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
What is wrong with you?
I had no idea you were taking
decocted atractylodes herbs.
And I also didn't know it would be fatal if it's taken with peaches.
If I had known,
I would never have given them to you.
Mother, it was me.
I gave peaches to Ui-hyeon...
What are you saying?
Are you trying to get yourself killed?
Your Highness, His Majesty is here.
Your Majesty, you're here.
What's wrong? What happened?
Why were you trying to keep him quiet?
It's nothing, Father.
Myeong-ahn hasn't slept well these days
so he must've been seeing things.
Seeing things? What did you see?
He kept seeing a burning plum tree.
You're burning up.
That's why you're seeing things.
It's because you haven't been eating. It wasn't the Song family's curse
that burned the plum tree.
A man should be fierce and strong.
I've heard he's talking nonsense and keeps puking.
What nonsense is he talking?
EPISODE 16
Your Highness.
May I ask who will be living in this house?
It's going to be used as a school.
Place some desks on the second floor,
-Giyeok. -Giyeok.
-Kiyeok. -Kiyeok.
-Digeud. -Digued.
Is the woman who's going to live here Eunuch Go?
Doesn't she have a fiancé?
Does she not go to Section Chief Han?
She says she's going to live alone.
That rude little brat...
Lady.
A marriage is a promise between families.
They've already exchanged letters of marriage
so why won't she go back?
I have feelings for someone else.
I'm in love with someone else
so I can't go to Section Chief Han.
Have you ever seen Sun-dol with another man?
Pardon?
She'll probably meet eunuchs and court ladies every day.
I guess you could count eunuchs as a man.
I mean,
have you ever seen her privately,
consistently, confidentially,
and secretly meet
with another man?
-I have. -Who is he?
Isn't she always with you?
No, not me.
Someone idiotic.
Someone smart, but very slow-witted.
Pardon?
Nevermind.
What does it matter who he is?
Just fix the door.
Keep a close eye on him. He's your little brother.
Yes, Father.
I'll notify the royal physician
and tell them to take good care of him,
so please do not worry too much.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Mother.
Take her back to her quarters. I'll follow you.
No, I should stay with Prince Myeong-ahn.
I should stay with him.
Prince, I need to know the truth
in order to protect you.
Did you really give Prince Ui-hyeon peaches?
Grandfather
gave me peaches.
Grandfather!
Wow! Peaches!
Ui-hyeon, try to guess what's in my sleeves.
What are you hiding in there?
This is yours
and this is mine.
It looks delicious.
The peaches reminded me of you.
Grandfather told me to share them with Ui-hyeon
and he died after eating it.
I heard the eunuchs say
Ui-hyeon died because of the peach.
I was the one who gave Ui-hyeon the peach,
not Hwan.
And he died because of me...
No.
It wasn't your fault.
Stop crying.
You didn't know anything.
You were just running an errand for your grandfather.
Snap out of it and listen to me.
Do not talk about that ever again.
It never happened.
It was a dream. You were dreaming.
You never did such a thing.
Forget it ever happened. You have to forget in order to live.
You have to live for me to live.
Answer me.
Promise me you won't speak of it.
Answer me.
Yes, Mother.
I'm going to visit Hwan.
His Highness isn't here.
He's in the library reading books
and he specifically ordered me not to let anyone in.
Right.
No. Maybe that's better.
Pardon?
Don't tell Hwan that I came by.
Eunuch Go, follow me.
Pardon?
Prince Myeong-ahn said that?
What do you make of it?
You solved the Cardinal Point case
and also helped prove
the Left State Councilor's innocence.
Do you think he was telling the truth?
How could I possibly know?
Only Prince Myeong-ahn will know...
But when Prince Ui-hyeon passed away
Prince Myeong-ahn was seven-years-old.
Even if he did give him peaches, I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose.
That's not important.
If people find out, the whole palace will be in chaos
and Prince Myeong-ahn will no longer be safe.
I'm sorry, Your Highness.
You should let His Highness know.
But why did you say it's better that His Highness isn't in his quarters?
He's about to get married.
He was talking nonsense about seeing
a ghost and a snake.
And now he's saying he gave Ui-hyeon peaches.
How can all that be true?
It will just make him worry.
