A woman born in Korea navigates her way through love, war, politics and national loyalties to become a powerful empress in China's Yuan dynasty.
Starring: Ha Ji-won, Joo Jin-mo, Ji Chang-wook.
Genres: Political TV Shows, Period Pieces, Korean TV Shows
The Empress Ki episode guide on Netflix
Here is an episode guide summary for the Empress Ki.
Yang = Seung-nyang (Seungnyang), the main protagonist of the series
Wang Yoo (Wang Yu) = Goryeo King
Prince Ta Hwan = Weak Emperor
Dang Kise = Grand Chancellor's first son
Yeon-chul = Grand Chancellor
Tanashilli = Empress, daughter of the Grand Chancellor
Empress Dowager = Queen Mother
*********spoilers below**********
Episode 1
Yang of Goryeo is being transported as a royal tribute to the Yuan, but she and her mother flee. Yang spends her childhood as a boy named Seung-nyang.
Episode 2
Seung-nyang is arrested for smuggling, and Wang Yoo (Wang Yu) becomes king of Goryeo. Crown Prince Ta Hwan is banished to Goryeo. What is Yeon-chul plotting?
Episode 3
King Wang Yoo hurries to Ta Hwan's encampment. The Yuan are plotting something. Ta Hwan is in danger. Seung-nyang must take action.
Episode 4
Seung-nyang and Ta Hwan begin to get closer, leaving Wang Yoo conflicted. Yeon-chul takes action in the Yuan empire. Baek-ahn is given orders.
Episode 5
Seung-nyang desperately tries to bring Ta Hwan to Wang Yoo in order to save her father, Ki Ja-oh, who has been falsely accused of Ta Hwan's murder.
Episode 6
Ta Hwan breaks his promise to Seung-nyang, and Ki Ja-oh dies. Seung-nyang vows revenge against Ta Hwan.
Episode 7
Dang Kise realises Seung-nyang is a woman, and begs her to become a concubine. Yeon-chul pushes through his daughter's wedding in the Yuan capital.
Episode 8
Seung-nyang becomes a servant in the Yuan palace, planning to kill Ta Hwan at a state ceremony. Wang Yoo fights for command over the Goryeo armies.
Episode 9
Seung-nyang is assigned to look after a lady of the court, and runs into Ta Hwan. Meanwhile, Wang Yoo thinks of a strategy to counter Baek-ahn.
Episode 10
Park, selected to be a concubine, becomes pregnant, exposing her conflict with Tanashilli. The battle on the western frontier worsens.
Episode 11
Seung-nyang passes a test to be Tanashilli's spy and is ordered to cause a miscarriage. Ta Hwan starts to suspect Seung-nyang's identity.
Episode 12
Park pretends to be ill, leading Tanashilli to believe she's succeeded. Wang Yoo achieves a reversal of fortune on the western frontier.
Episode 13
Caught between Yeon-chul and the Empress, Ta Hwan bemoans his powerlessness. The battle of the western frontier is coming to a conclusion.
Episode 14
Wang Yoo arrives in the Yuan capital and heads for the palace. Seung-nyang goes after him. A message left by the dead emperor brings new developments.
Episode 15
Wang Yoo secretly meets with Seung-nyang and reveals a plan to defat Yeon-chul. The Empress invites Wang Yoo to dinner to gain his allegiance.
Episode 16
Though worried about Seung-nyang, Wang Yoo forsakes her. She consoles Ta Hwan after his coercion by Yeon-chul, leaving Wang Yoo feeling conflicted.
Episode 17
Amid the scandal over the documents revealing Yeon-chul's crimes, the Empress makes her move. The documents infuriate Yeon-chul.
Episode 18
Ta Hwan becomes jealous of Wang Yoo and orders Seung-nyang to stay away. Wang Yoo directs the people's anger toward Yeon-chul.
Episode 19
Ta Hwan is stunned to hear Ki Ja-oh was Seung-nyang's father. Ta Hwan teams up with Yeon-chul in order eliminate Wang Yoo.
Episode 20
Yeon-chul is on the verge of death, so Wang Yoo tries to eliminate the rest of the family. BEfore he goes into action, he gives Seung-nyang a present.
Episode 21
Before Wang Yoo can make a move, Seung-nyang tells him that Yeon-chul is alive. Ta Hwan plans to assassinate Yeon-chul.
Episode 22
Lady Noh tells an ailing Seung-nyang she's pregnant, but Seung-nyang refuses to believe it. Wang Yoo starts investigating fake currency in Goryeo.
Episode 23
Seung-nyang flees the raid and gives brith in a cave, but is caught while on the run with her child. Rumors of fake currency spread in Goryeo.
