like it's melting because you have to boil the wood.
- Your hands will be in pain. - So much pain.
You'll have to pick out all the sediments.
- Yes! - Your back will hurt so much
that you'll want to die.
Is it so wrong to talk about the quality of the paper?
I'm only letting you know how difficult it is to make paper.
You do not know anything.
You've never made it, so how would you?
Oh! Look at this beautiful colored paper!
Look at these beautiful colors!
My lord, where must I go to buy more of this colored paper?
We should buy a year's supply!
Not him again.
I like him today.
- Lord Lee Gyeom! - There he goes again.
His voice is so grating.
Lee Gyeom.
Here you go. This is chrysanthemum tea.
It's good for trauma and fatigue, so have some.
You were sick all night. Have some.
Why aren't you having any?
Why have you come down this time?
Oh, that.
I heard a rumor that you were not sleeping because of the paper-making.
Who else is at fault if not me and my lack of skills?
Look how your beautiful white skin has changed.
What will you do?
Hold on. Wife.
I bought this on my way back.
Here you go!
What is this now?
This makeup is very trendy right now.
It is made from poppy flowers.
If you use this, your skin will brighten up.
- Wait. - I do not need it.
You should rest here today and prepare to leave tomorrow.
Where are you going in this state?
I need to go to the workshop.
I made a promise to sell the paper and split the profit evenly.
The drifters will be waiting.
What? They will be very upset that we could not sell the paper.
We need to explain the situation and make them understand.
All right. I will go. Follow me.
It's fine. Let's go.
Wait, Wife. Hold on--
Stay here. Seriously...
Gosh.
Goodness, really...
She's not even feeling well.
Why must she be so stubborn?
Where is this place anyway?
I'm getting so worried.
Just get there for now. Just go!
Do you see what you've done to us?
I can explain it 100 times, but it will still just be excuses.
It was our fault for trusting her.
We shouldn't trust people just for having a pretty face.
My lady.
You're not only a good talker. You can act well too.
We may be fooled once, but not twice.
To all of you who trusted me and followed me
the only way to show my gratitude and how sorry I am
is by doing this.
I told you already.
Getting rid of some woman is nothing to me.
It was the store owner who backed out on his word!
Please believe us. We really received an order.
The owner changed during that time.
Yes, it's true.
I don't think she meant to fool us.
She tried hard to sell the paper with us.
Be quiet!
Regardless, you couldn't sell the paper.
- What do we do with all that? - Yes, look at that!
I worked myself to death.
Now I'm even hungrier.
Am I a dog or what? What is this?
I thought maybe there was hope. She gave us false dreams.
I told you we can't trust these noble class folks!
- Just kill her and bury her. - Bury her.
Bury them!
- Bury them! - Bury them!
You terrible jerks!
Is this the place?
Oh! This is the paper.
Here it is.
This paper is so pretty. This is it, isn't it?
Yes, it is.
We found it.
Who are these people?
Why is the mood here like this?
You have customers here. Why are you glaring at us?
Aren't you going to sell?
Oh. Yes, we are!
Give us all of this, all of it.
Yes, sir.
This is good paper.
Get away from me.
Wrap it up.
Oh, aren't you the one who passed the national exams with top scores?
It's been a long time.
Who are these two people?
I am Jo Hyun Nam. It is nice to meet you.
I am Kim Jeon Wook.
I heard about the reputation of the Legendary Bird and waited for an invite.
I pushed this friend of mine into getting me in here.
The Legendary Bird is a place for people in the arts.
Do you happen to have a hidden talent?
It could be a problem if you do not.
It is only a joke. You are welcome here.
I told them I had met you before.
They insisted that I bring them with me to meet you.
What are you talking about? You showed off about it first.
You bragged about meeting him.
We should make allow people to meet you and charge them.
I think we could make some money!
[Eun Ja: Silver currency and preferred payment for bribery]
I did not see any artists at Legendary Bird worth keeping an eye on.
On top of that, Lee Gyeom acts like the other artists.
He greeted us new government officials very informally.
Informally.
Make sure he is not suspicious of any of you.
This will prove useful someday.
Yes.
A man should have large ambitions.
Don't you agree?
Of course.
- Kim Gap Boon. - Yes.
You worked very hard.
Thank you, my lady.
- Shin Jang Se. - Yes.
Thank you for your work.
My name is Soon Sil.
You worked hard.
All I did was beat the wood down.
That is the most important part of making paper.
Thank you.
