Original subtitles

ALL CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVENTS IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS,

AND ARE UNRELATED TO HISTORICAL FACTS

So it was you.

You were the man from that night.

I cannot forgive you.

I will end you.

EPISODE 12: DANCING UPON A KNIFE

Have you now learned who the master of this palace is?

I mistook you for a game, and almost shot you.

Is it not because you missed me?

You are mistaken.

Remember your place.

I need to get changed.

Yes, Your Majesty.

The State Tribunal has a job to do.

Did you have to do that to Oh-wol?

What did I even do?

Did you have to kill her like that?

Did you have defile her death by throwing her into a well?

Did you have to do all that

to an innocent girl just to threaten me?

Did you say I killed her?

How can you possibly think I would do that?

I do not kill any living being unless it's for cooking.

The corpse was found in the well by unfortunate coincidence

or someone's trying to come between us.

Keep denying it,

so that my anger will grow.

This is driving me nuts! It really wasn't me!

Why do you keep seeing me as a bad person?

Because that is who you are.

The Kim So-yong I know is more than capable of such actions.

How would you know things about me that even I don't know?

Liars are the best at lying

to themselves.

You are lying to yourself, so you must not know yourself.

It looks like you and I have crossed the point of no return.

I'll stop bothering to resolve any misconceptions you have of me.

So do whatever you want.

RABBIT

Who caught her?

We tried so hard to chase her! Who dared to…

It looks like the game is over.

Why don't we all go back?

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

Blood…

Are you nuts? This hurts like hell!

My apologies.

My hand slipped.

-You little… -Are you all right, Your Majesty?

Even if it's a cotton arrowhead, the impact must hurt.

Lady Uibin, what are you doing…

I'll pay her back in the exact same way!

You're so dead.

What?

I'm going to let it slide today for my dear consorts!

-Because I'm a higher-up. -That's right.

Go to Huijeongjeon Hall.

But I must help you get changed…

Someone is trying to stop the banquet,

so I will move by myself.

I am sure many of those here today

would think the King has power.

The talks about the King, like him being the Ganghwa Boy and more,

will be disregarded as mere rumors.

The King insisted on holding the banquet,

and he used it as an opportunity to present his new self in the court.

What have you been doing…

while he was preparing, my brother?

My apologies.

However,

I have also prepared something for the King…

so please wait and see.

It had better be perfect.

Consort Hong,

one point.

Lady Uibin,

two points.

Consort Min,

four points.

Consort Yoon,

also four points.

Her Majesty the Queen.

Ten points.

So the winner is

Her Majesty the Queen.

Her Royal Highness the Queen Dowager will present the prize.

You said you would only enjoy the process.

Did you practice in secret?

You can say that I am the type to do better

during the actual game, rather than during practice.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

-Congratulations, Your Majesty. -Congratulations, Your Majesty.

That sly thing.

Now it is time to go to the grand hall for the banquet.

We have time until the banquet, so get some rest before you go.

You must be tired from the hunting game.

-Yes, Your Royal Highness. -Yes, Your Royal Highness.

It must have hurt.

This?

I could see why Eunuch Kim was trembling with fear.

Your Majesty, you must go and get changed at Daejojeon Hall.

Yes, and I need to wash while I do that.

-Yes. -The back of my head is still sore.

Hurry. It will not be long until the banquet starts.

Why did Lady Uibin do that?

I'm sure someone's trying to come between us.

Like who?

Someone who knows about the troubles surrounding the well.

There is a long history of three things that continues in the palace.

The secret feuds of the women,

the war of governmental powers,

and assassination by poison.

That's why you always talk about poison.

During my past few decades in the palace,

I have seen people die from various kinds of poison.

A deadly poison that can kill you with just a sip.

A hidden poison that kills you slowly and poses as death by illness.

Although they have not been confirmed,

there were countless deaths that were suspected to be caused by poison.

Right, the palace is a dangerous place.

Speaking of which, that jerk who looked like Chief Presidential Secretary Han…

Right, that's him!

I didn't see it. So I ran away at once.

-Are you sure? -Yes.

Got you, you jerk.

