Actually, I resented my instructor...

I thought she
didn't evaluate my talent...

which she always complimented me for
After all, I did my best

But that wasn't it
My effort was to beat someone else

And even here, I was only trying to
find out people's secret methods

But there were no secret methods
The only secret...

was the sweat and devotion
put into making it

The rice I'd prepared
thinking that I should use...

whatever technique available
to fulfill her wish...

before she dies,
but I couldn't move her heart

but the honest man's rice
moved her heart

That's why she said
my talents were poison to me

Because she was afraid
I would be dependent on that only

I envy you for having
such a great instructor

She was probably afraid
that you might live that way

with the excuse that
you have to accomplish your goals

But I trust you. Though you
may have made a mistake

you wouldn't give up the hope
of putting a smile...

on the face of the person
who eats the dish you prepare

Jang-Geum! You left this, didn't you?

I forgot it again, didn't I?

You left it at the fireplace

Do you still use that big brush?

Yes

Anyway, sir, how can you
be just standing here?

Why? Is something wrong?

It's time for drinks
since 8 pm is approaching

Why do you think 8 pm exists?
It's so that we can have drinks

You knew, right?

Why don't you drink by yourself?

Oh, no, this is a temple...
and if I get caught...

bad things ought to
be done together. Let's go

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

So I realized today that
I shouldn't keep him in my heart

He's a yangban and
I'm from a middle class

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

It's for a small notebook
Don't you have any smaller brushes?

How about this?

Are you still using that big brush?

Yes

You dry clematis, ainsliaea,
solidago, and cacalia in the yard

and on rooftops to
dry them thoroughly, huh?

I think so...

And mushrooms are dried under trees

where there's more wind, right?

That's how I've always done it

OK

Use this

It's one of my brushes
I have many so you can use it

That big brush looks
uncomfortable for you

OK. Thank you

Sir, I've seen a herb
which you let dew fall on...

Oh, that... what do you call it...

Oh, it's from Hweng-Sung, Gangwon-Do

The King's Mother has given
the second assignment

The doctors ordered not to
serve meat in the King's dishes

because he had some skin problems
But the King's Mother is worried

that he might get ill
So she's asking you to find raw fish

that he can enjoy throughout the year

But if it's not pickled fish,
we can only bring life fish in winter

That's why it's an assignment
The doctors must've told her

that raw fish is good for the skin

Preserving the health of the King...

keeps the royal family
and nation strong

Do your best in finding a way
You have about a week

Yes, ma'am

Didn't I tell you to go to
the snack room since I have a cold?!

Oh!

Why didn't you send me?
I like it there. Much to eat too

I'm sorry, Madam. I was filling in...

for two other girls
who caught a cold...

I caught it from them!

Anyway, I'll go there quickly

Forget it! I already got scolded
It's all over now

Madam...

Forget it!

Madam...

I said, forget it!

She's here, Madam!

Who? Keum-Young?

Yes!

Good. She's in time
for the competition

Madam, is there a new assignment?

Yes

Should I go and tell
Jang-Geum to come back?

Are you feeling any better?

No... the fever
doesn't seem to go down

Then go in and rest

Yes, ma'am

Are you here, Keum-Young?

Yes

Where did you go?
You didn't go to my brother's home

I just wanted to get some fresh air

You don't need to change
She has given us the second assignment

What is it?

She's wise indeed
We have the advantage over them

She has asked us to prepare raw fish

But bringing live fish now is...

Where's the place from which
you can bring live fish...

to the palace in the shortest time?

Do you mean Uncle?

That's right
Ice can only be obtained...

from him besides the palace

The King's Mother intends
to end this quickly

Then will this competition bring...

the end of Lady Han and Jang-Geum?

That's right, of course

Madam, I'm worried that
you might overexert yourself

because I keep going out
of the palace these days

Just worry about yourself

So is there a way?

Not yet

lfJang-Geum were with you,
she'd be able to help you

Why don't you send Yeun-Seng...

Madam, I'll be back
I think it may take some time

Madam! Madam!

Doctor! Doctor!

Madam...

Would you please come for a moment?

What is it?

You were talking about
secret methods...

Yes... but I was wrong
I won't ever make such a mistake again

I use this everyday so I didn't
think much of it but use this

when you make soy bean stew
It's made up of...

dried anchovies,
mushrooms and some herbs...

It just makes food taste better
When the food isn't for the temple

you can sometimes use
dried meat instead of anchovies

Is this called a secret method too?

