(Four years later)
Are they coming today?
Move over.
Put me down.
- So Bu Ri. - Yong Gae.
Let us go together.
- How are you? - Hello.
Everyone does their hair up in a topknot nowadays, Yong Gae.
- Brothers. - Eop San.
- Come here. - Come here.
- It has been a while. - I know.
Brothers,
welcome.
- Master. - Master, we are here.
Master, how have you been?
Greetings, master.
Ga Ryung.
Welcome.
(Hong)
(The Rebel)
You do not have to thank me for what I did with Prince Choong Won.
I...
trust your decisions.
Thank you.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
(Four bows were for when you were asking for the King's forgiveness.)
Your Majesty.
I am here.
I heard that when my father had a problem,
he called you to discuss it.
Yes, Your Majesty.
The previous king did so.
I am not like my father.
To be honest,
I know little about you.
Getting close to me...
will take some time.
We should go.
Thank you.
With your help,
I was freed from exile.
What must I do now?
Prince Choong Won.
Do you know what the strongest thing...
in all of Joseon is?
It is public sentiment.
To be precise,
it is the sentiment of the nobles who are male.
The sentiment of the noblemen.
That will decide...
Joseon's today, tomorrow,
and the next hundreds of years.
If you know how to use that public sentiment,
you will not have to get blood on your hands...
to gain revenge...
on those who ruined you so completely.
With your passion alone,
you can tear them apart.
Will you follow me and see if I am right?
(Hanseongbu managed the capital Hanyang's general administration.)
Mountains have high peaks...
and low plunging valleys.
Bodies of water come in...
small streams and large oceans.
Such is nature.
Would there be no difference between common man...
in class and in stature?
The King and his subjects, father and son,
husband and wife, and...
nobles and common folk are a few of many of the divides.
That is the rule of nature.
Look only at what is moral.
Listen only to what is moral.
Speak only what is moral.
Act only what is moral.
Nobles in the ancient times wore two jade marbles.
Each time the marbles clicked as they took a step,
they were urged to refrain from immoral thoughts.
A society without such divides will be chaotic.
What does chaos do?
It brings forth confusion.
And so,
nobles must order and suppress commoners,
and commoners must follow and respect the nobles.
When these rules are followed,
the nation will govern itself.
When this happens,
a household will govern itself.
A king will be kingly,
and his subjects will be obedient.
A husband will have his place,
and a wife will also have hers.
We are the Noisy...
- Hongs! - Hongs!
- Nice. - How nice.
You all seem to be doing well.
Yes. We are all legitimate members of society.
It reminds me of the old days.
It has been so long.
It is no fun living far apart.
That is right. I had no one to talk to.
Let us drink until we die.
Let us die.
Wait, wait.
I bought something for Ga Ryung.
It is a storybook.
I got one too.
- Me too. - Me also.
What?
Look. I bought two.
Hey, hey.
Mine has drawings. It is very rare.
- Thank you. - Take them all.
I wrote another story.
Do you want to hear it?
I will get it.
- No, no. - Ga Ryung, sit down.
You do not have to read it.
We are trying to celebrate. Hold back for once.
- Sit back down. - This one is fun.
- Ga Ryung, no. - Hey!
- She did not eat. - I wish she would not.
- Why did we buy her books? - Exactly.
Those books...
Why did we bring books?
"Although Goo Chun loved Chae Hwa,"
"he was unable to approach her."
"He could do nothing but protect her."
"Why? Because Goo Chun was unable to speak."
"Goo Chun was silent,"
"and so he..."
Keep reading.
What happened to Goo Chun and Chae Hwa?
"In the end, Goo Chun..."
"stayed at Chae Hwa's side, and waited and waited."
"He did nothing but wait at her side like a shadow."
"Much later, Chae Hwa realizes how Goo Chun feels about her..."
"and they live together."
"The two become a couple..."
"and lived with their two daughters."
"The daughters were named Seol Hwa and Seol Hee."
"And so they..."
We got an official request.
Kang Tae Sung...
is a man from a middling family.
He adores his younger half-brother.
His half-brother is weak, and Tae Sung...
carries him to his class every day.
- You must study hard. - I will.
