The Iron Empress
I, General Yelu Dilie of Great Liao...
Episode 47
come bearing the Emperor's edict to honor
the coronation of a new King in Goryeo.
Thank you.
I appreciate this visit.
Your Highness, now please accept the Emperor's edict.
Wait.
It seems you have not heard.
[Empress Dowager Cheonchu]
You are not using the proper title.
Goryeo has been restored to the Empire that it was in the reign of Gyeongjong.
Hence you will refer to our ruler as "His Majesty the Emperor" from now on.
I'm afraid I cannot, Your Grace.
[Yelu Dilie]
I beg your pardon?
Goryeo is a feudal state of Great Liao that uses Liao's era name.
[Mokjong (7th ruler of Goryeo)]
How could a feudal state dare declare itself an Empire?
It is not permissible.
Not permissible?
What would you do if I said I don't care?
Your Highness, need I remind you of your unpleasant experiences in Liao?
Your carelessness could cause the people of Goryeo to suffer the same adversity.
Is that a threat?
I'm imploring you to re-evaluate your situation.
I am here to congratulate the enthronement of the new King.
Please do not attempt to break our peace.
Liao will launch an invasion whether or not we declare ourselves an Empire.
Only, you don't have the resources to do so right now.
So spare the act.
Your Highness, do you truly want war?
If you insist on declaring an Empire, an army of one million will march upon this land.
And you will be forced down from that throne and subjected to indescribable humiliation.
Is that what you want?
This man's audacity knows no bounds. Guards!
Retract those remarks and beg for forgiveness on your knees.
Or you die.
Your Highness, I am a diplomatic envoy.
Is this how you treat a foreign envoy who comes to honor the King's enthronement?
I said beg!
Your Highness!
Mother.
Stay out of it.
Kill him.
I-I apologize.
Repeat.
I spoke hastily in frustration.
Please forgive me.
Bring me the edict.
Rewrite this in a tone of respect befitting an Empire.
Get him out of here.
Let go of me!
He is ordered out of the palace.
You can't treat a foreign envoy like this.
I promise you. You'll regret this!
It's nice to see you, pal!
I haven't seen you since you ran off defeated from Ahnyoongjin.
How dare you?!
I'm a senior envoy here on behalf of Emperor Shengzhong!
Oh my, is that right?
[Yu Bang ]
I'm sorry, your Prominence.
Please pardon my insolence.
Stop now, General.
You might provoke the chief envoy to fight us again.
[Kim Hoon] [Choi Ghi]
Yes, that's right.
I'm so scared I’m going to piss in my pants!
You bastards!
Just get out of here, fool.
[Yi Hyunoon]
Look at this hilarious mustache.
Get out of here. All of you!
Shoo! Shoo! Go quickly!
You went too far. They came in peace to congratulate me.
They did not come to congratulate you. They came to make a threat.
If they come on strong, we have to come on stronger.
Or we'll never be an empire.
But I'm afraid of the repercussions.
What if they wage another war against us?
We're not ready to fight them yet.
Don't worry. Liao can't invade Goryeo right now.
They are in a bind with Song China,
and both the Empress Dowager and the Prime Minister are in the south.
They can't strike us anytime soon in this situation.
We still have time, so don't worry.
How can you be so certain? These are your speculations.
These are facts, Your Majesty.
[Choi Wonshin (Vice Minister of the Board of Rites)]
Secretary Kim provides a constant
stream of up-to-date reports on the activities of Liao Eastern Capital.
Who?
The First Secretary of the Office of Ceremony, Kim Chi Yang, Your Majesty.
How does a man who handles ceremonies have access to foreign intelligence?
Secretary Kim sends merchant caravans into Liao and collects information.
So you don't have to worry about anything.
I see.
I'm sure you've got everything taken care of.
You've got everything under control, so I'll just shut up and look pretty.
Good luck to you!
Why would you say such a thing?
Forgive me, Your Highness.
Your Majesty. It's been a long time.
What are you doing here?
I've come to see to a matter that requires my attention.
[Kim Chi Yang (Secretary of the Office of Ceremony)]
Your office is in Tongnyemun*.
[(*Tongnyemun: Office responsible for national ceremonies) ]
What's your business in the palace?
