Post by ajk on Jan 5, 2013 0:22:22 GMT -5
"Why did Chunchu do that?" We don't see the rest of the Council meeting. The first thing we see is a rattled Deokman leaving the building, presumably after the meeting. And Alcheon asking her that question. Yushin adds his disgust that Cheonmyeong died and now Chunchu is behaving this way. And they both fault Bidam for not heading this off somehow, since he's the twerp's tutor. And now here's Chunchu leaving the building and smirking at Deokman. Yushin and Alcheon challenge him: Don't you know realize that Mishil is just using you? He ignores them and boldly walks right up to Deokman and whispers something into her ear, and then walks away.
The king and queen are with Seohyeon, Manmyeong and Yongchun. They're all totally blindsided, and similarly puzzled at Chunchu seeming not to realize that Mishil is using him. (Why is everybody so surprised? He flat-out told Deokman that he wanted Shilla for himself. Ugh.) "Using an innocent boy this way," Maya gasps. "Cheonmyeong's little boy, that sweet boy--how could she do this to him?" Everybody seems to think that Chunchu is completely naive and helpless. (Why? He's been cold and indifferent to them.) Yongchun is sitting there silently, and when the king asks him his thoughts...well, guess what. Reluctantly, he offers, "It's my belief that Chunchu has a legitimate claim to the throne." He's Cheonmyeong's son, so "why haven't we considered him in the first place?" And so what if Chunchu marries into Mishil's family--he's still the king's blood relative first. Yongchun even suggests that Chunchu might help reconcile the factional fighting between Mishil in the royal house. Bold words to speak to the king, certainly.
Mishil is by herself, mulling over what Chunchu dared to say in the Council meeting. It wasn't her doing, we realize, because we hear in her thoughts that she had never dared challenge the bone-rank system. She's amazed that he did so, and did so almost casually. And now thinking about Deokman, Mishil's thoughts reveal that she never once imagined that a woman could be a ruling queen. (This again.) "Is this a new age? Deokman's and Chunchu's?"
Deokman arrives to see her father...but as she approaches the room she hears Yongchun continuing to make the case for Chunchu's legitimacy. Inside, the women have left but the argument continues. Seohyeon points out with irritation that Yongchun also happens to be Chunchu's uncle--as in, Maybe you're not being entirely neutral about this. Which escalates to the point where the two of them are standing and shouting at each other, right there in front of their king. Jinpyeong shushes them, and that's when Deokman is announced and enters. She stares at Yongchun, her face showing confusion rather than the anger we might expect.
"I don't know nothin', I swear." Bidam, glaring cynically, is confronting Yeom Jong about Chunchu claiming the throne. Yeom Jong insists he had nothing to do with it. It doesn't fly. Bidam grabs him and says, "There's no truth in you, I know THAT much." Then adds, "But that's why I trust you. Only something that scares you more than I do would make you betray me." Then Yeom Jong sort of indirectly implies that if Bidam wants Deokman to prevail, well..."Some even commit patricide for power? Some nephew she's never seen before? What would she care?" Well, Bidam's not about to do that, and besides, yes Deokman would care. But Bidam says that if Deokman has to compete with Chunchu, "she won't put up a fight. Ever." Oh come on now--seriously?
Seriously! "I won't oppose Chunchu. It wouldn't be right." Deokman has come to tell her father this very thing. Even though it means effectively handing the throne to Mishil. "Mishil wants a war between Chunchu and myself," Deokman says, and I'd rather give up the fight than have that happen. "I want what's best for Chunchu's future." Her father still doesn't like it, in part because he thinks the twerp is still too young and inexperienced to step up to the big-time political stage.
Mishil is taking a walk, retinue in tow. Seems uneventful...but suddenly she wobbles a big and her attendants have to steady her. Not sure what that was. Now Seolwon spots her and runs up to her; wonders where she's been (this must have been a long walk) and asks her about the meeting. But she's not really listening to him; instead we hear her asking herself, "What HAVE I been doing all these years?" Wow; still Deokman's question haunting her. "I'm not feeling well," she tells him; "I should lie down."
The DFers are talking. Jukbang wants to go talk to Chunchu, and is trying to figure out how to get to him. Remember, the two of them hung out for a while, and now Jukbang thinks he can step in and do some good. "I've got to ask Chunchu where he stands and what he's up to." Says he'll challenge Chunchu to be a man and not Mishil's toy. Godo doesn't believe Jukbang has the guts to say any such thing to Chunchu's face; Jukbang takes offense...and soon they're all pushing and shoving. Which is quickly broken up by Yushin's entering the room. Yushin, like Deokman, suspects that Mishil is trying to stir up a fight between Deokman and Chunchu. But then as he and Jukbang talk, Jukbang happens to remark that even Sejong and Seolwon are better candidates for the throne than Chunchu...and the mention of those two names sparks an idea in Yushin's head. Smacking himself for not thinking of it earlier (whatever "it" is), he runs out of the room without another word. "Yet again I helped him think of a plan," Jukbang brags.
