Season 1
episodes
After taking Queen Inmok as his wife, King Seonjo grows sweeter and stronger by the day. Realizing this change, Prince Gwanghae and his faction worry whether he'll be made Crown Prince. The new Queen Inmok becomes pregnant as a result of King Seonjo's devoted love. Royal Physician Heo Jun reveals her pregnancy and Seonjo can't hold back his happiness at finally attaining a legitimate heir.
As King Seonjo's illness grows deeper, Lady In Bin and Kim Gong Ryang find a way to survive by petitioning to make the young Grand Prince Youngchang the Crown Prince. The King refuses Crown Prince Gwanghae's greetings, and Gwanghae bows his head to the floor while crying pitifully, leaving the Greater Northern Faction wondering why. As he sadly walks back, Imhae appears before him, calls him the spawn of a concubine, and tells him the King won't live long.
The Greater Northern Faction poisons Prince Imhae without Prince Gwanghae's permission. Gwanghae is upset, thinking Imhae killed himself. Knowing the truth, Dowager Inmok worries something will happen to Grand Prince Youngchang and Princess Jeongmyeong. The Queen calls her fortuneteller Bokdong and discusses how to get rid of Grand Prince Youngchang and Gae Shi, but Bokdong takes a look at Gae Shi's fortune and tells the Queen not to rush. On the other hand, Court Lady Gae Shi tells Lee Yi Cheom and Lee Gyeong Jeon to hurry the concubine selection...
Jeong In Hong tries to frame the Greater Northern Faction's Kim Je Nam and Grand Prince Youngchang of high treason, while Lee Won Ik, Lee Hang Bok and the Hungu faction tell the King it isn't true. Gae Shi and the Greater Northern Faction prepare as the King personally interrogates those involved in the treason, by bribing Seo Yang Gap and Park Eung Seo (arrested for other crimes) in advance, using any and all of their cruel methods. Dowager Inmok petitions her father's innocence to Prince Gwanghae, but Gwanghae's already inclined to...