I'm Kkot Soon's mom, Kkot Boon.
- Kkot Soon. - Thank you.
I'm the one who boiled the solution down.
- I'm Soon Dal. - Thank you.
Thanks to you, I get to see actual money.
Is there anyone else?
Leader Chun? Leader Chun.
Thank you for everything.
It's all right. Give more to the others.
That is nonsense.
No need to play it cool.
We all worked together, so we should earn together!
- Leader. - Leader.
Gosh.
He is so stubborn.
We don't have as much this time because we sold it at a lower price.
Let's work harder next time.
- Yes! - All right.
As always, I am of no help to my wife.
I'm sorry.
- Sir! - Boss!
Boss?
- Who are you calling Boss? - We didn't mean that.
Has anything happened lately?
- Have you looked into it? - Yes.
He has no home and is a drifter, so he's hard to pin down.
Some say they've seen the man with a scar on his neck in Gangneun.
Some say they've seen him in Hanyang.
I think he traveling with a group of drifters.
A group?
What are you doing here?
Are you praying?
By the way...
why did you return?
If you returned with nothing, you didn't know what could've happened.
Why did you return?
I have a big debt to repay.
A debt?
A very long time ago...
many people died and went to the other world...
all because of me.
They were drifters, as well.
Just like all of you.
In the town of Woonpyeongsa, where the temple was...
there were many high-ranking government officials.
Behind that area, there were many poor drifters who lived hidden there.
The two strikingly different worlds shocked me.
So I painted a picture.
I wrote some words on it.
And that...
brought them to their deaths.
This year...
will be 20 years since then.
For 20 years...
have you been praying for repentance?
I will be paying for what I did forever.
When I met Se Dol and all of you, that was when I knew.
The heavens had sent me precious people so that I could repay that debt.
Precious people?
Give that to me.
[Bang Ki Moon: Envoy from Ming Dynasty] (Speaking Chinese)
Rather than the quantity, you should focus on the quality.
What do you mean by that?
From what he says
the goryeoji paper sent years ago was very good.
The goryeoji that you have sent recently is not as high in quality.
The books made from your goryeoji are already starting to wear down.
We have only been dealing with you for paper.
He says this might make things very difficult.
I oversee all of the best paper in all of Joseon's eight cities.
If he is not satisfied with mine, he will not be with any other.
He says his is the very best.
Why don't you take a look at this paper?
It was made with high quality oil.
It was soaked in the oil and tied up for five years.
He says it has a nice fragrance and the paper is of good quality.
Give him 10,000 sheets when he returns.
I'll do that.
Whether it is Joseon or the Ming Dynasty, everyone likes to be bribed.
It is very amusing.
You are right about that.
You did very well today.
I was able to save some face, thanks to you.
I was only doing what is required of me.
Therefore...
I've prepared a gift for you.
A gift?
Open it.
Do you know whose finger this is?
This person gave secret information about our paper operation to Lee Gyeom.
Shouldn't you do a better job of running the place?
Oh, there was no need for this.
My lord, I am sorry.
You are sorry?
Please trust me.
I will never, ever--
I trust you.
However, I do not trust in promises people make asking me to trust them.
Do not forget that.
My lady.
It was not your fault, my lady.
I am telling you that it was not your fault.
The drifters at Woonpyeongsa...
and how they were all massacred.
What?
What are you talking about?
There was a secret method to making the goryeoji at Woonpyeongsa.
I gave it to those people.
They had planned it from the beginning.
Once they had that secret method, they were going to kill everyone.
It did not matter what you drew.
That did not matter.
[Choi Pal Bong: Woonpyeongsa Paper Maker]
They wanted to be the only ones who knew how to make the goryeoji.
As for anyone else who knew how to make it...
they had planned on killing all of them and their families, too.
I didn't even know that and I told them how to make it.
I am the sinner and I deserve to die.
I deserve to die. I do!
That doesn't make sense.
It wasn't your fault.
I should die.
This can't be true.
I deserve to die.
Gosh, I'm working day and night.
The paper shop owner hasn't been seen since that day.
What?
Also, the store owner changed.
- The owner changed? - Yes.
They say he went to the countryside, but something is off.
I went to his home.
So, three days ago, on the day that we met him
he never returned home.
He must have died somewhere.
[Three days ago] Min Chi Hyung was Mayor of Pyeongchang.
He is having one success after another with the help of the prime minister.
For 20 years now.
What is the secret between those two?
They say the hardest thing to control is your child.
Child?
