Notable Actors/Actresses
Namkoong Min: Lee Jang Hyun
Ahn Eun-Jin: Yoo Gil Chae
Director:
Scriptwriter:
Hangul Title
연인
연인
Network: MBC
Part 1 [1-10]
Part 2 [11-21]
Romcom/Romance Checklist
How much of the plot is angst/romance?
0 / 1.5 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
The ML:
Cold–Lukewarm–Warm / Timid / Falls in Love First / Noble Idiot / CEO / General /The FL:
Bold / Cute / Cool & Independent / Falls in Love First / Better Than ML / Noble Idiot / Describe the Relationship (the tropes):
Bickering Start / Childhood Connection / Cohabitation / Contract Marriage or Fake Couple / Enemies to Lovers / Hidden Identity / School to Adulthood / Love Triangle / Married Couple (Real) / Secretly in Love (F/ML) / Star-Crossed Lovers / Relationship Progress (officially together; first (official) kiss; breakup*):
Ep 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 # of CPs (including main CP):
0 / 1 / 2 / 3
0 / 1 / 2 / 3
Ending:
Happy / Sad / Open Happy / Open Sad / BadFanFanX: Series is set during the Qing invasion of Joseon. However, I will not be covering as much of the war/politic details as it's not my forte.
Edit: I'll be taking a break from recapping after Ep10 (end of Part 1), so this series won't be completed until sometime next year. ✌️
Edit 2: First quarter of '24 and finally posting again. [Part 2 is even better the second time! 😜]
Mini Recaps
Part 1
[Ep1] 1659. The government is trying to find out where Lee Jang Hyun is. In prison, we see a man with very flowing white hair who doesn’t say anything but cries at the mention of that name.
Let's go back to 1636... Yoo Gil Chae is a self-absorbed and beautiful young woman who has a plenty of male admirers in her village, Neunggun-ri. However, she has a crush on a scholar, Nam Yeon Jun, who is actually engaged to her friend, the sweet and gentle Kyung Eun Ae.
Lee Jang Hyun is an outsider in their village, and an established womanizer and misogynist. For their first official meeting, he manages to catch Gil Chae when she falls from a swing. They argue, and she tries to tell him that he's a lucky man. He asks if she isn't the lucky one. She replies that he got to talk to her for a long time on the first day they met. He scoffs.
[Ep2] Gil Chae enlists Jang Hyun's help in winning over Yeon Jun, as she thinks Jang Hyun has no functional use down there. He takes her (in disguise) to a brothel and she is treated to his friend, Ryang Eum's beautiful voice. When Jang Hyun finds out that she thinks he's impotent, he boisterously laughs at this misconception. (~26:40) Later, she tries to hatch a plan to kiss Yeon Jun, who almost does until remembers he’s engaged and says that he cares about Eun Ae. When she pushes him to admit his feelings, he leaves and Jang Hyun saves her from further humiliation by keeping her hidden – not that she’s grateful. Because he's overheard her failed love confession.
During a 60th wedding anniversary celebration party, she tells Jang Hyun that, "With the person I love, I just want to go see flowers in the spring, dip my feet with him in a stream in the summer, and in the winter, I want to drink the wine that we made in the fall. I want to grow old with the person I love…" Then it starts snowing and just as he's about reach over and wipe her tears, a scholar runs in and announces that the Qing intruders arrived and taken hostage of the king. I think he's in love...
[Ep3] The men of their village, including the scholars, who are convinced by Yeon Jun's speech about heroism and glory are now going to fight against these barbarians. Gil Chae fails at trying to talk him out of it, so she begs Eun Ae to talk to him. Eun Ae manages to get him to agree to marry her before his departure. Gil Chae decides that the only way to make Yeon Jun admit his feelings for her is by getting engaged herself. But this only results in the suggestion of a double wedding for both couples.
Later when she wails about this, Jang Hyun consoles her and offers his help... even though he knows there's a war going on. She just continues wailing loudly. Unbeknownst to her, he offers them armor and weapons. Then he suggests to these eagerly awaiting-to-get-married scholars that they should reconsider as widowed women have a harder time getting remarried and starting over than men would. So while she is happy that no one is getting married, she she's sad to see Yeon Jun kissing Eun Ae.
Jang Hyun plans to leave with them, but isn't going to support their "cause". Gil Chae insults him for being a deserter. So he proposes that if he helps them, then she will have to give him a kiss. She angry slaps him hard, which he praises her for, and says that she should do exactly that if a barbarian tries anything with her.
As all of the abled men are leaving soon, the women give their men something to keep them safe and alive. Gil Chae gives something to her betrothed, and wants to give something Yeon Jun but she can't. Eun Ae suggests that she give something to Jang Hyun but she won't hand it over. Instead, he gives her his dagger and then tells her that if she sees smoke at the top of the mountains, to flee.
Before Jang Hyun leaves, Eun Ae mentions that he likes Gil Chae, which he denies over and over. She then tells him that when the news of the war broke out, Gil Chae had looked at him first in that dire moment.
On the battlefield, Yeon Jun gets knocked out and stays on the ground while the fighting bloodbath continues.
[Ep4] Jang Hyun asks his friends, Goo Jam and Ryang Eum about who Gil Chae had looked at that day, and Ryang Eum curtly says she was looking at Yeon Jun.
Jong Jong (Gil Chae's servant) comments to Gil Chae that when she heard the news of war breaking out, she looked at her, but she was surprised to see her looking at Jang Hyun. Gil Chae asks why would she ever look at a man who doesn’t believe in marriage.
Yeon Jun finally wakes up and finds few survivors. Gil Chae's betrothed dies and his last words to Yeon Jun was that he knew that he fancied Gil Chae as well, and vice versa. Jang Hyun has Ryang Eum leave to make a fire and create smoke signals to warn the other villages. So when Gil Chae sees the smoke from her village, she knows it's time to go but they barely leave in time.
Later when Jang Hyun returns to the empty village, he finds the old couple (he'd been staying with them) dead and covered in snow, he decides that he wants to catch these barbarians.
The women manage to get away but Eun Ae’s very pregnant servant, Bang Du, ends up going into labor. Gil Chae manages to deliver the baby and cuts the umbilical cord with Jang Hyun’s knife. It's so cold outside that she turns back and tearfully and apologetically removes the clothes from a dying man's body. She leaves to look around again but she takes so long that Eun Ae decides to go looking for her and calls her name over and over. A barbarian finds Eun Ae and attempts to rape her. Gil Chae manages to stab him with Jang Hyun's dagger and the two women roll his body off the cliff. Afterwards, both women attempt to wash the blood off of their bodies and clothes. Eun Ae tells her that nothing happened to her today but no one would believe her so she asks if she would say nothing. Eun Ae starts sobbing and Gil Chae tells her that they slipped down the mountain and their clothes got ripped and so they bled. So she, Eun Ae never met an intruder, and she, Gil Chae, never killed a man. Eun Ae sobs in her arms and Gil Chae says that nothing ever happened to them today.
Gil Chae has a recurring dream of a beach rendezvous with a man. But she has yet to see his face. She asks if he's her husband-to-be and she hugs his back and starts sobbing. Just as he starts to turn around, she suddenly wakes up and sees a man watching them. The intruders have found them and the women try to flee. Luckily, Jang Hyun and his friends appear in time to save them. When he asks if she’s okay, she just stares at him. When someone tries to sneak attack him from behind, she screams at him "Watch out, my dear!" O_o
[Ep5] Jang Hyun teases her about this over and over which she vehemently denies. So he asks everyone around them. She walks off in a huff and he continues following her around to ask about being called dear/husband. XD His tone here… He then tells her that he doesn't believe in marriage. He then says that his motto is “Courting is essential, marriage is a choice.” She tells him if that’s why he has lovers all over this country. He asks if he does, and she says it’s an open secret. He says it’s no wonder why the women are so snarky towards him… so why does she want him to be her husband? XD She continues says she didn’t do it on purpose as she accidentally – He smirks and says then she remembers as she definitely called him “my dear”. She retorts that she said it because she thought he was Yeon Jun. Oof. He’s hurt by this and quietly leaves to return to the camp.
She quietly returns to sit down next to him at the campfire and thanks him for saving her, saving them all... and he's back to teasing her about getting that kiss. She's back to fighting spirit and leaves in a huff but she's dropped something. He finds his dagger on the ground and discovers that the tassel and blade are covered in blood. He sits outside and stays awake to stand guard through the night, and she peeks through the small opening in her tent to watch him until she's asleep.
The next morning, Gil Chae wakes up all warm and realizes that he’d placed his fur vest on her. He’s made plans to leave them but will leave behind a horse and a wagon for them to use. He also returns the dagger to her which she quickly says that she's never used it, not even once. He tells her that he’s proud of her – and he’s told her before that she’s worth more than a bunch of small-boned scholars. He then says she’s also saved him, while mistaking him for Yeon Jun.
Jang Hyun and his group run into a very bloodied Yeon Jun and what's left of the scholarly warriors. The men arrive at a camp and Jang Hyun ends up trying to keep Yeon Jun from getting killed… as he has bad reflexes and closes his eyes when he’s fighting. Yeon Jun still manages to get stabbed in the leg.
Elsewhere, Gil Chae and Eun Ae are tending to the wounded. When Gil Chae sees Jang Hyun, she smiles at him. But once an injured Yeon Jun appears behind him, the spell is broken. She and Eun Ae rushes over to tend to Yeon Jun. Poor Jang Hyun gets ignored as blood drips down his left arm. (~24:35)
Later, she finds him and two bicker…as he's jealously says she’s lusting after a taken man. When she starts yelling at him, he churlishly yells that he's older than her. XD! She demands to know what he was doing while Yeon Jun was getting injured as he knows the intruders so well... He walks away and she finally notices his bleeding arm. He could’ve left but he’d stayed to save her precious Yeon Jun! While she goes to get him supplies, Eun Ae thanks him for saving Yeon J as she knows that he’s studied all of his life and is a bad fighter. She knows that Gil Chae looked at him during the anniversary party, and that Gil Chae cherishes Yeon Jun but it's not really romantic. After Eun Ae leaves, Gil Chae finally returns and fusses over his wound and wraps it up nicely. He asks her who she looked at when the news of the war broke out. She says he’s so ridiculous as he believes that the person one likes is the one they look for when they are scared. She scoffs that he actually believed this ridiculous thing and laughs awkwardly at it. Eun Ae's sending feelers. lol He says then he was the one she looked at and she looks anywhere but at him and doesn’t say anything. Later, he tells her if she doesn't know what she feels, then they should take some time to mull over their relationship. She asks how long one mulls over it? He says when one of them starts yearning or loses interest. She gets upset that he’s talking about mulling over all these ladies… She leaves in a huff and says not to even think of treating her like that. Ha. She goes to her sleeping quarters and slams the door shut. He says that the mulling isn't something awful. Heh. He stays sitting outside her door.
The moon is out now, but she's still not talking to him. He waits and waits and then he suddenly hears loud snoring. Jong Jong asks him about how the others are, and he assumes that she’s asking about Goo Jam. She says it’s not him but… She then wonders out loud what’s gotten into Gil Chae as she’s been unable to sleep well due to the smell and discomfort, but whenever he's nearby… it was the same when they ran into him in the mountains. Before she goes inside, she tells him that he doesn’t have to send her regards to Goo Jam or anything. He smiles at this and now he thinks that Gil Chae’s snoring is so sweet. lol! Snores = affection.
Another day, when the women harvest medicinal herbs, Jang Hyun offers to carry every woman's basket except Gil Chae's. She jealously throws hers on top of the pile in his arms, and walks ahead of him. Eun Ae giggles at this while Jang Hyun gives a smile at her angrily retreating back. (~40:00) When the group has to cross a stream, he magnanimously carries every single one of the five women across first. Then he finally returns to offer to carry her. She angrily huffs that she's fine. So he asks why she thinks he carried all these women across, as when getting to know someone, one has to help them across a stream like this. She asks if he wants to know all of these women then. He says it’s different. He says his feelings and then he moves to carry her. (~41:48) Ha, in BTS, he really did carry each one of them.
While she's in his arms, she becomes very aware of his physical presence and she stares at him until he looks at her. She quickly looks away. When he turns his head away again, she stares and then notices the sweat on the side of his face, which she gently dabs at with her fingers. !! He turns to look at her and their eyes meet but they're interrupted by a soldier calling for every abled man to return to the battlefield. (~43:40)
Jang Hyun along with the other men are getting a report on the war, and he finds a folded red ribbon alongside his water bag. He looks at it curiously, which does not go unnoticed by Ryang Eum. Back at the medical camp, Jong Jong asks Gil Chae where her ribbon went. She doesn’t give an answer but looks around nervously.. She's also still wearing Jang Hyun’s fur vest.
Jang Hyun leads them to victory by having everyone hide under the piles of dead bodies, knowing that the enemy would not leave the corpses in the enemy’s camp. Surprise attack! Ryang Eum loads a gun and takes out the general and the army takes out the rest of the enemies. Unfortunately, they’re not getting any reinforcements as they were taken out by the enemy. One of the soldiers is an eunuch who wants escorts to the Crown Prince. Yeon Jun and Jang Hyun are a part of this group. Jang Hyun has plans to infiltrate the enemy camp and gather any useful information for Joseon.
