The Iron Empress
Episode 45
How dare you barge in here?!
What's the meaning of this?
What despicable act is this, my Queen?
What did you say?
Leave the room at once!
Now!
Stop!
How dare you?!
I said stop!
My Queen!
What have you done?
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!
Your Highness, what's wrong?
Your Highness!
No, Your Highness!
You can't die like this!
Open your eyes!
What is to become of the country?
What is to become of me?
Get up, Your Highness.
Open your eyes!
Get up!
Get up and punish the evil beasts!
You can't die like this!
My King!
Your Highness...
My Lady.
What happened?
I think he is dead.
[Gang Jo]
What?
Get your filthy hands off of him!
He killed him.
He killed the King.
[Queen Munwha]
No, my Lady.
That's not true.
You bastard!
How dare you lie when I witnessed everything?
I pushed him, but that is all.
The Queen was trying to get his signature on a forged decree,
and I was just trying to stop him.
A forged decree?
It's a decree rescinding his previous order and giving the throne to Prince Daeryang.
The Queen fabricated this document and changed the King's order.
You!
That is not a forged document.
It corrects the mistake the King made before he found out that
Prince Daeryang was alive!
Lower your voice and calm down.
Why?
Why are you trying to shut me up?
Now I see it.
Lady Sungdeok, you are behind this!
You ordered him to kill the King to steal the throne.
You heinous beasts!
Do you think you can get away with this high treason?
Be quiet.
Do you have a death wish?
What?
Do you want to talk about high treason?
Who attacked Myeongbok Palace and tried to have the Royal Successor killed?
And as if that weren't enough,
you fabricate a royal decree and attempt to change the King's order?
Do you expect to live after this?
Prince Gaeryeong, I had nothing to do with the raid on Myeongbok Palace.
Take a good look at your mother.
She killed the King and now she's threatening me.
It is your mother who ordered the King killed!
I guess the reality has still not sunk in yet, but wake up.
[Lady Sungdeok Hwangbo Su]
I'm the one holding the sword.
And I did not kill my brother, but I can certainly kill you.
Drillmaster Gang, lock her up in her chambers.
And if she continues to utter these lies,
you have my permission to kill her.
Yes. my Lady.
No, Mother!
I want you to go to your room.
- Mother! - I said go to your room!
Your Highness...
[Prince Gaeryeong Wang Song]
[Seongjong (The 6th King of Goryeo)]
Brother, look at you.
Everything is over now, but look at you...
I wanted you to go in peace.
Why did this have to happen?
I'm sorry, Brother.
But the public can't know about this.
You did all you set out to do in the end and died in peace.
Forgive me, Brother.
Please forgive this heartless sister...
I'll make up for this when I join you in the afterlife.
Rest in peace now and watch over Goryeo from up above.
My dear brother...
What is it, sir?
How did you take care of Prince Daeryang?
[Sa Gamun] [Sa Illa]
I... I threw him into the ocean.
I'll ask you again.
[Kim Chi Yang]
How did you take care of him?
What's wrong, Master?
Kill yourself.
It's punishment for defying my order.
Please calm down, sir.
What has she done?
Not only did you defy my order, but you lied about it.
The child you claimed to have killed is in the palace right now.
Why?
Why did you let the seed of trouble take root?
I asked you a question!
I couldn't kill him because he's Lady Seol's son.
What?
You'd risk sabotaging the great enterprise for pity?
No, but...
We don't have to be monsters, do we?
You said yourself that the greatest ambitions must be accompanied by compassion.
Aren't you still tormented by the loss of your childhood friend at Hangae Temple?
I just couldn't take the young child's life.
I'm sorry.
Forgive her, Master.
She has a soft heart.
Give her another chance.
The Lady has gone to the palace, so I will wait for the result.
But if this results in a change of the Royal Successor,
your life won't be the only thing I'll take.
You brought Prince Daeryang back into a complicated situation.
I didn't have the slightest idea about what was going on in the palace.
[Gang Gamchan (Grand Secretary of the Supreme Council)]
How could you have?
[Seo Hui (Vice Minister of the Supreme Council)]
This is not your fault.
Sir, there's something that strikes me as odd.
