The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won

After a fierce battle, the royal palace falls. Lee Seong Gye cannot bear to become a traitor and makes his army wait outside instead of taking over the palace. However, King Woo finds it hard to accept the defeat and organizes a surprise attack.

Lee Bang Won learns that assassins got inside the home of Lee Seong Gye. He rushes to the mansion to find his father still safe. Much relieved, Lee Bang Won approaches Lee Seong Gye, but at that moment, the men with swords jump at the father and the son.

King Gongyang has shamed Lee Seong Gye in public. Unable to tolerate the insult his father suffered, Lee Bang Won visits the king and conveys a sharp warning. Terrified, the king issues an order to decapitate his predecessors, Woo and Chang. A confounded Lee Seong Gye implores the king to withdraw the order of beheading.

Lee Seong Gye gives up everything and leaves for Dongbukmyeon. Lee Bang Won fails to dissuade his father from leaving and feels frustrated. Meanwhile, Jo Yeong Mu, who has joined the journey to Dongbukmyeon, asks Lee Seong Gye to go back to Gaeseong and become the king, telling him that they will not be welcomed in their hometown in the present situation. Lee Seong Gye has to think and make a decision now.

Jeong Do Jeon dashes toward the Cheongju Prison, and so does Jeong Mong Ju. But both are held back midway by a downpour, which cut off all the roads to the Cheongju Castle. The prisoners, who belong to Jeong Mong Ju’s faction, are destined to die if the rain should continue to flood the Cheongju Castle. The two men watch the endless heavy rain, each waiting for fate to decide.

While hunting in the woods, Lee Seong Gye is critically injured when he falls off his horse. Jeong Mong Ju takes this opportunity to exile all of Lee Seong Gye's followers. The Lee family does not know what to do and waits for Lee Seong Gye to wake up. Then, Lady Kang asks to see Bang Won who is carrying out a three-year memorial ritual for the late Lady Han.

Despite his father's order not to touch Jeong Mong Ju, Bang Won defies him and is determined to put an end to the chancellor's life. The death of Mong Ju has given Lee Seong Gye a chance to retake the throne, but as much as the General respects Master Poeun, he banishes Bang Won and his brothers from the house for disobeying his intentions. Now with Jeong Mong Ju gone, the fate of the throne lies within the hands of the family of Lee.

After Master Sambong reorganizes the court officials, he and Lady Kang succeed in persuading Seong Gye to take the throne. Thrilled by the news, Bang Won and his brothers attend the coronation. But as they reach the palace, they only find disappointment. Seong Gye is now in deep thought of who to appoint as the Crown Prince. He is aware of his old age and wishes to appoint the Crown Prince quickly.

Bang Won hears the news that Bang Seok will be installed as the Crown Prince. Full of rage and disappointment, he finds his brothers to stop it from happening. However, his brothers have given up on taking a position in the palace. Meanwhile, Lady Kang is extremely happy as her meticulous plan that she has been working on for years is finally coming into place. With her son appointed as Crown Prince and herself as the Queen, nothing can stop her now.

Bang Won is furious as he sees Queen Sindeok act with hypocrisy. Although he wishes to rash out on the manipulative Queen, Lady Min settles him down and tells him that the time to strike back will come. As the King leaves the palace for a trip, the Queen plans a trap to get rid of Bang Won for good. She tampers with his family member and lures him to attack her with his House Guard soldiers.