(Episode 40)

Lady Suh

Lady Suh!

Lady Suh...

What's going on?

You must get out. Lady Suh, get up

You must get out

I can't go out

What?

I'm in the same situation
as people who are left here

What do you mean, same situation?

Being abandoned by people...

I've been abandoned by
my friends at the Royal Pharmacy

You're saying they intentionally
cornered you to the place of death?

I didn't do anyone harm

I simply walked my path
and I came to this point

I endured again and again...

I persevered again and again...

Now I can't endure nor can I persevere

I can't endure the fact
that I've been...

abandoned by people...
by my co-workers...

It feels like I have disappeared
like I'm a nobody

What did I do?

Just what did I do wrong?

You didn't do anything wrong

It's just another obstacle for you

It's the obstacle of people

As you accomplish more and more,
and as your medical skills...

get better with time the obstacles
may grow bigger. You must overcome it

No matter what great
achievements you accomplish

if you can't overcome it
you will crumble down

I have no confidence

No, I have lost confidence

You don't need confidence

You will do it with
your heart, Lady Suh

Brush off the dirt and stand up again

I don't like the weak Lady Suh

You must go out

What happened?
Not sure... Let's keep moving

Get away

They left us here and escaped,
but they missed one

They abandoned the village...

leaving the healthy like us here!

He's with the physician
trying to get rid of us all

No, that's not it. It was the order
of the King, so unavoidably...

Order of the King? Unavoidably?
Look around you!

There are healthy people
who remained here...

to take care of the patients, too!

What is the King's order?
To kill us all?!

What good is such an order?!

That's enough, let's kill this jerk!

Gentlemen! Gentlemen!

Please listen to me for a minute!

If your words are right,
do others have to die because of it?

Just because it's painful for you
do others have to feel the same pain?

What's she saying?

You're saying only we have to die?!

Gentlemen! You won't die!

You will not die! Not at all!

There are more patients
than physicians...

so how are we to survive?!

I'm a physician lady!
A physician lady!

A physician lady from the palace!

I'll heal you! I'm going to do that!

We came here to save you!

We will heal you! Trust us!

Gentlemen, we will not abandon you!

We will never abandon the patients!

So please go back to the infirmary!

We will not abandon you!

Trust us! Trust us!

I have some medicine that
I brought from the neighboring town

That's right, so please move
the children and old patients...

to the infirmary first. Hurry!

Everyone, please listen to us! Hurry!

Let's move to the infirmary!

Let's hurry to infirmary! Hurry!

I should've thought deeper...

Though it is said to
have been an unavoidable order...

these people are also
people of this nation

We should've been more careful to...

divide the sick
and the healthy ones...

and have at least
a minimal treatment plan

I will help, too

But you came as
an adjutant relief administrator

If you stay here...

It is my job to relieve the sufferers

Then... please find out if we have
any medicine available in the town

especially in the
storage of big houses

Sure!

Here...

But these can't be used
to treat the patients here

That's what I was afraid of...

How much medicine did you bring?

It's enough to treat
a few critical patients

Then...

how come you aren't
giving me any medicine?

Give me some medicine, too

Give me some first... Give me...

What are you doing?!

Only four pills?

Give it back to me!
They're for critical patients

This is everything you have?

Don't you have any more?!

That's all I have

Please give them back... please!

This jerk deceived us!
We can't trust him!

That's not true!
He wouldn't do such a thing!

Scholar-officials are all the same!

They deceive people like dogs and pigs

Give us the medicine!

We can't trust him!
We don't have any medicine

He lied to us! He lied to us about
giving us the medicine!

Then... are you just going to die...

fighting over the few pills we have?!

You must trust me and this official
Then you can live

We can't trust this!

We can't trust him!
He lied to us about the medicine!

We can't trust him!
Give us the medicine!

Give us the medicine!

Stop it, everyone!

I can't give you any medicine
if you act this way!

There are only a few pills available

And we don't have anything to eat

If we want to live, then we must
send him out and get the medicine

Then we can live!

Then we can have hope!

Think carefully. Who can easily...

go out of here and
get medicine for us?

Who is that?

