Original subtitles

Did you have a nightmare again last night?

This time,

it bit my neck.

Do you mind

if I take a look?

Starting today,

look around your chamber.

According to ancient books,

there should be a nameplate buried somewhere nearby.

A nameplate?

It is for when Death comes to collect your soul.

Then on the nameplate--

It probably has your name.

It is a difficult curse.

Not many could cast it.

I already have my men looking for the shaman.

It is not here.

Yang, what is it?

Yang.

Yang.

Yang.

Yang.

Yang. Wake up.

Is anyone there?

A curse?

It has to be the Empress.

No one else would do something so wicked.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Please calm down.

I cannot let it slide.

You must wait until we find decisive evidence.

Are you telling me to sit back and watch you suffer?

I have been through worse.

This is...

nothing.

I will never forgive her.

Never.

Your Grace.

Her Imperial Majesty is looking for you.

Tell her that she cannot go.

No,

tell her I will not allow Yang to go.

No, Your Imperial Majesty.

I will stop by the Empress's palace.

-Yang. -I want to go see

if it really is the Empress's doing.

Did you send for me, Your Imperial Majesty?

You are here.

So, are you taking good care of your unborn baby?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

But you do not look so well.

Is something worrying you?

Actually,

I have been

having nightmares, so I could not get enough sleep.

Is that so?

That is not good.

Sleeping well is important for an expecting mother.

Have the Imperial Infirmary

prepare a tonic for a pregnant woman.

I would do it,

but you do not trust me. So go ask for it yourself.

Did you already put in a word at the Imperial Infirmary?

What did you say?

There is no way you would show me a favor.

You must be paranoid.

You are unwell, yet you cannot even take medicine.

You may go.

My curse must be working very well.

She looks absolutely worn out.

Just awful.

It does not seem like it is here.

Your Grace.

There may be no nameplate at all.

We have not found one after days of work.

Considering the Empress's reaction,

I am sure we will find it.

I found it.

Your Grace.

I did not think it could be true.

How can the Empress do something so heinous?

Keep watch over

the Empress's place every night.

Yes, Your Grace.

How is the search for the shaman coming along?

There are a few shamans within the city.

I am thinking about bringing all of them in to interrogate them.

The Empress may take notice,

so I will go see them quietly.

What is this ominous feeling?

What brings you here?

It must be you who cursed me.

Search the place.

I found it.

There is no other way of lifting the curse

than overcoming the fear yourself.

I will lift that darned curse.

Who asked you

to put a curse on me?

I cannot tell you that

even if you put a knife to my neck.

She is the consort who is pregnant with His Imperial Majesty's child.

If you do not wish to be beheaded, spill the truth.

I cannot let the deities get angry at me.

You are scared of the deities getting angry,

but you are not scared of

upsetting me?

I will go to the shrine right now.

Your Imperial Majesty, not today.

You will become ill at this rate.

Whenever I think of Ki's death,

I feel strong all over again even when I feel worn out.

Go tell Her Grace.

Yes, Chief Eunuch.

Your Imperial Majesty, I found her secret shrine.

Your Imperial Majesty.

What brings you here this late at night?

I am ashamed of this.

How can the Empress of this nation

put a curse on a pregnant consort?

Curse?

I was just praying to the deities

for Maha's sake.

You are so despicable that I cannot even face you.

It is true. Her Imperial Majesty was--

Shut up!

Take all of these court ladies for interrogation.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Take them.

Your Imperial Majesty.

The moment they spill the truth,

you will get kicked out of the Palace.

You cannot kill me

with a petty curse like this.

Halt.

Spill the truth.

Was that a spell to curse Her Grace?

I cannot...

tell you anything.

Continue.

-I will... -Stop.

I will tell you.

-Tell me. -I will tell you.

You wench! Shut your mouth, you wench!

How dare you tell a lie?

If you lie here,

Her Imperial Majesty will kill you.

I guess you do not wish to live.

