THE FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
THIS DRAMA IS FICTIONAL.
NAMES AND CONTENTS USED FOR PEOPLE, EVENTS, ETC ARE NOT REAL.
What is that?
What?
Please calm down. We're from the State Tribunal.
Ladies, please come out.
Please come out.
Do come out.
Come out.
We'll help you.
Was there anyone who was kidnapped and brought here today?
Today?
Oh, there was a strange woman.
She was clearly kidnapped here like us.
But she was shouting and bargaining her selling price.
Hey! Who do you think you're trading?
Just kill me if you're paying such a low price.
Do you think that's even enough for my funeral?
Hey!
Why are you splitting my price among yourselves?
Why are you so noisy for a hostage?
Give me half. How about a quarter?
-That must be So-rang. -It seems so.
Another woman was crying
while clutching a pouch in the corner.
She was crying so much that the other woman comforted her.
It's all right, Hae-yeong.
Darn it!
-Hae-yeong. -Hae-yeong.
They took the crying woman away first.
I'm not sure about the strange one.
All right.
Escort them safely to the government office.
Yes, sir. Please follow me.
Thank you.
I picked it up. You like these things, don't you?
You said that round pebbles look kind.
Captain, please look at this.
What is that?
A pebble I gave Hae-yeong.
This must be a signal from her.
Hae-yeong!
EPISODE 7
The moonlight is especially beautiful today.
I hope my bride will be just as beautiful.
I can assure you this time.
You will definitely be pleased.
I'm saying this for your sake.
Aren't we sick of each other?
Of course.
You can definitely look forward this one.
What do you think? She's nice, isn't she?
How adorable.
Oh my, this is a lot.
Then I shall take my leave.
Hello, my bride.
I am Um Gye-hoon.
Oh, I like my women with short hair.
Surely you can match your husband's tastes?
It looks good on you, fortunately.
Besides hair, I'm picky about a few other things.
I'll tell you slowly.
We will go this way.
Then we'll search the other trail.
Yes, sir.
Let's go.
Anyone home?
What brings you here at night?
I'm from the State Tribunal. May I do a simple search?
We are looking for a woman who was kidnapped.
Oh my, how terrifying.
Please do as you like.
That way.
Hae-yeong…
is here.
-Hae-yeong. -Hae-yeong.
-Hae-yeong!
Hae-yeong.
Hae-yeong!
-Hae-yeong! -Hae-yeong!
-Hae-yeong, wake up. -Hae-yeong!
Hae-yeong.
I hate it when people
touch the things I paid for.
Get your hands off her right now.
You jerk.
And who are you?
Are you hurt anywhere?
Thanks to you I am saved.
How is she alive?
How do you know this woman?
She must be got rid of by today.
Shall we set this place on fire?
We'll be caught if we do it ourselves.
Don't you know?
I never leave any stray evidence.
If we don't kill her today, it'll come back to bite us later.
Look at the bigger picture.
With this girl we can shake up King Lee Heon some more.
If this girl hangs herself in front of the king…
Who knows?
The king may get off the throne on his own from the repeated shocks.
But I'll only be satisfied if I see her dead right now.
Oh, how about
we kill her right now and dump her body in the king's chambers?
So he finds her dead as he pulls the covers?
Good idea.
We'll make him crumple like that.
Please wait.
I'll get Na Sang-joo to do the dirty deed.
Oh, there is something else I want you to do after this.
Please kidnap a few more women.
Don't we do that all the time?
Not just any ordinary woman this time.
They shall all be the daughters of noble families.
You intend to cut them from the selection process, eh?
Your Majesty, please take a look at this.
Open it.
"Your Majesty"? Does that mean my savior is the king?
It doesn't seem like he's done this once or twice.
We don't know where the victims are.
Make sure you get to the bottom of his crimes thus far.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Isn't it strange?
These kidnapping organizations are rampantly hurting women.
But the police bureau was unable to catch a single person.
-Wait a minute! -Go in!
What crime did I commit?
Oh? That's the guy! The kidnapper who sold me off.
Where is your hideout?
The palace guards have just stormed in.
How did they find this place?
Sang-joo, listen up.
Kill this wench by tonight and dump her in the crown princess' chambers.
You understand?
Yes, ma'am. Please get out of here first.
Are you sure it's here?
This is the only place I know.
I'm telling the truth.
