Post by ajk on Oct 19, 2012 23:53:29 GMT -5
Plenty of grumbling about Deokman's observatory proposal--even from people you'd think would support her. Seohyeon and Yongchun think it threatens the royal house's power. Actually for the last twenty years it's been Mishil's power--she's the one that makes the announcements about the season changes and the planting schedules--but otherwise it's been the royal house's prerogative for the last 700 years. "Now she wants to give the knowledge to the people," Yongchun grouses. Imjong is there too, and while he's reluctant to offer an opinion even when asked, he does tell the two that he thinks the Hwarang will resist the idea.
Deokman and Mishil are parting, their conversation over. We see them just as Deokman has said something that took Mishil by surprise.
The king and queen and Manmyeong aren't sure what to make of the observatory proposal. The eclipse handed Deokman the "Priestess of the Sacred Rites" title, so the planting-schedule announcements are up to her now to handle as she sees fit, but the king worries that "even when the observatory is built, will the people understand it?" The nobles won't like it; the lower officials probably won't even understand it.
"I'm against it." Even Alcheon doesn't like it and says so to Yushin. "It doesn't make sense." Yushin defends her, but it just seems like too much change for Alcheon. They turn to Bidam and ask his opinion--really?--but he just babbles something about Deokman being a prodigy and goes off on his merry way...but outside, sitting alone, Bidam thinks to himself. "She's not abdicating her divine right. She's destroying it altogether." It looks like the idea's boldness impresses him...but who knows with that guy.
The DFers are trying to understand it. Jukbang tries to sell it as replacing an old shrine with a new one. But that's about as much as any of them can comprehend it.
More importantly, a big group of citizens is trying to understand it, too. They sort of see it as a shrine for looking at the heavens, and they seem supportive of Deokman wanting to build it...but do they pray there? They tend to think they'll pray there now instead of the sacred well. Hmmmm...this could turn into a problem.
Now Alcheon is pitching Deokman personally, urging her not to give up her divine right. Deokman replies that her keeping it "is just an invitation for an enemy to wrest it from me" and I'll have to fight back again to reclaim it. So I'm putting a stop to it now, by making the knowledge public so it can't be monopolized by anybody. Yushin is with them and it looks like he likes the idea...Later he asks Deokman how long she's been planning this. She answers that it came down to getting Wolchun's cooperation--so not all that long. "The idea is a great one," he tells her. It reminds him of Ichadon, a monk from around 100 years earlier who martyred himself in order to gain the acceptance of Buddhism as Shilla's official religion. (See link in info thread.) "But people don't change faith easily," he warns her, and Mishil's shrine is held sacred by many, many people. To her credit, Deokman listens and realizes the potential problem, and asks Yushin to look into it. Then she mentions her conversations with Mishil, her feeling an odd mixture of self-doubt inside but unshakable confidence in her answers to Mishil's questions, like she had always planned them. "Don't you find it fascinating?" He doesn't.
"It's stupid." Mishil, with Seolwon. "She goes on and on about her grand scheme but it makes no sense." And adds mockingly, "It's a little girl's dream." Seolwon observes that even with the 100 years that Buddhism has had to establish itself, "people still pray to the heavens, the earth, their ancestors." "Of course they do. All people everywhere need their illusions." And they need someone to intercede with the heavens for them. Again she mocks Deokman: "'I have no divine power; I can't see into the future; so I'm the same as all of you.' The people aren't ready for that kind of nonsense." She's really annoyed; the shrill voice is creeping in. Seolwon senses it and offers some calming words; you're right, of course, so why are you acting that way? Mishil grimaces like it's going to hurt to say it, but eventually she does. "I envy her." Huh?!
Back to Deokman and Yushin. Deokman confesses a sort of genuine admiration for Mishil, like she's some sort of larger-than-life character out of one of the hero stories in the Plutarch book she read long ago. This draws a compliment from Yushin, that "you're learning to read her and acknowledge her strengths."
"Mishil, what's there to envy?" Seolwon is baffled, but she explains. The originality of her ideas. Also her youth. "The day will come when the state, religion and science will be separate. I'm too old to make my way in that world." Wow....And what else? She hesitates, then nearly starts to cry. "Why wasn't I born a royal?" This again. I never had the chance to become queen and dream of even bigger things, she says in despair.
Back to Deokman and Yushin again. Deokman confesses actually wishing she'd have had more time to talk with Mishil. And tells him what it was that she told Mishil as they parted: "I hope you live a long life."
Seolwon chuckles as Mishil tells him the same thing. As angry as I am with her for taking my divine right, she tells Seolwon, well, "I wanted to embrace her." (Oh come on now.) And even regrets her not being able to influence Deokman in her childhood because of her flight from the palace.
Some sort of announcement has been publicly posted and is causing quite a stir among the citizens. Hey, there's Munno reading it too!
