Original subtitles

Why did you do it? Was it because...

the manager didn't do his job?

Then you should've reported it to the police

I heard you went around the stores

giving the seedlings and yelled for drinks

How come you know what I did while I was drunk better than I do?

Sir, if you keep that up, you'd be kicked out of this place, too

I heard your payment was lowered because of this

You worry too much

Sir!

Stop looking at me Turn around and look...

I think she came to see you

Jang-Geum!

Yeun-Seng!

Jang-Geum, you... you...

can come back...

Don't you get it?

To where?

To the... Royal Kitchen! The Head Lady has given permission

Really?!

Yes, Lady Han and I've been urging Lady Jung, and she reluctantly...

went to ask the Head Lady and she happily said yes for some reason

Really?

Yes, Lady Jung thinks the head eunuch had heard about your story...

somewhere and told the Head Lady about it

What story?

I heard you successfully grew astragalus

How did...?

I don't know. Anyway, pack up and come quickly

The competition is only a week away

That's right! The competition!

(Episode 8)

I have drawn a picture so you can understand easier

You have to plant loquats about an inch deep in the soil

and you have to water it everyday

And you should scatter the litchi seeds

It's so sad to see you leaving

Everything worked out for her. Stop crying

But we grew so close...

We'll miss you, Lady!

Yes, of course!

Me, too...

If you have to drink, please have some side dishes

You just have to keep yourself busy, eh?

How did you think of making food out of this cabbage already?

Sir...

Though I don't know why you ended up here or...

why you haven't been trying anything, that's not your true self

It was you who helped the worker girl when she fell after eating...

a poisonous herb, and you wanted to straighten things out recently

That's why I'm grateful, and I'm worried for you

I'm more worried about you If you jump into things without...

first evaluating the situation, you will get hurt

and at the end, nothing will be left for you

Sir...

OK. I'll stop the lecture. Good luck

And deliver this on your way for me

You'll find someone named Park In-Hu. Give that to him

Sure

This is delicious! You surely won't be kicked out for making bad food

Hello?

Is anyone here? Is supervisor Park In-Hu here?

"Sa-gong?" What could it mean?

"Sa-gong" as written there means someone who manages the land...

people live in, and "Sa-ju" is someone who teaches people

A court lady is not allowed to come in here

I'm sorry. I was on my way to the Royal Kitchen from the herb garden

but supervisor Jung at the garden told me...

to deliver a letter to someone named Park In-Hu here

Supervisor Park was reassigned to Jeolla-do a long time ago

I was just ordered to... Here... this is the letter

Since you seem to work here you can deliver it to him later

It's me. It's been such a long time I'm not sure if you're still there

I have a favor to ask of you. The lady who took this letter to you...

is someone who successfully grew astragalus...

even with interferences of superior officials

I've observed her and found her to be very bright and talented

I've heard that officials sometimes let ladies borrow books

so let her borrow any book she wishes to read

She'll be of greater help to the people than many foolish officials

Lt. General of the Royal Guards

Huh?

Our office is located right beside the facilities where new ladies are trained

Come and visit when you have time

What do you mean...?

The supervisor has written a letter to allow you to borrow books

Would you like the Book of Songs?

How could a lowly court lady read such classics...?

Such a lowly court lady was only picking out Confucian classics

It is people who discriminate, not books

What is a court lady doing here?

She came from the herb garden to deliver something

Why aren't you going out?

Sorry...

I lost that when I was helping someone

Then could he be...?

This is what you took from the spy?

Yes, sir

It's surprisingly detailed! We must come up with a plan asap

Yes, sir

I'm very glad that you've come back after making...

such a great accomplishment for the country

But achievement is achievement, and work is work

Just because you achieved this, you can't avoid the competition

Won't have much time to practice compared to other girls

You may be at a disadvantage, but there is no other way

As you know already if you fail in the competition

you'll have to leave the palace

Do your best in the short time you're given

Yes, ma'am

Hello!

Jang-Geum! You're here!

Everyone's fine, huh?

It must've been so hard for you

You lost so much weight

No, I've been doing just fine

No way. When I went there everything was dirty

and there wasn't even a place to wash your face

And the food was no different from a peasant's meal

Anyhow, she's great, indeed She probably never worked...

in a field before, but made a great achievement and came back

I know. I heard almost no one comes back from there

That's right

What good is coming back when she'll be leaving again...

after the competition

You...!

