Original subtitles

- Episode 4 -

For work that you do everyday, how can you not meet the time?

I'm sorry.

What is this?

Didn't the Royal Clinic tell you to bring milk porridge because His Majesty has become weak?

Yes, but...

Redo it immediately and offer it up again.

Madam...

What is it?

They brought the wrong snack from the kitchen so we're sending them back.

They brought the wrong snack from the kitchen so we're sending them back.

What did they bring? Just bring it in.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What are these?

Lotus root soup and a ginger snack

Ginger snack?

Then are they made from ginger starch?

Yes.

The doctors told me to eat ginger biscuits for a painful throat and I didn't eat it because I didn't like it.

But now they've even sent it up here in the form of a tasty-looking snack.

But now they've even sent it up here in the form of a tasty-looking snack.

It's really delicious.

I don't like the smell of ginger but since it done like this I don't smell it.

So what happened?

Everything went well.

I lost 10 years off my life. I was scared to death thinking I would be immediately dragged away.

My back is soaked in a cold sweat.

Which residence are you from?

They told me that they're still apprentice palace maids without even an assignment.

How reckless of you!

You just came into the palace and you're wandering around like this?

How dare you come in here!

I know. If I think of how shocked I was because of them my heart is still pounding.

Troublemakers...

What should I do with them?

Put them in the storage for now and tell the Trainer Lady.

Yes, Madam.

Get in!

Yeon Saeng! Yeon Saeng! Yeon Saeng!

Yeon Saeng! Yeon Saeng! Save us! Save us!

Please open the door. Yeon Saeng is hurt!

Can't you shut your mouth?! Stop with your fussing and stay quiet.

It's for real. Yeon Saeng is hurt.

Even if you were quietly reflecting you'd probably be kicked out. What's the meaning of this fuss?

How dare you trivialize the palace rules.

But Yeon Saeng is hurt!

Be quiet! Don't make any noise until we open the door. Understand?

Please save us! Save us.

Yeon Saeng! Yeon Saeng! Yeon Saeng! Yeon Saeng!

What? They ran away during the night? Who saw them? Who?

I saw them. When I saw Jang Geum and Yeon Saeng going out, I thought they were going to the bathroom

but when I looked this morning they still hadn't come back.

Just how did you watch over the children?

They were definitely in the room even when we were going to sleep.

If superiors find out, they'll grill us.

What are we going to do?

She caused trouble after all...

What do you mean?

She was brought in despite of her dubious background by the request of

attendant lady for some reason. But she had to bring in trouble.

The Queen's chamber isn't where they pick out apprentice palace maids.

That's what I'm saying.

Anyhow, since we aren't hearing anything from the royal guards

they weren't caught trying to escape. So you two

secretly walk around the palace and find out if

there are any troubles that have risen because of the children. And you go to Chef Kang Duk Goo's home.

Yes.

Did you bring it?

Yes, Madam.

Put it down.

Yes, Madam.

Open it.

Yes, Madam.

Okay, go ahead and unload them.

Yes, ma'am.

Unload them.

-Here. -Oh!

This is the jade ring you asked for.

It's so pretty! Here...

You have to pay a lot more than this.

That's all I have.

You asked for a silver hairpin, right? Here

It's so pretty.

Here.

This isn't enough. Give me just one more.

Then take these.

You have to pay at least 3 for this erotic picturebook.

You said that price would be enough.

This book is only read in the bedroom of the...

Royal Chamber of the Chinese Imperial Household and in it...

What are you doing here?

What is it?

Nothing. A new cookbook came from China and they said that they were curious so I showed it to them for a moment.

Really? May I take a look, too?

No, there are no pictures, it's only full of words so there's nothing to see. Oh, right.

You know Palace Lady Park? She's in big trouble.

Why? Did you find her?

No ... it's trouble because I haven't been able to find her.

I went to Euju and I sent people to Dongnae to look for her,

but no one was able to find her.

It's already been 2 years ... I wonder what happened to her.

Don't lose hope. We'll find her soon.

I have connections in many places and people...

and I've posted my guys at every outpost so I'm sure there will be good news soon.

Yes, I'll put the request to you.

By the way, Lady Han, can I ask you for one favor?