Of course!

Then go ahead and use it

Poor King! How could he not know this

and eat something
that doesn't taste as good?

Will you miss this place?

Yes

Me too

Me, three. If I go home,
I'll be fried like anchovies

beaten like dried pollack
or dried up like herbs

or hit around like rice plants...

Jang-Geum, let's just stay here

Duk-Gu...

You said you'll miss this place...
You'll miss this place, won't you?

But I'm curious how
the competition is going along

Did you get the ice?

Yes, sir

Go fill up the jars with sea water
and bring many live fish

Yes, sir

If this is successful, we can
continue to sell it to the palace

or to the officials
at an expensive price

Yes, we'll definitely succeed in this

What's going on?!
The court ladies stay here!

I know. I'll receive permission first

so please lead me
to the head lady here

Follow me

Wait. You stay here
so he can't escape from here!

Yes, sir!

What is it?

We've been investigating
a placard of unknown origin

and we discovered
a suspicious person today

And?

While tracking that person
one of our soldiers said...

he saw him coming here
So please let us check the place

Sure. Please follow me

Listen up! Wear your dresses
and come out!

How come those
two rooms aren't lit up?

They're court ladies' rooms
and they've gone outside

with the orders of the King's Mother

Search those two rooms first!

Yes, sir!

Search carefully!

Yes sir!

Search carefully!

Yes sir!

Wait!

You wretch!

I have done nothing wrong, sir!

Drag him out!

Yes sir!

Sir! Sir!

Thank you for your help

Oh, it's nothing...

Madam, what happened?

I heard there was
a placard problem...

A placard problem?

I don't know
Clean this place up first

Lady Choi will be shocked to see this

Yes, ma'am

Look at this... it's so pretty

I have one too! They're so pretty!

Let me try this...

Isn't this so pretty?

How much do you think this might be?
It's probably very expensive

It's as good as the one
the Queen has herself!

When can we ever try on such things?

What wicked wretches! The book
that should've been passed down

to the Highest Court Lady
was given to Lady Choi

Lady Choi, you really
insulted me this time

Please send them
once you receive them

Sure, don't worry and just prepare
to be the Highest Court Lady

Did you get the customers
who'll buy the ginseng?

Yes. The transactions will be made
tomorrow night. But...

What?

Some people were asking around
about the amount...

of ginseng harvested from the field

Really? Who were they?

They seemed to be regular merchants

Then weren't they
only asking if it pays well?

Yes, it seemed so...

What? Is something fishy?

No...

We caught the person
who put up the placard

Is that true?

It was that person
in the Prince's palace

just as you had said

Since it's not good to be known,
we are investigating secretly

I see

And what's happening there?

The yield has never decreased
for several years now

Really?

And we also found out that the ginseng
is going to merchant Choi Pan-Sul

Choi Pan-Sul... OK
I'll report this officially

Yes, sir

Yeun-Seng... Chang-Yee

How did you come back?
Did the nursemaid recover?

No... she passed away
The physician is probably talking...

to Her Majesty the Queen

Really?
The Queen must be very sad now

Yeah

But how come the kitchen is so quiet?
Where is everyone?

Lady Choi and Lady Han
left the palace

for the second round
of the competition

Plus Lady Min and
several new brides caught a cold

so we're doing all the work
Since you're here now

I think we can relax a little

What's the assignment this time?

Why aren't you working?!

Madam, I'm back

OK

She must still be upset

Anyway, I wonder if
she found raw fish...

we can eat throughout the year

Raw fish you can eat throughout
the year? Is that the assignment?

Yes... but she doesn't seem
to have it, does she?

The rumor is that the King's Mother
chose it so Lady Choi can win

since merchant Choi can get it

Madam! Did you find it?

Be quiet. Keep working

So you're back

Yes, ma'am

We've spent so much time together

But there probably aren't many people

who are as unfriendly as we are

Yes... I wasn't very sociable
so I only talked with Myeong

Do you still blame me for it?

Just as Lady Jung said,
I'm going to accept...

the results of this competition

Did you find it?

Not yet

Lady Han must not
want to forgive me...

I found out what I did wrong
What if she keeps that up?

But you still have so much

The one that I wanted so much

The one that I consider
so precious in my heart

You have the one

What is it?

I'd like to start reading that book
here everyday from now

Yes... You can't take it away
from here. So read it here

Sure. I'll start training harder

and be faithful to the family affairs

You must've straightened out
your thoughts while taking the break

Yes. I realized that the food
and my family are most important

Hong! Hong!

