Episode 11 of *Bon Appétit, Your Majesty* opens with a poignant scene: Yi Heon presents Ji-young with a ring and leans in for a kiss. However, she gently pulls away, her voice tinged with melancholy as she explains that she cannot stay, for she does not belong to this era. Uncertain of her ability to abandon her father and her career, she stands at a crossroads. Understanding her dilemma, Yi Heon accepts her decision but extracts a promise from her—to return when she is ready. In return, she asks him to vow that he will never become a tyrant.
Later, Yi Heon immortalizes the bibimbap that Ji-young first prepared for him by sketching it into his rendition of the *Mangunrok*. As the day progresses, preparations commence for Queen In-ju’s birthday banquet. Ji-young finds herself in a quandary when she discovers that the Queen has been abstaining from meat, yet a royal celebration of this magnitude demands its presence. With resourcefulness, she opts to use soy meat as a substitute.
Meanwhile, in the Queen’s quarters, Consort Kang attempts to pay her respects to Queen In-ju on her special day. However, she encounters resistance from the other royal women, still bitter over her involvement in Prince Jin-myeong’s poisoning. Given that the full truth has yet to surface, Queen In-ju reluctantly permits her presence at the event. In the shadows, Prince Jesan orchestrates a trap for Yi Heon with his co-conspirators.
As Yi Heon prepares for the banquet, Chang-seon delivers grim news: Chu-wol has taken her own life. Suspecting Consort Kang’s hand in the tragedy, Yi Heon instructs Chang-seon to keep the information confidential for the time being.
At the banquet, Ji-young and the culinary team unveil their masterpiece—a soy meat gujeolpan and an eggplant pie. As they arrange the dishes, Gil-geum notices a small package slipping from Ji-young’s attire. Inside, he discovers chocolates that she intends to gift him later.
The festivities commence, and Queen In-ju is enchanted by Ji-young’s soy meat creation. Im Song-jae then announces the next act—a traditional dance known as the Cheoyongmu. Two jesters initiate the performance, and to the Queen’s delight, she soon recognizes one of them as Yi Heon himself, disguised and dancing with mischievous charm.
Yet, amidst the revelry, Prince Jesan’s sinister plan begins to unfold. Yi Jang-gyun, a drafter whose family is being blackmailed by Jesan, enters the palace following Yi Heon’s performance. He informs Yi Heon that he has located the historical records the king had requested—records detailing the events surrounding his mother’s death. Realization dawns on Ji-young as she comprehends that these are the very events that culminated in the Gapshin Literati Purge.
Yi Jang-gyun then steps forward, introducing Consort Sim—the elderly woman who happens to be Yi Heon’s maternal grandmother. Before the assembled crowd, Yi Heon instructs Song-jae to read aloud the draft, which details how the late king’s concubines, including Queen In-ju and Han Min-seong among others, had conspired to persuade the King to depose and banish the young Queen. The truth unravels further as it is revealed that it was Queen In-ju who had counseled the late King to poison Yi Heon’s mother. The situation escalates dramatically when the old lady, driven to madness by her daughter’s tragic demise, unveils the young queen’s bloodstained garments hidden within her doll.
Consumed by fury, Yi Heon lunges forward, his sword drawn,went to his grandmother. Ji-young, standing resolutely in his path, pleads with him to halt. She declares her love for him and reminds him of the vows they had exchanged. Yet, Yi Heon remains unyielding, resolute in his quest to ensure that none involved in his mother’s murder escape justice. In a desperate bid to calm the storm, Ji-young presents the king’s maternal grandmother with chocolates, hoping to restore her sanity.
Her efforts seem to bear fruit as the old woman recounts Yi Heon’s mother’s final words—a poignant plea for her son to rectify the wrongs and emerge as a wise and virtuous king. Hearing these words, Yi Heon finally lowers his sword and retreats.
Meanwhile, Prince Jesan informs his cohorts that they must resort to their contingency plan. However, their scheme is momentarily jeopardized when he catches Song-jae eavesdropping on their conversation and promptly orders his capture. Across the palace, concern mounts over Yi Heon’s explosive outburst, as whispers of unease ripple through the corridors.
Later, Ji-young confides in Yi Heon that she harbors suspicions about someone deliberately orchestrating Yi Jang-gyun's appearance at the grand banquet. She urges Yi Heon to dine with Queen In-ju and seize the opportunity to engage in a conversation with her. Ji-young also passes on Tang Bailong's enigmatic message to Yi Heon.
Meanwhile, Prince Jesan summons Im Seo-hong, Song-jae's father, for a clandestine meeting. Before Seo-hong even steps into the room, he overhears Jesan and his cohorts conspiring about the impending rebellion. Their malevolent plan appears to involve using Song-jae as bait to lure the king to Salgoji Forest, where they intend to assassinate him.
Seo-hong, in a desperate bid to avert disaster, rushes to warn the king. However, some of Prince Jesan's guards intercept him and mercilessly slay him. Moments later, traitorous palace guards knock Ji-young unconscious as well. Just as they are about to abduct her, Gong-gil springs into action, attacking the guards and whisking Ji-young away to safety.
Su-hyeok then arrives with a message from Song-jae for Yi Heon, revealing that Song-jae has discovered the rebels' military base, which is situated near Salgoji Forest. One of Yi Heon's ministers soon enters and informs Yi Heon of Ji-young's abduction, adding that she has been taken to the forest. Without hesitation, Yi Heon decides to head there immediately.
As the king departs from the palace, a figure donning the king's Cheoyungmu attire begins to wreak havoc and indiscriminately slaughter people. In the grand quarters of the royal queen, Queen In-ju realizes with horror that it is Prince Jesan moments before he delivers a fatal blow. Tragically, the rest of the staff mistakenly believe it is the king who is committing these heinous acts.
Jesan and his cohorts launch fireworks into the sky, serving as a signal for all the rebels stationed around the palace. They spring into action, donning red bands across their foreheads and mercilessly slaughtering everyone loyal to Yi Heon.
Meanwhile, Yi Heon and his men stumble upon Song-jae, who is bound to a pyre in the heart of the forest. As Yi Heon struggles to free him, Jesan's men trigger a trap. Arrows rain down, and in a selfless act, Song-jae pushes the king down, shielding him from the deadly volley. Jesan's men then proceed to set the forest ablaze, encircling Yi Heon in a deadly inferno.
Elsewhere, Gong-gil attempts to flee the chaos with Ji-young, but Jesan's men eventually catch up with them and capture Ji-young.
