Original subtitles

His Imperial Majesty is asleep right now.

Yang.

Why are you doing this?

Why... Why are you doing this to me?

Ayu is the Crown Prince at last.

I do not...

need you any longer.

Yang...

How can you do this to me?

You are the enemy of my father and Wang Yu.

I will...

avenge their deaths with my hands.

No. No, Yang!

Look at you, Your Imperial Majesty.

-Your Highness. -What did I tell you?

A brother kills his own brother and a son kills his own father

for that throne you are sitting on.

No, silence. Shut up!

You were too naive, Your Imperial Majesty.

You ended up dying at Imperial Noble Consort Ki's hands.

That is enough.

Stop it!

Stop!

Yang, no. Put away your bow.

Yang. Your Highness!

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Yang, please.

You, of all people, cannot betray me.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Put your bow away.

Your Imperial Majesty.

What...

were you dreaming of?

You...

You tried to kill me!

You were blinded by power

and tried to shoot me with an arrow!

Your Imperial Majesty. It was a dream.

You just had a dream.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Pull yourself together.

I am... I am sorry.

Did you drink again before you slept?

I have not... I have not had a drop of alcohol.

Do not nag at me.

Yes, I am sorry, Yang.

Your Imperial Majesty.

The court is requesting the removal of the Grand Councillor.

What?

His Imperial Majesty has arrived.

Your Imperial Majesty, Deposed Empress Bayan

attempted to kill Prince Maha

and tried to frame Her Grace for the crime.

That is an attempt to usurp power,

which is as good as treason.

Her uncle, Grand Councillor Baekan, must be held responsible

and be released of his office--

Enough is enough!

Your Imperial Majesty! It is the unanimous opinion of the court.

Please take heed of our words.

Please take heed of our words, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Strip me of my office, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Remove me from my office.

Please remove me from my office, Your Imperial Majesty.

Grand Councillor.

You said you had nothing to do with the deposed Empress's scheme.

However, I made you worry

because of my foolish niece.

How can I ever clear myself of such disloyalty?

I do not deserve to hold the seal in my hands.

Do you see this?

Grand Councillor is considerate of how I felt,

and would rather resign from his office himself.

He is doing this for me.

Remove him from his office.

However,

none of you...

care about how I feel.

You always force your views on me and insist that I listen to you.

Your Imperial Majesty, we are doing this for the Empire's--

What you do for me is...

what you do for this Empire.

Grand Councillor is my pride.

Your Imperial Majesty.

If any of you question him in front of me,

it also means you question me,

so I will hold you responsible.

Remember that!

You got the men of the court to do your dirty work.

Well played, Your Grace.

I am not as good as you.

I thought you would be held responsible and lose your title,

but instead, you earned His Imperial Majesty's trust.

Once I resign,

this Empire will fall into your hands.

I need to stop it from getting destroyed.

You are declaring war on me.

A war can only break out when the parties involved are equally strong.

Do you believe you are match for me, Your Grace?

I am not fighting you because you are my equal.

I am fighting you because I have no choice.

This will not end with you.

I plan to destroy

not only all men of Goryeo, but all the foreigners in this Empire.

All I want

is a peaceful world.

But it seems like the world will be at peace

only after one of us...

is gone.

I will not take long

to bring peace to the world.

I look forward to it, Grand Councillor.

That is enough.

If you get in a worse condition, it will be really bad.

He will be staying here

for a few days to pray.

Your Majesty, do you wish to meet him?

You cannot tell him

that you are his father, for Imperial Noble Consort Ki's sake.

What are you praying for?

Wang Yu.

If you are...

here to get your revenge...

I did not come to see you.

But...

I can see that you are troubled.

Do you think you are nobody since you are not the Emperor's son?

I thought you were bigger than that.

It does not matter if your father

is the Emperor or a beggar on the street.

Maha.

You are just you.

Even if one is the Emperor's son, if he is a man of poor caliber,

he will ruin a nation.

Even if one is a beggar's son,

if he is a man of great caliber, he can build up a nation.

Do you pity me?

Why are you telling me this?

If you do not want to be pitied,

then act with confidence.

I am sorry, my son.

This is all I can do to comfort you now.

Your Majesty, I am afraid you must go now.

Will I see you again?

I will come here...

from time to time.

I see...

the resemblance with me now.

-Your Majesty. -Did Her Grace say...

she will send him to Goryeo?

She said she would once he gets better.

I hope the poison does not spread in his body.

I will take him with me...

when the right moment comes.

Go tell Bul-hwa.

Are you going to tell Maha the truth?

I cannot let him...

live in such loneliness.

