Queen Seon Deok
Episode 46
Yushin Rang.
What do you think you're doing?
Your survival will be our triumph.
Don't, Yushin Rang...
Survive, and one day come to my rescue.
Yushin Rang...
Bidam, what are you waiting for?
Escort Her Highness!
Let us go.
Your Highness, we must go.
- Yushin Rang! - Your Highness.
Yushin Rang...
No!
Yushin Rang!
Don't!
Yushin Rang!
Yushin Rang, open the gates!
You shall never get past these gates!
Yushin Rang... Yushin Rang.
Yushin Rang...
We must leave. Now!
Yu...Yushin...
Yushin Rang!
Yushin Rang.
Yushin Rang!
Yushin Rang!!
Your Highness.
Yushin Rang...
~ Episode 46 ~
Stop him!
Strike him!
Capture him!
What are you doing?
Apprehend him at once!
Hwarang, heed my words!
As your keeper and commander,
Her Highness was driven out of the palace by false accusations.
As for what happened at Yeolseon Hall,
it is nothing but a vile complot!
It has nothing to do with Her Highness!
He is a traitor. Do not let him inveigle you.
Follow His Majesty's orders and apprehend him immediately.
What are you waiting for? Apprehend him!
Yes!
Open the gates and trail Her Highness!
Yes!
Ahh... Really.
Is there a way out, or what?
It's you...
How did you...
That wall...
And... Why... Why are you here?
What is this place?
It is a secret refuge under Mishil's quarters.
My... Look at this! She had a refuge underground?!
But, tell me. His Majesty?
For starters, we'll have to get out of here.
- You know a way out of here? - Yes.
There is a pathway beyond that wall.
According to Her Highness, it connects the shrine with the Hwarang Hall,
but it indeed seems like it was even connected to Mishil's quarters.
- Then... - Yes.
I am sure we will be able to reach the Hwarang Hall from here.
If we get there, we will be safe.
Let us go, now.
- Just a moment. - Why?
What did you just say?
Her Highness and Yushin left the palace?
What were all those troops and Hwarang doing?
How could they allow them to escape?
Your Highness.
Bidam and his troops suddenly emerged.
B...Bidam?!
Sister.
Why is Bidam still alive?
Seems like Yeomjong defied your orders.
Sister!
Did you not meet with Yeomjong?
How could Bidam suddenly appear?
Seems like he did not really take Bidam away on that excursion.
Ex...Excursion?!
What excursion?
What on earth are you two prattling about?
Yeomjong betrayed us.
Say...
Say something, will you?
Should not Bidam be dead by now?
Sister!
What on earth...
What on earth is this all about?
You let Her Highness escape?!
It is my fault.
However...
A single princess's escape is all that happened.
I still remain in the palace,
so all authority belongs to me.
We shall move onto our second phase.
You are calling for a court meeting in the morrow?
Yes.
Hence, Misaeng and Hajong,
make sure not a single courtier misses this meeting.
Yes... We will.
She might have been our de facto ruler for decades,
but, regrettably, she would have never gained the throne,
if not for subterfuges such as this.
Founding her own dynasty through an armed insurrection was the only option.
No matter what, I still remain His Majesty's direct descendant,
therefore I still have legitimacy over her.
Authority follows me like a shadow.
Yes, that is why Yushin Rang said your survival is our triumph.
Then?
Yes. From here on in, time is on my side.
The issue is that time is not on my side.
Should we fail to capture Deokman soon,
Shilla will be under two different spheres of influence.
Hence, Lord Seolwon and Lord Chilsuk.
Whatever it takes, you must find her.
Before she starts amassing even more power,
and before this second sphere of influence can be even born,
we must slay her.
Then, would not finding refuge be best for you?
Yes, for the sake of our future endeavors,
you must find refuge as far from here as possible.
What are your views?
Right.
I will not.
What Yushin Rang said is right.
My escaping the palace unscathed would mean that our cause would not die.
Yes.
Mishil is the one afflicted by impatience.
She fabricated just cause with a vile subterfuge,
and after turning me into a traitor,
she gained control of the palace.
And the prerequisite for that was capturing you,
and fulfilling her goals with an all-out surprise offensive.
