Sure, I don't need your life. But if there isn't any improvement in 5 days
I'm going to severely punish you in my country's way
I can tolerate vegetables but I won't tolerate it
if I find them tasteless Will you be able to do that?
You don't have to worry Lady Han can...
You do it!
Excuse me?
You're the one who has brought it to this point, so you do it!
How could such a thing happen?!
I'm sorry, Your Majesty
The King is already worried over the designation of the Crown Prince
so what's up with this rash behavior?!
Don't worry, I'll go there and prepare the food myself
Get out. I'm going to prepare the food from now on
You go out, please, Madam
How dare you?!
He has promised to eat my food for 5 days
So I will be in charge of this kitchen for 5 days
During those 5 days, I'm going to fulfill my duty wholeheartedly
So please go out
Let's see in 5 days I'll ask my uncle...
to get the ingredients normally served to the emperor
to prepare feasts for the Chinese Imperial House
For the Chinese Imperial House?
(Episode 19)
Sir, today is the day to take care of that shameful thing
so punish as you'd like and eat to your heart's content
That was really good
Sir, she's the one who humiliated you
What shall we do with her?
This shall be the end of the dishes of the Chinese Imperial House
Would you forgive me for eating this much?
The feast dishes were excellent
Yes. The feast will continue for two more days
Thanks for the offer, but I have to decline
Sir, what do you mean? We prepared this specially for you
because we felt sorry for having you eat what you didn't like
because of her brazen actions Why do you decline?
It's because of that brazen one
What do you mean?
I've only sought after tasty and oily food till now
So even though I had diabetes, as human beings are weak
I couldn't stop eating it although I knew it was bad for me
I'm not a Chosun person nor am I going to stay here long
You could've just given me what I wanted and sent me away
Why were you so stubborn?
Tell him quickly
I only acted according to Lady Han's intentions
What are her intentions?
Not to prepare any food that is harmful to the eater...
no matter what the situation
She said that was the duty of a cook
Even if you have to risk your life?
Lady Han demonstrated it herself when she was dragged away
You two are truly stubborn indeed
OK, just as the person who prepares the food has principles
the person who eats the food has principles to follow
When the person who's preparing the food is trying to protect my body
it makes no sense to be careless about my own body...
and eat what is harmful to me
The person who eats the food has principles to follow as well
And the first dish you served me tasted like grass
but the more I ate, the true taste started to come out and they were tasty
You took the taste to a higher level
Though you live in small Chosun, your breadth of thinking and
intentions are bigger than the whole country
I'll have your stubborn teacher and you prepare my food until I leave
I have a message for you, ma'am
Please come out
You have been ordered to make the food for the Ming envoy again
Madam!
The envoy has recognized your intentions
Your teaching was right Your conviction was right
Then...
Yes, he has declined the great dishes of the Chinese Imperial House
and he wants you to cook for him until he leaves
Bad girl, I was so worried because of you
You sound just like Lady Jung
Yes, you're right
Sir, I sent Mr. Gang to Lady Jung not too long ago
Yes. How is she doing?
She wrote that she doesn't think she has caught the disease
Really?
So what's going on?
Sometimes, doctors send out people with other types of illnesses
along with the infected as they're not sure if they're affected
Yes, that's true...
As I was busy welcoming the envoys
I haven't been able to go back inside the palace
I was wondering whether it was being brought under control myself
So if she doesn't have it
I guess she'd be coming in with others soon
I made a good decision by sending you to the Guesthouse
I prepared the feast dishes because I had to do something as
the Highest Lady, but your intentions deserve to be acknowledged by him
I was always a little nervous whenever an envoy came from China
but now I can relax
I hope you'll continue to take good care of that
Madam, how about if we sent Duk-Gu to Lady Jung once more?
Yes. We should ask him to take a civilian doctor to check...
how she's doing and send some medicinal food to her as well
Sure
I was wondering how it was going
Did things go smoothly at the Guesthouse?
