PARK HYUNG-SIK
JEON SO-NEE
PYO YE-JIN
YUN JONG-SEOK
LEE TAE-SEON
OUR BLOOMING YOUTH
THIS IS A FICTIONAL STORY
NAMES, CHARACTERS, PLACES
AND INCIDENTS IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS
ANIMAL SCENES ARE CREATED
WITH PROPS AND VISUAL EFFECTS
Everything's a mess. These just fell from the sky.
SONG, GA, MYEOL, LEE
When I turned two years old,
our family left Byeokcheon following my father who decided to start a business.
So even though I am from Byeokcheon
I do not know much about it, Your Highness.
His Highness is summoning
eunuchs and court ladies from Byeokcheon.
But since it's your father's hometown, you must've heard something about it.
I only heard that the land was barren
and near the border and it was very cold
since it was located in the north
so they had a hard time living there.
Has something like this happened before?
GET READY TO GO BACK HOME
Clear the way. The Minister of Justice is coming through.
Clear the way.
What the...
DU-GUK-BYEONG-MIN YOU RUIN THE COUNTRY AND SICKEN THE PEOPLE
You lost him?
I've searched everywhere but failed to find any traces of him.
I guess things are looking up for you now.
Who gives you money for your daughter's medicine?
Do I need to kill your daughter for you to do your job properly?
Please forgive me, My Lord.
My daughter's life depends on you so I will not make the same mistake again.
Please believe me.
Open up!
Anyone there? Open up!
I said, open up! Anyone?
Won-bo. Is Won-bo here?
-Yes, My Lord. -Won-bo!
Won-bo! Won-bo!
Can I talk to you...
-Give us some privacy. -Yes, My Lord.
Won-bo, I need to tell you something in secret...
No, let's go inside.
Won-bo, you probably already know the rumor
that His Highness is summoning
eunuchs and court ladies from Byeokcheon.
That's not all. On my way out of the palace
someone shot an arrow at my palanquin and this was tied to it.
Take a look.
Du-guk-byeong-min. Who could've dared to do this?
How can I catch this guy so that I can vent my anger?
Do you really not know who they are?
Have you never seen those letters on a red piece of paper?
Did you get one of these too?
Du-guk-byeong-min. I'm asking if you've never seen those letters before.
Du-guk-byeong-min...
No, I haven't.
Du-guk-byeong-min!
You've never seen those letters in Byeokcheon?
Byeokcheon...
I can't believe I gave such a pathetic moron
a government post just because we're related.
Haven't you forgotten what I did for
letting a moron like you become
the magistrate of Byeokcheon?
What I did to save your pathetic life...
I remember! I remember!
Those thieves in Byeokcheon...
Red paper
and Du-guk-byeong-min...
Is it really the remnants of...
-You little... -Won-bo, please!
If you do not have any more questions,
I should get going, Your Highness.
I don't think people here know about Byeokcheon.
There wasn't any important information about Byeokcheon
and no one seemed like they were lying.
Your Highness, what do you want to know about it?
Bring a lantern and follow me.
Your Highness, are you going to the library?
Your Highness, were you looking at the moon?
Or are you on your way to see the Grand Prince?
Please watch your step.
What are you doing?
I was trying to move this stone so you wouldn't bump into it,
but I couldn't so I was just covering it.
Ouch!
You think I won't see such a huge rock?
Follow me.
If it weren't for me,
you would've tripped on that rock.
What are you thinking about that you won't even answer me?
You only watch where I'm going and not where you're going?
Where I'm going doesn't matter.
Why do you keep changing directions without a destination set in mind?
If you tell me where you're going...
Do you just want to take a walk?
I get it now.
Walk all you want.
I'll escort you wherever you go,
however long you walk
until you say it's enough
and that you're satisfied.
-Shine the light well. -Yes, Your Highness.
Didn't you find the Royal Secretary's journal weird?
What do you mean?
The report of Cho Won-oh the magistrate
and Cho Won-bo's report who went to subjugate the thieves... That was it.
The most important thing is missing.
There's no record of Song's investigation.
The more heinous a crime is
the more thoroughly it should be investigated,
but there was no investigation?