But, in failing to capture me,
her surprise offensive failed as well.
From here on in, we have time on our side.
I am not denying that.
It is because of all this that she will try everything in her power to find you.
Don't let yourself be caught in your foe's most impetuous charge.
No place can offer me refuge.
No...
I need no refuge. Mishil and I will take this to the end.
Right now and here, in Seorabeol.
Help me.
That is why you must get a confession from them,
but should the situation get out of hand,
just deal with them.
Yes.
Also, Yushin and Alcheon are much more likely to know...
Deokman's whereabouts.
Use everything at your disposal to get an answer.
Yes.
As for you, use the troops who fought for Bidam at the palace gates,
and try to find her location.
Yes, I was planning to.
Yes.
An imprisonment edict sealed by His Majesty...
shall reach the four corners of this capital.
However, during the proceedings,
Deokman must die.
In full accordance with our code,
meeting her demise by resisting imprisonment.
This must be...
Deokman's final moment.
We imprisoned them all.
Keep an eye on them,
and then proceed as instructed.
Yes.
Sohwa...
If you wish to survive, speak at once.
You were instigated by Her Highness, right?
Spare my life!
I implore you to spare me!
Are you not the Royal Palace Guard?
Did you not stab His Excellency under Her Highness's orders?
We didn't...
We never...
received any such order.
Yes. As troops were blocking Yeolseon Hall's entrance...
We deserve to perish!
- Behead us all! - Shut your gob!
Fine...
Let us see for how long your vile pretexts will continue.
Spare us!
Spare our lives!
Think this imposture will be enough to make us surrender?
Lord Seolwon...
You are a fellow Hwarang.
How could you engage in such baseborn and vile subterfuges?
Indeed. Vile and baseborn it surely was.
But are we not all trying to help someone to the throne?
Hegemony is all it entails to.
Can any of us ever mention principles or ethics?!
You might not, but I still can!
For the sake of my people and my country,
there is a path I must walk on!
Path?!
Yes.
What are you doing?
What on earth are you doing?
Tell me where Her Highness was headed.
If you fail to do so,
this will be how Alcheon Rang will meet his demise.
Yes.
Stop... Stop it now!
I said stop. Stop!
Kill me in his stead!
Stop... Enough!
I ought to...
What the hell is wrong with you?
Ahh... really.
Aigoo... Listen.
His Majesty himself gave his consent to issue the imprisonment edict.
Give it a rest, Lord Yongchun!
Did you not force that upon him?
Think I would not be aware of that?
Ahhhh... I really...
Milord.
I surely don't want to see my daughter lose her spouse.
If you keep this up,
Yushin Rang will end up dead.
My son-in-law will have to perish!
You knave!
Shut that cantankerous gob of yours!
Ehh... Again with that!
Let us make things easier.
Before everyone else,
"I was not aware of it,
but it was Her Highness's order."
"I was used as well."
If you could only say that...
You loathsome swine...
Ehh... I really ought to...
I couldn't be more stubborn if I tried!
I have had enough of this.
Even if this brings demise to you or my son-in-law,
it will not concern me in any way!
When it comes to pertinacity, you two sure...
I am asking you, Your Excellency.
How could you allow this to happen?
How could two clans united by conjugal ties do this?
Yes... Spare Yushin Rang's life.
Don't you know all too well...
that he would never do something like that?
Lord Seohyeon, Yushin Rang...
Lord Yongchun, Alcheon Rang.
There is no need for all of them to perish.
Getting rid of Her Highness is all we need.
Lord Sejong!
And to achieve that goal...
the both of you...
must stake your lives to convince Lord Seohyeon and Yushin Rang.
Is that understood?
Do I make myself clear?
Alcheon Rang...
Alcheon!
You cannot die.
You can't!
Wake up!
Alcheon Rang!
Alcheon!!
Alcheon Rang...
Wake up.
Alcheon Rang.
We are not ever going to win them over, or gain a confession by questioning.
I did just as you instructed me.
Fine.
Continue observing them, and report back to me.
Yes. Consider it done.
You cannot do so.
How can you head for such a perilous place firsthand?