Yes. It all ended smoothly I've spoken sternly
to Lady Han so there won't be any major problems from now on
Good
This is the training place where you'll be trained
And I'm Lady Yeun-Seng who will be teaching you along with the Trainer
What's my name?
Yeun-Seng!
And they are my assistant new brides, Gae-Geum and Mal-Geum
Who are they?
Gae-Geum and Mal-Geum!
Everyone, stand up
You have to give your obeisance since I'll be your trainer
1, 2, 3
OK
OK, now you'll be paired up with your partners
Those who are over ten have to take a younger one
You, come here. You, there You, over there...
You take two, OK?
The reason I've done this is since you're older
you must help the younger ones and work together
Don't boss them around just because they're younger, OK?
Now we'll go to the workplace Everyone follow me
This is the kitchen where you will be working
Everyone, sit down
You two, come over here
Hey, what are you doing right now?
You two will be friends and share a room together
Let's make a dried seaweed dish today
Hey, why are you giving them easier jobs?
Let's go
You two, stop right there!
Go back to the designated place
No, do as I say!
I'm in charge here. Listen to me
It's alright. You only have to listen to my words. Let's go
No, you can't take them
No way!
What do you think you're doing in front of the new brides?!
I was delegating work as the one in charge, but Young-Ro came in and...
Yeun-Seng was pairing up a girl who came in through the Head Lady
with a girl who came in through the Prime Minister
That's enough. Whatever the reason, how can you be arguing...
in front of the new brides when you're their trainer?!
What can you teach them that way?
But Young-Ro was...
Young-Ro will be in charge of training the new brides from now on
Sure, Madam
Yeun-Seng, that's called a kite without a string
That string will come back
Yeah, right
What's wrong?
Lady Jung is coming back, right? She is coming back, isn't she?
Why? Did you hear something?
No, Young-Ro was the one who did wrong, but she only scolded me
Really? Does that mean we have to kiss up to Young-Ro?
I can't do that type of thing
I just wish I could eat more
The Head Eunuch saw what happened with Lady Han's table
and the envoy's diabetes and your feast dishes
Won't the King's Mother hear about it?
He isn't someone to report trivial matters of court ladies
And didn't I order everything? As the Highest Lady, I sent Lady Han
to the Guesthouse and the envoy didn't hesitate to compliment...
Lady Han's food and my dishes, so everything went well
And I did fulfill my duty
I'm so happy to hear that you have decided that, sir
It was going to turn out like this anyway
Thank you so very much Would you like to take a vacation...
while we wrap up the work here?
No, thanks. I'm enjoying the tables that court ladies bring me
Even though she's a mere court lady she tells me food stories
from the Analects of Confucius and I have to say, I'm very impressed
Maybe the reason it was easy for me to make the decision was 'cause of them
Now that my body and mind feel good, I feel more open-minded and
I don't feel so fussy anymore
By any chance, have you ordered them to do such things as a strategy?
Sir, that's utterly unreasonable!
I'm just kidding
Then is the designation of the Crown Prince settled for good now?
Yes, Your Majesty
I surely made a good decision when I picked you for the job
You're too kind, Your Majesty I think Ming couldn't do much
seeing Your Majesty when you took care of the Jurchen issue so well and
made a bold request to Ming last time
I think it was already decided before the envoy arrived here
Even so, didn't all envoys find faults?
Yes, that's true...
This is really good
It's because of your work and it's a blessing to me
Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty
You did very well
Please don't mention it
I was very worried that he might find faults with the food
and make the King anxious, but Lady Choi took good care of it, eh?
Yes, Your Majesty. Without Lady Choi, it couldn't have gone this smoothly
Yes, good work... good work
So, as I've suggested earlier, Lady Choi should be the Highest...
Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Queen is here to greet you
Let her come in
So are you at ease now?
