Original subtitles

-Traitors! -Traitors!

He is the one who conspired with the enemy!

Kill Imperial Noble Consort Ki who worked for him!

Imperial Noble Consort Ki was in on it! Kill her!

Kill Imperial Noble Consort Ki!

-Kill Imperial Noble Consort Ki! -Kill Imperial Noble Consort Ki!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

Kill Imperial Noble Consort Ki?

Why would they say that?

They think Her Grace conspired with Wang Yu.

No.

It cannot be.

Your Imperial Majesty,

the public sentiment has already turned against her.

Someone is manipulating the public opinion.

It clearly shows who the Empress Dowager

and the Grand Councillor are after.

Are you saying they are after you, Your Grace?

I am sure of it.

If I have come to danger,

who will surely take my side?

The Grand Preceptor, the Grand Tutor, the Grand Protector,

the Secretary of the Central Secretariat,

the Minister of Personnel, the Minister of War,

the Councilman and the Deputy Councilman of the Privy Council,

a number of provincial governors,

and the officials and generals of several regions will.

Perhaps,

I will have to show

how much power I have amassed.

But Your Grace...

I know it is not the time yet.

However,

now that they have unsheathed their claws,

I have to do something.

I must draw my sword.

What do you mean?

Imperial Noble Consort Ki is in danger.

Then...

In order to save her, I must kill Wang Yu

as soon as he arrives.

We must save the King of Goryeo.

That is the only way I can save myself

and my boy, Ayu.

Your Grace, the King of Goryeo has arrived.

You tread on my dreams.

Taking your throne is not nearly enough of a punishment for your crime.

So...

I cannot let you live.

No!

Kill us first.

Stand down.

Fine. I will kill you all.

Your Imperial Majesty, we cannot kill him just yet.

-Do not interfere. -Your Imperial Majesty.

I said, do not interfere!

Stop, Your Imperial Majesty.

General Taltal is right.

You must not kill him yet.

Your Highness.

He was not working alone.

We will find his accomplice

and execute them together.

Do you mean to say

that I am his accomplice?

-Imperial Noble Consort Ki. -Do not be upset.

The accusation is coming from our people, not me.

Your Imperial Majesty, since I am under suspicion of working with him,

reserve your judgment on Wang Yu

until you find out the truth.

Please, Your Imperial Majesty.

I told you not to interfere.

Why do you not listen to me?

Wang Yu is innocent.

Innocent?

Just as I am.

Someone is trying to set Wang Yu and me up--

Enough!

Do not...

defend him before me.

Then...

who will help me clear my name?

Why do you think...

they suspect you in the first place?

What do you mean?

I cannot stand you and Wang Yu

being the talk of the town.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Are you suspecting me?

Then I will deal with

this matter myself.

Do not go. Yang!

Do not go!

-Yang! -Your Imperial Majesty.

-Bring me some alcohol. -You said you would not...

-Bring it to me! -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Wang Yu is safe for now.

Do you have a plan to save him?

I will need your help soon.

Wait for my word.

At least promise me one thing.

You should abstain from drinking alcohol.

Take it away.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Yang.

Yang...

Grand Councillor.

His Majesty has nothing to do with it.

Silence.

I will keep it short. Name your accomplice.

Let me see the evidence

that I was selling sulfur and saltpeter to the enemy.

We have blocked all land and sea lanes to Goryeo.

You must have worked with a Yuan trader.

You could not have pulled this off alone.

Tell us now. Who helped you?

I cannot have an accomplice

-for something I did not do. -Wang Yu.

My pride as a warrior has been shattered because of you.

Do not test my patience.

Jadan, we will make him talk. Get ready.

Yes, Grand Councillor.

Grand Councillor.

I want a word with Wang Yu in private.

Leave us.

Baekan's war was a fool's errand.

I believe it would have failed

with or without your interference.

You are the King of Goryeo.

What would you not do for the benefit of your country?

I understand that.

What is it that you want from all this?

I can pardon you,

but not your accomplice.

If you cooperate,

I will let you keep your throne.

Cooperate how?

