While the crown prince excels in his scholarly pursuits, Im Hwa-ryeong's other sons consistently arrive late to lessons, a habit that draws the displeasure of the queen dowager.

Hwa-ryeong pressed her sons to compete for the honor of serving as the crown prince's cohort. One offered himself willingly, but she soon discovered a troubling secret about him.

During the selection examination, the king tested the candidates with an unforeseen query. Meanwhile, the queen dowager moved toward Grand Prince Gye-seong.

The three finalists wrestled with a concern that gripped the entire country. Meanwhile, Grand Prince Seong-nam risked everything for a chance to reach a physician who might mend his brother.

News of the crown prince’s failing health rippled through the palace, and with it, a growing pressure on the king from the royal council to name an heir.

Hwang Won-hyeong initiated a formal inquiry into the unsettling rumors that had begun to circulate. Meanwhile, the Crown Princess arrived in Hwa-ryeong, clearly distressed.

Haunted by the disaster, Seong-nam strives to shoulder the blame, a desperate attempt to alleviate the weight of his conscience. In a startling revelation, the royal physician confesses before the king.

While other princes and consorts resort to deceit and intrigue in their pursuit of advancement, Hwa-ryeong subtly disrupts their machinations.

The queen dowager’s favor now rests with a different prince, a shift that unsettles those who once stood by her. Meanwhile, Prince Sim-so returns to his homeland to find a reception far from welcoming.

At the gates of the palace, Gye-seong intercepts a criminal's attempt to gain entry. Meanwhile, two princes delve into the mystery surrounding a peculiar blind man. Doubts arise concerning Seong-nam's lineage and his connection to the royal…

The queen dowager implored the prince to abandon the competition. Hwa-ryeong, however, brought a swift resolution to the deceit, offering the young scholars an opportunity to confess their misdeeds.

With the ascension of the new crown prince to his royal responsibilities, Hwa-ryeong and the queen dowager now turn their focus to the matter of selecting a new crown princess.

The Crown Princess sought an audience with Hwa-ryeong, her visit prompted by a query. Meanwhile, Grand Prince Mu-an accepted a fresh burden of duty. In the course of examination, a missing page was discovered within a medical record.

Hwa-ryeong examines two cases bearing striking similarities, determined to quell the damaging rumors circulating about the recently crowned prince.

Dr. Kwon forged an alliance for his own protection. Meanwhile, the Queen Dowager sought vital evidence. Rumors swirled regarding the Crown Princess's health.

A shadow of a secret weighs upon the king, a burden that threatens to unravel everything he has built. To speak it would be to dismantle a lifetime of endeavor. His queen, with quiet understanding, offers counsel, her words like a balm agai…