(Final Episode)
Your Majesty...
What is it?
Please trust me once more for the last time
Just as you've trusted me up to now, please trust me once more
What are you talking about?
Your illness is caused by your large intestines closing up...
due to frequent diarrhea and aging
I know that
So none of the medicines or acupunctures can help you now...
but there is one way however
What? A way?
Yes, Your Majesty
What is it?
To cut out the part of your blocked intestine
What? Cut it out?
How? How can we cut it out?
With a knife, by cutting open your stomach
What?!
Your Majesty!
Forget about it!
Sir...
We understand that you only want to save him...
but that is impossible...
Head physician!
How would he tolerate the pain...
and how about the risk involved?!
Please follow me for a moment and listen to me for once
She was pregnant and her stomach was ripped open by a predator
But after I took the baby out and sutured her...
she came alive again
And I thought it would die because its bowels were blocked...
but Great Jang-Geum cut its stomach open and unblocked it to save its life
That's possible with animals
I've seen getting a calf out of cow's stomach
But we're talking about a human
How is he going to tolerate the pain?
What happened? Is it dead?
No. It's been paralyzed
Paralyzed?
I've seen people living at the seashore where many Japanese come
they anesthetize fish this way to preserve it for a longer time
I heard that Japanese do this to mature it for sashimi
And while trying to find out if the person could be anesthetized...
we've found the meridian
I confirmed it by testing it on myself
Is it true that you petitioned the King to use a knife on his body?
Yes
It's true?! I had doubts when the King's attendant lady told me...
but it's true?!
Your Majesty, that's the only way to treat the King now
Be quiet!
How dare you speak such nonsense!
Your Highness...
Even if you're right, you can't do it!
The officials might charge you with crime just for saying those words
So find another way. You can find a way. I trust that you can
We mixed three spoons of honey with bile
Heat it until it thickens and...
roll it into a size of a pinkie
Isn't that the same one we made last time?
I made the vinegar stronger this time
Did you hear?
Hear what?
Right now the high officials are...
Your Majesty, the Great Jang-Geum has committed...
a blasphemy trusting your favor
Please punish Great Jang-Geum and have a physician examine you
Your Majesty, please understand
There are two distinguished physicians in the pharmacy
So please have them examine you
Your Majesty, please understand...
Her sin cannot be cleansed for making our health deteriorate like this
Go away...
And she even spoke such blasphemy!
Your Majesty, it can never be!
Go away...
Please punish Great Jang-Geum and have a physician examine you
Your Majesty, please understand!
I said go away!
Your Majesty, your noble body doesn't only belong to you
Your noble body represents people, it is Chosun itself
Your Majesty, please have a physician examine you!
The physician lady knows my illness
If Great Jang-Geum tells me my body is all spent, then it is all spent
If she tells me I can live, then I can live
So don't worry about me and go away, all of you
I will never forgive you for this
I feel much better taking your medicine
What's wrong?
Your Majesty, you've always trusted my meager medical skills...
and you've given me a favor that I do not deserve
I know it's a blasphemy, but I want to save you by all means
For once... just for this once please follow this servant's wish
It's been over a month since I last went outside
Your Majesty...
Have the flowers blossomed in the garden?
I want to see that place where we used to walk together
Your Majesty, you can do it... so...
You cannot do it and I cannot do it
No matter how good your medical skills may be, you cannot save a dead man
and I cannot turn the time around because I'm a King
It's been a long fate together
Illness isn't something that a physician heals but...
It is done by the patient
Those are the words that have haunted my ears
I hear your words buzzing in my ears even at night
so I went through the exercise
Weren't I... a fine patient?
Your Majesty...
There has been so much fear... Ioneliness... and sadness...
but I was able to endure it all because of you
You're truly a great physician and you're truly lovely...
Your Majesty, I too was able to endure
all such fear, loneliness and sadness because of you
As a physician, as a woman, Your Majesty... I petition you
Please... please... please allow me to treat you
Your Majesty...
The officials have commanded to at least bring the medicine...
The stomach toxin has reached the liver, so he can't take it
Even the medicine he's taking now is a big strain on his liver
Did you prepare salt ginger cake, and moxa?
Yes
Is that the only way, ma'am?
Is that the only way to cure the King?
Your Majesty, you must lie down
If follow Jang-Geum's words I might be able to live again...
Yes, Your Majesty... but...
The officials will rise like a swarm of bees to oppose it and...
scholars will bring in tons of appeals which I won't even be able to read
Your Majesty, you should go to sleep
I just saw her, but I want to see Jang-Geum again
Your Majesty, should I call her again?
