THE FEMALE RULER JIN
"Should we inform Her Highness?" Gopheung asked.
"No." Yushin Rang replied.
"I think she should know about this." Gopheung said.
"Don't you think that she is quite occupied with a lot of things lately and adding this to her burden is irresponsible of us as her disciples and the people that have sworn to guard and protect her with our lives.
Additionally, this could crumble the relationship and the trust that she has in Alcheon Rang which could propel him to withdraw from her service forcing her to cut off her own hand and I can not allow that to happen at any cost." Yushin Rang replied.
"It's not like Seungman Rang can reject Alcheon Rang even though she had a chance." Gopheung said.
"She may necessarily not but we could make it look that way" Yushin Rang replied
Seungman walked into her room and she shut the door behind herself as she leaned against it.
"Why was Alcheon so furious?" She asked herself as she walked up to the corner of her room where there was a suit of armor and her family sword.
She pulled out the sword and inspected it as she wondered.
"Who is King Jinheung to me and how is this sword in my possession?" She asked herself but there was nothing but only silence as many questions filled her head.
She then put it back onto it's stand and sitting on her bed she held the Jade pendant that hang around her neck.
"Mother?" She called, "It feels so lonely here and I can't stop wondering who you were?" She said to herself as she studied it slowly.
"I can't help but wonder how much you used to smile, I always wanted to know how you met father and I wanted to know what your best meal was and what you loved doing the most.
Were you a warrior like me?" She asked herself all those questions but to know avail it only felt as though she was talking to herself.
"Don't worry about a thing mother, whoever you are when I find out who I was first I'll find out who the people behind your death were.
When I do, I promise that I myself I shall avenge you." She added as she tightened her grip on the pendant.
Ilsan Palace was already beaming with decorations and a number of members of the Royal family had turned up.
Queen Sungman was already seated inside the Courtyard with a couple of other guests who were already around her.
The two brothers Galmunwang Gukban and Galmunwang Baekban were present and so was Lady Wolmyeong and Kim Yongchun as well.
The Royal in laws including Lady Manmyeong and Kim Seohyeon were present while Yushin Rang had made it a short while later.
Princess Deokman walked in all of a sudden dressed in a beautiful red dress with purple and her presence announcing itself from how beautiful she looked, very many eyes turned into her direction and she smiled at everyone else.
She searched around until she was able to see the Queen in front and she walked towards her with her ladies in waiting bearing a number of gifts in their arms.
Reaching in front of Queen Sungman, herself with some of the ladies in waiting behind her bowed their heads and greeted the Expecting Queen.
"Your Highness." They said.
"Thank you." Queen Sungman replied, "Please come here and sit by my side." She added.
"Yes Your Highness." Princess Deokman acquiesced as she walked around and then sat at her left.
"Congratulations." Princess Deokman said.
"Thank you." Queen Sungman replied.
"I only thought you're a good schemer." She said.
"I can also organise some prayers." The Queen said.
"I see." Princess Deokman appreciated with a smile.
"You must have been busy." Queen Sungman said.
"Of course." Princess Deokman replied.
The Queen sighed.
"So what is the highlight of this occasion, is heaven's will above the child that you are carrying in your womb?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Perhaps." Queen Sungman replied.
"A straight answer would be better." Princess Deokman said.
"Be patient Your Highness because I promise that I have a surprise for you." The Queen Said.
"Very well then." Princess Deokman said.
"I figured out that since you are carrying the future of Shilla with you it would be good if I presented you with a couple of presents." Princess Deokman said.
Boyeong walked up to her and there she opened the container that she was carrying with her.
"I got you some of the best herbs from Jeongcheon County and other few anti abortifacients to help look after you until the time of safe delivery." Princess Deokman said.
"Thank you so much Your Highness." Queen Sungman said.
"You don't have to worry it is not poisoned and I am not that heartless." Princess Deokman remarked.
"I understand." She added.
"I also got you some of the best silk that is imported from Tang and fine leather from Wa to keep you warm when it is cold." Princess Deokman added.
"I am moved by your benevolence my dear." Queen Sungman said .
