The Iron Empress
Episode 12
My lady, I heard that you called.
Is there something I can do for you?
General Gang.
Yes.
Would you obey me, if I said I wanted to stop the building efforts in the north?
My lady, why do you suddenly ask such a question?
I might leave... Myeongbok Palace.
I don't understand. Why would you have to leave the palace?
[Lady Sungdeok- Hwangbo Su (Future Empress Cheonchu)]
I haven't made up my mind yet.
But it's a possibility I'm considering.
Please tell me why.
(Gang Jo)
Why are you considering this?
This work is too hard for a woman to continue,
and thankfully His Highness is going to Seogyeong.
If he pays heed to the suffering in Seogyeong and comes around...
Is this the King's order?
Does he want you to stop developing the north and leave Myeongbok Palace?
Please tell me, my lady.
I am to choose between Myeongbok Palace and my son.
If I choose my son, I have to give up this palace and the northern frontier.
And you and I will go separate ways as well.
If I choose the latter, I will be giving up my son forever.
What should I do?
It's an unfair question for me to ask.
After all we're building these forts for your people.
My lady...
I don't want to stop building the forts...
but I will obey if it's your order.
But I will not leave you.
If you must leave this palace, I will leave with you.
Drillmaster Gang, you don't have to...
My lady.
What is it?
There is a visitor from Gaegyeong.
Who might you be?
(Court Lady Jo)
I'm Court Lady Jo, Lady Yunheung's lady-in-waiting.
Lady Yunheung?
Yes, my lady.
What business could Lady Yunheung possibly have with me?
I have a letter from her.
Is this true?
She will arrange for me to see my son?
Yes, my lady.
How?
She will take Prince Gaeryeong to Guibup
Temple when His Highness leaves for Seogyeong.
Guibup Temple?
[Guibup Temple: King Gwangjong, the 4th King of Goryeo, built this temple in Gaegyeong)]
Yes.
Since you can easily be seen in the palace.
Guibup Temple?
Yes.
Lady Sungdeok is certain to take the bait and show up.
And my daughter will take Prince Gaeryeong to let the mother and son to have a date.
[Kim Won Soong (Minister of Revenue and father of Lady Yunheung)]
And once my daughter leaves the temple to give them time together, we will strike.
Sungdeok is not helpless like the young prince.
[Choi Seom (Vice Minister of the Chancellery)]
She has a strong force behind her.
The slightest mistake could throw the situation out of control.
Perhaps we should use the... royal physician once more.
Not in the palace.
If the child dies in the palace, the King is sure to become suspicious.
And we run the risk of getting caught for our past crime as well.
If we want a clean job, Guibup Temple is a much better location.
How so?
Jurchens have enmity for Lady Sungdeok.
They have already attacked her palace once.
Yes, so are you saying we should make this look like a Jurchen attack?
That's right.
The mother and son sill be dead and no one will suspect that we're behind it.
Jurchens followed Sungdeok to Gaegyeong
and murdered her and her son while the King was away.
But you must succeed.
There is nothing I can do if you fail.
Trust me. I won't fail.
You just make sure that no one ever suggests that nonsense
about getting another royal concubine again.
I swear I will end our relationship if that comes up again.
The prince is gone?
[Hwangbo Seol (Future mother of King Hyeonjong)]
Yes, he left for Gaegyeong with Sir Gang Gamchan.
They are quite a pair.
My lady.
My lady, please forgive me for leaving you like this again.
Your confession was too much for my heart to hold.
So I leave now in fear I may not be able to contain myself if I stay.
In looking back, my heart too, pounded like a young boy in love when I first saw you.
It was like finding a pure and perfect flower at the edge of a cliff,
running away from ruthlessness and treachery of political wars.
But this coward, who backed away from every challenge in his life,
turned around and ran from that flower as well.
[Wang Ook (Prince Gyeongjuwon)]
But still I had longed to see you one more time and now I have.
Forgive me for my cowardice and trepidation which stops me from embracing your love.
"Those who meet must part, those who part must meet."
I believe we will meet again someday.
Your memories will be cherished in my dreams.
Be well.
My prince. My prince...
