Original subtitles

Why did you call for me?

How is His Imperial Majesty?

He has not been well ever since the provincial governors

took sides with Yeoncheol.

Open it.

This could serve us as means...

to stop the abdication.

How will it stop the abdication?

What do all these names mean?

They are the names of the spies

the Eagle House has planted in each province.

How will it help us win the governors over to our side?

Your Imperial Majesty.

Listen closely to what I am about to say.

Even the finest sword in the world cannot prove its worth

if it falls into the hands of a person who does not know how to wield it right.

It could serve as a weapon to stop the abdication,

but winning the governors over to our side

is solely up to Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Welcome.

Your Imperial Majesty, you are speaking!

Relax.

I only pretended to be mute to deceive the Grand Councillor.

The Grand Councillor...

has dethroned three emperors so far.

Now...

he wants to dethrone a fourth.

But this time,

he picked the wrong opponent.

I will not let him have his way as my predecessors did.

That is why I need your support.

Will you help me?

Your Imperial Majesty.

It would be foolhardy to go against the Grand Councillor

regarding the abdication.

-"Foolhardy"? -He is right, Your Imperial Majesty.

I urge you to obey the Grand Councillor for the sake of peace

within the Imperial House and stability in the nation.

Were you as cowardly as you are now

when my father passed away?

You already committed treachery by doing nothing about his death.

I am giving you a chance to purge that sin away.

As you said,

we had failed to protect the late Emperor Myeongjong.

Please understand

that we are only trying not to make the same mistake.

What?

Please know that abdicating your throne is the only way to save yourself.

Please understand our intent, Your Imperial Majesty.

Please understand, Your Imperial Majesty.

"Understand"?

A few years ago, your provinces ran out of funds

because of counterfeit money.

You turned to the Grand Councillor for help

and incurred tremendous debt.

Were you aware...

that the Eagle House circulated the counterfeit money?

This is news to me.

Then

I doubt that you knew that the Eagle House

has been providing financial support to the Grand Councillor.

Is this true?

The Grand Councillor has planted spies in your provinces

and bought up all the valuable goods with the counterfeit money.

He was the one who made you incur huge debt from him in the first place.

Then he promised to forgive all the debt you owe him

and made you swear loyalty to him.

You are helpless pawns in his hands.

Tell us who the spies are.

-Do you want to know? -Tell us, Your Imperial Majesty.

Who are they?

Before that,

think about what you can do for me.

How can this happen?

Did you know the Grand Councillor has been working with the Eagle House?

We found that out by raiding their base in Yoyang Province.

-What should we do now? -What else?

Supporting the abdication

would only harm us.

Governor Seol is right.

With this new information, we cannot possibly support the Grand Councillor.

In order to stop the Grand Councillor's tyranny,

all ten governors must unanimously oppose the abdication.

Would you be able to convince the other governors?

We cannot guarantee anything,

but we will try our best.

No one is to know that His Imperial Majesty can speak again.

Do not worry about that.

I will apprehend the spies of the Eagle House

and bring them here on the day of the Kurultai.

Move fast. Since we are pressed for time,

we would only be able to catch those in the nearby provinces.

Yes, Uncle Baekan.

Stopping the abdication...

will mean war with Yeoncheol.

What are your plans...

for the future?

What is it that you want to say to me?

Your Imperial Majesty.

At the upcoming Kurultai,

you must reclaim the seal from the Grand Councillor.

This is your chance

to reclaim your power and sovereignty.

It is time you ruled the Yuan dynasty yourself.

Do you believe...

that is possible?

If we manage to stop the abdication

and win all the governors over to our side,

it is possible.

Governor Baekan is right.

Reclaiming the seal and your authority

is the only way to prevent Yeoncheol from retaliating.

I greet you, Your Imperial Majesty.

What is this training for?

Grand Councillor has commanded us to raise our guard

in the occurrence of any unforeseen events.

Unforeseen events?

What kind of unforeseen event is he talking about?

We just follow orders.

I beg your pardon, Your Ladyship.

He is doing this to threaten the governors.

At this rate, we may not be able to stop the abdication.

He is not the only one...

who is preparing for the unexpected.

Master Taltal is apprehending the spies in each of the provinces.

-He is? -Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Once he brings them here,

we can stop the governors from backing out.

Since you have shown your determination by mobilizing troops,

the provincial governors will not dare to back out now.

The day Maha ascends to the throne

is the day my life's ambition is fulfilled.

You hold the imperial seal.

While you are at it, you should consider taking the throne yourself.

I have enjoyed living in wealth and prosperity enough.