I will tell him

that Her Grace and I are his parents as soon as we get to Goryeo.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Once we get to Goryeo,

nothing bad will happen even if he finds out the truth.

What... What are they saying?

Maha is...

Wang Yu and Imperial Noble Consort Ki's...

He is their son?

-Over here. -Where?

-I am over here. -Where are you?

-Where are you? -Your Imperial Majesty.

-Come here. -Over here.

-I am here. -Your Imperial Majesty.

-Catch me if you can. -I will get you.

Come and get me.

Your Imperial Majesty.

-Where are you? -I am--

Where are you? What is going on?

Why are you not making any sounds?

All right, I can see that you are trying to trick me.

Fine. Let us see who wins.

Now, come here.

I got you.

I won.

I... I got you.

I got--

Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

I got you.

Put this on.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Do not... Do not say another word.

I am feeling...

way too good today.

Why are you feeling great?

Now.

Look.

The sky is clear.

There are flowers everywhere.

And then... I just...

I just got you.

All right.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

My dear Imperial Noble Consort Ki is it.

I caught Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

How can I not feel great?

Did you forget what the physician said?

If you keep drinking, you will collapse one day--

When I drink,

I do not get nightmares.

That absurd nightmare...

of how you attempt to kill me.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -Yang.

Yang.

So please... leave me be.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Goodness, Grand Councillor.

Grand Councillor.

I am glad you are here.

I was... I was about to get tired of drinking alone.

Come and join me.

There are some matters that require your approval.

Goodness, again?

This is important.

You must review these and seal them.

Golta, give him my seal.

Will you not review them at all?

He is me, and I am him.

He is like my other self.

But Your Imperial Majesty, you cannot just give him--

Golta, why are you standing around?

Give him my seal.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Please follow me, Grand Councillor.

Grand Councillor, off you go now.

Let us grab a drink next time.

All right, everyone. Have a drink.

What a... What a beautiful day.

What are these?

These people sold government positions

and accumulated wealth by wrong means.

Uncle Baekan.

Why are you so surprised?

The people on this list are men of unquestionable ability and integrity.

And of them all, Minister of Personnel, War,

Councilman and Deputy Councilman are--

They are on Imperial Noble Consort Ki's side.

You cannot let go of men of talent because of politics.

This Empire does not need

men of ability, but loyalty.

Can you not tell the difference?

What are you thinking?

But Uncle Baekan, our Empire is in decline.

If you really want what is best for this--

What I say is...

what the Emperor wishes.

Do you not see this seal?

My judgment and my decisions are...

his decisions.

And it will not end with them. All ministers, the Three Excellencies,

and even military officials

will be taken in and dismissed...

if they side with Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

That is what will save this Empire...

and restore its dignity.

Our treasury is nearly empty.

Find a way to fill it.

Halt.

-Your Grace. -Your Grace, help us.

-Help us. -Your Grace!

-Your Grace! -Your Grace, help us.

-Help us. -Please help us.

What is this for?

These are men who got paid for appointing people

and accumulating wealth by graft.

I insist on seeing the evidence of their wrongful affairs.

His Imperial Majesty's seal and my seal are on this.

Minister of Personnel and War...

If you wish to save them, you would be committing treason.

These men are innocent.

If you wish to get rid of me,

you should attack me directly.

They are not innocent.

They are contributing to the downfall of the Empire.

Do you mean...

that I am ruining the Yuan dynasty?

Do you disagree?

You are ruining the Empire.

Such reign of terror

is making the Empire go downhill.

You are mistaken.

This is not your empire.

This Empire belongs to me and my people,

the Mongols.

I am...

the imperial noble consort of the Yuan dynasty.

However,

your root is in Goryeo.

Grand Councillor.

Blood will tell.

And bad blood...

must be removed before it ruins the entire body.

And that bad blood is...

also in the body...

of your next emperor.

Have you forgotten that I am the Crown Prince's mother?

Let us see...

whose blood will be...

spilled first.

-Your Grace! -Your Grace!

-Your Grace! -Your Grace!

Ayu.

You must become a strong and brave emperor.

Become an emperor who conquest the world, riding on a horse with a sword.

Mother told me that I must protect the weak

and rule over the people with kindness.

If you wish to be kind, you must be powerful.

How can a powerless emperor help anyone or be kind to them?

All the countries around us are waiting to attack us, including Goryeo.

The weak will get eaten. That is how it is.

Is Goryeo not my mother's country?

Did she say that?

The court ladies said...

that once I become the Emperor,

-I must also work for Goryeo-- -Ayu!

