Bon Appetit, Your Majesty (2025) s01e06 Episode Script

1
BON APPÉTIT, YOUR MAJESTY
It is because…
Is he…
I have begun to see you as a woman.
It is because I am pleased with the food
you prepare for me.
What?
Why did you turn away from me to say that?
Because I…
Why…
- Well…
- What?
Why are you walking away from me?
- Because I…
- Why…
That was your fault.
If you had stopped coming toward me,
I would not have fallen down.
Why are you so angry about it?
It's no big deal.
I'm fine.
I scraped my palm.
Let me see.
This is not just a scrape.
I must summon the royal physician.
Your Majesty.
You get cuts and scrapes like this
all the time in the royal kitchen.
I'm really okay.
Is that so? I did not know.
I shall inform those in the royal kitchen
to dull all the knives.
No, it's fine.
I got my handbag back,
so I'm going to go back now.
What do you mean you will go back
now that you have found your handybag?
Inside this handbag…
What is inside the handybag?
Mangunrok's inside.
Where did it go?
Wait.
What? My phone's gone too.
My Mangunrok.
My Mangunrok!
Calm down, Cook Yeon.
There was no book inside the handybag.
Where did you find this?
Song-jae gave it to me.
Song-jae?
The Chief Royal Secretary?
There was no book
inside the handybag when I received it.
Are you sure about that?
Your Majesty,
I would not dare to lie to you.
That can't be.
I swear it was in here.
If you're keeping it,
please just give it to me already.
I said I do not know of it.
I would return it immediately if I knew.
Oh no.
Cook Yeon.
I think the book fell out and landed
somewhere in Salgoji Forest
when the handybag flew over the cliff.
Look.
My lipstick, pouch,
passport, and wallet are all here,
so why would only the book disappear?
If not that, then why else would that be
the only thing missing?
Think about it.
What would the Chief Royal Secretary gain
from keeping it?
You never know.
I told you clearly I did not take it.
Then how about this?
Once the envoys leave,
I will send my troops
to search the forest for the book.
If they still cannot find it,
I will issue an order all over the country
and offer a reward for the book.
What do you think?
Do you promise?
Your Majesty.
I'm serious. I need to go back home.
I have to go back to the future.
Very well.
I understand
how desperately you seek this book,
so I will find it for you by any means.
Okay.
I guess I'll have to wait a bit more then.
ROYAL KITCHEN
Ever heard of seoktanhyang,
the scent of seoktanju?
It is said that after tasting this liquor,
His Majesty said,
"It is so sweet and fragrant
that I wish to keep it in my mouth
and never swallow."
MAENG MAN-SU
EIGHTH-RANK SENIOR COOK
SIM MAK-JIN
ASSISTANT COOK
Enough talking.
Let us raise our bowls
for the royal kitchen.
- To the royal kitchen!
- To the royal kitchen!
You are here.
You are here, miss.
Look who is here.
It is our chief royal cook.
Yes. I'm a bit late, aren't I?
What's this smell?
Were you drinking?
- I do not smell anything.
- Well… Wait.
This is liquor.
Cook Eom happened to brew
some good liquor,
- so we were tasting it.
- That is right.
This is called seoktanju.
I let it ferment for seven days,
and I opened the pot today
to just have a taste.
Since we got caught anyway,
would you like to have a taste yourself?
Right, miss. Just have a taste.
Are you not able to hold your liquor?
I mean, I can drink, but…
What on earth
Am I trying so hard to find?
Where on earth
Am I flowing without rest?
No, wait!
There's no rhythm.
While I sing…
You should tap the beat for me!
I once saw the end of my life
My heart grew tight
What stopped me from living
Was the fear I had about my tomorrow
Gosh, she reeks of liquor.
In those long and repeated days
I saw my abandoned self
- Oh, the smell.
- I wasn't there
And neither was my Mangunrok
You must come back home
Everybody!
Come, come, come, come back home
Where is the missing Mangunrok?
I will go back
COURSE N° 6 BLACK SESAME MACARON
- Miss, you are awake.
- Oh, my head…
Gil-geum. Why am I here?
The seoksura!
Do not worry.
His Majesty commanded Cook Eom
to prepare tonight's evening meal.
Oh, okay.
Did something bad happen to you?
"Mangunrok."
"Mangunrok."
"Oh no, my Mangunrok!"
You kept saying that
and cried your eyes out.
- Do you even remember?
- Well…
Gil-geum, so I got my handbag back--
But Mangunrok was missing?
