Original subtitles

Empress Ki

Episode 14 -Sir.

Feeling better?

The tonic you sent helped.

The royal physician sent that, not me.

Why would he...?

His Majesty came often while you were ill.

We can't have this kind of dereliction again, understood?

Yes, sir.

From what I could gather,

Wang Yu lead his men against the Turks in a resounding victory.

My Liege, Nyang.

Pardon my tardiness.

Go to your quarters and get some rest.

I'm much better.

I said go.

And don't budge from the palace till I say so.

Wang Yu? The Koryo king?

Yes, Your Majesty.

He has an audience with the Emperor today.

So what if he is?

They say he is a man of wild passions.

And wanton desires.

It takes all sorts.

Still, no wonder he lost his throne.

We'll have to watch our girls.

Whom shall we send...?

Anyon...

Ah, Nyang should do.

Ah.

She hasn't got what's coming to her.

The king of sleaze should be happy to oblige.

Your Majesty.

Come on.

That's Wang Yu?

He looks different from what they say. He's gorgeous.

Uh-huh. Chiseled features.

A fine figure of a man.

Sire. I do not see Sungnyang.

Neither do I.

She should be here.

Not if she doesn't know.

My Liege, I trust you've been well.

Welcome, General.

And you, long time.

Too long, My Liege.

I heard about your efforts.

Impressive.

My Liege, we shouldn't stint in rewarding Bayan's valor.

Quite right.

Here. General Bayan.

A drink with you.

Sir.

Come on then.

My Liege.

This victory was not mine.

Bayan, not yours?

In our darkest hour...

one man saved us and led us to victory.

Wang Yu.

Is this true?

Yes, Father. It is.

A leader bears defeat alone.

But success is shared by all who stand and fight.

This victory belongs to us all.

Gracious in victory?

Now there's a man for you, My Liege.

I suppose.

Wang Yu, 1,000 bars of gold and 10,000 taels of silver.

Your Majesty.

General Bayan, I award you 10,000 bars of gold and name you Baghatur.

At your service, My Liege.

At your service.

Nyang.

What's going on?

Where is everyone?

Gone to the main palace.

What for?

The dethroned king of Koryo is here.

He's gorgeous. They all want a peek.

His Majesty is alive?

He returned victorious.

Nyang...! Nyang...!

- Can you believe it? - He's so attractive.

Sire.

Sire, I'm here.

This way.

Look this way, Sire.

You didn't see Sungnyang?

I did not. Did you?

I had to act nonchalant in public.

But she saw me.

I have an old friend in the palace.

I'll set it up with him so you can meet her.

Good. Do that.

Sire.

The Emperor wants to have a personal audience with you.

Personal...?

Seeing you like this brings back a lot of memories.

As I'm sure you recall.

My first day in your palace.

How... how dare... you dare...?

Silence. Now listen to me.

Yuan won't keep you alive.

Koryo will.

I can't protect my own, but I have to protect you.

You know how that feels?

The world is sure a funny place.

I was an exile, now I'm emperor.

You were a king.

Now you're a shaggy hostage.

And yet I did all I could to keep you alive.

You're talking out the side of your mouth.

You didn't save me, Sungnyang did.

To think The Jackal was a girl all along.

And now she's here.

She would fake her own death for you.

You want to see her?

Send her back to Koryo.

Your people call those who return tramps or worse.

Would you wish that upon her?

She would be happier at home than here.

If she's to be happy...

I'll see to it.

You think she wants that?

I'm the emperor.

Heaven or hell, her fate is in my hands, not yours.

And who decides your fate?

What?

Your fate is not your own.

Who are you to decide for others?

That... is enough.

I know Sungnyang.

You won't get what you want.

The years have been kind.

You haven't changed a bit.

Neither have you.

You always looked old. Still do.

That's...

Wait, is that good or bad?

Bad. 'Good,' you kidding?

That's my first laugh since I got here.

Yeah?

Actually, I wanted to ask a favor.

Of course, ask away.

There's a certain Sungnyang...

No, she's called Nyang here, maybe?

My King wants a word with her.

She's a palace lady.

- She can't meet some foreigner. - Shh.

That's why I came to you.

You know, between old friends from Koryo.

Listen.

