Original subtitles

Empress Ki

[Great Chancellor Baghatur Bayan]

My Liege.

Why didn't you discuss it with me first?

How could you just kill him out of hand?

He was using you. He was a despot.

A despot?

He wanted to build this nation.

Your greed for power cost me my most loyal vassal.

Repent.

Consider your penance.

And beg my forgiveness.

I killed my uncle.

You are not to blame.

This is between me and the Emperor.

Do not interfere.

I found this among his things.

All the Han clans. Zhang, Wang, Yi, Yu, Jo.

He planned to kill them all.

The majority of our people.

That was one reason I had to kill my own uncle.

Show this to the Emperor.

So you...

He'll say that it is fake.

You will be punished.

But for you to take all the blame...

I won't...

...have you hurt.

You have much to do for the Emperor, for Yuan.

Lady Ki.

I'll deal with this.

I have to.

Is this your idea of penance?

The gods know I did nothing wrong.

What?

I have nothing to repent.

I told you, I will not forgive you this time.

I will not lie.

I have no desire to escape.

You are dismissed.

Anyone that stays with her will face the same punishment.

Lady Ki will never repent.

My Liege, you're not healthy.

What if you get worse?

At dawn you and your Koryo staff will leave.

Retire to the temple and receive 100 lashes each day.

My Liege.

Confess your sins with each blow.

If you still refuse to repent...

Never return, not even after death.

I will not bend on this.

Never.

With Lady Ki gone the Emperor will have no one.

If the Emperor rules the land...

...then he will be ruled by me.

Something isn't quite right.

How so?

All of our grain and holdings have been liquidated.

All?

Prices are plummeting.

We've had years of famine.

The prices would keep rising to our profit.

What fool would sell now?

I'll find out.

No. Don't bother.

Keep an eye out.

We'll buy when the time is right.

Per your instructions,

the Eagle House traders are turning their assets into vouchers.

Prices are falling.

Officials that have been hoarding grain...

...are selling in a panic.

The market is flooded but the poor still can't afford a sack of rice.

How much is one sack?

Two and a half vouchers.

Shall we buy?

Not yet. Wait for it.

Sire, Lady Ki is being sent to the temple.

Wha...?

She's what? Leaving the palace?

My Liege, Lady Ki has come to pay her respects.

His Majesty will not receive you.

My Liege.

Never mind. Just go.

Is he drinking again?

Wine is poison to him now.

I would prevent it.

Try not to worry.

Look after yourself, My Liege.

Lady Ki, all your efforts...

...have come to this.

Now you know.

This is what you get for mingling with your betters.

If I may offer one bit of advice.

If you care for your ward, forego ambition.

Stop trying to use the Emperor.

Good luck at the temple.

You may be offered the same option as the late empress.

Now what's all this?

Lady Ki sent to the temple?

We'll have to petition the Emperor to bring her back.

His Imperial Majesty.

Let's see.

You, you and you are Ki's cronies.

You... you... you...

All Bayan's men.

Ah-hah. And the Dowager's running dog.

Well now.

Tal Tal. Oh yes.

Not quite one or the other.

Half Bayan's man, half Ki's.

No, no.

Uncle slayer. You're a Ki man.

Bayan's dead, Ki's gone.

Whom do I have left?

How can you ask that?

We all serve you.

Silence!

I'm going to give you a chance.

If your life is mine...

grovel on the floor.

If you don't grovel,

I'll assume you're not with me.

And use this to kill you all.

Kolta, count three.

One.

Two.

Why don't you grovel?

I can bow if it is truly necessary to show loyalty.

But...

looking at you now...

I cannot swear allegiance.

Right.

Right, right.

Is no one like Tal Tal? Cowards!

My Liege.

Kolta, you see?

They served Bayan, they served Ki.

Now out of fear they toss them aside like an old shoe.

Fickle, the lot of you.

I'll kill you all.

Son.

Please calm down.

Pull yourself together.

Grovel.

What?

On the floor.

Swear allegiance.

Son.

What? Don't you serve me?

You're not my subject?

Kolta, escort His Majesty to his chambers.

On pain of death. Assist the Emperor.

Unhand me.

I'm the emperor. Me!

I'm the ruler, yes I am!

He's unsettled since Lady Ki left.

We must do something.

Ofcourse?

This is my chance.

Your chance?

He isn't thinking clearly.

This is my chance to push Ayu out...

in favor of a new heir.

You know how long I've waited for this day?

What is yours will be mine.

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

Your Worship?

A nightmare.

Mounted men attacking the Emperor.

My Liege...

...My Liege...

Did you sleep well?

My head hurts.

Ideal for hangovers.

