Subtitles by DramaFever
[It's Not Easy Being King]
[Episode 1]
Ooh, a hot guy.
Judging from his looks and his muscles...
He's premium quality.
Why is he wearing platform shoes?
He must be short. That isn't attractive at all.
Nope. Next.
This one isn't bad either.
His lips are so red and his teeth are so white.
What is wrong with his eyes? That won't do.
How would we flirt with our eyes?
I was clearly in front of you. How could you be so rude?
Don't go around lecturing me.
- You-- - I'm not moving from this place.
Move it, unless you want me to shit on your head.
You... Preposterous!
Who would this brave stranger be?
How dare you bring your nonsense onto my territory?
What, you find my dishes lacking
and want to make yourself part of the menu?
Hey you! Yeah, you!
I heard you wanted to use my customer's head as a toilet.
Miss, it was a misunderstanding.
Here, here. Let's chat. Over here.
What do you have to say about your actions?
You're being selfish and unjust.
You're a psychopathic bully.
You're betraying the King's call for a more civilized nation.
You're unfair, disgusting, arrogant...
So... do you see the errors of your ways?
Miss, I was wrong.
I sincerely apologize. I was wrong.
Line up! Your food's almost ready.
My name is Da Xi.
“Da” like Consort Daji, and “Xi” as in “happiness.”
I'm the most renowned female chef in the capital.
If you're wondering why I'm over nineteen and still unmarried...
I'll be honest, I rely first and foremost on sight.
To me, physical appearance is my top priority when it comes to men.
My ultimate goal is to marry someone handsome.
Dear customer, what can I get started for you?
My restaurant has everything you can possibly imagine.
Some savory meat perhaps?
I really shouldn't...
Why not?
Your meats are too oily. They're too heavy.
Then feel free to order whatever.
I'm sure that you have something in mind already.
I'll leave you to it then. Please.
Da Xi...
All the decent men in this world are either married or ugly.
I don't know when I'll meet the one meant for me.
But I will wait. I'd rather accidentally pass him by than settle.
- Miss, come look! - How much are these?
- Five peng. - Are you serious? How about three?
I really can't do that. Look at the color, it's so fresh.
Straight from the garden.
He's so perfect, is he even real?
Those elbows... that face... the mouth...
Goodness, I want to touch him.
He's the man of my dreams.
I'll take these. Thank you.
Miss! The vegetables. You-- You don't want them anymore?
Welcome back.
Halt. You can't just enter the palace gates.
But he just...
Shao Yong is an official in the Imperial Guard.
He left the palace to check on the citizens.
- He can obviously enter at leisure. - When will he come out again?
- Next month. - Next month?
I beg you, tell me a legitimate way to get into the palace.
Please.
Well, you could become a palace maid.
Then you'll be free to come and go as you please.
No, that won't do.
I don't want to go for good, just visit.
Official Shao Yong...
Sir, we'd like to work in the palace.
Well, the King would not like you to. Go!
People like that think they can enter the palace?
Don't fret, sir. There are more options.
Come here, all of you!
And you people too!
What are you all crying for?
You should be honored for the chance
to enter the palace and serve His Majesty.
This lass doesn't look too bad.
Come, lift your head.
Good, now lower your hand.
Oh my goodness.
Those buckteeth could plow a field.
The King is going to go blind if she is selected.
What's that smell?
It's like something out of pig pen. Smells awful!
If she's selected, the king's going to turn into a fly nest.
You! How dare you not look me in the eye?
But sir, I am looking you in the eye.
Why would you say I'm not?
There's something wrong with her eyeballs.
The King's going to turn sideways if I bring her in.
No way, no way.
Officer!
Over here, my lord.
What-- What kind of people have you found?
Aren't you afraid of having your head cut off?
Sir, what should we do?
Well...
Whatever. We'll just pick at random.
- They can do manual labor. - Understood.
- Take them all into the palace! - Yes.
Keep up, people. Hurry up.
Officer.
All right, you can go home.
What? Aren't you paying me to not select you?
Don't tell me you actually want to work in the palace.
Yes, I do.
Don't you have an eye problem?
I faked it so I wouldn't be selected.
There's no point now that my plan failed.
On the contrary, we have to put in more effort on our appearances.
If we catch His Majesty's favor...
We won't have to do manual labor anymore.
We'd be able to hold our heads high and make our families proud.
Please rise.
It's him! So hot...
Isn't he so handsome? Isn't he?
So what? He's only an official in the Guard.
You're being shortsighted. Let's go.
You're the shortsighted one. Like your whole family!
Bunch of fools. Can't see things for what they're worth.
