Jewel In The Palace

[~*aims*~]

u do medicine?
sorry...this is irrelevant...but omg! what field r u in? neurosurgery...pherhaps? ^^ sorry...i hav a wierd obsession with veterinary science, neurosurgery, and DJG ... as well as Healing Hands although i only watched first season xD

[Aphraeleiss]

We don't specialize that quickly in Singapore or Australia. Training only starts PG-Y3 and above, though some can apply to be in a residency program from PG-Y2. I start PG-Y1 next year. Took some time off to figure out what I wanted to do with my life and decided the best thing to do is to finish what I started. Had a business for a bit, but that wasn't what I really wanted either. I have alot of gripes with medical shows ... my favorite is actually Scrubs rather than ER.

[~*aims*~]

you're in Australia? at UNSW its 6 yrs i think, but im not sure when they start specialising.
if u like medical dramas, hav u tried ''healing hands''? hk drama, its in its third season now, and if u liked MJH you'll love Paul ^^
thinking about neurosurgery? paul is a neurosurgeon xD

[Aphraeleiss]

Well, Bowie kinda put me off in the first few seasons, and the fact they always get either the stethescope on the wrong way, or do CPR with bent elbows really irritated the cr@p out of me, pardon the language. On the contrary, JG does really well when she was resuscitating YS after she had her baby. Elbows straight and locked. But she only kept pumping and didn't give effective breaths, which wouldn't have been very good for the patient. For a periodic drama, I'd give it an almost perfect score just cos' her elbows were locked.

I HATE surgeons. Jerks without lives. It's 6 years for med school at UNSW. I got into both UNSW and Usyd but had to do the graduate program at Usyd for political reasons. Specialising only starts at PG-Y2-3 across the board. It's got nothing to do with med school.

Now hunting for good LYA pics to make avatars out of.

[Aphraeleiss]

http://hkadb.net/index.php/Jewel_in_the_palace

Episode summaries from another fansite. Their interpretation of the poem is different than mine, but I'm no literary talent where it comes to Chinese or Korean, so take your pick.

[Aphraeleiss]

The Plague:

Lady Choi's dwelling is broken into by some assassin. Lady Chong finds that she has the secret manual handed down only from the most senior kitchen ladies and is furious at her contempt for the palace rules.

Sir Min's investigations show that harvests of ginseng for the past few years have remained consistent, with no sign of decrease as reported.

JG returns to the palace, only to find that Lady Han has not forgiven her. She mumbles to herself in the kitchen, saying she can't understand why, only to have KY say that perhaps she already has too much. KY then thinks to herself: "The one thing I desire most in my life, I would not even bear to mention to anyone, much less let anyone look at him. Yet, you already possess him." KY then goes to Lady Choi and promises that she will do her best for their family and will read the secret manual diligently. Ultimately, the only place where she belongs to is her family - it will always be there for her in time of need. Lady Choi finds the manual missing and knows that Lady Chong has it. She discusses it with Lady Pak who intervenes. Lady Chong refuses to let the matter rest and is sent out of the palace on the pretext of some plague that is sweeping through the palace, only to be served medicines that worsen her condition, another plot between Lady Choi and Lady Pak to get rid of her.

Just before the plague officially breaks out, JG goes looking around for seafood that can be obtained all four seasons of the year to help Lady Han with the second phase of the Sanggong competition. She looks for her foster father. Meanwhile the foster father visits Sir Min to get him to purchase wine from him on behalf of the army. He first gives him an amulet, claiming it would help in getting promotions, then makes out some 4-leafed ginseng to be a more expensive mountain variety, only to get rejected. Out of options, he then suggests he takes Sir Min to the best brothel in town as he's familiar with the most popular girl. Sir Min rejects it and threatens to have him punished before he mumbles that he promised his wife he'd get some business. Enter JG from the back. Sir Min breaks into a smile immediately but bows politely, then offers to purchase wine for his own domestic consumption.