Lady-in-waiting Choi,

find out who the Head Eunuch of the Palace Kitchen was whispering with.

I'm sure his family name is Han.

I bet both of my nonexistent Dragon Balls.

But the banquet will be starting soon…

No, it can't, if that jerk is going all over the palace.

Pardon?

Then what about the royal cook?

Darn it…

Why is this mess exactly the same as the one I was in?

And that jerk Cheoljong has absolutely no idea.

People have to live as they are, to have no regrets.

I'll just do whatever like I always did.

But he did put something into the water earlier.

Could it be poison?

Come on. No way.

Even if this is a cruel palace,

they wouldn't do mass poisoning just to ruin a banquet.

No way.

See? This is why they say anxiety and fear are contagious.

Where are you going?

I'm going to secure evidence from the crime scene.

But that's the way to Daejojeon Hall.

I was wavering, so my sense of direction wavered too.

Wait for me, Your Majesty!

I can smell some kind of plant.

Just what did he mix into this?

No, Your Majesty!

I shouldn't, right?

This is a disaster.

Your Majesty.

I prepared everything I could,

but the banquet starts soon, and the ingredients are not here…

The ingredients might be late, but they are surely coming.

Trust me and do not give up.

I will try to find a way as well, however I can.

Just give up.

Then you'll be at peace, you idiot.

My Queen.

You know that this will only end in a mess.

Even if you struggle like that,

it'll only be hard for you and those around you.

Then are you telling me to stand still and lose to them?

I cannot do that.

I will do everything I can and give it my all.

And if seeing that causes you pain,

just look away.

Right. We're doing "no touch" to each other.

Okay, I got it.

Your Majesty, why are you saying things you don't mean?

I do mean it.

I say everything with sincerity, even if I'm spouting nonsense.

I never say anything that I don't mean.

I know you are worried

that His Majesty's efforts will only end up breaking his heart.

Why would I?

It's completely meaningless to worry about people like celebrities and Kings.

Recently, you've been saying weird things every time you hide your true feelings.

I pooped my…

I knew it. He poisoned the water.

Hey, where's the royal cook?

He was here until a moment ago.

He went somewhere else…

Did he run away?

He acted like a professional. Now he wants to survive alone?

Then what about today's banquet?

His Majesty has worked so hard for it.

There are no ingredients, and the cook ran away.

I guess it's doomed.

Then are you telling me to stand still and lose to them?

I cannot do that.

I will do everything I can and give it my all.

Damn it.

Hong Yeon, I need you to do something.

My tummy!

Oh, my. Hello.

HAN SIM-ONG

Hello.

What is the name of the man who just left?

Why do you ask that?

Because I can ask that.

I cannot just tell you.

If I go outside and leave Her reckless Majesty alone at the banquet,

something disastrous might happen…

Oh, my! Long time no see.

I caught a cold…

Please let me borrow this. Thank you.

Rice! It is rice!

-Rice! -It's rice!

Oh, my! It is my regular customer!

You came just in time. We just acquired a bunch of great items.

This is no time for this.

I think you are mistaken.

What? But…

But you are her.

Why are there so many temptations today?

But I, Lady-in-waiting Choi, will never be shaken.

What business does a lady-in-waiting have with me?

INJEONGJEON HALL

I cannot believe you have been sitting still and hiding such skills.

Have you not been itching to use those skills?

I have become accustomed to it.

I see.

Are you satisfied now?

Are you sure that you are not the man in this magic mirror?

Come on, I'm not him.

I must admit that, at a passing glance,

his perfectly sculpted looks are quite similar to mine.

But sadly, it is not me.

I am just honored that someone who looks like him wrote his name on it.

Come on…

By the way,

is that man really that popular

among the court ladies these days?

It is less that he is popular

and more that there is a fever for him, shall we say.

I didn't know I was that good-looking.

Oh, my.

The name of this esteemed person…

is Sim-ong, with the family name Han.

So,

your name is Han Sim-ong.

Do not forget.

When the banquet reaches its climax,

and when the King stands at the highest,

that is the time to take out the ledger.

DAEJOJEON HALL

You there, young maid.

I have a favor to ask of you.

Can you please deliver this to that person?

