Post by ajk on Sept 21, 2012 23:32:44 GMT -5
As the unfamiliar group of black-clad men watches from a distance, a royal gama enters the grounds of Hwaduk Temple.
It's Mishil's. Inside, we see her and Misaeng meeting with Wolchun. The monk tells her Sohwa's recovery is taking longer than expected...but that's not why Mishil's here. "Are we due a solar eclipse?" Wolchun looks at the two of them and gives an answer we didn't expect: "No one can predict that." Mishil leans in, having apparently read something into his statement: "Are you saying we won't have one?" She reminds him that he's spoken about it before. "No respectable scientist can be certain," he replies, "regardless of what I said before." At least, not without the Northern Wei almanac. This comes as quite a surprise to his visitors, who thought they had provided him with the most accurate source material in existence, in the Daemyeung almanac. Turns out, the specific information needed to predict a solar eclipse is much more accurate in the Northern Wei almanac. And Mishil doesn't have one of those. (But we know who does have one, or at least used to have one....)
"People always respond to a big show and Mishil knows it." Deokman has seen that herself. "Nothing will change until we beat her at her own game. The people's belief is the source of her power." Deokman is with Yushin, Alcheon and the weird guy, but she's more lecturing than talking to them. The weird guy rolls his eyes (very funny). But she's certain that snagging Wolchun will turn the tables.
Later, outside of the cave they've been sitting in, Deokman tells Yushin to leave her and go his own way. Why? "I'm taking what's mine by force," she says, and then in so many words admits that his being with her makes her soft and reminds her of the happy life they planned to have together. "Feeling that is death to someone trying to take the throne by force." Yushin just stands there with that familiar miserable look on his face. "Let me hold you in my heart," she tells him; "I'll use you like a pawn if you stay, and that would be unforgivable." She walks away with tears in her eyes.
She walks back into the cave and tells Alcheon and the weird guy that Wolchun is at Hwaduk Temple. The weird guy leans forward excitedly. "Lots of guards, huh?" Well, they're about to find out because they're headed there.
Evening, and the gama is now leaving the temple. The black-clad guys cover their faces and start to make their move. They're emboldened by the observation that only Hwarang are guarding the place. Hard to tell how many of them there are, but it looks like at least a dozen. They sneak up on the two Hwarang keeping watch out front, and quickly and silently jump them and kill them.
Inside their prison room, Jukbang, Godo and Sohwa hear a disturbing ruckus outside. Godo looks out of the high window and sees dead people.
Wolchun is alone in his study room. Suddenly the door is kicked in and his personal guard is killed. Seolji steps forward and puts a sword to his throat. Now Wolya steps into the room...and takes off his mask and bows! "It's been too long," he says, as though he must know the monk. But it doesn't look like Wolchun recognizes him.
With Jukbang's encouragement, Godo busts the door open, no problem. Okay, now what? Even though they're still handcuffed, they start to make a break for it...but wait a minute, what about Sohwa? "Deokman's mom, come with us!" She's reluctant to even move but allows them to help her to her feet and lead her away.
Dukchung and Bakui, the two elite Hwarang, are approaching the temple and see a dead Hwarang lying in front of it. They run ahead....
Jukbang and Godo found something to get their cuffs off (or maybe they were holding onto whatever they tried to pick Wolchun's pocket in Episode 23) and in moments the cuffs are on the ground. The three step forward into the main yard; it has at least six dead Hwarang lying in it. No, eight. Whatever happened, it was ugly and one-sided. And uh-oh, here are Dukchung and Bakui showing up and seeing them standing there. They panic and run, and now the chase is on. The three run ahead and Jukbang and Godo dive off the path they're on and into some brush for cover. But suddenly Sohwa, maybe out of sheer exhaustion or else having a relapse, suddenly fazes out and just totters in place out in the open. Bakui pulls out an arrow and fires, and hits her square in the back! (Huh? Why not just run up to her and take her back? Makes absolutely no sense.) Sohwa falls to the ground and rolls off to the side, down some sort of sloped ground off the path. No sign of her in the darkness.
Now Deokman, Alcheon and Bidam arrive at the temple and come upon the carnage. And an open door, lit from inside. They run to it...it's Wolchun's study room, with all of his papers, books and calculations intact. As Deokman looks through the materials, Alcheon happens to spot something. It's the note that Wolchun got from the arrow fired into the room in Episode 23. Alcheon looks at it. "It's the Bokya. Gaya got here first." What if they're after Yushin's family, Alcheon worries. So what are they, some kind of resistance group or rival political faction? Bidam asks, but Alcheon doesn't answer....
Next day: Mishil gets the bad news from Bojong that the Bokya took Wolchun. Apparently they left that "six-egged tortoise" logo (the logo of Gaya, with the six eggs representing the founders of the six states of Gaya), someplace where her people spotted it. He also reports that Jukbang and Godo escaped, and that Sohwa was injured but "her wounds are being seen to." Well at least she's not dead. As Misaeng grumbles about the Bokya (so these guys must have a reputation), Mishil orders her spies dispatched.
