The Iron Empressd
Episode 70
I believed that one day when I left the palace,
you and I would be a family and live happily together.
But how could you do this to me?
You were nothing more than a stepping stone on the path of a great enterprise.
You were simply the means to an end.
To be honest, every moment I spent with you was torture.
And I...
I really loved you.
I'm sorry, but I never felt such feelings for you.
[Episode 70 ]
You betrayed my love,
shattered my dreams and killed my son.
You have to jump!
Foreman Kim!
Foreman Kim, can you hear me?
You can't die.
You have to fight through this and return to Goryeo with me.
You can't die on foreign soil like this.
How could I live knowing that I killed you?
You must fight through this.
Wake up and tell me that you love me one more time.
Because I... I have feelings for you, too
Thank you. Thank you for giving me a son.
Think about what we went through together, on the battlefield and in Liao.
I know your dreams better than anyone.
Don't forsake me.
You can't achieve your cherished dreams without me.
I do not want to hear this. Get out of my sight!
Above all, I love you. Don't turn me away.
A great tragedy will strike if you turn me away.
There is no greater tragedy than this.
Foreman Kim!
It was a lie.
You were lying to me to make me forget you!
Foreman Kim!
I'm sorry.
I never loved you.
So... so forget about me.
Empress Dowager, continue to build Goryeo...
Don't give up.
You mustn't give up.
Don't die. Don't die on me!
I will seek forgiveness from Buddha...
Foreman Kim!
Empress Dowager!
General Gang.
Empress Dowager.
Don't! Don't come closer!
I want to be alone with him. Keep everyone back!
What?
[Gang Gamchan (Minister of the Office of Ceremony)]
Empress Dowager killed Kim Chi Yang herself?
Yes.
But there are laws and procedures to follow.
Why did she do this?
I imagine she couldn't withstand her rage. Can you blame her?
[Yang Kyu]
Kim Chi Yang betrayed her, destroyed her son
the Emperor and tried to bring Goryeo down.
I'd want to kill him myself as well if I were her.
[Ha Gongjin]
But that may not be all, General Yang.
You saw how she mourned after killing him.
Did you say General Gang is there right now?
Yes.
And the body?
We moved it into a room for now, but we don't know what to do.
He is criminal of high treason, so his body is not to be spared either,
but the Empress Dowager is there keeping vigil.
He may have betrayed her, but he was her lover.
[Empress Sunjeong]
I can only imagine how she must
be feeling having killed him herself.
Guibup Temple was built by my grandmother.
[Wang Song King Mokjong (7th Ruler of Goryeo)])
Mother has special ties to that place.
That Kim Chi Yang has driven her
to put an end to this there. That man...
is putting a stake through my mother's heart.
Your Majesty, perhaps we should go and bring her back.
Empress, she is not coming back.
Your Majesty.
General Gang will bring her back. Don't worry, Your Majesty.
No, Minister Gang. She does not intend to come back.
That's why she killed Kim Chi Yang at Guibup Temple where she
can feel my grandmother's spirit.
I will leave the palace as well now. I will join my mother and take care of her.
But Your Majesty, Prince Daeryang is due to arrive very soon.
You must preserve the throne for us until then.
[Kim Chi Yang]
You deceived me,
deceived the world and deceived yourself.
[Empress Dowager Cheonchu]
How lonely and difficult it must have been...
What's so important about the country's name that you would choose such a wretched life...
when this is how it all ends?
Your Highness? Your Highness, may I come in?
No, I'd like to be alone.
Your Highness.
Please leave.
[Gang Jo (Chief Commander of the Northwestern Armies)]
No, I can't leave.
Let me take you back, Your Highness.
No one will condemn you for killing him. We all wanted him dead.
So you don't have to be sad. You don't have to be angry either.
Let the Ministry of Punishment deal with the body and come with me.
No General Gang, I'm not going back to the palace.
Not going back? I don't understand.
This country still needs you.
