The Imperial Doctress Episode 25 Recap
> The Imperial Doctress Recap
With the Empress Dowager incapacitated by a stroke, the Emperor fully reclaimed authority over court affairs, feeling quite pleased as state matters proceeded smoothly. Witnessing the Empress Dowager's illness and his own subsequent loss of influence, Duke Wang grew concerned, noting the Imperial Faculty of Medicine's lack of diligence in her care. He instructed his daughter, Wang Meilin, to enter the Palace to look after the Empress Dowager, emphasizing that Prince Cheng was their last hope.
He reminded Meilin that the weaker a woman appeared, the more pity she would evoke from men. Following her father's instructions, Wang Meilin feigned a leg injury in front of Prince Cheng. Seeing her inability to walk and the absence of a sedan chair, Prince Cheng kindly offered to carry her.
As he carried her, Wang Meilin subtly pleaded with him to ensure the Empress Dowager received proper care, lamenting that the Imperial Physicians were merely going through the motions and unwilling to administer strong medications. She reminded him that the Empress Dowager was his legal mother and had always treated him well. Prince Cheng promised to keep a close watch on her treatment. Just as Prince Cheng was carrying Wang Meilin, they unexpectedly encountered the Empress and Yunxian.
Seeing them in such a compromising position, Yunxian felt a pang of jealousy and walked away without a word. Prince Cheng immediately ran after her, calling out to explain. Yunxian confessed that seeing him embrace Wang Meilin made her uncomfortable and jealous. Prince Cheng then seized the moment to speak of their impending marriage. He declared that with Duke Wang and the Empress Dowager no longer obstructing them, the Emperor’s edict would soon be issued.
He asked Yunxian if she was willing to be his Princess Consort, and after a moment of shy hesitation, she nodded in agreement. Overjoyed, Prince Cheng spun her around in a celebratory embrace. True to his word, Prince Cheng called in many Imperial Physicians to diligently attend to the Empress Dowager and sent numerous ginseng supplements. Consequently, the Empress Dowager's health gradually recovered, and she was soon able to speak, though her left side remained somewhat weak.
Wang Meilin conveyed the Empress Dowager's plan to her father: when the Oirat people's visit caused chaos, the Empress Dowager would emerge to take control of the situation. Meanwhile, Oirat Grand Preceptor Ye Xian and his envoy, Bayan Temür, arrived in the capital, accompanied by an unexpectedly large retinue of over a thousand men. Prince Cheng welcomed them, but Ye Xian subtly insulted the Emperor by praising Prince Cheng's bravery and resourcefulness, calling him stronger than his brother.
At court, Ye Xian and Bayan Temür refused to kneel before the Emperor, with Ye Xian provocatively stating he would not kneel to the Emperor, whom he considered a "younger brother" to his own Khan, as only servants knelt to their masters. The Empress Dowager, now recovered, made a dramatic appearance.
She reprimanded Ye Xian, reminding him that his father, Tuohuan, had been granted the title of Duke Shuen Ning by the previous Ming Emperor and had willingly served as a "slave subject." Under the Empress Dowager's formidable presence and acutely aware of the existing discord between the Emperor and her, Ye Xian knelt to her instead, hailing her with "Long live Your Highness Empress Dowager," a gesture the other officials quickly emulated.
During this period, Cao Jixiang, seeking to recover his manhood, was consulting with Cheng Shisan, who was in confinement. Cheng Shisan, secretly planning his escape, made a false promise to Cao Jixiang that he could "regain his manliness" in a month. Later, Cheng Shisan successfully escaped his confinement, vowing retribution against the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Yunxian. The Oirat envoys began to cause disturbances in the capital, engaging in fights and burning houses.
The Emperor, reliant on Oirat horses for his military, was forced to endure their misbehavior. He expressed his frustration to Empress Qian, who revealed that Prince Cheng had facilitated the Empress Dowager's recent recovery. During a court discussion about the mutual trade, it was revealed that the Ming dynasty was losing a significant amount of money. Consequently, the Emperor decreed that each Oirat envoy would only receive ten taels in reward, a substantial reduction from the customary amount.
Ye Xian, instigated by a mysterious tactician who advised him to exploit the rift in the Ming court, used this reduced payment as a pretext. He accused the Emperor of insulting him and his people, then ordered his men to commit killings in the capital, threatening war. Prince Cheng, eager for his wedding, began renovating his residence, even clearing an eastern room for Yunxian to dry her medicinal herbs.
Wang Meilin visited him, expressing her deep sorrow and gifting him pearls as a poignant farewell, reciting a poem about returning pearls to a loved one with tears, regretting not meeting him before he was taken. Her father, Duke Wang, consoled her, assuring her that no one could guarantee a Princess Consort's longevity and promising to ensure she would eventually marry Prince Cheng for the sake of the Wang family.
The Emperor was in the midst of preparing the marriage edict for Yunxian and Prince Cheng, discussing the auspicious date with Empress Qian and hoping this joyful event would offset his recent misfortunes. Empress Qian mentioned that Consort Dowager Wu had agreed to a grand wedding plan for the couple.
However, an urgent military report arrived, stating that Ye Xian had assembled his army after returning to Mongolia and had already surrounded Da Tong, initiating a full-scale war under the pretense of having been insulted by the Emperor. At court, the Emperor declared his intention to launch a massive attack to annihilate the Oirat Empire. However, the Empress Dowager, ringing the Jing Yang Bell, produced a decree from the late Grand Empress Dowager.
This decree stipulated that during the Emperor's youth, the Empress Dowager should govern the country behind a curtain, especially concerning major military decisions. She chastised the Emperor for his mismanagement of the mutual trade, which had depleted the treasury and sparked public discontent, and for recklessly advocating war after the recent plague. She announced her return to managing state affairs behind the curtain, stating that all future official matters would require her permission. The court officials immediately voiced their support.
Enraged, the Emperor accused her of attempting to usurp his throne and shockingly declared that she was not his biological mother, but rather the mastermind behind his birth mother's murder. The ministers, concluding that the Emperor remained irrational and unfit to rule independently, again rallied behind the Empress Dowager, supporting her in resuming managing state affairs behind the curtain. Overwhelmed with despair, the Emperor locked himself in his chambers, refusing to see anyone.
Prince Cheng and Empress Qian tried to reason with him through the door but were unsuccessful. Empress Qian, desperate, decided to fake a sudden stomach ache, hoping to coax him out. She immediately sent for Imperial Pharmacist Hang (Yunxian). Hearing of Empress Qian’s distress, the Emperor finally emerged. Yunxian consoled him, encouraging him not to give up.
She reassured him that her father, Hang Gang, had arranged for men fluent in the Oirat language to assist Prince Cheng and Official Yu in investigating the Oirat activities in the capital, which would help in quelling their disturbances. Yunxian advised the Emperor that governing was akin to being a physician: one must endure criticism and failures to grow stronger, viewing this setback as a minor obstacle in his long reign.
She offered him a cooling soup she had prepared, and they shared a moment reminiscing about past times. The Emperor reaffirmed his intention to issue a marriage order for her and Prince Cheng. Yunxian revealed their plan for a discreet marriage first, postponing a grand ceremony until things settled, and their decision to remain in the capital to support the Empress. The Emperor expressed his relief and happiness that they would stay.
Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager celebrated her successful return to power with Duke Wang, acknowledging that the Oirat were likely exploiting the internal divisions within the Ming court. She declared that she would not allow them to succeed and then instructed Wang Meilin, who was dutifully attending to her, to bring her medicine. Expressing gratitude to Meilin, the Empress Dowager promised to reward her handsomely and summoned Consort Dowager Wu.
