"(Episode 1)" "Sir!" "Sir!" "Lt. General..." "What is it?" "The King ordered you  a royal minister to bestow poison upon the deposed queen" "What?" "How could this be..." "Why has this order fallen on me?" "I don't know, but the Minister of Royal Guards has ordered... that you do this immediately" "13th year of King Sungjong's Rule (1482) August" "Minister, it's been over 3 years since the queen was deposed" "Isn't poison for walking out of her residence an excessive order?" "She's the mother of the Crown Prince" "If he takes the throne..." "Don't worry about it Nothing bad will happen" "Would you like a sip?" "How are you going to watch it sober?" "Are you OK?" "How is he?" "I think he hurt his ankle" "I'm so sorry All of sudden, the horse..." "Even the horse doesn't want to go to the deposed queen's house" "Why else would a horse jump like a mad man?" "Did you drink wine?" "How dare you be so insolent while carrying out the King's order?" "I deserve to die, sir" "Can you move?" "Yes" "I'll carry out the order even if I need help" "It's OK What can you do in that condition?" "Wretch!" "You'll pay for your crime later" "Due to the circumstances get him to a doctor quickly!" "Yes, sir!" "Deposed Queen Yoon is wicked and dangerous by nature and she's done many perverse things In the past, while in the court her atrocities grew worse, but I was indecisive about her because she was the mother of the Crown Prince" "And it has caused the nation to crumble beyond remedy" "I order her to drink poison on August 16 at her house" "I shall see the King" "If he tells me to, I shall drink it Bring the King" "The criminal must be silent This is the King's command" "It can't be." "He's not a king who'd kill his son's mother because she ran out on bare feet to see her son" "This is clearly a plot to do harm to the royal line" "Shut up." "How dare you speak such blasphemous words!" "Give her the poison" "Stop!" "I'm the mother of the Crown Prince" "If you still insist on killing me then bring the Prince here!" "Captain, make her drink the poison now" "Do it now!" "Stay away!" "How dare you approach me!" "You'll disobey the King's command?" "Make her drink it now!" "Hold her" "Stop!" "How dare you!" "Don't touch me." "I was the Queen of this nation." "I'll drink it myself" "I'll drink it myself" "Your Majesty!" "Your Majesty!" "Crown Prince!" "Do ascend the throne and wreak my vengeance" "Mother... please tell the Crown Prince of their atrocity" "You wretches, you shall pay for this" "Your Majesty" "Crown Prince Yoong (Later called Yeonsan-Kun)" "Your Majesty" "Are the court ladies coming this way?" "Yes, they are" "Don't tell them you saw me" "Yes, Your Majesty" "Your Majesty, where are you?" "We give up, Your Majesty!" "Please come out, Your Majesty!" "You wretches, you shall pay for this" "Stop!" "Your Majesty!" "Stop!" "I'm the mother of the Crown Prince!" "Bring the Prince to me!" "Your Majesty!" "How dare you!" "Are you awake now?" "Drink all of it" "I must've gone unconscious after falling down from a mountain" "Your arm's hurt." "You should be fine after a few days of rest" "Thank you" "Sir, I have to be on my way, so please tell me the way out" "Sir" "You don't seem to be the kind to harm someone else but why do you have a storm of blood in your hands?" "Excuse me?" "What do you mean, sir?" "Your fate, what a pity..." "What do you mean, sir?" "Please explain to me Why do you pity my fate?" "Three women are holding your fate" "Even though you killed the first woman you will not die" "The second will die because of you even though you save her" "And the third will kill you but she will save many lives" "Sir, what shall I do?" "What can I do to free myself from this fate?" "The best thing is not to meet them" "How?" "How can I not meet the first woman?" "Haven't you already met her?" "That's why it's a pity..." "And the second... no..." "I will die because of the third woman?" "Then how can I not meet the third woman?" "Don't meet the second woman" "Then how can I not meet the second woman?" "Please tell me, sir" "What do these mean, sir?" "Sir!" "Please wait, sir!" "What could they mean?" "This is "geum," which means rash" "This is "soon," meaning meek" "This is "ho," meaning good" "Refer to women?" "A rash woman, a meek woman, and a good