[Episode 14]
What’s going on?
What was that sound, sir?
Jini just dropped her knives.
Sir.
It seems like Jini is trying to dance once more.
Is this...?
What’s going on?
What is she trying to do?
I didn’t teach her that.
What are you trying to pull?
So it was a scheme from the start!
You and Myeongwol!
I didn’t teach it to her either.
It was someone else who taught her.
I remembered it.
I finally remembered it.
All the time I spent dancing in front of you...
I remembered the happiness that I felt when I was with you.
This dance is dedicated to you.
Booyong’s competitiveness has enabled Jini to work harder.
Booyong has awakened Myeongwol’s potential that was deep wtihin.
It’s a very amazing dance.
Don’t you agree?
Yes, it is.
It’s a new dance that I’ve never seen before.
But it’s not a group performance.
I think we should call off the ball.
Look here, minister.
I hope you haven’t forgotten why we’re here today.
It was to watch a group performance of many people.
I know.
I’m calling off the ball.
I can’t go let this nice stage turn into an arena for political fanfare.
You wench.
What did you do?
How could you have done that?
The government will be looking into this matter.
The truth will be revealed, ma’am.
Booyong, why did you stop dancing and go elsewhere?
The last night before the ball I had changed the routine,
because I thought it was necessary.
Did you get permission from your teacher to do so?
Of course I did.
Isn’t that right, ma’am?
I was aware of it, sir.
She came to me last night and told me about it.
Ma’am.
But Myeongwol performed a dance that went against the teacher’s wishes.
What are you saying?
You’re not making any sense.
How dare you deny it?
What is it that you want?
Tell me what you’re up to.
Why did you mess up a dance that we’ve been practicing for months?
I guess I don’t need to ask.
There’s could be only one reason.
Because she wanted show off on her own.
Or how else could she dance the rountine right off the bat?
Do you have any objections?
What’s the use of having an objection when no one cares for the truth?
So how would you feel if I were to punish your teacher, Maehyang?
That’s just not right, sir.
I’m sure you know that my teacher has worked really hard to teach Myeongwol.
She must be devestated to have been stabbed in the back.
I think it’ll be too cruel to have her fired from her post.
A promise is a promise.
I’m going to make Myeongwol a slave,
and have Maehyang stripped of her job.
A slave?
How could you say that after seeing her performance?
It’s impossible.
I believe that she’s talented enough to become the troupe’s leader.
Don’t you know that the king is very much focused on the arts?
But to let down such a great artist?
I don’t think it’s possible.
Don’t you agree, minister?
But Myeongwol has disgraced two of her teachers.
Don’t you think that the arts should be based on virtue?
The troupe is Joseon’s flower.
Only the best deserves to be the leader of the troupe.
The leader must be someone that can be very supportive.
Even the most talented of artists aren’t eligible if they cannot work with others.
I think we’re getting off the mark.
We’re here to discuss how to handle Myeongwol’s misgivings.
We’re not here to talk about her eligibility to become the troupe leader.
Maehyang will keep her post as leader because of her accomplishments.
But, as for Myeongwol...
The arts should focused on giving inspiration.
But Myeongwol is guilty of turning it into an arena of competition.
And I find her guilty of turning her back on her colleagues and teacher.
What type of punishement do you want?
I’ll become a slave as promised.
A slave?
I don’t believe that will be a strong punishment.
Go back to your teacher Baekmu and listen to her.
You mustn’t just listen to her, but take on the unfinished dance.
Finish learning the crane dance.
This is my punshment to you.
I think I owe you a great deal.
At least I’m keeping my post.
It’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for me.
I won’t forget it.
What I owe you and the fact that I lost to Baekmu...
I’ll never forget it. Never.
Are you sad?
Are you sad that I turned my back on the truth?
It’s called politics.
I couldn’t let you take me down with you.
Or else we’ll never find a way to take Baekmu down.
Don’t you agree?
Just think of it as a good lesson.
I have something to say to you.
You look really upset.
Get out of here before I call for someone.
Why are you being so mean?
It’s not like you’re going to be working as a slave.
Was it because of the troupe leader position?
Were you that scared that I’d end up being the leader?
I’ve been next in line since the beginning.
Being the leader would bring me the most power.
I did everything to secure that post.
I endured many difficult things, and I practiced day and night.
So what were you afraid of?
The teacher chose you over me.
I wouldn’t have chickened out if you had asked for a fair contest.
I know.
So let’s start anew.
Everything’s back to the beginning.
I think that it’s what your teacher wants as well.
