Man-gang (Shin Young-kyun), a servant in the Gwangwon household, travels to the capital with Sang-pil, Gwangwon's son, to present offerings to the Prime Minister. However, the offerings are stolen along the way. Gwangwon holds them responsible and orders them to be given poison. Man-gang, refusing to die unjustly, flees home and hides at the house of Ok-nyeo (Kim Ji-mi), the daughter of a fallen nobleman whom he secretly loves. Ok-nyeo gives Man-gang the genealogy of her deceased cousin, Eom Taek-ju, advising him to impersonate Taek-ju to pass the royal examination. Assuming the identity of Taek-ju, Man-gang visits Mr. Eom's house. Mr. Eom, believing Taek-ju to be his nephew, supports him in his studies for the exam and even arranges his marriage to the daughter of Kim Ho-jang, another nobleman. Taek-ju passes the exam with top honors and is appointed magistrate of Yeongwol. He governs justly and earns the deep trust of the people. However, Sang-pil's conspiracy reveals his true identity. Taek-ju and Ok-nyeo are brought before King Yeongjo. Yeongjo orders them exiled, but valuing Taek-ju's virtue, he sends a secret envoy on their exile journey with an imperial order to live in an unknown place.