I'm leaving for Seogyeong today to deliver comfort to the people who have been
victimized by Jurchen attacks.
[Seongjong (The 6th King of Goryeo)]
I asked that all of you perform your duties to the fullest in my absence.
Your Highness.
We will work together and attend to state affairs in perfect order until you return.
[Choi Ryang (Minister of Culture)]
Please have a safe trip.
Return safely, Your Highness.
(Guibup Temple)
Wait here.
My lady...
(Wang Song) (Prince Gaeryeong, future King Mokjong)
You've always told me to study the teachings of Confucius.
What are we doing here at a Buddhist temple?
We're not here for the mass.
What do you mean?
[Lady Yunheung (Future Queen Munwha)]
We're going to meet Lady Sungdeok here.
Pardon?
I'm sorry for not telling you until now.
I didn't want the word to get out.
Why?
Don't you want to see your mother?
It's okay for you to be honest with me.
I know you think about her often.
No, I don't.
Most certainly not.
It's only natural. You don't have to hide it.
If my master or His Highness finds out, they will be furious.
I'll take care of that. I just want you to remember one thing.
She gave birth to you, but I am the one who raised you.
You're my son no matter what anyone says and that will never change.
Do you understand?
Yes, my lady.
Call me mother.
Yes, Mother.
Yes, my son.
Song!
You're here. You're really here!
You came early.
Yes, I've been here since dawn.
It's cold. Let us go inside.
No, I'm sure you want to be alone.
I'll leave you two alone.
You will?
Yes.
I'll send Court Lady Jo when it gets dark.
Enjoy the time with Lady Sungdeok until then.
Yes...
Well then...
Lady Yunheung.
It seems I've been wrong about you.
Thank you for this.
I don't understand you, my lady.
What will you do if His Highness finds out?
This is the last and only time.
It's a mother's duty to give her son what he wants.
Don't you like me?
Yes.
Then why can't you look me in the eyes?
Do you feel awkward?
Yes, I understand.
It was a lifetime ago the last time we were alone together like this...
Do you know where we are?
Guibup Temple.
Yes.
Your great-grandmother built this temple.
Many years ago, there was a very famous high monk named Gyun Yeo of Hwangju.
He built this great temple with her auspices.
You don't know what your great-grandmother looks like, don't you?
No.
She came here and prayed for 100 days for you to be born healthy and strong.
It would make her so happy if you remembered her...
I must be boring you.
No.
If you don't mind, why won't we take a walk around the temple?
Yes.
This is a wonderful tea, Master.
Who are you?
State your identity!
Kill him!
My lady, run!
Song!
Run, Song! Run!
Go!
Song!
Are you hurt?
Song, open your eyes!
Are you hurt? Song!
What's wrong? Open your eyes.
Open your eyes, Song!
What did they do to you? What's wrong? Song!
My lady!
My lady, we must get out of here.
Those men?
The monks are fighting them.
We must go now, my lady.
It's Song. He won't move.
He's unconscious!
My lady, are you all right?
I'm okay.
Let's rest a little.
Song, open your eyes. Song!
Is he hurt?
I don't know. I don't think so, but he's unconscious.
Song! Song!
May I?
He has no injuries, his pulse is normal and so is his breathing.
Then why is he unconscious?
It must be shock.
My lady, you're hurt!
I guess so.
It looks bad.
I'm okay.
No, you're bleeding heavily.
We must go to Sungdeok Palace and tend to the wound.
No, you saw those men.
Gaegyeong is dangerous.
We must go to Hwangju. They're...
Shh! Wait!
How was your trip to Gaegyeong?
Good.
I heard the lady has gone to see Prince Gaeryeong.
Yes.
Is there anything else?
Sir, the palace keeper says the King is touring Seogyeong right now.
(Sa Gamun)
Yes I know.
If Goryeoan King is in Seogyeong,
this might be a perfect opportunity for us to kill him.
What are you saying?
We can easily deploy our men to Seogyeong.
Think about it, sir... this is our chance.
No. I told you not to be impetuous!
Gaining Hwangju's trust is our first goal in pursuit of the great cause,
not killing the Goryeoan king.
