(Episode 18)
Goodness, that was too much. That was too hard.
I heard five families received invitations.
On the surface, it is simply a tea time with the Queen,
but everyone who has sense would know what that means.
Actually,
it was a time for her to choose the Crown Princess.
When will she return?
- Whom do you speak of? - She went out to get herbs.
I did not hear from her yesterday or today.
She may seem like a pharmacist on the surface,
but in actuality,
we are trying to remove anything that can be problematic...
while we have troops of Yuan's envoys...
around the palace.
So it would be wise for you to be patient.
I am the most problematic thing in this palace.
Then you should get rid of me first.
My tongue must have slipped again.
While we are at it, what do you think about going hunting?
What about the Queen's tea party?
Let us go to Bora Mountain. And call her too.
She is good with medicine, so I need her for hunting.
She has called five families,
but she did that for a show. In actuality...
Why do you have so many actualities?
I heard there is someone else...
that the Queen wishes to place as the crown princess.
Your Highness.
What brings you to this humble place?
I came to see how humble your house is.
Show me around.
Let us go to that place first.
Where do you wish to go first?
Your daughter's place.
What are you talking about?
I knew you had no idea.
I only found out later.
Are you sure my son's name was on the non-service hostage list?
I knew it.
The Queen was after us.
She will send Lin this time and send me the next year.
I wonder where she will send me.
- Be careful with what you say. - How much more can I do?
- What is the use anyway? We will... - Jeon.
I have a question to ask, and I need your permission on something.
Please do ask, Your Highness.
Did you try to marry Jeon to Minister of Finance's daughter...
for Dan's sake?
Please forgive me. I did not think that through.
Is it because no one gets drafted...
as a tribute girl or a hostage if a family member gets married?
She is the fake one.
Lift up your head.
Look at me.
You are the real one.
I did not know you had such intentions with his marriage.
I misunderstood.
I wish to make up for what I have done,
but I would need your permission first.
Hong Kyu's daughter shaved off her head.
"She cannot become a tribute girl because she became a nun."
They were extremely wicked.
I am the one who planned this entire thing, Your Highness.
She just followed what I have told her.
That is exactly what Hong Kyu said.
"I did this as the father."
What happened to them?
You told me to lash his daughter with an iron whip...
so that there would not be a sound bone in her body.
And we did as we were told.
We beat the father until he was barely alive, and exiled him.
Then we confiscated all of their assets.
I will take any punishment you give.
However, my father is not well.
Please let me receive my father's punishment too.
If my father lives,
he will be of great help to you.
Are you trying to make a deal with me...
with that petty money of your father's?
His assets are not bound to the things you can see.
He knows the trading areas, has information,
and knows people all around the world.
These things are only worth when he is alive.
Please ignore my foolish daughter's words, Your Highness.
No matter what you tell me,
I will do exactly what you say.
There is...
one way around this.
With my daughter, Dan?
Do you want to take in Dan as the crown princess?
Does it make you feel so appalled...
to hear that I will be your brother-in-law?
Meet the Crown Prince in two days at the tea party.
If you get chosen as the crown princess,
I will forget all about what you have done...
as well as what your family did.
This is what I tell you as the Queen of this land.
My queen.
I will repay you for your endless mercy.
I will never forget your generosity.
Please stand up. This makes me uncomfortable.
You will be my father-in-law.
Is that not right, my brother?
Can you tell Dan...
that I understand it is late, but I wish to see her...
because I have something I must tell her.
Yes, I will tell her.
This winter is extra long.
The wind is still cold.
I have little power and many people to tiptoe around.
This is the best I can do.
My methods are pitiful,
but I hope you understand.
The wind is still cold. Why are you outside?
To see if spring is coming.
Come and look at these.
I picked out a few nice outfits.
What should you wear to the Queen's tea party?
Let me see. What about this?
I do not know...
if I should be happy or scared for you.
You must make the Crown Prince fall for you,
or you will die? What a horrible threat.
My lady?
What are you thinking about?
Nothing.
I was just breathing.
Were you thinking about him?
If you are concerned about him, do not be.
Forget about him.
Does your heart pound when you think of him?
What do you mean?
The man who saved you.
He was tall with broad shoulders, like a mountain.
You are changing the subject.
You must make the Crown Prince like you to save your life.
I should...
risk my life?
Why?
Do you think he will be upset if the Crown Prince likes you?
One will be pleased.
He might even clap.
And commend me.
Do you mean there is yet another man?
The other...
will be very sad.
Not because of me but because of the other man.
He has to go very far away.
What are you talking about?
Because of me,
both are about to become very unhappy.
Then they will both hate me.
Pretty soon.
- Was that hard? - I did not get it at all.
We speak the same language.
We do.
Knowing a man's heart is the hardest thing of all.
My master never taught me that.
I miss him.
- Shall we visit him? - Stick to one subject.
Let us go.
My lady.
Goodness.
Dan.
Are you asleep?
Lin?
- Did I wake you? - No, I was awake.
Wait, I will put something on.
No, we can talk like this.
I will stay out here.
I prefer this.
It is cold outside.
I like the cold.
Did you have a drink?
I had been thinking I could do with...
a few drinks.
Earlier on,
the Crown Prince came to see me.
I heard.
He asked me to marry him.