How do you know that?
You got drunk and kept saying that
until it made our ears bleed.
Oh, I see.
I thought I'd be able to go home.
What should I do now?
Why are you worried?
You said His Majesty
promised to find it for you.
My gosh!
I even told you about that?
This makes it the 35th time.
Anyway, if His Majesty is helping you out,
I am sure you will find it somehow.
Oh, I don't know. I'm going to sleep.
So give it some time and be patient.
Where on earth is it?
She will go back to where she came from?
Your Majesty.
I'm serious. I need to go back home.
I have to go back to the future.
Just where
does she keep saying she will go?
What future?
CHANG-SEON
CHIEF EUNUCH OF ROYAL FOOD
So you are telling me
the Ming envoy refuses to eat Joseon food?
Yes, Your Majesty.
That is the message
I received from Minister Yoo,
who is in Yangju
as the reception official.
Seeing that they are finding fault
with the food
that has been prepared with care,
saying it is not to their liking,
is it not obvious
that they are trying to make extra demands
under the pretext of our neglecting to
welcome the envoy in an appropriate way?
What did we send to the Ming
with the previous envoy?
Fine silk, ramie fabric, white paper,
woven sedge mats, sable fur, otter fur,
horses from Jeju,
and peregrine falcons, Your Majesty.
We did not send any ginseng, I see.
Is that what this is about?
Your Majesty, we seek your advice.
How about we serve Ming food
that the envoys are accustomed to?
There are some Han people
who are skilled in cooking
in the Chinese clan village.
No.
Let them starve.
Pardon?
Let them starve?
With all due respect, Your Majesty,
I fear that would provide them
with just the excuse they are looking for.
He is right.
If we do starve them,
they might once again force us
to purchase worthless objects from them.
How can you conduct diplomacy
with such timidity?
His Majesty is right.
Fellow ministers.
Rather than wasting time worrying,
- we ought to come up with a plan.
- He is right.
As His Majesty said,
we could lose what is in our best interest
if we only focus on appeasing the envoys.
Silence!
I was told he brought
as many as three cooks,
so I doubt he will actually starve.
Regardless of their plan,
we must not act
according to their intentions.
Do you understand?
- Yes, Your Majesty.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
Let us conclude the morning assembly.
Be sure to strictly follow protocol.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
What on earth is His Majesty thinking?
It would be inappropriate not to serve
any food at all, would it not?
- Exactly.
- "Let them starve."
I would never have imagined
hearing such an answer.
But surely you do not believe
His Majesty intends for us to starve them?
We are told to follow protocol,
so let us prepare the hamayeon with care.
HAMAYEON: BANQUET HELD BY THE KING
UPON THE ENVOY'S ARRIVAL
Very well!
Shall we go, Father?
My goodness. What do you expect us to do?
The Ming envoys and their entourage
have finally reached the palace.
Quickly prepare some refreshments.
They barely ate because Joseon food
is not to their taste.
I need you to do your best, Cook Yeon.
Our food was not to their taste?
Did they really starve
throughout the entire journey?
That is what I heard.
I heard that the chief envoy
is a eunuch renowned in the Ming
for his refined palate.
So we should take particular care
in preparing and serving his food.
- He's a eunuch?
- Yes.
The chief envoy visiting us
is of great influence,
who has practically raised
the current emperor
since he was a crown prince.
Surely he would have tasted
delicacies from around the world.
In that case,
I'd better serve something
he has never tasted before.
- Is there such a thing?
- Yes.
I'm not sure if he'll like it,
but something just came to mind.
That is truly a relief.
Even so, I am still concerned.
I hear that this chief envoy
is ill-tempered.
I heard that as well.
For entertainment's sake,
he has incredibly skilled cooks
of the Ming
partake in a cooking competition
against Joseon cooks.
I see you heard that rumor as well.
Uiju, Pyeongyang, Yangju.
They competed against Joseon cooks
in every region they passed through
and humiliated them.
TAEPYEONGGWAN
The long journey must have been tedious.
I heard that the food of Joseon
was not to your liking,
which gave you quite a hard time.
He has brought cooks from the Ming,
and fortunately, has not gone hungry.
They must be some impressive cooks.
They not only serve as cooks
but also as bodyguards.
First…
Firstly, of the three Ming cooks,
this person is the equivalent
of a chief royal cook.
He is the last descendant of the
Sichuan Tang clan, famed for martial arts,
which was annihilated a century
ago for treason.
He is a legendary cook
who challenged and beat
all the famous inns in China
and took their signboards.