Do not ever...

mention Goryeo in front of me again.

You are my son. Do you understand?

You are scaring me, Father.

-Mother. -What is it?

Take him outside.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.

Let us go, Your Imperial Highness.

Your Imperial Majesty, you must stop the Grand Councillor's oppression.

Whatever he does,

he does it for the Empire.

Is removing talented men from office

something he does for this Empire?

Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

Why are you so anxious?

Your Imperial Majesty.

Are you that heartbroken...

to see your people get dismissed?

I want you to focus on your role as Crown Prince Ayu's mother.

Do not mention anything weird...

like Goryeo to him.

I see.

You only saw me...

as a woman from Goryeo.

It is not like that.

Do you not see that

you cause trouble in the Palace if you meddle with state affairs?

Mind your place...

for Ayu's sake, will you?

Grand Councillor is not the only one who works for this Empire.

I also want to do good for this--

In that case,

you should have killed Wang Yu.

You saved him right before my eyes.

You saved a traitor who committed treason against the Great Yuan.

-Your Imperial Majesty. -I will no longer hear you.

Stay out of state affairs.

This is an imperial order.

Do not meddle with state affairs!

Sir!

Are you telling us to meet with Baekan?

Sir!

He will kill us as soon as he sees us.

Take this to Baekan

and do just as we say.

Then you will earn his trust.

Have you decided on siding with Baekan?

Imperial Noble Consort Ki is losing the Emperor's favor.

Baekan will be the winner.

No matter who wins,

we just have to increase profits by using them.

Then there will come a day...

when money can buy power.

Someone from the Eagle House is here to see me?

Grand Councillor.

-Have you been well? -Have you been well?

How dare you come to me?

You two must have a death wish.

Before...

Before you take my head,

take this. Please read this first.

This is information on foreign merchants.

If you confiscated all of their assets,

you can fill the treasury.

You can also get rid of troublesome foreigners.

You can kill two birds with one stone.

The Eagle House is a wicked organization that helped Yeoncheol before.

And you wish to help me?

Foreign merchants,

especially merchants from Goryeo,

caused the Eagle House a lot of damage.

If you get rid of them,

our leader will give you a huge amount of money

you can use for political purposes.

-Goodness. -Why are you doing this?

No!

Why are you doing this?

Take them away!

Please stop.

No!

-You jerks! -Why are you doing this?

Move!

Those lousy scumbags.

Calm down.

The Eagle House will take over...

the businesses that are ruined by Baekan.

Will our merchants be okay?

Merchants from Goryeo are suffering the most.

We must come up with a plan as soon as possible.

You should discuss this with Her Grace.

We are no longer allies.

Pardon?

I see.

First, get in touch with Suri.

We would be able to use him

to find out the Eagle House's secret.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Look at all these lists of assets.

A few confiscations

brought in so much money.

Earning Baekan's trust will be only a matter of time.

General, it has been a long--

Why are you doing this?

Do you dare sweet talk Grand Councillor into making awful judgments?

General. General, look at this.

We confiscated all these assets from the merchants.

If we confiscate all the assets the merchants in Yeongyeong own--

Silence.

I will kill you this instant and feed your heads to the pigs.

-No, stop. General, no. -No.

-No. -Lower your sword.

Uncle Baekan.

You must stop the oppression against the merchants.

They are foreign merchants who suck the blood out of Yuan.

The Empire was built by foreigners.

That is why everything is a mess.

The economy of this Empire is about to collapse.

Destroying small businessmen will lead to

the starvation of the entire Yuan.

When the Empire prospers, its people can prosper as well.

What is the point

of making the Empire prosper if not for the people?

Are you saying you are going to go against me?

I cannot back down on this.

You are killing the people as you try to save the Empire--

Enough!

How dare you try to teach me?

I would do that for anyone, not just you.

Ignorance must be corrected.

What did you say?

Courage without wisdom will bring destruction to us all.

How dare you!

Grand Councillor, please calm down.

Taltal.

You cannot disobey me.

Anyone but you.

Step forward one at a time.

Please spare me. Please do not kill me.

We are not going to kill you.

We are going to brand you.

Those who are branded

can no longer run a business in the Yuan dynasty.

Begin.

Please spare me. Have mercy.

Spare me.

What is going on?

You must stop now.

This is not a place for you.

You are a coward.

You should be trying to stop the Grand Councillor's tyranny,

but you joined him instead.

I cannot do...

-what you want me to do. -It is not that you cannot.

You do not wish to.

He has the Emperor's favor.

No one can touch him.

So...

will you give up?

I am not giving up.

I am declining your request.

