THE FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
THIS DRAMA IS FICTIONAL.
NAMES AND CONTENTS USED FOR PEOPLE, EVENTS, ETC ARE NOT REAL.
Please stay safe.
Head Eunuch, were you aware?
Aware of what?
This is
the updated list of leaving palace ladies.
WON-NYEO
Shin-won…
What happened to you?
Oh, Your Majesty.
Why are you here?
I heard
today was your day off.
Then you should have
let me rest.
It's hard on you, right?
Shin-won was your pillar of support in the palace.
Well…
I don't feel good either.
I know how you feel.
Shin-won
was someone close to our hearts.
Your Majesty.
Lean on me if you're struggling.
I am your lover after all.
EPISODE 9
What happened? Why are you leaving?
Let go of my hand first.
Someone might see us.
Did you really agree to it?
Why? You've been in the palace for years.
Still, I have to find them.
My husband and son are outside the palace.
Didn't you lose contact with them? How would you find them?
When longing turns into resentment,
it hardens into a stone.
That is why…
I have stones in here.
If this goes on,
I won't be able to live with the weight.
What if you can't find them?
Making the effort to find them
is the right thing to do to soothe my heart
from bottling up all these years.
Can't you just stay here?
You should look after His Majesty.
Even if you leave,
wait until he gets married…
Please?
Here.
Just eat three spoonsful.
Why didn't you tell me despite knowing?
Tell you what? That Chun-seok had a short life?
You knew that.
You made me feel bad…
How can I if you're not meant to be?
Would you have accepted Chun-seok if I asked you to?
But…
The thing about destiny and fate
is that we humans cannot go against it.
You keep harping on about destiny.
Was it my destiny to almost die from kidnapping?
So-rang almost died too.
She's now on the path fated for her.
No one said the path is straight.
Even if your feet blister and bleed,
that's the path you have to take.
Getting lost and wandering about is part of the path.
Goodness.
Hae-yeong.
You never know whether it's a road of flowers or stones
until you walk through it.
Not here please, Your Majesty.
Why can't I? We're lovers.
That's not right.
Why do you want to do it here when you have a better room?
Because you're not there.
Then, you want me to work even in my room?
Work?
Are you saying that all of that was work to you?
Do you know
how hard it is to put you to sleep?
I don't think you can say that
when you always black out before me.
I don't…
I don't always black out, I just…
fall asleep from time to time.
Then…
I shall do that for you today.
-Do what? -Put you to sleep.
Lie down.
Gosh, seriously.
Then…
please promise me
that nothing will happen.
What will happen?
I share this room with Court Lady Won.
In such a place…
scandalous things
shouldn't happen, should they?
I… I am…
Don't you know how pure
and innocent I am?
For seven long years, I have…
For seven years, I have…
Lie down.
Today,
I will put you to sleep. Close your eyes.
That's uncomfortable.
So close your eyes, quick.
Your Majesty, I'm sorry but…
Come back later if you're sorry.
Go to sleep.
The boys are back.
We, Choi Seon-hyeok
and Ji Hwal have returned after carrying out Your Majesty's orders.
All right.
Did you find Shin-won?
Have you found
Lee Shin-won?
-No. -It's best to get rid of everything.
-The drawers were empty. -Did it look like
they were tipped off in advance?
Do you think one of our people was bought over?
You were at such a close distance,
how could you fail?
Someone took the shot for him.
I have no excuses.
Lee Shin-won
must not be left alive.
Even if you chase him to the ends of the earth,
you must get rid of Lee Shin-won.
Yes, ma'am.
We…
did not find him.
He didn't go back to his home.
We were unable to find his whereabouts anywhere.
Find him at all costs. And then…
Bring him back to the palace?
No.
Check whether he's safe first.
Sang-joo.
He's leaving,
show him out.
Lady! I…
I will make sure to pull it off this time! Lady!
We shouldn't let him live.
That fellow doesn't have what it takes
to kill others anyway.
I heard the news.
You can no longer
run a business by selling women.
What do you plan to do now?
This is the time
for you to dance
and be merry.
The thing you've been working towards
will now be realized.
If we can't run the kidnapping business,
it means that
the marriage ban
is no longer needed.
In that case…
Your Majesty.