Isn't that right? If I were her I would've stayed there since...

at least she would have remained a court lady

Now she'll have to leave after the competition

Don't listen to her. It's better not to listen. I'll help you out

You should have no problem passing the test

I'm sure Yeun-Seng would help a lot

Why you... Come back over here!

I'm going to Keum-Young!

Why do we refer to cooking rice as "chwi" (making a fire)?

The word "chwi" is used because the cooker, the steam and the fire...

have to come together as one

What is "jeup-jang"?

It's a summer sauce made with fermented bean paste and wheat

How do you make it?

You soak wheat and beans in water, and then grind them

After steaming, dry it with a mulberry leaf as a cover

Where can you find the very first record of soy sauce and bean paste?

Don't you know?

I told you that the written exam isn't only about food

but also the ancient history related to food!

You can't become the Highest Kitchen Lady...

just because our family was in power for a long time!

Go back and study again!

Are you leaving to study?

Yes, they said they are gathering to study together

There was an order for all the court ladies...

not to teach the girls privately anymore

I know

Sometimes, I don't like my obedient character

I heard that you came back

Yeah

It's a book about food

I'm not sure what the questions will be, but read it anyway

Thanks

Jang-Geum

This is something that has been passed down throughout the years

It lists all the questions from the past and possible questions

It will be from here, so let's try them

It's so much

You give a question, and we'll answer

And you can memorize together by listening to how we answer

Then it'll be good for you and us, right?

Sure

OK... Eggplant

You cut up the eggplant in finger-size lengths and cross-cut it

You slightly boil it in salty water and...

rinse it in cold water and then squeeze it

Right?

You have to put it in cold water to take out the taste

You're right! You have to put it in cold water

Ouch!

Aren't you going to be quiet?! And are you going to keep yelling?!

I can't go to sleep!

That's why I told you to keep it down

We only finished 10 questions and we were wrong each time

What are we going to do now?

Don't get nervous Let's go back to the wrong ones

and try them again

Pumpkin

You don't flip the pumpkin to boil it

but pour hot water over it When boiling lotus root porridge

you don't cook it with rice but you make the rice porridge first

and then put the lotus root in And with the eggplant...

it is important to put it in water to take out the taste

Let's go and study after this

Jang-Geum, Chang-Yee, and Yeun-Seng, come

What is it?

You have to bring ingredients and make shish kebab

Please help us out

Of course I want to, but envoys just came back from Beijing

and we have to prepare a lot of it

Who'll be responsible if we don't do better

than the girls at the Prince's or King's Mother's palace?

I'm going to spank you if you don't excel

Please give us a break

Hey, I took first place while doing all the work. Come out now!

Next

Spread the bean paste

Next

You stir

What are you talking about? It's the same thing

Is that so?

Of course

Then boil it for a tasty dish

I asked you how you can make it tasty and what...?

There must be some secret technique!

Why are you yelling?!

I'm just trying to help Jang-Geum out for the competition

I do this everyday, but 'cause you made me do it in order, I can't do it

Why not? When you made it for me it was a snap for you

OK, I guess that might work I'll imagine you're doing this

Yes

How can you put tofu in first?! Radish first...

and then squash! And why such an old squash?!

Don't you know you have to use a younger one?

There were only old ones in the garden

I'll go to the store later...

What are you talking about? Why aren't you writing it down?

What? Oh...

Don't you know you have to use a young squash?!

You have to buy a young squash!

I should at least write it down as a young squash...

The questions for the competition aren't decided yet?

Isn't that decided the night before?

Then what shall we do about the ingredients they'll be using?

Once they decide it they'll contact us

Though we'll have to hurry, do prepare when we hear from them

Sure

Jang-Geum, you know my wife is a really good cook, huh?

Yes

These are her cooking secrets

What?

My wife and I spent several days preparing it

so bring it secretly to the competition

and glance at it while making the dishes

I heard from the ladies who had won first place...

that you could find out what the questions are beforehand

It's for real. It's a legend that's been passed down through...

the court ladies. Listen carefully The night before the competition...

very early in the morning when everyone is asleep...

after taking a bath in the east mountain

and then steal the fire pot used to cook the King's food

and then steal the Highest Lady's kitchen knife. And use the knife

to cut off the tie of the dress of the previous winner of the competition

and go to the maple tree behind the kitchen

He said to sharpen the knife 33 times, right?

Yes

...thirty two... thirty three...

Is the fire ready?

Yes, it's ready

OK, I'll go get some water now

I brought it already

What brings you here?

Don't be like that. Since she's here, let's cooperate

Come here, the fire is ready

Are you sure when the ash falls the letters of the question'll appear?

