Tell me what...
the King is like.
You must know the real King.
That is how you will pass.
Are you a performer from Jangakwon?
(Jangakwon: Palace department in charge of ceremonies)
Yes, Your Majesty.
What is your name?
My name is Nok Su.
- Nok Su? - Yes, Your Majesty.
I have decided...
to abandon my old name...
and earned a new one.
The name Nok Su...
comes from the icy blue water...
of the Yalu River.
Nok Su.
I enjoyed the time...
I spent with you.
(Hong)
(The Rebel)
If His Majesty enjoys music and poems so much that...
he invites performers during the national mourning period,
he must be delicate and sensitive.
If he likes music, he surely likes women.
According to Officer Kang,
he is not into women.
- That does not make sense. - He likes music and dance,
but not women?
There are several female performers,
but none of them have slept with him.
He simply listens to their songs and poetry.
If he likes it, he gives them jewelry.
It does not make sense that a man like His Majesty...
could socialize with Prince Choong Won.
I cannot really understand him.
My spirits fell when I saw His Majesty presenting...
the King's letter to Prince Choong Won.
I do not think...
we can do anything about this.
Gil Dong.
There is something you need to do.
There is nothing...
I do not know about Lord Jo.
Indeed, I know everything.
I had served him for 40 years.
I could find him with the smell of his fart.
That is how...
I was able to gain control of his wife.
What cards do you have?
I shall open a kisaeng parlor.
A kisaeng parlor?
Your father forbid you from doing that.
I have a plan. Please comply.
The King appreciates music,
so there are more musical troupes than before.
This is a good opportunity.
(The palace managed the troupes.)
I will register a musical troupe through the office.
One of us can be the manager and visit the palace...
to get information.
(A specific office was in charge.)
I think...
- Eop San should be it. - Me?
The manager...
should be handsome than most.
A man should look like me.
Do you not think I am better looking than him?
You look like a furry dog.
I am the best looking out of us all.
If I had your face, I would have killed myself.
Let us fight.
You are all just the same.
What? Excuse me.
You are all just the same. Plain, old ugly.
- What? - You look girly.
What? I do not look girly!
Prince Choong Won leaves tomorrow.
We should prepare to leave.
- Stepstool. - Yes, master.
Here is your stepstool.
- Let us go. - Yes, master. Come along.
Goodbye, master.
Jeong Hak.
Your father...
helped the dethroned queen and her son.
That prince...
is now our King.
You will become an official.
Yes.
You will make it.
Make way. Prince Choong Won is coming through.
Make way.
Are you comfortable?
Ha Sung.
Let us go together.
Make way. Come along now.
Make way.
We should go.
His Majesty the King!
Bow.
(Civilians had to bow in the king's presence.)
Your Majesty!
I finally got to be in your presence...
before my time on this earth ended.
Now, I have no regrets and can die in peace.
Your Majesty!
Let him stay.
Leave him.
Reveal the exam question.
The King's real heart?
Your grandfather Park Won Il...
When Prince No San gave his throne to his uncle, he left...
and lived in a mountain.
The King is a direct descendant of King Sejo.
What do you think he thinks about?
I will ask you again.
Your grandfather turned his back on King Sejo.
Now, you wish to excel in a world ruled by his grandson.
What must you do?
A king's loyalty is to the people he must rule over with mercy.
A subject must loyally abide by his master.
When was the last time...
a king and his subjects treated each other loyally and honestly?
Many years ago,
Prince No San gave up the throne.
It was because he recognized talent.
King Sejo was unable to refuse to take the throne...
because he was bound by loyalty towards his master.
How virtuous would such a relationship be?
You two...
What happened?
What do you think happened?
We are back.
Say hello first.
We are back, master.
We met Gil Dong by chance and...
He is on his way back.
He told us to go ahead, so we are here.
What lovely weather.
Are you well?
I apologize.
You fools.
We got scared when we heard Gil Dong was going...
to kill Prince Choong Won.
I apologize, master.
Do you think Gil Dong is my only family?
You are family as well.
We are all a family.
I apologize, master.
- I am sorry. - I am sorry, master.
Master, was the trip very arduous?
You should rest.
Oh, right.
Stepstool, come by whenever I call you.
- Take my horse's rein. - Yes, master.
Ga Ryung! We are back!
You are back.
Welcome back.
