EPISODE 18
Then,
have you been seeing the dethroned king in your dreams the whole time?
Maybe.
I've never seen his face before.
How did you know right away that he was Ho Dam?
Did you meet him in the past?
Is it something you can't tell me?
I've never told the story to anyone before.
However,
I no longer want to pretend I don't know anything.
My father passed away 20 years ago
because he was accused of treason.
Hence, my brother, who was one of my father's students,
took me to Qing to save me.
And I've been living as Goo Hae-ryung since then.
Then you're...
Right.
I've been on the run for the past 20 years.
How...
did that happen?
I don't know the details either.
All I know is that my father was the dean of a place called Seoraewon,
and I heard he was roped into committing treason.
I studied medical practice at a place called Seoraewon around 20 years ago.
Seoraewon...
I've heard of it before.
That female physician studied medical practice there.
She said she studied cowpox variolation there with her teacher.
Right.
Yeongan...
must have been my father's pseudonym.
I can't believe myself.
As his one and only daughter,
I couldn't even recognize his writing.
If this is too hard for you,
you don't have to tell me anymore.
No.
I must think about it even if it's hard.
All these years,
I just thought my father died an unfair death
because he was framed for treason by some bad people.
But if Ho Dam was the King at the time,
why did he just let my father suffer such false allegations?
They were close enough for the King to frequent Seoraewon.
I've lived
many years
with the name Seoraewon
and my father buried in my heart.
I acted like nothing happened, as if I knew nothing,
because I was told that my father's wish for me was that
I forget everything and move on with my life.
But I don't want to do that anymore.
I want to find out what exactly he was accused of,
what happened at Seoraewon,
and why Ho Dam
was dethroned.
I want to know
and understand what happened.
I feel the same way.
I want to understand
all these things.
Your Highness!
I was worried thinking something might have happened to you.
Why are you out here? You need to rest.
I was just about to head in.
Hurry, let's go.
Please, go on in.
I will quickly lay out your bedding for you.
Getting a lot of rest will help you recover fast.
Eunuch Heo.
-Yes, Your Highness. -You started working in the palace
before I was born, right?
Yes, Your Highness, that is correct.
-Why do you ask-- -Do you remember
what happened on the day I was born?
Gosh, sure thing. Of course I do.
His Majesty was elated all day, delighted by the birth of a prince.
The Queen and the Queen Dowager were very happy as well.
Everyone in the palace was excited and happy.
The Queen Dowager was happy?
Even though...
her son, the dethroned king, passed away that day?
Why are you lying to me?
What are you hiding from me?
-Your Highness. -I will return to the palace.
Do not follow me.
No, you shouldn't!
You're not well enough yet! Your Highness!
Your Highness.
Because I have a son like you,
I am too ashamed to face the former kings after I die.
You are more wicked and malicious than anyone
who has ever lived in this palace!
Rim.
Your Highness!
Are you Seomun Jik's daughter, Hui-yeon?
Yes. Who are you, sir?
Me?
You can call me Ho Dam. Master Ho Dam.
Here.
But the thing is, I was looking for
a different book, not this one.
Is that so?
Then do you wish to find it yourself?
Sure.
-I want to read that one too. -What?
Oh, okay. Sure.
Your Majesty.
There you are, Yeongan.
Your father is back.
Hello, Master Ho Dam.
You are back, Father.
Father.
Dowon returned to the palace in that state?
Yes, Your Majesty. I do not know what he has found out,
but he asked me about what happened in the year of Gyeongo.
-Clean this up. -Yes, Your Majesty.
We searched the whole area
but found no traces of them.
They must be highly trained in raids and retreats.
Don't worry, Your Royal Highness.
Our soldiers are going door to door asking about them.
We will soon find out where they fled to.
No, that is not necessary.
Stop the search.
Your Royal Highness, they tried to harm His Highness Prince Dowon.
We must track them down and find out who is behind them.
That is...
Seeing soldiers walking around
will only make the people fearful.
First, order all the soldiers to return to the palace at once.
I will take care of the rest.
Giddy-up!
What did he lose? What's the fuss about?
Do you really know nothing about the royal court?
It is a document that merges historical records,
the Royal Secretariat's daily records, and so on.
Right, the daily records.
Who might you be? Why are you looking for a scribe?
I am Prince Dowon.
Your Highness.
There is something
I need you to do.
Your Majesty.
Is everything all right...
I know nothing about it.
We do not share a single drop of blood,
but I have lived as your son for almost 50 years.
Who would do such a thing to their mother?
Then why is Min Ik-pyeong still alive?
Tell me, Your Majesty.
