Original subtitles

You must spare Prince Maha.

Spare Maha?

Explain yourself.

Maha is...

Byul.

Byul?

The child...

you thought was dead.

He is your son.

That is impossible.

Byul already--

Byul was alive.

He is you and His Majesty's son,

Your Grace.

I said, that is impossible!

Maha has...

three star-shaped moles on his foot.

I saw them with my own eyes.

Where is Prince Maha right now?

I heard he is holding a memorial service at Seoneop Temple tonight.

Then we must hurry...

to get there.

-Who is there? -Assassins!

Assassins are here!

Your Imperial Highness, you must escape. Hurry.

Where is Maha?

His Imperial Highness is not here.

Yes.

Over there!

-Go after him! -Yes!

No, you cannot.

How dare you attack His Imperial Highness?

-Your Imperial Highness! -Chief Eunuch!

-Goodness. -Are you all right?

This ring is...

Prince Maha, come this way.

Quickly.

General Dang Gise sent us here.

Come over here, Your Imperial Highness.

Do not be fooled.

They want you dead.

Come here.

She is the one who wants you dead!

Prince Maha!

Have you forgotten...

who killed your mother?

Maha.

Maha.

Hurry. Come on.

Come over here.

Maha.

-Come over here. -No.

Come on. Come quickly, Your Imperial Highness.

-Come on. -Do not go to him!

Your Imperial Highness, they are the assassins.

You need to go to Her Grace.

-Hurry! -Your Imperial Highness.

Maha, come quickly.

Your Imperial Highness.

Yes, come over here.

Hurry!

Your Imperial Highness!

Maha!

Run!

Maha.

Stay with me, Maha.

Your...

Grace...

It is all right.

Now that you are in my arms,

you do not need to worry about anything.

Maha.

Why...

do you cry for me?

Maha.

Maha.

Maha, stay with me.

Maha!

My baby, wake up.

My baby!

Maha!

Maha, my baby.

No!

Yang. Why are you...

Why are you trying to kill me?

You killed...

-Wang Yu. -Wang Yu has...

completely destroyed my dream.

You have...

destroyed my love.

-Yang. -Wang Yu is...

the only one

I will ever love.

Then what about me?

What am I to you?

You are...

the only one...

I will ever love.

You are my enemy who killed Wang Yu.

I will never forgive you.

No. Yang.

Yang.

No.

Your Imperial Majesty, another nightmare?

-Your Imperial Majesty! -Yang...

I...

I need to see Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -I should go see her.

No, I need something...

Get me some things to write with. I need to write something.

I need to pull myself together.

Your Imperial Majesty.

The arrowhead is poisoned.

Then what will happen...

to Prince Maha?

He passed his crisis.

But we need to observe the progress.

If the poison has not spread to his internal organs,

he will be fine.

Why is she so upset?

What do you mean?

Prince Maha is in a competition for the crown against Prince Ayu.

Why is she crying for him like that?

Are you hiding something from me?

I will tell you when the time comes.

So please do not ask me anything now.

-What happened to Yeom? -We lost him.

How is His Imperial Highness?

My baby.

My child...

Do not worry.

Just like how my mother had protected me,

I will...

protect you.

-Seung-nyang. -My child is alive!

Let go.

Byul! My child.

I am sorry,

Byul.

My son, Byul.

I am sorry.

How could I not recognize you...

until you became such a big boy?

I never gave you a warm hug.

I never got to do anything for you.

It is not your fault.

Do not blame yourself.

I hated him.

My son. My Byul.

I hated him...

and ignored him.

-Your Grace. -What now?

What can I do...

to protect him?

Byul.

My son.

Byul.

My son, Byul.

I am sorry.

Your Grace.

Your Imperial Majesty.

What happened to Maha?

He was hit by a poisoned arrow. I doubt he will make it.

Great work.

I am not sure how she knew,

but Imperial Noble Consort Ki showed up.

She did?

Go spread a rumor saying men from Goryeo attacked Prince Maha.

Things worked out for the best since the Imperial Noble Consort Ki was there.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Please destroy her completely.

The thought of Yeon-hwa's death...

still makes me angry...

and my blood boil.

You did not find Wang Yu's body?

If he is alive, he probably ran back to Goryeo.

Who were those men who helped him?

They were after me.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki may be involved.

She may have tried to hurt me because of the investiture--

Impossible.

She was the one who spared Wang Yu from death.

Do not ever...

bring that up...

again.

Send a word to the new King of Goryeo in secret.

Tell him to cut off Wang Yu's head the moment he sets foot in Goryeo

and send it my way.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

We have an emergency.

What is it?

Last night, Prince Maha was attacked by some men from Goryeo.

Attacked?

He was struck with a poisoned arrow

when he went to Seoneop Temple.

That is not all.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki was there too.

What are you talking about?

Explain yourself.

Do you mean that Imperial Noble Consort Ki

hired some men from Goryeo to kill Prince Maha?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

How can she do something so inhumane?

Does His Imperial Majesty know?

Of course. The whole Palace is up in arms.

How can this happen?

I turn to Amitabha and the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion.

Prince Maha is coming. You should greet him.

Have you seen my ring?

Your ring?

The one His Imperial Majesty gave me at the wedding ceremony.

I have not seen it.

Hurry.

Halt.

Prince Maha, how could this happen?

I cannot believe they shot a young boy with a poisoned arrow.

-Get him to a physician. -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Come along.

Did you see that?

That is how wicked Imperial Nobel Consort Ki is.

Do you still insist on appointing Ayushiridara as the crown prince?

We still do not know the whole of the story.

Watch your words.

Your Imperial Majesty!

Your Imperial Majesty, what is it?

I do not remember...

ever holding his hand

until his hands became so big.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Chief Eunuch.

Do not tell him...

that I was here.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Why do you want to hide that?

If he finds out that you watched over him,

His Imperial Highness will be grateful.

Giving him false hope will torment him even more.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

Why are you so late?

You are about to face a terrible fall because of what happened to Prince Maha.

I am sure you have heard the rumors.

I know you would not have done such a thing, but...

Thank you...

for your concern.

Even His Imperial Majesty is suspicious of you.

I am the only one you have left now.

Let me know if you need help.

I will.

I have something to give you.

Yeom Byeong-su dropped this ring.

This is...

the Empress's ring.

The Empress is the one who was behind Yeom.

The ring

can be used as definitive evidence against the Empress.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Explain...

Explain yourself thoroughly.

Why were you at Seoneop Temple last night

and why was Maha shot with a poisoned arrow?

Do you also believe...

I tried to kill Maha?

You said there is nothing you would not do for Ayu.

I swear to the heavens...

that I did not do this.

Then who would do such a wicked thing?

-I will reveal it in front of everyone. -Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

And when I reveal the real culprit,

allow me to name the punishment.

What if you fail to do so?

Then...

do as you see fit.

Her Grace has arrived.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki, state your case.

Your Imperial Majesty, we do not need to hear her case.

She should be questioned.

You must interrogate her.

I saved...

Prince Maha's life.

Do you think you can deceive everyone here with your tongue?

Why would I lie when the truth will be revealed

once Prince Maha regains his consciousness?

Listen to her, Your Imperial Majesty.

She is telling a lie, knowing that Prince Maha will never be able to

regain his consciousness.

This ring.

Do you recognize this?

Is this not

the Empress's ring?

The assassin...

dropped it.

What is going on, Empress?

Someone stole my ring.

It must have been Imperial Noble Consort Ki's doing.

She stole my ring

to frame me for her crime.

I did not pick this up.

Chief Eunuch Dok-man did.

Chief Eunuch Dok-man, speak.

Is this true?

It is, Your Imperial Majesty.

I got into a fight with the assassin,

and he dropped it.

Did you see his face?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

It was the former commander of the Kheshig,

Yeom Byeong-su.

Goodness.

The one who saved His Imperial Highness from Yeom Byeong-su...

was none other than Her Grace.

Chief Eunuch Dok-man! I heard you are from Goryeo too.

Your Imperial Majesty, do you not get it?

People from Goryeo teamed up to try to kill Prince Maha

just as the rumors.

And Imperial Noble Consort Ki

was behind it all.

Yes, everything is clear now.

Your Imperial Majesty, imprison her immediately,

and interrogate Chief Eunuch Dok-man and other men from Goryeo.

Empress, you are lying to me.

How... could you accuse me of lying?

Yeom Byeong-su is the one who got Imperial Noble Consort Ki's father killed.

Why would she work with her enemy?

Tell me the truth.

Have you met with Yeom Byeong-su?

I...

do not even know who he is.

Your Imperial Majesty, Court Lady Seo would know

whether she met with Yeom or not.

You have been looking after Prince Maha.

Have you ever seen the Empress with Yeom?

Court Lady Seo, speak up.

Have you seen them together?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Her Imperial Majesty has indeed...

met with Yeom Byeong-su.

But I never dreamed they were plotting the death...

of His Imperial Highness.

You wench! How dare you lie?

-Take her away. -Yes.

Your Imperial Majesty, I am being framed.

Someone is trying to frame me.

Help me, Uncle Baekan. I am innocent.

Uncle Baekan.

Uncle Baekan!

I am innocent! Uncle Baekan!

Uncle Baekan!

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Do not get involved.

I am leaving the punishment of the culprit to Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

Do not worry, Grand Councillor.

She will be judged fairly.

Let go of me.

How dare you touch me?

Let me go!

Let me go!

This way.

Your Imperial Majesty.

There is...

one more thing that I must reveal.

Prince Maha is not...

the real son of Tanashilli.

-What is she saying? -What is this nonsense?

What do you mean, Maha is not her son?

What kind of nonsense is this?

Bring her in.

She knows what happened when Maha was still an infant.

Speak.

One of our nuns found an infant in the mountain.

Then...

the late Empress Tanashilli took the baby

and burned Hwanggak Temple down.

Your Highness, stay with me.

-Your Highness. -Take her to a physician.

Your Highness.

Hurry up. Bring her over.

When he wakes up,

tell him the truth.

Your Grace, it is better that we keep him in the dark.

Once he gets kicked out,

he will find out soon enough.

Your... Grace.

You are awake.

What...

did you just say?

Why would I...

get kicked out?

You are...

not the son of His Imperial Majesty...

and Empress Tanashilli.

You are lying.

Do not lie to me.

I am not lying.

You can no longer live...

in the Palace.

Then...

who are...

my father and mother?

I am sure I was not born without parents.

Who are...

my parents?

You were abandoned in the mountain.

Pull yourself together.

Do not cry!

There is...

no one...

who would protect you.

That is why you need to become stronger.

And...

do not expect...

anything from anyone.

That is how you will survive.

You have to...

mark my words.

Byul.

My boy.

This is all I can do...

for you.

Hang in there...

just a little longer.

Byul.

My son.

Cheonsudap Valley is just minutes away.

His Majesty must be waiting. Let us hurry.

BORDER REGION OF THE YUAN DYNASTY

Have some.

Why do you look at me like that?

You have soot on your face.

I will go clean it off.

We have got ourselves some trouble.

We are not too far from Cheonsudap Valley.

I will hold them off. You can drive the carriage.

I will fight them.

You have not recovered enough to use a bow.

-Bisu. -Just this once.

Please do as I ask.

No matter what happens, do not look back.

Bisu! Are you all right?

Do not look back.

What is going on?

General.

General! Are you all right?

Go after them!

Bisu, are you all right?

Bisu.

Bisu...

Bisu!

Wang Yu.

Bisu, do not die.

Do I still have soot on my face?

Thank you.

You fool.

How did you not scream in pain...

when you were injured like this?

I was...

happy to be...

with just you.

My wish was...

to die in your arms.

My wish...

came...

true.

Bisu.

Hang on.

I will not let you die. Hang in there.

Wang Yu.

Will you...

think of me...

every...

now and then?

You cannot die now. Stay with me.

I will save you. Hang in there.

Do not cry.

I do not wish...

to make you sad...

Bisu. Wake up.

Bisu!

Bisu! Open your eyes!

Bisu!

She had this on her.

Inside her tough shell

was a soft girl.

Master Yeon was...

in love with you.

May I...

live in Goryeo?

I have been all over the world,

but there was no place like Goryeo.

You do not need...

my permission to do that.

Wang Yu.

What is on your mind?

I will tell you...

when we get to Goryeo.

We are going back to Yeongyeong.

Your Majesty.

Why do you want to go back in such a condition?

THE YUAN IMPERIAL PALACE IN YEONGYEONG

Do you have something you want to say?

I will not get in the way...

of Prince Ayu's investiture.

Are you offering me a deal

in exchange for the Empress's crown?

I am afraid...

I do not need your help.

However, I never expected

that you would give up your values for your family.

The Empress's dethronement has already been decided.

His Imperial Majesty is probably preparing the edict by now.

I once told you...

that I wish to...

protect you.

Do you remember?

But now,

I cannot show you any mercy.

I am the one who wishes to protect you,

Grand Councillor.

What is going on?

Why has Uncle Baekan not said anything?

Deposed Empress Bayan, hear and obey.

"Deposed Empress"?

Strip her.

You scoundrels! How dare you touch me?

Deposed Empress?

Who dares to depose me?

Stop this.

Take your hands off me. I am the Empress of the Great Yuan.

Let go of me!

Let go!

Read the edict.

Uncle Baekan, why are you just standing there?

Do not shame yourself.

How could you say that?

Can you not fight against that lowly consort?

"Bayan Khutugh had awful conduct and wicked character,

and has been an affront to the Inner Court and the Imperial House.

Also, she has committed an unforgivable crime.

I, the Emperor, hereby order her to be deposed."

Bayan, you will be exiled to a remote village.

Exiled?

You will not be allowed to step outside of your house.

You cannot be in contact with any outsiders.

Also, you will not be allowed more than one seom of grain a year.

Do you wish to starve me to death?

Take her out of the Palace.

-Yes. -Yes.

Let go. Let go of me!

Let go. I told you to let go of me!

Let go!

Uncle Baekan, pay her back for me.

You must kill that wench!

Uncle Baekan!

Taltal!

Let go of me!

What happened?

The Empress has been deposed.

Now we have no one on our side.

Darn it.

General.

Yeom Byeong-su.

How dare you try to kill Maha?

General, it is not that--

I will kill you right now.

Maha! Maha is not...

your nephew.

-What? -He is someone else's child...

that the late Empress Tanashilli took in.

What?

That cannot be.

It is true. You can look into this.

Is it true

that Maha is not a legitimate heir?

Yes, Your Majesty.

I heard he will be kicked out of the Palace soon.

But what brings you back to Yeongyeong?

Yeon Bisu died.

Did you say

Dang Gise is protected by the leader of the Eagle House?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Did you look into who the leader is?

I looked into it.

But I am not sure what to believe.

Some say the Eagle House is headed by a woman.

Some say it is headed by an old man.

And others say it is headed by a foreigner with blue eyes.

I just do not know what to believe.

They must be his stand-ins.

Stand-ins?

What do you mean by that?

Those people are for...

hiding the real leader.

"The times has come.

The world will be ours soon.

Do not hesitate to sacrifice your lives."

-We receive your order. -We receive your order.

I boiled some Goryeo ginseng.

You should get well quickly.

You are the elder of the Imperial House.

Since when did you know

about Maha's identity?

I thought you would compliment me for what I have done.

Compliment you?

Did you really expect me to compliment you

after what you have done to me?

You hold great values in blood relationships.

I stopped you from making...

a huge mistake.

What did you say? You wench, how dare you--

"You wench"?

My son will soon become the crown prince.

I am the mother of the next emperor.

Hence,

I urge you to show some respect,

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Maha is outside.

He is leaving the Palace today.

He came by to say goodbye.

That is not necessary.

Tell him to leave.

She does not wish to see you.

You should go.

Will she not let him bid farewell to her?

-Are you leaving now? -Yes, Father--

I was...

about to go see Your Imperial Majesty.

It is not your fault.

Everything is...

Everything is my fault.

Please tell

Her Highness...

that I thanked her for bringing me up.

You are very harsh.

Harsh?

You adored Maha so much,

but you abandoned him immediately when he became of no use to you.

Your Imperial Majesty.

You should put yourself in my shoes for once.

I do not know about others,

but you should have protected him to the end, do you not think so?

I do not even know which family he is from.

Your dark intentions are...

very clear to me.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -When my brother became the Emperor

and I was exiled to Goryeo,

you were very harsh on me.

-Enough! -However,

when I returned as the Emperor,

you greeted me...

with a huge smile.

This is just like then.

You trusted and depended on me as if I was your mother.

-How can you say-- -Because I was

terribly lonely.

I knew your smile was fake.

But I was...

terribly afraid and lonely.

This is...

This is all because of the Imperial Noble Consort.

Since that wicked wench came around--

Your Highness.

She is different from you.

-To me, she is... -You have...

destroyed my love.

-Yang. -Wang Yu is...

the only one...

I will ever love.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

What is wrong?

Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Starting now, I will be...

taking care of you, Maha.

If something happens to you,

I will be held responsible.

So...

you must work hard to keep your body and mind healthy.

Answer me.

Yes, Your Grace.

I spared your life

because you are loyal to Maha.

I know that.

Once Maha regains his energy,

take him to Goryeo.

Why should I take him to Goryeo?

He is a sore to my eyes, so I want to send him far away.

Yes, Your Grace.

After you are done with that,

you may go as you please.

Thank you, Your Grace.

Tell the people in Goryeo

to find a place where Maha can live comfortably.

Yes.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki is looking after Maha?

It is better for him to be out of the Palace.

Then does she know that Maha is her son?

That is why she is looking after him.

This is a secret to His Majesty.

If he finds out that Maha is his child...

What are you talking about?

Why is Maha my child?

-Your Majesty. -What do you mean?

Maha is my son?

His Imperial Highness has arrived.

I pay my respects to you, Father.

Come.

Come closer.

From this day, the Crown Prince of the Empire

is Ayushiridara.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Your grace is beyond measure.

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

How can a son of a woman from Goryeo become the Crown Prince?

The Yuan dynasty is going downhill.

We must get rid of Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

Even Yeoncheol's family could not get rid of that wench.

If we act too rashly, she will devour us instead.

Do not worry.

I already have a plan to behead her.

Congratulations, Your Grace.

-Congratulations, Your Grace. -Congratulations, Your Grace.

Thank you.

However,

I am not satisfied yet.

There are...

people who are after me and my son's lives.

You are the mother of the next Emperor.

Who dares to challenge your authority--

The Grand Councillor and the Empress Dowager.

I must get rid of them.

I will get rid...

of the Grand Councillor and the Empress Dowager.

Well played, Your Grace.

You are declaring a war on me.

Do you believe you are match for me, Your Grace?

Have you decided on siding with Baekan?

Imperial Noble Consort Ki is losing the Emperor's favor.

Baekan will be the winner.

What is this for?

You should attack me directly.

Wang Yu... It is Wang Yu.

Wang Yu just laughed at me and...

Your Imperial Majesty.

-Your Imperial Majesty! -Your Imperial Majesty!

Wake up, Your Imperial Majesty!

Subtitle translation by Eun-sook Youn