Original subtitles

Only one candidate has passed the test to become an imperial concubine.

We have emphasized fairness more than ever this time.

You must accept the results

and return to your homes.

Chief Eunuch Dok-man,

take Yang and proceed with her physical examination.

Yes, Your Highness.

Please follow me.

Where are you going?

We are headed to have her physical examination.

Physical examination?

Has this girl been selected as an imperial concubine?

Please show respect.

You must now refer to her as "Her Ladyship."

Let us go.

That wench knows all of our secrets.

What do we do?

I even shot my arrow

trying to kill that girl.

We must tell the Grand Councillor

and send her back before it is too late.

What are you going to tell him?

Are you going to say we killed that wench Park?

If the provincial governors find out,

Father will face public embarrassment.

We will never hear the end of it from Father.

As long as Seung-nyang is here, it is only a matter of time until he finds out.

She said she would keep quiet.

All we can do is trust what Baekan said.

As for your physical examination, Hong-dan and I,

as well as

the senior court ladies from Goryeo, will be helping with it.

You have nothing to worry about.

Thank you, Chief Eunuch.

From now on, you are my master.

Please speak casually to me, Your Ladyship.

Her Imperial Majesty is outside.

I have been careless this whole time.

I should have been more cautious.

All of this is because I underestimated that girl.

We firmly believed in Her Highness's word.

We even risked getting on the Grand Councillor's bad side

and help her regain her throne.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Now my daughter has become someone worthless

than a tribute woman from Goryeo.

It is a disgrace.

Tell Her Highness that I am very disappointed.

Her Highness did her best.

That is enough.

-Let us leave. -Yes.

This imperial concubine selection has more impact than I expected.

We might even lose their support.

Grand Councillor Yeoncheol has invited them to his home tonight.

The provincial governors have rebelled against him before.

There is no doubt that Yeoncheol will take action.

Yeoncheol will choose one of two methods.

He will either destroy his enemies

or have them at his command.

Father.

What did you just say?

Bring in more imperial concubines.

Do you know how hard I worked

to prevent the selection from even happening?

What is so hard about bringing in a few more concubines?

Father,

you do not understand a woman's heart.

I will not bring in any more imperial concubines, so--

Tanashilli.

I am not here to talk about your jealousy.

We are talking about politics.

Politics?

The new imperial concubines

are the daughters of the Yuan dynasty's provincial governors.

What is...

so important about that?

I plan to make...

the Emperor abdicate his throne.

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

Once your son inherits his throne,

you will have to rule in his stead.

You will become the ruler of this nation.

To do that,

we need to have the provincial governors on my side.

We are about to have all the power.

Who needs the favor of that wimpy Emperor?

If you understand what I am saying,

go talk to the Empress Dowager now

and discuss bringing in more imperial concubines.

Ruling in my son's stead?

Imperial concubines, hear and obey the orders from His Imperial Majesty.

"Lady Ki from Yoyang Province,

with your outstanding wisdom and decorum,

you have received an excellent score in the selection.

I now announce Lady Ki

as a consort of the fifth rank.

Please receive your rank as an Imperial Concubine."

Your grace is beyond measure,

Your Imperial Majesty.

"Lady Oh of Unnam Province,

as a consort of the fifth rank,

please receive your rank as an Imperial Concubine."

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

"Lady Bu of Yeongbuk Province."

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

"Lady Jeok of Seomseo Province."

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

"Lady Seol of Sacheon Province."

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

Yang has officially been named as an Imperial Concubine.

The Great Emperor Myeongjong,

I, Baekan, have

firmly taken one step further

to wipe away your tears.

Just wait.

I will have Yeoncheol's head

and serve it to you myself.

-That was a good meal. -I am glad.

That was fun.

Which room is it?

It is the room at the end of the hall.

Your Majesty,

why is that Batoreu, I mean, Yeon Bisu here?

I cannot help but be suspicious.

It is best to be careful.

It is I, Yeon Bisu.

