Queen Seon Deok
Enjoy:)
If the leading light of our Hwarang, the Gukseon says so,
then, for the Hwarang...
it will be the end.
Episode 35
Gukseon!
Speak at once.
Is what I just witnessed...
just an illusion of mine?
Gukseon!!
I plead innocence!
I fought to the best of my abilities!
Shut that vile gob of yours!
I am asking the Gukseon!
I, Gukseon Munno,
as a man whose hands have been forever graced with the sacred Hwarang sword,
I admit dubiety over this contest's legitimacy.
Hwarang competitions are a sacred rite.
Not only they shall be devoid of any suspicions and venality,
but the Pungwolju must represent the Hwarang with his strength and fortitude.
Therefore I, the Gukseon,
shall not acknowledge this contest.
*Female leader of the Hwarang
The Wonhwa*, Her Highness Lady Mishil,
the Hwarang's keeper, Her Highness Princess Deokman,
current Pungwolju Hojae,
Wonsanghwa Chilsuk,
and the Gukseon Munno.
The aforementioned five people...
shall deliberate upon this matter.
May the aforementioned people gather at the Pungwolju headquarters.
As the Wonsanghwa and Gukseon did not acknowledge the contest,
we are forced to invalidate its outcome.
How shall we proceed?
First, I must extend my deepest apologies as the Gukseon.
I have no excuses.
How could this sacred ceremony be so guilefully besmirched?!
I think I can comprehend your disciple, Bidam's actions.
As this contest would decide the next Pungwolju,
had Bidam Rang vanquished all his foes,
Bidam Rang, Yushin Rang and Bojong Rang's score would be tied,
forcing us to resort to a vote of public confidence,
so there was a good chance both he and Yushin Rang could have failed.
Considering his affinity with Yushin Rang,
would it not be something he did out of the desire...
to allow a compeer to become Pungwolju?!
It is but the result of youthly enthusiasm,
so let us not excessively chastise him.
However!
The issue must be the insolence he displayed...
towards the Wonsanghwa and Gukseon.
You still don't understand?
How many times do I have to explain something so easy?!
- One more time... - Enough with that "one time"!
That's all you've been saying to me!
I will explain for the very last time, so heed carefully.
Here...
So this is Yushin Rang.
And Bidam Rang.
They are mutual compeers.
But winning for Bidam would not make him the Pungwolju anyhow.
So he lost on purpose, is that it?
Ehh... That I cannot say,
but that is what he is accused of,
by the Wonsanghwa and Gukseon.
Ahh... Then, if they are both expelled,
does this Al...cheon Rang win the competition or something?
I said that would be Bojong!
What have you been listening to?
Ahh... Right...
Anyhow... this... Yushin Rang,
and that... Bi... Bi what?!
"What?! What?!" Bi what? Bi what?!
- Bi... Bi... - Bidam! Bidam!
All right...
Anyhow, that Bidam...
manipulated the outcome, so they are both out.
How would I know that? I told you they're deliberating about it.
So that Bidam or something, is he really Mishil's son?
Ahh...
Why are you so feeble-minded?!
I said that's Bojong!
That... Bidam...
He is a pupil of the Gukseon, a pupil!
That's Bidam!
Is that so?
I ought to...
Aigoo... I...
For the very last time, listen well.
Uh?
See.
The four remaining contenders were Alcheon,
Yushin, Bidam...
and finally Bojong.
But this Bojong is Her Highness Lady Mishil's son.
Uh?
But this son of...
Daenambo Rang.
- I could not find him there, either. - You must find him.
Yes. Let's go.
Anyhow...
Where on earth did he go?
Would disqualifying both Yushin and Bidam...
and letting semifinalists Alcheon and Bojong fight in their stead satisfy you?
Bidam might be suspected of manipulating the outcome,
but Yushin Rang reached the finals...
with nary a shred of malfeasance.
Was there anything perplexing about Yushin Rang's contests?
Yushin Rang was fighting for his life.
