Empress Ki Episode 51
We backtrack a little before the end of episode 50, where Ta-hwan was thinking about the sudden memory loss he had been experiencing recently. He realized that his memory would be jagged each time he drank the medicine prepared by Golta. He suspected something and summoned Golta, but got to know from Guksu that his eunuch had to make a trip home since his mother was sick..again. Ta-hwan wanted to have the medicine prepared once Golta returned to the palace.
Meanwhile, Seung-nyang got to know that Eagle Group would be having an emergency meeting on that night and Eunuch Park suggested for them to order the soldiers to raid the meeting, but knowing that they would disappear way before the troop reached the place, Seung-nyang offered to infiltrate the meeting herself..and she smiled while holding the leader’s mask.
That brought us back to the meeting and Seung-nyang’s side engaged in a fight with Leader-nim’s side. She was so close to shoot him with her arrows, but he managed to flee from the scene. Seung-nyang’s men chased after the members of the group and brought the captured men into the palace for interrogation. Although she didn’t manage to catch Leader-nim, she thought that they would soon learn about his identity from the other members. Namu assured Golta that no one knew about his identity apart from a few people, but Golta had to issue the order for the rest of the group to go into hiding for the time being.
Seung-nyang changed into a Goryeo styled hanbok and the Imperial Concubines were also wearing the brand new Goryeo hanbok. Empress Dowager was not that happy to find out that Seung-nyang had been supporting the people from Goryeo outside the palace and it got worse when she saw the concubines, who were all of Yuan blood, wearing Goryeo hanbok proudly. Seung-nyang didn’t see it as a big problem since they were living there together, so people from Goryeo in the palace should be able to practice their culture in the forms of Goryeo styled dishes and clothing. She offered to send the clothes to the Dowager, only to get a cold response in return.
Her next destination was the prison, where the captured men were being interrogated; however, Taltal informed her that they didn’t know anything about their leader. Seung-nyang thought that it was impossible not to know anything about Leader-nim, such as his name, age, or where he lived, and one of the men disclosed the fact that their leader had access into the palace. She told Ta-hwan about the information and the palace staff were being investigated for that matter. Golta stood there nervously but he had another thing to be happy about: both Seung-nyang and Ta-hwan were unsuspecting of the medicine he prepared. Well, it’s too soon to rejoice, because Ta-hwan was getting suspicious of him.
Golta was thinking of finishing his work faster before the Empress found out about it and sent the poisoned medicine to Ta-hwan, who had been attacked with intense headache. Unknown to him, Ta-hwan grabbed a piece of the broken bowl and held to it after drinking the medicine to ensure that he stayed awake instead of drifting into unconsciousness. He overheard Golta pleading for him to stay alive as long as he could before Golta finished his work and Namu informing Golta about the meeting between the Dowager and the officials who would support the new Emperor. That was enough for Ta-hwan to confirm that Golta was indeed the leader of Eagle Group and his own eunuch had betrayed him.
Empress Dowager went to meet Bolud, who had brought with him the officials who were originally on Baek Ahn’s side. She told them that they needed to deal with the Emperor and the Empress who had been destroying their country. They swore allegiance to the Dowager and Byung-soo told them that Leader-nim would make the Emperor issue an official decree. They were glad to hear that the Emperor was ailing and soon, they would be able to take over the throne.
Dok-man was at the Emperor’s quarters, sending the medicine and checking on the sleeping Emperor. He wished for Ta-hwan to have a fast recovery and Ta-hwan opened his eyes, calling Dok-man’s name. He whispered something to Dok-man and the latter was shocked to hear his words but obeyed his order. But then, Ta-hwan started to cough out blood..and according to Byung-soo, it meant that death would come for the Emperor. The Dowager was curious about Leader-nim’s identity but she would learn about it later; for now, Leader-nim’s focus was to disturb the relationship between Ta-hwan and Seung-nyang.
Ta-hwan soon found his food being poisoned and further investigation led by Namu revealed that Eunuch Park had something to do with the death of the servant who prepared the food, implying that the Empress might be the one who orchestrated it. He wondered what Golta was planning by trying to break Seung-nyang and him apart but kept it to himself, leading Golta into believing that he was indeed disappointed with his Empress. Seung-nyang went to visit him but received cold treatment and anger from Ta-hwan, but it was a show he staged to fool Golta; however, Seung-nyang was upset about Ta-hwan’s sudden change of behaviour.
