Brought to you by WITH S2 Written In The Heavens Subbing Squad
Episode 12
So you differ not from the other courtesans.
Are you acting coy with me because I have not yet offered you a reward?
Do not worry. I have already prepared a large reward for you.
Tonight's reward will be paid by me.
What?
I will pay to spend the night with you.
A hundred yang.
It is a sum good enough for the outer jacket.
Now, what about the inner top?
For two hundred yang,
it should be enough to take off your shirt!
Enough.
Your impertinence is excessive!
How did you know what I was thinking?
I was going to leave anyway.
I've run out of money, you see.
So, I shall take my leave.
Wait!
Why do you stop me?
You're not thinking of selling yourself to me for a mere four hundred yang?
What is your reason for cancelling my appointment at the other banquet?
So, the reason why you are behaving in this manner,
is because I prevented you from performing in front of lowly merchants?
They are important clients to me.
They don't even know how to appreciate art!
What is the big fuss over not being able to perform for them?
Just because they were low-born, does not mean they cannot appreciate music.
What?
Please make sure you understand this, your Excellency.
There are things that you cannot control even with wealth and power.
What are you doing here at this hour?
I felt you were troubled...
and prepared some wine for you at my quarters.
Please come with me and rest a while...
No, it is alright. I was about to leave anyway.
Why don't you go back and get some rest too?
Hey you!
Kim Jung-Han!
Why are you acting like this?
Come to your senses!
Mu-Myung...!
You said that you've lived longer on the road
than you have under a roof?
Did you say that there is no place in this land that your feet have not tread upon?
I... am envious of you.
You know what?
I'm sick of life.
You've surprised me.
You always rejected spending the night with a man.
But it was you that asked Lord Byuk Gae-Soo to spend the night with you?
Because it depends on who the man is.
Is it not enough that you tried to take my authority,
but now you have your eye on Lord Byuk Gae-Soo's power?
Is there any reason I cannot?
Of course not.
The day we will see the Sword Dance will be in three months time.
The Minister of Rites and Lord Byuk Gae-Soo,
not to mention myself and the scribes
will evaluate the performance.
If their dance is deemed worthy by us,
as promised, Mistress Baek-Moo of Song-Do Troupe
will be retired.
But your Excellency!
What happens if their dance is deemed inferior?
Don't worry about something like that.
But in this world, you never know what might happen.
We should always prepare for the unexpected, don't you think?
Now do you reveal your true intentions!
Do you intend to take over my position as Mistress of the Palace Courtesans?
Can't I?
I agree with Baek-Moo.
If your dance is inferior,
not only will it be removed from the musical score,
but your suitability as a teacher will come into doubt,
and your position as Mistress of the Royal Courtesans will be questioned.
Do you agree, my Lord?
And one more thing...!
My Lord, if they lose this Tournament...
Yes?
Please send Myung-Wol away as a government slave.
Government slave?
Loyalty between teacher and student does not belong only to the scholars.
Although I have raised and taught her for almost ten years,
she was so impertinent as to go to another teacher without a word.
We must teach her a lesson.
After all, the gyobang must have its law and order.
You are right. You are absolutely correct.
What is your opinion, Myung-Wol?
It is not too late.
If you choose to submit to your teacher's authority now,
I will not punish you.
No. I will accept the challenge.
And if you lose, you'll be made a slave!
Will you accept this if you lose?
I will.
I give you my greetings, your Excellency. Did you enjoy yourself last night?
Of course I did.
Look here, Myung-Wol!
I offer you my gratitude for last night.
How shall I repay my debt?
Why do you call it a debt, your Excellency?
Let's see...
If I tell the Minister here to forego the Tournament completely
and just make you the Mistress of the Palace Troupe, will that be enough?
That is not my decision to make.
Here now, you are this nation's Minister of Rites!
Where else would you be able to use that authority?
It's not just because I like her.
Myung-Wol is this nation's greatest...
I also do not wish to achieve that position
through the Minister's authority, your Excellency.
How can you reject my offer like this?
I will accept only your kind thoughts.
But, the Mistress of the Royal Courtesans must be the best of all the courtesans.
I wish to achieve that with my own talents.
- Oh you... - I like the way you think.
Don't you agree, your Excellency?
I hope your talent is as good as your competitive streak.
I will look forward to it.
If you allow it, I will take my leave.