A girl I'd adopted about 2 years ago came here as an apprentice palace girl.

She's probably under training and

I'd like you to take care of her.

Her parents passed away and she came without any background,

so it's obvious that she'd be an outcast here. You know very well also, don't you?

If you take her next to you and watch her you may find her likable too. She's very smart and good-natured.

I see. What's her name?

Her name is Jang Geum, Seo Jang Geum.

If I get the chance I'll do so.

Considering I drew it, it's a great drawing.

Excuse me...

What are you doing?

Do you know them?

No.

Which quarters are you from?

We are trainers of new apprentice palace girls, and we're looking for two of them.

Two apprentice palace girls?

I went to the Trainer Court Lady's room last night, but she wasn't there.

I was going to tell her early this morning, but I was busy preparing breakfast

and I forgot about them.

How could you be so absent-minded? Are you saying the kids

are still in the storehouse?

Yes.

What happened here?

I think she hurt her arm when she fell off the fireplace last night.

Did you lock them up even knowing this?

No. I didn't know about it at all.

Did you tie that for her?

Yes.

Did you find and put St. John's wart and agrimony on her?

Yes... she wouldn't stop bleeding...

You found those in this mess here?

Yes.

Knowing that those are for stopping the blood?

Yes ... They did that in the town I used to live in ...

What's your name?

Jang Geum! Jang...

You're already in here?

Court Lady Han, she is that Jang Geum. Smart and good-natured...

You wenches!

You wench!

You said yourself that Yeon Saeng had no fault, so you have to get beaten for her share too.

Do you understand?

You're not qualified to be a court lady.

From now on, you should stop learning in here, so go out and clean!

Madam!

I said, get out!

Did you see well what happens if you break the rules?

From now on, there should never be any scandalous behaviors. Do you understand?

Yes, ma'am.

Recite the ranks of the Inner Court.

Bi, Bin, Gw Jin, So Ui, Su Gui So Yong, Su Gyong, So Won, Su Gwon ...

Ranks of court ladies...

Sang Gung, San Gui, Sang Bok, Sang Sik, Sang Chim, Sang Gong, Sang Jeong, Sang Gi...

Next.

Jeon Bin, Jeon Ui, Jeon Seon, Jeon Seol Jeon Je, Jeone On, Jeon Chan, Jeon Sik...

Next, Ministry of Literature.

Yeong Sa, Dae Je Hak, Je Hak, Bu Je Hak...

Jeon Han, Eung Gyo, Bu Eun Gyo, Gyo Ri, Bu Gyo Ri, Su Chan, Bu Su Chan..

Put your right hand on top and as you go down with left knee bent first, kneel your right knee too,

and put right and left feet together.

That's right. One more time.

Put your right hand on top and as you go down with left knee first,

kneel your right knee too, and put right and left feet together.

Okay. One more time.

Put your right hand on top and as you go down with left knee first,

kneel your right knee too, and put right and left feet together.

Okay. One more time...

So my eyes clearly weren't wrong.

I saw you in a different light too.

When you were planning the dethronement with Sir Oh Gyum Ho, who never took an exam and only went around drunk,

I was so worried.

Now he has entered the Royal Cabinet and

our family future will have no difficulties.

But the power of reformers who have rendered their services have separated themselves,

we don't know what will happen yet.

That's why I've found him to be the right man.

What do you mean?

Do you know how I came to choose Sir Park Won Jong

among many different reforming parties?

As I saw Sir Oh Gyum Ho at the Courtesan House everyday,

I realized it at that moment. "Ah ... he is looking for a reforming party."

He's someone who keeps a low profile as much as possible and makes a decision very cautiously.

Perhaps, Sir Oh Gyum Ho will continue to do that.

He will be ... faithful to the work he is assigned to.

He's someone who will succeed.

If he's someone you trust that much arrange for us to become step-siblings...

Step-siblings?

Yes. I heard rumors that distinguished retainers and the court ladies from different quarters,

are making step-siblings already.

Sure, I'll arrange that.

By the way, Pil Du said something strange.

Chef Kang Duk Goo's adopted child went in as an apprentice palace girl

and he thinks she's Palace Lady Park's child.

