(Episode 10)
Where does this unique flavor come from?
I've never tasted this in the palace before
The radish kimchi tastes good but I didn't like its after-taste
but there's no after-taste It tastes refreshing
It's perfect for a day like this Isn't that right?
Yes, Your Majesty!
Good work
So you thought of putting in something you've never tried before?
Yes
You told me to find out about all the different tastes of water
I sure did
I remembered you saying, mineral water from So-Dang-Ri...
is best for radish kimchi
And when I tasted the water nearby I found it having a clean taste
so I thought it would taste a lot like So-Dang-Ri water
You two have done well. Keum-Young made noodles she's never made before
and Jang-Geum went there unhesitantly
We couldn't have done this without you, especially Keum-Young
for pulling this off well We owe this to you
You overpraise me...
Do you acknowledge your faults? You should've thrown poison away
as soon as you took it out of conch How could you just put it aside?!
How could you not know the difference between cartilage...
and poison of conch at your level?
I'm going to report this, so expect to be punished
Sir
Long time no see
Yes, long time no see, sir
How is Sir Choi? Fine
You seemed to have done a good job today
Please rest. We have a long day tomorrow
Yes, sir Bye
Is something wrong?
What's wrong, Keum-Young?
I had a crush on a guy who lives here
Elders of my family forced me to be a court lady
You know this too... that a court lady is the King's lady
What are you doing under the moonlight?
Oh... I forget things if I don't take daily memos
I see...
Your brush is too big
I know
What are you looking for?
Oh... I got changed...
What is it?
I have a small brush perfect for your notebook
Oh...
Sir
Keum-Young
Jang-Geum... You were here
She must've come for you
Oh... yes
I was going to let her go
You have a long day tomorrow. Go...
OK. Bye...
You know him?
He often came to my uncle's place for books from Ming
I see...
It didn't seem like your first time meeting him
Yeah... Actually the supervisor from the herb garden
asked me to give a letter on my way back to the court
I met him there
Oh... yeah? Some officials and court ladies are close
But it won't do you good to be seen with a guy
No... It's not like that... It just so happened...
Just keep that in mind
OK
Madam... Is that true?
You want me to go to the middle kitchen?
Jo-Bang and Lady Min aren't allowed to come to the middle kitchen
You and Yeun-Seng have to help so go there
Yes, ma'am
Tell Yeun-Seng when you go back to your quarters
Yes, ma'am
It was as if you wanted us to be punished
Yeah
Oh... It's not that... I've always wanted to go to the middle kitchen
and they told me to go there... I'm so sorry
Middle kitchen? It's no different... than the Royal Kitchen
Sorry
Stop it. As Lady Han said, you saved us from big trouble
Get along now!
Yes, ma'am
Your ankle must be OK now
Huh? Yes... No... I mean...
It's alright
I finished the book you gave me last time
Already?
Yes
I'll be gone a few days for training Come to the same spot
on the 15th day at 4 pm I'll give you another book
Sure. Thank you
You can find my recipe list hidden in the main middle kitchen
Use it when you need it You'll find my breath there
What are you doing just standing there?
I'm sorry
It's your first time here How can you be spacing out
instead of trying to learn how to work?
This is a stone pot for cooking the King's meals
Oh, I see...
When you cook rice in a stone pot instead of a cauldron...
What are you doing? Why aren't you listening?
I'm sorry
They say the price of silk going into the bedroom is too high
The silk is the best of its kind
Is it ready now?
Yes, it'll be passed on today
It'll be a disaster if that's found out, so be very careful
Have we ever made a mistake before?
You're right...
Don't worry. Bye
Careful, these are expensive drinks
Help me out here. My back hurts
Why would your back hurt?! What did you use it for?
When did you last use it?! It's been over a month!
Did you come yourself?
Yes, I came because you wanted special drinks
for the Full Moon Festival
I called for you because I wanted to see...
if you could make liquor like from Ming
Of course... my wife not only looks pretty, but her hands...
which make the drinks are very pretty too
It'd be great if you had a sweet heart as well
Did you bring it?
He said it's effective only if it's used till the 8th
Make sure of the time
Sure
She'll be shocked if you tell her. Will it be OK?
Isn't it time, though?
That's true...
It's our family tradition I did it too
I trust that you'll take care of it
Don't worry, Pan-Sul
No
What? No?
