Post by ajk on Aug 10, 2012 23:09:31 GMT -5
What got Deokman's attention at such a crucial moment? Cheonmyeong and Yushin. They've shown up. How the heck did they know where Deokman and Maya would be meeting? (UGH.) Deokman apologizes to the princess for disobeying the order to go to Mount Jungak. "But I have to know." Turns to the queen and says, "The girl with the royal dagger is" and Cheonmyeong instantly interrupts her. Tries to stop her from saying anything...but Deokman wants so badly to know, the princess finally relents and spills it: The queen is your mother. Then turns to Maya. "Deokman is a girl." Maya says nothing; she looks confused and skeptical, what with a Hwarang standing there in front of her. "A girl. Your daughter." Now the two of them, mother and daughter, are standing there wide-eyed and gasping, trying to make sense out of everything that Cheonmyeong starts throwing at them. "The sister taken from us when she was born. My twin sister." Deokman flat-out doesn't believe it. Maya isn't so sure, but Cheonmyeong's absolute certainly is starting to sell her. "The girl with the dagger. Who snuck in the appeal." Maya looks more and more convinced..."Who grew up believing your maid Sohwa was her mother." Ooh, that last one clicks with Deokman; now her face is starting to show belief. "Who Mishil's Hwarang Chilsuk nearly killed." Now Maya's convinced. Tearfully she takes Deokman's hand: "Are you?...Could you?..." Deokman is either too overwhelmed or else doesn't want to accept it. Shaking and in disbelief: "I'm a lowly trainee. The princess is having a little joke." Yeah, that's Cheonmyeong, she's a real laugh-riot. "To make a point." As in, some sort of scare tactic for Deokman's disobedience. "I'll go to Mount Jungak. I'll go." And tries to run away. But the queen's crying stops her in her tracks. "I didn't even have time to give you a name," as the sorrow and long-held-back pain pours out of her. "She named you Deokman." Now she's not the queen, just a mom overcome with maternal feelings. "No," Deokman says to herself; "it can't have been me." Then loudly, "It's not me!" And runs away...but happens to run in the direction where Yushin has been standing quietly. He looks at her and shakes his head no, as in, you're wrong and it's all true. By now the queen is completely falling apart, crying and shouting "Stop her! Get her back!" Yushin turns and goes after Deokman.
She didn't go far, just around the corner. She's pacing around angrily, convinced (or else just wanting to believe, which may be more likely) that Cheonmyeong used everything Deokman had confided to her about her past and turned it against her just for disobeying this one order. "I'm sorry," Yushin quietly says, and that stops her cold. What for? I can't help you deal with this and I wish I could..."But everything the princess said is true." She looks at him, silent and wide-eyed; clearly his words carry weight with her. "You're her younger sister." With that Deokman drops to the ground. She sits staring straight ahead, trembling just slightly, and with a look on her face that almost makes you think her head is actually going to explode.
Cheonmyeong explains to her mother how she figured this all out. About Deokman looking for Munno; knowing that a man named Chilsuk had tried to kill her and her mother; about the identical birthmarks. Maya wants to talk to Deokman immediately, but Cheonmyeong asks her to give Deokman some time to absorb all this and to be sympathetic to what she must be going through.
Cheonmyeong goes and finds Deokman, head intact, slumped on the ground. Tries to make some small talk about how sitting on the ground like that "isn't very princessy" but Deokman wants none of it. She stares straight ahead. "Why did they abandon me?" And why did Mishil want me dead? Looks like she's accepted the news...but now she wants answers. Cheonmyeong kneels next to her, and explains about the twins prophecy and how "Mishil would have used the prophecy to depose our mother and make herself queen." Through clenched teeth Deokman grumbles, "Things haven't changed much"; she's still under the incorrect impression that it was Jinpyeong who ordered the death of the holder of Jinheung's dagger. "I should have gone to Rome with Cartan," she says with frustration and regret; "at least I'd have been happy." Gets up and starts to leave yet again, and this time she does leave, stomping away in frustration.
She goes back to the DFers' quarters, where everyone is sleeping, and packs up a few more things...but Yushin follows her in there and grabs her as she tries to leave. And he won't let go. She raises a stink, which wakes up the whole bunch of them. Yushin orders everybody out, and they go, surprisingly quickly. Now Deokman launches into a rant: after all I survived through, and finally finding a home here, now I don't even belong here? I'm a burden and an embarrassment...Again she starts to storm away, but Yushin grabs her and hugs her tightly, at the same time telling her he'll have her locked up if she makes trouble. She stops ranting and starts crying.
