(Episode 17)
Did you send assassins to kill the Chief Peddler?
Is that it?
You come to see me after five years...
and ask me that?
Leave the Chief Peddler alone.
I am...
in love with him.
If you ever hurt him, I will get hurt also.
If you kill him,
I will take my own life.
What... What happened?
Keep quiet.
Pyunsoo Group sent assassins.
Those scumbags. How dare Dae Mok...
Dae Mok? Who is that?
Mister.
Then...
Chun Soo was fighting Pyunsoo Group all along?
I should not say anymore.
Why not? Why would you keep this from me?
Chief Peddler said that...
if you got involved with him while he is fighting,
you could be threatened.
I could...
be threatened?
Yes, that is what he said.
You have no idea how much...
the Chief Peddler cares for you.
Chun Soo.
I do not know whom you are looking for,
but I am not Chun Soo.
Is this about the letter I left?
Or are you pretending not to recognize me because...
I failed to keep my word?
We never made a promise,
and you never sent a letter.
Why are you here?
Were you concerned for me?
Yes.
Do I look that much like this man called Chun Soo?
Based on that glance,
he must have been your first love.
- Are you okay? - You are not Chun Soo.
Why do you keep showing up?
You have the same face and voice.
I do not want to hear that you worry about me.
Do not show up again.
That is why...
he took on all the danger alone...
and pretended not to know me.
I am sorry I pretended not to know you.
I thought that keeping my distance...
would keep you alive.
But never once...
did I forget you.
If I kill the Chief Peddler,
you will die as well.
Did you come to threaten your grandfather?
I am not here to threaten you,
but to make a deal.
A deal?
Fine.
What will you offer in exchange for the Chief Peddler's life?
Your successor as Dae Mok who will surpass even you.
The new head of Pyunsoo Group. Will that do?
I shall be...
the new head of Pyunsoo Group.
I told you to stay in your room. What is it?
I have something to report.
Is it urgent?
No. If it were,
would you have entrusted me?
You may go.
If I spare the Chief Peddlers life,
you will become the head of Pyunsoo Group.
It is time to introduce you...
to the elders.
I have brought the new head of Pyunsoo Group.
Dae Mok's granddaughter...
should follow the will of Pyunsoo Group.
Then why did you...
take the Chief Peddler's side during the large merchants' meeting?
As the head of the merchants,
I chose the more profitable option.
When we lost our copper,
Pyunsoo Group's plan went up in smoke.
You were also there that day.
Pyunsoo Group is incredibly well-informed.
Yes, I was there taking care of a large transaction.
You left Pyunsoo Group.
Why do you wish to return?
It is because of what occurred in Waegwan.
You could not protect the copper...
and ruined Pyunsoo Group's plan.
That idiotic mistake was too pathetic to watch.
That is why I decided I must step in myself.
What the...
An idiotic mistake?
By us? Pyunsoo Group?
Pyunsoo Group has a greater heritage...
than the Royal Family of Joseon.
We cannot let it fall to ruin like this, can we?
I shall become the new head...
and reinstate the discipline that was lost.
Why did the head of Pyunsoo...
I mean, the assistant head...
Master, why did you wish to see me?
The poppy field.
Pardon?
I will maintain the poppy field from now on.
Assist me.
What do you mean, maintain the poppy field?
It is too insignificant for you to do.
Is it insignificant?
The power of Pyunsoo Group originates there.
If I control the poppy field,
I will be able to become Dae Mok one day.
Then Hwa Gun...
will not deem her father incompetent.
Are you all right, my lady?
Gon.
Bring me to the Crown Prince.
I wish to see him.
I worry that his wounds may have gotten infected.
I wonder if he awoke yet.
I am so worried.
Can you move around like this already?
See? I am perfectly fine.
I am well enough to see you off.
Then walk me to that spot over there.
Well, I do not think...
I can.
I do not...
wish to turn away from you ever again.
Five years ago, I went to see you.
Back then,
I turned away, thinking it was for you,
but I have regretted it ever since.
Chun Soo.
- Yes? - Why...
did you come so late?
I shall...
never leave your side...
ever again.
Am I interrupting?
No.
What brings you all the way here?
I came because I was worried,
but I am fine, since I see that you are well.
