Original subtitles

BON APPÉTIT, YOUR MAJESTY

Hey, there are people.

Over here! We're over here!

Who is down there?

- We're over-- - Miss!

What--

Why are you stopping me, Gil-geum?

Chaehong.

What?

Chaehong!

CHAEHONG: THE SELECTION OF BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND HORSES DURING YEONHUIGUN'S REIGN

Wait, that's actually the chaehong happening right now?

Yes.

We might also get dragged away,

so follow me.

This is unbelievable.

After all I have been through to hide from them,

there is no way I am getting taken away like this.

Where do you think you are sneaking off to?

SEO GIL-GEUM GIRL WITH HEIGHTENED SENSE OF SMELL

This is kidnapping!

This is a crime! Let us out right now!

- Miss! - Be quiet!

- Mister! - Please stop. Screaming will not help.

Are you telling me to just keep quiet?

What is this place anyway?

A prison in the governor's office.

We are here for the chaehong.

This is just ridiculous!

You girls. Keep quiet.

Can you not tell where we are by the looks of it?

None of us wants or deserves to be here.

- That is right. - Yes.

If you keep shouting,

I will sew your lips shut.

You are here for the chaehong, for goodness' sake.

This can't be real.

This is just unbelievable.

Truly unbelievable.

Why do you keep saying that it is unbelievable?

This prison looks like it would be in a folk village…

and everyone's wearing hanbok.

This is so weird.

Everything's so weird.

What the…

Did I really land in Joseon?

Is this even possible?

Miss.

Even if the sky falls in, there is always a way out.

We should try to stay strong.

So this place…

is Joseon, right?

How many times must I tell you so?

- Open this door! - Miss!

- Mister! - What is all this ruckus?

Be quiet!

I'm not from here. Please let me go!

Oh my! What are you doing to her?

What do I do? Help!

Let me go! No!

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

- I swear, you misters… - Save us!

So I was right. I did travel back in time.

What is this, a fantasy novel? How could this even be possible?

What a surprise!

Madam Yeon Ji-young from Korea!

Congratulations! Please step forward!

I'll be the head chef of a Michelin three-star restaurant!

Well done. I'm so proud of you.

DAD…

I JUST GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A HEAD CHEF…

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

WHY ON EARTH?

Oh, that's hot! "Mangunrok"?

What?

I'm right here, you know!

Who are you? Are you human or a ghost?

A rebel?

If this is the Joseon Dynasty

and what he said is true…

I see you finally get it.

I am the king of this country.

Is this a dragon?

Fine.

Once we return to the palace,

I will grant you a royal favor.

Grant a royal favor?

He actually is the king?

Everything on this land belongs to me.

There is no member of the royal family I do not know of.

Who on earth is this Yeonhuigun?

Is he Yeonhuigun?

First, I have to get out of here.

I'll get out and find a way back somehow.

What is happening?

Step outside.

- Pardon? - Sorry?

Where are we going?

Where are we going?

What do you think, my lord?

- Left. - Go to the left.

Come here. Stand in front of us.

- Look up. How old are you? - I am 20.

- Gil-geum, what are they doing? - Left.

It looks like they are dividing the women into two groups.

The chaehong inspector must be coming.

Chaehong inspector?

Are you saying I could become the king's woman?

You never know.

That does not happen to just anyone who is picked.

This is driving me insane.

What a disaster.

Miss, it is a disaster for everyone here.

That's not what I mean.

I'm not from here!

You think you can avoid the chaehong if you are not from here?

That's not the point.

Next.

Why are you standing there? Step forward.

Come on over.

How old are you?

I'm 27.

Left.

- You are too old. - What?

- He said you are too old. - Next.

Step forward.

Why are you standing and gawping?

I am 30 years old.

How insolent! You should not lie.

You look to be about 17.

Then what about 28?

Left.

Next.

Go to the left.

Come on.

Gil-geum.

This is a relief, but for some reason…

I am a little insulted.

Women on the right, go to the annex and dress up.

Women on the left,

go to the chanbang and help prepare the jeopbingaek.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

"Chanbang"?

Your Majesty, this was found by the stream.

Oh my gosh, I'm aching all over.

What a weird day this has been.

YI HEON KING OF JOSEON

Was there anything else?

Judging by the footprints of the guards,

it seems they were taken to the governor's office.

So it seems she walked right into it.

Let us go.

Yes, Your Majesty.

To the Gyeonggi Governor's Office!

- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!

COURSE Nº 2 SOUS VIDE CUISINE

Get moving.

This place really looks just like what I saw in the dramas.

This is real brassware.

- It's soy sauce. - "Soy sauce"?

It's rich.

Is this vinegar?

- I think it's vinegar. - Gosh, it is sour.

This is called "dunggumi."

It is a basket used for storing grain or vegetables.

"Dunggumi."

A cast-iron brazier.

They use this to cook meat or fish.