Hajong brings his father the news about Seori's death and Wolchun's kidnapping. Sejong has his eyes set on bigger things. "There's no heir to the throne." We need to resolve that as soon as possible, he feels, with or without Mishil. "We have to act first." (Uh-oh, that didn't work out too well when Misaeng and Seori tried it!)
"Deokman was in the palace!?" A stunned king learns from his wife that she met their daughter in the shrine. Jinpyeong doesn't like it--thinks Deokman is some sort of loose cannon and potentially dangerous. "To be a princess," he reminds her, "she has to be officially recognized as a twin." Which will finish the royal house. Maya reminds him she's lost three sons and now a daughter...but Seohyeon, who's also there along with Yongchun, stresses that her being named a princess is impossible. Then Yongchun tells the king (and us) of "considerable civic unrest" since Cheonmyeong's death, as well as "reports that the Bokya is active again." Seohyeon shows the king a piece of paper with the six-egged tortoise logo, apparently found at Hwaduk. The king suspects the Bokya are angry about the forced relocation of the Gayans that we saw in Episode 17 (after Mishil predicted the lunar eclipse and that statue burst out of the ground). The king blames himself.
Later, Seohyeon walks out into the rainy afternoon to find his son waiting for him. "What's up with that Deokman?", he wastes no time in asking. And then chastises him for referring to Deokman as "princess" when he answers. But that's her plan, Yushin tells him, to be recognized and crowned. Seohyeon explains to him that such a thing is impossible, that attempting it would ruin the royal house; Yushin looks like this hasn't occurred to him before. "Fate has been cruel to her," Seohyeon comments with a tiny bit of sympathy. "But there's no other way." And then tells him that their family is in danger! Hands him the tortoise paper and says, "The Bokya have marked us" and will turn our Gayan friends against us. "And you let your personal feelings come first?" But Yushin has cast his lot with Deokman, and he simply walks away from his father without saying a word. Wow....
...and oh no, he's run all the way to Mount Yeoam and right up to his smacking-rock. Not this again! Has his smacking-stick in hand and backswings...but then hesitates. Nope, his face flashes anger and there he goes. One, two, three...stops for a moment, like maybe that's enough...nope, four--which breaks his stick. As he stands there, Deokman is watching him. "Accept it," she thinks to herself, hoping that Yushin will make peace with the love-that-can-never-be between them. Pretty soon Yushin picks up a new stick--he's brought plenty of spares, lucky for us--and starts smacking again. And keeps going, as hours pass and the sun journeys across the sky. Eventually he breaks his last stick (Darn it, they just don't make sticks like they used to). As he stands there with his sour look, his father's words echo in his head and he realizes that he really can't help get Deokman crowned, even if he forsakes his own family. He turns to walk away, leaving his pile of broken sticks (litterbug!)...and just then, at that very moment, the smacking-rock cracks in half and separates. Seriously. Just like that. Suddenly invigorated by the rock's grandiose gesture, he runs purposefully away somewhere.
"So you just let him leave?" Manmyeong is concerned about her son, but Seohyeon assures him that "He'll come to his senses soon enough." Well, we're about to find out, because Yushin returns. Enters the room and kneels before his parents. Challenges them--What should we do, kill all the Bokya? That will just turn all of the Gayans against us. "We have to risk everything," Yushin tells them, without being any more specific. Will you trust me?
The sun has set, and Yushin's parents watch him leave their home. They've decided to trust him with whatever idea he's presented to them. Then in the next moment, THWACK! an arrow flies right in front of their faces and buries itself in a post. Yushin turns and spots a figure fleeing, and gives chase. The arrow bears a message: "Kim Seohyeon and Kim Yushin will die."
Yushin took a nifty shortcut and as the archer rounds a bend, he's waiting for him. The archer pulls out a sword and tries to attack, but Yushin almost instantly disarms and subdues him. Now here come three more, black-clad and masked just like the archer. They all look like those Bokya we saw earlier. Yushin puts his sword to the archer's throat, hostage-style, which draws no mercy from the other three. "We'll just kill you both," one says. So Yushin shoves the archer back to his comrades and prepares to take all four on at once. "I don't need a hostage," he says, as blandly as talking about the weather (Maybe the weird guy is having an effect on him!). And in 24 seconds he's knocked them all down and shattered at least one sword into pieces. "I used the dull edge of my sword," he says disdainfully as three of the four lie there dazed and his sword is at the throat of the fourth. "Stop being babies and get up." (Very nice!) And then, shockingly, he plants his sword in the ground. "Blindfold me and tie my hands," he tells them, "and take me to your leader." Not getting any immediate response, Yushin grabs one of them and all but shakes him: "Well? I'm Kim Yushin, grandson of your enemy Kim Mulyuk. Why do you hesitate?!"
