Post by ajk on Feb 2, 2013 0:45:27 GMT -5
What's going on here? Chilsuk is leading some men dressed in brown, along with what look to be some Hwarang in combat dress, to the front of a building guarded by men dressed in red. Which building is this? In the next moment it's all-out combat. Pretty quickly the red guys are toast, and Chilsuk's men charge through the front door.
"Listen carefully." Bojong has entered a room where Piltan, Wang Yun, Seon Yul and Imjong are sitting (an odd combination of elite Hwarang) and tells them about the alleged assassination attempt. He totally sells it, serious face and all. "The Grand Marshal and Alcheon led armed forces against the hall." "It makes no sense," Imjong observes; "why kill the prime minister?" Bojong promptly implicates Deokman, telling them what the council was considering when it all happened. And then tells them that the Hwarang master (Chilsuk) has ordered them confined to quarters for the time being. Huh? Elite Hwarang, confined at a time like this? That ought to raise an eyebrow or two...but they seem to accept it without objection.
The king is resting in bed; Sohwa has brought him a bowl of liquid--medicine, most likely. Rapid footsteps out in the hall; what's going on? Suddenly the lead attendant (Come on, give this guy a name!) runs in, completely panicked, and tells the king he has to flee.
Deokman and Chunchu are headed somewhere. But here comes Daenambo with a squad of Hwarang, and they block her path. "My lady," he tells an annoyed Deokman, "the king is asking for you." We'll take you to him, he says. Deokman asks the obvious: "Since when have YOU become the king's messenger?" At that, the squad promptly surrounds her and Chunchu. Uh-oh.
Oh, and that standoff outside the Council Hall? Still a standoff! Both sides standing there pointing swords at each other but nobody's moving. Seolwon glares across. "You are under arrest on charges of bearing arms against the Council and the attempted assassination of the Prime Minister." Yushin objects to the charges, and the DFers and Rising Phoenix fidget uncomfortably. Seolwon tells him that it will all be investigated after they surrender, but Alcheon smells a trap. "Isn't it true," Seolwon challenges, "you entered the Hall with swords drawn?" No response. "Take them to the stockade," he orders...but suddenly Yongchun steps forward: "You dare arrest a Council member without an order from the king!?" Um...yeah, he does dare. But Seohyeon jumps in too: "it is a gross violation of law to arrest Council members without a royal order." "Bring a warrant signed by the king," Yongchun says; "until then, no one may touch me." Try it in the meantime, Seohyeon adds, "and we will NOT come quietly." Which isn't much of a threat, since the two of them couldn't push their way past some unarmed soldiers earlier...but still, they do have the rule of law behind them. "Fair enough," Seolwon says; "we'll get the king's order." Really? How? For now, Seolwon says, no one may leave the yard. In the middle of all this, an interesting glimpse of Dukchung the elite Hwarang, who's on Seolwon's side but looks like he's not entirely comfortable with what's going on here. Just a glimpse, but enough to make you wonder....
Jujin gets the word from a subordinate that the Capital Guards have been subdued. He gives the subordinate an envelope, to be delivered to Mishil. Boy, there's a lot riding on this guy...
...and on Chilsuk. "The area is secure," he tells Mishil as she arrives on the scene. Oh, so this is the king's and queen's own chambers that he's attacked! Yikes.
Carrying a pair of scrolls, Mishil enters the building. Brushing aside the objections of an attendant, Mishil walks right into the king's chambers...and finds no one there. He must still be nearby, Mishil tells Chilsuk. "Find him."
The king and queen have fled and are inside a quiet room somewhere, along with Sohwa and the attendant. The attendant had the foresight to grab the royal seal and bring that too. (Ummm, isn't Mishil still the Keeper of the Royal Seal? Doesn't she still hold that title? What's the king doing with it? Continuity error, big-time.) Jinpyeong thinks back...to what he heard in Episode 1 as a boy, hiding behind King Jinheung's throne as Mishil stood before the king's dead body and manically proclaimed this to be "Mishil's time"..."Mishil has finally gone to war," he says, not at all surprised (except maybe that it took this long!). Maya immediately fears for their daughter's safety. But they're in no position to do anything about it. Jinpyeong is rightly worried about that royal seal. "Mishil would use it to accuse Deokman of treason in my name." Yes, very likely...so what to do? Sohwa volunteers: Let me take the seal. "Who else but me can do this?" Deja vu. There's a secret passage leading out of the palace...but Jinpyeong says he's sure Mishil knows about it as well. So Sohwa gently tells him, "You'll have to be our decoy." The king of Shilla, a decoy? But Sohwa is right, and she knows it.
Mishil gets information from Misaeng--Sejong is being treated; should be okay--and Hajong--they're still looking for the king; "He'll turn up." Chilsuk is watching the tunnels that lead out of the palace complex (As in, multiple tunnels? Interesting). Now Seokpum enters with news of the demand for an order from the king before arresting Seohyeon and Yongchun. Take no action for the moment, she instructs. "I'll escort the king personally." Really? How? "I leave Deokman to you," she tells Misaeng...and says nothing more.
From a safe distance, Jukbang and Godo see Daenambo and his squad taking Deokman and Chunchu away. They panic at the sight of this and at their being separated from the other DFers...but they think back to Yushin's encouraging words to them in Episode 9 (when they were faced with having to defend themselves in a beejae), praising Godo's strength and telling him not to be timid, and praising Jukbang's quick mind and advising, "Be innovative"...Jukbang realizes that they may have to step up and do something, just the two of them. He's scared, but determined...
...so he runs into the path of Deokman and the guards escorting her, and deliberately stumbles and trips in front of them. Starts talking to Daenambo and creating a distraction about men coming from the west...and meanwhile, Godo is sneaking in from the other side carrying a giant log--the thing is at least twelve feet long. Apparently the idea is to swing the log at the Hwarang and knock them out. But in trying to sneak up on them, he bangs the log into a wall and then starts stumbling around, and now there's no more element of surprise; he's just a guy with a log. And he and Jukbang awkwardly have to explain themselves...but wait! Jukbang shoves Deokman and Chunchu ahead and runs with them, and Godo throws the log at the Hwarang and manages to pin them all against a wall with it, and then he runs too. Heck of a throw! But now the chase is on...and Godo isn't made for running, so he quickly tires. He manages to bottleneck his pursuers at an entryway to an alley...but now Daenambo has a sword to his throat! Jukbang leaves him behind, reluctantly; two pursuers take Godo away and the other four (including Daenambo) run ahead. Jukbang catches up to the two royals, and they hide in some bushes as their pursuers run on. Safe for the moment...
A tunnel under the palace: The king and queen and the attendant cautiously move forward. (Some secret--who lit all those candles?) But wait--Sohwa's there too! Shouldn't she be somewhere else with the seal? The attendant opens a secret door in the wall, and he and the king and queen step out into a side yard, which looks to be near the city wall. What rotten timing--Chilsuk and his brown guys run forward and surround them, and Mishil comes striding right up to him. Asks him what he's doing. He fires the same question back at her. "I'll send a full report to you," she calmly tells him...but back in the palace. And orders the soldiers who are with her to take them back there. Which they do, even daring to put their hands on the king and queen and take them forcefully. Not good, Mishil; shame on you. Everyone leaves the scene...and then Sohwa sneaks out, looks around and scurries away, royal seal in hand.
These standoff guys must be sick of looking at each other! Still there, facing off. Lots of muttering on Yushin's side about what happened. An obvious set-up, they now know, but they can't give up now because, as Yushin realizes, they'll be taken away and tried for treason, with Deokman as the accused ringleader.
Jukbang leads Deokman and Chunchu into a quiet room. A military uniform storeroom. Chunchu points out to Deokman that she'll likely be accused of leading a coup. It hadn't occurred to her--he's thinking faster than she is--but she agrees with him and says they need to get outside of the palace complex walls somehow. But how?...Flashback to something we hadn't seen before: Deokman dressed in a white ceremonial robe, walking around the dark corridors of the royal shrine and discovering what looks like a secret passageway (this must have been during Episode 25, when the queen went to the shrine to pray for Cheonmyeong and Deokman snuck in and talked to her)...There is a way," she says. "A tunnel from the Sacred Shrine to the Hwarang Shrine." Okay, but getting to the Sacred Shrine is the problem. Jukbang has an idea...and looky here, they're surrounded by military uniforms.
"We're barred from the palace." At least Manmyeong is safe. Wolya and Seolji have come to see her; they're not in their Hwarang uniforms but at least they stayed out of the chaos. They want to do something--anything--but Manmyeong preaches patience.
Bidam's been untied, finally; he's sitting with Yeom Jong and for some reason decided to let him live! He's told about the prime minister's stabbing, but the subordinate of Yeom Jong's who brought the news has no information about Deokman or her parents. Bidam has an angry, distant look in his eye. "I'm going to save her." He storms out.
Sohwa is sneaking her way through the palace outskirts (in broad daylight? Not real smart), avoiding soldiers...and oh crap, turns a corner and runs right into Chilsuk! Is this ever awkward. Fortunately she must have stowed the royal seal inside her dress; it's not in her hands any more. She keeps a cool head. "What's going on?", she asks him, playing dumb; "everyone is acting so crazy." Chilsuk wonders why she isn't with the princess. She tells him she went to deliver the king's medicine (which is true) and hid when she saw all the soldiers (which is also true). "What's going on? Tell me." He looks away, like he's too ashamed to tell her. So she tries her luck. "Chilsuk, I'm scared. Can you get me out of the palace?" He hesitates, and then leads her somewhere...
...what is this place? "Is this some kind of secret room?" Chilsuk tells her that this is Mishil's secret quarters; no one is allowed here but her. "It's the safest place in the palace grounds." This sure is not where Sohwa wants to be, but no one can get in or out of the grounds so Chilsuk says this is her best option. "Mishil isn't likely to come today," he tells her. Then he asks her if he hurt her leg; she had stumbled a bit walking into the room. No, she says, looking away; just a sprain, it's fine. He leaves her, and she checks under her dress--the seal is there, in its cloth bag, still safe.
