Empress Ki (Gi Hwanghu / 기황후)

DAEDO, MODERN-DAY BEIJING

WANG YU, KING OF GORYEO

I will start heading back to Goryeo.

Will you not attend the coronation of Imperial Noble Consort Ki?

Is there any reason I must attend?

She was sent here as a tribute woman, and will be proclaimed as Empress.

It is quite an honor for Goryeo.

I, the King of Goryeo, am the only one who can bestow honors upon Goryeo.

If not for the Imperial Noble Consort...

CONCUBINE OF A RANK LOWER THAN EMPRESS

...you would have been dead already.

She saved...

your worthless life.

Give Her Grace...

my thanks.

Do you still love Seung-nyang?

Are you still...

carrying your love for her in your heart?

I love her.

She is my everything.

You are not worthy of her, understand?

Do you understand?

Do you?

The King of Goryeo has left Yeongyeong.

Let us drink in hopes for your longevity.

Long live Emperor Hwijong!

Long live Empress Ki!

-Long live Emperor Hwijong! -Long live Empress Ki!

-Long live Emperor Hwijong! -Long live Empress Ki!

Seung-nyang...

Is it really you?

Long live Emperor Hwijong!

Long live Empress Ki!

-Long live Emperor Hwijong! -Long live Empress Ki!

-Long live Emperor Hwijong! -Long live Empress Ki!

-Long live Emperor Hwijong! -Long live Empress Ki!

-Long live Emperor Hwijong! -Long live Empress Ki!

-Long live Emperor Hwijong! -Long live Empress Ki!

Yang...

Your Highness.

CROWN PRINCE, WANG YU

Get them moving.

Get a move on!

HWANGJU, GORYEO (MODERN-DAY NORTH CENTRAL REGION OF HWANGHAE-DO)

PROCESSION OF GORYEO WOMEN BEING SENT AS TRIBUTE TO THE YUAN DYNASTY

-Mom! -Yang!

Mom!

Do not hit her.

Please do not hit her.

Mom.

Yang!

Get up!

Enough!

That is enough.

Mom, are you okay?

I am okay. Do not worry.

Why are these women tied up?

They got caught trying to run away last night.

Still, you cannot treat them like animals.

Untie them and treat the wounded.

Are you giving me orders?

Your Highness.

What is the delay here?

Hear me out.

The Crown Prince of Goryeo wants us to untie those wenches.

DANG GISE, GENERAL OF THE YUAN DYNASTY

It seems like you have forgotten who is in charge here.

I will let it pass this time,

but I will not tolerate any more of your interference.

We, the Blue Wolves, have no mercy.

Get a move on!

-Move! -Get a move on!

What will happen to those women

once they arrive in the Yuan dynasty?

I heard that if they tried to run away, they would be sold into prostitution

or slavery.

How inhumane!

Get moving!

Even that little girl...

Do your feet hurt a lot?

I am fine.

Mom, let me massage yours.

I am sorry...

for not being able to protect you.

I am sorry.

Are you crying again?

Do not cry.

-Open it. -Your Highness, please.

-Now. -Okay, Your Highness.

Run.

This is all I can do.

I am sorry.

Open that one too.

Run away if you want.

Yang.

Kill them all.

Do not spare any of them.

Mom!

Mom!

Mom.

Mom!

Mom!

Mom...

Mom, please hang in there.

-Let me-- -You must...

You must survive.

You are a runaway.

They will kill you if they catch you.

Mom, do not leave me alone.

Mom...

I am sorry for making you live in this world...

which is so cruel to women.

Here.

Your father gave this to me.

Yang.

Your father...

is still alive.

Go to Gaegyeong,

and find...

a man with the same ring from the Ki family...

Mom.

Mom...

Do not die.

Mom!

Mom!

Mom...

It is all my fault.

I am so powerless

that I could not protect my own people.

Your Highness...

An incompetent father loses his son to death,

and an incompetent ruler fails to protect countless of his own people from death.

You do not deserve to be a king.

You are incompetent and foolish.

If you truly care for Goryeo,

die in the Yuan dynasty.

Do you understand?

I am telling you never to come back to Goryeo.

From the Ki family? What is his first name?

GAEGYEONG, CAPITAL OF GORYEO

I do not know.

How are you going to find him with just his last name?

Do not waste my time.

Wait.

I think the last name of the owner of the soup place is Ki.

The soup place?

She ran off with the kid,

saying she would not raise her as a daughter of a concubine.

You did not do anything wrong.

If we ask the local officials in Yeongyeong,

we will be able to find Yang's whereabouts.

Hello?

Is the owner here?

Who are you?

Is there anyone with the last name Ki?

Why do you ask?

I am looking for my father.

Goodness.

I am from the Ki family.

-You are? -Goodness.

That is not for eating.

I will get you a bowl of soup.

I am fine. I will not take anything for free.

Make way!

Make way!

I said, make way!

Get out of the way!

Make way!

Is that kid dead?

I think so.

-Get that kid out of my way. -Yes, Your Highness.

The kid is alive, Your Highness.

What shall I do with the kid?

Gosh, this kid stinks.

I will do it myself.

You are awake now.

You are awfully shy for a boy.

Put this on.

Where do you live?

I am homeless.

What about your parents?

They passed away.

Once the Crown Prince arrives in the Yuan dynasty,

I will make him pay for releasing the women.

Please make sure he never comes back again.

That way, I can be the next king of Goryeo.

In order for you to be the next king,

you will have to win favors of the Imperial family and the Yuan court.

Of course.

I have my plans.

You have plans?

Just wait.

A vast amount of money will be paid under my name

to the Imperial family and the court of Yuan.

I will count on that.

Where are His Highness's shoes?

They were here.

Here they are!

I wanted to keep them dry.

Who is this?