Original subtitles

(Episode 14)

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?

Did you taste it?

No

OK, I'll go and taste it

What's going on?

Tell us right now

Madam, I'll tell you after we come back

This is it! This is it!

Madam, why don't you cook bean paste stew for His Majesty?

Yes, let's do that

But...

You can cook that

But Madam, it's for the King

Yes, that's why I'm telling you to do it

I...

If you're my apprentice

you ought to be doing the herb dishes and stews

This will be your first assignment

You're still not confident?

I am. I'll give it a try

Your Majesty, is the taste of the stew different?

The Head Lady was worried the taste had changed, but I guess it hasn't

What happened? How did it change back to normal?

Actually Lady Han found the reason why the taste had changed

The reason?

Jang-Geum, what was the reason? Why did the taste change?

It was the pollen

The pollen?

Yes. The bean paste with more pollen of...

chestnut and pine trees definitely tasted better

And that's how Lady Han discovered that it was the pollen in that town

So the taste had changed because the trees near the jars were cut down?

There was a request to cut down the trees

because the manager in charge of the jars...

said that the tree leaves kept falling into the jars

Can the pollen make the bean paste taste better?

Your Majesty, I don't know much about food

but pollen is certainly a good fermenter

It probably fermented the soybeans very well

Really?

And in Ming China the pollen is used as pesticides and as medicine

because it is said to act as a painkiller and cleanser

Oh yeah?

Then we have to tell the people about this

If it makes the bean paste taste better

and it's good for us, what could be better?

The food stories Lady Jung tell me are like good medicine to me

Come and visit me often

Yes, Sire

Did you say you're Lady Han?

Yes, Sire

Great work

You see? You did it

I understand you feeling uneasy no matter how well you do

but don't be nervous and relax

Yes, ma'am

And the kitchen ladies will have a competition to make new dishes

so prepare for that thoroughly too

Yes, ma'am

Madam. I'd like to go visit the herb garden

Why?

There's a person who used to be a doctor there

I'd like to ask him to examine me

A court lady can't be examined by a doctor

But he's someone I've known from the herb garden

Go ahead

I should've been more alert

There will be a competition to make new dishes, so prepare thoroughly

If you win first place there, you'll cook for the King

Jang-Geum must be a smart kid for sure

Smart? I know her because I'm in the same room

She's spaced out most of the time

But we only know what we've been taught

whereas she's always finding out something new

Anyhow, Lady Han taught her in an unique way from the start too

Well... she does read a lot of books Many medical books too

Is that how she found out about charcoal and the bean paste?

Sir!

You're still not careful, are you?

I'm sorry But what are you doing now?

Are you into beekeeping now?

Nope

Then why are you raising bees?

I'm trying to find out if the bee stings...

are better than acupuncture

What? Bee stings?

There's a police training field over there, huh?

Yes

I found out something when one of the soldiers

who was stung by a bee came over for treatment

What is it?

The bee stung on a spot that he had injured during training

The next day swelling disappeared and even his backpain was gone

I was worried because the bee had stung an important spot

but he was completely healed

Sir! Let me have the sting too

I've lost my sense of taste

Are you Sir Jung?

Yes, I am

Why are our soldiers looking for beehives

whenever they feel a little sick?

And many soldiers have been stung like him

I'm sorry for the misunderstanding I didn't know about that

No, I'm sorry Doctors shouldn't talk so much

but I was so excited I shouldn't have told them

But are the bee stings really effective?

I'm still testing them

I saw someone dying of a bee sting It could be very dangerous too

Yes, I know that too That's why I need to test it

Please scare the soldiers telling them, I'm a quack

so they wouldn't do what I say

Sir, use me to test it. Please...

No Sir

I understand you lost your sense of taste

but a doctor can't use something that hasn't been verified

I tried good medicine and acupuncture

so the bee stings are my last hope

No! Didn't you hear? Some people died from it

and some get a rash all over their body

and some suffer paralysis of the tongue

How could I try such a thing on you?