To who?

To that person.

I will.

My lord.

That young master told me to deliver this to you.

I have something to tell you, swearing on my family.

I will wait at the pavilion.

Did he

figure it out?

You are here.

I have something to tell you,

so I took the liberty of summoning you.

I value my family like my own life.

But…

after many nights of thoughts and worries,

I have made my decision

to choose someone more precious than my family.

If my family does not allow it,

I will cut ties…

with them.

Now, I want to blossom into a man only for you.

What…

Is this…

some kind of joke to waste my time?

What a misdelivery!

What have I done again?

Goodness, my tummy hurts!

Stick out your tongue.

It is killing me.

Stick it out more.

My stomach!

You ate a poisonous herb.

It seems like it was ground raw knotgrass.

Everyone!

What in the…

What brings the royal physician here?

Her Majesty the Queen sent me.

She told me to check on the drinking water,

and someone did put a poisonous herb to cause stomachaches.

So the water was the problem.

Royal cook, how are you fine?

I am sensitive, just like how I look,

so I cannot drink water when I am nervous.

But you look like you would doze off even on a battlefield with bombs.

As the royal physician, how can you not figure people out?

I am not a face reader.

I may be a skilled physician,

but I cannot make them recover within the day.

Even if the ingredients come, if the cooks are like that…

Just who on earth…

I haven't seen him before.

Are you the one who poisoned it?

I am a guest cook specially sent by His Majesty for this banquet.

I'm Lee Saeng-mang.

I came to save this hell-like kitchen.

Here.

You are obviously Her Majesty.

Do you not think so?

How can he be Her Majesty? He is a man.

You really are terrible at figuring people out.

Her Majesty is watching the dancers' performance.

Why would she be here?

Officially, Her Majesty is

at the banquet hall right now. Right?

-Tomatoes. -What are you going on about now?

It is a one-year-persimmon, you jerk! Because it only lives for one year.

How can you call yourself a cook when you don't even know what this is?

Geez, why do you keep calling me a jerk?

We're both cooks, so I can call you a jerk!

-Right? -Right.

-You jerk! -Come on, not yet.

You ran away from the kitchen, and you call yourself a cook?

What are you saying?

I was at the royal farm to get something for their stomachaches.

The royal farm?

The royal farm! The King's vegetable garden!

You really know nothing.

Let's see what we got.

Cooking starts with getting quality ingredients.

If the King has a vegetable garden, then does the King have a henhouse too?

I can try something if we have any eggs.

INJEONGJEON HALL

Seeing how your stomach is growling,

you must have been starving since yesterday to eat banquet food.

Seeing how you know that I have been starving,

it means you did too, Minister of Personnel.

Soon the banquet you insisted on will start, My King.

I cannot wait.

Banquets at Cheong Wa Dae always had themes.

Because they aren't just meals. They are political occasions.

What would be good?

What's the purpose of today's banquet?

What are those?

The food election, made by His Majesty himself.

And the list of guests invited to this banquet.

So this is the food election I've been hearing about.

I will rewrite the food election to fit the ingredients.

How did it go?

I am sorry.

I found the bandits, but their target was not the ingredients.

It is finally beginning.

You said it is a banquet.

Is only one royal dish being served?

What? Is this the royal banquet meal?

Is this really all?

I am sure there will be a separate big table.

Your Majesty, what is going on?

Each year, the people starve from famine

and many of them die from starvation.

To remember such hardships,

we prepared simple meals, like those of the subjects.

Your intention is wonderful, but this is beyond simple.

It is fair to teach the officials a lesson,

but this is not the right way to treat the lords

of the three families who came all the way here.

That is right.

It is practically punishing them to invite them as guests

and serve them this.

The food may not be enough, but the lesson will be valuable.

So I hope you keep that in mind.

30 MINUTES AGO

Pierce it like this.

Are you doodling?

Give me a potato. I'm going to make a sample.

The giant needle finally found its place.

Now, heat oil over the fire.

Oil?

How dare you fry my precious giant acupuncture needle?

I'll wash it thoroughly for you.

That's not just a giant needle!

That needle is 50 years old. It was passed down from my master!

