Sir...
Your Excellency, this child is a Damo at the Bureau. She is not a courtesan.
How dare you open your mouth at a place like this?
Your Excellency, please summon the courtesans. This child is...
Be quiet! What is the difference between a Damo and a courtesan?
- Do you know where you are? - Dismiss this man immediately!
Let us forget it. I feel like I am an unwanted guest.
- I will bid farewell. - No, Your Excellency.
How can you let a lowly artist ruin your mood?
- Take that girl away! - Yes, Your Excellency.
I... I... Sir... Sir!
Wait a moment.
Release her.
I said release her!
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Excellency. I think it is best a courtesan entertains you.
I have heard that you value the arts.
Apart from her status, she is also an artist. Will you not value her as well?
Even though a Damo is of lowly status, her job is different than a courtesan.
Is that so? In China, girls like her are treated as courtesans.
Are you saying it is different in Chosun?
Yes.
- As I have spoken, I order you... - Your Highness, I am curious about something.
Who is she and what does she do?
And why am I being insulted because of her?
I am sure that she has been charged with matters of utmost importance.
If not, you will be responsible for insulting me and the Emperor of China who sent me!
Ambassador!
Please don't say that. That is not what he meant!
Your Excellency, please let your anger subside!
Your Excellency!
Your Excellency...
If I can prove that this girl has an important role, will you let your anger fade?
Are you saying that she is responsible for something important?
Yes, this girl can paint.
Because of her lowly status, she cannot be an artist. But she can definitely paint.
- Sir! - What is this man saying?
What? Did you say that the girl can draw?
- Please don't pay any heed to him. - No.
A girl who paints?
And she's not even of noble birth, but a lowly Damo...!
Yes, that is indeed an achievement. In that case, will you show me your talent?
Sir...!
What do you say, Your Highness?
Since you say that she is different than a courtesan, and so does he...
Unless you meant to insult me, it won't be too much trouble to have her paint for me?
Your Highness, I will excuse myself for a moment.
When I return, I hope to see her talent as an artist.
If she truly knows how to paint, I will forget the earlier insult.
And as you wish, I will content myself with a courtesan.
That said...
Have you lost your mind? This is all because of you!
This meeting was planned to placate the Ambassador for any future unpleasantness.
Because you've made him more angry just for a mere Damo!
Forgive me, Your Excellency.
Forgive us, Your Highness. Forgive us for causing you trouble.
But now we have no choice but to have her paint.
Go outside and prepare your materials.
- Sir...! - Go!
Your Highness, let him have his way with the girl and all will be forgotten!
If not, his anger will affect trade negotiations!
It is too late for that. He will not accept it now.
Your Highness...!
A Damo that paints... I have never heard of that before.
Can you take responsibility for your words?
At the Bureau, I saw a painting she did using your portrait.
My portrait?
Yes.
Although she did not have any training, she had talent.
Even she is able to show that same talent, the Ambassador will not be able to refute.
Are you confident?
I am not, but I will make preparations.
Your Highness, don't do this! Why are you making this trouble bigger?
You must apologize to the Ambassador and make everything right!
I can't do this, Sir! How could I...?
Then will you sleep with the Ambassador?
Sir...!
Can you do the painting you did back at the Bureau again?
What?
You must draw that painting again. Can you do so?
I... I don't know.
You must.
Sir!
His Highness has taken upon himself this trouble because he had pity for you.
It is not only your life that hangs in the balance.
The Prince's authority and this nation's pride is also at stake.
What mordant is the color yellow made of?
- Orpiment. - What about the red?
I used alum.
Alum is too dull. Use Tin. And?
For the blue, indigo. The green, fustic.
And for the black, tannic.
You may begin.
Go ahead.
You must draw that painting again.
Wait a moment.
Don't you need a theme for the painting? I will give you one.
What will be good...?
Animal...? Yes, a painting of animals or birds would be good.
Listen well.
This beast has a body like a deer, a head like a wolf...
Legs like a horse, and a tail like a cow.
It has a horn, but it is covered in flesh.
It is covered in five types of scales.
If this beast existed, what would it look like?
Forgive me, Your Excellency, but...
If she had drawn her painting a hundred times,
How would that pose a challenge here?
You didn't want to play such tricks, did you?
What do you think?
Since His Highness has vouched for you, you can draw this painting, can you not?
What is it? You can't do it?
No, I will try.
What... what is that?
Forgive us, Your Excellency. She is ignorant and...
Wait.
Do you know what you have painted?
Yes, it is the Kirin.
Ki... Kirin?
The Kirin is a mythical beast that was brought to Ming China by explorer Zheng He.
