The Imperial Doctress Episode 32 Recap
> The Imperial Doctress Recap
Ye Xian's sister, Tuo Buhua, contracted rabies, and after Chen Shisan's treatments proved ineffective, Ye Xian dispatched a Shaman to find a cure. The Shaman sought the heart and liver of a person with a double whorl on their head as a sacred medicine. When the Shaman's men located such an individual among the Ming captives, a fierce conflict erupted.
To control the escalating situation, Yunxian stepped forward, declaring herself a physician who treated the Ming Emperor and offering to procure whatever medicine they required. An Oirat soldier confirmed her miraculous healing abilities, mentioning she had previously helped their women deliver. Upon learning Tuo Buhua had been bitten by a rabid dog and that the Shaman's remedy was a human heart, Yunxian confidently stated she could treat the rabies.
Ye Xian soon arrived to suppress what he perceived as a rebellion, ordering the immediate execution of all the Ming captives. Yunxian confronted him, warning that even if Tuo Buhua consumed many human hearts, she would still die. She then reiterated her status as a physician and promised to save his sister if he spared the Ming soldiers, betting her own life on her words.
Ye Xian, though initially skeptical, gave her one chance, threatening to sacrifice her and all the captives if she failed. Yunxian was brought to Tuo Buhua, who was in a delirious state and unable to approach water. Yunxian assessed the situation, noting it had been half a day since the bite, and requested Han medicinal herbs. Tuo Buhua cried out for a "Naren flower" while Yunxian attempted to treat her, urging her to endure.
When Tuo Buhua's condition worsened, becoming even more violent, Ye Xian grew distraught and, seeing no improvement, once again ordered Yunxian's execution. Yunxian pleaded for a moment's delay, proposing an alternative method to restore Tuo Buhua's consciousness. She requested the brain matter of the mad dog that bit Tuo Buhua, along with some filthy things like chicken and duck feces, explaining it was a remedy recorded in a Han emergency medicine text by a Great Doctor named Ge Hong.
She also asked for ground beetles found in roots and alcohol. After preparing a foul-smelling concoction, Ye Xian's men were hesitant to administer it. Yunxian offered to drink some herself to prove it wasn't poison, then assured Tuo Buhua she would recover. She declared that the outcome would be known within an hour.
During the tense wait, Ye Xian questioned Yunxian about Han people's use of insects and feces in medicine, to which Yunxian clarified that Han medicine also utilized noble ingredients like antelope horns and orchid roots. Exactly one hour later, Tuo Buhua suddenly awoke, demanding that her brother kill the dog that had bullied her. Ye Xian was overjoyed that his sister recognized him and had seemingly recovered her sanity.
Yunxian confirmed that Tuo Buhua was out of danger and only needed to continue her medication. Yunxian then fainted from exhaustion. A servant reported to Ye Xian that "Physician Hang" was a woman. Shocked, Ye Xian ordered water to wash her face. As he personally cleaned her, his brother, Boyan Tiemu'er, recognized her as the "Living Guanyin" who had saved Ye Xian at Yongqing Convent when he was disguised as a Joseon merchant.
Ye Xian, now certain of her identity, ordered Boyan Tiemu'er to care for Tuo Buhua and summoned Chen Shisan to examine Yunxian. Chen Shisan reported that Yunxian was severely weakened from overwork and poor nutrition, recommending rest, ginseng, and bird's nest. Ye Xian, still holding a grudge for Chen Shisan's failure to cure Tuo Buhua, dismissed his medical judgment and warned him to stop bothering Zhu Qizhen.
Later, reflecting on the discovery, Ye Xian marveled that the "Living Guanyin" had been by his side all along. Tuo Buhua, having recovered, questioned Ye Xian about her rabid behavior and playfully threatened to bite him. Ye Xian expressed his deep concern, revealing he had almost killed a hundred people out of worry for her. Tuo Buhua asked about the "pretty lady" and "Living Guanyin" who had saved her.
Yunxian then directly asked Ye Xian if he intended to go back on his word regarding the Ming captives' lives. Boyan Tiemu'er interjected, reminding Yunxian of their previous encounter at Yongqing Convent, jogging her memory. Boyan Tiemu'er then formally introduced himself and Ye Xian, who acknowledged his family's double debt of gratitude to Yunxian. Ye Xian offered to grant her any wish. Yunxian requested the release of her father, Hang Gang.
Ye Xian informed her that Hang Gang had already been sent back to Beijing with other captives when a ransom was paid. When asked for another wish, Yunxian asked to see their Emperor, Zhu Qizhen. With Ye Xian's permission, Yunxian met with Zhu Qizhen in his prison. They embraced emotionally. Zhu Qizhen defiantly declared that he would not yield to Ye Xian's torture or become a pawn in his schemes to attack the Ming Dynasty, preferring death.
