Are you not the chief peddler?
Chief peddler?
I wanted you meet you so badly, but it was impossible.
How did we end up meeting here?
I heard you are the head of the peddlers.
What brings you here?
I heard the largest merchants of Joseon were gathered...
to discuss whether they will go under today or tomorrow,
and the rumors were true.
What do you mean?
No one knows why the Bureau of Water Supply...
suddenly demands repayment of the loans.
Do you...
truly believe the crisis was avoided?
And you?
Do you know the reason?
I have recently captured...
the infamous villain Hong Gum Gae.
Have you heard?
I also saved a merchant whom he was just about to kill.
This is not the time to brag about himself.
Wait. You shall see.
According to that merchant,
the day Hong Gum Gae first appeared at the market,
he killed a poor merchant...
who refused to pay him.
Seeing that, people were stricken with fear and started to pay him.
However,
that scoundrel's acts became more and more evil,
and one day, he started to beat me up.
Right then, I thought this.
What if everyone gathered together...
to stop him when he first started making trouble?
Or, if I had given that poor merchant some money,
perhaps things would have resulted differently.
That it was because I ignored that poor merchant...
because I was fine that day,
that I almost died today.
How are all of you any different than that merchant?
You have avoided a crisis?
Do you not see that you have removed the cornerstone...
and that the pillars are barely standing?
Are you telling us not to demand...
the merchants of the market repay their debts?
I am telling you not to let the merchants of the market die.
Do not pressure poor merchants.
Rather, lend them money.
What if this happens again? We will be ruined as well.
If you do not help them now,
you will be the next target.
Do you think the Bureau of Water Supply's greed...
will be quenched by swallowing up the merchants of the market?
Do you...
truly believe that?
We are merely merchants.
What will we gain...
by doing as you say?
I hear the licorice you imported from Qing is causing you grief.
I shall mobilize the peddlers...
to distribute them nationwide.
Please.
Let it be white.
White.
Please.
All right. Let us vote on this again...
after thinking carefully.
- Let us do that. - I agree.
- I think something went wrong. - All right.
My lady!
- It is Lady Han. - It is her.
My lady.
Well... The chief...
Everything went well.
The merchants have agreed to lend us money to pay off the debt.
My gosh. Really?
Of course.
That is good news. It is such a relief.
This is great!
Goodness, we are saved.
- This is great! - Let us celebrate!
- Thank goodness! - Yes!
We will lend them money...
on one condition.
Like you said,
we do not know why the Bureau is...
suddenly demanding us to pay our debt...
in cash.
So I want you to find that out.
That is our condition.
I...
accept that condition.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
The merchants will be grateful.
- You should come with me... - No, thanks.
It is for both the peddlers and merchants.
I did not do this only for the market's sake.
Still, thank you.
I shall never forget your kindness.
We will all remain loyal to you.
I said I was not doing you a favor.
So you do not have to be thankful or loyal.
Gon, I told you.
I told you His Majesty is alive.
I told you he will be alive somewhere...
that I will be able to see him one day.
Yes, my lady.
Find out about his circumstances.
Find out everything about him...
from where and how he is doing...
and how he became the chief peddler.
Why...
did you not go after him?
I am afraid...
he will disappear again...
if I follow him and am greedy again.
- It is for Chun Sam. - Chun Sam.
Here.
Thanks.
- Next. - Give me the deed to my store.
It is Kim of Seomun Market.
Let me see.
- Here. - There it is.
I am Kim Gye Nom.
Listen up. Everyone here...
We were all going to be homeless if it were not for the chief.
- You know, right? - Sure.
- Sure. - We know.
- Let us hurry. - Hey.
- Thank you. - Ga Eun.
Hey, what brings you here?
You wanted to deliver medicinal herbs to the palace before, right?
Yes.
I finally made an appointment with the chief royal physician.
- Really? - Yes.
It was years ago when you asked me for this.
Now, I can finally grant your request.
It has not been decided yet,
but he sure will like you once he meets you.
I will do my best...
not to bring you harm, after all you have done.
I am the daughter of Deputy Magistrate Han...
whom the Crown Prince killed himself.
Tell him that I came to kill him.
Please wait a little longer, Father.
I will find out the reason...
why you had to die so wrongfully like that.
They are of high quality. When did you collect them?
I collected them last spring and dried them.
His Majesty will soon grant some of his servants medicinal herbs.
(A king sometimes grant his subjects medicinal herbs.)
Can you prepare these herbs by the designated day?
Yes, I will get them ready by then.
You said you wanted to know...
the truth behind your father's death, right?
A big pot is hidden...
in the Crown Prince's greenhouse.
Give it...
to Chun Soo by any means.
The King is coming.
To set an example,
I shall...
kill him myself.
Father!
- Did you look into it? - Yes, Your Majesty.
How is Mother?
She is operating a medical herb store in Seomun Market.
She is?
Do you know Deputy Magistrate Han's daughter?
She is running the store...
and taking care of your mother and sister.
Lady Han is...
I see.
She is...
taking care of my family on behalf of me.
Your sister's name is Kko Mool just as you remember.
She is a brave leader among the kids her age.
Is my sister really doing that well?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Kko Mool...
Your Majesty.
Why do you not meet your family?
I would be glad to,
but if Dae Mok finds out that I have family,
he will take them as hostages.
Please take care of those three.
I only have you to ask for this favor.
I shall follow your royal order.