You do not...
have to marry him.
Your name is no longer on the list of tributes. So...
You heard as well.
What he said.
Is that why you are here?
Out of pity?
What did he say?
That I will never become his first priority.
He asked if I would mind.
What did you say?
That I am okay with that. That I am still pleased.
You will not be okay.
How will that please you?
I get to be close to the Crown Prince.
The closer you are, the worse you will feel.
12 times more.
You do not know how it feels...
having to wait endlessly for someone...
you never know when you will see...
just to hear his voice or see his face.
That is why...
you must give up.
Say that all you want, but I cannot.
I just cannot.
My heart...
is out of control.
Do you think I am a fool?
No.
You are smiling.
I think we are so much alike.
- Dan. - Yes?
I am sorry.
I am really sorry.
I came to say that.
Lin.
Lin. Why did you apologize...
(One day prior)
Get changed, and come outside.
I will be waiting.
It is quiet up here.
I am not cold.
Your outfit is...
I am glad you are here. I wanted to ask you something.
I came to take you somewhere, not to talk to you.
Take me where?
The Crown Prince is at Geumgajeong.
And?
Go and tell him.
- Tell him what? - Who you are.
- Why? - You'll be attending the tea party.
I guess everyone in the Capital knows.
I knew a few of the Queen's maids.
It is not a secret.
You know a lot of the palace maids.
What happens if...
I tell the Crown Prince who I am?
Then he will not make the wrong choice.
Is the wrong choice...
your sister?
You knew?
There is someone who wishes to befriend me.
He told me everything.
Who is that?
Do you know Song In? He is a librarian.
Did you meet him? Why?
It was not my choice.
I was dragged to him.
Lady San, I know our first meeting...
was very unpleasant.
I was that desperate.
You think I am evil, do you not?
Evil?
You are a rebel who thinks little of the value of a life.
The world is not that simple.
The person you trust...
is considered evil by the people.
He could be an even worse murderer.
You are a schemer, and everything you say can be twisted.
The reason we forced your marriage with Master Jeon...
was not only because of your father's wealth.
Then what?
Was it for my beauty?
The Chancellor's daughter, Lady Dan.
You know her.
She got on...
the Queen's bad side,
and ended up on the tribute list.
A wedding in the family...
was the only way to guarantee she could remain in Goryeo.
Was that true?
It was.
My marriage fell through,
so now, she must go to Yuan.
Not anymore.
Because you are going instead?
We must go. The Crown Prince will awake soon.
Your sister...
loves the Crown Prince.
Get up.
I'm asking again
Asking myself in the mirror
"Are you happy like this? Will you still be happy like this?"
Was it you...
last time...
Because you're so selfish
Because you're so mean
I wanna throw it all away, I wanna let go of you
Get changed.
I will wait outside.
I try to get far from you every day
Now, I know...
whose hands...
held me safe that night.
In the end, I look for you
If I ask why,
he will say his friend sent him to watch me.
It'll make me happy, but I'm still loving you
Times that my heart fluttered so much like a lie
Now, I know...
why every now and then...
my heart pounded and ached.
They have a beautiful friendship.
They look great together.
I am afraid...
I will ruin that friendship.
But still, but still
Like a fool, I love you
Even if I'm covered with scars, it's still you
In the end, I look for you
In the end, even if this repeats
I'm going back to you, but I'm still loving you
He will still be inside.
He will go to the palace soon.
Then you will not get a chance to see him.
Go inside.
If he knows who you are,
he will be...
very pleased.
I have only one thing to do.
I must do all I can...
to ensure that...
they can stay close to each other...
as they always did.
It would make me feel lonely,
but that is my friendship.
(And today)
I did not expect to see you here today.
What did the Crown Prince say when he invited you?
He said...
This is...
what I said.
"The Queen is hosting a tea party..."
"and will invite young ladies from noble families."
"Everyone who attends will know that..."
"this is not just a tea party."
"I have to pick whom I shall marry."
Were you aware of this?
Yes.
And yet you asked that favor of me?
Yes.
You knew everything?
About me too?
Yes.
I am awake. Stop knocking, and come in.
Hey.
How are you here and so early?
Is something wrong?
You said you knew the Crown Prince.
We are pretty close.
I need a favor.
What is it?
My mistress...
was invited to the Queen's tea party.
The Queen invited her in person.
The Queen did so in person?
Even if...
the Crown Prince likes her, he must not notice her.
He must act like she is invisible.
Can you ask him to do that?
Does your mistress not want to marry the Crown Prince?
- That is right. - That borders on treason.
How could a citizen of Goryeo...
insult her own Crown Prince?
She likes another man.
- So... - Even if he likes her,
he is not to touch her?
Correct.
He must act like she is invisible?
Correct.
We all know what we are here for.
It would be rude to keep you here...
as if I am weighing my options.
I have made my decision.
Let me introduce...
the lady I have chosen.
Dan.
Stand next to me.
Can't turn things back, can't go back
Passed through the forgotten memories
Chancellor Wang's daughter, Dan.
That familiar look, the familiar voice
- Congratulations, Your Highness. - Congratulations, Your Highness.
It's shaking up my heart
I love you, I love you, those words
Words I want to hear just once
I miss you, I miss you, those words
The voice lingers in my ears
Will you say it to me?