The Iron Empress
Episode 44
Your Highness, what brings you here?
- Su... - Your Highness!
Are you all right, Your Highness?
Yes, I'm fine.
My Lady, please come closer and hold his hands.
Your Highness, what happened to you?
Would you help me?
I want to take a walk with you alone.
No, Your Highness.
Please talk inside.
That's all right.
I'll be all right if I'm with my sister.
I want no one following us.
Do you have the flu, Your Highness?
Why are you shaking so much?
[Lady Sungdeok Hwangbo Su (future Empress Cheonchu)]
It's not the flu.
[Seongjong (The 6th King of Goryeo)]
I'm...
dying.
What do you mean you're dying?
I'm addicted to medicine.
I'm shaking because it's wearing off.
Then why don't you take some more?
No, I'm going to stop.
You're with me again, so I won't need it anymore.
I took it because I've been in anguish,
I knew it wasn't good for me, but I couldn't get through a day without it.
It wasn't because of physical pain.
I couldn't bear that I had been abandoned by you.
Physical pain was sufferable, but the heartache was not.
Your Highness.
Don't call me that.
Just call me "Brother".
Didn't you say you hated me as the King,
but you didn't hate me as your brother?
I don't want you to hate me.
But you hated me as your sister, too.
No, that's not true.
Then why did you take my infant son away from me?
Why did you keep us apart all these years?
Yes, I should explain that first.
It was because of a prophecy.
A prophecy?
Yes, it was former Chief of Supreme Council Choi Jimong's prophecy.
Can I help you?
I'm a friend of Prince Gyeongjuwon.
May I ask who you are?
I'm the wife of the village chief that the Prince was very close to.
I see.
As I recall, the village chief had gone missing with the young Prince.
We did recover his body.
You did?
Yes, he was nearly just bones eaten by the fish.
I see.
[Gang Gamchan (Grand Secretary of the Supreme Council]
How about the child?
Was Prince Daeryang's body found as well?
No.
I'm just here to clean the room for the memorial service.
The villagers will gather for it later.
Attacked? By unknown assailants?
Yes. It was about a month ago.
If it wasn't for that soldier over there,
Lady Sungdeok and I would both be dead.
[Cheon Hyang Bi ]
Is it that true?
Was there an attempt on Lady Sungdeok's life?
Yes, sir.
[Kim Sukheung ]
Dozens of masked men raided the compound, and I am the only guard that survived, sir.
Why didn't you report this to the Royal Court?
[Seo Hui (Vice Minister of the Supreme Council)]
But we did, sir.
We dispatched a report to the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense.
What?
That's the reason why you kept me and my son apart?
Yes. I believed his prophecy.
Unbelievable!
Do you know how much pain you've caused me?
Do you know how much I cried and how much I resented you?
Do you know what it was like..
..suffering a painful breast infection and aching for my infant to be in my arms?
Didn't you hear me begging you over and over to let me see my child from outside the palace gate?
Yes, I did.
But I had no choice but to believe Lord Choi's prophecy.
That's absurd.
You are a Confucian scholar.
How could you so viciously destroy my life over some soothsayer's prediction?
I'm sorry.
But you and I were indeed going in opposite directions like the prophecy said.
You opposed everything I did and ultimately attempted an overthrow.
If you hadn't made an enemy of me from the start, this would've never happened.
Why did you make me do this?
Let's stop, Su.
I'm sorry. It's all my fault.
And Heaven is punishing me for my mistakes right now.
So please forgive me.
No, I can't forgive you.
I've suffered too much pain and too much injustice to forgive you.
Would this make a difference?
Please put the past behind us.
I didn't come here to fight.
I came here to make amends with you for the sake of the country's future.
So please forgive me.
I've risked my life to come here.
I'm not afraid of death, but the royal line must be preserved.
If you can't find it in your heart to forgive me, reconcile with me for Goryeo's sake.
This is...
my last and final request as your brother.
Why?
Why did you destroy my life if you we’re going to end up like this?
You were supposed to slay me like any other king would and run the country your way.
Why did you let yourself get so sick and fragile?
Look at you.
What happened to you, Brother?
Brother...
Su...
The Prince had talked about you.
The two of you traveled in the north together.
Yes, we did.
Why haven't you come sooner if you were so close?
I've been remiss.
And partly because I was away on government business.
Did you say that you burned the Prince's note?
Yes. it was burned along with his clothes.
What did he write exactly?
