Eps. 31
Princess Noguk is diagnosed as having a tumor in the womb, which might endanger her life before she gives birth. Princess Deoknyeong insists on saving Princess Noguk’s life over the unborn baby, but Queen Mother doesn’t want to give up the baby. King Gongmin hears that some senior statesmen had their private soldiers loot the pro-Yuan group’s houses. He wants to punish them right away, but Lee In-bok persuades him that it’s time to focus on recovering their territory in the northern region. Park Bul-hwa tells Empress Ki that she should send troops to Goryeo. However, she ignores his request. Meanwhile, Princess Noguk loses her baby.
Eps. 32
Princess Noguk and King Gongmin are heartbroken about losing their baby. King Gongmin makes himself clear to Queen Mother that he won’t have a concubine to get an heir to the throne. Queen Mother is disappointed. Shin Don is highly respected and admired by the commoners for understanding and listening to their hardships. He believes that a more drastic reform should be carried out in order to ease the people’s suffering. Meanwhile, Princess Noguk asks Lady Hye to have King Gongmin’s baby.
Eps. 33
Shin Don is attacked by a group of men. He gets wounded by a poisoned spear. At the same time, someone sets Choseon’s house on fire. Kim Won-myeong proposes to Queen Mother a plan to dethrone Princess Noguk and to get rid of Shin Don as well. Princess Noguk tries to have King Gongmin spend time with Lady Hye, but things don’t work as she plans. Won Hyeon gets furious while seeing innocent people killed. He goes to Royal Priest Bo Woo and deplores the evils of the time.
Eps. 34
King Gongmin goes to Choseon’s house to meet Shin Don. People are very impressed about the fact that the king personally comes to check on Shin Don who is wounded. King Gongmin authorizes Shin Don to conduct state affairs concerning the land and the slaves. Other high senior statesmen are disturbed about the fact that the king personally visits a man of humble birth and also gives him a government position. Shin Don and King Gongmin leave for the palace. King Gongmin orders Kyeong Cheon-heung, the President of the Privy Council, to appoint Shin Don to the person in charge. However, Kyeong refuses. Kim Won-myeong encourages other officials to join Kyeong Cheon-heung. Lee Je-hyeon advises King Gongmin that the king shouldn’t force anything that most senior statesmen disapprove of. He requests King Gongmin to give him the position, and then he’ll consult with Shin Don on every matter.
Eps. 35
Shin Don finally gets the job and starts a through investigation. Feeling threatened, Kim Won-myeong asks Queen Mother for help. He asks her to help him shut down the government organization of which Shin Don is in charge. Other officials are also intimidated by Shin Don’s growing influence. The Chief priest of Gaetae Temple realizes that he doesn’t have much time to live. He asks Bo Woo to make Shin Don realize the Buddhist priest’s proper duty. He wants Shin Don to take over the temple after his death. Meanwhile, Kyeong Cheon-heung and other officials request King Gongmin to have a new queen who came from Goryeo.
Eps. 36
The senior statesmen keep insisting on choosing a new queen, but they get soon overpowered by Princess Noguk’s high spirits. Enjoying the absolute confidence of the king, Shin Don carries out his reforms. Lee In-bok comes back from Yuan after meeting the Emperor. Though Goryeo continues to stay as Yuan’s tributary state, King Gongmin is satisfied since he doesn’t want a war. Meanwhile, King Gongmin goes to Gaetae Temple to meet the Chief priest.
Eps. 37
All the senior statesmen decide to resign to protest against King Gongmin’s drastic reforms. King Gongmin gets furious, saying that he didn’t become the king to enrich some high government officials. Won Hyeon is shocked to find out Shin Don went back to the temple. He’s afraid that all the efforts might accomplish nothing. On his way back to the palace, Shin Don hears a malicious rumor about him is spreading among the merchants. However, he doesn’t take it seriously.
Eps. 38
It’s been 10 years since King Gongmin was crowned. The Red Turbans’ delegation visits the Goryeo Palace and delivers a threatening letter, which demands military cooperation. The Statesmen hold a meeting to consider a countermeasure. They decide to inform Queen Mother of their decision. Queen Mother is happy about the fact that King Gongmin spends more time with Lady Hye. However, King Gongmin has lost his political influence since Shin Don left. Entrusting the Statesmen with all the governmental affairs, he abandons himself to drinking. For the previous two years, Goryeo has experienced a bad crop. Many people starved to death. Choseon leaves for Gaetae Temple to meet Shin Don. On the way, she witnesses the miserable living conditions of the commoners. Meanwhile, the Yuan Dynasty is devising a scheme to make Prince Deokheung the new king of Goryeo.
Eps. 39
Stuck in a political dilemma, King Gongmin and Princess Noguk look for Shin Don’s help. However, under Bo Woo’s directions, Shin Don is confined to his room for a three-year-long Buddhist training. Choseon asks Bo Woo to let Shin Don go, saying that he’s the only person who can save the country. However, Bo Woo refuses. Kim Yong conspires with Empress Ki and plans to make Prince Deonkheung the king of Goryeo. He also wins Yoo In-woo over his side. Empress Ki promises Prince Deokheung that she’ll make him the king. In return, she wants absolute control over Goryeo. Meanwhile, Seokyeong falls to the Red Turbans. They soon reach the palace.
Eps. 40
Occupying the capital city and the royal palace, the Red Turbans set everything in sight on fire, slaughter innocent people and rape women. King Gongmin reluctantly leaves his palace for safety. He sheds bitter tears when he witnesses his people getting killed and his country being devastated. Princess Noguk encourages King Gongmin to stay strong in order to defeat the enemy and save his people. Jeong Se-woon comes to protect the king. Since King Gongmin isn’t happy about Kim Yong’s behavior, he wants to dismiss Kim. However, Jeong Se-woon advises him that it’s not a good idea to replace a general in the middle of a war. King Gongmin listens to Jeong’s advice. However, Kim Yong doesn’t seem to appreciate Jeong’s efforts. With all the communications being cut off with the outside world, Shin Don devotes himself to his training. Choseon asks him for help, saying that saving mankind is a priest’s duty in Buddhism. However, Shin Don remains silent.
Eps. 41
Yeom Je-shin becomes the target of criticism when he leaves his aged mother behind in order to assist the king. Soon, a motion of impeachment against him is introduced. King Gongmin wants to make Lee In-bok a new Prime Minister. However, Lee turns down the offer and recommends Hong Eon-bak who is Queen Mother’s nephew. By order of Jeong Se-woon, Lee Seong-gye makes every effort to recover the capital city. Won Hyeon and Gong Chul raise an army, which decisively turns the tide of the war. They finally succeed in recovering the royal palace. While staying with Shin Don and taking care of him, Choseon is attacked by the Red Turbans.
Eps. 42
Ahn Woo, Kim Deuk-bae, Lee Bang-shil kill Jeong Se-woon as instructed in the secret letter they have received. However, they are regretful for being hasty when they realize that the king has never ordered them to kill Jeong. Kim Yong lies to King Gongmin saying Jeong Se-woon was killed by the military officials who are jealous of Jeong for taking all the credit for defeating the Red Turbans. Princess Noguk meets Shin Don. She asks him to assist King Gongmin and save the people. Princess Noguk’s earnest request finally changes Shin Don’s mind. He ends his training and comes back to the palace. While Kim Yong is trying to assassinate King Gongmin, Empress Ki proclaims Prince Deok-heung to the new king of Goryeo.
Eps. 43
Without realizing that he has killed An Do-chi instead of King Gongmin, Kim Yong also gets rid of his accomplices, Kim Soo and Kim Rhim. King Gongmin orders Kim Yong to confess his crime and kill himself. Showing no sign of regret, he meets a tragic end. Queen Mother praises Princess Noguk for acting with prudence during the war. She also tells her that she won’t be involved in politics any longer. However, she doesn’t forget to mention to Noguk how much she wants to have a grandchild. After suppressing Kim Yong’s rebel, Shin Don asks King Gongmin to give him the commercial rights in one of the biggest markets in the city.
Eps. 44
King Gongmin calls Shin Don “Master” and leaves matters great and small to his discretion. Kim Won-myeong delivers to Shin Don the money from Queen Mother. He asks Shin Don to keep quiet about where the money came from. Princess Noguk encourages the statesmen’s wives to donate their personal belongings to the treasury. With the money collected from the statesmen, Shin Don makes a plan to defeat Prince Deok-heung and reclaim the northern part of Goryeo territory. Shin Don gives Queen Mother the money back. She’s impressed with Shin Don, which makes Kim Won-myeong nervous. Princess Noguk tells Choseon that she wants to become the mother of the Crown Prince.
Eps. 45
Dying to have a grandson, Queen Mother meets young ladies from several prestigious families to choose a royal concubine. Princess Noguk gets nervous about the news. She asks Choseon to find her the medicine to help her get pregnant. Instead, Choseon gives Noguk a charm to help her get pregnant. King Gongmin has the young boys trained to protect both him and the palace. Shin Don wants to give government positions to the scholars through the state examination. He excludes the traditionally powerful from the new cabinet, causing serious resistance. Lee In-bok objects to Shin Don’s idea. He believes that the state examination will create an even stricter hierarchical society by giving privilege to the intellectual class. Lee Seong-gye wipes out Prince Deok-heung’s soldiers who attempt to cross the Yalu River. Prince Deok-heung and Choi Yu head back to Beijing.
Eps. 46
A military coup in Yuan puts Empress Ki into confinement. Choi Yoo is arrested in Yuan and sent back to Goryeo. King Gongmin waits for the envoy from Yuan. The statesmen aren’t happy with the fact that Shin Don is sitting side by side with the king. However, everyone keeps quiet about it. King Gongmin decides to impose heavier taxes on the tea plantations which are mostly owned by the noblesse. Unhappy about the tax increase, Kim Won-myeong tries to find a way to alienate the king from Shin Don. Bowoo announces his resignation as Royal Priest. He tells King Gongmin that he needs to cultivate his religious sense. Meanwhile, Princess Noguk urges Shin Don to stabilize the organization which administers slaves and land while the king is having a great influence on politics.
Eps. 47
When Princess Noguk gets pregnant, all the politicians visit her home to offer their congratulations. Shin Don sees the armed soldiers all over the palace. He asks Kim Won-myeong to move them outside the palace. Choi Young isn’t happy about the fact that King Gongmin has the eunuchs guard the palace instead of the Royal guards. He believes that the king doesn’t trust the army. He tells Lee In-bok that they should have a word with the king about the matter. Choseon volunteers to take care of Princess Noguk at her house until she gives birth. Away from the palace, Princess Noguk feels very relaxed and comfortable. Meanwhile, Choseon tells Shin Don that they should be prepared for the worst, in case something happens during childbirth.
Eps. 48
Princess Noguk is having a hard labor. King Gongmin is very worried and restless. Outside the palace, many people gather and pray for Princess Noguk. Princess Deok-nyeong and Choseon think that they shouldn’t risk Noguk’s life over the unborn baby. However, Princess Noguk insists having a baby even if she dies. A falling star across the sky seems ominous. Princess Noguk passes away. People mourn over the death of their Queen. Won Hyeon and Gong Chul spread a rumor that Princess Noguk was poisoned to death.
Eps. 49
Buried in grief, King Gongmin locks himself in the room. He doesn’t allow anyone to move the casket. The statesmen are worried about the king’s extreme reaction, but they can’t do anything since the whole country is mourning over Noguk’s death. Shin Don tells King Gongmin that they should take over the northern territory while the political situation of Yuan is in complete chaos. He asks the king to allow him the right of military command. A memorial room for Noguk is set up in the palace, as well as in every Buddhist temple around the country. Many people visit the temples and pray for the repose of their Queen. King Gongmin announces that he’ll construct a building for the spirit of Noguk. He also says that Shin Don will make all the political decisions until the building is completed. He appoints Shin Don to the major government positions. Other statesmen feel threatened by Shin Don’s growing power, but they can’t do anything but watch him become more and more powerful.
Eps. 50
Lee Seong-gye learns that Shin Don put Choi Young into jail. He complains to Shin Don. However, Shin Don puts him in charge of the expeditionary force and sends him away. Shin Don promises Lee Seong-gye that he won’t kill Choi Young. Feeling threatened by Shin Don’s growing power, Queen Mother decides to remarry King Gongmin. She announces that she will make whoever gives her a grandchild the Queen of Goryeo. However, King Gongmin is still grieving over the death of Princess Noguk. He spends the most of the day sitting in front of Noguk’s portrait. He talks to her as if she were sitting in front of him. One day, Choseon introduces Banya to Shin Don. Shin Don is shocked as she’s a spitting image of Princess Noguk.
Eps. 51
Shin Don tells King Gongmin that he should let go of Princess Noguk. He has Banya run into King Gongmin on purpose. Thanks to Banya, King Gongmin overcomes his sorrow. He gets more involved in politics and supports Shin Don’s idea about moving the capital city. With the help of Queen Mother Myeong-deok, Kim Won-myeong tries to get rid of Shin Don. Scared of Shin Don’s power, other politicians are reluctant to help Kim. Shin Don asks Bowoo to return to the palace and work as royal priest again. However, Bowoo refuses, saying that someone has to stay in the temple and fill the place of ‘a priest who turned into a politician.’ Meanwhile, Banya realizes that she’s pregnant with the king’s baby.
