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
LOCATIONS, INCIDENTS, AND RELIGIONS IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS
ANIMAL SCENES ARE CREATED
WITH PROPS AND VISUAL EFFECTS
Rumors have it that His Highness has been confined
to the East Palace.
I also heard the scholars talking about that.
I thought it was just a rumor. Was it true?
Have you ever seen your father talk about such things lightly?
Now that you brought it up...
since things are getting chaotic,
I was hoping to turn in my resignation
and just become a farmer.
Let's eat, shall we?
His Highness has been confined?
EPISODE 12
Is that why I haven't heard from Scholar Park?
Watch where you're going.
Nevermind.
I guess you couldn't have.
Sorry.
I hope I didn't offend you.
Oh, it's been a while.
Don't you know me?
It's me. Kim Myeong-jin of Manyeondang.
-Yes. -But why are you dressed like that?
Are you on a secret mission?
Did His Highness send a message?
I heard he was confined in...
No mention of what is happening in the palace.
I should get going.
What's wrong?
Strange.
His Highness has been confined to the East Palace
and his bodyguard is traveling in disguise?
Yes. Something must've happened.
What about Eunuch Go?
You're really worried about him?
Do you know what this is?
Being confined means he's locked up.
Guess who locked him up!
It must've been His Majesty.
His Highness, who had no foundation to protect him,
has lost his father's favor, so how are you
only worry about Eunuch Go?
I'm going to get new books from the library.
Oh, my stomach.
I had some dried persimmons a few days ago
and now my stomach hurts.
What are you doing? Go to the bathroom.
That dried persimmon must be blocking my stomach.
I can't seem to do my business,
but I'll give it another go.
It's going to take a while.
I'll make sure to succeed.
Find Park Han-su, he was the deputy of the Ministery
of Defense about 10 years ago.
Out of the five deputies who subjugated
the thieves with Cho Won-bo,
he's the only one who's not in the Cho family.
Ask him about what happened 10 years ago.
Can you read?
Are you kidding me?
I passed with flying colors on my military exam.
How dare you say that?
But why do I feel like you're nodding without
understanding it properly?
Why you little...
Need to eat for your health.
Just one bite, okay?
I can't believe that even you refuse to eat
while Hwan is confined.
Hwan is confined? What do you mean?
Never mind. It's nothing of your concern.
Please just eat this, okay?
The sound of yourgeomungo is as beautiful as always.
Your Majesty, I heard the Crown Prince asked you
to retract your orders regarding the people from Byeokcheon.
Do you also know about
what happened at Byeokcheon 10 years ago?
The thieves caused an uproar
and uncle when to subjugate them himself.
I may be part of the Cho family,
but I am yours and yours alone.
And I also know very clearly
about uncle's greed.
You must keep your distance from me
to confront him.
If I don't have you,
who would give me comfort
in this huge palace?
I will never let go of you
and don't worry about your uncle.
I'm not that stupid.
Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is the future king.
It's been a month since he was confined.
The eunuchs and court ladiers
are spreading rumors about him.
Please withdraw your order so he can save his face.
Is it true that
you begged His Majesty to withdraw his orders regarding the confinement
of the Crown Prince?
He must feel bad
about locking up his own child.
As his mother, my heart breaks too.
Mother?
Who's mother are you?
Please leave.
Mother.
Who's mother are you, Your Highness?
Grand Prince Myeong-ahn is your only son.
Or have you forgotten?
Now that you're sitting in this seat,
do you want to become the Crown Prince's mother too?
You can't.
It's me and the Cho family
who made you queen.
Not the Crown Prince or the King.
So keep in mind for whom
you should be in that seat for.
Do you understand, Your Highness?
Your Highness, what are you doing?
Your Highness.
Your Highness. Please stop.
-Your Highness. -Just leave.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, no.
Your Highness.
Is it a way to jump over the wall this time?
It's a secret
so you must be extra careful.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your majesty, Lord Cho is here.
