Original subtitles

Here

Hide this in the middle kitchen

This is to change the prince in the Queen's womb into a princess

Be careful

What is this?

Why did you disobey me and go to the kitchen?!

Why can't you answer her?

I clearly saw Keum-Young going out...

after putting something on the rafter

Keum-Young... did you do it?

No, I didn't do it. You did it

You'll be going to the police straight from here

I'll ask you one last time Any one of you can answer

What did you do in the kitchen?

(Episode 11)

Lady Jung, follow me

I said, follow me...

Madam, those girls...

I've heard everything

The police must investigate

No need for more trouble

Don't you know how this can get out of control

when the Queen is in her last trimester?

I know, but we must...

get to the root of this

Some things are better left alone

It's our job to assist the King by judging between the two

Such judging is only done by His Majesty

Are you trying to put the whole court in chaos?!

When he first ascended the throne, he couldn't relax

because of all the reports...

of treason and plots to dethrone him

He finally settled down and is able to relax somewhat...

Why are you causing trouble again?

Just let it go this time

I can't do that

You can't do it?

We should report treason regardless of rank

Even if you're my superior...

So you want to distinguish yourself by reporting treason

and make me a fool who hasn't got a clue what's going on

and bring trouble upon all the court ladies?!

This isn't about someone being distinguished or not

It's about the safety of His Majesty

How dare you challenge me like this?

Don't you know who put you in your position?

How dare you try to overpower your superior?!

That's not what I'm trying to do...

Would I worry less about the safety of His Majesty?

As I worry for him, I'm already worrying about the things...

that may happen afterwards

You only have to cook in the kitchen

but I have to consider relationships among all the ladies of the court

as well as the ministers of the court

For whom and why are you concerned about ministers?

What? For whom? Are you suspicious of me?

Are you really suspicious of me?!

OK. Just wait one more day

Even if you held me in scorn, I have my duties

Once I find out what's going on

I'll try to minimize the damage on the court ladies

OK. Then it'll be just one more day

Come out

Lady Jung has...

I'm going to make a strong petition to the Head Lady

How could she just listen to Yeun-Seng

and lock an innocent girl like you in here?

Someone's clearly guilty Why would you be blamed? Get up

No matter what happens you must never talk about it

I'll take care of whatever happens, so be strong

I'll tell the Head Lady

You stay at the inspection lady's room

I'll contact you continually so be alert

Yes, ma'am

How come you didn't tell me about this earlier?

I thought things would turn out OK

since Jang-Geum was caught in the beginning

Anyhow, Jang-Geum was in the middle kitchen

and it wasn't her shift and now she won't say anything

even after Yeun-Seng told others that Jang-Geum...

had found something That's to our advantage

That's not so. Lady Jung is not trying to distinguish herself

She's clearly being suspicious of you and me

I have a day, but I'm not sure if she'll actually wait or not

My brother is meeting with Sir Oh already

What are you talking about? I've told you about this before I left!

I'm sorry. There's nothing I can say

How could you leave such a big job to a girl

who just became an official court lady?!

I'm sorry. We trained her...

Sir, I think the scolding can come later

You have to win them over or threaten

That would be the same as admitting we're guilty!

We have no choice but to go at it stronger!

Go at it stronger?

You go and talk to Yu Dong-Ho at the Royal Police first

And tell Lady Choi to put Jang-Geum in an unfavorable situation

Make sure it's completely set up

so Jang-Geum can be convicted if they're turned in to the police

And tell the fortune teller who wrote the charm, too

Yes, sir

But Jang-Geum didn't hide anything

She was looking for something

Madam...

actually...

I must find whatever you found in the middle kitchen

There's no way of knowing what will happen to you

Look... look over here You see this here

These are dried day lilies

I'll pass them around so you can smell them

You too Yes, ma'am

Where are all the court ladies?

Don't drop any over there

And where are Jang-Geum and Keum-Young?

If you make mixed noodles with these

the taste becomes refreshing and delicious

It increases the appetite and it's good for... um...

It relaxes the body and is especially good for vision

You could use this when cooking rice or soup

The important thing is removing the stamen before using them

Madam, Jang-Geum and Keum-Young have been away for several...

