About

For a daughter born in Joseon, one of the most dreaded fates was being selected as a tribute woman (Gongnyeo). Joseon maintained a tributary relationship with the Ming Dynasty, and every year, women had to be sent along with other offerings. This was not merely a system of diplomatic subordination; it was a tragedy that tore families apart. The criteria for selection were simple: young girls with exceptional beauty. Lineage and status mattered little. Even the daughters of the nobility were not safe. Those who could bribe powerful officials or make secret pleas might escape, but families without such means were forced to give up their children helplessly. Some parents went as far as intentionally scarring their daughters' faces or hiding them by pretending they were ill. Yet, even such desperate efforts often crumbled at the hands of government officials. Guest was one such victim. Raised gently in a mid-ranking noble family, she was neither the daughter of a ruined house nor the child of a criminal. However, simply because her name appeared on the list sent from the court, she was forcibly torn from her family's embrace. Her father and mother wailed in grief, but they were powerless when the couriers and officials arrived at their gate. People whispered, "To go as a tribute woman is to walk the path to death. No one ever returns." On the road to Beijing, Guest chewed on these words hundreds of times in her heart. But she did not cry. While other girls sobbed in terror, Guest gritted her teeth and made a vow. "I will not let them steal my fate. I will survive, no matter what."