Episode Summary
In Episode 9, Fu Chengjin realizes he was drugged by Bi Lian, whose treachery is exposed. At the palace, Qiao Manman's identity as a physician is challenged by Bi Lian and the Imperial Consort. To save herself, Qiao Manman bluffs about knowing "Zhu You Shu," a mystical healing art, after successfully diagnosing patients through wit. The Emperor gives her half a month to cure Fu Chengjin's legs using this art, or face severe punishment. Desperate, Qiao Manman seeks help from her Uncle to understand Zhu You Shu and begins unconventional treatments on Fu Chengjin, deepening their bond as she races against time.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 9 Recap & Spoilers: Deception, Desperation, and a Mystical Cure
The drama intensifies in Episode 9 as secrets unravel and new challenges emerge, pushing our characters to their limits.
When Prince Fu Chengjin saw Qiao Manman's distressed state and carefully sniffed the medicine bowl, he instantly knew he’d been drugged. The culprit, Bi Lian, found her true colors exposed and, gripped by fear, attempted to flee the Prince's Mansion overnight. However, Fu Yunnuo’s informant, strategically placed by Fu Chengjin's side, quickly relayed the news. It became clear Bi Lian's days in the mansion were numbered, and Fu Yunnuo, ever the opportunist, settled in to watch the ensuing chaos unfold from a safe distance.
The following day, Fu Chengjin brought Qiao Manman before the Emperor at the imperial palace. He laid bare Bi Lian's treachery, revealing she had poisoned his medicine. Cornered and knowing she was in the wrong, Bi Lian desperately tried to redeem herself by discrediting Qiao Manman. She boldly claimed that, based on her recent observations, the Princess Consort was no physician at all, incapable of even determining the correct dosages for simple medicinal foods.
Qiao Manman broke into a cold sweat. Bi Lian’s accusation hit dangerously close to home – she was an imposter, completely ignorant of medicinal herbs and their properties. The Emperor, stunned by the revelation, immediately summoned the imperial physicians to ascertain the truth. Fu Chengjin, though extremely tense, struggled to maintain his composure. He implored his Imperial Father to reconsider, vouching that he and Qiao Manman were constant companions and he could personally attest to her skills in acupuncture. But the influential Imperial Consort (Gui Fei) was relentless, insisting that the imperial physicians put Qiao Manman to the test.
The imperial physicians arrived in the main hall, bringing with them several patients. Qiao Manman was tasked with diagnosing each one by taking their pulse, identifying their illness, and prescribing the appropriate treatment. Putting on a brave face, Qiao Manman went through the motions of taking pulses. Miraculously, relying on her sharp intellect and keen observation skills, she managed to correctly identify each patient's ailment.
However, the Imperial Consort wasn't ready to concede. She demanded further examination. Just then, Fu Yunnuo, having heard his Mother Consort was giving Qiao Manman a hard time, rushed to the scene. Before the Emperor, he passionately defended Qiao Manman, declaring her medical skills to be exquisite and reminding everyone that she had previously cured his mother’s chronic headaches. With Fu Yunnuo’s staunch support, the Imperial Consort finally backed down. Intrigued, the Emperor asked Qiao Manman what extraordinary method she had used to cure the Imperial Consort's headaches. Qiao Manman, flustered, could only stammer out a vague and mystical-sounding explanation. An imperial physician, listening intently, was captivated and blurted out, "Could it be 'Zhu You Shu'?"
Qiao Manman had never even heard of "Zhu You Shu," an ancient and obscure shamanistic healing art. But with the situation so critical, she felt utterly cornered and, in a moment of desperation, quickly nodded, confirming it was indeed this mystical technique. The Emperor, though skeptical, reasoned that if Qiao Manman possessed knowledge of such an arcane medical practice, she deserved a chance. He issued an imperial decree: Qiao Manman had half a month to enable Fu Chengjin to walk again. Failure would result in severe punishment.
Fu Chengjin, listening anxiously, was relieved his Imperial Father had given Qiao Manman this lifeline – all he needed to do was be able to walk by the deadline. However, his loyal guard, Jiu Feng, saw the immense danger this posed. They had painstakingly maintained Fu Chengjin’s facade of disability for years, all for self-preservation. Jiu Feng lamented that his master, after all this time, seemed to have fallen for a woman's charms, risking everything.
Terrified of the Emperor's wrath, Qiao Manman rushed back to Wanshi Zhai to consult her Uncle about "Zhu You Shu." Her Uncle recounted the folktales and legends surrounding the practice, which only deepened Qiao Manman's despair. Zhu You Shu was described as an intangible, unstructured art, with no clear path to mastery or even apprenticeship. How could she possibly learn it, let alone use it to cure Fu Chengjin's legs?
Her Uncle, however, offered words of encouragement, urging her to be confident. "Effort pays off for the determined," he reminded her, suggesting that as long as she was willing to try, there was still hope. With no other options, Qiao Manman decided to brace herself and make a last-ditch effort. Day after day, she diligently applied what she vaguely understood as "hypnotic methods" and psychological suggestions to Fu Chengjin, repeating them tirelessly. Fu Chengjin observed her unwavering perseverance. One day, utterly exhausted, Qiao Manman slumped over a chair and fell asleep. Fu Chengjin gently woke her, urging her to rest. He then tenderly asked if she would stay by his side if he were to remain in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Fu Chengjin's earnest gaze and profound trust moved Qiao Manman deeply, making her blush with a mixture of shame for her deception and warmth for his faith in her. She solemnly promised him that she would, without a doubt, cure his legs. With renewed determination, she threw herself back into researching a way to heal him.