The chief peddler convinced the large merchants...
to lend their money.
- The chief peddler? - Yes, master.
Do you know anything about him?
All the peddlers from all around Joseon...
have formed a guild and made him their leader.
It was not what he demanded?
The merchants selected him as their leader.
Yes, master.
I see.
Go...
and find detailed information about him.
- Yes, master. - Yes, master.
They have collected all the coins...
and even hid copper.
- Yes, master. - What could Dae Mok be up to?
If the market flow stops due to the lack of currency,
what would the country do?
Authority to make currency.
(The right to produce and circulate coins)
Does Dae Mok want to mint coins?
Coins?
When there is a shortage of coins,
the Ministry of Finance has to mint more.
They cannot do that without copper.
Then Dae Mok will step in...
and say he has a supply of copper and can solve the problem.
He will take the right to mint coins.
That is what the copper is for.
The right to mint coins...
The state of affairs makes me want to drink.
Rice wine...
Chung Woon.
We must find a way to get copper.
I came by because I must ask a favor of you.
Thank you for coming to see me.
I heard it is very hard to find copper.
We import most of our supply from Japan.
I came to ask if you happen to know...
the reason we have a shortage.
I know this Japanese merchant very well...
and I think he might know why.
Could you introduce me to that man?
Of course.
But in order to meet him now,
you must go to the Bureau of Trade.
I shall go to the Bureau of Trade, then.
Would you write me a letter of introduction?
Instead of a letter,
how about you take someone who speaks fluent Japanese...
and knows the way around the Bureau of Trade?
I would be grateful if you would send someone, but...
Yes. I will introduce you to him.
Thank you.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Do you not recognize me?
Have I changed that much?
Do you know who I am?
You once...
saved my life.
Do you know who I am?
You once...
saved my life.
I am Hwa Gun.
My name is Hwa Gun.
The next time we meet,
will you call me by my name?
Hwa Gun?
Did you say your name was Hwa Gun?
Do you remember?
You helped me then...
and I did not thank you properly.
Do not thank me.
You have no idea...
how happy I am that I am able to help you.
Why not take Adjunct Park Moo Ha of the Capital District Office?
Someone with a title will be of some use to you.
My goodness, you scared me.
You must greet an old man who is better looking than you.
How could I when you were standing there like a ghost?
- My gosh. - You are still just as rude.
Who are they?
You look familiar.
- How have you been? - What?
You are him.
The boy who was kneeling down.
Yes, that was you.
You grew up quite nicely I see.
This is just... This is unbelievable.
Who are you?
We have not yet met.
Oh, I see.
Yes, yes, thank you.
This is your chance to succeed. Grab it while you can.
You cannot stay a minor official forever.
If this works out,
you will become a high official for sure.
What? A high official?
Yes.
Do you mean I can go to the palace...
and rub shoulders with ministers?
And attend court meetings?
Yes.
You fool.
You cunning old man.
How dare you try to dupe me?
You once tried to stop me from...
serving the King by saying I would not live long.
Now do you want me to succeed?
That was because you were not ready then.
Now your time has come.
Really? Has my time come?
Get us some copper and you can become a high official.
Maybe even a state councilor.
You could go up, up, up...
A state councilor.
Gosh... A state councilor.
- Put your thumbprint here. - What?
Then I will take care of everything.
"If you bring us copper,"
"we will make you a high official."
- Correct. - "If you do not,"
"you pay for the old man's rice wine for the rest of his life."
Correct.
There is no reason I cannot get you copper.
Right here?
Here.
Why are you here yourself?
Someone who speaks fluent Japanese...
and knows the way around the Bureau of Trade.
That is me.
The ship will leave soon.
Are you sure you can come along?
I had business there anyway. Do not worry.
Then come with me.
A high official...
(The Bureau of Trade)
Do you come here often?
Yes. This is the best place to meet people...
and exchange information.
I shall lead the way. Follow me.
I do not feel well at all.
Did you ask around?
Pirates are raiding the ships that are bringing in copper.
Pirates?
I am not cut out for this job.
Do you see your thumbprint?
You may leave right now, but if you do,
you must pay for Master Woo Bo's rice wine for the rest of his life.
I can pay for some rice wine. Why not?
That is better than pirates.
The flower petals
are flying around us
I cry as I hold onto you
and bid you farewell
All I feel is sadness
And loneliness
She is Mae, the best poet in Joseon.
Thank you.
I will not forget you for bringing me here.
I heard pirates are plundering ships bringing in copper.
The thing is...
What is it?
If they were indeed plundered by pirates,
they would seek revenge.
However, they are going around...
spending money like nothing.
It does not seem they were plundered by pirates.
Is that what you mean?
- Please have another. - Sure. Thank you very much.
Come hither!
My lord.
Hello.
This way, please.
I think we have come to the correct place.
What do you mean?
That man...
is the son of Dae Mok, the head of Pyunsoo Group.
Pyunsoo Group...
They are an organization harming Joseon like a dark shadow.
I need...
to find out what that dark shadow...
is up to.
Halt.
(The Emperor)
The chief peddler is one of two things.
He is a man I must gain for myself, or a man I must kill.
Who are you?
Please do not tell Ga Eun.
I have something to confess to you.
I am not begging you you give me your heart.
He probably does not remember my father's death.
If I could see her again...
If I could tell her that I am Lee Sun and tell her how I feel...
Ga Eun is in danger.
Perhaps you need to be punished like your father.