Name Imperial Noble Consort Ki as your accomplice.

She will be held responsible for everything.

That is the only way

you can save yourself

and keep your throne.

You have no reason to protect her.

Work with me.

I am offering you a deal.

You are not offering me a deal.

You are asking me to play a shell game.

You are misled about me.

I will decline your offer.

People are all the same.

Who among us does not fear death?

My deal might not sound appealing to you right now,

but you will soon change your mind.

I will be waiting.

You were right, Your Majesty. It is a trap indeed.

Thankfully, they do not seem to have definitive proof yet.

As you all know, the Empress Dowager and the Grand Councillor

are trying to drive me out of the Palace.

Hence, I need you to step forward.

Your Grace,

we have discussed this matter,

but we cannot help you this time.

-Why not? -Protecting Wang Yu

puts us all at risk.

I think it is better for you to sell him out--

That is the same as...

selling me out.

Do you mean to betray me?

Your Grace, that is not what we mean.

Let me

tell you a great secret within the Imperial Palace.

A secret?

Prince Maha, for whom the Empress Dowager fights,

is not His Imperial Majesty's son.

What...

Tanashilli took in someone else's child.

I have a witness and evidence

to prove it.

Goodness.

All of you here

made a lot of money thanks to me.

Some of you were even bestowed with honorable titles.

Why do you think

I have been helping you all along?

It is to ensure your constant loyalty to my son, Ayushiridara,

when he ascends to the throne.

Now is the time that I require your loyalty.

This is not a request.

It is...

a command.

Feel free to step forward

if I have failed to make myself clear.

I will send you home.

We are yours to command,

Your Grace.

Your Majesty.

Name your accomplice.

I have nothing more to say.

Another stone.

Torture us instead!

His Majesty did nothing wrong.

One more stone,

and you will never be able to walk again.

He will not confess easily.

Watch closely.

Your King will never see,

speak

or hear again.

Your Majesty...

You can tell me yourselves.

Who helped him?

What do you want to hear from us?

Tell us

whom you want us to name.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki!

Tell His Imperial Majesty that she was your accomplice,

and your King will not be harmed.

No.

You must not say such a thing.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

It cannot be helped then.

I should cut off your tongue

and make you lose your sight and hearing.

Are you not ashamed of yourself

as a warrior?

You forged the ledger.

Now, you want a false confession?

If it is for His Imperial Majesty

and for the Great Yuan,

I am ashamed of nothing.

This will be the last thing you see.

Your Majesty!

-No! -Stop!

Please, no!

Grand Councillor, we have a problem.

You must go to the Emperor's palace now!

A problem?

Your Imperial Majesty.

The ledger sent from Goryeo is fake.

Clear Wang Yu of all charges.

Release him, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Release him, Your Imperial Majesty. -Release him, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Release him, Your Imperial Majesty. -Release him, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Release him, Your Imperial Majesty. -Release him, Your Imperial Majesty.

What is all this ruckus about?

Your Imperial Majesty, Goryeo's Deputy Minister of State Kim Sun-jo

sent me a secret letter saying that he falsified the ledger.

Why would he do such a thing?

That reason...

will become clear when we ask Kim Sun-jo ourselves.

He is the only one...

who can reveal the truth.

Summon him immediately.

Summon Kim Sun-jo, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Summon Kim Sun-jo, Your Imperial Majesty. -Summon Kim Sun-jo, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Summon him, Your Imperial Majesty. -Summon him, Your Imperial Majesty.

Send someone to Goryeo immediately and bring Kim Sun-jo here.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Until Kim Sun-jo arrives,

Wang Yu and his men will remain in custody.

They should not be given

any food or water until I command otherwise.

Your Imperial Majesty.

This is the most merciful I can be on this matter.

So do not say another word.

The Three Excellencies

and the key officials are all Imperial Noble Consort Ki's people.

How is this possible?

It is not just the key officials.

A number of military officials

are requesting Wang Yu's release.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki is powerful indeed.

Did you foresee this?

I am as surprised as you are.

By the way, what are you going to do about Kim Sun-jo?

Kim Sun-jo is working for me.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki has her influence over

the Yuan court and the military.

She can easily win a Goryeo official over to her side.

Judging from her confidence,

it seems possible that the man has betrayed you.

It will be better to make him keep silent.

Send Mujin and Jadan to get rid of him.

Yes, Uncle Baekan.

The more I think about her, the more I realize how terrifying she is.

At this rate,

she may end up ruling the Great Yuan herself.

Tell me honestly.

How did you get the officials to take action?

I supplied their political funds.

With what money?

With funds

Wang Yu sent me.

-What? -I did it to build

a power base for Ayu.

It is I who names the crown prince.

I feared

that he would be held in contempt

for having a mother from Goryeo.

Your Imperial Majesty declared the war

so that you could be a proud father to Ayu.

I, too, had to protect our son from those

who try to harm him.

I had my reasons.

I have done it out of my motherly love for our son.

Please understand, Your Imperial Majesty.

Get out.

I told you to leave.

Your Imperial Majesty.

You...

did not trust me.

Leave. Now.

Golta, are you there?

Bring me alcohol.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

I have not seen His Imperial Majesty

so displeased with you before.

Your Grace.

I fear this may cost you his favor.

They will die before Kim Sun-jo gets here if they are left like that.

Tell the gatekeeper to bring them food and water from time to time.

Yes, Your Grace.

I must meet Yeon Bisu.

I will send word, Your Grace.

Kim Sun-jo must arrive alive

if Wang Yu is to survive.

He will not cooperate with us.

He may

if you do as I say.

Make way.

It is Lord Kim Sun-jo, the deputy minister of state.

Make way.

It is Lord Kim Sun-jo, the deputy minister of state.

Make way.

It is Lord Kim Sun-jo, the deputy minister of state.

Make way.

My lord.

Please open your eyes.

My lord!

-My lord. -Are you sure he is dead?

The arrow was poisoned.

My lord!

Baekan sent the assassins?

They were Mujin and Jadan,

Baekan's two best men.

How could he do this to me--

Let us go to Yeongyeong and ask him ourselves if you cannot believe us!

Are you sure that Imperial Noble Consort Ki would spare me?

If not for her,

you would have met your death just now.

THE YUAN IMPERIAL PALACE IN YEONGYEONG

You are going through so much

because of me.

Your safety

is all that concerns us.

Hang on a bit longer, Your Majesty.

Once Kim Sun-jo gets here...

Give them water.

-Your Imperial Highness. -I said, give them water.

Thank you, Prince Maha.

Do not thank me.

You cannot die yet.

You can die only after you expose

Imperial Noble Consort Ki's crimes.

Is that what the Empress Dowager ordered you to do?

The truth cannot be hidden forever!

If you wish to avenge your mother's death,

you will have to kill the Emperor,

the Empress Dowager, Baekan, and the entire court.

Let us go, Your Imperial Highness.

What does he mean by that?

Do not be misled by him.

Your mother did not die

just because of me and Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

Everyone around you--

Silence!

Deputy Minister Chang, escort Prince Maha.

-Your Highness. -Go on now.

Your Imperial Highness.

Kim Sun-jo will not come.

I offered you a chance to save yourself,

but you turned it down.

Welcome, Grand Councillor.

Your Imperial Majesty, Kim Sun-jo is dead.

There is no reason to keep Wang Yu alive.

Give me the order.

I will make sure that the people...

see Wang Yu die.

Take them outside the Palace.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Take them away.

-Yes, General. -Yes, General.

Where are you taking them to?

His Imperial Majesty has ordered that they be executed

in the public square.

With Kim Sun-jo dead,

there is no reason to keep them alive.

Is there no news from Yeon Bisu?

If they got the news, we are not far behind.

We must go outside.

Will they be executed in public?

Yes, Your Highness.

His Imperial Majesty himself will attend.

This is a golden opportunity to corner Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

Tell our men to incite people.

What do you mean?

We must have the Emperor see what the people want.

Yes, Your Highness.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki was in on it!

Kill Imperial Noble Consort Ki!

Kill everyone from Goryeo!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

Imperial Noble Consort Ki provided us with food!

Imperial Noble Consort Ki saved us!

Hail to Imperial Noble Consort Ki!

-Hail to Imperial Noble Consort Ki! -Hail to Imperial Noble Consort Ki!

-Hail to Imperial Noble Consort Ki! -Hail to Imperial Noble Consort Ki!

-Hail to Imperial Noble Consort Ki! -Hail to Imperial Noble Consort Ki!

How did they know that we provided them with relief?

I am not sure.

Spread the word about the food relief.

Your Grace.

-Kill them! -Kill them!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

-Kill them! -Kill them!

I do not see Her Grace or Yeon Bisu.

-Execute them. -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Kill me first!

I will be next. Kill me.

What are you doing?

We must buy as much time as possible.

You cannot lose hope

until the very end.

-Sin-u! -Eunuch Bang.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki, what do you think you are doing?

Behead them!

Kim Sun-jo has arrived.

Did you not say

that he is dead?

I, Goryeo's Deputy Minister of State Kim Sun-jo,

pay my respects to Your Imperial Majesty.

This is the secret letter

that the Grand Councillor sent to Deputy Minister Kim Sun-jo.

In this letter,

he is ordered to falsify the ledger.

Do you see now?

You can never kill me.

Because Yang is mine!

Shut...

that mouth of yours.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Emperor.

If Yang turns her back on you,

you will have nothing.

You will merely be an incompetent and foolish emperor!

Wang Yu. Shut your mouth!

Kill me.

Go ahead and try!

I will tear your limbs apart.

Wang Yu!

Has His Imperial Majesty been drinking again?

Yes, Your Grace.

Your Imperial Majesty, please pull yourself together.

Why are you being like this?

Wang Yu!

Escort His Imperial Majesty back to the Palace. Now!

-Please, Your Imperial Majesty. -Wang Yu!

Are you awake?

How could you?

I thought you valued honor more than anything.

But how could you

scheme such a thing?

I may not be intelligent,

but I am aware of what my master wants.

Do you not want

Wang Yu dead?

Are you saying you did it for me?

I failed to ease your suffering.

Do not forgive me.

To what do I owe such loyalty?

I chose the warrior's way

when I entered the late Emperor's service.

But I failed to protect him,

and it still haunts me.

I will never...

let that happen again.

If what you said is true,

you will accept any punishment

I impose on you, correct?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

I am ready.

Read the decree, Deputy Minister Chang.

"The deposed King Wang Yu,

has consistently shown contempt for the Great Yuan.

He purged loyal Goryeo officials for being favorable to the Empire.

He refused to send women and valuables

as tribute and failed to provide military support.

I hereby banish him in exile

to a remote village in Yoyang province."

Do you have anything to say?

Baekan fabricated documents

and committed fraud

to have me killed.

If I must be banished,

it is only right

that Grand Councillor Baekan

is punished as well.

Grand Councillor Baekan, come closer.

Golta.

Everyone gathered here, hear me speak.

All documents produced in the Palace henceforth must bear

the imperial seal and this court seal.

In a time of national emergency,

the court seal will act in the place of the Imperial Seal.

Your Imperial Majesty, to who shall the court seal belong?

Grand Councillor Baekan.

The seal is yours.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Treason excepted,

no crime will have you executed.

Myself excepted, no one will have higher authority than you.

For you are...

my right-hand man.

My life is yours to command, Your Imperial Majesty.

Banished, Your Majesty?

You will be released tomorrow.

Return to Goryeo.

We will go with you.

We will go with you, Your Majesty.

The Emperor

has bestowed enormous power on Baekan.

I am concerned

for your safety.

I am sorry.

This is all my fault.

It is not your fault.

The Empress Dowager and Baekan dragged you in

in order to have me removed.

I will have you return to Goryeo once I gain more power.

Try to hold on until then.

I am sorrier to you than you are to me.

What do you mean by that?

Then...

is it true that you sold sulfur and saltpeter

to the enemy?

Why can you not answer my question?

I asked you if you sold them to the enemy!

We could not afford

to let the Yuan dynasty win.

Have you forgotten that I belong to the Yuan Imperial House?

We are no longer allies.

That is my final word.

Your Grace.

To which nation

do we belong?

To Goryeo?

To the Yuan dynasty?

Chief Eunuch Dok-man said...

that there are people...

who do not belong to anywhere.

So they must protect themselves all the more.

That is tragic.

They have no country that can protect them,

so they must protect themselves.

Did you want to see me?

You will escort Wang Yu into exile tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

Meet me at Mount Yongsu.

Mount Yongsu, sir?

I will kill Wang Yu myself.

Uncle Baekan.

We could not prove it,

but I know for a fact

that he conspired with the enemy.

Is this His Imperial Majesty's order?

I will inform him of it after the deed is done.

Do not speak of it to anyone.

But without an imperial order--

Do not worry.

It is what His Imperial Majesty also wants, deep down inside.

Your Majesty.

-Damn him. -Goodness.

That traitor!

Here.

He is bound to pass this way.

-It is perfect for an ambush. -General.

Wang Yu is coming.

-Hide. -General,

Baekan is here, too.

What? Baekan?

Yes. He got here earlier, and has been waiting.

Wang Yu and Baekan...

All your wishes have come true.

Not yet.

Only after I kill Consort Ki, too, will I be happy.

Where are they?

Open the cart.

Step out of the cart.

Give him your sword.

Your biggest crime is not conspiring with the enemy,

but betraying my trust.

As a warrior, I grant you an honorable death.

Draw your sword.

No one shall interfere

until one of us is killed.

It seems like Baekan is trying to kill Wang Yu.

Wang Yu,

you do not disappoint me.

I will not lose

with a real sword in my hand.

-Uncle Baekan. -I am all right.

Who are they?

Kill them all!

I will deal with them. Get out of here.

Mujin, help him.

Hold them until the Grand Councillor is safe.

What happened?

You might run into someone if you go this way.

Take the way by the ravine.

This way.

Where is Wang Yu's body?

He rolled down that way.

Go down and find the body.

Is that really necessary?

He was shot by an arrow and stabbed in the stomach.

Baekan may come back with his men any minute.

-So... -Follow me.

He seems determined to die in Baekan's hands.

He died, there is no doubt about it.

Wait.

There is a body.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

-He is still alive. -What?

Over there!

Kill them all.

We will hold them off. Get His Majesty out of here.

Okay.

Go after them. Rest of you, come with me.

-Yes, General. -Yes, General.

Your Majesty.

They are here somewhere. Keep searching.

I will give them a false lead.

Keep him safe.

Hey, you bastards!

I am Jeom-bak! I will kill you all.

Stay with me.

Open your eyes.

It is Yeon Bisu.

Please do not die.

You must survive.

Wang Yu, open your eyes.

Open your eyes!

Your Imperial Majesty,

let me pour you a drink.

All right. Go ahead.

Your Imperial Majesty, to what occasion do we owe your calling?

What is so strange about me calling for the Empress and the concubines?

Drink.

I want to get drunk today.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki, welcome.

Your Imperial Majesty, have you forgotten

our promise?

-Why are you-- -Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

Return to your chamber.

Your Imperial Majesty, was this gathering not intended

for the harmony within the Inner Court?

Imperial Noble Consort Ki--

Are you disobeying an imperial order?

Until I command you otherwise,

do not show yourself before me.

As you command.

I want to be alone.

Leave me.

I heard that you were to escort Wang Yu into exile.

Why...

are you injured?

Did something...

happen to Wang Yu?

Tell me.

What happened?

Wang Yu...

is dead.

Wang Yu...

is dead?

Who did it?

I asked you who killed him!

Think only of His Imperial Majesty.

Cry for me.

I have no right to shed tears for him.

-I pay my respects to you, Father. -How foolish of you.

I am not giving you a chance to prove yourself for the crown.

You should never have been born.

Out of my way!

Long for me!

Beg for my favors!

Imperial Noble Consort Ki, you may act all high and mighty,

but everything will be over if I leave you.

Subtitle translation by Eun-jin Kim