Gwanghae (Seo In-guk), a son of a concubine, becomes the crown prince of Joseon . For the next 16 years, the illegitimate prince lives through conflicts, enduring death threats and dethronement attempts. Gwanghae's relationship with his father King Seonjo (Lee Sung-jae) was contentious. The two become rivals both in politics and love. Using physiognomy as a weapon and means to gain power, Gwanghae enlists a face-reading fortuneteller to help him become the next king.