♫ Not meeting each other, not meeting each other That one person, that one glance ♫
♫ Not resenting the years we wasted ♫
♫ In a certain year, that one gaze who is nostalgic, who is silent? ♫
♫ Brushing past each other's shoulders, do not argue about our fate ♫
♫ If not for that one look, the fleeting sense of yearning ♫
♫ I would be unaware I had loved that person for a lifetime ♫
♫ Until now, even if the city is abound with rumours, do not explain ♫
♫ Using up the world's medicine, it is still hard to cure the affections of the mortal world ♫
♫ The heavy rain is coming and the ground is damp The memories are fading in front of my eyes ♫
♫ Many years later, all the stories turn out to have similar endings♫
♫ Don't say you love someone, don't say but Please do not overdo the tears ♫
♫ Gains and losses will always come around in a cycle ♫
The Imperial Doctress Episode 16
All the traditional herbal therapies and prescriptions are only intended for usage in this drama. Please do not test or imitate.
Teacher. Teacher.
Teacher
What is this? Try it.
You made it with Chinese Yam? (Dioscorea opposita) has a slimy but crispy texture
Explain this dish.
In the spring one needs to pay extra attention to the liver. So i used Chinese yam and Goji berries.
The two replenish blood and help with liver problems,
and improve the appetite.
Also the red and white looks nice together!
And since Goji is already sweet...
there is also no need to add sugar!
That's good. you silly girly.
Your dish fulfills all four flavors.
Good! Good!
Do you want to exceed the skills of your teacher?
You, you, you.
Aren't you pleased with yourself!
Yep, definitely pleased!
Don't be proud. Learn it well. There is still a lot to learn.
Peach blossoms can soften blood and lesson blood clots.
Lilac can cure gastric disorders and diarrhoea.
Chokecherry flower can alleviate sweat stains and black spots.
Mixing pear blossoms, cherry blossoms and papaya flowers together
with green bean paste is the best type of bath bean.
Then all those flowers can be medicine?
Yes. Pagoda tree flowers can clean the liver and reduce toxic heat.
If you steam it with salad burnet, it can also cure stomach problems.
How come everything in your eyes can be used as medicine?
I think Priest Wang is regretful.
Acceptnig you as a disciple will starve the master!
I'm not even close.
However, I always tried it when I lived in the Northern regions.
What's wrong? How come you're not talking anymore?
What did you think of?
Sister Chen,
About my family, I told teacher already.
The news said they went back to our hometown in Wuxi,
and they're visibly almost there.
I want to go back and take a look.
But I'm afraid going back all of a sudden may not be too good,
since my father always thought I was bad luck.
Who said you're a bad luck？
Since you came to us, nothing has happened.
If your heart is really not at ease
Tomorrow I'll go find a messenger on the canal and ask them to find more news of your family in Wuxi.
Anyways, we're going to put on shows here.
They're always in this business; their news is really accurate.
If your family misses you, then you should go back.
If they act like nothing is wrong,
Just stay with us.
Thank you Sister Chen.
Good! Good! Good!
When you go back, prepare the talismans according to my instructions.
You'll recover after you apply it to yourself once in the morning and once at night.
Thank you. Thank you. Ma'am,
The fact that you eat a lot and yet you're thin and ailing,
This complex eating disorder is quite hard to cure.
But you don't have to worry
because you are very benevolent.
Last night, the Earth god came to me in a dream.
He said he already performed magic
on that pear tree in the back mountain.
Now, the pears it grows will be immortal pears.
Just remember, starting now, only eat pears and nothing else.
Eat this for 60 days straight and burn an incense for the Earth god. In the future, you'll be able to eat.
But,
If you're still thirsty, keep eating pears until you're not thirsty anymore.
Here's the money. Thank you, Ma'am.
Thank you.
Good! Good!
Silly, you're good!
You actually took an old method of Song,
gave it a new look, and said it.
Good, good. You're really good!
She doesn't have money and she can't read.
I prescribed her something else, but it wasn't effective.