Laying the groundwork to ensure our clan's success for the generations to come

would be the legacy I leave behind.

Father, the Eagle House sent a man.

Greetings, Grand Councillor.

What is it?

I am here to relay the message from the master of the Yeongyeong branch.

What does it say?

The master of the Eagle House must think I killed Heuk Su.

And what is this?

The spies in the provinces have been arrested?

Was it not done on your order?

Taltal...

He gave me enough trouble by killing Heuk Su.

Now he is apprehending the spies and going against me.

I will deal with this.

I will write a reply, so you should relay it to your master.

Yes, Grand Councillor.

Look at that.

I liked it raw when I was younger.

Give me a nice, fatty part.

-Sure. -Oh, no.

What are you talking about?

Lean meat is the best.

Give us that over there.

Are you kidding? The fatty part is better.

Lean meat makes you bald.

-Gosh. -Give us fatty meat.

-Lean meat. -Fatty meat.

-Lean meat. -Fatty meat.

-Lean meat. -Fatty meat.

-Lean meat. -Fatty meat it is.

-Lean meat. -Fatty meat.

-Lean meat. -Fatty meat.

-Lean-- -I cannot believe you two!

Just give us whatever there is.

Give us lean meat.

That is the Eagle House's point of contact in Yeongyeong.

Do you not know where their base of operations is?

They would gather only when it is necessary.

They have established a base of operations only in Yoyang.

Do you know who is in charge of the branch?

Not by sight.

But I do know this.

Only the master of the Yeongyeong branch

has seen the Eagle House's leader.

Keep an eye on that place.

Let us get going.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Do not even think about it.

I did not know you were alive.

What happened?

They spared my life.

He is of my tribe. We can trust him.

We will go first. Follow us at a distance.

What did Yeoncheol say?

He will have the troop wait in ambush and kill Taltal at the North Gate.

Deliver this to the Eagle House.

Do not raise any suspicion.

Sin-u, you should head to the North Gate with Mak-saeng

and keep watch on the troop.

-Yes, Your Majesty. -Yes, Your Majesty.

How many men can we muster?

I can get ten at most.

Tell them to stand by.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Thank you.

Welcome, General.

This way, please.

Thank you so much.

They have quite a number of soldiers.

We do not have enough men to deal with them.

I doubt Taltal has enough men himself.

I heard you gave the list I decoded to Taltal.

Why are you helping him?

That is because Taltal is helping Seung-nyang--

I am fighting against Yeoncheol my way.

That is all.

Prepare some petroleum.

Do you suggest we make our attack with fire?

That is the best strategy to carry out when you are outnumbered.

Court Lady Yeon.

What are you doing?

Do not say anything.

Are you two dating?

Just keep an eye out.

I bet they are dating. There is no doubt about that.

You must be having a hard time in the Cold Palace.

My gosh. Poor thing. You look all haggard.

-I need your help. -What?

Of course. What do you need?

Her Imperial Majesty has gotten sick from missing Prince Maha.

-Really? And? -She wants me...

to sneak the Prince into the Cold Palace tonight.

If you get caught, you will have to pay.

Exactly. So I am asking you to escort me to the Cold Palace

when I manage to sneak His Imperial Highness out.

They are making you take all the risk.

What if you get caught

and they flog you once again right here--

Naughty, naughty hand.

Meet me at 7:00 p.m. in front of the Empress Dowager's palace.

Even though I was pinched, it was totally worth it.

There is no resemblance whatsoever.

He does not take after the Emperor or the Empress.

Your Highness, Deputy Minister Chang is here to see you.

Let him in.

Your Highness.

Tomorrow...

the Kurultai will convene.

You must bring him back before dawn.

Do not worry.

Off you go.

You have to come back by seven o'clock in the morning.

I know. Get inside.

What are you thinking?

-What do you mean? -If you get involved with a court lady,

you will get killed.

Do you not know that?

What are you talking about?

We are just helping Her Imperial Majesty. That is all.

Something must have happened.

What is taking her so long?

Your Imperial Majesty, if we get caught...

What is so wrong about a mother wanting to see her son?

You have been put on probation for your misdeed.

I do not care. If she does not make it,

I will walk out of here to see Maha myself.

I have brought His Imperial Highness.

Maha.

My baby.

My boy.

I have missed you.

I have missed you so much.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Do it like it is not a drill!

Halt.

-Archers forward. -Archers forward.

Fire.

-Aim! -Aim!

What is going on?

Stand down.

Grand Councillor is expecting you.

Something definitely feels off.