Quiet. He said to concentrate...

Quiet!

What are you doing?!

Tomorrow must be the competition day...

seeing how they're burning the tie again

Let's clean this up

So useless... they should think about studying more...

We were wondering who was going to do it this time, so there you are

If you had studied properly why would you be fooled by that?

You should've spent the time studying

So did you sharpen my knife?

You said you added the sharpening part

when you were still young, right?

Right! Since you've been studying diligently

you just do what you've learned Don't be nervous and go to sleep

so you can do well in the competition Do you understand?

Yes, ma'am

Today is the competition day Please give me the questions

You can come up with the questions this time

Your Majesty, that's utterly unreasonable...

You've been here for 50 years now You said you'd be heading to...

the temple once you go out tomorrow so I'm sure there's much to regret

The girls'll be in your position later, so you can do it

Your grace is immeasurable I shall obey it. Is that OK with you?

Of course

Your Majesty, since you've been so generous to me

I dare to ask you for a favor After the competition, they'll be...

receiving instructions on being a court lady for a week

Please let me be the trainer lady during that time

Go ahead and do that That's not a hard thing at all

The first part is to write the name of the dish

and second part is to make that dish

There are 30 different sets of each ingredients used

However, their quality and conditions are different

And the meat is from different parts of the animal

Therefore, you'll be put in an order according to how well you do here

The person who answers faster will get the good ingredients

and the slower person will get the lower quality ones

This competition is to find out whether...

you can be an official court lady or not

If you fail in this, you have to leave the palace

Show us what you've learned so far

Open the scroll

Yes, ma'am

"Head, but not head; dress, but not dress; person, but not person"

This is the question of the competition It's one of the things...

you've learned, so think hard and write down the food name

Yes, ma'am

You can go outside now

What is Jang-Geum going to do now?

Why did that have to be the question?!

I know. She only studied how to cook Why did it have to be on history?

I know. It's something Lady Han taught us in a lecture

What is she going to do now?

It's something she's brought upon herself!

Getting good ingredients is the half of making good food

But I guess she won't be getting any good ingredients

What are you doing?!

Who are you to be peeping at the ladies' training ground?

I'm head chef of the kitchen I came to pick up some ingredients...

from the kitchen and I was just curious what they were doing

There they go!

Put down your brushes!

The answer is "dumpling"

The Ladies have taught you in lectures

You can't remember? After Zhuge Liang's great victory

on his way back, he came to Yin River But he couldn't cross it

because of the storm. His followers suggested that they give offerings

of 49 men's heads as was the custom, but he said

he couldn't take human lives, so he came up with making dumplings...

in the shape of heads. "Head, but not head." It refers to the head...

of people as well as the last letter for dumpling

"Dress, but not dress." Refers to the skin of dumpling

"Person, but not person." Refers to the fake person that he made

Since you didn't get this, you'll be the last to get the ingredients

Let's go to the training ground now

You'll pick out the ingredients in the order of completing the written test

However, if you don't have the eye to pick good ingredients

it's useless to pick before others

This is part of the test, so select them wisely

Go ahead and start

Choi Keum-Young!

Yes

What part of the cow is it?

Tallow

What's its use?

It's from the front chest to the lower abdomen

and it's best for making broth because it's very fatty

This part of the tallow is near the front chest

so there are more tendons than fat

Suh Jang-Geum. Kim Shin-Bi Park Sun-Shin

Suh Jang-Geum

What part is it?

Sirloin. The parts are top sirloin, knuckle and...

bottom sirloin triangle Quality is like that of round meat

This one is from the top sirloin area

Where is it used?

It is boiled in soy sauce, or dried

Do you know that it isn't used to make broth?

Yes

You need time to make broth and tofu

So you will start making broth and tofu at 2 today

and restart the competition at 8 tomorrow morning

Keep your ingredients well, especially, small amounts

of the precious flour you've been given. Keep it well

We'll meet again at 2, and before that...

Madam

Lady Noh, who has been in the King's Mother's palace, will be...

inspecting your temporary residences until the ceremony

The new brides coming in now are from the sewing houses

They'll be competing by making your dresses while staying with you

at your temporary quarters so be nice to them. Understand?

Yes, ma'am

You look young. How old are you?

I'm 16

You're becoming an official court lady at 16?

It's been a long time since I came into the palace

Your dress will be put to good use if I pass this

Girls from the Princess' Palace and the King's Mother's Palace

are here to watch her Let's watch and copy her

Why? You don't want to? Then I'll watch and tell you about it

so you can just do what I tell you

What else? Yours is only sirloin...