It's like I told you the last time,
that he lost his son at sea and no longer had a reason to live.
Is that all?
It's just that it's hard for me to believe he didn't leave a letter for me.
There was only one note.
But wasn't there that one strange remark?
A strange remark?
At the end of his note, he asked to be buried face down without being shrouded.
Buried face down? Why?
I don't know.
But our guess is that he was too ashamed to face the Princess having lost her son.
But the fortuneteller in the next village
said if you bury a man face down, his son will become the king.
The child is dead. How could he become the king?
Wait. So you did as he asked?
Yes, of course.
Those were his last wishes.
Was he carrying anything else on his body when he died?
Nothing we could find.
I see.
I'm sorry, Prince.
But it just doesn't add up.
You loved Lady Seol too much not to see her, even if you had lost your child.
And make your son a king?
I would have believed it if you were trying to make him a pauper.
An historical account of Wang Ook's death, found in Goryeosa is as follows:
"Wang Ook died in Sasu County in July, 996."
"He was a writer well-versed in feng shui."
"When he died, he left a gold bar to a spiritualist asking for his
funeral service to be held at Guiryongdong, south of the village
shrine and that his body be buried face down."
What?
His Highness is bringing back Lady Sungdeok?
Yes, Your Grace.
He is already in Yangju.
I don't believe this!
[Queen Munwha]
But she's a criminal!
Our fears are coming true, my Queen.
This means Lady Sungdeok is being removed from exile and
Prince Gaeryeong is going to be reinstated.
Where is Prince Gaeryeong?
I'm told he is in Hwangju.
Why is he there?
That's his home.
[Choi Seom (Minister of Punishment)]
It looks like this whole thing was carefully planned out before the King left.
There is no doubt they are wary of us attempting to hurt him.
There is no time to hesitate.
We must kill the Prince before the King arrives.
[Kim Won Soong (Minister of Revenue)]
Kill him?
Yes. It's all or nothing now.
But what will we tell the King?
We can think about that later. First we have to put out the fire.
I can't do it.
I raised Prince Gaeryeong myself. I can't have him killed.
But Lady Sungdeok is coming right now.
Yes, I know.
And if he really does become reinstated, I will reconsider.
But for now, I'm not going to have him killed.
That would create even greater problems.
Is this true?
The Lady has been released from exile and is on her way to Gaegyeong?
[Gang Jo]
Would I kid you about this?
The rumor is all over town.
I ran here as soon as I heard.
I had a good feeling when Vice Minister Seo left.
[Sun (Future Queen Sunjeong)]
This is wonderful.
Have the King and my mother made amends?
Why else would they come back together?
I don't know that much, but...
I better go to Gaeryeong.
Good, I was beginning to get bored here. I'll come with you.
[Prince Gaeryeong Wang Song (Future King Mokjong)]
I think you should stay.
What do you mean?
My mother is coming back. I have to go meet her.
Why? Are you afraid I'm going to cause trouble?
No.
The successor issue still has not been settled,
and going to Gaegyeong could be dangerous for you.
I've lost my interest in the throne a long time ago.
How could you bring up that issue again after what we've been through?
It's being discussed in the King's court regardless of your own will.
And the situation could become dangerous for you.
So please stay here for now.
Yes, Prince Gaeryeong. Do as he asks.
Yes, there is no doubt this piece of celadon porcelain came from this village.
Then do you know Prince Gyeongjuwon, by chance?
Do I know him?
He was a porcelain maker here for years.
Then did he bring a little boy here, by chance?
How did you know?
Where is he? Where is the boy right now?
Ah, yes.
Who are you?
You must be Sun.
No, my name is Turtle.
[Prince Daeryang Wang Sun (future King Hyeonjong)]
No, you're Prince Wang Sun.
You look just like your father.
Thank you.
Thank you for being alive.
Your Highness, did you have a safe trip?
How do you feel?
Your Highness, you don't look good.
[Xiao Zanli]
Come inside quickly for a golden pill.
No, I'm all right.
My Queen, where is Prince Gaeryeong?
I'm told he is at Myeongbok Palace.
Myeongbok Palace?
Yes, Your Highness. Please come into your bedchamber and lie down.
I said I'm all right.
Attendant Goh.
Yes, Your Highness.
Alert the Supreme Council and gather the ministers in the council hall.
Yes, Your Highness.
[Goh Hyun]
And my Queen, please take Lady Sungdeok to rest.
I've asked you all here because I am no longer able to administer the state in my physical condition.