I'm sorry for making you worry
I would've been just like you How could you be normal...
when you lost your nursemaid who practically raised you...
after your mother died?
I was greatly comforted by a letter she wrote to me before her death
Is that so?
What were you talking about?
You can leave now
Yes, Your Majesty
I was praising the kitchen lady who served the envoy
because the issue with the Crown Prince is settled now
Yes, I heard about it, too But I heard something strange
Something strange?
I was thinking it would be too early to tell her today anyway
Yes
Madam, Physician Jung Yoon-Su is here
I invited him. Let him in
Is the disease coming under control?
It doesn't seem too scary People seem to be recovering
after symptoms of cold, nausea, and then jaundice
Really?
Then when can the court ladies come back to the palace?
I think in about ten days
You're being reported of the condition of Lady Jung by the nurses, right?
Yes, Madam
How come you're with infected people when your kidneys are this bad?
Why? Is my condition that bad?
Yes. This disease has something to do with the liver since people show
symptoms of jaundice You're in bad condition
Is that why her condition is worse now?
She has gotten much worse now We're all recovering now
but she can't even walk and her face is turning darker
and she sweats a lot
Even so, she doesn't have the disease so I don't see any reason...
why her condition would get worse all of a sudden
Should I prepare medicine for her?
She has already been receiving medicine from the Royal Doctor
Is that so?
Could he have prescribed it properly while taking care of all the others?
Lady Jung, why don't you use the good medicine...
that Lady Han bought with her own money?
But even so, how can royal medicine be worse than civilian medicine?
Is royal medicine better?
Yes, they use the best medicine in the palace, actually
Madam, a Mr. Gang Duk-Gu wants to see you for a moment
OK
What brings you here?
I... I was
I asked him to find out how Lady Jung is doing
Really? So did you find out?
Yes
How is she doing?
She seemed to be doing worse than when she was here
Worse? How much worse?
She has turned very skinny and she...
has a hard time moving around
What?
The doctor asked why she's with the infected patients
when she doesn't have the disease and he also said he couldn't
understand why her condition has gotten worse...
when she doesn't have the disease
You should've told the doctor to prepare medicine for her
A nurse told us that the Royal Doctor was already giving her
the medicine, so we just left
What brings you here?
Is His Majesty looking for me?
No. Her Majesty the Queen is
The Queen is?
Yes. She's looking for one kitchen lady
but they told me she was here at the Guesthouse
A kitchen lady? Which kitchen lady?
She's urgently looking for the lady who served her nursemaid lady
The lady who served the nursemaid...
It's Jang-Geum
Is that so?
Have a seat
Your Majesty, she's Lady Suh who served the nursemaid
What is the occasion?
I miss my nursemaid and I thought I would just see...
the lady who served her
Sure, Your Majesty
So, did my nursemaid leave in peace?
Yes, Your Majesty. She said she was grateful and comfortable
living with such a benevolent queen
Was the mortuary tablet put in a shrine at Un-Ahm Temple?
Yes, the head priest there has done it with all his heart
Visit there sometime, Your Majesty
I was much more closer to her than my mother
I'm still worried because I let someone else do the things...
that I should've done for her
Your Majesty, she probably served her without any mistakes and
the nursemaid probably left in peace
I'm seeing her in a different light because...
of what happened at the Guesthouse
What happened at the Guesthouse?
She prepared a table full of fish and vegetables for the envoy
insisting she couldn't prepare greasy dishes for the diabetic envoy
so the Guesthouse was in chaos, but she prepared
the food wholeheartedly and convinced the envoy
Eventually the envoy was struck with admiration
Is that so?
She's that kind of person, so she probably did her best
with the nursemaid as well
Madam, don't get up
You'll have to go somewhere
What do you mean? They said we shouldn't go outside yet
since they aren't sure whether the disease has been contained
And the soldiers are standing guard outside, too
But where do you want me to go?
Go to a civilian doctor and find out what kind of medicine I'm taking
It's something good for your...
