(Episode 53)

I heard that you're in love
with official Min Jung-Ho

Is this true?

Yes... Your Majesty

I'm the King of this country

Do you know what outcome
your answer could bring?

Yes... Your Majesty

You don't wish to become
a royal concubine?

Your Majesty, even though I'm a woman

I've tried to live my life...

to advance in my given duty

Though I started in
the path of medicine...

not by any accident,
there is my anger...

my passion, and the will of
my mother and Lady Han

So I was going to go forward
in medicine regarding it as my life

Please understand...

Come out to the garden
tomorrow morning as usual

Your Majesty,
it's time to go to sleep

Which official is taking
the shift today?

It's probably official Min Jung-Ho

Really?

And?

The King asked if I love you

and I answered him yes

I didn't even think about what would
happen to you in answering yes to him

At the time, if I hadn't answered
it that way... at the time...

You did well

But...

I'm overjoyed

But...

You acknowledged me even
before the King, didn't you?

I prefer it over you trying to
protect me in being considerate

But if something happens to you
because of my foolish answer...

what then?

What should we do now?

It's alright

It's OK

He wants both of you to walk
with him tomorrow

My health has improved significantly
doing what you've told me to do

Long exhalation relaxes
me very well too

I heard about his fate
with you from official Min

It was as interesting as mine

You saved his life?

Yes

But back then you two didn't know
each other, so how did he find out?

Did you tell him, "I'm the person
who saved your life?"

No...

Then?

Actually, I had lost a gift my father
gave me while treating his wounds

Really?

And when I confirmed
that he had it...

A gift from your father? What is it?

It's a triple trinket

A triple trinket?

You must have it with you

Would you show it to me?

Actually...

Why? He didn't return it to you?

No, it's not that...

I gave it back to him

I haven't shot a bow in a long time

Does archery help my illness
of the heart as well?

Yes, of course...

Really? Then I should
shoot some arrows today

No one could compete with
me when I was young

Head Eunuch, prepare for it

Yes, Your Majesty

I heard that official Min
is so good with military arts...

he even held a 7 th class military post

What fun could I have
shooting it by myself?

How about an archery match with me?

Bull's eye!

It doesn't look like it's
been a while for you

Yes, I guess the skill hasn't
diminished that much yet

Since we'll have five rounds
we should place a wager...

OK! If I lose I'll give you this bow

Your Majesty, that bow is
one of a kind in Chosun

If one's going to bet
it should be worth about this...

what are you going to
put up as a wager?

Your Majesty, I have nothing that
compares to that bow

Really? Then put that up...

Excuse me?

I heard you have physician lady
Jang-Geum's triple trinket...

put that up as a wager

Let's start now

Bull's eye!

It's a tie after four rounds

There's one more round to go

I'm in love with
physician lady Jang-Geum

You too?

Are you?

Bull's eye!

Yes

Why do you not obey my words?

Do you find them offensive?

Your Highness, never!

Then why?

Your Highness
actually the King wants...

So what does the King want?

The King highly values
Jang-Geum's skills...

that's why he tried to appoint
her as his personal physician

And he wanted to be treated for his
illness at heart because he trusts her

How frustrating!

Even if that's
all true the only reason...

why a man would want a woman
to be near him is because

he has her in his heart
whether he realizes it or not

You're smart enough to know that

So write the order out immediately!

Do it right now!

Jang-Geum, what's going to happen?

You're becoming a concubine?

Do you want to be one?

Does that matter? Once the Queen
writes up the order, that's it

Then how about practicing medicine?

Jang-Geum! Lady Suk-Won
wants to see you

Jang-Geum, things will turn out fine
I told the King about you and Sir Min

That's right, the King wasn't
angry when he heard it too

We didn't know it at all
We heard it was when...

you were a kitchen lady
so when was it exactly?

When was it? Was it really
when you were a kitchen lady?

Yes...

Oh, my! So it is from when she
was a kitchen lady!

How was it? Did you like him
when you first saw him?

How did you feel?

Oh... how sweet...

How about the hands...?

Did you hold hands?

Yes...

She did! How were they?

How were his hands?

They were warm

Warm? How warm?

It was very warm... very warm

I know you like him a lot
but I think you're...

overdoing it before us
We haven't even seen men

Jang-Geum... what's wrong?

What should I do?

What should I do now?

Your Majesty, the Queen is here

Let her in

What brings you here
at this late hour?

Your Majesty, your mother
still misunderstands you...

and she keeps on ordering
me to write up the order

But I started to understand you after
Prince Kyung-Won's life was spared

She lacks nothing in her practice
of medicine, and seeing...

how she progresses forward
and her character

I now see that she lacks nothing
to be your personal physician

So now I understand why you'd want her
to treat your illness of heart...

or your physical illness
with her at the side...

even though your officials oppose it

So if you make it clear you don't
want her to be your concubine...

then I'll make sure to stop it
no matter what the Queen Mother says

What should I do?