Still the same evening, and he's led her out into the countryside. Uh-oh, this is Mount Yeoam--the moonlight reveals the poor, innocent rock that Yushin can't stop abusing. He tells her this is a good place to come to clear your head. "Me, I like to smack this rock a few times. Maybe you can find some peace here." Tells her there's a cabin nearby. Deokman calmly says she'll stay there and not to worry about her going anywhere. So Yushin leaves...gets a short distance, and then hears Deokman wailing plaintively, now completely shattered by the giant bomb that's been dropped on her.
"Where were you last night?" It's the next morning, in the royal chambers, and Jinpyeong is asking his wife. "You seem upset." She denies it, but poorly. She's not going to tell him? Apparently not...but now Cheonmyeong enters. Her father tells her that her mother didn't sleep well last night. "Not that she'll tell me why. Maybe you know?" Silence. He asks again for the truth. So Cheonmyeong awkwardly starts to talk, but Maya cuts her off with a lie about her father Lord Bokseung wanting to see her over some family issue. "You've got so much on your mind lately," I didn't want you to worry about this too. I don't think he bought it...but his attendant reminds him that it's time for his morning rituals, so he gets up and leaves. "I was sure you would have told him," Cheonmyeong says to her mother. Why didn't she? "A father is different than a mother," she explains; especially a king. That decision he had to make on the spot on the twins' birthday, how hard it was...and how much more complicated it is now. Why more complicated now? "Didn't you know? Sohwa has returned." And now, way too late, Cheonmyeong flashes back and connects the small portrait that Deokman showed her in Episode 15 with the face of the woman who suddenly appeared in front of her in the royal shrine in Episode 16. Big piece of news...but Cheonmyeong has one just as big in return: "Chilsuk's back." Explains to her mother about Deokman coming back to Shilla to find out about her past. Now it's mom's turn: We have Sohwa hidden in the palace. Cheonmyeong immediately wants to see Sohwa, but Maya refuses, at least for the moment--"Something doesn't feel right." Right now, mom is worried about Deokman and what she must be going through. Cheonmyeong proposes sending her somewhere safe, temporarily, until they can decide how to handle all of this. And especially don't tell her about Sohwa. "If she knew, who knows what she might do." Maya firmly agrees. (What? You don't think that's the one piece of news that would relieve her pain? UGH!)
And as for Sohwa...She's still in the storehouse, sitting there. Still pretty dazed, but uneasy at the moment because Eulje and Kim Yongchun are there staring at her. They actually had wondered if she was the person who snuck that appeal into the Hall of Records, but looking at her now they realized she isn't up to any such thing. Yongchun thinks it was Mishil, but Eulje doesn't think she'd have any reason to do it.
Out in a street marketplace: Seokpum and two of the other elite Hwarang (Dukchung and Bakui, who we met briefly in Episode 9) question one of the sellers. This is the fence who traded with Jukbang for that jade elephant from the Hall of Records. They ask him what he told the Hwarang who had questioned him before. The guy is a little puzzled, understandably, at being asked the same questions again.
Bojong tells his father that the fence is being questioned. That's one issue. Seolwon has another: "And you're sure Eulje just stopped while searching the trainees?" (Yeah, dude, I didn't believe it either.) "Without detaining anyone?" Now here come the three other Hwarang into the room, and they've brought the fence with him. They've figured out that it was Imjong who took the elephant. "Give him a quiet look at all the trainees' faces," he instructs Seokpum.
Alcheon's Hwarang are training. The fence gets a look at them. Nope.
Imjong's Hwarang are eating lunch. The fence gets a look at them. Nope.
The DFers are training, in one of the enclosed compounds. Uh-oh, guess where this one's going...Yushin is absent, so Jukbang appears to be leading the session. But what's this--Cheonmyeong's attendant shows up. The princess wants to see Yushin and Deokman. Not here, they tell her; they had a big fight last night and that's the last we've seen of them. She's not sure what to do...and then asks, "Would you mind telling that to the princess?" Jukbang and Godo nominate themselves, eager for some unanticipated break time in their training, and they skitter off after the attendant. Just as the three elite Hwarang and the fence show up. The fence gets a look at the rest of them. Nope!
So they lucked out? Nope! Turns out Cheonmyeong is just outside the training compound. Jukbang and Godo tell her about the argument last night. They also know that Yushin took Deokman to his training site at Mount Yeoam. As they talk, the three elite Hwarang and the fence exit the DFers' training area. The fence turns and looks....Bingo. We have a winner. Points to Jukbang and tells Seokpum, That's him.
Deokman is sitting on the mountainside. Just sitting and staring, and undoubtedly thinking. For a while. Calmly, at least. But Yushin has stayed behind and is nearby, keeping an eye on her. Cheonmyeong arrives (this mountain must be VERY close to the capital); she's very happy at the idea of Deokman being her sister but concerned about her state of mind. "I'll be back tomorrow," she tells him, and turns to leave...and then turns back to thank him for everything he's done for her through all this. "What would I have done without you?" She's just about making goo-goo eyes at him..."Please always stay with me."