"His Majesty Deigns you all with his presence." His Eunuch announced and at once everyone in the courtyard stood up and they faced it's entrance.
King Jinpyeong marched into the Courtyard gloriously while they all bowed their heads as he passed them and reaching in front, he moved to the seat that had been prepared for him on the right side of the Expecting Queen.
"Greetings." He said to them all.
"Greetings Your Majesty." They all replied in unison.
"As it is that we are gathered here today to pay our respects to Heaven and be grateful for the gift of a Royal child that it's going to give us." King Jinpyeong said.
"May his Majesty live forever." Everyone said.
"Let the rituals begin." the King announced and everyone wherever they were they gathered from their tables and they stood in the middle of the courtyard.
The drums were sounded and the trumpets blown as everyone faced the small altar that had been set up.
A group of Buddhist priests paraded inside at that moment with about six of them supporting the statue of Buddha on their shoulders.
Reaching in front right behind the small altar, they placed the statue there on a stand that was right next to a fountain and the Queen moved towards her husband and held him by his left hand.
The two walked up to the front while Princess Deokman followed behind them with her sisters Cheonmyeong and Kim Yongsu.
They halted at the forefront and there a very old Buddhist priest joined them.
They bowed their heads thrice before the statue and they held talismans while the ceremony continued.
The Priest started chanting as the rituals progressed while the others closed their eyes in prayer.
Princess Deokman once in a while she turned and looked at the Queen as the words she had told her came to mind.
"Be patient Your Highness because I promise that I have a surprise for you." Queen Sungman had said to her and it had left a feeling of absolute worry in her.
"What are you up to?" She asked herself but she could see nothing more than a smile on the Queen's face.
As the prayers were being conducted, the sky was suddenly darkened and the nimbus clouds possesed it instantly.
It had been unexpected but the sky was already chaotic with lightening streaking right above everyone's head.
Princess Deokman looked up while the Priest who was leading the prayers raised his hand up to the sky.
"What's going on?" King Jinpyeong asked and at that very instant the flames that were raging were extinguished.
"I see a dark cloud that is hovering above the Palace." The Priest said and at that moment out of the small pond that was nearby a certain rock started to float and was noticed by one of the Queen's ladies in waiting.
"Your Majesty." She said as she pointed in it's direction and every one present turned around to look at it.
There were four sentences that had been engraved on it.
"YIN IS BORN
JIN IS KING
SHILLA WILL FALL
AT THE TWENTIETH SEED." The words were written.
"What does all this mean?" King Jinpyeong asked and the Priest stood up from where he was kneeling while it started to drizzle so mildly.
"A storm is coming Your Majesty." He said.
"What do you mean!" King Jinpyeong asked.
"The sun is gone from our side and darkness itself consumes the rest of this land." The Priest replied.
"It is going to be an age of turbulence unlike any that has ever happened before and before long here amongst us I can tell that this is a prophecy that has been given to us by Heaven." He added.
"What Prophecy is this and what do the words on the stone mean?" King Jinpyeong asked the Priest desperately.
"This is what heaven is saying." The Priest said while he looked at everyone else.
"'YIN IS BORN.' This is pertaining to a woman.
'JIN IS KING.' Jin is her name and she shall be King.
'SHILLA WILL FALL.' At that woman's hands.
'AT THE TWENTIETH SEED.' In twenty generations." The Priest said.
"What is the prophecy?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"IN ITS TWENTIETH GENERATION A UNIFIED SHILLA SHALL FALL AT THE HANDS OF A FEMALE RULER JIN." The Priest replied.
"Female Ruler?" Unified Shilla?" Everyone asked themselves.
"Can heaven certify this?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Should Heaven verify it?" Queen Sungman asked.
"Perhaps." Princess Deokman replied.
"I have never been wrong in my premonitions before." The Priest said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Queen Sungman said, "I chose him in particular because I had that he had a sounding fame when it came to fortune telling but pardon me I hadn't hoped that this is what heaven had in stock for us all." She added.
"The prayers have been concluded and you all may leave, cease that rock within the pond and I shall personally see to it that it is destroyed." King Jinpyeong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Everyone said in unison as they bowed their heads.
