Episode 2 of "The Scandal of Chun-hwa" kicks off with whispers and rumors swirling around Hwa-ri, still reeling from her recent romantic disappointment. On the very same day, her cousin prepares to wed a youthful bride, adding salt to Hwa-ri's wounds. In a quest for solace, she ventures to her aunt's abode, where she pours out her frustration at being denied the agency to choose her own life partner.
Meanwhile, Ji-won and Hwa-seong share an unbreakable bond of love, standing in stark contrast to the cold, loveless union between Crown Prince Lee Seung and the Crown Princess. Their relationship lacks warmth, serving as a stark reminder of the contrasts in love within the narrative.
Elsewhere, Hwa-ri engages in a heated negotiation with her father over the terms of her impending marriage, steadfastly demanding the right to select her own prince consort. The king, invoking tradition, refuses her plea. However, the queen steps in, brokering a compromise. Hwa-ri will indeed have a say in her husband, but only from a predetermined pool of candidates curated by her parents. To facilitate this, the queen orchestrates an elegant tea gathering.
But Concubine Kim, ever scheming to undermine the queen's authority, cunningly plans a charity event on the very same day, intended to aid famine-stricken citizens. Consequently, the queen's tea party finds itself deserted, save for one enigmatic guest—the mysterious man whom Hwa-ri had previously encountered during her brother's brothel ordeal.
It is at this juncture that we finally uncover his true identity: Choi Hwan, a notorious playboy and the nation's wealthiest merchant, whose ambition to become the prince consort is an open secret. He unabashedly confesses his fascination with Hwa-ri, revealing his desire to ascend to such a lofty position. Seeking to capitalize on the situation, Choi Hwan devises a cunning plan.
At the bustling charity market, Hwa-ri and Choi Hwan arrive, armed with sacks of rice, distributing them to the populace in the queen's honored name. Their benevolent actions serve to restore the queen's favor in the eyes of the public. Impressed by Choi Hwan's assistance, the king bestows upon him a boon to be redeemed at a future date.
Later that fateful night, Hwa-ri finds herself in the company of Choi Hwan at a brothel, meticulously adorned by him in her honor. Their conversation is a delicate tapestry of charm and candor, with Choi Hwan openly acknowledging that his aspiration to become prince consort stems not only from his enchantment with Hwa-ri but also from the cachet and social standing it promises. In a tender moment of vulnerability, the two share an intimate connection, as elsewhere, the crown princess, against her will, shares a bed with Lee Seung. The episode concludes on a passionate note, with Hwa-ri and Choi Hwan exchanging an fiery kiss, their emotions igniting in the dimly lit room.
