Original subtitles

The blood vow.

It is the blood vow.

Why are you not sleeping?

Look at this.

What? What is this?

This is...

the blood vow, right?

Yes.

This is definitely Emperor Myeongjong's blood vow.

Your Imperial Majesty, do you not want to see the baby?

How could you not come to the Empress's palace even once?

I was told Your Imperial Majesty is heartsick.

You should reclaim joy and feel better.

Here. Hold our child.

He has Your Imperial Majesty's gorgeous eyes.

Here. Hold him, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty!

Your Imperial Majesty, how could you do this?

I see that you are crazy.

You are out of your mind. You are insane!

Let us go, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty, go ahead and keep this up.

You will have no one left by your side.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Please stop this, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

I am in charge of the Yoyang branch of the Eagle House.

My name is Heuk Su.

What are you here for?

Grand Councillor Yeoncheol has sent you

an invitation to the banquet at the Imperial Palace.

I have been in the Ilkhanate for six months on business.

Please accept my belated congratulations on your position.

All right. You may leave.

And this is a gift

from the Leader.

They are rubies and emeralds

from the West.

Convey my thanks to the Leader.

Yes, Governor.

He is working for the Leader of the Eagle House

which makes huge contributions to Yeoncheol's political funds.

It does us no good to get on the wrong side of them.

I have a strange feeling about him.

Keep an eye on their home base just in case.

Yes, Uncle Baekan.

We will give you more if you want.

Now eat up.

They are trying to fatten us up to sell us at a higher price.

Eat while you can.

Rather than staying here, it will be easier to escape

once we are sold.

What is this?

A piece of the chao is worth three silver coins?

Not many of us even own the chao.

Are they trying to put us out of business?

-Goodness. -Oh, my.

-What is this? -I cannot believe this.

-This is so unfair. -It makes no sense.

-Gosh. -They are crazy.

Buy ginseng with the chao we own.

Yes, Master.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED IN GORYEO

Give this to Heuk Su in Yoyang Province.

Yes.

By the way, Wang Yu has come to this area.

Does he know what we are up to?

He is only drinking without any courtesans.

Your Majesty, we must get back to the Royal Palace.

Do you also...

want me to marry Yeoncheol's niece?

Well, even if you reject,

you must consult with your father first.

Get out.

Everyone, get out.

Yes...

We will leave.

Seung-nyang.

Why are you sparing my life?

We fought against each other

only because of the Yuan dynasty.

As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Friend, you say?

Yes. Friend.

The present does not matter.

The future does.

I am sorry,

but the future I envision is different from yours.

THE YUAN IMPERIAL PALACE IN YEONGYEONG

The governors of all the provinces are gathering at the Imperial Palace.

Getting them involved in the imperial concubine selection

was a great idea.

I, Baekan, the governor of Yoyang Province,

greet Your Imperial Majesty.

I, Oh Gwang, the governor of Unnam Province,

greet Your Imperial Majesty.

I, Bu Sagwi, the governor of Yeongbuk Province,

greet Your Imperial Majesty.

I, Jeok Gong, the governor of Seomseo Province,

greet Your Imperial Majesty.

I, Seol Dogan, the governor of Sacheon Province,

greet Your Imperial Majesty.

Now that the governors have all gathered,

it will be hard for Yeoncheol to deal with all of them.

The blood vow has caused a stir inside and outside the Imperial Palace.

Thus, the governors' opinions will carry more weight than ever.

I am curious

about what they will talk about at the banquet today.

Today, we can all enjoy ourselves

and talk freely.

On behalf of all the governors,

I, Oh Gwang, would like to make a request, Grand Councillor.

Please do.

His Imperial Majesty can have

four wives, including the Empress,

nine consorts,

and twenty-seven concubines.

With so few ladies in the Inner Court,

how about we find more imperial concubines for His Imperial Majesty?

Imperial concubines?

His Imperial Majesty is ill.

How could you suggest such a thing?

The number of imperial concubines represents the Emperor's authority.

At times like these, there should be more concubines, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Even without concubines, we have been-- -Your Imperial Majesty.

Please remain calm.

Go on.

We governors have been discussing this,

and we would like to provide

imperial concubine candidates representing each province.