The king tells Deokman he has a big problem with her plan--he knows that Mishil couldn't hold her authority forever and that eventually it would revert back to the royal family. Losing it "will significantly weaken our hold over the people." But Deokman thinks the whole divine-right model is doomed. "Better to embrace Buddhism to strengthen the royal house." Buddhism, and scientific knowledge.
Bidam tells Munno of his faith in Deokman. "I'll follow where she leads; share her vision." He's very impressed by her plan to give the calendar knowledge to the public and build the observatory: "an almanac made not of paper or parchment, but of stone." Munno hadn't heard about the observatory yet.
A state council meeting begins. Mishil is present; Deokman enters; the nobles bow and sit down. And take up the observatory proposal. Although there hasn't been any build-up to this scene (oops, big mistake), this will make or break the observatory because the council has to approve its funding. The discussion begins...words fade into dull noise as time passes...Now it's time for the vote. Does this thing have even the slightest chance? Sejong, Hajong and Misaeng and their allies, they're ready and eager to vote. But what's this--10 to 0? In FAVOR?? Unanimously approving the observatory? Deokman looks like it's caught her totally off guard. Mishil smiles to herself. Has she schemed up something new here?
Later, with the meeting over, Mishil and Deokman are sitting alone. And to her credit, Deokman openly admits she can't figure it out. "What are you planning?" "Nothing in particular," Mishil says blandly; just no real reason to oppose it. She's acting like it's just not a priority either way. Hmmm....
Now Mishil is with her cabal. Hajong and Misaeng don't get it. They figure that even Seohyeon and Yongchun would have voted no--the opposition to Deokman's proposal is that broad among the elites--but to move aggressively to show support, well, why? Seolwon gets it: The observatory is just a structure. "It's what happens AFTER it's built that matters." And now Misaeng gets it: "Will the stupid peasants even understand it?" Obnoxious stereotype, but the question is right on the nose. Mishil isn't even worried that far ahead yet; she's more focused on Deokman's more immediate behavior. The observatory and the knowledge it will give the public, well, by building it Deokman will lose the authority that the eclipse gave her--the authority that allows her to build it in the first place. Mishil seems to think that this is self-defeating and that Deokman will ultimately waver when faced with the impending loss of her authority. "I'm eager to see how she manages it."
Evening: Deokman is waiting outside at one of those meeting-places we've seen her at before. Waiting for Bidam, who arrives. Bidam bows and asks, "Can you defeat Mishil, Princessness?" His attempt at formality startles her a bit...But she answers; tells him she's not sure. As powerful as Mishil is, though, Deokman thinks just knowing and observing Mishil will make herself more of a worthy adversary. And she's also learned that Mishil does have some fear of "the voice of the people." (Mishil was talking more about violent unruly mobs, but whatever.) But I don't fear them, she says. She's grateful to Wolchun for answering many questions that she asked him, and she intends to do the same when she's asked questions in the future. "I'll do all I can to find the answers. That's the way to beat Mishil." This all sounds rather unfocused and beside the point, frankly. Now about this sudden formality--why? He tells her he's become so impressed with her that he feels like it's more appropriate now--which for him is quite a compliment. And he tells her he's decided to dedicate himself to her service. And he drops to one knee and formally declares that.
He leaves, and as he does he recalls Munno asking him earlier whether or not he thinks the princess can defeat Mishil. He chuckles to himself: "He's always been a worrier." But he's very pleased with what he did tonight and thinks he's headed for great things. Well, that peaceful contentment last for only a moment before from out of nowhere, a pole comes flying at him! He grabs it, and now all of a sudden somebody's attacking him with another wooden pole, and a wild duel breaks out. It's Chilsuk! Why--what's the point?! They are really going at it, and Chilsuk is being reminded of Munno's moves from Episode 3, in the cave with Sohwa. Now a momentary halt...and Chilsuk runs away. Is he acting as bait for something? No. Bidam gives chase briefly but Chilsuk scales a wall and by the time Bidam catches up, he's vanished into the night. "What was that about?", Bidam wonders to himself. "Pretty slick."
"Well?" Chilsuk has run straight to Seolwon. "You're right," Chilsuk tells him; "It's Munno's technique." Okay, so that explains the non-lethal wooden poles. Seolwon looks concerned at the possibility that Munno is still out there. (Why? What's it to him at this point.) I'll follow the kid, Chilsuk says.
A beautiful sunrise over the capital. Yushin is up early; he's on his way to see Deokman, who's in one of the royal office buildings. Finds her very busy writing something, with lots of books and papers piled up on her desk. She's been at this all night...but what is it? Tax records; she's trying to understand the royal house's tax collections, but she says it's all too much for her for the moment. Give her credit for taking an interest, though, and Yushin's admiring look says as much.
And apparently this isn't the first all-nighter she's pulled, as a worried queen is told by Chosun (who apparently is Deokman's attendant now. Nice).
Back to Deokman: Alcheon is there now: she tells him to ask Wolchun to determine a favorable date for the observatory's groundbreaking. And tells Yushin to oversee the strengthening of the Gayans' civilian army. She's concerned about the royal house's ongoing problem of Seolwon controlling the military and the royal house not having much muscle on their side. Then she tells Yushin to have Wolya and Seolji come to the capital. Alcheon rightly asks why; seems like a dangerous idea. But Deokman wants to ensure that Yushin, and not those two, is in control of the civilian army, and that their continued presence with the Gayans at Amnyang might be seen as too much of a threat. Which makes sense...but bringing once-rebel leaders into the capital, won't that also be seen as a threat? "I'm sure you can figure out a way," Deokman tells the two Hwarang. We'll see.
Now we see the Gayans doing archery drills. They look good; poised, disciplined, good shooters. Yushin arrives to talk to Wolya and Seolji.
Bojong brings Mishil the news that Deokman has been pulling all-nighters in the government offices. "We could use ten more like her," she tells Seolwon with mild admiration. And Bojong also finally asks what the Hwarang should do about Sohwa, whose wound is healing but who's still unconscious. "I don't need her," Mishil says, to Seolwon's (and our) surprise. "Am I a common criminal that I need hostages? I don't need her." (This is hard to accept. A valuable bargaining chip she can score big points with and she's tossing it away? Seriously? No way. And isn't Chilsuk still frantic to find her?) Bojong and Seolwon look at each other, and just barely perceptibly, Seolwon shakes his head no. "As you say," Bojong says to Mishil, and leaves.
Here's Sohwa, and she's just starting to regain consciousness. She awakens in a dark, quiet room somewhere. She's remembering falling down into the sinkhole in Episode 5...and now remembering Chilsuk taking her away from the desert on horseback, which we saw as a flashback in Episode 14...and now remembers the king visiting her in the royal storehouse Episode 19...and then the queen visiting her later in Episode 19...and then that brief glimpse of Deokman in her Hwarang uniform, also in Episode 19. And now she actually speaks Deokman's name! She does look a lot more lucid and plugged-in than we've seen her since she and Deokman were separated. Many eventful days ago.
Dukchung asks Bojong what Mishil wants to do about Sohwa. Bojong tells him what Mishil said. And then says, "Do what you have to do and report back." Yikes!
Hearing someone approaching her room, Sohwa lies down again and feigns unconsciousness. It's only an attendant with some food, who enters and then leaves.
Hey look, it's Goksaheun and Daepung (the two DFers) keeping watch on the building where Sohwa is. They know that Dukchung and Bakui are hanging around there all the time; it doesn't seem like they know for sure that Sohwa is in there. Has Yushin assigned them to this?
Bakui is there right now, in fact. He and another Hwarang are talking unfavorably about Deokman's observatory, and just generally about Deokman the DFer becoming a princess. All of which Sohwa can hear and understand now. And now she thinks she's in trouble all of a sudden. She looks around and grabs what looks like a small awl--just something that could possibly be a weapon....
It's mealtime again, and the door is unlocked and the attendant is let into Sohwa's room. Sohwa is sitting there, playing dazed...The attendant looks a little surprised to see her up. Sohwa's hand tenses around the awl...
As Goksaheun and Daepung watch, we see the attendant emerge from Sohwa's room with the food tray. "Did she eat?", the other Hwarang asks. "Yes," the attendant answers, keeping her face hidden. Yeah, we've seen this switcheroo before...inside the room, someone is struggling under the bedcovers, probably bound and gagged. And that must be Sohwa in the attendant's clothes who we see suddenly making a break for it.
Bidam is walking through a main street. Wonder if he sees the suspicious figure in the low-brimmed hat tailing him. Hard to miss. The citizens are reading a public announcement of the observatory's dedication ceremony. Wait a minute, that's Munno in the hat. Wanted to see for himself what's going on. Ah, but wait, there's Chilsuk, watching Bidam and his hatted companion from a distance. Wonder if he suspects it's Munno in the hat?
Bojong tells Mishil and the cabal that a groundbreaking ceremony will be held shortly. All of the men are laughing about it; they seem to think it will be a big flop, or worse. And Mishil has that smug grin about her, like she knows darned well that Deokman is headed for trouble.
Goksaheun and Daepung watch Dukchung enter the building. He gives the news to Bakui. "Kill her and dispose of the body." So they go into Sohwa's room, swords drawn. Fortunately they pull down the bedcovers before striking, and see the attendant, wearing Sohwa's clothes, bound and gagged. Uh-oh, they're in big trouble...They go running off. Goksaheun and Daepung follow discreetly.
Sohwa has reached the main street we just saw, where the citizens are still reading the announcement. Sohwa stops to read it for a moment, and then presses on.
We see Deokman headed out to the dedication ceremony. Not just her; it's her first royal procession. She's got her own gama! Not particularly large, but all tricked out. Sweet ride. Alcheon and Yushin are leading the way on horseback, and Jukbang and Godo are in there too, with plenty of other Rising Phoenix and DFers. And Wolchun is in there walking as well. Munno and Bidam watch the group pass. And Chilsuk watches them.
