Dae Jang Geum

Jung Sang Gong regains consciousness and tries to get up in front of Jang-Geum, Han Sang Gong, and Yun-Saeng. The messenger arrives and tells Jang-Geum that Jung must leave the palace since she’s no longer the kitchen head and she’s dying, as it’s against the palace rule for maids and escorts to die inside the palace. Jung reminds Han to stand up for herself and be strong since she is now the kitchen head, and gives Han the traditional recipe book.

Han begs Jang-Geum to save Jung and to make sure she does not spend her last days lonely.

Jae-Jo Sang gong reports to the Queen to inform that Jung has left the palace and that Han was not successfuly inaugurated due to protest from members of the Stir-Fry Kitchen section. The Queen is upset by the news but Head Court Lady tries to explain that Han was not the one who actually cooked during the feast cook-off and Han comes from a very humble family. But the Queen thinks there is some sense behind the protest.

Outside the palace, Jang-Geum takes care of Jung while Yun-Saeng is dozing off. Jang-Geum tells Jung, Yun-Saeng and her secretly referred to her as grandmother since they were young. A very pale but smilingly Jung reminiscent about the past times. Jang-Geum also thinks about the past when Jung encouraged and helped her whenever Jang-Geum was in trouble with Han. Jung asks Jang-Geum to help Han since she is now the only one who can help her. Jang-Geum begins to tear and watch Jung, who asks Jang-Geum to promise her that no matter what to never give up on Han. Jang-Geum agrees and Jung lies down to rest as she feels peace at Jang-Geum’s promise.

Han Sang Gong prepares and brings meal to the King. Outside the King’s dinning hall, Head Court Lady stops Han from entering. Han states she must greet the King. Jae-Jo Sang Gong tells her to wait outside until she is called in. Jae-Jo Sang Gong informs the King that Jung has left the palace overnight. The King orders his guard to send his well-wish to Jung.

The royal doctor, sent by the king, arrives at Jung’s room accompanied by Gam Tuk-Poh and his wife. The doctor checks Jung and announces she has already left the world. Yun-Saeng mourns Jung aloud while Jang-Geum and Gams weep silently.

Han continues to wait outside the dinning hall. The head guard returns and gives Han a sign of bad omen by shaking his head.

The guard reports to the King that Jung has passed away. The royal doctor states Jung had already stopped breathing when he arrived. Outside Han falls to her knees in sorrow.

Yun-Saeng calls out to Jung while Jang-Geum holds her down at Jung’s cremation. Jang-Geum disperses Jung’s ashes into the river as she remembers Jung’s dying wish.

Jung Sang Gong: “As for me I regret I had to spend my life inside the palace. So cremate me and spread my ashes into the water so that through the flowing of the river I may wander around from place to place”.

Jang-Geum and Yun-Saeng return to the palace and finds Han standing alone in the rain. Yun-Saeng expresses her sorrow. Jang-Geum asks Han why she is outside. A servant arrives to tell Han no one from the other kitchen sections will come out to help with the scheduled event of making picked turnips and potatoes. With a stern voice, Jang-Geum reminds Han that she is the head of Royal Kitchen ad must pull herself together, and asks the servant to escort Han inside.

Jang-Geum tells Yun-Saeng that the two of them must finish all the work in front of them. Yun-Saeng cries and says she can’t but Jang-Geum states she is carrying out Jung’s orders and asks Yun-Saeng to hurry and work. Jang-Geum and Yun-Saeng gather the child maids and the servants and work on the chore overnight. Young-Noh, who is spying on them, is shocked by the progress she sees.

Jang-Geum brings food to Court Lady Han. Han refused to eat but Jang-Geum begs her to eat. The messenger arrives to inform Court Lady Han of a crisis from water seeping into the kitchen overnight.

Meanwhile the Court Ladies are meeting with the royal guard who is angry that Court Lady Han who once again missed the Court Ladies meeting, as Court Lady Han didn’t know about the meetings. The head guard finds Han and expresses his disappointment and frustration at Han.

Jang-Geum and Yun-Saeng try to solicit help from all the other kitchen sections for another food-preparation event. Court Lady Min and Chan-Ee tell Jang-Geum all the other Court Ladies are protesting Han status and Court Lady Min doesn’t want to be involved in any trouble by crossing the picket line.

Han tells the royal guard about the situation and asks for his help. the guard goes to see Head Court Lady who tells him that the Queen already knows about the situation and tells him to stay out of it.

Geum-Young and Choi Sang Gong discuss their next course of action. Choi Pan Sul worries about the Queen’s reaction but Choi Sang Gong says the Queen won’t fire all the Court Ladies just because of one person so not to worry.

Han Sang Gong finds out from Min Sang Gong about the protestor’s meeting and goes there. All the other Court Ladies blantantly states their refusal to recognize her as the kitchen head. Court Lady Choi-sg gets a member of the royal family involved, who is wife of one of the prince who is Right Prime Minister’s sister. The lady complains to the mother Queen about the situation and the mother Queen begins to wonder if she should fire Han.

Han tells Jang-Geum they should go tell the mother Queen she’s stepping down. Jang-Geum tries to talk Han out of it by saying Han was not only her mentor but a mother figure to her since she was little. If Han steps down then Jang-Geum will give up on her as well.

The mother Queen meets with Queen Ja-Soon who tells the mother Queen the decision in the matter regarding Han is up to the mother Queen. Han arrives and asks the mother Queen for a re-contest and if she wins to have the mother Queen give her official order to inaugurate Han as the new lead. Jang-Geum overhears from outside the room and rejoyces.