"Sire, how could YOU let this happen?" The king and queen have been confronted by Mishil, Misaeng and Hajong. The two men (and I use that term loosely) are scolding him while Mishil sits silently. But then she starts to speak up, implicating Deokman. Misaeng suggests detaining Deokman until everything has been investigated. "Please grant your approval," Mishil says politely. And if he doesn't? Then, Mishil says, the palace "will have to be turned upside down to find where you hid the royal seal." That's not much of a threat, though, is it.
Daenambo has to bring the news to Mishil and Hajong and Misaeng and that Deokman got away. You'd think at this point, Mishil would simply take his own sword and kill him with it. But instead Mishil says it's time to arrest Seohyeon and Yongchun and their Hwarang. "We're out of time," she says; "We'll get permission after the fact." That is a step so drastic that even Misaeng and Hajong don't like it. "And get me the seal and Princess Deokman." They scurry away. Mishil grumbles to herself, "Nothing's ever easy." (Hey, you want something done right....)
"Do we have the king's order?" Seokpum asks the proper question, but Misaeng doesn't answer; Hajong just tells him to follow orders. Looking a little uncomfortable, Seokpum leaves...
...and goes to the yard and informs Seolwon. Who promptly asks the same question. Seokpum starts to hem and haw...and now there's Dukchung again, seeing the exchange and looking even less comfortable...and thinking back to the chaos from earlier--and realizing that Seokpum stabbed Sejong! He saw it! "What's happening here?," he asks himself; "Did I see what I thought I saw?" Seokpum notices him looking troubled and asks him about it. "Nothing, sir," he answers (so Seokpum outranks him? Really?). And now it all comes to a boil--Seolwon ordering everyone arrested, and Yongchun and Seohyeon demanding to see the king's warrant. Shouting back and forth...now the swords are all drawn again--will this turn ugly? Uh-oh, well now it's going to be over in a big hurry, because Seolwon has positioned archers on the surrounding rooftops. So it's surrender or be slaughtered. Game over...Wait--Yongchun grabs one of the Hwarang's swords and holds it to his own throat! "You'll see me bleed before I let you take me!", he says furiously. The sight of a councillor like this stuns everyone for the moment. He tells Yushin and Alcheon to run away. "Whatever you're trying to pull," he shouts at Seolwon, "know this--YOU will be assassinating a Council member here today!" And now the usually-calm Seolwon starts twitching and looks ready to attack him himself...until Seokpum grabs his arm and steadies him. "You'll only make it worse," he advises. Yushin and Alcheon scurry to an exit stairwell...and the distraction of that allows Seokpum to attack Yongchun and knock the sword away. In moments everyone else is subdued, and Yushin and Alcheon are being chased as they flee.
Santak the annoying Hwarang has brought Mishil a scroll. It's a list of the attendants in the palace. "All 55 of them are accounted for," he says. Which surprises Mishil. "No one's missing...but the royal seal is gone." Chilsuk is there with her...and immediately he puts the pieces together. Okay, dude, you gonna rat her out? Not for the moment; he stays silent. Orders Hajong and Misaeng to start searching the palace...but quietly.
Sohwa's still in those secret rooms of Mishil's...but she can't get out! She tries the door and realizes she's locked in. She looks around (I guess for a key), rummaging through cabinets and drawers...and stumbles across the envelope that Seolwon brought back to Mishil from Yongchun's home. Opens it, and reads the contents. She can hardly believe it...but hearing footsteps, she puts it back and sits down. It's Chilsuk. "Give me the royal seal." She plays dumb. "Now." And he starts shouting at her. "Why die now after being used your whole life?" She's stunned by him raising his voice. "How many times have you risked your life for the king? Do you WANT to die?" She fires the obvious right back at him: "How are you any different? How many times have you risked your life for Mishil?" It stops him for a moment...but just a moment. Asks again for the seal; she won't give it to him. She won't. Now he begs her. She won't, and stands up to back away from him...but in the process, the seal falls from her leg. He grabs it. "I'll be back," he says, glaring at her, and leaves. And locks the door again. (Should have hid the thing somewhere outside, Sohwa--or waited until dark!)
Yushin and Alcheon are running as fast as they can, stopping repeatedly to fight off their pursuers as they go. Alcheon demands that Yushin run ahead to go help Deokman; at first Yushin refuses but then realizes it's the smartest move. So he leaves Alcheon and flees. Now alone, Alcheon is quickly captured.
Mishil gets the news. She looks like it's given her a monster headache. First Deokman, now Yushin--gone. But Chilsuk lightens the load--walks in and puts the royal seal in front of her. Tells her he found it in the royal depository, and she seems to buy that. Who cares where he got it, she's just glad she has it now. Tells Misaeng to affix the seal to the necessary arrest warrants and to a public proclamation. And tells Hajong to prepare a trial for Seohyeon, Yongchun and Alcheon. "We need them to implicate the princess in their confessions." Yikes. She wants all of the government officials summoned to the trial, and the Hwarang mobilized. And of course, Deokman and Yushin captured before they can leave the palace.
