Original subtitles

SPIRITUAL BODY OF KI SEUNG-NYANG OF GORYEO

The Yuan provinces

have been struggling because of the counterfeit chao.

The spies report the same as well.

Yeoncheol is using the Eagle House to toy with not just Goryeo,

but the economy of his own nation as well.

If this gets out,

it will be easier for us to get the provincial governors on our side.

Hong, who has been selling counterfeit chao,

is our first lead on this case.

Any word from the gang that we sent

to Yoyang Province?

I do not know if that punk named Hong has caught on,

but he has not been seen around the brewery.

General Dang Gise is now leaving for Yeongyeong.

I think I must stay here

for a bit longer.

Of course. You are a newlywed after all.

I will let Father know. Take your time.

Let us go to Yoyang Province now.

Yes, Your Highness.

THE YUAN EMPEROR'S PALACE IN YEONGYEONG

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...

Are you able to speak now?

Her Imperial Majesty has arrived.

It is all right, Your Imperial Majesty.

Do not strain yourself.

What brings you here, Empress?

I will also be judging

the imperial concubine candidates.

The Inner Court's laws forbid your involvement in--

I am fully aware.

But the selection process this time

needs fairness more than ever.

That is my father's will.

If you do not want me here,

you can take it up with my father, Your Highness.

If you are to be fair, then I am sure that we will not have differing opinions.

Listen, Imperial Concubine Candidates.

You will compete in a series of highly strict tests

to be selected as the next imperial concubine.

The tests will be decided

after discussing with the Empress. So be aware of that.

Chief Eunuch Dok-man.

Assign a place to stay for the candidates.

Yes, Your Highness.

Everyone, follow me.

What in the world possessed you to come back here?

My friends who tried to help me

were killed in front of my eyes.

So what?

Are you hoping to get your vengeance for them?

If I can, I will.

It is impossible for you to do that alone.

Do you not know

that hasty revenge only brings even worse consequences?

Forget participating in the imperial concubine selection.

These are letters

that my dead friends requested I deliver to their families in Goryeo.

I am afraid too.

I was so afraid that I did not plan on returning to this place.

However,

after reading these letters,

I could not get myself to go back and carry on with my life.

As long as they keep dragging Goryeo women here,

people will continue to be killed unjustly.

To stop all of this,

someone from Goryeo must be here in this Palace

to rise to power and fight against our enemies.

Chief Eunuch,

is that not why you helped Concubine Park,

who used to be a court lady?

I just fulfilled my duties as a chief eunuch of the Yuan dynasty.

That is all.

I know that seeing Goryeo people suffer

hurts you more than anything in the world.

How could you deny that blood is thicker than water?

I will not ask you to help me.

But I want you to know that I am not doing this

to satisfy my own greed.

Mom.

It is Gwi-ok, your youngest child.

I miss you, Mom.

I miss you so very much.

Yang...

I want you to find out

where Yang is staying at.

Your Imperial Majesty, you are speaking--

For the time being, do not tell anyone

that I can speak again.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

I must see Yang right away.

Bring Yang to me.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

You must not let anyone know that His Imperial Majesty is speaking again.

You were alive.

You were alive.

Do you know how I felt all this time?

I was like the living dead.

I was awake while asleep

and starving while eating.

Please let me go.

No.

I will never let you go again. Ever.

I did not return to the Palace

to be held by Your Imperial Majesty.

If not,

why are you trying to become an imperial concubine?

I want to take power away

from Yeoncheol and his family

Are you using me for your revenge?

My revenge is your revenge as well, Your Imperial Majesty.

If you help me,

I will also serve you

with all my heart.

You said you wanted my forgiveness.

Right now,

I am offering you that opportunity.

You have changed.

Anyone...

who has experienced the things I have...

is bound to change.

I am tired of things

like vengeance.

-But you must fight them. -Enough.

That is enough.

Why are you holding back?

Your Imperial Majesty, Yang must return to her room now.

Focus on competing to become an imperial concubine.

If you need anything, contact Golta.

He will help you.

YOYANG PROVINCE

The Eagle House does not just sell counterfeit money.

They sell slaves and even assassinate.

They will do anything if it involves money.

They are the worst of the worst.

What did the notice say?

It said that the Eagle House is recruiting guards.

Guards?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

I found that punk named Hong.

Where is he?

Master, it is I, Hong.

I told you to go into hiding.