woman" "Do you have any ideas?" "No" "People have used compound words to tell secrets since ancient times" "What do you mean by compound words?" "Don't you know?" "When King Taejo founded this kingdom people talked of "mok-ja-deuk-guk" (tree, son, gain, kingdom)" "Here "mok"(tree) and "ja"(son) Combined to form "Yi"" "It meant a person whose last name is Yi would gain the kingdom" "If they are elements, what would the compound meaning be?" ""Geum" is a compound of "yeo"(woman) And "geum"(now, today)" "It could mean "woman you met today" When did you get these?" "I received them yesterday" "Woman you met yesterday Is there any woman you met yesterday?" "Seeing your face, I guess you did meet a woman" "Then the rest should be deciphered as elements too" "The second woman has to do with "cheon"(creek) and "hyeol"(head)" "And the third is related to "yeo"(woman) and "ja"(son, child)" "So I will die because of the deposed queen?" "And who are those two other women I will be meeting?" "2 nd year of Yeonsan-Kun's Rule (1496) July" "Sir!" "Please wait!" "It must be that stupid spiritual master again" "It's been 14 years already Anyway did you really meet him?" "Are you sure that old guy gave you those characters?" "Even if that's true, you're 40 and you still haven't gotten married because of that old man Do you even look at girls?" "And how could you think of quitting your job?" "I think it's all in your own mind" "You're just feeling guilty because the ruler has changed" "You're not even listening to me You said you're quitting" "So how will you make a living from now on?" "I'm leaving here" "What?" "When?" "Today's my last day of work I'll leave tomorrow morning" "What a fool you are!" "I can't forget those eyes" "The eyes of the deposed Queen looking at me" "Yeah, same here" "Did you hear how cruelly His Majesty killed the deer that former King Sungjong loved so dearly?" "I know that he killed his own childhood teacher" "Think what he might be capable of if he finds out about his mother" "Just imagine what might happen" "Madam, did you call for me?" "Yes." "The King is asking for your steamed bear-foot dish again" "Lady Choi has rushed to prepare the ingredients, so go take a look" "Yes, ma'am" "Is everything ready?" "Yes" "I'll try again" "What did you do wrong?" "You still haven't learned the amount of perilla oil that the King likes?" "You make them again" "Yes, ma'am" "The wind will weaken the aroma so prepare... the final ingredients separately I will do it myself" "You can go and wear the garments now" "Yes, ma'am" "Bring me the garments Yes, Madam" "Madam, I'm your servant Myeong" "What is it?" "I have something to tell you" "Come in" "Have a seat" "What is it?" "I'm asking you what this is about" "It's about the food the King ordered to send to his grandmother" "Isn't it a special dish from the Royal Kitchen for hypertrophy?" "Yes, but Lady Choi's adding wolfsbane root and cnidium officinale with garlic" "Isn't wolfsbane root used for such symptoms?" "Yes, but using it raw causes dizziness and using raw cnidium officinale causes hindrance to the flow of energy thereby causing sickness And it's not used for hypertrophy" "At first, I thought nothing of it thinking that... it was good medicine prescribed by the pharmacists but I was worried that her symptoms might get worse" "Are you sure about this?" "Yes, ma'am" "When did this start?" "It's been four days now" "You mean it started on the day the King ordered it?" "Why have you been so watchful of Lady Choi?" "It was incidental, ma'am" "Who else knows about this?" "I'm the only one" "Are you sure?" "Yes" "OK." "I'll take care of this secretly so don't tell anyone about this" "Yes, Madam" "Baek-Yeong, one moment" "What is it?" "I have to get going" "I told her about it" "Who?" "The Highest Kitchen Lady?" "No, the Taster Lady" "Good, I think that's better What did she say?" "She's going to take care of it" "She asked me if anyone else knew, but I didn't tell her about you" "Why not?" "You never know..." "Baek-Yeong!" "I have to get going... the side dish ingredients for tonight have been spoiled" "Oh, no..." "Let's talk later Sure" "Excuse me..." "What is it this time?" "What's this?" "It's a face powder from China" "I'm only a servant here If you keep on doing this" "I'm going to