They say that there were bones...
in the wing's joint of the baby.
They say that the Mighty Child has died.
Gil Dong.
Gil Dong, you should head out to a wider world.
You should head out to a brighter world.
Just like the generals, Dae Myung and Soo Sung,
you should try to gain recognition by His Majesty.
When a Mighty Child survives and grows up,
he becomes a rebel who can overturn history.
I guess so.
He was the one who conquered the foreign invaders.
I would rather get to know...
Hong Chum Ji's face than the King's.
Is that so?
Of course, we all agree.
Hong Chum Ji really is something. He can conquer anyone.
Ja Won,
when I was the prince,
you used to travel all around Joseon and tell me about...
strange creatures...
and the world.
Stories about the phoenix, the dragon,
and the Mighty Child...
with bones in his wing's joint.
But it cannot be possible for such things...
to really exist.
Of course, Your Majesty.
They are stories that the people have made up.
I know.
But why do you think...
they came up with the story about a Mighty Child?
Why would the people...
wait for something as absurd as the Mighty Child?
Why would they spread rumors that a petty thief...
could be the Mighty Child?
His Majesty is here.
Your Majesty, this is the leader of the thieves, Thief Hong.
Tell him.
Your Majesty.
I am Gil Dong from the Hong family,
Hong Gil Dong.
I heard you are strong.
But why do you...
look so familiar?
Bring in Stepstool the laborer.
Blasphemous or disloyal?
What does that mean?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I was...
Gil Dong the magic peddler, Stepstool the laborer,
the procurer of Hwalbinjeong,
Hong Chum Ji, and Thief Hong.
And I am also your subject.
As your subject, Gil Dong of the Hong family,
I have something to tell you.
Your Majesty,
I would like to give you something.
Your Majesty, he wants...
to give you this.
"The Hengrok"?
(Hong)
(The Rebel)
(Episode 21)
How could they do such a thing?
They wanted to help make a better country.
It does seem necessary to...
teach women about chastity...
and children of concubines their rightful place.
That does not mean that we can cut their heels out.
They are very cruel.
In a way, Thief Hong has punished them.
And we do need to give them credit...
for defeating the foreign intruders.
Yes, we do need to acknowledge the fact that...
they defeated the foreign intruders.
- Gil Dong. - Gil Dong.
- I am here.
- Do not worry. - We shall not.
I will get you out of here.
Do not worry.
- Do not worry, my brothers. - Gil Dong.
- Gil Dong.
Do not worry!
Do not worry, my brothers!
Take care!
Gil Dong.
- Gil Hyeon. - Yes.
The loyal subjects are angry about the Hengrok.
His Majesty knows about your fight with the foreign intruders, too.
It is all thanks to you.
However,
even if His Majesty becomes angry about the Hengrok,
the fact that you deceived him as Stepstool does not go away.
Gil Hyeon,
if you can punish the guilty in the Hengrok...
and find Uh Ri Ni for me,
I am willing to get the punishment for having deceived the King.
- Gil Dong. - I want to see...
how His Majesty handles things this time.
If he only punishes me...
without punishing those in the Hengrok,
I will not accept him as my King.
I have my plans.
However,
I have my trust in him.
He values you like this,
and you serve him loyally.
He cannot be a bad person.
Dad should have seen you...
like this.
The loyal subjects believe that we need to acknowledge his good deeds?
Yes, Your Majesty.
And after the investigation, we found out...
that they provided you with their silver mines...
and also helped fill in the storage of the Finance Office.
They helped...
fill the storage of the Finance Office?
Yes, Your Majesty.
They may be ignorant and foolish,
but perhaps they are...
your most loyal and trustworthy subjects.
Your Majesty.
I suggest you give Hong a sword...
and have him die defending our border.
Have him die defending our border?
Yes, Your Majesty.
King Sejong sent those who committed grave crimes...
to the border to fight the barbarians.
Leave us.
Your Majesty...
You deceived me during a royal interrogation...
and pretended to be Hong Chum Ji.
Did you believe I would let you live?
So...
why did you risk your life and turn yourself in?
Your Majesty.
I started off as a peddler and then became a scoundrel.
Now, I kneel before you as a common thief.
Yes, I was a scoundrel...
who lived below the bottom rung of the social ladder.
I was like a worm.
However, Your Majesty...
sits on the highest place, the brightest place in all Joseon.
You sit where it shines.
You are in a place...
a lowly worm like me can never even comprehend.
To gain your audience,
I had to risk my life.
You were willing to...
risk your life to ask me a question?
I traveled the nation...
and hear of the Sugwidan.
They cut the heels off young men,
burned out their eyeballs, and cut out their tongues...
all the while saying they are preserving our nation.
I also saw farmers weep because they could not sow in time...
because they had to bring you frosted plums and sapphires.