It works though. You people go fight over the King.
I'm going to watch over my captain.
Xi Xi.
Give that to me. Let me help you.
Shao Yong!
Have you come to see me?
All right, here.
Xi Xi, are you all right?
Shao Yong, let me go already.
It'll be embarrassing if anyone sees.
Don't worry, Xi Xi.
We are alone, but for the wind.
- Do you feel the breeze? - I do.
I can also feel your breath.
- Shao Yong. - Xi Xi.
Why are you standing here daydreaming?
Hurry and move.
- We almost kissed... - Stop dawdling! Hurry up.
I don't care how you lived at home.
This is the palace, and thus you must follow our rules.
If you break the rules and insult an official...
You better be prepared to offer your neck and meet your maker.
Sounds terrifying.
Terrifying...
You are now women of the Inner Palace.
Female members in His Majesty's service
must know their place and not go where you do not belong.
You mustn't interact with men in the Outer Palace in particular.
If I find out, you will be severely punished.
Ma'am, you mean...
We can't go in and out of this place as we please?
As you please?
Do you think the palace a place you can just leave for a market stroll?
What if I accidentally enter a forbidden area?
Then I suggest you be prepared to walk with your hands.
That's terrifying.
Then-- Then can outsiders come to visit us?
What do you think?
There are no men in the Inner Palace besides His Majesty.
Not even a male fly.
Shao Yong...
Have... Have I eaten too much lately?
How could this...
Ma'am.
What are you doing?
I'm... I'm... I'm helping you find your earring!
A dog... just stole your earring!
Right. I'm helping you find your earring.
Not this pair! Another pair.
If you don't believe me, you can look.
But this dog is really scary. It bites.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
- Is that so? - Yes!
I have a pair of earrings here. Pretty, right?
For you.
- Da Xi! - Yes!
Have you heard? The Empress Dowager has announced that
she'll be selecting wives for members of the Guard.
- Really? I hope I'm chosen. - Same here.
Then I'll be able to leave this miserable place.
Right? Look at her.
Ma'am!
Aren't you supposed to be kneeling?
- Why have you risen? - I'll go back after I'm done.
I know you don't like me.
Which is fine, because I don't like you either.
I heard the Empress Dowager is choosing wives for members of the Guard.
I want to know if Official Shao is one of them.
I want to marry Official Shao!
Then we won't have to see each other anymore.
That would truly be fantastic.
Da Xi.
Her Highness is grateful for your interest in Official Shao.
She sent five rolls of silk and three bronze figurines as a dowry gift.
Hurry and show your gratitude.
What?
How-- How could this be my Official Shao?
Father, I've found you at last!
You were an eunuch all this time?
How did I come to be if you're an eunuch?
I was adopted from the streets?
Poor me!
Sir, have you also come to be an eunuch?
What does it feel like to be an eunuch?
Please help me inform Her Highness
that I'm unlucky and cannot burden her with my marital affairs.
Please excuse me.
Shao Yong is the only one I will ever love.
I won't be marrying anyone else.
Isn't that your Official Shao?
I haven't seen Shao Yong in so many days.
I want to see him to badly.
I can't even muster the energy to do anything else.
Da Xi!
Why is it you again?
You're slacking again. Just you wait.
Ma'am.
I know I've been a pain.
But that's because...
Because you're so much like my mother.
My mother passed away when I was young.
I was a naughty child, so she always reprimanded me.
I make you angry because I'm reminded of her when you lecture me.
Ma'am.
I want to go home.
That's enough. I know life here isn't easy.
But thinking of home is the most you can do.
Don't you try escaping.
How about this?
You're upset, which affects your ability to work.
Go rest for a few days. We'll discuss this when you feel better.
An An. Can you take on Da Xi's work for a few days?
Thank you, Ma'am.
Da Xi is so awful.
She gets to slack off and I have to do her work.
Exactly! Why did you agree to do her work?
Ma'am asked me, how could I refuse?
We need to teach Da Xi a lesson.
She can't be so entitled.
What do you think?
I like it.
I'm starving.
There's no more? What am I supposed to eat?
Did you save this for me?
You're great, thanks!
Hold up.
This is for him.
Here.
Good boy.
- Good boy. - Oh, all right then.
He's not going to eat all of it.
- What a waste. - You think we're being wasteful?
Then you could eat the dog's leftovers.
- That would solve the problem. - It's fine, I'm not that hungry.
Get up. Get up!
- What are you doing? - Where did you go tonight?
Why should I tell you?
Fine, don't tell.
I'd like to hear what you say when Ma'am comes.