Princess Deokman barged into her Chambers and she was followed by Yushin Rang and Gopheung.
"Calm down Your Highness." Yushin Rang said.
"So that's what her Highness was up to all along?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Don't let it bother you Your Highness." Gopheung said.
"That's Impossible right now." Princess Deokman said, "How ever did she know that it was my intention to become King?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I don't know anything at all." Yushin Rang replied.
"It is possible Your Highness that she understood Your ambitions before." Gopheung replied
"UNIFIED SHILLA SHALL FALL AT THE HANDS OF A FEMALE RULER JIN." She said, "If women like Queen Sado could sustain the vast Empire that King Jinheung conquered in the hands of a young King wouldn't it be the very same in the hands of a female reign and not a regency?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Your Highness, this allegation is false." Yushin Rang had just mentioned when Boyeong walked in.
"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head.
"What is it?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Her Royal Highness the Queen is here to see you." Boyeong replied.
"Let her in." Princess Deokman said as she nodded at Yushin Rang and Gopheung who withdrew from her presence along with her lady in waiting.
A while later, Queen Sungman walked in with Bora and there she sat down right in front of Princess Deokman.
"Your Highness." Princess Deokman said as she bowed her head.
"Princess?" Queen Sungman replied while she did it as well.
"I wasn't expecting you especially at this hour." Princess Deokman said.
"It's alright, I figured out that you might feel awkward after the prayer I decided that I should come and give you some company." Queen Sungman said.
"I understand that very well and in deed I have a number of questions." Princess Deokman said.
The Queen looked at Bora.
"Leave us." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness" Bora replied as she bowed her head and walked out of the room.
"You knew that I aspired to become King." Princess Deokman said.
"It took me long enough without any wedding and it seems no where in your plans to find a husband, as a fellow woman who like yourself is greedy and ambitious I could finally tell, I underestimated your dream and I feel a bit too small I didn't realize mine just yet." Queen Sungman replied.
"Marvellous." Princess Deokman said.
"You marvel me more." Queen Sungman said.
"And the Priest, you got him on purpose?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Only one man in the whole of Shilla was a mastermind when it came to the language of the stars and the seasons so even the rainfall and the darkened sky I knew made today the most auspicious day for my plan." Queen Sungman replied.
"I can see that you have mastered the will of heaven though I can't help but wonder how long it took you planning all this." Princess Deokman asked.
"Roughly a week." Queen Sungman replied.
"And the Prophecy, you did well to make it up." Princess Deokman said.
"That one I didn't Your Highness." Queen Sungman said.
"You expect me to believe that when I know it very well that between both me and you we all wish to master dominion over Shilla." Princess Deokman said.
"The Prophecy is true." Queen Sungman said.
"Can you even prove it?" Princess Deokman asked.
"My encounter with the Priest was rather extraordinary and as I passed by the temple I overheard a number of the monks talking and perhaps it's that recently they noticed Venus shining bright." Queen Sungman replied.
"The star of calamity?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Yes." Queen Sungman replied. "I was drawn that I sat down to talk with the Grandmaster and I inquired from him what it was." She added
"What did he say?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I see a woman who shall be powerful having surpassed infancy without any expectation of the Crown, but once the Crown of Hyeokgyeose graces her head and her power is vast, she shall become the very king in a twentieth generation reign that shall cause the Empire of Unified Shilla to fall." Queen Sungman replied.
"And who did he tell you that female Ruler was?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I inquired your Highness and in deed, that female Ruler's name is JIN which if I'm not mistaken is the precedent on the names of Shilla's previous last three Kings." Queen Sungman replied.
"So it puts me on the line?" Princess Deokman asked.
I guess the sooner that Your Highness accepts it then the better." Queen Sungman said.
"I can not let one prediction like this decide the fate of my life." Princess Deokman said.
"What more shall you do about it, what more is it that you can do?" Queen Sungman asked.
"I am unwilling to embrace this fate." Princess Deokman said
"But contrary to you the people shall believe it." Queen Sungman replied.
"Let them feel free to do so." Princess Deokman said, "If you could use the will of heaven so can I and don't you think that it is quite easy to alter a public opinion?" Princess Deokman asked.
