Original subtitles

Sir.

Yes.

Are you feeling better?

After taking the tonic you sent me,

I got a lot better.

I did not send that tonic.

It was an imperial physician.

Why would the imperial physician do that for me?

His Imperial Majesty came here while you were ill.

We cannot have this kind of dereliction again.

Do you understand?

Yes, sir.

From what I could gather,

the deposed king led the ragtag troop

and claimed victory against the Dolgwol.

Your Imperial Majesty, it is Yang.

Pardon my tardiness.

Go to your quarters and get some rest.

I feel much better now.

I told you to go.

Until I say so,

do not take a single step outside of your quarters.

Wang Yu?

Are you talking about the deposed king of Goryeo?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

He is coming to the Palace to have an audience with the Emperor today.

So what if he is?

They say he has a vicious temper

and wanton desires for women.

He must be one heck of a troublemaker.

No wonder he lost his throne.

If he stays in the guest pavilion, we will have to send court ladies to serve him.

Who shall we send?

Just send anyone...

That is right. We can send that girl, Yang.

That girl deserves the worst.

If the deposed king is that heinous,

we should send that girl there.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Hurry and come.

That man is the deposed king?

He is different from what they say. He is so handsome.

You are right. He has a tall figure

along with chiseled features.

Your Majesty, I do not see Seung-nyang.

Neither do I.

She should be here if she has heard the news.

She must not have heard about it yet.

Your Imperial Majesty, have you been well?

Welcome, General.

I have not seen you in a while either.

It has been a long time, Your Imperial Majesty.

I have heard about your deed of arms.

It was an impressive feat.

Your Imperial Majesty,

we should not stint in rewarding Baekan's valor.

You are right.

Here.

Come here, General Baekan.

Let me pour you a drink.

-Uncle Baekan. -Come on now and accept my drink.

Your Imperial Majesty,

this victory is...

not mine.

Baekan, what do you mean the victory is not yours?

In our darkest hour,

it was not me who saved us and led us to victory.

It was Wang Yu and his men.

Is this true?

Yes, Father. It is the truth.

The blame for defeat can be shared by all,

but one person cannot be praised for the victory achieved by all.

Therefore, this victory belongs to us all.

You are all so humble in victory.

They seem to be true men, Your Imperial Majesty.

I suppose, Grand Councillor.

Reward Wang Yu

with 1,000 yang of gold and 10,000 yang of silver.

I am deeply grateful.

General Baekan, I award you 10,000 yang of gold and appoint you

as the Supreme Commander of the Palace Defense Unit.

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

Yang.

Did something happen today?

The Pavilion of Women is quiet.

Everyone has gone to the Emperor's palace.

Why are they there?

The deposed king of Goryeo has come.

He is so handsome.

Everyone is trying to take a peek.

His Majesty has returned alive?

I heard he even led them to victory.

Yang!

He is just perfect.

He is so attractive.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, I am here.

This way.

Please look this way, Your Majesty.

Have you seen Seung-nyang on your way here?

I did not see her. Have you seen her?

I had to act nonchalant in front of the other court ladies,

but she was looking at me.

The chief eunuch in the Palace is my old friend.

I will go and see if Seung-nyang can meet you.

All right. Please do that.

Yes, Your Majesty.

We got a message from the Emperor's palace.

The Emperor wants to have a private audience with you.

Private audience?

Seeing you like this

brings back many memories.

I am sure you also recall.

It was the day I first set foot in your palace.

What...

-How dare you? -Shut up.

Now listen to me.

You must remember that you would have been dead already

if it had not been for us.

Do you know how wretched it feels

to have to protect you

when I cannot even protect my own people?

You never know how things will end up.

I was an exile, and now I am the Emperor.

You were a king,

and now you are a shaggy hostage.

Either way, I did all I could

to keep you alive, Your Imperial Majesty.

You should get things straight.

You did not save me. Seung-nyang did.

But that rough fellow turned out to be a girl,

and now she is here. Is that not absurd?

She was willing to follow any of your orders.

Do you not miss Seung-nyang?

Please send her

back to Goryeo.

Girls who return to Goryeo after being sent away as tribute women

get called tramps.

Would you wish that upon her?

Seung-nyang would be happier

at home than here.

If she is to be happy,

I will do anything for her.