Your Majesty, the Great Jang-Geum is here again
Your Majesty, why are you sitting up?
It may be a little hot but you should bear it
It's the King's command! Go to the Northern Gate right now and
follow the librarian's instructions
Excuse me?
Follow it through quickly
It's the command of the King
So what is this about?
Let's go
Why are you doing this?
I'm the King's personal physician! I must take care of the King!
Why you treacherous...?!
Where are you taking me?!
Is this the order of the head eunuch?
Did you tell her in secret?
Yes, Your Majesty...
but if you sit up this long you'll be scolded by Great Jang-Geum again
Please lie down
Sure... you're right...
I'm worried that she might try all she can to come back
Your Majesty...
She's been missing for three days?? What happened to her?
She must've run away because...
she can't cure the King anymore
How detestable!
That is not so, sir
If not, then how could she be missing from her home and palace for 3 days?
There's probably a good reason behind it
She was missing for many days during the plague
because she was trying to find out what it was
Yes, sir. She wouldn't do such thing
There's probably a good reason for it
A good reason? But it's obvious!
Inform the necessary authorities...
to capture Great Jang-Geum immediately!
Former official Min Jung-Ho, honor the King's command
To Min Jung-Ho who took all the blame for my wrong doings...
It's my last request. Go to China with physician lady Great Jang-Geum
Tell her that I thank her for changing me from...
a weak person to a strong person
Thank her for not hating me who has sent her loved one away
And, tell her I'm sorry...
that I couldn't stop those who tried to harm her
so, go to Ming China where no one would harm her
and learn medicine to help more people
I cannot go
I'm the King's personal physician who takes care of his health
The King is sick, bedridden...
no, even if he dies I must be at his side
This is the command of the King
If you don't get on this boat now, it will be hard to get to China
The order to capture her has probably been issued already
His Majesty the King...
His Majesty...!
Your Majesty!
Honor the King's command
It's already too late
Physician lady Suh...
Lady Suh!
I must go!
No! The King has died already
No... no... never!
That can't be!
Great Jang-Geum, take a look at this!
They've posted notices to capture you!
The King worried about this, so he sent me to you
He told me to carry out his command at all cost
You must get out of here immediately! Hurry!
Former official Min Jung-Ho, carry out the King's last command!
It's the King's last command!
Do it immediately!
Sir... Sir... no... Sir...
Sir...
8 years later (March, 1550)
6th year of King Myoungjong's reign
Father!
So did you catch it?
Where is mother?
Mother!
Come with me
I said, come with me!
Didn't I tell you to help your father and study?
I finished studying for today
Didn't I tell you not to go near the water?
All the other children go there
Bo-Sung and In-Suk go there too
And Chang-Gun kept asking me to catch him some goldfish...
Chang-Gun? Isn't he official Hyung's son?!
Didn't I tell you not to go near the...
government officials' family or not?!
You did tell me...
Then how can you play with him?!
When there's a sick person you go there yourself though
Raise your skirt!
Why do you keep me from going there?
I know how to get around too
You're still not going to listen, are you?!
You shouldn't do this...
So-Hoon won't have enough calves left this way
Come over here!
Now!
You're too much... how come you don't listen to your mother?
But the reason why we try to escape everyday is because of mother
Whenever someone is ill she always goes to cure the person...
so people from government and scholar-officials look for her
You don't like it?
It's not that I don't like it...
Then?
She only prevents me from going there
It's because she's worried. When she was young she made a mistake...
Grandfather and grandmother all passed away
But I'm not going to be caught
I'm confident that I won't speak of it
But listen to your mother anyway
She had to be all by herself at a young age
She's afraid that you might turn out that way as well
OK
Mother, a fish can't close its eyes?
Why can't it close its eyes?
Don't fish go to sleep under water?
How can it go to sleep without closing its eyes?
Now that you mention it, I'm curious about it myself
My eyes hurt if I open them under water
Don't fish's eyes hurt when it opens them as well?
You're right... I should try to close its eyes myself
So-Hoon's mom! So-Hoon's mom!
There's a big trouble!
You should get there right now!
Poong-Chun family's daughter-in-law...
she's been in labor since yesterday morning...
her water's broke but the baby hasn't come out yet
How could you tell me this late?
They thought she'd deliver fine...
We're ready
See you later, father
Teacher, he wants to learn too
Really?
Do you really teach for free?
Nothing is free in this world
Excuse me?
Come inside
We'll learn all the characters in this book
If you memorize all of them...
then this will be free, but even if you make one mistake...
you have to help me with my work of stripping cowhide
Would you do it?