My men are dying from starvation.

Please give us the counterfeit money.

You have already been exposed.

If I were exposed, I would have been arrested by now.

-What did you say? -If you do not give it to us,

I will seek out Master Heuk Su.

I heard all the traders come here to meet.

I also heard that Hong comes here to sell the counterfeit money.

Your Highness,

Hong has just left this tavern.

We will follow him.

LIQUOR

Sell us some wine.

I am so thirsty.

That is what taverns are for.

Gosh, you are so selfish with your wine.

Just sell us a bit, you jerk.

You little...

Are you Hong?

I am a member of the Eagle House.

You dare to mess with the Eagle House

and hope that you get away with it alive?

I asked if you are Hong.

Yes. So what?

Where do you make the counterfeit money?

So you are after the counterfeit money?

Do you think this is a joke, you fool?

You think I would tell you just because you have me like this?

-Your Majesty... -Find the counterfeit money.

Yes.

It is here.

This is counterfeit.

But why did you kill Hong?

We need to get rid of the minions

and take on the Eagle House directly.

When did they say they will be recruiting new guards?

In two days.

On that day,

we will send these bodies

to the Eagle House.

How do you plan on testing

the imperial concubine candidates this time?

For the first round, we must check their physiognomy.

And for the second round...

I will test them myself.

Very well, Empress.

You have been very mild-tempered

with me recently.

I let go of a lot of things while I was at Ganye Temple.

Any naive fool would be

easily fooled by that tender smile of yours, Your Highness.

Empress,

I say this with sincerity. Please do not twist my words.

If you look at the world in such a cynical manner,

there will be no one on your side.

As for the third and final round,

how about we have the Imperial College come up with a question?

Do as you please.

Well then, I will get going now.

Go right ahead, Your Highness.

She is still as annoying as ever.

Your Imperial Majesty,

how many imperial concubines do you plan on accepting this time?

I do not plan on accepting

anyone as an imperial concubine.

Just watch.

For this competition,

it will be as difficult as a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

Did you hear where that girl came from?

Is the rumor true?

I heard as well, and I cannot believe it.

I heard you were a tribute woman.

I guess she really was one.

What are you looking at?

How distasteful.

You'd better just give up and leave.

You girls should just mind your own business.

What? "You girls"?

Did you just talk down to us?

That is enough.

No matter where we came from,

we are all in the same position.

Same position?

She is a tribute woman who got dragged all the way here from Goryeo.

Are you not embarrassed to be competing

with someone like her?

Her Imperial Majesty has arrived.

All of you are...

very pretty.

Your pretty faces will be

your demise this time.

Why are you here?

Are you deaf?

I asked you why you are here.

Governor Baekan sent her.

Are you saying

that this girl was sent from Yoyang Province?

I did think it was strange as well.

But who the provincial governors send is their own right.

What can we do?

You will all go through three rounds

to be selected as an imperial concubine.

Those who were born with good fortune

will bring harmony to the Imperial House,

and those who were not will bring bad luck to the Imperial House.

Therefore, for the first round,

we will examine your physiognomy.

But where are the physiognomists?

They will not be coming.

Instead of physiognomists,

I have called artists.

What do you mean?

As for the physiognomists,

they are under Your Highness's authority, are they not?

I am merely preventing any doubt

that you have an influence on this.

I see you are thinking a step ahead of me, Empress.

The artists will come and paint your portraits.

The physiognomists will examine your physiognomy

based on the portraits

without any prior information about you.

That is all.

Did you see the Empress Dowager's flustered face?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

She is definitely plotting with the provincial governors.

After all, she is the best at sneaking around behind people's backs.

You told them to pick only the ugliest girls, right?

They will pick

only the ugliest of the bunch.

It is not because I am jealous of their beauty.

Your Imperial Majesty,

who in the world is more beautiful than you?

I suppose

I am very pretty.

Oh my, my little Maha.

Go to sleep.

How cute.

The physiognomists are only looking at the portraits?

How can they tell who is who?

Everything Her Highness had prepared

is now all for nothing.

Do not worry too much.

Even from my perspective, Seung-nyang has a great physiognomy.

Your Imperial Majesty, the results are out.

Announce the results.

For the first round, we have seven girls

who passed.

First, we have Lady Seolhwa

from Unnam Province.

How did this happen?

She is not so pretty. Do not worry too much.

Lady Uhui from Yeongbuk Province.