He is the master of Sichuan fare,
Tang Bailong.
Isn't that what you'd expect
to read in a novel?
It's like a story
straight out of a martial arts novel.
Anyway, continue.
The next person
is Tang Bailong's niece and pupil.
I heard she combines Sichuan food
with foods from other regions
to create a new tradition.
Simply put…
She is the fairy of Sichuan fare,
Ya Feixiu.
That would practically make her
a food researcher.
Next up is the most mysterious cook,
who is said to be Confucius' descendant.
Of the four great branches
of Chinese fare,
he is the master of Shandong fare.
They say his cooking skills
are as precise as his knife
and just as delectable.
KUNG FU FARE: CUISINE OF CONFUCIUS FAMILY
SERVED TO THE EMPEROR
He is the Shandong kung fu fare expert,
Kong Wenli.
That's enough material
for a whole cooking movie.
Well, I have to admit, I'm intrigued.
They must all be really impressive cooks.
Cooks like me
who have only studied briefly abroad
are nothing compared to cooks
who live and breathe the fare.
Will you be able to manage?
I'm suddenly reminded of an old saying.
"There's nothing much to eat at feasts
that are the talk of the town."
There's no time. Let's go.
- Come on, hurry.
- Okay.
He says his cooks
will show you, a gourmet,
truly delectable delicacies.
Thank you. I look forward to it.
Tell him that I also have
a special chief royal cook.
And that the taste of true Joseon food
will be available for them to enjoy.
He has already heard
about the gwinyeo cook.
He is curious.
You will soon get a taste.
Shall we go inside?
This is the secret weapon
for the refreshment we'll be making.
It's butter.
Batter?
Botto?
Balta?
Butta?
Will this be enough
to captivate the envoys?
Nothing beats something sweet
when you want to lighten the mood.
I'm sure the envoys are tired
after the long trip to get here.
Let's see if something sweet
will work its magic on them.
How do you make this?
You make it by boiling cow's milk
and collecting the curds
that form on the surface.
I was wondering what you had been making
over the past few days.
This was it?
Last time, it smelled of filbert.
But this time,
it smells slightly sour and rich.
Impressive indeed.
In short,
on top of what we sent
to the Ming last time,
you want 50 tribute women
and twice the amount of ginseng.
It is our understanding that you agreed
not to request any more women
as tribute last time.
Is this truly the Emperor's command?
He claims he is only upholding
the Emperor's command.
Then did the Emperor
change his mind without reason?
As stated last time,
we cannot send any more women.
As for the ginseng…
I will think about what to do with it
depending on your reciprocal gifts.
High-quality Nanjing Yunjin brocade,
books, the ten most famous Ming teas,
including black tea,
white tea, yellow tea,
and 100 pieces
of blue and white porcelain.
Those are what they offered us last time.
They are offering
the same reciprocal gifts,
so why is it that they are demanding
we increase our tribute?
His Majesty wishes to know
why we are the only ones
who have to increase our tribute.
What?
Does the King of Joseon dare question
the orders of the Great Ming Emperor?
Is this that thing?
The suyu we add to suyu tea?
Suyu tea?
SUYU: OLD NAME FOR BUTTER
Oh, there was a royal tea called suyu tea
that was made by adding butter
to goji berry tea, right?
You're right.
Suyu and butter are the same thing.
So what are you making with suyu?
What is this sujebi dough for?
She is not thinking of serving hand-pulled
dough soup with suyu tea, is she?
The refreshment I'm making is…
Your Majesty, the refreshments are ready.
He asked what these are.
These are macarons.
MACARON: FRENCH DESSERT MADE PRIMARILY
WITH ALMOND FLOUR, SUGAR, AND EGG WHITES
"Macrong"?
"Macrong"?
They are commonly eaten as a snack
in Western countries.
The sweetness puts you in a good mood.
What are they made with?
The macaron shells are made
with black sesame and almonds…
butter,
egg whites, and sugar beaten together.
These are Joseon-style macarons
flavored with black sesame, mugwort,
dates, gardenia, and rice.
What is the rice-cake-looking thing
in the middle?
That's the filling between the shells.
I made that by mixing butter, sugar,
and black sesame.
It's a savory and sweet cream filling.
"Creamy"?
Yes.
The crunchy texture,
accompanied by the sweetness,
will relieve your fatigue.
I think she explained enough.
How about you try one?
You three taste it first.
How do you like it?
This taste…
He asked about Cook Yeon.