The leader of the thieves was Song, the blacksmith of Byeokcheon.
He lead about 40 thieves and invaded
the government office in Byeokcheon
and attacked the soldiers and workers.,
They only started with 40 thieves,
but when Lord Cho arrived at Byeokcheon,
they had already taken over five villages
and built a new country.
That means, every villager in Byeokcheon
turned into thieves and joined Song in committing treason.
Is this even possible?
Isn't it strange?
But it's in the Royal Secretary's journal,
so it has to be true.
If it is true...
What's wrong, Your Highness?
I hope the one who sent me the ghost's letter,
killed your family
and shot me with a poison arrow
isn't from Byeokcheon.
They are also my people.
Your Highness, they aren't your people.
They are rebels and thieves.
Do you remember the curse written in the ghost's letter?
Everyone will turn their backs on me.
I will be all alone
and go crazy wandering across the country.
If my own people
are cursing me,
isn't that just sad?
Is that why you want to believe
that they are not behind everything that happened?
I didn't know you were thinking that while investigating.
But some thieves must be alive seeing
how they committed the Cardinal Point case and spread the curse.
But the Minister of Justice's report and what Lord Cho said
could be fake.
Master Kim of Manyeongdang is
looking into the dried peony petals
so that will help us solve this case.
Monk Mu-jin never tells us he's coming.
When he comes
I just serve him a meal.
I heard there's a place he stays at
every time he visits the capital.
Do you know where it is?
There's such a place?
I'm not sure. I've never heard about it before.
I acquired something from South East Asia and I wanted to ask him about it.
Please let me know if he comes back.
Yes, Master Kim.
Thank you.
Hello, Eunuch Go and Scholar Park.
It's been a while.
Is Master Kim inside?
He is...
But I don't think he is...
Gosh.
Master. Wake up.
Eunuch Go and Scholar Park are here.
Perfect timing. I was actually wondering what happened to you.
Did something happen?
There is hidden sorrow in my heart.
I may not have the best reputation or have honor,
but I am also a lower Provincial Official. I may be different, but I'm not lacking.
Fly away, you icicle.
Pierce my heart.
He was dumped by the lady he was supposed to marry. It was brutal.
That's why he's so out of it.
It's only been a few days.
It's been back and forth.
He's okay one minute and totally out of it the next.
Oh dear.
Oh, my beautiful lady.
Don't just pass me by coldly. Come and comfort me.
It's very windy this spring
and I'm worried the wind might sweep me away.
It's still the middle of the night outside.
A blizzard is coming.
A blizzard in spring?
What a mess.
Myeong-jin's heart is very sad.
Have you looked into the peony petals?
Yes, My Lord.
Master Kim's Master has actually been to South East Asia.
We were hoping he could give us a clue, so we were waiting for him to come.
But I'm not sure when he'll come.
Is that all you two care about?
Can't you see Myeong-jin's heart that's been torn to shreds?
How can you be so cold?
Doesn't my heart torn
by icicle matter to you?
-Icicle? -Icicle?
The lady who dumped him is as cold as an icicle.
Oh dear.
Please leave the room. I need some time alone.
Gosh, you're so frustrating.
Just forget about her.
Don't. You don't know how I feel.
You're so handsome that I'm sure you've never been dumped before.
Just leave.
Master Kim. Are you inside?
-Monk Mu-jin is here. -What?
-My master is here? -Yes.
He is my master's master.
These are my friends.
Oh, my apprentice. Didn't you want to ask my master something?
Go ahead and ask.
Well...
It's nothing. I was just mistaken.
Never mind.
Gosh.
There's a beautiful fish in that bottle.
-Isn't it amazing? -It's amazing, right?
Why did you want to see me?
Oh, there was something I wanted to ask you, Master.
I see.
It is indeed from South East Asia.
In South East Asia,
they add scented oils to the dried petals
for various purposes.
Then do you know what dried peony petals are used for?
This...
It's nothing special.
It's just a commonly used herb
to calm people down.
Then maybe the way it's dried is different...
Why you little...
What did you steal?
-Gosh -Oh my
-Catch him. -Thief!
