Episode 7
What is wrong with your countenance?
You look like an old woman with your sunken eyes.
Is something the matter?
I will not learn.
What do you mean?
I will not live as a courtesan.
I would rather live as a slave.
I would rather draw water.
Your jest is a little excessive.
Stop with the nonsense and return to your quarters!
Is this not enough?
What is your reason for this?
What is your reason for this sudden irrationality?
I want to protect my love.
You want to protect your love?
And who is love that needs protecting?
Not...?
You are probably right in the person you are thinking about.
You foolish girl.
Why are you so blind?
What did he say to blind you?
Did he promise to give you everlasting love?
It is impossible.
No matter how hard you try, he is someone you can never have.
Nothing... I expect nothing from him.
Jin-Yi!
Even if we cannot be accepted as a man and wife,
I will not resent anything.
However...
My love for him...
That I want to protect.
I cannot permit my heart and my body,
to anyone else other than him.
Your love is touching...
But the world is a cruel place.
Even if that is what you decide, the world will not allow you to do so.
Is it because my looks are valuable to you?
That is one reason.
Then do not fret.
Because the pot in the kitchen is always boiling.
Jin-Yi!
Do you think boiling water is the only option to ruin my looks?
I will live as a slave.
I won't change my mind.
This is... my will.
Fine. Do as you wish.
But on one condition.
You know very well that there will soon be a banquet.
Since it is the governor's banquet,
all the worthy noblemen will be there.
I will not attend the banquet.
The young master named Eun-Ho will also be there.
That will not happen.
He will come when he hears you are in it.
Mistress!
Listen until the end!
You are still a virgin that hasn't raised her hair.
So if someone has their eye on you, he will choose you.
If so, give him your hair ribbon without objection.
If you want me to give him my ribbon,
does it not mean you want me to give my virginity to a stranger?
It is the fate of a courtesan.
I told you that I will not be a courtesan.
If your Eun-Ho takes back your ribbon from the man,
Then I will let you do as you wish.
That is nonsense. That kind of thing...
If his love for you is true,
he will take back your ribbon even if you forbid him to.
That is love.
True love...
can only be achieved with such difficulty.
For so many years,
you have been driven by your passion for the arts.
But now, you intend to let go of all
your expectations, hope and passion for your art.
If he is to be worthy of your sacrifice, he must prove himself.
You would rather be a slave girl than a courtesan?
That is cheap sentimentality.
What will you protect with mere sentiments?
If you like him so much, then win him fairly.
If you win the wager, I will not say another word.
I will not prevent you from becoming a slave girl if you so wish.
If you win, I will risk my life and everything I have
to protect the two of you.
So cease your talk and go practice.
You have to become the best!
What if he fights for you with fist and sword and takes you away,
and others say he gave everything up for a worthless girl?
It is all up to you.
A wager for love?
Fight with his fists or a sword to take back her ribbon?
Is that reasonable?
Say no more and just watch.
Nothing has been decided.
That young man...
He will not do so.
Rather, he will not be able to do so.
If he is not able, then all he has to do is forget about her.
If he does this, he will bear the punishment, not Jin-Yi.
A man of noble birth puts law before human life.
You are asking him to break that law in front of everyone he knows.
They will not leave him be.
They will hurt him! They will end his life!
We do not know that.
No one knows the outcome.
Must you run into fire to know that it is hot?
Then he shouldn't have played with fire in the first place.
Don't say that!
Those two... are sincerely in love.
I have had enough with one fool who was sincere in her love!
Mistress!
What is it that you want?
What is it that you want,
That you're willing to sacrifice the two of them?
Conviction.
I want to have conviction that their love will survive forever.
If it is conviction you want, it is already evident.
If Jin-Yi did not have conviction,
that child would never have...
I do not need Jin-Yi's conviction.
I just need the conviction of that young man.
Men of noble birth can get whatever they want easily.
If something is easily attained, they get tired of it quickly.
Isn't that right?
He loves her now.
He may even adore her.
But can love between a man and a woman be forever?
Does love never fade?
Let's say they gather enough courage to elope.
For a while, it may be good.
But when they begin to suffer,
then they will begin to resent one another, and wish it never happened.
For him, it will be like a prodigal son coming home.
But it will not be the same for Jin-Yi.
Love? Sacrificial love?
That sounds very good. But I must know before then.
I must know if their love is worth her sacrifice.
