Original subtitles

My child...

Do not worry.

Just like how my mother had protected me,

I will...

protect you.

Do not worry, my child.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

Are you all right?

I am fine.

What is wrong with you? Stay still.

Jeom-bak, I need you to go to the Yuan dynasty.

Why all of a sudden?

We have not received any contact from them.

And Eunuch Bang has not reached out to us.

I think something is wrong.

Do not worry. I will return quickly.

Hey, Bul-hwa!

Hey.

Bul-hwa, wake up.

You are still alive.

It would not be fair if you died like this.

Get up. Come on.

Hang in there just a little longer.

Your birthmarks

are in the shape of stars.

My child.

Until your father comes

and gives you a name,

I will call you Byul, which means star.

Byul,

thank you for being born healthy.

Thank you, my child.

Thank you, my child.

My child...

Seung-nyang could not have left the mountains yet.

-Search everywhere. -Yes.

Byul, do not cry.

Do not cry. Please.

Please do not cry. You must not.

We will not die.

As your mother,

I will be sure to protect you. Do not worry.

Seung-nyang, you wench.

Stop right there.

You wench. You are dead today.

Get her.

Byul...

Kill her.

Not my child!

Byul!

-Over there. -Yes.

Commander.

A court lady who ran away had made it to the Imperial Palace.

-What? -General Tapjahae has ordered us

to come back with Concubine Park's body.

-Move out. -Move out.

-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.

It is done. Let us depart.

I think we should also bring back Seung-nyang's body as well.

What? Seung-nyang was hit by an arrow and fell down a cliff.

How will we find her body?

General Dang Gise would be glad to see her dead.

We are late.

We must report to the Empress about this first.

What are you doing?

Now you cut my leg this time.

-What? -We need a story to tell, do we not?

Do it if you want to save yourself.

Yes.

Here we go.

Wait.

Commander.

With these scars, no one will suspect us.

Yes.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Who is...

-this girl? -Your Imperial Majesty,

we received word

that Concubine Park ran into bandits and was killed.

Tell me everything.

What happened?

Concubine Park

is now dead.

Even the maids who went with her

are all dead too.

I heard

that Yang was among them too.

What about Yang? What happened to her?

Did Yang die too?

She ran away with me,

so she is probably still alive.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Concubine Park's body...

has arrived.

Your Imperial Majesty!

Please let me pay with my life!

-Let me pay with my life. -Let me pay with my life.

Where are the other bodies?

Because of the bandits,

we were only able to bring back Concubine Park's body.

How could you be so incompetent?

My apologies.

Concubine Park said she needed to relieve herself

and told us to give her some privacy.

Gather the men.

We will attack the men who killed Concubine Park.

I will go with you.

Your Imperial Majesty needs my father's permission to leave the Imperial Palace.

Are you telling me to sit still in the Palace at a time like this?

Leave this to me, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Follow me. -Yes, General.

Find Yang.

She will know who is behind all of this.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

I am sorry.

I am sorry.

I am sorry.

Where are those bandits?

They are at a tavern in the marketplace.

Send out the archers.

Pardon?

If we want to keep them quiet, we cannot let any of them live.

-Yes, Dang Gise. -General.

We set up a trap to catch a fox,

but caught ourselves a wild dog.

What do you mean?

I am talking about Seung-nyang, the one you were looking for.

Where is she?

She is dead.

What?

I pierced her right through the heart.

The body fell down a cliff...

I told you to bring her back alive.

I was supposed to kill her!

Why did you kill her? Why?

General.

Enough, Dang Gise.

She would have been killed either way.

Commander Yeom did his best.

Who is it over there?

Dok-man.

It is me, Bang Sin-u.

What are you doing here?

I am looking for Yang's body.

Are you saying she is dead?

That scoundrel Yeom Byeong-su...

That piece of trash killed Yang.

The commander of the Kheshig?

Wait a minute. Then what about Concubine Park?

Are you saying she was not attacked by bandits?

It was an order from the Empress.

I heard everything they were talking about

with my very own ears.

How could this happen?

What? It was the work of the Empress?

She saw Concubine Park as an eyesore

and ended up committing an atrocious act, Your Highness.

Her actions are beyond inhumane.

How could she slaughter a woman carrying the Emperor's child?

The pain is just too great

for His Imperial Majesty to take on.

How should we handle this?

Tell this to His Imperial Majesty.

Tell him not to forget this pain,

but not to show his anger.

Until he is of power, he must not make rash decisions.

Yes, Your Highness.

He has overcome his critical condition,

but his privates are severely injured.

Then,

are you saying he has been emasculated?

