1 Her Mother's Death

Kim Min Ji and her mother, Kim Ji Won, are on their way home from the palace. Ever since, Ji Won had been assigned to cure the mysterious illness of the King, Kim Min Ji accompanied her. Her daughter has always admire her and upon knowing that she was going to the palace to help cure no other than but the King, Min Ji insisted in coming along. Min Ji also has her interest in medicine and therefore she follows her mother wherever and copy her. She maybe young at the age of eight but everyone knows that she's a gifted child. Not only is she good in copying her mother, she also has the wit and cleverness that everyone adored.

"Eomma, what will happen now that the king has died?" Min Ji is sad that her mother was not able to cure the King. She believes that it is her mother's first failure as a doctor.

"The Crown Prince will take over the throne and become the new king."

Earlier that day, Kim Ji Won had a serous discussion with Lee Daeju, the Crown Prince, now King Daeju. She had told him about her diagnosis of the previous King's death. The King was poisoned for a long time. However, it was only recently that the King shows symptoms of the poisoning. It's as if the King was in the last stage of his cancer. The King blood turned purplish as if it is not blood but pure toxins. Something is really suspicious and it is obviously not a natural death. Unbeknownst to Ji Won and Daeju, someone from the shadow was listening to them closely and left to report everything to someone.

"You mean Ahjussi Daeju?" Kim Min Ji eyes lit up. She used to call Lee Daeju her uncle as if they are related by blood because of the close friendship between the Prince and her parents.

"No Min Ji, King Daeju. You can no longer address him like that or else you will be reprimanded by authorities! You have known long before that he is the Crown Prince and not just our friend, right?"

Kim Min Ji pouted and nodded as if she doesn't like calling her uncle that way but she still keep her mother's word in her heart. Her mother is always right.

Suddenly, a group of bandits stop their carriage and attack their guards. Their guards fight with life on the line to protect the mother and daughter.

"My Lady, please run for your safety! They're too many and we're outnumbered!", said the head guard protecting them closely.

Kim Ji Won did not think twice and grab Min Ji's hand. They got out of the carriage and Ji Won took a sword from a dead guard before running away. She maybe a doctor and a noble lady but she knows how to fight. She will never let those people hurt her daughter. As they run away, some bandits go after them. Ji Won stopped running right before they reach the cliff to avoid falling. That's when the bandits has cornered them.

She aim her sword to the bandit while she hide her daughter behind her. She fights them and she really fight well and killed two men already. The men stop underestimating her and when she's not looking they aim to kill Min Ji.

"Min Ji!", Ji Won saw their plan and shouted her daughter's name as she run to cover her. The attack that is supposed to be for Min Ji was received by Ji Won. She was slashed by the sword mercilessly that made her vomit blood and fell to the ground.

Min Ji took her mother from the ground and embrace her as she continuously cries and calls for her. "Eomma! No!!! Eomma! Hang in there, please! Please dont leave me! Eomma!"

Ji Won used all her remaining strength to open her eyes and look at the cruel men and beg them, "Please spare my daughter. She knows nothing. She is... she is innocent" She coughs blood again after uttering those words of helplessness. As one guy aim to slash Min Ji as well while she's crying holding and crying for her mother, an arrow landed on his chest. One arrow, two arrows, three... arrows keep coming from nowhere and killed all the men.

Someone shouted from afar, "The King's guards are here! Run! They're too many! Don't let yourself get caught and if you do, kill yourselves!"

King's guard indeed arrived and King Daeju is with them. He approached Ji Won and Min Ji the moment he saw them. He too cried out for Ji Won's name but got no response.

"Pyeha, King Daeju, my mother... please save my mother!" Min Ji begs even though she knows it is too late now. Her mother's body is turning cold, her breathing has stopped a moment ago. She is still a child and she is her mother! Even if medicine taught her that this are signs of a dead person, she can't accept it! Her mother cannot die!

"Ji Won, my dear friend... I am sorry that I am already too late. I am sorry that I was not able to protect you! Don't worry and rest in peace, I will bring your daughter home safely and I will do everything I can to protect your family.", Lee Daeju, even though mighty in name and position, is crying and made a an unbreakable promise to her dear friend.

"My Lord, there's a bad news!"

Kim Min Seo's assistant was breathing heavily. The assistant run as fast as he could from the gate of their house to his master's study room.

Kim Min Seo get out of his study room with a solemn look on his face. He is a dignified scholar and he always has this elegant aura like a king but no one dared to say so or else he will be beheaded.

As the saying goes, there can only be one sun in the sky, and therefore Goryeo should only have one king no matter how much people adored Kim Min Seo. No matter how people compare him to the Crown Prince, he and Lee Daeju remained good friends who help one another.

"Speak. What is it that you look so anxious and sad?", Min Seo may looked calm on the outside but he has a bad feeling inside of him. His heart feels heavy because he is deeply worried about his wife, his only love, Kim Ji Won.

"My Lord... The Lady...Lady Kim Ji Won..", The assistant can't find the right words to say because he does not want to hurt his master.

"Tell me... what happened to my wife?" Min Seo voice cracked a little as if he already knows what happened but he is still hoping it is not what he thinks it is.

"My Lord, Lady Kim Ji Won has met an accident. We are so sorry but the Lady is already dead!", after saying this, the assistant kneeled as if asking for forgiveness.

With this news, even though it is what he had thought would be the worst thing to happen after the previous King's death, Min Seo still felt that his knees weakened and he also fell down on the ground. His tears starting to pour and he hold his chest as if his heart is about to burst. He then remember her daughter.

"Where's my daughter? How about Kim Min Ji? Please tell me she's safe!"

Kim Min Joon, his elder son came running as well and felt brokenhearted when he saw that his father is on the ground. He heard what happened to his mother and he also feels like his world is falling apart. His mother and his sister are his precious gems. He helped his father stand and holds him to remain standing. From now on, he decided to become his father's pillar of support.

"Assistant Cheon, please tell us what happened to my sister." Kim Min Joon acted strong for his father. He is just thirteen years old but he is mature and he swear to protect his family at all cost.

"The King has arrived!" Someone shouted in front of their house.

King Daeju entered the Kim Residence while carrying the now sleeping Min Ji. When Min Joon saw the pitiful look of his sister he run and snatched his sister from the King and embrace her. He lost his tough act and forgot about the King. He only felt relieved. The King's guards were alerted by his action but the King stop them from doing anything because he perfectly knows how this young lad dote his sister so much.

Kim Min Seo bowed to greet Daeju with respect. He might be his friend but right now he is already the King. They look at each other as if they both understand why such tragedy has happened. However, Daeju looks more apologetic. He blames no one but himself for making Ji Won involved in his family affairs. If he did not ask for Ji Won to cure his King Father, she would've been safe now and Min Seo will still have his loving wife.

A group of king's guard rolled the cart with Kim Ji Won's body covered in white blanket. All the Kim servants kneeled and cry when they saw their lifeless madam. They all love her because Ji Won never treated them poorly.

Min Seo walks toward the cart and with trembling hand, he slowly removes the blanket that covers the face of Ji Won. Upon seeing his wife's face as white as the blanket, he can no longer control his emotions and fell to the ground while started crying in pain. His wife, his loving wife meant the world for him yet she was taken away in an instant without a warning.

The scene is too heartbreaking. King Daeju walk towards Min Seo and pat him on his shoulder as if trying to comfort him.