Odd?
About Prince Gyeongjuwon's death.
His suicide note said that he lost his son at sea,
and he was killing himself due to grief,
but he had taken the child to the porcelain making village himself.
Yes, that makes no sense. What's your theory?
Perhaps it wasn't a suicide after all.
Perhaps he was forced under duress to kill himself.
Do you think so?
The chief of the porcelain village said
Prince Gyeongjuwon had a strange woman with him when he brought the child.
A strange woman?
Unfortunately she was wearing a hat and he couldn't remember what she looked like.
But I'm almost certain that Prince Gyeongjuwon didn't die of his own accord.
Vice Minister Seo, Secretary Gang...
Yes?
The King... the King has died.
What?
Answer me. Did you kill him?
Did my mother tell you to kill the King?
No, she absolutely did not.
I was only trying to get the King not to sign the decree for you.
Bull! Did I ever say that I wanted to be the King?
I don't want to be the King!
What's this?
I told you back in Hwangju why you had to be the King.
Do not do this again.
Mother, I really don't want the throne if this is what it takes to get it.
It's decided, whether you want it or not.
The King has issued his decree and you vowed before him to lead Goryeo.
Are you going to break that vow?
But they found Prince Daeryang.
And the Queen thinks that he should succeed the throne.
He is better qualified than I am.
Stop talking like a fool and open your eyes.
Who tried to kill you at Myeongbok Palace?
Those were the Queen's men.
The Queen was in on this.
Yes, that's exactly why I don't want the throne.
It's not worth killing each other for.
I don't want it. I don't want anything!
I don't want you, I don't want the throne and I don't want the Queen!
So please just leave me alone! Please!
Prince Gaeryeong!
Prince Gaeryeong! Get a hold of yourself!
I must call the physician.
Just leave him.
Pardon?
It won't help the situation to let people know he is having seizures.
He will wake up in a few minutes, so just leave him.
Your Highness!
Sire.
Your Highness!
The sixth King of Goryeo, Seongjong, had died.
As his name suggests, he was a ruler who solidified the foundation the country.
He centralized the government by adapting Tang China's three departments and six
ministries system and organized the ten states by establishing a 12 Mok system.
He also built ancestral shrines, paid homage to guardian deities of the state,
cultivated scholars by investing in the Great Learning,
recruited good men through civil service exams,
brought relief to the poor by providing support to local leaders,
improved public ethics by encouraging piety and integrity,
and laid a foundation for political, social and cultural development
by implementing innovative, strategic policies.
Your Highness!
Your Grace, I brought you some clam porridge.
Please try.
You must eat, My Queen.
[Court Lady Jo]
Or you will become ill.
Yes, I'll eat.
I will eat and get through this.
Your Grace...
I tried to kill myself, fearing this is how I would end up, but I've changed my mind.
I will get through if only to get revenge.
I will stop at nothing for vengeance.
You'll see, I'll survive this.
And I will avenge the King's death if it's the last thing I do.
Prince Gaeryeong is refusing to rise to the throne?
Yes.
But he already accepted the Royal Seal.
[Choi Hang (Vice Minister of Personnel)]
Why is he doing this?
He is still traumatized by the attempt on his life at Myeongbok Palace.
But...
He'd already begun performing his duties as King by conducting the national mourning.
He can't refuse the throne now.
He will come around eventually.
Let us give him some time.
But there are state affairs that need his attention.
I will attend to the state affairs with you men.
I would have to be Prince Gaeryeong's regent for awhile anyway.
The most pressing issue we have right now is the fugitive officials.
How should we deal with them?
They have to be found and prosecuted for the attempt on the Royal Successor's life.
But that could look like political revenge.
And it would break the promise to the departed King.
But we would be undermining the law if we allowed them to get away
with a crime of such a serious nature.
Then how about this?
Prosecute the offenders,
but reduce their sentences once Prince Gaeryeong takes the throne.
That way we can keep the promise to the King, and preserve the law as well.
I think that is a good idea.
My Lady, I recommend this solution.
Prince Gaeryeong.
Let go of my hand.
Let go of me and leave!
No.
[Sun (Future Queen Sunjeong)]
Please don't do this, Prince Gaeryeong.