The royal wedding cannot be delayed anymore.
Please choose a consort soon
and fill the position of the Queen.
Of course.
The royal wedding shouldn't
be held any later.
The ministers are acting like this
when they've always thrown excuses.
Although we have to hold the selection process,
I'm worried about So-rang.
To have someone other than So-rang as a consort…
That shouldn't happen.
There is a way.
That is to…
To…
To?
Right away.
Oh.
If So-rang is pregnant with a prince
of this country,
it may be possible.
So-rang can become the Queen.
For her to be pregnant, I must first…
I can't do that.
Things are going too fast.
How is it fast? You are lovers already.
Still, I can't do it.
I need time to get to know her more.
Could it be that
you don't have sincere feelings towards her?
What do you mean? I'm totally sincere about her.
Then…
I shall make them for you.
Make what?
Opportunities for you to know each other
and get closer.
The Namsangol Hour Market?
Yes.
Have you been there?
Of course. It's a market
that opens for an hour,
hence its name.
Yes.
I wanted to take time to observe the lives of civilians,
what do you think?
Let's go together.
We can go and have look.
Or buy a few knick-knacks.
Your Majesty.
That is not a place of leisure.
That place is
peak opportunity.
We should make money.
You mean…
You want to take part in the chaos?
It will full of people.
We should lay out a mat.
Well…
I'm the king. I don't need to earn money
or need more of it.
Your Majesty,
I see you have not learnt the joy of earning money.
Then…
what do you want to sell?
Okay. I'll ask them to bring the most expensive royal treasure.
You lack customer knowledge.
To earn money,
we should sell expensive things.
All we need is thread.
Thread?
Are these knot ornaments? Please make me one.
-Me too. -Me too.
Please choose the colors.
Knot ornaments?
-I want this one. -I want this.
Here.
They are ten cents each.
Ten cents?
Thank you.
So-rang.
A spool of thread is less than ten cents.
How can these knot ornaments be sold at ten cents?
That is called
doing business, Majestic Lee.
No, isn't this… a scam?
It feels like a scam.
I was originally
-a real scammer. -Oh.
Do look at the colors.
I'll be able to marry if I get a knot, right?
The selection process will happen soon.
Once the marriage ban ends,
I'll get you a husband.
Everyone, please choose your colors.
Okay, it's ten cents.
Please look carefully.
Well, Majestic Lee.
If you have hands, don't laze around
and help raise the supply.
Oh, all right.
Here, have a look at the colors.
This will look good on you.
But this…
Is it…
like this…
Like this.
This… My awful hands.
I should throw this away.
Oh, leave it be.
That's ours.
You want to keep this for us?
I like that better.
Did you use to run such a business?
Like these warp and weft threads,
I used to tie the threads between people.
However,
I couldn't tie proper knots for them.
Now,
you should
remove the marriage ban.
Tie the knots between these young men and women.
That's all you need to do.
Here you go.
All right, it's a shame
but we are out of materials for today.
We're closed for the day.
All right.
-Let's go. -Okay.
You said you wanted to play.
It's okay. You were right.
Earning money is much more fun.
We should…
tie our knot too.
HANDICRAFT
Majestic, look at this.
You want to buy this? Why are you spending
your hard-earned money here?
Please give us two.
That'll be four cents.
That looks delicious.
Here. Can't have it, eh?
Can't catch it, right? Catch it quick.
What a fool.
Catch it quick.
It's springy.
Off with his limbs!
This man
gets angry easily.
Can we allow anyone like him
to draw the king's portrait?
No one here
knows you're His Majesty.
Please smile.
Goodness.
It is so beautiful.
-Please give me that knot. -You mean
that piece of trash? It looks weird.
So what if it was poorly-made?
Majestic Lee was the one
who made it himself.
How pretty.
Hey, you there.
Are you tying the knots again?
-Was it illegal? -Well, marriage is banned.
By right, all of these
are not allowed.
They're strict on these too?
Why…
should I run away? I'm the king.
Then I shall leave on my own.
I told you to stop. Why don't you listen?
Wait for me.
Why are you looking at me like that?
You smelt nice.
Why are you
so clingy today?
What, me? When did I?
So-rang.
I'm thinking of
untying my robes here today.
Right now?
Why?
