Queen Seon Deok - Episode Guide

The Great King Jin Heung reaches the top of Mt. Bukhansen, overlooking the entire Silla. But as he spits up blood and realized that he is dying, he leaves instructions to Lady Mi Shil and in the same time orders Hwarang Sor Won to kill Lady Mi Shil. But she starts to conspire against the King even before his imminent death... 

King Jinp Peong is proclaimed as King after Mi Shil's coup d'état, but Mi Shil's followers fail to assassinate Mun No and Lady Ma Ya. So Hwa is entrusted with one of the twins immediately after their birth and flees to China. Mi Shil orders Chil Sook to go after and get rid of them no matter the cost..

Young Seon Deok meets Chil Sook in an inn in China's desert. On the other hand, in Silla, three infant princes have successively died as predicted, fulfilling the prophesy of the extinction of male sacred bone. Having searched through their luggage, Chil Sook finds out about Seon Deok and So Hwa's identity...

So Hwa and Seon Deok flee into the desert where Chil Sook gets injured by the attack of So Hwa. She then sinks into the quicksand to save Seon Doek and Chil Sook is swept away by the sand storm…

King Jin Pyeong is planning to appoint Kim Yong Su, the husband of Princess Cheon Myeong as the Crown Prince. Cheon Myeong is beset by anxiety having learned that Yong Su is going as a pioneer in the attack against Mosan fortress. On the other hand, Seon Deok who'd lost Sohwa is convinced that Mun No must be her father and makes up her mind to go to Silla.

Seon Deok arrives at Silla in search of Mun No, but she is being targetted by two con artists, Jook Bang and Go Do. Mi Shil and Seol Won arrange soldiers to get rid of Mun No. Cheo Mmyeong comes to the Yeorae Temple to meet Mun No.

Cheon Myeong falls off the cliff together with Seon Deok while trying to save her. Kim Yu Shin saves Cheon Myeong who was being chased by Bo Jong. Seon Deok brings Bo Jong who was injured to a hut. Both King Jin Pyeong and Mi Shil orders the commandery of Man No, Kim Seo Hyun, to search for Cheon Myeong. 

Cheon Myeong puts Yong Hwa Hyangdo (Dragon Flower Aspirants) as part of Hwarang but the rest of Hwarangs does not approve of them. Silla has had a surprise raid and war is about to break out between Baekje and Silla; Kim Yu Shin and his clan including Seon Deok must go to war despite not being fully prepared...

After a violent battle with Baekje's army, Yong Hwa Hyangdo returns to Seorabeol andunder the leadership of Kim Yu Shin keeps practising their skills despite being looked down upon by the rest. After being incited by Seok Pum and Al Cheon, Kim Yushin participates in a life-or-death duel, Jinsong Beejae. At the same time, Silla goes into a state of emergency as King Mu of Baekje storms the territory of Silla..

The war breaks out between Baekje and Silla. Seol Won ordered the army to attack Sok Ham fortress, while Kim Seo Hyun and Yong Hwa Hyang Do to attack Ah Mak fortress. Thanks to his brilliant strategy, Baekje army at Ah Mak Fortress has retreated, leaving Sok Ham fortress now in crisis. The defeated Baekje army sends all troops to Ah Mak fortress, surrounding Kim Seo Hyun and Seon Deok's team... 

Kim Yu Shin rushes to the battlefield by himself in order to inform his father Kim Seo Hyun and his army to retreat immediately. After a thorough and tireless search, Kim Yu Shin finally manages to find Seon Deok among the dead bodies of Baekje army. Plotting to get rid of Kim Seo Hyun and Kim Yu Shin, Mi Shil deems it correct to abandon them who are being surrounded by Baekje army. Princess Cheon Myeong strives to prevent Mi Shil's plan from succeeding...

Seon Deok, having disobeyed Alcheon's order, will be beheaded as a warning to all. Kim Yu Shin proposes that Yong Hwa Hyang Do fight with Baekje army in the battle, in order to open a way for the rest of the army to retreat. King Jin Pyeung and Princess Cheon Myeong grant Kim Yu Shin the qualification to be part of Seorabeol's Hwarang, upsetting the other 10 elite Hwarangs... 

Seon Deok was wrongly accused of assassinating Kim Seo Hyun but thanks to the wisdom of Cheon Myeong and Yu Shin, the truth is revealed. Cheon Myeong confesses to Seon Deok about her real identity, asking her and Yu Shin to help her. Mi Shil is deeply disappointed by Bo Jong's rash acts and loses her temper at Seol Won. On the other hand, the envoys from Xiu (Sui Dynasty) have arrived to Seorabeol..

So Hwa and Chil Sook slip into the the group of envoys and merchants from Xiu. Seon Deok secretly keeps watch on one of the envoys, Sir Jang, and in an effort to find out what are the trade goods with Mi Shil, she fabricates the key to the box…

Eul Je finds that Seondeok has extraordinary qualities and orders his servant to secretly observe her. Seokpum passes Mi Shil's handwritten letter to Seon Deok. Chil Sook wanted to take Sohwa to hide in the mountain but runs into Mi Shil at the ferry spot. Mi Shil is moved with compassion for Chil Sook and is determined to cure his eyes...

Chil Sook is hidden in the shrine with the aid of Mi Shil. Seon Deok asks Cheon Myeong for the favor of finding out the background of the man, Chil Sook, in the shrine. Mi Shil reports to King Jin Heung that Wiecheon Je (a ritual ceremony to console the heavens) will be organized, and appoints Yu Shin and Bo Jong to be assistant for the ritual ceremony. Mi Shil receives a revelation from Heavens in the ritual ceremony...

Mi Shil sends a message to Cheon Myeong through Seon Deok: calamity will befall if she doesn't run away. Cheon Myeong, Yu Shin, and Seon Deok are determined to fight with Mi Shil till the end. Cheon Myeong has found the trace of Chil Sook and Mun No. After verifying the seoyeopdo (gilded knife) of King Jin Heung from Seon Deok, Cheon Myeong has found startling facts about her origin...

Cheon Myeong is skeptical of the whereabouts and the past of Seon Deok who has asked about the origin of the seoyeopdo. On the contrary, Seon Deok sticks the secret edict in the Janggye(appeal reports) to be submitted to the King. However her actions are stopped by Eulje. Cheon Myeong has found more about her origin and past while investigating the past of Mu Nno, Chil Sook and So Hwa. She begins to reason whether Seon Deok could be her twin sister...

Kim Yu Shin and Princess Cheon Myeong have verified that Seon Deok is a female and that she is indeed her twin sister. However in order to protect Seon Deok they keep it a secret from her. Yong Choon and Eul Jie are surprised to find out about the origin of So Hwa and plan to attack late at night to get So Hwa...

Lady Maya meets up with Seon Deok late at night and is revealed the truth about Seon Deok's origin by Cheon Myeong. On the other hand, Mi Shil has ordered Seol Won to seize Juk Bang and finds out that Seon Deok was behind the submission of the Janggye…

Chil Sook Removes the bandages, he is surprised to see Deok Man and Kim Yu Shin running away on a horse from Alcheon and Imjong. He then reports to Mi Shil who finally learns the truth about Deok Man being the other twin. Now Yong Choon and Eul Je who interrogated Juk Bang and Go Do also find out about Deok Man.

Bi Dam rescues Deok Man using glamourous swordsmanship. The fact that even Kim Seo Hyun is after her life is a great blow to her. The Council of Nobles is held at Seorabeol to discuss about the issues of Deok Man, increasing the contradictions between the two powers of Mi Shil's party and King Jin Pyeong..

Kim Yu Shin and Bi Dam rescue Deok Man who is captured and taken to Seorabeol by Seol Won. Bi Dam arranges for Yu Shin and Deok Man to escape in a boat. Seo Ri has a foreboding and starts to conspire to murder Deok Man without the knowledge of Mi Shil..

Cheon Myeong can no longer wait and goes to Iseo district with Alcheon in order to see Deok Man. She then orders Kim Yu Shin to bring Deok Man away and flee far, far away. Dae Nam Bo prepares a poisoned arrow to kill Deok Man, as orderedby Mi Shil but he makes a huge mistake... 

Deok Man is devastated after Cheon Myeong's death and becomes determined to take Silla. Both Bi Dam and Mun No have made it clear to want to help her. Al Cheon has the Hwarang's "ready-to-die" make up on, and protests before the Great Assembly Hall to request an official inquiry into the death of the Princess. Both Mi Shil and King Jin Pyeung however see eye to eye not to reveal the truth about the twins, and keep the investigation of Cheon Myeong's death pending.

Deok Man has made up her mind to return to Silla and claim her identity as a princess. She gets some hints from the last word of Seo Ri to Mi Shil and wants to capture Master Wol Cheon who is well-versed with the account book. However, the secret faction of Gaya bears a grudge against Master Wol Cheon whose origins is Gaya and has first captured him.

Deok Man and Kim Yu Shin set the strategic points in the mountain, laying down specific plans against Mi Shil.

Deok Man sends out Bi Dam to disrupt the observance of Mi Shil. Mi Shil presumes that she has mastered Deok Man's strategy and gathers that solar eclipse will not occur. All the ministers gather around the field to watch the fire execution of Bi Dam but are all shocked at the sight of ..

As the solar eclipse disappears, Deok Man shows up at the observatory. Seeing that Al Cheon and Yu Shin appear along with her, Mi Shil gnashes her teeth in anger. Lady Manho and Laya Maya are deeply moved when they see that Deok Man is the person of Gaeyang. King Jinp Peung thereby announces that Deok Man is the Princess. Mi Shil planned a riot but in an effort to keep the unification of the people, she decides not to raise the army. 

Finally Deok Man is now the princess in the palace, and Mi Shil gnashes her teeth in extreme anger. Deok Man prepares to make the divine authority public to the people; Mi Shil and her party fear that this will in turn weaken the power and authority of the royal family. On the other hand, So Hwa has fled out of the palace after receiving the treatment. Chil Sook continues his search of Mun No after learning that he is still alive.

Princess Deok Man recognizes So Hwa who finally is able to speak and brings her back to the palace. She however mentions not a word about the infighting around herself. Mi Shil promotes Chil Sook to be the martial arts instructor for the Hwarangs and in the same time weakens the sense of existence of Gukseon Mun No.

Mun No makes a request to Mi Shil and King Jin Pyeung to be in charge of Pungwolju competition(bijae). Mun No evaluates the candidates through observation in the first bijae. In the second bijae, he orders the candidates to look for the three meanings of Silla, which sends Deok Man and Kim Yu Shin off on the search of the answer. 

The bijae has begun. Deok Man and Yu Shin have got the right answer for the second question. On the other hand, Bi Dam has found out more and more about his origins…

Bo Jong, Kim Yu Shin, Bi Dam, Al Cheon, etc. are quite nervous before the third bijae, but are all determined to put their best foot forward. Bi Dam tells Deok Man that he will participate in the bijae in order to help make Yushin the head of Pungwolju. On the other hand, the son of Princess Cheon Myeong, Kim Chun Chu has returned to Seorabeol from China.

Bi Dam loses on purpose in the final duet to Yu Shin, which makes Chil Sook furious, saying that this is not a fair competition and requesting that Mun No make a fair judgment. Mun No is at a loss as to what to do. Chil Sook eventually wants to fight with Yu Shin to verify his real strength. Yu Shin needs to resist ten attacks from Chil Sook.

Yu Shin and Deok Man agonize over the issues of Gaya movement. Deok Man insists that the leader be beheaded but Yu Shin strong opposes it. They stop talking and avoid each other. 

Kim Yu Shin decides to defect to Mi Shil, who in testing his sincerity, asks if he would join in conjugal ties with Yeong Mo of her own. Yushin explains to Deok Man his aspiration to unify the nation. Bi Dam questions his Master why did he choose Yu Shin over him. His answer causes a stir in Bi Dam's heart. The crowd feels that it is a pity for Deok Man upon hearing the news of Yu Shin's conjugal ties. Bi Dam did not win his master and agrees to obey his words and go back to Seorabeol to be a follower of Yu Shin and a helper of Princess Deok Man.

Grain price skyrockets, resulting in killing incidents in the market. Deok Man starts to look into the movements of the traders and finds out that it was the nobles who purchased the grain at high prices. She however cannot understand the reason why and comes to consult with Mi Shil. Bi Dam is now in charge of guiding Chun Chu, in replacement of Yu Shin. Deok Man eventually figures out the reason of the market price surge and starts to implement countermeasures. Very soon the surge subsides, much to the dismay of the nobles.

Deok Man promises to allocate grains of the army and resourcefully wins over the nobles who hoarded the grains. She decides to use the profits to produce agricultural tools. Nobles keeps taxing despite the decrease in production, resulting in an uprising in Angang Fortress. Deok Man arrives at the scene and strikes a deal with the leader of the uprising to give them back the grain and to distribute the tools, and the leader is to lead the people to work in the field. The people however flee away after taking the grain and the tools.Mi Shil tells Deok Man the way to control the hearts of men. Deok Man orders to arrest all the people that fled away and she kills the leader who did not keep his word.

The people who fled and have been caught are terrified seeing the leader being killed by Deok Man in front of the crowd and they start to work on the field as they should. Deok Man's next step is to give the people hope. She starts rewarding those who work diligently in the field. King Jin Pyeung feels that his conditions are getting worse each day and begins to arrange for royal nuptials for Deok Man. Deok Man in turns announces that she will not get married and will herself become the successor. Everyone is shocked by her speech and begins discussing about it animatedly. It comes as a great blow to Mi Shil as she has never thought of becoming the Ruler herself. 

Chun Chu kipnapped Boryang to his own place. Mi Shil's initial plan was to engage Chun Chu and Se Jong in conjugal ties but the disappearance of Boryang raises Seol Won's suspicion towards Se Jong and the two families are at draggers drawn.While the tensions are strained between both families, they are suprised to find out that Boryang had been kipnapped by Chun Chu and married to him, which is a big shock to all as Chun Chu was just a kid in their eyes.

Mi Shil is away from Silla with her followers for a change of air. Se Jong and Seol Won begin to scheme against each other politically and gather troops secretly. Both parties eventually give up on breaking out a mutiny based on trust. Deok Man becomes busier trying to understand Mi Shil's conditions and real intentions. She shudders at the changes of Mi Shil. The actions of Deok Man and Chun Chu have seemingly awaken a fierce lion.

In order to weaken the power of the nobles, Deok Man declares a taxation reform. Everyone is striving to rope in the nobles. Chun Chu is confident that his strategy will succeed but is warned by Mi Shil of being caught off guard.

Deok Man wants to push for taxation reform in the court but Mi Shil in turn retaliates by getting unanimous veto votes. Mi Shil has decided to the most despicable way to suppress the power of Deok Man.

Sangdaedeung has been stabbed at Yeolseon Hall from an attempted assassination, Mi Shil frames up those who put the princess in danger to be traitors. Everything is to Deok Man's disadvantage. Mi Shil puts His Majesty under house arrest. So Hwa attempts to request to bring the Royal Seal out of the palace but fails. Mi Shil gets hold of the Royal Seal and becomes even more domineering and begins to rule. Yu Shin risks his life and manages to finally bring Deok Man out of the palace. 

Yu Shin has been arrested for protecting princess Deok Man. She and her followers in turn are trying their best to save him. However Mi Shil's scheme proves to be more powerful. No sooner has Deok Man saved Yu Shin than she herself is in danger again. Mi Shil sends a false edict by using the Royal Seal to deal with the skeptical officials ruthlessly. She proclaims martial law and sits on the throne herself. Hwarangs begin to doubt the origins of what happened.

Chil Sook and Seok Pum finally find where the Princess has been hiding. Those being surrounded by Chil Sook, Deok Man, Yu Shin, and the rest are looking for a way out desperately. So Hwa eventually disguises herself as Deok Man to distract Chil Sook away. He is determined to chase her as the order given is to kill but to arrest Deok Man. At this moment, a Tang envoya is arriving in Silla, making Mi Shil feel stressed out...

Deok Man goes to Mi Shil and agrees to a public trial that involves King Jin Pyeong and other royal officials. Mi Shil in private divides the nobles into those following her and those not, and makes a life-and-death book so to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances during the trial. Chun Chu gathers Bi Dam and Yu Shin to break into the palace...

Mi Shil manages to break through the siege while Deok Man presses forward in a hot pursuit. After fleeing to Daeya Fortress, she makes plan to stage a comeback. The talents, the influence… are all richly in Mi Shil's hands, of which Deok Man is in dire need. Deok Man orders that Bi Dam take the letter back. He is shocked after reading the letter and goes into Daeya Fortress to question Mi Shil. Their mother-son relationship is thus exposed.

Mi Shil's resources are increasingly abundant. Deok Man however uses a clever trick and spreas rumour about Daeya Fortress, which eventually causes panic and fear across the Fortress. Deok Man negotiates with Mi Shil to join hands with her and requests for an alliance. But she will not concede thanks to her love and ambition for the country. Eventually Bi Dam has to persuade his mom to give up. Mi Shil commits suicide, drawing the end of Mi Shil's era. 

Mi Shil drowns herself at the sight of Deok Man. Seeing that Bi Dam becomes teary, Deok Man questions him closely. He finally reveals that Mi Shil was his mother. Among the remnants of Mi Shil's clique, some Hwarangs refuse to surrender, some become scapegoats... Deok Man is on the path towards becoming the Ruler.

Deok Man becomes the first Female Ruler in Silla. She is determined to forget about the past and build a brand new Kingdom. She tells Bi Dam and he is very important to her and will trust in him. He however begins slowly to have an axe to grind…

Bi Dam tells Queen Seon Deok that Yu Shin is involved in the restoration movement. She believes in him and approves the investigation of Yu Shin. Yu Shin tries to persuade Wol Ya to confess to Queen Seon Deok their real intentions. But Bi Dam deliberately hinders.

Yu Shin is wanted but he pleads the Queen to trust his loyalty, explaining that he cannot abandon Gaya. Bi Dam suppresses Yu Shin in order to build his prestige. Yu Shin is condemned to exile but in the same time ordered to spy on Baekje. 

Yu Shin is found by Bo Jong within Baekje's territory. Bi Dam orders that Yu Shin be captured. While the officials are discussing whether Yu Shin is a spy, Seon Deok confirms that Yushin had gone to Baekje as a spy under her order. Yu Shin comes back to inform the court that there are spies in Daeya Fortress and that it will be attacked. However, Bi Dam and the rest do not believe in him. While Seon Deok is in dilemma, Bi Dam proposes a royal nuptial between them and that he will surely help her to save Yu Shin. While everyone thinks that Yu Shin has given a wrong information, Daeya Fortress is captured by assault. 

Seol Won makes a deal with Seon Deok: if he wins the war, the military power shall be given to him and he will help her accomplish the aspiration of uniting three Kingdom, so she could marry Bi Dam. She tell s him in turn that she is frightened by Bi Dam's love for her. The powerful army of Baekje keeps defeating Yu Shin's troops under the leadership of Seolwon. Seon Deok brings Chu Cchu to meet with Wol Ya, and proposes to cancel the Gaya registration and other conditions so that restoration movement would come under her.in the nick of time, Wolya leads members of his movement to the palace to aid Seon Deok. Yu Shin is being reinstated as the Chief Marshal. 

Yu Shin gains the trust of Seon Deok again thanks to the submission of Wolya. The troops of Silla is beset by fear due to the two mobile units of Baekje's troops. Yu Shin uses a trick to find out the truth that Baekje's troops cover 80 ri per day. Bi Dam risks everything to confess his love for Seon Deok. She admits that she likes being treated like an ordinary woman. Seon Deok proclaims Bi Dam to be the Sangdaedeung and transfer the military power under him.

Yu Shin victoriously defeats the Baekje's troops and is awarded at his return. Seon Deok orders that all the private troops of Bi Dam to included in the army, so to increase the military budget. Bidam is happy about it and promises to strengthen the military power. Seon Deok announces a royal wedding with Bi Dam, to the shock of the officials. Bi Dam passes the book entitled "The geography of the Three Kingdoms" to Yu Shin, and expresses his hope that he would make use of this book. After finding out the nuptial convenant between Bi Dam and Seon Deok, some followers of Bi Dam sow discord between them by tricks.

Bi Dam is furious after learning that Yeom Jong and his gang used his name to frame Seon Deok. He confesses to Seon Deok the truth. Chun Chu distrusts Bi Dam but Seon Deok chooses to believe his words. Bi Dam wants to settle the matter since it has happened. Yeom Jong and his gang is training private troops in the name of recruiting mining workers. Their plan is found out by Bidam. A boat with a letter is found by the seaside of Silla. The letter implies that Bi Dam will become the new King.

The content of the letter favors Bi Dam in everyway and indicates that Bi Dam will become the King. Rumours start spreading saying that the kingdom is frequently attacked because of its female ruler. Seon Deok however never wavers in her trust in Bi Dam. Chun Chu leads some troops to Gurahwa Prefecture to capture the slanderers but is unfortunately wounded, which worsens the relationship with Bi Dam. Bi Dam seems not being able to control his powers, what surprising moves will his followers take next?

Yeom Jong sets up a scene making Bi Dam believe that Seon Deok is after his life. In his anger, he leads the insurgent troops to take Myeonghwalsan Fortress, confronting with the power of Seon Deok. Bi Dam continues to rope in the nobles and the people, holding councils of nobles in Seorabeol to discuss about abolishing the title of Queen Seon Deok. The confession letter of Seon Deok finally reaches the hands of Bi Dam but he doesn't believe it and orders his subordinates to investigate, which is stopped by Yeom Jong. Despite knowing that Yeom Jong has been involved in creating this riot, Seon Deok is forced to abolish the title of Bi Dam as Sangdaedeung and declare him the Enemy of the Kingdom.

Seon Deok's health is deteriorating and is sustained by medicines. She however hides the truth about her health. Chief Marshal Yu Shin is shocked after learning about her health. Yu Shin attacks from four corners of the city but his attacks are being ignored by Bi Dam as he believes that these are just a distraction strategy. However when he realizes it is not, it is too late. Seon Deok's edict is out to arrest Bi Dam and execute him immediately. For the unspoken words, Bi Dam runs towards Seon Deok but eventually is shot dead by the crossbow units.