The Imperial Doctress Episode 30 Recap
> The Imperial Doctress Recap
After Zhu Qizhen's defeat and capture at Tumu Fortress, he was disheartened and began a hunger strike in the Oirat camp, aiming to preserve his last shred of imperial integrity. His eunuch, Xiao Shun'zi, pleaded with him to eat, urging him to consider Miss Hang and the Empress, and not let them down.
Zhu Qizhen, overwhelmed by guilt, confessed that he was too incompetent to have trusted the malicious eunuch, and was responsible for the deaths of a hundred thousand Ming soldiers and for letting down his people and the state. He felt unworthy to live and even asked Xiao Shun'zi to kill him. Meanwhile, in the Oirat camp, Ye Xian's brother informed him that the Ming troops were routed and they had captured a hundred thousand soldiers.
Ye Xian ordered the badly injured to be expelled, lamenting that their efforts to take Xuanfu were unsuccessful as its defense general, Yang Hong, refused to open the city gates despite knowing the Ming emperor was captured. Ye Xian was also troubled by Zhu Qizhen's refusal to eat, acknowledging that the Han people greatly valued loyalty and filial piety.
He feared that killing their emperor would incite Ming soldiers to seek revenge, potentially reversing the war's outcome, especially since the Oirat clan had already suffered over ten thousand casualties after a month of fighting. At this critical juncture, Cheng Shisan appeared, offering his services to Ye Xian. He claimed to know Zhu Qizhen's character well, stating that the emperor's fasting was merely a theatrical display for reputation, fearing blame for subjugating his nation.
Cheng Shisan suggested starving Zhu Qizhen for two more days, assuring Ye Xian that he would eventually surrender. Zhu Qizhen unfortunately fell into Cheng Shisan's hands. Cheng Shisan revealed his true identity and his vengeful motives, reminding Zhu Qizhen that he had replaced the medical ointment for wounds with yellow mud. He expressed his deep resentment for being imprisoned by Zhu Qizhen for a woman and abandoned by Empress Dowager Sun.
He declared his intention to make Zhu Qizhen suffer a life of pain and humiliation as an Oirat prisoner, claiming Zhu Qizhen was responsible for the deaths of countless Ming soldiers. Cheng Shisan then proceeded to torture the emperor, using acupuncture to render him immobile before force-feeding him goat milk, mocking him all the while.
After reflecting on his situation, Zhu Qizhen decided to bravely embrace survival, realizing that as long as he was alive, there would be opportunities for a comeback. He began to eat, telling Xiao Shun'zi that he had come to his senses and could endure anything if even someone like Cheng Shisan could live. He then summoned Ye Xian.
In a show of renewed imperial authority, Zhu Qizhen demanded Ye Xian's presence, asserting his position as Emperor of Ming and Prince Shunning's overlord. He criticized Ye Xian for breaking his oath of loyalty to Ming. Ye Xian's brother was furious, but Ye Xian, seemingly impressed by Zhu Qizhen's defiance, admitted the Ming Emperor was truly outstanding. Zhu Qizhen demanded to be sent back to Beijing and offered forgiveness for Ye Xian's disrespect.
Ye Xian, feigning remorse, agreed to contact the Huailai general and lead Zhu Qizhen to his royal tent for a wash. Secretly, however, Ye Xian and his brother conspired, with Ye Xian revealing his "brilliant plan" to leverage the living emperor for more gain, stating that Cheng Shisan was right about a living emperor being more useful than a dead one.
News of the emperor's capture and the Oirats' demand for 500,000 taels of silver reached the capital, causing a great uproar in court. Duke Wang and other ministers from the Ministry of Revenue stated that the treasury was empty after three military expeditions and could not afford such a sum without jeopardizing the court and the people. Furthermore, they feared Ye Xian would not release the emperor even after receiving the money.
Empress Qian, deeply concerned by the ministers' indifference, arrived in court and offered all her jewels and dowry, even removing her hairpin and earrings, to ransom her husband. Zhu Qiyu, who was overseeing the nation on behalf of his brother, affirmed his commitment to bring the emperor back. After receiving the 500,000 taels of silver, Ye Xian, ever greedy, reneged on his promise.
He then demanded an additional 500,000 taels of gold, and later, an even larger sum of one million taels of gold for his soldiers' provisions, claiming he would personally escort the emperor back to the capital. Zhu Qiyu, distraught by this new demand and his brother's predicament, proposed selling his own princedom, Chengzhou City, to raise the ransom, asserting he could not betray the trust his brother placed in him.
Empress Dowager Sun then appeared in court, vehemently opposing any further payment, believing that Ye Xian's greed was insatiable and that paying would not secure the emperor's release. She proposed that since the nation could not be without a ruler, Prince Cheng, Zhu Qiyu, should ascend the throne. Zhu Qiyu, reluctant to usurp his brother's position, initially refused, stating he was entrusted to supervise the nation, not to steal the throne.
He also cited the Empress's pregnancy, suggesting they wait for the birth of a prince. His mother, Consort Dowager Wu, urged him to accept, highlighting the opportunity. Later, Princess Consort also pleaded with Zhu Qiyu, emphasizing the dire state of the nation and the need for a stable leader. She even offered to write a letter of divorce and leave the capital to avoid suspicions about her father's influence, but Zhu Qiyu refused her offer.
Yu Dongyang and Empress Dowager Sun, along with other officials, continued to press him, arguing that the country needed a strong leader to deter Oirat aggression and stabilize the populace, and that if the Empress bore a princess, the Zhu family might lose the Mandate of Heaven. Finally, Zhu Qiyu accepted the throne, stating it was for the good of the country and its people, accepting any potential historical criticism for disloyalty as his own burden.
Zhu Qiyu was enthroned as Emperor Daizong, with Zhu Qizhen becoming the Retired Emperor and Empress Qian the Retired Empress. Upon his ascension, Zhu Qiyu immediately brought his biological mother, Consort Dowager Wu, into the palace and granted her the title of Empress Dowager, fulfilling her long-held dream. However, her rank was still subordinate to Empress Dowager Sun, who held the title of Imperial Empress Dowager.
Empress Dowager Sun sternly reminded Wu that she was merely a "secondary Empress Dowager" without a respectful title, and must always defer to her, addressing her as a consort would. Wu was assigned to Jiefeng Palace, not the more prominent Renshou Palace. Despite becoming emperor, Zhu Qiyu insisted on maintaining everything as it was during Zhu Qizhen's reign and refused to move into Qianqing Palace, his brother's residence, believing Zhu Qizhen would return.
Alone, he clutched a hair ornament, missing Yunxian. His mother, Wu, resented being ranked below Empress Dowager Sun despite her son being the Emperor. Meanwhile, Yunxian, who had been rescued by Zhou Qiang and hidden in the Oirat camp, was tending to the injured Ming soldiers.
She had used her medical knowledge and limited Oirat language skills to convince the Oirat general to let her treat their injured as well, a move that saved her and the Ming soldiers from being killed. An Oirat soldier informed her that the Ming Dynasty had paid a ransom of 500,000 taels of silver for the emperor, and the Grand Chancellor would soon send him back.
Yunxian was greatly relieved by this news, thinking of Empress Qian and the well-being of the young prince. She hoped that all the captured soldiers would also be able to return home soon.
