Episode 1 of "The Tale of Lady Ok" opens with an intriguing flashforward, depicting Ok Tae-young under scrutiny for possessing two husbands, while whispers circulate that she is none other than the fugitive slave, Gu-deok. The inquisitors, intent on apprehending her, ready their cuffs, yet Tae-young, well-versed in the law, expertly employs it to her advantage. A mob stones her, yet she remains imperturbable, her demeanor as cold as marble.
In the present narrative, the individual now under investigation is indeed Gu-deok, a slave whose spirits are as vibrant as a spring meadow. She dotes on her father with tender affection, yet her existence is overshadowed by the tyranny of her mistress, Lady Kim So-hye, whose threats of breaking Gu-deok's leg should she dare to escape loom large. Possessing a photographic memory, Gu-deok moonlights as a transcriber of books, nurturing a dream to accumulate enough funds to flee her oppressive existence.
Her father, though resigned to their fate, finds solace in Gu-deok's unwavering hope. She devises a covert signal, a beacon of freedom waiting to be lit. Yet, the Kim family's brutality casts a long shadow; they compelled Gu-deok's father to inter his wife alive in the snow, a cruel fate for a woman too ill to toil.
As Lady Kim So-hye prepares for her engagement to Song Seo-in, the eldest son of the former governor, the servants whisper in approval, viewing the union as a match made in hell—So-hye, cruel and unyielding, paired with Seo-in, an eccentric artist whose love for life transcends the confines of propriety. His slave, Soeddong, is his faithful companion, perpetually chasing after him.
Disguised as a servant, Seo-in sneaks out with Soeddong to the bustling fair, where gossip about So-hye flows freely. He learns of her monstrous nature but also of her reputation as an artist. Soeddong reveals that it is Gu-deok who secretly fuels So-hye's artistic endeavors. Their paths cross unexpectedly as Gu-deok sells peanuts amidst the fair's hustle and bustle. A playful exchange of wits and mocks about their masters sparks between her and Soeddong, while Seo-in listens intently, learning of So-hye's cruelty towards Gu-deok. Spotting the Kims, Gu-deok flees, her heart pounding with the thrill of narrowly escaping her tormentors.
As she slunk out stealthily, she inadvertently collided with Seo-in, who had transformed back into his regal attire. Embarrassed, she apologized for her previous teasing, but he promptly whisked her over to the wall as if to mete out punishment. Yet, his intentions were far from stern; he merely sought a kindred spirit to whom he could pour out his thoughts about the fair. To his astonishment, they shared a common love for the same books.
When he lambasted the lackluster performances at the fair, she gently chastised him, elaborating on how the downtrodden required a momentary escape from reality and how artists possessed the profound capability to lift people's spirits and alleviate their worries. His eyes widened in awe as he finally discerned the purpose of his art. Realizing his own self-absorption, he listened intently as she revealed her heartfelt dream of living by the sea and passing away peacefully in old age, rather than enduring a violent demise.
With a heartfelt apology for disrupting her peanut-selling venture, he presented her with a sparkling gem as a token of compensation. That night, as he penned his thoughts in his diary, a realization dawned upon him – he had inadvertently fallen for her.
It was Song's birthday, a day also marked by the announcement of a young couple's engagement. Gu-deok, now employed as a cook, faced an unexpected encounter when So-hye recognized her culinary creations and began searching for her. In a panic, Gu-deok sought refuge in Seo-in's garden and stumbled upon him. He questioned her reckless behavior but swiftly concealed her behind a partition when So-hye appeared.
So-hye attempted to engage him in light conversation, but he called her out on her cruelty and unilaterally terminated the engagement. Meanwhile, Gu-deok, who had discovered his diary, dropped it in shock upon hearing his decision. So-hye, catching her in the act, erroneously accused her of sleeping with Seo-in out of spite.
The Kim family beat Gu-deok mercilessly, their strikes unrelenting even when her father shielding her with his own body. They decided to enslave her as a concubine, and she silently signaled her father's understanding. Cleaned and dressed, she was taken to So-hye's father, Kim Nak-su. Left alone with him, Gu-deok attempted to murder him in a fit of rage. So-hye burst in, but for once, Gu-deok stood her ground and fought back.
With her father, she fled, secretly aided by other slaves. So-hye, enraged, hired slave hunters to capture them. Meanwhile, Mrs. Song railing against Seo-in as a disgrace pushed him to the brink, leading him to depart as an unwanted guest. Mr. Song, grief-stricken, dispatched Soeddong to watch over him. Seo-in's first act was to call off the slave hunters by offering their entire fortune to halt their search for Gu-deok and her father. Then, seeking his mother, he resolved to live at her gisaeng house, but upon learning of her demise, his world crumbled.
The two fugitive slaves braved the treacherous paths, trudging through snow-covered grounds and icy rivers. Gu-deok's father, wracked with guilt after losing their hard-earned money, incessantly scolded himself. When they finally stumbled upon an inn, he stealthily departed in the dead of night, unable to bear the burden of his misfortune upon her. Desperation led Gu-deok to barter Seo-in's precious gem with the innkeeper, yet her father remained elusive despite her relentless search. Moved by her plight, the innkeeper offered her employment, allowing her to stay and hope for her father's return.
A year flew by, and Gu-deok found herself living as the innkeeper's niece, shielding her from deceitful characters and constantly worried about her missing father. One fateful day, two unwelcome guests harassed her, prompting the innkeeper to eject them swiftly. Before they could cause further trouble, a procession arrived—a Qing envoy and his daughter, Ok Tae-young, who decided to halt their journey for a brief respite. Tae-young, unfazed by her privileged status, took an immediate liking to Gu-deok and desired to assist her. Their bond blossomed into friendship, and Tae-young confided in her dream of becoming a lawyer named Byeon-ho.
On the eve of their departure, the innkeeper implored them to take Gu-deok under their wing. The Oks, not only accommodating but also adopting her into their fold, granted her a new life. The innkeeper returned Gu-deok's gem and vowed to keep watch for her father. Tae-young, in a gesture of camaraderie, bestowed upon Gu-deok her grandmother's ring and shared the tales of her family, who had left Joseon in her childhood and were now returning after many years.
Their joy was abruptly shattered when the two troublemakers, accompanied by a band of ruthless thieves, launched a brutal attack. In the chaos, Tae-young's father and the innkeeper were slain, and their possessions were stolen. Gu-deok and Tae-young sought refuge in a barn, but a bandit trapped them inside and set it aflame. Desperate, Gu-deok shattered a wooden wall, but a heavy log crushed Tae-young. With her dying breath, Tae-young urged Gu-deok to survive and pushed her out just before the collapsing roof claimed her life.
At the conclusion of The Tale of Lady Ok Episode 1, Gu-deok awoke to find Tae-young's grandmother and slave attending to her. Mistaking her for Tae-young, Grandma embraced the lie, unwittingly setting the stage for a heart-wrenching narrative to unfold.
