Chapter 37: Daehyun | Summary & Analysis
⚠️ 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
The night before the planned coup, Daehyun attends a meeting of rebel leaders at the House of Bright Flowers. Maggot (Official Wu Sayong) announces that Official Choi Ikjun has been found dead inside a palanquin that was meant for Iseul, raising immediate suspicion. Deputy Commander Park insists the group stay focused on military preparations, revealing that 15,000 troops will attack through the Hyehwa and Changui Gates. Daehyun confirms his assignment to release 800 prisoners from the Milwicheong prison. Tensions rise as officials question whether the king will truly leave the capital. At dawn, Maggot pulls Daehyun aside and warns him to choose his side carefully, hinting that betrayal is inevitable. Daehyun remains defiant, refusing to be swayed by threats.
Key Events
- Maggot reveals that Choi Ikjun has been murdered and his body left in a palanquin intended for Iseul.
- Daehyun retorts by suggesting Maggot might have conspired with Choi to kidnap Iseul.
- Deputy Commander Park calls for calm and redirects the meeting to coup logistics.
- Maggot warns that any of the conspirators could be the killer’s next target.
- Deputy Park outlines the battle plan: troops from Suwon, the Royal Stable Department, and the Hunting Department will total 15,000 men.
- Attacks will be launched from the northwest Hyehwa Gate and the northeast Changui Gate.
- Daehyun states his role: releasing 800 prisoners from Milwicheong.
- Officials debate who will approach Dowager Queen Jeonghyun for permission to place her son on the throne.
- Repeated questions about the king’s departure for Kaesong City are answered by Deputy Park.
- The meeting ends as dawn breaks.
- Maggot corners Daehyun and delivers a veiled threat about choosing the winning side.
Character Development
Daehyun shows increased assertiveness and impatience with the courtly games played by other officials. He bluntly dismisses Maggot’s politeness and refuses to be drawn into a public argument over Choi’s death. His ability to recall the exact troop movements demonstrates his sharp military mind and commitment to the coup plan. The chapter also hints at his personal concern for Iseul, though she is not present.
Maggot (Wu Sayong) reveals his manipulative nature. He uses Choi’s death to sow distrust among the conspirators and later pressures Daehyun in private, implying that loyalty to a “mere chit” like Iseul is foolish. His warning—“betray or be betrayed”—exposes his cynical worldview.
Deputy Commander Park acts as the pragmatic leader, repeatedly steering the group away from panic and toward concrete actions. His emphasis on unity and discipline shows he is the backbone of the military operation.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Betrayal and Trust – Maggot’s direct warning crystallizes the central anxiety of the coup: no one can be fully trusted. Every alliance might shift once the rebellion begins.
The Cost of Rebellion – The death of Choi Ikjun, a high-ranking official, illustrates that the conspirators are not safe from violence, even among themselves. The revolt demands sacrifices and risk.
Choice and Loyalty – Daehyun is forced to confront the choice between personal loyalty (to Iseul) and political pragmatism (siding with the coup leaders). Maggot frames this as an either-or decision, but Daehyun resists being cornered.
The Palanquin as Symbol – The palanquin intended to kidnap Iseul becomes a vehicle for murder, turning a tool of coercion into a symbol of the rebellion’s hidden dangers and untrustworthy players.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 37 marks the final planning stage before the coup and raises the stakes through Choi Ikjun’s murder. The unknown killer—possibly the “Nameless Flower”—adds an element of mystery and danger that complicates the conspirators’ trust. For Daehyun, this chapter crystallizes his personal conflict: he must work alongside men like Maggot while protecting those he cares about. The chapter also foreshadows the moral compromises required for political change, setting up decisions that will reverberate through the climax.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Maggot’s announcement of Choi Ikjun’s death create tension within the group?
Maggot uses the death to imply that one of the conspirators may be the killer or that an outside agent is targeting them. He directly questions Daehyun, since the palanquin had been meant for Iseul, and suggests Daehyun might know more. This fractures the fragile trust among the coup leaders at the worst possible time.
2. How does Deputy Commander Park respond to the officials’ fears about their own safety?
He acknowledges the concern but orders the men to keep their private soldiers close and to focus entirely on the coming coup. He refuses to let the investigation derail the timetable, emphasizing that the “Great Event” must come first.
3. What does Maggot’s private warning to Daehyun reveal about his character and his view of the rebellion?
Maggot believes that political survival depends on ruthless pragmatism: one must either betray others or be betrayed. He sees Daehyun’s connection to Iseul as a weakness and warns him to abandon it in favor of aligning with the future rulers. This reveals Maggot as a cynical, manipulative operator who views loyalty as a liability.