Original subtitles

Episode 9

Have her serve at the ceremony.

Yes.

Ahead of the crowning ceremony in two days,

a junket to greet foreign delegations shall take place.

I shall not tolerate even the slightest oversight.

Is that understood?

Yes.

Milady.

I just found out their location.

Security will be tight, so be careful.

Yes.

Who's there?

My apologies.

Be careful out there.

What are you doing?

Do you want to make all our efforts go in vain?

Know how long I've waited for this moment?

I can do it.

Right now, I can slay King Yuri on the spot.

I never received any such order.

Act incautiously, and we will all die.

I laud your efforts.

Was this sent by our spies in Buyeo?

Yes.

I was perlustrating the intelligence they collected.

Any quiddity to report?

We received reports that the Wesaja of Buyeo, Tak Rok,

recently was dispatched to the Black Shadows' training camp, where he's now in charge.

Tak Rok?!

Yes.

Tak Rok enjoys King Daeso's utmost credence.

If someone like him is bequeathed such a position,

wouldn't that prove the Black Shadows have gained significant clout?

No matter how important the Black Shadows might be,

sending a court official of such importance there can only mean…

an ignominious transfer of duties.

Such was my appraisal as well.

What would an ignominious demotion such as this entail?

To regain King Daeso's graces,

he will use the Black Shadows, even if in heedless nimiety.

Reinforce palace security,

and keep a vigilant eye on all the delegations who will join the ceremony.

Your wish is my command.

Muhyul will sit this mission out.

All of a sudden, why?

What's wrong?

You can ask him the reason.

Muhyul.

A single mistake in this mission, and all our lives could be at stake.

And I shall never accept ruining a mission out of personal issues.

What happened?

He said he's killing King Yuri. Inside the capital.

What?!

It was imprudent, I admit it.

I'll never let my personal feelings lead the way,

and put other people's lives at risk again.

We all have our duties to fulfill,

how can we leave Muhyul out?

He lost his mind for a brief moment, so just close an eye this once.

Did you get that map of the palace storehouse from Yeon?

Muhyul and I will enter the storehouse.

Maro and Maenggwang, you set up the explosives.

Stop what you're doing.

Everyone gather here.

I've heard new court ladies recently joined the palace.

Move to the side.

You shall be excluded from serving at this ceremony.

Her Highness ordered us to serve at the ceremony.

If I say you're not allowed in, that's the final word.

Then, tell Her Highness to change our orders.

We answer to Her Highness alone.

Then, you shall remain.

The others, go back.

Wait.

I've seen you before.

Have we ever met?

Never.

Are you sure?

Yes.

You fool, all you need to start your skullduggery is a comely face.

Skullduggery?! If there is anything I can boast about, that's my memory and keen eyes.

Stop prattling. We need to inspect all the delegations, so hurry up!

Security is too tight to do it at the crowning ceremony.

We'll have to get it done tomorrow at the junket.

You, there!

You look like new recruits.

If you vanquish me, I shall take care of you in the future.

I won't hold back.

Isn't that Princess Seryu, who married one of the Gisan leaders?

Sending your only daughter to a barbaric place like that.

His Majesty is quite dispiteous himself.

Don't twaddle such palaver.

His Highness cared deeply about her.

We shall protect her instead.

So keep that in mind, and treat her with respect.

Begin.

Yes.

Inside this was odorless, colorless, tasteless poison.

This doesn't change any of the associated liquid's attributes.

What's more, it doesn't kill through normal consumption.

Then, how are we going to use it for our mission?

This is another type of poison.

We spread this on the goblet that the dead man drank.

Whenever these two kinds of poison meet,

they combine into deadly venom.

Get up!

Get up, you fool!

You pathetic fools.

Is this the time to fall asleep?!

You fools must have a death wish.

Open the door.

This is His Majesty's goblet, and this one is for the Xin envoy.

You shan't allow any blunder to happen.

You really have never met me?

Never.

Then… we can just get to know each other from now.

My name is Chubalso. Yours?

- Myoseon. - Myoseon!

Myoseon. What do I look like?

Ahh… what I do is a secret, so I can't tell you.

All you need to know is that I can easily take good care of you.

If you keep this up, I will tell my superiors.

Oh oh! You even try to evade me!

Hey!

Will you stop with this chicanery?

Chicanery?! Isn't this work as well?

Is teasing a court lady work?!