The Sanggong competition is cancelled with the advent of the plague. Lady Choi gets to be the acting most senior Sanggong/kitchen lady after KY does some scheming to manipulate the Food Physician. Lady Han and JG are sent to TPG on the pretext of catering to the Ming Envoy, while the real reason is to prevent them from making progress in the Imperial Kitchens. KY schemes to worsen Lady Chong's illness. She claims that only by doing so, can it soothe the pain in her heart.

The Ming Envoy:

Sir Min is sent to screen people entering the palace for symptoms of the plague. JG's foster parents attempt to jump the queue and succeed in doing so with Sir Min's help. JG and Lady Han are leaving the palace through the same gate. The foster parents yell for JG to hear them. Sir Min turns around immediately. While the foster parents talk to Lady Han, JG goes off to a corner. Sir Min goes after her and asks if she's alright after knowing about the plague in the palace. She tells him that she's been sent to TPG, and he says it may just be due to the arriving Ming envoy and there's no need to worry about it being permanent. KY catches them talking. Happy to see Sir Min, but angry that JG has his full attention.

After JG leaves, KY gets a chance to talk to him. KY is upset that instead of asking after her, Sir Min is more concerned about investigating ginseng trade once he sees her. She leaves without giving him an answer.

Lady Han hears of the Ming Envoy's medical condition (diabetes) and presents a vegetarian menu. The Ming Envoy is livid as he cannot abide by bland-tasting food. Lady Han is imprisoned. JG pleads with the envoy to stick with a diet suitable for his condition for 5 days - the envoy acqueisces, but wants JG to prepare it instead of Lady Han. If it doesn't taste good, or if his health doesn't improve within the time limit, he will punish her according to Ming law. Lady Choi arrives at TPG so that she can make a full Man/Han feast to impress the envoy, only to be sent away by JG who insists on going through with her promise. The Ming Envoy doesn't appear to enjoy any of the food JG presents to him. After the 5th day, Lady Choi returns and presents the feast, at which the envoy expresses his approval. He however, then apologizes to JG and says that he will stick to a diet suitable for his condition, as JG has made him appreciate the change in health, and also the natural taste of foods he had not been interested in before. He also declines the rest of the feast which was supposed to last 3 days and nights. He thanks JG for being honest and courageous - even though he will merely remain a few days she put herself in danger and insists that she cannot present food detrimental to the health of the beneficiary, impressing him greatly. JG and Lady Han are ordered to prepare his food for the rest of his stay.

The Dowager Empress hears of the incident through the Queen and is livid at Lady Choi as she feels that the blatant disregard for his health could be extended to the King, causing him great harm. She takes this to be the second phase of the Sanggong competition, and Lady Han is awarded the winner.

Lady Chong threatens Lady Pak with the drugs she ordered to swap and also the secret manual. She is allowed to return to the palace.

Third phase:

In the light of the results of the first two phases, the two contenders are given free reign of their culinary skills for the Dowager Empress's birthday banquet. Each seeks to present only the best, and the ingredients are prepared. Lady Choi's brother schemes to destroy Lady Han's ingredients by asking Yonro to set a chicken into the place where the ingredients are kept. Lady Han has no choice but to go out of the palace to get fresh ingredients, only to get kidnapped in the midst. JG's foster father witnesses the event and informs Sir Min, who rushes to her rescue.

The competition takes place in the absence of Lady Han, with JG preparing all the dishes with the help of her mother's booklet. The Empress Dowager is furious that Lady Han had neither the sense to keep her ingredients safe nor to turn up in time for the competition, but allows the competition to continue seeing it's a birthday, JG's skills are quite up to par, and she stood by her teacher in her time of need. The King is impressed with JG's presentation of dessert, which is the fruit that she fed her mother at her deathbed. JG says that her mother left, worrying about her well-being but with a smile since she was comforted that JG was sensible enough to take care of herself even at a young age. The King, being the parent of the entire kingdom, should also show the same worry for his citizens, and is extremely touched by JG's speech that he proclaims her to be the best cook in Chosun, much to the indignation of the Dowager Empress, who has to award her the winner. Lady Han has already made it back by this point. The King praises her for grooming such a considerate and determined palace maid, and says that the most senior kitchen lady should possess such leadership capabilities. Besides, even in her absence her protegee was able to cook up wonderful dishes, it thus shows how extraordinary her culinary skills are. The Dowager Empress is upset but does nothing.