Sure, I'll try
I can save her. Please trust me
No way!
Stop!
Who are you?
I'm specialty chef Gang Duk-Gu from the Royal Palace
So?
I'm covertly looking for my daughter
Your daughter?
Where is the butcher town around here?
And?
There's a very skilled physician lady, isn't there?
I don't know anything about it
You don't know?
I don't know
I'm in a hurry...
Hey...
What an unusal kid... I wonder who her parents are...
I don't know about her but the butcher is over that ridge
Really? But I heard it's over that way...
It's over that way
Really?
By the way, my parents teach me well
How unusal... she seems to be exactly like Jang-Geum at her age...
Father, father!
Father
What is it?
There's a trouble
The people are talking about turning mother over to the government
What?!
And a stranger was looking for mother too
No! No way!
No matter what you do to me...
we should save the baby and the mother
Let me see the mother
The baby is upside down...
and the water broke long ago so they can both die if left alone
Be quiet!
She's clearly trying to kill them, father!
Oh, no, never...
Cut her stomach open for the baby?!
She's out of her mind!
That's right! She's wicked!
Oh, no... that's not it
Take her to the police immediately!
Yes, father
Oh, sir! Please calm down. Didn't she completely cure your knee pains?
But what did you say in the beginning?
You were angry about her giving you bee stings on your knees
But how are you doing now?
You're able to walk now, you're much better
That's true, but how could one cut open a live person's stomach?!
You, there, Keum-Suk's mom
Who cured your swelling body that ached for 10 years?
No physicians were able to help you...
but So-Hoon's mother did, didn't she?
And who cured your child's sickness?
And you? And you, Yang-Poon's father!
Is it OK for her to cut open a live person's stomach?!
No, not really, but you're being so harsh to So-Hoon's mother...
No more unnecessary words!
Get this treacherous thing to the police!
Yes, father!
No! She must've delivered the baby...
Get her out of here right now!
Save the person first and then send me to the police
If you leave them like that, they'll both die!
Didn't I save the calf by cutting the cow's stomach open?
All of you saw it, right?
Are you saying that my wife is a cow?!
I'm saying it's same with humans
Why you...?!
What are you doing?!
Take her to the police!
No! Don't do this!
There's a great trouble!
Get them! Get them!
Let me ask you something!
A person of Dal-Sung Suh
Please, listen!
I clearly saw them coming here...
I'm looking for a person!
Her name is "Jang Geum"
Jang-Geum!
Which way to Hanyang?!
I'm looking for the way home!
Anyone?!
Really? You saw Jang-Geum?
It's been 8 years since I last saw her but I only saw her back
So she was alive! She's alive!
I know...
She wasn't just alive, she was treating people's illnesses!
Probably so...
Probably so... since she's Jang-Geum
I never imagined hearing from her since I thought she's in China...
but when I heard of her news again after 8 years, I even danced around
Stop crying and tell us more...
I think she has a daughter now...
Jang-Geum has a daughter?
Our grand-daughter?
She must be pretty like Jang-Geum
Was Sir Min Jung-Ho doing fine too?
I didn't see it clearly but he seemed to be fine
I wonder if they're eating properly
Don't worry. Jang-Geum is like me...
so she won't have any trouble wherever she goes
Yes. Since she's in Chosun she'll contact you again
Yes, probably so...
When? I don't know when I will die, so when?! When?
Really? Really? He really did see Jang-Geum?
Yes, Mr. Gang saw her from a distance
So she's in Chosun for sure...
Yes
But I don't feel good hearing that she was running away...
Me, too...
Even though I sit in this place, there is nothing I can do for her
There was talk of her not too long ago...
there wasn't much response...
Madam! Perhaps?!
Madam, no way! Never!
No, Madam, you can't do that!
Should I just sit here while Jang-Geum...
is living in danger?
Yes, just stay put We don't know what...
she has in mind so what if she hears it like a boil when you mention her?
Yes, it's scary these days
6th year of King Myoung-Jong's reign
Under King's Mother's rule
Welcome
You take time to visit me like this so my heart is always at ease
I'm grateful, Your Highness
How could I ever forget your kindness?
I should've left the palace after the late King died...
but you've kept me in this place
Kindness? The late King cherished you So-Won
I think of you as my younger sister for some reason
It's all to your blessing
Thank you, Your Highness
Your Highness...
you probably know the late King's wish more than any anyone else
He made his wish clear even in the face of opposition of court officials
What are you trying to say, So-Won?
Your Highness, please honor the wish of the late King
What are you talking about?
Please restore the status of...
former physician lady Jang-Geum and official Min Jung-Ho
Isn't Jang-Geum in Ming China?