This is quite rare.

There's a gridiron too.

- We call that "jeokcheol." - "Jeokcheol."

JEOKCHEOL: TOOL USED TO COOK MEAT AND FISH

That's a beoseon-tip knife.

BEOSEON-TIP KNIFE: A KNIFE SHAPED LIKE A POINTED SOCK

The tip really points up and is sharp.

Goodness me, how can you cook when you do not know anything?

What are you two brats doing?

Are you lolling about here?

- "Lolling"? - Hurry up and get to work!

Okay. Sorry.

Miss, we should hurry up and get to work.

- What can we-- - Gil-geum.

Working fast won't get us anywhere.

What does that mean?

What are you cooking?

Can you not tell?

Look at this slippery thing. I am cooking seaweed soup.

Why are you cutting the radish?

- To make radish soup. - What?

But she's cooking seaweed soup over there.

- What? - This has got to be a joke.

Everyone, who told you to do whatever you're doing?

Would we be doing this if we knew?

The kitchen maids ran away last night.

Why did they leave?

I have no idea.

Why does that matter?

Are you going to stand there and slack off?

We should at least know who we're cooking for.

Does anyone know anything?

Do you know?

Do you?

No.

- The shoot tips are fresh. - They are.

Miss.

There are not many ingredients,

but the ones remaining are pretty fresh.

You're right. It's not that they weren't prepared.

The ingredients disappeared,

almost as if someone ran off with them.

What?

Gather round, everyone.

I see you are all hard at work.

Someone high up is visiting from Hanyang.

If you do not serve them a meal with nine side dishes,

it will be an absolute disaster.

So use every last bit of strength you have to prepare the meal.

This is pure madness.

All I ever made was soybean paste soup,

and now you want a meal with nine side dishes?

Wait, mister.

What?

I'm sorry to ask this, but why should we prepare that?

You were not taken for the chaehong.

Then you should send us all home.

You were brought here,

and you cannot leave without permission.

But we didn't commit any crime.

How dare you talk back to me?

Do you need a good flogging to come to your senses?

Miss, you really need to stop.

If we do this well,

will you let us go?

If you were to prepare a great meal, then I guess so.

All right then.

How old are the visitors?

What? You mean their age?

What food do they like? Meat? Seafood?

Are they allergic…

- I mean, is there anything they can't eat? - How would I know?

Stop yapping and get to work. Now!

Wait.

Cooking food isn't the same as making an object.

It's not something you can just throw together.

Are you saying you want me to find out all those details?

You said they were important people.

Do you just want me to do as I please?

Cooking is about putting your heart into the dish.

My goodness.

Who are you?

Well, I'm not from here.

I'm a chef…

I mean, I'm a cook.

I can't cook a good meal

without knowing anything about the guests.

You are quite the brazen one.

How dare you make up such an excuse?

It's not an excuse.

Everyone here is new to this kitchen,

and there are almost no ingredients.

What would happen if we chose to cook the wrong dish?

You don't want that, do you?

What you said…

is correct.

- My word. - Oh, save me.

What do you suggest we do?

I need to know basic details like the guests' tastes,

their age, and their occupation.

And once you know that,

will you be able to complete a dish

that will satisfy them within the given time?

It'll be the guests who decide whether they like the food or not,

but I'm confident.

Even though the ingredients are insufficient?

Even so, there's still a shot if the food is to the guests' taste

and it's made with care.

Using the best ingredients

doesn't always mean you make the best dish.

Oh my, miss.

Very well.

However, you must take responsibility for what you said.

One wrong move, and you could lose your life.

My life?

Then I have a condition too.

A condition?

If the guests are satisfied with my food,

I want you

to release us all tonight.

Very well.

Follow me.

Listen carefully.

Today's guests

are the father and son from the powerful and influential Im family.

The father is Im Seo-hong, the Second Minister of Works,

a seasoned official who has held various key positions

since the late king's reign.

His son, Chief Royal Secretary Im Song-jae,

is an uibin married to Princess Hwisuk, the king's half-sister.

UIBIN: HUSBAND OF A PRINCESS

Block this!

Im Song-jae was the Crown Prince's cohort,

and he and the king are close friends who grew up together.

Stop right there, Song-jae!

Come forth!

Out of the way, fool.

They ruined countless families

by using the chaehong as an excuse.

Be gentle!

They are especially picky about the jeopbingaek,

which is the hospitality meal.

You may serve the best food you can,

and yet they always find fault with it.

What is this?

Once you get on their wrong side,

you must offer a great bribe.

If you cannot afford that,

you are likely to be tortured.

Does that answer your questions?

What? They nitpick about the food served to them?

They're the absolute worst, aren't they?

I should teach them

that they shouldn't mess around with food.

You need to prepare a table for four.

Get to it.

Okay.

Don't forget our promise.

Okay. Gather round, everyone.

- What? - What now?