I'm not a Koryo subject, I'm a Yuan subject now.

Like saying it changes anything?

Koryo subject once, Koryo subject forever.

Do this for me.

Dokman.

Dokman... Dokman...

Didn't he see me?

Or was he faking...?

Well... I'm just a subordinate to him.

Sungnyang.

My lord.

It's been forever.

Let's have a look at you.

Adorable.

I always said you were too pretty to be a man.

And you were.

Doing all right?

Yes.

The King?

Oh, I almost forgot.

He's in his pavilion. For good, I suspect.

I'm glad he's safe.

Meet him tonight outside the shrine before 8 o'clock.

He'll be waiting.

Morning is enough. Evenings, too?

Have you forgotten so soon?

It isn't wise to antagonize her just yet.

Your Majesty, good evening.

Paying respects morning and night must be tiresome.

It is my duty.

Not tiresome at all.

I have ordered a tonic for you.

A tonic?

It's time you conceived.

We all have our roles in life.

It is difficult for an Empress to fulfill her role without a son.

I had no idea you were so concerned for me.

Of course I am.

Surely you don't think I dislike you?

Pouring salt in the wound.

Surely not.

Everyone knows the type of woman you are.

Do they?

This is an unforgiving place.

You must try harder.

Pssh. Holding an heir over my head.

They say bowing 108 times in the shrine under a full moon will help.

You expect me to do that?

Many an Empress has done so.

And when rumors spread that I can't get pregnant?

Whatever it takes at this point.

I have my pride.

Being without child is more...

I beg your pardon.

You'll wear out the mirror.

It's just Sungnyang.

Why you prettying up?

Who's prettying up?

Enough foolishness.

Leave me.

- Sire. - Sire.

You say go, we go, but...

Then go.

Sire.

C'mon. Heh-heh.

A chick imprints on its mother when it breaks its shell.

It never changes after that.

I know Sungnyang.

You won't get what you want.

No.

I'll get what I want, how I want.

Empress.

Bow a hundred, a thousand times.

You will never bear a child.

What did you do to ensure that fact?

Only the Buddha knows.

No one else can ever suspect.

My Liege.

Why so surprised?

What do you want...?

It's my palace.

I go where I like.

Lord Buddha.

Bless me with a son.

I beg you, I beg you.

Bless me with a son.

I beg you.

I told her to keep everyone out.

What's Lady Soh doing anyway?

The Koryo king? Is that him?

Where did he go?

Odd. He comes and goes like the wind...

Oh my goodness.

You're no maid. A lady-in-waiting then?

No men are allowed here.

Leave at once.

I heard it was forbidden after eight.

It's not yet eight.

If I may...

How dare you?

You dare touch my person?

Get out.

Or I'll scream.

Go ahead.

Alone at night with a foreign man? Doesn't look so good.

What?

I said I'll go at the right time.

What kind of servant are you?

Slapping a man without asking who he is?

You're a real piece of work.

We'll see who's a piece of work in daylight.

Eight o'clock.

Sungnyang, what's keeping you?

Hurry.

Why are you doing this?

Why? You dare ask your Emperor why?

Please get off me.

Scream if you like.

My eunuchs surround the place.

My Liege!

Would you act like this if I were Wang Yu?

I'll send in your eunuch.

Don't go.

I'll never...

...give you to Wang Yu.

The one I saw first...

...was you.

When I broke out of my shell...

...to me...

...you were the mother bird.

Sire.

Where are you?

...Sire...

Something must have happened.

Quite so, Sire.

How did she look when you saw her?

Sire, good complexion, vibrant, healthy.

I'll talk to her again tomorrow.

Don't.

Sire, you've been so worried about her...

If she has a good life there... that's all that matters.

I don't want to interfere with that.

Congratulations on your appointment as Baghatur.

I'll be counting on you, Kopsol.

On me? Your word is my command.

The General is hosting a feast tonight.

Will you join us?

Need you ask?

My pleasure, sir.

A blood vow?

Khutughtu Khan left a blood vow?

He wrote it before I poisoned him.

One little sip, drift off to sleep...

and wake in a better world.

If I do...

...you must promise me something.

Give the crown...

to my son Togon.

Not to worry.

On your way now. 'My Liege.'

When I saw the blood, I knew what he'd done.

Where is it now?

It's just a rumor now.

No one has come forth with it.

But I'm not the only one looking for it.

Who else?

Reporting as ordered.

And?

He's traveling. He'll be here in two days.

And he definitely knows who is looking for the Vow?

Yes, sir.

Searching for the Vow is the same as threatening you.

We should find him and kill him.

Not yet.

If we trace his steps...

the Blood Vow will be ours.

I must be early.

Has the place changed?

The man you're looking for is dead.

Then you're looking for the Vow...

That fire is out, but finding the Vow won't be easy.

The arrow has already left the bow.

El Temur will fall.

And I will use the Vow to take power.

I'll bury the body where no one can find it.

Ugh, I hate these. You call these clothes?

Your Majesty, you will be late.

Get some others.

Oh yes.

Today I'll show him.

Show whom exactly?

A rude, arrogant, jerky-headed...

...lout.

Your Majesty.

Nyang serves the Emperor.

Sending her to the foreigner...

Leave it.

We'll send one of our girls.

Wang Yu is said to have achieved a remarkable victory.

The girls say he's handsome, very manly.

Handsome.

Sure if you like a cattle rustler's ugly mug...

People are power.

Surrounding yourself with talent will only help you.

Wang Ko.

Sir.

This serves as your farewell banquet.

Farewell?

Leave the Capitol.

You're abandoning me?

Not abandoning. Letting go.

Forget the Koryo throne.

Live out your days in peace.

Regent.

His Imperial Majesty.

Welcome, My Liege.

I trust you've been well, Your Majesty?

Well done, General Bayan.

Wang Yu at your service.

You are as impressive as they say.

Your hospitality honors us.

Wang Yu would make a fine husband for a princess of the imperial house.

What do you think?

Your Majesty.

A husband?

I haven't thought of marriage...

Koryo is like a son to the Yuan.

We cannot waste such an exceptional talent.

Don't you agree, El Temur?

Time is pressing.

Shall we begin?

This banquet is for you.

Eat, drink, enjoy yourselves.

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

Her Imperial Majesty.

I'm sorry I'm late.

I said I'll go at the right time.

What kind of servant are you?

A pleasure. Wang Yu, I believe?

Your Majesty.

The honor is mine.

Where do I put this?

I didn't understand a word...

I understand you have quite a gift with the geomungo.

I would be pleased to hear it.

My hands have been wielding a sword.

I'm out of practice...

Just so.

Each to his own ability.

All the more reason.

I'm curious to hear you.

If you will pardon my failings...

it is my pleasure.

Your Imperial Majesty.

Lord Kopsol is dead.

Sir.

I'll look into it.

Where did you find the body?

Sir, the girl that found the body.

It was hanging by the neck.

We should have preserved the scene, but the idiot eunuchs...

Don't let anyone inside.

I swear, it's not my first body.

I was with the police you know.

How did this happen?

I know I dumped it in the well.

Which well?

Outside the Capitol in the Koryo village.

The village?

Why there of all places?

They've got the plague. What's one body more or less?

He didn't walk here himself.

Someone must have seen us kill him.

Shh.

Stand aside.

There are two marks.

One from where he was hung.

And the other from when he was strangled.

This will cause quite a stir if it gets out.

We'll squelch any rumors.

Then investigate discreetly.

Kopsol killed himself, you say?

Yes, My Liege.

He hung himself in the archives.

Is that true?

No. He was strangled.

In the palace of all places?

So inconsiderate.

Enough of this.

The banquet is over.

Get out, all of you.

Why did you drink so much?

Cause I'm so happy.

Kolta, chop-chop.

My Liege.

You know the Koryo village?

It's where Koryo expatriates live.

To starve in squalor.

Surely Your Majesty will want to see it?

I've already sent my men.

Have you?

Well aren't you something.

Don't speak of our people.

Hypocrite.

Tomorrow I leave for Koryo.

I would like a word before I go.

I have something for you.

Give my father my regards.

You believe Kopsol killed himself?

'Forest for the trees.'

You can't see the moon for your finger pointing at it.

What's that even mean?

Good question.

Any word from Jombak and Pulhwa in the village?

I'll go see.

No. I'll go myself.

