Original subtitles

Episode 1

4 AD (23rd year of King Yuri's reign)

Your Majesty!

Despite the piercing smell of blood,

flowers bloom.

We're near the enemy line. You shouldn't stay here alone.

Enemy movements?

We've sent out reconnaissance troops,

so we'll soon find out their movements.

For this battle,

I shall command the cavalry myself.

That's…

way too dangerous, Your Majesty.

I wish to dedicate this victory to the Queen.

And to my soon to be born child as well.

Seryu

Seryu.

Brother.

Go back to your chamber.

When will she give birth?

We don't know yet.

Why is Mother in such pain?

Haemyeong Whenever babies are about to be born,

Haemyeong

all the mothers in the world go through the same pain. Haemyeong

all the mothers in the world go through the same pain.

Will it happen to me, too?

Of course.

The prettier your son will be, the more pain you'll feel.

Seeing how much pain she's feeling,

it must be a very pretty child.

It has already been a year…

since we left Gungnae Fortress (Goguryeo capital).

King Yuri After this battle,

King Yuri

I shall come back to Gungnae Fortress. King Yuri

I shall come back to Gungnae Fortress.

No more!

Sleeping on the battlefield, pierced by the punishing wind,

nor quenching our hunger with cold handfuls of rice!

Let's all survive!

And go back to the warm embrace of our families…

waiting for us in Gungnae Fortress!

Wait!

Formation!

Let's go!

Water! Water…

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

*JegaHweEui: Council of tribal chieftains participating in state affair deliberation Envoys of the Council* have arrived from Gungnae Fortress.

*JegaHweEui: Council of tribal chieftains participating in state affair deliberation

Our deepest congratulations for this stupendous victory, Your Majesty.

What is the occasion?

I'm here to support your efforts on behalf of the Council.

I've brought enough for your troops to replenish their fatigued bodies.

I thought the Council had forgotten us.

The arduous battle which started last year lasted for a long time.

Considering the copious amount…

of supplies and troops the Council provided,

deign to consider our hardships as well, Your Majesty.

Prepare a feast celebrating our victory.

Tell the troops to drink and eat to their satisfaction.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Why would the same Council,

so avaricious in answering our calls for additional dispatches of troops,

send us envoys to placate our fatigue?

They must have heard news of your upcoming withdrawal,

and could be trying to appease you.

Appease me?

Has the Council…

ever been afraid of me?

Go get some rest.

I've been looking for you, Your Majesty.

What would a feast be without your esteemed presence?

Please, join us.

I shall rest a while.

Is anything the matter, Your Majesty?

I will call the physicians.

No, I'm fine.

Do you have anything to say?

Ahhh… yes.

The various chieftains leading the Council…

were wondering when you'd be heading back to the capital.

They're all curious.

When we've dealt with subjugation procedures with the Gi San tribe,

I plan to withdraw the troops.

Pardon me?!

Why?

Do the chieftains wish for my prolonged stay on the battlefield?

How would they dare?

Starting from yours truly, all the other chieftains…

are deeply concerned about your taking part in the fighting.

We reaped a few benefits through this war.

So, when I head back to Gungnae Fortress,

I shall start showing the Council the fruits of that work.

And what would you be referring to?

The reason Goguryeo's might currently pales in comparison with Buyeo,

is because the chieftains don't recognize my authority,

and are too busy trying to lust after power and enrich themselves.

I shall not…

accept you chieftains and your tyranny any longer.

If you turn the Council against you,

the life of your consort and Your Majesty…

could be in peril.

Utter such drivel once again,

and I shall behead you to start with.

In that case,

let me be the first…

Forgive me.

Gungnae Fortress (Goguryeo capital; currently Jilin, Manchuria)

Is Mahwang here in Gungnae Fortress?

He recently came back from Buyeo.

Let's go meet him.

Yes.

Granting me visit in this humble abode of mine,

I'm humbled by your presence.

It might turn out to be a most fruitful visit.

You've come to the right place.