I'm talking about the prime minister's son.
The prime minister's son.
[20 years ago] I heard you took care of that mess.
I owe you for Woonpyeongsa.
It seems like you may need to take care of your in-laws.
What do you mean by that?
There is some talk that your father-in-law is involved in treason.
I received word about it.
You should think only of yourself.
You need to know when to throw something away.
While you are at it...
why don't you make a pocket to put this into?
It is strong poison.
If there is a trace of it on an arrow
it is enough to kill a wild boar.
You will need to be careful when you make it.
[Genealogy Book]
Starting now, you are officially my wife.
Forget everything from before today.
- Your name? - Whieum.
[Whieum: One who knows that people died]
I would like to be Whieumdang. (Dang means "maternal.")
I did everything I could.
Like how one holds their tongue...
I endured and got through it.
I cannot be ruined now. Not ever.
I'm going insane.
The sound of the gayageum is really too much for my heart.
My heart has this feeling like... I can't put it into words.
Oh, I suddenly have tears in my eyes.
Oh my. My lord, Lee Gyeom.
It is a performance full of bitterness.
Bitterness? How so?
Can you not feel it?
She must be a woman with many personal issues.
Bitterness, he says.
How is it coming along?
Hurry up and peel it. Drain that out too.
We are doing it.
Why are you so diligent?
I'm not being diligent. I just don't want to be nagged later on.
- Let's hurry it up! - Yes, sir!
All of you!
- What is this? - What's going on?
Who gave you all permission to live here?
What?
This place is the wilderness.
It is not registered with the government as a residential area.
Therefore, building a residence here is against the law.
If a person lives here, then it is residential.
Since when do people register?
- Yes, he's right. - What are you talking about?
Don't hit us.
You can say it with words.
What did we do wrong?
Follow me.
What is this? Stop it.
Don't go.
Stay right here.
Stay here.
What's going on?
Let's go.
Where are you taking these people?
These people are breaking the law by wandering in these woods.
I am taking them to prison.
What do you mean, breaking the law?
Which law did they break?
They may have been drifters at one time
but now they are good citizens who are trying to make a living.
Good citizens?
Who knows what they did before they crawled into the city?
I have never seen a drifter with a clean background.
They have only lived that way to survive.
They have settled here in order to live.
How is that a crime?
If you want to argue it, do it with the government!
Stop!
This is clearly against the law.
You must be Lady Shin.
The one who took advantage of the drifters to make a profit.
I am Lady Shin.
But I have never taken advantage of them to make a profit.
Stop hitting them! What is wrong with you?
People's livelihood must be stable in order for the nation to be stable.
Since there are people like that in the city
it is no wonder there are thieves right outside the city.
[Kim Mu Song: Chief of Police] You helped me out today.
I ought to be giving you more.
There was no need for this.
You dare to make paper, you wench.
- My lady. - My lady.
- My lady, you came?
My lady, what do we do?
I have submitted the paper we made to the police as evidence.
I have received acknowledgment for the work we do.
- That's good. - However...
they say you cannot be released until you identify yourselves.
As for our identification...
Se Dol knows where it is hidden. He can dig it up.
That is not the problem right now.
Then what is the problem?
We are not criminals or slaves who ran away.
We are people who left our hometowns because of increased taxes.
We won't be released if we cannot pay back those debts.
We can pay back those debts.
I will do whatever is needed, so don't worry.
- Hyang. - My lady!
Here. Eat this.
- Oh my. - Do not get weak.
You must stay alert.
You have to stay full to stay strong.
Here. Go on and eat.
Here you go.
- Thank you, my lady. - Thank you.
We'll be able to get out, right?
Eat lots. This one, too.
Do not worry, all right?
Your parents will get out.
Sleep here for tonight.
All right.
Why are you so concerned about some beggar kids?
We're not beggars.
Mae Chang.
What's a beggar?
What do you mean, beggar? They are the same as us.
They are the children of kind people who are helping your mother.
It is already small here as it is.
I know, right?
Wh... what?
We don't know anything about them. How can we use all our money on them?
We are able to eat our meals without worrying.
Hyun Ryong is able to go to school.
It is all because they are making paper with me.
Now... we must save them.
Even so...
Lee Gyeom went to the administration office.
He went to the Hansung office.
He said he was investigating corruption and threatened them.
He went to look through the old records and dig into documents.
This is something he should never be doing as a kin of Your Majesty.
Now, it is not just artists visiting the Legendary Bird, but politicians too.
