[Episode 15]
The water in the mountains, don’t boast of 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.
What are you doing?
Why isn’t she following us?
What?
Oh, goodness.
What is it?
She’s getting on her carriage.
Her carriage?
Don’t think she’s mad that you’ve ignored her,
even though she recited poetry?
You finally got her to meet you out here.
If you send her off like this, she may never see you again.
Just look at her now.
I think she’d headed the opposite direction.
What?
Sir.
It must’ve been tough to leave your heart with me while refusing to even look at me.
But you’ve exercised a great deal of self-control.
You wench!
I feel sorry for you, sir.
You cannot gain anything with lies.
Not even the heart of this very humble wench.
Let’s go.
It can’t be his poem.
It just isn’t possible.
What is all this?
Why is it that these papers were in my study?
Isn’t this your handwriting?
What were you trying to do by copying my poems?
What’s going on?
What if Myeongwol had seen the poems?
Did you just mention Myeongwol?
Look here.
That’s right.
I stole your poems.
They are admirable.
Your feelings toward Myeongwol are very admirable.
Every single verse is a masterpiece.
That’s why I wanted to steal your poems...
So that I could capture Myeongwol’s heart.
Hey, you.
Laugh at me if you wish.
Tease me if you must.
I’m feeling very sorry about myself as well.
Lies have no influence.
The only thing that can move someone’s heart…
Is the truth?
Stop talking about the truth.
I’m sick to death of it.
I’ve never learned about telling the truth since I was born.
I was taught to be suspicious of one’s intentions and smiling face.
And one should be most suspicious of his or her best friend.
I was taught not to be fooled by flattery.
And I was also taught that I could buy any girl I want with my power and money.
Look here!
It’s what the members of the royal family have to keep in mind always.
Everything you’ve ever bought with your money and power are fake.
I don’t need a moral lesson from you!
This is a first for me, too.
It’s the first time I’ve met a girl I wanted to get serious with.
But, I just can’t catch her.
She won’t come to me my way.
Give her your true feelings.
Don’t try to borrow someone else’s feelings
but show her your own true feelings.
That’s the only way for you to capture her heart.
What you said...
What do you mean?
Don’t feel rushed, and wait for her.
Don’t regard her as just someone to play with.
Respect her as an artist.
Are you saying that you’ll stay out of my affair with Myeongwol?
I never came between you and Myeongwol.
Give her your heart, and show her how you really feel.
Those who meet must part.
Breaking up isn’t just between a man and a gisaeng.
It’s a rule in history.
So I hope you won’t be too shaken up when it happens.
The sound of the geomungo is impeccable.
It’s the sigh of a woman, and not the anguish of an artist.
Did you say that Myeongwol’s servant was just here?
I caught him sneaking into the minister’s quarters after asking a maid in the house.
He won’t tell us anything.
He wants to talk to the minister in person.
If Myeongwol is looking for Junghan,
that could only mean one thing.
I feel sorry for you, sir.
You cannot gain anything with lies.
Not even the heart of this very humble wench.
She must’ve known everything from the start.
She had known everything and just wanted to ridicule me.
That evil wench.
What do you mean?
The minister is to leave for the capital tonight.
Are you coming from the institution?
Come inside. I have something to tell you.
Let’s go together.
Moomyeong will be here. Why don’t you take your carriage?
What’s going on?
What?
I thought I heard horses outside.
Actually…
What are you doing?
Open up the road for me right now.
You should act like a woman if you were born as one.
Who goes there?
What are you doing?
Are you okay?
Oh, that girl.
You want me to give you a boat ride even before sunrise?
Are you running away in the evening?
I heard that he’s one of your men.
So?
Did you order him to harm Myeongwol?
She makes fun of the upper class like a habit.
Please don’t lay a hand on Myeongwol.
You evil woman.
Even the slightest scar on her finger could end her artist career, sir.
Do you want me to take your life as well?
If you take her life, even though she isn’t of high society, it would be murder.
It would be a huge crime.
But I know that you know better than I do,
that the law won’t stand for such things.
Since Myeongwol wasn’t hurt, I’ll let this one pass.
