Can an exiled princess overcome an evil nemesis to claim her rightful place on the throne?
The Great Queen Seondeok
A royal prophecy warns that the birth of twins will end the male line of succession. To protect the kingdom, one twin sister is exiled to a distant desert, growing up unaware of her royal heritage. Years later, she returns disguised as a man, joining an elite order of warriors. Alongside loyal allies and an outcast warrior, she fights to reclaim her identity and overthrow a corrupt rival faction threatening the throne.
Episodes
Court Lady Mishil seduces the kings of Shilla to gain enormous power and influence over the royal court, but a prophecy regarding twins promises her eventual downfall.
King Jinpyeong and Lady Maya have twin daughters, forcing the king to send the younger daughter away with the maid Sohwa before Mishil can get her hands on the girl.
Fifteen years later, Deokman lives a life of a merchant with her mother Sohwa. King Jinpyeong's line of male heirs comes to an end.
Deokman displays her wits against a Chinese official. Lady Mishil's personal guard Chilsuk finally tracks down Deokman as the twin, and attempts to kill her and Sohwa.
After her husband's death, Princess Chunmyung leaves for the countryside to give birth to her son and keep him far from the reaches of Mishil.
Chunmyung encounters Deokman and mistakes her for a boy. Deokman believes Chunmyung is a nun and saves her life.
Saved by Princess Cheonmyeong, Deokman feels somewhat intimate with her. Yusin saves Princess Cheonmyeong.
Deokman is arrested and brought to the palace, but Chunmyung intervenes and assigns her to be part of the Hwarang.
Yusin and The Followers of Maitreya return from the battle, only to face disdain from The Ten Elite Hwarang.
Yusin is being called to be under the command of Seolwon while Deokman stays in Amagseong Fortress.
Deokman survives an attack, but for Silla to win, Yushin's battered troops are forced to face the enemy once again, alone.
The Hwarang are rewarded for their achievements in battle. Deokman is arrested under suspicion of trying to assassinate Yushin's father.
Deokman discovers Chunmyung's true identity. Mishil's background is revealed and the source of her power is suspected to arrive at the palace through a foreign trading delegation.
The Sadaham Plum Blossom turns out to be an almanac. As Deokman tries to spy on Mishil, she discovers the true fate of Chilsuk.
Mishil attempts to discredit Deokman in front of Yushin and Chunmyung, but is thwarted. Instead, Deokman manages to get close to Mishil and spy on her for Chunmyung.
Using the almanac to her advantage, Mishil makes a prediction to manipulate the royal court. She attempts to bring Yushin over to her side.
Through Mishil, Deokman is one step closer to finding out her true identity. She attempts to meet with the king to answer her questions.
A theft among the Hwarang nearly forces Deokman to reveal her true gender, but Chunmyung's own questions and investigations lead her to learning the truth.
Chunmyung tries to send Deokman far from the palace and away from Mishil. Though unable to meet with the king, Deokman pursues a meeting with Queen Maya.
Princess Cheonmyeong tells Queen Maya that Deokman is her lost twin sister. Deokman tries to sort things out.
Yushin and Deokman go on the run as everyone in the palace realizes who Deokman is. Bidam, Mishil's secret son, appears.
Deokman and Yusin sneak into Yangjigol Village. Mishil and Jinpyeong are at odds with each other.
Yushin, Deokman, and Bidam form an unlikely alliance against Mishil's soldiers. Chunmyung searches for Deokman with Alchun and other Hwarang guards.
Hwarang Daenambo is sent to kill Deokman, but a case of mistaken identity leads to the wrong person getting killed.
With the death of Chunmyung, Deokman plans to take revenge and earn her rightful place in the royal family.
A public announcement is made that threatens the position of Queen Maya and King Jinpyeong. Meanwhile, Yusin must deal with a threat against his family from his own people.
Ill omens begin to appear around the palace. Deokman tries to extract information from a mystical monk that can help her return to the palace.
Deokman confuses Mishil with Bidam. When Mishil tries to burn Bidam, something unexpected happens.
The royal house acknowledges Deokman as the lost daughter and crowns her as princess, and heir to the throne. Immediately, she makes her first decree as a princess - to build an astronomy tower.
Deokman's decision to release the almanac to the public is met with some consternation even among her supporters.
Deokman brings Sohwa back to the palace with her. Mishil promotes Chilsook as the teacher of the Hwarang.
The Grand Marshal tournament begins, and the second question leads Deokman to discover a secret about the royal kings and Mishil.
Bidam learns about his identity while Yushin prepares to win the tournament and become Grand Marshal.
Yusin, Bidam, and Alcheon prepare for the upcoming third challenge duel and strengthen their determination.
Chilsook finds it hard to accept the results of the final duel between Bidam and Yusin, where Bidam loses.
Misil finds evidence against Yushin that could prevent him from becoming a Grand Marshal, and affect his loyalties.
Yusin tells Deokman how difficult it is to keep the trust between the sovereign and its subject.
The country turns into confusion with murders taking place as the price of grains skyrockets.
Deokman comes up with an idea to distribute the military rice to the people against the greedy nobles.
Despite the king's frail condition, Deokman does not want to marry, but expresses a desire to rule alone. She is not the only one who wants the throne.
Chunchu brings Boryang to his secret house. Seolwon suspects Sejong regarding Boryang's disappearance.
Misil takes a vacation, despite the turmoil within her camp, and returns with a stronger resolve to become queen.
Deokman proceeds with tax reform to weaken and divide the power of nobles, including Mishil.
Mishil finds out about Deokman's plan and tries to scuttle it by getting in touch with officials in advance.
Seohyeon and Yongchun tell Seolwon that they won't budge an inch unless they get the King's arrest approval.
Mishil orders a state of martial law and for Deokman to be captured and killed. Deokman's supporters are tortured into revealing her location.
An attack on Deokman's hideout brings tragic consequences for both sides, compelling Deokman to return to the palace.
Deokman visits Mishil at the palace and tells her that she will be interrogated in front of all the officials.
With every intent on having Silla for herself, Mishil escapes with her loyal band of soldiers and starts a civil war.
Deokman offers a peaceful alliance, testing Mishil's will to continue fighting for her dream.
Following Mishil's death, Deokman must regain the loyalties of her followers, but Bidam also has plans of his own.
Years into Deokman's reign, the Internal Affairs under Bidam begin arresting suspected traitors that are linked to Yushin.
Bidam tells Deokman about Yusin's involvement in Secret Society Bokya to make her order an investigation.
While Bidam tracks down the Bokya, Yushin is sent on a private mission to spy on the enemy kingdom of Baekje.
Yushin's information is deemed faulty and that places greater pressure on Deokman to execute him. Meanwhile Bidam tries to secure Deokman's heart.
Seolwon asks Deokman to entrust him with full powers over Silla's military if he wins the war against Baekje.
With Wolya's surrender, Yusin becomes a major general again. Bidam shows how sincere his love for Deokman is.
Deokman orders Bidam's private soldiers to join the national military, and Bidam is glad about it.
Bidam's supporters betray him in the hopes that he will break his engagement off with Deokman and claim the throne for himself.
Conspiracies surround Bidam, prompting Deokman to send Bidam far from the capital until the furor dies down.
A misunderstanding breaks the fragile trust between Deokman and Bidam, and the palace undergoes a second military coup.
Bidam lays siege upon the capital, but when he learns the truth of Deokman's betrayal, he seals his doomed fate.