Did you know about the Kirin before you painted it?
Can you explain what you drew?
The Kirin is known to be one of the four guardians along with the Dragon, Phoenix and Turtle.
Because of its horn, it is also known as a unicorn.
As it does not harm other animals, it is a gentle creature.
The single horn signifies a united world under a great King.
The blue, white, red, black and yellow scales signify the five virtues of this ruler.
It is mostly depicted as a symbol of a wise ruler.
You even know the legend of the Kirin?
Paintings of the Kirin are rare.
How could a mere Damo know this?
So how did you know this and depict it in your painting?
My deceased father used to be an artist.
I remembered seeing a painting he once did of the Kirin.
All the treasures have disappeared...
And yet there is not even a mark of a loaded wagon!
- Forgive us for the trouble earlier. - Not at all! I enjoyed myself.
I shall see you in two days for the trade meeting, Your Highness.
Wait, Your Excellency...!
Your Highness, why did you make him angry?
If we don't find the tributes by tomorrow, what will you do then?
Forgive us for causing you trouble, Your Highness.
Be quiet! You will pay for this!
Enough.
- You are making this bigger than it is. - Bigger than it is?
The nation's interest is at stake because of a lowly girl!
If something goes wrong, His Majesty will hold you responsible!
If it does, it is because of me, not the girl or Official Park.
Your Highness...!
Forgive me, Your Highness.
It was the Ambassador who went too far. Do not blame yourself or the girl.
You are too kind, Your Highness!
Your Highness...
It will be difficult to retrieve the stolen tributes.
There are not clues to be found...
If the news gets out in the Capital, the Ambassador may hear of it.
The Bureau of Investigation is keeping the investigations a secret.
We should be hunting down the culprits, but we have to hide ourselves instead.
I never expected to retrieve the tributes.
They did all this just to get me.
They are remarkable indeed.
All this while I thought I was nobody. But I think I was wrong.
I must cause such fear that they will do such a despicable thing.
Your Highness...!
Unless I have the tributes, I cannot hold the trade negotiations.
If we cannot find the lost white cotton, we have to get new ones.
Foolish boy.
I told him to prove he wasn't insane, but he showed them he was dumb.
I wish to send a summon to the Vice Governor of Ganghwa.
The Vice Governor of Gang Hwa...?
Don't you know him? He used to be the Sixth Royal Secretary.
Yes, Your Majesty.
This is strange. Why are there so many watchmen?
Dae Su!
- Sir! - You scared me!
Who's there?
Where is Song Yeon?
You should know better than me!
She went to the Palace as an Attendant Damo!
What's going on?
Why are they so many watchmen around?
I... I don't know!
W... what?
Are they looking for you?
What? What did I do? I didn't do anything!
Then why are you avoiding the watchmen?
That... that's out of habit.
That's why you should obey the laws of our nation!
Why did you hit me?
Take this.
Sir!
I have to deliver these drawings, but I have a big belly and will get caught.
So take some and help me!
And you tell me to obey the laws!
But I am giving joy and hope to the young men of our Capital!
Did you draw all of these?
You want one?
No.
Not erotic enough?
This one's a bit more.
Didn't you go to the Palace? Why are you here?
I'm on my way back. The feast was moved up, so we finished early.
Really? Then Song Yeon must be back too!
Who is this girl?
Release her.
If it does, it is because of me, not the girl or Official Park.
Song Yeon! Song Yeon!
You're home.
What happened? I heard you left early.
I saw Sir Yi Chun just now at the market...
Hey... did you cry?
No, I didn't.
But your eyes are red.
Really? My eyes are red?
You didn't see His Highness, did you?
So you cried?
No, I didn't.
You know how big the Palace is?
Did you think it would be so easy?
You're quite simple-minded!
I'm not simple!
Silly. I knew you were going to be upset, so I prepared this.
- You know, Dae Su? - What?
Did you hear that the ship carrying the tributes were robbed?
What?
I heard it in the Palace, but it seems like no one outside knows about it.
You know some people at the port, don't you?
Well... I don't know. I didn't go there today, so I don't know.
- Alright... - Why... Why do you ask?
They say that the Prince will be held responsible for the stolen goods.
What... what do you mean? What does the ship have to do with His Highness?
Why is he responsible for that?
The Prince has the responsibility of hosting the Ambassador.
So if anything goes wrong, His Majesty will hold him responsible.
Where... where did I put it? Did I leave it Uncle's room?
I have to go somewhere.
The Prince has the responsibility of hosting the Ambassador.
So if anything goes wrong, His Majesty will hold him responsible.
Really? Is that so?