Where did they all go?
Who are you guys?
Would you know if we told you?
Why not? We might know you.
The kidnappers were looted by us.
See, you need our permission to go through this mountain.
That's all you need to know.
But… we can't permit you.
What should we do?
What is going on? Are they taking me too?
A fight broke out between two groups at Mount Shinwoong.
One group seems to be the kidnappers but the other…
They must be bandits.
The bandits will abduct the kidnapped women.
-What? -Bandits know the mountains well.
They're fearsome guys who can even catch tigers.
I told Head Eunuch that I'll be back before sunrise
but I'm afraid that's impossible.
-Go tell him that. -Yes, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, leave it to us to find So-rang.
We don't know what will happen tonight.
Let's head to Mount Shinwoong.
You need to stay alive. Do not get hurt.
I won't lose anyone by my side from now on.
Please!
What? You let her get stolen?
I will set off with the kidnappers again.
I don't care if she arrives dead.
Bring that girl to me at all costs.
Yes sir.
You will form three groups to search the mountain.
The first group to find the bandits
must raise a smoke signal.
-Go. -Yes sir!
My gosh! You first.
Darn it, that scared me.
What's with this atmosphere?
Don't tell me I'm dead again?
Are you okay, Miss?
What? What is this guy?
Goodness me.
It's already morning. Why is His Majesty not back?
Didn't you get the message that he won't be back today?
Then when will he be back?
My goodness.
Why are you here so early in the morning?
I would like to ask the same.
Why is Your Excellency here at this time?
Seeing Head Eunuch and Chief Court Lady waiting here,
does that mean that King Lee Heon is outside the palace?
Because of that girl.
I wish to see His Majesty. I have something urgent to tell him.
This early in the morning?
As His Majesty caught a severe cold today,
he is unable to receive his morning greetings.
Did the royal doctor and pharmacist see him already?
We will call them now.
Let's go. I'll walk you there.
Yong-bae and Gyu-bong, you may go out.
Don't play dumb.
Where am I?
Please come here.
Goodness. How smart!
Good job.
This place is called Gongnyang Village.
I am Bal Ran-tan, the chief of this place.
Bal Ran-tan?
Why am I at this place?
All this time, we have saved the kidnapped women
and kept them out of harm's way.
Those who chose not to return to their hometowns
are living in this village.
Since marriage is banned in Joseon,
lovers who fled for their love have also settled down here.
It's a game of yut!
-It's sleeping! -It looks like you.
Is that why it's so full of love?
I have a few things to ask you.
Do you have any acquaintances that have relations to the State Tribunal?
Oh, my best friend…
is just an old bachelor who works in the mines.
He couldn't get married.
What was your job back in town?
Have the rumors of my prowess yet to reach here?
I am So-rang, the legendary compatibility reader!
Have you not heard of Aedaldang at Insagol?
The front is a fortune-telling tea house
but I read the compatibility of young men and women
and help connect forbidden bonds at the back.
Oh my! Seems like we work in the same field.
-Is that so? -Yes.
Please forgive me for asking you such pressing questions.
This place has to be kept an absolute secret, you see.
Well, it's all right.
Oh, and you saved me from being kidnapped.
Thank you so much.
May I leave now?
I need to get to somewhere urgently.
Unfortunately, until we can verify your trustworthiness,
you will have to stay here.
Please be understanding.
We just want to protect ourselves in this country that calls us lawbreakers.
Please stay here. We will handle it.
You mean you got married without checking your compatibility?
My, my.
I know you had to skip many traditions.
But that's not right!
Okay, listen up.
Why do we have to check our compatibility?
Compatibility consists of an outer but also an inner kind.
Since we cannot check our inner compatibility
before getting married,
we try to predict inner compatibility using one's birth date and time.
Do you get it now?
Since the two of you already know it, I'll drop the topic.
So-rang!
Your Majesty.
We're outnumbered.
Once the palace guards…
Your… Your Majesty!
Your Majesty?
How dare you harass the King's palace lady?
How dare you bully the State Tribunal Captain's best friend?
It seems like
you weren't trustworthy after all.
Court Lady Won, what are you planning?
Seriously!
Please wait here first.
Goodness.
Court Lady Won.
Court Lady Won!
What are you planning to do?
Oh my.
Why are you doing this?
Ouch!
But this is…
Come in please.