My Liege, Viceroy Tal Tal.

His Majesty is fatigued. Later.

Enter.

It's awfully early.

My uncle's plans.

He meant to eliminate the five clans of the Han.

And this.

Proof of his dealings with Eagle House.

Eagle House?

He received funding in exchange for suppressing foreign traders.

My Liege, Eagle House is virtually a monopoly.

Sucking your people dry.

They must torn out by the roots.

I leave this to you.

Your pardon.

I'm afraid I am retiring from service.

Retiring?

It was just but I still killed my own uncle.

I do not deserve to stay here.

I will retire to a life of study and contemplation.

So you're leaving me too?

My Liege.

Send for Lady Ki.

She is all you have left.

If it is true loyalty you seek...

she belongs by your side.

She has not confessed, not once.

What's worse, she blames Your Majesty.

Surely you can't consider Tal Tal's absurd advice?

Exactly like the real thing.

Our counterfeits are just as good as Eagle House.

But how will this tighten the noose on them?

Right. Keep it up.

Sir.

The forgeries are under way per your instructions.

The price of grain?

A third the price once the officials started selling.

Have our traders buy everything that hits the market.

You wanted to wait till it was a fifth.

Things have changed.

Because of Lady Ki?

We have to act before Eagle House does.

What's that?

You sold your grain?

On your orders...

When did I order that?

Two weeks ago. You sent for us.

What is it?

Master.

Buy it back. Now.

Sir.

Nothing here either.

A mountain of grain sold overnight?

Yes. To men with brands on their faces.

Brands?

Weren't those men cast out of the market?

Yes.

Where did they get the money?

Exactly.

I didn't like hearing the master lose it.

Where's Tangqishi these days?

Exactl...

This doesn't look like the work of foreign traders.

Then who bought the grain?

The only one that wasn't branded.

Wang Yu is in the capital.

Search everywhere. Find out where he is.

Yes, sir.

Sir, it's been too long.

Captain of the guard, I see.

There's been a lot of changes since Pak and Tal Tal left.

Can you place my men in the guard?

It's not difficult, but why?

Open it.

You were once loyal to me.

For services past and present.

Thank you.

Someone posed as me.

But who?

We'll find out.

Who would dare?

We've got to let our traders know.

Then we'll never catch him.

We'll wait, catch him...

and kill him.

Kolta. You there?

My Liege.

Yes, My Liege?

What is this?

I rule the world yet feel so empty.

My Liege.

I'm tired of being called 'my liege.'

What has me feeling this way?

I'll get your wine. Then you can rest.

No. Air.

That's what I need

No more than three paces, I said.

My eyes are closed.

My ears covered.

I see nothing.

Hear nothing.

Sit back. Relax.

This is wrong.

My Liege.

I'm going to the temple.

To see Lady Ki?

I've had enough.

Time to teach her a lesson.

How may I be of service?

She's still being beaten?

Yes, My Liege.

Help the Emperor.

Grant him health and wisdom.

My Liege.

It is inappropriate to interrupt one's prayers.

Grant him health and wisdom.

Hongdan.

Stay still.

Come back to the palace.

I'm praying to Lord Buddha for you and Ayu.

I'm not finished.

You should go.

Never disobey me again.

This may be the last time I can forgive you.

Lady Ki, welcome back.

Welcome.

Mother.

There's my little prince.

Don't leave me again.

I cried every night.

I know. I'll never make you cry again.

We finally had some peace.

And now the demon spawn returns.

All her supporters have been removed from office.

It won't be like before.

Quite so.

The next time she leaves...

it will be as a corpse.

How much grain did we get?

99 warehouses in each province full to the brim.

It's time to start spreading the counterfeits.

Who's our man in Liaoyang?

I am.

I leave it to you.

Yes, sir.

Yunnan?

That would be me.

Lingbei?

Leave that to me.

I'll leave the capital to you.

Sire.

Circulate rumors of forgeries along with the counterfeits.

Yes, sir.

Sire.

Tal Tal requests a meeting.

The treasury accounts.

Your subjects are destitute.

As a result, the coffers are nearly empty.

From your privy council.

It will help you in controlling your military.

This is the information I gathered on Eagle House.

Funds intended for famine relief were siphoned off.

If we catch them, it will be a great help.

Tell me something.

Why give all of this to me?

I fought Bayan to protect myself and Ayu.

I no longer need power.

These belong to you.

Now I can devote myself to serving you and our son.

Isn't that what you wanted?

I'm sorry.

Like a fool, I didn't see how wonderful you are.

Nyang, I'm sorry.

Perhaps you can make it up to me?

Of course. Anything.

Be well.

If you're ill, I cannot see you.