Thanks for speaking up for us.

- That was something. - You were great.

Not at all. We all have to get out alive.

We're cooking for very picky guests,

and we need to make four portions.

We don't have much time, so we must decide what to do first.

Will you all follow my lead?

Of course. It is all or nothing.

Do not even worry.

While waiting for you to get back,

we gathered all the ingredients we could find.

Did you? Where are they?

- Right here. - They are all here.

This is great.

Everyone has different tastes.

But the guests today are noblemen,

and influential ones at that.

They won't be satisfied with just any dish.

There's nothing.

There's nothing to serve as a main dish.

It's meat.

- Gosh. - That is big.

It's fresh.

I found it hidden away in a pot.

You certainly do have the nose of a dog. Good job.

Well done.

All right. I'll use this to take my shot.

A French-style steak.

The dish we're going to make…

is a steak!

"Stack"?

- "Stack"? What is that? - "Stack."

Can you not tell? It is a meat dish.

Let us hurry up and get moving!

Just do as she says.

- Bring that here. - All right.

- This way. - Go over there.

My lord, will this be all right?

She did not seem to be lying.

I could tell how sincere she was about food.

I am still not too sure about this.

It does not matter.

If anything goes wrong,

they will pay the price.

Oh, that is right.

What happened to Mi-hyang?

Oh, right.

She left the village with her nanny moments ago.

It would have been nice if you could have said goodbye.

She is dead to me now.

Yes, my lord.

It has a strong aroma.

Of course.

It is from Mount Nogo in our village.

I like it.

No, wait. You have to roast them first to get rid of the fishy smell.

These anchovies are from Deokjeok Island on the west coast, and--

No.

You need to roast them to get rid of the fishy smell.

Make a loop,

- put it through, and tighten it. - Like this.

There.

Will this do?

Rich, right?

These are fermented shrimp from Mapo Port.

They taste great.

Please stir-fry them until they turn into powder.

It's way too tough.

It has too much silver skin and almost no marbled fat, so it's tough.

Oh my, what kind of meat is this that not even a knife can cut through?

This thing is as tough as rope.

Is it because it was a bull that was used for farming?

What should I do?

No. Think, Yeon Ji-young.

Yeah. That's it.

Sangajapbang, the old cookbook my father showed me.

To cook beef that's too tough to even cut,

I can use the jeonchisu method.

RARE

COOK AT 55°C FOR 30 MINS

That's it!

There's a corresponding French cooking method.

The sous vide method used to tenderize meat.

Low-temperature cooking.

Okay, there's oil.

- Gil-geum, get me some hanji. - Yes?

As in paper? Why do you need expensive hanji--

It's urgent. Hurry.

- You have to get it. - I will be quick.

Okay.

JAHONGWON

Is there still no news from His Majesty?

No, Your Grace.

The Urimwi accompanied him, so I am sure he is safe.

If you hear any urgent news, inform me first.

KANG MOK-JU FOURTH JUNIOR CONSORT, YI HEON'S CONCUBINE

Yes, Your Grace. Do not worry too much.

Did the Im father and son head to the Gyeonggi Governor's Office?

They should have arrived by now.

I am rather curious

to see how the expression on the proud Hong Gyeong-dal's face will change

when he sees his granddaughter get taken away for the chaehong.

Come forth!

I, Hong Eon-uk, extend my greetings

to the Second Minister of Works and Chief Royal Secretary.

Very well. Is your father in good health?

He is well, thanks to your concern.

Please follow me.

But miss,

why did you wrap the meat in kelp?

The meat is too tough,

and maturing it with kelp makes it tender.

How fascinating.

Gil-geum, we have to add cold water to this.

But we went through all that trouble to boil it,

and now you want to add cold…

Okay.

I will pour it in now.

But miss,

can you not grill the meat over a fire or boil it in water?

- Yes. - Right.

This is the only way to tenderize tough meat.

- Oh my, miss! What are you doing? - Oh my goodness.

It is still hot!

Are you checking how hot it is?

The best temperature to make tender meat is between 49 and 55°C.

But…

One more scoop.

Stop. That's enough.

If heated for a long time in lukewarm water,

a protein in the meat called myosin reacts,

making the meat tender.

This is the sous vide method.

- One more scoop. - Okay.

The temperature of boiling water is 100 degrees,

and room-temperature water is around 20 degrees.

If you mix the two waters,

the temperature levels out at around 55 degrees,

making sous vide cooking possible.

Miss, are you sure your hand--

I don't have a thermometer,

so I have to trust the senses in my fingertips.

But your hand has turned red.

Don't worry.

I've done sous vide cooking countless times before.

Let me see.

Let me take a good look at your face.

You are too shy.

Are you angry?

Very well.

Why…

Hey!

That is big. Your mole is too big.

Your eyes are too big.

Your mouth is too big.

You are too tall.

Were you in such a hurry that you left your neck at home?