That was clearly a threat.

Right.

Welcome.

Take your seats.

I have not seen any civilians, let alone soldiers on my way here.

Something feels off.

What is this?

This is General Taltal of Yoyang Province.

The Grand Councillor has ordered us to kill Taltal who committed treason.

Drop your weapons and surrender.

If you do not, you will get slaughtered here and now.

What is this?

It is oil!

What?

Oil?

Who are they?

-Fire! -Fire!

-Fire! -Fire!

-Fire! -Fire!

-Fire! -Fire!

-Fire! -Fall back!

-Gather the prisoners and fall back. -Yes, General.

Are you nervous?

Can you see

fear in my eyes?

How about now?

You look dignified

and dependable.

Your Imperial Majesty,

it is time.

Go on.

Wait a little longer.

I will bring you good news soon.

His Imperial Majesty is not here yet.

The abdication has already been confirmed.

He has already placed his seal on this imperial message.

The only issue before the Kurultai

is the investiture of His Imperial Highness as the new emperor.

We will start the vote now, so all of you governors should--

His Imperial Majesty has arrived.

Pardon my tardiness. I had to bring His Imperial Majesty here.

Why did you bother to bring him here when he cannot even speak?

The abdication...

must be announced by the Emperor.

You can speak now?

You may take your seats.

Hand it over to me.

Why are you being so reckless?

Are you pretending to read?

His Imperial Majesty is illiterate, is he not?

"Today, I renounce...

all my authority as the Emperor.

I name Prince Maha as the heir apparent.

The Empress will rule as a regent

until he comes of age."

This is not my wish.

Therefore,

I withdraw the announcement for my abdication.

Nor do I name...

Prince Maha as the heir apparent.

-Who are they? -Stand aside.

No one enters without the Grand Councillor's permission.

I said, move.

Try...

and make me.

You must be...

eager to die.

What are you doing?

Let them pass.

Your Highness, the Kurultai is in session--

How dare you! Have you forgotten who I am?

Now stand aside.

What does the law say about this kind of situation?

According to the law of the Kurultai,

the repeal of an imperial message for abdication sealed by the Emperor

requires a unanimous vote.

Then,

let the vote begin.

All those in favor of the Emperor,

rise from your seats.

I, Governor Baekan of Yoyang Province, oppose the abdication.

Keep your word!

I do not believe

that the Grand Councillor has planted the Eagle House spies in my province.

I do not want to suspect the Grand Councillor without proof.

Is that everyone in favor of His Imperial Majesty?

Your Imperial Majesty,

it appears that you failed to get a unanimous vote.

Not so fast.

-Is that... -Hold on.

You are...

Your Imperial Majesty, I brought the spies

who distributed counterfeit money in the ten provinces.

Each time the counterfeit bills were in circulation,

Grand Councillor Yeoncheol tampered with the report

and inflated the value of the chao.

Do you believe that is a coincidence?

Your Imperial Majesty,

how can you blame my father for something he did not do?

He has no connection to the Eagle House.

I, Governor Ju Gaseo of Gangseo Province,

oppose the abdication.

I, Governor Lee Gisuk of Gangjeol Province, oppose the abdication.

I oppose the abdication.

Your Imperial Majesty, congratulations.

The abdication has been repealed.

Congratulations, Your Imperial Majesty.

Since the all of the governors voted--

One moment.

We are not quite done yet.

As the Grand Councillor of the Great Yuan, you have been handling political matters

on behalf of me to ease my burden.

But...

it is time that the authority returned to the throne.

Are you saying you will govern the Empire?

I appreciate...

all you have done so far.

Now give me the seal.

Kurultai tradition requires

another unanimous vote.

Quite right, Your Highness.

Please start the vote right away, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Start the vote, Your Imperial Majesty. -Start the vote, Your Imperial Majesty.

How did it go?

We march on into the hall now.

-Pardon? -Kill every governor in there.

General.

Please calm down.

I do not think it is a good idea.

What did you say? The Emperor cannot take the authority back.

My father is in trouble.

What about the Emperor?

Shall we kill him...

and the Empress Dowager too?

Is that what you want?

Not even the Grand Councillor will be able to avoid the consequences.

You are putting all of our lives on the line!

It must be stopped.

The Kurultai must be stopped.

His Imperial Highness...

His Imperial Highness is still in the Cold Palace.

What did you just say?

I intend to take my seal back

and restore full authority to the throne.

All in favor, rise from your seats.

Your Imperial Majesty.

His Imperial Highness...

is nowhere to be found.

-What are you talking about? -Are you saying he is missing?

