01x04 - A Step Closer

[bunniefuu]

(Shin Ye Eun)

(Kang Hoon)

(Jung g*n Joo)

(Ryeo Un)

(The Secret Romantic Guesthouse)

(All people, organizations, locations, and incidents...)

(in this drama are fictitious.)

Of all the places we could meet...

Are you him?

Are you Snowflake?

Do not look for Snowflake...

unless you wish to die.

I cannot do that.

I could slit your throat right now.

Even if you were to do so,

my answer would not change.

See? I said there would be no point.

What...

What are you all doing here?

If you wish to find Snowflake,

come to the deserted house by the tree of the guardian spirit...

in Namsan Village.

You made a deal with Master Jang?

He will forgo the debt in return for finding Lee Seol?

Yes.

My gosh. Dan O, you have more guts than most men.

They say that First Vice-premier Sin Won h* is behind Master Jang,

A Junior Fifth Rank official would not have much power otherwise.

He trusts in his staunch backer.

He would not look for Snowflake as a jest.

He must have the King's order.

Does that mean our Dan O is serving the King?

You might advance before we do.

It is too dangerous.

You should try to find the money.

That is easy for you to say, son of a rich nobleman.

- What? - To a penniless girl,

finding money is the hardest of all tasks.

Just give up.

Do not lose your life trying to find Lee Seol.

That is just foolish.

There is a reason...

I must keep Garden of Flowers.

Whatever you all say,

I will find Lee Seol.

Then we should all look together.

Good idea. It sounds like fun.

You are all insane.

It should be entertaining, watching you causing a ruckus.

Who knows?

We might end up stumbling upon him.

The deposed heir Lee Seol.

No.

You stay out of it.

- Dan O. - Yoon Dan O.

What can you do on your own?

I do not want to drag you into something dangerous.

We should go home.

(Garden of Flowers)

Why are you still up?

I could not sleep.

I am not surprised.

You got yourself into something huge.

I realized...

you were the first.

The first what?

The first to hold a blade to my throat.

An actual sword.

Nothing scares you. Is that a specialty?

I am scared too.

I also know you are worried about me.

If you do,

then give up even now.

But...

however scared I am, I must protect my family.

Not even Buddha or the King will protect us.

"Family?"

You have family other than Ms. Naju?

Well, no, but...

Us all. We are a family.

We live and eat together.

I am surprised.

What are you going to say this time?

The most indifferent of the guys...

worries about me the most.

Are you all right? Are you hurt?

Now I get it.

The truth is,

you are very interested in the world.

You pretend not to be.

What?

I knew it the moment you took out a wooden sword...

to save a baby.

It is not that you fail to notice things.

You fail to understand.

(Jagyeongjeon Hall)

(Jagyeongjeon Hall)

Royal Consort Park must be here.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Majesty.

Did you visit the Queen Dowager?

Yes. She refused to see me yet again.

Why is she so cold to our prince?

Are you that anxious?

Pardon?

Are you afraid that the child will not be made crown prince?

That impostor you brought in.

Your Majesty.

What do you mean?

Did you think I would not notice?

That boy looks nothing like me.

Your Majesty!

Back when my older brother was alive,

when you were a court maid that served the crown prince,

you did something for me.

Why are you...

suddenly bringing that up?

That is when I noticed...

your ambition that makes you stop at nothing.

Then...

you will not punish me?

What I needed...

was an heir.

To silence the court.

Only then can my Joseon prosper for a long time.

I stayed up and waited for you all night!

Could you not have let me know that you would be home late?

I am sorry. I returned with the guests last night.

Oh, Ms. Naju! You must have been truly worried.

You know what? Yesterday, Dan O...

Gosh, Si Yeol.

You keep rejecting help.

Ms. Naju should know what is going on...

I do not want to endanger you scholars.

What about you though?

You do not care about endangering yourself?

My goodness.

Is Lady Dan O in big trouble?

Well, you could say it is big.

- But it could also seem small. - Gosh.

It is very important and trifling at the same time...

Fine, I heard you.

What?

I said, I heard you.

We will do it together.

You must keep it from Ms. Naju and Yuk h*, no matter what.

Okay?

Sure thing. We should not worry them for no reason.

What about you, San? What will you do?

Forget it. I would be glad if he did not try to talk us out of it.

We will do it.

Let us find him. Lee Seol or whatever his name is.

You will not listen to me even if I try to dissuade you.

While looking for him, you will realize...

how preposterous all of this is.

Then we will talk again tomorrow.

But you know...

If one of us were Lee Seol,

things would get very interesting.

Goodness.

That was a bit too harsh.

I know that being rude is your specialty,

but Dan O is already having a hard time.

Do not be so harsh on her.

Is being nosy your specialty?

You like to stick your nose in other people's business.

What?

You two are practically strangers.

You and Dan O.