Sir Min sees JG walking alone in the courtyard, thanking her mother's help in the competition. He walks over and praises her for her great performance in the competition. She smiles very shyly and thanks him for helping get Lady Han back. He says that he didn't do much, but the people responsible have been caught and they will find out who instigated them the next day. He then says that he heard about what she said to the King earlier, and it has deeply inspired him. He will remember the words well and etch them in his mind. JG smiles yet again.

[Nefertari]

To tell the truth I didn't like this series. It was long... 70 episodes or something. And it included a lot of things that didn't need to be included. I'm sure it would have been better if it was only 30 episodes or something. Having 70 episodes is stunning and obviously long. Very little people would have the time to watch something so long and complex to understand.
I just finished the last episodes today...and I actually regretted watching it. It was really bad. And I admit the truth that it couldn't have lived up to it's rating of 42 (really high in Hong Kong standards) and recieve the highest rating for 6 weeks.
I really wish someone could explain the unsatisfaction of this series.

Did you watch it from the first episode? I used to feel the same way as you do. That's because I caught bits and pieces, glimpses of it without watching right from the start. I was prejudiced AGAINST it.

I thought the series was long for publicity purposes, and thought the conspiracies were all done for entertainment. But after watching right from the start, after the 4th episode, I'm hooked. The story is very realisitic and the background gives a strong hold for all the conspiracies and happenings later on in the show.

The script-writer did a great job coz the story flows smoothly though it was changed many times.

I love LYA.

[~*aims*~]

Aphraeleiss, good job ^^ *thumbsup*
u noe, your summaries remind me of DRAMAOK who wrote summeries for the entire series. so long and detailed xD

you hate surgeons?! =.- i want to b a surgeon...omg ur at syd uni!!!
i've always wanted to study veterinary science there, then do honors and specialise in veterinary surgery... but these days, i've been thinking of doing medicine instead and specialising in neurosurgery.
my sisters both went to UNSW. omg, so u live in sydney...out of all the places in the world? woah...for all you know, we could like...live in the same suburb...freaky xD

keep up the summeries!

[Nefertari]

This is taken from the scene when Sir Min and CG are sharing the fire. Might have missed a line or two at the beginning.

Sir Min: How come you're all by yourself?

CG is taken aback

Sir Min: I just heard it from the Chief Cook

CG: Actually my dad was an Internal Security Officer.

Sir Min: You mean as in the Internal Security Officer as I am now. Then, what happened?

CG: Right, my dad ...... was assigned to down poison to the then deposed Queen Yin

Music starts playing in the background

CG: Back then, back then if it isn't for me, if I hadn't shouted, my dad wouldn't turn out like this.

CG starts crying, long pause

CG: My mum ....... passed away right after.

Long pauses with music, tears flowing down her face.

CG: Sorry. I lose my cool. Please forgive me.

Sir Min: Don't be. I shouldn't have asked you this.

CG: There'd come a day, where I'd tell you everything when the time is right.

[Nefertari]

This is the Post-Competition Scene. CG has just won the competition for Lady Han and it was night-time. She was thanking her mother in her heart for helping her win when Sir Min caught her........

Sir Min: Isn't this Lady Xu?

CG: Yes. It's my shift today, hence..... I heard it's you who helped Lady Han today when she was kidnapped by the bandits. I really thank you.

Sir Min: Actually, I didn't help any at all, but all those that were involved in this case were caught and the results will be known tomorrow.

CG: Is this really so?

Sir Min: Yes. Today, what Lady Xu said and done was amazing. Your belief 'To hang on to the last' and speech during presentation of the dessert will always be stamp in the deepest of my heart.

CG: Putting things like that, you make me feel embarassed.

[kacheek]

Here's the article:

http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/m/2005-09-29/1105854260.html

It says LYA won't be the leading actress as her schedule wouldn't permit it.

How did LYA get her nickname - The Oxygen Woman from her commercials?

wat? u mean there's part 2 of djg?