Nighttime, Bokya mountain encampment: And so they did. We see Yushin brought in, tied and blindfolded. Inside a building we find Wolya and Seolji, who are regretting a lost opportunity to kill Seohyeon during the war with Baekje. Something about a promise that was made..."But that's over now," Seolji says, after what's been happening to the Gayans who were relocated from Seorabeol to Samnyang. "Hundreds have died," Seolji says, "and Kim Seohyeon has done nothing. He's a traitor." Wolya doesn't seem too keen on any of this, but Seolji says that they'll kill Seohyeon's son (Why not Seohyeon?) and then "the 1000 men of the Bokya will wage war on Shilla." And then a subordinate runs in with the news: "Kim Yushin just gave himself up." Talk about timing....
Same evening: We find Jukbang and Godo, scared for themselves and terribly worried about Deokman's mom. But what's this--they spot a poster that's just been put up. Jukbang reads the writing on it, his eyes widen, he grabs Godo and they start running again.
The next morning: Oh this is not good. Lots of those posters were put up and the citizens are gathered around to read them.
"Who wrote this trash?" The king is enraged: Yongchun has brought him one of the posters. Yongchun says he suspects Mishil's involvement. "But we agreed not to mention it again," Jinpyeong says, and he's right, they did agree to that. And Mishil isn't one to fink out on a deal, we at least know that about her. If not her, than who? Jinpyeong thinks he knows: "The girl." He's taking the possibility very seriously. "Is this her vengeance for being abandoned?"
Bojong brings one of the posters to Mishil, who's with the cabal. Nope, it wasn't hers--she knows nothing about it. But Sejong and Hajong wonder, "Isn't this for the best?" We agreed not to reveal it, but if someone else does anyway...Seolwon sees possible danger in this, but Sejong and Hajong want to act on it. "Seolwon the timid, that's you," Hajong says with disrespect. Mishil, she just sits there and stares at her son. "Mommy, why are you staring at me?" Softly Mishil says, "no reason."
Yeah she had a reason. It was them. Hajong had the posters put up. We see Sejong and Hajong afterwards, gleeful at what they've done. Not only will we remove the queen, Sejong says, but we'll force the king to advocate for orchestrating a cover-up. But for now this must be a complete secret, Sejong warns his son. Hajong confirms that "All of the guys who put up the signs have been killed. No one knows but us! Great, huh?" Sejong smiles, entirely ignoring what happened to Seori for going behind Mishil's back.
Bojong asks his father who could have done this. He wonders if it was Deokman, but Seolwon just looks at him with a smile and simply says, "Hajong." Score. "He wants his daddy to be king, so he couldn't wait." Shouldn't we tell Mishil? "I suspect she knows," Seolwon says. Then why didn't she say something? "Because it wasn't a bad plan. But she hates dirty tricks like this so she didn't say anything." We'll lie low, he tells his son; "Dirty tricks like this always come back to haunt you." Bojong is impressed by his father's insight, but Seolwon owns up: "It wasn't me; I just noticed the look on Mishil's face. She's nobody's fool."
Nighttime: Deokman, Alcheon and Bidam are back in their cave, sitting around a small fire. Alcheon is explaining about the Bokya, that they're a secret group of Gaya nationalists. But he's not entirely sure why they kidnapped Wolchun (or as Bidam is calling him, "woodchuck"). Any ideas, princess? Hey, snap out of it...she's just been sitting there staring into space; finally she wonders aloud, "What would I do if I were Mishil?" And actually, even if Mishil's way isn't the best way, it still is an important question because she knows Mishil is going to be trying to get Wolchun back for herself.
Yushin is brought before a very surprised Seolji. He readily admits who he is, and is completely unfazed by Seolji's threat that "Your family is marked for death." Wants to know Seolji's name and clan, even though he obviously is in no position to ask questions. Seolji laughs out loud, but then starts fuming about Yushin's "family of Shillan collaborators" who did nothing when Gayans were being driven from their homes. Hundreds have died, Seolji says, and "our people starve on the barren land they've been given." Yushin's calmly stated answer: "Our people deserved what they got." Yow-wee, that is not gonna be popular. Seolji immediately puts a sword to his throat. Forced to explain, Yushin says that lack of cooperation among the Geumgwan (Seohyeon's) and Dae (Seolji's) Gayan states, even after Gaya's fall, doomed them. And challenges Seolji's idea that they should fight to the last man. "So the last of the Gayans should die?" You start killing people, he argues, and the Shillan nobles will massacre all of the 120,000 remaining Gayans to preserve their country and their own power. Is that what you want? It's enough to make Seolji back off a little. But he's convinced that "We all die either way."...Flashback to Episode 11, back in the battlefield with Deokman telling Alcheon and Yushin, during the confrontation about killing the wounded. "Find a way," she tells them angrily. "That is your job as leaders."...Remembering her challenge, Yushin says the exact same thing to Seolji. And adds, "If you can't, you're not fit to lead." Another injudicious comment, and it enrages Seolji to the point that he raises his sword--but he's interrupted by Wolya's entrance. Wolya smiles at Yushin, amazed at his brazen words. "Is that why you're here? To tell us we're not fit to lead the people of Gaya? You came to say your peace and get killed, is that it?" But Yushin is squinting at him like he almost recognizes him from some long-past time. He gets Wolya to tell him who he is, offering to risk his life for the information: "The eldest son of Crown Prince Wolgwang" and the crown prince of Dae Gaya. Wolya, "the real leader of the Bokya."
