Gwanghae, the illegitimate prince of Joseon, endures conflicts, threats and coup attempts for 16 years. He clashes with King Seonjo over power and love, using a physiognomist to aid his quest for the throne.
Folge #1.1King Seonjo, who as a youth was told by a face reader that he will be an unfit king, faces plague and starvation in his kingdom. Thieves break into the palace library searching for the book that will prove Seonjo does not have a 'King's Face.'
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Folge #1.2Gwanghae learns more about Yoon Hae's true identity. Seonjo unsettles the city by investigating his most loyal followers and accusing them of treason
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Folge #1.3When Ga Hee's father is arrested for treason, she turns her back to Gwanghae and decides to save her parents' life by becoming a concubine. King Seonjo's reliance on face reading overpowers his ability to judge objectively.
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Folge #1.4Kim Do Chi takes the lead over Daedong Society and changes Ga Hee's fate. Gwanghae leaves the palace and leads a low-profile life as a face reader in town.
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Folge #1.5Do Chi does not pass the exam as expected, and finds another powerful ally within the palace to help land him a government position. Gwanghae falls victim to Gwiin Kim's machinations in ensuring her son is named crown prince.
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Folge #1.6Gwanghae's investigations lead him right to Daedong Society and Ga Hee, but will he betray the woman he loves to secure his position in the palace?
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Folge #1.7King Seonjo will not give up on searching for Daedong Society, and puts a tail on Gwanghae to get more clues. Do Chi lands a position in court just as Kim Gong Ryang becomes more suspicious of him and Ga Hee.
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Folge #1.8Gwanghae makes a bet with Gong Ryang that could potentially turn the court upside down, and make Gwiin Kim's position even more precarious in court.
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Folge #1.9Gwanghae presents a plan for tax reform that has unexpected results, including putting the Queen Majesty in danger and threatening his romance with Ga Hee.
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Folge #1.10Gwanghae is restored to his status as prince, and it hardens his resolve to become the crown prince. But he must sacrifice his love and marry another woman who will help him politically.
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Folge #1.11Gwanghae survives his brother's attack with the help of Ga Hee, but it forever creates a divide between the two brothers. The Japanese who live in Seoul begin to act suspiciously, worrying Gwanghae and the king that war may be imminent.
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Folge #1.12The Japanese invasion has begun, and King Seonjo's actions at this time of crisis forces Daedong Society and Gwanghae to take action on the matter of succession.
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Folge #1.13Seonjo names Gwanghae the Crown Prince in time to leave him with the troubles of the advancing Japanese troops.
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Folge #1.14Gwanghae manages to fight back the Japanese troops, but the king is delivered a different message. To prevent a treaty being made between the Japanese and the Chinese, he must do something that could cost him the throne.
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Folge #1.15Gwanghae plans to reclaim the capital from the Japanese, which means breaking a treaty that his father made with the Japanese and Chinese. Ga Hee's faith in Do Chi diminishes further when she learns of his traitorous actions.
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Folge #1.16It's a year after the war has ended, and Seonjo's hallucinations become worse. Do Chi takes advantage of the king's weakness and manipulates the insecure king to turn against Gwanghae.
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Folge #1.17With Gwanghae's enemies growing stronger by the day, Ga Hee finally decides to enter the palace as a concubine.
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Folge #1.18Gwanghae meets Heo Gyun for the first time, and learns of an assassination plot against the king.
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Folge #1.19As the Jurchens become an increasing threat, Do Chi takes the opportunity to frame Gwanghae as a traitorous and power-hungry crown prince so that he can help Gwiin Kim get closer to the throne.
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Folge #1.20Gwanghae sees through Do Chi's manipulations and allies with Gwiin Kim to counter Do Chi's power over the king.
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Folge #1.21Do Chi's thirst for power overwhelms his rationality. Gwanghae and Eunuch Im plot on how to overthrow Do Chi from his seat of power.
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Folge #1.22Six years later, the new Queen has given the king a rightful heir to the throne. Gwanghae finds himself trying to defend his position as crown prince from his three-year old half brother and the cunning wiles of the Queen.
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Folge #1.23Gwanghae defends the throne from Kim Do Chi