Do you think she wants that?

I am the Emperor.

No matter where she ends up,

I get to decide her fate, not you.

Then...

who decides your fate?

What?

You cannot even place the imperial seal at will.

Who are you to decide somebody's fate?

Shut...

your mouth.

I know Seung-nyang better.

In the end,

you will not get what you want.

Look at you.

You are the only one who has not aged.

Your eyes are the same. You have not changed a bit.

Neither have you.

You always looked old, and you still do.

How could you say that?

Wait, is that good or bad?

Of course it is bad.

How can it be a good thing?

Thanks to you, I got to laugh out loud for the first time in a while.

Is that so?

Actually, I wanted to ask you a favor.

Of course. Ask away.

There is a girl here named Seung-nyang...

No, I think she is called Yang here.

His Majesty wants a word with her.

Yang is a court lady.

She cannot meet any man like that.

That is why I came to you.

As we are both from Goryeo, you should help me out.

Listen, Sin-u.

I no longer belong to Goryeo.

I am the chief eunuch here in the Yuan Imperial Palace.

How can you say you no longer belong to Goryeo?

Once you belong to Goryeo, you always belong to Goryeo.

Please do this for me.

Listen, Dok-man.

Dok-man.

Dok-man.

Did His Majesty not see me?

Or did he pretend not to?

Then again,

I am just a subordinate to him.

Seung-nyang.

Eunuch Bang.

It has been so long.

Let me have a look at you.

You are so beautiful.

I always thought

you were too pretty to be a man.

And you really were not a man.

Have you been doing well?

Yes.

What about His Majesty?

I almost forgot.

He is in the guest pavilion.

He will stay there from now on.

It is such a relief...

that he is safe.

Listen.

Meet him at the pagoda in front of the mound

before seven o'clock tonight.

His Majesty will be waiting for you there.

Greeting her in the morning is enough.

Must I go in the evenings too?

Have you forgotten Grand Councillor's orders already?

You must not get on her bad side for the time being.

Your Highness,

good evening.

Good evening.

Paying respects morning and night must be tiresome.

It is my duty.

It is not tiresome at all.

I have ordered

a tonic for you.

A tonic?

It is time you conceived.

We all have our roles in life.

In this Palace, where there is never a quiet day,

it is difficult for the Empress to fulfill her role without a son.

I did not know

you were so concerned about me.

Of course I am.

Surely you do not think I have

personal feelings against you, do you?

She is trying to rub salt into the wound.

Surely not.

Everyone knows

how benevolent you are.

Do they?

This is an unforgiving place.

You must try harder.

That woman is looking down on me for being unable to conceive.

Your Imperial Majesty, they say that if you bow 108 times

while circling the pagoda under a full moon,

you will be able to conceive a baby.

Are you telling me to do that?

The empresses of earlier generations had all done so.

And what if...

the court ladies see me?

They will spread rumors that I am desperate to conceive.

You must do whatever it takes at this point.

I have my pride.

Being unable to conceive is more...

I beg your pardon, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty, you will wear out the mirror.

It is just Seung-nyang.

Why are you trying to look your best?

What are you talking about?

Enough foolishness. Leave me.

-Yes. -Yes.

We will leave if you tell us to leave, but...

Hurry and leave.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Let us go.

When a chick breaks out of its shell,

it thinks the first thing it sees is its mother.

The chick can never have a different mother.

I know Seung-nyang better.

In the end,

you will not get what you want.

No.

I will get what I want.

I will do what I want.

Empress,

pray all you want.

You will never be able to

conceive an heir.

What did you use on the Empress?

Only the Buddha knows.

No one else will ever suspect.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Why are you so surprised?

What brings you here?

It is my palace.

I go where I like.

I pray to you, Lord Buddha of great compassion and great mercy.

Please bless me with a child of the Emperor.

Please let me conceive a son.

I pray.

Please bless me with a son.

I pray, Lord Buddha.

I told her to keep everyone out since it is bad luck.

What is Court Lady Seo doing, letting a man in here?

The deposed king of Goryeo?

Is that him?

Where did he go?

What a strange person.

He disappeared as if he was never here.

Oh, my goodness.

Judging by your looks, you do not seem to be a maid.

Are you a court lady?

No men are allowed here.

