THE FINAL PLAN

At that moment as the sky totally darkened and tension was in the atmosphere when doves gathered right above them in a very large flight.

They darkened the sky the more as they all descended onto the ground in front of them while the Princesses watched from a distance.

There were numerous cracks in the ground that followed as it shook violently while from there emerged a very tall stele which stood in the shape of a cuboid.

The people that were around having witnessed the sight they started to bow their heads while the drums of worship were sounded and the birds that were around slowly scattered.

The wind was at its worst and flowers started to rain from the sky in the small valley where they were all nestled.

On the rock there were very deep inscriptions that could be read even from a distance and in that very moment the people read the words that were written on it.

YIN IS BORN

JIN IS KING

SHILLA WILL FALL

AT ITS TWENTIETH SEED

WHEN THE CRIES REACH HEAVEN

ITS GRACE DESCENDED IN TWO STARS

THROUGH THEM ALL SHE WAS BLESSED

AND SHILLA PROSPERED

FOR AT THE HAND OF CHASTE

JIN WAS DEFEATED.

"What does this mean?" The people started murmuring amongst themselves.

"This is the will of heaven." Princess Deokman replied, "It forever remains most marvellous in our own sight." She added.

"Heaven has spoken." There was a certain voice that emerged from the masses the moment that the clouds scattered and the sunlight was upon them.

Everyone turned around to see who it was and at that moment they noticed amongst them a man that was dressed in red and saffron robes having a long white beared and a bald head that it was very easy to tell he was a priest by just looking at him.

"YIN IS BORN." Pertains to the birth of a woman. "JIN IS KING." Means that her name will be JIN and she'll reign over the realm, "SHILLA WILL FALL." Her public order shall collapse, "AT IT'S TWENTIETH SEED." In the Twentieth Generations of Sovereigns." He said.

"WHEN THE CRIES REACH HEAVEN." The people prayed and they turned to the gods, "ITS GRACE DESCENDED IN TWO STARS." Which represent these two women before you and the Princesses who cherish this Nation, "THROUGH THEM ALL SHE WAS BLESSED." For it is by their works that glory has been bestowed upon us all, "AND SHILLA PROSPERED" Because of their great work the springs and wells overflow purified once again, "FOR AT THE HAND OF CHASTE

JIN WAS DEFEATED." As long as they remain forever unmarried, the female Ruler Jin shall not come to pass and the curse and scourge upon our land by Heaven shall have been defeated." The man said.

"The people nodded their heads as though trying understand what the old man had said.

"Thank you." Princess Deokman and Seungman said as they bowed their heads.

"How can we trust the words of an old man?" There was someone that shouted out of the crowd.

"We want to believe with our eyes." Another said.

"Of all the Springs and wells in Seoraebeol which with Seven days have been gushing out blood, today they have become pure and overflow with water in abundance, should that promise be forfeited then I am wrong." The man said.

The people looked at themselves.

"The darkness has possesed the skies and now their are clear as their grace is shining upon us with the sun Victorious and a great storm having passed." The man added.

"The people quietened down.

"The prayers of these two women brought back life in the air and they summoned the birds and the winds could it have been the work of people.

The ground shook and from it a rock emerged from the earth could they have been any ordinary than we are.

For the Hallowed bone that is within them, our founder Bak Hyeokgyeose's spirit hovers above them, they are demigoddesses amongst us all we are nothing close to pure as their spirits may be." The Man said.

"It's true." The other people said as they all rounded up the support of the majority and they looked at the two Princesses who looked in the direction of Baekban as they smiled.

Princess Deokman along with Deokman knelt down with their hands up to heaven in the brilliance of the bright sun.

"This is the will of heaven, It forever remains most marvellous in our own sight." They said in unison as they bowed their heads to the rock that was stationed before them.

"What?" Queen Sungman said surprised as she stood up from where she was seated while Bora bowed her head to her.

