Shi Chun, are you off work now?
Why are you looking up for me?
Are you alright?
Shouldn't I be?
Mo Yung dressed as a maiden to take some soup from the store
She said she's meeting someone at the gallery, and she said now that it's known
It can be proper from now on
Why did you look as if nothing happened?
You are talking about this
Mo Yung is learning to draw with Pong Hin
Draw?
She wants to illustrate for my manual, therefore she learns fine brushwork
She doesn't have to dress as a maiden
The teacher doesn't take married women as his students
Therefore she has to dress like that
I see
I am worried about Pong Hin
He likes Mo Yung a lot without her knowing
He will grow to love her more, I don't know how to end this mess
It has been quite troubling for me
Miss Ng...
What is the matter, Master Pong?
It's still early, let's go and have a drink and a nice chat, how about that?
I'm sorry, I need to hurry home, let's go next time, goodbye
Miss Ng, but... she is really in a hurry
She's gone, stop looking
Sometimes she is close to me, sometimes not, I wonder what is on her mind
You insist to be a gentleman
Someone appropriate in speech and action
What do you expect from a maiden?
What should I do instead?
You have secretly admired her for a long time, it's time to tell her
Otherwise how would she know?
How can I tell her so openly?
You can hint
She is a fine girl, if someone gets her before you do, you'll regret it forever
Hint? Hinting requires skills
Rhizoma Polygonati, one to two feet high
Its leaves resemble bamboo leaves but they're shorter and come in pairs
Does it look alright?
It's very similar
Great, you'll revise and I'll illustrate
We work as a couple, what a fine collaboration
But it'd be hard work for you
I have drawn something with Master Pong when we did sketching on the hills
See if they are useful or not
What kind of flower is this?
I don't know either. I drew it because it looks pretty
There are plants which I haven't seen in the nearby hills?
I have to find out what it is
Wrap this around yourself
Thanks, what about you?
I'll be fine, wrap it or you'll get sick
Tonight seems especially cold
I don't think you'll come, Shi Chun...
It's you
I know Shi Chun isn't coming tonight and you'll feel lonely
It's fine, I'm here to chat with you
I have prepared your favorite sweet soup, it'll warm you up
You have waited for a whole night, yet you are still waiting
I am waiting for guests to arrive
Whoever will come, they will come Right
Uncle and Aunt Chu
Aunt Chu seems much better and younger
Thanks to your medicinal cuisine
My sleeplessness and suspicions are all gone
I'm glad that the two of you are fine
She was too suspicious, I went out at nights to sell powders and blushes
She accused me of fooling around and threw a tantrum at me
Therefore I ignored her
I found out I was suspecting too much
We understand each other now, and our relationship is better than before
That's great
However, recently he snores loudly, he has never snored before
I've brought him for a consultation and see if he can be cured
Alright Have a seat first
It's a simple examination, tilt up and let me check you
If you have polyp inside the nose
Meaning a bent between the two nostrils, you'll snore
But you have neither
Is he too fat?
Weight doesn't affect it, fat people do pant more
For slim people, if their jawbones are soft or the uvulas are large
The section of trachea from the nose to the throat will be narrowed
When you breathe, the throat will vibrate and therefore will cause snoring
Uncle Chu, do you drink?
Whenever work is tough, I will drink a glass or two for better sleep
Does drinking have something to do with snoring?
I am an expert on that, if you drink before you sleep
The muscle between your nose and throat will be relaxed
Thus you will snore when breathing
Don't drink 4 hours before you sleep
Is there any medicinal cuisine that can lessen my snoring?
Of course there is, Sister Yat, take it down
5 ticals of biond magnolia flower, 5 ticals of Szechuan lovage rhizome
5 ticals of day lily root, 5 ticals of lalang grass rhizome
After soaking them completely, put them inside a cloth bag
Add fresh water into the soaking water
Boil it on slow heat into soup with a pig nose and 4 taels of jelly fish
You can use 6 sweetened dates instead of the pig nose
Pig nose is good for your nose
I'll use pig nose
Let me get the ingredients for you
The effect cannot be seen instantly
Drink this every other day for 14 days before a clear effect is seen
Your restaurant has helped everyone in our family, thank you
You're welcome, come here more often
We will
Tung Ching
Shi Chun, why didn't you come to revise the Compendium last night?