Are we abandoning our own sense of shame...
just to make Yushin Rang the next Pungwolju, Your Highness?
Careful with that parlance of yours, Your Highness.
Two hands need to beat together to make any noise, don't they?!
But now are you trying to merely disqualify Bidam,
and accord Yushin Rang the victory?
We shall not allow Yushin to win the competition in this manner.
That is not what I wish for, either.
But we must make sure that Yushin Rang is subjected to no detriment,
particularly after giving his all throughout the competition.
Then, how shall we proceed?
Then,
how about this?
We hereby announce that the finals between Yushin Rang and Bidam Rang...
have been considered illegitimate by the council I presided.
That is unfair!
If you foment suspicions regarding my conduct,
then I should be the one to bear the consequences!
Yushin Rang gave his all to win.
Bidam Rang, obey your orders!
It is already decided upon!
Hence,
this is the council's conclusion.
Bidam Rang...
shall be eliminated from this contest.
You shall be questioned on your misdeed at a later date,
so I hereby order you to leave the premises.
Also,
Yushin Rang...
shall once again compete.
Compete again?!
And against whom?
Will it be Alcheon Rang?
Or Bojong Rang?
Anyhow, they both lost. How can they reach the finals?
Right? It makes no sense.
Yushin Rang's contender...
will be the Wonsanghwa, Lord Chilsuk.
No way.
By now, Yushin Rang will have a hard time walking.
And they want him to fight the Wonsanghwa?!
I shall attack you ten times.
If you manage to endure my offensive through all ten attempts,
I shall acknowledge your victory.
Ten times?!
Against Lord Chilsuk?!
It is over.
It is a foregone conclusion, is that not right?
In those conditions, blocking him even once will be arduous.
Should Yushin Rang fail to endure his ten attacks,
we will conclude this event as a no contest,
and decide the competition's winner through a vote of confidence...
involving the winners of the first two events, Yushin Rang and Bojong Rang.
It is done.
Bojong will become Pungwolju.
The contest shall begin now!
Pairing Yushin Rang and the Wonsanghwa, Chilsuk,
may the final event of this competition commence!
What?
Yushin Rang and Chilsuk?!
Do we even need to see how it will end?
He doesn't have to vanquish him,
but just endure Chilsuk's offensive ten times,
in which case he'll be acknowledged as the winner.
Still, he is dealing with Chilsuk.
Unless it is Munno, who could ever face Chilsuk?
Yushin Rang...
It is over.
All in one strike, just one.
Of course it is.
How could he block him in those conditions?
Just holding that wooden stick itself is remarkable.
Bojong Rang will become the next Pungwolju, then.
If he reached the finals, fatigue should get the better of him.
Not to mention, blocking him ten times?!
It is unfeasible.
Yushin will have fought fiercely contested bouts on his way to the finals,
and his body will certainly be paying the price.
How could he endure that?
Ehhh...
In the end, that Bojong will become the next Pungwolju.
Even if Bidam alone was responsible,
they begrimed the legacy of our sacred competition,
so they dug their own graves.
How could they engage in such...
You were blessed by providence, since there were no duels back then.
If such were not the case, how could you become Pungwolju?
Are you adding yourself to my list of quandaries, now?
Ahh... the curiosity is killing me.
I will have to head there myself.
Yushin Rang...
Yushin Rang.
In the final contest against the Wonsanghwa,
Yushin Rang was not able to...
Enough...
Stop it.
Stop, Yushin...
If this keeps up, it will kill him.
Yus...Yushin Rang...
Yushin Rang!
Yushin Rang...
Stop, I beg you...
We must stop this.
It will kill him!
That noxious little...
How relentless can you get?
What?
What is it?
Yushin...
That will suffice.
Now... let yourself go. I beg you.
Endure it!
Don't let go, Yushin!
Do not give up!
Yushin Rang!
You must endure it!
Endure it! Don't give up!
Don't let go...
Yushin Rang! You can do it! Get up!
