Forbidden Quest

At the start, Yoon-seo returns home to a family pressing him to file a false appeal against the Lim family. He refuses to betray the truth, despite his elders' anger and expectations. The scene establishes his moral compass amid a ruthless political culture.

Back at court, the King tasks Yoon-seo with finding who replaced Jung-bin's mounted painting with an exact copy. Yoon-seo is impressed by the artist's talent and is drawn into the case. Jung-bin herself recognizes his knowledge and invites future discussion about art.

Yoon-seo and Gwang-hun search a shop to locate the culprit. In the basement, they encounter an old man transcribing an erotic story book, hinting at the book's importance. A fight erupts upstairs, and Yoon-seo is knocked unconscious while Gwang-hun drags him away to his own home.

Back at the shop, the old man admits he doesn't want to protect the mounters, but another friend is involved and cannot betray him. Yoon-seo promises to protect the old man's identity. Before leaving, Yoon-seo reads a few verses from the erotic manuscript, initially outraged by porn in the city but curious about the author's significance; later he reports that he found the culprits and has them flogged fifty times.

Jung-bin invites Yoon-seo around for tea to thank him. When a bee lands on her, he breaks protocol by stepping beyond the curtain to brush it off, risking his life. Jung-bin does not report the breach and instead seems to be warming to him.

Yoon-seo writes an indecent book and returns to the shop, asking the shopkeeper to read it. Hwang, the shopkeeper, is impressed, and they decide to copy and sell the work. The book becomes a bestseller, boosting their fortunes.

Seeking better sales, Yoon-seo asks Lee Gwang-hun to illustrate the book. Gwang-hun is initially outraged, but he eventually agrees. The collaboration begins to fuse their talents and complicates loyalties.

Jung-bin sends an embroidered kerchief via her eunuch and urges Yoon-seo not to accept. He accepts anyway and later meets Jung-bin for a private encounter. They begin to cuddle, but Yoon-seo leaves when she tries to kiss him.

To help the illustrator, the shopkeeper and publisher, Yoon-seo hides behind a wall when the illustrator and Jung-bin meet. He then documents the affair in his next book, and Jung-bin confronts him, demanding the illustrator's name; he refuses to betray his friend.

Jung-bin has Yoon-seo sent to the town prison, where he is tied to the ceiling and beaten. Gwang-hun cannot stop the punishment, but the ruler remains loyal to the thrill of torture; eventually the contraption breaks his legs. The King remains satisfied, while Jung-bin's ruthlessness grows.

Gwang-hun orchestrates a jailbreak and escapes with the shopkeeper's group while Jung-bin's eunuch pursues. A violent clash ensues between the shop's people and the eunuch's warriors, and the eunuch is killed in battle. Yoon-seo narrowly avoids capture by threatening to reveal the eunuch as the illustrator.

Back at the palace, Jung-bin finally concedes and the King learns that Yoon-seo's truth is his love for Jung-bin, not a betrayal. He offers to castrate Yoon-seo to be with her, but Jung-bin takes the blame for seduction. Yoon-seo declares his love, and Jung-bin says she will wait for them in the next life.

Yoon-seo is exiled to a remote island to continue writing; Jung-bin remains at the palace to rot. The city brands 'indecent' on Yoon-seo's forehead as punishment, marking him for life. His exile marks a personal victory shadowed by public shame.

In the closing moment, Yoon-seo, Gwang-hun, and the shopkeeper walk along the shore, discussing their future works. They mention a homosexual male erotic story and the discovery of moving pictures, hinting at new creative horizons. The trio remains bonded as they look toward a provocative future.