This woman
is the chief royal cook
I mentioned earlier.
I am Chief Royal Cook Yeon Ji-young.
Your Excellency,
Cook Yeon's macrongs were exquisite.
He wants to take the opportunity
to show you the taste of the Ming as well.
As you wish.
He suggested
that Cook Yeon and the Ming cooks compete
to decide the terms of the tribute.
As I heard,
it seems his purpose
is to use the competition as an excuse
to take more from us.
Chinese cuisine is so diverse.
How can I compete against them?
Say no.
That is a great idea.
What are you doing?
Tyrant, have you lost your mind?
We're not prepared at all,
and they came fully prepared.
Can't you tell?
Say no. No!
However,
you brought three cooks with you.
So how about they compete
with three of my cooks?
That would be interesting.
This is so frustrating.
What are you thinking?
What? A team match?
They can compete in three rounds.
The King of Joseon and I
will be the judges,
and in the event that the score is tied,
we shall have a reputable judge
taste the food
and come to a final decision.
That is a good idea.
Let us decide on the themes
at the next banquet.
Very well.
You've actually got to be kidding me.
Your Majesty.
You can't do this
without consulting me first.
You signaled to me with your hand.
What signal?
This.
I was telling you to say no.
This is driving me crazy.
How could you misunderstand that?
You should handle
political matters politically.
Cooking is politics.
Politics is not only conducted
with swords, spears,
diplomatic events, and documents.
Resolving political issues
by exchanging food and culture
is such a peaceful solution.
You want us to participate in a team match
without any information or preparations?
There's no way. I can't do it.
Steam match?
Your Majesty.
Can't you just call off this whole thing?
Do not tell me
you are not confident you will win.
It's not about
whether I'm confident or not.
You can't suddenly tell me to bear
the weight of the country's future.
I acknowledged you
as the greatest cook in Joseon.
Who can do it if not you?
Do it for me and the people of Joseon.
I just can't get through to you.
Why should I do this for the people?
You are the chief royal cook of Joseon.
You cannot possibly say
you have nothing to do with the people.
What if we lose?
You will, of course,
be charged with treason.
So you want me to risk my life
on yet another competition
that I'm not at all prepared for?
Refusing to compete against the Ming cooks
would also be considered treason.
I will receive numerous letters of appeal,
demanding that you be punished.
And eventually…
You're saying I die if I don't compete,
and I die if I lose.
You understand at last.
I have no choice but to win
when I don't even have time to prepare.
Cook Shanzu of the Tang Dynasty
did not become the first female cook
just because she was skilled.
A true cook
does not blame the lack of time,
but selects good ingredients
to create an exquisite dish.
But you can't expect me
to risk my life at every turn.
I really can't do it this time.
If you win,
I promise to find Mangunrok for you.
But you promised that already.
You said you'd find it and let me return.
I said I would find the book.
I never promised I would let you leave.
Why are you changing your words?
You're scaring me.
Win.
By all means.
Did you say the Ming cooks
and the Joseon cooks will compete?
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
What should we do about this matter?
I thought we had some peace and quiet.
It would seem that His Majesty
made a big mistake this time.
Must we stake our nation's fate
on the cooking skills
of a chief royal cook?
However great Cook Yeon's skills may be,
there is no guarantee that she will beat
the greatest cooks of the Ming.
Something must be done
before we find ourselves in grave trouble.
What exactly do you mean?
The chief envoy who came this time
is a eunuch named Yu Kun, is he not?
Yes, that is what I heard.
His heedless behavior tells me
he does not know of my relationship
with the Ming imperial family.
I will write you a letter.
Deliver it to the Ming Emperor.
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
This is the refreshment
Cook Yeon served the envoys earlier.
She truly has amazing skills.
Her sunchae was incredible as well.
It is too sweet for my liking.
What if she serves something like this
and loses the competition
against the Ming cooks?
We must have someone else participate.
Who? Cook Maeng?
Why are you making such a fuss
just because you cannot
get rid of a mere cook?
Refrain from causing any ruckus,
at least until we achieve what we want.
However--
Do as I say.
Be patient, and in time,
I will present her to you as a gift.
Yes, Your Highness.
The loss in the competition
will humiliate His Majesty,
and Yu Kun will win the right
to harvest Joseon ginseng.
In return, he will provide us
with a reason to replace our king.
His Majesty will have
brought it upon himself
by being foolish enough
to agree to the competition.
Things are working out in our favor.
The wench's few shallow skills
will not be enough to beat
the best cooks of the Ming.