How many did he go through? Nine, right?
It is the last one. Just one more!
Yushin Rang, be strong!
It is...
It is not over yet.
It is over.
In the final contest between the Wonsanghwa, Lord Chilsuk,
and Yushin Rang of the Dragon Flower Guild,
Yushin Rang...
could not endure ten consecutive attacks.
- Therefore, this contest... - ...will end with my defeat!
Yushin Rang's very last stroke...
hit me right here.
Had it been a real blade hitting me,
it would have pierced through my stomach!
Chilsuk the Wonsanghwa was vanquished.
The victory belongs to Yushin Rang!
Why did you suddenly announce your defeat?
If I could not acknowledge defeat,
how could I ever call myself a Hwarang?
Aigoo... You're driving me crazy.
Aigoo...
Ehh... I should have witnessed it firsthand.
Then, does it not mean Yushin Rang will become Pungwolju?
How will we deal with this, now?
That is what I'm saying, Father!
Seeing how everyone is reacting just drives me crazy.
Aigoo...
Worry about yourself, my dear nephew... Aigoo...
Have a seat.
Why did you do so?
What?
Why did you support Yushin Rang?
Because I am a Hwarang.
Anyone wearing these garments would have felt the same,
witnessing all that.
Yushin Rang...
Is he all right?
He was treated right after fainting.
The physician says he is now asleep.
Here...
Continue what you were saying.
Yes... So...
Here, I will explain for you with the utmost clarity,
so listen well.
For starters, we have Her Highness Lady Mishil and her followers.
And of course Her Highness Princess Deokman has some of her own.
But with Yushin Rang becoming Pungwolju...
That Yu...shin Rang or something is one of Lady Mishil's followers?!
Ahh...
I told you already!
Yushin Rang follows the Princess, Bojong Rang is with Lady Mishil.
How many times do I have to...
Ohh...
This won't do it.
Follow after me, all right?
So, Yushin Rang is on Princess Deokman's side.
Yushin Rang is on Princess Deokman's side.
Indeed. Bojong Rang is on Lady Mishil's side.
Bojong Rang... is on Lady Mishil's side.
Yes! Alone... alone, try by yourself.
So, Yushin Rang is...
on Princess... Deokman...
Indeed, indeed he is.
And Bojong Rang on Mishil's side.
Yes, yes!
You know you can do well, why keep pestering me...
Then, I will go ahead and...
If you could be so benevolent to give me another,
I would have plenty more to talk about.
It is a secret.
Originally, Her Highness Princess Deokman did not know...
Yushin was able to endure it.
I was suspecting so myself, hearing the noise.
Lord Chilsuk's victory would have never been welcomed that way.
Meseems you are no longer of any use here.
Leave with me.
Arrange our departure.
But, what is capturing your thoughts?
Yushin Rang is whom I was thinking about.
Yes, he keeps coming to mind indeed.
That fighting spirit which sent the entire exhibition hall seething with jubilation.
My days as a Hwarang during King Jinheung's reign came to mind.
*Kim Sadaham (547-564), Lord Geochilbu's great-grandson and famous Hwarang
Munno, Your Highness, I, and Sadaham*.
The days when youthful spirit blessed us all.
Yes, I felt so myself.
However...
That is what afflicts me.
The thought that what you and I felt is the same as everyone else.
Through this competition, Yushin Rang will have matured...
both personally, and in the eyes of everyone.
Were you not trying to excommunicate me?
You wished to do so.
It was only to do so that, at the competition,
you acknowledged me as your pupil.
You wretched fool...
I cannot understand what I ever did wrong.
What is this great achievement you, Her Highness and Kim Yushin...
have been so fervently preparing?!
Compared to that, it was but a trifling competition.
If that contest was fought fairly,
think that Yushin would have vanquished me?
Then,
what would the result have been?
One win each for Kim Yushin, Bojong, and me!
One fruitless victory for me as well.
And that would have made Bojong our new Pungwolju.