They went out for an errand

Tomorrow we'll use roses The day after that, we'll use acacia

we'll be using flowers to make food for several days

so make sure you're prepared

Yeun-Seng, let's go meet the silverware manager

Yes

Is this the place where Jang-Geum used to practice?

Yes

OK, you can go back now

Should I look for it, too?

No

Yes, ma'am

Did you call for me?

Since you frequent the middle kitchen

you'll have to be a new witness

Sure, Madam

For whom and why are you concerned about ministers?

What? For whom? Are you suspicious of me?

Are you really suspicious of me?!

Lady Jung doesn't come to the kitchen often these days

because of her knee

And she doesn't come to the King's palace often either

Why don't you ask Her Majesty to replace her?

10 years was long enough for a puppet

Moreover she's no longer just a puppet

Madam, Lady Choi has told me to tell you

that Lady Jung will be going to the King's Palace today

I've heard that your eyesight has worsened

because you've been reading late into the night

so I prepared a daylily dish Please try it

OK...

Is something wrong? You don't seem to be in a good mood

What's wrong? Is something worrying you?

No. I had to scold the girls because they had been lazy

which is why I seem that way Please forgive me

It seems to me that YOU've become lazier

You no longer come everyday when the meals are brought in

I've been able to forget my worries

by listening to your stories about food

and how the people are preparing their food with my ingredients here

and sharing your knowledge and food

How come you don't come as often these days?

I'm sorry

Come often. I can think more...

about the people through your stories

Yes, Your Majesty. I will do so

Madam...

I can't wait too long facing His Majesty everyday

Is this a command?

It's not a command, but a request

Is everything going well?

It'll be taken care of tonight for sure

Tell me

Madam...

Just tell me

I can't

You...!

I can't do it, Madam

You could die

I experienced this kind of thing a long time ago... I sure did...

You can die. I know I don't want to experience it again

You don't know how much I've suffered from remorse

and how hard it's been for me

Jang-Geum, please...

Madam, it's not something I can't show you

I'll show you and tell you someday

But if I show it to you now then it'll be made public

I believe you... I believe that...

whatever you found isn't anything blasphemous

So why can't you tell me?

I don't know why I'm being such a fool

Actually, I do know why...

My parents told me not to tell anyone about something

But I did... and so... my parents died

I sat by my mother's body for a long time

I didn't know what to do

Whether it was OK for me to be alive and breathe

when my parents died because of me

whether I could walk, eat, sit, or stand...

I didn't know, I just sat there... very quietly

And at that time the only thing I heard were my mother's words

They were her last words She left me her diary and a letter

I don't know what she wrote

As curious as I am, I never opened it

I didn't open it because she told me not to

And I haven't told anyone about my parents

because she told me not to

It's because my mother told me not to I'm going to do what she said

Jang-Geum, you will die

I deserved to die with my parents

Madam...

Jang-Geum

Madam... Madam...

Baek-Yeong, one moment

What is it? I have to get going

I told her about it

Who? The Highest Kitchen Lady?

No, the Taster Lady

Good, what did she say?

She's going to take care of it

Unless you've become intimate with him

who could explain these?

Madam! That isn't true! Truly, that isn't so!

Shut up! Tell me what you saw four days ago

I saw Lady Park and some man...

entering the warehouse together at night

You ought to pay for your sin by death

I believe she deserves to pay for her sin by death

Why are you delaying this?

Are you trying to put the whole court in chaos?!

Just let it go this time

One day has passed

Go ahead

Go to the police

I made a mistake I shouldn't have given her a day

Madam...

Are you going to tell me to let this go, too?

The only reason why I took this position of Highest Lady...

was to get rid of all those who vied for power using food

as the means, trying to exploit this position

for whatever reason or circumstances

I can't forgive the kitchen lady who fed King Moonjong pork

to overthrow him and I can't forgive the Highest Lady

who put sleeping drugs in soldiers' food during the revolution

I've been determined to set a precedent if such a thing happened

during my tenure by finding the one responsible

even if it means risking my own life

This is such an incident I know you agree with me

How could food for a human being's mouth...

be a plaything of power?!

