Priscilla's description of the SBS Productions historical TV drama, Seo Dong Yo, has captured the essence of the story of King Mu, the 30th Great King of Baekje, 600 – 640 AD, during the Three Kingdoms era of Korean history.

Unless otherwise noted, these synopses, beginning with Episode 25, are the contribution of NVZBL and Priscilla. After realizing that many people who do not speak or read Korean were watching the drama, NVZBL began writing these story synopses.

Priscilla, has written synopses and translations for episodes one through twenty-four. They are located at her Jo Hyun Jae forum, Prisci4U at Xanga. The forum includes translations, images, links and writings, and is one of the most comprehensive Jo Hyun Jae English language sites on the web.

Episodes: 25 – 27 – 28 – 31 – 32 – 33 – 34



Jang returns and tells Buyeosun, the nephew of King Weeduk (525 – 598 AD), that since he has twice broken his promises to Jang, he will not reveal how Buyeosun can resolve the problem with the death of the Chinese ambassador, unless he first promises to return Jang to his previous post in the Academy (Taehaksa).

Jang is imprisoned for threatening Buyeosun. However, Aja Taeja, (Crown Prince Aja), pleads that if Jang has a solution he should tell Buyeosun since it concerns the entire kingdom. Sataek Giroo, upon learning that Mokrasu is gravely ill, argues that Jang's solution is a lie to gain time to hide Mokrasu. Buyeosun sends his soldiers to fetch Mokrasu, who is recuperating from an illness before coming back to the court. Giroo suggests an alternative of asking for aid from the Goguryu kingdom in fending off the Chinese diplomats' requests. All agree it is a high risk, since the relationship between Baekje and Goguryu is even more delicate than the one with Shilla.

Mokrasu awakens and recalls seeing Jang's lover, and wonders how and why she is in Baekje acting as a Chinese merchant. He asks an attendant to arrange a meeting with Merchant Jin (Princess Sunhwa's assumed identy in Baekja). Gaekjoo (referred to hereafter as Daejang, "boss"), Jang's merchant friend, tells Mokrasu that he must vacate the room because he has another guest that needs it.

Noticing that the guards outside his door are no longer there, Mokrasu figures out that Daejang is trying to take him away under Jang's orders. Knowing that if he leaves he will put Jang's life in danger, Mokrasu refuses to go, but Daejang forces him to run away in a carriage. Buyeosun's soldiers catch Mokrasu as he is about to leave the town.

Daejang and Merchant Jin hear about the failed attempt to save Mokrasu. She realizes that the man in the guarded room is Mokrasu, and also realizes that Mokrasu and Jang are in a mess; she offers to go with Daejang to help them.

Buyeosun calls Jang back from the prison and shows Mokrasu in his custody. Buyeosun threatens to hurt Mokrasu unless Jang tells him the solution. Jang apologizes to Mokrasu, saying that even though Mokrasu's life is at stake, he will do as he wishes. Jang turns to Buyeosun and says that since he has stooped so low as to use an ill person to get his way, Jang will now change his terms for the solution. Now, having Jang return to his post is not enough. He asks to be promoted to gisulsa (skilled craftsman) and to have Mokrasu be the Academy director. Jang tells Buyeosun that the choice is his; meet Jang's demands or kill Jang and Mokrasu.


Back in jail, Mokrasu asks Jang if he really has a solution. Jang jokes that since both their lives are at stake, he should start coming up with one, to which Mokrasu scolds him for creating such a mess without a solution in the first place. Jang asks Mokrasu to trust him. Mokrasu asks Jang how he separated from his lover, and if Jang has met her since they ran away from Shilla. Jang replies, "How could I meet a woman in Shilla when I'm in Baekje?"

In Buyeosun's chambers, Princess Wooyoung (Buyeosun's half sister and Academy director during Mokrasu's absence), says that by having Mokrasu in custody, she thought it would weaken Jang, but instead it made him bolder with higher demands. They argue whether Jang really has a solution. Then the Chinese diplomats call Aja Taeja and Buyeosun.