Were you on duty at the Imperial Academy?
No, Mo Yung wanted to draw the herbs for me at home
Since she knows nothing much about herbs
I stayed home to explain them to her
That's good, you are collaborating with your wife
You should stay home more for her
I have an illustration for you to see
You have seen some herbs that I haven't
This is winter Daphne, it grows in areas around Lushan
The locals told me that it can cure headaches and toothaches
I thought it is a flower praised by poets and literary people only
It has medicinal values
I saw it with my father on Lushan
How did Mo Yung learn to draw it?
She sketched it with Pong Hin on the mountains
That means it grows on the mountains here
I have heard much about it, but I have never seen it
Let us go and take a look tomorrow
Alright, don't be late, whoever is late shall be punished
You might be the late one
Shi Chun
Greetings, Princes
You may be excused
Why have you come to the capital?
We have something to discuss with His Majesty this time
We will stay for longer in order to observe the management of a big city
Also, we have come to congratulate you on becoming an officer in the Academy
I haven't mistaken about you, when you worked for me
I knew you wouldn't be a simple doctor
Thank you, if not for your help, I wouldn't see this day
I simply opened a door for you
You have been promoted to be an officer because of your real skills
Greetings, Princes
You may be excused
Has Doctor Lam returned to the Imperial Pharmacy yet?
Imperial Concubine Tuen is mad as she has called upon him
for a long time and yet he hasn't shown up
He has been called by Concubine Ning and hasn't returned yet
I shall be excused and inform Doctor Lam to attend Imperial Concubine Tuen
as soon as possible. Goodbye, Princes
Concubines are always fighting for favors, imperial doctors are caught in between
Shi Chun, pay special attention to these situations in the future
Never offend the concubines but you should protect yourself at the same time
You need great skills to do that
Thank you for your advice
It's time to meet His Majesty now
I will meet you again later
Don't use busyness as your excuse
I won't, see you later
Goodbye Goodbye
This way, Father
His Majesty has so much to handle, if he handles the concubine's fights, too
He would be overburdened
All women are jealous in nature,
it's difficult for a man to have more than one woman
Women are so hard to fathom, they are hot one minute and cold the next
You have a good relationship with your wife, how lucky you are and how envious I am
Enjoy the meal, I have to leave first
Kwo Chun, are you in a hurry?
I am meeting a medical herbs supplier to discuss the business plan for next year
Right, Winter Solstice is around the corner
We have the custom of eating December Eighth Congee on Winter Solstice
What is December Eighth Congee?
We'll use eight ingredients to prepare a congee every December
To wish for a year of abundance, different families use eight different ingredients
We use lotus seeds, chestnuts, red dates, gingkos, cashew nuts...
walnuts, longans and raisins
Boil them together with some glutinous rice
In the deep winter, a bowl of sweet December Eighth congee
is a good supplement for rejuvenation and nourishment
That's right, Daughter-in-law, accompany me to buy the ingredients later
Let us prepare the congee on Winter Solstice
No, I have to learn drawing later
Shi Chun, you don't have to return to the Academy today, accompany me
I can't either. I am going to the mountain to find winter Daphne with Tung Ching
The flower that we've discussed is winter Daphne
Yeah?
Don't look at me, I have to go back to Chun Sin Mei
Otherwise Little Buddha will steal all my clients from me
Everybody is busy, who will accompany me?
Madam, let me go with you
Alright, you are a nice girl
Go with my mother
I should leave now
It's time for my class, let's leave together
Let us go
If I don't have a class today
I can join you and Senior Sister
I want to find winter Daphne soon
I will go with you again next time
Alright, after my class
I will go home, prepare dinner and wait for your return
I hope that he remembers our meeting
What do you want to eat tonight?