Wait. Don't you work at the East Palace?
-I'm Go Sun-dol, My Lord. -Right. Go Sun-dol.
Why are you in such a hurry?
Are you running an errand for His Highness?
Since he's stuck in his room,
you must be extra busy.
Yes, My Lord.
I actually should get going.
Stop.
What's wrong, My Lord?
Did His Highness give you a letter?
I think it's almost the only thing he can do.
Who's the letter for?
How can His Highness didn't get sincerity yet?
He is confined
so he wouldn't meddle in political affairs.
-Give it to me. -I can't.
How could I disobey the orders of His Highness?
Do I have to check on your body?
There's a letter in these books, right?
No, My Lord.
I know you are not the real Go Sun-dol.
How could you say that, My Lord?
If I'm not Go Sun-dol, then who am I?
You tell me.
Do you know why I let you be
even when I knew you're not Go Sun-dol?
It's joyful getting to know what kind of man works
for His Highness.
Now give me the letter
before I search every one of these books.
No. Please let me go.
Lord Cho!
What do you think you're doing?
A subject dared to steal
His Royal Highness' letter?
Oh...
I'm wondering if His Highness needed anything
since he's stuck inside.
There is a saying. Yil-yeop-ji-chu.
"When a leaf falls from a tree
you can tell autumn has come."
How can I not be concerned that
your irrational behavior today is
a sign of things to come?
Yil-yeop-ji-chu...
Section Chief Han, you shouldn't conclude the future with just one fact.
And I am not His Highness' subject.
A subject should only be loyal
to His Majesty.
It seems like you are serving two kings, Section Chief Han.
-Are you? -Lord Cho!
Don't go overboard!
Section Chief Han.
You must be careful.
Watch where you go
and watch what you say.
Always be extra careful
if you don't want me
to find out your weakness.
I'll see you around, Eunuch Go.
You must've been surprised. Are you okay?
I am now.
Is that letter for me?
I was trying to find a way to free His Highness.
Tell him I'll do as he says.
Yes, Section Chief Han.
Your Royal Highness, I brought new books.
You took those books out before.
No, these are different books.
How did you think of that?
I will go with Section Chief Han.
Go ahead.
But Your Highness...
The Right State Councilor said that
he knows I'm not Go Sun-dol.
The Right State Councilor has eyes and ears everywhere.
But don't worry.
Even if he knew you are a fake one,
he probably has no idea you're Min Jae-yi.
If he knew,
he would've already done something about it.
Or maybe he's saving it for a rainy day.
If I didn't come to find you
I would've already been dead.
I knew I would go through hardships
when I disguised myself as a eunuch.
But I'm worried you might get into trouble because of me.
If I get into trouble,
would it break your heart?
Of course, it would.
If you get into trouble because of me,
I would die of heartbreak.
As will I.
So I will protect you
and you will protect me.
Things mustn't go wrong for either of us.
Park Han-su.
It's been a while since he quit.
Maybe 10 years?
I think it was right after he came back from Byeokcheon.
Do you know why he quit?
I would've quit too if that much money just fell into my lap.
About 10 years ago, his uncle died leaving behind a huge fortune
to Park Han-su because he had no children of his own.
Apparently, his uncle was super rich
so Park Han-su bought up every land in Mapo.
I guess those meant "Jackpot man is a jackpot."
Has anyone seen him recently?
I heard his nephew works at a stable in the west.
Why do you ask?
You're smiling.
I'm just glad that
I can finally do something for you.
Come back before sunset.
Yes, Your Highness. You must be very lonely
if I'm not around anymore.
Gosh.
I want to see Master Kim and his apprentice,
but I will hold back and come straight away.
Okay.
Turn around.
My apprentice,
now that you're wearing this, you look so good.
Do I?
Master, is it true that
you were kicked out from the National Confucian Academy?
Who's saying such nonsense?
One of your servants.
I heard it when I took you home after you got drunk.
Well, he's wrong.