This is the Royal Palace, not Sungdeok Palace.
The Royal Successor can't be drinking in broad daylight.
Please snap out of this.
The Royal Successor?!
I told you, I don't want the throne!
Prince Gaeryeong!
Did my mother put you up to this, too?
What does she want me on the throne for?
I'm an epileptic drunk!
You think I don't know what this is about?
She wants me as her puppet so she can do anything she wants.
I don't want this. I don't.
So please don't talk to me about the throne!
Captain Yi.
What do you want?
I have a favor to ask of you.
I've been waiting for your shift.
What... is this about?
I want you to bring Prince Gaeryeong here.
I'm just a humble guard, Your Grace.
[Yi Hyunoon]
I'm sorry, but I can't help you with that.
But you must.
If you don't, I will tell Lady Sungdeok all about your snitching.
Why would you do that?
Why would you want to take me down with you, when all I've ever done is help you?
Will you bring me Prince Gaeryeong or do you want Lady Sungdeok to kill you?
Fine, then make me a promise.
Promise me you'll never act like you know me again if I bring you Prince Gaeryeong.
Don't worry. I'll be leaving the palace soon.
We will never see each other again.
No, my Lady. Mercy?
They have to be killed, all of them, including the Queen.
I promised the departed King that I would seek no revenge.
He would turn in his grave if I hurt the Queen.
But that was before they attacked Myeongbok Palace.
And I'm sure the Queen was involved.
Otherwise she wouldn't have tried so desperately
to put Prince Daeryang on the throne.
Long time, no see.
Duyan, I heard you were with Kim Chi Yang's merchant group.
Yes, Princess.
Is it true that he is Lady Sungdeok's lover?
Yes.
That's why the Prime Minister put me in his merchant group.
[Duyan]
Do you know what Lady Sungdeok intends to do with the Princess?
[Su No]
It's likely you will be sent out of the palace to live in a private residence.
A private residence?
[Xiao Zanli]
I came to Goryeo to create internal division.
I would be worthless if I'm sent out of the palace.
You had a hand in taking the King's life, Princess.
[Jiemei]
You've accomplished the mission that the Empress Dowager assigned you.
No.
If Lady Sungdeok seizes power, the political situation could actually turn against Liao.
Then you must find another partner and see what damage you can do.
Another partner?
Yes, Princess.
An alliance of woeful women who have been driven out of the palace.
Woeful women driven out of the palace?
He is here, Your Grace.
I will leave now.
Come in, Prince Gaeryeong.
Why do you wish to see me?
You haven't seen Jeong in a while.
Jeong, you must say hello to your brother.
Brother, it's good to see you.
You must be pretty desperate.
Even so, it's rather low using your young daughter, Jeong.
Whatever do you mean?
I'll be leaving the palace soon, and I just wanted to see you before I go.
All right then. Look as much as you want.
You're not going to wear me out.
Prince Gaeryeong.
Just answer me this one question,
were you involved in the attempted murder of my mother and me
at Myeongbok Palace?
I had nothing to do with that.
How could I do that to you when I raised you myself?
Your mother is setting me up.
Then I'm glad.
Yes, Prince Gaeryeong.
Your mother, Lady Sungdeok, might set me up to kill me.
After all, I'm a thorn in her side.
You saw her.
She slapped me, the Queen of the state, over the King's body.
If it does come to that, Prince Gaeryeong,
I don't care about my own life, but would you protect your sister?
That's what I called you here for.
Mother, what are you saying?
[Jeong (Future Queen Weunjeong)]
Why would anyone want to kill you?
Jeong...
I'm not going to live without you.
If you die, I'm going to die, too.
No, Jeong. You have to survive.
You have to survive...
Cut it out!
Stop acting like a poor victim.
I can't take this anymore!
No one is going to die.
I won't let that happen, so just stop it!
Jeong, don't cry.
It's okay now.
Don't cry. I'm not going to die.
I can't die.
My Queen, he just called me "Dada".
Really?
Yes!
It's possible since he's over a year old now.
Do it again, Sun. Say " Dada".
Oh Song, he can't talk. He's just a baby.
Yes, he can. I heard him, too.
Where did you go?
Who is this child?
He isn't...
Yes, Prince.
It's Lady Seol's child, Prince Daeryang.
Sun? Are you really Sun?
Answer me.
Are you really Sun?
My name is Turtle, but I guess it's Wang Sun, too.
[Wang Sun- Prince Daeryang (future King Hyeonjong)]
Turtle?
That's what they called him in the village, for long-life.
Don't you remember me? I'm cousin Song.
I used to give you piggy-back rides all the time.
Don't you remember?
It's so good to see you.
But why did you come back?
You should have stayed where you were.
This is a scary place.
But I'm still glad you're back.
I missed you very much.
[Cheon Hyang Bi]
I found out where the others are hiding.
They were wondering about you as well, sir.
The Queen, what did you find out about the Queen?
I couldn't get any information about what's going on inside the palace.
[Jo Du]
Then where have you been?
[Kim Won Soong]
Who asked you to look for those worthless men?
We should have gotten her out when the assassination plot failed.
[Jo Sun]
Yes, I know.
Anyway, I don't know what to do about the counterfeit operation.
I can't produce the coins when I'm in hiding like this.
Sire, perhaps you should meet with Minister Choi Seom and his men.
What for?!
What could they possibly do when they are in hiding as well?
But two heads are better than one, Sire.
And we can't stay like this forever.
What do you think we should do now?
Perhaps we should go to Gyeongju and be with our own.
No, that's the first place they will come looking for us.
It will be safer to hide in the mountains somewhere.
Why don't we go to Song China?
That would be the best if we had the means,
[Yang Yi]
but it will be difficult to arrange passage.
Difficult for us, but perhaps not for Kim Won Soong.
[Kim Shimon]
Yes.
[Seol Shinyu]
He needs to get out of Goryeo as much as we do.
What do you think, Father-in-Law?
I don't like it.
Then?
I don't want to run.
[Choi Seom]
The King is dead.
What's the point of struggling to survive?
Perhaps dying with the King we brought to the throne, is the most dignified thing we could do.
Don't get weak, Sire.
We can get through this and rise again.
That's right.
We have to survive if only to avenge this humiliation.
[Mun In Wui]
Declare that Goryeo is an empire.
Yes, we're restoring the prestige of the state that the last king had lowered.
We will bring back the Palguanwhe and the Lotus Lantern Festival, as well.
Shouldn't we approach this with a little more caution.
The Khitan won't be happy when they hear about this.
It has to be done nonetheless.
This is about national pride.
It's also a vital move in order to win public support.
I agree.
It's a bridge we have to cross at some point.
We will just have to show the Khitan that we never gave up
being an empire, at least internally.
What's most important is building the substance befitting of an empire.
That's why I'd like Vice Minister Seo and Secretary Gang to work out a strategy to strengthen our military.
Of course, my Lady.
I intend to open the council hall to the military officials as well from
now on and allow them to take part in the decision making.
Intellectuals will no longer be the only ones to receive respect in this country.
I heard that all three of the exiled men have died.
Yes, the torture proved to be too much for their old age.
I will restore their honor posthumously.
And please give me some names of virtuous men whether they
are Northerners or of Shillan descent.
We need good men to lead us into the new era.
Lord Choi I'm counting on you for good recommendations on the Shillan side.
This is very important for the balance of government.
Yes, my Lady.
My Lady.
Prince Gaeryeong is requesting to see you.
[Goh Hyun]
Did you wish to see me?
Please sit down.
I'll abide be your wish.
I'll take the throne.
You will?
But there is one condition.
Go on. I'll give you whatever you wish.
Don't hurt the Queen.
She is the woman who raised me, whether I like it or not.
Don't hurt her.
Is that all?
Is that your only wish?
And let Prince Daeryang grow up here in the palace.
That is my plan anyway.
I have a request as well.
First, I will be your regent until you are ready to take on state affairs yourself.
That's up to you, Mother.
And... I don't want you to be a King.
Pardon?
I want you to be the Emperor.
You must defeat Liao and rise above Song and make Goryeo a great empire.
You must put your heart and soul into reclaiming the old Goguryeo territory.
