Secret Healer (마녀보감)

[Resemblance to any historical figures or incidents is fictitious.]

It has been a long time since the skies of Joseon have seen the sun.

Darkness covers the sun, and the people of Joseon

are falling prey to despair and diseases.

This terrible calamity doesn't seem to have an end

and the populace is becoming less loyal to the country.

Thus, the royal family's power is beginning to wane significantly.

I, Choi Hyun Seo, ardently pray for the mercy of the heavens

to be bestowed upon this land, as well as our Imperial Taoist Branch.

The king must walk upon a righteous path for this country to thrive once more.

The darkness enshrouding this land is only exacerbating the situation.

Please, bestow us with a new sun that will grace our land with its light.

And when you do finally allow light to shine upon this land

peace will finally come to the land, the royal family, and the citizens.

I had quite a strange dream.

What kind of dream was it, that you sought me out so early in the morning?

To be frank, I dreamed that a black shadow entered my belly.

Can't these sorts of dreams be considered to be

a precognitive dream regarding the birth of a child?

Did you say... a black shadow, Your Highness?

Yes. It was a shadow large enough to cover the sky.

When the shadow reached the sky, the bright sky became as dark as night.

I still can't forget the look in that spirit's eyes.

What's the matter?

All right. How is it?

This shocks me greatly to say, but you are not with child, Your Highness.

Did you hear the news? She's not pregnant this time, either!

They say that the Dowager Mother is quite angry because she isn't conceiving

even thought they're praying for her at the Imperial Taoist Branch every morning.

I bet the the Queen Dowager is really mad at them right now!

Well, isn't this a good thing, really?

The Queen Dowager has been favoring those Taoists way too much, anyway.

Thanks to them, us Sungsuchung shamans have had it rough!

Yeah. Whenever something happens, the Dowager Mother runs over to Choi Hyun--

- Huh? What's with her this time? - What's she doing now?

Hey, look. She's at it again.

She's not pregnant this time, either?

It's been over five years since you married into the royal family.

So how could you still have not given birth to an heir?

Does this make any sense?

I deeply apologize, Your Highness.

Also, weren't you two supposed to sleep together last night?

Myungjong. Did you visit her quarters yesterday?

Did you spend the night together?

I told you to sleep with your heads facing the north

because the vibes coming from there were good!

And told you two that you must assume the sexual position I told you!

So did you really do as I'd advised?

- Eunuch Park. - Yes, Your Highness?

When's the next day that you two will be sleeping together?

It's this upcoming Saturday, Your Highness.

Cancel all my plans for that day.

I will be there to witness the coupling of these two.

Tell all the doctors of the palace to clear the schedules and spectate, too.

I heard that you exited her chambers after a minute or two.

I'll see with my own eyes just what the issue here is.

Please, stop already.

What did you just say?

I said, stop this already! I'm not a child anymore.

- Your Highness. - It's because you keep acting like this

that people keep calling me an incompetent king!

Who exactly is the ruler of this country, anyway?

Do you know what I went through to hand you that position?

Did you forget all the struggles I went through

to secure and maintain that position for you?

No. What you've been struggling to protect this whole time

was not my position, but your own.

I can't just sit and watch this happen.

- Eunuch Park. - Yes, Your Highness?

Summon Hong Joo, right this moment.

Shamaness.

Shamaness?

Your Highness. This flood has wreaked much havoc unto the people

and the spirits of the people are beginning to falter.

They say that there is much calamity sweeping the land

and there's even one family that elected to end their own lives!

That truly is a shame.

Deploy the archers in charge of disaster relief

and take care to lessen the struggles of the people as quickly as possible.

Yes, Your Highness.

Wait.

How could you deploy the palace archers for such a trivial matter?

I think it'd suffice to just lower their taxes, don't you think?

Then do that, then.

Yes, Your Highness.

What's next on the agenda, Do Seunji?

Yes, Your Highness. About your previous command regarding--

Insolent wench! How dare you enter while court is in session?

You must be really crazy, you wench! Listen, is there nobody out there?

I'm the one who called her here.

You're here? I was waiting for you.

It has been a while since I've had the pleasure of greeting you, Your Highness.

Yes, indeed. Have you been well?

Yes, all thanks to your tremendous grace.

That's a relief to hear.

- To be frank, the reason why-- - I know, Your Highness.

Don't worry. I'll give you an heir through any means necessary.