Stake your life and protect me.
Yeomjong, you must risk yours to protect Chunchu as well.
Is that clear?
Yes, Your Highness.
Unless we take a step forward ourselves,
the royal family will crumble.
I know it is against your principles,
but what is needed from us is resolve and determination.
Yes, I shall follow your wishes.
What Mishil dreads is not the fact she cannot find us,
but the possibility of any retaliation on our part.
By the eventide, mobilize everyone at our disposal,
and make sure we will be ready to execute our mission.
What is the matter?
Father.
As His Majesty's one and only descendant Princess Deokman,
may every courtier and subject of our great nation heed my words.
For staging an armed insurrection, forcibly confining His Majesty...
and unlawfully appropriating the royal seal,
imprison Her Highness Lady Mishil.
Your Highness.
Why are you doing this?
What did Mishil promise you?
Over five thousand elite troops are surrounding us.
Should I howl for help just once, you will never escape this place alive.
Yes...
I am sure we would be the next to perish,
after your lifeless pate graces the ground.
What did Mishil promise you?
Ten thousand sok of land in Sangju, and a seat in the Council of Nobles.
So the price for helping Mishil to the throne...
amounts to some land and a post in the council?!
Mishil to the throne?!
Yes, Mishil.
Mishil will do everything to ascend to the throne.
So you should request more than that.
Had I been Mishil, I would have offered you a lot more.
And I certainly should have done so.
Are you not providing the very cornerstone...
behind Mishil's success?
Hence, you should be entitled to a lot more than that.
Still, should that not suffice,
you can always give me a chance to deal with you.
Her Highness is very adept in trading.
Did you really need to do something so perilous by yourself?
King Jinheung once talked about being bitten by a tiger.
His reaction was not that of removing his arm,
but pushing even deeper inside.
Removing it would have lacerated it,
so he instead suffocated the tiger.
That is the situation I am facing now.
I cannot know whether Lord Jujin can suffocate Mishil's plans,
but until I find what will, I shall keep pushing deeper and deeper.
Wolya is at the Gaya restoration movement's hideout.
Discreetly contact him,
and make sure his men and yours can get together...
and plan a rescue mission for Yushin Rang and Alcheon Rang.
When you go,
take Chunchu with you.
Why Lord Chunchu?
Lord Chunchu or me...
One of the two must survive.
Yes.
I will.
Kill us instead!
It is not the time...
Yet.
What is it that you want?
That throne.
And only now?!
Only now you covet the throne?
Had you become our ruler a lot earlier,
I would have never abandoned Deokman,
and I would have not lost Cheonmyeong as well.
And you would not have been forced to abandon your son, either.
But... now...
Only now you do?!
Are you not too late already?
Yes.
It might indeed be the case.
You have never dreamed before.
But now you come here...
and appropriate someone else's dreams?
Sire!
But, what else can I do,
if that is the dream I most fervently aspire for?
That of ruling this nation.
Her Highness Lady Mishil graces you all.
After questioning council members Seohyeon and Yongchun...
along with Chief Alcheon and the Pungwolju, Yushin,
they revealed that Her Highness Princess Deokman...
instigated the attempt on His Excellency's life.
Hence, princess as she may be,
His Majesty issued an edict to staunchly condemn...
this despicable affront against our country's very foundation.
Hence, not only we shall put more effort into capturing Her Highness,
but any and all sympathizers in the court shall be eradicated from power.
As a result, from this moment on,
I proclaim the establishment of a national crisis committee to protect our nation.
National crisis committee?!
Part of this council will be the Sangdaedeung, Sejong,
Commissioner of the Board of Military Affairs, Seolwon,
and finally, Beholder of the Royal Seal, Mishil.
As an apparatus under His Majesty's direct control,
this committee will supplant the council of nobles in terms of authority.
Also, the committee shall investigate all treacherous sympathizers...
and deal with any threat to our national security firsthand,
while its leader will be delegated by His Majesty to act on his behalf,
position which our ruler entrusted to yours truly.
Mishil will do everything to ascend to the throne.
So it was indeed Mishil.
She schemed this all.
If I may...
May you confirm just one detail for us all.
