‘The Tyrant’s Chef’ ended with Im YoonA and Lee Chae-min finding a happy ending.
In the 12th and final episode of tvN’s weekend drama The Tyrant’s Chef (written by fGRD, directed by Jang Tae-yu), aired on the night of the 28th, Prince Jesan (Choi Gwi-hwa) plotted a rebellion and tried to crown Prince Jinmyeong (Kim Kang-yoon) as king.
Jesan lured Lee Heon (Lee Chae-min) into the Salgoji Forest by using Yeon Ji-young (Im YoonA). While Heon struggled to save Ji-young, Jesan framed him for killing his retainers in a fit of rage.
Jesan then petitioned Queen Dowager Jahyeon (Shin Eun-jung), claiming that Heon had committed a crime against the royal family by killing Queen Dowager Inju (Seo Yi-sook), and requested that Heon be dethroned and Prince Jinmyeong be crowned king.
Following Jesan’s request, Jahyeon enthroned Jinmyeong as king. Later, when Heon returned to the palace, he asked Jesan to care for Jinmyeong in his stead, shouldering all blame himself, before being imprisoned. In his writings, Heon confessed his deep love for Ji-young, wishing she would one day return to him.
Heon was demoted to Prince Yeonhui and exiled. Jesan, however, planned to kill him. Predicting Jesan’s moves, Heon fought back. Jesan captured Ji-young as a hostage, demanding Heon come alone to Woryeongru.
There, Ji-young learned Heon was the author of Mangwoonrok. She was stabbed in his place, while Heon killed Jesan. Ji-young disappeared with the book, leaving Heon grieving.
Ji-young awoke back in the modern era, realizing from her wound that her time with Heon was real. She longed to return to Joseon but failed despite reading Mangwoonrok. She later became chef of Enfant, preparing a reinterpretation of royal cuisine for Michelin evaluation, which received high praise.
When a judge unfairly criticized her, she confronted him directly—only to be reunited with Heon in modern attire.
Ji-young asked, “Is it really you, Your Highness?”
Heon replied, “I came to keep my promise—the promise to find you.”
The two sealed their unchanging love with a kiss.
