The Imperial Doctress Episode 35 Recap
> The Imperial Doctress Recap
Zheng Qi, having witnessed the brutal slaughter of his people, was finally roused from his despondency. Yunxian, finding him awake after days of unconsciousness, informed him of their proximity to the capital and Qiyu's enthronement. She cautioned Zheng Qi against being manipulated by Ye Xian, explaining that his presence near Beijing was merely a tactic to force the Ming army to open the city gates.
Yunxian urged Zheng Qi to focus on mitigating harm to the Ming people, reminding him of Qian jiejie and their newborn Crown Prince, Jianjun, whose legitimacy Qiyu had publicly recognized while promising to restore the throne to Zheng Qi upon his safe return. She impressed upon him that the defense of the country now largely depended on his actions. Driven by a newfound purpose, Zheng Qi sought out Boyan Tiemu'er, his friend among the Oirats, to prevent further bloodshed.
He appealed to their friendship, highlighting the thousands of Ming civilians who had perished in the recent ten-day battle. While acknowledging the inevitability of casualties in war, Zheng Qi argued passionately that innocent civilians should never be targets. He challenged Boyan Tiemu'er to embody a true hero, one who defeats enemies on the battlefield rather than mercilessly killing the defenseless.
Zheng Qi reasoned that even if the Ming Dynasty were to fall, exterminating the civilian population was short-sighted, as it would leave no one to sustain the land or transport resources. Convinced by Zheng Qi's logic, Boyan Tiemu'er agreed that such indiscriminate killing was counterproductive and issued a decree forbidding his troops from harming innocent Ming civilians, threatening execution for any who defied the order. He also promised to persuade his brother, Ye Xian, to adopt the same policy.
Zheng Qi expressed his gratitude for this critical decision. Later, while reflecting on the current predicament, Yunxian lauded Zheng Qi for his unique ability to influence Boyan Tiemu'er. Recognizing that Ye Xian would soon use him as a hostage, Zheng Qi urged Yunxian to escape with Xiao Shunzi when the time came, but she steadfastly refused, reminding him of their shared vow to survive together. Meanwhile, Yunxian was nearing the capital with the Oirat forces, consumed by thoughts of Qiyu.
Unbeknownst to her, Qiyu was also lost in contemplation, feeling nervous about the impending battle and wishing she were by his side. When Wang Meilin embraced him from behind, he momentarily believed it was Yunxian, only to turn and find his Empress. Meilin expressed her fear of the Oirats but refused Qiyu's suggestion to seek safety with his mother, vowing to remain by his side as his wife.
Qiyu acknowledged her dedication, praising her for donating her dowry for soldier supplies and personally making uniforms and boots for the troops, expressing his sympathy for her efforts. Meilin, however, remarked that despite her actions, they were not yet a "true couple." She acknowledged his lingering affection for Yunxian but implored him for his pity, hinting that this night might be their last together, and her final opportunity to serve him.
Following this heartfelt exchange, Qiyu finally consummated their marriage, and they became a true couple. He then instructed his eunuch, Xiao Ma'zi, to relocate to Kunning Palace. As Ye Xian's forces advanced on Beijing, Qiyu rallied the Ming soldiers, emphasizing that their lives and the fate of the Ming Dynasty hinged on this decisive battle. The Ming army employed powerful firearms, inflicting heavy casualties on the Oirats.
Upon learning of the Ming's powerful artillery at Deshengmen, Ye Xian, taking Zheng Qi as his hostage, diverted his troops to Xizhimen, believing the Ming could not possess cannons at every gate. He paraded Zheng Qi before the gates, demanding entry and accusing Qiyu of usurping the throne. However, the Ming commander, Shi Heng, from the city walls, refused to open the gates without an order from Minister Yu Dongyang, subtly rebuffing Ye Xian's claims.
Despite the initial setback, Ye Xian ordered another assault. General Shi Heng and his Shenji Camp valiantly repelled the Oirats with their advanced fire weapons. During a lull, Cheng Shisan, now with the Oirats, stepped forward, accusing Qiyu of conspiring with Wang Zhen to seize the throne, attempting to assassinate Zheng Qi at Mo Bei, and poisoning military rations, even displaying the Medicine Bureau seal as evidence.
However, Zheng Qi, having recovered his strength and broken free from his restraints, bravely personally killed Cheng Shisan. He then urged the Ming soldiers not to be misled by Ye Xian, but to defend the capital and remain loyal to Qiyu and Minister Yu Dongyang. Qiyu then swore by his Royal Father's tomb that he had only temporarily assumed the throne to protect the Ming Dynasty from the Oirats.
He rallied his troops to charge out and rescue Zheng Qi, vowing to commit suicide to affirm his loyalty upon his brother's safe return. The soldiers roared their agreement, chanting, "Save the Emperor!" Ye Xian, enraged by Zheng Qi's continued defiance, brandished his saber, threatening to kill him if he spoke another word. Zheng Qi, undeterred, challenged Ye Xian to kill him, asserting that Qiyu would avenge him and that without a hostage, Ye Xian's leverage would vanish.
With a powerful voice, Zheng Qi implored the Ming soldiers to prioritize the defense of the city gates above his own life or death, commanding them to obey Qiyu as the rightful Emperor. He then shouted, "Long live the Ming Dynasty!" a cry that was enthusiastically taken up by the Ming soldiers.
In a fit of fury, Ye Xian raised his blade to strike Zheng Qi, but at that very moment, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking Ye Xian and causing him to collapse, gravely wounded. In the ensuing chaos, Zheng Qi and Yunxian made their way to safety. The Oirat soldiers quickly bore their unconscious Grand Preceptor away, while Qiyu, from the city walls, spotted Yunxian alive amidst the confusion.
Boyan Tiemu'er, distraught by his brother's critical condition, desperately sought Yunxian's help. Yunxian initially hesitated, reminding him of Ye Xian's recent attempt on Zheng Qi's life. Boyan Tiemu'er pleaded with her, invoking her medical oath and arguing that saving Ye Xian would prevent further devastation for both the Ming and Oirat people, including the Ming captives.
Considering the broader impact and her own medical ethics, Yunxian agreed to treat him, but only if Boyan Tiemu'er promised to repatriate the Ming captives. Boyan Tiemu'er gave his word and guaranteed her safety. However, in a desperate attempt to ensure his brother's survival, he then threatened to kill Zheng Qi if Yunxian failed. Zheng Qi, present during this tense exchange, responded with quiet dignity, stating, "All right. I trust you."
Boyan Tiemu'er, affirming their friendship, declared that if he were to betray Zheng Qi, he would take his own life. Accepting the grim terms, Yunxian examined Ye Xian, whose pulse was barely perceptible. In a swift and drastic measure, she bit his tongue, shocking him back to consciousness. Later, Qiyu visited his Imperial Sister-in-law (Qian jiejie) to inform her that Zheng Qi was alive. Having seen Yunxian on the battlefield, Qiyu also expressed his doubts about her to Qian jiejie.
Ding Xiang, speaking on behalf of the Grand Empress Dowager, then revealed the truth: how Wang Meilin, when she was Princess Anhe, had coerced Yunxian, leading to Yunxian's forced fake death.