(Kim Chi Yang)
Don't lose sight of that goal again. Is that clear?
Yes, sir.
(Seogyeong)
"Goryeosa" and "Condensed History of Goryeo" records this event like this:
"In the year 991, the King toured the West City."
"During the King's travel, old men came forward offering wine and cattle."
"King shared the wine with soldiers and gave back the cattle."
"When he came upon farmers with failed crops due to illness,
he gave exemption from taxation, and he gave medicine to the sick and the disabled."
King Seongjong's visit had given tremendous comfort and joy
not only to the people of Seogyeong, but to neighboring populations as well.
Oh dear...
[Gang Gamchan (Vice Minister of the Office of Royal Decree)]
Sir Gang, you made it!
What were you doing?
I was gathering some firewood.
I hope my place wasn't too hard to find.
You hope?
I would've fallen off a cliff and died if it weren't for the bright moon.
Of all places to get a home...
Go on inside and get warm. I'll be right in.
I'm surprise you have wine. Did you make it yourself?
I may live like this,
[Wang Ook (Prince Gyeongjuwon)]
but this is the most expensive pine needle wine from a tavern in Gaegyeong.
Let me pour you a glass.
You are a strange one.
What's so bad about living in the city that you'd be out here in the middle
of nowhere all alone?
I don't want to be seen.
Then you can stay with me.
How are you going to cook and clean for yourself?
What if I move into your house and find your wife irresistible?
I don't think you'd want that.
I beg your pardon?
Drink up, my friend, drink!
I know about it, Prince.
Know about what?
You came here because of Lady Seol.
How did you know?
I've been your friend for twenty years.
Did you really think I wouldn't know?
Let's drink.
The bottle is empty.
Like my heart is empty...
I don't know why I feel so lonely.
I've lived alone all my life without getting tied down to anything...
but now...
But now I feel lonely.
So lonely that I can't stand it.
Did you love her that much?
I guess I did.
I should never have gone back there to see her.
I don't know why I did.
And she feels the same way about you?
Yes.
That's why it hurts even more.
What is a man?
What is life?
Even birds in the sky and insignificant creatures in the mud...
are free to be with whomever they desire.
Why can't men do the same?
Prince...
I'd rather be a bird or an insignificant creature in the mud any day.
I really would.
You fool!
How could you let them get away!
I don't know what to say.
There were dozens of you and you couldn't get rid of one woman and a helpless child?
Do you think you deserve to live?
(Jo Du) (Jo Sun)
How did this happen?
The temple monks fought with their lives to protect them,
and Lady Sungdeok's bodyguard was an incredible fighter.
He looked familiar, so I thought about it, and he...
Shut up!
I don't want to hear your stupid excuses!
Go kill yourself!
My lord, please calm down.
We must think about how we're going to cover this up.
What did you do with the dead bodies?
We've removed them, but I'm sure Guibup Temple has reported the incident.
Were they well disguised in Jurchen attire?
Yes.
My lord, I'm certain they won't suspect us of anything.
But this will cause a huge stir in the royal court.
You were so confident that this couldn't go wrong.
What will you do now?
We're worse off than before
Where are you going?
To get ready to go into the palace.
We'll be summoned soon.
Don't go alone! Wait for me!
What do you mean?
What happened at the temple?
It was pandemonium, my lady.
Dozens of monks were killed and injured by the Jurchen attack.
How could this be? Jurchens here in the city?
And Prince Gaeryeong? Where is Prince Gaeryeong?
He... is missing.
What?
But the Prince and Lady Sungdeok are missing.
We don't know whether or not they are alive.
Open the gate!
The lady is hurt! Open the gate!
Brother, what happened?
What are you saying?
Call the physician at once.
The Prince is hurt as well.
My lady!
I'm all right.
Take the child in and call the palace keeper!
How is he?
He's fine, my lady.
Then why won't he wake up?
He's been unconscious the entire way back from Gaegyeong.
There's no sign of head injury either.
[Yi Jujeong (Supervisor of Myeongbok Palace)]
I don't know.
My lady, we must treat your wound as well.
I said I'm all right!
Wake him up. You're a physician!
