Original subtitles

Empress Ki

My Liege, you're awake?

My Liege, may I speak with you?

Yes. Go ahead.

My Liege, Maha...

Do you need the doctor?

No.

I'm fine.

My Liege, Maha is actually...

Her Worship Lady Ki.

My Liege.

Lady Ki.

The gods be praised.

Thank the heavens.

Go on. Maha.

What about him?

Prince Maha...

...has met his fate.

Maha... is dead?

Yes, My Liege.

Sneak into the palace again...

...and it's the last place you'll ever go.

I understand.

I'll never come back, I swear it.

See her out.

Sir.

Maha must have been so upset with me.

You all right?

Yes.

My Liege, your medicine.

Leave it and go.

It can't be put off.

If you please.

Why am I so... tired...?

My Liege.

My Liege.

My Liege, My Liege.

What did you give him?

Something to help him sleep.

You needn't worry.

You there.

Take His Majesty to Xingde pavilion.

Your Worship.

I'll tend to him myself.

I must refuse.

Refuse?

He is my responsibility.

So you can...

Servant.

Servant? How dare you?

Silence.

Have you forgotten I command the Censorate?

Anyone disobeying Her Worship must deal with me.

Attend the Emperor.

Your Worship.

Taking him away? For what reason?

My reasons are not a servant's concern.

I must give Maha's spirit peace.

Kill Bayan.

Poison by imperial decree.

Your Worship.

Yom will pay for this.

Raise the rewards ten times.

Yes, Your Worship.

Lady Ki.

Young Prince Maha.

Sweetie...

Little Star...

My boy.

Sweetie...

My baby, my baby.

Poor darling, poor boy.

Unhand me. How dare you?

Let me go.

Deposed or not, I'm still the regent's neice.

What's the meaning of this?

Lady Ki has ordered your death.

What?

My death?

Have you no fear?

Open her mouth.

Unhand me. Let go!

No. I won't!

Let go!

No! I won't!

Let go!

You dare make Lady Ki show tears?

Bayan, death is too good for you.

Report.

Poison.

No.

It was me. I killed her.

When I made her empress.

I killed her.

Uncle.

Lady Ki... Evil, filthy...!

She'll pay for this.

She took the Emperor to her pavilion.

She what? The Emperor?

She's up to something.

We have to get him away from her.

There. Lady Ki made a misstep.

Now lets hope the regent will do whatever we want.

Can we eliminate her?

Bayan's not El Temur. He has the Emperor's confidence.

Not to mention the military's respect.

Lady Ki may have the palace and city guard.

That's nothing against the military.

Are you awake?

Where are we?

Xingde pavilion.

But... why...?

I brought you here.

You shouldn't move yet.

Until you're better...

...you can lean on me.

Your Worship.

The regent is outside.

Leave us.

Your Worship.

You stay here and look after His Majesty.

He's awake?

No one can know but you and Commander Pak.

Yes, I understand.

Stand down.

How dare an eunuch wear uniform.

Now step aside.

Your pardon, sir.

I have my orders from Lady Ki.

If you want to die...

I'm happy to oblige.

Regent.

I'm here to collect the Emperor.

No.

Lady Ki.

I am Empress Regent.

Or had you forgotten?

I have to see that he's all right.

He's perfectly fine.

I'll see to his every need.

Tal Tal, clear the way.

What is this?

His Majesty is near death.

Your despotism has divided our people.

It is my opinion that the nation's fate is at risk.

Lady ki.

I must initiate emergency measures.

You would be wise to not interfere.

If anything happens to the Emperor...

I'll burn Xingde to the ground.

Neither you nor your son will be safe.

Understood?

I'll remember you said that.

Kolta.

Kolta, you there?

My Liege.

Kolta?

Your servant isn't here.

Time to leave then.

My Liege.

Please stay.

No, I couldn't. I'll go to my chambers.

You can't... You can't go.

Nyang.

Did something happen while I was unconscious?

Nothing. Yet.

Nothing yet?

Don't ask.

Just trust me.

Come with me.

What medicine is going to Xingde?

Ah, well...

Spit it out.

What is the Emperor taking?

A decoction of ephedra and licorice root.

Your pardon. Lady Ki insisted.

Lady Ki ordered that decoction?

What does it do?

For someone with a weak heart...

it is toxic.

She means to kill the emperor.

Have you seen him?

Not once, not since he went to Xingde.

Your Worship, the medicine.

I'll take it.

May I examine His Majesty?

I'll send for you if he gets any worse.

Lady Ki took the medicine herself?

Not just that.

The servants tell me she takes his meals into him herself.

Meaning the only one that has seen him...

is Lady Ki?

Yes, sir.

Even the imperial eunuchs are not allowed in.

This is worse than we thought.