Twist their legs harder.

-Yes! -Yes!

No.

They will not talk.

Court Lady Seo and Court Lady Yeon will not betray me.

Dang Gise.

Why did you want to see me this late?

Go to the dungeon.

My attendants are about to get killed.

Did something happen?

I will explain later.

Stop them from getting tortured.

She cursed her?

The wickedness of Yeoncheol's family has no end.

Are you all right now, Your Grace?

Yes, Governor Baekan.

If we work with the governors and fight against Yeoncheol,

what are our chances?

The chances are slim.

Is Yeoncheol that powerful?

The governors are far away from Daedo.

Yeoncheol has his men posted

throughout the provinces.

It will not be easy to join forces with the governors.

How wealthy is this man

to keep so many troops?

It must be unfathomable.

Then is there no way to defeat him?

We can bring our men directly to the capital.

The city guard is not an easy fight.

They might get wiped out before they even get to the city.

That is exactly why Wang Yu volunteered.

to be the commander of the city guard.

If he opens the latch for us, we have a chance at this.

Why does he risk his life to help us?

It is to get his throne back.

-Is that all? -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

What do you think about giving your word now?

Tell him

that he will get the throne back if he succeeds.

I will tell him.

Give His Imperial Majesty thanks.

Of course.

The city guard only answers to Yeoncheol.

How will you change their mind?

About 100 men quit because they did not want to serve me.

I will make an elite force

with my new recruits.

An elite force?

The notices are already up.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, this is bad.

The applicants are swarming in.

What is so bad about that?

You have to see for yourself.

All of you.

You will never go hungry again.

Come on over.

-My gosh. -I heard they would feed us.

Are you serious?

Meet the commander of the city guard

whom you will serve.

Silence.

Good luck training them.

Goodbye.

-Treat him well. -Yes.

Hey.

You all came to the wrong place.

We are recruiting warriors.

I saw that we would get three yang of gold a month.

You said you would take anyone with arms and legs.

Is it true that you will feed us and house us?

I will send them away.

No.

They are ignorant people who are not soldier material.

It will be the same even if we look for new men.

Hey, when are we going to eat? I am hungry.

-Say that again. -Feed us.

Shut your mouth.

Do you think we are here to feed beggars?

Feed them first.

Your Majesty.

Everyone, line up and march to the mess hall.

All men, face right.

Do you not get it? Turn right!

Raise the hand you use to eat. That is the right side.

I eat with this hand.

You idiot.

Starting now, eat with this hand. Understood?

-Move. -All right.

This is insane.

An elite force...

This is bad.

This will cause a huge setback to our plan.

-I am glad we are here. -Hey.

-This is great. -I am here.

-I cannot believe it. -This is awesome.

-Eat up. -I should have brought more.

-What is this? -This is great.

Halt, everyone.

-Come on! -Are you deaf?

He told you to stop!

-These idiots. -Leave them be.

-This place is great. -I want more!

-Have some more. -Come this way.

What did you do for a living?

I used to be a slash-and-burn farmer. I had to pay tax, so I am on the run.

What about you?

I lost my wife and children in the plague.

I only live because I couldn't die.

I served a renowned family,

then I almost got killed because they framed me.

My sister was taken as a tribute woman.

I came looking for her, then got stuck here.

Give them beef and pork.

Make sure they get meat with every meal.

What?

Your Majesty, why do you want to feed meat to these idiots?

The moment they get registered as soldiers,

they will be precious warriors who get paid by the state.

They must be treated as such.

Bless you, Commander.

I never thought I would live to see this day.

Is this what a paradise looks like? This is a paradise.

You can already tell that there is no chance.

How can you turn them into an elite force?

They are useless.

You should send them away, Your Majesty.

They are not useless.

They were just never given a chance to prove their worth.

If I give them a chance to prove their worth,

they will give me a chance to reclaim my throne.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Why did you not get more rest?