Young master...!
Do you have a blister yet?
I haven't even done that much.
I'm fine so far.
I really don't understand you.
Are you really going to become a farmer?
How else will we survive?
All the townspeople will laugh.
Even dogs will laugh when they hear that you are worrying about survival
when you have a immense fortune and respected family name behind you!
Duk-Pal...
It will not be easy for Jin-Yi and I to be accepted.
If my own mother is so against it,
how much more would the world be?
Young master...!
You know,
I always believed that a man should take care of his wife and child by himself.
I hoped to enter civil duty and win merits and honors,
but now I realize that is not possible.
So what else can I do?
I have to learn how to work the fields.
Do you really like her that much?
Give up your nobility,
and become a lowly farmer and live in harsh conditions,
You really like her that much?
Ah, what have I done?
Did I not know I would long for him?
If I had told him to stay, he would not have left.
Why did I send him away
and find myself longing for him?
Where were you since early morning?
Is something wrong?
You could have at least told me if you were going somewhere.
I turned the place upside down since your mother asked for you.
Sorry.
You know that is not what I wanted to hear.
What's wrong?
Did something happen with Lord Eun-Ho?
Did something bad happen?
Is it you, Jin-Yi?
You wretched child.
Will you do what the Mistress wants?
Must you?
Jin-Yi?
I told myself I would just think of him.
That I could.
If we cannot be together, it would be alright.
I can withstand it.
That's what I thought.
I thought I could.
But...
Mother, I...
I must be bad.
I must be a bad person.
That wager... I want to challenge it.
He might get hurt.
I know.
If he is hurt, you will be even more so.
I know.
I know, but I can't relinquish it.
Is loving two things bad?
How can it be a crime to be with someone?
Why must God be so unfair?
Jin-Yi.
I want to give my ribbon to him.
I want my love to be honest
and confident before the world.
Mother,
we are both sincere in our love,
So why can't I trust the strength of that love?
If we combine our strength and challenge the world,
it may spare us.
Then we won't have longing and suffering in our hearts.
We might receive acceptance of our love.
Jin-Yi.
Is this something I cannot have?
Probably not...
I can't.
Even when I think that,
I keep...
I keep wanting it...
I cannot let go of this futile hope.
My child...!
What should I do, Mother?
What should I do?
You poor thing.
My poor baby.
How can Heaven be so cruel to you?
How can it be so unsympathetic and cold?
You should have been born into a good family.
Why weren't you born into a wealthy home,
with a nice house and a good mother?
That would have been better...!
Forgive me.
I've sinned against you.
This is all
because of your foolish mother's sins...
Forgive me.
How can I possible atone for my sins?
Forgive me!
You are going to the Mt. Sunguh to train your voices?
Song is also an important part of the arts.
We must practice hard.
It is best to be near water when practicing our voices.
For low tones, we use our throats.
But for deep tones,
We use our hearts.
So you mustn't dawdle
And discipline yourself with all your heart.
Do you understand?
Yes, Mistress.
Then, we shall leave.
Let's go.
That young lord...
Can you lead me to him, sir?
Has Jin-Yi not yet put him out of her heart?
I believe she hasn't.
Then you have to change her heart.
I must meet him.
I must meet him first.
Even if you meet him,
nothing will change.
Don't you know that?
It is impossible.
That is not something for us to decide.
Love...
Love is...
when their hearts,
hearts that trust one another, put down roots forever.
You probably don't know...
You don't know how it feels to lose someone that you love.
Then...
If his love is found weak and temporary,
will you be able to cut off
this love with your own hands?
I know this is a difficult meeting for you.
I am Jin-Yi's mother.
I should have come to you sooner.
My name is Eun-Ho.
Please lower your speech.
That is not possible.
- The law says... - No matter what the law says,
how can I talk down to the mother of my future wife?
It is not possible.
Wife...
Do you believe that is possible?
Jin-Yi is a courtesan.
She will soon be raising her hair.
Did you say raising her hair?
Did she say she would?
It is the Troupe's rule.
How can anyone disobey those rules?
Do you think you can accept her as your wife,
When she is to give her virginity to another?
Also,
Do you think your parents will be able to accept her?
Before that,
I will try to persuade my parents.
It is not an easy path.
I know that.
But...
I will persuade them.
Even if I have to risk my life,
I will persuade them.
If you are considering her as a concubine perhaps...
I cannot do that.
