Skipping over a whole lot of recapping of what happened last episode before this episode gets started, Queen Seungman accuses Chunchu of selling out Silla to Baekje. She threatens to destroy his entire family. She and her men storm into the room but only Princess Deokman is there praying to Buddha. (Prince Uija has taken a secret passage to a well outside.) Seungman isn't fooled and orders every corner to be searched, ever stone to be overturned. Deokman pulls rank and demands the soldiers stop defiling the temple. The two powerful women glare at each other. Seungman... gives up and leaves. That was kind of anticlimactic.
Kim Yushin escorts the prince to some horses so he can get away. Always lurking in the grass, like a snake, is Myorang.
Back at the palace, Deokman shows her father the secret alliance she made with Baekje. King Jinpyeong worries they won't be able to convince the court to ratify the alliance. As always in these sageuks, the king and princess aren't in the room alone. There are a couple of maids standing around overhearing all of this. One of them looks shifty-eyed and immediately reports everything to the queen and her new wig.
Order in the court. As expected, all the old ministers are totally against the alliance. Per the queen's wishes, the Prime Minister insists they do as the Tang Emperor asked and hand over the disputed land to Goguryeo. Deokman has tea with the queen to try and get her to influence the court. As an extra incentive, Deokman promises after they attack Goguryeo she'll get her father to have Manhwa declared the crown prince.
Deokman addresses the ministers and declares she will personally lead their soldiers into battle. The Prime Minister totally flip flops now and completely supports the princess and the war. Chunchu asks his dad and Yushin's dad to be leaders in the upcoming military offensive.
Meanwhile over in Baekje, Uija has trouble getting his father, King Mu, to go along with the plan. Uija tells him that gaining access to trade with the Central Plains will make Baekje prosperous. There will time enough later to conquer Silla.
Yeonhwa gives Bihyeong a manicure. Bohui shows up. How'd she know where to find him? They're near some water. I hope no water ninjas suddenly spring up. You know how they're everywhere. Anyway, Bohui gets right to the point. They're obviously into each other so what's the holdup? Bihyeong gives the old excuse of he's a bandit and she's a noble woman, it'll never work. They're interrupted not by water ninjas but by Yushin who has come to ask the Gwimun to fight with them against Goguryeo.
Seungman has Myorang deliver a secret letter to King Mu. Yet when he opens it the paper is blank. I'm not sure why but this really upsets him and he threatens to drop out of the upcoming battle. Uija recognizes the queen is trying to do just that and argues with his father not to go back on his word.
Seungman tells Yushin that if Baekje betrays them then he must bring her the head of Prince Uija.
Princess Deokman dons her armor and gets a royal send off. Manhwa shows he's not a complete asshole (yet) by tearfully instructing her to come back safely.
[I stop long enough to go buy a car.]
Just as I suspected, the letter sent to King Mu wasn't a blank piece of paper. He discovers there is secret writing on it. Prince Uija was just about to march off with his troops when his father stops him.
Deokman has a staff meeting with her military advisers. Even though Baekje is supposed to be their ally (for now), many of the Silla generals still have misgivings and expect betrayal from the other side. Deokman proclaims anyone who doesn't co-operate will be punished harshly.
The Silla army awaits the arrival of the Baekje army. Deokman notices Prince Uija isn't among them. Suddenly the horns of battle blow and the Baekje start yelling and running forward to attack Silla. Chunchu takes Deokman back behind the lines to safety. The Sillans begin beating their own war drum and start yelling and running towards the Baekje.
Well, this alliance is off to an auspicious beginning.
This was a short episode. I mean, compared to the usual length of a Korean drama it was short. Did my video source cut off some minutes? Or was this about the time when actress Park Joo Mi was injured?
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