I was just about to go home now
What is it?

Did you clean my room?

I cleaned the room
while you were gone

Did you clean the closet too?

No... you told me never
to clean there

Then what's going on?
Who came into my room?!

Young-Ro! Young-Ro!

Yes, Madam!

Did something happen
while I was gone?

Did the inspection lady
check the rooms?

No, a strange man hid in your room

so the head of the Royal Guards
searched the rooms himself

What? The head of Royal Guards?

Then did he touch my books too?

No. He only took away that man

Then why is my book missing?!

As he was hiding in the closet
everything in the closet poured out

But we put everything back in

Yes, that's right. Lady Jung told us
to put everything back

Lady Jung?

Yes, she was there with us
We didn't touch anything!

Lady Min and the girls can't
get rid of their colds

I told them to stay inside
so the King wouldn't catch it

I know you're busy...
but be sure to cooperate well

Yes, ma'am

How?!

They said that the Royal Guards had
searched the place while I was gone

And Lady Jung hasn't said
anything about it?

No... she's shady

Of course... knowing who she is...

She's going to blow it
on the day of the competition

If the King's Mother finds out
that I didn't follow...

the traditional rules when I put
Lady Jung in that position

what is she going to think of me?

Though she's close to Sir Oh Kyum-Ho
she has an upright character

Not only that, Lady Jung could suggest
that the whole competition...

was unfair because
I had that book all along

So what shall we do?

We must persuade her
Even if it means that...

I lose this round,
we must make a deal

Why would she even consider that?

But we must stop her anyway
We only have 3 days left

Is this really good for colds?

Yes, I learned it at the temple. It's
called matrimony fruit & mugwort soup

You boil the fruit of
matrimony vine lightly

and add mugwort tea later
with salt and honey

You were only thinking about
food at the temple too?

Not really...

She's still upset?

I think so. I get scared
whenever she gets upset

Yeun-Seng, would you go
and ask her if she found it?

She wouldn't tell me that

Still...

What is it?

Madam, did you find
the answer by any chance?

Why would you want to know that?

Just because...

Jang-Geum...

Did she find it?

She didn't tell me. Why don't you go?

Where?

She brought something
though she won't talk

I think she's doing something with it

Really?

What's this? It's all rotten

Did she give up?

I ought to try to find it

You're going out without permission?

I guess I can't, huh?

No. If you go, I'll scold you
before the court ladies do

Then I'll go to the Food Services
Duk-Gu's probably there

Do you think he would know?

He knew the taste of whale meat
He may know about this too

Go and get it

But... I mean... how...

You said you're close to him now
Go and get it... if you can't...

then don't bother coming home
this time. Understand?

How could I do that? No way...

You should be able to do it
Go, quickly

There will be no more meals
if you can't get it

Don't shove me I'm weak as I am...

Hurry up!

Hurry up!

Ma'am!

Jang-Geum, how are you?

Good. Would you know
anything about a fish...

you can eat raw all year long?

What? What are you talking about?
They rot during the summer...

How can you eat anything raw
throughout the year?

Unless you live
by the sea or something...

Why do you always ask such questions?

I've never seen you
asking a sensible question

Would Duk-Gu know?

If I don't know, how would he know?

He's traveled all over the nation...

Then you go and ask him

Where is he?

Yes, such a thing happened

It's me

Hello

What does Lt. General like?

I'm not sure. He likes to training
with us and reading books

But he's a different class from us

so he probably likes
to climb the social ladder

What? The social ladder?

He likes that kind of thing?

Where would I buy that?

What's this?

Please keep it and use it

Don't let the sun go down on it!
The world will be in chaos!

It's a good luck charm
you should keep safely

What kind of
a good luck charm is this?

An old Chinese king used it...

It's so effective that if you keep it

you'll become
the captain of the Royal Guards

Take it back!

I drew it without spending a penny...

Sir, I deserve to die
I thought my duty...

was to help you
become a successful person

I'm glad you didn't waste any money

I don't know your intentions,
but I appreciate your thought

Take it back!

OK, I won't ever draw
such a thing again

With this shape and...

you add this...
you get the perfect shape

This is that famous type of ginseng
that makes you immortal

Yes, this plain root
really looks like ginseng

I'm not sure why you're doing this,
but you should stop this

Take it back!

Sir, I deserve to die. I won't ever
call a plain root ginseng again

He's a genius... how did he know?