I've come to see the Empress Dowager.
Why? You're not a minister.
What do you want with the Empress Dowager?
I am simply answering her summons... Is there a problem, Your Majesty?
Does Kim Chi Yang come to the palace often?
I believe he is here daily.
[Go Hyun]
Daily?
Why? On what business?
He always goes to the Empress's residence, Cheonchu Hall.
I do not know what they discuss.
Does he ever go there after dark?
Pardon? What... do you...
Cheonchu Hall is where my mother sleeps.
Does he stay overnight with her?
I'm afraid I don't know, Your Majesty.
What do you want?
Repeat what you said to me the other day.
What are you talking about?
You accused me of neglecting my duty because of a man.
[Duyan]
Judging by your reaction, I must be right.
[Jiemei]
What?
I've seen you toy with dozens of men. But never have I seen you react like this.
You mocked me in front of the Princess!
Are you sure that's all?
Normally you wouldn't even bother with an excuse.
That's it. I've heard enough.
Attack.
My pleasure.
Stop!
What is the meaning of this?
Have you both gone mad?
We were just in training.
Take me to the Princess.
The Goryeoan Empress Dowager said that to your face?
Yes. I suffered indelible humiliation.
We gave her mercy and sent her back home,
[Xiao Zanli]
and now she thinks she is above us.
The problem is, we don't have the means to punish Goryeo right now.
And obviously, Empress Dowager Cheonchu knows this.
Having her in power is definitely a disadvantage for us.
[Su No]
They will strengthen their military while we're fighting Song.
What were the Emperor's instructions?
His orders were to stop them from declaring themselves an empire.
That's impossible at this point.
That's why you must weaken them by creating internal division.
Interference with defense advancement
and assassination of the King is also a viable option if it comes to that.
But our resources are limited.
Princess, we might need to join hands with Lady Yunheung, as Duyan suggested.
She is as powerless as we are.
Yes. How did it go?
Luckily, they haven't taken his house.
[Court Lady Jo]
[Lady Yunheung]
Thank goodness.
Does he have food to eat?
Don't worry, Your Grace.
He has my brother and Jo Du as well. They won't let him starve.
I'm more concerned about you.
You have dozens of maids, serving you hand and foot in the palace, and now this...
My life only has one purpose now.
I don't need fancy food or clothes.
The desire for revenge will give me all the strength I need.
Until I witness the demise of the King's murderers, I don't care how I live.
Just watch.
Is the counterfeiting warehouse still intact?
Yes, Sire.
We still have all of the craftsmen.
I trust you're keeping them well under control?
Don't worry, Sire.
[Jo Sun] [Jo Du]
They all know that they will be killed if the operation is exposed.
Good. That's good enough.
That's all we need to make a comeback.
[Kim Won Soong]
Listen closely.
Now I want you to keep a very close eye on the officials of the court.
Take your time and find out who can be bought.
I will prove to you that the world can be bought with money.
Let me serve you another drink, Secretary Kim.
Yes.
Why are you using honorifics?
I can't very well talk to you like a domestic staff member now that
you're an official of the state.
Please let me serve you a drink as well, Your Highness.
So, you were talking about sending an envoy to Song China?
Yes, Your Highness.
But weren't you previously against keeping diplomatic relations with Song?
I was against serving Song China as our suzerain state.
But things are different now.
We are an empire,
and I am talking about maintaining diplomatic relations as equals.
And it's unlikely they will reject us.
They're at war with Khitan and they could use our help.
But if we send an envoy to Song, the Khitan will know right away.
Empress Dowager Chengtian has spies in the Song court.
It doesn't matter.
They can't stop fighting the Chinese and attack us, even if they find out.
Fear of a pincer attack should actually make them more complaisant.
Perhaps we declared an empire too soon.
We might be in a better position if we waited until we were stronger.
No, there is no better time than now when they are contending with Song.
We must boost public pride and arouse people's attention to protect the empire.
I understand. I will move forward without turning back.
What domestic concerns should we tackle first?
I still think reviving Palguanhwe and
the Lotus Lantern Festival is the best way to stimulate public favor.
Let us start with the Lotus Lantern Festival since it's coming up soon.