Yes, go ahead.
Then, I shall speak.
Yes... Tell me.
We would like to verify how serious His Majesty's conditions are,
and whether that edict...
was indeed signed by him.
Yes.
May you continue.
The royal seal might indeed grace this edict,
but Her Highness Princess Deokman is His Majesty's lone descendant,
not to mention her sacred bone lineage.
You will pardon my momentary lack of decorum,
for the situation slightly embittered me.
What have you knaves done all this time?
Occupied with coveting personal riches and protecting your status,
I served King Jinheung, King Jinji and His Majesty,
carrying all the weight of this country on my shoulders!
His Majesty's lone descendant,
and her precious sacred bone lineage!
Did that protect this country?
No, Mishil! Yours truly did!
I sacrificed body and soul...
to protect this Heavenly Kingdom of ours!
Should anyone think otherwise,
speak right here and now.
For from here on in,
not uttering a word about lineage and ancestry...
would be in your best interests.
As Chief of the National Crisis Committee acting on His Majesty's behalf,
I hereby proclaim martial law.
From here on in, no party larger than five people shall gather within capital walls,
and, with the exception of military officials,
carrying weapons will not be allowed.
Is that clear?
What is that saying?
The atmosphere in the market suddenly got cloudier.
This is strange.
But, did you not see that proclamation last night?
Last night?!
What proclamation?
I recall vividly,
Her Highness's name was on it.
Her Highness?! You mean Princess Deokman?
Who else?
But it talked about apprehending Lady Mishil.
Is that not peculiar?
Lady Mishil issued an order to arrest the princess on His Majesty's behalf,
but now Her Highness is clamoring for her imprisonment?!
Take these varmints away at once!
Yes!
W...Wait!!
What is the matter?
You defied martial law!
- What... - Did you not read that...
any gathering of over five people will be apprehended?
Escort them!
Yes!
Seokpum Rang and Bakeui Rang,
I shall proclaim you as officers of the Board of Military Affairs.
We are whelmed by gratitude.
You shall from now on command our troops,
and keep an eye on all the courtiers' movements.
Yes.
Was there any suspicious movement by the Hwarang?
Nothing yet.
Continue observing them,
and should anyone foment discontent, report immediately.
Yes.
Observe all the courtiers' movements?!
Did His Majesty really give them his consent?
Nobody has seen him as of late.
That is something for Her Highness to deal with.
Did she ever act against principle even once?
What is that supposed to mean?
What happened to my father?!
That is what I have heard.
He participated in the meeting at the council hall,
how could he have perished?
I don't know the details with certainty,
but hasten and see for yourself.
Are you aware of anything?
What are you referring to?
Did not Lord Jujin mobilize his troops as well?
With something of this gravity afflicting the capital,
is it not natural Sangju's troops would be needed here?
Are you sure they deployed only after the fact?
They didn't depart in advance?
What are you insinuating?
But tell me, Deokchung,
your father is a council member...
No, my father seems to know nothing himself.
By chance...
What is it?
By any chance...
Did you receive a communication as well?
Did you?
I did.
And you?
Me, too.
I have never witnessed Lady Mishil acting against principle before.
Even in regards to the attempt on His Excellency's life,
I believe it was a subterfuge by Her Highness...
because the council was deliberating upon ousting her from power.
But...
There is something suspicious about this.
Not only what happened to Wangyun Rang's father,
but there are way too many strange occurrences as of late.
Right.
The armed violation of Yeolseon Hall, the attempt on His Excellency's life...
They all were driven by circumstancial evidence,
but don't you know none of this was proven with clarity?
Lord Hojae still has not made his return to the capital?
*Yangsan, South Gyeongsang
Did he not say he would visit his father in Yangju*?
Some argument at this juncture certainly wouldn't hurt.
~ Yangju Administration ~
This is what Her Highness Lady Mishil sent me.
Is this not an order to imprison Princess Deokman?
~ Hojae's father ~ (Commander of Yangju Battalion)
But...
I received another message, this time in Princess Deokman's name.
Mishil?!
Imprison...
Lady Mishil warned me against any resistance,
but now that I received two conflicting orders, what can I do?