I'm sure you know exactly what to do, Mother.
I don't want such a loose answer.
I can't be your regent forever.
Once you reach the age of twenty
you'll have to rule the country and fight the northern enemy yourself.
Do you understand?
Sure.
My loyal subjects,
I hereby declare that Goryeo is once again an Empire.
And in honor of my enthronement, I am granting amnesty for minor crimes,
awarding honors to recognize filial piety, and forgiving delinquent taxes for the year.
Let the people know that this is to declare a new start for Goryeo as an empire!
Your grace is infinite, Your Majesty!
- Long live the Emperor! - Long live the Emperor!
On the day of his enthronement, Mokjong honored the deities by giving praise and gratitude as he
reduced compulsory labor, ordered all people's sufferings to be relieved
and fed the country for the day.
He also honored his mother
with the exalted title of Empress Ungcheon-gaesung-jeongdeok,
but she became better known as Empress Cheonchu for the name of
the palace she took residence.
An empire?
Yes, Your Majesty.
How dare they?!
[Shengzhong (6th ruler of Khitan)]
They lowered themselves to a kingdom when they were in alliance with Song,
and they are refusing to do the same with us?
The new King has got some nerve!
According to the report, it's not the King but his mother's decision.
[Yelu Dilie] [Yelu Pennu]
You mean Lady Sungdeok?
Yes, Your Majesty.
That wench.
She was kicked around like dirt when she was here.
We let her go and her arrogance knows no bounds.
General Yelu Dilie.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Go back to Goryeo.
Go back and tell them that this is unacceptable.
I am the only Emperor under this sky!
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I will now announce new staff appointments.
I'm appointing Lord Seo Hui Chief of the Supreme Council and ask all officials
to obey him as you obey me.
Your grace is immeasurable.
I'm appointing Gang Gamchan Minister of the Board of Rites,
Han Ingyeong Minister of Finance and Choi Hang Royal Undersecretary.
In addition, I'm elevating generals Gang Jo and Dae Dosu to High General status and
and appointing Gang Jo Minister of the Military and Dae Dosu Minister of Punishment.
Your grace is immeasurable!
Lastly, for those who newly joined us per recommendations of the high ministers,
I am appointing Choi Suk Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel,
Choi Wonshin Vice Minister of the Board of Rites,
Hwangbo Yui Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance,
and Chae Choongsun Secretary of Home Affairs.
I ask that all of you work together with commitment and dedication for the state.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Choi Suk and Choi Wonshin...
They both came from very prominent families of Gyeongju.
Choi Suk is the son of Choi Seunglo, who was the head of the Supreme Council early in Seongjong's reign,
and Choi Wonshin is Seongjong's master Choi Ryang's son.
But he is a rather imprudent character unlike his father.
Chae Choongsun and Hwangbo Yui...
Chae Choongsun is a high scholar with an incorruptible character,
Hwangbo Yui is a relative of Empress Dowager Cheonchu.
These two men were northerners to take the place of Yi Ji Baek and Yi Gyeomui,
but they would later veer off course contrary to expectations.
First Secretary of the Office of National Ceremony?
Yes.
It's a first class fifth rank position.
[Teong Rhyea Moon: Department in charge of cabinet meetings and welcoming envoys]
I'm sorry.
I can't give you a higher position because of your background.
And I am in the public eye...
It's more than I deserve, my Lady.
[Kim Chi Yang (Ritual Bearer)]
I will take any job if I can be near you.
I am just a little saddened that we can't be as close as
we were, now that you're a woman in the most exalted position.
Don't say that.
[Empress Cheonchu ]
I will always be your woman, no matter what.
I have a lot to do right now, and I have to be cautious in the public eye,
but I will tell the world someday that you are my partner and the man I love.
My Lady...
Congratulations, sir!
Congratulations!
Thank you. How did you find out?
You know how quick I am when it comes to news.
You've been appointed chiefs of Ministry of the Military and Ministry of Punishments,
and you are going to be attending the daily meetings at the Royal Council Hall.
You really are quick.
This is long overdue.
[Yu bang]
Why should scholar officials make all the decisions?
It's only fair that the military officials attend the meeting too, right?
Of course it is.