Lady Moran from Sacheon Province.

Lady Mirang from Seomseo Province.

Lady Kiye from Gamsuk Province.

Lady Jiran from Gangseo Province.

And lastly,

Lady Ki Yang from Yoyang Province.

Why her?

What in the world happened?

They were supposed to pick only the ugly girls.

Well, in my eyes,

they are all very ugly.

The physiognomists

will follow the order and look at you. They will rate your facial features.

The Empress will be judging the selection this time.

That makes me anxious as well.

I think it would be a good idea to mark the girls.

Mark the girls?

Please tell Her Highness

to put a hair ornament on the girls she wishes to pick.

Even if something unexpected happens,

we will be fully prepared.

I will deliver the message to Her Highness.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Rejoice, Your Imperial Majesty.

The results of the first round are very nice.

What about Governor Baekan's candidate?

Of course she passed.

According to Governor Baekan,

that girl saved Your Imperial Majesty's life in Goryeo.

Is that true?

She is quite a remarkable girl.

If it was not for her sagacity this first round,

we would not have had the results that we wanted.

Your Imperial Majesty,

this selection is not merely about

picking an imperial concubine.

It will be a strategic move to strengthen the imperial influence.

Just know that and relax.

He has fainted from too much drinking.

When will he be able to speak again?

His Imperial Majesty has no will to recover.

-Go on. -Yes.

He is almost a complete cripple.

Perfect.

On the Prince's first birthday,

I plan to announce his abdication.

Is it not too early?

Do you think I will live forever?

The purpose of the concubine selection is merely to prepare for his abdication

and to hold the governors' daughters hostage.

So make sure to calm the Empress.

Yes, Father.

But why are you lying to Her Highness

and pretending to be mute?

I will tell you later.

I am looking forward to seeing how you will test these girls

in the second round.

I have prepared an appropriate test.

Do not worry.

Did you hear

about Hwanggak Temple?

What are you talking about?

The small temple you stayed at burned down,

and all of the monks in there died.

Did you not know?

Who would commit such a horrible crime?

The perpetrator was not revealed.

But the heavens will make them pay for it.

Buddha be praised.

Was that old fox testing me?

Calm down, Your Imperial Majesty.

As for Hwanggak Temple,

there is no way the Empress Dowager will find out who did it.

The Empress was treated for her infertility?

Yes.

That is what the physician said.

Are you still suspicious?

Secretly look into the fire at Hwanggak Temple.

Seeing the Empress's reactions,

I can tell she has a strong connection to that incident.

Yes.

I will do so, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

I will join the Eagle House.

Can you do it alone?

Do you think

there is any way those losers could beat me in swordsmanship?

You must not underestimate them.

You could lose your life with just one mistake.

My life...

is yours to command, Your Majesty.

Anyone else?

Step right up.

He has quite some skill.

Is there anyone else

to go against him?

I will give it a try.

Who are you? Where are you from?

I am just a freeloader

who walked by because I smelled bloodshed.

Well, go on. Try it.

-What? -Oh, my.

Looks like we have found our man.

What is your name?

I am from Goryeo. Please call me Choi.

Come over here. I like you.

Come have a drink.

That was way too easy for him.

Of course. He is the Chief Guard of the Royal Palace, after all.

Is that Heuk Su?

Yes.

He already looks like a gloomy character.

Who is next to him?

He does not look like someone who is from Yoyang Province.

Your Majesty, it is here.

Master,

Hong was attacked.

Do you think it was bandits?

There are no bandits in this area

that would mess with us.

On the counterfeit money they stole,

there is a mark that only we know.

There is no doubt that they will try to use those.

Be sure to keep an eye on the bills

that get circulated in town.

-Yes, Master. -Yes, Master.

Who would dare

to mess with us?

The second round will be...

a test of your true nature.

Bring us

the finest food in this Palace.

You will be given four hours.

Chief Eunuch, mark the time.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Four hours.

If you pass four hours,

you will be disqualified.

Begin.

Where is the imperial kitchen?

These court ladies

will escort each of you to your assigned kitchen.

Escort them.

Please follow me.

Where are you going?

I am escorting her to the kitchen, my lady.

We have already assigned the kitchens.

There is no kitchen that we can assign

to you.

My lady, we are in the middle of a competition--

You shut up and stand still.

What? Do you feel wronged?

Seeing you leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

It is really bitter.