Your Majesty, I shall take your pulse.
Did you always have such thick hands?
He was sick the whole night.
Huh? His body…
Was he always so huge?
It seems like his body is swollen all over.
I don't think so.
No one gets this huge just because they're swollen.
His Majesty would like to rest now.
Please come back in the afternoon.
That's… weird.
So-rang.
Are you hurt anywhere?
That is what I want to ask, Your Majesty.
What did you just call him? "Your Majesty"?
Oh, his nickname is "Majestic Lee."
I see.
Then we can call him "Lee the Punk" from now on.
Lee the Punk.
It was not my decision to charge at them.
It was mine. Are you okay?
I thought she was nice lady but she brought palace guards here.
-To be exact, it was not me… -Shut it!
I'll show you how we protected this lovely village thus far.
Is His Majesty really away?
The cat must have followed along when I tried to catch the rat.
What do you plan to do?
If the king's missing, we need to talk about the vacant position.
Then…
We should at least
place a puppet king on the throne among his relatives in the countryside.
King Lee Heon has to be discovered
as a dead body who could not return to the palace.
However, if this plan fails,
we will be convicted of treason.
Why do you think of it like that?
A death caused by petty bandits.
Or perhaps…
Bitten to death by a tiger sounds good too.
How could you lie to us?
I did not lie.
I was possessed.
There are a few souls that go in and out of my body…
So-rang, are you getting possessed again?
She's… possessed. The shaman is getting possessed!
Is that real?
-My gosh, there's something. -Goodness.
Go and see.
Brother?
It's you! My eldest brother.
It's me, Ran-hee!
I'm sorry, Brother.
You must have been surprised when I left, right?
You say you're my sister Ran-hee?
I was kidnapped.
That's why you cried a lot.
But do you know?
I was always by your side when you cried.
Ran-hee…
You should have cried less.
Then I would've been less sad too.
I never knew… you were by my side.
But I don't think my kidnapping was my fault.
The bad guys were at fault. I didn't do anything wrong.
Of course. Don't blame yourself.
It was never your fault.
So you should stop blaming yourself, Brother.
You save kidnapped women
because you think of them as me.
You bring lovers together,
let them live here and protect them.
Because of all your kind deeds,
I get to go to a better place.
I came here today to tell you this.
You're the best brother I had, so stop feeling guilty towards me.
Ran-hee…
You can let me go, right?
Of course. My Ran-hee…
You should go to a better place.
Also, these people here
are good people, so don't harm them.
They will definitely make the world a better place.
Okay.
Then I shall get going now.
Be well, Brother.
Come over here.
What is this place?
It's a place where everyone lives together
knowing that love is the most important thing in life.
Oh, my.
Come here! Why are you crying?
Get it done already.
One, two, three. Minus one!
-Oh my. Geon-woo won! -Geon-woo won!
Geon-woo, I must be a fool.
It's a place where we comfort and look after one another.
Please bow to each other.
Now that they had an informal wedding,
I declare this couple husband and wife forever.
Wow!
Congratulations.
I'll protect you for the rest of our lives.
It's a place where love can happen in a country that has forbidden it.
-Oh my! -There, there.
Those guys used to live as bandits on Mount Shinwoong.
But they were positively influenced
after seeing us live and gather together through love.
Now they protect our Gongnyang Village.
I see. They look like kind people.
Uh… Well…
Miss Shaman.
-There's something I want to know. -Okay.
We may look like this but we're not that brutish.
After seeing the villagers living happily in pairs,
we'd like to get married…
And we hope to get a bride.
We'd like to know when we'll have lovers.
That answer…
He has it.
Me?
Do I reveal my identity here?
Have you heard of a blind meeting?
I've heard of it.
How about having a group blind meeting with women?
That'd be great!
A group blind meeting?
The person who shall arrange it will be him.
Goodness.
Don't be shocked.
The women he will set you up with are none other than… palace ladies!
-Wow! -It hurts.
When disaster befell the country in the past,
it was said to be caused by the fury of palace ladies who could not marry.
Therefore, dozens of palace ladies were sent out and allowed to marry
for the prosperity of the country.
What are you getting at?
When the ladies get out of the palace, they'll still be seolos.
Therefore, isn't it best to host a group blind meeting?
However, everything depends on the matchmaker, Lee over here.