Once Prince Daeryang arrives, he will rise to the seat of Emperor.
It's over for me; there is no going back.
No, you're wrong. You must continue to govern the state as the regent
if you want to defeat the Khitan and build a strong nation.
You must.
Please General Gang, leave me be.
I've exhausted my strength. It's over.
Your Highness,
have you forgotten your vow to build a mighty empire like Goryeo and Balhae?
Have you forgotten about all of those who died fighting for that dream?
I'm sorry.
You may be able to give up, but I can't.
My brother chose death for your cause.
How can you give up so easily? You can't do this.
General Gang, I've lost my right.
I almost brought down the empire by putting this traitor in a position of power.
How can I possibly stay in the Imperial Palace?
You are not to blame for this.
You were a victim in Kim Chi Yang's devious plot.
Your Highness.
No.
I truly loved this man.
And his love for me was genuine as well.
No, that's not true.
I have taken his life... the traitor who almost destroyed this country.
But I still love him.
Do you still think I have the right to stay in the palace?
Do I still have the right to pursue the dream of a mighty empire?
My Lady, Prince Daeryang is about to enter Gaegyeong.
He is?
Yes. The rumor of his impending
[Jo Sun]
enthronement is all over the city,
and people are lining up to see him.
Shouldn't we go out there as well?
Yes, of course. We must make ourselves noticed.
Jeong, go change your clothes.
Mother.
Do as I say.
My Lady.
Prince! Prince Daeryang!
It's me, Lady Yunheung. Do you remember me?
Stop!
Stop the carriage!
[Lady Yunheung]
Prince Daeryang, have you fared well?
I never dreamed I'd live to see you again.
Are you really Lady Yunheung?
Yes, Your Highness. Do you remember me?
I left the palace when I was a toddler.
[Prince Daeryang (future Emperor Hyeongjeong) ]
and you were gone when I returned,
so I'm afraid I have no recollection of you.
But I do know you took care of me when I was a child.
Yes, I raised you like my own. You still have the same facial features.
I heard you were coming back, so I came to see you, if only from afar.
I'm glad you did. It's wonderful to meet you again.
Your Highness, do you remember Princess Jeong?
This is the princess.
You grew up together
[Jeong (Future Empress Weunjeong)]
Cousin Jeong?
Yes, Prince.
It's wonderful to meet you again.
I must go now, so visit me at the palace soon.
Yes, I will.
Welcome, Prince. We've been waiting for you.
Minister Gang, here we are again at the Imperial Palace.
Come inside. His Majesty awaits you.
I have been wayward and imprudent and have failed to govern the empire well.
Recently I've allowed a treacherous force to rise and put the regime in great danger.
For this reason, I've decided to abdicate my throne in favor of Prince Daeryang.
Our regret is infinite, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, I grew up in a temple and have no knowledge of politics.
I am ill-equipped to lead the empire, so please withdraw your command.
You possess qualities that make a good ruler.
So fear not and be confident.
You speak kindly, but I do not possess such qualities.
Obey me! It is the Emperor's final command.
Having brought harm to the regime, I will be leaving the palace as soon as possible.
So prepare the installation of the new Emperor without delay.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What kept you so long, sir?
Why? Is there something wrong?
Prince Daeryang is here in the palace.
His Majesty has ordered his installation ceremony to take place within a few days.
Where is Prince Daeryang right now?
He's in the council hall with...
General.
[Choi Hang (Royal Undersecretary)]
General Gang, what kept you so long?
Your Majesty, I request that you delay Prince Daeryang's installation.
What do you mean?
The Empress Dowager is refusing to come back to the palace in a state of
[Guibup Temple: King Gwangjeong's Temple headquarters in Gaegyeong]
self-abandonment after killing Kim Chi Yang herself at Guibup Temple.
Please delay the enthronement until she is able to sort out her emotions
and come back.
That's absurd, General Gang.
