01x11 - Course N° 11 Soy Meat Gujeolpan & Eggplant Pie

[bunniefuu]

BON APPÉTIT, YOUR MAJESTY

-[gentle music playing]
-[Yi Heon] Stay and be my companion.

Every morning,

I will personally make you mixed rice.

I'm sorry, Your Majesty.

[exhales sharply]

-[music continues]
-[Yi Heon sighs]

Do you...

truly dislike me?

It's not that. I don't... [groans]

Why then?

Why are you turning your head away?

Look at me at least.

I...

-have to leave here soon.
-Then why do you not just stay here?

[sighs]

It's 'cause I don't belong here.

It's not that simple
to stay here with you.

So you do dislike me?

No, Your Majesty.
It's not like that at all.

But...

I do have to go

to the era I lived in.

I left behind my dad,

who is all I have.

And the work that I've strived for...

[Yi Heon sighs]

...to abandon all that
and live here and begin anew...

I just don't think I'll be able to.

And I don't know whether going
to that extreme just to stay in this era...

is the right thing to do.

Very well.

I understand.

And that's why I want you
to promise me that if you return,

one day, just as you suddenly came here,

you will...

accompany me once again.

What if...

I wanted to, but I couldn't return here?

If you must return,
but you cannot arrive back here...

well, then

I will come find you...

by any and all means.

[chuckles softly]

I guess I...

I will figure out a way to get to you.

But in exchange, please promise me this.

That when I do,

you will not rule as a tyrant.

You think I am still a tyrant?

[Ji-young] Please don't smile like that.

Let me forget you and go back.

Please let this fierce wind that's
swirling inside my heart grow quiet.

Please.

I shall wait.

I completely believe

that you will return here once again.

[music continues]

LETTUCE

TWO SPOONFULS OF CHILI PEPPER
PASTE, ONE SPOONFUL OF BUTTER

-[sighs]
-[music fades]

[clicks tongue, inhales sharply]

[sighs]

What was the name again?

Was it that "batteo" chili...

No. "Playing with fire" bibimbap?

[sighs] Chang-seon.

Yes, Your Majesty.

[Yi Heon] Take a look at this.

-Is it hwajodo, Your Majesty?
-[chuckles]

HWAJODO: PAINTING
OF FLOWERS AND BIRDS

This one is mixed rice with
seasonal greens, her chili and "batteo",

with wildflowers put on top of the meal.

Ah...

This was the first meal
she made for me here.

That meal looks perfectly appetizing.

It does, right?

[Yi Heon chuckles, inhales sharply]

I have drawn in here all the dishes
Cook Yeon has made thus far. [chuckles]

RICE WINE BEEF BOURGUIGNON

This mixed rice on the last page is a dish
I want to make someday for Cook Yeon.

[inhales sharply]

Yet I cannot seem to recall
what she called this dish back then.

This meal gives off a special feeling,
would you not say?

[sighs]

If it were you, what name
would you have given it?

The Chief Royal Cook's longing
for the who-and-where she left behind

is quite a remarkable thing,

so perhaps a name that reflects that?

Hwanseban rather suits it, do you agree?

"Hwanseban"?

Are you telling me that
she will come back to me

-if she eats this?
-Oh, I... uh...

N-No, forget it.

-I only misspoke, Your Majesty.
-[clears throat]

Please do not let it
concern you any longer.

[sighs]

[gentle music playing]

[Yi Heon] I shall wait.

I completely believe

that you will return here once again.

-What? Oh, goodness.
-Oh.

-[music fades]
-Why are doing at this late hour?

-Gil-geum.
-Mmm.

[Gil-geum chuckles]

Oh! Did you have a drink with His Majesty?

-[sighs] I didn't
-Hmm.

I'm feeling confused a little

-about leaving here.
-Leaving?

[gasps, stammers] Back to the future?
Then you must have found your Mangunrok!

I'm sure I'll find it eventually.

Already? My goodness.

[sighs] So that is why
you couldn't sleep a wink

and are up with the stars at this hour?

[chuckles softly]

[inhales sharply] Gil-geum, um...

Mmm?

Are you really going to go tag along?

Oh, you mean me? [chuckles]

Yes, I will tag along. [chuckling]

[chuckles] You've adjusted well to the
royal kitchen. Are you sure you want to?

Well, to be honest with you, I...

I do not think I'm really sure.

I'm a bit scared of going to a new place
at the moment.

And I'm worried what's there.

So I guess I'm not the only one you need.

Oh, no! No, miss, I still need you.

It is true, of course I do. [chuckles]

Well, are you going to join me or not?

Since the Mangunrok is not
with us yet, it is all...

Yeah, you're right.

When I find the Mangunrok,
I'll ask you again then. [chuckles]

Oh, my word!

-Whoa, miss, what is that up in the sky?
-[Ji-young gasps]

-I've never seen one before!
-Wow.

-Oh, my, it's a sh**ting star! Wow!
-It's beautiful.

Wow, I can't believe it.

-There's no fine dust or smog!
-There's no what?

-We have to make a wish.
-A wish?

-[breathes deeply]
-[gasps, breathes deeply]

[gasps] Oh, oh, oh!

COURSE N° 11 - SOY MEAT
GUJEOLPAN & EGGPLANT PIE

GRAND ROYAL QUEEN DOWAGER'S
BIRTHDAY BANQUET

-[Su-hyeok] Take your positions!
-[guards] Yes, sir!

[elegant music playing]

[Ji-young] Wait. So you're saying

that she's not allowed to eat
meat products right now of any sort?

-[music stops]
-That is correct.

She has not touched meat
for quite a while now I would say.

But we can't not serve meat
at the grand banquet meal, now can we?

Yet also, we cannot serve food
she will not touch.