He's seeing ghosts and snakes?
He saw a snake
come out of a shaman.
He's a weak-hearted boy so he must've been really scared.
No. Never mind.
I shouldn't have said that. I'm pretty shocked myself.
Don't tell His Highness.
Forget I said anything.
Yes, Your Highness.
Master...
Scholar...
-Is Master Kim inside? -Yes.
He wrote down everything that happened
and has been staring at it day and night.
-I guess he'll figure it out soon. -What brings you here anyway?
Is that fabric for dresses?
How many dresses can you make with this?
With this, I think
maybe six or seven...
A man usually doesn't know this stuff,
but I saw my mother sew many times
so I'm just guessing based on that.
Then make dresses with these fabrics.
Make five dresses for Min Jae-yi
and two for you.
If you need more fabric, I'll bring you more.
How would I know that murderer Min Jae-yi
and how could I make a man's clothes
with these fabrics for dresses?
-I know you are Jang Ga-ram... -Quiet.
I'm sorry, Scholar Park.
-Then do you.. -Also know Go Sun-dol is Min Jae-yi?
Yes.
Be careful.
Don't go alone. Always stay near Master Kim.
A manhunt has been issued.
But why do you need dresses for Lady Jae-yi?
Once everything's over,
she'll need to go back.
She can't stay in the palace as a eunuch forever.
The same goes for you.
You can't dress as a man forever.
Why are you blocking the way?
You could just go this way.
We always stick to the wall.
Gosh.
He babbled about seeing snakes and ghosts.
And now he says he gave Ui-hyeon peaches.
Is that all really nonsense?
Your Highness, you're here.
Sit.
Why didn't you take me with you?
It is dangerous to leave the palace with Tae-gang.
My suspicions about him remain unsolved.
It's fine.
I came back safe and sound.
But where did you go anyway?
Across the Tongwoon Bridge,
and take a left at the first forked road.
Then, you'll see a tiled-roof house.
That house...
Who is that stupid man
you're in love with?
Again?
Are you sure what you feel is love?
Who is he? How did you fall in love?
Tell me.
If I am to send him to you, I need to know what kind of man he is.
If he's really stupid,
would a genius like you fall for him?
If you can't give me his name,
tell me why you ended up falling for him.
He's tall and handsome.
You don't seem to know that most good men are handsome.
And you can't just decide based on looks.
He's also very smart.
And he's also a strong man
who can endure
any kind of hardships.
When people look down on medicine, he learned it because it could save lives.
He's warm, kind
and generous.
You may be dressed as a man,
but I haven't forgotten that you're a woman.
He's very reliable and protects me when I'm out late at night.
Didn't you tell me I should give permission
to a girl to do anything?
So I'm giving you, my first people,
permission to do whatever you want.
Go ahead.
Do it.
I give you my permission.
When a woman is cornered by a tall wall,
he finds her a new way around.
There is no such man.
That kind of guy only exists in novels.
There is a guy like that.
And he's stupid because he doesn't know
he's that kind of guy.
-Leave. -Pardon?
I was going to give you a gift today,
but I just can't.
What? That's not fair. Give me the gift.
-What is it? -I told you to leave.
Do you like it?
It's beautiful.
This is why Goryeo celadon is so famous.
Yes.
If the white porcelain hadn't broken,
it would've been
a perfect set with this one.
-It's all because of that filthy boy. -Bring it to me next time.
White porcelain would be a perfect match
with this one.
How do you think I should kill
that cruel and heinous man?
The time will come, Your Highness.
How dare he use my son for his greed?
How dare he make a seven-year-old
kill someone?
I will rip him limb from limb
and there won't be a place to bury his body.
I will give his flesh and bones to the animals.
I will make sure his children
will be ashamed of their father
and everyone in the world will come to
loathe him.
Even if I die and become a ghost,
I will never
forgive him.
Yes, Your Highness.
You will do so.
Won-bo, did you hear?
Han Jung-seop applied for the selection of his daughter as the Crown Princess.
Of course I heard.
I know everything that goes on in Hanyang.
Can we just leave him be?
If Han Jung-seop's daughter is selected...
Gosh...
If the Han family supports His Highness,
it will not be easy to depose him.