"Yes Your Highness." Bora replied, "For as long as the two of the Princesses never marry throughout their lives then the Female Ruler Jin's existence remains nothing more than controversial to us." She added.

"I don't understand." Queen Sungman said.

"And neither do I Your Highness, we had all expected that their revelation shall be at Sangyeong well but they were far out of Seoraebeol to the Sacred mountain." Bora said.

She was still talking to the expecting Queen when another of Her servants walked into her Chambers.

"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head.

"What is it now?" Queen Sungman asked.

"Her Highness Princess Deokman and Her Highness Lady Seungman are both here and they are requesting an audience with you." She replied.

"An audience?" Queen Sungman asked.

"Your Highness, they must have a reason to be here." Bora said.

"Most likely to brag about their success but I ain't intimidated." Queen Sungman said.

"Should I let them in Your Highness?" The maid asked.

"Yes." Queen Sungman replied as the maid bowed her head while she moved out of the room and Queen Sungman turned to Bora.

"Your Highness, why did you let them in?" Bora asked.

"This isn't a time for me to show any signs of weakness or remorse and I am most curious how far those two heads could reach." Queen Sungman replied.

"Your Highness, careful not to get angry." Bora said.

"My temper is just right Bora, don't underestimate me." Queen Sungman remarked.

"Yes Your Highness." Bora replied when the doors of the Chambers were flung open and Princess Deokman and Seungman walked in while offering her hand to Bora, the Queen was helped up onto her feet that she walked over to the both of them.

"Your Highness." They said as they bowed their heads to her.

"Your Highnesses." Queen Sungman replied as she also bowed her head to the both of them.

"Can we have a seat?" Queen Sungman asked.

"Yes Your Highness." The two Princesses said in unison as they sat down at the table right next to them.

"It is quite rare for Your Highness to visit Ilsan Palace." Queen Sungman said, "And normally when you do you carry gifts with you but this time I noticed both your hands hang limp." She added.

"Pardon me." Princess Deokman said.

"Your Highness, the news that we bring with us is very good news already and it can serve best as a gift from the bottom of our hearts." Seungman said.

"And if I can reflect, there is not more Purslane powder left and snake venom to be carried as well lest any harm should befall you and your baby how can the both of us forgive ourselves?" Princess Deokman said.

"Wow." Queen Sungman said, "One is strong and resilient like the ocean tides rather hard to be untamed and the other most gentle and surpassingly smart, the both of you complement each other very well and ambition runs common as the air there is you breathe." She added.

"Thank you so much Your Highness, we are moved." Princess Deokman said.

"To hear about the occurrence at the sacred Gumgang mountains you must be utterly surprised that is." Seungman said.

"As your Highness has spoken never in a thousand years had I thought about it." Queen Sungman said.

"There were people that were waiting to ignite a fire but in a wrong place then I believe that it must have been in vain to prepare that whole troupe of rafians." Princess Deokman remarked.

"Of course, perhaps I can think of this as one of those moments that you have to choose where best to sow in order to reap, I did everything that I could but I lacked because the land itself was bare." Queen Sungman said.

"Your Highness, all this hard work could in turn have a toll on your health and the health of the baby, must you not restrain?" Seungman said.

"Restrain?" Queen Sungman said, "Why?" She asked.

"Your Highness has been defeated so where at this moment shall your refuge be, thanks to you and the female Ruler Jin in the first place when the rest of the Kingdom hears that they shall have a female King our claim on the throne has been secured as they shall welcome it all as the will of heaven." Seungman replied.

"Honestly, it hadn't occurred to me about how calculative you would be." Queen Sungman said with a smile on her face.

"Your attempts to give your child the throne beyond this I assure you shall clearly fail because if the will of heaven is upon us and the hearts of the people reign with us then who can prevail against us in this life?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Who can prevail against you in this life?" Queen Sungman asked as she closed her eyes and she opened them with a smile again.

"Perhaps you must be right, but I understand like you all do that if I still can fight then there is no point in hoping that I am going to back down.

