I love Queen Dowager Inwon! I first got introduced to her in “Dong Yi”. She became King Sukjong’s queen after Queen Inhyeon died and Jang Hee Bin had been deposed. At first, I wasn’t sure if she was ally or foe to Dong Yi, but in the end, she turned out to be on Dong Yi’s side and protected her from those who would try to bring her down.
In history, Queen Inwon was only a year older than King Gyeongjeong and seven years older than Prince Yeoning. She was said to be very fond of her stepson, Prince Yeoning, and adopted him as her own son when he was about nine years old. This effectively strengthened his claim to the throne. It was even said that she protected him from being assassinated when he was just a crown prince. However, I think in “Haechi” this bit of history was changed a bit. Queen Inwon is a lot older in the drama and the adoption as well as the assassination attempt haven’t taken place, although there was a scene when she threatened one of the ministers opposing Yeoning that she would adopt him to stop them from questioning his right to inherit the throne. In any case, what remains the same is her genuine affection for him.
However, I think the drama has moved up the attempt to Yeoning’s life to when he’s already king and is presenting it in such a way that Cho Hong and Yeo Ji will become part of the Queen Dowager’s attempt to protect his life. Through Heo Cho Hong, Yeoning’s former wineseller friend and now trusted handmaid, Queen Inwon has employed Cheon Yeo Ji as a court maid, with the express purpose of protecting Yeoning. She sends Yeo Ji on secret errands, such as spying on the ministers, and allows her to watch over Yeoning without him knowing of her presence at all.
This twist in the plot only further strengthens my suspicion that the threat to Yeoning’s - now King Yeongjo - life will come in the form of the rebellion by Yi In Jwa, coupled with Prince Mil Poong and the Soron faction’s complicity in said attempt to overthrow him. And that, in the process, Yeo Ji will sacrifice herself. So many times now, Yeo Ji has said that she wants to protect Yeoning whatever happens. She was even willing to give up her freedom as a damo and live the restricted life of a court maid, if only she can be near him and watch over him.
I just wish the drama would show how Yeo Ji ended up being trained as a court lady. Was it because Queen Inwon was searching for someone close to Yeongjo whom she can trust and Cho Hong thought of Yeo Ji? Or was it the other way around? Did Yeo Ji secretly approach Cho Hong about her plan to enter the palace without Yeoning knowing, and the opportunity presented itself when Queen Inwon voiced her desire to look for a person she could trust to watch over her stepson?
Anyway, I love that the drama used what was recorded in history as Queen Inwon’s attempt to protect Yeongjo from his enemies and inserted the characters of Yeo Ji and Cho Hong in what she’s doing. And I love that the Queen is presented as warmhearted and kind as she seemed to be based on history.