What? Palace Lady Park's child?

Yes.

Didn't you say it was a boy?

Yes, I did. It was clearly a boy.

How can a boy become a court lady?

That's what I thought too, but Pil Du who have seen the child at the closest distance is saying this ...

So I'm not sure what's going on.

Tomorrow, Court Ladies from each chambers will come,

and test you on what you have learned so far, and choose some of you.

If you aren't chosen by any of them, you'll have to leave the palace,

so do a good job of showing what you've learned here.

Yes, ma'am

Madam, will Jang Geum take the test, too?

Rules of the Palace are extremely strict. Jang Geum cannot have that chance.

Madam! I will never do that again. Please let me take the test, too.

No!

Please let me take the test.

Didn't I say no?

I will do anything you say, I'll receive any punishment.

Please let me take it.

Will you come to your senses if you're whipped until your calves bleed?

I'd rather receive the whipping. Madam. Just hit me and don't kick me out.

I must stay in the palace. I must stay in the palace.

Who are you that you must stay in the palace?

I... I...

I have no place to go.

You have no place to go. That's why you have to stay at the palace?

Sure, then do this. From now until the time the test ends tomorrow,

fill that big basin with water and hold it.

Then I will think highly of your devotion, and let you take the test.

Will you do that?

Yes, I will.

You must not spill a single drop of water.

Yes, ma'am.

You should be standing.

She only said I must not spill the water.

Don't cry. Why are you crying?

She didn't say I couldn't cry.

Then put it down. I'm so sleepy.

I can't...

Go ahead and start.

What's your name?

Han Go Mi.

How old are you?

You should speak to her.

It's all right.

She must've been nervous.

Take her out.

Clean it quickly. Next!

Differentiate between Dae Gham, Young Gham and Nauri.

Rank 2 and up are called Dae Gham,

and Deputy Rank 2, and Rank 3 are Young Gham.

And everything under Deputy Rank 3 is called Nauri.

What do you call the Jik-Jae-Hauk of royal scribes?

It's Nauri.

Recite the rules of speech and conduct for the household.

What you keep inside the heart is affection. And what comes out of the mouth is speech.

The tongue can change glory to slander and

friendship to negligence, and it can easily make what's stable leave...

Noh Chang.

Yes.

Chae Ryun.

Yes.

One child is missing.

How can that be? We didn't leave any out.

Did you count all the children?

Yes, we did.

What's going on? What happened?

What happened here?

Jang Geum poured water over me all of sudden.

Is that true?

Actually, Young Ro touched the basin first.

I did it to the end. Please let me take the test.

What's going on here?

I said, what's going on here?

Actually, I didn't let her take the test because...

her speech and conduct weren't fit to be a court lady.

What's with the basin?

She kept on asking me to let her take the test.

So I told her, if she held the basin till the end of the test as punishment,

I'd give her the chance...

From when did she start standing like this?

From last night...

What? She's been like this all night?

What has she done?

She went to a place she shouldn't have gone.

Come inside.

We tell no lies in the palace.

Since the trainer lady promised you I'll let you take the test.

Your words won't be a lie either, so if your answers are not good enough

you'll be leaving the palace. Do you understand?

Yes.

We'll start now. Listen carefully. You already know that Rank 3, even though it's called the same Rank 3,

is divided into upper and lower levels. And the upper are called Young Gham

and the lower, Nauri. You know this, right?

Yes.

Then tell me all of the ranks of Rank Jung 3.

All of them?

Yes, all of them.

Do-Jung ofJong-Chin-Bu, Bu-Wi of Ui-Bin-Bu,

Do-Jung of Don-Nyung-Bu...

Do-Seung-Ji, Jwa-Wu-Seung-Ji, Jwa-Wu-Bu-Seung-Ji,

Dong-Bu-Seung-Ji of Seung-Jung-Won,

Dae-Sa-Gan of Sa-Gan-Won...

Cham-Chan-Gwan for meetings, Sang-On-Gwan of Eunuchs' Department,

None in Ministry of Finance, Bu-Je-Hak of Hong-Mun-Gwan from the Ministry of Administration,

Su-Chan-Gwan of Chun-Chu-Gwan, Dae-Sa-Sung of Institute of Learning,

Pan-Gyul-Sa of Ministry of Jurisdiction,

and local ministers for outer officers.

