Original subtitles

I think it's a good idea to put the two of them...

in a competition until I step down

A competition?

Lady Jung, you old snake!

I won't be defeated like this! I surely won't!

So win with your own skills and your attitude towards food

And straighten up the kitchen, as according to my will

So I will appoint you apprentice and teach you my secret skills

I can't do that

The body points concerning taste will be damaged

and it's very hard to cure

So it's incurable?

They will choose their apprentices

Though you will all be helping them out

they can't do all the work involved in preparing the food

So they must choose an apprentice who is compatible with them

Lady Choi, you go first She'll be working very close with you

so you'll have to pick

I'll pick Keum-Young

Lady Han, how about you?

I...

...will pick Jang-Geum

(Episode 13)

Keum-Young doing better than me was enough for me!

Now, Jang-Geum, too?

I know you feel badly, but that's just how it is

She's right

No way. It's probably because Lady Han favors Jang-Geum

You can say that for Keum-Young...

It's different with Jang-Geum

What do you mean?

She was excellent at the competition and she also made...

the cold noodles when you made a mistake with the conch poison

And it's a fact that Jang-Geum's food tastes better

What?

Jo-Bang, don't worry Who'd be the next Highest Lady...

after Lady Han and Lady Choi leaves?

It's me. Then I'll pick you

Madam, you can't do this

Even if you consider me as your own daughter, you can't do this

It's against Lady Jung's will too Please take back what you said

No

If you're doing this because you feel sorry to me then...

Quiet! I know the difference between work and relationships

But I can't taste food anymore

You'll recover soon Even if you don't recover

you have two talents that every cook needs

You need two talents to cook...

One is ability to make tasty food...

It's a natural gift for some people

Some obtain it to a certain degree with much practice...

You practiced a lot and you also have that natural gift

But if I can't taste...

Ability to taste is necessary for the person who's eating the food

Even an old lady who can't taste food can cook tasty soup for her son

Second ability... I don't have it, Lady Choi doesn't have it

Nor does Keum-Young have it But you have it

The most important skill you need as a cook. You have that

What is it?

That's...

That's the ability to draw up a taste

Draw up a taste?

Yes

Think back at the time when you made the cold noodles for the King

and when you made the cabbage dumplings at the competition

Why did you think that mountain spring water would help the taste?

Because I know that water from So-Dang-Ri makes radish kimchi tasty

And the cabbage dumplings?

I thought the texture of the cabbage would match well with the ingredients

Yes, that's right When a new ingredient is added

you know whether it will make good harmony...

to improve the taste, or worsen the taste

That's your ability to draw up a taste

I forgot an important fact

I forgot that I've trained you in a different way...

from how I was trained in order to...

give you new skills that I don't have

Then that's why you told me to find out all kinds of...

salty ingredients and taste all types of water and herbs...

That's right. That's it

I know I make tasty food, but my ability to draw up...

a taste is limited and that's why there has been little progress

Such a skill is obviously good for coming up with a new dish

But you can improve an old dish's taste simply by...

adding one more seasoning or by changing the cooking method

That's why I prevented you from cooking like others do

and made you go through all that hard training

You did well, and it's hard to tell...

whether it's because of your curiosity or training

but you have an ability to find and draw up a taste rather easily

Charcoal in soy sauce, spring water in cold noodles

and cabbage dumplings bear witness to that

But, Madam... that's when I was able to taste the food

Who cares! Did you taste charcoal before putting it...

in the soy sauce? Did you taste the spring water...

before you put it in the radish kimchi water?

Come to your practice ground tomorrow morning

That's the ability to draw up a taste

Charcoal in soy sauce, spring water in cold noodles

and cabbage dumplings bear witness to that

It's hard to tell whether it's because of your curiosity or training

but you have an ability to find and draw up a taste rather easily

Dropwort has a special scent that increases one's appetite

and strengthens the stomach It's used in food...

made with swellfish because it has a detoxifying effect

This is mitsuba It has a unique scent, so it's good

even without much salt It's very good for diabetic patients

This is cedaline You should never eat it

so watch out for it when you gather herbs in the mountains

There is saltiness in beans, chestnuts, pork, seaweed

and even in watermelon So you must be careful when seasoning

Saltiness is easily sensed when it's cold

She can do it... I know she can...

Make a steamed prawn dish with these

But that dish has only been made by the madams

so I've never made it before

That's why I'm telling you to do it

Bring other ingredients that you think might go well with the prawns

Go and bring other ingredients that you think go well with the prawns

This is all

You see? I was right You found the right ingredients

Actually...

I didn't think of it myself, I remembered...

seeing the dish on the table with those ingredients

Madam, this is too much...