Chilsuk gives the order to Seokpum and Dukchung; marshal the Hwarang. "We have orders to arrest the princess." That even surprises Seokpum. Dukchung, again, looks very uncomfortable with it.
Hajong and Misaeng send off Santak the annoying Hwarang to deliver summonses to all of the public officials for the trial that apparently is going to be held very quickly.
Yushin is trying to find is way out of the capital. Won't be easy...especially in broad daylight (What is it with these people!). Skitters under building steps, carefully turns a corner...and runs right into Dukchung. Of all people. Bad luck--or is it? Now we'll see just how uncomfortable Dukchung is with all that's been happening. A squad of soldiers runs by; Yushin ducks to hide...and Dukchung stands silently. And when they've passed, whispers something. "Take the West Gate." Tells Yushin they've been ordered to arrest Deokman--which is good news to Yushin; she hasn't been captured, at least. Yushin thanks him; they exchange worried looks, and Yushin flees. Wow.
Chilsuk presents a scroll to Bojong, Imjong, Piltan, Wang Yun, and Seon Yul. A royal-seal-stamped order to arrest Deokman. "Deokman orchestrated a palace coup," he tells them, showing no shame at all (so much for his integrity). Bojong assists him in selling the story; the other four seem to be having an awfully hard time with it, though. And now Dukchung enters and is told the same thing, and is shown the scroll that makes it "official."
Yushin didn't learn his lesson; he's still trying to get away. But now he remembers being in the shrine...Flashback, another we haven't seen before, of Yushin in the shrine, dressed in a white ceremonial robe. (This would have been during Episode 16, when he was serving as a ceremonial guard during the Rite of Heaven.) He sees the smoke from the incense he's carrying, all drifting towards one wall...It occurs to him that if Deokman is still in the palace complex, she may well have headed for the secret passage in the royal shrine that she had discovered, thanks to his observing that smoke.
Three soldiers nervously head towards the shrine. Wait, not soldiers; it's Deokman, Chunchu and Jukbang. Jukbang moves ahead to scout the area, and in the next moment a squad of soldiers emerges from a building. The leader calls out to the two royals standing there, who turn to hide their faces. But the leader recognizes Deokman. She and Chunchu flee, and now the chase is on.
Jukbang makes it into the royal shrine. But he hears trouble back outside.
Now Deokman and Chunchu are surrounded by soldiers. In front of the shrine, at least, but it looks like they're caught. "I can't leave her alone for a minute," Jukbang complains as he watches from around the side. Sees no hope for them so he decides he'd better get away himself. So he runs back inside, and just by dumb luck happens to open up a door leading somewhere. Looks like the passage. He goes in; the door closes behind him.
Deokman has drawn her sword! Of course she has no chance, but the soldiers don't want any trouble that might injure or kill her...They ask her to come quietly, but she swings her sword and they have to step back. And in the next moment look who's showed up--Yushin! Manages to keep all of the soldiers at bay with a spear and he and the two royals flee.
Inside, Jukbang can't figure out where he is. Hopelessly lost in the strange building. And now there are two hallways in front of him; where to go? He goes straight ahead.
The three flee to the West Gate. Which of course is heavily guarded; not sure why Dukchung told Yushin to go there. (Maybe the others are MORE heavily guarded.) Yushin battles soldiers like crazy, trying to get to the gate...and is stopped when an enterprising officer puts a sword to Chunchu's throat. The gate is slammed shut and now there must be fifty spears pointed at Deokman and Yushin, from all directions. Seeing Chunchu's life in the balance, Deokman puts her sword down, and then Yushin drops the spear...Well, can you kind of see what's coming next...It's Bidam time. Two arrows come flying in and take out two of the soldiers. Bidam shot them. But wait--he's not alone! Eight more men dressed in the same dark robes as his come rappelling down the city walls, and now it's chaos. The soldiers outnumber them but they're not exactly skilled fighters. Weird stunts with ropes...
And it's going to get even wilder because here come Bojong and Daenambo with a bunch of Hwarang and soldiers. They're headed towards the West Gate.
"I swear, is there even a way out of here?" Jukbang is hopelessly lost, and now leans on a wall just where a disguised door happens to be. He stumbles through it and into yet another room.
Slowly, Yushin and Bidam and Bidam's surprise allies manage to clear a path to the gate. Bidam reaches the gate, pulls it open...and there are two horses waiting outside. Yeom Jong! Look who came through. These must be his men. Maybe Bidam did the wise thing after all, not killing the guy after Munno's death. How about that. Yushin tells the two royals to get away and make their escape. Now Bojong and Daenambo arrive at the scene. "Don't let them out of the palace!", Bojong screams. Yushin turns and barks at Bidam, "Protect the princess!" And starts to pull the doors closed, with him on the inside. Deokman looks at him in a panic, but he tells her, "Survive so you can save me another day." She bangs on the doors and screams--a full-blown freak-out--but he shuts them on her, and turns to fight off anyone who tries to approach the gate. Outside, a screaming Deokman has to be practically thrown on to a horse by Bidam. He and Deokman make their escape on one horse; Yeom Jong and Chunchu follow them on the other.