He may already be dead.

Leave us.

Your Majesty.

Sir. Lady Ki is meeting with the military officials.

What? The generals?

Why did you send for us?

For some tea. To make up for the time we've lost.

You honor us.

The military. She means to remove me and the regent.

If they killed the Emperor...

you two stand between her regency and Ayu's ascension.

Regent, we can't let this go on.

We have to act first.

Tal Tal, how many men are posted at Xingde?

At least 200 Palace and Censorate guards.

Tonight Lady Ki and Ayu...

...must die.

The time has come.

Quite right, Bayan.

Muster the men.

Yes, sir.

I've been taking the medicine.

And His Majesty?

Another physician has been attending him.

Your Worship, what are you planning?

Your Worship, Viceroy Tal Tal.

I'll send him away.

No.

I'll see him.

You would not harm the Emperor.

Is that what Bayan's saying?

That I harmed him?

What are you planning?

Can't you tell?

It's me or Bayan.

One of us has to die.

Unrest is all around us.

We are to blame for our people's troubles.

For their sakes,

this palace drama has to end.

'Force his hand.'

Your plan to force Bayan's hand is partially successful.

Partially?

It depends on me.

If I tell him what you're doing, it will fail.

Is the Emperor awake?

If he is not,

it will be impossible to save either you or your son.

This is it.

Tonight.

He's awake?

This is war.

I must keep my secrets... secret.

I told you everything.

Partially successful you said.

So I will trust you...

partially.

He's seen our hand.

Should we let him leave?

I trust him.

Tal Tal.

I would kill you for the good of Yuan.

Now tell me.

Why did you see Lady Ki?

Did you tell her our plans?

It wouldn't change anything even if they knew.

You're determined to kill them all tonight anyway.

So?

I was spying.

What did you learn?

They have less than 200 men.

Some 50 archers.

Another 130 posted front and rear.

Your thoughts?

Is the Emperor alive?

I couldn't tell, not from her face.

Tal Tal.

We see things differently, but I trust you.

You are my favorite nephew, my heir.

I hope you know that.

Why must you always take the hard road?

Why can't you see what is right?

My Liege.

You!

Stand aside!

My Liege.

What's the meaning of this? Move.

Please, My Liege.

Please?

I'm supposed to enjoy being held prisoner?

My Liege, My Liege!

Lady Ki.

Leave us.

Why are you holding me here?

What are you up to exactly?

Bayan is bringing men here tonight.

To kill me and Ayu.

Bayan?

If that's not treason, what is?

It can't be. Bayan's no traitor.

Stay here tonight and see for yourself.

Can't you trust me?

And if you're wrong?

Then I'll retire to a nunnery.

Till the end of my days.

Sir.

They unbarred the gate for the physician.

We have to stop that Koryo trash for the good of Yuan.

To the death.

Follow me.

A coup. Stop them.

Stop them!

Kill anyone that stands in our way.

Your Majesty, Bayan has marched on Xingde.

Merciful Buddha.

Thank you, thank you, Lord Buddha.

Lady Ki.

Open rebellion?

As I've feared all along.

Where is the Emperor?

Where? I told you I'm tending him.

Silence.

You dare use his condition for your own ends?

Only your death can save this country.

You want to save Yuan?

Kill yourself instead.

I'll kill this trash.

Don't interfere.

My Liege!

My Liege.

Regent.

My Liege, you're alive?

Explain yourself.

Why are you brandishing a sword at Lady ki?

Lower your weapon.

She has to die.

Silence.

You've taken the pavilion.

Kill her now or you'll regret it later.

That would be treason.

Attack, Regent.

What will it be?

Will you kill me and be done with it?

Do what you will.

You always do anyway.

Regent.

You heard me.

Explain yourself.

Uncle.

Do it.

My Liege.

Kill this unworthy servant.

Kill me, My Liege.

My Liege, arrest him.

Arrest this traitor.

Your Worship.

Have you heard of the White Lotus?

Aren't they Han loyalists?

Take the funds to them.

Huh?

Help the rebels?

Our master's favorite way of doing business...

...is war.

Can we find a mask like the head of Eagle House?

Why do you...?

His greatest weakness is that no one has seen his face.

So you can pose as him?

Can you contact the men of Eagle House?

It's not easy. But not impossible.

Is this everyone?

Yes. Including Tangqishi.

Let's kill him now.

Not yet.

Master.

Hear your lord and master.

Liquidate all your foods and goods into vouchers.

Sir, why should we do that now?

You'll know in time.

We have word from the White Lotus.

Your orders?

Are we to give them the gold?

Not anymore.

Lady Ki and the chancellors?

Yes. Not just them.

She has summoned the entire court.

She means to have Bayan's head.

Where are you going?

To see my ward.

