lfJang-Geum can make
a dish with whale meat

I will accept her
without asking more questions

that is, if she's able
to draw up a taste using 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

Good, serve him with this

Madam!

Didn't you hear me?
Hurry and serve him

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

(Episode 15)

As mentioned, we've been putting
too much emphasis...

on compositional skills and lineage

So I think we should start
an administration...

to oversee different examination
requirements to select officials

What do you think?

Your Majesty, your food
is getting cold...

It's a dish made from whale meat
from a foreign country

Really? Please go ahead and eat

This is what whale meat tastes like

It's excellent
I think your skills have improved

since the Highest Lady
had you two compete

His Majesty has complimented
your dish. Good work

You see? Didn't I tell you...

that tasting is more important
for the eater than the cook?

I'm impressed you made such
a tasty dish even without tasting it

It's too bad
you can't taste it yourself

That's not so, Madam
I know the taste

You know the taste? What do you mean?

I tasted it right after I finished
making the dishes. And I felt it

I'm not sure what you're saying

Madam... my sense of taste
has come back. It's back!

I found out after making the kebab!

Really? Is that true?

Yes, Madam. I'm almost positive
though I need to confirm it

Tell me what happened
How did you get it back?

I think it's because of what Mr. Jung
at the herb garden did for me

The herb garden...?

Yes, Madam. He's the physician
I worked under

when I was at the garden

When I went back there,
he was studying bee stings

Bee stings?

He found out, the poison
could be used as medicine

and I begged him to test it on me

That's how you
got your sense back...?

That can't be! That's impossible!
No matter how good she is

she can't make a dish with something
she has never tasted before

But you saw the result
with your own eyes

I'm sure she deceived us somehow

It was made in front of everyone

Even so, it wasn't difficult
for Lady Han to taste it for her

That probably didn't happen

Then are you saying that
Jang-Geum is naturally gifted?

Madam

The Highest Lady is calling everyone
to gather at the dining room

OK

I asked you to gather
so you can try the whale dish

As kitchen ladies,
you should taste new dishes

Go ahead and taste
the food in front of you

Yes, ma'am

Madam, I lost

Jang-Geum made this dish
with whale meat

which she's never seen before

She surprised me

Plus she has even lost
her sense of taste

But Madam, that...

You ought to be acknowledged
for making it without the sense

Madam...

But, Madam...
you can't stay in the Royal Kitchen...

just by making good food

As you've told us before,
it is an important job

for court ladies of the kitchen
to taste the dishes...

made by the lower-ranking ladies...

to discover talents,
evaluate and train them

So though I feel Jang-Geum's skills
are a great gift

I don't think it's right to
let her stay in the kitchen

until she recovers her sense of taste

Since Jang-Geum's cooking skills
are outstanding

we can let her keep cooking only

And she hasn't lost
her sense completely either

So it won't be a big problem

That's why you should verify it...

You must decide after testing
how much Jang-Geum can taste

whether she can stay in the kitchen
or not in front of everyone first

She must be tested
As you already know

this isn't a fruit or snack room

but a place to cook
His Majesty's food

OK. You're right. Let's do that...

Gather everyone
in front of the kitchen

Lady Choi, prepare everything
for the test

Yes, ma'am

Madam

What? She recovered
her sense of taste?

Though it hasn't been confirmed

she's almost positive
that she's recovered

I was wondering about that myself
Anyway, that's good

I thought we were just about to lose
a good talent from our kitchen

Did you tell Lady Choi about this?

Not yet...

I will tell her, so just pretend
not to know about this

Whatever the case, we should
just go ahead and wrap up...

with Lady Choi's request
to test Jang-Geum

And you two are the competitors

so be extra careful with
your conduct and behavior

Yes, ma'am

It's time for the new ladies
to learn about pickled shrimp

so I prepared those

But even the experienced court ladies
have a hard time...

telling the difference
between pickled shrimp

That's because
you didn't learn properly

Are you saying you can do it?

Of course!

Be quiet!

Go ahead

Come on out, Jang-Geum

Jang-Geum,
taste the juice in the bowl

and tell me what type
of pickled shrimp it is

Go ahead

This is May pickle

How do you know?

It's made with shrimps
caught during May

which is when shrimps
start to grow plump

so the meat is reddish
and tastes a little sweeter

Open it up

She's correct

Taste the next one

This is June pickle. It's saltier

and more savory than others

It's often eaten as a side dish

Open it up

She's correct

Skip the next one and
go to the fourth one

Madam...