May I come in?

Come in.

Please accept my bow.

Never mind that. Just come in.

I cannot believe that we are meeting again in a place like this.

I thought

you would be riding your horse in the desert somewhere.

My tribe has already scattered.

With the help of some Western traders,

I was able to open this courtesan house.

But what brings you here?

I heard Baekan, the leader of the punitive force,

was posted as the governor of this province.

I have stopped by to meet him.

We drew our swords at each other only to meet here again.

I suppose it is fate.

I am thinking of doing some trade myself.

From what I heard,

all of the traders come here to meet.

Can you help me?

I have my life indebted to you.

How could I not?

Watch Wang Yu closely.

Yes, Master.

Now that she is all dressed up, she is one beautiful woman.

-Get it together. -What?

Be careful of your actions.

Make sure the gangsters do not enter.

Understood.

Any news from Mu-song yet?

You call yourselves guards with those skills?

I like you the more I see you in action.

Where did you learn martial arts?

I was kicked out

of the Kheshig.

I knew it.

Your skills are quite extraordinary.

Why were you kicked out of the Kheshig?

Well, the thing is...

Did you have an inappropriate relationship with a court lady?

That is what you get for having a big nose like that.

All right.

Welcome.

Come inside.

The counterfeit money will come tonight.

How much did they say they would send?

They said at least 30,000 bills.

There have been frequent crackdown operations ever since Baekan came.

We will meet them outside of the gate.

Please send a carrier pigeon and have them wait for us at the Falcon Rock.

I will.

How will you give them a signal?

I will shoot a flaming arrow.

Who is out there?

What is going on?

Someone was eavesdropping on us.

-Search the premises-- -Wait.

I think it was him.

It appears his leash was untied and he ran in here.

Everyone, you are dismissed.

-Yes. -Yes.

Please spare some change.

Thank you very much. You will be blessed.

Thank you very much.

It is so cold outside. Do we really need to dress up like this?

Be quiet.

They are coming.

Get ready. Do not forget that you are blind.

Okay, I will pretend I am blind.

How cold it is today.

-Oh, my. Please help us. -Please spare some change.

-We beg of you. -Please spare some change.

I have not eaten anything.

We are cold, hungry, and tired.

Please spare some change.

Please help us. My legs are weak.

Please spare some change.

We are cold and hungry.

Please, my lord.

Spare some change.

Thank you very much, my lord.

You will be blessed, my lord.

You will be blessed.

Thank you very much, my lord.

-Thank you very much, my lord. -Thank you.

Thank you.

What is written on it?

They will deliver the counterfeit money tonight.

How much longer

until Heuk Su comes?

The message said eleven o'clock.

He will get here in less than two hours.

We will quickly get what we need and run.

Give me an arrow.

Your Majesty.

Stand down.

It is safe. Come out.

We planned to meet at Falcon Rock.

You are here early.

Did you bring the chao?

Of course.

Bring them.

They look very real this time.

You cannot tell they are counterfeit at all.

Good job.

You little...

Get over here.

YEONGYEONG, THE YUAN DYNASTY

Assign our girls to the Imperial Concubines' palace.

I am going to watch every move

of those little wenches.

I have already done so.

Just watch.

I will train them

in the most ruthless way possible.

But Your Imperial Majesty,

as for tonight,

His Imperial Majesty must spend the night

with one of the selected Imperial Concubines.

He is unwell, yet he plans on sleeping with one of the girls?

Oh, my.

Congratulations on becoming an Imperial Concubine.

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

Take these ladies

and replace them with court ladies from Goryeo.

That is impossible.

Chief Eunuch Dok-man already agreed to it.

These court ladies

were handpicked by Her Imperial Majesty.

Leave us for a bit, everyone.

Do not leave.

Did you not hear me tell you to leave?

I will punish anyone who leaves this room.

You may go ahead.

For the time being, Her Imperial Majesty has requested

that I see to your needs.

