----
Enough.
- Get out. - Sir.
If I can't have your heart...
I'll take your life.
You're not allowed here.
Get out.
Your father gave me permission to take her away.
What?
Ask your father if you like.
Tell him this, too. If you dare.
Sungnyang... Sungnyang...
Sungnyang!
Let's go.
Put her down.
I command you. Put her down.
Take her away...
and you're all dead.
She is no longer a palace maid.
What?
El Temur ordered her attached to me.
You command?
Go ahead, if you think you can defeat El Temur.
Move.
Where are you going?
To see El Temur.
My Liege...
My Liege!
He sent her...
...away from me.
And what if I did?
Surely you don't care for that bit of fluff?
Do not forget the Empress is my daughter.
At least try to behave.
...No...
Well? Is she all right?
She's been through a lot.
She's very weak.
Tangqishi.
She's suffering from a fever now.
I'll look after her.
Leave us.
Sire.
Don't be afraid.
I'll look after you now.
No one will hurt you again.
I ruined everything.
The Blood Vow, Nyang's torture.
It's all my fault.
My Liege.
Any news?
She hasn't regained consciousness.
My Liege, it's quite late.
Did you know Wang Yu and El Temur are working together?
How do you mean?
They formed an alliance.
What sort of alliance?
Find out.
Why they met in secret, what they're planning.
Yes, My Liege.
Has something happened?
If I had my way they would both be dead.
El Temur...
and Wang Yu.
That's a new look for him.
It's because of Nyang.
Nyang? All this for some maid?
El Temur gave her to Wang Yu.
It's all quite odd.
Very.
That sort of thing is usually beneath him.
They struck a deal, that much is certain.
Starting tomorrow, keep an eye on Wang Yu and his men.
Yes, sir.
Her Royal Majesty.
What brings you to my chambers, Your Majesty?
Last night your brother placed the Emperor in danger.
He left the palace in search of the Vow.
How is such foolishness my brother's fault?
Foolishness?
My father was shocked to see him there as well.
The Emperor caused the misunderstanding.
Naturally he wants to find his father's will.
But why did Tangqishi want to trap him?
Your Majesty.
I've had enough of you driving wedges between my father and the Emperor.
Too many leaves and the bough bends.
Naturally the Regent's influence causes the Emperor concern.
Yet the tree cannot be cut down.
If the Emperor won't do his duty... naturally my father must.
See that you bear a son.
Yes, I intend to.
And when he is emperor and Tangqishi threatens him...
will it seem 'natural' then?
My brothers aren't like that.
Perhaps.
Fathers fight with sons, brothers shed each others' blood.
What does a nephew matter?
Enough.
Someday Tangqishi will be much worse than El Temur.
Then you'll see what I'm going through.
But by then it will be too late.
Your Majesty!
If you ever get pregnant, that is.
I'm getting ahead of myself.
Have a child of your own.
Then we'll discuss this again.
Drink your medicine.
The King is quite fond of you.
Your father would have liked seeing you like this.
Get me some clothes.
We only have men's things.
That's fine.
And some arrows.
Arrows?
It's time for The Jackal to return.
To help the King.
His Majesty won't like it.
Do you expect me to cook and clean?
Fine. I'll get them.
Speaking of whom...
Is the King out?
This skin is excellent.
As is this.
Well?
We'll use them all.
You two, keep an eye on them.
Sir.
Welcome.
What did those men just buy?
Poison toad skins.
To what purpose?
If boiled properly it is a powerful anesthetic.
Why do you ask?
An anesthetic? What for?
Wang Yu picked up this as well.
Liquor?
Red wine from the West.
Wine?
So he means to drug someone.
Yes, sir.
All we need to know his who. And why.
Sir, Wang Yu has gone to the Regent's pavilion.
You seem fond of one particular tea.
I'm waiting to hear this plan of yours.
What do your enemies want most?
My death, of course.
Why not...
give it to them?
What kind of talk is that?
'Fish in troubled waters.'
Muddied waters make catching fish easy.
Meaning I should fake my death?
Your death will cause two camps.
Those loyal to you and those who would betray you for power.
Separating the jade from the rocks.
But Father, this is not an easy trick to pull off.
They'll have the advantage if they know what we're up to.
Red wine from the West.
Rare wine made from grapes.
Try a sip.
Then you'll see what I'm thinking.
Bitter and sweet, so what?
Nothing's happening?
Father, he's so full of...
What is it? Wake up!
What have you done?
He'll come around in a half a day or so.
Not to worry.
It causes paralysis.
Shallow breathing, weak pulse.
As one dead.
With this wine...
you can fool anyone.
He wants El Temur to drink drugged wine?
To fake his death and root out the traitors.
We would have been caught.
How did it go?
You know The 36 Stratagems.
