Chapter 32 Summary: Iseul's Resolve

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Iseul studies Wonsik’s journal and identifies the flower left at crime scenes as baek-du-ong, a bell-shaped purple bloom she remembers from tombs she and Suyeon once visited. Her uncle arrives at the hut, trying to move her to safety. Iseul slaps him for betraying her father to the king. The uncle reveals that Suyeon will be given to Official Wu (Maggot) as a reward to key officials after the coup. Prince Daehyun intervenes, dragging the uncle away and bruising his own knuckles. Iseul declares she will enter Wongaksa Temple to rescue Suyeon herself. Daehyun asks for one morning to try to persuade the deputy commander. Iseul agrees but insists that if he fails, he must help her enter the temple without further argument. Daehyun promises.

Key Events

Iseul pores over Wonsik’s journal, noting the baek-du-ong sketch and its description (bell-shaped, purple, hairy underside), and connects it to a memory of she and Suyeon observing similar flowers on burial mounds.
A knock on the door excites Iseul, expecting Prince Daehyun, but she finds her uncle instead, accompanied by servants and a palanquin.
The uncle claims he came for her safety, but Iseul slaps him, accusing him of betraying her father; he catches her second blow.
The uncle reveals that Suyeon will be distributed as a gift to Official Wu after the coup, and that no home exists for the king’s former women.
Prince Daehyun arrives, demands to know who made the decision, and when the uncle falters, Daehyun drags him into the thicket, returning with bruised knuckles.
Iseul decides to infiltrate Wongaksa Temple herself to retrieve Suyeon and, if possible, all the courtesans.
Daehyun argues the danger: if the coup fails, she will be trapped and pursued for life.
Iseul insists, and Daehyun asks for one morning to speak with the deputy commander. She agrees on the condition that if he fails, he must help her enter the temple without trying to change her mind.
As Daehyun holds her, Iseul considers letting herself indulge in a fleeting romantic moment, but she forces herself to stay focused on Suyeon.
Daehyun gives his word that he will not try to convince her otherwise.

Character Development

Iseul shifts from naive hope in the rebellion to fierce, independent action. She physically strikes her uncle, refuses to be comforted, and sets a hard boundary with Daehyun. Her earlier lighthearted self (one who might giggle over a kiss) is deliberately suppressed; she now lives in a world of life‑and‑death urgency.

Prince Daehyun shows protectiveness and vulnerability. He physically removes the uncle and bruises his own hands, offers emotional comfort, and promises to use his influence—yet he hesitates to promise help for the temple plan. His struggle reveals his deepening care for Iseul.

The uncle is exposed as a cowardly traitor who values political reward over family. He shows a flicker of remorse but ultimately betrays his niece for the sake of “the way of things.”

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Flower as memory and truth: The baek-du-ong bloom links the murder investigation to Iseul’s personal past, suggesting that truth is rooted in overlooked details.
Betrayal and loyalty: Iseul’s uncle represents the corruption of familial bonds by political ambition, while Daehyun’s offer (“You have me”) counters that betrayal with chosen loyalty.
Women as bargaining chips: The king’s women are treated as rewards for officials. Iseul’s plan to rescue all courtesans challenges this dehumanization.
Darkness and light: The chapter opens with Iseul’s reflection on grief and the “soul‑ravaging darkness” that always existed. The flower’s need for light (prefers light, cannot grow in shade) becomes a metaphor for resistance and hope.
Sacrifice vs. indulgence: Iseul consciously rejects a romantic fantasy to focus on saving her sister, showing that love in this story demands action rather than comfort.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is the turning point where Iseul abandons any belief that the coup leaders will reunite her with Suyeon as a reward. She now understands that the rebellion is led by “wolves” who will plunder the king’s women. Her decision to enter Wongaksa Temple sets the stage for the next phase of the plot—a risky infiltration that places her inside the very institution she meant to escape. The emotional confrontation with Daehyun deepens their bond while testing her resolve, and his promise creates a delicate alliance that will shape the remaining chapters.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Iseul slap her uncle, and what does her uncle reveal in retaliation?
Iseul slaps him because she learned he betrayed her father to the king. He retaliates by revealing that Suyeon will be given to Official Wu as a reward for officials after the coup.
What is Daehyun’s immediate reaction when he hears the news about Suyeon?
He demands to know who made the decision, drags the uncle off into the thicket, and returns with bruised knuckles, showing his anger and willingness to use force. He then tells Iseul they will find a way to her sister.
What condition does Iseul set when she agrees to let Daehyun try to persuade the deputy commander?
She insists that if he fails, he must help her enter Wongaksa Temple and not try to convince her otherwise. Daehyun hesitates but eventually gives his word.

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