It's this official here,
do you understand?

What are you going to do?

Are you just going to fight like this
and see the end for yourself?

Or will you send the official out
and be hopeful?

Sure, he has one day... one day!

If he doesn't bring any medicine...

by tomorrow,
this physician lady will die

Go now!

I'll be right back

Once you go over the hill
there's a town called Yong-Je

It's a big pharmacy
so you can't miss it

Can all the medicine we need
be there in a time like this?

I was there not too long ago,
so I know

They said medicine would arrive soon

OK, then...

Sir...

Is there anything else you need?

No... go ahead

OK, bye

I'm sorry. You'll wake up soon

Goodbye. The fact that you came back
to find me is enough for me

That joy is enough for me

Is he really coming back?

Of course

Anyhow, if he doesn't come back...

you're finished, so just remember that

Don't worry about that

Get some moss with other folks

Moss? Why would you need that?

It's good for a fever
And go to each of the houses...

and boil all the kitchenware
to disinfect them

Everyone should live

OK

Physician lady,
please take a look at me...

I think I'm going to die

Will he really come back
with the medicine?

Hmm...

He's not coming back, is he?

He will come...

Though I agreed to send him...

as I thought they might kill him...

will he really come back?

Yes, he will

Who in the world is going to...

come back to a plagued town?

And he's a scholar-official...
It's understandable

Will we die like this now?

Will we die...?

Excuse me! Excuse me!

When did it stop operating?

What?

When did the pharmacy stop operating?

It's been a long time
due to the plague

Once you go over the hill
there's a town called Yong-Je

It's a big pharmacy
so you can't miss it

Can all the medicine we need
be there in a time like this?

I was there not too long ago,
so I know

They said medicine would arrive soon

Sure, he has one day... one day!

If he doesn't bring any medicine...

by tomorrow,
this physician lady will die

You don't know when
you were the relief administrator?

What are you talking about?

I'm sorry, but adjutant Min Jung-Ho's
whereabouts aren't known...

ever since he disappeared

We don't know his whereabouts?

While going to those three locations
we received the order to come back...

but I didn't find Min Jung-Ho

Then are you saying he ran away
because he became afraid of plague?

He wouldn't do such a thing

Then how come he isn't back yet?!

How can an official receiving
the King's order disappear...

forsaking a responsibility like this?

There must be a reason

And he'll surely be back

Anyway, he left without permission

There must be a good reason for it

Just what is that good reason...

which you can't explain at all?!

Jang-Geum didn't come back?

She received the Queen's favor...

and instead of being under
the physicians' control...

she got scared of
the plague and ran away

There were girls who ran away
out of fear before...

She wouldn't do that

Then how could she just disappear
when all the others...

were treating the patients?

Could she have met a pack of tigers?

Tigers don't move in packs

What are you talking about?

Jang-Geum was the only one
who didn't show up

Even though you told her
the time and the place?

I even met her on the way

Yes, we saw her for sure

How could this be...
She probably got into big trouble

Even so, do you know...

how many days it's been?

I know. Anyway, she caused trouble
here in the palace...

and she causes trouble
outside the palace as well

Something isn't right for sure

Jang-Geum was the girl who wanted to
come into the Royal Pharmacy the most

I know that

So how could she run away?
That doesn't make sense

I'm sure there are other reasons

If that's true
then she'll be back soon

Don't worry about her
Just be diligent in your work

Are you sure? Yes

Then what is it that you want?

Tell me

You want to be
the head physician lady?

No. I can become that on my own

Give me the ownership of
Sir Choi's medicinal herb fields

I think getting rid of Jang-Geum is...

that valuable to you and the Head Lady

You're indeed someone
who would do something big

But if you did your job well...

there will surely be no mistake at all

The relief administrator
gave the officials...

an order for tougher measures
so the plague won't spread

This wench had the disease
but she's been deceiving us all along!

When did it start? When?!

I knew something was wrong...
she had already caught the plague!

Oh no, that's not it...

How can it not be that?!
It's been a day already!

How about that official who left
to get the medicine?

Official?! Yeah, right!
It's an obvious trap!

That jerk deceived us!

Then we are all dead!