Oh goodness!

Escort this old lady out!

How will we ever face His Majesty?

I agree, Father.

Everyone talks about the village's great beauty,

and I expected you to bring her out of loyalty to your king.

I have no idea who you speak of.

Who was it again?

Was it…

Governor Hong's

granddaughter?

My lord.

What are you saying?

Mi-hyang is but a young girl.

As you are aware,

this is a chaehong for His Majesty.

- Oh my. - My word.

- It looks delicious. - Goodness.

My goodness.

Thank goodness it worked.

It smells amazing!

Can I have a look too?

It does not look cooked.

I should taste it.

It is delicious!

That is amazing!

What is this, miss?

This is called the sous vide cooking method.

I see, cooking meat in water like that is called "sous vido."

It's not done yet. We have to sear it now.

- "Cheer"? - What?

Please get me some rice straw.

- I guess she needs it for cheering. - Let us get it then.

So,

how old are you now?

My lord. The feast is ready.

The seokban is ready.

They say public duty comes before private matters,

so how about we dine first?

Dinner, you say?

Let us do that.

Welcome.

The trip must have been long and arduous.

So,

is His Majesty well?

Do you ask because you do not know, Governor Hong?

Your letters of appeal

requesting that His Majesty depose Fourth Junior Consort Kang

caused quite an uproar in the palace.

Oh, come on, Father.

Why would you bring that up here?

You are embarrassing him.

It is fine. You can speak freely.

Well, it is a fact that the letters displeased His Majesty.

Is that why

he sent his chaehong inspectors all the way here?

You are mistaken.

That is a separate matter.

Goodness, I am famished after a long trip,

and all you serve us are tea and snacks?

I apologize, my lord.

We will get the meal--

How direct you both are.

Come on now. Serve the food.

Yes, my lord.

We will serve the prepared feast.

My goodness.

Well, this is just…

It seems this region was the only one to suffer a famine.

I am afraid we cannot accept this dinner.

The jeopbingaek a governor serves to his guests

should reflect the region's landscapes and customs,

such that one can discern the geography, the people's sentiment,

and even the success of the harvest from the meal alone.

However, all I see on this table are a few pieces of meat.

This is not at all different from a barbarian's fare.

What a disappointment.

You do not deserve the title of a governor who is expected to watch over the people.

It seems you do not think much of us

when we are here carrying out a royal command.

How do you explain this?

The truth is, we had a problem with the kitchen maids last night.

It seems that this was a mistake made by the newly appointed cook.

I ask that you forgive the discourtesy.

I was unaware of what went on in my own household

and committed such a grave discourtesy.

I sincerely apologize.

This will not do!

How could you insult us so blatantly?

In that case,

will you offer something else?

Something else? What exactly do you mean?

Whatever it may be, it would not make a difference.

I will call forth the cook who prepared this

and punish them myself.

So please do not be so angry.

Official Hong, what do you mean?

Bring all the cooks from the kitchen!

Yes, my lord.

Let's think of what to do when I get out.

I don't know how I got here,

but I can't waste my time doing nothing.

What are you doing, Gil-geum?

Whenever you find free food, you must take whatever you can.

There.

- Drag them all out! - Yes, sir!

- Oh no! - Not again!

What now?

What is going on?

- No! - Let go of me!

What is this about? Miss! Oh my!

- Oh my gosh. - Spare us, please!

Food served to a noble

should be made with all the natural ingredients from the region!

However, the food on these tables is nothing but a few slices of meat!

- How is this a proper jeopbingaek? - What the heck is going on?

I will punish you severely for your crime.

Please forgive us!

They didn't even eat it yet.

Are they trying to nitpick?

I'm sorry, but did you even try the food before criticizing it?

If you didn't, this is quite unfair.

The meal on those tables holds the essence of nature itself.

You are a bold wench.

Did you say this meal holds the nature of this region?

Yes, I did.

Tell me how that is.

If you speak nonsense, you will have to pay the price.

It won't taste good if it gets cold, so let's get them to eat it first.

My lord.

You must taste food to appreciate it.

I'll explain after you try it.

How dare you, you insolent thing!

My goodness.

You have prepared quite an amusing show, Governor.

Perhaps I shall show you what I have prepared.

Bring her in!

- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.

My lady!

Oh dear. My lady!

Mi-hyang!

- Father… - My lady.

Mi-hyang.

Mi-hyang.

Mi-hyang…

How dare you!

What do you think, Governor Hong?

Is my surprise to your liking?

If what she said is true,

we will consider this a proper jeopbingaek and leave in peace.

If not…

I will take your granddaughter with me.

HONG

This is a chaehong plaque.

It is a royal command.

So that punk is the chaehong inspector, huh?

Im Song-jae, the most treacherous subject.

You are unbelievably impertinent.

You may be the Chief Royal Secretary favored by His Majesty,

but you cannot threaten me

or demand to take my granddaughter for the chaehong!

You are a human being, and you should be ashamed!

Please calm down, Governor,

or your family line may end here.

You are the much respected and honored Governor Hong Gyeong-dal,

and you should know better than to lash out like this.

Hong Gyeong-dal?

I will pretend I did not hear that.

As I said before,

if the food that wench made moves me,

then I will pretend that none of this happened.

So please calm yourself, Governor.

Now, please taste the food.

Oh, before we do that,

I must put the wench who made this in her place.

No way.

All I did was cook!

Tell me.

If this meal does not hold the essence of nature,

what then?

Will you give up your life?

I don't know how to go back anyway, so what do I have to lose?

The sous vide was perfectly done.

Yes, I will.

So try the food.

Very well.

Miss!

What is this?

This texture.

This taste.

It is a flavor I have never tasted before.

I can barely chew the meat.

It melts away.

The juices fill my mouth.

And this sauce.

What in the world is this?

Guanylic acid in Pyogo mushrooms,

inosinic acid in anchovies,

and glutamic acid in fermented shrimp.

When amino acids from different groups are combined in specific ratios,

you get a major boost of umami flavor.

The so-called umami bomb that we call

MSG.

It's no different from the modern-day synthetic seasoning we use.

This is just

a plate of common boiled beef.

What now?

I could not feel the nature you spoke of in this dish.

They say it's impossible to stop a human from lying.

Do you have anything to say?

It may look like

I served you nothing but meat,

but I actually used ingredients from all over this region.

- Is that so? - The salt you dipped the meat in.

That contains fermented shrimp from Mapo Port,

anchovies from the west coast,

and Pyogo mushrooms from Mount Nogo.

If that doesn't contain nature,

then what food possibly could?

That is quite strange.

Your words evoke a sense of nature,

but I did not feel or taste it in your food.

You are lying!

What do you mean, Governor?

I have never tasted anything like this in my life.

However, you are lying just so you can take away my granddaughter!

Your treachery will anger the people and the heavens!

I knew it.

He was never going to tell the truth because of the chaehong.

A treacherous subject like you

will die by my hand!

Father!

Father!

This is all due to my incompetence.

Please calm down.

Let go of me.

Father!

You must not do this.

My gosh.

This is truly a sight that brings forth tears.

"Father."

Do not just stand there.

Strike that criminal at once!

- I am sorry. Forgive us. - What? Me?

Am I really going to die an unjust death here?

In Joseon?

God, Buddha, someone! Help me, please.

No!

No, please! Wait!

Blame your cooking.

Nothing was wrong with my cooking!

It's your tongue that's lying!

What are you doing? No, stop it.

No! Save me! Let me go, please!

Father.

No!

Spare me, please.

Halt!

His Majesty the King has arrived!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

If what you say is true…

Wait. This voice…

I will try it myself.

No way.

It can't be that fool.

No way!

"Your Majesty"?

Rise, gwinyeo.

I'm screwed.

He really was Yeonhuigun.

Who are you?

Who in the world are you?

Are you crazy?

You crazy fool!

Hey. Do you not get the situation right now?

I command you as the King of Joseon!

I am the king of this country.

I am the king of this country.

Why are you still on the ground?

Dad.

I'm sorry for leaving you behind.

I wish…

You will wish

you were beaten to death with a wooden plank instead.

What a simple and humble spread.

Come and taste it first.

What? Me?

Yes, you.

Sure.

Right.

You're a famous gourmet in the Joseon Dynasty

who has an absolute sense of taste.

Then surely he'll judge fairly, right?

Do not get your hopes up.

If it is not better than the bibinbap…

How can the meat be so tender?

The more I chew,

the more the juices flow and linger.

The light and clean taste

reaches a peak, then melts away.

Wait.

This seasoning…

I truly cannot

believe this taste.

This is the very essence of savory flavor.

What on earth did you make it with?

His taste buds sure are different.

To perceive MSG like that, truly amazing.

He's a gourmet, all right.

Simply put,

it's an item I use to enrich the flavor of food.

It enhances savoriness and reduces saltiness.

"Item," you say?

I see.

So that was it.

The pickled omija

and grilled green onions on the side are incredibly appetizing,

and they pair perfectly with the meat.

This dish is truly…

the greatest taste on the land.

I'm going to live.

I'm going to live!

It tasted rather nostalgic,

and for the first time in a long while,

I was satisfied with the meal.

So why did you criticize the food so dreadfully?

The meal befits you, Your Majesty, who rules a nation.

It is only natural

that my insignificant tongue could not appreciate the flavors.

You're called treacherous for a reason.

I thought you said you couldn't taste anything earlier.

You surprised me twice today.

I'm a chef!

I'm Chef Yeon Ji-young!

A cook! I'm a cook!

Now that I think about it,

you said you were a cook from Chef, is that right?

I'm a chef. It's the same thing as a cook.

