Dong Yi

Oh Tae-seok, the Namin political leader, frames the murder of Minister Jang Ik-hun on a secret swordsmen society. The society is led by Choi Hyo-won, a commoner. His daughter, Dong Yi works with other poor childen unloading boats. She was one of the last people to see the Minister alive.

The Society is accused of murdering more political leaders. Choi Hyo-won discovers Oh Tae-seok is behind the crimes. He takes Dong Yi to a safe house but she runs away. Choi Hyo-won is framed for the murder of the police chief's father.

Choi Hyo-won and his men are arrested and escorted to prison. On the way, the men are attacked and killed. Cheon-soo was tasked with protecting Dong Yi. She flees from the police officers.

Chen-see puts Dong Yi in Seol-hee's care. A body is identified as Dong Yi's. The police chief knows otherwise but says nothing. Seol-hee passes Dong Yi to the head of the royal music school, Hwang Joo-shik.

Now an adult, Dong Yi is obsessed with Jang Ok-jung's ornamental key. She is convinced the butterfly shaped key could clear the names of her father and brother. She is kidnapped just as she is about to take the key.

Dong Yi wakes up in a shed next to a murdered man. The police can find no body when they investigate. Lady Jang is blamed for the unpopular sound change of a musical instrument. Dong Yi meets a man who is actually the king in disguise.

Dong Yi and King Sook-jong are threatened by masked men. The Queen Mother is involved in a conspiracy with the Seoin political faction. Dong Yi discovers the reason for the different sounding musical instrument. Ok-jung blackmails the Queen Mother.

Namin party members replace the Seoins in ministry positions. Police Chief Seo Yong-ki suspects Dong Yi of being the daughter of Choi Hyo-wan. The Namin fears being blamed after someone poisons the King's tea.

Dong Yi is questioned by the police about the disappearance of a doctor. The King notices the Queen's freckles have changed color. The Seoin and the Queen Mother try to throw suspicion on Ok-jung after learning she brought medicinal herbs into the palace.

Ok-jung is interrogated by a special investigator for the murder of the queen. King Sook-jong tasks Seo Yong-ki with finding the real killer. Oh Tae-seok tries to frame Dong Yi for it.

Dong Yi is saved by the king. Ok-jung, grateful to Dong Yi for proving her innocence, asks the King to give her a special job. Jang Hee-jae arrives in the capital.

Dong Yi finds her job as a court lady at the Special Investigations Bureau difficult. The other women look down on her because of her low born status. They plot to get rid of her. Seo Yong-ki and Jang Hee-jae have high positions at the royal police station.

Dong Yi is nearly fired after missing the Bureau's annual ceremony. The Queen Mother and the Seoin party are unhappy that Ok-jung is chosen to be the King's royal concubine. Dong Yi discovers Cheon-soo is a member of her father's secret society.

Cheon-soo and Dong Yi are reunited. Kim Yoon-dal is investigated for illegal currency control. The investigation is dropped after Kim Yoon-dal spots the court ladies. Dong Yi continues anyway and sneaks into the Jangak Pavilion while everyone is meeting with the Qing Empire's royal delegation.

Dong Yi is horrified to learn the true identity of King Sook-jong. Kim yoon-dal commits suicide after leaving a note claiming he was framed. The Qing delegation accuses Dong Yi. The King is shocked speechless when the Qing declare they will take her with them.

Ok-jung suspects the King has feelings for Dong Yi after he nearly provokes a war with the Qing Empire over her. Dong Yi surprises the head of the Qing delegation.

Ok-jung announces her pregnancy after she receives the royal concubine rank. She later gives birth to a boy. Her brother, Jang Hee-jae, receives a promotion to royal police chief. The Queen Mother interferes with plans to make Ok-jung's son a crown prince. The court ladies are called in to investigate the suspected poisoning of the Queen Mother.

Ok-jung's attendant is suspected by Dong Yi of the poisoning. Young-sun is shocked to learn she is a suspect. Ok-jung discovers her brother has tampered with the medicinal herbs. She enlists Dong Yi's help in covering it up but is refused.

A doctor claims the poisoner is Queen In-hyun, shocking the King. Queen In-hyun confronts Ok-jung over her lies. Dong Yi tries and fails to find evidence proving the Queen's innocence.

Jang Hee-jae and Oh Tae-seok move quickly to have the Queen stripped of her rank and banished. Dong Yi would be vulnerable if that happened. The King is very troubled by the evidence against the Queen. Dong Yi offers Jang Hee-jae a deal after she nearly uncovers evidence of the Queen's innocence.

After asking Dong Yi to care for the King, Queen In-hyun is banished. Jang Hee-jae is thrilled his sister, the royal concubine, can rule as queen now. Dong Yi puts Ok-jung on notice while Ok-jung plots against her.

Dong Yi finally has the support of the other court ladies. She begins an investigation into the interior ministry. Jang Hee-jae used some of its funds to pay for the false testimony against the queen. The King orders the investigation stopped. Ok-jung decides to kill Dong Yi.

Dong Yi, armed with evidence of the Queen's innocence, tries to escape assassins. Hit by a dart, she collapses. The King decides to hunt deer for fur to make Dong Yi slippers. Instead, he is told Dong Yi has run away after setting fire to the Interior Ministry building.

Ok-jung moves into the Queen's quarters. However, her son has not been recognized as the heir by the Qing Empire. A supposedly fictional novel of the framing of the Queen makes many nervous. While searching for Dong Yi, Cheon-soo and Seo Yong-ki hear about messages written on rocks.