THE FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
THIS DRAMA IS FICTIONAL. TITLES, CONTENTS, CHARACTERS,
INCIDENTS AND SETTINGS HAVE NO RELATION TO REAL LIFE.
Crown Princess!
S-Stay there, Crown Princess! I will come to you.
Your Majesty!
Crown Princess.
Crown Princess!
You saw her too, didn't you?
Yes, I did.
It was the crown princess, yes?
Yes, it was Her Highness.
So what is going on?
-Your Majesty! -Your Majesty.
-Crown Princess… -Your Majesty!
-Crown Princess. -Your Majesty.
Stay there. I will come to you.
Your Majesty, please look at me.
Please look at me.
Please don't be hurt.
That woman isn't Her Highness.
No, no, she is…
We've found evidence.
What?
Your Majesty, this is Kim Chan-man.
Do you remember me?
Oh my.
I do remember you.
What brings you to the palace?
Isn't that the royal wedding gown that I gave to Lord Ahn Ji-Hyeong?
But this isn't genuine.
What?
On genuine royal wedding gowns the embroidery is done with gold thread.
But this is done with silver thread.
Then where is the genuine one?
On the outfit that woman at the pond was wearing
it was embroidered with gold thread.
Someone stole the real royal wedding gown to trick you,
and put a fake one in the box of the crown princess's belongings
to confuse the investigation.
Your Majesty, if that woman is really a ghost or spirit
why would she be wearing a stolen wedding gown?
Who's doing all this?
What if His Majesty
never forgets Her Highness?
Just like how people cannot drive wet fog away,
what if making him forget Her Highness is something that I cannot do?
Why are we here again?
It's too early to give up yet.
I will get rid of the wet fog with human power.
What?
Shin-won, you know how to swim.
What again?
Back then you heard
something go in the water. What could that have been?
You'll only be able to find out if you go in the water.
-You're kidding, right? -Do I look like I am?
You are quite weird.
Oh look! There's a deer.
There's no deer in the palace.
Here is the deer, you punk.
Didn't you say we were friends? Your friendship is really something.
Hurry and look in there.
Gosh, seriously. Hey, catch this.
Hurry and look for something.
Why isn't he coming out? Is he dead?
Oh my gosh!
What is that?
It's a mirror as big as a person.
So they installed a mirror for the vanishing effect of the woman?
Yes.
If you hold on to this rope then let go, it'll drop in the pond.
Ah, so that was it?
There was a reason why it was always by water, such as
the well, wash place and temple well.
-That's why we need to rush. -Why?
If that woman really didn't vanish into thin air,
there's a high possibility she's still in the palace.
What?
Now's the time for Head Eunuch and Chief Court Lady have to step up.
Mm.
Easiest way for a woman to hide in the palace is to be a palace lady.
Just like me.
Some palace ladies enter and leave the palace.
So it'd be easiest to leave among them.
We should close all the gates and look through all the palace ladies in here.
You know almost all the palace ladies faces, Court Lady Won.
Especially the face of that woman's face from yesterday.
I will look for her.
I will tell the guards to tighten security.
Then I… will tell the officers
to reinforce the search for the places
that woman might be hiding.
Let me come too.
No, you should stay in your room with me.
Why suddenly?
Wouldn't it be better for me to search too?
I told you the palace is dangerous.
JASEONDANG
What? The dead princess appeared in the palace?
But she was wearing a stolen royal wedding gown.
So they think it's not a ghost.
Just in case that woman is hiding among the palace ladies,
they are inspecting everyone.
When is the dead princess's memorial day?
It is today.
What if another person dies in the palace again?
No matter how strong the king's heart is, he'll crumble down.
Do you know a way to stop that.
How would a mere woman like me know such way?
But…
I did hear if a lawful queen comes in to change this dark energy of the palace,
miraculously, no more ill events will happen again.
Inspecting all the palace ladies…
She is heading for her place to die.
I did get a rough report.
You're looking for a suspicious palace lady in the palace?
Yes, we must find her within today.
I'm sure this incident is associated with a high-up in the palace.
If not, how could she have come in here so easily?
That's possible.
From now on Royal Guards will take over the investigation.
Please tell the State Tribunal officers to withdraw.
Wouldn't it add confusion if this incident is shared between two bureaux?
But…
We will investigate thoroughly so that the palace lady with
a hidden name doesn't hide her face under a high-up's protection.
I will personally tell the State Tribunal.
Why can I only stay here?
Do you want to roam around when it's scary like this?
