Episode 7 of "Queen Woo" unfolds with a haunting flashback, transporting us six years back in time to a chilling spectacle: the brutal murder of the esteemed elders of the Jwa and Eo clans, their severed heads grotesquely displayed in the heart of the capital. This macabre display was orchestrated by the cunning Hae family, a sinister ploy to coerce the king into deposing the queen.
In response, the king dispatched his loyal soldiers on a urgent mission to retrieve Woo-do and Woo-so, escorting them to the palace's confines. Guided by Eul Pa-so's cunning counsel, the king distanced himself from the queen, believing he was shielding her from harm. Little did he know, this very act was a meticulous piece in Eul Pa-so's intricate web, designed to erode the king's standing among the five tribes.
As Eul Pa-so maintained a facade of loyalty, engaging in a game of chess with the queen, his mind raced. Finally, he deciphered her next move, a familiar pattern that sparked a revelation—she was the same girl who had bested him in the prestigious National Chess Championship years ago. Her strategy, a mirror image of their past encounter, left him stunned. Would this revelation alter his vengeful intentions?
Later, amidst the solemn ritual of burning the eunuchs' remains, an eerie flame danced within the pyre, capturing Eul Pa-so's attention. From his pocket, he produced the mysterious elixir vial he had retrieved from Sa-bi's lifeless form. With a calculated toss, he introduced one elixir into the blaze, and the truth dawned on him: these potions, the very ones the devout consumed like candy at the temple, were laced with mercury. They granted a fleeting sense of bliss, but at a hallucinogenic cost.
Meanwhile, at Yeon-woo's stronghold, tensions mounted as Yeo-jin valiantly attempted to dissuade the fourth prince from embarking on a fateful journey—marrying the queen and venturing into the treacherous capital. But Yeon-woo's resolve was unwavering; he was determined to forge his own path, heedless of the warnings.
Concurrently, Queen Woo dispatches a trusted messenger to scout the path ahead, while entrusting Mo-chi with the vital task of keeping a vigilant eye on Woo-soon. Despite Mo-chi's watchful presence, Woo-soon cunningly evades detection and makes a dash for the main gate, her heart set on infiltrating the stronghold. Fortuitously, Queen Woo's keen senses catch her in the act, halting her in her tracks mere inches from the threshold, thwarting the White Tigers' infiltration.
The sisters' long-awaited confrontation ignites, a much-needed purging of the air between them. Woo-soon, unrepentant, confesses her misdeeds but attempts to cloak her avarice in justification, proclaiming that the mantle of queenship rightfully belonged to her as the initially chosen one. Yet, her ambitions twisted, she yearned for the Crown Prince's hand in marriage and spurned the union with Go Na-mu. Her entitlement to the throne, an absurd notion that echoes through the chambers, begs the question: whence does her sense of entitlement stem?
With tensions escalating, both women draw their bows in unison, arrows notched and ready. In a fleeting instant, Woo-soon's aim falters, while Queen Woo's strikes true, ending Woo-soon's life and leaving her lifeless form to haunt the fortress walls. Beyond the fortress's walls, the White Tigers' patience wanes, their anxiety mounting as they surmise Woo-soon's mission to have failed.
Meanwhile, in a separate realm of intrigue, the fifth prince, Go Gye-su, sends forth spies to unravel the mysteries swirling within the five tribes. His anxiety palpable, for strange occurrences have plagued the land, and the palace remains eerily silent, a testament to the unspoken turmoil beneath its opulent facade.
On the contrary, Bal-ki, adorned in his ornate robes, commences devising strategies alongside his trusted companion, Chang-heon. Impatient by nature, he resolves to march forth to the palace and personally secure the queen's capture.
Within the palace walls, Woo-so and Woo-do are consumed by anxiety, awaiting the queen's return. Woo-do, brandishing his sword, confronts Eul Pa-so with a menacing stance, yet the latter remains serene, revealing that the queen has taken refuge in Yeon-woo's stronghold.
At the fortress, Queen Woo receives disconcerting news: the White Tigers lie in wait, lurking in the shadows of the forest. Unwilling to be caged within the fortress's walls, she yearns to return to the palace. Yeon-woo, upon learning of the impending ambush, is gripped by fear yet chooses the queen's safety above all else, dismissing Yeon-jin's misgivings. His shaman offers reassurance, whispering that the gods will shield them, instilling a flicker of courage within him.
Meanwhile, Seol-joo is bestowed with the momentous news that Yeon-woo is destined to ascend the throne through a levirate union. For three decades, she has been banished from the palace's sanctity, falsely accused of instigating the downfall of the previous king. Now, with Yeon-woo's coronation, her long-awaited opportunity to reclaim her place has finally arrived. The faithful, who have been yearning for Sa-bi's prophecy to manifest, rejoice in this joyous tiding, celebrating with fervor.
Queen Woo makes a decisive move, choosing to venture beyond the fortress's safety. She harbors hope that Eul Pa-so, heeding the subtle message conveyed through their chess game, will rally to their side at the ferry dock. This gambit relies heavily on Eul Pa-so's allegiance; should he falter, their fate would be sealed at the merciless claws of the White Tigers.
The narrative shifts to Eul Pa-so, meticulously scheming his subsequent maneuver, delicately balancing the scales of advantage and disadvantage with each contemplated step, ultimately choosing to safeguard the queen. Their shared vision of a rejuvenated Goguryeo fuels his resolve. As dawn breaks, the queen employs a cunning ploy, drawing the White Tigers away with a calculated distraction. Mu-gol heroically sacrifices himself, ensuring the ruse's success and granting the queen, Yeon-woo, Yeon-jin, and their comrades a fleeting window to flee towards the dock.
Once the White Tigers discern their deception, Mu-gol's bravery unites him with his comrades, but their relentless pursuit swiftly closes in, threatening to engulf the queen's entourage in a hail of attacks. Despair looms large as the dock nears, Eul Pa-so's absence adding to the direness of their situation. Yet, at the precipice of their undoing, Eul Pa-so and the palace guards appear like a beacon of hope, swiftly intervening to turn the tide.
A fierce battle ensues, its intensity palpable, yet the queen and her team triumphantly reach the vessel's safety. No-eum, despite his wounds, remains unwavering in his quest for retribution, doubling back to assault the stronghold, seizing Woo-soon's lifeless form as his trophy.
As the appointed hour of Jinshi draws nigh, a palpable sense of unease permeates the palace, the air thick with tension. Officials clamor for answers, their voices echoing in the halls, while the Woo elders' hearts heavy with concern for the queen's fate. Suddenly, the queen enters in a regal display, her presence commanding respect and revealing the king's tragic demise. The officials reel in shock, demanding to uncover the truth behind the king's death, but Dae-bu's query cuts through the chaos, posing the pivotal question: Who shall ascend to the throne next?
The queen elegantly introduces Yeon-woo to the court, her intention to unite their lives in marriage crystal clear. Yet, murmurs of dissent ripple through the ranks of officials, only to be swiftly silenced by her stern warning, painting dissenters as traitors to the realm.
Amidst this tense atmosphere, Bal-ki makes a grand entrance, his presence a stormy interruption. He vociferously opposes the union, staking his claim to the throne with unwavering resolve. His world shatters when Eul Pa-so reveals the ancient laws of Gorguryeo, acknowledging levirate marriages and the queen's prerogative to choose her consort. Enraged, Bal-ki brandishes his sword, his eyes ablaze with rebellion.
Chang-heon, ever the voice of reason, counsels prudence, urging Bal-ki to retreat from the palace's fray. As he strides out, Bal-ki leaves a chilling reminder—the life of a fallen soldier, a testament to his unyielding stance.
The court erupts into a whirlwind of whispers, each faction weighing their allegiance in the impending conflict between the queen and Bal-ki. In a private moment, the queen confides in her father, the truth behind Woo-soon's tragic end at the claws of the White Tigers emerging. Her father's confession about the lilies ignites a tender memory—a testament to the King's romantic heart, forever entwined with his queen's.
Woo-so grapples with the depths of grief, seeking solace in Woo-do's embrace. But Woo-do's thoughts are clouded by survival, the specter of power struggles overshadowing even the loss of his niece. Their words clash like swords, Woo-so's accusation of neglected sacrifice met with Woo-do's shocking revelation—a self-inflicted mutilation, a desperate bid to avert familial bloodshed.
Desperate for allies, Bal-ki turns to the Crown Prince, only to find his soldiers met with a deadly reception. The Crown Prince, gleeful at the news of Na-mu's demise, seizes the opportunity to reclaim his birthright with ruthless efficiency.
Back at the palace, Eul Pa-so convenes a hushed council of trusted advisors, strategies whirling in the air as they strive to avert the looming war. Meanwhile, the queen issues a command, Mo-chi swiftly sealing Yeon-woo and Yeon-jin within a chamber, their fate uncertain. The episode draws to a cliffhanger, with Queen Woo assuming the King's throne at the council table, her gaze resolute, her determination unyielding.
