The fifth episode of "The Queen Who Crowns" unfolds with a dramatic twist as the king strikes Yeong-sil, shielding her from impending death but inadvertently rendering her infertile. Meanwhile, Chae-ryeong basks in the erroneous belief that these events will pivot the king's affections towards her.
Against this tumultuous backdrop, the king embarks on a mission to dismantle the ministers' power, aiming to reconstruct a kingdom rooted in fairness and justice. In a pivotal scene, he visits the abode of a music researcher, where, swayed by Minister Lee Seok-beom's influence, he decides to formally wed the researcher's daughter as a concubine, a strategic move to counteract the queen's burgeoning influence. Furthermore, he uncovers a damning revelation: the ministers exploited the people by amassing land during the capital's relocation under Sangwang.
Yeong-sil, still grappling with her injuries, implores the king to reconcile, only to be met with a chilling rejection. However, the queen, unwavering in her resolve, reassures her son that she will care for his mother and urges her other sons to embrace Yeong-sil's child with affection and compassion.
The queen's world shatters upon learning of the king's intent to welcome a new concubine into their palace. She confronts him, issuing a stark warning: a royal wedding could ignite rumors of a new queen, sparking more violence and bloodshed. With her life as a pledge, she departs the palace, seeking refuge at her parents' home in protest.
Elsewhere, Cai Ling harbors a strong desire to give birth to the king's heir, despite repeatedly claiming that he is incapable of loving another person. The queen was absent, and the king was uneasy, and his thoughts returned to the king. Finally, he relented and agreed not to hold a formal wedding for his new concubine, Princess Xiaoxun, and decided to bring the queen back.
Princess Hyosun arrives at the palace, but Chae-ryeong greets her with haughty disdain, openly flaunting her intimacy with the king. Overhearing this, the king reprimands Chae-ryeong for her behavior. Subsequently, the queen is tasked with disciplining Chae-ryeong, but she opts for a different tack, offering her wise counsel instead.
As the king gears up to suppress a looming rebellion, the queen makes a discreet visit to Pan-su at her ancestral abode, just prior to her father's grand banquet designed to flaunt their formidable influence. Catching wind of the queen's clandestine endeavors, the king promptly tasks Chae-ryeong with the mission of spying on her. However, Chae-ryeong's covert operations take a turn for the worse when she is unexpectedly ensnared by the queen, who issues a stern warning: reveal Pan-su's identity and face instant exile from the opulent palace walls. The episode culminates in a tense scene where the queen extends an invitation to Chae-ryeong to share a bath, her demeanor betrayal a hidden agenda as she seems poised to strike, adding a layer of suspense to the already fraught situation.