Just think of me as speaking for Her Imperial Majesty.

Do not get upset, Your Ladyship.

By the way,

one Imperial Concubine will be going to the Emperor's palace tonight.

Be sure to put some makeup on just in case.

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

If you are unwell,

you do not need to do it tonight.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. Then we will forget it tonight.

His Imperial Majesty says that he will abide by the laws.

Is that so?

If that is the case, Concubine Oh seemed like a nice girl.

How about Concubine Ki?

Concubine Ki?

She used to be a court lady at the Emperor's palace.

I believe His Imperial Majesty is most comfortable with her.

Is Concubine Ki all right with you?

Have Concubine Ki get ready.

Yes, Your Highness.

It is I, Dok-man.

Come in.

Senior Officer Park.

You...

You were alive?

From now on,

he will serve as your eunuch, Your Ladyship.

A eunuch?

Please accept my bow.

I believe Chief Ki Ja-oh kept me alive

for the sake of protecting you, Your Ladyship.

Now I have been reborn.

I will dedicate my life to you, Your Ladyship.

Senior Officer Park...

You should start getting ready, Your Ladyship.

His Imperial Majesty

had decided to spend the night with Your Ladyship.

Your Imperial Majesty, Concubine Ki has arrived.

Yang...

Please dismiss them.

You are all dismissed.

You are beautiful.

Are you still not confident?

That again?

I came here to ask that.

I do not want any more innocent people to die

because of me.

Is that your excuse for running away?

It is very childish and cowardly.

Do you know why I have returned to the Imperial Palace?

Surviving alone

would be shameless of me.

I want to apologize to the people

who died because of me.

That is why I am back.

Your Imperial Majesty, on the other hand,

uses your incompetence

as an excuse to survive on your own.

The Grand Councillor is planning my abdication.

Do you know why he let the imperial concubine selection happen?

He is keeping the daughters of the provincial governors here

so that none of the governors can oppose my abdication.

Before the Grand Councillor starts another bloodshed in the Palace,

I plan to abdicate the throne on my own.

That is why

I have been keeping my mouth shut this entire time.

If I let him ridicule me all he wants...

If I step down from the throne,

I can prevent another bloodbath from happening in the Imperial Palace.

What is this?

Please read it.

The blood vow...

The butterfly mark.

Father...

This is definitely Father's writing.

Father...

What does it say?

Read it yourself.

Your father wrote this

to Your Imperial Majesty in his own blood.

If you want to know the meaning,

you must learn to read it on your own.

You will see the world.

Once you see the world,

everyone will be on your side.

Once you have people on your side,

you must take back the Imperial Seal from Yeoncheol.

Only after that,

may you give in to your anger.

Amidst of all this,

I will help you.

What did you just say?

His Imperial Majesty slept with that tramp, Yang?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

He was so reluctant to come over to my palace.

How could he spend the night with her as soon as she became a concubine?

That arrogant girl is worming her way into His Imperial Majesty's favor.

Who knows how far she will go from here?

-Court Lady Yeon. -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty?

Get Yang...

Never mind.

I must make the Imperial Concubines ugly.

That way, he will not want to be with them.

I understand, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Ladyship, it is time to wash your face.

What a nice scent.

What kind of water is it?

It is water infused with sweet flags that are good for your skin.

Messing up the Imperial Concubine's face is

one of the most common tricks

that are used by the women of the Inner Court.

This is marsh marigold.

And this is hellebore.

Lastly, this is leopard plant.

They all give off nice scents.

But they are poisonous leaves

that will give you hives when applied to your face.

Now smell these.

This is the scent of hellebore.

Come closer.

Why are you so afraid of the sweet flag water

touching your skin?

That wretched girl.

So you really want to test me?

Have you eaten?

I have not eaten yet.

You two work very hard.

Now have a bite.

I am fine.

I was also a court lady.

I know what it feels like to starve.

Go on.

I am not hungry.

Are you dismissing my sincerity?

Your Ladyship...

