Fan Fiction |
by MetalAZNWarrior
Doctor Tsui (Gallen Lo) is waiting in Fiona's (Sherming Yiu) palace.
"Princess," Doctor Tsui greets.
"At ease." Fiona makes her way to her chair.
"You requested to see me. May I ask what Your Highness wanted to see me about?"
"In the past you always... but now, why won't you support me?" Fiona demands.
Doctor Tsui keeps his head down, "It's not my position to say anything on the matter."
"I just want to take my father to get treatment overseas. Why is this so difficult? Why won't the Imperial Doctors just abide my wishes?"
"It's against the scriptures set by our ancestors."
"This is exactly why the Chinese dynasty fell. They were too caught up in preserving the past that they failed to adapt and change with time."
"Princess, I have power only in treating patients. Please don't ask me about other issues."
Fiona gets frustrated looking at the back of Doctor Tsui's head. "Stand up!"
"I won't until Your Highness stops asking me to interfere with politics. I'm only a doctor."
"Fine."
Doctor Tsui gets up and says, "Don't worry too much. We're working hard to cure His Majesty. Why don't you trust us?"
"Because western medicine is more effective!"
"Nature created herbal medicine for a reason. Do you want to put your father under radiation and have him take chemicals?"
"It works," Fiona plainly says.
"Does it? Then why haven't they found a cure for cancer yet? Why is the number of patients that survive cancer so low? Are they really so effective? Fiona, just because we're on the Island and follow our traditional eastern medicine doesn't mean we're not connected with western medicine. Being a doctor, we're not that selfish. Lives come first. If we allowed you to take His Majesty to get treated by the western doctors, he would undergo chemotherapy in hopes of reducing the size of his brain tumor. It's because it's located in a spot that can't be operated on otherwise the risks are high. Do you think we're not up-to-date?"
Fiona is silent.
"Chemotherapy does make tumors smaller, but toxic chemicals are also transmitted into the body and it does not always work. His days to live may be prolonged, but it's not healthy for his body. We're treating him using herbs in hopes that these natural chemicals from nature will reduce his tumor and possibly even remit it. As a doctor, I feel that our treatment is the best for His Majesty," Doctor Tsui concludes.
"I'm sorry," Fiona apologizes, "I really don't know anything. I just thought..."
"Many young people like yourself feel the same way. For instance, Foo Ma (Ah Sing/Hawick Lau) refuses to have us treat him when he catches a cold. He only takes the medicine from western pharmaceutical companies. Our eastern medicine has a long history and has helped countless of people. Please, Your Highness, have faith in us. We will try our best to cure His Majesty."
Fiona smiles bitter-sweetly, "Okay. I know you will do your best."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Doctor Tsui, it's no wonder why you're the lead of the Imperial Doctors and you're so favored by my father," Fiona praises.
On Gong Gong (Bowie Lam) walks away from the Palace of Eternal Purity with a smile.
[Palace of Gathering Essence]
Suet Ching (Rebecca Chan) is sipping hot tea from her cup as she listens to On Gong Gong's report.
"Doctor Tsui has persuaded Princess Fiona to let go of her fight to persuade the Imperial Court to let her take His Majesty for treatment overseas."
Suet Ching raises an eyebrow, "Has he? I must applaud him for changing my stubborn niece's mind so quickly. It's too bad he's not as easily persuaded as Fiona is. A pity." Suet Ching tries to cool off her tea. "Okay, you may leave now," she dismisses On Gong Gong.
Doctor Tsui was an interesting character in the palace. Unlike other imperial doctors, he was young and came from a low-class background. He quickly rose as the top Imperial Doctor due to his intelligence and medical successes. He had entered the palace for fifteen years. Suet Ching is bitter remembering how he had refused to cooperate with them in the past.
"If I can get rid of two thorns at once, maybe..."
[Imperial Garden]
Fiona was curious about the treatment of her father, so she took a walk with Doctor Tsui in the garden. He explained to her the details on how they were going to treat the Island Chief. She is enlightened and grows more assured that her father is in good hands.