Was it a long trip? Do your legs hurt?
Your face is half the size it used to be.
You have not eaten much.
Are you hungry?
Do you not see us?
What took you so long?
Your father is waiting for you.
Look at these. They are nice and fat.
How shall I cook them? Shall I grill or stew them?
Well?
Oh, the smoke.
It is so much nicer to have people around.
What did you say?
You sound like an old hag.
Why did you hit me?
Our master was an expert at grilling meat.
- You are not bad yourself. - Right?
- Open your mouth. - I smell something burning.
She gives me heartburn sometimes.
- The smoke stings. - You nag too much.
- Move. - You do it then.
My goodness.
It better taste good.
You little kid.
What was that about?
Gosh, something smells good.
- So Bu Ri. - What?
Gil Dong, you know...
When we were in Hanyang, he told us to kill...
our old contacts if they refused to side with us.
He even talked about digging up dirt into the King.
He has changed a bit.
He might hear you.
Out of the blue, he talked about...
- opening a kisaeng parlor. - A kisaeng parlor?
I think you should...
talk to his father for us.
- Here you go. - Thanks.
Eat up.
A broker I did business with knows a great spot for a kisaeng parlor.
It is on the road to Hanyang...
which makes it an ideal location to hear news...
from all over.
So... Master.
Were we not...
against kisaeng parlors?
Could you talk to him for us?
Now,
everything is up to you.
Brothers.
I know you are concerned because...
the King wrote to Prince Choong Won.
Yes. You are right.
There is no way we can attack a man...
who has the King's favor.
That is why, in our stead,
I will make the King...
kill Prince Choong Won.
Is that...
your card?
Yes, master.
Where did you get the guts?
Are you saying...
you had the bamboo... No.
You had the Second Eunuch let you into the palace?
Okay.
The King...
saw my dance and smiled.
He smiled?
Oh dear.
If you make the King smile,
they say you receive expensive jewelry.
It is so beautiful.
My goodness.
You received a gift from the King.
It is something I cannot even dream of.
The King will ask to see you often.
If you are lucky,
you could even become his royal concubine.
A royal concubine.
The girls I name are to get ready.
Baek Kyung,
Moo Sun Hwa, Nan Hyang.
Wol Ha Mae.
Your Majesty...
Master.
Did His Majesty not...
ask for me?
Let us do this.
It is possible the King had forgotten about you.
Would you like to come along tonight?
It was like a dream
It was as clear as day
I lost track of time
I did not know what I was doing
There, I saw my love
My mother was also there
I could not tell where we were
Was that a Goryeo song?
Could you tell?
This Goryeo song...
Am I allowed to sing a Goryeo song?
It is fine.
Music...
has no boundaries.
So I heard you named your instrument.
Yes, Your Majesty.
My instrument...
has been my best friend ever since...
I was a very little girl.
Men usually call such a close friend...
their ball...
What is the other word for that?
Men call their childhood friends their bell friends.
I have no such body parts,
so I call my harp my ribbon friend.
Before I was able to tie my hair up,
I had a ribbon in my hair.
My harp was like a part of me that way,
and so it is my ribbon friend.
Your ribbon friend?
Your ribbon friend.
Are you disappointed the King did not look at you?
I told you that...
he is not like the men you are used to.
His Majesty...
recognizes the most valuable, beautiful,
and greatest of everything.
Your song and dance are outstanding,
but it is not enough to captivate the King.
Be even more outstanding.
If your song can finally comfort His Majesty,
and only then,
I will help you.
All I wish for...
is His Majesty to laugh.
That is all.
- My goodness. Let me go through. - Hey, stop pushing.
It is up. It's on the board.
- My goodness. - The list is up!
Why are you so sure you failed even before checking the list?
I got an attack of diarrhea, so I could not write well.
I probably failed.
Stop talking about your diarrhea. Come over here.
Excuse us.
Excuse us. Please excuse us.
There.
There is your name.
There it is.
There is my name!
Wait, there is your name too.
My name is not on it.
There it is.
- Park Ha Sung. - We both passed!
Mother!
I passed the state exam!
- I am proud of you. - You have shown me generosity...
when I had no one to turn to.
How will I ever repay you?
You do not need to pay me back.
Now,
I hope you can be...
a solid pillar for this country to stand upon.
Jeong Hak, you must become...
a pillar for this country from now on.
