It's the first year of King Mun Jong (1450) and everybody's down on their knees listen like thieves. One of the men showing his respect is Grand Prince Su Yang. Say, wasn't that the evil dad from The Princess' Man? There are so many names being thrown at me, I can't keep up. If you've seen The Princess' Man then you'll recognize some of the players. If you haven't seen The Princess' Man, what the hell is wrong with you?!?
Young In Soo (played by the actress who was Baek Hee in Dream High) is the daughter of Emissary Han Hwak. He's just back from Beijing, as told to us by the Great Omniscient Voiceover. She's on her way to the palace where they're celebrating Mardi Gras. I don't know, but there are dancers with overly big head masks that look like devils. And when I say dancers I mean people who slowly stomp around and fling their arms up once in awhile. The king looks like he's about to fall asleep, but then he's ill, just like he was in The Princess' Man. I know I keep going back to the other drama, but what can you expect? After all, this show is covering the same time period and the same characters as the previous (superior) show. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea to do this story so soon after The Princess' Man.
In Soo's older sister goes to have a spot of tea with Su Yang's wife, the future Queen Jeonghee. At least this version of the woman is a bit more spicier, and she's played by the long-suffering City Hunter mother. Meanwhile, In Soo has gotten herself lost in the palace grounds. She runs into this young man who looks so familiar to me. Is that the actor currently playing the younger brother in Big? She asks him for directions but he just kind of stares at her. Not making a good first impression. In Soo tries to pull rank on him ("I am the daughter of Emissary Han Hwak!") and the young man finally offers to show her the way out.
He takes her to the open courtyard where the men (separated from the women) are holding their feast. This time it is Grand Prince Su Yang who is dancing/flopping his arms around for the king. As In Soo and the young man watch the performance, she sighs and comments that Su Yang certainly has the qualities to be a king. The young man suddenly jerks her away, warning that what she said out loud could be taken as treason. In Soo doesn't take heed to his warning and continues to speak her mind, how the ailing current king only got the crown because China's Ming gave it to him.
The young man finally takes In Soo to where the women are hanging out. In Soo asks him for his name but he replies if they are fated to meet again, then he will tell her who he is.
The sickly king excuses himself from the party. In his absence the Su Yang party and the Kim Jong Seo party throw insults at each other.
That evening In Soo is waiting for her older sister to come out. This is the first time Su Yang's wife (and In Soo's future mother-in-law) encounters the young girl and she is so not nice about it.
Elsewhere, an arrogant young man has come to a peasant hovel only to find his father has just passed away. This is the son from the man's first marriage. I believe dear old dead Dad left the first family to start another one with a concubine, so relations are strained. The step mother is not pleased to see the son. He throws money on the floor and tries to leave. His half brother begs the arrogant man to at least help plan a decent funeral for their father. Hyeongnim refuses as he had cut ties with dead dad long ago. Young half sister comes out and orders her brother to stop begging, they'll take care of things themselves without Arrogant's help. Who are these people?
Oh, wait, here comes Great Omniscient Voiceover to tell us. The mouthy little sister is Yun Si, future second wife to Seong Jong and mother to Yeon San Gun. Historically she doesn't have a good ending.
In Soo climbs up a tree and refuses to come down in protest of talks of sending her to be a concubine to the Ming emperor. Older sister ineffectually orders her down. Father just shakes his head. Dad and Sis go inside to discuss what to do with In Soo. This allows time for the Great Omniscient Voiceover to give viewers a bit more background on Dad. I find it funny that during the voiceover, a couple of times Dad looks upwards as if to ask, "Who is that talking? Where is that voice coming from?"
Dad gives in, as we all knew he would. In Soo informs him that she's already made up her mind who she's going to marry. She wants to become Prince Su Yang's daughter-in-law. The only son Su Yang has at marriageable age is Prince Dowon.
Meanwhile, back at the dead guy's house, a woman drops by. She's Court Lady Chae, an attendant to Su Yang's wife. She had known this family back in their prosperous days and had only now heard about the man's death. Lady Chae offers to help the family pay for funeral costs. In return, she asks to take Yun Si back to the palace and train her to be a maid. The little girl is all for it. Better food, better clothes, better life.
Grand Prince Su Yang receives the marriage proposal from Han Hwak. Jeonghee is totally against letting those people marry into her family. However, Su Yang recognizes how influential and important Han Hwak is. He could be useful later on. You know, when the slaughter begins.
In Soo is getting her way, yet she complicates things by demanding to see the groom before they marry, something that just isn't done. Once more everyone gives in to the brat and Prince Dowon comes to her house to meet her. In Soo slowly turns around and is shocked to discover Prince Dowon is, you guessed it (of course you guessed it) the young man from the palace.
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