How could I make the dish without tasting it?

Make the prawn dish

Though you may have seen the visible ingredients

you probably haven't seen the sauce. Make it

Madam...

Hurry and make it now!

Don't taste it Stop tasting it from now on

But how could...

Your dishes turn out bad because you taste them

Just add the seasoning with the feeling of your fingertips

But...

Jang-Geum, have faith in yourself and do it

If you don't have faith in yourself, then have faith in me

If this doesn't work then I have to abandon you

You think that would only sadden you?

Come, follow me

Make a tofu casserole with this

Madam, how was the dish I made...

Speak no more and make it!

Bring the ingredients for tofu now

I told you not to taste it

You see?

Didn't I say you could do it? Didn't I tell you?

Madam, is it true? Are you sure it's tasty?

Not only is it tasty, but you've found out my method...

of putting in the prawn juice as well

Though Lady Choi puts in beef broth I put in prawn juice

And you've even put seasoned meat into the tofu

No one has come up with that idea before

So how can I possibly abandon you? How can I...

Do you remember the blind fish seller on the way back?

Yes. He was able to tell the difference without seeing them

Yes. That's how I came up with the idea

If he can tell the difference with using only his sense of touch and smell

then I thought one could also do the same with food

And I thought of my own training days and so on...

Is that so?

Yes, but it probably took him years of practice for such skills

I can't do the practice for you You understand?

Yes, I know

And even so, being unable to taste is definitely a drawback

I'll try to find a way for you to recover your sense of taste...

no matter what it takes, so you do that too

Yes, I will I won't give up from now on

What is this?

This is a recipe book that started in the Royal Kitchen...

of old Koryo Kingdom and it has been passed down...

only through the Highest Ladies of the past

In this, you will find cooking methods and also...

the constitution, personality, and illnesses

of previous kings and their likes and dislikes

So with this, you can find out which food goes well with what symptoms

and which type of personality likes which type of dish

And there are other stories about ingredients and food

And this has been kept a secret from everyone else

but the Highest Ladies

Then why do you have it instead of Lady Jung?

Our family has held the position for five generations

How could we give such a thing to a puppet lady?

The previous Highest Lady gave it to me

It means she acknowledged me only No matter what Lady Jung does...

it's a position that only we can fill

I'm going to teach you with this starting tomorrow

so be very focused since you'll have to learn and memorize without any error

Although Lady Jung will have to step down before the competition

it's something you'll have to learn too

so learn it properly while you're at it, OK?

Yes, ma'am

Madam, it's me, Hong

Come in

Madam, the Head Lady wants to see you for a moment

OK

Did you call for me?

Yes. Have a seat

I'm thinking of starting it quietly by talking to the...

attendant ladies in the King's Mother & Queen's palaces

Sure. I will ask my brother and prepare a small gift

You don't need to worry, either

What worries can I have when you're going out of your way to do this?

Though Lady Jung has challenged me, I do acknowledge her upright character

That's why I like her That's the weak point about such people

They don't prepare thinking everyone else is like them

How come I can't even win one game?

It's because you're dumb

Aren't you sleeping yet?

You played mahjong again?

Chang-Yee kept on nagging about it

No, Madam. Why would I nag about it when I lose everyday?

I should be able to afford a trinket...

with the money I've lost to her

Young-Ro, follow me

What? Madam, why only me...?

Who else would do such a thing in this room? Follow me

Madam...

That's correct, Madam

You move to Jang-Geum and Yeun-Seng's room today

What?! I'm sorry, Madam I won't do such a thing again

Madam, please have mercy...

Take it

You know that your relative Yoon Mak-Ke who...

works at the palace runs a dancer bar with my brother's help

Of course, Madam He told me about it many times

Stay in Jang-Geum's room...

and tell me what Jang-Geum and Lady Han do

Sure

What are you doing?

I'll be staying here from now on...

So, Jang-Geum, go to the wallside Yeun-Seng, to the center

I'll be by the window Don't switch places

If you touch me while you sleep again

I'll kill you

Lady Choi found out about it too...

that I was falling into the pit of evil because of Young-Ro

You know that my only interest has been food

so how could I have found out about mahjong

or erotic picturebooks without Young-Ro?

Anyhow, I'm struck with admiration for Lady Choi. She's been aware...

of the things that were going on even though she didn't seem to

Madam, Young-Ro came to our room again

Young-Ro kept making Chang-Yee play games they shouldn't play

so I separated them I disciplined them a few times

but they didn't listen

Madam...

Do you think you're still a little girl?

Why do you always cry over these things?

