Original subtitles

Subtitles provided by MBC

You had the dream again last night?

It bit my neck this time.

Do you mind if I take a look?

Look around your chambers.

There should be a talisman buried somewhere near.

A talisman?

The name of the dead.

Then it...

...will bear your name.

It is a difficult curse. Not many could cast it.

I have my men looking now.

It's not here.

Nyang, what is it?

Nyang...

Nyang.

...Nyang...

Nyang. Wake up.

Anyone there?

A curse?

It's the Empress. No one else would do this.

My Liege, please.

I won't stand for this.

We need proof first.

And I should sit and watch you suffer?

I've been through worse.

This is nothing.

I'll never forgive her. Never.

Your Worship, the Empress.

Tell her to forget it.

No, tell her I said no.

Please, My Liege.

I should call on her.

Nyang.

I can see for myself if it's her.

You sent for me?

It's you.

Taking care of yourself?

Of course.

Your color is off.

Something worrying you?

Actually, I've been having nightmares.

Oh?

That's not good.

Sleep is important for an expecting mother.

Have the pharmacy mix up a sleeping draft.

I would do it, but you don't trust me.

Do it yourself.

You would sully your hands?

What?

You have never shown be favor... before.

So paranoid.

Refusing your medicine.

You may go.

My curse is working.

So haggard.

Exquisite.

Nothing.

Your Worship, maybe it doesn't exist.

We've been searching for days but...

I saw the Empress. It's here.

Found it.

Your Worship.

I never would have thought. Not even the Empress...

Keep a watch on her chambers.

Your Worship.

Any luck with the shamans?

We located those near the capital.

I'm thinking about bringing them in and questioning them.

The Empress can't suspect.

We'll meet with them in secret.

I'm suddenly... so uneasy...

How may I help you?

It's you.

You cast the curse.

Search everywhere.

Found them.

The end is inevitable.

The curse cannot be broken.

Leave that to me.

You tell us who hired you.

Cut my throat if you must.

I'll never tell.

Her Worship bears the imperial child.

If you want your head, speak now.

I live in fear of the gods.

You fear the gods.

But not me?

I'm going to the altar.

Your Majesty.

You'll make yourself sick.

When I think of killing that tramp...

I'm not tired in the least.

Tell Her Majesty.

Yes, sir.

We found the altar.

My Liege.

What brings you here?

Shame.

That an Empress would stoop...

to cursing a consort.

Cursing?

I'm praying for our son Maha, nothing more.

Your blasphemies never end.

It's true. Her Majesty.

Silence.

Take her attendants away.

My Liege. Take them away.

The moment they talk, you will be banished from the palace.

This curse of yours... can't kill me.

Stop.

Now tell us. Did the Empress cast a curse?

I have nothing to say.

- Continue. - Sir.

I'll tell...

Stop.

I'll tell you.

Go on.

I'll tell you.

Stop! Not a word!

Don't you dare lie!

If you lie, the Empress will kill you herself.

I guess you don't value your lives.

Keep at it.

Sir.

They won't talk.

Not Lady Soh, not Lady Yon.

Tangqishi.

What did you want?

Go to the jail. My attendants were arrested.

On what charges?

I'll explain later. Just get them out of there.

A curse?

There is no end to their evil.

Are you better now?

Yes, Baghatur.

If the governors unite against El Temur...

What are our chances?

Not good.

Is El Temur that powerful?

The governors are spread out.

El Temur has men posted throughout the provinces.

A united effort won't be easy.

His wealth must be great to maintain so many troops.

Great, indeed. Unfathomable.

Is there no way to defeat him then?

There is if we can take the Capitol.

The capital guards aren't pushovers.

They must be stopped before they get inside.

That's why Wang Yu is the garrison commander.

Open the latch and victory is yours.

Why should he risk his life for us?

For his throne.

That's all?

That's all.

Shall I give him your word?

If we pull this off, he'll have his throne.

I'll tell him.

Give him my thanks.

Of course.

The garrison answers to El Temur.

How will you deal with that?

Some 100 men quit rather than serve me.

I'll create an elite force out of my new recruits.

Elite?

The posters are already up.

Sire.

Trouble.

The recruits are here.

How is that trouble?

See for yourself.

Yessir, you'll never go hungry again.

Right. Meet your new commander.

Silence.

Good luck training them.

Sir.

Have fun.

You came to the wrong place.

We need warriors.

They said we'd get room and board.

And you'd take anyone with arms and legs.

Food and drink, right?

I'll send them away.

No.

They're not soldier material.

It will be the same if we post for more men.

Hey, where's the food?

That's enough.

Think this is a soup kitchen?

Feed them first.

Sire.

Line up for chow.

Right face.

That means your right.

Eat with your right. Got it?

I eat with this one.