How about chrysanthemum fish? It is good for the eyes and liver
Three cups pigeon increases blood circulation and warms the body
You have to work at the Academy and revises the Compendium, you must eat more
I will eat whatever you make
This is so pretty
Do you like it? I will buy it for you
How much is this, Shopkeeper? 4 taels
4 taels? That's too expensive
Madam, it is not
I made this myself, it's one of a kind
It is not that pretty, let us go
The gallery is this way, go now
Alright, be careful
Come home soon
Mo Yung! How are you? I'll keep her watch
I am sorry
Are you alright? Let me help you
It's so painful
Don't go to the class, let me carry you home
Sit down first, is it still painful?
It is
I will rub your ankle with some bonesetting lotion, you'll be fine
Tung Ching, aren't you going to pick the herbs with Shi Chun?
Why are you sitting in here?
He is busy shopping with Mo Yung, he must have forgotten about me
My benefactor isn't forgetful at all
Something must have stopped him
No, I saw him shopping leisurely, nothing would delay him suddenly
Are you feeling better?
I'm still in pain
Yeah? Let me rub for longer
No, you should be meeting Senior Sister, go and meet her quickly
You've sprained yourself, you can't be left alone at home
Don't keep her waiting, I'm fine
No, I am worried with you alone
Go on, I am really fine
Alright, be careful, alright?
Shopkeeper, I want to buy this necklace
Are you buying it for your wife?
I know she likes it, it's for her
Winter Daphne, where are you?
I must find it for Shi Chun's sake
Mister, don't go up the mountain
Why?
There is a landslide, it's dangerous
I wonder what that lady is looking for
She refuses to leave no matter what
What am I doing? He has a good relationship with his wife
I shouldn't care about him anymore
Tung Ching! Tung Ching!
Tung Ching! You'll be fine!
Tung Ching, answer Mel
Shi Chun
Thank God you are alright!
I saw your shoe over there, I was so worried for you
I ran away from the landslide, and I dropped my shoe
Silly girl, you know there is an earthquake!
I was so worried that something might have happened to you
I was so helpless and alone, stranded
I am so silly, I am doing this for nothing
I told myself not to wait for you anymore
I now know that you are concerned about me
We cannot let each other go
I am sorry
Don't be, I feel blessed to have this moment
Shi Chun, look, I have found winter Daphne
Silly girl, it's dangerous to pick it
We have come here for this, haven't we?
Does it still hurt?
Not that much, I feel fine as long as you're alright
Why did you do it so hard?
I was wrong to be late
I will get you a nice gift next time
Is this the one? It's pretty, you have fine taste
As long as you like it Thank you
I know that you can't wipe off your feelings for Tung Ching
You feel nothing most of the time as you use your sense to suppress it
But when something happens, your feeling will be shown naturally
Even if you can fool the world, you can never fool yourself
When I get married, I told myself
I have to forget Tung Ching and be faithful to Mo Yung
It turns out to be so hard to forget someone
I understand, you did love each other
You lost Tung Ching because of a misunderstanding
You married Mo Yung out of responsibility and gratitude
No matter what, I owed it to Tung Ching
But you have married someone else, if you choose to leave your wife
You'll be considered as faithless
Should I tell Mo Yung what has happened between me and Tung Ching?
Definitely not, when Prince King wanted to break the engagement last time
Mo Yung wanted to become a nun
If she finds out that you don't love her
She might do something to hurt herself
What should I do, then?
Have you considered marrying Tung Ching as well?
I will never do that
I would be doing Mo Yung wrong and
be unfair to Tung Ching at the same time
It's not easy to have a concubine
You want to be responsible to your wife
and remain true to the love of your life
You are spared in the end
If you feel guilty about how you feel towards Tung Ching
Be nicer to Mo Yung from now on
It must be packed at lunchtime at Chun Sin Mei, I have to help there
Madam, what do you want?
Where is the agate necklace that was placed here a few days ago?
It was sold yesterday
So soon
Your husband has bought it, don't you know?
It must be a surprise gift
Yeah?
The soup is spilling I'm so useless
Put it here It's Ok
Can I help in anything?