Haven't you left yet?!

Sir... I've been always regretful...

that I haven't done anything for you

But would you know who
Hyang-Sun is by any chance?

Hyang-Sun? Who is she?

What the... You don't know her?

There is a dancer bar called
Gae-UI and in the last room...

on the right, I'll have her
wait for you there so you can...

Hey! Why do you keep insulting me?!

I've been very patient
with you so far!

Would you stop this
if you went to the police?!

Sir, insult? I deserve to die
Actually, my wife told me...

to get a deal with you
to provide drinks for the guards

so I just... I deserve to die, sir

Sir, I was headed that way

My wife told me to get a deal
to provide the drinks

that's why I told her
I'm close to you

so, sir, I won't ever do it again
so please...

Duk-Gu!

Jang-Geum!

I'm in big trouble

My wife will kick me out of the house

if I don't get the deal to
provide drinks for the guards here

So what should I do?

But even so how could you
come all the way in here?

This is a training place
for the soldiers

I see

You can provide the drinks
for my home instead

I take some soldiers home
and drink with them personally

Is that true, sir?

Yes

He is very generous

Sir! You have to tell me
where your house is! Sir...

Madam, you found the answer,
didn't you?

Try it

Huh?

Why do you always
make me say it twice?

Yes, ma'am

Keep chewing it

Madam, the taste
is starting to come out

Compared to other fish
it's more meaty

and at first it's a strong taste
and the ending taste is refreshing

This is raw skate

Huh?

Only people living on the shore
ofJeolla-Do eat this

but I happened to
meet some Jeolla-Do people

and I think it's perfect
as a raw dish throughout the year

Is it good for the body too?

The doctor told me
skate is good for problems with...

phlegm, digestion, blood circulation
and it's good for intestines too

so I think it'll be
perfect for the King

Then... this time... for sure...

We should win... we will win

Madam, you're forgiving me, right?

Madam? Please?

Please forgive me, Madam. Huh?

Why wouldn't I know your character?

But normally a person doesn't
realize it when she is changing

If you're put in an urgent situation

it's hard to think about
right or wrong

You normally try to solve
the problem at hand first

And in time you'll be used
to living that way and...

if you live that way you won't see
the path you intended to take

but only the problem at hand

Yes, Madam, I will never forget that

OK, that's good enough

Madam, you're so similar to
my mother who died

Madam, your health
is getting worse...

I think it's because of
the weather turning cold

Yes... More new brides
are catching colds

Lady Jung, are you inside?

Yes...

You don't need to stand up

Yeun-Seng, stay outside

We'll just get to the point

I'm sorry

We were wrong

Please let it go...

since the book has returned to
its proper owner, please let it go

I will lose this round
of the competition

I won't put out the raw fish
Please...

If you're done talking please go back

My health is very bad

We have only two days
We must find a way

Yes, Madam

I think it tastes
better than yesterday

I heard waiting 6 days is the best

and tomorrow is the sixth day

Yes

We can win this time

But wouldn't Lady Choi
have other means too?

Don't worry. I found out
about her through chef Gang

Madam... you told me not to be
obsessed with the desire to win

and you even found that out?

No, chef Gang just told me... You!

Since it's my shift tonight
and we must go directly...

to the competition
tomorrow morning, bring it now

Yes, ma'am

Not one fish is alive?!

No... I think it was shaken
on the way... they even have scars...

Oh, how could this happen?

It's big trouble...
not a fish is alive in the jar!

There's a bigger problem now

A bigger problem?

Lady Jung found out
about the secret book...

that's only passed down
to the Highest Lady

What?! And?!

Head Lady and Lady Choi
are carefully discussing it

but we think Lady Jung will tell
the King's Mother tomorrow

Then we must stop it
We must stop her!

This is killing me
There seems to be no way out of this

I'm sorry. I should've hidden it
somewhere better

Then there's no other way
but to prevent her...

from showing up tomorrow

How? How are we going to do that?

Since she's a sick person,
we can use drugs through a nurse

Head Lady! Are you here?

Isn't it the head of the eunuchs?

What is it?

It's big trouble!
Follow me right now!

What is it?

I'll tell you later. Lady Choi,
I was going to call Lady Jung

but since she's weak
she won't be able to come quickly

So you can go with us
and tell her about it later

What is it?

Let's go first. Hurry

According to the doctors,
an infectious disease...

is spreading in the palace

An infectious disease?

Are you saying there's
an unidentified epidemic?