There's always a way.
I have a card that not even the Han family can shield His Highness from.
-Do you want to see my card? -Yes.
Since you brought me porcelain, I'll show it to you.
-Wait... -You'll know in time.
My Lord, you have a guest.
My Lord. I, Cho Han-seo, am here to see you.
What are you doing here?
Gosh, look who's here!
Aren't you the one who came all the way to Byeokcheon to save me?
How good to see you.
Let's see... You're my grandfather's
brother's uncle's son, right?
Come on in.
That makes us distant cousins.
Come on. It's not that distant.
Isn't that right?
-So what brings you here? -Well...
It's okay. You can tell me.
Do you remember Park Han-su?
He was one of the deputies.
I met him not too long ago...
It's huge so I can't just say it.
It could change the world.
Aren't you curious about what I have to say?
Please tell him that I said that.
He said that?
My Lord. He is addicted
to gambling
so he's extremely on edge right now.
If he tells people about Byeokcheon...
No, that can't happen.
Won-bo, what do you think he knows?
What if he starts talking to people about what happened?
That should never happen.
This is the transaction book
of the landlord who sold Mapo land to Park Han-su
ten years ago.
I have confirmed that the land was traded
in the name of one of Cho Won-bo's servants.
It's the only evidence that connects Park Han-su and the Cho family.
What was Park Han-su doing?
He was drunk and gambling.
I have to meet him in person.
Since we have proof, I need to know
what kind of deal he made with Cho Won-bo
to receive that money.
Your Highness.
We're talking about the Cho family here. I'm worried you'll be put in danger
if you go after them.
If that happens, you can protect me.
How can you just trust me like that?
You have never failed to carry out my order
so how can I not trust you?
Your Highness, I will never
fail you.
You must be cautious around him. Have to keep your distance.
Kick him out.
He was the messenger who came to Gaeseong.
My memories are certain.
He was the only one who could've shot
that arrow a year ago.
Gap-su, are you there?
Yes, My Lord.
Find Park Han-su.
Since he's addicted to gambling,
he won't be hard to find.
Since he has something to say to me,
shouldn't I listen?
Should I bring him here?
Make five dresses for Min Jae-yi
and two for you.
Since it's from a noble scholar,
it will be a valuable fabric you can't get from around here.
-I want to exchange them with these. -Let's see.
Come on. Give me more.
You need to give me at least this much.
Okay.
Wait. You're...
Who...
Hey! You forgot your fabric!
Excuse me!
Sorry.
Where are you going?
What is going on?
It was her for sure.
Pardon? Who did you see?
I'm sure she was the servant I saw at Master Min's house in Gaeseong.
If she was, wouldn't she handed over to the government?
I know.
How could she be here in Hanyang dressed as a man?
You must've been mistaken. Probably someone who looked like her.
Meo-ru.
-Dal-rae. -Oh?
Come over here.
It's the apprentice!
Let's see. Stand up straight.
Here.
Come here, Dal-rae.
This tall.
Spread out your arms.
Like this. You too, Dal-rae.
What are you doing?
I got some good fabric
so I'm going to ask my mom to make your clothes.
-Really? -Yes.
Mother and Father also bought us clothes
not too long ago.
I'm sure they did.
But the more clothes you have, the better, right?
I'm so thankful.
Do you send things to your hometown again?
-Yes. -You two are amazing.
You never neglect your family in your hometown.
Where's your hometown?
It's very far and small so you won't know even if we tell you.
Oh.
Help me with this.
You asked if everyone in Byeokcheon are thieves, right?
No.
They are not thieves.
How do you know?
Then can we tell people we're from Byeokcheon now?
If someone asks you where you're from,
you don't have to say you're from Byeokcheon.
But don't be ashamed of it either.
There were no thieves in Byeokcheon.
Why would being born in Byeokchoen be a sin?
It would be a sin
to point fingers at you and call you thieves
just because you were born there.
It's not your fault.
But
everyone hates people from Byeokcheon.
His Majesty also hates people from Byeokcheon
so he banned them from taking the civil exam.
Not everyone hates people from Byeokcheon.
Just look at the scholars who brought you here.
They're trying to help you even after they found out
you two are from Byeokcheon.
Right.