Not once have I seen her as a prostitute or a plaything.
I want her to live happily as my wife,
as my family.
But...
Even if your parents do approve,
the world will not.
Then I will fight.
If I must fight power, I'll fight power.
If I must fight law, I'll fight law!
Truly...
Will you be able to do that?
Can you promise that?
What's the use of a hundred promises?
I will answer your question with action, not words.
I...
I know it is impudent...
but I am a blind woman...
You have a fine countenance.
Thank you.
I don't know how to thank you,
for loving such a foolish girl.
I should be the one thanking you.
Aren't you the one who gave birth to her
and sent her to me?
Even if you practice hard, you are still in danger of mediocracy.
How can you sit there so listlessly?
Because you showed yourself at training today,
can I trust that you have chosen to accept the wager?
Yes, Mistress.
Good.
Then from today onwards,
you must not see that young man.
Even if you see him,
you must not tell him of the wager.
Will you accept these terms?
I will.
Strive for recognition as your reward.
With his fervor and your talent,
your art...
Impress the world with your passion.
If you can accomplish that,
who would deny you your love?
But...
If you cannot accomplish this,
don't ever trust love again.
Follow your destiny. Raise your hair and become a courtesan.
Can you promise that?
Why are you silent?
I promise.
That's it then.
This is not a promise with me,
but a promise with yourself.
The most worthless person in the world
is someone who cannot keep a promise to oneself.
Do not disappoint me.
A wager?
What's that about?
It is not something you should concern yourself with.
Focus on taking care of the girls and their training.
Jin-Yi caused a commotion with the Minister's son, didn't she?
Am I right?
I said this is not your concern!
This is really hurtful.
It really cannot be any worse.
Isn't it my responsibility to be their troupe mother?
I may not have given birth to them, but they are the same as my daughters.
Did anyone say you weren't?
But why won't you tell me anything?
Their hearts could be going to the east or to the west,
or they could be walking straight to purgatory...
I don't know about anyone else,
but shouldn't I know this at the very least?
Did you hear that, Madam?
He will need a celebration!
Please have some tea and continue your conversation.
I must excuse myself now.
You can't just leave.
Besides the nuptials between our two children,
you must offer him your congratulations for his advancement!
I give you congratulations, my lord.
No, no. It's too early for congratulations.
I have not even received the royal decree yet!
I plan to have a big banquet soon.
It might become your farewell banquet!
Farewell banquet? Not so!
If I enter the King's cabinet,
how can I forget about you?
I know all the great things you do here.
And is it not also your time to rise to a higher position?
Well that...!
When I go to the capital, I will put in a word for you.
We are not strangers,
And soon we will be in-laws.
It's the least I can do.
My Lord...!
So that banquet of yours...
Let us make it into a celebratory banquet!
- Should we? - Yes!
I need some exercise.
Do you want to go shoot some arrows?
No...
I have to hurry.
I have something important to do.
What important thing?
I asked what is so important?
You...! How dare you speak that way to him?
You're a scholar. You should respect your elders!
You should mind your own business.
You...!
What do you have to do?
Do you have to write a wedding vow to that courtesan wench?
Wedding... wedding vow? Who is writing what to whom?
Eun-Ho!
Don't ever... Don't ever make my sister cry again.
I won't forgive you if you do. Understand?
Eun-Ho? What is this? What have you done?
Hey, Eun-Ho!
- You're here again? - Why are you alone?
Jin-Yi is not here.
She went somewhere far away to receive some special training.
Is that so? When will she back?
That I don't know.
Please let me know when she returns. I have something important to tell her.
That will be difficult.
Difficult? What is?
Until they raise their hair at the banquet, you will not be able to see her.
What? Raise their hair?
Is that girl crazy?
She's going to become someone else's woman in front of my young master?
What can I do?
If you can't do anything, who can?
It is prohibited for novice courtesans to go out before they raise their hair.
It's the rule! What can I do?
Did she give you a message for me?
Dance is poetry in motion.
A dancer must be able to speak a thousand words with her body.
With her body, she must be able to draw a thousand scenarios.
A good dancer uses her hands and her feet
and her body to not only lead people into the garden,
but she can transform herself into a child catching butterflies,
or a lonely old man who struggles with bitterness and loneliness.
Stand on top of the block and grab the rope!
Kick the block away!
- What? - I said kick the block away!
- Mistress! - Our arms will be pulled off!
Will you not do as you're told!
- Geum-Choon. - Yes, Mistress?
Relax your foot!
She is hanging them upside down the whole day?
- Are you sure? - Of course!
I don't know what she's thinking! Maybe she thinks they're laundry!
Silly wench! How dare you laugh?
How can you laugh at a time like this?
Mi... Mistress!
Is it possible they want to perform that dance?
Will they perform the Crane Dance?
Why do you look so worried?
We have performed the Crane Dance numerous times.
The dance... The Crane Dance that Baek-Moo knows...
is different from our Crane Dance.
Different in what way?
Long ago, there was a dancer named Ja Dong-Sun.
She had the kind of talent that appears once every hundred, no, thousand years.
She was the one who taught
Baek-Moo and myself how to dance.
She was the one that choreographed the Crane Dance.
No one has ever seen that Crane Dance performed.
It is the beautiful dance of
the dancer becoming the crane, and the crane becoming the dancer.
When you expect the feet to be in the air, they are on the ground.
And when you think they are on the ground, they are in the air.
The crane comes down to earth only to satisfy its physical needs.
But it is the crane's destiny to place its desires and dreams in the sky.
It rises, rises and rises again to the sky.
It is an extraordinary and beautiful dance.
No other dance can compare to the Crane Dance.
Is there a book that records the movements of this dance?
There is.
Please give me that book.
I will learn the movements by heart...
The book that records my teacher's dance...
hid itself at the time of my teacher's passing.
But... you said there was a book?
The book is none other than the Mistress of the Song-Do troupe, Baek-Moo.
Before my teacher passed away,
she passed the dance on only to Baek-Moo.
If my intuition is correct and Baek-Moo's girls learn that dance,
it will not only be the ministers
but even His Majesty will not be able to turn his eyes away.
Then... will we lose?
- Not necessarily! - Mistress...!
We have to turn their eyes away.
To a place stronger than their appreciation for the arts!
This view is truly remarkable!
Wonderful, just wonderful!
- Are all the important ministers here? - Of course.
I did not know that your Lordship would be attending.
Why? Should I not be here?
That's not what...
I heard the news from Lord Byuk Gae-Soo.
If the palace courtesans are throwing a banquet,
I as Minister of Resources must of course attend.
Mae-Hyang, you have invited everyone
from civil ministers to high ministers here!
The sphere of influence within your skirts is as expansive as the Han River!
You are too kind, my Lord.
You must really be worried about the competition with Baek-Moo!
Here here! It has been a long time!
Welcome!
How was it?
They are quite skilled.
We are honored by your words.
Should you find any girl to your liking, please let me know.
I shall instruct her to serve you with her utmost dedication.
We know your appreciation and knowledge of the arts is great.
Thus we are unsatisfied by your sparse words of review.
Please be more specific in your criticism.
Then those girls can continue what they do well,
and improve what they don't do well for a much better performance.
Let's see...
Mae-Hyang, for the next performance, you should acquire another boat.
The most eye-catching thing at today's performance was the boat, was it not?
I have seen this Sunyoorak dance many times,
but I have never seen such an excellent boat.
So, you should make another boat.
The dance is all the same.
It's a ritual dance and cannot be helped.
Please wait until the next banquet.
There may just be a dancer who may surprise all of us with her talents!
Lower your right arm!
Raise your right arm!
The little smile!
- Raise your right arm! - Raise your right arm!
You are supposed to be dancing, not thrashing your knives around.
And your expression should be lovely.
You have practiced enough today.
I have told them to prepare a fragrant bath for you.
Go and have a long soak.
It won't be long before you raise your hair.
I do not wish to think about that.
You do not wish to raise your hair?
I prefer to think about my practice.
Stop talking and go have your bath.
The only thing we can depend on now is Lord Byuk Gae-Soo's influence.
I do not want to use wiles. I want to win fairly!
Silly wench!
I thought you were smart, but how naive you are!
Talent and ability does not secure you a seat of power in this world.
If that were not the case, Baek-Moo would be here in my place.
No matter how, you must secure the heart of a man in power.
Talent comes after that.
Mistress...!
Heed my words.
It is not the strong who survive,
but the survivor who is strong.
That is the way of the world.
Straighten your body until it is parallel to the ground.
Remove all tension from your body
and make your being as light as the air and the wind.
Move your body like a breeze!
Stretch out your arms!