Sir, please...

No way. Begging won't help. Go back

I'll try to find a cure for it, so stop this and go back

I feel unpleasant whenever I see you

During the Tang Dynasty in China a musician had lost his hearing

Think how distressed he must've been to lose hearing as a musician

So he looked everywhere and tried everything to get healed

So did he find a cure?

No, he became the best doctor instead

And at the end, he played music with his instrument

and it is said to have been one of the best performances

I'm not helping you feel better, am I?

When things are good, even bad words sound like encouragement

but when things are going bad, I don't know what to say

If I say, "Things will get better," it sounds cliche

and if I say, "I'm sorry about that," it sounds like I'm teasing you

Those words helped me feel better

Thank you

Keep your chin up

The lonely bamboo tree is evergreen when

It's hard for the gingko tree to sprout

The light shade feels burdensome for a short while

When the sun sets, beautiful dusk falls again

Is it a medical book this time?

Yes

How come you're so interested in books?

I heard that your father is worried about you

I was just looking into something

Jang-Geum, are you inside?

Yes

They're really all medical books

Yes. She's always reading medical books these days

She has no secret books on food or any other books?

No. Why?

Never mind

You can ask me whatever you want...

Lady Choi said your family and mine are like one

We'll be preparing broiled rice cakes for today's snack

Prepare ingredients for 4 to 5 people

Yes, ma'am

I told you not to taste it

You become dependent on taste if you keep tasting things even though

you know that it's not reliable So try to improve your other senses

Yes, ma'am

If you boil pear in the soy sauce like this

the taste becomes unimaginably good when it's used for broiled food

Madam, though pear soy sauce may be good for broiled rice cakes

I think soy sauce with tangerines are better for other dishes

Yes, it's good to use other fruit depending on the dish

Continue

Yes, ma'am

Glutinous rice is the most important ingredient for ginseng soup

I saw how Lady Han trains Jang-Geum these days

She asks her different things and tells her to bring things

That must be the way she trains her

But she tells Jang-Geum not to taste it

just to draw up a taste and add the ingredients accordingly

Isn't that strange?

How could you make food tasty without tasting it?

Though Lady Han always had a unique way of teaching Jang-Geum

don't you think it'll be too difficult this time?

Draw up a taste? How did she do it?

For example, when it's trepang, she tells her...

to bring all the ingredients that can go with trepang

And she also tells her to make the sauce that goes with it

So she's developing her senses Drawing up a taste...

So how am I?

Your face and ankles are still swollen...

Do you have problems controlling your bladder?

No, it's not that bad yet

It hasn't gotten worse Take the medicine regularly

and you must not eat any salty food

OK

How are you?

I'm fine

What brings you here?

It's the month to hold the new dish competition

It's time again The mixed rice dish was selected

and served to His Majesty last year, right?

Yes

I think you'll have to come even though you are ill

No

The Highest Lady must not only make good food

but she must also be able to manage the lower ladies

and also judge fairly between the dishes to be given to His Majesty

So you two can take charge of this competition

We'll offer the King the dishes you pick

and it'll also be a time to judge your apprentices' skills

And this will be your second assignment

Have you recovered your sense of taste?

Yes

I'll go back

I'm back

What did you ask her?

Whether her sense of taste came back

Her sense of taste?

She was worried as she had lost...

her sense of taste from the paralysis

Really? Is that so?

But fortunately, she says it came back...

Some people recover from paralysis gradually

Are you preparing for the new dish competition?

No. I am preparing to make sea bream noodles

Why a sea bream noodles? I am going to teach you that later

I'm training by myself

She's probably following Lady Han's training method

What are you talking about?

Lady Han gives Jang-Geum a main ingredient and then...

tells her to bring the rest of the ingredients herself...

to teach her how to make a dish tasty without tasting it

What? Make a dish tasty without tasting it?

Then are you saying there's a problem with my training method?

