Hoon’s the kingmaker, a person who wields the power to choose and designate important people in an organization and thus, shape the future goals and policies of the organization. Hoon’s not merely dealing with an arrangement between couples and families, but the perfect personnel for a monarchy.
Hoon didn’t intend to be the most influential person in the court but unwittingly, he becomes the one to decide the future Queen. Both his father, the Prime Minister, and the Jihwan’s dad, the Vice Premier, are seeking to become the power-behind-the-throne through marriage alliance. They’re pushing forward a family relative to be the candidate for queen.
Hoon, on the other hand, is seeking protection from the throne, for Gaedong, rather than power. So he’s re-booting the wedding preparation that was interrupted.
Now, the title of this episode is “Love Hidden Within the Heart: Marguerite Daisy.”
Whereas in other episodes, the theme can be spread equally among all the characters, I believe that in this episode, the primary focus is on Hoon. Sure, the King still has to hide his love for Gaedong, and Gaedong has to repress her feelings for Hoon. But from the first six minutes of the show, the spotlight is on Hoon. This episode is about his dilemma.
Hoon: I will take care of the marriage.
Soo: Why did you change your mind?
Hoon: Let’s call it an unpaid debt. Because you two couldn’t get married, I’m taking responsibility.
This is a lie. His ulterior motive in wanting to marry off Gaedong to the King is her protection.
Soo: Matchmaker, what responsibility do you bear?
Hoon: (he looks down and exhales) I am responsible as a matchmaker for not fulfilling my duty.
Even his body language gives his deception away. Earlier, he was able to look Soo straight in the eye because he came prepared to state the agenda. But the real reason for his sudden change of heart is intentionally hidden…like the title. So when Soo asks him a personal question, his body gives him away. He averts his eyes.
Hoon: (looks at him again) Are you confident?
Soo: What do you mean?
Hoon: Your Majesty is not Kim Soo, a mere nobleman. Even if you know you’re king of this country, do you intend to have Gaedong with you?
He’s looking at Soo again because he’s watching for his reaction. He wants Soo to be certain. Now, it’s Soo who can’t meet his eyes.
Soo: (hesitating) That is…
Hoon: It’s my duty to clear the path, but the choice is hers to make. So, Your Majesty, you will personally have to win Gaedong’s heart.
I like this clause. While Soo’s clearing the palace so Gaedong can safely find a home in the palace, Hoon’s paving the way for Gaedong to enter that palace as a noblewoman. But while both men are preparing a path for her, in the end, it’s Gaedong’s decision whether to enter the palace or not. Hoon wants this clear from the onset.
I also like this stipulation because it shows Hoon dictating the terms and limits of his employment. Soo can’t renege and force Gaedong to marry him if Gaedong chooses to marry another one (cough.cough. Hoon himself).
Notice: Hoon’s steady gaze compared to Soo’s wavering eyes. It’s Soo who looks down again. Often, this can be taken as a sign of hesitation or nervousness. But judging by his next words, it’s a sign of his weakness. Soo’s unprepared.
Soo: (nodding) In exchange, please keep this a secret until I’m ready. Am I not still a figurehead king who has difficulty protecting himself? When I can protect Gaedong, I’ll tell her myself.
Hoon: I understand. (exchanging bows) Be wary of the Prime Minister
Soo: You know the Prime Minister?
Hoon: Is there anyone in this country who doesn’t know the Prime Minister?
Outside the pavilion, Hoon says, “Father, I will protect her no matter what.”
There! That’s his real motive that he hid from the King.
Meanwhile, Gaedong can’t sleep because she’s replaying the scene at the Prime Minister’s house when Hoon charged in to rescue her. She tells herself not to be swayed and read too much into it. Hoon was merely “talking.” It was normal for him to shout “Don’t touch even a single fingertip of this young lady.” Anyone would have done to to defend someone in trouble.
She looks at the box containing Soo’s hairpin and reminds herself that she must go back to her proper place. But what can she do if she keeps thinking of Hoon?
Hoon knocks on her door and she quickly blows out the light to pretend to sleep. Hoon tells her that he knows that she’s awake and needs to talk to her. “So come out for a moment.”
Outside, he asks her if she still wants to learn to become a noble lady?
GD: (pouting) Why ask? You won’t help me.
Hoon: I’ll give it to you, that opportunity.
GD: (happy) Are you sure?
Hoon: I’ll bring you to Kim Soo’s side.
GD: (face falling) Are you saying…to Soo?
Hoon: Don’t you want to become a noble lady so that you can be with him?
GD thinks about this for a while. No, she really doesn’t want to become a noble lady to be with Soo. She had come to him for help to save herself and her brother from JiHyan. But she doesn’t want to return to Soo. She thinks Hoon wants her to go back to Soo, however, so she nods her head, tearfully.
Let’s establish this now: she wants to become a lady for two reasons: for her brother AND for Hoon. She’s agreeing to become a lady because Hoon wants her to return to Soo. Soo is only a secondary consideration for her.
This is noble idiocy, literally. hahaha.
Hoon: Will you not regret it? Your life will change.
GD: (sighing) I will not regret it.
Hoon: Alright. It’ll be better if you prepared yourself since I’m quite harsh.
He leaves.
GD: (to herself) If this is the original place that you meant I should return to, I will do so.
Meaning, her decision is based on her PERCEPTION of Hoon’s plans. If he wants her to go to Soo’s side because that’s what he considers her “original” place, then she’ll follow his order.
Hoon: (to himself) The Annals of Flower Crew, Article 15. Regarding a client’s marriage, a matchmaker must not have personal feelings. I must not. I must not. I must not.
That’s why again the title is “Love Hidden Within the Heart.”
Although everybody else has a secret love, Hoon is the only one who cannot confide in anyone ever. The King has confided in him. Gaeddong confided in Lady Im with her “imaginary” client’s problem. But Hoon cannot unburdened himself to anyone. DoJoon can guess, but Hoon neither confirms or denies it.
That’s because he cannot have personal feelings for her. It goes beyond the Flower Crew rulebook, actually. Whatever emotions he has, he must hide them within his heart so Gaedong won’t waver and the King can proceed with his marriage plans. At a great risk to all of them, Hoon is making Gaedong into a Queen since that’s the only way he can think of to stop the Prime Minister from hurting her.
BTW, there’s a logic flaw in the plot, but let’s ignore it for now, for our enjoyment.
Hoon is ready to play the most Machiavellian game ever.
From Episode 8:
Soo: What brings you here at such a late hour, Mr Matchmaker? (note: Hoon demanded audience with the King right away, and he got it.)
Hoon: Your Majesty, is your intention to wed still valid?
Soo: (blinks) Yes. (note: blinking is a sign of nervousness, stress, and lying)
Hoon: This will be a deceit which shows contempt for everyone in Joseon. If something goes wrong, everyone will not emerge safely. But must you still proceed?
Soo: (blinks again) Yes.
Hoon: Very well. I will take care of this marriage.
Why does he call their marriage plan “a deceit which shows contempt for everyone in Joseon?”
Answer: because they’re circumventing the rule of order and laws of the nation. In a way, he’s his father’s son. He’s copying his father’s actions, albeit without bloodshed and for apolitical reasons.
His father, too, changed the monarchy by killing the rightful Crown Prince and installing a different King in his place. Hoon, too, is about to change monarchy by putting a slave in the position of a Queen. Both acts are considered treasonous.
However, I can say this:
If Gaedong does end up as Queen, then Hoon has hand-picked the best father-in-law for Soo. Lord Yoon. He’s the one member of the court who doesn’t seek political power. And he’s the connection from the scholars that’s greatly needed by Soo to legitimize his hold on the throne and to guide him in his decision-making for the nation. Soo needs Lord Yoon at his side as much as he needs Gaedong.
So, here’s the “out” you’re looking for then, @nrllee. Gaedong can very well end up as the consort of the King, and Gaedong and Hoon’s love will be sacrificed in the service of the King. Ha! It’s not over yet for Soo.
I’m putting this alternative ending out there to prepare us emotionally in case the endgame isn’t Gaedong and Hoon. Let’s remember that this kdrama is televised on JTBC which has shown itself willing to give its viewers a heartbreak.
*********
will continue with my review on Episode 9 later.
That alternate ending is sad and frustrating but on second thought, it actually makes sense. After all, it’s Soo who can’t live without the girl. Hoon, on the other hand, is willing to lose Gae-dong to protect her. The problem is Gae-dong. She’s certain of her feelings now but if that ending happens later on, maybe she’ll be forced to marry Soo to protect his brother and Hoon? 🤔
Jeez, is there a single drama out there where characters aren’t driven by their perceived need to protect someone else AKA noble idiocy? 🙄😂
I want to see how the script writes it such that GD and Hoon will end up together because there will be no resolution if GD & Soo end up together. Obviously the former has fallen in love. Soo is the one who will have the power to do what he wants as king, we will see if he will stay to his character as a kind person or be changed because of the love he can’t get. (Can tell I have watched ep.10) and this is where I sit at the edge of my chair and wonder what’s gonna happen next.
Actually, if Hoon wanted power to influence the nation or whatever, he should seriously consider the proposal he received at the end of Episode 9. The couple would inherit the power and influence of both clans – which covers the ministers of the left and ministers of the right…talk about power behind the throne.
🙂 Too bad political power isn’t his ambition. And remember, his father approached VP Kang about marrying their two children but snooty Kang said no. Hoon was only a matchmaker. Just like DoJoon is only a purveyor of secrets, in Jihya’s eyes. Like father, like daughter.