- I cherish Dan O as... - As a sister?

That is such a cliché.

I cherish her as a woman.

That was what I meant to say.

Come and have a look!

Feel free to browse around.

- How much is this? - This one?

(Liquor)

Here, have a look.

Take a look at this. This one is...

Not bad.

Incredible.

A secret room like this in the middle of Jungchon?

It is the perfect place to discuss our great plans.

All thanks to my discerning eye and taste.

Should we not thank the one who is financially backing you?

Hello? Anybody inside?

What is this?

So...

Dan O's elder sister died?

Yes.

You heard what I said.

The annex houses the memorial tablets...

that honour Hong Ju and Dan O's father.

So in a way, it is like a family shrine.

Did you say "shrine?"

(Gamyo: A family shrine)

Why?

Did you see something?

Is there something I am not allowed to see?

A number of people have said that they saw a female ghost there,

so I was wondering if you saw it too.

I knew it.

She was clad in a mourning dress.

Do not go anywhere near the annex.

Young, good-looking men are more likely...

to get bewitched by the ghost.

But she looked so real.

Oh, dear.

What are you doing in my room?

This is interesting.

Is this one of the prophetic books?

Get out, will you?

I did not know you read such books too.

I can borrow this, right?

Not a chance.

Must you be so difficult?

Goodness.

What are you doing? Get out.

May I sleep in your room tonight?

Of course, you may not.

Get out at once.

No! Tonight, I truly...

cannot sleep alone.

Fine. Just sleep, then.

Really?

You will sleep next to me?

San, you are the best...

Hey! Why did you blow it out?

San, wait!

(Buyounggak)

I could slit your throat right now.

Even if you were to do so,

my answer would not change.

Yoon Dan O.

You will not give up until the end.

Come here, you wench.

Come here!

You are in the palm of my hand even if you run away.

Look at you.

You are a beast.

Fine.

I shall play rough with you tonight, like a real beast would.

That is enough.

Be on your way, will you?

How dare a kisaeng try to play hard to get?

You little... Do you know who I am?

I do not care who you are.

I am buying her service for tonight.

- Got a problem with that? - No.

I am grateful for what you did today.

Then,

I will turn off the candle.

Young master?

That will symbolize our first time together.

I would rather keep things quiet.

The court lady took her own life?

Yes, Lord Sin.

She hung herself from the crossbeam.

The baby must not be His Majesty's heir.

You seem troubled.

There is something I must confirm.

Discreetly look into...

Royal Consort Park's relatives to see if anyone recently adopted...

a girl.

An adopted daughter?

A baby girl who is less than a year old.

You are to look into this yourself.

Yes, my lord.

- When did you get here? - Just now.

I saw the list on my way here.

You passed the first exam.

Impressive, I must say.

Maybe a feast is in order.

Do not make a fuss when I still have the final exam.

By the way,

when is your birthday?

Why would you ask that out of the blue?

We are a family now, and I should know.

Do not bother.

But I throw birthday parties...

for everyone staying at Garden of Flowers.

I do not care about having a family.

No way. Were you two waiting for me?

I should have come sooner, then.

Yu Ha.

- You seem busy these days. - Pardon?

Your hours are usually spent reading books in your room,

but you have been more out and about lately.

- I was enjoying the fine weather. - I see.

Is it the weather you fancy, or is it Dan O?

That is nonsense.

Young Master Jung!

- What is the matter? - The lady...

The lady is in grave condition.

Gil Jun, is that you?

Have you come to?

It is I, Yu Ha.

Where is Gil Jun?

Where is my Gil Jun?

Bring me my Gil Jun.

Impressive, is it not?

I would have done well hosting shell games.

It is k*ller.

Why does it sound like you want to off me?

Finally, we are on the same page.

Is Yu Ha still not here?

No, and he is not one to stand people up.

Maybe we should head home.

I doubt anything happened.

Let us discuss it without him.

The excitement kept me up last night.

So how will you find him?

Do you have anything to go on?

From what I heard, the late Prince Geumryeong...

had a close relationship with the deposed Crown Prince.

Prince Geumryeong?

His family was also probably ruined,

so who will you seek out?

The others who used to live there.

They must be sl*ves and servants of the government now.

They would have been sent to other cities...

in addition to Hanyang.

I hear...

that a registry is kept at the sl*ve Administration Office.

Getting a glimpse of it might give us a lead.

sl*ves and servants are government assets,

which makes the office a safe.

Could there be a way?

How can one crack open the safe?

Wait. I have an idea.

Someone like San who only thinks he is clever...

would have never thought of this.

(Buyounggak)

You wish to step foot into the sl*ve Administration Office?

Can you allow it...

during your night shift later on?

But one must adhere to the law.

Letting outsiders in could be risky at night.

For some reason, I am not in luck today.

I lose.

I will do what I can.

