Sa Baek Hwa

Sa Baek Hwa (사뱈화)
Older Younger
Alias	Wol Young Hwa (월용화)
Nickname	"Mother" (by Yi Hwi and Yi Jeok)
Profession	Head gisaeng/Owner of Yu Hyang Ru
Age	38 years old
Debut	Chapter 0.3
Gender	Female
Hair	Brown
Eyes	Blue
Relationships
Father	Minister Sa Hwa Hyeon
Mother	Unnamed Mother
Brother	Hyun
Issue	Seol Hwa

“

I simply believe that the blame for the parents' crimes should not be placed on their children.

”

Sa Baek Hwa, whose gisaeng name is Wol Young Hwa, is the owner of Yu Hyang Ru.

Plot

Sa Baek Hwa as a young gisaeng

Sa Baek Hwa is the child of Sa Hwa Hyeon, a minister of Ga Guk, and the younger sister of Hyun. When she is seventeen years old, Baek Hwa's father is arrested by Yi Ha under the orders of Emperor Jin Hyul for treason. She, along with her mother and brother, is imprisoned after witnessing the death of her father. While imprisoned, Baek Hwa's mother committed suicide by hanging herself. Thereafter, she and her brother Hyun are transferred to a prison in the streets where people mock and disgust of them, branding them as traitors. She then plans of committing suicide as well, but she is stopped by her brother, pledging to protect her until they are set free and reveal the truth. Seon Woo Seo In then finds and catches sight of them, but Baek Hwa, wanting to protect Seo In, removes her engagement ring and is crushed, therefore ending their engagement. They are able to be set free, holding on to the condition that in ten years' time, they might be able to receive full pardon. Within those times, she and her brother gather as much evidence to prove their father's innocence. One night, she is threatened by Yi Sae Gi, Emperor Jin Hyul's half-brother. Hyun arrives and attacks him back, but Hyun is stabbed by Sae Gi. As benevolence of the Imperial Family, he then gives them an opportunity where either one can stab the other and therefore live. Hyun immediately gets the dagger and stabs his sister as a way of "protecting" her. He then disposes Baek Hwa's body but miraculously survives. Three years later, Baek Hwa becomes the most famous gisaeng in Yu Hyang Ru. She then arrives and gets ready as usual. She then comes across Seon Woo Seo In, much to their surprise and joy and the two start anew.

Sa Baek Hwa reveals that she is Wol Young Hwa

Ten years ago, while preparing as a gisaeng, Sa Baek Hwa bumps with her daughter Seol Hwa and was told of the two boys hiding in their house. She then goes there and judges their appearances, hypothesizing that they are not ordinary children. She then finds out that they are from the palace when an object of her possession drops from them and concludes that they must be suffering from ennui. She then orders her daughter to call the guards as a way of "testing" the children. Despite an argument with Yi Jeok, she insists on ordering them to leave immeditely, since she does not also like to face the consequences. Because of the gravity of their discussion, she almost kills Jin Yeon to stop the problem, but was covered by Yi Jeok. She finally gives Yi Jeok a knife to end Jin Yeon's life already in exchange for their hiding. Instead of killing the child, Yi Jeok sacrifices his left eye since he thinks that she was offended by his gaze. Surprised, she was asked by Yi Jeok to save Jin Yeon for he must live. She then reveals herself to be Wol Young Hwa, the one they are supposed to find. She then promises herself to protect them if they are truly fated to live with her.

Ten years later during an evening rendezvous with some members of Deung Ha Bul Myung, she comments on Baek Ho's statement that he is speaking in front of the world's "two most beautiful women." She later participates in the discussion and adds that events are quite unfolding in their favor, thinking that it is a trap with which Yi Jeok agrees. However, he and the others conclude that they must steal it, much to her confusion. When the others desperately volunteer on stealing the compact, she wonders why they are so eager on stealing it despite being a trap. With everyone else out, Seo In tells her that Yi Hwi and Yi Jeok both have become stubborn. She asks if it is her fault, but he ironically thanks her for taking them in despite being a huge gamble on her part ten years ago. They are interrupted by Seol Hwa and leads her to a ruckus outside.

On the night that Nabi was poisoned, Wol Young Hwa had a drinking bet with Yi Won. Yi Jeok and the others are informed that she was "hurt", but she is only drunk and, in line with this, she has twisted her ankle a bit.

One early morning in Yu Hyang Ru, Wol Young Hwa informs Nabi that Yoo Ja Gyeom came in person to choose Nabi as a new teacher for Yoo Dan Ah and, with Nabi's absence, she accepted it on her behalf. Yi Jeok greatly disapproves of her decision, but Nabi contrastingly considers it as a good opportunity to gather information about their enemy. Accepting it, Wol Young Hwa informs Nabi that she is to start her job immediately.

Quotes

• "No, my Lord... Do not approach me. I cannot drag you into this. So please, forget me. This seems to be the end for us. Please be happy." (Referring to Seon Woo Seo In)
• "I thought my heart had withered. And that my tears had all dried up. My Lord. I guess I still have tears to cry." (Referring to Seon Woo Seo In)
• "My dear Nabi, I have never regretted even once. Since the day ten years ago when I took you both in-- You were my sons. I truly thought of you as my own sons. So righteous, so wise... and so foolishly kind-- to have taken on a fate so heartbreaking." (Referring to Yi Hwi)
• "Hyang Ju's best teahouse, Yu Hyang Ru, is closing business as of today. Good work, everyone."
• "Although I was framed and labeled a traitor's child, although everyone cursed and spat-- Although it hurt so much I wanted to die... You still remembered, and came back for me-- So I carried on. Like the evening primrose that waits for the moon, I was happy to stay by your side, my lord. My lord, I love you. I loved you. My only love in this lifetime. My lord, I'm going ahead." (Last words)