Hence?!
Are not those grandiose achievements something for the sake of all creation?
With such aspirations leading us,
must we allow such trifling issues to obstruct our path?
Just to protect that measly pride and the rules it so imperiously clamors for,
must we ignore the pleas of all creation?
Methinks your path will still be a long and arduous one.
Plenty are the notions I must impart upon you.
I shall no longer follow your lead.
Excommunicate me.
Did I not besmirch my own mentor's legacy?
A disciple of the Gukseon was involved in an illegitimate contest.
Did I not tell you?
Too many are the things you must learn,
before I can ever consider excommunicating you.
Follow me.
As glory lies at the end,
did you say no trifling issues can be allowed to sway our journey?
You contemptible weakling.
Exactly because one's journey to glory is laden with obstacles, grandiose achievements lie at its end.
And,
even if you gave your all,
I am not so sure you would have vanquished Yushin.
And I thought you were blessed with wisdom and resourcefulness.
One, the spurious effrontery of believing nobody would contend with your fighting skills.
Two, the impudence of believing nobody would notice you,
belittling the name of our Wonsanghwa and Gukseon.
Do you believe impudence and effrontery caused my failure?
The third one must hold the key, methinks.
Selfish whims and ostentation drenched this stratagem of yours.
Just like a gallant juvenile screaming at his belle,
"Look at me! There is nothing I will not do for your sake!"
Well, to that extent...
Or, perhaps...
the puerile ostentation of a child asking his parents for attention?
Yushin Rang?! How is he?
You!
Know what you've done?
Forgive me... I really feel bad about it.
I never imagined it would come to this.
Your Highness, I deeply apologize.
All I wanted was to make things right.
And you still...
Alcheon Rang.
Leave us alone for a moment.
Yes.
Your Highness.
I ask for forgiveness.
Wipe that smile.
You pledged allegiance to me as your ruler.
And then you defied my wishes.
Should that repeat itself,
never again you shall meet me.
I acted with imprudence.
It will never happen again.
May you forgive me, Your Highness.
I am not the person you used to know.
You must live up to that pledge at all cost.
I told you what the consequences would be.
Yes, Your Highness.
It shall never happen again.
How is your wound?
What could this much do to me...
By the way,
Yushin Rang really gave his all.
Everyone was filled with praise and admiration for him.
So will Yushin Rang become Pungwolju?
Anyone who was present at that contest...
will find it impossible not to acknowledge his feats.
Really?
I was so concerned things might go wrong because of me...
Ahh! I should have been there! He must have really dazzled everyone.
How many times did you ask already?
What I'm saying is...
After Princess Cheonmyeong perished,
most befuddling occurrences started happening.
Indeed, indeed!
Suddenly, this eclipse graces us all,
creating a frenzied uproar.
And, during nightfall,
birds gleaming with light flew over Princess Cheonmyeong's quarters.
And did it stop at that?!
Some people even swear they saw Her Highness.
So Princess Cheonmyeong did in fact ascend to the heavens.
Enough!
That is all thanks to Princess Deokman's fervent pleas...
Yes, indeed!
Would not that mean Princess Cheonmyeong protected Her Highness?!
Were Princess Deokman's pleas that fervent?
- Of course! - Obviously!
Quiet!
She lost the sister she met after two decades,
think of how...
How many... quandaries might be afflicting her soul.
- Stop! - Let go!
This is really important.
The woman Princess Deokman knew as her mother,
so, her nursemaid was in fact this servant named Sohwa!
Sister.
Yushin Rang did it.
And in no time...
Chunchu will come back as well.
Since Lord Chunchu might be in the capital already,
Lord Yongchun ordered us to find him.
A few people saw Daenambo Rang during the contest,
but I thought they confused him with someone else.
All the members of the Flying White Tiger Guild returned from Sui territory.
Was Daenambo Rang together with them?
No. He was rummaging the market.
We must hasten.
Summon all the others.
Uh?!
And what is that supposed to mean?!
