Thoughts on ‘Daebak (The Royal Gambler)’ Episode 7

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Author: Sheryl Acierto from ECI and Jang keun suk kuwait
Photo credits: SBS

What i liked in this episode is when the two clueless brothers started working separately to get rid of their common enemy. Yes, even though both faced hardship, they are keen with their ultimate goal, to defeat the ever evil Lee In Jwa with all their might. And at the last scene of this episode ended me laughing.

The episode begins where Prince Yeoning intrude and overhears the talks between the prime ministers and the ever bad guy Yi In Jwa, plotting treason against the king.

But when prince Yeoning outface them, they denied even if they were caught already. He holds himself because he thinking that it is not the time yet to catch them, He needed solid proof to put the traitors in prison.


Prince Yeoning visited his mother, Lady Sukwon and told her about Yi In Jwa’s evil interest and plan about controlling the king and court through the crown prince. But as usual his mother is against about Prince Yeoning associating with him. In their conversation, he mentioned that Yi In Jwa killed Baek Man Geum. Hearing the very familiar name, she cannot hide her surprise, prince Yeoning asked her if she knew the man but she denied it. She warned the prince to be careful because Yi In Jwa is a dangerous and not an easy guy.

Prince yeoning, he gathered his men and finally made a plan on how to arrest Yi In Jwa with a factual and firm evidence. The plan is to arrest Yi In Jwa while in the gambling house of Hong Mae. they will catch him in the act. .

The two clueless brothers were in the same place aiming for one man. Prince yeoning is in disguise with his commoner attire Sitting and quietly watching while Dae Gil interrogates In jwa on cheating.

In episode 6, Yi In Jwa won the game but Daegil accused him of cheating. According to the rule, Daegil then ordered to cut off In Jwa’s hand as his punishment . demon’ strucked the ax to In Jwa’s hand but Dam Seo blocked it.

When Daegil turns his head on Damseo, frustration painted in his face. InJwa annoyingly laughs at him. He then turns the table to Daegil. he accused daegil for cheating him instead. He claimed that (in gambling) he never use tricks ever in his life. He challenged daegil to play again. to prove his innocence, he asked hong mae to blind fold him so that no one think he is cheating.

The he started to play, drew the perfect card. Audience murmured their disbelief. Daegil were startled by his skill, he asked him to do it again, ordered him to get the 1 point tag this time. He again got the right card. Daegil were surprised about his skill, asked him how he did it.

He gave the card to Daegil and told him to figure it out himself. Daegil is inspecting the cards, when he provoked him for coming closer to him (while thinking daegil’s dirty trick he made in the game just to get him.), he insulted him that his skill and strength is not enough to avenge his father’s death, that with his skill right now he wont be able to find out why his father died.

Daegil then told him it’s not over yet, he reminded him of their agreement that if he will overcome death, in-spite of all the wounds and tortures he got from him, he will grant him wish, and that is him going to his father’s grave to asked forgiveness for killing him.

But In Jwa mockingly claims he did not intend to kill him, that he survived not because he is lucky but because he saved him. And if he really wanted to kill him, he will stab him in the right place, (pointing his heart) or slit his throat. He taunted him that no matter how much he acted like a tiger, he is still a weakling like a baby tiger, he is just a baby ‘who cant even defend himself with the teeth of a hungry jackal’.

Then Suddenly Prince Yeoning barge in, announcing his presence and his troops, everybody were surprised. He ordered to arrest every single person in the gambling house, which lead to havoc. Daegil were stunned, confused and uncertain what to do, he is thinking if he had lose the battle for his father with In Jwa. Daegil shouted Lee In Jwa’s name in his anger and frustration.

Then daegil were caught by the officer, Lee In Jwa saw his arrest, so he ordered Damseo to take him out to avoid jail. Even though prince Yeoning saw the incident he just let it go. (He might Instinctively felt their same blood running on their veins or just because his interest is for Lee In Jwa to be arrested.

Daegil and Damseo ran away far from gambling house. Damseo finally shows her feelings on Daegil, she saw him bleeding and tried to wipe it off with her handkerchief but he refused. He told her clinging with In Jwa, she is just like him, a beast. Daegil take back his words from declaring her to be his wife. And warned her not to interfere because he will catch In Jwa no matter what. Obviously he is extremely mad at her because she sided In Jwa.

Everybody were arrested and brought to the police station for interrogation. Prince Yeoning interrogates Lee in Jwa but he got nothing from him. He annoyingly laughs at him instead, with the evidences he presented (i want to slap this evil man, he is getting on my nerves).

Meanwhile, Daegil finally reached home, he saw his grandpa giving him a memorial rites. Grandpa emotionally hug and kiss daegil when he saw him alive. Daegil told grandpa his passion to get rid of In Jwa not only to avenge his father but he himself wanted to overcome him.


At the police station, In the middle of investigation, Lee In Jwa and the others were released by the Euigeumbu, (government branch handling treason case). Lee in jwa were released because of ‘lack of evidence’.