Strangled? Then hung?

There's no doubt he was strangled.

The killer must be near.

He wanted the body to be found.

Bayan.

Yes, sir.

Find the killer.

Quietly. Discreetly.

Yes, sir.

Dismissed.

This was done by the men after the Vow.

Can you leave it to Bayan?

You have other work.

Find the Vow.

It's somewhere in the palace.

We must find it before they do.

Yes, Father.

Yes, sir.

A Blood Vow?

My ticket to the top. The Vow.

[The Koryo Village Outside Daidu]

Sire.

What brings you here?

I wanted to see the village for myself.

You can't go in. That would be bad.

Bad?

They have the plague.

Sire, perhaps some other time...

- Sire. - Sire.

The plague.

I'm weak and sickly as it is.

- Bang. - Let go. Sire!

Do we have to go too?

I guess that's a yes.

Sire!

The dead.

So much misery.

Hell on earth.

You saw the village headman?

For all the good it did.

There, the man with the stick.

You're the headman?

I have some questions about the village.

If you don't want to leave on a stretcher...

...go now.

This is His Majesty the King of Koryo.

I have been deposed.

But I'm still concerned for our people.

Is that so?

His Royal Worthless!

Old fool...!

The sight of our 'King' sets our teeth on edge.

You abandoned us.

Now you're here?

Why? You happy? Enjoying the view?

This sleaze is worse than any plague. Get them out of here.

We should go.

First some whackjob fishes a corpse out of the well...

You know the Koryo village?

You believe Kopsol killed himself?

I knew you'd come.

You're not one to miss out.

What is it you wanted to say?

You want El Temur eliminated?

Our motives differ but our goal is the same.

With him dead you may well get your throne back.

You've been his hunting dog for over ten years now.

True. He said bark, I barked. Bite, I bit.

Wag my tail, I rolled on the floor and begged.

But now.

The hunt is over and he's done with me.

Casting me aside like so much trash.

I have no country, no claims to honor or glory, nothing.

Why did you kill Kopsol?

I didn't.

I merely transported it to the palace.

Then...

...who did kill him and why?

They want the Blood Vow.

Blood Vow?

Khutughtu Khan's will, written in his own blood.

The Khan was a fool and lost to El Temur.

Whoever finds that Vow can push El Temur out.

And so be the true power behind the throne.

My Liege, if I may.

You may not.

- My Liege. - I said no.

I know what you're going to say.

'Send me to Wang Yu.' As if I want to hear that.

Not another word.

Unless you're reading.

Read it all. Even if I doze off.

Well? Read.

'Ode to a Prince Deposed.'

At the Capital wall a white-headed crow...

perches on the Autumn Gate and cries in the night.

It flies to a great mansion and pecks at the tiles.

Her mighty lord...

has fled before the Tartars.

Now that Kopsol's body has been found El Temur will suspect those closest to him.

'However small the crack, rain will get in.'

You can use that crack.

Once it's cracked, collapse is just a matter of time.

This is my final gift to you.

I need someone that knows the palace.

Who will help me?

You there?

Yes, Sire.

You called?

Sungnyang serves the Emperor?

Yes, Sire. In his palace.

I have to see her.

The gates are closed at this hour.

Just tell me how to get in.

It gets worse the more I think on it.

I'm so good to her and she wants Wang Yu?

Kolta, you there?

My Liege.

Sungnyang left?

She thought you were asleep.

Bring her back.

No. I'll go myself.

Once you're inside, follow the fence.

The women's quarters will be just ahead.

My Liege, a little slower, please.

My Liege, what's the rush?

Sungnyang.

Sungnyang!

Sungnyang, It's me.

S-Sire...

Nyang!

Sungnyang!

I could have sworn she was here.

Sungnyang!

Subtitles provided by MBC

You really don't remember?

You should have stopped her.

Don't kid yourself.

It's not that I can't kill you. I'm just not killing you.

Stay still.

It's dangerous for you here.

The moment I lost my throne I was already dead.

Nothing I do works.

Everyone always makes so much of Wang Yu.

- Appeals. - If you use them to your advantage.

Getting it out is the hard part.

I'm here to help.

Never come here again.

Do you only see me as a servant of the Yuan now?

Never again.