What are you doing up in the middle of the night?
Ma'am, Da Xi was stealing from the kitchen.
I asked her about it and she got mad.
- I didn't! - You still won't admit it?
Then why don't you tell us where you went?
- I-- - Why did you come back burping?
Everyone saw that you didn't have dinner.
Da Xi!
Ma'am, I really didn't steal food!
It's true that I didn't have any dinner.
But-- But the maids' kitchen isn't the only place with food.
- Why have you brought us here? - You'll find out in a moment.
I'm going to prove to all of you that it's possible to feed yourself
without stealing food from the kitchen.
Wait a bit longer. The food's almost ready.
- Not bad. - Right?
Da Xi, your cooking is so good. This is the best thing I've ever eaten.
Is it that good?
You don't want yours? We'll have it then.
- You-- - It's okay. Here, have some more.
If you want, I can cook for you all every day.
Yes!
My dear King, where are you?
I'm getting so anxious waiting here.
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty, what's wrong? - The rebels are here. Run!
- Your Majesty, what happened? - The rebels have infiltrated!
I will protect you!
Rebels? Where are they?
Don't touch me, don't touch me!
Your Majesty, stay calm!
I'm going to find help. I'll go find find help.
- Stay calm! - Don't leave!
Shen Jia.
- Your Majesty. - You see?
Those women that claim to want to be with me
don't care whether I live or die when it matters.
The only thing in their eyes are my power and position.
Liars. A bunch of liars!
Your Majesty... hasn't Her Highness gone seek help?
My head will be on a stake by the time help arrives.
Your Majesty, if I may, I have something to say.
Your power and position is part of you.
If... If they like that, then they like you.
So Your Majesty, I don't think you need to suspect their--
Shut up!
Are you lecturing me?
What right do you have to speak on their behalf?
What do you know?
Please forgive me, Your Majesty. That was inappropriate of me.
Forget it.
You could never understand me.
No one here understands me.
You may leave.
Get someone to send Ni Chang back as well.
I wish to be left alone.
Understood.
Those people. They eat my food and then they betray me.
It's so hot. I don't want to burn in the sun either!
And the Empress Dowager too. Doesn't she have enough clothes to wear?
Why does she have to have this one?
So evil, so evil...
So evil, so evil, so evil...
But there's an upside to all of this.
I have to be smart and figure out a way to see Shao Yong.
You! Which palace did you wander from?
How dare you trespass into forbidden territory?
Please forgive me, I'm a new palace maid.
Ma'am Feng ordered me to deliver the Empress Dowager's clothes.
I'm not familiar with this place so I accidentally trespassed.
Please forgive me.
I already said, the palace is not your home.
You can't just do whatever you please.
I don't forgive anyone who offends important officials
and gets me into trouble as well.
Da Xi.
What do you have to say about today's incident?
Ma'am, I really did get lost.
All the buildings here look the same.
I've never delivered clothing to Her Highness before.
- There aren't even any signs-- - Enough!
Do not make excuses for your mistakes.
Girls.
Da Xi's recklessness and rule-breaking have earned her thirteen lashes.
Ma'am! Ma'am, it was an accident.
- I made a mistake! - Hurry it up.
Understood.
Did I scare you today?
You cannot blame me.
Too many people in this palace
can get rid of people like us us faster than ants.
I punished you today to save you as well.
Ma'am, I--
Enough. You can't hide your thoughts from me.
Here. A map.
Study it carefully. Don't get lost again.
Thanks, Ma'am!
Getting whipped was so worth it!
Had I known, I would've just gone for the whipping
and skipped all the acting.
I could've saved so much time and energy.
No way. There are really rebels in here?
You criminal!
How dare you trespass onto palace grounds? Who sent you?
Oh no.
I am so dead this time.
I'll never get another chance to climb over the wall to see Shao Yong.
How dare you impersonate me? What are you after?
Aren't you the King?
Why are you dressed like a palace maid?
- What's going on? - What's going on?
- Why have I become a woman? - Why am I a man?
["The Couple": Short Skit]
So that's what girls like.
Darling.
You are extraordinarily beautiful today.
Your brightness radiates in my heart like a sunbeam.
I know.
Darling.
My favorite thing to do is sleep. And you.
To put it simply, I like sleeping with you.
Pervert.
Darling.
Have you gained weight?
That's okay. Because then, there's more of the parts of you I like.
I... I've gained weight?
I'm fat! I'm fat!
That's not the point!
How come I can't get through to you?
Can I kiss you?
- No. - What did I just ask?
- "Can I kiss you?" - Of course.
Success!
Subtitles by DramaFever