Captivating The King 2024 K Drama Episode 16 (Final Episode)

Episode 16 of Captivating the King begins with the Queen Dowager forcing Mong Woo to disclose his real identity as Hee Soo. Lee In is stunned to see the treatment. The Queen Dowager is reluctant but asks her servants to leave. She tells Lee In to make Hee Soo his concubine. That way, the Qing won’t be able to touch her in anyway.

Lee In adds to the jab that he could make her the Queen instead. He states firmly that neither will he send Hee Soo to Qing nor make her his concubine. She only wants Lee In to produce an heir to the throne otherwise she would not even entertain the thought of having Hee Soo around him.

She expresses her fear that the Crown Prince would eradicate the current royal family. Lee In says that it will only happen once he is dead. She threatens to leave the palace. Lee In says that he will relocate his residence instead. He asks her to never summon Mong Woo again and leaves.

Outside, he asks Hee Soo if she was hurt after hearing she won’t be his concubine. She says that she would have resented and cut him off from her life if he did. Lee In mentions that he was indeed swayed for a moment but his mother’s words brought him back to senses. Hee Soo asks when was he going to tell her about the Emperor’s summons, and he says he would have never told her. He says he is firm on not sending her to Beijing and leaves.

At the court, Je Nam tries to convince Lee In to send Mong Woo to Beijing and to issue a decree for a new queen. Only then can they get the public support and ensure there is no resistance from the court regarding the Border Defense Council’s removal. Je Nam later talks to Hee Soo that he did not advice the king because she said so. He only did because he thinks it would be good for her to be away from Lee In.

Will Mong Woo go to Qing?

That night, Mr Ju arrives at Lee In’s chambers informing him that Senior Court Lady Han has agreed to not speak about Mong Woo’s true identity. Jung Je Pyo has been staying in Iksan Magistracy for the last few days. Lee In orders Mr Ju to keep a watch on Jun Je Pyo and report to him.

The next morning, Mong Woo talks to Lee In that he wants to go to Qing. Lee In is angry to hear that. Mong Woo tries to make him see that he can get closer to the emperor and gain his trust. Mong Woo says that he also wants to see his father. Lee in feels helpless that he cannot protect Mong Woo. He gives Mong Woo the approval to go to Qing and he says he will not fail.

That night, Mong Woo relays the news to his house-help. Lee In decides to get amnesty for Dal Ha and send him along with Mong Woo to Qing. Mr Ju visits Dal Ha to relay the news. Dal Ha asks for a few days’ time to deal with a matter, but Mr Ju realizes it is about Hyun Bo and warns Dal Ha against doing anything against the rules.

What happened to Hyun Bo?

Hyun Bo is living a miserable life in exile. He is shocked to see Dal Ha. He ends up killing his servant after the servant bashes him for having noblemen’s tantrums when he has been branded a traitor. Hyun Bo runs away into the forest and ends up straight to Dal Ha. He and Dal Ha end up in a scuffle but Dal Ha manages to slit Hyun Bo’s throat.

Myung Ha informs Mong Woo that Hyun Bo is dead, and Mong Woo is visibly stunned. Myung Ha asks Mong Woo about his journey to Qing. Mong Woo says he will be bidding farewell to Lee In the next day and leave the day after. Myung Ha wishes him well for the journey.

 Mong Woo visits Crown Prince Munseong too to bid him farewell. Munseong tearfully hugs Mong Woo and asks him to send his regards to his sister. Then finally, Mong Woo heads to visit Lee In but returns home. Mong Woo is surprised to find Dal Ha there. Dal Ha seems to be at peace after killing Hyun Bo. The following morning Mr Ju arrives at Mong Woo’s residence.

Lee In has summoned Mong Woo but has sent along some attire as well. He sent a pretty hanbok for Mong Woo aka Hee Soo to wear and meet him. He is stunned by her beauty. He tells her that they will be spending the day together as an ordinary couple.

They stroll in the field, and stop by a lake. Lee In shows her how to skip stones over water but she outshines him there. He takes her to a cottage and he tries to get the flame working. At night, Hee Soo mentions that she had a dream three years ago that he had visited her at the State Tribunal. He says it wasn’t a dream. He then proceeds to make requests to Hee Soo regarding her visit to Qing.

He asks her to not act rashly against the Emperor for he might fall for her after seeing her fiery spirit. He asks her to lose one of the three baduk games so that the Emperor won’t keep her until he wins. Lastly, he asks her to not forget that she is his gidaeryeong.

She also makes a few requests. First is to not trouble Mr Ju in her absence. Second, is to not be alone at Yeonchwijeong. Third, to appoint a new queen soon. He cuts her off by kissing her. After they break the kiss, she asks why he has not asked for her name yet. He reminds her of her rule that she would reveal the name upon the opponent winning a game of baduk. He has not won a game yet hence he isn’t asking her name.

She promises to let him have a fair chance at winning after she comes back from Qing. He promises to win the game and know her name then. Hee Soo leaves the next day as scheduled. Lee In misses her and he says he will not return to Yeonchwijeong until she is back. The place is to be locked until she returns.

What happens after Mong Woo leaves for Qing?