Stay away from wine.

For me and our son.

All right, just as you say.

One more thing.

Of course. Go on.

I'll have to kill her myself.

In the end.

Sir, counterfeits in the market.

Counterfeits?

It's flooded with fake vouchers.

Didn't each of our traders sell their assets for vouchers?

They're as good as worthless.

The counterfeiter is going up against me.

Find out who it is.

Sir.

Viceroy.

To what do I owe the honor?

You sent Pak away three times.

I had no choice but to come myself.

His Majesty approves.

He wants you to be his regent.

It is not my place.

It was meant for a man like you.

Men like El Temur and Bayan nearly ruined this country.

I trust you'll make the right decision.

We've got counterfeit vouchers in the market.

Counterfeits?

Forgeries carry dire consequences.

May I suggest immediate currency reform?

Change our vouchers?

Eliminate those in the market.

Issue vouchers directly from the government.

The royals and nobles will be incensed.

But your subjects will welcome the change.

The wealthy have monopolized vouchers up to now.

Abandon the wealthy for commoners.

My Liege.

Your power comes not from nobles, but from your subjects.

You must see to their needs.

We have been unable to stem the tide of counterfeits.

All existing vouchers will be destroyed.

And start using currency using silver.

Existing vouchers may be exchanged at approved locations.

This will end the blight on our vouchers and our people.

Hear and obey.

You all right?

Hear your emperor.

I have one more thing to reveal today.

Lady Ki is to be Empress of Yuan.

Son!

My guardian's approval is irrelevant.

Lady Ki, do you accept?

Well?

Will you be the mother of the nation?

At your service, My Liege.

At your service, My Liege.

At your service.

The currency exchange has left the Eagle House traders penniless.

I had no idea it would bash in their heads so good.

Yeah, well, WE did.

Yeah?

I'm sending the grain to the palace.

Huh?

Sire.

It's the blood of life. The palace?

Who sent all of this?

Not only this.

The line of wagons stretches as far as the eye can see.

His Majesty asked who sent it.

We have a letter.

What does the writer say?

He doesn't give his name.

He asks only that it be used to feed our people.

Do you know who sent the grain?

Later, perhaps.

Why not tell me now?

I will when the time is right.

You sent for us?

Look carefully.

EEK!

Kolta.

Quiet.

Only two types see my face.

The dead and the vassals.

Spare us.

Command us, lord.

Someone is attacking Eagle House.

Kill them.

Tangqishi requests a meeting with Eagle House.

I intercepted it.

What's it say?

Tangqishi is planning to kill Lady Ki and the Emperor.

Give the word.

One-eyed pup. I'll kill him myself.

First we meet.

Sir.

What do you want?

I've waited here for days to see you.

What for?

To give you a truth, a terrible truth.

Would you just spit it out?

Maha... Maha...

...is Lady Ki's son.

Ki?

His father is none other than Wang Yu.

Tell the Emperor.

It's the least I can do for the late Empress Tanasiri.

Lady Ki will die by my hand.

Will she?

May I see your face?

Impertinent. How dare you?

I'm putting my life on the line.

I won't discuss it.

Unless I'm sure you're the real master of Eagle House.

You wouldn't know him either way.

As long as you don't serve Lady Ki.

Remove your mask.

If you do not it will mean a fight to the death.

Let me see your face.

I'm told you suffered heavy losses on the vouchers.

There is only one solution. A new emperor.

Absurd.

Not if he loses the mandate of heaven.

The people will cry for a new emperor.

And who would that be?

His second cousin.

Bolad Temur.

Good, good, good.

He's a fool for the ladies.

Vain beyond words.

The perfect puppet.

You support Bolad and the Dowager.

I'll kill the Emperor, Ki and Ayu.

How exactly?

The imperial guards...

...are my men.

Thank you.

My Liege, do you know the most secure treasury in the world?

Your people's hearts.

And you increase your treasure each day.

Quite right.

I'm a happy man.

Hail to the Emperor!

Hail!

Hail! Hail! Hail!

You face your Emperor.

Make way.

Tangqishi.

Tangqishi?

Men! Kill him!

Your Worship.

What is the meaning of this?

Up to your old tricks I see.

It's time to put an end to this.

Kill them.

Sungnyang.

Sungnyang.

Sungnyang...

Sungnyang!

Wang Yu.

You know Maha's real parents?

Let go, let go.

Wang Yu and Sungnyang.

That can't be.

Ask Lady Soh.

You will always be... Sungnyang's...

second choice.

Pathetic.

No, no, no, no!

...No...

My Liege.

Wang Yu.

[Subtitles provided by MBC Translated by D. Bannon]