Tae Sung, breakfast today was very delicious.
Was it?
It is odd for a man to think so much of his half-brother.
He registered the boy at a famous school...
so he could learn.
The other students...
bullied the boy because he was born of a concubine,
and he now has a limp.
Tae Sung reported them to the officials,
but the magistrate rejected the case, stating that...
commoners cannot report nobles.
(Commoners were below nobles.)
Kang Tae Sung wishes to meet you.
What will you do?
I heard that you are a thug with influence...
that reaches all eight provinces of Joseon.
They say you can teach a lesson to those...
that even the law cannot touch.
I brought more than enough. Solve my problem for me.
Find someone else.
Please avenge my little brother.
Then put forth your request with grace and respect.
I heard your followers call you master.
Master.
Avenge my brother.
Others...
ridicule me for caring for my half-brother,
but he is my only sibling.
I raised him as if he were my own.
However,
now he...
Whom am I...
to take my sorrows to?
Please... Please avenge my brother.
Please...
What will you do?
Send Kkeut Swe over.
Tell Governor Uhm to clean up after.
You baby your half-brother.
You are a disgrace to Confucianism.
Did you pick a fight?
When did I pick a fight?
Are nobles allowed to start fights with anyone?
How dare you! What are you talking about?
What did you say? Did lunch not agree with you?
This is your payment.
Take this and...
- buy your brother some books. - Why do you...
do favors for others without pay?
When I see people like you who whine when they are wronged,
it annoys me to no end.
I would love to beat you up, not the scholars.
Quit whining...
before I really do beat you up.
Gil Dong.
- So... - So Bu Ri.
- What is it? - Well...
Ga Ryung got an offer of marriage.
She is of marriageable age.
We would not...
wish to see her become a mopey, old spinster.
I searched high and low for someone suitable,
and I believe I have found a good match.
Would you like to meet him?
You look very nice.
Now, you should look way over there.
He has a very high nose.
- He is all nose. - Nice skin.
Mine is better.
He is tall enough.
One must be my height to be considered tall.
He is a hard worker.
So what if he is? Look at how he smiles.
Men like him are mean and will make her cry.
He only looks nice because he is next to So Bu Ri.
He is a nobody.
With a picky brother like you, Ga Ryung will never get married.
Did you hear about the offer?
Do you want to meet the man?
Do you want me to meet him?
If you want me to, I will.
If you do not want me to, I will not.
It would not hurt...
to meet him.
Okay. I will meet him.
Are you okay?
So the thing is...
- Things are not too good. - What do you mean?
Apparently, a rumor that Ga Ryung...
is betrothed to a young man is going around town.
What? Who would spread such a rumor?
Could it be...
Thank you, So Bu Ri.
I read about it in many storybooks.
A man who has not yet realized how he feels...
- needs to feel jealous. - That is true.
I did do as you asked me to.
Now, you must do something for me.
From now on,
the stories you write...
Do not tell me any of them.
Listening to your stories is just...
the hardest thing ever.
I found out who spread the rumor.
Let us go. I will break his leg...
The thing is...
It is not a he.
"And so, Goo Chun and Chae Hwa eloped in secret."
"They lived with widows."
"They lived together in the widow village..."
"and had two daughters."
"One was called Seol Ran, the other Seol Hee."
I will continue next time.
- Why? Keep going. - Do not stop now.
- This is unfair. - Then...
I will keep going if you do something for me.
What should we do?
Spread a rumor around the village that I am betrothed.
Are you betrothed?
I guess you could say so.
Who is it? What is he like?
He is the greatest man in all the land.
Do you mean...
Ga Ryung spread that rumor about herself?
Did you tell the villagers that you are betrothed?
What are you thinking? Why tell such a lie?
It is not a lie.
I actually...
like someone very much.
I was going to wait.
I could wait for 10, even 100 years,
but I had no choice because you wanted to marry me off.
Is this a one-sided affair?
- Why do such a stupid... - I know, but I cannot help it.
I like him so much.
I was actually hoping to...
introduce him to you.
Ga Ryung is in love with someone?
Yes. She wishes to...
introduce him to me.
Here we are.
We can wait here.
How dare he order us around? He should come to us.