The night before leaving again, Jang Hyun had told Gil Chae that he was going to serve His Majesty because he didn’t want her to cry. He then told her to make sure to go to Ganghwa Island as the Mongolians are weak on water. She was upset that he was fleeing again. He had grabbed her wrist and told her this, “I swear by the moonlight. Go to Ganghwa Island. This time, wherever you are, I will make sure I find you.”
[Ep6] Ryang Eum sings at the enemy camp and the Khan wants a personal show. However, General Yong Gol Dae takes Ryang Eum and Jang Hyun hostage. And he tortures Jang Hyun by ripping out his toenails… six of them. A tormented Ryang Eum breaks down and tells most of the truth. However, General Yong can’t kill him because the Khan wants to hear him sing. Later, Jung Hyun discovers that there is an outbreak of smallpox at the camp and has Ryang Eum send a message to the Joseon King.
The intruders arrive on Ganghwa Island while everyone else is trying to climb onto the boats. Gil Chae manages to save the Crown Prince’s baby son and uses it to negotiate her spot and her friends on the boat. As people are grabbing onto her, she has no choice but to use Jang Hyun’s dagger to release their grip on her and she drops it on the beach. An intruder spots the dagger and keeps it for himself as a trophy. Later Jang Hyun sees this knife on this intruder, and demands to know where he found it. The guy says he killed the woman and kept it as his trophy, and then he coughs up blood in Jang Hyun’s face. Jang Hyun is guilt-ridden as he’s the one who told her to go there as it was the safest place.
The Joseon guards take the baby prince from the women, and then leave them to walk alone. Jang Hyun goes with the enemy camp on this outing to find any Joseon survivors, but he’s unwell and coughing up blood. When he manages to get a brief glimpse of Gil Chae from her hiding spot, he then starts cutting down everyone else. (17 to 1.) The women leave their hiding spot to flee. (~1:02:35)
However, eventually Gil Chae wonders if she saw him. So she runs back?!
[Ep7] She turns back but she still doesn’t see him. Instead, she sees the soldier who had left them earlier and she thinks he returned to save them. He lets her believe this… and so Jang Hyuk stays hidden on the mountainside. Once he sees that she left, he takes deep breaths and waits. He mutters that he told her that he will definitely find her…and then he passes out.
The war is over. The women return home and discover that Gil Chae’s sister and brother and father are alive but her father is mentally unstable. Eun Ae is devastated by her father’s death. Goo Won Moo, the soldier who “saved” Gil Chae is credited for single-handedly annihilating a dozen enemy soldiers and for saving the Crown Prince’s first son. Yeon Jun has become a senior ranking officer for his services. [Both are benefitting from Jang Hyun’s efforts.]
Meanwhile, a very ill Jang Hyun finds Goo Jam and Ryang Eum and then promptly passes out again. His friends tend to him as he has nightmares of his childhood. He finally has a beautiful dream of Gil Chae telling him to come back to her, and this prompts him to wake up. (~35:00)
Yeon Jun sends a letter to Eun Ae, telling her to join him in Hanyang. Eun Ae insists that Gil Chae go with her. Gil Chae has bittersweet memories of her home. It’s a tearful reunion for Eun Ae, Yeon Jun…and Gil Chae who keeps her distance.
Jang Hyun is asked by the eunuch to go with him to serve the Crown Prince who is now the Khan’s hostage. He says that he’s not interested. He returns to Hanyang and Eun Ae sees him. But when he hears about Gwangha Island, he leaves immediately.
Gil Chae finally sees him and says that he’s alive. She seems concerned about him. They’re killing me with this theme song! When he walks toward her, she angrily rants about Gwangha Island and tries to hit him. He doesn’t tell her the truth. Instead he asks if she waited for him. She denies it and says a military officer saved them as he fought 17 soldiers. But she says that the officer did say something strange – that he didn’t do that. She then asks if they ever met on the island. He plays dumb and continues fanning himself. She walks very close to him and asks if it isn’t cold to fan himself in the winter… which makes Goo Jam snicker. XD! (~45:20) Jang Hyun yells that he feels hotter than others and then fans himself even harder. Ha! Because of her. When she leaves, he looks longingly at her departing back when she leaves. Goo Jam asks why he lied. He says because it’s embarrassing.
Yeon Jun, accompanied by Eun Ae and Gil Chae, see Jang Hyun outside the brothel. He invites them in for a meal. Yeon Jun can’t believe that this is his home. Jang Hyun says this is his friend’s home so it’s his as well. During this meal, Gil Chae has only eyes for Yeon Jun…while Jang Hyun's remain on Gil Chae.
Later, Yeon Jun tells Gil Chae about what Soon Yak said, which he couldn’t deny it. But it’s too late. Omo. I don’t like him. (~52:00) So he did like her at some point?! She asks what that means and he says that he knows that her feelings for him are like one who wants a toy, and once she gets the toy… her feelings will die. He continues saying that he and Eun Ae both know this. Jang Hyun overhears their conversation. He later tells Yeon Jun that he’s still hiding behind a woman’s skirt, ergo a coward.
The next day, Jang Hyun decides to accept the position and will leave soon. He then goes to see Gil Chae and tells her that he’s leaving. He says if he returns and makes it back, then they’ll need to have a serious conversation about marriage - and if he’s changed his mind, and if it’s the only way to make a certain woman his, he’s willing to marry. She asks if he considers that a marriage proposal. He says there’s no rush and he can wait a very long time. (~59:00) As she’s angrily huffing, he says she needs to mature before turning and walking away.
Gil Chae becomes depressed but then she decides to go see him again. Ryang Eum gives her a look of disdain but leaves to give them privacy. Now in a large green field, she says she’ll never meet him… but then Jang Hyun asks if a certain person didn’t give him an accessory. She says that ribbon isn’t hers… and he says that he never said it was a ribbon! (~1:02:05)
When he pulls it out, she tries to grab it from him. She claims she lost it. He keeps it out of her reach and she tries to leap for it, and then they fall onto the grass. (~1:03:35) She lands on top of him. He tells her: “I plan to hold onto this ribbon until I die.” Then he tucks back safely inside his clothes. He then tells her, “If you really want to take it, here… put your hand here and try to take it.” She calls him names and sits up but he grabs her hand and places it over his heart. She asks him what he’s doing and he asks if she feels it. He admits that he doesn’t understand himself either. He asks, “Why is it that when I look at you, my sillly heart makes such a big fuss.” He moves to caress her face and then slowly leans towards her. She scrunches her eyes shut and he stares a moment before letting out a laugh. He teases her about wanting to kiss him. She angrily tells him, see if she cares if he dies… (~1:06:10) He puts her hand back onto his heart and then pulls her in for a real kiss! Gaaaah.
When the kiss ends, he pulls back and says, “I know you do not love me yet. I also know that… your heart still belongs to Yeon Jun. However, even if you do not love me, please do not forget me. On this day, this very moment you spent with me. Do not ever forget it.” She wordlessly stares at him. And then he walks away. Be still my heart!
[Ep8] She watches him walking away and thinks, “I know it… The man I meet in my dreams every night… is my future husband.” She’s frightened that it’s him and not Yeon Jun. So she insists on seeing him again, and gets there on horseback with Goo Won Moo.
While she’s standing around trying to find Jang Hyun in the large traveling group, she almost gets taken away. But Jang Hyun saves her yet again. (~6:00) When they’re alone, she asks why he’s going now. He asks if she’s angry about the kiss, or that he’s leaving. He’s curious to know why she’s interested in him now. He taunts her that it’s because of his kiss. She turns to leave and he asks why she’s here.
She thinks about their kiss and asks if he believes in dreams. She talks about a spool and floral shoes… and he asks if she’s asking for a pair of floral shoes. She says no… but when he leaves, she asks when she can expect these new shoes as she needs them. He asks what she’ll give him for the shoes. She asks what she can give him… and he says she knows. “There is… only one thing I desire. That is your heart. Your heart that only cares for me and no one else.” She tells him to dream on… if he thinks he can win her heart with a pair of shoes. When he taunts her about Yeon Jun and says she’s neither noble or pure. As she fancies an engaged man. She’s better suited for someone like him. She slaps him and turns to leave. (~11:30) She tells him to leave and go and die and tries to walk away..
He grabs onto her hand and asks if she can tell him now that she will never think of Yeon Jun again, he will not go to Simyang. He says it’s fine even if she doesn’t mean it…so long as she tells him that she will never think of him again, then… She tearfully tells him that she cannot as he’s not someone she can forget easily. (~12:55) His eyes.
He lets go of her arm. He then cups her face and says… “You are so cruel…What is it that Young Master Yeon Jun has that I do not have…” His face here. T__T He lets go of her and says that he’ll take the floral shoes as an excuse as she actually wanted to see him off. And he’ll return with the most beautiful pair. She watches him ride off… tearfully yet confused.
Jang Hyun and his friends continue walking with the royal group. Gil Chae continues watching him go. (~16:30) When she returns, she tells Jong Jong that she can’t just forget about Yeon Jun and those beautiful memories. And then she sees him proposing to Eun Ae. When he reaches over to hug Eun Ae, she takes a step back, makes an excuse and quickly leaves.
Later, Eun Ae can’t sleep as she remembers what happens that night and what it means when a woman is violated - becoming useless to her husband. She walks outside and Gil Chae finds her… Eun Ae thinks she’s failed to keep her chastity as that intruder saw and touched her skin. She continues talking, and Gil Chae finally puts her hand over her mouth and reminds her about them ripping their clothes and they started bleeding. So nothing happened to them. Gil Chae thinks about the way Yeon Jun looks at Eun Ae and finally says that the one Yeon Jun loves, wants to make happy, and wants to marry is her and only her. (~20:00) And so the two are married.
Gil Chae says that she believed with all her heart that the man in her dream was Yeon Jun but it’s good that he loves Eun Ae so much. And even realizing that Yeon Jun loves Eun Ae instead of her, she actually didn’t feel sad… and wonders if she has a new feeling in her heart.
Jang Hyun has his friends help him keep this lodging place, and then has Ryang Eum look into how the Crown Prince deals with the intruders. Crown Prince has been forced to become the Qing’s puppet.
In Gil Chae’s recurring dream… the man’s back starts bleeding when she demands to see his face. She wakes up horrified by this ominous image. (~38:00)
Yeon Jun gets promoted by the King and rejects the offer as he refuses to meet the Qing. He gets arrested. So Eun Ae and everyone are forced to move again. Everyone returns for the memorial service, but to Gil Chae’s disappointment, Jang Hyun never shows up as he’s also been arrested for taking bribes and for being a spy.
Later, Gil Chae finds out that Jang Hyun might be one of the dead ones… and if she finds a box with his belongings then it’s true. So she looks and finds one with his fan and her ribbon. She remembers his words about keeping it until he died… (~57:48). She later hugs his vest to sleep. In her dream, he finally turns around and she sees his face. It’s Jang Hyun. This makes her sob .
She sobs and hugs him in her dream. He consoles her by patting her back. Awww. She sobs in her sleep and wakes up… to sob some more.
With Jong Jong, Eun Ae and Bang Du, she takes the vest to the mountain top… “If the wife holds the clothing he used to wear… and calls his name three times he might come back to life and return.” She caresses the vest lovingly. She finally holds it out over the mountain edge and screams his name and begs him to come back. She says if he comes back, she won’t be harsh to him again. She sobs as she repeats his name. There is something that she didn’t say so come back… She hugs the vest very tightly and sobs out that there’s something she did not get to say yet so come back. She sobs his name over and over.
[Ep9] In her dream, she’s back at that exact moment when he asks her to tell him to stay in Simyang. She tells him that he can have her heart, for him to stay, and then she hugs him. Awww. He turns around and smiles at her as he cups her face between his hands. And then she wakes up with the most heart-wrenching sobs. T__T
The Khan asks Jang Hyun if he’s the one who spread the rumors about the King going mad., and Jang Hyun replies that he told the General about it. The General is forced to admit that he’s not a spy, or else it’s his own life on the line, too. Khan wants him as a double agent though.
Outside, Jang Hyun bows his head but when he sees Yong Gol Dae, he gives the most evil and smug smile. (~5:35) Bwahaha. Now he can’t kill him… as he’s been forced to say that he holds value. However, Jang Hyun now needs to hunt down the Joseon captives to prove that he’s not a rat.
It’s also clear that Ryang Eum is in love with Jang Hyun, as he lays down to sleep on his arm, right next to him. This explains his animosity towards Gil Chae.
Gil Chae’s family and Eun Ae are all starving. They’re trying to sell whatever they have left that’s of value for grains. Gil Chae runs into Goo Won Moo, who takes her (and Jong Jong) for a meal and she devours everything on the table. Goo Won Moo has a forge here, so Gil Chae comes up with the idea of selling cotton for tongbo coins as the coins hold no value right now. She then intends to use the coins to make bronze bowls at his forge.
