Episode 4 of "Dear Hongrang" unfolds with a grim decree issued by the nobleman, mandating Jae-yi's demise to prevent the exposure of Hong-rang's concealed identity. Meanwhile, Yeon-ui convenes an urgent guild meeting, summoning all merchants under her purview. She lays out her plan: those who align with her and Hong-rang shall be handsomely rewarded, whereas those who side with Yeol-guk face certain doom. The merchants, wise to the nuances of power dynamics, caution Yeon-ui that to truly sway the guild's allegiance, she must first capture the hearts of the patrons.
Havingwind of the meeting, Yeol-guk orchestrates a clever trap, enlisting the aid of a forger. Amidst this intricate scheme, he encounters a hooded woman whose fragrance evokes haunting memories of his beloved Kkot-nim. A nostalgic flashback unravels, revealing Kkot-nim's pregnancy and Yeol-guk's desperate desire to flee with her. However, Yeon-hui interventions, imprisoning Kkot-nim and presenting Yeol-guk with an ultimatum that forces him to remain at her side. Heartbroken, Yeol-guk bears the brunt of Mun Gyu-ha's wrath—Kkot-nim's brother who, consumed by grief and blame, succumbs to alcoholism and ultimately perishes.
In the present, Jae-yi's weakening body succumbs to malnutrition, prompting Hong-rang to rush her to a clinic amidst his concerns. In a tender dreamscape, she envisions Little Hong-rang clutching her hand, a vision that serendipitously mirrors as Fake Hong-rang's own hand finds hers in a moment of poignant synchronicity.
When Jae-yi finally steps back into her home, her spirit is crushed. Mu-jin, recognizing his culpability, offers an apology for everything and readily embraces Hong-rang as their genuine sibling. Unbeknownst to them, Hong-rang catches wind of their conversation and realizes that Mu-jin was the perpetrator who switched the wine, while Jae-yi bore the brunt to shield him. He feels a surge of frustration that she kept this truth concealed from him.
Hong-rang's esteemed great uncle expresses a desire to meet him, and Yeol-guk, recognizing the importance, grants his approval for the journey. Hong-rang, hoping for some solace, requests Jae-yi's companionship. However, both Mu-jin and Yeon-ui are displeased, albeit for contrasting reasons.
Switching gears to the guild's intricate machinations, Yeon-ui presents a painting to Lord Hong, a prominent patron. Subsequently, Yeol-guk also bestows the same painting upon Hong, who is now thoroughly perplexed. It transpires that Yeon-ui's offering was a meticulously crafted forgery, while Yeol-guk's painting bore a subtle watermark from the Jins, the esteemed appraisers, authenticating its authenticity. Enraged by Yeol-guk's maneuver, Yeon-ui discovers with horror that all the paintings in their storeroom are fakes, meaning every gift she bestowed upon her patrons was a deception.
Back on their journey, Jae-yi and Hong-rang find themselves in a constant spat, ignited by Jae-yi's discovery of a helpless baby bird. Hong-rang, despite his playful antics, aids her in reuniting the chick with its nest. As they draw nearer to their destination, Hong-rang's anxiety mounts; he harbors a grim order to eliminate Jae-yi during their travels. Upon their arrival, the uncle remains vigilant, and Jae-yi struggles to convincingly vouch for Hong-rang's true identity.
To ascertain his authenticity, the uncle subjects Hong-rang to a cruel test involving fire, referencing the burns Hong-rang and his father once endured. The faux Hong-rang remains steadfast, weaving a tale of harrowing ordeals endured during his captivity that seem to surpass even the fiery trial. Though skeptical, the uncle lets the matter pass.
Before their departure, the uncle's disdain for the Sims' corrupt deeds becomes unmistakable. He issues a stern warning to Hong-rang, cautioning him that harming the innocent comes with dire repercussions.
Hong-rang's inner turmoil disrupts his meticulously laid plans, and his journey takes an unexpected detour when Jae-yi, in a spontaneous moment, decides to strip and plunge into the water during their nocturnal campsite respite. Though captivated by her boldness, Hong-rang's eyes are soon drawn to shadowy figures lurking in the periphery—assassins. Summoning his wits, he maneuvers to lead them away and effortlessly disables them. A memory flashes back, revealing Mu-jin's order to the assassins to safeguard Jae-yi from Hong-rang's advances. However, after Mu-jin's departure, a subordinate betrayal unfolds, paying extra to ensure Hong-rang's demise.
In the present, Hong-rang encounters a frazzled Jae-yi, haunted by fears of his abrupt disappearance. A feline's sudden appearance startles her, prompting an instinctive leap into Hong-rang's protective embrace. His amusement at her reaction is met with her exasperation. As they venture onward, Jae-yi's attention is drawn to the telltale sign of his injured leg, prompting an unbidden outpouring of frustrated tears, stemming from her constant worry over his penchant for danger.
Elsewhere, Yeon-ui pleads for the shaman's intervention, to which the shaman replies cryptically, hinting that an imitation can never replicate the authenticity of the genuine article. This enigmatic statement ignites Yeon-ui's determination, leading her to convene an urgent meeting with the patrons and Yeol-guk. She produces the Jin verifier, who stunningly reverses his earlier stance, claiming the watermark on the painting indicates its forgery. A memory reveals Yeon-ui's coercion, forcing him to falsify the watermark's authenticity.
To cement her deceit and prevent any artist or appraiser from uncovering the fakes, Yeon-ui sets the Jin storage ablaze, consuming all the authentic paintings within. Echoing the shaman's words, Yeon-ui's actions leave Yeol-guk in disbelief and horror, appalled by her willingness to sacrifice art for the sake of her tarnished reputation.
At the inn, Jae-yi finds herself mortified by her unexpected outpouring of emotions. Hong-rang, her face etched with sadness, reveals an overwhelming empathy, which startles In-hoe. Sensing his shock, Hong-rang swiftly dismisses it as mere pity. Upon returning home, Yeon-ui, still basking in the afterglow of her triumph, extends a kind gesture towards Jae-yi. Meanwhile, the nobleman reprimands Hong-rang for sparing Jae-yi's life, insisting that her death was a necessity. Hong-rang counters by suggesting they can still utilize Jae-yi, emphasizing her Sim lineage, hinting that all that's required is to gain her trust. A woman in the crowd wonders aloud if such manipulation is truly feasible.
The scene shifts abruptly to the nobleman, Mun Gyu-ha, rushing towards a startled Yeol-guk. Mun Gyu-ha's demeanor is filled with accusation as he scolds Yeol-guk for Kkot-nim's demise. As Episode 4 draws to a close, a revelation unfolds: the woman who had posed the question to Hong-rang earlier is revealed to be Kkot-nim herself. Hong-rang warmly greets her, addressing her with the endearing term "mother."