He is a businessman, and he is very busy.
He spends most of his profits to help others,
and he is so handsome you would not believe.
And...
he has great eyes.
At times, he stares into my eyes without speaking.
When he does that,
it kind of makes me sad...
and happy.
He must be running late.
He is not late.
He is already here.
The man I like.
He is standing in front of me.
I...
like you.
Everyone else left but me.
I...
waited for you.
You are...
not...
a woman to me.
Gil Dong.
Uh Ri Ni.
I did not lose you...
this time.
Ga Ryung.
I will become...
your real brother now.
Wait.
Where are you going at this hour?
You should calm yourself down...
and talk this out.
- Stop her. - I am leaving.
No matter what you say, I am leaving.
Let her go.
Ga Ryung. Hey. Ga...
Do you like me?
Do you even know...
what I am?
Ga Ryung, I am a thug.
You should not live as a thug's woman.
You should live like everyone else.
I can love you...
more than Gong Hwa ever can.
I will never leave you.
I know.
I am a boring girl.
I do not want you to be harmed.
I do not...
want you to get hurt.
But...
I do not know what to do.
That is why...
I will stay with you.
I need a few servants to run errands for the female musicians.
However, the servants...
think it is a shame to serve as their servants...
because those musicians were once official prostitutes.
They will not come.
Oh, no.
The women of Jangakwon are the essence of Joseon's music.
How can they be ashamed of that?
I will tell the second eunuch...
to send a few servants to Jangakwon.
You may use them however you want.
Are you sure?
I am so honored to receive your favor.
Then will you...
give me...
your heart this time?
My heart is nothing. Why do you want it?
Your heart indeed is nothing.
However,
since you do not want to give it to me,
I want it even more.
The only way to keep you around is...
not giving you my heart.
So I will not give you my heart.
What did you say?
Please send your best servants...
who are quick-witted and smart.
I wish to serve you.
I will clean and wash clothes with diligence.
- Why? - I have seen you...
sing and dance in Jangakwon from time to time.
You were so beautiful like a fairy.
I want to serve you because I would rather serve a fairy.
You are still young, but you can talk.
Please send all of these girls to Jangakwon.
I will.
Why do we have to serve those prostitutes?
After all, I am a commoner.
I only work here because I am poor.
I do not want to serve a prostitute.
Where is your pride?
You are pathetic.
She has a fantastic life because the King loves her.
I will also have a fantastic life by making her love me.
You are fearless.
I am...
scared of the palace.
- Another bowl of soup, please. - I am on my way.
You are right.
So did Chun Bong's family...
- disappear overnight? - I told you.
Things looked better for him after his accusations were lifted.
What is happening? This is so odd.
- Weird, right? - This is very odd.
- My goodness. - Let us drink.
Here we go.
All right, here.
Something weird must have happened in this town.
- Who are you? - I am a storyteller...
who goes from town to town finding interesting stories...
- and telling them again. - I see.
So what happened...
- yesterday night? - Something did happen.
Chun Bong's family disappeared without a trace.
I see. Does the district magistrate...
bully the people?
Please, do not even say that.
Our district magistrate is such a great person.
- Right? - Exactly.
Let us drink.
Have a glass as well.
That is a vernier. Are you an undercover investigator?
- Let me see the magistrate. - Yes.
Chun Bong.
- He testified for his brother. - Yes.
What you are seeing is Chun Bong's appeal.
His brother, Chun Sam,
suddenly passed away while he served a corvee as a woodcutter...
for a leader of this town, Minister Choi.
Serving corvee is something only a state can order.
How can he serve a personal corvee for a minister's family?
Well...
Minister Choi is a distant cousin of the royal family.
That is why this rural town has been doing this in secret.
- However? - However,
after Chun Sam suddenly died,
he tried to cover it up by saying he passed away...
cutting wood for his own sake.
Then Chun Bong made a report rebuking Minister Choi's claims.
I also did not appreciate...
what Minister Choi has been doing.
After a thorough investigation of people around him,
I found out Chun Sam died from beating...
because Minister Choi wanted to punish him.
After he died, he covered it up by saying he slipped and died.
You have made a wise ruling.
If things worked out well,
why did his family disappear overnight?
I cannot understand the reason either.
If he was planning on leaving, he would have taken his things.
But the five of them disappeared...
without taking any of their belongings.
You should go in first.
No. You should go first.
You should go first.
No, you first.
We just walked around this yard dozens of times.
Ga Ryung, let us go back and sleep.
I do not wish to part with you.
What? We are not going to part.
Your room and mine are only 10 steps away.
Gil Dong.
There is something I have been wanting to try.
There are stories like this in the books.
A man and a woman that are in love...
sleep together at night holding just their hands.
They say things like, "I will protect you."
Do you want to...
sleep together tonight?
Holding just our hands.
I am...
so glad I was born.
What are you talking about?
You are lucky.
You can sleep.
- We should keep watching. - Hey.
Stop staring.
Gil Dong.
We have done everything there is, so...
What?
What? We did everything there is.
We kissed, held hands...
So now,
we have no choice but to get married.
I'm not a girl who is obsessed with marriage,
but we have no choice but to do it.
A lowly man harming a nobleman...
is chaos.
Furthermore, it is said...
that one must not do an evil deed because it is only slightly evil,
and one must not abstain from a good deed...
because it is only slightly good.
I question the judge.
A nobleman and a peasant got into a fight.
You should have followed the rule of orders.
Why did you say it was nothing but an argument between two men...
and bury it?
This is chaos.
Do not walk the path of chaos,
and walk on the path of order.
Do not walk the path of chaos, and walk on the path of order.
It has been 10 days already.
He has come every day...
and demands a reinvestigation of Park Duk Joo's quarrel...
with a peasant in the past.
Park Duk Joo and Kkeut Swe.
Why are you starting up with me?
What do you mean? When?
Can you start up a fight just because you're nobility?
He came alone at first,
but now he has over 10 scholars joining him.
Scholars are protesting?
Do not walk the path of chaos,
and walk on the path of order.
Do not walk the path of chaos, and walk on the path of order.
Do not walk the path of chaos,
and walk on the path of order.
Do not walk the path of chaos, and walk on the path of order.
We need to submit 150 yangs of silver,
but the craftsmen are not finished, so we need an extension.
I would like to ask So Bu Ri for help.
Gil Dong!
Hello.
Prince Choong Won has returned. Prince Choong Won.
His excommunication was lifted, and he has returned.
Do not walk the path of chaos,
and walk on the path of order.
Do not walk the path of chaos, and walk on the path of order.
Prince Choong Won.
What happened here?
This is not right.
How could he be freed after being exiled a few years?
He should have died during exile.
A while ago,
you punished Park Duk Joo, right, Kkeut Swe?
Yes.
When he reported you to me,
I said it was nothing but a quarrel between the two of you...
and refused the case.
I do not know how Prince Choong Won found out,
but he is making a big deal out of it.
However, do not worry.
The case was dismissed months ago already.
Just because he raises his voice for a few days...
will not make it be reopened.
That is right. Think about it.
Choong Won is no longer royalty.
He is a tiger with no teeth or claws.
He may try to do something,
but who would play along?
The case between Park Duk Joo and Kkeut Swe...
was closed long ago.
Just because...
a few scholars protested and raised their voices for a few days,
there is no reason to bring it back up.
- Thus... - Whereas that is true...
All you need to do is sign off on it,
and it will go away.
However,
I have been appointed county magistrate of Samju and am leaving.
Someone else will replace me,
so you must follow his will.
Pardon?
I hear the new deputy governor is quite young.
He rose in rank pretty quickly after accomplishing something big in 1498.
Afterward, he was the governor of Gohyang and then Yanggeun,
and now, he has come here.
Hello, master.
I am Um Ja Chi, assistant magistrate.
(Deputy governor oversees magistrates)
The case was closed months ago.
I do not know...
why they are making noise about it.
I heard you were appointed deputy governor of Hanseongbu.
Yes, master.
I am proud of you.
What do you plan to do once you take office?
Well...
I will be fair and just in everything,
and be loving toward the people...
and loyal to His Majesty...
That is too ambiguous.
You will not accomplish anything like that.
Tell me again.
What kind of a deputy governor do you wish to be?