How can a woman be so temperamental?
But then again, that is why she is so bewitching.
The more you see her, the more you want her.
Please keep your dignity, your Excellency!
How can you be so open about your affection for her?
Impertinent thing! Do you dare to tease me?
How can that be?
This challenge... Stop it at once!
Jin-Yi! Answer me this instant!
I have to practice now.
Stop it this instant! Do you want to suffer as a slave?
Will you make me watch you become a slave?
I may destroy Baek-Moo and become the Mistress.
And what will you do after you become Mistress?
What will you do after you get authority?
I will take the King's heart and stir his emotions into a whirlwind.
If a low-born wench like me
is able to steal the King's heart, and make him weak before me,
then all those noblemen who looked down on me...
I wonder what they would think?
I'm really curious.
Look at the mirror. Look at your expression!
What is this?
Why is your expression like this?
There is nothing here except for malice and spite!
Mother!
What do you think he will say about how you've changed?
Don't talk about the dead.
What is the reason why you have stopped dancing?
Was it purely to take revenge on the Mistress?
That's enough.
It wasn't. It's not like that, remember?
The thing he loved most about you, was the way you danced.
He said you were so lovely that he did not want to share it with others.
But, you're using the dance that he loved so much
as a weapon to hit, stab and injure others.
That's enough. He would not approve of you now.
He is not the kind of person
who would allow you to hurt yourself so that you can hurt others.
It's too late. The arrow has already left the bow.
Will it be possible for you not to dance?
Is there anything lacking in my dance?
It is not that.
It's because you're just too beautiful.
Have you decided to go along with that wench's plan to destroy you?
All I did was ask to make an impertinent girl a slave.
Stop pretending!
I've been here for so long I can read your mind.
Mae-Hyang put up a good performance,
but isn't three months a bit short?
That Myung-Wol hasn't danced a single step for close to five years!
In three months, it will be a challenge
just to learn the dance steps, let alone do it well!
Don't you agree?
So then, you have to find a way to pull that hidden talent out of her!
That wench would never admit defeat,
so you wanted to light a fire under her, isn't that right?
You want to make her dance well!
Am I wrong?
You don't know anything.
Competition and hauteur
can be medicine to an artist, but they can also be poison.
When you perform the whirlwind step,
you must take a fast tempo, turn and regain your balance quickly.
Lightness of being is the foundation of the Sword Dance.
Make your turns on this paper, but you must not tear it.
Begin.
Again!
Insolent wench!
She was so arrogant, and now look at her!
That's right. She was so prideful.
No need to watch anymore. Girls, let's go!
Her dance skills were so lacking that she is in danger of being sent off?
Compared to her skills in poetry and music, her dancing was...
Well, that's why they say Heaven is just.
If she was good at everything, it would be unfair.
Don't you think?
Well, that...
Any other news?
It appears that she is discreet, even before your presence.
But how can you trust a woman's discretion?
I don't think you need worry.
She's in danger of becoming a slave. Why would she say anything about that night?
But we must find a way to silence her forever.
If anyone ever finds out about that night, I will not be able to hold my head up.
She will not have the wits to do that now.
Nothing is silent in this world.
Well, that's true, but...
Enough!
- Must we keep doing this? - Yes.
She does not know the basics of dance.
It will be impossible for her to learn the Sword Dance in three months.
Be quiet and keep practicing!
- No. - Bu-Yong!
We do not have the time to waste practicing with such a greenhorn!
Don't you know that in order for her to be able to dance with you,
she must practice together with you?
Tell her to learn the basics first.
She does not even possess the skill of a common courtesan.
How can we perform Dances of the Royal Courts with her?
Your Excellency!
Oh... Forgive me.
Where were we?
Oh no! You didn't even get half of it!
Forgive me.
Let's do it one more time.
How many times is this?
Will my vocal chords survive after singing this over and over again?
Forgive me... I just can't seem to focus today.
- Let's do it another day. - Do it... again?
Again!
I have misjudged you.
How will you perform the Sword Dance when your body is so heavy and stiff?
- Let me... do it again. - No need.
You are an arrogant fool.
Tell me the truth.
It wasn't that you didn't want to learn from Baek-Moo.
You couldn't learn from her.
You had no confidence in dance.
Am I wrong?
Why do you look at me like that?
No wonder she gave you up so easily.
