Episode 19
24 Jul 2008 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Episode 19
The Chinese Ambassador, after taking several bites of the feast, turns to Jang-geum and apologises for his weakness in eating the tempting dishes in front of him. He tells her that he will do it only once. Right Minister Oh is shocked as the feast lasts yet another 2 days. The Ambassador thanks him, but says that he will not partake in the feast any further. When Oh asks why, he points to Jang-geum and says that it is because of Jang-geum’s rudeness and contempt. Jang-geum is surprised at the comment.
The Chinese Ambassador asks Jang-geum why she was so insistent on cooking this simple food, even at the risk of her life, as he was not Korean and would not be staying long. It would have been much simpler if she had served the food he wanted.
Jang-geum replies that she was following the principles set by her mentor Court Lady Han sang goon, which is “under any circumstances a cook must never prepare food that will bring harm to the one who will eat the food.”
The Ambassador asks her if she had been afraid, Jang-geum says she was when she saw how Lady Court Han sang goon was dragged away and placed under house arrest, and when she herself made a pact with the Ambassador at the expense of her life.The Ambassador laughs at the stubborness of the teacher and the pupil in preserving their principle and says that since they abide by their convinction to serve food that is good for his health, he as the recipient must also abide by such rules to look after his own health. For many years he abused his health, causing himself to suffer from diabetes because of his eating habits, although he knew full well the harm of consuming such food. He then mentions that whilst eating the food that jang-geum had been serving for the past the 5 days, he could taste the same pleasant flavour that he has never tasted before(Initially, he hadn’t shown that he could taste the flavour, which worried Jang-geum.)It was delicious.He then says that Court Lady Han sang goon and jang-geum will be in charge of all his meals until he leaves for China.Jang-geum has proven that the simple food she served for 5 days did make the Ambassador healthier; he had been grumpy when he first arrived, but now he was more well-tempered.Jang-geum is relieved and happy. much to the displeasure of Court Lady Choi sang goon,geum-young, and Right Minister Oh.
Lady Court Han sang goon is freed. The head of the Royal Household, Minster Shang Shen, says that Jang-geum has won the Ambassador over with her persistence. Court Lady Han sang goon tells Jang-geum that Jang-geum’s actions will shorten her (Lady Court Han sang goon’s) lifespan by a few years due to worry. Jang-geum jokes that Lady Court Han sang goon is beginning to sound more like Lady Court Jung sang goon and laughs.
Court Lady Han sang goon tells Minister Shang Shen that Court Lady Jung sang goon is not suffering from any contagious illness. Shang Shen says that he has been away, entertaining the Chinese dignitaries, thus he does not know the happenings at the palace. He will find out what’s going on.
To save some face, Court Lady Choi sang goon goes to see Lady Court Han sang goon and sarcastically says that she had been worried about the Chinese dignitaries, who in the past had been difficult. She says that since the Chinese Ambassador prefer Court Lady Han sang goon’s cooking, she will leave it up to Lady Court Han sang goon.
Court Lady Choi sang goon report to Jae-jo-sang goon all is well at ‘Tae Pyung Guan’, leaving out that it was Lady Court Han sang goon and Jang-geum who made things go smoothly.
Yeon-sheng trains the newly arrived child maids to bow and orders the older children to each pair up with a younger child.
Young-ro interrupts and tries to take away 2 children to be her students. Court Lady Choi sang goon arrives and stops Young-ro and Yeon-sheng from arguing. Lady Court Choi sang goon puts Young-ro in charge of the training of the young maids.Yeon-sheng complains to Chan-ee about Choi sang goon and asks if Jung sang goon will return soon.Chan-ee wonders if they need to be nice to Young-ro from now on since Choi sang goon is in charge, and she favours Young-ro.
Jae-jo-sang goon and Choi-sang goon report to the Queen Dowager. Jae-jo-sang goon tells her Court Lady Choi sang goon took care of the Ambassador. The Queen Dowager praises them for doing a good job at Tae-Pyung-Guan. Jae-jo-sang goon is about to bring up the issue of promoting Choi-sang goon again when they are interrupted by the arrival of the Queen. The Queen arrives to greet the Queen Dowager and apologizes for her grief over her nanny. Now she has come to terms with her grief after hearing all had been done for her. The Queen asks what they’re discussing about.The Queen Dowager excuses Lady Court Choi and Jae-jo-sang goon as the Queen hints that they should speak privately. The Queen Dowager tells the Queen that she was just praising Lady Court Choi on a job well done with the Chinese dignitaries.The Queen tells the Queen Dowager that she had heard a different version of the story.
Lady Court Jung sang goon is given a medical examination by the Doctor brought by Gam. The doctor says that she shouldn’t have been kept together with those who suffered from the disease.Gam visits Han sang goon to tell her Jung sang goon is weaker than before.
A palace guard comes and asked for the Court lady who took care of the Old Court Lady nanny. Lady Court Han sang goon tells the guard that it was Jang-geum. The guard says that the Queen asked for her presence at her chambers. Shang Shen accompanies Jang-geum to see the Queen. The Queen meets with jang-geum.(Historically this is Queen Munjeong. She is a major figure in Korean History. Driven by political ambitions, she will destroy political adversaries and take control of state affairs from behind the veil for 8 years. This was in a time when gender inequality and sexual discrimination prevailed in the Joseon dynasty. So Jang-geum was not the only woman to break the glass ceiling. A scene between jang-geum and the Queen over why women cannot be like men in term of education and occupation was mentioned in later episodes.)
Back to the story: The Old Court Lady nanny was the nanny of the Queen. She was not only a nanny but also the only maternal person the Queen had known. The Queen lost her mother when she was very young and the nanny looked after her. She wants to know from Jang-geum about her nanny’s last days of life, and whether she had passed away peacefully. Jang-geum tells her that the nanny died peacefully and happy and her ashes are in the temple and she can visit her there if she wishes. Shang shen then interupts that Jang-geum certainly took care of the Old nanny well and she has shown the same care in looking after the Chinese Ambassdor’s well-being and health.Shang Shen tells the Queen of the happenings in Tae Pyung Guan.The Queen is amused.
Jae-jo-sang goon tells the head guard that they probably shouldn’t let Jung sang goon back in the royal kitchen since she is so ill and they should hurry and make a new kitchen head. But the head guard states that is not an urgent matter.
Jung sang goon sends Min-sang goon on a errand to find out what it is that the medical staff has been giving her as medication. Min sang goon finds out the medicine Jung sang goon has been taking contains harmful liquids that are slowly harming her body. Jung sang goon writes a letter to Jae-jo-sang goon asking for a meeting. Jae-jo-sang goon reluctantly visits Jung.
Jung asks Jae-jo-sang goon to allow her to return to the palace kitchen with the rest of the people who are scheduled to return to the palace in 2 days. Jae-jo-sang goon states that’s not a good idea since Jung is so sick and too weak to cook.Jung sang goon confronts Jae-jo sang goon,telling her that she knows about the medicine Jae-jo-sang goon has ordered for her and about the recipe book that was supposed to be given to her but was passed on to Choi sang goon.Jung sang goon asks if Jae-jo-sang goon wants her to send the harmful medicine and the book to the investigation dept. Jae-jo-sang goon denies everything but it is clear she feels threatened.
The queen calls Jae-jo-sang goon and Choi sang goon into her chamber. In front of Lady Ja-soon, the queen scolds the two sang goons for not telling her about what Han sang goon and Jang-geum did in Tae-Pyung-Guan. And also about Jung sang goon’s illness.
Right Ministr Oh sends off the visiting Ambassador,who is content with his stay and thus offers friendship from his nation of Myung (China) to Joseon (Korea).The head guard asks Han sang goon if she will be returning to kitchen since she did a good deed for the nation.Jung sang goon returns to the royal kitchen. Han sang goon is so overjoyed that she cries.
The queen orders everyone to be present for a meeting.
The queen tells Jung sang goon as far as she is concerned,Han sang goon won the second competition since she presented beneficial food to the visiting Ambassador, thus giving him a great impression of the Korean dynasty. Jung sang goon meets with Choi sang goon , Han sang goon , Geum-young and Jang-geum. Jung sang goon brings out the revered recipe book and states that since Choi sang goon already saw it, it’s only fair that Han sang goon sees the content as well.However, Han sang goon declines,saying she will only read it if she becomes the next kitchen head.
The Gam arrive outside the village where Master Min is staying to deliver wines.Min meets with his informants who tell him that the suspects they’re after may be hiding in the local bar/inn. Min comes outside to meet with Gam. Min asks Gam to take him to the bar/inn he frequents. Min gathers information about the inn’s guests from the hostess.The hostess says she can’t give out information about the guests and their conversations for no reason and leaves. Mr Gam tells Min that he knows how to do business with the bar hostesses,therefore Min should leave it to him but for a price. Min offers a thousand yang(monetary unit)to Gam for his assistance.
The queen gathers Jae-jo-sang goon, Jung sang goon, Choi sang goon and Han sang goon into her chamber to announce that the theme for the final competition between Han sang goon and Choi sang goon is ‘nothing’. It means that queen just wants the two sang goons to prepare their best dishes for her upcoming birthday feast. Chan-ee tells the kitchen maids why the queen met with the supervisors.
Right Minister Oh meets with Jae-jo-sang goon.Right Minister Oh tells Jae-jo-sang goon there’s no shortcuts anymore. From now on it depends on Choi sang goon’s skills.Jung sang goon tells Han sang goon that she has done what she could and whatever happens will a fate destined by the heavens, so Han sang goon should try to cook with a peaceful heart.
Han sang goon meets with Jang-geum, who sees that Han sang goon is trembling. Jang-geum tells Han sang goon she looks cute when she’s trembling nervously. Han sang goon scolds her lovingly. Jang-geum tells Han sang goon that she believes in Han sang goon’s skills. Han sang goon begins to tell Jang-geum about her past, of being born into a humble family, of meeting another child who gave Han sang goon her first praise for her cooking skills,of following that child into the palace to become a kitchen maid Later, Han sang goon goes outside and calls out her friend’s name: “Myung-ee”(Jang geum’s mother’s name).
Meanwhile, Jang-geum goes to read her mother’s booklet and learns about a secret ingredient that requires juice from the tree.
Han sang goon digs out a small jar buried under the soil of a secret spot as she remembers her friend Myung-ee who buried the jar with her. As she leaves, she remembers Myung-ee telling her that the best food for the king should be “pal-gua-tang” (eight fruit soup).