If you keep this up, you'll be kicked out of the palace.

If I have to keep living this humdrum life, leaving here would be much better.

What is it?

I can't say yet. We'll have to let another day pass.

He's headed to the foreign delegations' junket, so he can't meet you.

Junket or ceremony is fine, but I need to talk with him now.

I have something to disclose that he shall not regret.

Are you positive?

Have you ever seen me engage in empty sophistry?

His Majesty's life could be in peril?!

What are you talking about?

Before I open my mouth, I need a categorical answer.

Go ahead.

Sangganim.

To act as your right hand, I absconded from His Majesty's graces.

Losing His Majesty's graces in the capital put me in a calamitous morass.

That is of no concern to yours truly.

Sangganim!

How could you utter such insouciant words?

I am ready to stake my life on the Biryu clan and you.

How could you neglect my fealty?

Stop prattling that gob of yours! Get to the point.

By any chance, have you ever heard of the Black Shadows?

Black Shadows?!

Yes.

According to unfailing sources of mine,

the Black Shadows recently infiltrated the capital.

Why would those direful Black Shadows infiltrate the capital?

Wouldn't it be to assassinate His Majesty?

Fine, you may leave.

Sangganim!

- I shall… - I said leave us!

What do you have in mind?

I shall pretend I never heard that.

What are your conclusions?

It's poison, all right.

It's not the kind that would kill,

but is strong enough to make people faint temporarily.

Where is Wang Daein*?

*"Daren" in Mandarin, deferential address used by Chinese dynasties

He is waiting for you at the junket hall.

Let's go.

Your Majesty.

What is the matter?

May you cancel the junket, and take all the foreign delegates into custody.

Cancel the junket?!

We found traces leading us to speculate…

the Black Shadows might have infiltrated the palace.

Do you have any clear evidence?

Yes. Guards in the palace were hit with poisonous needles and collapsed.

That is the kind of poison Buyeo's Black Shadows use.

Your Majesty.

We'll have to cancel the junket, and keep the delegations in custody.

This junket was organized to welcome the delegations and bolster goodwill.

It shan't be canceled.

Your Majesty.

To avoid any mischance, reinforce security at the junket hall.

- Let's go. - Yes.

It's been such a long time!

I am grateful you greeted us with your presence.

I am glad you came.

My gratitude for being here.

I shall repay this debt of gratitude.

My gratitude for being here.

Here, may you enjoy this junket.

My gratitude.

There are no words to express my felicity at seeing all of you here,

coalescing together to celebrate our crowning ceremony.

Let this be a proof of our alliance's utmost vehemence,

and let us commingle in a celebratory toast to hallow our sodality.

You may enter.

Such an exquisite goblet.

Your Majesty.

I've prepared a gift for you and Wang Daein.

And what is that?

Yeon Hwa.

These are goblets I crafted myself.

As a symbol of my yearning for a long- lasting alliance between our countries,

I crafted these goblets.

Our Crown Prince has a special talent for this.

I'm in awe at your generosity.

Fine, you shall fill these instead.

What are you waiting for? Fill these goblets.

Here!

May joviality bless us all, and let us honor this moment!

Wang Daein!

Look… Wang Daein!

Wang Daein!

What's wrong with you?

What are you doing?!

Escort Wang Daein!

Don't move a finger and stay where you are!

Call the physicians!

Wang Daein!

Seal all the exits, and don't let a single soul escape from the palace!

Yes!

What is going on?

The Xin envoy died at the junket.

Did you seal all the exits for the delegates?

They're all confined inside the junket hall.

Daebonim!

What's wrong? Why did you leave the junket hall?

Someone threw explosives inside the hall, and a few delegates escaped.

Yeon?!

She still isn't here.

Leave first.

Escort her out of here!

Master!

Master.

At the pa… Where are you going?

I wasn't invited to the junket, but I'll have to attend the ceremony at least.

There's no need.

What are you prattling about?

The entire capital is in turmoil.

The Xin envoy died at the junket.

What?!

I can't believe this.

They postponed the crowning ceremony indefinitely?!

Mother.

Becalm yourself.

How long did I wait for this day?!

How can it end so grievously?

The alliance between Goguryeo and the Xin is on the verge of collapse.

Is that crowning ceremony of any importance now?

May you not betray your feelings, and wait for His Majesty's call.

Thankfully, it's not a deep wound.

I'm grateful.

Yeon.

Get up.