Distress prince yeoning went to the beaureu of inspection office because all the ledger he presented took by the chief inspector. When he found out that the ledgers are all fake (?), he really gone mad!

Things went worst when he found out the conspiracy between Lee In Jwa and the ministers he thought to be on his side. They even questioned him if he has permission from the crown prince to arrest his teacher Lee In Jwa. The ministers he trusted were even mocked him being the son of lowly water maid concubine. Also Lee In Jwa reminded him that he cannot take action on his own because of his lowly origin, means he is lacking of power and people supporting him. Prince Yeoning cannot contain his anger, he almost killed Lee In Jwa.


He went to his brother, the crown prince Yoon, asked him to kick out his teacher. This is his last resort to get Lee In Jwa, but to his dismay, the crown prince sided Lee In Jwa, he told him not to be concerned and leave Him. He clearly told him that lee in jwa is valuable to him more than anyone else, and no matter what he does, no one dares to touch him.

Yeoning realizes that he is really powerless, alone and no one there to side him. Those thoughts were just increased his desire to hunt Lee In Jwa, that he will continue to chase him in any ways according to the law.

He is so down and frustrated and so he went to his father and cried. The king then thought that his son is growing as a strong person. (I believe that the king sees his son Yeoning as smart and strong person in spite of his ‘lifestyle’ which his mother wanted him to be.)

Lee In Jwa then went home safe and sound. He met Damseo in his house. She reported him all about the people arrested in the gambling house are back to their normal lives, he then sent her to rest. He called Moo myeong and ordered him to keep an eye on Daegil.

In the palace, Lady Sukwon summoned Yeoning’s bodyguard in her chamber, she asked him the where about of yeoning that day . Her way of investigating whether her eldest child (Daegil) is alive or not, after the news of Baek Man Geum deaths came to her knowledge. Her heart is overflowing of gladness when she came to know that daegil is alive.

Meanwhile, Daegil consulted his one eyed grandpa regarding In Jwa’s skill in card game. Grandpa speculated that In Jwa might determined the card through its weight according to its tag number. But they doubted the accuracy because no normal human can able to do it. In the middle of their discussion, grandpa unconsciously mentioned about Lee In Jwa being the White-Faced scholar and daegil were surprised, asked him how he knows him. Grandpa then told him his ill fated relationship with Lee In Jwa, both are famous and unbeatable gamblers in their respective place but then grandpa never wins over him. On that night, daegil decided to become more stronger and skillful, thinking of seeking master swordsman Chae Hun’s help.

In the morning, daegil left his home to pursue his plan. He swear to become more stronger, twice as skillful as Lee In Jwa. As soon as daegil turns his back, one eyed grandpa toss his dice to check his luck, and presto! two dice showing ‘jackpot’ – means Daegil is on the right path!

While Daegil has Chae Hun in his mind to become his master, Lee In Jwa, on the other hand, looking for a skilled swordsman to be on his side, talisman, brought him a possible candidate who happens to has an ill fated relationship to Chae hun.

After a long walk, Daegil reached master swordman’s place. He get down on his knees, as soon as he arrived, he narrated him his desire to become his disciple, but master swordman refused.

As soon as he finished talking, daegil arrogantly left and went back to salt field and freed the slaves. He was caught by demon and his gang, but manage to let the people escaped.

He got beaten and Seol Im were caught and brought back to demon territory. When Seol Im is about to be killed, daegil is aware that Chae Hun is on the watch, he called him desperately for his help.

The master stirred the bandits up, hitting each one’s forehead with stone very quickly and then showed himself. The slaves came back furiously with the wooden weapon in their hands. While everybody busy fighting, Seol Im went inside the house and took the slave’s contract. The slaves won the fight and Seol Im burns their contract and demon’s property.

Everybody was freed from their debt and went home peacefully. Seol Im hugged and say goodbye to Daegil, promising they will surely meet each other again. (Daegil and Seol Im has chemistry 🙂 , I want to ship them ) ..

Finally, master Chae Hun realises that Daegil is a good person and decided to help him, accepted him to be his student.

As per instructed by Lee In Jwa, Moo Myeong followed Daegil, and were on the hide, witnesses all the havoc that had happened to Daegil. When Lee In Jwa learns about Daegil’s Master Chae Hun, he concluded that the king swordman’s which appeared before in the talisman’s imagination were him.

After the failed bribery case of Lee In Jwa, Prince Yeoning continued his investigation, wanted to know every single detail about him, trying to find out any evidence that might lead to Lee In Jwa’s arrest. He needs to know what kind of prey he is eyeing for.

Ok! Daegil started his training!

Once again, Master Chae Hun saves Daegil by blocking a weapon coming from nowhere aiming for him.

Suddenly, demon appeared, full of anger, boasting that he is demon and eats a person. But skilled Chae Hun hanged him in the middle of the forest… XD


[THE END]