Even with all of her spies, Deokman reasons, Mishil probably has no information coming from the secretive Bokya. Bidam offhandedly says he'd just line up some Gayans and start chopping off heads until somebody talked! Alcheon doesn't like the sound of that at all..but it makes Deokman think that going to the Gayan village in Samnyang province is a good idea. So she sends Bidam, alone. Well THIS will be interesting....
Yushin has brought a scroll with him--an official deed to his family's land holdings in Samnyang. He offers it to the displaced Gayans already in the province; apparently that land is better land then what they're on now; good enough to survive on, anyway. Wolya looks at it and smiles. "You think this will buy the lives of you and your family?" No, Yushin answers; "What I'm buying...is your allegiance." Certainly not what these Bokya expected to hear; they think he's nuts and demand to know what he's planning. Yushin won't talk until Wolya says he's in. Wolya stares at him; this is a lot to absorb from a hated enemy who suddenly shows up at their doorstep....
Out in a village somewhere, Bojong and Seokpum supervise as soldiers and Hwarang gather what look to be around twenty villagers--men, women and children. Without a word, Seokpum steps forward and slits one man's throat. Real classy. They want to know where the Bokya are hiding. So these must be Gayans and this must be in Samnyang. Nobody talks...so another man is brought forward. Nobody's talking...Hey, there's Bidam peeking from around a corner, and he's brought his buddy from Yangji village with him...a quick slash and now two are dead. Bidam's buddy is horrified, but this is exactly what Bidam thought he'd see. Now they take a small boy from his mother's arms and bring him forward. Really, Seokpum? It's too much for his mother, who shouts out that the Bokya are hiding in Dagil village. Hmmm, you wonder if that's the truth. So does Seokpum, who glares at the group and threatens, "If you're lying, we'll kill you all."
Bidam and his buddy sneak away. The buddy wants to head right to Dakil, but Bidam saw something in those villagers' eyes. Not fear; intense hate. "Chances are that they lied." We'll lie low and watch for a while, he says. Very shrewd for a weird guy (or actually for anybody).
Later on, they tail a villager who looks edgy and in a hurry to get somewhere. The buddy cuts him off as he turns a corner and puts his sword to the man's throat...They take him inside a barn of some sort, where the man only says "Kill me" and won't respond even to their assurances of friendship. The buddy notices a piece of paper in the man's clothing and pulls it out. Some sort of symbol-code message. But guess what? It's the same code that Munno and Bidam use! How about that for luck. It looks to be one of the ancient script forms used in China many, many centuries earlier. Bidam reads it and smiles. "Nobang village, huh?" The man's eyes widen and he gasps. Bingo.
Now Bidam is back with Deokman. Guy sure does move fast. Didn't bring his buddy with him. He's brought the paper, though, and tells Deokman that the Bokya are in Nobang. Good question from Deokman upon seeing the code: "Was your master involved with the Bokya?" Bidam isn't sure; thought he might be Gayan...but no matter, Deokman wants to head there immediately. With no help? "If we delay, the Gayans will pay for lying. We've got to get Wolchun before that happens." And involve only us, or else we risk a war with the Bokya. "The three of us are perfect." Which makes Bidam a lot happier than it does Alcheon.
Nighttime: They're in the woods outside of the Bokya camp. Tense and dark; torches illuminating just enough to be scary. They creep forward... but uh-oh, two Bokya are behind them and shadowing them.
Inside a Bokya watchtower: Some sort of ingenious perimeter-signal device with small jingle bells attached to very, very long strings that pan out into the surrounding woods. Well, two of the bells are jingling, which sets the tower's occupants into action.
We watch the three sneak their way right into the well-lit middle of the compound. Nobody's around. Nobody! But suddenly a gong sounds, and within moments they're completely surrounded by at least two dozen Bokya. Spears, torches, swords, you name it. And here comes Seolji. "Who sent you?" Alcheon and Bidam draw their swords, thinking desperately of an escape plan...but now here comes Wolya, and he has Yushin with him. "Everyone stop!" It's Yushin who gives the order, and surprisingly, it's followed; the Bokya back off. Yushin acts like he expected the three (Seriously?!), but they're awfully surprised to see him, to say the least. "You asked what I'm planning," Yushin says to Wolya. "There's your answer. Everything I do is for her. I choose her as my queen." Well that even amazes Bidam. Yushin steps forward and tells a dumbfounded Deokman, "From this day forward, you are my queen." And kneels at her feet. And then looks at all of these Gayans and tells them, "Will you bow to our ruler? She rules our alliance." Wolya sizes it all up, and then tells them, "Bow to your queen!" He does...and then some more of them do...and then the others do...and then Alcheon does...and then Seolji does...and then Bidam figures he'd better do it too, if only out of prudence, and does (but nearly giggles doing it, bless him). And only Deokman is left standing, looking around at this. But what is it?
