In the tvN X TVING original drama ‘Wongyeong’, Cha Joo-young ultimately lost her family and informants to Lee Hyun-wook's cold wind. Nevertheless, she could not afford to collapse. This was because she witnessed the suffering of the people caused by the corruption of the officials with her own eyes. On this day, the ratings rose from the previous episode, recording a peak of 6.1%.
The ratings for the 9th episode of the tvN X TVING original drama ‘Wongyeong’ (directed by Kim Sang-ho / written by Lee Young-mi / produced by Studio Dragon and JS Pictures), which aired on the 3rd, averaged 5.1% in the metropolitan area, peaked at 6.1%, averaged 4.9% nationwide, and peaked at 5.9%, maintaining the number one spot in the same time slot among cable and general programming channels. (Based on paid platforms including cable, IPTV, and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea)
In this broadcast, Wongyeong (Cha Joo-young) made a wise decision to select a crown princess with the qualities of a national mother. The royal relatives were openly pushing for Lee Suk-beon’s (Park Yong-woo) daughter, and Lee Bang-won (Lee Hyun-wook) also supported this. This was because they needed the military power held by Lee Suk-beon to create a loyal guard unit to strengthen the royal authority.
However, Wongyeong, who focused not on political purposes but on finding a lifelong partner for her future king son, instructed a fair competition. She ordered that the common people be valued by weaving plain fabric with fine silk. In fact, while leaving the palace, Wongyeong took note of Kim Han-ro's daughter, who was burdened with heavy loads, considering the injured Gano, and put her on the list of candidates. Although she was clumsy, she wove the plain fabric with great sincerity.
On the other hand, Lee Suk-beon’s daughter committed fraud by secretly bringing in plain fabric made by someone else at home. Wongyeong was already aware through informant Pan-soo (Song Jae-ryong) that she had not returned the ring she received from the Nightgok Kim family (Yoon Ji-hye) and had framed Gano, who had lived like a real sister. Wongyeong scolded the irresponsible attitude of those who preached to the people while having neither fear nor compassion for them. As a result, no one could refute Wongyeong's intention to choose Kim Han-ro's daughter.
However, Lee Bang-won, who was furious that his request to “consider positively” was once again treated lightly, continued his plan to have the royal relatives and powerful officials fight each other and eliminate them all. First, Min Mu-jil (Kim Woo-dam), who was appointed as the Grand Minister, captured the royal relatives and meritorious subjects, including Myungseon-dae-bu (Choi Byeong-mo), who had colluded with the Nightgok Kim family to gain benefits at Lee Bang-won's command.
However, Lee Bang-won pardoned them under the pretext of the crown prince's wedding. This was a signal for the Myungseon-dae-bu side to counterattack. They accused the Min brothers of treason, claiming that they tried to form a faction with the crown prince during the turmoil of Lee Bang-won's abdication. Before Lee Bang-won’s health rapidly deteriorated and he passed away, he tearfully pleaded with Min Je (Park Ji-il), saying, “No matter what happens, please save my sons,” but ultimately sent Min Mu-gu (Han Seung-won) and Min Mu-jil into exile in Jeju.
To make matters worse, Lee Suk-beon, who was rejected in the selection of the crown princess and sought revenge, captured Pan-soo with the help of Chae-ryeong (Lee Yi-dam). Even in the face of death, Lee Bang-won endured Pan-soo, who was devoted to “fulfilling the queen's mission.” Wongyeong, whose brothers were exiled and whose trusted ones were unjustly killed, expressed her anger, saying, “How can you do this to me?” She coldly turned away from Chae-ryeong, who led this matter, saying, “I will abandon you now.”
Wongyeong carried out her exit from the palace to recover Pan-soo's corpse, leaving behind the royal decree. However, she encountered shocking realities outside the palace. Lee Bang-won, seeing the increasing number of starving people due to the recent continuous drought, immediately issued an order to release relief grain and investigate whether the land confiscated from the Nightgok Kim family and granted to Hwaeamsa was being managed. However, many common people who had not received the relief grain were left empty-handed due to the lower officials backed by powerful officials and royal relatives, and the land was also “unheard of” at Hwaeamsa. The ending drew attention to what decision Wongyeong, who had always stepped forward in times of national crisis, would make.
The 10th episode of the tvN X TVING original drama ‘Wongyeong’ will air on Tuesday, the 4th, at 8:50 PM on tvN. On Tving, episodes 9 and 10, which were pre-released on the 3rd, can be enjoyed simultaneously.