The Second State Councillor is clearly the only person
in this country that is capable of doing such a thing, so why...
Why is that man still alive?
I cannot punish him
just based on mere suspicions without any evidence.
That is not the reason.
You are turning a blind eye to what he is doing
for you share the same goal with him.
Even at this moment,
I am sure you are lamenting the fact that the arrow
failed to pierce Dowon's heart.
Your Majesty.
Do not forget the promise you made to me.
I have made it clear to you.
If anything bad happens to Dowon,
I will hang myself without any hesitation.
You will then be remembered as a king that killed his own mother
for generations to come.
I still feel
the exact same way as I did
twenty years ago.
Did you wrap things up well?
Yes, they won't be able to come after us.
-How is the Prince? -Don't worry.
His wound isn't too deep, so he will recover soon.
I'm sorry.
Go get some rest now.
Good work.
I heard people are saying the attack was led by the Second State Councillor.
Yes.
As we expected, the King seems to be suspicious of Min Ik-pyeong as well.
A rift will form between them very soon.
Be careful.
If they find out that you've joined hands with us,
they will try to kill you right away.
I gave up my desire to live
a long time ago.
My lady, what are you doing here?
Your bed is all ready.
You said Jae-gyeong went to the countryside for work, right?
-Yes, my lady. -And he didn't come home three days ago.
That's right.
What's the matter?
My lady, what do you need to do in that empty room?
Government Newspaper?
GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER
"A historian who refused to turn in his daily record?"
Why is Jae-gyeong
keeping this government newspaper?
"The day of sinmyo, month of jeonghae, and year of Gyeongo.
First Historian Kim Il-mok
refused to submit his daily record to Ilgicheong."
ILGICHEONG: MANAGED RECORDS ON DEPOSED KINGS
"The day of sinchuk, month of jeonghae, and year of Gyeongo.
First Historian Kim Il-mok
was executed by decapitation outside the gate."
Apprentice Goo, you should go to the library and get some rest.
I can't believe she had to come to work when she nearly died.
Isn't it crazy?
I'm really okay.
I'm totally fine, from head to toe.
Well, who went to Nokseodang yesterday?
No historians are allowed to go anywhere near Nokseodang for the time being.
His Highness needs to recover, and they think we'll just be a nuisance to him.
Oh, boy. There you are.
The unlucky troublemaker.
You shouldn't even step out of the Office of Royal Decrees from now on.
-I'm too anxious to let you go anywhere. -Understood, sir.
I'm glad you're back.
-Officer Min. -Yes.
By any chance,
have you heard of a historian by the name of Kim Il-mok?
Historian Kim Il-mok?
How do you know about him?
Kim Il-mok?
-Who is that? -I've told you about him before.
The senior historian before my time who was like a crazy tiger.
I heard he worked extremely hard.
He always went home when the stars were high up in the sky
and returned before sunrise.
And whenever a royal lecture was held, he wrote three to four sachaeks.
Then how come we knew nothing
about such a wonderful historian until now?
I would've loved to visit him
and learn how to write daily records.
He passed away.
He refused to submit his daily record
regarding the deposed king to Ilgicheong
and was beheaded.
Pardon me? Why would a historian refuse to turn in his daily record?
-What was his reason? -No one knows.
That's why people suspected that he never wrote one
or he misplaced it somewhere.
There were only rumors.
Why are you asking about him?
I happened to hear about him, so I was just curious.
Don't ask anyone about him.
He didn't just refuse to turn it in.
He was sentenced to death for committing high treason.
People might misunderstand your intentions.
Understood, sir.
I can only find one reason.
It's because...
I visited the dethroned king's grave.
More importantly, he was sentenced to death by my father
for committing high treason.
Your Royal Highness.
Don't get mistaken and think that you know everything.
Not everything you hear is the truth.
Your Royal Highness.
Here is what you asked for.
Great, thank you.
But the scribe told me
that His Highness Prince Dowon
also viewed the records from the year of Gyeongo.
Dowon?
-Jin. -This is about the dethroned king.
It is unnecessary for you to step in. And you shouldn't.
I wish to find out things about myself, not about the dethroned king.
What is it that you want to know? What are you thinking?
Is there
some kind of connection between me and him?
Rim.
Did you know about it?
The day of mujin, month of gapsin, and year of Gyeongo.
The day I was born,
His Majesty launched a coup.
Right, I did hear about it.
But that does not mean anything.
It was just...
-It was a mere coincidence. -If that is the case,
why is it that
there is nothing about my birth in the Royal Secretariat's records?
There are records about His Majesty's royal orders,
appointing his aides in the coup to high positions,
and you and Mother moving into the palace from your residence.
