(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...

Jang-Geum... Jang-Geum...

Yeun-Seng... is it you, Yeun-Seng?

Jang-Geum, it's me, Yeun-Seng
What happened?

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...

Father...

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?