[honey_girl]

*sniffle*
the reuniting of Ling Saeng and Jang Geum is really emotional.
and after that, when the palace cooks wont prepare food for them, JG watches LS do it herself and starts crying, but makes sure to smile as soon as she sees LS looking at her. and then back at their room, when LS apologises to JG...its really sad.
their friendship is so beautiful. i think its quite as special as the relationship between JG and MJH.

Thank you aims, for narrating such touching scene, which I missed on my 1st watching of the show. I still rewatching it now, feeling so good. I enjoy the show even though I’ve known what will going on next. I can’t stop gushing about the show like guys you all !!!!!!

[honey_girl]

I’m really crazy about the friendship between JG n LS. ^-^ Everything was there, I mean their relationship. Funny, hilarious, smile, sweet, worried, upset, dripping tears, sadness, touching, appreciation of each other…….. what a wonderful friendship! Anybody wanna to share your great / memorable scenes between them? Looking forward to hear u here…..

[honey_girl]

awwwww that is such a cute part!!! xD
yeh i agree, its sooo funny wen she keeps her head down and then he tells her about something and her head goes up immediately and she forgets all about being a servant xD its sooooooooooo cute!!! and its so sweet how MJH tells her his heart will break...
sulfer? i didnt get that part =P but i did see him hand her a package...
aw ur so lucky that you still have new episodes to watch! you're getting to the better parts...ur going to see alot more romance between them soon ^^
btw, does anyone have an opinion on when exactly you think they fell in love? or do u think it was just a gradual thing? xD

I think JG already in love with MJH since eps 10+++. Remember there’s a scene they running around in the water at the beach. Then, they sitting around the fireside n she talking about her childhood days. He asks JG why she ended up all alone. awwwwww, guys its unpredictably, she tells him the truth. It’s the 1st time she talking about her parents tragedy. She never mention it to other ppl, neither to lady han nor to LS, bear in mind that she ties the close bonds with both of them. She’s been absolute trust him to kept the secret, by the other words, she’s share in her troubles n pain with him. So I think she unconsciously knows she’s already in love with MJH. What do u thinks?

[Aphraeleiss]

The Audit:

There is a huge furore with all the kitchen ladies opposing to Lady Han's rule. The Queen intervenes after an extended strike, and requests a rematch. Both contenders are to cook rice and the winner shall have full authority to punish all those opposing to her rule. Lady Han wins, as she knows the tastes of the kitchen ladies having grown up with them. They are also touched at her attention to details.

JG tries to find her mother's best friend by slipping a note on top of the urn of vinegar her mother made with the yet unknown lady, who turns out to be Lady Han. Sir Min sees her in the courtyard and congratulates her on the resolution of the kitchen lady debacle, telling her of his transfer and that he will be working closely with several departments, requiring her help with an investigation. Sir Min also asks to be introduced to Lady Han, who starts an audit of all kitchen ingredients. Large scale embezzlement by all senior kitchen ladies is discovered. The kitchen ladies plot to get rid of Lady Han altogether. JG gets to work closely with Sir Min in the auditing process.

The audit results are reported to the King and a large-scale investigation is launched, which involves certain court officials getting uneasy. They plot to get rid of Sir Min. KY warns Sir Min but he claims that even if he gets stripped of his title he will get to the bottom of the matter, and berates KY for sinking as low as her family even when he thought better of her. She retorts that when she was in despair and alone, there was noone there to comfort her. The only place where she could find solace was her family. She also threatens Sir Min with the fact that she saw him buying the brush for JG. If she were to say just one word, he would merely be punished, but JG would pay for it with her life. Sir Min abandons the investigation for JG's safety, on the pretext of eradicating the Japanese pirate threat at his original post. JG is worried that he has been demoted seeing his transfer but he reassures her that it is not the case, not divulging any detail. KY catches Sir Min telling JG of his transfer. KY is heartbroken at his show of feeling for JG, but relieved that he is at least safe. Sir Min continues his investigation of the Choi family in secret. Lady Han does not continue to pursue the matter.

Lady Han runs out of the gourmet vinegar and leaves the empty vessel in the kitchen while she fetches more. JG sees the vessel there and tastes it, only to find out that it's the exact same taste as her mother's. Lady Han finds JG's note on top the urn. There is an emotional moment as JG and Lady Han mutually find out who they really are.