Officers at local branches of the Finance Office killed a man...
and lied saying the man had a chronic illness.
We will all die.
Villagers were massacred...
because there were no horses to ride...
to send men for help.
And so,
I risked my life to ask you this.
Your Majesty.
You are so high up, blinded by light,
that you do not see what is going on...
way below you on the ground.
Had you known,
would you not have done something?
They burned eyeballs,
cut out tongues,
and cut off men's heels?
Gil Dong.
The King is reading the Hengrok very carefully.
What did I tell you?
He just did not know.
Now that he knows, he will side with us.
How could you let this get out?
Your Majesty.
I wished to...
leave a record of their courageous actions...
as an example for our descendants.
I believed you would be pleased.
I told them to be an example of virtue,
not get revenge for their petty gripes.
(Yi Yung)
You did make a contribution to capturing the thieves,
so I shall let this slide.
I thank you, Your...
Stop leaving written records such as this one.
That is just foolish.
This could have greatly angered the King.
You helped me out.
I knew that...
you would be of great assistance one day.
This time, you helped catch the thieves.
Yes, master.
About those thieves...
The ministers all say...
You earned the right to keep a copy.
In the Hengrok,
write down how you captured the thief Hong Chum Ji.
Yes.
The thief Hong Gil Dong that you captured...
is my enemy, the enemy of the Sugwidan,
and the King's.
Of course,
the King objects to our leaving a written record,
but this is my achievement.
When Confucius first came up with...
his ideology, did anyone understand?
But think of it now. Even after 2,000 years,
Confucius' teachings are still applicable.
Our Hengrok...
will survive the trials of time...
and last for thousands of years.
I cannot believe you...
spoke with a thief in private.
I just wanted to.
So...
what will you do with him now?
I heard...
the ministers say that although he is a thief,
he did beat the barbarians.
They seem to think you should spare his life.
He must die.
He risked his life to fight the barbarians...
and filled my coffers with silver.
He also framed Prince Choong Won in my presence...
and bought off...
workers in the royal dresser and stationer.
(Stationers procured stationery for the royals.)
I can forgive him for that.
However,
I realized that he has a preposterous notion.
He, a mere thief,
showed concern for...
the country and its people.
Because he goes around with such ideas,
the people are praising him and saying that...
the Mighty Child is here.
He forgot his place.
However,
would it not be boring...
to just kill him off like that?
Why not let him live...
and take his strength?
What could be as ridiculous...
as a tiger with no claws?
Hong Gil Dong filled my coffers by selling wine...
when I had issued a ban.
Ja Won.
You have worked very hard to ensure...
I always have money.
Your Majesty, I did not work alongside the thief.
My only goal was to keep your coffers full and...
I know that.
However,
you must prove that you were not in cahoots with Hong.
Hong Gil Dong.
I plan to crush him...
and show everyone that his powers mean nothing.
And so,
I need your help.
Yes.
It must be you and no one else.
As a show of loyalty towards me.
Gil Dong.
Master.
How...
Why are you here?
The King will be furious if he finds you here.
You should go.
Do not worry.
I am one of the King's personal servants.
I can keep a secret.
Have some.
I had been feeling hungry.
Thank you.
Gil Dong.
I castrated myself...
to become a eunuch and serve the King.
(Eunuchs were castrated.)
I thought it was the only way to make a living.
I am less than a man...
and yet I am treated better than most.
It is all...
the King's grace.
The King is my master,
my only family,
and is almost like my own son.
I know that.
However,
to be very honest,
I liked you very much.
When I saw you,
I felt a weight was lifted off my chest.
Maybe I wished to be like you.
Maybe I wished to live like you.
You are flattering me.
Master.
I am sorry.
I am...
very sorry.
Your Majesty.
To be in your presence again...
Now, I can die in peace.
Did he do great service by capturing the thief's followers?
Yes, Your Majesty.
He is my loyal servant...
who obeys only me.
When I heard the thieves were a cause for concern,
- I told him to... - Does he have...
the exact same mysterious powers that...
Gil Dong has?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Show him. Break them.
I swear...
I saw him fight as Gil Dong's equal.
The powers still come and go...
Try again.
Do it.
Never mind. You can leave.
Nok Su, you are right.
Why should I kill him?
He is said to be so strong...
that the people call him the Mighty Child.
I would like to...
see his powers for myself.
His Majesty the King.
What lovely weather.
In front of everyone gathered today,
you will kill Gil Dong.
Show the King your powers.
However, my powers...
still come and go.
No. No.
You can do this. Can you not?
I can.
Gil Dong.
Will you get me the moon and the stars?
Of course. I will get you the moon and all the stars.
Then pick me one of those strawberries.
Which one?
If I tell you which one, can you get it for me?
Of course.
Then I want that one.