"Listen carefully." Bojong has entered a room where Piltan, Wang Yun, Seon Yul and Imjong are sitting (an odd combination of elite Hwarang) and tells them about the alleged assassination attempt. He totally sells it, serious face and all. "The Grand Marshal and Alcheon led armed forces against the hall." "It makes no sense," Imjong observes; "why kill the prime minister?" Bojong promptly implicates Deokman, telling them what the council was considering when it all happened. And then tells them that the Hwarang master (Chilsuk) has ordered them confined to quarters for the time being. Huh? Elite Hwarang, confined at a time like this? That ought to raise an eyebrow or two...but they seem to accept it without objection.
The king is resting in bed; Sohwa has brought him a bowl of liquid--medicine, most likely. Rapid footsteps out in the hall; what's going on? Suddenly the lead attendant (Come on, give this guy a name!) runs in, completely panicked, and tells the king he has to flee.
Deokman and Chunchu are headed somewhere. But here comes Daenambo with a squad of Hwarang, and they block her path. "My lady," he tells an annoyed Deokman, "the king is asking for you." We'll take you to him, he says. Deokman asks the obvious: "Since when have YOU become the king's messenger?" At that, the squad promptly surrounds her and Chunchu. Uh-oh.
Oh, and that standoff outside the Council Hall? Still a standoff! Both sides standing there pointing swords at each other but nobody's moving. Seolwon glares across. "You are under arrest on charges of bearing arms against the Council and the attempted assassination of the Prime Minister." Yushin objects to the charges, and the DFers and Rising Phoenix fidget uncomfortably. Seolwon tells him that it will all be investigated after they surrender, but Alcheon smells a trap. "Isn't it true," Seolwon challenges, "you entered the Hall with swords drawn?" No response. "Take them to the stockade," he orders...but suddenly Yongchun steps forward: "You dare arrest a Council member without an order from the king!?" Um...yeah, he does dare. But Seohyeon jumps in too: "it is a gross violation of law to arrest Council members without a royal order." "Bring a warrant signed by the king," Yongchun says; "until then, no one may touch me." Try it in the meantime, Seohyeon adds, "and we will NOT come quietly." Which isn't much of a threat, since the two of them couldn't push their way past some unarmed soldiers earlier...but still, they do have the rule of law behind them. "Fair enough," Seolwon says; "we'll get the king's order." Really? How? For now, Seolwon says, no one may leave the yard. In the middle of all this, an interesting glimpse of Dukchung the elite Hwarang, who's on Seolwon's side but looks like he's not entirely comfortable with what's going on here. Just a glimpse, but enough to make you wonder....
Jujin gets the word from a subordinate that the Capital Guards have been subdued. He gives the subordinate an envelope, to be delivered to Mishil. Boy, there's a lot riding on this guy...
...and on Chilsuk. "The area is secure," he tells Mishil as she arrives on the scene. Oh, so this is the king's and queen's own chambers that he's attacked! Yikes.
Carrying a pair of scrolls, Mishil enters the building. Brushing aside the objections of an attendant, Mishil walks right into the king's chambers...and finds no one there. He must still be nearby, Mishil tells Chilsuk. "Find him."
The king and queen have fled and are inside a quiet room somewhere, along with Sohwa and the attendant. The attendant had the foresight to grab the royal seal and bring that too. (Ummm, isn't Mishil still the Keeper of the Royal Seal? Doesn't she still hold that title? What's the king doing with it? Continuity error, big-time.) Jinpyeong thinks back...to what he heard in Episode 1 as a boy, hiding behind King Jinheung's throne as Mishil stood before the king's dead body and manically proclaimed this to be "Mishil's time"..."Mishil has finally gone to war," he says, not at all surprised (except maybe that it took this long!). Maya immediately fears for their daughter's safety. But they're in no position to do anything about it. Jinpyeong is rightly worried about that royal seal. "Mishil would use it to accuse Deokman of treason in my name." Yes, very likely...so what to do? Sohwa volunteers: Let me take the seal. "Who else but me can do this?" Deja vu. There's a secret passage leading out of the palace...but Jinpyeong says he's sure Mishil knows about it as well. So Sohwa gently tells him, "You'll have to be our decoy." The king of Shilla, a decoy? But Sohwa is right, and she knows it.
Mishil gets information from Misaeng--Sejong is being treated; should be okay--and Hajong--they're still looking for the king; "He'll turn up." Chilsuk is watching the tunnels that lead out of the palace complex (As in, multiple tunnels? Interesting). Now Seokpum enters with news of the demand for an order from the king before arresting Seohyeon and Yongchun. Take no action for the moment, she instructs. "I'll escort the king personally." Really? How? "I leave Deokman to you," she tells Misaeng...and says nothing more.
