(Episode 14)
It's alright. Just continue working
That's good enough He finished the bowl
I'll look for a better one
Madam... Madam, I think we found the reason
Really? How? What is it?
What did you find?
That...
Madam, I found one!
There's a place where...
they haven't cut down the trees in the palace
Really? What's going on?
Did you taste it?
No
OK, I'll go and taste it
What's going on?
Tell us right now
Madam, I'll tell you after we come back
This is it! This is it!
Madam, why don't you cook bean paste stew for His Majesty?
Yes, let's do that
But...
You can cook that
But Madam, it's for the King
Yes, that's why I'm telling you to do it
I...
If you're my apprentice
you ought to be doing the herb dishes and stews
This will be your first assignment
You're still not confident?
I am. I'll give it a try
Your Majesty, is the taste of the stew different?
The Head Lady was worried the taste had changed, but I guess it hasn't
What happened? How did it change back to normal?
Actually Lady Han found the reason why the taste had changed
The reason?
Jang-Geum, what was the reason? Why did the taste change?
It was the pollen
The pollen?
Yes. The bean paste with more pollen of...
chestnut and pine trees definitely tasted better
And that's how Lady Han discovered that it was the pollen in that town
So the taste had changed because the trees near the jars were cut down?
There was a request to cut down the trees
because the manager in charge of the jars...
said that the tree leaves kept falling into the jars
Can the pollen make the bean paste taste better?
Your Majesty, I don't know much about food
but pollen is certainly a good fermenter
It probably fermented the soybeans very well
Really?
And in Ming China the pollen is used as pesticides and as medicine
because it is said to act as a painkiller and cleanser
Oh yeah?
Then we have to tell the people about this
If it makes the bean paste taste better
and it's good for us, what could be better?
The food stories Lady Jung tell me are like good medicine to me
Come and visit me often
Yes, Sire
Did you say you're Lady Han?
Yes, Sire
Great work
You see? You did it
I understand you feeling uneasy no matter how well you do
but don't be nervous and relax
Yes, ma'am
And the kitchen ladies will have a competition to make new dishes
so prepare for that thoroughly too
Yes, ma'am
Madam. I'd like to go visit the herb garden
Why?
There's a person who used to be a doctor there
I'd like to ask him to examine me
A court lady can't be examined by a doctor
But he's someone I've known from the herb garden
Go ahead
I should've been more alert
There will be a competition to make new dishes, so prepare thoroughly
If you win first place there, you'll cook for the King
Jang-Geum must be a smart kid for sure
Smart? I know her because I'm in the same room
She's spaced out most of the time
But we only know what we've been taught
whereas she's always finding out something new
Anyhow, Lady Han taught her in an unique way from the start too
Well... she does read a lot of books Many medical books too
Is that how she found out about charcoal and the bean paste?
Sir!
You're still not careful, are you?
I'm sorry But what are you doing now?
Are you into beekeeping now?
Nope
Then why are you raising bees?
I'm trying to find out if the bee stings...
are better than acupuncture
What? Bee stings?
There's a police training field over there, huh?
Yes
I found out something when one of the soldiers
who was stung by a bee came over for treatment
What is it?
The bee stung on a spot that he had injured during training
The next day swelling disappeared and even his backpain was gone
I was worried because the bee had stung an important spot
but he was completely healed
Sir! Let me have the sting too
I've lost my sense of taste
Are you Sir Jung?
Yes, I am
Why are our soldiers looking for beehives
whenever they feel a little sick?
And many soldiers have been stung like him
I'm sorry for the misunderstanding I didn't know about that
No, I'm sorry Doctors shouldn't talk so much
but I was so excited I shouldn't have told them
But are the bee stings really effective?
I'm still testing them
I saw someone dying of a bee sting It could be very dangerous too
Yes, I know that too That's why I need to test it
Please scare the soldiers telling them, I'm a quack
so they wouldn't do what I say
Sir, use me to test it. Please...