JG's Parents:

Lady Han and JG realize that Lady Choi and gang have found out about the letter JG's mother left behind. Lady Choi and gang also realize that they have acknowledged each other, and plot to get rid of Lady Han. KY plans to poison the food Lady Han prepares for the King, but is pre-empted as she is called away. Lady Choi, KY and YR are sent to TPG immediately, and not allowed access to the palace or to go home. Lady Han asks JG to look for Sir Min for his assistance in the investigation of her parents' death.

JG thinks that Sir Min has left Hanyang, and asks if her foster father knows where he is. She returns home, pleasantly surprised to see Sir Min there, working undercover to investigate the Choi family. He knows that she needs his assistance and takes her aside, under a building. JG tells the full story about her father and Sir Min offers to find out more to see if he's alive. JG further asks if he can help with the investigation of her mother's death. Sir Min insists that justice should be served, but he needs more time to investigate the Choi family and the power backing them up, not knowing how far it extends. Unfortunately, JG has also lost the only proof (the letter) that her mother was wrongfully accused and her honor shamed. JG is grateful for his help. Sir Min says that JG is an exceedingly strong person to have braved through all that she has. She smiles tearfully, looking up with adorable big eyes, and says it's the only way she knows that allows her to live on (to fulfil her mother's wishes). Sir Min then asks if she will allow him to share in her pain and sorrow. JG smiles, not knowing how to answer but doesn't decline the offer. Sir Min looks on tenderly. They share a poignant moment in silence.

Sometime in between, JG's foster mother asks if Sir Min and JG were always familiar with each other. When JG's foster father protests, she comments that Sir Min is overly happy to see JG - the attraction between opposite genders cannot be denied. She also reminds JG that she's a palace maid, which means she's not allowed to get married. She warns JG to think clearly and be careful before making any rash decisions.

The next day, Sir Min finds out that alot of the information from the past has been lost, destroyed or never recorded, but there remains some hope that JG's father is not dead and encourages her to cherish that hope.

Later on, Sir Min takes out the knife set and tells JG's foster father that he's given up hope about finding the owner. JG's foster father offers to find the owner for him, but the knife set is confiscated by JG's foster mother as she thinks he's stolen some wine from the brewery again. They fiddle around with the knife set but JG doesn't see it, so another chance missed for Sir Min to find out that JG was his savior that fateful day.

The Sulfur Duck Incident: events slightly out of order for improved continuity - the background story should still be accurate though

Due to the King's ailing health, Lady Han recommends that they take a trip to the springs to help in rejuvenating the body. The springs are located near where Lady Han and JG's mother used to live. Her maternal grandfather was alive merely 3 years ago, and Lady Han visited him regularly on behalf of MY, JG's mother. They meet with danger on the way back, only to be protected by Sir Min's subordinate. Sir Min had already suspected they would be in danger and sent him to protect them in secret (this is the same poor guy who dies of torture after being accused of seducing JG). They return to the camp site without incident, and present the King with the sulfur duck tonic.

The King consumes the famous sulfur duck tonic and goes into a coma. The court physicians know something is wrong, that it's not due to his diet, but due to their incompetence, doggedly point the finger at the imperial kitchens. The Choi family had originally intended to plant poison mushrooms to frame Lady Han, but some soldiers find out that the ducks served to the King were fed cooled water from the springs, which contained sulfur, a deadly poison. That physicians do not use sulfur even for its beneficial properties as they had no way of neutralizing it, and insist it's the cause of the King's coma. Lady Han and JG are imprisoned for harming the King by a most unfortunate turn of events even without Choi's deliberate scheming.