That is something I cannot do.

Master.

There is only one thing...

I can do for you.

You must...

stop this fight.

You will not lose just the things you have gained.

You may lose your life too.

I will fight to the end.

I am not...

a coward like someone.

What did you pray for?

I prayed

that my parents would rest in peace if they are dead.

I prayed that I would be able to

see them again if they are alive.

What did you pray for?

I prayed

that your prayers will come true.

Why are you smiling?

Just because.

I do not know why I smiled.

You do not look well.

I am fine.

Do not worry.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Do you want to see something interesting outside the Palace?

Something interesting?

Oh, no.

-Father. -Oh, no.

Father, do not die.

Lady, please give me something.

-I am hungry. -My goodness!

-Father. -My goodness.

-Father. -No.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

Do you call this interesting?

I beg your pardon.

You would not have come if I had told you the truth,

so I lied.

-Let us go. -Your Imperial Majesty.

Every single day,

hundreds and thousands of people die of starvation.

However, the Grand Councillor is taken over with past glory

and turning away from the pain of your people.

That is none of your concern.

I fed your people with funds from Wang Yu

because I feared their wrath will pile up against you.

Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

It is not too late.

Forget your fame and power.

Look after your people.

You must save them from Baekan's tyranny!

How can we pursue a great cause

if we are afraid of drawbacks?

Your people are dying.

Who is that great cause for?

I believe in Baekan.

His loyalty, his ways,

and his passion will save us all.

Therefore, do not try to persuade me any longer.

Make way!

His Imperial Majesty is coming.

Make way!

Your Imperial Majesty, look at your people.

They hate you and detest you.

You should not turn away from them.

Wang Yu.

What is wrong?

Wang Yu... It is Wang Yu.

Wang Yu is here.

-Are you seeing things again? -That is definitely him.

Wang Yu just laughed at me and--

Your Imperial Majesty.

-Your Imperial Majesty! -Your Imperial Majesty!

Wake up, Your Imperial Majesty. Your Imperial Majesty!

Take him back to the Palace!

Is he all right?

His heart is weak

because of his alcohol abuse.

Then...

what can we do?

Thankfully, he passed the crisis.

But I am not sure when he will wake up.

We cannot let him die like this.

You must save him.

Yes, Your Grace. I will do my best.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Imperial Majesty. What is going on?

You cannot leave us like this.

-How long has he been like this? -Well...

You may leave.

Pardon?

I will get him to Goryeo.

Yes.

Of course.

Here are some gold coins.

That should be enough to make a life for yourself.

Thank you.

Your Imperial Highness.

Your Imperial Highness.

Wake up, Your Imperial Highness.

Your Imperial Highness.

Your Imperial Highness.

Your Imperial Highness...

Your Imperial Highness...

Did you prepare a wagon for Maha?

Yes, it is a wagon drawn by two horses.

Why are they running so late?

You look rather happy, Your Majesty.

Once I go to Goryeo, I can call him my son.

How can I not be happy?

Court Lady Seo came out.

I will go get him.

Eunuch Park.

His Imperial Highness...

passed away.

No.

This cannot happen.

His Majesty is waiting for him outside.

Your Imperial Highness.

Your Imperial Highness.

Your Majesty.

What is it?

Your Majesty.

What is wrong with him?

He has...

passed away, Your Majesty.

Maha.

Open your eyes.

Your Majesty.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

Maha.

I am your father.

I am...

your worthless father.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

Maha.

Maha?

You cannot die.

Maha.

Maha!

Maha!

Maha.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty...

Maha, wake up.

Maha!

Your Imperial Majesty.

One day, you will know...

how I truly feel about you.

You must know...

all that I have done...

to protect you.

So do not be ill.

Do not be lonely, Your Imperial Majesty.

Your Grace.

I just returned, Your Grace.

How is Byul?

Do not tell Her Grace...

that Maha is dead.

What will you do?

Later,

just tell her that I took him back to Goryeo.

She has suffered enough.

I do not want to see her...

suffer more because of Maha.

He is getting better by the day.

Your Grace.

A word from Chief Eunuch Dok-man.

The Grand Councillor and the Empress Dowager are up to something.

Gather the court officials to the Emperor's palace now.

Yes, Your Grace.

This is the perfect chance to oust Imperial Noble Consort Ki.

How so?

His Imperial Majesty has fallen ill.

That means there is no one to protect her.

The physician said we do not know when he will wake up.

You must oust her

and her followers with this chance.

This is a heaven-sent opportunity.

However, when His Imperial Majesty wakes up--

We can come up with anything to frame her.

A charge of treason would be the best.

