The Imperial Doctress Episode 12 Recap
> The Imperial Doctress Recap
Prince Cheng was praised by the Emperor for his pivotal role in compelling the Empress Dowager to retire from political affairs. The Emperor acknowledged Prince Cheng's discovery of evidence regarding the Empress Dowager's illegal construction of a mausoleum and Duke Wang's corruption. To further undermine Duke Wang's influence, the Emperor suggested Prince Cheng marry Duke Wang's daughter, Wang Meilin, which Prince Cheng firmly refused.
Prince Cheng confessed that he already had someone he loved – a kind, gentle woman who had saved his life, and with whom he had already discussed marriage. However, he wished to prioritize political matters first, waiting until the Empress Dowager fully relinquished her power before requesting an official marriage edict, as he knew his mother and Duke Wang would never agree to him marrying this "other girl."
The Emperor then offered Prince Cheng a strategy: take his beloved to see the flower lanterns during the upcoming Lantern Festival to reassure her of his intentions. Following this, Prince Cheng sent a message to Yunxian, inviting her to meet him at Qinghe Bridge in the third quarter of the "you" hour (5-7 PM) on the Lantern Festival.
Meanwhile, an imperial edict recognized Miss Hang (Yunxian) for her exceptional medical skills in saving epidemic victims, bestowing upon her the title of Xiangjun (noble lady), and granting her father, Hang Gang, additional land. At a family dinner, Hang Gang, acknowledging the Emperor's approval, reluctantly permitted Yunxian to openly pursue her medical studies. Yet, he still cautioned her on the importance of needlework as a lady, especially given her future marriage prospects.
Hang Gang then announced that for the remainder of the first lunar month, he would be on city patrol, leaving at noon and returning at dawn, entrusting Yunxian with household duties and instructing her to "watch herself." Later, Yunxian’s grandmother proudly declared that Yunxian’s medical skills, refined through her studies at Huimin Apothecary, had surpassed her own, leaving her with nothing more to teach.
During the royal New Year's Eve celebration, which included a splendid fireworks display, Prince Cheng pleased the Empress Dowager by presenting fireworks from her hometown, Zouping. However, the atmosphere quickly soured when the Empress Dowager announced her intention to arrange Prince Cheng's marriage to Wang Meilin. The Emperor intervened, stating he had his own plans for Prince Cheng and that matters of the Inner Palace were for his Empress to decide, not the Empress Dowager.
The Empress then explained that, according to his fate, Prince Cheng was not suitable for marriage this year. Infuriated, the Empress Dowager turned her anger on the Empress, reproaching her for failing to bear a son herself or to guide other consorts to produce royal heirs, implying the Empress should be ashamed. The Emperor fiercely defended his Empress, reminding the Empress Dowager that his Empress was only 24 and questioning if she herself had borne a son at that age.
The Empress Dowager retorted by bringing up a previous Empress Hu and insinuated that the Emperor might be the one with health issues preventing royal heirs, even offering to summon Cheng Shisan to examine him. Enraged, the Emperor slammed the table and stormed out of the hall. Later that evening, the Emperor, now dressed in plain clothes and going by "Master Zheng," arrived outside Yunxian's house, where he observed her distributing porridge and buns to commoners.
Yunxian’s grandmother called her inside, and Yunxian, thinking Master Zheng had left, told him she was fine. However, upon returning to her room, she saw his horse still waiting and, feeling pity for him, invited him in. She offered him homemade pancakes and wine she had "gotten without telling anyone," toasting him for a happy and prosperous New Year.
Despite the food and wine being cold due to the winter night, he devoured it, proclaiming it the "best reunion dinner" he had ever had. They then danced with swords in the snow. Yunxian accidentally twisted her ankle, and when Master Zheng offered to rub it, she quickly corrected him on proper first aid, instructing him to use ice to reduce inflammation.
Seeing her longing to watch the fireworks, Master Zheng scooped her up and carried her onto a high wall, where they watched the display. He shared a poignant memory of his mother being killed by his stepmother after watching fireworks when he was nine, and how he had unknowingly called the "bad woman" mother for over a decade.
Yunxian comforted him, asserting that good people are always rewarded, citing her own recent fortune of being granted the title of Xiangjun, which spared her from a forced marriage. They promised to spend every New Year together from then on. Before leaving, Master Zheng suggested that Yunxian visit the Wang's house on Western Street during the Lantern Festival to admire their particularly beautiful trotting horse lamps.
That same night, the Empress visited the Emperor's chambers, finding him asleep after having drunk heavily. Under his pillow, she discovered a piece of red paper with the character "Hang" written on it. On the Lantern Festival, Yunxian was preoccupied. To ensure Yunxian could attend the festivities, Zisu secretly added a triple dose of tranquilizers (albizia bark, spina date seed, and cicada slough, masked by plum blossom) to the grandmother's tea, guaranteeing she would sleep for six to eight hours.
Yunxian, though initially surprised, hurried off to meet Prince Cheng at Qinghe Bridge as planned. However, Prince Cheng was deliberately delayed at Duke Wang's mansion, where Duke Wang and Wang Meilin repeatedly toasted him, making it difficult for him to leave. Yunxian waited impatiently at Qinghe Bridge, noting that the agreed-upon time had long passed.
Disappointed, and hearing passersby talk about the beautiful trotting horse lamps at the Wang's house, which reminded her of Master Zheng's suggestion, she decided to head home. Meanwhile, Prince Cheng finally managed to slip away from Duke Wang's, telling Wang Meilin he had an urgent matter. He then apologized to her for any misunderstanding she might have harbored about their relationship, leaving Wang Meilin heartbroken and in tears.
As Yunxian walked home, she was accosted by several drunken men who recognized her as "Living Bodhisattva" and began harassing her. Just in time, Master Zheng appeared, swiftly coming to her rescue and dispatching the drunkards. He teased her about her meddlesome nature before insisting she join him to guess lantern riddles. They guessed many riddles together, with Yunxian correctly solving a medical-themed one.
The shopkeeper, impressed, offered a Lantian red jade bracelet adorned with a dragon and phoenix pattern, suggesting it was for his "wife." Yunxian felt uncomfortable, trying to refuse the gift and explaining she was waiting for Zisu and that people might misunderstand. However, Master Zheng forcefully placed the bracelet on her wrist, stating he already had a wife and had no need for it himself. Yunxian remained distracted and ill at ease during their continued stroll.
