Episode Summary
Qin Wan successfully cures the Empress Dowager's critical illness, earning the Emperor's favor and a special token for palace access. Her bond with Yan Chi deepens when he gives her his parents' love token and they spend New Year's Eve together. Qin Wan then uncovers a malicious rumor about Yan Chi's parentage, strengthening her resolve to protect him. The episode culminates at a palace banquet where a visiting princess publicly declares her intention to marry Yan Chi.
Spoiler Alert
Coroner's Diary: Episode 22 Spoilers
The episode opens with the Empress Dowager falling gravely ill. While the ministers urge the Emperor to prioritize state affairs, Yan Chi advises him to see his mother first, confident the people will understand. The conversation turns to Qin Wan's reputation as a "little medical fairy," with some suggesting she could cure the Empress Dowager just as she cured the Grand Princess. Qin Zhaoyu quickly tries to dismiss this as mere street gossip, but Qin Wan steps forward and agrees to try.
The Emperor personally brings Qin Wan to the Empress Dowager's chambers. Qin Wan diagnoses the ailment as a "wind illness" and notes that the crucial window for treatment is within the first hour of onset. She observes that the imperial physician's prescription was skillful but too conservative to be effective. When the Emperor grows angry at the physician, Qin Wan risks his ire by speaking up in the physician's defense.
As the Emperor must attend to duties at the city gate, he entrusts his mother's care to Qin Wan, leaving Yan Chi behind to stand guard. Qin Wan begins acupuncture, a delicate process that cannot be disturbed. Just as an attendant's cry of alarm threatens to disrupt the procedure, the Emperor returns. Fortunately, Qin Wan succeeds, and the Empress Dowager is saved.
With the crisis averted, the Emperor allows the Empress and Noble Consort Su to rest. He asks Qin Wan to stay in the Empress Dowager's palace, as he no longer fully trusts the imperial physicians. Yan Chi interjects, explaining that Qin Wan dislikes the strictures of palace life. In response, the Emperor grants her a special token, allowing her to enter and exit the palace freely to attend to the Empress Dowager.
Later, Yan Chi expresses his profound gratitude to Qin Wan, as the Empress Dowager has always been very dear to him. As a token of his thanks, he gives her a cherished family heirloom—the love token of his parents. The two end up spending New Year's Eve together. Yan Chi also gives her a serious warning: stay out of the conflict between the Empress and Noble Consort Su.
Meanwhile, the Empress and the Crown Prince discuss the recent events. The Crown Prince is clearly distracted, torn between his admiration for Qin Wan, who has won the Emperor's favor, and his attraction to the talented and beautiful Qin Zhaoyu. The Empress notes that while she might like Qin Wan, her family connection is too distant for her to be anything more than a concubine. The Empress's choice for Crown Princess remains Qin Zhaoyu, but she intends to make her earn the position.
Rewards from the Emperor and Empress are sent to Qin Wan, sparking jealousy from Qin Xiang. In their own residence, Feng-shi expresses her displeasure at Qin Wan's rising fame, but Qin Zhaoyu remains confident that the position of Crown Princess will be hers.
While preparing to go to the palace, Qin Wan overhears a conversation between Feng-shi and Qin Zhaoyu. Feng-shi wants to quickly arrange a marriage between Qin Wan and Yan Chi. She reveals a dark rumor: no family in the capital dares to form a marriage alliance with Yan Chi because it's whispered that he is not Prince Rui's biological son, and that the Prince poisoned his own wife (Yan Chi's mother) in a fit of rage over this. Qin Wan is disturbed by this story, suspecting it's a plot to drive a wedge between Yan Chi and his father and destabilize their Shuo Xi Army. She silently vows to protect Yan Chi, no matter how difficult the path ahead.
At a palace banquet held to celebrate the Empress Dowager's recovery, Qin Wan is now the center of attention, much to the annoyance of Yue Ning. Envoys from the Beidai and Xihan states are present. During the banquet, Princess Yuan Wu lays eyes on Yan Chi and is instantly smitten. She boldly declares that if she wins the upcoming equestrian and archery competition, she demands that Yan Chi become her Prince Consort.