No, Madam. I don't want it
Even if I don't do it our family has the skills
and there's no problem going to the place...
of Highest Kitchen Lady just with the skills
Why do you even suggest such a thing?
Are you afraid?
I'm not afraid, but it hurts my pride
Your pride...
Yes, Madam. Only those who try to gain power illegitimately do such...
Shut your mouth!
You must be greatly mistaken
As you've said, all our ancestors who were Highest Ladies
had full qualifications But being competent isn't everything
You think our family held that position
because there was no one else who was qualified?
How could you, a smart girl, not understand this?
There is always someone with power in the palace, and we're here
because we help them out That is how our family exists
As you know, though our family can't join the upper class...
with this position, we can gain more wealth than them
Because we do the dirty work for them
we can gain more wealth than them That's our family's fate
We could use other people Why do we have to do it ourselves?
Making you do such a great thing is the training principle...
that's been passed down through generations
It teaches you that you become strong through experiencing fear
I did this when I first became an official court lady
One of my friends even died
The second reason is that there's no one to trust in the palace
Hide this in the middle kitchen
This is to change the prince in the Queen's womb into a princess
If she gives birth to a prince then we can no longer guarantee...
the well-being of Sir Oh Kyum-Ho or our family
Do you understand?
This isn't something you can escape
so accept the fate of our family and hide this in the kitchen
No
Keum-Young
I won't do it
You'll be back... just as I was...
I'll prepare the midnight snacks for you tonight
Thanks, but why do you work so many night shifts these days?
I heard you worked Kang & Lee's shifts as well
Just because...
It's strange
If you don't want it, then fine
I just thought that since you caught a cold...
I didn't say no
Then I'll do it
OK
Keum-Young
There is always someone with power in the palace, and we're here
because we help them out That is how our family exists
Then what about my pride? If it's not wealth and prestige...
earned by serving the best meals to His Majesty as his lady
then what are they? How are we different from those who have lied
to become noblemen in a single day?
Is that why I have entered the palace?
Keum-Young! Keum-Young!
Are you feeling sick?
What's wrong? And where are the others?
Get out
Did you call for a nurse? Lie down...
Get out!
Stop saying that, and lie down...
Get out! Get out!
How could you be here when Keum-Young's so sick?
You don't understand We couldn't even talk to her
because of her temper
And it's not even her own room but she told us to get out
She even acted that way to Young-Ro
What a temper she has...
Did you tell this to Lady Choi?
She's the same. I asked, "Should I call a nurse?"
And she replied, "It's OK"
Wonder why she goes out every night these days...
Madam, it's Jang-Geum
Come in
Why are you in the middle kitchen
when it's not your shift today?
Keum-Young is very sick, so I'm working her shift instead
You don't need to do that
But...
Keum-Young will come. She has to
But she's very sick, so...
You don't need to worry, and if she doesn't come
I can do it myself, so you can go back to your quarters
OK
Give me the bad luck charm
Keum-Young
I'm doing this because you say it's our fate
But this kind of fate shall end in my generation
I'll certainly make it so
What... are you doing here in the dark?
I was just...
What's that stick for?
For something...
By the way, are you feeling better now?
Why are you here when it's not even your shift?
I thought you were sick, so I wanted to help you
It's unnecessary. Get out
OK, sure...
What are you doing? Get out right now
OK
Why am I so scared? I didn't do anything wrong
It's Jang-Geum
What kind of a game is this?
What's wrong?
I saw everything last night
What?
Just what were you two doing there?
Two?
Yes, you and Keum-Young
I'll check the kitchen, so prepare the meal properly
Yes, ma'am
Hey, you're not going to tell me?
What? I have nothing to tell
You found something and Keum-Young hid something
What were you doing?
She hid something?
Yes. Come here
Keum-Young hid something here
Be careful
Wait
Oh, it's over here
Careful!
Jang-Geum!
Do you really want to learn the characters?
Yes
I'll start teaching you tomorrow, so stop going to the school
Really? You know the characters, too?
But you must never go there again Don't go to school or the mountains
or the town. Always stay with me, understand?
Yes, I will do that, Mother I will be with you at all times
Please understand my fear of losing your father and you
You're so bad
Why did you go out even though I was hurt?
You were hurt? Where? How? Let me see
It's OK. I didn't know you could be that way
Come on
You've been trying to find something without telling me
and you run away after finding it You won't even tell me what it is
Yeun-Seng
Madam
Jang-Geum, you follow me
Excuse me?
Follow me
Yeun-Seng, you stay here
Why am I always left behind?
Was it your shift last night?
No, Madam
Then why did you come to the middle kitchen?
I wanted to help Keum-Young because she seemed sick
Didn't I tell you to go back?!
Yes...
Keum-Young, is it true that you saw Jang-Geum here?
Yes
She was clearly there when I went there
OK. Keum-Young, stay outside
What is this?
I don't know
Are you going to deny it when you hid it yourself?!
That's totally not true This is the first time I've seen this
Then why did you disobey me and go to the kitchen?!
Why can't you answer her?
Tell us the truth!
Speak. This is something that will decide your fate
If you don't want to be a court lady
or you don't become the Highest Kitchen Lady
you must not read it, or show or tell others about this
Witch! How dare you do such wicked thing
when you've just become an official court lady
Lock her in the storehouse
Don't give her even a drop of water
Sure
And Lady Choi, talk to Keum-Young so nothing about this can spread
Sure
You won't get any water until you confess!
You found something and Keum-Young hid something
How could you be so careless?!
Fortunately, Jang-Geum was caught instead
so you must never speak of this to anyone else
Yes, ma'am
What are you going to do?
Luckily, Lady Han found it so only we three know of it
So if we quietly take care ofJang-Geum
there shouldn't be much trouble
What do you mean "take care of her?"
Then do you suggest that we just let this go?
We must first make Jang-Geum talk
It doesn't matter. It's clear Though people...
do curse others through gods from time to time in the palace
how dare she do it in the middle kitchen
That's why we have to find out who's behind this and what's going on
Don't go to the storehouse
where Jang-Geum is without my permission!
Keum-Young is very sick, so I'm working her shift instead
You don't need to do that
But...
Keum-Young will come. She has to
But she's very sick, so...
You don't need to worry, and if she doesn't come
I can do it myself, so you can go back to your quarters
You found something and Keum-Young hid something
You must not tell about this
What will happen to Jang-Geum?
We'll have to take care of her quietly as soon as possible
Madam...
What? Do you want to ask if we have to do such a thing to her?
It's a must Must I explain the reason?
No
That's why when you do these things
you must not allow any possibility of a mistake
Did you do it?
No. I've never done such a thing
Then, why did you go to that kitchen that day?
Why did you go to the kitchen?
Say something
Just tell me. Why did you go?
Madam...
actually...
Lady Han. Didn't I tell you that only I'm allowed in here?
What do you think you're doing?
I'm sorry
Get out right now!
This is very important
as you could suddenly disappear from the palace
I'll visit again tomorrow morning, so think carefully and tell me
Pan-Sul...
What happened?
Let me talk to you for a moment
What? How?
Don't worry. I'll take care of the kitchen
Give me the bad luck charm again
I'll make sure there won't be any more mistakes
And don't tell Sir Oh about this
OK
Hey
What brings the Highest Kitchen Lady here?
You've never called me after you became the Highest
I have so much to tell about the outside world
Let me talk to you for a moment
I won't do it again. I was planning on throwing away the erotic picture
What's this?
It's a bad luck charm
Take that to a fortune teller and find out what it's for
Of course, no one must find out about this. Do you understand?
Yes, ma'am
What?! Are you saying this is the fate of the Queen?
And it's a charm for changing the prince...
in the womb to a princess?
Yes
Who could've thought of such a terrible thing?
Just take it and leave now! Don't let me get associated with this
Just leave!
What do you mean?
Many upper-class officials come so just the fact...
that such a thing was here means trouble! Take it and leave!
You take it
You take it. Get away...
You keep it
No, you keep it
You're going to hand it to Lady Jung tomorrow, so keep it
I don't want to
Why did you accept such a thing in the first place?!
If you get arrested by the guards, don't tell them you know me, OK?
How could you say such a thing?
I'll bring food to the prison, OK?
I have never received this
Why did you have to give me such a thing?
What are you talking about?
It's a bad luck charm for changing the prince...
in the Queen's womb to a princess
Since you took Jang-Geum away she hasn't come back
Madam, where is Jang-Geum? Where did you send her away?
Lady Jung has sent her on an errand
That's not true. Lady Jung has told me, you've sent her somewhere
I don't know
Jang-Geum has been locked in the storehouse
for many days without any water
There's a witness who saw her there
and her silence proves that she is the one who did it
I know that you decide matters very carefully
but Madam, if this news spreads it'll be like a fire
We have to take care of this according to our private rules
I believe she deserves to pay for her sin by death
Why are you delaying this?
Jang-Geum... Jang-Geum...
Yeun-Seng... is it you, Yeun-Seng?
Jang-Geum, it's me, Yeun-Seng What happened?
Why aren't you speaking?
You didn't hide anything, but you found a small notebook
It's Keum-Young who hid something
Jang-Geum... if you don't talk I heard you might die
You must talk, Jang-Geum OK? Talk, OK?
You shouldn't tell anyone that I was a military officer. If you do...
You, Mother and I will all die
He's a military officer who protects the King!
My father is not a baekjeong (butcher/ slave)
He's an officer of the Royal Militia
Jang-Geum!
Arrest him!
Jang-Geum! Let go! Jang-Geum!
Father! Father! Jang-Geum!
Father...
Yeun-Seng, I can't speak! I can't tell them!
You must not make any mistakes this time
Yes
Is Keum-Young in here?
Keum-Young, follow me quietly
What's this about?
What is this about?
Tell everything you saw that night
I thought it was strange for Jang-Geum to repeatedly work night shifts
so I followed her that night
I followed her to the middle kitchen
but I lost her and I couldn't find her
I peeked in to see inside and I saw Keum-Young there
Did you just say Keum-Young?
Yes, yes... Madam
Witch! Tell the truth!
I clearly saw Keum-Young going out...
after putting something on the rafter
You said you saw Jang-Geum Is that correct?
Did you see Jang-Geum, too?
Yes
Jang-Geum entered the kitchen after Keum-Young left
But Jang-Geum didn't hide anything She was looking for something
She was looking for something?
Yes, Madam
What was it?
What did she find?
I don't know
How dare you tell a lie?! Don't you know how important this is?!
I'm not... lying
Then what did she find?!
What did she find?
I didn't see it that night
Then?
It was like a small notebook... but I couldn't see it well
You witch!
Madam. I think she's lying to save her friend
No, that's not so
It's a lie! Keum-Young worked that night because it was her shift
She's lying that Keum-Young hid something
when she only saw her working!
That's not true!
Then why did Jang-Geum work so many shifts
and why can't she tell us what she was looking for?
That... actually... I don't know either...
It doesn't make sense!
I'll ask one more time What did you find?
You see, Madam
Lady Han, lock up Keum-Young with Jang-Geum
Madam, what are you saying?!
And Lady Choi and Yeun-Seng, come with me
We'll search Jang-Geum's room
Did you find it?
There's nothing here
Jang-Geum clearly found something
You witch!
It was clearly a small notebook
Hong! Hong!
Yes, Madam. What do you need?
I'll give you a letter to deliver to my brother ASAP
Sure
Manager Jang, are you outside?
Yes, sir
We'll go to Sir Oh's house Get the vehicle ready
Yes
Keum-Young...
did you do it?
No, I didn't do it. You did it
What is it?
You know something, don't you?
I don't know anything
Jang-Geum hasn't been around for a few days, and Keum-Young too
And even Madams seem hostile What is it?
What is it? What's wrong?
What is it?!
I don't know!
I'll ask you one last time
Will you talk?
I don't have anything to say
OK, then, I have no choice I'll send you to the police tomorrow
Madam! I haven't done anything wrong!
We'll find out once you get there
Police? No way
It's an improper bad luck charm that's been found
not long before the Queen's delivery date in the King's kitchen
Lady Choi, how do you know...
that charm was related to the Queen's delivery?
I don't know if it's related, but people become sensitive
when their delivery date approaches
Someone could be framed for treason
That's why we have to find the truth
No!
It's not just the two kids' problem They'll find the person behind this
They'll ask about you, me, and Lady Han...
possibly resulting in a massacre of all the kitchen ladies
Madam, the kitchen will be in chaos
There's no choice
Madam
Do you really have to do that?
We can't just let this go
It'll be distressful for you at your age
Just worry about yourself
You'll be going to the police straight from here
I'll ask you one last time Any one of you can answer
What did you do in the kitchen?