This is simpler.
I have to discuss such vulgar matters with you everyday. I'm sick of it.
How about this, let's talk about more elegant pursuits.
How much money did you get?
You must still learn from me diligently.
Silly, I'm not talking about you.
You listened to her rambling for half an hour and yet you only got 5 bronze pieces.
Teacher, didn't you used to say
You're well presented, so it's easier for people to believe.
As for me, people see me as a silly girl.
So I have to use patience.
Really, I think the 'you' character in Zhu You
can also mean medical history.
Look, after patients become ill, many become upset.
If I keep telling them more about illnesses,
ask more questions to make them feel more comfortable,
then won't they feel more comfortable trusting the prescription I give them?
I see that you didn't learn other things. Now you did learn...
to brag in front of Master!
Then this money,
I'll go bring you some wine.
- Good! My filial disciple. - Yunxian, your mail.
Thank you.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
I originally planned to return to my hometown, however...
Apparently, grandma never went back to her hometown.
This situation is not complicated. Since you miss your grandmother,
you should go back.
I cannot go back.
Silly girl, I don't understand.
I... I really...
I really don't understand.
I taught you so much. You gave it all back to me.
What do you say?
You just like to be smart.
If you told me earlier that your lover was Prince Cheng,
then would have so many things happened?
Listen to my advice. I'll find you a boat, and you should immediately go
Find Prince Cheng. I can guarantee that he will have a solution.
Okay?
Since the beginning, he believes I am dead.
He may have married Princess Anhe already.
You feel guilty again.
But you're wasting time needlessly here.
Yesterday, I was drinking wine at the bar
I heard some people from the Capital chatting.
They said Prince Cheng is a man of great honor and dignity.
When he found out his bride-to-be
had died in the river. Not only did he vomit blood,
but he almost became a monk.
It was the Emperor who finally stopped him.
I've never met someone as stubborn as you.
Then how is he now?
How else can he be?
One who's spit blood
must be spending every day recovering in his quarters.
I don't know how long he will last.
I hurt him.
Since you feel guilty towards him,
then hurry and apologize to him in person.
Then, will he hate me?
Silly, people living on this earth
There are many things where if you hide, you run, you still cannot solve the problem.
What you can do
is one thing: face reality.
Come, silly girl.
There's nothing to do. Come.
Girly, do you know why I
decided to become a priest and wonder the land?
Chen Jiejie told me that you were fooled by a woman.T/N: "-jiejie" is an endearing term used to address older females
At the time I... set up an engagement with a noble lady.
Just when I was about to ask her family for her hand in marriage...
Her family found me,
and told me that their lady is going to get married to a person with status and power.
I was angry so I
stayed at a distant relative's place to calm down.
Later on, i heard
that on the night she was about to be wed...
On the night she was about to be married...commited suicide.
When she died, she held tightly on to my marriage proposal.
Master! Master!
Mast-
Master...
I shouldn't have believed her family's words!
Her family fooled me!
She wasn't the one who fooled me...
But I really wish that it was her that lied to me...
So that even now...she's still living well.
So I tell everyone that she was the one who fooled to me.
Girly, do you know...
What it feels like to regret?
Yunxian! Yunxian!
I already finished up with the boat master.
You have to take care of yourself, ok?
Thank You Chen jiejie.
Master...
I don't want to leave you...
Ok! Go!
Ah, Yunxian...
If you were a regular girl...
I would have wanted to keep you here beside me,
and learn medicine properly with me,
As a good helper.
But in the path of medicine... you will go further then me.
In fact, you will accomplish things that many people wouldn't be able to accomplish.
In this world there is nothing that will not eventually end,
Gods brought you here to my side, and I cured you...
But now, the Gods are telling you to leave.
Madam Bi, what is wrong with me recently?
Whenever wind blows in to my eyes, they will tear up!
Look at your master! He's obviously emotional
but is too embarrassed to admit it!
Master, don't talk as if I'll never come back!
When I settle down,
I will definitely bring you to the Capital and treat you with filialty!