Next.

Zhuge Liang went to fight against Liu Bei, but because he had...

traveled such a long distance, he couldn't keep up. Caught in between a rock and a hard place,

Cao Cao commanded something in code and the generals withdrew.

Do you know what the secret code was?

It is Gyer Reuk. There isn't much to eat on the ribs of chicken

although it does seem like a waste to throw it away

Jo-Jo used this metaphor to tell the generals to withdraw.

Okay. Take her with you and get her prepared.

Thank you, Madam.

If you cause such a commotion again

you'll be kicked out immediately. Okay?

Yes.

It probably wasn't easy for...

a little kid like you to hold that basin all night

Why do you want to stay in the palace so badly?

It's all right. You can tell me

I want to be the Head Court Lady of the Royal Kitchen.

Madam, how can I be the Head Court Lady as soon as possible?

Get me a bowl of drinking water.

Bring me a bowl of drinking water!

Yes, ma'am.

Madam...

Bring it again.

Do I have to tell you everything twice?

Yes, ma'am.

When you wake up tomorrow morning bring it again.

Jang Geum, we have to greet the Head Court Lady,

so gather up by 10:00am.

-Dress up to nicely when you come. -Okay.

Chang Yee!

Does your court lady tell you to bring water, too?

Water? No.

Really? Okay.

I brought the water.

Bring it again tonight.

Sandstorms are covering the entire nation so we decided

to perform religious services on the 7th day of this month.

You can take care of the sacrificial food.

Yes, ma'am.

It is big trouble. Even during the time

of the great King Sejong, sandy rain came for 22 days

and it turned out to be a year of bad harvest.

I know. When His Majesty had not enthroned too long ago that there's such a dark forecast.

Madam, I'm Jang Geum.

What is it? Come in.

What is it?

I'm here to greet the Head Court Lady.

Greeting? I didn't give such an order.

How dare you come in here?

Madam, did you call for me?

Take this girl to Jo Bang Hee.

Yes, ma'am.

I heard that you were a troublemaker.

What are you doing on your first day here?!

I was told to greet her.

Who told you?

Chang Yee did...

It took me 4 years to get into the Royal Kitchen.

How dare you enter the Head Court Lady's place!

And what's with your dress? Did you come here for a performance?

Wash all these bowls.

And what are you doing?! Organize those bowls! Hurry!

It's Young Ro again, right?

Is your court lady good to you?

Yes, she says I'm cute and she gives me dried persimmons and tells me old stories.

She can even sing!

She doesn't ask you to bring water?

She brings water to me.

Why? Is your court lady scary?

She only tells me to bring water.

Water?

Yes, water.

During King Sejong's era because of sandstorms

they sent out the court ladies.

Why?

Because they believed it was caused

by grudges of the court ladies.

Then we can go out too?

You'd like that?

I mean ... I think it would be fun outside of the palace.

I don't want to. Even if they tell me to leave I won't ever go.

Where else can you eat so much delicious food?

Do you live only to eat?

It's not just eating, but eating delicious food.

I'm done.

Did you wash the cauldrons by the well?

That...

Wash those, too

Yes.

I'll check them tomorrow morning, so wash them cleanly. Okay?

Yes.

She reminds me of you when you first came in

What?

You kept eating the good food from older girls' tables

so you had to stay later every night and do the dishes until late.

Why did you remind me of that? I still get mad when I think about it.

What's this?

I remembered the saying, "willow leaves in the well".

Bring it again tomorrow morning.

Is Jang Geum doing well?

Yes ... since she is not well controlled I'm not bringing her into our work area yet

so I'm only having her wash dishes.

So there's nothing special that you're having her do, but you're saying that you're only having her wash dishes?

Yes.

Does she have to come early or leave later than others?

No. There isn't anything like that.

Okay.

Madam! Madam!

What's the trouble this early in the morning?

Queen Dowager's kitchen is in chaos.

Go to the Queen Dowager's kitchen now. They're all waiting.

How did the food changed like this?

I don't know. She wanted to eat early in the morning

so we prepared the ingredients last night and

the food this morning and it turned out like this.