He doesn't know his own predicament, and yet he was so merciful to a mere Damo?
Because of our dear prince's kindness, things will be much easier for us.
The Ambassador is already angry.
All we have to do now is to make things bigger by letting him find out about the tributes.
Must you really go that far?
- Why? Have you changed your mind? - Your Highness...
I am a Minister of the Government. I cannot help but think of how it will affect the country.
If the Ambassador finds out, none of us know what the effects will be.
We cannot predict what will happen.
I fear terrible consequences for this country!
If we leave the prince be, we will face terrible consequences too!
We must do something now.
Once he becomes king, it will be too difficult to eliminate him.
Your Highness, please don't...!
Yes, I shouldn't say such things.
In any case, you know that I am not the only one who feels this way about the prince.
Do not still your hand any longer. Finish the hunt!
I gave orders for an inventory of all white cotton. What of it?
Forgive me, but I never received such orders.
What? What about the inventory for the Royal Millnery?
Minister, why did you disregard my orders to count inventory of all white cotton?
Forgive me, Your Highness, but there isn't that much white cotton left.
If we cannot replace the lost white cotton, we cannot continue the trade negotiations with China.
What are all of you doing to help this crisis?
Forgive me, Your Highness, but we all know that no matter how hard we try, we will not have enough!
All the finest white cotton were taken from Jeonju and Naju.
We will not be able to replace the 150 bolts of white cotton even if we search the entire country!
So no one is going to do anything?
It's not that...
I'm just saying that there's nothing we can do...
Your Highness...! Your Highness.
Bad news, Your Highness!
We have news from the Ambassador's residence. They are packing and getting ready for departure!
What? They're getting ready to leave?
They are said to be returning for China!
When will the ship be ready?
It will be docking shortly.
Oh my.... Oh my!
Do you need something?
I... I didn't come to buy. I came... came to return something.
Come again another day. The owner isn't here today.
Where is he? I'm in a hurry.
I don't care if you're in a hurry. It's not only the shop owner that's gone.
All the businessmen here have been dragged off by the authorities!
Has something happened?
Why are the Ambassadors from China returning to their country so quickly?
Aren't they supposed to be here a while longer?
Haven't you heard? The white cotton meant for the tribute to China, it's all gone!
That's why they're leaving.
- What? - What's wrong with our country?
How can they let the tributes be stolen?
So what happens to the trade negotiations?
They were supposed to open up trade routes again!
They're leaving! Do you think it will happen?
What about us? There has to be free trade for people like us to live and eat!
Don't ask me!
Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness!
Your Highness, please send the ministers in charge of the ambassador's visit.
Even though we are dealing with China, you are the heir to the throne!
We don't have time for such trivialities! Who can I trust to handle this situation!
Your Highness, it seems that the Ambassador has already left his quarters.
Their ship arrived at Yanghwajin, and they have already loaded their belongings.
I will go to Yanghwajin.
But the ship has already...
Even if it has already left, we must follow them.
Send the herald to Yanghwajin. I will follow shortly.
No need for that, Your Highness.
They have not yet left the Capital.
I have taken a leave of absence to come here. You need not worry, Your Highness.
You are...?
I, Jung Hu Gyum, greet you. Have you fared well, Your Highness?
I am Hu Gyum of the Jung family.
Jung Hu Gyum? You look the same age as the prince and yet you recite Moo Il!
You flatter me, Your Majesty. The prince had already recited the difficult parts.
All I did was add the rest.
Your Excellency!
Is it true that the Sixth Royal Secretary, Jung Ho Gyum has returned from Ganghwa?
Yes.
But he was made Vice Governor of Ganghwa! Why has he returned to the Capital?
- His Majesty must have summoned him. - What? The king?
Yes.
Jung Hu Gyum was sent overseas to China and was quite well-received there.
He had a good relationship with the Crown Prince of China.
When he became King, Jung Hu Gyum gained from that relationship!
My ship had just docked at Yanghwajin, and I was able to meet Ambassador Wang Yu.
If I had landed thirty minutes too late, I would not have been able to change his mind.
So what is it they want?
Since it is our fault we lost the tributes, they will want more than what was lost.
Yes. 300 roots of ginseng, 150 sheets of granite,
80 panther skins and 50 mink brushes have been demanded.
They have also demanded paper and dye to be newly included in the tributes.
Is that not double the original tribute?
Yes. If that is not acceptable, they want the original 150 bolts of white cotton.
But isn't that impossible at this time?
If we want to produce the tributes within five days,
we will have to requisition them from all the stores in the Woonjongga.
If we do so, we will paralyze trade in the Capital.
