In front of the class, Jang-Geum confesses to the lecturer that because she was too proud and too sure of her skills she was unable to diagnose the patient like Shin-Bi did. The lecturer replies he is still not sure whether or not Jang-Geum really understands what it takes to be a medicine worker. The lecturer gives the students another examination. They’re asked to write down what they know about using medicines. After reading the tests, the lecturer states the same ingredient can be both medicine and poison to patients, depending on the illness each patient suffers from, so a medicine worker must be detailed like Shin-Bi to correctly diagnose the illness or else the patient may become poisoned by the medicine.
The lecturer continues to be hard on Jang-Geum. Shin-Bi arrives to comfort Jang-Geum saying though he’s harsh with Jang-Geum but he cares about her as student. Shin-Bi tells Jang-Geum she was extremely sick as a child, then a doctor cured her, and when she told the doctor she wanted to return his favor he told her to give back to the world, so Shin-Bi decided to become a medicine woman.
The maids go through rigorous training between hands-on intership and reading of literatures. Shin-Bi tells Jang-Geum she thinks Jang-Geum will end up in the internal medicine department, as it’s the most challenging and prestigious department that in charge of taking care of the Royal family.
Jang-Geum gets a visit from the Jang Duk. Doctor Jung shows up to tell Jang-Geum something went wrong with her patient. Jang-Geum returns and overhears the head master and the lecturer discuss about whether or not Jang-Geum should be allowed to pass the license. The lecturer insists Jang-Geum has the talent and the skills but the head master objects. Jang-Geum is sad and goes back to see Doctor Jung and Jang Duk. Jang Duk tells Jang-Geum there’s nothing she can do now and she should just forget about becoming a medicine woman. Doctor Jung goes to see the teacher to give his opinion about Jang-Geum.
Jang-Geum tries to talk to the lecturer but he walks away. Alone at night, the lecturer writes down a list of names. Next day, the lecturer names the maids one by one and announces each one as not passing. The head master is furious that no one passed. Jang-Geum and Shin Bi smile at each other, realizing that the lecturer is trying to get some other doctor to pick who to select as medicine women, since he can’t pick Jang-Geum if it was up to him, as the head master is objecting.
The head officer who is in charge of the palace health is angry that no maid was selected since they spent a lot of money to train the maids. He decides to go through with the selection process himself. After examining the maids, the head officer realizes Jang-Geum is highly skilled. Doctor Jung informs Min Jung-Ho about what’s going on with Jang-Geum. Min decides to go visit the head officer.
The king finds out that no maid was selected and becomes angry. Head officer assures him that they’re still selecting the maids and soon they will have the results. Min Jung-Ho arrives to see the head officer who tells Min everything will be okay.
The lecturer announces the new results. Some of maids didn’t pass and they have to go back to wherever they came from. The passing maids are assigned to various departments within the palace. Jang-Geum and Shin-Bi are they only two assigned to internal medicine house, the highest rank for a medicine woman. Jang-Geum and Shin-Bi are each given a special badge that indicates they are in internal medicine house and allows them to go into the palace. Finally the teacher gives Jang-Geum a smile as he leaves. The maids say their farewell and congratulations to each other as they prepare to move on.
Min Jung-Ho waits for Jang-Geum by the gate. When she arrives he asks how it went. Jang-Geum pretends to be sad and he gets worried. Then Jang-Geum shows him her badge and he congratulates her with laughter and smile. The two walk together to the Gam’s house.
Jang Duk is staying with Gams. She watches the Gam selling wine and tells the customer that the wine doesn’t really contain the precious ingredient that they say it does. The customer gets angry and leaves. Na Ju Deok goes after Jang Duk and tells her to leave. Jang Duk says she’ll leave if she gives her money since Jang-Geum said she could stay here. Na Ju Deuk cannot believe what she’s hearing. Gam watches as his wife meets her match. Min Jung-Ho and Jang-Geum arrive. They celebrate Jang-Geum’s success.
Jang-Geum asks Jang Duk when she’ll be returning to Jeju Island. She replies she’s not going back. Jang-Geum asks her if she’ll be going to internal medicine house as well but she doesn’t reply. Min Jung-Ho asks Jang-Geum about her thoughts of returing to the palace. Jang-Geum says it feels strange. Min states a palace through the eyes of a palace maid will be different from the palace through the eyes of a medicine woman.
Next day, Jang-Geum goes to the palace and passes by ’soo-rak-gan’ to watch the kitchen maids busy preparing food. At ‘nae-ee-ohn’ (internal medicine house) Jang-Geum and Shin-Bi’s superior tells them they’re not medicine women yet, only interns for the time being so they must be careful. Their mentor arrives to send them off to a patient. The two leave. Afterwards, The mentor tells herself she’s been waiting for this day for a long time and it’s time for someone else to suffer.
Jang-Geum and Shin-bi arrive to see that the so-called patient basically wants someone to massage her face and wash her feet. Offended, Shin-Bi says they’re medicine women not servants. The patient complains saying the other medicine women never complained in the past. Jang-Geum says they will do it. Outside, Shin-Bi tells Jang-Geum they’re not servants, but Jang-Geum says this is reality and she used to be a palace maid.
Jang-Geum finishes washing the feet and they return to ‘nae-ee-ohn’. The mentor scolds them for being so late and tells them the lady queen is suddently ill. The ‘nae-ee-ohn’ staff prepare to treat the lady queen. Jang-Geum arrives at the royal family corridors and she runs into Geum-Young, dressed as a Sang-Goong (supervising escort).