Our time is finally here now that the Empress Dowager is in power!
[Kim Hoon]
You men are so excited and I haven't even told you about your promotions yet.
Pardon? Our promotions, sir?
Colonel Yu, you're a general now.
And Captain Kim and Captain Choi, you are both colonels.
Are you serious?
[Choi Ghi]
We're colonels?
We're colonels, Hoon!
Wait!
Sir. You forgot about me, sir.
Have I been promoted?
No, you're still a captain.
Huh?
Why? Why am I always left out?
This must be a mistake.
I worked my pants off...
Twerp!
Name one thing you've done for the country?
General Gang, doesn't this call for a celebration, sir?
Sorry, men. We'll have to save the celebration for later.
I have work for you to do tonight.
What is the meaning of this?
It's the Imperial command.
Pack your personal possessions.
You will be leaving the palace tonight.
Leaving the palace?
Where am I supposed to go?
A villa has been arranged for you to reside outside the palace, appropriately
named Yunheung Villa.
What?
Stand back and don't make a commotion.
So where are you taking me?
A villa has been arranged for you outside the palace, appropriately named Liao Villa.
The Empress Dowager is granting you a kind favor,
and she orders you to live quietly as a common citizen of Goryeo.
Your Highness, I am leaving the palace.
Why did you leave me so soon?
I would never be subjected to this humiliation if you were alive.
How cruel you are...
How could you leave me?
Was this really necessary?
What do you mean?
Why did you have to kick her out of the palace at this time of night?
[Mokjong (7th ruler of Goryeo)]
She was once the Queen of this state.
It's best for everyone that she leave quietly avoiding public attention.
Do you know how I left the palace?
I was carried out by the eunuch after
passing out from wailing and screaming for the King to give me back my infant son.
Compared to that, the Queen is a lucky woman.
Cast off your pity for her.
You have a lot of work to do.
Is it true you're going to be living in the palace?
Yes.
What are you going to do there?
I think Hyang Bi and I will be the Empress Dowager's personal body guards.
How about me?
I want to live in the palace, too.
[Yi Jujeong]
Is there anything you can do for me?
I have no say so in that.
I'm asking you to put in a good word to the Empress Dowager for me.
May I help you?
I've come to see Foreman Kim.
What are you doing here?
You can't be seen with me like this.
Forgive me, Master.
It is an urgent matter.
Did Duyan see him by any chance?
She's gone to the Liao Princess's villa.
You don't need to worry.
What's the urgent matter?
They're planning to flee to Song China.
I thought you'd want them apprehended before they do.
Choi Seom as well?
Yes. They're going to meet again tomorrow.
Then we must get them right now.
We can't let them leave the country.
But do we take care of them ourselves or do we alert the palace?
We can turn everyone else over to the palace,
but I must confront Choi Seom myself.
This is what I've been waiting for.
What? They've been located?
Yes, Your Highness.
Someone sent an anonymous note to Sungdeok Palace last night.
An anonymous note?
Yes. It revealed the location of the men.
So where are they?
What do you men want?
- Get them! - Yes, sir!
We're in trouble!
Royal guards are here!
What? Royal guards?
How did they find out where we are? Who's the snitch?
We have no time for this. We have to run!
Get them out!
How dare you?!
Don't you know who I am?
You're the man who tried to murder the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
I've been ordered to kill you if you resist.
Get them out!
How dare you?!
Don't you know who I am?
That's all of them, sir.
Where is the former Minister of War, Choi Seom?
Where is he?
Answer the question!
Fine. I'll kill you first.
Wait!
Choi Seom left early this morning to take care of something with his steward.
Where?
I don't know. I swear!
Who do you want me to meet?
Who is going to throw me a lifeline?
There he is, Sire.
Who might you be?
Listen well. Did Lady Yeunheung know about this?
Yes, she knew!
The Queen knew about everything!
High treason? This is absurd!
You are under arrest for the attempted murder of the Empress Dowager.
How could you attempt to kill the Emperor?
I raised the Emperor. Call the Emperor right now!
Release her right now! This is an order!
I made you an Emperor.
So you are using me to get whatever you want.
Why don't you just be the Emperor yourself?