We are fine, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your silence kept me out of trouble.

We are alive now

thanks to your boundless grace.

I cannot believe she beat the curse.

I have never seen such a tenacious woman.

Just you wait.

The moment my son becomes the Crown Prince, I will--

Your Imperial Majesty!

Your Imperial Majesty, His Imperial Highness does not seem well.

What do you mean?

How long has he been like this?

Since this morning.

Bring the physician. Now!

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Why does he look like this?

His Imperial Highness has measles.

Measles?

Your Imperial Majesty, what are we going to do?

Can he be treated?

I am sorry to say

that there is no treatment to measles.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Go get His Imperial Majesty.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Is there really no treatment at all?

There is

nothing we can do other than praying.

Maha.

Maha.

My baby.

How did this happen to you?

What are you working so hard on?

I am writing a ledger.

A ledger?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Our financial condition got better,

so I think we can support Governor Baekan's troops from now on.

I am...

I am a little bit afraid.

Before I met you,

I never dreamed of fighting against Yeoncheol.

The fight will begin

as soon as our baby is born.

While Master Taltal comes up with a plan

and Governor Baekan brings up the army,

you must solidify your role as an emperor.

I will support you

with everything I can.

I understand, Yang.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Her Imperial Majesty is urgently looking for you.

What is going on?

His Imperial Highness is ill.

I will be there tomorrow morning.

You should go, Your Imperial Majesty.

I am reminded of what she did to you.

If I see her now,

I do not think I can hide my rage toward her.

-Tell her I cannot be there today. -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

The Prince is ill.

Are you sure you will be okay?

To be honest,

I have never cared for Maha.

He is just her son and the Grand Councillor's son.

I have never thought of him as my own.

His son is dying, yet he refuses to show up?

Your Imperial Majesty.

Try to relax, Your Imperial Majesty.

How can I?

He was barely a husband, and now he refuses to be a father.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Tell His Imperial Majesty that I am here.

He cannot see anyone today.

If you cannot tell him that I am here,

I will meet him myself.

This is against the rules.

-Did you just say it is the rule? -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

You are not allowed to enter

other consort or concubine's place when His Imperial Majesty--

How dare you speak of rules in front of me?

I apologize, Your Imperial Majesty.

However, you cannot enter.

Your Imperial Majesty. How can you do this?

Your son is dying,

yet you are letting that wench take advantage of you.

Are you not ashamed as his father?

How can she be so brazen?

Prince Maha is dying!

I am not going to let it slide.

Can you not hear me, Your Imperial Majesty?

You should stay here.

I will see her.

It is not your place.

I must do this.

Please leave us.

Prince Maha is on the verge of death.

Are you trying to destroy the father-son relationship too?

It is not His Imperial Majesty who did that to His Imperial Highness.

It is you.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Do you know the one who tried to curse me

with a petty spell?

Do not try to frame me.

The shaman told me this.

If I overcome the curse that you put on me,

the curse will be returned to your parents, siblings,

or child.

There is something you should know.

If the curse kills the target, that is that.

But if it fails,

it turns on the one who asked me to cast it.

This is when we say, "You brought this on yourself."

-Your Imperial Majesty. -My son.

I have to save my son.

I have to save Maha.

Your Imperial Majesty, get a hold of yourself.

What am I going to do?

My son is cursed.

The curse can only be passed on to the family of the same blood.

I cannot let him die like this.

I will save Maha no matter what it takes.

His Imperial Highness is not your real son.

Your Imperial Majesty and Prince Maha are not related by blood.

That means His Imperial Highness could not have been cursed.

Maha...

is my son.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Your Imperial Majesty

How dare you try to slander me?

You must have a death wish.

Your Imperial Majesty.

I deserve to die, Your Imperial Majesty.

Say that again.

What did you say about my son?

Please forgive me, Your Imperial Majesty.

Please forgive us.

He will survive it.

I will save...

my poor son.