We're dead!

Lock her in the storage!

Yes, lock her in the storage
until he comes back!

Come here. Come here

That's not it...

Oh my gosh! My Dal-Suk!

His breathing is irregular!
My Dal-Suk!

I'll kill her myself!

Fire! Fire!

That jerk, he must've
ordered to start a fire...

in the village after he went out

What a wicked person!

We must move the patients!

Or else, they'll all die
Let's move them!

I must kill her first!

Come! Come! Help! Please help me!

Just leave her! Just leave her!

Help me! Help me!

Help me! Help me!

Help me! Help me!

Help me!

Mother, stop speaking and eat these...

You're tired because
you didn't eat anything

It's delicious

You can't chew them?
Then I'll chew it for you

You did it for me when I was sick

Mother, eat...
so you can regain strength

Madam, you must not sleep now

Your eyes are open, right?

Jang-Geum...

Don't call me that way. Don't call me
like my mother when she was dying

Madam... Madam...

I'll be at the palace first

I'll say sorry once you come back

Jang-Geum...

Madam, don't fall asleep

We're almost there

Don't tease me...
Why are you doing this to me?

Why is everyone doing this to me?

What did I do wrong? What did I do?

What should I do now? What now?

I'm not going to start over again

I want to rest now

Lady Suh! Lady Suh!

Lady Suh! Lady Suh...

Lady Suh! Lady Suh!

Lady Suh, wake up! Lady Suh!

Lady Suh, you can't go like this

You can't leave like this!

Lady Suh, wake up!

Are you awake, Lady Suh?

Lady Suh, it's me. Are you waking up?

Lady Suh! Lady Suh!

I was afraid...
that you might not come back

How could I not come back...

when I found your heart valuing me?

I realized that
you were trying to save me

So how could I not come back?

Thank you for coming back

Thank you for coming back... sir...

Sir...

Father!

How can you leave like this...

without having one good meal...

I'm sorry, please forgive me, father

Honey, we can't stay like this

Since children aren't suffering heavy
symptoms, please send them out

We should save them at least...

If they remain alive,
they'll find a way to live somehow

I don't want to leave...
I'm staying here!

No! You'll all die if you stay here!

No...

Honey, let's not stay here any longer

Let's leave. I don't think
we should stay here

The official didn't come back...
and the physician lady...

A little longer...
Let's wait a little longer

Someone's coming!

It's the official and
the physician lady!

What happened?

Everyone, didn't I tell you
that he'd be back?

I came back with medicine

A physician will be here, too
Take courage

A physician? Who would come here?

Me

Physician lady!
How did you get in here?

That's not difficult

I told them I have the disease
and they let me in

But...

What does that matter for a physician?

Did I teach you that way?

We have no time. Let's find healthy
people and set up the infirmary

If you aren't sick,
take a patient with you...

and go out of here one at a time

Please take a look at my child first

You must be in line, so wait outside

He's an infant

Everyone here is sick

I breast-fed him while I was sick

You breast-fed him with the plague?

I thought there was no hope...

and felt that it'd be better
for him to feel satisfied

When did you start feeding him?

Actually, there was nothing to eat...

so it was more than 5 days ago

Will she be OK?
I'm not sure yet...

There are many more
serious patients than me

But something's strange...

What is it?

I've seen many epidemics in Jeju...

but this one doesn't
seem to be contagious

Not contagious?

With that infant... if he had been
breast-fed he should've caught it...

but there were
no symptoms of the disease

Even so, if it isn't contagious
how can so many people get sick...

at the same time like that?

It's the same with Lady Suh

I know...

I did notice something as well...

What is it?

Normally, when there is an epidemic,
the whole family dies

But that wasn't the case here

And although infected people were
scattered throughout the town...

there wasn't any case where
all family members were infected

And those who were taking care
of them were fine as well

I'm not sure what's happening here...

Sir, ask them when it started...

and whether or not
all family members got sick

I'll go check out the town
But you're sick...

Patients and I will live
once we find the source

Tell me the details!
What happened there?

How come there's no news ofJang-Geum?