That doesn't make any sense.

There must have been a problem with the ingredients.

But for that to be true it's strange that all the dishes turned like this.

Who manages the ingredients here?

I do.

Did you manage it properly?

Yes, I received it from the food department last night and

there was nothing wrong with them for sure.

How strange...

Madam! We're in trouble!

What is it?

They say food in the Prince's palace is strange too.

Is that true?

It's not as bad as here, but several dishes have been spoiled.

Madam, the main kitchen...

Let's go. Whose shift is it today?

It's Lady Shin.

Is anything wrong here?

Pardon? What do you mean?

How is it?

It's fine.

This one's fine, too.

I'm relieved for now.

What's this? What do you think you're doing?

What do you mean the dishes and the vegetables haven't arrived?

Who's in charge of the dishes that they're still not done?

What are you going to do about this morning's meal?

Jo Bang, what's going on?

I clearly told her to finish it up last night.

Who is it? Who?

Is it Jang Geum?

Yes.

Jang Geum, what are you doing here?

I was...

What were you doing?

I was still washing the dishes...

You've been boiling this water to wash dishes?

Yes.

Why?

The sandstorm made the water in the well dirty

so I had to boil water to wash dishes and cool it to wash vegetables

Who told you to do that?

No, it's not that...

Then you did it on your own?

My mother told me that when there is yellow dust in the air

water becomes dirty, dirt goes in the food and it smells and...

it makes food spoil faster so this is what she always did.

She said not many people know this simple method, and that's why diseases spread

when there are sandstorms.

If you knew the water was dirty, why didn't you tell me?

We let the sand settle down and only used the clean water on the top.

And since there hasn't been any problem in doing it that so far...

During all that time is during all that time,

but isn't this year the year that we're making the offerings because of the severest of sandstorms!

I'm sorry.

And how is it that the other new maids weren't doing the dishes with her. Why was she was the only one washing dishes?

Did you all make a plan trying to cast her out?

No, we would never do that.

I told them not to...

Mean spirited girls...

You all do the dishes again. Keum Mul and Gui Yul should tell this

to Queen Dowager's Kitchen and the Prince's Kitchen

and have them do the same thing there.

Yes, ma'am.

You girls, too!

Yes, ma'am.

Bring me some water.

Bring me some water.

Why do you keep asking for water? I can't bring warm nor cold water,

nor water with leaves.

You already know.

Why did you boil dirty rainwater?

I saw my mother doing it.

Why did your mother do it?

She was worried I might get sick.

Would you bring me water?

Is your lower stomach aching?

No.

Did you go to the bathroom today?

I did.

Is your throat sore?

It gets sore very often.

I put a little salt in warm water. Don't drink it at once,

but drink it slowly like tea.

Okay, thanks.

She asked you that many questions when she gave you a bowl of water?

Yes, she asked me if my lower stomach ached, whether my throat hurt

and she asked me so many other detailed questions. She sometimes gave me

cold water, warm water or sometimes sweet water.

Yes, asking such questions was the reason...

why I asked you to bring water.

Before you make the food, you must check the condition of the person eating the food

and likes and dislikes and what's tolerable and what's not.

Thinking of such things is what is involved in cooking food.

But you knew this through your mother.

Your mother is truly a great person.

Your mother knows that even water becomes food when it's in the bowl

and she knows it's important to think of the people eating the food.

She knows food is the attitude of the heart

toward a person. I didn't know that you're a daughter

of such a great person and only thought of you as others do as a child without a mother or father,

with her heart at the forefront, always trying to please superiors.

What I did to correct your temperament,

instead I have learned something from you instead.

Stop crying. And don't cry from now on.

I didn't like it when you said that you wanted

to become the Head Court Lady as soon as possible.

I don't know why you do, but, if you're weak-hearted

you cannot become the Head Court Lady that you really want to be.

You girls take over here and you girls follow me.

Yes.

You just need to put pine needles into the pine nuts.

There are so many.

So many? We've done it too.

How do you do it?

You see the hole in the nut? Just put the pine needle in it.

How can you put it into such a small hole?

What do you mean, how? You just put it in.

Why do you guys talk so much?! Can't you just do it?!