Catch that thief!
You thief!
-Catch him! -Catch that thief!
Catch that thief!
Gosh.
Put me down!
Open it. Open it now.
You little...
This priceless...
He did it.
Do you have any idea how valuable this is?
Why you little...
-You little shit! -Help me!
As if getting in my way wasn't enough,
you broke my porcelain!
Do you think just any store sells this? Do you have any idea how much this costs?
This valuable...
I'm going to break your bones instead.
Don't. He will nitpick about your secret trip.
Die! You little shit.
-What? -How could you hit him? He's just a child.
-Gosh. -Are you okay?
It's not like he did it on purpose.
How could you hit him like that?
What happened
to the law of moral principles?
Doesn't he know who I am?
-Go ahead. -Show your respect.
He is the Minister of Justice.
I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you, My Lord.
But that porcelain cannot be worth more than someone's life.
There may be people with lowly status, but no one has a lowly life.
How dare you teach me, you lowly scumbag?
One more word out of that only mouth
and I will ripe your mouth open
and be rewarded for turning you in.
Go ahead. Keep talking.
Go ahead!
What now?
Who are you?
What?
I'm sorry, My Lord.
He's my apprentice,
but he lacks wisdom and knowledge
so he dared speak to you without knowing who you are.
As his master,
I am embarrassed and sorry.
But if I think about it in his shoes,
all he could see was this poor child
and could feel his pain,
so how could he have done nothing?
And how could you tell him to shut up?
Mouths are meant for talking.
If you stop them from speaking because they're lowly and stupid,
how will you hear the concerns of the people?
Who's your father?
I do not want to sell out and tell you my father's name
-at a place like this. -Oh.
But I will tell you my name.
My name is...
Kom Meong-jin.
Kom...
Kom Meong-jin...
I don't know how high your family's status is,
but seeing how they educated their son,
it would be of no use asking.
Teaching such stupid people
who doesn't know how scary the world can be is my job,
so I will teach you a lesson.
-Bring that kid. -Yes, My Lord.
-Come here. -No.
Come here!
-Help me. -Kneel.
In Joseon, there's something called a law.
If you knew how to read, you would know.
Anyway, you must know
he must pay for
all the damage he has caused me.
Tell him how much that porcelain cost me.
200 nyangs, My Lord.
200 nyangs?
My Lord, where would a child get that kind of money?
Then he should work it off.
200 years in prison should do it.
I'm sorry. Please forgive me.
Do you think if you work for me for the rest of your life
you'll be able to pay me back that money?
And this child...
You. Weren't you chasing him?
I heard you calling him a thief.
I thought he stole something valuable,
but it's nothing of your concern...
Is that what he stole?
Why aren't you answering me?
Lift your head.
You...
Who are you and where do you work?
I'm just a lowly innkeeper who lives paycheck to paycheck.
Show me what he stole.
Everyone, take a close look.
I'm not just venting my anger.
I'm just trying to abide by the law.
Bring me what he stole.
"He that will steal a pin will steal an ox."
Children who start with petty theft
will grow up to become rebel thieves.
No!
This is clear larceny,
so I will turn him over to the constabulary.
Confucious once said,
"Rotten wood cannot be carved
and dung walls cannot be troweled."
Of course, you lowly people never heard of it.
It means, scolding people like you has no effect
and you must be severely punished.
He is very wise.
-Grab him and let's go. -Yes, My Lord.
Come here. Now!
It's enough, Minister of Justice.
Oh, come on.
Let me down.
Fine. Okay.
You...
What...
What are you doing here?
I'm just a scholar who's passing by, but might I say a word?
Scholar. Right.
I don't think the child broke your porcelain intentionally.
It was an accident
and even if it's larceny,
it was just a few bowls of cold rice and sweet potatoes.
Since the law of Joseon allows extenuation,
why don't you just let him go?
I am the Minister of Justice
and I get paid by the country,
so how could I let such a crime slide, scholar?
And the punishment is inevitable.
By punishing one,
it teaches a lesson to a thousand others.
So I'll have to set an example.