And besides, today is the day for sacrificial rites

It's almost time. Let's go

Yes, ma'am

You girls, stop what you're doing and come on out

Just what's going on?

The Palace's soy sauce and bean paste taste changed?

Tell me why they have changed

This is an important issue They're the basic ingredients...

of food for over a thousand people

Sauce and paste are the basic ingredients of most dishes

and they're said to determine our fortune as well

That's why we have sacrificial rites

And isn't that why we choose an auspicious day?

Once the tastes change nothing can turn it back

Yes, sir. I'll find out why they have changed

and take the appropriate measures as soon as possible

I'll report this to the main government body

and discuss the matter with the head of Food Services

so try to find the measures to tackle the kitchens, too

Sir, we'll try our best, so please deal with this as you see fit

I can't take care of this on my own

Just what is this about?

Why have the sauces and pastes changed?

Did you let the rain fall in?

Such a thing has never happened

Then you didn't let enough sunshine in?

You've seen me work when you were at the sauce pantry

How could I have been careless?

Then why would they taste worse this year

if we've been following the same methods?

I should be the one asking that...

Why are you asking about that now?

I guess, as you've been concerned with other matters

you weren't able to concentrate on kitchen work

Even people outside of the palace worry about fortunes changing

when the sauces and pastes change, and they go through hardships

I'll tell the superiors about this to rebuke you

What are you doing?! Go and find out the problem right now!

The taste isn't as good as usual You try it, too

Are you sure you didn't allow in any rain...

or forget to let sunshine in?

Such things have never happened

Then what has happened? Weren't all of you present here

when we were making these? Nothing was changed from last year

The bean paste was brought from Blue Dragon Temple as always

Water was brought from the best source, Choongju Dalchun

The salt was the best kind from Merchant Choi Pan-Sul as always

Then what else could be wrong?

Lady Choi and Lady Han, follow me

Right now, the most important task is...

to find out why the sauces have changed

So I think this will be your first assignment

One reason why I asked for the King's permission to put you two

in a competition was to stimulate you to better your skills too

As of now, the most basic ingredients which are...

sauces and pastes have changed for some reason...

Now that we face this unexpected problem

I think you two will have to help

Go find out the reason and the solution

I'll get permission for you to go out of the palace...

from the Head Lady

We have to make a quick trip outside

Because of the bean paste?

Yes, follow me

Is this because of the bean paste?

Yes, so Lady Han and Lady Choi will take Jang-Geum and Keum-Young

respectively, so you have to work without days off

Don't worry. Jang-Geum is really good at finding such things out

Yes, I hope so

Madam, where are we going first?

To Blue Dragon Temple which provides us with fermented soybeans

but we'll stop by somewhere to check something

Yes, ma'am

Is salt somehow connected to Sir Oh Kyum-Ho too?

Yes...

Then is there a problem with the quality of salt...

brought to the palace?

Why? Did that cause a problem? The ones that are delivered...

to the Royal Kitchen is supervised by Park Bu-Kyum

What about the ones that go elsewhere in the palace?

Actually Sir Oh needed a large amount of money asap

so the salt going into other parts of the palace...

Best and moderate quality salt is mixed up

Even so, how could you play with something that goes into the palace?

There's nothing better to make big money with than salt

I received permission from Sir Oh before I did it

You're lucky that I'm in charge of inspecting the quality of food

This could've been bigger trouble

Why? Did something happen?

The palace is in chaos because the bean paste has changed

I was worried if there was a problem with the salt

Really? What now?

Did they figure out that the salt we gave them is a problem?

No, but Lady Han has come out to find out the reason as well

So please take care of the salt in the market storage first

OK. Manager Jang, are you there?

Yes

There's no time. Hurry

Yes, sir!

You're the salt supplier, right?

Yes, ma'am

I'm from the Royal Court I'd like to check the salt

Sure, please come in

This is it

This is best quality salt for the palace

Yes, I see

Jang-Geum!

Duk-Gu!

When I heard that you were even paralyzed to save me...

I didn't know how to repay you, so I brought this pine pollen wine

Pine pollen wine?

Yes. It's very rare because it's made with pine pollen

I'm being generous to you

But I don't... drink...

No, this is different This is one of those medicines...

that King Jinxi drank to live eternally

And it tastes very good because pollen ferments very well

OK

You seem much more cheerful Where are you headed anyway?

Actually, the taste of the bean paste in the palace has changed

and there's big trouble

Taste of the bean paste? It changed? I heard that...

when its taste changes, there will be a big disaster in the nation

Yes, that's why Lady Han and I are out to find the reason

Reason?

Then go on

Actually, we have to get on a boat...

Hurry, Madam...

Go on...

Bye, Jang-Geum

There's an important task for me

What do you mean?

The task to help Jang-Geum who has saved my life

What are you talking about?

As the best chef of this nation...

I now have an important task before me

What are you talking about?!

We forgot to give her this drink!

Oh yeah...

No way. Soybean blocks have to be fermented well

The ones that go to the palace are especially fermented well

We even complimented ourselves for the quality

Are you saying it's no different from last year's?

Of course not. It was a good harvest year for beans

and the temperature and the ventilation were all good

Then what could it be?

How many hours should we boil it?

They said, for 6 hours

OK

Do they have to wash it?

That's the way to get rid of the extraneous smell

Oh, I see

Does it mean, there is no problem?

Yes. Besides, ever since I entered the palace I've seen it get better

but never worse He isn't that kind of a person

Then what could be the problem?

There's one more place to visit before we go back

Where?

Hey!

I'm sorry, Father! I was in a hurry, so...

If you can't make it in time then you just don't sell it!

Get out!

I'm sorry! Please forgive me, Father! Father!

Why were you scolded?

Because I made Chosun coating improperly

Chosun coating?

It's a natural coating made of pine needle powder...

beanchaff ash and fine clay You have to coat the jar with it...

in order to make the jar breathable

And?

You normally wait over 2 months and then take out the dregs

but the gov. Office kept pressing us, so I gave Father...

some which hadn't waited for 2 months and that's why he scolded me

Why did you do it?

My father was flogged last time...

because we couldn't meet the deadline

So your father makes even the ones...

that go to the gov. Office himself?

Yes, of course, he even makes the ones...

that are sold to local peasants himself

Madam, you said you were going to check the jars

Can't you tell already?

Why would such a person send a defective jar to the palace?

I don't think there's any problem...

with the jar or the fermented soybeans

It's a problem... if we don't find the source...

Lady Jung would have a hard time

Keum-Young, they mixed barley because they lacked beans here

and it tastes very good We should suggest this next year

Madam, I think we were wrong

What are you saying?

I don't think the salt was the cause of the change of taste

How come?

In that storage there is salt used to make this bean paste

and the quality is much worse than the ones sold by Uncle

That can't be

It's true

Then what could it be?

It was easily ground

OK

Can you tell if it's good salt by doing that?

It's good when there's no salt left on your hand

And if there's a sweet aftertaste, then it's summer salt which is good

There's no problem with salt in the Royal Kitchen

Then the salt in the other kitchens are bad, aren't they, Madam?

What do you mean?

When we were making cake powder salt was left on my hand...

when I tried to put it in

And it just tasted salty, not sweet

Madam, she even steals salt

When did I do that?

You even steal honey, sesame seeds and soy sauce

The taste changed because of the deposed Queen...

You know the story too...

You must wreak her grudge by tying women's skirts around the jars

If you let the secret out you will die, so remember that

So you're here

The madam spirit responsible for changing the bean paste...

please come and change the taste back to normal...

So you're here... so you're here

Oh, intelligent spirit...

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

If you're a ghost, go away If you're a person...

Are you a person?

You haven't come to your senses

Drag this man away!

Yes, sir!

Sir! Sir!

I did it so the jars wouldn't be cold... Sir!

Lift up your face

Aren't you from that liquor place...?

Sir... you visited my liquor place before...

How are you?

You wretch!

Why did you trespass the palace at night?!

Tell me the truth!

Trespassing!? I know what I was doing and it wasn't trespassing!

Tie him up and put him in jail We'll interrogate him

Yes, sir

Sir! Sir! I'll tell you the truth! I'll tell you everything!

I'm the head chef...

How dare you lie here?!

I'll tell you nothing but the whole truth!

Sir, I wanted to help Jang-Geum and I was told that if I do that

the taste would come back That's why I did it

And not too long ago, I was freed from the police, when Jang-Geum solved...

the issue with the Prince's paralysis and I wanted to repay her

Wait a moment

Then are you talking about Jang-Geum in the Royal Kitchen?

Do you know my daughter, Jang-Geum?

How would you know her?

Sir! Sir!

I deserve to die! Please save me!

Is he the head chef?

Yes, what's this about?

We captured him at the sauce pantry

What? Sauce pantry?

He said he was doing something to bring the taste back, but...

I heard from Jang-Geum that the taste of the bean paste had changed!

I've never seen anyone like you

Madam, I wanted to help Jang-Geum for saving me!

And to help you even more!

And I wanted to do something great as the chef of this nation!

Enough. No matter what the reason, you deserve to die...

for breaking into the palace so deal with him according to the law

Sir! Kill me instead! If you forgive me...

I'll confess all of my sins that I've committed from childhood!

Sir

He's senseless but his motives are good

so why don't you just scare him a little and send him back?

Madam! I risked my life fearing...

that great calamity might hit our nation!

The taste may have come back now Can I go and check?

Madam! Please say something for me!

I'm sorry for that. Please forgive me

Oh, no, not at all You did a good job tonight

Are you truly Lady Suh's father?

Yes, of course People say she takes after me

Her intelligence and brilliance...

I'm asking because I see a big difference

Actually, she only has my kind heart

and her mother's beauty

Anyway, how do you know Jang-Geum?

I met her a few times

Not once, but a few times?

Jars are important as it can determine the taste as well

You saw how the old man was making it, right?

Yes

He used pine powder, beanchaff oil and other natural ingredients...

that are good for the body to coat the clay...

When you put the jar in high temperature fire

Tiny holes are formed for ventilation

That way the jar breathes too, huh?

Yes. It's late Let's spend the night here and

get on the boat early next morning

Yes, ma'am

Let's look for an inn

It must be sacrificial rites

But it's strange

Yes, Madam. Why did everyone bring their jars here?

I know...

Hello? Hello?

Yes!

Do you have a room for tonight?

Yes, we do

I have a question. Today seems to be the day for jar sacrificial rites

Why did everyone in the town bring their jars to one place?

Oh, it's because that's the best spot to make bean paste

From the old days, people have found that...

if you have sacrificial rites with the jars under the tree

the taste turned out great

It became a place of worship for the town god

You know that a year goes smoothly if the bean paste is made right

But why that spot of all places?

I don't know That's just how it's been...

But that's not the only place

Sir Han's place is good too, but people can't put their jars there

since he's a scholar-official

Some people put theirs at Ssangjung's home behind his

Why that place?

I don't know, but when you put the jars at those three places

the taste turns out to be excellent, and they taste similar too

You're already back?

You brought fermented soybean blocks & jars for the palace last year, right?

Yes

Were they both best quality?

Yes. They were both of very good quality...

There was nothing wrong when they were inspected at the palace

That's probably so since there was no problem when I saw it too

Don't worry. We found a better way to make the bean paste, didn't we?

But it's a little sweeter than the original

so it's very good to eat raw or with vegetables

but it may not be right for making stews

I know that. But if we make different kinds of bean paste and mix them

we could make it taste better

He said it's this house, right?

Yes, he said, these three houses...

make really tasty bean paste

But I don't think it's related to the location

It's probably the method

But didn't he say they're all prepared the same way

How can I help you?

I'm sorry, but we're here because we heard...

the bean paste tastes very good May we try them?

Oh, sure!

How is it?

Very similar to the previous bean paste of the palace

It's very good

Then there must be something for sure

Let's go to the town god's place

Madam, how is the taste?

It's similar to the last one, but it's better here

The people here probably didn't use better water, beans or salt

than the ones used in the palace

Same with the jars

And it tastes very good because pollen ferments very well

Madam... Madam... could it be...?

Did you find the reason?

Not yet. Everyone has gone out to find that out

Just what do you think you're doing?! I told the Queen already

And she became very angry and said that she doesn't need...

a Highest Kitchen Lady who can't manage the bean paste

So did you find out what it is?

I went to check if there was any problem with the salt

He gave us the best salt

So what are you going to do?

We'll have to start making the bean paste stew tomorrow

Madam, I went to different places

and found a very tasty bean paste

Really?

I'll serve it for tomorrow's breakfast

OK, do that

And Lady Jung, I've delivered the Queen's will to you

so you go and do what you think is best

Go ahead and speak

The environmental office has advised that we increase...

the number of soldiers in the Fire Prevention Department...

to watch over the frequent fires in mountains around the capital

What? There are frequent fires in the mountains around the capital?

It's probably due to the dry weather

Fires are always a threat regardless of size

so be prepared for it

Yes, Your Majesty

Your Majesty, I'm really sorry that such a thing may be happening

because of the changed taste of bean paste

It's surely not because of that

There's a saying about it, too

They say a disaster comes when the bean paste taste changes

So Lady Choi quickly brought a good one. Please try it

Sure

Yes, it's fine

Then is it better than the last one?

No, the last one tasted better

Madam, look over there This isn't the place either

I'll look for another place, so please go and tell Lady Jung

Sure

It's alright. Just continue working

That's good enough He finished the bowl

I'll look for a better one

Madam... Madam, I think we found the reason

Really? How? What is it?

What did you find?

That...

Madam, I found one!

There's a place where they haven't cut down the trees in the palace

Really? What's going on?

Madam!