Leave at once.

I heard it was forbidden from entering only after the hour of the Dog.

It is not the hour of the Dog yet.

I have something to ask--

How dare you?

How dare you touch me?

Leave at once,

or I will scream.

Go ahead and scream.

You are with a man this late at night.

-You will surely face the consequences. -What?

I said I would leave when the time comes.

How can a court lady act this way?

You slap a man without asking who he is.

You are an ill-natured court lady.

Let's see if you can stay this proud

in front of me during the day.

It is the hour of the Dog!

Seung-nyang,

what is taking you so long?

Please hurry.

Why are you doing this?

Why?

A mere court lady asks the Emperor why?

Please get off me.

Go ahead and scream if you want.

My eunuchs will surround the place.

Your Imperial Majesty!

Would you act like this...

if I were Wang Yu?

I will send in your eunuch.

Do not go.

I can never...

let you be with Wang Yu.

The first one I saw...

was you.

When I broke out of my shell,

you were...

the first one I saw.

Your Majesty.

Where are you?

Your Majesty.

I am sure she had a reason.

Quite so, Your Majesty.

How did she look...

when you saw her?

She seemed to be well and happy.

She looked healthy.

Shall I try telling her again tomorrow?

There is no need.

Your Majesty, you have been so worried about her.

If Seung-nyang is happy here,

that is all that matters.

I do not want to

complicate things for her.

Congratulations on your appointment, General.

I will need the help of the Kheshig.

Help? Your word is my command.

General Baekan is hosting a banquet tonight.

Will you join us?

Need you ask?

I will definitely be there.

A blood vow?

The late Emperor Myeongjong left a vow written in blood?

He wrote it

before I poisoned him.

If you drink this poison and go to sleep,

you will wake up in a better world.

In return for drinking this poison,

you must keep...

the promise you made with me.

You must...

have my son, Tahwan,

ascend to the throne.

Do not worry about a thing.

Go and rest in peace,

Your Imperial Majesty.

By looking at the tip of the late Emperor's finger,

I could tell he had written a vow with his blood.

Where is the vow now?

It is just a rumor for now.

No one has claimed to have seen the blood vow.

However,

I am not the only one looking for the blood vow.

Who else?

I am back, Grand Councillor.

Did you meet the informant?

He is traveling abroad and will be back in two days.

Does he really know

who else is looking for the blood vow?

Yes, Grand Councillor.

That means they are trying to use it against you.

We will find them at once and kill them.

You cannot kill them yet.

If we capture them and trace their steps,

we might be able to

get our hands on the vow.

It seems like I came too early.

Or has the location changed?

The informant you are looking for is...

-already dead. -Then...

the one looking for the blood vow must be--

We got rid of this man,

but finding the blood vow will not be so easy.

The arrow has already left the bow.

Yeoncheol's family must fall,

and I must take power.

To do so, I must find the blood vow.

I will bury the body where no one can find it.

I do not like any of these clothes.

Bring me a different one.

What is this?

Your Imperial Majesty, you will be late for the banquet.

I told you to bring me a different one.

Today,

I will be giving someone a piece of my mind.

Who exactly are you talking about?

He is rude, arrogant, and disrespectful.

I will show him.

Your Imperial Majesty,

since Yang is serving the Emperor,

sending her to the guest pavilion is a bit...

Just leave it be.

We will send one of our girls.

Wang Yu is said to have achieved a remarkable victory.

They say he is also handsome and manly.

Everyone in the Palace is talking about him.

He is not handsome.

He looks wild and as dark as a thief...

People around you are your greatest asset.

It is all thanks to your good fortune

that you can surround yourself with competent people.

King Wang Go.

Yes.

This serves as your farewell banquet.

My farewell banquet?

You should leave...

Yeongyeong now.

Are you abandoning me?

I am not abandoning you. I am letting go of you.

Stop coveting the throne

and live the rest of your days in Goryeo peacefully.

Grand Councillor.

His Imperial Majesty has arrived.

Welcome, Your Imperial Majesty.

Have you been well, Your Highness?

Well done, General Baekan.

Wang Yu at your service.

You are as impressive as they say.

I am truly grateful for your hospitality.

You would make a fine husband to a princess

of the Imperial House.

What do you think, Your Imperial Majesty?

