‘Wongyeong’ Cha Joo-young delivered a thrilling ‘queen crush’ with a surprising twist that foresaw the next move.
The viewership rating for the 8th episode of the tvN X TVING original drama ‘Wongyeong’ (directed by Kim Sang-ho, written by Lee Young-mi), which aired on the 28th, was an average of 3.6% nationwide, peaking at 4.5%, with an average of 3.5% in the metropolitan area and a peak of 4.8%, securing the No. 1 spot in the same time slot, including cable and general programming channels. (Based on Nielsen Korea's paid platform data, including cable, IPTV, and satellite)
In this episode, Wongyeong (Cha Joo-young) and Lee Bang-won (Lee Hyun-wook) joined forces to solve the housing problem in Hanyang. As they watched with satisfaction, Jeong Sang-gung (So Hee-jung) and Seo Sang-gung (Jeong Ui-soon) noted that even when they fought fiercely, they were a couple who shared a tender heart for the people.
Lee Bang-won realized that half of the officials in the court could not find housing within the capital and were unable to arrive at work on time, and even if they found a house, they could not afford the costs. This was because the powerful officials and royal relatives had seized the land and homes of the people to accumulate wealth through speculation. He ordered a thorough investigation into those who were profiting from the skyrocketing housing prices.
Meanwhile, Wongyeong (Cha Joo-young) personally visited a distant royal relative, Kim from Banggol (Yoon Ji-hye), whom she learned about through her informant, Pan-soo (Song Jae-ryong). She boldly confronted Wongyeong, saying, “No matter how much of a king you are, what can you do in Hanyang?” She had connections with all the major royal relatives and officials. Among those who had bought houses and land at a low price through her was Min Mu-gu (Han Seung-won). Wongyeong scolded her brother for disobeying the order to live quietly, but Min Mu-gu retorted that it was the duty of the head of the family to protect their assets and blamed his sister instead.
Returning with a troubled heart, Wongyeong shared her firsthand account of the reality outside the palace with Lee Bang-won. While Lee Bang-won scolded her for overstepping her bounds, he listened to his wife's words. The next day, he ordered the acquisition of a three-room tiled house near Changdeokgung Palace for the price of five sacks of rice. However, the officials vehemently opposed this, arguing that it was the people's freedom to buy and sell houses at any price. Lee Bang-won did not back down. He sternly reprimanded the officials who had been united in their fight for positions, stating that he would govern those who had filled their own pockets at the expense of the people according to principles.
Among the royal ceremonies of the Joseon dynasty, the only one led by women, the ‘Chinjam Rye’ (親蠶禮), was held. The queen mother demonstrated sericulture to the people and encouraged silk farming, conveying the message of caring for the people's livelihoods. As the grand Chinjam Rye was concluding, the atmosphere suddenly froze. Lee Seong-gye's half-brother, Myungseon Daebu (Choi Byeong-mo), announced that he intended to report the powerful officials who had profited by seizing houses, which were more important than silk farming.
A twist occurred. Min Mu-gu immediately confessed, “I was blinded by greed,” and bowed his head, saying, “I will dedicate that house entirely to Your Majesty.” The quick-witted Ha Ryun (Choi Deok-moon) also pledged his loyalty, following Min Mu-gu's lead, and the other officials quickly followed suit.
Wongyeong put the final touch on this. “If the royal relatives step forward, Your Majesty will be greatly pleased,” she pressured Myungseon Daebu to join. This was a moment where Wongyeong's strategy shone, as she realized that Myungseon Daebu, who had previously supported Kim from Banggol through Pan-soo, had set a trap by inflating the profits from the house Min Mu-gu had purchased tenfold.
Seeing Wongyeong filled with pride, Lee Bang-won was shaken. Myungseon Daebu was a corrupt royal relative but also the uncle of his wife. From Wongyeong, who could govern with dignity, Lee Bang-won saw “the image of a monarch.” He then ordered a strict investigation into the officials colluding with Kim from Banggol and appointed Min Mu-jil (Kim Woo-dam) as the head of the investigation (a position directly appointed by the king). This was a strategy to pit the key royal relative, Myungseon Daebu, against the key official, the Min family. Accepting Ha Ryun's advice, he pushed forward with the Crown Prince's wedding, aiming to increase his power through Wongyeong, who fiercely protected the Crown Prince.
At the end of the broadcast, the selection of the Crown Princess began. The royal relatives openly pushed for the daughter of Lee Suk-beon (Park Yong-woo), who had a strong desire for power. Other candidates were clearly just supporting roles. The two daughters of Lee Suk-beon and Kim Han-ro made it to the final candidates. Wongyeong emphasized that she would not allow any candidates favored by the royal relatives and proposed a fair competition where the candidates would be judged on their own merits. The ending left viewers curious about how the dreams of Wongyeong and Lee Bang-won, who were welcoming their first daughter-in-law, would unfold in the future.