How... How could this...
Were it not for Your Excellency,
Princess Deokman's forces would have brought great harm to Lord Sejong.
All I did was surrounding the palace with my troops.
Don't say that. Do you realize how much support that meant for us?
Yes... So may you proclaim him as council member,
and summon him to the capital.
Of course.
However, as my roots remain in Sangju...
Don't all the nobles in Seorabeol share that with you?
Did they not leave their land and troops in the provinces,
and all moved to the capital?
Y...es.
Indeed.
Arrange it immediately.
Yes.
They are proclaiming me as council member.
Then, should you not move to Seorabeol?
What about all your troops?
The possession of weapons is not allowed inside the capital,
so I will have to leave my troops in Sangju.
But, that...
Is akin to cutting my limbs.
Mishil will do everything to ascend to the throne.
Princess Deokman...
We must summon anyone with a strong armed contingent near the capital.
Yes... You are suggesting we separate them from their troops.
Yes.
They will all follow the tide anyhow.
Should we continue to maintain this kind of authority,
we could easily force His Majesty to abdicate the throne.
Yes.
The issue is Deokman...
Deokman alone.
Lord Chilsuk seems to have found a way, so let us await.
Is he the one?
Yes.
He is one of Yeomjong's men.
He collapsed during questioning,
and after pretending to acknowledge his death,
we got rid of him like the others.
Did you make sure he was inveigled?
Yes, it all went as you instructed us.
He is going that way.
Master...
Gicheon!
What happened to you...
Look outside, see if anyone trailed him!
Yes.
Helping them escape is the only way,
but that would be much too perilous.
We must rescue Yushin and Alcheon at all cost.
Who is there?
Wolya Rang!
Wolya Rang.
Ah...
Are you not Jukbang?
Her Highness?
Where is she?
Go ahead and eat.
Bidam will escort you to her.
Yes, have some.
Mother!
Your Highness...
His Majesty?
How is His Majesty?
His Majesty...
Here.
How about it?
Worth giving it a try.
Yes.
Seems like this might be our best option.
See? I told you.
Fine.
We shall do it tonight.
What are they doing?
Let's go.
Shall we charge?
They infiltrated the capital to rescue Yushin and Alcheon?
Yes.
Disguised as troops.
How many?
Six.
Release Yushin alone.
Yes.
I will.
Wait...
Is he dead?
Wake up...
Someone here has died!
Someone has died!
- Yushin Rang! - Yushin Rang...
Yushin Rang.
- Yushin Rang! - Yushin Rang...
Someone has died!
I said someone died!
One died here as well!
Another here!
- Someone has died! - Silence!
Verify whether they are dead or not.
Yes.
He is dead!
- This one, too! - This one as well.
Ehh...
Take them out of the cells.
Yes.
Your Highness!
For starters, it seems like we successfully infiltrated the premises.
Is that so?
We loaded them all.
Are you sure it's four corpses?
Yes, definitely.
Leave.
Yes.
Halt!
Ohh Ohh!
What is this?
They are corpses.
Continue.
Yushin.
Over there.
Should I take some men and continue trailing them?
Do not disperse our force. What really matters...
is the princess.
Then...
All battalions...
shall surround the area.
Yes.
Surround the premises!
Your Highness.
Y...ushin Rang.
Your Highness...
Yushin Rang.
Who is there?
Your Highness...
This is terrible.
We are completely surrounded...
Your Highness.
Let us end this once and for all.
~ On The Next Episode Of ~ QUEEN ~*~ SEONDEOK
All Hwarang will rise in revolt.
So did you all make up your mind?
Her Highness is the keeper of the Hwarang.
Even if Mishil learns of it, she will not be able to stop it.
Your Majesty.
The public questioning has begun.
May you follow us.
Did you see it as well?
This?
The only reason we followed her was because...
she never acted against principle.
Rescue His Majesty.
Are you not engaging in much too dangerous utterances?
Her Highness has created a commotion, a commotion indeed!
What are you talking about, Uncle?
Are you telling me the Hwarang are appealing to His Majesty?
He's right... His Majesty...
Are you really saying that Mishil was going to stage an insurrection?