'Splendid Politics' Episode 1 Recap

Ten years after the Japanese Invasion near envoy base camp near Ming...One of two low-ranking soldiers wandering around in the dark forest falls into a cave all of a sudden. Someone is sitting there surrounded by papers but the white haired man is actually dead. They ride the horses back to the envoy base camp bringing a coffin where dead body in it.

Gwanghae (Cha Seung Won) is in the Changdeok Palace which is still under construction. He is satisfied that the project is almost completed but he hustles over to King's Palace as he hear that the envoys has returned from Ming.

Gwanghae kneels down in front of his father Seonjo (Park Young Gyu). The king is furious because of a message which Ming doesn't approve of Gwanghae’s status as Joseon’s crown prince again. He is about to explode, but little Jungmyung (Heo Jung Eun) bursts into the room and he feels better.

Hong Joo Won (Choi Kwon Soo) and Kang In Woo (Lee Tae Woo) are caught by the local office because they totally disturbed a market place. When they are ordered to go to jail, Hong argues that they don't deserve to be punished because they did the game as a celebration for Daeboreum. Their fathers smile and admit defeat.

*Daeboreum: the day of the first full moon of the year by the lunar calendar

Prince Imhae (Choi Jong Hwan), an older brother of Gwanghae, is upset because royalty bow deeply in front of the young Yeongchang but only nod when greeting Gwanghae. But Gwanghae persuades him to cool down his anger.

Yi Cheom (Jung Woong In) attending a feast senses someone approaching and takes out a dagger.
Joo Won and In Woo bumped into Jungmyung are surprised that she is the princess.

Seonjo slams a cup on the table as one of high officials brings up the phrase ‘good day.' Another official asks king to offer a topic himself and the king says 'Bring down the fake, Raise the genuine.'
Little Jungmyung is watching the scene.

Seonjo wants to turn over the throne to little Yeongchang arguing it is the only way for him to protect his legitimate children. But Queen Inmok (Shin Eun Jung) is worried that it would be a burden to the baby boy.

Yi Deok Hyung (Lee Sung Min) finds a bracelet on the dead body which reminds him of a man when he was young as he suggests to find the identity of it.
Chung In Hong (Nam Myung Ryul) implores the king to reconsider his decision but Seonjo keeps insisting that Gwanghae is disqualified for the future king.
At the moment, little princess wakes up from a nightmare in which her younger brother was in a fire.

The king’s attendant Kim Gae Shi (Kim Yeo Jin) takes a sip of the medicine for the king. She rushes to the kitchen to bring out her medicine but she starts to cough out blood. Yi Cheom is there waiting for her, congratulates her for doing a good job.

Gwanghae feels anger thinking how his sincere efforts were totally ignored by his father. He goes inside the king’s bedroom despite of attendants blocking his way. He finds the king is in a critical condition and shouts to get a doctor. The attendants all left to fetch the royal physician and Seonjo is under his care. When the father asks Gwanghae to give him water, he doesn't give him water coldly saying it will add pain. The next king calmly promises that he will be a completely different king from Seonjo.