Deokman's still sitting alone, thinking. Day turns into night, and she's still sitting and thinking. We can see Jinheung's dagger in her hand, with the sheath--so she did get that back. And now a nighttime rain, but she's still out there thinking. And Yushin is still out there keeping an eye on her.
Nighttime: Jukbang is in the outhouse. Doing his business, and apparently he's not feeling well. Enough said. He steps out...and three black-clad, masked men grab him, gag him, cover his head and haul him away! Then Godo walks by the outhouse; he knows Jukbang went there and thinks he's still in there. He happens to notice some weird, moving shadows on a nearby wall. But they disappear and he shouts to Jukbang (he thinks he does, anyway) that he's going to bed.
It was the three Hwarang who grabbed Jukbang. They tie Jukbang to a chair, head still covered, and Dukchung and Bakui start beating him with wooden clubs. Real classy.
Next morning: Godo and two other DFers go running into the Rising Phoenix Hwarang training area and tell Alcheon that they think Jukbang's been kidnapped. Alcheon is skeptical--"Wait, isn't Jukbang the loafer? He's just run off somewhere"--but Godo is absolutely certain. Why? What makes you so sure? Godo is reluctant to say, but Alcheon insists on knowing.
Bloodied and bruised, Jukbang is still in the chair, his head now uncovered. Dukchung and Bakui and two other Hwarang enter the room where he's being held. At the first sight of them, Jukbang immediately starts begging them not to hit him any more. I'll talk; I'll talk; ask me anything! But they put the hood back on him and start hitting him again anyway.
"The fence who traded for the seal penis?" One of Imjong's Hwarang has just told him that the very fence was seen with Seokpum, Dukchung and Bakui, looking over all of the Hwarang.
Jukbang's alone again, hood off. Now Seokpum, Dukchung and Bakui enter. Now he's REALLY begging. Completely broken. Seolwon enters and sits down. "I'll ask him a few questions," he tells the three. "If he says he doesn't know or can't remember, or stalls any, cut off his head." Yikes. He glares at Jukbang. "Tell me about the Hall of Records."
Imjong and Alcheon report to Eulje and Kim Yongchun, telling them all about the odd events involving the fence. And that Jukbang and Godo were the ones who broke into the Hall of Records. (So Godo did confess to him.) Eulje doesn't know why DFers would have done such a thing.
Jukbang starts singing like a canary. He was told to put the appeal into the Hall...He didn't look at what was written in the appeal...
Eulje, Yongchun, Imjong and Alcheon head for the military offices, believing that Seolwon is behind all of this (I guess because of which Hwarang are involved). Kim Seohyeon is there; he tells them that Seolwon is out, questioning a thief that was caught by Hwarang. "Where?", Eulje demands. "We have to hurry."
"I don't know anything, I swear! Do you think I'd lie?" Jukbang is a pathetic, groveling, sobbing mess. Seolwon figures he's telling the truth. "But tell me," he says. "Who put you up to it?" Silence. "The princess?" Silence. "Kim Seohyeon?" Silence. "I won't ask again. Who was it?" You hope Eulje will show up at that moment, but nope. "It was a trainee...Deokman." Oh crap. But guess what--Seolwon doesn't believe him. "You're telling me it was a trainee? Who's behind it--really?" Jukbang knows nothing more, of course, which angers Seolwon. "Kill him!" NOW Eulje shows up, with Seohyeon. "This is not a matter for military affairs," Eulje sternly tells Seolwon; "This should be handled by the palace guard. You should have informed me the moment you caught him!" Seolwon argues that the breach of a capital building is a national security matter, but Eulje fires back that the issue is for the guards to decide, not you. "You think you can ignore protocol and take things into your own hands?" Seolwon silently stares at the ground like a scolded child. Busss-ted. "Give us the prisoner." Two of Imjong's Hwarang step forward and untie Jukbang, and lead him away. Eulje follows. All Seolwon can do is turn to Seohyeon and mutter about how "I wonder if you're right for the Office of Military Affairs." Not exactly Seolwon's finest moment.
So Jukbang is safe for the moment, but hardly out of the woods. Neither is Godo. Godo is being held in a room in one of the office buildings. Jukbang is brought there too. Eulje looks down at them, quivering together on the floor. "Now see that you answer my questions." And they do--about what they did and why. "Deokman--we did it for Deokman." To himself Eulje realizes, "Then Mishil and Seolwon don't know where the dagger is." He's beyond puzzled: "It was Deokman? How could that be?"
Mishil and the cabal get the news from Seolwon. "It's ridiculous. A trainee couldn't have planned all this." (All what? It's not that complicated.) Misaeng agrees: "There's a genius at work here." Hajong says it's obvious that Cheonmyeong was giving orders to Deokman, but Mishil cuts him off: "It wasn't the princess." Cheonmyeong doesn't need to sneak in an appeal; she's the king's daughter and she'd just go talk to him. Eulje, wasn't him either because he's leading the investigation. (Ah, but it could have been a ruse! Mishil missed one there.) Kim Yushin? Seolwon rules him out because he's close enough to the princess. "In that case," Mishil concludes, "Deokman was acting on his own." Which stumps them all. What does Deokman have to say to the king that's so important?
Deokman is still sitting on the mountainside, lost in thought. Cheonmyeong shows up again. Goes up to Deokman and sits down on the ground next to her (good for you, princess). "Tell me what you're thinking." You really want to open up that spigot? "Truth is," Deokman answers, "I'm not thinking anything. I don't know what I should think." She says she can't stop crying, having found out the truth. "It's all too weird for me. Like a part of me has died." She wipes away a tear, and with more resolve in her voice says, "I'm going away to the desert." Does she really think they're going to let her just walk away? Apparently. "Tears dry faster in the desert," she says; "I never should have left." Cheonmyeong appeals to her; we're sisters and "we need to fight Mishil." But Deokman doesn't care about that, only about the twins prophecy and the damage her very existence does to the royal family. "I don't belong...so I should just disappear."
Cheonmyeong goes to Yushin, imploring him to stop Deokman from leaving. And now we sense something new--some guilt that the princess seems to feel at the difficult life Deokman has been through, the life that made her own royal life possible. Interesting. Mixed with gratitude for all of Deokman's help and protection back in Manno County, and her support since then. "Without her, I'd have let Mishil win." Don't know about that, but "I need her. And I need to pay her back for all she's done." Yushin replies, "But we can't give her what she needs most. We can't give her an identity, or restore her sense of worth." She was always so sure of herself, and being here has now robbed her of that. But Cheonmyeong is desperate and crying, asking Yushin to find a way. "Don't let her go away like this!" She's so distraught that she falls to her knees in front of him. Yushin kneels down next to her, and hesitantly puts his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
Later, we see Yushin alone, sitting by a stream and trying to think of a solution. Ding! A light bulb goes off and he runs away somewhere.
Runs back to Deokman, who's just about to leave and head back to the desert. "What are the Dragon Flower guards to you?" he asks, challenging her. Just some tool to search for your identity? Reminds her about her comrades, and the fallen Shiyeol. "And what about me? Your leader?" Don't we mean anything to you? Appealing to her sense of loyalty (Not the best strategy; the best strategy is sitting in that storeroom in the Hall of Records! Am I wrong?) You're all very important to me, she admits. "If I had my way," Yushin tells her angrily, "you'd stay a Hwarang." "I can't help you find the old you," he says (Sohwa can! Ugh!) "But if you'll let me, we can find a new you. Together." Not really very strong, but Deokman is at least listening...and when Yushin actually says "Please," and walks away from her, well, she has to think about it. And Yushin, having laid his cards on the table, walks back home and waits.
"The trainee Deokman sent me the appeal?" The king and queen are meeting with Eulje. Only one of them knows the whole story, of course, and she ain't talking. As the puzzled king tries to make sense of this, Cheonmyeong arrives. She thought her father summoned her; actually Eulje did. Eulje tells her about Deokman's written appeal and asks her if she was really the one behind it. Eulje rules out Mishil; the king rules out Sohwa; so they do accept that it was Deokman. Cheonmyeong plays dumb: "But why would he do such a thing?" Eulje reasons that if Cheonmyeong doesn't know about it, then it becomes even more important to find out who actually was--and do so before Mishil does. Eulje says that first we have to move Sohwa--move her "anywhere out of Shilla." That distresses Maya and Cheonmyeong.
Wolchun has finished the course of treatment to Chilsuk's eyes. He wraps a white blindfold around Chilsuk's head and ties it. Leave that on for at least a week, he instructs, and we'll see what happens.
Well look who's back. Deokman goes to see Cheonmyeong. And tells her she'll go to Mount Jungak as she was told to. Not many words from her, but this is quite a turn....
Imjong went to Mount Yeoam to look for Deokman. He reports back to Eulje that he couldn't find her--or Yushin, for that matter.
An anxious Chilsuk is pacing back and forth. He feels around for his sword, picks it up and walks out of his quarters, knocking things over as he feels his way out, and using his sword as a cane.
Cheonmyeong apologizes for hustling Deokman out of town so hurriedly, but since both the king and Mishil knows she was behind the appeal, well, it's the best move. And "I'll send something to Mount Jungak that will make you very happy."
Yushin has been found and reports to Eulje. Deokman, he tells Eulje, is training, away from the palace. Deokman's in trouble, Eulje says; "It's no small thing and could reflect poorly on your Hwarang." You must trust no one in the palace but me, Eulje says. "Trust me and bring Deokman here." Yushin leaves, visibly worried about how complicated this is all getting.
Now it's Imjong and Alcheon before Eulje, and they get quite an order. "Arrest Deokman." Tail Yushin, he tells them; he'll lead you to Deokman.
Deokman leaves Cheonmyeong, and walks outside just in time to see Yushin come running up to her. "We have to go," he tells her abruptly. "My horse is behind the shrine." Before she can even react, he grabs her by the wrist and quickly leads her away.
Alcheon is concerned that Eulje is being deceitful about all this. "I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do." (I like how this guy has evolved into a questioner.) It's not our job to question, Imjong answers; "We just follow orders." At that moment they spot Yushin and a confused Deokman getting on a horse and heading out the gate. They try to stop the horse but it's too late.
Chilsuk finds his way outside the shrine, and promptly takes off his bandage. Moron. But actually his vision seems to be very good, at least for the moment. He's on a balcony outside the shrine where he's staying. And he's just in time to see Yushin and Deokman gallop by below him, followed by Imjong and Alcheon on their own horses. And yes, he gets a good enough look at Deokman to realize just who it is. She gets a good look at him too.
She didn't go far, just around the corner. She's pacing around angrily, convinced (or else just wanting to believe, which may be more likely) that Cheonmyeong used everything Deokman had confided to her about her past and turned it against her just for disobeying this one order. "I'm sorry," Yushin quietly says, and that stops her cold. What for? I can't help you deal with this and I wish I could..."But everything the princess said is true." She looks at him, silent and wide-eyed; clearly his words carry weight with her. "You're her younger sister." With that Deokman drops to the ground. She sits staring straight ahead, trembling just slightly, and with a look on her face that almost makes you think her head is actually going to explode.
Cheonmyeong explains to her mother how she figured this all out. About Deokman looking for Munno; knowing that a man named Chilsuk had tried to kill her and her mother; about the identical birthmarks. Maya wants to talk to Deokman immediately, but Cheonmyeong asks her to give Deokman some time to absorb all this and to be sympathetic to what she must be going through.
Cheonmyeong goes and finds Deokman, head intact, slumped on the ground. Tries to make some small talk about how sitting on the ground like that "isn't very princessy" but Deokman wants none of it. She stares straight ahead. "Why did they abandon me?" And why did Mishil want me dead? Looks like she's accepted the news...but now she wants answers. Cheonmyeong kneels next to her, and explains about the twins prophecy and how "Mishil would have used the prophecy to depose our mother and make herself queen." Through clenched teeth Deokman grumbles, "Things haven't changed much"; she's still under the incorrect impression that it was Jinpyeong who ordered the death of the holder of Jinheung's dagger. "I should have gone to Rome with Cartan," she says with frustration and regret; "at least I'd have been happy." Gets up and starts to leave yet again, and this time she does leave, stomping away in frustration.
She goes back to the DFers' quarters, where everyone is sleeping, and packs up a few more things...but Yushin follows her in there and grabs her as she tries to leave. And he won't let go. She raises a stink, which wakes up the whole bunch of them. Yushin orders everybody out, and they go, surprisingly quickly. Now Deokman launches into a rant: after all I survived through, and finally finding a home here, now I don't even belong here? I'm a burden and an embarrassment...Again she starts to storm away, but Yushin grabs her and hugs her tightly, at the same time telling her he'll have her locked up if she makes trouble. She stops ranting and starts crying.
Still the same evening, and he's led her out into the countryside. Uh-oh, this is Mount Yeoam--the moonlight reveals the poor, innocent rock that Yushin can't stop abusing. He tells her this is a good place to come to clear your head. "Me, I like to smack this rock a few times. Maybe you can find some peace here." Tells her there's a cabin nearby. Deokman calmly says she'll stay there and not to worry about her going anywhere. So Yushin leaves...gets a short distance, and then hears Deokman wailing plaintively, now completely shattered by the giant bomb that's been dropped on her.