Go ahead and taste it

This is made with the second smallest
shrimps among sea shrimps

It isn't as salty,
so it's good to eat with pork

Open it up

She's correct

Try the center one

This is made with
the smallest shrimps...

Madam, I have something to tell you

Madam... actually...

What is it?

Jang-Geum has recovered
her sense of taste

Though it hasn't been confirmed

she has almost
completely recovered it

That was right after
making the whale dish today

Listen, everyone. LfJang-Geum
has really recovered her sense

then it's something you ought to
rejoice about with Jang-Geum

There's a lesson to learn here
Jang-Geum lost her sense after...

tasting the duck porridge to find out
the cause of the Prince's paralysis

It is important for a cook
to be courageous

and not fear death,
to find out whether a dish

brings health or death to a person

That's how she had lost
her sense of taste

As Lady Choi said, a cook who has lost
her sense of taste shouldn't...

be able to work, but at the same time,
as we share our lives together

we must be able to
share Jang-Geum's pain

who has acted with such courage
But instead of comforting Jang-Geum

who probably went through
the pain by herself

we only thought of casting her out
We must be ashamed of ourselves

So go back to your quarters

and make many tasty
dishes for Jang-Geum

Yes, ma'am

Lady Choi was humiliated, huh?

Nothing works out
because ofJang-Geum...

I came in the middle...

Did Jang-Geum go somewhere?

I don't know
She wasn't here when I came

I'm angry at Jang-Geum

Why?

How could she not tell me,
of all people?

It's probably because
she wasn't sure herself

And how would you
have helped her anyway?

If I were her, I wouldn't
have told anyone either

It would've been a bolt from the blue

Yes, Chang-Yee's right

Anyhow, when she comes back,
I'll give her a good scolding

I told you to celebrate with her

You don't need to stand up
Let's eat together

They're for Jang-Geum, though

She said she had to go
somewhere to thank someone

so I gave her permission

Sir!

Sir!

Sir!

Stop! Stop! Don't come near...

What are you doing?

I'm trying to find a treatment
method with no side effects

I think if people eat that beef
covered with stinger poison

there won't be any side effects

so you put that piece of beef
on your tongue

I don't need to now

Don't need to?

My sense has come back
I've recovered

What?

Have you really recovered?

Yes, sir. My sensitivity
has completely returned

Then bee stings
are really effective?!

You're more glad that
your bee stings are effective...

than my sense of taste coming back?

Is that how I sounded...?

Yes

That's too bad, since it's true

But did you come empty-handed?

Huh?

You should've brought me
a bowl of wine at least

or some dried anchovies or something

I'm sorry... I was so glad
that I just ran over here

Sorry. I'll go and
quickly get you something

No, thanks
I want a gift from your heart

Just one second

It's made with hands
that make the King's food

so it should be much better
than dried up anchovies

You're right. It does look good

Pour me some drinks

Where have you been?

I went and visited someone who
helped me recover my sense of taste

How come you didn't tell me about it?

I was at a loss as to what to do

That's why you should've told me
so we could be at a loss together

That's why I didn't tell you...

If you joined me in the distress
I would've felt worse...

You just being by my side
was enough encouragement to me

Still don't do that next time

OK

Does my being by your side
really encourage you?

Of course

Yeun-Seng

What?

There's someone I'm grateful to...
What's a good thank you gift?

Silk or trinket...

I don't think those are good

Rice then?

I don't think so

Then... who is it?

It's just... someone I'm thankful to...
So I want to express my appreciation

with something more from the heart

Then give your heart

How?

Lady Jung always tells us
to make food with our hearts

So you can prepare food

You're right!
You're a great friend. Thanks

What are you doing?

Huh?

I was... just making something

At this time of the night?

Yeah...

Actually, I've been
in despair for a while

but there was someone who comforted me
in ways that I didn't expect

You must be happy to have
someone who comforts you

in a cold palace like this

I'm happy that your sense
of taste came back

since you're the only person
I acknowledge as my competitor

I know you had that for a while,
but why do you...

Iook at it everyday?
Aren't you going to use it?

No

I was going to send a soldier to you

I told this famous physician
about you

and he said that
he might be able to help

I've recovered...

What? Is that true?

Yes. The bee stings of Mr. Jung
at the herb garden were effective

Really? That's really great

I wanted to meet you so I can return
all the books I've borrowed

and I wanted to express my appreciation
so I prepared some food

Really? You shouldn't have...

Oh, no, you let me borrow books

and comforted me and gave me advice

And your poem was a big
encouragement to me as well

As I cook food I always hope the person
who eats my dish would smile

I hope my appreciation would be
well expressed through this

Thank you

Sir. A kitchen lady wants
to see you for a moment

Really?