But as this is our fault, we will need to do whatever necessary to lift the trade embargo.
So how did it go?
I tried my best, but we still have an issue.
You should be on your way. Your godmother will be very angry.
It will appear to the princess that you have rescued the prince.
Yes.
I told you to get out!
Impertinent boy! Are you smiling?
Yes. Now I feel like I've returned to the Palace.
Silence! Is this why I adopted you as my own son?
How could you have saved the prince? Did I raise you to support him?
Mother.
The reason why His Majesty summons me is because I have never disappointed him.
And have I ever disappointed you, Mother?
We cannot put the country in danger just to eliminate one prince.
This incident is enough to place doubts about the prince.
This may have been better than letting the Ambassador leave.
When the market is frozen because of the requisition, His Majesty will see the people's anger.
If we seize the goods from Woonjongga, will we be able to manage the merchants' anger?
And besides, they have a death among their own.
Freezing trade in the market is the worst possible scenario.
But the Ambassador is using the theft of the white cotton to pressure us.
We have no choice.
We will try to minimize the negative effect on the merchants of Woonjongga.
And we will have to figure out a way to compensate them.
Go and find out how much opposition is out in the market.
And not only Woonjongga, but So Gang and Songpa.
Yes, Your Highness.
How can you do this?
The tributes were lost by the government! Why do we have to pay for your mistake?
I told you the government will pay for your goods!
Pay? You speak of these pennies as paying?
If you give us this and take our goods away, how will we eat?
Just take it and go!
Why is the government making us pay for their mistake?
Sir.
The commotion caused by the lost tributes is having an effect on the Bureau.
They have taken 30 sheets of paper and 10 mink brushes!
Our country needs the items. Make sure we don't waste anything.
On the way here, I saw the merchants at the Palace gates.
Everyone is saying that this is all because of the prince.
That's what I heard too. Not only the white cotton...
He has not met expectations on anything, even this Ambassador's visit.
Princess.
Your Majesty, what brings you here?
Why are you outside?
What is the use of listening to this commotion?
My heart is heavy due to the cries of the people.
Princess, the people will forget quickly.
This commotion will also pass. Please do not worry.
Wh... what? You bastards...!
What are you doing?
What... no... no!
This is the money I received from you!
So tell me. Where are the tributes!
How many times do I have to tell you! All I did was deliver it!
Uncle, pour it!
- What? Alright. - No!
No... no!
You still don't know?
Why don't you just tell us?
You might just die, you know.
I don't know! I can't tell you because I don't know!
"Alright, you're not going to talk?"
Uncle, pour all of it!
If I pour it all, he'll die!
That's why I want you to pour it!
Have you gone mad? How can you kill a man?
That's right! If he doesn't talk, I'll bury him here! So pour it!
No! I won't! How can you do this...?
You won't? Then I will! Move!
- Talk! Where is the white cotton? - Dae Su! Dae Su!
- Where is the white cotton? Where is it? - I don't know! I don't know!
I don't know... I don't know!
- Tell me! - I don't know!
I don't know, I don't know.
Have you lost your mind? Have you, you fool!
This bastard must really not know...
What do I do?
What do I do now, Uncle?
Song Yeon!
Shall I give you some?
This. Aleuron.
Aleuron? That's the pigment for white. Why?
This powder is so fine that you can put it on your face!
If you add it to water and ash, it even whitens yellowed fabric!
Be careful! What if you get caught?
The artists don't use white pigment that often. Don't worry!
Song Yeon!
- Uncle! - Song Yeon,
something's happened!
What?
Take me in! I'm the culprit! I stole the white cotton from the ship!
You crazy fool! I told you to go away!
No, I'm not going away! Arrest me! I'm the culprit!
You... you crazy fool!
Do something! I'm the thief that stole the white cotton!
I stole the country's tribute! I'm the culprit!
- I'm guilty! Arrest me! - Take this man away!
What a crazy nut!
The white cotton... I stole the white cotton...!
Dae Su!
Song Yeon!
Why did you do it, silly? Why?
I deserve to die, Song Yeon!
Park Dae Su, you stupid bastard!
You made a promise to the prince but betrayed him behind his back!
Dae Su...!
What should I do, Song Yeon? That bastard says he doesn't know where it is!
What will His Highness do now? It's all because of me!
What should I do? What should I do?
Song Yeon...
There are many problems to be solved.
Will anything be resolved if you stand there and fret?
Your Majesty...
There is somewhere you need to go. Come with me.
Do you see clearly?
This is what you have caused.
Authority is a fearsome thing.
With one word, you can kill or save thousands of people.
But a country's people is the sea, and the king is a ship.
