[Episode 41]
Taeju.
Doctor Yun.
Report.
Patients are flooding in.
Faster than we can handle.
That's not the worst.
Some of the doctors are sick.
What?
Those that treated the first case.
They didn't realize it was smallpox.
The first case?
The first?
That way.
Jinyong.
How is it at the clinic?
The same.
Some of the staff are sick.
Have you heard from the palace?
Is Her Highness all right?
Who? Her Highness?
It's the first patient. His doctors are sick.
The patient Her Highness brought in.
What?
Move it along.
Officer Mah.
Doctor Baek.
I'm told Her Highness is moving.
Yes, we're nearly ready.
She's going to Changgyong Palace
And...
Have you noticed any symptoms?
What? Symptoms? How do you mean?
Well...
That's odd.
I feel so hot.
Lady Kwak, I'm ready...
What...? Why...
What was that?
The man Her Highness helped has the pox?
Then...
No, she didn't necessarily catch it.
If she hasn't shown any symptoms by now she should...
What was that?
Your Highness... Princess...
Your Highness, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, wake up.
Your Highness, Your Highness.
- Your Highness. - Your Highness.
Princess.
Your Highness, Your Highness.
Doctor Baek.
Yes, it's me.
Doctor Baek is here.
Docor Baek, I feel strange...
...so...strange...
- Your Highness. - Your Highness.
Your Highness, wake up.
Your Highness.
Help, help, help...!
The smallpox patients are receiving treatment...
...at the clinic, the hospital and the surgery.
Have we stopped it from spreading?
I'm afraid there is nothing we can do to stop it.
Sire.
Aren't you Sukhwi's guard?
What do you...?
Sire, Her Highness, the Princess...
Is something wrong?
Tell me.
Your Highness, open your eyes.
Your Highness, stay with us.
Doctor Baek.
Your Highness, you're awake?
Do you recognize me?
Your Highness.
Doctor Baek.
Do I...
...have smallpox?
Your Highness.
So I do?
I have it?
No, Your Highness.
I don't think so.
I'm... scared...
Doctor Baek... I'm so scared...
Your Highness...
Princess...
What is it?
Are you hurt?
No. It's nothing.
It's the first patient. His doctors are sick.
The patient Her Highness brought in.
No. It can't be.
Well? Tell me.
Lord Yi.
Yes. It's smallpox.
What?
Lord Yi.
Her Royal Highness has smallpox.
Sukhwi.
Sire... Sire...
Your Majesty.
Stand aside.
I dare not.
I said stand aside.
Your Majesty.
Sukhwi... Sukhwi...
Please, Your Majesty.
You cannot go in.
Your Majesty, please.
Smallpox.
How could she get it in the palace?
How?
Your Majesty.
Ah, so it's you.
You brought the pox from the clinic.
Your Majesty, please...
I know I'm right.
Our sweet Sukhwi fell for his fancy talk.
She was always defending him.
She's sick because of him... of him!
You, how dare you come here?
You there, take him away.
Your Majesty.
Now.
Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you'll make yourself sick.
Lady Nam. Escort Her Majesty.
Right away. Please, Your majesty.
Come with me, please...
- Your Majesty. - Please.
Kwanghyon.
It's that serious, then?
So it seems.
The pox are visible and inflamed.
Isn't this a lethal strain?
First a decoction of bugbane and pueraria with ginseng and sesame.
We'll reduce the fever and use dragon decoction for the lesions.
Good.
These are merely symptomatic.
We must take further measures before it gets worse.
But how?
There is no cure. We all know that.
My lord, the Royal House lost two princesses to this not too long ago.
Your Highness.
She was meeting me.
To give me a wedding dress.
For our wedding.
And look at her.
Because of...
Jinyong.
Your Highness.
How will you treat her?
First we will reduce the fever.
Then treat the sores and pox.
And?
And is that all?
I regret to say...
...it's all we can do...
Princess Sukgyong, Princess Myongson, both gone.
And now Sukhwi...
Sweet little Sukhwi...
Why is life so cruel?
So cruel...
Sire.
Doctor Baek, the Princess?
The clinic? How are the patients?
Nothing helps.
They get worse...
...and die.
Antitoxin. To draw out the infection.
There's no more left.
We have to find some.
We need it now.
Yes, Doctor, right away.
What is it? What's wrong?
He's having convulsions.
Jeomigo, now.
I tried it. Nothing.
A turmeric? Coptis?
No, doctor, don't.
It's over. Take him away.
But he's still breathing...
Do as you're told.
What's all this?
The patient is still breathing.
We treat them to the end.
The end?
For how long? Till he's dead?
He's covered with rash and lesions.
What else can we do?
So? You just give up?
He's your patient.
You know what this disease is?
The doctor's bane.