How could a food provider want power and wealth and do such a thing?!

I know

That's why I have to go I must reveal to the world...

what has been concealed all this time

I know that, too. How could I not know your will and convictions

when I've seen them since I was five?

Then why are you trying to stop me?

But Madam... then Jang-Geum will end up dying...

I know that she hasn't done it I know because I know her

And you probably know that too

Madam! This type of thing happened long time ago, too

An innocent friend of mine died in front of my eyes

I'm afraid. I'm afraid that she trusted me...

for the first time and she'll become like my friend

and I'm afraid that I'll just have to stand there and watch her die!

That's why I can't let this go... knowing that I've been shut in...

the storage room for 10 years when such things were going on!

Madam, please save Jang-Geum

No, I can't do that

Madam! Please! Next time! Next time!

There's no next time for me There's no next time!

But Madam... then Jang-Geum will end up dying...

I know that she hasn't done it I know because I know her

And you probably know that too

I'm afraid that she trusted me...

for the first time and she'll become like my friend

and I'm afraid that I'll just have to stand there and watch her die!

That's why I can't let this go... knowing that I've been shut in

in the storage room for 10 years when such things were going on!

I'll do as you wish

Weren't you suspicious of me?

You said you'd go to the police

I'm sorry

What should we do?

Let it go and throw Jang-Geum out of the palace

I can't do that

You can't do it?

Though Jang-Geum is guilty of not speaking

Keum-Young was seen hiding something by someone else

If we are to throw out someone we must throw both of them out

But isn't the witness a close friend ofJang-Geum?

I was with her when she was a new bride so I know her very well

She is not capable of lying

Then you can do whatever you want with those two girls

Let Jang-Geum and Keum-Young go

and take them to their quarters

Then...?

Just let it go this time

Madam...

The girls haven't eaten for a long time so take care of them

Now

You troublemaker...

but that's why I like you I like the fact that...

you don't concern yourself with other things

Although that may mean more hardships for you and more worries for me

But continue to live that way Let's live that way

Jang-Geum! Jang-Geum!

Jang-Geum! Jang-Geum!

Madam, is Jang-Geum all right? How come she isn't opening her eyes?

A nurse was here. I guess she ate the roots in the storehouse

She isn't doing too bad You take care of her

Sure

Make her drink some water when she wakes up

then rice gruel, make it thicker with time

Yes, I know

You probably found out what we do around here

I can't allow such mistakes ever again

Madam... Madam... please forgive me

It's because of you...

Madam Jung has gone against her convictions to save you

Though you may think of it as receiving her grace

but to her, we've given her a lifelong scar and regret

And I feel sorry to her all the more

because her legs seem to be doing worse because of it

Anyway, it's still hard for me to understand...

why you have to make it hard for everyone like this

How come there are so many things you don't know?

Sit down

Madam, how can I repay you for my sin? Please punish me

You did enough by starving Who cares if an old lady has a scar?

The younger ones ought to live...

How can I relieve my regret by taking away an innocent person?

Madam...

You will be taking care of the kitchen anyway

There's no regret for me even if I left now

I came to the palace and lived a poetical life

and became the Highest Lady so what more could I want?

What are you doing? Don't you serve guests around here?

It's been hard, I know

Since we decided to let it go, let's completely let it go

Don't have any bitter feelings and forget about the past

Yes, ma'am

Did you bring it? What did you say it was?

This is it. It's the King's medicine called "Pure Energy from Heaven"

The 12 best medicines in the world are in this

Are you sure this is only given to the King?

Have you been deceived all your life?

Yes! Dong-Sik ate this and he had a son after 10 years!

Of course... it includes the gall of a carp that...

became a dragon after jumping up 10 yards against a water fall

The king of energy, viper...

Viper

The pollen of camellia that blossoms even in the cold winter weather

And genitals of the sea bear that mate under the full moon

The red ginseng powder that's been passed down secretly

for many generations in the Chosun Dynasty

When these ingredients are combined with...

maximowiczia chinensis, Chinese matrimony vine fruit

along with honey, you don't just get plain medicine

But you get a medicine of the gods, holy medicine

It's really made with all those rare ingredients?

