Episode 2 of "The Queen Who Crowns" kicks off with Chae-ryeong being reluctantly prepared to serve the King against her wishes. Throughout her trials, she persistently pleads for the Queen's intervention, but to no avail. Soon after, she finds herself reassigned to her own chambers, isolated from the Queen's domain. Through a poignant flashback, we uncover Chae-ryeong's tragic past as a slave child abandoned by her mother, whom Won-gyeong compassionately took in and nurtured. Despite her transformation in status, Won-gyeong ensures Chae-ryeong is accorded fairness in her new abode. Acknowledging her innocence, Won-gyeong steadfastly declines to reinstate her within her household.
Subsequently, the Queen issues an order for Prince Bin to commence his studies. Discovering his disinterest, she metes out a physical punishment that enrages Yeong-sil. In a bold retaliation, Yeong-sil confronts the Queen, audaciously hinting at her own intimate ties with the King and publicly shaming Won-gyeong. The confrontation escalates to a tempestuous climax, culminating in the Queen slapping Yeong-sil across the face.
Elsewhere, Won-gyeong's brothers inform her of the King's mounting hostility towards them. Counseling prudence, the Queen urges them to relinquish their posts to avert deeper strife.
Meanwhile, Yeong-sil tries to manipulate Chae-ryeong into forming an alliance. However, Chae-ryeong decides to take matters into her own hands, donning a servant's disguise and boldly intruding into the Queen's chambers to earnestly petition for her former role as a maid. A cold and unrelenting Won-gyeong summarily rejects her plea and sends her away. Realizing her perilous situation within the palace, Chae-ryeong resorts to bribery, enlisting the King's court lady to arrange a royal visit. In parallel, Yeong-sil exploits her bruised cheek to further manipulate the King and sow seeds of discord.
As the intricate web of palace intrigues begins to unravel, the King receives an unexpected invitation from his esteemed father, Tae-jo, to partake in a solemn ceremony at a Buddhist temple. The occasion marks the consecration of a ceremonial metal bell, an artifact deeply steeped in tradition—yet, an anomaly in the royal household's official adherence to Neo-Confucianism, casting a shadow of suspicion over the invitation. Reluctant yet unable to defy his father's summons, the King reluctantly agrees to attend.
Concurrently, the Queen's ears are filled with whispers of a deeper conspiracy, hinting that the bell might serve as a pivotal piece in a broader, more sinister puzzle. In a meticulously orchestrated maneuver, Chae-ryeong manages to ensnare the King into her chambers, extracting his solemn vow to visit her twice monthly in exchange for confidential insights into the Queen's private deliberations with her siblings.
As the King and Queen step into the serene confines of the Buddhist temple, the Queen's spy uncovers the grim reality hidden within the metal bell's resonant surface. The tension mounts to a crescendo, culminating in a breathtaking cliffhanger: Tae-jo, armed with a sinister spiked iron ball, stands poised and ready, his aim locked on the unsuspecting King, the fate of the monarchy hanging by a thread.