-Okay, we just won't do any meat dishes.
-Hmm?

[scoffs] Do you even know
what a jinchan is?

It is a banquet to wish the Grand Royal
Queen Dowager

a long and healthy life.
So how can you suggest

that we leave meat out of the banquet?

Would you look
at that temper he's got? Wow.

I mean, it's her first jinchan, right?

-She may not know.
-[scoffs]

Then, um...

What if there is, uh... there is one thing...

-[Bong-sik sighs]
-...that is close to meat but not...

Do you really think such a thing exists?

[sighs]

[Ji-young] A dish that isn't meat,
but is like meat?

There is. I know.

[gasps]

A dish that isn't the real thing,
yet it's close.

[gasps] I know!

-Oh, you mean it?
-Soy beans.

-Soy?
-[Maeng, Bong-sik] Soy?

Yes, you don't know? [chuckles]

Shall we begin on the food then?

The hot item to grace the jinchan will be
soybean gujeolpan and

eggplant pie.

[Gil-geum] Egg... Eggplant pa...

[Jinmyeong] Your Royal Highness,
may you live a long and healthy life.

[chuckles] Thank you. I shall live
for a very long while.

Grand Prince Jinmyeong,
I shall live until you are wed.

Please be in good health
until I have a son, Your Royal Majesty.

-Oh, I shall, I shall. Have a seat.
-[all chuckle]

-[Mok-ju] Move aside.
-[Lady Kim] You must not enter!

-Your Grace!
-[sighs]

How dare you show yourself
in her esteemed royal presence!

[Lady Kim] Your Royal Highness,
Her Grace has arrived.

What on earth is this behavior?

I apologize, Your Royal Highness.

I have come to pay my respects
at your jinchan.

Lady Kim did not let me in,

causing me to commit a discourtesy.

[Sung] We know that your court lady
conspired with the female physician

who attempted to harm
Grand Prince Jinmyeong.

-You sickening wench.
-You are completely shameless, aren't you?

How dare you step foot in here?

I, um...

[gulps] Please, I have never proceeded
against the mighty will of heaven.

I only intend to pay my respects to
Her Royal Highness on her 70th birthday.

I humbly ask that you will grant me that.

You insolent...

-Come, now.
-[Yang sighs]

You cannot cover the entire sky
with the palm of your hand.

While it is only right
for the Fourth Junior Consort

to remain in her quarters
until the truth is revealed to us,

as today is a joyous occasion,

-you may stay quietly then leave.
-Yes, Your Royal Highness.

I promise, by witness of the heavens,
I have never done anything shameful,

but I will follow
Your Royal Highness's wishes.

May you live a long and healthy life.

[tense music playing]

Your Highness,
all the preparations are complete.

-And the Inner Palace Guards?
-Under cover of rain training,

we replaced half the Inner Palace Guards
with our coup d'état force men.

And Yi Jang-gyun's household?

We have detained Yi Jang-gyun's family
in the mountain camp

and stationed soldiers around it
to guard them there.

Remember, if Yi Jang-gyun betrays us,

be sure to dispose of his family
without a trace.

Yes, Your Highness. I have given them
orders to do what they must do,

if the time comes to do so.

And what of Salgoji Forest?

KIM YANG-SON: DIRECTOR

All preparations are complete there too.

From this moment on,

Joseon will begin anew.

Make haste.

to the jinchan.

-[music ends]
-[Lady Kim] Your Royal Highness,

His Highness
the Grand Prince Jesan has arrived.

[chuckling]

[chuckling continues]

[strains, grunts]

[chuckling continues]

-[clears throat]
-[snickers]

[grunts, chuckles]

Thank you for coming all this way,
Your Highness.

I am deeply honored
by your warm, generous welcome

and am just filled with gratitude.
[chuckles]

Uh, to wish you a prosperous,
long, healthy and happy life,

I have brought you
the Ten Longevity Symbols.

TEN ELEMENTS OF NATURE
SYMBOLIZING IMMORTALITY

It's beauty has a rather mysterious aura,
as though the painting is

-alive and breathing.
-[Jesan] Yeah. [chuckling]

Well... [smacks lips]

...um, my frailty during
the competition with Ming,

I ask that you forget about that,

as I see that I had made a small mistake.

And, like this
Ten Longevity Symbols painting

wishing you a long and healthy life,

I too wish a long life.

-A long life for Your Highness.
-[Inju chuckles]

I will gladly accept this precious art

-you have gifted. [chuckles]
-[Jesan sighs]

[Inju] However, the mistakes
you had made during the competition are

too serious to be dismissed lightly.

We almost lost our ginseng mining rights.
Am I mistaken, or did we not?

You must take on
that heavy responsibility.

It would be best
for you to step down at once

from you role
as the superintendent of Saongwon.

Show His Majesty and the court officials
your humble restraint by doing so.

[straining] Yes, I will bear that in mind,
Your Royal Highness.

Tsk, tsk.

[stammers]

[door opens]

[door closes]

Your Majesty,
please have the others step out.

All of you, step outside quickly.

[assistants] Yes, Your Majesty.

[sighs]

Yes, what is it?

The inspector court lady
who had been detained,

unfortunately committed suicide.

Suicide?

She had already stopped breathing by
the time the prison guards had found her.

It is unsettling, but in the side of her
neck, there was a binyeo-shaped knife.

[ominous music playing]

[Yi Heon sighs]

This will be classified.

Instruct the warden and the guards
to keep this incident quiet for now.

I want you to tell the Chief Royal
Secretary immediately to investigate,

to determine her identity
and whom she associated with.

Yes, Your Majesty.

[Mok-ju] If you trusted me,
you would believe that.

[Yi Heon] Just tell me why you did it.

It seems you wish to punish me,
so bring forth your evidence.

[Yi Heon] Fourth Junior Consort,
to what lengths are you trying to go?

[music ends]

-[Ji-young sighs]
-[Bong-sik sighs]

So, what do you think?

[Bong-sik] A soybean gujeolpan?

I never would have believed it
in all of my days...

[chuckles] ...even as I look at it.

Who would have thought
you could do this with soybeans?

And you say this is eggplant "bawi"?

A pie. We call this a pie.

-Pa... pa... pa...
-It's plant-based. It's a vegan meal.

Uh, for me, I found that this dish
truly captured my heart.

What did you say the name was
for this one? "Pigon"?

[Min] Oh, goodness, Mak-jin.

"Vigon," it's "vigon."

Most foodstuff or ingredients are
usually animal-based.

She told us about how good this is because
you can enjoy it without any meat. Uh-huh.

-[Gil-geum] Ooh!
-Oh, good work, Cook Min!

That's impressive! You didn't forget
a single thing.

[chuckles] Shall we head down?

-[Min, Gil-geum] Yes.
-[Sim] Oh, yes.

[Bong-sik chuckles]

Huh? Oh, miss, you just dropped something.

Huh? [sniffs] It smells sweet.

Wait, licorice? [sniffs]

And whiffs of jakseol leaves?
Oh, my, what is it?

[stammers] It's nothing. Don't worry.

-[Bong-sik] Gil-geum!
-Oh, oh! Oh, yes, cook.

Ah, all right then.

[Ji-young] It's chocolate
I made for His Majesty.

My gosh, her keen nose recognized
the green tea licorice chocolate.

[Min-seong] Your Royal Highness,
may today be filled with health and joy.

To bless this day,
we offer you this ceremony.

HAN MIN-SEONG:
CHIEF STATE COUNCILOR

[guests] Your Royal Highness,
may you live a long and healthy life.

[chuckles] You have been too kind.

Now, please, make yourselves
as comfortable as you can

-and enjoy.
-Have a seat.

-[councilors cough, grunt]
-[chuckles]

[sighs]

We have a special present

to wish you a long and healthy life,
Your Royal Highness.

The dancers of Jahongwon have
prepared a dance for you.

[Inju] Hmm.

All right. [chuckles]

Let us see it.

[traditional music playing]

[chuckles]

[chuckling]

[music ends]

[door opens]

The jester Gong-gil has arrived,
Your Majesty.

Everything is in place and ready,
Your Majesty.

Let us go.

[traditional music resumes]

Hmm.

Cook Yeon, come here for a moment.

[Bong-sik gulps]

This is somewhat different
from the gujeolpan that I usually have.

Can you kindly explain
what kind of meat this is?

It is meat made with soybeans.

You cannot eat meat these days is what
I heard, Your Royal Highness.

So I made the gujeolpan and eggplant pie

with a plant-based meat substitute
instead of actual meat.

-Soybeans, did you say?
-Mmm.

-Are you sure?
-Yes.

"Pahui"?

Oh, you are simply a miracle worker.

[laughs]

[Sung] This definitely smells like meat.

And it is made with soybeans.

-How wonderful.
-[Sung chuckles]

You are not actually using real meat
and just tricking us, are you?

[Ji-young scoffs]
She's nitpicking at me again.

What do you take me for, huh?

I will take that as a compliment then,
for just how well we made it.

You can tell that the cooks really put in
a lot of effort.

Seeing all of you enjoy it so much,
I couldn't ask for more.

You've given me the best gift,
Your Royal Highness.

May you always be safe and in good health.

It seems that your words are
much like a tonic. [chuckles]

May you also remain safe and sound
for a long time.

[Ji-young chuckles]

[Inju] Mmm.

So, soybeans are what she used.

[chuckles]

Mmm.

But how does it tastes like meat?

Mmm!

Go ahead and enjoy. [chuckles]

[Mok-ju scoffs] Your days of showing off
your cooking will end today, wench.

-[traditional music continues]
-It is truly unfortunate

that His Majesty is so late,
especially for a meal like this one.

Oh, I know.
Because he would certainly enjoy it.

-[music ends]
-[Inju chuckles, sighs]

[Song-jae] Today,
to commemorate such a joyous

and momentous occasion of wishing Her
Royal Highness a long and healthy life,

His Majesty has summoned jesters
to come and perform a dance for you.

This performance will ward off misfortune.

It will bring great gifts.

You will be seeing a dance
by the Cheoyongmu

called "The Lion Dance."

Did he truly do so?

Then let us see if you can summon
some auspicious energy. [chuckles]

[percussion music playing]

[all gasp]

-[chuckles]
-Wow.

Hurrah!

-Oh!
-Look, look!

[Jesan gasps]

-[music ends]
-[guests applauding]

Gods of the mighty heavens and earth!

On this day of Imsul, month of Sinsa
in the year of Gapsin,

the whole court and her offspring
have gathered here

to offer their heart and devotion for
the Grand Royal Queen Dowager's birthday!

We humbly present this to you!

You must be the jester favored by
His Majesty that we have heard so much on.

-Gong-gil, correct?
-Yes, Your Royal Highness.

May you live very a long,
safe and healthy life.

[traditional music playing]

[Ji-young gasps] Your Majesty.

[Inju] Could it be...

Grandson?

-Yes.
-[gasps]

[Song-jae] This is a dance offered

to Your Royal Highness by His Majesty

with the utmost devotion and respect.

His Majesty is dancing
for his grandmother?

His Majesty's filial devotion
is truly profound.

[sighs deeply] It is true.

You can see that His Majesty's movements
are like those of an artist. [chuckles]

Is that truly His Majesty?

How could he perform in such a place?

It's been about ten years since I've seen
His Majesty dance. [chuckles]

It is remarkably astonishing.