Now we're outside the city, at the construction site. Frankly, it's a lousy turnout. Less than 100, and no palace officials. Not one. (Where are all of those people who were going wild at her appearance after the eclipse?) Bidam arrives, but is surprised to turn around and find that Munno isn't there--obviously ditched him on the way. Deokman steps out of her gama, dressed in white like Mishil does for formal ceremonies (or, like Mishil DID), so obviously this will be considered a religious ceremony. Like Yushin and Alcheon, she's disappointed surprised to see no nobles or officials there. Jukbang and Godo creep up to the princess and try to put a positive spin on it: Hey, this is great, you need peace and quiet for a sacred ceremony and that's just what we have! This is so reverent. (Okay, that cracked me up. Very funny.)
We've seen this before--that Sohwa can really scoot when she gets moving. She's out in the woods already, running down a path and making remarkably good time. The three Hwarang chasing her aren't even making up any ground. The Hwarang come to a fork in the path; the third guy goes right and Dukchung and Bakui go left. Then Goksaheun and Daepung reach it; they both go right. Sohwa, she went left.
Deokman starts the dedication, kneeling in prayer, then rising and bowing. Or is she finishing it? Apparently it's over; we missed nearly all of it. "Let's go," she tells Yushin. But now what's this--as soon as she turns to leave, the citizens all start clamoring for her attention. "Princess! Help us!" So she goes over and asks them what they want. One woman wants a son. Pray for me to have a son, she begs. Heal my mother, says another. Heal my son, says a third. They all say they'll come here and pray if she'll pray for those things too. Jukbang steps in and tries to explain to them that this isn't a religious site, but they don't get it and just keep clamoring for help. Seems to be a good lesson there for Deokman. As she leaves, we see Munno, watching from a safe distance.
Sohwa has left her path and is running through the woods, which is a good move. Dukchung and Bakui are running up the path she was on, but she's still got a good margin on them.
Munno is walking alone now, probably headed back home. But Chilsuk is following him, rather closely, and not too smoothly--surely Munno must have sensed by now that he's being tailed.
"Deokman!! Deokman!!" Miracle of miracles, Sohwa has stumbled right onto the construction site and has spotted the royal party just leaving the scene. She screams out...
...loudly enough for her two pursuers to hear. And also loud enough for Chilsuk to hear. Deokman hears it too, and wonders who's calling her by name. Well this could get complicated in a big hurry. "Stop a moment." Deokman wants to know what's going on out there. That voice seems to strike a note of familiarity. And now here's Chilsuk running into the picture. "Sohwa!!" His eyes are still fine, obviously. She sees him and panics, and flees back into the woods. (She's in royal maid's clothes--if she wants to see Deokman, why doesn't she just run right up to the royal procession?! UGH!) Deokman looks out of her gama but can't see anything, so she reluctantly orders the procession forward again.
Oh crap, Sohwa's run right into Dukchung and Bakui. Small world. They grab her and drag her off into the deep woods. But all isn't lost--Munno has heard the fracas and quietly follows them.
Deokman stops the procession again, thinking she still hears a familiar voice calling her. So much so, she actually orders the whole procession turned around back the way they came. Whatever she thought she heard, it looks like it unsettled her a little.
Dukchung and Bakui drag Sohwa to a bare patch and throw her down to the ground. "It'll be over soon," Bakui tells her, drawing his sword. He yells and raises his sword...and a rock flies in and knocks the sword from his hand. Munno. The two Hwarang charge him, swords drawn. Munno has no weapon but he quickly defeats them with what look like karate chops--a very silly sequence. Realizing they're overmatched (!?), they turn and flee. Chilsuk emerges into a clearing just in time to see them run away. He runs in the very direction they came from.
Munno reaches down and helps Sohwa up. Before we can even tell that they recognize each other, Sohwa's eyes widen in panic as Chilsuk appears before her. Chilsuk charges from behind Munno, sword drawn, but this time Munno manages to grab a thick tree branch lying on the ground and fend him off, long enough to turn and get a proper look at his attacker. Each is shocked to see the other. They stare...and just in those few moments, Sohwa's vanished into the woods!
The procession arrives back at the construction site and this time Deokman has sense enough to get out and look around. Sohwa has run back the way she came, and reaches the edge of the construction site. Deokman is looking all around, still unsettled. "Deokman!" She doesn't hear the first one, so Sohwa calls again. This time Deokman turns and looks.
Deokman and Mishil are parting, their conversation over. We see them just as Deokman has said something that took Mishil by surprise.
The king and queen and Manmyeong aren't sure what to make of the observatory proposal. The eclipse handed Deokman the "Priestess of the Sacred Rites" title, so the planting-schedule announcements are up to her now to handle as she sees fit, but the king worries that "even when the observatory is built, will the people understand it?" The nobles won't like it; the lower officials probably won't even understand it.