The diplomats says that they have gotten word from the their emperor that Baekje must give up Gubonggang Mountain (which is rich in gold, etc), or give up Buyeosun. Afterwards, there is a big debate between the officials who argue they cannot give up either the mountain nor Buyeosun. In Buyeosun's chambers, Giroo pleads with Buyeosun to ask for the help of Goguryu. Wooyoung disagrees and admits it is a lose-lose situation.

Prince Aja pleads with Jang once more to solve the problem, since it affects the entire kingdom, but Jang politely refuses saying that this time, he must get his demands from Buyeosun. Jang then gets word from Buyeosun that he will meet Jang's demands in a ceremony on the following day.


After the ceremony, Heuk Chipyung, Buyeosun's right-hand man, asks Jang to come with him, since his demands have been met. Jang asks for more time, saying that he needs to celebrate with his friends in the Academy.

Mokrasu sends Eunjin and Bumro on a secret assignment to find out why Jang's lover is in Baekje.

Merchant Jin instructs her guard, Seochoong, to give Jang the "information." (It isn't revealed what it is.) Seochoong asks the princess how such insignificant information can help Jang, but Sunhwa believes it will.

Jang receives an anonymous note (the one from Princess Sunhwa). Later, Mokrasu brings Jang to his chambers and (believing Jang doesn't have a plan) asks Jang to run away while he still has a chance. Jang says that the moment Buyeosun met his demands he realized a solution.

When the diplomats threaten Buyeosun once more, they immediately search for Jang...and finds him napping!

Buyeosun asks Jang for the solution. He replies, "I have already told you the answer." Jang says, "How did I, a man who was about to die without any hope of escape, return with Mokrasu and get everything I wanted?" Buyeosun replies, "You mean 'bluffing'? You have no answer!" Jang replies, "Yes, but even without substance, I got everything I wanted. I believe it is the best way for the weak to measure against the strong." Jang gives Buyeosun the following advice:

• He will need the guts to risk everything without batting an eye, just as Jang has done.
• There are boats that leave for China, but none that return.
• The diplomats were bluffing when they said they had received word from their emperor. (This is the info that Sunhwa presumably sent to Jang.)

Jang says, "I have now given you the necessary information, and how you use this information is up to you."

Jang wonders who sent the note. Giroo wonders why he could not convince Buyeosun of his plan, while Jang did. Buyeosun remembers when Jang agreed to risk his life to light the fire, although his chances were slim.

The next morning, Buyeosun puts the Chinese ambassador and his attendants under custody. The Baekje officials are outraged by Buyeosun's rash decision, claiming that this will certainly lead to war. The diplomat threatens King Weeduk himself, with even worse consequences for Baekje. Buyeosun asks for King Weeduk's permission to kill the diplomat and send his head to the Chinese emperor. Infused by the threat, the diplomat goes to the prison with his attendants.

Giroo tells Jang that what he did was irrational, putting not only his life, but also Mokrasu's life in danger, not to mention Baekje as a whole. Jang replies, "In one of the books you recommended, there was a story. A man about to be beheaded gave the king a crazy promise. "If you give me a year, I will make your favorite horse fly." Out of humor, the king met the demand. The prisoner's cell mate asked him why he offered such a ridiculous promise. He replied, "In a year, who knows what the future holds. Within a year, the king could die; I could die; the horse could die. And who knows? Perhaps in a year the horse will fly."

The next day the diplomat threatens war, but Buyeosun is unfazed and orders the beheading. First, the diplomat offers to take back his request for the mountain, which Buyeosun scoffs at, saying the damage is done since the diplomat has already sent word to the emperor (which he knows is untrue). The diplomat then confesses that he lied and that the dead diplomat suffered from a fatal heart condition, which the emperor already knew about. Prince Aja then asks Buyeosun to stop the execution; he coolly agrees.

Jang later hears of the success, as does Sunhwa. Daejang asks Princess Sunhwa why she doesn't meet Jang herself.

