Original subtitles

You have to make a quick decision now Please tell the King's Mother

What do you think you're doing here?!

I'm still the Highest Court Lady of the Royal Kitchen

Court ladies of the kitchen, you follow me right now!

Head Lady, I've asked you already

Lady Choi, I told you already and you had to do this terrible thing!

You'll surely be punished...!

Madam! Madam!

(Episode 22)

Madam, it's me, Yeun-Seng

Are you feeling better now, Madam?

I'm fine. Let me sit up

No, Madam, you're ill Why do you want to sit up?

I have to teach those bad girls a lesson

No, Madam, please lie down Please, Madam

Madam, I'm the King's guard Mak-Ke

What is it?

What brings you here?

I've been ordered to escort Lady Jung out of the palace

But she's very weak right now...

No one except the King and his relatives can finish...

his or her life in the palace You know this, too

That's the rule of the palace, so please do comply

Madam... not now. Not now... Madam

Madam, I'll escort you to your home

What are you talking about?! You're the Highest Lady now

How could you think of leaving the kitchen...

because of personal emotions?!

Sit down

You have to be strong and firm in your position in a time like this

Madam, this could be the last... Please...

Is there anyone who doesn't have an end?

I fully understand you

It's probably scary But if you think you're weak...

even a small mound can seem like a big mountain

But if you're strong, then even a storm just seems like a breeze

I've been your shield up to now You have to become a big mountain

You must become the storm

As the 11 th Highest Court Lady of the Royal Kitchen...

I now acknowledge only you as the 12th Highest Lady of Kitchen

Madam...

Madam, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry

Please forgive us for not even preparing a meal for you

I'm sorry, Madam

If you are, then help Lady Han Help Lady Han

Yes, Madam

I can't let her go by herself You escort her

Sure

Jang-Geum...

you must save her by any means

Make sure she doesn't feel lonely

Sure

I just received a report that Lady Jung has left

If she weren't so stubborn her last day it wouldn't have been so pitiful

How can any court lady's last day be wonderful?

Don't feel too bad about it

Isn't what remains to be done more important?

We only have to convince the King's Mother now

Since the Queen is still powerless, she depends on the King's Mother...

The King's Mother will approve of our wish

Your Majesty, Lady Jung has left the palace

She's doing that bad?

Yes. It grew worse with time and

it worsened dramatically with the epidemic

That's too bad. King valued her for good conversations, too

Human lives... Anyway, she was so eager to see

the next Highest Lady and she has done so

Your Majesty, I have something to say about that matter

What is it?

We didn't have a ceremony to appoint Lady Han as the Highest Lady yet

You didn't? Weren't you going to have it this morning?

Actually, all the kitchen court ladies opposed it and no one attended

What? What are you saying? They're against my decision?

It's because of Lady Han

Because of Lady Han?

First of all, Lady Choi is not accepting the results

because Lady Han didn't participate in the competition

But wasn't Lady Choi defeated by her assistant?

Yes, Your Majesty, Lady Choi thinks so

but other kitchen ladies do not see it that way

They say that they can't accept it...

because the competitors themselves didn't fully participate

How dare they...

But the more important reason is that Lady Han is of lowly birth

They're saying they can't serve such a person as their superior

Although Lady Jung worked in the pantry for a long time

she was a daughter of a good family

Even so, it's something that the King's Mother has decided

The court ladies are insulting

the King's Mother, so we can't tolerate this

First of all, you should punish them as their Head Lady

That's what you're supposed to do

No, Queen

They have a point, too Although I've chosen Lady Han...

as the Highest Lady as the King's will in the confusion of the moment

later on, I realized there was something wrong with the process

Lady Han wasn't even there when we announced her...

as the Highest Court Lady

Yes, there was a problem with choosing the Highest Court Lady

But we can't change that now

So what did she say?

She told me that the King's Mother is clearly unsatisfied with Lady Han...

Probably so. No superior would want trouble over such an issue

But the Queen has ordered her to convince the court ladies...

since it is the will of the King's Mother after all

I think we have to be more forceful to send across a clearer message

That's right, Madam We'll take care of the kitchen

so don't worry and be firm

I'm only causing you trouble on my last path

Oh, no, don't say that It's no trouble at all

Let her lie down comfortably

Sure

Madam... Madam...