You underestimate me.
Let me see.
I should have controlled my strength.
You are good at everything.
You fight well, too.
Then can you...
target anything perfectly?
I can...
target even the tiniest things...
the size of my nail.
Really?
Really.
Do you want to eat the strawberry?
Let us go eat it.
Here it is.
Here it is. Here.
Oh, my.
Ga Ryung.
Gil Dong.
His Majesty promised to keep you alive if you win.
You need to win.
You must.
Let us begin.
Bring the monster inside.
- Oh, my. - Gil Dong.
- Gil Dong.
Get up.
Mighty Child.
- Get up. - Get up.
- Yes. - Get up.
- He got up. - He is a monster.
- Good luck. - Good luck.
Your Majesty, you said it was a hunting.
Yes.
Today we are hunting a man.
Bring in the hunter.
- Oh, my. - Oh, my.
The hunters Lightning and Thunder are coming in.
- That thief. - Kill him.
- Get up. - You are doing well.
- Oh, my. - Oh, my.
How can they be so easily dealt with?
- Hong Chum Ji! - Hong Chum Ji!
- Well done. - Hong Chum Ji!
It is boring.
Bring him out.
The hunter Mo Ri is coming out.
Yes, kill him!
- Kill him! - Kill him!
- You can do it. - Kill him.
- Kill him.
Bring them in.
- Gil Dong. - Gil Dong.
- Gil Dong, are you all right? - Gil Dong.
- Gil Dong.
- How dare they?
Are you my subjects or his subordinates?
Right.
You do not need to answer right now.
After the fight is over,
you will know for yourselves.
If Hong Gil Dong lives today, you will die.
If he dies,
I will spare your lives.
What about now?
Do you still want him to live?
Gil Dong, you need to survive. You need to survive.
Gil Dong!
- You need to win. You must! - Gil Dong.
- You must survive!
If Gil Dong survives,
behead these people.
That is it!
- Gil Dong! - Gil Dong, stand up!
- Stand up! - Master Hong!
You must not get hurt!
I need to survive.
I want to live.
I need to survive.
How can he still be full of energy?
That is...
I have no reason...
to fight with you.
That is why I do not like you.
- Kill him. - That is right.
- Kill him. - Kill him.
Kill him!
Good job.
The medicine will take effect very soon.
His body will break down even with the smallest cut.
- Come on. - Slice him.
Kill him.
- He is doing it. - All right.
Gil Dong!
Mo Ri! Kill him!
Kill him!
You have to kill him!
- Do it. - Just kill him.
Why did you let me go?
Just because.
- Kill him. - Gil Dong!
- Kill him. - Do it. Kill him.
- Kill him! - Kill him!
- Come on. - What is he doing?
- What? - What is wrong with him?
- What? - What is he doing?
What is he doing?
That... That idiot.
Your Majesty. Look.
Your people are watching.
If you let that man live,
your people will praise you for your generosity.
And all of these people...
have watched that man,
Hong Gil Dong, get torn apart.
Your will has already been done.
Yes, Your Majesty.
He will become a laughing stock for everyone...
if he gets to live.
Yes.
Now, everyone knows that there is no such thing as a Mighty Child.
Yes.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Fine. I will let him live.
Instead,
break every bone in his body and hang him in front of the gate.
And Mo Ri has gone against my order.
Imprison him immediately.
He must have gone crazy.
- Gil Dong. - Please live.
- Gil Dong. - Gil Dong.
- Stay alive. - Master Hong.
- Gil Dong. - Gil Dong.
Gil Dong, stay strong.
I will save you.
I will.
I will save you.
I am so relieved...
that Gil Dong lived.
I wanted...
to live.
I thought I might live...
if Gil Dong lost that fight.
So for a second, I hoped...
he would lose.
I am...
such an idiot. I am a jerk.
Darn you, you jerk.
You jerk.
You are a jerk.
How could you wish that?
How could you think in such a way?
Darn you, you idiot.
The Mighty Child's body is broken into pieces.
I guess Hong Chum Ji wasn't the Mighty Child.
There has never been such a person as the Mighty Child.
That is not why a hero is born.
Higher beings do not send a hero for you to live like this.
Gil Dong,
do you think you will die a natural death?
What did I say?
It is all because His Majesty does not know.
Once he finds out, he will be on our side.
You live in such a high place...
that you cannot see what goes on...
down below.
You are...
filled with bloodthirsty desires.
That desire will end up breaking your body.
I understand he did it to catch that thief,
but how can he hunt him down ever so terribly in the palace?
And think about the thieves.
How can the country be blameless for this?
People wander off and become thieves because...
they cannot continue offering things for the King's extravagant life.
Our coffers were filled during the end of King Seongjong's reign,
but it is all empty now.
What if a great famine or a war breaks out?