That's her...

She's probably using the secret that's passed down in her family

I know. It's unfair

Can't we just follow what she's doing?

She's probably using rare medicine and spice from China

so how can we follow her? She has the first place secured

Why do you think Lady Choi's family always won first place...?

Hey, you! What do you think you're saying?!

Why? Am I wrong?

Why you...!

It's so delicious! How can it taste so different

even though we're using the same ingredients?

Did you use some secret method? Is it something from your family?

I just kept the basics in mind

What do you mean?

You have to sharpen the knife carefully before you start making food

You may think it's nothing, but if the knife is dull

it damages the food when you cut it and it can lose taste

That's what the Ladies tell us often

but is that why the taste is different?

That's not all, of course

Then what else?

It's soju (liquor)

Soju? I know you add it for meat, but you use it for broth, too?

When you use soju, it neutralizes the bad smell

Really? I have to put in some soju, too

It's useless, You can't compete with my taste

The soju I use is something I made 10 years ago when I was a new bride

Jang-Geum, so how is it?

I don't think mine's any good Let me try yours

How is it?

Yours is unique. How did you make it?

How is it? Is it tasty?

Rather than tasty, it just has a unique flavor. How did you do it?

I remembered it from my childhood

when I used to live in a butcher's town

Really?

Yes. When the butchers made broth they used heel meat or tallow

but when they were making broth for noodles

they used sirloin because it tastes better

Really?

I think they found that out because they had to sell heel and tallow

to the upper class and they had to use what was remaining

Anyhow, though it's different from the regular broth, it's not bad

Besides, that was the only thing I could choose

Yes, you didn't have much choice

Let's quickly make the broth and go back

to the residence to prepare for tomorrow together

Sure

Jang-Geum... Jang-Geum...

Yeun-Seng, why aren't you sleeping?

Let's go over the steps of making dumplings with the ingredients

It'll help you and me for tomorrow

Would you do that for me?

Yes... to be honest with you, I wish one of us could do...

better than Keum-Young tomorrow And you more than me

Why should I...

When you do well, I just feel like they won't disrespect me

Jang-Geum, what's wrong?

My flour is gone

What?

No way

It's probably Young-Ro's doing

Young-Ro's ingredients are still here

What are you doing?

Have you seen anyone taking my flour?

What are you saying? No one has been here

Jang-Geum's flour is gone and I think...

others' ingredient are gone, too

No... that can't be!

What? Why would the flour that you've been protecting disappear?!

Someone took it for sure

No! You told me to keep watch so I was paying attention

You were sleeping when we arrived

That's not true I only had my eyes closed

Madam, please help me. I can't make any dumplings without flour

No

Madam...

First of all, we can't get anymore now. And secondly...

you know that we only receive a fixed amount to prepare...

for His and Her Majesty's food That's why I told you to keep it well!

Madam...

We never gave extra ingredients before

It's basic for the kitchen ladies to protect their ingredients

Madam...

Go back

I'll share my flour with you

No. We have to produce a given amount

I don't want you to fail because of me

Then what are you going to do?

I'm going to look for it. Seeing how some ingredients are gone as well

I think someone's probably making it right now

You're right! Girls from the Princess' and King's Mother's palace...

must be practicing with it since they feel incompetent

You're right. Then I'll check the training ground

No one's probably there

You're right, that'd be too obvious

OK, I'll try the closest kitchen first

OK, then I'll...

How could you do this to me?

Don't you know that I'll be casted out of the palace

if I don't have the flour?

Just give me what's left

No! No!

How could you do this? You've stolen mine. Give it!

Who's there?! Who's inside?!

I'm the King's servant Lee Chang-Man on my night-shift

What are you doing here at this time of night?!

Which residence are you from?

I'm a kitchen girl

The kitchen? What is a kitchen lady doing here?

Tell me now!

I lost my flour for tomorrow's competition...

to become an official court lady However, this sewing girl...

who's sharing my room has stolen it

Flour is very precious so I can't get anymore

And I won't be able to make the food

and be casted out of the palace

Tell me why you did this. Why would a sewing girl steal the flour?!

Would you speak when you're turned over to the police?!

I have no choice then. Hey!

Yes!

Take her away!

Sir! Wait!

Sir, the madam I've been serving and sharing the room with...

will be going out of the palace to enter the temple tomorrow

I only heard of the news today

I felt that I wouldn't be able to see her ever again

so I was making a bowl of dumpling soup which is her favorite dish

Even so, how could you give others trouble?