'Kill one with another's sword?'
Now they'll all be at each others' throats.
That will be something to see.
You haven't lost your touch.
What is this?
Target practice in your condition?
I am to blame. I wanted to see her in action...
No. I insisted.
And what if you get worse?
I'm fine.
Look, Sire.
A bullseye every time...
You're burning up.
Sire...
That much torture would be hard on a man.
This is nothing.
Let's knock one back like the old bandit days.
Cut the act.
If you're tired or sick, say so.
Cut the martyr routine.
You'll make yourself sick. Eat.
Nothing from Nyang yet?
I'll go myself if it means that much to you.
No. It just means she isn't better yet.
I'll wait till she comes back.
Now she's...
...with Wang Yu.
Why wait for someone that won't come?
Enough!
There must be room for me... in her heart.
My Liege, Baghatur Bayan.
Enter.
Report.
What's Wang Yu up to?
You're better now?
Yes, Father.
You mean to drink that?
To catch those who would stab me in the back?
Oh yes.
I still don't trust Wang Yu.
It's not jealousy.
I worry what might happen.
You had it and you're fine.
If you don't like it, think up a better plan.
'Fishing in troubled waters.'
Wang Yu is full of surprises.
Suppose he drinks it and doesn't wake up. What then?
It only causes temporary paralysis.
But if we switch it with poison...
it will mean the end of El Temur.
My Liege.
If he dies from poisoned wine,
Wang Yu will be blamed.
They'll both be dead.
Switching wines will be risky.
Like reaching down a tiger's throat.
I'm sure you can handle it.
My Liege, one mistake and...
That kind of thinking doesn't help.
Do whatever it takes.
Just kill Wang you.
Then Nyang will be mine.
I disobeyed you.
You must be angry.
I thought in helping the Emperor I could help you.
If I got the Blood Vow...
I've never met someone so obstinate.
You've always been like this.
Stubborn as a bull.
No one has ever hurt me like this.
Or meant so much to me.
I have somewhere to go with you.
So eat.
Go where?
There's a Koryo quarter here in the capital.
We're going there.
The drinks are on me.
Now THAT'S a king for you.
Nyang is looking better.
Sire, Koryo ginseng.
Not that it would help you.
Would to.
You? With what girl?
Koryo ginseng, porcelains, ink, lacquer ware.
Are concidered to be top of the line here.
An important source of income to the Yuan.
Do you know the Yuan's greatest weakness?
Too little domestic production, I understand.
So you know.
When I have my throne again...
I'll cut off trade and smuggling first thing.
You will control the Yuan commercial sector.
Sire.
Surely we can't leave just yet.
Not without a drink. Or five.
I'll take Sungnyang back.
You go on.
If you insist.
I'll stay with you.
No wonder you don't have a girl.
Where did you get them?
Everyone will love them.
How is everyone?
Yonhwa has been assigned to the Emperor.
Yonhwa?
The Emperor is off his food.
Just drinks every day.
I know where the Blood Vow is.
She's gotten worse since you left.
When she's herself, she demands to see you.
The bald one has it.
Ma'am, you can't talk about the Vow.
Bald, I'm telling you.
You don't believe me either.
I do. Baldy got it.
He was ugly but he loved me, eunuch or no.
Eunuch?
Was his name Jokho?
Yes, that's him.
Do you know where he is?
He up and flew away like a winged tiger.
To where?
Where else? Home.
Where is that?
Look, look, pretty, huh?
See?
So pretty.
Yom Byongsu?
Ah, so it's you.
Any reason you're watching a man take a bath?
I'm not a perv.
I heard a noise so I came to see what it is.
Wait.
You shaved?
Huh?
Why? Does it make me less virile?
Not at all.
Sir.
I'll be gone for a few days.
A friend of mine is coming from Koryo and I'm...
Who's stopping you? I don't care if you never come back.
Just for a few days, that's all.
I've trained myself.
But not like him.
Something stinks. A lot.
Drunk again?
Drunk?
Not me. Not a drop.
If you're drunk...
I'm just fine, thank you.
Except for what you've done to me.
How dare you?
I'm not a servant anymore.
Stop thinking of me as if I were.
I meant everything.
How can you be so cruel?
Is that all I am to you?
Out of sight, out of mind?
There must be room for me.
Not just Wang Yu.
I'm sure there was room for me.
You think you know my heart better than me?
I never cared for you. Not even a little.
Liar. Don't lie to me.
Before Wang Yu got here...
This isn't about him.
Then what?
What is it about?
Commander Ki Jaho died because of you.
And I had his family fully compensated.
Do you think that buys you forgiveness?
This is just about Ki Jaho?
'Just?'
He...
He was my father.
F-father?
You two never acted like it in Koryo.
