The Imperial Doctress Episode 9 Recap
> The Imperial Doctress Recap
In the imperial court, discussions were underway regarding the Yellow River flood disaster. An official presented a report requesting funds and workers, noting the 20,000 refugees headed towards Zhili. Just then, Her Highness, the Grand Empress Dowager, made a sudden appearance, engaging in a tense exchange with Your Majesty the Emperor. She questioned his swift recovery from illness and his ability to handle such a grave disaster. Your Majesty, however, had already made his moves.
His minister reported that Du Ruhui, Magistrate of Huaiyang, and Miao Jiang, Magistrate of Weihui, had been apprehended and confessed to their involvement in causing the Yellow River disaster. When brought before the court, they declared they had acted under the orders of the Empress Dowager. Her Highness vehemently denied the accusation, calling it a setup and accusing Your Majesty of using insignificant bureaucrats to frame her, reminding him of her authority granted by the previous emperor.
In response, Your Majesty ordered Fan Hong, the eunuch most trusted by Her Highness, to be brought in. A signed confession from Fan Hong was presented, leaving the Grand Empress Dowager momentarily speechless. However, Fan Hong suddenly cried out that he was innocent and had only confessed under torture, before collapsing and dying on the spot. While many officials harbored doubts, numerous others still voiced their support for Your Majesty.
Following this dramatic confrontation, Your Majesty paid a visit to Yongqing Convent, bringing with him a large quantity of medicine for the cholera epidemic. He informed Abbess Jingci that he had successfully reclaimed the Imperial Seal. Abbess Jingci, however, sensed that Your Majesty's visit was not solely for this purpose. At the convent, Yunxian, who had been tirelessly treating patients, collapsed from exhaustion. Your Majesty, disguised as Zheng Qi, caught her as she fell.
Zisu, Yunxian’s maid, chided him for not ensuring Yunxian took care of herself. Your Majesty ordered a servant to prepare porridge for Yunxian, then spoke with Abbess Jingci. She expressed concern that his elevated status meant he should not be in such a dangerous place. Your Majesty admitted he was eager to inform her about reclaiming the Imperial Seal, though Abbess Jingci noted that the Empress Dowager's deep palace connections meant she couldn't be instantly removed from power.
Your Majesty also confessed that he came to the convent to see both her and Yunxian. When Yunxian insisted on returning to help, Your Majesty sternly advised her to rest, emphasizing that he had brought ample medicine. He continued to scold her for neglecting her own health, prompting Yunxian to playfully call him "Yuan Bao," a nickname he disliked. Their conversation was interrupted by Your Majesty's servant, who reported that his madam was anxious for his return.
This was how Yunxian discovered Your Majesty was married. He confirmed he had been married for a long time and even teased her about having a son. Before leaving, he gave Yunxian a fragrant sachet containing Styrax, a rare herb for pain relief, telling her not to faint again.
Later, Zisu speculated about Your Majesty's feelings for Yunxian, but Yunxian dismissed it, believing he treated her with kindness because she was knowledgeable in medicine, similar to his late mother, and not for romantic reasons. Zisu, however, felt that Young Master Zhu Qiyu was a much better match for Yunxian, and Yunxian found herself missing Zhu Qiyu as well. Meanwhile, rumors about Physician Hang spread among the refugees.
Some praised her as a "reincarnation of Hua Tuo" for her miraculous cures. However, Physician Wanning deliberately revealed that Yunxian was a woman. The disheartened refugees, fueled by prejudice against female doctors and remembering past incidents where Yunxian was wrongly implicated in a death, began to call her a "medicine woman," refusing her treatment and hurling insults.
Abbess Jingci intervened, defending Yunxian's medical skills and telling the crowd that those willing to be treated by Physician Hang should queue up, while others were free to leave. A group of "Korean merchants," who were actually Oirat spies, approached Yunxian for treatment.
Yunxian began to treat one of them with acupuncture and prescribed a medicine, but Zisu reported that the physicians from Huimin Apothecary, still hostile towards Yunxian, refused to dispense the medicine, claiming it was not sanctioned by the royal court. The Oirat patient's companion angrily offered to seize the medicine by force, but Yunxian advised against it, explaining that their non-Han identity could lead to severe misunderstandings if they resorted to violence.