Episode 24
The captured Seung-nyang finds a message hidden in Lady Noh's mirror. Wang Yoo grieves over Seung-nyang's death. Yeon-chul offers him his niece.
Episode 25
Ta Hwan is shocked to find Seung-nyang among his concubines; she tells him it is in order to defeat Yeon-chul. Wang Yoo's wedding concludes.
Episode 26
Seung-nyang is selected as a concubine. Tanashilli bullies her out of jealousy. Ta Hwan vows revenge on Yeon-chul after finding the emperor's message.
Episode 27
Seung-nyang makes Ta Hwan look hedonistic to hide his learning to read, increasing Tanashilli's jealously. Wang Yoo finds out Seung-nyang is alive.
Episode 28
Seung-nyang is locked in the library, but her lack of reaction further spurs on Tanashilli. Wang Yoo learns a secret about the merchants' group.
Episode 29
Seung-nyang corners Tanashilli. Wang Yoo learns that Seung-nyang is Ta Hwan's concubine and gets his hands on an account book of the merchants' group.
Episode 30
Tanashilli is chased out of the palace, vowing revenge on Seung-nyang and the empress. Wang Yoo succeeds in cracking the code in the account book.
Episode 31
Seung-nyang is given the account book proving Yeon-chul's misdeeds. The Empress beings to doubt Prince Ma-ha's parentage.
Episode 32
Ta Hwan becomes determined to take back control, and even be accepted as the true emperor. Tanashilli becomes murderous after being hurt by Wang Yoo.
Episode 33
Seung-nyang and Ta Hwan escape the trap set in the mountains, but Tanashilli corners them. Wang Yoo risks his life to let Seung-nyang escape.
Episode 34
Tanashilli's hatred of Seung-nyang intensifies, leading her to cast a curse. Wang Yoo attempters to take control of the garrison to counter Yeon-chul.
Episode 35
Seung-nyang gives birth to a son. Prince Maha begins to look strange, and Yeon-chul descends into confusion. A nun with secret knowledge appears.
Episode 36
The nun claims Maha is not Tanashilli's son. Tanashili searches desperately for the nun. Ta Hwan raises an army to defeat Yeon-chul.
Episode 37
Ta Hwan prepares to fight to the death. Wang Yoo's garrison fights against Yeon-chul's men. Yeon-chul orders the deaths of Seung-nyang and Ta Hwan.
Episode 38
Yeon-chul is executed, leaving Seung-nyang feeling that her father's death is avenged. As she prepares to be empress, another battle begins.
Episode 39
Seung-nyang obtains documents about Yeon-chul's secrets funds, starting a war for their possession. Poison is found in the food she gives to the prince. Seung-nyang moves into the Heungdeok Palace (second empress's palace).
Episode 40
Seung-nyang searches for the secret funds. She asks for Wang Yoo's help, but is not sure he can solve the puzzle. Threats of invasion abound.
Episode 41
Seung-nyang uncovers the location of the secret funds. She comes up with a plan to reach them before Baek-ahn (Baekahn), and the race to retrieve them begins.
Episode 42
The reinstated Wang Yoo starts a revolt. Despite Seung-nyang's pleas, Ta Hwan begins a war of suppression. The losses gadually get to Ta Hwan.
Episode 43
Yuan's losses mount, and the Empress turns on public anger towards Wang Yoo in order to dethrone him. What will Wang Yoo's fate be?
Episode 44
The dethroned Wang Yoo is brought to Yuan, and the Empress pressures Ta Hwan to execute him. Ta Hwan takes action to save Seung-nyang's life.
Episode 45
Ta Hwan is enraged at being asked ot nominate a crown prince. The Empress pushes for Maha, but Ta Hwan refuses, Maha's parentage becomes known.
Episode 46
Word is out that Maha is not the child of Ta Hwan and Tanashilli, and he is cast out. After losing Yeon Bi-soo, Wang Yoo learns Maha is hid child.
Episode 47
Ta Hwan is driven to drink. The retainers push for Baek-ahn's dismal, but he gains Ta Hwan's trust. Wang Yoo plans to bring Maha to Goryeo.
Episode 48
Lady Seo attempts to tell Ta Hwan of Maha's parentage. When Ta Hwan falls ill, Seung-nyang moves him to her part of the palace to care for him.
Episode 49
Ta Hwan blames Seung-nyang for taking Baek-ahn's life, and becomes even more unstable. He then threatens the retainers into pledging allegiance.
Episode 50
Ta Hwan beheads Dang Kise for knowing Maha's parentage. He vows to kill all who know, in order to save Seung-nyang... even Wang Yoo.
Episode 51
Ta Hwan distrusts Golta's medicine, and his growing paranoia only hastens his breakdown.
Seung-nyang has her suspicions, but her survival is in doubt.
I hope you enjoy the Empress Ki Korean drama!
