One thing kdrama viewers have to remember about a pretend conversation with absent lover is that it works like a soliloquy.  Here, WonDeuk is alone in his room, imagining himself talking to HongShim and getting his emotions off his chest. It’s how the scriptwriter lets the viewers know the inner conflicts of WonDeuk and his next plan of action.

Here, I juxtaposed what HongShim was saying and what WonDeuk was thinking.

As I said in another post (and @oli agreed with me, too), that WonDeuk/Lee Yul was a man of his word; a man of honor. He wouldn’t run away from his responsibilities.

Since he was misled to believe that he had a wife and an unborn child to protect, he went back to the palace.  You could say that his sacrificing his happiness (and HongShim) for the good of the nation.

The frustrating thing about WonDeuk’s situation is that he’s locked in. Unless he finds a way to get his memory back on his own, he’s dependent on that useless moon-face mayor JeYoon to UNCOVER and reveal to him the mysteries in the palace, like the mysterious death of the Medical Nurse, the Chinese puzzle concerning “To exist,” “To desire” and “To bear,” the missing health records of the Crown Princess, the mysterious note containing the word “heel,” and the failed attempt on his former Eunuch’s life (isn’t JeYoon still keeping him hidden?).

All those scenes revolved around JeYoon. To me, the scriptwriter created his character to put these missing pieces together and help Lee Yul regain his memory. But like in Episode 11 when he failed in his ONE task to rescue WonDeuk before Minister Kim got to him, he’s again withholding vital information from Lee Yul. Sure, the CP ordered him to stop investigation, but after the attempted assassination and amnesia, prudence should have told him to open up with Lee Yul about his investigations in the palace.

But I guess, since he’s in love with HongShim, it would be better to get Lee Yul out of the way.  All’s fair in love and war, as they say.

Also, I saw how he avoided the gisaeng’s eyes when she suggested that WonDeuk might send for HongShim.

AE: Is she seriously the only one on your mind? My heart goes to the Highness. He must live his life with a woman he does not love.
JY: If they were not close as they say, how could she be with child?
AE: The court must have nagged him to give birth to a son.
JY: Even if they were not close, that will change once the baby is born.
AE: You never know. His Highness might order his lady from Songjoo to come to the palace.
JY: He will not be able to do that.
AE: How so?

The answer: he gave HongShim a new identity.

JY knew that she was leaving for another place and made it difficult even for somebody with clout and power as the Crown Prince Lee Yul to seek her out and follow her by giving her a new identity. HongShim was going to travel under a different alias that HE had chosen for her.

So shady this JaeYoon. Really, when you have friends like this who needs enemies.