Original subtitles

Subtitles provided by MBC

The Vow.

The Blood Vow.

Why aren't you asleep?

Look at this.

What is it?

It's Blood Vow?

Yes. It's the late Emperor's will.

My Liege, don't you want to see your son?

You haven't been to see him.

I'm told you're heartsick.

Time to grow up.

Hold your son.

He has your gorgeous eyes.

Here.

Your Majesty.

You strike a baby?

You're not yourself.

A crazy, pouting fool.

We should go.

My Liege, keep this up.

You'll have no one left.

My Liege.

Please, My Liege.

My Liege.

I am the slave trader, Huksu.

So what?

An invitation to Her Majesty's banquet. From El Temur.

I've been in Ilkhanate for six months on business.

Accept my belated congratulations on your position.

Uh-huh. You may go.

A gift. From my lord and master.

Rubies and emeralds from the west.

Convey my thanks.

Yes, sir.

His trading house funds El Temur.

It does us no good to antagonize them.

He bothers me.

Keep an eye on them.

Yes, sir.

There's more where that came from.

Dig in.

Fattening us up to be sold.

Eat while we can.

We'll have a better chance of escape later.

What? Three taals of silver for one voucher?

But only a few holds those vouchers.

Are they trying to put us out of business?

Use the vouchers to buy ginseng.

Yes, ma'am.

Get this to Huksu in Liaoyang province.

Right away.

Oh. Wang Yu is here.

Does he know who we are?

He's drinking. No girls.

Sire, we should get back.

You want me to marry El Temur's niece, too?

It won't hurt to meet once before you decide.

Get out. All of you.

Sire.

Yes, Sire.

Sungnyang.

Why did you spare me?

We're fighting because of the Yuan.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Friend, you say?

Yes. Friend.

Now doesn't matter. Only our future does.

Sorry, but your future and mine are different.

The governors are gathering at the palace.

It's a perfect opportunity to garner their support.

Bayan of Liaoyang province at your service.

Ohgwang of Yunnan at your service.

Busaqui of Lingbei at your service.

Jokgong of Shanxi at your service.

Soldokan of Sichuan at your service.

Having them there will put pressure on El Temur.

The Vow is all anyone's talking about.

He'll feel the weight of that fact.

I'm curious.

What will they talk about today?

Today we can enjoy ourselves and talk freely.

May I speak on behalf of everyone here?

Please do.

Traditionally the Inner Court has four consorts, nine concubines.

And 27 ladies-in-waiting.

The Inner Court is sadly lacking.

Perhaps a few consorts for His Majesty?

Consorts?

His Majesty is ill.

Now is hardly the time.

It is a question of imperial prestige.

The pavilion of women is essential.

He doesn't need any tramps...

Your Majesty.

Dignity.

Go on.

We discussed it and suggest that each province provide candidates.

The most suitable of the girls may be chosen.

With your permission.

Your Majesty has provided an heir.

It is time.

Quite right.

Father.

Anything else?

The Empress Dowager usually selects the consorts.

Who will do it with her away?

I'll do it myself.

You'll choose the consorts?

It's unheard of.

Perhaps it is time for the Dowager to return?

You ask that knowing what she did?

There is nothing to prove she was involved in the attempted coup.

What's more, she was the first wife of the late Emperor.

She is needed to ensure a fair selection process.

Hear our plea, Regent.

Hear our plea.

How could I refuse such a fine display of loyalty?

The Empress Dowager will return and select the consorts.

Father.

You have what you asked for. Let's drink on it.

Regent, a long life.

A long life.

You're right.

The governors want blood ties to the throne.

She used their own ambition against them.

El Temur caved far too quickly.

I noticed that.

What's he up to?

A consort may provide a tie to the Emperor.

But she also serves as a hostage.

A hostage.

The Yuan lands are vast.

How can we stop talk and sedition in distant provinces?

The governors' daughters in the palace grounds...

will make fine hostages indeed.

So why marry Wang Yu into the family?

To eliminate Koryo and make the peninsula part of Liaoyang.

Wang Yu has to be handled delicately.

She is El Temur's niece.

You need this marriage to regain the throne.

Will you do this, for my sake?

On one condition.

Go on.

After the wedding, I return to the Yuan capital alone.

And leave your bride here?

It's a marriage of convenience.

El Temur won't care either way.

What changed your mind?

You close with the enemy to strike his heart.

I'll see El Temur and his brats dead.

To pay them back for Sungnyang.

Sir.

I trust you had a good trip?

Move them along.

Sir.

Come on.

How did you happen to catch her?

She was running away in the mountains.

Do you know here?

She's no slave. Release her.

I'm afraid I can't.

You can't?

Not even for the governor?

It's not good business.

If you want her...

come and bid for her.

She's a valuable piece of property.