I realized what being a mother is like at a late age...

because of Yeun-Seng

She cries all the time and asks to be held every night...

Actually, we secretly called you our grandma

Really? You did?

Yes, you've been like a grandma to me for real

Yes... because Lady Han was so strict with you

Jang-Geum, why are you crying?

She's my head lady

Why are you crying here?

Lady Han keeps on asking me to get a bowl of water...

but I don't know which type of water she's asking for. I'm scared

So Lady Han's nasty temper is showing up again

What should I do?

Just pour a bucket of salt water for her!

Oh, no, Madam, I can't do that

You said your name is Jang-Geum?

Yes

Lady Han isn't doing that because she doesn't like you...

so don't be afraid of her

Really?

Of course... I know her better than anyone else

Come over here I'll tell you an old story

Long ago, there lived a scary tiger who was very hungry...

Why are you just sitting here? Is something wrong?

Other kids are learning how to cook from their head ladies already...

but Lady Han won't let me cook

She must want to keep everything to herself!

Oh, no, that's not it She only wants to teach me well

You know it already

But you still want to do it?

Yes

Then make me a dish without letting Lady Han know

Huh?

Then I'll tell you many things

Really?

But don't tell Lady Han or else, I'd be scolded, too

Keep it a secret from Lady Han, OK?

Sure

Madam, you have to gain strength

You must be here for Lady Han right now

Jang-Geum

Yes, Madam

I ask that you take good care of her

You're the only one who can take care of her now

How can I...

She built up a wall around her as she lost a close friend in her youth

She's probably that way because she's trying to hide her pain and fear

But a leader must be able to step beyond that

That's what I'm worried about

You're the first person who has broken down that wall

So you have to encourage and help her

Promise me you'll never allow her to give up

Promise me you'll never allow her to give up on herself

Sure, I'll never allow her to do that

That's good enough, since you have strong will

That's good enough

Madam, here...

please be understanding

Lady Choi is being so harsh

I know, how could she be so cold-hearted?

Lady Han could collapse working every day like that

It's the first time to work secretly like this in my court life of 30 years

Me, too

But what choice do we have? We have to be loyal...

and live long and quietly, too

I wonder how long we have to be like this

Take the tables

You don't need to come in

I must greet His Majesty

I'll ask him if he wants to be greeted, so you wait here

Where are the kitchen ladies? Something wrong?

Your Majesty, Lady Jung left the palace yesterday...

because her condition had gotten critical

Is that so?

I know you value Lady Jung, but since

she can't finish her life here in the palace...

Yes... so that's why...

Please send her my personal physician

I should at least express my condolences

Your grace is immeasurable

Jang-Geum!

Duk-Gu

Jang-Geum, I ran over here after hearing from the Head Eunuch...

Lady Jung is in critical condition and the King has sent...

his personal physician so I brought him here

The royal physician?

Is this the place?

Yes, sir. This way please

Madam, the King has sent his physician here

Really?! It's true!

Madam, the king has sent his personal physician!

His very own physician!

Madam, I'm here, too

Me, too, Madam

Get well soon

Yes, of course!

How is she doing? Is she going to be OK?

She's already...

gone

Madam... Madam...

I won't talk to you again How could you leave while...

I was asleep, without saying a word? I won't ever see you again...

Your Majesty Lady Jung passed away last night

What?!

She had already passed away when I arrived there

No! Madam! Jang-Geum... I want to go with her!

I can't live without you, Madam! Take me with you!

I can't live without you, Madam! I have to listen to your stories...

and I have to massage your legs! Madam, take me with you, please!

Madam! Madam!

I regret the fact that I'd only been in the palace all my life

So scatter me over the clouds I want to become rain...

so I can flow here and there and travel all over the earth

Madam! Madam!

The Head Lady is looking for you

The Head Lady? I have no business with upper management

I think she's thinking of giving you the position of Highest Lady

The Highest Kitchen Lady? Yeah, right! You do it yourself!