No Sir
I understand you lost your sense of taste
but a doctor can't use something that hasn't been verified
I tried good medicine and acupuncture
so the bee stings are my last hope
No! Didn't you hear? Some people died from it
and some get a rash all over their body
and some suffer paralysis of the tongue
How could I try such a thing on you?
Sir, please...
No way. Begging won't help. Go back
I'll try to find a cure for it, so stop this and go back
I feel unpleasant whenever I see you
During the Tang Dynasty in China a musician had lost his hearing
Think how distressed he must've been to lose hearing as a musician
So he looked everywhere and tried everything to get healed
So did he find a cure?
No, he became the best doctor instead
And at the end, he played music with his instrument
and it is said to have been one of the best performances
I'm not helping you feel better, am I?
When things are good, even bad words sound like encouragement
but when things are going bad, I don't know what to say
If I say, "Things will get better," it sounds cliche
and if I say, "I'm sorry about that," it sounds like I'm teasing you
Those words helped me feel better
Thank you
Keep your chin up
The lonely bamboo tree is evergreen when
It's hard for the gingko tree to sprout
The light shade feels burdensome for a short while
When the sun sets, beautiful dusk falls again
Is it a medical book this time?
Yes
How come you're so interested in books?
I heard that your father is worried about you
I was just looking into something
Jang-Geum, are you inside?
Yes
They're really all medical books
Yes. She's always reading medical books these days
She has no secret books on food or any other books?
No. Why?
Never mind
You can ask me whatever you want...
Lady Choi said your family and mine are like one
We'll be preparing broiled rice cakes for today's snack
Prepare ingredients for 4 to 5 people
Yes, ma'am
I told you not to taste it
You become dependent on taste if you keep tasting things even though
you know that it's not reliable So try to improve your other senses
Yes, ma'am
If you boil pear in the soy sauce like this
the taste becomes unimaginably good when it's used for broiled food
Madam, though pear soy sauce may be good for broiled rice cakes
I think soy sauce with tangerines are better for other dishes
Yes, it's good to use other fruit depending on the dish
Continue
Yes, ma'am
Glutinous rice is the most important ingredient for ginseng soup
I saw how Lady Han trains Jang-Geum these days
She asks her different things and tells her to bring things
That must be the way she trains her
But she tells Jang-Geum not to taste it
just to draw up a taste and add the ingredients accordingly
Isn't that strange?
How could you make food tasty without tasting it?
Though Lady Han always had a unique way of teaching Jang-Geum
don't you think it'll be too difficult this time?
Draw up a taste? How did she do it?
For example, when it's trepang, she tells her...
to bring all the ingredients that can go with trepang
And she also tells her to make the sauce that goes with it
So she's developing her senses Drawing up a taste...
So how am I?
Your face and ankles are still swollen...
Do you have problems controlling your bladder?
No, it's not that bad yet
It hasn't gotten worse Take the medicine regularly
and you must not eat any salty food
OK
How are you?
I'm fine
What brings you here?
It's the month to hold the new dish competition
It's time again The mixed rice dish was selected
and served to His Majesty last year, right?
Yes
I think you'll have to come even though you are ill
No
The Highest Lady must not only make good food
but she must also be able to manage the lower ladies
and also judge fairly between the dishes to be given to His Majesty
So you two can take charge of this competition
We'll offer the King the dishes you pick
and it'll also be a time to judge your apprentices' skills
And this will be your second assignment
Have you recovered your sense of taste?
Yes
I'll go back
I'm back
What did you ask her?
Whether her sense of taste came back
Her sense of taste?
She was worried as she had lost...
her sense of taste from the paralysis
Really? Is that so?
But fortunately, she says it came back...
Some people recover from paralysis gradually
Are you preparing for the new dish competition?
No. I am preparing to make sea bream noodles
Why a sea bream noodles? I am going to teach you that later
I'm training by myself
She's probably following Lady Han's training method
What are you talking about?
Lady Han gives Jang-Geum a main ingredient and then...
tells her to bring the rest of the ingredients herself...
to teach her how to make a dish tasty without tasting it
What? Make a dish tasty without tasting it?
Then are you saying there's a problem with my training method?
No, our family clearly has better taste but Jang-Geum can make new...
I don't think it'll hurt to know how Jang-Geum is being trained
Instead of just knowing about food
it may be helpful to read medical books like Jang-Geum
Medical books?
Yes, Madam. Jang-Geum reads a lot of medical books
I want to be better than her That's why I'm doing this
so please don't rebuke me
Young-Ro, follow me
Yes, ma'am
Tell me the details...
When did Jang-Geum start reading medical books?
I'm not sure, but probably everyday
And Lady Han tells her not to taste during training?
Yes
I asked her whether her sense of taste has come back
Her sense of taste?
She was worried because she had lost...
her sense of taste from the paralysis
Did you taste it?
No
Is everyone here?
Yes, ma'am
You know about the annual new dish competition
It's an assignment all of you will go through
There are no limitations to the ingredients...
It's an opportunity to create a new dish
It's also an opportunity where the best dish...
will be offered to His Majesty Think hard and do well
And Lady Han and Lady Choi will be the judges this time
Be quiet
You two take over now
I heard Jang-Geum's reading a lot of medical books these days
Yes
When did she start reading those?
Probably when the head chef Gang Duk-Gu was arrested
I think she found out about nutmeg through those books
Really? And has she been reading those ever since?
Yes, as if she's preparing to be a nurse
Is that so?
Why do you ask?
I just think she's commendable...
Yes...
Follow me
Yes, ma'am
You made it with yams
Yes. It's good for building up energy
It's OK. It would be perfect for the King a day after he has drinks
Isn't that right, Madam?
What's this?
I made water kimchi with the cabbage that Jang-Geum brought
It's very refreshing. It's wonderful
Boiled walnuts in soy sauce, huh?
Yes, because walnuts are my favorite...
It's very good
What is it?
It's a pheasant dish
OK
What is it?
It's bamboo rice
Bamboo rice?
Bamboo skin is used as medicine and when you cook rice...
with bamboo skin and other grains
you get an aromatic sweet rice dish
Yes, it's OK
You did very well. I'm glad that you have made great new dishes
Now you can try the dishes of the person next to you
Lady Jung said that tastes are equal
Since it's a new dish, how can I just rely on my own taste?
Judge for yourselves by tasting each other's dishes
Young-Ro, you start
The rice tastes sweet and it has a great smell
Next, Yeun-Seng
The seasoning is well balanced and it tastes good
Keum-Young
Initially it's sweet and bitter, but it turns more savory afterwards
Next, Jang-Geum
Tell us
The savory of pheasant meat...
the sweetness of starch syrup, and the soy sauce...
have good balance so it tastes very good
OK, good
Next, Chang-Yee
So Lady Han, did you make a decision?
Actually, I couldn't decide between Jang-Geum's and Keum-Young's
Really? How about you, Lady Choi?
I picked Jang-Geum's
Jang-Geum's?
Yes. She made rice with chestnuts and dates
in a bamboo bowl and its taste was matchless...
However... Madam...
I think Jang-Geum has lost her sense of taste
What? How could that be?
It's true, Madam
Young-Ro's dish is so salty What's wrong with her?
Jang-Geum, you're ordered to come to the Highest Lady's residence
There are three different kinds of water
Sugar, salt and vinegar
Let's find out whether Jang-Geum has lost her sense of taste or not
Let her come in
Yes, ma'am
Jang-Geum, come in!
Sit down
There are sugar, salt and vinegar water in front of you
We've put in small amounts of each, but as a lady of the kitchen
you ought to be able to tell the difference
Go ahead
What are you doing? Go ahead
What is it?
She's asking you, what is it?
Can't you tell by the taste?
It's s... sugar water
Taste the middle one. Now!
What is it?
It's s... salt water
That's enough
Madam, she clearly wasn't able to taste them!
They're all just plain water
Madam, it's true that Jang-Geum can't taste food
You knew about this?
But Jang-Geum... She... has the ability to draw up a taste
Draw up a taste?
Yes, that's why she's able to cook without tasting food
I can train her and I'll be responsible
No
Madam...
It's for the King. A kitchen lady without a sense of taste
can't do such a thing
Madam... she's been doing very good even after losing her sense
Moreover, it was Jang-Geum who found the secret about the bean paste
and she made the bean paste stew for the King
You know this
No way. Even so, how could a kitchen lady...
without the sense of taste make food properly?
She can
Don't be absurd How could she make proper food...
only with the ability to draw up a taste?
Didn't you choose her dish as the best?
Bamboo rice doesn't need any seasoning
Madam, she can She has been doing it so far
She's capable of making any dish if I train her
She can make any dish?
Madam, you were wondering what to do...
with the whale meat we received, right?
Even chefs can't do anything
because they don't know what it tastes like
lfJang-Geum can make a dish with whale meat
I will accept her without asking questions
that is, if she's able to draw up a taste even of food...
she hasn't eaten before as Lady Han has been saying
But ifJang-Geum can't make a tasty dish
you must bring a charge against Lady Han
for mixing public & private matters
and keeping this a secret
not to speak ofJang-Geum
What will you do?
What did you keep it a secret?
Lose her sense of taste? The kitchen is a place for making food!
I know. I did it because I know that
You did it because you knew it?!
The kitchen is a place to make food...
not to taste food
Do you really think so?
Yes, Madam
Do you truly believe that she can make a dish with food...
that she hasn't even eaten, seen or heard of?
I'll try it
Regardless of whether I do or not
we can't forget that you kept it a secret
So... I'll try it
Do you think you'll be able to do it?
I don't know
It's a wise answer to a silly question
See? What new training method?
They did that because she can't taste food
How silly of you to try to copy that?
Madam, that's not what I think
You may think I copied Jang-Geum
because I wanted her skills... that is true to a certain extent...
It's true, I'm envious of her skills of finding out new facts
But that's her effort, not brains
She has new skills because she experiences new things
If I'm envious of her brains, that means I'm dumb
But if I envy her experience, I think I should try things out
I think we should accept new things
Be quiet
She chooses experience because she acknowledges her lack
She has no choice
She can't help it
Why should you go through all that trouble?
Sir
Sir, please give me the bee sting!
Didn't I say no?
Sir, it has to be tested anyway
So why should that be you of all people?
Think it's "fortunately" me, of all people
I won't blame you regardless of the results
I'm not afraid of your blaming me!
I'm afraid of people's lives
People losing their lives because of me
I won't lose my life
Sir, I won't lose my life
A doctor's acupuncture could cost people their lives
Plus, it's a bee, not me stinging you
Who knows where and how it'll sting you?!
So just wait patiently till I say it's OK
It has to be now
Can you do it if you get the right points?
Then it'll be less risky
Then... please do this for me
I'll acupuncture you to put your mind at rest
then, I'll give you the bee sting
OK, I'm done
I used the bee's stinger as you said
but I don't know if it'll be effective
OK, get up
How long do I have to wait for the effect to show?
I told you, I'm not sure of anything!
When did that soldier find out?
He recovered quickly
What is this?
People's reactions to bee stings are very different
Some people swell up, some people don't
and some get a rash
Some people even gasp and die
So if you gasp or your body itches, take this
It's to detoxify the stinger's poison
What if the sting's effect decreases too?
So you won't take it even if you have such reactions?
I'll take it
Thank you. I really appreciate it...
Stop saying what you don't mean
I feel myself blushing
This was the place!
Who is it?
How could you...? You shouldn't tell the location...
of wild honey even to your own son...
Even my father didn't tell me until he died
That's your father. I'm your wife...
You're more afraid of me than ghosts
This is big trouble
Bee, Bee, I'm sorry for letting an unholy person interfere
Please don't get angry and keep bringing honey here
I'll leave you some toffee
Hurry and go down! You can die in a second if a bee stings you
Why did you follow me all the way here?
So why did you hide it?
What do you mean? It's so rare...
I even hesitate to offer it to the King
Really? How much can you receive for it?
We can't receive money for it A compliment is enough
You...!
2 nyang... 5 nyang?
You see? How can I not follow you around?!
By the way, did you get the pork gall for Jang-Geum?
I'm going to get it on the way back!
I ordered two, so you can swallow one
What's wrong? You got bug bites?
Oh, no... it's nothing
It's swollen. Let me see it!
You go outside and work. Hurry...
So if you gasp or your body itches, take this
It's to detoxify the stinger's poison
What if the sting's effect decreases too?
You heard about it too, right?
They've asked for a snack with drinks for the King this evening
so we decided on whale meat
Today?
Yes. Lady Han was confident, so I trust you. Prepare thoroughly
Jang-Geum, will you be serving the King?
Good for you
Yeun-Seng! You'll find chef Gang Duk-Gu at the back yard
please deliver this to him
Take it!
I'll go and deliver it to him
Duk-Gu
Jang-Geum! What brings you here?
Here...
Don't bring this yourself next time, order a maid next time
Anyway, I'm glad you're here
You asked me about recovering your sense of taste last time, right?
Do you have it?
It's a gall
I got this for you as I heard you could...
recover your sense of taste by eating something bitter
Really? Who said it?
Who else? I found out through research
Just swallow it down
It's bitter, isn't it?
Yes
It's natural for gall to be bitter
Have you ever tried whale meat before?
Whale meat?
Yes. I was just wondering what it tastes like
Of course, I know
Really?
Yes... when I went to the east coast...
What does it taste like?
It's very big... it's about the size of a big house or...
Anyhow, it's the biggest fish in the sea
How does it taste?
It tastes like fish and meat... and it differs from part to part...
and there are 12 tastes... how should I put it?
Should I say it tastes like beef?
Beef?
But maybe it doesn't taste completely like beef...
What haven't you eaten before? A 500-year-old snake...
and ginseng that's 1,000 years old!
I'll get going now
It tastes like beef
Even Lady Jung hasn't tasted it, so it couldn't be here
Those are the recipes for making whale dishes
OK, this is good
What are you going to use it for?
Something...
We changed the salt to the best quality one
I think Sir Oh Kyum-Ho was annoyed by Lady Jung as well by this
Probably so... the more she tries to provoke us
the deeper she's digging her own grave
That's humongous fish meat
It's fish? It looks just like beef
Yes, even the color looks like it
This is a gift from the far sea It's rare and...
no one has ever cooked or tasted this before in the palace
So Lady Choi and Lady Han will make their own dishes with it
Yes, ma'am
Steamed dishes will be done by the apprentices
so Jang-Geum and Keum-Young will be doing those
You'll cook in separate places Lady Choi will cook over here...
Lady Han will cook over here... The rest of you ought to...
Iook at how they cook carefully Do you understand?
Yes, ma'am
Go right ahead. You think you can...
cook with something you haven't tasted before?
It's a new dish so why don't you try it before serving it to the King?
The sauce is a little thin
Yes, ma'am
Unlike other fish, it's rather chewy like beef
Yes. But unlike beef, it smells like fish
so I added more seasoning than usual
And it is as oily as mackerel, so I put in a little sesame oil
Good, there's no smell and it's chewy
Addition of pear makes this taste as good as raw beef
The steamed dish tastes very good too
Good, serve him with this
Madam, we need to hurry He has entered his chamber already
OK. Let's hurry
Madam!
Didn't you hear me? Hurry and serve him
Wow! It's fish but it tastes like beef. Delicious!
Jang-Geum, you're really good at everything
I used the bee's stinger as you said
but I don't know if it'll be effective
Just swallow it down
It's bitter, isn't it?
Yes
It's natural for gall to be bitter
It was bitter... it was clearly bitter