I...
Let me take a look.
What is it?
Do you have the acupuncture needles?
Yes.
Are you insane? That's the Baihai point.
Stay back.
Song.
Do you see me, Song?
Mother.
Yes, it's Mother. Thank goodness you're all right.
I thought I had lost you.
My lady.
Thank you. Thank you, Chief Kim.
He seems to have suffered great emotional trauma.
You should let him rest and he will be all right in the morning.
Yes, my lady. Let us treat your shoulder now.
Jurchens attacked Lady Sungdeok and Prince Gaeryeong at Guibup Temple?
Yes.
Goodness gracious!
(Yi Ji Baek) (Seo Hui)
Are they all right?
Royal Guards will be dispatched to Hwangju as soon as this meeting is over.
We should know by morning whether or not they are safe.
How did Prince Gaegyeong end up at the temple?
(Choi Ryang)
I made a mistake.
I was foolish enough to think it'd be good for him to see his mother.
It's my fault.
I wouldn't say it's your fault.
It was out of the goodness of your heart.
This is not a trivial matter.
We must report this to the King immediately.
His Highness?
Absolutely.
Where might he be about now?
He should be passed Hwangju but not quite Seogyeong.
(Kim Shimon)
Then we must send a messenger and have him return.
What? Is that really necessary?
Yes, it is.
The Queen Dowager and Prince Gaegyeong could be dead.
(Yi Yang)
Seogyeong is not important right now.
Since when did you start caring so much about Lady Sungdeok?
I can see right through you.
You're so afraid that the King might not make it to Seogyeong that you're shaking.
I beg your pardon!
Stop this!
Prince Gaeryeong is missing.
I summoned you to help me find him as quickly as possible.
And what are you doing?
All you care about is your political tug of war.
Aren't you worried about the prince.
Forgive me, Your Grace.
I don't want your apology!
I want you to rally the soldiers and go after the Jurchens that fled.
I will decide whether or not to notify the King since I'm responsible for this.
So just do your own jobs!
The lady speaks wisely. Let us do as she asks.
Darn those Jurchens!
I'll rip their hair out when they're caught!
I'm surprised.
About what?
Lady Yunheung.
I always thought she was just feminine and graceful, but she's got moral fiber as well.
Of course. She's my daughter after all.
They won't find out, will they?
They better not.
I they find out we're behind this,
not just us but Lady Yunheung will suffer consequences as well.
Look at the mess you've gotten us into!
They were wearing face masks but their clothes were Jurchen.
I'm certain it was an attempt at revenge.
I don't think it was the Jurchen.
Are you defending them because you're Jurchen?
I saw them with my own eyes.
Calm down and listen.
Jurchens may not be educated,
but they're not stupid enough to travel all the way to Gaegyeong in Jurchen attire.
Do you really think they'd go to the capital city announcing who they are?
Brother, he has a point.
I agree with Chief Kim.
(Yi Sulhwa)
I don't think it's the Jurchen.
Then who?
May I speak, my lady?
Yes, please do.
I hate to think this...
but I suspect Lady Yunheung.
What do you mean?
She's the one who secretly arranged for me to see my son.
Why do you suspect her?
That's exactly why I think it's her.
She has no reason to be so kind.
And she's never shown this kind of compassion before in the past ten years.
He has a point, my lady.
She turned the King against you and took control of the palace.
Now she wants the Prince dead because he could inherit the throne.
Watch your tongue.
She raised Song as her own all these years. She couldn't.
She probably never thought Song would receive investiture as a Royal Prince.
My lady, what are you going to do now?
I'm not sending Song back to Gaegyeong until we find out
who exactly is behind this.
But if you keep him here, His Highness will be furious.
He doesn't even permit you to see him once a year.
What do you mean, Brother?
(Cheon Hyang Bi)
The lady might leave Myeongbok Palace?
She's been struggling with the decision for several days now.
She might stop the fort building efforts in the north and move to Sungdeok Palace.
To Sungdeok Palace?
Yes.
I didn't tell you sooner because she hasn't made her final decision yet.
But I'm sure she will now with what happened with Prince Gaeryeong.