Oh! At that time the two of us can swindle people in the big city!
I appreciate the thought but
I've gotten used to wondering in the Jianghu.
The capital is too stuffy for me to live in!
But you...absolutely have to, take care of yourself!
Go!
Come on, let's go.
We have tolerated Annam for too long.
I didn't think that be even more savage.
Not only did they deploy troops, but they didn't even repent.
It looks like I can't not retaliate.
Pass on my edict.
I order Jingyuan to lead 20,000 troops and attack Annam.
Your Majesty, you must not!
Your Majesty, Annam and Champa are both vassal states on the border.
If we attack them because they occasionally stir trouble,
it may be seen as child's play.
Child's play? Do you know?
Annam people have already killed the ambassador I sent there.
Is this also child's play?
Listen here. I am not discussing with you. I want you to obey.
This...
Your Majesty. The Empress Dowager has said
that any deployment exceeding 10,000 men
must go through her first.
However, she is currently unwell...
Duke Wang, what do you mean by that?
If Her Highness the Empress Dowager remains in a coma,
will we allow the Ming army to just stagnate?
This is an army trained by the imperial court.
They are not private armies under the Empress Dowager.
Pacifying the vassal states is an important state matter, yet you are purposely sowing discord
between the Empress Dowager and His Majesty.
You!
Exactly. Since the Empress Dowager is ill,
I will be making the military decisions.
From now on,
no memorials shall be delivered to Renshou Palace. Send them to Qianqing Palace instead.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Long Live Your Majesty.
Wipe out Annam, and boost our empire's dignity!
Great. I will wait for your triumphant return.
Yes, Your Majesty!
Qiyu, thanks for all your hard work.
Since the Empress Dowager is ill, political power has naturally returned to me.
You won't need to cotton up to the Empress Dowager any longer.
Congratulations, older brother.
What's wrong?
I thought you were going to suffocate staying in your manor all day long, which is why I took you out here.
Yet why do you look so miserable?
Older brother,
I...still cannot forget Yunxian.
When it occurs to me that Yunxian died because of my negligence,
I feel extremely miserable.
Older brother, since the political crisis is over,
I will only be reminded of sad events if I remain in the Capital.
May I return to my own state and bring mother along with me?
You can, but not now.
How about this. Move into the Palace in the name of attending upon the Empress Dowager.
I will open a hall for you
in the North Five Places for you and your mother.
Escort Consort Dowager Wu into the Palace as well.
Thank you, older brother.
Who allowed you to drug His Majesty?
Your Highness, I deserve to die. I was afraid Your Highness didn't have the heart to,
so I made the decision without your permission.
I didn't think that you would be implicated as well.
I am unworthy of your good graces.
It's fine.
If it weren't for your loyalty,
I wouldn't voluntarily become your scapegoat.
Thank you, your Highness.
What's happening in court?
I am useless. I couldn't stop His Majesty.
The Emperor has already sent troops to Annam.
Moreover, he has also asked
for all the memorials to be delivered to Qianqing Palace only.
Your Highness!
Mother, you're awake.
Where am I?
Here.
Take it away.
It's all because of you.
Leave. Leave me!
- Your Highness, I... - Leave.
Leave.
Leave me!
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Majesty.
What's wrong? Why did the Empress Dowager faint?
When the Empress Dowager woke up, she asked to see Duke Wang.
Thankfully Liu Ping'an and his team saved the Empress Dowager.
However, Empress Dowager‘s qi of the liver has stagnated.
She is constantly suffering from headaches, and can't hold things properly either.
Just then, she also met with the Grand Secretariat, and asked about Annam.
She took a turn for the worse from then.
Forget it. It's fine as long as she's awake.
I won't be going in,
in case she finds me annoying.
Empress, take care of her for me.
Yes.
Sir, I would like to ask about
the Hang family that used to live here.
This place? Currently it only houses the grave of the Living Guanyin.
As for Official Hang,
I heard that he was taken in by Official Yu.
Thank you.