Dok-man went to meet Ta-hwan and we got to know what Ta-hwan’s order was: he wanted Dok-man to find out the content of the medicine from Golta and it was a poison from a venomous bird which had no antidote. Ta-hwan listed out his symptoms, including restlessness, unable to sleep, constant headache and coughing out blood. Dok-man was worried when he heard about the coughing out blood since it meant that Ta-hwan had already reached the final stage of poisoning. Darn. It took a while for Ta-hwan to let the fact sank in and he wondered if there’s something that would delay the effect of the poison. He was thinking of consuming the poison to trick the people who was trying to get rid of him and he planned to root out the traitors to protect Seung-nyang and Ayu before he died. Ta-hwan was thinking of keeping it a secret from Seung-nyang since he knew that she won’t agree with the plan. It was the least thing he could do to protect his family. Stop messing with (me and) Dok-man’s heart, Ta-hwan!!
Ta-hwan consumed the medicine without fail and he acted like he grew suspicious of Seung-nyang after the poisoning incident. Golta said that it was easy to lead him into believing it thanks to the secret letter that was supposedly sent by Yoo to Seung-nyang and Ta-hwan, secretly eavesdropping on his conversation with Namu, realized that the love letter was fake. Golta finally introduced himself as Leader-nim to Empress Dowager and she totally didn’t mind of killing the Emperor and leaving the trading business to Eagle Group, as long as she got the power in her hands. Golta then grabbed the chance to suggest that Ta-hwan leave the court business to the Empress Dowager since the Empress had tried to kill him. This time, Ta-hwan assured him that he would get rid of the officials who supported the Empress.
The whole court was summoned for an official audience with Ta-hwan and the Emperor ordered for immediate dismissal of the officials, including Taltal and the Three Lords from their positions. Seung-nyang didn’t even get to interfere and Ta-hwan issued an edict, leaving the matters of the court to Empress Dowager for the time being. Seung-nyang left the court as a protest but Ta-hwan’s condition grew worse all of a sudden, in front of the court.
Ta-hwan called for the Dowager later and he was in his office since he was thinking of abdicating the throne. His health was getting worse and he thought that he should leave the matter of governing the country to someone else, at least for the sake of Yuan itself. He wanted to hear her suggestion and got to know that Bolud (or his official title King of Datong) was the person whom the Dowager was thinking of putting on the throne after him. He wrote the edict in front of both Empress Dowager and Golta, while at the same time, Seung-nyang learned about Ta-hwan’s condition from Dok-man. Dok-man explained that the Emperor kept this as secret from her for the sake of his plan. Taltal also received a secret order from Ta-hwan and he suggested that Seung-nyang didn’t do anything for the time being and prepare her heart.
Bolud was already addressed as ‘Your Imperial Majesty’ by Byung-soo, who was impatient to get the highest command in the military body (like a General). Bolud was more than willing to grant him his wish and said that they would meet in the palace after before leaving for the palace. Byung-soo thought that he finally got to choose his own master and his own minion Jo-cham promised to stick to him (like a gum) forever. Both of them laughed to their heart’s content without realizing that Eunuch Bang and Jeokho were spying on them. Eunuch Bang felt disgusted to see those two following after people who could give them the power but something would happen really soon in the palace and they would be killed soon.
Ta-hwan had to be supported as he walked to his throne and Seung-nyang couldn’t do anything at the moment. She heard about Ta-hwan’s plan from Dok-man and the Emperor’s health was not getting better. The people in the court were all on Empress Dowager’s side and Ta-hwan thanked the Dowager for acting as a regent. She urged him to read the abdication decree and he read it out loud…but it wasn’t for his abdication. Ta-hwan issued a decree to have all the traitors, who dared to commit a treason act of assassinating the Emperor and the Empress, to be killed. Taltal entered the hall together with the soldiers and killed everyone there except for a few.
Both Golta and Empress Dowager were spared for the time being since Ta-hwan wanted to know why they betrayed him. Empress Dowager thought that Ta-hwan was the first to abandon her by giving all the authority to Seung-nyang and her vying for the power was simply to protect herself. Ta-hwan’s confrontation with Golta was heart wrenching, because he thought that his eunuch was loyal to him.
Golta: I’ve never betrayed anyone. From the start, the Emperor wasn’t my owner. My owner is only money. I can betray the authority by not money.
Golta argued that what he did was only trying to switch the weaker person with a more powerful figure. Ta-hwan was clearly disappointed in both of them whose eyes were only on money and power, but he’s more disappointed with himself, who trusted such people more than the precious people around him. Golta said that Seung-nyang was no different than them since she won’t give Ta-hwan her heart for nothing in return.
What’s more heartbreaking to hear your most trusted person calling you a stupid Emperor in front of you? Golta didn’t get to finish his words when Ta-hwan stabbed him to death. Ta-hwan shed tears and cried out loud as Golta called him for the last time before he died. Ta-hwan challenged the Dowager to argue with him before coughing out blood again.
Seung-nyang accompanied Ta-hwan and admitted that she heard everything from Dok-man, but Ta-hwan said that he won’t leave her alone and die. He wanted to live a long life with his family. She hugged him, promising that she would put her utmost effort to see him recover.
Empress Dowager was sitting alone in her quarters, looking at a suspicious bowl before drinking the content of the bowl. Seung-nyang paid her a visit since the Dowager was to be sent to the temple, although her crime was punishable by death. The Dowager refused to leave the palace since she couldn’t stand the fact that a lowly Goryeo woman was the one who chased her out. Seung-nyang hoped that she won’t die easily but the Dwager started to spit out blood, vowing to become a ghost in the palace once she died and she couldn’t leave, because she’s the ruler of the Inner Court. Seung-nyang witnessed her death and told Dok-man to burn Empress Dowager’s dead body before disposing it outside the palace.
The troop was sent to capture Byung-soo and Jo-cham and as usual, they were thinking of running away. Byung-soo thought that he could hide in the New Goryeo Village although he was the one who betrayed the villagers before but he ended up getting caught. Seung-nyang noted that for someone who sell his fellow countrymen, Byung-soo sure lived a long life
He challenged them to tell him the deathly crime he had committed and Goryeo people started to get out of control, shouting for Byung-soo to be killed. Byung-soo mocked the villagers, who had thrown stones to him, calling them as foolish and ignorant.
The guards couldn’t stop the villagers from beating both Byung-soo and Jo-cham to death, and Seung-nyang shed tears at the sight of her fellow countrymen dying in front of her. Eunuch Bang asked why she was crying for them and Seung-nyang thought that if their country was better, Byung-soo too would make a good husband and father in Goryeo. He represented the pitiful people of Goryeo who couldn’t be protected. She saw some tribute women from Goryeo being dragged into the palace and found out that it was sent by the officials as gifts. She knew it too well – the feelings of being dragged away from her country – and ordered for the women to be sent back to Goryeo.
*A few years later…*
Seung-nyang was acting as a Regent and she was angry that the Goryeo King (Gongmin, if we’re to follow the history) had killed her brothers. Eunuch Park, now a Commander, thought that the King had forgotten her help and pleaded for her to make the decision. Seung-nyang opted to launch an attack on Goryeo led by the new King of Shenyang, Prince Deokheung /Tas Temür (he was King Chungseon’s son, which made him Gongmin’s uncle since Chungseon was Gongmin’s grandfather. Wang Go’s grandson was the King of Shenyang/Shen in history at that particular time, so I thought they were the same person. Sorry for the mistake!).
*A few years later..*
A messenger from the battleground arrived at the capital and Seung-nyang got to know that Taltal had been killed in a battle. Commander Park urged her to leave the capital since the army was getting closer to the capital. She recalled the last meeting she had before Taltal left for the battle with the Red Turban Army. Taltal informed her that the army had marched past the remote land and they could endanger the capital if they were not stopped. Both of them seemed to realize that Yuan was on the verge of being defeated and Taltal advised her to retreat to the North should he failed to return after the battle. He knew that there were Mongols there and she should be able to set up a new future for the country.
Seung-nyang went to Ta-hwan’s chamber and the sickly Emperor was coughing like an old man. He asked about the Red Turban Army but Seung-nyang chose to lie to him that Taltal had ceased the rebellion so that he won’t be worried. She suddenly asked him to go with her to the North and it’s like he knew that they were losing the battle, but agreed with her wish otherwise. He told her that his ears were itchy and Seung-nyang offered to clean his ears. She remembered that he made her do the same thing when she was a servant and suddenly, he held her hand.
Ta-hwan nodded in her lap after hearing her reply but before she could finish her next sentence, his hand lost its grip…and he passed away. Seung-nyang hugged him, telling him that she truly loved him.
where Seung-nyang brought Ta-hwan out for horse riding and Yoo went to find them, worried that they might be in danger. Seung-nyang was told to ride with Yoo and the scene ended before she could make her choice.