Why, Madam? Is something wrong?
I'm trying to confirm what I'm thinking, so go find out
Sure. This is related to your health, so how could I ignore it?
I'll come back without getting caught
Thanks
Madam, can I look around the marketplace on the way back?
While you were gone, the doctors reported that...
the disease has been contained now
I think they'll be back in a few days But I've just received a report
that Lady Jung can't even move because her chronic illness
has gotten worse
Really?
Then wouldn't it be difficult to accept Lady Jung back to the palace?
If she's that sick, it means she'll have to leave the palace
So I'll talk to the King's Mother and try to get closure on
this Highest Kitchen Lady issue Is that OK with you?
Why does that need to be hurried? The substitute...
is carrying out the work already
We're talking about the kitchen of all places
You idiot!
What's wrong?
Madam, this medicine...
the doctor said this is made up of ingredients that aren't good
for your illness! He said it only makes your kidneys worse!
What's going on here? Just how did you diagnose her
that the pharmacist prescribed such medicine?
I'm sorry, I was trying to do my best
So you were trying your best to worsen my illness?
Oh, no! I'm speaking the truth! Why would I do such a thing?
It's better to hurry to place Lady Choi in that position
Of course. If the superiors make a decision, what can Lady Jung do
outside the palace? And besides, illnesses make people groggy
Madam, a nurse has come to deliver a letter
A letter? Let her in
I'm a nurse from the recuperation center for the court ladies
Lady Jung has sent this letter to you
I'm sorry for having you come like this
It's all right
Madam, in 2 days, all the court ladies here will be going back to the palace
I'll have to go back, too
How are you going to prepare the King's food in your condition?
It's disrespectful to go back in your condition
I know it's disrespectful, but I must see the competition
Please let me go back
You know very well that a court lady can't die in the palace
and if she has a serious illness she must leave the palace immediately
Then would you like to leave the palace instead?
What?
Decide right now Are you going to let me go back...
or should I send the medicine you've been sending me
to the Head Eunuch?
I found out that my medicine was specially ordered by you
What are you talking about?
What do you mean, I made a special order?
Plus, the medicine is very detrimental to my health
Even the civilian doctor said he couldn't understand it
That's impossible
Madam, should I send the Kitchen Diary you should've given me to him as well?
He knows my handwriting very well So he'll recognize that the writing
of the last ten years is not mine
That's the book of the court ladies How could you give that to him...?
It's clear that once these things are revealed
your standing as a lady of authority and moral will go down
And I trust that the Head Eunuch will make sure of that
Would you let me go back?
Madam, the King's Mother has been looking for you
What for?
I'm not sure Lady Choi was called in, too
I heard that you prepared dishes of the...
Chinese Imperial House to the diabetic envoy
Sit down
Did you know about this, too?
I'm not sure what you mean
You dare to do that even though the envoy has an illness?
And you credited yourself without mentioning a single word about it
If the Queen hadn't told me about it, I wouldn't have ever known
So how's Lady Jung's condition?
It's not clear yet
Oh! You should've told me about it already
Now, there's no choice There's no choice
It's a long trip. Have a safe trip
I feel much better now I owe it all to you
We're grateful for your generosity
I'm not sure if I'll be back, but if you happen to come to China
then make sure to look for me I'd like to show you...
the dishes of China
We're so grateful
It has been a very pleasant stay Please give my thanks to...
His Majesty once again
Yes, sir
So would you be coming back to the kitchen as well?
I'm not sure
What do you mean? Weren't you dispatched for a while
because it was such an important visit?
Madam! Madam! Madam!
What are you doing here?
The Highest Lady substitute has asked you
to come to her after the envoy leaves
Madam! Madam!
Madam! Are you OK? Madam...
Did a dead person come back alive? Why are you so silent?