"I'm against it." Even Alcheon doesn't like it and says so to Yushin. "It doesn't make sense." Yushin defends her, but it just seems like too much change for Alcheon. They turn to Bidam and ask his opinion--really?--but he just babbles something about Deokman being a prodigy and goes off on his merry way...but outside, sitting alone, Bidam thinks to himself. "She's not abdicating her divine right. She's destroying it altogether." It looks like the idea's boldness impresses him...but who knows with that guy.
The DFers are trying to understand it. Jukbang tries to sell it as replacing an old shrine with a new one. But that's about as much as any of them can comprehend it.
More importantly, a big group of citizens is trying to understand it, too. They sort of see it as a shrine for looking at the heavens, and they seem supportive of Deokman wanting to build it...but do they pray there? They tend to think they'll pray there now instead of the sacred well. Hmmmm...this could turn into a problem.
Now Alcheon is pitching Deokman personally, urging her not to give up her divine right. Deokman replies that her keeping it "is just an invitation for an enemy to wrest it from me" and I'll have to fight back again to reclaim it. So I'm putting a stop to it now, by making the knowledge public so it can't be monopolized by anybody. Yushin is with them and it looks like he likes the idea...Later he asks Deokman how long she's been planning this. She answers that it came down to getting Wolchun's cooperation--so not all that long. "The idea is a great one," he tells her. It reminds him of Ichadon, a monk from around 100 years earlier who martyred himself in order to gain the acceptance of Buddhism as Shilla's official religion. (See link in info thread.) "But people don't change faith easily," he warns her, and Mishil's shrine is held sacred by many, many people. To her credit, Deokman listens and realizes the potential problem, and asks Yushin to look into it. Then she mentions her conversations with Mishil, her feeling an odd mixture of self-doubt inside but unshakable confidence in her answers to Mishil's questions, like she had always planned them. "Don't you find it fascinating?" He doesn't.
"It's stupid." Mishil, with Seolwon. "She goes on and on about her grand scheme but it makes no sense." And adds mockingly, "It's a little girl's dream." Seolwon observes that even with the 100 years that Buddhism has had to establish itself, "people still pray to the heavens, the earth, their ancestors." "Of course they do. All people everywhere need their illusions." And they need someone to intercede with the heavens for them. Again she mocks Deokman: "'I have no divine power; I can't see into the future; so I'm the same as all of you.' The people aren't ready for that kind of nonsense." She's really annoyed; the shrill voice is creeping in. Seolwon senses it and offers some calming words; you're right, of course, so why are you acting that way? Mishil grimaces like it's going to hurt to say it, but eventually she does. "I envy her." Huh?!
Back to Deokman and Yushin. Deokman confesses a sort of genuine admiration for Mishil, like she's some sort of larger-than-life character out of one of the hero stories in the Plutarch book she read long ago. This draws a compliment from Yushin, that "you're learning to read her and acknowledge her strengths."
"Mishil, what's there to envy?" Seolwon is baffled, but she explains. The originality of her ideas. Also her youth. "The day will come when the state, religion and science will be separate. I'm too old to make my way in that world." Wow....And what else? She hesitates, then nearly starts to cry. "Why wasn't I born a royal?" This again. I never had the chance to become queen and dream of even bigger things, she says in despair.
Back to Deokman and Yushin again. Deokman confesses actually wishing she'd have had more time to talk with Mishil. And tells him what it was that she told Mishil as they parted: "I hope you live a long life."
Seolwon chuckles as Mishil tells him the same thing. As angry as I am with her for taking my divine right, she tells Seolwon, well, "I wanted to embrace her." (Oh come on now.) And even regrets her not being able to influence Deokman in her childhood because of her flight from the palace.
Some sort of announcement has been publicly posted and is causing quite a stir among the citizens. Hey, there's Munno reading it too!
The Star of Mizar, the Princess of the Sacred Rites, has been crowned princess. Praise the heavens.Now Munno thinks back to twenty years ago...Hangzhou, China: Munno is looking for that Kim Dolok person--the Shillan who was going to help Sohwa and the infant. There he is. (This is more of the same previously unseen sequence that we started to see in Episode 25, showing what happened after Munno and Sohwa and the infant fled from Chilsuk in Episode 3.) But Munno is distressed to learn that Sohwa and the infant have left. He was supposed to meet them here, but they're gone. Sohwa left him a letter. In it, she apologizes for leaving but tells him that the king's order to her was simply to keep the baby alive, and not to involve it in the grand plan that she apparently thinks Munno has for it...Flashback ending, Munno wonders whatever happened to Sohwa and how that infant managed to end up a crowned princess. And now here's Bidam, just returned from his mission to help the people who he told Munno he wanted to help. Tells him about the princess's plan to make the almanac knowledge public for the public's benefit. He asks in an irritated voice, "What do you care what happens in the world?" Oh dear, cranky Munno is back. Puzzled, Bidam thinks for a moment and then answers, "Sir, isn't it about time we did?" Good job, weird dude. "I intend to serve the princess, he tells him to visible skepticism. And then drops the bomb on Munno: "The Hwarang trainee in Yangji village was the lost twin princess. I've sworn to her service." Briefly, Munno recalls meeting Deokman in Episode 22. "That child?"
