Episode 18

Park Ki-woong

Lee Ji-hoon

Park Ji-hyun

Choi Deok-moon

Kim Min-sang

Gong Jung-hwan

Kim Yeo-jin

Sung Ji-ru

## Episode Synopsis

As they try to decipher the mystery, Hae-ryung reveals a secret about her past to Yi Rim, who wants to know what happened on the day he was born.

## Plot Summary

Goo Hae-ryung finally reveals the circumstances of her father, who was killed 20 years ago accused of treason and was the dean of a place called Seoraewon. Goo Jae-gyeong fled to Qing with Hae-ryung for safety. Prince Dowon remembers Mo-wha saying that she had practiced at Seoraewon, and they figure that Yeongan must be Hae-ryung’s father. She explains that she remembers Ho Dam introducing himself to her at Seoraewon.

Eunuch Heo Sam-bo interrupts and pleads for Prince Dowon to rest after his injury. The prince realises that Sam-bo is hiding something from him about the day of his birth. Prince Dowon rides back to Hanyang.

It is revealed that Mo-wha’s men were in charge of the attack on Prince Dowon, so that the King will blame Min Ik-pyeong and trust him less. Goo Hae-ryung discovers a secret compartment in Goo Jae-gyeong’s room, finding a newspaper article mentioning Historian Kim Il-mok. It is dated from the year Prince Dowon was born.

Goo Hae-ryung asks Officer Min about the Kim Il-mok, the former historian, but is told that he was disgraced for refusing to submit his records and was executed. Rumours indicate that the historian might have hidden his records.

Prince Dowon questions his birth, but Crown Prince Jin assures him that they are biological brothers. However, Prince Dowon tries to ask the King himself. He is ignored.

> **Prince Dowon:** Father, have you ever loved me, even for a short moment? Have you ever thought of me or missed me, just once? Have you ever felt affectionate toward me? I am asking if you have ever…truly thought of me…as your son.
>
>

The King does not answer, except to order Heo Sam-bo to take the prince back to his chambers. Prince Dowon seems resigned, but breaks down sobbing into Goo Hae-ryung’s arms in private. Hae-ryung later asks Bookstore Kim for any history books written in the year of *gyeongo* (the year of Prince Dowon’s birth), but is told that all are banned, because of the rumours of the dethroned king.

Song Sa-hui gets ready to return to work. Her father asks her to quit and cut ties with Min Ik-pyeong, saying he will deal with the consequences, afraid for her welfare. She insists that she has information on the Second State Councillor that will ruin him.

*The Story of Ho Dam* is distributed to all major offices of the palace, including the throne room. Min Ik-pyeong says it is time for the King to strike back at the Queen Dowager, who he knows is responsible, but Crown Prince Jin protests.

*The Story of Ho Dam* reveals the fates of Yeongan and the students of Seoraewon – who are all falsely accused of treason and killed. She confronts Goo Jae-gyeong, saying that she knows that he wrote it. She wants to help rebel, but he tells her to put her safety first.

Goo Hae-ryung and Prince Dowon visit the last remaining historian from 20 years ago, who tells them that Kim Il-mok had hidden his records in the ‘green island of the forest’. Prince Dowon realises that this means *Nokseodang*.

## Starring

### Main cast:

* Shin Se-kyung as Goo Hae-ryung
* Cha Eun-woo as Prince Dowon
* Park Ki-woong as Crown Prince Yi Jin
* Lee Ji-hoon as Min Woo-won
* Gong Jung-hwan as Goo Jae-gyeong
* Kim Min-sang as King Hamyeong Yi Tae
* Choi Deok-moon as Min Ik-pyeong

### Recurring:

* Kim Yeo-jin as Queen Dowager Yim
* Heo Jeong-do as Officer Yang Si-haeng
* Kang Hoon as Officer Hyeon Kyeong-mook
* Nam Tae-woo as Officer Son Gil-seung
* Yoon Jung-sub as Officer Hwang Jang-goon
* Ji Gun-woo as Officer Seong Seo-kwon
* Oh Hee-joon as Officer Ahn Hong-ik
* Lee Jung-ha as Officer Kim Chi-gook
* Park Ji-hyun as Apprentice Song Sa-hee
* Lee Ye-rim as Apprentice Oh Eun-im
* Jang Yoo-bin as Apprentica Heo Ah-ran
* Jeon Ik-ryung as Mo-hwa
* Sung Ji-ru as Heo Sam-bo
* Yang Jo-a as Seol-geum
* Lee Kwan-hoon as Gak-soi
* Ryoo Tae-ho as Song Jae-cheon
* Kim Yong-woon as Gwi Jae

### Guest:

* Yoon Jong-hoon as Prince Huiyeong Yi Gyeom (a.k.a. Ho Dam)
* Lee Seung-hyo as Seo Moon-jik (a.k.a. Yeongan)