Episode 9 of "The Queen Who Crowns" unfolds with Lee Suk-beom making a grand entrance at the king's court, presenting his daughter as a potential crown princess, an act intended to underscore his unwavering loyalty. Unbeknownst to him, the queen discovers a deceitful act committed by Lee Suk-beom's daughter—she falsely implicated her maid of theft to avoid returning a ring gifted by Kim of Bamgol.
As the queen sets her course to meet with Pan-su, her eyes catch a glimpse of another maiden, whose humility and grace instantaneously strike her as a far more fitting candidate for the crown princess role. Moreover, she tasks Pan-su with probing into the individuals presenting bows to the crown prince, suspecting these gestures to be more than mere tokens of admiration but rather veiled bribes.
Back within the palace's confines, the queen orchestrates a cotton weaving competition, pitting Lee Suk-beom's daughter against the maiden she had chosen. During the fray, Chae-ryeong, in cahoots with Lee Suk-beom, surreptitiously provides his daughter with a pre-woven cotton fabric, aiming to secure her victory. The following day, sensing an underhand deal, the queen requests the latter to exhibit her weaving prowess, an act that promptly unveils the deceit. Despite the king's inclination to favor Lee Suk-beom's daughter, the queen, undeterred, disqualifies her and proclamation her own choice as the newly minted crown princess.
Elsewhere, the queen's brother submits a comprehensive report on corruption targeting royal kin, adhering to the king's earlier directive. To mark the occasion of the new crown princess, the king extends a royal pardon to all prisoners, a gesture that incites some to retaliate by leveling accusations of misconduct against the queen's brothers. Recognizing the gravity of these allegations, the king issues a stern order, banishing the queen's brothers to the remote island of Jeju.
Elsewhere, Chae-ryeong stumbles upon Court Lady Kim's involvement in dubious endeavors, encompassing the acquisition of estates and possession of a potion capable of inducing grave illnesses. She confronts Kim head-on, compelling her to abandon her deceitful schemes. Nevertheless, in a bid to win the king's favor, Chae-ryeong betrays Pan-su by informing Lee Suk-beom of his whereabouts.
Turbulence envelops the court as the queen's father passes away, leaving her to mourn his demise and grapple with the exile of her brothers. Amidst her grief, she receives the shocking news that the king has executed Pan-su, a loyal servant who remained steadfast to her until his final breath.
Subsequently, the king orders the distribution of charity rice to those suffering from famine and grants land to a temple. However, it transpires that a royal kinsman has refused to relinquish the land owed to the king, clutching it greedily for himself.
Meanwhile, the queen, driven by a sense of duty, sneaks out of the palace to lay Pan-su to rest. During this clandestine journey, she uncovers a sinister plot in the charity rice distribution—the intended recipients never received the supplies.
Elsewhere, the king is afflicted with painful boils, while the queen's brothers in Jeju ponder staging a rebellion against the oppressive regime. When the queen visits a temple, she discovers Pan-su's final investigation, which uncovers court officials attempting to bribe the crown prince with bows in anticipation of high-ranking positions once he ascends the throne, revealing a web of deceit and corruption at the heart of the court.