Deokman leaves her father's chambers and wonders to herself whether or not Mishil really is trying to provoke a fight between her and her nephew.
Hajong is badgering his father for details: what did he and Mishil plan last night, when she summoned him at that late hour? Flashback..."Everything has changed," Mishil tells Sejong. Says that she had considered putting him on the throne "since you're partially of royal blood." Deokman marrying someone who isn't sacred-bone, political maneuvering would have either gotten him under their control or else gotten him kicked out and replaced with Sejong. But if Deokman is going to try to rule alone, "That made the old plan moot." So now Chunchu is the choice? "I've never changed towards you, Sejong," she answers cryptically, but likely meaning that she still admires him but can't put him on the throne. "Trust me. Give me your support." Sejong sighs. Fine, he says, on one condition: "Chunchu can't be allowed to marry into Seolwon's family." Ouch! Where did this come from? Is this a rivalry between the two families? And boy can this go all kinds of wrong for Mishil, depending on how much Chunchu cares for Boryang..."Put a stop to it," he tells Mishil; "He has to marry a girl from our family." Without hesitation Mishil agrees. (Without hesitation? Really? She doesn't think about how this could go wrong?)...Flashback ending, Hajong has heard the story; says he'd really rather have it in writing. Not because he doesn't trust his mother (so he says) but because he worries about Seolwon trying to convince her to renege on her promise. Sejong doesn't like that suggestion at all. He trusts her word...but as he and Hajong talk, we do see that it's that feeling of rivalry with Seolwon's family, which we've seen before--that's what makes Sejong insistent that Chunchu not marry into it. Otherwise "it could be the end for our family."
Mishil and Seolwon are listening to Misaeng go on and on...and they both look nauseous. Finally Mishil shoos them both away. Pretty funny.
"Facing Mishil has been exciting, in a way," Deokman tells Sohwa. "But seeing how she uses Chunchu terrifies me." Now Yushin arrives, presumably with that idea in his head. "Something's not right," he tells her. "It's long been Mishil's intent to put Sejong on the throne. And Sejong's been using her to that end himself. And suddenly she supports Chunchu and encourages his marriage to Boryang?" What's your point? "How do you think Sejong will react? Do you think he'd settle for it?" (Sorry, dude, looks like he already has.)
Mishil is alone, resting...but not too successfully; recent events are racing through her head. Seolwon has left her, but walks away looking concerned.
It's a bluff, Yushin argues. "First Mishil causes dissension..." and then? "It's unbelievable. It was hard for me to wrap by brain around." What? WHAT? He just looks at her.
Sejong and Hajong have arrived to see Mishil. But the attendant won't let them in the building. She's not seeing anyone, she tells them, to their great offense. And now here's Seolwon leaving the building--well HE saw her. Hajong says what his father may be too diplomatic to say. "Seolwon, you trying to put one over on us?" And then foolishly spills the whole story about the deal they cut to prevent Chunchu from marrying into his family. Good grief, why spill it here and now? We see Seolwon's hand clench into a fist. Sejong, apparently he's fine with revealing it, because he asks Seolwon for his reaction. "Only this," Seolwon replies. "There will be no wedding between Chunchu and Boryang. I obey Mishil." Well THAT was easy. Sejong and Hajong walk away satisfied. Not sure they should be--wasn't that TOO easy?
"Even in light of your youth and inexperience you were out of line." The king has summoned Chunchu and apparently is the first one to state the obvious. And you so completely misunderstand Deokman, he adds. "Your mother would weep in her grave if she knew." The twerp sits there looking completely uninterested. Jinpyeong adds, "I won't have any puppet of Mishil as heir to the throne, whoever it is. Remember that, Chunchu."
"Daddy, Seolwon's gonna try something, I know it." So at least Hajong is suspicious. And does seem to manage to convince his father of it. Sejong tells him to round up their allies among the elite Hwarang: Ho Jae (How about that--we never knew for sure until now), Piltan, and Wang Yun. "Time we clamped down around here."
Chunchu leaves the king, looking just a little rattled. Maybe the king did get through to him a bit. Now Yongchun catches up to him and wants to talk to him.
"What are you up to?" They've gone somewhere to talk, and Yongchun is challenging the twerp. "What made you show up at the Council with Mishil?" And tells him what he's already heard--Mishil is just using him. But it doesn't bother him, and it never has. Why not? "I'm young. I'll live longer than Mishil, don't you think?" Yongchun reacts with such utter horror, you'd think he never realized this! "Give me your support now, Yongchun, and when I'm heir you'll be the rock on which I build my reign." That's a very personal offer to Yongchun. And completely out of the blue. "What do you say? Will you join me?"
"Hajong said that?" Bojong is hearing the whole story from Seolwon. To his credit, Bojong says he'd like to see Mishil reassuring Sejong and Hajong, rather than having them running around in a tizzy...and Seolwon agrees. "Sejong being anxious doesn't help us." But Mishil is indisposed and not seeing anybody at all. Seolwon thinks there's just something odd about the whole situation.
Bidam goes to see Deokman and finds her lost in her thoughts. She tells him she absolutely will not be goaded into a fight with Chunchu. And she's concerned about not having heard anything at all from Mishil since that Council meeting. "A quiet Mishil is worse." And that unbelievable thing that Yushin believes may be possible...she's still distracted by that too.
Seolwon has a visitor. Chunchu! Uh-oh--he's here to see Boryang. Seolwon has to go out to receive him, and lie to him. "She's not well. She's gone away to recuperate." The twerp is concerned but understands and passes along his good wishes. It didn't seem like he believed Seolwon, though.
We see Ho Jae, Piltan and Wang Yun. They've all been summoned to see Sejong. They all arrive together and go inside. Outside, Seokpum and a few other Hwarang see the three of them go in.
Seokpum and that odd Hwarang (For heaven's sake, tell us the guy's name) go right to Seolwon and Bojong to tell them what they saw. Seolwon tells them to summon Bakui, Dukchung and Seon Yul, their own allies among the elite Hwarang. "We have important business to discuss." Wow, this could get really ugly.
Yongchun is talking to Imjong. Obviously he's made up his mind, because he's explaining to Imjong that it's better for Cheonmyeong's son to take the throne than for a woman to have it. Imjong doesn't look too happy about it, but Yongchun instructs him, "Don't be swayed by other Hwarang. Wait for my orders."
Bidam has come to see Mishil. But of course the attendant won't let him in. Mishil is sleeping, she says. Bidam says he'll wait.
Chunchu has gone to visit Yeom Jong, who becomes the latest person to tell the twerp that Mishil is using him. Adds that Bidam was here and said that Deokman wouldn't be drawn into a fight. Chunchu sort of dismisses the whole thing and implies he has another plan. "There's something you need to do," he tells Yeom Jong, and then smiles. Yeom Jong doesn't get it at first but then smiles and laughs. We're not in on it yet....
Seolwon is addressing Bojong, Seokpum, Dukchung, Bakui and Seon Yul. "I realize you're all close to Bojong, but this is a different matter entirely. Can I trust you?" Whatever that means, the other four all assure Seolwon of their loyalty to him.
At Sejong's home, Sejong and Hajong are entertaining their three Hwarang guests. Ho Jae is liaison to the Revenue Office now, we learn, thanks to Sejong's influence...and Wang Yun's family managed get out of the market crisis okay, with Sejong's help. Piltan's father, a Vice marshal in Sangju, is also friendly with Sejong, as we learn. Commands several thousand men now! So two in debt and the third good friends. Sejong pulls out an envelope for Piltan to deliver to his father.
Hey, a real jam session. A bunch of teenage girls sitting around playing their gayageums. Including Boryang. This is outside in a covered pavilion somewhere. Yeom Jong happens to get a glimpse of Boryang, and smiles broadly.
Yushin and Alcheon tell Deokman about the Hwarang taking sides. Yushin is very worried about what will happen if Chunchu and Boryang announce an engagement. Deokman is more puzzled than worried; all of this tension building between Sejong and Seolwon, "And in the middle of it all, Mishil just takes a nap?" Deokman assumes that Mishil would have anticipated the tension, so why the inaction? "Is she leaving Sejong adrift?" Doubtful; he's the head of the Council after all, and has emergency powers to ascend to the throne in the absence of an heir. And she's not likely to just ignore that and spurn him. "Assassination is more her style." Is it? But that would be awfully tough, even for Mishil. So that unbelievable idea of Yushin's, she realizes that maybe it's not so far-fetched after all. Whatever it is.
Next morning, still dark, before sunrise. Mishil is still resting. She must really be worn out; she slept all afternoon and straight through the night. Finally, she awakens; her attendant brings her some water, and mentions Bidam--who's still out there waiting! Send him in, she says.
