You are old enough to act like ladies.
Word will spread that you are rascals,
and no man will take you as his bride.
We're not getting married, Mother.
We're going to live together for the rest of our lives.
What?
Or we can get married together.
How?
We'll marry brothers.
You've played enough today.
Keum-young, go home.
Your servant has been waiting for you.
Yes, ma'am.
Mother, can't Keum-young spend the night?
No. Noble ladies do not sleep out of their homes.
I want to play with her.
Right, Keum-young?
We can play again tomorrow.
You come over tomorrow.
Bo-reum, you come and fetch Ms. Yeon-hwa tomorrow.
Yes, Miss.
Goodbye.
Go home safely.
How can she be so shrewd at her age?
Is it true that Lord Lee has been appointed
as deputy personnel secretary?
Yes, the royal court has recognized his intellect and dignity.
What cause for celebration.
Yes, it is. He will be ordered to move to Hanyang soon.
What about Keum-young?
Keum-young.
Don't cry, Yeon-hwa.
I will send news and visit you often.
How will you come?
Hanyang is a thousand miles away.
I can come if I have the will.
We will meet again.
Understand?
I understand.
Goodbye, Keum-young.
Be sure to send news.
Goodbye, Yeon-hwa.
Ten Years Later
Let us not delay.
How devastated you must be being relegated to
the serf caste overnight.
Since you often played here when you were a child,
think of this as your home and be at ease here.
Yes, sir.
See her out.
Yes, My Lady.
Please come this way.
Must you do this?
She is the daughter of an insurgent.
What if there are repercussions?
Dear, you are well aware that Deputy Secretary Lee
died wrongfully accused as a rebel.
Moreover, she and Yeon-hwa were like sisters as children.
I cannot eschew her out of human compassion.
Be kind to her and deem her a relative, not a servant.
Come on in and place your belongings in the corner.
Is this my room?
Your room? Servants don't have their own rooms.
We all just sleep in a jumble.
Here?
This is no pig sty. Why are you plugging you nose?
Change into this and get to work.
You'll let the fire go out.
Do you want to turn the rice into gruel?
I've never done it. How do you expect me to know?
To think that I was happy to get extra help.
We're in the same caste.
Why're you talking down to me?
You expect me to address you in honorifics?
Of course, I'm old enough to be your mother.
She still thinks she's a noble lady.
Go fetch her a silk skirt.
How can nobility work in cotton garb?
Miss.
What took so long? I've been waiting forever.
Did you close the door tightly?
Keum-young!
Why did you come so late?
Did you think I'd treat you like a servant?
Why didn't you come earlier?
Do know how much I missed you?
Yeon-hwa.
You must have been through so much.
I'm so glad you're here.
Let's live here together.
We'll be together like when we were children. All right?
- Yeon-hwa. - Keum-young.
Sheesh, there are even castes among serfs.
Some have to work till their backs break,
and some are just lounging all day.
Keum-young, come with me.
I need to do this.
Do it later.
You finish this.
There he comes.
Where?
Over there. The one in the jade robe?
Uh-huh.
Wait a minute.
Ouch! Who is it?
He's not at par with the men in Hanyang, but not too bad.
Do you like him?
No.
What about you?
He seems a bit square.
He doesn't even sneak a peek at such lovely girls.
Yeon-hwa, if we ever come to grow affectionate toward him,
then we have to tell each other first. All right?
All right.
Promise.
Come hither.
How flighty of her.
Hello, sir.
Is Master Choi here?
Yes, please wait over there, sir.
How are things in Hanyang?
The court is blind to the needs of the masses
and they are inevitably growing more miserable.
I left Hanyang because seeing that was insufferable.
The partisan bickering doesn't wane,
regardless of who takes the throne.
Shouldn't Sungkyunkwan
students like you stage a protest at a time like this?
We are discussing it.
Yes, one must take the just path in such pandemonium.
I'm not doing too bad.
Old friends like you seek me out even in these backwaters.
Let me pour you a glass.
What if we get caught?
We'll hide and watch.
Hurry.
What is it?
Hello, Keum-young.
My legs hurt from all the running.
Yeon-hwa, Miss Keum-young's legs are hurting.
Take off my socks.
Yes, Miss.
This side, too.
What are you doing?
- My Lady. - Mother.
I'll be off.
Give me some water.
Are you deaf? I said let me drink some water.
Are your hands and feet for show?
You fetch your own water.
Why're so impetuous when you're just a measly servant?
I'm not your servant, am I?
Yes, very good.
Mother, Lord Yun's family
appears to be that of high officials for generations.
Lord Yun? But of course.
They are second to none when it comes to status.
Why do you ask?
Just curious.
A scholar came to see Uncle today and I heard
that he's Lord Yun's son.