Plan the grandest and most elaborate event yet.
Yes, that was my intention as well.
And how do you feel about building Buddhist temples?
Temples?
Yes. Every country needs a unified belief.
The late King wanted Goryeo to be a Confucian state,
but it was unrealistic for the common people who are illiterate.
But Buddhist beliefs are already infused into their daily lives.
We need to build temples under the name of the empire and
instill beliefs in the public that the empire is growing in the power of the dharma.
And we can allocate funds taken from Kim Won Soong to build these temples.
What's wrong? Do you disapprove of my ideas?
Quite the contrary.
Everything falls into place by itself when I talk to you.
Almost as if you've been planning everything for the longest time.
You are too kind.
No, I can't say enough about you.
Finish that drink and I will pour another.
Yes.
I'm already feeling a bit drunk.
Ready for another?
Do you drink?
Forgive me. I'm afraid I'm not much of a drinker.
Can't you do anything useful? What are you good for?
You.
I haven't seen you in years.
No, Your Majesty.
Do you remember me?
What are you waiting for? Drink up.
I see you're a drinker.
Why, drink and hanging out with the girls was my specialty back when I was...
Your Majesty, may I ask to why you've invited this lowly man here?
I have no one else to drink with in this entire palace.
All are my mother's men.
And they call me Emperor, but I am a puppet.
You're the only one who might understand how I feel since you know me a little.
I am at your service day and night, Your Majesty.
I will come running anytime you call.
Your Majesty, may I pour you another?
Why are you so disheartened?
Is it because you couldn't choose your own men?
Do you know Kim Chi Yang?
I've known him since the battle of Ahnyoongjin.
He was captured and taken to Liao with the Empress Dowager and
ended up having an affair with...
I'm sorry. Forgive me, Your Majesty.
I don't care.
Do you think that man deserves a post in the court?
Yes?
No, I think it's absurd. There are laws in this country.
I think he should be removed from government service immediately.
So do I.
But sadly, I am powerless to dismiss him.
Powerless, Your Majesty? But you are the almighty Emperor.
Whatever you say goes.
The entire cabinet is made up of my mother's men.
I may be the Emperor, but the officials will not listen to me.
That's not true, Your Majesty.
At the very least,
General Gang Jo would be all for it if you said you want Kim Chi Yang out.
You don't know him.
Gang Jo would take his own life if my mother told him to.
No, Your Majesty.
I assure you, you're wrong about that.
I'd summon the officials right now and have Kim Chi Yang removed if I were you.
Right now?
You're the Emperor.
There is no day and night when it comes to obeying you.
Your Majesty, don't be disheartened.
No matter what everyone says, you are the almighty ruler of this empire.
Why get intimidated when you don't even know what you can do yet?
We are out. Would you like another?
No, thank you. I've had enough.
I think it's time for me to go.
Already?
It's late.
Then you should go.
I wish you were not a woman of power.
If you were just an ordinary woman,
we wouldn't have to say goodbye every night.
I wish you could stay with me.
But not now.
Once the country is stable and the Emperor takes over the state affairs,
then it will be just the two of us away from politics and away from the world.
No, that day will never come.
You always put us off until tomorrow.
But tomorrow always has something else in store.
There is no peace for us. We are constantly living in war.
When will it be just the two of us?
When if not now?
But still, now is not the time.
The Emperor keeps veering astray because of us.
I know. We can't let that happen.
I should go now.
Have a good night.
Sorry. I'm late for my shift.
Stand guard out here tonight.
Why?
Secretary Kim is spending the night.
[Sa Illa]
What?
[Cheon Hyang Bi]
He... is in her chambers?
Yes.
Brother, you have to let her go now. You have to.
General Gang.
Let us go to the council hall. His Majesty wants us.
At this time of the night?
Have Prime Minister Seo Hui and Minister Gang Gamchan not been notified?
Your Majesty,
[Choi Hang (Royal Undersecretary)]
the Prime Minister has taken ill.
Minister Gang is with him and couldn't come at such short notice.
May I ask why you have summoned us at this time of the night?
Secretary of the Office of Ceremony, Kim Chi Yang, is the reason why I called you.
As you all know, there are unpleasant rumors about my mother because of him.