What's going on? A woman in a pink dress is running through the street. Seolwon happens to be outside his house and the woman, who must be an attendant, delivers some awful news: Boryang's been kidnapped! Apparently Boryang had been staying somewhere else...the place we saw her playing music with those other girls...and even though she had guards, as we learn, a bunch of men descended on the place and it all happened so quickly that they couldn't stop it. Bojong is outside now and accuses Sejong. "I doubt it," Seolwon answers; "Sejong's not that stupid." Yes, Bojong says, but what about Hajong? "HE'D try this and who knows what else." Well that's certainly true. Wouldn't be the first time.
We see Boryang, tied up and held in a darkened room somewhere. Two guards enter, and then Yeom Jong and then Chunchu. So this is what Chunchu wanted Yeom Jong to do. Chunchu unties her and smiles. "You must have been terrified." But adds, "You have nothing to worry about now." And hugs her. And then looks back at Yeom Jong, and nods.
Bidam sits down with Mishil. In her tired state, she receives him more mildly than we're used to. He tells her that Deokman won't oppose Chunchu, while praising Deokman's "ingenuity." And cautions her that "It may not be as easy to use Chunchu as you think." Probably none of this is news to her, so she asks him why he's really here. "Now's not the time to be taking naps. Why are you just lying around?" She first suspects that Deokman sent him, to find out what she's doing, but then realizes, "You're here on your own to impress her." Which he confirms by the way he looks away, sort of embarrassed. But to answer his question she simply says "No reason. I'm tired." And adds "What do you say we go away somewhere?" Huh??
Daylight now. Look who turns a corner onto the same sidewalk. Sejong and Hajong, and Seolwon and Bojong. Bojong quickly loses his cool and accuses Hajong of the kidnapping. Now the two start shouting; Hajong grabs Bojong like we saw once before, but Bojong is in no mood to tolerate it this time and shoves him away. From a distance Alcheon can see this...
...and tells Deokman and Yushin about it. Adds that it's about Boryang being missing. They wonder who did it, and Yushin is certain that it was Chunchu. (Good piece of thinking.)
Chunchu is leading a party of a dozen or so, including a covered gama with four bearers and Boryang inside. She looks happy to be going wherever he's taking her. But doing it in broad daylight like this? Not exactly keeping a low profile, is he.
Misaeng gets news from Wolya about all of the friction (these two again--what's their relationship?). He doesn't like the sound of it and to his credit, wants to put a stop to it. Says he's going to see Mishil, regardless of whether or not she's sleeping. But Wolya tells him she's not home right now.
Quite the unexpected sight: Mishil is out in the countryside, walking along a stream. Not even with her gama. And only a few attendants and guards. But that includes Chilsuk and Bidam, and she says she feels completely safe with the two of them. Bidam wonders where they're going. "I'm tired," Mishil says, not answering him. They've reached a rocky patch, and Chilsuk offers his arm to Mishil to help her past it. But instead she reaches back and takes Bidam's arm! And walks on, leaving Chilsuk standing there. Don't be mad, dude, he is her son after all...But still, this is very, very weird. She clutches his wrist tightly as they walk on, and now she's looking almost mournful. What has gotten into her? Is she sick? She has almost an other-worldly stare in her eyes, like she doesn't see her life the same way any more.
"You've got to find Chunchu." Deokman has gathered some DFers and Rising Phoenix guards. Yushin disperses them to various locations.
Not gonna be hard to spot the twerp--he's led his little party right through the capital and up to the palace front door! He's come to see the king. He helps Boryang out of the gama, and...hmmm, can the king perform a marriage ceremony? You have to think that's it. They climb the front steps just as Alcheon and Seolji spot them. Chunchu smiles a sly smile at them as he heads on in.
Deokman is informed and immediately heads for the palace.
They're not here to ask the king to marry them--because they eloped! "Yesterday we were married," Chunchu tells the king, "and spent our first evening as man and wife." Looks like he's interrupted a Council meeting for this, and boy does Sejong look angry. Chunchu asks the king for appropriate quarters to be prepared for "Lady Boryang." Now Deokman and Yushin arrive, and Deokman thinks back to more of her earlier conversation with Yushin, which we didn't see. "It may be," she speculates, that "Chunchu is dividing us to create his own influence at court." And as she stands there, she wonders, "Influence centered around Chunchu, Seolwon and Yongchun?" And remember earlier, when Chunchu whispered into her ear? Now we hear what he said: "Suppose I'M using Mishil?" Now Deokman realizes that her sister's son isn't so weak after all. And that thing Yushin could hardly believe from earlier? Finally in a flashback, we hear him say it: "Chunchu has put one over on Mishil." And as Deokman recalls the king saying that Chunchu was too young for the political stage, she realizes to herself, "No, Chunchu's politics have started already."