Oh, his son studying in Hanyang must be visiting.
Your Uncle remarked often of his astuteness.
Wait a minute. Come to think of it, he's still unmarried...
I'll cut off a piece of the slow night under the November moon
Keep it warm under sheets redolent of spring breeze
and uncover it when my love returns to me.
Wait a minute.
That's right.
I am thinking of you. I am longing for you.
Thinking of me.
Longing for me?
The road is long and words are slow.
My heart is with you, but my body is remains here.
My silk handkerchief is soaked with tears,
but there is no promise of seeing you soon.
No promise of seeing you soon.
With the peal of the temple bells...
With the moon high over the pavilion...
Lying on a forlorn pillow,
I am roused by a nightmare...
Beholding the receding clouds,
it is lamentable that we are far apart.
Who lurks there?
Yeon-hwa...
I have something to tell you.
What is it?
Remember Myung-jin?
You heard already?
Huh?
I was going to tell you
when the gift chests were exchanged.
Gift chests?
Apparently, they were looking for a suitable bride, as well.
Our marriage was arranged soon after discussions began.
Arranged marriage?
Mother told me not to mention it hastily.
Keum-young, to be honest,
I'm hopelessly smitten with Myungjin.
I couldn't tell you because I was embarrassed.
Can you believe l'll be marrying him?
What great news.
It is, isn't it?
Since we received the gift chest,
the marriage is as good as done.
My felicitations, Brother.
My Lady, congratulations.
Miss Yeon-hwa, be happy.
- Felicitations to you, Miss. - Congratulations.
Let's talk.
I don't have anything to talk to you about.
I do. You can at least listen.
I said no.
Why, you louse... Let go!
Listen to what I have to say.
Just listen to me.
Let go! Let go of me, thug!
Who are you?
Cad! What are you doing?
Let go of me, scoundrel!
Men do not harass weak women.
Leave at once.
Are you all right?
You must have been alarmed.
Yes.
I'm all right now.
Forgive me for having imposed on a stranger.
I believe we've met before.
l heard from Master Choi that you're the late Lord Lee's daughter.
At the garden the other day...
Oh, you remember.
What transpired to your father is truly deplorable.
We lost a truly upright man.
Lord Lee was one of my most
respected teachers at Sungyunkwan.
I heard that you were close
friends with Yeon-hwa since childhood.
Congratulations on your marriage.
I guess I should follow the decision of the elders.
Isn't it pretty?
You must be late because of me.
I don't have anywhere I have to be.
I come to main street once in a while to visit the bookstore.
I can go alone now.
Thank you for today.
Wait.
- Hand it to me. - Yes, sir.
How many things a woman your age must covet.
But you cannot have any of it.
I thought you might want this.
Why are you giving something like this to me?
If it is not an impropriety, please accept it.
Thank you.
Be on your way.
Goodbye.
You came when they're not here again.
No matter. I travel for a living.
Be sure to come back in a few days.
They will buy many sheets of silk for an upcoming wedding.
I'll do that.
Good.
Don't look like you're looking at a cockroach.
I'm a traveling salesman.
I won't make a woman go hungry.
Hold on.
I'd like to buy some silk from you.
Not sheets, but in pieces.
From Miss Keumyoung?
Yes, sir.
Where is she now?
Miss.
Sir.
Did you make this pouch?
I'm sorry that it's so shoddy.
Are you the one who wrote poetry and hung it in the trees?
I'm ashamed.
It was you.
It just began as a joke, but I was so delighted with your replies.
I shouldn't have.
No, Miss, not at all.
I'm glad you did it.
I was beside myself with curiosity.
The paper was redolent of a noblewoman's fragrance.
I desperately wanted to know
who could be writing such flawless poetry.
It was you all along.
The truth behind your father's death will be revealed one day.
He paid for his neutrality with death.
The court is at fault for failing to recognize a man of probity.
How can you be so fearless?
Please do not submit to hardship.
Your status will be reinstated
and you will be able to return to the life that is rightfully yours.
That day seems too distant for me now.
If you do not believe, it will not be realized.
Please wait with resolve.
Are you all right?
Yes.
Will you be my friend with whom I can exchange poetry?
I couldn't dare...
It will be an honor for me.
It is time I returned.
Miss. I want to lend you a book.
Can you come out to receive it?
I will be waiting for you this evening.
Even the brushing of coattails
entails an intimate relationship in a previous life.
Thus just imagine how vast and
deep the fate between a husband and wife is.
Cherish that fate.
Miss.
Sir.
You play well.
Please continue.
My parents wouldn't allow me to play saying that
it was the pastime of peasants.
I learned on my own.
Since you're fond of it,
I'm glad I taught myself to play.
I really liked this sound ever since I was young.