Judging by your skills, you were not lying.

- You really are a skilled cook. - Yes.

Being a cook is traditionally a man's occupation.

So how did you, a woman, become one?

What's going on?

Is this an interview?

My dad loves to cook,

so tasting food and making it

became a calling.

A calling, you say?

Did you ever regret becoming a cook?

Well, you see, a calling comes with tribulations.

It's just like how being a king comes with perks,

but also challenges and hardships.

I see.

Anyway,

I feel most rewarded as a cook

when people with exceptional palates like you, Your Majesty,

acknowledge my cooking.

What is your name?

It's Yeon Ji-young.

The Yeon family, I see. And your age?

I'm 27.

What?

You are 27 years old?

You are older than you look.

Do you have a jiabi?

Jiabi…

Oh, a husband.

I haven't married yet.

Oh dear. You are unwed at that age?

What a pity.

Oh, no, don't get me wrong.

I'm not from around here,

so it's not like what you think, Your Majesty.

Then where are you from?

Should I tell the truth?

Or not?

I don't think he'll believe me.

I know this may be hard to believe,

but I'm from…

500 years in the future.

I see.

Does he really believe me?

I will not take your life today.

Do you believe me?

It is a shame you are not right in your mind,

but your talent saved you today.

So he thinks I'm crazy, huh?

Yeah. Well, I don't believe it myself.

I know it's hard to believe,

but I'm…

I'm from another era that we call Korea.

What is this impertinence in front of His Majesty? That is enough!

Okay.

Of course you don't believe me.

I'm not crazy.

This is the truth, and I can't help it.

That is enough. Come to the side.

Think what you will.

Just let me go.

You said it was the greatest taste on the land.

You're going to let me go, right?

Is he letting me go or not?

This is driving me crazy.

Chief Royal Secretary.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You're letting me go, right?

Please.

Please…

That cook…

is to be locked up and taken to the palace with me tomorrow.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You've got to be kidding me.

So he's not letting me go.

What shall we do about Governor Hong's granddaughter?

Right, I will also take her to the palace with me, so prepare her.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Understood.

He's taking that young girl?

Jeez, that's just not right.

Wait. Hong Gyeong-dal's granddaughter?

Isn't this what sparks

the Gapshin Literati Purge?

RETALIATION WHERE YEONHUIGUN EXECUTED OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN HIS MOTHER'S DEATH

You may all leave.

I am tired.

- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.

Hurry and leave.

I said leave!

Hurry.

They say you reap what you sow.

Old adages are never wrong.

Judging by the things he does, it's no wonder a literati purge occurred.

He's just the absolute worst.

You wench!

Follow me.

Why are you still here?

Are you not ashamed before the late king?

Sheathe your sword.

You neglect state affairs while wrapped up in a woman's embrace,

do not value the lives of court officials,

and look down on the lives of your people!

Do you truly not see that those are the very reasons

why your officials do not respect you and your subjects no longer serve you?

Say that again.

Your Majesty.

Please regain your senses and wisdom.

You must punish the treacherous subjects

and women who thrive on your power.

Only then will this nation stand strong!

Say that again.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Now that your granddaughter's life hangs in the balance,

are you worried about the affairs of the state?

What do you know about how I feel?

Your Majesty.

Please just take my life instead!

Do you now feel the pain of knowing there is nothing you can do

to save your family?

Your Majesty.

You must live and suffer in agony for years.

That is the punishment I give you

for driving my mother to her death.

Guards!

Drag out the criminal

who has committed blasphemy against his king!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Exile him to the furthest end

of North Hamgyong Province tomorrow morning.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

What is all this?

Miss, are you sure His Majesty enjoyed the food?

I swear I heard him say it was the greatest taste on the land.

Then why did they let all the others go but lock us up?

How would I know?

I'd love to look into the fool's head to see what the hell he's thinking!

My gosh.

Anyway, they said we're going to the palace tomorrow.

This is bad.

Things are just getting worse.

What did you say?

The palace?

I need to go back before we get there.

This is driving me crazy.

Where do you need to go?

To where I came from. Where else?

Right. And where is that?

Gil-geum.

I know you won't believe me,

but I came from far off in the future.

Man, what am I even doing?

Forget it.

No, miss. I believe you.

When I first saw you,

I smelled something I had never smelled before.

And you cooked things I had never seen.

So I believe you.

- Do you really, Gil-geum? - Yes.

Actually, I was in Paris, and I was on a plane back to Korea.

On a flame?

Just listen to me. I took a plane from France to Korea,

and someone spilled coffee on me,

so I went to the bathroom and opened a book…

Right. Mangunrok.

I read the first page, and like a magic book…

Where did that book go?

Right, my handbag!

My handbag.

- Gil-geum. - Yes?

I just realized something important.

What is that?

There's an important book called Mangunrok.

And I lost it.

Mangunrok?

I have to find the handbag the book is in.