Master Kim and his apprentice
are making our clothes too.
Have you been to Byeokcheon before?
There were a lot of friendly people there.
After they lost everything
to the government officials
who came in attacking every day,
they continued to share what little they had left
even when they were starving
to death.
I saw government officials beat up people from Byeokcheon.
Is there anything you remember about Byeokcheon?
It was a beautiful village where dandelions grew
all over in the spring.
I remember blowing
the dandelion seeds with my friend.
Do you
remember your friend's name?
Oh Wol.
Wol!
Mommy!
No!
Wol!
I'm...
I'm Wol's mother.
Hey.
If Wol survived that day,
she'd be as tall as you now.
Then do you know our parents?
Of course, I do.
When you were born,
your father planted a paulownia tree.
He was going to make you a closet out of that tree when you got married.
I was there.
Is there anything else you remember about Byeokcheon?
Fish.
A red fish.
I prayed to that fish.
I heard that fish lived for a thousand years.
Mother said her mother's mother
also prayed there.
Gosh, I can't believe you remember that fish.
I heard that fish feed on human blood.
You're stupid. That makes no sense.
A fish can't drink human blood
or live for a thousand years.
I'm sure the fish had children.
No, that fish didn't have children.
Because even though the fish laid eggs,
they weren't fish eggs.
Come on.
Those are very dangerous eggs.
If people eat those eggs, they go crazy.
Have you two heard about this story?
Yes, there was such a fish in Byeokcheon.
I heard from my mom that a monk brought the fish from a faraway country.
It really did live for a thousand years.
See? You don't know anything.
Today, the initial selection of the Crown Princess is happening.
That's why Joseon's eligible women gathered.
But rumors have it that a woman has already been selected.
It's Han Jung-seop's daughter.
Haven't you heard that a daughter of Han
will be the Crown Princess?
Lord Han?
Are you going to let it slide?
There must be a reason why Lord Han is participating in the selection.
-He must have someone behind him. -Gosh.
Her Royal Highness
will not allow Han's family as her in-laws.
Gosh...
I'm sure Won-bo has it all figured out.
Just wait and see.
Minister, you're here already?
You're really not taking some time off?
The Crown Princess is about to be chosen.
I can't just stay at home grieving for my daughter.
Did you give your daughter a proper funeral?
Yes, thanks to your generosity
we were able to bury her in a good place.
Good.
But My Lord,
when I went to carve my child's grave,
I heard a strange rumor.
You must feel a lot of pressure.
I was acting out of loyalty. Even if there are repercussions, what can I do?
Of course I know how loyal you are.
But I'm just worried
the pressure will be too much for you.
She must be feeling more pressured than me.
But she's strong, so she'll get through it.
Right.
Han Jung-seop house is at Jangju.
Rumors have been going around that his wife is dead.
When someone dies, you're supposed to report it...
Didn't he report it to put his daughter on the candidate list?
To become the Crown Princess,
both parents need to be alive, right?
He shouldn't put his daughter on the list if she doesn't fit the criteria.
If he listed her despite knowing she was ineligible,
it means the noble Lord Han
has deceived the royal family and the entire country.
From what I heard,
he took the body out in the middle of the night
and buried her and didn't even put up a tombstone.
But it's just rumors that have been spread mouth to mouth
so I can't be sure if the rumors are true or not.
Well, we'll just have to figure that out.
I can't believe Lord Han is voluntarily destroying his own family.
Just our dumb luck!
What's this? How strange.
There are bugs everywhere.
-What's wrong? -Master Han.
I was cleaning Lady So-eun's room
and kept finding bugs everywhere,
including these mugworts.
I think she got bugs after these mugworts became wet.
It does belong to her, so dry it up and put it back in her room.
Yes, Master Han.
She burns these mugworts every night.
Was she doing a beonryo?
Beonryo? How dare you say such a thing?
Why would So-eun be commemorating the dead?
But isn't it strange she burns dried mugwort
every night toward the north?
She is going to be the future Crown Princess.
Watch what you say.
Yeon-ha from the Sim family.
So-eun from the Han family.
Gyeong-yin from the Ham family.
Today, the initial selection is happening.
That's why Joseon's eligible women gathered.