From a safe distance, Jukbang and Godo see Daenambo and his squad taking Deokman and Chunchu away. They panic at the sight of this and at their being separated from the other DFers...but they think back to Yushin's encouraging words to them in Episode 9 (when they were faced with having to defend themselves in a beejae), praising Godo's strength and telling him not to be timid, and praising Jukbang's quick mind and advising, "Be innovative"...Jukbang realizes that they may have to step up and do something, just the two of them. He's scared, but determined...
...so he runs into the path of Deokman and the guards escorting her, and deliberately stumbles and trips in front of them. Starts talking to Daenambo and creating a distraction about men coming from the west...and meanwhile, Godo is sneaking in from the other side carrying a giant log--the thing is at least twelve feet long. Apparently the idea is to swing the log at the Hwarang and knock them out. But in trying to sneak up on them, he bangs the log into a wall and then starts stumbling around, and now there's no more element of surprise; he's just a guy with a log. And he and Jukbang awkwardly have to explain themselves...but wait! Jukbang shoves Deokman and Chunchu ahead and runs with them, and Godo throws the log at the Hwarang and manages to pin them all against a wall with it, and then he runs too. Heck of a throw! But now the chase is on...and Godo isn't made for running, so he quickly tires. He manages to bottleneck his pursuers at an entryway to an alley...but now Daenambo has a sword to his throat! Jukbang leaves him behind, reluctantly; two pursuers take Godo away and the other four (including Daenambo) run ahead. Jukbang catches up to the two royals, and they hide in some bushes as their pursuers run on. Safe for the moment...
A tunnel under the palace: The king and queen and the attendant cautiously move forward. (Some secret--who lit all those candles?) But wait--Sohwa's there too! Shouldn't she be somewhere else with the seal? The attendant opens a secret door in the wall, and he and the king and queen step out into a side yard, which looks to be near the city wall. What rotten timing--Chilsuk and his brown guys run forward and surround them, and Mishil comes striding right up to him. Asks him what he's doing. He fires the same question back at her. "I'll send a full report to you," she calmly tells him...but back in the palace. And orders the soldiers who are with her to take them back there. Which they do, even daring to put their hands on the king and queen and take them forcefully. Not good, Mishil; shame on you. Everyone leaves the scene...and then Sohwa sneaks out, looks around and scurries away, royal seal in hand.
These standoff guys must be sick of looking at each other! Still there, facing off. Lots of muttering on Yushin's side about what happened. An obvious set-up, they now know, but they can't give up now because, as Yushin realizes, they'll be taken away and tried for treason, with Deokman as the accused ringleader.
Jukbang leads Deokman and Chunchu into a quiet room. A military uniform storeroom. Chunchu points out to Deokman that she'll likely be accused of leading a coup. It hadn't occurred to her--he's thinking faster than she is--but she agrees with him and says they need to get outside of the palace complex walls somehow. But how?...Flashback to something we hadn't seen before: Deokman dressed in a white ceremonial robe, walking around the dark corridors of the royal shrine and discovering what looks like a secret passageway (this must have been during Episode 25, when the queen went to the shrine to pray for Cheonmyeong and Deokman snuck in and talked to her)...There is a way," she says. "A tunnel from the Sacred Shrine to the Hwarang Shrine." Okay, but getting to the Sacred Shrine is the problem. Jukbang has an idea...and looky here, they're surrounded by military uniforms.
"We're barred from the palace." At least Manmyeong is safe. Wolya and Seolji have come to see her; they're not in their Hwarang uniforms but at least they stayed out of the chaos. They want to do something--anything--but Manmyeong preaches patience.
Bidam's been untied, finally; he's sitting with Yeom Jong and for some reason decided to let him live! He's told about the prime minister's stabbing, but the subordinate of Yeom Jong's who brought the news has no information about Deokman or her parents. Bidam has an angry, distant look in his eye. "I'm going to save her." He storms out.
Sohwa is sneaking her way through the palace outskirts (in broad daylight? Not real smart), avoiding soldiers...and oh crap, turns a corner and runs right into Chilsuk! Is this ever awkward. Fortunately she must have stowed the royal seal inside her dress; it's not in her hands any more. She keeps a cool head. "What's going on?", she asks him, playing dumb; "everyone is acting so crazy." Chilsuk wonders why she isn't with the princess. She tells him she went to deliver the king's medicine (which is true) and hid when she saw all the soldiers (which is also true). "What's going on? Tell me." He looks away, like he's too ashamed to tell her. So she tries her luck. "Chilsuk, I'm scared. Can you get me out of the palace?" He hesitates, and then leads her somewhere...
...what is this place? "Is this some kind of secret room?" Chilsuk tells her that this is Mishil's secret quarters; no one is allowed here but her. "It's the safest place in the palace grounds." This sure is not where Sohwa wants to be, but no one can get in or out of the grounds so Chilsuk says this is her best option. "Mishil isn't likely to come today," he tells her. Then he asks her if he hurt her leg; she had stumbled a bit walking into the room. No, she says, looking away; just a sprain, it's fine. He leaves her, and she checks under her dress--the seal is there, in its cloth bag, still safe.
