Queen Seon Deok
Enjoy:)
To better represent the characters' past, the drama's first two episodes...
will depict major events from the years 572 to 602 in an abbreviated form.
Episode 1
It was a time when sky and land were still in each other's embrace,
when two suns and two moons graced the sky.
One sun fell and kindled the northern sky as its star,
and one moon followed suit, becoming the seven stars of the Northern Dipper*.
*Seven stars of the Ursa Major, Great/Big Dipper
The smallest was the people's star,
the biggest, the king's star.
The big star blessed creation with King Jinheung the Great,
who took a small and feeble nation like Shilla,
and made it into the fearsome and powerful heavenly kingdom*.
*Shinguk, one of Shilla's monikers
Are you knaves from Baekje?
Indeed!
We came to avenge our former king*!
*King Seong of Baekje, betrayed by Shilla on the battlefield in 554 A.D.
Slay him!
Sire!
Sire.
It was a neglect on my part.
Far from it.
My not heeding your advice was almost paid with blood.
You should never ride alone near the border, Sire.
May you halt your journey and return to the palace.
No.
But, Sire!
I shall accompany the Royal Successor Baekjeong to Mount Bukhan,
and show him the wondrous might of my Shilla.
~ Secret Stele of Mount Bukhan ~
~ King Jinheung ~ (24th Shilla ruler)
What you are standing before is my Shilla.
And would it end here?!
It extends from Hwalchoryeon up north to Danghang Fortress in the west.
It is all fruit of your efforts.
You opened a new era, forged a new Shilla.
Eulje.
I laud your efforts in abating internal strife.
Your grace is immeasurable, Sire.
And also, Noribu and Sejong.
You granted your ruler precious counsel and guided our military.
I shall hereby commend you on your boundless fealty.
Your grace is immeasurable.
And Mishil.
Yes, Sire.
*Female leaders of the Hwarang (Shilla Youth Corps)
As a wonhwa*, you led the Hwarang and nurtured new talent.
Seolwon.
Yes, Sire.
And, Munno.
Munno is still at the Jungak (Great Mountain) completing our ceremony.
Mishil, Seolwon, Munno.
I laud your efforts.
Your grace is immeasurable, Sire.
From here on in, Shilla will be in your hands.
It is only because of you that my fervent dream,
which seemed impossible, can now finally come into fruition.
Sire, your grace is immeasurable.
Baekjeong.
~ Royal Successor Baekjeong ~ (Jinheung's grandson, to be King Jinpyeong)
You shall inherit my throne, and dream of an even greater legacy.
Is that clear?
Yes, Sire.
Right.
Should all the people gathered here support your dreams,
nobody will stop you from fulfilling them.
~ Prince Geumnyun ~ (Jinheung's 2nd son, to be King Jinji)
Were it not for Your Majesty,
not even in our wildest dreams would this have been possible.
Is that what you believe?
Of course I do.
And how do you believe I was able to achieve that?
How could I dare appraise your rule, Sire?!
Are you all right?
Ohh... I'm fine.
Look at what is the matter.
Yes, Sire.
It was nothing of particular concern, Sire.
In my childhood, I once caught a tiger.
How could I be incognizant of a tale of such towering bravery?!
I used this dagger to do it.
Were you aware of this as well?
With this small dagger, you mean?
It would have been very hard to hurt a tiger with this diminutive dagger.
Then?!
The tiger bit my arm.
If I had tried to escape from its jaws, I would surely have lost my arm.
But I instead pushed my arm further inside the tiger's gob.
What?!
And with this dagger...
I slashed that tiger's windpipe.
You were able to make such a quick decision in that situation?!
I think it was just all the angst boiling inside me.
That slattern had killed a favored compeer of mine.
But, lest people would not believe me,
I always told everyone that I used a huge sword to do it.
But, you know what amuses me?!
Finding one's arm in the jaws of a rancorous tiger...
seems to be a king's destiny.