This is what she wanted.
She wanted you sent away as a slave, and herself appointed as the new Mistress.
- Let me do it again. - No.
With those heavy feet of yours, it is useless to practice.
What about it? It is still not too late.
If you give up now, I will try to release you from slavery.
No. I will never give up.
No matter what, I will learn how to dance lightly.
How? Dance is done with feet, not your mouth!
You've been practicing until now?
What brings you to my quarters?
I wanted to have a cup of tea with you.
What are you doing? Drink your tea.
- You look weary. - Thank you for noticing.
If you have something to say, say it and leave.
I need to rest.
What do you say about ceasing this distasteful fight now?
Distasteful fight?
But what shall we do?
That is why I want to fight.
You have always looked down on me.
It became more pronounced after our teacher taught you alone the Crane Dane.
I will show you how bad your judgment was.
Don't exert yourself.
That child has not danced a single step in close to five years.
No matter how talented a dancer, if you don't practice, you will fall behind.
Of course you know that better than I do.
- That applies only to average girls. - She is worse than average.
I heard that she couldn't even do the whirlwind step.
But the number of papers she has ripped is over three hundred.
I trust you know what that means?
That she'll rip over three hundred pages again tomorrow?
But what about the next day?
She is so stiff and inflexible, and yet she practices daily.
Her muscles will harden, and if her tendons tear, what will you do?
She'd be worthless as a dancer, let alone a slave!
Wouldn't you agree?
Stop thinking about nonsense, and just prepare your bags.
And if you still have spare time,
you can think about what to do as a retired courtesan in her late years.
What are you doing here?
We still have some time until practice. I wanted to run until that hour.
Did I ask you when the practice time was?
I'm asking what you are doing with those things on your legs!
You said that I needed to lighten my feet...!
What good is light feet
when you injure your tendons from overstressing them?
Do you wish to become a cripple before you become a dancer?
And another thing...
How will you learn to feel the ground when you're running around like that?
Follow me.
Enough!
That's all wrong!
How often must I tell you not to splash around!
Slide slide...!
How many times must I tell you to dip your feet lightly!
Again! Do it again!
She's by the river?
But... She looked worse than yesterday.
She was really getting a scolding...!
That is how it should be.
What?
Looks like Mae-Hyang has not lost her touch yet.
She's a good teacher.
Special training?
Our Mistress took just Myung-Wol?
That's right.
She told someone to pack all of her things as they will be a while.
Go and in and pack! We can send their things together.
Poor Mistress! That girl was terrible!
What's the use of training her?
Why not send her away as a slave now and leave it at that?
- You don't know anything! - What is she saying now?
What don't I know?
Even though Myung-Wol is this way now,
she'll catch up to all of you dancers!
Are you blind? Have you seen that girl dance?
She hasn't danced for a long time! She'll be the best in no time, wait and see.
How do you know that?
If she were that bad, our Mistress would not
have considered teaching her the Crane Dance!
What did you just say?
The Crane Dance?
The legendary Crane Dance!
Even to this day,
our Mistress believes that only Myung-Wol is worthy to perform that dance.
You don't know anything!
That was good! That was really good!
I feel vindicated!
You really said all the right things today!
Why are you laughing like that?
I'm laughing at what you said, Miss Dan-Shim!
Why did Myung-Wol bring those pests down here anyway?
Do I wish her to lose or to win?
I don't know what to do!
You wanted to see me?
I wanted to show you my dance.
Show me your dance?
Wouldn't that the only way you would consider teaching me the Crane Dance?
So you have already predicted the outcome of this competition?
No matter how hard my Mistress tries,
it will be impossible for Myung-Wol to learn the dance in three months.
So you wish to switch sides?
Can't I?
- Insolent child! - But...
That is not the only reason.
I am also a dancer.
I want to learn this dance
that only the best dancers in the nation can perform.
That can be arranged.
But it is not yet the right time.
- But Mistress! - First...
You must practice with Myung-Wol and perform the Sword Dance properly.
I will decide whether to teach you the Crane Dance after that.
But, if we are able to perform the Sword Dance, then...!
Then I will be retired and sent away.
Why? You do not think you can learn the Crane Dance from a retired courtesan?
Because I cannot provide you a path to power?
For now, do not waste your time thinking of other things.
If after all of that, your passion still has not cooled,
that is when you will be able to learn the Crane Dance.