The scene moves 9 months forward. A minister writes a letter to Mong Woo enquiring about his whereabouts and informing about the reforms in Joseon. Lee In announces for noblemen to pay the taxes as well. He also investigates the royal family and their relatives for any misdeeds. Many have monopolized the salt business and he orders the ministers to investigate the matter and punish the culprits.

The minister mentions that he is concerned about Lee In letting Jun Je Pyo go unchecked. Myung Ha is now the Third Minister of War. The princess is returning to the capital after the sudden death of Prince Rui. He expects Mong Woo to return but there are rumours that Mong Woo is now the Emperor’s gidaejo aka. the same position as a gidaeryeong.

What happened to the Queen Dowager?

Over the time, the Queen Dowager and Lee In have also distanced. The Head Eunuch finds her at a remote temple. He asks her about her return on the king’s behalf. She asks him to ask the king to visit her himself if he cares about her return. Lee In is leaving to go somewhere, when Je Nam and other ministers greet him with the news about Qing’s envoy.

The envoy has reached Mohwa Guesthouse. He approves Jun Je Pyo to receive the envoy and the Princess. He asks him to take Myung Ha along. After he leaves, Je Nam puts his concern across that Je Pyo is planning to side with the Emperor and become a spy for Qing now that Prince Rui is no more. Lee In notes the concerns and assures them that he has a plan in mind.

Myung Ha spots a familiar face in the market, but does not follow after them, but he visits Mong Woo’s residence at night instead. He is confident that Mong Woo has returned. Mong Woo informs Myung Ha that Dal Ha stayed back with his father in Beijing. Mong Woo came back with Bun-yeong.

Mong Woo does not plan to inform Lee In of his return, and he will leave again after the princess and Bun-yeong safely return to their posts. He requests Myung Ha to keep quiet about the matter.

What happens to Princess Jangryeong and Bun-yeong?

Next, we see Bun-yeong greet Lee In. He thanks her for her support in providing reports on the Qing royal family. She informs that Prince Rui grew fearful of Lee In since the execution of the Principal Director. He grants her permission to ask for a gift as appreciation of her work, but she politely refuses. Lee In proceeds to thank the Qing envoy for bringing the princess safely back to Joseon.

The Qing envoy asks about handing over the criminal who went against the Emperor – Jun Je Pyo is the said criminal. There is evidence showing that Prince Rui plotted treason just before his sudden death. Jun Je Pyo is commanded to confess his crimes and be beheaded as punishment for being a party to the ploy. Jun Je Pyo pleads for mercy and Lee In reminds him of his own words from all those years ago where he favoured the Qing over Joseon.

That night, Bun-yeong returns to her family. Myung Ha announces that she and her parents will receive a large residence and great fortune from the king. Bun-yeong’s father politely refuses the offer. He wishes to wait in service of Hee Soo’s father Lord Kang. Myung Ha asks what Mong Woo has decided to do next.

Mong Woo says he will leave at daybreak and seek refuge in Master Choam’s residence, but he has not decided anything further than that. Myung Ha asks him to send word from time to time as Sang Hyo is also worried about Mong Woo. Mong Woo says he might fully follow up on the request.

Mong Woo and Jaggeunnyeon leave the following morning. Sang Hyo beacons Myung Ha for the morning assembly but Myung Ha says they won’t need to attend. Minister Hwan is leaving and informs Sang Hyo that the assembly is postponed. Sang Hyo is surprised that Myung Ha knew that beforehand.

Do Lee In and Mong Woo get together?

Next we see Mong Woo and Jaggeunnyeon hiking up a mountain and take a short pit stop. Mong Woo talks about the clear skies and the maid says it would be difficult if it rained. Jaggeunnyeon heads away to fetch some fresh water. Mong Woo is taking in the fresh air when he gets up and heads to a tree. Lee In is sitting under the tree with a baduk table.

He asks what took Mong Woo so long. Mong Woo wonders how Lee In knows about his travel path. Lee In says that Myung Ha informed him. Lee In asks if Mong Woo would have truly left without meeting him. He asks if Mong Woo has a new lover. Mong Woo says he has no place for a new one. He asks Lee In why he has been alone all this while; Lee In says he always had Mong Woo in his heart so he wasn’t alone.

Mong Woo said that he was waiting for a rain shower to meet Lee In again, just like they had met the first time. Lee In says that he will no longer wait for Mong Woo and leans in for a kiss. Atop the mountain, Jaggeunyeon sees Mr Ju and breaks down in tears.

Tearfully still, she reprimands him for coming later for Hee Soo waited so long for Lee In. Mr Ju is flustered and apologises. She cries tears of joy. Mong Woo and Lee In engage in a game of baduk and Mong Woo reveals her name to Lee In. Lee In says that he will no longer be separated from her and will spend the rest of their lives together. The episode, and thus the series comes to a conclusion.

The Episode Review

Well, what a finale! After quite a ‘will they won’t they’, Lee In and Mong Woo finally do get together. The episode, and thus the series, ended on an open ending, despite a happy one for the lead pair. It would have been great if there was an epilogue showing Lee In and Hee Soo living together happily.

He showed no signs of making her the queen, for it would only add strain on their relationship. But then how will they stay together? It was also nice to see Myung Ha getting his respect in the court. Each negative character met their own end. The Queen Dowager lived till old age, but at what cost? She only became a shell of a person she was before.