You really did.

I'm confident I won't disappoint you, Sangga*. *Sangga: the oldest of the Council's chieftains

Here, please come in.

So you came back from Buyeo?

Yes. I visited Buyeo, and went all the way to Chang'an*. *Capital of the Han empire; current Xi'an

How are things in Buyeo?

Don't even get me started.

Even if they don't start a war,

neighboring countries can feel their might…

and just tremble, tremble with fear.

If this keeps up,

I'm worried our Goguryeo might be engulfed by their might.

That King Daeso.

When His Majesty, King Jumong, was alive,

he couldn't move a beat, right?

That's right.

But right now, this is our reality.

King Daeso is like that,

but our ruler*… *Taewang: Goguryeo equivalent of emperor, literally "Great King"

"Fly, fly the orioles, such tender lovebirds,"

"So lonely I am, who will I share my return with?"

Is chanting such pathetic love songs…

This, well…

Can you really compare?

How do they look?

To find specimen which could match your impeccable taste,

I spared no money nor effort.

The only thing I like…

is that splurgy tongue of yours!

Ahh… Sangganim*. (*deferential address)

If it weren't for you, why would I spend so much on these wenches?

Please, at least allow me to make back that money.

I'll choose this one, then.

That one is just a lowly wench.

She's in no way the appropriate specimen for you.

Why? Plan to send her to someone else?

Ah… of course not!

Then, it's a deal. 200 silver coins.

I can't.

You said she's the lowest of the low, why not?

250, and I won't give you any more.

Ahh… Sss…Sangganim!

Sangganim.

Send her to my residence.

Hey, you prick.

How can you show her to that old worm?

She belongs to someone else!

It's been quite a long time, gentlemen.

So…

what's the occasion for setting up this meeting?

Have you heard?

King Yuri subjugated even the Gi San tribe.

With all that momentum,

he'll surely use this occasion to come back to…

Gungnae Fortress and gain the keys to power.

We can't just stand still and look.

Then?

We shall turn the tide.

King Yuri has control of all the troops on the battlefield.

Turn the tide all you want in his absence,

but when he's back, what are you going to do?

King Yuri…

will never come back to Gungnae Fortress.

And what you're implying is…

…that he's dead already.

Can I believe your words?

I sent an envoy to support the troops on the battlefield.

But of course that wasn't my goal.

Killing the King was.

Right now, the troops under Prince Haemyeong's command…

that are protecting Gungnae Fortress number in the hundreds.

All the chieftains have agreed to join our efforts.

We shall concentrate troops at Mangparyeong*, *A strategic fortification near Gungnae Fortress

and then march for the capital.

What will you do?

Will the Biryu* clan join in? *One of five major tribes in early Goguryeo political fabric

Will you send troops?

You really think…

Yuri perished?

Before I see it with my own eyes, I shan't believe it.

But what if his death is confirmed,

and all the other clans except us end up attacking the capital?

Wouldn't the aftermath be obvious?

She's been in labor for so long,

why hasn't she given birth yet?

I have never experienced this myself, Your Highness.

His Majesty is not even here, what if something happens?

Do everything in your power to grant her a safe delivery.

Yes, Your Highness.

May I have a word with you?

The Biryu clan and all the other chieftains had a meeting.

Without any consultation, they had a meeting?

Yes.

Their pretext was that they needed to confer…

regarding the celebration for Her Majesty's delivery.

But if such were the case,

they surely wouldn't do it in such secret.

This feels suspicious.

The entire Goguryeo is gasping for air.

Looks like you're the only one breathing in relief.

Who is it?

Your Highness!

It's been a long time.

What's the occasion… and this unbecoming figure?!

Should I keep standing up?

Ahh… my apologies.

You can sit here.

What is going on?

Just a word, and I would have run to you.

I needed to have a talk with you in private.

The chieftains had a secret meeting.

Try to find out the reason why they met in such secret.

Did you just say "secret meeting"?

That's right.

I'll pretend I never heard that.