Then, Your Majesty
should I write up the order?

I'll write up the order tomorrow

I'm in love with Jang-Geum. You too?

Are you?

Yes

Your Majesty, these are apples
Put them beside you when you sleep

Did Jang-Geum tell you to do this?

Yes, Your Majesty

It smells good

It smells good and
helps me to be at ease...

so I should have it at my side always

Yes, Your Majesty
She said it's good...

to have them at your side at all times
and it's also good to eat it

That's right, isn't it?
Probably so...

Your Majesty, official Min
would like to present himself

What? Official Min?

What should we do?

Let him come in

Jang-Geum! Sir Min is meeting
the King one on one!

What?!

I ran here because you were
acting weird this afternoon

But what could it be about?

Your Majesty...

I'm sorry to say this, but I had once
run away with physician lady Jang-Geum

What?!

If we hadn't done it
if we hadn't done it...

then we could've never spent even
a day together so that's why we did it

But we came back on the same day

We came back even though every fiber
of my body wanted to run away with her

It was because I love Jang-Geum

As a woman of course, her talents
and the determination and convictions

she has shown in the process of
perfecting her skills through...

much pain, joy, sadness
and even mistakes

there was nothing that
didn't look lovely to me

Your Majesty, everything
about her is precious to me

Though I cannot
take her for myself...

This servant cannot block the path
that physician lady Jang-Geum must go

even if it means there are greater
hardships and sadness before her

Stories of physician lady Jang-Geum's
life are painted in her talents

which make up who she is

That's why lady Jang-Geum should've
been your personal physician...

and it is my path as a scholar
to help her achieve it...

and that's also the way I choose
to love lady Jang-Geum

Your Majesty, your servant Min Jung-Ho
asks you risking his life

Please, please allow physician lady
Jang-Geum to go on her path

Please appoint her as
your personal physician

Please make her stand high
in the history of Chosun

She's that much of a character
and that much of a woman

And help me to carry away all the
disloyalty that I have caused you...

and all the confusion
created in the court

I'd gladly receive it if you command
this disloyal one's head to be cut off

This servant knows it well...

that a servant cannot separate
the ruler and a woman

Your Majesty
put this disloyal servant to death!

What did you tell the King?

Please tell me

What did you tell the King?

Did you tell him that you'll be at
my side for 10... 20... 100 years?

You didn't forget, did you?

You surely didn't forget, right?

Your Majesty, I was wrong

Please put an end to my life

Jang-Geum and Sir Min have
no relationship whatsoever

I was completely wrong!

Please spare Jang-Geum's life!

Suk-Won, do you love me?

Excuse me?

What is love?

Excuse me?

Love... the way to love... huh?

I heard that you're in love
with official Min Jung-Ho

Is this true?

Yes, Your Majesty

I love physician lady Jang-Geum
You too?

Yes...

The stories of physician lady
Jang-Geum's

life are painted in her talents
which make up who she is

That's why she should
be your personal physician...

no matter how great the obstacle

and it is my path
as a scholar-official...

to help her achieve it...

and that's also the way I choose
to love lady Jang-Geum

Please allow physician lady
Jang-Geum to go on her path

Please appoint her as
your personal physician

Please make her stand high
in the history of Chosun

Did your call for me, Your Highness?

Bring this order to
physician lady Jang-Geum...

and tell the feast services
to prepare a congratulatory ceremony

Your Majesty, I have
the King's command

The King's command?

Come in

What is it?

The King has ordered
to stop the concubinary order

for physician lady Jang-Geum

What?! Take it back?

Yes, Your Majesty

I became the ruler after
casting aside my first wife...

and driving her father to death

I learned then
that love and that sort...

of thing cannot take part
in the position of a ruler

The deposed Queen Shin put her skirt
on one of the rocks of In Waung Mt...

for me to see
but I couldn't even see it freely

Afraid that my officials would
petition me to give her the poison

That is how I have lost my love

And for many years, there have been
many Queen consorts and concubines...

but they were only representative
heads of different powers

And I started to cherish you

It's a feeling that has come back
after such a long time

But I won't make you my concubine...

because I don't want to put you
in a rift between powers...

because I don't want
to go against your wishes

But you should be at my side

Because you're my only resting place

I'm compelled to do so

And it is also my way of love

It is my command as a ruler
and my request as a man

Do you acknowledge physician lady
Jang-Geum's medical skills...

in treating my mother,
myself, and others?

Yes, Your Majesty
Yes, Your Majesty

And do you acknowledge Jang-Geum's
medical skills in stopping the spread

of smallpox and correcting
the misdiagnosis of food poisoning

as a plague to minimize
the casualties among the people?