Trusting Yunxian, the patient agreed to her alternative treatment. Yunxian improvised a remedy using Ji Shi Bai, a white powder found on chicken manure, mixed with groundwater from a muddy hole. This unconventional concoction surprisingly cured the "Korean merchant." News of this "miracle" quickly spread, and the refugees, realizing her abilities, flocked back to Yunxian, forming long queues.
Yunxian, remaining humble despite the sudden shift in public opinion, told the crowds that she was no miracle physician and that the doctors from Huimin Apothecary were also highly skilled. She encouraged half of them to seek treatment from the other physicians. This action earned her quiet admiration from Wanning and the other doctors, who began to view her in a new light. That evening, as Yunxian boiled medicine, her fan accidentally caught fire, nearly burning her.
Wanning quickly warned her to be careful and then offered a sincere apology for his past mistreatment, including publicly exposing her gender and causing her trouble. He confessed his past prejudice stemmed from Madam Xu's death and his subsequent humiliation in court. He humbly acknowledged Yunxian's superior medical knowledge, expressing his regret for doubting her ginger wine tonic and her lentil groundwater soup remedy.
Yunxian, in turn, explained that she had recently learned about these remedies from rare medical texts like "Collected Commentaries on the Pharmaceutical Canon" and Liu Juanzi’s "Remedies Bequeathed by Ghosts". They discussed medical philosophy, agreeing on the importance of observing patients' temperament before diagnosis and offering comfort to alleviate their fears. Their collaboration had led to the cholera outbreak being largely controlled at Yongqing Convent.
Abbess Jingci sent a message to Your Majesty, reporting the controlled epidemic and requesting more grain to feed the increasing number of refugees. Meanwhile, Zhu Qiyu received an urgent letter. Following Your Majesty's orders, he was transporting grain to the capital for disaster relief. He swiftly adjusted his plans, directing his subordinate, Wu Jiang, to deliver 2500 kilograms of grain to Yongqing Convent first, before continuing to Official Yu Dongyang.
Overseeing the distribution, Zhu Qiyu ensured the refugees received their provisions, attributing the generosity to the "virtuous emperor." He overheard people praising a "living Guanyin" at the convent for curing the sick. Zisu and Yunxian, upon hearing that a "Young Sir" was distributing grain, initially thought it might be Your Majesty. To their surprise, they found Zhu Qiyu.
He noticed Yunxian was wearing the pearl hairpin he had given her, expressing his delight and asking if she had always worn it. She playfully replied she wore it out of whimsy, but he insisted it suited her. He told her he had visited her home in the capital and even left a letter, which she had not received. Abbess Jingci then appeared, recognizing Zhu Qiyu as "Ah Yu," an elder family member.
Zhu Qiyu further revealed that Yunxian was the one who had saved him at the Xu Manor. He then gave Yunxian his personal fragrant sachet and invited her to seek him out at Zhu Manor if she ever needed help, describing its distinct features. Yunxian pointed out that as a lady, it would be difficult for her to visit him, to which he promised to visit her instead.
When she inquired about his family business, he vaguely stated they were "imperial merchants" who had displeased the Eastern Depot. Suddenly, a servant interrupted with an urgent message, forcing Zhu Qiyu to leave immediately. He urged Yunxian to take care of herself and reiterated his promise to visit. As Zhu Qiyu rushed back, his servant revealed that his mother, the Taifei, had fallen gravely ill after visiting Xiangji Temple to pray for his safety.
Back at the convent, Zisu excitedly teased Yunxian about Zhu Qiyu's fragrant sachet, wondering if he was interested in her. Yunxian dismissed it, joking that he probably just thought she was "dirty." Zisu reminded her of the hairpin. Noticing Yunxian now possessed two sachets – one from Your Majesty and one from Zhu Qiyu – Zisu remarked that it was fortunate Your Majesty was married, otherwise Yunxian would have a difficult choice.
Alone, Yunxian held Zhu Qiyu's sachet close, while placing Your Majesty's sachet in a cabinet. Her heart stirred, she softly admitted her choice: "I choose Young Sir Zhu." She then tucked Zhu Qiyu's fragrant sachet under her pillow.