It's Mishil's. Inside, we see her and Misaeng meeting with Wolchun. The monk tells her Sohwa's recovery is taking longer than expected...but that's not why Mishil's here. "Are we due a solar eclipse?" Wolchun looks at the two of them and gives an answer we didn't expect: "No one can predict that." Mishil leans in, having apparently read something into his statement: "Are you saying we won't have one?" She reminds him that he's spoken about it before. "No respectable scientist can be certain," he replies, "regardless of what I said before." At least, not without the Northern Wei almanac. This comes as quite a surprise to his visitors, who thought they had provided him with the most accurate source material in existence, in the Daemyeung almanac. Turns out, the specific information needed to predict a solar eclipse is much more accurate in the Northern Wei almanac. And Mishil doesn't have one of those. (But we know who does have one, or at least used to have one....)
"People always respond to a big show and Mishil knows it." Deokman has seen that herself. "Nothing will change until we beat her at her own game. The people's belief is the source of her power." Deokman is with Yushin, Alcheon and the weird guy, but she's more lecturing than talking to them. The weird guy rolls his eyes (very funny). But she's certain that snagging Wolchun will turn the tables.
Later, outside of the cave they've been sitting in, Deokman tells Yushin to leave her and go his own way. Why? "I'm taking what's mine by force," she says, and then in so many words admits that his being with her makes her soft and reminds her of the happy life they planned to have together. "Feeling that is death to someone trying to take the throne by force." Yushin just stands there with that familiar miserable look on his face. "Let me hold you in my heart," she tells him; "I'll use you like a pawn if you stay, and that would be unforgivable." She walks away with tears in her eyes.
She walks back into the cave and tells Alcheon and the weird guy that Wolchun is at Hwaduk Temple. The weird guy leans forward excitedly. "Lots of guards, huh?" Well, they're about to find out because they're headed there.
Evening, and the gama is now leaving the temple. The black-clad guys cover their faces and start to make their move. They're emboldened by the observation that only Hwarang are guarding the place. Hard to tell how many of them there are, but it looks like at least a dozen. They sneak up on the two Hwarang keeping watch out front, and quickly and silently jump them and kill them.
Inside their prison room, Jukbang, Godo and Sohwa hear a disturbing ruckus outside. Godo looks out of the high window and sees dead people.
Wolchun is alone in his study room. Suddenly the door is kicked in and his personal guard is killed. Seolji steps forward and puts a sword to his throat. Now Wolya steps into the room...and takes off his mask and bows! "It's been too long," he says, as though he must know the monk. But it doesn't look like Wolchun recognizes him.
With Jukbang's encouragement, Godo busts the door open, no problem. Okay, now what? Even though they're still handcuffed, they start to make a break for it...but wait a minute, what about Sohwa? "Deokman's mom, come with us!" She's reluctant to even move but allows them to help her to her feet and lead her away.
Dukchung and Bakui, the two elite Hwarang, are approaching the temple and see a dead Hwarang lying in front of it. They run ahead....
Jukbang and Godo found something to get their cuffs off (or maybe they were holding onto whatever they tried to pick Wolchun's pocket in Episode 23) and in moments the cuffs are on the ground. The three step forward into the main yard; it has at least six dead Hwarang lying in it. No, eight. Whatever happened, it was ugly and one-sided. And uh-oh, here are Dukchung and Bakui showing up and seeing them standing there. They panic and run, and now the chase is on. The three run ahead and Jukbang and Godo dive off the path they're on and into some brush for cover. But suddenly Sohwa, maybe out of sheer exhaustion or else having a relapse, suddenly fazes out and just totters in place out in the open. Bakui pulls out an arrow and fires, and hits her square in the back! (Huh? Why not just run up to her and take her back? Makes absolutely no sense.) Sohwa falls to the ground and rolls off to the side, down some sort of sloped ground off the path. No sign of her in the darkness.
Now Deokman, Alcheon and Bidam arrive at the temple and come upon the carnage. And an open door, lit from inside. They run to it...it's Wolchun's study room, with all of his papers, books and calculations intact. As Deokman looks through the materials, Alcheon happens to spot something. It's the note that Wolchun got from the arrow fired into the room in Episode 23. Alcheon looks at it. "It's the Bokya. Gaya got here first." What if they're after Yushin's family, Alcheon worries. So what are they, some kind of resistance group or rival political faction? Bidam asks, but Alcheon doesn't answer....
Next day: Mishil gets the bad news from Bojong that the Bokya took Wolchun. Apparently they left that "six-egged tortoise" logo (the logo of Gaya, with the six eggs representing the founders of the six states of Gaya), someplace where her people spotted it. He also reports that Jukbang and Godo escaped, and that Sohwa was injured but "her wounds are being seen to." Well at least she's not dead. As Misaeng grumbles about the Bokya (so these guys must have a reputation), Mishil orders her spies dispatched.
Hajong brings his father the news about Seori's death and Wolchun's kidnapping. Sejong has his eyes set on bigger things. "There's no heir to the throne." We need to resolve that as soon as possible, he feels, with or without Mishil. "We have to act first." (Uh-oh, that didn't work out too well when Misaeng and Seori tried it!)
