Moon River Episodes 9 & 10 Recap: A Stolen Princess and a Broken Kingdom

These episodes deliver the shocking truth behind Park Dal-i’s lost identity and a king’s terrible secret, forever changing the fight for the throne.

Moon River Episodes 9 and 10, which aired on December 5 and 6, 2025, represent a major turning point for the MBC historical fantasy series. The story moves past hints and suspicions, revealing hard truths that reshape every character’s journey. The episodes provide a powerful mix of a long-awaited romance, a daughter’s rebellion, and memory-altering discoveries that confirm the darkest fears about the royal court’s corruption.

You can watch new episodes of Moon River every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM KST on MBC. For international viewers, the series is available for streaming on Viki.

Episode 9: A Secret Marriage and a King’s Hidden Agenda

The episode begins with a moment of deceptive calm. The Left Councillor, Kim Han-chul, works to control the investigation into the palace creature incident, knowing Crown Prince Lee Gang is getting closer to the truth. Meanwhile, Lee Gang wakes to find Park Dal-i asleep beside him. In a quiet, tender moment, he gently shades her from the sun with an umbrella before leaving.

Dal-i’s peace is shattered by a returning nightmare. She vividly dreams of herself dressed as the Crown Princess, watching the Queen Dowager collapse after drinking poisoned tea. The disturbing vision leaves her shaken, as forgotten pieces of her past begin to push to the surface.

In a lighter attempt to help, Dal-i cooks for Lee Gang, but the meal gives him terrible stomach pain. While trying to use acupuncture to help him, they both prick their fingers. Their blood mixes with water, causing their souls to swap bodies once again. The timing could not be worse, as Han-chul arrives immediately to question Dal-i. Lee Gang, now trapped in Dal-i’s body, is forced to cleverly answer the questions without raising suspicion. The two eventually reverse the swap, but the danger is far from over.

Han-chul accelerates his scheme, creating false evidence to frame Dal-i for bringing the creature into the palace. His plot works, and Dal-i is arrested and sentenced to execution by beheading. She manages to delay the sentence, placing her hope in Lee Gang to find proof of her innocence in time.

Amidst this rising danger, Lee Gang gives Dal-i a deeply meaningful gift. Knowing she once longed for them as a child, he presents her with hundreds of flower shoes. Overwhelmed, she is then surprised when he places a ring on her finger and proposes. The two hold a secret, private marriage ceremony, exchanging vows and finally sharing a night together as husband and wife. A god watching from above notes that Dal-i must recover her memories soon, or fate will separate them again.

Lee Gang’s investigation with Lee Un leads directly to Han-chul’s home, providing the evidence needed. He returns to the palace, exposes Han-chul’s crimes, and secures his arrest, saving Dal-i. Just as safety seems restored, the episode ends with a chilling twist. The camera shows the King, Lee Hee, whose inner thoughts reveal he actually desires Dal-i’s death. He refers to her as “the true Crown Princess,” confirming he has known her real identity all along and may be the greatest hidden threat.

The Dark Pact: The King’s Confession in Episode 10

Episode 10 begins with the fallout from Han-chul’s arrest. U-hui, seizing her chance for freedom, escapes the palace with Lee Un. However, their hope is short-lived. In a move that shocks Lee Gang, the King exercises his authority and orders Han-chul’s release from prison.

Confronted by his furious son, King Lee Hee breaks down and confesses the terrible secret that has kept him in bondage. Years ago, Han-chul murdered the King’s own brothers. He then used the chaos to engineer the King’s rise to the throne, but at a horrific cost.

The King admitted that he and Kim Hancheol were complicit in the coup that led to the death of the former king. Kim Hancheol has used this shared secret as leverage to control the throne from the shadows.

As part of their dark pact, the King signed a document granting Han-chul permanent protection and power. The King also allowed Han-chul to kill the Queen Dowager because Han-chul demanded his daughter U-hui become Crown Princess instead of the woman the Dowager chose. This confession devastates Lee Gang, revealing his father not as a weak king but as a co-conspirator in the kingdom’s corruption.

U-hui’s Rebellion Against Her Father’s Control

While Lee Gang processes this betrayal, Han-chul is already hunting the escaped couple. He tracks down U-hui and Lee Un, and a physical struggle ensues. This confrontation becomes the defining moment for U-hui’s character.

For the first time, she openly and forcefully rebels against the father who has treated her as a political tool her entire life. She refuses to be dragged back to the palace, defiantly standing up to him. Lee Gang arrives and uses his authority to protect them. He declares that since U-hui has publicly fled, she can no longer be considered the future Crown Princess and should be free to marry whomever she chooses.

Her act of defiance is more than personal; it is a direct challenge to the oppressive power structures of the court.

Dal-i Recovers Her Memory and True Identity

Fearing for Dal-i’s safety amid the coming storm, the King conspires with Park Hong-nan to fake Dal-i’s death and send her away to the Qing Dynasty. As part of this plan, she is sent to the Unjeong Palace. This location acts as a powerful trigger for her shattered memory.

While there, a palace maid sees Dal-i and is stunned. The maid exclaims that Dal-i looks exactly like the late Crown Princess, Kang Yeon-wol, but is missing a distinctive mole on her nose. Dal-i freezes, suddenly remembering how her aunt always told her to hide that very same mole.

Walking through the palace, a flood of suppressed memories overwhelms her. The pieces of her past finally lock into place. The shocking truth is revealed: Park Dal-i is actually Crown Princess Kang Yeon-wol, who was believed to be dead. With her identity and memories fully restored, a transformed Yeon-wol confronts Park Hong-nan, demanding answers for the years of deception. The episode ends on this tense cliffhanger, setting the stage for a dramatic new chapter.

Also Read: Surely Tomorrow Episode 1 Recap: A Chance Meeting Sets the Stage for Past and Present to Collide

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