The symptoms aren't very visible
and it is caught like a common cold

That's why we didn't know about it

According to the doctors,
it isn't a type of cold

but some unidentified epidemic

So what the two new brides
have caught recently isn't a cold

Then is it spreading
in the kitchen too?

Yes, there are a few girls
who have caught a cold

If this has spread in the kitchen
where the King's food is prepared

isn't this a huge problem?

Doctors are going around all over
the palace to find the remedy

but it's hard to tell when
they'll come up with it

Yes, just as we have always done

make all the sick people
leave the palace first

That's why I called you
Find everyone who is suffering

and take them outside
the palace by tonight

Yes, sir

I'm going to report this to the King

I'll check the eunuchs and guards...
so Head Lady...

you should check
the court ladies thoroughly

Yes, sir

Take care of this quickly and quietly
so there won't be any chaos

There's no need to talk more
Just go into every corner...

of your residences and
find out who has caught this

and hand over the list

The guards will take them
out of the palace

Yes, ma'am

Even if they're sleeping
you shouldn't miss a single person

Madam...

The Heavens are helping us

Yes

I'll take care of the kitchens
so please send the guards to me first

OK

Madam, I'm an inspector

Madam, you've been infected
You must go out of the palace

and recuperate first

Infected?! Only my knees hurt!

No, Madam... an infectious disease
is spreading in the palace

so we're taking everyone outside
Please follow us

This is an order by His Majesty

OK

Madam, it's strange...

It's time for everyone to gather up

Could it be that we weren't notified
of something at the middle kitchen?

I'm not sure... but we should've
been notified if anything changed

I just heard of it. How come
no one knew about it 'til now?!

I'm sorry, Madam... Unlike
the previous diseases, the symptoms...

weren't very noticeable so even
the doctors didn't think much of it

I heard that, but
it could've been much worse!

I heard even the kitchen ladies who
prepared the King's meals were sick!

Yes, Madam. Unfortunately,
some showed symptoms in the kitchen

and even Lady Jung,
the Highest Lady...

What?! Lady Jung?!

So she was sent out of
the palace last night as well

So the competition today...

How could that be important now?

You could get infectious diseases...
most easily through food

so what are we going to do now?!

I've told Lady Choi to be
thorough with the remedies...

at the kitchen
so... don't be too worried

What is it? And where is
Lady Jung... and Lady Min?

Lady Jung was sent out
of the palace last night

because of an unidentified disease

What?! An unidentified disease?

Yes, the cold symptoms
are said to be that

Tell me everything. What happened?!

I think the order was given out
while it was your shift

at the middle kitchen last night

Yes, the doctors found out
about it last night as well

So all the guards and inspecting ladies
came to the residences

and took everyone who showed
the symptoms outside the palace

What are we going to do now?
What if Lady Jung is very sick?

I didn't even say bye...

Madam... Head Lady is calling
for you and Jang-Geum...

to her residence now

OK

Don't cry

What happened to Lady Jung?

She hasn't been doing well and
she must've gotten the disease too

So today's competition
has been cancelled

And the King's Mother is
greatly concerned about the fact...

that the Highest Court Lady
of the kitchen had this disease

Infectious diseases are usually
transmitted through food

so how could she not be concerned

when several kitchen ladies
had this disease?

So go to the kitchen
and check all the court ladies...

food, and dishes
so that nothing bad happens

Yes, ma'am

Lady Choi, you can stay here

since we need to check
other rooms together

Yes, ma'am

What's done is done already

Yes, ma'am

I'll talk of changing
the Highest Lady at the next meeting

with Oh Kyum-Ho, eunuchs
and the court ladies

But the head of the eunuchs
won't be so easily convinced

That's why I'm doing this
I'll meet him so you go around...

to all the lower head ladies
and tell them about what I said

Sure

If he's outnumbered,
he won't be able to do much either

What will happen
now that Lady Jung isn't here?

Then is the competition all over?

It's not the time
to think about such things

We must be concerned
with the safety of the King first

You're still talking like this?!
You should be working!

Madam, something's strange

What is it?

Lady Jung did have a chronic disease
but she had no symptoms of a cold

She didn't have any fever,
and she didn't vomit like Lady Min

Then?

Only her legs hurt and...

she was taking some medicine
for her kidneys

Then she must've caught it that night

But she was fine 'til the evening
She'll be OK, right?

She'll be coming back, right?

Yes, so don't worry

Right, Madam? Right?