The king tells Deokman he has a big problem with her plan--he knows that Mishil couldn't hold her authority forever and that eventually it would revert back to the royal family. Losing it "will significantly weaken our hold over the people." But Deokman thinks the whole divine-right model is doomed. "Better to embrace Buddhism to strengthen the royal house." Buddhism, and scientific knowledge.
Bidam tells Munno of his faith in Deokman. "I'll follow where she leads; share her vision." He's very impressed by her plan to give the calendar knowledge to the public and build the observatory: "an almanac made not of paper or parchment, but of stone." Munno hadn't heard about the observatory yet.
A state council meeting begins. Mishil is present; Deokman enters; the nobles bow and sit down. And take up the observatory proposal. Although there hasn't been any build-up to this scene (oops, big mistake), this will make or break the observatory because the council has to approve its funding. The discussion begins...words fade into dull noise as time passes...Now it's time for the vote. Does this thing have even the slightest chance? Sejong, Hajong and Misaeng and their allies, they're ready and eager to vote. But what's this--10 to 0? In FAVOR?? Unanimously approving the observatory? Deokman looks like it's caught her totally off guard. Mishil smiles to herself. Has she schemed up something new here?
Later, with the meeting over, Mishil and Deokman are sitting alone. And to her credit, Deokman openly admits she can't figure it out. "What are you planning?" "Nothing in particular," Mishil says blandly; just no real reason to oppose it. She's acting like it's just not a priority either way. Hmmm....
Now Mishil is with her cabal. Hajong and Misaeng don't get it. They figure that even Seohyeon and Yongchun would have voted no--the opposition to Deokman's proposal is that broad among the elites--but to move aggressively to show support, well, why? Seolwon gets it: The observatory is just a structure. "It's what happens AFTER it's built that matters." And now Misaeng gets it: "Will the stupid peasants even understand it?" Obnoxious stereotype, but the question is right on the nose. Mishil isn't even worried that far ahead yet; she's more focused on Deokman's more immediate behavior. The observatory and the knowledge it will give the public, well, by building it Deokman will lose the authority that the eclipse gave her--the authority that allows her to build it in the first place. Mishil seems to think that this is self-defeating and that Deokman will ultimately waver when faced with the impending loss of her authority. "I'm eager to see how she manages it."
Evening: Deokman is waiting outside at one of those meeting-places we've seen her at before. Waiting for Bidam, who arrives. Bidam bows and asks, "Can you defeat Mishil, Princessness?" His attempt at formality startles her a bit...But she answers; tells him she's not sure. As powerful as Mishil is, though, Deokman thinks just knowing and observing Mishil will make herself more of a worthy adversary. And she's also learned that Mishil does have some fear of "the voice of the people." (Mishil was talking more about violent unruly mobs, but whatever.) But I don't fear them, she says. She's grateful to Wolchun for answering many questions that she asked him, and she intends to do the same when she's asked questions in the future. "I'll do all I can to find the answers. That's the way to beat Mishil." This all sounds rather unfocused and beside the point, frankly. Now about this sudden formality--why? He tells her he's become so impressed with her that he feels like it's more appropriate now--which for him is quite a compliment. And he tells her he's decided to dedicate himself to her service. And he drops to one knee and formally declares that.
He leaves, and as he does he recalls Munno asking him earlier whether or not he thinks the princess can defeat Mishil. He chuckles to himself: "He's always been a worrier." But he's very pleased with what he did tonight and thinks he's headed for great things. Well, that peaceful contentment last for only a moment before from out of nowhere, a pole comes flying at him! He grabs it, and now all of a sudden somebody's attacking him with another wooden pole, and a wild duel breaks out. It's Chilsuk! Why--what's the point?! They are really going at it, and Chilsuk is being reminded of Munno's moves from Episode 3, in the cave with Sohwa. Now a momentary halt...and Chilsuk runs away. Is he acting as bait for something? No. Bidam gives chase briefly but Chilsuk scales a wall and by the time Bidam catches up, he's vanished into the night. "What was that about?", Bidam wonders to himself. "Pretty slick."
"Well?" Chilsuk has run straight to Seolwon. "You're right," Chilsuk tells him; "It's Munno's technique." Okay, so that explains the non-lethal wooden poles. Seolwon looks concerned at the possibility that Munno is still out there. (Why? What's it to him at this point.) I'll follow the kid, Chilsuk says.
A beautiful sunrise over the capital. Yushin is up early; he's on his way to see Deokman, who's in one of the royal office buildings. Finds her very busy writing something, with lots of books and papers piled up on her desk. She's been at this all night...but what is it? Tax records; she's trying to understand the royal house's tax collections, but she says it's all too much for her for the moment. Give her credit for taking an interest, though, and Yushin's admiring look says as much.