If she's in Chosun, of course I would restore her status immediately!
Your Highness, she's in Chosun!
What?! Is this true?
Yes, it is, Your Highness. I heard she's practicing medicine in Chosun
But because she's on the run, her life is...
Is that so? She's in Chosun?
I should get going before she wakes up
Such a long way? Are you sure?
Don't worry. I can be at ease after I come back
I'm sorry for spending all the money you earn on patients' medicines...
I now know why Jang-Deuk said that all the time...
What did she say?
Stop pretending to be nice and just work
I miss all of them...
We wrote a letter to Mr. Gang, so he'll be here
Go quickly. If So-Hoon wakes up she'll start fretting again
Her stubbornness is exactly like yours
See you later
Mother!
How come you don't listen to me?!
You don't listen to me either
So do you dislike your mother?
Oh, no! My mother is the best in the whole world!
Just sugar words...
Mother, what's a sugar word?
A sugar word is a ticklish word that's like a worm going across your face
A ticklish word?
Old lady!
Old lady! So-Hoon's here
You travelled all that way again?
It's OK. Even so, my legs don't hurt at all
How are you doing?
I'm doing much better
I'm not coughing as much and my leg pains have mitigated
You drank all the medicine from yesterday, right?
I'm so grateful but I have nothing to give
Old lady, if you keep crying, she will acupuncture more painfully...
What are you going to be when you grow up?
A mother
A mother?
Yes, a mother who's pretty like you and who cooks well and saves people
Then father would be disappointed...
That's too bad. I'm a girl so I cannot be a father
Mother, hide me!
What's wrong?
Hurry!
Big trouble, So-Hoon has disappeared!
I can't find her!
Father!
Why you...?! You should've told me if you were going!
Then you wouldn't have let me go
Why you...?! Come here!
I should ask mother to acupuncture you so you can listen well
Really?
If she does it one more time please acupuncture her
Yes
I'm sorry. I won't do it anymore
Mother, you wouldn't do that, would you?
Please spare them!
Please spare them for once!
My father and mother have done nothing wrong!
My father and mother are good people
Please spare them once!
Sir!
I'm sorry for surprising you
They probably misunderstood the order and searched the house
What are you doing?
Escort them immediately!
The King's Mother has ordered you to come to the palace
Go ahead and get on Sir Min
Mother, are we riding this?
Yes!
We're riding a flower palanquin to go to prison?
Mother, it's so pretty
Really?
Are we really going to the palace?
Of course...
I hope we can go there faster!
Mother, who are those kids?
They're little bride ladies who will become court ladies later
Court ladies? Then they live in the palace?
Of course...
Really?! People can live here?
That's right
Mother, how come they are so many different colors of dresses?
There are strange ribbons on their hair
Those ladies have strange thing on their heads
There are so many people here
They even have a pond...
Let's go...
Her Majesty the King's Mother is here!
Jang-Geum, are you really, really...
Your Highness!
It's all right. Stand up
It must've been so hard for you...
Your grace is immeasurable
Why did you live a fugitive life when you could've contacted me?
I deserve to die for the crime of neglecting the late King's illness
Deserve to die?
The late King knew of your diligence to try to treat him to the end
And the late King was also grateful...
to Min Jung-Ho for upholding his wish to the end
His heart ached for accepting the officials' petition to prevent...
you from being restored during his generation and the next
But because of the early death of King In-Jong
there is no longer any problem restoring your status
So I now restore your status
Min Jung-Ho, you'll no longer be in exile and
appointed as the 3rd class official of the court again
And Jang-Geum shall be restored as physician lady Great Jang-Geum
Your Majesty...
I know the late King was grateful to you, but I too have been grateful
If you hadn't saved my son Prince Kyung-Won...
how could we have the King who is enthroned now?
You're too kind, Your Highness
You've restored your position here...
and you've been practicing medince even as a fugitive...
Stay and help me at my side and...
be in charge of the education of the physician ladies
So how have you been?
I've wondered here and there...
learning much more than when I was a scholar-official
Think no more of what has happened I know there was no other way
I've always felt guilty for going against your wish
Don't worry, everything has returned to its place
Sure
You should enter the government again and achieve your ultimate goal
Yes, do that. Though you were under shackles...
with previous Kings, you're now completely free
You should've sent me a letter much earlier. You suffered for nothing
I was glad to do what I enjoy doing
How could you like living as a butcher's wife as a fugitive?
Really... I was happy
It's so amazing... she's so much like her
Who are you, ma'am?
I'm the highest lady of the Royal Kitchen
I was told that you are a person of...
dignity and of a noble character
Really?