At times, that tiger could bear the name Baekje,
sometimes it could be Goguryeo,
or even the nobles in the court.
I always think of that day, when such events befall me.
It is that impetuous bravery which christened...
Your Majesty into the leading light of our age.
If only bravery mattered, generals would easily vanquish my legacy.
Then...
Was it by any chance your sagacious acumen, Sire?
My rule has been drenched with misjudgment.
I trust you are not...
bestowing all accolades to divine providence?!
Be it a crown bedecking my pate as it may,
would not the whims of providence be as blind as they are mysterious?!
Then...
Is it your innate disposition, always keeping you alert against imminent peril?
It is not.
Then...
It is people.
When I fought with that tiger, I surely was alone.
But from that day onwards,
people avouching for my calling started following me.
For every new obstacle hampering my path,
I now had a hundred acolytes contending with that mighty beast on my behalf.
And a hundred more followed suit the day after.
At the end, the brave, the fortunate, the sagacious...
They all joined forces with me, so that I could contend with any beast.
It is not divine providence what bestows glory upon a ruler.
It is his people.
He who can be blessed by people's faith...
shall rule over all creation for ages to come.
Your humble consort once again gained a precious lesson.
Sire.
Sire!
~ Seorabeol ~ (Gyeongju, Shilla capital)
That is absurd!
Your last injunctions?!
May you retract such nefarious utterances!
The mandate of heaven is abandoning my gates.
Sire!
Inscribe it on my behalf.
The heir to my throne...
is the Royal Successor, Baekjeong.
I hereby proclaim Eulje as Head of the Council of Nobles.
What is more,
according to our codes of law,
*Literally "Holder of the Royal Seal" (special post given to royal concubines)
Prince Geumnyun and Seju* Mishil...
will be removed from any post of significance,
and follow my lead, devoting their remaining days to serving Buddha.
Are you disheartened?
Are you?!
How could I ever?
If you ever perish, how could this humble consort...
dare to bask in abundance in a layman's dwellings?!
Then...
Will you do as inscribed?
I shall devote myself to Buddhist practice, praying for your heavenly bliss...
and divine reincarnation.
Sire...
Heed my words...
Yes, Sire.
Sire.
Did you call me?
Summon Eulje and Royal Successor Baekjeong.
What?!
Sire...
There is no time to squander!
Your wish is my command, Sire.
Sire.
*Rang was a title added after a Hwarang member's name/moniker
Seolwon Rang* seeks audience.
Ohh... Let him... let him enter at once.
Yes, Sire.
Hwarang Seolwon...
answers your summoning and dares to deliberate in your presence, Sire.
I left my final injunctions to Mishil.
Sire!
What is that supposed to mean?
Final injunctions?!
It is absurd.
As my royal patrol Hwarang, didn't you and Munno...
always remain by my side all these years?
You must also be aware of the reason why I left the ceremony...
and returned to the palace.
Sire!
I must leave my final secret injunction to you.
Come closer.
Seolwon, accept this royal edict.
Seolwon Rang humbly accepts Your Majesty's edict.
Peruse it.
"Slay Mishil"
Sire!
What order is this?!
Her Highness the Seju...
Mishil shall never follow my injunctions.
As long as I am alive, Mishil is a treasure to Shilla.
But once demise shall befall upon me,
Mishil will become a treacherous poison afflicting this country.
Sire!
You must slay Mishil!
Will you do it?
Your humble servant, Seolwon Rang,
will stake his life to fulfill your wishes, Sire.
Sire!
Sire...
I brought the physician.
There is no need!
Leave at once!
Where is the Royal Successor?
He is coming. He shall soon be here.
Let him in at once.
Sire!
May you first take care of...
Leave at once... and summon Baekjeong!
Yes, Sire!
His Majesty penetrated through all our subterfuges.
He is Shilla's greatest ruler.
Were he not blessed by such sagacious discernment,
how could he ever gain such legacy?!