How can we save our people...
and how can we keep an army going?
We cannot just sit around...
as high officers of this country.
You should all do something...
- to resolve this. - However,
His Majesty hates hearing admonitions from his subjects.
We will also back you up.
We cannot let this continue.
Your Majesty, although you said you did it to catch that thief,
but you have been too focused on hunting and feasting.
Not only that, we have used up our finances...
to buy pearls bigger than peas, long wings,
and various leather.
Also, the rewards you give to the musicians of Jangakwon are...
too much for us to handle.
The royal garden is filled with hawks...
and hunting dogs.
The hawks which you keep fly into our offices...
and bloody pigs often ran into the library.
And you have gone so far...
to hunt down a man in the palace.
Your Majesty.
Please cut back on your hunting...
and look after the state affairs.
- Please cut back on your hunting... - Please cut back on your hunting...
- and look after the state affairs. - And look after the state affairs.
Is it that wrong for a king...
to catch a thief?
Depriving the king of his free will seems to be...
a greater disrespect for the king.
What do you think about...
interrogating him for saying that?
However, Your Majesty,
King Seongjong used to...
keep these types of advice...
whenever he heard them.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I believe what he have said is very appropriate.
You should not consider the details of the officer's words.
You should generously take in his advice.
Also, Your Majesty,
please do take advice and wisdom from our officers and ministers.
Please stop asking eunuchs, palace attendants,
and other outsiders who do not have official positions...
for advice and wisdom.
Did they call me...
an outsider?
I finally got to see who is coming between...
His Majesty and me.
I will show them what an outsider...
is capable of.
- Oh, no. - Look at him.
My goodness.
- How can they do this? - My gosh.
Look at him.
What are you doing?
Will you please let me...
give him a bowl of water?
- Arrest him. - Yes.
What are they doing?
- Take him. - Master Hong.
Open your eyes!
Open your eyes, Master Hong.
- Oh, no. - What are we going to do?
Gil Dong was finally captured and was abandoned by the King.
That is not all. All of the bones in his body were broken.
His Majesty has kept him on a pole in front of the gate.
People are coming and going...
So did he die?
He did not die yet. But it looks like he will die soon.
Yes, you are right.
He might still be left there in front of the gate in Hanyang.
Let us go.
I must bring him.
Gil Dong.
I must bring him home.
I will go...
and bring him back.
I will bring him home.
You two will go...
and find out if Hong Gil Dong is still alive.
Yes.
But...
why are you so interested in that thief's affairs?
Just go!
Your Majesty.
There is someone I want to introduce to you.
Your Majesty.
I finally get to meet you.
My goodness.
Look at him.
He must be dead.
I do not think so.
You should go and take a look.
I am scared.
He is alive.
Let us go and tell her.
Yes.
Is there a letter which my mother left...
before she passed away?
A disrespectful man took away that letter,
but she remembers what was written.
Hurry up and tell him.
"I was once..."
"favored by the King."
"And I have become the prince's mother."
"However, because of other royal concubines' scheme,"
"the King has changed his mind and abandoned me."
"Who would ever imagine what I have gone through?"
(The royal concubines have plotted against the dethroned queen.)
"The Royal Prince which I left in the palace has died..."
"with mysterious reasons."
"Who will take care of the safety..."
"of the Prince?"
"Those traitors are now after the Prince's safety."
"I will rise up again..."
"to protect the Prince."
"The Prince must become the Crown Prince."
"Then he must become the King..."
"to protect the safety of this nation for a thousand years."
"I will find..."
"and burn all of those..."
"who try to harm the Prince to prepare for the future."
"Once the Prince becomes the King,"
"it will be a great danger for all of those..."
"who have plotted against the Prince and me."
"You shall all help me..."
Are you trying to fool me...
by saying that you remember every single word of that letter...
without the letter present here?
Your Majesty.
I do not have the letter with me.
I just have the contents of that letter in my memory.
However,
it is true...
that my husband helped your mother...
and so is what I have told you about what was on this letter.
At the end, your mother has signed it with these words.
"Mother of Baek Dol,."
"Queen Yun".
Then she signed it with her initials.
(Sometimes, initials were used in place of seals or stamps.)
"Baek Dol"?
What is it?
I feel bad for him.
It is really sad to see a person die without having some water...
when they get extremely thirsty.
Let us go now.
Okay.
Gil Dong. Gil Dong.
Baek Dol was...
a name...
which my mother gave to me in her womb.
(The Rebel)
Beat them to death.
These are the dogs who have led my mother to her death.
Please let me go!
It was very wonderful to see...
how you hunted down Gil Dong.
Are you trying to instigate him instead of stopping him?
Do you still not know anything about him after all these years?
Who on earth did this?
Your Majesty, you should hope to be lucky.
I must stay alive to let him live.