That's the only way I can go back.

Remember the cliff I asked you to take me to when I was at your house?

Yes.

I lost it there.

What am I going to do?

How are we going to get out of here?

Oh goodness!

I apologize, Your Majesty.

Why are you sneaking up on me like that?

It is cold out here.

You should go inside.

Song-jae.

Yes, Your Majesty.

It is just us here, so speak freely.

- No, Your Majesty. - What now?

You are too slow.

I see you are still nimble.

Look at you.

Song-jae.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Other than the cook named Yeon Ji-young and the girl she was with,

release all the women you captured here today for the chaehong.

Pardon?

Are you not taking Governor Hong's granddaughter either?

No.

She will become a government slave

once Hong Gyeong-dal is sent into exile anyway.

Your Majesty.

Did the chaehong upset you?

No.

You're insane. That heir nonsense is just an excuse.

He was just crazy about women. What an excuse.

The chaehong was just an excuse to avenge my mother.

You know that.

The girl gave me a reason to exile her grandfather.

That is good enough.

However, Your Majesty, if you call off the chaehong now,

you will incur the suspicion

of the Grand Royal Queen Dowager that you are avenging your mother.

This is too minor an incident for her to grow suspicious.

And for some reason…

I feel rather drained today.

Then how about…

I enter the chamber in your stead tonight?

You have gone too far with your joke.

Who are you?

Do not fear. I came to keep my promise.

You're that guy from earlier…

I mean, the lord, right?

You successfully finished the jeopbingaek, so I shall let you go.

Are you sure about that?

Take this.

And this too.

If you go that way,

you will find the back gate of the office.

Hurry and go.

- Well, then… - Okay.

- Let us go. - Yes, my lord.

Excuse me.

I don't know how this may sound,

but that tyrant will be punished one day.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Let's go.

Your Majesty, it is I, the Chief Royal Secretary.

What is it?

The cooks who served you have escaped from the prison.

What?

By the way, where's your family?

I am alone.

What?

My father was a military officer at the Left Jeolla Naval Base,

but he was framed and taken away, so I do not know if he is dead or alive.

As for my mother,

she and I were on our way to Hanyang to look for my father,

but we were attacked by a group of bandits, and she passed away.

I'm sorry for asking.

- I had no idea. I shouldn't have asked. - Do not worry.

How could you have known?

It is fine, really.

- Gil-geum. - Yes?

Do you want to come with me?

Where to?

To 500 years in the future.

Let's go back to the time I was living in.

Can I?

Can I really go with you?

What's your dream?

My dream?

What do you want to be?

As long as you work hard, you can be anything there.

If I can be anything,

I want to be the senior court lady of the royal kitchen.

Okay.

While I'm here,

I'll teach you how to cook.

Really? You cannot take that back.

Were you the senior court lady of the royal kitchen where you live?

No, I was a three-star Michelin chef.

Miss, this is the only cliff in this area.

My gosh. That was a tough climb.

It has been such a long day.

It is so dark. I cannot see a thing.

- Gil-geum. - Yes?

- This is the place. - It is?

Yeah.

My gosh.

Miss!

Did I not lose it here?

- Shine the light over here. - Here?

I do not see anything.

- You can't see, can you? - No. My gosh.

I can't see in the dark.

- It's not this side. - No?

Then…

I think it went that way.

- It flew that way. - Okay.

I think it landed somewhere here.

Miss.

- Shine the light here. - Okay.

Where did it go?

It is not here either.

I do not see anything.

Why isn't it here? I swear it went this way.

Miss, look over there.

Do you see anything?

Yes.

Your Majesty.

Well, you see…

No, wait! I'll explain everything!

Please, let me explain.

Please…

Now explain.

I'm sorry.

I came to find the handbag I lost.

- "Handbag"? - Yes.

The handbag that flew away when you shot it with the arrow.

Oh, that?

There's a book called Mangunrok in the handbag.

I think that's the book that brought me to the Joseon Dynasty.

"Mangunrok"?

What an excuse.

I know it's hard to believe, but it's not an excuse.

I really need that book, Your Majesty.

Is it important enough

to commit yet another treason by escaping prison at night?

Yes. That book is as important as my life.

What a relief.

Is this it?

Yes, this is it! Thank you!

You crazy bastard!

Now you have no reason to run away.

What the hell are you doing?

Look at you.

You are taking that insolent tone with me again.

Your Majesty.

I'm sorry for being insolent.

I'll do anything you say,

so please get that handbag back for me.

You will do…

anything I say?

Yes.

What?

Don't you think this is just wrong?

Why is he going so far to torment us?

If I ever had to go to the palace,

I hoped it would be as a maid in the royal kitchen.

What are we going to do now that we are on His Majesty's bad side?

I'll protect you, no matter what, so don't worry.

Brace yourself and be strong, okay?

Okay. I will also protect you, no matter what.