Aren't you Lady Choi?

Yes. I hope
I didn't interrupt anything

Oh, no. What brings you here?

What's this for?

I heard that you were looking for
this inkstone from my uncle

I could've just gone to the merchant
but you brought it yourself?

I heard about it
when I visited my uncle's

Thank you. I have a useless greed
for writing equipment

Greed? I know about it
as I've seen it from my childhood

When you came to my uncle's house
for the first time

you held onto the inkstone
and didn't let go

Did I?

But you seem a little troubled
Is something wrong?

No...

it's just that in life, I thought
I only needed to make good food

but things seem so tough these days
I'm losing confidence too

Yes, there are such times...

Do you feel that way too sometimes?

Of course. Someone told me
that while she's cooking...

she hopes the person who's
eating the dish would have a smile

Though it's simple,
it touched my heart

Martial arts is about hurting others

but culinary arts is about
pleasing others

That's what you're doing,
so be confident

Someone told me
that while she's cooking...

she hopes the person who's
eating the dish would have a smile

Though it's simple,
it touched my heart

Martial arts is about hurting others

but culinary arts is about
pleasing others

That's what you're doing,
so be confident

Madam, what's going on?

Don't worry, the Head Lady
and Sir Oh Kyum-Ho...

have spoken to the King's Mother

Then will things
get straightened out?

The King's Mother has said that
it is against the rule for the King...

to intervene in the
administration of court ladies

so there will be word soon

Madam, eunuchs have requested
for a court lady...

to send to Un-Ahm Temple

OK, let's pick someone
from the fruit or snack room

Did you hear?

The Head Lady has told
the King's Mother that...

it isn't right to pick the
Highest Lady through a competition

When His Majesty went to
greet the King's Mother

this is what she said

I heard that you are going to pick
the Highest Kitchen Lady yourself

Yes, Mother

That's not right

It's under the administration
of the court ladies

The changes in examinations
and purpose are good, of course

But it's not good for you
to be concerned...

with trivial matters of court ladies

OK... I thought of it very lightly
because I thought...

it's not much different from
eating my meals everyday

Then would you do it for me instead?

Me?

Yes. Since it's for a good purpose,
why don't you do it?

It's interesting and
the food of the palace...

is what guides the people

Please do it

Yeah? Then I'll do it

There's no need to delay the news
Go spread the news now

The official competition will start
on the birthday of the Prince

There will be three parts and
the King's Mother will be the judge

instead of the King

So make no mistakes

It's something we expected

Yes. But it's better than
canceling the competition

Thank you for your effort

Things worked out for you
You won't lose...

with the King's Mother's support,
and there's credibility

since it's done
in the name of a competition

Madam, are you feeling bad
that you weren't able to cancel it?

Don't worry
It's our fault for putting...

Lady Jung at that position
in the first place

This type of thing can't happen
in other places

And once I become the Highest Lady
you don't have to...

worry about receiving
complete respect for your authority

Help me get there
Then things will be back to normal

I think even Sir Oh Kyum-Ho
has gone to the King's Mother

to complain about the King's decision

Then is the competition canceled?

Is it canceled?

No. There'll be a competition

Did something go wrong?

No, everything went perfectly

It's obvious who will be winning,
and because it's a competition

it'll be justified as well

You're right

You just get me
the best ingredients in Chosun

That's a piece of cake

Even only with the ingredients,
Lady Han can't beat me

because that's really
important in cooking

Actually... we didn't even need
the King's Mother's help

Really?

What are you doing?

I heard about the decision
I was practicing...

using the book you gave me

Good...

Don't worry about me
I can do better than anyone else

You seem to be energetic
Haven't seen you like this for a while

That's good. I was worried
because you've been down

since the middle kitchen incident

Everything's going back to normal
Everything...

So this is it

I'm so relieved that
your tastebuds are alright

I owe it to you. I'm going to
help you with all my strength

OK...

What are you going to do
about the ingredients?

What do you mean?
We'll be receiving them

from the Food Services of course

They aren't very fresh

since they take
a long time to get here

You're right...

And I think Lady Choi will have
her ingredients provided by her family

Yes... I know

Hello... Where's Duk-Gu?

You never ask for me...
you always ask for Duk-Gu

Actually, I have a favor to ask you

What is it?

Please tell him to
get with best quality...

before the Prince's birthday

These expensive ingredients?

I'll give you all my salary,
so please get the best

Sure...
You'll give me a tip too, right?

That's...