How come? What is his identity?
-This person here… -No.
He…
serves the country…
-Lower your hand. -as an eunuch!
-You don't have it? -He looks normal.
We found someone more pitiful than us.
I… I'm perfectly normal.
Goodness.
Majestic Lee. You will matchmake them, right?
-I shall. -Wow.
I shall request for the king to allow palace ladies to come out.
He agreed. Come here! He agreed.
Come here.
Although you'll only be able to marry when the marriage ban is lifted,
it's good to form relationships before that.
Of course!
Okay.
Let's do it fairly, eldest first.
Surround them!
What is going on?
How dare you?
I didn't know he canceled the assembly
until I got here.
I heard that His Majesty has a bad cold. Did that incident affect him badly?
That's not what I heard.
Pardon?
I heard that His Majesty disappeared without a trace last night.
What?
Perhaps His Majesty had something urgent to settle.
There's no need to fuss.
Especially since there was a suicide in the palace,
His Majesty must have felt perplexed.
Then… what shall we do?
Then we have to
prepare ourselves for unexpected scenarios.
I have something to say. Please gather inside.
What do you mean?
The king has disappeared? How come?
It seems like His Majesty had a lot on his mind lately.
Of course he did. Another body was found in the palace after all.
This time it was found in a maid's quarters instead.
-A maid? -According to rumors, she…
Put down all your weapons.
Where are you going?
We've already violated the law.
Let's not increase our crimes.
Withdraw all your weapons.
I did not see anyone who violated the law.
Did you, Shin-won?
I did not, Your Majesty.
Ouch. My eyes…
The king's quarters announced that His Majesty is absent because of a cold.
But that is a lie.
For reasons unknown, His Majesty left the palace and did not return.
Since he turned his back on the people,
I'd like to prepare for the current crisis as a subject of the king.
Then shall we announce
that the king has vacated his throne?
The first issue we should discuss
is the lack of a successor to look after national affairs.
Let's decide on a successor first.
You…
That seems too early for now.
One would think
that you can't wait for my death.
-Jeez. -Seriously.
-Ouch. -It hurts.
Oh my.
Me too. Do it for me.
If you wanted to announce my vacancy,
I should have disappeared without showing up, first of all.
Failing to consider your wishes…
I was too thoughtless.
Is it too late to do so now?
Next, you gathered my ministers when they were busy with state affairs
but I admit I feigned sick.
Things have become complicated.
However,
I have something to say while you're all here.
So I'll take it positively.
Last night, I went out to the streets
and tracked down kidnappers who have been
endangering others at night.
One thing I've learnt…
is that many appeals have not reached me.
The subordinates must have mishandled…
The police bureau is backed by huge amounts of national funds.
Yet they were unable to catch a single kidnapper.
Minister of War.
How is this the fault of your subordinates?
My apologies, Your Majesty.
As of now, the police bureau is taken off the kidnapping case
and future investigations
will be done by the State Tribunal.
TRANSACTION RECORDS
I found this document at the kidnappers' hideout.
It tells where the kidnapped women were sent to in each district
and contains the locations of each base.
Start investigating these places now and drive the criminals out.
It will be an interesting game of hide and seek.
What are you doing?
Last night an attendant maid of the king was kidnapped on the streets.
Didn't you fail to prevent it out of incompetence?
Everyone pack up. You are all dismissed.
Lee Shin-won, how dare you?
Was this what you wanted to protect, Your Excellency?
Well, I'm afraid you've failed.
Please forgive us for being rude, Your Majesty.
I should be the one apologizing.
You protected my people that I failed to protect.
They are guilty of violating the strict laws
but they merely wish to live their lives loving each other.
I hope that the law will no longer restrict their beautiful feelings.
I do not mind if I am captured and blamed for such crimes
but please do not punish the people of Gongnyang Village.
I clearly said it earlier.
I have never seen any criminals.
What you said is right.
It is only natural to be together with the one you love.
The country should not restrict it.
I have vowed to lift the marriage ban by this year.
I will make sure to keep my word.
How wonderful.
For you and Gongnyang Village,
as well as for all the people of Joseon,
and for your poor sister who has left the world…
I promise to punish all the kidnappers.
Thank you, Miss Shaman.
I was able to see my Ran-hee once more.
Oh… Don't mention it.
The world that you dream of will definitely come true.