Then you've used it long enough.

No! I will use it longer!

I'm going to pass it down to my pupil too!

No! My giant needle!

Here.

It is pierced at the center, so it has a nice shape,

and the potato's center can be cooked evenly in a short time.

How could you think of such a clever recipe?

Time is essential when it comes to street food.

It's perfect for urgent situations like today.

-Street… -It's like a battlefield of the palate.

This food survived fierce competition.

-Peel the potatoes. -Me?

Then who else?

I heard you needed taffy sticks…

I am to check on the preparation for the banquet…

Your Majesty…

Just peel them nicely.

You have to cut it as thinly as possible. Right.

Make the tips sharp. They have to pierce the potatoes.

-The heat is too high for number one. -Yes.

Turn up the heat for number two.

Yes.

Now, remember everyone!

What we're cooking today isn't just food.

It's the face of the President.

I mean, the face of His Majesty the King.

Is this good enough, Your Majesty?

I mean, Mr. Cook.

Let's see.

Well done.

I hope Cheoljong understands my theme well.

This is the simple food the subjects eat?

Am I the only one who does not know what the subjects eat these days?

DRAGON'S WHISKERS POTATO

Even if the intentions are great,

I cannot treat valuable guests too simply.

So we prepared new dishes with simple ingredients.

The first dish for the banquet

is made with potatoes.

So this is a potato?

It is not just a potato.

It is called…

Spring.

Spring-shaped dragon's whiskers?

Dragon's Whiskers Potato.

DRAGON'S WHISKERS POTATO

Dragon's Whiskers Potato, because it looks like a dragon's whiskers.

It is a lucky food you eat on a lucky day.

But it is still just a potato. A dragon?

The exaggeration is too much.

If not for these potatoes,

even more lives would have been lost each year.

Rough-looking potatoes are easy to store and grow well in barren lands,

so they are a staple food for the subjects during a famine.

I do not think you can call this sacred crop that saves lives

just a potato.

Go ahead and try it.

Not only does it taste good,

but it also has a new texture.

You must have been very hungry, Right State Councilor.

Is this really a potato?

Of the three condiments, the green powder

is pine salt made with sun-dried salt and the needles of a pine tree

at Hwaseong temporary palace, where the Namyang Hong family is from.

The soft red-colored powder is wild grape sugar.

Sugar during a famine?

If a famine can be this extravagant,

no one would be afraid, even if it lasts a whole year!

It is made by crushing taffy sticks, which the subjects enjoy.

It is mixed with wild grapes of Gamaksan Mountain,

where the Papyeong Yoon family has taken root,

to add beautiful color and aroma.

The yellow sauce is peach syrup.

It is made with top-quality peaches from Yeoju,

the hometown of the Yeoheung Min family.

The theme of today's banquet

is harmony.

Politics separates people,

but delicious foods bring people together.

Please enjoy the harmony of the three great families

who are here as honorable guests

through the flavors.

A whole tomato stew made by cutting and stir-frying sweet potatoes,

zucchinis, and eggplants, and puffed with broth and eggs.

They'll be totally shocked by the idea

of eating the bowl too.

Are you done yet?

I'm not done yet.

Barley powder and bean powder…

This is like kneading all kinds of powders in the world.

Royal cook, what you're making is the heart of today's banquet.

I understand.

What are you doing? Knead it hard, like me!

This motion is really bad for the shoulder and wrist joints!

Knead it harder!

Like your shoulders and wrists will be crushed into powder!

Do it like this!

Cook, it is all ready now.

Really?

Okay.

A banquet must have a meat dish.

With a vegan hamburger steak, the main dish is done.

MACDUNALDU M

It is an edible lucky pouch.

The redness of this crop called one-year-persimmon,

which is red all year long,

banishes bad omen on Dano.

How can it be so tender?

Is this tteokgalbi?

That is impossible!

We made sure that the meat would not arrive…

What I mean is, it is impossible to find meat during a famine.

A Qing proverb says,

"Dragon meat for heaven, and donkey meat for the land."

Now I must add, "Barley and bean meat for a famine."

Mac, meaning "barley." Du, meaning "bean."