What should I do with him?
Your Majesty, this concerns the Empress Dowager's personal life.
It is beyond our sphere of authority to discuss.
Is that so?
Didn't you study Confucius, Undersecretary Choi?
Yes, I did, Your Majesty.
Then where in his text does it say that a man who has had an illicit affair with
the Emperor's widow can hold a post in the court, and walk proudly about the palace?
Have you forgotten what you've learned because you're stupid
or are you just keeping quiet because you haven't got the guts to speak up?
Are all of you mute?
Is everyone deaf and dumb in this court?
I'm asking you what to do with this man?!
I will speak, Your Majesty.
Minister of Military, go on.
It would do harm to the state if the
[Gang Jo (??)]
public got wind of this vile rumor.
Remove Kim Chi Yang from government service and forbid him entry to the palace.
Yes, that's the answer I want from you.
What do the others think about this?
The Empress Dowager may be displeased,
[Chae Choongsun (Secretary of the Interior)]
but I must agree with the Minister of the Military.
Yes, Your Majesty.
If the mother of the state openly
[Choi Suk (Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel)]
pursues an illicit relationship,
we cannot maintain public order.
How about you, Secretary Choi?
I will abide by your wish.
I, too, will abide by your wish.
I'm sure Lord Hwangbo can't concur, being my mother's relative.
How about you, Minister Dae?
Oh? Keeping silent?
That's one way to go.
Very well. I have made my decision.
Kim Chi Yang will be removed from his post
and forbidden from entering the palace henceforth.
Carry out the order immediately!
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Majesty!
What did you say?
The Emperor ordered you to remove Secretary Kim Chi Yang from the palace?
Yes, Your Highness.
So do you dare come to drag him out from my chambers?
No, Your Highness.
But it is the Emperor's order, and I wondered what was happening.
I heard there was an important discussion here last night in my absence.
Is this true, Undersecretary?
Yes, Your Highness.
I will get straight to the point.
I cannot accept the Emperor's decision last night.
So be noted.
Mother.
Yes?
The matter is already settled.
Why are you trying to overturn my decision?
You are forgetting that I am your regent.
You cannot make important decisions on your own without my consent.
I did not make this decision on my own.
The officials concurred.
Is that right?
Who among you concurred?
Why are you silent? Did you not concur with me last night?
Yes, Your Majesty.
The Emperor is right, Your Highness.
Many of us strongly believe that
Kim Chi Yang must be kept away from the palace.
State the reason.
Is it because of his relationship with me?
Your Highness.
This is an inappropriate subject to to be discussed in the council hall.
[Gang Gamchan (Minister of the Office of Ceremony)]
I beg you to send us away and speak privately with the Emperor.
No. There is nothing to hide.
Do not talk behind my back.
Secretary Kim Chi Yang is indeed my lover.
In fact, he spent the night with me just last night.
Is there a problem with that?
General Gang, is there a law against widows having lovers in this country?
Secretary Choi, didn't you remarry after your first wife died?
Yes.
Would you tell me why that is permissible for you and not permissible for me?
Lord Choi Wonshin, I heard you have two concubines, aside from your lawful wife.
Well, I-I do have one concubine, but...
[Choi Wonshin (Vice Minister of the Office of Ceremony)]
Then why is it unacceptable for a woman to have a lover?
Do women have no feelings?
Are we cold-blooded animals who feel no pain, no loneliness and no desires?
Why do you want to put this heavy burden of being alone on women?
Any decent man would try to ease the burden.
But if you can't do that, just be quiet and leave well enough alone.
As long as I am on this seat, men and women will be treated equally in Goryeo.
Speak up now if you have objections.
The Empress Dowager speaks the truth.
[Hwangbo Yui (Vice Minister of Finance)]
It is my humble opinion that last night's decision should be reversed.
Yes, Empress Dowager. I will abide by your wish.
As will I.
Go back to your posts.
The order was issued in error.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
It was nothing.
No, that's not true.
You overturned the Emperor's decision on account of me.
He must be devastated.
He will be fine.
Your Highness, let me go instead.
What do you mean?
If I'm causing problems in the court and the Emperor is troubled because of me,
it's best that I leave you.
No.