"But the people aren't fools either when it comes to some things." Queen Sungman said, "My dream as a future regent is something that is much more feasible but yours as a female Ruler is something that isn't.
Shilla is Confucian in nature and could you tell me then yourself Your Highness Since Ancient times, when has a woman ever established order like Shao and Yun?" She asked.
"Have you not looked far enough?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I have." Queen Sungman replied.
"There is Wa whose past Sovereign like myself reigned in her own right, if the Continent had a female Emperor then why can't Shilla have a female King?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Wa is Wa and Shilla is Shilla, from the days of Hyeokgyeose first born daughters would have also ruled the country if it were meant to be that way but what you are doing defiles the natural order." Queen Sungman said.
"Whatever it is Your Highness, I won't change that, in fact if according to the prophecy Shilla falls at the hands of a female Ruler Jin then that alone is enough to motivate me to go forward as it is even the female Ruler was acknowledged." Princess Deokman said.
"In the South there is Paekche and in the North there is Gorguryeo, if a woman sits on the throne then can you account for the turbulence that will arise because of that one fatal mistake of yours?" Queen Sungman replied.
"How much do you love Shilla?" Princess Deokman asked.
"I am concerned about my child." Queen Sungman replied.
"And I am concerned about my country." Princess Deokman said. "People like you are ambitious to wield power and become more powerful, that history may honour you as the mother of the King and as a very good and composed regent.
You'd share your power and live lavish but since when do you care about the farmers who sweat every time to till the land and since when do you care about the sons and fathers that keep on dying in the endless wars?" She asked.
"When King Jinheung conquered parts if the North and he Engulfed Daegaya, the once great Gorguryeo who stretched as far as two thirds of the peninsular was greatly reduced and the provisions of that land became the wealth of our nation.
When King Jinji ascended the throne that rivalry did not stop and perhaps when my father King Jinpyeong took the responsibility of Ruling the country more than forty battles have been fought." She added.
"What's your point?" Queen Sungman asked.
"Whether the King is male or female or whether there is a regent or not do you think that Paekche or Gorguryeo shall stop fighting to devour the lands of Shilla.
A young King can not make the best decisions and the Courtiers of old are dying the young much too corrupt or ignorant there'll care about nothing more than their own wealth and rank and welfare.
When the common people are abandoned and the land of the farmers is no longer fruitful, can you be the first one to tell me here and now where will the army go and how long shall Shilla have to stand?" Princess Deokman asked.
Queen Sungman asked.
"The difference between me and you is not only the fact that I bear the Hallowed bone and it's the King's blood that flows through me but also the fact that you want to maintain for Shilla her tradition and have your honour while if I must I am willing to go Against tradition to give it revolution." Princess Deokman replied.
"You understand much better than anyone else that if that is your decision then it is going to be laden with fierce resistance and antagonism on my part." Queen Sungman said.
"You are a servant of yourself and History while I am a servant of Shilla and her people." Princess Deokman replied.
"The time is running out and the streets are already flooded with rumours of what happened in the Palace and the Prophecy I believe has been received at heart by many.
It is a victory for me but I can't guarantee that it is the same for you so the first thing is first that if I am not your worry at this moment that Prophecy should be right now." Queen Sungman said.
"Don't worry." Princess Deokman said, "My will still stands unbroken and I am giving you this assurance that my first step in vanquishing you shall be in curbing it." Princess Deokman replied.
"IN ITS TWENTIETH GENERATION A UNIFIED SHILLA SHALL FALL AT THE HANDS OF A FEMALE RULER JIN." Haek Ga said, "That's impossible." He added as he talked to Baekban who was rather absent minded.
"It's not." He eventually spoke up.
"Why are you saying so Your Excellency?" Haek Ga asked.
"I can't believe that it took me all these years to realize it that that was what Princess Deokman was fighting for all along." Baekban replied.
"I am confused Your Excellency." Haek Ga said.
"Her Highness has endeavoured to keep herself busy and she has indulged herself into politics, even Mishil believed that she needed to marry a King to become Queen but Princess Deokman wanted to reign absolute as a King in her own right." Baekban replied.
"As opposed to Mishil she was willing to go that far?" Haek Ga asked.
"The sacred bones that are left are few, she is the King's Daughter, I am Afraid that she at last has proven she is in no need of a husband to rule Shilla, she alone was willing to succeed the throne in Her father's name and rule it." Baekban replied.
"And she would expect the Courtiers to just acquiesce to this most ridiculous demand?" Haek Ga asked.
"She knew that there was resistance that was bound to be on her side that's why all these years she consolidated the support of many Courtiers and popularised herself amongst the people, she became the first female Keeper of the Hwarang and took on the title of Crown Princess when she knew herself to be a female Crown Prince.
There are armies of Shilla that are siding with her and she has even brought is fame in the Tang Court for her wisdom all for what?" Baekban replied.
"She was up to this from the very beginning." Haek Ga said.
"Exactly." Baekban replied.
"But now that the Queen acted up in such a manner especially with the rate at which the News of the Prophecy is spreading isn't it something that we can use to our advantage?" Haek Ga asked.
"The prophecy itself has come to early." Baekban replied, "As it is right now what more can we do because the fact that there is a female Ruler it means that the nation acquiesced at the thought of having one and her supporters may be all the more encouraged to follow her." He added.
"So this Prophecy wasn't a bad thing to the Princess totally? Haek Ga asked.
"It is a double edged sword." Baekban replied.
"What should we do now Your Excellency because given everything that happened in Ilsan Palace today Her Highness shall only resort to being more fierce." Haek Ga said.
Have our Royal guards reinforced around the Palace and have the Courtiers and all the privileged and noble people who follow me ready.
Consolidate a large number of spies in Cheolwon Fortress and put them close to the seal and cease the prefecture of Chopalhye.
Send a request of the best bows and Arrows from Tang and see to it that you keep a close eye on my brother Galmunwang Gukban and Ichan Seulbu.
We shall use Chunchu when the time is right but as it is let us begin by safeguarding whatever little we have be it food or money." Baekban replied.
"Yes Your Excellency." Haek Ga replied.
"A declaration of war has just began." Baekban remarked.
The Hwarang were seated and having their daily meal in the evening as the courtyard was dark but it was candle lit and the full moon was shining brightly above them.
As usual, Seungman was seated right next to Junghwan Rang and Rowun Rang but the three were rather silent as it was clear they weren't on good terms at all.
"Did you hear what happened in Ilsan Palace?" one of the nearby Nangdos asked his fellows.
"The Miraculous Priest and the Prophecy." Another replied.
"Yes." The other one affirmed.
"What was it all about?" One asked.
"As they were praying the sky darkened and a rock ascended from the depths of the inner pond and on it there were four sentences that were written on it." The other replied.
"What happened?" One Asked.
"According to the Priest the four sentences are a prophecy which states that IN ITS TWENTIETH GENERATION A UNIFIED SHILLA SHALL FALL AT THE HANDS OF A FEMALE RULER JIN." The other replied.
"That's ridiculous." One said.
"Why?" The other asked.
"There is no such thing as a female King." Another replied.
"You can't be too sure." One said.
"Of course I am because as it is ever since from Bak Hyeokgyeose there has never in the history of Shilla been a woman to sit on the throne.
It's possible that only a Queen regent can have dominion over the country but a female King is something that is far from possibility." The other argued.
Seungman listening to the conversation she placed down her spoon.
"You also take an interest in listening to rumours?" Rowun Rang asked.
"Not really." Seungman replied.
"You seem rather intrigued." Rowun Rang said.
"Perhaps." She replied.
"Don't believe everything that you hear." He said.
"Do you?" Seungman asked.
"There is no way." Rowun Rang said.
"If I can be a female warrior then can't there be a female Ruler?" Seungman asked.
"Your Case is different." Rowun Rang said.
"Perhaps I said it wrongly, if there could be a Queen Regent then can't there be a female King?" Seungman asked.
"The world is different, out there a Regent is a de facto ruler while a female King can never be acknowledged by the people." Rowun Rang said.
"But if you choose to believe in the prophecy then from it we can concur with the fact that eventually at some point a woman is going to rule Shilla." Seungman said.
"And considering the fact that a woman ruler was fostered it was unfortunate that the United country is bound to fall." Rowun Rang said.
"You men are no different, enough kingdoms have fallen at your hands as well, was it a female King that ruled Gaya at the time of it's demise or a male one?" Seungman asked.
Rowun Rang kept quiet.
"Just as men can be both strong and weak so can we women, I'll hope that I live to show you that but in my opinion if a woman is strong enough and competent then why shouldn't she master the courage of becoming a Sovereign in the state." Seungman asked.
"The retinue that preceded Princess Deokman is quite remarkable, however the most significant flaw and the most recent of those Royal women was Lady Mishil who has long been demonized by the country." Rowun Rang replied.
"Nevertheless considering the amount of power that she willed throughout her life and if she had many that were loyal to him and like the Princess she was endeared amongst the Hwarang and the people, she would have been a competent ruler." Seungman defended.
"Alright perhaps our points of view are all conflicting." Rowun Rang said.
"I just think that some women deserve a chance like me because we could match up to you and if possible some of us could do better." Seungman added as she picked up her spoon to resume eating her meal.
"I have one more question." Rowun Rang asked.
"What is it?" Seungman said.
"Do you think that her Highness Princess Deokman is the Female Ruler Jin in the Prophecy?" Rowun Rang asked.
"No." Seungman replied.
"If Her Highness wished to be a female King would you follow her?" Rowun Rang asked.
"I am a woman and I believe that she is competent Enough, she could realize some of the most grandiose dreams for this country and she is passionate about each and everyone of it's people." Seungman replied.
"What if it were you, would you dare stand to become Shilla's female King?" Rowun Rang asked.
"My ambition is no different from Her Highness, even if I were in her place and even if I too were a Hallowed bone just like she is, understanding my claim to the throne I would still choose to become Shilla's female King." Seungman replied.
"Alright." Rowun Rang said.
King Jinpyeong was seated in his Chambers and he was lost in thought as he recalled everything that the Priest had said to him and all the other Royals.
"IN ITS TWENTIETH GENERATION A UNIFIED SHILLA SHALL FALL AT THE HANDS OF A FEMALE RULER JIN." those words resounded through his mind.
"Impossible." King Jinpyeong said to himself, "It us clear now more than ever Her Highness' true intentions." He whispered to himself.
At that moment Ichan Seulbu walked in.
"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head.
"What is it?" King Jinpyeong asked.
"You seem to be bothered by everything that happened earlier on in Ilsan Palace." Ichan Seulbu replied.
"Can I not worry?" King Jinpyeong Asked.
"The public opinion on this matters." Ichan Seulbu said, "The Courtiers are also in question." He added.
"There is nothing more that we can do for this is not a problem that we can call our own." King Jinpyeong said.
"What do you plan to do Your Highness?" Ichan Seulbu asked.
"This isn't my fight and Princess Deokman can not rely on me to protect her all the way, this is her chance to at least prove her capability because as a King I shouldn't show any signs of being partial." King Jinpyeong replied.
"I am afraid that this problem is something that is very serious and aside from the Princess it also involves us as well and the Royal family collectively." Ichan Seulbu said.
"Let's just wait and see, I haven't given up on my daughter and I know she won't give up on her dream as well." King Jinpyeong said.
He had just finished speaking like this when his Eunuch walked in.
"Your Majesty." He said as he walked in with a scroll.
"What is it?" King Jinpyeong asked as he took the scroll that the Eunuch had walked in.
"It had arrives from Sokham Fortress." The Eunuch replied as King Jinpyeong opened it and he perused through with His eyes.
He stood up instantly infuriated.
"What's the problem Your Majesty?" Ichan Seulbu asked.
"I need to see the Princess and have all the Courtiers gather in the Court tomorrow." King Jinpyeong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." The Eunuch replied as he walked out.
"Your Majesty what's the matter?" Ichan Seulbu asked.
"It seems that Paekche is going to war with us anytime from now." King Jinpyeong replied.
"What?" Ichan Seulbu asked.