The Haunted Palace- Episodes 11-12

Betrayals, Bro Bonds, and a Pearl-Shattering Loss 💔🐉🔥

We’ve reached that episode. You know—the one where your heart shatters like an Imugi’s pearl and you’re just sitting there ugly crying into your candy stash.

Let’s start with chaos.

Episode 11 opens right where we left off—Pung-san and the 8-foot ghost vanish, and Gangcheori rushes in to save Yeo-ri. He gathers enough evidence for a full-on investigation… which, hilariously, is led by none other than the actual villain, Minister Kim Bong-in. Great.

The King, meanwhile, is DONE. He vows to take the ghost down himself. Gangcheori tries to distract himself by helping Bibi go full karma justice on Lord Hong, but Yeo-ri intervenes. She’s horrified to see them continuing the noble-killing spree and calls it what it is: murder. She even drops a spicy truth bomb—“Yoon Gap would never do this.” Oof.

Gangcheori can’t sleep that night. He asks Ga-seop if there’s a way to send the 8-foot ghost to the afterlife withoutsacrificing his pearl. Bibi overhears and is furious. “You’d die for her?”

Elsewhere, Minister Kim plays his villain chessboard, publicly framing the Queen Mother as Pung-san’s patron. When confronted, she realizes the truth—Pung-san killed her husband... and her son, Yeong-in. She's devastated. Even the King can tell she’s not the true puppet master.

That would be Kim, of course. When he tries to kill Pung-san for messing up, the 8-foot ghost threatens him. Why? The ghost wants Kim’s help to crown a new king. Kim caves and hides Pung-san in his family's ancestral shrine. Nothing says “evil scheme” like a creepy shrine.

Back in the royal library, the squad cracks the ghost's origin story. His grudge traces back 100 years to King Yeon-jong’s bloodline, not the entire royal family. He died in Yongdam Village, the very place Gangcheori tried to ascend. Coincidence? Not in this drama.

They connect the dots: the ghost was likely a heroic soldier during the Northern invasion—an ancestor of Choi Won-u. The King decides to confront Choi himself.

Cue Gangcheori’s jealousy flare-up. He rants to the King about how sick he is of hearing Yeo-ri praise Yoon Gap. The King, of course, just teases him. (“You’re jealous, aren’t you?” He is.)

Later, Yeo-ri sees Bibi dragging Gangcheori off for more “ascension business.” But Gangcheori’s trying to not kill people now—he wants peaceful solutions. Bibi’s not having it and explodes: “You’re planning to die for her!”

Plot twist: Yeo-ri hears everything.

Meanwhile, Pung-san slithers in with a wicked offer—nobles for Bibi, in exchange for Yeo-ri. If she dies, the brothers are free to ascend. 😱

Yeo-ri and Gangcheori return home in awkward silence. She’s still processing what she overheard. But then—heart-fluttering moment ahead—she touches his hand. He realizes she’s given her ghostbane stone away… to the Crown Prince. She no longer needs protection because she trusts him now. 😭

She finally says it: she knows he’s not Yoon Gap. She sees him now. And then she kisses him. (YES, AGAIN. THIS TIME ON PURPOSE. WITH FEELINGS.) Bibi sees. And his heart? Cracks a little more.

Dinner time brings the usual chaos, with Mrs. Yoon yelling at Gangcheori for being a reckless softie. Yeo-ri pulls Ga-seop aside and learns about Neop-deok’s secret weapon: a grim reaper of burned souls. A fire reaper might be able to take the 8-foot ghost to the afterlife.

Bibi, feeling betrayed but still loyal, tells Yeo-ri the ghost’s ID pendant is hidden in the shrine. She’s elated—there might be a way to solve this without killing Gangcheori. But Bibi, believing Gangcheori would sacrifice everything for her, accepts Pung-san’s offer.

Later, Yeo-ri is lured and trapped by Se-won, Pung-san’s assistant. Gangcheori follows a fake trail right into the ambush. Bibi, still clinging to his warped plan, attacks him—trying to kill Yoon Gap’s body and “set him free.”

But Yeo-ri catches on and warns them: the ghost wants an Imugi pearl.

Just then, the ghost launches his sword—not at Yeo-ri, but at Gangcheori. Bibi jumps in to save him.

The ghost devours Bibi’s pearl.

Gangcheori, Yeo-ri, and a gravely wounded Bibi flee the shrine.

But it’s too late.

An Imugi can’t live without their pearl. As Gangcheori tries to save him, Bibi finally breaks. He confesses everything—Minister Kim is the mastermind. He only took the deal to protect Gangcheori.

His last words? “I just wanted to keep you safe.”

Gangcheori holds him as he fades.

End of Episode 11. Cue sobbing.

Betrayal, Bowstrings, and a Burning Secret📚🔥

We’re deep in The Haunted Palace, and Episode 12 hits like a sneak attack talisman—emotional, explosive, and full of reveals.

We open on a somber note: Gangcheori is grieving Bibi, and Yeo-ri is right there with him, blaming herself. But there's no time to mourn in peace—Minister Kim Bong-in arrests them for trespassing. (Seriously, sir?)

Luckily, the King steps in and demands their release. But Gangcheori stays eerily quiet, weighed down by guilt and grief. Yeo-ri steps up and finally tells the King that Kim is the true puppet master. He’s stunned—but cautious. He sends Royal Guard Seo to quietly trail the man who basically raised him.

Speaking of Kim, he's busy scolding Pung-san for letting the kids live. But the creepy shaman doesn’t care. Why? The 8-foot ghost just powered up after gobbling Bibi’s pearl. He's basically Final Boss material now.

Meanwhile, Yeo-ri brings Ga-seop to the palace to help guard the Queen and the Crown Prince, because things are getting dangerous. The main crew preps for a trip to Yongdam Village (retreat-style, lol) to question Choi Won-u, but everyone’s worried about Gangcheori’s emotional state. Even Mrs. Yoon sneaks him snacks, and he promises to eat them later. Yes, even grief gets a soft side in this show.

💔 Cue the heartbreak: The Queen Mother discovers that Kim forced Yeong-in’s nanny to bring Pung-san into her life. And it clicks—he’s behind everything. She finally apologizes to the King for hurting his unborn child and acknowledges her mistakes. Seo confirms her suspicions: Kim has been secretly meeting Se-wan, Pung-san’s assistant.

Then comes the confrontation we've been waiting for.

The King confronts his grandfather in full court. We get a gut-punch flashback—after the former king’s death, Kim tearfully offered the King his father’s blood-stained tonggae, symbolizing loyalty. The King, sobbing, accuses him of betrayal. Kim? Oh, he SMIRKS. He admits he only supported the King as long as he played by the rules and didn’t mess with the “natural order.” (Translation: Don’t you dare try to abolish slavery.)

But plot twist! The court’s been listening in the whole time. The King calls him out for treason. Kim is exiled… briefly. His assassins bust him out like it’s nothing. Furious, he runs to the shrine and demands the 8-foot ghost kill the King.

Big mistake. The ghost, now full Alpha Demon, possesses Pung-san and kills Kim on the spot. One snake down.

Back on the road, Gangcheori is slowly returning to himself. He reassures Yeo-ri that he doesn't blame her for Bibi’s death—only the ghost. Their team arrives in Yongdam and pretends it’s a palace retreat (lol, subtle). Gangcheori gets hilariously jealous when he asks about In-seon, and Yeo-ri’s reaction gives him life. Eunuch Kim shares some deep feelings over candy, subtly acknowledging Gangcheori’s grief.

Their mission? Learn more about a mysterious 100-year-old military officer—possibly the 8-foot ghost’s past identity.

Choi Won-u plays dumb, but drama knocks on the door—literally—when In-seon shows up possessed by the one-legged ghost. Choi claims the ghost was Jang Eon-su, a book merchant who stole scandalous manuscripts. Choi says he accidentally killed Jang and retired out of guilt.

Yeo-ri and Gangcheori exorcise the ghost (with their usual chaotic bickering), but this time the ghost wants something in return: Expose the secrets of the Choi family.

The missing book? The Anthology of Light and Darkness—a text containing royal secrets and the ghost’s real backstory. Flashback time: Turns out, Choi did kill Jang after a failed bribe over the book. It was all about covering up King Yeon-jong’s shady dealings and a heroic soldier’s betrayal. Sound familiar?

Choi tries to burn the book to hide the truth, but Gangcheori saves it just in time and delivers it to the King.

As the credits near, the 8-foot ghost seethes over the King's growing knowledge. He’s not playing anymore. He expels Yoon Gap’s soul from his body, and Pung-san? Laughs like the absolute menace he is.

🔥 End of Episode 12. And yes, everything just changed again.

DramaZen's Opinion

Okay, The Haunted Palace episodes 11 and 12?? Absolutely bonkers—in the best, most dramatic, ghost-haunted way possible.

First of all, RIP Bibi 💔. I didn’t think I’d cry over an Imugi with sass and an ascension obsession, but here we are. His death hit hard, especially the way Gangcheori cradled him. Protect Gangcheori at all costs, please!

Speaking of Gangcheori—HE’S IN HIS FEELINGS. Lost his brother, kissed the girl, and is now spiraling into full-blown heartbreak and guilt. And Yeo-ri? She’s right there, comforting him, saving him, KISSING HIM AGAIN (!!!) and basically stealing our hearts while doing it.

Also: Minister Kim finally exposed for the treacherous snake he is! That whole court reveal? Chef’s kiss. But of course, he busts out of exile like it’s just a minor inconvenience. Classic K-drama villain behavior.

And that book scandal in Yongdam?? 👀 A royal cover-up, a haunted manuscript, and a ghost demanding literary justice. Honestly, 10/10 plot twist. Give that ghost a Goodreads account!

We’re heading toward the final episodes and it’s full-speed ahead. Betrayals, possession, tearful confessions, and historical scandal—these episodes had everything. I’m not okay. I’m obsessed. Bring on Episode 13!! 🖤🔥📖