I wasn't kicked out
from the National Confucian Academy. I left.
Pardon?
For a while, Myeong-jin had a desire to know
everything he needed to know about the world.
But the National Confucian Academy
was just not enough.
I was stuck behind a wall
and letting precious time fly by.
I had to leave and get out just to see the world.
I had to research everything
just so I could breathe.
Oh, Myeong-jin.
Being a genius is indeed lonely.
You're so cool, Master.
You're amazing.
Hold on.
Research everything...
Here.
There you go.
Perfect.
I will enjoy my time at the Lineage village tonight.
Sure. Go ahead.
Yes, Master.
Let me see that ink.
Wait. This...
This is amazing.
Wow. What is this used for?
Let's go.
Go back and tell your captain.
I'm not the murderer.
It's the perfect ribbon for a gift.
I'll give you a good price for it.
No thanks. I'm just looking at it because it was pretty.
Sorry I'm late. Did I keep you waiting?
No, I just got here too.
Why were you looking at ribbons?
Oh, I have a sister
and I thought she might like it.
You had a sister.
Then why don't you buy it?
That's what I mean. Come on, buy one.
It's fine. I didn't bring any money with me today.
How much is it?
I'll pay for it instead.
No, that's okay, Section Chief Han.
You don't come out of the palace often.
And bring this to your sister.
Section Chief Han.
It's been so long.
What brings you here?
I'm here to meet someone. How have you been?
Did you hear that
His Highness will participate in the formal archery ceremony?
Are you sure His Highness is going to participate?
Of course, he is.
He couldn't last year because he hurt his arm.
But he has recovered since then.
-I never heard of that. -Me neither.
Come on.
I heard it yesterday.
See? This...
scholar heard it too.
Yes. I heard it.
He will attend the formal archery ceremony.
It's good now that we know.
-Good. -Great.
There must be other scholars who don't know,
so go on and spread the rumor.
It's good news so tell everyone.
-Let's go. -Let's go.
Let's go.
-Spread the rumor. -Make sure to pay.
See you around.
Go ahead.
His Highness's confinement rumors
may not be true.
I know. I wonder who's been spreading
such groundless rumors.
How did you think of this?
You truly are a genius.
-You just thought of that now? -Yes.
I told you. I may get scared easily...
Stop.
Why are you spreading groundless rumors about His Highness?
We just heard a rumor...
How could you hear that when you're not even scholars.
Master, do something?
What do you mean?
If not, where would we have gotten these uniforms?
Looks like you stole the uniforms of the Chief State Councilor's son.
Am I right?
-You know me? -I wasn't sure, but are you
the youngest son of the Chief State Councilor?
That's right.
These are my brothers' uniform and I stole...
No, I didn't steal them. I borrowed them.
What's so wrong with it?
Isn't it wrong to spread rumors
by pretending to be a scholar
despite being expelled?
What does expelled mean?
-It means he was kicked out. -What?
Master, did you lie to me?
I did think your speech was quite long.
Desire and genius, my foot.
How brutal.
Who are you and why are you rubbing salt
on poor Myeong-jin's wounds?
I was also a scholar when you were expelled.
So I know who you are.
Section Chief Han.
-Eunuch Go. -What are you doing here?
You know them, Eunuch Go?
You know that brutal man?
Where's Scholar Park?
Why are you with such a scary man?
Who's Scholar Park?
Oh.
Since we met, let me introduce you to one another.
This is Section Chief Han.
He works for His Royal Highness as do you...
Section Chief Han.
My friend.
What?
You are the one who mastered the Thousand-Character Text
and learned swordsmanship when you were four.
My mother's friend's son.
Hence, my friend.
Right.
I heard our mothers are close friends.
Why did you have to be good at everything
and torment me all my life?
It's impossible for someone your age to become a section chief.
Section Chief Han?
My Lady's fiancé?
Reflect on yourself!
Many sons in Hanyang are getting beat up
by their mothers
getting compared to you.
Don't be so good at everything.
It hurts just to remember.
Now, please explain.
Why did you spread that rumor?
Was it to get His Highness out of the East Palace?
Isn't it a pretty good idea?
It fits well with the plan
we're preparing too.
I'm not sure.
I hope the person most likely to cooperate with this plan should do so.
Pardon?
Over here.
It's been a while.
Who is he?
Oh, he's a eunuch of the East Palace.
I'm Eunuch Go Sun-dol.
Oh, Eunuch Go of the East Palace. You're quite famous.
I heard you made Section Chief Han lose his face
with the Cardinal Point case.
How could you say that?
Right. He is very talented.
His Highness doesn't let just anyone near him.
Why did you want to see me, Section Chief Han?
You even brought a eunuch from the East Palace.
His Highness wanted me to relay a message to you.
His Highness?
To me?
So His Highness wants me to help him get free of confinement
and leave the East Palace.
Is that what His Highness wanted to tell me?
Yes.
I guess His Highness doesn't know
I'm part of the Cho family.
He knows very well,
but he wants you to get the message.
Was it an order or a favor?
I already relayed his message.
How you receive it depends on you.
"In Joseon, we worship edification,
encourage the wise, prosper the school,
and had the best means of raising a scholar."
"So the late king even built a library
in the National Confucian Academy."
"But the library right now
is missing several books
so we are very worried about the National Confucian Academy."
I heard that
the Crown Prince's library is
equipped with valuable books of quality.
"If you open the library
of Crown Prince and allow us
to transcribe, it would be very useful
to our studies.
Please allow the Crown Prince to attend
Formal archery ceremony."
With the extraordinary skill of the Crown Prince,
who can memorize any book at once,
"please give us the blessing to the restoration of books
for the sake of the scholars."
Please give us the blessing.
This is indeed something only the Crown Prince can do.
Since His Highness memorized every book,
Section Chief Han convinced the Confucian Academy
in His Highness' stead.
Will you give an order?
They are begging for His Highness' help,
so what else can we do?
Tell them to do so.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Let's go.
That's a bit too much...
-No, it isn't. -He said it isn't.
Leave those books there.
Follow me.
Put these back.
Turn the wet side upwards.
-Like this? -Yes.
Place at same intervals.
Open it, please.
Don't just do that.
These are for the National Confucian Academy?
Had to be dried out before sending them.
You're here.
If it ends this afternoon,
we'll be able to send it tomorrow.
-Great work. -Thank you.
Seeing you outside the East Palace
gives me a lot of energy.
Did you give your sister the ribbon?
What do you mean?
While we were out,
Eunuch Go was looking at ribbons
so I bought one for his sister.
I see.
I didn't know you had a sister.
So your sister likes ribbons?
Yes.
Of course, she likes it. It's a pretty ribbon.
My sister asked me to tell Section Chief Han she's thankful.
Thank you.
I had no idea your sister liked ribbons.
There were ribbons in the marketplace.
so I was just taking a look.
But Section Chief Han just appeared out of nowhere
so I told him it was for my sister
and he bought me one.
Why are you telling me that?
I know.
You don't have to explain
why your finacé bought you a ribbon.
I just didn't want you to think
I was slacking off while carrying out your orders.
If you wanted one, why didn't you tell me?
Even if I did want one,
I couldn't possibly tell you about it.
If you told me,
I would've bought you a dozen, no a hundred ribbons.
Keep your distance. I can't even look at you right now.
I apologized in my thoughts.
You also talked to yourself,
so I just tried thinking to myself.
Something you should never know.
Was he thinking to himself again?
What is it
that I can't know?
While we were out,
Eunuch Go was looking at ribbons
so I bought one for his sister.
Your Highness, it's Tae-gang.
Come in.
After he came from Byeokcheon 10 years ago
he inherited a huge wealth from his uncle who passed away.
The timing is strange, isn't it?
I went to the stable in the west to meet his nephew and he said that
Park Han-su has been addicted to gambling
and lives at a gambling house.
