Summary
A solid, well-paced instalment which begins the next chapter of the story.
We recap the Netflix K-Drama series Under the Queen’s Umbrella season 1, episode 6, which contains spoilers.
Although not quite as exciting as Under the Queen’s Umbrella season 1, episode 5, episode 6 begins to unravel the wider story of the King’s imminent struggle for power. With the focus now on the Queen’s potential deposition, a spotlight was shone on the unconventional leader, a smart decision given Kim Hye-soo‘s acting quality. Going forward, it’s certain we will see more of the princes around the palace and how their relationships change, too.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella season 1, episode 6 recap
We begin with a look at the grief that has hit the palace in the wake of the Crown Prince’s (played by Bae In-hyuk) death. The Queen stays alone, reflecting, while the King visits nightly to make sure she she sleeps. Elsewhere, Won-hyeong (Kim Eui-sung) tortures Physician Kwon into a potential exposure of who was behind the recently deceased’s royals failed treatment.
The following day, the royal court try to sway the King into deciding a new Crown Prince through taekhyeon, using His Majesty’s own ascent as a way of justifying their scheming. However, no answer is given, and instead the conversation flicks onto the ongoing investigation of the Crown Prince’s death. Won-hyeong claims any delays with this are because poisoning is suspected, causing the King to grow irate (an emotion compounded by the revelation that his son died with different symptoms to Taein, who had also died of hyeolheogwol). Ergo, a full-scale examination which will ensure there is “not a drop of suspicion left” is ordered, with this taking precedence over any appointment of a new Crown Prince.
Despite her frustrations on the taekhyeon potentially being resorted to, the Queen seems unable to influence the decision on who the next Crown Prince should be, even if she has legitimate sons. Concurrently, Queen Dowager Cho is hosting the various Princes of the palace, hearing their thoughts on the most important qualities of an heir to the throne. The elder states that she no longer feels anxious now she has listened to the “bright” royals, reminding them that they can become the Crown Prince if they have what it takes, even if they’re not the direct heir. Later on, some concubines discuss this comment, excited at the idea someone like Prince Bogeom could be next in line to be King purely out of competence. Yet there is one concern, His Grand Heir is already deemed to be showing educated excellence at his young age, so still could be considered favourite for the role.
After Won-hyeong floats around the idea of driving the Queen out of her position by spreading falsifications that she poisoned the Crown Prince to kill him before he could be deposed, we watch as the rumours of murder begin to run rife around the kingdom. Everyone has their theories, and some clearly believe Her Majesty would be capable of conducting such a heinous act. Meanwhile, Hwa-ryeong is busy preparing her sons for potential succession to the throne, informing them they will dine like a Crown Prince, and “receive an education like one” too. From now on, the Grand Princes have to change, and prove their worth as potential royalty to avoid the taekhyeon being used.
Next, the Queen visits the isolated Grand Prince Seongnam. There, she brings him food, and rejects his request to leave the palace, wishing for him to consider what his older brother would want from him. So, the Grand Prince once more emotionally reflects on his past with his eldest sibling, thinking back to a time they labelled themselves as the sun and moon. Following this, Hwa-ryeong is asked to “save” an anxious Crown Princess, who points out two senior court ladies attempting to poison her young son. The alleged culprits claim this is part of the royal’s delusion born out of what’s been happening, though this only causes more anger. “After investigating, if I find a speck of suspicion, you two will not live to see another day,” the Queen firmly states, ordering the court ladies to stay away from His Grand Heir.
When it’s established that the King is already investigating the potential targeting of the Grand Heir, His Majesty gets a chance to talk openly with the Queen. They discuss the rumours surrounding the Crown Prince’s death, with Hwa-ryeong saying it would “torment” her if the cause was poisoning (as this would mean she failed to protect her son), in addition to how Her Majesty has already received the largest possible punishment imaginable in losing a child, meaning she will not be blamed for anything. Then, the Queen asks for the King to look after his health, informing him that he no longer needs to visit at night.
While watching over the Crown Princess and her small family, the Queen hears that the food prepared for His Grand Heir did not cause any reactions when tasted. However, any considerations on whether the Crown Prince’s widow is indeed suffering from delusion has to be paused, as we soon see Senior Court Lady Shin is being interrogated over the allegedly poisoned medicine used to treat the deceased heir to the throne. Fortunately Hwa-ryeong puts a stop to this, making sure to cast doubt on the intentions of Won-hyeong too, entirely unphased by the high-ranking official’s threat to go as far as to question Her Majesty in his ongoing investigation by ensuring it’s well known she will take down anyone who frames her.
Firmly understanding that the rumours of death by poison is bate to trigger the taekhyeon and defame her, the Queen is irritated. Yet she is unaware of some potential other issues that may arise, given Consort Tae overhears a discussion over the outside medicine being used to treat the deceased Crown Prince. Still, Her Majesty is preoccupied with her determination to meet with Physician Kwon to avoid complications on his side, given he may not be able to hold out in his torture much longer.
During their meal together, the Queen warns Consort Tae regarding her excitement over Prince Bogeom potentially becoming the King’s heir, letting the charismatic concubine know the taekhyeon is a process that could cause harm to her, or her child. “When that happens, I may not be able to protect you,” Hwa-ryeong adds. Elsewhere, Consort Hwang and co. talk about interrogations leading to “fabricated truths,” believing anything could end up suspected of those involved with the Crown Prince’s death, including treason.
Shockingly, Consort Hwang visits Won-hyeong at night to request he stops the interrogations, revealing her part to play in Physician Kwon’s tampering of the Crown Prince’s treatment. The concubine attempts to justify her actions here, proclaiming she was just trying to revert things to its “rightful place” amidst seemingly outlandish claims that she may not have been the cause of the late royal’s death. Rejecting wrongdoing, Consort Hwang, who believes she should have been Queen, looks set to continue standing her ground.
As the Queen quizzes Physician Kwon to no avail, Consort Hwang stresses to Won-hyeong the importance of having the tight-lipped royal doctor on their side. The Queen does ask two things of Kwon while with him, though, that he does not discuss the outside medicine, and that Grand Prince Seongnam is kept away from the matter. The next day, Hwa-ryeong hears confirmation that the interrogations have been stopped, so orders tabs to be kept on Won-hyeong.
When Consort Hwang attempts to bring a reluctant Consort Tae onto her side to kickstart opposition to His Grand Heir, the charismatic concubine ends up confused by suggestions that Prince Bogeom wouldn’t be selected through the taekhyeon anyway (this is then explained to be because he has no powerful backers). Meanwhile, there is a serious atmosphere at Jonghak, due to the competitiveness of those desiring to become the next Crown Prince. Most notably, Prince Uiseong fights with Prince Bogeom outside over matters of disrespect, hoping to be taken seriously as a viable heir to the throne. In fact, if not for Grand Prince Seongnam’s intervention, it’s likely the son of Consort Tae could have been killed by the power hungry royal.
After Grand Prince Seongnam is stopped from threatening Prince Uiseong upon the latter’s declaration of the rumour that the Queen killed the Crown Prince, we cut to see Cheong-ha get a composite drawn of Her Majesty’s second child, as he still owes her money. Following that, Seongnam is told he will be punished for threatening Uiseong, and will have to stay behind at Jonghak to read one book per day, unable to leave until its memorised to the point of the Grand Prince being able to recite it. In return, his teacher will stay behind to help him learn.
Next, the Grand Princes are subjected to body and mind training at the palace. They firstly have a freezing cold bath, an apparent gateway to one conducted in the snow at night. Then, they learn ways to hold discussions and ask questions, with the Queen hoping this can prepare her children to be future heirs to the throne. “A Crown Prince is not born. He is made,” she bluntly states. Elsewhere, Prince Bogeom tells his mother that the taekhyeon is just an excuse to appoint an indirect heir of the King, dismissing his own chances of making the grade as Crown Prince because of his lowly status. As such, he requests Consort Tae simply does nothing, but we see she is in fact doing the opposite, and is instead trying to find out the one way of ensuring her son can ascend to the throne.
Outside, a court lady meets with Queen Dowager Cho, to tell her that Her Majesty has met with “the leader of traitors.” Shaken, the elder thinks back on her past hatred of the deposed Queen Yoon, which came when the former Crown Princess became attached to the exiled royal. That night, Cho heads to the King to tell him to pick his successor, pushing for the taekhyeon to be used to choose the Crown Prince. His Majesty is initially reluctant, but seems to come on board to the idea of having another son of his take over when it’s said that the current Queen must “pay the price” for having her son die in her quarters.
Once Consort Tae gives Soo-gwang information on the Queen’s use of outside medicine to treat the deceased Crown Prince (she does this in exchange for the Minister’s support of Prince Bogeom), this is duly passed on to Won-hyeong. Ergo, the high-ranking official begins some secretive interrogations, informing those he questions of what they are to say they have seen and heard.
When the Queen hears of this, she is summoned to a meeting with the King, Won-hyeong, and Queen Dowager Cho. Here, Physician Kwon is grilled about no medicine from the palace being used to treat the Crown Prince, with the outwardly credible appearing witnesses appearing to back up the idea of outside herbs being mixed into the treatment plan. Naturally, this escalates into full-blown speculation that the unidentified medicine used could have caused the death of the Crown Prince.
Pressed for an answer on who provided the herbs to him, Physician Kwon somehow remains silent, allowing for the Queen to vocalise the need for evidence, and express her doubts of Won-hyeong’s schemes. Then, Hwa-ryeong goes one step further, exclaiming her certainty in the fact that the Crown Prince was poisoned, as he is not the first heir to the throne “who faced a sudden death.” Won-hyeong jumps in to accuse the Queen of bringing in the outside medicine, causing a threat to be given that will see his life ended should he continue with his allegations. At that point, the King closes proceedings for the day.
Afterwards, Queen Dowager Cho scolds Hwa-ryeong for bringing up the past “recklessly,” dismissing the idea that Her Majesty is no longer afraid of anything by imparting a reminder that she has other children to think of too. Revealing that she is aware the Queen met with the deposed Queen Yoon, the elder states Her Majesty should be prepared for things to happen to the Grand Princes. “If you do not admit to everything tomorrow, I plan on exposing that you met the traitor Queen Yoon right here during the interrogation,” Cho states, before claiming her biggest failure was failing to stop the Queen from assuming her current role. Meanwhile, the officials plan to “reduce” the King’s choices, annoyed by their setback in exposing Hwa-ryeong.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella season 1, episode 6 ending
In the midst of her panic about being unable to hide that she used outside medicine from now on, the Queen returns to His Grand Heir and the Crown Princess. They eat together warmly, evading their usual anxieties. That is until a “secret game” is revealed, one which shows that the Crown Prince’s son has been subjected to constant pricks by his nursemaid, and his food tampered with. As the Queen attempts to get the young child to spit out the meat he ate, the episode ends.
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