No one has seen him since last night.

It is an emergency!

Your Imperial Majesty.

Prince Maha...

The Kurultai is adjourned. We will resume discussions

after we find the Prince.

Something is not right.

Why would the Prince go missing now of all times?

Your Imperial Majesty, now or later,

our opinion will not change.

He is right, Your Imperial Majesty.

Do not worry, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Do not worry, Your Imperial Majesty. -Do not worry, Your Imperial Majesty.

Is Prince Maha really missing?

Yes, Your Highness.

I just interrogated the court lady

in charge of nursing His Imperial Highness.

So where is the Prince now?

-He is at the Cold Palace. -The Cold Palace?

The Empress took him?

Maha.

My little boy.

What brings you here?

Empress Dowager commands His Imperial Highness be returned.

No.

Go tell her I will look after my son.

What are you doing? Escort His Imperial Highness.

If you dare to lay a finger on my body,

I will bite my tongue and die here.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -If I kill myself here,

you will not be able to avoid the consequences.

Now leave.

Go ahead

and do as you wish.

What?

You do not know what it is like to feel so miserable

to the point where you would rather kill yourself.

I believe you will find out soon enough.

Until then,

I doubt you can dare to kill yourself.

What did that wench just say?

-Chief Eunuch Dok-man. -Yes, Your Ladyship.

Starting today, no more food or water

is allowed in the Cold Palace.

-You wench! -It is an order

from the Empress Dowager.

Your Imperial Majesty, let them take His Imperial Highness.

You cannot rear His Imperial Highness here.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Maha! My boy!

-Maha. Give me back my baby. -Your Imperial Majesty.

-Maha. -Calm down.

-Maha. -Your Imperial Majesty.

Escort His Imperial Highness.

-Maha. My baby! -Your Imperial Majesty.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -My baby.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -My boy.

Maha. Give me my boy.

-My son! -Calm down.

-My baby! -Your Imperial Majesty.

I am the Emperor's principal wife

and the mother of the Great Yuan.

When I return to where I belong,

I will make sure to teach you what it is like to live in hell.

You should brace yourself.

I hope you manage to return as soon as possible.

If you leave the house empty for so long,

it is bound to be taken over by a new owner.

What did you say?

A new owner?

That wench Ki acts like she is the Empress.

How impudent.

They found Prince Maha.

The Kurultai will reconvene tomorrow.

Why did you betray me?

Have you forgotten who made you a governor?

I would not have become a military officer

if it had not been for the late Emperor Myeongjong.

What could be more natural

than to serve his son?

Shut your mouth!

In my youth, you were my hero.

You fought your way across the desert

and led us to victory a number of times.

I still clearly remember the time

when you covered a fallen soldier with your armor

and shed tears for him.

But the man before me

is not the hero I looked up to.

You have become a narrow-minded fool

who is driven by the desire for power rather than the desire

to build the greatest empire of all.

How dare you!

Go on.

The Yuan dynasty is rotten to the core.

You are the one who is responsible for it.

The Emperor should govern the nation,

and the subjects should swear allegiance to him.

I am only abiding by the absolute principle.

I follow no emperor, only the mandate of the heavens.

I show my allegiance by ruling the Empire.

I will not forget your betrayal of me.

Baekan.

Taltal.

Yes, Uncle Baekan.

If I ever become like the Grand Councillor,

you shall kill me.

I would rather die as a dignified warrior...

than live as an old fool blinded by power.

I underestimated the Emperor.

I did not know he was capable of such a thing.

I cannot help but wonder...

what has changed him.

It must be Concubine Ki.

The Empress being sent to the Cold Palace,

Baekan betraying us,

and the Emperor's sudden change...

It all started with her.

They have made a fool out of me.

The world used to tremble in fear in my presence.

And I am being brought down by a mere concubine?

We do not have much time.

We must take action to keep the seal

before the Kurultai reconvenes.

Father.

-Yeom Byeong-su. -Yes, Grand Councillor.

How many prisoners are awaiting execution in the dungeon?

There are three.

May I ask why you ask of them?

I shall go meet them.

Do you have a family?

My old mother is left home alone.

I have a sick wife and children.

No one, sir.

-Kill him. -Pardon?

My lord.

Please spare my life.

You cannot avoid execution whatsoever.

But do as I say,

and your families will be taken care of.

What do you say? Do we have a deal?

Keep your word,

and I will do anything.

Clean them up.

Shave them and dress them as eunuchs.

Pardon?

Yes, Grand Councillor.

With the Kheshig's help,

you will sneak into Prince Maha's chamber tonight.