Hoon only wants to protect Gaedong from HIS FATHER so he returns her to Lee Soo.
So there’s actually another option for him. 😂 Shhhh. 🤫
“So, here’s the “out” you’re looking for then, @nrllee. Gaedong can very well end up as the consort of the King, and Gaedong and Hoon’s love will be sacrificed in the service of the King. Ha! It’s not over yet for Soo.”
Bravo for the alternate ending 👏. But I just had a look and this is a newbie writer…Kim YiRang. Will she be courageous enough to go for such a “shocking” end after having groomed the audience to be team Hoon? Especially as this is her inaugural piece? 🤔. Actually people in the other forum are already raining curses on her for bad writing. Personally I quite like her floral accents and the dialogue has been good. There are many positives to take away for her. Yes there are some flaws but she’s a vast improvement from the Writers of Vagabond 🙄.
Anyway I am wondering how she will deliver come uppance for Hoon’s father. Hoon still cares for him. Hence why he sent Lady Yim to “save his father’s face” and he told her to say what she did when she made her way to the Palace. I am not sure the father is redeemable. That act of kindness (and filial piety) from Hoon seemed to have the opposite effect culminating in the tragic death of the Palace maid. I can’t see him (Hoon) killing his father, even for the sake of GD. Soo will have to do that on his behalf? With the death of the maid, I am more inclined to think that the writer is happy for death of side characters (maybe not main ones) to move the plot along. So GD’s Brother is fair game. As is fashionista Crew member. And potentially Soo’s eunuch. As you mentioned Lord Yun seems to be the only candidate who will bring justice in the Palace again so he needs to return to re-establish equilibrium. As for GD…the actress killed the character for me so I don’t really care. 😂. I really only want her alive and with Hoon for his sake.
@nrlle “I really only want her alive and with Hoon for his sake.” 😂 Same! That’s why I hope the alternate ending won’t happen lol
hahaha. I could come up with another alternative ending, you know.
How about this: Hoon sends his father to exile? He gets Gaeddong and adds her name Yoon Seo Yoo to his family registry and Soo can’t do anything about it.
That’s the cleanest.
The third option is kill off Soo but the Prime Minister wouldn’t want that because other prince, who’s probably living in China or someplace, isn’t one of his people but the Vice Premier’s people.
The thing is: Lord Yoon is important to the King because he’s an upright man. Lord Yoon is now the father-on-paper of Gaedoong. That makes Gaedong a more attractive candidate for queen.
I think the Prime Minister wouldn’t mind Lord Yoon getting more power in court as long as Lord Kang doesn’t. They’re rivals.
But now, Lord Kang will be after Gaedong, too. hahaha.
As I said, the easiest way out of trouble for Gaedong is marrying Hoon. His father won’t mind her connection with Lord Yoon. His father is only after her because she’s the King’s love.
@packmule3 😱 I just posted something under Love Knot and I found the answer here! I asked what circumstances would make Hoon go full Yong-sik in pursuing Gae-dong and you said it: to protect her, of course. ➡️ “As I said, the easiest way out of trouble for Gaedong is marrying Hoon. His father won’t mind her connection with Lord Yoon. His father is only after her because she’s the King’s love.” 👏👏👏👏👏
“How about this: Hoon sends his father to exile? He gets Gaeddong and adds her name Yoon Seo Yoo to his family registry and Soo can’t do anything about it.”
Yes Father in exile is the cleanest. So long as Soo can have his fury assuaged somehow. I think he actually would make a good King, he has the elements there, he just lacks experience and powerful backing. With Lord Yun in the picture, he will have the power and benefit from the wisdom/experience from someone who’s been there before and has shown that he doesn’t desire power. With Father in exile, Hoon’s pretty much relinquished his desire to become nobility again anyway so no loss to him. And that will pave the way for GD to stay in Flower Crew as one of the members with Hoon to helm it…and they can walk the flowery path together 🌸. Better yet, have both Hoon’s father and JiHwa’s father exiled…clean house.
Did you get a weird vibe from DaeBi Mama and Soo? She’s kinda young enough to be his woman… which would be weird 😂. That was the first thing I noticed about her…I was expecting DaeBi to be much much older (and for her to act older that’s for sure 🙄).
I hope he’ll be gracious enough to let her go.
Viki’s taking its sweet time subbing Ep 10. 🙂
Yes. It would be interesting to see this writer’s spectrum of morality when he/she resolves the culpability of the characters and assigns punishment. I’m giving her plenty of leeway because of his/her youth and (in)experience.
So far, her viewpoints on love are consistent with traditional and cultural mores. They’re sound.
You’re right. Side characters, like the night maid, are treated as mere incidentals or extras to move the plot. That’s okay. We can’t have all the side characters be important characters. But I’m glad that she’s giving DoJoon and JiHya a substantial side story.