And be dragged off as a concubine?
We couldn't let on I was a girl.
Do you know what I thought about this whole time?
Killing you.
Never talk to me again.
Killing me?
I wish you would.
Do it.
What's stopping you?
Do it.
If you can forgive me...
Don't you see?
If I kill you all the Koryo people in the palace will die.
Then...
What should I do?
If I can't pay with my life,
what should I do?
Forget me.
That's all I ask.
Lies. Why are you doing this?
I saw it myself.
Ki Jaho...
It was Ki Jaho.
Don't say that!
I'm sorry, Sungnyang.
I failed you...
No, Father. Don't die.
Father! No, Father!
You can't die.
Father... Father... no...!
Tangqishi carries the only key.
If we can get that,
we can switch the poisoned wine.
How when he carries it with him?
I have an idea.
What?
What's the rush?
Watch yourself.
You watch it.
We can use this to make a key.
A good impression.
The wine?
His Excellency is in the palace.
Then we'll wait.
I was told no one can enter.
Dolt!
Do I look like no one to you?
Your pardon, sir.
Get out.
Yes, sir.
Welcome, Your Excellency.
Welcome, sir.
Convene a Court Yurt.
You're declaring a state of emergency?
The Emperor, the Imperial Chancellors, the counselors and staff.
Everyone.
Yes, Father.
And Wang Yu.
He's from Koryo, why should he...?
Enough!
Is this a debate?
At your service.
Do you suspect Wang Yu?
The worst enemies are those closest. Of course I do.
What? A yurt on palace grounds?
Your Majesty.
Did you know?
Of course.
He is my father, after all.
You know what a yurt means?
He's declaring a state of emergency.
What of it?
The posters have the whole nation upset.
What must be done, must be done.
Wouldn't you say?
Now listen to me.
The late Emperor died the day after a court yurt was convenced.
Ah, so he did.
Stop El Temur.
He may be your father, but the Emperor is your husband.
If something happens to him...
Was he behind the signs?
Empress.
Or was it you?
Relax. People might get the wrong idea.
Father.
How may we serve you?
One false move... and you'll have to deal with me.
How dare you?
You are not to leave until the Court Yurt is down.
Am I under arrest?
Guard the doors.
No one goes in or out.
Yes, Father.
Do you mean to destroy this country?
Destroy?
Have you thought what Yuan would be like without me?
Power would be dispersed. People would run amok.
Commoners would riot, neighbors would attack, war would ensue.
Who could stop it?
You?
Or that son of yours?
You delude yourself.
You may be surprised to learn the palace isn't everything.
You obsess on the palace.
But I have a nation to run.
Understood?
Seal it!
Your Majesty.
I won't forget this day.
It will be burned into my bones.
A joy to behold.
A balm to old wounds, eh, Your Majesty?
Not quite.
I'll never forget that insult.
Still, I won't deny I'll be smiling tonight.
Quite so.
Long time.
Not long enough, General.
The court is convening.
But why would El Temur summon you?
To show he's on his side now...
Or the opposite.
You think they suspect him?
Be careful, Sire.
I trust you've been well?
Welcome.
Your daughter's wedding went well?
Yes, sir.
Thank you for remembering such trivialities.
At your service, El Temur.
You got my gift?
Hardly trivial. You honor me.
Everything ready?
He need only sip the wine.
Welcome.
What's he doing here?
I summoned him.
You seem distracted.
Ah, well, a bit of a hangover.
Take your seat, My Liege.
Right.
An imperial edict in response to current events.
Recently certain signs have been posted...
to divide the court and upset the people.
Therefore to ensure the rule of law and for the good of the people,
the disloyal must be punished.
Pour their drinks.
Don't worry. The poison needs time to work.
To His Imperial Majesty.
His Majesty.
My Liege.
We Ongirats celebrate victory by dancing for the dead.
May I be allowed to show you?
Need you ask?
So... is it you?
Or perhaps... you?
You all right?
It's taking effect.
What is it? That's blood.
One of them was behind the posters.
But which?
Which would dare challenge me...?
Father.
Father... Father...
Father.
Get a doctor!
Father.
Father... Father.
Father!
Wake up, Father!
That's no drug.
It's poison.
Wang Yu
You're next.
[---- Translated by D. Bannon]
[Next on Empress Ki]
El Temur is not long for this world.
There's no question it was poison.
It was your wine. You've been set up.
We have to see him.
He keeps spitting blood!
He probably won't make it.
What are you going to do when we're back in Koryo?
Be my queen.
What do you want me to do?
It's almost time...
Wang Yu, Nyang will be mine.
After tonight everything will change.
Wang Yu, you're under arrest.
On what charge?
You have to ask?
Sire!
Did you help him?
If this is about me... You're pathetic.