Madam, I heard you couldn't even move
We were very worried
I gathered up my strength because there are things I still need to do
Madam
She hasn't fully recovered yet She has to go inside now
I'm sorry
Sir
Madam!
Have you been doing well?
Of course, Madam
I heard that you've been working hard for me
You didn't have to come out and greet me like this
It's not that. Soon...
Her Majesty the King's Mother is entering!
So you're back
Yes, Your Majesty
That's good
It's because of your gracious consideration
There's a reason why I asked all the kitchen ladies...
to gather like this
I didn't think the competition was a good idea
for choosing the Highest Lady
I was even more convinced after the first round
of the competition
But I realized I've been wrong through the Queen
You risked much to prepare good food for the diabetic envoy, huh?
Yes, Your Majesty. Actually, it was Jang-Geum, my apprentice
Yes, I heard about that, too
I didn't think much of it when the Queen was telling me about it
But I started to think differently after hearing the Queen's words
She asked how good cooking could be the only character of
the Highest Lady and that at times she also needs to have
such convictions and breadth of thinking to change the King's will
And that's how the King's health can be maintained
I didn't have that much foresight
So although I didn't order this as an assignment
since Lady Han moved the envoy with her vegetable dishes and
Lady Choi with her feast dishes, I'm going to let this be
the second round of the competition
And Lady Han has won the second round
And after one last round, we'll choose the Highest Court Lady
You probably know about this book It's a book that has been
passed down only by the Highest Kitchen Ladies
Although I should've kept it, I couldn't
I'm showing this to you to make the competition fair
What do you mean?
You read everything in this book, didn't you, Lady Choi?
Keum-Young, did you read it, too?
Therefore, it's only fair for Lady Han to read it as well
Would you read it?
I won't read it
As you said it's for the Highest Lady, I will read it only if I become one
If that's what you wish, then that's fine
Become the Highest Kitchen Lady of the Royal Palace, Jang-Geum
and write down my grievances in the secret document that's passed down
I hid my grievances in your Chinese character book
But it is your choice to make 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
But even so, how could we just bring these like this?
You told me he said OK That's enough, isn't it?
What are you going to do just by waiting? Huh?
But... OK
What is it?
We'll be supplying the drinks from today
I haven't heard anything about it
Sir Min Jung-Ho clearly told us to provide the drinks
So please let him know
Please wait
Have some drinks
Did you meet the field manager at Sung-Kyun College?
Yes, but it was even more strange
I told him about someone smuggling the ginseng
but he didn't seem to care It was same with the police
Then could it be related to someone in a higher position
than Choi Pan-Sul?
There's a rumor that the dancer bar run by Yoon Mak-Ke
is owned by Choi Pan-Sul They say he meets court officials there
Sir, a couple from a brewery wants to see you insisting that
you have ordered for the drinks
I'm sorry, we brought our drinks late, didn't we?
This won't ever happen again
And would you like the delivery once a week or in five days?
Once a week is fine
Sure! Thank you
If possible, please make sure to pay me the money directly upon delivery
Put the drinks inside Yes, sir
Let me see you for a moment
Yes, sir
Is the dancer bar you told me about...
run by Yoon Mak-Ke?
If you're talking about dancer bars
are you talking about Hyang-Sun?
Yes
She's one of the girls who works for me And she says she keeps all men
in the city around her finger, but she obeys me at all times
Please lead me there
Huh?
Sir, over here
Come here
So is it you?
It's not your delivery date, so what are you doing here?
You want free drinks again?
Be quiet
I have come with an official to have drinks with Hyang-Sun
Hyang-Sun? Are you out of your mind? Even the wealthy ones don't want her
You want me to call her or you want to play with her?
Bring her quickly
Follow me
Sir, this way please
Sir, you're still a scholar-official and yet you have to drink with me
and with Hyang-Keum, not Hyang-Sun
I'm sorry for this. I'll just leave
It's alright I'm only a lower official
Yes. This dancer bar serves so many important people
the only room available was this
I saw Choi Pan-Sul coming in Does he come here often?