The king and queen are with Seohyeon, Manmyeong and Yongchun. They're all totally blindsided, and similarly puzzled at Chunchu seeming not to realize that Mishil is using him. (Why is everybody so surprised? He flat-out told Deokman that he wanted Shilla for himself. Ugh.) "Using an innocent boy this way," Maya gasps. "Cheonmyeong's little boy, that sweet boy--how could she do this to him?" Everybody seems to think that Chunchu is completely naive and helpless. (Why? He's been cold and indifferent to them.) Yongchun is sitting there silently, and when the king asks him his thoughts...well, guess what. Reluctantly, he offers, "It's my belief that Chunchu has a legitimate claim to the throne." He's Cheonmyeong's son, so "why haven't we considered him in the first place?" And so what if Chunchu marries into Mishil's family--he's still the king's blood relative first. Yongchun even suggests that Chunchu might help reconcile the factional fighting between Mishil in the royal house. Bold words to speak to the king, certainly.
Mishil is by herself, mulling over what Chunchu dared to say in the Council meeting. It wasn't her doing, we realize, because we hear in her thoughts that she had never dared challenge the bone-rank system. She's amazed that he did so, and did so almost casually. And now thinking about Deokman, Mishil's thoughts reveal that she never once imagined that a woman could be a ruling queen. (This again.) "Is this a new age? Deokman's and Chunchu's?"
Deokman arrives to see her father...but as she approaches the room she hears Yongchun continuing to make the case for Chunchu's legitimacy. Inside, the women have left but the argument continues. Seohyeon points out with irritation that Yongchun also happens to be Chunchu's uncle--as in, Maybe you're not being entirely neutral about this. Which escalates to the point where the two of them are standing and shouting at each other, right there in front of their king. Jinpyeong shushes them, and that's when Deokman is announced and enters. She stares at Yongchun, her face showing confusion rather than the anger we might expect.
"I don't know nothin', I swear." Bidam, glaring cynically, is confronting Yeom Jong about Chunchu claiming the throne. Yeom Jong insists he had nothing to do with it. It doesn't fly. Bidam grabs him and says, "There's no truth in you, I know THAT much." Then adds, "But that's why I trust you. Only something that scares you more than I do would make you betray me." Then Yeom Jong sort of indirectly implies that if Bidam wants Deokman to prevail, well..."Some even commit patricide for power? Some nephew she's never seen before? What would she care?" Well, Bidam's not about to do that, and besides, yes Deokman would care. But Bidam says that if Deokman has to compete with Chunchu, "she won't put up a fight. Ever." Oh come on now--seriously?
Seriously! "I won't oppose Chunchu. It wouldn't be right." Deokman has come to tell her father this very thing. Even though it means effectively handing the throne to Mishil. "Mishil wants a war between Chunchu and myself," Deokman says, and I'd rather give up the fight than have that happen. "I want what's best for Chunchu's future." Her father still doesn't like it, in part because he thinks the twerp is still too young and inexperienced to step up to the big-time political stage.
Mishil is taking a walk, retinue in tow. Seems uneventful...but suddenly she wobbles a big and her attendants have to steady her. Not sure what that was. Now Seolwon spots her and runs up to her; wonders where she's been (this must have been a long walk) and asks her about the meeting. But she's not really listening to him; instead we hear her asking herself, "What HAVE I been doing all these years?" Wow; still Deokman's question haunting her. "I'm not feeling well," she tells him; "I should lie down."
The DFers are talking. Jukbang wants to go talk to Chunchu, and is trying to figure out how to get to him. Remember, the two of them hung out for a while, and now Jukbang thinks he can step in and do some good. "I've got to ask Chunchu where he stands and what he's up to." Says he'll challenge Chunchu to be a man and not Mishil's toy. Godo doesn't believe Jukbang has the guts to say any such thing to Chunchu's face; Jukbang takes offense...and soon they're all pushing and shoving. Which is quickly broken up by Yushin's entering the room. Yushin, like Deokman, suspects that Mishil is trying to stir up a fight between Deokman and Chunchu. But then as he and Jukbang talk, Jukbang happens to remark that even Sejong and Seolwon are better candidates for the throne than Chunchu...and the mention of those two names sparks an idea in Yushin's head. Smacking himself for not thinking of it earlier (whatever "it" is), he runs out of the room without another word. "Yet again I helped him think of a plan," Jukbang brags.
