The Imperial Doctress Episode 22 Recap
> The Imperial Doctress Recap
Prince Cheng Qiyu was deeply distraught after witnessing Yunxian and the Emperor alone late at night. He discreetly sought information from an Imperial Guard friend, Official Yang, who confirmed the Emperor's strong affection for Yunxian. Official Yang recounted how the Emperor had risked his life for Yunxian during an epidemic at Yongqing Convent and had frequently visited her grave at the Hang Manor in the middle of the night.
He cautioned Qiyu to maintain distance from Yunxian, fearing she was "not a good person," but Qiyu refused to believe she could be such a person. Meanwhile, Duke Wang learned of the situation between Qiyu and the Emperor. He informed his niece, Meilin, that this presented a prime opportunity for her to become Empress. He believed that if the Empress Dowager and the Emperor clashed, and Prince Cheng and the Emperor remained at odds, their position would strengthen.
During a court session, the Emperor proposed expanding the Imperial Pharmacy to provide medical care for eunuchs and maid servants. This proposal met strong opposition from numerous veteran ministers, who argued it defied ancestral traditions and would create confusion with the existing Medicine Bureau. They accused Yunxian, who managed the Imperial Pharmacy, of overstepping her boundaries by treating palace staff and slandered her reputation, calling her a "demonic girl" and "unclean."
The Emperor, angered by their insults toward Yunxian and their disregard for his authority, ordered Wang Zhen to flog Minister Wang De Chao 50 times. When Wang De Chao protested, the Emperor added another 50 strokes. Other kneeling officials joined in the protest, also bringing up the historical tale of Madam Huarui, a woman whose beauty caused conflict between Emperor Taizu and Taizong, warning the Emperor against making Yunxian Prince Cheng's consort due to her "lack of morality."
The Empress Dowager arrived, chastising the Emperor for his rashness in wanting to punish half his court over a woman. She warned that if he continued to create chaos, she would resume her regency. She then halted all discussions regarding the Imperial Pharmacy's expansion and dismissed the court. The Emperor called for the ministers to return, but they ignored his command.
Upon hearing the news of the court's uproar, a servant rushed to Qiyu, informing him that his mother, Consort Dowager Wu, had vomited blood after learning of Yunxian's involvement. Qiyu hurried to his mother's side, where she tearfully expressed her fear that Yunxian was a "loose woman" who had "lost her purity, sinful and wicked," making her unsuitable to be his consort.
Distraught by the turn of events, Yunxian lamented how her intentions to help others had only caused trouble for the Emperor. Her maid, Ding Xiang, chastised her for her impulsiveness, suggesting she was unintentionally ordering the Emperor around, a behavior even the Empress wouldn't dare. Qiyu then confronted Yunxian at the Imperial Pharmacy, urging her to resign and leave the palace to escape the dangerous situation.
Yunxian refused, explaining that she needed to clear her family's name and had promised to help the Empress conceive an heir. Qiyu, feeling neglected, accused her of caring less about him and questioned her propriety in examining eunuchs and meeting the Emperor at night. He admitted seeing her and the Emperor "chatting with arms around each other" and cited rumors of the Emperor's frequent visits to her at Yongqing Convent.
He then invoked the Madam Huarui story, implying that he and the Emperor were now rivals for her affection. Heartbroken by his suspicions, Yunxian denied the accusations, explaining her chaperoned visits to Yongqing Convent, and asked Qiyu to leave. No sooner had Qiyu departed than an imperial decree arrived, summoning Yunxian to Renshou Palace. The Empress Dowager, enraged by the Emperor's confrontation with his ministers over Yunxian, accused Yunxian of interfering in court affairs and violating ancestral rules.
She ordered Yunxian to be executed by poisoned wine, stating that Yunxian was a "woman that brings disaster" who must be eliminated despite her past merits. The Empress, arriving unexpectedly, pleaded with the Empress Dowager to spare Yunxian, vouching for her character and reminding her of Yunxian's past help in curing her illness. In a fit of anger, the Empress Dowager pushed the Empress, causing her to fall and hit her head, bleeding and losing consciousness.
Yunxian immediately examined the Empress and discovered she was pregnant. The unconscious Empress murmured, "Mother, don't kill Yunxian." Realizing the Empress's condition, Yunxian urged the Empress Dowager to spare her, emphasizing her crucial role in ensuring the safety of the royal fetus. Liu Pingan and Chen Shisan were summoned to confirm the Empress's pregnancy.
While Chen Shisan offered congratulations, Liu Pingan cautioned that the Empress's early pregnancy was delicate and, due to the recent shock, she required careful attention to avoid a miscarriage. The Emperor, learning of the "incident" and hearing his unconscious wife's pleas, understood that the Empress Dowager had attempted to kill Yunxian. He confronted his mother, declaring that no one would harm Yunxian as long as he lived.
The Empress Dowager, swayed by the Empress's pregnancy, reluctantly spared Yunxian for the time being. The Emperor then threatened the Empress Dowager, vowing to harm her niece, Princess Anhe, if anything happened to Yunxian. After the Empress Dowager's departure, Qiyu rushed to Yunxian, embraced her, and apologized for his earlier anger and suspicions. He promised to never again act this way and asked for her forgiveness. He proposed they leave for Chengzhou immediately, as the palace had become too dangerous.
Yunxian agreed to depart once the Empress's fetus stabilized, and Qiyu suggested they leave with his grandmother and father-in-law in a few days to escape the escalating political turmoil. Meanwhile, Duke Wang attempted to persuade the Empress Dowager to fully resume power, arguing that the Emperor's erratic behavior and threat to Princess Anhe made him dispensable, especially with the prospect of a royal heir.
Although the Empress Dowager considered supporting Prince Cheng, she decided against it due to his feelings for Yunxian and his potential opposition if she were to harm Yunxian. Instead, she resolved to control the throne through the future royal heir, maintaining her authority as Empress Dowager. Wang Zhen, observing the Emperor's growing distrust, convinced him that Duke Wang was the mastermind behind the court's criticism of Yunxian.
He claimed Duke Wang sought to prove the Emperor a "selfish ruler," drive a wedge between the Emperor and Prince Cheng, and ultimately depose the Emperor to install Prince Cheng, using Yunxian as a pawn. Wang Zhen suggested eliminating Duke Wang to weaken the Empress Dowager's influence, assuring the Emperor it could be made to look like revenge from one of Duke Wang's many enemies.
The Emperor agreed, instructing Wang Zhen to ensure the assassination was carried out cleanly, leaving no trace back to him. Wang Zhen, seeing an opportunity to consolidate his own power, envisioned becoming a powerful general like Qin Han of the Song Dynasty. Yunxian visited the Empress, who expressed gratitude for Yunxian's care and advised her to trust Liu Pingan.
The Emperor also visited the Empress, sharing his belief that Duke Wang was responsible for the court's attacks on Yunxian and the Empress Dowager's attempt on her life. He revealed his plan for the Eastern Depot to assassinate Duke Wang. The Empress vehemently opposed this, warning that Duke Wang's death would raise the Empress Dowager's suspicions and plunge the court into chaos, thereby giving her mother-in-law an excuse to reclaim power.
She emphasized Duke Wang's indispensable role in managing the Ministry of Revenue and the national treasury. In a fit of pique, the Emperor accidentally pushed the Empress, causing her to fall. Yunxian quickly confirmed that the Empress and the baby were unharmed. The Emperor immediately apologized, and the Empress reiterated her pleas, appealing to him for the sake of their unborn child and the stability of the realm. Convinced, the Emperor promised to retract his order, and Wang Zhen reluctantly recalled the Eastern Depot assassins.