Captain, the Royal Guards want us to withdraw.
Why? They must be running short on people.
I don't know the details.
They're looking for you.
I think you need to go.
I have to stay here.
So do we all withdraw as told?
You'll lose her at this rate.
You need to find her before she gets out.
You go ahead. We will guard this place.
I just go and see what's going on, then.
Alright.
What are you doing right now?
Find the suspicious palace lady with a hidden identity.
I got the order.
What are you doing? Didn't you hear the order to withdraw?
Then you're at the wrong place.
My name is Sun-a, working as the attendant palace maid.
ENTRY AND EXIT LIST OF NAMES
According to the record, Maid Sun-a
has fallen ill with a serious illness.
I got better long time ago.
I'm perfectly healthy now.
You should come with us for now.
No…
Can you call the Head Eunuch and Chief Court Lady, then?
They will identify my identity.
There was an order to be more alert for the palace ladies
that are protected by the high-ups.
Whoa, who do you dare to put your hands on?
This isn't something an underling can interfere.
I told you it was an order.
I mean…
Hey, wait!
What is your identity?
Why does the Royal Guard recklessly take in a palace lady?
Above all, she is an attendant court maid of the king.
Chief Court Lady, what is her name?
She's Sun-a. I'm sure she's on the list.
From what we investigated, she was called by the name So-rang.
She's hiding her identity to work in the palace.
And right by the side of His Majesty of all places.
The State Tribunal can vouch for her identity.
Stop the interrogation and let her go.
We cannot identify her no matter how much we investigate.
The name So-rang must not be a real name either.
We are looking for the person who put this palace
in panic with appearance similar to Her Highness.
How can she be the culprit?
We can also catch roaches while hunting for a chicken.
We have finished inspecting all palace ladies in the palace.
There was no one who wasn't identified.
Except one person.
People who know dead princess' face were also joined
but no one had similar looks.
Then we should interrogate the most suspicious one first.
And also the high-ups who tried to protect her.
No matter what their status is, they should be thoroughly interrogated.
Can you please come to the interrogation room?
You must tell us how she entered the palace
and how she could act like a palace maid
until now.
Take them.
Yes, sir.
Wait a moment..
Are you alright?
Your name is not real? What does that mean
I won't ask the reason. Since the situation is bad.
Just say your real name.
Then I'll try to get you out somehow.
You said we're friends.
I can't help you this way.
My name is…
Ye Hyeon-seon.
The bride you lost seven years ago.
What is that sound?
There is a ceremony for the elite troops going to suppress the barbarians.
A ceremony of war?
His Majesty will go encourage them personally.
As it's dangerous there.
Then their identification tags can't be all checked.
What?
If it's not the palace lady it could be one of the troops.
Can we ask the Royal Guard to inspect them?
It'll be impossible.
The Minister of Defense, Lord Cho Seong-gyun is in charge of this ceremony.
The Royal Guards are under the Minister of Defense.
Then there's no one to check the soldiers' faces?
There is one person.
The one higher than the minister and who's at the ceremony.
And who knows the late crown princess's face.
GEUNJEONGJEON
What do you think, Your Majesty?
You won't have to worry about the border area now.
I guess so.
You look a little tired.
If it's tough, should I end it early?
I heard they were having hard time at the border with cold
that it snows even in May and June.
They volunteered to go to such place.
I should not refrain from encouraging and praising them.
-Therefore -At ease!
I will go encourage them one by one
and cheer them up.
You don't need to.
There are about a hundred of them.
Each one of the soldiers are
my people.
There is a soldier with such a hand?
Lift your head.
You disguised yourself as the crown princess yesterday.
And today you are disguised as a soldier?
Who brought you here?
They moved to that place.
Is that so?
I don't know how a disguised person is among the soldiers.
I am ashamed.
The Ministry of Defense feels the responsibility,
I will personally investigate this matter.
You don't have to.
Take her.
What do you mean So-rang is gone?
What?
-Did anyone go in? -No, Your Majesty.
Don't open the doors to anyone.
Guard this place with your life today.
If not I will take your lives.
Yes, Sire.
Is there a place where So-rang might be?
I will ask you once more.
What is your real name?
Who told you to disguise yourself as a palace lady?
Hurry and confess!
I just guarded His Majesty's inner court.
Who!
Who brought you into the palace?
I did!
I brought her in.
Where is Royal Guards Captain Kim Eui-jun?
There's another interview room in the jail basement.
They took him there.
Your Majesty.
Who arrested you recklessly like this?
She a suspicious wench without a clear identity.