Refusing to eat it

means that you know very well there is something in this rice.

If you do not eat all of this rice,

I will have them flog you for showing contempt against me.

The court ladies are complaining that they cannot take it anymore.

We can no longer leave this to the court ladies.

This is getting so interesting.

I will definitely be having some fun with her.

But we cannot just scold her outright.

Court Lady Yeon, follow my directions closely.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

It is time to go to the morning assembly hall.

Do not smirk like that.

Pardon?

I will rip your mouths off.

What on earth?

Her face is just fine.

Even her face is stubborn.

What is all of that in your hair?

Did you not hear from the court ladies?

Hear what?

Actually, Her Imperial Majesty has--

Her Imperial Majesty has arrived.

How dare you?

Take her clothes off right now.

Why are you doing this?

Today is the death anniversary of my mother.

I told everyone not to wear any ornaments today.

Are you disobeying me, you wench?

I have not heard of this news at all--

Shut your mouth.

You dare to show contempt and disrespect my late mother?

Bring the whip.

I was very well aware of your disorderly behavior.

But I did not know you would be this arrogant.

Brace yourself.

You fool. You got your private parts cut off.

Do you want your head gone too?

Stay still.

What did you just say?

Concubine Ki is being whipped?

Her Imperial Majesty is furious.

-Where are they? -They are at the morning assembly hall.

You must not go.

Yang is getting whipped right now.

Your Imperial Majesty, you are still mute.

What could you possibly do there?

What a stubborn girl.

She does not even scream or let out a whimper.

She is known for being stubborn.

My word

is the law and discipline of the Inner Court.

Whoever goes against my orders

will be sternly punished,

so be aware.

You are all dismissed.

Do you now understand what kind of place

the Palace is?

You have taught me a great lesson.

Your grace

is beyond measure.

From the tone of your voice,

I can tell you are not sorry.

I will be watching you closely.

Behave yourself.

-Your Ladyship. -Your Ladyship.

Give me my clothes.

Your Ladyship...

Escort her out.

Governor Baekan requests to see you

for a moment, Your Ladyship.

Did you show the Empress any tears?

I do not

have any tears left to shed.

Enemies become crueler not when they see blood,

but when they see tears.

I, Baekan, have chosen you.

You must not let me down by giving the enemy what they want.

It is a strange habit of mine.

Pain and sadness are nothing to me.

But I cannot bear to stand

injustice.

I will not stand for it.

I will not live with the feeling of being wronged.

I feel the most wronged

when my dignity is compromised.

Do not compromise yours.

Your Ladyship,

you are my last piece of dignity.

Stay still.

I am...

fine now.

I was happy to see you again,

but I was sad knowing this day would come.

I cannot be of any help to you.

It is fine.

I came here to help you, Your Imperial Majesty.

It is not fine for me.

My heart is breaking.

Do you truly believe

that you cannot be of any help to me?

I am the Emperor only by name.

I am the most foolish man in the world.

Please come to the morning assembly hall tomorrow.

You will be able to see for yourself

how you can help me.

-Did you see that? -I did.

-That was so satisfying. -I know.

-My goodness. -That is what I thought too.

-I could not believe it. -Really?

Her Ladyship is looking for you.

Follow me.

What could it be?

Her Imperial Majesty ordered us not to wear ornaments.

You did not tell me that.

On top of that,

you dressed me in even flashier attire than usual.

Who ordered you?

I have no idea what you are talking about.

You do not know?

Your Ladyship.

You had not done anything wrong.

Your superior made you do it, so you had no choice.

However,

the moment you said you did not know,

you have done something wrong.

You have lied.

We serve Her Imperial Majesty.

If you hurt us, Her Imperial Majesty will--

Please spare me, Your Ladyship.

It is too late for you to beg for mercy.

Court Lady Yeon made us do it.

Yeon-hwa?

Yes, Your Ladyship. Court Lady Yeon made us do it.

We had no choice.