They are said to be gathering there.
So, what?
Are you saying I should punish him?
Lee Gyeom, who has had no official rank and lived a free life.
He is doing what a person who lived like a free bird does.
Why are you all coming to me with these complaints?
Should I exile him
or sentence him to death by poisoning?
For now, you should dismiss him of
the tasks that you have assigned him.
Also, all those around Lee Gyeom
like the professor, Baek In Geol
should also be dismissed.
I told you to be careful, did I not?
They all have eyes and ears everywhere.
If you make things too obvious...
it is obvious that they will object.
I apologize.
However, Baek In Geol has nothing to with this.
Baek In Geol is your loyal subject.
A loyal subject...
Baek In Geol, that man.
He should have died back in the Year of the Rabbit.
He cast away his friend in order to save himself.
He ran off to Mount Geumgang.
He should be relieved that he didn't die and just his property was taken.
A loyal subject?
You should not make judgments about people on your own.
Do not create danger like that.
If you do create danger like that
do not pull me into it.
They want my seat empty.
In the end...
they wanted power, and scorned me.
Lee Gyeom.
Right now, you are the person I hold dearest.
I do not want to lose you.
As for our relationship...
nothing between us will change.
That is how it must be.
You're in an awkward position because of me.
[Baek In Geol] You were only doing the right thing.
I think you did the right thing too.
That is good enough.
Oh, gosh.
One household is shaking up the entire government.
Goodness.
Where do they get that power from?
The rumor that Min Chi Hyung has a monopoly on paper in this country...
is it true?
For a man with no interest in politics, you know a lot.
I don't want to know such things.
However...
The fact that Min Chin Hyung was able to go from a small town to Hanyang.
There are rumors of something that happened to help him.
You know something, right?
You do know.
Tell me. I've heard something too.
You've started asking dangerous questions.
Tell me, already!
You should forget the past.
You cannot change things and many people will get hurt.
You could even be one of them.
I still want to know. No, I need to know.
In Geol!
The origin of everything that happened at that temple...
I believe was a poem.
A poem?
On the night we had the meeting, a few of the members walked out.
There was a rumor that the king had secretly sent a poem to those few.
That poem caused the mass death at that temple.
The scholars who received that poem all died.
Out of those people...
Shin Myung Hwa was one of them.
Shin Myung Hwa?
[Shin Myung Hwa] The father of Lady Shin, whom you loved.
He was someone I respected very much.
"The scholars who had left that secret meeting are being killed."
"You need to run now."
It's not true, is it? It can't be.
It's over now.
What was that poem about?
It was about his sadness regarding those who suffered in the Year of the Rabbit.
It was only around for a brief moment.
We will never know.
The dead do not speak.
The lady went up to Woonpyeongsa!
Woon Pyeong.
Why don't we choose Woon Pyeong as our subject?
Woonpyeongsa.
What, exactly, happened there?
Lee Gyeom!
Lady Saimdang! She went up to Woonpyeongsa.
Saimdang.
What happened here?
- Saimdang. - My lady!
- My child. - Child!
Wedding? Who is getting married?
Lady Saimdang.
You punks!
No! Saimdang!
Saimdang! Let me go!
It's not true, it it? It can't be true.
There must be a reason. You're acting, aren't you?
It is just as you see.
We made an agreement to marry and promised to be together forever.
How could you become another man's wife without one word of explanation?
I haven't forgotten for one moment in 20 years.
How could I forget?
[Police Department]
Oh! Lady Shin is back.
Please take this as collateral and let them out.
I have brought their identification papers, as well.
What are these?
My ownership papers for my land and home.
Take them as collateral.
Please release them for now.
- Thank you so much, my lady. - Thank you.
Look here, lady.
Do you know how much their debt is?
The owe over 900 sacks of grains. They owe over 200 rolls of cotton.
There's also interest on that.
This is not even close to being enough to cover it.
What did we do so wrong? We worked hard to live.
I'll do what I must to get the rest of the money.
Give us some time. Release these people for now.
I need them to make paper and repay the debt, don't I?
Trying to use these tactics to resolve this is improper.
It is people like this who become criminals and thieves.
How can you guarantee that they will not become dangerous?
They are good people.
They are all citizens of Joseon.
I can guarantee they are who they say they are.
If any of them cause trouble, you can arrest me in their place.
My lady!
My lady, that isn't right.
She has brought her land and home ownership papers as collateral.
She is willing to pay the debt within a month.
