Prince Yeoning is a prince discriminated against because of his mother's peasant background. He returns to Hanyang to support Prince Yeonryeong take the throne against the tyrannic Prince Milpoong, who would do anything to take power. The Saheonbu is determined to uncover Prince Milpoong's crimes and bring justice to the kingdom. The power struggle between the Patriarchs and Disciples is just beginning.

The King decides to reinstate Prince Milpoong's great-grandmother from her disgrace and restore relations with Milpoong. This brings Milpoong one step closer to the throne. Meanwhile, Prince Yeoning is being chased by Park Moon Soo for allegedly substituting for the state exam. Could Prince Milpoong be behind this scheming? The Saheonbu and Yeo Ji intend to find Milpoong's Death Records and find the opportunity when he goes on a hunt.

The relation between Prince Yeoning and Tae Pyeong remains a mystery. The inspectors of Saheonbu are determined to investigate the murder of Yeo Ok and prove that Prince Milpoong is guilty. Meanwhile, Yeo Ji steals a box from Prince Milpoong supposedly containing valuable evidence. Prince Yeonryeong does not want to use illegal force to stop Milpoong from coming to power.

Moon Soo finds out that the Roh Tae Pyeong he was chasing after was Prince Yeoning. Prince Yeoning decides to spread a rumor about Prince Milpoong and his evil deeds. The rumor eventually reaches the king and the royal court, and the king orders investigators to submit a detailed report. Yeo Ji realizes that she had acquired decisive evidence for where the body of Tae Pyeong is buried.

Prince Yeoning decides to testify at the Supreme Court of Saheonbu. He confesses that he substituted for Tae Pyeong at the state exam and asks to be exiled for this crime. The officials, however, do not want to believe his accusations of Prince Milpoong. The Head of Saheonbu decides to arrest Prince Milpoong, and everything seems to go as planned.

Yeo Ji, Prince Yeoning, and the crew at Saheonbu celebrate with wine and by playing games. Prince Yeonryeong tries to stop his older brother from leaving for Tamna, but Prince Yeoning is not shaken. The Disciples spread a rumor about Prince Yeoning and try to discredit his testimony at the Supreme Court. The Patriarchs ask Prince Yeoning to withdraw his testimony at court so they can bring Prince Milpoong back out.

King Sukjong calls the Chief Inspector and orders him to help him make Prince Yeoning king. Meanwhile, the Patriarchs have decided to support Prince Yeonryeong. The Minister of Personnel persuades Prince Yeoning to withdraw his testimony and indict Jeong Seok for instigating false testimony. Prince Yeoning feels hopeless about the whole situation and has to testify again.

King Sukjong tells Prince Yeonryeong about his decision to make Prince Yeoning king. Prince Milpoong is sent away to Qing by the king for his crimes. Just as things start to get hopeless, somebody sends Prince Yeoning information containing Prince Milpoong's secrets and the location of his Deat Records. Meanwhile, Han Jeong Seok is killed in prison, and Prince Milpoong also kills Prince Yeonryeong.

The Crown Prince has become king but does not win respect because of a lack of an heir. He is powerless at court. Meanwhile, Prince Yeoning meets the Minister of Personnel to tell him that Prince Milpoong probably killed Prince Yeonryeong, but the Minister is only interested in solidifying political power. The Patriarchs scheme with prisoners and let them escape, but Prince Yeoning sees through it.

Yeo Ji and her colleagues think Prince Yeoning has betrayed them. They were kicked out of Saheonbu and are now trying to make ends meet. It's finally Moon Soo day of the exam, and a suspicious man tries to help him get a good seat. As the king is without an heir, the queen starts looking for a possible stepson. Delegates from the Ming dynasty visit Joseon, and everyone is surprised to see Prince Milpoong back, backed by the Chinese. He is intent on winning the throne.

Yeo Ji and her colleagues find out that Prince Yeoning had been supporting them all along. It's finally the day the exam results are announced, and Moon Soo fails to find his name on the list. He is certain that there is corruption going on surrounding the state exam. Inspector Yoon Hyeok knows about the corruptions but can't find a way to investigate them. This changes when he meets Park Moon Soo.

Prince Milpoong is hosting the delegate from Qing Dynasty and takes him out for hunting. Prince Yeoning appears out of nowhere and interferes with Milpoong's plan. Minister of Personnel and the Patriarchs are in a situation where they have to choose between Prince Yeoning and Prince Milpoong. Prince Yeoning's plan is to create a division within the Patriarchs and make himself king.

Prince Yeoning returns to his former colleagues Park Moon Soo and Yeo Ji and tells them he was behind the investigation on exam corruption. Prince Yeoning is now determined to become king. But the Minister of Personnel meets with the king and tries to persuade him otherwise. Meanwhile, the Patriarchs manipulate public opinion so the exam corruption case won't attract too much attention. And the Saganwon is out to stop the king from putting pressure on the Patriarchs.

Moon Soo and his colleagues respond to the Saganwon by rallying the Confucian scholars to protest the corruption going on among the Patriarchs. Prince Milpoong is aware of the tables turning and decides to take action with his Death Records. To check the Minister of Personnel's hegemony over the Patriarchs, the Prime Minister goes to the king and requests that Prince Yeoning be appointed as the heir to the throne. Meanwhile, Prince Yeoning and Yeo Ji are being pursued by a group of assassins.

Chang Joong and Yi Gyeom meet the king to recommend Prince Yeoning as the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, Moon Soo and his colleagues notice that Yeo Ji isn't back after she left to talk to the students. It turns out the assassins sent to kill Prince Yeoning were ordered by Prince Milpoong and not Min Jin Heon. The widowed Queen recommends Prince Yeoning, and the king, after some doubt, orders Prince Yeoning be made Crown Prince.

Yeo Ji is found severely injured in a barn. Her colleagues bring her back home and call the doctor to treat her. The king's royal guards arrive to announce that Prince Yeoning has been made Crown Prince. Dal Moon, who once worked for Jin Heon, is inspired by Prince Yeoning and now works for him. Prince Yeoning is worried about Yeo Jin, and he has a hard time hiding his feelings for her. The new exam results are out, and Park Moon Soo finally passes.

The Qing is rumored to dealing in the human trafficking of girls from Joseon. Yeo Ji is recruited as an undercover investigator on the case. Prince Yeoning is unhappy at Yeo Ji being constantly in danger. Meanwhile, Moon Soo, as a new member of Saheonbu, is trying to endure all the hard training. The palace officials show that they don't acknowledge the Crown Prince by not showing up at the Prince's first-morning lecture.

Dal Moon's men are investigating the human trafficking case by Qing. The new courtesan house emerges as their target as someone from Qing owns it. A murder occurs of a nobleman, and Min Jin Heon and the Saheonbu are both investigating it. Yeo Ji finds out the courtesan house is where the deals take place for selling and buying girls. Prince Yeoning senses danger and goes after Yeo Ji.

Ji Pyeong is murdered, and Prince Yeoning is witnessed to be the murderer and it arrested by Saheonbu. He is investigated by Saheonbu but is not willing to speak the truth. Meanwhile, behind the murder cases are what is known as master-murderers and the murderer of Ji Pyeong turns out to be a little girl wearing a tattoo. Moon Soo and Yeo Ji investigate what's behind the murder cases.

Saheonbu threatens to resign all its members unless the right to investigate the murder case involving Prince Yeoning is given to them. The king calls Prince Yeoning and asks him to tell him everything he knows about the recent incidents. When he does, the king is deeply moved and decides to give Prince Yeoning three days to prove himself innocent. The investigation of the murders leads to human trafficking deals with Qing and to the courtesan house.

The girl belonging to the master murdering group was arrested, and Prince Yeoning is accused of supporting the group. The Patriarchs are putting pressure on the king to have the Crown Prince dethroned. Moon Soo and his colleagues try to stop the Saheonbu from investigating and beating the master murderers but fail. The heads of both parties meet to discuss future matters, and Min Jin Heon is adamant that the nobility runs the kingdom.

The nobility demands the king to dethrone the Crown Prince, but the king is clear that this will not be granted. Prince Yeoning does his part by attending a banquet and making a speech on behalf of the peasants, speaking for their rights. The nobility is outraged about the palace standing against them, but the commoners risk their lives to show support for the Crown Prince. Yeo Ji tells Prince Yeoning she wants to become a court lady to protect him.

Patrolmen find something suspicious while doing their routine patrol. The people praise Prince Yeoning for standing up for them, and the blame naturally falls on the Saheonbu. A cover-up murder case is revealed when Moon Soo is inspecting the neighborhood. Behind the hired murder is Section Chief of Personnel. The king and Prince Yeoning decide to use this as an opportunity for reform.

Section Chief of Personnel Ik Soo was caught while receiving bribes and ordered the patrolman to be killed when he tried to report the incident. The table is about to turn in favor of the Disciples when Prince Milpoong steps in with a cunning plan. Moon visits Prince Milpoong and is asked by Yoon Yeong to help Prince Milpoong take the throne. Prince Milpoong fabricates a petition signed with Prince Yeoning's name.

As Yoon Hyuk takes office, he orders the officials of the three agencies to all be re-evaluated. Meanwhile, the fake appeal for vicarious governing has wreaked havoc in the palace, and the king is suspecting the Crown Prince of treason. Dal Moon, who used to work for the Crown Prince, is moved by his past feelings for Yoon Yeong and starts to work in her favor.