He vanished?!
He clamored for a brief respite,
and entered a tavern.
Is there anything you can do properly?
If you passed Mount Geumoh, it was right behind the corner anyhow,
even if he asked to rest, you should have escorted him here!
That... Lord Chunchu... Anyhow, he is no ordinary specimen.
Are you telling me you are free from blame?
Find him, and immediately bring him to the palace.
If you fail to find him again,
my sister will not be the problem.
I shall make you pay for it with your life.
Yes. If you'll excuse me...
But...
Did you act as instructed?
What did you tell Lord Chunchu?
~ 1 Year Earlier (Sui Territory) ~
I deserve to perish.
My misdeeds are too harrowing for demise to cleanse them.
May it be your blade what takes my life, Milord.
May you slay this malefactor.
Enough.
All right.
I shall head to Seorabeol.
Arrange for my departure.
Did you not come to escort me there?
Milord!
But...
Leave.
I said leave.
You clamored for him to slay you, and he wanted you to arrange his departure?!
Yes. Even on our way to Seorabeol, he did not mention it again.
Is that so?
The man responsible for his mother's death is before him,
and he no longer has anything to say?!
Is he that much of a halfwit?
Daenambo!
You and I...
have something left to deal with.
They say Princess Cheonmyeong's demise...
was but an accident.
However,
may even the entire creation believe so,
don't you and I know the truth?
How could you still be standing before me?
Should you not have taken your life in repentance?
What is it you want?
I reached the competition's semifinal round, yesterday.
I am not in suitable conditions.
Should you not take the opportunity...
and slay me now, while you still can?
How can Hwarang deport themselves in this manner, for everyone to see?
Her Highness Princess Cheonmyeong...
perished a sacred bone, at a mountain recess.
I have had enough. Let us return to the palace.
Where have you been?
I have been looking for you all over.
I might not know your name,
but this man and I have something left to deal with.
This "something" you must deal with,
is it by any chance what you mentioned?
If such is indeed the case,
I have already granted him my forgiveness.
And whom might you be...
Pay your respects.
He is Princess Cheonmyeong's legitimate descendant,
Lord Chunchu.
Your Highness.
Lord Chunchu has made his return.
Really?
To... To the palace?
Yes.
Your Majesties must have been engulfed by grief.
Chunchu...
You grew up this much?!
Your Highness.
Is Chunchu inside?
He is not.
He had audience with His Majesty, and headed to Your Highness's quarters.
He headed there to meet me.
Me...
Sister!
Sister...
Chunchu.
Yes, Mother.
For the time being,
we will be apart.
For how long, Mother?
For ten nights?
Or twenty?
It will be...
for much longer than that.
Are you heading to Sui territory?
You truly...
are Chunchu.
I... I just...
I am your aunt.
The sister of your birth mother, Princess Cheonmyeong.
I am Chunchu.
Sister...
You...
are indeed Chunchu.
You're Cheonmyeong's son.
You...
Why are you using these quarters?
There should be plenty of much more suitable rooms.
Right...
These were your mother's quarters.
If you don't want me to, I shall move elsewhere.
I had heard you were suffering from maladies,
so how are you faring now?
Was that long and arduous trip hard to endure?
I shall do everything your mother was not able to.
On her stead, I shall...
"A snowdrift has been sweltering Seorabeol the last few days,"
"I wonder how things are over there."
"So vast and filled with manifold faces might these kingly walls be,"
"but there is nary a visage I truly wish to see."
"It only whelms my body and soul with even more biting cold."
"Today marks the day you were born."
"Next year..."
"I wish we could spend your birthday together."
"I wonder if the garments I sent through the envoys fit you well."
"As meager as my skills might be,"
"think of them as a sincere gift from your mother, and wear them."
"Fulfill your own wishes."
"If you keep doing so, I shall summon you next year."
"I miss you more than you imagine, Chunchu."
Next year... next year.
Next year.
At first, I worried whether we would ever meet.