My apologies for causing you alarm.
Yes, please do not cause alarm again.
The fear...
that I would lose you...
almost made my heart stop.
Thank you for worrying about me.
I will see you soon at the large merchants' meeting.
Ga Eun.
I am saying this in case you get the wrong idea,
but there is nothing going on between us.
I mean it. Trust me.
Did I say anything?
Wait. Ga Eun.
She and I... We are really...
"We"?
I thought...
you always thought of me.
I always did.
It is true.
Then...
what is your relationship with her?
She is someone...
who can see me holding hands with you.
By the way,
were you...
being jealous?
No, I only asked out of curiosity.
Wait.
Lady Kim, shall I get rid of her?
Why would I care about someone as insignificant as her?
I am different from that useless girl.
Soon, the Crown Prince will find out...
that I have something that no other woman has.
I am the only one...
who can give it to him.
Why did the Bureau of Water Supply demand people...
to pay off the debt in cash?
I promised you that I would find the reason why.
Everything...
was a scheme to gain the authority to make currency.
Authority to make currency?
- Authority to make currency? - Is that the reason?
Thankfully, Master Woo Bo...
and Adjunct Park stopped them.
Master Woo Bo became the Minister of Personnel.
Sungkyunkwan's Assistant Master Woo Bo...
is assigned to the Minister of Personnel position.
The problem is...
the Bureau will not give up easily.
- That is true. - I agree.
To prevent such turmoil from taking place again,
all peddlers, large merchants, and merchants at the market...
must cooperate as a team.
Will everyone...
trust me...
and work together?
We shall.
If we face a state of crisis,
all of us will follow your lead.
All of us...
will follow you.
- Let us work together. - We shall.
- We will follow you. - That is right.
- We will work together. - I agree.
- Let us agree. - We will work together.
Thank you.
I will establish Department of the Censorate, Censors Office,
and Office of Special Advisers.
I will gather people to fight against Pyunsoo Group.
The Chief Peddler?
The Chief Peddler was the one...
who handed over copper to the Ministry of Finance and made...
Master Woo Bo the Minister of Finance.
How did the Chief Peddler manage to stop Dae Mok?
He is an exceptional man.
He gained trust from the Queen Dowager.
He also gained complete trust from the merchants.
Is the Queen Dowager...
on his side?
It is not certain, but as he stopped Dae Mok,
he gained trust from the Queen Dowager.
I see.
Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager is here.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Thanks to you, we could stop Dae Mok.
As a result, it took a lot of burden off the people.
It was not me. It was the work of the Chief Peddler.
What do you mean?
You trusted me...
and postponed Dae Mok's scheme for four days.
You did an excellent job for the people.
Therefore, I will try my best to keep my promise to you.
Next time I come back,
I will bring Ga Eun with me.
Your Majesty.
The Queen Dowager will make Lady Han a court lady.
Are you not pleased?
Hyun Seok.
If the real Crown Prince were alive,
would he be a great king for the people...
without being swayed by Pyunsoo Group?
Please do not think that way.
The real Crown Prince has passed away.
That is true.
I witnessed his death...
with my own eyes.
Therefore, you are the true king of Joseon.
You look at me...
as if I am the real king.
If you keep looking at me that way, I will get greedy.
I imagine I am the real king who will defeat Pyunsoo Group,
save the people,
and win Lady Han's heart.
That is my dream.
It is not a dream.
It is possible.
You are the King.
Do not hesitate or have any doubts.
Somewhere in the Royal Court,
there will be people who oppose Pyunsoo Group.
We must find them and work together.
How is your work treating you?
It is rewarding to know that the people are happy.
Goodness.
When they offer you a position that is five ranks lower,
that means they want you to resign.
You accepted the offer, and now, you count money.
I can hear the wailing of those who follow you even from here.
These days,
more people talk about an eccentric man named Woo Bo...
who gained a position in the Royal Court.
You make it sound like it is an impressive position.
What happened to me is not shocking.
It is more shocking...
that you stopped being a hermit and became a public official.
Do you not agree?
Is that so?
Listen.
I have someone I want to introduce to you.
Would you like to meet him?
Hello, I am Park Moo Ha, Second Minister of Personnel.
