Love Song for Illusion (2024) K Drama Episode 11

Episode 11 of Love Song for Illusion starts at the torture grounds with Sajo Yoogn eager to show everyone that Sajo Yoong is an evil spirit. However, things turn out differently from Sajo Yoong’s expectations as Sajo Hyun confidently and furiously proves that he is not an evil spirit by cutting his hand to show everyone his blood is red like a human and by challenging Sajo Yoong to kill him and hit the peak of his rebellion.

Sajo Yoong is utterly confused and starts calling out Chung Ta as Jin-seo and the guards drag him away. The situation turns around quickly because Yeon Wol arrives with the Wind Knife, and they subdue all of Sajo Yoong’s men. The ministers bow before Sajo Hyun and start begging him to punish them for failing to protect the King. Sajo Hyun decrees that anyone who dares to refer to him as an evil spirit will be killed on the spot. 

Yeon Wol runs after Chung Ta and wants to know why he shot Sajo Hyun with a poisonous needle. Why did he side with Sajo Yoong? Was he being blackmailed by Sajo Yoong? However, Chung Ta does not answer her questions and vanishes. Suddenly, Yeon Wol sees Hong Goon limping from the interrogation, and she pulls out the arrow still stuck to her head and says she will help treat her wounds.

In a flashback, Yeon Wol knew something was wrong when Hong Goon hugged and apologised to her. She learns that Sajo Yoong threatened her by saying he would sell Hong Goon’s sisters living outside the palace, and Yeon Wol asks Hong Goon to run away. When he tried to run away, she got caught. 

It turns out that Ak-hee did force himself out when he thought Gye-ra was in danger and the person at the interrogation grounds was not Sajo Yoong. However, he managed to turn around the situation on behalf of Sajo Hyun and asked Eunuch Neung and Jin-seo to keep a close eye on Sajo Yoong, Moo-dal, and the Queen. Sajo Hyun is also immobilised in the place where he and Ak-hee meet up, and Ak-hee explains that Chung Ta wanted to force Ak-hee out, and that is why he made Sajo Hyun’s body weak using a tranquillising dart.

Since Sajo Hyun cannot talk, Ak-hee tells him they can communicate through thoughts, and Sajo Hyun’s first thoughts are about Yeon Wol. Ak-hee assures him that Gye-ra is okay and that the woman shot in the leg was Hong Goon. Ak-hee moves Sajo Hyun to a bed so he does not sleep on the floor and starts talking about the effects of a tranquillizing dart. However, Eununch Neung announces the presence of the Queen and her father, forcing him.

It turns out that Moo-dal and Geum-hwa intend to confirm that Ak-hee has taken over the body and later deliberate on how to use the situation to their advantage. Moo-dal asks Geum-hwa to sleep with Ak-hee because he will be easily manipulated. 

Meanwhile, Yeon Wol asks Eunuch Neung to find a way for her to talk with Ak-hee. She learns about Sajo Hyun’s immobilization because of the tranquillising dart and asks Ak-hee to let Sajo Hyun know that she is okay and will do anything to help him get better. Suddenly, they receive news that Prince Ga-ron is feeling unwell.

Upon examination, Gye-ra deduces that he is suffering from the contagious flu that must be spreading throughout the country. Gye-ra asks Ak-hee to ensure the spread is contained, and he diligently gets to work bringing in all the physicians and sending them out to treat the people, especially the poor. While Ak-hee works hard to keep the Kingdom together, the head minister, Moo-dal, silently blames the spread of disease on Ak-hee, wondering if he might be cursing the nation. Regardless, the Wind Knife helped bring the sick from the various villages to the treatment camps. 

Sajo Yoong continues to wreak havoc in the Kingdom, even during lockdown. With the plague’s emergence, the rumours about Sajo Hyun changed to insinuate that the haunted King would bring a plague upon the nation. In prison, Sajo Yoong’s men start praising him as their King, convinced he will take over the throne.

Meanwhile outside, the people continue to doubt Sajo Hyun and start blaming him for the plague. The ministers are no different during the assembly, and the presence of messengers from Jinhoi demanding the release of Sajo Yoong and wanting to meet Prince Ga-ron does not make the situation any better. On the bright side, Yeon Wol finds medical books from her grandmother, which report a similar plague happening in the past. She finds the herbs indicated in the report and takes them to the physicians before heading to the palace to treat Prince Ga-ron; fortunately, he regains consciousness and gets better. 

Meanwhile, Consort Cheong begs Queen Geum-hwa to release Sajo Yoong. However, knowing Sajo Yoong is not Sajo Seung’s son, Geum-hwa orders Consort Cheong to be demoted to a court lady and confined in her residence. Geum-hwa says she is being generous because she did not kick her out of the place for acting like a spy and reporting what is happening to Sajo Yoong. 

Gye-ra enters the night to look for Chung Ta and runs into Ak-hee. He tells her that male Chung Ta was doing Sajo Yoong’s bidding because female Chung Ta is locked up, where he cannot approach. Gye-ra deeply worries about Sajo Hyun, and Ak-hee does something unexpected when he successfully brings Gye-ra into the mind space where he and Sajo Hyun meet. Gye-ra is so thrilled to see Sajo Hyun, and she promises to do everything to cure him. Later, Gye-ra finds out that Ak-hee has blurry vision, but he lies to her about it. 

Sajo Yoong continues manipulating people’s opinions, and now he has them convinced that the plague is spreading because of the haunted King. The people gather at the capital to demand King Sajo Hyun step down. Gye-ra goes to Ak-hee to plead with him to do something about the protestors, but he harshly drives her out. However, it seems that he has a hidden agenda, which involves Chung Ta, whom he secretly wishes that he is watching as he sends Gye-ra away and asks her not to meet him again.

Later in the mind space, Ak-hee tells Sajo Hyun that there might be a way to improve his vision, so he locks up Sajo Hyun in Bonghmasal. Sajo Hyun easily agrees, saying that instead of living the rest of his life as an invalid, he would rather Ak-hee take over the body. He says he will not regret letting Yeon Wol go since she might forget him sooner or later. 

Ak-hee pretends that he wants to lock up Sajo Hyun and goes to the hall of spirits. Chung Ta appears, and they both have different plans in their minds. While Ak-hee wants to force Chung Ta to save Sajo Hyun, Chung Ta is armed and ready to banish Ak-hee into the mind space, unable to come out. As a result, Sajo Hyun, who can neither speak nor walk, takes over the body.

Meanwhile, Yeon Wol finds female Chung Ta’s location from Sajo Yoong’s mother, and she helps her in hopes that she will help Sajo Hyun. However, they run into male Chung Ta on the way, and female Chung Ta has to drag him away so he cannot harm Yeon Wol. 

The Episode Review

Love Song For Illusion has picked up the pace in the last few episodes and has been a thrilling watch, bringing together all the subplots perfectly. Ak-hee and Sajo Hyun working together in perfect harmony, with each complementing the weakness of the other, is a beautiful twist.

The politics of the crown continue to take centre stage, with Sajo Yoong relentlessly going after the throne. His ambition and the effort he has put into it to the extent that he can still destabilise the government, even behind prison walls, is commendable. He is resourceful and cunning in a way that makes the audience wish that Sajo Hyun could let go of all the inhibitions and rain fire on fire.