The king declares he will make Jang-Geum his personal medicine general during court. Min Jung-Ho overhears the statement as he approaches the court from outside.
Jang-Geum packs her stuff and leaves a letter for the kang’s. Min Jung-Ho leaves his resignation letter for his superior. Jang-Geum and Min Jung-Ho leave Hanyang city by boat. Min’s superior finds out and sends his men to look for them immediately. The lady queen hears about the king’s declaration and is shocked that a nurse will be in that position.
Jang Geum and Min Jung Ho are riding on the boat. Min Jung Ho asks Jang-Geum if she’s fearful but Jang-Geum replies she’s happy. Min Jung Ho states he’s fearful that it all might be just a dream and he’ll wake up. Kang Tuk-Goo looks for Jang-Geum. The general who heads the medicine house is angry that a nurse is called to be the king’s personal general. He promises to stop such unprecedented event. The mother queen tells the lady queen she needs to stop the king from such unruly behavior. The palace officers discuss the king’s decision. Some say that a woman cannot be in such high position while some state they must honor the king’s request. Min Jung Ho’s superior is worried that Min Jung Ho and Jang-Geum will be severly punished for running away. Shin-Bi tells Na Ju Deuk about the king’s decision.
Jang-Geum goes on and on about whether Min Jung Ho minds that she has nothing and will have to live a humble life starting life again. Min Jung Ho interrupts saying everything is okay with him. Jang-Geum smiles and reaches her hand out to Min Jung Ho. The two hold hands as they walk in the snow. Then Min Jung Ho tells Jang-Geum to ride on his back since it’s hard to walk in the snow. Jang-Geum starts to laugh on his back since it reminds her of her childhood.
They arrive by the river with a boat waiting pre-arranged by Min Jung Ho. But soldiers sent by Min’s superior arrive to tell him to return to the palace. Min raises his sword to tell the soldiers to return since he is no longer a king’s servant, but Min’s superior arrives and orders him to return with him at once. Superior tells Min it’s not late to go back. If they don’t go back they will be considered fugitives disobeying the king’s order. Min Jung Ho tells the superior to give him more time then gets up to leave. The superior tells his men not to stop Min Jung Ho since he believes he will return soon.
Min Jung Ho tells Jang-Geum to follow him and he brings her to a house in the mountains. He shows the house to Jang-Geum as a possible place for her pharmacy. Jang-Geum is worried about Min Jung Ho’s fate and tells him she cannot be the one to ruin his path. Min Jung Ho ignores her and begins to talk about her childhood. Jang-Geum smiles as she remembers where she grew up but her smile fades as she thinks about the reality again. Min Jung Ho senses her emotion and reaches out his hand.
Min Jung Ho: (reaching out hand) If not now then we will never be able to realize our dream.
Jang Geum: (reaches out her hand to his, then cries) I cannot go…. I cannot go….
They return to see his superior. The superior gives instructions on how they should go back separately once they’re in Hanyang. Min Jung Ho tells Jang-Geum there was never a female medicine general in the past and there will never be another one but there is a reason.
Shin-Bi and the Kangs are worried about Jang-Geum but Jang-Geum returns without saying a word to them. Jang-Duk tells Jang-Geum she should accept the position. Jang-Duk tells jang-geum she should be a general even for a day to show people that a woman can do the same as what men can. The nurses and the doctors at the medicine house tell Jang-Geum she must decline such order. Lady queen tells Jang-Geum to be her maid instead and if she insists the king will agree. The king is advised against the decision by his generals but the king states Jang-Geum saved his life and there is no reason why she can’t be promoted to the status of a general. The king tells Jang-Geum he believes in her and asks her to be her general. Jang-Geum replies she accepts.
The mother queen and the lady queen visit the king. The mother queen tells the king to retract his decision since no matter how good Jang-Geum is she is still a woman. Privately, the lady queen tells the mother queen she doesn’t think the king will change his mind. The mother queen replies the problem lies in Jang-Geum who accepted the offer. The queen’s assistant tell the queen that lady sook-won (Yun-Saeng) is a childhood friend of Jang-Geum’s and she arranged for the king to meet with jang-geum privately on a previous occasion.
Everyone in the court objects to the king’s order and they draw up a signature list to submit to the king to ask the king to re-consider. Min Jung Ho’s superior tells Min to talk to Jang-Geum to change her mind but Min replies there is no reason a woman cannot do their job. Doctor Shin submits his resignation letter because he doesn’t want to take sides.
The mother queen calls Yun-Saeng for meeting and scolds her for getting involved between the king and Jang-Geum. Afterwards, Yun-Saeng faints outside. Jang-Geum is called to her side. Jang-Geum orders Shin-Bi to prepare for baby labor immediately. Chan-Ee and Lady Min tell Jang-Geum that Yun-Saeng was called by mother queen about Jang-Geum’s meeting with the king.
Yun-Saeng goes in complicated labor. During the labor Yun-Saeng loses consciousness. Jang-Geum begins needle treatment. Yun-Saeng regains consciousness barely and Jang-Geum tells her she must stay awake. The head guard reports to the king lady sook-won is in early labor and she and the child are both in danger. The king asks how it happened and the guard reports the mother queen summoned her about Jang-Geum meeting the king. Lady queen and mother queen are notified about lady sook-won’s condition. Yun-Saeng gives birth finally and the newborn’s cry is heard, but Yun-Saeng is unconscious. Yun-Saeng stops breathing and Jang-Geum cries as she blows air into Yun-Saeng’s nose and performs chest press on Yun-Saeng, saying she cannot die like this.
Yun-Saeng opens her eyes and Jang-Geum weeps with overwhelmed emotions.
Jang-Geum is shaken by the event even though Yun-Saeng is safe and so is her daughter. Min Jung-Ho comes to see her. Jang-Geum tells him she will decline the king’s order. Min Jung Ho replies she can’t but Jang-Geum states she wants to be a medicine person who saves lives. The king and the queens are notified of the birth of a new princess and lady sook-won’s condition. Jang-Geum stays by Yun-Saeng’s bed side. Yun-Saeng wakes up and tells Jang-Geum if it wasn’t for Jang-Geum she would’ve died.
Jang-Geum goes to see the king and kneels before him to tell him she cannot be his general. Then the head guard arrives with news that lady queen’s son is in danger.