(Episode 51)
Your Majesty.
Are you awake, My Empress?
Are you all right?
What happened?
The last thing I remember...
is a big structure falling on top of me.
I don't remember anything after I collapsed.
You have been unconscious for a week.
You bled a lot from a head injury.
I'm glad now that you're awake.
Did anyone get hurt?
We did have some casualties,
but no one died from the incident.
No one died?
The suspect of the bombing incident is Na Wang Shik.
He fled from the scene.
We have put out an APB across the Korean Empire.
What are you talking about?
What do you mean he's the suspect?
That's absurd.
Why?
I guess he didn't share his plan to bomb the place.
That's right.
Let me thank you...
for the gift you gave me...
at my 10-year anniversary celebration.
Once I recover,
I'll have to submit to the police investigation as you wished.
Rest up.
You're not well yet.
It was the Empress Dowager. I'm sure of it.
Then does she...
not care whether Hyuk dies?
It's been a week since the attack at the palace.
The perpetrator hasn't been caught yet.
Was it really...
Na Wang Shik as the Imperial Family stated?
It's as we said.
Na Wang Shik held a grudge against the Emperor,
lied about his identity and infiltrated the palace,
rising to be the chief guard.
He deceived and threatened the Imperial Family.
Outwardly, he pretended to be a generous benefactor,
but he was stealing from the Imperial Family.
Na Wang Shik suffered critical wounds in the attack...
and is on the run.
The police are searching for him as we speak.
We will catch him...
and punish him to the harshest degree possible.
Is everything the Empress exposed about the Emperor true?
The people are in shock.
Why won't he say anything?
It was shocking and traumatic for me as well.
I cannot deny the fact that as his mother,
I've raised him wrong.
Are you saying the poppy fields and drug distribution...
were all his doing and that he acted alone?
Of course,
I had no idea.
A mother can't know everything her grown child does.
You still haven't found Na Wang Shik?
It's strange.
I'm sure I tied him up behind the stage.
I searched for him after the blasts,
but I couldn't find any piece of him.
If his arms and legs were tied,
where did he go?
I enjoyed your press conference, Mother.
You dumped it all on me, I see.
The emperor should make sacrifices for the Imperial Family.
You used me as your fall guy...
for the Chungeum Island drug matter as well.
Me, your son.
Sunny, whom you adore, did this,
so it's your debt to pay.
Rest a few years in prison...
and pretend to repent when you get out.
Then the people will soon forgive and forget.
They say prisons have gotten nicer.
Consider it an outing.
An outing.
You must decide quickly.
We must cut our losses...
and protect the Imperial Family.
I'll do my best to have you released without serving time.
When did the peaceful Imperial Family turn into this mess?
Where did it all go wrong?
You did it yourself.
I'd like to play chess with you. It's been a while.
No. Please shave me.
I'll miss your touch...
when I'm in prison.
Shave?
He was found dead hugging the explosive,
so the body was badly damaged.
He was hugging the bomb?
I think he prevented the explosion from being much worse.
Are you sure this is Na Wang Shik?
Yes, it is him.
Whom were you trying to kill,
Mother?
Mother!
Are you all right, Mother?
I was so worried.
I am fine now.
Sorry for worrying you.
Did you know it would be dangerous?
Is that why you sent me back first?
We were talking about things you didn't need to hear.
Don't listen to what you hear...
on the news or from court ladies.
I will do as you say.
Did you see Father?
He didn't leave your side all week long.
He wouldn't eat, sleep,
or receive our greetings.
He stayed with you the entire time.
He did?
You must have recovered and woken up...
thanks to his love and devotion.
Hold on.
What are you looking for?
Grandmother's letter.
Where is it?
(My death will expose the abominable truth...)
Grandmother.
Wake up.
Wake up, Hyuk!
What happened?
We don't have time. Another bomb will go off in any minute.
Sunny. Sunny!
Sunny.
Why did you save me?
I'm a coward who kept silent and fled...
until the very end.
(Chief Guard)
Na Wang Shik.
I'm going to live as you from now on.
What do you think?
The Chief Guard pin...
looks pretty good on me, right?
I'll finish...
what you couldn't.
What did you find?
I had put a tail on Mr. Pyo, and for the past week,
he had been visiting the Imperial rehabilitation hospital.
The Imperial rehab hospital?
Isn't my mother the director of that hospital?
That's correct.
It's suspicious how they increased security recently as well.
- What is it? - That...
Who would dare?
Do you think it's Na Wang Shik?
(Chungeum Island Rehabilitation Hospital)
- Let me out! - Hey!
- Hey, jerk! - Let me out of here!
Please!
Hey, let me out.
Please!
Be quiet! Be quiet!
Be quiet, you rats!
Get rid of bad ones first.
The water level of the ocean on this island is very deep.
Isn't that nice? No?
Make sure the Empress Dowager's involvement stays as a secret.
Keep your mouths shut.
Don't forget we were able to get to...
where we are now thanks to her.
Got that?
What are you doing? Get him!
Stop right there!
Who are you?
You're...
Hey! Go after him!
That crazy jerk. Hey!
Hey, Na Wang Shik!
What? Na Wang Shik?
He showed up there too?
Are you certain?
He had to wrap his whole body with bandages from the bombing.
He showed up on the island again when he's not well.
That persistent jerk.
Then I'm certain Na Wang Shik sent you...
the warning from last night.
He's asking me to kill him.
I should at least set up a trap to catch that rat.
I will visit the island...
and catch him myself.
The Empress is heading to the Empress Dowager's secret garden.
What?
How did she figure out about the garden?
I'll head over there now. Inform the Empress Dowager.
What is it that you're trying to find here?
You sure have guts.
I guess the Empress Dowager still hasn't given up on me.
What were you going to do after you followed me here?
Were you going to repeat...
what you did to Min Yu Ra?
Min Yu Ra, Your Majesty?
Who are you?
It's me, Min Yu Ra. Do you not remember me?
Who is Min Yu Ra? Darn it.
You really don't remember me. That's disappointing.
When you assaulted me, my life was ruined. I couldn't bear the pain.
Was that you from that day?
Do you want to die?
The drug must be affecting you.
The poison will spread in your body in 10 minutes.
If you want to live, reveal everything the Empress Dowager did.
If you give me your statement, I'll give you the antidote.
I'm innocent.
I don't know anything.
Then die.
Trash like you don't deserve to have a life.
I'll talk. I will.
I'll talk. Please.
I know that drugs are being produced and distributed from the island.
What else did the Empress Dowager order you to do?
We ran clinical trials of the drug.
Clinical trials?
When they got addicted to the drug,
we drowned them in the ocean on Chungeum Island.
Na Wang Shik will face the same end.
I told you everything. Give me the antidote.
What are you doing?
Do you want to live after committing those horrendous acts?
Trash like you...
should die and leave this world.
No!
Yu Ra! Yu Ra!
Yu Ra! Why did you do that?
What were you thinking?
Don't get the wrong idea.
I didn't do it to save you.
I took my revenge.
And I was punished for my sins.
So...
you don't need to thank me...
or feel sorry either.
No, Yu Ra. Get yourself together. Stay with me!
Yu Ra. Yu Ra! Yu Ra! Wake up!
Yu Ra.
Get ready to go to Chungeum Island right now.
I think the Empress Dowager set up a trap to catch Wang Shik.
He didn't call us because he wanted to handle it on his own.
But something is off, Your Majesty.
A few days ago, someone came...
to Baek Do Hee's grave and buried Wang Shik's body...
next to hers.
What do you mean?
I heard Wang Shik ran away on the day of the bombing.
I heard there were no deaths.
But no one died from the incident.
The suspect of the bombing incident is Na Wang Shik.