"So what is the chance that my father will survive?"
"We're not sure... it's cancer. However, we promise to give it our all."
Fiona sighs.
"What's the matter Princess?"
"If my father passes away, I will have to become the new Island Chief... I don't want that."
"As your father's only child, it's only fitting that you become the heir to the throne."
"I know, but I'm not ready. I don't know anything."
"No one is born a leader."
"I'm a girl."
"We have had a few women Island Chiefs in the past."
"I'm too young to accept such responsibilities."
"Princess, don't worry. Just accept things as they come."
Fiona tries to smile, "Okay."
Camera flashes are evident in the distance.
[Field]
Doctor Tsui left the palace and walked to an open field in the countryside. He knelt down in front of a grave and offered fruits and incense. He smiles and says, "Lady Yin, you can rest in peace now. Princess Fiona is grown up. She is happy and healthy. Her marriage is well. Foo Ma is also a nice man and I'm sure he will be able to help her when she becomes the Island Chief. Please give His Majesty your blessings. I will do my best to treat him."
Someone in the shadows takes pictures of Doctor Tsui bowing and praying in front of the grave. After Doctor Tsui leaves the gravesite, this person walks up to the grave and snaps close shots of it.
[Emperor's Palace]
The Island Cheif (Law Kong) called Fiona into his palace to explain to her the duties of being the Island Chief. He explains the current situation of the Island with her regarding its economy, social issues, foreign affairs, and policies. Fiona feels overwhelmed. The Island Chief decides that Fiona will join him in his next meeting with the Imperial Court so that Fiona will become used to it and know what to do.
Fiona is worried that her father's condition might become worse if she keeps making him use his brain. He tells her that he's fine and jokes that if he doesn't use his brain now, it might not work properly when he wants to use it later. Fiona is disheartened thinking of the future.
[Palace of Eternal Purity]
Ah Sing walks into the room and sees Fiona with her head down on the table. He puts a sock over his hand and draws two eyes on it.
"Princess, princess," Ah Sing makes a funny voice as he moves the puppet near Fiona.
Fiona says in a tired voice, "What?"
"Ah Sing wants to apologize. Please forgive him."
"Apologize for what?"
Ah Sing places a yellow flower into the "mouth" of the puppet and hands it to Fiona. "He's sorry for upsetting you. Here's a flower."
Fiona playfully scolds, "He's so insincere. Does he think a simple flower will cheer me up?"
"Maybe a kiss will." Ah Sing moves the puppet in an attempt to kiss Fiona, who pushes the puppet away.
"You stink! You're not fit to kiss a princess."
The puppet whines, "All right." Ah Sing places the puppet behind his back and smiles at Fiona, "Am I fit to kiss the princess?"
Fiona lightly taps his nose and laughs, "No!"
Ah Sing and Fiona chase each other around the room until Ah Sing finally catches her and plants a kiss.
[Palace of Gathering Essence]
In the dark room, Mo Yung (Ha Yu) laughs menacingly as he goes through a set of pictures. Suet Ching sits calmly as she drinks her hot tea.
[Palace of Eternal Purity]
Ah Sing and Fiona lay in bed, getting ready to sleep for the night.
Fiona turns to her side and asks, "Ah Sing, do you think I'm stubborn?"
Ah Sing covers his eyes and grunts. "Great! It's one of these questions that women ask where there's no 'good' answer. It's like if you ask me 'Do I look pretty today?' If I say 'Yes,' you'll become mad and say 'Oh, does that mean I don't look pretty other days?' It's a dead-end for me either way!"
"I'm serious."
"You women always are when you ask these questions. What have I done wrong this time?"
"Nothing. I just want an answer."
Ah Sing bites his tongue, "Yes, a bit. But it's nothing bad though! It's good to be opinionated and decisive!"
"No it's not. I might have led my father down a death road if Doctor Tsui hadn't talked to me."
"Really?"
Fiona nods, "I was so sure that I was right, but he proved me wrong."
"At least you weren't so stubborn that you didn't listen to him. I would say your case of stubbornness isn't that serious!" Ah Sing laughs.