It is by the grace of the Buddha

that he is even alive.

Oh, my. You are awake.

If it was not for this bronze mirror,

that arrow could have pierced your heart.

But why is there a piece of cloth in this mirror?

-What about my child? -What?

Wait.

The sack you were holding was a baby?

The fall would have killed the baby.

Where are you going in that state? My goodness.

Wait a minute.

Seung-nyang.

My child.

My child.

Seung-nyang, the baby is dead.

No.

There is no way.

My child is definitely here somewhere.

-Seung-nyang. -Byul.

-Byul. -Seung-nyang.

There is no use.

My child is alive!

My child is...

alive.

My child is alive.

Byul...

Get it together.

-My child. -Seung-nyang.

-My child. -Seung-nyang.

My child is alive!

-My child. -Let us go.

-Let go of me! -Please, Seung-nyang.

My child. Byul.

Let go.

Byul! My child.

Byul.

My child is not dead.

My child is here somewhere.

Byul!

Byul!

Your Imperial Majesty, Chief Eunuch Dok-man is here.

Send him in.

Where is Yang?

What happened to Yang?

Have you not found her yet?

Yang is...

Ki Yang is no longer with us...

in this world.

She is...

not...

with us anymore?

Are you saying

Yang is...

Yang is dead?

Yes,

Your Imperial Majesty.

And the body?

Did you find her body?

The Kheshig shot her with an arrow,

and she fell down a cliff.

The Kheshig?

Are you saying it was not the bandits who did this?

Then...

Then who could have done this?

Who...

Who did it?

Tell me everything.

Tell me who did it!

Tell me everything.

Who could have done this?

Tell me everything.

Everything.

Those scoundrels.

How could they pair up with bandits and do this?

I saw everything.

I saw the Kheshig kill the maids who were trying to run away.

Come.

Let us go.

What are you doing? You are hurt.

Gosh.

I will bury them.

Go rest.

They died because of me.

If they had not left the Palace

to protect me and my child...

Here.

Raise your child well.

Hurry and run away.

Your child...

You must protect your child.

I have

one request for you.

At your service.

Please kill me.

Your Imperial Majesty.

I have no reason to carry on with my life.

Rather than living as a powerless and foolish emperor,

I would rather die at your hands.

You must gather yourself even more so at times like this.

Golta.

All the people

that I cherished

are now gone.

My father

and Yang...

I would rather die

and free myself from this living hell.

Even if my soul wanders forever,

I want to...

I want to wander with Yang forever.

Your Imperial Majesty.

So please kill me.

End this tiresome life of mine.

You must not say that.

I cannot live, nor can I die.

What on earth can I do then?

How frustrating!

I am so frustrated.

It is driving me crazy.

My heart feels...

like it is going to stop.

Your Imperial Majesty...

Your Imperial Majesty.

Please gather yourself, Your Imperial Majesty.

Is anyone outside? Call the physician now!

Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

How is he?

He has aphasia.

Aphasia?

He cannot speak?

He cannot, Grand Councillor.

Moreover, he is in a disturbed mental state,

so he will not be able to express things clearly.

For how long?

Well, I cannot

give an estimation.

-Everybody, get out. -Yes.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Well, I give all the imperial orders anyway.

You do not need that mouth of yours, do you?

Continue to live in your dreamworld

and rest comfortably, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Just a little more.

Your Imperial Majesty,

how about we just return to the Palace now?

What did

the physician say?

He said that even the great Hua Tuo cannot help you now.

It is impossible for you to conceive.

So you should stop faking that swollen belly and--

Go and look for a baby.

-Pardon? -Go steal a baby if you have to

and give it to me.

Your Imperial Majesty,

the physician can just say you had a miscarriage.

His Imperial Majesty will keep bringing in concubines.

If those wenches conceive...

I cannot possibly kill all of them like I killed that wench, Park!

But Your Imperial Majesty...

There is...

no turning back now.

I have no choice

but to see it through to the end.

Am I hearing things right now?

It sounds like a baby's cry.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Hello, Your Imperial Majesty.

Where is this baby from?

The father died in the mountains with the baby in his arms.

Let me hold the baby.

Yes.

Your Imperial Majesty,

the baby is smiling at you.

Why is the baby so small?

It was probably born prematurely.

Poor thing.

You must be starving for your mother's milk.

I will stay with this baby for now.

Pardon?

Her Imperial Majesty is near her time.

Because of that, she must be even more fond of the baby.

Go ahead, Your Imperial Majesty.

How adorable.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

I will take this baby.

You do not know anything about this baby.

You never know what will happen when he grows up--

Watch your mouth.

The Buddha sent this baby because he felt bad for me.