I wanted to help you, but I'm a burden to you now.
You are an indispensable person for me. I'd give up the world before I give you up.
The Emperor will soon be married.
And having a wife will make him change like you said.
Your Highness.
I am making you the Finance Commissioner.
Now you will be able to attend the meeting of the council and openly speak your mind.
Then they will see you for the amazing man that you are.
But the Finance Commissioner oversees the state's revenue and expenditures.
The officials will fiercely oppose appointing me to such an important post.
I don't think there is anyone
that can take better care of the state's finances than you can.
And this is unbiased, professional opinion based on watching you at work for years.
And personally speaking,
there is nothing that can separate us except death.
How could you attend to this sensitive matter so hastily?
The Emperor and the Empress Dowager
[Seo Hui (Chief of the Supreme Council)]
are now at odds with one another as a result of your imprudence!
His Majesty had a good point and we wanted to abide by his wishes.
No one knew this would happen.
Then you should have stuck by the decision and supported him no matter what.
You've crushed the Emperor's pride and humiliated him by switching sides.
How could high ministers of the state be so careless?
Please calm down, Prime Minister.
You are not well. Try not to get upset.
I'm sorry, Prime Minister.
We acted in haste. Forgive us.
This is why I didn't support the Emperor on the decision in the first place.
We have to abide by the acting head of state, not the adolescent Emperor.
If that's how you felt, why didn't you speak up last night?
Believe me. I wanted to.
But I was too appalled to speak.
Stop. What's the use arguing now?
The Emperor and the Empress Dowager argued before the ministers?
Yes!
Over her openly carrying on a love affair with Kim Chi Yang in the palace.
Unbelievable! The woman is shameless.
How did you find out about this, Father?
I may have lost my wings, but I still have my ears and eyes in the palace.
At any rate, we still have a chance.
The Emperor and the Empress Dowager are drifting apart because of Kim Chi Yang.
And with a little nudge, the Emperor will soon long for you.
And the Empress Dowager won't be a regent forever.
If we can win the Emperor's favor we still have hope.
General Gang, how long have we known each other?
Your Highness, please address me casually.
I can't.
Not only because you're now a minister of the court but
because I don't feel close to you anymore.
I thought you'd always support me whatever I do.
I never ever doubted that.
But I guess people change.
I have not changed, Your Highness.
Then why did you try to take Secretary Kim away from me?
Don't you know that I love him?
Like I've told you repeatedly, Your Highness, he is a dangerous man.
Why? Why is he dangerous?
Make me understand.
I-I can't explain it.
But I don't like him.
In fact, I hate him so much that I want to kill him.
Do you really have no idea why I feel this way?
I do have a hunch, but I won't dare say it.
Because I'm afraid things will never be the same between us if I do.
So please don't fight me, General Gang.
It would break my heart if you turned your back against me.
Is there anything I can say or do to make you leave him?
No.
He is the man I'll spend my life with once my dream for Goryeo is realized.
Very well.
Then give me an order.
I can't obey if you ask me to be friends with him.
But if you tell me not to hate him,
if that's my master's order, I will try my hardest to obey.
Very well. Drillmaster Gang, don't hate him.
I'm ordering you as your master.
I will do my best.
Hyang Bi?
Yes, Brother.
You were right.
I was dreaming.
It was an impossible dream to begin with.
I was just a lowly refugee and I got this far.
What more could I ask for?
Brother...
Your Majesty!
Please stop! You'll hurt yourself!
Leave. Leave me alone!
Your Majesty.
You're no different.
My mother sent you here to keep an eye on me.
You're a spy sent here to see what crazy stunt I pull next!
Please calm down.
Feeling a twinge of conscience?
You're so caring and consoling on the outside,
but inside you're thinking about what to tell my mother about me!
You can think what you want.
[Sun (Future Queen Sunjeong)]
But please don't do anything to hurt yourself, Your Majesty.
Stupid idiot.
You, me... we're both stupid idiots!
Yes, Your Majesty.
Run while you can, Cousin.
Leave me,
leave this cursed palace,
and fly away while you can.
You'll be wretchedly miserable if you marry me.
So please leave.
I don't want to see you get hurt.
Long time no see. How goes it?
What?