Call it a token of the friendship we formed at the tujeon den.

We are all set.

I appreciate this.

Give me 100 nyang more.

As you know,

I charge an interest rate of 30 percent.

Madame, have a seat.

Watch how I make money today.

Darn. I have suddenly lost my appetite.

Is this the b*stard son you mentioned?

Are you sure you have the same father?

His blood may be lowly, but his looks...

You will follow me out.

I am being summoned...

by the b*stard son.

You should head home.

Now is not the time for this.

Would this cleanse your lowly blood?

The stench of his lowly blood...

gives me a headache.

Do not bother. Even buckets of liquor...

would not cleanse his lowly blood.

I appreciate the drink.

Next time,

allow me to pour you a glass.

How dare you?

Head home this instant.

How could you be gambling when your mother is sick?

Let go.

How dare a lowly blood like you...

Goodness.

If Lord Jung Yoon could see you,

he would be heartbroken.

You should not leave in that state.

Please follow me.

Wipe yourself dry.

I will do it myself.

I did not know...

you were Lord Jung Yoon's son.

Thank you.

I owed you one.

(sl*ve Administration Office)

It is good to see you again.

Let us through.

Come on.

I paid handsomely.

You paid me handsomely.

You have not yet paid them.

- Then... - Will this do?

Let them through.

The shift changes in 30 minutes.

You must leave before then.

Go on inside.

My gosh...

Do not stay too long.

(sl*ve Register)

I will hold up the light so you can read.

Do not stare at my face.

Stare at the pages.

It is not here either.

Oh, dear.

(Year of the Pig)

(sl*ve Register)

(sl*ve Register)

(sl*ve Register)

Get up. We are out of time.

Already?

Oh, dear.

(sl*ves: Ok Boon)

I found it.

What?

They were sent to the Capital District Office.

Nice. You found it eventually.

I have been wanting to ask.

Do not ask, whatever it is.

You two.

I sense something odd.

Like what?

There is something between you.

Your flushed faces...

and gazes that sway as if lost...

How are you always so full...

of nonsense?

I owe you both tonight.

Tomorrow, the Capital District Office...

Why not go together...

"Together?"

Do you have something to do?

Just two of you?

I meant "all together."

You too.

(Garden of Flowers)

What is it you want to say?

You were not asleep?

Not anymore.

You woke me.

You must be dead curious.

FSG's first excursion...

happened without you.

What-G?

The Find Seol g*ng.

FSG.

I just named us. Are you not impressed?

Were there any dangerous circumstances?

Why would there be, with us two men there?

No, wait.

Was there?

What do you mean?

My unusually sensitive hunch and gut tell me...

Something dangerous did happen.

If you are going to talk nonsense...

All it takes is a shared gaze for romance...

to bloom between a man and a woman.

I think I saw that gaze...

in the sl*ve Administration Office.

(Garden of Flowers)

You went to the sl*ve Administration Office yesterday?

Yes. Si Yeol said he would help,

but he slept...

And San?

What?

San is always so gruff and mean.

Was he...

No. He was nice to me. Very nice.

All it takes is a shared gaze for romance...

to bloom between a man and a woman.

"Very nice?"

Very slightly. You know how he usually is.

Good. I wonder why he was nice.

Which way are you going?

I can walk you to the Capital District Office on the way.

You do not have to. You said you must go to study.

I can spare some time.

Come along.

(Capital District Office)

Excuse me.

I heard there is a sl*ve here called Ok Boon.

Can you call her for me?

I apologize.

We get scolded if we stand to chat and not work.

Ok Boon...

served this young lady as a child.

She is to marry soon and wants to...

see Ok Boon one last time.

How odd.

I was told her master's family all died or became sl*ves.

I see.

It explains your dress.

Please wait.

You are more resourceful than you seem.

Quick-witted as well.

I just wanted to help.

Are you disappointed?

No. I approve.

It was rude of me to ask.

The memories of that day must still pain you as well.

Your family is all scattered now.

You must be very lonely.

I truly do not know anything.

The Crown Prince visited us from time to time,

but they always spoke in private.

I heard the two princes...

were very close.

Tell me what you know. It could be anything.

One of the maids...

was quite brazen and sly.

She might know something.

Do you think I can meet her?

Yes. She left before the incident took place.

From what I have heard, she runs an inn now.

What was it called? Bu...

It is an inn in Jungchon. Its name starts with "Bu."

- Buyounggak? - Yes, that is the one.

If it is Buyounggak...

Hwa Ryung?

Gosh.

If Lord Jung Yoon saw this,

he would be deeply saddened.

I did not know...

you were somewhere so close.

("The Secret Records of Samhan")

Is this truly the right thing to do?

Translating this into the vernacular language.

(The Korean alphabet was denounced by the educated class as eonmun.)

If you are complaining because your arm is getting tired, you may quit.