~ 9th Garrison Pungwolju* Seolwon Rang ~ (*Chief Instructor of the Hwarang)
How are you going to proceed?
What is there to fret?
Have a seat.
If it truly concerns you,
slaughter the treacherous Mishil, and fight for a noble cause.
Seju!
Even in jestful whims, how could you utter such nefarious drivel?!
Then...
How will you proceed?
This Seolwon Rang...
already pledged his all to you, four years ago.
My destiny...
and even this country's fortunes.
His Excellency Eulje has still not entered the palace,
while Gukseon Munno is still taking part in the ceremony,
so that can only imply divine providence is on my side.
Make all preparations.
~ Munno ~ (Gukseon, Hwarang's Chief Marshal)
You shall...
become the new ruler of this country.
Sire.
Will you answer your calling?!
Sire...
How could I...
You will.
And, you must.
But...
Without you at my side,
how could I ever...
Come closer.
Keep and cherish this dagger.
It once rescued me from the jaws of demise.
Why are you giving this to me?
Now...
it is yourself and this country of ours you must protect.
No.
I cannot do that.
You must rescue this Shilla of ours!
Sire!
What is wrong with you?
Sire!
Grandfather!
Who is there?
Free the way.
We were expecting him.
- Yes. - Yes!
Stop at once!
What brings you here, at this belated juncture?
Grandfather!
Grandfather!!
If...
I only think of Shilla's future,
wintry sweat flows down my visage.
Is not Shilla as vigorous as it has ever been?!
So why are you...
Is that what you think?
But...
Shilla...
Grandfather!
Sire!
Do no longer speak.
I shall summon the physicians.
I clamored you to dream of an unfeasible vagary.
And do you know what that is?
Grandfather!
I shall summon someone at once!
My unfeasible vagary...
Shilla becoming the ruler...
*Samhan: the three confederacies from which Shilla, Baekje and Gaya were born
of the three Han*.
That is the one and only way...
Shilla will survive...
Father...
We rid the council hall of everyone present.
- Let us go. - Yes!
Sire.
It is time for your infusion.
Sire.
I shall never forget the devotion you blessed me with.
Nor shall I forget...
the benevolence you granted me...
in taking your final breath without my assistance.
I shall never, ever forget it.
Nunim.
His Majesty?!
What happened?
Seju!
Sire.
Did you say they who gain the hearts of their people...
will rule upon creation?!
That with people by their side,
they will rule above all for ages to come?!
People?!
Take a look, Sire!
These are my people!
Not yours,
but Mishil's, my people!
And...
it now is...
Mishil's time to rule.
Munno.
Unless the seven stars of the Northern Dipper become eight,
no one able to contend Mishil's might shall bless creation.
Should anyone possess the power to contend with her,
an eighth star will grace the Northern Dipper.
Now...
there is no man under the heavens who will contend my might.
His Majesty...
His Majesty?!
Yes.
His Majesty just perished.
But nobody is aware of it yet.
Nobody is aware of it?!
You must hasten and summon all the courti...
As per His Majesty's final injunctions,
he did not proclaim you, Prince Geumnyun,
but the son of the deceased Prince Dongnyun, Baekjeong, as his heir.
His grandson, Baekjeong?!
However,
final injunctions could always be altered.
If you only proclaim me as Queen, that is.
Will you do that?
~ Misaeng ~ (Mishil's brother, 10th Garrison Pungwolju)
The six-colored groups...
*Yangsan, Goheo, Jinji, Daesu, Gari, Goya
represent the six founding clans*...
which built Shilla.
Here is the well our great founder...
Park Hyeokgeose spurted from,
the Najeong!
May you now...
*Not a name, but an honorific title meaning "light kindling creation"
let the egg of the Hyeokgeose* bless you in divine inspiration.
Before His Majesty the King we are gathered!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Hurrah for the King!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Hurrah for the King!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Hurrah for the King!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Hurrah for the King!
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah for the King!
Unless the seven stars of the Northern Dipper become eight,
no one able to contend Mishil's might shall bless creation.