Through a fair selection process of these candidates,

we would select imperial concubines. How does that sound?

Your Imperial Majesty has given birth to a son,

so now is the right time.

Let us do that then.

-Father. -Father.

Are there any more requests?

The Empress Dowager has been in charge of selecting imperial concubines.

Now that she has been dethroned,

who will take on this task?

I will do it myself.

Your Imperial Majesty will choose the imperial concubine?

That is unheard of.

How about we bring back the Empress Dowager from the temple?

Are you not aware of the crime the Empress Dowager committed?

There is nothing to prove that she was involved in the treason

committed by Bang Jin and Ju Gukcheong.

Furthermore, the Empress Dowager was the empress consort

of Emperor Munjong,

the most honorable Emperor thus far.

To ensure a fair selection process for the imperial concubine,

I believe the Empress Dowager should return to her position.

We ask that you hear our pleas, Grand Councillor.

-Hear our pleas, Grand Councillor. -Hear our pleas, Grand Councillor.

How would I refuse such a heartfelt display of concern

for the Imperial House?

Have the Empress Dowager return,

and select new imperial concubines.

Father.

Now that I have heard your pleas,

let us drink.

Raise your glasses.

Long live the Grand Councillor.

-Long live the Grand Councillor. -Long live the Grand Councillor.

That is right.

The governors want blood ties to the Imperial House.

The Empress Dowager has used their ambition to her advantage.

Do you not think the Grand Councillor caved far too quickly?

I was surprised by that too.

Do you think he has other intentions?

For the governors,

this is an opportunity to become in-laws with the Imperial House,

but for the Grand Councillor,

this is an opportunity to keep them under his thumb

by holding their daughters hostage.

Hostage?

The lands of the Yuan dynasty are vast.

How would we be able to

stop sedition in the distant provinces?

If we keep the governors' daughters in the Palace,

they would make fine hostages.

Then, is the reason why you are trying to marry Wang Yu into the family...

I want to eliminate Goryeo

and make it part of Yoyang Province instead.

We need to start having a good handle on Wang Yu.

She is Grand Councillor Yeoncheol's niece.

You need this marriage

to reclaim the throne.

Could you do this for my sake?

I will do it under one condition.

Go on.

After the wedding, I will return to Yeongyeong

by myself.

You will leave your bride here?

It is a marriage for political reasons anyway.

Yeoncheol will not say much about it.

What made you change your mind?

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

I will kill Yeoncheol and his family with my own hands.

I will make them pay for what they did to Seung-nyang.

Governor.

Did you have a good trip to Yeongyeong?

Move them along.

-Yes. -Yes.

Come on.

How did you catch that girl?

She was being chased by someone in the mountains.

Do you know her?

She is no slave. Release her.

I am afraid I cannot do that.

You cannot?

Are you saying you will defy the governor's order?

I am only following the rules of the Eagle House.

If you want that girl that badly,

come bid for her at the auction.

But she is a slave that I take extra care of.

So the price for her will be high.

Then, I will get going.

We need to save Yang.

Are you saying you are going to the auction?

I became the governor of this place thanks to her.

If she had not told us that Yeoncheol was alive,

I would be rotting in the ground with Bang Jin and Ju Gukcheong.

You have had a long trip here.

And the ginseng?

I brought so much that there is hardly any left in Goryeo.

The Leader will be very pleased.

But since you are here,

would you do me another favor?

Favor?

Thirty-three.

Thirty-five.

-Forty. -Forty-five.

Fifty here.

Fifty.

We have fifty.

Anyone else?

Fifty?

Sold.

If you stay alive,

we will meet again someday.

What is more precious than a real gem

is the ability to recognize a real gem.

Among everyone here,

there must be someone who has the ability to recognize a real gem.

Now for this girl,

we will start the bidding

at 200 yang of gold.

That is too much.

He is basically saying he will not sell her.

-I bid 250 yang of gold. -Did she say 250?

-I bid 260. -I bid 300.

Three hundred?

Anyone else?

Are you giving up?

-I bid 350. -He bid 350.

I bid 500.

Five hundred?

It feels as if

we have fallen into a trap.

Offer more.

I bid 700.

-I bid 1,000. -Did she just bid 1,000?

We have 1,000.

We cannot bid more.

It will be best if we give up here.

-I bid 3,000. -Did he say 3,000?

Uncle Baekan.

We have 3,000.

For 3,000,

she is sold.

You took one year's worth of provisions for the soldiers

and used it up in a second.

Just think of it as the price of her saving our lives.

Thank you for saving me.

How did you end up all the way here?

When Concubine Park had passed away,

I was with her.

She dozed off after caring for His Imperial Highness all day.

I will bring His Imperial Highness here. Please wait.

Her Imperial Majesty ordered them to do it.

Both Concubine Park and Yang...

are dead because of her.

Your Imperial Majesty.

When did you get here?

His Imperial Majesty has aphasia.

He learned of the Empress's actions,

and the shock was too much for him.

Aphasia?

Are you saying he cannot speak?

He also cannot think straight.

His entire family had short lives.

I am worried that will happen to His Imperial Majesty as well.

Governor, General Dang Gise is waiting outside.

He does not know that I am alive.

Come this way.

What brings you here without even a notice?

I have wedding gifts to receive from the slave traders.

So I stopped by on my way to Goryeo.

Wedding gifts? Who is getting married?

Our cousin is getting married into the Royal House of Goryeo.

Who is the groom?

Wang Yu.

Wang Yu accepted the marriage proposal?

He wishes to reclaim his throne.

There is no reason for him to reject the wedding proposal.

Once he reclaims it, I guess we will not see him in the Yuan dynasty anymore.

Congratulate him for me.

We will be selecting new imperial concubines soon.

Who are you sending to the selection?

There is no one worthy to send, so I am still thinking about it.

Yang, when you go back to Goryeo,

give this letter to my mother.

I will.

Deliver this for me too.

Mom.

It is Gwi-ok, your youngest child.

I know you cannot read, so I have not written to you.

But Yang promised she would deliver this and read it to you.

So I am sending you this letter.

I am eating delicious food here

and living without any hardships, so do not worry about me.

Mom, it is the anniversary of Father's death soon.

I hope you do not cry on his death anniversary anymore.

I heard that Brother is married now.

I have been saving up the pay that I receive here.

I will send it soon.

I miss you, Mom.

I miss you so very much.

Who will you send for the concubine selection?

I was going to send my niece, but I cannot bring myself to do it.

If you do not send someone,

you will be the laughingstock of the other governors.

Who is outside?

Why are you still up?

Please send me to the imperial concubine selection.

I thought you were going back to Goryeo.

I will stay behind here.

Have you lost your mind?

-Get out now. -Wait a minute.

Why do you want to become an imperial concubine?

Do you want to live lavishly?

In this entire world,

there is no one that harbors a deeper hatred

for Yeoncheol's family than myself.

That does not mean you can successfully take vengeance on them.

Even if my power is weak,

I will get in and get my vengeance.

Please let me do this, Governor.

We do not want to go through unnecessary trouble because of you.

-Get out right-- -Tell me how you will do it.

This is a dangerous action that could cost us our entire families.

If I like your plan,

I will send you.

-Uncle Baekan. -First of all,

I must restore the Emperor's power.

Only then will he be able to stand up to Yeoncheol.

So you understand the situation.

But there is no one to help him realize that.

I know that His Imperial Majesty is fond of you,

but if you think that your flirting is all it takes to restore his power,

you can forget it.

I have...

the blood vow.

The blood vow?

You have the blood vow?

How can you prove that this is the real blood vow?

There is a butterfly on the bottom of the vow.

His Imperial Majesty will know

that this is Emperor Myeongjong's mark.

How do you know that?

I heard it from Jeok-ho.

You met Jeok-ho?

The man named Mak-saeng who was detained with me

is Jeok-ho himself.

His father wrote this for him in his own blood.

With this blood vow,

there is no doubt I can help His Imperial Majesty

face what is in front of him.

I am against this.

We have seen what she can do since we saw her on Daecheong Island.

You praised her endlessly.

But why are you against this?

As a follower, I have no qualms about her abilities.

But if put in a position that is above us,

her abilities could work against us in the end.

She is merely just a girl from the powerless Goryeo.