I'll search that area.
Even if you find him, do not approach him.
Just find out his every move.
I will meet him myself.
Bullseye.
I was worried since I hadn't practiced in a while,
but God must be helping me.
You are too modest, Your Majesty.
It must be a blessing for Your Majesty to be able
to be here with His Royal Highness today.
Were you testing me?
And
do you like how your son solved your test?
Bullseye.
His Royal Highness really memorized all those books?
Not just those books.
He remembers every book he's ever read.
We'll know if the rumors are true or not.
He wouldn't have lied to us.
What do you think about it?
I'm sorry?
The Crown Prince.
He is the perfect future king.
The National Confucian Academy scholars seem to think so
and I think the same,
so I just wanted to know what you thought.
Isn't it amazing
that he ascended the throne all by himself?
-Let's go. -Sure.
His son escaped confinement
by using trickery and his father allowed it.
Pardon? What do you mean?
Are you saying that all this was His Highness' plan?
His Majesty knows politics and so does His Highness.
Oh.
Don't know what His Majesty thinks.
But that man from the National Confucian Academy...
Isn't he also part of the Cho family?
That man is part of our family?
Gosh.
Who are his parents?
How did he end up siding With His Royal Highness?
Everyone in Joseon knows that the power
of the Cho family is getting bigger and
think Cho family is better than others...
I am also part of the Cho family,
so why did you send a message to me?
If your body is erect, so is your shadow.
If you truly want the best for the people,
then they will no longer be in chaos.
That was the answer you wrote in your exam.
-It was impressive. -How did you know...
That shows who you are.
The Cho family doesn't define who you are,
but your thoughts, your heart
and your action does.
I relayed my message to you because I trusted that about you.
And I wanted to let you know that
I agree with you.
I will make sure to keep what you said
in mind, Your Highness.
What... Ahem!
Why are you not greeting your elders?
Elders? Who are you talking about?
Gosh.
Don't you know who I am?
I am the Minister of Justice
and he's the Right State...
You're smiling?
You're also part of the Cho family,
so how come you didn't recognize us?
Lower your head.
How's your venerable father?
How dare you ask him that?
Are you looking down on him?
Say hello.
He's...
Gosh.
-He's our grandfather's cousin. -What?
He's our...
He's our late grandfather's cousin.
Gosh.
It's been a while.
What are you doing? Bow.
Yes. I was glad to see you at the ceremony
of the formal archery.
Yes.
Goodbye...
I can't believe someone who's annoying as him
is in the Cho family.
Gosh.
Won-bo, wait for me.
The chance won't come every day.
Four.
-What... -Oh dear.
One more time. Again.
It's him over there.
Watch where you're going!
That's why the world has gone to hell.
Oh.
Perfect timing.
I have your money right here.
I won every bet today.
Hold on.
What?
Where is it? Where's my money?
Gosh.
I went through your most distant relatives,
but none of them have any money.
How a beggar like you got into gambling. This is why
your wife ran away.
I said I'll pay you back.
How dare you talk about my wife like that!
Give me back my money.
Let me go!
His Highness can memorize
and transcribe it right on the spot.
The rumors have spread.
And it's all thanks to us.
I wonder if His Highness knows.
And what did you do for His Highness?
I had to deal with some personal issues.
Personal issues?
I was shoveling.
You were shoveling for a whole month?
So has your shoveling gotten better?
Of course. I can dig up a whole mountain now.
A whole mountain? You have gotten better.
His Royal Highness knows everything that you've done.
He was very thankful and wanted me to treat you.
Free food!
Seems like this place had a makeover.
-Enjoy. -Thank you.
Oh, you're here.
Hello.
-Hello. -Thank you for the food.
Thank you, Scholar Park.
Do you not like red bean porridge?
I prefer the soup we had last time...
-Oh. -You don't like red bean porridge?
I hate red bean porridge.
Does it not taste good?