So it is my intent to abdicate the throne in favor of Prince Gaeryeong.
Your Highness, I must oppose.
How could the son of a criminal of high treason inherit the throne?
It is unthinkable!
That is not a concern.
I'm absolving Lady Sungdeok of all her crimes.
Your Highness...
Absolution does not change the fact that she committed high treason.
[Seol Shinyu]
That's right, Your Highness.
What's more, Prince Gaeryeong is suffering from epilepsy.
[Kim Shimon]
He is unfit to carry on the royal line.
This will shake up the country.
A son of a criminal of high treason cannot be our King.
[Yi Yang ]
I beg you to reconsider, Your Highness.
His Highness has come to a difficult decision for the future of the country.
It is our duty as his royal subjects to abide by his wishes.
That's right.
Stop opposing for a moment and put yourselves in His Highness's shoes.
[Choi Hang (Vice Minister of Personnel)]
He has finally freed himself from the torment of having turned his back on his only living family.
How can you say this?
This palace will become a slaughter field if Gaeryeong rises to the throne.
Lady Sungdeok shot an arrow at the King.
What do you think she'll do to her opposition?
That will not happen.
His Highness and I will guarantee that.
I do not trust your guarantee.
Your Highness, take our lives first if you must abdicate the throne to Gaeryeong.
Take our lives first, Your Highness!
Give us death if you must bring Prince Gaeryeong to the throne.
Give us death!
Should I really?
If death is your true wish, I will grant it.
Is it your true wish?
Your Highness, don't you see our earnestness?
Please be objective and see that we're speaking out of loyalty.
Loyalty? If you're loyal, why are you challenging the King's command?
You are loyal not to the country, not to your King, but to yourselves!
Your Highness!
I have made my decision to abdicate the throne to Prince Gaeryeong.
This is the Royal command!
Those who defy it will be punished by death.
Is that clear?!
You're really something.
If I were in your shoes, I'd be mortified to just look at the King to his face.
You have some guts following him into the palace like this.
It's easier to talk to you now that you've taken your mask off.
But you're in no position to criticize me.
Once my son rises to the throne, I will be the Queen Dowager.
I will have the seat you so desperately wanted for yourself.
You've failed.
Observe the situation carefully and choose your words wisely.
I'd expect nothing less from you.
I don't want to have to hurt you and upset my son.
So put your mask back on and detach yourself from politics like before.
If you do, I will treat you properly as my brother's wife.
But I will show you no mercy if you try to contend with me.
You talk as if the country is already in your hands.
Are you threatening me?
No, I'm holding myself back because my brother asked me to.
But don't provoke me.
Your Grace!
The King...
[Court Lady Jo]
The king has announced
that he will abdicate the throne to Prince Gaeryeong!
What? Where is he?
He has retired to his bedchamber.
I must see him at once. Lead the way.
Yes, Your Grace.
How is he?
Not well.
The traveling has weakened him even further.
Has he had his potion?
He is refusing the potion, acupuncture and even my golden pills.
Leave us. I must speak to the Queen alone.
My Queen, did you hear the news?
I've decided to abdicate the throne to Prince Gaeryeong.
Please reconsider, Your Highness.
There will surely be carnage if Lady Sungdeok seizes power.
Don't worry.
She gave me her word that there would be no revenge.
No, I don't trust her.
Find Prince Dongyang's descendants and bequeath the throne to one of them.
[Prince Dongyang: One of Wang Gun's sons]
That's the only way to protect the Kingdom
I'm sorry, my Queen.
I've already made up my mind.
This is one time I can't give in to you.
My Queen, let go of your ambition now and go back to the way you were before.
It's for your own survival.
Your Highness.
How could I rest in peace if something happens to your after I'm dead?
Please let everything go and accept prince Gaeryeong's rise to the throne.
Brother!
Brother...
Yes. it's good to have you back.
I'm finally back, Drillmaster Gang.
My Lady, I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you.
No. You're always my rock wherever you are.
Besides, you took care of my son for me.
Prince Gaeryeong is in Hwangju right now.
Yes, I know.
Let's go.
Let's go home to see my son.
What in the world is going on here?
[Yi Hyunoon]
If it gets out that I am the snitch, I'm dead meat!
My Lady!
Welcome back, my Lady.
Thank you. Have you been well?
You've grown so much.
I don't think my arms will reach around you anymore.
Have you... fared well?
Give her a big hug, Prince Gaeryeong!
