Young-Roh tells Geum-Young about it. Geum-Young takes her to see Choi to tell her everything. Young-Roh tells Choi the booklet doesn’t belong to Han like Choi had said, since Han asked her what it is and where she got it. Geum-Young and Choi wonder why Jang-Geum has an aged recipe booklet. Choi thinks alone and realizes the booklet could belong to the dead Myung-Ee, whom she helped to kill for her own family’s benefit. Then Choi remembers many years ago her brother told her Myung-Ee’s child might be inside the palace but back then since they thought Myung-Ee’s child was a boy so they didn’t suspect anything. Choi puts the pieces together from the past and realizes Jang-Geum is Myung-Ee’s daughter. Choi tells Geum-Young Han had a best friend who was also a kitchen maid by the name of Myung-Ee. Because Myung-Ee saw Choi put something in the King’s food, Choi and her aunt who was the kitchen leader before Court Lady Jung conspired to kill Myung-Ee by saying Eyung-Ee had an affair with a palace guard. Choi remembers the past and finally understands why Jang-Geum was relunctant to tell them what she found in the kitchen and why she knew so much about food when she was a child maid. Choi tells Geum-Young the story of Myung-Ee who was Han’s best friend, and the shocking truth that Jang-Geum is Myung-Ee’s daughter, then worries about Han finding out as well. Geum-Young assures her that Han must not know the truth yet or else she would have done something when she saw the booklet Young-Roh stole.
Jang-Geum worries what will happen to her now that she lost her mother’s journal and someone might find out about her identity. She remembers her mother’s best friend and runs to dig the soil to see if she read the letter in pouch. The pouch was untouched and Jang-Geum is disappointed but thinks of a new idea. She goes around all the rooms and houses of the Royal Kitchen to smell all the vinegars to see which kitchen maids has the aged vinegar that her mother and friend buried together.
The corrupt lords and officials are getting nervous inside the palace because Min Jung-Ho has been running a tight investigation to see who’s been stealing from the King. They complain to Right Prime Minister Oh and asks him to stop Min Jung Ho. Oh goes to see Jae-Jo Sang Gong and scolds her for not telling him earlier. The King is informed about the palace loss and becomes angry.
Young-Roh who was spying on Jang-Geum presents the letter Jang-Geum’s mother wrote to Geum-Young. Upon reading the letter Geum-Young gets nervous and shows the letter to Choi Sang Gong. The two worry that Jang-Geum is close to finding out who her mother’s friend is.
The corrupt officers put their heads together to find a way to stop Min Jung Ho from ruining their corruptive behavior. One of the official goes to see Gam Tuk-Poh to ask him about the relationship between kitchen maid Jang-Geum and Min Jung-Ho. Gam goes on and on about how the two are well-acquainted and even went outside the palace togeter once.
Choi Pan Sul, Right Prime Minister Oh and another officer meet ouside the palace to discuss their cover-up schemes. Choi Pan Sul tells his visitors, Choi Sang Gong and Geum-Young, about Oh’s plan to get rid of Min Jung-Ho so he will never again appear in their way. Choi Sang Gong tells her brother about Jang-Geum being the offspring of Myung-Ee whom they murdered. Choi Sang Gong shows him the letter Jang-Geum wrote to her mother’s friend and tells him this is a more urgent matter than the issue of Min Jung Ho.
Geum-Young is worried about Min’s fate and goes to see him to warn him that he must plead in front of Oh or else he may end up in big trouble. Min Jung-Ho states she should not have come if what she wants is for him to beg in front of someone else. Geum-Young warns him that his stubborness will bring an ill-fate to Jang-Geum and asks if he still refuses. Min is rendered speechless showing his concern for Jang-Geum. Geum-Young leaves and Min returns to his corridor thinking about the last part of Geum-Young’s warning.
Min Jung-Ho tells his boss he’s going to his hometown. Jang-Geum overhears and chases after him to asks if he’s coming back. He tells her not to worry and says he will return soon. Geum-Young arrives and catches the two of them talking.
Han Sang Gong gathers all the subordinates and shows the Sang-Goongs evidence of internal stealing and asks the Sang-Goongs to cooperate with her so that no such thing will occur in the future. For their cooperation she will bear the responsibility this time. The Sang-Goongs are grateful of Han’s generous gesture of taking the responsibility upon herself and promise to cooperate with her. Min Sang-Goong is impressed by Han’s leadership and tells Chan-ee and Yun-Saeng she wants to be just like Han Sang Gong when she becomes the kitchen head one day.
Jang-Geum hears about it and goes to praise Han Sang Gong, then asks if she can come back to work for her. Han says no but she can come back after she completes 2 months of service at her new position. Jang-Geum is satisfied and states her favorite place to work is next to Han.
Jang-Geum calls out to her mother saying she is unable to find her mother’s friend and sighs loudly. Han is preparing food and uses the aged vinegar in the dish. She uses up the vinegar and leaves the empty bowl by the food station. Han leaves, then Jang-Geum arrives. Jang-Geum swipes the inside of the bowl with her finger and licks her finger. Then she realizes it’s the same vinegar that her mother buried and asks the child maids who was using the bowl before her.
The king tastes the food prepard by Han Sang Gong and asks if she used the aged vinegar again for such fragrant flavor which seems to grow in flavor the more you eat, and Han nods to show yes.
Jang-Geum goes around the kitchens looking for Han Sang Gong. Han goes back to the food kitchen where she prepared the food earlier and takes the vinegar jar to refill it. Jang-Geum arrives at the kitchen and asks Min Sang Gong who took the vinegar bowl and Min Sang Gong tells Jang-Geum that Han took it since it was hers. Jang-Geum runs out to find Hang Sang Gong.
Han Sang Gong finds the letter Jang-Geum wrote and runs to find Jang-Geum. Han Sang Gong and Jang-Geum meet each other in the courtyard, Han Sang Gong realizing that Jang-Geum is Myung-Ee’s friend, and Jang-Geum realizing Han Sang Gong is her mother’s friend.