tell the Head Lady" "I have no other intention but to pay you back in gratitude" "Please do receive it" "What's this?" "Isn't this face powder for Chinese women?" "You must be so happy Myeong, share it with me" "Sure" "Isn't he overdoing it even though he may be indebted to you?" "What does it matter?" "I wish I had someone giving me such gifts, too" "What are you doing here?" "It's almost time for the feast What are you doing here?" "Wait" "What is it?" "The Highest Kitchen Lady has called for you" "At this time of night?" "She has called us as well" "She's late" "Is it you, Baek-Yeong?" "Uncover her" "Untie her" "Do you acknowledge your crime?" "What crime are you talking about?" "I will ask you again Do you acknowledge your crime?" "Madam, what is this about?" "Please tell me... why you're treating me this way" "How dare you play innocent!" "Madam!" "What is a court lady?" "A court lady is a woman of the King who must be careful in speech, conduct, and maintaining dignity and you must not make eye contact with any other men" "These are the laws in the Royal Palace" "I know that, ma'am and I've always fulfilled my duties" "You've always fulfilled your duties?" "Then what are these?" "Those... they are..." "Do you know the officer who guards the Manchun Gate?" "You were with him late at night once, right?" "Is that true or not?" "True, but it's because he collapsed on the ground with a stomachache and I gave him first-aid treatment" "How did you treat him?" "I gave him a cup of hot water and some medicine" "So in gratitude he gave you this valuable pendant and powder?" "And you just accepted them without much thought?" "Madam, that's not how it is..." "Witch!" "How dare you lie to me!" "If he'd collapsed with a stomachache you should've gone to another officer And even if you did treat him how could he possibly give you these precious items and how could you receive them?" "Unless you've become intimate with him who could explain these?" "Madam!" "That isn't true!" "Truly, that isn't so!" "Shut up!" "Tell me what you saw four days ago" "I saw Lady Park and some man... entering the warehouse together at night" "Madam, never... never..." "has such a thing occurred" "Isn't that why..." "you've spoken ill of Lady Choi?" "That isn't true!" "That isn't true!" "If you've disgraced yourself that way it is only proper for a court lady... to end her life, and yet you even tried to frame your friend" "You ought to pay for your sin by death" "When you first became court ladies what did we say the consequences were for betraying the King by approaching a man or betraying your friend?" "Madam, this is unfair!" "I'm being falsely accused!" "Go ahead!" "What are you doing?" "Remember this well and never let such a thing happen again!" "Hide the body and go back" "Stop crying" "But Aunt, did we really have to go that far...?" "How ignorant... a seed surely grows to blossom and bear fruit and likewise the seed of fire certainly blazes up" "You can't keep this position with such a soft heart" "Though in private you are my niece you're the successor to the Highest Lady of the Royal Kitchen and that position is the foothold of our family's prosperity" "What do you think was the foundation of our family's great fortune when our family is only middle-class?" "Our family has produced 5 Highest Kitchen Ladies serving 6 kings since King Moonjong" "What do you think made it possible in this palace where no one knows who will be killed next?" "Do you know how our 5th great grandmother Lady Choi Mal-Hee had become the Highest Lady for the first time?" "She kept serving pork to King Moonjong who was suffering from boils" "But meat is forbidden for boils Physicians couldn't have allowed it" "Exactly." "The physicians were people of next King Sejo" "Lady Choi realized this and she threw herself... to the flow of power, risking her own life" "Everyone's lives are on the line already" "Stop being timid and understand the times and always learn from us so that you don't make mistakes" "Our family and our lives depend on this" "She asked me if anyone else knew, but I didn't tell her about you" "Why not?" "You never know..." "Myeong, please... please..." "Hello!" "Hey!" "Priest!" "Priest, are you here?" "What's wrong?" "Priest, she's dying." "Please help" "Come