Jun Jiu Ling Episode 19 Recap
> Jun Jiu Ling Recap
The capital was gripped by fear as a mother and her daughter, their faces covered in smallpox, desperately sought medical help. Doctors, fearing the highly contagious and deadly disease, shuttered their doors and refused them entry, even denying them food. A compassionate old beggar, offering a steamed bun, directed the distraught mother to the Jiuling Drugstore. Meanwhile, Jun Jiuling encountered Ning Yunzhao on the street. He expressed his relief and congratulations for her successful treatment of Prince Huai.
Their brief exchange ended with Jun Jiuling wishing him well for his upcoming exams as she hurried away, leaving Ning Yunzhao content with even a short conversation. Later that night, Zhu Zan discreetly entered Jiuling Drugstore. He brought osmanthus cakes from the Imperial Kitchen, playfully claiming they were a reward for Jun Jiuling's life-saving work on Prince Huai.
He also warned her that the missive she received from her family, intended for protection, might instead make her a greater target in His Majesty's eyes. Before leaving, he lightheartedly requested a rare "Purple Immortal Herb," indicating she now owed him. The next day, upon seeing the mother and daughter, Jun Jiuling immediately recognized their condition as smallpox. She promptly instructed Fang Jinxiu to prepare a room for them and ordered Chen Qi to begin preparing detoxification soup.
Fang Jinxiu noted Jun Jiuling’s unprecedented level of worry, even more so than when she treated Fang Chengyu. The mother recounted how the disease had spread rapidly through their village, leading to many deaths, and how they had been shunned everywhere they went. Jun Jiuling promised to do her utmost to save the daughter, Guo'er. Soon after, chaos erupted as hundreds of smallpox patients flooded into the capital, with numerous medical halls reporting the dire situation to the Imperial Academy.
Witnessing the escalating crisis, Imperial Doctor Jiang Youshu saw an opportunity to destroy Jun Jiuling. He believed that by assigning the incurable smallpox cases to her, she would inevitably fail, bringing about her downfall. He knew from historical records that smallpox outbreaks had often led to countless deaths, and even the destruction of cities and states. During the court assembly, Minister Ning suggested establishing a large location to house the patients and dispatching imperial doctors for treatment.
However, Jiang Youshu dismissed this proposal, citing risks to the imperial doctors and a lack of manpower. Instead, he shockingly recommended gathering all patients for cremation and burial. When this brutal solution was met with horror, the Imperial Academy, furthering Jiang's scheme, recommended Jun Jiuling for the impossible task. At the same time, Zhu Zan arrived, having been entrusted by Jun Jiuling herself, and also boldly recommended Jiuling Drugstore.
Swayed by the turn of events, Emperor Chu Rang issued a decree, giving Jun Jiuling one month to find a cure. He ordered the Arm Moral Department to transfer all patients to Qingshan Court for strict quarantine and declared that if a cure was not found within the month, the court would be set ablaze, burning Jun Jiuling along with the patients.
Privately, Chu Rang told Lu Yunqi this was a strategic move: if Jun Jiuling succeeded, the credit would be his, and if she failed, her death would solve his problem. Even before the imperial decree was issued, Jun Jiuling was already seeking solutions. Acknowledging Jiuling Drugstore's limited resources, she set out with Liu'er to recruit other doctors. She approached Dr. Feng, a bone-setting specialist, who expressed his fear, stating he had no experience with smallpox and could not help.
Dr. Feng later advised her to be less forthcoming about the dangers, suggesting she simply say she was short-staffed to attract help. Jun Jiuling refused to mislead anyone, asserting her commitment to honesty. She argued that medical breakthroughs come from exploration and that a doctor's responsibility is to face a deadly disease head-on, not to abandon the fight. After a long and fruitless day visiting every medical hall in the capital, Jun Jiuling felt a profound sense of despair.
Just as she resigned herself to facing the daunting task alone, Zhu Zan arrived. He acknowledged her struggle and comforted her, vowing that while she fought for the world, he would be by her side. He encouraged her not to cry, reinforcing her calling as someone who "saves the world." Though weary, Jun Jiuling found renewed resolve.
The next morning, as Jun Jiuling prepared to depart for Qingshan Court with Commander Lu Yunqi, Dr. Feng and a group of other doctors rushed forward, declaring their willingness to join her. Lu Yunqi, witnessing this, was visibly moved. In a flashback, Dr. Feng is shown convincing a skeptical Dr. Liu to trust Jun Jiuling's integrity and medical prowess, citing her past successes and her selfless teaching of medical techniques.
He appealed to their professional pride, arguing that even in failure, they would earn a place in history, and if successful, their careers would flourish. Convinced by his impassioned words, doctors from across the city rallied to her side. Deeply touched by their unexpected loyalty, Jun Jiuling bowed to them in sincere gratitude.
