Episode
The Last Empress: The Grand Empress Dowager’s Downfall
Overview
Trying to uncover the truth behind the death of late Empress So Hyun, Sunny discovers that Ari is the Emperor's daughter and Kang Hee, the nanny, is her mother. Wang Shik plays both sides and vows to the Empress Dowager to assist her in her ways. Meanwhile, the Grand Empress Dowager learns of the Emperor's immoral ways and tries to put a stop to the Imperial Family's corruption.
Details
- Series
- The Last Empress
- Season
- Season 1
- Episode
- Episode 16
- Air date
- 2018-12-13
- Runtime
- 31 min
Episode context
The Grand Empress Dowager’s Downfall is Episode 16 in Season 1 of The Last Empress. It aired on 2018-12-13. The runtime is 31 min.
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Episode 15: Wang Shik Betrays the Empress
While trying to catch the Emperor in the act, the Empress gets entangled in a predicament of her own, putting her loyalty to the Emperor in question. Wang Shik betrays her, and with the Emperor's command, he pushes her off a cliff into a river. Meanwhile, Oh Sunny's father gets caught illegally gambling by the authorities again.
Episode 17: Who Killed the Grand Empress Dowager?
The Grand Empress Dowager is found dead, and an investigation of her murder begins. The police question each member of the Imperial Family, but none of them confess to the crime. Meanwhile, while clutching on to an envelope given by the Grand Empress Dowager, Ms. Hong tells Sunny of her last words.
More episodes from this season
Episode 14: The Prince is in Town
After talking to the Prince over the phone in after seven years, the Emperor starts to worry. Knowing that the presence of the Prince is a direct threat to his position, the Emperor confronts the Empress Dowager. Meanwhile, with newly found strength and courage, the Empress takes it into her own hands and strips Yu Ra of her title and incarcerates her.
Episode 18: The Empress is Arrested for Murder
Ms. Hong takes the envelope given by the Grand Empress Dowager containing evidence of the Imperial Family's corruption to the Prime Minister, but it never reaches him. The autopsy of the Grand Empress Dowager reveals poison was the cause of death, the same toxin found in the food the Empress had given her, and as a consequence, the police arrest the Empress for the murder. Meanwhile, the Imperial Family turns their back on Sunny.
Episode 13: The Empress Finds Out About the Emperor and Yu Ra
When the Empress sees the Emperor and Ms. Min together kissing on a cruise ship, she realizes she had been a fool but decides to hear him out. The Empress Dowager tracks down the Prince and asks him to come back to the palace, but the Prince slips away and finds refuge at Ddobong's Fried Chicken, Oh Sunny's father's restaurant. Meanwhile, Woo Bin feels for the Empress and offers his support.
Episode 19: Baek Ho Enlightens the Empress
Trying to clear her name, the Empress returns to the palace to retrieve a recording device she had hidden in the Emperor's chamber. She barely escapes the Emperor and slips away with the help of Wang Shik and Baek Ho. Later, Baek Ho takes her to his secret operation headquarters and reveals to her of the Emperor's coverup of murder.
Episode 12: Pil Joo Finds Wang Shik
Knowing how the Empress must feel, the Grand Empress Dowager spends the day with her and invites her father to the palace. Pil Joo searches through Woo Bin's quarters and finds out that he is Wang Shik. When he goes after Wang Shik, he tells him the truth behind his mother's death.
Episode 20: Ms. Hong’s Confession
Without knowing the authorities were tapping the phones, the Empress makes a call to her family and gets caught. But before she makes it into the police station, Ms. Hong confesses to the murder. Later, the Empress broadcasts to the nation a recording of the Emperor and Yu Ra talking about his illegitimate child, damaging the Emperor's image.
Episode 11: Betrayal in the Palace
The Grand Empress Dowager overhears Yu Ra and the Emperor talking and learns of their secret. She forbids their love and demands Yu Ra to leave the palace. Later, the Empress tries her best to please the Emperor but following Yu Ra's suggestion only angers him. Meanwhile, Wang Shik starts to get closer to the Emperor.
Episode 21: The Empress Returns to the Palace
While the Emperor tries to restore his name to the people, Sunny appears boldly before him and forgives him publicly and asks to start again. Reluctantly, without an option, the Emperor and Empress are once again together. To rectify the issue of the Emperor's illegitimate child, the Imperial Family accepts Ari as a princess. Meanwhile, the Emperor promotes Wang Shik as the Chief Guard and asks him to court the Empress.
Episode 10: Wang Shik’s Rage
After finding out the people involved, Wang Shik returns to Bichido and swears to kill Pil Joo, the Emperor, and Yu Ra. He also tries to abandon Dong Shik, Yo Ra's son, but doesn't have the heart to do it. Angrier than ever, Wang Shik challenges the Emperor to a sparring match and impresses the Emperor.
Episode 22: The Empress Goes Live
Prince Yoon gives Baek Ho the late Empress So Hyun's diary to help uncover the truth. The Empress starts to broadcast a live show and causes an uproar within the palace. Meanwhile, Wang Shik saves the Empress from an attacker and takes a severe blow to the head.