Father, what are you planning to make them do?

Carry daggers and slip inside the Prince's chamber.

Father.

You will become assassins tonight.

They are to fail.

When they are questioned,

they will confess who sent them to kill the Prince.

Then they will give one of the governors' name.

Exactly.

"Flush out the snake

by beating the grass."

We will make an example of one governor.

That should take care of the rest.

If we pull this off,

hanging onto the seal will be nothing.

Do they know where the Prince Maha's chamber is?

Not to worry. I took care of it.

This is a sham.

You are to let yourselves get caught.

Concubine Ki has shown you mercy.

His Imperial Highness is never to go to the Cold Palace again.

Understood, Chief Eunuch.

Wait.

Halt.

Identify yourselves.

I know every eunuch in the Imperial Palace.

Identify yourselves now.

They are assassins!

Keep that one alive.

-Yes, Commander. -Yes, Commander.

Is His Imperial Highness safe?

I just visited his chamber.

How dare they try to harm His Imperial Highness?

Who would dare to give such an order--

Take them away.

-Yes, Commander. -Yes, Commander.

I will report the incident to the Empress Dowager.

You should let His Imperial Majesty know of it.

Yes, Chief Eunuch.

I was deeply impressed by how you handled the matter, Your Imperial Majesty.

The other governors are singing your praises as well.

I owe it all...

to you.

By the way, Your Imperial Majesty,

when will you make Emperor Myeongjong's blood vow public?

I will use it when I end the Grand Councillor's life.

Every time I read the vow,

I hear my father's lamenting voice.

When I become a true emperor,

I will see my father's will done.

That day...

is not so far away.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Assassins slipped into the Prince's chamber

and tried to kill His Imperial Highness.

What? Assassins?

Who were they after?

It grieves me to say this,

but they were after His Imperial Highness.

The...

The Prince?

Did they try to kill my son?

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Who would dare?

Your Imperial Majesty. Please open your eyes.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Let them know that Her Imperial Majesty has fainted.

Right away.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Please have mercy on me and kill me now.

Did you forget your deal?

Suffer through it--

Her Highness is here.

-Begin. -Yes, Commander.

Halt.

Your Highness.

-Is this him? -Yes.

Who gave you the order to kill the Prince?

Spill it out now!

There you are.

He tried to kill my grandson.

I will question him myself.

You can go back to your chamber.

There will be no Kurultai tomorrow.

Please be noted that it will be reconvened after we get to the bottom of this.

Suspicious?

How so exactly?

I overcame the assassins easily.

It did not seem like they have experience in martial arts.

Eunuch Park used to be a combat instructor, so we would know.

It surely does not make sense.

"Shift the blame onto another person."

The crime was faked to frame someone.

It is Yeoncheol's scheme.

Who is he trying to frame for the crime?

There is a wicked one named Ki.

She is quite irritating.

She betrayed Wang Yu as well.

The assassin is to mention Concubine Ki's name.

Baekan, Taltal, and Concubine Ki...

will be accused of the crime.

Yeoncheol will use this to keep the imperial seal.

To do that, he should make one of the governors take the fall.

He will most likely to target us.

No, we cannot let him do that.

You need to come up with a plan.

If Taltal is right,

it does not seem like we have much choice.

In that case,

I will go meet the Grand Councillor.

Do you have...

any plan to stop him?

To cool boiling water,

the firewood must be removed first.

If he tries to accuse us for what we did not do,

we should make him believe

that we also have something we can use against him.

Do you plan to use the enemy's strategy

to fight the enemy?

There is no other way.

I will come with you.

Leave it to me,

Your Imperial Majesty.

If you will excuse me.

You can relax.

I could not make him abdicate his throne,

but I will not lose the seal.

Father, Concubine Ki wishes to see you.

What? Concubine Ki?

I will send her away.

Send her in.

Why even bother with her?

How dare you--

I am not here to see you, General Dang Gise.

I want a word with the Grand Councillor.

You are a bold one.

A mere concubine

dares to walk into the tiger's lair by herself?

How can you call yourself a tiger

when you are doing something even a sneaky cat would not do?

What?

What do you think?

Whatever it takes, I will make you go down for it.

I knew you would say so.

You have to frame someone.

I will be looking forward to it, Grand Councillor.

The Empress left the Cold Palace?

This will not change anything.

I just want to protect my son.

At the hunting competition--

There will be quite a sight.

I plan on hunting something big.

It is just that our preys are the Emperor and Concubine Ki.

Subtitle translation by Min-jin Kim