Her name isn't even real.
So what?
What?
She's a palace maid assigned to my inner court.
Do you need more explanation?
Royal Guards Captain Kim Eui-jun
tortured my attendant maid without permission
and put her in this state.
This is not different from hurting my body.
Therefore he'll be punished as if
he hurt the king.
Arrest him.
Yes, sir.
Let's go. Your body is a mess.
So-rang! So-rang!
Open your eyes, So-rang.
Cha-nyeon is locked up in jail right now.
If she spits out our names through torture…
Who says this put-up game is over?
Go tell him.
I need His Excellency's help
to get out of here.
Are you awake?
It's all my fault. All because of me…
Your Majesty.
I'm so glad you're alive.
Are you…
alright?
No.
Why did this happen?
They knew even the crown princess' shadow would sway me.
That's why they did this.
I will promise you
that I will erase it all.
Erase the crown princess?
I won't order you to receive the crown princess' spirit
anymore.
Then
my job is done here.
There is no reason…
for me to stay here anymore.
Don't you know why you're here?
Wasn't it to receive Her Highness' spirit?
No! You are
here to assist me.
So from now on, officially stay by my side
with the name So-rang.
But Your Majesty, I am…
Thank you
for living.
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
-Your Majesty! -That woman!
This time it's not in the princess's quarters.
Your Majesty!
You cannot, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Why…
Of all places why here…
Wouldn't this be a warning to So-rang?
-Your Majesty! -Your Majesty!
Who on earth…
did this?
I think
I should go to His Majesty.
I'm sorry.
I'm glad you're alive.
Why is everyone telling me they're glad I'm alive?
Did
something happen in the palace?
I said I'm alright.
Head Eunuch.
I'm so afraid.
Your Majesty…
Every year a person died in the palace?
The closest women to the king died one by one like that.
Six no, now seven.
Then the reason you were guarding me was
so I don't die by being hanged?
So-rang…
I'm right. I was the closest one to the king lately.
I was supposed to be the one hanging over there.
I said the palace was dangerous. You don't know what'll happen.
Still… How…
-How… -So
let's get out of the palace.
You wanted to live freely as well.
Can I live safely outside the palace?
I'll protect you by your side.
I
will stay by your side.
I think…
I need to go to His Majesty.
His Majesty's having a hard time.
Don't go.
You need to get treated first.
I will take you.
Please lie down.
So-rang.
Stay by my side.
What is the reason
I want to stay by your side even if I die?
Why don't I want to get out of here
even though I'll die?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I think I need to stay by His Majesty's side.
He's having a hard time.
You almost died in here.
How can you say that?
Just like you've protected His Majesty,
I too…
want to protect His Majesty.
Now, he's not the person
I want to protect.
He's not the person
I worry about.
Why is His Excellency still not here?
It's quite cold here. You've suffered in such a tough place.
My Lord, I've waited for you.
My eyes for a person weren't wrong.
I believed in you, that you'd be on my side to the end.
Of course, that's a given.
I promised you this.
Now that you're my person,
I'd never make you suffer.
Don't worry. I'll make you comfortable.
You must have been scared.
I know…
I'm sorry.
The fact they hung the corpse here means…
Soon
will they target So-rang?
You had me come all the way here.
The discipline of the palace
is a mess.
You need to take responsibility.
I do?
So what can I be responsible for?
A woman named Cha-nyeon was among the elite troops, acting like a soldier.
As you know, I'm a minister.
I am in charge of the Ministry of Defense
but how would I know every single soldier?
You can order them.
What order
Ah, if you get caught you commit suicide by hanging. Like this?
There's no way it's a suicide.
I've heard this story before.
There was one more person who committed suicide in the palace yesterday.
Another one?
Is there bad energy in the palace? Why do they keep killing themselves?
The dead is Royal Guards Captain Kim Eui-jun.
As far as I know, he was quite close to you.
How would I know a mere captain?
There's someone who saw you meeting him.
Then
I must have asked him
to protect His Majesty as a Royal Guard.
Ask him?
It wasn't cutting the tail off now that he's useless?
Show me evidence if there is any.
Don't just persist with suspicion without any evidence.
Your words are harsh.
While I'm at it, let me add one more.
I heard that the body was hanging
in a maid's room.
What was her name?
Lee Shin-won.
Do you think you'll be able to protect
what you want to protect until the end?
I was on my way out after the interrogation.
Shin-won, have you gotten the truth of the incident?
Are you curious about why this happened?
I can tell you that.
You are so weak
that these incidents sway you.
