Court Lady Han steps out and meets a smiling Jang-Geum.
The mother Queen tells the Queen to be in charge of the contest this time. The Queen gathers all the escorts and the maids from the Royal Kitchen to announce a second contest between Han Sang Gong and Choi Sang Gong for the title of Royal Kitchen lead position.
During the contest the Queen gathers a panel of kitchen Court Ladies to taste the dishes. Both Han and Choi cook special rice. The Queen asks a few Court Ladies to comment. Most who spoke were impressed by the white rice dish. The white rice dish is made by Choi who used a special light-weight and fresh rice as the ingredient. However, Choi gets 5 votes and Han gets 8 votes. Han gets praised for her dish which has both soft and firmness in texture to suit each Court Lady’s flavour. Han said she cooked it by putting a dish in the rice pot so that one side is firm and another soft. Han states this is how she cooked for the royal couple in the past because the King and the Queen prefer different degree of firmness in their rice. The Queen is astonished by Han’s knowledge and thoughtfulness in remembering such details. The Queen states Court Lady Han is the winner by count of votes.
Jae Jo Sang Gong tells Right Prime Minister Oh about Hang Sang Gong winning. Oh expresses his frustration with Choi Pan Sul. Choi Sang Gong shows her anger and dismay at the situation to Geum-Young as until now her family has always played a prominent role in the Royal Kitchen.
Han Sang Gong receives a formal inauguration to be the next Royal Kitchen leader. Han and Jang-Geum visit the cliff where Jung’s ashes were scattered. Han bows before Jung and weeps as Jang-Geum watches. On their way back Jang-Geum tells Han she wants to make a stop. Jang-Geum goes to the cave where her mother was buried and bows. Han bows too, realizing its Jang-Geum’s mother’s grave. Jang-Geum introduces Han to her mother. Han states perhaps Jang Geum’s mother left so early in order to give Jang-Geum to her.
Jang-Geum and Han Sang Gong shop at the town market and return to the palace to cook up a feast for the King. For her first meal to the King as the kitchen leader, Han plans to make the eight-fruit-soup that she never got a chance to make last time.
After Hang Sang Gong leaves, Jang-Geum looks at the precious ingredient Han purchased and pulls out her mother’s recipe booklet to read about it.
Han Sang Gong presents the dish to the King. The King asks why is she taken so long for her to visit the King in person and asks if she will chat with him like Jung Sang Gong did in the past. Han explains Jung always told her to read books and learn things, so though she is not an orator like Jung she will try. The king is satisfied and tastes the soup again to compliment Han on the taste.
Jang-Geum writes a letter saying, “after reading my mother’s diary I learned about the incident she buried the vinegar with her mate. I wish to meet you. I am a maid of Royal Kitchen by the name Suh-Jang-Geum”. She puts the letter in a pouch and buries it under the spot where her mother and Han hide their secret jar a long time ago.
Min Jung-Ho stops by and tells Jang-Geum for his new assignment, he may be visiting the soo-rak-gan (Royal Kitchen) a lot. Jang-Geum is happy and offers her assistance in whatever matter. Min reports to his new superior at jae-pan-gan (investigation and ruling court) and asks to see the old reports. The superior insists that he’s already looked at all the reports and there is no clue about why the palace is losing so many things in those reports. Min states he wants to learn the roots through the reports and that’s why he wants to look at them. Min finds out that so-joo-bang (stir fry room, part of Royal Kitchen) is where most of the internal loss is happening.
Min Sang-Goong (the lowest ranking Court Lady in Royal Kitchen) goes to see Han Sang Gong to tell her the names of the escorts who were most resistant at the protest. Han shows she’s not interested.
Jang-Geum interrupts saying she has a visitor. Min talks to Han in private. Jang-Geum watches and realizes it’s something serious. Han tells Min she understands what he’s saying and will try to find out the info he requested.
Yun-Saeng, Chan-Ee and Young-Roh are preparing food with Court Lady Min who tells them about Han’s behavior when she tried to tell her about who was against her. Han tells Choi to see her in private. Choi says she will transfer to the food-storage section, as it’s a traditon for the second candidate to transfer, but asks for Geum-Young to go with her. Han reminds Choi to respectly talk to her since they’re no longer equals.
Han Sang Gong gathers everyone from the Royal Kitchen to give her mainden speech as Head of Royal Kitchen with news of some changes with the staffing, involving Choi Sang Gong, Geum-Young, and Jang-Geum. Han states her plan is to carry out the wishes of Jung Sang Gong. Seeing that Han has no plans on punishing those who went against her, the other Court Ladies are surprised.
Min Sang Gong is happy that there will be a new Sang-Goong (Court Lady) coming into their section. The new Sang Gong is younger than Min Sang Gong so she will no longer be the lowest ranking Sang Gong in the soo-rak-gan.
Geum-Young comforts Choi while Choi Pan Sul reminds her to defeat her sorrow by waiting for the next opportunity.
Min Sang Gong is given a big responsibility by Han Sang Gong. Min Sang Gong tries to get out of it but Han Sang Gong tells her that she believes in her skills and it’s time for her to took on such challenge. Min Sang Gong relunctantly agrees. Court Lady Min takes her team (Chan-Ee, Young-Roh, Yun-Saeng) to town to cook for charity event. The on-lookers express their praise at Min Sang Gong. She gains a lot of confidence from the respect she is getting and decides to buy a trinket for Han Sang Gong to show her appreciation.
Gam husband and wife stop by. Young-Roh confronts Tuk-Poh for selling them the same trinkets for higher price inside the palace in the past.
The head guard meets with Han Sang Gong, Jang-Geum, and Min Jung Ho for updates on the internal loss investigation. Min Jung Ho tells them stir fry room is not the only place where the loss is occuring. He believes there is a tradition of corruption going on in the Royal Kitchen. The kitchen Court Ladies who have stolen from the palace are getting nervous about the situation and informs Jae-Jo-Sang Gong about it. Head Court Lady at first doesn’t seem to care until an escort said the matter also regards her as well since she has benefited from the stolen goods in the past through gifts and bribery. Head Court Lady goes to the jar-storage room where Choi Sang Gong is reassigned and asks Choi for help in the matter. Choi orders Young-Roh to spy on Jang-Geum to see what she’s been up to lately, then asks Geum-Young to spy on Han Sang Gong.
Young-Roh gathers up Jang-Geum’s books, with Jang-Geum’s mother’s booklet hidden in one of them, to give to Choi. Choi finds the booklet and opens it.