Not anymore, see? Now move it.

I swear.

The elite. Perfect.

Every plan has its setbacks.

Stop what you're doing.

You deaf? He said stop.

Dirty...!

Leave it.

What did you do before?

Farming. And dodging taxes.

You?

I lost my family in the plague. Now I do nothing.

I served a big house and took off when they framed me.

My sister was sold to the palace. Now I don't know what to do.

Beef and pork. Meat with every meal.

Sire?

Meat for this scum?

Rank and salaries can make all the difference.

We'll treat them as men.

Bless you, sir.

I never thought I'd see the day.

I'm in heaven!

That's all well and good but you can't make soldiers out of them.

They're useless.

Send them away.

None of us is useful until we're given a chance.

I'll give them a chance to be men.

And they'll give me my throne.

Your Majesty.

You should be resting.

We're fine.

Your silence kept me out of trouble.

We live by your grace.

Beating a curse.

I've never seen the like.

Just wait.

When my boy is invested as crown prince, then...

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, something's wrong.

Wrong?

How long now?

Since this morning.

Get the doctor. Go.

What's wrong with him?

Measles.

Measles?

What should we do?

How is it treated?

I'm sorry to report...

there is no treatment.

Your Majesty.

Get the Emperor.

Your Majesty.

No treatment at all?

Nothing other than prayer.

Maha, Maha.

How did this happen to you?

What's so interesting?

Imperial expenses.

Expenses?

Yes. By cutting back we can afford to fund Bayan's troops.

I'm scared. Just a little.

Before I met you it never occurred to me to stand up to El Temur.

When our child is born the real battle will begin.

While Tal Tal is planning and Bayan is building up his forces...

you must solidify your role as emperor.

I will help any way I can.

All right. Fair enough.

My Liege.

The Empress has asked for you.

What is it now?

The prince is ill.

I'll see him tomorrow.

You should go.

If I see her now after what she did...

I don't know what I'll do.

Tell her not today.

My Liege.

He's ill. Will you be all right?

Honestly, I've never cared for Maha.

He's her son, El Temur's grandson.

I've never thought of him as mine.

His son is dying and he can't be bothered?

Your Majesty.

Try to relax.

How can I?

He's not a husband. Or a father.

Your Majesty.

Announce me.

He is not receiving today.

Announce me or I'll go in myself.

It is forbidden.

Forbidden?

Just so.

The law forbids an empress to...

You dare quote the law to me?

Your pardon.

But it is not allowed.

My Liege, how can you do this?

Your son is dying and you're carrying on with some hussy?

Does she have no shame?

Not exactly subtle.

Your son is dying.

I've had enough.

Can't you hear me?

Stay here.

I'll go.

It's not your place.

Even so.

Leave us.

His son is dying.

Is nothing sacred to you?

He didn't do this. You did.

What's that supposed to mean?

Who was it that tried to curse me?

Watch your mouth.

The shaman told me.

If I broke your curse it would turn on you, your family.

Or your son.

You should know. The maledictum can kill, of course.

But if it fails, it turns on the one who cast it.

What goes around comes around.

Your Majesty.

My boy, I have to save him.

I have to save Maha.

Your Majesty.

Pull yourself together.

What do I do?

If my boy is cursed...?

The curse is only spread through blood.

He can't die like this.

Not if all the heavens decree it!

He's not your real son.

He doesn't share your blood.

The curse can't touch him.

Maha is my blood.

- Your Majesty. - No.

To say otherwise...

is to invite death.

Your Majesty. I deserve death.

Now say it. What's that about my boy?

Forgive me.

Forgive us.

He'll live.

My poor boy...

will live.

She really thinks the prince is her blood.

Obsession has gotten the best of her.

Your Majesty.

Pour the water.

But it's freezing.

You'll make yourself sick.

It's the only way to break the curse.

Your Majesty.

I'll offer my body in exchange for Maha's.

Now pour the water.

Merciful Buddha, save my Maha.

Take my life if you must.

But please spare my son.

My Liege.

Where are you, My Liege?

My Liege.

After all the people you've killed...

what's one body more or less?

What is this?

Can't you tell?

You're dead.

I ordered your death.

Huizong.

You dare...?

You're a spirit. Take a look.

You hang in the market for all to see.

Wh... what?

Beheaded, torn limb-from-limb, food for the crows.

That's not me.

You think a nothing like you can kill me?

Everyone will die.

Your sons Tangqishi and Talahai, Tanasiri's son Maha.

I'll kill you all!

Enough!

Father.

What is it?

It's us.

I'll kill you.

Like I killed your father.

Father.

It's Tangqishi.

Your son.

What's happening?

A dream. A terrible dream.

You've worn yourself out.

What are you doing here?

What else? You were screaming.

You bring swords to my room?

Father.