Assign me a kitchen right now.

You look like you are going to hit me.

I am not just a court lady now. I am a senior court lady.

People now call me with respect.

Assign me a kitchen.

If you feel wronged, hit me back.

Her Imperial Majesty favors me, so I have no worries.

But I am sure you would be kicked out in an instant.

An imperial concubine?

How dare you even dream of such a position?

If you become an imperial concubine,

I will burn all ten of my fingers.

I will remember what you said just now.

How about you go find a kitchen for yourself first?

You cannot even step foot in one.

How will you cook when you cannot go into the kitchen?

Hurry, Hong-dan.

There are no ingredients left, and time is almost up.

What do we do now?

Time is up.

Disqualify those who are not here.

And quickly begin.

I said to start.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Today's competition-- -Wait.

Please forgive my tardiness.

Go to your spot.

Today's competition will be scored

directly by Her Highness

and Her Imperial Majesty herself.

His Imperial Majesty insists that he participates in the scoring.

Understood.

Reveal the dish that you have made

and tell us your reasoning.

You first.

With poor man's ginseng, China root,

Job's tears, and hyacinth beans, I have made

an eight-ingredient rice cake.

You must have a relaxed stomach to achieve longevity.

This eight-ingredient rice cake strengthens the stomach

and nurses one's energy,

which is why I think this is the best food.

THREE POINTS

ONE POINT

Next, Lady Moran.

Duck meat reinforces one's energy

and cures heat rashes.

I have also added wild ginseng,

so there is nothing healthier than this.

I have seasoned pine mushrooms and beef together.

TWO POINTS

My dish is made of shark fin.

Lady Seolhwa.

Containing over 30 delicacies,

I have sautéed my dish in wine.

The Yuan dynasty is separated into ten different provinces

following different traditions.

And just like how various ingredients come together to make one flavor in my dish,

I hope we can be a nation of solidarity and harmony.

FOUR POINTS

FOUR POINTS

ONE POINT

Lastly,

Lady Ki Yang.

What is that?

It is salt.

Salt?

In all of the dishes here,

there is salt.

Just like how the salt melts and flavors the dish,

the people of this nation

expect Your Imperial Majesty to rule the nation properly

and to warm every single one of their hearts.

Your Imperial Majesty,

just like how all of these dishes require salt,

please understand that the people need you

and bestow on the people your grace.

Shut your mouth.

How dare you blabber on like that?

She has made an excellent point.

Was that not such a memorable speech?

I told them to bring me the finest food within the Palace.

Salt is also a food.

FIVE POINTS

FIVE POINTS

There was no sincerity or effort put into that.

How can you call that food?

As for that dish,

I believe it is fair

that it receives a failing score from all of the judges.

Empress.

I am the one who came up with the test.

If you ignore my right to my opinion,

the selection will end here.

Welcome, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Is everything going well? -Yes.

According to your instructions,

we are coming up with a challenging question

that even scholars would struggle to solve.

Come in.

Until the third round is over,

the Kheshig will tightly guard this place.

Pardon? Your Imperial Majesty...

Without my permission, you may not meet anyone

or even take one step out of this room.

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

I will be sure to keep you safe.

Will the third round's test be that hard?

Her Imperial Majesty has ordered the Imperial College

to make it challenging.

Does Her Highness not have a counterplan?

At this rate, Seung-nyang will never become an imperial concubine.

She received a failing score in the second round.

She is an intelligent girl.

No matter how intelligent she may be,

even the scholars are having trouble solving the test.

I will explain the rules for the third round.

The painting in front of you

has a very profound message behind it.

Please write down

what you think that message is about.

Begin.

Do you know what it means?

I believe it symbolizes the reign of peace.

It is peaceful.

Could the answer be "the reign of peace"?

There is no way the scholars would put out an easy question like this.

What could it be?

What is the message this painting conveys?

It was easier than I thought.

I know, right?

That tribute woman is taking forever.

No wonder she is from Goryeo.

I heard everyone is slow-witted there.

Why does a smart girl like her not know this easy question?

They own a cow and are preparing dinner.

And the Buddha statue is smiling, wearing expensive clothes.

It clearly symbolizes the reign of peace.

That is not the answer.

It is not?

Chief Eunuch Dok-man.

What is taking so long?

I cannot give you any more time.

Please submit your answer right away.

A farmer and his wife are preparing dinner.