It seems like you know a lot about the law,
but you haven't read Mencius
since you have no compassion.
Mencius once said this.
"The heart of compassion
is the germ of benevolence"
Look at this child.
Obviously, he has no parents to take care of him,
and even if he did, I'm sure there's a reason they couldn't take care of him.
He probably stole it because of hunger
and ran away because he felt guilty about stealing
and ended up breaking your porcelain.
Well, I do have compassion.
Yes. I thought so.
But just having compassion for someone
and running over to save that someone is different.
Anyone can have compassion, but not the courage to act on it.
What would you do?
Will you just have compassion or will you act on it?
Act on it.
But still... That's very valuable porcelain.
As for I know, civilians are banned from
using that specific porcelain aside from drinking
since the late kings declared it a luxury item.
I'm very curious about how the Minister of Justice,
who should be administering the law,
-has a banned item in his possession. -Well.. It...
It's okay.
For you, I could just
let this slide.
I could keep it between us.
I will forgive you with my compassion.
Please keep the secret.
Let's go.
I'm going to walk home.
Come on. Hurry.
Are you okay?
Gosh.
Bring it over here.
Clear the way. The Minister of Justice is coming through.
You should've done that before.
Clear the way.
Did you get something to eat?
-Sister. -Did you get nothing to eat as well?
No, I had a lot.
There was a party at some house, so I ran some errands for them.
I'm sorry I couldn't bring any for you.
I'm glad you go to eat.
He became the Minister of Justice.
Did you know?
How can someone like him be living a life of luxury?
Clean it up.
Where are your parents?
I heard they passed away
so my sister ran away while carrying me on her back.
She ran away?
Ran away from where?
She said that our hometown is Byeokcheon.
We were kicked out of there
and our parents passed away.
Use this to buy medicine for your sister.
And I will pay the innkeeper in advance
so if you get hungry, you can get some food there.
But what if they have me arrested?
That'll never happen so you can go whenever you want.
I live right next to that inn, so ask them where I live and come visit me any time.
You heard his name, right?
It's Kom Meong-jin.
They have no parents and nowhere to go. Please take good care of them.
I'll give you more money if needed.
-Thank you. -Yes, Scholar Park.
I'll see you later.
-Thank you. -Yes, Master Kim.
That Scholar Park.
He really is a stand-up guy.
He's tough outside, but a softie within.
Tough on the outside, a softie on the inside.
-Don't you think so, my apprentice? -I agree, Master.
I like Scholar Park.
You're not too bad yourself.
You were right.
Thieve weren't the only ones living in Byeokcheon.
Those children... Even their parents were thieves,
the children didn't do anything wrong.
They look good together side by side.
I mean the shadows. Weren't you looking at that too?
They seem close. Don't you think so?
Don't get close to me.
I wasn't getting close to you. My shadow was.
I said, don't get close.
Go your own way. What are you doing?
I'm going my own way. This is where I'm going.
Gosh.
Don't follow me. That's an order.
Yes, Your Highness.
I am Hong Jae-yong, a civilian of Byeokcheon
and I send this message in the people of Byeokcheon's stead.
Cho Won-oh is someone who truly ruins the country
and sickens the people.
"Du-guk-byeong-min."
HONG JAE-YONG
There was someone who survived?
Rumor has it that His Highness is summoning
eunuchs and court ladies from Byeokcheon.
SONG, GA, MYEOL, LEE.
Your Majesty.
I dared to show you this profane note to clarify
the atrocities of the remnants thieves.
Tell me where this note came from.
I'm sorry to say this,
but when the shaman was reciting her curse,
hundreds of these notes that
had the same curse written on it fell from the sky.
"The Song family will destroy the Lee family."
Your Majesty, anonymous letters are to be burnt
right after reading it even if it's related to a national matter.
But how could this be an anonymous note when it's clear who sent it?
The shaman mentioned Song and practically admitted that she's in it together.
Are there people outside the palace involved too?
I think the place will never be mentioned again
by preventing Byeokcheon people from becoming a government employee.
Stop them, Your Majesty.
Prohibit Byeokcheon people from taking the civil exam.
Not only Byeokcheon, but everyone from Pyongan.