-[Hyeong-min] Is that really His Majesty?
-[Won-jun chuckling]

[Inju sighs]

[chuckles]

[Ji-young sighs] Your Majesty,

you will now be remembered
as a wise and virtuous king

for a long, long time.

[Jesan] Your Majesty, enjoy this moment.

For, soon, you will commit depraved acts
against your family and become a tyrant.

[chuckles]

[music continues faintly]

[sorrowful music playing]

[Jang-gyun's wife sobs]
My lord, please spare me.

You scoundrel! Are you truly
not afraid of the heavens?

-[sobbing]
-[Jesan] Do you wish to save your wife

or watch me k*ll her?

So be it.

-[shouts]
-[whimpers]

Your Highness!
How could you do such a thing?

I am a special royal inspector acting
on His Majesty's confidential orders.

-This is...
-Yes.

It's called treason.

-Your Highness.
-[Jesan] Under the guise

of avenging the death
of his deposed queen mother,

the Muin Purge was ordered by the king.

He shamelessly m*rder*d
without any hesitation,

and you led that purge, so yes,
this is a treasonous act

to punish you and the king.

[music continues]

[Jesan] But if you obey me now,

I shall spare the lives
of your wife and children.

[traditional music resumes]

-[music ends]
-[councilors laughing, applauding]

[Inju chuckling]

[Yi Heon sighs]

[Ji-young] The Grand Royal Queen Dowager
is smiling. [sighs]

Will there finally be peace
in the palace now?

[Yi Heon] Grandmother,

just like spring,
and even after the flowers fade,

may you live a life of peace,

-and may you live for a thousand years.
-[Inju chuckles]

Your Majesty, I thank you for that.

And may you also shine upon this land,

like the ever-bright sun,
for a long, long time.

Principal Drafter Yi,
how did you get here?

You may not enter.

You cannot!

I am Special Royal Inspector Yi Jang-gyun.

I have received the royal command
from His Majesty.

Commander, have you forgotten?

This is
the Grand Royal Queen Dowager's banquet.

Come to His Majesty's quarters
in the evening.

-[guests murmuring]
-Yi Jang-gyun?

Step aside.

SHIN SU-HYEOK:
COMMANDER OF URIMWI

[tense music playing]

[Jang-gyun] This draft must never be
delivered to His Majesty!

[Jesan] Without it,
did the king's madness cease?

Have we entered
an era of peace and prosperity?

Your Majesty, it is I, your humble servant
Yi Jang-gyun of Hongmungwan.

I have found the sealed box.

-[councilor] Yi Jang-gyun found the box?
-[Chang-seon] The sealed box?

[guests murmuring]

And what is this?

The draft that you commanded me to find.

This is what I found.

It is not from where the drafts
are officially kept,

but it is a home draft telling the truth.

HOME DRAFT: CONTAINING
BOTH PUBLIC AND PERSONAL VIEWS

[Ji-young] A draft? What's going on?

It couldn't be...

Show it.

[Ji-young] Something is wrong.

Don't look at it, Your Majesty.
You mustn't.

Is this truly...

[Jang-gyun] Yes, Your Majesty.

This draft reveals the truth,

that your mother was poisoned.

[guests murmuring]

[gasps]

[music continues]

[Ji-young gasps] It's the Gapsin Purge.

INCIDENT WHERE
YEONHUIGUN ex*cuted

OFFICIALS INVOLVED
IN QUEEN YEON'S DEATH

No, no, I have to stop this somehow!

Oh my, miss! Are you well?

What's wrong, huh?

-Gil-geum, I...
-Yes, yes?

[breathes shakily]

[Jang-gyun] While I was searching
for the draft, I crossed paths

with your maternal grandmother.

Pardon?

Did you say "maternal"?

How could this... Oh, no.

[breathing shakily]

PRINCESS CONSORT SIM:
YI HEON'S GRANDMOTHER

[Consort Sim giggling]

Is she truly...

[Jang-gyun] Yes, Your Majesty.
She is Internal Princess Consort Goheung,

your maternal grandmother.

[Yi Heon] How?

[giggling continues]

How did all of this occur?

After your biological mother was
put to death through the use of poison,

the Lady Consort fell into such a state.

[music intensifies]

[grunts, continues giggling]

[giggling stops]

I will ask,

are you truly
Internal Princess Consort Sim or not?

[stammers] No, no.

I know nothing about this.
[breathes shakily]

I just want to ask for Her Majesty,
who's innocent...

[sobbing]

...to be spared. I beg of you.

Please spare her. [continues sobbing]

Please spare her.

[guests murmuring]

[Consort Sim] Please spare her.

[Yi Heon] Grandmother,
do you recognize me at all?

Your Majesty?

[laughing]

-[music ends]
-[laughter continues]

-[guests murmuring]
-Something smells delicious over here.

[chuckles]

-[ominous music playing]
-[gasps]

[breathing shakily]

[breathes heavily]

-Lady Kim, I...
-Your Royal Highness.

[Inju panting]

[music continues]

[sniffs]

Be seated, all of you!

I do not think
I should stay here any longer.

I will take my leave.

[Jahyeon] Your Majesty,

the Grand Royal Queen Dowager
is not feeling well right now.

Your Majesty, please allow
Her Royal Highness

-to return to her quarters at once.
-I said, sit down!

It is a command!

[sighs]

Chief Secretary.

-Yes, Your Majesty.
-Pull out the draft

and read it for everyone.

-However, Your...
-Right now!

[Song-jae] "The 20th day of the second
month of the Year of Sinyu, Gabo.

Concubines Yang and Sung
have submitted, in turns,

letters and petitions to the King,

stating that the Queen's jealousy
and hate is severe."

