The Iron Empress
Episode 68
Welcome back, Empress Dowager.
Where is the Emperor?
General Oh is on his trail.
You've got me.
[Empress Dowager Cheonchu]
What do you want the Emperor for?
For the letter of abdication, of course.
What?
Empress Dowager,
[Kim Chi Yang (Finance Commissioner)]
I am sorry to put you through this.
I had hoped to avoid going this far.
I'd like to talk it out from this point forward, if at all possible.
Talk it out? You made my men turn their swords on each other with your
greed for power and you want to talk it out?
That's because you ignored my counsel.
You had left me without a choice.
So you invited a foreign enemy to achieve your ambition?
I beg your pardon? Foreign enemy?
I know you called in the Khitan to create a diversion.
Are you going to deny it?
I think you're confused and traumatized. We will talk again later.
Cheonchu Hall was destroyed by fire, so rest in the Imperial bedchambers.
- Take her. - This way, Your Highness.
Listen to me, men. You are being deceived.
I don't know how Kim Chi Yang persuaded you to do this,
but he invited the Khitan to pull this off.
That's not all. He is somehow related to ruined state Shilla!
What are you waiting for? Take her!
His ambition goes deeper than the throne.
He is trying to bring Goryeo down!
You are being deceived. You must destroy him. Do you understand?
He is deceiving you. Kim Chi Yang must be destroyed!
Put the generals in confinement with the others. They will soon be executed.
Pay no attention to the Empress Dowager.
She is shocked and confused and she doesn't know what she's saying,
but she will soon come around and join me.
Answer me.
What is Kim Chi Yang really after? Who is he?
Your Highness, all I want is for you
[Sa Illa] [Duyan]
and Commissioner Kim to walk
the righteous path together.
So what is this righteous path?
Commissioner Kim will tell you later.
Empress Dowager must be eliminated.
[Mun In Wui]
She is much too willful to be persuaded.
You saw how the soldiers reacted.
I agree.
She will not join our cause with
[Sa Gamun]
questions about our identity.
No. We need her alive to put the regime in our hands completely.
Or there is certain to be a counter-rebellion.
She will never cooperate when she learns what you're really after.
It'll be quicker to find the Imperial seal and make the official enthronement
of Prince Hwangju, and win over the high ministers and the regional lords
by reversing the sharecropping law.
I said no. What do you think Gang Jo will do if we kill the Empress Dowager?
He will storm in like a madman and destroy the Imperial palace.
But the Khitan have him held up at the border.
Besides, we have to fight him at one point or another.
It will not help us to keep the Empress Dowager alive.
She is the mother of my child.
It may take a little time, but she will come around.
Forgive me, my Lord, but is this personal?
What?
There is no time to persuade the Empress Dowager right now.
We must alert the Khitan of our successful capture of the palace,
request additional military aid, then announce the investiture of Prince Hwangju
to the officials of the state and acquire their support.
And to do this, the Empress Dowager must be eliminated.
I beg you to let go of her for the sake of the great enterprise, my Lord.
Silence!
I will not have you telling me what to do!
The Empress Dowager is my soul mate. And she will join me in due time.
So be quiet and follow my orders!
It's the enemy!
Take your positions!
Protect the Empress and the Emperor!
Archers forward!
Wait!
Is not the enemy.
It's General Yang and General Kim!
General Yang!
Your Majesty, are you all right?
Who are you?
I am General Yang Kyu of the Six Guards.
[Yang Kyu]
I heard majority of
[Emperor Mokjong (7th Ruler of Goryeo)]
The Six Guards joined Kim Chi Yang.
Not General Yang, Your Majesty.
[Gang Gamchan (Minister of the Office of Ceremony)]
What happened?
Who are these men?
We broke through the enemy line last night and made it to the Two Armies' base.
These are the soldiers of Two Armies.
I see.
I am General Choi Swaui of the
[Choi Swaui]
Soaring Eagles, Your Majesty.
I wasn't totally convinced when General Yang told me about the rebellion,
but I see it's true.
I am Tak Sajeong of the Dragon Tigers.
[Tak Sajeong]
Let your fears rest now, Your Majesty.
Yes, thank you. But first we must save my mother.
We will recapture the palace.
I think they have her.
The Empress Dowager?
Jin!
Jin, you must say hello to your mother. You haven't seen her in a few days.
[Prince Hwangju- Kim Jin]
Hello, Mother.
What did you bring him here?
Take him back.
Yes, my Lord.
This way, Prince.
You are despicable.
Now you're using your young son to sway me?
Yes, Your Highness. That child is our son, the future Emperor.
I don't want him to grow up without a mother.
Please think, Your Highness.
Mokjong can no longer sit on the throne and Prince Daeryang is a monk who knows
nothing about running a state.
But Jin, our son, could become a benevolent ruler praised by all
if the two of us join hands and raised him well.
Why would you throw away this opportunity?
Now you are shameless to boot.
You destroyed the Emperor deliberately.
You employed Yu Han Gan and ruined him!
Yes, I will not deny that.
But he didn't have what it takes to rule an empire with or without my intervention.
Empress Dowager, if you give Jin one tenth the effort you gave the Emperor,
this country will flourish.
I will make certain of it.
So please don't dwell on the trivial and think about the future of the empire.
How could you invite a foreign enemy if you care about the future of the empire?
You betrayed me and you betrayed the country!
I am simply using the Khitan to achieve a greater goal.
And I would never have done so if you hadn't rejected my idea in the first place.
I promise you. If you stay with me, I will make this country a hundred
times stronger that it is now, and I will bring the Khitan to their knees before you.
Lies. Lies!
You're nothing but a shameless traitor who sold out your own country to
satisfy your selfish ambition.
You're a wicked villain who is trying to bring down the regime!
Answer me! How are you related to Shilla?
Your Highness...
My Lord, the Imperial seal has been located.
Where was it?
It was in a well next to Shindeok Hall.
What do you want with the Imperial seal?
Your Highness, we will have time to talk about me later.
For now, I ask you not to judge me for the man you see before you,
but to remember how I gladly risked my life for you in Liao.
Because I still love you just as much as I loved you then.
Answer the question. What are you going to do with the Imperial seal?
Let's go!
We must first rescue the Empress Dowager.
I want the Two Armies to attack
[Gang Jo (Chief Commander of the Northwestern Armies)]
the east gate and divert their attention while I get her out.
Won't that be too dangerous?
We may have a better chance combining our strength for a frontal attack.
I agree.
[Kim Sukheung]
They still don't know that we're here,
so we should surprise them with a blitz attack and seize victory.
No, we must get the Empress Dowager out first.
If they're cornered, they could hold her hostage or even hurt her.
But she will be heavily guarded. How can we get in without being spotted?
We will be spotted if there are too many of us. That's why I'm going alone.
No, General. That's too dangerous.
We cannot attack the palace with the Empress Dowager in there!
If you insist, General Kim and I will go in with you.
You?
Yes, that's a better idea.
The soldiers will lose the will to fight if we lost you.
General Choi, Tak and I will handle the diversion, so take the two men with you.
If you encounter difficulties, you must abort the rescue mission and come back.
Steward Mun, write the Royal edicts.
First, order Gang Jo to remain in the northwest
region and prepare for Khitan invasion.
Alert the Two Armies of the Khitan attack
and order them to maintain
their position as well.
Yes, my Lord.
And Duyan, I want you to send your carrier hawk to Prime Minister Han
and request additional troops.
They don't need to cross the Yalu.
We just need a large army that will
keep Gang Jo occupied for a while.
Yes, sir.
My Lord, we have trouble! Soldiers are marching to the east gate!
Soldiers? What soldiers?
It looks like the Soaring Eagles and Dragon Tigers of the Two Armies.
But how did they know?
Get out there and defend the gate. Steward Mun, quickly write those edicts!
Yes, my Lord!
Who goes there?
Where is the Empress Dowager?
Don't you know who I am? I am Gang Jo! Where is the Empress Dowager?
She's in the Imperial bedchambers, sir.
Stop them! Don't let them breach the wall!
We are soldiers of the Two Armies! Lay down your arms and surrender!
General Gang Jo and his men have arrived from Hogyeong!
Kim Chi Yang is a traitor who invited the Khitan onto our land!
Lay down your arms!
General, we're out numbered! We need help!
Attack! Attack!
Stop them!
Guess who is here, wench?
I've come for your head?
General Gang!
Empress Dowager!
How did you...?
What happened with the Khitan? I heard they invaded our border.
There weren't too many of them; we were able to suppress them quickly.
Your Highness, there's no time. We've got to go now!
General Yang, General Kim, let's go.
Your Highness, thank heavens you are all right.
Let us hurry.
Wait.
I must take my son Prince Hwangju.
Not right now, Your Highness.
We have no time. We must go.
Gang Jo showed up and got the Empress Dowager out?
Yes, my Lord. Yang Kyu and Kim Sukheung were with him.
Gang Jo? So soon?
How many soldiers did Prime Minister Han send?
This is trouble, my Lord. If Gang Jo is here, his army is here.
My Lord, it's trouble! We're swamped by enemy troops at the east gate!
Are you saying you can't stop them?
It's the soldiers of the Two Armies and the Northwest Regional Army.
The gate is about to fall.
But how? How could they come so soon?
Mother!
Emperor!
Your Highness, thank heavens you're all right!
[Empress Sunjeong]
Empress Dowager, we must attend to the situation first.
Report the situation.
Minister Gang is engaged
[Yu Chungjeong]
in an offensive at the east gate
and the Northwest Army has split up and proceeded to the west and east gates.
We couldn't get to the north gate because of the distance.
Your Highness, I must go. Meanwhile, you will be safe here.
I'm coming with you.
Your Highness.
I will capture Kim Chi Yang myself. And I must save my son.
There is no time, my Lord. We have to fight or flee.
Do we have a chance if we fight?
We can hardly handle the Soaring Eagles and the Dragon Tigers.
If Gang Jo's Northwest Army joins the fight, we don't stand a chance.
And the soldiers will begin to desert the cause once they learn about this.
Once an army starts to fall, it crumbles out of control.
My Lord.
A mere three days on the throne... Has Heaven forsaken me?
My lord, we must hurry. We must get you out of here.
How are the other gates holding up right now?
We don't know at this point,
but they will instantly fall if the Northwest Army strikes.
You must go through the north gate to get out.
It's the furthest from where we are being attacked.
Very well. Steward Mun, take the south gate.
Duyan, defend the west gate.
If all efforts fail, we split up and met at the Jurchen village.
Sa Illa, take Prince Hwangju and get him out through the north gate.
Yes, my Lord.
You must leave quickly as well, my Lord.
I have a favor to ask before we go.
We must be prepared, just in case something happens to me.
I don't understand.
Sa Illa.
Ryang is with Prince Hwangju. Would you take care of him?
Don't worry, Duyan. We'll see you later.
Sa Gamun.
Sa Gamun, where is the commissioner?
We need to talk.
Please stay here for a moment.
What is it?
Switch the two boys' clothes.
Why?
Anything can happen at this point.
If we are defeated, Prince Hwangju may not survive.
We have to be prepared.
So instead of the Prince...
They're the same age, so they won't be distinguishable at a quick glance.
In the worst situation, we have to sacrifice Ryang.
Brother, are you out of your mind?! Sacrifice your own son?
Be quiet. I'm talking about the worst-case scenario.
I know. I don't even want to think about it.
But it won't be easy to take the children out of here safely.
And if we can only save one of them, we have to choose.
And if it comes to that, it has to be the Prince. Do you understand?
I'm sorry, Baby.
I don't deserve you...
Don't be afraid.
[Ryang]
Daddy will always be with you.
Wherever you go, my heart... my heart will always be with you.
Daddy...
Brother...
Battles are still in progress at the east and south gates!
We must break through the west gate and capture Kim Chi Yang first!
It's trouble, Commissioner!
The enemy has broken through the south gate!
What? the south gate has fallen?
Yes! You must escape!
[Yi Jujeong]
Didn't Steward Mun take the troops to defend the gate?
No, I haven't seen Steward Mun at all!
There's Kim Chi Yang! Get him!
Stop them! Protect the commissioner!
Give me the keys and wait outside.
What's going on, sir?
[Yu Han Gan (Official of Hanmoon Temple)]
It's Commissioner Kim's order! Give me the key and wait outside!
Do you still have unfinished business with me?
Not with you, unfortunately.
Everyone get out. General Gang Jo's army is at the palace gate.
You're Kim Chi Yang's henchman.
[Choi Hang (Royal Undersecretary)]
Why are you releasing us?
All I ask is that you tell the Empress Dowager about this later.
That I saved you all from being executed.
The east gate has fallen and the soldiers have surrendered or fled!
The west gate has fallen as well, sir!
Get him!
My Lord, you must get out of here!
Kim Chi Yang! I've been waiting for this day.
You bloody bastard! Where do you think you're going?
I'll hold them back, sir. Go now!
My Lord...
Ryang...
Wife...
My baby... Ryang...
To be honest I'm afraid.
Afraid of what?
Commissioner Kim.
He kills anyone that gets in this way.
I can't help thinking we might end up like Cheon Hyang Bi some day.
And it scares me.
I will protect you and Ryang. And that will never happen.
I'm sorry, Baby.
I don't deserve you.
Daddy...
Prince Hwangju. Where is my son?
Answer me! Where is my son?
Your Highness, interrogation can wait. We must go after the stragglers at once.
Lock up the criminal of high treason!
Yes, sir.
Wench! Hand over the Prince!
Don't come closer!
What are you waiting for? Get her!
If you get any closer, you're all dead!
Archers!
Fire!
Auntie...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Ryang.
Auntie...
[Imperial Palace of Liao]
So you were defeated before
[Shengzhong of Liao (6th Ruler of Khitan)]
you could set foot on Goryeoan soil?
Yes, Your Majesty.
[Yelu Chu]
The enemy leader Gang Jo and his army
proved stronger than we thought...
Silence!
How dare you come back alive after getting your men killed
and failing to set foot on enemy soil? I will have you skinned!
Your Majesty, please calm down.
The error was in not sending enough troops; this man is not to blame.
Yes, Your Majesty.
[Yelu Dilu] [Yelu Pennu] [Yelu Wuji]
The Prime Minister's error in judgment
is the cause of this failure.
Killing this petty man will accomplish nothing.
I can't believe we missed this opportunity! What is the Prime Minister thinking?
Then you must have no knowledge of the progress of the Goryeoan civil war.
No, sir.
How about you, General Yelu Dilie?
[Xiao Baiya (Viceroy of the Liao Eastern Capital)]
You're well informed about this,
because of your association with the Prime Minister.
[Yelu Dilie]
Yes, but I have no way of knowing what the current situation is in Goryeo at this point.
Don't you have a spy in Goryeo?
There's nothing we can do with the
[Su No]
The Empress Dowager so strongly opposing aggression
even if we knew about the situation.
My mother is coughing up blood and confined to bed. So answer the question.
Your Majesty, please inquire with the Prime Minister directly.
He is the only person the spy in Goryeo will answer to.
I don't want to see his face.
He is a sly old snake, and he'll go tattling to my mother again.
Your Majesty, then I will have a talk with him.
The troops you sent were driven back without setting foot on Goryeoan soil.
I am aware.
Are we to sit back and do nothing while there is a civil war in Goryeo?
Prime Minister, the Empress Dowager is not well, think about the future.
I want you to enjoy a long life.
[Han Derang (Khitan Prime Minister)]
You've grown fearless.
You dare threaten me?
Prime Minister, I speak out of concern for you.
All I ask is that you find out through your agent, what's going on in Goryeo.
Is that too much to ask?
The problem with you and the Emperor is that you are too anxious.
An internal division in the Goryeoan court will not suddenly weaken their military power.
Please trust me and be patient.
If you wait, the right time will come.
What do I do?
I have placed this precious state, that my predecessors built with their hard work
and sweat, in complete turmoil manipulated by a villain.
What do I do now?
What do you want now?
You never had what it takes.
You were too weak to realize the great mission to begin with.
Was I?
But I feel relief now.
I can finally let go of the great burden.
And I can die in peace.
Fool. Now your son will inherit your burden.
I'm sure he can do a better job than you could.
Idiot.
The rebellion ended in failure?
Yes. General Gang Jo arrested Kim Chi Yang,
and the Emperor and the Empress Dowager are back in the palace!
Oh no! We should've stayed with the Emperor to the end!
We'd better get back to the palace at once.
Sire.
You're...!
I think we should have a chat.
I have nothing to say to a traitor like you!
[Kim Shimon (Minister of Domestic Affairs)]
Get out of here before I turn you in!
Please calm down and hear me out.
I've come to give you an opportunity to render a huge service to the state.
You're dripping with sweat.
[Choi Ghi]
Wait, isn't he one of Kim Chi Yang’s men?
Yes, that's right.
Guards, arrest him!
[Kim Hoon]
Aye!
Wait!
This man says he has important information for the Empress Dowager.
You can take him into custody later.
Kim Chi Yang is the grandson of Crown Prince Mahi?
Yes, Your Highness.
His real name is Kim Hang, and the Jurchen tribal village where you had your
first encounter was a village built by Prince Maui's trusted followers.
You mean that was the base of operation for the Shilla revival movement?
Precisely, Minister Gang.
Commissioner Kim's parents were killed by Choi Seom's father who set out to
purge the movement to resurrect Shilla.
Young Kim Hang survived the attack and took refuge at Hangae Temple.
Choi Seom's father sent assassins to kill him,
but a child monk named Kim Chi Yang died in his place.
Then the Shilla revival forces brought Kim Hang back to the Jurchen village
and served him as their master.
Why are you revealing this when you are one of them?
To survive, sir.
First you betrayed Choi Seom, and now you betray Kim Chi Yang to save your own neck.
You are one treacherous bastard, who knows no allegiance!
General, no matter what you think, I believe the last one standing is the winner.
So you think you can save your neck by revealing Kim Chi Yang’s identity now?
If my life is spared, I will compile a list of everyone who was involved in this plot.
History will repeat itself unless every last one of Kim Chi Yang’s men are captured.
Your Highness, wouldn't that be more beneficial to the state than
taking a petty man's life?
What's more, I saved the lives of many important state officials.
Kim Chi Yang is the grandson of Prince Mahi?
[Lady Yunheung]
Yes.
He had deliberately approached the Empress Dowager with a plot.
Unbelievable!
My Lady, this is our opportunity.
Kim Chi Yang is not just an insurrectionist but a dangerous man who tried to bring
down the empire.
And the Empress Dowager had a child with this man.
She can no longer stay in power.
Yes, I guess that's right.
She had a child with a traitor so that
[Court Lady Jo]
makes her a traitor, too.
[Jo Sun]
But... she's still in control of the military.
That will change once the word gets out.
Who'd continue to obey the Empress Dowager's orders knowing this truth?
Yes, this is a golden opportunity.
You must rally the officials against the Empress Dowager and bring her down.
And since Mokjong is leaving the throne, we must win over the next Emperor, Prince Daeryang,
and get him on our side.
After all, he is one of us Shillan descendants.
Mother, please don't get involved in politics.
[Jeong (Future Queen Weunjeong)]
Let us just live our lives, regardless of who is on the throne.
Don't you know what the Empress Dowager has done to me?
She not only killed your grandfather,
but she is also responsible for the death of your father, the late King.
And this is our chance to get revenge.
Heaven has not forsaken us.
But my Lady, there is no guarantee that Prince Daeryang will support
us even if he rises to the throne.
I heard he is very close to Gang Gamchan.
We'll just have to make him get very close to us.
Do you have a plan of some sort?
I will have my daughter Jeong marry Prince Daeryang.
Mother!
Why do you look so shocked?
That's absurd, Mother. How could I?
Why is it absurd?
In terms of bloodline, there is no one better in all of Goryeo.
Oh, but bloodline is not all.
Her beauty, her compassion... She is unmatched all around!
Yes, you are indeed empress material and you will become one.
We will drive out the Empress Dowager and reclaim the glory we once had.
Do you understand?
Prepare to leave, Master?
[Ji Chaemun]
Yes, men will soon come from the
[Jin Gwan]
palace to take the prince back.
Bakdol and Myeongil, tell your families and pack your bags.
[Yi Bakdol] [Jang Myeongil]
Is Sunjae, I mean Prince Daeryang,
really going to become the Emperor, Master?
Yes.
But my mother is not well right now, and...
The country is more important than the family. Now get ready.
Now listen carefully, Prince.
Soon you will be leaving us for the Imperial Palace.
But from the moment you leave this temple, your life will be filled
with adversities and challenges. But you must endure.
Master, please don't speak to me this way.
[Prince Daeryangwon (future Emperor Heyonjong)]
And I'm not fit for the throne.
Don't worry.
Buddha will watch over you from up above
and loyal servants will assist you at your side.
What you must remember is not to listen to only one side, but to leave your heart and mind open for everyone.
You must pay greater heed to those you dislike, than to those who are close.
Only patience will make you grow and bring Goryeo into a superior state of existence.
But I know nothing about running a state.
No, you know enough: your merciful heart, your sense of justice.
What you have by nature is the foundation for good statesmanship.
And trials and tribulations will make you strong.
So remember, no matter how hard it gets, do not be discouraged and do not give up.
Remember your compassion for the hard living common people.
This is all I have got to say.
Master! Master! No, Master!
Please don't do this, Master!
Your Majesty, please forgive me for all of my past audacious actions.
Triumph over all of the challenges that lay ahead of you
and bring peace over this land.
Is there any report about Prince Hwangju?
Still no word?
Sa Illa took him, so find Sa Illa.
Your Highness, the Prince is...
The Prince has been killed.
What?
Sa Illa was shot carrying him in her arms.
And she fell over a high cliff...
Your Highness!
He's... he's only five years old.
Your Highness...
I never showed him any affection.
I couldn't because of the wary eyes.
Because I am the Empress Dowager, because I am the regent,
I had him grow up lonely, in a secluded corner of the palace.
I told myself that I'd make it up to him when I left the regency
and be a real mother to him.
How could the poor child be dead when he never even got to feel a mother's love?
Why?
My poor baby...
Jin...! Jin...!
Jin...!