Elsewhere, Jang Hyun and his friends have to hunt down Joseon captives who are on the run. However, he comes across a female hunter with a facemask who is impressed with his skills. Later, he gets quite drunk and sees a mirage of Gil Chae. He talks to her even though he knows she’s not really here. (~27:10)
Later, Jang Hyun tells the Crown Prince that the people he is up against will abandon everything just to live, and they have no regard for life. Right now, the people think they can only die honorably or grovel. He tells the Crown Prince that he needs to do something with immense courage – stand up to the intruders. So that he can live, live on, so that he can be great in the coming days.
Gil Chae’s bowls are being made but some of the workers are being mouthy. Eun Ae sees what’s going on and decides to help. Bang Du’s dimwitted husband gets robbed of their bowls. Gil Chae returns to confront the thieves and almost gets tackled by one of the guys, but Goo Won Moo suddenly appears and actually saves her. Gil Chae pitifully sobs as there’s only one bronze bowl left now.
Gil Chae insists on going on her own to sell this one bowl, and so Eun Ae gives her the bowl that she had given her before for her father’s rites. They sell the bowls to a noblewoman who gives them silver hairpins and jade rings as payment. Resourceful Gil Chae then goes to the courtesans’ house to sell them. She befriends one of the courtesans and in exchange for a ring, she asks for information on what the Qing are interested in buying as they frequent this place. She later also finds a lone ginger farmer who has no workers, and has her workers harvest all of his ginger, and then sells the ginger at whatever price she wants as they’re the only ones with access now. They finally have rice at home, which she gives to all of the workers even though this is less than what she originally promised on the sale of all of the bowls. Her workers stay on and they start making knives and other things which are sold to the courtesans (and Qing).
Yeon Jun is eventually released with Eun Ae and Gil Chae’s help. Gil Chae continues seeing Jang Hyun in her daydreams, where he tells her that she was more reliable than a few weak scholars. She tells him that he can watch her provide for her people now. (~58:38)
As the Crown Prince is allowed to visit Joseon soon, Jang Hyun tells Ryang Eum to tell Gil Chae that he’s returning to Hanyang for a visit. Afterwards, Ryang Eum opens Jang Hyun’s closet and finds many pairs of women's shoes. :o (~1:02:50, over 20 pairs!)
Back in Hanyang, Goo Won Moo proposes to Gil Chae… And she can’t help but laugh. She apologizes for laughing, and then says that hearing this brought back memories. She says in the past, men pestered her to marry them, those who died in the war, and those who left. She then says that she’ll pretend she never heard that and to not be embarrassed. She gets up and he asks if that man isn’t already dead.
Jang Hyun returns for Gil Chae with all of those shoes in tow. Gil Chae is haunted by Jang Hyun’s ghost and tells him to stop appearing before her. She plans to live to 100, and next time, in the far, far away future, they can meet again. (~1:11:04) Gah, I cannot handle this…
Meanwhile, Goo Jam asks Jang Hyun if she’s gotten married already. Jang Hyun says perhaps it could be true if it were Yeon Jun, but she could not have fallen in love with another man in such a short time. Goo Jam says he was asking about Jong Jong.
Jang Hyun finally sees that the bride-to-be… is Gil Chae. Omo. (~1:13:50) Gil Chae then sees Jang Hyun and the two stare at each other.
[Ep10] Goo Won Moo tells her to give him a chance. She asks since when has he fancied her. He says since he first met her and her will to live. She tells him that their paths keep crossing but they’re not meant to be together. Gil Chae returns home when it’s dark and her father is missing. Her father has wandered off looking for her. He tells strangers that the intruders took her, and gets into a fight with a stranger. Goo Won Moo intercepts and brings him home to her.
Back at home, her father remains confused and panicked until Goo Won Moo assures him that he’s taken down so many men with his sword. Outside, Gil Chae thanks him for his help. He offers to continue helping her, and she tells him if he continues asking for them to be together, she says she has nothing to say. He then asks what it is that he has, that he doesn’t have? She’s then reminded of her last conversation with Jang Hyun.
The next day, when she helps him after a fire accident, she notices the scars on his back, and asks if he’s the one who saved them on the island that day. Goo Won Moo lies and takes credit for what Jang Hyun did that day. Ugh. When she turns to leave, he asks her to marry him, and she says that she won’t change, and she won’t leave parts of herself behind. Goo Won Moo quickly says that she should come to him with her feelings for that other man.
Later, Goo Won Moo sees Ryang Eum and says that he’s getting married and asks him to sing at his wedding, as the bride has heard him sing long ago. Later, Ryang Eum sees Gil Chae with Goo Won Moo. Gil Chae spots him and follows him. She asks Ryang Eum how he ended up like that. She then says that she hopes that he didn’t suffer much.
Jang Hyun returns to Hanyang with all of her shoes in tow. The Crown Prince returns to see his father and the two sob openly in court. Jang Hyun had advised Pyo Eon Gyum ("Eunuch Pyo") to have the Crown Prince wear one of his older outfits so he could see that his son had in fact suffered.
Jang Hyun is unpacking all of these shoes and lovingly pauses to look at this red pair. He then daydreams of presenting all of them to Gil Chae. She excitedly looks at all of them and then puts on the red ones, but she nearly trips. He helps put them on and then tells her to come to him. She scoffs and asks what he takes her for as she may like floral shoes… He tells her that it’s time for her to stop playing hard to get and she must know who she should be with to be happy. He reminds her that Yeon Jun would admonish her for this extravagance and for not thinking of the people. He’ll give her what she wants. He demands that she say it – Jang Hyun continues talking to himself until Goo Jam interrupts. (~17:38, a vivid daydream.)
At night, Jang Hyun and Goo Jam walk around town and they’re interrupted by the sound of a loud request to buy bridal presents. Bang Du suddenly appears with a tray of wine and glasses and the two wonder what’s going on. The crowd asks to see the bride and then Gil Chae’s voice calls out that the bride is here. Goo Jam calls Jong Jong’s name and Gil Chae, who is wearing a beautiful green and red hanbok looks over and sees Jang Hyun. (~23:00)
The two stare at each other in shock until Jang Hyun finally turns his back on her and walks away. Her eyes remain glued to his back. The two men return home and neither says anything to Ryang Eum.
Inside her room, she’s sitting down in shock that he’s very much alive. When Jong Jong enters the room, she asks her if she also saw him. She confirms that she did, which spurs Gil Chae into motion. Jong Jong reminds her that they’re receiving the bridal gifts but Gil Chae still leaves.
Gil Chae finds Jang Hyun as he’s burning the many shoes that he'd bought for her. She reaches out and lightly touches his back. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she says that he’s alive. He coldly asks if she cannot live a day without a man before finally turning around. With pained and angry eyes, he repeats his question and asks if that’s why she’s getting married. She says yes, she cannot live a day without a man as she was too lonely to go on. She asks what’s wrong with that. He asks why she didn’t give him a chance if she simply needed a man. He asks why she never went to him not once. She replies that she can go to any man except him, as she has nothing to share with a man who does not mean anything he says. She turns and leaves. (~25:00)
She returns home and looks up at the moon. Goo Won Moo appears and asks why she’s looking so grim. She says that she must be tired. He says that he loves her smile as when she smiles, it feels like the whole world is smiling, too. He leaves her for the night and insists that she go inside. She stays and watches him go but then she sees Jang Hyun waiting nearby.
Jang Hyun asks if he’s the one she’s marrying. She replies that he saved her life. Jang Hyun realizes that he’s the soldier who took credit for what he did on the island. He asks if that’s why she’s marrying him. He then tells her that it was he who saved her that day, and not that man. She reminds him that she’d asked him about it in the past, but he’d said that he had never been there. But now he says that he was the one who saved her that day. Jang Hyun says he denied it back then because she’d gone to Ganghwa Island because she trusted him. And knowing that she’d almost died made him feel horrible and guilty, which is why he denied it then. She laughs and asks if he uses such shallow tricks with other women. She says that she foolishly trusted him. He’d told her to not forget him and she believed it when he told her to remember him. She asks why he forgot her, and if fooling around with women in Simyang was better than Joseon women. She asks if that’s why he forgot her as he was too busy fooling around. He slowly shakes his head and says that he has never forgotten about her, not even once. She says that he should have told her, “I forgot all about you long ago, so do not wait for me. Do not miss me, and do not let your heart ache for me.” She spits out that she had no idea and thought that he was dead. He’s taken back by this. She finally walks away. (~29:00)
He talks to Jong Jong who tells him what happened – when Gil Chae heard about his death, she’d held out the fur vest and said his name over and over asking for him to come back. She’d never seen her cry like that before. She then says that Ryang Eum was the one who had told her that he was dead so she didn’t doubt him. Jang Hyun doesn’t look pleased. He finally knows.
When Gil Chae had asked Ryang Eum if he had suffered, he’d told her no, thankfully. She’d smiled and then asked if he had a message to relay to her. He’d said no, and he did not know as someone else assisted Jang Hyun in Simyang. (~33:14)
Back in the present, the door slides open loudly and Ryang Eum quickly stands up as Jang Hyun walks in. Ryang Eum quickly tells him that when he’d run into Gil Chae, she was already engaged to another man. He admits that he still should have told her that he was not dead but he did not want to do that. He then says that woman…brings him bad luck, so date another woman. Jang Hyun isn’t sure what to make of this. Ryang Eum continues saying that because of that woman, he nearly died. She will hurt him and make him miserable. He then says look what happened as she’s engaged to another man. Jang Hyun grabs him by the collar and pins him to the wall and asks why on earth he – Ryang Eum says he does not regret it and he’d do it again. Jang Hyun angrily starts punching at the wall next to his head, but then Ryang Eum hugs him and tells him to stop. He gets down on his knees and says to forgive him as he just thought that woman would make him miserable. Jang Hyun repeats his words “she would make him miserable” and then very quietly says that he does not know what she means to him before leaving.
Jang Hyun meets with Gil Chae again. He tells her that something happened in Simyang which is why he couldn’t return as quickly as he wanted to. She tells him that she’s never his priority, even though he had asked for her heart. They argue about their last conversation before he’d left. He holds onto her arm and says that he needs her to be his now. She turns to leave and he hugs her. He asks for her to give him the chance, and he will never again leave her side or make her wait. He again asks for another chance before letting go of her. He asks her to leave with him. (~38:40)
Later, when she tells Eun Ae about what Jang Hyun had said, Yeon Jun overhears. The next day, he meets with Jang Hyun and tells him that Gil Chae is a responsible person now. Jang Hyun tells him that he couldn’t handle a woman like Gil Chae which is why he abandoned her and married Eun Ae. He also accuses him of being a coward as he still keeps Gil Chae around, which makes Yeon Jun punch him in the face. Jang Hyun shakes it off and scoffs at him. Yeon Jun demands to know where he’s been all of this time. Jang Hyun replies that he’s paying dearly for his absence. He must now claim Gil Chae as his, even if she’s only willing to give a fraction of her heart to him.
Later, Gil Chae disappears during the wedding gathering. Jang Hyun suddenly appears and asks her to leave with him and offers his hand. If she doesn’t accept his hand, then he’ll leave and never appear before her again. (~44:50) Goo Won Moo starts looking for his missing bride-to be, with Eun Ae following him from a safe distance.
Gil Chae and Jang Hyun argue about the past. But she eventually admits that she missed him and yearned for him. He asks if she waited for him. She tearfully shakes her head and says not anymore. She will no longer wait or miss him anymore. She will hate him forever until the day she dies. She wants him to miss her and long for her like she did him. (~48:00) T___T She sobs and now he hugs her. She tells him to leave as she won’t get fooled again. With a tear-streaked face, he says he’ll receive his punishment by her hands but please leave with him. She shakes her head. They’re almost seen by Goo Won Moo but Eun Ae tries stop him. It’s too late as he notices the lone shoe on the road and then assumes the worst – that she’s been kidnapped.
Jang Hyun and Gil Chae run away together while Goo Won Moo has a search party looking for her. They end up at an inn and when the inn lady notices her clothes, she asks if she’s a runaway bride. Gil Chae says that he’s her husband and when the woman leaves, he grins at her. Later, when she falls asleep, he unwraps the pair of floral shoes and very quietly measures one against her foot. (~56:35) But she wakes up and looks at him. He quietly puts away the shoes and she asks if he’s going to be her husband. He says that he doesn’t know about that, but it’ll be up to him to decide. She angrily sits up and he pulls her towards him and he says no, not her husband. He’ll be her servant as his body is hers, as is his soul. He then says that his heart is hers, too. She starts smiling at him but then a voice says her name. It’s Eun Ae and Jong Jong with some of Gil Chae’s belongings.
Goo Won Moo is worried about not finding her, and one of his men tells him that she recently saw a man that she seemed to recognize. Bang Du’s husband tries to leave but he’s forced to say that the man came back from the dead. Yeon Jun interrupts by yelling at him for spouting such nonsense.
Eun Ae tells Gil Chae to not worry as she’ll handle the rest. Meanwhile, Goo Won Moo asks Yeon Jun about the dead man who has returned from the dead. Yeon Jun says that it’s impossible that Gil Chae followed him. And Goo Won Moo replies it’s not a crime for a husband to kill his wife and the man who she committed adultery with. He considers Gil Chae his wife as the wedding chest was received. He then turns to go kill that man and Yeon Jun grabs onto his leg. Goo Won Moo shakes him off and leaves.