-[exhales sharply]
-"They submitted petitions frequently,

stating that the Queen is vulgar
and lacks virtue

and, thus, is currently seen
unfit for the position."

[gasps]

-[gasps]
-[exhales sharply]

[both] Your Royal Highness.

Please help us.

Your Majesty,
will you truly continue this?

You must restrain!

Chief Royal Secretary, read.

[Song-jae] "The seventh day of
the ninth month, Year of Imsul, Sinchuk.

The King and Queen Dowager Inju
were enraged

because of nail scratch marks
on the King's face.

Despite the opposition
of several ministers,

including Han Min-seong,
agreed and upheld their decision.

She was overthrown,

and she was sent away
to her parent's home."

-Your Majesty.
-You saboteurs.

-[dramatic music playing]
-[gasps]

Your Majesty, please stop this at once!

Continue reading.

"The Queen Dowager made the request

that the deposed queen be ex*cuted

by poison."

EXECUTION BY POISON: THE KING
BESTOWING POISON TO THE CRIMINAL

SO THAT THEY CAN
TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE

"Sent to the late King."

[gasps]

[Yeon] Let me see His Majesty!

Let me see my son!

[poison splashing]

[cries]

[gags]

[screams]

[panting]

[gasping]

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty! Just wait!

You can't do this.

Please don't.

Move aside.

No! I can't move aside.

[Yi Heon panting]

Okay? Please don't.

You mustn't do this.

Please. Please.

Your Majesty!

It is true that my...

my mother is dead because of you,

Grandmother?

Answer my question, Grandmother!

Answer me right now.

You must not do this.

Please, Your Majesty. I beg you.

Move.

I won't do it.

You can't, Your Majesty.

I am the reason.

I had requested it.

[Min-seong] Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Yi Jang-gyun, he's a traitor.

Do not heed his words.

A traitor?

No matter how true the draft may be,

when Your Majesty ascended the throne,

the late king made a royal decree to
ensure that this would always be a secret.

If the man who has betrayed
the late king's will is not a traitor,

then tell me,
what else could he possibly be?

Pardon?

The late king

made sure that
this would be kept a secret for life?

[Consort Sim] A secret? [chuckles]

Look at this. Look.

A secret.

[giggling]

What have you brought with you?

[chuckles]

What is that bloodstained jeogori
before me, I asked?

That is...

[breathing shakily]

[Jang-gyun's wife] My lord,
please spare me.

Your Majesty, this is the jeoksam

that your birth mother was wearing
when she was ex*cuted.

JEOKSAM: A SINGLE-LAYERED UPPER
GARMENT USUALLY MADE OF COTTON

In the draft, your mother's last words

were a wish for her injustice
to be righted and resolved.

Is that true?

I asked to tell me now!

[groans]

Yes, it is.

This is what my mother wore.

This bloodstained jeoksam.

[laughing]

That is what my daughter used to wear.

And my daughter's injustice,
the heartache...

[shudders]

Lady Consort! How could you...

How could you let this happen?

Please save me, please spare me!

Save me!

[hyperventilating, wailing]

Please save me.

[panting] Please spare me.

Save me...

[sobbing]

[breathing shakily]

[Ji-young] What do I do?

What do I do?

Today!

[dramatic music playing]

I will make everything right.

-[grunts, screams]
-No! No!

No, you must hold on.

If you take revenge on them now,

you will regret it
for the rest of your life.

Do you truly wish to die?

Just wait!

[Yi Heon screams]

-Please, Your Majesty!
-No! Don't do it, Your Majesty, please!

Please, spare us, Your Majesty!

-Please, please, don't.
-[Maeng] You must not do it, Your Majesty!

[Gil-geum] Your Majesty.

[sobs]

You are not a part of this.

Move aside.

[Ji-young] No.

I am involved in this.

[breathing shakily]

Because I...

I love you, Your Majesty.

[inspiring music plays]

[sighs]

[scoffs]

[breathing heavily]

Your Majesty.

Please stop, Your Majesty! Okay?

Please, you promised me.

[sniffles]

You said you'd make bibimbap
for us one day, didn't you?

You said you'll wait for me, right?

And that you won't be a tyrant.

You said you would become
a king that is good.

[Song-jae] Your Majesty!

I also ask you to spare us!

Please put away your sword.

-Your Majesty.
-Your Majesty.

-Please put away your sword.
-Please put away your sword.

Your Majesty, please put away your sword.

Please, forgive me,

Cook Yeon.

[music stops]

The person who created this tragedy,

is neither I nor my mother.

I know that it is my grandmother
and the late king's concubines,

sitting over there.

[dramatic music resumes]

-Commander!
-[Su-hyeok] Yes, Your Majesty.

All the gates must be blocked
so nobody can escape here!

[Su-hyeok] Yes, Your Majesty.

-Ah!
-[people gasping, shouting]

Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Wait!

I beg you, no!

[Ji-young] That's it. His grandma.

Chocolate! She might come to her senses
if she eats the chocolate.

[sighs]

[Ji-young] Grandma.

Look. This is licorice chocolate
that is mixed with green tea.

Please try it.

As a mother and Grandmother,

please fathom the heart of Her Majesty,
the deposed queen,

who was His Majesty's mother,

and will you please tell the truth.

Today...

anyone here who's to blame
for the death of my mother,

will not leave here alive as a command.

And that's how it was meant to be...

Grandmother.

[Jahyeon] Your Royal Highness.

[Yang] Your Majesty.

Rethink this.

In the end,

is this how...

[Ji-young] Is this really

something that cannot be stopped?

[inhales deeply]

[Ji-young] It's all over.

[Consort Sim sobbing]

Your mother, Her Majesty...

[breathing shakily]

...drank the poison

and cried out to the heavens,

all the while coughing up blood.

She cried, "My son, please, for me..."

[both] "...right and
resolve this injustice."

[breathing shakily]

Please.

I want you to be wise and virtuous...

A WISE AND VIRTUOUS KING

...be a King who endures through posterity...

[both] ...and let the injustice
be righted and resolved.

Your mother cried, she cried out...

before taking her last breath. [sobs]

[breathing shakily, sobbing]

A wise

and virtuous king?

It is already too late!

No. It's not too late.

Your Majesty.
As your grandmother told you,

your mother said she would never want you
as the king, to ever take up the sword.

[Song-jae] Your Majesty!

Consider our request and have mercy!

[councilors] Your Majesty!

Please consider our request!

Your Majesty!

Please have mercy
and consider our request!

Please have mercy
and consider our request!

[sobs]

Why must I?

[sobbing]

Father. Why have you given me
such suffering?

Why did you...

k*ll my mother that day,

and then put me on the throne?

[sighs]

Father. Why did you make me king?
Why did I have to be the one?

Why? [sobs]

Your Majesty.

[sighs]

[gates opening]

[sighs]

[music fades]

Do not follow me right now!

I wish to be alone.

[sighs]

[sentimental music playing]

[young Yi Heon] Mother!

Hurry.

[Yeon] Yes, Crown Prince.

Crown Prince, look,
you have grown this much already.

[sobbing]

Oh, Mother.

So sorry...

[music fades]

I walked this path to right
and resolve my mother's sorrow...

but how was I to know
it was the opposite of her wishes?

I'm aware my actions were in vain.

Your mother also...

wished for you not to be remembered
as a tyrant in history.

Have you ever...

wished before
for anyone in your family to die?

I have.

I made a wish for my father to die once
when I was younger.

The father who banished
and ex*cuted my mother,

was not someone whom
I could forgive or understand,

for the rest of my life.

Like how they pulled together,

and drove my mother to death one day.

I wished to sentence all the officials,

who banished my mother
and served my father,

to death among the rest.

What would happen? And what about you?

[gentle music plays]

That path is not for you, Your Majesty.

Your mother would not want you to,

but nor should anyone take that on.

[sighs]

Promise that you...

will never have thoughts like that again.
Can you?

[chuckles]

Are you worried that I would?

Of course, I worry for you.

If you are hurt, Your Majesty...

it hurts me too.

[scoffs]

[chuckles]

I was serious.

All right.

[scoffs] Are you doubting me right now?

[chuckles] Did I not say, "All right?"

Our plans have failed, Your Highness.

That wicked Cook Yeon
ruined our grand scheme today.

We should never have let her live.

Your Highness, what should be done now?

Now,

we have no choice but to bloody our hands.

[dramatic music plays]

Tonight,

we will proceed with the second plan.

[Song-jae] Grand Prince Jesan.

I had hoped against it.

Was today's debacle your doing?

[footsteps approaching]

My word, you have arrived at your death.

How should I proceed?

Do not spill his blood in the palace.

Tell me, do you believe
that you will get away with this?

[chuckles]

I never imagined,

that His Majesty
had been searching endlessly

for the home draft all this time.

Would it not be wise
to also devise a plan?

It is our fault he is on the throne,

regardless of the incident
with the deposed queen.

However,
we cannot stand by and watch any longer.

Tonight,

tell the others to all gather.

-We will.
-Yes, we will, my lord.

[sighs]

[screaming]

[Yi Heon] Is it true that my mother is

dead because of you?

Answer my question, Grandmother!

[Min-seong] If His Majesty is looking for
that one particular draft,

already knowing that we had a hand in it,

would he not be currently trying to
oust our Han family,

who were the ones that ensured
His Majesty was on the throne?

Now...

what should I do regarding this incident?

[Sung] Your Royal Highness,
what shall we do now?

You saw that His Majesty
was overtaken with madness.

I am completely terrified.

However, you saw that
he put his sword down, didn't you?

Then what do you think will happen
on the day he picks up the sword again?

Are we supposed to wait for death?
Are we condemned?

[sighs]

Honestly, I too am afraid.

However,

when Jinmyeong collapsed before,

and even just now,

you saw that His Majesty
listens to Cook Yeon,

even when his temper and madness explode.

I think we must
hold out our hopes for that.

W-Wait, we should grab this opportunity

to oust the Fourth Junior Consort
and make Cook Yeon the queen?

That is a wonderful idea.

His Majesty listens to
everything Cook Yeon says, does he not?

It is only my impression.

You should refrain
from any actions or gossip, too,

before Her Royal Highness summons us.

[both] Yes, Your Highness.

[sighs]

GANGNYEONGJEON

[Ji-young] Your Majesty.

Didn't today feel a little strange to you?

What do you mean by that?

That person, Yi Jang-gyun.

Why did he appear at the royal banquet
like that, out of everywhere he could go?

The recent incident
with Grand Prince Jinmyeong too,

and also with Yi Jang-gyun, I think...
It's all too strange.

It feels like

they want you to lose control
and become violent, Your Majesty.

[Yi Heon] Surely not.

Well, whoever is behind this,

they are people who don't want you
to become a wise and virtuous king.

Walk the path of the wise and virtuous,

it was the dying wish
that your mother wanted.

[sighs]

My whole life was planned for revenge,

but now that I have put away my sword,

I cannot seem to grasp where exactly

I should begin again.

[sighs]

No matter how much I think on it,

or how mad it is,

I keep coming back to one idea.

Do you have a good solution for this?

Surely, there must be many things

that the Grand Royal Queen Dowager
wasn't able to say to you,

so what if you give her
just one more chance?

What do you mean?

[inhales sharply]

It's almost as though...

perhaps this is exactly the reason
why I came to this era and became a cook.

It's definitely plausible.

Hmm.

So, uh...

So are you, um,

implying that my Grandmother and I
should have a royal meal together?

Yeah. Before this rift deepens further.

Over a few good dishes,
is the best way to talk through it all.

[sighs]

Reconcile.

Eating a meal with my Grandmother,

I do not think I could face her.

But I shall try.

I do promise.

You mean it?

No backing out!
You just promised you would!

[sighs]

Then, I will prepare it

and I'll serve it in her quarters today,
Your Majesty.

I almost forgot.

[gasps]

Your Majesty.

I've been so busy lately around here
that I totally forgot.

The, um, Ming's head cook, Tang Bailong
asked if I could relay a message to you.

Tang Bailong did?

Yeah.

Sharp edges of things are often made
hard to see for people...

And when you sleep, lock the latch
securely, and make sure you do.

It's true.

What is the meaning of that?

It sounded like a riddle,
so I have no idea honestly.

[chuckles]

Anyway, I'll see you later for your meal
at the Queen Dowager's quarters.

[chuckles]

[chuckles]

[door closes]

[sighs]

I came too late, didn't I?

[screams] You are here!

-Wait, is His Majesty all right?
-Oh, my! Chief Royal Cook!

I didn't want you all to worry, sorry.

My word, how can you be so brave?

I think that our Chief Royal Cook
is so fierce.

So did everything get resolved, or...

Ah, Man-su. Seeing as how she's back!

I'm sure everything is fine, right?

It might be hard to believe,

but everything was resolved.

[all sigh]

Now,

we should prepare dinner.

We will have today's royal dinner

at the Her Royal Highness's chambers.

Are Her Royal Highness and His Majesty
really dining together?

Wait, what? That can't be true?

Yeah. [chuckles]

For the royal dinner,

we will make
reconciliation rice noodle soup.

Sounds good. Ah, Cook Min,
get the rice! Bring the rice!

-Oh, yes! Right away!
-[Bong-sik] Wait, then

I-I have to prepare the soup broth.

-Cook Sim!
-Wait for me, wait for me

Then I'll prepare
the stone mortar for you.

[sighs]

[Ji-young] If a purge happens now,
it will lead to a coup,

and eventually,
His Majesty will be dethroned.

But, if the Grand Royal Queen Dowager
grandma and His Majesty reconcile,

history will change.

Let's start from here.

[Seo-hong] Why on earth
does Grand Prince Jesan

want to see us at an hour like this?

What could he possibly want?

Ugh.

Wait a minute,
has Song-jae already arrived?

[Jesan] What about
the Chief State Councilor's side?

[In-jae] The Hungu faction
will be gathering tonight.

It is clear that they intend
to overthrow the king.

[Jesan] The Chief State Councilor
won't just overlook the king's madness,

now that he's seen it firsthand.

We need to hurry as well.

Are we prepared in Salgoji Forest?

As per your instructions,

we used the king's adviser,
the Chief Royal Secretary, as bait.

And you have delivered the secret letter
to the Commander of Urimwi?

Yes. It has been delivered, through
the Commander of the Inner Palace Guards.

Now, we just need to capture
the Chief Royal Cook,

before we all head for the king.

The king is nothing but a rat in a trap...

[inhales]

...with his limbs all cut off.

[Mun-jeong] Tonight,
the king's own hunting grounds

will instead become the king's grave.

[Jesan] Then let us begin

the heavenly mandate that's been given
to us to change the world.

[dramatic music plays]

[door opens]

You arrived earlier
than I expected, I see...

First, we will deal with

Im Seo-hong, the treacherous official.

Yes, Your Highness.

[Seo-hong] Your Majesty, it's treason!

-[chuckles]
-Treason, treason!

Your Maj...

Oh my heavens. Wh-who are you?

How did you enter the palace
without official clothes?

[laugh] Yes, uh, I shall be on, yes. Oh.

[breathing heavily]

Oh my, more of you? What is this?

[groans]

[groans]

Song... Song-jae.

Please be safe, my son.

[groans]

Did you take care of the Chief Royal Cook?

I have sent someone.

-[Gil-geum] Oh my, oh dear. No, no! Oh my.
-Gil-geum, are you all right?

-Are you hurt?
-Oh, yes, I'm fine. I am so sorry.

-Oh my, what a waste.
-How... Don't touch it! You'll get hurt.

-Oh, all right.
-Go that way, go. I'll clean this.

Oh, I'm sorry.

My goodness, they say
breaking a plate brings bad luck.

-Gosh. How clumsy.
-Are you hurt anywhere?

No, I'm really sorry.

It's all right.

Everything else is done,
nothing's missing, right?

-Yes, nothing's missing.
-We are also done here.

[guard] Chief Royal Cook,
please come out and follow me.

Oh my, miss.
Why would the royal guards want you?

Wait, why would the royal guards come to...

What do you want?

[grunts, sighs]

[gags, grunts]

[grunting]

[grunts]

[Chang-seon] Your Majesty.

If I may dare to say,

your request to be meeting
with Her Royal Highness,

was the right thing to be doing.

[sighs] Is that right?

Ah, yes, I think so.

Your Majesty.

The Chief Royal Secretary
has sent along an urgent message.

A message at this hour?

He says that the assassins
at Jang Chun-saeng's

were former border officers of the palace,

he has found their sanchae
in Salgoji Forest...

SANCHAE: A FORTIFIED CAMP
IN A MOUNTAIN

...and requests reinforcements
to be sent immediately to subdue them.

Pardon?

The rebels are military?

Then, is Song-jae
currently up there right now?

Yes, in the Salgoji Forest, Your Majesty.

These wretches are pitiful!

[In-jae] Your Majesty!

[breathing heavily] Your Majesty!

What is it, Right State Councilor?

A grave situation has arisen.

