Hang-Geum and Court Lady Han lost in the competition in front of the Queen. Court Lady Han believes it is because Jang-Geum took too long to get the cow shoulder meat for the broth thus there wasn’t enough time for the soup to develop its rich flavor. Court Lady Choi and Geum-Young are elated they won and regains confidence in their skills. Court Lady Han scolds Jang-Geum because Jang-Geum focused only on winning against Geum-Young, instead of making good food.
A ranked supervisor, Jo Sang Gong, who is receiving treatment outside of the palace needs someone from the Royal Kitchen for a limited duration and Court Lady Han tells Jang-Geum to go there. Jang-Geum begs to allow her to stay since the competition in the palace with Courty Lady Choi isn’t over yet but Han tells her to leave. Courty Lady Jung finds out about it and asks Court Lady Han if it’s too harsh of a punishment but Han Sang Gong insists on her decision.
Jang-Geum packs to leave. On her way, she stops by Han Sang Gong’s room and apologizes to Han outside her room. Jang-Geum goes to see Kang Duk Gu. Jang-Geum tells his wife about her mistake which caused Court Lady Han to lose. They are surprised at Court Lady Han’s harsh decision.
Geum-Young goes to the kitchen with a joyful sigh and prepares food for Min Jung-Ho. Geum-Young goes to the investigation court to deliver the food but she’s told Min Jun Ho has left for an assignment. Geum-Young gets permission from Court Lady Choi to go outside of the palace for a trip.
The kitchen maids wonder who Court Lady Han will pick as her new assistant. Young-Noh goes to Court Lady Han and asks her to pick her. Court Lady Han tells Young-Noh to fetch water, again and again, like the way she asked Jang-Geum when Jang-Geum was a child. Chan-Ee goes to see Court Lady Han and asks her to pick her too. Court Lady Han asks her to bring back 100 different kinds of herbs in 4 days, just like the way she asked Jang-Geum. Yun-Saeng also goes to see Court Lady Han and states she can take Jang-Geum’s place in Jang-Geum’s absence. Court Lady Han tells her to draw out the ingredients and making of three fruits sauce (triple paste). The three girls complain about Courty Lady Han’s harsh requests. Geum-Young tells them Jang-Geum did all three when she was a child. Han Sang-Gong arrives and the girls state they can’t fulfil the tasks. She tells them this is why Jang-Geum is irreplaceable.
The girls ask why Court Lady Han sent Jang-Geum away. Court Lady Han remembers the days of young Jang-Geum.
Jang-Geum arrives at the new appointment. Kang Deok Gu is there too. He tells Jang-Geum that Jo Sang-Gong became ill after she realized her brother had died. The ill Sang-Goong is dying and before she dies she wishes to eat the kind of rice that she ate with her brother when they were young. No one knows what kind of rice she is talking about so Court Lady Jo remains sad in bed.
Min Jung-Ho who is on his way back to the palace comes across Jang-Geum who seems sad. He is about to approach her but is interrupted by Gang Duk Gu who asks why Min didnt’ get him any wines (Gang asked him earlier when he saw that Min was going to Oo-Ham city). Later, Jang-Geum walks by a temple and sees a man paying his respects (Min Jung-Ho).
Court Lady Choi reports to Jae-Jo-Sang Gong that Court Lady Jung and Han haven’t been speaking to each other. The two agree that they should make sure nothing goes wrong in their plan of making Choi the next Royal Kitchen leader.
Deok Gu shows Jang-Geum the beach. Seeing the beauty of the sea beach and the shore, Jang-Geum becomes happy again as she runs on water. Jang-Geum, who is playing in the water, runs. Then runs into Min Jung-Ho and the two play together.
Jang-Geum tells Jung-Ho this was her first time on the beach. Jung-Ho and Jang-Geum chat, then Jang-Geum remembers her mother and gets teary. Jung-Ho asks how she became an orphan. Jang-Geum says it was her fault that her parents died. Jang-Geum says her father was a palace Royal Guard too. Jang-Geum tells Jung-Ho if she had kept her mouth quiet her father would have been alive today. Same goes for her mother. Jung-Ho is sadden by her story. Jang-Geum apologizes for embarassing herself in front of him. He says he should be the one to apologize.
Jang-Geum gets the prescription for the ill sang-goong. Jung-Ho asks if Jang-Geum is going toward the medicine house and says he’s going toward that direction as well. Jung-Ho shows Jang-Geum where the medicine house is and tells her to meet again in 1 hour. Their trails are being followed by unknown identities. Jung-Ho and Jang-Geum are attacked by the men who followed them. Jung-Ho fights with them, then takes Jang-Geum and run. The two hide while the attackers search for them. The attackers find Deok Gu and the doctor, and ask if they’ve seen a woman with a man. Deok Gu is about to say something but another man from the medical court comes to send the men away by stating no woman was there.
Jang-Geum tastes a new flavor and begs the medicine guard to teach her how to make that flavor. The man doesn’t see why it’s so important and declines. Jang-Geum persists until the man finally gives in. Jung-Ho sees Jang-Geum’s enthusiasm and smiles.
Court Lady Han tells Court Lady Jung she will go through the competition by herself.
Jang-Geum figures out what kind of rice Jo Sang Gong is wishing for and gets it for her. Upon tasting the rice flavor that she enjoyed with her brother when she was young, Jo Sang Gong begins to weep as she remembers her childhood happiness.
Jang-Geum tells Jung-Ho she learned some important lessons through her failure. She learned that she will fail if she only focuses on winning and getting results, instead of putting her enery into the food and focus on the one who will eat it. Min tells Jang-Geum he believes that even if she makes a mistake once, she is a person who will bring smiles to the faces of those who taste her food.
Geum-Young sees the two together as she walks in their direction.