Yes, Your Majesty

I give Jang-Geum whose
medical skill exceeds all others...

the special title, "Great Jang-Geum"

equivalent to 3rd class the position
and rank of a Royal Cabinet Member

and I appoint her
as my personal physician

And since it violates
the law to appoint a woman to...

a high government office,
she'll have a title

not listed in the Law Book, but she'll
be given the title "Great Jang-Geum"

equivalent to the position and rank
of 3rd class Royal Cabinet Member

It won't pass down by heredity and...

apply only to physician lady
Jang-Geum as an exception

Though she will be a Royal Physician
as a 3rd class Royal Cabinet Member

she will not oversee
the Royal Pharmacy...

but she'll only be
in charge of my health

Official Min, write up the order
and issue it to Jang-Geum

Yes, Your Majesty

But Your Majesty!
Though it's an exception...

it'll impair the original
purpose of the Law Book...

Listen! Listen, everyone!

I command this with the authority
given to me as the King

so stop arguing about this!

Physician lady Jang-Geum
honor the order of the King

I recognize the achievements
ofJang-Geum

in treating many illnesses
of the Royal family

and of the people so I give her
the title "Great Jang-Geum"

equivalent to the position and rank
of 3rd class Royal Cabinet Member...

and I appoint her as
my personal physician

Jang-Geum...

Your Majesty, we do reluctantly honor
your wish since you command it with...

the authority of the King,
but all of the officials

consider it impairing the
purpose of the Law Book

This has greatly damaged the dignity
and pride of the nobilities of Chosun

You must send official Min into exile
for petitioning you for it and...

upholding your wish
as a nobility himself

Please send him into exile

That's right, please
send him into exile

And to prevent such things from
happening again please command...

that exiled Min Jung-Ho will not be
restored to his office ever again...

during your reign and the reign
of the crown Prince

That is the request of all
officials and not just mine

Your Majesty, this has destroyed
the basis of nobility! Please accept

Please accept our request!

Your Majesty!

Go ahead and do it

Your grace is immeasurable

Then are you now a 3rd class
Royal Cabinet Member?

Yes, that's right! She should've
been that long time ago!

The King has made the courageous
decision with generosity...

and deep understanding

Yes, ma'am!

Jang-Geum! Jang-Geum!

How could you call her that?!

She's in position of 3rd class
Royal Cabinet Member

I'm sorry. It's an urgent news...

An urgent news? What is?

Official Min has...

What happened to him?

He's gone into an exile

What?!

I knew the King couldn't
have Jang-Geum his concubine

with her exceptional medical skills

By the way, then do we have to
call her Madam Great Jang-Geum?

I know, if she's a 3rd class
Royal Cabinet Member

we should call her Madam,
but it's odd

Shouldn't we just call her
Great Jang-Geum?

There she comes

Really? Let's ask her

Have you seen Sir Min by any chance?

No... we haven't

What is it?

She's really a remarkable kid indeed

A kid? How could you call her that way
ignoring her rank of 3rd class?!

That's right
The King has given her...

that rank,
so everyone should be careful...

and warn the physician ladies as well

Yes, sir

I think Jang-Geum...

There you go again!

Where is Sir... Sir Min?

He already... left to be exiled...

What?!

Jang-Geum!

Just what's going on?

He delivered this to us through
a servant, so we came running here

Sir Min values things belonging to you
more than his own life...

so why did he leave this here?

I know... and what's wrong
with his house?

Where was he headed?

I heard he was going to Samsu

Exile? Exile?!

He left for an exile because of
the impeachment by the royal officials

Then official Min...
because ofJang-Geum?!

Then did she become the King's
personal physician?

Yes, that is so

This can't be!

She became his personal physician
but should I be glad or not?

Sir...!

Sir! Sir!

No! No! You can't go!

If you leave like this...

if you leave like this...

Go back

I'm going into exile
because of my crime

How could an official who upholds
the command of King act like this?

Sir!

Did you forget with what meaning
we should uphold his command?

Did you forget how hard it was to
get the command from him?

It's a command you
must never take lightly

It's a position where you must
go forward more earnestly

It's a position where you must
suffer more hardships

Forget about personal feelings

Just forget everything

Can you... can you do that yourself?

Yes! I already did that

I cannot do it!

I can never do that!

At least this...
please take this at least

Since your birth
you've had weak bowels

So when you suffer an illness
or indigestion...

you normally get sick
from the bowels first

Yes, that's right

So though it may be hard for you,
exercise your bowels everyday...

and keep your lower stomach warm

OK, I understand

An illness isn't something
that a physician heals...

but it should be
prevented by the person himself

I feel like I have a teacher
rather than a physician by my side

Your Majesty, I have a small
request to make

What is it?

Since I only take care of your health

I have more time to
spare than other physicians

So please give me the herb garden

Why the herb garden?