Sir Min investigates the matter and confirms with a local physician that the duck would have neutralized the sulfur toxins, and the duck would actually have been the best tonic as physicians have strived for many years to utilize sulfur as a tonic for its beneficial medicinal properties but had no way of removing the toxins. The case is thrown out as Sir Min is ordered to stay out of the debacle by his superior, afraid that he would be too involved in the investigation and lose all credibility in the power struggle, even though some attempt was made to help JG and Lady Han at first. Sir Min also finds out about Lord Choi and Lord O's dealings, from the monopoly of the palace supplies to the false reporting of the ginseng harvests. Lord Choi (Lady Choi's brother) had wanted to take Sir Min down as well, but KY threatens to reveal the truth if they harmed him. KY admits that she loves him even though she can never have him - she needs to know that he's safe and whole in order to sustain her meaningless existence in the palace. Lady Choi empathizes. The Choi elders relent and leave him alone (even though regretting it years later), claiming he was out of town during the sulfur duck incident even though he was actively investigating the matter.

Despite protests from the villagers and poultry seller that noone had ever had problems from consuming the duck, innocent are arrested and punished. A test is conducted where a palace maid is picked to taste the sulfur duck tonic. She falls into a coma almost immediately. Unbeknownst to the rest, she had consumed an abalone dish earlier on (courtesy of Lady Choi) and sent to deliver a letter to Lady Han as a pretext to be in the kitchen. The dish was specifically meant to make her feverish and fall unconscious. Lady Han and JG are accused of high treason and linked to a certain Lord Zhao whom Lord O had been trying to get rid of for a long time. Lord Zhao is killed in the ensuing debacle. Sir Min's subordinate is arrested for protecting JG and Lady Han, with accusations that it's a conspiracy to harm the King as the sulfur duck was purchased that same day - he is tortured to death but refuses to speak a word of untruth to sully JG's or Lady Han's honor. The poultry seller is arrested, and eventually breaks, saying that he was instigated to sell ducks that were fed poison to Lady Han, in order to stay alive. Lady Han later admits to all the crimes so as to save JG from the death sentence, claiming JG was just following her orders. Both are sentenced to be executed. However, Sir Min's superior intervenes at his request to threaten Lord O with the evidence they have against him and they are sent to Cheju island as maidservants instead. Lady Han dies en route. Lady Choi grieves at the news.

Sometime in between, Sir Min writes a note to JG while she is in the holding cell, and asks that she use the brush from the knife set to send a reply. It is only now that JG realizes he's the one that she saved. JG's foster mother doesn't get to tell Sir Min until after JG has been sent to Cheju. Sir Min is tied up and kept against his will at his superiors since he would not let the matter go. Sir Min rides on horseback at fullspeed to chase after her immediately after he hears of her exile, but doesn't get to see her.

The King recovers spontaneously but slowly, and the physicians realize that medicines for neutralizing sulfur toxins did nothing to revive him. They keep quiet in order to saves themselves and also allow the Choi family to remain in power along with Lord O, the person backing them all along.

Sir Min rushes to Cheju Island without permission from his superiors, and they are forced to issue an order claiming that he was transferred in order to avoid punishment from the King.

[~*aims*~]

wow, you're getting really detailed Aphraeleiss! thanx heaps.
hmm...honey_girl...yeh, i agree, i think she does love him...but like...unconciously? but i think MJH feels more like ''attraction'' to her.
for me, i think they really, really fall in love with each other after the fire...when he rescues her...its kind of like a climax where they're emotions pour out xD
special moments between LS and JG? definately when they meet again for the first time, and how LS prays everyday for JG instead of praying for herself. that was really sweet. and how they kept calling out to each other.
they're little get togethers afterwards was cute too xD aha...

[Nefertari]

Sometime in between, Sir Min writes a note to JG while she is in the holding cell, and asks that she use the brush from the knife set to send a reply. It is only now that JG realizes he's the one that she saved. JG's foster mother doesn't get to tell Sir Min until after JG has been sent to Cheju. Sir Min is tied up and kept against his will at his superiors since he would not let the matter go. Sir Min rides on horseback at fullspeed to chase after her immediately after he hears of her exile, but doesn't get to see her.

Finally, they know it's CG who saved Sir Min. Halfway through the show. I like the timing of this, because Sir Min will later feel the full blow of all the tragedies and helplessness when he knows CG is his saviour and later on Jeju Island when CG bandages his ankle for him, he said he'd never forget the feeling even though he's unconsciousness.