It is simple to become a pillar for a country.
All you have to do is...
serve His Majesty with everything you have.
Easy, right?
You should try as much as you can.
Once you retrieve...
the silver mine after you get a hold of Prince Choong Won,
Yong Gae will approve of you too.
Yes.
- I will. - You know what, Gil Dong?
People really hate...
deciding something for themselves,
and what they hate even more is taking responsibility.
That is why when a fool...
steps up saying they will decide and take responsibility,
people...
will gather around him thinking they should trust him.
However,
do you think a fool would know what the future holds?
That fool takes his followers...
and walks into thorny bushes,
jump into icy water,
putting his followers to death by stabbing and freezing.
Gil Dong, you are not a fool, are you?
Yong Gae, Kkeut Swe, Se Gul, and Eop San.
You will not throw them down a cliff, will you?
I will not.
Of course not, Father.
I will pay for the fund needed to build up a kisaeng parlor.
The letters mean to revive and to make beautiful.
The name means it revives something beautiful.
How does Hwalbinjeong sound?
For men, it is very important for them to be revived.
It is very important for them to revive...
that something.
Hwalbinjeong.
We have a room. Come this way.
- My goodness. - Over here.
This is great.
That is good.
Why are you out here?
What are you looking at?
Me?
I am thinking about Gong Hwa.
She was so beautiful, pretty,
and was nice to me.
Do you ever think of her?
It is cold. You should go home.
Gong Hwa.
I know...
you have never forgotten about Gil Dong.
That is why I feel bad for you.
But I do not regret it.
From now on,
I will stay next to the person I like...
to live happily ever after.
Are you leaving like this?
I will return.
What is on your mind?
It is about time we brought Prince Choong Won here.
We should throw a huge party.
Massage me harder.
Do you remember Stepstool who took care of your horse in Hanyang?
I do.
He is the bear-looking kid...
- who knew how to humor me. - Yes, my lord.
He was a wanderer, but he settled at a kisaeng parlor.
Then he became a procurer there.
I think it is thanks to the way he humors his masters.
He has been nagging me...
to bring you over to his kisaeng parlor.
He said he will give you the biggest feast.
A procurer?
That suits him.
My goodness, my lord!
Prince Choong Won is here!
- My goodness, is this he? - Yes, it is.
I told you he would come.
Welcome, Prince Choong Won. Welcome.
Please come in.
Yes, sure.
Prince Choong Won is here!
My goodness.
I must invite someone in the high office...
to become a worthy procurer.
And Prince Choong Won, now that you are here,
it is such a big honor.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Sure. Let me see how you can humor me.
Yes.
I will do my best.
I will bring every single procurer in this Hwalbinjeong for you.
All right, come in!
- Yes. - Yes.
Stepstools!
- Yes. - Yes.
- Stepstool. Stepstool. - Stepstool. Stepstool.
You crazy fools.
- Stepstool. Stepstool. - Stepstool. Stepstool.
- Some more. - This is great.
- All right. - This is fun.
- All right. - Yes, you crazy fools.
Your Highness.
I brought this for you.
That is gross.
You idiot.
Oh, one thing, Your Highness.
You had the honor of receiving a letter from His Majesty.
Why did you read it by yourself?
People usually share the letter with everyone around, right?
What do you know?
What?
I am sorry, Your Highness.
This way.
Wait. Wait, wait.
You already drank a lot today.
- My goodness. - Okay, I get it.
Please come back.
Make sure you come again.
Let us go!
My goodness.
Darn him.
Guys, get up. Wake up.
- Darn it, what is this? - My goodness.
What is this?
Wake up, guys. Get up.
Did you make sure Prince Choong Won went out of his mind at this party?
We are sure.
He went out of his mind,
and his tongue was pulled out too.
We let him have so much fun for free.
- My gosh, this is awful. - What is this sound?
- Darn it. - Stop.
- My gosh, what is with him? - My goodness.
Have some honey tea.
- Yes. - Okay.
Hey, where are you going? Hey.
Here.
Bottoms up. Keep drinking.
Come on. Good boy.
Someone like Prince Choong Won is bound to have...
something fishy behind his back.
He is throwing a party here for receiving the King's letter.
This is a great chance to find out...
who his associates are.
Come on. Let us go in.
The King has given me...
a handwritten letter...
with a poem he wrote.
- Congratulations. - Congratulations.