You don't like the fact that I've become the Highest Lady?

I dare to say, I don't think it's a position for you to take

Listen to yourself... you speak such rude words so easily

It'll be hard for you because of people...

I'm worried because I know you better than anyone else

Yes. Should I live a hard life or an easy life?

What do you think?

You should live an easy life

How about you?

You can control that yourself?

I try to live an easy life, but it's always hard

What?

Huh? When I chewed it, I tasted persimmon...

so if you ask me why I think it tastes like persimmon...

I can only say that I tasted persimmon...

So the one with natural skills was right here!

Yes, of course... it was my lack of thought for asking that way

As a cook, one shouldn't hesitate to risk her life to taste the food to see

if it is good or bad for the person

Jang-Geum did this and that's why she lost her ability to taste

As Lady Choi said, one without tasting ability shouldn't work here

but as people sharing lives together...

we must share pains with her and embrace her...

for courageously doing the right thing

So when you return to your residence make many dishes for Jang-Geum

who has recovered her tasting ability

Madam... Lady Jung has...

What am I going to do now?

What will I do now?

Why are you here by yourself?

Please go inside. You're soaked

Madam, it's the same with other court ladies

What are you talking about? What do you mean?

What's with these radishes here?

Today is the day to make kimchi...

but no one's sending any workers here

No one came from any of the kitchens? Right

Not even the worker ladies? No

So what happened?

Who could be there when even the Head Lady has joined us?

You shouldn't be here like this

I'll finish the work here no matter what it takes...

so you should go to your residence and keep your place

Madam

Madam!

Keep my place? What for?!

Madam!

You are the Highest Kitchen Lady

Please go. Hong

Yes

Escort her to the residence

And bring the new girls with you

Yeun-Seng, we must finish everything here. Let's hurry

I can't do this because of memories of Lady Jung

I'm sad, too!

But this is Lady Jung's last wish

It is her will to help Lady Han from falling!

So do it!

I said, do it!

Hurry!

Hurry!

Now!

Go over there and help

Hurry

Good job

This is so tiring... My arms hurt

You can go now

Really?

Yes, you did a good job You can leave now

Thank you! Thank you!

Mal-Keum...

They finished it all during the night?

Serve it

Madam, you should do it yourself

Take it and follow me Yes, ma'am

Please eat

You must eat

No, thanks

Please

I said, no, thanks

Even if you don't want it, you must eat

You can't do this. You must eat this

I said, no, thanks

Madam, please...

Madam! Madam!

You must go somewhere right now!

What is it?

They say rain has seeped into the food storage last night

I think you'll have to check them before they are spoiled

We'll have to take these out first

Sure

Yeun-Seng, here

You didn't get the message?

I never heard about it

I never heard about it, either

Then none of you received the message?

No

Then the crabs from Keum-Gang as the King's gift are spoiled?!

How could you be so careless with such precious items?

We never even saw them let alone hear about them

I've clearly told kitchen ladies to divide and distribute them equally

So how could you not hear of it?!

Lady Han wasn't even in the meeting yesterday! What's wrong?

I told her to come to the meeting today

Does she know that the meeting time has changed?

Everyone knows of it, so how could the kitchen not know of it?

And the congratulatory table menu for Suk-Won hasn't even come!

Madam, there's nothing that has been soaked

The salt is fine, too

No water seeped in thru the wall

Same with the roof

What do you think you're supposed to be doing?!

What are these?!

I was told they were wet...

Why are you doing this yourself?!

Isn't this something that one of your girls can do?!

You didn't even come to the meeting just because of this?!

All the crabs that came in as gifts have been spoiled and

what's going on with Suk-Won's congratulatory table menu?

What?

Oh, my...! Didn't I order you to make the menu by today?!

The ceremony is in 3 days, so what'll you do...

since you didn't even make the menu?!

Lady Jung has trusted someone like you... a person like you!

Madam, you should make the list

Yes, I should

Is this OK?

Yes, that's OK

Madam!

Why do you keep doing this?

You should show your dignity at a time like this...

That was Lady Jung's will

Madam!