The sovereign
shouldn't care about every single life.
Shin-won.
Go bring everything that can be evidence.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Alright. Work hard.
Name Cha-nyeon is on the list of gisaeng of Wonju.
REGISTERED GISAENG LIST
She was a gisaeng?
Shin-won, you should go to Wonju.
Cha-nyeon?
She was kidnapped about fifteen days ago.
Kidnapped?
We don't know her whereabouts since then.
People with luggage pass by here all the time.
Since this is a crossroads.
Have you seen a woman looking like this picture?
I don't know.
How about a sack that would fit a person?
I heard they stacked them in that storage somewhere along that road.
But I'm too scared to go see.
Are you feeling better?
Yes, I'm a lot better.
What do you mean, better?
No, I'm fine.
Who do you think I am to worry about me so much?
Don't trust me too much.
Is there anywhere to trust in me?
I was told to keep quiet if someone has a secret
they don't want to talk about.
Is that why you're not asking about me?
Have you found anything that can be an evidence?
I'm in the middle of sorting them.
But what is this?
I found it in an abandoned storage in Wonju.
This should do.
There is something useful?
We stole her from a gisaeng house in Wonju.
I was so amazed when I saw her.
What is your name?
My name is Cha-nyeon.
My Lord, please spare my life.
This is the last royal wedding gown left in Joseon.
It suits you well.
If you do what you're told well I'll have you back in your hometown.
But if it goes wrong,
it will be hard to save your life.
What do you think?
Can you do well?
How could a kidnapped gisaeng become the crown princess?
It means organized kidnappers are affiliated to this incident.
You told me you'd spare my life and send me home when the work is all done!
That is when the work is done well.
Let go! Help!
You said you'll hang that palace maid there.
What is going on?
But we can't have Cha-nyeon live.
Why? Are you already fond of her?
Fond?
To think of all the time and effort that went into her to make her decent.
Then will you leave that palace maid alive?
What if she gets favored and gets pregnant?
In this situation she could go in the queen's court without any bloodshed.
Without going through the selection process.
I think you need to step up this time.
Step up?
Have you heard?
Lady Jong-dal of upper village got kidnapped again.
This is so frustrating!
Even if she gets kidnapped and forced to live with someone
she could just run away.
You scoundrel!
Would they just let her run away?
-If they don't? -They kidnap.
Then they take away her virginity first.
-Her virginity? -That's how Joseon is.
If a bride who's lost her virginity returns home they don't take her in
nor she can marry another person. So she just stays there.
-That's so scary. -That's horrible.
That's horrible.
Hae-yeong, that's why you need to see this world more realistically.
If you get to know, a person like me is the best.
First, I can protect you forever.
Who? Who protects who?
You need not worry about my Hae-yeong.
Why are you here everyday anyway?
I was just stopping by.
-With friends. -Then leave.
-Why are you guys always… -Coward?
-barking at each other? -It's late.
It's late, you should go.
I need to go to bed soon so I can come to work tomorrow.
-Go. -Hurry and go.
Are you still here?
I told you to leave early today. Hurry up.
Yes, Pop.
Maiden, come with me.
With me… I…
I will walk you home.
Should we hold hands?
Come walk with me…
Walk with me if you'll keep doing that.
Then I have no other choice but to walk with you.
Giddy up!
Let's go!
I'll get going.
What is it?
Hae-Yeong got kidnapped.
Hae-yeong? Oh no!
So-rang, stay inside for now.
-Let me come along. -Hurry!
Let's go.
So-rang…
Only wear flower shoes from now.
Do you think you can protect what you want to protect to the end?
The number of people targeting So-rang's life will increase
and be more tenacious.
Your Majesty!
Y-Your Majesty.
So-rang is… So-rang is…
Halt!
Captain, don't mind me.
Hurry and go! Hurry!
Attack!
Your Majesty, how are you…
The situation is urgent. Talk later.
My apologies.
This is not the time to figure out right and wrong to save So-rang.
Night watchmen found some suspicious movement near Gwanaksan.
Elite troops follow me and the rest will search Gwanaksan.
We must find her tonight.
Yes, Sire!
-What is that? -What?
THE FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
You need to stay alive.
I won't lose anyone by my side from now on.
It's gotten bright. Why isn't he here yet?
If the king's missing, we need to discuss about the vacant position.
So-rang…
The girl must have not been someone to be trusted.
The reason the king went outside the palace
was because of you?
Don't lie anymore.
I have a matter to see His Majesty about.
THE FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE