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I'll be a servant of Khitan.

But spare my subordinates in return.

I beg you.

You've finally learned to bend.

[Empress Dowager Xiao (Emperor Shengzhong's mother)]

But is this coming from the heart or are you deceiving me to save your men?

I'll do my best to sincerely serve you if you spare my subordinates.

[Lady Sungdeok- Hwangbo Su (future Empress Cheonchu)]

You're learning to negotiate too.

This is a big improvement.

What happened that made you change your attitude?

But your eyes haven't changed at all.

You still have a long way to go.

How am I to believe you, when your eyes say one thing and your mouth says another?

What can I do to make you believe me?

I'll have to give it some thought.

- Duyan . - Yes, Your Highness.

Take her to Kim Chi Yang.

I'm going to see the Emperor.

Yes, Your Highness.

Kim Chi Yang

Drillmaster Gang, Sa Gamun, and Sa Illa have been captured?

I've told Chengtian [Empress Xiao] that I'd serve her in exchange for their lives.

But she didn't believe me even when I kneeled.

She sent you here, not back to your cell.

That means there's hope.

But I don't think I can ever go back to Goryeo.

What do you mean?

Once you and the others are released and sent back to Goryeo,

I'm going to take my own life.

I'm the mother of Goryeo's next king.

How could I live after vowing loyalty to Khitan?

Who cares about a vow made under duress?

Neither one of us have any obligation to be truthful to the Khitan Empress.

Why are we enduring this humiliation right now?

Isn't it so we can go back to Goryeo and pay the Khitan back an eye for an eye?

Do you think the Empress is going to let me leave here?

I need you to suppress your indignation and endure the humiliation.

I'll do the rest.

The only one who can sway the Empress is her lover, Han Derang.

And I'll sway him.

Please trust me.

What do you think?

I oppose, Mother.

They broke into the palace and killed our men.

[Shengzhong (6th ruler of Khitan)]

Great Liao's reputation is at stake.

They must all be executed.

How about you, Prime Minister?

[Han Derang (Khitan Commissioner of the Security Council)]

I was able to extract quite a bit of information about Lady Sungdeok from the Chief Minister of Goryeo.

Kim Chi Yang was telling the truth.

Lady Sungdeok has more than enough potential to threaten the King of Goryeo.

If we sent her back with support, we can incite internal divisions in the Royal Court.

But we could be asking for trouble.

That woman is no ordinary wench.

Why take the chance when we can get rid of her right now?

What do you think, Empress Dowager?

I don't like either of the options.

She's too good to kill and too dangerous to send back to Goryeo.

I want to have her for myself.

I want to make her my subordinate.

How about the traitor, Gang Shin?

Gang Jo

What's this?

Yelu Pennu

It's your brother's shirt.

Take a good look.

Is he already dead?

Are you blind?

It's a letter.

I'm delivering it to you because I admire you and your brother's spearsmanship.

It's too bad that'll die with you.

Brother...

one night was much too short after 15 years of being apart.

If I had know that you were alive,

I would've walked a thousand miles to Goryeo to find you.

Why did you wait this long to find me?

Brother,

as I've told you before, I've been living as a warrior of Khitan.

I'd turned my back on my ancestors and vowed loyalty to the Empress Dowager, in order to survive.

But now that I've broken that vow as well,

Gang Shin

I'm no longer a man, and I'll die here on this desolate soil.

But you should get out of here alive so you can rebuild Balhae.

I'm not afraid of death, but I wish we had more time together.

How nice would it be to share a drink and have a spear fighting match to see who's stronger.

I bid you farewell now to join our father in the next world.

I wish you a good life with Lady Sungdeok, Brother.

You bastards!

Bring back my brother!

One more time...

Let me see him one more time...

Shin!

Shin!

My Lady!

Sir Gang!

My Lady! You really are alive, my Lady!

How did this happen?

What are you doing here, Sir Gang?

He's no longer the Vice-Director of the Office of Royal Decree, my Lady.

[Park Yang Yu (Chief Minister of the Supreme Council)] [Gang Gamchan (Grand Secretary of the Supreme Council)]

He's here as the Vice-Envoy in his capacity as Secretary of the Supreme Council.

My Lady, are you acquainted with the Chief Minister?

Yes.

It's good to see you, Minister Park.

I'm so happy to see that you're alive, my Lady.

Foreman Kim, you're alive as well.

Yes.

Forgive me.

My injury doesn't permit me to get up.

No, that's alright.

That's alright.

How did Drillmaster Gang and my subordinates come to be here with the diplomatic mission?

They requested to do so, determined to find you.

My lady, you've no idea how hard Drillmaster Gang has searched for you.

Has he?

And he has gotten us into terrible trouble.

He might have sabotaged our mission to solidify the peace treaty.

I know he did this out of loyalty to you, but what he did is unforgivable.

Let it go, Your Highness.

I know how much you value talent and Lady Sungdeok,

is indeed worthy of your desire.

And yet you're urging me to give her up.

There's more than one way to acquire a good man.

Why does one want a good man anyway?

Isn't it to put that man to good use?

You don't need to have her near to put her to good use.

So you think she would be of more valuable service to us in Goryeo?

Yes.

What could be better than bringing Goryeo down without military action?

Lady Sungdeok is the perfect instrument to make that happen.

But the Emperor has a point too.

What if she's bigger than we think?

What if we sent her back and she rises to power and threatens us with revenge?

Can we control her then?

We could be letting loose a tiger.

I doubt she's capable of that.

She can't even control her own emotions.

That's true, but...

If that concerns you,

send a spy with her to keep a close eye on the going-ons of the Goryeoan Royal House.

Like who?

How can we plant such a spy?

Your Highness,

there's nothing we can gain by joining hands with Song China.

[Seongjong (6th Ruler of Goryeo)]

Does it seem that reckless to go after the Khitan with assistance from Song?

Song is struggling as it is to protect their own land against the Khitan.

[Seo Hui (Vice Minister of the Supreme Council)]

Good results are unlikely even if we do send an envoy.

Are you saying that serving a barbarian state like Liao is the only way to ensure our survival?

We must bide our time.

We must build our strength and patiently wait for the right time.

But how?

How do we build our strength?

Your Highness,

we must first reorganize the military.

Restore the resplendent army that Jeongjong formed

to guard against the Khitan and reorganize the central armed forces as well.

We must replace the disposed weapons

and quickly build fortresses on the newly gained territory in case of Khitan aggression.

I understand.

We can't join hands with Song.

Please don't ignore my advice.

Let's stop.

I don't feel well.

My chest feels heavy and my head hurts.

Shall I call a physician?

Can you still be suffering after effects of the poisoned arrow?

No, I just need a little rest.

My Queen, what's all this?

Queen Munwha

Please sit down, Your Highness.

I prepared a special dance for you in the hopes of cheering you up.

Please don't turn me away.

My Queen...

Thank you, my Queen.

Thank you for always being there for me.

Your Highness, gather strength.

Gather your strength for your people.

My darling, how can I not adore you?

I will.

I will pull myself together for you.

Liao Palace

The act of violence that involved members of the Goryeoan diplomatic mission was undeniably inexcusable.

However, I've decided, after much consideration, to overlook the incident.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Highness!

And for the sake of our national friendship,

I've decided to send the Goryeoan King's sister, Lady Sungdeok, back to Goryeo with you.

Is this true?

Yes.

Your Highness,

this'll undoubtedly strengthen our national relationship even further.

Thank you, Your Highness.

But there is one regret in return for this generosity.

A request?

Enter.

You both know Viceroy Xiao of East Capital.

This young lady is his daughter and a relative of the Empress Dowager.

Xiao Zanli

She's like a daughter to me.

Her name is Xiao Zanli.

I'd like to send her to Goryeo as the King's consort.

As a royal consort?

Yes.

The best way to proclaim Liao and Goryeo's newfound friendship

is by marriage of the royals.

But Your Highness,

I can't make this decision on behalf of my king.

I'll deliver this proposal to my king and send back another envoy to address this matter.

Are you rebuffing Great Liao's kind offer?

Of course not, but...

Then accept it.

I could rescind my offer to release Lady Sungdeok depending on your attitude.

Emperor, don't worry.

I'm sure the envoys will make the King understand what's best for Goryeo.

Isn't that right?

Yes... Your Highness.

According to the records of Goryeosa, the Liao princess who married Seongjong

was Xiao Sunning's daughter and Xiao Sunning was Emperor Shengzhong's son-in-law.

But taking into account that Shengzhong was only 24 at the time,

it's mathematically impossible for him to have a granddaughter of marrying age.

So it's speculated that she was either Xiao Sunning's daughter, unrelated to Shengzhong

or a relative of Empress Dowager Xiao whom they elevated to royal status

in order to marry her to Seongjong of Goryeo.

You're a lucky man.

You're released.

My brother?

How about my brother Shin?

That I don't know.

Now get out of here!

My Lady!

Drillmaster Gang!

My Lady, are you alright?

They didn't hurt you, did they?

My man, why did you do something so foolish?

You shouldn't have come all the way here risking your life for me.

I'm sorry.

I should've stayed with you that day,

but I made a mistake and put you through this.

Please forgive me.

No, Drillmaster Gang. It's not your fault.

But I never for a moment believed that you were dead.

I knew that I'd find you.

And I missed you so much.

Yes, I missed you too.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

My Lady, where is Kim Chi Yang?

He's on his back with an injury.

He's a traitor.

My Lady, he isn't to be trusted.

Good work.

Sa Gamun Sa Illa

Are you hurt badly, Master?

There's no need for concern.

I want you to contact the tribe and prepare to move forward with our mission.

Did you make some kind of progress?

I've got Lady Sungdeok's heart...

in the palm of my hand.

The Lady isn't one to be easily controlled.

But there's no better instrument to lay a foundation for our great enterprise.

If it should get in the way later, I can easily dispose of it.

But if she gains power, she might not be easy to get rid of.

That's another reward I reaped through this ordeal.

If need be, as the last resort,

I'll call upon Khitan for help.

Khitan doesn't care who rules Goryeo as long as they're loyal to them.

And nothing is easier to fake than loyalty.

Do you understand?

Yes, Master.

You may go.

I thought the world was going to end when I heard you were dead.

I'm so glad you're alive.

Our great mission doesn't need tears.

I'm sorry, Master.

No tears, no conscience, no feelings...

You don't need anything, Kim Hang.

You've already sold your soul to the devil.

I saw him with my own eyes.

My Lady,

he told the Empress Dowager Xiao that he would obey her.

It was an act to get us out of here.

No. He promised the Empress that he would make you yield to her.

He's a traitor, my Lady.

If he's a traitor, so am I.

I submitted to the Empress Dowager to save you and the others.

My Lady!

Hyang Bi!

You've come for me too.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

I'm so glad you're alive, my Lady.

I've missed you so much...

I missed you too.

But... there's a problem.

What is it?

They're executing brother's younger brother right now.

What?

Shin!

Shin!

Shin!

Brother!

Silence!

Prisoner Gang Shin,

you swore loyalty to the Empress Dowager who spared you from death.

But you abused her great kindness and betrayed her.

Therefore, you'll be executed as an example to all.

Any last words?

No last words?

No! Stop!

Shin!

Shin!

I'm a Balhaean!

I'm a Balhaean!

I'm a Balhaean!

I'm a Balhaean!

I'm a Balhaean!

Shin!

Shin!

Shin!

Shin!

Now you plant the lettuce seed and cover it lightly.

??????:??????

People are the heart of the country, and farming is the source of their livelihood.

It's very important for a king to know how his people make a living

and recognize their hardship.

Yes, Your Highness.

Prince Gaeryeong,

I want a government that makes the people prosper.

That's my dream.

I hope it'll be yours as well.

Yes, Your Highness.

Mother also said I must always look upon the people with compassion.

[Wang Song (Future King Mokjong)]

I see.

You must keep your mother's word and my dreams etched in your heart.

Think of this seed as the seed of good government that you sow for the people.

Yes, Your Highness.

I'm sorry, Drillmaster Gang.

You lost your brother because of me.

He would be still alive if it wasn't for me.

No, he died the way he wanted to die.

Even as a child he used to say he'd never die at home in his bed.

And he didn't.

He died like the warrior of Balhae he was.

But I'll never forget this.

And I'm going to avenge his death with their blood someday.

I won't forget this either.

I won't forget the death of this Balhaean warrior.

The Empress Dowager is asking for you.

Jiemei

There you are; I've been waiting.

You look upset.

You said you'd serve me if I let your subordinates go.

That isn't the attitude of a servant to her master.

You broke your word.

Me?

Why did you kill Gang Shin?

He wasn't included in the agreement.

He was my subordinate, not yours.

Am I wrong?

I valued his talent and didn't want to kill him either.

But if one traitor is allowed to live, a thousand more will betray me.

I can't maintain this empire this way.

Don't give me that hostile glare.

I didn't call you to argue.

I thought you might like a bath.

Are they bothering you?

Don't be.

They're virgins, so their energy is good for you.

But they're still boys.

So does it bother you?

Let me guess what you're thinking right now.

You're thinking you should strangle me to death, now that we're alone.

Doesn't it scare you?

I'm faster than you think.

Don't.

I invited you because I honestly like you.

Do you know why I like you?

Because you remind me of myself at your age.

I was a lot like you, stubborn and fiery with a tunnel vision.

That's why I decided to send you back to Goryeo.

Pardon?

I guess the envoys haven't told you yet.

What's your ulterior motive?

There's no ulterior motive.

I just feel like you're a sister or a daughter.

We're much alike.

I'm sorry, but I don't think we're alike at all.

I don't kill my subordinates,

and I don't treat my prisoners like flies.

Wasn't your husband, Gyeongjong of Goryeo?

My dead husband was Jinzong of Liao.

He grew up watching bloody family feuds, so he didn't make a very good king.

He was morbidly suspicious of everyone around him and died an untimely death.

Deep down he had a kind and gentle soul, but he died a tyrant.

Wasn't your husband the same way?

You see? We've a lot in common.

You'll be up and about in a few days.

You're a man of strong will.

It's owing to your amazing healing hands, Prime Minister.

You said when we first met that you wanted to be like me.

Yes, I did.

I'm a Han Chinese.

I guess you can say I made it to the top as the Prime Minister of Liao with Chinese background.

But I didn't get here with ambition alone.

You need talent, luck and motive.

Do you?

Very well. I'll help you.

See if you can put Goryeo in the palm of your hands.

Thank you.

But if you should ever turn your back on me, the consequences will be deadly at best.

I won't let you down, Prime Minister.

You and I are very much alike, but you still have a lot to learn.

You need to be able to hide your feelings to achieve your objective

and bend according to need, but you're too rigid and easy to read.

And you're too pigheaded for your own good, like a child.

In order to conquer what you want, you need to become thoroughly unfeeling.

I killed two of my sisters to get where I am today.

And I poisoned the Prime Minister's wife in order to have him for myself.

When you kill, you've to become an arch demon, so no one can dare look at you with disdain.

But when you give to the people, give them the shirt off your back.

If you win the heart of the people, you can't fall.

Why are you telling me all this?

Because I like you.

You'll find my advice useful someday.

Ahhh, this is so relaxing.

What shall we have for dinner tonight?

Brother, let's go back now.

Hyang Bi, you'll see.

I'll die like this too, someday.

I swear I'll wipe out the Khitan and die fighting.

I'll become a handful of ashes on a field like this and join my brother Shin.

I swear I will.

I can't figure out what is the right thing to do.

If we decline, we would be rejecting their kind offer,

but if we accept, His Highness may not be pleased.

It won't be easy, but we must persuade the king to accept the Khitan princess.

We don't have a choice until our military has built some strength.

Besides, they're not asking for a Goryeoan prince to hold as hostage.

They're giving us their princess instead.

I know what you mean,

but the King and Queen are like two lovebirds.

How can we tell him to take in another wife?

Read it.

[Kim Won Soong (Chief of the Office of Astronomical Observation)]

What do you think?

Is that pretty good writing?

It's excellent, sir.

Jo Sun

I had no idea you could write so well.

Hey,

I don't. I paid a scholar to write for me.

Oh, I see.

I don't understand, sir.

Jo Du

Why would the government make metal coins just because some rats got into our grain shed?

You don't understand because you're a pea-brained idiot.

You just watch.

This is going to be our bread and butter in the future.

What's wrong?

Feeling uncomfortable?

No.

Do you find our closeness odd?

Everyone, including the Emperor knows that the Prime Minister and I are lovers.

But I guess it's making you uncomfortable.

In Goryeo, a widowed royalty normally remains faithful to her dead husband.

It's different for commoners, of course.

That's absurd.

It's God's providence that a man and woman be together.

Who's to stand in the way? On what basis?

That's right.

And love knows no social status.

Oh, I want to give you a gift when you return to Goryeo.

A gift?

I'd like to send back all of the Goryeoan war prisoners with you.

Are you serious?

But there's one problem.

My son the Emperor opposes it.

I may be the regent, but I can't make him look bad.

So we're thinking about a contest.

A contest?

Today...

we've gathered today for a martial arts competition

to promote camaraderie and friendship between Liao and Goryeo.

This is a friendly competition.

As such, killing won't be allowed.

And if the competition ends in defeat for Liao,

all of the Goryeoan war prisoners will be released.

Let the competition begin.

First competitors, step forward.

Duyan

Next we've General Yelu Pennu, the fiercest warrior of the Imperial Palace!

Yelu Wuji

General Yelu Pennu has lost the match and the score is now tied.

This is the deciding round.

Who will fight next on Goryeo's side?

We've no warriors left.

But if you want an archery match, I'll compete myself.

Who will challenge me?

I'll challenge you.

It's not a bad idea.

The Emperor is a recognized archer in Liao, so this will be an exciting match.

Mother,

I'd like to make this a little more interesting than an ordinary target shooting match.

May I?

More interesting?

I'd like to put a Goryeoan hostage and a Khitan soldier as target boards.

Bulls-eye!

Yi Hyunoon

Your Highness, I've never met a more amazing archer!

You're amazing!

What are you waiting for? Clap louder!

Louder! That's better.

Your Highness, shoot another one.

Lady Sungdeok has won the match.

I'll release the Goryeoan war prisoners as promised.

I don't understand why she's letting that wench go free!

She said it's to incite internal divisions in the Goryeoan court.

Why bother going about it the hard way?

We can raise an army of 300,000 soldiers right now.

We can bring down Goryeo today if we wanted to.

Why is she doing this?

Your Majesty, don't let this upset you.

Above all, I don't like that wench.

I can't stand her arrogance!

If you ride south across this vast plane, you'll eventually reach China.

Do you know?

I don't know the geography of this region that well.

Then do you know Empress Wu Zetian of Tang?

I've heard of her.

She was the first and only woman Emperor of China.

I wanted to be just like her at one point in time.

My husband the Emperor was sickly and my son was too young.

Many were after the throne and I thought maybe I should be the Emperor.

So why didn't you?

I'm just as powerful as the Emperor, so I've no reason to.

Besides, Empress Wu Zetian lost her empire although she rose to power,

but I've gained everything: love, power, even my son's filial piety.

The only dream I've left to fulfill now is to conquer China and expand my empire.

Women have always been in the shadow, in the history written by men.

It's my dream to be the phoenix in that history

that rises to build the largest empire that no man has ever built.

What do you want to do?

Let's get back. It's getting windy.

Brought to you by WITH S2 Written In The Heavens Subbing Squad

Main Translator: KBS WORLD Spot Translator: saturn

Transcriber: KaKaK Timer: dOtcOm

Editor/QC: melica Coordinators: mily2, ay_link

Please do NOT hardsub and/or stream this episode using our English subtitles.

The wench who dare defies Great Liao...

Silence!

Do you think it's war that got us here?

I've decided to dispatch an envoy.

I beg you to rescind!

I'm the King and it's my decision!

Put the fate of Goryeo in the palm of your hands.

I'll do my very best.

He's the future leader of this kingdom. Epilepsy?

No!

Your Highness!

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