That is why I decided to read...
His Majesty's poem with you all.
I want to share this touching moment with you.
"Everywhere is filled with the clear, autumn breeze."
"The scent of Korea is filled in this yard."
Ladies.
You will each take one man.
You must find out what they do...
and what their relationship with Prince Choong Won is.
Can you all do that?
You heard him.
- Yes. - Yes.
There are three things that are necessary...
for a kisaeng parlor to thrive.
Alcohol, music,
and ears that can listen.
These are the three necessities of a kisaeng parlor.
- The three what? - Ears that can listen?
You have to find out the hot issues among our customers...
and tell it to the kisaengs here.
That way, they can really talk to their customers,
and the customers will think we have a certain class.
They will return next time.
My goodness.
I have such a good memory.
I never forget what I hear.
That is why I have heard a lot of things...
when I pretended to carry food into rooms in Danyejeong.
That is why all of the girls...
came to me when they had questions.
Are you saying...
you are the ears for Hwalbinjeong?
Watch and learn.
Give me a lot.
Is Eop San doing well?
Are you really Eop San?
Looking great.
How is it going?
Come on. I am a handsome guy.
Court ladies go crazy over me whenever I visit Aekjeongseo.
(Aekjeongseo: office which passed on the King's orders)
Did you become acquainted with some of the King's court ladies?
That is not easy to do.
They are very proud because...
they serve the King.
Tell me whenever you need something.
No matter how much money or time it takes,
we must become acquainted with the King's court ladies.
So Bu Ri,
when the customers talk about news from Hanyang,
make sure you pick that up.
Yes, I also do have...
ears that can listen.
Ears that can listen?
Yes, something like that.
The last time Prince Choong Won threw a party, he brought guests.
Do you have a list of the people he invited?
Yong Gae and Se Gul...
can visit these men once every few days.
Tell me whom they meet and what they do.
If something out of the norm comes up, you must tell me.
All right.
And Kkeut Swe.
Keep meeting incense maker Man Su, lantern manager So Chool,
and Officer Gu Bok Seung, so they do not...
betray us.
Yes.
And I will continue to play the role...
of a stepstool.
They are truly beautiful.
They are from Jangakwon.
You are incredible.
You brought people from Jangakwon?
This is nothing.
Back in the day, my grandfather...
brought whomever he wanted,
whether they were from Jangakwon,
the palace chef, or anyone.
That is amazing.
How pretty.
Come here!
There are plenty more.
Look how pretty.
Look at this one.
How pretty.
Han Duk.
Take them all. All of them.
How lucky.
Your Majesty, a district magistrate killed a cow during the time...
of mourning, which is destructive to the Code of Morals.
Please call him in and interrogate him.
It is true that the district magistrate was wrong,
but dozens of officers have already stepped down...
for violations such as that.
Thus, the justice system has become paralyzed.
A prisoner awaiting trial died in jail while waiting for his verdict.
There is a hierarchy of importance to the nation.
Do you assert that a district magistrate's taking cows...
is more important than a citizen losing his life?
Are you trying to manipulate His Majesty with your words?
Your Majesty,
there was a hail storm with lightning a few days ago.
This calamity struck because the top three officials...
are nothing but rats.
(Top three officials: premier, vice-premier, second vice-premier)
If there is a wise king in the future,
he will surely scoff at your statements.
Dozens of officials had to step down...
for killing cows during times of mourning.
How is that not funny?
Your Majesty, why do you take such matters so lightly?
It is because you are lax with giving lectures and discussions...
that you have grown...
I had an illness of the tongue,
which is why I skipped the lectures and discussions.
When you were too ill to attend the lectures and discussions,
did you go watch the arrow show?
I heard you enjoyed the show for 10 minutes.
If you wish to become the ideal king...
I am too inferior...
and have no hope of becoming the ideal king.
However,
since you are clearly devoted to me,
I shall reward you with drinks and meat.
Enjoy as much as you would like.
Your Majesty, Lord No asserts...
that it is proper to lock up the censor.
It is insubordination and treason against Your Majesty.
Please interrogate Lord No!
Your Majesty. Please interrogate Lord No!
We wish to chew on Lord No's flesh!
He must be killed for the nation to receive blessings!
They curse No Sa Shin,
(No Sa Shin tried to harm the censor.)
but it is my flesh they want to chew on.
