The Great Queen Seondeok (선덕여왕)

Queen Seon Deok

Episode 17

Why?

Are you sad?

Are you afraid?

What's the matter?

Are you afraid?

To overcome fear,

there are two possible ways...

Run away...

or just rage.

Who are you?

What's the matter?

Are you a shrine maiden?

Princess Cheonmyeong never ran away from me, nor did she even rage at me.

She is a person who is about to sacrifice someone like you and Yushin.

She isn't qualified to be anyone's master.

Therefore, go to Cheonmyeong and relay everything that I said.

At once...

If she doesn't run away at once...

Then, what's left of Yushin... and you.

She will witness and experience the agony of losing everything.

And... relay the following to Yushin.

The longer he resists, the more bloodstained cries of the Gaya people will ring out to his ears.

Go and relay my message... and bring back their replies.

Episode 17

Why have you come out again?

I have been searching everywhere for you.

For someone who has no sense,

how are you able to keep running away?

Something is strange at the eastern side of the shrine.

What is so strange?

There is no door, but the incense smoke seems to flow towards the north,

which could only mean a hollowness exists inside the wall.

Inside the shrine... the east wall?

5,000 Gaya migrants on the outskirts of Seorabeol, in Daeryang valley, will be driven out 200 ri ,

outside of Seorabeol's boundaries,

and will cultivate the land of Samyang Ju.

Also, the shrine representing Gaya migrants at Daeryang valley will be demolished...

and a new temple will be built on that site.

Yes, Your Majesty!

Your edict will be announced and executed as soon as possible.

Even with an edict, how can we just drive out people who are innocent?

Didn't you also witness the lunar eclipse?

If we do nothing, then our Heavenly Kingdom will suffer great calamities.

Doesn't it seem too cruel for people who have just settled down?

Seju Mishil even granted them a parcel of land so they could rebuild.

So, how is that cruel?

Deokchung Rang... It's barren land!

What can they do with barren land?

Thus...

Are you now blaming Seju?

I'm not siding with Seju Mishil nor anyone else for that matter.

I am merely a part of the 10 Hwarangs.

As such, am I not at liberty to speak my mind?

By all means...

But...

Archeon Rang...

It seems as though you have changed your colors.

By you always siding with Seju, because you belong on her side,

it is actually no different than insulting her.

Mother, just looking at Kim Seohyeon's face is somewhat priceless.

When his *Jingeol status was reinstated because of Empress Manho,

*Jingeol = "true bone" royal lineage

he must have thought that all of Shilla belonged to him.

Yes.... that Kim Seohyeon.

Speaking of him, he has been meeting frequently with some Gaya Personnel,

and he has slowly started to build his power with their support.

Anyways, I have successfully finished my part of the job.

So now it's up to the two of you to finish the rest.

I will now persecute those Gaya personnel whom Kim Seohyeon had been meeting with.

Then, what am I suppose to do?

Aigoo... Now that we've forced Kim Seohyeon to run the gauntlet,

you must quickly do your part and entice him over to our side.

Isn't that right, Nunim?

Dear... what is he trying to say?

I want you to convince Empress Manho...

and start preparing for a wedding between Kim Seohyeon's family and our family.

A wedding...? With whom?

By chance, you mean you... again?

Not me... It will either be with our daughter or between Hajong's daughter and Kim Yushin.

What? Kim Yushin?

Mother! You can make them a promise or give them something in return,

but to go through with a marriage as well...

Does that make any sense at all?

In order to lure someone to our side, we must first show our strength...

and only then join hands.

If not, they will rise against us.

If Kim Seohyeon were to rise up against us,

it will be directly related to everything that is Gaya and its rebirth.

That's right... Kim Seohyeon has no real ties with Shilla.

I guess he will try to reincarnate the golden crown of Gaya.

I'm sure Kim Seohyeon must have pondered many thoughts because of this incident.

But Mother, must you... with my daughter... Is that really necessary?

She is still young.

Princess... *Nangdo Deokman is here.

*subordinate title (for a vassal)

Deokman?

What if she is revealed...? Tell him to come in immediately.