Who's buying apples?
Apples for sale!
Prince Cheng's Manor
His Highness has gone to live in the Palace.
The Palace? Tell the Abbess that if she wants to send a letter,
send it directly into the Palace.
Okay. Thanks.
Godfather was sent on a mission by His Majesty.
Godmother and Grandmother aren't here either.
Qiyu, I walked thousands of li to come find you.
Where am I supposed to go now?
Look, there's an imperial bulletin.
They are looking for physicians to cure the Empress Dowager?
What's happening?
They are rewarding five tousand taels of silver for this.
Physician Du, this is a good chance.
You can't miss this.
I want to try it. Yet, so many physicians in the Imperial Medicine Bureau are at a loss.
What can I do?
Moreover, you need a recommendation from an official of third rank or higher.
Where am I supposed to find such an official?
I have a plan.
I've heard that Duke Zhao's young son has contracted a strange illness.
They're looking for physicians everywhere.
As long as you cure his son,
it'll be easy to ask for a recommendation letter.
It doesn't matter if you are successful in curing the Empress Dowager.
It's good enough that we get a chance to enter the Palace.
That's right.
If I can enter the Palace and give the Empress Dowager a diagnosis,
I will be able to meet Qiyu.
What if the Empress Dowager recognises me?
She won't. She doesn't even know who I am.
Yet she was the reason Grandfather died.
If I help cure her, aren't I...
I can.
I am a physician. She is a patient.
Why can't I examine her?
Perhaps she'll hear me out regarding Grandfather's innocence if I succeed.
I will enter the palace if the letter is on top.
If you have employed the swindlers
- for help again, why do you need me? - Physician Liu, please stop.
Physician Liu, my wife is extremely worried,
which is why she found someone to perform the rite of exorcism.
Then ask him to cure the child.
I want to see what incantations the swindlers will make up.
These bastards are the best at deceiving people.
They are even confident enough to say they can heal all disorders.
Aren't they afraid of drowning in people's insults?
You have spoken wrongly.
The thirteenth branch of the Imperial Medicine Faculty is Zhu You.
The "Inner Canon of Huangdi" states that
since ancient times, curing illnesses only require the Zhu You method of diverting their attention and transferring their vitality.
Why do you think that healing people through incantations is deceiving them?
You are well versed in the method of Zhu You?
I know a little.
My skills won't be worse than the common physician.
Fine.
Then go and diagnose the young sir's illness.
I want to see how skilled you are.
Love sickness? You're saying my son is suffering from love sickness?
He is.
My son just passed his second birthday.
How can he suffer from something as absurd as love sickness?
- Your Excellency, please listen to me. - Quiet.
- Anyone out there? Drag her out of here immediately! - Your Excellency.
I want to hear her explain her diagnosis.
Love sickness does not just refer to the feelings between a man and a woman.
It may also include the feeling of yearning mothers have for sons, and generals for the battlefield.
You've asked many physicians.
Perhaps you've heard of the phrase, "anger injures the liver, and yearning injures the spleen."
Young Sir's lack of appetite may seem like it is a digestive problem,
but he is actually yearning for something.
He is so young. What will he miss?
Moreover, my wife is always by his side.
I would like to ask Your Excellency. When the young sir was weaned,
where did his wet nurse go?
Wet nurse?
He's eating. Master, he's eating!
Your son is young. Since he was born, the person he sees most often is the wet nurse.
Yet due to her sudden disappearance, he gradually became more miserable,
which is why he kept crying.
Once the wet nurse leaves for good,
the young sir cannot express his sadness, naturally leading to love sickness.
You are indeed an enlightened immortal.
Your cure works like a charm.
No wonder eating medicine to stimulate his appetite
didn't help at all.
I didn't realise it was because we hadn't found the root of the problem.
Eat a spoonful.
I lost my composure earlier on. I hope you don't mind.
This is great.
Your Excellency, I do not need any reward.
Actually, I am not a nun.
I've heard that you are extremely benevolent and willing to help those in need.