Scholar Jung and I will finish the rest.

The commoners are busy making ends meet.

They will not have time to read this translated version.

Even beggars have dreams.

Just because you are poor, it does not mean you have no dreams.

You are absolutely right.

If the poor commoners can read this with ease...

We can amass the power to change the world.

Gosh! My goodness.

Watch where you are going!

Oh, no. Are you all right?

(The temple in Mount Inwang at sulsi)

(Sulsi: Between 7pm and 9pm)

Which one should I move to get ahead?

(Soldier)

You are late.

Leave Hanyang.

This is your last chance.

As you can see, all my limbs are tied.

If you wish to be spared, you should decide...

whose side you are on.

But that young lady had already joined hands with the others.

What was her name? Dan O?

How much do you know?

About Snowflake.

You ran here to ask me this question?

I visited the Capital District Office earlier.

I met Prince Geumryeong's family.

I did not hide it from you on purpose.

I simply did not have a reason to tell you.

How come...

you told me not to look for Snowflake?

After all, you were the one who told the scholars too.

He came to you, did he not?

Who?

The watchman.

The one who protects Lee Seol.

With his sword,

he ruthlessly slays those who are after Lee Seol.

Very soon,

his sword may pierce your heart too.

That is why I told the scholars.

I was hoping they could stop you.

If you have nothing more to say, please leave.

I cannot stop.

Not like this.

I will not give up.

What is the reason you must protect Garden of Flowers?

Is there a reason you cannot share with me?

I cannot tell you the details,

but someone's life depends on it.

So please. If you know anything, please tell me.

I implore you. Please help me, for old times' sake...

There is a precious treasure.

(Gwibo: A precious treasure)

A precious treasure?

The Crown Prince left it behind for his heir.

I heard it was only passed down to the true heirs...

to the throne.

Do you know what it looks like?

There is a dragon engraved on it.

The Palace Guards were after him?

Yes, sir. What does the Chief Eunuch know?

I wonder why His Majesty decided to spare him.

We shall find out.

What does he know that he walked out of there in one piece?

The watchman.

She is the reason you are here despite the risks. Am I wrong?

Does Yoon Dan O truly not know...

who you are?

Shut your mouth.

I suppose we have no choice but to k*ll that girl.

I told you...

to shut your mouth.

Sparing her now will create problems for us later.

Do not mention Dan O's name again...

Do you have feelings for her?

If that is not the case, why...

Either way, I only have one goal.

Confirming the rightful heir.

I must either get Lee Seol ex*cuted for high treason...

or make him ascend the throne.

I am the only one who has seen Snowflake...

as an adult.

Stay away from Dan O.

Go anywhere near her,

and I will slay you.

- Go after him! - Yes, sir!

- What... - Who just left your residence?

Was someone here?

Do you have a death wish?

After my nightcap,

I happened to doze off.

Speak the truth.

Who was the man you were with just now?

In no way could I possibly lie to you.

The relentless questioning at the palace...

wore me down,

and I slept like a log.

Was it the watchman?

Tell me...

before I rip you into pieces.

Was it the watchman?

It is not Lee Seol you have been after.

It is the watchman.

Goodness.

Then it seems as though we must renew our deal,

Master Jang.

He went this way.

Let us look that way.

Does Yoon Dan O truly not know...

who you are?

- That hurts. - It was you?

Who knew I had to risk my life to call for you?

I react first when ambushed.

You should have been more careful.

Of course. Whatever you say.

Where were you this late at night anyway?

I was at Buyounggak.

The madame...

turned out to be Prince Geumryeong's former maid.

The madame?

That is correct.

So...

what else did you find out?

Something that belonged to the deposed Crown Prince...

is in Snowflake's possession.

Sparing her now...

will create problems for us later.

It is said to have a dragon engraved on it.

Could he still have it?

How would I know?

Why meet me here...

when I was on my way to you?

You were taking forever, Your Majesty.

I told you not to call me that.

How else would I address you...

when that is who you are?

You silly old man.

Why did you ask for...

what you had entrusted me with?

I have my reasons.

San, wait up.

San!

San?

My gosh.

We could not find him.

He is nowhere to be seen.

Ransack every clinic in Jungchon if you must.

He must be found. Do you hear me?

- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.

I am in need of assistance.

There is an urgent patient that must be moved.

Please help him.

Halt.

Open the palanquin door.

(The Secret Romantic Guesthouse)

I was told not to look for him.

He made it clear that I was not to approach Yoon Dan O.

Did you know that the warrior was a slayer?

Tell me how much you know.

Do not tell me you will suddenly change your mind.

My heart will forever be set.

I do not wish for anyone to get hurt.

That is what I want this time around.

If push comes to shove,

do I have permission to k*ll?

If you are ever in that situation again,

just run.

Are you the watchman?