Why did you do it? Was it because...
the manager didn't do his job?
Then you should've reported it to the police
I heard you went around the stores
giving the seedlings and yelled for drinks
How come you know what I did while I was drunk better than I do?
Sir, if you keep that up, you'd be kicked out of this place, too
I heard your payment was lowered because of this
You worry too much
Sir!
Stop looking at me Turn around and look...
I think she came to see you
Jang-Geum!
Yeun-Seng!
Jang-Geum, you... you...
can come back...
Don't you get it?
To where?
To the... Royal Kitchen! The Head Lady has given permission
Really?!
Yes, Lady Han and I've been urging Lady Jung, and she reluctantly...
went to ask the Head Lady and she happily said yes for some reason
Really?
Yes, Lady Jung thinks the head eunuch had heard about your story...
somewhere and told the Head Lady about it
What story?
I heard you successfully grew astragalus
How did...?
I don't know. Anyway, pack up and come quickly
The competition is only a week away
That's right! The competition!
(Episode 8)
I have drawn a picture so you can understand easier
You have to plant loquats about an inch deep in the soil
and you have to water it everyday
And you should scatter the litchi seeds
It's so sad to see you leaving
Everything worked out for her. Stop crying
But we grew so close...
We'll miss you, Lady!
Yes, of course!
Me, too...
If you have to drink, please have some side dishes
You just have to keep yourself busy, eh?
How did you think of making food out of this cabbage already?
Sir...
Though I don't know why you ended up here or...
why you haven't been trying anything, that's not your true self
It was you who helped the worker girl when she fell after eating...
a poisonous herb, and you wanted to straighten things out recently
That's why I'm grateful, and I'm worried for you
I'm more worried about you If you jump into things without...
first evaluating the situation, you will get hurt
and at the end, nothing will be left for you
Sir...
OK. I'll stop the lecture. Good luck
And deliver this on your way for me
You'll find someone named Park In-Hu. Give that to him
Sure
This is delicious! You surely won't be kicked out for making bad food
Hello?
Is anyone here? Is supervisor Park In-Hu here?
"Sa-gong?" What could it mean?
"Sa-gong" as written there means someone who manages the land...
people live in, and "Sa-ju" is someone who teaches people
A court lady is not allowed to come in here
I'm sorry. I was on my way to the Royal Kitchen from the herb garden
but supervisor Jung at the garden told me...
to deliver a letter to someone named Park In-Hu here
Supervisor Park was reassigned to Jeolla-do a long time ago
I was just ordered to... Here... this is the letter
Since you seem to work here you can deliver it to him later
It's me. It's been such a long time I'm not sure if you're still there
I have a favor to ask of you. The lady who took this letter to you...
is someone who successfully grew astragalus...
even with interferences of superior officials
I've observed her and found her to be very bright and talented
I've heard that officials sometimes let ladies borrow books
so let her borrow any book she wishes to read
She'll be of greater help to the people than many foolish officials
Lt. General of the Royal Guards
Huh?
Our office is located right beside the facilities where new ladies are trained
Come and visit when you have time
What do you mean...?
The supervisor has written a letter to allow you to borrow books
Would you like the Book of Songs?
How could a lowly court lady read such classics...?
Such a lowly court lady was only picking out Confucian classics
It is people who discriminate, not books
What is a court lady doing here?
She came from the herb garden to deliver something
Why aren't you going out?
Sorry...
I lost that when I was helping someone
Then could he be...?
This is what you took from the spy?
Yes, sir
It's surprisingly detailed! We must come up with a plan asap
Yes, sir
I'm very glad that you've come back after making...
such a great accomplishment for the country
But achievement is achievement, and work is work
Just because you achieved this, you can't avoid the competition
Won't have much time to practice compared to other girls
You may be at a disadvantage, but there is no other way
As you know already if you fail in the competition
you'll have to leave the palace
Do your best in the short time you're given
Yes, ma'am
Hello!
Jang-Geum! You're here!
Everyone's fine, huh?
It must've been so hard for you
You lost so much weight
No, I've been doing just fine
No way. When I went there everything was dirty
and there wasn't even a place to wash your face
And the food was no different from a peasant's meal
Anyhow, she's great, indeed She probably never worked...
in a field before, but made a great achievement and came back
I know. I heard almost no one comes back from there
That's right
What good is coming back when she'll be leaving again...
after the competition
You...!