You want me to write a recommendation letter
so you can enter the Palace and cure the Empress Dowager?
Yes.
It's not that I don't believe you.
I just feel it is strange
that you want to enter the Palace so badly.
I dare not conceal the truth. I am not going for the reward listed on the imperial bulletin.
I have been learning medicine since I was young, and wish to open my own centre in the future.
Hence, I am the subject of much controversy.
This is why...
You want to become famous for healing the Empress Dowager,
and open your own medical clinic in the future?
Exactly.
You have great ambitions.
You do know that the Ming Dynasty has never had a female physician?
I know.
Why can't it start from me?
Emperor Hongwu created the position of a female official.
It should not be strange if a female physician were to appear.
I believe in your skills.
However, you risk being condemned by the world.
I will recommend you.
Physician Liu, you want to recommend her?
I do want to recommend,
but I am only a small official of the sixth rank.
Duke Zhao, I have a suggestion.
You write a recommendation letter for her, and I will be her referee.
If she cures the Empress Dowager,
you can take the reward. If she makes a mistake,
I will take the punishment.
Of course I am willing. Yet, Physician Liu, why are you...
Just then, I was wrong
in accusing her of being a swindler. I am making amends by becoming her referee.
Moreover, I want to see her true abilities,
and how she will become the first female physician.
Thank you, Physician Liu.
Don't thank me immediately.
You can enter the Palace, but not as a physician.
There are many medicine women who serve the nobility in the Imperial Dispensary and postpartum confinement rooms.
How about entering the Palace as a medicine woman?
But medicine women are all married women.
If you manage to cure the Empress Dowager,
who will care if you're a nun or a medicine woman?
I have been enlightened.
Thank you for making my wish come true. Your Excellency, Physician Liu.
What strange illness is the Empress Dowager suffering from?
Even the imperial physicians couldn't cure her.
Exactly.
I've heard about it too. Everyone is talking about it.
Is it actually true?
I've heard that the Empress Dowager constantly suffers from headaches after her fall.
She's as thin as a stick now,
and suffering from poor eyesight
and insomnia.
Quiet. Everyone, please come over.
There are nine physicians who have received recommendation letters.
This includes Physician Gu Ruyan, recommended by Xianyi Apothecary,
Physician Jiang Fangming, recommended by the Supporting General,
Physician Zhang Xuecheng, recommended by Minister Sun and
medicine woman Miss Yun,
recommended by Duke Zhao.
Medicine woman? Will this work?
She's not a proper physician.
I can't believe this.
Uncle, how can...
Uncle!
Why are you so out of it recently?
I've been careful all my life.
I didn't think that such a big problem would occur during my first cooperation with Duke Wang.
Now that the Empress Dowager is ill,
she's venting all her anger on me.
Moreover, she doesn't believe in anything, except for your Teacher.
But Teacher wasn't successful in treating the Empress Dowager either.
Her extreme anger has injured the liver.
This is a chronic disease.
Even a deity couldn't treat her immediately.
The Empress Dowager is suffering from extreme anger and unstable state of mind.
No medicine can help her.
How about letting me try?
- You can't. - Everyone, please follow me.
You'll remind the Empress Dowager of me.
I don't want the Empress Dowager to vent her anger on you, affecting your future.
Let the cannon fodder do their job.
So this is the palace. Qiyu, where are you?
Renshou Palace
You are all skilled physicians from outside.
I hope all of you can come up with correct diagnoses and cure the Empress Dowager as quickly as possible.
If there are particularly skilled ones,
I will have extra benefits apart from the monetary reward.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Mother, the common physicians are all waiting outside.
Tell all of them to come in at once.
I don't have the energy to waste time with them.
You may all come in.
Come in pairs, and stay quiet.
Once you reach a consensus after discussion, present the final prescription to us.
Has anyone found a solution?
I believe Her Highness' illness is caused by toxic heat in the liver.
Hence, she must clean her liver and stay calm.
However, I think that Her Highness is suffering from deficiency of yin levels.