However, I could not find my name
anywhere...
in the months' worth of daily records.
That is...
Well...
Mother stayed with her parents for a while
when His Majesty was preparing for the revolt.
You were born at their house and came to the palace later.
That is probably why there is no record about your birth.
-It took place outside of the palace. -Then answer this question.
Did you ever see Mother...
when she was pregnant with me?
Yes, I did.
She had made a little garment for you
and had even picked a name for you.
Father, Mother, and I
excitedly waited for the day when we could meet you.
That I clearly remember.
Jin.
So please...
Do not doubt it ever again.
You are a member of our family
and my one and only brother.
That fact will never change.
Rim.
-Your Highness. -Let His Majesty know.
Your Majesty.
His Highness Prince Dowon is here to see you.
I do not feel well today.
Tell him to come another day.
Your Highness, please return to your chamber.
Father.
Please let me in.
I wish to ask you something.
I was...
hit by an arrow.
Do you not wish to know...
if I am okay?
DAEJOJEON
I must
speak with you today, Father.
I will stay here
until you let me in.
DAEJOJEON
Your Majesty.
Your Highness.
You...
haven't fully recovered yet.
Please get up.
Then,
I will wait here with you.
Apprentice Goo.
All rise for His Majesty.
Look at you being all stubborn with a female historian by your side.
What is all this fuss about?
I do not know what it is that you want to know.
But I do not wish to converse with you, nor do I have anything to tell you.
-Dowon! -Father, have you ever...
loved me,
even for a short moment?
What do you mean?
Have you ever
thought of me or missed me, even just once?
Have you ever felt affectionate toward me?
I am asking...
if you have ever...
truly thought of me
as your son.
Escort him back to his chamber.
Father.
Government Newspaper?
GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER
KIM IL-MOK REFUSES TO TURN IN DAILY RECORD
Don't ask anyone about him.
He didn't just refuse to turn it in.
He was sentenced to death for committing high treason.
A historian who didn't
turn in his daily record.
JANNABI, JIWANUI
What?
Private history books?
Yes.
History books by private historians, not governmental historians.
If you are a historian,
why are you looking for history out on the streets?
It's filled with nothing but rumors.
I don't care if it's just filled with rumors and gossip.
Do you have anything from
the year of Gyeongo?
Let's see. The year...
What? The year what?
Are you trying to get me in trouble again?
All the private history books released in that year are banned.
We aren't supposed to sell it, and you aren't supposed to look for it.
They're all banned?
There were too many rumors about the deposed King.
He took people to Seoraewon or something
and slit their stomachs in half to death,
and he apparently associated with Western barbarians.
Anyway, you won't find that in any other book rental stores,
so don't go around looking for it.
Are you getting ready to go into the palace already?
I was away for too long.
You need to quit working as a female historian.
You need to quit for good and cut ties with the Second State Councillor.
Why do you suddenly say that?
What do you think?
I can't let you go on. That's why.
When you went to the Office of Royal Decrees
and became a bridal candidate,
I just figured that you had a plan.
My gosh.
He's a man who let his kid's wife die.
How would he know how precious my daughter is?
Anyway, you need to have nothing to do with Min Ik-pyeong from now on.
I'll find a way to patch up the situation.
Father.
I can protect myself.
And even the Second State Councillor
couldn't lay a finger on me.
Once I open my mouth, he won't live to see another day either.
What are these?
A banned book.
Councillor, this is the book you mentioned...
Put those down immediately! This is a banned book!
-A banned book? -It's a banned book.
All rise for His Majesty.
THE STORY OF HO DAM
Why is this here?
Who put this here?
THE STORY OF HO DAM
"The Story of Ho Dam"?
What did they say? Is it the same for everyone?
Yes, the Royal Secretariat, Office of Special Advisors,
Office of Censors, Office of the Inspector-General,
Sungkyunkwan, and the Street of the Six Ministries
all got these books.
What kind of lunatic would do something like this?
Why would anyone leave copies of this novel all over the palace?
I know, right? I wonder what it's about.
This book was on the list of banned books.
You'll get in trouble for reading it.
Everyone else is reading it already.
I'm getting nervous just by looking at it.
Just give it to the Royal Secretariat.
Tell them that we didn't even touch it.
I'll do it.
I was looking for a book called The Story of Ho Dam.
It's become a banned book now, so I can't get it.
THE STORY OF HO DAM
-Did you collect every single copy? -Yes, Your Majesty.
But many officials have already read the book.
Then arrest them all!
Whoever talks about the banned book
will be tied to a rack and have their tongue pulled out.
