Episode 5 of "The Tale of Lady Ok" kicks off with a jubilant scene at Yuhyangso, also known as Mother's Sanctuary, where the news of Magistrate Seung's demise, attributed to a long-standing illness, is met with celebration. His entire estate, including the slaves, has been bestowed upon Lee and Kim, while Tae-young finds herself back in the arms of the Ok family.
Upon learning of these developments, Seung-hwi visits her, and she is overwhelmed with guilt, blaming herself for the fate of those who had taken her under their wing. He gently reminds her that she is no longer Gu-deok but Tae-young, a woman who would seek justice, an idea she readily embraces. He further unveils that Man-seok had dispatched him to abduct her for her own protection, amusing her momentarily before reassuring her of his unwavering support if she chooses to flee. However, her thoughts are interrupted by Do-gyeom, who intends to leave, fearing he may become a burden. With persuasion, Tae-young convinces him to stay and join her in reclaiming the family's honor, leaving Seung-hwi deeply moved.
Empowered by this newfound resolve, Tae-young approaches the provincial governor, bringing to his attention the plight of enslaved children hidden in Mount Unbong. She also ponders aloud how Minister Bak became privy to the betrayal orchestrated by the Devoted Hearts Association. Yet, the provincial governor, though intrigued, cannot intervene without concrete proof. His curiosity piqued, he interrogates Lee, who subtly dodges the question and promptly informs Minister Bak.
Elsewhere, Madam Hong encounters Mak-sim and instructs Madam Kim to sell her, fearing Mak-sim's vengeful intentions. Alerted by the slaves, Tae-young pleads with Scholar Lee to sell Mak-sim to her instead. He rejects her request with contempt, forcing her to kneel outside his residence throughout the night in a desperate attempt to persuade him.
Madam Kim looks troubled while the male slaves berate themselves for not protecting Mak-sim. Alone, Kim approaches Tae-young who pleads with her as Mak-sim is like a mother to her. Kim gives in and sends Mak-sim to the Oks.
Hong’s bitter nature has her being snarky with Kim as she lets it slip that her rewards come with strings attached. This upsets Kim who snoops around her husband’s study and learns of the gold mining.
She confronts both Lee and Hong but they tell her to look the other way so that her son can benefit. She runs away and leaves a suicide note that she will pay for her family’s crimes. While Lee looks for her, Hong decides to spread the rumour that she has eloped with a man.
Seung-hwi continues to loiter around the Oks’ and one day, Do-gyeom finds him. Thinking he is Yun-gyeom, Do-gyeom berates him. Seung-hwi convinces him that he is not his brother and Do-gyeom reveals he is mad at his brother for running away.
Later, within the school's confines, we witness Woong, a younger progeny of Mother's Sanctuary, forging a bond with Do-gyeom. Overhearing a covert conversation between Hong and Lee, they devise a plan to divert Magistrate Seung's attention with the Devoted Hearts Association, despite the absence of any concrete treasonous evidence. This eavesdropping revelation is relayed by Do-gyeom to Tae-young, who subsequently visits the imprisoned right-hand man of Magistrate Seung. During this visit, she learns of Lee's preemptive murder of Hae-gang to prevent any inquisitive questioning.
Determined to take matters into her own hands, Tae-young prepares to venture into the mountains alone, but Seung-hwi, fueled by curiosity and a desire to accompany her, insists on joining her. His inquisitiveness extends to Yun-gyeom, prompting Tae-young to unveil her husband's hidden truths to him. However, she expresses her reluctance to let him jeopardize his safety for her sake. Meanwhile, the enslaved individuals unite and craft a map for her journey.
On the following day, Tae-young, disguised as a young boy, sets forth, reluctantly granting Seung-hwi's request to accompany her. Their first destination is Hae-gang, who, contrary to belief, is still alive but in a coma, under the care of a monk closely associated with Magistrate Seung. Their journey then leads them into the mountains, where bickering becomes a constant companion. Seung-hwi finds Tae-young's versatility in skills ranging from swordsmanship to mountain climbing frustrating. In turn, she takes it upon herself to educate him in sword fighting, though he is haunted by the prospect of having to wield it against fellow humans.
Concurrently, Lee dispatches a message to Slaver Ji, ordering him to halt his operations. To avoid the inconvenience of descending the mountain with the children, Lee confines them in a shed and proceeds to collect all the gold, making his escape down the mountain.
Tae-young and Seung-hwi's bond deepens, yet their interactions are laced with moments of friction. He endeavors to discern her affections for him, while she skillfully dodges his inquiries. Their path crosses an enigmatic plant known as the bottle-brush, rumored to harbor gold within its confines. The memory of Minister Bak heading the mining department strikes them; it dawns on them that the enslaved children might be toiling to extract this precious metal.
Tragically, their descent is interrupted by the slave catchers. They are relentlessly pursued to the precipice of a hill, prompting Seung-hwi to plunge into the river below with Tae-young in tow. She battles for breath, teetering on the brink of drowning, before Tae-young valiantly rescues her.
As Episode 5 of The Tale of Lady Ok concludes, Tae-young confesses her aquaphobia. Both battle fever, and she acknowledges her greediness, urging him to proceed alone before succumbing to unconsciousness. Fearing the worst, Tae-young vows to accompany her in death's embrace, just as he spots a hostile contingent closing in. Drawing his sword, he braces for a battle to the death.