I wish to be...
loving toward the people...
and loyal to His Majesty...
You must have your own identity.
Look at Park Ha Sung.
Loyalty to the previous king.
He showed his loyalty toward King Sejo,
and is now favored by His Majesty.
You do what His Majesty wishes to do,
but cannot.
You must know since you were there in 1498,
that His Majesty...
despises those who show contempt for hierarchy.
You should receive His Majesty's favor...
as much as Park Ha Sung does.
A fight between a nobleman and a peasant...
affects the core function of the nation,
so I must review it carefully.
Call in this man, Kkeut Swe,
imprison him, and uncover the truth.
But master,
why the sudden...
It is my first order.
Will you refuse me?
Where is Kkeut Swe?
- Arrest him! - Yes, master.
Do not walk the path of chaos,
and walk on the path of order.
I said I would go.
Do not walk the path of chaos, and walk on the path of order.
If you know how to use the hearts of the people,
you do not need to get blood on your hands...
to get revenge of those who ruined you.
Your passion alone...
can tear them to shreds.
Do not walk the path of chaos, and walk on the path of order.
How can you eat right now?
Why not?
I will get you out soon, so do not worry.
I am not worried.
You will be out soon, but still, let me know if you need anything.
Let me see.
Now that I am in here,
I miss my mother.
My mother, whom I never met.
I am silly, right?
You have lost so much weight.
I must meet the new deputy governor.
Please set it up for me.
Gil Dong.
He must know you are backing Kkeut Swe.
He must be trying to use this to get you to bribe him.
Let me pour you a drink.
- Master Uhm. - Come in.
It is nice to meet you, my lord. I am the procurer, Hong.
When I heard you were newly appointed,
this peddler from Hanyang...
wanted to offer you a drink.
- What are you doing here? - Please listen to me.
- This man is... - My lord.
Please have a seat and have a drink...
Do you look down on me because I am young?
Listen to me. If you introduce me to lowly servants like this again,
I will not forgive you.
Master.
Goodness.
Master.
This will not be easy.
The deputy governor is above the assistant magistrate.
Who is above the deputy governor?
The lieutenant governor.
We sold him alcohol before during the alcohol ban.
Do you remember me?
During the alcohol ban,
- I sold you this much alcohol. - Stop that.
This much alcohol. This much.
What is this?
It is our ledger noting the dates and volume of alcohol...
you purchased from us during the alcohol ban.
- Why you... - As you are fully aware,
all the noblemen who drank alcohol during the ban...
lost their positions and had their possessions confiscated.
- Why are you doing this to me? - One of my people...
is locked up in Hanseongbu over a petty matter.
I am sure the lieutenant governor...
can get him out easily.
I did not hit a nobleman!
I am the one who was hit instead.
Stop lying!
You said, "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth,"
and that since your leg was broken, my leg must also be broken!
I have no idea what you are talking about.
Please punish him and order a beating.
- Beat him. - Yes, master.
Wait.
What are you doing?
Come with me.
How dare you retry a case that I already closed?
I heard you are ambitious and rose in ranks quickly,
but is that why you are so audacious?
That is not it.
It may appear petty, but a peasant struck a nobleman,
and it affects the core function...
If you chase down every little argument,
how will you ever finish all the cases in Hanseongbu?
Release him at once!
And take care of the real matters!
The new deputy governor of Hanseongbu...
locked up the peasant who had fought with a nobleman.
Finally, the order of Joseon is being upheld.
This is all...
thanks to your strong love for the nation.
A scholar...
must always...
be interested in matters of the people and the nation.
However, scholars nowadays are complacent...
and avoid getting involved in matters of the nation.
That does not mean...
we should do the same.
- You are correct. - You are wise.
Long time no see.
My lord.
Where are you going?
Kkeut Swe was released.
Here he is.
Kkeut Swe.
- Kkeut Swe. - Why did you come all the way here?
You went through a lot.
- Why did you lose so much weight? - Kkeut Swe.
Come here.
- Thank goodness you are out. - Yes.
- You lost weight.
I found out how Prince Choong Won was freed.
Someone asserted that he was framed in 1498.
That is how.
Stepstool.