Her Imperial Majesty must think

His Imperial Highness is her own flesh and blood.

Obsession has gotten

the best of Her Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Pour water on me.

Your Imperial Majesty.

The water is freezing cold.

You will make yourself sick, Your Imperial Majesty.

This is the only way to break

my son's curse.

Your Imperial Majesty.

I will offer my body to the Buddha

in exchange of Maha's life.

So now...

pour the water.

Merciful Buddha.

Please spare my son's life.

If you must take my life, I will gladly lay it down.

But please do not take my son away.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Where are you, Your Imperial Majesty?

Your Imperial Majesty.

After all the people you killed,

how can you be so scared to see one dead body?

-What happened? -Can you not tell?

You are...

dead.

I...

ordered your death.

Tahwan.

How dare you?

You are now a spirit, so look at your filthy body.

I will hang it in the marketplace for all to see.

What? What did you say?

I will cut off your limbs, cut off your head,

and feed your flesh to eagles.

I am...

not going to die like this.

Do you think someone like you can kill me?

I will kill everyone.

Your son, Dang Gise, Tapjahae, even Tanashilli and Maha...

I will kill them with my own hands, Grand Councillor!

-Shut your mouth! -Father!

Why are you doing this?

It is us.

I will kill you.

I will kill you myself like I killed your father.

Father!

It is Dang Gise.

I am your son.

What is happening?

I had a dream.

It was too realistic.

You have worn yourself out.

Anyway,

what are you doing here?

What do you mean? We came because you screamed.

How dare you bring swords to my room?

Father.

Do you want to kill me too?

Do you want my power that badly?

Father.

Pull yourself together.

You two deserve to die too!

Father.

Father.

Stay with us, Father.

Wake up, Father.

Father!

Your Imperial Majesty!

His Imperial Highness's sores are fading.

The rash too.

It looks like he will get better soon.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Your Imperial Majesty.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty's prayer has saved His Imperial Highness.

We start training today.

Those who get through the training

will receive their uniform and pay.

If you give up, you will become criminals

and get hard labor on the border.

Labor? Then we will become slaves?

You cannot do that.

I do not want to get trained. I am going back.

-Screw the training! -Shut your mouths, you scoundrels!

Starting today, we will conquer all nine peaks

of this mountain one by one.

If I see any stragglers,

we start again from the beginning.

Remember that.

You were not treated as men until today.

However, your fate will be decided after this training.

Will you become warriors?

Or will you remain as worms?

We have our men everywhere.

Do not run away.

If you die running away,

we will not take the responsibility.

We have 12 stragglers.

We start from the beginning tomorrow.

Get up.

Your Majesty, I will take him.

Your Majesty.

You cannot go on with like this.

We will take it from here.

You should get some rest.

I am no different from them.

My incompetency has cost me my throne.

How are they different from me?

-Your Majesty. -That is why

I cannot give up.

Your Majesty.

I will not lose any of them.

I will take every one of them.

If I cannot pull this off,

I will die here...

with them.

Your Majesty. Are you all right?

We are almost there. Keep it up.

-Come on. -We are almost there. Run!

-Keep it up! -Yes!

How many are behind?

There are two, Your Majesty.

We still...

have stragglers.

Your Majesty.

Look over there.

Keep it up!

You two did it. You did.

Are we better than worms now?

Great job,

everyone.

Shoot!

You idiot. Go to the back.

Pull back. Shoot.

Your Grace, just a little more.

-Just a little more. -Push a little more.

Hang in there. Just a little more.

Keep pushing, Your Grace.

Why is it taking so long?

What if something bad happens?

Calm down, Your Imperial Majesty.

There is no worse pain than childbirth.

I am so nervous that my mouth is drying up.

I see it.

I see the baby.

Your Grace, push.

Your Grace.

She cannot have a boy.

It has to be a girl or dead.

I beg you. I beg you, Buddha.

Your Imperial Majesty.

What happened?

She had a safe delivery.