[Nefertari]

hmm...i thought that they didnt seem that in love at the end, even tho i know they are...*shrugz* can someone convince me they were very much in love at the end? xD that was my biggest dissapointment with this series...
cuz during it, u ''felt'' their love and attraction, but at the end it seems less...even tho they find happiness and contentment.

aims, i agree that they didn't FEEL that much in love at the end. The family closeness was there and technically the script was written to show that they're still very much in love then, but the chemistry wasn't there at the end.

I believe it's because the actors doesn't want the public to label them as a couple. Before they were married in the show, it's OK to have mutual feelings of longings because they're not officially together yet, but at the end, if they're too into each other, audiences will automatically label them as a couple off-screen as well. One other reason might be because the speed of the show picks up at the end, therefore LYA and JJH doesn't have enough time to get into the feeling.

Anyway, it's just assumed that we all know they're still very much in love at the end.

[Aphraeleiss]

I beg to differ on that. The younger set will tend to take a couple's relationship at face value, and from what I gather, most of these opinions that they were not as in love at the end, come from persons much younger than myself. From a more mature point of view, in order to be content with a person, you do have to be in love with them. Even if you can't see it overtly, it shows in the little things in their relationship. How Sir Min was willing to drop everything and pack up and leave with their daughter once JG gets into her trouble with her seemingly atrocious suggestions of surgery, how he understands she has to make long trips to see her patients, to work silently in the background while she uses most of their money for buying herbs to treat people with. It doesn't just come with contentment. How he asked if she wanted to stay in the Imperial Palace when their status is restored. For a man to do that in a male-dominated society of that era, he has to love this woman to distraction to respect her choice more than his own life. He was born a higher-class citizen, and yet he chose to give up everything for her. How he is worried for her safety and wants her to promise that she will not try surgery in Chosun, but supports her in the end when someone's life is at stake even though he knows it may cost her her life. It is a TV show - I highly doubt someone like that exists in real life even in this day and age where class doesn't matter as much, but the scriptwriters do bring across the point very successfully in the story. Compared to hardcore romance stories, DJG is weaker in that department. But it's not meant to be a romance story. It's a depiction of the struggles that a woman had to face to rise through the ranks and be the first to break through the gender barrier. I couldn't get enough of their relationship, but it was a delicate balance to strike. If there had been more, this story probably would not have been as touching.

[Aphraeleiss]

Cheju Island:

JG arrives on Cheju island, escaping several times right after her arrival. She is again caught and locked in a shed. She gets to know the head female physician, CT, whom she thinks is also a maidservant at this point. CT was locked for attempting to treat someone who was a manservant of lowly status, violating the rules. She tells JG that the only way to get out would be to feign having chickenpox and cosmetically enhances her forearm with spots to look it. The soldiers buy her story, and she's taken to a quarantine shed. The soldier responsible for looking after her falls asleep and she escapes yet again - this is her third attempt. Sir Min has also arrived on Cheju island but does not know where she is. He looks on from a cliff, extremely sorrowful, seeing a familiar figure down at the shore but does not realize it's JG. JG is punished with ten strokes of the cane. Sir Min arrives at the facility, and asks if they know of JG. The reply is affirmative, but he is not allowed to see her as she will take the chance to escape. He is told that she is to be caned, and he looks as if he's about to go crazy at the thought of JG having to suffer physical pain after all she's been through. JG is kept under tight watch and calms down for a few days. Her feets are shackled and bruised. Sir Min keeps trying to get people to pass her his letters but to no avail.

After a few days, they are to be sent to the ranch. Sir Min follows. JG appears to be hardworking but is yet scheming another escape. She sets all the horses free and runs off. Sir Min intercepts her and takes her to a safe hiding place. Sir Min scratches his right ankle. JG sees it and immediately binds it for him even though he says it doesn't matter. As she binds his wound, he says that he knows it now, that it was Lady Soh's (JG's) hands which bound his chest wound as he lay there at the brink of death so many years ago, grateful that she sacrificed so much to save him even when they were mere strangers.