Yes, Ma'am.

If it was urgent, you should've asked to meet with me in secrecy.

So, why did you come here directly?

Lady Mishil... knew about everything already.

She even knew that I was acting as a spy.

A guest has came to visit you...

Aren't you going to ask that person to have a seat?

Please have a seat.

Although I don't know the reason for your visit...

Yushin Rang... Why don't you go and tell the kitchen to bring some tea.

Your son's spirit is quite remarkable.

You're now part of our inner political circle, and yet you seem so distant.

Are you here to tell us that our time to mull things over has expired?

Or...

Have you come here to demand that we surrender at this very spot?

What do you mean by "surrender"?

You must have misunderstood what I've said to you previously.

Then, why did you suddenly come here to visit us?

Please hand over your son to me.

Then, I will raise him to become the best Hwarang in Shilla.

If he were to become Shilla's best Hwarang, then...

won't his future be set?

And that is how Lord Seohyeon, Lady Manmyeong, and this worthless Mishil...

Let us join hands.

That is a road on which you can survive.

Do you think that it's my desire to drive out those talented Gaya personnel

that great King Jinheung purposely raised up?

Really... Is that what Mishil said?

And what's left of Yushin and you...

That I will witness and experience the agony of losing everything?

Now I am really sick and tired of it all.

Mishil has given me nothing but fear ever since I was a child.

Sometimes... I even had difficulties... just trying to breathe.

What does she mean by handing over our son to her?

She probably meant by arranging a marriage.

Father, what was your reply?

It cannot happen.

Yushin Rang...

She is responsible for driving out innocent Gaya people.

So now, a marriage?

Why didn't you say no and tell her to leave?

What can you solve by raging?

If I had responded by saying no, leave,

then she would have retaliated by releasing the rest of the wrath from Sadaham's *Maehwa.

*maehwa = plum blossom

Then, what will happen to our family and to you?

Without even knowing Mishil's next move,

why must you act with rage first instead of being more prudent?

No, we cannot... We must act with rage first.

Not with what's good for our family, but instead, we must act with rage first.

Not about being political, but instead, we must act with rage first.

And even before thinking about Mishil's plan, we must act with rage first.

Because we do not, we are always playing into Mishil's hands.

And by Mishil using our fear against us, we are unable to rage, think, or even act.

Then, without any evaluation, you would rather die?

Yes, if that is necessary.

If we can place all responsibilities for political mishaps on Mishil's hand...

If we can show all people that Mishil is not a Heavenly messenger,

but let them know she's responsible for thousands of people shedding tears of blood for her own benefit.

If I could, I would.

Be quiet.

Do you know what your forefathers went through in order to protect this family?

How can you speak with such immaturity when you know what I had to put up with?

The fact that not all Gaya people became slaves...

Also the fact that Gaya people managed to stay together and survive, despite great suffering...

So how can you act this way, when you already know these facts?

Yushin Rang...

Yushin Rang... What are you doing? This is not allowed!

Yushin Rang... Stop this! Princess!

Princess, do you consider politics to be first and foremost?

Do you also think about scheming a plan first?

Are you trembling because you feel helpless and defeated?

Are you feeling the same?

Are you also worrying about how you can fight someone like that?

If that's the case...

then... I will now...

let go of you, Princess.

If that's the case, I will now...

abandon you as well.

To overcome fear, there are two possible ways...

Run away...

or just rage.

Rage must come first.

The explosion of emotions that human beings feel comes first.

Whenever Mishil pulls out her magical schemes, then everyone is afraid.

Even those who were victims do not think of raging, and instead, they just tremble in fear.

Shouldn't we rage first and foremost?

On this land... Within these realms...

there is no one who will oppose and rage against Mishil.

I was wrong Yushin Rang.

You are right.

The reason why Mishil schemed all those plans was to... instill fear in us.

Therefore...

She is trying to make us incapable of doing anything.

That is just unacceptable.

We shouldn't accept that.

We will never do that again... So, please do not abandon us.

About letting go of the princess...

That must not happen.

Cheonmyeong...

Deokman...