"Deokman was in the palace!?" A stunned king learns from his wife that she met their daughter in the shrine. Jinpyeong doesn't like it--thinks Deokman is some sort of loose cannon and potentially dangerous. "To be a princess," he reminds her, "she has to be officially recognized as a twin." Which will finish the royal house. Maya reminds him she's lost three sons and now a daughter...but Seohyeon, who's also there along with Yongchun, stresses that her being named a princess is impossible. Then Yongchun tells the king (and us) of "considerable civic unrest" since Cheonmyeong's death, as well as "reports that the Bokya is active again." Seohyeon shows the king a piece of paper with the six-egged tortoise logo, apparently found at Hwaduk. The king suspects the Bokya are angry about the forced relocation of the Gayans that we saw in Episode 17 (after Mishil predicted the lunar eclipse and that statue burst out of the ground). The king blames himself.
Later, Seohyeon walks out into the rainy afternoon to find his son waiting for him. "What's up with that Deokman?", he wastes no time in asking. And then chastises him for referring to Deokman as "princess" when he answers. But that's her plan, Yushin tells him, to be recognized and crowned. Seohyeon explains to him that such a thing is impossible, that attempting it would ruin the royal house; Yushin looks like this hasn't occurred to him before. "Fate has been cruel to her," Seohyeon comments with a tiny bit of sympathy. "But there's no other way." And then tells him that their family is in danger! Hands him the tortoise paper and says, "The Bokya have marked us" and will turn our Gayan friends against us. "And you let your personal feelings come first?" But Yushin has cast his lot with Deokman, and he simply walks away from his father without saying a word. Wow....
...and oh no, he's run all the way to Mount Yeoam and right up to his smacking-rock. Not this again! Has his smacking-stick in hand and backswings...but then hesitates. Nope, his face flashes anger and there he goes. One, two, three...stops for a moment, like maybe that's enough...nope, four--which breaks his stick. As he stands there, Deokman is watching him. "Accept it," she thinks to herself, hoping that Yushin will make peace with the love-that-can-never-be between them. Pretty soon Yushin picks up a new stick--he's brought plenty of spares, lucky for us--and starts smacking again. And keeps going, as hours pass and the sun journeys across the sky. Eventually he breaks his last stick (Darn it, they just don't make sticks like they used to). As he stands there with his sour look, his father's words echo in his head and he realizes that he really can't help get Deokman crowned, even if he forsakes his own family. He turns to walk away, leaving his pile of broken sticks (litterbug!)...and just then, at that very moment, the smacking-rock cracks in half and separates. Seriously. Just like that. Suddenly invigorated by the rock's grandiose gesture, he runs purposefully away somewhere.
"So you just let him leave?" Manmyeong is concerned about her son, but Seohyeon assures him that "He'll come to his senses soon enough." Well, we're about to find out, because Yushin returns. Enters the room and kneels before his parents. Challenges them--What should we do, kill all the Bokya? That will just turn all of the Gayans against us. "We have to risk everything," Yushin tells them, without being any more specific. Will you trust me?
The sun has set, and Yushin's parents watch him leave their home. They've decided to trust him with whatever idea he's presented to them. Then in the next moment, THWACK! an arrow flies right in front of their faces and buries itself in a post. Yushin turns and spots a figure fleeing, and gives chase. The arrow bears a message: "Kim Seohyeon and Kim Yushin will die."
Yushin took a nifty shortcut and as the archer rounds a bend, he's waiting for him. The archer pulls out a sword and tries to attack, but Yushin almost instantly disarms and subdues him. Now here come three more, black-clad and masked just like the archer. They all look like those Bokya we saw earlier. Yushin puts his sword to the archer's throat, hostage-style, which draws no mercy from the other three. "We'll just kill you both," one says. So Yushin shoves the archer back to his comrades and prepares to take all four on at once. "I don't need a hostage," he says, as blandly as talking about the weather (Maybe the weird guy is having an effect on him!). And in 24 seconds he's knocked them all down and shattered at least one sword into pieces. "I used the dull edge of my sword," he says disdainfully as three of the four lie there dazed and his sword is at the throat of the fourth. "Stop being babies and get up." (Very nice!) And then, shockingly, he plants his sword in the ground. "Blindfold me and tie my hands," he tells them, "and take me to your leader." Not getting any immediate response, Yushin grabs one of them and all but shakes him: "Well? I'm Kim Yushin, grandson of your enemy Kim Mulyuk. Why do you hesitate?!"
Nighttime, Bokya mountain encampment: And so they did. We see Yushin brought in, tied and blindfolded. Inside a building we find Wolya and Seolji, who are regretting a lost opportunity to kill Seohyeon during the war with Baekje. Something about a promise that was made..."But that's over now," Seolji says, after what's been happening to the Gayans who were relocated from Seorabeol to Samnyang. "Hundreds have died," Seolji says, "and Kim Seohyeon has done nothing. He's a traitor." Wolya doesn't seem too keen on any of this, but Seolji says that they'll kill Seohyeon's son (Why not Seohyeon?) and then "the 1000 men of the Bokya will wage war on Shilla." And then a subordinate runs in with the news: "Kim Yushin just gave himself up." Talk about timing....