It was wondrous how a small rod like that could produce
such diverse and intricate sounds.
You don't know how pleased
I am to have met someone
I could talk to with common interests.
In fact, every time I found your verse, my heart fluttered
as if you were before me and I was holding your hands.
Yeon-hwa.
Why are you so startled?
You look as if you've seen an apparition.
When did you come back?
Late last night.
Where have you been at this hour?
Huh? To pull weed.
What are you doing out here?
To get some air. I can't go to sleep.
I see.
It's cold. Let's go in.
Keum-young!
I'm sorry I couldn't take you along to temple.
I'm sure you felt left out.
No, I didn't.
I know how you feel.
You don't want me to leave you behind and get married, right?
Don't worry. I'll ask Mother to let you come along.
Then we can continue to live together. O.K.?
What did you want...
Miss.
Sir.
Myung-jin, what brings you here?
Master Choi.
You missed her that much?
This one?
No, is this better?
I don't know what's gotten into me.
Hello.
Yes.
Uncle wants me to serve you tea myself. I hope it's not improper.
No, not at all.
Keum-young.
Stay. You can pour us more tea.
Please drink.
Yes.
I've heard a great deal about you from Uncle.
He says you are astute and an accomplished academic.
That is why Father was pleased with the arrangement.
I see.
I never imagined you'd come yourself.
Pardon me for barging in without notice.
It was rude for me to have acted on impulse.
By no means.
I'm glad you came.
I'm sorry, Miss.
I'll be off.
Miss.
Miss Keum-young.
Why are you avoiding me?
Why didn't you come?
I waited for you every night.
I want to know why.
I forgot about my circumstance that night.
With someone like you asking me out,
I became rash and forgot about my station.
What are you saying?
Then all we talked about means nothing to you?
Were the verses and dialogue we exchanged phony?
You are arranged to marry Miss Yeon-hwa.
That's...
She is my only friend.
She was kind to me when I returned as a servant.
She treated me no differently than when we were children.
I cannot drive a stake through her heart.
I am regretful to Miss Yeon-hwa,
as well. I feel guilty.
However, if we are not meant to be,
then we must submit to fate.
If were to be married like this,
do you think any of us can be happy?
Do you not know who it is that I truly love?
Miss.
Sir. I'm a lowly serf.
I will just hold you back.
I don't want to be your shackles.
That does not matter to me.
It does to me.
I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for this family.
And I have nowhere else to go.
Please forget about me.
Did he leave?
Why?
You didn't see him out?
Yes, he left.
I want mandarin ducks stitched on the pillow shams.
Your peonies and fish stitchings seemed alive.
It's his pillow sham.
Please stitch a beautiful mandarin duck for me as if it were alive.
All right.
I heard couples grow affectionate if they sleep on pillow shams with
mandarin ducks stitched on them.
Do you think that's true?
Perhaps.
I want to be a good wife.
I'm not as articulate nor a good writer as you.
I'm just ordinary all around.
I always emulated you since we were children.
I coveted whatever you did.
It seemed fun.
But... I think I can be the best wife, better than anyone else.
I want to do well.
And I think I can.
I'm sure you will.
Come sleep with me from tonight.
I want to stay with you as much as I can before I go.
Don't' worry, I'll persuade Mother.
Sungkyunkwan students tendered an appeal?
Yes, with the state of the court as it is,
they refuse to sit idle.
What if there's fallout?
Of course there will be.
By all means.
It's wisest to lie low in times like these.
You should check to see if Myung-jin is involved.
Then wouldn't Yeon-hwa be placed in harm's way?
Not just Yeon-hwa,
the entire family will be at risk.
No need to speculate.
Even if that was true,
he's trying to do the right thing.
Brother...
I will look into it.
Do not jump to conclusions.
How unfortunate.
She's about to marry him and this happens.
She must be devastated.
No kidding.
What's going on?
Mister Myung-jin is in deep trouble.
How terrible.
Hello, Wan-bo.
The wedding's been called off.
You'll just cause for ire if the lady spots you. Just leave.
I understand.
Please give me some water before I go.
All right.
That bookstore bachelor looks as if he's leaving soon.
I saw him borrow a horse. He says he's going to Hanyang.
Why are you telling me that?
How can she not get indigestion as apprehensive as she is?
How can he instigate such a vast undertaking with his wedding imminent?
I am extremely disappointed in him.
National affairs take precedence over personal ones.
Aren't the lives of the radical leaders on the line?
It might be better for us to call the wedding off first.
Yeon-hwa, take care of yourself.
I will handle everything.
That bookstore bachelor looks as if he's leaving soon.
I'm going to tell him that I deceived him.
I'm going to see him just to tell him that. That's all.
Miss.
Sir.