The Haunted Palace Episode 6 kicks off with a jarring revelation: Gangcheori, once a fearsome entity, is no longer powerful enough to banish even an 8-foot ghost. Forced to improvise, Yeo-ri and the King use the ghostbane stone—an heirloom once belonging to the King’s grandmother’s trusted associate, Neop-deok—to make the ghost vanish temporarily. Outside the palace, Guard Seo nearly apprehends the shaman’s assistant, but he escapes. Nearby, a senior court lady is bribed into confirming a dangerous secret: the Queen is pregnant and hiding it from the royal court.

The Queen Mother is furious upon hearing this. Her son is dead, yet the Queen is protecting her unborn child? Seeing this as injustice, she calls upon the sinister blind shaman Pung-san—fully aware of his treacherous nature—to seek vengeance.

Power Games and Ghost Plans

As Yeo-ri and the King discuss the ghostbane stone, we learn of its sentimental connection. The King once doubted its powers but respected Neop-deok’s protective intentions. Meanwhile, Gangcheori grapples with an even more disturbing truth—his body is not healing, and his powers are waning. Pung-san arrives at the Queen Mother’s palace, under the pretense of helping her, but quickly sniffs out his next move. Learning of the Queen’s pregnancy, he plots to sacrifice the unborn child to empower the 8-foot ghost.

Pung-san also crosses paths with Yeo-ri and instantly realizes she’s the rival shaman. The stakes climb quickly from here.

Tension, Teasing, and an Imugi Reveal

Back at home, Gangcheori sulks, offering to release Yeo-ri from their deal. But Yeo-ri, though clearly frustrated with him, acknowledges his concern and commitment. Just as they start to soften toward each other, they sense another Imugi haunting a courtesan’s residence. Inside, a group of ministers, including the snide Kwak, mock the very idea of ghosts—until Kwak has a nasty run-in with Gangcheori, who promptly uses a gust of wind to throw him clean out of the capital.

Yeo-ri’s irritation melts into admiration when she learns Kwak was Yoon Gap’s killer. As chaos spreads through the royal court, one of the ministers is devoured by the Imugi—the second one introduced in the series.

And it’s not just any Imugi. This is Bibi, Gangcheori’s mischievous younger brother. Bibi only needs to devour 12 more men to ascend. Their reunion is unexpectedly hilarious, full of jabs and banter. Bibi teases Gangcheori for being stuck in a human body and offers a twisted solution: kill Yoon Gap’s body to break free. Yeo-ri, however, steps in just in time to remind Gangcheori of his vow not to kill.

But once she’s gone, Gangcheori privately confesses to Bibi that the promise is a lie. His plan? Win Yeo-ri’s trust, then kill Yoon Gap and possess her.

Gangcheori’s Conflicted Heart

The next morning, Gangcheori’s emotional conflict continues. He discusses his confusing feelings for Yeo-ri with Bibi and wonders if he wants her as a mate—or as prey.

To test his urges, Gangcheori gets close to In-seon, who uses the excuse of returning a carangan plant to interact with him. He touches her lips but feels nothing. Then he sees Yeo-ri struggling with her bag, runs over to help, and realizes—he genuinely feels something for her. This marks a critical turning point: he won’t kill Yoon Gap or sacrifice himself. He’ll stay by Yeo-ri’s side as long as possible.

Ironically, In-seon is now even more infatuated. Yoon Gap’s cold, mysterious demeanor has made him irresistible to her. In a comedic twist, she’s daydreaming when she spots her father, Choi Won-u, hanging out with suspicious company.

The Queen’s Pain and a Horrifying Discovery

Back at the palace, the Queen invites Yeo-ri to tea but is clearly unwell. During the visit, Yeo-ri experiences a vision: a drowned male ghost attacking the Queen in her nightmares, spitting black water on her. This marks the episode’s most ominous supernatural warning yet.

Gangcheori loiters near the palace, and when Kwak finally stumbles back, still reeling from his ghostly encounter, he tries to confront the Imugi again. The King intervenes and scolds Gangcheori, though he can’t help but laugh when he hears about the whirlwind attack on Kwak.

Inside the Queen’s chambers, Yeo-ri finds a skull hidden inside a pillow. The senior court lady finally confesses the truth about the Queen’s pregnancy. The pieces start falling into place: someone is targeting the unborn royal child.

Furious, the King demands that every court lady be arrested to find out who’s responsible for this dark scheme.

Final Showdown by the River

Pung-san, watching from his eerie cave, smiles as his plan nears completion. Meanwhile, Yeo-ri and Gangcheori track down the drowned male ghost to a riverbank. The ghost attacks them viciously. Gangcheori tries to defend Yeo-ri, but he’s too weak to stop it.

The episode ends on a chilling note—Yeo-ri is hit squarely by the ghost’s black water, and Gangcheori watches in horror, powerless to protect her.

Conclusion:

The Haunted Palace Episode 6 brings together high-stakes court politics, mythical ghost lore, and intense emotional shifts. With shocking revelations, the return of Gangcheori’s brother, and the Queen’s unborn child now in danger, the story is quickly hurtling toward darker, bloodier ground. Gangcheori’s internal war between love and instinct adds depth to his character, while Yeo-ri continues to grow stronger in both spirit and resolve. The cliffhanger promises a major turning point—will Yeo-ri survive the black water, and can Gangcheori truly protect her without betraying her? Episode 7 can’t come soon enough. For more recap, check out the link below.

Alternatively, watch the full recap here: