The Secret Romantic Guesthouse (The Love Story of Flower Scholars / Kkotseonbi Yeolaesa / 꽃선비 열애사)

[This is a work of fiction. All the characters, locales, groups, and incidents have no connection to historical facts.]

What is all this?

I told you then

that I would tell you if I see you again...

who I am.

Many years ago,

the child who hid in the dog house in fear...

was me.

I am...

I am Lee Seol.

What...

did you say?

You are...

Lee Seol?

The reason...

The reason I could not tell you all this time is...

Look who is here!

What?

Looking at the Eosahwa, you must have must have passed the exam!

Aigoo!

By the way, you do not look so well for some reason.

Aigoo! He must still be nervous!

His Majesty apparently came to the exam site!

You make Ihwawon proud.

How long has it been since we had someone who passed? Do you not agree, Dan Oh?

Yes, yes. It is true.

Do you mind if I try on the Eosahwa?

I am getting the energy of success from it!

- Try it on. - My gosh!

What do you think?

Does it suit me?

Aigoo! Here is the first-place scholar!

It suits you so perfectly!

I have a good feeling this time.

I wrote down the answer without any hesitation.

Should I tell the people in my hometown to kill a pig for me?

Just get a government position!

If so, I will catch a wild pig, even!

Oh, right...

Here, here.

Scholar Yoo Ha must have done a good job, right?

It was not too bad.

Did Shi Yeol not come with you?

Aigoo!

Do not get me started.

- You know, he- - What about me?

What kind of...

a person gives up in the middle of the exam?

What do you mean, give up?

I put my brush down early because the question was boring.

I saw you handing in a blank paper without a drop of ink on it.

The blank paper is my answer.

How could there be only right answers in this world?

You are unbelievable.

By the way, San started dressing arrogantly while I was gone.

You are dressed like a royal inspector.

Let me excuse myself.

Aigoo...

There is no one else here.

You can speak freely.

I still...

cannot believe it.

That you are the deposed crown prince's son, Lee Seol.

It is such a relief...

that you were safe and sound like this.

You must have been...

holding back your whole life like this.

How did you hang in there by yourself all this time?

Dan Oh.

I was hoping you were not...

being chased like that night.

Now I understand...

how foolish I have been.

I brought you to Ihwawon and

suffocated you.

Even if you did not run away with my bag,

we would have met again, anyway.

It was not a coincidence that

we met at the tavern that day.

I came to you...

whom I have missed dearly.

Tell me...

what your plan is going forward.

You must have a reason for trying to get a government position.

You promised me.

That you would tell me everything the day you put on the Eosahwa.

I will go to the palace.

Why, all of a sudden-

Although I have been chased my whole life,

I am the oldest son of the Crown Prince in this country.

I will join the royal guards and punish the king myself.

What if your cover gets blown by entering the palace rashly?

You will lose the life you have been protecting all this time.

You risked your life to protect Ihwawon, too.

This is just like that.

I am trying to protect the palace I grew up in

from the traitor who is blinded by greed.

Enemies will be everywhere in the palace.

Could you please reconsider-

Both of my parents passed away,

and all of their followers and their families were killed.

I cannot ignore the ones who got killed only to protect myself.

That is the reason I am alive

and it is my duty as the eldest son of the crown prince.

But...

it is too dangerous.

You saved my life.

I will not give up on it and waste it.

Do not worry.

Please bring me the keepsakes.

They are the keepsakes

Crown Prince left.

This letter is Crown Prince Lee Pyeong's request to his son

and a piece of evidence to prove your identity.

If I rise to the throne and things quiet down,

I will call you to the palace.

Please be strong and live until then.

All I can give you right now is this name.

My Son, Gyeom.

You are Merchant Jang, are you not?

I am.

I am looking for a ship that goes to China.

I was wondering if there is room on your ship.

Room?

By the way, what is the reason-

I will pay you handsomely.

If there is, please contact Ihwawon, which is on the edge of Jungchon.

I will.

She asked Merchant Jang to find a ship for her.

Yoon Dan Oh is trying to go to China?

Well done.

Continue to keep an eye on Dan Oh.

Yes, sir.

You will be free from your bondage soon.

As long as you find Lee Seol.

By Lee Seol...

Do you mean the deposed crown prince's son?

Looks like you have heard of that name, too.

I just overheard some rumors...

I supposed he had not been caught yet, right?

Feel free to come whenever you change your mind.

It is cowardly to hide because you fear being a burden.

What do you mean cowardly?

- This is for Dan Oh- - It is not for Dan Oh!

You are making her guilty so you can feel better.

She would be blaming herself for not being able to protect you.

If I were her,

I would want my only sister

to be supportive,

and not be a burden.

Sending you to the palace

does not sit well with me, Your Highness.

You and I are the ones who survived.

We must do our duty as the ones who are left behind.

There is only one reason why

I did not die with my master as the crown prince's royal bodyguard.

It is because of Crown Prince's order to protect you.

Please...

be careful.

I understand.

You would be alone in the palace.

No matter how impressive Watchman is,

it will not be easy to beat the guards and enter the palace.

I need to meet the Watchman.

I want you to find him for me.

Why do you wish that?

- Watchman is... - Dan Oh found out...

who I am.

If Watchman finds out about that,

he might try to kill her because he thought I was in danger.

- It will not be easy to find Watchman right now. - If so,

what should I do with Dan Oh?

Your life is at risk more than anyone's right now.

I am used to it.

But...

Dan Oh is not.

Where are you running to?

It was you.

I thought someone was following me.

You should not have been walking around at night.

Let us go in.

Are you that anxious?

Were you so afraid that you ran like that?

Chief Administrator...

might still be chasing after me.

Dan Oh.

What if I told him everything because I could not withstand his threats?

- If that happens- - Even if that happens,

I will not blame you.

You cannot join the royal guards.

Please reconsider it.

You will not be the only person who gets hurt if they find out who you are.

Everyone at Ihwawon will...

end up dying as well.

You should leave far away instead.

I am looking for a ship that goes to China.

If they get in even the slightest danger,

I will leave without looking behind.