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.]

Are you the Mok In Hoe's leader...

Lee Gyeom?

Tell me...

why you did something like this.

I wanted to end the King's tyranny

as soon as possible.

By even...

borrowing your name, Lee Seol.

Do you believe that you could defeat the king on your own?

Is that why you are trying to take the throne by leading Mok In Hoe with a lie?

No matter how much the world has changed,

a lie will never become the truth.

You will have to turn everything back to its original state.

I will not wait long.

Are you okay?

Why did Scholar Kang San point his sword at you...

Let us go down and talk.

He chose to do that to stop the king's tyranny?

He stole your name. No matter what the reason was,

it is stealing.

Since there is only one throne,

he will end up trying to take your life as well.

Father was also killed by his brother.

I never want to repeat that tragedy.

He and I share the same goal.

It is to remove the King and correct the order of the country.

Your Highness.

I will give Lee Gyeom a chance.

You might end up getting attacked.

The enemy's enemy could become my biggest ally.

Do you trust Lee Gyeom?

I want to try trusting him at least once.

If he is the man I know,

he will make the right decision.

It is your turn to sign, Your Highness.

Is that why you are trying to take the throne by leading Mok In Hoe with a lie?

Scholar Kang San is Lee Seol, the deposed Crown Prince's son?

So the reason he pointed his sword at you was-

He told me to turn everything back to its original state.

It is too late to go back.

You know that, too!

You already got the scholars' signatures

and you even met with the Queen Dowager!

I am aware.

No matter what anyone says,

you are Lee Seol now.

Yoo Ha ended up finding out who I am?

Yes.

I asked him to keep it a secret,

but would it be okay?

Do not worry.

Yoo Ha will not speak.

I believe so, too, but...

You never get to be at peace, do you?

I always...

cause you nothing but troubles.

Do not say such a thing.

I am just relieved that we are together like this.

By the way,

why are you not preparing for the state exam?

I heard only you failed the first round.

That is what Dan Oh said.

My dream does not depend on the state exam.

You are a promising scholar, but you are not taking the state exam.

What will you do from now on, then?

I want to forget about the past.

I care more about our tomorrow together.

Why do you always avoid situations by making a joke?

I want to know more about you.

I feel the same way.

How about you? What do you want to do in the future?

I just want to...

live as I am.

Not as a lady ghost pretending to be dead,

but as alive Yoon Hong Ju.

Using my own name.

I am sure that day will come.

Maiden Hong Ju.

Are you trying to hide now?

I already saw everything.

The rice cake was tasty.

It is nice to share!

Do not look at me like that.

I thought we agreed to feign ignorance.

If it is just...

fleeting feelings,

please do not tempt her too much.

I am worried...

that she might get hurt again.

What if they are not fleeting?

I never felt this way, either. So I cannot explain it, but-

Are you...

treating Hong Ju sincerely?

Dan Oh.

Maiden Hong Ju is as strong as you.

If you keep worrying about her as if she is a child,

how could she go out to the world?

That is true, but...

- Unni is- - I know.

But she cannot

live as a lady ghost forever.

What is this about now?

Did you know

that Father had a son he hid from us?

Did you find Lee Gyeom by chance?

I knew you would know.

Please tell me everything you know.

I heard Lee Gyeom has followers.

Are you referring to Mok In Hoe?

Yes.

If so, do you know who is helping him?

It is Queen Dowager.

She thinks he is the eldest son of the Crown Prince.

He did not just lie to Mok In Hoe.

Please be careful.

You might end up getting eaten by the fake one.

The truth does not matter.

If the majority believes it, a lie becomes the truth.

Sir.

What brings you to the palace?

I was invited to Naeyeon.*

I got to run into you like this.

What a joke.

She was waiting for him to come out desperately.

We could have come out sooner.

We had to clean up because of her!

- I know! - It was no coincidence.

Why are you acting innocent suddenly?

Could you set some time aside for me?

Right now?

I waited for you for a long time.

Today is actually my birthday.

I did not want to pretend to be happy

and spend the day meaninglessly.

You should have some, too.

I am okay.

You should take a break today.

I will talk to Hostess myself.

There are red bean rice cakes, too.

When Mother was alive, she used to make them on my birthday.

I am sure they are not as good,

but please enjoy them.

Sir.

Instead of thinking of me as a lowly courtesan,

could you think of me as a woman?

I know, too.

That you have to be qualified

to love someone, too.

But...

you were the only one for me since the moment I first saw you.

You were...

a woman to me from the beginning.

What are you doing?

It is just that...

my heart belongs to someone else.

Do you have a woman you love?

Is that woman Lady Dan Oh, by chance?

That is true.

Lady Dan Oh must be happy.

She cannot be just happy.

I am hurting her a lot.

Aigoo!

I thought there was thunder!

Why are you letting it out on the innocent cloth?

That little cat...

was on someone else's stove.

It is a good thing he went somewhere else, is it not?

He would no longer steal our food.

Meow!

Meow!

- Meow! - A woman?

Since when was he so good at making a move?

Although it's hard for you as a noble to lift scholars' ankles,

it's very easy for me, a courtesan.

Hold on.

What is wrong now?

Ban Ya could not have seen the red mole, has she?

Meow!

I cannot read at all!

Why is this cat meowing so loudly, anyway?

What are you doing over there, Ahjussi?

Have you not seen a cat?

I think he went inside the yard.

Right!

He even came into the house, so I shooed him away.

That is a relief.

- Go back in. - Yes.

Come out now.

- I cannot get up now. - Why not?

Will you put a blanket out here and sleep or something?

My legs fell asleep.

I was crouching here for too long.

I cannot walk.

The noodles turned cold.

Because of your icy stare.

Did I make a mistake by chance?

Since...

when was I a woman to you, Orabeoni?

What?