Nal, meaning "putting on weight." And Du, meaning "stomach."

Hence the name, MacDunaldu.

MacDunaldu!

MACDUNALDU M

It is as delicious as real meat, and it fills your stomach nicely.

That does make sense.

Oh, my! How pretty!

Add some art to pre-made and cooled colorful sweet bean jelly

to make it a feast for the eyes.

A dessert is supposed to be sweet to your tongue and eyes.

Such beautiful visuals.

And with a small event added to it…

It's the perfect finale for a party.

FOCHUNE SWEET BEAN JELLY

It is beautiful, but it is just a common sweet bean jelly.

It looks like the amazing skills are coming to an end, right?

This stick not only makes it easy to eat

but also tells your fortune.

Fortune?

Fo, meaning "embrace," and chune, meaning "spring."

Fochune Sweet Bean Jelly.

It means that we want spring to come to your future.

Check your fortune as the banquet ends.

Fortune-telling in the sacred palace? How blasphemous!

ONE MORE

"One more!"

"One more?"

"Better luck next time."

TOO BAD

Goodness, my back.

Gosh, that is killing me.

It feels like I put my soul into it instead of ingredients.

What a tough day.

We did it.

We did it.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

I am. I feel exactly the same as you do.

-Fish cakes. -What?

I'm thinking of fish cakes now.

The cook who was almost beheaded by the first Qin emperor

invented fish cakes the night before.

I thought he just got lucky.

But that wasn't why.

I'm sure he came up with it because he was desperate to live.

Inspiration is not something that comes

to someone who has given up.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Oh, my! You should catch your breath.

Here.

Quench your thirst first. Now, drink up!

His family name is Han, Your Majesty.

Right? He is a Han, right?

Yes.

His name is Sim-ong. It is Han Sim-ong.

Sim-ong? Why does his name sound so exotic?

Han Sim-ong.

Yes.

But what is this?

My goodness! It is nothing, Your Majesty.

While I was outside the palace,

I went to the Capital Bureau and checked his family tree,

and I am sure it is a fake one that has been purchased.

Of course, an ancestor of Chief Presidential Secretary Han would do that.

He's doing dirty things to make connections

since no one will let him join because he's a fake aristocrat.

Your Majesty, this is no time for you to be doing this.

You can't be away for too long.

Right.

Lady-in-waiting Choi, good job. Bye.

Let's go.

-Your Majesty. -Careful.

Your Majesty--

Oh, my! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

What is wrong?

It is like…

there is a circus performing in my stomach!

What is going on?

The water…

That water has not been thrown away!

What water is that?

That water contains a poisonous herb…

Poison!

Poison!

Lady-in-waiting Choi!

So you did come.

Of course I must.

This is a banquet to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's recovery.

Now watch and learn

about what results your actions will bring.

Oh, my!

It is not easy to cook royal dishes.

My entire body aches.

And that darn royal cook picks on me for everything.

-That wretched… -Hey!

Are there more potatoes to be peeled?

Save Lady-in-waiting Choi! Please!

I'll leave you to work.

I am sorry.

He wears a goblin mask,

with an old scar on the bottom of his face.

Excuse me.

My goodness…

I am sorry.

Look, she is in terrible pain.

Do some acupuncture and moxibustion too.

And prescribe her some antidotes too!

Hey! You stay out of this.

I am the boss here.

There, it is done.

Your hands are useless in the royal kitchen,

but they are skilled in the royal clinic.

All people and objects have places where they belong.

But I think the giant needle belongs to the royal kitchen.

No, it doesn't!

The giant needle is the best to skewer potatoes with.

Let me borrow this.

No! Don't you dare touch it!

This would be a good potato peeler. Let me borrow this.

Hey! Stop!

That is hot! Your Majesty!

I think

the circus in my stomach has stopped now.

This is no time for this.

-Your Majesty! -Lady-in-waiting Choi!

There's no way she can recover so quickly.

What a strong woman she is.

The smell of oil?

Why were you gone for such a long time?

You see…

It is my fault.

My hand slipped and I shot an arrow at Her Majesty the Queen.

Did you get hurt?

No, I am fine.