Back at the inn, Jong Jong tells Gil Chae that she can’t go with her as the rumors will only worsen if she does. She then says that she won’t get married without her. She sobs and Gil Chae hugs her. Eun Ae returns home and Yeon Jun knows that Gil Chae is indeed with Jang Hyun. As Gil Chae is missing, her father is agitated and insistent on trying to look for her everywhere. He starts talking about how they [the intruders] just have taken her.
The next morning, Gil Chae tells Jang Hyun that she’s worried about going with him as she’s already accepted the wedding chest. While people may point at her and call her names, she can ignore that. She’s more worried about him thinking she’s too brazen and then leaving her later. He assures her that she has no idea how he likes how brazen she is and then leaves. She then sees the pretty floral shoes he’s left her. She cradles them in her hands and caresses them. She tries them on but then she wonders about her father and what Jong Jong had told her.
When Jang Hyun returns later, she’s left her belongings with a handwritten letter that she’s returned to say goodbye to her father. She also tells him to wait for her at the quay.
Gil Chae returns home in the floral shoes and sees her father calling her name and follows him into the woods. She tells him that the intruders won’t take her but she needs to go somewhere and he shouldn’t worry about her. She gives him instructions to eat or else she won’t show up. She finally tells him to wait for her at home, and then someone starts calling for him. She tries to leave but Goo Won Moo sees her and starts walking towards her. She shakes her head and starts walking away. He lets her go.
At the quay, Goo Jam and Jang Hyun are still waiting for her even though it’s starting to get dark. Gil Chae is making her way to Jang Hyun but then she thinks about her father, who had told her to not worry about him and then hugged her in that moment of lucidity.
The next day, Goo Won Moo shows up at her home and Gil Chae greets him. Both Jong Jong and Eun Ae are shocked to see her. The wedding continues as Jang Hyun watches Gil Chae smiling and nodding at Goo Won Moo. After a moment, after a tear slides down his cheek, he finally turns and walks away without looking back. Gil Chae looks in his direction but he’s already gone out of sight. Jong Jong calls after him and hands him a wrapped box saying it’s from Gil Chae.
From the boat, Jang Hyun reads her letter.
Gil Chae’s letter: It is true that I briefly wavered. But I do not trust or love you enough… to leave everything and be with you. If you have any affection left for me, forget all about me.
He then folds up her letter and tosses it into the water, and the floral shoes follow soon thereafter. (~1:16:20, T__T) Gil Chae’s face is wet with tears as she secretly watches him leave, and from the shoreline, a resentful Ryang Eum sees her watching Jang Hyun.
Gil Chae’s voiceover: I asked if you ever resented me and you said the day I left you for good. You resented me so much, you stared to no end. But however hard you looked, you could not hate me at all. You hated yourself for it and then you asked me “You are so cruel. Did you ever guess my feelings?” Now that I am speaking, I must admit I could not even guess…My heart was breaking… into a thousand pieces and all I could do was wish fervently … that you would not be like me.
Two Years Later.
Jang Hyun is face-to-face with the female hunter.
Part 2
[Ep11] Jang Hyun fights and fights and his mind returns to his last moments with Gil Chae. As he almost gets taken out by this big beast of a man – Goo Jam fights off the man. Jang Hyun kills the man and Goo Jam asks why they’re going this way where it’s full of bandits. Goo Jam then tells him to forget about Gil Chae or japchae woman. XD He then says he’s fine as there’s more Jong Jong in this world.
In his mind, Jang Hyun is with Gil Chae and tells her that his mind and body belong to her. And asks what of hers belongs to him. She goes to reply… and he kisses her forehead, then her left cheek and right cheek. And lastly… her lips. (~2:37)
In reality, it’s Gil Chae’s wedding night with Goo Won Moo. She promises to be a good wife. Later, she sits outside and stares up at the moon.
Crown Prince isn’t looking well. Jang Hyung returns to hunting and the female hunter and her crew show up, too. Yang Chun, who is holding three children, is among these captives and Jang Hyun and Goo Jam stop when they see him, injured and protecting himself with a sharpened piece of wood. Jang Hyun asks the female hunter to look the other way today. When she leaves, they let Yang Chun go and the two men tearfully hug.
Jang Hyun saves some of the “weak” prisoners by telling Yong Gol Dae that he can sell them for 30 yang each, and he wants 3 yang in return. And he says children are worth 15 yang each. And soon, they’ve got all these captives and are low on funds.
Jang Hyun, Goo Jam and Yang Chun get drunk and then the courtesans arrive. Jang Hyun asks the woman accompanying him to call him an ugly piece of rock. She doesn’t so he just laughs and then sighs.
Ryang Eum is with a woman, who knows that he loves another. She thinks woman but… He tries to kiss her but when she touches his body (scars). He shuts down and leaves. Later, Ryung Eum watches Gil Chae and her husband, as this is the closest he’ll get to Jang Hyun.
Jang Hyun is at the palace and watches the Qing Empress pour boiling hot water on a servant’s head. He recognizes one of the women as Yeong Rang. When he tells Goo Jam, who protests that they can’t take someone from the royal court.
Yang Chun is having issues with the baby, and when a woman offers to help, he tells her how dare she as she was with a barbarian. Jang Hyun ends up sneaking in and talks to Ryang Eum, who later tells the others that he’ll take all of them. Yang Chun ends up helping when he finds out who it is. They’ll have to cross the river to get to Joseon.
New notice: They’re coming for the escapees and awarding those who reporting person saving the escapees. One of Gil Chae’s men is taken in as an escapee, and she may face consequences if she knew. He begs her to save his grandson in return.
Gil Chae ends up getting kidnapped to appease the king from losing the female captives.
Her husband returns and discovers both she and Jong Jong are missing. By the time Gil Chae wakes up, it’s too late.
Later, Gil Chae arrives in Shenyang with the other captives.
[Ep12] The little boy tells Ryang Eum that they took Madam [Gil Chae]. Her husband thinks that she might’ve left with Jang Hyung. Ryang Eum wants to ignore everything that’s going on, but remembers that she’s very important to Jang Hyun. He and the boy tell her husband the truth and her husband thinks it’s all a trick as Ryang Eum is Jang Hyun’s friend. Her husband wants him beaten until he tells him where Gil Chae went. Ryang Eum says he’s sure the Qing took her, and Yeon Jun says he’ll go with him to look for her.
Jang Hyun drinks and imagines conversations/arguments with Gil Chae. He’s interrupted when a woman [face hidden] knocks over his bottle of alchohol. She tries to stay but he makes her leave. [It's that female hunter.] He then looks at the moon. He says “You must be under this moonlight, darling. I wish you an enjoyable evening.” Elsewhere, Gil Chae is walking with her hands tied…with all the others.
Jang Hyun takes Crown Prince to see what’s going on with the captives. He sees women being auctioned off and asks why they’re willing to stay alive and bring shame to Joseon.
Gil Chae bites her finger and writes in blood, and Jong Jong helps her. She throws it to the woman and child on the side of the road. Her name, title, her husband and residence. She along with everyone else is forced to kneel in front of the officials and await their punishment. Three are given their punishment: cut their heels. So they can’t run away. Gil Chae and Jong Jong are taken away for the Qing’s King… so Jang Hyun misses her again.
Gil Chae is dragged to the huge boiling pot of water and the queen wants to cut her fingers but she’s saved by the concubine’s maid. The note and ring reaches Ryang Eum and Yeon Jun, who take it back to her husband. Now he cries for his wife. [Now he does..blegh.]
Gil Chae is taken by the maid and her underlings – they strip her down, and then they get her ready. She purposely trips and scars her head to get out of bedding the King. The two are drag out of the palace and taken to the auction. Her servants help her escape…
Jang Hyun and the female hunter meet again… and she aims at two women – Gil Chae and Jong Jong?!
[Ep13] Jang Hyun shoots his arrow near the woman’s horse which makes her fall. He catches her and sees her face.
The women reach the end of the cliff…and many throw themselves off to die, rather than be defiled. Gil Chae has to convince Jong Jong to not do it, as she’d save her just like before. When Gil Chae returns, the man in charge slaps her. Jong Jong is then ripped away from her.
Jang Hyun finally sees the female hunter without any disguise… She’s Gak Hwa, a Qing Princess. She wants to know his identity. She wants him and he says he can give her his body but not his heart.
Gil Chae is taken to serve this beast of a man. Her husband finds out that she’s already been sold. Gil Chae manages to bite off the ear of the man she was sold to, who demands his money back. She begs to know where Jong Jong is. He tells her that her husband was here. And he gave up after hearing she was sold.
Gil Chae is in the line to be sold again and sees a smiling Jang Hyun fanning himself. She stares but when he turns, she ducks so he can’t see her face. He sees the bright green dress and thinks about her. Later, Gil Chae dreams that her husband came to get her – and it’s Jang Hyun.
Ryang Eum returns and Jang Hyun is not happy to see him. Ryang Eum sees Yang Chun walking by with a limp and runs over to hug him. He tells him that Gil Chae is in Shenyang.
Gil Chae is being auctioned off again, and is touted as a real noblewoman from Joseon. They show her one flaw – the scar on her head. She sees Jang Hyun and thinks that she’s seeing things again. She closes her eyes and when she opens them again, he’s looking right at her. He starts pushing through the crowd to get to her. When anyone touches him, he beats them up. He finally reaches her and his eyes are filled with so much pain. He climbs up the platform and looks at her. He walks closer and closer. She stares up at him with eyes filled with shame. He kneels down and his tears fall as he looks over her, noting her bound hands. He asks what, why? She breaks eye contact with him. His tears continue falling. When he moves his hand to touch her, she flinches away and closes her eyes. He asks why? No response. So he roars why??
[Ep14] Jang Hyun had looked for her, and couldn’t believe that she could be in a place like this. And then he saw her at the auction…
He screams why, and then he gets knocked out. Gil Chae finally says my lord over and over. Jang Hyun manages to reach over to grab onto her skirts but she’s quickly taken away. She continues screaming "my lord" over and over. He succumbs to his wound. Later, when he wakes up, he only has one question – what happened with Gil Chae. Ryang Eum tells him that he’s taken measures to ensure she isn’t sold off.
Goo Jam is staying by Gil Chae’s cell. She tells him to tell Jang Hyun to ignore her. Later, Goo Jam tells Jang Hyun about what’s happened with her, and that Jong Jong has been sold off somewhere far away. So, he’s going to leave to look for Jong Jong.
Gil Chae is given a meal and clothes to change into… When the door opens, she turns away. From behind her, Jang Hyun says that he had no idea he would run into her in a place like this. He asks what happened in Joseon. She should have lived a good life. She should be well off as if to show it off to him. But more importantly, why did she not look for him. She knew he was in Shenyang. Why did she come to him and go through such hell?
She finally turns around and asks why would she look for him? She has no reason to ask him for help. They are of no relation. She asks if he paid that barbarian and paid her for the night. She says she guesses he can’t help himself…so what can she do for him? Pour him a drink? Sing and dance? She looks over at the bed and asks, or something else? :(
He walks over and grabs her arm, and she sighs. He notices the deep cut on her forehead. With tears on her face, she tells him even if he shows her mercy, she cannot repay him. So do not do anything for her. It is burdensome for her. She removes his hand from her arm. He says he refuses. He cannot do what she wants this time. As he wishes… he must do as he wishes. He then leaves the room.
Jang Hyun finds the odious man who says he won’t sell her. He wants 200 nyang for her, but at least 300 nyang. But then he says no, he won’t sell her as he’ll keep her around instead.
Jang Hyun tells him to think again as he removes his hat… The man says he cannot sell her. We will not sell her. He then whistles to cue the group of men…and Jang Hyun says is that all as he jabs something into the man’s hand on the table. He then takes care of his goons. Jang Hyun stabs the sword into the ground and tells him that he’s also a merchant. And he’s sure he’s worked hard for his money so he won’t touch his money. However – and then he pulls out the knife(?) – he should hand over the captives. The man cries in pain. Jang Hyun with very scary eyes, tells him if he can’t do that, then he will stuff money in his eye sockets and take her. The man whimpers and says he’ll let him have whoever he wants, take all of them…
Jang Hyun finally stands up and walks away. One of the royal servants is secretly following him. All the captives are free to leave and Jang Hyun offers his hand to Gil Chae for them to leave. Later, Jang Hyun talks to Gil Chae through the door. “When the moon is so bright like this, I am always with you.” He sits down on the floor, as does she. “I am not sure where things went wrong. Perhaps… I should not have left you behind and not gone to Mt. Namhan Fortress. Perhaps… I should not have left you behind and come to Shenyang. Or…perhaps, when you left me…” They’re both silently crying. He then says when the document is issued from Qing government office, her return procedure will be wrapped up. So she has nothing to worry about. And then he falls asleep. She cracks open the door and falls asleep right next to him. (~19:15)
The next morning, she thanks him and when he leaves, she has a slight smile on her face. Jang Hyun returns home to look for a dress. Ryang Eum tells him that he bought a dress thinking she might need it. Jang Hyun returns and is told that she was sold to someone a while ago. It was the Imperial Family.
Gak Hwa has Gil Chae now and intends to keep her as her maidservant. She won’t let another woman take the man she wants. Jang Hyun ends up going to the Crown Prince to save her, and reminds them that she was the one who saved the Grand Heir before.