Bend your wrists!
Heed my words.
It is not the strong that survive,
but the survivor who is strong.
That is the way of the world!
Were you training Jin-Yi until this hour?
Everyone else left but she insisted on staying and practicing.
What will you do if she wins the wager?
If she wins and tells you she no longer wants to be a courtesan,
will you be able to handle the disappointment?
I have no choice.
A promise is a promise. If she wants to go, I have to let her.
It's been ten years! You raised her and trained her for ten years!
And you're just going to let her go?
If it is the kind of love that can withstand the world,
won't it be good if it survives?
How can that be possible?
Let's wait and see.
It will be good if love wins.
And it will be better if it does not.
Good? Frankly speaking, I am more worried about her losing the wager.
If she loses, can you imagine her heartbreak and sorrow?
The sky will collapse a thousand times
and her heart will break into a million pieces!
You should never have placed that wager with her.
What if she becomes like her mother...!
That will never happen. She is stronger than that.
Art, my dear woman,
is a cruel tree that feeds on the sorrow of the artist.
Through this one incident,
the Song-Do Troupe may find a rare and exceptional prodigy in our midst.
A wager?
- How did you find out? - Who cares how?
Keep it to yourself. Don't tell anyone.
What is so good about love? Does love clothe you or feed you?
Or does it improve your beloved artistic talents?
Can you do without them? Can you live with them?
That's right.
Are you crazy? Are you a fool?
I must be.
Aren't you tired?
Mind your own business.
Home...
Your mother wants you to visit home.
Did you go to my house again?
Who are you to go to my house everyday!
Don't go. From now on, don't even let your shadow near my house.
When I raise my hair, my family will be fine even without help from the likes of you.
I'm going to build them a nice house and make them proud, you know?
I know.
Anyway, try and visit home when you can. Your mother's very ill.
You are the only one I can depend on now.
From the day I rescued you from the hovel of a house,
I knew a day like today would come.
Let's see what you can do.
Beauty and talent like yours should lengthen my power for another ten years.
Am I right?
Make her the loveliest of all women.
We must make it so there is no one else who can compare to her.
That is the only way she can win the heart of a man who is incomparable to others.
I think I will give you a great reward.
I am glad that I did not disappoint you.
Will a house with a tiled-roof be enough?
Would that not be insufficient?
Insufficient?
Then, what about a house and a ceremonial wig?
I do not want that either, my Lord.
Then...
I don't need anything else.
Give me the future of the Palace Troupe.
The future of the Palace Troupe?
That is right.
If your lordship so desires,
would it not be easier to give than a house or a ceremonial wig?
I do not think that you are worthy enough for me to raise your hair.
My Lord!
A courtesan who sells her smile and her talents is still a courtesan after all.
How dare you covet power!
You know... I do not mind materialistic women,
but I detest women who crave power and fame.
Practice with all your heart.
It would be unfortunate if your young master gave up everything
and hears from others that he did it all for a worthless girl.
It is all up to you.
When did Father say he would return?
He said he would be a while.
When did they say the banquet was?
Young master!
Perhaps... perhaps...
Perhaps we need to abandon hope of persuading my parents.
Oh... what brings the young master here?
I came to give a Declaration of Intent to the minister.
A Declaration of Intent?
It is impossible.
It is not your duty to decide whether it is possible or not.
- Send it up to the Minister. - I will not!
This is utter foolishness! I will ignore this declaration.
- I won't tell anyone... - Did I not tell you to send it up?
I cannot. I will not, my lord!
Then I will hand it directly to him myself.
What... what is this?
Are you crazy, young man?
I wish to marry the novice courtesan, Hwang Jin-Yi of the Song-Do Troupe.
It is against the nation's law!
How can the law prohibit love? If it does, then the law is wrong!
What? How dare you criticize the laws of our country!?
Do you think you are exempt from the law?
The law was created to protect the people, not to discriminate and oppress them!
I will marry her.
If I must fight the law for her, I will do so.
You fool!
I will arrest that low-class wench and execute her before you!
Will that make you come to your senses?
It is a crime to use violence and force against an innocent person.
Even so, if you have to take her life,
take my life first.
What?
Will I be able to guard this love of mine?
This is just the beginning. It is not too late.
If you cannot win, then cut off your relationship with him.
How can you think about the banquet at this time?
Do you have the mind to think about the banquet?
Sum-Sum! Open your eyes!