OK, OK, I'll have to
get them myself, not Duk-Gu

Why? Did he go somewhere?

Yes, he was ordered
to go somewhere quickly

My name is Jung Yoon-Su
I was called to come here quickly

What is it?

Please wait a minute

Yes, sir

Your clothing looks really good

The nursemaid who came with
the Queen from outside the palace

...Her health has been deteriorating

and Her Majesty the Queen
is very worried

So I was ordered to
send a physician and a chef

Lt. General... Please excuse me

Sir, did you say
your name is Jung In-Su?

It's Yoon-Su

There's someone who
works for me named Jung In-Pil

would you happen to know him?

We have a long way to go,
so can I buy you some drinks?

This is no good occasion
to have drinks!

I'm a physician for Pete's sake...

They want me to check up
on a mere court lady?

There's a field that was
given to Sung-Kyun College...

around the place you're headed
But they've been writing often that...

the yield is so low that they have
a hard time managing the college

So as you stay quietly at your place

check what other problems
might be there

Yes, sir

We'll take care of any problems

so you just find out what's going on

Yes, sir

Right under the head...

Sir Let's go

Sure

It beat so fast...

I have to meet someone,
so please wait here

Of course... take your time

Hello!

Give me some rice wine here
and send some in there too

Who is it?

Didn't I tell you?
If anyone bothers you

or this business, just let me know

Then you're really close to Lt. Gen.
From the Royal Protectorate?

Close? We're like brothers!

You'll still ask me
to pay off my credits?!

And he's a physician
of the Royal Palace

so just tell me
if you're hurting anywhere

Why you...! I ask you to massage me
at home and you never do and yet...

I didn't even touch her

You...! Why are you here anyway?

We're just taking a break on the way

to carry out an order
with the Lt. General

Then are you going with
that person from last time?

Yes

Then where is he?
I have something to tell him

What?

We need to find out why the yield
has gone down from that field

so you disguise yourselves as merchants
and go to that town first

Yes, sir

Sir, I apologize for our mistakes
from last time. Please forgive us

It's alright

And there are many soldiers in
the Royal Protectorate, right?

I heard that you often offer drinks
after days of hard training

Sir, what if we provide those drinks
for the Royal Protectorate?

We'll make sure that
you have more than enough

Let's leave. We have a long way to go

He's leaving... when we're not
even finished talking! Do something!

Please come back for a moment
He isn't coming back

Wipe every corner...

Madam... even though
it's a competition

Lady Choi, Keum-Young and Jang-Geum
go out of the kitchen too often

That's right, Madam
We have too much to do

It can't be helped

I agree

I'm surprised you two
agree on something

Madam, I've gotten very good
ingredients through someone

Madam, Lady Jung is calling for you

What is it? Is something wrong?

I'm not sure...
But I think she said...

the King's Mother
has given an assignment

An assignment? For the competition?

I'm not sure about the details...

The King gave a scolding for preparing
a big birthday feast for the Prince

when the people are having hardships

from this year's flood during summer

The King's Mother has accepted his will
and gave you a new assignment

The people's suffering is
obvious during a time like this

So she has ordered you to make a dish

using things that people throw away
or don't normally eat

So she has ordered a table of...

one side dish, a soup
and a bowl of rice

It seems the Majesties...

want to experience what
people are going through

And since you'll need to go outside
of the palace to find ingredients

she has given you
permission to go out

Just how could
the King's Mother allow herself

to eat the things
that common folks eat?

Don't worry. Even so,
the results won't change

Manager Jang, are you out there?

Yes, sir Come in

Tell the workers to find anything
that people don't eat

and yet can be made into food
Reward them if they find it

Yes, sir

Sir, I'm ready to leave now

OK, I'll leave in a few days
so prepare well

Yes, sir!

You can go home and relax

Sure

I'll go and look for them myself

The lower folks know better
about these things

Don't waste your time and relax

No. I'll look for them
and do it myself

You must be very motivated
Then I won't stop you

Go right ahead

Jang-Geum, that's it!

What?

Our rice from making wine
Kids just come and eat it

If you can make a dish with this,
then people will surely buy it

Ma'am...

Jang-Geum...
please make the dish for me...

Let me earn some money
through you as well

We ought to look for them ourselves

Madam!

Is that so bad?

If you don't want it, then forget it

Madam!

Madam, that's it!

They use it to make wine
but they don't eat it as food

They normally throw it away

It can be made into
a side dish for sure!

Actually, I was very worried

Why?