The servant who can translate is the little boy’s mother (the one Gil Chae saved before), and she tells her that she thinks the Princess likes Jang Hyun. Later, Gil Chae tells Jang Hyun that the Princess is merciful and begs him to not do anything for her sake. He sees the welts across her neck from the whipping. He says yes, he won’t so she needn’t worry.
Gil Chae speaks Manchurian to the Kahn, and now abusing the female captives is no longer allowed. But whoever pays for them becomes the owner now and can do whatever they see fit. So the Princess took Gil Chae. Jang Hyun barges into Princess’ quarters to beg for her to release Gil Chae, and he’ll do whatever she wants.
Gil Chae is allowed to leave the palace, but the Princess tricks Jang Hyun into hunting Gil Chae. She stabs his horse, so he has to run on foot to save Gil Chae.
Gil Chae doesn’t know what’s going on until she hears “My Lady” over and over. It’s Jang Hyun running towards her. When the Princess rides past him, he starts screaming Gil Chae's name and no, over and over. She finally stops and turns around. He continues running towards her, and the Princess aims her arrow at her and shoots at her skirt to pin her there. Jang Hyun continues yelling no and her name. She stands up and he runs even harder, until he reaches her and passes. He falls into her arms as the arrow goes into his back, and then together they fall onto the ground. He lifts his head and says he won, so everything is okay now. He then passes out right on top of her. She tries to wake him up and finds his blood on her hands. She sobs as she tries to wake him. (~1:13:45)
Now, an unconscious Jang Hyun is recovering in bed and the Princess wonders why he risked his life for a mere woman. Later, Gil Chae asks the Princess if he’s alive or not. Princess says for the first time, she realized that there’s something she cannot have even though she wants it. Gil Chae screams at her to tell her what happened to Jang Hyun. Princess slaps her instead. Gil Chae stands up and tells her if Jang Hyun died, then she won’t be safe either. While she lives, she will follow her wherever she goes and curse her, and she will appear in her dreams and curse. So Jang Hyun better be alive. She roars for her to tell her where Jang Hyun is. Princess says since she lost the wager, she will set her free. The reason she is keeping her promise is to gain Jang Hyun. Wait and see. Some day he will be hers.
Gil Chae leaves the palace, and Yang Chun approaches her. She isn’t sure until he mentions Jang Hyun’s name and tells her to follow him. She walks into the room and Ryang Eum is tending to a sleeping Jang Hyun. Ryang Eum gets up and pauses at the door before finally leaving. Gil Chae sits next to the bed and slowly reaches over to touch him but stops. She instead grabs at her skirt and then grabs a cloth to wipe his head. Eventually, he opens his eyes and sees Gil Chae. She states in shock. He smiles and says Madam. She tears up and says Sir, she’s been set free. All this is thanks to him. She cries and he reaches over and strokes her head and then cups her face.
[Ep15] She asks if he’s awake and his eyes close as his arm drops.
Ryang Eum had been tortured and raped by the man/lord of the house. Jang Hyun killed the man and told him that they needed to run and go to Yang Chun who will protect them. And that was why Ryang Eum is in love, loyal and totally obsessed with Jang Hyun.
The Crown Princess is grateful to Gil Chae for saving her son before. She offers to fulfill anything she wants. Gil Chae says she wants to stay in Simyang for now. She goes to Jang Hyun’s room and sees Ryang Eum crying at his bedside.
Jong Jong is alive and just finished doing an old woman’s hair. That night, the lord of the household attempts to rape Jong Jong. Goo Jam knocks him out and takes her away. When the man tries to go after them, his mother bites his arm. As they’re running away, Jong Jong asks how he got here. He says how else – he flew here. And the two run with big smiles on their face.
Gil Chae returns to Jang Hyun’s bedside and he remains asleep. She tells him that since he’s injured, it feels like he’s really hers now. She looks at his hand and says she’s always wanted to hold this hand. She looks at his hand longingly and slowly reaches over to put her hand inside his and then wraps both of her hands around him. With teary eyes, she watches him sleep until she, too, falls asleep.
In the early morning, Jang Hyun wakes up and tries to move. He then sees Gil Chae is holding his hand in her sleep. He smiles and then returns to sleep.
Goo Jam and Jong Jong encounter rain on their journey and they find shelter. She’s cold and he pulls her closer to keep her warm. He asks why she didn’t come that day, and she replies that she couldn’t leave her lady… and he suddenly kisses her. He pulls back and says that he waited a long time. Then he gently kisses her again. She shoves him away and slaps him on the face but she stares in shock at her hand. He clutches at his face and turns away with a smile.
Gil Chae finally wakes up and quickly pulls her hand out of his. She then grabs a cloth and gently wipes his face with it. She smiles at him. And then she hears the sound of children saying that Goo Jam has returned. She runs outside and sees Jong Jong. She runs to hug her, and she apologizes for not protecting and keeping her safe. Jong Jong says it’s okay, as she knew she’d meet her again. Gil Chae looks at Goo Jam and thanks him, and that she owes him her life.
Goo Jam goes inside and tells Jang Hyun to wake up. No response. So he says that they’ve received a letter from Joseon. Soon, Lady Yoo’s husband will… And Jang Hyuk suddenly bolts up! (~16:00) LOL His expression and tone are perfect. I’m crying laughing. Goo Jam laughs and says look at him, faking an illness now. Jang Hyun finally says don’t say anything. Goo Jam says he’s pathetic right now. Jang Hyun tells him to use his brain right now – if Lady Yoo leaves, she won’t be leaving alone, as Jong Jong will follow her. And then there’s a sound by the door, and Jang Hyun quickly lays back down and Goo Jam tucks him in.
Gil Chae enters the room and Goo Jam tells her that his wound seems to be really deep. It’ll take maybe six months – no, he’ll be bedridden for the rest of his life. She tells him to stop speaking nonsense as he’ll regain consciousness no matter what. She then goes to Jang Hyun and says that she cannot go anywhere, and tends to him. Jang Hyun gives him a thumbs up. XD
Eventually, Jang Hyun wakes up to sit up and says that he’s aching. Suddenly the door opens and Jang Hyun quickly gets back under the covers. Yang Chun slowly walks over to sit down by the bed. He tells him to open his eyes and Jang Hyun slowly opens his eyes. Yang Chun asks how does it feel to make the crippled do all the work while he lays in bed? Jang Hyun says the people like him more. Yang Chun says the captives want to know when they can return to Joseon.
The plan: The ones who have owners who will release them, they will use promissory notes. And those who have no hope, they must be secretly sent to Joseon. They’re interrupted by a noise… and Gil Chae enters the room. She finds Yang Chun is crying at Jang Hyun’s bedside, and asking him to wake up. She tells him that he will gain consciousness no matter what. Yang Chun leaves with a sob. She goes to the bed and tucks in Jang Hyun and then fans him.
Ryang Eum opens the doors and enters the room. She reaches over to get a cloth and Ryang Eum grabs it and the two fight over it. Ryang Eum wins and wipes Jang Hyun’s head and asks why he has cold sweat. Jang Hyun scowls at the not-so-gentle touch. Gil Chae says he needs medicine and gets the bowl and then Ryang tries to take it from her. While the two are fighting, Jang Hyun peeks over with one eye and then closes it when they get closer. They continue fighting until the medicine ends up on Jang Hyun. He gives a sigh. (~23:53) XD! [This scene is even funnier in BTS.]
Goo Jam is going over plans with Jang Hyun, who is sitting up and using a back scratcher. They hear footsteps and Jang Hyun throws the back scratcher at him as he gets back under the covers. Gil Chae comes in and scolds Goo Jam for behaving like this while Jang Hyun is unwell. She tells him to go and wait outside. He agrees and leaves. Gil Chae wipes Jang Hyun’s hands but she stops when she notices a cute mole on one of his fingers and caresses it. She returns to wiping his hands and talks about helping with the farming as she needs to earn her keep. [Can’t see the mole but Namkoong Min posted a story with a close-up of it. lol]
She works on having the farming tools mended and tells him about how she made knives back in Hanyang. Another time, Ryang Eum goes to change his dressing, but he hears Gil Chae’s humming. Inside, Jang Hyun smiles when she continues wiping him. But she pauses when she notices the large scar on his right shoulder.
When Gil Chae doesn’t return to him, he gets up and walks outside looking for her. He sees her scolding the men for not handling the metal properly. He chides her for that temper of hers… He then follows her to the fields and sees her handing out the tools to the farmers. He smiles. She looks over and sees a woman struggling to till and joins her. Jang Hyun says that she doesn’t need to do that as she could hurt her hand. Jong Jong brings refreshments for everyone, and Goo Jam annoys her as he’s playing she-loves-love-me-not with a flower. Yang Chun notices that the lady (that he likes but tries to be tough about) is picking the beans from the cakes, and tells Jong Jong to leave them out next time. She says that Goo Jam likes them. Gil Chae smiles at this, and Jang Hyun says that he has missed her smiling face.
Later, Gil Chae shows Jang Hyun a basket of grains. She says the grains are ready for harvest, so how is he still unconscious? She’s afraid that he’ll never wake up again. She should have died instead. If something happens to him, she doesn’t have the right to live. She then puts her head on the covers and cries that she will die too. If only she could die to save him. She would kill herself right away. Jang Hyun starts making sounds and moves his head. She tells him that she’ll go get someone and gets up but he grabs onto her arm and tells her to let them stay together.
Jang Hyun is now limping down the stairs…and telling Gil Chae that his leg really hurts. And Goo Jam even helps him… She asks how his leg hurts if he was hit in the back. XD He hilariously says that everything is connected in the human body…and looks over at Goo Jam and Yang Chun for help. They agree with him as even Yang Chun says he had a head injury and now has this limp. Jang Hyun suddenly yelps in pain. They encourage her to hold onto him or he’ll die. So she helps him walk… Yang Chun says he really threw everything for her. Goo Jam says he told him so. XD
While they’re resting, Gil Chae asks what he does for a living. And how he seduced a princess. He asks if she’s jealous. She says she isn’t as how could she be about someone so ugly. She finds out that he was a government slave and paid with rice for his title. So he works hard to earn money. He asks if she was put off by the fact that he was a commoner. She laughs and then says it would have been better if he never became an aristocrat. He asks why and she says because she would have made him her servant and taken him everywhere with her and done whatever she wanted. He says then he’ll reject his appointment so will she buy him. She says of course.
LJH: Why didn’t you come that day?
YGC: [No answer.]
LJH: Why did you abandon me?
YGC: [Pause.] I didn’t abandon you. I just could not dare to have you. You can live without me but –
LJH: Why do you think that? Why… did you think I could live… without you??
Nearby, Princess is watching them and Ryang Eum aims his arrow at her. Then he stops and walks away. But the Princess’ men come for him. She asks who he is to try to kill her. She gets a closer look and remembers who he is. She tells him to tell Jang Hyun that she’s going to call him soon.
Ryang Eum tells Jang Hyun that he should send Gil Chae back to Joseon. He then says the Princess is trying to kill him. Jang Hyun says he needs to rest and slowly walks and groans to his bed. Ryang Eum realizes he really is in pain. He says that one time he almost died trying to save her on Ganghwa Island, and this time, he hurt his leg trying to release her. What will it be next time? What will he give up for that woman next time? Jang Hyun repeats “that woman” and tells him to shut his mouth.
In the past, Jang Hyun had told him that there was no point in getting married, as listening to him sing was enough for him. Ryang Eum had been branded on his chest by his owner before, and he’d branded then rebranded himself to cover up those words. (That scar.) Later, Ryang Eum reminds Gil Chae that she’s been released and should return to Joseon. She says that Jang Hyun’s leg isn’t well and once he recovers – He says he’ll tend to his recovery. She asks him why that time before, he told her that Jang Hyun was dead. She says she does know why he lied but she knows that Jang Hyun would want her to nurse him, and not him. Ryang Eum pulls out something from his sleeve – it’s the knife Jang Hyun had given her before. He asks since she’s seen the wound on his back, does she know how he got it? Gil Chae is shocked to realize that the person who saved her on that island was really Jang Hyun. He’d also been suffering from smallpox at the time and was on the brink of death. And here in Simyang, he has developed a limp because of her. Ryang Eum tells her that to Lee Jang Hyun, she is a curse. Omo.
Gil Chae touches his bloodstained clothes, and remembers her past harsh words to Jang Hyun.
And how many times he has helped her. She remembers him denying that he was the one who had saved her on the island. And she remembers him promising to bring her the prettiest floral shoes and how he’d dropped them into the water. And lastly, when he’d taken the arrow meant for her. She heartbrokenly sobs as she hugs his clothes.
The Princess says that she let the woman live, but not that he’d stay by her side. She then talks about bad things happening to Joseon captives living in Simyang, especially if their release papers are lost, and threatens to harm them. He grabs her by the throat and shoves her against a tree. He tells her if she lays a finger on her, he will kill her. She says even the thought of him dying torments her. If he wants to save her [Gil Chae], then send her to Joseon.
