Hwajung

Princess Jung Myung was the only direct descendant of King Seonjo still alive and when she was born, her birth was celebrated around the palace. She had the sweetest smile a baby could have. Queen Inmok was relieved that she had a baby girl instead of a boy. According to the seer Nam Sa Go, the baby she carried would become the true ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, a king of kings and have a princess proved the prophecy to be wrong. But the turbulent times took a heavy toll on Princess Jung Myung. Upon the death of King Seonjo, Gwanghae ascended the throne and his first order of business was to eliminate Prince Yeongchang and banish Queen Inmok from the palace. Then his next target was Princess Jung Myung. When Inmok learned that her daughter’s life was in danger, she sent her into hiding. But assassins tracked Jung Myung down. Through the heroic sacrifice of her bodyguard, Jung Myung was put on a boat that sailed adrift in the sea. Meanwhile, the bodyguard and nanny set their boat ablaze and died to fool the assassins. Jung Myung witnessed her nanny and bodyguard consumed by the flames. Adrift on the boat, Jung Myung lost consciousness and was picked up by a merchant boat crossing to Dejima in Japan. She was sold as a slave.