-Your Highness. -A husband?

I have not thought of marriage yet.

Historically, many of monarchs of Goryeo have become our Imperial sons-in-law.

We cannot lose our opportunity to have someone like you in our family.

Do you not agree, Grand Councillor?

Time is pressing.

Let us begin the banquet, Your Imperial Majesty.

The banquet is for you.

Drink as much as you want, and enjoy yourselves.

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

Her Imperial Majesty has arrived.

Pardon my tardiness.

I said I would leave when the time comes.

How can a court lady act this way?

Nice to meet you.

Wang Yu, I believe?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

The honor is mine.

Where do they want me to put this?

I could not understand a word...

I heard

you are quite gifted at playing geomungo.

Could you play a song for us right now?

My hands have been wielding a sword.

I am out of practice--

Indeed, Your Highness.

He does not look like he would be good at it anyway.

That is why I am more curious.

Please show us your skills, Wang Yu.

All right.

I am not very skilled, but I will go ahead and play it for you.

Your Imperial Majesty!

The Commander of the Kheshig has been found dead.

Uncle Baekan.

I will look into it.

Where was the body found?

KEEP OUT

General, the body was found by this court lady.

She said the body was hanging by the neck.

We should have preserved the scene,

but these foolish eunuchs--

Do not let anyone inside.

How dare they?

I have dealt with murders before.

I used to work at the Patrolling Myriarchy.

How did this happen?

I know I dumped it in the well.

Which well?

It was in the Goryeo Village located in the outskirts of the capital.

Goryeo Village? Why there of all places?

They have got the plague over there.

They would not care about finding another dead body.

He could not have walked here himself.

Someone must have seen us kill him.

Stand aside.

There are two marks on his neck.

One is from where he was hung,

and the other is from when he was strangled.

This will cause quite a stir in the Palace if it gets out.

Let us prevent the word from getting out

and investigate this discreetly.

The Commander of the Kheshig

killed himself, you say?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

He hung himself in the archives.

Is that true?

No. He was strangled.

Why would he kill himself in the Palace?

That is so inconsiderate.

Enough of this. The banquet is over.

Get out, all of you.

Your Imperial Majesty, why did you drink so much?

I drank because I was so happy.

-Golta, let us go. -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Do you know of Goryeo Village?

It is where Goryeo people who were dragged here live.

It is the hungriest and the poorest place in Daedo.

Since you used to be the King of Goryeo,

surely it would be your duty to pay a visit.

I have already sent my men there.

Is that so?

You surely are special.

Do not speak of our people with that mouth of yours.

It is quite despicable.

I am returning to Goryeo tomorrow.

I would like a word with you before I go.

I have a gift for you.

Give my father my regards.

Do you believe that the Commander of the Kheshig killed himself?

You are only seeing what is in front of you.

Foolish people only look at the tip of your finger

even when you point at the moon.

What does that even mean?

I have no idea.

Any word from Jeom-bak and Bul-hwa in Goryeo Village?

I will go and see.

No. I will go myself.

Was he hung after he was strangled to death?

Looking at the body, there is no doubt that he was strangled.

The killer must be very near.

He wanted the body to be found.

-Baekan. -Yes, Grand Councillor.

Find the killer.

Do it quietly and discreetly.

-I will, Grand Councillor. -You can go.

This was done by the men looking for the blood vow.

Can you leave it to Baekan?

You have something else to do.

Find the blood vow.

It is definitely somewhere in the Palace.

We must find it...

before they do.

-Yes, Father. -Yes, Father.

A blood vow?

This is my ticket to the top.

It is the blood vow.

GORYEO VILLAGE NEAR YEONGYEONG

Your Majesty.

What brings you here?

I wanted to see the village for myself.

You cannot go in. That would be bad.

-What do you mean? -An epidemic is spreading in the village.

Your Majesty, we should come back some other time.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

They say it is the plague.

I am weak and sickly as it is.

-Eunuch Bang. -Do not touch me.

-Wait. -Your Majesty!

-Do we need to go back in? -No.

This is driving me crazy!

Your Majesty!

They are all dead.

There is so much misery here.

This is hell on earth.

Have you met the headman of the village?

We tried to talk to him, but he was so ill-tempered.

That man over there with the stick is the headman.

Are you the headman?

