In The Haunted Palace episode 13, it takes a deep dive into a dark and painful moment from the past. It starts with a flashback to 100 years ago, during the year of the Red Rooster. Back then, the enemy was close to taking over the capital. The king had no choice but to escape to save his life.
One brave soldier, Chun Geum-hwi of the royal guard, stepped in. He suggested they hide in Yongdam Village, his own hometown. But on the way, they got news that the enemy already knew their route. They needed a new plan fast.
The king made a harsh decision. He ordered the guards to plant ceremonial flags in the village. The plan was to trick the enemy into thinking the king was there. But this meant risking the lives of innocent villagers.
Geum-hwi begged him not to do it. His own mother and son lived there. But instead of listening, the guards hit him and tied him up. They left him unconscious and carried on with the plan. That night, all the villagers were killed. The king survived, but at a terrible cost.
King Yi Seong Uncovers the Past
In the present, King Yi Seong learns the truth. He is shocked to hear what his ancestor did. Yeo-ri tells him that Geum-hwi’s spirit is not angry for his own death but for the many souls who were lost that night. This pain turned him into a strong and restless spirit haunting the palace.
While Yeo-ri is talking to Kang Chul, she sees the spirit of Yoon-gab behind him. But Yoon-gab vanishes the moment she looks at him. Kang Chul says the eight-foot spirit intentionally let Yoon-gab’s soul out.
The spirit later attacks the young prince. But the boy has a warding stone, so the spirit cannot stay near. In another scene, a plant called the Caragana root blooms inside In-seon’s chamber. It’s rare because it’s known to hold water energy and can resist fire spirits. It hadn’t bloomed in a decade, but now, in the middle of winter, it suddenly does. The monk had said the plant would help in the fight against the fire spirit.
Dark Spirits and Dangerous Plots
Yeo-ri holds a ritual for a one-legged spirit who won’t move on. He wants revenge on Lord Choi. She lets the spirit enter her body so it can speak directly to him. Lord Choi gives a heartfelt apology and confesses everything. The spirit leaves peacefully. Lord Choi still gets punished with 50 floggings for his past actions.
Later, the king finds an old ID tag from 100 years ago. It proves who the eight-foot spirit was. He decides to hold a proper ceremony to honor the spirit and the villagers who died that night.
The dowager queen asks Yeo-ri if her son’s soul has passed on. Yeo-ri says no, that it’s still trapped inside the eight-foot spirit. But she tells the queen that if she prays in front of her son’s old pouch every January, there’s still hope. It’s not true, but Yeo-ri lies to give the queen some comfort.
Meanwhile, one of the lords, hungry for power, meets with a blind shaman. He plans to lure Kang Chul and kill him to gain more control. He invites Kang Chul to dinner. But Kang Chul senses something is off. He finds a secret door at the location, and inside is a setup for summoning the eight-foot spirit using fire.
Yoon-gab’s Return
Kang Chul gets too close. He ends up inhaling fire energy through his ears and collapses. His body is brought back home, burning with fever. The water energy inside him is gone.
When he wakes up, he’s no longer himself. It’s Yoon-gab. Yeo-ri is shocked and confused. She doesn’t know where Kang Chul is.
In the preview, we see Kang Chul and Yoon-gab switching in and out of the body. Yoon-gab has been given a mission. He must spray something on the warding stone so he can stay close to the king. Since the king always keeps the stone near him, this step is important. Yoon-gab wants to return to a normal life. To do that, he’s ready to go against both Yeo-ri and the king.
This The Haunted Palace Episode 13 brings out painful truths, shocking changes, and raises new questions about loyalty, justice, and forgiveness. The story isn’t just about spirits and ceremonies. It’s about the weight of history and how it keeps coming back.
Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