Pick the veggies
I made the necklace myself, it's one of a kind
It's so pretty
Do you like it? I'll buy it for you
The necklace... My father bought it
Is it from your father? Yes
Where is the agate necklace that was placed here a few days ago?
Your husband has bought it, don't you know?
It's dirty in here, let me do it
Watch the front for me
This demonstration copy of the Compendium is very detailed and serious
Don't just read it, record things for me
Why do you have to record so many herbs?
The various editions of the Compendium have many mistakes, we must record carefully
The look and unique nature of the herbs, that way we'd make fewer mistakes
I can never measure up to your seriousness
Who are you going to present this demonstration copy to support your work?
Minister Yim, he is the Minister of Rites
Your demonstration copy is illustrated with all the medicinal values and prescriptions
as well as a comparison with similar herbs
This is the most comprehensive Compendium I have seen amongst all the versions
Minister Yim will not reject to it
I hope so
Your illustrations look familiar
It's fine brushwork, you know it too
Let go of me! Let go of me!
What is it?
That's Concubine Ning
After she fought over an imperial doctor with Imperial Concubine Tuen
Tuen's illness has worsened
Learning of this, His Majesty has demoted her into a palace maid
What have I done wrong, Your Majesty? Why are you doing this to me? I'd rather die
Poor her
His Majesty has countless concubines, she should be aware of this end
I'd rather die
Let me go!
This is too much, they cannot continue to do this
Even if you can stop them now, you can't stop them in the future
You'll be executed when found!
Move that water jar in here Yes
Those necromancers cannot rule the world
Let go of me! Let go of me!
The maid is very weak
She might die if we continue to draw her blood
She dies of her allegiance to His Majesty
I don't want to die!
Hold her Let me go!
You hit me, you will die this minute Stop
How dare you to tread forbidden ground!
Li Shi Chun, why did you enter the Alchemist's room?
Right, I have told you
No one may trespass the Alchemist's Room, why did you go into there?
Shiu and the necromancers forcibly draw blood from the palace maids
This is practically murder, Minister Yim, please inform His Majesty about this
So that he will punish them
His Majesty promoted Shiu as the Holy Man, with a second rank
He ordered him to produce the immortality pill
yet you are accusing him of murder, don't make this case into a scene
Anyway, since you have traded on forbidden ground, you must be punished
Minister Yim, Prince Chor recommended Li Shi Chun into the palace
The Prince is His Majesty's uncle
You must keep His Majesty's face
Li Shi Chun, I can spare you for physical punishment
You must cooperate and keep a low profile
Otherwise, it'd be hard for me
What does that mean?
Go home and wait for the result
Yes
What a great feast
Daughter-in-law. Come over and sit down
Today is Winter Solstice, why isn't husband home yet?
He must be busy at the Academy, he'll be home soon
Has he gone to look for Senior Sister?
Why would he? Winter Solstice is more important than New Year
He wouldn't look for people on this day
Don't worry, he should be home soon
Master in back
Husband
See, little brother is very responsible
I am sorry to keep you waiting for me for the Winter Solstice dinner
Alright, let us start Please start
Father and Mother Let's start
When we finish, we'll have December Eighth congee
Next year will be a bright one ahead
Shi Chun will be promoted again
Right, I hope that he'll become an imperial doctor
as well as a father for double happiness!
I hope so
Let's start
Is Officer Li home?
Who is it?
Officer, I have a document from the Ministry of Rites
A document? What is it?
I don't know, Minister Yim asked me to hand this to you
Thank you
I shall leave now, Officer
What is it, Husband?
The Ministry officially informs me of removing me from my office
I don't have to return to the Academy
from tomorrow onwards, there is money inside
Why is this happening?
What happened? Why are you dismissed?
It probably has something to do with me sneaking into the Alchemist's Room today
It is a forbidden area
It doesn't cost you the job
Yim Sung is working with Shiu Yuen Chit
What does Yim Sung have to do with this?
When I was inside the Alchemist's Room
I saw Shiu Yuen Chit drawing blood from a palace maid for his alchemy
Then I was taken to see Yim Sung
He asked me to keep the secret and never reveal what I saw to others
Then he sent this document over
Politics is dangerous, you are too honest
You don't know who is behind the plot and you complained it in front of Yim Sung
Everybody in the capital knows that Yim Sung is in power
Whoever offends him will lead a sad life
Will Shi Chun be alright?
Don't worry, Prince Chor recommended Shi Chun to work in the Academy
Yim Sung has to respect the prince
Otherwise he should have suffered more
Mother-in-law, what should we do?
I don't care about the job, but I can't leave without revising the Compendium
You can't even go to the Academy now, let alone revising the Compendium
The Princes are still in the capital
I have to inform them about this
Yim Sung cannot rule over everyone
What are these? Mulberry leaves
I know, but you've picked the old leaves, how can we eat them?
Right
I have picked them, I don't care if you like to eat them or not
Stop, you are eating them, too
You'll die earlier if you eat the good ones
You are not considered humans here
When those necromancers have sucked all the blood they want from you
Your corpse will be thrown in the wild
What are you talking about?
Our sisters have left the palace
You are so innocent, leaving the palace doesn't mean returning home
Think about it, the king is drinking your blood
How will they let you know to dispose this secret outside the palace?
You will be killed after drawing your blood for the third time
She used to be a concubine
She knows more than we do
If what she said is true, what should we do? I don't want to die!
We don't want to die!
Let us run away
Do you think it'd be that easy?
There is only one way to escape
What is it?
Kill the damned king
Where are the maids?
I have sent them away
Why?
I want to be alone with Your Majesty
When we are having fun and drinking
It's discouraging to have some unrelated people around
You are right
You should send Hau and all the goong goong, too
So that we can have fun alone
Alright, Hau, excuse us
Don't interfere with me unless it is really urgent
Yes, Your Majesty
Beloved, we are all alone now
What are you doing?
Tie more knots
I must strangle you to death, you cruel and useless king
So that I can be pacified
Stop
Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Send the Imperial Doctor now
My Lord, are you inquiring me about Li Shi Chun's dismissal?
Yes, I want to know the truth
Minister Yim, the Grand Councilor, has made that decision
I know Yim Sung is in power
However, Li entered the Alchemist's Room
in order to stop Shiu Yuen-chit from abusing the palace maids
That is reasonable
Yes, Shiu drew blood from the palace maids for His Majesty's consumption
I don't think His Majesty knows he is drinking human blood
We should inform His Majesty and clear Li Shi Chun from the blame
Bad news!
Princes
His Majesty has been harmed at Imperial Concubine Tuen's palace
Her Majesty is asking you to bring all the Imperial Doctors there
Can you save His Majesty?
We have tried our best, we can do nothing
Useless doctors! Shiu, do you have a way to revive His Majesty?
Now that there is no other way, let us feed His Majesty the Resurrection Pill
His Majesty hasn't awaken yet, Shiu, is your pill effective?
I am told that it does resurrect people from death
Perhaps the pill needs some more time
I don't know if Shiu's pill is effective or not
However, if His Majesty doesn't wake up in one hour, he will be in danger
Nothing can happen to His Majesty, think more on what to do
Unfortunately, Li Shi Chun isn't here
Otherwise he must have a solution
How is His Majesty?
Right
He has been strangled to a coma
Let us discuss on ways to revive His Majesty
Don't do anything rash, if something happens to His Majesty because of you, you're dead
Stop! You are in plain clothes, you cannot enter the forbidden palace
Although I am in plain clothes, I was once an imperial doctor
Now that His Majesty is sick, I must help
How dare you! All trespassers have to die!
Stop it, His Majesty is in danger
We should give priority to those who has a way to cure him
I plead for His Majesty's sake, please let Li Shi Chun go in for consultation
Li Shi Chun has been dismissed, and he is in plain clothes
He has no right to cure His Majesty
Doctor Li, wear my cloak first
Minister Yim, saving His Majesty is of top priority
Fine, if he cannot save him, everyone from the Imperial Academy will be accountable
Your Majesty, I want to take a look at the rope which strangled His Majesty
Your Majesty
His Majesty isn't strangled to a coma
Instead, he had a stroke out of shock
Ridiculous, all the attending doctors
agreed that His Majesty has been strangled
Why are you saying that He had a stroke?