I don't know since
I've only been in the palace

All I know is that she didn't
show up at the appointed time

And people at the pharmacy
think she left her post

No way! She didn't toil her way
back to the palace to run away

That's not possible
How could this be?

It's been 15 days already

There's nothing
we can do if she's dead...

but if not, we can't forgive her
for not being back by now

That's right

It's strange. The Queen favors her,
so she should be...

the first to come back

Why isn't she coming?

I'll ask the head physician
for the decision on her

Head physician lady
Please wait for her...

for a few more days. She'll be back

Don't worry. It's all over now

Even if she comes back,
she can't stay in the palace

It's that girl

I'm Yeul-Yee OK

I'll give you what you want
as soon as Jang-Geum's position...

is officially nullified

What are you going to do
about Jang-Geum?

I came here to inquire about it

Didn't we wait long enough?

She clearly doesn't want to come back
It's clearly desertion of duty

We'll give you
the decision soon so wait

She probably has a good reason

How could she be justified
in not sending us...

a letter for over 15 days?!

Instead of worrying about this...

I think you'll have to
go to Gae-Sung and Eum-Sung

What is it?

I think there was a report
of plague in those places as well

What? But aren't those places
far away from the plague's origin?

Actually, there must've been
some other places unreported to us

An epidemic hasn't spread
like this before...

That's why I'm asking you
to go there and check

Though I feel that
it's an exaggerated report...

the King is very worried...

You should be resting
Why are you outside?

What's happening here?

It's a vegetable field,
but we burned it down

The vegetables started to turn bad...

and it spread to other fields

So we burned it all
to stop the spreading

So did it disappear afterwards?

No... It wasn't that way...

only on my field, but on other's too

It was the same even in mountains

What?

I guess even the plants are plagued...

Anyway, this year's harvest is ruined

Then did you throw them away?

Oh no, we won't have anything to eat
if we throw all of them away

Then what...?

We sold the ones that looked OK
and we ate the rest

You ate the bad ones?

I'm not sure exactly

but we have to eat something

How can we be picky
when we don't have much?

The baby and his mother were OK

And even a couple
sharing a bed wasn't infected

Then...

I think it's the disease of plants

Disease of plants?

There was a widespread disease
of plants around here

But people can't catch
a disease of plants

Yes, because people ate the plants

Though the vegetables don't normally
have poison, when there's a disease...

it can create poison

So eating that
would cause food poisoning

Were radishes, cabbage, apples...

or shepherd's purse infected too?

Yes. They all turned tender

Then it's just like
eating poisonous herbs

If it's caused by plants...

Plants can have a disease, too...

and it could spread widely

If people eat it, they'll get sick...

but it is not contagious
between people

All the people got sick
at the same time...

that's why it looks so widespread

That's right. It's clearly caused
by the plants then

It's not a plague, but food poisoning

People didn't know this
and they kept on...

eating radish and vegetables and
that's why their illness increased

And in this region,
because of the last flood...

they were surviving on
vegetables from last winter

And I, too, ate radish
since coming here

OK, then I'll change my treatment...

I'll feed them ginger water...

and herbal root water

Sir, you can tell the people...

Yes... since ginger neutralizes poison
in the stomach, that'll be good

Give it to me. I'll do it

Oh no, you can just tell
the people the news

Oh no, this and that, I'll do it all

Please go in and rest

I'll just... I'll do it

Please drink it...

you didn't drink at all yet

We'll try using this first

Everyone has gotten better now

How about you, Lady Suh?

I'm doing better, too

Everyone is doing better

Their diarrhea stopped and...

fevers are coming down

I think it was really food poisoning

Yes, I think so

We almost got the healthy ones sick

I think I have to
find out more about it...

whether it's happening only locally...

or if it has spread to other regions

Yes, we must also tell the palace...

and let the people know
as soon as possible

OK. I'll take care of things here
so go and find out

It's here, too

Excuse me

Is the plague spreading here, too?

Yes. How did you know?

Several families are infected,
so I'm still wondering...

whether I should flee or not

But they say there's no place to flee

It's spreading everywhere!
It's the end of the world

Sir!