Or else, she wouldn’t have told people about your first love, Eunho.
What does that mean?
What are you saying right now?
You’re so naive.
Who do you think told the minister about your broken heart?
Your teacher is above everyone.
So don’t try to beat her and, learn the crane dance from her.
I’m going back to the capital to work on my knife dance.
Have you become forgetful after losing the contest?
Have you forgotten how to behave when you enter a room?
Danshim, can you excuse us?
Is it true?
What?
That in order to have me back to finish teaching me the crane dance,
you used my first love, who is long gone.
Watch your mouth.
When will you change your attitude?
No one can deny that I’m your teacher and the leader.
Just answer me.
Is it important?
Answer me.
I think you know my answer already.
You’re a terrible person.
Why are you taking your anger out on me?
You were the one who left me for some other teacher.
It’s no wonder that you say this, for you’re the daughter of a blind woman.
Stop it.
And several times at that.
You still don’t know much about the world.
The world isn’t full of honest people,
contrary to what you and your mother believe.
The minister roamed the streets for the last 6 years after the king abandoned him.
But at last, he has a top post.
Collecting music samples was the first big job he was assigned.
I’m sure you know why he was so nice to you now.
Have you just seen your teacher?
What are you doing here?
I have something to ask of Baekmu.
Come with me. I was about to ask you as well.
What is it?
Are you still angry?
Do you think my punishment is too cruel?
You are the pupil of Baekmu, no matter what.
With the two of you together, Joseon’s music will grow a great deal.
And your power will escalate.
Look here, Myeongwol.
Do you want to be above everyone else?
Are you looking to become the next prime minister?
I guess you need to be successful in finishing the king’s special project.
Only then will you be complimented by the king.
I’m sure that recording the crane dance will allow you to accomplish this.
- Hey. - Am I wrong?
Is it power that you want that badly?
Do you want power to the extent of using a gisaeng’s first love as an excuse?
You and Maehyang.
And Myeongwol and Booyong.
The four of you are Joseon’s finest artists.
I think all of you are worth a great deal.
I had especially hoped that you and Myeongwol would make amends.
If you two were to come together, you could do great things for Joseon’s arts.
I know, sir.
So, why have my true intentions been distorted as so?
Because I didn’t want your hidden feelings to be taken away from you.
What do you mean?
Do you secretly love her?
Baekmu!
I know that you love Myeongwol.
Stop it.
I know it.
Myeongwol’s love for Eunho is no different from your love for her.
Hey.
I can say that the dance that Myeongwol performed today proves it.
She danced for her first love.
She has mistaken her love for you as the love she had for Eunho.
Please, stay out of her life now.
Someone as honest as you doesn’t deserve to love a gisaeng.
Look here.
Or would you rather consider her as a toy?
Just like all the other men that can leave the morning after,
can you forget her?
A toy?
How could you be so mean, when you’re a gisaneg yourself?
That’s why I’m telling you this.
Someone who is willing to leave so easily has no right being a gisaeng’s love interest.
Do you know how much it hurts a gisaeng if her lover cannot give her his all?
I don’t want to see Myeongwol have false hopes once again.
I’d rather see her life full of anger and lost.
Because the arts will be the only thing to comfort her.
Jini was born an artist.
Please let her focus only on the arts.
It’s the only way for Joseon’s music to become more developed.
Have a nice trip back.
See you again.
We shall.
I’ll be on my way now.
Practice begins at 1:00 in the afternoon. Don’t forget.
Why aren’t you answering me? Don’t you want to practice?
I gave into your fight, and you lost the contest.
You should know how to lose gracefully.
Without a doubt.
That’s what I wanted to hear.
I know you can be better than that.
But I don’t think I can practice today.
Mr. Byeok has invited me to his party.
If you want me to break the appointment, I’ll do that.
No. That’s not necessary.
We have the future.
There will be more days to practice.
There are many more days to come.
Take good care of Mr. Byeok.
It’s important for a gisaeng to have good connections.
Have you gotten drunk?
I think you had too much to drink.
Drunk?
I wouldn’t be called a gisaeng if I got drunk over a few drinks.
Don’t you agree, sir?
Don’t be too mad.
The wine that has poured over represents my heart.
Drink up, sir.
But I think something is really wrong.
What is?
Myeongwol, the pride of Song-do.
People say that even the gods wake up to hear her play.
What’s with the gayaguem?
We should hear her play the geomungo.
Don’t you agree?
What are you doing?
Why don’t you play a song for us?
I don’t think she’s fit to play it right now.
I don’t think she would want to.
- What’s the reason? - Is that important?
But I must hear her play.
I came all the way here to hear her play.
If it’s the sound of the geomungo you want, I’ll play for you.
I’ll play instead of Myeongwol.
That’s not a bad idea.
Your playing is also famous for being deep and beautiful.
You should stop playing.
How long will I have to continue listening to that boring music?
Boring music? How dare you?
His playing is like a parrot trying to copy sounds of others.
It’s hard for me to keep listening, sir.
How could you be so rude?
A parrot. How dare she?
I’m sure Mr. Byeok knows it, too.
I’m sure he knows it well.
Get up. Get up now!
She yawned?
How dare she yawn?
How dare she think she could get away with making fun of me?
Sir, please be calm.
Myeongwol had a bit too much to drink today.
She made a mistake.
She was rude because of everything that’s happened.
I think your performance was nice, no matter what others say.
And everyone else present said the same thing.
What do they know?
How would someone like you know?
Please, don’t be so hard on yourself.
My heart breaks.
You heart?
Do you even have a heart?
Sir.
No. I guess you do have a heart.
I’m sure you’re worried that I won’t pay for your services today.
It must be worrying you to death.
What?
Isn’t that enough?
Do you want more?
Tell me.
You’re a friend of Myeongwol’s.
Sir.
What can I do?
How can I capture Myeongwol’s heart?
Tell me what I should do! Tell me!
Do you want me to hold you tonight as well?
Will you only open your mouth then?
Mother.
Have you been drinking?
A little.
It wasn’t that bad, dancing again.
Actually...
I had felt stuffy because I hadn’t been able to dance.
I thought I was tied to a rock and thought I was going to die.
That’s why I wanted to dance.
Even when Baekmu wanted to turn me into a slave,
I had wanted to bow down and ask for forgiveness.
Because I wanted to go on dancing.
Baby.
Just like you’ve said...
Eunho liked my dance.
He was such a nice person.
If he’s watching me from above,
if he were to see me hating others,
and being so mean, I think he woudn’t like it.
That’s why I came to a decision.
I decided to forgive everyone.
Yes.
That’s a good idea.
You’ll be hurting less as well.
But, not anymore.
I don’t want to forgive anyone anymore.
What now? Why is that?
It’s just not within me.
Jini.
I’m not one to use someone to get power and money.
I just can’t.
What are you trying to say?
And I’d hate to do what Baekmu orders me to do even more.
Jini.
I’ve met a nice person for the first time since Eunho.
He’s so much like Eunho in many ways.
I’ve been thinking.
I think that Eunho would resemble the minister if he had on a hat and suit.
I just can’t forgive Baekmu.
She brought up Eunho with the minister.
Aren’t I being silly, mother?
But what angers me even more than what Baekmu did...
is the minister.
He doesn’t deny at all that he had an ulterior agenda.
He doesn’t even have an excuse.
Maybe it’s because he’s an adult.
I’m sure that’s why.
I guess he doesn’t want to show his true feelings to a gisaeng.
He knows that it’s not worth it...
To share his true feelings with a gisaeng.
He’s totally an adult.
That’s what sets him apart from Eunho.
That’s what’s most different about him.
Be careful.
Just as if you’re handling a baby.
Things have gotten better for you these past few days.
Not really.
Do you have some good news?
You have a very fast eye.
Don’t tell anyone else.
But Mr. Byeok has taken a liking to my Danshim.
Is that true?
Yes, of course.
Just wait a little bit.
Once Danshim makes it big, I’ll be there right alongside her.
And when that happens, I won’t forget you.
Goodness.
It’s late.
What are you doing here?
I need a comb.
I need to borrow your comb.
Is something wrong?
No, nothing’s wrong.
I can sense it.
I can sense it in your voice, Danshim.
Danshim.
I want to know what it takes to capture Myeongwol’s heart.
Danshim.
If Myeongwol’s heart was mine to steal, I’d be willing to do that.
And I’d give it to him.
Who are you talking about?
Who is it?
I’m talking about Mr. Byeok, teacher.
Love is...
Love can be so cruel.
Do you love him?
I can tell that you’re extremely sad and miss him so.
How did you end up loving him so much,
when it’s only one-sided?
Don’t do it.
It’s not good for you.
It’ll hurt you too much.
Are you on your way to practice?
Yes, sir.
I must be on my way now.
What you asked me last time...
I was waiting for you to give you an answer.
As you said, recording music is an important project for me.
And it’s true that I want to be complimented by the king.
So refrain from behaving like you did the other day.
Your beautiful dance...
If you want me to record your dance, I think you should practice hard.
Don’t you agree?
Yes, I’ll remember, sir.
Do you really want me to teach Mr. Byeok a way to capture Jini’s heart?
I’m willing to work hard on it.
Is that what you want?
Yes, it is.
But that would mean the end for your love as well.
Will you agree to it?
You can still quit while you’re ahead.
No, teacher.
Will you have no regrets?
Yes, I’m fine.
I’m satisified with the situation.
Okay.
Do you think you can help me with your condition?
But isn’t Jini’s love with you want?
No one knows a woman better than her mother.
So, let’s hear it then.
I heard of the song that you played on the geomungo.
It’s a song that Myeongwol enjoys playing herself.
Do you like playing mostly on the third string?
Yes, because it gives off a deep sound.
Don’t play any songs that require you to do so, sir.
You must use the second string, which gives off a softer sound.
Don’t use any vibration.
Don’t play it with any variations.
If you add new changes to the song, the music will lose its original flavor.
Are you willing to send Jini off to Mr. Byeok?
Why not?
Look here.
Mr. Byeok is known for his wild ways.
There are scores of women that have fallen for him.
He cares for my daughter’s music.
And his power surpasses everyone else.
You seem like a stranger.
Is it really you sitting in front of me?
You believe in the truth.
Are you talking about the very blind Hyeongeum?
I hate Baekmu’s obsession.
Myeongwol will have to practice the crane dance day and night.
She’ll be feeling really heavy in her heart.
I want to use power to relieve her from that Baekmu.
I’d rather have her sent to the capital.
Mr. Byeok will prove to be a very strong supporter of her talents.
To live life without love is the fate of a gisaeng.
And it’s Myeongwol’s fate that she cannot live without the arts.
I’d rather see her have a strong supporter.
And what about Danshim?
Why don’t you think about her?
It’s not wise to love someone that doesn’t love you back.
If one can cut it off, it’s better to lose it.
- Going somewhere? - Can’t you tell?
Where are you going all dressed up like that?
Wait.
Isn’t today the day you’re not supposed to be going out?
It’s the day you menstruate.
We have almost the same dates.
So if I’m not supposed to go out, neither are you.
I hope she doesn’t get into trouble.
What is she ends up getting pregnant?
Someone from Mr. Byeok’s home came to see you.
He wanted to have you this.
Did he tell you anything else?
No, he didn’t.
Did you say you’re returning to the capital?
What about the work at the institution?
I’ve started the basic work, so you can finish it for me.
Mr. Byeok can help you out as well.
Mr. Byeok isn’t one that can be of much help.
Don’t you know why the king sent you here as the minister?
It’s not just about recording the music.
You need to listen to what the people have to say.
Yes.
That’s why I’m going back to the capital.
In my heart, I have no place for the people.
Minister.
Is it a woman?
I didn't know that I’d feel this way.
It’s not a bad feeling.
It’s natural for a man and a woman to be in love.
But it’s clear where it’s headed.
And most of all,
I don’t think I can handle hurting someone else.
I can’t do it.
It’s more like I’m running away.
You may blame me for being irresponsible.
But I have nothing else to say.
Sir, she’s here.
Wait.
I guess what Myeongwol’s mother said is working after all.
I didn’t know that you had an ear for this.
I sent someone to your place after I heard you were here.
It has such a nice sound.
It’s so soft and beautiful.
I’ve never heard anything like it in my life.
I’m embarrased.
Thank you for the poem that you sent me.
I just wrote what came to my mind.
I was regretting having sent it to you.
I’m embarrased.
Did you say you wrote whatever came to your mind?
Yes, I wrote it in a single stroke.
I’m sure that it doesn’t suit your high taste in poetry.
Sir?
Why don’t you continue with your playing?
I was just playing to make myself calm.
It’s embarrasing for me to have you listen when I’m still lacking.
I don’t want to be hurt by your painful words again.
Don’t have anyone else carry your geomungo for you.
To an artist, an instrument is like her own body.
An artist is attracted to someone who would think that as well.
Don’t talk a lot, and pretend you didn’t see her.
Just act as if you don’t see anyone else.
Just pretend that you’re in a place all by yourself.
The water in the mountains don’t boast about how fast you flow.
If you go into the sea, there’s no turning back.
Because the moon is full in the hills, why not enjoy it while it lasts?
Don’t turn back.
You have to make her think that you’re not interested.
Only then will she fall for you.
Let’s go.