Episode 10 of "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty" opens with Yi Heon standing expectantly in the greenhouse, waiting for Ji-young, completely unaware that she is at that very moment enduring unspeakable torture. He even rehearses in his mind how to envelop her in a warm embrace the moment she realizes he has successfully secured the remaining chili powder she so desperately needs. However, the other cooks, their faces etched with worry, inform Eunuch Yoon of Ji-young's dire situation. Eventually, Chang-seon rushes to deliver the grim news to the king.
Enraged beyond measure, Yi Heon demands the key to the prison where Ji-young is being held. But Queen Ja-hyun, Jin-myeong’s scheming mother, stands her ground and refuses to yield the key, even when Yi Heon's fury escalates to the point where he threatens to take her life.
In the end, it is Ji-young herself who manages to calm Yi Heon's raging emotions, urging him to focus his energies on proving her innocence instead. Yi Heon, his eyes blazing with determination, warns Ja-hyun in no uncertain terms not to lay a finger on Ji-young while he meticulously searches for the truth.
Meanwhile, Lord Han Min-sung, ever the manipulator, informs the Dowager Queen In-ju that Yi Heon has been relentlessly pursuing the historical draft that holds the key to his mother’s mysterious death. He voices his concerns that Jin-myeong’s sudden illness might be intricately linked to Yi Heon’s relentless quest to bring down the entire Han family.
Yi Heon continues his relentless investigation, but his physicians confirm that there is nothing amiss with the ingredients Ji-young has been using. Undeterred, he pays a visit to the boy’s quarters, where his keen eye catches sight of packets of medicinal herbs. He demands that these be thoroughly examined for any clues.
In a surprising turn of events, Dowager Queen In-ju wrests the prison key from Queen Ja-hyun and releases Ji-young, but only on the condition that she unearths the truth within a mere three days. If she fails to do so, Ji-young faces a gruesome and painful death. The queen then slips her a silver dagger, a silent promise of protection, albeit a grim one. She also issues a stern warning that Yi Heon’s life could be hanging in the balance, given the persistent rumors swirling around him and Ji-young.
Ji-young serves Yi Heon his next meal, and he is momentarily stunned to hear her voice. He pulls her aside, his arms yearning to wrap around her in a comforting embrace. She gently pushes him away, her mind replaying Queen In-ju’s ominous words. But Yi Heon, his resolve unshaken, leans in and kisses her, whispering his genuine affection for her.
Afterwards, Yi Heon insists that Ji-young share a meal with him, creating a moment of respite amidst the chaos. In a tender yet firm gesture, he takes the silver dagger from her, as if to shield her from the harsh realities that loom on the horizon.
They embark on the investigation side by side. On the inaugural day of their probe, Yi Heon uncovers a bitter-tasting component nestled among Jin-myeong's medicinal herbs. The following day, Ji-young gathers all the ingredients and retreats to her chamber, where Gil-geum's keen nose detects an odd odor. She singles out the same bean-like ingredient Yi Heon had sampled, asserting that it reeks of rat droppings.
By the third day, Yi Heon succumbs to illness, exhibiting the identical symptoms that had plagued Jin-myeong. As Ji-young recounts Gil-geum's discovery, the physician steps in, identifying the beans as oryeongji—a medicinal concoction derived from squirrel droppings. He elucidates that when oryeongji is mixed with ginseng, a key ingredient in the meals consumed by both Yi Heon and Jin-myeong, it transforms into a lethal poison. With urgency, Yi Heon commands the physician to concoct an antidote posthaste.
Meanwhile, Song-jae delves into the backgrounds of the physicians who concocted the boy's remedies and stumbles upon Eo Yeo-bun, the culprit who introduced the oryeongji into the herbs. Yet, she has vanished without a trace in recent days. Determined, Yi Heon dispatches Gong-gil to track her down. In a separate corner of the palace, Consort Kang dispatches Chu-wol to neutralize the threat. Chu-wol locates Yeo-bun, poised to end her life, when Gong-gil intervenes, accusing her of his sister's murder. A scuffle ensues between the two.
In the heat of the moment, Chu-wol reveals the stark truth: Gong-gil's sister had sought the king's favor, thereby drawing Consort Kang's ire and sealing her own fate. Ultimately, Gong-gil overpowers Chu-wol, knocking her unconscious. Turning to Yeo-bun, he demands the unvarnished truth. She points the finger at Consort Kang but is about to implicate Prince Jesan when an arrow streaks through the air, piercing her and ending her life. Gong-gil gives chase to the assailant, but his efforts prove futile as the attacker slips away.
Of course, the attacker is none other than one of Jesan's loyal henchmen, as we later witness him reporting back to Jesan himself. Chu-wol is hauled off to prison, but she remains steadfast, insisting that the plot was entirely her own doing and that Consort Kang had no part in it. Yi Heon, undeterred, confronts Consort Kang head-on, but she feigns innocence and dares him to produce any evidence to back up his accusations. In a later conversation with Ji-young, Yi Heon reveals that she had harbored suspicions about Consort Kang and had instructed Gong-gil to keep a close eye on her every move.
Soon enough, the medicine is prepared and presented to the king. As they bring it to Jin-myeong, he immediately vomits it back up. The physician explains that he lacks the vital energy needed to absorb the medicine. Ji-young, quick-witted as always, realizes that he is suffering from hypoglycaemic shock and suggests preparing a nourishing meal to replenish his strength. She, along with the other chefs, sets to work, crafting a dish they call "Restaurant," brimming with restorative ingredients.
Yi Heon, ever the gallant, even tastes the meal first to allay the queen's concerns. Once satisfied, she feeds it to Jin-myeong, who, almost miraculously, begins to show signs of improvement. Later, Yi Heon summons Ji-young to meet with him. She assumes he has found the Mangunrok, but instead of feeling elated, her heart sinks with a sense of foreboding.
That night, in a chilling turn of events, Consort Kang meets with Chu-wol in secret. She promises to secure Chu-wol's release from prison, but as Chu-wol lowers her guard, Consort Kang pulls out a hidden knife and plunges it into Chu-wol's neck, ending her life in a cold-blooded act of betrayal.
Meanwhile, Yi Heon encounters Ji-young, resplendent in the elaborate costume of a cheoyongmu dancer. He has meticulously planned to perform this traditional dance for his grandmother's upcoming birthday celebration, but is eager to showcase it to Ji-young first. As she watches him with rapt attention, her mind wanders through a tapestry of cherished memories they've woven together over time.
In another part of the scene, Jesan leads his co-conspirators to a grim prison where he has imprisoned Yi Jang-gyun, the cunning drafter who was scheduled to rendezvous with Yi Heon. To compound matters, he also holds Yi Heon's maternal grandmother captive. Gesturing towards the doll cradled in the old woman's trembling hands, Jesan reveals that it conceals the bloodstained cloth Yi Heon's mother was clad in on the fateful day she met her demise. Jesan's malevolent scheme involves using this harrowing relic to provoke Yi Heon during his grandmother's birthday festivities, inciting him to unleash a torrent of rage upon everyone present, ultimately leading to his own ruin.
Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, Yi Heon turns to Ji-young, his voice laden with emotion, and implores her not to depart. He confesses that he has discerned her true origins from the future, a revelation that dawned upon him through the distinctive flavors of her culinary creations. Despite this knowledge, he beseeches her to become his steadfast companion, proffering a ring as a symbol of his commitment. Leaning in, their lips hover tantalizingly close, poised for a tender kiss.
