Gansu
In the present, Kwon is back in his own time and trying to figure out how to get back to his own time. Sang-Uk tells him that he needs to find Ik-Hyeon and protect him at all costs. Meanwhile, Seong-Seon is getting more and more suspicious of the Queen’s motives. ..
Back in the present, Hwang is forced to reveal the truth she’s been hiding over who Uiseong’s father actually is. She also drinks the tea, proving it’s not poisoned and going on to reveal Uiseong is actually the Queen’s firstborn child. ..
This gives the Dowager a fair amount of ammunition to work with. She’s intent on keeping Uiseong alive though, knowing that Queen Yoon has experienced losing a child before and intends to use this to her advantage. However, this also makes her more determined than ever to find who his father is.
Meanwhile, Hwa-Ryeong manages to convince the King to have Taein’s death re-examined again, more confident than ever that this was murder. He points out that this is dangerous and questions why she’s raising suspicions. Despite being on the throne for 20 years, it’s a precarious position to be in and the slightest sign of weakness will see his enemies pounce on it. As a result, the King outright rejects her suggestion.
Given the Dowager is well aware that Uiseong’s parentage is being called into question, it puts them all in danger. The Chief State Councilor is startled to find himself face to face with Sang-Uk soon after. Some quick, scathing retorts are thrown across the table before Uiseong gets things back on track. Also on their side is Physician Kwon, whom we know has been playing both sides but shows his true colours here as part of this usurping squad.
The two South Korean spies have decided that they will use Consort Hwang as a pawn to poison the King and take him out of the equation. They believe that this will help them gain an advantage over their North Korean counterparts.
The Crown Prince Taein’s death is a mystery that has been unsolved for years. The Chief State Councilor, who is in charge of the investigation, tells the others that Cho Guk-yeong is the one who killed him on orders from the Queen Dowager. This information could be used to incriminate the Crown Prince and help prove his innocence.
Hwa-Ryeong, a detective in the homicide division of the Seoul Police Department, sees evidence that confirms that he was poisoned and killed. The gajangsacho on his chest indicates that he was trying to get rid of the poison by scratching at his chest. ..
King Taein ordered his crown prince to be poisoned and he knew it. He also burned the evidence to cover it up. This is why Crown Prince Taein’s death is still a mystery.
Cheong-Ha is under pressure to make sure she consummates her marriage to Seongnam and as a result, she starts doubting her own abilities. Cheong-Ha immediately heads round the palace, determined to learn more about her husband. She speaks to Seongnam’s brothers, who all cheer her on and claim to be by her side.
The Queen Dowager knows exactly what she’s doing and has her personal court maid on the prowl across the Palace. Dowager tells her to keep an eye on Muan’s quarters, concocting a rumour in the meantime that Cheong-Ha is sleeping with Muan because Seongnam has something wrong with his reproductive organs. ..
Hwa-Ryeong is shocked when she finds out and works double time to cut that out. In fact, all the court ladies are tasked with keeping an eye on the Crown Prince and Princess, making sure they do what they can to make the pair consummate the marriage. That comes from special brews, over-intensive needs being met and special medicinal baths too.
That night, the room is all prepped for them both, complete with wedding drinks and food to try and break the tension. Cheong-Ha tells her husband she wants them to be comfortable with one another like they were on the island. Both end up drinking a shot of soju. And then another. And another. And so much that they both pass out.
In the morning, Cheong-Ha confirms that they did not actually have sex, they just slept next to one another. She thought about taking the next step but wanted it to be special and something they both wanted. When Cheong-Ha asks why he dislikes her, he points out he doesn’t… and then hurries away. ..
Seongnam is conflicted about whether or not he had sex with Cheong-Ha the night before. He’s been thinking about her constantly and has no memory of kissing her, but something clearly has changed. He’s not sure what it is, but he’s definitely not the same man who thought about her all night long.
Meanwhile, Kwon is determined to find the poison that was used against Crown Prince Hwa-Ryeong. He reveals that the poison was used in a bid to try and shake any suspicions leveled against him.
Hwa-Ryeong, a tough cookie herself, realizes that the poison used to “disinfect” Crown Prince Wonsan’s wounds is Gansu, the same poison used to “disinfect” the wounds on Hwa-Ryeong herself. With everything hanging in the balance, Kwon poisons Physician Cho in an attempt to get his hands on the autopsy report and use it as a way of enticing him into action. ..
Yoon rushes to Kwon’s place, where she quickly realizes that the young children were switched. As a result, the truth is finally unveiled as Kwon is revealed to be Grand Prince Yeongwon, and the younger brother of Taein. He poisoned the current Crown Prince using the same method and all of this stems from a deep-rooted hatred for the Queen Dowager.
Kwon and Hwa-Ryeong are at a standstill as they face off with Yi Ik-Hyeon, the killer of Kwon’s son. With the facade gone, Hwa-Ryeong calls him by his name and points out that she found the killer. So what happens now? With the pair at a standstill, the episode comes to a close.
The Episode Review
This week’s episode ended with a bombshell revelation that could change the course of the entire game, and it all starts with a little bit of history. In this week’s episode, we learn that the queen was actually married to another man, which means she is not the legitimate ruler of England. This bombshell revelation has left many people on edge and it will be interesting to see how this affects everything else going on in the show.
The plot of this K-drama is interesting but the supporting characters and the main thrust of the court intrigue are not well developed.
Despite that though, the drama is heating up and next week’s finale should be a cracker!