But later, concern turned into angst.
I pledged to myself I would resent her, if I ever got the chance to meet her.
Chunchu.
But...
now the object of such resentment is no longer with us,
so how diverting is this?!
Chunchu...
Listen to me.
I have heard of all the devotion you showed for her at the shrine.
Also,
you said you would take care of me in her stead.
Like your mother I might not be, but I shall do all my best to...
I will make this clear once and for all.
Do not so vaingloriously bask in my mother's glory.
If there is anyone who can take my mother's place, it is not you,
but none other than myself,
Kim Chunchu.
You shall not inherit anything which belonged to Princess Cheonmyeong.
I heard that Your Highness, just like me,
came to Seorabeol from afar.
What feelings led you here?
And...
what intents could have led myself here?!
I shall escort you.
No, I have other plans.
Let us go.
What?
Did you not tell me you would show me all the sights and sounds of the capital?
Yes, I will escort you.
Let us go.
His Highness Lord Chunchu.
Ahh... Lord Chunchu.
How arduous a journey it must have been,
my name is Misaeng.
I shall pave the way.
Meseems that Mishil is brimming with greed.
What are you saying?
Considering you are by my side,
how could I ever claim I was not blessed by divine providence?
You are flattering me.
Nonetheless,
divine providence is an alluring gift I would never stop wishing for.
The Pungwolju deliberation will take place in the morrow?!
Yes.
In regards to Yushin Rang, I arranged everything.
It shall go right as you wish for.
Sister.
So Chunchu has returned?
Yes, Sister.
I shall continue meeting him, and bring our schemes to fruition.
You may seek audience with him then.
As you wish.
You cannot imagine what impression Daenambo gave His Highness.
He was all Lord Chunchu was looking for.
Is that so?
We salute Your Excellency.
Let us head to Yeolseon Hall.
A council meeting on your investiture will take place.
Hwarang Yushin salutes you all.
Then, the council meeting...
to proclaim the fifteenth Pungwolju shall commence.
This Pungwolju election was decided...
through three events of a competition,
as our sacred mores command.
Yes.
Hwarang Yushin...
was victorious in two of three events to nominate our next Pungwolju.
Hence,
Yushin Rang has gained the right to be proclaimed Pungwolju.
Yes, he surely did.
The combative spirit and resolve he displayed during that duel...
gave justice to our Hwarang legacy.
But, before we proceed,
there is something I must verify first.
The refugees who inhabited the Gaya village south of Seorabeol...
*Current Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province
were forcibly deported to Samnyangju*.
Where is the majority of those refugees sent to Samnyangju, Yushin Rang?
Lord Seolwon.
What are you trying to imply?
Yes, Your Highness.
Pungwolju are obliged to quell every suspicion with utmost clarity.
The Board of Military Affairs recently found that...
*Current Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province
a significant number of such refugees inhabits Amnyangju*,
the land belonging to Kim Yushin's clan.
Yushin Rang.
The Gaya refugees who were forcibly deported from Samnyangju...
not only answered divine command,
but also paid the price of being suspected to be part of the Gaya Restoration Movement.
How could those refugees be inhabiting your own land?
Also,
we have information suggesting the restoration movement...
began its activities once again from there.
Your lineage is of strong Gaya ancestry.
Can you explain what all this entails to?
~ On the Next Episode of ~ QUEEN ~*~ SEONDEOK
It is a lamentable and unjust measure.
I just want us to find a way.
Looks like he wants to make you the Pungwolju.
Lord Chunchu. Let us enter.
Believe in your eternal companion.
Will you show me your hands?
Turn around, and raise your hair above your head.
I shall now join your side.
My side?!
My side?
I cannot become like Mishil.
If I had been blessed by youth, I would have done so myself.
How lamentable it is!
I could not even...
tell Yushin Rang what I feel about him.
Then, marry into our clan.
Just because I never told you,
think I never fomented anything for you?
That is up for you to decide.
And me?
It is a path you must walk alone.