-Treason? -Yes.

We should accuse her of conspiring treason with her supporters

while the Emperor was bedridden.

If we dealt with traitors,

there should not be any problem.

Your Highness.

-There is trouble. -Trouble?

The court officials are in a meeting to decide on a regent.

-A regent? -Does the consort wish to be a regent?

Why are you sitting there?

Why?

His Imperial Majesty is indisposed. He cannot look after the state affairs.

Naturally, the Crown Prince must rule in his place.

His Imperial Highness is still young,

so the officials of the court wishes Her Grace, his mother,

to act as a regent.

Do you really think it is right to let a consort rule the Empire?

Grand Councillor!

Why do you try to ignore a decision that was made

according to the laws and protocols?

The Empire's fate is at stake!

Laws and protocols are not important here!

Then...

is that why you have shown tyranny,

ignoring laws and protocols?

-Your Grace! -I accepted to act as a regent...

in an attempt to rebuild the Yuan dynasty...

which you have ruined.

I cannot allow it.

-How dare you sit on the throne-- -Your Highness.

If you continue to refuse to agree to my regency,

I will hold you responsible for opposing an imperial command.

Hear me.

The imperial treasury is nearly empty.

This shows the incompetence of Empress Dowager, in charge of

the Imperial Office of the Treasury.

I will hold her responsible,

strip her of her office,

and leave the office to Chief Eunuch Dok-man.

Will you leave the Imperial Office of the Treasury to a mere eunuch?

Furthermore, all military powers of the city and the Palace

are now under...

Park Bul-hwa's command.

As you command.

As you command.

Filling up the most powerful positions of this Empire with men from Goryeo?

Grand Councillor.

Hand me His Imperial Majesty's seal along with yours.

With too much power, the military power will go corrupt.

You are not worthy of that seal.

We protect

His Imperial Majesty and Her Grace above anyone else.

Protect them with your lives!

-With our lives! -With our lives!

Power struggles are like hunting rabbits.

Success goes to the one

who finds it and hits it first.

If you acted any later,

you would have been finished.

I must finish my hunt...

before His Imperial Majesty wakes up.

Do you...

still refuse to help?

Go to the archives

and look for The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

You will find my answer there.

THE ART OF WAR

What is wrong?

This is a record of all the misdeeds conducted by Baekan's men.

Baekan's corruptions are not found in here.

They say blood is thicker than water.

Taltal probably covered up his suspicions of corruptions.

We will not find anything on them.

He is bold,

but he is not a man who would be greedy.

What about the corrupt officials named here?

Ayu's birthday is coming up.

I will invite only these men

and throw a feast.

A feast? These are men that are the closest to Baekan.

That is why they are worthy of special treatment.

We should move His Imperial Majesty

to Heungdeok Palace as of today.

Ask Court Lady Hong...

to get ready.

Yes, Your Grace.

Thank you all for coming.

Bring in the food.

I had them bring fresh and cold water for you.

This is an awful joke.

The people are starving.

How can we enjoy a feast even if it is the Crown Prince's birthday?

Please excuse me.

I am not done yet.

Councillor.

You received a handsome amount

in return for appointing someone as an assistant chief position.

And Minister of Revenue.

You forged documents

and extorted the people of their assets.

Minister of Rites, you siphoned taxes

and built...

a huge house with that.

Those of the Privy Council

and the Chief Censor are also guilty.

I have the evidence that all of you here have accumulated wealth...

in an illegal way.

Even water is too good for you.

But since this is the Crown Prince's birthday,

I added something special into your water.

Something special?

I put some arsenic.

You may drink the poison

if you believe you are innocent.

Then I will step down...

as a murderer of innocent men.

However, if you do not drink it,

I take that as a confession to your charges.

You will be held responsible.

I will count to three. Make your choice...

before I am finished.

One.

Two.

Uncle Baekan.

Let go.

You said you will step down.

There was no arsenic.

However, you all have confessed to your crimes.

Leave Grand Councillor and Taltal.

Take all the others out and throw them in jail.

Yes. Take them away!

-Yes. -Yes.

-What are you doing? -Let go!

-I am falsely blamed! -No!

Grand Councillor!

-Your Grace! -General!

-Let go of me! -Your Grace!

What brings you here?

There is something I must tell His Imperial Majesty.

He is not in a condition to meet anyone.

I have to tell him something very important.

Golta.

Your Imperial Majesty. Are you awake?

Your Imperial Majesty.

May... I speak with you?

Yes, go ahead.

Tell me.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Prince Maha is...

actually...

Subtitle translation by Eun-sook Youn