Do you not want me to?
Well…
That's not it.
Then…
what will happen to me?
Will I
become a concubine?
I believed you when you said you were leaving the palace.
You're as uneducated as I thought.
Are you changing your words now?
No matter how much
you shake up His Majesty's feelings,
the selection process will proceed as usual
and the queen will be someone else.
I'll let you remain as a concubine
favored by the king.
No matter who brings me one,
I want to see a prince.
I…
do not want that.
-What did you say? -I do not
have the caliber to become
the king's concubine.
I also do not have the caliber
to give birth to a prince.
In that case,
I need to have your word again.
Promise that
you will never be
an obstacle to the selection process.
I will
not rise to any title.
Don't worry.
I'll make you my queen no matter what.
Does Your Majesty
know my name?
I do not
know that name.
Even the name "So-rang"
was given to me as I wandered about.
I do not have a name given by my parents
nor do I know my origins.
How can I become a royal consort?
Why do you not think of ways
to stay by my side, when you're my lover?
You said you wouldn't leave me.
It was never my plan
to receive an official rank.
You love me
but you do not want to become my wife?
Your Majesty.
This is
enough for us.
It is not enough for me.
I cannot swallow my feelings from here on.
Then do you think I can?
Let us
think about it more, Your Majesty.
Oh.
Welcome.
I…
drew a story.
Can you take a look?
What is it?
I can't show it to you here.
Please excuse us.
Wow.
I see.
Could love be blossoming?
Once,
there lived a silly fool.
Pardon?
He has never touched a woman's hand
or even brushed past a woman.
But he was a typical seolo
who was full of romance.
There was a woman whom he liked.
Would that silly seolo
be able to let the lady know
that he likes her?
Only when she fell in danger,
did he realize.
That he could not live without the lady.
Not long ago, a friend of his went to a faraway place.
He was a love rival who liked the same pretty lady.
Seeing his friend pass on helplessly,
the man was dumbfounded.
The fool finally realized something.
Even if there was a marriage ban,
he should not hide his feelings.
If he hides his feelings as dictated by the country,
he might lose the lady forever.
Thus,
this fool would like to confess his feelings now.
Hae-yeong.
When this marriage ban ends,
will you marry me?
Do-seok.
Can't you stay?
I made this decision after thorough consideration.
Without Captain Lee Shin-won
and with you leaving,
who can I lean on in this palace?
The king is your lover.
You can't be happier than that.
I'm not sure.
Somehow,
I don't think this love
will end in happiness.
Why do you think that?
You don't know the power of love.
Why do you think I'm leaving to find my husband
at this age?
Love is not something
you can win against with your will.
I don't know if my heart is aching
because of this bitter longing
or is it due to the heartache of leaving.
I can't even tell that apart.
What should we do about us?
His Majesty has arrived.
Your Majesty.
Why did you
come all the way here?
Is it because of the matter you asked for earlier?
No, it's not.
I came to say goodbye.
Thank you for all these years.
To me,
you were like my mother.
Thanks to you,
I wasn't lonely in this palace.
Can I
give you a hug?
Your Majesty.
Farewell, Court Lady Won.
Your Majesty. Seon-hyeok and Hwal are back.
What happened with Shin-won?
Who are you?
He asked Your Majesty
to stop looking for him.
What brings you all the way here?
How about some drinks?
How did you find this place?
Mr. Pickax sure is psychic.
"You'll be able to find Captain Lee if you head this way."
That's what he said.
Don't call me Captain anymore.
-I've left my post. -Then…
Shin-won?
Please don't joke around. I'm not older than you.
Weren't you born in the Year of the Tiger? I'm two years younger.
If you're two years younger,
you're Chun-seok's age.
Please speak comfortably with me.
Did something happen?
I…
confessed my feelings.
To Hae-yeong.
Do-seok.
I…
still do not know
the meaning of love.
You telling me this
makes me feel strange and awkward.
It's uncomfortable too.
But, Shin-won.
Will I be able to forget everything if I try?
Your feelings.
are like my left hand.
It was always on my body
but I can't move it however I want.
Nor can I train it.
Does that mean you can't use that arm anymore?
There is a very slight chance, but…
If hope is so slim,
I rather not have any.
What will you do then?