-Did she have a girl? -Well...

She had a son.

A son?

Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

No.

He looks just like you.

Thank you.

Have you

thought of

his name?

Empress Dowager and I talked,

and decided to name him Ayushiridara.

Ayushiridara.

Two.

One.

Two.

At ease.

One, two.

One, two.

Well...

Your Majesty.

I see the warriors in them now.

Consort Ki...

just had a son.

It seems like they are going to throw a banquet to celebrate it.

I will not show you any mercy.

Show me everything you have.

Now, come at me.

Forget me.

I do not want...

to be remembered by you.

Halt!

-Salute. -Salute.

Did you send for me?

Come. Come closer.

I had another odd dream last night.

What was it again?

Yeom, that sleaze,

took all of my secret funds.

Father.

He is just stationed there.

How would he know where your secret funds are?

You have no idea!

My premonitions were never wrong.

Yeom Byeong-su is going to betray me.

If you feel anxious, I will take charge.

Tell me where your funds are.

So that you can steal from me?

Father.

You are finally showing your true colors.

Do not do this again.

You want my money.

If you have my money, you can also steal my power.

Father.

Please do not do this.

Are you working with Yeom?

Are you two going to kill me and take all of my funds?

No.

Once Yeom finds out where the secret funds are,

only then you will kill me.

You should

just kill me instead.

I cannot watch you do this anymore.

Just kill me.

You may leave.

Is it...

finally my time to die?

Why have I gone senile?

This is such a wonder.

Look at him.

He has your eyes.

And his nose and mouth take after mine.

Is this the mystery of life?

That is why they say blood will tell.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Yes.

It is your time to go to Prince Maha's birthday celebration.

I do not want to go.

All the governors will be there.

You should go.

There you are.

Thank you for coming.

His Imperial Highness

is one extraordinary boy.

He will ascend to the throne in the near future.

Of course, he is extraordinary.

These are the nuns who will sing Buddhist hymns for Maha.

This way, please.

What is wrong?

That nun. The one with the burn.

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.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Many happy returns for Prince Maha.

-Many happy returns. -Many happy returns.

Thank you, everyone.

Your Imperial Majesty. Will you say a few words for our son?

Your Imperial Majesty, it is Prince Maha's birthday.

We have to hear your blessing.

The governors are here too. Please say a word.

Golta.

-Bring Prince Ayushiridara. -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty, today is Maha's birthday.

All right.

It seems like you are all curious to know who will succeed my throne.

However,

I am in no rush.

When they grow up,

I will decide who the Crown Prince will be through competition.

Your Imperial Majesty, what are you talking about?

Your Imperial Majesty, did you forget the will

of Emperor Kublai to give the throne to the eldest son?

Grand Councillor is the one who had enthroned my younger brother.

Have you forgotten?

-But Your Imperial Majesty-- -You heard me.

I will hear no more about it.

Your Grace.

It is not their turn to recite the hymns. Why are you here?

Court Lady Seo, do you not hear me?

I thought I saw a nun who had a burn scar on her face.

Have you not seen her?

Why are you looking for her?

It is nothing.

Did you want to see me?

Yes, Your Grace.

-What is it? -I served

in Hwanggak Temple before.

The Empress stayed in the hermitage

that I was in before she gave birth.

Prince Maha, her son,

is not her real son.

He is not her real son?

She found a child and made him look like hers.

Is he not her real son?

Absolutely.

They poisoned the nuns

and burned the temple

to keep their secret.

I alone survived the fire.

Why are you telling me this secret?

I am told that you had a son.

I heard the Empress's fake son might become the Crown Prince.

So I came to tell you the truth.

Are you willing to testify this at the Emperor's palace right now?

Yes.

I will reveal the truth for my fellow nuns

if anything.

We need decisive proof for them to believe you.

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

If I tell them that, that will be enough proof.

What is the secret?

On the child's foot...

Subtitle translation by Eun-sook Youn