As to be expected of you, Hong Joo!

This is the outfit you'll be wearing at the next celebration. Do you like it?

What troubles you, Your Highness?

I really did think that I was pregnant this time, for certain.

If that dream wasn't a precognitive dream regarding the birth of a child...

just what kind of dream was that, then?

Please don't be too disheartened, Your Highness.

I'm sure that you'll be hearing good news very soon.

Your Highness, someone from Sungsuchung is here to see you.

From Sungsuchung? Let them in.

Hello, Queen Shim.

I am Hong Joo, who will be the Chief Shamaness of Sungsuchung starting today.

All right. But what brings you here?

Please send all of your attendants out, Your Highness.

How dare a mere Sungsuchung shamaness like you--

I was commanded by the Queen Dowager to speak only to Queen Shim about this.

Step outside.

All right, then. What's this all about?

What are you doing?

I apologize, Queen Shim. But I'm just following the Queen Dowager's orders.

What are you doing? Strip her down.

You wenches! What are you doing? Stop this right now!

How dare you treat me this way, you wench!

I'm currently casting out the bad energy in your body.

You must become imbued with good energy and become pregnant

for you to become a legitimate Queen Mother yourself.

What are you doing? Continue.

Chief Shamaness.

- It is impossible. - What do you mean?

I am sorry to tell you this, but the Queen is barren.

What did you say? The Queen is barren?

How could this be? What do we do now?

- Don't worry too much, Your Highness. - What do you mean by that?

Do you have a solution?

- N-no way... - There's no other way.

But who knows what will happen if the spell is improperly cast!

That is true, Your Highness.

However, isn't it the top priority to get an heir as soon as possible?

The decision lies with you. I will do whatever you command.

All right, then.

The top priority right now is getting an heir to the throne.

And that heir must come out of the Queen's body.

- It has been a while, sir. - How did you get back into the palace?

Did the Queen Dowager call you again?

No matter how hard the Imperial Taoist Branch prays every day

the Queen cannot get pregnant, so the Queen Dowager is quite distressed.

Thus, I came here to offer her some consolation.

There are some things even the heavens cannot do.

Yes. The Queen has a body that cannot conceive.

Lower your voice!

However, that's not to say that it's impossible for her to get pregnant.

This wench will try to do what the heavens cannot.

What do you mean by that?

You're not... are you?

We're still feeling the aftermath of what you did five years ago!

Just what kind of vile deed will you commit at the palace this time?

What do you mean, vile?

You and I are the same, are we not?

We're both people who pray for the sake of this nation, after all.

Watch your words!

How could you call us the same, when I worship the heavens

while you worship devils?

So you squandered your prayers every day on the heavens, who don't even listen

to your prayer of asking a flower to blossom in a field of stones?

You sure are naive.

It seems that most of your wounds have healed up.

You witch. If you ever try to defy the will of the heavens again...

I will not just stand for it this time.

Chief Shamaness! Chief Shamaness!

What is it?

This is an urgent matter, ma'am! That person... that person is in danger!

You said that in exchange for covering up what happened five years ago

you'd never call Hong Joo to the royal courts again!

You promised me this, didn't you?

So why did you call her back here?

I tried my very best through the means that the Imperial Taoist Branch offered.

But, how could this be? You backstabbed me.

What... do you mean by that, Your Highness?

You knew, didn't you? That the Queen is barren.

Yes, I know. How could I not know?

There's nobody else who wishes for stability in the palace more than you.

However, securing an heir is also a part of maintaining stability

within the palace, and within the country!

So how could you deceive me like this?

What do you think would have happened if I'd told you the truth?

The Queen would have lost her life.

- Just like the previous queen. - Sir!

Your Highness.

I can no longer trust the Imperial Taoist Branch.

Therefore, all of the supernatural affairs around the palace

will be handled by Sungsuchung's Hong Joo.

So step down from your position, sir.

Queen Dowager, I don't care what you do to me!

But you can't keep that woman, Hong Joo, around!

Due to the calamitous weather we've been plagued with

there is so much political instability as it is.

So why is it that you're so vehemently against this?

I know how you must feel, Queen Dowager.

But you must not fall for Hong Joo's deceptions!

You know that Hong Joo's black magic only brings forth disastrous results!

The royal family will soon be entrenched in her curse!

Shut your mouth! Do I seem like some shamaness's toy to you?

Just what do you take me for?