Have you not thought

that she could be a greater danger to us because she is from Goryeo?

I have tried many tactics to win.

But I have failed many times.

This is my last chance.

I am betting it all on Yang.

I will have her receive necessary trainings.

Tell me if you change your mind.

Your Highness.

On your return to the Empress Dowager's palace,

we would like to congratulate you.

-Congratulations, Your Highness. -Congratulations, Your Highness.

You have all worked hard during my absence.

Where is His Imperial Majesty?

His Imperial Majesty

has rarely left his chamber in recent days.

Your Imperial Majesty.

You must have suffered so much.

Do not strain yourself.

Everything you want to say, Your Imperial Majesty,

I already know.

We will start over.

I have returned, have I not?

Be brave, Your Imperial Majesty.

Forget about participating in the imperial concubine selection.

I would like to know the reason why you are against it.

You are not of our clan.

I cannot put the fate of our clan in your hands.

I would not repay the mercy of saving my life

with betrayal.

People do not commit betrayal.

The times do.

The Imperial Palace is a place where grandeur and death coexist.

If the occasion arises,

there is no doubt that you will betray our clan for sure.

If I was afraid of death, betrayal is not out of the question.

But as for my fears,

I buried my fears

along with my fellow friends when Concubine Park passed away.

My biggest fear

is failing to exact my vengeance.

Surprising, no?

Whether it be etiquette or music,

she picks it up very quickly.

She has talent, but she also puts a lot of effort.

I think it is time for you to accept her and support her.

You call that dancing?

The ladies who participate in the imperial concubine selection

are daughters of the prestigious families of the Great Yuan.

You have a long way to go to catch up to their level.

So while you are at it,

you should just quit.

Put pressure on it as if you are pushing the mountains.

Pull your arrow back as if you are pulling a tiger's tail.

As if I am pushing the mountains...

As if I am pulling a tiger's tail...

Let me see.

Do not be disappointed.

It usually takes three years to master shooting the baby arrow.

Your Majesty.

Just now,

Grand Councillor Yeoncheol's niece has arrived from the Yuan dynasty.

I truly cannot believe this.

You are becoming part of our clan soon.

Seung-nyang is dead.

Is that so?

But how did she end up dying?

I heard it was the work of some bandits.

She was quite the intelligent girl.

You must be heartbroken.

I have a request for you.

-What is it? -When I return to Yeongyeong,

I will find the people who killed Seung-nyang

and kill them with my own hands.

Help me find them.

We are family now, right?

Of course I will help you.

Now about my throne, how is it going?

Just wait a bit.

You will hear good news from my father.

Seung-nyang,

I will keep you in my heart.

I will carry your grief

and find the people who killed you

and make them suffer a thousandfold the pain.

Watch me, Seung-nyang.

THE ART OF WAR BY SUN TZU

I have something to ask you.

Between Sun Tzu's strategy and Wu Qi's strategy,

which one do you think is right?

Why are you reading books on military strategy?

During my time in the Imperial Palace,

I realized that the feuds that ensue within the Palace

are not all that different from being on the battlefield.

There is no right or wrong in military strategy.

Then,

which one is a better strategy?

Wu Qi says to build up one's armed forces.

Sun Tzu says to deploy spies to the enemy

and use the enemy's power against them.

Sun Tzu's strategy will be more useful in real combat.

Building up your armed forces

requires time and resources to accomplish.

If you know so well,

why are you so against me becoming an imperial concubine?

To fight Yeoncheol,

you build up your armed forces as Wu Qi says.

I am becoming an imperial concubine to take down Yeoncheol

as Sun Tzu says.

The Palace is a battlefield.

And I am going into combat.

If you truly wish to win,

do not go against me.

So you are asking me this

knowing exactly what I am going to say.

I apologize for my rash judgement.

This is Han Feizi.

This is something you must read.

I want you to figure out

why I am asking you to read it.

Did you finish the book?

Yes.

You do not need to explain to me the tactics and theories.

Just answer my question.

What was in Han Feizi?

This book

tells you how to read one's heart.

Shall I elaborate?

This is The Analects.

Figure out this text as well.

What was in The Analects.

It tells you how to govern one's heart.