Is Mishil now blessed with divine providence?!
Is this now Mishil's age?!
You cannot! Do not go.
Bring me along with you. Bring me as well!
Your Highness.
*Current Hwaseong, Gyeonggi province
I received orders to protect Danghang Fortress*,
and I am therefore headed there.
~ Eulje ~ (Shilla courtier, Seondeok's future guardian)
You cannot follow me there, Your Highness.
I cannot remain here! Mishil daunts me,
and I detest my uncle as well.
Bring me along!
Your Highness!
You cannot utter such mortifying words.
This is your abode, Your Highness.
I alerted everyone, so may you abate your fears and stay here.
I will come back for sure.
Sire.
What are you gazing at?
Should you not gaze at the Northern Dipper?!
What?
Unless the seven stars of the Northern Dipper become eight,
~ Four Years Later ~
no one able to contend Mishil's might shall bless creation.
Should anyone possess the power to contend with her,
an eighth star will grace the Northern Dipper.
The seven stars of the Northern Dipper will become eight?!
So how did it go?
Did you gain your answer?
I shall not interfere.
Let Mishil Seju do as she pleases.
Join our cause.
I...
shall not do a single thing.
~ King Jinji ~ (Shilla's 25th ruler, Prince Baekjeong's uncle)
Are you really...
going to abandon me?
Will you condemn this son borne out of our union...
*Ingcheop: servant of a royal consort (from before her marriage)
to spend life as a mere royal servant*'s offspring?!
Seju!
Why do you keep insisting on this matter?
The Hwarang ceremony will take place today.
Sire!
That day you made a covenant, promising I would become Queen!
But I was warned by my subjects and mother to prohibit that from ever happening.
If only Your Majesty could wish for it, their concerns would not matter.
I even hid the former king's final injunctions,
and brought you before that very throne, Sire!
Those injunctions surely...
Sire.
Preparations for the ceremony have been completed.
May you move to the exhibition hall.
All right.
Seju.
Let us never deliberate on those injunctions again.
Forgive me, my child.
You are no longer...
You are no longer of any use to me.
~ Prince Baekjeong ~ (To be King Jinpyeong, Seondeok's father)
Child, you said?!
Dear.
Is that true?
~ Maya ~ (Lady Kim, Prince Baekjeong's consort)
I actually...
dreamed of the seven stars of the Northern Dipper entering my body...
And? And what?!
I thought it was a peculiar dream...
and it must have heralded my parturiency.
Really?
The physician confirmed it today.
And at the shrine?!
I plan to head there now.
Dear.
May you keep this.
This...
Was this not the dagger His Deceased Majesty King Jinheung gave you?
This was the dagger which protected him.
And I now wish...
it will protect you and our child.
Yes.
I am sure it will.
Your Highness!
Be careful, will you?
~ Sohwa ~ (Longtime servant of Prince Baekjeong)
Why are you not coming, Your Highness?
Are you not going to the ceremony?
Ahh... right. I forgot about it.
Yes... You must hasten there,
if I am to find a nice spot.
Let us hasten there, Your Highness.
We must first head to the shrine, so make all preparations.
What?
We are going to the shrine?!
Ohh Ohh!
Yes...
I understand.
May you head to the ceremony.
And what is so special about a Hwarang ceremony?!
I want to stay with you today.
We have the rest of our lives to spend together.
If you leave first,
I shall head to the shrine, and then follow after you.
~ Bong (closed) ~
Why did they close the shrine's gates?
Sohwa.
Your Highness!
Where were you?
Behind the shrine, just a moment.
There must be something at the shrine today.
Let us return in the morrow.
Tell me about it...
I went behind the shrine and looked inside...
How could you desecrate this sacred place?!
My apologies.
I did it with His Highness once already...
Silence! Pave the way at once.
I mean... it is the first time I see the Hwarang put that on their faces.
What?!
What did you just say?
I apologize.
I shall lead the way.