"Where were you last night?" It's the next morning, in the royal chambers, and Jinpyeong is asking his wife. "You seem upset." She denies it, but poorly. She's not going to tell him? Apparently not...but now Cheonmyeong enters. Her father tells her that her mother didn't sleep well last night. "Not that she'll tell me why. Maybe you know?" Silence. He asks again for the truth. So Cheonmyeong awkwardly starts to talk, but Maya cuts her off with a lie about her father Lord Bokseung wanting to see her over some family issue. "You've got so much on your mind lately," I didn't want you to worry about this too. I don't think he bought it...but his attendant reminds him that it's time for his morning rituals, so he gets up and leaves. "I was sure you would have told him," Cheonmyeong says to her mother. Why didn't she? "A father is different than a mother," she explains; especially a king. That decision he had to make on the spot on the twins' birthday, how hard it was...and how much more complicated it is now. Why more complicated now? "Didn't you know? Sohwa has returned." And now, way too late, Cheonmyeong flashes back and connects the small portrait that Deokman showed her in Episode 15 with the face of the woman who suddenly appeared in front of her in the royal shrine in Episode 16. Big piece of news...but Cheonmyeong has one just as big in return: "Chilsuk's back." Explains to her mother about Deokman coming back to Shilla to find out about her past. Now it's mom's turn: We have Sohwa hidden in the palace. Cheonmyeong immediately wants to see Sohwa, but Maya refuses, at least for the moment--"Something doesn't feel right." Right now, mom is worried about Deokman and what she must be going through. Cheonmyeong proposes sending her somewhere safe, temporarily, until they can decide how to handle all of this. And especially don't tell her about Sohwa. "If she knew, who knows what she might do." Maya firmly agrees. (What? You don't think that's the one piece of news that would relieve her pain? UGH!)
And as for Sohwa...She's still in the storehouse, sitting there. Still pretty dazed, but uneasy at the moment because Eulje and Kim Yongchun are there staring at her. They actually had wondered if she was the person who snuck that appeal into the Hall of Records, but looking at her now they realized she isn't up to any such thing. Yongchun thinks it was Mishil, but Eulje doesn't think she'd have any reason to do it.
Out in a street marketplace: Seokpum and two of the other elite Hwarang (Dukchung and Bakui, who we met briefly in Episode 9) question one of the sellers. This is the fence who traded with Jukbang for that jade elephant from the Hall of Records. They ask him what he told the Hwarang who had questioned him before. The guy is a little puzzled, understandably, at being asked the same questions again.
Bojong tells his father that the fence is being questioned. That's one issue. Seolwon has another: "And you're sure Eulje just stopped while searching the trainees?" (Yeah, dude, I didn't believe it either.) "Without detaining anyone?" Now here come the three other Hwarang into the room, and they've brought the fence with him. They've figured out that it was Imjong who took the elephant. "Give him a quiet look at all the trainees' faces," he instructs Seokpum.
Alcheon's Hwarang are training. The fence gets a look at them. Nope.
Imjong's Hwarang are eating lunch. The fence gets a look at them. Nope.
The DFers are training, in one of the enclosed compounds. Uh-oh, guess where this one's going...Yushin is absent, so Jukbang appears to be leading the session. But what's this--Cheonmyeong's attendant shows up. The princess wants to see Yushin and Deokman. Not here, they tell her; they had a big fight last night and that's the last we've seen of them. She's not sure what to do...and then asks, "Would you mind telling that to the princess?" Jukbang and Godo nominate themselves, eager for some unanticipated break time in their training, and they skitter off after the attendant. Just as the three elite Hwarang and the fence show up. The fence gets a look at the rest of them. Nope!
So they lucked out? Nope! Turns out Cheonmyeong is just outside the training compound. Jukbang and Godo tell her about the argument last night. They also know that Yushin took Deokman to his training site at Mount Yeoam. As they talk, the three elite Hwarang and the fence exit the DFers' training area. The fence turns and looks....Bingo. We have a winner. Points to Jukbang and tells Seokpum, That's him.
Deokman is sitting on the mountainside. Just sitting and staring, and undoubtedly thinking. For a while. Calmly, at least. But Yushin has stayed behind and is nearby, keeping an eye on her. Cheonmyeong arrives (this mountain must be VERY close to the capital); she's very happy at the idea of Deokman being her sister but concerned about her state of mind. "I'll be back tomorrow," she tells him, and turns to leave...and then turns back to thank him for everything he's done for her through all this. "What would I have done without you?" She's just about making goo-goo eyes at him..."Please always stay with me."
Deokman's still sitting alone, thinking. Day turns into night, and she's still sitting and thinking. We can see Jinheung's dagger in her hand, with the sheath--so she did get that back. And now a nighttime rain, but she's still out there thinking. And Yushin is still out there keeping an eye on her.
Nighttime: Jukbang is in the outhouse. Doing his business, and apparently he's not feeling well. Enough said. He steps out...and three black-clad, masked men grab him, gag him, cover his head and haul him away! Then Godo walks by the outhouse; he knows Jukbang went there and thinks he's still in there. He happens to notice some weird, moving shadows on a nearby wall. But they disappear and he shouts to Jukbang (he thinks he does, anyway) that he's going to bed.
It was the three Hwarang who grabbed Jukbang. They tie Jukbang to a chair, head still covered, and Dukchung and Bakui start beating him with wooden clubs. Real classy.
Next morning: Godo and two other DFers go running into the Rising Phoenix Hwarang training area and tell Alcheon that they think Jukbang's been kidnapped. Alcheon is skeptical--"Wait, isn't Jukbang the loafer? He's just run off somewhere"--but Godo is absolutely certain. Why? What makes you so sure? Godo is reluctant to say, but Alcheon insists on knowing.