I am...

the mother of this baby.

But the monks of this temple already know

where the child is from.

If they die,

no one would be able to find out.

Your Imperial Majesty.

There are only three monks

in this temple.

Kill them with poison.

-Your Imperial Majesty... -What?

Are you scared?

If you cannot do it, I will do it.

How could I let...

Your Imperial Majesty do that?

I will do it.

Listen,

you are my son now.

Your mother is the Empress.

I am your mother.

Wait.

Come here. Hurry.

Those men are slavers.

These hucksters go around

all the way to the Ilkhanate in the West.

They look for people who have no friends or family

and sell them as slaves.

They are the worst of the worst.

We do not want to deal with them.

Let us get out of here.

From the looks of them,

they are definitely criminals who are on the run.

HEUK SU OF THE EAGLE HOUSE

He will fetch a fair price

if we sell him as a slave.

This one is something special.

Load them up.

-Yes. -Yes.

Burn the counterfeit money.

GAEGYEONG, GORYEO

Your Majesty, we have bad news.

Word of the chao in the state's coffers being fake has spread

to the stores in Gaegyeong, Hwangju, and Byeokrando Port,

causing a ruckus.

What?

-No! Please stop. -Do not do this.

-My goodness. -Stay away.

The value of the chao has dropped threefold,

so the merchants who own the chao are out on the streets now,

unable to pay back the usurers.

It is only a matter of time

until all the stores in the market go out of business.

Who spread the word about the counterfeit money?

I think it is a conspiracy.

The people who had made the counterfeit money

might have already entered Goryeo.

If that is the case,

just what are they after?

A piece of the chao used to be worth two silver coins.

However, everyone is trying to sell it even at one silver coin.

I already have half of the commercial rights in Goryeo.

The chao will rise up to several times in value soon.

Buy as much as you can.

How will you raise the value of the chao?

The people in Yeongyeong are probably taking care of it by now.

Do not worry.

Noted.

I am going against Wang Yu of all people.

What a coincidence.

YEON BISU

This is Yeoncheol's house.

It looks like they are selling us to him as slaves.

It has been a long time.

Father is expecting you. Go in.

Yes, General.

Who is that weird person with a limp?

He is a subordinate of a slaver who also trades things here.

He is in charge of trading slaves.

I see.

Is the Leader doing well?

He stopped by the Tibetan Empire

and is now in the Ilkhanate.

His generous fixing of the gold price last time

helped me quite a bit.

Thank him for me.

Yes, Grand Councillor.

The Leader has also asked

for a favor, Grand Councillor.

A favor? Go on.

Due to the counterfeit money circulating in Goryeo,

the chao has fallen a lot in value.

Could you make one piece of the chao

worth three silver coins?

Three silver coins for a piece of the chao?

Was it not worth two silver coins?

If we ask His Imperial Majesty

to send an imperial letter to Goryeo...

IMPERIAL LETTER: A LETTER CONTAINING EMPEROR'S SPECIAL ORDERS

I hold the imperial seal.

How can I refuse the Leader's request?

Thank you, Grand Councillor.

I have a request for you as well.

My niece is getting married soon.

Do you have anything special I can give as a wedding gift?

I have many rare and precious items.

Who is the groom?

He is a Goryeo royal named Wang Yu.

This tea is a gift

from Her Imperial Majesty to thank you

for all you have done for her.

Please enjoy.

Thank you for the tea.

After we leave,

burn down this place.

Yes.

Your Imperial Majesty, my apologies for the delay.

It is fine. Let us go.

Her Imperial Majesty is near her time.

Be careful with the carriage.

-Let us go. -Yes.

-Move out. -Yes.

Your Imperial Majesty, if you hide the baby in your belly,

no one will find out about it.

The baby might cry on the way.

If we give him some medicine,

he will sleep until we reach the Palace.

Did you get everything ready?

I have already prepared the umbilical cord and placenta.

If this goes well,

you will be handsomely rewarded.

Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty.

Once we are in the Palace,

you will be my son.

You will be the Crown Prince of this nation, my child.

Make way for Her Imperial Majesty!

They say you encounter your enemy at the worst place and time.

I cannot believe we are seeing that evil lady here.

Tanashilli,

just you wait.

I will tear you limb from limb, you wench.

You will pay in blood

for my companions and my baby.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Her Imperial Majesty is having your baby.

You should go and see the baby, Your Imperial Majesty.

Father, it looks like he is still unfit.

You are an incompetent husband

and an incompetent father as well.

I cannot see anything,

nor can I hear anything.

Please...

just sit back and relax.

Just a little more, Your Imperial Majesty.