He fled from the scene.
We have put out an APB across the Korean Empire.
I must meet with the Emperor at this instant.
He has just gone to bed.
He's not feeling well. He wishes not to see anyone.
That is why I must check with my own eyes.
Out of my way.
What are you doing, Hyuk?
(Chungeum Island Rehabilitation Hospital)
(Restricted Area)
(Chungeum Island Rehabilitation Hospital)
Your Highness, we can't reach Mr. Pyo.
He disappeared?
He can't be reached since he left the palace earlier.
He didn't come to Chungeum Island, either.
Did Na Wang Shik get him already?
This won't do.
Let's shut down the lab...
and move the poppies.
Shut this place down today.
What about the patients?
Don't ask like some amateur.
We can't leave behind evidence.
Get rid of everything. Leave no trace.
- Do you understand? - Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
A man was caught on camera whom we suspect is Na Wang Shik.
Good.
We can bury him today as well.
Let us out!
Hey!
Help!
Get out! Move!
Get out!
(Chungeum Island Rehabilitation Hospital)
Close up.
- Who are you? - What is it?
Hey, you!
Get him!
The mouse was caught in the trap.
Have you any idea how long I've waited for this, Na Wang Shik?
See? You should've just died there that day.
But you had the nerve to break into my sanctuary.
What are you waiting for? Shoot him.
Kill him right now.
No.
I'll do it myself.
- I'll kill you myself. - No!
Stop!
"No"?
I can do it.
Sunny.
Did you come all the way here to watch Na Wang Shik die?
How do you feel,
now that you saw him die?
You demon.
Let me see your face, you sneaky jerk.
Mother.
How are you...
Why...
Were you pretending to be Na Wang Shik?
Why?
That was the only way...
I could stop you.
Now,
I don't need to return to that sickening palace,
and I don't need to be your puppet anymore.
I'm so glad.
Who...
Who told you to do something this idiotic?
Why did you do it?
You were going...
to kill me last week anyway.
I'm just giving you what you wanted.
Why are you so shocked?
No.
I killed Na Wang Shik.
You're not my son Hyuk.
I did nothing wrong.
It's your fault for pretending to be Na Wang Shik.
I committed no sin!
And you call yourself a mom?
Look at him.
You did that to your son.
I should've killed you first.
Kang Eun Ran.
You're done for.
Your Highness, you must flee.
- Let go! - Escort her.
Let go!
Let go! Let go of me!
Let go!
Let go of me!
Hyuk.
I thought I wouldn't see you...
before I go, so I was sad.
Don't talk.
Hang in there. The ambulance will be here soon.
- So... - I know...
I can never be forgiven.
And that...
I wasn't a good emperor or husband.
Sorry.
I lived in your mom's place,
but this is all I amounted to.
Sorry about that, too.
If you're sorry, don't die.
I won't forgive you if you die like this.
Live.
Live and beg.
Beg for forgiveness over and over and earn your forgiveness.
You can't die like this.
If we had met under different circumstances...
it would have been nice.
Had we met as two regular people,
I wouldn't have hurt you as much as I did.
But thank you...
for marrying someone like me.
And for helping me love you.
I love you,
Sunny.
Wake up!
Wake up now. Wake up.
Wake up.
(Final Episode will air shortly.)
(Final Episode)
Open the door right now.
Shut down all the entrances to the palace right now.
Make sure no one can get inside the palace.
Right away, Your Highness.
Take this with you and get on a flight to Singapore.
When you land, Ms. Hong will be there to greet you.
Hide in the villa for now.
No one can find out about these documents,
bonds, and valuables.
You must guard them until I get there.
Do you understand me, you fool?
Wait, are we fleeing the country?
Is that what we are doing?
If you want to save your mother, do what I say.
Go now. Hurry. Go.
Hurry.
Go.
What should I do?
I guess you're running away or something.
You were supposed to be locked up. How did you get out?