You're always hugging the gisaeng girls.
Everyone, thank you for enduring these hard times.
But soon you will compensated.
I appreciate all of you very much.
What is that compensation, my Lady?
Abdicate the throne to me?
Yes.
We will leave for Gaegyeong first thing in the morning.
At last you will be the King!
No.
Pardon?
I said no, Mother.
What are you saying?
- I am not joking right now. - Neither am I.
I am not cut out to be a King and I have no reason to be one.
So I will not accept the throne.
Are you out of your mind? No reason?
Don't you know how many men have sacrificed their lives for this?
That's exactly why.
I don't want the filthy, blood stained throne if they were giving it away.
What?
I'm not going to be the King.
Do you know what the throne means to me?
A curse.
A curse that made my two mothers turn enemies.
A curse that made a sister shoot an arrow at her own brother.
And I'm not going to put that curse upon myself.
- Silence! - I said I don't want it.
I'm not fit for the throne!
I don't care.
If I say you're going to be the King, you're going to be the King!
That's your duty to those who died for you and the only way to save Goryeo.
No, Mother.
You're pressuring me to satisfy your own greed for power.
Don't use the poor dead souls as your excuse.
Don't pretend to care for the country. It's revolting!
What?
But then what did I expect? You're proud after having an affair with a Jurchen.
Shut your mouth!
I sacrificed everything to put you on the throne.
How dare you utter those words?!
Do you know how hard I've worked to get you here?
I'm going to pretend I didn't hear anything you said.
You're going to be the King. That's your destiny.
If you don't want it, you can kill me right now.
Sire.
Did the troops leave?
Yes, Sire.
[Mun In Wui]
They will reach Hwangju shortly.
We must succeed, Secretary Choi.
There is no room for failure.
Don't worry.
We have the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Punishment and even your private guards rallied for this.
I don't care how good Lady Sungdeok's warriors are,
they will be overwhelmed by the sheer number of our troops.
Yes.
Once we wipe them out, restore the Queen to power, and
find Prince Dongyang's descendants, our problems will be over.
Fire!
Fire! Fire!
Now! Attack!
Wipe them out!
Attack!
We're under attack!
What's happening?
My Lady, you must get out of here.
It's the enemy.
There!
It's Lady Sungdeok and Prince Gaeryeong!
Kill them!
My Lady, you must get out of here!
There are too many of them!
General Gang, it's useless!
We're far outnumbered!
We're completely surrounded, General!
Protect the Lady and the Prince!
Song!
Foreman Kim?
Is that you, Foreman Kim?
We're here, my Lady.
You're going to be fine.
Kill them!
This is exciting. Finally!
Where did all those men come from?
It doesn't look good Vice Minister.
We have to retreat, sir.
Retreat!
Foreman Kim?
Foreman Kim!
I knew you were alive.
I just knew it. Where have you been?
I missed you, too.
[Kim Chi Yang ]
But...
I had to stay away for such a day as this.
I'm sorry.
Welcome, my Lady.
[Dae Dosu]
The King awaits you.
Thank you. Please announce us.
Yes, my Lady.
They... fled?
Yes.
They seem to have gone into hiding after the failed raid last night.
Perhaps you should flee as well, my Queen.
Does the King know?
Not yet, but he will soon find out.
He is issuing the decree of abdication right now.
I'd like to be alone.
In October, the King's condition worsened,
and he called his nephew Wang Song to bequeath his throne.
When the chief minister proposed issuing a decree of amnesty, the King replied,
"I will not unduly extend offenders' lives by releasing them when it is the
will of heaven that decides their fate."
"And what special grace will the new King have to offer to his people if I do so now?"
Your Grace!
I said I want to be alone.
It's the most urgent matter, my Queen.
You must see who is outside at once.
Has Lady Sungdeok sent Prince Gaeryeong to kill me?
No, Your Grace. Prince Daeryang is alive!
What did you say? What do you mean?
Sir Gang Gamchan just entered the palace with Prince Daeryang.
You must take him to the King at once
and have him rewrite the decree of abdication.
Quickly, Your Grace!
Secretary Gang.
It's good to see you, my Queen.
Is this him?
Is this really Prince Daeryangwon?
Yes, he's grown so much I could hardly recognize him.
Your Grace, you must take him now.
Take him? Is there something happening?
No.
Let us go.
Your Grace...
Follow us and you'll find out.
What do you mean? This is Prince Daeryang?