I was just too tired from the hunting game,

so I fell asleep while getting dressed…

Oh, my.

An apron?

When will you be presenting what you prepared?

Please wait.

The King tried so hard to prepare for this banquet,

so it is still his time to shine.

INJEONGJEON HALL

I would like to make an announcement

for my honorable guests,

as you served as examples of scholars

by eating modestly to understand the hunger of the subjects.

We now begin a gamseon, starting with today's banquet.

GAMSEON: REDUCE DISHES IN THE ROYAL MEAL TO BE EXEMPLARY FOR THE PEOPLE

Gamseon?

The kings of the past shared the pain with the subjects

in difficult times by reducing the number of dishes

that come in a royal meal.

Gamseon is

for everyone to share the difficulties of the country

and overcome them together.

It is a sin during times like this

to have grain that can save dozens of subjects,

be spent on a piece of meat to indulge the palate of the rich.

So anyone who puts meat on

the table in this palace will be punished.

Not only meat, but also big feasts are prohibited.

The officials aren't allowed to drink, sing, and dance,

and must stop the conflict between factions.

If you violate these prohibitions,

I will take it as you will take any punishment.

Your Majesty!

I, Kim Jwa-geun, am afraid

I have sad news.

These criminals faked their identities

and snuck into the Palace Guards.

They made fake identities to guard you close by.

It is time to twist the neck of

the pheasant sticking its head into the ground.

He must be thinking that they are the source of power he cultivated.

We must pull out its roots, and smash it into pieces.

So it can never get up again.

What are you doing on this joyous occasion?

Do you know their true identities?

Some are from families that plotted treason.

Former bandits who stole from the aristocrats.

Wanted criminals for posting criticisms.

All of these men hold grudges against the government,

and they were guarding you closely by faking their identities.

They did so to plot treason,

so I had to hurry since it is a serious and urgent matter.

That cannot be. This is someone's plot

to frame my bodyguards

to create a gap in security and harm me!

Who is

this "someone" you are referring to?

For example,

the General of Training, Kim Jwa-geun.

Are you saying that with those three families backing you up?

Do you think they will back you up

just because of your flattering words?

You are foolish.

Please wake up from your delusions.

How dare you!

How dare you disdain the King!

This is beyond impudence. This is treason!

You are not being yourself! Please calm down!

How dare you give orders to the King!

It looks like you have something you are counting on.

But when the hands and feet are cut,

it will be completely useless.

You must pay for your failure to control your passion.

Behead all those criminals!

Your Majesty! I will deal with them under military law!

They plotted treason, so they are no longer Palace Guards.

The State Tribunal will deal with them!

Your Majesty!

The Palace Guard will deal with them!

-That must not be done, Your Majesty! -That must not be done, Your Majesty!

Didn't the Commander of the Palace Guards know about their identities already?

Perhaps the entire Palace Guards are a band of traitors!

It is wrong for the Palace Guards to deal with the corruption of themselves!

-Please reconsider, Your Majesty! -Please reconsider, Your Majesty!

Please reconsider, Your Majesty!

This may disband the Palace Guards

and harm the Commander of the Palace Guards.

However,

if you entrust the punishment of the criminals to me,

I will take it as your promise that you will not do anything anymore,

and stop here.

It is…

no use at all.

What shall I do, Your Majesty?

I understand.

I entrust it…

to the General of Training.

I pray to the land gods ruling the earth,

and the grain gods ruling all kinds of grains.

Please let the seeds planted on the earth

grow abundantly with the grace of all things,

and allow all of my subjects to live without starvation…

by the mercy of heaven.

Please…

Your Majesty!

ALL CHARACTERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVENTS IN THIS DRAMA ARE FICTITIOUS,

AND ARE UNRELATED TO HISTORICAL FACTS

His hearing has been damaged due to the explosion.

Behead them.

Are you sure there will be no problems?

-Absolutely. -No one is behind them?

I chose the way for me to survive.

So you shouldn't die, either.

Get better and wake up. And be backstabbed by me.

What is even scarier is the enemy on the inside.

Your Majesty!

His Majesty has…

I hereby ask you to step down from your regency.

My King!

This entire palace killed Kim So-yong.