Never mind. I don't have time to talk to you.
- Ms. Choi. - You shouldn't treat me like this.
What will you do if I talk?
Wait, is this the Crown Prince's phone?
Did you have this all along?
But you pretended not to have it...
I don't know when you will betray me.
Do you honestly believe I wouldn't have a contingency plan?
You can't even use this card. What were you going to do with it?
What?
It was you who killed Empress So Hyun.
Should I expose you of the crime? Let's see what happens to you then.
You drowned your best friend.
How dare you threaten me?
What about you? You instigated me to kill your own son...
and tried to pin it on your other son.
I'll expose you of your crimes too.
Let's see what happens to you then.
I even recorded your orders.
I got into a habit of recording our conversations whenever we met.
It was you who executed my orders.
How dare you threaten me with your words?
Seven years ago, you ordered Ms. Choi...
and tried to kill Kang Joo Seung.
It was you who tried to kill Kang Joo Seung recently.
How shameless. Out of my way.
I already have a lot on my mind as it is. Ms. Choi.
I called for you. What are you doing?
I'm not done yet!
Thanks to your efforts in exposing one another...
and confessing to your crimes,
that definitely lessened the workload on the detectives.
But I suppose the reporters will be busy with their work.
What on earth do you have against me?
Wherever I go...
I already told the detectives everything...
including Emperor Lee Hyuk's last moment.
By whom he had to face such a brutal death.
I also handed over the evidence...
from the rehabilitation hospital to them.
You are under arrest for violating the narcotic control law,
destroying evidence, instigating and attempting to murder...
Emperor Lee Hyuk, Empress Oh Sunny, Na Wang Shik, and Kang Joo Seung.
You are under arrest for murdering Empress So Hyun and attempting...
to murder Crown Prince Lee Yoon, and Kang Joo Seung.
I vehemently hope you face eternal damnation.
You harmed your sons...
and tried to kill me multiple times.
Because of your greed, you brought...
misfortunes to innocent people. You'll pay for all of it.
And this Imperial Family that you wanted to protect so much...
is over now.
Goodbye.
Sunny! I will chew you into pieces!
I shouldn't have brought you into our family.
I should have killed you first!
Darn it. Let go!
Don't you know who I am?
Let go of me!
Crown Princess, please save me.
She killed Empress So Hyun? She killed her friend?
What about the Empress Dowager? She even killed the Emperor.
I didn't do it. I'm innocent!
How could a mother kill her own son!
I didn't do it!
Did you really...
kill Hyuk and harm Yoon?
Why are you here? Why didn't you leave?
These are the documents for my mom's slush fund.
In there, you'll find jewels and cultural assets she pocketed.
Have you gone mad? What are you doing?
Are you going to bring an end to your own mother?
I should ask you! What are you doing, Mother?
Please come to your senses.
Take a look at yourself!
Please just pay for your crimes now!
I didn't do anything wrong. I'm innocent!
I'll be back soon.
This is my palace. I'm the head of the Imperial Family!
You terrible morons!
Let go of me!
What made Mother...
turn into such a hideous monster?
Sunny?
Today, I'm not here as the Emperor,
but as Oh Sunny's fan.
Are you naive or simply stupid?
Are you that dense?
How could I possibly like someone like you?
Stop your vulgar behavior.
There's a limit to my patience!
I'm sorry for all that I've done to you.
Please forgive me.
But thank you...
for marrying someone like me.
For letting me love someone.
I love you.
Emperor Lee Hyuk's funeral has ended today,
but the Korean Empire is still overcome with shock and rage.
Empress Dowager Kang Eun Ran and her assistant Choi Yoon Mee,
and Empress So Hyun's assistant Seo Kang Hee...
will stand trial soon.
The people's protest filled with rage is planned.
- Mr. Park. - Yes?
Empress Dowager Kang Eun Ran created a slush fund...
with money she made illegally.
And it was uncovered that she had received...
several illegal procedures to maintain her youth.