"Really"? Then have I been babbling nonsense all this time? I'm leaving

So how much do you want for it? How much?

How much? Since my uncle likes money better than this cheap...

I mean, rare medicine...

just give me 5 nyang

5 nyang?!

Hey, how can it be so expensive?

Expensive? That's the first time I heard that

It's OK if you don't want it

Wait. Did we say we didn't want it? Maybe a little discount?

Since I'm not a businessman... OK, 3 nyang, then

3 nyang?

Here... here...

Hey, you!

I heard the rumors, but wasn't sure... It was you!

Sir, I deserve to die for my crime!

Take this wretch away!

Yes!

Sir...

What should we do with the others?

I'll deal with them separately so just take away this wretch!

Yes!

Sir, please have mercy! Sir!

You know your crime, right?

I didn't intend to do such a thing, but...

Are you denying your wrongdoing?

I deserve to die for doing such a thing in the palace

but I didn't touch any of His Majesty's ingredients!

Do you want to be beaten?!

I know it's a great crime to sell His Majesty's medicine...

to such lowly people, but they too are sons who have parents...

How dare you sell such medicine to a young eunuch?!

What?

If you hadn't looked down on the eunuchs

how could you have thought of selling such a thing?

He's my stepson who's become a eunuch

only four to five months ago!

I... um... I...

Do you know what kind of pain he's going through?

He's restless at nights so he runs to dancer bars

so how disgraceful is that? And how about his frustration?

It must be that good...

You're right

There's no need for more words! For the crime of insulting the eunuchs

you shall be castigated! Cut his hands!

Yes, sir!

Sir! My hands...?! Sir, please have mercy!

Please have mercy! Sir!

That can't be! That medicine can never show that effect!

He can't be troubled by it!

What are you talking about?

I'll show it to you I'll make it before you

and prove that it isn't that type of medicine

A carp that became a dragon is a lie... it's these...

And how could anyone get the genitals of a sea bear?

They're just dried frog legs

And though I said it's viper powder, it's just bean powder

Mix it with dried orange peel, licorice root, matrimony vine fruit

and starch syrup and you roll it into this

Taste it

It's the same taste, isn't it?

Yes, it is

It's not bad for the body and it shouldn't affect the stamina

If someone ate this and was troubled at night, then he's someone...

who would be troubled even by eating weeds on the road

Don't you agree, sir?

You could be right

Listen! Yes!

Take this man and cut off his hands!

Sir! Sir! Can't you see they were false accusations?

Take this man away!

Yes, sir

Have mercy! Have mercy!

Sir! Sir!

What brings you here?

I've just been ordered to bring chef Gang Duk-Gu

It must be a reward for the medicinal chicken porridge...

I made for the Prince

No, that's probably not it I think you have to go there too

Madam! Madam!

Madam, it's big trouble

What is it?

The head chef Gang Duk-Gu has been arrested

What?

Why?

His Majesty has heard that the Prince's health is bad

and ordered the head chef to make special duck porridge

And?

The Prince's arms and legs have been paralyzed after he ate it

Paralyzed? How could he be paralyzed after eating it?

I don't know

How bizarre...

But Madam, what is special duck porridge?

It's duck porridge made with vegetable worms and other herbs

Vegetable worms?

So was Gang Duk-Gu dragged to the police?

No

Are you absolutely sure you didn't put anything else in?

My uncle taught us to keep our word

I swear that I didn't put in anything else

I may have left out ingredients I received

but why would I add something? It would cost me

Jang-Geum! Madam...

Wretch! Stay seated!

Lock him in the inspection room so he can't go anywhere else!

The doctors will be asking him questions

Yes, sir!

Sir...

What happened?

This is a conspiracy

Conspiracy?

The other head chefs are envious of me

as I have the King's favor, so they must've put in something bad

Were there other chefs?

No

How can you be joking at a time like this?

Madam, I'm like this because I don't know what to do

You've tasted it, too There was nothing wrong with it

I just used whatever the doctors gave me

The only ingredients were duck and vegetable worms

so why would he collapse? Just why?

Could it be that he just fell by accident?

Was there a problem with the food?

I'm not too sure about that The doctors weren't able...

to tell what caused it, so they seem to be blaming the food

I've known him for nearly 20 years Though he jokes around a lot

he wouldn't put something in the food

And he has no reason to

I know that too, but this isn't something to be taken lightly

It concerns the Prince!

Even if it was caused by something else...

you know that the palace is a place even unlucky ones try to avoid

If we don't find the cause soon, he'll suffer a big punishment

Anyway, I have to go to the Prince's palace

The court physician is probably there You check if there was...

any problem with the food, since you know more than I do

Yes, sir

What is it? Why isn't he able to move his body?

I think the diagnosis of the doctors was right

Then... it's poison and not illness?

Yes, Your Majesty

But didn't I tell you that the only thing he ate...

was the duck porridge I ordered the chef to make?

All the herbs were from the doctors and when it was tasted

the color of the silver spoons didn't change

Yes, I heard... but I think a poisonous herb...

may have been added when that chef was making it

I heard of a poisonous herb that even silver spoons can't detect

What? There's a poisonous herb that even tasters can't detect?

Yes... I heard of it from a doctor in China when I went there last time

Is there a cure for this?

Why is there no reply? Is there a cure?

I'm sorry, but I don't know which herb it is

and if we treat him carelessly his condition might worsen

Then are you saying you can't treat him?

I'll try to find out as soon as possible, Your Majesty

Please have mercy

These are all the herbs and spices that were used

Check each one

Yes, ma'am

Ginger, pepper, salt, clove buds, cinnamon...

alpiniae katsumadaii and ginseng That's all

There was nothing added or left out

I know...

What's going on?

Ma'am...

What is it?

Someone wants to see you

Who?

Jang-Geum

What am I going to do...?

Calm down. It's surely not his fault

No, he probably made a mistake It's probably his mistake

Why? You know something?

Actually, he brought these mushrooms yesterday

but I didn't eat 'em because I'd never seen them before

What if he took the wrong mushrooms and put those in there?

Jang-Geum, I can't live without him Although I always complain

he's my only husband, so I can't live without him

Jang-Geum, you try to find a way to save him. OK?

I can't live without him

Madam, is this a poisonous mushroom by any chance?

Yes, it's panaeolus papilionaceus

Could a person be paralyzed by eating this?

No. Though it's poisonous the symptom isn't paralysis...

The person becomes slightly mad or hallucinates

So it doesn't cause paralysis?

The person will have to eat dozens of those to show such symptoms

What are we going to do?

I know. Mr. Gang will be victimized

if they keep saying it was due to poison

I know...

What are you talking about?

A court physician examined him and he said...

it was due to poison, that the chef put in

But there was no problem when tasters tried it

The doctor said there's poison that can't be detected

What?

I heard from a nurse that physicians are trying to find such poison

so they can heal the Prince

If the cause isn't found, Mr. Gang will be falsely accused

Lady Han...

What is it?

The physicians have asked to put these poisonous herbs in the porridge

They're trying to find the one that can't be detected

They said, they must find it quickly to heal the Prince

so they're asking you to do it with care

OK

Madam, I will do it

No. Aren't you close to chef Gang? You could be misunderstood

so let's give it to someone else though I understand your concern

You cook duck porridge and put these herbs in separately

Yes, ma'am

This was clearly done by those who wanted to harm the Prince

I believe we must find the responsible person

and get rid of the source

His Majesty has said we must attend to the health of the Prince first

and to postpone the inquiry

No. We can't find the source because even the physicians...

do not know what it was So we must get his confession

OK. I will go to the head of the government

and tell him to ask the King again

Did you find it?

No. There were all discolored or the silver spoon detected it

Just how did chef Gang make it that we have this problem?

There was nothing like it from the herbs that physicians sent

I think the inquiry of chef Gang will start soon

I just heard that His Majesty has given permission

Huh?

I'll go to the men's room. Hey!

Duk-Gu!

Jang-Geum! Save me! What must I do? Please save me!

You and I know, and the heavens and earth know...

that I could never do such a thing!