You can easily see other people's wounds,

but you don't even realize you're hurting yourself.

I feared you'd worry for nothing.

Whatever happens to you, never try to hide it from me.

Be it wounds hurting your body…

or piercing your heart.

Yes.

What are you doing here, all dejected in melancholy?

Hey, our mission is complete, and nobody was hurt seriously.

What's wrong with you?

Just…

By the way.

Milady and Dojin, you know?

Doesn't it look like something's going on between those two?

And how would I know that?

Hey…

Don't tell me you like her as well?!

What are you saying?

If such is the case, just give up now and save yourself the misery.

We're only Black Shadows in theory. We're always slaves, after all.

Dojin might be a Black Shadow himself, but wasn't he a Buyeo royal?

In a word, she's not made for people like us.

You shan't even look at a tree you can't climb.

How is your wound?

I'm fine, so you needn't worry.

There is something I'd like to ask you.

They changed the goblets, so how did the Xin envoy die?

To prepare for such an eventuality, I brought a pellet of poison with me.

Is that so?

You put your life at risk doing that.

I thought it was necessary, not to risk everyone's lives.

Yeon!

No.

Yeon went to Goguryeo as just another Black Shadow like you.

Worrying for the safety of one's compeers is natural.

I laud your efforts. Have some rest, and tomorrow we will go meet His Majesty.

His Majesty shall bountifully reward your accomplishments!

We even get to meet the king.

Now we can stop worrying about our lives.

We will probably not live as slaves anymore,

but the moment we fail our mission, that will spell our demise.

If it's that, well, we can just leave it to Heaven's will.

Never forget we have something left to accomplish.

You be careful as well.

She's a Buyeo princess.

I should have extended to you my gratitude sooner.

I escaped safely from Goguryeo, thanks to you.

That is what I should tell you.

You saved my life more than once, Milady.

Then, you still owe me something.

Yes.

I hope it never happens, but if you ever find yourself in peril,

I shall pay back this debt of gratitude at all costs.

Is that true?!

Yes, Your Majesty!

Wesaja!

Marvelous. I commend you!

According to reports sent by our spies in Xin territory,

Wang Mang, moved by rampageous angst, is about to break the alliance with Goguryeo.

But, Your Majesty!

An issue of such paramount purport should have been endeavored…

only after Your Majesty's consent.

No.

The only way something like this can succeed is proceeding in secrecy!

Did you really follow them along to Goguryeo?

Yes, Your Majesty.

How sterling of you!

Here are the Black Shadows responsible for our success.

Chief Retainer!

Yes, Your Majesty.

I shall commend them with a drink,

so make preparations.

I've heard the Wesaja is back.

Is it true he killed the Xin envoy in Goguryeo?

Yes.

We had barely ousted him from power,

but he has regained His Majesty's favors already.

Just ousting him from power shan't suffice.

We need to act with decisive resolve this time.

Before long, I shall send one of my people,

so come to my residence.

I shall do that.

Your grace astounds me, Your Majesty.

I shall dutifully forgo my life to serve and protect you.

I always had you serving me,

but serving you myself is most diverting.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty.

Did you say you come from Goguryeo?

Yes, Your Majesty.

What is your name?

Muhyul, Your Majesty.

My name is Maro.

What were you doing in Goguryeo?

I was a decorator.

Decorator?!

His deep revulsion for King Yuri engulfs his every bone.

Then…

I shall find a way to expunge that viperous grief of yours.

Raise your cups!

Be as it may, all I served you today is a mere drink,

but next time, I shall fill your cups with riches and fame.

Here, let us drink!

- Go have a drink. - Yes.

Hey, let's go, uh?

His Majesty must have done it by mistake.

Why would he leave your cup empty, otherwise?

Let's go have a drink.

It won't match what His Majesty could have served you,

but I'll pour you one.

Because my father was a traitor.

No matter how meritorious a deed it is,

the treacherous blood flowing in my veins will not disappear.

Dojin.

Will you leave me alone for a moment?

Hey! What are you waiting for?!

I can't figure out what His Majesty really thinks about Dojin.

No matter if his father was accused of treason,

that is not Dojin's fault, and he even did something so important.

His Majesty will have something in mind for him,

so don't worry.

- So, where are we going? - Where do you think?

A brothel.

You know where that is?

Just follow me.

Until Dojin joins us…

Let's wait at the Wesaja's residence.