However, she is a lucky wench,
and if His Majesty were to help,
I cannot be sure of the result.
No matter how much His Majesty tries,
Cook Yeon will not be able to win.
Hearing you say that
makes me look forward
to the competition even more.
This is from Grand Prince Jesan.
Is there something
you wish to say to me in private?
His Majesty
is not of sound mind.
He often has fits
and even sees things that are not there.
Oh dear.
Is this really true?
Whenever he has a fit,
he causes strange incidents
that negatively impact the court,
so Joseon must resolve this issue
as soon as possible.
Please relay this
to the Emperor.
Are you saying you wish
to change your ruler?
Then what do I stand to gain from this?
I will ensure
that you win the cooking competition,
so set the stakes high.
Instead of 50, demand 100 tribute women.
Instead of demanding
double the amount of ginseng,
demand the right
to harvest all the ginseng in Joseon.
The thought alone pleases me greatly.
However,
it is a given that the greatest cooks
of the Ming will win the competition.
How do you plan to help with that?
My lord, the chief royal cook of Joseon
is incredibly skilled.
You tasted her food yourself,
so you must know.
What if I refuse?
This is a record we kept
of all the gifts you received
and the dates they were received.
Lord Sung! Are you threatening me,
the Emperor's envoy?
I would not dare to.
I will leave this here.
Considering our long-standing ties,
I trust that you will help us.
Our long-standing ties, you say?
He is one sneaky old man.
Seeing how the officials who serve
one king are divided in their loyalties,
it seems that this nation
is nearing its end as well.
What do you mean by that?
It is none of your concern.
It seems that Joseon's chief royal cook
is greatly skilled.
Are you referring
to the refreshment, my lord?
That was just a petty trick.
That does not mean she can truly--
Every competition must be taken seriously.
The pride of our great nation is at stake.
Petty trick or not,
I have to say I am quite curious
as to how skilled the cooks of Joseon are.
How about I test them?
- Ya Feixiu!
- No, Bailong.
Yes, my lord.
We must take this competition
as an opportunity
to humiliate and discourage
the Joseon king.
Will you have a go?
Leave it to me, my lord.
Damn, that was close.
- After him!
- Yes!
GONG-GIL
YEONHUIGUN'S JESTER WITH MANY SECRETS
Goodness me. They sensed my presence?
How chilling.
Are they that well-trained?
Yes, Your Majesty.
They are no ordinary cooks.
So…
the Right State Councilor was there?
Did the talk with the envoy go well?
Yes, Your Highness. Do not worry.
All you did was exchange a few words.
Can he be trusted?
Yu Kun is cunning beyond belief.
This is the second volume of the ledger.
I gave him the first volume.
Well done.
Are you sure it is a good idea
to hand over the rights
to harvest all of Joseon's ginseng?
Right now,
we must protect our nation,
even if it means making a sacrifice.
The royal family must stand strong
for the nation to stand strong.
That is right.
This is a small sacrifice we must make
to protect our nation.
Let us proceed without hesitation.
Since we have made the call,
we must move ahead without looking back.
We must find a way
to guarantee the Ming cooks' victory
in the competition.
I hope you will help
to the best of your ability.
This competition
must be the starting point
for a new Joseon Dynasty.
At all costs.
Soon, this draft of the historical record
will serve its purpose.
Indeed.
Our time is coming.
What did you do
with the arsenic I gave you?
Ever since
His Majesty's physical examination,
the royal kitchen has been too busy,
so I did not have the chance to use it.
Of course.
There is always an excuse.
Soon, you will compete
against the Ming cooks.
A cooking competition, Your Grace?
Yes, and you will participate.
I will see to it that you do.
Yes, Your Grace. I will give my all
to uphold the honor of the royal kitchen.
No, that is not it.
Joseon must lose this competition.
Pardon?
Don't rub your eyes after touching these.
I am plucking off the tops
and taking out the seeds
because you say
you need this for the competition, but…
You should have told me sooner!
What do you need these for anyway?
We'll dry them,
crush them into powder, and make a paste.
They say these are so spicy
that some even died eating them.
What paste can you make with them?
- Do they become edible when dried?
- Goodness.
They're not poisonous.
You can eat them as they are.
Did you see that?
She said this is a secret weapon
for the competition.
- Put your fingers to work now.
- That's right. Well said.
- Man-su.
- How is it?
It must be spicy.
Greetings.
- Eunuch Yoon.
- Greetings, Eunuch Yoon.
Cook Yeon, His Majesty wishes to see you.
What about the travel plaque I asked for?
You will hear about that
when you go see him.
Okay.
Your Majesty.
So I heard
you need a travel plaque.
Yes.
I have to go to the mill myself
and explain what I need
for the new seasoning
we'll be using in the competition.
The mill?
Then are you going to Unjongga?
Yes.
If that is the case, I must go with you.
What? You're going to join me?
Is it okay for you
to just leave the palace on a whim?
On a whim, you say?
You said you need the seasoning
for the competition.
What could be more important than that?
That's true, but still…
Hurry up and prepare yourself.
I don't need to prepare anything.
I'll just wait outside.
Are you thinking
of going around the market
in your chief royal cook's attire?
Well…
You must change into your disguise attire.
My disguise attire?
The only other clothes I have
are Gil-geum's clothes
that she let me wear.
How pathetic.
Follow me.
Chang-seon.
Is all this really necessary
when I'm just dropping by the mill?
Meet me in front of Gyemumun.
GYEMUMUN: SMALL GATE
NEXT TO BONGDEOKGUNG'S NORTH GATE
What? Where?
But…
Let us go.
We sell hair ribbons too.
We have straw hats.
Oh my, the colors are so pretty.
Goodness, come this way and have a look.
Pretty, are they not?
This looks similar
to the one hanging from Mangunrok.
It costs ten nip.
Oh, that's fine. I don't need it.
- Come along.
- Take a look.
Oh, this is it.
I found the place.
I'll take that.
Thank you.
I need to go somewhere for a bit.
Okay, then we can meet back here later.
Wait.
Oh, come on.
I have money too.
Take it.
I really don't need it.
See you later.
I have never ground
anything like this before.
What is this?
They're gochu, chili peppers.
They're spicy, so you might
have a hard time with them.
Regardless, I'll be counting on you.
Sure. That will be five nip.
Five nip?
I heard it would cost just two.
I would've been in big trouble
if he hadn't given me this.
Please cut down on the cost
when I become a regular.
Thank you.
Give me that.
We will take them all.
He said he'd be gone for a bit.
Why isn't he back yet?
Where did he go?
I want to look around some more.
I'll be quick.
Is the chief royal cook still at the mill?
I will go inside and check, Your Majesty.
You do that.
Goodness, it is a sun-shower.
What do we do with all these?
What is with the sudden shower?
What a lovely day. My goodness.
Why are you taking
our precious ingredient?
That sure is potent.
What is this scent?
Who are you?
Strangers are not allowed to come in here.
This is Ya Feixiu, one of the Ming cooks.
What? The Ming?
Cook Maeng! Cook Eom!
It is raining hard.
- Hwang, hold onto this for me.
- Okay.
- Cook Min.
- Yes?
You have really improved
at chopping green onions.
Thank you, Bong-sik.
The Ming cook. She bit into a gochu--
Take a breath first and speak slowly.
Listen.
The Ming cook
is here at the royal kitchen.
I am Cook Eom of the royal kitchen.
What did she say?
She said your knife skills are decent.
She said his knife skills are dreadful.
Did you think I would not understand?
What?
How dare you act so insolently
in Joseon's royal kitchen?
What a mess.
Hey, you!
Cook Eom, I have been chopping
in the royal kitchen for over ten years!
I cannot take this.
Move. Neither can I.
Do you want to have a green onion
chopping competition or something?
Settle down, everyone.
She is with the envoy's entourage.
How about a green onion
chopping competition?
A chopping contest?
With such pitiful knife skills?
"Pitiful knife skills"?
Watch what you say!
Even a dog gets some respect in its home.
Who do you think you--
This is not your fight.
You are so noisy.
They say an empty cart
rattles the loudest.
Where is the chief royal cook?
The chief royal cook?
I will take you on!
Stop insulting my seniors,
and let us settle this
with a chopping competition!
How ridiculous.
Are you all…
sure about this?
Cook Min.
Are you sure about this?
Cook Maeng can chop just as well,
so if it is too much pressure,
leave it to him.
No. She looks like
the youngest of the three.
It would look better for us
if Cook Min were to settle things.
Cook Min, speed is important,
but it is even more important
to cut uniform pieces.
I will remember that.
Cook Min, I believe in you.
Where in the world
did the chief royal cook go
when she does not even know
her way around?
I apologize, Your Majesty.
I have checked the back alleys,
so I will go check the bigger streets.
You do that.
I will wait here in case she returns.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You're back.