I shake to death even after stealing money from my own wife

How could this be possible?

They're coming

How many are they?

What should I do, Jang-Geum? What must I say?

I say anything when I'm beaten!

Jang-Geum, tell me what I should say...

It'll hurt very much. What must I do?

It's not me. You know that too

You shouldn't think such things

If you didn't do it, you must tell them...

you didn't do it all the way to the end

I'll try to find the reason no matter what happens

so you must not give a false confession. OK?

I don't know... tell me once more, Jang-Geum

Take him away!

Jang-Geum! Save me!

Let's talk here

I'm weak, so please hit me a little bit at a time...

Duck, vegetable worm, ginger, pepper, salt, clove buds...

cinnamon, alpiniae katsumadaii, and ginseng...

This is strange

What happened? Did he get arrested?

Yes

It's surely not him

I know. It's obvious that he's like me...

who wouldn't do such a thing even if someone paid him

How can we trust him?

Dishonest people like you don't trust others, but we do

You want to fight with me again?

It's time for the lesson How can you be chatting like this?

We'll make a pheasant casserole today

Are you all prepared?

Yes, ma'am

Pheasant meat purifies blood and lowers blood pressure

and stops dysentery too Then what must you not eat it with?

You taught us you shouldn't eat it with...

walnut, auricularia, buckwheat, chives, or soybean

It isn't good for the heart & brain

Yes, there are many properties to one ingredient that can change...

depending on what you mix it with and determines whether...

it's good for the body This is called food harmony

You put in clove buds to get rid of the smell when cooking pork

but if you put in curcuma aromatia salisbury...

or medicinal decoction, the person can feel nauseated and vomit

Clove buds... curcuma...

And...

Jang-Geum?

What must you not eat with crucian carp?

If you eat it with garlic you can get a fever, and if you...

eat it with leaf mustard, pig liver, chicken, pheasant or deer meat

you can get abscess. And if you eat it with medicinal lily leaves

you could die. Madam, let me go somewhere for a moment

What?

I think the duck porridge had such a combination. I must find out

Duk-Gu is like a father to me I'll be right back

Go ahead

May I ask you something?

I heard that the Prince had eaten the duck porridge for his bad health

So what medicine did he take before the duck porridge?

He couldn't sleep well at night and he seemed to be restless

so we gave him some nutmeg oil

Nutmeg... what medicine is that?

Envoys to China brought some of it, so I don't know much about it

Could the Prince's paralysis be related to that?

I don't think so. He took it for 3 to 4 days without any problems

OK

Nutmeg... nutmeg...

What is nutmeg?

Did you find out anything?

Madam, have you ever heard of nutmeg?

I did hear that it's used as a spice in China

Spice?

It's rare in Chosun

Then there's no problem with it as a food ingredient?

I'm not sure, since we haven't used it. But I did hear...

that they use it after extracting the oil for some reason

After extracting the oil?

The nurse told me, he had some of that oil for calming down

It must've been used as a medicine then

It's been a long time What have you been doing?

Something came up I'm sorry for breaking the promise

No problem

I'm sorry, but can I borrow another book?

Sure. What would you like this time?

It's called "Book of Spices and Medicines"

"Book of Spices and Medicine?" Isn't that a medical book?

Yes

Then do you read medical books too?

I just have to read one now

Follow me

OK

Nutmeg, it's used for diarrhea or indigestion

And though its oil is used for chronic arthritis

if it's used in large amounts it can stiffen the body

stiffen the body... stiffen the body...

But she said she only gave little amounts to help him sleep

Yeah

And besides, could physicians be that ignorant?

Yeah...

I know you're worried about Mr. Gang, but what can you do

when even the physicians couldn't figure it out...

It should be resolved soon

What if they don't figure it out?

I must at least try If this doesn't get resolved...

he will suffer great torment or this is big enough...

for him to receive a poison bowl

poison... poison...

ginseng... ginseng!

There's no improvement with the Prince

So this...

Madam! Madam! Come out! Come out!

What's this commotion about?

Madam, Jang-Geum is... Jang-Geum is...

What happened?

Madam, I got it! I got it!