Your Majesty, please calm yourself.
Your Majesty, the people you must punish are the ones who spread the book,
not the ones who read it.
On top of that, you already know who's responsible for this.
Second State Councillor, watch what you say.
What do you mean I know who it is?
The Story of Ho Dam is just a novel that used to be all over the street.
Anyone who reads this book and talks about it should be blamed
for being dull-witted.
But whoever brought this banned book into the palace
and questioned your authority
should definitely be punished severely, Your Majesty.
I hope you'll stay level-headed and make the right choice.
My lord, why did you bother mentioning the Queen Dowager?
You know His Majesty can't do anything to her.
His indecisive character is what led things to come this far.
He's turning a blind eye even when she's hiding a knife behind her back.
I took a look at the book earlier, and I noticed
that a lot of the things were written in detail.
Do you think the Queen Dowager
managed to find Historian Kim Il-mok's daily record?
We've searched the entire country for 20 years,
but couldn't find a single trace.
There's no way she would've been able to find that all of a sudden.
Nothing in the book seems too different from the truth.
So I don't get why my father is so upset about this.
Well, the school named Seoraewon that's mentioned in that book
was actually established and run in real life
-by the dethroned king 20 years ago. -The dethroned king?
Then are you saying Ho Dam is actually the dethroned king?
I'm afraid so.
However, that novel is very different from the truth.
I don't exactly know what happened back then in detail.
But I do remember everyone talking about
how the dethroned king established a school named Seoraewon
and taught Catholicism to peasants and women.
And they also said he frequently performed
strange rituals, killed people, and even tortured them.
But...
were those rumors all true?
Of course, they were true.
History says that His Majesty
raised an army to stop the dethroned king's wickedness
and finally saved our country.
THE STORY OF HO DAM
NOT TOO LONG AGO...
Not too long ago,
there was once a scholar named Ho Dam.
Ho Dam loved to read.
He cared for others.
And he truly loved his country.
However, the outside world was changing very quickly.
Western countries slowly started exerting their influence to the East.
Ho Dam was sure that Neo-Confucianism, which had been the pillar of Joseon
for 400 years,
was no longer enough to protect Joseon.
This country needed change.
Thus, he and his old friend named Yeongan came together and set a goal.
HO DAM AND YEONGAN THIS IS WHERE THE PATH WAS MADE
That's how Seoraewon was established.
The Chinese characters meant "dawn" and "arrival".
"The place where dawn arrives."
It was a place that was filled with youth and hope
hoping that Joseon will soon welcome a new beginning.
Inside the walls of Seoraewon,
every class and gender
were all considered equal.
Anyone who had talent was welcome to join
and learn with everyone else.
What is this?
Day and night, the students would always be busy reading their books.
-Take a look. -What's he saying?
He's teaching us about the human heart.
You keep hogging it.
They were each other's compass and the way to each other's future.
They all dreamt of the same future.
It was truly a beautiful place.
However, others thought quite differently of Seoraewon.
It was where peasants socialized with women,
and it was also a place
where people gathered to learn the languages of barbarians.
No one could understand them.
Misunderstandings became rumors.
And rumors came back as the truth.
-Your Majesty! -Your Majesty!
People eventually turned their backs on Seoraewon.
The young people of Seoraewon who were full of so much hope
all ended up
getting killed hopelessly.
Get over here!
No!
SEORAEWON
Ho Dam and Yeongan
also lost their lives that night.
They dreamed of building power
so we could protect our country.
However, their dream ended up disappearing into darkness.
They failed
to welcome a new beginning.
THEY FAILED TO WELCOME A NEW BEGINNING
THE STORY OF HO DAM
I thought about it,
and I realized that you're the only one who could possibly
know this much about Seoraewon.
You wrote...
this book, didn't you?
How much of it is true, and how much of it is fiction?
If Ho Dam is the dethroned king,
and Yeongan is my father,
does that mean the current king and his vassals
were the ones who slandered them?
I don't want you to get involved.
Why didn't you tell me?
I worked at the palace every day
without even being aware of that.
I saw you at the temporary palace with the female doctor.
What are you trying to do?
I'll help you get on a boat to Qing tomorrow morning.
-Stay there for a while. -No.
-I'm never going to run away again. -Hae-ryung!
Twenty years ago, on the day of the incident,
my father said goodbye to me and went to work like any other day.
And then,
he never came back.
I can't lose you the same way I lost him.
So please tell me.
What's going on right now?
And what can I do to help?
The only thing you can do
-is to stay alive. -Jae-gyeong!
That was the promise I made to your father.
I promised to save you and to protect you from them.