"Sire, how could YOU let this happen?" The king and queen have been confronted by Mishil, Misaeng and Hajong. The two men (and I use that term loosely) are scolding him while Mishil sits silently. But then she starts to speak up, implicating Deokman. Misaeng suggests detaining Deokman until everything has been investigated. "Please grant your approval," Mishil says politely. And if he doesn't? Then, Mishil says, the palace "will have to be turned upside down to find where you hid the royal seal." That's not much of a threat, though, is it.
Daenambo has to bring the news to Mishil and Hajong and Misaeng and that Deokman got away. You'd think at this point, Mishil would simply take his own sword and kill him with it. But instead Mishil says it's time to arrest Seohyeon and Yongchun and their Hwarang. "We're out of time," she says; "We'll get permission after the fact." That is a step so drastic that even Misaeng and Hajong don't like it. "And get me the seal and Princess Deokman." They scurry away. Mishil grumbles to herself, "Nothing's ever easy." (Hey, you want something done right....)
"Do we have the king's order?" Seokpum asks the proper question, but Misaeng doesn't answer; Hajong just tells him to follow orders. Looking a little uncomfortable, Seokpum leaves...
...and goes to the yard and informs Seolwon. Who promptly asks the same question. Seokpum starts to hem and haw...and now there's Dukchung again, seeing the exchange and looking even less comfortable...and thinking back to the chaos from earlier--and realizing that Seokpum stabbed Sejong! He saw it! "What's happening here?," he asks himself; "Did I see what I thought I saw?" Seokpum notices him looking troubled and asks him about it. "Nothing, sir," he answers (so Seokpum outranks him? Really?). And now it all comes to a boil--Seolwon ordering everyone arrested, and Yongchun and Seohyeon demanding to see the king's warrant. Shouting back and forth...now the swords are all drawn again--will this turn ugly? Uh-oh, well now it's going to be over in a big hurry, because Seolwon has positioned archers on the surrounding rooftops. So it's surrender or be slaughtered. Game over...Wait--Yongchun grabs one of the Hwarang's swords and holds it to his own throat! "You'll see me bleed before I let you take me!", he says furiously. The sight of a councillor like this stuns everyone for the moment. He tells Yushin and Alcheon to run away. "Whatever you're trying to pull," he shouts at Seolwon, "know this--YOU will be assassinating a Council member here today!" And now the usually-calm Seolwon starts twitching and looks ready to attack him himself...until Seokpum grabs his arm and steadies him. "You'll only make it worse," he advises. Yushin and Alcheon scurry to an exit stairwell...and the distraction of that allows Seokpum to attack Yongchun and knock the sword away. In moments everyone else is subdued, and Yushin and Alcheon are being chased as they flee.
Santak the annoying Hwarang has brought Mishil a scroll. It's a list of the attendants in the palace. "All 55 of them are accounted for," he says. Which surprises Mishil. "No one's missing...but the royal seal is gone." Chilsuk is there with her...and immediately he puts the pieces together. Okay, dude, you gonna rat her out? Not for the moment; he stays silent. Orders Hajong and Misaeng to start searching the palace...but quietly.
Sohwa's still in those secret rooms of Mishil's...but she can't get out! She tries the door and realizes she's locked in. She looks around (I guess for a key), rummaging through cabinets and drawers...and stumbles across the envelope that Seolwon brought back to Mishil from Yongchun's home. Opens it, and reads the contents. She can hardly believe it...but hearing footsteps, she puts it back and sits down. It's Chilsuk. "Give me the royal seal." She plays dumb. "Now." And he starts shouting at her. "Why die now after being used your whole life?" She's stunned by him raising his voice. "How many times have you risked your life for the king? Do you WANT to die?" She fires the obvious right back at him: "How are you any different? How many times have you risked your life for Mishil?" It stops him for a moment...but just a moment. Asks again for the seal; she won't give it to him. She won't. Now he begs her. She won't, and stands up to back away from him...but in the process, the seal falls from her leg. He grabs it. "I'll be back," he says, glaring at her, and leaves. And locks the door again. (Should have hid the thing somewhere outside, Sohwa--or waited until dark!)
Yushin and Alcheon are running as fast as they can, stopping repeatedly to fight off their pursuers as they go. Alcheon demands that Yushin run ahead to go help Deokman; at first Yushin refuses but then realizes it's the smartest move. So he leaves Alcheon and flees. Now alone, Alcheon is quickly captured.
Mishil gets the news. She looks like it's given her a monster headache. First Deokman, now Yushin--gone. But Chilsuk lightens the load--walks in and puts the royal seal in front of her. Tells her he found it in the royal depository, and she seems to buy that. Who cares where he got it, she's just glad she has it now. Tells Misaeng to affix the seal to the necessary arrest warrants and to a public proclamation. And tells Hajong to prepare a trial for Seohyeon, Yongchun and Alcheon. "We need them to implicate the princess in their confessions." Yikes. She wants all of the government officials summoned to the trial, and the Hwarang mobilized. And of course, Deokman and Yushin captured before they can leave the palace.
Chilsuk gives the order to Seokpum and Dukchung; marshal the Hwarang. "We have orders to arrest the princess." That even surprises Seokpum. Dukchung, again, looks very uncomfortable with it.