It'd be hard to compete with
the quality of Lady Choi's ingredients

and I heard Lady Min say that
it's advantageous for Lady Choi

because the King's Mother
will be the judge

You shouldn't listen to such nonsense

Anyway, I'm confident that we'll win

Can we take the fruit on the ground?

Sure

Thank you

No need to thank me
They'll rot anyway

Go ahead and take all you want

Are you going to throw those away?

These? Yes

Madam, I found it!

Really?

Aunt, we can make a dish with these

Yes, you're right!
There are many kinds of dishes

but I've never seen one
made with these

You're so smart
The lower folks couldn't find it

even when there's a reward

Let's go
We'll need time to make it...

Let's hurry to the palace

Sure

Since it has to be a stew
that common people enjoy

the common beef stew
sold at inns will be best

I'll go to the palace and make it,
you can go to the butcher's

and get some bone
and meat for the broth

Yes, ma'am

Go on

Madam, won't beef stew be good?

I'm not sure... Though
it's a popular kind of stew

Let's decide on that and
you can go to the palace first

while I go get the bones
and meat from the butcher's

We can get those at the Food Services

It's hard to tell whether
they have good quality or not

and they might not even have any

You go ahead first
I'll get those and go back quickly

OK, sure

OK

Hello

Do you have good legbones?

Why are many people
looking for bones today?

All the good ones
are sold out already

Really?

I got a cow two days ago
and all I have left are those

When will you get another cow?

They don't slaughter one everyday

It'll be either tomorrow
or the day after

You bought them?

They didn't have any at the butcher's

so I got them from the Food Services

You should've gone somewhere else
to get better ones

With this stew, it's more important
to take time boiling the bones

OK. Use that method then

Sure, I'll take care of it

Jang-Geum hasn't come back yet?

No, Madam

I told her to come back
if she couldn't find it...

Madam, you know Jang-Geum
She'll get it no matter what it takes

(Butcher Shop)

Hello? Hello?

What? You don't have it?

The meat hasn't arrived yet

When does it come next time?

Well... why don't you go to
the butcher town yourself?

Isn't that quite far from here?

It's not that far

Then tell me how I can get there

Sure

Even though it's Jang-Geum,
I think she's running too late

Yes, I know

Keum-Young just got them
from the Food Services

Madam! Madam!

Jang-Geum... what happened?

I got really good ones
I went to the butcher town to get them

But the boiling time is
more important with this stew

Don't worry... don't worry, Madam

The reason they boil it
for three days

is because they have to
take out the lard

but if you put in Korean paper,
it should absorb it all

You're right

We can shorten the time
and use these good bones

And I have another good idea
I found out something

with my abilities that
you've taught me about. Just trust me

Did she say it's going well?

Yes, she says she's confident that...

she'd win this competition for sure

Probably so. She's got talent
and not only that...

she isn't someone who
will do things by halves

Buddha, please help Jang-Geum win...

Hey, hey, what are you doing?

What do you think?
I'm just playing around

Who... who's that person that
you're poking with the brush?

Poke? I'm only drawing...

"Only" drawing?! Yeah, right
That's Jang-Geum, isn't it?!

It's not!

Let me see it!
It's Jang-Geum, isn't it?!

The people eat such simple meals?

Actually, it's simpler

That's why the King is so worried

So did you make the side dishes
with the things that people don't eat?

Yes, Your Majesty

Yes, Your Majesty

This seems to be a type of pickle
What did you make it with?

It's made with fish gills

Fish gills?

Yes, Your Majesty
People eat anchovies, caviar, or...

stomachs of pollack, but they've been
throwing away all the gills

Really?

But we found out that the taste...

is as good as other pickles

And people have many diseases
because they don't eat...

enough meat and fish,
but this is a good alternative

Yes...

You're right. You try some too

Yes, ma'am

This looks like vegetables in soy sauce
What did you make it with?

Yes, Your Majesty, they are plums

Plums? Isn't that something
people use to make wine

and otherwise throw away
because of its sourness?

Yes. But seasoning it with
soy sauce made it taste good

You're right. There's no sourness,
and it increases the appetite too

Plums are also good for
the stomach and liver

and according to medicinal books

it neutralizes three types of poison

Three types of poison?

Yes. They're poison in
water, blood and food...

So it'll be a good dish
and it can be medicine...

for people who don't eat regularly

or get food poisoned often
by eating raw food

This is a difficult task indeed
Both dishes seem to taste good

and they are good for the body,
so how can I decide between the two?

Madam, you still have to pick one

Then I should eat it with rice and soup
just as common people do

I've decided

Lady Choi's is better

Why do you think so, Madam?

You tell me yourselves

I know the reason

Really?