Seeing the ruined colouring powder, Hong Do breaks the rule, which restricts leaving the palace during the painting of the royal portrait, and goes outside to retrieve the colouring powder.

King Jeongjo asks Hong Do to trust him and to do as he says, though they cannot know what the ministers may attack when the royal portrait is complete. King Jeongjo gazes warmly at Yoon Bok mixing the coloring powder when Yoon Bok says his older brother, who was sent to Dancheongseo, made it.

Hong Do looks for King Jeongjo. When asked about his injured hand, he tells him it happened because he wanted to save Yoon Bok's life. The incident arose when Yoon Bok's brother Young Bok was making the powder for coloring the king's robe. Explaining why Yoon Bok had no other choice but to tear the royal portrait, he earnestly asks him to show mercy to Yoon Bok. At this, King Jeongjo is deep in thought.