She never approved of the relationship between Song-yeon and San due to Song-yeon's low status and tried numerous ways to separate them. Lady Hyegyeong was also the main cause of Song-yeon's suffering when she became a concubine. Eventually, through Song-yeon's efforts, Lady Hyegyeong saw her good personality and started to finally accept her. When she learns that Song-yeon is pregnant, she finally acknowledges her as a royal concubine. Lady Hyegyeong is also responsible for the multiple concubines brought in to bear an heir. Queen Hyoui (played by Park Eun-hye) King Jeongjo's primary wife, born into the Cheongpung Kim clan. She was betrothed to San at the age of 10 and married him in her late teens (around 19). Hyoui is very kind, filial, refined, and honest, a model wife of the Joseon upper class. She has the respect of almost everyone in the palace and she does not abuse this power. Unfortunately, the Queen is unable to bear children and thus results in Jeongjo's mother bringing in multiple concubines. Queen Hyoui favors Song-yeon, and it is with her help that Song-yeon becomes a concubine and gives birth to a son. Queen Hyoui dies soon after King Jeongjo's death. King Yeongjo (played by Lee Soon-jae) Jeongjo's grandfather. He was the 21st King of Joseon before San took over. At the beginning of the series, Yeongjo has two surviving children from a concubine, his second son Crown Prince Sado, and a daughter, Princess Hwawan. King Yeongjo is a loving and experienced old man, but he is very firm on San so he can make him the next ruler. Yeongjo always suspected his second son of high treason, and throughout the series, that was shown. It was not till just before his death that he discovered that it had all been a plot. Yeongjo publicly made it known that it had been a false accusation and had his son's grave repaired. Like San, Yeongjo loved the people and when he knew he would die, he sneaked out of the palace and went to his private residence so that he could die among the people. Before dying, he commissioned Song-yeon to create a portrait of Crown Prince Sado to replace the ones that had been destroyed. Before dying, he looks at the painting while apologizing to his son for being a terrible father and promising him to be a better father to him in