Yes, Your Highness. Prince Daeryang is here.
But I thought he was missing at sea.
Isn't that what you said, Sir Gang?
There is no mistake, Your Highness.
This is Prince Daeryang.
Prince Gyeongjuwon had hidden him in a pottery making village.
This is Prince Gyeongjuwon's son, Prince Daeryang, Your Highness.
Are you certain?
Yes. Take a closer look at him.
Can't you see Lady Seol and Prince Gyeongjuwon in his face?
How could this be?
Are you really my sister Seol's son?
Are you really?
Now you must withdraw the decree you've issued to Prince Gaeryeong,
and bequeath the throne to this child.
The decree, Your Highness?
I feel my end is near, so I've abdicated my throne to Prince Gaeryeong.
Pardon?
That was before this child was found.
We didn't know that this child was alive.
Now the decree must be rendered null and void.
Prince Gaeryeong is the son of a traitor and he suffers from a wicked disease.
Your Highness, you must reissue the decree of abdication.
I can't.
It's too late, so let it go, my Queen.
It's not too late, Your Highness.
You must reissue the decree.
Please stop!
Your Highness!
Stop this and take me to Naecheonwang Temple.
[Naecheonwang Temple: A temple in Gaegyeong built in 936]
Perhaps my time is near.
I keep thinking about my grandmother.
I'd like to spend my final hours at the temple.
So speak no more and take me there, my Queen.
You got it at last.
Let me congratulate you, my Lady.
This is only the beginning.
Thank you for everything.
When do you plan to hold the enthronement ceremony?
We will have to see how the King is feeling and choose an auspicious date.
Was there any opposition in the palace?
I saw not one man from the opposing party.
Guilty conscience, I suppose.
It's all the better since we can avoid any ugly incidents.
We still need to be very careful.
There is no telling what they might do in desperation.
I know.
That's why Drillmaster Gang and his men are in the palace.
The Royal Guards were cooperative since the King has issued the decree of abdication.
It's still not safe.
We must find them and kill them once the Prince is enthroned.
An attempt on the Royal successor's life is high treason.
They have to be put to death.
- Foreman Kim, about that matter... - My Lady, are you in?
Yes, come in.
We have a problem.
[Yu Bang ]
A problem?
Sir Gang Gamchan just brought Prince Daeryang to the palace!
Pardon? Who?
Prince Daeryangwon, the son of Prince Gyeongjuwon.
Answer me. Where is the Royal Seal?
It's already been delivered to Prince Gaeryeong.
What?
Your Highness, how are you feeling?
You're here.
Look at this sweat.
It's time to take your medication.
I brought it for you.
No, thank you.
I just want to lie here and die when my time comes.
No, Your Highness.
You must be there for Prince Gaeryeong's enthronement.
I've already bequeathed the throne, so that won't be necessary.
Your Highness, do you have no regard for me?
What do you mean?
I'm afraid.
I'm afraid Lady Sungdeok will not keep her word once Prince Gaeryeong is on the throne.
So please protect me if only until then.
Please take the medication.
What kind of medication is this?
It was prescribed by the Royal physician.
It'll make you feel better.
What... do you want?
What are they talking about in there?
What are they talking about?
I... I don't know anything.
Your Highness, can you hear me?
Now you must abdicate the throne in favor of Prince Daeryang.
Your second sister Seol's son, Prince Daeryang, is back.
But I've already bequeathed the throne to Prince Gaeryeong.
I beg your pardon? Prince Gaeryeong?
You must have been dreaming.
You did no such thing.
Now place your signature right here, and everything will be as it should.
Here.
It's a decree of abdication in favor of Prince Daeryang.
How dare you barge in here!
What is the meaning of this?
What despicable act is this, my Queen?
What did you say?
Leave this room at once!
Now!
Stop! How dare you?!
I said stop!
My Queen!
What is the meaning of this?
How dare you strike the Queen?!
How dare you?!
Get a hold of yourself, Your Highness.
Why are you being so fickle?
What? What did you say?
How dare you?!
Your Highness!
How dare you?!
Your Highness, what's wrong?
Your Highness!
Get up and punish these wicked beasts!
- My Lady. - Get your filthy hands off me!
He killed him.
She tried to change the King's order.
Lady Sungdeok, you are behind this!
Shut your mouth!
Prince Gaeryeong, your mother is the one that ordered the King killed!
Lock her up in her chambers.
If she continues to utter these outrageous lies, kill her.