Pyongan is close to the land of barbaric outlanders.
Because they are so uneducated,
even the late king left a will saying to
never recruit anyone from that land.
How can a minister of a country
be worse than a ruffian?
Chief State Councilor, we should find a way to stop them.
How could we stop them?
-If you have an idea, I'm all ears. -What kind of person is His Majesty?
His power comes first, even if it means removing his most loyal subjects.
Since he already saw that heinous note,
he probably trusts Lord Cho more.
-Hey. -Master, another poster is up.
Byeokcheon people were banned from taking the civil exam
and working at a government post.
What the...
Move.
I feel bad for people from Byeokcheon.
-They're not allowed any government job. -Of course they shouldn't be allowed.
Haven't you been to Byeokcheon? The place was swarming with thieves.
If you haven't been mugged by them at least once,
you can't call yourself a peddler.
Right.
Someone I knew took someone from Byeokcheon in
as a slave and everything
in his storage was stolen.
Byeokcheon people were even banned from acting as slave.
All they can do is lie and steal.
Even if there were thieves in Byeokcheon,
weren't they all subjugated 10 years ago?
They could all be in hiding. Who knows?
Let me take a look.
Are you from Byeokcheon?
What are you talking about?
Even if it's a joke, you went too far!
If you're not, you're not. Why are you getting all worked up?
I think there's at least one person from Byeokcheon among us.
Let's take a look.
Why are you looking at me like that?
-Let go. -It's me.
-Let me go. -I'm from Byeokcheon.
Did you all see it?
Go and start spreading rumors.
The youngest son of Lord Kim is from Byeokcheon.
Haven't you seen me before?
Don't you know me?
It's been a while.
-You're crazy. -You're crazier.
-What did you say? -What?
Why you little...
Your Highness.
One of the seamstresses wants to meet you.
Why?
-Let me please meet the Crown Prince. -Leave.
Come on.
-Please let me see him. -Leave.
Every eunuch and court lady from Byeokcheon are getting kicked out.
I've lived in the palace for 30 years.
When the Byeokcheon case happened, I wasn't even there,
but how could you kick me out?
Come on. This is ridiculous.
I wasn't the one who set fire to the plum tree,
so how could you kick me out?
Please show me mercy.
You were the only person I could ask.
I just told His Highness the truth
when he summoned me a few days ago.
I didn't do anything, Your Highness.
I'm sorry, Your Highness.
Take her away.
Your Highness!
Stop.
I have nowhere to go.
I don't have any power over this.
Just hang in there.
I'm sure we'll meet again.
Please don't forget me, Your Highness.
It's His Majesty's orders.
Gosh...
Your Highness!
Did you ask to see me that day
just to kick me out?
I told you I know nothing
about the thieves of Byeokcheon.
This is so unfair, Your Highness.
Please don't abandon me.
Your Highness.
Please save us, Your Highness.
Take them away.
-Your Highness. -Your Highness.
Your Highness.
I don't know anything, Your Highness.
Everything I said is true, Your Highness.
-Your Highness. -Take them away.
Your Highness.
I'll go check on His Highness.
Everyone was fired
and kicked out of the palace?
ROSTER OF GOVERNMENT EXAM PASSERS
Your Highness, were you reading that because of what happened at Byeokcheon?
After Lord Cho subjugated
the thieves of Byeokcheon, only three people passed
the civil exam in 10 years.
It was the same in the military exam.
Even if they passed, they were relocated to the countryside or remote islands
and had to leave Hanyang.
Now they're not even allowed to take the exam.
What do we do now?
Father.
Please withdraw your order that bans people from Byeokcheon taking the exam.
Your order will threaten
the lives of many people.
You must save the eunuchs, court ladies,
and government officials who were kicked out.
I've been reading the Roster of Government Exam Passers.
ROSTER OF GOVERNMENT EXAM PASSERS
Ever since what happened, people from Byeokcheon
were discriminated against even
they passed the civil exam
and they could never get promoted.
Crown Prince.
I told you not to get involved in political matters.
I will wait since the Crown Prince is here.
The order was given
without a proper hearing.
