Jewel in the Palace

A court soldier is ordered to poison the Queen. Meanwhile, a lady of the royal food court witnesses the masterminds behind this conspiracy. Unbeknownst to them, their fates are intertwined.

Young Jang Geum mistakenly exposes her father's identity, and he is taken away by court soldiers. Both Jang Geum and her mother find themselves in danger.

To fulfill her mother's dying wish, Jang Geum attempts to become a junior cook in the royal food court. She is adopted by a family that runs a wine brewery.

Jang Geum and Yeong Seng cause trouble in the kitchen. Jang Geum takes part in an examination to be a royal maid. Her place in the royal court is at stake.

The Highest Court Lady of the Royal Kitchen falls ill. A new candidate for the position must be chosen.

The princess is sick and refuses to eat, and King Jung Jong's birthday keeps the entire kitchen busy preparing important meals.

Jang Geum is exiled from the palace for leaving premises without permission. She is placed on a farm, where she reads medical books and strengthens her knowledge of nature's ingredients.

Jang Geum returns to the palace and participates in the Royal Cooking Examination. Those who do not pass the test will be exiled from the palace.

Jang Geum cannot find flour for her dumplings and fails the cooking examination. The unexpected culprit who stole her flour is found.

Court Lady Choi tells Geum Young to hide a cursed silk in the kitchen. Jang Geum finds her mother's hidden book.

The court continues to search for the hidden silk. Jang Geum keeps her mother's found book a secret.

A cooking contest will be held to determine the next Highest Court Lady of the Royal Kitchen. To her devastation, Jang Geum loses her sense of taste.

Jang Geum and Lady Han try to cure her inability to taste. The Royal Kitchen devolves into chaos when it's discovered that soy bean sauce has changed tastes.

Jang Geum trains herself to cook without taste. Meanwhile, Min Jung Ho grows increasingly interested in her growth and lends her books to study.

Jang Geum's sense of taste has returned. Court Lady Han and Lady Choi are tasked with creating a feast for the king's birthday using leftover food from the people.

Court Lady Han and Jang Geum lose the competition. Jang Geum, as punishment, must leave the palace.

Jang Geum attempts to recreate a childhood dish for a sick court lady. Meanwhile, Lady Han decides to go on with the competition without a new assistant.

Geum Young grows increasingly jealous of Jang Geum's friendship with Min Jung Ho. The last competition has been set for Lady Han and Lady Choi. Jang Geum returns to the palace.

A Ming General visits the Joseon court, and last round of the competition concludes as Lady Choi and Han must prepare a feast for the special guest.

Lady Han goes out to get new ingredients and is kidnapped on the way. It is up to Jang Geum to put together the birthday feast of the King's mother.

Jang Geum successfully completes the birthday meal for the King's mother. Lady Han is still missing when Lady Jung is ready to step down from her position.

Lady Han becomes the new head of the Royal Kitchen. The retired Lady Jung is dying, and Jang Geum attempts to save her.

Another contest is held to appease the protests over Lady Han's promotion. Jang Geum leaves a letter for her mother's friend in the Royal Kitchen.

Lady Choi finds the notebook kept by Jang Geum's mother. Meanwhile, Min Jung Ho continues to aggressively investigate who has been stealing from the king.