Let's go!
You're back.
You finished late today.
I was too distracted, so I decided to end early.
Too bad.
Anyway, what's all this?
What else could it be?
They are tokens of His Excellency's affection for the courtesan Myung-Wol.
So all of this is her reward?
Stop talking nonsense and get going!
Yes, your Excellency.
- Alright, let us go! - Yes sir!
Why are you staring at them?
Don't you think it's a little excessive?
If you have that kind of money, rather than spending it on a courtesan...
Again that boring talk about the people!
- Look here...! - Don't be so self-righteous.
If there is any girl you fancy, just say the word.
I will gladly pay the reward for her.
- You crazy man. - Let's go in.
We haven't had wine together in a while.
In times like this, a warm cup of wine can be a soothing balm to our souls.
How many times is this?
When will you end your tomfoolery amongst the skirts of courtesans?
Do you not feel any shame towards your cousin the King?
Enough.
Have you become my father?
What is all this lecturing?
Look here...!
What else can I do besides this?
Other than drinking, and enjoying music and women,
what else can a relative of the King do?
Drink up.
Why did you bring up such a gloomy subject? You've ruined the taste of the wine!
Are you sincere?
I'm talking about your intentions towards Myung-Wol.
Why?
If I told you I was not sincere, do you intend to take her for yourself?
You know that's not what I mean.
Anyway, we all know that you are married to the people.
You will never marry another.
That's why it's so unbelievable that you've fallen for her.
Isn't that right?
I understand your worry.
It is a nobleman's destiny to be in politics and contribute to his nation.
But... as a relative of the King,
to be in politics is to always be under suspicion.
It must be frustrating for you.
If you are keeping her with you to ease that frustration,
then you must have true friendship with her.
You are so naive.
If you must know,
a courtesan has no interest in sincerity.
Even if I were sincere, they would reject it.
They are only interested in our wealth,
and sell their smile and their talents for it.
It is the same for Myung-Wol.
Did you think that it was for my sincerity
that she undressed for me that night?
She still has not yet returned to the Gyobang?
Is she planning on becoming a fisherwoman?
It is said that the condition of their quarters is horrendous.
Why have they not returned to the Gyobang in over a month?
Your Excellency...
Shall I go and take a look?
Maybe I can let the Mistress know your intention...?
Leave it.
She's a celebrated courtesan.
Only a celebrated courtesan
will value her art more than her life.
So leave it alone.
But... if we interrupt that,
what good would it do?
What will you do there?
I have to bring the Mistress back!
- Bu-Yong! - It's been a month.
It's been over a month.
We have not heard any news from her, let alone her face.
What do you think that means?
That child... she must be abysmal!
- Well, that's true... - That's why we have to bring her back.
If this is a futile fight, we must give up now.
Only then will we have another chance.
They must be going to see how Myung-Wol is doing.
Whatever.
Let's go too!
- What for? - Aren't you curious?
Wouldn't it be fun to see that arrogant girl jerk about?
Eng-Moo!
Shall we? It does sound fun!
- Yes it does! - Why are you all being like that?
- Un... unbelievable! - The paper's not going to tear anymore!
Not only will it not tear, it will dance around with her!
- Sister! Sister! - What?
- Pinch me. - It's not a dream.
It's real.
Is that really Jin-Yi? How can she become so good?
Sister... The Mistress looks strange.
It doesn't look like her.
It doesn't seem like her.
She never... she has never shown us that expression.
That expression...!
I have never seen her so joyful.
Sister!
What happens now?
I don't know.
Since that girl's gotten so good, I don't know if the Mistress will survive.
It's not just the Mistress that's in danger.
If they win the challenge, do you think that we'll be safe?
They are going to pick new courtesans and send us all away!
- You're right...! - So Sister...
Why don't we all ask the Mistress to teach us the Crane Dance?
- What? - It's better than the Sword Dance!
If we learn this dance and perform it,
wouldn't it at least prevent Mistress from being sent away?
- Don't speak nonsense! - It's not nonsense!
Shall I go and speak to the Mistress?
Look here, Miss Dan-Shim!
I know you used to be a maidservant,
but you should know by now what is possible and what is not!
Let's put in the effort! What is impossible with effort?
Some things are impossible. Don't you remember?
Remember the rope and swinging to and fro from it?
Not only that, we hung upside down from it!