Why don't you have a drink?

I have a fine lady to show you.

Your Highness.

We're talking about the chieftains of the Council here.

If you drive a rift between me and them,

how can I keep living here in Goguryeo?

- Please, everything but… - So you're afraid of the chieftains,

but show no fear in front of your future ruler?

Sangganim.

It's me, Mahwang.

Lovely!

I've been dealing with slaves for over a decade,

but nobody could surpass your keen eye for women.

Tell me.

Whom did you plan to send this lady to?

Prince Haemyeong.

- Haemyeong?! - Yes.

He's to become our future ruler,

so we need to feed His Majesty properly, don't we?

And how would you know whether he'll become King or not?

Pardon me?

If you really were going to send her to Haemyeong,

just be thankful you brought her to me.

You old fart of a man…

What?!

"How would you know if he will"?!

What the hell are they scheming about?

Your Excellency.

Your Excellency, it's me. Mahwang.

Oh… what's going on?

I brought you a precious gift from Chang'an,

but I never seem to find you.

Let's meet again in a few days.

I need to head out for a very urgent matter.

This is the cream of the crop from the Silk Road,

so expensive they called it Geumdan (gold + silk).

This is only used by the Han imperial family,

the kind of silk only an emperor would wear.

So the emperor wears this?

Then again, who says I can't become one?

Speak it out!

What were you scheming at the Council meeting?!

I have no idea.

Really?

Hold him!

You have five per hand, ten in total.

I shall give you ten chances.

Stop! Stoppp!

That's not what I want to hear.

At Mangparyeong…

the chieftains are preparing an attack.

Treason!

They will soon attack the capital.

What are you waiting for? Help me up!

What are you doing now?

We need to get out of here, right now.

Why?

Why, all of a sudden?

It's treason.

The chieftains are plotting treason.

But… Prince Haemyeong…

The chieftains are sending thousands of troops.

What are His Highness's few hundred troops going to do against that?

Ttt…ttt…those wenches?

Just bring along the expensive ones.

They'll easily surpass the three thousand men.

How about our forces?

We sent the majority as reinforcements to His Majesty,

so we're left with fewer than three hundred men.

If, as you said, their goal is to head for the capital,

we won't be able to stop them with the men we have left.

Order to close all the gates of the capital,

and send His Majesty a message.

Yes.

We need to buy time until His Majesty gets back.

*Yeonna: another Goguryeo clan The Yeonna* chieftain will pass Mount Macheon,

and attack Gungnae Fortress himself. *Yeonna: another Goguryeo clan

and attack Gungnae Fortress himself.

No news from the Biryu clan?

Nothing.

By now, seeing as they're keeping quiet,

it looks like they won't join us. Isn't it?

You wicked old man.

Dare to stay out of this, and after Gungnae Fortress,

you and your clan will be next in line.

Who is it?

I come from the Biryu clan.

So what's going on with your superior?

He's commanding troops from our clan, and attacking the north.

When the battle begins, we shall tear down the northern gates.

Fine.

You head for Gungnae Fortress, and issue an ultimatum to Haemyeong.

Understood.

I've come to convey the Council's orders.

Speak.

The army of the Gwanna, Yeonna, Hwanna and Biryu clans…

are gathered at Mangparyeong.

They shall soon head for the capital,

so before the sun sets tomorrow, open all gates,

and let the troops enter without spilling any blood.

If you open the gates and surrender,

we shall spare your life, Your Highness.

Shut your mouth!

How dare you utter such insolent claptrap?!

With just a few hundred troops,

going against the Council would be a most incautious decision.

Your Highness, I shall behead that fool!

On your command!

One single man ably protecting his territory…

can stop ten people attacking.

You show arrogance through numbers,

but if we stake our lives on it,

you shall never get past us!

And when His Majesty arrives,

the ones staring at the cold and merciless ground won't be us…

but your own heads!

I'd abandon any hope…

of seeing the King again.

His Majesty…

already met his demise.

