Episode 76 Summary
King Jeong Jo was attacked by assassins when he was appreciating the performance at Hwa City. Dae Su got hold of news at the last minute that there will be an assassination attempt on the king at the ceremony. Hence, he dispatched the imperial guards in search for the intruders while he himself led his men to the king’s location. The king sensed danger in the surroundings and therefore picked up his weapon as a defense. By this time the assassins had already silenced the guards in the ceremony hall and were moving closer towards the king one step at a time. The ministers and officials could probably sense the lurking danger but they were helpless as well. Most of the palace guards were positioned at the border of Hwa city so the king and the ministers could only fend for themselves.
However, the head of imperial guards arrived in the nick of time to rescue the king while Dae Su and the others followed soon. The group of assassins wanted to resist the capture as it was a total darkness at the hall ground. Dae Su then ordered his men to light up the area and asked the intruders to lay down their weapons. Knowing that it will be futile putting on any last resistance, the intruders finally surrendered. After which Dae Su searched the residences of those related and had them captured. Among them includes Choi Seok-joo. Dae Su asked the king on how to deal with Jeong Sun. The king replied to Dae Su that it is about time we return and settle this once and for all.
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On the next day, the king and Lady Hye-kyeong return to the palace after the last event at Hwa City. Dae Su set off earlier than the king’s entourage because he wanted to capture Jeong Sun. Jeong Sun refused to be taken away and instead claims that she was not involved in the assassination attempt. The king arrived at Jeong Sun’s residence at a later time asking her to admit to her crimes. Jeong Sun however kneel down in front of the king stubbornly insisting that she was not involved in this rebellion. The king knew very clearly that Jeong Sun is the mastermind of this whole assassination so he signaled Dae Su to throw Jeong Sun into the jail.
Choi Seok-joo and all those involved were interrogated the next day but they all kept their lips sealed. They had a pact beforehand in which if the rebellion fails, they are not supposed to reveal the mastermind. Nam Si-cho reports to the king the result of the interrogation and the king was frustrated on hearing the report.
“Do you not feel anything for the ministers? Are they really just tools to satisfy your hunger for power?” the king asked Jeong Sun.
Jeong Sun seems unrepentful.
“Is power so important to you? So important that you can sacrifice the lives of those loyal to you because of it?”
The king left after saying those words.
Dae Su, Kang Doo-chi and Seo Jang-bo were promoted for their performance in rescuing the king. At the promotion ceremony, the king handed them the orders himself.
Choi Seok-joo and the officials involved were executed the next day after. Jeong Sun remembers the king’s final words to her before he left.
“Even if power finally lies in your hand one day, will you be happy?”
Tears started to flow in Jeong Sun’s eyes and she gave a loud cry, seeming regretful of everything she had done but it was too late.
Jeong Sun was released after Choi had been executed but she was forced to live outside her palace, a place where nobody passes by till her death.
Kim Kwi-joo was asked by the king to retire due to his old age. However unwilling he was he had to follow as this was the king’s order. The king later sends Jung Yak-yong to Kim’s hometown to investigate a case regarding corruption. Jung was captured by the corrupted officials but was saved by Kim in the end. Jung was grateful and regards Kim as his teacher.
The king’s health soon deteriorates drastically due to the heavy workload but he was unaware of it. He felt the giddiness in him as he was about to retire to his room…
End of Summary
Screenshots of episode 76 credits to Yi San bar in Baidu