Beggar, princess...
Doctors can do nothing.
That's smallpox.
We call smallpox "The Pox" like royalty.
The Royal Poxiness.
Ah, right, Her Highness has it.
Her Royal Princess Poxy.
Am I right?
You!
I hear you two are quite close.
Very cozy indeed.
What?
My lord. My lord.
Is this how doctors behave?
Enough. "Doctor?"
You talk like that and call yourself a doctor?
Fine. You save him.
And your princess.
What? Can't do it?
It's here. Somewhere.
Baek, calm down.
There must be a way.
There's no such thing as an incurable disease.
There's a way.
There must be...
There has to be.
Baek.
What's all this?
Jabong.
What's he up to?
Jabong.
What are you doing under there?
Well..?
Kibae...
What is this?
So I don't catch it.
What?
Here, use this lock.
To chase away the pox.
You're a real piece of work.
You a cub, sitting around eating garlic?
Moron.
The capital is overrun with pox. I gotta do something.
Here, use the lock.
I should lock your lips shut.
They're burning from the spices.
Better eat up even so. Go on, yum-yum.
Right, yum!
- Peppers, too. - Right.
- Chomp-chomp. - Righty-right-right.
More.
Gooey-er.
Keep stirring. Royal Poxy hates red beans.
Eat your share and put a bowl outside the door, all right?
Yes'm.
Oh, dear, if only Malbok had had some. Tsk-tsk-tsk.
Wait, where's the chef?
Chef.
Right.
Gotcha.
This should do it.
Why is it so tiny? I can't quite...
Wha..? Chef!
EEK!
What are you up to?
Wait... That's my top.
I can't... pervert!
Pervert? No, you don't get it.
You don't understand.
Understand THIS.
Wait... You saw my undernothings?
I never. What do you think I am?
Then explain.
I'm scared, that's what.
Of the pox.
What?
Malbok collapsed, right? And I touched him.
What if I've got it?
Uh-huh, and so?
Royal Poxy is scared of colors.
So if I wear it, I'll be safe.
I swear, I swear, pssh...
Kibae carried Malbok on his back.
Now that's scary.
You and your colors.
That's not what...
A disgrace. You should be ashamed.
It's always something with you. Disgusting.
Wait...
Every day it's the same.
Why do I do it?
Talk about embarrassing.
Willow tonic.
For their hands and feet.
Um, listen.
Say something.
He hasn't rested for days.
Let me. Get some rest.
No, I'm fine.
Kwanghyon.
The Princess? Any news?
The pharmacy sent the medicine, but it takes time.
A day or two at most.
This is my fault.
If only I'd done something.
Officer Mah.
It should be me.
Not the poor Princess. Me.
Stop. She'll get better.
You know what she's like.
No disease can get her.
Lady Kwak.
Your Highness.
Pardon? A lucky charm?
From Your Royal Highness?
It's the very least I can do.
I would give more if I could.
Yes, it is my honor to pass for Your Highness.
Really? For me?
Yes, Your Highness.
Here.
Your Highness.
Don't get the wrong idea.
I'm just pleased you're back. And a doctor now.
You're always too good to me.
No. We're friends, after all.
Don't worry about it.
Your Highness.
I was happy, thanks to you.
Your heart belongs to another.
But I'll never forget what you've given me.
Thank you. I'll never forget you.
Your Highness.
I'm scared...
Doctor Baek... I'm so scared...
Is there nothing I can do?
Not even... for the Princess...?
Another death.
Nurse, nurse.
No... my little boy...
It's all so hard to take.
Jinyong.
The last time was bad.
But now we're losing nearly all of them.
And everyone we lose...
...scares me that much more...
...for the Princess.
Recovered? The first patient?
Yes. I went to the clinic to look at him.
He coming around.
But how?
He was weak, listless. He had no strength to fight it.
So how...?
Wait.
Wait, Master.
The first case... the first...
Yes, now you see, too?
The record.
The first patient's record.
Pardon? The record? Whose record?
The patient Her Highness brought in.
I need the doctor's notes on him.
What? The first patient?
Yes, him. The one Her Highness...
Doctor Baek, who...?
Doctor Baek, here it is.
The patient record.
That's it.
Just that... just that...
What? Stop the fever?
Yes, my lord.
This is the first patient's record.
I wrote that.
We didn't know it was smallpox,
so we used a decoction of bugbane and pueraria.
At dawn his fever broke and he's recovering.
And all we did was treat his fever.
And why is that?
Smallpox progresses from fever to lesions to diarrhea.
And ultimately death.
All we can do is treat the symptoms.
Forsythia for fever,
Dragon decoction for lesions.
Aucklandia for diarrhea.
We'll adjust the treatment for each stage of the disease.
Licorice powder, quick.