(Please interrogate him. We wish to chew on his flesh.)
I am the one they wish to kill.
(Please interrogate him. We wish to chew on his flesh.)
I hear the scholars are still protesting in Hanyang.
Someone killed a cow...
and held a party when the late King passed away, so...
Is killing a cow that big of a crime...
that they need to protest in Hanyang?
That is how we noblemen are.
A party during a time of mourning? That is huge.
Did not Prince Choong Won have a feast and party...
during the time of mourning as well?
That is not all.
Gil Dong says he always calls in...
musicians from Jangakwon and palace chefs.
I heard what the noblemen are saying among themselves.
They say Prince Choong Won takes offerings to the royal coffer...
for himself.
The royal coffer? That's the royal family's funds.
- The royal family's funds? - It is the nation's money.
It is the King's spending money.
But how would we alert the King?
Our only connection is the lantern manager.
It will never reach him.
Furthermore, we have no proof.
No.
We do not need proof.
According to Eop San, the King hates rumors of any kind...
and severely punished a eunuch recently...
for spreading a rumor.
That means...
the King is very interested in rumors.
So?
What if we spread rumors...
about Prince Choong Won so that the King hears about it?
Even a lowly lantern manager or musician...
can spread a rumor.
Furthermore,
rumors do not need proof.
Did you hear about Prince Choong Won?
I heard he took the royal family's money and...
Prince Choong Won...
borrowed from my coffer and did not repay it.
Moreover,
he frequently calls in musicians from Jangakwon and...
palace chefs for his parties.
What will Your Majesty do?
I wish the King and Prince Choong Won...
will be like this shell...
and split apart into two.
Father.
Hello, master.
We received a letter from Heo Tae Hak.
The King sent for Prince Choong Won, so he is going to Hanyang.
Eop San sent news as well. He said a court lady, Han Duk, said...
His Majesty heard workers from the royal kitchen talking...
about Prince Choong Won.
Are you saying the King called him in...
- to punish him? - That is right.
Hello.
His Majesty has a full day today. You cannot see him.
I heard...
you borrowed from the royal coffer.
You heard...
His Majesty knows everything that happens outside of the palace too.
A royal family member borrowing money from the royal coffer...
is not a big problem.
However, such a rumor...
should not reach His Majesty's ears.
Who was it?
Who spread such rumors?
Prince Je An and Prince Wol San use from the royal coffer...
as if it is their money.
All I did was have some musicians come and...
borrow some horses.
How dare they frame me?
How dare they try to turn the King and me against each other?
What rats did that?
What rats dared to speak ill?
I shall find them and punish them.
My grandfather...
helped King Sejo and founded this nation!
How dare they frame me, his grandson?
Grandfather.
Grandfather!
Prince Choong Won's path to Hanyang has been blocked, that is all.
The King did not punish him...
at all.
The royal family really looks out for their own.
Perhaps even more than we do.
We cannot expect to win the war after the first strike.
Nothing has changed.
I am okay.
He has gotten much weaker lately.
He needs to see us...
get rid of Prince Choong Won...
before his health declines more.
Goodness.
Father, why are you outside?
What are you doing?
You eat all day long. Clean this up. Come with me.
It is still chilly out. Are you okay?
You have not...
been wasting your efforts.
The King may not punish Prince Choong Won,
but he may still consider him despicable.
I agree.
However, that is not enough.
We need something decisive.
Gil Dong.
What is there...
that would anger the King?
The scholars are still going to Hanyang...
and protesting?
They say the King is strange.
The previous kings always listened if the scholars protested,
but they say this King...
is very stubborn and will not listen or something.
Hey.
That is why he did not punish Prince Choong Won.
Why are you getting angry at her?
I apologize.
Eop San says the King has been sending away...
his eunuchs and court ladies, and staring at the fire.
- Fire? - What if the palace burns down?
Does he not know if you play with fire, you will wet your bed?
Good one.
Right.
The King...
stares at the fire by himself?
Make the flames stronger.
Stronger.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What would...
anger the King?
The King's rage.
(The rage of the King)
(The Rebel)
If you find it,
it will bring you success...
even if you are a concubine's son.
Display the King's dignity...
all over the land of Joseon.
He did not say anything about the dethroned queen?
You must find out, no matter what.
Find out more of the rumors that are floating around.
Can you do that?
I shall put my life on the line.