You want to kill me?

You want my power?

Father.

Pull yourself together.

I'll kill you all...

Father.

Father! Father!

Wake up!

Wake up.

Father, Father, Father!

Your Majesty.

His sores are fading.

The rash, too. He's on the mend.

Your Majesty.

Your sacrifice has saved the prince.

Today we start training.

Those who do well will have rank and pay.

Those who give up will get hard labor on the border.

Labor? We'll be slaves?

It's unheard of.

Forget this. I'm going.

That's enough!

There are nine peaks in this range. We'll cover one a day.

Any stragglers and we start again from the beginning.

You weren't treated as men.

Now it's up to you.

Are you warriors? Or worms.

We have men everywhere. Don't run.

It's the way it is. Desertion means death.

Twelve stragglers.

We start again tomorrow.

Get up.

Sire, allow me.

Sire.

You can't keep this up.

We'll take it from here. You get some rest.

I'm a straggler.

I lost my own throne.

I'm no different from them.

Sire.

I can't give up.

Sire.

We won't lose them, not a single one.

We're in it together.

Live...

...or die.

Sire, are you all right?

It's not far now.

Not far now!

How many left?

Two.

We still have stragglers.

Sire.

Over there.

You did it.

Are we men now?

Well done. All of you.

Fire.

Back of the line.

Pull.

Fire.

A little more... a little more... [Nine months later]

Push.

A bit more... a little...

Push.

What's taking so long?

Is something wrong?

It's all right.

Childbirth is what it is.

Ugh, I can't stand it.

I see it. I see the baby.

Push.

Not a boy.

A girl. Or a corpse.

I beg you, please.

Your Majesty.

Well?

A successful delivery.

Is it a girl?

Ah...

It's a boy.

A boy?

Your Majesty, Your Majesty.

He looks like you.

Thank you.

Have you thought of a name?

My guardian did. Ayushiridara.

Ayushiridara.

Again.

Sire.

I see the warriors in them.

Lady Ki...

gave birth to a son.

The entire palace is celebrating.

Show us what you've got.

No mercy.

Forget me.

I would not have you remember me.

Halt.

- Sir. - Sir.

You sent for me?

Closer, closer.

I had a dream last night.

What sort of dream?

That Yom sleaze stole my secret cache.

Father, he's stationed there, nothing more.

How could he know what only you know?

You don't know!

My visions are never wrong.

Yom is going to turn on us.

Then leave it to me.

Tell me where the cache is...

So you can steal it?

Father.

Now I see.

Not again.

You want my money.

You want it to take my power from me.

Father. Please stop.

You working with Yom?

To kill me and steal my treasure?

No. First you'll find the cache.

Then you'll kill me.

Kill me now.

I'd rather die than see you like this.

Get out.

Is it a specter of death?

Or senility?

It's a miracle. Look.

He has your eyes.

But my nose and lips.

The mystery of life, huh?

Blood will tell, after all.

My Liege, it's time for Maha's birthday celebration.

Forget it.

The governors will be there.

You should go.

There you are.

Thank you for coming.

The young prince is a handsome boy.

He'll be running the country someday.

Of course he is.

The nuns that will be praying for Maha.

This way.

What?

That nun, the one with the burn.

A gift from Her Majesty to thank you for all you've done.

Please, enjoy.

Thank you.

Many happy returns for the young prince.

Many happy returns.

Thank you all.

My Liege, perhaps a few words for our son?

My Liege, some words of blessing?

The governors expect it.

Kolta, bring Prince Ayu.

My Liege.

This is Maha's birthday.

There, there.

Now doubt you're all curious about the succession.

But I'm in no rush.

After they've grown a bit,

we'll decide who is most worthy of the investiture.

What? 'Decide?'

Kublai Khan decreed the first born inherits the throne.

El Temur put my little brother on the throne.

Have you forgotten?

But sir...

You heard me.

We'll hear no more about it.

Your Worship.

It's not time. What do you want?

Lady Soh, didn't you hear me?

There was a nun with a burn scar.

Did you see her?

Why do you ask?

No reason.

You wanted to see me?

Your Worship.

What is it?

I served in the Huanggak Temple.

I was in the hermitage before the Empress gave birth.

The prince, young Maha.

He is not her son.

He isn't?

They found the child and made out it was hers.

He's a fake?

Absolutely.

They poisoned the nuns and burned the hermitage...

to keep their secret.

I alone survived.

But why tell me?

I'm told you had a son.

I thought you should know before the investiture of the fake prince.

Are you willing to testify to this?

Yes.

For my dead sisters, the truth must come out.

We need more proof for you to be believed.

There is a secret that only the Empress and her attendants know.

That should be proof enough.

What is the secret?

On the child's foot...

[Subtitles provided by MBC Translated by D. Bannon]