If my will is unbroken then I am willing to surpass each one of your wildest dreams.

I must admit that this time I lost, I lost so badly to think that the one way that heaven had sent me to crucify you you forged as your redemption.

There is much more to this fight that what our hearts desire when once I told you how fulfilling it is for a woman's name to go down in the pages of history.

You'd understand the essence of conflicts in that where the heart is demanding then there is not much that you can do except stake your best interests.

I allied myself with your enemies your Highness so that one way or another I would rise on the very minds that orchestrate your Downfall, if they can still bear even the slightest bit of resistance and courage to fight you then mine shall be the same as I'll continue to contend with you." Queen Sungman said.

"Must you take the path of my enemy where my reserve is best affordable the tolerance of my cousin isn't." Princess Deokman said.

"All in all I am prepared to gain all or lose all with nothing in between, that's the difference between an ambitious woman and a strong one." Queen Sungman said.

"Do you wish us to fill you in on your weaknesses?" Seungman asked.

"I believe that I have already seen most of it, you needed as scapegoat and you were most critical in concealing what was false than that which was true.

You played with our caution, the false letters that you exchanged with your people were going through the most confidential channels, even when the truth was before our eyes we couldn't see it." Queen Sungman said.

"You needed to know that in seven days our revelation was to be at the well here within the city and in addition I chose Gumgang mountains because themselves being quite distant it was going to be hard for you to believe anyway.

You knew that a golden plate would be drawn out of the channels that connected it and along with it a sutra that pertained to the redemption and the end of the Female Ruler Jin.

We set it all in phase and just when the time was right your men had the chance to dig it up and replace it with your own saying that the Princesses should be banished from Seoraebeol.

We had guards put in place to watch the well day and night and none of you would have even suspected that all that I needed was a shaman who was a good enough con that I could turn into an elderly priest.

Eventually we knew that by the time the decision had reached you and the news of the alteration it was too late, Gumgang mountains were not so far from the temple you wouldn't have enough time to distort what we had been preparing." Seungman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Princess Deokman said.

"Remarkable." Queen Sungman said.

"Your Highness, have you anything else left to do?" Princess Deokman asked.

"You walked in here didn't you notice anything different?" Queen Sungman asked.

The two Princesses looked at one another as there was a hint of hope that shone brightest in the Queen's eyes.

"Your Highness, enlighten us please." Seungman said.

"I am curious Your Highnesses, what the guards that shall walk in here are going to say?" Queen Sungman said and at that moment the doors of her chamber were flung open and the two young women stood up.

"What is it Your Highness?" Princess Deokman said still maintaining her smile.

"I believe that you shall have your answers." Queen Sungman replied and at that moment there was an official who walked in that the two turned around to see who it was.

"Ladies, I wish to introduce you all to MINISTER DO RIM." Queen Sungman said.

"Your Highnesses, you are under arrest for the charges of embezzlement of public funds and you have the right to speak up in your defence." Minister Do Rim said.

"Embezzlement of Public funds?" Princess Deokman asked.

"I knew that you would be too busy scheming you wouldn't have enough time to account for all those weapons that you were importing illegally from Tang.

I wonder how so much of the finances were being diverted to a secret project that was initiated by you Princess Deokman but I am the Queen of this country, I am the Queen of Shilla, how in such a desperate moment can I forsake these people of mine?" Queen Sungman asked.

"Please, don't be too hasty." Seungman said and at that moment another Group of Royal guards walked into the room as well and they were led by Kim Yongsu.

Minister Do Rim upon noticing his presence he bowed his head and greeted him.

"Your Excellency." He said while Queen Sungman was puzzled.

"Present your charge." Princess Deokman said.

"Your Highness, on the King's orders you shall be placed under house arrest with all your servants and no one shall move in and out of Ilsan Palace without the King's consent.

You have been charged and after clean investigation found guilty with having driven the nation into crisis by turning the water red and adding rust to it.

You've brought the scourge of the blooded water reserves, springs and Wells and inconsiderate of your position as Queen of the people you have poisoned them and brought calamity over the capital " Kim Yongsu said.

Queen Sungman was puzzled.

"Deokman?" She said.

"I told you didn't I?" Princess Deokman asked as she walked closer, "where my reserve is best affordable the tolerance of my cousin isn't." she added as she stepped aside while Seungman walked up in front of her.

"You allied yourself with her enemies that are my enemies, in the end you became another enemy to me and if I must, I shall uproot each and every last single one of them that wished me dead.

Your Highness, none of this was Princess Deokman's doing, hers was to kill the female Ruler Jin and mine was to rob you, suffocate you and contain you to the point of being not only useless to those that chose to use you but also being useless to yourself.

Your supporters deprived me of a childhood, my father of a lifetime, my mother if a youthful joy and the very greed that you all embraced has slaughtered you to the point of no redemption.

Can you look me in the eye and tell me you still stand?" Seungman asked.

"I dare." She added as she raised her head and breathed in deeply.

"Without remorse the Innocents like me have suffered where your thirst and hunger for wealth and power has become more prominent with the day.

You have destroyed public order and corrupted the will of heaven to manipulate the people however you want, you wished to extinguish the Hallowed bone with your continued scheming, even when you chose to run to a shield for refuge it was the very fire that consumed you." Seungman said.

"You have your people and these are also mine." Princess Deokman said.

"If you could ally with us not as a fellow woman then must we forgive you when you stand with the men who wish to vanquish us?" Seungman said.

Queen Sungman stood up from where she was seated and sge looked at the two women.

"Nothing's eternal, not that glory or that respect, those people that stand with you today your enemy shall rob from you tomorrow and I assure you Your Highnesses, if you think that this is my end for me it is the beginning." Queen Sungman said.

"We look forward to it your Highness, our only wish in coming here to see you was to convey to you the very gist of our visit which was to see you one last time before your child is horn." The two Princesses said as they walked out of the room followed by the Royal guards while Queen Sungman was locked inside with Bora.

"Your Highness." Bora said as she hurried over to her side.

Queen Sungman who was slightly dizzy was helped to sit down on her bed.

"Your Highness, we were this close." Bora said.

"We have lost." Queen Sungman said.

"I don't understand how." Bora said.

"It isn't time for you to understand, this whole scheme to curb the female Ruler Jin was nothing more than a board game of pros against cons, baits and vulnerabilities, we ignored the most unimaginable scenes and we also thought like ourselves and not like our enemies.

Initially this fight was nestled between one Princess against us but now I realize that she was more gentle there was another enemy more vicious." Queen Sungman said.

"The sight of the revelation wasn't the well, the Queen has been apprehended but the news hasn't reached the public to at least try and keep her name clean and she is now under house arrest with the charge of pollution to all the water reserves and Wells throughout the city." Haek Ga said.

"It had never occurred to me that this combined force of both the Princess and her cousin would be this fatal it has started on the saddest note to us all." Baekban said as he sipped at his cup of tea.

"At this rate I am forced to believe that surrender is the Queen's next best decision if not vengeance." Haek Ga said.

"Sadly, I underestimated Seungman so much that it has become rather clear before my eyes she has declared war and she is siding with Princess Deokman as a matter of fact." Baekban said.

"At this rate Your Excellency, the Queen being a piece that we can not move or use or even guard, if she is to abandon our side she is now useless." Haek Ga said.

"Remember what I told you that should all fail we must have a last resort?" Baekban asked.

"Yes Your Excellency." Haek Ga replied.

"Now is that time." Baekban replied.

"But Your Excellency, the Hwarang?" Haek Ga asked.

"Those I have already taken care of." Baekban replied.

"The troops?" Haek Ga asked.

"All of them, the Ministers, the Jingol aristocrats, Kim Chunchu they are all ready that it high time that the order was passed." Baekban replied.

"Your Excellency, is it now that we make our attack?" Haek Ga asked.

"The Queen isn't entirely a useless piece, in fact at this time she is going to be most useful because she is going to be the very justification that we shall need to consume that whole party of Princess Deokman." Baekban replied.

"Yes Your Excellency." Haek Ga said as he bowed his head.

Princess Deokman, Seungman, Alcheon Rang, Yushin Rang, Gopheung and Galmunwang Gukban had all gathered in Princess Deokman's Chambers.

"Your Highness." They greeted her.

"I have called you here urgently." Princess Deokman said.

"What is it Your Highness?" Yushin Rang asked.

"The Queen before her apprehension had received word of the weaponry that we had received from Tang and I presume that at this point in time Galmunwang Baekban must have heard of it." Princess Deokman said.

"Your Highness, if anything goes wrong then that means should they all land in his hands he'll have an advantage when it comes to the war against us." Alcheon Rang said.

"Your Highness, it was your insurance over the lady few years." Gopheung said.

"I know that very well which is why there were very many deposits and not just one because I needed to guard against that possibility." Princess Deokman said.

"At this rate Your Highness, are you sure that Galmunwang Baekban is going up for this?" Yushin asked.

"War is his last resort and either way we must also be prepared and I had a discussion with Princess Deokman we decided to combine brains for what we are going to do but we shall need the help of everyone there is within this room." Seungman said.

"What shall we do Your Highness?" Yushin asked.

"In resistance that should be very serious, Galmunwang Baekban should come into possession of at most 25% of the weapons in our possession." Princess Deokman Said.

"Your Highness, how can we take such a big risk?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"I am certain and if we can do it then there is no other way that we can possibly convince him." Princess Deokman said.

"Have a few more people recruited into Dosal Fortress and some on transfer, we need to have at least one thousand soldiers strategically positioned there." Seungman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Yushin replied.

"There are aristocrats that have been feeding off my uncles wealth and these you must award the lands that are stationed nearest to the borders especially those that own fairly large private armies." Princess Deokman said as she faced Galmunwang Gukban.

"Yes Your Highness." Gukban replied.

"Remember, we must at least find a justifiable cause to evict them from Seoraebeol or any other nearby cities." She added.

"Yes Your Highness." Gukban said.

"Your Highness, what about the Queen, she could be apprehended but I don't think that is the last that we'll be hearing from her." Alcheon Rang said.

"Her Highness is still useful to Galmunwang Baekban given that the child that she has within her womb is one thing that could justify Galmunwang Baekban's resistance against us and perhaps in the near future his girl grip and path to possessing the Royal Court and the Royal family in his hands." Seungman said.

"That being the case she isn't someone that we can guard but rather someone that we should be watchful of." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Alcheon Rang replied.

"You are going to go and round up as many youthful men as you can find and register them as recruits to a primary force that we shall use but you must be very careful because whereas the new brooms are most efficient in sweeping clean, the older ones know all corners." Princess Deokman said.

"That leaves us with one last thing and this we must all invest a similar or even better or greatest effort." Princess Deokman said.

"What is it Your Highness?" Alcheon Rang asked while Princess Deokman and Seungman looked at one another as they smiled at themselves.

"Charity and Courtesy of Her Highness the Princess Deokman and me." Seungman replied.

"Your Highness." Yushin Rang said.

"Possessing the hearts of the people is one thing, consolidating them on our side is another." Princess Deokman said.

"What about Bidam Rang?" Gopheung asjed.

"Yes Your Highness, can we trust him at such a crucial moment?" Yushin asked.

"Leave him to us." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." They all said in unison.

"What?" Bidam said as he stood up.

"Her Highness Princess Deokman wishes to see you." Gopheung said.

"Me?" Bidam asked.

"Yes." Gopheung replied.

"Alright." Bidam replied as he was led to the doorway of the Princess' Chambers and there they knocked on the door.

"Come in." They heard Princess Deokman's voice calling them and they complied as Bidam stepped in after Gopheung.

"Your Highness." They said when they caught sight of the Princess and her cousin together.

"Leave us with Bidam." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Gopheung replied as he bowed his head and stepped out of the room leaving the three alone.

"Please have a seat." Princess Deokman said and Bidam walking closer to the two women he sat down before them.

"I don't know how I can say this but I am most humbled by this invite." Bidam said.

"I don't want to waste so much time but rather I wish to tell you straight away that I want you to do me a favour." Princess Deokman replied.

"What is it Your Highness?" Bidam asked.

"Actually, the favour though being asked by Her Highness is initially my bidding which I at least hope that it won't be that hard for you and neither shall it be offensive." Seungman said.

"What is it Your Highness?" Bidam asked as he looked at Seungman in the eye.

"I was having a word with Her Highness and I believe that life amongst the Hwarang isn't fair, according to the laws of the Hwarang if you wish to sometimes become a Hwarang-do you must start by challenging the current one and I believe the current head of the Knight Corps isn't someone that everyone is in favour of." Seungman replied.

"Her Highness has Yushin Rang, Alcheon Rang, Gopheung Rang, who else would she need?" Bidam asked.

"Yushin is strong and he is very skilled, Alcheon takes so much after him but he is emotionally vulnerable, Gopheung is rather good for work that is confidential, I believe that when it comes to winning hearts your skill compared to all these is most remarkable and if you must foster a revolt a number of people would be most willing to follow you." Seungman replied.

"Both of you have consolidated the Hwarang for yourselves which gives you an advantage when it comes to the troops, I am forced to believe that there is none in this field that can dare to contend with your might." Bidam said.

"You must have heard the saying that the drums beat loudest where the laws are silent." Seungman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Bidam replied.

"Considering what I have said then you must know much better than anyone else what I am after." Seungman said.

"I see Your Highness " Bidam said.

"If someone bad devoted as yourself to loving Shilla can exist alongside those commons that run with the crowd and those that enjoy breaking the laws then I am forced to believe you can be most successful in steering a vast degree of aggression to the direction where we want it to go." Seungman replied as she smiled ghastly while looking at Bidam.

"I believe that I have understood what you want Your Highness." Bidam said.

"However this is not all." Seungman said.

"What more is there that you need from me Your Highness?" Bidam asked.

"I heard that when it comes to displaying remarkable skills and tricks in combat you are the best and I was rather interested in going hunting of late." Princess Deokman suddenly said.

"Hunting?" Bidam said.

"We need to set the forest on fire but we need to know which spot is most vital for our execution." Seungman replied.

"I am not confident that I am most remarkable when it comes to that skill but I can try." Bidam replied.

"We only want you to keep an eye on Soseok Rang because we believe that he is the key and who needs a dog to lead you to a lack when the wolf itself can do the job?" Princess Deokman asked.

"I understand, though concerning that I believe that I already know what you are looking for." Bidam said.

"What is it?" Seungman asked.

"Galmunwang Baekban would already be aware right now that I have betrayed him and he could try and alter everything else on that part but if there is something about him that always leaves me confused then it is why he is always meeting up with traders from Tang even without having to exchange any goods both secretly or openly." Bidam said.

"I notice that he is someone who keeps a very low profile about the things that he does and it is possible that he orders some things in advance." Princess Deokman said.

"I can not be too sure Your Highness but even I don't know why or who thee traders keep in touch with though one thing is for certain and that is the fact that there must be a reason for it." Bidam said.

"Even I am suspicious but to conclude whether it is a ploy or it isn't for the time being is something that is impossible for us the least that we can do is be cautious and try to find out what really is going on in his mind." Seungman said.

"Now that he knows it's a war what more could he do to show you much more than you have already seen?" Bidam asked.

"We don't need to see anything, we only need to know what each of those traders is most capable of doing." Seungman replied.