Am I wrong?

That is enough.

No more reading.

Yang is the one

who Dang Gise set out to kill.

Dang Gise and Tapjahae are in Goryeo now.

By the time they return, she will be an imperial concubine.

What could he do?

She is our candidate.

Yeoncheol will not take kindly to it.

How will you handle him after all of this?

I have my own plans. Do not worry.

Taltal,

you cannot gain anything in this world safely.

The bigger the prize, the more courageous you must be.

This is the time to be more courageous.

Being afraid will get you nothing.

Yes, Uncle Baekan.

I understand.

He is deep in sleep.

He is adorable.

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.

Your Imperial Majesty.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Please stop.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Please, no...

Are you all ready?

Yes, Governor.

Have a safe trip.

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.

This is...

the last time I shed a tear for you, Your Majesty.

For our defenseless people of Goryeo,

please reclaim your throne.

Now, I will go my own way.

For my father,

my child,

and my friends,

I will take vengeance on my terms.

Your Imperial Majesty.

You cannot be like this.

You must take this medicine and speak again.

Did you tell him he should meet the imperial concubine candidates today?

Yes, he knows.

Get it together.

Do you want to become the laughingstock

of the imperial concubine candidates when you meet them for the first time?

My goodness.

Your Imperial Majesty, will you be taking the medicine?

Your Imperial Majesty.

Are the imperial concubine candidates here?

Aside from Yoyang's governor Baekan's foster daughter,

they are all here.

Who does she think she is, being late?

Before the Empress Dowager meets the candidates,

I think you must go and see them first.

Did you prepare the tonic?

I have prepared it.

They may be daughters of provincial governors,

but they are nothing compared to me.

How dare they dream to become imperial concubines?

I heard Her Imperial Majesty has a temper.

-Really? -Yes.

-I heard that too. -Did you hear the rumors?

I heard Her Imperial Majesty is scary.

Because of her,

I heard that His Imperial Majesty is not even speaking now.

Now I am worried about even being selected.

Should I just do poorly on purpose?

Her Imperial Majesty has arrived.

-We greet you, Your Imperial Majesty. -We greet you, Your Imperial Majesty.

You all have had a long journey here.

Starting tomorrow, you will go through rounds of tests

to become an imperial concubine.

It seems like you all are already nervous about the upcoming tests.

-Court Lady Seo. -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Bring it in.

Take one each.

Take it

and drink it.

Court Lady Seo.

Am I in a room full of deaf idiots?

They are either deaf

or insulting you, Your Imperial Majesty.

Hurry and drink it!

Please forgive me.

Forgive you?

Oh, my.

So I see you are doubtful of my intentions.

What is wrong? Are you afraid that I would poison you?

To calm down your nerves,

I had gwibitang prepared.

But you dare to dismiss the goodwill of I, the Empress.

With that attitude, do you think you deserve to be imperial concubines?

Get on your knees, all of you.

And hold the tonic above your heads.

Now!

We have arrived.

Will you not regret this?

Once you get off the carriage

and step foot into the Palace,

you are crossing the point of no return.

I will not regret this.

Keep in mind that it will be a long fight.

I have prepared myself for it.

I see you have arrived.

Leaving so soon, Your Imperial Majesty?

My job here is done.

Next time,

put the special medicine we prepared in the tonic.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

They will all drink it without a doubt then.

My son should be the only heir of His Imperial Majesty.

None of these wenches will bear him a child.

What are you all doing?

Get up now.

Did the Empress make you do this?

It is okay now. You may relax.

But why is one girl still not here yet?

My apologies for my tardiness.

I am from Yoyang Province.

My name is Ki Yang.

Are you okay, Your Imperial Majesty?

Do you think he will be able to speak soon?

My apologies, Your Highness.

Your Imperial Majesty, I know it is hard, but please bear with it a little longer.

The imperial concubine selection is vital for our future.

Only give flowers to the girls that I give a signal for.

And give the rest of them a purse.

Those who are selected will receive flowers.

And the ones who are not will receive purses.

Do you understand, Your Imperial Majesty?

Your Imperial Majesty,

the imperial concubine candidates are here.

Yang...

Yang...

Yang?

Subtitle translation by James Park