We tried everything! We did it even before you became a courtesan!
And you want us to go through it again?
No chance of that happening. I won't allow it!
We can't let the Mistress go so easily.
Of course we can't! But what can we do? We have no plan!
Don't worry too much.
The Mistress looked at you the same way she looked at Myung-Wol.
I wonder why that Myung-Wol is sitting there with the straw-cutter.
- What did you just say? - What?
What did I say?
Did you just say Myung-Wol was cutting straw?
That's what I said...
Why are you at this hour?
Do it tomorrow.
Even if you wait until tomorrow, Myung-Wol will not be able to catch up to you.
Are you sure?
Straw-cutting is impossible without the right amount of speed and pressure.
The foundation of the Sword Dance is the balance of speed and pressure.
If you put too much pressure, the movements will be stiff and unyielding.
But...
If you put not enough pressure, you will lose your grip on the swords.
That Myung-Wol...
She is trying to understand that balance by cutting straw.
You know,
That Myung-Wol...
We may have underestimated her.
So she has finally returned.
So...
I should expect a response from her tomorrow.
I expect so.
You have sent her such priceless treasures. She will be smiling from ear to ear!
- Wow...! - Oh my god, what is all of this?
These are all priceless!
- Return them. - What?
What are you talking about?
Return everything this instant.
What did I tell you? Didn't I tell you not to accept them?
Why not?
Myung-Wol...! Take just one look at these!
Look at these jewels! And look, here's some black ginseng!
- And mountain mushrooms...! - Return them!
What are you doing there? Take these away this instant!
But...!
Be quiet!
What... what are you doing?
Didn't you hear what Miss said? What is this?
Since it good for the complexion, I thought I'd give one to Gae-Ddong.
Myung-Wol... Can't I have just one?
Auntie! Go away!
Are you coming from the dam?
If you wish to notate their music, why don't you summon them to the library?
Why do you trouble yourself...?
Because it does not feel alive.
Folk songs are music about our lives.
It should reflect our suffering, our sweat, even our joys and bitterness.
Isn't that what folk songs are about?
To capture the true spirit of that music, I must go to where that music is played.
Hurry up!
Why are you in such a rush so early in the morning?
We're going to Lord Byuk Gae-Soo's house.
Why?
Miss Myung-Wol demanded that we return all of those gifts immediately.
I have to go, so I'll take my leave.
Let's go!
What a strange event this is.
Why is she returning all those gifts when she volunteered herself to him?
Did you say she volunteered herself to him? To Lord Byuk Gae-Soo?
That is impossible.
Although Myung-Wol will accept wine from her customers and share music and poetry,
she never accepts men into her quarters.
Although I don't know what happened, seeing how she's returning all the gifts,
Lord Byuk must have suffered some humiliation in her hands.
Myung-Wol, you bitch...!
How dare you show such contempt for me!
Your... your Excellency!
The merchants must be your most valuable customers.
What do you mean?
Did you humiliate Lord Byuk because he prevented you from performing for them?
That is what I heard.
Have you been offended as a fellow nobleman?
Have I stepped on your pride as well?
Isn't it far beyond your duty to interfere with private matters
between a man and a woman?
Were you being sincere?
All I'm asking is if you were truly upset because you weren't able to perform
in front of the merchant workers.
Why won't you answer me?
I see no reason why I should answer.
Maybe you don't have the courage to answer.
Because each time an eligible and high-ranking official asks for you,
you always accepted the merchants' request.
Am I wrong?
You wretched woman.
When will you stop involving innocent people in your play for power?
You are not mocking the nobleman, but in fact mocking the merchant workers.
No... You're mocking yourself.
Myung-Wol, you...! You bitch!
What's wrong with all of you? Let go! Let go!
Why are you dragging me to this quiet place?
Are we having an illicit affair or what?
We must do something. If this goes on,
Mistress will be gone, and we will be sent away as well!
But what can we do? She's been talented since birth!
It's not like we can stuff her back into Hyun-Geum's belly!
We must have a plan... A plan!
A plan?
Brought to you by WITH S2 Written In The Heavens Subbing Squad
Main Translator & Editor: MrsKorea
Timer: MrsKorea Final QC: ay_link
Coordinators: mily2, ay_link
This is a FREE fansub. NOT FOR SALE! Get it for FREE @ d-addicts.com