Of course, he does
Who does he meet most frequently?
Why do you ask?
Why? Why would a lower official come here, except to make connections
and maybe get promoted to a higher position
I didn't know you had such great aspiration
Tell him quickly!
Even though many come here for such reasons
they only lose money, get in trouble and go back
So you can help me Tell me who's meeting whom
...and what they talk about
What's in it for me?
What do you want?
Don't worry. I'll train her right...
and when you come back next time she'll surely tell you everything
OK. Please do that for me
In order to do that, I'd need some money
How much?
Would 1,000 nyang do?
Thou... thousand?!
Go ahead
Sir, you're only joking about a thousand, right?
Hey, did you hear about it?
What? What is it?
It finally happened
What?
The King's Mother has summoned Lady Jung, Lady Han, Lady Choi
and all the other head ladies
What? Why all of a sudden?
It's probably to announce big news
I'll give you the last assignment that will determine the Highest Lady
There is...
no last assignment
There's no assignment Just decide on your dishes and
make them for the King and myself with the best of your ability
Taste and health... prepare something that will
express your heart fully
It will be held on my birthday
I know the King has told you to prepare a big feast for me
but how could I possibly allow such a thing as his mother
when he and his son had plain birthday feasts due to famine?
I'll only invite a small number of royal relatives
so Lady Jung can take care of that and the tables will be prepared by you two
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Majesty
What? Did you find out?
Yes, Madam. The new assignment is...
It's to prepare the best dishes of their choice for the King
The best dishes of their choice? What could those be?
They'll have to make the decision themselves
The best dish obviously means the best-tasting dish
She said it's the best dish that has taste, health and devotion
That means the same thing
Although my wife tried to put in good words for
Lady Choi to the King's Mother, I heard she didn't let her speak
I think she made a big mistake at the Guesthouse
That's what I think, too
There's no other way now
You have to find your way
to win with your skills
Winning is the only way
Yes, Madam. Winning is the only way and we will win
Of course
Anyway, we've come this far Although we didn't think
we could come this far, we have
I only thought of having a fair competition as my duty
I have no regrets. Now it depends on you and Lady Choi
Whatever the outcome, I will...
consider it as the will of the heavens
Try not to be overzealous
Yes, Madam
Jang-Geum
Madam, your hand is shaking
You look so cute when you shake like that
You mean thing...
Madam
I trust you not in winning or losing, but that you will
keep the way to the end
Although your hand may shake, I trust that your heart isn't shaking
You're that kind of person
I was born from a worker lady in the dancer bar
But one day when I was about to be disgraced by a scholar-official
a girl my age appeared
I didn't know how she did it, but she harshly scolded the grown-up
That scholar-official left without a word
and I followed her
Even though she was of the scholar-official class
she was eating worse than a mere laborer like me
Then and now my only skill has been cooking so I cooked for her
She told me, "You cook very well!" I think that was the first praise...
I heard in my entire life
And then one day, with her leading me, I met a court lady who picked out
new court ladies and came to the palace together to cook and read
If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here
I really want to keep the promise I made to her
Myeong
My friend and I made persimmon vinegar and buried it
We decided to give it to one of us who would become the Highest Lady
in many decades from now as a sign of faith
We decided to give this to whoever becomes the Highest Lady
but I'll have to use it It's OK, right, Myeong?
You permit this, don't you?
Under the tree in the back yard Under the tree in the back yard?
My mother's persimmon vinegar!
Baek-Young! Baek-Young!
Prepare turtle stew as your best dish for the King
Myeong, Myeong
Turtle stew...
Whenever I see the caterpillar mushroom in the turtle stew
I'm reminded of how much it's like you
They say it becomes an insect during the winter
and a mushroom during the summer
What about it?
I don't know. It's just sad Even though its life is sad
it's very beneficial to the person who eats it. It's like you