We should both stay strong.

- Okay. - Yes.

I'm going to find that Mangunrok at all costs and go back,

no matter what.

Your Majesty, what is the reason you are taking that woman with you?

Because

I do not want her to die a peaceful death.

If only I had a gun, I'd just shoot him dead at once.

I have received word.

Something dreadful has happened to His Majesty.

Was it an assassin?

Fortunately, he was not harmed.

Whose doing was it?

Probably one of us.

Do you mean someone took action on their own?

They probably could not wait.

I told them time and time again to wait until the right moment.

If they put us all at risk before we execute the plan,

they must be eliminated.

Shall I look into it discreetly?

There is no need.

I have an idea who it was, and they are being followed.

You should be extra careful.

Yes, Your Highness.

Just greet the king as you usually do,

so that he can forget the burdens of state affairs

and his anger toward the court officials,

and be driven mad with curiosity about his mother.

Captivate him so he loses himself.

I understand.

By the way, Mok-ju.

Yes, Your Highness.

I hear

that His Majesty is bringing a woman back from the Gyeonggi Governor's Office.

It must be Hong Gyeong-dal's granddaughter.

I wonder.

You may all leave.

- Yes, Your Grace. - Yes, Your Grace.

Chu-wol, are you there?

Yes, Your Grace.

How much longer until His Majesty arrives?

He just left the Gyeonggi Governor's Office,

so he will arrive sometime between the fifteenth and seventeenth hour.

He will bring Hong Gyeong-dal's granddaughter.

I hear she is a great beauty.

No one can compare to you, Your Grace.

I will make it clear to her that I am the only woman for His Majesty.

Just wait and see

how I torment that young thing until she withers away.

- Get lost, gwinyeo! - Go away!

- Go away! - Go away!

Hey! What are you doing?

What? Do you want to see what a gwinyeo can do?

- You little brats! - You fools!

- I will remember your faces! - Those tiny little punks.

- Are you all right, miss? - Stop right here!

Forget it.

You kids must be at least 500 years older than me.

Yeah, let's just forget it.

No matter how many times I look around,

this is Joseon for sure.

I have to control myself.

Oh my gosh!

How dare they harm something that belongs to me?

They should be taught a lesson.

Your Majesty.

That "something" you just mentioned.

Are you referring to me?

That is right.

From now on, you cannot see anyone,

go anywhere, or speak with anyone without my permission.

So there's nothing I can do.

From being a rebel to a gwinyeo,

now I'm someone's possession.

I'm at a loss for words.

Yes.

They say act mute for three years, deaf for three years,

and blind for another three.

Think of it as a basic rule to survive in the palace.

I will prepare a special residence for you.

What…

His Majesty the King has arrived!

I'm really going to Bongdeokgung.

I'm at the actual palace.

I'll be sacrificed instead of Hong Gyeong-dal's granddaughter.

Does that mean I prevented the Gapshin Literati Purge?

What do I do now?

This truly is Hell Joseon.

Consort Kang, did I keep you waiting?

Your Majesty, I almost turned to dust and blew away, awaiting your return.

I am glad you are here.

I wish to show you something.

Come with me.

What is he doing?

Don't come any closer.

Stay away!

It is her.

Gwinyeo.

Pardon?

Gwinyeo?

Was she brought here as a criminal?

Yes, she is indeed a criminal.

However, she has a talent I do not wish to waste by killing her.

I am surprised that you brought a woman to the palace yourself, Your Majesty.

This is the first time this has happened since I, Kang Mok-ju, was brought here.

"Woman"?

She is a ghost.

Kang Mok-ju?

The most villainous woman in all of Joseon,

who wrapped Yeonhuigun around her finger and caused all sorts of tyranny?

This is just crazy.

She is not Governor Hong's granddaughter.

Who is she?

My goodness.

Look at those cat eyes,

shooting out laser beams.

She could easily burn a hole in my face.

She has a pretty face.

His Majesty must be fond of her.

She will look pretty decent if groomed properly.

Shall I take her to Jahongwon and teach her what she must know?

- You cannot do that. - Pardon?

She is not that kind of woman.

She is not meant for Jahongwon.

Then what will you do with her?

Jeez, that stings!

That look almost killed me.

You will find out in due time.

No. Don't do this.

No, you can't do this here.

She's watching!

You will cling to me then…

and beg for your life.

Oh, I have the chills. Is he going to torture me or something?

I'm getting chills all over.

BON APPÉTIT, YOUR MAJESTY

I am certain His Majesty took an interest in that wench.

Starting today,

you are to cook for me every day without fail.

If the food is not to my liking,

you will be sentenced to death.

Before you get into huge trouble and are humiliated…

- I must set a trap in the royal kitchen. - A snake!

You set this up, didn't you?

I have…

- You cannot, Your Grace. - Step aside!

…chosen you.

For what?

Subtitle translation by: Jennifer Jean Lim