The Queen Who Crowns Episode 6 Review: The Queen is Too Cool

In this episode, King Tae-jong’s staged stabbing of Yeong-sil to protect her leads to devastating consequences, leaving her unable to bear children and fueling tension with the Queen. Meanwhile, Chae-ryeong schemes to seduce the King as he plans to take Lady Hong as a concubine, sparking conflict within the court and with the Queen. The Queen defies the King’s authority, leaving the palace but later reconciling with him after he cancels the wedding.

Lady Hong is brought to the palace without ceremony, facing immediate tension with Chae-ryeong. Amid escalating court intrigue, the Queen learns of a looming attack on Joseon orchestrated by Taesangwang. The episode concludes ominously as the Queen sharpens her weapon during a shared bath with Chae-ryeong, hinting at betrayal and the possibility of Chae-ryeong’s pregnancy.

– Contains Spoilers –

The Queen Who Crowns Episode 6 Recap

The episode opens with an unsettling scene. Chae-ryeong, startled by the Queen’s sharp gestures in the bath, stands abruptly and instinctively touches her belly, revealing that she is pregnant. The Queen’s gaze sharpens, her words measured yet threatening, as she subtly warns Chae-ryeong to return to the palace. Sensing danger, Chae-ryeong uses the opportunity to escape and decides not to divulge the Queen’s secret meeting with Pan-su, the informant, knowing the weight of the Queen’s veiled warning.

The narrative shifts to the Queen meeting her father, where she expresses gratitude for hosting the King for lunch. However, she voices concern about the King travelling around during such precarious times. Her father counters her worries, warning that her own activities, such as consulting informants, are equally dangerous. The tension between duty and safety lingers as the King arrives at the Queen’s family home with his entourage. A feast follows, marked by formalities and veiled insults.

The Queen’s brothers present the King with an expensive Ming dynasty wine, hoping to impress him. But the King’s unimpressed reaction—and his remark about the wine being obtained without payment—leaves them flustered. The Queen intervenes, urging her brothers to pay its rightful price, further heightening the awkwardness. Meanwhile, Anseonggun and Ha-ryun silently celebrate the King’s subtle takedown of the Queen’s family.

Back at the palace, Chae-ryeong confirms her pregnancy with the royal physician. Overcome with joy, her confidante, Court Lady Jeong, excitedly proposes to find a smart maid to assist Chae-ryeong during her pregnancy. Chae-ryeong, however, insists on Lady Kim, crediting her for making the pregnancy possible in the first place. Soon after, Chae-ryeong shares the news of her pregnancy with the King. He congratulates her warmly and urges her to take care of herself, though his response feels more dutiful than heartfelt.

To Chae-ryeong’s surprise, the Queen sends her lavish gifts to celebrate the pregnancy. When Chae-ryeong visits the Queen to thank her, the Queen maintains a composed demeanour, reminding Chae-ryeong to focus on her health and the baby. Her tone, while cordial, carries an underlying message: avoid meddling and prioritize motherhood.

Also read: The Trauma Code Heroes on Call: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Ju Ji-hoon’s Upcoming Kdrama!

Meanwhile, the Queen meets Pan-su, her informant, who delivers alarming news: a rebellion is brewing, orchestrated by Jo Sa-eui and secretly supported by the King’s father, Taesangwang. This revelation sends ripples through the palace. The next day, the King is informed by his military officials about the uprising. Though he realizes his father’s involvement, he hesitates to take aggressive action, torn between familial loyalty and duty. The officials suspect the Queen might influence the King and quietly press him to act. The King eventually decides to travel to the rebellion’s epicentre to handle matters personally. This decision reaches the Queen, who immediately formulates a plan.

Determined to dissuade the King from venturing into danger, the Queen orders Court Lady Jeong to arrange a royal consummation night. That evening, the Queen and the King share an intimate moment, and she uses the opportunity to plead with him to avoid the battlefield. Instead, she urges him to visit his father, who is reportedly hiding at a port. The King, suspicious of how the Queen obtained this information, questions her involvement with secret informants. The Queen brushes off his concerns, stating that her actions are solely for his safety. Moved by her words, the King agrees.

The next day, the King confronts his father at the port. Taesangwang, surrounded by elite warriors, greets him with hostility. Negotiations quickly sour, and Taesangwang orders his men to kill the King. Just as the situation turns dire, the Queen’s royal guards intervene, clashing with the elite warriors. However, the King halts the battle, commanding his guards to stand down. In a shocking display of vulnerability, the King kneels before his father, apologizing for dethroning his elder brother and killing his younger brother in pursuit of his vision for Joseon. With tears in his eyes, he explains that his actions, though brutal, were driven by his love for the kingdom and his desire to create a better future.

Taesangwang, moved by his son’s heartfelt confession, reconciles with him. The father and son return to the palace together, and their relationship is mended. At the next official meeting, the King shocks the court by announcing plans to move the capital back to Hanyang. The decision infuriates the officials, many of whom have grown rich off the spoils of Gaegyeong, the current capital. Ignoring their protests, the King asserts that the move is final, accusing them of exploiting Gaegyeong’s native population for their own gain. His words leave the court silent, signalling a shift in power dynamics.

Years pass, and the dream of Hanyang becomes a reality. A magnificent new palace is constructed, symbolizing the King’s vision for Joseon. Amid these developments, the Queen gives birth to a prince, an event celebrated with great joy throughout the kingdom. The King announces the birth proudly, his affection for the Queen evident. Meanwhile, Chae-ryeong, now the mother of a toddler, finds herself increasingly sidelined. Her initial joy at securing the King’s favour has faded, replaced by the harsh reality of palace life and the King’s indifference.

The episode concludes on a triumphant yet bittersweet note. The King and Queen, accompanied by palace officials, walk hand in hand through the newly built Hanyang Palace. The Queen, sensing the weight of the King’s responsibilities, offers him words of reassurance about the hurdles they’re yet to face.

The Queen Who Crowns Episode 6 Review

This episode was a rollercoaster of emotions, political games, and one very strategic bath scene. From Chae-ryeong’s dramatic pregnancy reveal to the Queen’s subtle but terrifying warnings, every moment crackled with tension. The Queen once again proved that she’s not just a master tactician but also a queen of psychological warfare—sharpening weapons mid-bath and calmly reminding Chae-ryeong that her baby essentially belongs to the palace.

Honestly, watching the Queen navigate palace politics while balancing her informant network is like watching a chess grandmaster play against 10 opponents simultaneously—she’s always five steps ahead. But the heart of the episode belonged to the King’s emotionally charged confrontation with his father. That scene was a perfect mix of vulnerability, high stakes, and raw family drama. His heartfelt confession about his love for Joseon finally broke through his father’s stubborn exterior, giving us a rare moment of reconciliation amidst all the scheming.

The shift back to Hanyang as the capital added a satisfying sense of progress to the story, with the stunning new palace symbolizing a fresh start. While Chae-ryeong’s sidelined arc reminds us that ambition in the palace comes at a cost, the Queen’s final words to the King give us hope for their united front against whatever chaos awaits.

The Queen Who Crowns is streaming on Viki.

Also read: All Reviews of The Queen Who Crowns