Why are there so many leftovers?
I guess it didn't taste good.
We had to stay up all night boiling the red beans...
And took us all morning to make the porridge.
They left behind a lot.
-Gosh. -Oh dear.
Does the porridge not taste good?
-No. -Of course not.
You hate red bean porridge.
No. It's good.
Who leaves food when it's so delicious?
I heard it takes a long time to make porridge.
It's really good.
It's delicious.
Oh, right. Did the children come to eat?
I've been asking them day and night
and they never came once.
Yes, we've been waiting since you gave us money,
but they never came.
Please wait here. We'll give you back your money.
-Keep it. -Pardon?
He gave him some money for medicine.
They must be making a living out of it.
They might come when they run out of money, so please keep it.
You all look so handsome and have a heart of gold.
Then we'll keep the money safe
and make sure those children get something to eat.
Seems like it wasn't enough. Let us get you some more.
Wait...
Okay.
-That's a lot. -Gosh.
-Eat up. -I envy you.
Eat up.
You could eat that for three days.
Thank you.
Welcome.
This one please.
-How much? -Two nyangs.
Thank you.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
Did he buy it for me?
Your Royal Highness, it's Tae-gang.
Come in.
Maybe not.
Then why did he put it on my wrist?
How could Yeong's hair turn white all of a sudden?
More than that, what does our family have to do
with the Byeokcheon case?
Something must've happened
before they died. Something I can't remember
Why are you dressed up as a man?
You are to get married soon.
A marriage consent letter came
and father is writing his answer right now.
No.
Must've been something more important.
It's raining.
My Lady, there must be a hole in the sky.
Where is everyone?
You didn't know.
There's been an avalanche at a nearby mountain so everyone's there.
-An avlanche? -Yes.
It rained really heavily around that time.
No. That has nothing to do with this.
You must protect His Royal Highness.
Father.
What did father know?
Is that why he worried about His Highness?
Why are my memories all messed up?
Then something else must've happened.
Yeong came into the kitchen that day...
-Jae-yi. -What's wrong?
Are you sick?
He just touched my hand.
Yeong
never touched the cauldron that day.
So Yeong wasn't the one who poisoned them.
So how did the soup end up getting poisoned?
Who left the peony petals?
He's a messenger His Highness sent to Master Min's house.
The messenger...
No, it wasn't him.
No.
His face.
I have to remember his face.
Please.
Master, what are you thinking about?
His Highness' guard...
He was in a disguise under His Highness' orders,
but why did he pretend like he didn't know me?
Did he forget me?
No. How could he possibly forget me?
Myeong-jin leaves that impression on people.
Maybe he just wanted to pretend.
I get where he's coming from.
Your Highness. It's Sun-dol. May I enter?
What's wrong? His Highness isn't here.
What? Where is he?
He went to the lake with his bodyguard.
What? No, he can't.
What's wrong with him?
In specific, his uncle lived in a small house in the countryside.
He wasn't that rich
or to give that much inheritance.
If it wasn't an inheritance,
there must be some kind of record of it.
Find out where the money came from.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
Sun-dol?
Do not trust him. You cannot trust him.
Your Highness.
You can't trust him.
You...
-What the... -What do you think you're doing?
Put that sword down.
You must watch out for him.
You have to keep your distance. Kick him out.
He was the messenger who came to Gaeseong.
What?
He's the messenger who came to my house.
Are you crazy?
How dare you steal my sword...
Shut up.
You were the messenger.
He was the one who brought
the presents and the secret letter
you never wrote.
You!
Were you the one who killed my family?
Your Highness, he's holding a sword.
So forgive me for being rude.
May I kill him?
OUR BLOOMING YOUTH
I saw you at my house in Gaeseong.
My memories are certain.
Please believe me, Your Royal Highness.
Impossible.
We must get rid of him.
Do you really want to know
what happened back then?
I got the strength to fight my destiny.
You have to let go of her. It's not too late.
I will protect my people
with you.