Deokman leaves her father's chambers and wonders to herself whether or not Mishil really is trying to provoke a fight between her and her nephew.
Hajong is badgering his father for details: what did he and Mishil plan last night, when she summoned him at that late hour? Flashback..."Everything has changed," Mishil tells Sejong. Says that she had considered putting him on the throne "since you're partially of royal blood." Deokman marrying someone who isn't sacred-bone, political maneuvering would have either gotten him under their control or else gotten him kicked out and replaced with Sejong. But if Deokman is going to try to rule alone, "That made the old plan moot." So now Chunchu is the choice? "I've never changed towards you, Sejong," she answers cryptically, but likely meaning that she still admires him but can't put him on the throne. "Trust me. Give me your support." Sejong sighs. Fine, he says, on one condition: "Chunchu can't be allowed to marry into Seolwon's family." Ouch! Where did this come from? Is this a rivalry between the two families? And boy can this go all kinds of wrong for Mishil, depending on how much Chunchu cares for Boryang..."Put a stop to it," he tells Mishil; "He has to marry a girl from our family." Without hesitation Mishil agrees. (Without hesitation? Really? She doesn't think about how this could go wrong?)...Flashback ending, Hajong has heard the story; says he'd really rather have it in writing. Not because he doesn't trust his mother (so he says) but because he worries about Seolwon trying to convince her to renege on her promise. Sejong doesn't like that suggestion at all. He trusts her word...but as he and Hajong talk, we do see that it's that feeling of rivalry with Seolwon's family, which we've seen before--that's what makes Sejong insistent that Chunchu not marry into it. Otherwise "it could be the end for our family."
Mishil and Seolwon are listening to Misaeng go on and on...and they both look nauseous. Finally Mishil shoos them both away. Pretty funny.
"Facing Mishil has been exciting, in a way," Deokman tells Sohwa. "But seeing how she uses Chunchu terrifies me." Now Yushin arrives, presumably with that idea in his head. "Something's not right," he tells her. "It's long been Mishil's intent to put Sejong on the throne. And Sejong's been using her to that end himself. And suddenly she supports Chunchu and encourages his marriage to Boryang?" What's your point? "How do you think Sejong will react? Do you think he'd settle for it?" (Sorry, dude, looks like he already has.)
Mishil is alone, resting...but not too successfully; recent events are racing through her head. Seolwon has left her, but walks away looking concerned.
It's a bluff, Yushin argues. "First Mishil causes dissension..." and then? "It's unbelievable. It was hard for me to wrap by brain around." What? WHAT? He just looks at her.
Sejong and Hajong have arrived to see Mishil. But the attendant won't let them in the building. She's not seeing anyone, she tells them, to their great offense. And now here's Seolwon leaving the building--well HE saw her. Hajong says what his father may be too diplomatic to say. "Seolwon, you trying to put one over on us?" And then foolishly spills the whole story about the deal they cut to prevent Chunchu from marrying into his family. Good grief, why spill it here and now? We see Seolwon's hand clench into a fist. Sejong, apparently he's fine with revealing it, because he asks Seolwon for his reaction. "Only this," Seolwon replies. "There will be no wedding between Chunchu and Boryang. I obey Mishil." Well THAT was easy. Sejong and Hajong walk away satisfied. Not sure they should be--wasn't that TOO easy?
"Even in light of your youth and inexperience you were out of line." The king has summoned Chunchu and apparently is the first one to state the obvious. And you so completely misunderstand Deokman, he adds. "Your mother would weep in her grave if she knew." The twerp sits there looking completely uninterested. Jinpyeong adds, "I won't have any puppet of Mishil as heir to the throne, whoever it is. Remember that, Chunchu."
"Daddy, Seolwon's gonna try something, I know it." So at least Hajong is suspicious. And does seem to manage to convince his father of it. Sejong tells him to round up their allies among the elite Hwarang: Ho Jae (How about that--we never knew for sure until now), Piltan, and Wang Yun. "Time we clamped down around here."
Chunchu leaves the king, looking just a little rattled. Maybe the king did get through to him a bit. Now Yongchun catches up to him and wants to talk to him.
"What are you up to?" They've gone somewhere to talk, and Yongchun is challenging the twerp. "What made you show up at the Council with Mishil?" And tells him what he's already heard--Mishil is just using him. But it doesn't bother him, and it never has. Why not? "I'm young. I'll live longer than Mishil, don't you think?" Yongchun reacts with such utter horror, you'd think he never realized this! "Give me your support now, Yongchun, and when I'm heir you'll be the rock on which I build my reign." That's a very personal offer to Yongchun. And completely out of the blue. "What do you say? Will you join me?"