OK, I'll make the list You take care of other palaces

Since we have to discuss the ceremony, tell everyone to come to the meeting

Yes, ma'am

I hope they come as it's an important ceremony

Madam, you must come Please don't go anywhere else

Madam, please come at 2 p.m. Please come to the meeting

We must discuss the King's concubine's ceremony...

so please come to the meeting

OK

We must discuss the King's concubine's ceremony...

so please come to the meeting

OK

We must discuss the King's concubine's ceremony

so please come to the meeting

Madam, what are we going to do now?

Yes... what should we do?

Are you going to go in?

We should, right?

Then how about the other ladies' meeting over there?

We must go there, too

What are you going to do?

My heart wants to go to Lady Han, but my legs want to go there

What shall I do? How can you ask me that?

What should I do?

Madam! How can you be hesitant to go in?

Jang-Geum, please let me off the hook

Lady Choi already hates me for preparing the table everyday

That's not something you should be hated for

I really hate this type of situation, too, but...

all the ladies are saying that they can't accept Lady Han and...

creating a commotion like this so what can I do?

Jang-Geum, I'll just do the kitchen work

Jang-Geum, me, too Please... Please...

This is the king's concubine's ceremony after all

Yes. If the King's Mother finds about this...

That's why I'm telling you this

Then are you saying that the King's concubine will be silent about this?

Of course, not

In order to get what we want, the King's Mother must know about it

There's a limit to being uncooperative with the kitchen work...

if we want to show we can't accept Lady Han

Even though Suk-Won just received her position

so it may be easy for her...

Yes, the King's Mother won't just let this go

Probably so, but...

she can't discipline all of us

for she can't stop the kitchen work in all the kitchens at the same time

And the Head Lady isn't someone who sits by idly either

What should we do now?

Do we have to prepare for the ceremony of the King's concubine ourselves, too?

Madam

You want chefs for the ceremony of the King's concubine?

That is unprecedented, since it has been the work of the kitchen

I know, but we are in shortage of workers

Shortage of workers? There are dozens of kitchen ladies in every kitchen...

and this feast is small compared to others

The ladies of other kitchens aren't listening to me

What?! They aren't listening to you?

I'm sorry to say, but that's how it is

The court ladies are rebelling against the King's Mother's decision?

Yes, so I know it's something that hasn't been done before...

but please help me prepare for the ceremony

What a great problem this is!

I'm ashamed

OK, I'll do as you ask but this is no small matter

Did you know about this, too?

What do you mean?

The fact that court ladies are rebelling against Lady Han

Yes, the King's Mother knows about it, too

Then how come I didn't hear a single word about this when...

I'm in charge of the kitchens?

This isn't a matter of the kitchen, but the court ladies

It's not something you should be interfering with

What? It isn't something I should interfere with?

Yes. Kitchen ladies say they can't serve Lady Han as their superior

so even I can't interfere with them

Then are you saying we just have to sit by idly and

watch the kitchens turn into a total mess?

One of the two sides has to make a decision eventually

It'll be faster for Lady Han to make the decision

So please try to convince her before the matter gets worse

Put them over there...

Anyhow, I don't think there'll be any problems with food

Yes. Let's keep preparing...

They're preparing the food with outside chefs

The food isn't important anyway Even if it's not satisfactory...

how could she find fault when she just received her position?

But even the initial greetings...?

Yes, that way the King's Mother will realize the seriousness of this

We'll have to meet again tonight and confirm that

What'll you do if she orders punishments?

What punishments could she order to all the kitchen ladies and the workers?

And a person of low birth has never been in the Highest Lady position

It's not a situation where she can slam them down

Yes, we can see similar things happen whenever

a government official who was born illegitimately is appointed

It happens very rarely

Yes, that's a relief...

I believe Sir Oh Kyum-Ho will help us

I'm creating some lucrative business in Jeju

He probably won't sit by and watch

How much of the products is Choi Pan-Sul supplying?

Why do you ask?

I have to find out something

Almost all products here It's not an overstatement...

to say he monopolizes them

And he's close to Park Bu-Kyum?

Not only that. There's a rumor that he shares profits with Sir Oh Kyum-Ho

And is there a place where Sir Oh's power hasn't taken hold?

There's no problem preparing food

OK... thanks to you

Madam, don't lose courage We'll find a way

Madam, what are we going to do?

Why? Is something wrong again?

They told us not to participate in the greetings

What?!

Yes, Young-Ro has told us not to participate...

Madam, can't you just step down? If you stayed as a kitchen lady...

Madam!

Really... it's so tough...

Where? Where is this from?

At the residence of Lady Choi...

I think boycotting the greetings may be too much

What? If we turn around when we came this far...

we'll be a laughingstock

Yes, the royal family members ought to know

And didn't you say the King's Mother changed her mind, too?

Yes, I heard it from the servant of the King's Mother

Really? Then she only has to decide now

So we have to send our message across by boycotting the greetings

And since Suk-Won has been promoted from being a court lady...

she knows what kind of situation we are in

What do you think you are doing?!

Even if you may not acknowledge me...

how could you boycott the greetings? This is profane!

Why can't you differentiate between the problem you have with me

and the duty as court ladies? Why create such a commotion?!

Then you can step down yourself

Why do you want to stay and make a mess of everything here?

Listen. We can't serve you as our superior, Lady Han

How can we serve the person of lowly birth as our Highest Lady?

So withdraw from your position If you don't, then we will...

not participate in sacrificial rites or any other feasts

Congratulations

Thank you

Go and take a seat

I'm Lady Han of the kitchen Congratulations, Madam

Thank you. But are you the only court lady of the kitchen?

Your Majesty, Suk-Won is here to greet you

Let her come in

So did the ceremony go well today?

Yes, but...

Why? Did something go wrong?

The court ladies of the kitchen didn't show up

How strange... Why?

Like I told you last time, they can't work under Lady Han who's...

of lowly birth and participate in the ceremony with her

Yes, I understand their problem, but...

Madam, I know it was my fault, but please reconsider Lady Han

I know it isn't my place to speak, but leaders should...

win the trust of subordinates So even the King appoints people...

with the trust of his subordinates as the head of important departments

OK, I'll talk about this with the Queen first

So what happened?

What could she do when you've united as one like that?

Then?

Her mind is about to change already

She said she would decide after she talks with the Queen

But the Queen doesn't have any real authority yet

Madam, I'll surely repay you for your hard work

It's time to prepare the table

Tell Lady Choi to prepare it

What are you talking about?

I'm going to meet the King's Mother and tell her that I'm withdrawing

No

Move

No

I said, move!

Then do you expect me to see all sorts of matters...

of the palace come to ruin because of me?

You can fix that

You know that I can't

You haven't done anything yet

You haven't done anything yet since Lady Jung has passed away

I can't do anything right now

That's only an excuse

You're only trying to avoid this because it's tough now

If it's an excuse, that's fine I don't want to obsess over positions

Neither Lady Jung nor I asked you to be obsessed

She told you to keep the position and work...

She asked you to continue her will

But you haven't kept the position or worked, or continued her will and...

you're about to give up on yourself

Then what do you want me to do?! When even Lady Jung isn't here...

what do you expect me to do by myself?!

Madam... I came to this palace by myself after losing both parents

And I met you and I've served you as a mother and a teacher

But I don't want a mother who breaks her own will

I don't want a teacher who gives up on her own will!

If you're going to leave this place and give up on yourself...

then I won't ever see you again

But it's still a decision you've made, Madam...

I don't think it's a good idea for you to take it back yourself

Madam, Lady Han is here

Sure, have her come in

Have a seat

We were talking about you now

What brings you here?

Madam, I dare say, I'll ask you a favor

A favor? What is it?

Please allow a rematch competition for the Highest Lady title

A rematch?

Yes, Your Majesty Ladies are complaining that

I didn't participate in the last round so I'd like to have a rematch

But Your Majesty, when I do win the rematch

please give me full authority over the kitchen

Full authority?

Yes, Your Majesty. Even if I have to demote all the kitchen court ladies

and work with the worker ladies, I'll subjugate them

Please give me full authority