Gangster Boy, Flower Boy 7
Gwangtonggyo Love Song 13
No More Hiding in Books 22
The identity of 'Sagaji' 29
Your Honest Crown Prince 37
Today's Book 42
Sechaekbang Lamansa 52
Recruiting a Bookbi Palace Maid 63
The Sin of Making Princess Mama Cry 74
Determination in the Storm 86
Even so, Jininsa Daecheonmyeong 96
No need to tremble 104
A Late Summer Night in Aeryeonjeong 120
Owner of the name 135
Story from the water tank 147
Why He Flyed His Body 160
The Way of the Living 170
Significant Testimony 187
Bloody Wind 207
Why can't you take the herbal medicine? 217
Again, Gwangtonggyo Love Song, Follow the Moonlight, Im Oshini 229
Spring Day, That Beautiful Day 240

Author's Note 245

Aengdo, a popular and smart bookworm
Lee Yul, the self-proclaimed greatest bibliophile in Joseon
The beautiful "Gwangtonggyo Love Song" written by two people

The popular novel of the time, "Gwangtonggyo Love Song," is a romantic novel about a young man who cannot forget his first love, who meets a woman named Seolhwa and falls in love with her, and they make a hundred-year promise.
A romance novel is a modern-day romance novel that deals with the love between a man and a woman. When the two first met at Gwangtonggyo Bridge, this book was in Aengdo's hand.
Prince Yul tries to keep his heart closed so as not to fall into the feeling of love like this young man, but he is inexplicably drawn to Aengdo's confident appearance, and through twists and turns together, they finally complete a new "Gwangtonggyo Love Song."


The two had something in common: they loved books.
Aengdo originally enjoyed reading books in her bedroom more than embroidering or sewing, and Yul was also a bibliophile who could read almost any book in the world.
However, three years later, the two people, swept up in the huge whirlpool of treason, meet again as if by fate, and several chance encounters lead their lives to unexpected places.

Oh Aeng-do, a bold girl who breaks free from the limitations of male superiority and female inferiority

The author portrays a strong female character who bravely faces crises and ultimately achieves both her life goals and love.
During the Joseon Dynasty, the distinction between social classes was strict and the ideology of male superiority and female inferiority was strong, making it difficult for women to live independently.
However, Aengdo's image of being unbound by the limitations of the times, deciding on the direction of her life and acting without wavering, is a perfect example of a modern woman.

As her family is accused of treason, Angdo is forced to choose between being a nun and a scholar.
If her identity as the daughter of a traitor were discovered, she could be killed, so if she had thought about her own safety, it would have been right to stay hidden in the temple.
However, Aengdo, who decided to abandon his original name and become a bookworm, does not lose his pride as a bookworm.
Although he was of humble origins, he knew the content of the book well enough to recite it by heart, and he became a popular bookworm at Sechaekbang, captivating his audience by making difficult books easy and fun to read.
Aengdo, who has always been upright and unwavering in his resolve, makes a dangerous choice once again, defying everyone's opposition, in order to get to the truth about the treason case.


A glimpse into Joseon's tax collection culture

Shin Hyun-soo, who delicately portrayed the story of a girl who confidently runs toward her dreams and goals against the backdrop of the Joseon Dynasty and the Japanese colonial period in works such as “Joseon Fantastic English,” “Joseon Singer Salon,” and “Eunmyeong Girl’s Struggle,” takes us back to the days of the Sechaekga (literature writers) of the late Joseon Dynasty in this work.

During the Joseon Dynasty, reading was a leisure activity that anyone could enjoy.
Because mass printing was not possible as it is today, manuscripts existed that were copied word for word, and manuscripts were precious and expensive as the time and effort required to copy them.
Because it was difficult for everyone to buy and read books, rental bookstores that rented out books for a fee emerged, and as they gained popularity, rental bookstores began to appear around Gwangtonggyo Bridge.
The bookstore was crowded with people of all social classes, including nobles, commoners, and slaves, who came to borrow books.
Korean novels were especially popular among women.

In addition to books containing the words and teachings of the ancient saints, it is also interesting to see books on various fields, such as forensic books and criminal casebooks.
Novels and personal diaries also play a major role in this work.
Reading novels is not only a fun hobby in itself, but also an opportunity to rediscover the value of life through various characters.
Aengdo has cultivated a spirit of courage by reading stories of overturning male superiority and overcoming adversity with indomitable will.
Because I learned from books that even women can express their own opinions, I was able to stand tall and proud as a bookworm even in situations where I was looked down on because of my low status.
Also, the forensic books and criminal casebooks that Aengdo learned about over his shoulder when he was young become important keys to uncovering the secrets of the case, and the diaries written in the past become crucial evidence and exert tremendous power.

The author creates fictional characters named Oh Aeng-do and Lee Yul in the late Joseon Dynasty and freely unfolds the story without being bound by historical facts.
However, most of the passages from the books that Angdo reads and the works and poems that he and Lee Yul competed with each other to test their knowledge levels are actually existing works.
Finding and reading the books and poems mentioned in this work will also be an enjoyable reading experience.