"Hajong said that?" Bojong is hearing the whole story from Seolwon. To his credit, Bojong says he'd like to see Mishil reassuring Sejong and Hajong, rather than having them running around in a tizzy...and Seolwon agrees. "Sejong being anxious doesn't help us." But Mishil is indisposed and not seeing anybody at all. Seolwon thinks there's just something odd about the whole situation.
Bidam goes to see Deokman and finds her lost in her thoughts. She tells him she absolutely will not be goaded into a fight with Chunchu. And she's concerned about not having heard anything at all from Mishil since that Council meeting. "A quiet Mishil is worse." And that unbelievable thing that Yushin believes may be possible...she's still distracted by that too.
Seolwon has a visitor. Chunchu! Uh-oh--he's here to see Boryang. Seolwon has to go out to receive him, and lie to him. "She's not well. She's gone away to recuperate." The twerp is concerned but understands and passes along his good wishes. It didn't seem like he believed Seolwon, though.
We see Ho Jae, Piltan and Wang Yun. They've all been summoned to see Sejong. They all arrive together and go inside. Outside, Seokpum and a few other Hwarang see the three of them go in.
Seokpum and that odd Hwarang (For heaven's sake, tell us the guy's name) go right to Seolwon and Bojong to tell them what they saw. Seolwon tells them to summon Bakui, Dukchung and Seon Yul, their own allies among the elite Hwarang. "We have important business to discuss." Wow, this could get really ugly.
Yongchun is talking to Imjong. Obviously he's made up his mind, because he's explaining to Imjong that it's better for Cheonmyeong's son to take the throne than for a woman to have it. Imjong doesn't look too happy about it, but Yongchun instructs him, "Don't be swayed by other Hwarang. Wait for my orders."
Bidam has come to see Mishil. But of course the attendant won't let him in. Mishil is sleeping, she says. Bidam says he'll wait.
Chunchu has gone to visit Yeom Jong, who becomes the latest person to tell the twerp that Mishil is using him. Adds that Bidam was here and said that Deokman wouldn't be drawn into a fight. Chunchu sort of dismisses the whole thing and implies he has another plan. "There's something you need to do," he tells Yeom Jong, and then smiles. Yeom Jong doesn't get it at first but then smiles and laughs. We're not in on it yet....
Seolwon is addressing Bojong, Seokpum, Dukchung, Bakui and Seon Yul. "I realize you're all close to Bojong, but this is a different matter entirely. Can I trust you?" Whatever that means, the other four all assure Seolwon of their loyalty to him.
At Sejong's home, Sejong and Hajong are entertaining their three Hwarang guests. Ho Jae is liaison to the Revenue Office now, we learn, thanks to Sejong's influence...and Wang Yun's family managed get out of the market crisis okay, with Sejong's help. Piltan's father, a Vice marshal in Sangju, is also friendly with Sejong, as we learn. Commands several thousand men now! So two in debt and the third good friends. Sejong pulls out an envelope for Piltan to deliver to his father.
Hey, a real jam session. A bunch of teenage girls sitting around playing their gayageums. Including Boryang. This is outside in a covered pavilion somewhere. Yeom Jong happens to get a glimpse of Boryang, and smiles broadly.
Yushin and Alcheon tell Deokman about the Hwarang taking sides. Yushin is very worried about what will happen if Chunchu and Boryang announce an engagement. Deokman is more puzzled than worried; all of this tension building between Sejong and Seolwon, "And in the middle of it all, Mishil just takes a nap?" Deokman assumes that Mishil would have anticipated the tension, so why the inaction? "Is she leaving Sejong adrift?" Doubtful; he's the head of the Council after all, and has emergency powers to ascend to the throne in the absence of an heir. And she's not likely to just ignore that and spurn him. "Assassination is more her style." Is it? But that would be awfully tough, even for Mishil. So that unbelievable idea of Yushin's, she realizes that maybe it's not so far-fetched after all. Whatever it is.
Next morning, still dark, before sunrise. Mishil is still resting. She must really be worn out; she slept all afternoon and straight through the night. Finally, she awakens; her attendant brings her some water, and mentions Bidam--who's still out there waiting! Send him in, she says.
