King Yeongjo forms a peaceful era with a strong royal authority; the royal court is divided into factions and is stained with invisible struggles; King Yeongjo abolishes Crown Prince Sado for unclear reasons and imposes a harsh punishment.

Lee San finds the picture that his father, Crown Prince Sado, should convey to the king; Lee San visits Song Yeon and tells her that he had found a painting that could save his father and Dae Soo.

San tries to stop King Yeongjo's procession by getting his attention through making loud noises; Lee San begs King Yeongjo to look at the painting that Prince Sado told him to bring to the king.

An armory is discovered inside San's room; King Yeongjo orders the servants to reveal their crimes, saying that he cannot sit by and watch those who disgraced the palace and deceived the king.

At night, San almost gets assassinated but the assassin takes his own life; San wants to find out who ordered it, but finds no trace of fighting, let alone a body; Princess Hwawan allays King Yeongjo and meets Choi Seok Ju outside the palace.

San, who had been interpreting the words the body had left, expects a conspiracy with the Qing envoy he had taken charge of this time.