Yes, sir.
A new regimen. Change the medicine.
Yes, ma'am.
But our patients have suffered from famine.
They have no strength.
The strong herbs that fight the blisters and lesions are too much for them.
The Princess has grown dependent on supplements.
What do you suggest?
This contagion has a higher mortality rate than usual.
As I said, this is due to malnutrition from the famine.
We can't afford to give them strong herbs.
So we will leave the rash and blisters...
...and focus on the fever.
The smallpox patients are dying of fever.
When it overwhelms them...
High fever.
Exactly.
So first we use mild herbs to lower the fever.
And when they've recovered, we treat the lesions.
But our stores are low.
We need a lot of cinnabar, bunao, talc...
Don't worry.
Peuraria, wolfberry, cornus, poria mushroom.
There are many ways to treat fever.
Ways you know nothing about.
Master.
Nurses.
New prescriptions.
Licorice powder, fever reducer, burdock tonic.
Get them ready. Now.
Doctor.
Every ingredient available. Move.
Sir.
Whoa.
Tusik.
Report.
Arnemia, safflower, everything we can find.
We have to hurry.
Hundreds of lives are at stake.
What will you do?
You need medicine.
I'd like to go but... well...
I see. We'll go without you.
I don't wanna either.
What if I get sick?
Hush, you.
Less talk, more chop-chop.
Be careful.
Do I gotta?
Oh, my, such a fine man.
Right?
Tsk-tsk-tsk.
Right, well, I'm going to.
I can only die once.
Huh?
Wait, wait...
Farewell.
Kibae! Jabong, Jabong!
What the..?
My lady, you're actually going?
Will you be all right?
They need all the help they can get.
Her Highness has come down with the pox.
Come along.
Father.
Yes.
Going somewhere?
Yes, for a bit.
You're not going to court?
I don't feel well.
Not to worry. Off you go.
He hasn't been to court since Her Highness collapsed.
Let's go.
What's the use?
My lord.
A word.
Here. Take it.
Minister.
It's all right. Just look the other way.
Still.
I'm an important man.
I have to get to court to help resolve all this.
One moment.
The minister has to leave. Let him pass.
Right. Come on.
Are we going to the palace?
Are you insane?
They've got contagion there.
Sir?
We're going to Danyang.
I had to get out somehow. What better excuse?
Ah, I see.
- Come along. - Yes, sir.
At a time like this, so many ministers feigning illness.
Our nation's own ministers.
Sire. Your pardon.
Your pardon, Sire.
I won't forget.
Who helped our people.
And who ignored them.
Sire.
This way.
Jinyong.
Songha.
I've been to the herb market.
It's not much, but enough to tide us over.
Thanks, Songha.
The herbs are here.
Are you being careful?
Of course. Not to worry. You be careful, too.
Malgeum, Aejong, take those over there.
And... you take this...
This one's lumpy. This is poria. Don't mix them up.
Wolfberry feels like wood.
Smell it and the poria.
Give them the same treatment.
Doctor Baek.
Taeju. What are they...?
Take a look. Not just family. Friends, neighbors, all here to help.
Attention.
This is a poria-like mushroom. Wolfberry. And this is arrowroot.
Learn to recognize them, all right?
My lord, will you follow the clinic's prescription?
Just do it.
Blinded by blood, he still finds a way.
Sir.
He always bounces back.
Baek Kwanghyon, I mean.
I thought he was just a quack.
But there's more to him.
And he manages to keep the credit.
You must hate that.
Am I wrong?
Fine herbs.
Taeju. Doctor Yun, the medicine?
Nearly finished. We can start administering it.
We just have a enough, thanks to the volunteers.
I sure hope this works.
It will. I'm sure of it.
It will.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, what are you doing up?
I just...
Doctor Baek...
Your Highness.
How are you?
I'm fine.
Thank you for coming.
I wanted to see you while I'm still myself.
Tonight will be the hardest.
We have the medicine to reduce your fever.
You'll feel better soon.
Try not to lose hope.
All right, I won't.
It's you, after all.
You cured my Dolly when no one else could.
I trust you.
I'll be brave.
I'll make it through tonight.
And tomorrow.
Your Highness.
Doctor Baek.
What? Scared?
What?
I thought you'd be ecstatic.
But it's the Princess.
Must it be her?
Perhaps another...
Listen, Lord Yi.
It's not enough for you to succeed.
Others have to fail. That's what it takes.
I thought you knew that.
I'm not one for chit-chat.
Is it yes or no?
You're here.
My lord.
Sire.
The clinic?
Have they stopped the contagion?
His fever is down.
What? Really?
Yes, my lord.
His fever is down.
And here. She's coming round.
We did it.
Nearly half are showing signs of recovery.
The surgery? What about them?