It won't be cheap.

Excuse me.

We have to save her.

You mean to bid for her?

I owe my position here to her.

If she hadn't told us El Temur was alive...

I'd be rotting with Bangjin right now.

You've had a long trip.

The ginseng?

Packed, dried and on the way.

My lord will be pleased.

Now that you're here, you can do something for me.

Oh?

33.

35.

40.

45.

50 here.

50. I have 50.

Anyone else?

50.

Sold.

Stay alive.

And we'll meet again.

From time immemorial, more precious than gold are the eyes that see that gold.

Behold the treasure before you.

We will start the bidding at 200 in gold.

Can you believe that?

He doesn't want to sell her.

250.

260.

300.

I have 300.

Anyone else?

Are you done?

350.

500.

I have 500.

He's got a shill.

Keep going.

700.

1000.

I have 1000.

That's enough.

I think we should go.

3000.

Sir.

I have 3000.

3000.

Sold.

A year's provisions for the men.

Wasted on a bit of fluff.

A fair price for our lives.

Thank you for saving me.

How did you end up here?

I was with Lady Pak when she died.

She just dozed off after caring for the baby all day.

I'll get His Highness, if you please.

The Empress was behind it.

Lady Pak, Nyang, she killed them both.

My Liege.

When did you get here?

The Emperor is brain dead.

Learning what the Empress did was too much for him.

Aphasia. He can't speak?

Or think, apparently.

His family is short-lived.

It has me worried.

Sir. General Tangqishi to see you.

He doesn't know I'm alive.

This way.

You should have told me you're coming.

We're going to Koryo. The traders have a wedding gift for us.

A wedding?

Someone's getting married?

Our mother's cousin's sister. To the Koryo royal house.

Who in the royal house?

Wang Yu.

Wang Yu agreed to this?

He wants his throne back.

Why would he refuse?

Meaning he'll stay out of Yuan.

Send my congratulations.

The consort selection is coming up.

Any idea who you'll send?

None of our women are good enough.

Give this to my mother in Koryo.

I will.

And this.

Mom, it's me, Gwiok.

I know you can't read so I haven't written.

But I trust Nyang to read it to you.

I'm eating well and doing even better, so don't worry.

Dad's memorial day is coming up.

Don't make yourself sick crying now.

I heard my brother got married.

I've been saving this up. Give it to him.

I miss you, Mom.

So very, very much.

Have you thought whom you'll send?

My niece, but I can't bring myself to it.

If you don't send someone you'll be a laughingstock.

Who's there?

Why aren't you in bed?

Send me to the palace.

You were going to Koryo.

I'm staying here.

You're not yourself.

Get out.

Wait.

Why do you want to be a consort?

For wealth and position?

No one hates El Temur's family more than I do.

Vengeance and hate aren't the same.

Like water dripping on a stone,

I'll get through.

With your permission, sir.

We can't afford more trouble over you.

- Get out. - Tell me more.

This could cost us our entire clan.

If I like your plan, I'll send you.

Sir.

First I'll restore the Emperor's power.

Only he can stand up to El Temur.

I know that. But no one can bring him around.

I know he's fond of you.

But if you think that skirt of yours will wake him up...

forget it.

I have the Blood Vow.

The vow?

The late Emperor's will?

How can we prove this is the real thing?

The sign of the butterfly.

The Emperor will recognize it.

How do you know?

Jokho told me.

You've seen Jokho?

A man named Maksaeng was caught with me.

That's him.

His father wrote this in his own blood.

This Vow may be the one thing that will awaken him.

I say no.

We've seen what she can do since Daechong.

You've praised her yourself.

So what's the problem?

I can praise for her abilities as a colleague.

But standing over us...

those same abilities may be poison.

She's from Koryo. She's powerless.

Haven't you noticed how dangerous they can be?

I've always believed in boldness.

And I've kept failing.

This is my last chance.

I'm betting it all on her.

I'll teach her myself. Tell her I changed my mind.

Your Majesty, welcome back.

Welcome, Your Majesty.

Thank you all.

Where is the Emperor?

He rarely leaves his chambers.

My Leige

If it's too difficult...

Don't try. I know what you want to say.

We'll start over.

I'm back now.

Take heart.

Forget about being consort.

Why are you against it?

You're not of our clan.

I won't place our fate in your hands.

I do not repay a favor...

with betrayal.

People don't create betrayal.

The times do.

The palace is a place of grandeur and death.

When the moment comes...

you will betray our clan.

If I feared death, yes, I would.

But my fear was buried with Lady Pak.

And my friends.

All I fear now...

is that I will fail to avenge them.

How about that?

Etiquette, the arts, there's nothing she can't do.

Talent is one thing but persistence is everything.

Even you have to admit that.

You call that dancing?