Push a little more, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty, push a little more.

A little more.

A little more. The baby is coming out.

I see it.

Push a little more, Your Imperial Majesty.

Just a little more, Your Imperial Majesty.

The baby is coming out. Push a little more.

Just a little more, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty, you have given birth to an Imperial Prince.

You have given birth to an Imperial Prince.

You have given birth to an Imperial Prince.

Congratulations, Your Imperial Majesty.

We are done.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Well done, Empress.

Has His Imperial Majesty's condition

still not improved?

His life is not in danger.

Do not worry.

This is a great day for the nation.

How about we throw a feast?

I sent word to the provinces.

All the governors are coming, Your Imperial Majesty.

Excellent.

Have you chosen a name for His Imperial Highness?

I will leave that to Father.

Do you have one in mind?

How about Maha?

-Maha? -Yes.

In Buddhism, it means great and superior.

I like it, Father.

Maha,

grow healthy

so that you can become a great emperor worthy of your name.

All right?

How cute.

You cannot make an announcement, Father.

The merchants are barely sustaining their businesses

by selling the chao they own at a cheap price.

If the value goes up to three silver coins,

they will never be able to get back on their feet.

The Yuan dynasty has given us an imperial order.

Many years ago,

the chao dropped in value because of counterfeit money.

The Yuan dynasty raised the value that time as well,

resulting in great loss for our state's coffers, did it not?

Then are you saying that the Yuan dynasty

is behind all of this?

I am tracking down the buyers of the chao right now.

Please delay the announcement.

I cannot wait too long.

Understood, Father.

There is no need to get anxious.

The imperial letter from the Yuan dynasty has arrived,

so it will be announced soon.

The value of the chao jumped

from one silver coin to three overnight.

As soon as it is announced,

buy Goryeo ginseng with the chao we own.

Yes, Master.

Wang Yu,

you beat me on the frontier last time,

but I will win this time.

Your Majesty.

Eunuch Bang, what are you doing here?

Well...

I met him on the way to the Yuan dynasty.

What about Seung-nyang?

-Your Majesty... -You did not come with Seung-nyang?

I deserve to die,

Your Majesty.

What happened to Seung-nyang?

Why did you come by yourself?

He said...

she is dead.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

That cannot be true.

There is no way Seung-nyang is dead.

You guys are mistaken.

She was shot by an arrow

and fell down a cliff.

Who did it?

The Empress...

The Empress...

She ordered her brothers...

She ordered them to do it.

The Empress did.

-Your Majesty... -Your Majesty.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

Just kill me, Your Majesty.

Just kill me.

What did you wish for?

I wished

for Your Majesty to regain the throne as soon as possible.

Is that all?

I will tell you the rest when you come back.

What did Your Majesty wish for?

I wished for us to spend the rest of our lives together.

I wished for us to die at the same moment.

I wished for us

to be together even after we die.

I wished for that too.

Really?

Yes.

In life and in death,

I want to be with Your Majesty.

That was my wish.

Seung-nyang!

Seung-nyang.

Seung-nyang.

Seung-nyang.

Seung-nyang.

What a strange fellow.

You are definitely...

Were you a eunuch?

Or were you castrated as punishment?

I was born useless.

Just like you.

He definitely did martial arts.

He is worth 20 yang of gold.

Twenty yang of gold.

There is both good and evil in you.

Based on physiognomy, you are a very rare find.

-Turn around. -I am from Goryeo.

You have no right to sell me.

No right?

We only sell criminals and runaways.

I am no criminal.

Most of us

brought here are innocent.

If you were to disappear,

no one would look for you.

That is a crime.

Being poor,

having the wrong parents,

being born in a weak country,

and getting abandoned because of that

is the greatest crime of all.

Being useless is a crime.

You are from Goryeo?

People like you are so useless

that the nation has abandoned all of you.

If it is money you want, I will give it to you.

I will tell my people to give it to you.

Give it to me right now.

What? You do not have any?

I do not believe in money

that I cannot see.

-Take her away. -Yes.

I will not forget

your dirty face.

How should we price her?

Leave it blank.

Pardon?

With the right buyer,

we can name our price.

The blood vow.

It is the blood vow.

There is no Buddha.

If there were, he would not have taken Yang away from me.

He would not have let those evil people have their way like that.

Who will you send for the concubine selection?

Send me.

I need to get close to the enemy to kill them.

I will avenge Seung-nyang no matter what it takes.

Her Imperial Majesty ordered them to do it.

That is also why Yang...

I am betting it all on Yang.

Your Imperial Majesty, the concubine candidates are here.

Yang...

Subtitle translation by James Park