I knew it.
It's me, after all.
Kayong, Kayong.
Ma'am.
Doctor Baek.
The Princess...
Your Highness, Your Highness...
Your Highness.
My... breath... breath...
Your Highness.
My lord.
Your Highness.
What happened?
Her uvula has swollen.
He throat is constricted. She can't breathe.
What?
Your Highness.
What? The uvula?
Master, if she can't breathe, she'll die.
You told me you can't cut it out so they'll die.
Is there nothing we can do?
No, nothing.
The swelling is caused by blood vessels.
Surgery is impossible. There is no treatment.
So we'll lose her.
Little Sukhwi...
Sire.
Kwanghyon.
What will you do?
We'll make her worse.
What?
It won't affect the pox.
But I know a way to make her worse.
You...
But don't be too worried.
I know how to bring her back.
His failure. My success.
Well? Perfect, eh?
[Guide to Swollen Sore Treatments]
I'll use acupuncture.
The lung and triple burner meridians...
Why bother?
You know what a swollen uvula does.
She can't drink. Not for days.
And breathing?
She can't breathe.
What good will your needles do?
Is this a game?
Ah, I see.
A doctor treats them to the end.
Even till death.
Enough.
Watch your mouth.
Nice friends you've got there.
I envy you.
All the same, I know a way.
I know how to treat her.
What?
It came on fast.
Acupuncture and herbs are too slow.
But I know a way.
Surgically.
You're sure?
This doctor of yours can cure the Princess?
There is no cure for a swollen uvula.
But this is our only option.
Sire, he helped the Crown Prince before.
We should try anything at this point.
Sire.
Treat a swollen uvula?
You said it can't be done.
Usually it can't.
The space is too narrow.
The blood vessels swell. Surgery is impossible.
I heard the Guide to Sores had a treatment.
But I've never seen it.
Then has he seen the Guide to Sores?
I'm here to see the inquisitor. Where is he?
You heard?
This Doctor Choi person says he can cure the Princess.
Ah, that. What about it?
I read a lot while I was in medical administration.
A swollen uvula can't be treated with medicine, acupuncture, nothing.
Oh?
To put his fingers in the sensitive throat area...
It's impossible unless the patient is already dead.
Don't you see?
If he has studied the uvula...
Wait... you mean...
Yes. The corpse from the river.
The coroner said it looked like an autopsy.
No...
Doctor Choi.
We start at 2 o'clock.
Get everything ready.
I will.
Wait. One moment.
Easy...
What's that nutcase gonna do?
What's he know?
I swear.
What's that stench?
What is it?
Don't you smell it?
Smell?
Piggy snout. Take a whiff.
There's something.
Kind of a stale stinky stench.
Unwashed.
It's me.
I'm not bathing. Happy?
Doctor.
Huh?
No bath, no pox.
I'm a doctor, I'm at greater risk.
Nah, I smelled you before.
Yeah? Pretty stinky, huh?
You reek, seriously.
No, it's something else.
I smell it.
You. What are you up to?
Hang on, give me a minute.
Who are you to talk down to me?
Ah-hah. Musk.
That's definitely musk.
What?
No, that rotten little...
What? Rotten?
Wha..?
What...? What was that?
The Guide to Sores?
Yes, I have it.
It was lost in Joseon. I found it in Japan.
The last copy in existence.
It has a treatment for swollen uvula?
You've used it to treat patients before?
No.
This is a first.
Not enough smallpox, much less swollen uvula.
You know how it is. Running here and there chasing smallpox.
I never had the time.
So you're trying a dangerous new procedure on Her Highness?
What if I am?
Doctor Choi!
You have a better idea?
No, you don't.
With luck, she lives. Or she dies.
She was dying anyway.
Your Highness.
An autopsy?
Yes. Someone dissected the corpse.
More than one.
And you're accusing Doctor Choi?
I'm not certain.
But if it is him, he's dangerous.
He cares nothing for the sanctity of life.
Baek, Baek!
Here. Look, look.
Musk. Where was it?
In the Princess's quarters.
What?
Master Saam said aloe and musk aggravate smallpox.
Avoid them at all costs, right?
Yes, that's right.
So why was this...?
It was that nutcase Choi Hyonguk.
What?
I checked with Granny Kwak.
He was with Lord Yi in her quarters last night.
To check her progress...
This is a first.
Not enough smallpox, much less swollen uvula.
You know how it is. Running here and there chasing smallpox.
I never had the time.
Then he...
He dared...!
Baek!
My lord, I understand needing space.
But to leave him alone?
It's highly unconventional.
What can we do?
He can't work with anyone there.
Will it be all right?
No. No!
Shall we, Your Highness?
Wha..?
Get out. Now!
You won't touch her.
Now get out.
Go!