A world where people are allowed to love each other.
I shall get going.
Take care.
Goodbye. Take care!
Remember our blind meeting!
The confiscated document
contains the locations of where the kidnappings took place.
I can't believe you caught the kidnappers yourself.
These were meticulous criminals who never left traces.
You did a great job, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
This did not help me understand them.
How painful it must have been for the people
to see their sisters, wives and mothers get kidnapped.
I made a promise to the people of Mount Shinwoong.
I said that I would host a blind meeting for them with palace ladies.
-Pardon? -More importantly,
I have to lift the marriage ban quickly
so that they can start their families.
For everyone to live in love and happiness,
I have to do the same.
Are you all right?
Goodness gracious. How could you be kidnapped?
-My gosh. -Oh my.
I'm glad you're all right.
That why you should stay in the palace for good.
Oh? Do you really wish for that?
Huh?
There is something I would like to ask.
The moment you heard that So-rang was kidnapped,
your eyes lit up with fury
and you rushed out with your sword.
I did?
His Majesty was suffering from a terrible fever, as you know.
Yes. He must still be sick.
But his eyes suddenly lit up and he said that he had to go to town.
I couldn't even stop him.
Because of me?
Do you perhaps love her?
Who, So-rang?
Love? Jeez.
So-rang.
-What? -Let's go to the medical office.
You may seem fine but there might be internal injuries.
Go get your pulse checked.
Oh… It's fine.
But…
That was a lie, right?
Being possessed by the chief's sister.
You were acting, right?
Please come here.
RAN-HEE, KIDNAPPED
A sister…
Oh.
Come on.
How would we have escaped if I hadn't done that?
Don't lie anymore.
Okay. I… have to get ready for work.
See you later.
The feeling of love…
What would that be?
Firstly, you want to be alone with her.
Even her slightest movement makes your heart race.
Of course my heart would race. She's too boisterous.
She makes your heart pound and you keep thinking of her.
It's like she fills up a huge space in your heart.
You hate seeing her with another man more than dying.
That's how it feels.
No way!
Gosh… No way.
You'll want to be with her for a long time and share your heart.
Are you still unsure?
It is not the feeling of love.
It feels as if my heart is being weighed down.
It hurts and throbs.
Yet I am unable to get rid of this weight.
But So-rang is so distracting. She's noisy even when she's quiet.
When I hear her stories, it feels like she's lying sometimes.
How is this love at all?
Still, isn't she on your mind sometimes?
She's on my mind, of course.
Looking at her, I'm worried for her future.
Jeez.
Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager seeks your presence.
Tell her that I've returned safely.
Still…
I will let her know that you are taking a bath.
We have prepared warm water for you.
Please take a rest. You must be tired.
Very well.
The king went out of the palace simply because of you?
Aren't you off-duty today? Why aren't you resting?
There is something I wish to see His Majesty for.
Your Majesty, I have brought a towel for you.
All right.
Have you seen a doctor? Are you hurt?
Why are you back at work?
I am fine.
Well…
There is something I wish to tell you.
Your Majesty.
Thank you.
After all, you went out of the palace to save me.
I wanted to thank you for that.
I should be the one thanking you.
I learnt a lot at Gongnyang Village.
I should've reformed Joseon earlier.
Into a place where the people can live in love and happiness.
I caught all the kidnappers who harmed you.
The investigation bureaus have also been reformed. All thanks to you.
Not at all.
Oh… Let me wipe your sweat.
No, it's all right.
Then… I shall call other attendants to serve you.
Oh… No need for that.
Firstly, you want to be alone with her.
Even her slightest movement makes your heart race.
Your Majesty.
-There's a petal on your face. -A petal?
Oh.
No, not there.
The other side…
I mean.
That…
She makes your heart pound
and you keep thinking of her.
It's like she fills up a huge space in your heart.
So-rang.
I'm glad you're fine.
Your Majesty.
Your shirt is translucent.
THE FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
I don't want it if you're not sincere.
When she disappeared,
my heart felt suffocated.
I think these are… feelings of love.
What is the reason that she's alive up till now?
We need to get rid of Lee Shin-won first.
These are the palace ladies who left.
Why is So-rang on this list?
I don't want to be a dead person's substitute.
I have no way of knowing how you feel, Your Majesty.
Do not leave me.
That's how I truly feel.
THE FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE