Kang In Woo (Han Joo Wan) bumps into Kim Gae Shi (Kim Yeo Jin) in a blacksmith and receives proposals from her to let him win the Princess's heart if he wants to. Gae Shi says that she thoroughly understands his mind that he could do anything for his loved one although he had to betray his father.
Meanwhile, the King feels so lonesome after she left.
Ostensibly, Kang Joo Sun (Jo Sung Ha) persuades Westerners not to agree with dispatching troops as the King wishes, however, he makes a clever action buying off Yi Icheom (Jung Woong In) to coax Chung In Hong, the leader of Party North Man. The meeting results throw Gwanghae who doesn't know his maneuver into confusion.
Hong Joo Won (Seo Kang Joon), Jeongmyeong, and Yi Ja Kyung (Gong Myeong) head for Jemulpo to meet Idachi (Ryohei Otani), the Japanese business magnate and sulfur smuggler, to find out why Haixi Jurchens arrays troops in an area close to the border. They get to know Joseon has no choice but to be drawn into the war between Ming and Qing because the Ming Dynasty will let Haixi Jurchens invade the country if Joseon refuses to send out the troops.
Neungyang pays visits to Gyeongungung and opens up old wounds of Queen Inmok (Shin Eun Jung) and the Princess talking about the dead family. And he also attempts to contact with high-ranking government officials and begins to gather forces.
Joo Sun observes carefully his behavior drawing people's attention and secretly lets him know about the troops arrayed near the border to pull strings from behind.
Prince Neungyang (Kim Jae Won) and his cohorts kneel down outside Gyeongbokgung Palace for the troops to be sent out threatening the King to kill themselves if their requirement isn't fully satisfied.
