Jewel in the Crown

7th year of King Sukjong's reign (1680) early March, Royal Inspector Jang Ikheon is murdered by a riverbed at dawn. At the market, mortician Choi Hyo Won's daughter Dong Yi is racing for snacks.

Hyo Won and his gang realize Tae Suk framed them for killing nobles. Also, Tae Suk orders arresting Dong Yi.

Dong Ju sheds tears as he asks Cheon Su to take care of Dong Yi. While taking Choi Hyo Won and other Alliance members to prison, the royal forces are ambushed.

Cheon Su leaves Dong Yi in Seol Hui's care. Meanwhile the body of a girl, thought to be Dong Yi, is discovered. Seo Yong Gi knows it's not Dong Yi but pretends it is.

Dong Yi enters the palace to get Ok Jung's butterfly key ornament that can prove her family's innocence.

Dong Yi wakes up in a worn out storehouse. The Pyeongyeong master is lying dead beside her. She reports the death and returns with police but the corpse is nowhere to be seen.

Dong Yi and King Sukjong run into trouble with some henchmen. Queen Mother Myeongseong is worried that she'll get caught for her scheming.

The Southerners Party rises to power but faces risk again when the Queen's medicine is found to have poison.

Dong Yi is taken to the Office of the Inspector General. She got caught while bringing outside medicine into the palace for Ok Jung. Dong Yi runs into Seo Yong Gi while being interrogated.

Ok Jung appears to save Dong Yi. Sukjong asks Seo Yong Gi to find the culprits who tried to assassinate the Queen. Ok Jung is framed for the deed. Oh Tae Suk plans to put the blame on Dong Yi.

King Sukjong saves Dong Yi, and Ok Jung thanks her for acquitting her. Ok Jung asks King Sukjong a favor.

Dong Yi becomes a member of the Office of the Inspector General. The other inspectors complain about Dong Yi's background. Meanwhile Jang Hi Jae is given a position in the Police Bureau and the inspectors plan to kick Dong Yi out.

Dong Yi is about to get kicked out of her new position for failing the exam. But thanks to Queen Inhyun, she is able to retake the exam. Sukjong names Ok Jung a Royal Consort and Myeongseong and the Westerners become worried.

Dong Yi and Cheon Su reunite in tears. Cheon Su promises to never lose her again. An envoy arrives from Qing, the inspectors investigate Kim Yun Dal for seizing financial control.

Dong Yi finds out that Sukjong is actually the King. She keeps being reminded of the rude things she did to him and is embarrassed.

Dong Yi decides to visit the envoy herself and reveals a surprising fact. King Sukjong orders saving Dong Yi.

Ok Jung informs Sukjong that she is pregnant. 18 months later she gives birth to a son and Jang Hi Jae is promoted as well. Hi Jae and the Southerners want this son to become the heir to the throne but Myeongseong opposes it.

Dong Yi is suspicious of Ok Jung's maid for the poison incident. She follows her and demands to know where she used herbal medicine. Surprised, the maid pushes Dong Yi and runs away.

Queen Inhyun is accused of killing the Queen Mother. Dong Yi tries to prove her innocence to no avail.

Jang Hi Jae plans to get rid of Dong Yi incase his plan to murder the Queen Mother is revealed. Oh Tae Suk and the Southerners demand that Inhyun is deposed.

Dong Yi feels bad that Queen Inhyun was deposed, so she goes to Ok Jung and says she will bring justice.

To uncover the crime, Dong Yi asks to investigate Palace Treasury, but King Sukjong orders against it.

Assassins enter the palace to get rid of Dong Yi. Dong Yi flees with the evidence but is struck by an assassin's dagger.

Ok Jung becomes the official Queen. Ok Jung becomes concerned that her son's recognition as heir by the Qing is delayed. Ok Jung and the Southerners become concerned by Kim Man Jung.

Dong Yi happens to find Hi Jae in Uiju and looks into it. Also, Oh Yun discovers the King is looking for her.

Dong Yi discovers what brought Hi Jae to Pyeongan-do but gets caught. Hi Jae decides to kill Dong Yi.

Dong Yi and Seol Hui can't return as fugitives. King Sukjong gives Yong Gi a pass to give to Dong Yi.

Court Lady Jung and Jung Im get arrested for trying to kill Ok Jung. Meanwhile, Cheon Su meets Seol Hui.

Sukjong finally meets Dong Yi. Sukjong worries about Dong Yi's health after all that she's been through to return. After meeting with Dong Yi, he acts very cold towards Ok Jung.

Hi Jae gets arrested. The Southerners, including Tae Suk, become anxious about having their crime uncovered.

Dong Yi becomes a Royal Consort. The Southerners are outraged that Dong Yi is under the protection of the King. Ok Jung visits Sukjong and begs him to release Jang Hi Jae.

Oh Tae Suk investigates Dong Yi's whereabouts before she entered the palace in order to oust her. Ok Jung and Hi Jae don't realize what has happened with the Deployment Log and worry that Qing hasn't acknowledged the Crown Prince.

Dong Yi visits Ok Jung and requests for more time. Oh Yun becomes suspicious that Dong Yi and Cheon Su have no record of their previous whereabouts. Sukjong worries about Dong Yi having to fight against the Queen.

Despite the fake logs, Qing acknowledges the Crown Prince. Ok Jung and Hi Jae are head over heels and Dong Yi and Seo Yong Gi are in disbelief.

Dong Yi confesses to Seo Yong Gi that she is the daughter of the Swordsmen Alliance leader. Seo Yong Gi has not choice but to inform the King. But Dong Yi asks that she be the one to break it to him.

The Qing continue to pressure Jang Hi Jae for the Deployment Log. Ok Jung and Hi Jae become desperate and open a banquet with the excuse of bettering relations of both nations.

Sukjong learns of the truth that Ok Jung and Hi Jae tried to hand over the Deployment Log to Qing. All the Southerners who were in on this scheme including Jang Hi Jae, Oh Tae Pung, Oh Yun are arrested.

Sukjong demotes Ok Jung to consort. Sukjong is tormented by the idea that it was he who drove out Inhyun and turned Ok Jung into what she has become.

Dong Yi has a son. Rumor has it that her son will become the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, an officer gets killed.

Dong Yi and Un Taek try to find the meaning of the final gesture Ik Heon made. Also, more nobles get killed.

Dong Yi is attacked by the Swordsmen Alliance. She is reunited with her childhood friend Gedwora. Cheon Su tries to convince Gedwora that killing nobles wasn't the Chief Leader's way but Gedwora is bent on revenge.

Dong Yi is finding out the truth behind the 1681 incident. Dong Yi believes that the court lady who did the hand signals could be Ok Jung and confronts her with a picture of the butterfly key marker.

Dong Yi runs into Sukjong while trying to help and injured Gedwora escape. Dong Yi reveals that her name isn't Cheon Dong Yi but Choi Dong Yi and that her father was the Swordsmen Alliance's leader.

To save her people, Dong Yi goes to the Capital District Office and says all they want to know about her.

6 years pass since Dong Yi has moved out from the palace. Geum is 7 years old. The Crown Prince suddenly falls ill and the physician informs Ok Jung that he may not be able to have children.

Inhyun is suspicious of Ok Jung's actions surrounding the Crown Prince's health and announces that she will find a princess for the Crown Prince. Ok Jung is worried that the truth will be known.

Dong Yi and Geum return to the palace! Sukjong announces that Dong Yi has paid for her crimes for 6 years. He also announces that Geum will become a prince and that Dong Yi will be a 2nd rank consort.

Geum decides to make Kim Gu Seon his master. Blessings aren't meant for personal gain, they're meant to be shared. So I have to study hard to help the poor and defenseless. These words from Geum impress Kim.

Inhyun has been ill for a long time and eventually collapses. It's determined that she may recover if she regains consciousness in 3 days but her illness is already much progressed.

Inhyun takes her last breath with Sukjong by her side. The palace is in tears. The ministers state that the Crown Prince's mother needs to take the old Queen's place.

Hi Jae makes Prince Yeoning fall into a trap, and the New Westerners demand King Sukjong punish his son.

Ok Jung and Jang Hi Jae believe that Geum is purposely putting the Crown Prince's life in danger when they discover that he has snuck out of the palace.

Things go badly for Ok Jung as King Sukjong learns about their son's illness, and Yoon's crime gets uncovered.

Dong Yi falls ill while protecting her son. Cheon Su gets enraged and tries to find who made it happen.

King Sukjong orders Ok Jung to kill herself. Dong Yi asks King Sukjong not to appoint her as the queen.

Queen Inwon says Prince Yeoning should get married. Dong Yi starts looking for a wife for her son.

King Sukjong declares the Crown Prince will be the next king and makes another surprising declaration.

Cheon Su confronts Jang Mu Yeol about the coup he is planning and warns him that he could lose his life at any minute.

Mu Yeol is captured for his plans to trap Dong Yi and Geum and all those who conspired with him try to hide their crimes but Seo Yong Gi stops them.

Dong Yi decides to leave the palace despite Sukjong's opposition. The Crown Prince tells Dong Yi that he will look after Geum.