I'd like to study more
about smallpox and...

other illnesses which
cannot be treated as of now

There are new herbs there and...

when I was trying to find
your illness last time

I've set up an infirmary there
so it is a perfect place for it

Sure, go ahead and do that

Thank you

No... over that way please

The root of purple dayflower is found
to be very effective with diabetics

And these ground cherries
are good for the liver

so I think it'd be good for epidemics
which show symptoms of jaundice

What you just did was to maintain
health according to Ju-Kwon of China

Everyday, move your tongue
left and right 33 times...

to let out saliva and sip it
three times to drink it

Do I really have to do it?

Your Majesty, the only person who
can fortify your health is yourself

You're making it sound so scary...

Your Majesty...

Oh, boy, I wonder what
Chosun will turn out to be...

How dare a women come in here?!

Shhh! She'll hear you...

Be quiet!

The person looks at the social
standing but the book does not

Your Majesty

besides the ones that people
have been eating to relieve famine

root of Solomon's seal, atractylodes
convolvulus, elm tree bark

and resin of peach tree are
perfect to relieve famine

So please care for the people by
having the government offices...

distribute these seeds to the people

Ministers

Do exactly what physician lady
Great Jang-Geum said to do

Yes, Your Majesty

You said that any illnesses
will start with my bowels...

and as I'm getting old
enteritis is getting worse

Even though it may be hard you must
continue to exercise your stomach

It must be the time to go...

Your Majesty, don't say such words

Illness starts from a weak mind

OK...

Then get down, and start walking
from over there again...

and I'll get the stepping stones ready

You don't know anything
about this, OK?

What is that?

Get down No

Hurry and get down No

How is it?

Prick that spot again with a needle

It doesn't hurt

Then...

Yes, physician lady, I think it's been
anesthetized with acupuncture

Really?

Yes...

If this way of anesthesia works then
people can be treated without pain...

just as you've saved
that rabbit's life

Yes... it'll probably work
on people for sure!

Is Great Jang-Geum here?

What is it?

It's a big trouble... the King is...

Could it be the symptom
I've been worrying about...?

Yes! Hurry...

Is the symptom you've been
worrying about showing finally?

Your Highness, his bowels have
been blocked off finally...

Even though you've tried so many
different ways to prevent it...

it had to show up...

I am so sorry...

What would you be sorry for? If there
is any sin, then it's my fault and age

Your Majesty

As the personal physician
of the King...

how could you say that?

The Great Jang-Geum has
done everything she can to treat...

and try to prevent his illness

Then how could it
turn out this way then?!

As his energy decreased due to his age
his weak stomach went through...

repeated enteritis and stomach aches
caused intestines blockage

That's why I'm saying this?!

Didn't you care for
the King personally?

You should've treated him
for it already!

How could you say there's
no way to treat for it now?

No one can stop the aging process...

Just treat him anyhow!
No matter what!

Didn't you receive the title
Great Jang-Geum...

for your exceptional medical skills?!

Treat him!

His bowels are blocked off finally

I heard. Even though
she tried to prevent it...

I know... no one can
stop the aging process...

But the head of pharmacy seems to
want an inquiry into...

Great Jang-Geum's responsibility

It's unavoidable since she's
in charge of the King's health

Some senior officials still do not
accept her position and rank...

I know it since we're always with her

Great Jang-Geum has really
done all she can to prevent it

The intestinal blockage
has advanced far?

Yes, sir

Even though I've used all the right
medicines, his bowels are blocked now

So abdominal pain, emesis
and dropsy have started

Couldn't it be his intestines losing
all energy because of his age?

If it isn't unblocked now

the poison of the intestines
will spread to the liver...

Why don't you try
Hwang-Ryong medicine?

Yes, that's what I'm using now
but that's not going to help very much

But there are no other way...

Actually... there's one...

What is it?

You can't do that!

No way!

But this is the only way

No medicine or acupuncture works

It's been tried on animals,
but not on humans yet

So how could you try it on the King??

But how could I just watch him die
if there's a way for him to live?!

I know physicians
must save patients...

but this is too risky

Please don't do it

Physician lady Great
Jang-Geum is here

Head Eunuch, it hasn't unblocked yet?

No... do something about it

It seems to be getting worse
and I can't stand to watch him...

Your Majesty...

What is it?

Please trust me once more,
for the last time

Just as you've trusted me this far,
please trust me once more

What are you talking about?

Your illness is caused by
large intestines closing up due to...

frequent diarrhea and your old age

I know that

So none of the medicine or
acupunctures can help you now...

but there is one way however

What? A way?

Yes, Your Majesty

What is it?

It is to cut out the part of the
intestine that's been blocked

What? Cut it out?

How? How can we cut it out?

We can do it with a knife
by cutting open your stomach

What?!?!

Your Majesty!