Same evening: We find Jukbang and Godo, scared for themselves and terribly worried about Deokman's mom. But what's this--they spot a poster that's just been put up. Jukbang reads the writing on it, his eyes widen, he grabs Godo and they start running again.
The next morning: Oh this is not good. Lots of those posters were put up and the citizens are gathered around to read them.
Soldiers come running into the scene and take the posters away, but not before the damage is done--a huge buzz among the populace, to put it mildly.In 602, twins were born to the royal family. The birth of twins ended the male line and spells doom for Shilla. Princess Cheonmyeong's lost twin sister is in the capital. People of Shilla--dethrone the queen.
"Who wrote this trash?" The king is enraged: Yongchun has brought him one of the posters. Yongchun says he suspects Mishil's involvement. "But we agreed not to mention it again," Jinpyeong says, and he's right, they did agree to that. And Mishil isn't one to fink out on a deal, we at least know that about her. If not her, than who? Jinpyeong thinks he knows: "The girl." He's taking the possibility very seriously. "Is this her vengeance for being abandoned?"
Bojong brings one of the posters to Mishil, who's with the cabal. Nope, it wasn't hers--she knows nothing about it. But Sejong and Hajong wonder, "Isn't this for the best?" We agreed not to reveal it, but if someone else does anyway...Seolwon sees possible danger in this, but Sejong and Hajong want to act on it. "Seolwon the timid, that's you," Hajong says with disrespect. Mishil, she just sits there and stares at her son. "Mommy, why are you staring at me?" Softly Mishil says, "no reason."
Yeah she had a reason. It was them. Hajong had the posters put up. We see Sejong and Hajong afterwards, gleeful at what they've done. Not only will we remove the queen, Sejong says, but we'll force the king to advocate for orchestrating a cover-up. But for now this must be a complete secret, Sejong warns his son. Hajong confirms that "All of the guys who put up the signs have been killed. No one knows but us! Great, huh?" Sejong smiles, entirely ignoring what happened to Seori for going behind Mishil's back.
Bojong asks his father who could have done this. He wonders if it was Deokman, but Seolwon just looks at him with a smile and simply says, "Hajong." Score. "He wants his daddy to be king, so he couldn't wait." Shouldn't we tell Mishil? "I suspect she knows," Seolwon says. Then why didn't she say something? "Because it wasn't a bad plan. But she hates dirty tricks like this so she didn't say anything." We'll lie low, he tells his son; "Dirty tricks like this always come back to haunt you." Bojong is impressed by his father's insight, but Seolwon owns up: "It wasn't me; I just noticed the look on Mishil's face. She's nobody's fool."
Nighttime: Deokman, Alcheon and Bidam are back in their cave, sitting around a small fire. Alcheon is explaining about the Bokya, that they're a secret group of Gaya nationalists. But he's not entirely sure why they kidnapped Wolchun (or as Bidam is calling him, "woodchuck"). Any ideas, princess? Hey, snap out of it...she's just been sitting there staring into space; finally she wonders aloud, "What would I do if I were Mishil?" And actually, even if Mishil's way isn't the best way, it still is an important question because she knows Mishil is going to be trying to get Wolchun back for herself.
Yushin is brought before a very surprised Seolji. He readily admits who he is, and is completely unfazed by Seolji's threat that "Your family is marked for death." Wants to know Seolji's name and clan, even though he obviously is in no position to ask questions. Seolji laughs out loud, but then starts fuming about Yushin's "family of Shillan collaborators" who did nothing when Gayans were being driven from their homes. Hundreds have died, Seolji says, and "our people starve on the barren land they've been given." Yushin's calmly stated answer: "Our people deserved what they got." Yow-wee, that is not gonna be popular. Seolji immediately puts a sword to his throat. Forced to explain, Yushin says that lack of cooperation among the Geumgwan (Seohyeon's) and Dae (Seolji's) Gayan states, even after Gaya's fall, doomed them. And challenges Seolji's idea that they should fight to the last man. "So the last of the Gayans should die?" You start killing people, he argues, and the Shillan nobles will massacre all of the 120,000 remaining Gayans to preserve their country and their own power. Is that what you want? It's enough to make Seolji back off a little. But he's convinced that "We all die either way."...Flashback to Episode 11, back in the battlefield with Deokman telling Alcheon and Yushin, during the confrontation about killing the wounded. "Find a way," she tells them angrily. "That is your job as leaders."...Remembering her challenge, Yushin says the exact same thing to Seolji. And adds, "If you can't, you're not fit to lead." Another injudicious comment, and it enrages Seolji to the point that he raises his sword--but he's interrupted by Wolya's entrance. Wolya smiles at Yushin, amazed at his brazen words. "Is that why you're here? To tell us we're not fit to lead the people of Gaya? You came to say your peace and get killed, is that it?" But Yushin is squinting at him like he almost recognizes him from some long-past time. He gets Wolya to tell him who he is, offering to risk his life for the information: "The eldest son of Crown Prince Wolgwang" and the crown prince of Dae Gaya. Wolya, "the real leader of the Bokya."