Make your choice.

Die by my hands here,

or tell the truth to Her Imperial Majesty with your own mouths.

Yes, we will confess the truth.

Please spare my life, Your Ladyship.

Do not be so quick

to trust Her Imperial Majesty.

I have

His Imperial Majesty supporting me.

Yes, Your Ladyship.

Why are you slacking off? Do it right.

Yes, my lady.

What are you doing?

You cannot just--

Oh, my goodness.

Your wrongful actions

will be revealed at the morning assembly hall.

What is His Imperial Majesty doing here?

His Imperial Majesty cannot speak, so I do not know the details.

He suddenly came here while going on a walk today.

You wench...

You dare to be late to the assembly?

Have you lost your mind?

Last time,

I had done something disrespectful to you, Your Imperial Majesty.

Why are you

bringing that up?

The person who framed me for that incident

is Court Lady Yeon.

No, Your Imperial Majesty.

Her Ladyship is making up stories.

Tell them.

Who instigated you

to put a headdress on me?

Tell them the truth.

Who ordered you?

It was...

It was Court Lady Yeon.

I have

forgotten all about that.

Why would you bring that up and ruin my mood again?

Court Lady Yeon has tried to pit Your Imperial Majesty

and the Imperial Concubines against each other.

Breaking the harmony within the Inner Court

is an unforgivable crime, is it not?

If rewards and punishments are not clear,

no one will respect or follow you as a leader, Your Imperial Majesty.

Flog Court Lady Yeon 20 times

and display your authority

as the head of the Inner Court.

Go...

and do as Concubine Ki says.

Your Imperial Majesty.

She does not even have anything back there to hit.

Goodness.

Are you interested in Court Lady Yeon?

That is absurd.

What fool would fraternize with a senior court lady?

Having Your Imperial Majesty by my side

has helped me a lot.

Do not call yourself incompetent ever again.

Did you find it?

Good work.

Where is His Majesty?

You are looking really sad today.

Everyone has...

days like these, do they not?

They have days where they miss...

someone dearly...

and keep thinking about that person.

Can you tell me

who that person is?

I do not really want to talk about it.

That is enough for today.

Thank you for keeping my company.

Please have a good rest.

Come out.

Is that the new guard?

Then the people who stole the counterfeit money are...

This is exactly what we are after.

The manufacturer of the counterfeit money

and transactions are all here.

Tomorrow,

more counterfeit bills are coming.

What?

Once I give the word,

Wang Yu is dead.

Dead.

Welcome.

Last night, to catch some rats,

I left the door to the shed open.

And what do you know?

A big rat strolled into the shed.

Can you take a guess who it was?

It was the new guard, Choi.

He is one of the bandits

that killed Hong and stole the counterfeit money.

That rat took a fake document.

So he will show up tomorrow night trying to steal more counterfeit money.

The rats will show up in a group.

What do you plan to do?

I need to kill them all.

I will kill Choi

and his fellow rubbish members.

We need to kill them all.

Where were you this late at night?

Did something happen?

Or do you have something to say to me?

They could not handle that wench Ki.

All the court ladies Your Imperial Majesty assigned have run off.

Then what?

Her court ladies are made up of Goryeo girls now.

What about Yeon-hwa?

She was badly beaten. She cannot even move.

She dared to put up a fight with me.

I have no choice but to end her.

This is the gwibitang that you drank previously.

Because of what happened last time,

I have prepared it especially for you.

Take it as an honor.

Your grace is beyond measure, Your Imperial Majesty.

Why are you not drinking it?

Are you perhaps

suspicious of me?

Drink it.

Right now.

Your Imperial Majesty.

He is drinking

with that wench Ki again?

The Emperor is boozing and womanizing?

"Anyone can become a criminal

even without committing a crime."

I am going to frame that wench Ki.

I plan to make the first attack this time.

I have had enough.

I will teach that wench Ki a lesson tomorrow.

Get everything ready.

Subtitle translation by James Park