The Imperial Doctress Episode 2 Recap
> The Imperial Doctress Recap
Yunxian’s grandmother discovered that Yunxian had not only performed acupuncture to save Lady Xu at the Xu Manor but had also written a prescription for her. When Yunxian recited the prescription, her grandmother realized there were errors in the medication. She immediately sent Zisu to the Xu Manor to have the prescription changed. Fortunately, the Xu Manor had already adopted a new prescription, and Lady Xu's condition was improving.
Yunxian was spared from a major mistake, but she still felt remorseful that her lack of skill had caused Lady Xu prolonged suffering. Yunxian's grandmother expressed her disappointment, noting that Yunxian's prescription, containing ingredients like antelope horn powder, abalone shell, ocher, prunella, turtle shell, and root of herbaceous peony, showed errors in its application.
While her father had strictly forbidden her from practicing medicine and treating others, Yunxian earnestly pleaded with her grandmother, vowing to be more careful and committed to carrying on the family's medical traditions. Seeing Yunxian's devotion, her grandmother agreed to continue teaching her, but suggested she visit Yongqing Convent to worship the Medicine Buddha and reflect on her path. At Yongqing Convent, Yunxian encountered a man suffering from a malignant sore.
The nuns were attempting to treat him with incense powder and green bean soup, but Yunxian recognized these would only staunch blood, not cure the sore. Lacking proper herbal medicines, she proposed a remedy using swallow's nest and oil, citing the "Thousand Gold Pieces Formulary" which described the cold nature of swallow's nest as effective for malignant sores.
Abbess Jingci, witnessing Yunxian's compassionate heart and medical ingenuity, instructed a nun to prepare the remedy and invited Yunxian to the inner hall to worship. While inside, a maid from the Yu Manor arrived seeking help for her mistress, who was suffering from a miscarriage and severe bleeding. The maid explained that her master, Official Yu Dongyang, a renowned incorruptible official, adhered to rigid views on "gender segregation," thus refusing to let male doctors treat his wife.
Yunxian, moved by Official Yu's integrity, felt compelled to assist. However, Zisu reminded her of her father's strict prohibition against practicing medicine and the recent incident with Lady Xu. Suddenly, a dissolute young man named Zheng Qi (an alias for Emperor Zhu Qizhen) appeared, offering his fast carriage to transport Yunxian to the Yu Manor, promising they would arrive in less than an hour.
Yunxian was initially wary of Zheng Qi, but Abbess Jingci vouched for him, describing him as reliable despite his playful exterior, and persuaded Yunxian to accept his help. On the journey, Zheng Qi’s playful nature turned to flirtatious teasing, which annoyed Yunxian. When he continued to make inappropriate remarks, Yunxian subtly struck his Quchi acupoint, causing numbness. Angered, Zheng Qi stopped the carriage, declaring he wouldn't let them go easily.
Yunxian, furious at his lack of concern for Madam Yu's life, chastised him as an irresponsible person and decided to walk the rest of the way with Zisu. Impressed by her conviction and courage, Zheng Qi forcibly carried her back into the carriage, clearly determined to help. Upon reaching the Yu Manor, Official Yu was initially hesitant to let Yunxian, a woman, treat his wife, expressing disdain for "medicine women" and adherence to traditional gender segregation.
However, as Madam Yu's condition deteriorated, Yunxian quickly intervened, performing acupuncture on the Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, and Duyin acupoints to stop the bleeding. Madam Yu regained consciousness, and Yunxian provided a prescription for "Regulating Energy and Activating Circulation Soup." Official Yu, despite his wife's recovery, worried about the cost of the donkey hide gelatin in the prescription. Zheng Qi immediately offered a gold ingot, but Official Yu, clinging to his "incorruptible principles," refused the money and curtly asked them to leave.
On the return journey, Zheng Qi, still irritated by Official Yu's stubbornness, complained about how upright officials like him were persecuted by the Empress Dowager's favorite eunuch, Fan Hong. He expressed his deep-seated animosity towards the Empress Dowager. Misinterpreting his words, Yunxian assumed Zheng Qi had offended the Empress Dowager and advised him to seek intercession from a trusted confidant, such as Duke Wang. Zheng Qi reacted with sudden anger, silencing her.
Unbeknownst to Yunxian, the dissolute young master Zheng Qi was, in fact, the Emperor Zhu Qizhen, and his strong feelings towards the Empress Dowager stemmed from personal grievances against her controlling influence.