I'm a kitchen lady too
You're the madam who eats delicious food everyday, right?
How sweet!
I'm a physician lady...
Mother was both a kitchen lady and a physician lady...
Right, mother?
She's smart too!
It's because she's like Jang-Geum
My father tells me that too
What?
That I'm just like my mother
Welcome!
You haven't changed a bit
You're still beautiful
You must've had a lot of hardships
What hardships for a criminal?
I heard you kept on practicing medicine the whole time
Yes, I was surprised to learn that...
there are so many unknown illnesses outside the palace
That's good. Since you'll be back at the palace again...
please teach the physician ladies and us as well
Teach? I still have a lot to learn
Please stop learning
It's so hard for me to catch up
You...
Welcome back!
It's been such a long time...
Yes... have you been doing well?
Two Kings passed away while Great Jang-Geum was away
but nothing serious has happened in the pharmacy
These days everything is peaceful
I've advanced forward to become the head physician lady too
I read many of the books you read
Please receive my obeisance Oh, no, please don't!
Please just sit down...
You consider my wife as your daughter, right?
No, it's not that...
Even so, we are only...
Please don't hesitate to receive it my father and mother-in-law
Mother-in-law?
Father-in-law?
Yes, father and mother
Honey...
You must be happy indeed
Then we'll receive it, go ahead and do it
So-Hoon, greet them
I'm Min So-Hoon
You are...?!
You're my grandpa?
What?
I met her when I was looking for Jang-Geum...
My grand-daughter...
Then she's that girl?
I've found a way to treat neurasthenia
Me, too. I've found a way to treat irregularity of ying-yang balance
I know about that too
Do you know about cholera morbus?
Of course, it's caused by toxins from the environment...
or by skipping meals regularly
It must've been hard for you
You should say, "What hardships as a person who practices medicine?!"
So are you going back to the palace?
The Left Prime Minister has ordered me to return to the office
What are you going to do?
The King's Mother has asked me to stay in the palace as well
What are you going to do?
So did you have a chance to meet all the people?
Yes. Because of your grace I have met everyone
I'm sure they're so glad to see you again, including myself
Though it's not for you, today is the birthday of the Queen
So since they prepared a feast I told them prepare your seat as well
Let's go together
Your Highness, I'll remember your grace forever...
however, please take back your command for me to stay here
Why?
Are you afraid that I'll give...
another command like last time?
Oh, no...
Then?
I've seen many patients outside of the palace
Though it's insignificant...
I'd like to be at a place among people where I can be of a small help
I understand you but it's truly regrettable
Your Highness
I've enjoyed many privileges in the favor of the late King for a long time
Enjoying them again in your favor would be a sin
Please understand
If that is what you want, I have no choice. Go ahead and do that
Thank you very much, Your Highness
But you must come back to me immediately if I call for you
Yes, of course, Your Highness
You aren't going to regret it?
No. The palace allowed me to cook, practice medicine, and meet you
But it has caused the loss of my mother, Lady Han and even my wish
That's what the palace has been to me
Though it seems to give you everything it takes away important things
Though it seems to allow you to do whatever you want...
but it keeps you from doing anything
Though everyone looks fancy, everyone lives in sadness
Then, is the path we're heading not a sad path?
No
It's a path where we won't lose anyone?
No
Then is it a path where we can do anything?
Yes
Me, too. But promise me one thing
Promise what?
You can do anything, but don't use a knife on a person
That's not accepted in Chosun yet
Why do you say no? A person's life can be saved that way for sure
Even though we won't be running from police anymore
We could get into big trouble with that
So promise me right now
No, I can't
Come on!
No way
Come on!
No, thank you
My lord... So-Hoon...
So-Hoon is missing
Mother!
So-Hoon!
Mother, there's big trouble!
Come on! Hurry!
Please save me
Big trouble! When did the water break?
I don't know... I don't...
Lady... lady...
So-Hoon, needles
It's critical! Mother and the baby are both critical!
It's a case of toxemia
Then what should we...?
There's only one way
Then?
We must save her. There's no time!
We can save her!
We should draw some water... right?
Sure
Father! If you go that fast you'll spill all the water
Mother said no matter the hurry
you must not be careless with the things you do for the patient
Yes, you're right
Let's go
Mother!
The baby is alive!
The mother is alive too!
You see, why did you say no?
It does work!
The mother and the baby are doing so well!
Didn't I tell you? Didn't I tell you?
Why do you say no?
It seems like this woman will be at odds with this generation
But she will ask this generation:
"Why not, if it is to save a life?"