Hey, where's the need to worry about his feelings?

Let's go.

Let's go by ourselves.

Ehhh… pathetic fools.

His Majesty is looking for you.

Have a seat.

Seeing you reminds me of your late father.

Only two things have I regretted my entire life.

One was sparing Jumong,

and the other, slaying your father.

But, if I had to go back to those days,

I would be forced to kill your father again.

Even if your father was someone Buyeo needed,

I couldn't allow anyone challenging my authority to survive.

Were you disappointed that I left your cup empty?

It is certain what you did was most meritorious,

but that alone shan't fill the cup I gave you.

The expectations I had for your father.

The ones I felt by sparing you.

You shall fulfill all those, before that cup can be filled.

Until that day,

all I can do is share my cup with you.

Drink!

Your Majesty!

This humble servant of yours, Dojin,

shan't forget your benevolence until I meet my demise.

Leaving you there alone, it just didn't feel right.

Have a seat.

I prepared everything, so it should be all right.

Here, have some.

This is something Father greatly cherishes.

Let's all have a toast.

And we let such an opportunity slide for this?

Where are you running to?!

Owner!

Owner!!

You foolish scoundrels.

What friendship could there be among Black Shadows?

One day we kill, the other we're killed.

What you said is right.

Black Shadows need no friends.

Chief Retainer.

More than friends, isn't this what they really need?

There was nothing wrong with the goblet His Highness crafted.

Your Majesty, didn't I tell you?

Prince Yeojin has nothing to do with this.

Then, how could this happen?

The wine which was served had no poison, either.

Didn't I tell you to find what killed him?

What killed him… was on the jorum.

On the jorum, you say? I drank from that jorum myself.

Check the mouth of that jorum, Your Majesty.

Before you exchanged them, those two goblets had the same poison.

When you ordered the exchange, that court lady serving drinks…

spread poison on one side of that jorum's mouth.

She served you with the unblemished side,

and used the poisoned one to serve Wang Daein.

That's the reason you survived this, despite drinking from the same jorum.

The only people who would use poison with such ease are Buyeo's Black Shadows.

Your Majesty.

We proved Yeojin has nothing to do with this,

so shouldn't we proceed with the crowning ceremony which was postponed?

It is not the right time.

Your Majesty!

It was my fault, for not trusting your judgment.

The alliance with the Xin we so strenuously forged is now history,

so I shall not take this lying down.

Devise a way to avenge King Daeso's provocation.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Would I have come all the way here, if I wasn't engulfed by anxiety?

If this keeps up, you never know when Yeojin will be proclaimed.

Still, this is not the time to press His Majesty regarding the ceremony.

And why?

We can't leave that position empty, can we?

The more haste you show, the worse it could influence His Highness's situation.

What are you implying?

There's no alternatives to him, why are you so impatient?

What is important now for His Highness is not the title itself,

but what he can do as a Goguryeo prince.

Because of this situation, our alliance with the Xin is in tatters.

So, should His Highness manage to solve this diplomatic impasse,

he could gain His Majesty's favors.

And when that happens, all matters you worry about shall be swiftly resolved.

You have any plan?

Yes.

Shoot!

Dojin.

The Wesaja is looking for you.

- Were you looking for me? - Yes, here you are.

You shan't misknow His Majesty if he treats you with disregard.

His Majesty will surely know all you went through because of your father.

The day will come, when he shall prove how much he cherishes you.

I will bear it in mind.

When that day comes, I was hoping you could take care of Yeon.

Make Yeon happy.

Wesajanim!

What's wrong?

His Majesty was assaulted by an assassin during hunting!

What's going on?

His Majesty was assaulted.

That shall suffice.

Your Majesty.

It is your humble servant, the Chief Retainer.

Enter!

Who did this?

Did you find out who committed this direful indignity?!

Is it Yuri? Was it an assassin that fool sent?!

It's not that, Your Majesty.

If it's not…

If it's not him, then!

Who could commit such dauntless atrocity?!

The name the assassin confessed…

is the Wesaja.

Tak!

Tak Rok…

Tak Rok!

These were used by your assailants.

These poisonous needles are used by Black Shadows.

Oh! Is His Majesty safe?

I shall seek audience with him immediately, so announce my presence.

May you wait here a moment.

You can't meet His Majesty now.

What is that supposed to mean?

Didn't you tell him I was here?

I did.

A treacherous criminal is waiting for your punishing blade.