No, our family clearly has better taste but Jang-Geum can make new...

I don't think it'll hurt to know how Jang-Geum is being trained

Instead of just knowing about food

it may be helpful to read medical books like Jang-Geum

Medical books?

Yes, Madam. Jang-Geum reads a lot of medical books

I want to be better than her That's why I'm doing this

so please don't rebuke me

Young-Ro, follow me

Yes, ma'am

Tell me the details...

When did Jang-Geum start reading medical books?

I'm not sure, but probably everyday

And Lady Han tells her not to taste during training?

Yes

I asked her whether her sense of taste has come back

Her sense of taste?

She was worried because she had lost...

her sense of taste from the paralysis

Did you taste it?

No

Is everyone here?

Yes, ma'am

You know about the annual new dish competition

It's an assignment all of you will go through

There are no limitations to the ingredients...

It's an opportunity to create a new dish

It's also an opportunity where the best dish...

will be offered to His Majesty Think hard and do well

And Lady Han and Lady Choi will be the judges this time

Be quiet

You two take over now

I heard Jang-Geum's reading a lot of medical books these days

Yes

When did she start reading those?

Probably when the head chef Gang Duk-Gu was arrested

I think she found out about nutmeg through those books

Really? And has she been reading those ever since?

Yes, as if she's preparing to be a nurse

Is that so?

Why do you ask?

I just think she's commendable...

Yes...

Follow me

Yes, ma'am

You made it with yams

Yes. It's good for building up energy

It's OK. It would be perfect for the King a day after he has drinks

Isn't that right, Madam?

What's this?

I made water kimchi with the cabbage that Jang-Geum brought

It's very refreshing. It's wonderful

Boiled walnuts in soy sauce, huh?

Yes, because walnuts are my favorite...

It's very good

What is it?

It's a pheasant dish

OK

What is it?

It's bamboo rice

Bamboo rice?

Bamboo skin is used as medicine and when you cook rice...

with bamboo skin and other grains

you get an aromatic sweet rice dish

Yes, it's OK

You did very well. I'm glad that you have made great new dishes

Now you can try the dishes of the person next to you

Lady Jung said that tastes are equal

Since it's a new dish, how can I just rely on my own taste?

Judge for yourselves by tasting each other's dishes

Young-Ro, you start

The rice tastes sweet and it has a great smell

Next, Yeun-Seng

The seasoning is well balanced and it tastes good

Keum-Young

Initially it's sweet and bitter, but it turns more savory afterwards

Next, Jang-Geum

Tell us

The savory of pheasant meat...

the sweetness of starch syrup, and the soy sauce...

have good balance so it tastes very good

OK, good

Next, Chang-Yee

So Lady Han, did you make a decision?

Actually, I couldn't decide between Jang-Geum's and Keum-Young's

Really? How about you, Lady Choi?

I picked Jang-Geum's

Jang-Geum's?

Yes. She made rice with chestnuts and dates

in a bamboo bowl and its taste was matchless...

However... Madam...

I think Jang-Geum has lost her sense of taste

What? How could that be?

It's true, Madam

Young-Ro's dish is so salty What's wrong with her?

Jang-Geum, you're ordered to come to the Highest Lady's residence

There are three different kinds of water

Sugar, salt and vinegar

Let's find out whether Jang-Geum has lost her sense of taste or not

Let her come in

Yes, ma'am

Jang-Geum, come in!

Sit down

There are sugar, salt and vinegar water in front of you

We've put in small amounts of each, but as a lady of the kitchen

you ought to be able to tell the difference

Go ahead

What are you doing? Go ahead

What is it?

She's asking you, what is it?

Can't you tell by the taste?

It's s... sugar water

Taste the middle one. Now!

What is it?

It's s... salt water

That's enough

Madam, she clearly wasn't able to taste them!

They're all just plain water

Madam, it's true that Jang-Geum can't taste food

You knew about this?

But Jang-Geum... She... has the ability to draw up a taste

Draw up a taste?

Yes, that's why she's able to cook without tasting food

I can train her and I'll be responsible

No

Madam...

It's for the King. A kitchen lady without a sense of taste

can't do such a thing

Madam... she's been doing very good even after losing her sense

Moreover, it was Jang-Geum who found the secret about the bean paste

and she made the bean paste stew for the King

You know this

No way. Even so, how could a kitchen lady...

without the sense of taste make food properly?

She can

Don't be absurd How could she make proper food...

only with the ability to draw up a taste?

Didn't you choose her dish as the best?

Bamboo rice doesn't need any seasoning

Madam, she can She has been doing it so far

She's capable of making any dish if I train her

She can make any dish?

Madam, you were wondering what to do...

with the whale meat we received, right?

Even chefs can't do anything

because they don't know what it tastes like

lfJang-Geum can make a dish with whale meat

I will accept her without asking questions

that is, if she's able to draw up a taste even of food...

she hasn't eaten before as Lady Han has been saying

But ifJang-Geum can't make a tasty dish

you must bring a charge against Lady Han

for mixing public & private matters

and keeping this a secret

not to speak ofJang-Geum

What will you do?

What did you keep it a secret?

Lose her sense of taste? The kitchen is a place for making food!

I know. I did it because I know that

You did it because you knew it?!

The kitchen is a place to make food...

not to taste food

Do you really think so?

Yes, Madam

Do you truly believe that she can make a dish with food...

that she hasn't even eaten, seen or heard of?

I'll try it

Regardless of whether I do or not

we can't forget that you kept it a secret

So... I'll try it

Do you think you'll be able to do it?

I don't know

It's a wise answer to a silly question

See? What new training method?

They did that because she can't taste food

How silly of you to try to copy that?

Madam, that's not what I think

You may think I copied Jang-Geum

because I wanted her skills... that is true to a certain extent...

It's true, I'm envious of her skills of finding out new facts

But that's her effort, not brains

She has new skills because she experiences new things

If I'm envious of her brains, that means I'm dumb

But if I envy her experience, I think I should try things out

I think we should accept new things

Be quiet

She chooses experience because she acknowledges her lack

She has no choice

She can't help it

Why should you go through all that trouble?

Sir

Sir, please give me the bee sting!

Didn't I say no?

Sir, it has to be tested anyway

So why should that be you of all people?

Think it's "fortunately" me, of all people

I won't blame you regardless of the results

I'm not afraid of your blaming me!

I'm afraid of people's lives

People losing their lives because of me

I won't lose my life

Sir, I won't lose my life

A doctor's acupuncture could cost people their lives

Plus, it's a bee, not me stinging you

Who knows where and how it'll sting you?!

So just wait patiently till I say it's OK

It has to be now

Can you do it if you get the right points?

Then it'll be less risky

Then... please do this for me

I'll acupuncture you to put your mind at rest

then, I'll give you the bee sting

OK, I'm done

I used the bee's stinger as you said

but I don't know if it'll be effective

OK, get up

How long do I have to wait for the effect to show?

I told you, I'm not sure of anything!

When did that soldier find out?

He recovered quickly

What is this?

People's reactions to bee stings are very different

Some people swell up, some people don't

and some get a rash

Some people even gasp and die

So if you gasp or your body itches, take this

It's to detoxify the stinger's poison

What if the sting's effect decreases too?

So you won't take it even if you have such reactions?

I'll take it

Thank you. I really appreciate it...

Stop saying what you don't mean

I feel myself blushing

This was the place!

Who is it?

How could you...? You shouldn't tell the location...

of wild honey even to your own son...

Even my father didn't tell me until he died

That's your father. I'm your wife...

You're more afraid of me than ghosts

This is big trouble

Bee, Bee, I'm sorry for letting an unholy person interfere

Please don't get angry and keep bringing honey here

I'll leave you some toffee

Hurry and go down! You can die in a second if a bee stings you

Why did you follow me all the way here?

So why did you hide it?

What do you mean? It's so rare...

I even hesitate to offer it to the King

Really? How much can you receive for it?

We can't receive money for it A compliment is enough

You...!

2 nyang... 5 nyang?

You see? How can I not follow you around?!

By the way, did you get the pork gall for Jang-Geum?

I'm going to get it on the way back!

I ordered two, so you can swallow one

What's wrong? You got bug bites?

Oh, no... it's nothing

It's swollen. Let me see it!

You go outside and work. Hurry...

So if you gasp or your body itches, take this

It's to detoxify the stinger's poison

What if the sting's effect decreases too?

You heard about it too, right?

They've asked for a snack with drinks for the King this evening

so we decided on whale meat

Today?

Yes. Lady Han was confident, so I trust you. Prepare thoroughly

Jang-Geum, will you be serving the King?

Good for you

Yeun-Seng! You'll find chef Gang Duk-Gu at the back yard

please deliver this to him

Take it!

I'll go and deliver it to him

Duk-Gu

Jang-Geum! What brings you here?

Here...

Don't bring this yourself next time, order a maid next time

Anyway, I'm glad you're here

You asked me about recovering your sense of taste last time, right?

Do you have it?

It's a gall

I got this for you as I heard you could...

recover your sense of taste by eating something bitter

Really? Who said it?

Who else? I found out through research

Just swallow it down

It's bitter, isn't it?

Yes

It's natural for gall to be bitter

Have you ever tried whale meat before?

Whale meat?

Yes. I was just wondering what it tastes like

Of course, I know

Really?

Yes... when I went to the east coast...

What does it taste like?

It's very big... it's about the size of a big house or...

Anyhow, it's the biggest fish in the sea

How does it taste?

It tastes like fish and meat... and it differs from part to part...

and there are 12 tastes... how should I put it?

Should I say it tastes like beef?

Beef?

But maybe it doesn't taste completely like beef...

What haven't you eaten before? A 500-year-old snake...

and ginseng that's 1,000 years old!

I'll get going now

It tastes like beef

Even Lady Jung hasn't tasted it, so it couldn't be here

Those are the recipes for making whale dishes

OK, this is good

What are you going to use it for?

Something...

We changed the salt to the best quality one

I think Sir Oh Kyum-Ho was annoyed by Lady Jung as well by this

Probably so... the more she tries to provoke us

the deeper she's digging her own grave

That's humongous fish meat

It's fish? It looks just like beef

Yes, even the color looks like it

This is a gift from the far sea It's rare and...

no one has ever cooked or tasted this before in the palace

So Lady Choi and Lady Han will make their own dishes with it

Yes, ma'am

Yes, ma'am

Steamed dishes will be done by the apprentices

so Jang-Geum and Keum-Young will be doing those

You'll cook in separate places Lady Choi will cook over here...

Lady Han will cook over here... The rest of you ought to...

Iook at how they cook carefully Do you understand?

Yes, ma'am

Go right ahead. You think you can...

cook with something you haven't tasted before?

It's a new dish so why don't you try it before serving it to the King?

The sauce is a little thin

Yes, ma'am

Unlike other fish, it's rather chewy like beef

Yes. But unlike beef, it smells like fish

so I added more seasoning than usual

And it is as oily as mackerel, so I put in a little sesame oil

Good, there's no smell and it's chewy

Addition of pear makes this taste as good as raw beef

The steamed dish tastes very good too

Good, serve him with this

Madam, we need to hurry He has entered his chamber already

OK. Let's hurry

Madam!

Didn't you hear me? Hurry and serve him

Wow! It's fish but it tastes like beef. Delicious!

Jang-Geum, you're really good at everything

I used the bee's stinger as you said

but I don't know if it'll be effective

Just swallow it down

It's bitter, isn't it?

Yes

It's natural for gall to be bitter

It was bitter... it was clearly bitter