[Ep16] Gil Chae writes a letter to send to Joseon. Ryang Eum asks if she’s decided to return to Joseon. She says no, she’s writing to say that she can’t return for a while. She tells him that she will not leave. If she’s a curse to Jang Hyun, then she will also be the only one who can break the curse. If he needs her, she’ll stay as long as he needs her.
Princess asks the Khan to make her in charge of the Joseon captives. He says if she treats them cruelly, then they’ll lose public support. He then starts coughing violently, and news of the Khan’s illness reaches the Joseon King. The Khan later dies with the Princess by his bedside.
Gil Chae recalls their time on the boat and she asks if she was very foolish in the past. Jang Hyun replies that she was... very beautiful. He repeats her words to her about being alone with him, and not flushing or stammering. She laughs and then he pulls her into his arms. He asks if they can stay together. If she doesn’t like it here, he will go wherever she wants. He then says that her husband abandoned her, despite knowing she was in Simyang. So she no longer needs to stay loyal to him. So please… She pulls away and says that she needs to speak to her husband and hear his reason. He says of course, as she has a husband, and a father and siblings, too…
Later, she goes to his room as he’s changing clothes and tells him that he’s right, she does have a husband, father and siblings. But there is someone who saved her life. For him, she can gladly sacrifice her life, however… He walks over to her and asks if she cannot love him. She breaks eye contact. He says that he never wished for her to die in his place. What he wants is… he reaches over to stroke her face and then cups her head. He walks closer and moves closer to kiss her…ever so gently on her cheek. When he moves to kiss her on the lips, she says that she… yet she’s holding onto his clothes. He tries to kiss her again…and someone says “Interpreter Lee” over and over. (~15:10) He finally moves away from her and leaves the room.
Eunuch Pyo who tells him that the Khan is dead. The former king [Dorgon] is now king regent as the Khan’s son is only 6 years old. The Qing no longer care whether the captives live now, and so Jang Hyun coldly tells her to return to Joseon. He tells her that he doesn’t need her to nurse him. When she doesn’t seem to want to go… he reminds her that they’re nothing to one another. So do not feel indebted to him in any way. He has clung onto her, and he has gotten over a near-death experience thanks to her. He has done all he has wished for. So, now, in his heart, there is nothing left. So go back. Also, he’s grown tired of her, who always pushes him away. He is sick and tired now. So please go back. She asks what if she doesn’t want to go back. He replies that she’s a married woman, does she have no shame? She finally turns and leaves. Jang Hyun’s tears almost fall but he blinks them back.
Jang Hyun tells Jong Jong that they’re going back to Joseon as that’s what he wants and she’ll do as he wants…and tears fall. Goo Jam has the gall to ask Jong Jong to choose between him or Gil Chae. She says it’s Gil Chae. Gil Chae says goodbye to the Crown Princess, who says once he ascends the throne, she’ll repay her. Through the doors, Gil Chae tells Jang Hyun that she’s leaving and they're both hiding their tears. When she walks away, Jang Hyun almost opens the doors to go after her… but he doesn’t.
When she leaves, Gil Chae turns back to look for Jang Hyun but she doesn’t see him. So she turns around and walks forward. And then Jang Hyun appears and watches her departing back. He says goodbye, and return home and live like a flower. That is all he wants.
When the Princess attempts to throw herself off the balcony, Jang Hyun pulls her to safety. She’s testing him. She asks why he saved her as it’s better for him if she dies.
The Crown Prince returns and his feather refuses to see him as he’s ill. Gil Chae returns home to Eun Ae’s and everyone is happy to see her. At night, Yeon Jun returns home and is happy to see that Gil Chae is back.
The next day, Gil Chae returns to her husband’s and sees that he already has a new wife who is pregnant. When he asks if nothing happened to her, she ends up leaving. The rumors about her being with the barbarians are running rampant. Gil Chae didn’t give him an answer, and won’t divorce her until he knows the answer. Her father walks around outside and overhears that his daughter is shameless to return home after being taken by the barbarians.
At night, while Gil Chae is sleeping, her father enters her room. He doesn’t want her to live in a nightmare for the rest of her life. So he tries to kill her as a way of helping her. She wakes up to her father strangling her and she finally says “father” twice before he lets get of her and is confused by what he just tried to do.
Gil Chae returns to her husband’s home and asks if she can take some of these daggers. He asks what she means by this. She says yes, she was sold to an intruder and had to suffer humiliation. She also met Jang Hyun there who helped release her. What the intruders did to her is not her fault. Had he wanted to divorce her over that, she would not have backed down. However, in Simyang, she gave her heart to Jang Hyun. For that, she’s sorry. That’s why she’s divorcing him.
Jang Hyun continues missing Gil Chae.
[Ep17] Gil Chae leaves with Jong Jong and the little boy. Eun Ae begs her to not leave. She tells her that if she stays, she’ll be a blemish to Young Chae when she gets married, when Je Nam takes his state exams and to her husband as well. She will leave her father in Eun Ae’s care. And she’ll take care of the little boy herself. Eun Ae begs her not to leave. Gil Chae says she will live well and repay the kindness of the person who saved her by risking his own life. She’ll get in touch when she’s settled.
With her wedding presents, Gil Chae has bought a house for them to live, including Da Jim. Later she finds Seung Ah, the woman she saved from jumping off the cliff. And she's trying to kill herself again, trying to jump into the well. Gil Chae manages to convince her to have a meal before dying anywhere else. She soon also houses many starving orphans.
Jang Hyun now loathes the Princess. He says he stayed by her side, not out of fear. When she kisses him, he doesn’t move at all. But when she returns to kiss him, he moves her away and tells her to stop. She says she won’t hear it. She says he hesitated today, and one day, he will hold her. She says the Crown Prince will be sent back soon to Joseon and he needs to remain. He later tells Yang Chun about the return to Joseon for all.
However, Crown Prince finds out that not all of those captives will be returning to Joseon. The King won’t allow it because he’s afraid of the captives’ loyalty to the Crown Prince. Jang Hyun has no choice but to accept this decision. Yang Chun says they’ve been abandoned.
Yang Chun is forced to tell the captives who become loudly angry and upset. He tells them to trust Jang Hyun, and he himself is also staying behind with them. He promises to take them and their families back to Joseon.
Gil Chae returns to selling the rest of her knives to make ends meet. She hears that the Crown Prince is returning to Joseon and assumes that Jang Hyun and Goo Jam will return. The day arrives and she doesn’t see them at first. But when she does, she hides her face from the procession. She then gazes longingly at Jang Hyun’s back as he walks.
Goo Jam finds Jong Jong and she cries as he hugs her. Goo Jam later tells Jang Hyun that Jong Jong said that Gil Chae no longer works at the forge. Jang Hyun needs to return to the Qing, and wants to meet her before doing so. He insists that Goo Jam look for her but Goo Jam is worried about getting caught.
Ryang Eum finds Gil Chae at her home. He asks if she would like to meet Jang Hyun. She asks if he wants her to meet him. He replies no but Jang Hyun would like to see her. He suggests that she go see him first. She says she will not do that. He says she doesn’t want him to see that she’s living in a place like this. It’s only a matter of time before he finds out where she lives, so go and see him and show him that she’s doing well. Only then will Jang Hyun finally give up.
Gil Chae shows up behind Jang Hyun and asks what he’s doing here. She’s wearing elegant clothes with a pregnant belly. She tells him that she’s been stuck in her room all this time, treated like a queen, and her husband has been overprotective. He won’t let her walk or stand up without permission. She then starts talking to her belly by apologizing for lying today. She then asks how he’s doing and she’s surprised he’s back as the Princess is obsessed with him. He says he has to return to Qing soon and he wanted to visit his hometown for a while. When she trips and almost falls – and clutches her midsection – as he helps her up. He offers to get palaquin bearers, she says there’s no need. She also has a bad craving for red bean rice cakes, and wonders where Jong Jong is with them. Jang Hyun says he will find Goo Jam and Jong Jong, and he walks around calling Jong Jong’s name. He returns and says that he can’t find them anywhere and gives her the rice cakes. She takes a bite of one and smiles. She says this is the taste she missed. He then tells her to drink some sikhye. She takes a sip and sighs happily. He smiles, and she offers him some. He insists that it’s all for her, so she continues eating joyfully. Afterwards, she tells him that she rarely goes outside. And then she says her husband said he’d send a palanquin, and notices that they’re already here. He tells her she should go home. She says that her husband can’t eat without her, so… He asks her for a favor. In the near future, Ryang Eum will invite some friends and will entertain them with his songs. He asks if he could see her then. Please come. It is his last request.
Gil Chae returns home and two angry women appear and one dumps something (urine?) on Seung Ah. The angry woman says that she tried to seduce her husband. Seung Ah says that she only gave the man directions. Gil Chae attacks the two women… and later she gives the kids a bath outside. From a distance, Jang Hyun and Goo Jam watch her happily splashing with the kids. He asks Goo Jam if she was forced to divorce. Goo Jam nods and Jang Hyun starts moving towards her. But Goo Jam stops him, and tells him to stop and to look as she’s smiling. If he shows up now, she will want to cry. Jang Hyun stays where he is and watches her laughing with the giggling kids. He then gives a very deep sigh.
Outside the brothel, Gil Chae meets Jang Hyun, and says that she came because it’s his last request. He grabs her hand and pulls her inside to listen to Ryang Eum sing. Her eyes fill with tears as she remembers the first time she saw Ryang Eum perform, when Jang Hyun carried her across the water, played keep-away with her red ribbon, and their first kiss in the field. She smiles through the tears. He says that she used to love Ryang Eum’s singing. She suddenly says that she needs to go and runs away and he follows her out. Ryang Eum notices and stops singing suddenly.
Outside, she tells him that she’s sorry as she is still plagued with nausea. He says, "Could such a world exist? Under the moonlight, the air filled with Ryang Eum’s singing and the sound of the marvel of Peru1 blooming. That kind of world." She asks if the marvel of Peru blooming makes a sound. He says if she hasn’t heard it, as it’s a rare sound. She tells him that she needs to go. She would no longer be a burden to him, so she’s able to keep that promise. So he should also be at peace as much as he can. She then bows before walking away. He then asks how long she plans to trick him? How long does she think she can trick him? (~54:45)
She walks/runs away from him, and drops the padding underneath her clothes. She tells him that’s how foolish she is, to think that she could trick him. He follows her and then holds onto her arm. She turns back and says she is living fine on her own. So don’t feel sorry for her or pity her. That is what she wants. He says no. He cannot do that. She says please do so. In Simyang, she left as he wanted. Now, it’s his turn. She removes his hand and tells him to please pretend that he didn’t see her. He pulls her into his arms and stays silent. She finally moves out of his arms and walks away again. He looks longingly after her.
Gil Chae returns the dress to Ryang Eum and says that things didn’t go well. But she explained it to Jang Hyun so he would understand. He’s upset that she’s most concerned about her feelings and her pride. Does she not even see Jang Hyun’s pain, and it drives him crazy that he likes a woman like her this much. He then says if he were her, if he had at least a corner of Jang Hyun’s heart like she does...If that were true. She asks why he’s...? He replies that she has no right. No right to be loved by Lee Jang Hyun, and no right to be ignored by him. She… has no right to anything of Lee Jang Hyun. He then leaves.
Ryang Eum tries to tell Jang Hyun how he feels about “that woman”. Jang Hyun tells him to watch his mouth, and he’s leaving for Uiju and will return with Yang Chun. And then he’s going back to Qing to finish up his affairs with the Princess. Ryang Eum wonders why she let him go so easily. Jang Hyun says that he said he’d be at the Princess’ side. However… the situation has changed. Back then, he did not know that Lady Yoo was divorced. Ryang Eum asks so?
Jang Hyun doesn’t reply but gives him a serious glance before walking away. Ryang Eum asks if they can go back to before they met that woman? The four of them [Jang Hyun, Ryang Eum, Goo Jam and Yang Chun] were happy. Do they mean nothing to him? Jang Hyun turns back and says as if. He could even die for him. But now, he wants to live for that woman. And… anyone who gets in his way of doing so, whoever they may be, he will never see them again. Jang Hyun turns to leave, and Ryang Eum says then he will come with him. He can live for that woman, and his little brother will follow him wherever he goes. Jang Hyun finally leaves.
He arrives at Gil Chae’s home and she’s sitting outside. She says that she’s been waiting for him.
Inside, she tells him what she wanted the most if she were to meet him again was to serve him a hot meal she prepared. The table is full of her dishes. He starts with a spoonful of soup and gives his approval. And then he continues eating more bites of food. He says that sitting together like this, he feels as though they’re husband and wife. Now, let them live like this for a thousand years to come. She says, my lord. He says her name, and locks eyes with her, now, there are no obstacles between them. So no one can stop him now. 🔥 He then continues eating.
Afterwards, he says that he enjoyed the meal, the hearty meal. She says her wish has come true. This is enough for her. She wants nothing more from him.
YGC: So please –
LJH: Why did you divorce him?
YGC: [Silence and then sighs] You’ve never asked me about it. I’ve never told you. But in Simyang, I…
LJH: What happened in Simyang? If you wish to tell me, go ahead and say it. I do not care. He walks towards her and stops. He looks at her. Do you still not know how I am? She stares. And how I feel? Do you truly not know? You are… all I need. Poor Gil Chae, rich Gil Chae, cheeky Gil Chae, gentle Gil Chae, Gil Chae who does not love me, and Gil Chae who loves me. Whatever you are, you are all I need, Gil Chae. She looks down as her eyes fill with more tears, and then finally takes a deep breath.