I have some questions about the village.

If you do not want to leave on a stretcher,

go now.

This is the King of Goryeo.

I have been deposed,

but I am still concerned about my people.

Is that so?

Then I shall greet His Majesty.

You crazy fool!

The sight of Goryeo royalty

makes us furious.

You abandoned us. Why did you bother to pay a visit here?

To see this mess?

How is it?

Are you enjoying the view?

Folks, these people are worse than the plague.

Get them out of here.

We should go, Your Majesty.

Last night, some crazy fool even fished

a corpse out of the well.

Do you know of Goryeo Village?

Do you believe that the Commander of the Kheshig killed himself?

I knew you would come.

I have to say

you are not one to miss out.

What is it that you wanted to tell me?

Do you not want to bring down Grand Councillor Yeoncheol?

Our motives differ, but our goal is the same.

If Yeoncheol dies,

you will have no problem getting your throne back.

For over a decade,

you have been a loyal dog

of Grand Councillor Yeoncheol.

You are right.

If he told me to bark, I barked. If he told me to bite, I bit.

If he told me to wag my tail, I rolled on the floor and begged.

But now,

the hunt is over for him,

and he is done with me.

Look at me now.

He abandoned me, leaving me pitiful and pathetic.

I failed to become the King of Goryeo.

I also failed to go down in history as a loyal subject.

I no longer have a cause to live for. I have lost everything.

Why did you kill the Commander of the Kheshig?

I did not kill him.

I merely moved the body to the Palace.

Then...

who killed him and why?

He was...

looking for the blood vow.

Blood vow?

The late Emperor Myeongjong wrote a will in his own blood before he died.

He was foolish,

and Yeoncheol's tyranny reached an extreme.

Whoever finds that blood vow

can take over Yeoncheol's position.

Whoever finds the blood vow

will be able to rise to power.

Your Imperial Majesty,

I have something to tell you.

I do not want to hear it.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -I said I do not want to hear it.

I know what you are going to say.

You will ask me to send you to Wang Yu.

Would I want to hear that?

From now on, you are not allowed

to speak in front of me unless you are reading me a book.

You must read this whole book for me even if I fall asleep.

Hurry and read it out loud.

"A white-headed crow

flies over Chang'an.

It perches on the southern city gate

and cries in the night.

It flies to a great mansion

and pecks at the tiles.

The high government officials

in the house

have already fled from the Huns."

Now that the Commander of the Kheshig's body has been found,

Yeoncheol will begin to suspect those who are closest to him.

No matter how small the crack in the wall is,

rain is bound to seep into the crack.

You can use it as your opportunity.

Once it is cracked, it can never be whole again.

It is only matter of time they fall apart.

This is my final gift to you.

I need someone who is well aware of the things happening in the Palace.

Who can help me?

-Are you there? -Yes, Your Majesty.

How may I assist you?

Did you say Seung-nyang serves the Emperor?

Yes, Your Majesty.

She serves as a court lady at the Emperor's palace.

I must see her right now.

Your Majesty, the gates are closed at this hour.

Just tell me how I can get to the Pavilion of Women.

It makes me angrier the more I think about it.

I have been so good to her, but she still wants Wang Yu?

-Are you there, Golta? -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Has Seung-nyang left?

She thought Your Imperial Majesty was asleep.

Bring her back right now.

No.

I will go myself.

Once you are inside, follow the fence.

The court ladies' quarters will be just ahead.

Your Imperial Majesty, please slow down.

Your Imperial Majesty, why are you running again?

Seung-nyang!

Seung-nyang!

Seung-nyang, it is me.

Your Majesty.

Yang!

Seung-nyang!

I am sure I just saw her.

Seung-nyang!

Do you really not remember?

You should have stopped me.

Make no mistake.

It is not that I cannot kill you. I just choose not to.

-Stay still. -It is dangerous for you here.

Your life can be put in danger.

Since the moment I lost my throne,

I have been feeling like I have died inside.

Nothing I do works.

Everyone fawns over Wang Yu

even when he just stands like this.

It is an appeal.

I can use the appeal...

But getting an appeal to him will not be easy.

I will help too.

Do not come see me ever again.

Do you only see me as a court lady who serves the Yuan Emperor?

I will not see you ever again.

Subtitle translation by James Park