Isn't that right? If I were her I would've stayed there since...
at least she would have remained a court lady
Now she'll have to leave after the competition
Don't listen to her. It's better not to listen. I'll help you out
You should have no problem passing the test
I'm sure Yeun-Seng would help a lot
Why you... Come back over here!
I'm going to Keum-Young!
Why do we refer to cooking rice as "chwi" (making a fire)?
The word "chwi" is used because the cooker, the steam and the fire...
have to come together as one
What is "jeup-jang"?
It's a summer sauce made with fermented bean paste and wheat
How do you make it?
You soak wheat and beans in water, and then grind them
After steaming, dry it with a mulberry leaf as a cover
Where can you find the very first record of soy sauce and bean paste?
Don't you know?
I told you that the written exam isn't only about food
but also the ancient history related to food!
You can't become the Highest Kitchen Lady...
just because our family was in power for a long time!
Go back and study again!
Are you leaving to study?
Yes, they said they are gathering to study together
There was an order for all the court ladies...
not to teach the girls privately anymore
I know
Sometimes, I don't like my obedient character
I heard that you came back
Yeah
It's a book about food
I'm not sure what the questions will be, but read it anyway
Thanks
Jang-Geum
This is something that has been passed down throughout the years
It lists all the questions from the past and possible questions
It will be from here, so let's try them
It's so much
You give a question, and we'll answer
And you can memorize together by listening to how we answer
Then it'll be good for you and us, right?
Sure
OK... Eggplant
You cut up the eggplant in finger-size lengths and cross-cut it
You slightly boil it in salty water and...
rinse it in cold water and then squeeze it
Right?
You have to put it in cold water to take out the taste
You're right! You have to put it in cold water
Ouch!
Aren't you going to be quiet?! And are you going to keep yelling?!
I can't go to sleep!
That's why I told you to keep it down
We only finished 10 questions and we were wrong each time
What are we going to do now?
Don't get nervous Let's go back to the wrong ones
and try them again
Pumpkin
You don't flip the pumpkin to boil it
but pour hot water over it When boiling lotus root porridge
you don't cook it with rice but you make the rice porridge first
and then put the lotus root in And with the eggplant...
it is important to put it in water to take out the taste
Let's go and study after this
Jang-Geum, Chang-Yee, and Yeun-Seng, come
What is it?
You have to bring ingredients and make shish kebab
Please help us out
Of course I want to, but envoys just came back from Beijing
and we have to prepare a lot of it
Who'll be responsible if we don't do better
than the girls at the Prince's or King's Mother's palace?
I'm going to spank you if you don't excel
Please give us a break
Hey, I took first place while doing all the work. Come out now!
Next
Spread the bean paste
Next
You stir
What are you talking about? It's the same thing
Is that so?
Of course
Then boil it for a tasty dish
I asked you how you can make it tasty and what...?
There must be some secret technique!
Why are you yelling?!
I'm just trying to help Jang-Geum out for the competition
I do this everyday, but 'cause you made me do it in order, I can't do it
Why not? When you made it for me it was a snap for you
OK, I guess that might work I'll imagine you're doing this
Yes
How can you put tofu in first?! Radish first...
and then squash! And why such an old squash?!
Don't you know you have to use a younger one?
There were only old ones in the garden
I'll go to the store later...
What are you talking about? Why aren't you writing it down?
What? Oh...
Don't you know you have to use a young squash?!
You have to buy a young squash!
I should at least write it down as a young squash...
The questions for the competition aren't decided yet?
Isn't that decided the night before?
Then what shall we do about the ingredients they'll be using?
Once they decide it they'll contact us
Though we'll have to hurry, do prepare when we hear from them
Sure
Jang-Geum, you know my wife is a really good cook, huh?
Yes
These are her cooking secrets
What?
My wife and I spent several days preparing it
so bring it secretly to the competition
and glance at it while making the dishes
I heard from the ladies who had won first place...
that you could find out what the questions are beforehand
It's for real. It's a legend that's been passed down through...
the court ladies. Listen carefully The night before the competition...
very early in the morning when everyone is asleep...
after taking a bath in the east mountain
and then steal the fire pot used to cook the King's food
and then steal the Highest Lady's kitchen knife. And use the knife
to cut off the tie of the dress of the previous winner of the competition
and go to the maple tree behind the kitchen
He said to sharpen the knife 33 times, right?
Yes
...thirty two... thirty three...
Is the fire ready?
Yes, it's ready
OK, I'll go get some water now
I brought it already
What brings you here?
Don't be like that. Since she's here, let's cooperate
Come here, the fire is ready
Are you sure when the ash falls the letters of the question'll appear?
Quiet. He said to concentrate...
Quiet!
What are you doing?!
Tomorrow must be the competition day...
seeing how they're burning the tie again
Let's clean this up
So useless... they should think about studying more...
We were wondering who was going to do it this time, so there you are
If you had studied properly why would you be fooled by that?
You should've spent the time studying
So did you sharpen my knife?
You said you added the sharpening part
when you were still young, right?
Right! Since you've been studying diligently
you just do what you've learned Don't be nervous and go to sleep
so you can do well in the competition Do you understand?
Yes, ma'am
Today is the competition day Please give me the questions
You can come up with the questions this time
Your Majesty, that's utterly unreasonable...
You've been here for 50 years now You said you'd be heading to...
the temple once you go out tomorrow so I'm sure there's much to regret
The girls'll be in your position later, so you can do it
Your grace is immeasurable I shall obey it. Is that OK with you?
Of course
Your Majesty, since you've been so generous to me
I dare to ask you for a favor After the competition, they'll be...
receiving instructions on being a court lady for a week
Please let me be the trainer lady during that time
Go ahead and do that That's not a hard thing at all
The first part is to write the name of the dish
and second part is to make that dish
There are 30 different sets of each ingredients used
However, their quality and conditions are different
And the meat is from different parts of the animal
Therefore, you'll be put in an order according to how well you do here
The person who answers faster will get the good ingredients
and the slower person will get the lower quality ones
This competition is to find out whether...
you can be an official court lady or not
If you fail in this, you have to leave the palace
Show us what you've learned so far
Open the scroll
Yes, ma'am
"Head, but not head; dress, but not dress; person, but not person"
This is the question of the competition It's one of the things...
you've learned, so think hard and write down the food name
Yes, ma'am
You can go outside now
What is Jang-Geum going to do now?
Why did that have to be the question?!
I know. She only studied how to cook Why did it have to be on history?
I know. It's something Lady Han taught us in a lecture
What is she going to do now?
It's something she's brought upon herself!
Getting good ingredients is the half of making good food
But I guess she won't be getting any good ingredients
What are you doing?!
Who are you to be peeping at the ladies' training ground?
I'm head chef of the kitchen I came to pick up some ingredients...
from the kitchen and I was just curious what they were doing
There they go!
Put down your brushes!
The answer is "dumpling"
The Ladies have taught you in lectures
You can't remember? After Zhuge Liang's great victory
on his way back, he came to Yin River But he couldn't cross it
because of the storm. His followers suggested that they give offerings
of 49 men's heads as was the custom, but he said
he couldn't take human lives, so he came up with making dumplings...
in the shape of heads. "Head, but not head." It refers to the head...
of people as well as the last letter for dumpling
"Dress, but not dress." Refers to the skin of dumpling
"Person, but not person." Refers to the fake person that he made
Since you didn't get this, you'll be the last to get the ingredients
Let's go to the training ground now
You'll pick out the ingredients in the order of completing the written test
However, if you don't have the eye to pick good ingredients
it's useless to pick before others
This is part of the test, so select them wisely
Go ahead and start
Choi Keum-Young!
Yes
What part of the cow is it?
Tallow
What's its use?
It's from the front chest to the lower abdomen
and it's best for making broth because it's very fatty
This part of the tallow is near the front chest
so there are more tendons than fat
Suh Jang-Geum. Kim Shin-Bi Park Sun-Shin
Suh Jang-Geum
What part is it?
Sirloin. The parts are top sirloin, knuckle and...
bottom sirloin triangle Quality is like that of round meat
This one is from the top sirloin area
Where is it used?
It is boiled in soy sauce, or dried
Do you know that it isn't used to make broth?
Yes
You need time to make broth and tofu
So you will start making broth and tofu at 2 today
and restart the competition at 8 tomorrow morning
Keep your ingredients well, especially, small amounts
of the precious flour you've been given. Keep it well
We'll meet again at 2, and before that...
Madam
Lady Noh, who has been in the King's Mother's palace, will be...
inspecting your temporary residences until the ceremony
The new brides coming in now are from the sewing houses
They'll be competing by making your dresses while staying with you
at your temporary quarters so be nice to them. Understand?
Yes, ma'am
You look young. How old are you?
I'm 16
You're becoming an official court lady at 16?
It's been a long time since I came into the palace
Your dress will be put to good use if I pass this
Girls from the Princess' Palace and the King's Mother's Palace
are here to watch her Let's watch and copy her
Why? You don't want to? Then I'll watch and tell you about it
so you can just do what I tell you
What else? Yours is only sirloin...
That's her...
She's probably using the secret that's passed down in her family
I know. It's unfair
Can't we just follow what she's doing?
She's probably using rare medicine and spice from China
so how can we follow her? She has the first place secured
Why do you think Lady Choi's family always won first place...?
Hey, you! What do you think you're saying?!
Why? Am I wrong?
Why you...!
It's so delicious! How can it taste so different
even though we're using the same ingredients?
Did you use some secret method? Is it something from your family?
I just kept the basics in mind
What do you mean?
You have to sharpen the knife carefully before you start making food
You may think it's nothing, but if the knife is dull
it damages the food when you cut it and it can lose taste
That's what the Ladies tell us often
but is that why the taste is different?
That's not all, of course
Then what else?
It's soju (liquor)
Soju? I know you add it for meat, but you use it for broth, too?
When you use soju, it neutralizes the bad smell
Really? I have to put in some soju, too
It's useless, You can't compete with my taste
The soju I use is something I made 10 years ago when I was a new bride
Jang-Geum, so how is it?
I don't think mine's any good Let me try yours
How is it?
Yours is unique. How did you make it?
How is it? Is it tasty?
Rather than tasty, it just has a unique flavor. How did you do it?
I remembered it from my childhood
when I used to live in a butcher's town
Really?
Yes. When the butchers made broth they used heel meat or tallow
but when they were making broth for noodles
they used sirloin because it tastes better
Really?
I think they found that out because they had to sell heel and tallow
to the upper class and they had to use what was remaining
Anyhow, though it's different from the regular broth, it's not bad
Besides, that was the only thing I could choose
Yes, you didn't have much choice
Let's quickly make the broth and go back
to the residence to prepare for tomorrow together
Sure
Jang-Geum... Jang-Geum...
Yeun-Seng, why aren't you sleeping?
Let's go over the steps of making dumplings with the ingredients
It'll help you and me for tomorrow
Would you do that for me?
Yes... to be honest with you, I wish one of us could do...
better than Keum-Young tomorrow And you more than me
Why should I...
When you do well, I just feel like they won't disrespect me
Jang-Geum, what's wrong?
My flour is gone
What?
No way
It's probably Young-Ro's doing
Young-Ro's ingredients are still here
What are you doing?
Have you seen anyone taking my flour?
What are you saying? No one has been here
Jang-Geum's flour is gone and I think...
others' ingredient are gone, too
No... that can't be!
What? Why would the flour that you've been protecting disappear?!
Someone took it for sure
No! You told me to keep watch so I was paying attention
You were sleeping when we arrived
That's not true I only had my eyes closed
Madam, please help me. I can't make any dumplings without flour
No
Madam...
First of all, we can't get anymore now. And secondly...
you know that we only receive a fixed amount to prepare...
for His and Her Majesty's food That's why I told you to keep it well!
Madam...
We never gave extra ingredients before
It's basic for the kitchen ladies to protect their ingredients
Madam...
Go back
I'll share my flour with you
No. We have to produce a given amount
I don't want you to fail because of me
Then what are you going to do?
I'm going to look for it. Seeing how some ingredients are gone as well
I think someone's probably making it right now
You're right! Girls from the Princess' and King's Mother's palace...
must be practicing with it since they feel incompetent
You're right. Then I'll check the training ground
No one's probably there
You're right, that'd be too obvious
OK, I'll try the closest kitchen first
OK, then I'll...
How could you do this to me?
Don't you know that I'll be casted out of the palace
if I don't have the flour?
Just give me what's left
No! No!
How could you do this? You've stolen mine. Give it!
Who's there?! Who's inside?!
I'm the King's servant Lee Chang-Man on my night-shift
What are you doing here at this time of night?!
Which residence are you from?
I'm a kitchen girl
The kitchen? What is a kitchen lady doing here?
Tell me now!
I lost my flour for tomorrow's competition...
to become an official court lady However, this sewing girl...
who's sharing my room has stolen it
Flour is very precious so I can't get anymore
And I won't be able to make the food
and be casted out of the palace
Tell me why you did this. Why would a sewing girl steal the flour?!
Would you speak when you're turned over to the police?!
I have no choice then. Hey!
Yes!
Take her away!
Sir! Wait!
Sir, the madam I've been serving and sharing the room with...
will be going out of the palace to enter the temple tomorrow
I only heard of the news today
I felt that I wouldn't be able to see her ever again
so I was making a bowl of dumpling soup which is her favorite dish
Even so, how could you give others trouble?
I'm going to report this to the Head Lady tomorrow
And give the rest back to the owner
No!
Give it back to her!
Sir! Please understand! I can't give it to her... no...
my own mother will be eating this
Sir! Lady Noh who will be eating the dumplings is actually... my mother
There's no telling when I'll see her again if I send her away like this
I have to bring her the dumplings today no matter what happens
Do you... know what you're saying right now?!
A court lady is someone who comes into the palace at a young age
to look only at His Majesty for the rest of her life
so how could there be a mother and daughter?!
If this is true, she deserves the death penalty! So tell me the truth!
Sir! Kill me instead so I can go out of the palace with her
Do you know this Lady Noh?
Yes. She's the trainer lady at our temporary quarters
Then can you bring her here now?
Yes
I heard what has happened
What is going on here?
She hasn't done anything wrong Punish me instead
Mother!
Is it true that she's your daughter?
Yes
How could that be? How were you able to stay...
in the palace after such thing?!
When I was working as a girl at the Guesthouse
I was disgraced by an envoy from Ming China
And that's how I had her I tried many times to kill myself
but I'm still alive 'cause this life seems to be tenacious
How were you able to keep it a secret?
The upper ladies heard of my story and had pity on me
and they let me raise her
Even so how were you able to have a baby without letting anyone know?
That's how court ladies are
Sir, please punish me and let her go She's a pitiful child
Mother told me to give the dough back to you...
The herb garden!
Be very strict with evaluation and fail as many as possible
Because of the earthquake from last time?
Because of the earthquake?
The Meteorological Observer said the last earthquake was due...
to the grudges of court ladies
It's not only that. His Majesty chose new girls with the intention
of a fresh start but it turned out he picked too many and...
the Accounting House has reported that there's too much payment
going to the ladies of the court So he has ordered to leave...
only 20 in each house and put the rest out of the palace
We'll start with the competition...
which will determine whether or not you'll become official court ladies
Until now we've only failed the below-average girls
but now we have received an order from the King to accept only 20
from every house. 10 will be failed even from the kitchen
Those people who fail will pack up today and leave the palace
The rules are much more strict
Still, don't get too nervous and try to show all your skills
Now, we'll start
Go ahead and start
Hey, you
At the training ground, you'll find kitchen girls...
having a cooking competition Go find out what has happened...
to a girl named Suh Jang-Geum
Yes, sir
How do you eat this?
There are dumplings inside dumplings!
Why did you make it this way?
Whenever we made dumplings for feasts, I noticed that...
they got cold quickly This way it'd be kept warm longer
and the person eating it can enjoy it better
That's not all It looks like a dumpling soup
yet it looks like it's steamed What's the reason?
I put some broth in the dough and because they're inside the dumpling
the moisture is captured in there
that's why it may feel like a soup as well
Did you use vinegar as a finishing touch?
Yes
But there's no tartness at all
Vinegar on a meat dish gives it a fresh taste
We use it for other dishes but I think she's applied that here
What's this vegetable used as a wrap for the dumplings?
It's cabbage
Cabbage... what is that?
It's one of the herbs from Ming being grown in the garden
And it tasted good for food so I tried it out
How come you didn't use the flour that was passed out?
I lost it
You lost that precious flour? Are you in your right mind?
And what's this?
It's squash
You used the common squash instead of precious flour wrapping?
It tastes very unique
Yes, there's no need to use rare flour for dumplings all the time
But the right method is to use the ingredients that were passed out
I agree with Lady Choi. She should fail for losing the ingredients
But the taste is first place If she can make it taste like that
without using the flour...
This is a competition. If others could've used other things
instead of what was passed out, they could've made better things, too
But not everyone can think of such a thing when there are no ingredients
Wouldn't it be better to follow the rules?
Lady Jung, go ahead and give the results first
I'll announce the result of this competition
The first place is Choi Keum-Young!
Keum-Young, the first place winner will receive a prize
Next are the girls who have failed and will be going out
Park Soon-Yun from the Prince's Palace
Kim Oh-Ryun from the Prince's Palace
Park Duk-Keum from the King's Mother's palace
Kim Sun-Bi from the King's palace
Jo Jae-Hang from the Prince's palace
Jun Mi-Keum from the King's palace
Park Ge-Keum from the Prince's palace
Jung Eun-Bi from the King's Mother's palace
And lastly...
Suh Jang-Geum from the King's palace