Captivating The King 2024 K Drama Episode 15

Episode 15 of Captivating the King starts with Senior Court Lady Dong approaching Lee In. She has ingested the same poisonous paste she killed the former king with. Lee In rejects her again stating that it would be akin to using her again as he did all those years ago. She confesses her love for him and just then, coughs up blood.

Lee In is petrified and calls for Eunuch Kim to bring the royal physician. During her last moments, Senior Court Lady Dong says that killing Lee In was the only way she would survive. But she had taken an oath to protect and cherish Lee In until her last days, hence she sacrificed herself to not let others succeed in their plan. She soon breathes her last.

Mr Ju arrives in haste as Lee In leaves for Queen Dowager’s residence. He tells the Queen Dowager about Senior Court Lady Dong but she remains suspiciously silent. She is reminded of her brother, the Principal Director’s words from earlier. When provoked, she says he must behead Chu Dal Ha for his report has instigated these events. Beheading Da Hal is the only way to save his reign. Lee In breaks down in tears.

He confronts his mother about his uncle’s activities. She is tearful but remains silent. He asks her if she ordered Lee Sun’s assassination but she says that is just ridiculous. As he gets his answer, Lee In is prepared to interrogate his uncle for his crimes. His mother shrieks tearfully that she would rather die than see that day. She tries to warn him against it but Lee In is set on his goal to punish his uncle and he leaves.

The Queen Dowager suffers from a shock and Lee In heads to the Yeonchwijeong as his quarters are being cleaned. Mr Ju asks a soldier to summon Mong Woo. Lee In tells Mong Woo that he should have begun interrogations when Mong Woo had informed him about Myung Ha being asked to participate in the coup by the Principal Director. Lee In blames himself for Court Lady Dong’s death.

Mong Woo consoles him by saying that Court Lady Dong must have known that Lee In would forgive her. Lee In is determined to bring the Principal Director to justice. Senior Court Lady Dong’s body is prepared for funeral and her belongings are searched.

The poison balm is found and the royal physician confirms it to be the same poison that killed the former king. Lee In suspects the Principal Director is behind the assassination order. Mr Ju thinks that the disappearance of Principal Director’s servant could be linked to the Principal Director next colluding with the Qing envoy, Jung Je Pyo bearing the document approving the Crown Prince’s appointment.

On the other hand, we see the Principal Director is confident that Lee In is now defenseless and that Myung Ha will not take any step because of the Crown Prince. But he does threaten Hyun Bo. He says that Hyun Bo played Myung Ha’s father earlier, he can do that same this time as well.

Shortly after, we see Myung Ha meeting with Hee Soo. He reveals to her that he knows that Lee In is now following up on the late king’s words to make Munseong the king. He realized it when the Principal Director as him to join the coup. He did find it unusual that he was pardoned from a death penalty and sent off to the border instead after his father was deemed a traitor.

He tells Hee Soo to inform Lee In that he would himself attend the interrogation of the Principal Director. Hee Soo warns him against it for it would mean harm to the Crown Prince, but Myung Ha says there is no other way around it. The Principal Director will cover up his crimes and the Qing troops might attack again and take Lee In away.

Next we see Hyun Bo preparing to flee the country. He plans to seek refuge in Qing with Prince Rui. But he caught red handed. The following morning, Lee In summons the judges for interrogation. Je Nam says that a minister-level official would be needed and he thinks to appoint Minister Min Ji Wan as one of the judges.

He issues the summons of the Principal Director Par Jong Hwan’s arrest and his soldiers storm the residence. He is leisurely having tea. The former queen’s father shares the news with the other ministers and wonders if he would be interrogated too. Just then Park Jong Hwan arrives at the palace for interrogation.

Lee In orders for him to be striped off his formal attire, but Park Jong Hwan protests that he is there to clear his name. He would be striped off his title and formal attire if only he fails to answers the questions. Lee In directly asks him for whom did he ploy to get the former late king killed. Park Jong Hwan’s retort only puts Lee In in a bad light. Lee In then asks him the reason for ordering his assassination at the hands of the late Senior Court Lady Dong. Park Jong Hwan denies all allegations and asks if Lee In has any evidence to prove it. As he prepares to leave, Hyun Bo appears as a witness.

In a flashback, we see that earlier was Hyun Bo was caught by Mr Ju and his troops. He was based on Myung Ha’s confession. In the present, Hyun Bo narrates all of Park Jong Hwan’s misdeeds. Je Nam asks Hyun Bo why is did the Principal Director share the details with him.

In a short flashback, we see Myung Ha threatens Hyun Bo that he would reveal Hyun Bo’s deeds from three years ago and request the same punishment as Myung Ha’s late father received. In the present, Hyun Bo says that he partook in plotting treason with the Principal Director.

Park Jong Hwan protests Hyun Bo’s attestation but Lee In orders to disrobe Park Jong Hwan and begin the torture. The torture continues until the nightfall. Lee In asks for privacy to speak with his uncle. Lee In says that he prepared himself for this day three years ago after the late king passed away. He adds that his uncle’s deeds were not a help but simply selfish means of the wielding the king’s power himself.

Lee In admits to realizing his mistake and wants to bring his uncle to justice. Park Jong Hwan calls him a lowly worm and even spits on him. Lee In is unbothered as he says that he did wonder if he was ever worthy of the throne but he realizes that he did the right thing for it now allows him to punish Park Jong Hwan for his crimes. Park Jong Hwan tries to play the family card but fails. He grows tearful and is escorted to his residence. He is to be confined there until his punishment is decided.

The ministers murmur that such a treatment for a Queen Dowager’s kin has never been seen before. Myung Ha says it might just become a custom while Mong Woo waits for Lee In at Yeonchwijeong. Lee In feels indebted to Myung Ha but Mong Woo says Myung Ha does not see it that way.

Mong Woo tries to console Lee In after the day’s tiring ordeals. Lee In pulls him close and Mong Woo briskly pats Lee In’s back. Mong Woo asks Lee In to return but Lee In says that staying with Mong Woo is rest enough for him.

The following morning, Lee In reads out the punishment. Dal Ha will be flogged 80 times and will have to work three years of hard labour. Furthermore, Hyun Bo will be exiled from the capital. Park Jong Hwan’s punishment is yet to be revealed but Dal Ha and Hyun Bo are taken away to be given their punishment. Hee Soo’s house-help waits outside to meet Dal Ha before he is taken away.

Lee In requests Myung Ha’s audience. Myung Ha falls to his knees and confesses that the offer of joining the treason did sway his mind for a while. Lee In says that the Principal Director will be drinking poison as his punishment. The poison will be taken to him by Myung Ha. Witnessing the Principal Director’s final moments is Myung Ha’s punishment.

The following night, the Queen Dowager meets Lee In and asks him to show mercy on Park Jong Hwan. She pleads to him desperately but he is unshaken. She leaves without any escort.

The following morning, Park Jong Hwan’s punishment is carried out. He is still vengeful about the king’s actions and says that this is what one gets to have aided the king. Lee In announces to the court that the Principal Director had sent a servant to alert the King about the situation.

They need to be prepared for war and Lee In is determined to fight back. He allots duties to Je Nam and the Minister of War. The Chief Royal Secretary arrives with the news that the Wing envoy has arrived with a document approving of the Crown Prince’s appointment. He orders to receive the envoy but Jun Je Pyo gives a letter to Lee In.

This letter is the one that the Principal Director wrote to Prince Rui to instigate him against Lee In. In the Crown Prince’s appointment letter, Prince Rui mentions that he will be sending Je Pyo back to Joseon and that he should be appointed as a member of the court. Lee In finds it odd but accepts the condition.

The letter also mentions the Emperor’s wish to play baduk with Mong Woo. Lee In is not happy with the news. The same night, he and Mong Woo are playing baduk but he seems to be distant. After their game, Mong Woo leaves and finds that he has been invited to Qing.

The Queen Dowager rejects food or medicine. She wants to die and make Lee In regret for not meeting her even once after his uncle’s death. The Queen Dowager’s court lady asks for medicine to be prepared. As she leaves, she bumps into a maid.

The maid drops her charm gifted by Court Lady Dong. The Queen Dowager’s court lady questions the maid and she comes clean. The Queen Dowager is surprised to find that Mong Woo is actually a woman. That night, Hee Soo (Mong Woo) asks her maid Jaggeunnyeon about travelling to Beijing. The maid says that the king would never allow for such a travel.

The following morning, Mong Woo is summoned by the Queen Dowager. Munseong sees Mong Woo heading to Queen Dowager’s residence. He plays baduk alone and Lee In enquires about the same. Lee In grows concerned at the news of Mong Woo’s summons.

The Queen Dowager not so subtly makes her remarks about Mong Woo’s true identity. She says that Mong Woo aka Hee Soo was destined to be her daughter-in-law and bestows her with gifts. She orders her maids to derobe Mong Woo. Lee In comes in and stops the charade as the episode comes to a conclusion.

The Episode Review

Well, that turn of events was quite predictable, right? After the characters revealing their plan of action over and over again, there was barely any element of surprise left for the audience. Mong Woo’s identity reveal was bound to happen sooner or later. I wonder how the Queen Dowager will play it to her benefit! Do you think Lee In will let Mong Woo go to Qing?