But if something like this ever happens again,
I won’t stand for it.
We’re going to be on our way now.
I’m sorry to have intruded so late at night, sir.
Let’s go.
I think Mr. Byeok is really angry now.
How could you of all people do this to him?
You’ve agitated a very powerful man.
Sir, how else would I have destroyed his fantasy for Myeongwol?
I don’t want my daughter to be object of another obsession.
I’m sure that Danshim will be able to find someone better than him.
And Jini will open her eyes to the truth once again.
I guess that lady wants a ride across the river as well.
If she had come a bit ealier, I would’ve gotten twice the fare.
Haven’t you forgotten something?
Doesn’t this belong to you?
I don’t think I should be taking it just yet.
Please take it back.
The feelings inside it are so heavy, that it’s hard for me to carry, sir.
Are you trying to get out of Song-do because of your heavy heart?
You said that Joseon’s music came from the love of the people.
You wanted to preserve it.
Look here.
Why are you putting aside such great work just because of a single gisaeng?
I don’t think that’s a good idea, sir.
I don’t feel comfortable with you closeby.
The more I desire you,
the angrier I get at myself.
I shouldn’t be starting something that I can’t be responsible for.
I know this well, and it makes me mad.
You’re at a level that I can’t be responsible for.
There’s nothing I can do for you.
I’m mad over all these things.
I’m so mad I can’t stand it.
Your heart will become calm again.
That’s what love is all about.
When time passes and after we’re dead,
everything will be gone.
But the work that we’ve done together will not die.
Even after we’re long gone, it’ll be alive for years to come.
Your work will be with the people that you love so much.
So come back to the institution and finish the work you’ve started.
I do not have the desire to be loved by you.
But I want to see you work on the important project.
That’s what I want to remember you by.
You’ve told Myeongwol to convince the minister to return?
Yes.
Sir.
Why are you so enraged?
Are you afraid that Myeongwol will be falling in love now?
Does that worry you?
Myeongwol resembles you a great deal.
She’s not the type to give up the arts because of love.
But that’s up to the individual.
If I had told you back then that I would give up everything for you,
would you have given up the arts?
It’s not possible.
You’d never do it.
Sir...
If you can stand it, so can Myeongwol.
Let’s just let her be.
The minister and Myeongwol are much wiser than you and I.
They may be able to come up with a solution that we never even dreamed of.
You’re here early.
All right. Let’s begin.
This is the organized music score, sir.
Did you say you’re returning to the capital?
But the minister has come back to the institution.
I know.
It’s only a matter of time before he’s in the arms of Myeongwol.
It’s not right for you to be leaving like this.
How could you leave when Myeongwol and Baekmu made fun of you?
Stop the talk and get things prepared so I can leave.
You meddle in other’s affairs.
Or maybe you’re too weak for love.
I think it’s better than being heartless like you.
I won’t forgive you if you get lazy with practicing.
I hope you don’t pass out while I’m practicing.
I think that Myeongwol’s dancing has improved.
I know that you’re going to get mad if I say this.
But I’ve never seen anyone with such bright eyes.
And how fast her talent improves.
She knows how to apply the basic steps.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to have so much fun.
Ma’am.
Also, she has taught me an important lesson.
She taught me that I, Maehyang…
I’m a dancer even before I’m the leader of the troupe.
Are you mad?
It would’ve been better for you to have helped me receive Myeongwol as my pupil.
Stop it, ma’am.
At least thanks to Booyong…
I’m still the troupe leader?
Isn’t that the truth?
If Myeongwol had remained my student,
you would’ve had another chance.
You could’ve had another chance to match off against her.
But it’s too late now.
You’ve made a big mistake.
You won’t be able to win over her,
even if you worked at it all your life.
Why have you stopped?
It’s a new dance, ma’am.
I’ve studied under you for years, but I’ve never seen it before.
It’s the drum dance.
The drum dance?
It’s a dance that seeks to silence the world of its sorrows with the drums.
It’s a name that my teacher and I came up with.
Are you saying that it wasn’t just Baekmu who was taught an unrecorded dance?
But I wasn’t able to see the final version of the dance.
I don’t know why I didn’t know that each dancer has a dance that suits oneself.
I was mad at my teacher for teaching me one dance, while she taught Baekmu four.
Have you thought about sharing this dance with the world?
I was dancing because I was bored.
My body has become rusty, and my brain isn’t as quick as it used to.
Please, let me help you, ma’am.
I’ll do my best to assist you.
Please teach me that dance.
I’d like to help you complete you dance.
Do you…
Do you want to win over Myeongwol that much?
I can relate to you.
Prodigies make our efforts useless and painful.
Louder!
I’m sure that’s how he would’ve turned out.
What?
If Eunho were alive,
he would’ve grown to resemble him.
I know it.
My lady.
Long ago, you and I saw Eunho working on the field.
He looked just like the minister.
He was laughing loudly like so.
Louder!
Good work. Have some wine.
Why don’t you have a drink?
Here.
Are you saying you weren’t able to capture Myeongwol’s heart?
I thought that things had gone well because you hadn’t gone back to the capital.
I was at Mt. Guemgang because I was troubled.
Why don’t you tease me about it?
I bet you want to tease me for not being able to get Myeongwol when she was so close.
How could you say such a thing?
I’ll find another way to help you out.
I’ll find a way for you to capture Myeongwol’s heart.
No, that’s not necessary.
I don’t want to see her anymore.
Sir.
I’m going to break her into small pieces.
You’re the only one here for me.
You’re the only one who’s worried about me.
Would you like to spend the night here?
Why aren’t you answering me?
I don’t think I can accept your offer tonight.
You don’t want a second-rate guy now that you’re the top artist in the county?
Fine.
I guess you’re classy.
You’re totally different from the rest.
What did you eat?
Did you have a late-night snack?
No, that’s not it.
Yes, I think I’m right.
How could you be eating so much,
when you’ve become a gisaeng now?
Don’t talk to me.
I don’t have the energy to fight with you after throwing up all night.
- What do you think? - It’s neat.
I think it’s a neatly written poem, that expresses your calm heart.
What if you’d been born a man?
Do you think we could’ve been friends for life?
What if I was born of the noble class?
I could’ve been your wife.
We could’ve been partners and written all the poetry we wanted.
We could’ve lived life not knowing the years had gone by.
With three or four kids.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Are you afraid that I’ll beg to be your lawful wife?
You say it so easily, as if you’re talking about someone else.
I am talking about someone else.
It’s been a long time since I gave up life as a normal woman.
It’s been a long time, sir.
No...
I should’ve never dreamt of it in the first place.
Did you have such dreams with your first love?
It was just a fancy in my youth.
What would you say if I wanted to take his place?
I want to fulfill your life as a woman in place of your first love who died.
So trust me...
We’ve ended this argument a long time ago.
You may have ended, it but not me...
But it’s not possible.
- The social barriers are too high. - Barriers exist only to be broken.
Sir.
If we are true to our hearts and believe in the truth and give it a fight…
It’s gotten late, sir.
Why don’t you get some rest?
If the truth is on my side, I’ll be going to you.
And you’ll be coming to me.
So please, don’t lose hope until then.
What are you thinking about?
Are you thinking about Eunho again?
He is so much like Eunho.
Even his spirit,
for he wants to fight against this very cruel world.
He resembles Eunho a great deal.
I don’t think so.
He doesn’t resemble him at all.
What jerk lies to the person he loves?
Even a slave like me knows that you can’t trust someone who isn’t honest.
Look here.
It’s the same thing with courage.
Don’t you think that he’d be willing to do anything for the name of love?
What are you trying to say?
I don’t want you to hide behind Eunho’s shadows.
Just be true to your own heart.
Stop it.
Are you afraid that you’ll start to fall for the minister?
But you hide behind the fact that he resembles Eunho.
You don’t like the minister, but you think he resembles my former master?
I told you to stop.
You’re saying that the two are alike.
But you still have your heart locked up. That’s what I’m trying to say.
So how would things be different?
If I liked the minister for himself,
and not because he resembles Eunho,
how would things be different for me to be acting like such a fool?
My lady.
Once is enough.
What?
I’m satisfied with having my heart stuffed in the sewer just once.