You have until tomorrow.

If you don't open the gates before the sun sets,

Gungnae Fortress shall be drenched in blood,

and the Queen along with her baby…

will not survive.

How is she?

She fell asleep, as the pain stopped briefly.

But…

His Majesty…

If…

that stupid rumor reaches the Queen,

I shall make you pay for that.

Understood?

Yes, Your Highness.

What's going on?

I assigned troops to the gates.

The younger troops fled along with their leaders.

And you…

Why didn't you follow them?

If I could just keep up with them…

You can leave.

I'll order the Queen's guards to defend the gates.

Open all the gates in Gungnae Fortress.

Your Highness!

I ordered not to enter!

Seryu!

Brother!

Seryu!

Everyone's disappeared.

Brother, I'm scared.

Don't worry, Seryu.

It's all right.

I shall escort Seryu and the Queen outside the capital.

Her Majesty is still in labor, wouldn't that be dangerous?

If the chieftains attack the palace,

they'll slaughter everyone.

We must protect them.

Get ready.

Yes!

Your Highness!

Stop!

It must be the troops the chieftains sent out to find us!

It's an ambush! Cover up!

It's been a long time, Chief.

Your Majesty.

Order them to drop their weapons.

Your Majesty!

Drop your weapons!

Drive the troops outside the palace.

As for the chieftains,

escort them to their private quarters in orderly manner.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What happened? Still no news?

You were right, Sangganim.

His Majesty ordered us to escort you to the palace.

Welcome, Sangga.

I planned to punish those treacherous clans with their lives.

Tell me, Sangga.

How shall I deal with this?

Your Majesty.

This country is a mere few decades old.

Exterminating those chieftains and their clans,

the very foundation of Goguryeo,

is something even Your Majesty wouldn't want to do.

In the past,

Haengin and Okjeo rose in revolt against our former king (Jumong),

but he benevolently showed tolerance.

After that, the two states became loyal pillars of Goguryeo.

So, take the former king's example,

and allow the chieftains to prove their loyalty to you.

That's not acceptable, Your Majesty!

How can we close an eye on their dreadful plotting?

Sangga!

You should know you sinned just as severely as they did!

That is insulting!

Who would believe the elder chief of the Council…

wouldn't know a thing about their attempted treason?!

Your Majesty.

Behead all those who plotted treason,

and show to the people the severity of your rule!

Be quiet, Prince.

- Your Majesty! - I said, be quiet.

Fine.

I shall follow the former king's example…

and forgive the chieftains.

Instead…

I shall send ministers to every clan,

and check your every action.

The Sangga and every chieftain shall seek my consent,

not only for the use of troops,

but for every matter regarding their clans.

And, more.

You shall send me your eldest sons.

I shall keep them under my watch,

and teach them so that something like this…

will never happen again.

Sangga.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Will you accept my decision?

Yes.

How about you, chieftains?

We shall follow your lead, Your Majesty.

You never know when they might betray you again.

How will you secure this country's safety sparing those traitors?

For every step I took toward Gungnae Fortress,

the wounds they inflicted on me pierced my flesh and soul.

Think I wouldn't like to behead them,

and rid myself of this excruciating anger?

But, if I kill them now,

Goguryeo will be engulfed by internal strife.

Then, the war-mongering claws of Buyeo's King Daeso…

will entrap us with their might.

Even righteous indignation…

shall not obscure the fair judgment of a ruler.

Remember this.

I am the King,

and you're the heir to my throne.

Your Majesty.

It's me, Tae Cheon.

Her Majesty gave birth to a prince.

Seryu.

You have a brother now.

You're his sister.

Sister?!

Yes.

Brother.

Now I have a younger sibling, too.

That's right.

Your Majesty.

My gratitude, dear.

For granting us this bright-looking boy.

This is all thanks to you, Your Majesty.

I shall share my joy with all our people.

His Majesty is distributing grains to celebrate the prince's birth.

Celebrate whatever.