Where is he going at this time of day?
I know.
-I'm sorry. -Are you okay?
I'm sorry.
Hey.
"Hey"?
You little...
Don't you have any respect? Does dressing like a eunuch make you blind?
I'm the Crown Prince's bodyguard, a higher rank than you.
So how dare you call me like that?
-Why were you near the kitchen just now? -Why would I go there?
I've just left my office.
I saw you near the kitchen.
Yes, since you're so adamant,
I may have passed by the kitchen,
but I passed by many places today.
I went to Mount Kumgang this morning
and Mount Jiri in the afternoon.
I'm about to go to Gaeseong.
Since I have superpowers
according to you, I could be there in no time.
So annoying.
I saw him for sure.
Damn.
Crap!
I haven't won once! Not once!
Who are you?
You wanted to see Lord Cho?
Lord Cho sent me.
I knew he'd come looking for me.
Let's go.
I'm sorry, but first
I need to check what you're about to say
to Lord Cho is worthwhile.
I can't just show you my card. How am I supposed to trust you?
Let's go. I'll go and talk...
Tell him that
Song's wife lives
and that I know who it is.
I saw her come out of the Right State Councilor's house
and get on a palanquin.
And he will be
surprise to hear
where that palanquin went.
I will relay your message.
And
I'll relay his message to you, so listen carefully.
Where would I use a man who runs his mouth like that?
As soon as he tells you what he knows,
kill him.
I'm sure what he knows is probably insignificant.
and he's just using it to extort the Cho family.
There's no need
to keep that pest alive.
We're late.
They say Park Han-su left 15 minutes ago.
I must go to his house.
He is Park Han-su.
Hey. Open your eyes.
Who hurt you?
Was it Lord Cho?
Who sent you?
Tell me.
What happened in Byeokcheon?
Why did this happen? What are they trying to hide?
Ten years ago in Byeokcheon,
there was no flag
for a new country.
The flag we saw
was a white one.
Those stupid people of Byeokcheon
just hung the white flag and sat in the Government Office
not knowing they would die.
They...
They paid the deputies
to hide that.
But there is something the Right State Councilor doesn't know.
Song's wife
is in the palace.
His wife...
Song's wife
came out of my house
and got inside a palanquin?
That lunatic.
He is out of his mind.
How dare he try to lie to get money out of me.
Song's wife is in the palace?
The woman who testified about the shaman.
The one with a veil.
She could be Song's wife.
But how could Song's wife enter the palace?
Did she become a court lady?
But a married woman can't become one.
Get out of my room!
I don't want any treatment. Get my older brother out of here.
-Please cam down, Your Highness. -He's there...
-It must be insanity. -Must be.
Get that ghost out of here.
-Your Highness. -Your Highness.
Please forgive us.
Your Highness, there is no ghost...
Older brother? Do you mean...
What's wrong?
Ha-yeon, I can't stay here anymore.
Our big brother is right there.
Can't you see him?
He's glaring at me.
I heard you didn't even have lunch.
Please stop worrying about Myeong-ahn
and start taking care of yourself, Mother.
I'm sorry, Princess.
I don't mean to worry you.
Mother, it couldn't have been Myeong-ahn.
He couldn't have given Ui-hyeon peaches.
He's a good kid.
He couldn't have done that to Ui-hyeon.
He was just talking nonsense because of his fever.
You know how many rumors
have been going around
since Ui-hyeon passed away.
He probably heard the rumor that
Hwan gave Ui-hyeon peaches
and just talked nonsense.
Those rumors about the Crown Prince are tormenting enough.
Now even Myeong-ahn...
I'm scared, Princess.
It'll be alright, Mother.
I will make Myeong-ahn better.
He's my only little brother.
Princess.
Thank you.
Don't say that.
When my mother passed away you refrained from eating for four days
and cried by my side.
When I got smallpox,
you left young Myeong-ahn alone
and stayed by me until I got better.
I could never forget that.
It's what I should've done.
It's what...
It's what a mother should do.
Yes, that's right.
So I will protect you and Myeong-ahn.
Don't worry.
Princess,
thank you for thinking of me as your mother.
You gave birth to my brother,
so that makes you my mother.
Take good care of mother.