King Weeduk pardons Jang for having a relationship with a Shilla woman, saying such an irrational act is forgivable since it took place when Jang was younger.

After the meeting, Giroo reassures Buyeosun that Jang's rashness will undoubtedly bring his downfall. Overhearing this, Jang tells Giroo, "I used to be like that, but I am changing. For me to be your adversary, I guess I should learn to deceive, betray, and stoop low like you." Giroo replies, "I hope so, or this would be a boring fight."

Princess Sunhwa sends a note to Jang, which Giroo almost intercepts, but Jang ultimately receives. The note says, "It is just like you Seo Dong. When you shoot, the whole world gets hit." (This references the time when Jang was teaching the princess how to shoot a bow and arrow, telling her, "When you shoot, Princess, the whole world gets hit.")


Additional notes:

Mokrasu's counterpart is Princess Wooyoung, half sister to General Buyeosun. In episode 26 she approaches Merchant Jin on behalf of Buyeosun, because he has an I'll-cover-you-if-you-cover-me sort of relationship with all the wealthy nobles and merchants. This is one of the reasons why Buyeosun is more influential in court. Prince Aja is more diplomatic and less 'executive' but he lacks backing from moneyed people. Buyeosun and Wooyoung hear of this new merchant (Princess Sunhwa) from China who is establishing a big business in Baekje, so they're making their usual contact. At the end of the episode, Wooyoung request that Merchant Jin meet Buyeosun.

Mojin does love Mokrasu, and has for several decades. It's alluded that ever since they were very young, Mojin has loved Mokrasu although he loved only Jang's mother. Since Mojin can't have Mokrasu, her way of loving him is by staying near him all her life. She wants to keep the lovers apart for many reasons, including:

• He is from Baekje and she is from Shilla
• If found, they'll be back to square one and Mokrasu, Jang, Prince Aja and Jang's friends are again in trouble
• It reminds her of the love Mokrasu had for Jang's mother and not for her

Currently, Episode 26 doesn't have a synopsis.




General Buyeosun and his father-in-law, Haedjou, question Sunhwa (who is acting as the daughter of the Chinese merchant Jin, apparently a very rich person). Haedjou says that he had worked with Merchant Jin's father before, but did not know that he had a Baekje wife (the princess says this is why she speaks Korean so well). She tells them that her Baekje mother is Jin's fifth wife, and that she is trying to make her name in Baekje so that she can take over her father's business, rather than her 'siblings'. Merchant Jin impresses Haedjou.

Mokrasu's people are panicked, not knowing if Giroo has seen Sunhwa before.

Jang confronts Sunhwa; he is worried that her identity will be revealed. The princess reassures him that Giroo doesn't know her. Later, Jang asks Giroo if he had met the Shilla woman he was seeing; Giroo denies it.

Giroo tells his father, Kim Saheum (who has established himself as a small merchant in Baekje, under the name Abiji), about the princess who is also a merchant in the same community. Kim Saheum is worried that the princess might uncover them, so he asks Giroo to go to her and make sure she doesn't say anything, (for theirs as well as Sunhwa's sake).

Princess Sunhwa tells Giroo that she will not reveal his identity if he does not reveal hers...which Jang overhears! Jang learns that Giroo is a spy from Shilla, and he is upset that she didn't tell him earlier. She tells Jang that although she is his lover, she is also Shilla's princess and responsible for Giroo and his families expulsion from Shilla. She asks Jang to keep Giroo's identity a secret, just like hers.

When Jang returns to the academy, he and Giroo fight. People see the fight and wonder what may have caused it. Jang tells Giroo that if he were a Baekje spy, he too would have worked hard to conceal his identity. What Jang cannot understand is why Giroo would betray Mokrasu and him, since they tried to save his life, and he is exiled from Shilla as well.

Giroo tells Jang, "Obviously, the princess hasn't told you everything." He tells Jang that the reason he took the spy assignment in the first place was for Princess Sunhwa's hand in marriage, and that Jang ruined everything. Just as Jang loves the princess with honesty, Giroo says he had to fight for Sunhwa's love with deceit and cunning and that he will do anything. Jang tells Giroo he is pitiful and pathetic.


After consideration, Jang decides to keep Giroo's identity a secret and tells him to fight back without conceit, and to begin his life anew so they can have a real fight, (for the princess). Jang tells Mokrasu and Mojin not to worry about Giroo.

Jang asks Sunhwa why she didn't tell him everything about Giroo,. He then asks her to confide with him from now on, since they are now in the same boat. They either live together or die together.

King Weeduk goes to the great temple, which he does only when he has great worries; the reason for the visit no one knows for sure. The King asks the high monk to prepare a ceremony to honor someone (presumably the fourth prince who he thinks is dead).

Sunhwa tells Mokrasu that she has learned something from Buyeosun's fiasco with the Chinese diplomats; Mokrasu was afraid of Buyeosun's clan and that held him back from being a true leader.

Although Buyeosun is banned from working in international relations, he tells his supporters that he is trying to regain footing by developing relationships with international merchants. They are worried because Mokrasu and the Prince are quiet and suspects that they are up to something.

Heuk Chipyung comes to Buyeosun's house and tells him that the fourth prince he thought he killed was an imposter and that Jang is alive. Jang's friend from the war, who is working at Buyeosun's house, overhears this and informs Jang. Buyeosun's men and the 'short guy' capture Jang's childhood friend; Jang comes to save him. Although Jang manages to release his friend, he is caught by Buyeosun. Jang escapes but receives a cut on his arm in the process.

Buyeosun's soldiers follow him into the academy. They awaken everyone, looking for any non-academy-person in the crowd. Eunjin notices a blood stain on Jang's arm and tries to hide it from the guards. Mokrasu appears and tells the guards that soldiers are not permitted on the academy grounds without permission from the King or Prince; the guards leave.

The next day the Prince scolds Buyeosun for bringing soldiers into the academy without his permission; Buyeosun apologizes. As he leaves, he bumps into Jang's arm, making Jang squirm with pain. (It is unclear whether Buyeosun makes the connection between Jang's arm and his intruder from the night before.)

Sunhwa is trying to learn the origins of Jang's necklace. She also learns that her people were arrested when they approached a mining camp. Suspicious, she approaches the mine manager and asks permission to do business with him for whatever metals and jewels he has in the mountain. The manager tells her that he cannot because the royal court oversees the mine, and that no one can buy or sell the minerals. She asks what exactly is mined from the mountain; the manager replies that he does not know either.

Sunhwa meets with the men who investigated the mines, and asks what jewels they saw. One of the men admits to stealing a sample and shows her the bluish rock similar to the stone in Jang's necklace. She realizes that the necklace could only come from someone high in the mountain.

Buyeosun's aide, Heuk Chipyung, uses the short/fat men to look for Jang.

Aja Taeja gets word from his guards that Buyeosun's men are looking for the fourth prince, and realizes that he may be alive. He tells his men to find the fourth prince first.

Sopal, Jang's friend from the war, overhears Heuk Chipyung speaking with the short/fat men. He tells Jang to stay away from the market. Instead, Jang works with Daejang and captures the two men. Daejang asks Jang why Buyeosun wants him so badly; Jang tells him that he doesn't know why he is after him. At that moment Sunhwa comes in and says, "I think I know why."



Partial Episode Synopsis
Adaptation of Xia's comments

Princess Sunhwa tells Jang that the diamond mine she discovered belongs to royalty and only they have access to the minerals. Since the jewel in Jang's pendant is given only to male children of the King, she concludes that he is a Baekje prince.

Later, Jang discoveres that his pendant must have been switched because the one he now possesses has a number one on the back; his pendant had a number four. He remembers that during an assassination attempt on Prince Aja's life, he dropped his pendant during the fight. The one he picked up and now possesses has a number one on the back. From this he realizes that his pendant was switched with Aja's, and that he is a Prince of Baekje.

Jang decides to tell Prince Aja his real identity, but Sunhwa objects. She thinks that Prince Aja might want to kill him, but Jang insists that he trusts the Prince. He writes a letter to the Prince, arranging a meeting, and lies saying someone else asked him to deliver the letter. Jang wants to see what the prince will do next.

That night Prince Aja asks Mokrasu to find Jang's friend. Mokrasu then asks Mojin to find the young man. The Prince changes clothes with Jang's friend; he wants to disguise himself in order not to be detected by General Buyeosun's people. When he walks out of the room, Giroo sees that he is wearing the golden shoes that only a prince can wear. Giroo wonders why the prince wants to disguise himself as an Academy person. He passes a message to Buyeosun, who then dispatchs soldiers to follow the Prince.

While waiting for the Prince to arrive, Jang, Sunhwa and Seochoong, her bodyguard, realize there are soldiers surrounding the area. Sunhwa thinks that Prince Aja arranged for the guards, that he wants to kill Seo Dong and that he cannot be trusted.

Later, the Prince organizes a festival. King Weeduk wants to use the festival to announce that he will pass the throne to Crown Prince Aja. He orders Mokrasu to make a commemorative jewel, asking him to keep it secret. Mokrasu tells Mojin to buy materials for the jewel. When buying the stones, Mojin tells the merchant the purpose; he then sends word to General Buyeosun.
Currently, Episodes 29 and 30 do not have synopses.



Under General Buyeosun's direction, the assassin that tried to kill the prince confesses to King Weeduk, saying he was following the order of the king's fourth son. He scolds the assassin, saying there is no such son, but Buyeosun shows jang's necklace to the king. King Weeduk is stunned.

Buyeosun and those around him press the king to explain how he could have a fourth son who is accused of killing Aja Taeja. King Weeduk is puzzled, since he thought that the fourth son was already dead. With the assassin's confession, Mokrasu realizes that Jang is the fourth prince.

The Prince's attendant tells King Weeduk of Aja Taeja's previous attempts to contact his 'hidden' brother. He also explains how it is not impossible that the fourth prince actually tried to kill the prince, since Buyeosun's soldiers showed up during an attempted meeting , making it appear as if Aja Taeja brought them to kill his hidden brother.

Buyeosun's father, Buyeogae, who is now in place to take the throne, and Haedoju applaud him for his scheme to oust the first and fourth sons at the same time. To their surprise, Buyeosun denies all this, playing innocent. After the meeting Wooyoung (Buyeosun's half-sister, and the daughter of Buyeosun's father and his current wife), expresses concern to her father that Buyeosun's denial is not to keep his father 'clean' when he takes the throne, but rather to keep himself free to take over the throne after Buyeosun's father becomes king.

(It is often the case that the king passes his throne down to the children of his 'current' wife, but if Buyeosun takes the throne, Wooyoung worries that she, her mother, and the rest of her side of the family will be pushed aside...or worse.)

Wooyoung confronts Giroo staying , "Are you really going to deny even to me that you and Buyeosun carried out the schemes?" She tells him that it is the bloodline of her mother, not Buyeosun's, that has the power, but Giroo denies everything.

The princess tells Jang that Giroo is surely involved, and that the Prince's attackers came from the house of Merchant Abiji (Kim Saheum, Giroo's father). Jang goes into 'serious thinking' mode, trying to decide what he should do next.

Mokrasu suddenly recalls the text that came with the incense burner.


Mokrasu asks Jang if as a child, he remembers the incense burning, and Jang answers, "Yes." Mokrasu now believes that it was fate that he was given the incense burner, and that he must help Jang receive the throne.

Giroo and his father have placed themselves as right-hand men under Buyeosun, although Heuk Chipyung seems to be somewhat suspicious of Giroo's father gaining Buyeosun's respect so quickly.

Jang plans to leave everything behind and gives gifts to his friends, including his book of notes and simple inventions. Jang asks the princess to 'play' with him. He later tells the princess that he will one day have revenge. This worries the princess, as she doesn't want to see Jang have such dark intentions.

Jang goes to the King and tells him that before Aja Taeja, died, he told him who the fourth prince was, and that the fourth prince did not kill his older brother. Jang also tells King Weeduk that there is a way to prove that the fourth son did not kill Aja Taeja.

The next morning, King Weeduk calls everyone in court to the assassin's trial. He orders the assassin, who claims to have gotten his orders from the fourth prince, to identify him because he is one of the men in the crowd. The assassin obviously does not identify him. The king, not knowing who the fourth son is, asks him to step out of the crowd since he cannot be guilty. Just when Jang is about to step out, the king gets word that his sick third son has died. Buyeosun is shocked to learn that the fourth prince is in the court, and hoping to figure out his identity, orders a quick investigation of all the men present at the trial.

King Weeduk asks Jang to tell the fourth son to forget his lineage and history. He says that is the only way he can protect his last son, now that his other three sons have died. Disappointed by the king's response, Jang turns to the king...


Jang angrily turns to King Weeduk and tells him that everything that has happened, including the princes' deaths, is the king's fault. He tells him that the king, despite having all the power, is unable to wield it and acts weak against those that threaten him. King Weeduk just cries (he's the Sad king, as foretold).

Jang prepares to leave everything behind despite Mokrasu's pleadings. The princess and Mokrasu send people to search for Jang. The princess finds him next to Aja Taeja's grave. Jang asks Aja Taeja to forgive him since he will resent the king for his weakness and for twice abandoning Jang. Jang tells Sunhwa that now he can run away with her.

King Weeduk tells the court that he will leave his post as king. He doesn't name a successor, although it is implicitly understood that his brother, Buyeogae (King Hae, 598-599 AD), will be next in line. Buyeogae and his family begin to receive gifts and have "yes-men" flow in left and right as they try to gain favor with the next king. Everyone credits Buyeosun for bringing his father to the throne; this worries Princess Wooyoung. At a party to celebrate the good news, Buyeosun says in front of the group that Wooyoung looks like a good match for Giroo. Wooyoung is offended. Buyeosun also tells Giroo that he will make him the new director of the Academy.

The next day, at the election of the new academy director, Giroo is blocked from getting the position...by Wooyoung! Buyeosun is surprised to learn from Wooyoung that she blocked Giroo. Buyeosun asks her whether her opposition is due to his idea of her marrying Giroo the night before and she replies, "Of course not, brother. Giroo is very gifted, although he has no wealth and is not of noble blood." Giroo, with that sinister smirk of his, tells Wooyoung that he wouldn't dare dream of being with her. He quietly warns her that he is aware of Wooyoung's budding schemes, and that she should support Buyeosun if she knows what's good for her.

Wooyoung tells Jang that they should work together to bring Buyeosun down, but Jang refuses to work with her. She tells Jang to think it over, giving these reasons:

• She acknowledges Jang and Mokrasu's talent in the academy.
• She does not want her father to be as weak (i.e. under Buyeosun's control) as the current king.
• As Wooyoung leaves the room, she says that without Jang, the Academy would be no fun.(This is a subtle hint that Wooyoung is humored by Jang...could she become the 'other woman' in Jang's life?)

Buyeosun again reads the stone that came with Mokrasu's incense burner, and realizes that, if it is true, the fourth son will one day become king. It's clear that Buyeosun will try to kill him even when his father or he becomes king.

Mokrasu tells Sunhwa about the text on the stone, and how he believes they should help Jang become king. But they wonder why it is Jang and not Aja Taeja that was fated to bring Baekje back to greatness. The princess and Mokrasu realize that Jang was fated to be king because he understood the common-man, having lived a hard life himself.

Just as the king is preparing to leave, Mokrasu tells him that he wishes to show him something very valuable in the academy. Mokrasu points to Jang, saying that Jang is the fourth prince of Baekje...(just as we see Jang punching Giroo.)



The episode begins with the King shocked to learn that Jang is the fourth son. At that moment Jang punches Giroo saying, "You say you love the princess. It's the position you love, not her."

The King asks Mokrasu how Jang grew up; Mokrasu pleads with the King to take back his order for the fourth son to forget his lineage, since this would be the King abandoning Jang for the second time (First time by sending away Jang's mother).

Princess Sunhwa fills Jang in on her and Mokrasu's belief about the prophecy, but Jang dismisses her idea saying all he wants is revenge and he has neither the will nor the wisdom to be king.

Jang and Mokrasu have a mini 'free will vs. destiny' discussion and Jang tells Mokrasu and the King that he will forget his lineage and history and start anew. The King asks Jang to call him father at least once; Jang just leaves.

Jang finds Wooyoung in his room; she makes a proposal for him to be her assistant once her father takes the throne. She says, "If you and your clan don't join us, what do you think will happen to all of you and the King, knowing how Buyeosun handles such matters? Think it over."

Jang prepares to leave for China and asks Sunhwa if she wants to join him. She agrees, but tells Daejang not to worry, since Jang ultimately will not be able to leave.

On their 'walk' to China, the princess tries cutesy things like, "Let us remake the snowman we made." but it doesn't work.

Mokrasu tells his people that he cannot leave the academy and that he will be with the King until the end. But he tells his people that they, however, should leave.

Buyeosun goes to the King to ask him to finalize the declarations and paperwork to name his father king. In return, the king asks him why he wants to be king, saying it was the question his father asked him before he passed the throne to him. Buyeosun does not answer, but thinks, "What's the point of such a question? It's too late."

Giroo raises questions about the location of the secret chamber where all the King's documents and sacred items are kept. Giroo and Buyeosun suspect that the location of the chamber will not be shared with them, since Wooyoung and her mother (soon-to-be queen), will try to keep the information from them. They order a search with the pretext that they're trying to 'protect the palace' before the ceremony.

The princess asks Jang to consider standing by the King at least until the ceremony; he thinks it over. Meanwhile, the King asks Wangoo, his attendant, "Must I be such a pathetic father and king to the end?"

Next morning, the King orders Wangoo to set aside the royal document (the one Buyeosun had asked for earlier), kept in the secret chamber. He finds Buyeosun's soldiers are everywhere in the palace, although technically no soldier is allowed inside.

The King sets the time for the ceremony at 5-7am, and asks his brother for one last wish as a brother. He wishes for his last days as a king to be comfortable and pleads to have Buyeosun remove the soldiers from the palace. Buyeogae, who didn't know that Buyeosun had dispatched the soldiers, asks Buyeosun to remove them.

King Weeduk tells Mokrasu and Wangoo that he has a plan, and asks Mokrasu to bring Jang back.

Mokrasu tells his people that rumors of a fourth prince are true and that they must secretly prepare a ceremony for the prince to be recognized – although he does not tell them that Jang is the fourth prince.

Jang returns to be by his father's side, at least until the ceremony. Meanwhile, Buyeosun's men carry out an execution of the man (who is Buyeosun and Giroo's supporter), who tried to kill Aja Taeja; they actually kill another man. Wangoo discovers this and captures the actual attempted killer.

With Jang in his chambers, the King asks the attempted assassin if he has ever seen this 'boy' ; the man says no. The king reveals that the 'boy' is the fourth prince,. The man confesses that he was acting under Buyeosun's orders.

The King then offers a proclamation making Jang an official prince, and tells him that the ceremony naming his brother to be king will actually be Jang's.

Wooyoung comes to Buyeosun and presents him with a list of people that supported her during their father's quest to become the next king. She demands that her supporters be offered a high position in her father's court, stating that without her help, Buyeosun would not be in the position he is today. (Wooyoung is trying to secure a strong position in court. Buyeosun recognizes this and is unease.)

Jang goes to Sunhwa and tells her that the King's crazy idea to have him be the next king is the her and Mokrasu's fault. He also pleads with Mokrasu to change the King's mind.

Jang then goes to the King and asks him to change his mind. The King refuses, saying that this is his last chance to redeem himself as a strong father and that he has a plan for Jang. Jang refuses to leave the room until the King tells him the plan. The King responds, "Rather than losing, I will kill Buyeosun."


The episode begins with the King declaring that to seek justice for taking the life of Aja Taeja Jonha, he will kill Buyeosun. Jang says this is a crazy and life-threatening idea, and asks the king to forget that the fourth prince exists. The King's mind is already set and he orders Jang imprisoned until the ceremony. Wangoo and Mokrasu also believe it is irrational, but the King argues this is his last chance to redeem himself as a father and to pass the throne to someone who will be a strong leader for Baekje.

Mokrasu, Sunhwa and others compose notes and letters stating that it is Buyeosun and his family that killed Aja Taeja (presumably to spread this rumor around Baekje).

Wooyoung and the academy is busy preparing for the 'technicalities' for the ascension ceremony, while Mokrasu and his pupils are secretly preparing for the ceremony for Mugang Taeja to be king.

Giroo points out to Wooyoung that Mokrasu and Jang are absent from the meeting, and suggests that Mokrasu and Jang must be determined to turn down her proposal for them to join her side.

In the academy, people are preparing notes and notices that will be sent to every district throughout Baekje, saying the king has passed the throne to his brother.

Wangoo volunteers to kill Buyeosun for him, but the king insists he do it, since that is the surest way to insure he will be off-guard. The King orders a one-on-one meeting with Buyeosun, without their guards present.

We see Wooyoung's mother for the first time. As we expect, she will be working hard to discredit Buyeosun, who is seen as next in line for the throne.

At the meeting, the king surprises Buyeosun by getting on his knees. The king promises not to interfere in palace matters once he leaves, and begs Buyeosun to spare his life. Buyeosun, shocked by the act, gets emotional and promises that the king's life is safe. Then...the king stabs Buyeosun's abdomen with a knife.

Buyeosun, falling to the floor, asks, "How could...could you?" The King replies, "This is the king's penalty for killing a prince. You'll slowly die as the poison on the knife spreads."

King Weeduk leaves the room to alert Wangoo to remove the body, but when they return, Buyeosun is no longer there.

Buyeosun goes to the academy's medicine room and demands medicine for the poison on the knife. In the mean time, Wangoo and his men, frantically search for Buyeosun.

Word gets to Jang that the king has stabbed Buyeosun. Jang cries, "He committed such an act for a worthless person like me?" Mokrasu replies, "That is the affection of a father for his son."

Emboldened by the sacrifice of King Weeduk, Jang accepts Weeduk''s desire for him to be the next king. He goes to the king and asks for the king's vision for a perfect Baekje, and promises his best effort to achieve the dream.

When Princess Sunhwa and her attendants are about to spread the notes that point to Buyeosun as Aja Taeja's killer, she tells her attendants and Daejang that Jang is the fourth prince.

Under Mokrasu's guidance, Jang carries out a mock-ceremony to the spirits and gods, the one he will be performing the next morning. He receives instructions on the rituals and spoken words.

With Buyeosun missing, and the time drawing near for the preliminary ceremonies, Heuk Chipyung becomes suspicious. They try to enter the palace to search for him, but the king's attendant quickly responds by asking Buyeogae to keep his promise and not allow Buyeosun's men inside of the palace until after the ceremony.

Goosan, Giroo's attendant, goes to Heuk Chipyung and tells him that no one from Buyeosun's camp showed up for the secret meeting.

Heuk Chipyung is now convinced that something is very wrong, and searches for Buyeosun. While searching, the king's guards attack him.

Buyeogae and his family, minus Buyeosun, await the ceremony. Giroo offers to look for Buyeosun.

King Weeduk orders his guards to attack certain nobles, presumably big supporters of Buyeosun and his family, as they enter the palace for the ceremony.

Unable to wait any longer for Buyeosun, Wooyoung and her parents leave for the ceremony.

We last see Jang in king's robes.
Link to:
Cast of Characters Slideshow