MBC Friday-Saturday drama <21st-Century Grand Prince Consort>

IU made a decisive choice to protect Byeon Woo-seok.

IU and Byeon Woo-seok struggled to shield each other from the fallout of the leaked marriage contract.

Episode 9 of MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama ‘21st-Century Grand Prince Consort’ (written by Yoo Ji-won/ directed by Park Joon-hwa, Bae Hee-young/ planned by Kang Dae-seon/ produced by MBC, Kakao Entertainment), which aired on the 8th (Fri), recorded 11.9% in the capital region, 11.7% nationwide, and 5.1% among 2054, setting new series highs for both the capital region and nationwide. It also ranked first among all Friday programs in nationwide, capital-region, and 2054 ratings, achieving a triple crown, and its minute-by-minute peak soared to 13.4%. (according to Nielsen Korea)

In this broadcast, with Seong Hee-ju (played by IU) and Grand Prince Ian (played by Byeon Woo-seok) driven into a corner by the marriage contract leak, Seong Hee-ju declared a divorce to protect Grand Prince Ian.

After the leak, rumors and public censure surrounding Seong Hee-ju and Grand Prince Ian grew fierce. As opinion deteriorated further, Prime Minister Min Jeong-woo (Noh Sang-hyun) made the rude demand that Grand Prince Ian halt the regency. Queen Dowager Yoon I-rang (Gong Seung-yeon) and Lord Yoon Seong-won (Jo Jae-yoon) likewise seized the momentum to mount an all-out offensive to push out Seong Hee-ju and Grand Prince Ian, the thorns in their side.

In particular, anxiety doubled when it was revealed that the very people who leaked the marriage contract targeting the princely couple were none other than Min Jeong-woo and Yoon I-rang. Min Jeong-woo joined hands to win over his unrequited love, Seong Hee-ju, while Yoon I-rang moved to conceal the will of the late king to hand the throne to Grand Prince Ian. It also came to light that the attempted poisoning on the wedding day was the work of Yoon I-rang’s father, Yoon Seong-won, who sought to eliminate Grand Prince Ian, pushing the shock to its peak.

Unaware that this crisis was the pair’s scheme, Seong Hee-ju and Grand Prince Ian, even amid ongoing threats, first pondered ways to protect the other rather than themselves. Fearing that their own presence might harm the other, yet trying to appear composed to offer reassurance when together, the sight of Seong Hee-ju and Grand Prince Ian deepened the poignancy.

To make matters worse, the fallout from the marriage contract leak extended beyond the royal family to Castle Group, making Seong Hee-ju even more anxious. Thus, Seong Hee-ju told Min Jeong-woo her true feelings for Grand Prince Ian, saying “I like him. Very much,” and asked him to tell her how the problem could be resolved. However, with no intention of protecting Grand Prince Ian, Min Jeong-woo brushed off her plea with, “That is truly unfortunate.”

With nowhere else to turn, Seong Hee-ju finally went to her father, Seong Hyeon-guk (Jo Seung-yeon), fell to her knees in tears, and earnestly asked for help. Seong Hyeon-guk asked whether she wanted to resolve matters for herself or for Grand Prince Ian, and Seong Hee-ju requested that he protect Grand Prince Ian before her, leaving a heavy ache.

At the same time, even as his position narrowed due to checks from Min Jeong-woo and Yoon I-rang, Grand Prince Ian was swallowing his hardships alone without letting Seong Hee-ju know. Thus, when Seong Hee-ju ran into his arms, he embraced her gently and tried to lighten the mood with the joke, “A present?”

While held by her husband, Seong Hee-ju looked at Grand Prince Ian and offered the unexpected words, “Let us divorce.” Caught off guard by the sudden declaration, Grand Prince Ian also lost his smile, and only silence hovered between them. Attention now turns to what outcome the decision of Seong Hee-juto choose parting for Grand Prince Ian’s sakewill bring, and how Grand Prince Ian will respond to her request for a divorce.

The heartrending, steadfast love of IU and Byeon Woo-seok, who do not wish to harm each other, continues in episode 10 of the MBC Friday-Saturday drama ‘21st-Century Grand Prince Consort,’ airing today (the 9th) at 9:40 p.m.