You think you can talk to me in that tone now that we're not in the palace?
The Princess is here to see Lady Yunheung. Announce her.
What? Lady Yunheung.
How dare you call her by that name?!
Then what should I call her?
You wench!
The Queen Dowager has no business with you barbarians, so get out of here!
Ahh!
I've been wanting to rearrange your face a little.
What do you want done?
Your nose or your eyes?
W-w-what's wrong?
What is the meaning of this?
Put that dagger down this instant!
Stop the playing now.
Have you fared well, Big Sister?
Join hands? What do you mean?
You want revenge on the Empress Dowager and so do I,
so I thought we could help each other.
I don't understand why you would have anything against the Empress Dowager.
I am a Princess of Liao, but those people threw me out of the palace like a common servant.
I can't take this lying down, not for myself or for my country.
So you take me for a woman who would join hands with a barbarian?
I am the Queen Dowager of Goryeo.
I may not be in the palace right now,
but I am not someone you can approach with this vulgar proposition.
You certainly sound lofty for a daughter of a man who works as a spy for Liao.
What?
Your father Kim Won Soong vowed loyalty to our Empress Dowager Chengtian and
became a spy for Great Liao.
Were you not made aware?
How dare you vilify my father with your guileful tongue!
I've heard enough. Leave at once!
Don't get so worked up and think about it.
How will you get revenge when you have nothing?
You need me.
And? And?
and you couldn’t stop them?
You couldn't stop the Goryeo from declaring an empire?
Forgive me, Your Majesty.
I was powerless to break the woman's spirit.
I told you to threaten her with war!
[Shengzhong of Liao (6th ruler of Khitan)]
And I did, but she laughed at me.
Laughed?
Yes, Your Majesty.
She said without as much as a flinch that we would crumble if we waged war.
What?
What did that wench dare say?
Give me death for my failure, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
The Goryeoan merchant caravan has arrived.
Take the sword.
What is this about, General?
The Emperor has ordered
[Yelu Pennu]
the Goryeoan dead.
I can't kill an unarmed man, so take the sword.
[Sa Gamun]
Unsheathe it!
What is the meaning of this?
I've been ordered by the Prime Minister maintain active
trading with Goryeo through this man.
I can't let you kill him.
Stand back! I am carrying out the Emperor's order!
And I am carrying out the Prime Minister's order.
If you must kill him, you'll have to kill me first.
What does it say? Someone tell me what that says!
They are having a martial arts tournament in honor of the Emperor's wedding.
A martial arts tournament?
What are you looking at?
You went from being a captain to a general and now you're entering this tournament.
Where does your ambition end?
Who says I have to a general forever?
I want to be a high general and see what the council hall looks like.
You have a problem with that?
This guy always has a problem, sir.
Why don't you enter the tournament if you think life is unfair?
No, thank you.
I'm not interested in boorish fist fighting.
I won't use my muscle to get to the top.
Then are you going to bootlick your way up to the top, you sycophant!
I'm not a sycophant!
You'll see.
I'll use my clever brain to become a general.
No, I'll get even higher!
Dream on, you fool!
If you become a general, I'll be a monkey's uncle!
That idiot.
My name is Yang Kyu.
My man.
It's good to see you again, sir.
I heard you're now the Minister of the Board of Rites.
Congratulations.
Thank you. Did you sign up?
Yes, sir.
But there're so many contestants.
I don't know how I'll do with my humble skills.
If your skills are humble, all of these men have to pack up and leave right now.
Let's go. I'll give you a tour of the palace.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
That's quite all right.
The wedding is tomorrow, but I still don't feel comfortable.
His Majesty is much better now. Don't worry.
Yes.
Change him back to the bright
and gentle boy that he used to be when you become his wife.
I know that I've hurt him.
And he is refusing to listen to me,
so you are my only hope.
You can do it, can't you?
Yes, Your Highness. I will do everything I can.
Good. Thank you.
Warriors will get the same respect that the scholars receive in this country.
Do you remember your father's face?
Why are you crying, Prince?
He begged her to let me live.
What?
You promised to leave me alone. Why did you call me again?
I want you to bring the Emperor here.
I won't ask you to do anything else again.
Your Majesty! It is you!