What does it mean for us if the lady leaves Myeongbok Palace?
I will follow the lady no matter where she goes.
But you have to stay with our people.
No, I'm coming with you.
You can't.
We can't just ignore the Balhaen village.
It I can't help them, you must.
You're abandoning our people, yet you want me to help them?
I made a pledge ten years ago to die protecting the lady.
My people are important, but so is the lady.
So I want you to go alone.
No. I don't want to.
You're so...
You're so cruel.
Hyang Bi.
Is this true?
She might leave Myeongbok Palace?
Yes.
I heard it from General Gang, so it has to be true.
Come to think of it, didn't you say the Lady seemed pensive the past few days?
This is no ordinary matter.
If the Lady leaves, all of our plans could go up in smoke.
(Sa Gamun)
That's right.
There's no guarantee that she will take us with her to Gaegyeong.
(Sa Illa)
Let's not rush to conclusions.
She hasn't made her decision yet, so we don't need to overreact.
Sir, how do you feel about going forward with what I mentioned earlier?
No, I told you that's premature. Have you already forgotten?
But the situation has changed now.
We could end up having to part from Lady Sungdeok without
getting anything accomplished.
- So we might as well... - Be quiet!
We will not risk it all on something that's uncertain.
Do not make any move until you have my order.
Is that clear?
Yes, sir.
What is it?
My lady, I hate to bring this news at a time like this, but...
(Court Lady Yun)
Lady Seol has left the palace.
What?
Unni, I'm sorry. But I can't live without him.
No matter what the world might say, no matter what troubles I might have to face,
it will be better than the hell I am in now without him.
I'm really sorry I had to leave like this.
Is this an attainable cause?
So much time has passed...
...and it's almost all forgotten.
Is this really possible?
Am I capable?
Where is the boy?
Merciful Buddha...
I will ask you again. Where is the boy who carries his blood?
Merciful Buddha...
Who am I?
Why do so many have to die because of me?
Master said my mother died for me too.
Why does everyone that try to protect me ended up dead?
Answer me! Who am I!?
Is there anything you can't do?
When it comes to the art of healing, I'm the best there is in Hwangju.
But your acupuncture skills are unlike I've ever seen before.
Where did you study?
It's just a little secret healing trick I learned over the shoulder in a Jurchen tribe.
That was no trick. You have some serious skills.
Tell me. What was wrong with the Prince?
Why was he unconscious for such a long time without any injury?
I don't know.
Sure you do.
How could you treat him if you don't know what's wrong with him?
By the way, has the Lady said anything to you lately?
Like what?
She hasn't been looking well lately,
and I wondered if there's anything troubling her.
What else could be troubling her except about the prince?
Yes, you're right.
We have visitors. You should go.
Yes.
I want to know!
The boy? Is the Prince awake?
I don't think so judging from how quiet it is.
What's really wrong with the Prince?
I... I'm sorry.
You're awake! Are you feeling all right, Song?
Huh?
Do you have a headache? Are you hurting anywhere?
No, I'm perfectly fine.
Grandmother, thank you! Thank you, Buddha!
Thank you, Your Majesty!
Mother.
Yes, what is it?
Doesn't your shoulder hurt?
Yes, I guess it does.
Where am I?
You're in Myeongbok Palace.
Myeongbok Palace?
Yes.
This is where you come from.
What happened to those men that tried to kill us?
Who were they?
You don't have to worry whoever they are.
I'll protect you from now on.
No one will hurt you as long as I'm alive.
Good morning, Your Grace.
What is it?
There is a visitor from Gaegyeong.
A visitor?
You might want to come out.
Lady Sungdeok, you're safe.
Is Prince Gaeryeong safe as well?
Do you believe I tried to harm Prince Gaeryeong?
Prince Gaeryeong, come over here!
I have already told you... NO!
Isn't it obvious that is was the work of the Shillan?
This incident will be buried forever.
If I don't meet him... I will die.
My Queen... My Queen!
I have no idea who to believe in anymore.
For the past ten years, I have regretted and then regretted some more.
If you refuse to hold on to me again...
Please, help them sleep in peace, some time on some day.