Hajong and Misaeng send off Santak the annoying Hwarang to deliver summonses to all of the public officials for the trial that apparently is going to be held very quickly.
Yushin is trying to find is way out of the capital. Won't be easy...especially in broad daylight (What is it with these people!). Skitters under building steps, carefully turns a corner...and runs right into Dukchung. Of all people. Bad luck--or is it? Now we'll see just how uncomfortable Dukchung is with all that's been happening. A squad of soldiers runs by; Yushin ducks to hide...and Dukchung stands silently. And when they've passed, whispers something. "Take the West Gate." Tells Yushin they've been ordered to arrest Deokman--which is good news to Yushin; she hasn't been captured, at least. Yushin thanks him; they exchange worried looks, and Yushin flees. Wow.
Chilsuk presents a scroll to Bojong, Imjong, Piltan, Wang Yun, and Seon Yul. A royal-seal-stamped order to arrest Deokman. "Deokman orchestrated a palace coup," he tells them, showing no shame at all (so much for his integrity). Bojong assists him in selling the story; the other four seem to be having an awfully hard time with it, though. And now Dukchung enters and is told the same thing, and is shown the scroll that makes it "official."
Yushin didn't learn his lesson; he's still trying to get away. But now he remembers being in the shrine...Flashback, another we haven't seen before, of Yushin in the shrine, dressed in a white ceremonial robe. (This would have been during Episode 16, when he was serving as a ceremonial guard during the Rite of Heaven.) He sees the smoke from the incense he's carrying, all drifting towards one wall...It occurs to him that if Deokman is still in the palace complex, she may well have headed for the secret passage in the royal shrine that she had discovered, thanks to his observing that smoke.
Three soldiers nervously head towards the shrine. Wait, not soldiers; it's Deokman, Chunchu and Jukbang. Jukbang moves ahead to scout the area, and in the next moment a squad of soldiers emerges from a building. The leader calls out to the two royals standing there, who turn to hide their faces. But the leader recognizes Deokman. She and Chunchu flee, and now the chase is on.
Jukbang makes it into the royal shrine. But he hears trouble back outside.
Now Deokman and Chunchu are surrounded by soldiers. In front of the shrine, at least, but it looks like they're caught. "I can't leave her alone for a minute," Jukbang complains as he watches from around the side. Sees no hope for them so he decides he'd better get away himself. So he runs back inside, and just by dumb luck happens to open up a door leading somewhere. Looks like the passage. He goes in; the door closes behind him.
Deokman has drawn her sword! Of course she has no chance, but the soldiers don't want any trouble that might injure or kill her...They ask her to come quietly, but she swings her sword and they have to step back. And in the next moment look who's showed up--Yushin! Manages to keep all of the soldiers at bay with a spear and he and the two royals flee.
Inside, Jukbang can't figure out where he is. Hopelessly lost in the strange building. And now there are two hallways in front of him; where to go? He goes straight ahead.
The three flee to the West Gate. Which of course is heavily guarded; not sure why Dukchung told Yushin to go there. (Maybe the others are MORE heavily guarded.) Yushin battles soldiers like crazy, trying to get to the gate...and is stopped when an enterprising officer puts a sword to Chunchu's throat. The gate is slammed shut and now there must be fifty spears pointed at Deokman and Yushin, from all directions. Seeing Chunchu's life in the balance, Deokman puts her sword down, and then Yushin drops the spear...Well, can you kind of see what's coming next...It's Bidam time. Two arrows come flying in and take out two of the soldiers. Bidam shot them. But wait--he's not alone! Eight more men dressed in the same dark robes as his come rappelling down the city walls, and now it's chaos. The soldiers outnumber them but they're not exactly skilled fighters. Weird stunts with ropes...
And it's going to get even wilder because here come Bojong and Daenambo with a bunch of Hwarang and soldiers. They're headed towards the West Gate.
"I swear, is there even a way out of here?" Jukbang is hopelessly lost, and now leans on a wall just where a disguised door happens to be. He stumbles through it and into yet another room.
Slowly, Yushin and Bidam and Bidam's surprise allies manage to clear a path to the gate. Bidam reaches the gate, pulls it open...and there are two horses waiting outside. Yeom Jong! Look who came through. These must be his men. Maybe Bidam did the wise thing after all, not killing the guy after Munno's death. How about that. Yushin tells the two royals to get away and make their escape. Now Bojong and Daenambo arrive at the scene. "Don't let them out of the palace!", Bojong screams. Yushin turns and barks at Bidam, "Protect the princess!" And starts to pull the doors closed, with him on the inside. Deokman looks at him in a panic, but he tells her, "Survive so you can save me another day." She bangs on the doors and screams--a full-blown freak-out--but he shuts them on her, and turns to fight off anyone who tries to approach the gate. Outside, a screaming Deokman has to be practically thrown on to a horse by Bidam. He and Deokman make their escape on one horse; Yeom Jong and Chunchu follow them on the other.
Got me confused for a minute 
- thought there were 60 or so episodes