If I do not get the money within one month
I will seize your land and home.
These people and you will not be able to avoid the crime of contempt.
- Oh no. - Oh dear.
What do we do?
I will agree to it.
- My lady! - Oh no.
Thank you.
- My lady. - My lady.
Thank you so much.
How much is it?
The owe over 900 sacks of grains and over 200 rolls of cotton.
They owe more in interest, as well.
If it isn't paid within a month, the house and land are theirs.
Just what did they do that they're so behind on taxes?
It was the work they did.
They have to pay a product tax and a town tax.
On top of that, farmers pay a land tax!
It could add up.
That's all fine and good, but why does my wife have to do it? Why?
If even one of them runs away, she is responsible for that crime.
Why? I knew she was this way, but I didn't realize to what degree.
We'll all be ruined at this rate. Let me think.
All right. Seon, Hyun Ryong, Mae Chang, Woo!
- Where are they? - Why?
Fetch the children and find my wife.
We will never be able to pay that money back.
- We need to run away. - Me too.
I'm so anxious that I can't live. I'm going back to North Pyeongchon.
What will my wife do if you leave?
She has you, does she not?
You have no loyalty, do you?
I don't think you have the right to say that.
You look like you could hit me.
I don't like the way you look at me whenever you talk to me.
Seriously, what am I to do?
What was my wife thinking, doing something like that?
That is what I'm wondering.
When are you going to pass those exams?
Our lady keeps doing other work because you continue to fail.
Do you think I re-write the exam to continue failing?
It is hard to pass it.
Suppose I do pass and I get a government job.
Do you know what the starting salary is?
It would only be worth 10 rice sacks and 5 animals.
Count all you want.
I could earn forever and never pay all that back.
That is, unless I were bribed.
Is there a fire in the kitchen?
Oh, my head hurts.
My salary...
It's not enough.
I said I'm not going. What's wrong with you?
What are you doing?
Why did you pack?
Well, prison or labor...
I feel like we have no choice and this is the bottom.
We've been drifting like this all this time.
And?
How can we pay that back in one month?
What will we do if the police come and turn this place upside down again?
How does running away solve anything?
- How could you run away? - Then what about us?
- You have no loyalty. - What about Lady Shin?
I don't want to run.
It may be tiring, but I'd rather work.
I want to be treated like a human.
Lady Shin has done so much for us.
Where do you plan on going? Where can you live if you go?
My lady.
You said that you would pay the taxes if we worked hard.
But the government is so rotten.
There is no guarantee that they won't increase the taxes again.
So I am a little worried.
Running away is the answer.
- That's nonsense. - Stop it.
There is... a method.
- What? - He scared me.
A method.
There is a way.
Oh my goodness! He actually spoke.
Grandpa.
I didn't just hear things, did I?
- I told you my grandpa wasn't mute. - Here...
I have kept this hidden.
It is from Woonpyeongsa.
It is the secret to making goryeoji.
Woonpyeongsa.
What is goryeoji?
Woonpyeongsa goryeoji?
The method to making it is written in here?
Yes, my lady.
If we can manage to make the goryeoji they made in Woonpyeongsa
there is a chance of succeeding.
Even now, in the Ming Dynasty
they consider goryeoji to be the highest quality, longest-lasting paper.
It is unchanging, like gold.
Long-lasting goryeoji.
Then you are someone who knows how to make this goryeoji?
No, that can't be true.
I have only learned by watching others, so I can't make guarantees.
However, I can tell you that you need a sample of it.
A sample?
- A sample? - It must be good.
Open up!
Is anyone there?
Open up!
[Saimdang's old home] Who is here so late?
Open up.
My lord.
Tell the lady that Lee Gyeom is here. I need to see her right away.
Now!
It is very late.
- My lord. You cannot do that. - Let go!
[Lady Yi] She would like you to return.
Ask her again.
I only need to see her briefly.
I will wait here until she meets me.
Please, just go back.
My lord, please. Oh, Lord Lee Gyeom!
Oh no! Don't do that.
I will wait here until you see me.
Oh, my lord.
Subtitles by DramaFever
[Saimdang: Light's Diary]
If someone has remained alive, as soon as the king finds out
His Majesty will become the cruelest person ever.
Do not make the king your enemy.
Lee Gyeom is finally entering the game.
How many can we use on the woman?
How many can we use on hunting tigers?
You weak thing.
I have some work for you to do.
If the feelings are deep, the betrayal is large.
The card that we have is much stronger.