What's going on? A woman in a pink dress is running through the street. Seolwon happens to be outside his house and the woman, who must be an attendant, delivers some awful news: Boryang's been kidnapped! Apparently Boryang had been staying somewhere else...the place we saw her playing music with those other girls...and even though she had guards, as we learn, a bunch of men descended on the place and it all happened so quickly that they couldn't stop it. Bojong is outside now and accuses Sejong. "I doubt it," Seolwon answers; "Sejong's not that stupid." Yes, Bojong says, but what about Hajong? "HE'D try this and who knows what else." Well that's certainly true. Wouldn't be the first time.
We see Boryang, tied up and held in a darkened room somewhere. Two guards enter, and then Yeom Jong and then Chunchu. So this is what Chunchu wanted Yeom Jong to do. Chunchu unties her and smiles. "You must have been terrified." But adds, "You have nothing to worry about now." And hugs her. And then looks back at Yeom Jong, and nods.
Bidam sits down with Mishil. In her tired state, she receives him more mildly than we're used to. He tells her that Deokman won't oppose Chunchu, while praising Deokman's "ingenuity." And cautions her that "It may not be as easy to use Chunchu as you think." Probably none of this is news to her, so she asks him why he's really here. "Now's not the time to be taking naps. Why are you just lying around?" She first suspects that Deokman sent him, to find out what she's doing, but then realizes, "You're here on your own to impress her." Which he confirms by the way he looks away, sort of embarrassed. But to answer his question she simply says "No reason. I'm tired." And adds "What do you say we go away somewhere?" Huh??
Daylight now. Look who turns a corner onto the same sidewalk. Sejong and Hajong, and Seolwon and Bojong. Bojong quickly loses his cool and accuses Hajong of the kidnapping. Now the two start shouting; Hajong grabs Bojong like we saw once before, but Bojong is in no mood to tolerate it this time and shoves him away. From a distance Alcheon can see this...
...and tells Deokman and Yushin about it. Adds that it's about Boryang being missing. They wonder who did it, and Yushin is certain that it was Chunchu. (Good piece of thinking.)
Chunchu is leading a party of a dozen or so, including a covered gama with four bearers and Boryang inside. She looks happy to be going wherever he's taking her. But doing it in broad daylight like this? Not exactly keeping a low profile, is he.
Misaeng gets news from Wolya about all of the friction (these two again--what's their relationship?). He doesn't like the sound of it and to his credit, wants to put a stop to it. Says he's going to see Mishil, regardless of whether or not she's sleeping. But Wolya tells him she's not home right now.
Quite the unexpected sight: Mishil is out in the countryside, walking along a stream. Not even with her gama. And only a few attendants and guards. But that includes Chilsuk and Bidam, and she says she feels completely safe with the two of them. Bidam wonders where they're going. "I'm tired," Mishil says, not answering him. They've reached a rocky patch, and Chilsuk offers his arm to Mishil to help her past it. But instead she reaches back and takes Bidam's arm! And walks on, leaving Chilsuk standing there. Don't be mad, dude, he is her son after all...But still, this is very, very weird. She clutches his wrist tightly as they walk on, and now she's looking almost mournful. What has gotten into her? Is she sick? She has almost an other-worldly stare in her eyes, like she doesn't see her life the same way any more.
"You've got to find Chunchu." Deokman has gathered some DFers and Rising Phoenix guards. Yushin disperses them to various locations.
Not gonna be hard to spot the twerp--he's led his little party right through the capital and up to the palace front door! He's come to see the king. He helps Boryang out of the gama, and...hmmm, can the king perform a marriage ceremony? You have to think that's it. They climb the front steps just as Alcheon and Seolji spot them. Chunchu smiles a sly smile at them as he heads on in.
Deokman is informed and immediately heads for the palace.
They're not here to ask the king to marry them--because they eloped! "Yesterday we were married," Chunchu tells the king, "and spent our first evening as man and wife." Looks like he's interrupted a Council meeting for this, and boy does Sejong look angry. Chunchu asks the king for appropriate quarters to be prepared for "Lady Boryang." Now Deokman and Yushin arrive, and Deokman thinks back to more of her earlier conversation with Yushin, which we didn't see. "It may be," she speculates, that "Chunchu is dividing us to create his own influence at court." And as she stands there, she wonders, "Influence centered around Chunchu, Seolwon and Yongchun?" And remember earlier, when Chunchu whispered into her ear? Now we hear what he said: "Suppose I'M using Mishil?" Now Deokman realizes that her sister's son isn't so weak after all. And that thing Yushin could hardly believe from earlier? Finally in a flashback, we hear him say it: "Chunchu has put one over on Mishil." And as Deokman recalls the king saying that Chunchu was too young for the political stage, she realizes to herself, "No, Chunchu's politics have started already."