Episode 3 of "Queen Woo" kicks off with a mesmerizing flashback, transporting us 28 years into the past where the King decreed a revolutionary proclamation: the victor of the National Chess Championships would be bestowed with a prestigious government post, unbound by age or societal constraints. Emboldened by this edict, a youthful Queen Woo, disguised in the garb of a boy, stealthily entered the fray and emerged victorious, her identity concealed until a fateful encounter with her father, prompting a hasty retreat. Witnessing her prowess once more, a young Go Na-mu was left awestruck and deeply impressed.
The narrative then leaps forward six years before the King's untimely demise, as Go Na-mu ventures to the rustic hamlet of Jwamulchon, Amnogok, nestled in the heart of West Gorguyeo, with a singular purpose: to appoint Eul Pa-so, a farmer and descendant of the Juna Royal Family, as his Prime Minister. This unorthodox choice met with vehement opposition from officials, who feared Eul Pa-so's lingering resentment stemming from Go Na-mu's grandfather's slaughter of his kin. Undeterred, the King stood firm, threatening dire consequences for any dissenters while emphasizing Eul Pa-so's role as a wordsmith, not a swordsman, entrusted with safeguarding the kingdom through his intellect.
In the present, Eul Pa-so delves into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the King's death, only to be startled by Woo-do's drastic measure: the elimination of every suspect held captive. Woo-do, believing silence to be golden, sought to silence potential whispers about the royal demise. Yet, this action inadvertently casts a shadow over the Queen's safety.
Meanwhile, the Queen embarks on a perilous journey to Bal-ki's realm, her entourage vigilant against unseen threats. Amidst the guise of humble farmers, Mu-gol and Mo-chi discern the true nature of the approaching group—assassins in disguise. A routine rest stop turns into a stealthy confrontation, but the assassins' numbers prove overwhelming, encroaching upon the Queen's person. Nevertheless, she proves to be a formidable defender, her skills matching their malice. This encounter sparks a realization: the assassins' knowledge of the King's demise hints at a deep-seated conspiracy.
Back at the palace, the royal physician's examination uncovers a sinister truth: the King was felled by a poison derived from the Lily of the Valley, a flower exclusive to the royal gardens, implying an insider's hand in the tragedy. Eul Pa-so, resolved to uncover the truth, orders a thorough search of the palace, commencing with a visit to Sa-bi. Her elixirs, harmless as she attests, fail to alleviate suspicions, though she does offer a cryptic warning to Eul Pa-so about the waning of his own "starlight," hinting at impending danger. Undaunted, she dispatches a trusted servant to spy on the King and Queen's chambers, seeking clues amidst the shadows.
Upon reaching Bal-ki's domain, the queen was met with a stunning spectacle of his unchecked might. The forest echoed with a chilling testament to his ferocity, as bodies dangled from trees, a grim warning to any foes who dared challenge him. In this land, the White Tigers roamed, fierce warriors whose mere gaze could spell doom for the unwary.
At the helm of this ominous kingdom stood Bal-ki, a prince consumed by a thirst for power that bordered on madness. Boredom became his excuse for slaughter, and his reign was marked by a twisted game of manipulation. He toyed with his subjects, repeatedly probing their loyalty by posing the question: would he ascend to the throne upon his brother's demise? Yet, regardless of their replies, his fury knew no bounds, and death was the inevitable consequence. A legacy of bloodlust and the insatiable hunger for authority, he had even taken the life of his own nurse in his youth, sowing fear wherever he went.
The queen's unannounced arrival disrupted his macabre charade, prompting a hurried welcome. Suspicion clouded his mind, wondering if she had come to gauge his allegiance. He silenced his trusted lieutenant, Chang-heon, fearing the queen might turn their words against him, framing him as a traitor destined for the king's wrath. Paranoid whispers of his brother lurking in the shadows, biding time for a strike, sent Chang-heon on a covert mission to uncover the whereabouts of his brother's forces.
The queen, horrified by Bal-ki's barbarity, resolved never to marry him. Her eyes opened wide to the depths of his inhumanity, she rejected the prospect of empowering him further. Instead, she plotted a course that would tie her fate to a different prince, though time was swiftly slipping away. Enlisting the aid of Mu-gol, they devised an escape plan.
Meanwhile, Woo-su's mind was consumed by a tempest of guilt and jealousy, her hallucinations intensifying. Driven by the delusional prophecy of a shaman that promised her the throne, she reached out to the Hae Clan, sending a chilling message of the king's demise, fueled by a desperate desire to sabotage her sister's quest for queenship.
The Hae Clan's anxiety simmers, fearing that The Hidden One has stirred the pot anew. Their concerns deepen as whispers of the Queen's machinations to solidify her throne through an alliance with Bal-ki echo through their chambers. With a cunning mind, Hae Bu, the clan's patriarch, devises a sinister plot: to abduct the Queen and bide time, waiting for the propitious moment to accuse Bal-ki of treason. His strategy is to manipulate Bal-ki as a pawn, shrouding Woo-sun in the shadows of ignorance.
To set this intricate web of deceit into motion, Hae-bu dispatches his trusted secretary with the news of the King's demise, a message intended solely for Bal-ki's ears.
Meanwhile, within the palace's labyrinthine corridors, Eul Pa-so's keen intellect unravels the mystery of the spy's letter. The audacity of its recipient reveals a link to the ancient lineage of the Crown Prince, igniting a fire of intrigue within him. Swiftly, he weaves his own tapestry of schemes, determined to safeguard the Queen from impending danger.
As fate weaves its twisted tale, the remnants of the failed assassination attempt relay their failure to Myeong-rim, leaving him to ponder the consequences of the Queen's continued existence.
Elsewhere, the Queen and her loyalists slip from the grasp of Bal-ki's palace like shadows in the night, their hearts pounding with the urgency of their escape. By the time Bal-ki is apprised of the King's passing, the Queen is already lost in the vast expanse, her trail growing cold.
Realizing the depth of her deceit, Bal-ki's fury boils over. In hushed tones with Chan-heon, he formulates a plan to harness the Queen's predicament to his own advantage. Together, they summon the fearsome White Tigers, imploring their aid in the hunt for the fugitive Queen, turning the tables on her in a game of power and survival.