My arm doesn't hurt.
But my heart does.
That must be because
there's hope in you.
It wouldn't hurt if you've given up completely.
If coming to the mountains heals hearts,
I wanted to stay here for good too.
Your Majesty, are you free?
There is something I need to show you.
What is this?
Now that the two of you are together,
I have prepared a small present for you.
Everything that happens here in the future
shall be kept secret.
Isn't this out in the open?
How is it open?
It's quite cozy if you go inside.
I have asked around.
Perhaps because So-rang spent her days roaming about,
she enjoys sleeping outdoors.
But this and that…
-are different things. -Are they really?
Please have faith once again in your…
skillful schemer.
His Majesty
must have dropped by.
So-rang.
All right. You may leave.
Why didn't you rest more?
My.
Your Majesty.
When did you leave the flowers?
Well, I…
didn't want to wake you.
Did you miss me already?
Yes…
Did you make the bouquet yourself?
That's enough. You can stop.
Why?
Can't I do this to my lover?
Wait…
I have a lot to do. See you at night.
Anyone there?
-Please come over. -This way.
I see that His Majesty kept his promise and sent you.
I'm afraid…
that the group meeting cannot be held
just like this.
-Why not? -You know why.
-Do you not like how we look? -Yes.
-Don't be so brutal. Really? -Yes.
You're so truthful. I can only agree.
Oh well.
Going to the group meeting looking like this
will only bring you splashes of water or slaps.
That means…
the fault lies in our faces, right?
However,
there's me.
Up till yesterday, I was
the best court lady in Joseon.
I am the best at removing dirt and making things shine, no matter what.
Ma'am!
However,
I have one condition.
What is it?
I'm looking for a man.
His name is Hwang Dong-sik.
We parted ways 25 years ago.
He is my husband.
It's fine.
Everything's fine now that you're back.
I have kept
all your palace belongings here.
Young Master.
You worked so hard and kept busy just to reach that position.
How did this happen to a pure man like you…
These books looked important
so I kept them here.
Oh dear.
Why is His Majesty acting like that?
I can't believe
I gave this to His Majesty.
I was so immature.
A COUPLE'S LEWD WORLD
LOVE ME.
You…
You must've been busy, Young Master. I thought you were pure.
-That's not it. -My, I'm so forgetful.
I forgot to feed the dog.
Wait, it's not like that.
This doesn't look like mine.
FROM LEE JEONG-HAK
Why does he want me to work here today?
What is all this?
Let us…
have some meat out here
and sit by the fire.
We can feel the mood outdoors
and enjoy a glass of liquor too.
You want to drink outside?
We can…
drink in there.
Then let's drink first!
Why is there a mattress there?
If you get tired while drinking,
you can sit or lie there.
What?
That's a great idea.
Why didn't I think of that?
Then shall we
get started now?
Shall we?
You must have been shocked then.
When I brought you those books of art.
Why are you bringing that up now?
When I was tidying up the chambers,
I found the book.
Looking at it again…
I was truly immature.
How could I think of
giving the great king such a book?
So have you matured now?
But I was more surprised the other time.
You were really beautiful then.
You mean…
when I spun like this?
Did I tell you?
Everything that happens here will be kept secret.
Whether you drink
and cause a racket, dance or even
do something scandalous.
Since you said everything that happens here
will be kept secret.
Don't.
Can't I?
Stop it. You should…
try getting denied too.
But I can't hold back.
You told me to hold it in.
I don't think I can do that.
FROM LEE JEONG-HAK
She knew that I was
her future husband?
Is your name Lee Shin-won?
The first son of that willow tree house?
Then what did you do before the marriage ban?
I was a beggar.
Ye Hyeon-seon.
You knew it was me
yet you pretended not to?
Pop.
Pop!
-What happened? -Captain Lee.
He got a sudden fever
and has been groaning.
Sir, are you okay?
He's in old age.
We never know what will happen to him.
I think you should
call his family members.
In that case,
we need to call So-rang.
There you are.
I searched a long time for you.
What's the matter?
You received a letter from outside the palace.
SO-RANG, POPS IS CRITICALLY ILL. COME QUICK.
Why are you awake?
Earlier in the day,
I talked to the Chief Secretary.