I can’t do it anymore.
A sponsor, you say?
You’re looking for a sponsor?
Will you look into it for me?
Jini...
You’re always so extreme.
Do you know what this would mean?
A nobleman could never be a sponsor.
I didn’t know that you were one to be biased according to class.
You know that’s not what I meant.
So what’s the problem?
I’m just looking for someone in my own class to love.
Most of all, it could bring me a stable lifestyle.
Do you know how to read?
Of course, not.
So...
How did you read this?
I’ve never read Kim Siseop’s poetry.
I knew it.
You know about Kim Siseop.
You’re a fan of his poetry.
The noblemen are careful when reading his poetry.
It’s because his words are full of political satires.
Who are you?
What is your identity?
You must tell me the truth.
I’m just a nameless wanderer.
Who are you?
What is your identity?
Jungam is a close friend of my father’s.
Is politics all about shoving your friend to death?
If I don’t kill him, I’ll be dead.
That’s politics and power.
He’s a wanderer who's been shut off by society.
If he can understand Kim Siseop’s poetry, he’s bound to be educated.
I don’t know why he’s chosen to lead such a life.
I’m sure he’s a son whose father was involved in political conspiracy.
He has insight views on the world, but cannot return to society.
Don’t you think he’ll make a good husband for Myeongwol?
I know that you’ve taken very good care of Myeongwol over the years.
Will you continue to do so?
Will you take good care of her?
He’s a real man.
He gets more handsome day by day.
I know.
I’d run to him in an instant if he called for me.
I know.
Stop drooling.
I think the place will be overflowing if you keep it up.
You fool.
But I guess you’re feeling sorry for yourself.
Feeling sorry?
Yes. You were born a man, but have such different features.
I can say the same for you.
You belong to the same troupe as Myeongwol, but your face is totally different.
I can’t start to describe your differences.
What?
Wake up.
Stop drooling while you’re looking at Moomyeong.
He’s going to be a sponsor.
A sponsor?
Whose sponsor?
Who else? He’s to be Myeongwol’s sponsor.
No way.
Why not?
I had my eyes on Moomyeong since the beginning.
What?
That’s surprising.
Why does Myeongwol want a sponsor?
It’s not surprising.
It’s for the better.
It’ll calm things down once and for all.
I told you to leave, so quit talking.
Your wife still thinks that you’re in the temple.
That’s right.
What we’re trying to say is that you’re asking for so much money.
Your father wants to know why you need so much money at the temple.
Just tell him that I’m giving an offering.
I feel sorry for you.
It’s not just about liking girls.
How could you sell Buddha’s name to compensate a gisaeng?
Maybe you should be a sponsor instead.
How could a nobleman be a sponsor?
How dare you say that?
Or maybe you should go back to the temple for your studies.
I can study all I want here.
I hold her hand with this hand and turn the pages with the other.
Hold her hand and turn the pages.
The words come into my head really quickly.
Oh, sir.
Get out.
What are you doing here?
Myeongwol has brought some fine tea from the temple.
She wanted you to have some.
I wanted to call on her anyway.
Why didn’t you ask her to join us?
She’s too busy with other affairs.
Too busy?
Is something wrong at the troupe?
I don’t think there’s a ball planned for a while.
It’s not about the troupe. It has something to do with Myeongwol.
Myeongwol?
She’s to have a sponsor.
A sponsor?
It’s like having a pander,
but it’s almost like a marriage.
Myeongwol’s mother cannot stand around and do nothing.
We’re going to have a small party. If you’re not busy,
we hope that you can join us and join us in the celebration.
Have some tea.
Are you to have a sponsor?
It’s a common practice among gisaeng, sir.
It’s time for me to practice.
If you don’t have anything else to say,
I’ll be on my way.
If this is because of me, I don’t think it’s a wise choice.
I don’t have a choice when it comes to meeting with noblemen.
But I am able to select my own sponsor.
If it weren’t someone I liked, I wouldn’t have chosen him.
Are you there?
Do you want to be my sponsor?
Do you think you can do it?
If you want to be my husband,
can’t you even answer me?
If that’s what you want, I’m not against it.