Bloodied and bruised, Jukbang is still in the chair, his head now uncovered. Dukchung and Bakui and two other Hwarang enter the room where he's being held. At the first sight of them, Jukbang immediately starts begging them not to hit him any more. I'll talk; I'll talk; ask me anything! But they put the hood back on him and start hitting him again anyway.
"The fence who traded for the seal penis?" One of Imjong's Hwarang has just told him that the very fence was seen with Seokpum, Dukchung and Bakui, looking over all of the Hwarang.
Jukbang's alone again, hood off. Now Seokpum, Dukchung and Bakui enter. Now he's REALLY begging. Completely broken. Seolwon enters and sits down. "I'll ask him a few questions," he tells the three. "If he says he doesn't know or can't remember, or stalls any, cut off his head." Yikes. He glares at Jukbang. "Tell me about the Hall of Records."
Imjong and Alcheon report to Eulje and Kim Yongchun, telling them all about the odd events involving the fence. And that Jukbang and Godo were the ones who broke into the Hall of Records. (So Godo did confess to him.) Eulje doesn't know why DFers would have done such a thing.
Jukbang starts singing like a canary. He was told to put the appeal into the Hall...He didn't look at what was written in the appeal...
Eulje, Yongchun, Imjong and Alcheon head for the military offices, believing that Seolwon is behind all of this (I guess because of which Hwarang are involved). Kim Seohyeon is there; he tells them that Seolwon is out, questioning a thief that was caught by Hwarang. "Where?", Eulje demands. "We have to hurry."
"I don't know anything, I swear! Do you think I'd lie?" Jukbang is a pathetic, groveling, sobbing mess. Seolwon figures he's telling the truth. "But tell me," he says. "Who put you up to it?" Silence. "The princess?" Silence. "Kim Seohyeon?" Silence. "I won't ask again. Who was it?" You hope Eulje will show up at that moment, but nope. "It was a trainee...Deokman." Oh crap. But guess what--Seolwon doesn't believe him. "You're telling me it was a trainee? Who's behind it--really?" Jukbang knows nothing more, of course, which angers Seolwon. "Kill him!" NOW Eulje shows up, with Seohyeon. "This is not a matter for military affairs," Eulje sternly tells Seolwon; "This should be handled by the palace guard. You should have informed me the moment you caught him!" Seolwon argues that the breach of a capital building is a national security matter, but Eulje fires back that the issue is for the guards to decide, not you. "You think you can ignore protocol and take things into your own hands?" Seolwon silently stares at the ground like a scolded child. Busss-ted. "Give us the prisoner." Two of Imjong's Hwarang step forward and untie Jukbang, and lead him away. Eulje follows. All Seolwon can do is turn to Seohyeon and mutter about how "I wonder if you're right for the Office of Military Affairs." Not exactly Seolwon's finest moment.
So Jukbang is safe for the moment, but hardly out of the woods. Neither is Godo. Godo is being held in a room in one of the office buildings. Jukbang is brought there too. Eulje looks down at them, quivering together on the floor. "Now see that you answer my questions." And they do--about what they did and why. "Deokman--we did it for Deokman." To himself Eulje realizes, "Then Mishil and Seolwon don't know where the dagger is." He's beyond puzzled: "It was Deokman? How could that be?"
Mishil and the cabal get the news from Seolwon. "It's ridiculous. A trainee couldn't have planned all this." (All what? It's not that complicated.) Misaeng agrees: "There's a genius at work here." Hajong says it's obvious that Cheonmyeong was giving orders to Deokman, but Mishil cuts him off: "It wasn't the princess." Cheonmyeong doesn't need to sneak in an appeal; she's the king's daughter and she'd just go talk to him. Eulje, wasn't him either because he's leading the investigation. (Ah, but it could have been a ruse! Mishil missed one there.) Kim Yushin? Seolwon rules him out because he's close enough to the princess. "In that case," Mishil concludes, "Deokman was acting on his own." Which stumps them all. What does Deokman have to say to the king that's so important?
Deokman is still sitting on the mountainside, lost in thought. Cheonmyeong shows up again. Goes up to Deokman and sits down on the ground next to her (good for you, princess). "Tell me what you're thinking." You really want to open up that spigot? "Truth is," Deokman answers, "I'm not thinking anything. I don't know what I should think." She says she can't stop crying, having found out the truth. "It's all too weird for me. Like a part of me has died." She wipes away a tear, and with more resolve in her voice says, "I'm going away to the desert." Does she really think they're going to let her just walk away? Apparently. "Tears dry faster in the desert," she says; "I never should have left." Cheonmyeong appeals to her; we're sisters and "we need to fight Mishil." But Deokman doesn't care about that, only about the twins prophecy and the damage her very existence does to the royal family. "I don't belong...so I should just disappear."