Can we just leave Princess Ha-yeon like that?
Should I throw her to Lord Cho as bait?
Leave her be.
I'll do it on my own.
Song's wife
came out of my house and got in a palanquin?
Song's wife...
Why did she come to my house?
If she did,
did she walk out of here alive?
In Paju, Oh Man-sik said the same thing.
The smell of blood filled the streets.
Fathers, mothers,
sons and daughters died
under your father's orders!
None of them were thieves.
Just like Oh Man-sik said,
if there were no thieves in Byeokcheon...
Just like Park Han-su said,
if there was a flag when the deputies went...
They were not thieves. They were just people.
If they hung the white flag
and waited for the deputies...
Then they wouldn't have been thieves who were plotting to build a new country
-like the royal secretary's journal says. -If they hung a white flag,
they were asking for help.
If that's true...
The report of Cho Won-oh the magistrate back then
and Cho Won-bo's report
who went to subjugate the thieves...
Everything was a lie.
To find out the truth from ten years ago,
we must find the remnants of the thieves.
If what Park Han-su said about Song's wife is true,
maybe there's a way to find her.
Even if she's in the palace, she must've changed her identity.
Or
she could've left with the court ladies from Byeokcheon
when they were kicked out.
PRINCESS HA-YEON
Song, Ga, Myeol, Lee.
The Song family will destroy the Lee family.
How could he believe that misunderstanding is true?
Was he possessed by a ghost?
Was Yeong really possessed by something
and believed we were really in love?
Why did he kill my family?
He's not even from Byeokcheon. Why did he do that?
Here one moment, there the next.
He's here and there
at the same time.
ASSASSINATE PRINCESS HA-YEON
There's someone who can fix Myeong-ahn?
Yes, from what I hear
there's a monk that can bring peace to those who have gone crazy
due to anguish or grief
and he has almost reached the capital.
So he's not a physician.
Yes, that's what I'm worried about.
It could cause trouble
because people believe he performs sorcery.
But we can't leave Myeong-ahn like that.
The medicine isn't doing anything.
I will take responsibility.
I will save Myeong-ahn.
Does Mother know about this too?
If you make up your mind, I'll go back and tell her.
No.
Mother would not give permission to invite an outsider in.
This is between you and me.
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Highness.
And he mustn't know about our status.
Of course, Your Highness.
Please do not worry.
But there's no way to invite him into the palace.
I'll think of a way.
You try to contact him.
Time is of the essence.
Do you
have a plan to get him in here?
I do, but...
ASSASSINATE PRINCESS HA-YEON
See how I sorted out everything neatly?
I wrote everything down
including the things you never told me.
So no matter how hard you try to leave me out of it
it'll never work.
We are all trying to help His Highness
and you there were whispering about...
Whispering about?
Well,
-you weren't whistling, were you? -Go.
-I was going to tell you once I was sure. -I'll keep a close eye on you.
Don't ever leave me out again.
I solved a mystery.
Yes. We'll talk about that later. Me first.
About this prince's guard.
He's here and there at the same time. Isn't that weird?
Ha-yeon, where are we going?
I'm scared.
Don't worry.
You just have to trust me.
The night is cold.
I hope my Princess
is dressed warmly.
He was at Gaeseong and at the palace at the same time.
When the red papers were scattered,
we were with him
and he was also at the palace.
How strange.
How can someone be in two places
at once?
Right?
What is it?
How can someone be at two places at once?
Where should I put this, My Lord?
Put the cauldron in the kitchen.
It's getting late, so hurry it up.
Yes, My Lord.
There are two Tae-gangs.
Does the bodyguard have two bodies?
Right. He has two bodies.
If there are two Tae-gangs,
one of them can shoot His Highness
while the other is next to him.
They are twins.
Right. It could be possible if they're twins.
HERE ONE MOMENT, THERE THE NEXT
THE BODYGUARD'S FACE
OUR BLOOMING YOUTH
So one of them is the Crown Prince's bodyguard
and the other
is connected to the heinous cases.
-They must all be in it together. -Why are you doing this?
You can control someone's mind?
Your painful memory will now disappear.
Your Highness.
Father must know that he tried to hurt the princess and prince of this country.
Your Highness, how much have you figured out?