Even with all of her spies, Deokman reasons, Mishil probably has no information coming from the secretive Bokya. Bidam offhandedly says he'd just line up some Gayans and start chopping off heads until somebody talked! Alcheon doesn't like the sound of that at all..but it makes Deokman think that going to the Gayan village in Samnyang province is a good idea. So she sends Bidam, alone. Well THIS will be interesting....
Yushin has brought a scroll with him--an official deed to his family's land holdings in Samnyang. He offers it to the displaced Gayans already in the province; apparently that land is better land then what they're on now; good enough to survive on, anyway. Wolya looks at it and smiles. "You think this will buy the lives of you and your family?" No, Yushin answers; "What I'm buying...is your allegiance." Certainly not what these Bokya expected to hear; they think he's nuts and demand to know what he's planning. Yushin won't talk until Wolya says he's in. Wolya stares at him; this is a lot to absorb from a hated enemy who suddenly shows up at their doorstep....
Out in a village somewhere, Bojong and Seokpum supervise as soldiers and Hwarang gather what look to be around twenty villagers--men, women and children. Without a word, Seokpum steps forward and slits one man's throat. Real classy. They want to know where the Bokya are hiding. So these must be Gayans and this must be in Samnyang. Nobody talks...so another man is brought forward. Nobody's talking...Hey, there's Bidam peeking from around a corner, and he's brought his buddy from Yangji village with him...a quick slash and now two are dead. Bidam's buddy is horrified, but this is exactly what Bidam thought he'd see. Now they take a small boy from his mother's arms and bring him forward. Really, Seokpum? It's too much for his mother, who shouts out that the Bokya are hiding in Dagil village. Hmmm, you wonder if that's the truth. So does Seokpum, who glares at the group and threatens, "If you're lying, we'll kill you all."
Bidam and his buddy sneak away. The buddy wants to head right to Dakil, but Bidam saw something in those villagers' eyes. Not fear; intense hate. "Chances are that they lied." We'll lie low and watch for a while, he says. Very shrewd for a weird guy (or actually for anybody).
Later on, they tail a villager who looks edgy and in a hurry to get somewhere. The buddy cuts him off as he turns a corner and puts his sword to the man's throat...They take him inside a barn of some sort, where the man only says "Kill me" and won't respond even to their assurances of friendship. The buddy notices a piece of paper in the man's clothing and pulls it out. Some sort of symbol-code message. But guess what? It's the same code that Munno and Bidam use! How about that for luck. It looks to be one of the ancient script forms used in China many, many centuries earlier. Bidam reads it and smiles. "Nobang village, huh?" The man's eyes widen and he gasps. Bingo.
Now Bidam is back with Deokman. Guy sure does move fast. Didn't bring his buddy with him. He's brought the paper, though, and tells Deokman that the Bokya are in Nobang. Good question from Deokman upon seeing the code: "Was your master involved with the Bokya?" Bidam isn't sure; thought he might be Gayan...but no matter, Deokman wants to head there immediately. With no help? "If we delay, the Gayans will pay for lying. We've got to get Wolchun before that happens." And involve only us, or else we risk a war with the Bokya. "The three of us are perfect." Which makes Bidam a lot happier than it does Alcheon.
Nighttime: They're in the woods outside of the Bokya camp. Tense and dark; torches illuminating just enough to be scary. They creep forward... but uh-oh, two Bokya are behind them and shadowing them.
Inside a Bokya watchtower: Some sort of ingenious perimeter-signal device with small jingle bells attached to very, very long strings that pan out into the surrounding woods. Well, two of the bells are jingling, which sets the tower's occupants into action.
We watch the three sneak their way right into the well-lit middle of the compound. Nobody's around. Nobody! But suddenly a gong sounds, and within moments they're completely surrounded by at least two dozen Bokya. Spears, torches, swords, you name it. And here comes Seolji. "Who sent you?" Alcheon and Bidam draw their swords, thinking desperately of an escape plan...but now here comes Wolya, and he has Yushin with him. "Everyone stop!" It's Yushin who gives the order, and surprisingly, it's followed; the Bokya back off. Yushin acts like he expected the three (Seriously?!), but they're awfully surprised to see him, to say the least. "You asked what I'm planning," Yushin says to Wolya. "There's your answer. Everything I do is for her. I choose her as my queen." Well that even amazes Bidam. Yushin steps forward and tells a dumbfounded Deokman, "From this day forward, you are my queen." And kneels at her feet. And then looks at all of these Gayans and tells them, "Will you bow to our ruler? She rules our alliance." Wolya sizes it all up, and then tells them, "Bow to your queen!" He does...and then some more of them do...and then the others do...and then Alcheon does...and then Seolji does...and then Bidam figures he'd better do it too, if only out of prudence, and does (but nearly giggles doing it, bless him). And only Deokman is left standing, looking around at this. But what is it?