Across Episodes 1 and 2, Yeon Ji-yeong—once a chef in modern Korea—was pulled by an unknown force into Joseon. To survive, she had to cook...
Across Episodes 1 and 2, Yeon Ji-yeong—once a chef in modern Korea—was pulled by an unknown force into Joseon. To survive, she had to cook, and in the process she came face to face with King I-heon, branded a “tyrant,” escalating tension and conflict between them.
Now that Yeon Ji-yeong and Seo Gil-geum have been seized by the king and transported in shackles, what awaits them inside the palace?
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty |
Arrows of Fate—and the First Foreshadowing
Episode 3 opens with an arrow flying straight at the king. An assassin’s attack nearly proves fatal, but the royal physician makes a startling discovery: the Vaseline Yeon Ji-yeong had casually applied helped staunch the bleeding, saving the king from grave danger.
Only then does the king realize that the “noble woman” everyone spoke of is the very person who saved his life. This moment foreshadows a bond between the two that will grow into something far more than food alone.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty |
Ripples in the Palace—and a Spark of Suspicion
Consort Kang Mok-ju orders that the arrow taken from the king’s body be delivered to Prince Jesan, commanding him to trace its source. The instruction hints at a larger plot to remove the king. This single arrowhead threatens to set off a political maelstrom, tightening the story’s tension.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty |
“Gui-nyeo” in the Royal Kitchens
Meanwhile, Yeon Ji-yeong continues to face cold shoulders and turf wars in the suragan, the royal kitchen. People still call her “gui-nyeo,” keeping their guard up. But the fact that she saved the king leaves a fine crack in their gaze. She is no longer just a stranger within the palace—she now stands at the very center of power.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty |
Courage Proven by Taste
Even so, Yeon Ji-yeong knows that cooking is her only path to survive. She brings out precious venison and presents a dish that marries French technique with palace cuisine. The method is unfamiliar, but the finished plate carries a power beyond flavor—it moves the heart. For the first time, King I-heon’s expression softens, and at last he declares, “I choose you.”
From this moment on, Yeon Ji-yeong’s food is no longer a mere dish from the royal kitchen—it becomes a weapon capable of stirring the king’s heart.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty |
Gathering Shadows
But her nearness to the king breeds unease and jealousy. Consort Kang Mok-ju refuses to view Yeon Ji-yeong kindly. Every time the king’s eyes linger, fear for her own position hardens into hostility. Inevitably, she begins to devise a plot to bring Yeon Ji-yeong down.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty |
Seeds of Intrigue—and Rumors Spreading
Kang Mok-ju sets rumors loose inside the palace: that a strange woman shaking up the royal kitchen at the king’s side will someday invite calamity. The whispers quickly grow into more than idle talk. Court officials submit memorials urging that Yeon Ji-yeong be charged with crimes on par with Hong Gyeong-dal and executed. Their intent is simple—pressure the king, and eliminate Yeon Ji-yeong.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty |
Pressure on the Throne—and the King’s Decision
At a moment when he must safeguard royal authority and political stability, King I-heon refuses to waver. He rejects the ministers’ demands and instead appoints Yeon Ji-yeong as the Head Royal Chef (Daeryeong-suksu).
This is more than a promotion—it is a declaration to the palace power brokers. Yeon Ji-yeong is not merely the “gui-nyeo”; she is the person the king himself has chosen. She is no longer just a member of the kitchen staff—she now stands at the king’s side.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty |
A New Storm on the Horizon
But this decision can only invite further turmoil. The honor elevates Yeon Ji-yeong, yet it also draws envy and intrigue to her doorstep. A high-stakes cooking contest—one that could cost a chef their very hands—looms ahead.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty |
Reflections on Episode 3
One arrow could not fell the king, but it set off far greater waves. The king now owes a debt to Yeon Ji-yeong; Kang Mok-ju spins new schemes; and the palace’s balance of power begins to tilt. No longer just a cook, Yeon Ji-yeong stands as the woman who saved the king’s life— and is drawn deeper into the vortex.
Episode 4 leaves us eager to see how the next chapter will pull us in even further.
COMMENTS