And apparently this isn't the first all-nighter she's pulled, as a worried queen is told by Chosun (who apparently is Deokman's attendant now. Nice).
Back to Deokman: Alcheon is there now: she tells him to ask Wolchun to determine a favorable date for the observatory's groundbreaking. And tells Yushin to oversee the strengthening of the Gayans' civilian army. She's concerned about the royal house's ongoing problem of Seolwon controlling the military and the royal house not having much muscle on their side. Then she tells Yushin to have Wolya and Seolji come to the capital. Alcheon rightly asks why; seems like a dangerous idea. But Deokman wants to ensure that Yushin, and not those two, is in control of the civilian army, and that their continued presence with the Gayans at Amnyang might be seen as too much of a threat. Which makes sense...but bringing once-rebel leaders into the capital, won't that also be seen as a threat? "I'm sure you can figure out a way," Deokman tells the two Hwarang. We'll see.
Now we see the Gayans doing archery drills. They look good; poised, disciplined, good shooters. Yushin arrives to talk to Wolya and Seolji.
Bojong brings Mishil the news that Deokman has been pulling all-nighters in the government offices. "We could use ten more like her," she tells Seolwon with mild admiration. And Bojong also finally asks what the Hwarang should do about Sohwa, whose wound is healing but who's still unconscious. "I don't need her," Mishil says, to Seolwon's (and our) surprise. "Am I a common criminal that I need hostages? I don't need her." (This is hard to accept. A valuable bargaining chip she can score big points with and she's tossing it away? Seriously? No way. And isn't Chilsuk still frantic to find her?) Bojong and Seolwon look at each other, and just barely perceptibly, Seolwon shakes his head no. "As you say," Bojong says to Mishil, and leaves.
Here's Sohwa, and she's just starting to regain consciousness. She awakens in a dark, quiet room somewhere. She's remembering falling down into the sinkhole in Episode 5...and now remembering Chilsuk taking her away from the desert on horseback, which we saw as a flashback in Episode 14...and now remembers the king visiting her in the royal storehouse Episode 19...and then the queen visiting her later in Episode 19...and then that brief glimpse of Deokman in her Hwarang uniform, also in Episode 19. And now she actually speaks Deokman's name! She does look a lot more lucid and plugged-in than we've seen her since she and Deokman were separated. Many eventful days ago.
Dukchung asks Bojong what Mishil wants to do about Sohwa. Bojong tells him what Mishil said. And then says, "Do what you have to do and report back." Yikes!
Hearing someone approaching her room, Sohwa lies down again and feigns unconsciousness. It's only an attendant with some food, who enters and then leaves.
Hey look, it's Goksaheun and Daepung (the two DFers) keeping watch on the building where Sohwa is. They know that Dukchung and Bakui are hanging around there all the time; it doesn't seem like they know for sure that Sohwa is in there. Has Yushin assigned them to this?
Bakui is there right now, in fact. He and another Hwarang are talking unfavorably about Deokman's observatory, and just generally about Deokman the DFer becoming a princess. All of which Sohwa can hear and understand now. And now she thinks she's in trouble all of a sudden. She looks around and grabs what looks like a small awl--just something that could possibly be a weapon....
It's mealtime again, and the door is unlocked and the attendant is let into Sohwa's room. Sohwa is sitting there, playing dazed...The attendant looks a little surprised to see her up. Sohwa's hand tenses around the awl...
As Goksaheun and Daepung watch, we see the attendant emerge from Sohwa's room with the food tray. "Did she eat?", the other Hwarang asks. "Yes," the attendant answers, keeping her face hidden. Yeah, we've seen this switcheroo before...inside the room, someone is struggling under the bedcovers, probably bound and gagged. And that must be Sohwa in the attendant's clothes who we see suddenly making a break for it.
Bidam is walking through a main street. Wonder if he sees the suspicious figure in the low-brimmed hat tailing him. Hard to miss. The citizens are reading a public announcement of the observatory's dedication ceremony. Wait a minute, that's Munno in the hat. Wanted to see for himself what's going on. Ah, but wait, there's Chilsuk, watching Bidam and his hatted companion from a distance. Wonder if he suspects it's Munno in the hat?
Bojong tells Mishil and the cabal that a groundbreaking ceremony will be held shortly. All of the men are laughing about it; they seem to think it will be a big flop, or worse. And Mishil has that smug grin about her, like she knows darned well that Deokman is headed for trouble.
Goksaheun and Daepung watch Dukchung enter the building. He gives the news to Bakui. "Kill her and dispose of the body." So they go into Sohwa's room, swords drawn. Fortunately they pull down the bedcovers before striking, and see the attendant, wearing Sohwa's clothes, bound and gagged. Uh-oh, they're in big trouble...They go running off. Goksaheun and Daepung follow discreetly.