YGC: Fine. Then what if I said an intruder took advantage of me? His eyes change with intense emotion, and then walks closer to her.
LJH: Then I should embrace you, for it must have been painful. He then hugs her. Her eyes fill with more tears and then they slowly fall down her cheeks. He pulls back to look at her as he strokes her head. It must have been truly painful. You must have suffered a lot. She looks as she holds back a sob. It is all over now. Do not worry about anything from now on. From now on, I will stay by your side. Even if you push me away, I will stay right here. Even if you get sick of me, I will stay right by your side. The moment… I first saw you. I just knew… that I had never once… wanted someone else... other than you. He then gently strokes her face again and stares into her eyes. May I… He looks down at her lips and then back to her eyes. Hold you? And then he slowly kisses her… (~1:06:10, 6 mins.) Finally together!!
[Ep18] Gil Chae and Jang Hyun kiss and kiss and then remove each other’s clothes.
Gil Chae's voiceover: Did you ever hate me?
Jang Hyun's voiceover: The day you left me for good, I resented you so much that I stared at you for a while. However, no matter how long I looked, I did not feel hatred toward you. Instead, I hated myself. How cold of you. Did you even imagine how I must have felt?
YGL: I could not bear to imagine it. I just… knew that my heart was being torn into thousands of pieces…and could only hope that you would not feel the way I did.
The next morning, Gil Chae wakes up first and peeks at him before closing her eyes again. Jang Hyun wakes up and turns over to look at her, and gently caresses her face which makes her open her eyes. She asks him if he will not put a floral shoe on her foot today. He says he threw away all of the floral shoes because he was cross with her. She laughs and then closes her eyes. He tells her that there’s something he needs to finish up. He promised Yang Chun. It’ll take a month but he will be back. She sits up and reaches over into a box and pulls out something. She opens the small box and reveals a pair of rings. She says that she had these made at the forge back then. Even though she thought he was dead, she had them made… and kept them with her. She places a ring on his palm and then closes his fingers over it. She says she’s placed a spell on this ring. If he betrays the lady who gave him the ring, then he’ll have a stroke. He smiles and then laughs before asking what? She laughs and tells him to not worry about her. She’s survived all those hardships in Simyang. If it is just a month, she can wait for him with a smile. He hugs her. When he leaves, he keeps turning back to look at her. He eventually stops and fans himself as he waves goodbye to her. She laughs and watches him disappear.
Jang Hyun is informed by Eunuch Pyo to not discuss the captives with Crown Prince. When he says he wants to see him, he's then told that the Crown Prince doesn’t want to see him. (The King had ordered him to let go of the captives.) Jang Hyun kneels outside and reminds him of his promise, and how the captives have made it this far. When there is no response, a lone tear falls down on his cheek.
The promise that he has forgotten, he still remembers it. Now, he shall set out to uphold that promise. When he stands up to leave, the Crown Prince comes outside. He tells him if he goes against him, he will never see him again. Jang Hyun looks at him and then says that he was about to tell him the same. From now on, he will leave him for good. He then bows and turns to walk away. The Crown Prince calls after him to stop.
Now, Yang Chun and the captives are crossing through the water at night. Jang Hyun had promised to stay by the Princess’ side if she could guarantee that the captives can cross the river safely. After he finished with the captives, he’d return to her side. She’d told him if he broke his promise, she’d really kill him.
Everyone safely crosses but then they’re attacked by men, who tell them to go back. The captives are now upset with Jang Hyun’s trucks. The captives start leaving to go back. In Ok ends up with an arrow in her body and her baby’s. Yang Chun returns to help her up but then he is hit with an arrow and falls. Jang Hyun screams for them to get Yang Chun to safety. Goo Jam and the others help move him. Ryang Eum falls and Jang Hyun offers him a hand but then he’s struck from behind and falls down onto Ryang Eum. And then Ryang Eum is also knocked out.
In the morning, the Princess waits and is greeted by Yang Chun and the remaining captives. The Princess points a sword at Goo Jam and demands to know where Jang Hyun is. Goo Jam tells the Princess that he’s not sure if Jang Hyun is alive or not. And if he was alive, he’d be here with them. On the other side, Ryang Eum wakes up and says Jang Hyun’s name. A man puts his hand over his mouth and Ryang Eum calls him “Ningguchin”, who tells him to go in a certain direction and he’ll prepare a horse for him.
Jang Hyun is in prison (controlled by the eunuchs) and they’ve all been charged with treason. They’re asked if they were following the Crown Prince’s order. They’re looking for Yang Chun, and Jang Hyun says it’s him. One of the other captives says that it's him as he’s the one who helped them cross the river.
Yang Chun is still alive but severely injured. Many are dead including In Ok’s baby. She says he betrayed them, and sold them off as she glares at him with her dead baby in her arms. She demands that her daughter be returned to her. She walks over to him and screams at him to bring her back to life.
Ryang Eum finds the Crown Prince and explains what’s happened and he has no idea where Jang Hyun is. He begs for him to save Jang Hyun. The Crown Prince starts yelling for his father. His wife begs him to not anger his father, and to think of his son.
Jang Hyun is being interrogated by the head eunuch. He explains that they’re captives. Eunuch wants to know who put him up to it. Jang Hyun says the plan was to bring them back. And then he’s beaten over and over.
Goo Jam misses Jong Jong and wonders where Jang Hyun is. In OK finally buries her baby in the forest. She then attempts to kill herself but Yang Chun stops her. She sobs and fights in his arms.
Gil Chae shows her ring Eun Ae and the others. They realize that they’re finally together. She tells them that he’s away on business in Simyang. And when he returns, he wants to stay with her.
Jang Hyun is quite wounded but continues to be beaten. At some point, he falls and his ring rolls onto the ground. He sees it but he finally passes out. Ryang Eum now knows that Jang Hyun has been arrested. The King is being manipulated by his concubine. The Crown Prince arrives and demands that she leave so they can speak in private. He asks his father about the captives. His father says they had weapons, etc. The King asks if they’re the one who are helping him rise to power. He believes that his son has betrayed him. His son tells him that these captives sang Joseon songs while on Simyang lands, as they’re captive who missed Joseon. They risked their lives to escape, so they’re his father’s people. His father refuses to listen to him. Crown Prince leaves his father’s room and collapses. Nearby, the concubine wants to know where the girl who makes knives is, and it can be no one but her. Omo.
The King orders for the death of the criminals in jail. A very bloodied Jang Hyun is still alive and the head eunuch orders Ningguchin to smash his head and kill him. Ningguchin does as he's told, and then Jang Hyun slowly moves his hand towards the ring, and when he reaches it, he wraps his fist around it.
Gil Chae hears from the concubine’s maid that all of those loyal to the Crown Prince have been caught. She brings her knives to the concubine, who chooses one and tells her to bury it outside. She notices a lot of activity at the palace and sees the men moving bodies. Jang Hyun’s ring falls onto the ground un and makes a noise. She then secretly follows them and when they leave, she looks at the pile of bodies. She removes the bag over the man’s head and reveals a very bloody Jang Hyun. He doesn’t respond. She hears a noise and rubs blood all over her clothes and lays down next to Jang Hyun with an arm over his chest and then closes her eyes. When it's quiet again, she opens her eyes and knocks out the one guard trying to warm his hands by the fire. She returns to Jang Hyun and says my lord. His fingers move slightly and his eyes open a tiny bit. She wonders if he’s awake.
[Ep19] Gil Chae tries to walk with Jang Hyun but he is barely standing and collapses outside the palace. A eunuch walks by and she says that he’s drunk and she's just trying to get him home. The eunuch offers to help her. Before he leaves, he says he’s not sure why they are constantly beating people to a pulp at the palace. Jong Jong comes outside and helps her with Jang Hun. The head eunuch finds out that Jang Hyun’s body has gone missing.
The Crown Prince has lost consciousness and a physician comes. Meanwhile at Gil Chae’s, the doctor shakes his head after checking on Jang Hyun. Jang Gyun starts coughing blood in his sleep. Jong Jong wonders what happened to him and where Goo Jam is. Gil Chae says she needs to take him to another place as the eunuch who helped her knows this place.
Ryang Eum is sneaking around the palace and finds out that Jang Hyun’s body was moved. The eunuch has been beaten and told them where Jang Hyun is. Jong Jong tells Gil Chae that there are men searching the village right now. Ryang Eum suddenly arrives and says he’ll take him as they’ll arrive here soon.
The men arrive and search her place. Ningguchin is among them, and when they find blood on the bedding, he signals at the other man to not say anything, except that they found nothing. The poor eunuch is brought before her and he’s asked if it was this house. He sees Gil Chae and shakes his head. They’re told that a man on a horse was seen leaving the area.
They’ve followed Ryang Eum to a house, but it belongs to a nobleman. So they don’t search the place. Ryang Eum returns to Gil Chae’s and she immediately asks how he is. He replies he wondered whom Jang Hyun would want to see the most… in his final moments. Go and see him.
She goes to him and stays by his bedside. Jang Hyun continues dreaming about his childhood. When he was young, he hung out with a servant he named Ryang Eum. This Ryang Eum was very kind towards him and seemed to like his sister. One day, his father [is it this Jang Cheol, the Head of Confucian scholars?!?] had beaten Ryang Eum to death. Jang Hyun starts tossing and moving around in his sleep. Suddenly, he opens his eyes and Gil Chae calls for Ryang Eum.
Jang Hyun asks where he is, she says he is well. He notices her hand touching his and moves his away. He then asks who she is. Both Gil Chae and Ryang Eum look at him in shock. A doctor comes by and they’re told that he’s fine and he’s made it. She asks why he doesn’t remember them. He says that the hit missed and did not harm his skull so give it time. Ningguchin's doing. He may remember them or he may never again.
As Ryang Eum tends to his head wound, Jang Hyun asks him who that woman over there is. Ryang Eum looks over and sees that it’s Gil Chae. Ryang Eum says of all the people, he thought he would at least remember her. Jang Hyun looks at her and says he doesn’t remember. But he enjoys watching her as he smiles. Ryang Eum leaves and Gil Chae sits down next to Jang Hyun. She gives him his medicine and he obediently drinks it. It’s bitter, so she gives him something sweet to follow. He asks her why she’s so nice to him. She replies compared to what he did for her, this is nothing. He asks if he was good to her. She replies not just good. He thinks about it and then asks about Ryang Eum as he knows someone with that name. He had a servant named Sam Do but he could whistle very well so he nicknamed him Ryang Eum. He wonders how his name is also Ryang Eum. And then his head hurts.
The very ill Crown Prince suddenly wakes up. He asks his wife if he was in bed for a long time. She replies that it’s fine now that he’s up. He says he’s hungry. She orders porridge to be made but then decides she’ll make it herself. She leaves and he wants to talk to Eunuch Pyo in private. He asks about what happened to Lee Jang Hyun. Eunuch Pyo says he believes he’s safe and sound. Crown Prince writes a letter with Eunuch Pyo watching. When he's done, he says that he wants to rest. He gets back under the covers. Then he’s told that the Crown Princess will be bringing him his porridge. Crown Prince smiles and says then he must eat it. Suddenly, the Crown Prince stops talking and is very still. His eyes remain open but he’s no longer breathing. His wife returns and drops the tray, and both Eunuch Pyo and his wife scream Your Highness over and over. Later, the Crown Princess grieves and hugs his pillow. She then discovers his letter...to Jang Hyun.
Jang Hyun dreams of the Ryang Eum in his childhood and becomes agitated when he sees his father. Gil Chae puts Jang Hyun’s ring next to hers in the box. A lady from the palace visits and asks if she’s still in contact with Jang Hyun. Gil Chae says no, she’s never seen him since her return to Joseon. The woman says that the Crown Princess sends jewelry as she knows she’s been struggling financially. She still wants to repay her and prepared the jewelry herself, and she needs to keep them forever.
The head eunuch is still on the hunt for the cursed object that the Crown Princess buried. The King plans to expel the Crown Princess from the palace. He wants the captives to be watched more carefully. He’s worried about a coup, so he wants Jang Hyun to be found and if he’s alive, kill him on sight.