That's correct. Empress Dowager Kang Eun Ran...
received treatments costing millions of dollars...
every month in order to prevent aging.
She bathed in breast milk,
received injections of blood of women in their 20s,
as well as various hormones and blood from placentas.
All of this was confirmed during the investigation.
She's a modern-day Marie Antoinette.
Many people are demanding...
that the Imperial Family be removed,
but there are some who say we should give them one more chance.
That's correct.
It's due to the faith in and popularity of the Empress,
who exposed the truth about the Imperial Family.
More than half the public support...
not removing the Imperial Family...
if the Empress were to manage them.
All eyes are on the Imperial Auditors.
As the Empress, I'd like to apologize once again...
to the people for the shock you must have experienced.
There is something I need to inform all of you.
I believe there are still many speculations...
regarding the Grand Empress Dowager's death.
The Grand Empress Dowager...
took her own life.
The Grand Empress Dowager...
wished to change the corrupted Imperial Family.
She wished to convict the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
She begged for forgiveness with her death.
This is her suicide note that she left behind.
The Imperial Family...
is rotten to the core.
I'd like to grant the Grand Empress Dowager's wish...
to cease the Imperial Family's existence.
Do you mean there will be a new Imperial Family?
Or do you mean eliminating an Imperial Family entirely?
Before he died, Emperor Lee Hyuk...
apologized for his past evil deeds,
and assigned all of his authorities to me.
I plan to execute that authority here today.
As of this moment,
the Imperial Family and all its member forfeit all authority,
and we will make members of the Imperial Family...
who committed crimes pay severely for those crimes.
We will follow the Imperial Auditors' decision...
regarding the abolition of the Imperial Family.
I will do everything I can...
to the best of my abilities until everything is returned to normal.
Moreover,
I will use the inheritance the Grand Empress Dowager left me...
for the people who were victimized by the Imperial Family.
I will not admit it!
Who are you to tell me to admit anything?
Silence!
We will not condone any further disrespect toward the court.
Your Highness, you're making it worse.
Disrespect? Give me a break.
You punks are disrespecting me.
We will render our decision regarding defendants Kang Eun Ran,
Seo Kang Hee, and Choi Yoon Mee.
The crimes committed by the defendants...
were particularly inhumane and cruel.
You lacked respect toward people...
and did not show even the most basic consideration.
Furthermore, you show no signs of remorse.
Thus, you must be segregated from society.
In the name of justice and the laws of this land,
Choi Yoon Mee is sentenced...
to life in prison,
and Kang Eun Ran and Seo Kang Hee shall be executed.
Executed?
That's absurd. I won't accept it!
What did I do that was so wrong? You've lost your minds.
Prepare to appeal.
I'll hire 10 lawyers and prove my innocence.
You insolent jerks!
Do you know who I am?
I'm Kang Eun Ran, the Empress Dowager of the Korean Empire!
Your Highness! What will happen to me?
Your Highness!
You got life, and I'm being executed.
You get to live longer than I will!
- Your Highness! - You committed all the crimes.
What did I do wrong, you jerks?
Let go of me!
Your Majesty.
Please let me see Ari, the Crown Princess, just once.
Please! Let me see her just once!
Your Majesty!
(Correctional Facility)
Your Royal Highness.
What's wrong?
Mother.
Who is that woman?
- Your Royal Highness. - Mother.
Can't we return to the palace quickly?
This is a place for bad people who commit crimes.
I'm scared.
Young Eun.
Please watch her.
Why doesn't Ari...
recognize me?
She fainted from the shock when she saw the news.
She ran a high fever for a while and fainted several times.
They say it's partial amnesia.
You're the only person she can't remember,
as if she deleted all memories of you.
That's ridiculous.
How could she forget me?
I'm her mom.
I still remember everything clearly.
When I first held her when she was born,
when she held my hand and smiled,
when she crawled, walked, ran, and spoke...
