This is a flashback of times after the show’s finale when Soyong finally opens up about Bong Hwan.

This might feel out of character but considering Soyong’s depression before the show and her pregnancy now, she’s more sensitive and a bit confused herself. From her Cheoljong is cruel but from his pov Soyong is cruel. It’s just very hard times for them, a rock bottom. How they overcome it is the key to strong relationships.

A long-forgotten feeling of tension envelops Soyong as she’s left alone with Jo Hwa Jin. They sit across from each other at the low table, waiting for a servant to bring them tea and sweets. Hwa Jin’s stern look is understandable; however, it doesn’t make it any less annoying.

Growing tired from the starting contest, Soyong’s eyes start roaming around the room. It’s well-decorated and Hwa Jin’s paintings are all over the walls. There’s almost too many of them, Soyong thinks. Most of them are paintings of various flowers or portraits. Hwa Jin’s talent is undeniable; it’s especially impressive in the paintings of her husband, Prince Yeongpyeong.

Park Yul Mu is new in town and therefore it is his very first time visiting the kisaeng¹Kisaengs were women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men of upper class. house known as Oktajeong²Oktajeong is a kisaeng house.. The province he had previously lived in had a kisaeng house as well, but it was smaller, with less women to choose from. Oktajeong boggles the mind with its huge estate filled with gardens and ponds and numerous stunning women. The alcohol and laughs spill freely here. Yul Mu likes Hanyang more and more with each passing day.

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  Kisaengs were women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men of upper class. ↩︎
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  Oktajeong is a kisaeng house. ↩︎

In Soyong’s dream, she has an uneasy feeling that she is prey in a hunt. She does not dare to look back while she runs for her life through the woods. If she looks back, she’ll be doomed. If she looks back, the masked man will catch her. The woods surrounding her are impossibly thick and she feels like there’s nowhere to go. Soyong is panicking. Soon he will catch her. Soon…

Soyong shudders and hears someone’s voice. A girl cries out and then calls for her.

“We ask that you consider deposing the Queen, Your Majesty!” the ministers bellow in chorus. Wonbeom had assumed that an appeal like this would eventually appear, but not this soon.

“Do not dare even think about it!” Wonbeom angrily slams the appeal down onto his desk.

“Her Highness the Queen neglects her duties,” the Left State Counselor retorts.

Wonbeom strongly believes that the assassination attempt on the Queen failed and that those who prepared the attack were as clueless as him regarding her whereabouts. If they had succeeded, those who organized the attack would have revealed a dead body (Wonbeom shudders at the mere thought) or spread a rumor about it a long time ago. And his ministers would plead to start a new Queen selection.

Since Wonbeom is not willing to choose any new concubines, the ministers are left without any opportunities to advance their careers. It is amusing how those men look down on the women in their families, but will use them at a moment’s notice in an effort to gain power.

Sounds of waves falling on the shore.

The smell of salty breeze.

Cries of seagulls.

Bright summer sun.

And wet sand.

Wonbeom thinks he’s back home where he lived most of his life and this feeling soothes him after a crazy sleepless night.

Everything started when Prince Yeongpyeong leads the limping and sobbing Court Lady Choi into Wonbeom’s study. With a pounding heart, Wonbeom listens to her story about the attacking robbers, and how the Queen ran away to distract them. Court Lady Choi recalls how she eventually found the main road and called for help, but they didn’t manage to find any trace of the Queen or the robbers. After she has finished, Wonbeom and his brother put on their black combat uniforms and with a few trusted guards, they go in search of the Queen.

A peach aroma fills the room as the Queen and the three concubines sit down for some tea and snacks in the Queen’s chambers. Usually, they meet outside in the gazebo or in the garden, but today is a special day and they want some privacy.

Suk-ui¹Suk-ui – the junior second rang concubine. Hwa Jin was Bin – the senior first rang concubine, the highest rang possible. The Queen doesn’t have a rang as she is a superior lady in the palace.
Read more about the rangs HERE. Min requests the meeting to announce that she has made the decision to leave the palace.

They are drinking peach-flavored tea and eating her favorite cakes from back home in honor of her request. Apparently, Suk-ui Min already had a beloved one before she entered the palace. They did not stop caring about each other and exchanged letters almost every week. As the King never visited any of his concubines, no one minded her business, and her provocative letters were never inspected.

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  Suk-ui – the junior second rang concubine. Hwa Jin was Bin – the senior first rang concubine, the highest rang possible. The Queen doesn’t have a rang as she is a superior lady in the palace.
  Read more about the rangs HERE. ↩︎

A human being is an interesting little thing, it can adjust to nearly anything. If Soyong had understood that earlier, she might not have jumped in the lake in an attempt to end her miserable life. More than a year ago, she didn’t know that she could grow used to her constant sadness.

Now she feels that her life is a well-staged play. She wakes up. Washes up. Eats breakfast. Does her daily duties for the inner court. Eats lunch. Walks in the garden or by the lake. Finishes more inner court business. Eats a late dinner. Falls into a troubled dream.