Father.
The report of the government official isn't the only truth.
You must investigate
and find out the truth about what really happened.
If we don't right the past,
our loyal subjects will have no one to rely on
and the disloyal subjects' evil deeds will continue.
Stop.
That's enough.
I only trust disloyal subjects, I'm not taking appropriate measures,
I must reinvestigate.
Crown Prince.
Were you trying to say
all my judgments are wrong?
-I was... -How dare the future king of Joseon
protect the thieves who have brought chaos to the country.
How could you only trust the Cho family's words?
Your Majesty, Lord Cho is here.
I still have to talk to Father about something
so you should come some other time.
Then I guess I'll come back later.
How dare you interfere.
I told you not to go up against Lord Cho.
How can you be so careless?
Many previous crown princes got hurt while trying to
get involved in politics even before they ascended the throne.
Lord Cho wasn't born yesterday.
He's not someone you can go up against.
Do you think Lord Han is
Lord Cho's only target?
Don't you know you could
easily become his target?
Then what shall I do?
Should I just sit in my position
and do nothing like a scarecrow?
If so, isn't my position
just meaningless?
I told you that your position is
no place for sympathy or compassion.
Then did you ascend the throne
just to stay alive?
How dare you!
Have you really been thinking of me
as such a lacking king?
I asked you
if you've been thinking of me as a worthless king.
Crown Prince!
Answer me.
You told me to doubt everyone
and never trust anyone.
I tried so hard to keep everyone away from me
by hurting my best friend.
But when I look at you,
I don't know
what I was trying to
protect that badly.
Because the place I was sitting didn't belong to me...
Because it belonged to my brother,
and I wanted to become
a future king he could be proud of,
I did what you wanted me to,
but now I'm ashamed.
I'm ashamed of doing nothing
like a scarecrow.
How could you make me
so ashamed of myself?
Your Majesty.
You must let go of the Crown Prince to keep your position.
I have a lecture today.
Make sure to prepare beforehand.
My apologies, Your Highness.
His Majesty ordered you to stay
in the East Palace until he gives
another order.
You are not to go to His Majesty or Her Highness' quarters
and you aren't allowed to participate
in any of the lectures.
Also, your masters from the Crown Prince Academy
aren't allowed in the East Palace anymore.
Your Highness.
-Your Highness. -Your Highness.
Open the door.
Open the door to this instance!
I'm sorry, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
-Your Highness. -Your Highness.
-You can't, Your Highness. -Your Highness.
I'm sorry, Your Highness.
You are not allowed to leave the East Palace.
His Majesty also ordered that you have only one eunuch
and ban others from entering the East Palace.
His Highness hasn't left the palace
in 10 days.
It's been 15 days.
There's nothing I can do for him.
Why haven't we heard from the palace?
Has His Highness forgotten about us?
There's no way.
It's been a while since Scholar Park or Eunuch Go came.
I miss them.
Right?
Yes, Master.
What I wouldn't give to have a drink with them today.
To friendship, to family, to love!
-Cheers! -Cheers!
The weather is great.
It's been 20 days since I last saw His Highness.
He's been confined to his quarters
for a month now.
Your Highness, are you doing okay?
Your Highness, you should get some sleep now.
Do you know what the Crown Prince's duties are?
What is it?
Mun-chim-si-seon,
also known as Woon-jeong-sin-seong.
It's greeting the King and Queen every day and make sure
they get something to eat.
Do you know what else?
It's to attend lectures
and study.
But
Father banned me from everything,
so can I really call myself the Crown Prince?
There's nothing I can do.
Everything a Crown Prince should do...
I can't do any of it.
How can I call myself a Crown Prince?
I have already been
deposed.
Father is going to abandon me.
He wouldn't be doing this
if it's not for that.
OUR BLOOMING YOUTH
Were the rumors of His Highness being confined to his quarters true?
It means he was kicked out.
I know you are not the real Go Sun-dol.
You cannot trust him.
Who's mother are you?
What do you think you're doing?
You must kick him out right away.
Were you the one who killed my family?
I will protect you and you will protect me.
He was the messenger
who came to Gaeseong.