The Chief Royal Cook
has been kidnapped by the rebels

and dragged away to Salgoji Forest,
I'm afraid.

Pardon? The Chief Cook has?

-Are you certain of this?
-Yes.

She was kidnapped
in the kitchen's backyard,

that's where they found this purple hat.

How...

How could this occur?

Sharp edges of things are often made
hard to see for people,

and when you sleep, lock the latch
securely and make sure you do.

It's true.

Commander.

We shall be heading there right now.

-Prepare immediately!
-[Su-hyeok] Yes, Your Majesty.

[intense music playing]

[Su-hyeok] Ya! Huh!

Hyah!

[Yi Heon] I will rescue
the Chief Royal Cook

and personally subdue the rebels.

I am sure I look strange,
dressing up at this hour?

No, Your Grace.

Someone important
is going to be here soon.

We must welcome our guest tonight.

[Lady Kim] Who goes there?

-[screaming]
-[court lady] Y-Y-Your Majesty?

Oh, my god, he's gone mad!

[blood squelches]

Your Majesty?

[sighs]

So then,

you have chosen the sword.

Is k*lling your own grandma

truly what you intend to do
after all this?

Your Royal Highness.

Who...

Who are you under there?

If you are the one who deposed the queen,

then you should not have
put her son on the throne.

Is that not the reason
things had to come this far?

Jesan, is that you?

[laughing]

Did it take you this long
to finally realize?

[laughing]

[exhales shakily]

In the end...

[groans]

...you were the one behind all of this.

Seeing you bumble around
acting like a fool,

a drunk and a disgrace to the royal name,

I should have known.

What compels a man to do such schemes?
For what reason?

Why ask when you know perfectly.

I am restoring this nation
to its rightful order at long last.

To a peaceful era,
ruled under a wise and virtuous king,

instead of being in
this tyrant's pathetic dominion.

Wise and virtuous?

Who is that person then?

You, with that sword, will never be one

because you are the tyrant!

Now,

you will bear responsibility.

Your Royal Highness's time is done.

[grunts]

Bear the pain,

and responsibility
for placing that child on the throne!

[groans]

-[groans]
-[blood splashing]

The king...

will...

make sure you do not get away with this.

[people sobbing]

[servant] Yo-Your Majesty!

His Majesty has gone mad,

His Majesty has gone mad!

[foreboding music playing]

[Jesan] Where is Lord Sung?

He is waiting for your orders
at the king's quarters.

[Jesan] Begin.

[Jesan laughing]

What a truly beautiful night it is.

[explosions]

[guard 2] Who goes there?

Fire!

-[Chang-seon] What's going on?
-[gasps]

[groans]

Your Majesty...

GANGNYEONGJEON

BONGDEOKGUNG FALLS

ONE SHIJIN
AFTER THE START OF THE COUP

[guards] Yah! Hyah! Hyah! Yah!

[whinnies]

[insects chirping]

What is that over there?

It looks suspicious.

I will inspect it first.

-Is that not Song-jae?
-Your Majesty, Your Majesty!

-Stand guard, all of you.
-[guards] Yes, sir.

[breathing heavily]

Your Majesty.

Do not...

you should not, Your Majesty.

You must hurry and take cover.

Your Majesty, hurry and take cover!

No! Do not sh**t!

-Go now!
-Stay still.

[bowstring creaking]

This is a trap set
by Grand Prince Jesan, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

[Su-hyeok] Your Majesty,
you must take cover.

It is a trap!
Protect His Majesty, all of you!

k*ll him!

Song-jae,

Song-jae, Song-jae! [screams]

-The worst treacherous scoundrel...
-[Yi Heon screaming]

-...tried to be a loyal subject...
-[Yi Heon] Song-jae! Song-jae!

...but I shall die first.

-[Su-hyeok] No, Your Majesty!
-Song-jae! [screams]

-We must retreat, now!
-Song-jae!

Your Majesty, you must escape!

-[Yi Heon] Song-jae!
-[Su-hyeok] Your Majesty, you must go!

Your Majesty,

you must flee here at once!

-[sobbing]
-[Su-hyeok] You must take cover!

[panting]

[Su-hyeok] Your Majesty,
you must get out of here immediately!

Your Majesty!

I will clear the way for you.

Please hurry and stay close!

[dramatic music playing]

[Ji-young panting]

What's going on?

-Ow, my head. [groans]
-Shh.

Gong-gil?

Wait, what is happening?

The red headbands are here.
This place has already been taken over.

Let us get out of here first.

What is happening right now?

And why did you bring me here, Gong-gil?

Cook Yeon, if you don't escape now,

-the king will be in greater danger.
-Uh, wait, he will what?

Uh, until you explain
what's happening, I won't go!

Wait. Gong-gil!

-Gong-gil!
-Who goes there?

-[gasps]
-[grunting]

Hurry! Hurry, follow!

Oh, seriously!

Cook Yeon, come on, hurry!

Who goes there?

[gasping]

[gasps]

[groans]

Cook Yeon!

[Ji-young] The red headbands.

Swords.

No way.

A coup?

Then, His Majesty...

What happened to His Majesty?

[Yi Heon] Cook Yeon,

please,

you must stay safe.

[romantic music playing]

BON APPÉTIT, YOUR MAJESTY

[Yi Heon] I should have known.

You wanted more than anything
to become king, Uncle.

[In-jae] Congratulations.

We must save His Majesty, at all costs.

Please help me. Please?

[screaming]

-[Jesan] Your Majesty.
-[Yi Heon] Cook Yeon.

[Jesan] If you do not come alone,

the Chief Royal Cook will die.

[Yi Heon] I want to settle things with you
once and for all.

Do not do anything reckless.

Go. Go, now!

-[Su-hyeok] Your Majesty!
-[Ji-young] No!