He had originally planned for a boat to take them off the island, but says that after seeing her and all she's been through thus far, he realizes that if she is caught, she will be killed immediately. If not, she will lead a wandering life like her parents, with no chance of returning to the palace. JG says she must return to the palace as Lady Han is waiting for her there - that she must return as she promised. Sir Min says that a boat will take them the next morning, but wants her to listen to what he has to say. He is willing to take her away anytime and stay by her side, be it a day, a year, 3 years or even 10. But he wants her to give him some time so that he can find a way out of it together, that will restore her honor and allow her to be safe. The sun rises, and the boatman arrives. JG sees Lady Han's apparition on the beach, comforting her and telling her to live on, strong, for her mother and her sake. JG realizes she can't leave as a fugitive and returns with Sir Min to the camp.

Sir Min and JG are almost punished, before the camp supervisors realize that Sir Min is their superior who's just been transferred. They appear to believe that he's the one who brought her back, but want to punish JG as it's been multiple escape attempts. CT intervenes, saying that she wants her for her apothecary/clinic. JG is reluctant as CT deceived her with the previous escape attempt but goes anyways. CT is impressed by her determination during her previous escape attempts and her unwavering will to never give up.

In the courtyard, JG thanks Sir Min and asks why he was transferred to Cheju island. He replies without thinking that it was probably because he had left his post without permission from anyone, and this was a belated attempt to avoid punishment on the part of his superiors. JG is taken aback that he had given up everything just to come to Cheju. Sir Min is immediately sheepish and changes the subject to her pending apprenticeship at the apothecary. JG isn't too happy about it as she misunderstands CT's "immoral" practices. The conversation doesn't get too far before JG is caught talking to Sir Min at eye level by one of the camp officers. Sir Min says it's ok, but JG is rebuked and leaves after apologizing. At their next meeting, JG deliberately keeps her head low and refuses to look up at Sir Min even though he says it's alright. She also addresses herself as a lower caste citizen, much to Sir Min's despair. Sir Min asks her to please not do that, and addresses her as Lady Soh, to which she replies, please do not call me that, I am merely a maidservant of the lower class. Sir Min says that his heart aches to hear her say that but she continues acting coy. He then brings out a packet of sulfur at which she perks up immediately as she had intentions of experimenting with keeping sulfur ducks all along. Sir Min says that he knows her well enough to know what she wanted to do. She goes back to normal and thanks him for his heart-felt efforts.

JG is much more attentive, responsible and compassionate than the other maidservants helping out at the apothecary, much to their chagrin. CT appears to be outwardly callous, cheating patients with placebos and fleecing them of their coin by overcharging. JG is unhappy with having to help a person like her, especially since she could tell the miracle pills given to some patients were simply made of ingredients with no medicinal value just by tasting it. CT is convinced that JG is a natural talent. CT gives her several tasks consisting of meticulous processing of medicinal herbs, which she performs to her utmost ability, once again impressing her.

JG is taken along to a home visit where a small boy of a lower caste family is severely ill. CT tests JG by refusing to prescribe medicine for the kid as his family is unable to pay. JG takes the prescription and borrows money from Sir Min in order to pay for the herbs. Even Sir Min's subordinate knows that they knew each other way back in Hanyang when JG comes looking for him. Sir Min is somewhat embarrassed but happy to see JG as always. Sir Min teases that the amount she borrowed is equivalent to 9 months of her salary, and she insists that she will pay it back, much to his amusement. JG also notices that CT is taking money from patients and building something in secret, and asks Sir Min to investigate. Meanwhile, she goes all the way up the mountain to obtain fresh water in order to concoct the herbs - using brackish water that is available in the lowlands will only aggravate the boy's problem. She has been rebuked and manhandled at the spring where freshwater available only to the gentry and upper class. JG meets Sir Min on the way back, and realize that the soldiers are actually building a pond to collect rainwater. JG changes her opinion of CT and comes round to the ideal of being her apprentice. CT is impressed again by JG's knowledge of using charcoal (activated carbon) for purifying the water, and also using snow-water collected during the 12th lunar month and melting it for freshwater with medicinal properties. Sir Min is pleased that JG has finally found direction in her life once more.

Sir Min's subordinate asks if JG is Sir Min's sweetheart. He's embarrassed and doesn't answer. The subordinate (officer Pak) says that he will protect her to the best of his ability.