She should take medicine that boosts her yin levels.
The Imperial Medicine Bureau has created prescriptions based on such diagnoses.
The Empress Dowager has continuously taken the medicine. Why is there no improvement?
Please forgive me, but I would like to see the prescriptions written by the imperial physicians.
That would be great.
We could study it.
I believe the imperial physicians' prescriptions are extremely fitting.
However, it can still be improved upon.
Fingered citron and snow lotus should also be included.
Her Highness feels pain in her diaphragm, which means there is toxic heat and low levels of yin.
Adding these two ingredients
can remove the blockages in her system.
Quiet, everyone, quiet!
It's okay. Let them discuss.
When they finish discussing, they will hand up a prescription. I will stay by Mother.
Everyone, everyone. Listen to me.
Her Highness suffers from headaches and toxic heat.
Her medicine should include the root of Chinese thorowax, which will soothe the liver.
The root of Chinese thorowax shouldn't be used in this instance.
Her Highness suffers from deficiency of yin and toxic heat. The root cannot be used.
Then...what would you, the most Honourable One...
No actually, what would this Aunt suggest?
Exactly.
Her Highness has excessive amounts of toxic heat in her liver, while also suffering from low levels of yin.
Just then, when I was feeling her pulse, it was both strong and uneven.
It must have to do with a coagulated phlegm, leading to excessive amounts of toxic heat that affect her levels of yin.
Nonsense!
Her Highness the Empress Dowager is clear-headed. How is that related?
You keep on switching between coagulated phlegm, toxic heat in liver and deficiency of yin.
Are you saying that the Empress Dowager is suffering from so many different illnesses?
Women do not have the right to discuss medicine.
Go back and take care of your children.
- Go back! - Exactly.
The root of Chinese thorowax should still be added.
You must add more of this.
Older sister, I have an older cousin who is serving under Prince Cheng.
I've heard that he entered the Palace with Prince Cheng to recuperate.
Can you send a messsage for me, or lead me there?
It's not that I refuse to help. Prince Cheng lives in one of the Northern halls.
It's very far from the Renshou Palace.
You're a medicine woman, and don't even own a pass. How can you go there?
Can you let me through this time?
I haven't seen him for a long time.
There are strict rules within the Palace. You can't walk around as you please.
You should go heal the Empress Dowager first.
If you anger her, no one will escape her wrath.
Older sister,
then I have something to ask you.
Just then when I was feeling the Empress Dowager's pulse,
I saw that her hand was shaking slightly.
Can I ask how long it's been?
Your Highness, you are suffering from a serious illness.
After much discussion, I have created this prescription.
Your Highness, please drink while warm.
You can only create bitter medicine. Do you want to murder me?
Mother, please forgive them. Good medicine is bitter.
Drag them away,
and hit each of them 20 times before kicking them out of the palace.
- Your Highness! Please spare me! - Your Highness.
I can immediately create some medicine that is not bitter.
Mother,
please defer their punishment for me.
You are... - I am the medicine woman Miss Yun.
You are able to make medicine that is not bitter?
If Your highness doesn't believe me,
you can tell Her Highness the Empress Dowager to smell this sachet.
♫ Used to think the winter had always been this cold, ♫
♫ unrelated to my stubborn obsession ♫
♫ If the heavy snow froze everything ♫
♫ I will wait at the beginning, waiting for you to appear. ♫
♫ Perhaps our vows will change, as will the times. ♫
♫ Constant, yet ever changing, even if the world changes ♫
♫ Even if my complexion ages with time ♫
♫ I am still the young one in white ♫
♫ until the day ♫
♫ I return to meet you ♫
♫ When that day arrives, we will return to familiar places ♫
♫ Appreciating the colourful world, and watching the light dance across your face ♫
♫ When that day arrives, we will return to the first snowfall ♫
♫ Forgetting our obsessions and the past we have lost ♫
♫ Even if my complexion ages with time ♫
♫ I am still the young one in white ♫
♫ until the day I return to meet you ♫