Episode 2 of "Bon Appé tit, Your Majesty" commences with a serene scene by the river, where Ji-young and Gil-geum find themselves peacefully seated until they are unexpectedly intercepted by Patrol's chaehong guards. The guards swiftly apprehend them and escort the duo to Governor Hong's opulent abode.
A moment of stark realization dawns upon Ji-young; she has indeed journeyed back in time, prompting an understandable yet comical freak-out. Soon after, chaehong inspectors arrive, dividing the women into two distinct groups, with Ji-young and Gil-geum landing in the less fortunate cohort destined not for the king's presence but for the kitchen's hot stove. The challenge intensifies as they discover the kitchen is barren of ingredients and deserted by its fleeing maids.
Determined to turn the tables, Ji-young strikes a clever pact with Hong Eon-uk, the governor's son. She vows to wow their distinguished guests with a culinary masterpiece in exchange for the release of all the women. He, intrigued, agrees and reveals their critical taste buds belong to Im Song-jae and his father, Im Seo-hong, notorious for their relentless critique of every dish.
Undaunted, Ji-young embraces the challenge and selects steak for her creation. However, the meat proves to be as resilient as iron, necessitating her ingenuity to improvise a sous vide process to achieve the desired tenderness. Elsewhere, Yi Heon stumbles upon Ji-young's scrunchie by the riverbank, a telltale sign of her enforced inclusion in the chaehong.
Meanwhile, Hong Eon-uk's fears for his daughter's safety lead him to secretly send Mi-hyang away with her nanny, fearing the chaehong's relentless pursuit. But fate has other plans as Im Song-jae and his father soon arrive, Song-jae scrutinizing the selected girls with a picky eye, dismissing most with disdain.
As dinner is served, Song-jae and Seo-hong voice their dissatisfaction, scorning the meager portions of meat. Hong Eon-uk, caught between a rock and a hard place, summarily summons all the cooks to scapegoat them. But Song-jae has a surprise up his sleeve, producing Mi-hyang, whom he captured during her attempted escape, as if to taunt Hong Eon-uk further.
Thus, the stage is set for a culinary showdown intertwined with intrigue and emotion, as Ji-young races against time and adversity to save not just herself but also the women entrusted to her care.
Governor Hong seethes with rage yet finds himself helpless. Ji-young implores the lords to at least sample the cuisine, vowing to sacrifice her life should it fall short of their expectations. If, however, they deem it satisfactory, they must grant freedom to all the women. Obliging, the lords indulge, and their delight in the meal is palpable—except for Song-jae, who deceitfully claims it lacks flavor. Consequently, Ji-young, as the chef, is summarily hauled away to face punishment: beatings and torment await her.
Just as the brutality is about to commence, a voice thunderously commands an end to the proceedings—it is Yi Heon. Ji-young finally acknowledges the veracity of his previous statements, regretting her earlier mistreatment of him. Having overheard her assurance of her culinary prowess, Yi Heon decides to step in as the arbitrator. He takes a bite, reveling in the dish, particularly praising a powder she crafted to emulate MSG. She realizes that he is indeed a connoisseur of the highest caliber.
Curiosity piqued, Yi Heon bombards her with questions about her background and origins. Seizing the opportunity, Ji-young discloses that she hails from the future. He, naturally, dismisses her as insane. He then instructs Song-jae to escort Ji-young and Mi-hyang to the palace the following day. Recollecting her historical knowledge, Ji-young recalls that the Mi-hyang incident sparked the tragic Gapshin Literati Purge, where Yi Heon meted out justice to officials implicated in his mother's demise.
After dismissing everyone else, Governor Hong lingers. He reprimands Yi Heon for neglecting state affairs and indulging in female companionship, which has alienated his subjects. The revelation unfolds that Yi Heon's actions are a calculated revenge, as the governor was complicit in his mother's death. In retaliation, Yi Heon banishes the governor for blaspheming the king.
Chained once more, Ji-young confides in Gil-geum, revealing her origins from the future. To her astonishment, Gil-geum, swayed perhaps by the ancient cookbook dangling precariously from her bag at the cliff's edge, believes her without hesitation. Elsewhere, Song-jae approaches Yi Heon, instructing him to release all the women, Mi-hyung included, as his vengeance against her father has been satisfied. Their exchange unveils that the entire chaehong was a meticulously orchestrated scheme by Yi Heon to avenge his mother's wrongdoings.
Meanwhile, Hong Eon-uk honors his word and grants Ji-young and Gil-geum their freedom. As they traverse the forest, Ji-young extends an invitation to Gil-geum to accompany her to the future, highlighting her own lack of kin. Upon reaching the cliff, they frantically search for Ji-young's bag, only to be intercepted by Yi Heon, who had learned of their escape.
Ji-young pleadingly requests the return of her bag. A guard retrieves it at his bidding, only for Yi Heon to hurl it over the precipice moments later. Ji-young vows to do whatever it takes to retrieve it, a statement that piques Yi Heon's curiosity. Soon after, the two girls are escorted to the palace, shackled in the Joseon equivalent of handcuffs.
Elsewhere, Mok-ju and Prince Jesan converse about the prince's plot to depose the king. Prince Jesan suspects one of his allies of acting impulsively and orders him to be tailed. Additionally, he informs Mok-ju of the king's intention to bring a woman to the palace, a revelation that troubles her deeply.
As they journey to the palace, Ji-young ponders whether she has averted the Gapshin Literati Purge, noting the king's absence of Mi-hyung in his entourage. Upon their arrival, Mok-ju warmly greets Yi Heon, who introduces Ji-young to her as a gwinyeo, hinting at grand designs for her talent.
Ji-young recognizes Mok-ju as the manipulator who once ensnared the king in her web, wreaking havoc upon the kingdom. The episode concludes with Yi Heon promising Ji-young a fate so dire, she will ultimately beg him for her own demise.