So please...
I don't want you to get involved.
RECORD OF APPEARANCE, PERSONAL RECORD SHEET
KIM IL-MOK
The day of sinchuk, month of jeonghae.
How...
do you feel?
I'm okay.
Have you read
The Story of Ho Dam?
-Yes. -What do you think?
Do you believe
what's written in the book?
It coincided...
with the memories I have of Seoraewon
and my father.
However, if everything in the book
-is actually true... -It means His Majesty
killed your innocent father and the people of Seoraewon
and stole the throne from the dethroned king.
But I still want to find out the truth.
The Royal Secretariat didn't keep a single record about my birth.
And no one tells me about that day including His Majesty,
my brother, and Sam-bo.
But I still need to find out
what happened on the day of my birth
and the death of the dethroned king.
Will you be able to handle it?
Yes.
I might not want to believe the truth.
But I'm finally ready
to face it.
In the year of Gyeongo,
a historian named Kim Il-mok
got executed for refusing to hand in his daily record.
And there was a rumor
saying he secretly hid his daily record somewhere.
Are you saying
the daily record from 20 years ago
still exists?
Yes.
That is...
quite possible.
-Is this the place? -Yes.
There were eight Hanrims back then.
After Kim Il-mok got executed,
three of them gave up their positions.
And among those three,
this person is the only one who's still alive.
Is anyone inside?
Who are you people?
I'm a female historian. I came to ask you something...
Haven't you people harassed me enough?
What do you still want from me?
How many times have I told you that I know nothing?
I know nothing!
Tell the so-called Second State Councillor
that I've never seen Historian Kim's daily record
and that I'm just a yahoo who always drinks all the time!
Tell him that I have absolutely nothing to tell him.
Do you remember
Seoraewon?
I'm the daughter
of Seomun Jik
who used to be the dean of Seoraewon.
I came because I wanted to find out
what happened to my father.
I'm sorry I don't have much to offer.
No, it's okay.
I guess
time really flew by.
It only feels like yesterday when your father
went around bragging about the birth of his daughter.
Do you know my father?
He was in charge of Sungkyunkwan
back when I was a scholar there.
He was quite odd, but he was also very wise.
I learned a lot from him.
But I really don't know much about Seoraewon.
The vassals always caused a huge fuss
whenever anyone mentioned Seoraewon.
So His Majesty didn't talk much about it.
Whenever he went there, he only took Historian Kim with him.
Are you talking about
First Historian Kim Il-mok who passed away
because he refused to hand in his daily record?
Yes, I guess you already looked into it.
How was it recorded by the Royal Secretariat?
It didn't say anything about the interrogation.
I just read that he dishonored the history of our country
by refusing to hand in his daily record.
He dishonored our country's history?
He's not that kind of person.
We stepped down because we were cowards.
But he remained as a historian
until the very end.
Officer Kim, you'll get executed once the sun rises.
Please stop being so stubborn. Just tell them where you hid your daily record.
They promised to keep you alive if you tell them that.
Min Ik-pyeong formed a group to dethrone His Majesty.
You must stay alive so we can continue to record history.
Officer Sim.
Don't you get it?
The vassals who betrayed His Majesty
and the historians who succumbed to power
will gather together to distort history.
And our daily records will be edited to their own advantage.
That's why I must protect my daily record.
I'll be protecting the truth
by sacrificing my life.
Officer Kim.
You'll get caught at this rate. You must leave.
Officer Kim.
Officer Sim.
Come closer.
One day,
go to the island of the green forest.
That's where you can find the truth.
The island of the green forest
is where you can find the truth?
What's that supposed to mean?
I don't know either.
It seems like the place where he hid his daily record.
But I don't know where that is.
Your Highness.
What's the matter?
Did you happen to realize something?
Have you ever thought about
the meaning of Nokseodang?
The meaning of Nokseodang?
NOKSEODANG
"Green".
"Island".
"The island of the green forest".
NOKSEODANG
"Nokseo".
NOKSEODANG
Are you saying the Queen Dowager was the one who spread The Story of Ho Dam?
I might not be the person you always thought I was.
Nothing will change. You'll always be the person I know.
It's strange that it never rots.
When did you replace it?
I found Officer Kim Il-mok's daily record.
-No, don't do that. -I will not allow that.
Are you sure it's not because your father was involved?
It's up to the historians to decide what to do.
It wasn't to set things right. It was treason.
Someone changed the content of the letter.
A witness says the daily record was fabricated,
and we have the daily record to prove that.
It's a petition written by Apprentice Goo Hae-ryung.
Subtitle translation by Ja-won Lee