The Hwarang...
are painting their faces?!
I... that...
They are so comely!
Are they not?!
Even more than me, are they not?!
You really don't know what that means?
What?!
Hwarang paint their faces white before a venturesome endeavor,
that is what it means.
You have never heard of that?
And what would that entail?
It is their way of accepting demise for the sake of their cause.
What?
On the day before a military campaign...
or a great endeavor, Hwarang paint their faces.
It means they will fight to their very last drop of blood,
while leaving behind their comely visage as their legacy.
Are we on the brink of war?!
If that is not the case, why would they even do that before the ceremony?
The ceremony!
Your Highness!
How do you plan to deal with them?
We must quietly take them out of the palace, and then deal with both.
Not even their bodies must be discovered.
Nobody can learn of this,
not even those entrusted with dealing with them.
Was it not a mere vagary of mine?!
But...
how could it be so suffocating?!
What is the matter?
Your mother is suffering from severe ailments.
What?!
Who did you get this from?
A servant from your parents' abode, a certain Cheondeok.
Cheondeok?!
Where is he now?
Before the northern gates.
All right.
Convey everything you heard to His Highness.
Yes... I can do that well.
This way, Your Highness.
~ Seori ~ (Master of Ceremonies)
May you now...
let the egg of the Hyeokgeose bless you in divine inspiration.
Your Highness.
Take my hand.
What on earth is this?
The egg of our founder the Hyeokgeose...
shall never be entrusted to you, Sire.
What is that supposed to mean?!
This is a sacred ceremony.
What do you think you're doing?!
As their wonhwa, I am merely conveying to you...
my fellow Hwarang's wishes.
Wishes?!
Sire.
May you step down.
Say what?!
What did you just say?
We, Hwarang,
wish for Your Majesty to step down of your own volition.
Do what?!
You rendered vain all of the former king's achievements.
Leave at once!
No.
- Guards! - Yes!
Get those varmints out of my sight. Take them away!
Yes!
This is our Hwarang's resolve.
Who could ever stop it?!
Even the Council of Nobles is not voicing a single grievance,
so how could the Hwarang...
This Council of Nobles does concur with their wishes,
~ Noribu ~ (Head of the Council of Nobles)
and will demonstrate it through our following edict.
Wh... You as well?!
~ Sejong ~ (6th Garrison Pungwolju, Mishil's husband)
First, for besmirching his crown, and ignoring heaven's mandate.
Second, for allowing his lecherous profligacy to afflict our people...
and failing to shelter the former king's achievements.
Third, for violating the former king's servant Mishil in contemptuous disdain,
not to mention not conveying his final injunctions,
the most treasonous of all misdeeds.
What?!
Violate?!
Contempt?!
May you now...
convey the former king's final injunctions.
Right before he perished, His Deceased Majesty clamored me...
to announce that the heir of the heavenly kingdom...
shall not be his second son, Geumnyun,
but the son of Crown Prince Dongnyun,
King Jinheung's grandson,
Prince Baekjeong.
We are gathered before our ruler and king!
Sire!
On the Next Episode of ~ Q U E E N * S E O N D E O K ~
Run, run away.
This will be the last chance I give you.
Prince Baekjeong has vanished.
Tell everyone to gather. Discreetly summon the troops.
It is a princess, a princess!
It will be successful.
Does not that spell trouble for the mighty ruler?!
This is the end.
Nobody can escape from that, Your Highness.
No matter how numerous you are,
think you could contend with me?!
If Her Highness Mishil ends up marrying someone a decade younger like His Majesty,
what would she do to Lady Maya?!
What on earth are you scheming behind my back?!
Her Highness is blessed with divine providence.
Another prince perished.
So all my mother did was giving me this,
and then she abandoned me?!
I don't need this!
Mishil stole this Shilla of ours from His Majesty's hands.
It is now time we get it back.
Unless the seven stars of the Northern Dipper become eight,
no one able to contend Mishil's might shall bless creation.