inside" "What is it?" "She seems to have taken buja tonic" "You mean the one used as poison?" "Is there any hope?" "But seeing how she still has some life left in her she must've taken small amounts or taken some antidote" "Then can she survive?" "I'll go make the antidote, so you follow me" "It'll take some time to make the antidote so boil water with some mung beans and then have her drink it" "It helps to detoxify too" "OK" "Here are the mung beans Boil them in water and give it to her" "She'll vomit and that's a good sign so you have to keep feeding her" "There's the medicine pot" "OK" "Drink this" "You still have to drink it" "Please drink it, so you can live..." "Will she be OK?" "Though she's grown thin, I think she's passed the critical point" "What did she say was the reason for taking poison?" "I don't know." "I only found her by the stream and brought her here" "Anyhow, you have saved her life" "What do you mean?" "Didn't you say she had already taken an antidote?" "Even so, if it weren't for you she'd be dead by now" "You have done a great deed" "Anyhow, you have saved her life" ""Soon"(Meek), with simple words of "cheon"(creek) and "hyeol"(head)" "She had her head in the creek Could she be the second woman?" "The second will die because of you, even though you save her" "In order not to meet the third woman, don't meet the second" "And the second... no..." "I will die 'cause of the third woman?" "Then how can I not meet the third woman?" "Don't meet the second woman" "Then how can I not meet the second woman?" "Sir!" "Sir!" "Don't try to stop it He said that vomiting is a good sign" "Myeong... are you alive?" "They're plotting to murder you and I don't know what to do" "You said buja tonic could be detoxified with tonic made with mung beans but I don't know if you'll survive" "Are you still alive, Myeong?" "If you're dead, don't forgive me but if you're alive, listen to me I don't know the details but I don't believe that you've become intimate with a man" "Therefore, you must not come back to the palace or be found by them Run far away." "Please do live!" "You may punish me for yielding to their threats" "I'm so sorry..." "Myeong..." "May I come in?" "Please have a seat" "There is no other way for me to repay you for saving my life" "Please forgive me for making a mere curtsy" "I have to get going having only received your grace" "It's too early for you to leave" "I don't want to allow myself to be a burden anymore" "Where will you go?" "You haven't even prepared anything What will you do?" "Don't worry." "Thank you again" "I'll say bye now" "The second will die because of you, even though you save her" "Would you like some porridge?" "Thank you, but I have no money" "It's all right." "Go right ahead" "I gave her pure rice porridge as requested, so give me the money" "Please set aside a room for her and get her a new pair of shoes" "You're giving me two?" "Don't tell her that I told you to do this" "OK" "It's hard work You think you can manage?" "Yes" "OK, then" "You look so pretty When did you come here?" "Please stop it" "I'm asking you a question Where are you going?" "Sit" "Pour me a cup!" "What are you doing?" "Boss is asking for a cup" "You look so pretty" "Hey" "What's this?" "You shouldn't do such work Your hands aren't for such work" "Although I have saved you he said you will die because of me" "It's dangerous to stay with me" "I already owe you my life" "Please do take care of me by all means" "14 years ago, when I was an officer in the Royal Militia" "I was beside the deposed Queen when she was poisoned and on the way back home, I met this spiritual master" "He told me there would be 3 women who would determine my fate" "He said despite killing the first woman I will not die" "I would save the second, but she would die because of me" "And he said the third would kill me, but she would save many people" "He gave me the characters referring to those women" "The first was the deposed Queen Yoon and the second woman is you He said you would die because of me" "Are you still going to follow me?" "8 years later, 10th year of Yeonsan-Kun's Rule (1504) August" "Father!" "So did you catch it?" "Where's Mother?" "Where is she?" "Mother..." "Follow me" "What are you doing?" "Didn't I tell you to follow me?" "Mother..."