It's bad enough as it is, that she ignored
[Kim Shimon (Minister of Domestic Affairs)]
the law and killed Kim Chi Yang herself.
But it's ridiculous to delay the
installation of the new Emperor for her.
Like I said before,
Empress Dowager will maintain the regency no matter who rises to the throne.
[Choi Wonshin (Vice Minister of the Office of Ceremony)]
General, stop being so unreasonable.
How could she continue to rule the
state when she has had a child with a traitor to the nation?
She can't.
[Choi Suk (Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel)]
She has lost her privilege to take part in the government.
Watch your tongues!
I warned you. I will not tolerate anyone who condemns the Empress Dowager.
Now who wants to denounce the Empress Dowager?
Step forward!
Stop, General Gang.
Set my mother free to do what she wants.
I can't do that, Your Majesty
I cannot let her give up.
General Gang, my man, I understand how you feel.
But Her Highness has made up her mind.
Respect her decision.
I said I can't.
General Gang!
There is nothing you can say to make me give up on the Empress Dowager.
Not as long as I am breathing.
No one will drive the Empress Dowager out of the palace as long as I am alive.
Dowager Cheonchu killed Kim Chi Yang herself?
Yes.
It's karma.
She paid for her sins.
The good news is that this has hit her hard and she's not coming back to the court.
How could she? She'd be shameless if she did.
But the problem is Gang Jo.
He is raising his voice asserting that she must remain in power,
and the Emperor nor Prince Daeryang are able to suppress him.
Isn't there anything you can do to drive him out of the Imperial Court?
Like I said before, he is in control of the military.
And he is irrational right now, so there's no telling what he might do if provoked.
No, this might actually turn out to be good for us.
The more he rants and raves, the further he will fall out of favor with Prince Daeryang.
You are right, my Lady.
Kim Chi Yang said this about him once.
That Gang Jo is indeed a dangerous man,
[Mun In Wui]
but he is actually an easy man to bring down
because he is ignorant and simple-minded.
We will discuss this more later.
My Lady, I must go now and attend to the preparations for the installation ceremony.
By the way...
Do you know if I am invited?
Be patient, my Lady. All in due time.
My Prince, you will soon be on the throne, so keep your heart magnanimous.
And don't hold General Gang Jo's hasty actions in the council hall against him.
Don't worry, Minister Gang, I won't.
In fact, I was moved by his loyalty to Empress Dowager Cheonchu.
Thank you for such kind understanding, Prince.
I heard His Majesty is going to Guibup Temple tomorrow without watching my enthronement.
Yes, I'm afraid so.
Won't you stop him?
Prince, please allow His Majesty to do as he wishes.
The throne was truly a torturous place for him.
And nothing will make him change his mind.
Then I will go to Guibup Temple after my enthronement and seek guidance
from the Empress Dowager about governing the state.
What do you think about the idea?
It is an excellent idea.
Empress Dowager was forced to resign because of Kim Chi Yang,
but there is much to learn from her.
What do you think, Minister Choi?
I agree with Minister Gang.
Offer her comforting words and allow her wisdom and experience
to help you lead the empire.
Thank you for agreeing with me. I'm very relieved.
Nonsense.
You're seeking the Empress Dowager of your own accord and inquiring about our opinion.
The future is looking brighter for Goryeo already.
You are very kind.
But it is the two of you that this country's future will depend upon.
You are my mentor, and you are like a father to me.
And I'm counting on the two of you to guide me every step of the way.
Thank you, my Prince.
There is one favor I'd like to ask.
A favor?
Come in.
These two men are my closest friends from Shinhyeol Temple.
[ Shinhyeol Temple: King Seongjong's Temple headquarters in present day Seoul]
Master Jin Gwan asked me specially
and I'd like you to keep them close,
so find a suitable position for them if you can.
As you wish, my Prince.
[Guibup Temple]
[Imperial Palace of Liao ]
[Shengzhong of Liao (6th Ruler of Khitan)]
Are you certain?
She won't make it through the year?
[Su No ] [Xiao Baiya (Viceroy of Eastern Capital)]
Yes, Your Majesty.
The physicians are trying their best,
but the prognosis isn't good.
[Yelu Wuji ]
Allow me to congratulate you, Your Majesty.
No one can stop you now.
You bastard! Shut your mouth!
My mother is dying and you congratulate me?
Don't you have a mother of your own?
I just meant I...
Silence!
[Yelu Dilu]
A lowly slave is a lowly slave whether in shackles or in Imperial armor.
I made a mistake, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, do not be overly concerned.
How long she will live is Heaven's will, so perhaps you can call upon the
the priests across the country for prayers.
Yes.
We may have had our differences, but she gave birth to me, raised me,
and made this empire to what it is today.
Call upon all priests and citizens of Liao to pray for my mother's recovery.
Yes, Your Majesty.
[Han Derang (Khitan Prime Minister)]
It is kind of the Emperor to issue such order.
I'm sure it is only for public image,
not out of sincere love for his mother.
[Yelu Dilie]
If it were, he would have killed Yelu Wuji on the spot.
Let us not judge a son's love for his mother. The truth may be too sad.
And I want you to leave my side once the Empress Dowager passes away.
Prime Minister, what do you mean?
I won't live for very long once she is gone.
But you're healthy and strong. Please don't speak that way.
The Empress Dowager and I are bound by fate. Without her, I will die, too.
And you must sever relations with me in order to survive.
Don't annoy the Emperor. You're too young to die.
His Majesty the Emperor!
Emperor!
Mother!
Mother, I heard about what happened but I could not come immediately.
Forgive me.
I'm sorry, Emperor.
This is entirely my fault.
Entirely...
Then you didn't even see the enthronement of the new Emperor?
I thought my not being there would actually make it easier on the Prince.
Yes, you did the right thing.
Empress Dowager, let us put everything behind us and return home.
We will take care of you.
Thank you.
But can't go back to Hwangju.
What do you mean?
I took in a traitor and placed the regime in peril.
How could I go home and face my ancestors?
Then did you decide where you want to go?
I'm going to stay here for now and sort things out.
What is your plan, Emperor?
I will go where ever you want, Mother.
I don't care as long as it's not the Imperial Palace.
Are you that happy to be out from the palace?
Yes, Mother. I feel like I can finally breathe.
I finally have desire to live.
Let everything go now, Mother.
Prince Daeryang, I mean the new Emperor, will become a benevolent ruler.
Yes, I really hope so.
Mother, I know you're hurting, but be strong.
I will be a good son from now on and make up for all the pain I've caused you.
Thank you.
[Ahn Pae]
Rally the troops, General?
Yes.
[Noh Hui]
You can't be talking about an overthrow to put yourself on the throne...
I am not traitor like Kim Chi Yang.
Then...?
I've warned the civil ministers but they will not listen.
I must suppress them by force and put pressure on Prince Daeryang to
continue the Empress Dowager's regency.
[Yi Hyunoon]
But sir, that's almost as bad as high treason.
We could end up like Kim Chi Yang.
This is not treason; it's to protect the empire.
General Yu, are you with me on this?
[Yu Bang]
Of course, General.
We've served the Empress Dowager since Ahnyoongjin.
Yes. We may only be in charge of palace security right now,
[Kim Hoon]
but we're prepared to die for the
Empress Dowager any time.
And we won't have a problem capturing control of the palace if
[Choi Ghi]
General Yang Kyu and Kim Sukheung join us.
Those two men will be going to the northern region tomorrow.
We have to do this without them.
But you don't have to worry.
The rest of the Two Armies
and Six Guards will be joining us.
Can you trust me and follow my lead?
Yes, sir!
The northern border, sir?
Yes. The Khitan were routed in their last attempted invasion by General Gang,
[Dae Dosu (Minister of Punishment)]
but they could strike again any time.
General Gang has refused to go back,
so I need the two of you to go and defend the northern border.
[Kim Sukheung]
Very well, sir.
It was a lingering concern of mine.
I also need you to split up on the way
and strike a Jurchen tribal village along the Guryeong River on the way.
May I ask why, sir?
We got a tip from Mun In Wui that rebel stragglers are gathered there.
We must ferret out the rebels and wipe them out to avoid a future insurgency.
I want you to leave early tomorrow morning.
Yes, sir.
Are you happy?
[Duyan]
Don't you miss your mother?
How about your father?
Yes.
You're my son from now on.
My son...
[Prince Hwangju- Kim Jin]
Take up arms?
Yes.
It's worth a shot with Yang Kyu and Kim Sukheung leaving the city.
[Choi Sawui]
But General Gang Jo is here.
And there's no one that can stand up to him.
That's right.
[Tak Sajeong]
Besides, General Gang has a tremendous following.
We could end up becoming the villains.
But if Gang Jo's men turned against him, it would be a different story.
What do you mean?
Gang Jo, that mad man,
has denounced the Emperor and Prince Daeryang in the council hall.
Pardon? Is this true?
He thinks of no one but the Empress Dowager.
To put it simply, he's out of his mind.
I'm sure his men don't know about this.
So I want the two of you to start spreading rumors about him in the military base.
Say that he might remove the Emperor from power and take the throne himself if he isn't stopped.
Then we will sit back and wait for our chance. Do you understand?
I have never felt so comfortable and at peace.
How about you?
I feel the same, Your Majesty.
There you go again, please just call me "husband".
Yes, Husband. It makes me happy to see you happy.
But I'm concerned about Mother.
We will help her to get back on her feet.
Wife, I want to be a farmer wherever we end up settling down.
Is that all right?
Is what all right?
Our hands will get dirty working the land. Are you up for it?
No.
You can get your hands dirty.
I'll prepare your mid-day snacks and bring them out to you in the fields.
Would that be fair?
Yes, it's fair. Just feed me my three meals a day.
I'll till the land, gather firewood, and be a farm servant!
Grandmother, I'm sorry.
I tried my very best, but this is how it ended.
Where do I go from here?
What will happen to Goryeo?
What do I do?
[Won Jongseok]
General, we should split up here.
- Colonel Ha. - Yes, sir.
We will continue on to the border.
Proceed to the Jurchen village and make a clean sweep of the stragglers.
If you find any key players, arrest them and transport them back to Gaegyeong.
You may encounter fierce resistance, so be careful.
[Ha Gongjin]
Yes, sir.
We will carry out the mission and swiftly join you.
It's the Emperor's army! We're under attack!
Fight!
Attack.
Kill those who resist and capture the rest alive!
Chief Mobula?
Yes. Do you know him?
Not personally, but he is the top leader of the eastern Jurchen.
It's trouble! We're under attack!
No!
But we're under attack!
You must protect the Prince.
Take the rear door up into the woods and save the Prince!
Over there!
Get them!
Go after the woman! We need her alive!
Colonel Ha!
Sir, we have a problem.
A problem?
[Ji Chaemun]
A woman got away with a child,
and I think it was Sa Gamun's wife that I saw when the rebels raided Shinhyeol Temple.
What?
You mean it was Duyan?
That's my suspicion.
She is the highest rebel leader that got away alive.
She must be captured.
Answer the question. Is the woman Duyan?
Answer the question, now!
Captain Yu, was that necessary?
[Yu Jong]
Colonel, this is the only way to handle Jurchen.
Answer the question!
Was it Duyan?
Yes!
Who is the child she was carrying?
It's her son.
That's not true. I'll tell you the truth if you promise not to kill me.
Keep your mouth shut!
Silence!
I am not a Jurchen.
I'm a Goryeoan soldier in the Six Armies.
Please spare my life!
That child...
That child is Prince Hwangju.
What? What did you just say?
That child is Prince Hwangju. They switched him with Duyan's son.
Please spare my life.
Prince Daeryang's prompt installation is indeed important,
but the Imperial House needs a mistress.
I think it is equally imperative that we find an Empress to fill the role of the nation's mother.
[Chae Choongsun (Minister of Investigation)]
Yes, of course,
but did you have someone in mind?
I think Lady Yunheung's daughter, Princess Jeong, might be a suitable candidate.
That's out of the question.
Why?
You know exactly why.
Lady Yunheung was connected to the Kim Milhwa conspiracy,
and her father Kim Won Soong was executed for high treason.
How could her daughter be considered for the seat of the Empress?
But those were all results of attempts to resist Dowager Cheonchu.
Above all, Princess Jeong is King Seongjong's daughter.
There is no better bloodline to choose from.
And this government must revert to the King Seongjong-era in the future,
so Princess Jeong is a perfect candidate.
I agree.
It would be unfair to condemn the daughter for her mother's crime.
[Hwangbo Yui (Vice Minister of Finance)]
I'm inclined to agree.
And I heard she was a woman of high virtue, so she may very well be suitable.
Virtue is not all that she possess; she is also a woman of beauty.
No, a child of a criminal of high treason cannot be made an empress.
Then you shouldn�t be here either.
You were as close as kin to Dowager Cheonchu, an enemy of the state.
Watch your tongue!
How dare you call the Empress Dowager an enemy of the state?!
She had a son with an enemy of the state, so that makes her an enemy of the state!
What?
What is the meaning of this?
You're instructed to return to your homes.
The Imperial Palace is off limits to you until further notice.
General Gang, what is the meaning of this?
Who do you think you are giving us orders?
Shut your mouths and leave at once!
General Gang, what has gotten into you?
All of you leave except General Dae. You can stay if you wish to die.
I couldn't come sooner because you left when we were preparing for the new administration.
Why did you come? You must have a million things to do.
I couldn't stay away. We've been through so much together.
Aren't you going to attend the installation ceremony?
My presence will only put a damper on the joyous occasion.
I should leave before the new Emperor rises to the throne.
Where... will you go?
I'm thinking Choongju.
Why not Hwangju?
I have considered that, but I am too ashamed to return to Hwangju.
But you don't have any ties in Choongju.
I heard my grandmother was very close to Taejo's third consort,
Empress Shinmyeong, when they were alive.
I may not be the most welcomed guest there, but they won't turn me away.
General Gang, I have a favor to ask.
Anything.
It's not my place anymore to get involved,
but about the sharecropping policy
please urge the new Emperor
to follow through with it.
I will try my best, but it won't be easy, Your Highness.
I know.
Ministers will oppose it even more fiercely after what's happened.
But lowering the sharecropping rate is the only way to defend the country
from foreign invasion and bring relief to the people as well.
You do know what I'm saying, right?
Yes, Your Highness.
What?
You mean you're doing this to bring the Empress Dowager back?
Yes, I will capture the palace and put pressure on Prince Daeryang
to accept the Empress Dowager's regency.
General Gang, this is reckless. This could be seen as high treason.
I don't care.
We need the Empress Dowager to keep the country strong.
Just give me your answer, are you in or are you out?
General Gang Jo has taken over the palace?
Yes, you must rally the troops at once.
General Gang? This can't be true.
There is no mistake. He's trying to bring Dowager Cheonchu back.
We must quickly suppress him and rescue Prince Daeryang.
What brings you?
Step aside.
We're here to see the Prince.
I'm sorry. You can't enter with weapons.
Didn't you hear the order? Step aside!
No, sir.
Prince Daeryang is the future Emperor of Goryeo.
Emperor my foot!
General Gang.
Take these men outside.
Yes, sir.
How dare you! This is the future Emperor!
Prince!
General Gang, what is the meaning of this?
I've come to discuss an important matter with you, at the expense of being insolent.
Please do not make me do anything worse.