Cheonmyeong goes to Yushin, imploring him to stop Deokman from leaving. And now we sense something new--some guilt that the princess seems to feel at the difficult life Deokman has been through, the life that made her own royal life possible. Interesting. Mixed with gratitude for all of Deokman's help and protection back in Manno County, and her support since then. "Without her, I'd have let Mishil win." Don't know about that, but "I need her. And I need to pay her back for all she's done." Yushin replies, "But we can't give her what she needs most. We can't give her an identity, or restore her sense of worth." She was always so sure of herself, and being here has now robbed her of that. But Cheonmyeong is desperate and crying, asking Yushin to find a way. "Don't let her go away like this!" She's so distraught that she falls to her knees in front of him. Yushin kneels down next to her, and hesitantly puts his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
Later, we see Yushin alone, sitting by a stream and trying to think of a solution. Ding! A light bulb goes off and he runs away somewhere.
Runs back to Deokman, who's just about to leave and head back to the desert. "What are the Dragon Flower guards to you?" he asks, challenging her. Just some tool to search for your identity? Reminds her about her comrades, and the fallen Shiyeol. "And what about me? Your leader?" Don't we mean anything to you? Appealing to her sense of loyalty (Not the best strategy; the best strategy is sitting in that storeroom in the Hall of Records! Am I wrong?) You're all very important to me, she admits. "If I had my way," Yushin tells her angrily, "you'd stay a Hwarang." "I can't help you find the old you," he says (Sohwa can! Ugh!) "But if you'll let me, we can find a new you. Together." Not really very strong, but Deokman is at least listening...and when Yushin actually says "Please," and walks away from her, well, she has to think about it. And Yushin, having laid his cards on the table, walks back home and waits.
"The trainee Deokman sent me the appeal?" The king and queen are meeting with Eulje. Only one of them knows the whole story, of course, and she ain't talking. As the puzzled king tries to make sense of this, Cheonmyeong arrives. She thought her father summoned her; actually Eulje did. Eulje tells her about Deokman's written appeal and asks her if she was really the one behind it. Eulje rules out Mishil; the king rules out Sohwa; so they do accept that it was Deokman. Cheonmyeong plays dumb: "But why would he do such a thing?" Eulje reasons that if Cheonmyeong doesn't know about it, then it becomes even more important to find out who actually was--and do so before Mishil does. Eulje says that first we have to move Sohwa--move her "anywhere out of Shilla." That distresses Maya and Cheonmyeong.
Wolchun has finished the course of treatment to Chilsuk's eyes. He wraps a white blindfold around Chilsuk's head and ties it. Leave that on for at least a week, he instructs, and we'll see what happens.
Well look who's back. Deokman goes to see Cheonmyeong. And tells her she'll go to Mount Jungak as she was told to. Not many words from her, but this is quite a turn....
Imjong went to Mount Yeoam to look for Deokman. He reports back to Eulje that he couldn't find her--or Yushin, for that matter.
An anxious Chilsuk is pacing back and forth. He feels around for his sword, picks it up and walks out of his quarters, knocking things over as he feels his way out, and using his sword as a cane.
Cheonmyeong apologizes for hustling Deokman out of town so hurriedly, but since both the king and Mishil knows she was behind the appeal, well, it's the best move. And "I'll send something to Mount Jungak that will make you very happy."
Yushin has been found and reports to Eulje. Deokman, he tells Eulje, is training, away from the palace. Deokman's in trouble, Eulje says; "It's no small thing and could reflect poorly on your Hwarang." You must trust no one in the palace but me, Eulje says. "Trust me and bring Deokman here." Yushin leaves, visibly worried about how complicated this is all getting.
Now it's Imjong and Alcheon before Eulje, and they get quite an order. "Arrest Deokman." Tail Yushin, he tells them; he'll lead you to Deokman.
Deokman leaves Cheonmyeong, and walks outside just in time to see Yushin come running up to her. "We have to go," he tells her abruptly. "My horse is behind the shrine." Before she can even react, he grabs her by the wrist and quickly leads her away.
Alcheon is concerned that Eulje is being deceitful about all this. "I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do." (I like how this guy has evolved into a questioner.) It's not our job to question, Imjong answers; "We just follow orders." At that moment they spot Yushin and a confused Deokman getting on a horse and heading out the gate. They try to stop the horse but it's too late.
Chilsuk finds his way outside the shrine, and promptly takes off his bandage. Moron. But actually his vision seems to be very good, at least for the moment. He's on a balcony outside the shrine where he's staying. And he's just in time to see Yushin and Deokman gallop by below him, followed by Imjong and Alcheon on their own horses. And yes, he gets a good enough look at Deokman to realize just who it is. She gets a good look at him too.