Yes.

Yeon Saeng, what's wrong? Were you scolded by your court lady?

My turtle died.

What?

When I was entering the palace, Mother told me that...

if the turtle is still alive, it means she's not sick, so I shouldn't worry.

Is your mother sick?

Yes, very much...

I'm sorry to hear that...

Won't you be quiet?

Geum Young secretly started practicing again.

Really? What did she say?

I don't know, only the Head Court Lady

and Lady Choi know about it.

Then we can't win again.

They're too much. They always only tell us 5 days before.

Who can't win practicing earlier like that?

Is it only that? We're always putting pine needles into nuts, peeling garlic and ginger,

but she didn't have to do that at all and started with knife use training as soon as she came in.

I know. If it was putting pine needles into nuts, we'd probably win.

They don't do things like that and they always test whatever Geum Young's good at.

That's why she always wins first place and goes on

a vacation outside the palace. I haven't been home

once since I came here 7 years ago.

So do something about it this time.

How?

There's a apprentice palace girl who entered Lady Choi's residence this time.

She might know something.

- That's right! - Yes!

Why you...!

I think I heard it was "Yong Jae Sun," but I don't know what that is.

If it's "Yong Jae Sun," isn't that

making a dragon shape with bean sprouts?

I've seen Lady Han doing it before.

That's right! Bun Yee, this time we might have a chance.

How?

We have our bean sprouts that we raise. We can practice with those.

Yes, if we practice the same way she does, the likes of Geum Young won't be a problem.

Let's show her properly this time.

Then let's task them with what we were doing,

and Young Ro and Chang Yee and Chae Ryun. You do the pasting of the seaweeds.

Yes.

Jang Geum, Yeun Saeng, you take responsibility for fitting the pine needles into nuts.

Since it can't show that we're missing,

you must finish everything at the decided hour. Understand?

Yes.

Young Ro, you can go inside after just finishing with that.

Yes.

Who's Geum Young anyway?

She's an apprentice palace maid in the Head Kitchen Lady's room.

She's also the granddaughter of the Head Kitchen Lady

and the niece of Court Lady Choi.

But how could you tell the Unnies like that?

They can't win anyway.

My uncle told me that she learned to cook before she even learned to talk.

She's a prodigy.

I miss my mom.

Yeon Saeng, you miss your mom?

What are you doing not turning off the lights?!

We have to finish all of these first.

No! Turn off the lights right now!

We'll get in trouble if we don't finish.

No! No! You have to turn them off.

Who are you?

I'm a soldier in the fire & light department.

What's that?

What's that? I'm the soldier that turns the lights off. Hurry up and turn it off!

What now? We can't turn on the lights when Madam is sleeping.

I will take care of it so you can go to sleep.

I don't think that you could even sleep well last night thinking of your mom.

But...

It's all right

Then I'll request it.

We must be destined to meet only at nights.

Oh! Are you that girl from the King's palace?

Yes, that's right.

Good to see you!

What are you doing here at night?

This is because of an apprentice unni named Geum Young.

Why?

She's someone related to the Head Kitchen Lady.

Whenever there are competitions

they she always wins first place because the Ladies secretly teach her things.

And she always takes vacations outside the palace by herself.

So?

But this time, they said that they found out what the competition will be.

So the older girls are practicing while we've been left to do all the work.

They can win if they practice?

They said they can win if they practice the same way.

They said that she hasn't practiced pine needles and nuts

so if they competed with this, they said that they would win for sure.

And someone else said that she's a food prodigy

learning how to cook before learning how to talk.

I'm not sure what to believe, but I have to finish this.

- Don't try to see it with the moon light. - Huh?

Don't try to see it. It's harder if you try to see it.

Then?

Focus on the tip of your fingers.

Does that work?

They make apprentices do this, so they can

sensitize the tips of their fingers.

Because they don't know this, their cooking skills don't improve.

Put the nut at the tip of your finger and roll it slowly.

You can feel it, right?

Yes, it's amazing.

But how did you know?

I heard the court ladies talking about it.

Not only in the Royal Kitchen, but other apprentices in other areas start with this kind of thing too.

Is that so? Thank you.

Wow! It went in!