You wretches, you shall pay for this

Who killed her? Tell me everything

Three women are holding your fate

Although you killed the first woman
you will not die

You ought to pay for
your sin by death

You have saved her life

The second will die because of you
even though you save her

Although I have saved you
he said you will die because of me

I already owe you my life

Isn't he the blacksmith
who makes knives in Dongjin Village?

He's not a baekjeong!

He's a military officer
who protects the King!

And the third will kill you
but she will save many lives

Mother! Mother!

Jang-Geum, become the Highest
Kitchen Lady of the Royal Palace

and write down my grievances in the
secret document that's passed down

I hid my grievances
in your Chinese character book

It's your choice
If you don't want to be a court lady

or don't become
the Highest Kitchen Lady

you must not read it, or show others

If you do enter the palace,
you can find my recipe list

hidden in the main middle kitchen
Use it when you need it

You'll find my breath there

(Episode 3)

Don't scream! Be quiet!

You're going to keep quiet, right?

I'm going to test you

So you are quiet

By the way, who are you?

Who are you?

You don't need to know. You...

Father, aren't you done yet?

You're a thief

What? Thief?

Aren't you stealing something?

Quiet. My wife is so mean,
she won't give me my money

You're a victim, too?

Then you, too? Poor kid

You're hungry, aren't you? Eat this
It's steamed rice for making wine

People aren't born thieves
Mean people make them thieves

Father, hurry!

OK, I'm coming out

Take as much as you can

Here... Be careful

Who's this? Who are you?
Who the heck are you?

Why this...

My liquor! My liquor!

Oh, my! That thief took all of it

I'm going to catch that thief! Hey!

Thanks for the food

Sure

You shouldn't be around here

Go get a bowl of soup
from the kitchen and leave

Please give me a bowl
of rice and soup

Rice and soup? Do you have any money?

Yes

Let me see

Where did this little kid
get such money?

He sold the liquor he stole from me

No, I didn't steal it

I saw it clearly with my two eyes
How dare you lie

No, it wasn't me!

Whatever... let's go Let go!

I caught the thief
Why should I let go?

Oh, my...

I finally caught the thief
Tell me how much you've stolen

It wasn't me

Then who else could it be?

It wasn't me...
I saw a thief earlier...

And?

Mister...

What's wrong with him? What's wrong?

I'm feeling dizzy
Must've lost energy

Ha! You eat everything
that's good for health

Get up. Get up quickly. Get up

Mother, look at him

Why did he collapse suddenly?

Hey, hey, what's wrong with you?

Child, say "ah"

She'd kill me if she finds out

I'd be beaten and bleed to death

So when you regain strength
I'll help you escape

Run far away. OK?

That's the only way
for both of us to stay alive

You eat like a cute baby bird

Are you crazy? We don't even
have enough porridge for Ildo

and you're feeding the thief?!

Even so, as a Royal Chef, how could
I be indifferent to a dying...

Stop the nonsense!

You'll pop my ear
This is the only good ear left...

If you cook food for the King
go get your pay on time

And you... where is your mother?
I'll take you to her, so let's go

Stop staring at me like that
and tell me. Where is she?

She passed away

She passed away?

How about your father?

He, too...

What a pity...

Your father too?

I have no place to go,
so please take care of me for now

Oh, no...

Don't even say such a thing
Let's go now

Mother, Father...

Be quiet. What do you know?

It's 15 days' worth
You can stay for that long

Thank you

15 days? It's more like 20 days

Ouch... my back...
It aches so much...

Jang-Geum, don't be sad

Don't cry and don't give up easily

Your father will be with you
whatever path you go

and I'll be with you wherever you are

Why, that... You're still sleeping?

Why, that lazy old man...!

Aren't you going to get water?!
Why you...!

My back hurts
I always have to tell you to go!

I'm so sick of this!

How come he's not awake yet? Hey!

Aren't you going to wake up?

He isn't here

Why...!

So you're a girl?

Yes

So you were with the lady
who came to ask...

Yes

I know I'm going to die before
my time because of this back...

My back... ouch...

My back's killing me...

I know I'm going to die before
my time because of this back...

What's this?

What are you doing?

Stay still. Warm it up
like this, it's good for your back

You're suffering from pain everyday

Please lie down

Thanks for taking care of me

Thanks for what? Even if you spent
your whole life working here

you won't be able to pay for
all of the stolen liquor

so don't even think about
running away. Understand?

Yes

How refreshing! It feels so good!

You try writing now

Me? No...

Try writing

Where are you going?

2 years later
12th year of Yeonsan-Kun's Rule (1506)

This is for the head
of the government officials

This is for the head
of the Ministry of Arts

Yes, I know. I memorized it all

I have to hurry somewhere
for the King's medicinal food

so let's meet here
at around 6:00. OK?

OK

And what do you say at home?

You did it all by yourself

That's right. I'll see you later

Don't be late OK

What medicinal food?
He's going somewhere to drink again

Minister Yu, Governor Jang and
Minister Hong have joined us

Those who will kill
the Shin brothers, Yim Sa-Hong

and others who have risen to power
through him have been designated

How about the entry to the palace?

The Royal Guards
have come to our side

The Royal Cavalry & Royal Protectorate
are still unclear

Then there will be conflict...

It's not complete
but we've thought of a plan

Go ahead and tell him

You know that Choi Pan-Sul
who's providing us with funds

and warriors is the nephew of
the Highest Lady of the Royal Kitchen

So what does that matter?

We've told her to put something
in the Protectorate & Cavalry's food

They won't be in their normal shape

That's an excellent move
Can she pull it off?

She's been there from the beginning
There won't be any mistakes

Then there is only
one thing left to do

How are you going to tell
this to Prince Jinsung

the rightful successor as
the son of King Sungjong?

Yim Sa-Hong has policemen
surround him everyday

under the name of protecting him

How can we tell him?

You have any good ideas?

Yes

Yeah?

There is a way to avoid
detection by Yim Sa-Hong

What? Are you out of your mind?

Sir, we've come to this conclusion
after much contemplation

A 10 year-old girl?

Yes, that's right

That's the only way for us

She has gone there a few times
to deliver drinks

and she'll be delivering tomorrow too

But how could we let such a weighty
matter depend on a little child?

You shouldn't worry too much

It could be better that
she knows nothing

But she could also tell everything
because she doesn't know

Mak-Ke, who has been watching her,
said she's very intelligent

And to make sure...

an assassin will follow her

If she happens to be
captured by the police

or discovered by others

she can be...

Jang-Geum, listen to me carefully
This is for the General's house

and this is for Prince Jinsung. OK?

Yes, I know. Don't be late today

OK, I'll be back soon

Jang-Geum! Jang-Geum!

Jang-Geum... are you bringing
drinks to Prince Jinsung today?

Yes

I'm glad I met you
I'll pay you for your services later

Please deliver these for me

Sir Park Won-Jong is personally
sending these to him as birthday gifts

so you must deliver them
to him personally. OK?

OK

And there are names for these wines
Tell the Prince...

that he can enjoy the best taste
by drinking them in this order. OK?

OK

You can memorize it
by looking at the colors, right?

And there is another thing
If someone asks you anything

just tell them you're delivering
drinks to the Prince as usual. OK?

If you don't do it,
what do you think I will do to you?

I'm going to send you
to a place with two tigers!

So you must obey and
don't make any mistakes. OK?

Here, go ahead

It's that girl

Don't make any mistakes

Yes, sir

Stop!

Where are you going?

I'm delivering drinks to the Prince

Drinks?

It's OK. It's the same delivery girl

Are you here by yourself today?

Yes

Go ahead

Is my mother doing well?

Yes...

Why do you look so sad?

Though she has told me
to tell you she's doing well

actually she is not

The King has cancelled all
the regular study meetings

and invites all types of
entertainers for daily partying

and reckless debauchery...

I've heard about it too
I heard that when Eunuch Kim Chuh-Sun

told him to stop it
he shot an arrow at him

Yes

Your mother has told me to tell you
that you must be very careful

Sire, Sir Park Won-Jong has sent
drinks for your birthday

Sir Park Won-Jong?

Bring them in Yes

Is the person who
brought these still here?

Yes, but it's a child

A child? Send her in

What are these drinks?
Why ask for him?

I'm not sure

How dare you...
in front of the Prince!

I want to become a court lady
in the Royal Kitchen

Please take me with you

How rash of you!
Show proper courtesy to the Prince!

I don't know how she could be
so insolent even if she's uneducated

I'm overwhelmed with shame, sir

It's all right. She must really
want to become a court lady

Did you bring these drinks?

Yes, sir

Did you say
Sir Park Won-Jong sent these?

Yes, sir

He didn't say anything else?

No, he only said they're to
congratulate you on your birthday

each drink has a
congratulatory message

and you should drink them in order

You mean in this order?

No, sir

Then what order?

First is "Keumhyun,"
next "Chunchun," next "Gidang,"...

and lastly "Sawi"

Do you know the characters?

I've picked up a few here and there

What a child...

What's wrong?

Nothing... it's nothing

Sire...

You can go back now

Yes, sir

You should go back, too

Wait!

What's your name?

My name is Jang-Geum

What are you going to say
to the person who sent you?

It's all right. You can tell me

I will tell him that you
have accepted them gratefully

but you looked deeply troubled

Is that how I looked to you?

OK. Tell him that

Like she said, you do look
deeply troubled. What is it?

It's nothing. She's very bright

Though she seems like a tomboy
I think so, too

If you can, do fulfill her wish

That's all

Madam! I want to become
a court lady in the Royal Kitchen

Please do take me

How dare you! Get out of here
before I beat you

"Keum-chun-gi-sa"
The sky of today is already dead

"Hyun-chun-dang-wi"
Sky to come ought to be the sky

Just what could these mean?
These are surely from...

"The War of Hwanggeonjeok"
written by Jang Gak...

"The blue sky is dead already and
the sky of Hwanggeonjeok...

ought to be the sky." So they only
changed the first characters...

"Keum-chun," meaning sky of today
referring to the King

and "Hyun-chun" meaning sky to come
referring to my name Hyun

Sir Park Won-Jong is... he is...
plotting treason with me in the front

What should I do?

I do not want to be the king
when they succeed

nor do I want to be
killed when they fail

OK. Good job

Yu Bin who was exiled
to Jeolla Province is

already sending manifestos
and up in arms

We must hurry

So how did it go?

He told her to say that
he has accepted them gratefully

but he was deeply troubled

This means he has accepted it

We could lose the initiative
and may not be able...

to assume leadership
of politics later

Sir!

OK. We'll hurry and do it tonight

Did my wife ask them
to catch me or something?

Kill him! Kill Yim Sa-Hong!

Yim Sa-Hong? Kill Yim Sa-Hong?

It must be treason! My money!

I still haven't received his payment

Yim Sa-Hong, pay me for my drinks!

The reforming party successfully
enthroned Prince Jinsung

who is known as King Jungjong

Wait

I held up my sword like this
and Yim took out his sword like this

So I ran up to him and yelled,
"Felon Sa-Hong, receive my blow!"

And then what, Father?

Hey, I'm someone who can pull out
a gall from a live bear

Do you think I'd be
afraid of a little sword?

So did you get out of the way?

Not just get out of the way,
but I threw...

Finally, it has come

I'll be recognized as
the most valuable King's servant

Is this the residence of
Chef Gang Duk-Gu?

Yes, I'm Gang Duk-Gu

Is there a girl named Jang-Geum here?

Yes, but...

Are you Jang-Geum?

Yes

You want to be a court lady?

Huh? Yes

Pack up. Let's go to the palace

Jang-Geum, if you don't want to go
tell me and I'll try to get you out

Since he's a chef
he knows many madams in the palace

I want to go

Hey, if you go there
you can't be married for life and...

She says she wants to go!

Hey, my ear is bad as it is...

Anyway, if you enter the palace
we won't be able to support you

Usually they have
to provide different clothing

for different seasons and
provide food for madams

but don't ever expect
such things from me

Mother! Hey!

Why are you yelling at me?

She never mentioned anything to us!

If you want to go, then leave quickly
and don't make me more upset

Please receive my obeisance

We must leave now

Who are you?

I came to ask a question

Let's leave now

Look at her... this is why
you shouldn't accept...

any living thing into your family

Do you really have to go?

The palace is a scary place
Don't go there, Jang-Geum

How dare you say that!

We're running late. Let's hurry

So she's leaving...

When did you take her in?
About 2 years ago?

You want to know?

Yes

Then pay up

Huh?

If you really want to know
then pay about 100 nyang

Didn't she come here with an
injured woman about 2 years ago?

What? With... with a woman?

NO!

Go get water now!
I told you we shouldn't take her in

Who's going to do all the work now?
And who's going to rub my back?

Get going right now!

It's wasn't my idea to take her in...

Let's go

Now we'll test your virginity. Start

What is your name?

My name is Han Kwan-Duk

Roll up your sleeve

A fairy of Mt. Tai Shan
in China violated the rules

and fell in love with a general
As a punishment...

she couldn't say any words of her own,
but only repeat what others said

One day she saw an officer
plotting to kill the general

So she lured him to
some place to kill him

but at the moment of killing him,
the general found them

The officer lied to
the general saying

she had been seducing him
and the fairy who couldn't speak

her own words
repeated what he had said

The angry general cut her throat
Her spirit became a parrot

and for that reason the blood
of a parrot has been used

to test the virginity in
the Chinese Imperial Household

You'll be rejected
if the blood flows down

for it means you aren't a virgin

I'm sorry, Madam
I accidentally touched her arm

Do it again

Sure

OK

Now we'll head to the palace
so get things ready

There's the King! Where? Where?

Over there!

Be quiet! How dare you
make noise in here

Mother! I'm in the palace
I've finally come here

I'll be the court lady
in this place where you were

This is the palace. All women who
enter the palace are the King's women

We don't allow anything less than
perfection both in conduct and speech

Learn everything well
and be great ladies

All rise!

You don't automatically become
new brides just by entering the palace

You will have rigorous training early
every morning for the next 15 days

And on the 15th day,
you'll be assigned to your quarters

Of course, if you don't learn well
you'll be cast out of the palace

so be ready and sleep in the rooms
assigned by the attendants today

Stop wiping the floor
and get the blankets

This isn't straight!
Put the pillows over there!

What have you been doing anyway?
Put the pillows over here!

It's not straight over there!
Straighten it up!

Just what is this? It's filthy!

Give it back to me. Come on

How filthy!

Come on

You come over here
and you go over there

How irritating...
Just what is this...?

You and you there sleep over there,
and I'll sleep on this warm side

Whose is this?

It's mine

Why did you bring it back?
Throw it away!

Who are you?

Me? I'm Young-Ro

Why throw away others' stuff?
Right

Why designate others' sleeping places?
Right

Because I think
I'm the oldest here and...

If you're the older one, you ought to
choose the drafty spot and

let the younger ones
have the warm side

That's right
And you make us do all the work

That's right! That's right!

How do you read this?

It reads "Goong-joong-yeo-kwan"

What does it mean?

It could mean a woman with
an official position in the palace

That's right. This is the
official title for a court lady

A court lady is a lady official
of the government

Therefore, in order to fulfill
your duties, you must have

basic knowledge and
keep your rank with dignity

You must flawlessly
serve the superiors

and not lose your dignity
to the lower rank

You're young but you can be
5th class court ladies

And you've been selected from
middle and upper class families

Therefore, in identity,
you're distinct from the servant girls

and the nurses who are
chosen from the servant girls

You must display dignity to them

Take her out!

Why? What are you doing?

You're from a peasant class
You don't know the basics

Why do you say
I don't know the basics?

Weren't you adopted by
the liquor place? My uncle told me

You know him too, don't you?
He's a guard of the main palace

and he owns a dance bar,
Sir Yoon Mak-Ke

I don't know how your kind
got into this palace

but I can't sleep
in the same room with you!

Open up! Open up!

Low ones like you should
stay outside and keep watch

I'm not low!

Then who are your father and mother?
What do they do?

My father is...

You must not tell anyone
I was a military officer

And my mother is...

I was a court lady in
the Royal Kitchen...

They aren't low

You heard it too, didn't you?
Court ladies...

are selected from
the middle or high class

I wonder how that thing came in here

She even boasts about her learning

Why don't you listen to her?

Mother always tells me not
to do the things I want to do

You like learning that much?

Yes, Father! It's truly amazing
how I can write

Look. How could you write
"black" like this?

Isn't it amazing?

Jang-Geum, do you really want
to learn the characters?

Yes

I'll start teaching you tomorrow,
so stop going to the school

Jang-Geum, don't be sad

Don't cry and don't give up easily

Jang-Geum, become the
Highest Kitchen Lady of Royal Palace

and write down my grievances in the
secret document that's passed down

If you do enter the palace,
you can find my recipe list

hidden in the main middle kitchen
Use it when you need it

You'll find my breath there

Turtle, please make
my mother well again

Jang-Geum!

Hi, Yeun-Seng

Where are you going?

The middle kitchen

The middle kitchen? Where is that?

I heard it's at the
King's main palace

Main palace?

Yeah

We were told to stay in here

Yes, but I must go

You can't. You'll get into trouble
You shouldn't do this

Why don't you go back inside?

No! I won't go back inside by myself

I'll go back inside with you

Bye

Jang-Geum!

Let's go back. We came too far

Who's there?

Tiger!

Jang-Geum, there must be a tiger...

No, it's all right

Who's there?

It was only a cat. Let's go

How can you be here at this time?

How about you?

It's all ruined because of you

What?

The last farewell

The last farewell?

I had a crush on a guy who lives here
since I lived at home

You're crazy

He passed the Sama Exam
at the age of 16

So?

Elders of my family forced me
to be a lady of the court

You know this too...
that a court lady is the King's lady

and he had the highest score
on the Sengjin Exam today

so he's meeting with the King

So I realized today that he isn't
someone I should keep in my heart

He's a yangban (scholar-official)
And I'm from a middle class

He's a servant of the King,
and I'm the King's woman

So I was making my farewells,
but you ruined it

Then do it again

We'll be on the watch for you

Not me... not me...

Will you really do that for me?

Thank you

You know this is a secret, right?

Of course!

No... no...

Just follow me

Middle kitchen

What are you going to
find in the dark?

If we wait a little,
we'll be able to see...

I can't see anything

Just wait

You can see a little now, right?

It should be somewhere...

Ouch! Yeun-Seng! Yeun-Seng!

Who are you?
Get the lamp closer to them

What are you doing here?

Oh, my! Madam,
the King's midnight snack...

What shall we do now?
When Lady Choi finds out about this

our lives won't be spared

Lady Choi isn't the problem now
Soon, eunuchs will be coming

and the head of food services,
and the head lady... we're dead!

What are we going to do?

And tonight's snack was
the precious milk porridge too

Be quiet! We can't make food here,
so go to the Royal Kitchen

and bring any ingredients
you can find

But, we don't have time...

Hurry...

Sure

Was the door open?

No, it's locked

All I could find were these

Ginger and lotus roots?

Yes, someone must've forgotten
to take these after peeling them

How could we make snacks with these?
We're dead now

I was right next-door and I wasn't
even aware the kids came here

Peel them

What?

Hurry and peel the ginger

Sure

You girls, come over here. Here

Peel the ginger quickly