I remember everything so clearly.
Ari was the only thing I had my entire life.
It was probably too much for her to handle.
She's being treated.
No.
Don't do anything.
I was never a good mother in Ari's life.
Just let this be.
If it's possible, I don't want her to know about anything I did.
I don't want her to remember me for the rest of her life.
I will not appeal.
I know I'm already asking too much.
Please take good care of her.
(1 year later)
Lee Ari!
Where did this brat go?
Dad, Ari came here, didn't she?
Ari? Why? What is it? What happened this time?
I got a call from her homeroom teacher.
She didn't write any of the answers on her test.
She must have written down her name at least.
You used to write a letter to your teachers...
when you didn't know the answers, right?
But she completely left it blank.
Dad. Why are you bringing that up now?
When you didn't know the answer, you wrote letters, drew pictures,
and did origami. Ari totally takes after you.
Dad. Are you determined to rile me up?
Lee Ari.
She caught us.
I didn't write the answers because I didn't know them.
You think I wouldn't if I knew?
What will you be when you grow up?
I'll be a musical actress just like you, Mom.
It's snowing.
Elsa? Knock, knock.
Do you want to build a snowman?
Come on, let's go and play
I never see you anymore
Come out the door It's like you've gone away
Good job, my pumpkin. Well done.
Good girl.
Ari.
My grandpa is the best!
No! This is for Dong Shik!
You're so cheap!
Let me please have one.
I said you can't have it. You old geezer!
You know that she only lets Dong Shik have it.
You still haven't given up?
- Goodness. - Dong Shik!
I'm back!
Dong Shik!
Yu Ra, you're hurting me.
She doesn't even know that he's her son.
How could she love him that much?
She couldn't be a mother to him for all those years.
Her instincts are telling her to become one now.
Aren't you hungry?
- Welcome home. - You're home.
Aren't you hungry? Here.
Hey, 7315.
- Yes? - Hurry up and plant them.
Don't lounge around.
Okay.
7315. What can you actually do?
Why are you glaring at me?
What's the deal with you? Stop glaring at me.
Why? Do you not want to do this?
Of course not. I should.
Then why don't you go and rake the snow?
Where should I start?
Rake everything from there to all the way to that corner.
Everything.
I must.
That darned witch, Ms. Choi.
Hold back, Eun Ran.
You are the Empress Dowager of the Korean Empire.
You're the Empress Dowager of the Korean Empire.
I can overcome this hardship and suffering like a boss.
Don't you know the Korean Empire already collapsed?
Do you not even watch the news?
It's a democratic country now. We even have a new president now.
The world has changed.
Use this, you granny.
Do a better job.
No.
I'm the Empress Dowager of the Korean Empire.
The Empress Dowager of the Korean Empire.
It's my palace. I'm the head of the Imperial Family.
I will go back to my chamber soon.
No one can touch me.
Of course, not. That's right.
Naturally. It's mine. It's mine.
I'm glad the weather is great.
I'm here with you, Ari.
This is the Ehwa Palace.
This whole place is called Ehwa Palace.
Do you think this is all right for her?
Ari wanted to come here. I'm sure she'll be fine.
Right now, the palace is open to the public.
But I still can't believe it.
This became a museum of the Imperial Family.
I know. I feel like a lot of time has passed by.
A lot of things happened to a lot of people here.
This is the Empress Dowager's chamber.
This is where the Emperor's mother stayed.
As you can see, expensive articles made by renowned experts...
This is the office in the Emperor's chamber.
This is where the Emperor conducted business and rested.
The last empress of the Korean Empire.
This is the chamber Ms. Oh Sunny stayed in.
As you can see, the Empress...
Your Highness.
Are you happy now?
That's all I need.
What are you doing, Ari?
- Uncle. Aunt! - Let's go.
Ari.
Mom!
Did you have fun?
(The Last Imperial Family of the Korean Empire, 1897 to 2019)