Jang Hyun is in the courtyard and suddenly hears a whistling song and follows it. He walks outside and watches a man looking at a tree. It’s Jang Cheol… and Gil Chae quickly turns him around and walks them the other way before he’s spotted. Nearby, there are guards looking for him. They return home and he asks if he did something wrong again and quickly apologizes. He walks away and she runs over to hug him from behind. He’s surprised. She then thanks him for staying alive. He tries to remove her arms from his waist but she refuses to let go and says they’re allowed to do this. She says he remembers nothing so take her word for it and she resumes holding him. He continues struggling. (~43:15)
Another day, she gives him her red ribbon and tells him to never to lose it. He asks what this is as he looks at it. She tells him to put it where it’s meant to be. He doesn’t know what that means so she takes the ribbon and puts it inside his robe. He yelps at her intimate touch. XD She leaves and he clutches his chest. (~44:15)
Later, they’re playing a game of Ssi-teu-ki (cat’s cradle), and he asks if they really did such childish things. She says yes and then messes up the strings. She pushes his hands together with hers and he looks down at their hands. He pulls away from her and says that she keeps touching him. It is said that since the age of seven men and women must sit apart… She says she’s already told, they’re allowed to do this. Then she offers the strings for his turn. (~44:50)
The next day, in front of Ryang Eum, she tries to feed him a bite of food. He doesn’t accept it and says this is shameful. She says that she’s told him already. They are allowed to – and he says fine, fine and opens his mouth to accept it. She tells him to have some soup and watches him take a spoonful. Ryang Eum finally shoves a spoonful of rice into his mouth and then loudly sets down the bowl. (~45:55)
While they’re hanging up the laundry, she gives him a peck on the cheek. His eyes get huge and he asks her if she’s crazy. He walks around the clothes and says even if they’re allowed to do some things, does she not think that was too much in broad daylight? She walks over and gives him peck on the other cheek and his eyes bug out. LOL (~46:35) This is my fav one - him being offended. *snorting laugh* She says they used to do this and then she returns to hanging up the laundry. He walks away in shock and she giggles.
Later, she shows him the box with their rings inside and tells him that until the last moment, he held this ring in his hand. He asks did he? He can’t remember and tells her that he has no memory now and is a memory. She asks if she can be honest. For a long time, she wished for them to exchange jokes and wonder what to eat for dinner. She wished so ardently for that kind of simple life. It is possible this moment is her happiest one with him. He asks, then if his memory never returns, will she not abandon him? She says her, abandon him? Wait and see. Even if she dies, she will never leave his side again. Outside, Ryang Eum is looking at their shoes. He organizes the shoes, and then quietly leaves.
Princess arrives in Joseon for Jang Hyun. The King orders the Crown Princess be thrown out and left to die in her home. And seek out all of her supporters and get rid of them. She dies after taking the poison and in death, she finally hugs her husband again. The King wants information on the interpreters as they’ve all had contact with the Qing.
Gil Chae puts ointment on the wounds on Jang Hyun’s back. She angrily says she’ll rip out the hair of those who did this to him. She then tells him to turn around and puts ointment on the ones on his arms but when she tries to touch his abdomen, he tells her that it’s fine. When she tries again, he yells at her that he said it was fine and puts on his clothes. Next time, he’ll do it himself. She says she can help – and he yells that he can do it himself. Also, she says things have always been like this between them? He doesn’t want to hear about it and she keeps touching him. He yells for her to not ever – and she quickly gets up and leaves. (~58:15) To the empty room, he says that’s not what he meant.
He then sits outside with the ring box and removes his ring to look at it. When he tries to put it on, he drops it and then it rolls down the stairs and onto the ground. He walks over to pick it up but he holds his head as it hurts. He now remembers getting knocked out, later picking up the ring at the prison and finally Gil Chae finding him.
Gil Chae quickly runs over to him. He stands up and looks over at her.
LJH: I hope I did not do anything too silly. She stares with shock.
YGC: My lord… He walks over to her and smiles and then tears up before hugging her.
LJH: I am sorry. It took too long, didn’t it? I am truly sorry. Her eyes fill up with tears and she stays in his embrace and finally hugs him back.
[Ep20] On a beautiful day, the two are sitting together outside and Jang Hyun rubs his head…and then asks who she is. She stares at him but he can’t repress his laughter. She sighs and hits him on the arm and tells him to not joke around like that. He chuckles and says why, is she worried that he’ll lose his memory again? He tells her to not worry as something like that won’t happen again. She replies that the doctor scared her into thinking he’d lose his memory forever. She’ll stick by his side wherever he goes. He asks her what happened with the Crown Prince.
Ryang Eum tells him that someone told everything about the Crown Prince to the King. Eunuch Pyo wants to see him. The head eunuch tells Eunuch Pyo that thanks to him, they were able to get rid of their greatest enemies beforehand. And then he gives an evil smile. Eunuch Pyo realizes that he unknowingly betrayed the Crown Prince.
Jang Hyun visits Eunuch Pyo and finds him dying as he drank the same poison that the Crown Prince died of. He says it was so mild that the Crown Princess suffered for two days. Jang Hyun asks if he thinks this will wash away his sins. Pyo asks if he remembers the first day they met. When Pyo had clung to him and said to protect him was like protecting the Crown Prince. He cries that he had thought it was the only way to save the Crown Prince, who did such a great job entertaining the Khan and always worried about the captives. Pyo had wanted to tell everyone about this but he’d been fooled. With his dying breath, he tells Jang Hyun about the Crown Prince dying with black ooze coming out of every orifice and that he’d written a letter to him. Soon, the King finds out about this letter from his concubine. He thinks the letter is for the Qing to get involved and the great search begins.
Eventually, they have a portrait of Jang Hyun, who they think is Yang Chun, the traitor. But one of the officials says it’s Lee Jang Hyun. Gil Chae suddenly notices the letter with the Crown Princess's jewelry. As she’s reading it, she hears a strange noise outside. She walks outside and the Princess is here to take Jang Hyun. She asks where he is, and Gil Chae pauses before asking if she can help him. Now the Princess wants the King of Joseon to know that the Qing are coming.
Jang Hyun has learned that Gil Chae has the letter. And then he’s approached by the bounty hunters. Eunuch tells the King that he’s ordered for Jang Hyun to be killed on sight. But then another official goes in and begs for him to not kill Lee Jang Hyun. He asks the eunuch if he’s been killed. Suddenly, the eunuch runs outside and tells the men to stop trying to kill Jang Hyun. They’ve received a message from the Qing and they’ve asked for Lee Jang Hyun to be their interpreter.
Lee Jang Hyun is now before the King, and told to reveal his true identity. He says he’s an interpreter…and the Crown Prince’s favorite interpreter. Yong Gol Dae arrives and asks about the Crown Prince’s three children. He’s asked why he’s interested in a traitor’s children. Yong Gol Dae asks for the evidence supporting the Crown Prince’s guilt.
Yeon Jun is now out to get Jang Hyun for bringing in intruders. [He continues to be a moron and jerk.] He believes that he’s betrayed Joseon. Jang Hyun tells him that he thinks that his love of Joseon is so sincere that it’s pitiful.
Jang Hyun finally returns home to Gil Chae, and he asks if she has the Crown Prince’s letter.
Jang Hyun, read this. I want to keep my promise to those who trusted me before it’s too late. Bring the captives back to Joseon. If I am unable to keep this promise, I am unable to call myself the Crown Prince, a man, or a human being. If something happens to me and I cannot be the Crown Prince or the King, please help me stay a human being, at least. You are the only person I can ask to do this.
Jang Hyun offers the Qing all of his wealth, for what was promised before, that all of the captives must be in possession of release papers recognized by the financial office of Qing. Also, the captices will not cross the river. They will confidently enter Joseon via land route .If she can guarantee this, he will hand over this silver. Princess says that no one can pose questions regarding the Joseon captives being released today. She guarantees it.
The Qing set down their weapons before the captives (Yang Chun and In Ok are still alive!), meaning they’re allowed to return to Joseon. With tears in his eyes, Jang Hyun watches them go. Later, Princess tells him that she’ll take him from Joseon while she still has the power. He says that he has to return to his hometown. She asks if he’s a fickle fool who can’t cannot keep his promises. He says yes, he’s a fickle fool who would like to return this hometown alive. She scoffs and says if he returns to Joseon, he will die. She asks if it’s because of her. He stands up and then gets on his knees. She is his hometown. He wants to return home and take a rest. She tells him his options are he leaves with her or he dies here. Either way, he’ll die if he goes to Joseon.
Gil Chae writes to Jang Hyun:
My lord. I know now. I know how you feel about me. I also know exactly how I feel about you. My lord. I am happy with these earnest feelings of love…even if we are apart. As long as you can be safe, even if you are far away, my heart will be filled with joy. Two Joseon interpreters have already been flogged to death. So please, my lord, stay in the Qing.
She tears up and stops writing. She says no, she misses him. She repeats that she misses him.
Jang Hyun gives his response to Princess: “In that case, I shall die on the way back.” He stands and starts walking but she stops him with a knife at his neck. He tells her to please forgive him and then he closes his eyes and waits. She moves the knife away, and tells him to go. Leave before she changes her mind. He walks a few steps and turns back to tell her to safe and healthy. He bows and then walks away.
Jang Hyun walks back to Joseon and overhears about the captives being gathered somewhere and covered in dirt. He returns and Ryang Eum asks how he’s back. He replies that he said he would be back. Ryang Eum lets everyone else know. The captives are loyal to the Crown Prince and want to avenge him. Jang Hyun advises them to not look into this or try to avenge him. He’s asking this of them, as this is what the Crown Prince would have wanted.
Goo Jam returns and Jong Jong is so happy to see him. Gil Chae says that Jang Hyun must have gone to the Qing and that’s why he’s here alone. Goo Jam says no, he’ll be here soon and told him to go first. Then he gives her Jang Hyun's letter. Finally, he tells everyone else, the captives to come in.
Alone, she read the letter.
I am writing this letter because I cannot return right away. The captives who are staying at Usimjeong right now do not have anywhere to go or any family members to take them in. If I neglect them as well, they will not have much of a future, so I am trying to help them. Please understand. Whenever I manage to sleep after tossing and turning, I think I dreamt of you. It would be nice if I could remember my dreams. But whenever I wake up from a light sleep, all I remember is…your name, Yoo Gil Chae. I am always lost in thought over you, so it feels like… I have never fallen asleep or woken up. Do you know that feeling?
She cries as she reads his words. Then she folds up the letter and lovingly holds it against her heart.
More people arrive at Gil Chae’s home and she wants to take care of them well so Jang Hyun will return. Da Jim’s (the little boy) mother is here as she sought Jang Hyun’s help as she’d told her to. She then asks about Da Jim and she cries when she sees how tall he’s grown. When she tries to hug him, he runs away and hides behind Gil Chae. Gil Chae pulls him around and tells her that this is mother, and she’d told that his mother has not forgotten about him. He goes into his mother’s arms and they both cry together.
Yeon Jun continues being cold towards Eun Ae after she had told him she was almost being raped by an intruder. So she now tells him that Gil Chae stabbed him to death and rescued her from disaster. Does he still think she lost her chastity after being grabbed by an intruder? He finally turns to look at her and when she puts his hand up to her face, he pulls away. He says that she’s never once tricked him. But that she kept it a secret for so long, is a gruesome stain that the intruders have left on Joseon. He asks if she’ll deny it. [Hate this coward. So much.]
Once again, Gil Chae waits for Jang Hyun and he finally arrives. When she sees him, she runs into his arms. She calls him seobangnim [my dear husband]! He pulls back and asks her if she called him seobang. She says yes, she did, seobangnim. He grins and tells her that they should call each other husband and wife from now on. (~55:55)
Jong Jong and Goo Jam get married! And Jang Hyun tells Gil Chae that maybe they… She says she’s not sure as she’s been married once. She says he said so before, why would they have to be bound to the formalities of marriage? They can just live a life of passion with each other, can they not? They’re already living passionately, so she doesn’t see why… And so he agrees, and says that he did. She says that she was flabbergasted at the time, but he sure is right. She doesn’t like things that are too obvious. Ha, his words. She tells him to let her see his ring. He asks why, and then hands it over. She then puts hers next to his. She wants to inscribe something, without being too obvious, so she’ll do it. The proposal. She asks him to marry her and promises that she’ll make him the happiest man in the world. He smiles and then pulls her into his arms. He leans back and tells her let’s go to Neunggun-ri. Let’s go and live like – he beams – rocks and grass there. Like trivial things. Like boring things. Just the two of them. He caresses her face and she nods.
[Ep21]
Remarks
by FanFanX
Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault, Assault, Violence
[First Impression (Ep1-)] A romance separated by war and filled with heartbreak. I've already finished watching Part 1 but will share recaps as Part 2 is live airing.
[Actors/Actresses] All of my attention is truly on Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun-Jin! However, our newbie Kim Yoon-Woo might be one to keep an eye on as well.
[Behind the Scenes] There are so many and with limited subs.
- Ep1. The swing scene and the boat scene. XD!
- Eps5-6. Namkoong Min really carried the women across the stream. Rocky, wet, and not an easy task!
- Ep7. The awkward meal, and the kiss between Gil Chae and Jang Hyun.
- Ep15. When Gil Chae and Ryang Eum fight over nursing Jang Hyun. Namkoong Min laughs as he's hit with the coffee!
- Ep17. The cast is so cute together and Kim Yoon Woo winks at the camera.
- Ep19. Jang Hyun's reactions to Gil Chae's affection, and then they have the giggles.
[OST] Full OST. As if I didn't have a big enough crush on Ahn Eun Jin already… listen to her vocals here. ^__^
[Ending]
[Footnotes]
1. Marvel of Peru is a real flower. Mirabilis jalapa, the marvel of Peru or four o'clock flower, its flowers usually open from late afternoon or at dusk (namely between 4 and 8 o'clock).
[Pick a Highlight, Any Highlight] For whatever reason my memorable scene is.....
[Review & Rating]
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