Yunxian agreed, proposing they prepare medicines to "die for the country together," and they vowed to live and die as one. However, they also agreed to fight for their lives and seek an opportunity to escape, hoping to rally other loyal Ming captives. Zhu Qizhen asked if Ye Xian had bothered her, and Yunxian reassured him.
Yunxian then sought reassurance that Zhu Qizhen didn't blame her for treating the Oirats, to which he replied that saving lives was her duty and her survival was the greatest gift. A guard then summoned Yunxian to Ye Xian's tent. In his tent, Ye Xian showed Yunxian a map, asking her advice on the best route to attack Beijing. Yunxian, claiming ignorance of warfare, subtly warned him by mentioning her father's military prowess in defeating Oirat forces.
Ye Xian remarked on her eloquence and then inquired about her relationship with Zhu Qizhen, noting that Boyan had heard a eunuch call her "Minister." Yunxian clarified she was a private palace physician assigned by the Empress to serve the Emperor. Ye Xian, implying flirtation, questioned the nature of her "service" among 20,000 troops.
Yunxian retorted that serving the Emperor in military camps was inconvenient and humorously referenced her cure for Tuo Buhua, saying she merely used "chicken and dog feces" to strengthen his body. Ye Xian, impressed, called her a "rose full of thorns." Yunxian then admonished him for flirting and, using Han connotations, warned that even if he conquered the capital, the people would not follow him.
Ye Xian dismissed this, noting many emperors ruled without popular support for a hundred years, but Yunxian shrewdly pointed out that such reigns rarely lasted a full century. Acknowledging Yunxian's unique character and her efforts in treating not only Ming prisoners but also his own soldiers and herdsmen, Ye Xian offered to send her back to Beijing to reunite with her father. Yunxian refused, insisting on staying to care for Zhu Qizhen, whose health was deteriorating.
She argued that a "mad Emperor" would be useless to Ye Xian's ambitions, suggesting that a healthy, living emperor was essential for his conquest plans. Ye Xian conceded, agreeing to release Zhu Qizhen from the underground prison and allow Yunxian to visit him every three days. He also instructed Yunxian to stay with Tuo Buhua, who had developed a fever from playing too much, and help care for her. Before she left, Ye Xian asked for her name.
She introduced herself as Hang Yunxian, explaining her name's classical allusions to Song Dynasty heroes and the pursuit of virtue. Ye Xian, taken by her name, declared that precisely because of it, he would not let her return home. Meanwhile, news reached the Ming court that the Oirat people were stockpiling weapons and food, preparing to attack the capital. Emperor Qi Yu, furious, ordered Yu Dongyang to immediately gather soldiers and reinforce the city walls.
However, some ministers suggested moving the capital to Nanjing due to their weakened military. At this critical juncture, Wang Meilin's maid interrupted the court session to ask Qi Yu about dinner plans at Kunning Palace, earning a furious reprimand from the Emperor. The maid then relayed the news of the impending Oirat attack and the debate about moving the capital to Wang Meilin, who, scared, decided to consult Sun Dowager Empress about relocating to Nanjing.
The Dowager Empress, however, went to the court and sternly rebuked Wang Meilin for her cowardice and selfishness. She passionately advocated for defending Beijing, citing the disastrous precedent of the Song Dynasty's retreat. Supporting Qi Yu's resolve, she appointed Yu Dongyang as Minister of Defense, tasking him with managing the capital's defense, and expressed her personal wish to die within the capital, to which Qi Yu vowed not to disappoint her.
Back in the Oirat camp, Chen Shisan was astonished to learn that a Han female physician had cured Tuo Buhua, recalling his earlier suspicion that the woman who treated Ye Xian was his concubine. Yunxian continued to care for Tuo Buhua, giving her licorice root to sweeten her bitter medicine. Tuo Buhua, now calling her "Yunxian jie jie," confided in her about her family history and asked for beauty tips, also acknowledging Yunxian's kindness in helping the herdsmen.
During their time together, a frightened horse nearly trampled Tuo Buhua's nephew, Qi Ge. Zhu Qizhen bravely intervened, saving the child. Tuo Buhua, captivated by his heroism, asked for his name and was impressed to learn he was the Ming Emperor. She then offered to grant him any wish. Zhu Qizhen requested that he and Yunxian be allowed to visit the Ming captives. Zhu Qizhen went to the Ming captives, who greeted him respectfully.
He knelt before them, apologizing for their capture and swearing to lead them back to the Great Ming to reunite with their families. The captives, touched by his humility, urged him to rise, expressing their shame for failing to protect him and vowing their eternal loyalty. They mentioned that Yunxian had told them of his struggles and pledged to crawl back to Beijing with him if necessary.
However, a captive named Hou Guang angrily accused Yunxian of being a "pest" and revealed her female identity to the others. He blamed her presence in the army for their defeat, claiming a woman's presence brought bad luck to war. Another captive, Zhou Qiang, tried to defend Yunxian, threatening Hou Guang, but Yunxian intervened, stopping the altercation.