If the sea is rough, the ship will sink.
If the Ministers in the Cabinet are unhappy, it does not matter.
But if the people are unhappy with you, I will allow you to sink.
- Have you just gotten up? - When did you wake up?
You didn't sleep a wink, did you?
How is Dae Su?
He sobbed all night, but he just fell asleep.
I have to go out now.
I have some yellow cotton. I should sell them.
Alright. Have a good day.
How wonderful it would be if we could transform yellow cotton into white cotton!
In terms of quality, yellow cotton is so much better than white cotton.
Why do those Chinese fellows only like white cotton?
Ahjussi!
- What? - Wait a moment!
How wonderful it would be if we could transform yellow cotton into white cotton!
In terms of quality, yellow cotton is so much better than white cotton.
Why do those Chinese fellows only like white cotton?
You... What are you doing here at this hour?
Sir...!
What... What is this?
This is Aleuron made from seashells. We use this to make white paint.
What about the yellow cotton? Why did you bring it here?
This is a book used by the Bureau.
It is written here that Aleuron is also used as a dye.
Are you saying we should dye the cotton?
- Yellow cotton into white? - Yes, Your Highness.
But Your Highness, isn't dyeing typically used to change a white fabric into a colored one?
I have never heard of dyeing a yellow cloth to become white.
But if it is possible, it is worth a try.
What?
In reality, yellow cotton is of superior quality than white cotton.
In the time of King Sejong, yellow cotton was offered as tribute.
The expenses were too high, so after much negotiation, the tributes were changed to white cotton.
Because of this, white cotton became more valuable than yellow cotton.
Your Highness...!
The nature of dyeing is to give a fabric another color.
It may be possible to make a yellow cloth white, just as it is possible to make a white cloth yellow.
We never tried it because white cotton was plentiful for us.
But if we use the dye on the cotton, what will happen to the quality?
Yes, that is what worries me too, Your Highness.
There is an order to bring out all the white aleuron. Do you understand?
Yes.
That's strange. Why is there so little of it? We don't use it that much!
- Do you know? - No.
What could they possibly use all this aleuron for?
- Just break it into small pieces. - No, it will be too coarse.
I'll do it.
What do you think? Is it possible?
It is good to use ash water when using dye,
but this is our first time dyeing something white. I am unsure as to what to recommend.
- Let's try it anyway. - Yes, Your Highness.
We will finish the trade meeting and have the closing ceremony for the Ambassadors.
Has the tributes been prepared?
Yes, they have been checked by the Ambassador and are now being loaded on their ship.
Make sure that everything goes well.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Take everything!
Halt! Halt!
- Isn't that a royal palanquin? - What is happening?
- Did His Majesty say he was coming? - No, he didn't.
But that...!
- Your Highness! - Welcome.
Forgive me, Your Highness, but what brings you here...?
I came to deliver the tribute of white cotton to His Excellency.
I was afraid I would be too late, but fortunately the closing ceremony had not yet begun.
Dae Su!
Everything's fine now. His Highness has taken the white cotton to the Ambassador!
What are you talking about? His Highness took the white cotton?
Look at this! Doesn't this look exactly like the white cotton on the ship?
Where did you get this?
- We made it. - What? You made it?
Dye? How did you think of it?
The official at the Bureau of Paintings helped me.
Well, you put in great effort, but I'm not saying you did well.
Rather than preparing water and building a chimney to contain the fire,
you made smokestacks and added oil into the fire.
Do not ever forget the misery you gave to the people because of your mistake.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Do you know what the weakness of a young and intelligent man is?
It is being overconfident of his own abilities and underestimating his enemy.
They will hold a conference to discuss today's events.
There will be much for you to explain.
Yes, I know.
Let's go, Your Highness.
Your Highness!
You have been of great help to me.
I have come here to bestow you the honor.
Thank you, your Majesty! Your kind words...
No, it is all due to you.
If you did not bring me the aleuron, this problem would not have been solved.
I will not forget this.
Forgive me, Your Highness, but that was not my idea.
Is that so? Then how did you know about the method?
Actually, it was that Damo who was with me at the feast who told me of this method.
So, that was what happened.
That young Damo is certainly talented.
Her painting at the feast was quite good.
I think so too, Your Highness.
Oh, didn't you say that she drew a painting on the subject I gave to the artists?
Yes, Your Highness.
Can I see the painting?
Yes, I will bring it to you right away.
This is it, Your Highness.
Is this... the painting the Damo drew?
Yes, Your Highness.
Do you know that girl's name?
What did she say her name was?
It is Song Yeon, Your Highness.
Sung Song Yeon.