The finest girls from the finest houses will be there.

You don't stand a chance.

Give it up.

'Great Mountain. Tiger's Tail.'

Pull as easy as if it's a tiger's tail.

'Great Mountain, Tiger's Tail.'

Let's see.

Don't beat yourself up.

It usually takes 3 years to master the baby arrow.

Sire.

El Temur's niece and her retinue have arrived.

Who would have thought it?

You and me in the same family.

Sungnyang is dead.

Is she?

How did she die?

Bandits, I'm told.

She was quite a girl.

You must be devastated.

Do me a favor.

Go on.

When I get to Yuan, I'm going to kill her murderers.

With my own hands.

Help me. We're in the same family now.

I'll be glad to.

Now about my throne.

Be patient. You'll hear from my father soon.

Sungnyang, you and the pain you felt are deep inside me.

I will repay them 10,000-fold.

Wait and see.

I have a question.

Who was right, Sun Tzu or Wuzi?

Why read the arts of war?

The palace is not entirely unlike a battlefield.

Neither is right or wrong.

Then which should I follow?

Wuzi says to build up one's forces.

Sun Tzu says to deploy spies and use the enemy's strength against him.

Sun Tzu is more practical in combat.

Building and maintaining an army requires time and finances.

That being said, why are you against this?

You prepare an army to fight El Temur, per Wuzi.

I become a consort and strike from within, per Sun Tzu.

The palace is a battlefield.

And I'm going into combat.

If you want to win, don't fight me on this.

You knew how I would answer.

There's little time for much else.

Han Feizi.

The first on your required reading list.

Read it and find out why I gave it to you.

All done?

Yes.

Never mind tactics or theories.

Answer one question.

What is it about?

How to read men's hearts.

Shall I elaborate?

The Analects.

Read the words of Confucius.

What was it about?

How to govern men's hearts.

Am I wrong?

That's enough reading.

Tangqishi tried to kill her.

Tangqishi and Talahai are in Koryo.

She'll be a consort by the time he gets back.

What can he do?

She's our candidate.

El Temu won't take that well.

Have you thought of the consequences?

I have, don't you worry.

Tal Tal, nothing comes easy in this world.

You need guts to take what you want.

Fear never gets you anything.

Yes, sir.

As you say.

So sweet.

There is no Buddha.

If there were, he wouldn't have taken Nyang from me.

He wouldn't let things be this way.

- My Liege. - No.

Ready?

Yes, sir.

Off you go.

For us to spend our lives together.

For us to die at the same moment.

And be together forever.

That is my prayer.

This is the last tear I will shed for you.

Take your throne and help our defenseless people.

Now I must go my own way.

My father, my baby, my friends.

I will avenge them in my own way.

My Liege, please.

You need medicine to get better.

You told him we're selecting the consorts today?

He knows.

Be a man.

Or do you want a gaggle of consorts laughing at you?

Wimp.

My Liege, you want some?

My Liege.

The candidates are all here?

All except Bayan's candidate from Liaoyang.

What's keeping her?

You should arrive before the Empress Dowager.

The medicine is ready?

When you are.

Trampy little provincials.

They dare to be consorts?

The Empress has a temper on her.

Really?

So I heard.

I heard she's creepy.

That's why the Emperor can't talk.

Now I'm scared. I hope I fail.

Her Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

You've had a long journey.

Tomorrow we'll begin testing you.

But don't let it worry you too much.

Lady Soh.

Your Majesty.

Come in.

Take one.

Now. Drink.

Lady Soh.

Have they all gone deaf?

Either that or they are insulting Your Majesty.

Drink up.

Kill us now.

Kill you?

Ah, is that suspicion I hear?

Why? Do you think it's poison?

It's a tonic to calm your nerves.

And you throw it back in my face.

You think you're good enough for the Emperor?

On your knees. Hold the cups over your heads.

Now.

We're here.

No regrets?

Once you step into the palace...

there's no turning back.

Regrets? Oh, no.

You have a long battle ahead.

I'm ready.

Hello.

Leaving so soon?

I did what I came to do.

Next time we'll give them our special tonic.

Your Majesty.

They'll gobble it up without a second thought.

My boy is enough for the Emperor.

None of his tramps will bear him a child.

What is this?

Get up.

Was it the Empress?

It's all right, don't be frightened.

But one of you is missing.

Forgive me for being late.

Ki Nyang from Liaoyang province.

Are you all right?

Still not a word?

I'm afraid not.

My Liege, you need to try.

This is important to our future.

Give flowers to the girls I indicate.

Give the rest purses.

Those with flowers will stay.

Those with purses must go.

Do you understand?

My Liege, the consorts.

Nn...nnnn....

...N-Nyang...

Nyang.

Nyang.

[Subtitles provided by MBC Translated by D. Bannon]