The Goddess of Mercy is smiling brightly.

That scene...

I have seen it before.

"I sold my cow for tax money and take my house apart for firewood.

I cannot even think about how to survive next year.

The Goddess of Mercy is sitting calmly in her tall house."

Welcome back, General.

Anything to report?

Bad news.

Bad news?

Seung-nyang is alive.

She is competing to become an imperial concubine.

What?

Seung-nyang is alive?

Seung-nyang?

She is trying to be an imperial concubine?

Which province does she represent?

Welcome.

How was your trip to Goryeo?

Why did you have Seung-nyang represent Yoyang Province?

My niece has a skin disease.

His Imperial Majesty also seems to favor--

Baekan!

Have you lost your mind?

I am completely fine.

I think it is you who has lost your mind.

What did you say?

I see you let this governor position get to your head.

We still do not know if she will make it to become an imperial concubine.

What is the reason for you getting so worked up about this?

She protected Jeok-ho and found the blood vow.

She has a dagger pointed at my father.

She found the blood vow

to help Wang Yu reclaim his throne.

Do you believe that?

She asked me to tell you something.

She said she would not say anything

about Concubine Park's death.

Seeing as you all are flustered,

you must be accomplices.

Shut your mouth right now.

Whether I shut my mouth depends on you.

Seung-nyang said she would keep it a secret,

but I cannot guarantee that I will.

We both have secrets, so let us just turn a blind eye.

Why is the great General Dang Gise getting worked up over something like this?

It is all right. No need to get up.

How is the imperial concubine selection going?

Yang got a failing score,

so it will be hard for her to become an imperial concubine.

If Yang does not become an imperial concubine,

I have no reason to stay here and become a eunuch.

We have the third round left, do we not?

Even for that,

I think Yang got it wrong.

Everyone wrote their answer as the reign of peace.

And only Lady Ki wrote something different.

Your Imperial Majesty,

we would like to hear an explanation

of Lady Ki's answer from herself.

Then we will score her answer.

Lady Ki,

come to the front.

Explain to us how you came to think of this answer.

In that painting,

there is no firewood where it should be.

The woman takes her house apart to provide firewood.

And the farmer

is trying to sell his cow, which is the only property he owns.

Therefore,

"I sold my cow for tax money and take my house apart for firewood.

I cannot even think about how to survive next year.

The Goddess of Mercy is sitting calmly in her tall house."

I quoted some lines from Su Shi's poems...

SU SHI: POET OF THE NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY

...for my answer.

Your Imperial Majesty,

among the seven ladies who submitted their answers,

only she provided the perfect answer to the question.

We must give her a perfect score.

With the scholars' scores, the physiognomists' scores,

as well as the score from the Empress's test,

we will make our final decision.

Until the final results are announced,

you are all dismissed.

Understood.

Everyone, please follow me.

The masters of the Eagle House have arrived.

Tell them I will be there soon.

Yes, Master.

Have Mu-song give you the trading information.

Yes.

Eunuch Bang, go to the provincial office early tomorrow morning.

The thing is,

Baekan is not in Yoyang Province right now.

Then where is he?

He went to Daedo for the imperial concubine selection.

The imperial concubine selection?

You...

Wait.

Batoreu?

Can you at least give us a hint on the final results?

Only His Imperial Majesty knows the final results.

If you receive a purse from His Imperial Majesty, you are out.

If you receive flowers, then you have been selected.

Since you got a failing score in the second round,

you should just throw away all hope.

Please present yourself to His Imperial Majesty one by one.

I guess no one has been selected.

Congratulations on becoming the Imperial Concubine.

-Congratulations, Your Ladyship. -Congratulations, Your Ladyship.

So you really want to test me?

This imperial concubine selection has more impact than I expected.

We might even lose their support.

I plan to make the Emperor abdicate his throne.

Are you saying you want to take his throne away from him?

Yeoncheol will choose one of two methods.

He will either destroy his enemies

or have them at his command.

I was happy to see you again,

but I was sad knowing this day would come.

I cannot be of any help to you.

Tonight, you will sleep with one of the Imperial Concubines.

Have Concubine Ki get ready.

I have been careless this whole time.

All of this is because I underestimated that girl.

I was very well aware of your disorderly behavior.

But I did not know you would be this arrogant.

She dared to put up a fight with me.

I have no choice but to end her.

Subtitle translation by James Park