We'll need to hurry

The vegetables here go to the palace

This is a contract...

promising you
the medicine trade of my brother

It'll be given to you
just as we promised

Thank you

Madam!

What is it?

Jang-Geum is back!

What?!

Showing up now? After all this time?

You too. How could
a physician lady with a mission...?

You've been discharged already!

Jang-Geum, you're fired, too

Go back to Jeju now!

I'll receive my due punishment gladly

but there's a more
important matter at hand

We found the cause of the plague

That's right

The cause of the plague? What is that?

This isn't a plague

Not a plague?

You found the cause of the plague,
but it isn't a plague?

Yes... it's food poisoning

Symptoms are similar,
fever, vomiting, diarrhea

and that's why we misunderstood it

It's caused by a vegetable disease

People are sick due to
a vegetable disease?

All those people? Yes

Nonsense!

It's caused by the vegetables

That's why those symptoms only
showed up on people who ate a lot...

It's not contagious,
and it appeared irregularly

The starving people
ate the poisoned vegetables...

and that's why this happened

We need to hurry... we saw the fields
infected around the palace...

and even vegetable suppliers
for the palace

We must spread the news quickly
and stop the deaths!

And we must carefully examine
everything that came into the palace

Sir!

This is a problem, isn't it?

The King has ordered to find
the cause, so this was it!

Can that be possible?

I'm not sure...

What? Plant illness?

Yes. There's a problem
with the vegetables...

and those who ate them
got food poison...

Nonsense! No such thing ever happened

I've been in the kitchen for decades

No one has ever gotten sick
over vegetables

But all those people
are sick from eating them?

And even the ones that came into
the palace are infected?

And I heard she appeared with Sir Min

I wonder what they've been
doing together all this time...

I'll have to step in myself

So did you take a look?

Yes. I didn't find
a clear cause yet...

but it doesn't look like an epidemic

How about you?

The symptoms are similar
to an epidemic...

but it isn't contagious

Then isn't Jang-Geum right?

Jang-Geum is back?

Yes. She said something strange

Something strange?

She said it's the disease of plants

She said whoever eats the plant
has food poisoning

Food poisoning?
That's a possibility...

What are you talking about? No one
has ever gotten sick over vegetables

Harmless vegetables can start
producing poison once it has a disease

Madam...

Did you check the Food Services?

Yes

How are they?

None of them were going to the kitchen
or the King's Mother's palace...

but some were going to
the court ladies or to the storage

She said it's food
poisoning symptoms...

and it's hard to find the cause

Sir Shin and I agree
after visiting other places

It's clearly not an epidemic

If we assume an epidemic to be
food poisoning, we could...

endanger more people's lives

The safety of the people
and the King depends on this

We can't be reckless

But isn't it spreading widely?

Not gradually from one area
like other epidemics?

I was in the kitchen
before becoming the head lady

I've never seen anyone get sick
over vegetables except poisonous herbs

Only good vegetables are in the palace

It isn't that way with
the common people

The people probably ate
the same things...

so how come only some people are sick?

There could be differences of
the amount of intake...

and those who did take bad vegetables
could've built up resistance...

by drinking a lot of ginger,
garlic, or green tea

But I can't believe that

It seems to me they've
put their own work aside...

and showed up late
without a good excuse...

How about this?

Why doesn't the Head Lady
confirm it herself?

Confirm it?

If you're that sure why don't you try
the diseased vegetable yourself?

Yes, we can check it ourselves then

Yes, we should check...

but is there a need
for Lady Choi to do it...?

No... I will do it

I will do it

Don't shake it too much...

So Lady Choi tried it herself?

Yes

I hope she gets really sick!

Shhh! You should only say
such things under the blanket!

Why? Do you hate Lady Choi?

No, not that...

She's our worst enemy!

Madam, are you feeling OK?

Madam, are you feeling OK?

Help me put on my coat

Madam...

Help me put on my coat now!

Madam!

What?

She's showing the symptoms

You should quickly tell the King

We should spread the news
so people's lives can be spared

I'll tell the King

The physicians should
prescribe medicine...

and tell the medical center
to respond to this

Is it you, Keum-Young?

Why are you...?

I know the cure. I'll treat you