To beg him to spare Bayan?

Not only that.

To tell him what you are...

Your Majesty.

Can't you see how patient I'm being?

Hmph. Patient?

You were just as involved in Bayan's attempted coup.

Coup?

He wants to stop your tyranny...

Wait till I'm done.

You are not to leave your chambers until Bayan has been sentenced.

Now you're locking me up?

Do not try my patience.

If you do,

I cannot guarantee your safety.

Dokman.

Your Worship.

Post guards.

We must protect the Dowager from herself.

As you say.

My Liege.

You thought Lady Ki meant me harm?

I was mistaken, yes.

But she tricked me.

She deliberately set me up to muster my men.

This never would have happened if you had trusted her.

My Liege, it was a trap.

Lady Ki used strategy to...

That's enough.

Your pardon.

She is as important to me as you are.

It breaks my heart to see you two like this.

Get rid of her.

Regent.

Kill me if you must, but I will never change.

This is my final counsel.

Remove Lady Ki.

Restore Yuan to its former strength.

I want you to step back.

Do this for me.

My Liege.

Only then...

...can I save you.

I don't want to lose you.

It's not an order. It's a request.

Please. Just this once.

Do it for me.

There can be no pardon for a man that threatened me and my boy.

I want his head.

Are there any objections?

This is high treason?

Who could possibly object?

We chancellors, the governors, the entire court...

...will ask the Emperor.

Please do not worry, Your Majesty.

Do not worry, Your Majesty.

I will not forget your loyalty.

His Imperial Majesty.

My Liege, he belongs in jail.

He is here to pledge allegiance to you.

I don't need his 'loyalty.'

Lady Ki.

Me or the regent.

Choose one or the other.

Drive him out.

Or I will leave for good and all.

Choose.

Me? Or him?

Neither.

My Liege.

If I must lose one, I'd rather lose both.

I was lonely. Alone.

The two of you helped me forget.

How can you not know that?

How?

My Liege.

Choose.

You both stay. Or you both go.

I pledge my days to the protection of you and the Crown Prince.

Accept my vow, Your Worship.

I had to kneel before her.

Not my liege lord. Just Koryo trash.

I had to swear allegiance.

You did it for the Emperor.

I begged for my life.

Uncle.

To save myself. Pathetic. A coward.

I disgraced our clan.

Don't.

Tal Tal.

Can you do one last thing for me?

Ask Lady Ki to see me.

She'll come for you.

I can convey a message...

I'm going to kill her.

With my own hands.

Uncle, if the Emperor knew...

This is for him.

If you cannot help me, I'll be forced to muster the men.

The palace will bathe in blood.

Ki, her son, the chancellors, everyone will die.

Please. Help your uncle.

What is it you wanted?

No matter how I look at it...

it comes down to one thing.

Can you do one last thing for me?

Ask Bayan to see me.

I'm going to kill him.

Can you help me?

Give me time to think.

How long?

Eleven o'clock. In the main hall.

I'll be waiting.

The main hall at 11?

Yes. I couldn't get her out of the palace.

Commander Pak?

He has business outside the palace tonight.

Have our men in the hall early.

Yes, sir.

Well done, Tal Tal.

Listen.

If the Emperor kills me for this...

Yuan is in your hands.

Uncle.

I'm not afraid knowing you're here.

Uncle...

My Liege, My Liege.

Armed men are in the main hall.

Armed men?

Who is it?

Some tea?

I'm not a patient man. Drink up.

When I came here...

...as a concubine...

...I learned tea first.

As it boiled I swore vengeance on those that killed my parents.

When it was tough, I hid the blade of vengeance.

But it never broke.

Do you have a point?

Allegiance to me?

People do not change.

I've never heard of you sheathing your sword.

You're not one to change allegiance.

Am I wrong?

This is my answer.

Men.

Not your men.

Surprised?

A trick.

Kill him.

Tal Tal!

Tal Tal! You there?

Tal Tal!

Tal Tal, why?

Why did you... betray me?

Remember?

You told me to kill you if you grew obsessed with power.

Is that how you see me?

As obsessed with power?

I did it for the Emperor, for Yuan...

At the cost of our own people.

Tal Tal.

Putting yourself before our people.

You were obsessed, Uncle.

Tal Tal.

Farewell.

Regent.

My Liege.

Forgive me, I failed...

...to protect you...

No, Regent.

Regent!

Regent...

No, Bayan!

[Subtitles provided by MBC Translated by D. Bannon]

[Next on Empress Ki]

Leave at dawn.

Never return, not even after death.

What is yours will be mine.

It's the least you can do after all my years of service.

Lady Ki, have you no shame? Would you prefer the poison?

Ah, the Dowager's running dog.

Traitors, the lot of you.

I'll kill you all.