Sohwa has reached the main street we just saw, where the citizens are still reading the announcement. Sohwa stops to read it for a moment, and then presses on.
We see Deokman headed out to the dedication ceremony. Not just her; it's her first royal procession. She's got her own gama! Not particularly large, but all tricked out. Sweet ride. Alcheon and Yushin are leading the way on horseback, and Jukbang and Godo are in there too, with plenty of other Rising Phoenix and DFers. And Wolchun is in there walking as well. Munno and Bidam watch the group pass. And Chilsuk watches them.
Now we're outside the city, at the construction site. Frankly, it's a lousy turnout. Less than 100, and no palace officials. Not one. (Where are all of those people who were going wild at her appearance after the eclipse?) Bidam arrives, but is surprised to turn around and find that Munno isn't there--obviously ditched him on the way. Deokman steps out of her gama, dressed in white like Mishil does for formal ceremonies (or, like Mishil DID), so obviously this will be considered a religious ceremony. Like Yushin and Alcheon, she's disappointed surprised to see no nobles or officials there. Jukbang and Godo creep up to the princess and try to put a positive spin on it: Hey, this is great, you need peace and quiet for a sacred ceremony and that's just what we have! This is so reverent. (Okay, that cracked me up. Very funny.)
We've seen this before--that Sohwa can really scoot when she gets moving. She's out in the woods already, running down a path and making remarkably good time. The three Hwarang chasing her aren't even making up any ground. The Hwarang come to a fork in the path; the third guy goes right and Dukchung and Bakui go left. Then Goksaheun and Daepung reach it; they both go right. Sohwa, she went left.
Deokman starts the dedication, kneeling in prayer, then rising and bowing. Or is she finishing it? Apparently it's over; we missed nearly all of it. "Let's go," she tells Yushin. But now what's this--as soon as she turns to leave, the citizens all start clamoring for her attention. "Princess! Help us!" So she goes over and asks them what they want. One woman wants a son. Pray for me to have a son, she begs. Heal my mother, says another. Heal my son, says a third. They all say they'll come here and pray if she'll pray for those things too. Jukbang steps in and tries to explain to them that this isn't a religious site, but they don't get it and just keep clamoring for help. Seems to be a good lesson there for Deokman. As she leaves, we see Munno, watching from a safe distance.
Sohwa has left her path and is running through the woods, which is a good move. Dukchung and Bakui are running up the path she was on, but she's still got a good margin on them.
Munno is walking alone now, probably headed back home. But Chilsuk is following him, rather closely, and not too smoothly--surely Munno must have sensed by now that he's being tailed.
"Deokman!! Deokman!!" Miracle of miracles, Sohwa has stumbled right onto the construction site and has spotted the royal party just leaving the scene. She screams out...
...loudly enough for her two pursuers to hear. And also loud enough for Chilsuk to hear. Deokman hears it too, and wonders who's calling her by name. Well this could get complicated in a big hurry. "Stop a moment." Deokman wants to know what's going on out there. That voice seems to strike a note of familiarity. And now here's Chilsuk running into the picture. "Sohwa!!" His eyes are still fine, obviously. She sees him and panics, and flees back into the woods. (She's in royal maid's clothes--if she wants to see Deokman, why doesn't she just run right up to the royal procession?! UGH!) Deokman looks out of her gama but can't see anything, so she reluctantly orders the procession forward again.
Oh crap, Sohwa's run right into Dukchung and Bakui. Small world. They grab her and drag her off into the deep woods. But all isn't lost--Munno has heard the fracas and quietly follows them.
Deokman stops the procession again, thinking she still hears a familiar voice calling her. So much so, she actually orders the whole procession turned around back the way they came. Whatever she thought she heard, it looks like it unsettled her a little.
Dukchung and Bakui drag Sohwa to a bare patch and throw her down to the ground. "It'll be over soon," Bakui tells her, drawing his sword. He yells and raises his sword...and a rock flies in and knocks the sword from his hand. Munno. The two Hwarang charge him, swords drawn. Munno has no weapon but he quickly defeats them with what look like karate chops--a very silly sequence. Realizing they're overmatched (!?), they turn and flee. Chilsuk emerges into a clearing just in time to see them run away. He runs in the very direction they came from.
Munno reaches down and helps Sohwa up. Before we can even tell that they recognize each other, Sohwa's eyes widen in panic as Chilsuk appears before her. Chilsuk charges from behind Munno, sword drawn, but this time Munno manages to grab a thick tree branch lying on the ground and fend him off, long enough to turn and get a proper look at his attacker. Each is shocked to see the other. They stare...and just in those few moments, Sohwa's vanished into the woods!
The procession arrives back at the construction site and this time Deokman has sense enough to get out and look around. Sohwa has run back the way she came, and reaches the edge of the construction site. Deokman is looking all around, still unsettled. "Deokman!" She doesn't hear the first one, so Sohwa calls again. This time Deokman turns and looks.