I'm going to report this to the Head Lady tomorrow

And give the rest back to the owner

No!

Give it back to her!

Sir! Please understand! I can't give it to her... no...

my own mother will be eating this

Sir! Lady Noh who will be eating the dumplings is actually... my mother

There's no telling when I'll see her again if I send her away like this

I have to bring her the dumplings today no matter what happens

Do you... know what you're saying right now?!

A court lady is someone who comes into the palace at a young age

to look only at His Majesty for the rest of her life

so how could there be a mother and daughter?!

If this is true, she deserves the death penalty! So tell me the truth!

Sir! Kill me instead so I can go out of the palace with her

Do you know this Lady Noh?

Yes. She's the trainer lady at our temporary quarters

Then can you bring her here now?

Yes

I heard what has happened

What is going on here?

She hasn't done anything wrong Punish me instead

Mother!

Is it true that she's your daughter?

Yes

How could that be? How were you able to stay...

in the palace after such thing?!

When I was working as a girl at the Guesthouse

I was disgraced by an envoy from Ming China

And that's how I had her I tried many times to kill myself

but I'm still alive 'cause this life seems to be tenacious

How were you able to keep it a secret?

The upper ladies heard of my story and had pity on me

and they let me raise her

Even so how were you able to have a baby without letting anyone know?

That's how court ladies are

Sir, please punish me and let her go She's a pitiful child

Mother told me to give the dough back to you...

The herb garden!

Be very strict with evaluation and fail as many as possible

Because of the earthquake from last time?

Because of the earthquake?

The Meteorological Observer said the last earthquake was due...

to the grudges of court ladies

It's not only that. His Majesty chose new girls with the intention

of a fresh start but it turned out he picked too many and...

the Accounting House has reported that there's too much payment

going to the ladies of the court So he has ordered to leave...

only 20 in each house and put the rest out of the palace

We'll start with the competition...

which will determine whether or not you'll become official court ladies

Until now we've only failed the below-average girls

but now we have received an order from the King to accept only 20

from every house. 10 will be failed even from the kitchen

Those people who fail will pack up today and leave the palace

The rules are much more strict

Still, don't get too nervous and try to show all your skills

Now, we'll start

Go ahead and start

Hey, you

At the training ground, you'll find kitchen girls...

having a cooking competition Go find out what has happened...

to a girl named Suh Jang-Geum

Yes, sir

How do you eat this?

There are dumplings inside dumplings!

Why did you make it this way?

Whenever we made dumplings for feasts, I noticed that...

they got cold quickly This way it'd be kept warm longer

and the person eating it can enjoy it better

That's not all It looks like a dumpling soup

yet it looks like it's steamed What's the reason?

I put some broth in the dough and because they're inside the dumpling

the moisture is captured in there

that's why it may feel like a soup as well

Did you use vinegar as a finishing touch?

Yes

But there's no tartness at all

Vinegar on a meat dish gives it a fresh taste

We use it for other dishes but I think she's applied that here

What's this vegetable used as a wrap for the dumplings?

It's cabbage

Cabbage... what is that?

It's one of the herbs from Ming being grown in the garden

And it tasted good for food so I tried it out

How come you didn't use the flour that was passed out?

I lost it

You lost that precious flour? Are you in your right mind?

And what's this?

It's squash

You used the common squash instead of precious flour wrapping?

It tastes very unique

Yes, there's no need to use rare flour for dumplings all the time

But the right method is to use the ingredients that were passed out

I agree with Lady Choi. She should fail for losing the ingredients

But the taste is first place If she can make it taste like that

without using the flour...

This is a competition. If others could've used other things

instead of what was passed out, they could've made better things, too

But not everyone can think of such a thing when there are no ingredients

Wouldn't it be better to follow the rules?

Lady Jung, go ahead and give the results first

I'll announce the result of this competition

The first place is Choi Keum-Young!

Keum-Young, the first place winner will receive a prize

Next are the girls who have failed and will be going out

Park Soon-Yun from the Prince's Palace

Kim Oh-Ryun from the Prince's Palace

Park Duk-Keum from the King's Mother's palace

Kim Sun-Bi from the King's palace

Jo Jae-Hang from the Prince's palace

Jun Mi-Keum from the King's palace

Park Ge-Keum from the Prince's palace

Jung Eun-Bi from the King's Mother's palace

And lastly...

Suh Jang-Geum from the King's palace