Look, this is a hard knot
The stretch marks are light on His Majesty's neck
He hasn't been strangled to a coma
If it is indeed the case of a stroke
His Majesty's pulse should be strong and his face should be blush red
However, his face is pale and the pulse is weak
Blood has clotted in His Majesty's brain, therefore the pulse is weak
We need to induce his blood flow again
To declot the blood inside his brain
If His Majesty did have a stroke in his brain, by inducing him to bleed
There will be haemorrhage in the brain, His Majesty will die instantly
You just said that His majesty's pulse is weak
How can there be haemorrhage?
Chancellor, what do you think?
Li Chi-chun has a good diagnosis
But induced bleeding is dangerous
I cannot decide on it, Your Majesty, it is your call
Your Majesty, Li Shi Chun is an expert on blood clots and stroke
I once had a stroke on the face
Without Doctor Li's precise diagnosis, I wouldn't be cured
Why don't we give his treatment a try?
Your Majesty, throughout history Imperial Doctors are forbidden to induce bleeding
As it is an offense to the King's bodies
Li Shi Chun, can you be held accountable?
His Majesty has been in a coma for some time if we don't revive him soon
He will be paralyzed and become dull
Grand Councilor, can you be held accountable for that?
You...
Stop arguing, Li Shi Chun, I now order you to induce bleeding on His Majesty
If you can't save him, I will punish you heavily
Your Majesty! You are awake! I was so scared by you
Greetings, Your Majesty
Chancellor, Li Shi Chun, stay here for the prescription for His Majesty
The others should leave first and let His Majesty to rest
We shall go now
They're coming out
Good news, His Majesty has been revived by Li Shi Chun
Now that Li Shi Chun has saved His Majesty, he won't be kicked out
He might even be promoted by His Majesty!
Greetings, Your Majesty
Please rise
Thank you, Your Majesty
You look very fine today
Thanks to all the wonderful doctors, I must reward them well
Your Majesty, Shiu's Resurrection Pill has a part to play in your recovery
Your Majesty, according to my observation, it's not that case as Minister Yim just said
Your Majesty did take the said pill
However, no improvement was seen
Right, Your Majesty woke up right after Li Shi Chun set the needles on you
Li Shi Chun has a part to play instead
Your Majesty, one needs to wait before Resurrection Pill becomes effective
Li Shi Chun set his needles right when the Resurrection Pill became effective
Therefore everybody believes that Li Shi Chun has saved Your Majesty
In that case, Minister Yim
You are negating the effectiveness of Li Shi Chun's blood inducing needles?
You are not a doctor
Why are you so irrational in order to defend Li Shi Chun?
I am not, Your Majesty
I am saying the truth so that no one may spread false claims
Alright, stop it. Both Shiu and Li Shi Chun have save me
I shall reward both of you
Immortal Shiu, you have been preparing the immortality pill for me
I will build a mansion for you
You can live in the palace to serve me
Thank you, kind Majesty
Li Shi Chun, what do you want? Tell me
Do you want to be reinstated?
Your Majesty, I dare to propose something, Li Shi Chun is a wonderful doctor
he can be more than an officer
Please use this opportunity to promote him to be an imperial doctor
You are right, Uncle. He will be a good imperial doctor
Thank His Majesty
Thank you, Your Majesty. I have joined the Academy
In order to use the human and material resources to revise the Compendium
The Imperial Academy is His Majesty's medical office
How dare you to use it for your own purpose
The past editions of the Compendium have many mistakes in them
I want to revise it so that no more mistakes will be made in the future
It's very meaningful, discuss this with Chancellor Hui and Minister Yim
If they're fine with your idea, then I will agree with it
I have sent a demonstration copy to Minister Yim already
When you revise it, take note of any prescription for immortality
The purpose of the revision is to...
I am quite tired today, discuss everything with Minister Yim