He's just trying to restore confidence…

after the chieftains' treason.

If we knew this would happen,

we should have at least pretended to defend the gates.

Then, we would have become meritorious subjects!

The minister has arrived,

and is examining our every move.

Will you keep enduring this like that?

Just be glad we saved our heads.

Another chance shall come.

Just lie low, don't make a sound.

We have a new prince, I should at least send a gift.

Your Majesty.

Shouldn't you give a name to the newborn prince,

and have his fortune read?

I shall escort the sorceress.

No need.

I shall head for the shrine myself.

We need to start the ceremony, so escort the prince here.

But, we didn't receive any orders…

How dare you go against our wishes?

Escort him here right now.

Yes.

It's from goats we will offer in sacrifice.

Tell them we escorted the prince to the shrine.

He's dead.

Your Majesty!

Hurry up and seal all access to the shrine.

Make sure nobody enters.

Yes.

General, ransack the entire palace and find me the sorceress.

Yes, Your Majesty. Your Majesty…

I'll call the physician first. Head for your chamber.

Didn't you hear me?!

Proceed as ordered!

- Yes. - Yes.

The sorceress escaped from the palace.

But… she took the prince with her.

Listen to what I say carefully.

Swiftly find out the sorceress's whereabouts,

but you shan't let the chieftains or the people…

realize what's happening.

Starting from you, every soldier should go out and search in disguise.

Yes.

When you find her, quickly let me know.

Never try to stop her, or save the prince.

Yes.

Leave right now.

Your Majesty!

I heard you've blocked access to the shrine,

and the sorceress who took the prince is nowhere to be found.

What is going on?

- Escort the Queen to her chamber. - Your Majesty.

It's me, Tae Cheon.

Come in.

His Highness sent word he found her.

She's at the shrine in Mt. Cheonryeong.

We'll leave now, so get ready.

Your Majesty.

Let me join you.

I shall find the prince at all costs,

so don't worry, and go back to your quarters.

Your Majesty!

The sorceress?

She's inside the shrine.

But…

guards are covering the entrance.

I shall meet the sorceress.

Without the sorceress's consent, nobody is allowed in.

You can't meet her.

My apologies.

You wait here.

Is it me you want?

If that is the will of heaven, slay me.

What sin did that infant commit?

I shall take that child with me.

The heavens gave me an order,

but I couldn't do it with my own hands.

What are you saying?

What kind of divine revelation did you hear to commit such a cruel act?

The prince was born under nefarious fate,

that of causing the downfall of Goguryeo.

He will kill his brethren,

his mother and father.

At the end, he's destined to even kill his own son.

Stop!

How can a single infant carry so many curses?!

How can people understand heaven's ways?

I…

just conveyed to you heaven's will.

Your Majesty.

Only the son of heaven (king) can expunge that curse.

For Goguryeo.

For this country's future.

You shall slay the prince right now.

- I can't do that. - Your Majesty.

No need to anguish over the guilt of killing one's child.

You can say it was something the chieftains did,

or one of the dead sorceress's misdeeds.

Carry out your duty.

Aren't you the King?!

Because of the love for your child,

are you going to sit and see this country crumble?

Sorceress!

Sorceress!!

For telling you such dreadful words…

Forgive me.

May you…

follow heaven's will.

They did bow down in front of His Majesty,

but they're waiting the right chance to avenge that.

We shall show you what we're really made of.

We got word the Queen is in critical condition.

They're worried it might be a curse from heaven.

I shall kill the prince, and quench heaven's anger.

It's your own son, you can't kill him!

What I'm throwing away is not my son,

but the nefarious fate engulfing this country!

Seryu…

Now he will leave for a faraway place.

Wear this necklace, and I shall recognize you.

Call me Sister, when we meet again.

Take the child, and head for Jolbon.

Raise him as a nameless commoner.

Since he's no longer of this world,

I shall call him Muhyul.

Raise this child for me.

Who is it?

This child's name is Muhyul.

Muhyul! Muhyul!