If the problem is your lack of name and status, what do you think
of being adopted by a noble family?
I've thought about it carefully.
Please don't say no to this.
Your Majesty.
I think
I need to return home.
I have to check.
What brings you here?
Inform the lady.
That her once prospective son-in-law is here.
How dare he come here?
Bring out all the weapons from the storage room.
I'll use force if need be.
Oh.
Serve the minister some snowbell sap.
Things may get noisy.
It's better for him to sleep.
Yes, ma'am.
You came to see me?
You were almost my mother-in-law.
No reason why I can't come.
You think
I'm still eyeing you as a husband
for my Hyeon-seon?
You still call your second child
"Hyeon-seon"?
Watch your words!
Isn't the real Ye Hyeon-seon someone else?
How dare you spout such nonsense
without any basis?
I was once Captain of the State Tribunal.
Do you think I came without evidence?
YE HYEON-SEON
That is absolute nonsense.
Your band of people
conspired with the kidnappers to pull off
such a treacherous act, no?
Treacherous?
The traitor
of this country is someone else.
The wench who fooled the king of Joseon.
That is So-rang.
Once I say the word,
she will be decapitated right away.
Do not speak rashly.
Didn't you know?
She has absolutely
no spiritual powers whatsoever.
Go and ask her yourself.
When did she gain her divine powers?
Don't you know that everything
from that mouth of hers are all lies?
If you want her dead,
then go ahead and tell everyone.
That So-rang
is the real Ye Hyeon-seon.
What did he say? Did he threaten you?
I knew it.
I should have reported that wench
for being a scammer.
An investigation would've complicated things.
We could've been mentioned.
Will you leave him be?
His arm is completely useless.
Can his pulse even be felt?
Even if I'm not here,
please eat your meals
and sleep well.
They will be your guards.
You don't have to do this.
I can only feel at ease if I do this.
In that case, thanks for your help.
I'll be back.
Pop, why do you look so frail?
You're as skinny as a dried persimmon.
Your Highness.
What brings you to my humble abode?
Please go back to the palace.
What's wrong with him?
He has been speaking nonsense since a few days ago.
Your Highness.
You shouldn't be outside right now.
Seriously.
It's due to the fever.
Things will get critical again.
He must overcome it successfully.
Do you have enough herbs?
Haven't you seen?
But…
who paid for all these herbs?
Well…
That is…
So…
Shin-won was here.
How was he?
Here, Pop.
There you go.
Your Majesty.
It looks like I will take a while.
The doctor said that Mr. Pickax
is in a terrible condition.
He can't diagnose the cause
but says that it's best for him to rest.
I will go to see you once he is better.
Please do not worry
and stay healthy.
Shin-won.
Your arm…
Things happened.
You should've told me.
It's not because of you.
How have you been?
I…
became
His Majesty's woman.
I see.
Then you should've been ranked.
Why didn't I hear of it?
We decided
to keep everything secret.
What?
You know that
I'm not fit to be a consort.
So-rang.
Why did you hide?
Why did you feign ignorance?
You're Ye Hyeon-seon.
I…
spent seven years looking for you.
I…
spent seven long years
to forget myself.
Otherwise,
I would've felt wronged and tired.
Why did I
have to have everything taken from me?
If I only lived with this thought,
it would've been horrifying.
Although
you lost a bride,
I…
lost my everything.
My family,
my name,
and my existence.
I'm not Ye Hyeon-seon
so I couldn't have known you.
Ye Hyeon-seon
has already died back then.
Even if you put it that way,
I cannot believe that all of it was a lie.
I heard everything.
You don't have divine powers.
Was that all a lie too?
Do you really have a connection to the soul
of the late Crown Princess?
What…
did you just say?
Was that all…
a lie?
What were truths and what were lies?
Your Majesty.
So-rang…
can no longer return to the palace.
THE FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
We are selecting the best lady in Joseon here.
Will they
let the selection go the way we want?
Minister Ye's eldest daughter, Ye Hyeon-seon.
She has the highest chance of being selected as queen.
How can you not know
that everyone is being bribed except you?
What if I'm right?
We must be one step ahead to prevent contingencies.
I've only ran away all this time.
But I can no longer do that.
I am the real Ye Hyeon-seon.
THE FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE