(Episode 6)
Shake your head
Madam...
You've been here all these years and you still can't do this right?
Didn't I tell you to tie it hard so it doesn't untie while cooking?
Hands
Who made the mess in the residential kitchen last night?
I'm asking, who made all the burn marks in all the fireplaces?
It is I
What were you doing?
I was trying to find out which wood was good for cooking
so I tried oak, zelkova, paulownia, nettle tree, pine and bamboo...
How foolish of you! Don't you know...
that we only use oak and zelkova?
Yes, but I wanted to see what happens if you use different wood
Then did you boil down all the water we use too?
Yes, because I wanted to know how long it takes for it to evaporate
And you're the one who sent the new girls up
on the tree to make a "pine nut oven?"
Yes
Wash dishes with the new brides for another 10 days
But I'll be learning how to prepare the ingredients starting today
You're doing that again?
What? You said you'll learn how to...
prepare the ingredients starting today
I have Yeun-Seng She'll give me her notes
Don't you complain? Keum-Young has been making food
in the Royal Kitchen for 5 years
Yeah, I heard Lady Choi and Keum-Young
are making the princess' special food today
Princess' special food?
Haven't you heard? There's a great commotion
over that at the Royal Kitchen
Oh... That... But Keum-Young's doing it?
Yes
The Princess hasn't eaten for 6 days now
The kitchen at the princess' palace couldn't...
handle it anymore so Lady Choi is making it herself
Lady Choi must know the secrets that have been...
passed down to the Highest Kitchen Ladies
I heard the medicines from Ming China arrived today
That must be the secret recipe What could it be?
Keum-Young! What was that spice? How do you make it?
I don't know
Acting as if she's all that...
Now, get up
Princess Hyohye
Go ahead and eat
Good
Why don't you eat some more?
Just how did you cook this food that she's like this?
You said it was going to be sure this time
I'm sorry
We had high expectations What happened?
It was well-made
Well-made? She stopped eating so how can it be well-made?
It takes time for her appetite to come back
Please wait a few more days. She took 2 spoonfuls, and she'll take more
After about 5 days, she should return to normal
It takes 5 more days? His Majesty has been very worried about her
If it takes another 5 days...
what's going to happen to His Majesty's health?
It's not just His Majesty What about...
Her Majesty, the Queen and the King's Mother?
Madam! Madam!
What's wrong?
The Princess fainted with dizziness!
Oh my...!
5 days is too long Try to shorten it. Do it!
Sure, I will try my best
What happened?
We'll have to use stronger spice She stopped eating...
But using stronger spice... since it's only temporary...
Even so, there are some additives that help to increase her appetite
so if she has more of it, her appetite should come back
What else can we do? She's shy, so she doesn't complain
or talk much, so it's hard to tell what's wrong
Anyhow, you go to the sauce pantry and bring the oldest bean paste
I'll try seasoning it with that this time
Yes, ma'am
What are you doing?
Oh... it's you, Keum-Young
What did you take out from the bean paste pot?
Oh, this...?
It's charcoal
Charcoal?
Lady Han told me to study, so I was trying out different things
I put it in the bean paste, soy sauce and vinegar to see what happens
That's why you always get in trouble with Lady Choi
Yeah... You want to try it too?
The sharp vinegar taste is all gone
The soy sauce tastes much better
Yes. I broke the charcoal and found many holes in it
I think that's why it's good for absorbing smells
The bad soy sauce taste is gone, so it tastes much better
Yes, it's good. We can tell Lady Han
so we can put it in other soy sauces too
Really? You think so?
Yeah
I have to get going...
We have no choice but to try all the alternatives
Lady Choi, you keep making the food your way
Yes, ma'am
She may not eat it, so Lady Han should make...
hemp-root porridge with dried orange peel, cardamom and nutmeg
She won't even eat tasty dishes Will she eat medicinal ingredients?
But what else can we do? There are no other alternatives
The doctors said it's not an illness
but she's so quiet and fainthearted
so it could be stress Lady Min, roast dried dates
and pulverize them and add some beefsteak plant leaves
But she doesn't eat anything roasted
She only eats rice and we can't add anything to the rice
What is it?
His Majesty has ordered not to prepare tonight's supper
What?
He's angry that the Princess fainted and said, how could he call himself
her father when he can't even feed her one meal
and told us not to bring him any food
until the princess starts to eat He said all the ladies...
ought to give all their time and effort to princess' meals
And even the King's Mother and Her Majesty the Queen...
have declined to accept food as well, so the kitchen is in panic
This is big trouble, indeed
OK
There is no need to wait We should just hurry
and bring the food as soon as it's prepared
Bean paste?
Madam
Huh?
Can't you let me make the meal this time?
Why? Any good ideas?
What's this?
She didn't even eat the special meals
How could you bring such a simple meal to her?
I'm sorry. But please allow her to try the porridge
How dare you! Prepare another meal right now!
Take that table out right now!
Yes, Madam
Her Majesty the Princess is eating! She's eating!
Can you eat now?
If you were going to eat like this, why did you make them worry?
Do you know His Majesty has been worrying about you?
Actually...
Yes, Your Majesty What was the reason?
This porridge doesn't smell
Smell?
What is it?
The rice storehouse was flooded
so the rice is different from usual
Though we may not smell it, she may find it disagreeable
She is ill with a sensitive sense of taste
Is that right?
Please do speak, Your Majesty
How could I say such a thing when...
my Father eats without any complaints
This happened because of the Princess' delicate palate
She couldn't take the rice at all
But Lady Choi solved it by removing the smell...
that no one else could detect What did you do to remove the smell?
No, Madam, it was Keum-Young who thought of it, not me
Really? How did you do it?
It was charcoal
Charcoal?
Yes, when I put in charcoal, the smell in the rice was gone
How did you find that out?
I saw Jang-Geum removing the smell from soy sauce using charcoal
That's how I came up with the idea
Add charcoal to the soy sauce?
Yes, Madam. It tastes much better
because all the bad smell is gone
Please taste it once
Really? I will try it
I'm happy to see you all here Learn from Keum-Young
learning and practicing all the time
to find out how to make things better
Yes, ma'am
Madam! Madam!
What is it?
The Cabinet Minister wants to see you right now
What's the hurry?
I'm not sure, but I think it has to do with an envoy from Ming China
Really? An envoy is here?
Though His Majesty has previously told us to prepare a small meal
for his birthday feast, the situation has changed with this visit
The envoy is sent by the emperor of Ming China
to congratulate the King on his birthday
and he brought a golden pheasant that was raised in their palace
A golden pheasant?
Isn't that regarded as a holy animal that brings health and long life
that only the emperor and high officials
eat on their birthdays?
Yes, and he says it was raised right in their Imperial House
But His Majesty is worried that they might be here
to request a huge amount of silver money again
for dethroning the former King The ministers have same worries too
So His Majesty has ordered that we make no mistakes
in our formalities and food so that he can't find any fault with us
The Head Eunuch should go over the formalities
of serving him once more with the female officers
Eunuchs & Kitchen ladies, don't make any mistakes
Did you look at the rules for cooking birthday dishes?
So golden pheasant is the menu for this birthday feast?
Golden pheasant...
It's from Sichuan, China It's known to protect a house
from calamities and it's also known to be used
as elixir of life offered to Emperor Jinxi
Lady Choi, have you ever seen a golden pheasant?
I've seen it twice because my brother trades with China
Besides, the Emperor offered us this golden pheasant
And the King is worried that there might be...
another mistake like last time, so there must not be any errors
Lady Choi will be in charge of cooking the golden pheasant as the main dish
Lady Han will be in charge of steamed & roasted dishes
Lady Min will do the vegetables
Yes, Madam
All the rest should follow the orders
and Keum-Young will assist in making the main dish
since her work for the Princess has been acknowledged
Everything's going her way It's been 5 years for me now
and I've just started on the steamed dishes
and she's already doing birthday feasts
You should distinguish yourself too
I just need an opportunity first
Opportunities only come
when you have the right skills
It's like that with this golden pheasant too
You need experience to be chosen
How can we ever get experience?
Is the King's food there for you to test it?
Why waste time criticizing others instead of working hard?
I'm sorry
Lady Han, Jo-Bang, and Young-Ro, go to the Guesthouse immediately
What is it?
The Head Lady can't trust the ladies at the Guesthouse
so she wants you to go there to prepare the dishes for the envoy
Yes, ma'am
You'll have to come back tomorrow, so prepare everything before you go
Yes, Madam
This is very important, so you must keep it well
Yes, sir
Bye now
I'll go out of the palace to purchase the necessary ingredients
so keep this in the farm and take good care of it
until the morning of the birthday feast. OK?
Yes, Madam. Don't worry
Though you spoke otherwise, you thought...
"I know how to make pheasant food too," huh?
Madam, are you saying I say one thing and think another?
OK, OK, you can't take a joke, huh?
I must go out of the palace and get a golden pheasant
I can probably get one if I go to my uncle's home
Court ladies who leave the palace without permission
will be severely punished, so how much more severe would it be
for a new bride like me? No. But I must get one
before any superiors find out about it
I'm their hope. I can't lose the golden pheasant. No way
If I ask Uncle, he'll get it by tonight
I will go out of the palace Even if it means being cast out
of the palace as punishment, I must get a golden pheasant
Who's there?
I'm sure I heard someone
Hey, Tae-Bok, bring some people over here! Something's odd...
Hurry up! Something's odd here!
They guard the palace outside the gate
I was wondering why they weren't around
Of course, they guard it
What brings you here?
I will help you
I saw you searching all day for the lost golden pheasant
Luckily, Lady Han isn't here and I asked Yeun-Seng to cover for me
Let's go together
It'll be better than you going alone
We can ask Duk-Gu for a golden pheasant too
Follow me. We may be able to go out successfully
I know this path...
This way. I found this accidentally when I was washing dishes
a couple of days ago The iron gate is broken
so we can get out through there
You're right!
Let's go
Who's there?!
Hound!
Acorn!
What is it?
There's a fire near Young-Hwa room
No movement of other troops?
No. It's only a small fire We have to put it out asap
before it spreads. Let's go!
Stop right there! Stop right there!
Excuse us...
Where do you think you're going?
How dare you wake us up?
We're sorry if we woke you up Excuse...
Hey! You can't leave after waking us up
We barely managed to fall asleep on our empty stomachs
Then what do you want us to do?
Give us money, or if you don't have any...
Stop it! Take your hands off!
Oh! They came into our house without permission
It's true, sir!
Stop it!
2 people ran away from the palace Are you them?
No way... We, we came from Yangju...
Iooking for a relative... and we got lost
Oh... really?
Yes
Who is that relative?
Mr. Choi Pan-Sul. I heard he's a wealthy merchant in Hanyang
Yes. He's a famous wealthy merchant
What? You're related to the pre, premier merchant?
Yes. He's a close relative He wanted to see us...
Is that true?
You'll see if you go with us
It's right past the mar, market street
Really?
Excuse us then...
Wait a minute!
Take the ladies to the wealthy merchant
It's OK. He was going to hurt us
He didn't know better. He's not evil
Hey, escort the ladies I'll kill you if you try something
Understand?!
Yes, sir
Please go on... Hey! Just go to sleep
Oh this stink! Where could they be?
It's not that way
You know well
You came from the palace, huh? I don't care
if you came from the palace or fell from the sky
But give our family something to eat
If you treat us well, you don't have to worry
Uh, let's go... You...
Keum-Young! What brings you here at this hour?
Is Uncle here?
No... He went out... Who the heck are you?!
Don't. He brought us here Don't do that
Is your family well?
Huh?
Keum-Young, what brings you here at this hour?
Where's Uncle?
He went to meet another merchant
When will he be back?
Well... he said he might have a drink
But what brings you here?
First buy that guy some food and clothes
He brought us here
He knows we secretly came out of the palace. Don't disappoint him
Then are you saying, this isn't Lady Choi's order
but you came out secretly?
Yes
What do you mean? A lady who enters the palace only leaves
as a dead person. How can that be?
How are you going to manage this?
If they find out it'll be the end of you
You'll be kicked out of the palace
That's why you must help me
Help? How?
We must get a golden pheasant We must get it now
If we can't get one, Madam and I will get into big trouble
Then you go back to the palace first
I'll get it by all means and bring it to the palace tomorrow
A court lady leaving without permission is a crime
You must go back
I will still get it and go back There's no difference between...
the sin of leaving the palace and losing the golden pheasant
that the envoy has brought If I can't get a golden pheasant
it's not just my problem, but...
all the kitchens and even the court itself
So I will get it with my own hands and go back
OK, I'll try to get it, but...
It's already too late, so I think it'll be difficult to get it now
Do anything... we must get it no matter what!
Yes, ma'am
Keum-Young, I think it'll be hard to get it now
so I'll go to Duk-Gu's place and try to find it
I don't think he'll have it
Though he may not have it himself
he may know a merchant who sells special ingredients
I'll be back
Then I'll see you around 6:00 tomorrow
OK
You must come back before 6:00 We must be back before 8:00
OK
I'll find a way to get back in
OK, I won't be late
Jang-Geum
Thanks
What are you doing? Hurry!
It's because there's a lump on my back
Your legs hurt yesterday, and a headache two days ago
and it's your back today When are you not sick? When?
I still haven't taken off the patch from here...
You always disappear whenever I tell you to work
If you don't even do this
how can you call yourself my husband?
The boil on my back...
Boil my foot
I still have the patch on
I don't care whether your back breaks or your head cracks...
Stop it...
I'm Jang-Geum...
Someone's here
It's Jang-Geum!
Jang-Geum, what brings you here at this hour?
Just how long has it been?
I saw you only two days ago in the palace
What brings you here? You probably didn't come...
with your court lady at this time Did you run away by any chance?
Or did you get kicked out?
Duk-Gu...
Oh, my! Do you know how great of a crime that is?
Go back quickly! Now!
I had no choice. I have to look for a golden pheasant
and meet up with Keum-Young to go back tomorrow
Yes, you should just spend the night here
and go with me tomorrow to look...
Wait! This is urgent
We should go right now to the poultry shop!
What? At this hour? Where do you think you're going?!
No, it's different The color's different
I finally found it
This isn't it either
You come here, too
You should've asked for a pheasant!
Why'd you ask for a golden chicken?!
Do you know what a golden pheasant is?
I saw it before
Really? Can we buy it somewhere?
You don't come to a place like this poulterer to buy such a thing
When merchants who trade with China sometimes bring in...
1 or 2 servants from noble houses buy them
I saw them when a merchant ship came in at Songpa
Great. I heard a merchant ship is coming to Songpa today
I was going to buy ground plum from Mapo today
It's a very expensive medicinal herb that comes through these merchants
If you add it to the drinks you can sell them...
at 10 times the original price
Let's go
Duk-Gu, did you find out?
He said the ship will come in at about 4:00
4:00... we need to hurry I have to go back
to Choi Pan-Sul's residence by 6:00
If it comes by 4:00, we should have plenty of time
Don't worry I told people around here
so as soon as they come in, you can just take it and go
In order to do that however, I would need some money for drinks
and I forgot to bring my wallet today
This is all of my money...
It's better than nothing...
I'm sorry
It's all right. Bye now
Why am I running with Jang-Geum's money?
I run whenever I see money because of my wife. I can just walk
Check her!
What are you doing?!
Let go!
Where did you hide it?
Who are you that you're treating a lady like this during the daytime?
Where did you hide the thing you received from the bamboo hat?
What are you saying? I have not hidden anything!
Why you...!
Put down your sword!
It wasn't her, but another woman in a blue dress beside her
I'm sorry
She's probably trying to get on a ship
so try to search for her again
Yes, sir
You have to find the person who has the map
so you can find the map drawer and other related people
The bamboo hat seems to have good martial arts skills, so be careful
Yes, sir
I'm very sorry
Where have you been?
Why? Has the ship come in?
A golden pheasant came in
Huh? Really?
Yes. I made the merchant go to the tavern
so he can't sell it to anyone else. Let's go
Sure
Hong! Hong!
Yes, Madam
Have you seen Keum-Young?
No. She wasn't here when I came in
That's strange Today's not even her shift
The golden pheasant isn't in the farm
Should I look for her?
No. I'll check the kitchen, so you keep doing your job
Yes, ma'am
You said she's in the sauce pantry
Yes, Madam
So I told you to look for her there What are you doing here?
When I went there she was there at the pantry...
and... she said she was headed somewhere to learn more things...
Really? There's a lot of work today
Everyone is working. So look for her
Yes, Madam
Have you seen Keum-Young?
Oh, no! I haven't seen her! I haven't seen Keum-Young!
That's strange She's not in the residence
and the golden pheasant is missing
When did you see her last?
I saw her yesterday... I mean, this morning at the residence
Were they together?
Yes... Madam
Tell me the truth?!
Huh? Madam?
If they were together, how could you have seen Jang-Geum
just now and Keum-Young this morning?
No... I meant... I told them they shouldn't...
How foolish of them! If such a thing had happened
they should've reported it first!
If the ministers or the Head Lady finds out about this...
It's my fault for leaving such an important task
to the young thing and leaving the palace. I'm sorry
Where did they say they were going?
They said they should be able to get it
through Lady Choi's brother
I don't think the kids are the problem right now
We have to prepare the golden pheasant dish
tomorrow morning, so what should we do?
I think we have to get a golden pheasant right now, and get the kids
Yes, you're right. We can't tell them the truth right now
I'll tell the Head Lady that Lady Choi needs...
to go out of the palace for more ingredients
Lady Choi can get the pass and go straight home
Yes, ma'am
You must get a golden pheasant and bring the girls back
Yes, Madam
You must be back by 8:00 even with a pass, so it's a problem
Let's move quickly. We have no time! Yes, Madam
You should've told Lady Jung about it!
Just what were you thinking doing such a foolish thing?!
Losing the pheasant is bad enough
but you left the palace?! What are we going to do?!
I was ready to face the consequences of leaving
You were ready? You and I are not just on our own
I told you that we must be very careful of our conduct and speech
for our ancestors and previous court ladies from our family
How can you be so rash?!
But I lost the golden pheasant
If we can't get another one we would've been in deep trouble
Then you should've told me, Lady Han or Lady Jung about it!
If you just walk out and something happened
the fire could spread not only to the kitchens
but the Head Lady and even the Royal Guards!
That's enough I already scolded her enough
I think she was confused after losing the envoy's golden pheasant
Sir, it's Kang
Come in
So did you get it?
Yes, luckily we did get one
That's a relief
Let's go back to the palace now
Please wait a little bit more Jang-Geum promised to be back by 6:00
We must go back with her
I know you're a spy Surrender yourself
Hey... Hey...
We must go back now
It's only 6:00 now Please wait a little more
I only have a pass for one It's already hard enough
to bring you back inside Everyone might get in trouble
if we take Jang-Geum too
But we have to wait for her She came out because of me
She's a friend who tried to help We can't go back in like this
You must come back before 6:00 We must be back before 8:00
You can get kicked out if you leave the palace
We can't wait any longer Let's go back
No. I can't leave my friend out here
Do you want to get kicked out too? Let's go back now!
She'll be back Please wait a bit more
We must go back! We must go back!
Just a little more, please Let's wait a bit more
Hello? Hello?
Why are you late? Do you know how long Lady Choi
and Keum-Young had been waiting for you?
Lady Choi came out?
Yes, she came to take you two back
They just left, so start going right now
If you hurry, you can catch up
OK, got it
Wait! Let me ask you a question
Is she a new bride of the kitchen?
She was caught this morning trying to break into the palace
Is she really a new bride of the kitchen?
Yes, she is
What's going on? She should've been in the palace
Why would she be trying to break in?
Now that we've confirmed it
we'll take her to the Royal Guards
Let's go!
Yes, sir! Let's go!
We have the important task of preparing for...
His Majesty's birthday feast So do your work for now
I'll find out about this later Do you understand?
Yes Hurry!
The rules of court ladies have always been stricter
than the rules of the nation But what new bride...
goes in and out of the palace as if it was her own house?
I'm sorry
Just how are you disciplining them? You think...
the Highest Kitchen Lady's job is to compliment them all the time?
You...
Lady Jung will have her pay decreased for 6 months
Lady Han who's been with Jang-Geum, and Lady Choi who is in charge...
of training the kitchen girls will be demoted
from the High Ladies to Middle Ladies
And Jang-Geum will no longer be a new bride
regardless of what the Royal Guards decide
Whip her 20 times and cast her out of the palace!
Yes, sir!