Where did you go?
I was waiting for you,
then went to get some flowers.
I see you are getting around just fine
despite the rain.
What is that?
They're irises.
It's a flower that helps soothe the mind.
Eyeless?
These are butkkot.
"Butkkot"?
My flowers.
Oh no, what a shame.
I will get you prettier flowers.
We shall head back now.
But…
Why are you not coming?
Just a second.
Do not pick up what fell on the ground.
I picked these to give to you.
They have medicinal properties
and soothe the mind,
so they're good to keep in the room.
It is surprising
that I even crossed your mind
when the competition is nearing.
We could've planted it in Jangwonseo,
Office of Royal Horticulture.
Your…
Your Majesty.
- Your face.
- What?
Right here.
What did you just do?
There was something on your face.
There is something on yours as well.
Darn it. Stop it.
- What? Come here.
- Stay away.
- Stop it.
- Come here.
Come back here.
Your face is a mess.
It has become even more unattractive.
Oh, I sincerely apologize, Your Majesty.
Your face is just as dirty.
What?
You gave me a gift today,
so I shall make a special exception
and disregard your insolence.
I'm so grateful that you like the gift.
Is it okay for you to leave the palace
for this long?
What could be more important
than preparing the ingredients
for the cooking competition?
That's true.
Tell me.
Can you actually win the competition
with the gocho?
I can't say for sure,
but I think we'll need something striking.
The gochugaru and gochujang
are secret seasonings that will be
very important in the competition.
You know what they taste like.
You had the bibimbap
at the thatched house.
Oh, the taste
that brought tears to my eyes.
Yes.
I'll get back to the royal kitchen.
Give me your hand.
What? My hand?
This is the ornament from earlier.
Well, you seemed to want it.
Did he notice me fiddling with it earlier?
I shall take my leave.
Oh, right.
I mean, would it be so hard for you
to bring these inside?
Butkkot.
Butkkot…
How will I face him
if I lose after all this?
Are you all right?
The Ming chef?
Joseon's chief royal cook.
What were you doing here?
You got lucky today.
Your fellow cooks
seem to be waiting eagerly for you.
What the…
What on earth happened here?
Miss!
Miss.
So what happened was…
It's okay, Gil-geum.
Slow down and tell me what happened.
Okay. That nasty Ya Feixiu or whatever
is incredibly skillful.
She had a green onion
chopping competition with Cook Min, and…
She was like a Shaolin warrior.
She showed unwavering focus
and extraordinary knife skills.
That was not all.
I am actually afraid of knives, you see.
I felt so rushed
and ended up chopping parts
we do not even eat.
But I did not expect Cook Maeng to lose.
This is the first time
I have been outpaced in knife work.
So all of you lost?
We have absolutely no excuses.
What do we do, miss?
This is a declaration of war, isn't it?
How dare she come into our kitchen
without the slightest bit of courtesy?
Damn it.
Who cares how much
and how fast you can chop
when you don't even have
basic human decency?
I can tell what she's like just by looking
at the way she's chopped this.
It's not cool at all.
She's just a show-off.
Darn her.
Are you all just going to give up?
They made a mess of the royal kitchen.
We must make them pay
for looking down on Joseon cooks!
Right?
Right?
Yes.
We can take them on!
I will not lose to them!
If we compete again,
I will show her
what the true balance of chopping is.
I will give it another try.
Just tell me what you need.
I will do whatever I can to help.
We will also help out.
- Us too.
- We will help too.
- We will too.
- I will do what I can!
All right, good. This is great!
We can do this. We'll go nail it!
- Nail what?
- What nail?
- What?
- What was that?
Rise, royal kitchen!
- Rise, royal kitchen!
- Rise, royal kitchen!
Let's fight, royal kitchen!
- Let's fight, royal kitchen!
- Let's fight, royal kitchen!
Let's win, royal kitchen!
- Let's win, royal kitchen!
- Let's win, royal kitchen!
So how were the Joseon cooks?
I competed with them
in a green onion chopping competition,
and their basic knife skills
were pathetic.
What about the chief royal cook?
She was not there.
You wasted time playing with the minions.
Not entirely.
I found out they have
a special seasoning ingredient.
What is this?
It smells like mala, but it is different.
I guess we will find out
when the competition begins.
I am very curious to see
what is making the Joseon king
so confident.
However great her skills may be,
how can he put the nation's fate
on the line over a competition?
The Ming envoy
brought three cooks of his own,
so it seems he had planned it all along.
The Grand Royal Queen Dowager
is devising a plan,
so do not worry too much.
Son, if our cooks lose this competition,
it will greatly damage
His Majesty's reputation.
Have you any clever device?
Father.
Do not worry too much.
They can do what they want,
but they are in the land of Joseon.
I will not allow them to get their way.
I cannot accept that.
SWEE
MEA
FISH
He says you can pick first, Your Majesty.
No.
You should pick first.
He is suggesting picking at the same time.
Shall we do that?
Mu, meaning "nonexistent,"
and yuk, meaning "meat."
Mu, meaning "nonexistent,"
and yuk, meaning "meat"!
For the first round,
they will have to make a meat dish
that has never been seen before.
Correct. A meat dish
the world has never seen.
You pick the next one, Chief Royal Cook.
Pardon?
Me?
Yes.
Bailong.
Yes, my lord.
Ji, meaning "know,"
and yeok, meaning "change."
Ji, meaning "know,"
and yeok, meaning "change"!
"Know" and "change"…
He suggests picking again,
as the combination makes no sense.
"Know" and "change"…
Diplomacy is about learning
and understanding each other's cultures.
With that being said,
how about we cook each other's fare?
Are you suggesting
that for the second round,
the Ming cooks are to make a Joseon dish,
and the Joseon cooks
are to make a Ming dish?
That is exactly it.
What an interesting idea.
Why is he so relaxed?
Is he that confident
they can cook Joseon dishes?
It is time to pick the third theme.
Will you do the honors, Uncle?
Your Highness.
- Your Highness.
- What?
- What?
- You are to pick one.
Pick one?
Oh, of course.
Me?
Yes. You are the Superintendent
of Saongwon, Office of Royal Meals,
so you shall pick one.
Very well then.
I like the feeling of suspense.
Kong Wenli.
Yes, my lord.
Let me see.
Tang, meaning "soup,"
and sam, meaning "ginseng."
Tang, meaning "soup,"
and sam, meaning "ginseng"!
Is not their fare known for soups?
It will be a tough round.
It seems so.
"Ginseng" and "soup"…
I see we have soup.
Then in the final round,
they will make a soup dish
containing ginseng.
He is suggesting raising the stakes
now that the themes have been decided.
He wishes to raise the stakes now?
How so?
He would like 100 tribute women
on top of what was agreed,
as well as the right
to harvest Joseon ginseng.
- What did he say?
- What nonsense is that?
- What utter nonsense.
- Goodness.
In that case,
we shall also add to our conditions.
If Joseon wins,
the Ming is to receive
only half the tribute
and allow Joseon to purchase
as much sugarcane and flour as we wish
before they are harvested.
As much flour as they wish?
How is this any different
from asking our great nation
to pay tribute to Joseon instead?
What is the matter?
Are you not confident you will win?
He says this is a matter that requires
the opinion of the Emperor and the court,
and that he cannot make the decision
on his own.
Then we shall adhere to
what we previously agreed on.
He says if the Ming loses,
he will strongly petition the Emperor
to accept the conditions.
Very well.
Chief Royal Secretary,
record all that was discussed today.
The cooks representing each nation
will compete in a total of three rounds,
and the competition will last one sijin.
ONE SIJIN: APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS
The time to select the dishes
and prepare the ingredients
will be three days.
Which might not be enough time,
so it will be five days.
Very well.
Five days shall it be.
In conclusion, the competition
will be held in five days at misi,
thirteenth to fifteenth hour,
at Huijeongdang.
The cooks from both nations
shall step forward
to pay their respects to each other.
You left your knife
in the royal kitchen yesterday.
I brought it back to Taepyeonggwan,
Official Reception Hall, safe and sound.
How rude.
Is this
the Joseon way?
How dare they challenge me outright?
They completely ruined the blade.
Brace yourselves, envoys.
I'll give you a blazing hot taste.
PRESSURE COOKER, PACKING,
COMPRESS, CAST-IRON PO
BON APPÉTIT, YOUR MAJESTY
This pressure cooker.
There is one man in Joseon
who can make this.
He is the descendant of the
grand military protector Jang Yeong-sil.
I should accompany you.
- My legs are killing me.
- What a pain.
Your Majesty, please!
It's a cannon.
- Get out of here!
- Is he out of his mind?
His Majesty has left the palace again?
A lot of dangerous things
happen outside the palace.
The target
is the chief royal cook.
Cook Yeon!
Subtitle translation by: Jennifer Jean Lim