This is the Chief Peddler...
who helped resolve the recent copper situation.
Are you that famous Chief Peddler?
Listen, Kwang Ryul.
I plan to visit each department.
I also plan to fill the Censor General position.
Please take the position like before.
We will recommend you to the Queen Dowager.
You will recommend me to the Queen Dowager?
Yes.
Please run the Department of the Censorate again.
I am sorry.
I am not the brightest man.
I cannot work for the Queen Dowager.
Pardon me?
Only the King has the authority to nominate officials.
If the Queen Dowager has such authority,
that will only split this country in half.
Well, that is...
If...
the King nominates you,
will you accept the position?
You talk about the King.
However,
you do not want to take either side, do you?
Do you not see any hope...
in the current Royal Court?
Let me ask you a question.
If you do not care about working in the Royal Court,
why did you accept such a low position?
Are you mocking me?
Were you not already aware...
that Pyunsoo Group tried to gain authority to make currency?
Even though it is the lowest position,
you accepted it to stop their evil plot, did you not?
How did you know that?
You have been doing a job that no one recognizes.
It must have been very hard for you.
The royal court...
needs someone like you right now.
I see that you are no ordinary chief peddler.
You remind me of someone.
I thought it was my imagination that you look like him when he was young,
but it is not only your face that resembles him.
Your words and actions.
Everything you do reminds me of him.
There are many people in the world who look similar to each other.
Now,
could you tell me who you really are?
Your Highness. Would this not put you in danger?
- I am worried about it too. - In order to fight Pyunsoo Group,
I have to risk my life.
What I can offer to a loyal subject who would risk his life for me...
is only my sincerity.
The Crown Prince is still alive.
It seems there is still hope in this country.
Dear Jae Heon,
I have something important to tell you in person.
Could you come back to the capital as soon as you can?
Deliver this letter to General Jae Heon in Hamgil Province.
Yes, my lord.
- Oh, my goodness. - Is she okay?
Do you truly want to repay me?
In that case,
become a court lady.
Have you made up your mind?
The Queen Dowager trusts you, and she is waiting for you.
Lady Han! Something terrible happened!
Did she really develop wasteland into a marketplace?
That lady named Ga Eun is a truly amazing person.
Ga Eun is very strong-minded.
That is why the chief peddler fell in love with her.
She is the woman that he loves, you say.
Speaking of which, I am pretty strong-minded...
What is going on?
Wake up, Yang.
- Yang. Wake up. - Goodness.
- Oh, dear. Yang. - Excuse me.
- Excuse me. - Gosh.
Ga Eun! What is going on?
- It is Yang. - Yang?
Oh, gosh. She really is Yang.
I thought she was sent to a temple. What happened to her?
Goodness. Put her on my back.
- Someone help me, please. - My gosh.
Move out of the way.
- Yang. - Yang.
- Gosh, Yang. - Oh, dear.
- Master! - Master!
- Master! - What is wrong?
Yang is...
- Get her inside. - Okay.
What is this?
Master.
What is that?
It is poison.
Yang.
All right. Can you hear me?
Yang. Could you tell us what happened?
My mom sent me away, so I will not starve.
But the place the monks took me to was not a temple.
Where was it then?
It was a field of flowers deep in the mountain.
Girls around my age picked the flowers all day...
and made pills with them.
Do you remember how many children were there?
There were about 20,
but they are all sick.
Do you think...
all those children are addicted to that drug?
Can you tell us where that place is?
Get up.
Okay.
- Goodness. - Yang.
She cannot handle it yet.
Yang.
If she does not take an antidote soon, she will die.
She is an eight-year-old girl.
Is there any way we can save her?
We have to save her by any means.
But this poison...
Even you do not know what it is?
It is not natural poison. Someone produced it.
I am not sure how I should treat it.
If you do not know how to treat it,
it must be a really fearsome poison.
It must be.
Also, Pyunsoo Group may be behind this.
What do you mean?
I heard a rumor that people who fought Pyunsoo Group...
were found dead covered with dark red blotches...
because Pyunsoo Group poisoned them to death.
That rumor disappeared somewhere along the way.
There are not many groups that...
can get rid of rumors easily.
(Episode 18 will be aired shortly.)